Planning to share its flavor with every customer, a new branch has come to its fruition last April 30, 2022. It is located at the ground floor of Avida Cityflex Tower, Bonifacio Global City beside Kanto Freestyle and near Lexus and ready to satisfy our cravings.
Their menu includes classic flavors that no one can resist. Here are some of the food we had during our visit.
Creamy Spinach Dip Pizza
The pizza made its name viral through the creaminess of the cheese and the blend of the spinach, which surely makes you want more. Don’t forget to spread the spinach okay?
Overload Pizza
Truly a classic on its generous toppings which includes ground beef, bell peppers, and olives. The harmonious mix of its topping makes it a go-to-pick because of its flavor combination bursting in your mouth.
An Italian penne type pasta which goes with its tomato-based sauce, with its balance of sweet and sour taste, its definitely a must try.
Buffalo Wings
We’ve tasted 2 different flavors of Angel’s Pizza wings. The garlic parmesan has a nice balance of the 1-2 punch brought by the strong taste of garlic and the saltiness of parmesan, which offers a nice combo with the crunchy chicken on the outside and tender white meat on the inside. Meanwhile, the buffalo flavor has its own distinctive taste, with its mildly sweet and salty taste. A simple but enticing to the eye for those who are chicken dish lovers. It also comes with different dips you should try.
Did you know that when you avail of their APC card that cost 299 PHP, you can also avail of the Buy 1 Take 1 pizza! Make sure to visit their place so you can taste food, heaven sent!
Activities with family and friends are always a good form of stress relief. With the pandemic engulfing important moments, it’s a must to reconnect with friends and family once in a while to make our current situation lighter, especially now that we’re on the verge of achieving full immunity.
Here’s a place where you can bring your family, friends, and loved ones to take advantage and cherish the moments with them.
HOLA is a restaurant full of different activities that people of any age can enjoy. The name of the restaurant was derived from the Spanish word hola,which means “hello” or “hi”.
Watch our taste test here with our friends:
True enough for the place that greets everyone with a nice vibe of a free-flowing environment that adjusts based on the need of each customer.
TIP: You can also rent their place for private events!
Their amenities include a table tennis set-up, billiards, different board games, and a kid’s corner for children who wish to play.
They’ve also adopted a small amphitheater-like designed place that has tiers of seats perfect for studying, chillin’ while reading, or just relaxing facing the skyscrapers of Makati, one river away.
The food and drinks sit well on how great the place is. Their menu is diverse and has a wide variety. Let us introduce some of the food we tried in HOLA.
One of their best sellers and a personal favorite is Salpicao El Fuego, which hits the mark for the buds with its marinated tenderloin cubes with demi-glazed serve in a sizzling plate. Melts in your mouth while an enticing aroma is carried by the smoke while it sizzles on the plate.
Another terrific dish is their Hola Pizza and the Habanero Pizza. Hola Pizza is a must with its thin crust topped with ground beef, olives, and red bell pepper. What’s unique with their pizza aside from flavors is that it comes with separate toppings that add flavor depending on one’s preference. These side toppings include a special oil, chili flakes, onion leeks, and a slice of lemon. This is the same with Habanero Pizza aside from its oil, which is Habanero oil. Make sure to use it to amplify the flavors of the pizzas.
Hola Pizza
Habanero Pizza
Another specialty of the house is the Sisig & Match Me. An all-time favorite sisig with tortilla, cucumber, and red cherry radish on the side. A unique way to eat sisig like shawarma.
Because of their diverse menu, you will also find unique Filipino fusion dishes like the Poquiyaki, an eggplant rolled-like takoyaki. Fried on the outside tastes like the Pinoy’s favorite Tortang Talong yet soft on the inside like an Ensalada. Who would’ve thought that eggplant can be so diverse as this dish?
They also have pasta dishes such as the Chorizo Pasta. Penne tossed with chorizo Pamplona, bell pepper, and Pomodoro, topped with parmesan. An Italian dish without the overpowering sour taste of tomatoes, well-balanced in its core flavors.
They also take pride in their Spinach Mushroom Roll. One of their best-seller lasagna rolls with creamy and cheesy spinach and mushroom filling, topped with more cheese and pesto sauce. A dish that is full of herbs and flavor.
Last but definitely not the least is the Barbacoa Burrito. A Mexican dish that has rice and shredded beef wrapped in a tortilla. A good biting of its spicy flavor will surely bring out your appetite.
We also tried some of their drinks. For alcoholic drinks, we tried their Sangria and Classic Mojito. For non-alcoholic drinks, we got some Cholocate Milkshake and Matcha Milkshake.
Matcha Milkshake
Sangria
Chocolate Milkshake
Mojito
They also have a Spicy Burrito Challenge, whoever can eat their spiciest burrito within 3 minutes will have it for FREE and win an exclusive shirt from HOLA. Are you in to take the challenge?
All these activities and food are all in one place. A place of relaxation, fun, camaraderie, good food, and good people. Visit them at Acqua Private Residences, Ground floor Units 107 & 108, Mandaluyong City to experience a wide range of good things that starts with one HOLA!
Diners from Western countries are widely known for their vibrant match of colors and memorabilia that depicts the history of the country’s rich culture of films, music, people, cars, and arts. But who says it can be only seen in Western countries?
Let’s take you to Cavite and experience a diner far from the USual (pun intended).
7twenty7 American Diner is a diner-inspired restaurant that caters a wide variety of Mexican, American, and Italian food with a twist of Filipino food on its menu. Currently, they have 2 branches and both are located in Cavite.
Their main branch is located in Kawit, Cavite. Its roadside location and alfresco dining give off a good mysterious vibe that will surely catch your inner curious cats to explore and dine.
Having a jukebox as its centerpiece and candles on the tables with an accent of good lighting would take you to the past and romantic retro ambiance.
The food is also on par with the good place. A perfect combination of good food and a good place. A combo of Mexican, American, and a surprise of Pinoy food.
These are the food that filled our stomachs while enjoying their place.
Beef Tapa + Adobo Flakes
This dish made an impact making it to a diner’s menu, a Pinoy food that can sit equally with a Western type of cuisine. The beef was soft and the adobo flakes were a bit crunchy building a nice texture in your mouth that blends well with their atsara. Rice alert! This dish comes along with adobo rice topped with egg. A combo that could really never go wrong.
A nice smokey taste with a nice dark finish on the outside. An obvious soaked to the classic sauce coating while grilling. The meat was soft, juicy, and tasty.
Fish Fillet in Lemon Butter
A refreshing dish that balances the all-meat line-up. The combination of its breading and rice complements well with the softness and flavor of the fish.
Creamy Salmon Pasta
Has a classic creamy taste with the freshness of salmon without compromising the taste of other ingredients. Saltiness is brought by cheese and the soft mushroom bound by the creaminess of the sauce.
A unique crepe that brings the taste of the sea. Matched with the tortilla and sweet mayo to complete the combo.
For the beverages, they served us their signature flavored milkshakes: Avocado, Chocolate, and Vanilla. They also have the elite drinks, which include Midnight Cookies and Cream and Strawberry Milkshake.
By the way, they currently have a promo here in their Kawit branch, which is their lunch meals. This is available from Monday to Friday, 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Price ranges from 190 PHP to 220 PHP!
After a 10-minute ride from their main branch, there stands another branch of 7twenty7 American Diner in Imus, Cavite.
With its large space, everyone can enjoy the different visuals of the restaurant featuring a dashing red, blue, and pink colors that gives a consistent Western diner vibe.
They also have an events area, estimated to be for 30 persons, and its walls were designed with a rich collection of Marilyn Monroe’s and The Beatles’ portraits, which reminds us how films and music contribute a big part of us.
Also, the place displays a vintage car outside and upon entering the restaurant, invites more customers. But more than the place, the food gives an impact and an experience unique to every dining customer.
They’re probably the same branch but they offer a different and distinguished food listed on their menu.
The first stop is the Jambalaya dish. A mix of cajun rice topped with shrimps, sausages, and chicken. A terrific combination of rich flavors bursting after a spoon-filled experience.
Next is their Classic Cheeseburger which has a juicy beef patty with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and onions served with generous fries. Truly a classic!
Another one of their best sellers is The Diner’s Original Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf. As its name suggests, prepare yourself for an all-meat experience with its homemade-baked meatloaf wrapped with bacon BBQ served with veggies and mashed potato. A meal that will surely fill your heart and stomach out.
Tuna Pomodoro is another pasta dish composed of Pomodoro sauce, spaghetti pasta, topped with olives, and cheddar cheese. A nice, saucy, and sweet-salty pasta.
For Mexican cuisine lovers, this Steak Burrito is for you. Mexican rice, chili con carne wrapped with soft tortilla that binds it all together served with cheese and sour cream.
A personal favorite is the BBQ Spare Ribs. The meat is soft and tender, melts in your mouth, and falls from the bones with ease. Poured with generous mesquite BBQ sauce with BBQ rice and coleslaw providing a great compliment to each other.
And of course, to cap it off the diner wouldn’t be complete without pancakes. They served the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip which blends well with the fluffy pancake. This one is an excellent experience for those who want to be filled with a new vibe of Western feels, making your eyes and stomach full of flavors and aesthetics.
Of course, we tried some of their refreshing and colorful drinks! Make sure to try all of these.
The restaurant has the vibe of a rustic-themed place on its exterior and interior, an ambiance that perfectly relaxes while you eat.
They also have their own bakery under the main restaurant, filled with pastries perfect for their coffee, whether iced or hot. They also have a mini playroom for kids dining in.
Served on our table were Lemon Soy Chicken, Bulalo Steak, and Pakbet at Bagnet.
MAIN COURSE
The chicken has a strong taste of lemon combined with the sweetness of its sauce, a refreshing taste to those who are tired of the usual fried chicken.
Lemon Soy Chicken
The steak is basically a combination of 2 ways to cook beef, so you’ll experience a bulalo with gravy on it, alongside your favorite vegetables. It has a perfect blend of the 2 dishes, yet our palate says that it could be saltier, or it’s just us? But overall, it was good.
Bulalo Steak
The pakbet hit the mark for me, veggie lover indeed. The mix of veggies with its savory and rich sauce from bagoong topped with bagnet is a duo you should try.
Pakbet at Bagnet
DRINKS
Aside from the pastries, we tried some of their thirst-quenching drinks, such as Sago’t Gulaman, Cucumber Lime, Banana Smoothie, and Mais Con Yelo.
For desserts, we tried the Oreo Cake, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Strawberry Shortcake. Each has its own distinguished flavor as its name suggests.
DESSERTS
Oreo Cake
The oreo cake has the favorite cookies and cream flavor with a brownie-like base, which has a familiar taste when we were kids. We’ll not spill the tea so try it and then let us know!
Blueberry Cheesecake
The blueberry cheesecake on the other hand has the sweetness from its cheesecake and a little bit of sourness from the blueberry, which comes together as a powerful combo. But again, we wish it has a pinch of saltiness from the cheese so it can give more accent and impact on its flavor. But again, it’s just our honest review.
Strawberry Shortcake
The strawberry cheesecake, which is one of their best sellers, is really a must try. The sweetness of the strawberry-flavored cream and its soft chiffon cake complement well.
We also added some donuts filled with vanilla custard and strawberries in it. Both of these have a nice taste of homemade donuts dashing with a generous amount of filling, truly for the sweet tooth. We also tried their ube bread and it was flavorful!
To cap our desserts, we had some coffee. Cappuccino and latte both on iced.
The cappuccino topped with cinnamon has a great aroma, a subtle coffee taste, and a sweet taste because of its milk.
The latte has a subtle taste of coffee on your first sip yet has a striking finish with the mixture of milk. Their coffee blends are a bit sweet so you better tell the staff if you wanted it strong.
Overall, we had a good experience with the food and the place. The place was indeed calming because of the trees around and the dishes were good also, sticking into a diverse Filipino food.
Wanna try it out? Tipulo is located at KM 27 Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City. Just an hour far from Manila. Opens from 7AM to 10PM daily.
Ever heard about different good things, rolled into one?
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for your cravings, try this triple treat from The Figaro Group Express.
A store that includes 3 different brands that go well together – Angels Pizza, Tien Ma’s, and Figaro. These 3 stores have a unique combination that completes a full-course meal within reach.
The store highlights a “to-go” or “pick-it-up” kind of service and is also available for delivery via GrabFood.
Stores are located at selected Shell and Caltex gasoline stations.
Though in a compact stall, the quality of each food, service, and delicacy remains as high as it is with any stand-alone branches of the aforementioned brands less the dining experience. Those Angels Pizza’s flavors, Tien Ma’s dumplings and sauces, capping it off with a sweet and nice blend of coffee and desserts from Figaro, surely you are in for a treat.
Visit them at the following branches:
Caltex – J.P Rizal St. Corner Colasanz St. Brgy. Olympia, Makati City
Caltex – Regalado Highway, North Fairview, Quezon City
Caltex – #42 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. Sunny Side Drive, Kristong Hari, Quezon City
Shell – C. Raymundo Ave. Cor. Dela Paz St. Brgy. Caniogan, Pasig City
Seeking for thrill and adrenaline rush? Go to Mountain Quest!
Want to quench your thirst for adventure? Mountain Quest has a complete package of ATV, UTV, Dirt Bike, and 4×4 experience for you to enjoy.
Located at Purok 1, Sapinit Road, Antipolo City, Mountain Quest has different courses that serve a good adventure. But before you ride a vehicle, they will be providing you with some safety gear that you will be needing: helmets and knee and elbow pads.
Also, there will be a short briefing on how to use the vehicles and the house rules of Mountain Quest for everyone’s safety. After the necessary preparations, we tried the ATV and UTV at their Jungle course that gives adrenaline thru its rocky and muddy road. Expect to be splashed by water and mud as you experience a wild ride into the nature of Antipolo. We tried their Jungle Course, which is good for 2 hours.
After the exciting ride filled with unexpected sightings and experiences, we also tried the 4×4 that was driven by their staff and told stories about what Antipolo has to offer. Indeed a nice way to appreciate nature. Along the road with trees and a generous blue sky that day, we also saw the famous Mt. Pamitinan.
At the end of the course is a river that leads to Montalban’s famous Wawa Dam. There are nipa huts (200 PHP per hut) that can be used for picnics and a place where you can rest after a long ride and swim on the river. It is best enjoyed with friends.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Before going to the course, you will drive the ATV to the main road along with big trucks and private vehicles, so be careful and never miss an eye on your guide!
They have a washroom so don’t mind the mud and dirt, what’s important is that you enjoyed it.
There’s an eatery beside Mountain Quest that serves delicious Filipino food!
There’s no signal in the area but they have wifi connection in Mountain Quest.
WHAT TO BRING?
Extra shirts and shorts
Jacket for protection from the sun
Tumbler
Trekking shoes/sandals
Towel and toiletries
RATES AND PACKAGES
Short Course: 1-2 hours; minimum of 4 pax; 1,500 PHP/pax
Jungle Course: 2-3 hours; minimum of 2 pax; 2,500 PHP/pax
River Course: 3-4 hours; minimum of 2 pax; 3,500 PHP/pax
Adventure Course: 5-6 hours; minimum of 2 pax; 5,500 PHP/pax
A whole day course with free lunch and snacks; minimum of 3 pax; 6,500 PHP/pax
UTV & 4×4 Tour Packages available upon inquiry
Dirt Bike Rental & Lesson from a professional off-rider 1,500-8,000 PHP/pax
From Cubao, ride a jeep or a minibus going to Cogeo. Alight at Puregold or just tell the driver to drop you at “Sakayan ng Paenaan.” From there, ride a jeepney that’s routed to Paenaan and alight at Antipolo Hospital System, where a tricycle terminal (Pasabitoda) is located. Ride the tricycle and tell the driver to drop you at Mountain Quest or Pintong Bukawe Junction. A total of 2 hours of time travel (disregarding traffic jams)
Fare rates:
Minibus going to Puregold – 33 PHP/head
Jeepney going to Antipolo hospital – 25 PHP/head
Tricycle to Mountain Quest- 50 PHP per tricycle
Via private transportation:
Search “Mountain Quest” on Waze and Google Maps.
If you’re wanting to try something adventurous that’s within reach. Go to Mountain Quest and enjoy what nature has in store for you!
You can never go wrong with a strip of meat, topped with kimchi, wrapped with lettuce, and dipped into a generous amount of cheese.
We all know that you imagined that, and we all knew that it is samgyupsal!
Fantastic Baka, another quality Korean grill restaurant that serves a wide variety of marinated meat, salmon, bacon, pork strips, and beef partnered with your favorite side dishes.
Located at SM City Valenzuela, Fantastic Baka is an accessible way to feel and eat like a Korean.
In addition to their fantastic food, is an ambiance that resembles the Korean feels made by the different lights glowing all over the place and a table set up inside a mini house-like partition with lively colors.
Truly one of the best ways to eat your samgyupsal is with family or friends while enjoying the place.
For their unlimited promo, they offer 10 kinds of pork and chicken for only 499 PHP per head, definitely an affordable price with a high quality of service. Try it now to take away your doubts. Just add 100 PHP to avail unlimited beef.
Who would’ve thought that a simple part of nature will be an inspiration to the modern and ever-evolving hospitality industry?
Let us introduce to you the Cocoons! Watch our vlog here!
Like cocoons of a butterfly, a resort in Batangas widely known as Club Laiya Resort developed and evolved the conventional way of accommodation. A cocoon, as they love to call it, is a cylindrical type of room that includes a bed (good for 2 pax) with pillows and a comforter, a vault for your personal belongings, and a mini-fridge.
NOTE: The security deposit is 1,000 PHP and refundable upon checkout.
The room is very clean and just like the outside paintings of the cylindrical room, the inside is at par when it comes to aesthetics. The rooms don’t have a private bathroom but they have a common bathroom. But fret not, the bathroom here is so extra!
The cocoons are available for overnight stay only, for those who wanted to go to the resort for a day tour, they also have cabanas good for bigger groups.
Club Laiya Resort has many things to offer besides good accommodations. They have 2 restaurants, The Sands and The Rib Shack, that offer Filipino food and a feel of Western/Italian food, respectively. Both restaurants have delicious food to offer, so you better try it.
THE SANDS (7:00 AM to 6:00 PM)
Bulasing
Tofu Bagnet Sisig
Mango Cheesecake
Fresh Buko Juice
Complimentary fruits
THE RIB SHACK (12:00 NN to 10:00 PM)
There’s no complimentary breakfast. Breakfast meals cost 250 PHP each.
Resorts would not be completed without a pool and a good beachfront. Club Laiya Resort has the good of both worlds having an infinity pool for adults and a child-friendly kiddie pool, and a nice beachfront, whether you want to take a dip or just walk along the sand, they got it for you.
Also, different activities await you there, such as jetskiing, parasailing, banana boat ride, etc. All activities are a must-try when you visit their place. We tried the jetski and we enjoyed it.
HOW TO GO THERE?
OPTION 1:
If you opt to take the commuter way, from PITX, take a ride on any bus going to San Juan, Batangas. Fare is 310 PHP each. It would take you about 4-5 hours to the bus terminal of San Juan, which is the last drop-off point. Upon alighting at the terminal, you may choose to ride a tricycle or a jeepney going to Laiya. The tricycle ride is a bit costly at about 300-400 PHP due to the distance of 20 km from the terminal to the resort proper, but definitely faster than a jeepney ride, for the latter needs to be fully occupied by passengers before leaving.
OPTION 2:
Another option is to go with your car and google maps your way to it. Just a little reminder, all vehicles, including tricycles, are mandated to pass thru the Municipal Tourism Reception Area to check if you have a confirmed booking reservation and a vaccine card with you. All tourists must pay 20 PHP per head for the ecological fee.
To those who don’t have the said documents may be required to go back, the travel time going to this wonderful place is not that short so please make sure to abide by their rules.
WHERE TO BOOK?
As we all know, beauty and convenience come with a price. The room rates range from 3,700 PHP to 5,800 PHP. You may also book on their website. Click here.
The services were good, not to mention the good people behind the resort. So if you wanna try to sleep in a cocoon or just relax, come and visit Club Laiya Resort—a nice place to calm your mind and enjoy.
The sun’s heat is fastly approaching its peak as summer is just around the corner, and so here we are again bringing you to one of the most widely known beaches in Central Luzon – Anawangin Cove.
There is a newly opened resort there, which is Destinare Beach Resort & Campsite. This gem here is located in San Antonio, Zambales, and just 5-6 hours away from the Metro, giving you nice detoxification from the toxiCity and noise.
Here’s what Destinare offers:
ACCOMMODATION
There is a wide variety of accommodations to choose from. Airconditioned villas, teepee huts, cottages, or pay to pitch a tent? Whether you are traveling solo or with a large group, you will have a place here.
Here’s a sneak peek of what the rooms look like in their airconditioned villa
Other amenities include a swimming pool, a bathroom for airconditioned villas, and a common bathroom for those who ought to pitch a tent or rent a teepee hut.
NOTE: Electricity is from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM only.
SCENERY
A beautiful sea surrounded by mountains, clear waters, and nice black sand. What a great way to satisfy your eyes and relax the mind.
ACTIVITIES
Another thing that Destinare can boast of, besides the scenery is the activities they offer. They have their own view deck atop a trail made by the famous Benguet locals.
Fortunately, if you are a couple, you can go to their view deck, take 3 keys with you, and after you lock your love wishes in a padlock, you’ll have to throw 1 key to the sea, as local believes that it’s a way of showing that your love will grow like the way the nature grows; with which they also believe that it is safeguarded by a “Diwata”. You can take the remaining keys and safely keep them.
View from the top π
Arriving on top with such a breathtaking view of the Anawangin Cove will surely melt your heart away. Here at Destinare, they also have other activities, such as firing range, ATV ride, banana boat ride, takshapo.
If you are going there for a weekend trip, you may get a chance to witness their weekend bikini open and a fire-dance performance at night while having a samgyupsal by the beach, and if the weather is good enough, a firework show.
Fire dance
Fireworks
Fire dance
Samgyup by the beach
Destinare is a great place to go, but it’s not exempted from challenges such as signal and bathroom amenities. Connecting to a network’s signal is hard on the island but it can be a good thing if you want to momentarily disconnect to your mobile phone. Since the resort is just starting to cope with the pandemic and alert levels, some amenities are not yet in their 100%, but owners and facilitators make sure to provide all the best they can offer given the situation.
RATES
BOAT TRANSFER (BACK & FORTH):
1 to 5 pax: 1500 PHP
6 to 10 pax: 2000 PHP
ENTRANCE FEE:
Day tour: 70 PHP
Overnight: 130 PHP
AMENITIES & ACTIVITIES:
Pool access: 100 PHP
Botanical and butterfly garden: 50 PHP
View deck: 30 PHP
Activities island hopping: 100 PHP per person (minimum of 6 pax)
ACCOMMODATION:
Tent rental depends on the chosen package
Nipa hut with electric fan: 1500 PHP (2 pax); 6000 PHP (12-15 pax)
If you are from Manila, take a bus going to Iba/Sta. Cruz, Zambales, alight at San Antonio Public Market. From San Antonio, ride a tricycle to Pundaquit. At Pundaquit, ride a boat to Anawangin. The overall time of travel is 6 hours. So what are you waiting for? Sun’s out and this beautiful resort is just waiting for you to discover!
Tired of the typical and low standard samgyupsal? We have something for you!
But first, watch our mukbang and taste test here:
If you’re craving authentic Korean food, we found the right place for you. Surprisingly, it’s very affordable! Located at 115 Sct. Delgado, Quezon City, Geonbae Modern Korean Bar and Grill is a Korean restaurant that offers a wide range of diverse Korean food along with their samgyupsal package for the price of 599 PHP only.
From premium meat that includes pork and beef, marinated or just with the pinch of salt and pepper, bibimbap, galbi-jjim (which is a must-try), different side dishes, to a wagyu plate, truly a different approach to what we are used to seeing in a Korean grill restaurant, all that they serve on their table is on par with other flagships.
Beef
Steamed egg
Angus beef
Beef
Pork bimbap
Beef
Ramyeon
Wagyu
Japchae
Korean wings
Beef
Tteokbokki
The food they offer is one of the best among other samgyupsal we’ve tasted. Plus, they have a unique way of ordering the food here in Geonbae. Upon entrance, they will give you a receipt with a QR code. First, you need to connect to their wifi. Next, scan the QR code in the receipt. From there, you will see their menu and you can click what do you want to order. NOTE: Only 10 meals per set.
Other than what’s on the menu, they can also boast of an aesthetically good place that has a VIP room for big groups and an alfresco for those who want to eat outside.
