TINAPAYAN FESTIVAL, House of Breads – Speaks of Real Bread Flavor and No Other

There are only a few small businesses that turn into something near to an institution in a community after of years being in the business. I remember when we had our own small family business of an eatery that almost everyone in our neighborhood knows.

Our 'claim to fame' is basically what my mom cooks - from Adobo to even fried chicken everything gets sold out immediately. It wasn't until the late 1990s that my mama and papa decided to close it down because they can't manage it anymore.

And whenever I find these kinds of businesses I am so thrilled because it really takes a lot of hard work not just from the staff but also the owners to keep it that way! And for Tinapayan Festival: House of Breads, bringing that value and importance of bread to the public is what makes them well known.

Ermita Hotel Tours

One of the things my relatives do is they like to do staycations. I like to do it too but not too much because I prefer to stay at home at time. 

But I had a chance to check out some of the hotels in Ermita after we went to the event EMBOA hosted. 

We were able to tour 2 hotels so I will show you these for today. I might do a hotel review, but that would be in the future. So expect that this will be an introduction. 

This is especially great if you are staying in the Ermita, Manila area so I might give you some tips. 

The first hotel we checked out is Miramar Hotel. As being an art deco hotel this actually was built during 1930's but was only re-established around 2000s. It is situated within the Roxas Boulevard area so expect that the rate in this area is quite higher than other hotels since Roxas Boulevard is one of the main roads here in Manila. 

The whole hotel has a vintage feel to it. And since it was built during the 1930's it has small hallways and boutique style of setting. 

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For me I don't find this hotel suitable for me since if I am staying in the city I would prefer something that is in the middle of the city. This is actually more suitable to those that are staying for business. 

They do have a spa suite which you can use for sparty or a getaway for you and your partner. 

The second hotel we went to is Hotel Kimberly. 

The facade of the hotel is actually very clean and more like a condominium but don't let that fool you. The lobby is really spacious and each floor has wifi access. 

There are actually different rooms that they provide here at a more affordable rates. 

Compared to Miramar Hotel, I actually like this hotel more because it is near a mall and basically everything I need. And one thing I like about this hotel is that they have cheaper rates so if you are staying with your friends your wallet won't burn you. 

You can check out Miramar Hotel and Hotel Kimberly on Facebook for their rates. 

I will do another post on the individual hotels so make sure to check back. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

EMBOA Gives back this Christmas Season.

Christmas is a season for giving and that is what Ermita Manila Business Owners Association or EMBOA did last week at the Remedios Circle park 

They had a gift giving activity last week that an estimated 500 kids ages 7 to  12 from 16 barangas were given gift bags and were also treated to some performances such as a Chrismas carol and performances from the students from Philippine Womens University and Unibersidad de Manila. 

EMBOA is also one of the organizations that have led projects in the area such as Massive Clean up drives to make Ermita Manila go back to its bustling beauty it had before. 

Hoping for more great projects from this organizations! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Breezy Dining Experience at Cafe Naya at the Palace

Hey guys! 

So far I have been dining out A LOT and the same old thing can be tiring so trying out something new is great. And I'm so thankful to try out Cafe Naya which is located at The Palace in Uptown BGC. 

 

  

  

The whole ambiance of the restaurant is like you went on a cruise. It also has an over looking view of Palace Pool club so this can be a great place to hang out with your friends after taking a dip at Palace Pool Club or after a night of partying at Valkyrie. 

Most of the dishes they serve are an array of Modern Mediterranean cuisines with a fusion twist. Here are some of my recommendations for you. 

For starters, you can try Uni and Ricotta. Its a fusion between the Italian Ricotta cheese with the Japanese Uni. Its very creamy and sweet but doesn't overpower the Uni. 

Warm Camembert. 

It has crisp bacon, Apples, and Camembert. I can only describe it in three words : Sweet, Tangy and Crunchy. This dish has a unique flavor that will intrigue you in trying it more. 

Fried Oysters. 

The batter didn't dried out the freshness of the oysters. I love this dish although I rarely eat oyster. 

Spicy Tako and Scallop Roll 

Its very chewy but has a kick because of the sriracha mixed with the seafood. Definite A+ for me! 

Now let's move on to the Main Courses. 

Pulled Duck Confit. 

This dish is actually the one that me and the others like because its very creamy and the pasta was Al Dente! Its a savory dish and quite honestly it reminds me a bit of home. 

Photo from Cafe Naya

24 hr Short ribs

When I first saw this I was like "gimme that short rib!" because of the name I got curious more and at the first chew it was like perfection. But then I realized something ITS A MEDIUM RARE! I'm not really into meat that were cooked at that temperature but I was surprised at how soft and easy to chew it is that I can't help coming back for seconds. 

The secret is basically they cooked the short ribs at a certain temperature for 24 hours to retrain some of its juices. 

A meat lover's delight this can be. 

And now for desert. 

Photo from Cafe Naya

Yoghurt Panna cotta

This sweet treat has caramelized pineapple to give it a little tangy twist. Its sweet but very light. 

There are actually a lot more food you can check out at Cafe Naya so make sure to drop by the Palace at Uptown BGC. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Enjoy a Road Trip of Manila with Jeepney Tours!

Hey guys! 

What is one thing that makes you think of the Philippines when you see it? 

Besides from the food of course! 

My Chinatown Adventure! Lunar New Year Edition

新年快乐 

새해 복 많이 받으세요 

あけまして　おめでとう　ございます

Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới

If you have read any of these CONGRATULATIONS! But if not I would like to greet you a pleasant Lunar New Year! 

Although its quite late I just want to share my Lunar New Year experience at Binondo! 

Black Canyon Coffee Opens New Branch in McKinley Hill Taguig

 

I am a huge lover of coffee ever since. 

Ever since I was young I have actually drank coffee from different coffee shops so I have a penchant to try out new coffee places. Luckily I was able to check out the newest one which is Black Canyon Coffee. 

Black Canyon Coffee combines coffee with Thai cuisines. Originally in Thailand which has over 200 branches plus another 40 branches in Singapore, Dubai, Malaysia and Indonesia - and now they have two here in the Philippines. 

Last June 15 2013, I was invited to see Black Canyon Coffee's grand opening of their latest branch in McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. 

Being the latest addition in the growing family of Thailand's largest chain of coffee houses is now in the Philippines. 

Unlike other coffee houses, Black Canyon coffee doesn't just offer the usual frappe and espresso, they also offer Thai cuisines which is really nice since there are not a lot of restaurants that offer Thai cuisines. Their bestseller among those in the menu is Pad Thai and their signature drink - the Black Canyon Coffee.

Black Canyon Coffee also offer teas (both hot and cold), Frappes, Smoothies, Fruit juices, and chocolate drinks. Here are some of the drinks I was able to try.

Mocha Glacier Frappe. 

Mainly this is like the typical mocha frappe but instead of topping it with whipped cream, it has ice cream on top! This would be great to drink on a super humid day.

 

Black hazelnut Frappe

This drink is I think one of my favorites now since I like Hazelnut. Its quite bitter at first but once you have gone past that its quite sweet but still right to enjoy to the very last sip. 

If you like slightly bitter drinks this one if for you! Its has the right mix of hazelnut and coffee that its not overwhelming to the taste buds.

Red Bean Thai Tea Frappe

The name is quite a handful and so is the taste! This one is definitely for the adventurous ones since the taste of Thai tea is something that we don't taste everyday. 

I have actually tasted Thai Tea before and at first I didn't like it since it has an unexplainable taste for me. But the more that you drink this you will actually be able to appreciate its flavor. Thai tea is actually made with ceylon tea, in Thailand they also mix this with other ingredients which also include spices. So maybe that is why its quite unexplainable.

The added red bean and whipped cream actually is a great combination since its mellows down the taste of the thai tea. I've actually liked the taste of Thai tea that I'm thinking of going to Black Canyon Coffee the next time I visit my dad.

Hello there blogger friends! :)

 Here are some pictures of their shop. 

There is also a second floor which I think you can reserve if you will have parties. The over all atmosphere of the shop is laid back but still sophisticated which is quite hard to pull off. The interior is modern yet still homey. 

The place is very warm that it can be a hang out place for you and your friends and also somewhere you could bring your family for Sunday brunch.

I actually can't believe I had three frappes in one day! 

No wonder I was quite hyper after the event LOL. But still Black Canyon Coffee is a great place to hang out with your friends for sure. 

Black Canyon Coffee is located at the ground floor of Tuscany building which is adjacent of Venice Piazza in McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. You can also visit their SM Southmall branch. 

I wish Black Canyon Coffee would have a branch in Quezon City soon so I could have my Red Bean Thai Tea frappe mix anytime I want. 

How about you? 

How do you like your coffee? 

Comment below~! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Are you Ready for KFC's Double Decker?

Hello there! Its Saturday again and I just thought to drop by and share this post with you guys. 

Since I started this food blog, I have really been out and about trying all the food finds I can find. But because I am trying to lose weight, I have to minimize my food finding trips. Luckily I was able to get a hold of this a couple of weeks ago when my friend was feeling down due to a break up. 

I usually suggest to my friends that are in a bit of a heartbreak situation to pig out. Either on pastries, ice cream, candies and anything else they have in mind. I would suggest munching on chocolates but my friend doesn't want chocolates so I suggested maybe chicken would be great. 

Lovin' Every SiP

For a couple of weeks now I have been drinking SiP which is a milk tea establishment near our office. 

 They specialize in chilled tea drinks. For one thing that I noticed in their drinks is that its not that bitter since they steep the tea.

As a tea drinker for quite some time there is a big difference when a tea is steeped or brewed. When it is steep, there is the taste of the tea leaves but not bitter after taste while if you brew your tea it still has the same taste but has the bitter after taste.

I have tried a couple of their drinks which are strawberry milk tea and their raspberry yakult tea which tastes soo good!

You can also choose to add on some toppings besides the typical tapioca to egg pudding, coffee jelly and even aloe vera.

Their drinks are quite refreshing since they are not too sweet due to their natural sweeteners. They are also affordable since one large milk tea is about 100 pesos which is great if you are a student that has a penchant for milk tea.

I really recommend this drink to everyone since its refreshing and also its affordable and you can choose your own toppings with it!

You can get yourself some SiP at Robinson's Galleria, Pearl Plaza in Ortigas, Dr. Quintos St. in Malate, and in SM Sucat.

I will definitely be getting more SiP in the future for sure!

Much Love!

xx Alice 

Get Close with Birds of Prey in Manila Ocean Park

Birds of prey or raptors are avian predators or flying predators that use their powerful talons, hooked beaks, and acute sense of sight to hunt and feed on their prey which includes fish, small mammals and reptiles. 

There are two orders of raptors which are the Falconiformes and the Strigiformes.

Falconiformes are diurnal avian predators which mean they hunt their prey in the daytime. Among these are the eagles, hawks, falcons, ospreys, and vultures.

Strigiformes are in the other hand nocturnal which means they hunt and feed on their prey during night time. Most common animal in this order is the owl.

Would it be a great if you get to interact with these magical birds? You can actually do so! 

Manila Ocean Park's newest attraction called the Birds of Prey Kingdom features one of the most stunning coastal raptors in the country, The Brahminy Kites or commonly known as Lawin. 

A little trivia about these birds: They can commonly be seen in Bohol, Mindoro, Palawan, Cebu, Marinduque, Guimaras, Leyte, Lubang, Sarangani, Masbate, Tawi-Tawi and other parts of the country.

A Brahminy Kite or Lawin has a pure white head and chest contrasting with chestnut back, wings, tail, and black primary feathers. These bird feeds on dead animals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and also fish. 

Last January 15, I was very fortunate to be able to experience interacting with them. It was a bit scary since they would be flying above you. But the birds are very comfortable with humans around them. 

One of the exciting traits of this attraction is you are able to have a picture taken with these birds while feeding them. This is a great experience and also educational for the children since you will be able to show the children these wonderful creatures up close and personal and also share to them that if we take care of our environment, we will be able to see them more. 

Thanks to Mac for this photo! too bad the bird was looking the other way

If you want to experience this wonderful attraction you can visit Manila Ocean Park to see these wonderful Birds of  Prey in action. 

Hey! I love this pic!

Much Love! 

xx Alice