Halad: The 38th Negros Trade Fair, Glorietta

The much-awaited annual Negros Trade Fair is back in Glorietta and there's a wide array of food-finds. Really, Negros is not just piaya or chicken inasal. There's a whole lot of food that needs to be discovered. From sweets to savory, coffee, dried fish, and even a Batwan plant!

TKGEats at Pho Hoa Shangri-La Plaza

After a month of immersing in Japanese cuisine and culture, I'm back in Manila and excited to visit my favorite restaurants. I'm not quite sure how we end up going to Shangri-La Plaza but I was excited to dine at the newly renovated Pho Hoa. 

FOOD FINDS: Coconut Chips, Mushroom Chicharon, Piyaya, and SLERS Chicharon

I find joy whenever I chance upon a weekend market because there are just so many interesting finds. Saw these locally made goodies at the 2-day weekend food market at Rustan's Gateway.

FOOD FINDS: Mini Chicken Burgers and Meiji Chocolate Milk

Will rave about these mini chicken burgers from my Air Asia flight from Manila to KL and KL to BKK. I wasn't really planning on getting a meal since I ate a lot prior to my flight but since both seatmates ordered delicious-smelling rice meals, my tummy started to complain. I was set on ordering the pizza- yeah, pizza ... but they ran out of it. The F.A. suggested these mini burgers instead.

FOOD FINDS: Chips Ahoy Mint Chocolate Chip

I fell in love with Chips Ahoy Rootbeer Float but this one is the best for me ... well, I love mint, that's why. :)


Best paired with a glass of cold fresh milk.

FOOD FINDS: Green Tea Ice Cream and Caramel Chews

Visiting a Japanese grocery is like a goldmine for a foodie like me. I don't have a favorite place but I get my items from Konbini in Greenhills, Darumaya in Cartimar, Pasay City and Teppen in Makati.

Daughter and I have been complaining about the sudden closure of Jash Mart along Wilson so we can't have our Meiji ice cream fix as much as we'd want to.

Happiness in a cup. We espied this cup of green tea ice cream along with red bean ice cream in the freezer of the Japanese grocery in Little Tokyo.

FOOD FINDS: Ube, Pinasugbo, Dried Guyabano and Zubuchon Lechon

My foodie cousin recently arrived from her Bohol and Cebu trip and here's what she brought me --- ube, pinasugbo, dried guyabano and Zubuchon lechon. I already tried the lechon last year when one of my food buddy hand-carried it for me but wasn't able to blog it because I forgot to take photos. But the lechon was really quite memorable and I was praying for the day that it will land on my doorstep again.

Bohol House of Ube. I almost did it again. I mean, I (we) almost ate all of it before I realized I haven't taken a photo. You cannot buy this anywhere except in Bohol. For me, this tastes way better than the ones made by the nuns somewhere up North. ;) It's not too sweet also and really tastes like ube or purple yam. The downside is, you are not allowed to hand-carry this if you're riding the airplane; you need to pack this inside your suitcase (maybe) and check it in. Then pray that the cargo is not too hot, otherwise the ube will spoil. Luckily, my cousin's stash didn't. Alleluia!

FOOD FINDS: M&Ms Cherry

I am always on the lookout for chocolates especially the strange ones so I was very happy to have found these M&Ms in Baguio when we went there last March.

I've heard of M&Ms Raspberry last year but the flavor didn't arrived on Philippine shores (I think). I was even asking a friend to buy some for me but she can't find the elusive flavor except.

FOOD FINDS: Cooltura Peanut Brittle

Baguio City is not only synonymous with strawberry but with ube, choco flakes, cinnamon bread, raisin bread, and peanut brittle.

I chance upon this baby at the Tea House while buying hubby's stash of Chona's Delight. According to the staff there, its a new product made by Tea House also.

FOOD FINDS: Bronuts

We haven't been frequenting Power Plant Mall lately so I'm about a decade late when it comes to Bronuts but I'm glad that daughter and I got to try it last week. Of course, our trip to the mall won't be complete without going to Fully Booked. Daughter's been crazy over "Manga" lately and she's starting to collect Pandora Hearts.

But let's talk about Bronuts first. They can be found at the Baker's Dozen in Power Plant Mall somewhere near Mercury Drug and McDonald's. They don't sell anything except Bronuts. Well, a bronut is a donut shaped layers of flaky sweet dough, coated and filled with flavorful treats. Got that from their FB Page. Also, I was a bit apprehensive because I've heard about the long lines and the out-of-stock sign. Luckily, the shelves are still half full when we went there.

Belgian Chocolate. This is my favorite. Well, anything chocolate (most especially Belgian chocolate) is a sure winner for me. Also, I like that its chewy and not really flaky and oily. It has a generous coating of chocolate too. And I love the cream filling because its not that sweet but just right. As for the toffee bits on top, its not love at first bite.

FOOD FINDS: Yamato Bakery's Croughnuts

Several months back, we've witnessed the croughnuts (cronuts) craze and everyone just can't seem to have enough of them. I wrote about my first croughnut experience here and that was like ages ago.

And because daughter and I happen to have dinner somewhere near Yamato Bakery along Jupiter (not the planet) Street in Makati, I told her we need to check the croughnuts nearby.

There are about 4 to 5 croughnut selections that night but we just bought one each. Mine's the green tea (of course) and daughter got the vanilla.

Green Tea Croughnuts, P130. I can't say its love at first bite and what really comes to mind was flavored "bicho-bicho." Hahaha. But the green tea on top tasted good however, the green tea filling was just too much for me to enjoy the croughnut. I needed to scrape some off.

FOOD FINDS: Oreo Cheesecake Cookie & Gavino's Mochi

A few days ago, daughter and I had a blast mall hopping. We also attended the Trade Fair showcasing products from Bicol. Got myself a miniature belen made from buri and some boxes made from abaca leaves.

Of course, mall hopping won't be complete without some food discovery.

Figaro's Oreo Cheesecake Cookie. What a mouthful- but so delish! I love that its sweet, sugary and cheesecake-y at the same time. Cost P62 for this big piece of love.  I want some milk with my cookie! Daughter opted to play safe and ordered two chocolate muffins- yum yum!

Gavino's. I've seen Gavino's a couple of times in the past but it was only a few days ago that we bought some. Actually, their donuts reminds me greatly of Pon de Ring.

We're supposed to get the donuts but saw these babies and bought them instead. Its mochi-donuts. You know, the hole-y part of the donuts. Got three flavors: Chocolate Hazelnut, Double Chocolate and Red Velvet.

Daughter was the one who chose Red Velvet since its her current food addiction- red velvet cake, red velvet cupcake, and now, red velvet mochi. Hahaha. What's next, red velvet cape or dress? Halloween! Anyways, the chocolate flavored mochis are good and chewy. Btw, Japanese donuts are chewy because they use a different type of flour. Also, donut mochi is different from a real mochi, okay? But the clear winner in the mochi flavors is the red velvet. Wow, so happy that daughter is red velvet-crazy. I love that it tasted like red velvet-y chewy and complete with the cheese-y frosting on top. Definitely going back to Gavino's to hoard red velvet mochis. And not only that, the mochis only cost P15 each. Coolness.

Tous Les Jours and Other Food Finds

There's always a special thrill whenever there's a new food discovery.

To start with, I'd like to introduce the Korean Tous les Jours Bakeshop. At last, nagkita na rin kami. And look at the packaging, its so nice--- gwiyomi !!! It even has a cake server and candles just in case you forget to buy one. Costs less than P500. Thumbs up!