Meet the Mega Meat BBQ Set from Soban K-Town

I always deny that I like things that are Korean, but actually, I do. I buy a lot of makeup and beauty products from Korean brands. I like their fashion style, a select few of their K-Pop bands and I've watched 1 or 2 of their telenovelas too (back in college). As for their cuisine, I was just ok with it. My liking of Korean food was turned 180 degrees until I tried Soban K-Town Grill. I have tried a few Korean restaurants before, even during my childhood (my late father loved it) but all I can remember was that how I hated Kimchi because it is super spicy and I'm not really big into spicy food.

Soban means small tray or table. Soban K-Town Grill is a collaboration between award-winning Korean restaurateur, Mr. Sung Rah of Sariwon Korean Barbecue and their Philippine franchisee, the Happyfoods Group. It is inspired by K-Town in Los Angeles where Korean immigrants settled and began fusing traditional Korean ingredients and techniques with American comfort foods and the Mexican street food scene, charting a bold a new flavorful path for Korean cuisine. At Soban K-Town Grill they aim to serve their client's favorite Korean pork, chicken BBQ and tacos in a bold, new flavorful way.

SheIn.com's End of Season Sale

It's End of Season Sale at SheIn!
End of Season Sale
Up to 85% off
Get $10 off orders $90+      CODE:CON10
Get $25 off orders $140+    CODE:CON25
Get $35 off orders $210+    CODE:CON35
New season new fashion
Shop your best outfit with the strongest discount

Spice Cafe at City Garden Grand Hotel

We are in the age where hotel restaurants are climbing back to popularity and respectability. I remember when I was young and life was better than now, my late father would hold meetings at hotel restaurants for when they would meet foreign or local clients for their business. He and my mother would usually debate if it’s practical do so. My father would argue, the food is great and that it is a way to impress their clients. 

Ever since then I’ve always thought, dining in hotel restaurants has always got to be expensive plus extravagant. Only that I’ve started earning money and want to reward myself once in a while and getting invited to events where the venue is a hotel, that I understood why my father prefer eating or bringing his clients to hotel restaurants. 

Take Your Dining to New Heights at Firefly Roofdeck - City Garden Grand Hotel

If you have been a regular reader or visitor of my blog or other social media, by now, you have an idea that I am someone who loves roof deck or roof top restaurants and/or bars. Whether or not the fickle Manila weather allows, my fondness of alfresco dining and drinking has taken me to a higher level of fun by seeking out the Metro’s best rooftop places. Places where solitude and calming breezes offer me a break from the noise of the real world down below.

In Poblacion, Makati, there’s a couple of rooftop restobars you can hang out at. I don’t know for sure if you’ve heard about Firefly Roofdeck. Well, Esquire Magazine Philippines included it as one of Manila's 7 Coolest Roof-Deck Bars. And I couldn’t see any reason why they shouldn’t include Firefly in that list. 

NIU by Vikings Now Open at The Podium Mall!

Buffets were originally a display of wealth as seen in old-world celebrations. But nowadays, it means to “eat-all-you-can”, whether in an event or in a restaurant. If you need to shed money for it, there’s usually a fixed or set price that you need to pay, no matter how much food you can stuff into your mouth or stomach. And Filipinos are known to be big on buffets, as evidenced of the growing buffet restaurant scene in the Philippines.

Although it mightily ruins my get-fit goals, I love buffets myself. What my strategy is to eat the dishes that I usually don’t get to eat that often and deviate from the ones that are all too common and get smaller portions (which is a struggle for me LOL!). A week ago, I was invited by one of my blogger friend Princess (www.phantasmdarkstar.com) as her plus one during the early days of the soft opening of NIU by Vikings at their newest and second branch at the Podium Mall. 

Nothing Beats the Classic: Ube Cake by Cara Mia Cakes & Gelato

I love anything ube (purple yam) flavored! Name it, I'll eat it! I have a long time love affair with ube ever since I was little. Trips to Baguio or Tagaytay without be complete without bringing home my favorite ube jam. I can sit for hours on end just sitting and eating ube jam straight from the jar. I wouldn't let anything flavored pass my radar: candies, cakes, sandwich etc., even store bought snacks with that flavor I've tried it. 

Obviously I was ecstatic to get a hold of this Classic Ube Cake from Cara Mia Cakes and Gelato, especially that I was feeling under the weather when it arrived at my doorstep. What a perfect pick-me-up treat! Even though I was quite sick, I rose from my bed and took time to capture it. I mean hello, just look how pretty this thing is!

Staycation: Grand Weekend Staycation at City Garden Grand Hotel Makati

Everyone deserves a break. I mean we all really do. After I took my Nursing board exams a great couple of years ago, I already started working even though I still didn’t know if I passed or not. When I became a registered nurse and opportunities came, I was non-stop with work. I only had three jobs under my belt and I believe there was only a couple of weeks of free time that I had in between in jobs. So to say the least, I have been working for almost a decade straight. 

Sure, I get to have breaks and vacations, but you know sometimes you get to a point where you really really get burned out and I guess it is a way that life tells us to now and then, pause. That is exactly what happened to me; I was in a rut and a very dark place so I left my almost 8-year job and decided to take somewhat a sabbatical leave. To reassess and to evaluate where I want my life to be headed. 

Takaw Filipino Eatery Greenhills - For the #TakawwwNation

What is Takaw? I only know two phrases associated with it: sobrang takaw and takaw tingin.  Sometimes, I am sobrang takaw and sometimes I am takaw tingin. Hahaha! Kidding aside, Takaw is a Tagalog word which means voracious or gluttonous. For some it might give a negative connotation. But as for Filipinos, this word is more on the lightly funny side; especially Filipinos love their food, love to eat, therefore we are Takaw. 

Speaking of Takaw, there’s this restaurant named as such in Greenhills by acclaimed celebrity chef Tatung Sarthou offering Filipino comfort food. Ok, you’ll probably ask, why do you have to trek to Greenhills for Filipino food when you can get it just about anywhere in Manila. Well, it’s a Filipino eatery serving dishes with funny and quirky names, heirloom dishes and others that Chef Tatung put his spin on. 

Konnichiwa! A food trip to Japan at Festival Mall

From neon-lit Shibuya district to the serene Kyoto temples, Japan offers plenty of reasons to be loved. It’s the place to go to explore a colorful culture, and try fantastic food!

So here’s good news for foodies If you can’t go to Japan, Festival Mall brings Japan to you! A Filinvest Lifemall, Festival Mall is home to several Japanese restaurants to cater to the South Metro community. Check out these five restaurants that will surely make you go, “Oishii desu!”

Best Thai Food in Tagaytay: Lime and Basil

Another Asian cuisine that I truly enjoy eating is Thai food. Thai food is known to be mostly strong and spicy, but more than that, it also serves you with an accord of flavors. Most Thai dishes have complex flavors and each hits all four corners of your taste buds: sweet, salty, sour, and spicy. I think it’s one of the most distinct and refined among the Asian cuisines. This can probably stem from the fact that Thailand it is the only country in South East Asia which was not colonized by Europeans.

Sure, it has influences by neighboring countries due to trading during ancient times. But Thai food is unique and innate. Unlike Filipino cuisine that can be defined as a fusion of all sorts because of so many influences from all around Asia and the Western world. It is only in recent years that Thai cuisine has evolved but unquestionably it still stays true to its roots.