Nuat Thai Tomas Morato: Make Your Own Spa Experience

As a daily commuter, I've always found myself tired after a long day. My work may not involve strenuous activities and grueling manual labor, but there's nothing wrong with unwinding and having my weary body pampered once in a while. So a few weeks ago, after eating out with my friends at Octoboy, off we went to Nuat Thai Tomas Morato.

Although there has been a lot of Nuat Thai branches sprouting in the Metro, I'm glad that my first Nuat Thai experience was in Tomas Morato. Located at corner Scout Limbaga Street, the spa sits two floors in the same building as Congo Grille. And since we've scheduled our visit on a Saturday, the ground floor area which has a traditional Thai-inspired interior was already fully occupied when we walked in. I didn't mind it though as the second floor was more of my liking, cozy and elegant with modern Thai décor.

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The Wine Museum: Wine Appreciation with Breakfast Club

For the past few months, I've found myself eager to learn more about wines. Fortunately, I was given another opportunity to appreciate the art of wine, and food and wine pairing through a tour and lunch at The Wine Museum courtesy of Breakfast Magazine.

Photo sourced from The Wine Museum

Located along Aurora Boulevard in Pasay City, The Wine Museum is a four-story family-oriented restaurant, bed and breakfast destination, as well as a foundation established not only to cater to wine aficionados, food lovers and weary travelers, but to also provide hands-on training to students and practitioners in the hospitality and tourism industry.

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Carinderia Buffet: The Cheapest Filipino Eat-All-You-Can

A few months ago, I was invited by my friends Kurt and Stacy of Tsinoy Foodies to check out a Filipino eat-all-you-can restaurant as they have a voucher good enough for four. So with the beau in tow, I didn't only get to eat out but also had my very first double date.

Located in Quezon City, we visited Carinderia Buffet which offers one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, Filipino buffet rate. Since we had a voucher, we only paid less than a hundred per person. But even without a coupon, their P149 per person fee is already a steal. No wonder the restaurant's famous among the employees and locals in the area.

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Daily Quickie: KFC Cheese Top Burger

Daily Quickie is a short tag on the title which I use for blog entries about food I'm snacking at home, work or anywhere.

If you've been a reader for a while, you probably know that I'm a big fan of KFC. So when I first saw the commercial for the Cheese Top Burger, I can't help but ask myself, "Is this serious? This is probably a bad joke, right?" But of course, KFC wouldn't pay for the commercial slot just to make us laugh. It's not April Fool's Day when I saw it anyway.

Even if I found the concept behind the burger funny, I convinced myself to give it a try. So when our family ordered in our favorite Bucket Meal with Brownies (P585) for delivery, I also included an ala carte order of the Cheese Top Burger (P48). To my dismay, the cheese on top of the bun has cracks and was broken into a few more smaller pieces. I guess it's not delivery-friendly, but I was still interested to give it a taste nonetheless.

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Black Canyon Coffee & Manang's Chicken Giveaway Winners

Happy Tuesday friends! Sorry if it took me longer to post this. I've suffered from flu these past few days, and I still have a bad case of cough and colds at the moment. But enough with my lame but honest excuses! After over a month of waiting, I'll finally present to you the winners for my Black Canyon Coffee and Manang's Chicken giveaways.

And before I announce the winners, I'd like to thank everyone who joined. It was quite overwhelming to receive 70 participants for the Black Canyon Coffee giveaway and 70 more for the Manang's Chicken giveaway. Although it was tiring to manually check every single entry, it was fun and worth doing. Okay, so here it goes. After encoding the qualified names to Random Picker, a free online random generator, the randomizer did its thing and the winners are as follows...

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Octoboy: Japanese Sizzling Pizza in Tomas Morato

It's no secret that when it comes to Japanese food, whether traditional, modern or Western-Japanese, I'm probably one of the biggest fans. So after an impromptu evening snack at Little Tokyo the other week, we found ourselves in another Japanese food spot. This time, at Octoboy Japanese Sizzling Pizza in the heart of the busy Tomas Morato.

Owned by Mr. Giovanni Cheng, Octoboy Japanese Sizzling Pizza is a revolutionary Japanese dining spot serving Osaka's famous savory pancake, as well as other modern Japanese delicacies that even we, Filipinos can't resist. By day, the restaurant is a well-lit dining space with wooden accents and a vibe of Japanese downtown eateries. On Friday and Saturday nights, Octoboy is transformed into a pub with live band performances.

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Mother's Crepe and Cafe: Crepes and More by Mazazu

Even after a heavy meal, when it comes to desserts, I certainly won't pass. So after a very filling Jawbreaker session at Zark's Burgers, my friends and I didn't hesitate to try out the sweet treats at the newly-opened Mother's Crepe and Cafe in SM Mall of Asia.

Originating from Japan, Mother's Crepe and Cafe also known as Mazazu Crepe in Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries, is finally in the Philippines to bring us delicious yet healthy sweet delights that reflect a mother's wish for her child's well-being. Although crepes and other sweet desserts are usually considered unhealthy, and high in fat and cholesterol, Mother's Crepe and Cafe deviates itself as its crepe mix has flour mixed with bran which is high in dietary fiber. Its light and low-fat special whip cream also contains only 26% of vegetable fat which makes Mazazu's crepes generally healthier.

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Zark's Burgers: It's Jawbreaker Day!

When CashCashPinoy offered a deal for Zark's Burgers, I was one of those who didn't think twice and just went ahead to buy the coupon. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn't able to claim my P500-worth of food and drinks from the famous burger shop. I thought it would take me forever to finally pay a trip to Zark's Burgers. Fortunately, The Pickiest Eater invited me to attend Jawbreaker Day last Sunday.

The Jawbreaker Day is Zark's Burgers special promo offering their 5-inch tall burger to the public for P150 instead of P250. And although there was already Jawbreaker Day part one for this month, I was fortunate to have attended the part two, as I got to evade the long lines of customers in queue last July 7. If you're wondering how, well this time, Zark's Burgers implemented a ticketing system with a number and a time slot.

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Sariwon: Authentic Korean Barbecue at BHS Central

Although I'm seriously in love with Asian cuisine, there are still some oriental favorites that I haven't grown too acquainted to. As much as I love koreanovelas and K-Pop, I still haven't tried a lot of Korean dishes in the Metro. Fortunately, a new Korean restaurant in Bonifacio High Street Central has spared me from running into less-than-mediocre Korean food spots. Hailing straight from South Korea is Sariwon Korean Barbecue.

Being awarded "Best Korean Restaurant" by NBC Broadcasting Company in 2005, and by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2007, we knew we're in the good hands of the legendary Mrs. Bun-Im Koo, the founder of the tasty yet diabetic-friendly bulgogi sauce which made Sariwon Korean Barbecue a family-owned empire in its country of origin.

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Cova Tapas Y Sangria: Tapas, Racion and More Sangria

What better way to chill and catch up with friends than to visit a Spanish tapas bar... And this is exactly what we did last week as my pals and I visited the new tapas bar along Jupiter Street, Cova Tapas Y Sangria -- a joint venture of Tatyana Guevara and Patrick Hesse, both of whom after graduating from Enderun College, trained at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona before returning to Manila to finally open their own modern Spanish tapas bar.

Although I admit that I'm a hearty eater, surprisingly, tapas or the appetizers and snacks in Spanish cuisine, appeal to me. Maybe it's some of the influence the Spanish has passed down to us, or maybe I just simply love pica-picas. But whichever it is, I'm sure anyone who'll walk into the bar will find themselves amused by the unconventional yet aesthetically-drawing modern cave-like design of Cova Tapas Y Sangria.

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Little Tokyo Series: Okonomiyaki and More at Kagura

Being a big Japanese food fanatic, people have already told me countless times to pay Little Tokyo in Makati a visit. I've been in the area once, but wasn't able to blog about the experience for lack of decent photos and details. So when my food buddies and I went to the Japanese food haven for a quick snack, I knew I should start a Little Tokyo Series not just to share with you the good eats I've found in the area, but also to motivate myself to visit the place more often and try every restaurant that Little Tokyo has to offer.

Located at the back of Makati Cinema Square in Pasong Tamo extension, Little Tokyo houses a cluster of Japanese eateries and even grocery stores mostly owned by Japanese nationals. Although the quaint but oriental-themed compound is quite small, the area has been a haven not just for local foodies, but also for Japanese expats. And for a Japanese food lover like me, this is indeed a very good sign.

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Bistro Filipino: Modern Filipino Cuisine by Chef Laudico

After a Filipino cuisine-packed June, I thought I'd find myself taking a break from our national fare. However, after gaining a new-found love and respect for our own cuisine, I started the month of July with an exquisite modern Filipino lunch at the six-year old fine dining restaurant in Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig -- Bistro Filipino by husband and wife tandem Chef Roland and Jacqueline Laudico.

As a fine dining spot, Bistro Filipino exudes a quirky elegance with its warm color scheme, checkerboard floor tiles, wooden tables and vintage pieces that spell nothing short of cozy. At the center of the dining space is also a semi-private section filled with beautiful chandeliers and draped with weaved see-through dividers which strongly reminded me of kulambo -- mosquito net usually used in provinces.

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Casa San Pablo: Inns, Coconuts and A Cooking Tour

Together with the Breakfast Magazine team and fellow bloggers, I got to visit a quaint country inn at the heart of Laguna last May 26. Owned by the husband and wife tandem of Boots and An Alcantara, Casa San Pablo is a cozy compound filled with Baguio-like pine trees, sprawling lawns, rustic pieces and a view that will surely charm any visitor.

Our group endured over a 2-hour drive from Taft Avenue, Manila to San Pablo City, Laguna. However, the butt cramps I suffered during the long ride was well worth it as a refreshing sight of Casa San Pablo's swimming pool greeted us after reaching the gates. And after crossing a wooden bridge, the view can't get any prettier.

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Moshi Koshi: The Noodle Boss of The Metro

Like a puzzle piece, a hot bowl of noodle soup fits perfectly during rainy days. But whether it's raining cats and dogs or extremely sunny, no one can take away the noodle boss title from a happy urban diner along Shaw Boulevard -- Moshi Koshi.

You all know my love for Japanese food. And as much as I love my fresh pieces of sashimi, Japanese noodles can happily warm not just my tummy but also my soul. At Moshi Koshi, they give utmost importance not just on the flavors of their noodle dishes, but also in giving diners a koshi experience -- a distinctly sweet state of the noodle where it's tender, chewy and firm but not hard, quite similar to the Italians' al dente pasta state.

The noodle boss's space is well-lit and drenched with clean whites and warm wooden fixtures that give off a Japanese ramen house feel. At the right most portion of the room is a wall-posted copy of Moshi Koshi's menu, along with the counter, kitchen and a special area where they make the noodles fresh, in-store, every single day.

The Food

Moshi Koshi may be a noodle boss, but it also houses a few side dishes perfect both as a hot noodle accompaniment or a meal starter.

Among the sidings, we got to try the Gyoza (P80) -- 4 pieces of beautifully pan-fried Japanese dumplings generously filled with a ground pork and vegetable mixture. And although I'm not a big gyoza fan, I enjoyed munching on these delightful treats which were quite crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.

For main course, we sampled the Shoyu Ramen (P185) -- yellow-tinted thin wheat noodles in a hot soy sauce-based broth also filled with pork slices, vegetables, nori (dried seaweed) and narutomaki (Japanese fish cake). Although I have a bias on miso ramen, I love how flavorful, quite salty yet clean-tasting the shoyu broth is as it provided a tasty base for the noodle toppings. And as promised by the noodle boss, the ramen noodle strands were firm and chewy when eaten within 6 minutes.

Next we had was the Tempura Soba (P160), a bowl of really thin gray-tinted healthy buckwheat noodles, shironegi (leeks) and carrots in a soy sauce-based broth with a separate serving of 2 large pieces of chunky ebi tempura.

Although I usually enjoy my soba cold, this warm hearty bowl is a delight to eat. The soba noodles are firmer with a nice hint of an earthy and nutty flavor that goes perfectly with the tasty shoyu broth. As suggested at Moshi Koshi, eat the noodles within 5 minutes and I'm sure you'll enjoy its koshi state as much as I did.

We also tried the Niku Udon (P160) -- thick wheat noodles and beef slices in a flavorful shoyu broth topped with negi (onion) whites. As a big fan of udon, this bowl brought me to noodle heaven. Albeit simpler in taste than ramen and soba, the udon strands were so chewy and firm, perfectly koshi when eaten within 8 minutes. The marinated beef slices also made the broth sweeter like sukiyaki's, making this bowl so delectable.

Moshi Koshi specializes in noodles, but it also has a selection of rice meals such as donburi (rice bowl). For the trip, we got to try the Katsudon (P170) -- chunky pieces of pork cutlets coated with egg and sweet onion slices atop a hot serving of sticky rice drenched with some tonkatsu sauce. Although I'm not a big fan of this Japanese-western classic, I was quite impressed at how tasty and generous the portion was.

We also got to sample the Kara-age Bento (P220), a boxed set of Japanese fried chicken and 4 kinds of side dishes -- steamed vegetables, chicken salad, kinpira and spinach gomae (if I'm not mistaken), that comes with a bowl of steamed rice and hot miso soup. Being a kara-age lover, this set meal definitely satisfied my craving. Each chicken piece was tender, succulent and oozing with garlicky flavors. The side dishes were quite good, but only the spinach gomae left a lasting impression.

We had the Coffee Ice Cream (P55) and Green Tea Ice Cream (P55) to end our late lunch on a sweet note. While I don't go gaga for coffee-flavored ice creams, I love how smooth and creamy Moshi Koshi's was. It also had a hint of caramel without being overly sweet. The green tea-flavored one on the other hand, was another winner with its blend of rich green tea bitterness and silky creamy goodness.

The Takeaways

After a filling and palate-satisfying meal, I decided to bring home some noodle items -- Shoyu Ramen for my mom, Kara-age Soba (P150) for the little sis and a serving-for-later of Kaki-age Udon (P140) for myself.

I live way up north and I was quite worried that the noodles might get mushy and inedible. However, Moshi Koshi doesn't only serve the noodles, dry toppings and the broth separately, but also places the takeaways in a neat plastic and paper layered container.

Even after an hour of traveling, my mom, sis and I all got to enjoy a koshi noodle experience even at the comforts of our home. Oh, and I can't wait to grab a free Yakisoba (P140) on my next visit -- a promo for every P500 single-receipt purchase.

THE VERDICT

After this trip to Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss, I now have a fave noodle place. And with varieties of ramen, soba and udon, as well as a selection of rice dishes, sidings and even desserts all at reasonable prices, I can't help but plan my next visit to the area to try their other offerings. True to their words, Moshi Koshi is indeed a noodle boss worthy of a visit not only during the rainy days, but also when a noodle craving kicks in.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss, Shaw
431 Shaw Blvd. cor. Ideal St.,
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 726-0575
Official Website
Facebook Page

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Manang's Chicken: Wilcon City Center Branch + Giveaway

Who has yet to hear about the crispy and savory chicken treat which first made a name in Mercato Centrale? If you're a fellow foodie, I bet Manang's Chicken rings a bell. With roots still strongly and deeply planted in weekend markets, this up-and-coming chicken house expands to cater to diners in commercial areas. And with eight branches scattered all over the Metro, another store joins the roster as it opens its newest branch in Wilcon City Center, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.

Manang's Chicken in Wilcon City Center, a new community mall and restaurant nest, opened last June 5. Although the owner's cook-mayordoma, the wonder behind the tasty chicken and whom the family affectionately called Manang, wasn't able to attend the opening ceremony, honorary guests together with Giabella Foods Corporation formally launched the new branch through a brief yet meaningful ribbon-cutting and blessing.

With every restaurant opening comes food tasting. So after a few words from President Jill Gerodias-Borja, we're on to a feast -- Manang's Chicken style. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the first time I've tried the food from this chicken house. My first was at Mercato Centrale which I wasn't able to blog. However, the feeling was familiar as I still got excited to try the food offerings at Manang's.

Call me a fatty, but Manang's Chips and Dip (Regular P39; Large P58) will still be a staple to my future visits in the restaurant. With a choice of garlic mayo or creamy cheese, these tasty potato chips fried to a golden crisp are one of the best potato chips I've had in my entire life. I've downed three servings and it was so hard to stop!

There was also a generous serving of Manang's Chicken in Original Sauce dubbed as the bagong fried chicken ng Pinoy. These chicken cuts double deep-fried and coated with Manang's secret soy garlic sauce were as tasty as I remember them to be. The crunchy skin oozes with sweet and savory flavors, while the meat is far from being dry.

We also got to enjoy the Garlic Pork Liempo, deep-fried pork with garlic topping served with Manang's own vinegar dipping sauce. Being a pork and garlic lover, this dish definitely satisfied my cravings. Every bite on the crispy pork was sinfully good.

Next we had was another dish based on the family recipe -- Sesame Beef Stew. This viand with beef strips and fresh local vegetables in thick sesame sauce is probably one of my favorites from Manang's Chicken. The beef was cooked to a lovely tenderness, the vegetables were slightly crispy giving off a nice texture, and the sauce was just so tasty without being too overbearing, just the perfect blend of sweet and savory.

For carbs, I skipped the rice and went with the Fried Pansit (P85) -- a crowd favorite made up of deep-fried noodles topped with chicken, mushrooms, vegetables and Manang's secret sauce. Although I'm not big on noodles, I enjoyed the mix of savory and fresh healthy flavors of the dish, as well as munching on the crispy strands of canton.

I'm not a big fan of cabbages, but I enjoyed the Coleslaw (P30) as it had fresh and crunchy, not wilted, veggies in a bright, slightly sweet, sour and creamy mayo dressing. This is truly a great and refreshing find which I'll be ordering again at Manang's Chicken.

We also got to try the Macaroni Salad (P30). Like the coleslaw, this one also has a bright, sweet and sour, creamy dressing coating the perfectly-cooked macaroni treats. And although not a total head-turner, I still enjoyed munching my share.

I'm used to eat a lot, but my platter of Manang's Chicken's offerings got me full. It might be the calories from this plate, or maybe the chips and iced tea servings I downed finally got the best of me. However, no matter how full I was, a meal won't be complete without a much-deserved sweet ending. Yes, desserts!

Making this trip more memorable was the Velvet Sundae (P45), a symphony of warm and moist velvety cake of chocolate, fudge, vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips. This dessert is definitely a combination of my favorite sweet treats -- cake, ice cream and chocolate. You can eat this baby layer by layer, or mix it all together. If you're curious, I eat all the layers in a spoonful, but leave some cake to enjoy it on its own glory.

THE VERDICT

With tons of chicken houses sprouting in the Metro, it's hard to spot which ones are good and which ones are not. Although this trip to Manang's Chicken was a brief one both to celebrate the opening of a new branch, and to sample some of the store's best-sellers, Manang's definitely left an impression. A good one to add at that. So even though my love for chicken dishes has been declining for the past few months, Manang's has the chips, sesame beef stew and velvet sundae I can go back for again and again and again.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 3.5/5
Price - 5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Manang's Chicken, Visayas Avenue
2/F Unit 15 & 16, Wilcon City Center, Visayas Ave.
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 961-1631
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

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But wait, there's more! Now that you know what I think of Manang's Chicken, here's a chance to try Ang Bagong Fried Chicken ng Pinoy and more of the restaurant's goodies for yourself as I'm giving away a P500 gift certificate to one lucky reader.

Prize: One P500-worth of Manang's Chicken gift certificate valid for food and drinks in all branches (Ortigas, Katipunan, Visayas Ave., Tomas Morato, SM North, SM Megamall, Taft Ave., Glorietta 4 and BF Homes Parañaque) until December 31, 2012.

To enter the giveaway raffle, you will need to do the following:

1. Be a Metro Manila resident or someone (even not within Metro Manila) who can actually use the prize, or have a person you'll give these prizes to in case you can't use them yourself.
2. Like The Purple Doll, The Foodies Circle and Manang's Chicken pages.
   
3. Click THIS and post the following message on the text box:
   

   @The Purple Doll is giving away P500-worth of GC from @Manang's Chicken! http://bit.ly/Nb0kpp Let's win some awesome prizes @Friend 1, @Friend 2, @Friend 3

   Make sure that you tag The Purple Doll and Manang's Chicken's pages, 3 of your friends, and have set your wall post public.
4. Follow us on twitter by clicking the buttons below.
   
   Follow @sumirehana013 Follow @foodiescircle Follow @manangschicken
5. Lastly, leave a comment to this post with the following info:
   

   Name:
   Twitter ID:
   Email Address:
   FB Post Link:

   Note: To get the FB post link, click the timestamp. Example: 5 seconds ago

The giveaway raffle will run from today until July 20, 11:59PM. The winners will be chosen via Random Picker and will be announced on July 22. So join now everyone and get a taste of Manang's Chicken, Ang Bagong Fried Chicken ng Pinoy.

Disclaimer: Manang's Chicken GC was provided by the good folks from Manang's Chicken.

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Daily Quickie: McDonald's Big N' Tasty

Daily Quickie is a short tag on the title which I use for blog entries about food I'm snacking at home, work or anywhere.

I might be late in joining the bandwagon, but for the past two weeks, I've ordered McDonald's Big N' Tasty thrice. The first time from a drive thru, and the second and third for home delivery. I know I'm endangering my life and more importantly, my weight, but how can I not crave for a burger as tasty as this?

I must admit that I was skeptical at first. I didn't understand why people are making such a fuss about this burger. However, after trying it for myself, I proved that it's not Magnum part two. Even without marketing tactics, I'd still buy the Big N' Tasty for the taste.

The Big N' Tasty may not be too big for me, but it sure is very tasty. Encased between round fluffy buns is a seasoned single layer of 100% pure beef patty that goes perfectly with shreds of lettuce, slices of onions, tomatoes and pickles, a layer of creamy cheese, and a special smokey sauce -- the treat that makes this burger super awesome!

Yes, the buns aren't special, the beef patty isn't extraordinary, and the vegetables are your average TLC plus onion slices. However, all these mediocrity can be upped by the tasty special dressing. Don't get me wrong, the Big N' Tasty isn't the tastiest most special burger I've had in my entire life. But for P165 a piece with medium-sized fries and a drink, I'd say it's a good fill not only for the tummy but also for the palate.

How about you, have you tried the Big N' Tasty from McDonald's? Do you find it yummy or just an over-hyped fast food burger?

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Shi Lin: Taiwanese Food Fare at The Podium

Taiwanese cuisine, a lighter take on Chinese food fare, has become quite popular in the Metro especially with the fame and glory of Lugang Café. However, this Taiwanese gem in Greenhills and SM Mall of Asia has found a new competition in the name of Shi Lin, a restaurant inspired by the Shilin district in Taipei.

Two weeks ago, during Father's Day, I convinced my dad to have lunch in the Ortigas area. If you know my parents, they'd probably reject my idea since they despise long drives. Fortunately, luck was on my side as my dad miraculously approved. And although The Podium was packed with families celebrating the day's occasion, we were lucky to score a table at Shi Lin in just a few minutes. (Oh okay, 15 minutes to be exact.)

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