OUR AWESOME PLANET

ELIAS and the Spirants

Elias is one of the high-end Filipino restaurants in Bonifacio High Street Central. It is an upscale version of Crisostomo by Florabel Co Yatco. It basically has the same "Turn of the Century Filipino Dining Concept" but has an expanded menu to include pizza and other dishes.

This was the setting for one of the mini-reunions of my wife's ICA batch called Spirants. I'm starting to get to know her high school batchmates, including Florabel, the owner of the restaurant.

Bonifacio High Street Central Restaurants:

• Jamba Juice Opens in Manila!
• SutrA Christmas Dinner: Our First Taste of BHS Central
• ARIA Mania in Manila?
• GEISHA, an Indian-owned Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant You'll Love :)
• ELIAS and the Spirants
• Mango Tree: Finally, Thai Fine Dining in Manila!
• A Beso Cucina Vinoteka Date
• The Cake Club Dessert Haven
• A SLICE of Pia Cayetano
• SARIWON, Authentic Korean Barbecue - First Branch outside Korea
• Village Tavern, a Higher-End Friday's?
• STELLA, Sister of Chelsea & the Star of BHS Central
• 'CUE, Modern Barbecue
• NOLITA (North of Little Italy): A Taste of the Real New York Pizza in Manila?
• BHS Central: A Guide to the BEST Eats in Bonifacio High Street Central

ILOILO FOOD TRIP: Netong's Original Special Lapaz Batchoy

Iloilo is the home of Batchoy, and there is a never-ending debate on who offers the best version – Ted's or Deco's. However, the best authentic Batchoy for me can be found in Netong's Lapaz Batchoy.

Ultimate Visayan Food Trip Series:

• Ultimate Visayan Food Trip: Manila to Cebu on a Subaru!
• Iloilo's Dinagyang: Hala Bira! Viva Señor Santo Niño!
• ILOILO FOOD TRIP: Breakthrough, Number 1 Tourist Destination in Iloilo!
• ILOILO FOOD TRIP: Netong's Original Special Lapaz Batchoy

ILOILO FOOD TRIP: Breakthrough, Number 1 Tourist Destination in Iloilo!

Breakthrough is the undisputed king of fresh seafood in Iloilo and the number one tourist spot in the city.

Ultimate Visayan Food Trip Series:

• Ultimate Visayan Food Trip: Manila to Cebu on a Subaru!
• Iloilo's Dinagyang: Hala Bira! Viva Señor Santo Niño!
• ILOILO FOOD TRIP: Breakthrough, Number 1 Tourist Destination in Iloilo!
• ILOILO FOOD TRIP: Netong's Lapaz Batchoy

Chef's Lab Potions and Kitchen Test Food

Chef's Lab, Chef Bruce Lim's third restaurant, is located in Burgos Circle. It focuses more on new kitchen test recipes and offers test tube shots with different love potions and a relatively affordable basic menu that still focuses on modern Filipino cuisine.

We decided to try out the new creations at Chef's Lab. Here's our experience...

Related Posts:

• OAP | Chef's Table by Chef Bruce Lim
• OAP | Chef's Table Restaurant by Chef Bruce Lim
• OAP | Hyphy's SanFo-Philippine Cuisine by Chef Bruce Lim
• OAP | Hyphy's Calamansi Tuyo Spaghetti
• OAP | Chef's Table Buko Pie Martini

Chef Tatung Garden Cafe Birthday

Review Shortlink: oap.ph/ChefTatungRevisited QR Code: oap.ph/ChefTatungRevisitedQRCode

Read this First: Chef Tatung's Private Dining

Chef Tatung decided to change his resto concept from a Continental Private Dining restaurant to a Regional Filipino Garden Cafe, with emphasis on his Cebuano and Bicolano heritage. The restaurant still continues to support local farmers' produce and promises a homey garden ambiance.

We decided to celebrate my brother Rommel's birthday here to check out the new menu...

8065 Bagnet, Bagnet-Inspired Hole-in-the-Wall

The double-fried crispy pork specialty of Ilocos is glorified in this Bagnet-themed hole-in-the-wall resto in Makati. This place feels like Fat Michael's and serves good food with warm service.

It is named after its street number address: 8065 Estrella. It is owned by Alain Nadal (older brother of a popular singer of our generation -- Kitchie Nadal) and his partner Jeff Tuason. It's been popular among Manila-based foodies for some time now.

Here is our 8065 Bagnet experience...

Villa Cafe Kapampangan Resto by Chef Sau & Chef Jam

Chef Sau and Chef Jam have finally opened a Kapampangan resto serving heirloom recipes from their families. It is aptly named "Villa" because of the old villages in Angeles -- Villa Gloria and Angela -- where they grew up.

All the dishes we ordered were rich in taste, plated well, and had that signature Kapampangan quality. Looks-wise and taste-wise, this is the kind of Filipino food that can please an international audience.

My Family Kitchen (MFK) - a Hidden Kapampangan Resto in Makati

My Family Kitchen (a.k.a. MFK) is the brainchild of Dada Dayrit. Here, people can taste her family's Kapampangan signature recipes, including the delicious ensaimada.

Kapampangans are known to serve yummy food without scrimping on ingredients. Taste is prioritized over price. Since the Dayrit family owns the apartment block where the restaurant is located, much of what you pay for really goes to the quality of the food.

When we were looking for the restaurant along Kamagong, we missed it the first time around. A bit hidden, it has an apartment-looking entrance and its signage can't be easily read. Nevertheless, it's worth the trip. :)