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Top Places to Travel in 2019 Series
Nikko is one of the more beautiful places we have visited in Japan. Famous for its heritage sites and breathtaking mountains, it is also known for the many onsens built around the hot springs that dot the area.
About a 2-hour train ride from Tokyo, Nikko is the perfect destination for travelers who want to see a more rural side of Japan.
The Masungi Georeserve is a vast conservation area located in the eastern part of Luzon, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Baras, Rizal.
It is a privately-led organization and scenic trail that goes through one of the most pristine landscapes and protected areas in the country.
Which grew in popularity a couple of years back due to its world-famous “Discovery Trail.”
And sitting on top of a hill, overlooking the Metro Manila skyline is one of their latest effort in sharing with you their hard work and lifetime commitment in nature conservation.
The Silayan Dining room, a restaurant like no other serves seasonal menus inspired by its surrounding landscape.
Join me as we taste our way to learn more of what the Masungi has to offer one unique local dish at a time.
SILAYAN RESTAURANT
KM 47, Marcos Highway, Baras, Rizal, Philippines, 1970
Website: https://www.masungigeoreserve.com/dining/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masungigeoreserve
Contact: +63 929 13 23531 | +63 995 186 9911
Email: [email protected]
Operation: 8am to 5pm | Reservations Only
A Spanish-Italian Bistro by Anita Celdran, La Collina is hidden in Brgy. Poblacion area near Makati City Hall. It’s a slow food restaurant committed to sourcing fresh ingredients from nearby sustainable farms to produce Spanish food from the heritage recipes of the Celdran family and Italian cuisine from Anita’s Italian partner.
“Collina,” which means small hill both in Spanish and Italian, is a reference to the restaurant’s original hill location in Tagaytay before it found its way to a nice house along Molina St. in Brgy. Poblacion.
It’s awesome to discover these food-forward places to reinvigorate the dining scene in the otherwise bar-dominated neighborhood of Brgy. Poblacion. It feels like the first time you discovered Sala in the Malate neighborhood years ago.
Here’s what you can expect at La Collina.
LA COLLINA RESTAURANT & BAR
4558 Molina St., Barangay Poblacion, Makati
Telephone: +63 917 325-2168
Email: [email protected]om
Facebook: Eat.LaCollina
Message Me: m.me/Eat.LaCollina
Ninyo has long been part of my list for the most romantic restaurants in the city. What started as Manila’s Best Kept Secret, the humble ancestral house of Chef Nins Laus, is transformed into this quiet and intimate hidden paradise with its garden-like charm. From the moment you step in, you’re already greeted by the candle lights, beautiful pavilions, hanging vines, koi ponds, and antique accents in the interior. —which unfailingly keeps taking the breaths of many lovers.
Aside from the gorgeous ambiance, it’s also a foodie destination for good food, with Chef Nins’ creative take of European-Asian fusion dishes. Note that Ninyo always updates its menu so its degustation is always a good idea. A set menu is a great option, easier than choosing from a wide array of food.
NINYO Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge
66 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights
Quezon City, Philippines
Landline: (02) 426 0301
Facebook: NinyoFusion
Searching for a romantic restaurant this Valentine’s Weekend?
Impress your significant other with a special, one-of-a-kind experience at one of these romantic restaurants in Manila…
A big benefit of the Japanese diaspora is the merging of their culture, particularly their cuisine with the countries they emigrated too. Nikkei refers to the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. First popularized by Nobu Matsuhisa, the cuisine has since trickled down to smaller restaurants and found its way to Manila.
Nikkei has been in the Philippines for over 3 years now, and they recently opened their sister restaurant Nikkei Nama in One Bonifacio in BGC. Nama translates to “fresh” or “light” which reflects in the food served at Nikkei Nama by Head Chef Juan Barcos.
It caters to the younger, well-traveled appetite and value-conscious BGC dining crowd. It also exclusively features the Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) rice bowls.
Here’s what we liked at Nikkei Nama…
Nikkei Nama
2/F One Bonifacio High, 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Operating Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Monday to Thursday, Sunday) 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Friday to Saturday)
Mobile: +63 966 533 7573
Website: www.nikkei.com.ph
Facebook: Nikkei Nama Bar
Related Blog Post: NIKKEI: Japanese-Peruvian Chic Restaurant in Legaspi Village (First Look)
Ministry of Crab (MoC) is the best restaurant in Sri Lanka—consistently ranked in Asia’s 50 Best (#25 in 2018)—featuring the best export-quality Sri Lankan mud crab in Colombo. It is founded by Chef Dharshan Munidasa and cricket players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in a preserved 400-year old Dutch hospital in the heart of Colombo.
Like its Sri Lankan counterpart, MoC Manila serves the best export quality Philippine mud crab with a medley of signature Sri Lankan spices, Japanese techniques and unique Filipino flavors in its Shangri-La at the Fort branch in BGC.
Here is our guide on how to best experience Ministry of Crab Manila…
MINISTRY OF CRAB MANILA
Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila, 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Open Daily from 6.00pm to 10.30pm (one seating only)
Telephone: +(632) 820-0888
E-mail: [email protected]-la.com
Instagram: @ministryofcrab.manila
Facebook: Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila
Website: www.shangri-la.com
#MinistryOfCrabMNL
#KeepCalmAndCrabOn
After 10 years, we were able to go back, with the boys this time, to Yoki’s—now the biggest hydroponics farm in the Calabarzon area, the coolest zoo in the vicinity of Tagaytay and a bed & breakfast with all-day breakfast dining restaurant as well.
It was 2008 when we first discovered Yoki’s Farm and its Treasures during our Ultimate Tagaytay tours. It was only Aidan who we were able to bring with us.
Here’s why you should visit Yoki’s Farm on your next trip to Tagaytay’s Mendez area.
YOKI’S FARM
Mendez, Cavite (Founded in 1996)
Telephone: +63 917 807 9588
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Yoki’s Farm
First established in 2005, Sebastian’s Ice Cream has continued to keep reinventing the wheel when it comes to local Artisanal Ice Cream. It’s been 14 years since their inception, and they still continue to impress with their genius innovations.
Their closure at Podium in 2017 was met with a lot of sadness, but fret not, as they are back! Recently reopened in the new wing of Podium, Sebastian’s has come out with a new menu that covers both sweet and savoury.
Here’s what we liked from their new menu:
Sebastian’s Ice Cream
5F The Podium, 12 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Mobile: +63 927 453 7426
Facebook: Sebastian’s Ice Cream
Instagram: @sebastiansicecream
Website: https://sebastiansicecream.com/
One of our most memorable brunch experiences in Paris was eating out in a neighborhood French seafood bistro in Le Marais with our friend Jen and her partner. I have always cherished that memory because of the “honest” conversations over Chablis and French oysters and really good seafood simply cooked with butter.
Did you know that, here in Manila, Dr. Wine serves the best French seafood experience? They usually open at night except on Sundays when they open at 12 noon, and that’s when you can have a lazy seafood brunch with the family.
Here’s what to expect and how to organize your own awesome French seafood brunch experience at Dr. Wine.
First Things First
Dr. Wine is the best French wine bistro in the hip neighborhood of Brgy. Poblacion which is like the hip Le Marais neighborhood in Paris.
DR. WINE
Ground Floor, 5921 Algier Street, Brgy. Poblacion
Facebook: @dr.winemanila
Instagram: @dr.winemanila
Reservations:
+63 917 567-8811 (available from 10 to 3pm)
+63 917 563-8811 (available from 3pm to 12mn)
Opening Hours:
Sunday 12.00 PM – 2.00 AM
Monday to Saturday 5.00 PM – 2.00 AM
Related Blog Post: DR. WINE Manila: The 3rd Floor Inaugural Wine Dinner!
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