El Jardin de Manila is Jenny Bernabe’s travel-inspired dining concept tribute to her travel buddy Miguel who owned El Jardin De Patricio in Buenos Aires.

We had our last dinner in BGC here before the Manila lockdown, and here’s what we think about El Jardin de Manila…

First Things First

It’s like a hole-in-the-wall secret cafe in the latest Bonifacio High Street South destination.

El Jardin de Manila
G/F Unit 1 18a High Street South, Corporate Plaza Tower 2,
26th Street Corner 11 Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am-11:00pm
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: El Jardin De Manila
Instagram: @eljardindemanila

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Shanghai Saloon is a modern Chinese restaurant inspired by 1920s Shanghai dining places with European influences and characterized by a mix of oriental attitude and western culture.

It’s a proudly local concept by Korean owners Grace Lee and Han Bright Concepts known for their Kko Kko chain, in collaboration with Executive Chef Tony Ho who comes from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong.

It feels like Modern China meets Mott 32 yet with surroundings that remind you of its mall setting. It’s a restaurant first then a bar, definitely one of those places where you’ll love to hang out when you are in The Podium area.

First Things First

Shanghai Saloon is in a secret corner in The Podium Mall beside Mamou Prime in the Arabica/Manam Cafe wing.

(Trivia: The Bee logo is a tribute to their investor partner, the late Bong Tan who signed his name with a bee.)

SHANGHAI SALOON
1st Level The Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Metro Manila
Telephone: +632 8426-5587
Facebook: Shanghai Saloon

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Manila’s Theater season of 2020 opens with an awesome college production of the iconic Next to Normal.

My wife was crying throughout the show as I kept my emotions to myself in solemn reflection.

I felt it was unfair for Next to Normal Blue Rep to draw us into the roller coaster of traumatic emotions within Diana and Dan’s family and left it unprocessed. There was no talkback, which could be helpful for a delicate material such as this. Best to watch it with a close friend or special someone so you can talk about it after.

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Next to Normal Blue Rep opens today March 6 until the 22nd for a 3-week run with theater veterans Cris Villonco headlining as Diana and Jef Flores as Dan in collaboration with Ateneo’s Blue Repertory team under the awesome direction of Missy Maramara.

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Gram is instagram-famous for its fluffy, three-stack premium pancakes. It opened its first store in Shinsaibashi, Osaka in 2014 and now finally in Manila with its flagship store in SM Mega Fashion Hall.

We waited for 3 hours just to have a taste of the famed Gram pancake from Japan. Was it worth the wait?

First Things First

Allot 90 minutes queuing time to get to taste the precious 30 premium pancakes hot and freshly baked only for each of the 3 time slots during the day.

Gram Manila
3rd floor of SM Megamall Fashion Hall, Ortigas Center
30 Premium Pancakes only available at 11.00 am, 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm
Instagram: @grampancakesph
Facebook: Gram Pancakes Philippines
Website: https://www.cafe-gram.com/

Gram Menu: Premium Pancake, Pancakes Menu | Pancakes Menu | Toast & Sandwiches, Toppings Menu

We arrived 11.30 am and we were hungry, so we tried the other pancake and toast options for lunch while waiting.

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CHINGOLO is an Argentinian Butchery and Kitchen owned by Nico Bolzico and Erwan Heussaff serving Bolzico, a pure Argentinian certified grass-fed Angus beef. Its name is inspired by the Argentinian term for “chuck tender” meat cut.

Argentinian beef is considered by foodies as the best steak in the world because of its grass-fed, free-range, all natural quality, the flavor of which you can really taste as you chew the meat. Notice that when you eat USDA meats, their flavor is just up front and, as you chew, they lose their taste, making condiments and sauces necessary for you to enjoy the steak.

Chingolo was the perfect place to meet our friend Doji to reminisce our EYP past, catch up on the latest happenings and our dreams for 2020.

Here’s our review of our Chingolo experience…

First Things First

Most Argentinian restaurants in Manila serve USDA meats, and this is the first time you have an Argentinian-owned restaurant that serves Argentinian Bolzico beef with a Filipino restaurant concept and Filipino brand of hospitality.

Chingolo Butchery & Kitchen
UPRC 1 BLDG, Chino Roces Ave., Brgy Bangkal, Makati City
Operating Hours: Tuesdays to Sunday
11am to 3pm with seating times 11.00am-1.00 pm and 1.00-3.00 pm
6pm to 10pm with seating times 6.00-8.00 pm and 8.00-10.00 pm
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +63 915 266 3581
Facebook: Chingolo Deli
Instagram: @chingolodeli
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