LING NAM
Greenhills Car Park

Ling Nam makes the best siopao ever.

I know it might be a little hasty BUT when I split open the soft and cloudy white bun and smell the filling, I will have to say that it is. The connection is just there. My wife always laughs at me when she sees that I have already eaten the bread and I have left the filling intact. I have always thought that the bread plays a stellar role in making a siopao unforgettable. 

The siopao in Ling Nam is served warm. It is of modest size and is soft but resilient when touched. I tried both the asado and the bola bola and both made me smile. Seriously. The asado was very tasty and very juicy. The filling was a vibrant orange and not dark brwn like the others. The bola bola on the other hand was packed tight and was bursting with flavor. It was a little overwhelming at first but eventually,  it balanced out. I took one home and I reheated it using a steamer. I was surprised that the siopao held up and the taste was exactly the same with the one that was served to me.

Siopao is one of the best quenchers of hunger out there. You do not need fancy gadgets to eat a siopao and it can be filling once consumed. It is available almost everywhere and ubiquitous as they may seem, few do stand above the rest and Ling Nam siopao is one of them.

TASTE TEMPTATION
Shopwise Libis

Brownies used to be brownies until now. Taste Temptation produces really tasty brownies that will make you ask for more. Not too sweet, not too greasy, these brownies at PhP200 are a steal by themselves.

RED MANGO
Megamall Ground Floor

 
Trust the South Koreans to come up with something innovative. Yogurt has always been with us since Year One but the idea of eating something that was fermented by wild bacteria is not inviting at all. It was 2002 when Red Mango introduced frozen yogurt and this has revolutionized how modern society now looks at yoghurt. It is now seen as a healthy dessert as it is nutritionally rich in protein and calcium and has nutritional benefits beyond those of milk. Frozen yoghurt is now the "in" thing and with its wide array of topping choices, it is just something you would not want to miss.

The yogurt in itself is a play of sweet and sour tastes that may not be appealing to everyone so this may be the reason why toppings were introduced. If you want to stick to the "healthy" option, you may want to try granola and muesli. You may opt to try the fruits and almonds as well. If you are just for the "experience" and not really after the nutritional benefits, go and add chocolate mini-kisses, the cocoa pebbles, and the cap 'n crunch. Nothing beats sugar in anyone's book.

I have always been loyal to almonds, chocolate mini-kisses, and muesli. Somehow, the crunch greatly contrasts the creamy smoothness of the yogurt. It is always a welcome treat as it is very light and refreshing. It is funny how I never get tired of eating frozen yogurt. I have tried several others and although it is very clear to me that all yogurts taste the same, the tie-breaker would be the choice of toppings and the price, and the over-all experience. So far, Red Mango is on top of my list.

TSUMURA
Valero cor Cedeno, Salcedo Village, Makati City


They say that sushi is nothing but fresh fish served raw. I beg to disagree because there are subtle differences in how sushi is served. Tsumura is one of those restaurants that pay close attention to the food that they serve. The food not only looks good but it tastes good as well.

I learned when I was in Japan that it is a no-no to mix the wasabi and the soy sauce. Furthermore, drowning your sushi in this sauce further makes a mockery of the whole experience. The correct way, they say, is to put the wasabi on top of your sushi and gingerly dip it in soy sauce to enjoy the natural and unique taste of the sushi.

Tuna sashimi and salmon sashimi are the most popular of the lot as we are more familiar with them. Once you order them you will soon realize how superior their version is. From the color of the fish meat to the rice, you can see that they really put serious effort in preparing their dishes.

However, for the more adventurous, they may want to try the kaki furai and the kinoka. A small tip to newbies to Japanese food: anything with "furai" is fried. Kaki furai has a crispy, crunchy exterior and a moist, chewy interior of chopped oysters. Kinoka tempura, on the other hand, is a straight punch to your taste buds. The clash between the crispy batter and the intricate and creamy flavor of different mushrooms are almost non-existent as they complement each other so well. What makes the experience even more unique is the "dry sauce" made up of salt and shrimp heads ground together to make a powdered dip. It heightens the taste of the kinoka tempura to a whole new level.

The muted-down interiors helps one appreciate the food as there are no unwelcome distractions. No wild bursts of color, no loud, fancy greetings, and no boisterous laughter. All you get is an in-your-face Japanese dining experience that skips on frills and frou-frou. That is how a perfect dining experience should be.

Starbucks
Julia Vargas

I always thought that the best Starbucks branch is the one in John Hay in Baguio but that is just unfair as the location itself brings in so much bonus points. The same goes for Starbucks Tagaytay as the view of the lake and the volcano is quite amazing. However, for a city-dweller like me, I would say that the Starbucks in Julia Vargas has a nice, quiet, comfy feel to it compared to the others and so far, it has become my favorite hangout.

Starbucks serves very good pastries. My favorite is the Banoffee Pie simply because of its simple, home-grown taste. Nothing complex, just plain comfort food. It is a pastry made from bananas, cream, toffee and dulce de leche on top of a buttery crust. Next in line is the macadamia choco chip cookie. There is really something about macadamia nuts and chocolate that rocks one's senses like a straight left punch from Manny Pacquiao. Not too hard, not too soft and with just the right amount of sweetness, you just need to sit back and relax everytime you take a bite.

I do not drink warm coffee a lot but I do take in a frappuccino from time to time. I love coffee jelly and for some strange reason that I still do not know,  that is the only thing I order---- except if I am in the mood to get a free planner.