Upland Kafé

Upland Kafé, Silang, Cavite

Just along Aguinaldo Highway, located at the back of a Shell station is this new hidden gem! I mean just look at how cute their place is! Nestled under decade old trees, everything is made inside a whitewashed container van. 

We were so happy when we arrived. We looked for it because the place was starting to trend on facebook and when we stepped out of the car, it was even more beautiful than the gorgeous photos that are posted on social media. Silang has a milder climate compared to the rest of the province so coffee will never be out of fashion (even for warmer days, a cup of ice cold will do the trick!)

Machuca-style Tiles and Neon Signs

Team Puti or literally white team in English is a design movement that is very popular in social media nowadays here in the islands. It's clean and minimalist finish is applied to this cafe's interior which made the tiles and neon signage (two of my favorite things) really pop! Machuca Tile is the largest and oldest manufacturer of handmade cement tiles in the Philippines dating back 1903. 

      

(L) Their signature Blue Pea Latte and (R) Caramel Macchiato 

We were not shy to ask for their best-sellers especially it's our first time so we wanted their hits, a thing my friend RJay taught me. So both him and I tried their Blue Pea Latte, as per their facebook page is the very first concoction here in the Philippines! It's made by using the Blue Ternate flower as a tint, and I have to say, it was really good and yes, very colorful! It was sweeter compared to my cousin Judy's Caramel Macchiato which has a stronger coffee:sweetness ratio

Me pretending to be the cafe's Model

We stayed to enjoy our drinks because we felt comfortable to due to its al-fresco seating, and though it just rained, the owners and crew were so kind to clean us some seats and tables which we didn't really use because we can't stop taking pictures of the place! It's just really beautiful. We tried two more drinks, this time we tried a Frappe and an Iced Tea. 

      

(L) Strawberries and Creme Frappe and (R) Lemon Lychee Iced Tea

Since I am getting older (certified Tito), I'm starting to refrain from sweet drinks so the strawberries and creme frappe will not be a choice on my next visit but this Lychee iced tea is like sunshine on a cup! It is sweet but only the right amount! I can taste a hint of brown sugar, perhaps they use it as a sweetener? But the lychee extract they used gave me bolts of energy from the inside even if it was a grey and gloomy kind of day! 

 

Now the question is, am I gonna go back? A big YES! For so many reasons - their coffee, their fun concoctions, but most especially - the ambiance! being there gives me this relaxed feeling, on the levels that you just can't get from the usual cafes because Upland's edge will always be them being so close to nature. No other mural can beat the views of being under the embrace of strong trees that gives out natural air conditioning! Will definitely be back Upland!

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This visit to Upland Kafé very much inspired me to start an Instagram project wherein I will share and review coffee and experiences from café to café! May I take this chance to share with you all Cafe Hunter PH and join me in my café adventures across the islands!

Never Stop Nature!

Stevenson

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Upland Kafé

Shell Select along Aguinaldo Highway

Silang, Cavite

0927 917 9690

https://www.facebook.com/uplandkafe/

Serenidia's Kitchenette

Lumpiang Shanghai (Spring Rolls)

Nestled at the same location as Antonia's Garden, Serenidia's Kitchenette caters Filipino food as you roam around a garden shop where you can get your indoor and outdoor plants. Named after the late mother of the cooks, Serenidia's serve Pinoy comfort food that will surely touch your hearts and fill your all-day breakfast cravings.

 

Serenidia's Kitchenette, Amadeo, Cavite

At the moment, they are on soft opening, serving our favorite "SiLogs". Silog is a Filipino colloquial word (usually used as a suffix to a shortened version of a meat name which it is paired with) that stands for two combined words, sinangag or Garlic Friend Rice and itlog which literally translates to egg. So these silogs are very popular as breakfast meals since it's a complete meal with rice and egg plus a meat item whether it be pork, chicken, beef, or even fish. 

Tapsilog (Php 130)

The most famous "silog" meal is the Tapsilog. It stands for three food items - Tapa which are thin slices of beef cooked in savory soy sauce and garlic + sinangag (fried rice) and itlog (egg). Every home has their own version of Tapa and they can even be made with pork or chicken. Some make their tapa sweet by adding some brown sugar, some adds a bit of Calamansi (local lime) to the marinade to give it a tangy kick, or as it is traditionally, dried it for a few days under the sun to give it a drier but tastier finish.

Tocilog (Php 120)

Probably the second most popular on the big silog family is Tocilog. Rice and egg is paired with sweet slices of friend pork or as it is called, tocino. Both Tapa and Tocino are food items we inherited from the Spanish culture and is part of our everyday breakfast plates across the islands.

Lumpiang Shanghai (Special order)

The one above is my plate, I had it specially prepared for me since I haven;t been eating rice for a month now (I got really big so I am on this low carb diet now. Been losing 16 pounds already so hooray me!) This is basically two orders of their Shanghaisilog minus the rice, as you can see it also has two eggs! Inside these spring rolls are ground pork and vegetables, my favorite! If you have Filipino friends and were invited to a Filipino party, I am very sure you have tried Lumpia already!

Ate Judy (my cousin), RJay (my best friend), and yours truly!

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Soon, they will now serve everything from their menu and I am just so excited to try other of their recipes! For parties within Cavite, they also cater food trays, just order them in advance and they even deliver to you at your cost. I have tried their Chicken Alfredo pasta before, it was heavenly!

To see their full menu plus food tray menu, click on the images below for a bigger view. Contact information are included.

Serenidia's Kitchenette

Banay-Banay, Amadeo, Cavite

+63 977 833 3736

https://www.facebook.com/SerenidiasKitchenette/

Breakfast at Antonio's

One reason why my close friends told me that my birthday spans the whole month of June is because my cousin's birthday is also on the same month and she always celebrate it with me, for every single year since we were young, thank you Ate Judy for making our month extra special always! 

That day, we went to Tagaytay early in the morning to buy some groceries and goodies that we will bring to a elderly home care that we usually visit and give donations to. We visited the grandmas and grandpas and they were so happy to see us. We were not able to get close to them but we just waved and seen them from a distance due to this pandemic. After saying hello and dropping our donations, we went to lunch. Ate Judy treated me and two of our best friends to a fancy all day breakfast place in the city.

The place was packed but protocols are strictly enforced, including social distancing between parties and individuals while they dine. Signs are also placed up to encourage people not to talk too much especially to converse less while eating to minimize the spread of droplets. The place was gorgeous situated on top of the Tagaytay city Caldera. The restaurant was well ventilated. It's indoors but all the windows are open so I don't know if I can say it's al-fresco? We also saw construction being done at the back were their 100% al-fresco dining will be available soon.

Coming Soon: Dining with an unobstructed view of Taal Lake

Let me go through the dishes we had. We started with a small plate of Truffle French Fries which were amazing! I have read from some blogs that Truffle is an acquired taste but I fell in love with it when I first tasted something with it thanks to my cousin Ate Carmeline that introduced me to a pasta dish with it about a decade ago. These fries were made perfectly crispy with the perfect hollowness on every piece that made it felt like you were eating potato chips in block form. Coated in truffle and salt paste, it was a heavenly welcome!

Truffle Potato Fries (Php 180)

In this age of the pandemic, sadly, we cannot share our dishes with each other but I'll share with you the dish I had and those that my friends enjoyed. Let us start with my order. It was hard for me to choose with the full array of sandwiches because I am a sandwich monster. But lucky was I that when I chose a burger, the waiter informed us that burgers are not available at that moment! So I opted for their Roast Beef Sandwich.

Roast Beef Sandwich (Php 570)

Served with French fries on the side, I made a request to our waiter if I can switch them with potato crisps since I saw it from the other table and they look divine! So the sandwich came and I was super excited! It was plated with a small saucer willed with roast beef drippings so of course, I tried it first without it. The slices of USDA sirloin were very tender and juicy, plus the melted provolone cheese adds amazing texture! But I have to be honest It was really bland. So I tried it with the drippings, still bland. I added some salt, sadly I can only taste the seasonings that I added and not the dish at all. I was really downhearted because the beef's tenderness were top marks, but the taste was just absent, at least for me.

Sautéed Corned Beef (Php 500) 

Served with rice and two sunny side up eggs, this was the birthday girl's order. It smells really good when served. Since my cousin is a very small eater, she portioned her corned beef so we can snatch spoonfulls from her plate to taste. I like it, at least more than my sandwich because it was tastier! My friends were even joking me as to why I don't taste anything from my order and that maybe it's not the sandwich! I was quite scared if you know what I mean so tasting this garlicy dish was quite a relief.

Beef Tapa (Php 535)

This was our friend Lea's order, typical Filipino breakfast, served extra classy. Soy and garlic marinated sirloin served with rice and eggs. We missed Lea so much because she just came home a few months ago from years of working in Kuwait, and it's always a pleasure to have her as she makes up most of her missed years with us. Here's to more brunches and meals with you Lea!

Bistek Tagalog (Php 590)

Okay so this is my favorite out of everything we ordered. This was Rjay's dish - Tenderloin beef marinated in soy sauce, garlic, black pepper, olive oil, and calamansi. Calamansi is our version of the lime but is much smaller and tangier. It is one of the most Filipino ingredients on any Filipino dish and can also be made into juices and as a condiment itself. Back to the word favorite, I did not get to taste this but with Rjay's word, it was good. Why did I like it, well just look at how it was plated! 

Lea, Rjay, Steve, and birthday girl Judy

We capped our delicious lunch with their homemade ice cream flavors but sadly, we forgot to take photos of it because we were super excited when they arrived! But just to tickle your sweet imaginations, we had scoops of Mixed Berries with Banana, Dark Chocolate with Peanut Butter Cups, and Banana with Caramelized White Chocolate. How good were their housemade ice cream flavors? Well it painted rainbow colors to my greyed out experience from the Roast Beef sandwich haha!

Unmasked for Breakfast at Lunch!

To my ate Judy, I wish you only the best in your new year. I hope that you continue to grow happy and truly joyful from the inside out. I am very excited for the next chapter that will surely be a big adventure for you. Just so you know, I will always be here for you in every step of your new venture and beyond. Keep being that compassionate and a person full of empathy that spans out beyond the people she knows.

Never Stop the Party!

Steve

***

Breakfast at Antonio's

Tagaytay City, Cavite

(046) 413 0738 / (046) 404 6199

0909 234 7304 / 0925 706 0837 / 0917 163 8374

www.antoniosrestaurant.ph/breakfast-at-antonios/

Manzil Al Taam

Having teammates from India is something I am very thankful because I treat them not just colleagues but friends as well. And with my conversations with Naveen and Deepak during work breaks (greetings to my teammates Naveen, Deepak, Ankitha, Ankit, Noel, and Jeetesh all the way in India!), mostly if it's not about COVID, it's about food! Imagine how hard it is for me every time they discuss about their biryanis and chapatis in the middle of the night when I have no idea how to make it but definitely would like to try it! Luckily, we have a place at the city's suburbs which is known for its Indian and Middle Eastern offerings!

Chapati and Hummus

The first time I tried Manzil Al Taam, it was through my dear cousin Ate Carmeline sometime last year, who ordered a wide array of dishes including different kinds of bread that I really love! Ate Carmeline is the kind of sister who always shares to us, to me, all the yummy things that she know. Thank you Ate Meh for always, love you!

One of my best friends, Lea, celebrated a party yesterday in remembrance of their grandmother's birthday. Being based in Kuwait for years, she wanted some samosas served on their table. I saw it on pictures and I thought, okay, the wait is over! So I messaged her and she encouraged me to order via delivery (since Manzil Al Taam only does delivery on this lockdown). 

The person was nice to talk to via Facebook and the process was a breeze, understandably was the queue due to the volume of their customers, I had to wait for a good 1-2 hours but I readily called earlier before our Merienda (3 pm meal in between lunch and supper). I ordered quite a few goodies for me and the family and a few more flatbreads that I'll throw on the fridge and toast up on the coming work nights. I bought a couple of chapatis and a couple of parathas.

Vegetable Samosas

These were the ones on Lea's lunch table that made me wanna order. These are deep fried vegetarian samosas that has peas, lentils, and diced carrots inside. It comes with a tamarind sauce which gives a tangy contrast to its savory filling. I have to say though, the tamarind sauce is completely optional since I tried my first pyramid without it and it's already good as it is! But of course, I also had to try it with what it's supposed to be paired with and I did not regret it!

My Dad's favorite Shawarma

This one is not Indian but Turkish, the Shawarma. Toasted Pita bread filled up with slices of beer, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and lavishly blanketed with a creamy yogurt based sauce. Almost everyone in the Philippines is a lover of Shawarma but I would say this one is quite authentic (okay I haven't been to Turkey or the Middle East but I know for a fact that the recipe of the ones sold here at malls and stalls are engineered to jive with Filipino taste, one that is rather on the sweet and savory side rather than with all its exotic and awakening spices! 

This one is definitely the later, it was good and filling because for its price of 85 pesos, it's double the size of the ones sold by Turk's, a famous Shawarma chain here that sells theirs at 60 pesos.

Flaky Paratha and Masala Sauce

Okay, so the one on the first photo, the chapathi, is completely different from the paratha, though they look somewhat similar at first look. The chapathi is a soft and unleavened flatbread which is also called roti in other instances. Manzil Al Taam sells their masala sauce as a bundle with their Chapati (120 pesos) so do not be misled by my photo above that I paired it with paratha. 

Paratha on the other hand is a layered version of the chapathi, though the layers are not really thick, rather truly thin and made that several of it sticks together per piece. Oh I love both of them but the paratha has this buttery taste that I really like so I love pairing it with Masala for a hearty balance of light and dark. the chapathi above, I will be pairing it with Hummus so that its simplicity can match the hummus. But that's just me okay, you can mix and match and they would all be yummy!

***

If you are in General Trias area and you are craving for some Indian and Middle Eastern food, Manzil Al Taam is just a DM away from your Facebook Messenger! They only serve through deliveries on this quarantine period so better send them a message to enjoy these goodies! This is not a sponsored post whatsoever, just wanted to share how I enjoyed their food, I hope if they will read this, they'll be glad. Linking up their Facebook page and contact details below. They deliver via Lalamove on your expense so even if you are a little far from General Trias, they can cater your cravings!

Manzil Al Taam

Lancaster New City,

General Trias, Cavite

facebook.com/manzilaltaamcavite/

+63 46 458 9277

Bangkok Street Food

One of the things I love best about Bangkok is their cuisine that you can enjoy on the streets! Hawkers and stalls line up at dinner time and gives you not just an array of delectable dishes that are cooked right in front of you as you order, but also the experience of seeing how it's cooked and at the same time, dining near hustling cars and the sounds of tuktuks near you.

Let me share some of those dishes that I have tried on my second trip to Thailand last 2018

Pad Thai

Thai Fried Pork Belly with Bean Sprouts

Thai Fried Rice

Spicy Pork with Thai Basil

Green Papaya Salad

Red Hot Kentucky Fried Chicken (The red breading gives you an idea how spicy it is right?)

Never Stop Dining!

Stevenson

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I would love to welcome and invite everyone to join Timeless Thursdays.

Timeless Thursdays is open for anyone who wishes to share old photos or old thoughts that you would like to share as beautiful memories with everyone. This can be from yesterday, a year ago, or something from your grandma's treasure chest.

This runs every Thursday at 12 am (Manila/Perth Time) until Sunday at 11:59 pm (Manila/Perth Time)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Gadong Market - Timeless Thursdays 25

Brunei is a very exotic country for some and it is living up to its name. It is one of the richest nations in the world but keeps itself very peaceful. It is a country of lush rainforests, golden mosques, gentle Bruneians, and yes, delicious food!

Gadong Night Market is situated in the Gadong district of Brunei's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Stalls begin to start selling their specialty delicacies at around 4 in the afternoon and goes on until the evening. It is best to visit it as it starts so you free away from the crowd plus to make sure you can taste everything while they're displays are still full.

Here are some of the goodies we tried! Note that 1 Brunei Dollar is equivalent to 0.75 US Dollar.

Different deep fried dumplings and meatballs

Spicy Fried Chicken over Rice ($2 BND)

Nasi Katok - Rice, Fried Chicken, and Sambal wrapped in Banana leaf and paper ($1 BND)

Assorted Fruit Drinks ($1 BND) and a variety of Noodles ($2-3 BND)

The Gang enjoying a giant $1 Melon Juice!

 

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I would love to welcome and invite everyone to join Timeless Thursdays.

Timeless Thursdays is open for anyone who wishes to share old photos or old thoughts that you would like to share as beautiful memories with everyone. This can be from yesterday, a year ago, or something from your grandma's treasure chest.

This runs every Thursday at 12 am (Manila/Perth Time) until Sunday at 11:59 pm (Manila/Perth Time)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Super Chashu Ramen at Yushoken - Timeless Thursdays 11

Last February, just months before the unknown that was coming, I and my sister decided to treat our cousins to a Ramen Night in Muntinlupa, a city in Metro Manila. Our younger brother cousin Carlos has just got married and to celebrate that, we brought him, his wife Jean, and our niece and nephew with us that night. We arrived after an hour of early evening Saturday traffic at Ramen Yushoken and yes, we had to wait outside for another hour and a half to be seated. We know the place and had dined there before so we know the wait would be so worth it.

Two and a half hours of driving and waiting, we were then seated, and again wait for another 40 minutes. Imagine how hungry we were, we can start to munch on those little plates of only our teeth would permit HAHA. Lesson learned for us to bring a snack if we were to eat there again. When our bowls were served, the smell is murderous to say the least. 

It was an unusual night with unusual waiting so it was just right we ordered something unusual. We all decided to get Super Chashu, each for ourselves. It is part of their Secret Menu and is not listed on their regular Menu. The main difference of this one to with their classic Ramen lists is the pork cutlet. I think it is twice or even close to three times the thickness of the regular chashu that goes with their regular bowls. And yes, it was not just thick, the flavor is even tripled because it has been marinated and cured longer than the regular ones, that is why they only serve a limited number of these bowls a day (We were so lucky that day that even if we were late, not much guests ordered it so there was enough for the six of us).

Yushoken's Super Chashu (Php 520)

It was not just a bowl of ramen, it was not just a good meal, it was a magical experience! We are big lovers of Ramen, well I guess because it's obviously Asian? But this was really different. That pork chashu cutlet for me was Japanese Noodle House meets Texas Steakhouse. It has this rich, umami taste with hints of hickory and charcoal that I just can't explain, especially on an Asian dish. 

This dish is super rich and creamy (a small warming for people with hypertension as a huge portion of the flavors are of course from pork fat in the chashu slice and the broth itself) plus it is topped with spring onions, bamboo shoots, kikurage or wood ear mushrooms, and sesame seeds. Some of my cousins were not able to finish their bowls even if they tried their best because it was just so many for them. I on the other hand, of course, feasted till the last drop. I did feel a little groggy right after though.

My Sister Judy, Niece Abrielle, Nephew Charles, Me, and the Newlyweds Carlos and Jean.

Aside from our Ramen bowls, we also ordered some signature Japanese side dishes. On the above picture is the Gyoza which is similar to what is known as pot-stickers in the US. It has minced pork and vegetables inside this pan fried/toasted dumplings. Dipped in soy sauce, they are so good!

Gyoza (Php 215)

Karaage are deep fried chicken cutlets, usually the deboned leg and thigh parts (yes, the tastiest ones!) and then served as is. What makes Yushoken's Karaage different from the rest is that these are larger balls and are cooked tender and not dried through frying. So they are not just flavorful, they are loads of juiciness.

Karaage (Php 280)

Writing about this post is bittersweet because this is something that we cannot do anymore for quite sometime, to dine together outside on restaurants. I do know that some restaurants now are open and allow dine in with physical distancing, but still with the cases of around 2,000 new infections per day, I don't think it is worth the risk. So for now, we'll settle for these memories that brings back the feelings of joy and happiness, and tastes that are beyond remarkable to forget.

Ramen Yushoken

Molito Commercial Complex,

Alabang, Muntinlupa, 1781

Metro Manila, Philippines

+63 2 8808 7424

My kids (Okay I'm just their big brother but their like my kids, Love them!)

Never Stop Hoping for Outside Dinners

Stevenson

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I would love to welcome and invite everyone to join this new Linky that I thought of starting - Timeless Thursdays.

Timeless Thursdays is open for anyone who wishes to share old photos or old thoughts that you would like to share as beautiful memories with everyone. This can be from yesterday, a year ago, or something from your grandma's treasure chest.

This runs every Thursday at 12 am (Manila/Perth Time) until Sunday at 11:59 pm (Manila/Perth Time)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter