Japan: Food crawl and cafes in Tokyo

Japan: Food crawl and cafes in Tokyo

Hokkaido, Japan: Food crawl and cafes in Sapporo

 

Travel Date: 17-20 March 2025

Kyoto, Japan: ShinPuhKan

New complex shopping place in Kyoto, ShinPuhKan is a combined area for Ace Hotel, cafes, restaurants, and stores.

Philippines: Artesania and Caffeined by Mozaic Living

An artisan cafe by Caffeined by Mozaic Living Inc. Fusion of lifestyle,  furniture store, arts and crafts by local artisans. artesaniafurniture | mozaicliving

Philippines: The Taste of South (2017)

Another year of tasting classic, fusion and amazing edibles served in the restaurants of the metro!

Las Pinas

Another Story
Cuisine: American Asian

Food: Paella (395ph), Feta Cheese and dried berries (Feta Cheese and dried beriies with a balsamic viniagrette dressing and tossed assprted lettuce salad drizzled with candied walnuts. 295ph for solo serving can already be shared), Roast Pork Belly (Roast Pork Belly with mushroom gravy and applesauce with potato au gratin or buttered rice or mashed potatoes, 495ph)

Personal Preference: 10 out of 10.  The food is tasty.  The sauce used in pork belly, vegetables and salad are in rich flavor.  The ambiance the best!

Location: 2F inside Evia Mall, Daang Hari Road, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas, 1750

South Korea: Incheon: Cafe Valor

Cafe Valor by it's name is a coffee shop, but is actually a furniture display shop.  It is located in Incheon and was used as a setting in the movie The Beauty Inside.

South Korea: Seoul: Queen Mama Market

If you are fond of buying furniture, natural-made perfume,scented candles, designed ceramic plates - you can find some of there rare items at the ground and mezzanine floors of Queen Mama Pop-up Market.

South Korea: dal.komm

Another coffee brand that became more famous across the kdrama world is dal.komm.  I have not visited the actual location of where the drama were taken, but I got a chance to visit the one in Suncheon.  

dal.komm
Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Food: mummy hotdog and peach ice tea, 7500krw

Personal Preference: 9 out of 10, expensive.  For the sake of re-living Descendants of the Sun, although this is not the actual location shoot, you'll be successful in hunting Jongki.  They have replays of DOTS on the video near the counter, his magazines were everywhere.

Philippines: Flavors of Taguig (2016)

Passion by Gerard Dubois [Restaurant Closed] 
Location: Shop C2 of the NetPark, 5th Ave, Taguig
Food: pasta, vegetable salad, cake, macaroons
Menu: http://www.passionbygd.ph/menu.php
Personal Preference: 8 out of 10.  Pastries are for sale after 8 or 9pm.  Wide choice of ice cream and macaroons.

2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: The Taste of Bacolod

Silay:

El Ideal

Food: Pancit Guisado, Double Decker chicken and tuna sandwich with melted cheese

Value: Affordable (230php)

Atmosphere: old restaurant, with wooden chairs and marble-made table.

Location: 118 Rizal St, Silay City Heritage Zone, Negros Occidental (near park and bus stop)

Personal Preference: 8 out 10

Bacolod:
31 Korea
Food: tuna mayo kimbap, kokiyo chicken
Value: affordable (249php, 2015)
Atmosphere: Not the galbi-cooking that I'm expecting, but the only one I've seen with the toy I've been looking for.
The video screen is showing tvN channel with the replay of MNET Awards 2014 in Hong Kong.

Location : Citywalk, Robinsons

2014 Nov: Japan: Tokyo: Oishii Experience!

Sharing with you oishii experience in Kanto, Japan!  Oishii (おいしい), meaning: nice; tasty; delicious.

Location: Restaurant along Ningyocho St.

Preference: 8 out of 10

Food: Zuke Maguro Tsukimi Don - seasoned tuna bowl with raw egg malted bean sauce

Value: 650 yen = 325 php

Atmosphere: Local/Traditional

Location: Hakata Ippudo, Roppongi

Preference: 9 out of 10

Food: Shiromau Classic - Ippudo's original tonkotsu broth served with ultra-thin noodles, pork belly, bean sprouts, black fungus and spring onions. Classic Hakata-style ramen.

Value: 780 yen = 390 php

Atmosphere: Local/Traditional

2013 Aug: Brewing in Manila (Part 2)

Let me continue my piece on Cafes Brewing in Manila. 

Tous Les Jours

History: In 1958, CJ began the milling business as a leading food and service company in Korea.  Since the, CJ has been developing various kinds of flour in top quality.  Tous Le Jours is the bakery of a whole new level from the beginning.  We use the top quality flour from CJ’s leading technology.  It is known to be a neighborhood artisan bakery.  Enjoy various kinds of bread freshly baked from the oven everyday.

Being a fan of Korea, the feeling inside the bakeshop brings back the days during my visit in Seoul, Busan and Jeju.  Reminds me so much of their rival bakeshop Paris Baguette.

2013 Jan: Philippines: Albay: Food Strip

Albay is one of famous destinations in Philippines not only for its natural beauty but also for food satisfaction.  Below are the restaurants we tried during our stay.

La Mia Tazza Coffee

We had our first break at this café since it is located at Embarcadero. They have tables at the veranda so you can have your sip of coffee while watching the clouds as it cover the volcano tip.  We tried Pili Cappuccino (small, 98php) and Raspberry Mocha (small, 98php).

Small Talk Cafe
Located just near the Albay Cathedral, you can easily spot this restaurant.

It is a homey designed restaurant with antique pieces, piano, old photos of famous artists who dined in, old wooden tables and chairs.  The café is famous for its unique flavors of pasta and pizza.

2013 Jan: Brewing in Manila

I’m not a coffee lover or should I say coffee is not healthy for my heart.  But with a lot of shops brewing here in the city, should I still not give it a shot?  Coming from three-peat short trips in South Korea in just 10 months, I started to yearn for coffee.  Initially because cafes there are everywhere. 

In 2006, I had a drink with my colleagues in Max Brenner, Greenbelt.  That was the most expensive coffee I ever had, 500php for a cup of white chocolate.  This week (2013) I noticed that it also started brewing in Mall of Asia, but this time with more affordable price.  This is also brewing in other countries such as USA, Australia, Singapore and Israel. http://www.maxbrenner.com/branches.html

Philosophy: Chocolate, more than any other food is integrated in to many aspects of our lives. It is a symbol of contradicting emotions and sensations. On one hand, it is the most romantic gift; on the other hand it is a commodity which is traded on the stock exchange. It is sold like a prestigious piece of jewelry carefully selected from a glass case but also as an addictive snack available at every corner store. It is tasted like a fine wine and licked off of fingers dipped straight in to the bowl. It is sexy, nostalgic, and forever an object of fantasy for children and grownup children. These diverse chocolate associations are the inspiration behind Max Brenner's new chocolate culture. (http://www.maxbrenner.com/about.html)

Across Max Brenner’s location in MOA, is espressamente illy (which is also present in NAIA Terminal 3).  I got familiar with this shop when I saw it from Hong Kong International Airport and Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan. 

Origin: Francesco Illy founded illycaffè in 1933.  His 1935 invention of the illetta, considered the blueprint for modern espresso machines, revolutionized coffee preparation.  His innovative method of packaging, based on pressurization, enabled illy’s initial exports to Sweden and Holland during the 1940s.  Francesco Illy’s method remains the standard for preserving and enhancing coffee’s freshness during transport and storage.  (http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/en/company/illycaffe-history)

Last year (2012), after attending an expo in SMX I got surprised when I saw a tarpaulin saying future site of “Caffe Bene”.

Their Story: It all began in April 2008 at Eastern Seoul where Caffe Bene's first-ever store was opened. Founded by Mr. Kim Sun-Kwon, who has been notable for his other successful franchise endeavors. Since then, Caffé Bene has grown to more than 800 stores making it the Largest and Fastest Growing coffee shop chain in Korea.  In fact since it started, almost every other day a Caffé Bene shop is opened – continually even today.  Conquering the Philippines, Filipinos can now rave about the difference of Caffe Bene and get acquainted with so much reasons why the Bene brand has grown this far.

Their Brand: Bene means "good or well". European feels accentuated by Korean touches. Friendly, warm and cozy ambiance. Various menus and great coffee! (http://www.caffebene.com.ph)

2011 November: South Korea: Café in Seoul

One of the many descriptions I can tag to Seoul is it is the café capital of Asia.  If you are a coffee lover, this is a place to be – and you’ll be in heaven.  Below are just some of the cafés I have seen as walk along, this still not include one of my favorites: Café Bene.  Others in my must try list are:  Coffine Gurunaru, Angel in Us Coffee and Paris Baguette. 

South Korea: Changdeokgung Palace

Travel Date: June 24, 2011
Destination: Changdeokgung Palace + Shopping

We decided to have breakfast on Caffe Bene. We had blueberry waffle, corn waffle, coffee and milk for 12400krw (500php).  Quoting from koreatimes.co.kr , “Almost anywhere you go, there’s a Caffe Bene and its signature look is hard to miss. The rustic wooden exteriors, with the playful sign that says ``Caffe Bene: gelato & waffles,’’ is not one to be mistaken for Starbucks or Coffee Bean.”

Taiwan: Day 4: Visiting Lavender Farm

Woke-up early and had breakfast from Dante’s Coffee, I loved bagel and cream cheese.

This day is my Taoyuan challenge. I’ve been wanting to see the farm used in Leo and Yshin’s series, Lavender. After doing the research, I found that it was Tomita Farm located in Taoyuan. But, when I reached the place and due to unexpected drizzle, I decided to visit only Tashee Blooming Oasis (few more minutes and you will also see Tomita Farm).

From Taipei, I dropped off at Ximen MRT Station. From my research, travelers were advise that from Taipei’s Gueiyang Street (貴陽街) in front of the Soochow University annex (located between Ximending and Presidential Office, east of Zhonghua Rd), board a Taipei Bus (台北客運) or Taoyuan Bus (桃園客運) bus to Dasi. I waited for Bus 9103 on the school side. Below is a sample bus ticket that you will received from the driver, and which should be returned upon drop off.

Bus route map from Taipei to Dasi: http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/1011.gif

Bus time schedule: http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/1011.html

From the bus station on Daxi town, I took a cab and it is almost a 15 minute travel for less than 160NT.

I paid 80NT on the Tashee Blooming Oasis admission fee, I got a 20NT discount from the Youth Travel Card.

Since I decided to go to the other farm instead of the one used in Lavender, I’m surprised that they still have Lavender plants.

I’m also amazed that the Love at the Corner series also shoot in the area.

Other series that I’m not familiar with the title but with the actors are Rainie Yang, 5566, etc.

They also offer the Lavender bottle and different teas.

I had vegetable pasta for lunch, more expensive that the usual.

At around 1pm, I left the area. It took me around 30 minutes waiting for a cab to return to Daxi bus station. The bus to Taipei arrived at around 2pm, if I missed it I need to wait for the 4pm bus.

I arrived at almost 4pm in Ximen, I looked for Far Eastern Department store to find the supermarket. I think it is cheaper to buy chocolate and tea pasalubong from supermarket rather than keychain or shirt from night market.

Travel Date: October 22, 2009

Summary of 7 days 6 nights Itinerary on 2009 Taiwan Trip

Day	Places to see	Food and Restaurants	Where to Sleep
Day 1	St. John Bosco Church Miramar (Ferris Wheel)		City Inn Hotel
Day 2	National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial NTUniversity Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Taipei 101	Lunch @ Mr. J Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 3	Taroko Guided Tour	Dinner @ Modern Toilet	City Inn Hotel
Day 4	Ta Shee Blooming Oasis Tomita Farm		City Inn Hotel
Day 5	Walking on Tianmu Area Fisherman’s Walking Area	P.S. Bu Bu Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 6	National Palace Museum Taipei Story Land	Hello Kitty Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 7	Taipei Fine Arts Museum Taiwan Storyland		City Inn Hotel