To say that you don't like meat in Argentina is like saying that you don't like air or water. It's…read morean unfathomable thing in a country that has more cows than humans. So, I gave in. I ate meat every day, lots of it. And when I came home, I missed it. I missed parillas and buying meat from gauchos. But I had something to fall back on and it didn't require a 31-hour flight from Manila. (Yes, it's 31 not 13) I had Earle's Delicatessen. This is a deli that sells specialty goods alongside reasonably priced staples: juices, salsa balsamica, riso carnaroli, riso baldo. It offers a practical alternative to the supermarket. The thuringer bratwurst and the roast beef are the items to buy over here along with their really good Spanish cheese. You can order sandwiches here too; all are made with the freshest ingredients. I can never pass by this deli without buying anything, it always conjures the best memories in my head, most of them in Buenos Aires. (but hey that's just me)

Thus far, I have tried out this place (right next door to my office) both as an actual deli (way…read moreback in 2013 or so), and recently as a place to get good cheap salad. Last time, I ordered their Bavarian Smokies and Hungarian Sausages fresh off the deli, just so I have a pre-cooked viand to take into the office for lunch. I heated the sausages in the offices via microwave, and found myself completely thrown off and overpowered by sheer saltiness. Their sausages were over-seasoned! That left a bad taste in my mouth, causing me to not return to this place despite the very fair pricing (relative to pricier counterparts like Santïs). I only decided to try it again recently, now that I'm on a doctor-/coach-advised habit of having more greens and salads for my meals. I noticed that Earle's has salads in its menu, and very affordable ones at that. It has the Canadian Green (has maple ham), Mediterrebian Green (has cuts of beef), and Asian Green (has cuts of chicken and oranges). At an average price of about PHP 95 (for the Side portion, which is good for one person), Earle's (which is just next door to my building) currently gives me pretty much the best bang-for-buck as a full-meal salad in my immediate vicinity (just too bad that Lawson's and FamilyMart branches are currently a tad farther away). They prepare the salad fresh upon ordering, and serve it around 8-10 minutes. The Side portion is already sufficient to pair with a viand (I currently pack one from home) for a full meal. The iceberg lettuce is in hearty portions, the meat (I prefer the Canadian Green's ham and the Asian Green's chicken) is also generously served, and there is just enough dressing to spread evenly among the salad to taste. I have yet to try the Entree portion of its salads, but for PHP 30 more, I can imagine it would suffice as a full meal in and of itself. All that said, I would rate Earle's 3 stars as a pure delicateseen, as it really needs to work on the quality and seasoning of its deli meats. However, I would rate it 4 stars for its salads - great value for money! All in all, that would be 3.5 stars, but really, I'd definitely recommend it for the average-joe looking for an affordable yet modestly nutritious working meal.

When I first stepped into an Earle's, I knew then that there is a God and he loved me so, so much…read more Manila has always had Delis, but Earle's just took that business by storm by making their products delicious AND affordable. Back then, buying a kilo of something from a Deli was enough to wipe out half your salary. Either that or you'd go to your grocery and content yourself with the bland, chemical-tasting stuff that passes for salami. You had no middle ground. When Earle's came into the picture, however, meat lovers rejoiced. Their products tasted GREAT. We finally had an outlet that served great tasting Deli stuff at a fraction of the cost. The fact that they're making all these sausages locally probably has something to do with it, but I am not complaining one bit. The Earle's at Columns is the most comfortable branch they have, bar none. The presence of comfortable outdoor seating pushes this branch to the top in my book.

This tiny delicatessen hidden along Leviste Street can go easily unnoticed for a distracted…read morepasser-by, since the façade makes you feel it's just one more comercial business. But go beyond first impression and you'll see what this little place has to offer. There you can find cold cuts, cheese, fruits, fresh greens, vegetables and also gourmet products from many different countries. I just love it! When I need some moroccan couscous or some nice pasta to cook, I just drop by there. If you have time, I suggest taking a sit there (there are a few tables inside) and trying one of their sandwiches or pizzas. My favourite is the salmon spread sandwich, but it's always hard for me to choose what I want to eat. Oh, I can't forget to mention: there you can find different artisanal ice cream, like the famous Carmen's Best. If you intend to have a beer there, though, forget about it. They only sell beer to take out. It's not allowed to drink there, unfortunately.

It is easy to pass by LP Leviste Street and fail to notice The Market. The shop's signage is…read moreinconspicuous and simple. Last Saturday, however, I was finally able to set foot inside the establishment and only because the coffee shop I was planning to chill out in is full. The Market is really what its name implies. It's a small shop that sells deli, cheese, fresh vegetables, imported food items, and frozen meat and fish products. What really caught my eye was the artisanal ice cream that they carry. Not only do they have the now popular Carmen's Best, but they also have Sebastian's and Adam's as well. As a deli, they have sandwiches, salads, pizza, and coffee. On the downside, the shop has a very limited seating capacity. I was lucky to visit on a Saturday afternoon. According to the cashier, their store usually fills up with customers on weekdays, especially during lunch and merienda hours. The hot summer afternoons of recent weeks make this a good place to unwind and drink coffee. Most probably to maintain the freshness of their goods, the temperature inside the shop is cool.

Bretto's has adapted to this pandemic by closing their branch inside of Clark Freeport, and…read morereopening their cafe on Don Juico (take out only). This branch is also their main bakery where they make THE BEST breads: soft, fluffy with a crust that has a satisfying chew to it. They're well stocked when it comes to canned goods, albeit a bit pricey. Fresh fruits and veggies are now available, which you can find in the refrigerated section. There's a deli and a grocery section with exotic spice packets and lots of imported goods from the US and Europe. Make sure you're wearing a mask before you enter. At the door the guard will check your temp and spritz your hands with alcohol. Currently there's no limit to the number of customers that can enter at one time; you will definitely need to remind the other shoppers to keep their distance. What irritates me about this place is that many items are missing price tags. I come here mainly for their baked goods and specialty items. I'm looking forward to trying out food from their cafe.

I always tell my friends that it is impossible to be bored in Maginhawa. There is a wide variety of…read moreshops, establishments and dining places to keep you entertained, and when all else fails, you can always shop around for good deals. One of the best places to shop along Maginhawa is The Good Shelf. What I love about this eco-store is their commitment to corporate social responsibility, as they empower small producers that create artisanal products that can rival other commercially prepared food stuffs such as jams, preserves and other packaged produce. The eco-store has a variety of food items such as fresh produce and processed items that they have on display. The place also has a restaurant that serves healthy organic food. Upstairs is a small yoga studio, where residents from the neighborhood usually come for their practice. I usually come back to get more of my Human Nature environment friendly skin products such as hand sanitizers, lotions and refreshing sprays. The Good Shelf also carries my favorite Malagos Dark Chocolate, an excellent single origin dark chocolate from Davao. Small and independent producers can be part of the eco-store as consignees.

Going to the deli is convenient when you want to eat right away and buy an ingredient or two for…read moreyour next meal. I think. Most delis also have food that you can't easily find in the usual grocerires or supermarkets and that's what I love about visiting such places. The Good Shelf offers a variety of cheeses, pickles, and many other bottled (or pickled) products. I went in there intrigued by their cheesecake ice cream, which did not cost me much. It's packed in a plain plastic cup but I wasn't expecting them to transfer it to an actual ice cream cup when I said I was going to eat it inside. It was surprisingly spacious inside, too. They have pasta, smoothies, and mocktails in their menu. I love their blackberry-flavored one. And if you're in the area, I suggest you go inside and have a look.

So this place is easily accessible from Edsa Shangri-La Hotel via the Garden Wing entrance just…read moreacross. The Lower Ground Level is rather a lonely place for restaurants to reside, as evident by the closures; Krispy Kreme, Gelatissimo, Maple, and Jamba juice, which used to be at the entrance. Epicurious gets you curios from its name alone. The simple process of choosing your item and having them cook it for a minimal 5% surcharge it's an attractive concept. ITALIAN SAUSAGES (200-300 PHP) We selected our sausage from the display and had RICE (45 PHP) for starch. Meaty sausage that's satisfying and cook just right. VEGETABLE LASAGNE (250 PHP) Minced eggplant and carrots make up the filling with light tomato sauce that's hidden by the cheese. Topped with a lot cheese that's melted.

I think what we are missing in our local food scene is the the prevalence of delicatessens and…read morewhole food stores that focus on the special ingredients and processes that go into the creation of food that is delicious and satisfying. In the US, where I spent a year eating during most of my time as an exchange student, I have come to love the deli culture wherein you pop into a small family-run store and grab a sandwich to go with some salad, cuts of meat, cheese, olives, some pickles and other artisanal food items. I would also duck into delis for unique and hard to find ingredients that are usually supplied by neighborhood industries or specialty manufacturers. I was very excited when I came across Epicurious in Shangri-La's East Wing. I was exploring the newly-opened wing of the super snazzy mall when I saw the beautiful storefront that had displays of fresh fruit and vegetables. I came in and I was instantly impressed with the design and the concept of the place. They have shelves upon shelves of deli food items such as breads, sausages, steaks and packaged food. In the far corner, they also have a small counter where they display their house specialty cakes and desserts that go well with their coffee. In yet another corner is a fully-functional kitchen where they usually hold cooking demonstrations and tasting events. You will find specialty ingredients, cooking utensils and kitchen supplies for your next lunch or dinner party. Epicurious is my go-to place when I am in Shang. I would skip my veg diet and go for the spicy sausages, which I can have the staff grill for me with salt and a little black pepper. I would also order the salads and the pre-made sandwiches from their deli display cases. My usual meal would be the sausages and salads cooked on the spot and served with warm bread from their boulangerie section. I love the "paluto" concept where you pick from the produce and have their chefs prepare your food for you. I always feel like a kid let loose in an amusement park when I go through their shelves. I find so many interesting things that I want to try. The prices are manageable and I think they are worth the value of the goods that are on display. The staff, which are managed and hired by the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA), are always very polite and helpful.

My recent favorite find! I can't believe I didn't know this place existed in Manila. I can live…read morehere now! It's a European deli + grocery, where you can find meats, cheeses, produce. There's a good selection of ingredients for European cooking - Italian, French, German. Plus, they have a wide array of my favorite European snacks! Brands like Cailler, Kagi, Manner, Hero, Piacelli, etc. Pluses are the cafe upstairs, olive bar, gift baskets, breads, and they can make a very presentable charcuterie plate. Friendly associates too. Negatives are they can't serve coffee to go, and they quoted me the wrong price for the charcuterie plate. I selected meats and cheeses on promo and the price they charged me was way higher than the sum of the individual meats. I took it up to them and they didn't do anything to correct this. I'll just have to keep a sharper eye when they ring me up next time. This will be my go to place for my European ingredients needs and snacks! Yay! After a terrible weekend in this city, Santi's kind of redeemed Manila for me!

My Saturday routine usually starts at Salcedo Market and ends at Säntis Delicatessen. I've read…read moresomething about this gourmet-paradise place in some expatriate's web forum and wanted to check it out. Well, I can say it was love at first sight. If you like to cook different dishes (I mean, not the everyday ones), this is the right place for you to find sophisticated ingredients. They sell gourmet products from all over the world. So there's no matter if you want to impress and prepare some Moroccan food or serve authentic Italian pasta: there you'll certainly find what you need. The products I always buy there are prime meats, chicken breast, fresh salmon, turkey ham and imported cheese. Their US beef tenderloin is the most tender I found in town - and I've tried many supermarkets before. Highly recommend it! Santis also has a wine cellar with a big variety of bottles. Just choose the country and region you appreciate the most and voilà, you'll have all the elements for a great gourmet experience.