Recently had lunch at Union Jack. I'm a stickler for clean windows in every establishment. Clean…read morethe windows...please! That being said, the fish and chips served to me looked just like the picture on the menu...2 thumps up for that. The fish without the batter was bland to the taste but cooked perfectly. The chips were not for me. I prefer thinner cut fries but I'm told they are authentic to what you can expect in the UK. The mayo/white sauce that came with the meal needs work...more sweet and sour ingredients maybe. Servers were professional and responsive. Food is priced appropriately. I will return to try other items on the menu...when I see the windows have been cleaned . I recommend giving Union Jack a try.

We tend to overlook Union Jack for its bordering kitschy facade and dark interiors but once you…read moreenter, its almost like being transported to a neighborhood pub in the UK! Tuned into a sports channel, beer on tap and a best of British menu (plus a huge poster of a Queen Elizabeth with a face of approval watching over you) is just a tip of the whole experience. Would have wanted to try their other curry dishes as their chef is Indian! Mental note to go back on a weekend to try their Indian buffet at 600+ per head. I chose the beef tikka masala off the British menu. They serve two versions, the former having the curry separate from the grilled meat plus a poppadum and the Indian version curry-style. Tasted amazing- right level of heat and creaminess! The beef had a nice char and spice to it but was overcooked and slightly under seasoned. Had a hard time cutting through. Shepherds Pie came straight out of the oven hot and meaty. Everything was washed nicely with a fresh pint of draft beer at Php 100!

I used to really, really love Japanese food, but when I stopped eating meat and seafood I realised…read morehow difficult it is to get Japanese food that's suitable for vegans here in Manila, as even vegetable ramen has stock made of pork bones, and sashimi and most sushi are all out of the question. So, most of the time I have to make my own Japanese food at home. Fuji Mart is just 3 minutes away from my apartment, and I do stop by here to buy some nori whenever I want to make veggie sushi, and Kikkoman soy sauce for when I want to make vegan yakimeshi. I mean, of course they have nori. But there are other things I like about Fuji Mart, such as they sell good Japanese tofu, instant miso soup, wasabi, Japanese breadcrumbs, kombu seaweed (great for making veggie stock!), Japanese spices, sesame seeds and edamame! I've never come across edamame being sold in supermarkets. I have yet to veganize my other Japanese food favourites, such as tonkatsu, ramen, and gyoza. But once I do take on those challenges, naturally this is where I'll be stopping by for ingredients.

It is so sad to witness the missed opportunity that is Fuji Mart Japanese Grocery. I mean there are…read moreso many Japanese products that can and should be sold here in the country. Whoever owns this grocery already put up the money to rent this slot, so it's odd that there are not enough products sold to justify it's existence. This place has the usual alcoholic beverages from the Land of the Rising Sun, including sake which I really like. They also have an assortment of tofu products, as well as some spices. But outside of this, they don't have too much else to offer consumers. I would, for example, like to see them carry the widest possible array of instant noodles, if only because the local ones and the made-in-China ones aren't all that tasty. Japan also has some of the best chocolates and assorted sweets that can grow on you. Even their ice creams with their odd flavors can be winners. Here's hoping that in the months and years to come, they can expand their product line. I'm sure they will have ready buyers for all things Japanese, not only because there is a small Japanese community in Better Living, but because us Pinoys have also developed a taste for all things Japanese.

If you're not from the South, you're probably unfamiliar with the other "image" of BF Homes, which…read moreis actually a growing, mini Korea-town. Ever since our friends from Korea have started relocating here in the village, more and more Korean establishments have been popping up all over BF. I used to live in here and I have experienced what feels like an "invasion"--Scenario: 9pm, a group of around 8-10 Koreans, marching on the street while doing arm exercises! Also, I do get an occasional "Annyeong!" from some shopkeepers who think I'm Korean, thanks to my haircut (square bob with bangs--a popular Korean girl haircut). Anyway, this "invasion" isn't necessarily a bad thing, and we have learned to embrace and accept their culture. As I've mentioned, they've built a whole Korea town here. You can find good Korean beauty salons, bars, restaurants, schools, and of course grocers. The biggest one is Korean Hypermart. Korean Hypermart has what typical Korean grocers would have, so expect all the kimchi, seaweed, frozen dumplings, Lotte stuff, the ever popular fish ice cream and so on. But what I do find special about this Hypermart is that they have a produce section with imported veggies from Korea (and may also be from other countries). And, I think this is perfectly understandable. If I were a Korean expat, I would prefer produce grown from my homeland for the most authentic-tasting Korean dishes.

On one trip to Vigan, I had such a difficult time finding anything vegan to eat in Vigan (LOL), and…read moreI was desperate to try Ilocos empanada. I learned there that if you have the most basic empanada (just egg and veggies) made without the egg, it can be vegan. I've been having my fare of veganized Batac-style empanada whenever I see an empanada store here in Manila. Fariñas Ilocos Empanada is among the more popular and accessible empanada joints. So yes, for a vegan empanada, get the basic one without the egg. You are bound to get strange looks at first, accompanied by "Walang egg? Sure po ba kayo?" but they will eventually comply with your requests once you reassure them that it's possible to have it without the egg. It's oily (you've been warned!), savoury, great with Ilocos vinegar. It hits the spot even without having any animal products (empanadas are known to be stuffed with all sorts of longganisa, cheese, and whatnot). This totally fits into the junk food category but if your eating habits offer a leeway, this is perfect for a quick, tasty merienda paired with some soda.

Farinas Ilocos Empanada is easily one of the more recognizable food you'll ever encounter. It's…read morehuge. It's oily. It's orange! There really is no mistaking it when you see someone walking past you eating that messy, wonderful empanada. First, you'll recognize the brown paper bag soaked in oil. Then, you'll notice a little piece of the crunchy orange shell as the owner struggles to take a big bite. You might even see some vegetable pieces dribbling down his/her chin. Finally, the smell of the deep-fried dish hits you. Then you won't be able to resist getting your own. And you better make sure you do! Farinas Ilocos Empanada is a wonderful combination of vegetables, garlicky Vigan longganisa and runny egg wrapped in a half moon thin, crisp shell and deep-fried to perfection. If you want the full experience, get the Ultimate version of P99. Don't forget to try it with sukang Iloko. Each empanda is big enough to stave off your hunger until the next meal. Farinas also has bagnet (which does not skimp on the fatty parts and is guaranteed to give you a dizzy spell) and a wonderful version of pinakbet (fresh vegetables with bagnet pieces).

I remember when Makati Supermart first opened in Alabang. I was so excited to go to the grocery and…read morefind many different fresh and packaged goods to cook and experiment with. Its probably become a landmark to many residents of the area and has continuously tried to improve its simple interiors to cater to its growing market of patrons and residents from Alabang. I like that you can also apply for (if qualified) for an in-house credit card that you can use to shop. Just make sure to pay your bills on time! A lot of their products are good with a number of imported products. They recently did some small upgrades to improve their deli section and slowly bring in organic products as well. They have a wide selection of groceries, homeware, hardware, kitchenware, beauty and health products, as well as some pet goods. All in all a nice place to do the grocery but could still improve more on product range.

As soon as my plane landed in Manila, I ran around Alabang Town Center looking for my preferred…read moreOrganix brand of shampoo and conditioner, and my efforts were fruitless until I went to Metro Supermarket. They have a huge selection of imported items, including toiletries and beauty supplies! It's not comparable to the selection in the United States obviously, but at this rate I'll take what I can get.

Metro is generally a nice place to do your groceries, but I came here to particularly write about…read moretheir International food section/imported goods. They really have so much variety, with a lot of items I have not seen in other supermarkets. These several aisles are definitely worth exploring if you're someone like me who's terribly curious about other types of cuisine, or if your idea of entertainment is discovering funny/strange packaging design. Among my favorite "imported" things to buy are bread spreads, nut butters, jams and fruit preserves. This section will indulge you. For Asian food, this section will also not disappoint. All sorts of condiments and mixes to recreate those dishes that are Thai/Indonesian/Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese etc. If you're looking to impress people with your culinary skills, a tip is to drop by the Asian section where you can find all sorts of ingredients that make it easy, convenient and POSSIBLE to upgrade your dish from humble lutong bahay to a respectable Asian Fusion. Other than that, I really do like how this place is very well-lit! And it's not the blinding type of brightness, but the type of lighting that adds just the right amount of warmth in the atmosphere. And before I forget, for you vegans: They have some frozen mock meat available here such as frozen, Taiwanese veg burgers and sliced fish ham. I recommend the fish, as it comes with a seaweed skin, and tasty when paired with some garlic, pepper and vinegar dipping sauce. Lastly, if you're looking for "Liquid Smoke", that magical ingredient every "artisanal"cook is raving about, you can find it here. It's called Wright's and comes in a small bottle.

This is part of a small chain of litlle restaurants that specialize in Pancit Malabon. There are…read moresix others with the same name and the oldest one is based in -- where else --Malabon. This Better Living branch is located at Dona Soledad Extension and when I went there last week, they were all complaining that the ongoing roadworks were killing their business. But I asked how they were doing before the road was closed for repairs. The lady behind the counter told me that business was pretty good up to that point. For now, they had to stay open for their clients who ordered and expected their hot pancit malabon delivered to their doorstep. They have a steady clientele so that the business continued to operate despite the absence of walk-in clients. The same cannot be said of the store beside them that specialized in pares and was previously open 24 hours a day. To be honest, I never liked pancit malabon, but it is clear that a lot of people do. Dolora's has been operating since 1990, so that's a good quarter century of providing the noodles with seafood-based sauce to countless Filipinos. I prefer pancit palabok myself, but most everyone I know like both palabok and malabon. Since they've been around for 25 years, I suppose bringing a bilao of their pancit would be most welcome when going to friends' homes to visit.

This food stall is your meal ticket to Ilocos. They serve the best food found in Ilocos such as the…read morefamous longganisa, bagnet, pakbet, papaitan to name a few and served with sukang Iloko on the side. I ordered longganisa and crossed my fingers, hoping that it will taste like the authentic longanisa and it did! The fatty pork marinated in sukang Iloko, mixed with tons of garlic, black pepper and spices transported me back to my grandmother's kitchen in Ilocos. I remember her coming home from the market with around 7-10 kilos of longanisa, (cause We don't eat anything there, but longanisa), boiling it with a little water then letting the longanisa cook on its own fat. Yes, the longanissa made me remember Ilocos and how much I missed it. Try out their bagnet too! It's like chicharon/ lechon kawali- Ilocano Style. The crispness and saltiness of the bagnet is best dipped in Sukang Iloko. Trivia: Mi-ah-Mi-It is not an Ilocano word; its name was derived from the NBA team Miami Heats, the business owner's favorite basketball team.

*Note: This is a 4.5 Star review…read more Since the past weeks have been very, very hot and humid, I've been craving for cold desserts. My new favorite dessert at the moment is Bingsu! While I was down South, my friends and I decided that it would be great to end the night with something icy to cool down. We actually weren't sure where to get Bingsu but, thankfully, we found this hidden gem at Molito. Bingsu is basically the Korean version of shaved ice or halo halo. Imagine soft, icy snow with condensed milk poured on top then add any toppings of your liking: from mochi to fresh fruit to brownies! We arrived almost to closing time but they still allowed us to order. We decided to try the regular size of the Injeolmi, Mix Berry Yogurt, and Mango (of course!). There was a bit of wait since we were the last order and they ran out of ingredients and had to prep for more. So, we waited for about 15-20 minutes. While we were waiting, we decided to hangout in their "Snow Room"! Yes, they have a small room in the café where "snow" falls from the ceiling. Pretty cool making snowballs! :) After hanging out in the snow, our bingsu orders arrived. Among the 3 that we ordered, the best was actually the Injeolmi! It's was the most traditional one and it was also the most flavorful. It had the right amount of sweetness and it was packed with ingredients. The Mix Berry Yogurt was tart and had dried fruit which added the sweetness. The Mango Bingsu was a winner. But, I always ended up going back for more spoonfuls of the Injeolmi! The one common factor for all the Bingsu we ate though is that the ice was sooo fine, fluffy and creamy. One of the best quality bingsu I've tried so far! I will definitely come back when I'm in the South again. I hope I'll be able to try their Cheese Bingsu next time! :)

Ok so I've read all the reviews and decided today was the day to go have some dessert, because our…read moredinner sucked royally and needed a pick me up to end the night out on a good note. The snow room in the cafe was a pretty fun touch. The desserts they serve were certainly fun and just the goodness we needed. We ordered the chocolate snow ice, the small one, certainly, it was enough for two to share as a dessert. I'm used to the Taiwanese snow ice and this is certainly something new. Reminded me of the snow ice, but the ice was really flakey and soft, super fun for the palette. The chocolate wasn't overly sweet and was just plain enjoyable. We were already eyeballing the menu for our next visit and scoping out the other tables. It all looks so good!! If you need a cool pick me up... This should certainly do the trick! We hope to visit again soon and try everything eventually :) A la cuisine! Stay hungry my friends!