Entries Tagged 'Coffee Shops' ↓

From a list of almost 500 restaurants endorsed and nominated by Spot.ph readers last year, the judges thereafter shortlisted the nominees. This lead to the announcement  of 13 admired restaurants in each of their categories recently concluded at the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards 2009.

Encore (previous Embassy Superclub) was filled with food industry players, food enthusiasts and the media for an afternoon of foodie glamor and tasty anticipation for the would-be winners of Nescafe Gold Spot Awards 2009.

Nominees, Foodie Enthusiasts and Guests

This year’s judges include Chef Aileen Anastacio, Yummy editor-in-chief Becky Kho, Chef Him Uy de Baron, award-winning blogger Franco of Table for Three Please, food writer and blogger JJ Yulo and actress Cherie Gil.

Ms. Myrza Sison, Editr-in-Chief of Spot.ph with Jonel Uy of NomNomClub.com Food Blog

Mr. Logan O’Brien, Consumer Marketing Manager, Coffee Business Unit, Nestle Philippines

Sponsored by Nescafe, online voting via Spot.ph ended last January 31, 2010. With more than 250,000 votes cast for 55 restaurants in 11 categories (2 categories were purely by the judges), without further adieu,

Manila’s Best Restaurants for 2009 are:

Best Japanese Restaurant – Inagiku
Best Filipino Restaurant – Abe
Best Steakhouse – 22 Prime
Best Delicatessen – Santi’s Delicatessen
Best Bar – Cav Wine Bar and Bistro
Best Chinese Restaurant – Shang Palace
Best Italian Restaurant – Paparazzi
Best Buffet – Spiral
Best Dessert Place – Cupcakes by Sonja

*Best Restaurant Chain – Cibo
*Best Service – Cibo

*New Restaurant of the Year – Lusso
*Restaurant of the Year – Lolo Dad’s

*Best Restaurant Chain and Best Service was solely determined by readers through mobile and online votes while New Restaurant of the Year and Restaurant of the Year were purely from the panel of judges.

22 Prime - Best Steakhouse

Inagiku - Best Japanese Restaurant

Cav Wine Bar And Bistro - Best Bar

Santi's Delicatessen - Best Deli

Abe - Best Filipino Restaurant

Cupcakes By Sonja - Best Dessert Place

Best Buffet - Spiral

Best Chinese Restaurant - Shang Palace

Paparazzi - Best Italian Restaurant

Cibo is the only one which brought home the bacon for two categories while Lolo Dad’s got the most coveted title of Restaurant of the Year.

I have tried Lolo Dad’s Brasserie in Makati where I met Chef Ariel Manuel but I haven’t been to their main branch in Malate. I hope to do so soon.

I shared these information earlier online on-the-spot during the event through my twitter, plurk, and facebook network accounts. Among my networks, Shang Palace got the most cheers which tinkled my fancy about the restaurant.

I want to visit Shang Palace very soon! Congratulations to this year’s Nescafe Gold Spot Awardees!

Earlier this month, SM Fairview has formally launched the second Annex 2 section of the mall. Although it had a soft launch and opened since early last year with some shops, it’s now brimming with new establishments from food spots to designer clothes and boutiques.

And of course, NomNom was happy to see a wide array of food shops with varying choices including Panciteria Lido, Army Navy, Big Better Burgers, Krispy Kreme and grilled servings from Taipan Grill .

My Thai Restaurant

Experience a flavorful Thai home cooking at My Thai located at the Ground Floor of the SM City Fairview New Annex. There’s even St. Clare international culinary school to complete the foodie complex.

Here are some more photos I got from the recent formal opening of SM Fairview Annex 2:

Krispy Kreme @ SM Fairview

Views From the 2F of SM Fairview Annex 2

Taipan Grill

Mexicali and Teriyako Boy

SM Fairview Mall

Click for more SM Fairview Photos Here.

SM City Fairview’s Palm Drive features al fresco dining as well (top photo).

And of course, the major SM food suppliers: SM Supermarket, SM Foodcourt, and SM Hypermart located at Annex 1 and the main mall.

SM Supermarket, SM Hypermart, Sm Foodcourt

So if you’re around the area, give SM Fairview Annex 2 mall extension a visit and enjoy choosing from the long list of dining options.

A Slice of Chocolate Heaven

Just in time for the valentine season, Red Ribbon releases its newest, richest, and chocolatiest chocolate cake ever – the Chocolate Heaven.

Promising a taste of heaven with its creaminess and combination layer of chocolate brownie at the bottom and chocolate mousse over it. It is then covered by rich dark chocolate icing and topped with chocolate shaven curls.

That’s four times a chocolate!

Red Ribbon Chocolate Heaven Cake

The verdict: Yes! It’s the chocolatiest ever! Stop reading this and taste one for yourself. 🙂

The junior size is priced at P335 while the regular size is P560. It has been available in select stores since early February but will be is available nationwide in all Red Ribbon branches today since yesterday.

Wait, there’s more! Join the Chocolate Heaven Photo Contest today! See mechanics here!

It’s the season of commercial love. Yes, a market-driven one characterized by candies, chocolates, flowers, gifts, and occasional greeting cards, to materialistically symbolise one’s love and affection for another.

But whatever the Valentine’s Day critics say, it always feels good to receive a chocolate, a bouquet of flowers, and a cake from your loved one, be it your relative, parents, kids, or special partner.

Roses & Kisses Cake

So Red Ribbon made sure this becomes easy for the gift giver with their seasonal Roses and Kisses Cake which is now available for pre-order until February 9, 2009

It’s a chocolate pound cake shaped as a lovey-dovey heart and decorated with edible sugar roses and Hershey’s milk chocolate Kisses on top. Made beautiful inside-out, it is made with layers of chocolate fudge filling sprinkled with chocolate chips.

Looks and sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

So what about the taste? I like how it tastes different from the usual sweet cakes we usually have. It isn’t tiring to the taste buds, so I believe a couple can finish a whole cake in one sitting. 🙂

Truly a seasonal cake just for this valentine season, the 6 diameter white heart is priced at P330 and is customizable with a total of 14-character text before and after the “Happy Valentine’s Day” box for your special message for him/her.

Red Ribbon's Valentine's Day Cake - Roses And Kisses Cake

Read this blog post too late? And it’s Valentine’s Day in a day or two? Red Ribbon’s Valentine’s Cake – Roses and Kisses is available off the shelf in all Red Ribbon branches nationwide from Febraury 12-14, 2010.

As promised, we’re bringing back Food Foto Fiesta.

I had a recent surprising discovery of a Filipino restaurant called Serye. It’s related to the classic Aristocrat restaurant that anyone above 20, and residing in the Philippines, would be familiar with.

Actually, Serye have been around for sometime but is currently re-branding from Serye Restaurant and Cafe, to Serye Cafe Filipino; but that story deserves a separate article altogether. Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks.

For now, feast on the 10 photos I recently took from their Eastwood Libis branch.

Gambas

Pork Spareribs

Kesong Puti Puttanesca

Pork Binagoongan

Arroz Ala Cubana Pandesal

Tuna Sisig

Kesong Puti Salad

Dinuguan and Puto

Boneless Crispy Pata

* Food photos taken at Serye Cafe Filipino Eastwood Libis Branch.

A month after the holidays, Starbucks‘ Dark Cherry Mocha still stayed on the menu board way after the other two holiday featured beverages Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha was taken off the shelf – which is a good thing! 🙂

Give in to your chocolate craving with its combination of espresso, steamed milk, and bittersweet chocolate with dark cherry flavor; topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder.

And although the Starbucks Planner fever is over, it tastes like Christmas all over. 🙂

Krispy Kreme Philippines initially provided relief efforts for victims of typhoon Ondoy in their own simple way by giving away free doughnuts to typhoon victims and relief operation volunteers as part of its immediate action.

As a follow up, they are holding a special day tomorrow in their branches. They are encouraging everyone to help them in their fund raising efforts to provide relief for Ondoy victims, by simply purchasing an Original Glazed doughnut this coming Sunday, October 11, 2009.

For every Original Glazed doughnut you buy, the sale will automatically go to Krispy Kreme’s relief fund which will distributed to the Philippine National Red Cross–Rizal Chapter and ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya.

Krispy Kreme is inviting you to join hands with them in rising from this occasion and prove that heroism is truly a Filipino trait.

You may visit the following stores on October 11 to join the fund raising –

• Bonifacio High Street
• SM Megamall
• Greenhills Drive-Thru
• Trinoma Mall
• SM Mall of Asia Main Mall and Drive-Thru
• Robinsons Galleria
• Gateway Mall Ground Floor and Cinema Level
• Glorietta 4
• The Annex SM North EDSA
• SM Fairview Annex

I”ll be at the KK BHS branch. 🙂