The past 6 months in snaps

The hibernation required by the cruel Beijing winter kept me at home or indoors in a nearby place most times, without much foodventures to speak of. The Great Firewall of China also discouraged me from accessing my blog (required a VPN), thus I easily fell into the comfort of becoming a creature of habit. 

Still, these past 6 months, life happened. I realized the value of building face-to-face relationships with people I met in the places I frequented, and sharing my many favorite foods with a carefully chosen set of friends. I live in a city where it is easy to find friends but difficult to keep them, because people come and go all the time. Going to the same places with the same persons helps us easily draw into memories in the future. 

A sneak-peak into my life in the context of food:

 Peanut butter toast from Bridge Cafe, my favorite in all of Beijing. One of the cafe's other frequent guest said I was here too often I was already part of the cafe furniture. The chef drew the translation of my name (Faith: 信) on the toast, upon hearing that this was the only item on the menu that I haven't had yet.

Vineyard Cafe

This is rather belated, but last summer was the first time I tried out Vineyard Cafe in the up and coming Wudaoying Hutong 五道营胡同. Wudaoying is currently being developed and hyped up to be the next destination for hidden hutong gems for young urban professionals. 

Vineyard cafe has gained a reputation for their brunch menu, but whenever I bring new friends there at any time of the day, I always order their chili con carne. On some lazy mid-afternoons plowing through a Chinese article before hitting afternoon badminton, I sit for a couple of hours in Vineyard with a cup of coffee and lemon cheesecake - the taste is divine. It's worth the travel to midtown because I haven't found a sweet and sour cake like it. 

As with most middle-to-high end establishments in Beijing, free wifi is available in Vineyard Cafe. I lost the price list sometime in the past, enjoy these yummy photos for now!

I somehow cannot replicate their chili con carne, no matter how much I try.

RBT 仙踪林 Cafe

Every so often I would attend a Chinese culture class held by a Chinese native who teaches English. She uses the time to practice English with foreigners, and it helps me find out topics about the Chinese culture that I would otherwise not think about or research on. It's been an awesome learning experience for me, but just as awesome is the food they serve in the cafe we meet in.

I have to note though that after a month of not visiting the cafe, I found that they changed the menu and some of the selections. They no longer serve the French toast I love! So I had to settle for something closer to it.

Honey Waffle 蜂蜜脆皮松饼 for RMB 26

RBT 仙踪林 CafeNo. 15 Zhongguancun St,
Zhongguancun Plaza Mall (新中关),
3rd Floor

Capital M

One evening my friend and I did one of my favourite activities - restaurant hopping. We ended our trip in Capital M, a 5-star restaurant over-looking the Tiananmen Square. We arrived late into the evening when the soft lights and sophisticated decor blended perfectly with the rich cultural splendor of the view outside.

Photo of the terrace filched from the Capital M website

New York House Coffee and Burger in Wudaokou

My good friend Larissa of Live Beautiful is one of the most exciting foodies I've met in Beijing. She's an accidental foodie, because she's more of a health buff but somehow she always finds yummy places to try new food. Most of the time I can't catch up with her suggestions and just have to see it for myself.

Larissa took me and a couple of friends to a new burger joint, New York Cafe. For a Chinese owned cafe, it's pretty consistent with a New York menu, although there are off-tangent offerings like Korean barbecue pizza (to cater to masses of Korean students in 五道口) and dumplings.

Our best find! I recommend this: Dutch Stroopwafels for RMB 23

Let's Seafood/Let's Burger in Sanlitun Village (海鲜饭馆儿在三里屯村庄)

After an entire afternoon of shopping for spring clothes in wholesale market of 动物园市场, my friends and I headed to Sanlitun for dinner, drinks and dessert. We landed in Seafood / Let's Burger, where we ate for around 30 - 40 minutes and then chatted for 3 hours. 

Let's Seafood and Let's Burger are two different establishments owned by the same person, so waiters give you two menus when you ask for the 菜单. They cook the food in different kitchens but serve it on the same table.

Salmon and tiger prawns with carbonara sauce for RMB 88

Sculpting in Time cafe in Wudaokou

One of the habits I've gotten used to since becoming a student again is to reflect and study for long hours in a cafe. I've already shared my experiences in my favourite cafe in the university district Bridge Cafe, but Sculpting in Time is another place where I prefer to spend my time in, if only for their wider and yummier selection of Western food.

新年快乐！ St Regis New Year Midnight Supper

新年快乐！我和我的同误区一个有名酒店过新年。我吃吃很多饭，听听一个上海 jazz band，跳跳舞。 给力事欢迎新年！

My friend Nik and I rang New Year in style - while the rest of the individuals in our age group (probably) froze in Yen's 798 New Year countdown, the old souls in us joined St Regis Hotel's Midnight Supper and welcomed the New Year with the soothing tunes of a Shanghai jazz band.

I loved how the hotel prepared for the New Year - the charming floral centerpieces, glittering masks, overflowing bubbly and wine, and a warm and lively ambiance that contrasts from the piercing cold outside. The food was arranged such that it looked to beautiful to eat. I refrained from taking photos from the buffet and instead snapped silently on me seat. See for yourself - 好吃啊！

This is Nik and I's first New Year away from home, and its been nothing short of sophisticated. I hope this forebodes of a glamorous year ahead. On to a new decade!

Props to the best flatmate anyone could ever ask for

Kiss the Cook Cafe (again!)

We had post-Sunday mass dinner in Kiss the Cook along Maginhawa Street.

Lemongrass cooler for Php 80. Native to India, and mostly used as a herb in Asian cuisine, lemongrass caused apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Panacea in a jar? In any case, this version is a bit sweet for me. I'm used to a more gingery taste.

Php 165 Malagos Blush with dried cranberries, kiwi and oranges with pomegranate dressing

Php 245 Pistachio-crusted Chicken on garlic mashed potatoes and side salad

Truffette (dark chocolate gelato nugget topped with cherries and baliley's cream) for Php 180. We loved this serving! The rainy weather pulled down our mood, but the taste of this perked us all up so much that we had two orders of this. We always go for dark chocolate because it has the richest source of antioxidants, but in this case whatever tinge was cancelled out by the cream (milk)

Kahlua Creme Brulee (rich creamy custard topped with burnt sugar) for Php 120. I'm used to warm creme brulee so I can't make a proper assessment on this.

Php 120 Chocolate Lava Cake (topped with the choice of Pistachio or Vanilla Yoghurt - but we were insistent diners who requested to have dark chocolate froyo instead. Thank you for having it our way!)

Kiss The Cook Cafe

65 Maginhawa St.

UP Village, Diliman

Quezon City, Philippines

Tel: 632 434 3700

Kiss The Cook Cafe in Maginhawa Street

I had lunch with my good friend Dustin in Kiss The Cook Cafe, located along Maginhawa Street, the up and coming art district of Manila. Another good find in a non commercial space! I expected a more homey arrangement and to be serenaded by more soothing music, but their darling chandeliers more than made up for whatever initial reservations I had. Great food, easy on the pockets.

The chandeliers, and the charming old fashioned plates

Dessert came first! We had the Fragola: strawberry gelato wrapped in crushed nuts, served with maraschino cherries and Tequila Rose for Php 120

Italian Shortrib Stew: slow-braised in wine and tomatoes with pesto spaghetti for Php 295.

Pesto spaghetti - a bit dry

So tender and tasty! I would go back for this.

Ice cream Yoghurt Selections for Php 120. We chose Vanilla, Pistachio and Dark Chocolate

This rich, creamy and dark spoonful became my standard for perfection. (Fun fact: Napoleon always carried chocolate for the energy boost.)

Pistachio flavour: Sour at the first bite, but had the tart that you need. (Fun Pistachio fact: Pistachios have been cultivated for 7000 years and was one of two nuts mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible - the other one was almond)

Vanilla, my vanilla. The best vanilla beans are from Madagascar!

Kiss The Cook Cafe

65 Maginhawa St.

UP Village, Diliman

Quezon City, Philippines

Tel: 632 434 3700

Afternoon tea at the Makati Shangrila Lobby

I loved how the Shang Lobby had an ensemble serenading both their guests and passers-by. I suppose that was why I was lured to dine in the lobby cafe.

Just so I could sit down on their comfy couch and watch the ladies perform, I got an Aphrodite - light almond tea cake baked in crunchy tart, topped with fresh strawberries for Php 315.

Makati Shangrila Hotel

Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue

Makati City 1200

Philippines

Tel: 632 813 8888

Pork in red wine

What I love about beef and pork is that you just throw them in a bowl together with marinade and some spices then you have this amazing viand after 1-3 hours (depending on the dish)

Pork in red wine ingredients

1. pork

2. red wine

3. unsalted butter

4. honey (and others. at this point, I placed all sorts of ingredients at whim)

Turned out well! Try it!

Cafe Breton, Tomas Morato

We went for another Breton dessert. No thinking required! We tried out a couple of new dishes"

I love the homey feel.

Galette Bretonne: spinach, shrimps sauteed with crab meat, fresh cream and gruyere cheese for Php 254.50

Inside the Galette

Deja Vu: mango, special cream sauce, caramel syrup, vanilla ice crea for Php 201.15

Cafe Breton

Ground Level, Alfredos Bldg.,

181 Scout de Guia St. cor. Tomas Morato Ave.,

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Philippines

Tel: 63 2 374 6334

Banapple, Tomas Morato

We celebrated our good friend Potch's birthday in Banapple. I played safe by ordering one of my all time favorites - Salpicao. I have got to learn how to do this so I won't be dependent chasing Spanish restaurants for their versions.

Salpicao Rafael: tender cubes ofr rib-eye stead and sliced mushroms, perfectly seasoned and smothered in garlic pieces, served with buttered carrots for Php 170

Banapple is more known for their cakes, and we have a couple:

To think, back in the 16th century, French physicians considered chocolate to be an aphrodisiac! Decadent cake for Php 105.

Classic Pecan Pie for Php 90

To top of our great celebration and after our legendary Waterspa experience, Potch took me to see the house of Tita Cory. Their humility feels overwhelming. Who would have thought the President came home everyday to this humble abode? They truly walked their talk.

It was small compared to their neighbors' homes. That's Manong Marcelino walking towards us.

Banapple Kitchen

2/L Il Terrazzo

Tomas Morato Avenue,

Quezon City, Philippines

632 413 2675

Frutti Froyos, Katipunan Avenue

Dustin has been talking about Froyos since Lord knows when and it was only by a happy accident that I discovered it. They have this sort of frozen yoghurt sold in Calvin and Hobbes and The Stock Market in Bonifacio High Street, but I love hot Froyos doesn't charge exorbitantly for every single topping I choose. Php 18 per ounce - all in!

Easily my favourite topping.

Frutti Froyo

Petron Square

Katipunan Ave. corner Mangyan Rd.

La Vista, Quezon City

Philippines

Red, Shangrila Hotel

This is rather belated, but we celebrated Mommy's birthday in Red last September.

I believe I acquired from my mother my penchant for dining well. She always made sure to take us to the fancy restaurants where she had her business meetings so we may taste the delicious food she has experienced. I think this is also why I'm price insensitive to food, because I believe that if it's good food and a great environment, it deserves to be rewarded.

I liked dining in Red because although red was too strong of an interior theme (well I couldn't really blame them), the baroque style chairs and the significant space between tables gave me a sense of privacy despite the groups of people behind me. Plus we were seated facing the garden, waited on by a lovely woman who paid close attention to all our needs. And the food! The ones I feature below are especially delish.

The photos were taken from my brother's phone cam, hence the grainy images. Prices are withheld at my Mom's request.

It's just a napkin! Presented in elegant details

Pumpkin soup

Ravioli

Greek salad

Sea bass I think?

Steak!

Greetings from Shang. It's small things like these that make the stay count.

Red

Makati Shangrila Hotel

Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue

Makati City 1200

Philippines

Tel: 632 813 8888