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Supermarket Find: Mini Meiji Products

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The Philippines has been known to be a tingi-tingi market hence the popularity of sari-sari stores in villages and provinces; and growth in number of convenience stores in cities. Honestly, I prefer supermarkets as I get to see more things there and I always get excited whenever I see a new product (and believe me, you do not want to see my super giddy self in a supermarket). But I guess it has been quite a while since I last visited a supermarket. (Then again, it was just a few weeks ago.)

Look at what my mom bought from our local supermarket!
Mini Meijiproducts!!!
Hello Panda may not really look that small so here’s a pencil for scaling purposes. It’s only 18 grams.
 
Yan Yan also has a mini version (Yan Yan Kids). It’s only 30 grams!
Cute! <3
I guess I need around 5 of each to satisfy my grumpy tummy.


-Gluttonshopper

Ramen of the South: Ramen Yushoken

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It has been quite a while since I last did a food trip. I have been super busy lately that I had no time to explore and visit new places. (Goodbye food trip Saturdays! I miss you so much!) But God has been so good to me. On our way to visit my all-time favorite grandma, something caught my eye. MOLITO. It’s the foodie hotspot Molito! As soon as I posted it on Facebook, I got some really good foodie advice.
Right after a quick trip to the Alabang bazaar, we visited our first Molito stop, Ramen Yushoken.
I’ve actually heard of Ramen Yushokenfrom several people when I tell them that I’m scheduling a south food trip. But it always gets cancelled or end after one stop.  Anyway…
The place is quite small but could easily sit around 25-30 people. I heard that there is always a long wait during dinner. Good thing we came in around 4:30 p.m..

We ordered three ramenbowls: Shoyu Ramen (PHP350), Miso Ramen (PHP380) and Hiyashi Chuka (PHP370). We also ordered two plates of Gyoza (PHP150).

First thing I noticed was the very thick soup. It was a tad too flavorful that I drank too much water.
Shoyu (soy sauce based) had a lighter taste compared to Miso(bean based). I really could not say one tastes better over the other as it really is based on personal preference. However, given that the tonkotsu used were too overwhelming for me, I’d prefer Shoyu over Miso.
I enjoyed the noodlesso much as it was hard. (I absolutely dislike soggy noodles).
The gyozawas delightful. The meat was juicy and the wrap had a slight crunch on the griddled side of the dumpling.
My favorite though is the Hiyashi Chuka or the cold noodles that could easily pass as salad. The soupless noodledish has a very refreshing taste. A tad tangy because of the sauce, it was such a delight to the taste buds. Plus the vegetable and meat strips gave this dish various textures per bite. Yum!
I would love to visit this place again soon. And perhaps try the karaageand Shio ramen.

It was a pleasant dinner and a truly memorable one especially since it was shared with the people I love, my family.

Ramen Yushoken is located at Molito Lifestyle Mall, Madrigal Avenue corner Commerce St., Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Kapitolyo Food Stop: Red Panda Bistro

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I’m still amazed with how Kapitolyo transformed from a quiet residential area to one of the busiest foodie destinations in the Metro. I remember how we’re limited to two options, St. Gerald’s (a homey café near my school) or Three Sisters (one of the pioneers in the area that sells delicious barbecue and pancit bihon). Now, I have so many options that I also need my toes to count it.
The spotlight this time is on Red Panda Bistro. I planned to try this place out with N a few months ago but the menu didn’t appeal to us so we went to Gostosoinstead. I was still curious about the place though so when M invited me for dinner, I suggested Red Panda.
 
Since the cuisine is Chinese, I wasn’t really that ecstatic in choosing what to eat. Plus, I was so embarrassed for arriving late and looking harassed with uncombed hair. Anyway, we decided to go for the following: Roast Duck Dumpling(PHP115), Broccoliand Cauliflower Cheese Gratin (PHP380), and Chinese Style Ossobucco (PHP490).

First served were the dumplings.
Roast duckmeat, celery, shiitake mushrooms, carrots—it wasn’t anything fancy but it was okay. Unfortunately, it left a bad impression when the wantonwrapper was too sticky to the point that it won’t separate from the paper wrapper (which is not edible). Well, it frustrated M… quite a lot.
Next served was the broccoliand cauliflower cheese gratin. I loved this one as I like broccoli. I loved the mix of the chewy texture of cheeseand the slight crunch of the broccoli and cauliflower. Plus, the taste wasn’t overwhelming.
But the slow cooked beef shanks dish was the best one that night. The meatwas slow cooked so it was so soft that you don’t even need to chew! It also had a slight sweet taste which is quite something expected from Chinese dishes.

It was a good dinner. But it might take me a while to visit this place again as there are just too many new restaurants to visit.

Red Panda Bistro is located at 48 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. For reservations, please call 475-0877.

McDonald's McGriddles Now Available in the Philippines

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I love breakfast! I love to eat breakfast meals for breakfast (duh!), lunch, dinner, or as midnight snack! I dislike it when restaurants only offer breakfast meals in the morning. What if I’m craving for scrambled eggsbacon and sausages at 1 p.m.? Anyway, rules are rules. :| One fine Sunday though on our way to visit our lovable grandma, we passed by McDonald’s for a much needed breakfast.
I was about to order Egg McMuffin when my sister told me to order a McGriddles instead as it’s “limited edition” breakfast. I spotted bacon so I ordered the Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddles (PHP113 with coffee | PHP128 with coffee and hashbrown). My mom ordered the Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddles (PHP113 with coffee | PHP128 with coffee and hashbrown).
While waiting for our order, I made a quick check on what McGriddles is all about and apparently, it’s a pancake sandwich with maple flavoring. Sinful? Oh yes! Yummy? Definitely.
Okay, I wasn’t able to try my mom’s McGriddles as she ate it while I was not looking for me to flash my annoying puppy eyes (which do not really work on anyone). But since she finished it, I’m guessing it was good.
My Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddles was pretty good. The bacon was quite crispy (though the serving was a bit stingy with just 2 small strips) and I love the contrast of its saltiness with the sweet griddle cakes. If only they put in more bacon, it would have been my everyday breakfast meal. Hello, Super Size version of me!

And speaking of Super Size Me, the McGriddles was mentioned in the well-loved documentary. Morgan Spurlock described it as “one of their fattest sandwiches to date.” So try to keep it down to once or twice a week. ;)

Here’s the list of McDonald’s branches with McGriddles:

Navotas
Sun Mall Welcome Rotonda
Farmer's Market
Pioneer Reliance
Ortigas Extension Cainta
Quirino
Granada
Tarlac Hi-way
Sto. Tomas Batangas
Dona Soledad
Bankmer (along Ayala Ave)
Lucky Chinatown
Matalino
San Pedro
Binan
Blue Ridge
Las Pinas Talon
Project 8
Angeles Intersection


Try them all before it’s too late!

-Gluttonshopper

Love at First Bite: Vyne

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I love Girls Night Out(s). It forces me to dress nicely and be girly (though I seriously hate heels so I always bring flats in case my poor knees give up on me). Plus we get to talk about our love lives or the lack of it. One day, I got a message from my favorite Dragon Lady saying to block off one Saturday so that we could try Vyne. She added, wear something nice. (I volunteered as one of the runners of the Ethan Allen Anniversary sale then so I was a bit harassed but it’ll do.)

Hello, Vyne!
The place is located at the 8th floor of the W building with IHOP. The entrance looks cute as it is also the entrance of Hyve, one of the bars (or should I call it a club) at The Fort.
First thing I noticed inside were the graffiti or paintings on the concrete walls. It added an adorable vibe to the place.
The washroom is also charming!
Anyway, for the food, we ordered the following: Apple and Bleu Cheese Salad (PHP285), Prawn Ravioli Laksa (PHP270), Lamb Rendang Bolognese (PHP360), The Salmon (PHP450), Breaded Aji Tamago (PHP200) and Mexican Grilled Chicken Sandwich (PHP280). We also ordered two glasses of Lychee Martini (PHP280 for two glasses).
The Apple and Bleu Cheese Salad arrived first and it looked so pretty! The crispy and slightly tangy green apples went well with the sweet honey yogurt dressing. The tanginess of the bleu cheese surely made us hungry for more.

Vyne’s breaded aji tamago is LOVE!!! I loved the crunchy outside and the soft tamagoinside. The flowing yolk was delightful. Paired with salmon, it was a taste of HEAVEN.
I didn’t really enjoy the laksa as it was too spicy for me. But the prawn ravioli was pretty good.

The LambRendang Bolognese was slightly spicy as well but more manageable compared to the laksa. It was slightly oily as well. I loved the faint taste of coconut though.
The salmonwas awesome! Okay, I’m biased again since it’s salmon but I loved that it was soft and not dry in the inside. Plus the pea puree was yummy! I also enjoyed the asparagus. Not really sure what the Jamon Serrano broth did to the dish but it was really a great order!
The Mexican Grilled Chicken Sandwich is good for sharing. This order is more on the heavy side.

Overall, it was a great night with fun company and delicious food. See you again, Vyne.

Vyne is located at 8th floor, W Global Builing, 9th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City. Call 09175530197 for reservations. Vyne is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m..

Molito Food Stop: Le Petit Cheri

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There are so many new restaurants here, there and just about everywhere! I went crazy when I spotted Molito, the new foodie haven in the south. I saw several new establishments I have never seen before and I am so excited to visit those places soon. Earlier, I posted about Ramen Yushoken. The place offer really flavorful ramen. Since we still had had 30 minutes to explore Molitobefore going home, my sister and I dashed to Le Petit Cheri.

Hello, Le Petit Cheri.
It had an eerie ambiance as we were the only ones there when we visited. And it didn’t seem to be a good sign. But it was recommended by a few friends so I had faith in this establishment.
Since we were not in the mood for anything savory, we went straight to desserts and stared at the display cooler. I got the White Chocolate Cheesecake (PHP148), Baked Polvoron (PHP78) and several macarons: Caramel, SaltedCoffee, PurpleYam, RedVelvet, and Strawberry (PHP38 each).
I ordered the baked polvoron since it intrigued me. I love polvoronbut I never really had a chance to try a baked version of it. The texture was similar to a rather hard cookie and it wasn’t as sweet as the well-loved Goldilocks polvoron. Actually, it tasted just like a slightly bland cookie. 
I ordered the White ChocolateCheesecakesince it was the most photogenic among the cakes available then. It was very dense and thick and it didn’t have the tart that I like from cheesecakes. It also made me remember why I don’t like white chocolate. In short, I will not order this again… ever. But white chocolate lovers might enjoy this.
The macaronswere pretty decent though for its affordable price. My favorite was the salted coffee(which I cleared with the person who assisted us if it’s really coffee and not caramel). It tasted just like coffee but it wasn’t as sweet. The ganache was so thick though.

The strawberry macaronwas your usual strawberry macaron and same for caramel. The red velvet had a chocolatey taste.
The most interesting one was the purple yam. I never tried one before and it did taste like yam. Delightful!
Before leaving, I explored the second floor and spotted heaven! It is so adorable and I would like to spend my free afternoons there.

I’ll be back to try Le Petit Cheri’s savory dishes.

Le Petit Cheri is located at El Molito Commercial Complex, Molito Lifestyle Building, Madrigal Avenue, corner Alabang-Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City.

Love at First Bite: Locavore

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I seriously love my area. Crowd favorites such as Silantro, Poco Deli, Rub Ribs, Calderonand Mad Marks can all be found in Kapitolyo. My new favorites Avi, Haru, Open Kitchen, Gostoso, and Tomahawkare all in the area too. And last Friday, I discovered a new favorite, Locavore.
I heard about Locavore from my friend F who randomly messaged me if I have tried eating there. Curious, I made my research and upon seeing the photo of the Sizzling Sinigang, I was convinced that I have to dine there soon.
However, I failed on my first try. Locavore was packed and waiting time could be half an hour to over an hour. My mom and sister were already hungry then so we went to Pearl Drive instead for some chi-mek(chicken and beer).

I was informed that the best way to secure seats is to make a reservation. It’s not really my habit to do so unless I feel that the place is awesome and always packed. I could still count how frequent I made reservations. I recall I did with Your Local, Haru, Bistecca, House of Wagyu, and Nav.
When we arrived, the place was still spacious with only a few tables occupied. However, we did notice that almost all tables were tagged “reserved”.
Since I already have a copy of the menu, I already “planned” on what to order. I got SizzlingSinigang (PHP530), LechonandOysterSisig (PHP400), CrispyTilapia (PHP280), Mac’sBonelessFriedChicken (PHP240) and Calamanjito (PHP280 for two glasses during Happy Hour).

First served was the Lechonand OysterSisigand it was so fragrant that it was hard to resist drooling over it while taking photos of it.
I loved the crispiness of the lechonand the soft texture of the oysters. It had a strong flavor for it to be an appetizer. It could serve as a main course. (With rice, lots and lots of rice.)
The SizzlingSinigangwas aweeeeesooooome. It reminded me of the sizzlingbulaloI ordered before in Sarsa. I also enjoyed the crunchy string beans. It was a great contrast to the soft and well-cooked short ribs.
While taking photos, they served my Calamanjito which I did not notice and I ended up spilling the whole glass on myself, my other phone and all over the table. The servers were very quick though to clean the mess I made and even replaced my drink.
The fried chicken wasn’t your usual fried chicken. It somehow reminded me of Bon Chon’s or Kyochon’s fried chicken (or even Wingstop’s as it was boneless). It was a tad spicy so my sister had a hard time eating it. But she can’t resist as it was good. It was sweet and spicy. The trick to kill the spiciness is to put some of its sauce on it.
The crispy tilapia was your fish version of kwek kwek. They made use of kwek kwek batter to give the tilapiaan added crunch. The fish was nicely salted; though compared to the other three dishes, this one was my least favorite. But this is a safe order for kids.
The calamanjito was very refreshing and I loved the tanginess of the calamansi. It tasted like I was just drinking calamansi juice. But my mom and sister thought otherwise.
I will definitely visit again!

Trivia: Locavore means a person who is interested in eating food that is sourced locally. It’s a play of words between local and herbivore/omnivore/carnivore.
Locavore is located at 10 Brixton St., Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. It is right across the warehouse of Hallmark, Urban Ashram Brixton and Edgy Veggy. It is also behind Pioneer Center Supermarket. For reservations, please call 632-9600. Locavore is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Love at First Sip: Kissako Uji Matcha Café

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Friday nights are meant for munching and discovering new food. I am not so fond of eating the same food twice as there are just so many restaurants to visit and so many dishes to try. Just thinking about it makes me so giddy.

Last Friday, I made an 8 p.m. reservationfor three at Locavorethinking that my sister’s last class ends late. But we all got together at 6:30. So to kill time, I asked them if we could visit the new Japaneseteaand coffee shop I spotted a few weeks ago.

Hello, Kissako!
The place is quite small and could only accommodate perhaps 5-6 groups at a time. Choices are also limited making it easier for me choose. I went with Strawberry Shortcake (PHP170), Chocolate Mousse (PHP170) and Horiguchi Coffee (PHP130) in medium roast.
The cakesarrived in cute dark colored clay plates. I am already in love without even tasting the cakeyet.
The strawberry shortcake had a light flavor yet you could definitely taste the strawberry. I loved the soft and delicate chiffon and the strawberry jelly in between. Delightful!
The chocolate mousse is something kids would love! Though it was not as sweet as the usual (as Japanese cakestend to have lighter taste compared to local brands like Goldilocks and Red Ribbon) cakes. It has the rich and smooth chocolateytaste. Also, the crunchy base was a nice touch.
As much as I love coffee, I’m also a creamer and sugar lover. Someone told me before that coffeeis meant to be enjoyed as is. You cannot fully appreciate the fragrance and taste of the coffee beans if you cover it with creamer and sugar. It actually makes sense but at times, the brew is just too bitterfor me and makes me do the ugly face.
This one though was rather mildand went really well with my strawberry shortcake. I’d love to order another cup of this soon.
It was such a wonderful pre-dinner snack. I can’t wait to go back for more. I'll try the matcha cakes and cookies next time.

Kissako is located at Pioneer Center Supermarket, Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City.

First Bite; Size Matters

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You only live once. That’s pretty much the motto of the younger generations to justify their crazy antics. Lately, I feel that I have been doing the same thing with how I eat. I know that I have finally reached the stage where I have to be more careful with the food I eat. Hello, slow metabolism! However, I do not want to deprive myself of the delicious things in life so…

Hello, Size Matters.
I recall checking Size Matters out before with N during one of our food trips; but it didn’t exactly catch our fancy, we skipped it. But since E sounded so eager to visit the place (again), we decided to have dinner there instead of the failed Burphunt.
The menu is quite simple and straightforward—a few burgerselections, some rice meals, pastaand chicken. That’s it. Simple and easy.
I decided to go for The Works Burger (PHP299 for 1/3 lbs.) while E went for Breakfast in Bed Burger (PHP199 for ¼ lbs and PHP279 for ½ lbs.) then just added an additional PHP60 to make our meals “combo” to get a glass of 12 oz. house blend iced tea and fries. We also ordered a plate of lasagna (PHP159).

Given they were only serving two tables that night, service was pretty quick.

First served were our glasses of iced tea. True enough, it was not your usual Nestea. It had a stronger citrus taste.
Next served was the lasagnawhich I liked. It was somehow similar to the cheesy lasagnaof Greenwich and Red Ribbon. Comfort food is always great.

The burgersarrived soon and both were pretty big.
The Works Burgerwas rather fat (and yes, fattening). I had a hard time getting a whole bite. I liked the Monterey Jack pattythough as it was juicy and flavorful. I just hoped that the bacon strips were thinner and crispier.
E enjoyed The Breakfast in Bed Burgerbut it was too salty for me. It was interesting though as it had fried eggon it. Again, the baconlooked so foreign to me.

Overall though, it was a filling and worth-your-money dinner.

Size Matters is located at Ground floor, Ace Water Spa Building, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. 

First Bite: Press Café

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I love Fully Booked. It’s one of my happy places when I’m in the mood to see quirky notepads, fangirl on the latest manga or swoon over interesting books. I have been meaning to try Press Café, the coffee shop inside Fully Booked, Rockwellbranch; but for some reason, it always get cancelled…until the night I met John Wick.
A few Couchsurfers and I were supposed to meet at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf a few Saturdays ago but since it was crowded, we decided to meet at Press Café instead.

We were just supposed to have coffee but it was my first time to dine there so… I just have to order at least three dishes. I went with Eggs Benedict (PHP260), Tomato soup (PHP125), Grape shake(PHP110) and an Oatmeal cookie(PHP70).
First served was my grape shake and it was refreshing. It wasn’t overly sweetened.
The tomato soup was love. Though a bit thick to be an appetizer, it had the tangy taste that I love. The bread on the soup added texture and made it even more filling.
The Eggs Benedict came with a forest ham which was a bit too red for me. But it was pretty good with the poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce. I also liked the overdose of onions!
The oatmealcookiewas pretty big though fair enough for its price. It was pretty good too though keep a glass of water ready as it could make your throat a bit itchy.

Overall, it was a filling late lunch. I’ll try the pastaand quesadillasnext time.


Press Café is located at 4thFloor, Fully Booked, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City.

Hole in the Wall Find: Phobobo (Pho-King De-li-cious)

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I used to not care much about interior designs. I would say, “oh, nice place” without much thought into it. However, working with the Real Living team helped me become more appreciative of details. I even helped style the Yummybooth before for Yummy Eats’ first year and cried when I stepped inside an Ikeastore for the first time. So just imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon Hole in the Wall’s Instagram account. The first thing that came to my mind was… I HAVE TO GO THERE ASAP. But work was a bit crazy for the past few weeks. We even have work on Saturdays. Then again, nothing can stop me with my affair with food.
Hello, Hole in the Wall. It has been a long two weeks of agony not being able to visit you sooner.
I was surprised that the place was quite packed on a Wednesday night. I guess Friday night is now seven days a week.
I was really famished when J and I got there so I wasn’t able to take much photos plus I was feeling shy to take photos of hungry diners. I also didn’t really choose which concessionaire to buy from. My only basis that time was which one had the shortest line. At that time, it was Phoboboand Greencheese. But let me focus more on Phobobo in this entry.
I was actually more excited to try Kwong’s and Bad Birdbut the lines were too long for my tummy to understand. And since I got rained on earlier that day, a warm bowl of pho sounded appealing.
After a minute or so, it was my turn to order. I quickly went for the PhoBo (PHP360) and Ox TripeChicharon (PHP160). Unfortunately, the chicharonwas not available that night. I ended up with Crispy Spring Rolls(PHP140).
Thankfully, the creative minds behind Hole in the Wall thought of the buzzing wait coasters. (Is that how it is called?) While waiting for my food, I roamed around to check the other stores.
After a few minutes, my food was ready.
The phohad a generous serving of meat. I had a hearty share of braised beef shanksand thin slices of rare beef. The broth had a light taste and was slightly overpowered by the herbs and lime. But it was refreshing.
The crispy spring rolls dish was a combination of pork and shrimpwith nuoc mam cham dipping sauce. I’m addicted with the dipping sauce as it is a great combination of salty, sweet and a bit of chili taste. There were only three rollsper order but it was a great appetizer for one. It was served crispy and piping hot!

Overall, it was a great meal. I will definitely visit again to try the chicharon.

Phobobo is located at Hole in the Wall, 4thfloor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, corner Salamanca St., Barangay Poblacion, Makati City

Hole in the Wall Find: Green Cheese (Happiest Cheesecake in the World)

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While waiting for my pho from Phobobo, I looked around to check the other concessionaires and see if I could try more dishes that night. However, the place was really packed so I was forced to buy from stores with shorter lines (as we were also rushing to visit a coffee shop after dinner).
Hello, Green Cheese, the happiest cheesecake in the world!
This cakestall caught my interest when Jin Perez of Jin Loves to Eat featured it on her blog. From the smiling Japanese cheesecakes to the nice façade (with a swing), Green Cheese sure screams kawaii!
I decided to go for Green Cheese’s plain cheesecake(PHP50 per slice or PHP350 for a box) and custardpudding(PHP120).
 
Since I asked the lady to hold my cakefor me until I finish my pho, I sat right across the stall so that I won’t forget the desserts I bought.
When I got my desserts, I noticed that it looked… small. But my frown turned downside up when I tasted the cake. It was so soft and had that light yet delectable buttery taste. It was love at first bite. And it would have been a grand wedding if I had it with coffee. I will definitely buy a box next time!
The custardwas delicious as well. Though I wasn’t really fond of the caramelat the bottom, the thick and chilled custardwas a great way to end a meal.
 
I heard that Scout’s Honor’s cookies are amazing. I can’t wait to try it soon!
 
Green Cheese is located at Hole in the Wall, 4th Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue corner Salamanca St., Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.

Restaurant Love: Avi (Take 2 and 3)

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I hardly visit a restaurant twice in a week but I made an exception last week.
It has been a few months ago since I last visited Avi. The place offers really good food at affordable prices yet I never see it packed with hungry foodies. I guess it is because diners have so many options in Kapitolyo. Anyway…
I had lunch at Avi two Sundays ago and I decided to go with my favorite Basilin Red (PHP165) and Lola Soledad’s Buttered Shrimp Agoile (PHP210).
While slurping my soupand munching on the nacho chips, one of the chipswent straight to my throat and got jammed inside my esophagus! Yes, it may sound a bit disturbing (and Avi has nothing to do with this) but this sure reminded me to chew my food well.
The pastawas pretty good too. The noodles were al dente and the flavor was not that overwhelming. The shrimpswere fresh too.

Fast forward Friday, I visited Avi again to have dinner with friends. This time, I tried the Tita Terry’s Tasty TunaTare Tare (PHP230) and Abuelo’s Especial Pasta Con Sarde (PHP170).
While waiting for my friends, I started to munch on the tuna tare tare. I was very careful this time as the dish was served with nachosagain. (Okay, I think I now have a slight trauma with nachos.)
The tunawas great! It was so soft and the sesame oil and spices made it so delectable. I also enjoyed the mayonnaise on top of it.
The sardinepastawas really savory and quite oily too so health conscious foodies might not like this one. I liked the different take on sardines though where they breadedit. Though the menu says that the sauce is spicy, it was very mild.

Avi is definitely still one of my favorite Kapitolyo restaurants and I will visit again. I do hope though that they expand their menu as I’m running out of options.

Avi is located at D Strip, 20 United Street, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

SALE ALERT: Lego Warehouse Sale 2014

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Calling all LEGO lovers!
Lego is having its warehouse sale on December 10 to 14 at Unit A23, 2nd Floor, Topy Building IV, 3 Economia St., Bagumbayan, Quezon City.
 
Discount is up to 60% off so go get that Stormtrooper set now!

Take this opportunity to buy your kids, nephews and nieces Christmas gifts!
Image from OzBrickNation 
I do hope they have the Lego key chains on sale too!

-Gluttonshopper

Lego warehouse sale images are from Bricks Philippines

Foodie Guide to Kapitolyo Food Trip (or Restaurant Hopping)

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Living near Kapitolyo has its perks. It turned from residential to a must visit foodie destination. Since I have blogged about so many Kapitolyo restaurants, let me do a rundown of the different establishments and my personal favorites.

I absolutely love Japanese cuisine. If I could only choose one food to eat for the rest of my life, I would choose salmon sashimi. And Haru’s salmon sashimi is fresh and milky! Another must order is the beef teppanyaki.
Total damage: PHP500-1000 per head

Haru Sushi Bar and Restaurant is located at 9 West Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

CAFÉ JUANITA

The eclectic and popular Filipino restaurant first started in Kapitolyo before it branched out to the busy Bonifacio Global City area. Do try their kare-kare and halo-halo.

Total damage: PHP700-1,500

Café Juanita is located at 19 West Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Ramen Cool is your simple no-frills Japanese restaurant. I was pretty disappointed with their ramen noodles but the other dishes like tempura and teriyaki are pretty okay. The one I love most though is their iced coffee.
Total damage: PHP500 per head

Ramen Cool is located at 25 East Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

This place has been my favorite Vietnamese restaurant since I visited its Makati branch. The Bo Lu Lac is to die for. Tender and flavorful, every bite is such a delight!
Total damage: PHP500 per head

Вà Nôi’s is located at East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City. It is on the same side as Three Sisters and across Milky and Sunny. 

One of the early players when Kapitolyo started to become a foodie hotspot, Nav serves modern Thai cuisines that are drool-worthy. I love the Son-in-Law Eggs as I looove century eggs. The Catfish salad is of course another staple order.
Total damage: PHP500-700 per head

Nav is located at United St. Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City (Across Pioneer Center and Ace Water Spa).

LONGGANISA SORPRESA

Been craving for Vigan, Lucban or what-have-you longganisa? You don’t have to drive all the way to those provinces just to taste those delectable longganisa. All you have to do is pay Longganisa Sorpresa a visit.

Total damage: PHP500

Longganisa Sorpresa is located at United St. Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City (Across Pioneer Center and Ace Water Spa).

This restaurant is fairly new in the area. If I got it correctly, Chef Boy Logro is part owner of this restaurant. I only got to try a few dishes but the Chinese Style Ossobucco left a good impression.
Total damage: PHP500-700 per head

Red Panda Bistro is located at 48 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. For reservations, please call 475-0877.

The well-loved Spanish restaurant in San Juan is now in Kapitolyo as well. I wasn’t able to try the churros but everyone was raving about it. And the mere fact that it was sold out at 3 p.m. proves that it really is something worth trying. (Oh, and the paellas are amazing!)

Total damage: PHP500-1000 (depending on how many will be sharing the bill)

Calderon is located at 12-C East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. You may reach them at 0905 266 6982 or 0999 703 3299 for reservation or advance order.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Kapitolyo. The anise pork belly and the vanilla pumpkin soup are just so delicious. Plus, those not so hidden stick figures on the brick walls are adorable! Do try the beef shanks!
Total damage: PHP800-1,200

Open Kitchen is located at 71-B East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

The always jam-packed restaurant is not just some one-night hype. It actually serves really good Mexican food. You won’t go wrong with the stuffing as every single one is delicious! I’ll try oxtail next time. (They were out of that one as early as 11:30 am!!!) The mojito’s pretty refreshing too!
Total damage: PHP250-500

Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina is located at 75 E. Capitol Drive, Pasig City, Metro Manila.

I witness this small restaurant start from being a quiet player in the market to a very popular and successful one. Who wouldn’t when its bacon slabs are to die for? The refreshing iced tea is such a delight as well. The sausage platters are really good too and a nice meal to share with friends. Plus, the cakes! Oh the cakes… <3 You might want to visit Epic Coffee for Poco Deli’s cakes too and pair it with coffee.

Total damage: PHP500-1000

Poco Deli is located at 21 East Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City. 

CAB CAFÉ

A café that serves la paz bachoy? Yes, there’s one! Enjoy side by side some cakes and a warm bowl of la paz bachoy (though not recommended) in Cab Café! They also have burgers which are loved by my sister. [Sister Approved!]

Total damage: PHP300-500

Cab Café is located at 18 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Gostoso’s dishes are awesome! Priced at friendly prices, ordering two dishes for yourself isn’t such a bad idea. Try the Piri Piri Chickena dn the Porco Gostoso. And get the creamy corn as side dish. <3
Total damage: PHP500-700

Gostoso is located at 51-B East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

CHARLIE’S

Yet another popular joint in Kapitolyo is the burger place called Charlie’s. The wagyu burgers are juicy, thick and flavorful. It’s hard to be girly while eating their burgers but who cares? It’s party in the mouth!

Total damage: PHP500

Charlie’s Grind and Grill is located at 16 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

This sandwich and ice cream place is also always packed with hungry diners. It is not a surprise at all as the place serves awesome sandwiches, steaks, fries and ice cream! I love the man sandwich and the Javan Hot Chocolate ice cream!
 
Total damage: PHP300-500

Mad Mark's is located at 23 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Thai Dara is another Thai restaurant in the area and compared to Nav, it has a homier feel. Simple plating and well lit restaurant, this place screams comfy. Their iced teas are also very refreshing!
Total damage: PHP300-500

Thai Dara is located at 23 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

JUANITO’S BISTRO

Juanito’s is a simple and no frills Filipino restaurant with a KTV on the second floor. I love the pakbet best.

Total damage: PHP400-600

Juanito’s Bistro is located at 50 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.           

LIA’S CAKES IN SEASON

Famous for its avocado cake, Lia’s has been one of the popular cake stores in Pasig. Plus its friendly prices add extra appeal to the discerning foodie market. (An avocado cake slice costs PHP85 while a whole cake costs PHP670.)

Total damage: PHP60-700

25 A&B East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Lazy to prepare your breakfast? Or are you craving for breakfast meal during lunch or dinner? Fret not as Milky and Sunny serves the fluffiest pancakes in Kapitolyo! Their big breakfasts are quick solutions to appease the hungry tummy.
Total damage: PHP300-500

Milky & Sunny is located at 9 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

THREE SISTERS

If you’re on the lookout for pancit or barbeque then this is the place to go to. One of the pioneers of the Kapitolyo food scene, Three Sisters serve the best pancit bihon and barbeque in the area. Our family for one orders from them every time there’s a pot luck occasion.

Total damage: PHP50-300

Three Sisters is located at 10 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Want some ribs or pork chops? Then visit Tomahawk. Don’t let its ground floor deceive you. They have a second floor and it is actually spacious! It’s a perfect place for group lunch or meetings.
Total damage: PHP500

Tomahawk Chops & Grill is located at 56-A East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City. Call them at 0917 840 9876 for reservations.

Rub Ribs is another rib place which has been around longer than Tomahawk. It also has more affordable dishes. The downside though is that the place is always packed. So visit them early. Really early! Oh, and do order their fried Oreos! Yum!
Total damage: PHP300-500

Rub Ribs & BBQ is located at 88 East Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

KOOL KIDS

This ice cream place that makes use of nitrogen to make its ice cream cooler is also present in SM Megamall’s Fashion Hall. I loved the vanilla ice cream best! (I guess I really am getting old and opt for simpler flavors.)

Total damage: PHP150

Kool Kids is located at 56-A East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Want something Greek? Greeka Kouzina, another gem in San Juan, found a place in Kapitolyo as well at the ground floor of D Strip which is across Ace Water Spa. The moussaka and kebab are sumptuous!
Total damage: PHP500-700

Greeka Kouzina is located at the Ground Floor, D Strip, United St. Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

AVI 
This is also one of my favorite restaurants in Kapitolyo. The Sous Vide Hanging Tender Steak, Basil in Red soup and the Seafood Diablo pasta are must orders!
Total damage: PHP500-1000

Avi is located at D Strip, 20 United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Locavore is one of the newest restaurants around but has created so much buzz already. Its Sizzling Sinigang, Max’s Boneless Fried Chicken and Lechon and Oyster Sisig are too good to skip.
Total damage: PHP700-1500

Locavore is located at 10 Brixton St., Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. It is right across the warehouse of Hallmark, Urban Ashram, and Edgy Veggy. It is also behind Pioneer Center Supermarket. For reservations, please call 632-9600. Locavore is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily. [Update: Locavore is now open for lunch!]
   
Want something healthy? Then Edgy Veggy is the place for you. This vegan restaurant has risotto balls, pasta, and meat alternative meals.
Total damage: PHP500

Edgy Veggy is located at 3 Brixton St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Mini tacos and calamares from St. Patrick’s sure hit the spot! Pair it with a glass of alcohol and hello Friday, even if it’s a Monday! Do try their Spam Chips too!
Total damage: PHP300-500

St. Patrick’s is located at 24-D East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

SMILE ELEPHANT

Smile Elephant is the third Thai restaurant in the area. You might miss it if you’re not familiar with the streets of Kapitolyo as it is located beside a car wash. Its milk tea is a must order!

Total damage: PHP300-500

Smile Elephant is located at 45 West Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Craving for Italian cuisine? Kapitolyo has it too. Try its 4 Stagoni pizza if you haven’t decided on which flavor of pizza to get.
Total damage: PHP700-1000

Grande Torino is located at 59 West Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

ST. GERALD’S

Visiting this place makes me remember my grade school days. I would stay here and order chicken sandwich (which comes with PicNic) and their soup of the day. St. Gerald’s cakes are also great!

Total damage: PHP200-300

St. Gerald's is located at 12 United St., Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Tired of Charlies but still craving for burgers? Then try Size Matters. It started as a small and humble business in the South and gained some following. Its juicy patty is something to look forward to. The lasagna is also cheesy good.
 
Total damage: PHP300-500

Size Matters is located at Ground floor, Ace Water Spa Building, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. 

Fondue lover? Then you’ll love this place! They have a handful of savory fondues to choose from. They also have a good selection of wine to complement your fondue.
Total damage: PHP500-1000

Eleven Tables is located at the Ground Floor, Ace Water Spa and Hotel, United St. cor. Brixton St. Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

 
What better way to reward yourself after hours of swimming than to munch on a slice of strawberry shortcake and a cup of citrus tea? Ace Water Spa has yummy baked treats and their fruity tea is worth ordering too!
 
Total damage: PHP200-400

Ace Coffee Lounge is located at the lobby of Ace Water Spa, United St. corner Brixton St., Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

This milk tea place started small and branched out in less than a year. To add a bit of excitement with your milk tea, put in some popping bobba sinkers.
Total damage: PHP100

Cha Dao is located at #5 West Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig.

Happy food tripping!

-Gluttonshopper

A Sweet Delight: Sweetea by da.u.de

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I love tea. Fine, I love coffeemore but there’s something calming and sophisticated with teathat makes me want to have a little bit of teatime from time to time. da.u.de for one gave me a tough time. Every time I try to visit its Fort branch, it’s always closed (and sadly, it permanently closed a few months back). Luckily, the owner decided to do a rebranding and da.u.deis now… Sweetea.

Hello, Sweetea.
I was so excited to visit the place when Yummy featured it in its Instagramaccount. Since its newest baby is just in Megamall’s Mega Food Hall, I thought to myself that I could easily visit the place.
And we’re destined! While doing a few errands for work, I passed by the new food court of Megamalland spotted Sweetea near the entrance.
I decided to order JasmineMintwith minimal sweetener (PHP120 regular | PHP130 large) since I wanted something refreshing.
It took them perhaps 5-7 minutes to prepare my teaas they brew it right in front of me with its laboratory looking equipment. But since I ‘m still looking for stuff for work, I asked the server that I’ll just check two stores while they prepare my order.
When I got back, the server just finished preparing my drink. And it was a bit on the bland side but you could definitely taste the jasmine and mint.
I visited the place again last Saturday and this time, I ordered Piña Rose(PHP110 regular | PHP120 large).
I enjoyed Piña Rose more as it has more flavor (or sugaras I was deprived of sugar for the last few days).

I can’t wait to try the other flavors!

Sweetea is located at the 5thfloor, Mega Food Hall, Fashion Hall, Megamall, Mandaluyong City. 

Love at First Bite: Juju Eats

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I have to lose weight. Yes, reality slapped me in the face real hard this time. And I am more dedicated now to get fit. I’m actually surprised myself that I’m stricter this time. I guess the fear of continuing this unhealthy lifestyle might lead to a not so good future made me realize how much I have to be more careful. So, I signed up for anti-gravity yoga and started to eat healthy. I also happen to read somewhere that there’s a thing called alkaline diet which helps detoxifythe body. I gave it a try and I’m now eating nothing but fruits and vegetables on weekdays. ONLY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES! But weekends are my cheat days. Then again, I still strive to eat healthy food while pigging out. And it wasn’t that hard when you’re at Juju Eats.

Hello, Juju Eats!
I have been seeing (or should I say reading?) a lot of positive posts about Juju Eats. I am familiar with the Juju Cleanse which I tried once due to curiosity but I never had the chance to try Juju Eats. I was so delighted when I saw a JUJU EATS COMING SOON signage when I visited Podium. And I finally had a chance to try Juju Eats’ salads last Saturday after yoga.
I was famished! I only had a banana for breakfast and it was already past 1 p.m. when I got to Podium. Luckily, I was next in line.
I decided to go with the ones the staff recommended: Greek Salad (PHP250 regular | PHP165 half/wrap) and Korean Kimchi (PHP295 regular | PHP180 half/wrap). I also got a bottle of Green Bomb and Qcumber Quench.
The GreekSalad, which is a mix of lettuce, feta cheese, black olives, sundried tomatoes, red onions, cucumber and balsamic dressing, was awesome! I love the generous serving of feta cheese. The tangy taste was something I missed so much after a week of greens.
The KoreanKimchi wrapwas surprisingly good as well. I’m not fond of kimchibut I enjoyed this one. A combination of Juju Eats’ house mix with Koreanbean sprouts, kimchi, marinated tofu, carrots, cucumber, sweet chili vermicelli, shiitake mushrooms and Koreandressing (not really sure what Korean dressing meant), this wrap was very filling. It was quite messy eating this dish though so I decided to just eat the filling and skipped the wheat wrap(which you could get for an additional PHP10).
The Qcumber Quench, a mix of cucumber(duh!), pineapple and mint, sure was refreshing. It tasted great too!
I had the Green Bomb (romaine, celery, cucumber, moringga, pineappleand spinach) tasted so much better than how I remembered it during my first ever juice detox. I’m not so sure if they changed the mix or I have now adjusted to eating healthy food.
My lunch was healthy, filling, and super delicious! I would love to visit the place again soon!
Juju Eats is located at Ground Floor, Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. 

Love at First Bite: Dolce Latte

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I find it fascinating how Manila became such an interesting place for foodies. Gone are the days where we’re stuck with just Jollibee, McDonald’s, Max’s, or Goldilocksas choices for afternoon snacks. Today, some people hate being asked, “Where do we eat?” as the choices are endless! (And foodies like me get grumpy when you choose an establishment I have already visited.) I am so fortunate though to live near some foodiehotspots. And with the malls bringing in more and more restaurants and whatnot, I get to try more dishes without traveling too far. And last weekend, I spotted Dolce Latte.
Hello, Dolce Latte!
I’ve heard of this place during the peak of the Cronut™craze. I heard that Dolce Latte offers the best Cronuts™ in Manila (though some say that Wildflour deserves the title). However, I never got the chance to visit the place because the store’s located in Quezon City. It’s not exactly my territory and the only places I visit when I’m around the area are Teachers Village, Katipunan, UP, or White Plains. But here we are, a year later and I finally get to visit Dolce Latte. <3
Okay, I was originally planning to visit St. Marc Cafébut after staring at the Chococho, I backed out. It looked too sinful. Plus the place was packed. Not a single chair was vacant when I visited. So I went up with the intent to look for something less fattening. But I ended up buying the following: Valrhona Crunch Cronut™ (PHP120), Raspberry Cronut™ (PHP120) and Hot Chocolate Double Doughnut(PHP60). (What diet?!)
The Valrhona Crunch was like Cronut™with melted Crunch over it. It was yummy and not so sweet.
The Raspberry Cronut™ tasted somewhat similar with Le Coeur de France’s berry Cronut™. It’s something foodies who are not fond of chocolates would appreciate.
But my favorite was the Hot Chocolate double doughnut. It was oozing with chocolate! Every bite is sure to be chocolatey. The doughnuts are stuffed with melted chocolate and the great thing here was, it wasn’t the too sweet (umay) type. Its sweetness level was the I-want-more-of-this-thing type. Plus at PHP60, it was such a sweet deal!
I seriously want more!!! But I’ll have to work out a bit more too before my next trip.
Dolce Latte is located at 5thFloor, Fashion Hall, Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

First Bite: Marketplace by Rustan’s Supermarket

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I love grocery shopping! It’s one of my happy places for it gives me extreme happiness whenever I see a new products or my favorite snack that I haven’t seen in ages (such as Tronky). My all-time favorite supermarkets are Pioneer Supermarket (with its highly impressive selection of imported goods) and S&R. A few months ago, I noticed Marketplace, the deli area of Rustan’s Supermarket in Rockwell. I used to ignore it but I see more and more diners in the area so I thought that it might be a good place to have a meal. And a few Sundays ago, I finally got to visit the place.

Hello, Marketplace!
The first thing I saw when I got in was the man who was enjoying a tray of salmon. I circled the place thrice but I couldn’t find it. Oh well.
After a few more minutes, I finally decided to get the following: Pasta with Pesto Mozzarella Salad(PHP220), Bacon Cheddar and Tomato Sandwich (PHP199), Mozzarella and Chunky Tomato Sandwich (PHP165) and Quiche Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese (PHP99).
The Pasta with PestoMozzarellaSalad was more on the bland side. My mom and sister didn’t really like it as it was cold. But it was meant to be cold and it was actually refreshing.
The BaconCheddarand Tomatosandwichwas pretty good though it would have been better if there were more baconin it. It was weird though that the bacon looked more like ham.
The Mozzarellaand Tomatosandwichreminded me of childhood days when I hated every topping on pizza. Again, it was slightly bland but I enjoyed the part with a lot of tomatochunks. The tanginess was delightful.
The quiche though was another unexplainable dish. It was bland… very bland. The texture was that of an egg pie but tasted like… water.
My orders were not that impressive but I saw a lot of people enjoying some dishes from the roast section. I’ll order those dishes instead next time.


Marketplace is located at Rustan’s Supermarket, Lower Ground, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

Restaurant Love: Texas Roadhouse Grill

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I always look forward to Friday nights as it always mean dinner out with my favorite girls—my mom and sister. However, because of the insane traffic (and scarcity of parking space in Kapitolyo), we often find ourselves stuck at Shangri-La. I really have nothing against the mall as it’s one of my favorite malls but I have visited all the restaurants there. I may be always hungry but my tummy is quite choosy. It wants something new every time. And sadly, there are no new restaurants at Shangri-La. So, we’re left to do a few repeats but I always make sure that I try something new.
I remember that the last time I visited Texas Roadhouse Grill was during the time there was a liquor ban. I wanted to drink margarita then but my order was turned down due to the prohibition forcing me to opt for a shake. This time though, I ordered a Long Island Iced Tea (PHP120). Our other orders were Crispy Chicken Tenders (PHP310), Chicken and Beef Skewers (PHP495), and Smoked Salmon Salad (PHP250, solo | PHP395 cowboy style).
The chickentenders were indeed crispy. I also loved that they were able to maintain the juiciness of the chickenbreasts while the batter was golden brown.
The chickenand beef skewerswere also delightful though for its price, it seems that the serving of meat was a bit short. But I loved that the beef was tender and oh-so-savory! <3
My smoked salmonsalad, a mix of shredded smoked Norwegian salmon, candied walnuts, pico de gallo and green onions, was delicious as well. Despite it being a salad, it was very filling. The serving was very generous and each bite was overflowing with salmon bits. The candied walnuts also created a nice contrast of sweetness with the saltiness of the smoked salmon.
My Long Island Iced Tea was surprisingly strong. I liked the bit of tanginess from its sweet and sour mix though.

I was quite disappointed that they removed their yummy crème brûlée from the menu but I will definitely visit this place again.


Wild West Roadhouse Grill (Texas Roadhouse Grill) is located at 6thfloor, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.
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