Therese in the Philippines: Torch Restaurant

I know that Torch has been open for quite a few years now, but I was only able to try it during one of my visits back home last year.

It's hard to see the sign if you're coming from the other side

There's a smiley face on the wasabi! So cute!

White Truffle Sausage Panizza | 429.95 PhP
    Grilled Italian sausages drizzled with white truffle oil on a fresh, oven-baked panizza topped with mozzarella cheese

Cream Cheese Salmon Roll | 339.95 PhP
    Deep-fried crispy sushi roll filled with salmon and cream cheese, topped with bonito flakes and served with unagi sauce and Japanese mayonnaise

Lychee shake | PhP

Chicken Cannelloni | 494.95 PhP
    Golden fry cannelloni stuffed with chicken and mozzarella poured with arrabbiata alfredo sauce

Salpicao Medallion | 479.95 PhP
    Medallions of Certified Angus Beef, wrapped with bacon and served with garlic parsley rice and sauteed French beans

Torch's Signature Roll | 399.95 PhP
    Sushi roll filled with soft-shell crab, ebi tempura, unary, tamago, and Japanese cucumber, topped with fresh wakame seaweed, kani and ripe mangoes

Steak Fondue | 879.95 PhP
    Melt-in-your-mouth Ribeye Meltique Beef, done your way. Comes with five different sauces from five different countries

Steak Fondue | 879.95 PhP
    Melt-in-your-mouth Ribeye Meltique Beef, done your way. Comes with five different sauces from five different countries

Bread Pudding | 149.95 PhP

Panna Cotta with Fresh Fruits | 179.95 PhP

New York Cheesecake

We loved the Salpicao Medallion because the meat was soft and it was done just right. We also loved the Steak Fondue because the beef really melts in your mouth. The fondue was a new and interesting way to eat food. I say that because we normally don't think of fondue and steak together, and it's a fun way to bond with your friends. I just wish there was more meat. Heehee. For dessert, the New York Cheesecake wasn't on the menu but we saw it on the display shelf so we ordered a slice. I wasn't able to take note of the amount though. It was suuper good that we even brought home another slice to eat the next day. I love how they also serve it with blueberry so that if you're also into blueberry cheesecake, just slather (can I say that?) that on top and voila, instant blueberry cheesecake!

Address: 63 Connecticut St. Greenhills, San Juan, 1208
Operating Hours: Mon-Tues: 7:00-0:00, Wed-Sat: 7:00-3:00, Sun: 7:00-0:00
Contact Number: (02)-477-3771
Facebook page: Torch Restaurant

Therese in Taiwan: Coffee Alley 咖啡弄

It's in the second floor of this building beside Uniqlo

Coffee shops are abundant around Taipei, probably because of their culture of drinking "afternoon tea" (or in this case, afternoon coffee?)

My cousins and I went to Coffee Alley a couple of months back (yeah, I have a ton of backlog)
because we wanted to try their waffles. They didn't disappoint.

Coffee Alley 咖啡弄

冰草莓歐蕾 Iced Strawberry Au Lait

抹茶牛奶冰沙 Green Tea Smoothie

OREO冰沙 OREO Smoothie

鹽味焦糖鬆餅 Salty Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream Waffle

紅豆抹茶冰淇淋鬆餅 Azuki Bean and Green Tea Ice Cream Waffle

草莓冰淇淋鬆餅 Waffle with Fresh Strawberry and Strawberry Ice Cream

香蕉巧克力冰淇淋鬆餅 Chocolate Ice Cream and Banana Waffle

These were the food and drinks that we ordered. They were all very delicious, and the servings were huge! We didn't expect them to be that big. Had we known, we would've just shared. Hihi, oops! I forgot how much these cost, but they're probably around 140-180NT (~203-261 PhP).

You can also check out their website for store locations and operating hours. They also have a Facebook account!

Therese in Taiwan: 85°C Cafe

Not to generalize or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a lot of us are familiar with Starbucks Coffee, am I right? Well, have you heard of 85度C Cafe (85°C Cafe)? It's this Taiwanese coffee shop that's very popular in... where else? Taiwan!

They have over 300+ branches here, and according to their website, they also have branches in Australia, USA, and China.

My cousins like to drink their teas topped with sea salt whipped cream. I guess you could say that it's the Taiwanese version of the Philippines' rock salt with cheese drink. When I heard about it, I wanted to try it for myself.

I got the cold version (there's also the hot version) of the Sea Salt Green Tea (30NT ~ PhP 45)

Look at that yummy sea salt whipped cream! I'd prefer to have this with milk tea rather than plain tea, but it's yummy nonetheless. The drink had the right balance of sweetness, bitterness, and saltiness. Plus, it's fairly cheap.

Another thing we've tasted at this cafe is their 8-inch Classic Tiramisu cake. My aunt bought it for my birthday! Hee.

8-inch Classic Tiramisu cake | 480NT (~ PhP 720)

I don't really know how much a cake sells for in the Philippines (because it's been a while since I've had any) so I don't know if this counts as a bit on the expensive side or just right.

It was very delicious though! Tiramisu is one of the cakes I love (aside from cheesecake), and this one was just right! The cake wasn't soggy (cos I've had soggy Tiramisu before) and it wasn't so sweet. Buon appetito!

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf | Two E-Com Center: SPECIAL PROMOTION

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf® branch in Two E-Com Center will be holding a special promotion that will run from February 18 to 24, 2012. Customers can come to the store from 12:30 to 1:30 in the afternoon and purchase their favorite drink for only P100.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opens at One Archer's Place near DLSU Manila

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf comes to One Archer’s Place on Fidel Reyes St. near De La Salle University (DLSU), along Taft Avenue in Manila. The new The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shop opened its doors to its first customers yesterday, January 30, "serving everyone with their full selection of internationally-acclaimed signature blends and gourmet treats and dishes."

In line with its debut, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® branch in One Archer’s Place will be holding a special promotion that will coincide with DLSU’s 100th year celebration. During the promo period that will run from its opening day till February 05, 2012, customers can come to the store from 12:30 to 1:30 in the afternoon and purchase any of their favorite drinks for only Php 100.

“Manila is a good market for us,” shares Walden Chu, President of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®. “A place that’s right in the center of a burgeoning coffee culture in the country, this new branch will not only compliment the busy lifestyle of people in the area, it will also make it easier for more to enjoy the specialty drinks that our brand is known for.”

The One Archer’s Place store will be located near prominent establishments around DLSU and will cater mostly to students and young professionals working and living in the vicinity. In addition, it will serve as a haven for both cult-like followers of the brands as well as coffee and tea aficionados of all sorts.

Nicole's Museum Hopping: Yuchengco Museum + Rizal Coffee

Nicole's Museum Hopping: Yuchengco Museum
by Nicole


This year is about to end and a new one is about to start hence people are going to pen their to-do lists once again. As for me, I've started writing mine last month. One of the things listed: visit museums around the metro.

So it began. First stop is. . .  the Yuchengco Museum in RCBC Plaza, Makati City! HONESTLY, this is my second museum stop but I decided to share this one first :D

@ the Yuchengco Museum entrance

My humble camera died so most of the photos here are from my lovely friend (who's actually more like a sister :D).  So grateful she went with me! She also said she'll be joining me in my next museum trips so HOORAY to that! I am stoked!

The Yuchengco museum opened in September 2005. A pretty young museum but one of the best I've been to. It was created to house the art collection of businessman, diplomat Alfonso T. Yuchengco. You don't just see paintings and sculptures here but you can also read books. I just looove that this museum has a library in it! I spent a couple of hours reading some books from those shelves - España, Bound to Empire: The United States and the Philippines, and O.D. Corpuz' The Roots of the Filipino Nation.  If get rich, I would absolutely build something like this!

Library at the 4th floor
This is also the room that showcases a glimpse of Mr. Yuchengco's roots and his works.
You can also see paintings of the women associated with Jose Rizal here.

How do I go around a museum? The best way is to start from the very top - learned this from one of my favorite museums which I will be showing you guys soon. Take the elevator up to the top most floor then journey down by taking the stairs. Take the stairs - you'll get to see more stuff than taking the boring elevator :D

The Yuchengo Museum is currently hosting the Nothing to Declare exhibit. Nothing to Declare aims to contribute to the discourse on migration, the movement not just of people across borders, but also of forms and realities across time and space.

This one is one of the coolest in the exhibit! These eggs won't break even if you step on them. A metaphor for being strong and yet fragile.

 “The Easter Bunny—Just As Charming and Just As Fake” Ovoid/Void piece (2010)
 wherein the author invites the audience to walk on a ground
made of resin trays filled with resin eggs.
3rd Floor

Beside those eggs is this piece called "Suspended Garden." There are few ways on how to view this floating potato or pebble-looking recycled pulp pieces. One is to look at this from the top (just how this photo was taken). You can also lie down on that circular carpet (which is made of newspaper formed into strings). We did lie down and it was so cool! I didn't understand it but like what my friend told me, "you don't need to understand art. You just have to experience it."

Experiencing art
Tony Gonzales and Tes Pasola (Philippines) Suspended Garden Installation (recycled pulp), 2010
3rd Floor

Now down at the ground, you'll see a continuation of the Nothing to Declare exhibit, paintings by Juan Luna, Botong Francisco. . .

The Yuchengco museum joins the 150th year of Jose Rizal's birthday hence in almost every floor, there's something about Rizal. This one is, for me, the center of it all.

"Genius has no country" - Jose Rizal
A painting of Jose Rizal (center) by Juan Luna. The other two paintings are by Luna and Hidalgo
The paragraphs written on this wall are excerpts from Rizal's famous speech delivered in 1884 at Hotel Ingles, Madrid

Speaking of Rizal, here's my take home. I bought this limited edition Jose Rizal Blend from the Yuchengco Museum store. This is the most fragrant coffee I've ever smelled, hands down! The aroma is just addictive! I was so eager to drink this so we boiled this for breakfast ha ha! We don't have yet a coffee grinder at home that's why.

Php 250.00
A combination of Arabica and Robusta coffee grown in the Philippines

I had a blast in this museum! I can't wait to go back! I hope you'll get to visit this museum too. Entrance is only 100 pesos. Happy Christmas!  :)



Address and Telephone number
Yuchengco Museum
RCBC Plaza
Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenues
Makati City, Philippines 1200

Information: (632) 889 1234
Please note that the museum is at the courtyard of RCBC Plaza.


Museum hours
Monday to Saturday
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday and on holidays

Tiffy in Japan: Tully's Coffee

Tully's Coffee
Tiffy in Japan
October 28, 2011
Afternoon coffee


Remember two months ago: I went on a 6- or 7-hour drive to Chiba to visit Tokyo DisneySea. And, since we were on a budget, we stayed at an internet cafe because I still had to meet my future academic professor the next day. In addition to what I know of internet cafes, I learned that people who miss the last train at midnight also frequent internet cafes, which is why they can usually be found near train stations.

The meeting was scheduled for 2 PM so we had so much time to kill in the morning. So we drove around Kashiwa City and tried to get the feel of the place.

Compared to Tokyo and Nagoya, Chiba is definitely less crowded. After having breakfast at Sukiya (think Yoshinoya), we headed to LaLaport mall for some new books and coffee.

My companion had been itching to buy a new book and I've been itching for some coffee.

Funny how we ended up in a bookstore that had Tully's Coffee right beside it. This was a few days before Nicole went to the Tully's Coffee launch in the Philippines.

My order: マロングラッセラテ | Marron Glace Latte

Marrons are just simply: chestnuts.

I love how the Tully's Japanese website includes their whole menu and the corresponding prices.

And now to announce the winner of our Gandiva package contest: Ms. Elaine Chua

The winner has been sent a message. Please email us at manilafoodistas at gmail.com to claim your package! Thank you for all those who joined our giveaway! Watch our for more! 

Tully's Coffee Now Brewing in Manila

Tully's Coffee Now Brewing in Manila
by Nicole



A new brew has come to Manila and the Manila Foodistas was invited to be one of the firsts to taste it!

November 3, 2011 was Tully's Coffee launch here in the Philippines. The fun kick-off happened in their first store in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Tully's Coffee 

Established in 1992 by Mr. Tom O'Keefe nicknamed "Tully" (hence the name of his coffee shop :D), Tully's Coffee is a specialty coffee retailer and wholesaler based in Seattle, Washington. They've got more than a hundred stores all over the U.S and have also branched out here in Asia, where currently the market is :D - in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and now, here in nuestra patria adorada, the Philippines!

It was my first time to attend a coffee shop launching and I didn't really mind that I was alone. Muwahaha! You see, I was thinking that if I go there alone, that would be the best way to find out if the people are going to be welcoming and friendly and boy, I was not disappointed because INDEED THEY WERE!

Tully's Coffee in Taguig is VERY easy to find (I swear you gotta consult an eye doctor if you don't see it) - it is located in between St. Lukes and the Deutschbank building. When I got to the place, I first registered at their booth and then was given a paper bag with stuff in it. I wanted to check the place out as soon as I got there so I didn't open the bag until I got home :)). I was ushered to the media room and for the first time, I felt like a journalist ha ha! A very lovely lady told me she's going to get me a drink so I just waited at the room. While waiting, I was looking around and saw this on the wall:

Our Promise: Your experience should be perfect. If it isn't, please let us know and we will make it right. 

 Thumbs up on their promise!

Tully's Iced Tea

My first drink came and it was an iced tea. I was expecting a cup of coffee but it didn't matter really. I was thirsty and was really pleased that they gave an iced tea first. Man, I liked their iced tea! I asked the baristas how they made it and was told that it's their special blend. Their iced tea is composed of black tea, honey and lemon.

Inside the media room came Mr. Daniel Francisco, the General Manager of Tully's Philippines. He then talked to some media people and when I saw that, I grabbed my pen and paper, approached their circle and also started asking questions :D. Mr. Francisco talked about expanding Tully's here and I'm just glad to know they're putting up one in Ortigas soon! Then also in Makati, Quezon City, Manila and Alabang. When asked what separates Tully's from other coffee shops, Mr. Francisco emphasized on the people in Tully's - its friendliest staff. After the conversation, off I went out the media room and explored the coffee shop!

It sure is a packed house!

I'm not a coffee drinker to be honest but since I was already at a coffee shop and it's a new one, I told myself that I should try and so I did. I approached the counter and to be frank, I was clueless on what to order so I just asked the staff. Okay a major pause there: the staff were indeed soooo friendly and very helpful too! I don't know if it's because it's their launching day so they're compelled to be super friendly but you know, you can always tell a fake smile from a real one as well as if you're having a fake conversation when talking to someone, right? Tully's staff are all nice and friendly - I like them!

Now to help me with my drink, they told me that I should try their Bellaccino - they've got the espresso, and mocha. I like strong flavors so I chose the Bellaccino espresso. The whipped cream on top has vanilla so it did not taste bland. The espresso blend is something special for me because it did not taste like shockingly bitter espresso. Tully's Bellaccino espresso is not a bitter tasting drink, at least for my taste buds. And as for the milk, they use low-fat and--oh just in case you're calorie-conscious--they use regular whipped cream (low-fat soon please :) ).

Tully's Bellaccino Espresso

As I was sipping my Bellaccino Espresso, I tried listening to people talk about their opinions on Tully's Coffee. One thing that stood out from all that I've heard was a comment from one lady. When asked how the coffee she's drinking is, she commented that it was just okay and it tasted the same as any other coffee. She went, "Pare-pareho lang naman 'yan sila, nagkaka-talo lang sa ambiance."

I pondered on what she said and first I thought, if it doesn't taste somehow like others, then it's no longer coffee that you're drinking. They're all serving coffee hence you get and taste coffee so somehow they're all the same because you've got a common denominator which is coffee (okay, scratch that if it doesn't make any sense). Now second, I agree with the ambiance factor. We can always make our own coffee at home but why still go and spend time at coffee shops? Human beings have this nature of wanting to be bosses - we all want to be served, treated well, so we go out and find a place that does what we're looking for.  I primarily go to coffee shops when I want to be somewhere quiet where I can read, do my homework while have something unique to drink (I remember seeing a pumpkin drink on Tully's US website. It would be cool if Tully's PH would serve it too :D)

So now to wrap it all up, Tully's Coffee launch in Bonifacio Global City was fun and I was glad that I went there - thanks to all the very friendly people I met. Thank you Tully's for inviting Manila Foodistas! I will be back most definitely! (I want to see how Tully's is like on a normal day :D)

 

P.S. Their pastry is provided by a local bakeshop and if I remember it right, they'll be serving sugarless treats soon! YEHEY!


Address and Phone Number
Tully's Coffee Philippines
Bonifacio Global City, The Fort, 
1630 Taguig, Philippines
(02) 661 77 23