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

Step up to the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky - Johnnie Walker Red Label

by Brian K. Ong

Who would have thought that the JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL is the world's best-selling Scotch whisky? With almost half of Johnnie Walker sold around the world being the Johnnie Walker Red Label, it shows how much people throughout the world love the label.

I personally thought it was the Johnnie Walker Black Label which held the distinction, but I was proven wrong. Probably, for Filipinos, it is the perception because the Black Label is the more popular drink marketed among the labels.

Now, Diago Philippines wants us to step up to the Johnnie Walker Red Label, the pioneering blend that saw Johnnie Walker reach-out from humble beginnings in a little grocer’s shop to become one of the world’s first truly global brands.

Starting December 1, this ‘Pioneer’ Blend is made more accessible to Filipino consumers - the 1L bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label is now available for only PHP 650 SRP, and the 750mL bottle for only PHP 490 SRP in leading supermarkets.  With this new price range of the Red Label, Filipinos can now enjoy this special blend that is perfect for casual get-togethers or "inumans," as we Filipinos would love to call it.

To celebrate this special announcement, Johnnie Walker hosted a fun and interactive mentoring session dubbed as the "Johnnie Walker Red Label Academy," Johnnie Walker Global Brand Ambassador Tom Jones took us on a journey through the rich heritage and unique enjoyment of Johnnie Walker Red Label.

“Nothing typifies the Walker’s journey more than the Pioneer blend, Johnnie Walker Red Label. The story of this blend exemplifies the bold ambitions of the Walker family,” shares Tom Jones. “The Walker Family needed a whisky that travelled well - one with a depth of flavour even when mixed with ice, water or soda; one that would transcend cultures, tastes and climes.” This led to the creation of ‘Special Old Highland Whisky’ – later to be known as JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL.”

With a powerful combination of spicy smoky malts and lingering lighter grains, Johnnie Walker Red Label is a youthful upstart of a whisky, packed with excitement, energy, big bold flavor, and versatility. It is vibrant on the tongue, crackling with hints of spice, then notes of malt, vanilla and peat—finishing with the lingering smooth, smoky signature of Johnnie Walker.

The genuine and bold taste of Red Label is wonderful on its own, but also really adds character to a variety of cocktails and mixers. Johnnie Walker brand ambassador Tom Jones provided different recipes on how Johnnie Walker Red Label can be best enjoyed.

Johnnie Red Soda – The Perfect Serve
1 part of Johnnie Walker Red Label
2 parts of Lime soda
Ice
Optional: Orange Twist
Pour the whisky into an ice-filled glass, top up with lime soda and rim the glass with orange twist.


Johnnie Ginger
1 part Johnnie Walker Red Label
3 parts Ginger Ale
Ice
Lime wedge garnish
Combine in an ice-filled glass and stir. Add a lime wedge garnish for additional zing.

Buko Shake

Buko Shake
by: Nicole




All right folks, a new craze has come to town! Say hello to the buko shake!

Coco Fresco´s Buko Shake with Caramel
12 oz. (Php 35.00)

Before we go on talking about the buko shake, let's talk a little bit about buko juice a.k.a. coconut water. Buko (coconut) juice is the newest hit drink around the world (but our country filled with coconuts is not the pioneer rawr!). I'm sure you've seen news about it online (Rihanna is the new face of VitaCoco, one of the leading coconut water brands in the U.S.). Why is it a hit? Mainly because of these reasons - it's electrolyte-rich, has zero fat and zero cholesterol. I read somewhere before that during World War II, coconut water was used for blood transfusion because it has the same properties as the human blood plasma. Read more about it here. Now you might want to ditch the synthetic Gatorade. 

It was my sister who actually introduced me to this yummy shake. Buko shake is  the KING OF ALL SHAKES, at least in my opinion. It's creamy, a total thirst quencher, and the taste is really good - not too sweet or anything weird and extreme. It's the most refreshing frothy drink I've ever tried!

Next time you go to the mall, make you sure you buy the buko shake (I saw two stalls in SM Megamall selling. One was in front of Powerbooks and the other was near the Cinemas 7,8,9. . ., if my memory serves me right). Buko shake is a total must try! It comes in different flavours too - strawberry, ube, pandan, caramel, and chocolate. If you're on healthy mode or in other words avoiding the poisonous sugar (if too much), just drink the plain one. 

Go loco over coco!

Coco Fresco

SM Megamall (in front of Powerbooks)

Sa Kanto | Podium

Podium | Sa Kanto

by: Tiffy

Manila Foodistas was lucky enough to be invited to try out Sa Kanto at the Podium. Kanto is the Filipino word for corner, sa kanto meaning just around the corner. 

Saan ka pupunta? Where are you going?

Diyan lang sa kanto. Just there around the corner. 

Sa Kanto serves all kinds of Filipino food--from street food to pulutan (food one usually eats while drinking) to meals. 

It is also by Il Ponticello, who is the group behind Borough which just happens to be situated beside Sa Kanto.

Red Sun Tea Shop

Red Sun Tea Shop

April 6, 2011
by Tiffany Chua

If you noticed in my previous post, I am graduating this year. Specifically this month. I'm so excited! After years and years of school, I'm finally done with homework and studying. Not that I'm never studying again -- I do believe that life's like this one big school. It's my best teacher!

Now one of my friends is a native of Taiwan and he told me that I should try the street foods in Taiwan. According to him, eating at restaurants is expensive. My cousins here say the same thing. They say that you'll spend around 500-600 NT (Php 741-890) if you're going to a good restaurant.

So while catching up with my cousins, I told them that I like drinking taro milk drinks with tapioca balls in them. So after dinner that night, we walked some 10 minutes to a shop called Red Sun Tea Shop.

So I ordered a taro milk drink. And had to ask them to add tapioca balls on my drink. And then they'd ask you how sweet you want your drink to be. I chose mine at 30%.

My drink cost around 45 NT (Php 67). It was so big too (700 cc)! My sister ordered pudding milk tea (35 TWD | Php 52). 

I've been spending my days (and night) walking the night markets and the subway malls. Shopping is cheap and their food is yummy! We usually just buy a bunch of street food and eat them together.