Makati: Dinamitang Keso

Have you heard of the "dynamite" in food lingo? If you are walking in the streets of Salcedo and Legaspi villages, you will notice those "food stands", often with a stainless exterior. They are famously known as "jolly jeeps." The original jolly jeeps were really jeepneys that offer food, ranging from breakfast, lunch and meriendas. And these jolly jeeps serve the finger food "dynamite". It's a chili that's wrapped in "lumpia" wrapper stuffed with cheese. They only cost 5-10 pesos each :)

But 1521's "dynamite" has a twist, you get a mango syrup dip. Yummy. The flavors really explode on your mouth. Of course, your wallet will explode too, since it costs 180php (5 pcs.) plus service charge hehe.

Dinamitang Keso

1521 is located at Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City. (Heck if its Makati or Taguig City haha)

Makati: Happy Tea, Happy Hour

If you'll be visiting Makati and is looking for a good place serving milk teas, hidden at Pasong Tamo cor. Urban Ave. (Basement 1, West of Ayala No.252, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., entrance along Urban Ave. to be exact hehe) you'll find Botan Bubble Tea & Cafe.

I discovered this place two years ago, and their milk tea prices did not change. :) They both have cold and hot teas, for starters, I recommend "Pudding Milk Tea" (100Php-Large). You can opt for extra toppings like pearls and nata jellies, plus our favorite, the sea foam (which is cheese on top of your milk tea!) Yummy!

I know there are many places where you can get your milk tea, but Botan will definitely satisfy you.

Take out pudding milk tea

Try visiting them on their happy hours (3PM-5PM), the large size of their bestsellers are discounted for only 80Php :) Their restaurant has a cozy-relaxing ambiance (if there aren't too many people hehe)

Manila: 9 Spoons

Inside the walls of Intramuros, you'll find The Bayleaf Hotel at Muralla St., and on its penthouse, 9 Spoons restaurant. We accidentally found the hotel since I went to Intramuros to visit my former school.

Their menu was diverse, both catering international flavors and traditional ones. We chose traditional just to be safe. We had "Callos Manileno (480 PHP)" (Spanish style slow cooked ox tripe, ox tail, pork knuckles, roasted bell peppers, olives, chorizo) and "Kinilaw na Tanigue (fish) (370 PHP)" (fresh tanigue, infused vinegar, chili, vegetable relish). Both dishes can serve 2 persons and came with rice.

The ox tripe/tail and pork were really soft. Separately, the tanigue was zesty and fresh. But our combination of both dishes didn't match well hehe. But we still enjoyed the food.

For dessert, we had "Felchlin Chocolate Cookie Casuela (290 PHP)" (freshly baked chocolate chip cookie, vanilla ice cream). The chocolate cookie was hot and moist since it was just baked, and mixing it with the cold and subtle vanilla ice cream highlighted it more. The vanilla ice cream balanced the heat of the cookie, and it will just melt in your mouth. The finale will be the cookie, slowly sliding into your mouth. Yummy.

Felchlin Chocolate Cookie Casuela

Overall experience was good, but a pit pricey. We'll be back for sure.

Good for romantic dates.

Still need to try their buffet lunch(weekdays) and dinner(Saturdays).