New spot a block from my place! It's their first weekend and yet the place already has a swarm of people. Check out Bottled Blonde Chicago! They have humongous TV screens! Perfect Bro Cave!
06 November 2015
30 October 2015
Bringing Maps When You Travel Still Matter Today
A lot of holiday seasons fast approaching! Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas :) Travel smart this holiday and anyday! Growing up, I've seen how my dad diligently studied maps before our trips. I realize how helpful it is especially when you hit spots with no GPS signal and when your phone's battery is almost drained. So stock on maps, notes and public transportation screenshots.
When traveling somewhere English is not the first language, make sure you have someone translate your notes even before heading there.
Maps may be old school for some but keeping one handy has been a great tip I learned from my super cool backpacker traveler dad even while I was still a student!
When traveling somewhere English is not the first language, make sure you have someone translate your notes even before heading there.
Maps may be old school for some but keeping one handy has been a great tip I learned from my super cool backpacker traveler dad even while I was still a student!
27 May 2015
Exploring Ins and Outs of Boracay
Boracay in the Philippines is known to be one of the best beaches in Asia and the world. It has always been in top list of great beaches for years!
Popular for its white sand and tons of activities, it has enamored both local and tourists.
But do you know that there are also caves in Boracay to explore? Check out the Bat Cave, the Crystal Cove and there are also several small caves to discover. Consider visiting one of the caves when you visit the beautiful Boracay. :)
Popular for its white sand and tons of activities, it has enamored both local and tourists.
But do you know that there are also caves in Boracay to explore? Check out the Bat Cave, the Crystal Cove and there are also several small caves to discover. Consider visiting one of the caves when you visit the beautiful Boracay. :)
27 November 2014
Seoul, South Korea - What To Do During Long Layovers
Who said long layovers are boring? It's your chance to visit a country for free!!!!
I really wanted to see Seoul, Korea so even if I hadn't had sleep for about 20 hours, I toured around - besides, I had 15 hours to kill before my next flight. I left my small luggages in the airport lockers and then took a bus from Incheon to Seoul.
If you don't have a US passport, you might need a visa (this you need to prepare for).
Seoul is a lovely sight at night. It was very much alive and there are a lot of things to do. Some stores and establishments are open round the clock 24 by 7. Incheon International Airport are known to have long layovers, so they know some travelers will be intrigued to catch a glimpse of the city.
Travel Dare: When you travel, try one of the local delicacies of a country, even if it has that touch of fear factor. Some may look scary but you never know how good they might be until you try them. In my case, I tried this uber fresh octopus tentacles! This dish is so fresh the tentacles are still moving.
Incheon International Airport is probably one of my favorite airports in the world. They have free showers and tons of duty free shops. They have a lot of cool restaurants also. But what I really love about this airport is the fact that they have a hotel inside. I got the chance to sleep well after several hours of being awake.
So there you have it - that's how I spent one of my layovers in Seoul. People ask if I will do it again... heck yeah I would! Actually now that I tried it, that's one of the things I look for, a long layover. Besides, I could always just sleep in the plane, right? :)
I really wanted to see Seoul, Korea so even if I hadn't had sleep for about 20 hours, I toured around - besides, I had 15 hours to kill before my next flight. I left my small luggages in the airport lockers and then took a bus from Incheon to Seoul.
If you don't have a US passport, you might need a visa (this you need to prepare for).
Seoul is a lovely sight at night. It was very much alive and there are a lot of things to do. Some stores and establishments are open round the clock 24 by 7. Incheon International Airport are known to have long layovers, so they know some travelers will be intrigued to catch a glimpse of the city.
Travel Dare: When you travel, try one of the local delicacies of a country, even if it has that touch of fear factor. Some may look scary but you never know how good they might be until you try them. In my case, I tried this uber fresh octopus tentacles! This dish is so fresh the tentacles are still moving.
Incheon International Airport is probably one of my favorite airports in the world. They have free showers and tons of duty free shops. They have a lot of cool restaurants also. But what I really love about this airport is the fact that they have a hotel inside. I got the chance to sleep well after several hours of being awake.
So there you have it - that's how I spent one of my layovers in Seoul. People ask if I will do it again... heck yeah I would! Actually now that I tried it, that's one of the things I look for, a long layover. Besides, I could always just sleep in the plane, right? :)
24 August 2014
The Doughnut Vault
This is the best donut place in Chicago and probably one of the best donut places in the world. This is not your ordinary donut place.
A lot of people know how good this place is, so you better go there and wait in line - early, earlier than the time they open. Every weekend, they open at 9.30. I usually go there latest 9am - and there's already a short line by that time.
The place is small - your hallway is probably bigger. But their donuts are so soft, fluffy and huge - If you can see the picture I posted, the old fashioned buttercream (bottom middle) is the size of your regular donut from Krispy Kreme / Dunkin Donuts - the rest are the glazed donuts.
My favorites are the vanilla glaze, chocolate glazed and the birthday cake donut holes. They also have specials that change every week. You can see the specials in their website.
They serve Bow Truss coffee - which is also a Chicago based coffee. If you haven't tried it yet, that's good coffee. If you're up for it, there's a Bow Truss coffee place near the Doughnut Vault (one block away - Wells / Kinzie)
A lot of people know how good this place is, so you better go there and wait in line - early, earlier than the time they open. Every weekend, they open at 9.30. I usually go there latest 9am - and there's already a short line by that time.
The place is small - your hallway is probably bigger. But their donuts are so soft, fluffy and huge - If you can see the picture I posted, the old fashioned buttercream (bottom middle) is the size of your regular donut from Krispy Kreme / Dunkin Donuts - the rest are the glazed donuts.
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| the old fashioned buttercream at the middle bottom may look small, but it has the same size as the regular donuts from Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts. Yes, the glazed donuts are huge, even their donut holes! |
My favorites are the vanilla glaze, chocolate glazed and the birthday cake donut holes. They also have specials that change every week. You can see the specials in their website.
They serve Bow Truss coffee - which is also a Chicago based coffee. If you haven't tried it yet, that's good coffee. If you're up for it, there's a Bow Truss coffee place near the Doughnut Vault (one block away - Wells / Kinzie)
07 July 2013
NoMi at Park Hyatt
I've been wanting to try NoMi for the longest time. So when some of my friends told me they wanted to try something Japanese, NoMi was the first thing that came to my mind.
Located at the 7th floor of the Park Hyatt in Chicago, this is considered a pricey place so prepare your wallets.
For starters, we had Roasted Salmon and Barley. The salmon was roasted to perfection and the barley complimented so well! For the sushi and sashimi platter, we loved the fact that you could actually savor the freshness of the fish. This is always a plus factor for raw dishes. Though, it would have been better if they have more maki options.
Ambiance wise, this place is on the chic and posh side. It's a perk if you'll be seated at the window area, because it overlooks Michigan Avenue.
Giving this place 4 stars.
Located at the 7th floor of the Park Hyatt in Chicago, this is considered a pricey place so prepare your wallets.
For starters, we had Roasted Salmon and Barley. The salmon was roasted to perfection and the barley complimented so well! For the sushi and sashimi platter, we loved the fact that you could actually savor the freshness of the fish. This is always a plus factor for raw dishes. Though, it would have been better if they have more maki options.
Ambiance wise, this place is on the chic and posh side. It's a perk if you'll be seated at the window area, because it overlooks Michigan Avenue.
Giving this place 4 stars.
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| All of our orders were served in one platter: Signature Sushi and Sashimi, Katsura Platter and some Tiger Rolls |
Website: http://hyatt.com/gallery/nomi/
Address: Park Hyatt - 7th floor, 800 North Michigan
02 July 2013
Bistro Zinc
One of our teams in the office decided to give our visitor Kathe a dinner while she's here in Chicago. They let me decide on where to eat, so I thought of a place we haven't had a team dinner yet. While surfing the net, I saw that Bistro Zinc got rave reviews so I booked a reservation.
First and foremost, service wise, the staff deserves a big thank you from us. Something came up that made us really really really late for our reservation... and yet they still found a way to accommodate us.
When we got there, one of my friends first reaction was that the place was so French. It has this feel that is perfect for group dinner. We started off with appetizers: escargot and foie gras. Loved them both! I loved the chutney that went with the foie gras, as it really complimented the flavor and richness of the liver.
For the main course, Kathe and I decided to share our entrees so we could get to try both. We got the La Crepe au Poulet (Chicken Crepe) and the Grilled Salmon. We enjoyed both :) They were so good! Our other colleagues seemed to enjoy their entrees, too.
And as I mentioned awhile ago, the place is conducive for a fun group dinner. It has been so busy for the past few weeks at work, but we all had a chance to bond that night at Bistro Zinc.
I'm giving this place 5 out of 5 stars.
Website: http://bistrotzinc.com/
Address: 1131 N State Chicago
Phone No.: 312-337-113130 June 2013
Toni Patisserie
So this is what I had a while ago for morning snack: a fruit tart and a pair of mocha macarons from Toni Patisserie.
The individual tart has strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, kiwi and mangoes. It is good. It would have been better had they used Philippine mangoes, which I think is the sweetest mango out there.
For the macarons, I wish they had more flavors. Their mocha is so far my favorite. They said that a lot of people like the almond, but I'm not really a fan of that flavor.
Ambiance wise, this is a cute place! The displays are mostly on the dainty side. I recommend this for afternoon dessert.
Giving this place 4 out of 5 stars.
The individual tart has strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, kiwi and mangoes. It is good. It would have been better had they used Philippine mangoes, which I think is the sweetest mango out there.
For the macarons, I wish they had more flavors. Their mocha is so far my favorite. They said that a lot of people like the almond, but I'm not really a fan of that flavor.
Ambiance wise, this is a cute place! The displays are mostly on the dainty side. I recommend this for afternoon dessert.
Giving this place 4 out of 5 stars.
Website: http://www.tonipatisserie.com/
Address: 65 E Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602
Telephone No: (312) 726-2020
Isla Pilipina
This place is usually packed so try to call for reservation a few minutes before arriving. Don't expect a big fancy restaurant. The first time I've been here, it reminded me of what we call in Manila a carinderia... but mind you, this place is a diamond in the rough.
It's really a bit frustrating that there are only a few Filipino restaurants in Chicago compared to the other Asian counterparts. I beg to object that Filipino cuisines are not at par with them... and once you visit Isla, you would wish for more Filipino restaurants.
For appetizers, the Lumpiang Shanghai and Pork Bbq are my favorites. Filipino Bbq is not your usual barbecue... to begin with, anything barbecued in the Philippines comes skewered. Lumpiang Shanghai is our take on eggrolls.
For main course, one of our staple orders is Kare-Kare. It's beef / ox tripe cooked in peanut sauce. It's traditionally served with shrimp paste (bagoong) but it's good as it is.
You should also try the Nilaga and Sinigang: perfect for those chilly days.
For those who are adventurous, you can try Dinuguan. Its sauce has an interesting ingredient.
Dessert, they have halo-halo, ube ice cream (purple yam) and flan!
I hope that in time, they'll have another branch. And I hope the next place is bigger and less crowded... that will entice more patrons. I've seen non-Filipino patrons here at Isla, and it's so touching to see them enjoying Filipino cuisine.
Food wise, I'll give this place 5 out of 5 stars. Ambiance wise... come on! The food is so worth it ;)
Website: http://www.islapilipina.com
Tel No: 1-773-271-2988
It's really a bit frustrating that there are only a few Filipino restaurants in Chicago compared to the other Asian counterparts. I beg to object that Filipino cuisines are not at par with them... and once you visit Isla, you would wish for more Filipino restaurants.
For appetizers, the Lumpiang Shanghai and Pork Bbq are my favorites. Filipino Bbq is not your usual barbecue... to begin with, anything barbecued in the Philippines comes skewered. Lumpiang Shanghai is our take on eggrolls.
For main course, one of our staple orders is Kare-Kare. It's beef / ox tripe cooked in peanut sauce. It's traditionally served with shrimp paste (bagoong) but it's good as it is.
You should also try the Nilaga and Sinigang: perfect for those chilly days.
For those who are adventurous, you can try Dinuguan. Its sauce has an interesting ingredient.
Dessert, they have halo-halo, ube ice cream (purple yam) and flan!
I hope that in time, they'll have another branch. And I hope the next place is bigger and less crowded... that will entice more patrons. I've seen non-Filipino patrons here at Isla, and it's so touching to see them enjoying Filipino cuisine.
Food wise, I'll give this place 5 out of 5 stars. Ambiance wise... come on! The food is so worth it ;)
Website: http://www.islapilipina.com
Tel No: 1-773-271-2988
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| Crispy Pata (pork knuckle) |
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| Dinuguan (with the special sauce!) |
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| Kare-kare (Peanut butter is the main ingredient of the sauce) -- perfect with shrimp paste |
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| Ginataang Gulay and Hipon (Shrimp and Veggies in Coconut Milk) -- this dish surprised me! It's very good. The shrimp was cooked to perfection. |
29 June 2013
Blue Star Wine Bar
We went here to celebrate a dear friend's birthday last May. Located at a hidden area in Wicker Park, this place won't be noticed easily.
We started off with Bacon wrapped Dates as appetizer. We all loved it! The dates were cooked just right and the bacon and the pear slaw that went with the dish suits so well.
Me and my three other friends all loved our dishes. We also shared a mushroom flatbread... so crunchy and good :)
And because it's my friend's birthday, he was surprised with a dessert: layers of chocolate crepe with berry sauce. I loved it as if it was my birthday.
Ambiance wise, this place has it! Good for dates, double dates, girls night out and meet the parent nights.
This definitely deserves 5 out of 5 stars :)
We started off with Bacon wrapped Dates as appetizer. We all loved it! The dates were cooked just right and the bacon and the pear slaw that went with the dish suits so well.
Me and my three other friends all loved our dishes. We also shared a mushroom flatbread... so crunchy and good :)
And because it's my friend's birthday, he was surprised with a dessert: layers of chocolate crepe with berry sauce. I loved it as if it was my birthday.
Ambiance wise, this place has it! Good for dates, double dates, girls night out and meet the parent nights.
This definitely deserves 5 out of 5 stars :)
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