What I Ate in Brussels

It's been a month since I got back from our Europe trip, and here I am finally posting about it. Back when I was in college, my dream of going to Europe came true when I had the opportunity to host the Ms. Philippines-Germany Goodwill Ambassador Pageant in Berlin. Aside from Germany, I was also able to do a quick trip to Brussels and Paris. Six years later, the same organization invited me again to host the Mr. and Ms. Philippines-Europe Goodwill Ambassador Pageant in Brussels. I was ecstatic at the thought of being able to go back to Europe with my mom and sister, and this time, have the luxury of time to tour other cities as well. 

Our first stop was, of course, Brussels. I love how the architecture of the city evokes an old world sophistication, and yet its amenities are one of the most modern in Europe. Out of all the cities we visited, I felt safest and most comfortable there because of its cleanliness, minimal threat of petty crimes, and even in the simple way motorists prioritize pedestrians (even if they are moving at a fast speed, they really stop when someone needs to cross the street).

Our first week in Europe was in Brussels, although we spent our full days preparing for the pageant. We usually get to tour the city at night after rehearsals. Of course, we had to go to the city center where the tourist attractions were. It felt so good to be back in the Grand Place and to see the Mannekin Pis once again. It was also fun seeing which chocolate and souvenir shops were still there and which have changed since the last time I was there.

On some nights that we strolled through the city, we ate out and that's when I got to try some legit sausages and Belgian fries at Fritland. You can also choose which sauce you want to go with your food. My favorite was the Andalouse sauce because it adds a spicy kick to your fries (it also goes well in cold cuts sandwiches).

We also got to try some sweets at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. We had their mini Merveilluex which is a small cake that consists of two meringues held together by whipped cream, covered with more whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. They have a variety of flavors to choose from, and they were so light and delicate that you feel like you can eat the whole box. We also had one of their thin waffles which had a liquor filling. 

On our last night in Brussels, our gracious hosts treated us to an incredible eat-all-you-can ribs dinner at Amadeo. Normally, a whole slab of ribs is already for sharing but there, you are initially given a full slab with sides of mashed potato and salad just for yourself. If you want more, you can just ask and they will happily replenish your huge plate. The ribs were so delicious and tender but it was definitely too much for me that I wasn't able to finish one serving no matter how much I wanted to.

After that huge dinner, I don't know how we managed to still have room for dessert at Drug Opera which is one of the most famous pubs in Old Brussels, but we did. We had some waffles, ice cream and tiramisu which was the perfect end not only to our night but to our trip as well. 

To see more of what we did on our trip, check out my Brussels vlog and the latter half of my Rome vlog below!

Epicurious

If you love European culture as much as I do, then you probably share the same love that I have for delis. To me, entering a deli and seeing a wide assortment of cheese and cold cuts in a chiller makes me want to ride off in a bike with bread and wine in a basket to have a picnic in a beautiful park. 

Entering Epicurious was like entering a playground for a foodie like me. It's the first lifestyle store with a shop-cook-eat concept. They have a wide range of sausages and marinated meats like their steaks and chicken packaged deli style which they can cook for you if you wish to dine there. They also offer soups, salads, sandwiches and pastas for those looking for something a little lighter to eat. I really loved the interactive experience of going around the store and really seeing the food choices rather than the usual way of just sitting down in a restaurant and choosing from a menu. 

While waiting for your food to arrive, you can look around the grocery area where international and local artisanal food products are on display. What initially got my attention were the luxurious items like a whole shelf dedicated to everything truffle like truffle oil and truffle salt! As I perused more, I was happy to find that they also carry healthy, organic food, most of which were sourced locally like coco sugar. They also have good quality kitchenware and equipment. My favorite were the colorful cups that look like crumpled plastic cups but are actually ceramic. They also have a cafe corner if you want to have some coffee and dessert which is hard to miss because of the super cute rainbow cake on display 

When we were there, we had their pumpkin soup and bread basket served with marmalade for starters. However, my favorite was the hungarian sausage which we asked to be cooked and sliced thinly for sharing. I loved how the sausage casing had a bite to it and how chewy it was (I hate soft, mushy sausages and hotdogs). It was well-seasoned with just the right amount of spiciness. 

I'm pretty sure by now you've gotten pretty curious about this place, so go ahead and drop by Epicurious for a unique dining and food shopping experience.

Wood & Willow Lifestyle Store Try On Haul

Hey guys! If you read my blog post about Wood & Willow Lifestyle Store, you would know how much I loved it there. I feel like I'm slowly turning into a shopaholic every time I'm there because I just want to buy so much! Since I enjoyed shopping there so much, I decided to film a try on haul of the stuff I bought there. Which also means my Youtube channel is alive again after one year of not posting! Check out my haul below and watch out for my next videos! :)

Wood & Willow Lifestyle + Specialty Store

People have now turned to online shopping for finding unique items at affordable prices. From clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, and even make up, there's nothing you can't buy online. However, wouldn't it be nice if there was a place you can go to where your favorite online shops are there? As convenient shopping online is, there's still something more satisfying with being able to touch and try on something before buying it. Well, if you're a bit old school like me, get excited because Wood & Willow Lifestyle and Specialty Store is doing just that for your shopping pleasure.

The rustic industrial interior design of Wood & Willow is so cool it makes me wish I could just move in and have it as my own bachelorette pad. Whatever your personality is, I'm pretty sure you'll find something you'll like because of the wide range of styles they're carrying like beautiful lace tops for those who are girly and feminine (like me), flowy maxi dresses and rompers for those who like bohemian chic, and crop tops for the edgy and sporty ones. 

Usually, boys find themselves bored whenever they're waiting for the girls they're with to shop. At Wood & Willow, I'm pretty sure the boys will equally enjoy browsing the shop because of the cool sneakers, shirts, hoodies, backpacks, and caps on display. 

Now, no outfit is complete without accessories and there's no shortage of that there. What caught my attention were the hip reflectorized sunnies that are inspired by the latest styles from Dior and Ray-Ban. They also have super cute and comfortable ballet flats that I couldn't help but get a pair myself. If you're a make up addict like myself, there's a big chance you'll leave this place with an empty wallet because of their make up selection straight from the US. I went crazy over their matte liquid lipsticks! I actually got a NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi and Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Bumble which are not easy to come by. 

If you're more of the bookish type and not so much of a fashionista, the book-inspired shirts and mugs are perfect for you. The Harry Potter-inspired sweaters are so adorable I can't imagine any fan not picking one up. Even the socks are so cute it's hard to resist not to get one whether you're into disney princesses or comic superheroes. 

I could go on and write about all the amazing stuff that you can find in Wood & Willow but it's best if you just go there and check it out for yourself. You could literally go in there and come out in a completely different outfit from head to toe, with accessories and make up included. It's also such a plus that the prices are so affordable making it impossible to leave without at least one item. If you're in the Quezon City area, make sure to drop by! It's located at G/F 150 Kamias Road, Proj. 2, Quezon City. 

Wood & Willow is also looking for more brand partners so if you're an online shop looking for a store to display your goods, get in touch with them! All their details are on their Instagram account, @woodandwillowstore.

P.S. I also filmed a Try On Haul video of everything I got there so watch out for that!

Spanglish

My family and I were in Clark recently to get our passports renewed at Marquee Mall. My sister and I were searching for a place to eat at and the 4.5 rating of Spanglish on TripAdvisor made us very curious to try it.

Upon entering, we were greeted by vibrant and colorful interiors, as if a foreshadowing of how much of a fiesta this dining experience would be. For starters we ordered the Nachos Supreme which has corn nacho chips, cheese sauce, seasoned ground beef, pico de gallo, sliced jalapeños, sliced black olives, and sour cream. With just the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised by how clean and sophisticated the flavors were. Usually, mexican food is executed so poorly by just pouring fake-tasting cheese sauce on everything. With Spanglish, you can tell that the ingredients used were top-notch quality.

We also had the Tostada Salad with Chicken which is served so beautifully on a fried tortilla bowl that we almost didn't even want touch it. It has crisp romaine lettuce, fresh pico de gallo, roasted bell peppers, olives and parmesan cheese served with cilantro cream and honey lime dressing which was uniquely served in a tequila shot glass. We broke down the fried tortilla and mixed it with the salad which added a nice crunch to every bite.

For their buffalo wings, you have a choice of having it Hot, Mild, Sweet and Spicy, or a combination of all which is what we had. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I usually prefer my buffalo wings just hot but I actually enjoyed the subtle sweetness of the sauce which balanced out the spiciness, allowing you to eat more wings. We had this with their Mexican rice which has a bright flavor because of the tomatoes and cilantro.

We were so impressed by the food that we just had to compliment the owner, Kat who owns and runs the place with her husband who is the restaurant's chef. We were able to chat with her a bit and found out that the Spanglish just came to be because of her husband's love of cooking and their love of food which undoubtedly comes through in every single plate that comes out of their kitchen.

They were also so generous that they made us try one of their best-seller, the Chimichanga Plate which is three crispy fried wraps which upon breaking reveals a warm filling of meat, cheese and refried pinto beans. You can choose from beef, chicken or what Kat made us try, shrimp. It's topped with pico de gallo, cheese, olives, and creamy sauce served with a side of Mexican rice. They're like mini deconstructed burritos with just the main elements of meat, cheese, and beans inside the wrap so that you can really appreciate the flavor. As a cheese lover, I loved the ample amount of gooey cheese with the refried beans which gives that classic burrito taste. The toppings and mexican rice make it a hearty dish. 

For dessert, she also made us try their Deep Fried Vanilla Ice Cream and Cookie Butter Crunch Triple Thick Milk Shake. It was first time to try fried ice cream and I absolutely loved the sweet cinnamon crust which adds a nice texture to the ice cream. The milk shake was so creamy and true to its name, I loved how with every sip, you get cookie bites. It was such a great way to end our amazing meal.

Now, I know Clark is quite far from Metro Manila but if you ever find yourself in the area or you're just in a mood for a road trip, make sure to stop by Spanglish because the food is so great that it's definitely worth your trip.

Hole in the Wall Experience

When instagrammable hipster aesthetics and mouthwatering food finds come together in one food hall, it surely makes for a unique dining experience. Hole in the Wall has been open for quite some time now but I've never gotten a chance to visit because I seldom find myself in the Makati area. Thanks to Martin's hosting gig beside Century City Mall recently, we were finally able to visit, and you have no idea how excited and giddy I was as we entered this good food gathering place.

The highlight of my experience has to be Bad Bird's Waffle Plate. It's a plate of their Umami Fried Chicken served with Sweet Potato Waffles with Miso Butter and Maple Syrup. The best part of the chicken is the crispy skin, and they made it even better by sprinkling it with umami spices. You can choose from three levels of spiciness - safe, spicy and chemical. The sweetness of the waffles was the perfect pairing to counter the spiciness of the chicken. I loved how they were able to put a Japanese twist on the classic chicken and waffles. Definitely a must-try when you go to Hole in the Wall.

For something healthy on our table, we ordered the Marinated Watermelon Salad with Feta from Garde Manger. A cold and fresh kitchen, they primarily serve salads and fresh juices among other healthy and delicious food. The salad we had was so refreshing because of the juicy watermelons and citrusy oranges. The creaminess of the feta cheese gives the dish a little indulgence without the guilt. We washed it all down with a fresh lemon and ginger juice, but there were so many interesting flavors to choose from I'm sure you'll have difficulty picking which one to try.

The name of Serious Dough was witty enough to actually make us want to try it. We had the Mushroom Ricotta Spinach pizza because all those three ingredients just appeal to me. Just put ricotta and spinach together in a dish and I'm all on board. I really liked how thin and chewy the crust was. I also liked how it's not your typical pizza with tomato sauce but it's not too rich that you can't have too much of it.

I was craving for some matcha when we went there and Green Cheese which specializes in Japanese cheesecakes, including a match cheesecake just happened to be one the stalls there. I didn't get to try their cheesecake but I had their hot matcha latte which I liked because it wasn't too sweet and it had the subtle earthy flavor of matcha.

For us foodies, we try and find great hole in the wall places because they are the ones that usually serve the best food and offer the most unique dining experiences. This one surely lives up to its name.