Tim Hortons Philippines

Va Bene Pasta Deli

Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar

When you see a sign outside a restaurant that they were ranked by spot.ph to have the best Margherita pizza, you don't think twice about whether or not you're going to eat there or not. You forget about your other restaurants options, and simply enter in the hopes of having what could be one of the best pizza experiences you'll ever have. Well, at least, that's what Martin and I did when we passed by Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar.

It wouldn't be a Den and Martin meal without some salad, so we started things off with their Chopped Salad which has mixed greens, herbs, red cabbage, provolone, walnuts, spicy salumi, and house dressing. It was very refreshing especially with its light, tangy dressing. I also absolutely loved the salumi in it because it's not often that you get some spiciness in a salad. All the vegetables were crisp and fresh, and the walnuts added a sweet crunch.

I was so excited to try their Margherita Pizza, and trust me when I say that it did not disappoint. I'd have to agree with spot.ph that this is also the best Margherita pizza I've had. The crust was toasted on the outside and chewy on the inside. Unlike other pizzas that use sliced tomatoes, theirs are not so that when you bite into them, the heirloom tomatoes burst, releasing the warm, sweet tomato juice in your mouth as if they were grapes. The bufala mozzarella is so creamy you'd that you'd think you're eating custard, and it has a very subtle flavor to not overpower the dish. The basil leaves are kept fresh, and adds a bright flavor to the pizza. It's such a simple pizza but it is a lot better than anything I've tried before because they use high quality ingredients that are allowed to shine. 

For pasta, we had the Prawns and Chorizo which has tagliatelle all'uovo, bell pepper soffritto, and confit of garlic. Now, this is unlike any other ordinary shrimp pasta you've had. First, let's start off with the prawns. They are huge, which really makes you feel like you're getting your money's worth. The pasta sauce is more flavorful than your usual tomato-based pasta because of the bell peppers and garlic. The chorizo bits have a nice bite to them, and adds just the right amount of spiciness to the dish. It's such a delicious combination of a meat and seafood pasta.

Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar was named one of the Best Restaurants of 2014 by Philippine Tatler, and I couldn't agree more. Its  classy and sophisticated while still having a smart casual vibe, but even more beautiful than the interiors are the delicious plates of food that come out of the kitchen.

Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar

G/F B3, Bonifacio High Street,

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Anniversary Dinner at Wildflour Cafe + Bakery!

Last Wednesday, my boyfriend Martin and I celebrated our first anniversary! My day started out with a surprise video from him which he uploaded on his Youtube channel. It was so funny and witty! (You can watch the video here.) I had no idea what he had planned next for the day but at the end of the video, he gave me a clue that since it's our first anniversary, he's going to take me a place that's going to be a first time for the both of us. He definitely knows me well because that night he took me to a restaurant I've always wanted to try -- Wildflour Cafe + Bakery! 

Scroll through Instagram or read food blogs, and chances are you'll see posts about this restaurant. After reading so many raves about this place, I've been dying to make a visit. We even went there one Sunday without knowing that they close early on that day so Martin taking me there on our anniversary was definitely a great surprise. 

I love how rustic and homey the place feels because of the wood furniture, tin can style utensil holder, wine bottle water dispenser and wall art but at the same time it's also very modern because of the floor to ceiling glass walls and minimalist interior design. It's like a fancy fine dining restaurant meets cozy neighborhood cafe! 

I'm one happy girl!

Their baked goods display feels like temptation calling out your name.

I love menus written on chalkboards in restaurants, and being a coffee lover, that coffee art on the wall definitely made me all giddy.

I had one of their best-sellers -- Steak and Eggs. Flat iron steak on a bed of kimchi fried rice topped with a poached egg. Most of the posts I've seen about Wildflour are usually pictures of this big bowl of orange rice. I can't blame them. This dish isn't only pretty, it's also delicious! The steak was very tender and the creamy egg yolk running all over the fried rice balances out the spiciness of the kimchi. 

Martin also wanted to have the steak and eggs (yes, it's that irresistible) but since I already ordered that, he went for another best seller -- Cripsy Duck Confit. True to its name, the skin on the duck was so crispy while still keeping the meat juicy. Duck can be a bit fatty so the freshness of the fuji apple slaw was a great contrast. It was so good Martin was trying to get every last strand of meat off the bone.

Just as our bellies were full, the night was filled with laughter as we reminisced the past year we've spent together. It's been an amazing year and it was only fitting to celebrate it with an equally wonderful evening. 

Thank you, Martin, for making me so happy that day just as you always have for the past year now.