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

Green Pastures

Just say the words "organic" and "healthy" about a restaurant, and Martin and I would probably already by sprinting our way there even before you could finish your sentence. As much as I love indulging on burgers and fried chicken, lately, I find myself craving for healthier meals more. I guess you could say I've been searching for greener pastures when it comes to restaurants I eat at.

Martin and I were in Eastwood, undecided where we were going to eat, when we thought of going to the concierge to check out their list of restaurants. Their concierge kindly told us about their newly opened restaurants, and the first thing she mentioned was Green Pastures which serves organic dishes. Upon hearing that, we knew we definitely wanted to try it out.

For starters, we had their Organic Mushrooms Toast which has sous vide egg, house made ricotta, and caciocavallo cheese. I love mushrooms and it was great being served a dish made with fresh mushrooms and not the button mushrooms from a can. The mushrooms had a firm and chewy consistency, and had an earthy flavor that was balanced out by the creaminess of the cheese. The toast had a nice crust that was the perfect bed especially when the yolk of the sous vide egg started oozing all over the mushrooms. If you love mushrooms, you will definitely enjoy this dish!

For pasta, we had the All'amatriciana which is made with buccatini pasta, housemade passato, pancetta, red onions, chili flakes, and pecorino. To be honest, I was a little bit disappointed with the pasta sauce because it was a little too sweet for my liking. It reminded me of Filipino style spaghetti that's sweet rather than Italian style which has the fresh, sour taste of the tomatoes. If you're into the sweet pasta though, then you'll probably like this dish. However, I loved the pancetta that was served on top of it. The saltiness of the pancetta contrasted the sweetness of the sauce, and it was cooked crisp, just the way I like it. I would order this just to munch on the pancetta.

While I was a bit underwhelmed by the pasta, I still absolutely love Green Pasture's concept of being an organic, farm-to-table restaurant that uses locally-sourced produce. They have so many other dishes on their menu that I'm excited to try so I'll definitely be coming back. If you're looking for honest-to-goodness, delicious food, make sure to check them out!

Green Pastures

Third Floor, Eastwood Mall

Libis Quezon City

Earth Kitchen

My boyfriend, Martin, and I love to eat out, and we've shared a lot of great meals together, but our dinner at Earth Kitchen has to be one of those experiences where we can say we ate well. We had absolutely amazing food that's not only healthy, but helps provide sustainable livelihood for farmers and indigenous communities as well (and y'all know how much I love these kinds of restaurants).

Goodles

Having your office in a mall has its perks. For one, you have a wide variety of restaurants to choose from come lunch time. In my case however, despite the many lunch options, I've been finding myself going back to the same place all the time.

Goodles is the Philippines' first pasta-to-go-concept store. I love pasta which is why my standards are very high when it comes to it. One of my all time food pet peeves is when pasta is overcooked. Pasta should be cooked al dente (literally 'to the tooth') which means it should still be firm and not soggy. Goodles cooks their pasta perfectly and you can definitely tell that their food is cooked fresh using quality ingredients. 

An Instagram post of me having lunch at Goodles.

One of my favorites is the Pumpkin Cream Penne. I love creamy pasta sauces but they can be too rich. Adding pumpkin makes this sauce absolutely creamy without making you feel too guilty (plus, pumpkin is good for your eyes!). The ground sausage also works so well with the pumpkin flavor, making this a hearty meal. 

Another favorite of mine is the Pesto Cream. Yes, I know, cream again. I told you I like creamy pastas. I like pesto sauce alone but adding cream to it just makes it more decadent. In Goodles, you have the option of adding chicken, shrimp or mushrooms to your pasta. I usually like my pasta with meat but this dish is so flavorful that I actually just eat it plain. If all no meat dishes tasted this good, I wouldn't be surprised if I turned vegetarian! 

Their pastas are served with a toasty garlic bread. They're serving size is also big that most of the time I can't finish one order. It's a good thing they're served in tubs which makes having it to-go very convenient.

I love Goodles so much it's been my go-to place every lunch time. I'd seriously eat here everyday if only I wasn't watching my carbs.