Spring by Ha Yuan | Best Restaurants in Makati

In Full Bloom: Spring by Ha Yuan   

Whether you actually learned about the times of year through Boyz II Men or Carole King, Sesame Street, as well as Stravinsky, often there is proved to be something magical regarding spring. With the groundhog's awaited statement to Bambi's growing-up-montage, pop culture is full of blissful memories on the coming of spring and how wonderful it really is. As ours is a country of rainy and dried up weather conditions, it could take a while when one encounters the true splendor on the changing of the seasons, if ever. May possibly this humble author suggest a different (but equal) experience - the accurately named Spring by Ha Yuan.

Spring by Ha Yuan
Hailing through the very same people that brought you Binondo's Ha Yuan during the 1950s, these are definitely antique dishes right from restaurateur Suzy Lee's Angkong and Amah. With the help of some newfangled cuisine that could stand together with the trusty Maki Mi (P140) and Lumpia (P60-P85) recipes of old, Spring by Ha Yuan's food selection is filled with the best food this side of the city. A stone's throw away from Greenbelt around Benavidez Street; Spring is oasis-like, a tractor beam pulling you out of the neighboring urban decay

Spring by Ha Yuan in Makati

Though waiting to experience Spring by Ha Yuan, if you are seeking a Chinese food adventure, where best to proceed but in Binondo? 

I recall the very first time I tried their meals, I was craving for some KFC. I was positive I'd be able to finishing half a bucket or something, before a buddy informed me about this small nutritious Chinese restaurant that has been his new lunch preference. I mentioned I wanted to eat dangerously, and pointed out the longing for fried chicken. He countered by providing the Chic-Boy across the street from Spring in the event the YOLO eating desire would not go down. I have their very own Hairy Pig Ka Pao (P75) saying thanks to for providing me from what might have been an ill-advised overeat. The very first bite was obviously a crossroads: there is no going back right now.

Here is another must-try: Classic Hong Ba Cua Pao (P70)

Classic Hong Ba Cua Pao

Roast Pork Asado Chinatown Mami (P140)

Roast Pork Asado Chinatown Mami

In case you are craving for some dim sum, a lot of these convenience stores can supply a quick-fix. If you can hold out longer, try out these dining places that provide your best dim sum dishes.

Additionally, they've got spring festival tikoy available in time for the Chinese New Year! Welcome the entire year of the snake by way of homemade tikoy, only available until the 10th!

Spring Festival tikoy

Ratings:
Food - 5/5 (Life-changing meals! Bang to the buck!)
Ambiance - 4/5 (It's a small place, but it's extremely cozy! They've got wi-fi!)
Service - 4/5 (Sometimes your order gets a while to arrive, but these babies are worthy of the wait!)
Accessibility/Parking - 3/5 (Parking may be troublesome, but it's very close to Greenbelt!)


Juice Recommends:

EYP Food & Beverage has got you covered for additional Chinese food options.

Want to go Asian however, not Chinese? Consider Thai? Take a look at Basil in New Manila!

Modern Shanghai MOA | Good Chinese Food in Manila

Gong Xi Fa Cai! MODERN SHANGHAI opens in the MoA!

With stylish time for the Year of the Snake, the Bistro Group opened up its latest bistro idea, the first in their line-up of more than 50 establishments to offer Chinese Cuisine -- Modern Shanghai.

Modern Shanghai MOA

If memory serves me correct, the Bistro Group's first TGI Friday's in the Philippines was in the Glorietta, in which opened almost twenty years ago, way back in 1994.

I recall That I had the afternoon meal there with my then-girlfriend, during its first week of operations. I pretended to wish to visit there to try the good ol' American comfort and ease cuisine along with bar chow, but actually, I just wanted to ogle the busty blonde ladies who had been deployed here as a part of the opening/training team.

I have gone back to that very same restaurant a multitude of occasions before couple of decades. TGIF continues to be well liked, specifically because of their Buffalo Chicken wings and always ice cold brewskies, but this time, the choices in the Bistro Group encompass global fare from Italy, Korea, Japan, and currently, China.

Modern Shanghai is situated on the second floor on the veranda of the Mall of Asia, right over the entertainment atrium, and also directly through the SM Movie theaters. It is a very uncluttered space with both equally Chinese traditional interior accents, and lively touches such as the fishes on the wall space.

Good Chinese Food in Manila

Spanky extremely recommends Modern Shanghai. However, if you want to get your options ready, here are some restaurants in SM Mall of Asia.

The menu was very interesting -- a blend of the necessities, such as Yang Chow fried rice and an outstanding array of cooked-to-order dimsum, as well as an exciting line-up of meals that I don't usually come across throughout Manila, like this very delicious starter of Deep Fried Crispy River Eel for P298.00.

Deep Fried Crispy River Eel

Rather than the predicted Century Eggs, these Aji Tamago-like beauties are on the menu. Soft Heart Smoked Eggs, a platter of 4 for P95.00.

Soft Heart Smoked Eggs

I seriously loved going through the menu, with the majority of the stuff having a lengthy, four-word name, such as this tender and smoky appetizer: Shandong Style Shredded Chicken (P358.00)

Shandong Style Shredded Chicken

If perhaps Watami has got the most original Japanese refreshments in town, Modern Shanghai has a lock within the coolest Oriental works of art such as this Mango Tea Sangria, together with fresh mangoes, strawberry, lemon, orange juice, Sprite, and also infused mango tea (P148.00).

Mango Tea Sangria

I treated my balikbayan aunts to dinner the evening I dined here, so normally, I pretended to purchase something healthy yet scrumptious, such as the Sauteed Spring Beans with Minced Pork and Chili (P188.00).

 Sauteed Spring Beans with Minced Pork and Chili

And one of my favorites (so far) in Modern Shanghai: very succulent, really new Sauteed River Shrimp with Spring Onions (P248.00).

Sauteed River Shrimp with Spring Onions

What do after eating and enjoying at Modern Shanghai, you may ask? Have some after-meal drinks (some such as coffee, some like tea). Then RANT or even RAVE about your most recent dining experience!

But the night belonged to this particular meal, a cross between Humba as well as Pata Tim: Tung-Bor Style Braised Pork Belly (P418.00).

Tung-Bor Style Braised Pork Belly

Belly Belly Good. Pork Porn Perfection.

My aunts from California was adamant about assuaging their cholesterol guilt on this: Deep Fried Garoupa with Sweet and Sour Sauce (P788.00).

The costliest dish we ordered, yet oh so worth every penny!

Deep Fried Garoupa with Sweet and Sour Sauce

The sweets had been exceptional too, as alluring as our starters and mains. For example, this Fresh Mango Cream with Sago and Pomelo (P118.00).

Fresh Mango Cream with Sago and Pomelo

Fresh Mango Pudding (P108.00)

Fresh Mango Pudding

Are you a pastry individual? Take a look at Manila Bake in Katipunan for a "modern panaderia" vibe. Otherwise you know, just grab your favorite pastries from your favorite bakeries and unique cake shops.

And the most intricately called unique dessert ever -- Rock Sugar Jelly with Osmanthus and Wolfberries (P88.00). It has a very delicate sweet taste, along with a touch of five Spice flavor. A journey for the taste buds; just indicating the name out loud upon ordering was fun!

Rock Sugar Jelly with Osmanthus and Wolfberries

This ended my meal and completed my fine eating adventure: technically, it is not on the dessert menu, but instead, around the "Buns & Dumplings" page. However I was one with my aunties in declaring this kind of sweet/savory plate as our #1 most loved: Steamed Buns with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste (P148.00)

Steamed Buns with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste

Xie Xie, Modern Shanghai!

Gong Xi Fa Cai! I will be back!

Ratings:
Food - 4/5
Service - 5/5
Ambiance - 3/5
Accessibility/Parking - 4/5

Juice Recommends:

If you are interested in Asian cuisine, check out Juice.ph's overview of another newcomer to the Bistro Group - Watami.

Having said that, if you are a lot of Tex-Mex kind, EYP's got a list of Mexican meals places you can look at!

Top 10 Apps for Android Phone | Favorite Android Apps

My Favorite Android Apps

I am a fairly new Android mobile phone user. I've been using my Samsung Galaxy SIII for about four months now and I am making the most of it! Here are 10 of the must have applications:

1. Waze - If you love Google Maps like I actually do, you will find Waze just as useful or even more! It is like Google Maps and the MMDA app available as one. Sign-up via your Facebook account and you'll find buddies whom also use this app while travelling. Just input your desired destination, keep your preferred locations (Household, Work, etc.), and Waze will look to get the best route preventing traffic! It will likewise point out how long it will take to get to your location and that I can attest to its accuracy and reliability as long as you activate your phone's GPS. The greatest thing about it is the proven fact that it can be used hands-free due to the talking GPS. It will tell you when to stay left/right and when to go.

Waze

2. WhatsApp - Because I'm subscribed to Globe's SuperSurf, I am online 24/7. Save up on text charges by texting your contacts regardless of what smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry or Android) or network they are utilizing. You can also send out images without worrying about MMS charges.

WhatsApp

3. BPI Express Mobile - If you've already registered your account on BPI Express Online, this app is extremely great for checking your balance, paying out your bills and transferring funds to any BPI account. You'll need to activate these functions through an ATM before you could use it and don't forget to always log out right after use!

 BPI Express Mobile

 4. Phonto - Perfect for incorporating text in your pictures. Very easy to make use of and it's free!

Phonto

Uncover the best of just what the Metro has to offer with yet another must-have Android app: the Juice.ph Mobile App! (It is also accessible in iOS, mind you.)

5. SquareIt - Instagram forces you to crop your own pictures into squares. If you want to post your image without compromising its size, this can be used to, well, square it!

SquareIt

6. Aviary - I use this to edit my pictures. I like the filters more than those offered by Instagram!

Aviary

7. GO SMS Pro - Instead of making use of the messaging app for SMS, you'll be able to set up this and download your own themes so text messaging your friends will probably be much easier for the eyes.

GO SMS Pro

8. Zombies, Run! - This really is great for runners! If you are a beginner like me, this app helps inspire you to keep going. It's about P300 but worth the cost! Simply put on your headphones and listen to the many sections this app can offer. You have the option to listen to the zombies or not - I advise you that the zombies appear scary, like you are actually in Resident Evil but it is effective for running. Only be mindful with the natural surroundings, make sure there aren't any cars in your side of the road! While running, you'll be able to pick up things and later on use them to enhance your base. This makes running frighteningly fun!

Aside from "Zombies, Run", you should get a trusty set of jogging sneakers in case you are to take the exercise routine seriously. Add a pair of running pants and jersey while you're doing it for full result.

Zombies, Run!

9. MovieCat - For approximately P80 you will get a wonderful movie trivia game. Simply worth the cost if you're a movie fan, otherwise you will never pass over five rounds!

MovieCat

 10. Adventure Time Soundboard - I love the animated show Adventure Time and this application enables you to take sound clips within the show to put them as your message alert sound or even ringtone! Oh my glob! My current message alert tone is Gunter's penguin quack.

Adventure Time Soundboard

These aren't exclusive to Android mobile phone however I'm not sure if just about all can be used with iOS or any other smartphones! Have a great time! :)

Juice Recommends:

EYP On the Go has lots of SMS solutions and mobile apps that will assist you find what you are looking for, at any time, at any place.

Cebu Lechon | Famous Lechon in Cebu

Greatest Pig Of all time: Cebu Lechon

The next day of Sinulog our group packed up prepared to head right down to Oslob to swim with the whale sharks however we had just one detour. "The greatest pig ever" as explained by Anthony Bourdain in his travel food show, No Reservations, we needed to look into the extremely popular Cebu lechon to see exactly what all of the fuss was about.

Since featuring the local roasted pork, the lines pertaining to lechon in Cebu are actually increasing and, like all the other 2.7 million tourists to Cebu, we desired to try it out the morning right after Sinulog. Zubuchon was initially the particular one highlighted on the program yet we got been told by a number of close friends there were better places to check out. First on the list was Rico's Lechon, so we grabbed our luggage, called in advance to reserve a spot for 4 and headed out.

I have to discuss the inefficiency on the reservation method for Rico's, though, because despite the fact that we called ahead to book and received a confirmation, when we arrived we were placed at the bottom of the listing of 20 waiting persons. Rico's is a small place that seats about thirty and it was torture looking at the lechon with all the mesh of lemon grass, chilli, garlic, and other seasoning mixed in with the tender pork through the glass. And the smell of all of it was the perfect remedy to get rid of the remnants of beer and fresh paint from the party the night prior to.

Cebu Lechon

Rico's is very well situated for takeout and many of the nearby folks wandered in while we were waiting and purchased for take-out. After waiting around for 20 minutes without having a move from the line, we made the decision to get a little strategic and put Rico's on hold until after we got back from swimming with the whale sharks. A friend had seen a small lechon stand on the way and made the decision that they would go back and check it out so we accompanied them to a small joint called Tatang's Boneless Lechon. The tagline for Tatang's is "extra crispy" which they lived up to. At Tatang's they get a slice of the pork without having the bones and roll it all around the herb-garlic-chilli stuffing and sewn it up. The skin is bubbled properly like chicharon.

Extra Crispy Lechon

About this particular style -- our buddy Tin Magsaysay, who is aware of her comfort food all too perfectly, mentioned that the bones were definitely an essential part of the lechon experience as well as has contributed to the flavor. The debate also included the skin with some commenting that lechon-style skin ought to not be chicharoned but slick-crispy. Personally, I really liked the skin at Tatang's. It was one of the very best I've tasted, and I am not one to be a purist about food. We also got to try their lechon flakes which had been a brand-new item on the food list and was actually very good. I do feel the bone issue was a good point so John Cruz and I put those comments away in our thoughts right up until we had a chance to try out Rico's.

After traveling to the south and a few days of swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob, we were back in the city to for the day and on our way to Rico's. The crowd from the festival had thinned out so we were right in and prepared to eat. We got the spicy lechon that seemed so good a few days before and John and I were both quietly nibbling on the bone portion to settle the argument in our individual heads. Personally, looking at the head on the lechon completes the experience for me so I understand the point of acquiring the bones on the lechon from a purist's point of view. Looking at the whole roasted pig brings me back to family gatherings in Aklan and is a bit of a nice idea. The two were very similar in taste. Each had completely absorbed the fragrant zing of the lemongrass, garlic, and chili filling, and were amazingly delicious.

Bourdain was right: Greatest pig of all time.

Juice Suggests:

If you are going even further south (to Davao, to be exact), you absolutely must try out Binggoy's.

Another Cebu most desired is also a pork dish -- the Balamban Liempo!

Philippines February 2013 Issues |Philippines Magazine Issues

Rating the Covers: The FEBRUARY Issues

I love The month of January.It's a period of new beginnings, new desires, fresh goals, fresh possibilities.The only thing I do not really like about the 1st month of the year?Most of my best magazines go on hiatus every January, to allow for everybody in the article staff members to rest and regenerate their creativity for the season ahead.
Well, except for FHM, and the magnificent approach they greeted 2013 with #150:

FHM Philippines # 150

Well, it is February, and i'm pleased to notice that all of the racks within the article nooks of my favorite bookstores and convenience stores are stuffed with glossy magazine again!

Esquire got dibs with their annual Sexiest Woman Alive issue.

I don't actually think that Solenn's perhaps close to being the Sexiest Babe in the Philippines, far less "Alive", but hey, I really like this magazine, and also this issue in addition goes into detail about my other passion: food and dining places. A must-buy!

Esquire Magazine: Solenn Heussaff

One of these days, I will buy an issue about Playboy.
This plethora of Playmates on the cover looks compelling.

Playboy Philippines February issue

Need to get that men's-mag-worthy physique? Begin going to the gym regularly and you will be on your way to hot, hot, hot! You'll also be better off eating stuff that increases your overall mood.

I never tire of Marian Rivera in the cover of anything -- and when urban stories are to be believed, she's much better seen, rather than heard, however, I'm simple to satisfy. Just like Dingdong. 

Women's Health : Marian Rivera

 

Furthermore, Marian's the most photogenic actress performing today. Just breathtaking.

  

Marian Rivera

If only I can say the same thing regarding Sarah Meier in the cover of my favorite magazine - Rogue.
I'm underwhelmed with this photo. Sarah looks far better on the candid shots I see of her on Facebook. However, this specific song issue, with features on Lea Salonga, Jim Paredes, Pearl Jam, Ryan Cayabyab, and Tito *#*$)@ Sotto (!) seems to turn into a keeper too.

Rogue Magazine : Sarah Meier 

Check your preferred bookstores for the newest issues of your favorite magazines. You may also scope out the stalls inside of the local grocery stores.

Hottest cover of the month? LJ Reyes in FHM.

I have simply no idea who she is, but I am lured to buy this issue based on her pure sizzle. And that is the main way of measuring success for Men's Magazines!

FHM Philippines LJ Reyes 

In general, however, the most stunning cover for the month, far and away, is Andi Eigenmann for Preview. I just can't avoid my stare. Genuine eye candy!

Preview Magazine Andi Eigenmann

Preview Magazine Andi Eigenmann 

She's stunning. I think I need to plan a haircut at some posh hair salon in order to steal a copy for this issue. I'm sorry, Diana Zubiri, Andi has become my personal favorite cover girl!


Juice Suggests:

February aka The Romance Month is here. If you're going to see a romantic movie, remember that chemistry involving the leads is extremely important!

Learn how to strike that cover-girl posture -- join with one of these modelling firms and be the next girl-on-the-magazine.