Cafe Travel: what an intriguing name! More than the want for some caffeine, it's the curiosity that got the better of us. So one nippy night, our feet brought us to this cafe along Taft. 

Welcome to Cafe Travel!

Annyeonghaseyo!

At the entrance, we were greeted by columns of pictures- a must when travelling. Then at a nook, an Eiffel Tower greets plus post and mailbox, an old telephone, jars of trinkets, a big panda and sticky notes on the wall. At some point we don't know how these relate to travel already (maybe the Korean owners traveled far o put up a cafe?) but nevertheless, all these little detail to the cozy ambiance. 

Panda x Eiffel

Call me baby!

Picture Tree

At a glance, it looks like Noriter, even the seats (but with pillows)! And much brighter and cleaner.

Happy place!

Food for three!

We traveled to eat so we munched all sweets! Tried Travel Special's Java Chip at Php 180 and Oreo Cookies Cake at Php 170. The drink was good, the Oreo cake was a blast! 

Oreo Cookies Cake

Travel Java Chip

They tried New York Cheesecake (Blueberry) at Php 190 and Dark Chocolate Cake at Php 170. The latter was not that dark, in fact it's sweet. But hats down to the former. Their NY Cheesecake was oh so good and compact! All were expensive but it's definitely a sweet-tooth-craving-satisfied-kinda-day.

New York Cheesecake (Blueberry)

Dark Chocolate Cake

Only contention were:

• There's nothing to eat except sweets! Wish they'd offer more

Sweetness overload

• Just spent a tad higher (Php 350 compared if we went to the much popular cafes

Overall, their cakes are to miss. And next time, we'd bring around post-it notes.

Next time, baby

Menu please

 
Rating: 4 


Cafe Travel is located at:


Archer's Nook Center, 
2624 Taft Avenue, 
Malate, Manila

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Sunday, May 31, 2015

After 8 months, it was nice finally #meating 8 Cuts Burger Blends! 

In SM MOA

Aside from 8 being a lucky number, the name was such because they boast of 8 cuts of the beef: chuck, rib-eye, short-rib, sirloin, brisket, hanger, flank, oxtail and blended into the ff:

So here's the visualization :)

• House Blend
• Beef Bomb
• Ox Blend
• Big Game
• Steak Cut

And the blends

As for their interior, eights simple. Just an industrial vibe with pops of blue and red. I must say, I can relate to their concept. Plus, I also love their menu-- informative without being too wordy. 

Made on the spot

Tribute Menu

The first-timer in me tried among their Tribute Burgers. Weighing my options, I ended up with Piggy at Php 255 (at 1/4 lb)- a beef bomb blend patty of chuck and short-rib, yellow cheddar, crisp bacon strips, house-made bacon jam, ioilo rossa greens, garlic aioil ail on a Sesame Seed Bun. 

Piggy at Php 255

Tried eating the patty itself, and just like what they menu flavor profile says, it's is fresh, well-balanced, great all-around. Indeed it was fresh, assembled on site, although a bit lacking in flavor. Gorging it altogether, I daresay the combination of the bacon- or maybe the bacon jam added its enjoyable flavor. 

For my drinks, opted for a BB favorite, Salted Caramel Shake at Php 150 (12 oz). The shake was pleasant. Not too sweet but no hint of salt. 

Overall, it was a fun experience. Should be back for DIY. 

Next time, boss

Rating: 4


8 Cuts Burger Blends has a branch in:


G/F, South Wing, 
Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), 
Pasay City

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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Bean Leaf has been a good place to chill so far. First off, as with any milk tea/ cafe shops, they offer wi-fi connection. Second, they're open until the wee hours, 2pm (or 3pm). Third, their sausages are to love!

Simple green interiors

Check out their menu

Yep, it's not about their milk teas but sausages (and their desserts in cute cans) that's a hit. At Php 105, theirs come with two lumps of mashed potatoes in sauce. There are several to choose from:

• Frankfurter
• Hungarian
• Veal Bratwurst
• Schublig
• Pork Bratwurst
• Chorizo
• Italian Garlic

Sauces can also be chosen from Teriyaki, BBQ, Garlic Mayo, Satay and Honey Mustard (default). 

Yummy, right?

After all, not so many (or none actually for that matter) milk tea shops with yummy drinks offer great meals to deal with. Much so sausages! That differentiated them from others. 

As for this review, opted for Veal Bratwurt and Mixed Berries (Php 70 for Large) but it doesn't have that much difference from the Raspberry flavor. So I still like better their milk teas. 

Mixed berries

What's to say but good job, Bean Leaf!



Rating: 4


Beanleaf has a branch in:


Alabang-Zapote Road,
Pamplona, Las Piñas City

Store Hours: 9 AM to 2 AM

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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Buffet 101, at SM Mall of Asia, boasts of its international cuisine and five-star hotel feel. As per the two, check! 

As many as I can count for these review, here are the food selection for Mon-Fri dinner at Php 939 that they have:

• American- lamb, steaks, chowders, a few breads etc. 

• Seafood- scallops, oysters and several kinds of fish for cooking

• Japanese- maki & sushi, tempura, soba  

• Italian- pizzas and helpings of pasta

• Mexican- nachos

• Chinese- dimsum, asado pork etc.

• Salad & Cold Cuts- greens, DIY and the concocted jellies and fruits; ham etc

• Desserts- crepe, halo-halo, waffle, gummies and candies, cakes and ice creams

As my general rule, I roam around the entirety of the food selection first. Then after greens, I go straight to the expensive foods. Suggest better ways if you have :)

Pros:

• Overall the food quality was fine. 

• Lamb chops, US Prime Ribs, yummy! Tried well done this time but ought to always be medium rare. 

• Seafood you can ask to cook. And my friend commented, it's fresher than Vikings (even the Japanese sashimi). 

• I love potatoes and there were so many kinds of these inside. But don't eat too much, it's cheap compared to how much you paid and it'll make you fool, I mean full, at once.

• I love the shakes, only I hope they took out the seeds of watermelon first. It's awkward to spit.
• Well for others this might be a con, there's a lot of viand. But none of which I like so much that I ignored them. 

• They have crepe station, too! And waffle station! And taho! 

• Gummy bears, worms, candies whatevs for grabs! Though don't take a plateful of it, just like what I saw in the lady's. 

                                 

• Better desserts than Banzai's. And if you love Red Ribbon, they have it here, too. 
• Unli cold drinks
• Fruits!

• And speaking of, with draft beer section, whoah!

Cons:

• Not too many selection compared to, at this point, my benchmark: Vikings. After about the third round, I don't know what to eat anymore.
• I always start with a salad. Wait, but their crouton was bread pan?

• Unlike Vikings's delectable ice cream, we have a again a buffet who loves Nestle/ Selecta. Whichever. 

• Why do they always have makis and sushis? Well, I don't eat these anymore than one because it'll bloat me twice faster. 
• Only one fondue/ fountain which was chocolate

• I don't think I saw tea or any hot drinks. It'll be a good way to digest them. 
• I didn't enjoy their dimsums, located on the farthest side, especially the hakaw. 

Next, I'm looking for a buffet with burger bites. Where to? 

Buffet 101 Rates: 

PHP699Lunch 11 AM to 3 PM Mon-Fri

PHP939Dinner 6:30 PM to 11 PM Mon-Fri

Rating: 3.5 

Buffet 101 is located at: 

Building K, SM By The Bay, 

Sunset Boulevard, 

Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City

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Saturday, May 23, 2015