BREAK OUT FROM THE NORM

What you did are just "expected"! These are the words that are still fresh in my mind when I was still starting out in a company where I am currently working right now. I was presenting an idea to my boss about the work that I just did and then she just told me "What you did are just "expected"!! OUCH!!!

 I couldn't seem to understand the word yet "expected" back then, when in my mind I did a great job. I even felt that I have done them a great favor.  I deserve a trophy. 

Now everything is so clear to me that being "average" is not cool. Doing what is "expected" is never enough. We have to break free and be creative. OUTSTANDING is the new standard nowadays.

Outstanding in food is the new standard. Give me something that is not expected, and that is something worth trying. 

When will I get an invitation from people to have coffee, not in the usual Starbucks or Coffee bean but to have coffee in a VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT where they serve this delicious vietnamese coffee that "WOWed" me all the time because of the balance combination of sweetness and bitterness of a perfect cup of coffee. 

My friends or even my mom get surprised whenever I invite them for coffee in a Vietnamese restaurant. Not in your typical Starbucks where having cappuccino or a latte is already "expected". My advice is to break free from the norm, be adventurous. You'll never know what you're going to get.

Hot Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk

Cà phê sữa nóng = COFFEE MILK HOT (VIETNAM)

I love having my VIETNAMESE COFEE in ABU DHABI at HANOI RESTAURANT opposite NBAD, Khalifa street AL Markaziya, ABU DHABI. Tel: 02 6261112
                                          and 
LE PETITE CAMILLE Greenbelt 5 mall second floor, Manila Philippines.

HALF and HALF

COFFEE HALF and HALF

         When you get to Manila, I beg you to be adventurous. Head down to Illy Coffee shop in Rockwell mall and order the COFFEE HALF and HALF. Its a good combination of illy espresso, liquid chocolate, liquid sugar and Ice Cubes.. WOW....It was my kind of taste in coffee. If I am only in Manila now, I will have it almost everyday.

THE TALLEST LEMON MERINGUE PIE

TALLEST LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Why don't we break free? Let us not have coffee or even brunch at MUGG and BEAN in Abu Dhabi for a change. Let's share a BIG SLICE of this TALLEST and BIGGEST and FATTEST Lemon Meringue pie I have ever seen so far. The taste is WOW as well, it went beyond its presentation.


SPECULOOS of HAAGEN DAZS

I came from Paris last month via Etihad and AirFrance, and this ice cream flavor of Haagen Dazs is a stunner. Melt it a little bit and your eyes will close already from its goodness of this peanut butter ice cream. I remember sharing it to all my crew this lovely dessert just to see if they will also close their eyes at every bite!haha and they did! because it's the best flavor of ice cream I had so far that you will only find in First and business class of Etihad Airways and Airfrance Airline coming from PARIS. Don't ever miss this one!

THE BEST COMBINATION IN A YOGURT DRINK

LYCHEE GREEN TEA YOGURT DRINK

I just had this from our Cafeteria this morning because of my fervent curiosity of trying out new things. I am looking for a unique drink that will satisfy my hunger as a healthy morning snack. AL AIN Lychee Green Tea yogurt drink is a winner. Loving the combination of Lychee and Green tea I am now heading to the grocery store to hunt this flavor of yogurt and I do hope you get to try this.

Everyone wants to make a difference. But only a few stands out. Let us be adventurous and break out from the norm!   

WHERE TO HAVE SNACKS IN MANILA with a LOCAL TOUCH

PLEASE DON'T INVADE MY PERSONAL SPAAAACCCEEEEE......This is what I shout out in my mind whenever I am in a crowded place. I am a natural claustrophobic. Sitting too close with people makes me feel so uncomfortable. Because of this, it affects my choice in choosing restaurants ESPECIALLY where I drink my cup of COFFEEEEE!!!

You know I adore coffees. But it sometimes bores me to drink it at home, so it is just smart to choose the right coffee shop to spend you're precious afternoons. I was in Manila for a vacation and of course sitting in coffee shops for a long chat is always part of the agenda. It just relaxes me doing so (I'm sure you can relate to me on this one my dear coffee drinkers)

Le Petit Cheree in Molito Alabang with my dear old professor in college

But what makes a coffee shop perfect for me is their vast selection of coffees or teas for that matter that offers some SPACE and PRIVACY among its customers (where people won't hear each other's businesses) and also some added bonus of a FREE wifi. I couldn't reiterate more the part "FREE" because most of the good things in life are free.haha  

Next it should have that "WOW" taste in my afternoon snack with a touch of some local flavor into it.

So where did a dear local girl like me from Manila spend her afternoon coffee break?

Tea Leaf in BF Paranaque along Aguirre street. 

    Do you know that it is becoming a fad in the Philippines to have this Bubba tea (pearl tea), that has all kinds of flavors and they offer some coffee flavored teas as well with a "black pearl" in it. I love the coffee shop because it offers a "FREE WIFI" (couldn't reiterate that more) and since it is not yet so popular, it is not overly crowded. Luckily it was just me and my mom who was there.haha

      But I love their Nutella bubba tea (CHOCO NUTELLA mixed with TEA plus black pearl) beautiful sweet nutty taste that is filling because of its black pearl in it.

      The place is very cozy and comfortable, if you like the homey feeling and that you need to have some wifi while sipping you're "unique" kind of tea then this is the perfect place for you.

       It won't strain your pocket because it has the same price as your Starbucks coffee, at least it includes the privacy and space that you need. 

TEA LEAF in BF Paranaque

If you have a sweet tooth like me and likes to have some sweet snacks and happens to be traveling in Manila my fervent suggestion is to try the Chocolate EH! at Fely J's and the local TURON in that same restaurant. 

Turon is a local delicacy made of fried banana spring roll but the one at FELY J's has a twist of UBE (purple yam) and Durian. 

While the Chocolate EH has been my constant favorite because in the Philippines we are known and proud of our local hot chocolate, that has a different taste from the imported hot chocolate. Its creamy, nutty, thick and less sweet. It comes in an espresso cup and I warn you that you might have a second cup which happens to me all the time. One cup will never enough.

It is a heavenly treat for me and I love spending my afternoon breaks to have my Chocolate EH and Turon.

FELY J's GREENBELT: 2nd level Greenbelt

Turon and Chocalate EH

Do you like FRENCH MACARON made in Paris? We also have our own version of a Macaron with a Filipino touch. I do encourage you to try it and pair it with your Americano coffee. My favorite flavors are PANDAN and UBE (PURPLE YAM). You can find the shop at SINFULLY by MAKATI SHANGRILA at Greenbelt 5 2nd level.

 I do prefer the purple yam french macaron though at Le PETIT CHEREE in MOLITO ALABANG 

FRENCH MACARON of SINFULLY by Makati Shangrila in Greenbelt 5

UBE AND PANDAN MACARON

Knowing where to go, where to eat is very important whenever you travel to get more of your experience. It is an added bonus when you know friends in a certain place but what if you don't? 

No don't "ask google" about it but engage with the people who lives there, because that is where you'll know best and might gain friends along the way. 

HOW DO LOCALS EAT

I'm a traveller by profession and I love the consequences that goes along with it. I am constantly on my suitcase and being away from my family and friends is already given that is why I am constantly on social media and created a blog site to constantly keep in touch with friends and family from around the globe. Being exposed to different cultures from all walks of life has led me into a conclusion that we do have something in common in all of us, and that is our passion for eating and drinking.

Eating and drinking together is a form of camaraderie, and one cannot deny that we all enjoy great food and drinks. But part of knowing one's culture in one country also means knowing thy food, so in my everyday travels, I always ask the locals where they love to eat and drink because their priceless advice is something one cannot find even if you "ask google" about it. 

I avoid too commercialized restaurants as most of the time they don't give me that "wow" experience that I am looking for. 

So join me in my journey around the globe looking for that WOW restaurants, WOW local food and WOW drinks that will give you that memorable experience that you can tell back home to your family and friends.