BUFFALO WILD WINGS: WINGS. BEER. SPORTS. NOW IN THE PHILIPPINES!

      Already boasting of 1,000 locations throughout the world, including outlets in every state of the USA, Buffalo Wild Wings finally opens in The Philippines! And what better way to celebrate its Grand Opening on January 29 than by giving away a year's worth of wings to the first 100 people in line when the doors open at 11am! 

**UPDATED** TASTE THE WORLD WITH PEPPER LUNCH.. AND A GIVEAWAY!

        Even before Rina and I became bloggers, Pepper Lunch was already one of our favorite places to eat at. Though the Pepper Beef Rice, remains the proven flagship dish, Pepper Lunch manages to keep the menu fresh, making sure to always pique its customers interests! 

       Great examples were the Pinoy Fiesta dishes which were released early last year, followed by the Lamb Specials to close out 2014. 

     And now, Pepper Lunch is at it again, coming up with some delicious Beef Specials inspired by dishes from around the world! 

    You get to "Taste The World", one Pepper Lunch plate at a time! 

BUSTIN' OUT OF THE BURGER JOINT!

   Here's some word of advice. Never.. and I mean EVER go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Your hunger will get the better of you and you'll find yourself finding the strangest things appealing ("Those Malunggay flavored Tofu Chips look good, ha?"), leading you to buy practically every snack in sight. After an incident where my grocery bill was nearly double my normal average, and I was left with a cart of useless junk food, I learned my lesson. 

    Just before Rina, Rain and I were about to head out to the grocery, I suggested we eat first. Since we were going to be joined by her sister Pink Turbo and our dad (My father in law), it was the perfect time to do a little family bonding. 

 Since we were going to do our grocery shopping there anyway, we decided that it would be more convenient to choose from the selection of restaurants around the SM Super Center/Tiendesitas area. 

    A restaurant had caught my eye a couple of weeks earlier when I had my license renewed at SM Super Center Pasig. It turns out, I would discover one of the best burger places you may not have heard of just yet.. but once it catches on, I assure you, you won't forget the name. 

   It is plain and simply called, "The Burger Joint". 

KICHITORA OF TOKYO: A RAMEN HOUSE ON THE RISE!

Can I just say, it's the lighting that makes me look like I have a lot of white hair on my temples. 

(Although you gotta admit, it does make me look kinda Clooney-esque, right? 

Right? Guys? Anyone???)

     In a country that is going crazy over the biggest names in Ramen coming to our shores, one local brand continues to grow and stand tall in spite of its big name competition. 

    Using a unique broth that is uses chicken as its base instead of the usual pork or beef, Kitchitora of Tokyo has thrown down the gauntlet and showed the big names in Ramen that it's here to stay by opening yet another branch in Bonifacio High Street Central!  

CRYSTAL JADE DINING IN: CHEF'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND THANKSGIVING!

   2014 was a very blessed year for me and my family, so I make it a point to give thanks every chance I get. One of the restaurants that I enjoyed immensely last year was Crystal Jade. Not only is the food excellent, but Rina and I were blessed to meet some of the key people behind its success, such as Kenneth and Gela, who turned out to be genuinely nice people whom I now consider them as friends. 

     As a way of giving thanks to its friends in the bloggersphere, Crystal Jade held a lunch at Crystal Jade Dining In at The Fort, which also featured some of the latest additions to their already awesome menu! 

THE HIGH LIFE AT TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS: THE HIGHLANDER STEAKHOUSE

     I recently got a hard drive working that was previously believed to be dead. I managed to transfer many file folders containing pictures that I could before it conked out on me again. Those folders contained pictures that I was to use for future blog posts. 

     One of those posts was our family trip to Tagaytay Highlands, and the famous Highlander Steakhouse.  

MODERN SHANGHAI: A GRAND DINE-ASTY!

   Modern Shanghai kicks off the new year by adding some new, delectable items to their already mouthwatering menu! And what better way for me, Rina and my blogger friends to welcome 2015 (and my birthday) than trying Modern Shanghai's "Grand Dine-asty" dishes out for ourselves! 

MY BIRTHDAY CAKE: THE MAPLE BACON & CHERRIES TORTE

    My birthday was last Wednesday, which serendipitously coincided with an invite from Modern Shanghai in Glorietta. I initially thought to decline the invite to spend the day with my family. But as we went along, I saw the guest list was slowly being filled with some of my dearest blogger friends, so I realized this would be a great opportunity to celebrate my birthday with them (Without having to spend hehe)! 

    Little did I know that my friends had a little bacon themed surprise from me, with a little.. no A LOT of help from one of the hottest name in the pastry scene today! 

TALK A WALK ON THE FIRESIDE BY KETTLE

       Like I've said time and time again, my palate is more particular to American style of cooking, so it should surprise no one that Kettle has become one of my favorite restaurants. It's exciting to see that they've opened a second branch at SM Aura, and I look forward to seeing that brand continue to grow. 

    Much to my elation, the brilliant minds behind kettle has come up with a new concept that further expands their takes on favorite comfort food..

   The newly opened Fireside by Kettle. 

BRASSERIE CICOU & THE KING CAKE!

      Being a food blogger by no means makes me an expert on food. If anything, it has only reaffirmed that I have so much to learn when it comes to different types of cuisines. Although I admit, I'm more particular to the no-frills American style of cooking, I recently had a dining experience that left me dumbfounded. 

     The intricacies of French cuisines have always intimated me. I am often worried that the complexities of the dishes would overwhelm me and my self declared pickiness, but a trip to Brasserie Cicou changed all that. 

      Not only was I given a master class in French cuisine by none other than world renowned French Chef, Cyrille Soenen, but I was also educated in a French Holiday tradition that made our lunch even more fun! 

SMOOTH AS SEDA: SEDA NUVALI

         Throughout my entire life, I've always thought of Laguna as "The place you pass on the way to Tagaytay", or "Where Enchanted Kingdom is". It wasn't until a few years ago when Nuvali began to grow, did my perception of Laguna begin to change.

    With its restaurants and the outlet stores at The Solenad Strip Malls, a stop at Nuvali there every time we head out to Tagaytay has become a given. Although I am always excited to see Nuvali's selection of restaurants, not to mention Rina and Rain love the fish feeding, I never really thought of Laguna as a vacation spot.

  The rise of Seda Nuvali changed all that.

THE PICKIEST EATER'S 2014: A YEAR IN REVIEW

          You know, I could say without a doubt that the year 2014 has been the best year of my life. I've been fortunate to watch my little baby girl grow into a witty, intelligent young toddler. I'm also happy that we were able to take her to Hong Kong with us, and I was also able to send her and Rina to visit Japan, even if it meant going without me (Budget constraints).

     I've never been really much of a jet setter, but this year marked the first time I was able to visit three countries in the span of one year! 

    So yeah, last year was pretty awesome.. Here's a quick look back at some of The Pickiest Eater's memorable moments in 2014!!