Best Bites November: My Top 8 Picks

As Christmas approaches, people seemingly become increasingly busier. Parties left and right, events, gift shopping, stupendous amounts of work, and catching up with backlogs—I can definitely relate! Stressful as it was, the month of November was also one of my most memorable ones; I had the vacation of the year in Boracay, went to a lot of foodie events, got invited to do dance shows, went to a staycation in BGC's first-ever hotel, and met a lot of fellow bloggers before the month ended! And in case you think I was stupid enough not to explore new food and places … no, I’m never that busy! Here you go, my top picks for November:


1. Pandan Log Cake with Baguio Strawberries (PhP1,500) from F All-Day Dining Restaurant (F1 Hotel)

The cheery colors of Christmas are incorporated into this new dessert creation by F1 Hotel Manila. Pandan leaves are painstakingly melted to extract their aroma. Chocolate-coated strawberries sit delicately on top of the pandan cake filled with vanilla frosting and strawberry jam. If you prefer light but luscious desserts, this is the cake for you.


2. Queso de Bola Cheesecake (PhP1,750) from F All-Day Dining Restaurant (F1 Hotel)

As a fan of not-too-sweet desserts, the Queso de Bola Cheesecake instantly made me fall in love. Far from the usual cheesecake, it uses Edam cheese—resulting in a stronger, bolder flavor. Creamy, sweet, and slight salty, it was the perfect cake for munching on a single type of dessert non-stop. If I could pick only one dessert to eat for the rest of my life, this would be it.

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F1 Hotel Manila
32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City
02.928.9888/02.908.7888
Email: inquiry@f1hotelmanila.com
Facebook: /F1HotelManila
Instagram: @f1hotelmanila


3. Pan-Seared Snapper (PhP470) from Nest Modern Table & Bar

Sometimes, it’s the simplest dishes that captivate our hearts (and taste buds). Nest Modern Table & Bar captured mine with the Pan-Seared Snapper—a simple and humongous snapper fillet seasoned with herbs and paired with a delicious prawn and salmon roe risotto. Seafood overload? Not at all! The flavors are subtle and at the same time commanding—yes, forceful enough to put you down on your knees.


4. Foie Gras & Mushrooms (PhP550) from Nest Modern Table & Bar

I haven’t met the person who says no to foie gras yet, for who can resist its sinful, creamy goodness? Chef Benjo Tuason of Nest lets you indulge a bit more by throwing in some poached eggs, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes—then spices it up more with some balsamic and grated parmesan. The result is a delightful medley of textures and flavors.


~*~
Nest Modern Table & Bar
Roofdeck, W Bldg., 5th Ave cor. 32nd Street, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City (not to be confused with the other W building that houses Skye Lounge)
For reservations, contact: 0917.874.9999
5:00PM – 2:00AM
Email: info@nestmanila.com
Twitter: @nestMNL
Instagram: @nestMNL
Budget: around PhP700 and up


5. Haw-Haw Cake (PhP110/slice) from The Baker’s Table

Chef Jonnathan Em of The Baker’s Table revives your favorite childhood candy with the Haw-Haw Cake—a tower of tres leches, vanilla, custard, cream cheese, and melted Haw-Haw. Light and exquisite, the cake isn’t as saccharine as it looks, urging you to take one mouthful after another. Ordering a slice gets you a free Haw-Haw candy as well, so you can taste the difference—or in this case, the stunning likeness.


~*~
The Baker’s Table
88-B Maginhawa St., Teacher's Village, Quezon City
02.433.7543
Sun-Mon, 12:00PM - 10:00PM; Tue-Sat, 9:00AM - 10:00PM
Instagram: @thebakerstablebypc
Budget: PhP300/head for cake and coffee


6. Babyback Ribs (PhP300) from I Love Backyard BBQ - Boracay

I found most of Boracay’s food offerings pricey and not sulit for their quality, but a few restaurants definitely stood out. My top pick is I Love Backyard BBQ—a popular ribs and steaks place in the island which happens to have one of the best babyback ribs I’ve ever tried. The sauce is sweet and tangy but not too overpowering, and the meat rips itself off the bone with a slight nudge of the fork. The serving was insanely huge as well!

~*~
I Love Backyard BBQ
Boracay Highway, D'Mall, Station 2, Boracay


7. Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich (PhP95) from Brew Haus

Comfort food? Brew Haus, the revamped and rebranded Off the Grid, boasts of a menu filled with dishes that are sure to take your blues away. Take for example, the Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich combo, which is composed of the chunkiest and most flavorful tomato soup I’ve ever tasted, paired with a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich. I ate this for three days straight!


~*~
Brew Haus
G/F The Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
0917.831.0201
Facebook: /BrewHausPubEatery
Instagram: @brewhausmanila


8. Truffle Fries (PhP200) from The Perfect Pint

Photo credit: Spot.ph
I could never get enough of truffle, freshly grated or in sauce form—in The Perfect Pint’s case, a dip for their delicious, thick-cut golden fries. Who cares what it’s mixed with? Anything truffle-infused is worthy of being devoured and hoarded. Pair these tasty fries with your beer of choice—a Katipunan Indio Pale Ale perhaps? Or my new favorite, the Joe's Brew Sierra Madre Wheat Ale. Forget about sharing!


~*~
The Perfect Pint
2/F Crossroads Bldg., 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
02.823.1320
Operating Hours: 10:00AM – 2:00AM
Facebook: ThePerfectPintPH
Instagram: @theperfectpint_ph
Budget: around PhP500 for 1 dish and 1 drink


What were your best food finds recently?

If you like my posts and would love regular updates on travel photos, food finds, restaurant reviews, dance articles, and drunken tales, follow Pepe Samson on Facebook!

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