Ish Meets World

Breathtaking view of the Makati skyline from Firefly Roofdeck bar Ground level at the Poblacion area of Makati City (Philippines) is a bustling hub of bars and restaurants. However, its rooftops also offer a different scene altogether. Classic rooftop establishments like Time in Manila (nightclub) and more recently, the Z Hostel rooftop have become hip hangout places for those in the know. In a recent pub crawl around the area, I discovered the Firefly Roofdeck bar at the 32nd Floor of the City Garden Grand Hotel. There’s a small pool off to one side meant for hotel guests but most of the rooftop is utilized by the restaurant. The sweeping views of the Makati City skyline are breathtaking! Luckily, I was there right around sunset and my friends and I were able to enjoy the changing colors of the horizon. The famous Manila Bay Sunset Our meal started off with some Asian Spicy Meatballs, Chicken Popcorn and Beer Battered Fish and Chips. I would have to say that these dishes were fairly u...

Street tacos and nachos Street tacos were the star of the show when my friends and I dropped by A’toda Madre in Makati City (Metro Manila, Philippines). Although I am a loyalist of El Chupacabra just a few blocks away, I am not one to turn down a chance to try out street tacos from another joint. Before the main event however, we tried out some appetizers. First up was a serving of Elotes or spicy grilled corn. I’m a huge fan of corn and I enjoyed this dish. However, it gets a tad bit too spicy if you happen to scoop up a spoonful that got an extra generous sprinkling of chili powder. It’s probably best to mix up the whole plate to even out the spices before diving in. Elotes (Grilled Corn Php120.00) Next up was a generous serving of fried calamari. It was a big hit among my friends. To me, however, I found that the breading was a bit much.The pieces of squid were small so the proportion of squid versus breading wasn’t optimal. I prefer my calamari with as little breading as possible. ...

The Poblacion area in Makati City (Philippines) has come a long way from being seen as a sleazy red light district. The area used to be frequented only by backpackers or dirty old Western men who were looking for a good time or quick “date.” Nowadays, the flashing lights of the go-go bars on Burgos Street are still there. The scantily clad women are still calling out to passing customers. However, a new scene has popped up. The young hipster crowd and younger expats have started to frequent the area due to a good number of restaurants and bars that serve great food, good booze and a genuine good time without the hanky-panky. One such joint is the Wicked Dogs restaurant. Originally from the BF Paranaque area down south, this hotdog restaurant and bar is one of the hidden gems along Burgos Street. It’s not easy to find. First, you need to navigate through a street full of girly bars. Then, go inside a small entryway between two bars to find the stairs leading up to Lokal Hostel. Wicked D...

Last week, I went on a little field trip all the way to Angeles, Pampanga. The reason: a new brick oven pizza place in town. A friend of mine alerted me to the existence of La Crespo Wood Fired Pizzas.  Being from Quezon City, taking a road trip to Angeles is hardly a mean feat compared to driving to Makati. Nowadays, the search for foodie spots is largely dependent on the amount of traffic one has to go through. The drive was pleasant enough. Upon arrival, our group was met by the characteristic green, white and red colors of the facade. This reflects the Italian flag and represents the Italian grub on offer. Italian colors at the facade However, the restaurant’s interior quickly drops the Italian vibe. I am on the fence about the quirky interiors mostly because I pretend to be a “purist” and that means I’m always looking for a distinctly Italian vibe. However, despite my initial gut feeling, I have to admit that the over the top decor is an Instagram dream. Ev...