When my relatives talk about Nathaniel's, I always think about their buko pandan salad, siomai and…read morelasagna. But let's talk about more of their siomai and buko pandan. It's just the best thing that they brought into existence. I mean, I cannot describe the taste of their buko pandan but it's just the best. It's creamy, not too sweet.. just perfect maybe because they are using carabao's milk (I'm not claiming that it is but it tastes like one) instead of packed ones sold in the market. Their siomai is also the best siomai I've tasted yet. I can buy the biggest pack, ask for their chili paste and bam! Gone. In one sitting.

Their Buko Padan Ice Cream is simply the best! I have never tried any local Buko Pandan dessert as…read moregood as their salad/ice cream (it's in between!), it's not too creamy and sweet for an ice cream but is extra creamy and tasty for a salad, it's simply a local dessert made into perfection! Nathaniel's restaurant's prime branch is in Pampanga but I got to try the one in P. Guevarra in San Juan. Aesthetically, it looks like a typical fast food restaurant; you will dine here not for the ambiance but for their specialty dishes. Their menu doesn't make much of an impression to me; it's the typical barbecue with rice, kaldereta with rice and a few other sizzling plates. One of their best sellers though is the Lasagna which I must say is actually really good! It's very meaty, and has a little bit of sweetness in it at the same time that makes it really friendly for the Filipino taste. They became famous most-especially because of their Buko Pandan that can now be bought at local supermarkets. One pint costs for only P150.00 and P500.00 for one gallon, not bad at all

Super refreshing during hot days! It's made up of tofu so I feel less guilty drinking it haharead more

Wheeeee! Now we're talking. It's unquestionable and undebatable: Soy Yummy has the yummiest taho in…read morethe world for me. I've tried street taho, taho from restaurants such as Gloria Maris, Via Mare, and Choi Garden, taho from a slew of other kiosks and establishments and the verdict is in, there is just no taho quite like the taco from Soy Yummy. The soy beancurd has the perfect texture, and Ate always puts in the perfect amount of sago and syrup. Delicious. I've come to SM Hypermarket countless times for the sole purpose of purchasing this taho. Hot or cold is irrelevant. It's extremely enjoyable either way.

Eggs and soy sauce. Who would have thought? That was the first thing that caught me by surprise…read morewhen I finally got my hands on the Kaya Toast set. I knew what I was in for, more or less: kaya toast, butter, coffee and an egg. What I wasn't expecting was people putting soy sauce in a soft boiled egg. So... I tried it and found that it matched perfectly. The sharp saltiness of the soy blended wonderfully with the mellow egg flavor. Needless to say I probably won't be eating my eggs any other way after that. But I've rambled about eggs enough. You're probably thinking "what about the rest of the food", right? Toast Box focuses mostly on Malaysian food so apart from Kaya toast, you'll find things like Horlicks and Laksa (which I hear theirs is really good) and Nasi Goreng so it isn't all just snack food and varying versions of things you'd find in a cafe. Personally, I find I might end up going back for the Kaya. There's just something about the sweet Kaya and the butter and the bread with that creamy-salty egg and that stronger-than-what-you're-used-to coffee that makes me crave it for days on end afterward.

Whenever I need my Hainanese chicken fix, one of the places that comes to mind is Toast Box. I…read moreimmediately loved their version of the Hainanese chicken rice when I first tried it at their Nuvali branch. As I always like to order almost the same thing every time I'm eating out at a restaurant, this is what I tried during my visit there. While Toast Box prides itself in its "Toast Box" sets which consists of toasted bread with eggs with soy sauce and a cup of coffee, they also have what they call the "Asian Delight" - which is simply put, various Asian dishes like their Curry Chicken, Hainanese Chicken Quarter Portion, Fishball Soup, Nasi Lemak or Nasi Goreng. Apart from this, the restaurant also serves various sandwiches with fillings like floss, luncheon meat, tuna, ham and cheese, Hainanese chicken and club house. Another must-try at Toast Box though is their coffee. It's prepared and brewed in a different way and I like that thier Iced Kopi Mocha had that really strong amount of caffeine so it was a bit bitter but I really liked it a lot. To go with my Iced Kopi Mocha, I ordered a Hainanese chicken set. I liked that the chicken was cooked thoroughly and the size was just right for one serving. The rice was also very flavorful and went well with the chicken. On the side, I really like the thick brown sauce/condiment and of course, the ginger. It was so good I had to ask for another extra order of this - no charge of course. The ambiance of this branch though might need some improvement as it looks a little bit old, but I don't really mind as the food speaks volumes. I will definitely come back for my Hainanese chicken fix at Toast Box when the mood arises.

Three stars for the restaurant, Five for the Buko Pandan. Because…read more.. OH MY GOD, YOU HAVE TO TRY THEIR BUKO PANDAN. Seriously, they have the best, and I mean THE BEST, Buko Pandan. I mean, they also offer really good and affordable Pinoy delicacies but nothing beats the Buko Pandan salad. Ever since I've tasted it, I've insisted on having this dessert for birthdays within the family, Christmas, New Year... Basically, I like to take advatage of every holiday as an excuse to get some of that heavenly stuff. What makes it so good, you ask? Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's a) the super thick and sweet cream, b) the large cuts of coconut meat, c) the generous portions of cubed gelatin, or d) all of the above. When you try it, please do tell me the answer.

Nathaniel's has the best buko pandan salad, hands down! It really tastes like how my aunties and my…read moregrandmother used to make at home. Creamy with just the right hint of sweetness, big chunks of pandan gelatin and generous portions of coconut meat. You can get it by the gallon and keep it in the freezer for a few days and serve to family and friends and they'll love you for it. I'm not really a big buko-pandan fan because my tummy always has a bad reaction to coconut, but I just can't resist their version of it and still end up eating several servings to this dessert. I read one review here about how good their siomai is and I'd have to agree. They have one of the best around. You can even do bulk orders for this for parties (or just for yourself if you really have a bad craving for it). They have something in the siomai that makes it crunchy and gives it a nice bite -- I'm guessing it's bits of singkamas. Whatever it is, it gives it that special touch to make me want to keep coming back for more.

It's pretty obvious that they offer local Singaporean stuff, and I knew what I was going to order…read morelong before I opened the door: a glass of Milo dinosaur. Yes, my childhood drink. Or puberty-hood drink. Or whatever. I didn't eat lunch and I was planning to have my entire meal inside Singlish Cafe if it weren't for the drink I ordered. The drink was bland, even for a chocolate drink, and Milo powder on top wasn't much. I remember thinking "ang lungkot naman ng drink ko" because as much as I tried to look for a redeeming quality, I didn't find it. The price wasn't bad though, I only paid Php 75 for my drink. Most of their beverages are on that range, although I cannot say the same for the main courses. I then ordered some fries, which wasn't that bad. It was freshly-cooked and the slices were a little huge, so okay lang siya.

Try the Hainanese Chicken rice for a simple yet flavourful dish, it comes with the 3 sauces;…read moreginger, chili and dark soy sauce. Next try the Beef Rendang for a savoury dish filled with spices and cooked to perfection. Top it off with the Milo dinosaur drink to satisfy your Singaporean food craving.

I'd usually rotate among many chocolate beverage options but Frozen Matcha tempted me this time. It…read morewas perfectly bittersweet: bitter thanks to the matcha and sweet thanks to the shreds of white chocolate flakes. On top of all that was the thick, mildly sweet whipped cream and one chocolate wafer stick that still seemed new due to its maintained crunchy form. I'd consider getting this again if I want to tone down on sweets, so looks like it'll be awhile til then! (Feb. 2018)

Xocolat has always rested in a special place in my heart, because it's where I used to hang out a…read morelot during college. I revisited the restaurant's Greenhills branch, and it felt like rewatching a childhood favorite movie and no longer feeling the magic. The menu changed. Old favorites like the dory salad were now gone. The salad options were basic and boring. But we were there for a heartier meal anyway, so we ordered the chocolate chicken pasta and meaty lasagna. The chocolate in the pasta was a little too overpoweringly sweet. They failed to integrate it smoothly into the dish. Instead, it was a dish that tasted passable with a little chocolate in it. The serving size of the lasagna looked big at first, but then you dug into it and realized the plate was terribly shallow, the lasagna way too thin. It tasted good, but it was nothing special. Not meaty enough, not cheesy enough, just.. Plain old not bad lasagna that was a little too skinny. I'm thinking it was slightly disappointing because of it being a smaller branch, with a smaller kitchen, away from central command.. Who knows? I do need to eat in the Katipunan branch again though, and try to change my mind.

I'm sure you're probably sick of me talking about how much I love adventurous flavors... but I do!…read moreI really do. I appreciate culinary creativity when it shows itself. So vanilla, chocolate, strawberry... that's oldschool. Been there, done that even if you're packing gelato. But carmelized fig? Rum cream? Chili chocolate? Yes. By all freaking means, yes. What some people don't know is that there's actually a difference between ice cream and gelato. This, my friends, is good gelato. The flavors come in nice and clear and there's a distinction between each flavor. No two chocolate-based flavors taste the same as no two vanilla-based flavors taste the same. And what about that chili chocolate? It comes off as a rich dark chocolate and you probably start wondering where the chili is then you notice it building as a slow enjoyable burn at the back of your throat that doesn't have you reaching for a glass of water. It's the kind of flavor you dream about for days. And the price! Most places give you a scoop that barely fills the cup but these guys... for what you pay, they give you a really good amount of Gelato. I end up using the cup like a cone. Definitely a great value for your buck.

Mmmm! I love Gelatissimo. It's a chain gelato shop which has loads of stores around the world but…read morethis place tastes really good and authentic. There are a lot of flavors to choose from here, and it's fun because you get to try all the flavors you like before you buy. Usually they keep stock of all of the popular flavors. What's good is that they even have dairy free options! The consistency of the ice cream is always the same. It's really smooth, creamy, and a bit stretchy and chewy - not like the normal scooped ice creams. I love it! Make sure to get lots of toppings on yours. There are lots to choose from - but I'm a fan of the simple chocolate syrup and almonds.