Cover Croquetas from La Picara | Photo: @lapicaraph/Instagram
Croquetas from La Picara | Photo: @lapicaraph/Instagram
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Welcome to Foodie Finds! This is an article series by Tatler, chronicling where and what to order according to the food-obsessed
I myself have never understood non-foodies. How can one not love flavours, spices, aromas and all the cultural nuances and memories that come with every bite? Dining is an experience meant to be savoured and is even more fun when shared with loved ones. Dining around a table means sharing, conversing, bonding and learning.
A dish can tell you so much about a person, a culture, and a country. It speaks volumes of a nation's history and is an art form on its own. Skilled hands are trained over years or are born out of pure passion and practice. Professional chefs and home cooks alike, from young stars to grandmothers, have been cooking up meals filled with emotion and have truly made us foodies, happy.
Through Foodie Finds, we ask our epicurean friends to share their favourites. In this feature, we tackle takeout and delivery. Hear what vice president of Rodclay Roofing, Inc. and chef-owner of Xàncho, Marco Rodriguez has to say. Take a look at some of his go-to brands for takeout.
See also: The Best Chinese Restaurants in the Tatler Dining Guide 2022
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1. Txoko Asador
Above Paella from Txoko Asador | Photo: @txokoasador/Instagram
Paella from Txoko Asador | Photo: @txokoasador/Instagram
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La cocina vasca in the heart of Makati. I’ve always wanted to experience an exclusive cooking society in San Sebastián after which this restaurant is named. Their paella campera and paella butifarra are favourites and are as good as they get. More so if coupled with cochinillo and entrecôte hot off la brasa. For delivery, the cochinillo comes with special heating instructions to obtain optimum detectability.
See also: A Taste of Home: What Are Melbourne-Based Chef Ross Magnaye's Favourite Filipino Eats?
2. Caravan Black
Above An orange sticky bun and a cup of coffee from Caravan Black | Photo by Hans Fausto, courtesy of @caravanblack/Instagram
Above Espresso sticky buns from Caravan Black | Photo: @caravanblack/Instagram
An orange sticky bun and a cup of coffee from Caravan Black | Photo by Hans Fausto, courtesy of @caravanblack/Instagram
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The folks at this BGC coffee shop are as serious in the kitchen as they are behind the espresso machine. Get your hands on their pillowy breakfast buns and glorious orange sticky buns to start your morning. These go well with their bottled original cold brew. Their tasty adobo grain bowl makes for a healthy and more substantial meal if you come in later in the day.
See also: Tatler Friends Share Their Must-Have Dishes on Chinese New Year
3. La Picara
Above Croquetas from La Picara | Photo: @lapicaraph/Instagram
Croquetas from La Picara | Photo: @lapicaraph/Instagram
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This fun and clever Spanish restaurant never fails to please with its innovation—as evidenced by its modern spins on tradition. Their beef cheeks siomai and kimchi croquetas make superb starters while you sip their house-made sangria. Their creamy bone marrow meloso and tom-yum paella are just some of their many succulent showstoppers.
See also: Foodie Finds with Social Media Personality Cat Arambulo
4. Mamou
Above A sizzling steak from Mamou | Photo: @mymamou/Instagram
A sizzling steak from Mamou | Photo: @mymamou/Instagram
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There are times when you crave the embrace of some good old comfort food. Having been a mainstay on many a dining list all these years; this family-friendly restaurant always delivers on the goods—such as the Cuban chicken & pork combo, linguine vongole, and their sizzling dry-aged steaks.
See also: Experts Share Their Predictions for the F&B Trends That will Dominate in 2022
5. Sweet Ecstasy
Above A cheeseburger from Sweet Ecstasy | Artwork: @artodrdr | Photo: @sweetxmanila/Instagram
A cheeseburger from Sweet Ecstasy | Artwork: @artodrdr | Photo: @sweetxmanila/Instagram
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I can’t ever turn a burger from Sweet Ecstasy down—especially when there’s a branch not far from where I live. A Friday meal of gooey cheeseburgers (make mine a double) with crunchy onion rings, and a thick milkshake is always an epic plan right before Netflix viewing with the kids.
See also: How to Sell-Out a Pop-Up Restaurant: 12/10's Owners Speak Out
6. La Chinesca
Above Tacos from La Chinesca | Photo: @lachinesca/Instagram
Tacos from La Chinesca | Photo: @lachinesca/Instagram
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There’s a wide range of upmarket food stalls to choose from at Rockwell’s The Grid. I always make a beeline to La Chinesca for their authentic and delicious Mexican carnitas and cochinita pibil tacos as well as their ultra-fresh tuna tostadas.
See also: Foodie Finds with Co-Founder of Run Rabbit Run, Michael Hern
7. House of Birria
Above Tacos from House of Birria | Photo: @houseofbirriaph/Instagram
Tacos from House of Birria | Photo: @houseofbirriaph/Instagram
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My penchant for Mexican food continues well beyond my neighborhood of Makati. A recent delicious discovery is a birrieria in Quezon City featuring only two items on their menu: the premium beef birria (scream yes to their bone marrow add-on!) and the arroz de birria—when dunked into their rich and beefy consommé...you’ll agree that this is about all the variety you need.
See also: The First Brandy Museum in the Philippines is now Open
8. Hai Shin Lou
Above Sweet and sour pork from Hai Shin Lou | Photo: @haishinlou/Instagram
Sweet and sour pork from Hai Shin Lou | Photo: @haishinlou/Instagram
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Most can’t live without their regular Chinese food fix: be it for a family gathering or something easy to put together for a large group. Hai Shin Lou’s sweet and sour pork, hot prawn salad, deep-fried conpoy with bamboo shoots, and salted fish fried rice with black gulaman dessert makes this my ideal lauriat meal.
See also: Foodie Finds with CITEM's Executive Director, Pauline Juan
9. Caruso Ristorante Italiano
Above Pasta vongole from Caruso | Photo: @carusoristoranteitaliano/Instagram
Pasta vongole from Caruso | Photo: @carusoristoranteitaliano/Instagram
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I recently returned to celebrate a special occasion at this time-honoured restaurant. The thin-crust pizzas and luscious pasta still taste just like Italy. But you can also enjoy these at home, sans the festivities. My favourite pasta has always been the spaghetti carbonara alla Romana, spaghetti alla Bolognese, and garganelli alla mamma Martina. . .or you can simply have your fill of the Trittico di pasta terra and have a sampler plate of all three if you can’t make up your mind.
10. Wantusawa Oyster Bar
Above Fresh oysters | Photo: @wantusawaoysters/Instagram
Fresh oysters | Photo: @wantusawaoysters/Instagram
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Ever have an inexplicable midweek craving for plump and juicy oysters? This popular bar has an alfresco stand right outside Rockwell’s Power Plant Mall where you can pick up their absolutely fresh mollusks: grilled, fried, or baked curbside.
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About
Isabel loves to learn, and see things from different perspectives. Connecting with people and engaging in new experiences to broaden her horizons is what inspires this storyteller, keeping her constantly curious, and excited for what's to come. An absolute love for all things F&B ignited a hunger to devour content from this world and keeps her jumping into tasty adventures around the globe. From the beauty of simple bites, to nuanced fine dining tasting menus, street food, and the art of entertaining, the multi-faceted nature of the dining experience is something she can't get enough of. A good cup of coffee or a glass of wine paired with a dash of witty conversation is a quick way to win her over. This editor loves travelling, food, music, skincare, fitness, and is only friends with people who love dogs. Guilty pleasure?: Binge-watching TV shows and movies she has already seen.
Work
Concept creation is the name of the game and branding takes centre stage in Isabel's day-to-day schedule. From producing shoots, conceptualising bespoke projects for our partners, relationship management, to cooking up features and events for Tatler Dining, this editor is a tried and tested foodie at heart. She mainly writes content for Tatler Dining, engaging in captivating discussions with restaurateurs, chefs, producers, and food enthusiasts to tell must-know stories. Aside from that Isabel manages Tatler Dining's flagship events like Off Menu, or Cocktail Festival and puts together the Tatler Dining Guide, our annual listing of the best eats around town.
Follow her on Instagram @isabelvmf.
