Happy Foodies

Showing posts with label Vegetarian. Show all posts

<figure> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97m-5nhddEmKKyZWxEoYqTH4sbTX949LdAEgxjF5I0kR-LkOTJA932El5PD0OG0A3xZiOxeMAV-sYsy3hhWlnSQcv1Lu2hkkP__zz29NnylBwBqFeZ9TRdT27SQs7XjaZPbaEHZe1atSGwBzO9jBgLn_X3o32e0s1fjCyO2P4o-69yEZR3kCde81Fo1M/s16000/iveggie-vegan-crunch.jpg"> <figcaption>Vegan Crunch</figcaption> </figure> For a time, I frequented Sta. Lucia Mall for physical therapy sessions at a clinic there. After each session, I would look for a place to eat nearby. One day, I discovered iVeggie Restaurant on Google Maps. Although it was a kilometer away, I decided to walk the distance and give it a try.

<figure> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zGdyM9k1O1mVeijrD24CYmVY1F929PBKTk5t_XuQzXlNLkKB4fWnhXzGvhCsPTR2UolqO9oiJYiuVh98PJFUTgY-oYgLv1Eoa5UbxoTF62g_9eYpQBjvlnqcIGvWU63jwHbxQSzkgsA4JGvXHmwnI-5Q49kL_pIqVc2og_v6WJHywQdEA8FS3fareXE/s16000/IMG_20241006_103501.jpg"> <figcaption>Cafe Bossa Candon</figcaption> </figure> "What’s in Candon City?" I wondered. I’ve passed through this city in Ilocos Sur countless times on my way further up north, yet I'd never stopped to explore. But recently, a photography tour brought me to Candon. On our last day, with some free time, I decided to wander. A quick search led me to Cafe Bossa Candon, just a short walk from where I was staying.

<figure> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIAh7znssZKlrxaCSc3iMimc9xwECP3RQnK-pxiqSh3Nf7eFzrKPpT8QDlmi6rdsKw9VHh4VrXz4M6UBsLP5SWGN9oBuqcKtweEqtbbFgPslmdL_p-4R3LmBGxuQ3VVsDNKUHAbfNb6IDhRUalySQsbPwYtVs8P-HHAZ0apwVcswJfHJHLJ7iotG63Mw/s16000/IMG_1455.jpg"> <figcaption>Sharing orders at ELPI Veg Haus</figcaption> </figure> Embracing a vegetarian lifestyle can be daunting. Maybe not so much about missing meat but being able to afford a plant-based diet when veggie prices remain high. That’s why vegan food outlets like ELPI Veg Haus can be a godsend. ELPI offers a bunch of P99 meals — a worthy alternative to the usual fastfood fare.

<figure> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRejcJ4wllSf0dlaDDVqR5UVYY-OlWtxvHTzGu_rJ365YltniDo9sWWV-oNxDaGlWZ1sOU-0sreVdxiws7p_XD4Eg6a0KyasRFJAVKRgmk8lXPLx9MbF4as6mQmMjyYyyHwkquJAXCwU-76owfRbHBFwDlSuac46-b8yllWuzGhjv15bgmM2jWbzOX0Lk/s16000/IMG_9677_Radiant.jp"> <figcaption>Homemade Matcha Ice Cream from Ikigai Kakigori Cafe</figcaption> </figure> It’s been nearly a decade since we first wrote about <a href="https://www.happyfoodies.com/2010/10/vegging-out-gets-new-meaning-at-wabi.html" target="_blank">Wabi-Sabi Noodle House, back in its early days at The Collective</a>. Back then, it was a cozy spot with fewer than 10 tables, serving up delicious, healthy vegan fare — long before veganism was mainstream.

<figure> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotDOJlOt1D_e7Ioisz2Rzbu9_m23t56-3DcL7ACfW6FA6_I_imawtYpdBM2PgXK0bzTxbDwdkFnLKwkbuR07BpZffWEByNDrM7PxJM371XUeBn4pNxlY46HmoPAj9MsOKbRIVNNPPuo4uCcO4ZrwG9ejJu4VeXqmhHCLcB-du3sOHqUU-pBWmvoSTDHY/s16000/happyfoodies-veggie-hut.jpg"> </figure> After a refreshing nature trip to <a href="https://www.ironwulf.net/2024/08/maapon-falls-beautiful-cascades-in.html" target="_blank">Maapon Falls in Lucban, Quezon</a>, we were eager to find a spot for a late lunch. Lucban and its neighboring towns are renowned for their longganisa and pancit. We indulged in pancit hab-hab for breakfast, we were in search of something heartier for late lunch. With vegan and vegetarian friends in mind, The Veggie Hut was a delightful discovery. Thankfully, our meat-eating companions were game to try something different, and we’re glad they were.

<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mkFQxbIMuYL9Wg6DljHOSFTgKf0M6mPIKe6oTIW4RCAB7vWaPyvh9uOD0L2Lgw9HWYwB9QHijJsgYaiGT4K5YUpPMBglWkUWNKqUnYhV_PxEh6h1IsNbjT2UBkHB3orEOho32G_uvseA1EEL6uew3MTuenQr-fcKk6UH9vDbAn0aeU5nkfUUkJMsXAA/s1920/um-a-farm-tuba-benguet.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mkFQxbIMuYL9Wg6DljHOSFTgKf0M6mPIKe6oTIW4RCAB7vWaPyvh9uOD0L2Lgw9HWYwB9QHijJsgYaiGT4K5YUpPMBglWkUWNKqUnYhV_PxEh6h1IsNbjT2UBkHB3orEOho32G_uvseA1EEL6uew3MTuenQr-fcKk6UH9vDbAn0aeU5nkfUUkJMsXAA/s16000/um-a-farm-tuba-benguet.jpg"></a></div> <span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> From the same people who brought you <a href="https://www.happyfoodies.com/2024/06/health-100-restoreant-beloved.html" target="_blank">Health 100 Restaurant</a> in Baguio City comes Um-A Farm and Restaurant in Tuba, Benguet. Couple entrepreneurs Elmer and Dr. Celestrelle Macalingay have elevated the experience of healthy dining at Um-A Farm and Restaurant, offering eclectic restaurant interiors with an unobstructed view of one of the last remaining forest reserves in Tuba, Benguet.<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">

<figure class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2M-V8TgAOEQ76dnAgxKWQJlJNXsAGAAEIeG9LfM0urYE2zaN1MJjwj2I2wDo1K0-BI2cpNSodI1mfM68eNFVR1ljXWIstnI2_XAJpiEoE1ajmdcx7g_RW5rPdk3mrWqmtkTohf801i65dxic1BXwYEeNUwFSsHitmTeNSs202eq-FsVEGwx9RRrMcDy4/s1600/kwentong-dagat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2M-V8TgAOEQ76dnAgxKWQJlJNXsAGAAEIeG9LfM0urYE2zaN1MJjwj2I2wDo1K0-BI2cpNSodI1mfM68eNFVR1ljXWIstnI2_XAJpiEoE1ajmdcx7g_RW5rPdk3mrWqmtkTohf801i65dxic1BXwYEeNUwFSsHitmTeNSs202eq-FsVEGwx9RRrMcDy4/s16000/kwentong-dagat.jpg"></a></figure> When I found out we would be making a side trip to Liwliwa Beach before heading home from <a href="https://www.ironwulf.net/2024/04/discover-serenity-of-lake-mapanuepe.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Lake Mapanuepe</a>, I had to check if we could stop by Kwentong Dagat. It's a lovely beachside resort with rustic and charming A-type cabins serving 100% plant-based meals. So after enjoying the expansive shoreline and playful waves of Liwliwa Beach, my companions and I decided to have lunch there.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dg9b7jSIXlGUSvJSNyErADXcx6U-G5JBLlwflx3RnkuVbvzpersP1VwPzZuIoSz0mZx6f5BDOhu300SyRPsg6qaSwHKbUqZJMSi_Dt-Nu3KFM5HJRfZ0LEivgF0qMSg3MCmuV2Zi8iIwCQpEUmjuKy8Mrs9rf7ISoJlG2aGLlick-oT8oDdFvCnf9uI/s1600/the-farmaccist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dg9b7jSIXlGUSvJSNyErADXcx6U-G5JBLlwflx3RnkuVbvzpersP1VwPzZuIoSz0mZx6f5BDOhu300SyRPsg6qaSwHKbUqZJMSi_Dt-Nu3KFM5HJRfZ0LEivgF0qMSg3MCmuV2Zi8iIwCQpEUmjuKy8Mrs9rf7ISoJlG2aGLlick-oT8oDdFvCnf9uI/s16000/the-farmaccist.jpg"></a></div> <div> </div> “We are driven by the knowledge that food is medicine. Beyond just food, we serve nourishment.” This is one of the core values of The Farmassist, a new restaurant in Pasig. Don’t be misled by the name; although it may sound like a pharmacy, they serve affordable plant-based meals. In 2024, Happy Foodies will start featuring establishments and products that promote vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, and healthy food, beginning with this neighborhood find in Pasig.

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMtwsouKp-dKLKVGI1vCXdGe1nwzHCfg3SUuxYkNpEq7Jg2sBnJv6WWUV9iLvKRcuq8LUyhm03niXfLSo54zaqMzWPxJFjcrj5j6pekB01v3eX2CDIFAS8gXoZ4j-2Ten0iGCcD5yNRrzwht5W4XC4xOo86R06qRCBlH34QKVcOJB2Lq1s-1F7Gm9M8I/s1280/yani-cafe.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMtwsouKp-dKLKVGI1vCXdGe1nwzHCfg3SUuxYkNpEq7Jg2sBnJv6WWUV9iLvKRcuq8LUyhm03niXfLSo54zaqMzWPxJFjcrj5j6pekB01v3eX2CDIFAS8gXoZ4j-2Ten0iGCcD5yNRrzwht5W4XC4xOo86R06qRCBlH34QKVcOJB2Lq1s-1F7Gm9M8I/s16000/yani-cafe.jpg"></a></div></div></div> I didn't notice the sign on the building facade nor saw any on the stairs and hallway leading to the second floor (why no signs of the nice bird logo I wondered) but the spacious area fronting the Office Warehouse store could only be it. I'm rarely in the Pasig area but if I find myself here, Yani Café could be as good as any reason to do so.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie/7152476975/"><img alt="Cold Cuts Combo Banh Mi (P75)" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/7152476975_d3e5d534e5_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cold Cuts Combo Banh Mi (P75)</figcaption></figure> Angeles City may be a chartered city independent of Pampanga since the 60s but it still shares the Kapampangan flair for cooking up delicious fare and perhaps more importantly, a contagious appetite for joyful eating. It's a tall order to live down its naughty, steamy reputation but the city has another side that can satisfy the other senses. By that we mean the nose and the taste buds. Your Happyfoodies tagged along for a food trip of Angeles City and what we found pleasantly surprised us. For starters, we found a piece of Vietnam along Jesus Street in the historic district near the Pamintuan Mansion -- in Banh Mi Saigon. Who would've thought that you can find heavenly Banh Mi sandwiches and spring rolls in between a neighborhood gym and a sari-sari store? Owner Rex Soriano, recently repatriated from the U.S. after nearly a decade of working at Nobu in New York counted on his experience as a chef and the invaluable inputs of his Vietnamese mother-in-law and wife to come up with fare that begs for repeat visits.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie/5543648346/in/set-72157626183294517/ "><img alt="Oh My Gulay House Salad" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5543648346_0ce3ed66fe_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Oh My Gulay House Salad (P100)</figcaption></figure> Go up five flights of stairs, past the sporting goods store on the ground floor, the drinking joint with the blaring karaoke on the second, a gym on the third, more offices on the fourth, and enter the world of artist, Kidlat Tahimik. There are artistic curiosities on this high-ceilinged, top-most floor -- large installations here, framed paintings over there. The plants spread all over the place are real, lending it a lush, texture-filled vibe. Up on the second level, the dining area offers a panoramic view of the city center. Welcome to Oh My Gulay along Session Road in Baguio.

<figure><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlwrObEV4hGNkCKeKURDZ5Uu-gha7KSDowF5SHcRqKaz9IucDbX0_0FvYAQ3QQ_FS9ozeF5hOePvSkcAAfriV92N99x7gppC1CvCr9v8W95jn_mxSzMCXDx1APxMb_uzvHwocbFEnnmymgP3eq-XXmFfC4AhyphenhyphenICspXHf143iuReQNowBiuOBmb8zrNBc/s1024/wabi-sabi-2010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlwrObEV4hGNkCKeKURDZ5Uu-gha7KSDowF5SHcRqKaz9IucDbX0_0FvYAQ3QQ_FS9ozeF5hOePvSkcAAfriV92N99x7gppC1CvCr9v8W95jn_mxSzMCXDx1APxMb_uzvHwocbFEnnmymgP3eq-XXmFfC4AhyphenhyphenICspXHf143iuReQNowBiuOBmb8zrNBc/s16000/wabi-sabi-2010.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wabi-sabi Noodle House Window</figcaption></figure> Yeah, I know the drill. Eat your veggies. Eat more of 'em. And eat 'em more often. Well, I'm no veggie hater; it's just that pork, chicken and beef are just too commonplace and admittedly, too good to pass up come mealtime. Vegemeat dishes are okay but there aren't a lot of places that serve them, and honestly, the dishes fall short on taste. Call it serendipity or luck but your Happyfoodies are just too happy to have stumbled upon a really nice veggie place -- Wabi-Sabi Noodle House & Vegetarian Grocery at The Collective in Makati. We're just too glad to find somewhere we can seek penance for all those trips to the nearby 8065 Bagnet.