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›- Tara Lets Anywhere | Hali and Katherine traveling the world
Tara Lets Anywhere | Hali and Katherine traveling the world
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7-Eleven Reaches Milestone With The Opening Of Its 4000th Store in Newport City, Pasay - Tara Lets Anywhere
Marking the brand’s 40th anniversary, 7-Eleven proudly unveils its 4000th store in the Philippines in Newport City, Pasay. In this landmark event, the brand brings convenience and community together at the 4000th location. From its humble beginnings in 1984 as a small store in Quezon City where store staff knew customers by name and order, 7-Eleven set out with a clear vision: to be the community’s go-to provider of everyday needs and reliable services 24/7. Now, 40 years later, 7-Eleven has claimed its spot as the number one brand for convenience, beloved for its iconic offerings like Crunch Time, City Cafe, Big Bite Hotdog, GULP, Slurpee, and more. The 4000th store in Newport City culminates 7-Eleven’s four decades in service. As the store doors open, 7-Eleven loyal fans are welcomed by a modern store layout, spacious dining areas, and an unbeatable selection of beloved 7-Eleven proprietary brands, snacks, and essential items. The 4000th store features Taiwan’s famous 21TOGO chicken alongside offerings from !+? Cafe Reserve, including premium coffee, Matcha, and fresh bakery items. To make this monumental occasion even more special, loyal patrons and new visitors alike can enjoy exciting promotions and in-store discounts, encouraging more kapitbahays to join the festivities. Visit 7-Eleven Philippines 4000th store in Newport City, Pasay now to catch all-time favorite treats and a grand experience like no other. The ruby year celebration also extends for kapitbahays in Angeles City, Pampanga as 7-Eleven opens another convenience haven for all. This store features the same upgraded design and extensive product selection as the 4000th store, with a highlight on sustainability. The branch is powered by solar energy—strengthening 7-Eleven’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices today and in the years to come. Cheers to 40 years with 7-Eleven and like us on 7-Eleven Philippines Facebook, follow @711ph on Instagram, and @711philippines on Twitter and TikTok for more information. Get discounts on your travels! Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHEREKLOOK Katherine CortesKatherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).
Quiapo Food Trip: From Street Food to Unique Maranao Dishes - Tara Lets Anywhere
When it comes to food trip spots around Metro Manila, Quiapo rarely comes to mind. Instead, most people head to Maginhawa, Kapitolyo, Poblacion, or BGC, to name a few. And that’s a shame because there are delicious cuisines to be found in this district! I’ve already done this food crawl twice. The first was a paid food tour by Sir Jing Ordoña (Manilakad Tours), a local historian who knows the streets in Quiapo like the back of his hands. The second was a casual food trip with friends, where we checked out some spots missed on my first time here. I’ve written this guide for people like me who likes discovering new cuisines in the Philippines. As a travel blogger who’s done food crawls even in far-flung places like Zamboanga, I find Quiapo to be an underrated foodie destination and here you’ll find out why. In this guide, you’ll find the best Quiapo restaurants and food stalls we’ve visited, as well as those recommended by others. For the spots I’ve personally tried, you’ll find and honest review on whether it’s really worth it to visit. Are you ready? Tara lets mag-foodtrip sa Quiapo! Note: Please check current prices on the restaurants’ respective social media pages. Prices may vary without notice. ContentsWhat to expect in QuiapoBest Restaurants and Other Food StopsAling Mely’s TuronQuinta MarketMuslim TownPater ni IntanJune-Nairah Halal Food RestaurantArab Asian Resto CafeJolli Dada’s Eatery5&2 CoffeehouseGlobe Lumpia HousePasalubongBakerite BakeryKim Chong Tin Hopia FactoryExcelente Chinese Cooked HamCafé KabuhayanOther Spots to Visit in QuiapoQuiapo ChurchSan Sebastian ChurchGolden MosqueReminders and TipsWhat to BringHow to Plan Your Quiapo Food TripHow to get to QuiapoBy commuteBy private carWhat to read next: What to expect in Quiapo Located at the heart of Manila, Quiapo has a lively yet gritty reputation. Notably, it is home to Quiapo Church, a spiritual landmark home to the revered Black Nazarene statue. When doing a Quiapo food trip, expect to visit bustling local markets, streetside carinderias, and other lesser-known food stops. Here you can find not just regular local food, but delicious Maranao cuisine, as well as Asian/Middle Eastern fare. The food prices here are pretty affordable — in fact, some of the most affordable prices I’ve seen while living in the metro. Where else can you get a delicious rice meal for only P30? So don’t worry about budgeting. Just bring enough appetite and curiousity to discover Quiapo’s best offers. Best Restaurants and Other Food Stops Aling Mely’s Turon This is a pop-up stall that sells giant turon, as well as banana cue. It’s said that this is SM’s inspiration for their popular langka turon. Starting in 1981, Aling Mely has been selling turon for over 40 years now, that the food stall is practically a landmark in the Quiapo food scene. With this, she was able to send her six children to school. Each turon is large and consist of three or four pieces of saba, strips of langka, and sesame seeds. Oh, and each one costs P25 only! I liked this stop, as it’s historical as much as a fun addition to our food trip. Note: This food stall is open from 2 PM to 5 or 6 PM only. It is easy to miss. It’s located in front of Casa Consulado, along San Sebastian Street, beside San Sebastian Church. Quinta Market This is a great place to find fresh produce, meat, and seafood. If you’re not keen on exploring the rest of Quiapo, you can keep it safe and shop at Quinta Market instead. You can find typical street food, the famous Quiapo-style sotanghon soup, as well as tubs of chicken biryani. Muslim Town When doing a food tour around Quiapo, the one place you shouldn’t miss is the Muslim Town. Here you can find streetside vendors and eateries offering Maranao food, halal food for Muslims, and Asian/Middle Eastern food. Take a stroll around its bustling streets. Some of the notable items you’ll find are: Pater ni Intan This pop-up carinderia is one of the best places to taste Maranao food. They sell mainly chicken piaparan and chicken riyandang (or rendang). If you’re lucky, you might even witness them preparing the food in a large wok! Piaparan and riyandang are delicious, spicy dishes made with palapa, grated coconut (or papar), and a variety of herbs and spices. Piaparan uses turmeric, while rendang uses soy sauce. I love this spot so much that I always make sure to order extra for take home. I think it’s tastier than the usual viands we know. As of our visit, each complete rice meal costs P30 only! Take note: these dishes are really spicy. I can comfortably eat piaparan, but riyandang is a bit of a challenge for me. Make sure to have something to quench the spiciness if you’re not used to eating spicy. June-Nairah Halal Food Restaurant This restaurant serves a wide range of Maranao-style, halal food including piaparan and beef rendang. A decent option if you want to taste Maranao food with a proper sit-down area. Arab Asian Resto Cafe A short walk from Pater ni Intan, you’ll find Arab Asian Resto Café, a restaurant that serves various food such as roti and paratha bread, chicken masala, biryani, and more. Drinks like teh tarik, kopi, and lassi are also available. This is one of my favorites for a variety of reasons. One is that they serve roti and teh tarik that taste similar to that in Kuala Lumpur. It certainly gave me feelings of nostalgia. We also tried a few of their rice dishes, which were all delicious. The prices here are really affordable, too. I couldn’t believe my eyes when their mug of teh tarik costs P35, when in other restaurants here this usually costs P100 or above. While waiting for your food, take a look around the café. They house a collection of miniature houses and other toys. Or just enjoy the airconditioning — a rare amenity when exploring Quiapo. Jolli Dada’s Eatery Jolli Dada’s Eatery is famous for their palabok, as well as halo-halo. It has recently become viral when it got featured in the documentary Manila Food Streetfood, Season 2. This casual eatery is one of Quiapo’s oldest dining spots. It was established in 1940 by Aling Dada’s great grandmother. It was then managed by Jolli Dada until her passing away in 2021. Today, it’s being run by Jolli Dada’s relatives. When we first visited here, the queue was so long that we just ordered from the other palabok stall beside it. On our second visit, we were able to finally get seats. The palaboks were already prepared beforehand, so you don’t have to wait when you order. I think the palabok was decent. The sauce is thick and has various toppings like squid and egg. There are other palabok versions that I think are better. But for P70 per order, I really wouldn’t complain. Jolli Dada’s Eatery is located at Lutong Maynila, a food court under Quiapo Bridge, just beside Quinta Market and Fish Port. 5&2 Coffeehouse 5&2 Coffeehouse is a modern café located along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo. They feature coffee, pastries, and snacks with a Filipino twist. Some of their bestsellers include Ube Latik Latte, Palitaw Latte, Buko Pandan Latte, and Mango Latte. For food, try out their black kutsina with yema dip and nilupak. This café is interesting because it stands in contrast to the nitty-gritty feel of Quiapo. It’s a nice spot to hang out and chill when you’re tired of shopping or sampling food outside. I also like that they’re innovating drinks with a local twisst. I tried the Palitaw Latte and it tasted just like palitaw. Haha. I don’t know what I was expecting. Nilupak was good although a bit sweet for me. Nonetheless, this is another food stop I would recommend on a Quiapo food crawl. Globe Lumpia House Globe Lumpia House is famous for its lumpiang sariwa, a fresh vegetable spring roll made with heart of palm or ubod. It’s sometimes compared to the famous lumpiang sariwa in Binondo. We tried just one piece of lumpiang sariwa. It was too soggy for me. That’s all I can say. Pasalubong Don’t leave Quiapo without stopping by at least one of these pasalubong places: Bakerite Bakery Bakerite Bakery is one of the oldest bakeries in Quiapo District. It was established in 1946 by an immigrant from China. They are known for their soft breads, especially the Rainbow Bread. Fun fact: This is also where Filipinos got the term “tasty,” which is used to refer to any white bread loaf. We tried their ensaymada and corned beef pandesal, which were okay. I don’t think it’s much different from other breads you can get elsewhere, but it’s a good stop if you want to get to know more about historical establishments in Quiapo. Currently, there are two branches of Bakerite Bakery in Quiapo. Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory Hopia is one of the beloved snacks among Filipinos. Established in 1927, this hopia factory makes traditional pugon-baked hopia that you can enjoy or take home as pasalubong. Here you can try various kinds of hopia, such as regular monggo, black monggo, baboy, and salted egg. Excelente Chinese Cooked Ham Excelente is a popular spot for Chinese-cooked ham. Expect long queues especially during the holiday season. They also offer ham sandwiches, if you just want to try the meat. It is located close to Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory. Café Kabuhayan This stall is located beside Quinta Market, just across Jolli Dada’s Eatery. They sell raw coffee beans from all over the Philippines. You can actually smell the delicious aroma of the beans as you look at the displayed jars. Whether it’s Sagada Arabica, Benguet, Kalinga, or Barako — you can find that here in Café Kabuhayan. The prices are affordable and you can buy them at half or whole kilos. Other Spots to Visit in Quiapo These are some Quiapo tourist attractions that you can visit if you have more time. There are more historical streets and areas than included here, but in my opinion if you’re visiting for the food, it’s best to focus on the food. Quiapo Church One of the landmarks at Quiapo District. It is home to the Black Nazarene. Around the church, you’ll find alternative medicines, herbs, and fortune tellers. San Sebastian Church The only Gothic-style church in the Philippines. This is near Aling Mely’s turn food stall, so you might as well make a short stop to see the all-metal structure and stained-glass windows inside. Golden Mosque Located at Muslim Town, the Golden Mosque (or Masjid al-Dahab in Arabic) is a place of worship known by its distinct golden dome, topped with a crescent moon. It was built by (now convicted) First Lady Imelda Marcos to honor the visit of then Libya President Muammar al-Gaddafi. However, the president’s visit was eventually canceled. Today, it stands as a center of Islamic culture in Manila. Reminders and Tips Here are some essential must-knows when you’re visiting Quiapo for a food crawl: What to Bring Here are the things you should bring: How to Plan Your Quiapo Food Trip I suggest getting a Google Map and then putting a pin on places you want to visit. If you want to start at the center, here is a rough itinerary: In my recent visit, we started around 9 AM and then had our final stop at around 2 PM. This was a very relaxed food crawl, with plenty of time to chat while eating. This food trip is very budget-friendly. We are a group of 3 people and we spent about P500 each only. How to get to Quiapo There are various ways to get to Quiapo, depending on where you’re coming from. By commute By private car If you’re bringing a private car, take note of the limited parking spaces in Quiapo. Here are some of the parking spots you can try: That ends our Quiapo food...
An Enchanting Holiday Season Awaits at Lanson Place Mall of Asia - Tara Lets Anywhere
Illuminating the spirit of the holidays, Lanson Place Mall of Asia’s enchanting Christmas Tree Lighting event, “Season of Lights,” has heralded the start of a thrilling festive season of special events and experiences at the hotel. At the heartwarming celebration and cherished holiday tradition, attendees were treated to an exceptional array of festive performances, showcasing the holiday spirit through the soulful voices of award-winning performers including Arman Ferrer and Shiela Valderrama Martinez, Imusicapella, Bernie Pasamba and the Music Masters. Beloved Christmas melodies lifted spirits, before a sparkling cocktail reception highlighted the importance of togetherness. This holiday season, Lanson Place Mall of Asia has transformed into a cosy sanctuary, where guests can step away from the festive hustle and bustle and unwind thanks to its irresistible room promotions. The “Holiday Retreat Promo” runs from December 1-23 and December 25-30, starting from PHP 6,640++ per night. Each stay includes elegant accommodation, a sumptuous breakfast buffet for two, and a welcome amenity to enhance the festive atmosphere. For Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, a special rate of PHP 7,440++ per night is available, allowing guests to enjoy a beautifully appointed room and a delightful breakfast on these extra special mornings. Guests can also enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi, the Infinity Pool, and Fitness Centre during their stay. Following the holidays, a New Year Getaway Promo from January 1-15, 2025 offers a 25% discount off our Best Available Rate, along with the same enticing inclusions. ContentsIndulgent Festive Dining at Cyan Modern KitchenChristmas Flavors: Festive Afternoon TeaBuild Your Own Festive Hampers Indulgent Festive Dining at Cyan Modern Kitchen Cyan Modern Kitchen embraces the holiday spirit with an enticing array of festive delights. From November 14 to December 23 and December 26-30, time-honored holiday classics include succulent cochinillo, perfectly roasted porchetta, and the tender richness of slow-cooked turkey. A glazed leg of ham, roast duck and beef rump provide the perfect accompaniment, before a tantalizing selection of festive cakes and pastries. Cyan Modern Kitchen’s festive buffet lunch is priced at PHP 2,100 from Monday to Friday and PHP 2,800 on weekends. Buffet dinners start at PHP 2,500 from Monday to Thursday and PHP 2,800 on weekends, while kids’ rates make it a perfect outing for families looking to celebrate together. On Christmas Eve, a glorious buffet dinner from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM is priced at PHP 4,000 per person and includes free-flowing festive mocktails, cocktails, and beers. Christmas Day brings two opportunities to feast as lunch and dinner buffets are available at PHP 3,150 per person, both inclusive of free-flowing festive mocktails. As the year draws to a close, a spectacular New Year’s Eve countdown on 31 December includes a buffet dinner and vibrant celebrations at PHP 5,000 per person. The dinner buffet runs from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, then from 10:00 PM the festivities continue with live music, free-flowing sparkling wine, and a breathtaking fireworks display. Finally, on New Year’s Day, a buffet lunch is available from noon to 2:30 PM at PHP 3,150 per person, complemented by free-flowing festive mocktails. Christmas Flavors: Festive Afternoon Tea As the holiday season sparkles with joy and warmth, our festive high tea offers elegant treats to enchant the senses. At Madeleine High Tea, sweet, inviting aromas, charming Christmas ornaments and whimsical characters bring the magic of the season to life. Available throughout December, it includes a selection of decadent treats, where every bite is a celebration of the spirit of the holidays. Build Your Own Festive Hampers From November 14 to January 1, Santa’s Sweet Factory in the 3F Lobby transforms into a festive haven where friends and family can create their own holiday hampers, brimming with exquisite Christmas savories, delectable sweets, and baked goods. Open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, the essence of Christmas is lovingly preserved in every festive hamper. For more information about Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila’s dining venues and offers, visit the official website at www.lansonplace.com/mallofasia or contact the team at +63 2 7777 0000. Follow its official social media pages (Facebook | Instagram) to find out more. Get discounts on your travels! Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHEREKLOOK Guest AuthorThis article is contributed by an expert guest author.
A Remarkable Christmas at Seda BGC: Festivities and treats await guests in this magical holiday season - Tara Lets Anywhere
Experience a remarkable Christmas at Seda BGC! Honoring traditions with a contemporary twist, the hotel presents delightful ways of celebrating the Season to give you remarkable experiences you will treasure for always. The hotel’s signature Artisanal Honey-Glazed Ham is a delicious way of sweetening up the holiday table. Boasting of a juicy, meaty interior and a crunchy, sweet crust glazed with honey, it is minimally-processed and free of harmful chemicals, perfect for family dinners, parties or gift-giving (PhP1,700). Seda BGC also offers gift hampers, a grazing box, and a range of cakes and saccharine treats that that serve as perfect gifts or personal indulgences. For reunions or get-togethers, consider a buffet dinner at Misto or Misto Café for rates starting at only P3,000 net per person for a minimum group of 30 persons. Roof deck celebrations are also available for a remarkable dining experience. Straight Up bar’s main lounge can accommodate up to 100 persons while its Private Rooms are ideal for up to 30 persons (22nd floor). Greater exclusivity is offered at the Rooftop of the hotel’s Tower 1 (16th floor) for up to 50 persons. Its “Christmas Celebrations” package offers a versatile venue featuring both al fresco and indoor areas, along with a private room that guarantees an enchanting evening with breathtaking views of the urban skyline. At Misto, holiday specials are as follows: Note: 50% off on Misto rates applies to kids 6-11 years old. Straight Up sends off 2024 with a New Year Countdown Party on December 31, starting at 7:00 pm. Enjoy an extraordinary dinner buffet in a one-of-a-kind rooftop setting. A guest band amp up the mood; then at midnight, sparkling fireworks to ring in the New Year! Straight Up offers an unbeatable view of fireworks simultaneously lighting up the sky from various points of the metro. All these for PhP9,800 net (dinner buffet goes with unlimited select beverages). Inquiries and reservations can be made through: dining.bgc@sedahotels.com for the Ham, Christmas goodies, holiday lunch/dinner specials and Straight Up New Year countdown; and Events Office for party bookings at events.bgc@sedahotels.com. Trunk lines are 7945 8888 and 8588 5700. Seda BGC is located at 30th Street cor. 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila. Get discounts on your travels! Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHEREKLOOK Guest AuthorThis article is contributed by an expert guest author.