Happy Foodies

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs1BObjyi2b6B0wCrp9rLi6tahbfxrLZvDJhs0hzhYFrDcC4IiPYx7Ossn_EU_8ZOy6lG-KUPc3Ys7ZY0uXoOPYMTsH7m5RpXjHuB0ZqpPhQRHJjjQbjh-37QqsxGjOm1VZOuK4FyUkTcpA7tAmdAzOUXS_LPNk73aeWLBOzDnHm4AYXLaS4i-y5saOA/s1024/kafe-panglima-dua.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs1BObjyi2b6B0wCrp9rLi6tahbfxrLZvDJhs0hzhYFrDcC4IiPYx7Ossn_EU_8ZOy6lG-KUPc3Ys7ZY0uXoOPYMTsH7m5RpXjHuB0ZqpPhQRHJjjQbjh-37QqsxGjOm1VZOuK4FyUkTcpA7tAmdAzOUXS_LPNk73aeWLBOzDnHm4AYXLaS4i-y5saOA/s16000/kafe-panglima-dua.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>The old town of Ipoh is known as one of Malaysia’s best coffee producers. The “Old Town” coffee brand is a popular present for visitors coming from Malaysia. It is one of my favorite instant coffee due to its sharp strong yet rich flavor. Recently, I found myself back in Ipoh for a fam tour. While strolling through one of the famed concubine lanes in Ipoh, we chanced upon <strong>Panglima Dua Lima</strong>. A charming little cafe housed in an old shophouse serving freshly prepared Ipoh white coffee.</p>

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtLoQvaesExg3g1XSBGIJg-sxGN5WvCCsleWmdk0-rss1Om8WS92i0b0rGofJqtknIxpmcAH5uVIsYAY7FJL_jDLECurhKrMSGIqPzBH28ADzRjnhE9YnhbhsTBzsgjWHkZdb4p3ACSWUIxrc9dS2S2ml1ENEeo8Vzp4UGoosnf1O5S5SOahKmkXekG0/s1024/kape-agape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtLoQvaesExg3g1XSBGIJg-sxGN5WvCCsleWmdk0-rss1Om8WS92i0b0rGofJqtknIxpmcAH5uVIsYAY7FJL_jDLECurhKrMSGIqPzBH28ADzRjnhE9YnhbhsTBzsgjWHkZdb4p3ACSWUIxrc9dS2S2ml1ENEeo8Vzp4UGoosnf1O5S5SOahKmkXekG0/s16000/kape-agape.jpg"></a></div><br><p>Amidst the small town of Anao, Tarlac, is <strong>Kape Agape</strong>, a small community cafe inspired by the highest form of love “agape” - the love of God for man and of man for God. Located at the heart of town abundant with ylang-ylang trees, the cafe not only serves nourishing food for the tummy but also for the soul.</p>

<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahsRhW92N6pLQSClIp3P0LezwrJamEzwhI16MyBihKoOpKc5euMu07J8UVPVK2Rbwxp653BJpao-XVDdz-kcrhGCOnNrpvAPK3gVvecRpCw9_lkHthHmMUsiGvHzQU-PM3eb7b_BUvi5IDfaotscnTzMtRCE4BGNvmlpsWrFF_esBnhXy-V6ZW5Qo4RE/s1023/angono-art-capital-cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahsRhW92N6pLQSClIp3P0LezwrJamEzwhI16MyBihKoOpKc5euMu07J8UVPVK2Rbwxp653BJpao-XVDdz-kcrhGCOnNrpvAPK3gVvecRpCw9_lkHthHmMUsiGvHzQU-PM3eb7b_BUvi5IDfaotscnTzMtRCE4BGNvmlpsWrFF_esBnhXy-V6ZW5Qo4RE/s16000/angono-art-capital-cafe.jpg"></a></div><br>Living up to the town’s reputation, <strong>Art Capital Cafe</strong>, is a cozy little cafe right beside a Caltex station in Angono. It serves up more than the usual brews but also showcases inspiring art pieces from up-and-coming artists. <strong>Art Capital Cafe</strong> was the last stop in our tour of Angono sites and eats. May we have saved the best for last?<p></p>

<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQc_RrZtXO2RRi1TRJUb2Aem7rWVCeK9RJ9rbeDlW-xmgdpW-RSx4ofiDj06yKxN8JK19EhIDEAFrpqebwzAkkPwzw7XD4hx7F8Pt9eukKB8bJPx7UDlESkFfxxRY0dneOmwUwVLEcCUHhKN2UzDuLtkVIPOYO90UnstEGYajLFvYo_DBIJMX6UgFdMg/s1023/el-union-coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQc_RrZtXO2RRi1TRJUb2Aem7rWVCeK9RJ9rbeDlW-xmgdpW-RSx4ofiDj06yKxN8JK19EhIDEAFrpqebwzAkkPwzw7XD4hx7F8Pt9eukKB8bJPx7UDlESkFfxxRY0dneOmwUwVLEcCUHhKN2UzDuLtkVIPOYO90UnstEGYajLFvYo_DBIJMX6UgFdMg/s16000/el-union-coffee.jpg"></a></div><br>I have a friend who’s known as the “Sound Check Guy”. He’s musically inclined and decided to live in La Union for good, finding he felt more at home there. He worked as a barista for a small coffee shop for a while and that’s where I first heard about <strong>El Union Coffee</strong>. This small cafe run by Kiddo and Sly sources locally grown coffee beans from around La Union. Their signature blend became a hit among the locals and tourists alike. The cafe quickly outgrew its original site and had to move to a new location along the MacArthur National Highway.<p></p>

<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUgm8K6Vy9HpBR4ttKbdVBzpnnLOtN02gy0dxECInvWCPge0S4MC_xn0EhBayoRVI-whKL41hCuEPxTePoRDwAZj7qTCyokYO1BEQC43s6zgCTc7C0ChYBgqcK7uEWdTDsGoYM3AoZQ6ITl9YGMY1yyI2wCjnr5DJ5zG253Vvmjj-PC4oZTEiELifpZQ/s1023/the-coffee-library-baguio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUgm8K6Vy9HpBR4ttKbdVBzpnnLOtN02gy0dxECInvWCPge0S4MC_xn0EhBayoRVI-whKL41hCuEPxTePoRDwAZj7qTCyokYO1BEQC43s6zgCTc7C0ChYBgqcK7uEWdTDsGoYM3AoZQ6ITl9YGMY1yyI2wCjnr5DJ5zG253Vvmjj-PC4oZTEiELifpZQ/s16000/the-coffee-library-baguio.jpg"></a></div><br>Your <strong>Happyfoodies</strong> trudged to the northern highlands for the days leading up to the new year with an overnight stop in Baguio.  By chance, we got billeted in a hotel on a quieter street parallel to the always-busy (read: noisy) Session Road and chanced upon the barely month-old <strong>The Coffee Library</strong> on the ground floor of the Rex Hall Student Residences along General Luna Street.  Needless to say, it was a serendipitous find.  Yes, it is eye-catching, with tasteful touches of ethnic crafts, a mix of red brick and warm wood, and even vintage "<em>padyak</em>" (foot pedal-powered) sewing machines converted into tables, but how was the food, you may ask.<p></p>

<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrsSnDk2jDPSiWod_MlOiV3DUNPK-81GGJ4vrOgcYK6Rv2RjkSdr040GpgBUx4GLSus3b7XAu-fWoDAl2Wg233owN4uCK9oZm6i_pZPAOrNVapYPh3nO37doTtd8XH3PdRENC6TyyGfyBKH1vvnTyniJ9Oz95ut2vaUNgfW0S7r798yDUm1kHkb3PtcM/s1023/cafe-pho-co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrsSnDk2jDPSiWod_MlOiV3DUNPK-81GGJ4vrOgcYK6Rv2RjkSdr040GpgBUx4GLSus3b7XAu-fWoDAl2Wg233owN4uCK9oZm6i_pZPAOrNVapYPh3nO37doTtd8XH3PdRENC6TyyGfyBKH1vvnTyniJ9Oz95ut2vaUNgfW0S7r798yDUm1kHkb3PtcM/s16000/cafe-pho-co.jpg"></a></div><br>There is a certain zen moment that I like about Vietnamese coffee. The time I wait for the coffee to brew and drip from the <em>phin</em> (a small Vietnamese brewing device) to my is a quiet still moment I savor every morning. I like the unhurried air it brings. There’s also the yin and yang combination from the ironically smooth yet strong coffee and the creamy sweet layer of condensed milk. Their perfect blend is just a satisfying reward for that short wait. More than the coffee, I also appreciate the surroundings of the cafe which adds to the experience of drinking coffee. That’s why in Hanoi, <strong>Cafe Pho Co</strong>, was a delightful find, tucked deep within rustic buildings past the souvenir shops fronting the streets. Ancient walls, a charming cat, unique coffee with egg, and views one can get lost in moments.<p></p>

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OrXgP9W1TGAcRHJ48UYgAcGEB0YDRMT-JqKi5ZxilgiT9BAPRkzpd6H325IzYCwjtHoeNM4gzbto9KbWAacAsbVkH8-Mnwb2bK_ezu6yJqI7FyttdWzls92DJUsv8HUloKVM9BoIcJOnyJC2yaifdb1rYW-GpsZHqgC6ELOgyWDP3G9xJnxMMmlYQb0/s800/happyfoodies-tacloban-eats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OrXgP9W1TGAcRHJ48UYgAcGEB0YDRMT-JqKi5ZxilgiT9BAPRkzpd6H325IzYCwjtHoeNM4gzbto9KbWAacAsbVkH8-Mnwb2bK_ezu6yJqI7FyttdWzls92DJUsv8HUloKVM9BoIcJOnyJC2yaifdb1rYW-GpsZHqgC6ELOgyWDP3G9xJnxMMmlYQb0/s16000/happyfoodies-tacloban-eats.jpg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><p>Post-Typhoon Yolanda has shaped a different Tacloban City. Businesses are booming and the presence of numerous foreign aid workers has prompted locals to open up not only more lodging but eating places too. People of Tacloban love to eat and its a delight to see some quality home-grown establishments popping up to join old favorites. With the presence of foreigners though, prices have gone up but there are still some affordable options around. This list is not a ranking but the places I have personally tried during my stay. Tacloban City Eats has a nice mix of comfort food, cafes, dessert places and a hotpot. Check out <strong>Chew Love, Dream Cafe, Libros Atbp, Porbida Burger, K Patisserie, Miyara Patisserie, Sofa Cafe, Huhku Hotpot Express</strong> and <strong>Oppa’s Kitchen</strong>.</p>

<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiP-qbgTmxpTnkCb1uK4nXnHGL-zQngj2Js7l9QSCxVs_k5nePPbHvbw46Smr23dy3N8FBPvvMX6J_GP29Brpq1NQHyDxFw-5C6EuVe3flwBjyQrNPV-XV4qxto53zY7bJN1IigyxYhhl0DTHcfRv-hBrhGVqu00OFsHgyRm9LQ_q9BiAuTdMvvPSb2k/s1024/goldfish-cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiP-qbgTmxpTnkCb1uK4nXnHGL-zQngj2Js7l9QSCxVs_k5nePPbHvbw46Smr23dy3N8FBPvvMX6J_GP29Brpq1NQHyDxFw-5C6EuVe3flwBjyQrNPV-XV4qxto53zY7bJN1IigyxYhhl0DTHcfRv-hBrhGVqu00OFsHgyRm9LQ_q9BiAuTdMvvPSb2k/s16000/goldfish-cafe.jpg"></a></div><br>It became my temporary office in Bontoc. The cozy sofa and chairs, the tasteful interiors heavy on the travel theme coupled with beautiful photos of the rice terraces and people of the Cordilleras is truly inviting. My almost weeklong stay in Bontoc finds me at <strong>Goldfish Cafe</strong> catching up on work and the online world. For Bontoc standards, <strong>Goldfish Cafe</strong> is the fanciest cafe in town. For a town whose local coffee culture is quite predominant already how does Goldfish Cafe's specialty coffee offerings fare?<p></p>

<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l6lSMNgenGZTvOLZjlxtr2exbG2xM8SEtxWkAM57eLnA0EQR4OdXJyiEMM6kO17kFlVs2dyrJfvNaXTnZ1pwFO8cHVXDAJawRadADJas9dDMl8an_RrcrMIvGPZC_SlJG5I_w0kAFJumBAYCiE14XcloQ2QmByysIl2HAzSfJwkOc-Wj-HaqpAXa1a4/s1280/sagada-brew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l6lSMNgenGZTvOLZjlxtr2exbG2xM8SEtxWkAM57eLnA0EQR4OdXJyiEMM6kO17kFlVs2dyrJfvNaXTnZ1pwFO8cHVXDAJawRadADJas9dDMl8an_RrcrMIvGPZC_SlJG5I_w0kAFJumBAYCiE14XcloQ2QmByysIl2HAzSfJwkOc-Wj-HaqpAXa1a4/s16000/sagada-brew.jpg"></a></div><br>As repeat visitors to Sagada, we at Happyfoodies were both overjoyed and saddened during our recent visit.  Saddened because a) <a href="http://www.happyfoodies.com/sagadas-misty-lodge-and-cafe-food-worth-walking-kilometers-for/" title="Sagada’s Misty Lodge and Cafe: Food worth walking kilometers for">Misty Lodge's restaurant</a> is closed as Chef Bogan is attending to her mommy duties in Manila, b) <a href="http://www.happyfoodies.com/masferre-country-inn-and-restaurant/" title="Chicharon with Kamatis & Bagoong and other much-missed eats at Masferre">Masferre Restaurant</a> has taken off our favorite Kamatis Bagoong at Lechon Kawali in favor of a menu more oriented towards foreign guests.  But on a bright note, we chanced upon a new, welcome addition to the eateries lining the town's main street:  <strong>Sagada Brew</strong>.  It was actually the recommendation of Wanda, our kind hostess at Rock Inn Farm, to try out the new place (talk about very friendly competition).  It was also a blessing to come on an off-peak season when a lot of eating places are closed for repairs, which helped directed our feet to this shop.<p></p>

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie/6553373851/"><img alt="Alcapone Donut" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6553373851_f3ce7dee0e_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alcapone Donut</figcaption></figure> <p>Before you know it, we're deep into the Christmas holiday.  It's the time of the year when part of the tradition is the merry eating, often a cause for indulgence that will visibly manifest itself come January.  It's also the time to give and receive (food calories included in the merry swapping of presents) so it was really a pleasant surprise to get boxes of <strong>J. Co</strong> Donuts at the doorstep.  Hmmm, gets us into thinking:  is there really room for another donut brand in a sweetly saturated market?  J.Co isn't really a new brand, having been around in other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia where it got started since 2005.  Well, only with a taste test can tell so we made room for extra calories to give <strong>Happyfoodies</strong> readers our impressions.</p>