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/AVvXsEiqmaejDq0itAia5ltjrDqHIrGW0iSYx2t5fLkk-DeNGIQSqc8r8JIHCNI5d5UIIefixYYCXVm8teGOz0rP-FLZ0lrnVIEDuD9NrPRuy7KIi4bK-qsD4mlN4KaduYUu-NuUEXaAfsxdfupaLIUKN78wWrY0eUiwcBr_Uc9Yl_6yo7sxRkea4n1gTN_tWCs/s1280/craft-1945.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmaejDq0itAia5ltjrDqHIrGW0iSYx2t5fLkk-DeNGIQSqc8r8JIHCNI5d5UIIefixYYCXVm8teGOz0rP-FLZ0lrnVIEDuD9NrPRuy7KIi4bK-qsD4mlN4KaduYUu-NuUEXaAfsxdfupaLIUKN78wWrY0eUiwcBr_Uc9Yl_6yo7sxRkea4n1gTN_tWCs/s16000/craft-1945.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>Braving the holiday traffic in Baguio, foodie friends, Kara, Tin and I were bent to try <strong>Craft 1945</strong> in Baguio. A merry collaboration of Spanish food from Casa Marcos and craft beer from Baguio Craft Brewery. Set in the quiet and old town of Baguio at Outlook drive, it’s a dining experience that promises to bring the Baguio ambiance to dining like a good pair of beer and tapas.</p>

<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> <p>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.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysFL1mbCZVTX6ajFB7qOffFZvZZL1r7zPh-C38qoF76ikWahxYUmxNMJbDMG3_v4Hmdo5K2PtKeBWXVgIyf7oGPIxHMI7NGv-GEjz40-l_ke2pMOtOI-IKO2icZuZfqanOTQhXuKyNIDJDSoZCcIUdkH13SwIh-IlVQ2a268e2jwyV9G9ljgY3Tw2fzk/s1280/kalugong-kape-an.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysFL1mbCZVTX6ajFB7qOffFZvZZL1r7zPh-C38qoF76ikWahxYUmxNMJbDMG3_v4Hmdo5K2PtKeBWXVgIyf7oGPIxHMI7NGv-GEjz40-l_ke2pMOtOI-IKO2icZuZfqanOTQhXuKyNIDJDSoZCcIUdkH13SwIh-IlVQ2a268e2jwyV9G9ljgY3Tw2fzk/s16000/kalugong-kape-an.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>A cafe found 1,400+ meters above sea level among the cliffs and the clouds? Now that’s an interesting prospect to climb up a mountain. <strong>Mt Kalugong Kape-an</strong> in La Trinidad, Benguet is nestled among the limestone outcrops at the peak of Mt Kalugong. The cafe has a magnificent view of La Trinidad valley and offers third-wave quality coffee utilizing high-altitude grown Benguet Arabica. Now that’s worth climbing up a mountain for is it?</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi83duwW79gThIFqLHXMXXCZWNQqvtVck-HjJv-RhkXiDiLkEjcRdFrLM8L6tnm5qcSJ55bQTxLIgj03SWZ-OH6zEmLGgMvlvW5zwXQ2FyftTnC9MBXWwTlTUVIGxF0bxLoJWHiWFtlxIn0MpMJ7DkjEkIp7NegD0v5i7aM07a-g5QvKkyfg6BDJz_fo/s1024/hiap-yak-tea.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi83duwW79gThIFqLHXMXXCZWNQqvtVck-HjJv-RhkXiDiLkEjcRdFrLM8L6tnm5qcSJ55bQTxLIgj03SWZ-OH6zEmLGgMvlvW5zwXQ2FyftTnC9MBXWwTlTUVIGxF0bxLoJWHiWFtlxIn0MpMJ7DkjEkIp7NegD0v5i7aM07a-g5QvKkyfg6BDJz_fo/s16000/hiap-yak-tea.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>There's a small, non-descript coffee shop named <strong>Hiap Yak Tea Shop</strong>, tucked somewhere in the alleys of Indian Street in Kuching, Sarawak, where the hot, steaming coffee is still served with a pat of butter. Of course, it makes for a creamy, buttery, if a bit strange, brew but there's an interesting backstory (or tale, if you prefer to think it's part-fiction) to why in this small shop, the coffee not the bread or biscuit is buttered.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6nMiU2q4_zPU-fGKK6BhrXZkjdbySggjt8GDvB7Wl4VLBdEWTrMx1bWU_Ls8C2Rb_HAyYywnSGJYJJ4LSHrCAwjAqncvrlk7BGVpWAGDhm1kjo6o_Lo4vOsKXE_HiOuyuMTvF_WaDOrmazZfgdQGQhAdwJLOGTACRJ4GXkTZ19N2nLzYUjg75XCsV0I/s1280/black-bean-coffee.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6nMiU2q4_zPU-fGKK6BhrXZkjdbySggjt8GDvB7Wl4VLBdEWTrMx1bWU_Ls8C2Rb_HAyYywnSGJYJJ4LSHrCAwjAqncvrlk7BGVpWAGDhm1kjo6o_Lo4vOsKXE_HiOuyuMTvF_WaDOrmazZfgdQGQhAdwJLOGTACRJ4GXkTZ19N2nLzYUjg75XCsV0I/s16000/black-bean-coffee.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>Happyfoodies had a blast covering the <a href="https://www.ironwulf.net/2019/10/3rd-kuching-waterfront-jazz-festival.html">Kuching Waterfront Music Festival</a> in Kuching, Sarawak in the eastern part of Malaysia. In between tasks and barring rain, we had occasions to wander off into the side streets and small alleys at the waterfront area leading to the bridge and parliament building. One of finds is this small coffee shop along Ewe Hai street, <strong>Black Bean Coffee and Tea</strong> shop while waiting for the sunset to shoot.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO09v0pVxJxpKXuhHR6DReDgJ-m1Qad-6yhXbIEzBGtwmKmX1vniMhqMON6k0GDazKmvtguFrNYx0Q8luod-1a13R5kLxu_oQiYZ7CSh78omBmmKHc_qyouHi7FHT69HpcczrGGOHADPklS-JYz63Laatkt7NgTMhW8KL0N6T31Hj1TIT4Gsxbk7ecL_A/s1280/blue-wonder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO09v0pVxJxpKXuhHR6DReDgJ-m1Qad-6yhXbIEzBGtwmKmX1vniMhqMON6k0GDazKmvtguFrNYx0Q8luod-1a13R5kLxu_oQiYZ7CSh78omBmmKHc_qyouHi7FHT69HpcczrGGOHADPklS-JYz63Laatkt7NgTMhW8KL0N6T31Hj1TIT4Gsxbk7ecL_A/s16000/blue-wonder.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>Happyfoodies have always been Cartimar regulars long before the time when it became the go-to place for pet lovers and owners. Not really venturing far from the pet and plant supplies blocks, <strong>Blue Wonder Coffee & Bean Roastery</strong> has escaped our attention until recently. It seems like an anomaly of sorts, a warmly-lit, cool stopover place among stalls of PX and other goods, like an oasis for those who know a bit more about coffee beyond the big brand cafes.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAYb34kmAlbCQv4BkTuqIO2tsw2dWAhVFtbGSMr3XmvI2tIK7tJal5DBSOTR3zrG4Cor7DGQllvNZAOm_sCBhYdFrTohTmqK_m-sgivxybjQGWQHyGK6RY9sVvkmsNvifazX7CCGL1NARRIHfoB5_G3be05rGYmcDkb91RPOUpDnT9a0PxbtSy46YZQQ/s1280/sister-curry-mee.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAYb34kmAlbCQv4BkTuqIO2tsw2dWAhVFtbGSMr3XmvI2tIK7tJal5DBSOTR3zrG4Cor7DGQllvNZAOm_sCBhYdFrTohTmqK_m-sgivxybjQGWQHyGK6RY9sVvkmsNvifazX7CCGL1NARRIHfoB5_G3be05rGYmcDkb91RPOUpDnT9a0PxbtSy46YZQQ/s16000/sister-curry-mee.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>It took me a second visit to finally catch the <strong>Sister Curry Mee</strong> stall open at <strong>Air Itam, Penang</strong>. I wasn’t aware of their opening time before and visited late afternoon after my visit to Kek Lok Si temple. Now I wouldn’t want to leave Penang without tasting this Malaysian dish from a stall that has been serving them for at least 73 years already.</p>