The grandfather of one half of the romantic duo behind Dream Wide Awake passed down the tradition of tsokolate de batirol (a Filipino cocoa that’s mixed with a wooden stick specifically designed for chocolate). At their pop up stall focusing on coffee and chocolate beverages, they even use a sturdy old brass pot which has their grandfather’s name etched at the bottom, signifying that this pot has melted generations worth of “tsokolate”. And it’s used in their mocha coffee, which produces a bitter and dark chocolate flavor, creating a more authentic tsokolate experience. It’s inspiring to see someone realize the value of a tradition nearly forgotten by time. Their concept is part of The Good Trade Fair’s roster of eco-friendly stalls focusing on reducing waste by serving food and goods using recyclable materials like glass bottles and package-free items. Make sure to catch them today through Sunday at Central Square in BGC.
Pampanga’s Bella Goose Coffee is a welcoming place in more ways than one. Aside from serving high quality coffee and food. (If you’re into smooth, flowery flavors, their signature lavender latte is a must-try!) This is a place where anyone and everyone can feel they belong. Their warm atmosphere and team of friendly baristas are central to this, and they keep a little library of literature and table top games for customers to enjoy. But Bella’s most impressive effort in building an inclusive community is how they use profits to fight human trafficking. They take in women who have been set free from sex slavery, give them an opportunity to start over by training and employing them as roasters and baristas. Bella Goose—which means “Beautiful Lead”—aims to make leaders and trustworthy team players out of their employees by giving them purpose and empowering them with sustainable skills to serve society. It’s not everyday you encounter a cafe with such a sense of purpose. A cup of coffee at their shop means more than just a delicious break time treat, it also contributes towards saving lives.
On the lookout for Metro Manila’s best cookies? Then be sure to stop by Scout’s Honor. They’ve earned a high reputation as a great place to find scrumptious cookies, but they’re not stopping there. They also dabble in specialty coffee, handcrafted milkshakes, and curating their own line of craft milk—obvious pairings for their cookies. We sampled their Horlicks milk, which is basically sweet malted milk, and paired it with their ultimate triple chocolate cookie. It’s a combination that brings to mind the typical Filipino childhood memory of drinking Milo (powdered malted chocolate milk drink) before bedtime. They also have interesting creations like charcoal-infused craft milk. And if none of the pre-made treats pique your interest, you can try your hand at crafting a personalized cookie. It’s one of the few places around the Metro where you’re free to be in tune with your inner child.
Glenfiddich Philippines’ Most Experimental Bartender 2019 is the craziest and most creative whisky industry event in the country, and we’re here celebrating tonight’s huge gathering.
This is the best year they’ve had so far, full of concoctions like “scotch” tape, pastries, salmon garnish with homemade vinegar, soy curd, milk teas, and doughnuts—all paired or infused with Glenfiddich 12-year-old scotch of course.
There are also artists pairing the scotch with tattoos, pomade, and photography.
This year’s winner gets to fly off to Scotland and compete internationally at the global finals where they get a chance to be crowned the World’s Most Experimental Bartender of 2019, one of the industry’s most prestigious titles. We’re excited to see who the top three contenders are that make it to the next step. Stay tuned for more updates!
Aeropress Championship is one of the most awaited events in the Philippines’ continually developing coffee community. It’s filled with people passionate about coffee and hungry for knowledge to learn more about coffee brewing and the industry.
Characterised by loud music and developing stronger ties in the scene, this event brings hundreds of people together, united in that same passion for brewed black coffee. Despite it being a competition, there is no vibe of hostility. Instead, camaraderie prevails because of how closely knit the coffee community is.
This year, Daily Drink Magazine’s base of operations, Honeycomb Manila had the honor of hosting the event as a preview into the new collaborative studios. Daily Drink had a free button pin making station and the space also hosted a new addition to the event, a pop-up tattoo studio.
Here, baristas could get new ink expressing their love for coffee. We are happy to report that the day felt like one big party where people met to catch up with each other, brew great coffee, cheer on their friends, and in turn, we saw the community grow.
Classic cocktails with a Filipino twist. This is C-Lounge’s M.O. So let’s zero in on two of our faves. First is the Manggarita, which stands out not only for its dope name, but because it’s made with a chamomile-infused tequila and mixed with mango and pink guava nectar. Then they rim the glass with colored salt and top it off with a dried mango garnish. Mwah. Next up is the Sampaloc Mule, which is made with Sampaloc syrup, Limoncello-infused vodka, and ginger ale—adding very simple but effective kick to the traditional Moscow mule. C-Lounge does all their infusions in-house, which is why they have so many original spirits on the menu. There aren’t a lot of great options for an afternoon drink in the Philippines, but these guys are ahead of the crowd. And thankfully so, because their location up high in the Conrad Hotel offers great views of the iconic Manila Bay sunset. There isn’t a much better way to toast Philippine Independence Day than this.
What impressed us most when we stumbled upon C-Lounge is how much they were doing themselves. From their cocktail recipes, to their syrup and alcohol infusions – it’s all made in-house. They also have locally sourced fruit garnishes that they opted to dehydrated themselves, like dehydrated dragon fruit, orange, and ginger. Even with traditional and standard cocktails, they prefer to use their own ingredients, which enables them to create more of their own flavors and allows them to achieve their goal of adding a more Filipino touch to their recipes. By doing this more often, it can also be a good way to enhance their skills in curating drinks and can also train their palate to taste better. Most bars rely heavily on pre-packaged ingredients, which more often than not, gives the bartender less chances to experiment with different flavors. C-Lounge is arguably one of the best places to find locally inspired cocktails.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your street tacos, CHINO—which was brought to the Philippines from Hong Kong—is worth the extra pesos. Their specialty is upscale Mexican street food mixed with a Japanese style of cooking, and it’s extremely easy to eat. You can pair their food with a wide selection of booze, so enjoy a couple mezcals or highballs and maybe try out their best-selling barbacoa tacos. It’s not just the food and drink that makes this place worth splurging though; it’s also the beautiful interior and their super friendly, informative staff. You can ask them anything about their menu. CHINO is certainly a fancy place but it’s still approachable and offers great service. You’ll feel right at home and comfortable enough to have a lengthy, laid-back conversation with your pals. The vibe here is the epitome of chill, so you can enjoy your stay without all the noise and the rush, unlike the Philippines’ usual crowded Mexican places.
Specialty grade matcha (green tea leaves that are finely grinded) is starting to gain traction in the Philippines, and Made In Matcha is helping pioneering it. As a pop-up matcha bar, they offer different concoctions that put the spotlight on matcha and other specialty grade teas like the houjicha. They also have premium matcha powders and nama chocolate spread that you can order online or at their pop up events. Made In Matcha gives premium teas all the respect they deserve, even using a chasen (which is a Japanese whisk usually made with bamboo, meant for mixing matcha in tea ceremonies). You’ll find them almost weekly serving drinks at different events; we’ve seen them in action during a couple of events around Metro Manila like at Pursuit Fair. It’s a refreshing sight to see, especially now that mediocre milk tea has been making another comeback in the Philippines. If you’re a milk tea lover that’s tired of drinking too much sugar, you’ll appreciate Made In Matcha because they’re focused more on the flavor of the tea than on its sugar content.
Have you ever heard of coffee profiling? It’s a process that only specially-designed espresso machines can do. It basically means a barista can choose what flavor comes out of the beans, and it’s mostly achieved by controlling the water pressure flowing through the coffee and with changes in time. West Town’s Coffee in Manila, which just reopened, claims to have mastered coffee profiling with their La Cimbali (an Italian manufacturer) espresso machine, so we paid a visit to find out. Although there were hiccups when we visited, they were just getting back into the swing of things, which makes them pretty excusable. The Americano was a bit too hot to really enjoy, although when cooled down, notes of milk chocolate pop out, making it taste almost like a mocha even without milk or creamer. It’s surprising how much can be done with coffee without adding anything to it like sweeteners, cream, or even syrups. Just tweaking a couple of things during brewing can really bring out the complexity.
This is the El Matador, served in one of the finest cocktail bars in Metro Manila, Raging Bull Chophouse Bar. This house drink (not to be confused with the tequila-based, classic matador) is made with Rittenhouse rye whiskey, Cherry Heering liqueur, pink grapefruit, mandarin juice, and vanilla syrup. The smokiness trails nicely with its sweet and sour cherry notes, all ending with a hint of vanilla. Raging Bull, situated in Shangri-La at The Fort, is best known for their fancy premium steak cuts, but don’t miss out on their extensive cocktails and spirits menu—they serve almost everything you can think of, from mezcal to craft beer. If you appreciate a learning experience, every spirit in their menu has an origin story that you can read through before ordering. It’s an attractive menu too, made with a classy full grain leather cover with their logo subtly engraved on the top. They pay attention to detail, from classic leather chairs to a wall dedicated to antique carving tools; everything is just right.
Stepping inside Raging Bull will instantly give you a nostalgic feel of the 1960s era. A very intimate and cozy atmosphere hidden inside one of Manila’s finest hotels. Not all cocktail bars are great for food, but here’s where Raging Bull definitely stands out. It’s a good idea to bring a date and enjoy a well-prepared steak with their classic cocktails.
Find Raging Bull in Shangri-La Hotel, Bonifacio Global City
