We encounter so many relationships in our lives.  Among them, friendships are the most unique because we get to choose to form them...  My last visit at Dean & DeLuca is a celebration of such friendship...

a friendship which began from our common interest - food and blogging.  Nearly a decade has gone by and we have undergone a lot of changes. 

Though we all still love food, we don't go out just to food blog anymore due to our busy schedule or change in life priorities.  Yes, sad to say The Foodies Circle phase has gone.  But, our true and unnamed friendship remains. 

We had a heavy dinner elsewhere and was quite full.  But, we haven't seen each other for so long that we wanted to extend our chat here at Dean & DeLuca Tomas Morato.  It was almost its closing hours and yet the place was packed with a long queue.  The service was surpeb.  They entertained our orders even before being seated.  

Also, we were not ousted despite occupying our table past its closing time.  We couldn't help it.  The ambiance of the place made it quite nice to stay for a long chat.   Though I have to confess, because I am an introvert, I only recently discovered that most people find chatting as a stress reliever.  I could go on forever without talking and I'd be fine.  But, it was a fun night for me because I like to be around people I admire the most.  Even after a tiring day at work, I'd be recharged by their positive energy, outlook and wisdom.  

Apart from my family, these food buddies have the closest preference with me even with desserts!  Though we were all intrigued by the Purple Yam Hokkaido Cake, the girls were so considerate to order this because they all know my favorites and Purple Yam/Ube is one of them! (Arigato Gozaimasu Girls!!! \(≧∇≦)/ )

On its own stand as a cafe, Dean & DeLuca especially the Tomas Morato branch had quality food, service and ambiance.  It gave us an awesome tea time experience.  While it does not appear to be an expansive deli as it is known for in some parts of the world, it is certainly a cafe stop we'd consider when in the area.  The price is not stakingly high given the quality, service and ambiance that it provides.  Another additional factor to consider in justfying its pricing is that it is an international franchised luxury brand.

It's been a more than a month since the lock down.  It made us miss the times which seemed like usual and ordinary.  I recall the last time the family randomly stopped over for One Zo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶.

 

Side Story

With so much time, I didn't feel like blogging until now.  The urge to blog had sparked from a strange yet vivid dream where all the nostalgic moments (that I blog) of places I've explored, dishes I've tried and expensive things I've bought were in the form of bright orbs that were absorbed by my soul and compromised who I am.  It reminded me of how much I love this game of blogging where I get to test myself each time I make an entry on (1) how present I was at that moment and (2) how well I can replay that precise moment in my mind. 

Because we don't have any eat outs, it's so easy to recall that drizzling milk tea Sunday.  While on our way home from my cousin's spa opening,  my sisters were looking at the milk tea stores around Banawe one by one. One Zo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶 got our attention and we all agreed that it was the one we wanted to have.  Some of us have not tried it so it was the perfect opportunity since this branch had no lines at that time.

I told my mom I'd treat her but she said that she wasn't in the mood for it since we just came from a heavy Chinese lauriat lunch.  My sister and I went on ahead to the store to purchase.  The "It's a MATCH" from its Top 5 Drinks appealed to me the most.  My little sister, on the other hand, ordered the "Taro Delight". 

After we made our order, someone ordered 20 or more milk teas.  Then, my mom and siblings called us to order for them too.  What luck right?  We decided to spend our time taking photos while waiting. 

It also allowed me to observe a tapioca making machine for the first time.  One Zo is famous for making its own pearls.  The pearls are special as they were flavored pearls.

♥ It's a MATCH L (165 php) and ♥ Taro Delight L (130 php)

We all enjoyed our drinks.  I liked the It's a MATCH very much.  The matcha flavor was just right.  I wouldn't be bothered if it was a bit stronger.  Yet, the subtlety was appreciated in this instance since it was complemented by its specialty pearls. 

♥ It's a MATCH L (165 php)

We all love novel ideas.  Novelty makes anything easier to remember.  Hence, you can be assured that One Zo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶's novelty flavored pearls will grant you a fun and memorable milk tea with pearl experience in every visit. 

While some may be lucky enough to visit Japan for its Cherry Blossom Viewing as much as they can.  Many of us are not able to due to time and monetary constraints.  Fortunately for us, we have the newest milk tea concept in the Philippines inspired by the Japan's Cherry Blossom Viewing tradition - Sakura Hanami.   It now has several branches and Sakura Hanami Taft in Arrow Food Park is the one we recently got to visit. 

Sakura Hanami which directly translates to Cherry Blossom Viewing is a millennia-old tradition in Japan which still has a growing popularity up to present.  In fact, around 5,000,000 million tourists fly to Japan just for this in a year.  It gets so crowded and popular that some viewing spots even charge a lot just for exclusivity.   

One of the distinguishing features of Sakura Hanami is that it serves hot floral tea variants.  One pot is good to share for two to four people.  

The Lava Pearl Latte just shows us that Sakura Hanami caters to all types of tea drinkers. While we found the Lava Pearl Latte at regular sugar level too sweet for our liking, we do know a lot of sweet tea lovers who will crave for this.  For a slightly lighter sweetness, you can opt for the Okinawa Roast Milk Tea (95 php/regular).

The most impressive drink for us was the Matcha Creme Milk Tea with Sakura Pudding.  This is a legit matcha drink!  We bet that if you order the XL, you'll really feel the caffeine kick from this drink.  It's so bold and rich just the way we always wanted our matcha but rarely could have. We also love the rosy flavor of the Sakura Pudding that perfectly matches the matcha. 

The Bubble Mousse is a dessert snack packaged in cute bottle with pink ribbon.  We tried the
Classic Milky Bubble Mousse (155 php) and fell in love with it!  The strength of the tea flavor, the silky melt-in-your-mouth texture of the mousse and the soft to chew pearls on top gives a wholesome experience.  We just found this a bit pricey especially the other variants that cost 175 php per bottle But, if you can splurge then we guarantee the even biteful is heavenly!  The sensation is so appealing that we would probably try the Strawberry Bubble Mousse or Matcha Creme Mousse next visit!

Sakura Hanami depicts the Japanese philosophy that highliughts premium quality hence the "kaizen" (かいぜん) concept which is actually rooted in the way they genuinely care for people "omoi-yari" (思いやり).  The drink quality and service is superb.  To sum it up, we,Tsinoy Foodies, guarantee that you can find satisfaction in Sakura Hanami with a reminder that premium variants comes with a premium price.

I work in a very cool office where I have to wear a thick coat every single day.  Yet, my life seems not cool enough so I decided to chill out at Cold Layers Cafe.  

So off I go to Fishermall to share a meal with fellow foodies. 

Turns out, they have a menu for savory meals too.  Charging off our meal with the Creamy Chicken Pesto.  Let me just point out that this pesto-spiced pasta is as creamy, cheesy and chicken-y as stated.

The savory options comes in a worldly variety.  Yes!  There's Chicken Teriyaki!  It was soft, sweet and saucy, served in a way that could sweep your soul away.

There is also Chicken Cordon Bleu.   How is that for a French meal?

If there's a Pinoy-style spaghetti, this has got to be a pinoy-style Cheesy Meat Lasagna.  It's got the sweetness that will bring you back to joyful childhood sensations.  

Because life is fast, I do appreciate everything prepared slow.  Thus, my favorite amongst the savory meals is the Slow Cooked Beef Ribs.

Since I wouldn't share the Slow Cooked Beef Ribs, good thing there the Fish n' Chips for sharing.

Sure, the savory meals were a pleasant surprise.  But, my eyes shines upon the sight of snow ice.  

I found the "Let's Split" interesting.  I have thought of two perspectives for this treat.  One is to order this for sharing.  The other is to order it for as a foreshadowing treat before delivery a breakup speech.

I feel "Summer Fling" is inappropriate for this one.  Sure, it might be light but it's so captivating  that you'd want to have it longer than just one summer.  

The Snow Ice selection that really spoke to me was the "Meant to Be".  A spoonful of this and I knew it was destiny!  This matcha really got me.  I bet it will mean the same thing for other matcha lover.

The "First Crush" is light and Chinese-influenced just like my first crush. 

Ahh... I do love horlicks.  We used to alternate plain milk, Milo, Ovaltine and Horlicks every night when we were kids.  So yes, the Sweet Surrender is Tsinoy Foodies approved!

They have cool drinks too.  I was expecting frappes to be caffeine loaded and stuff.  But, the Chocolate Frappe was rather sweet and chocolatey like Chuckie or Moo served with whipped cream on top.