Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming near, and XO46's private dining is a must-try for the upcoming holidays or any special moment with family and friends.

Recently, I was invited to a foodie meetup at Mor Thai in Pasay City, and my trip to Thailand just weeks after my visit made me realize that Mor Thai indeed offers authentic and delicious Thai food. They have been awarded by #ThaiSELECT, and it surely is well-deserved.

A new Spanish restaurant had recently opened at Uptown Parade BGC, and I was recently invited to try it along with my foodie friends. 

Mario's Restaurant has been around for decades, but it was only recently when I was able to try them. They are known to be consistent with their delectable meals and excellent service for more than 50 years. Their original branch started in Baguio City then they expanded in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Both branches offer the same menu.

Nanyang has been around for quite a while now, but it was only until recently that I was able to try their food. I regret that I didn't give it a try at an earlier time as their dishes are delicious. I think I missed out a lot in the past years. 

After being a quarantine hotel for almost two years during the pandemic, U Hotels finally reopens for leisure stay. Recently, I visited them for a quick staycation while I was in Poblacion.

Clark Marriott recently launched the first Wu Xing restaurant in the Philippines, bringing authentic Peking Duck to Clark Freeport Zone. We visited them recently and had an amazing experience.

Sante and Meraki are two restaurants that recently opened at the Mall of Asia Square. They are located on the Ground Floor of the Ikea building, just right in front of SMX Convention Center (Seashell Lane). I recently had the chance to visit them and try their delectable healthy food. What I loved most about my experience here was I enjoyed their delicious meals, guilt-free.

It's been years since I last had a foodie meetup at Paradise Dynasty. It feels good to be back doing meetups with foodies and making new friends in one of my favorite restaurants. The food tastes good, as always. The quality did not change throughout the years, and now, they are finally available for delivery! 

Because of the pandemic, I have yearned to travel again as I miss eating food from different places and cultures. Thank goodness, I have learned about James & Daughters. They serve comfort food from around the globe that you'll surely enjoy. 

Shi Lin is one of my favorite Taiwanese restaurants. I am so glad that they now deliver (and are also available in food delivery apps) so I can enjoy them safely in the comfort of my own home. Their menu has not changed so you can check out my other blog post about Shi Lin for other recommendations. 

As the community quarantine in Manila continues, I searched for more dishes to try at home. A few months ago, I was browsing through GrabFood when I first noticed 24/7 Eats. Back then, it was fairly new and it didn't have many ratings so I skipped it. Recently, I was asked if I could try some dishes by Chef Carlo Miguel. I immediately said yes. His reputation of creating magnificent dishes precedes him, and I have also tried some of his creations when he was still with Foodee Group Concepts and they were all delicious. It turns out, he was behind 24/7 Eats and I was fortunate enough to receive dishes from 24/7 Super Healthy. 

24/7 Super Healthy offers a selection of excellent meals that will surely hit the spot when you're looking for something healthy and affordable. Their dishes have a wide selection of delicious and nutritious protein sources such as chicken and salmon. 

24/7 Eats is like an online food court that is open for 24 hours. It has sub-brands such as 24/7 Wings, 24/7 Super Healthy, Super Chicken Tenders, Burger Beast, Wok with Yap, Get Baked!, Hummus Express, Rice and Shine, Shawarma Master, Inihaw Atbp, Bubble X, 24/7 Party Trays, Daily Dose Coffee Cafe, and so much more. 

Fireside is offering new items on the menu, and we were just recently invited to try them out. 

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory opens its second cafe in Estancia at Capitol Commons. I was invited recently to their media launch and was able to try most of the dishes that they offer on the menu. 

Wee Nam Kee has recently released new and exciting things on the menu. Together with some of the KTG family, we went to their branch in Salcedo, Makati to try their new dishes. 

Recently, I visited Ormoc for my medical-related work and our client brought us to Sutuwaki for early dinner. I was told that this was one of the known restaurants here. 

Last weekend, we decided to try out Hodai's unlimited Japanese and Korean fusion dishes and it did not disappoint. 

Waterside has recently invited us through Zomato for the launch of their Taco Tuesdays and to experience their Weekend Jam. 

There's a new place to go for high-quality coffee brews in Bonifacio Global City. Caffe Freddo prides itself in offering a very unique selection of coffee, not found anywhere else in the metro. I was lucky enough to be invited to their media launch and attend their Coffee 101 class as well as try some of their dishes. 

Gyu-Kaku, the worldwide leader in Japanese BBQ, is all set to satisfy you with their new eat all you can promo!

The first 3D buffet in the Philippines is here and we are lucky enough to be able to be one of the first people to try it. Sharing our experience in this post.

A new menu celebrating new adventures and reminiscing on old favorites: On its 20th year, anniversary in the country, CPK Philippines launches their new menu with all-new pizzas, pasta, salads, while re-introducing pizza favorites over the past 20 years. 

Saturday brunch with The Kain Tulog Gang (The KTG) has brought us to Rustic Mornings by Isabelo in Marikina City. I have always heard about this place whenever my friends would talk about Marikina, but it's the first time that I get to try this out. 

The ambiance is very homey and it does give that "rustic" vibe. It's very calming like you just got up from a good sleep, in your pajamas and have an amazing breakfast in the patio. Rustic Mornings by Isabelo is located on 11 Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina City. 

Sharing the dishes my friends and I ordered at Rustic Mornings: 

Choco Nutella and Vanilla Speculoos Milkshake. Glad that they have flavors like these. These are bestsellers for kids and kids-at-heart.

Iced Cappuccino. I ordered an iced cappuccino with a request for whipped cream on top. (Fun fact about me: I only drink iced beverages for breakfast, even my coffee). It had the right amount of coffee and milk in it.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip. The Isabelo Garden, Rustic Mornings' predecessor, started from this amazing dish. A must-try! Rustic Mornings used to be the old home of Chef Portia, and she told us how she would experiment on cooking then call her mom to try them out. This dish is where it all began. 

Rustic Mushroom Soup. Rich in flavor and creamy. Has complimentary bread on the side. 

French Fries. Some finger food while waiting for the other dishes. Comes with two dips.

Acal Smoothie Bowl. Filled with antioxidants. This smoothie bowl is actually heavy on the stomach. I love the unsoaked chia seeds. This dish just feels very clean and healthy to me.

Three Mushrooms 3-Egg Cheese Omelet with Salad. Served with 2 slices of French baguette, herbed butter, and jam. The additional salad is optional.

Lox Toast Bar. Made of bagel, topped with cream cheese, salmon, capers, and lemon zest. I love the salmon, which is the highlight of this dish. The salad is refreshing and light. 

Half Plain, Half Churros Waffles. A combination of their crispy plain waffles and waffle churros. Something to order when you can't decide what flavor to choose. Both are good but I prefer the churros better. 

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes. These thick fluffy pancakes are just amazing. I like the taste, the texture, and the blueberries. The butter is also homemade and good.

French Toast Tower with Grilled Peaches. This French toast must be eaten immediately upon serving, otherwise, the bread changes. 

Breakfast Platters. There are a lot of breakfast platters to choose from. Best shared with family and friends. 

Tinapa Burrito. Tinapa sounds boring to me until I've had this burrito. I love the saltiness that blends well with the rice and the contrast of flavor with the sauce. This is really good and I recommend this as a must-try!

Dee Heirloom Spaghetti. Generous sauce that's on the tangy side--western style. Pasta is al dente. Also good.

Beef Tapa. A classic Filipino breakfast favorite. The scrambled eggs are nicely done. Beef tapa is good.

Grilled Salmon Fillet Rice Bowl. Juicy salmon fillet. 

Beef Ribs. It reminds me of mechado.

Chicken Fricassee. Reminds me of chicken pastel. 

Real Blueberry and Lemon Cheesecake. Chef Portia made this cake all from fresh ingredients. Real blueberries that go well with the cream cheese. The citrus taste coming from the lemon gives the cake a refreshing feel after every bite. 

Party Trays were also taken home by the gang. These are ideal for family gatherings or parties. You may contact Chef Portia at portiabaluyut@me.com.

Breakfast Baskets are also available. Now, you can cook their fluffy pancakes at home. 

The KTG mandatory groupie. Definitely coming back here again with my family and friends.