HK's Little Bao Takes Over Manila with a Twist on a Sweet Local Favorite

Cadbury Philippines is back with a freshly revamped take on its signature chocolate bar — and it’s teaming up with global K-Pop boy band ENHYPEN for its new campaign: Fall in Love with Chocolate Like Never Before, one that aims to bring people closer to the things they love. 

Cadbury's new recipe promises to enhance their original creamy profile with a richer, more chocolatey taste. And here’s where it gets sweeter: Filipino fans now have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fly to South Korea and meet ENHYPEN in person through the "One, Two Connect in Korea with Cadbury and ENHYPEN" raffle promo!

Known for stirring hearts with music, ENHYPEN — made up of Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki — is celebrated for hits like “FEVER,” “Drunk-Dazed,” and “Bite Me.”  

When you purchase P200 worth of Cadbury Dairy Milk (imported by Mondelez Philippines), you can join the One, Two Connect in Korea with Cadbury and ENHYPEN raffle draw. Head over to Cadbury PH’s official Facebook Messenger, upload your raffle details, fill out the form, and you’re in!

The promo runs from June 22 to Aug. 31, 2025.  There will be nine weekly draws that start on July 1 and end on Aug. 26, with 30 winners scoring exclusive ENHYPEN merch — from jackets and earrings to signed albums and posters!  Also, the grand prize includes a 5-day all-expense-paid K-Pop adventure from Manila to Seoul for four lucky fans, complete with round trip airfare, hotel, and meals.

During the grand draw, eight lucky winners will receive signed ENHYPEN posters and another eight will receive ENHYPEN albums. Ten more will win limited-edition ENHYPEN merchandise.

For more information on The One, Two Connect in Korea with Cadbury and ENHYPEN raffle promo, visit Cadbury Dairy Milk on their Facebook and Instagram.

In a city as cosmopolitan as Makati, there are only quite a few spaces where one could feel truly romantic — not only in a candlelit setting, but in a way a place could make you feel present, seen, and softly undone. 

Vine Café & Lounge is one of these rare finds, tucked away behind a flower boutique in Salcedo Village, Makati City. In this space, romantic florals and experiential dining offer a serene escape from the city’s usual rush; a space where guests are invited to slow down and bask in intentional beauty. 

At the heart of it all is Jem Tinsay, the visionary behind this concept. For her, emotional storytelling and purposeful planning are essential to crafting spaces that linger in the present. 

Curious to learn more about her vision for Vine Café & Lounge, The Beat Asia sat down with Jem Tinsay to talk about her inspirations, her journey as a newcomer in the F&B industry, and what’s next on her path. 

Before stepping into the world of food and beverage, Jem Tinsay had already lived several lives. She first began as a registered nurse, later transitioned into pharmaceutical sales, and eventually took to the skies; first as a flight attendant, and then (currently) as a private pilot. Each pivot, while seemingly different, shaped her perspective, laying out her hospitality vision for Vine Café & Lounge with care and quiet boldness. 

Alongside Vine Café & Lounge, she and her team currently manage Boxed Blossoms, a luxury flower boutique specializing in fresh and timeless flower arrangements. 

As founder of Vine Café & Lounge, how does this space represent you on a personal level?

Vine Café & Lounge reflects my personal journey — a blend of travel, elegance, and emotion. As a former flight attendant with nine years in the hospitality industry, I was deeply inspired by the comfort and exclusivity of airport lounges. Vine is my attempt to recreate that sense of serenity, while layering it with the romantic and botanical aesthetic that speaks to my soul. It’s a space that feels like me: intimate, thoughtful, and quietly luxurious. 

Your resume sounds very impressive! Can you tell us about your journey and how that led you to creating Vine Café & Lounge? What inspired you to step into the F&B industry? What gaps were you hoping to fill in Manila’s F&B scene?

I’m a registered nurse turned pharmaceutical representative, then became a flight attendant, then a private pilot, and I’m still completing my commercial hours for licensure. But, I’ve always been drawn to building spaces that bring beauty and connection to people’s lives. 

I created Boxed Blossoms to fund my flight school, and through that, discovered the power of branding and emotional storytelling. Vine was born from a desire to offer Manila something different: a café-lounge that isn’t just about food, but about presence, conversation, and artistry. 

I saw a gap in the market for a venue that felt both elevated and deeply personal. 

What’s the story behind blending a café and a lounge for Vine?

The idea came from my years in aviation. Airport lounges always fascinated me — the lighting, the calm, the curated experiences. I wanted to translate that concept into a café, where people could feel at ease yet inspired. 

The “lounge” element brings intimacy and pace; it’s not rushed. It’s about savouring a moment over coffee, wine, or shared stories. Vine is not fast food, it’s [focus is on] slow presence. 

How would you define the essence of Vine, from the vibe to the experience you want to give to your guests?

Vine’s essence is a romantic refuge. I want our guests to feel like they’ve stepped into a secret garden in the middle of the city where time slows down, beauty is intentional, and every detail whispers care. From the music to the plating, everything is designed to create a sense of emotional connection and sensory harmony. 

The name “Vine” seems to evoke something organic, rooted, and growing. At the same time, it’s a nod to the Boxed Blossoms brand. How does that spirit of growth translate to the brand?

Exactly, “Vine” is about life unfolding. It symbolizes quiet resilience, femininity, and growth, which are also values deeply embedded in Boxed Blossoms. As a brand, Vine is a branch that grew from the same root: love for detail, elevated aesthetics, and making people feel something real. 

Both brands are anchored in emotional storytelling and visual artistry. 

F&B in Manila is both lively and competitive. What have been the biggest challenges in running Vine, especially when the trends and tastes in the metro change and evolve quickly?

Manila’s F&B scene is fast-paced and trend-sensitive. One challenge is balancing staying relevant with staying authentic. We don’t want to chase every trend, but we also can’t be rigid. 

Staffing, rising overhead costs, and customer unpredictability — especially post-pandemic — have also been real hurdles. But they’ve pushed us to be more creative and lean in how we operate. With my partner John Eriguel’s marketing company, Facts and Fables, he is able to catapult our brand forward for more visibility and reach greater heights. 

Food trends usually change from one day to the next. How do you decide on the trends you embrace at Vine? Is it usually more data-driven, or do you collaborate with your team?

It’s a mix of intuition, experience, and collaboration. We do look at what people are gravitating toward on social media or in the market, but we also sit down with our team, especially with our chefs, to align with what feels on-brand. We ask ourselves: Does this still feel like Vine? Trends are just tools — we use them to tell our story, not replace it. 

Are there any exciting trends that you wish to incorporate in Vine Café & Lounge?

Absolutely. We’re drawn to experiential dining — interactive elements like bouquet bars, edible florals, or customizable tasting menus. We’d also love to bring in more functional drinks, wellness pairings, and intimate chef-led experiences. It’s about making dining both sensory and memorable. 

How involved are you in curating the menu of Vine Café & Lounge?

I’m very much involved. While I’m not a chef, I work closely with our kitchen team to ensure the menu reflects the identity and mood of the brand. We focus on presentation, emotional storytelling, and how each dish fits into the larger Vine experience. From the cutlery to the garnish, everything has to align. 

Juggling a floral boutique, a café-lounge, and being a private pilot seems really busy? How do you stay grounded while running all of these at the same time?

Honestly, it’s not always easy. But I stay grounded by remembering why I started — these businesses aren’t just ventures; they’re pieces of my soul. I prioritize structure, lean on a good team, and carve out moments of stillness when I can. 

Flying, ironically, is also my therapy. It teaches me discipline, clarity, and altitude – literally and emotionally. 

As you continue growing the brand of Vine Café & Lounge, what’s your vision for Vine Café and how can it contribute to the local community? To the cultural and creative spaces?

My vision for Vine is to become a cultural anchor — more than a café, a sanctuary where ideas, art, and beauty come to life. I’d love for it to support local creatives, host intimate gatherings, and serve as a canvas for collaboration. 

If we can’t inspire others to pause, dream, and create, then we’ve done something meaningful. We also envision Vine to grow multiple branches and become not just a café, but an overall culinary, art, and lifestyle hub. 

To learn more about Vine Café & Lounge, follow its Facebook and Instagram pages. You can follow Jem Tinsay on her Instagram page. 

Whitespace Manila was on fire (culinarily speaking) when Knorr Professional hosted its explosive Stir-Fry Fest.

Brought by star-studded Team Sure Lasap — composed of culinary icons Ninong Ry, Chef Rosebud Benitez-Velasco, Chef JR Royol, and Chef Boy Logro — headlined the event, transforming the venue into a bustling, flavor-packed kitchen arena.

This event highlighted cooking demos, interactive meal prep sessions, and exclusive tastings, where chefs, restaurateurs, and food service pros from across the country rolled up their sleeves and joined in. 

The Stir Fry Fest was part masterclass, part celebration, and all about redefining what’s possible in the kitchen, with Knorr Professional Sure Lasap leading the charge.

Attendees got hands-on with live cooking stations, teaming up with Team Sure Lasap for interactive prep sessions, exclusive tastings, and bold experiments in flavor using Knorr Professional’s Sure Lasap seasoning, an all-in-one seasoning powder made with real garlic and real chicken aroma.

These demos showcased the versatility and boldness in stir-frying with Knorr Professional’s latest innovation.   

Designed for high-pressure, high-output kitchens and busy lifestyles, Sure Lasap delivers robust flavor and irresistible aroma across a variety of Filipino classics, such as Pancit Guisado and Chop Suey.

“Knorr Sure Lasap is made for real kitchens, helping food service operators deliver consistent, delicious flavor with ease. It’s a product that understands the fast-paced demands of local kitchens,” said Monica Reyes, Country Marketing Manager of Unilever Food Solutions Philippines.

For more information, visit Unilever Food Solutions on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Filipinos’ unique love language is food, and what better way to spend time with your loved ones or hang out with friends than to dine out? The Podium just launched a vibrant new social scene, bringing together a diverse lineup of global cuisines in one unique dining hotspot.

Located at Level 6 of The Podium Mall in Ortigas, the Podium Social offers a diverse profile in a refined yet dynamic space, with stunning views of the Ortigas skyline. More than just a food hall, this culinary collective, composed of five restaurants, is ideal for gatherings, reunions, and hangouts.  

“Thoughtfully designed with the Ortigas community in mind, Podium Social offers a welcoming space to gather, unwind, and connect,” said Mr. Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls.  “Featuring a curated selection of five restaurants, it is perfect for family get-togethers, after-work unwinding, or simply enjoying time with friends.”

If you’re wondering where to take your family for a Sunday brunch or a spot to catch up with old friends over coffee, look no further. Podium Social has a fine selection of restaurants that will not only satisfy your appetite but also your mood.

Bistro Aurora reimagines regional Asian dishes with modern techniques and presentations. This contemporary Asian bistro has earned the title of Best New Restaurant in the 2024 Tatler Philippines Dining Guide, a spot in the Tatler Dining 20, and is quickly gaining more recognition. 

For some tasty European bites, German restaurant chain Brotzeit brings authentic German cuisine and beer culture to the local food scene. First opened in the Philippines in 2007, Brotzeit features hearty German dishes like sausages, pretzels, and schnitzels, perfectly paired with a wide selection of imported German beers. The restaurant’s name translates to “bread time,” which reflects the German tradition of enjoying simple meals and drinks in a casual environment.

H Proper offers specialty coffee perfect for a relaxing afternoon. Originating from Cagayan de Oro City, this specialty cafe sources specialty-grade green coffee beans from Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia, and the Philippines. It has an in-house roastery, so you can expect peak freshness and precision in every cup. The café also offers an expanded menu that includes a diverse range of all-day dining options, such as Turkish Eggs, French Toast & Fried Chicken, and Smoked Salmon Croissant. The café is slated to open this July. 

Lazy Suzy is a modern East Asian dining destination led by Chef Patrick Go, bringing together the bold flavors of the region’s most influential cuisines: Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese. It also offers the ideal setting for intimate dinners, satisfying lunch sets, and indulgent after-hours bites, making it a go-to spot for any occasion. 

Rounding up the restaurant lineup and bringing Italian flavor to the mix is Osteria Antica, a restaurant by the Wildflour Hospitality Group. The name “Antica” honors traditional Italian cooking, which is rooted in ancient culinary practices. This dining hotspot brings an authentic Italian seasonal menu, carefully curated with high-quality ingredients. Osteria Antica’s kitchen also boasts state-of-the-art equipment, including a brick oven from Italy!

For updates, follow The Podium on Facebook and Instagram.

Location: Podium Social, 6th floor, The Podium Mall, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

Hello, milk tea fans!

Global tea sensation CHAGEE is finally bringing its famed authentic and high-quality milk teas to the Philippines with its first three stores this August 2025! Known for their milk teas with zero artificial sweeteners and zero artificial flavoring tea base, CHAGEE is slated to elevate the local café-hopping and tea-drinking culture in the Philippines. 

Way ahead of its grand opening in August, CHAGEE will be holding its first pop up event from July 7 to 13, 2025, at SM North EDSA, The Block Atrium, allowing Filipinos the chance to have a first sip of their best-selling, signature drink – BO YA Jasmine Green Milk Tea – for free! 

The international tea chain currently has more than 6,000 stores globally, with the Philippines being their fifth market in Southeast Asia. CHAGEE’s first three stores in Manila will be located at SM North EDSA in Quezon City, Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas Center, and the Venice Grand Canal in Taguig, all billed to open in August. 

The tea chain is also renowned for its modern tea bar concept that was inspired by traditional tea artistry and fused with innovation. Its stores are built with a welcoming tea house environment designed to foster moments of connection. 

CHAGEE’s stores in Singapore and the United States, for example, were uniquely designed to give guests a multi-sensory journey — engaging sight, scent, and taste. Its first stores in the Philippines are also expected to follow the same tea bar concept, built to enhance the country’s already vibrant tea and café-hopping scene. 

CHAGEE’s 7-Day Power Up Pop Up Challenge will be held from July 7 to 13, 2025, at SM North EDSA. Apart from the free tasting of CHAGEE’s signature drink, Filipinos will have the chance to win exclusive merch and prizes, as well as enjoy a lineup of fitness challenges, and a chance to participate in complimentary fitness dance classes, owing to the brand’s commitment to wellness. 

Milk tea enjoyers can keep an eye out for more upcoming events through CHAGEE’s official app, now available for download through the App Store or Google Play Store. Follow the Official CHAGEE Philippines Facebook and Instagram pages for more updates! 

Only a few years ago, social media was awash in people sharing their baked goods made from scratch. Many indeed turned to baking during those times, which provided a kind of sanctuary and stress relief when most of us were cooped up in our homes. 

Fast forward to post-pandemic, and some are still kneading and whisking away, while others have even turned their hobby into a passion. This is the reason IDIM DIY Bakery was brought into the Philippines, seeing how many Filipinos have become curious about the cooking method. It made sense that a Do-It-Yourself bakery would be a unique and exciting thing to bring into the local market. 

IDIM, which stands for “I Did It Myself,” is an international brand established in Taiwan over twelve years ago. Today, they’re the first and leading DIY Bakery in Asia, with several outposts in countries like China, Macau, and Vietnam. The out-of-the-box bakery concept landed in Manila in 2022 with the opening of their first store in SM Megamall. As expected, it was a hit and was quickly followed by store openings in SM North Edsa, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, SM City Sta. Mesa, and SM Mall of Asia — which is set to open in two months!

The Beat Manila got to attend the opening of their newest store in SM City Sta. Mesa last June 20, and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and take part in the experience to see firsthand whether IDIM DIY Bakery’s promise that “anyone can bake” truly holds up.  

DIY Baking Experience Walkthrough

Step 1: Choose Your Confection

Stepping into their studio, you’ll be presented with a DIY Menu that has all their offerings from the decorative and classic cakes, fillings, and pastries. They have a bunch of decorative designs like colorful unicorn and rainbow cakes, to whimsical character cakes complete with adorable toppers! They’re available in six-inch one-tier (P1,199) or two-tier (P1,599) sizes, and can be worked on by two people. You will also need to choose a cake base, which can either be Chocolate Moist or Classic, and decide on the filling, which could be chocolate, caramel, strawberry, or blueberry. 

Meanwhile, their classic cake delights include a range of fan-favorite flavors such as Red Velvet, Cheesecakes, Chocolate Oreo, Black Forest, and Strawberry Shortcake. Prices range from P899 to P1,399, depending on flavor, size, and design.

If you’re not big on cakes, you can also go for pastries, such as Bear Madeleins (P1,099), M&M’s Cookies (P1,099), S’mores Brownies (P1,149), and Mini Donut Macarons (P1,149).

Customers are given two hours to bake these goodies from scratch. Each menu item is also labeled with difficulty levels so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into. However, regardless of the level, IDIM DIY Bakery guarantees that anyone can accomplish a baking session with their easy-to-follow instructions and accessible stations. 

We decided to go for the decorative Rainbow Cake, because #PRIDE, and the bunny and rainbow toppers were too cute not to go for! 

Step 2: Prepare Your Ingredients

After choosing your cake, you’ll be given wristbands and a tablet. Your tablet is basically your baking JARVIS, and will guide you through the baking process, step by step. 

Before starting, head over to their washing station to get your hands cleaned. Hooks are available under each table for your bags, but there are also lockers available for use. Afterwards, you can grab an apron and return to your designated table to start. 

The first step is to prep the ingredients, which can be found in the ingredients station on one side of the studio. One thing we noticed at this station is that all items are organized in such a way that they’re easy to spot. Each item is also clearly labeled, color-coded, and listed on the tablet, so you won’t have any difficulty finding the things you need. IDIM DIY bakery also prides itself on providing customers with premium ingredients, with most of them imported from their partners in Taiwan. If you look into the refrigerator, you can still see the brands of some of the items, proving that they’re very transparent, and guaranteeing that each cake or pastry will be made from the best ingredients. 

Apart from the products, you’ll also find complete sets of baking tools and equipment such as mixing bowls, spatulas, weighing scales, and timers. Everything is neatly arranged, so it’s not hard to believe that anyone without baking experience or who hasn't spent that much time in a kitchen can do everything on their own. It’s like being in a life-sized play kitchen!

Should you need some assistance or clarification with certain instructions, their staff, who are all trained chefs, are ready to help. 

Step 3: Let’s Bake!

After measuring and gathering all the ingredients onto your tray, it’s time to mix them all up! On one side of the studio are rows of high-quality electronic mixers. Now, they may look intimidating at first glance, but when in doubt, simply look down. By down, we mean at the helpful step-by-step instruction labels on the table, which teach you how to operate the kitchen device. 

Along with the tablet guide, you’ll be instructed on how to incorporate each ingredient, how fast the mixer should be, and for how long you should mix it. A general rule is not to mix them all at once. If the written instructions still have you scratching your heads like we experienced a couple of times, there are visual versions available in the form of video tutorials on the tablet that are quite helpful and cleared our confusion instantly.

While mixing, you’ll also be asked to gather your baking trays and cake molds, which can be taken from their well-labeled equipment rack. Once you’ve taken the mix out of the bowl and into the molds, simply pop it into one of the ovens, set your timer, and let it bake!

Our cake mix only took around 17 minutes to bake, which gave us a lot of time to decorate!

Step 4: Time to Decorate!

We highly recommend preparing your frosting while your cakes cool down on the rack, especially if you’re creating an ambitious rainbow cake that requires at least six different frosting colors. Decorating creams can be found in the chillers, plastic piping bags on the equipment shelf, and food coloring in the ingredients station. 

At the decorating station, you’ll find several cake turntables where you can pile up your cakes. The tablet tells you how to cream, stack, and repeat. We decided to go for a caramel-filled chocolate cake, so in between stacking, we got to pipe a generous amount of caramel, so this was the part where things got a little bit sticky and messy. But it’s all part of the fun!

After approximately fifteen minutes of trusting the process, our rainbow cake was ready for its final touches. Depending on your design choice, toppers are packed in little plastic bags under the station’s table. The rainbow cake included about four toppers plus sprinkles. 

Step 5: Pose with Your Cake

Once you’re done, it’s time to show off your beautiful cake creations to the world! Take lots of snaps of your cake at your table or pose by one of their photo spots in the store. Afterwards, one of the staff can pack up your cake for you to take home, wrapped like a present with a ribbon. 

Look at how our Rainbow Cake turned out!

An Enjoyable Experience for Everyone

No prior baking skills? No problem. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just someone with a sweet tooth and curiosity, baking at IDIM DIY Bakery is a piece of cake! With their easy-to-follow instructions, premium ingredients, and user-friendly kitchen appliances, this studio makes baking fun and enjoyable for everyone!

Their spacious and charming studio spaces also make perfect venues for any type of event, from birthday parties to team-building activities. IDIM DIY Bakery offers various packages for venue rentals, and also does off-site events such as their baking caravan, so you can bring the baking party right to your doorstep! 

A special feature you'll only find at their new SM City Sta. Mesa branch is the DIY Iced Coffee and Milk Tea stations, which allow customers to whip up their own beverages. This is your chance to become a barista for a day!

For someone who doesn’t have much experience in baking, we have to say that IDIM DIY Bakery is the perfect place to start your baking journey, as it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with the process and the equipment. Baking requires a lot of tools and ingredients, so it’s convenient to have a place where you can try them out first and learn the ropes — all for the cost of buying a regular cake from a store. 

10/10 would recommend trying with family and friends. You won’t only come out of it having fun, but also with a delicious confection to go!

To know more about their offerings and locations, visit their website or follow IDIM DIY Bakery PH on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.