7 Best Places to Order Sweet, Cheesy Ensaymada in Metro Manila

Okada Manila is embracing spring in style with a lineup of gourmet experiences, family activities, and wellness indulgences running throughout April.  Enjoy everything from lavish Easter buffets to rejuvenating spa treatments, promising to leave you feeling as refreshed as a blooming flower!

Enjoy Seasonal Feasts and Easter Delights

Celebrate Easter with the Hoppy and Hearty Easter Buffet at Medley Buffet on Apr. 20, 2025. Diners can feast on fresh seafood, succulent roasts, and Easter-themed desserts, with a special egg hunt for families. The buffet is priced at P4,500 nett per adult and P2,250 nett per child.

For a more refined afternoon, A Taste of Spring High Tea at the Lobby Lounge offers floral-infused pastries, finger sandwiches, and premium teas. Available from Apr. 1 to May 1, 2025, the set is priced at P1,150 nett for one and P2,280 nett for two.

Foodies can also savor seasonal menus, including La Piazza’s Primavera Perfection, featuring marinated ocean trout, green pea ravioli, and Romana-style pizza with shrimp and stracciatella cheese. Available from Apr. 1 to 30, 2025, dishes start at P400. Meanwhile, Okada’s traditional Chinese restaurant Yu Lei offers the Flavors in Bloom set menu by Chef Mikiya Imagawa for P6,800 nett, available until Apr. 20, 2025.

For those with a sweet tooth, A Sweet Easter Surprise at the Lobby Lounge and Pastry Shop features Easter cakes and chocolates from Apr. 10 to 21, 2025, starting at P450 nett.

Family Fun

Families can enjoy Easter Fun at Cove Manila Beach Club on Apr. 20, 2025, with live entertainment, poolside activities, and special treats. Tickets start at P1,788 nett. Kids can also get active with Flip, Jump & Play Gymnastics Classes at PLAY, with trial sessions for P750 and full-term packages from P9,888 nett.

Seasonal Spa and Beauty Indulgences

For a spring refresh, The Retreat Spa offers a Total Relaxation Package for P8,900, including a 60-minute Pore to Pure Facial, 30-minute Aromatherapy Scrub, and a 30-minute Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage.

The Beauty Salon presents the Springtime Glow Treatment, with a Glow Boost Hair Treatment for P888 when paired with a Base Hair Color service. At the Nail Art Studio, Blooming Nails offers spring-inspired nail art with a complimentary Hand Thera Paraffin treatment for P2,500.

Location: Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive 1701 Parañaque Metro Manila ·

For more information, visit Okada Manila's website, or their Facebook and Instagram. 

Attention all vegans, plant-based enthusiasts, and adventurous foodies! The Philippines’ first and biggest vegan festival is set to take place on Mar. 29 to 30, 2025 along the Paseo de Roxas Avenue in Makati City.  

Now in its 10th year, VegFest Pilipinas 2025 promises to be a vibrant celebration of veganism and invites everyone to enjoy this two-day festival filled with a wide array of delicious vegan cuisine, a culinary showdown from talented chefs, and inspiring talks and discussions about veganism!

This event is organized by Philippine animal rights and welfare group Vegans of Manila, and offers a look into the benefits of adapting a vegan lifestyle while still staying true to Filipino culture, creativity, and community. 

Apart from the variety of vegan Filipino cuisine available, one of the festival’s highlights is the “Sarap Maging Vegan!” Cooking Competition LuzViMin Division, where talented chefs from the Philippine islands compete to present the most creative and innovative vegan dishes. 

These talented chefs are Chef Richard Gomez of Chad’s Bar and Grill from Ilocos (Luzon), Chef April Lucero of Vegan Island Restaurant from Cebu (Visayas), and Chef Minerva Benzohan of Salirut Restaurant from General Santos City (Mindanao). 

Interested to know what food stalls you’ll be seeing at the VegFest Pilipinas 2025? Here’s a list: 

• Maryland ChickAn (Deep Fried Watermelon)
• Boochamama
• Blue Eco Fam
• Fungify
• Bread x Salt
• Earth Desserts
• Edens Vegan Food Hub
• Coolava Citrus Bar
• Get Bowl’d
• Aigoo
• Dehusk
• Diwata Vibe
• Happy Scoop
• Manalo Filipino
• Marikina Vegan
• Monki Monki
• Moonchild Crystal
• Planted
• Remedy Drinks
• The Farmassist
• Nuttelex
• Om Bakes

And more!

Entrance to this vegan festival is free, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to explore plant-based products and lifestyle! 

For more information and updates, check out the VegFest Pilipinas pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Couldn’t get enough of “Culinary Class Wars?” Solaire Resort is allowing you to experience some of the dishes featured on the hit Netflix show as they bring Chef Choi to Manila this April!

For two exclusive evenings, be part of an intimate dining experience with Chef Choi Hyun Seok, who will be showcasing some of his signature dishes from “Culinary Class Wars” alongside specially crafted amuse-bouches and desserts. You can witness the master at work at the Finestra Italian Steakhouse at the Solaire Resort in Parañaque City on Apr. 5, with a second serving at their Vertis North branch on Apr. 6. 

Diners will be treated to a special Korean-inspired menu with his famed Vongole — a unique Korean twist on the classic Italian clam pasta — taking center stage. And yes, he’s including garlic this time! Other menu highlights include Miyeok-guk, a refined version of the classic Korean seaweed soup, and the masterful Jang Trio Steak, featuring the famed Korean “Jang” sauces. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the trio of desserts, which includes two amuse-bouches and a sweet bingsu-inspired creation.

Fans of Chef Choi or the show can avail of this one-of-a-kind dining experience and taste his amazing creations for P11,888. You can reserve your spot here.  

For updates, stay tuned on Solaire Resort’s Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Twitter) pages. 

Anyone up for a taste of a real St. Paddy’s Day celebration? 

Get into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with a taste of Irish whiskey at The Spirits Library this Mar. 15, 2025, at 4:30 PM with The Tasting Club.

Following their Irish Whiskey Tasting with Kris Ong from last year that featured a selection of rare Irish whiskeys, The Tasting Club continues this tasting journey through Ireland with another selection of Irish whiskies: Tullamore DEW, Writer’s Tears Copper Pot, The Irishman Single Malt, Waterford Ballymorgan 1.2, Yellow Spot 12 Years, and Redbreast 12 Years. 

The Irish Whiskey Tasting is priced at P2,000 nett per person, with bookings to be directed to The Tasting Club on Instagram. 

A Run-Through of Irish Whiskey Types

To get the most out of the Irish whiskey tasting experience, here’s a rundown of every Irish whiskey type. These liquors depend on the type of grain used and its distillation process. 

Single Malt Irish Whiskey: These whiskeys are made entirely from malted barley that are distilled in a pot still inside a single distillery. These can be double or triple distilled. The Irishman Single Malt is a whiskey of this type.

Single Pot Still Whiskey: This is a mixture of malted and unmalted barley that is completely distilled in a pot still inside a single distillery. The difference between single malt and single pot still whiskey is the addition of raw, unmalted grain. Yellow Spot 12 Years is a single pot still whiskey. 

Grain Whiskey: This is a whiskey type produced from continuous distillation in a column or Coffey still and is produced from a variety of grains. 

Blended Whiskey: This is a mix of all other types and is the most common style of Irish and Scotch whiskeys. Tullamore DEW is a blended whiskey. 

Location: The Spirits Library, 4963 Guerrero St, Poblacion, Makati 1210

Date and Time: Mar. 15, 2025, 4:30 PM

Admission Fee: P2,000 nett

Make your reservations via their Instagram page.

The home of the burger and lobster has just arrived in the Philippines!

One of London’s most famous restaurants, Burger & Lobster, has opened their first branch in the Philippines, located at the Upper Ground Level of the SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City. 

Get ready to crack some shells, hear the sizzles of beef, devour some good food, raise a glass, and do all those things again at Burger & Lobster. 

Launched in late February and opening its doors in early March, the restaurant features some of its classic dishes from London, including The Burger (The Mayfair) (P990), The Lobster (Classic Whole Lobster) (P4790), and The Lobster Roll (P1650). They also introduced two new Manila-exclusive dishes—The Honcho Burger (P595) and Surf & Turk Platter (P4290/P6390)—to cater to the Filipino palate. 

Other items on the menu worth looking out for are the Lobster Mac & Cheese (P990), Atomic Burger (P695), Manila Roll (P790), Spicy Chili Lobster (P3190/P5490), The B&L Combo One (P5290), and the B&L Combo Two (P7090). 

Burger & Lobster is open for walk-ins and reservations. Learn more by visit their website and Instagram page. 

Location: Burger & Lobster, Upper Ground Level, SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City

Opening Hours: 10 AM to 10 PM

After 15 years of globetrotting through the kitchens of New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Chef Kevin David is finally opening the doors to his own culinary haven, Restaurant Idalia.

Before opening its doors permanently, Restaurant Idalia is offering a sneak peek at its menu with an exclusive Kitchen Takeover at Bibio. For two nights only, Chef Kevin David will be showcasing his signature produce-driven cooking in an intimate dining experience that blends refined technique with bold, ingredient-focused flavors.

Taking place at Bibio Natural Wine Bar in Poblacion, Makati City on Mar. 14 and Mar. 15, 2025, this is a rare chance to sample Idalia’s highly anticipated menu.  

Restaurant Idalia is rooted in a passion for purposeful, ingredient-led cooking. Expect a thoughtfully curated selection of dishes, from Laffa Flatbread with Hummus for P375 and Crispy Calamari (P600) to an umami-packed Udon "Carbonara" with Togarashi and Onsen Egg (P500).

For mains, the NY Strip steak with soubise, leeks, and wine jus (P1,950) promises a perfectly executed indulgence, and dessert lovers can end the night with an Auro Chocolate Torta with pistachio, orange, and crème fraîche (P425).

This takeover sets the stage for Restaurant Idalia’s long-awaited permanent home, marking the evolution of what began as a series of seasonal pop-ups into a full-fledged dining experience. 

Seats are extremely limited, so book now!

For more information, visit Restaurant Idalia on their Instagram. Visit the wine bar Bibio's Instagram here. 

Location: Bibio, 5659 Don Pedro St, Poblacion, Makati

Opening Hours: Mar.14 - 2 seating options, either 6 PM or 8:30 PM. Mar.15 - 2 seating options, either 6 PM or 8:30 PM.