During our short stay in Seoul last month, we were able to try out many a coffee shops - Holly's Coffee, Cafe Jass, Hello Kitty Cafe, Beans Bin, Ediya Coffee, and so many others - but we failed to try Caffe Bene. Good thing they've opened up franchise branches here in Manila. So, one rainy Saturday afternoon, my sisters and I found our way to the Eastwood City branch (Citywalk 2).

Caffe Bene in Manila looks just like any Caffe Bene in Seoul - spacious and comfy!






As a person who insists on the importance of ambiance, I must say I loved the pretty interiors and the high ceilings. So perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon.

As for the menu items, I had a caramel frappuccino while my sisters had iced blueberry lattes. My frappuccino was too sweet for my taste but the lattes my sisters ordered were really good. Aside from the many drink options on their menu, Caffe Bene also has many dessert choices! They had bingsu (shaved iced treats) and gelato, cakes and waffles, honey bread and so much more. I will have to come back to give the other items on their menu a try.

Sadly though, Caffe Bene doesn't have goguma (sweet potato) lattes, which we had in Seoul and absolutely loved. Goguma lattes can be found at Holly's Coffee though - yet another Korean coffee shop franchise that has found its way to Manila. Unfortunately, there are no Holly's Coffee branches in my area yet. I think my sisters and I should plan a trip to the south one of these days solely for a cup of Holly's Coffee goguma latte - yes, they are that good.

After having tried the ddeokbokki with cheese at Shin Dang Dong, my sister Aia decided we can easily make it at home. True enough, after reading how it's supposed to be cooked online, we headed to a Korean convenience store and bought the necessary ingredients.

Being fans of Korean food, Aia and I tried the Korean restaurant Shin Dang Dong in A. Venue last night before we headed home. I read about this place on some random tumblr blog and decided to give it a try. Shin Dang Dong is known for their ddeokbokki which you yourself can cook at your table. But they do have the regular bibimbap and ramyeon on their menu as well.

Unlike myself, Aia likes ddeokbokki. I'm not its biggest fan. Maybe it's the spiciness, or maybe it's the rice cake itself... I don't know. Nonetheless, Aia and I decided to give it a try.

During the weekend before Halloween, my office mates and I headed south to Tagaytay and enjoyed an overnight stay at the Windy Ridge. The bed and breakfast was nothing special, but we had the most amazing time scouring the city for delicious food and gorgeous sites.

Over the weekend, my sisters and I have eaten at Gotti's Ristorante twice. Gotti's is a mid-range Italian restaurant located in Megamall's The Atrium. And because we love cheap thrills, Gotti's has always been a go-to place for us. I'd recommend the Sundried Tomato Pesto, the Shrimp ala Pobre or the Frutti di Mare, the Dirty Fingers, and their Quattro Formaggi. Also, don't be fooled by their "serves 2 to 3" pasta serving size. They have pretty big servings so we'd normally split their regular-sized pasta two ways and just order a salad or an appetizer also to share.