Let’s Eat Soup

Last summer, I indulged in the most delectable shakes, ice creams, coolers and what-have-you’s to combat the raging heat of the sun. Now, as rain keeps showing off from time to time, and with the monsoon winds hovering around the country, it is about time to savor the best piping hot soups in town!


1) La  Paz Batchoy by XO46 Bistro Filipino


Amidst the bustling crowd of the Makati Central Business District lies a Filipino food haven – XO46 Bistro Filipino – who had recently opened its Visayan Room adjacent to the main restaurant. It serves familiar Visayan fare that includes the iconic Ilonggo dish, La Paz Batchoy. This generous serving of egg noodles, chicharon and bone marrow in a piping hot broth soothes the senses and envelopes you with warmth this season.

2) The Forest House Bouillabaisse 


In the City of Pines where the climate is cool year-round you will find this rich eafood cream soup served in a bread bowl. Even Akisha, my 3-year old daugther swears by this luscious warmth-inducing potion.

3)Singaporean Laksa at Tao Yuan


From its rustic original restaurant in Malate, Tao Yuan had decided to put up a branch in Greenbelt 2. Not only that. aside from its usual Cantonese fare, it now serves delicious and authentic Singaporean dishes including the iconic Laksa. This rich and spicy coconut milk-based soup satisfies cravings for something hot this season. 

4) Shrimp Bisque at Caffe Puccini


This classic French soup is made of pureed shrimps in a creamy soup. The tangy taste of seafood may turn you off at first, but wait ’til you finish a bowl and you’ll get hooked! 

5) Tom Yum Talay at Benjarong Royal Thai (Dusit Thani Manila)


If you want something hot and sour, the steaming bowl of the Thai favorite – Tom Yum Talay – is the best bet. Make sure to advise the server on how spicy you want it to be because the last time I had this soup and asked the waitress to make it mild, it turned out that the mildest one they have is somehow spicy for my taste. But I love how it awakened my palate then.

6) Miso Soup at Haiku


Japanese cuisine fanatics cannot deny the fact that a meal is not complete without miso soup – red or white, or both. The zesty Wakame seaweeds and soft tofu complement the salty-savory taste of miso paste. A healthier alternative to your MSG-loaded instant noodles! Plus, it is so easy to replicate at home. Just stir a spoonful of miso paste (available in Japanese groceries, there’s one in Pasong Tamo), some Japanese soft tofu and Wakame or nori sheets into boiling water.

 7) La Zuppa – Mushroom Soup at Va Bene Pasta Deli


This rich and creamy soup is not your ordinary one. Not only because it is topped with a milk foam, but it is also drizzled with aromatic truffle oil. 

8) Seafood Hot Pot at Mabuhay Palace (Manila Hotel)


This Hong Kong-style seafood medley on a bed of fresh egg noodles is not only a warm delight, but also a meal in itself. The serving is good for 2 to 3 pax.

9) Sopa de Molo at La Cocina de Tita Moning


Another iconic Ilonggo dish, the Sopa de Molo or Pancit Molo in the vernacular is a hearty feast consists of succulent pork dumplings in a tasty broth. 

Forest House Is All I Want For Christmas

Baguio City is known as the Summer Capital  of the Philippines because of its cold climate. When I was younger, we always go to Baguio City during the Holy Week, before or after going to the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan. Just recently, I had the chance to revisit the city with my friends. It is only my second time to visit the place on a”ber” month. I will reserve the other stories on our first day in a separate blog entry as I want to highlight the most remarkable place I’ve been in Baguio City this time around.

My friend recommended Forest House as our venue for the get-together dinner. She made the necessary arrangements for our reservation. When we arrived at the place, I was overwhelmed by the Christmas decors. I felt I was on a Christmas movie, or in London, or dreaming on a wonderland. This is all I want for Christmas!

Forest House looks like a classic log cabin, a typical countryside infrastructure made of wooden materials. The feel is so cozy and warm, perfect for a cold yuletide night.

Forest House also has a fireplace which they turn on at night. It is really as if I am on a Hallmark Christmas card.

Even the table setup is so Christmas-y! 

They also offer souvenir items, mostly with a yuletide twist.

And I hope it is not too obvious that I love their Christmas tree. 

Forest House has a Bistro and Cafe, as well as a Bed and Breakfast. Both looks very cozy and romantic, though I only saw their B&B from the brochure they gave me. 

We ordered some of their specialties and generally, all I can say is their food is worth the price.

My friend ordered this, Stir-fry shrimps. The veggies are so fresh and crisp! Their serving by the way is good for one person, but it can be shared especially if you are ordering other dishes. The serving is bigger than a regular individual serving.

And what is a trip to Baguio without Bagnet? I ordered Binagoongang Bagnet and asked them to separate the Bagnet from the bagoong sauce to keep it crispy. It’s perfect for a warm bowl of plain rice!

My other friend ordered Bagnet (appetizer version) and have it sliced thinner than mine. I love this “cut” of Bagnet better than the above. This is easier to eat! Cholesterol-loading it is!

Another friend ordered Lengua.

They also have a good selection of pastas, sandwiches, salads and desserts.

Another friend of mine ordered Beef Tenderloin and he can’t help but finish his dish up to the last streak of sauce on his plate. He paired it with a serving of mashed potatoes.

My hubby, on the other hand, ordered Baked Pork Ribs. Though this is not as soft as the one in Hawaiian Bar-Be-Que in The Boutique, Tagaytay, this isn’t that bad after all. The slab is a bit huge for a single serving.

Sorry, we did not order desserts because we immediately headed to Jay-J’s to have some booze. 

So now you know why Forest House is all I want for Christmas. They even have  a band that sings Christmas carols at night.  I would love to go back to Forest House next Christmas!