A Taste of Singapore at Hawker Chan.

SM City Sto. Tomas, the fourth SM Supermall in the province of Batangas, prides itself as the first "Singapore style" mall in the Philippines with its stunning, nature-inspired architectural design. With over 150 retail stores, restaurants, and specialty shops, SM City Sto. Tomas has easily become a favorite among Batangueños and those from nearby provinces. Personally, I like this mall because of Uniqlo and Digital Walker (which are not found in SM San Pablo), and the variety of dining options. Among the restaurant choices in this mall is Hawker Chan, where we had lunch last weekend. 

Hawker Chan at SM City Sto. Tomas.

Hawker Chan, which began as a humble hawker stall in Singapore, is a global franchise known for its high-quality yet affordable food. Originally known as "Chan Hon Meng Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle" (Chan Hon Meng being the chef and owner), the stall became popular for its signature dish, the soya sauce chicken rice - tender and flavorful chicken served with fragrant rice, drizzled with savory soy sauce. After earning a Michelin star in 2016*, this small hawker stall catapulted to fame and expanded beyond its original location in Singapore, opening branches in several countries including the Philippines. 

To date, Hawker Chan has nineteen branches all over the country. The new stores, including the SM Sto. Tomas branch, are now dubbed as Hawker Chan 2.0 with its stylish interiors and expanded menu. They've also somewhat evolved to a casual dining restaurant, with orders taken from and served to your table instead of lining up at the counter. 

Here's a quick look at what we ordered at Hawker Chan. 

Soya Sauce Chicken, Php 198.

Yue and Maggie had the signature Soya Sauce Chicken meal, which comes with some peanuts and prawn crackers on the side. Yue had never been to Singapore before so he's not very familiar with Singaporean food, and I was pleasantly surprised that he liked this dish. (Looks like he's ready enough to go on a trip to the Lion City, haha.) 

Roasted Duck, Php 338 + Buchi, Php 98 (4 pcs).

Mom had the Roasted Duck meal which comes with a marinated egg and some prawn crackers. She liked the flavor of the duck, although the meat was not as tender as she wanted it to be. The marinated egg was good, kinda like the mayak gyeran (Korean marinated egg) that I make at home.

Char Siew (BBQ) Pork, Php 218.

Morgan and my sister-in-law had the Char Siew Pork meal, which also comes with some peanuts and prawn crackers like the Soya Sauce Chicken meal.

Hawker BBQ Pork Platefull, Php 280.

My brother and I, on the other hand, ordered a BBQ Pork Platefull each which comes with a cup of rice, stir-fry noodles, prawn crackers, a piece of buchi, a bowl of wonton soup, and a glass of cola. The BBQ pork was tender and flavorful, which I loved, the stir-fry noodles were good, the wonton soup was so-so. The true star of this platter was the buchi with its yummy peanut filling. Yue loved it so much he ordered four pieces for himself.

Our first shopping/food trip of the year. :)

Overall, dining at Hawker Chan was a pleasant experience. Everything was good - the food, the price, the ambiance, and even the service. Will I consider dining here again? Of course! Next time I'll probably try their Hainanese Chicken and Char Kway Teow (Singaporean noodles), and maybe some Chendol too, for that complete "Singapore style" experience. 

*Sadly, Hawker Chan lost its Michelin star in 2021. I'm hoping they earn it back.

Hawker Chan

SM City Sto. Tomas

Pan-Philippine Highway, San Roque,

Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Ferns Café | For Your Next Food Adventure.

And just like that, another academic year is over. Yue is now officially on a school break, which means more time for him to eat, sleep, play video games, and repeat. As for me, I can finally catch up on my anime, Kdrama, and writing backlog, starting with this blog entry for my coffee shop series. This time, we're featuring Ferns Café, a fairly new coffee shop located on the outskirts of the city, along the busy and oftentimes traffic-filled stretch of Maharlika Highway. 

Ferns Café.

I've always been curious about this café, having seen this in passing a few times before. The place looks very chic and contemporary from the outside with its geometric facade, slanted roof, and large picture windows. As it turns out, Ferns Café is just as lovely inside with its classy lights and modern interiors. Plants of all shapes and sizes also decorate the place which give the café a sophisticated yet relaxing vibe. 

Ferns inside Ferns.

Modern look, homey vibe.

Despite coming at a busy hour, we didn't have trouble finding seats at Ferns as the place is pretty spacious. They even have a second floor which can accommodate large groups and can be rented out for events such as business meetings and wedding receptions. I didn't have the chance to explore the second floor though, as service was surprisingly fast at Ferns Café. Our appetizers were served in a little over five minutes, and less than ten minutes later our entrees were being wheeled to our table. Gordon Ramsay would have been so proud, haha! 

For starters, we had Clubhouse Sandwich and Fried Calamari. My aunt-in-law preferred wheat bread for the sandwich, and the staff was more than happy to comply with her request. 

Clubhouse Sandwich, Php 245.

My aunt-in-law also enjoyed the Fried Calamari. It was so good that we finished this plate right away and we had to order another serving, haha.

Fried Calamari, Php 295.

Yue had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, served with fries on the side. As you can see, the sandwich is packed with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber and comes with a tangy sauce. Yue loved this a lot and he says this is now his new favorite comfort food, lol.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Php 175.

He also had the Creamy Carbonara which was indeed creamy and flavorful. However, he didn't like the bacon and left most of it on the plate because they weren't crispy and had too much fat.

Creamy Carbonara, Php 220.

My sister-in-law, on the other hand, ordered the Lasagna, which according to her was meaty and flavorful, but a tad too oily. The serving was pretty huge, and despite the oil, she enjoyed the food anyway.

Lasagna, Php 275.

Another huge serving was the Chicken Cordon Bleu, which my niece had. Ferns Café offers a variety of rice meals on their menu, and this was one of them. 

Chicken Cordon Bleu, Php 285.

As for me, I had their bestseller Shrimp Aglio Olio. Despite being a very simple dish (it's made with olive oil and garlic and garnished with shrimp), this one is very aromatic and flavourful. My only gripe is that the serving was seemingly smaller compared to the lasagna and carbonara. 

Shrimp Aglio Olio, Php 185.

For sharing, we also had the Fern Seafood Pesto Pizza. The flavour combination may sound and look odd at first (like who puts mangoes on pizza?), but this pizza is surprisingly good! Even my aunt-in-law thought so, and she was glad that she got to try this out-of-the-box pizza flavour.

Fern Seafood Pesto Pizza, Php 405 (family size).

We also had coffee, of course. Ferns is known for their good coffee, and true enough, their brews did not disappoint. I like my coffee strong and with just a hint of sweetness, and this Choco Hazelnut Latte definitely had that kick. 

Choco Hazelnut Latte, Php 155 (grande).
Hot Chocolate, Php 130 (tall).

If you're a bit adventurous when it comes to food, Ferns Café is a must-try. Their wide variety of food choices will definitely pop your taste buds and fill your tummy. On top of that, every nook and cranny of this café is picture-perfect and Instagram-worthy. I'd say it's a must-visit if you're a coffee addict plauntie (plantita) like me!

Ferns at night.

Ferns Café

Km 85 Maharlika Highway,

Brgy. San Ignacio, San Pablo City

+63 920 944 0895

Cravings Satisfied at Krāv Café.

Another coffee shop that has been on my radar for quite sometime now is Krāv Cafe. I would often see photos of my godparents dining here week after week together with their church friends, and this definitely piqued my curiosity. I was like, "Wow, the food must be really good for them to visit almost every Sunday."

After many weeks of curious thinking, I finally had the chance to try their food. Yue and I had late lunch yesterday at Krāv after running some errands and visiting the dentist for his monthly braces adjustment.

As we entered the place, the first thing I noticed was the huge glass windows which give the cafe a very inviting atmosphere. The interiors were just as impressive with its concrete walls, wood elements, and neutral color palette. I'm all for the minimalist industrial design, and Krāv is totally my style.

Huge glass windows.

Concrete walls and wood elements.

I also love how this place is spacious and well-lighted - perfect for lounging with friends, Sunday brunch with your family, or date nights with your loved one. 

Lots of space and electrical outlets.

Krāv also makes a great productivity hub for students and remote workers. They offer free (and fast) wi-fi to paying customers, and they have electrical outlets all over the place for your laptops and gadgets. 

When we visited Krāv, there was actually a group of students huddled in one corner with laptops and tablets in tow. It was quite nice to see them enjoying their cakes and coffee while getting actual work done. (I sort of overheard their conversation and they were brainstorming for a performance task.)

Speaking of coffee, Krāv has a wide selection of them on their menu. They also have fruit juices and tea, and some alcoholic beverages, too. I'm not sure if they serve the latter all day like their breakfast menu, but I do know that they do not serve alcohol to minors. Pasta and sandwiches are also present on the Krāv menu, as well as finger foods for starters and cakes for desserts.

The Krāv menu.

Cakes and coffee.

Yue, who was famished after an exhausting day at school, ordered the Breakfast Feast. This usually comes with two slices of bread and brewed coffee, but he opted to have it with fried rice instead. I was in the mood for pasta so I ordered their Pesto which also comes with sourdough bread.

Pesto, Breakfast Feast, Iced Chocolate.

Breakfast Feast, Php 275.

Pesto, Php 195.

Their Pesto is nutty and garlicky, just the way pesto should be. It's creamy and savory and has that nice, earthy flavor with hints of saltiness from the parmesan cheese. I wish they didn't over toast the bread, though. This plate would have been perfect if not for the sourdough bread that was bit too tough to bite.

Happy camper yet again.

Yue, on the other hand, had no complaints about his Breakfast Feast. He enjoyed it a lot, and would have ordered another if not for the power chain on his teeth. (His teeth started to hurt as soon as he was done eating.) He also liked their Iced Chocolate which, according to him, has the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. 

Of course, I had to have coffee and dessert. I ordered a 22oz cup of Spanish Latte and a slice of Carrot Cake. Their coffee is pretty good, while their cake tasted oddly familiar. Even Yue noticed it, too. Perhaps their cakes and the cakes from another restaurant are baked by the same patissier? Nonetheless, their Carrot Cake is yummy and a real eye-candy.

Spanish Latte 22oz, Php 140.
Carrot Cake, Php 13 per slice.

Overall, Yue and I enjoyed our first Krāv experience. The food may be a bit on the pricey side, but you definitely get your money's worth with the plating, presentation, and the taste. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff also makes this cafe worth visiting.

If you're looking for a nice co-working space that serves good food, Krāv is a must-try. You can even bring your pet/s along, as they're one of the few pet-friendly dining establishments here in the city. Plus points too for the spacious car park in front of their building. Now you can have coffee in peace without having to worry about your car getting scratched or dented while parked (or double parked, lol) along the busy streets of San Pablo.

Krāv Cafe

Ground Flr. G5 Bldg.,

M. Brion St., Brgy. IV-C

San Pablo City

Food Meets Beauty at Cibo & Bella.

After Sunday mass, Yue and I went on another food adventure. We checked out the restaurants and diners within the vicinity of the cathedral until we came across this Facebook-familiar restaurant (because I've seen this several times in my feed) called Cibo & Bella. I've read quite a few good reviews about this place so Yue and I decided to give it a try.

Cibo & Bella.

Cibo & Bella isn't exactly a new restaurant. In fact, it's been around for almost seven years, and is one of the few local restaurants that survived the pandemic. Previously located along Balagtas Boulevard, Cibo & Bella moved to this new location along P. Zamora Street, which is one of the busier streets in the city proper and has more foot traffic. I guess this is one of the reasons why the restaurant is gaining more traction on social media - because it's now more accessible and more people are noticing it.

Cibo & Bella are Italian terms which mean 'food' and 'beauty', respectively. The restaurant holds true to its name because the place is simply beautiful with its white walls and neutral boho aesthetic. On the other hand, their table tops, furniture, and accents give off that crisp and clean Santorini vibe. This design combination gives the restaurant a cozy and welcoming ambiance, and makes the place truly Instagrammable. It's "reel-material", as my teenager calls it.

Macrame curtains.

Santorini patterns.

Vintage-inspired vignettes.

The place is well-lighted and fully airconditioned, and is spacious enough to seat large groups or host family gatherings. They also have chairs and tables outside for those who prefer al fresco dining.

Wine bottles on the accent wall.

For al fresco dining.

As for the food, Cibo & Bella has a wide selection of pasta and rice meals on their menu. They also have a variety of salads and appetizers, and of course, coffee and dessert. One of their bestsellers is the Baby Back Ribs, which I ordered. Yue, on the other hand, had their Fettucine Bacon Alfredo and Fish & Fries for sides.

Fettucine Bacon Alfredo, Fish & Fries, and Baby Back Ribs.

As you can see, their Baby Back Ribs were huge! The rack of ribs that they served me was about the size of Yue's palm, and if you've seen my son in person, he's got really big hands so you can just imagine how generous this serving is. I loved how flavorful the ribs were, but the meat wasn't as tender as I expected it to be. It wasn't 'fall-off-the-bone' tender, and I even asked for a knife because the meat just wouldn't budge with just my spoon and fork.

Baby Back Ribs, Php 295.

The Fish & Fries were exceptional, though - perhaps one of the best fish and fries that I have tried among the restaurants here in San Pablo. I loved the crunch of its light and crispy batter, and how the fish tastes buttery and melts in your mouth. Yue enjoyed them too, as well as the fries, which were thick-cut and lightly seasoned.

Fish & Fries, Php 205.

Their Fettucine Bacon Alfredo is also Yue-approved with its creamy, flavorful sauce and slightly crunchy bacon bits. He wanted to dig in the moment his pasta made it to the table (it was that yummy, the scent alone was very appetizing); I told him to wait for a few seconds because I had to take food photos, haha.

Fettucine Bacon Alfredo, Php 165.

To cap our meal, we also had coffee and dessert. Yue ordered Dark Chocolate, while I had the usual - Spanish Latte. We also got a slice of Carrot Cake, which was their Cake of the Week, for sharing. Their coffee is pretty good with just the right strength and sweetness, while their Carrot Cake is almost perfect - moist, tangy, sweet but not saccharine. A bit more cinnamon spice on the cake and it would have been a perfect 10 for me.

Carrot Cake (Cake of the Week), Php 130 per slice.

Iced Dark Chocolate, Php 150.

Spanish Latte, Php 115.

If you're in the mood for pasta and coffee, Cibo & Bella is a nice choice. Its chic interiors and relaxing ambiance make it the perfect place to hang out with friends, have an intimate dinner with your significant other, or, in our case, bond with your family after Sunday mass. Plus points to the Cibo & Bella staff who were nice and friendly, and served guests with a smile. They made our dining experience even more enjoyable.

Thank you for the treat, Yue! ;)

Cibo & Bella

#71 P. Zamora (Lauro Dizon) St., 

San Pablo City

0919 400 2260