Destinations
Turning Vegetarian
In Manila, vegetarian fare has become more accessible. While most establishments have vegetarian fare on their menus, the folks at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ate their way around the Philippines to search for the best meatless meals.
PETA’s Top 10 Vegetarian Restaurants
Alanis Morrisette, Alicia Silverstone, Gwyneth Paltrow, and locally, actress KC Concepcion, singer Geneva Cruz, and models Isabel Roces and Raya Mananquil have made vegetarian living chic. But far from just adopting trendy eating habits, vegetarianism in all its forms actually reduce the risk of obesity, cancer and diabetes; as well as promote concern for animal rights, global warming and the environment.
In the Philippines, vegetarian fare has finally become more accessible. But while most establishments have vegetarian fare on their menus, the people at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ate their way around the Philippines to search for the best meatless meals.
Greens Café and Restaurant
92 Scout Castor Street, Quezon City
415-4796 or 376-2781
Greens is tucked amid a garden in a quaint and homey Quezon City home-turned-restaurant. The menu is filled with such vegan favorites as the Greens Vegetarian Barbeque (P75), Barbeque Wrap (P80), Vegetarian Sisig (P140) and Cheesy Soy Sticks (P80). Also try the eggless desserts like the Walnut Caramel Apple Pie and Carrot Cake, and the chocolate cake, described by PETA as “an astounding taste experience that is guaranteed to be the subject of daydreams for weeks to come.”
Bodhi (also known as Evegreen)
SM Cubao, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM South Mall, SM City Manila, SM Makati
Also voted the Best Affordable Vegetarian Food for 2007 by PETA Asia Pacific, Bodhi’s focus is mostly on well presented mock meats. Try the kare kare, menudo, asado, bopis, ginataang langka, and broccoli with “beef”.
Corner Tree Café
150 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air Village, Makati
(0917) 848-1004
Owned by Francesca Mabanta, Corner Tree Café’s must-try include: tofu walnut burger (P240), Spinach and Pechay Chowder (P95 for the cup and P150 for the bowl) and a starter plate (P180), a combination of Egyptian dukka and white bean hummus served with chunks of whole wheat bread and vegetable sticks.
Daily Veggie N’ Café
540 Banawe Street, Quezon City
711-8209 or 711-3214
PETA recommends the curry (on its own or with noodles), sweet-and-sour nuggets, and the sizzling fillet, which is “so fish-like that it’s almost scary (the seaweed looks and tastes like fish skin).”
Hapilife Healthy Food Corner
#18 Corpuz St., West Tapinac, Olongapo City
(0921) 872-0258 or (047) 611-0249
For PETA, the “range of tempting options” plus their great service make this place worth visiting. Must-tries are the combo meals with vegetarian versions of steak, tuna, drumsticks, and roast duck, and meat- and dairy-free versions of traditional Filipino fare.
Mandala Spa
Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
(036) 288-5858
For this venue in the party-island of Boracay, try the the pan-fried tofu, served stir-fry style with beans, asparagus, pechay, and sprouts and topped with peanut sauce and crushed peanuts, and the Pad Thai topped with a sweet tamarind-based sauce and spring onions.
Bliss Café
Hotel Elizabeth, Gibraltar Street corner J. Felipe, Baguio City
(074) 619-0367 or (0917) 8464729
From traditional Pinoy fare and merienda to international cuisine with dishes originating from Seoul, Tokyo to Zurich and Mexico City – this place has it all.
The Farm
119 Barangay Tipakan, San Benito, Batangas
696-3795
This place’s raw lunch and dinner buffet is beyond satisfying.
Ima’s Gulay Bar
46 Fernandez Street, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
(0920) 533-3210
This place’s must-tries include: Mexican burritos, pizza, and jambalaya to fresh salads, filling soups, and a variety of sandwiches and vegetarian burgers. PETA suggests asking for the “vegan versions of the spicy bean burger, curried tofu sandwich, or sausage fajitas”; as well as the spicy okra and mango pasta or the exotic shakes in soy coffee, carob, ginger, or fruit flavors.
Azotea Greens
2nd Floor, La Azotea Bldg., Session R, Baguio City
(0910) 802-8927
This place, says PETA, is sure to give you “a true taste of Baguio without all the cholesterol and cruelty to animals.” Try the adobo, afritada, nilaga, kaldereta, ginataan, and the bestseller, mushroom sisig. Finish meals with dairy- and egg-free cookies from Love Bites.
Destinations
Going Chinese in Pulilan, Bulacan
Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan, and we’re on the fence here (yes if no choice, no if you can go elsewhere).
We happened to be in Pulilan in Bulacan, and I had pancit craving. As if on cue, we passed by Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan, which – after we Google-checked – is supposedly one of the more frequently-visited Chinese restos in these parts of the province, so… of course we checked.
@outragemag Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, this place is really, REALLY easy to find. Located along the Pulilan Regional Road in Barangay Cut-cot in Pulilan, this is right in the middle of the municipality.
Ikalawa, the resto is actually divided into three parts: one side is for those with reservations, another part is for walk-in diners, and another part is for events. If/when the resto isn’t full, only the main part (middle one) is kept open.
No, this isn’t some fancy resto. More like an airconditioned karinderya, complete with wooden tables and plastic chairs. Look-wise, it wasn’t dirty naman when we were there, so that’s a plus.
Ikatlo, the workers were friendly naman… and they moved fast – e.g. while waiting for our orders, we were given must-check peanuts, and since we finished what we got fast, our waitress was more than happy to accommodate us.
Ika-apat, now… how was the food?
The house specialty, the Lee Foo Chicken (₱265 for half, ₱495 for whole), looked like fried chicken with ketchup. Okay… the breading was okay since it didn’t overpower the meat. The chicken, too, was properly cooked, and it wasn’t dry. But it was tasteless overall; so the ketchup taste is what stays with you.
The Pancit Canton Bihon (₱255) had thin pancit noodles, almost as thin as the bihon. It didn’t have lots of sahog; instead, you’d notice the extenders (like kikiam, and so on). I like good pancit, I swear… but this isn’t one of them, sorry.
The weirdly-wrapped Hakaw (₱155) was small, so it was bitin.
And then there’s the Siomai Steam (₱155), which was, in a word, weird. The size was good, similar to those ₱10 siomais. But the way this was prepared was weird for us – e.g. like the meat was overwatered, and having a hard time staying solid, so that it was smudgy, and disintegrated in the mouth even without chewing. I suppose that, at least, it wasn’t disgusting taste-wise.
Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is, we believe, popular. Like President in Chinatown, or a branch of David’s in some mall. To each his or her own nga naman. But for us, we’re off to look for other Chinese restos na muna as we head out in search of more lafangan venues.
Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is located at 159 Barangay Cut-cot, Pulilan, 3005 Bulacan Province. For more information, contact 0925 800 0168, or email leefoopanciteria@yahoo.com.
Travel
Treacherous beauty: Hiking at South Stack Lighthouse in Wales
#Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales.
Yes, tech has made many lighthouses redundant. Not that they’re no longer relevant. But navigation-wise, we know we have more advanced solutions. Which, perhaps not surprisingly, led to the reconfiguration of many of them.
In Holyhead, Anglesey in Wales, introducing the South Stack Lighthouse.
@outragemag #Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, you’d need a ride to be there. Some use private cars, as we did; others join tours; and others cycle to the place.
Ikalawa, what’s there?
The lighthouse itself is located on a small, rocky island off Holyhead. From afar, it looks like someone’s grand home; mansion-like. Accessible siya after you descend down 400 steep steps.
What will you see while there?
- the former lighthouse engine room
- the top of the lighthouse
- South Stack is also home to breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins
Here’s an FYI: seasonal lang siya bukas.
This is a must-check for lighthouse lovers, of course. Historic, it was built in 1809 by Trinity House from the design of Daniel Alexander. 91-foot tall, it used to allow safe passage for ships on the Dublin–Holyhead–Liverpool sea route.
Another FYI: It is allegedly haunted, and has been visited by a team from “Most Haunted”.
The area housing the lighthouse is, itself, worth checking. There are trails for hikers or joggers or cyclists; though the same could be enjoyed by those who are there only to look for good shots.
Check when you’re in the area… even if you just pass by. Nice siya, promise.
But off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa…
Travel
Enjoying nature via trail hiking in Wales
Enjoying nature via #trail #hiking at #Snowdonia #SnowdoniaSlateTrail during one #LGBT visit in #Gwynedd, #Wales.
When in Bangor, you’d be told often that among the best things to do is to hike. And among the must-check is the Snowdonia Slate Trail, which links the old slate-quarrying communities of Eryri/Snowdonia.
So… ayan na nga, even without the right outfit for hiking, but ayaw ma-miss ang chance to check the area, off we went.
@outragemag Enjoying nature via #trail #hiking at #Snowdonia #SnowdoniaSlateTrail during one #LGBT visit in #Gwynedd, #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, the circular route starts near Bangor/Porth Penrhyn. And you need a car or whatever to get to the starting point.
Ikalawa, the trail isn’t just for hiking. It’s also for biking or walking dogs. So you’d be sharing the 133-kilometer long trail with others.
Ikatlo, what’s there?
Mountains built by remnants from quarry sites, to start.
So… Gwynedd used to be known for slate quarrying, and among the biggest players is Penrhyn Quarry which is near Gwynedd, part of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Now… with slate quarrying, around 75% of extracted material are inferior in quality, called overburden, and so becoming mineral waste. Here, they’re now mountains.
But the trail also shows views typically associated with Wales – e.g. rolling hills that go on forever, rock fences, sheep farms, canals with flowing water… and more.
Usually, sa matatag, people hike the Snowdonia Slate Trail for up to seven days, passing through Bethesda, Llanberis, and so on. But for others… it’s but an opportunity to commune with nature, in a way, while taking those must-have shots.
But we’re off for more LGBTQIA+ discoveries…
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