#FoodTrip: Moveable feast at BGC Eats

MANILA, Philippines – Bonifacio Global City (BGC) hosts a one-of-a-kind expedition for passionate foodies craving for unique dining experiences. For the month of July, BGC Eats will take diners on a journey to the best restaurants BGC has to offer.

Tours are headed by Pinoy Eats World co-founder and BGC resident JJ Yulo, who pieced together the restaurant line-up for each tour every Saturday of July. Not one tour is the same and those who wish to join the trip can only guess where the road will take them.

Part of the experience, Yulo shares, is waiting in anticipation for what comes next.

Surprises are, indeed, part of the trip, as diners are welcomed to each destination by the acoustic rhythms of Ukulele Manila. Even the playlist on the “hop-on-hop-off” BGC bus is custom-made for the diners.

To encourage residents and visitors to explore the city, restaurants featured in the tour are all local to The Fort.

The concept stemmed from a shared goal in this community to develop the city into a place where people can live and play freely, said Monica Llamas, artistic director of BGC.

Here are snapshots from the first BCG Eats expedition:

1. Wildflour Cafe + Bakery

If the “cronut craze” has driven you nuts, then Wildflour is the right place to be. Home to the croissant-doughnut hybrid in the Philippines, the restaurant was originally conceptualized as a bakery that was further developed with an adjoining cafe. 

Wildflour takes pride in its concept, which allows a certain freedom to create one-of-a-kind dishes, guided by the belief that “we can make anything.” Menus are updated and printed almost on a daily basis.

The homey ambiance of the restaurant creates a little patch of country in this city.

For the tour, Wildflour served a refreshing blend of all natural lime, cucumber and mint, paired with pizza-like creations they call “tarts.”

2. Nolita

Nolita derives it’s name from North of Little Italy, a New York City neighborhood famous for its pizza. True to its name, Nolita offers huge, authentic helpings of the all-time American favorite.

One will find true comfort in Nolita’s best-selling pizzas, Shrimp Carbonara and Pesto Grilled Chicken. Other unique variants include Spinach and Artichoke, Cheeseburger and Wild Mushroom Walnut. Their crust is especially baked to be crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside.

The restaurant encourages camaraderie and invites diners to share tables with fellow pizza lovers. The laid-back atmosphere goes with that big sign on the wall that says, “Put that fork down and use your hands.”

Flavorful seafood grub such as Battered Shrimp with Spicy Dips are also available.

3. 2nd’s Restaurant

The seemingly abandoned first floor of the building is a complete contrast to what awaits diners after a short elevator ride to the second floor. A bar lined with wine bottles leads to a sprawling dining hall with dark leather furniture, much like a European mansion.

Similarly, the cuisine stays true to the spaciousness of this establishment, with humongous serving sizes making a 2nd order a challenge, if still enticing.

There’s a smaller version of their best-selling Benedict Burger, but the pure-beef patty, spam and fried quail egg are enough to fill grumbling stomachs.

The Bacon Chicharon particularly piqued the diners’ curiousity, and they were eager to try the dish despite some apprehension. They’d soon find that there’s no going wrong with the meaty goodness of bacon, the crunchiness of real chicharon and the “tamis-asim” of the vinegar dip.

Apart from its specialty dishes, 2nd’s takes pride in its custom-made ketchup, mayonnaise and other sauces.

4. Cupcakes by Sonja

Food tourists heady with all the scrumptious munching were still enlivened at the sight of a cupcake tower made of well-loved sweets at Cupcakes by Sonja. 

The array of sweets include Red Velvet, Creme Brulee, PB&J, Coconut Creme Pie, Cookie Monster, Pineapple Upside Down, Vanilla Sunshine and Valrhona Chocolate Cupcakes.

The whole shop was an eye candy, with its checkered flooring and bright striped wallpaper reminiscent of a ’50s diner. This was a glorious ending for this gastronomic adventure.

– Rappler.com

Two tickets are given free with every purchase worth P1,500 from retail stores or restaurants in Bonifacio High Street, The Fort Entertainment Center, Crossroads, Bonifacio Stopover, One & Two Parkade and The Mind Museum. There’s another tour on July 20. For more information, click Arts at BGC.