Wabi-sabi Noodle House and Vegetarian Grocery at the Collective

Get your veggie noodle fix at Wabi-Sabi Noodle House, located inside Makati's The Collective.  Try the Viet Pho (P95), a hearty bowl of noodles with fresh veggies, tofu, Shiitake mushrooms, mushroom stems,  and veggie cracklings.

They also serve Shoyu ramen (P95), Adobo or chay pao steamed buns (P25), and Banh Mi (P150 whole, P75 half order). Looking for healthier alternatives to your usual meat-filled menu? Check out their small grocery shelf which displays a  limited selection of vegetarian finds: mock meat, ginger beer and even sarsaparilla.

Wabi-sabi Noodle House is at The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City. Tel. No. (0918) 450-1714

Filipino Food Festival at Dusit Thani Manila

Celebrate Independence Day at Dusit Thani Manila's Philippine Food Festival dubbed "Philippine Cuisine: Looking Back Looking Forward" from June 7 to 12 with guest chef Stephanie Zubiri taking the helm at the kitchen.

Zubiri, who missed Filipino dishes such as Bistek Filipino, when she lived in Paris during her university years and where she also trained at Le Cordon Bleu, says that Filipino food is very "down-to-earth and practical and is very hearty," as compared to other cuisines. Describing herself as "more of a cook than a chef," the menu she prepared for the food festival is her personal take on heirloom dishes, bringing fresh flavors to traditional Pinoy cooking.

Available for both lunch and dinner, the buffet spread at Dusit Thani Manila's Basix includes Zubiri's recipes such as Balsamic Beef Adobo,   slow-cooked tender and tasty beef adobo chunks in balsamic vinegar; Bicol Express Chicken, broiled thigh chicken fillet cooked with jalapeno and lemongrass, a less-spicy alternative to the Bicolandia favorite which packs in as much flavor and bite; Salmon Kinilaw, a fresh variation on the sour and spicy dish, with the salmon steeped in coconut, vinegar and calamansi.

Also available on the spread are native delicacies such as puto bumbong and bibingka, available for merienda.

There will also be a gallery display by Kultura Filipino featuring the daily live demonstration of Cigar Rolling and Embroidery.   The Filipino Food Festival will run from June 7-12, 2010 with the same regular buffet price of P1,150net for lunch and P1,299net for dinner at Basix, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati City.

Italian Food Festival at the Oakroom

Wine down at the Oakroom of Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalge and pair Frescobaldi wines with complementing dishes from Oakwood Premier's Executive chef Jerome Cartailler at "A Taste of Tuscany" Italian Food Festival from June 7 to 27.

Frescobaldi brings in wines from Tuscany, home to the Italian red grape variety, Sangiovese. Says Oakwood Premier General Manager Brian Connelly, "The brand Frescobaldi is equated with prestige—“a reflection of the family's distinct heritage, which included medieval knights, bankers, lawyers and patrons of the arts."   Those who like their vino light and fruity can pair the wines with dishes such as Broiled Scampi, Penne Alla Vodka and Charbroiled Lamb Chops.

Oakroom is at the 6the Floor of Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila, 17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Tel. No. 637-7888.