Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Reunited with 'lechon' after many years! I was too tired to venture out for dinner, but there was one Filipino specialty I was determined to have before flying back to Singapore. That's the iconic roasted suckling pig known as lechon. Thanks to GrabFood, I managed to get some from Rico's Lechon delivered to the hotel I was staying at near Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The best 'ensaymada' I've ever had in life! Mary Grace Café is a popular Filipino chain known for its baked goods, particularly its bread roll topped with butter, sugar and cheese known as ensaymada . As a mother of five, she started from a humble beginning in 1994, selling her homemade rolls at a bazaar. She eventually opened her first little store in 2002.

Supposed to have breakfast onboard, but had dinner instead! I was supposed to fly from Melbourne, Australia to Manila, the Philippines in the morning on Philippine Airlines PR210. However, the flight was delayed by more than 10 hours and eventually operated under the flight number PR5210 with the in-flight service consisting of dinner, followed by snacks.

A treat for charcoal coffee lovers included! Did you know that InterContinental Singapore was officially rebranded as Frasers House in early 2026? I only found out when I was looking around for mooncakes to buy this year. Anyway, this isn't my first time getting snowskin mooncakes from Man Fu Yuan, a renowned Cantonese restaurant housed inside the hotel, which has remained in place even after the rebranding.

The vegetarian option turned out to be better! After spending four nights in Auckland, it was time to head back to Melbourne. Having already had the Business Class experience on our inbound flight, we flew in Economy Class on the return journey, flying abord a narrow-body Airbus 320 that included one full meal service that we partook in as a late lunch.

Meatless KFC: Korean Fried Cauliflower! Having had enjoyable modern Asian dishes at Chin Chin in Melbourne, Australia. I was keen to find a similar dining experience in Auckland, New Zealand. Eventually, my travel buddy and I stumbled upon Hello Beasty, which serves contemporary dishes that take culinary cues primarily from East Asia.

Such a hearty chicken and beef burger for lunch! Te Puia is one of Rotorua's must-visit attractions, renowned for its spectacular geothermal landscapes and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Before exploring everything the site had to offer, my travel buddy and I stopped for a quick lunch at Hiakai Café, a casual open-air courtyard eatery located within Te Puia itself.

Savouring seasonal flavours in the heart of Cornwall Park~ Located within the picturesque Cornwall Park is a café that offers the perfect excuse to slow down amid one of Auckland's most beloved green spaces.  Before exploring the park and eventually tackling the hike up One Tree Hill , my travel buddy and I decided to stop by for a quick lunch to fuel up.

Auckland's oldest continuously operating steakhouse! It's no secret that I love beef, so I definitely had to check out a legendary Auckland restaurant that's been around since 1963. Stepping inside the restaurant with more than six decades of history felt like taking a trip back in time. The warm timber furnishings, vintage décor and cosy lighting certainly give the restaurant an old-school charm.

Not so sensational, but good enough! Tucked away on Mount Street in the heart of the university precinct of Auckland, Sensational Chicken has built a loyal following among students and locals alike seeking an affordable and filling meal. With such a name, my expectations naturally ran high. While the menu also features burgers and the likes, my travel buddy and I only tried their fried chicken and waffle fries.