Pastries at Nougatine Bakery

New Austin bakery location alert! Nougatine Bakery now has a storefront inside The Austin Winery in the St Elmo Yard. I tried the Tomato Pie, Kouign Amann, Za’taar Labneh Cruffin, and Pain au Chocolat. You can also find them at the Barton Creek Farmers Market.

Thai Food at Kiin Di

Kiin Di means “eating good” in Thai, and I’m glad I finally got to try this spot. They were previously a food truck and opened their brick-and-mortar last December. I went for the khao soi, my favorite Thai noodle curry dish, and it did not disappoint!

Cocktails at Nickel City

If you’re looking for a tasty cocktail, Nickel City is the spot. It’s more divey, but the cocktails are great. I had the Green Flash (gin, kiwi, cucumber, lemon), and it’s the best cocktail I’ve had in a while.

Soft Serve at Somi Somi

Cool off this summer with a cold treat! Somi Somi is a new franchise spot serving a Korean dessert called “ah-boong.” It’s a fish shaped waffle cone filled with soft serve. Here you can choose a filling like black sesame paste or Nutella, soft serve flavor, and toppings.

Latte at Black Fox Coffee

This is a new coffee shop downtown! If you find yourself at 6th and Guadalupe, this classy spot is the place to pop in. [Media]

Cocktails Papercut and Sushi at Konbini

I’ve heard a lot about this new cocktail bar. Their cocktails are creative, and their sushi is served by the team from Tare – wins all around. We enjoyed a few nigiri bites, their egg sandwich, and a hot dog.

Ice Cream at Kilwins

Kilwins has a new, locally-owned franchise location in Austin! Located in North Austin, this sweets shop is known for its chocolates, caramels, and ice cream. Their boxed and bagged items are great for gifts, and they have lots of unique ice cream flavors. [Media]

Vietnamese Soup at Vua Bun Bo

Bookmark this new-ish Vietnamese restaurant for rich and hearty soups. I liked the Hu Tieu Bo Kho – beef stew with rice noodles.

Drink from Mori Matcha

You can find this pop-up matcha stand at events around Austin. They’re highly regarded as one of the best matchas in town.

Lunch at ThoroughFare

I’m a fan of ThoroughBread’s cookies, and this is an expanded iteration of its bakery that serves a casual menu and offers grocery items. I ordered the Signature Turkey Sandwich served on their housemade Wheat Sourdough, Daily Greens Juice (Cucumber + Celery + Green Apple + Kale + Lemon Juice + Fresh Ginger), and a Chocolate Chip Cookie. All of this was $32 before tip, which makes me pause.

Happy Hour at Boni’s Bar Next Door

Lenoir’s new bar next door is a cute spot for happy hour. They have $9 spritzes and complimentary bites with every drink. For food, they have a menu of light bar snacks like meatballs and shrimp.

Cookies from Brown Sugar Bake Shop

I recently tried some cookies from this food truck and wow! I had the Butter Crunch (browned butter and toffee) and the strawberry oatmeal (a seasonal flavor).

Hot Dogs at Saturn

Some friends and I went on a hot dog crawl with a stop at Saturn. This cocktail bar is lovely, with some interesting hot dogs on the menu. We enjoyed these 1/4lb beef dogs fried in beef tallow:

• Japanese Dog: topped with Kewpie Mayo, House Teriyaki Sauce, Nori Flakes, and Crispy Onion
• Buff Dog: topped with Pickled Celery, Blue Cheese, Buffalo Sauce, and a Crispy Carrot Crumble
• Feta Dog: red bell peppers, hot honey, herbed whipped feta, crispy onions

Lunch at Anh Em

We have plenty of Vietnamese restaurants in Austin. This one opened recently, and it features the classics – banh mi, vermicelli bowls, and pho.

Need more Austin restaurant recommendations? Check out these posts:

• Flavors of the Month Q1 2026 – Austin Restaurants to Try
• Indian Tasting Menu at Electric Gravy in Austin, TX
• Best Things I Ate in 2025

The post Flavors of the Month Q2 2026 – Austin Restaurants to Try appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I visited Tubbataha Reef and Anilao, so there will be extra information on those areas, but this post also covers other diving areas in the Philippines. Use this guide as a trip planning primer and then dive deeper. There is a lot of information in this post, so scan through and then zero in on each section to go deeper.

How to Plan Your Philippines Dive Trip

Here are some pointers to guide your planning:

• What do you want to see while diving?
• How many days is your trip? Do you have enough time to visit multiple places?
• What is your budget?
• Dive shop or dive resort or liveaboard?
• Do you want to stay at one resort for an extended period or island hop to different dive areas?
• What else do you want to see/do on your trip? Do you want to be somewhere with topside activities?

Here are some of my notes in hindsight:

• Dive areas in the Philippines are focused on diving, meaning there aren’t places with both diving and abundant land activities. You’ll likely visit small islands.
• Our Tubbataha Reef liveaboard was great, but because the dive profiles throughout the trip were very similar, I’d consider a liveaboard that also visited Apo Reef and Coron for more variety.

Where to Dive in the Philippines

With over 300 dive sites, the Philippines has a variety of different things to see when scuba diving, though you’ll have to travel to different areas to get guaranteed sightings. Most visited areas include: Tubbataha Reef and Coron Bay from Palawan, Malapascua and Moalboal from Cebu, and Anilao and Puerto Galera from Batangas.

You’ll likely be flying internationally into Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB) and then taking a domestic flight to the specific area. Our round-trip flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa, Palawan (port for Tubbataha Reef) was about $100 per person.

Here’s a quick list of where to go, the closest airport, and what type of diving it’s known for:

• Anilao – Nudibranch capital of the world, muck diving
  • Fly into Manila, drive around 3 hours south to Batangas
• Apo Reef – coral reef
  • Fly into San Jose Airport (SJI), 2-3 hour boat
• Bohol – reefs, wall dives, turtles
  • Fly into Bohol–Panglao International Airport (TAG)
• Coron Bay – wreck diving capital of Southeast Asia 
  • Fly into Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), drive 30-40 minutes
• Donsol – whale shark snorkeling
  • Fly into Bicol International Airport (DRP), drive 2 hours
• Dauin/Siquijor/Apo Island – muck diving, reef
  • Fly into Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport (DGT), take car or boat/ferry
• Malapascua – famous for thresher sharks
  • Fly into Cebu, drive 3.5-3.5 hours, take 30-45 minute boat
• Mindanao – reefs, walls, macro
  • Fly into Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) or Davao (DVO)
• Moalboal – sardine run, wall dives
  • Fly into Cebu, drive 2-4 hours
• Puerto Galera – a little bit of everything; macro, wreck, pelagic
  • Fly into Manila, drive around 3 hours south to Batangas, take a ferry for 1 hour or private boat for 30 minutes
• Tubbataha Reef – liveaboard only, very healthy reefs, wall dives, micro and macro
  • Fly into Puerto Princesa, Palawan; the liveaboard port is a few minutes away

We chose the dive areas for our trip because Tubbataha Reef is known as one of the best places to dive in the world, and as a fan of nudibranchs, I wanted to visit an area with guaranteed sightings.

Best Time to Dive in the Philippines

The best time to dive depends on where you want to go and what you want to see. Consider dry vs wet season, high tourist season, water/wind conditions (choppier seas), and typhoon possibilities.

Below shares the typical time period that experts recommend to dive the area. This is typically the dry season, though keep in mind that you could visit some places at other times, but what you’ll see and the water conditions will be different.

• Anilao – November to May
• Apo Reef – December to May
• Bohol – February to June
• Coron Bay – December to May
• Dauin – December to May
• Donsol (snorkeling) – November to June
• Malapascua – March to June
• Mindanao – March to September
• Moalboal – December to April
• Puerto Galera – November to May
• Tubbataha Reef – March to June

Liveaboard Options in the Philippines

There are about 13-15 liveboard options in the Philippines. They are 4 to 12 nights, with the majority at 6 or 7 nights. The most affordable is about $278 per day and goes up to $458 per day, totaling $1,700 to $6,475 per person. I like using Liveaboard.com to research boats since it aggregates all options uniformly.

Typical routes include:

• Apo Reef, Coron, Anilao
• Tubbataha Reef
• Visayas North: includes Malapascua, Bohol, Maolboal
• Visayas South: includes Siquijor and Apo Island

Our liveaboard, Atlantis Infiniti, was focused on Tubbataha Reef, where there are three atolls. We had a great time on our boat – good food, outstanding service, comfortable rooms, and quality equipment. If you want to see more than just Tubbataha Reef, liveaboards with more than 7 nights also visit Apo Reef and Coron.

Our liveaboard was on the more expensive end of liveaboard options. The liveaboard was $3,800 per person, not including park fees, fuel surcharge, gear rental, and tips, which amounted to an additional $700 per person. (It is recommended to pay 10-15% of the liveaboard cost for tips.)

Diving Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef is known for its biodiversity; it’s home to over 600 fish species and 350 coral types. Because of its isolation and protection as a UNESCO World Heritage Marine Sanctuary, the park is only accessible by liveaboard from March to June. Some liveaboards only dive in Tubbataha, while a few longer liveaboards also visit nearby Apo Reef and Coron.

Quick Stats

• Port: Puerto Princesa, Palawan
• Water Temperature: Ranges from 27-30°C / 81-86°F, with visibility often exceeding 30 meters / 100 feet
• Dive profile: many wall dives ending on top of a reef, occasional currents

In Tubbataha Reef, we typically saw groups of sharks and an abundant variety of fish and coral on every dive. They were typically wall dives ending on top of the reef for the last 15-20 minutes. We flowed with the current, so dives were typically not strenuous. Some things I enjoyed seeing were nudibranchs, sea stars, clown fish, clams, octopus, unicorn fish, and porcelain crabs.

Diving Anilao

Anilao is known as one of the world’s best places for macro diving. It’s also widely described as the “nudibranch capital of the world,” so as a nudibranch lover, it was a must!

We stayed at Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort, a secluded dive resort in the area, and dive sites were no more than 20 minutes away. It truly was a nudibranch paradise. We saw at least 10 different types on every dive. It wasn’t only nudibranchs in the muck. We also saw frog fish, banded sea krait, electric clam, and mantis shrimp.

Dive Shops and Dive Resorts in the Philippines

Here are a few recommended dive shops and resorts around the Philippines. Use the PADI website to find more options.

For dive shops or dive resorts that aren’t secluded, dives cost around $35-40 USD per dive.

• Dauin – Atlantis, Atmosphere
• Malapascua – Evolution, Sea Explorers
• Moalboal – Cebu Seaview Dive Resort
• Puerto Galera – Arkipelago, Atlantis
• Siquijor – Bahura Dive Center

I’ll look back at this Philippines trip with so much joy! It was an ideal liveaboard experience and a life-changing experience trying muck diving. I hope you get to experience diving in the Philippines for yourself!

Book your liveaboard here.

Need more scuba diving inspiration? Check out these posts:

• Diving Komodo National Park by Liveaboard + Indonesia Diving Guide
• What to Know About Scuba Diving in Dominica – Adventure Island
• Diving with Manta Rays in Hawaii + Big Island Dive Guide

The post Guide to Scuba Diving in the Philippines – Tubbataha Reef and Anilao appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

My mom gave me my love of pastries. When I was a kid, we regularly visited a French bakery on Saturdays and came home with a box of pastries. Sometimes, half of the box’s contents were already gone by the time we arrived home. I loved them all, but my favorites were croissants and palmiers, a heart-shaped pastry that was crunchy, caramelized, and sweet. As an adult, I discovered the kouign amann, and it is a combination of my favorite pastries!

What is Kouign Amann?

First, you’re probably wondering how to pronounce the name: queen ah-mahn.

I love the crisp flakiness of the pastry, the buttery layers, and the sweet, caramelized crisp on the outside. Like puff pastry or a croissant, the kouign amann is light and fluffy with many layers. Kouign amann has layers of butter and sugar on the inside and caramelized sugar on the outside. The flavor is similar to a palmier, but it’s a little fluffier.

Where to Find Kouign Amann in Austin, TX

Kouign Amann isn’t as readily available as a variety of croissants, cinnamon rolls, and other pastries. No matter which restaurant or café you visit, be sure to go early because the kouign amann is bound to sell out!

Here are 10 bakeries where you can find a kouign amann in Austin.

Baguette et Chocolat

This bakery and cafe in Bee Cave has some amazing pastries! Their kouign amann is more like a palmier because it is less fluffy, more crispy, and flatter. A popular choice in the area, Baguette et Chocolat also has a menu of French cafe eats.

Address: 12101 FM 2244, Bldg 6, Bee Cave, Texas, 78738
Website: https://www.baguetteetchocolat.com/

Bakery Lorraine

This pastry shop, led by chefs who met while working at Bouchon Bakery, originated in San Antonio and expanded to Austin with a location at the Domain on Rock Rose. Their delicious kouign amann is filled with lemon curd. I also love Bakery Lorraine for brunch.

Address: 11600 Rock Rose, Ste #110, Austin, TX 78758
Website: https://www.bakerylorraine.com/

Epicerie

Curious about a savory kouign amann? Epicerie’s kouign amann combines the sweet and butter caramelized pastry with hints of rosemary, which makes it a unique offering. This restaurant gets very busy for weekend brunch so be sure to arrive early.

Address: 2307 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas 78756
Website: http://epicerieaustin.com/

La Patisserie

With two locations in Austin (north and south), you can pick up this kouign amann on the weekends. It is many times filled with seasonal fruit, so it tastes similar to a pie or pastry tart.

Address: 602 W. Annie St., Austin, Texas 78704 or 7301 Burnet Road Ste 102, Austin, Texas 78757 
Website: https://www.lpaustin.com/

Nougatine Bakery

This bakery first existed at the Barton Creek Farmers Market, but they now also have a brick-and-mortar bakery at The Austin Winery. You’ll find plenty of delicious pastries here, including a kouign amann.

Address: 440 E St Elmo Rd A1, Austin, TX 78745
Website: https://nougatinebakery.com/

Pieous

While Pieous is famous for its pizza and pastrami, its bakery has created its own following for its pastries. Their kouign amann has all the crispy layers you’re looking for!

Address: 166 Hargraves Drive, Bldg H, Austin, TX 78737 (in the Belterra Village Shopping Center)
Website: https://www.pieous.com/

Rocheli Patisserie

In East Austin, Rocheli Patisserie is a cute bakery with a pastry case full of pretty treats. They also serve high tea. Their kouign amann is more bready inside and has fewer caramelized bits on the outside.

Address: 1212 Chicon St #102, Austin, TX 78702
Website: https://rocheli-patisserie.square.site/

Sour Duck Market

The littlest sister of Barley Swine and Odd Duck, Sour Duck Market has many pastries on their menu, including the kouign amann. The Eastside bakery (and restaurant) has a spacious patio for dining in.

Address: 1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702
Website: https://www.sourduckmarket.com/

Swedish Hill Bakery

This popular bakery and cafe on West 6th is a busy spot full of pastry options, including a kouign amann. Enjoy pastries and coffee, and grab some grocery items on the way out.

Address:

• 1128 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
• 1804 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
• 415 Colorado St Unit 102, Austin, TX 78701
• 3663 Bee Caves Rd #4A, West Lake Hills, TX 78746

Website: https://www.swedishhillbakery.com/

Ti Amann

This cottage baker specializes in kouign amnn, so there are big expectations! These kouign amann were very crispy and had a little less butter than I expected. Pre-orders open every Monday at 5 pm.

Address: Pick-up locations
Website: https://www.instagram.com/tiamannbakery/

Know any other bakeries or restaurants in Austin where I could find kouign amann? I’d love to know!

Save this post on Pinterest for later!

P.S. See where I go for the best pastries in Austin in this post.

The post Where to Find Kouign Amann in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Recap – What’s happened since February

It has been a weird year of blogging so far, but we’re still here! Slower, more intentional, and hopefully the most impactful. Since February, life has been…volunteering, a taco food tour, a friends’ wedding, cookbook clubs, mahjong meetups, a big trip to the Philippines, World Cup watching, reading, and a summer of hot dogs, to keep it short.

Curious – time flies, how do you keep track of your days?

Watching

You might know I watch a lot of TV. Besides World Cup matches, here’s what I’ve watched this year and recommend.

• Stranger Things (Netflix) – The 5th and final season came out. Can you believe it’s been 10 years since the first episode? They wrapped up the show nicely.
• The Pitt (HBO) – Season 2 of this award-winning show came out this spring. It’s one of my favorite shows. If you like medical dramas, this one will captivate you and give you a stressful, in-depth look at what it’s like in an ER.
• Shrinking (Apple TV) – The 3rd and final season of Shrinking was released. This is a feel-good, hits-deep kind of show that focuses on chosen family.
• People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix) – A lovely movie adaptation from one of my favorite authors, Emily Henry. This sweet romance is about friends to lovers.
• Off-Campus (Prime) – I’m obsessed with this college hockey romance show. It’s not just college kids falling in love. It’s a show that depicts healthy relationship habits and healing. But yes, there are also good-looking guys playing hockey.
• Rooster (HBO) – This drama-comedy stars Steve Carell as the lead. He takes a writer-in-residence job at a college to be near his daughter, whose marriage is ending.

Social Exhaustion

Are you introverted or extroverted? If you’re more introverted like I am, you have to recharge from too much socialization. If you’re feeling it, here’s a list for you. Pro tip: build these habits into your life. For me, I read every day, and I try to limit myself to one or two friend outings a week.

Epic Adventures in Every State

Need some travel inspiration? This list on Afar shares some epic adventures. With America’s 250th birthday, there’s been a big focus on things to see and do in the country. The World Cup is happening in multiple US cities right now, adding to the press around great sights!

Simple

On the other side of making memories, going to work, and doing all the things, are people who are feeling overwhelmed. I like this list of 6 things we can do to make things simpler. It shares ways to slow down and be present in the midst of all the things. Like this little note. 

I also feel this Substack article about being online deeply. As someone who has lived a lot of life online (this blog is 13+ years old), it’s a reminder to connect with people in real life and find inspiration outside of the screen.

Single 40s

I know a handful of people in their 30s and 40s who aren’t married. It’s a typical occurrence. This article reminds us why that is ok, even cool. I’ve thought about this, though – where are the matches for my friends?

How to Be Happy

Finland is the happiest country in the world. What is it? These four things help:

• Work-life balance
• Access to nature
• Learning new skills
• High trust

Overall, it’s a feeling of contentment and satisfaction over happiness. Maybe if we lower expectations, take responsibility for our own happiness, and acknowledge gratitude for the small things, we’ll see more satisfaction every day.

Space

Have you seen these photos the Artemis II mission took?

Are you emotionally mature?

This list of 8 habits might be something we all need. Conflict and disagreement will happen. How do you react? Can you work through the emotions in your mind and body?

The Cost of AI

Elsie Larson wrote this article about AI that echoes how I feel. We use AI too freely. I know it can speed up work and help generate ideas, but what do we lose? Is using it training our brains to think less? Will it affect how creative we are in the long run? How will these shortcuts change the way we think, do, and expect? Is it teaching us to devalue human work and creativity? Will our work start looking and sounding the same? I don’t have answers, but it’s a good conversation topic!

5 Things I Love Lately

• Summer – not the heat and mosquitoes, but the overall easy-going vibes
• Bakeries – so many new ones in Austin!
• Gardening – watching food grow from seeds
• Watermelon – find the smallest blossom end, and you’ll find the best one
• World Cup – I can bandwagon most sports, and the series has had some good games

The post Captivations v126 – Now you’re home appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Disclosure: I’m an affiliate partner of A Chef’s Tour, meaning I earn a small commission from bookings through my links. I truly appreciate your support in keeping this blog running!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I love food tours, especially when I’m traveling. So, it made sense to try a food tour in the Philippines. We specifically wanted to go on a food tour in Manila’s Chinatown, called Binondo.

A Chef’s Tour

When you’re traveling, food tours are a great way to give you the lay of the land in a new location. They teach you about local cuisine, culture, and history. You’re guided by a local who can give you more insight and will show you all the best spots. It’s a meal and a history lesson all in one.

A Chef’s Tour has food tours throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These tours are a few hours long with multiple stops to visit restaurants and see significant sights. Local foodies work with the founders to research the best eats in an area. Yes, the research involves a lot of eating! There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination to determine the final route and stops.

Food tours are great for adventurous people who love to eat. You’ll learn a lot while enjoying some of the best bites along the way!

Manila Food Tour

When it comes to food tours in Manila, Binondo, Manila’s historic Chinatown and the world’s oldest Chinatown, is the place to try Chinese-Filipino fusion cuisine. We enjoyed exploring the area with and learning history from Jace, our tour guide and a Filipino local.

You’ll get a mix of places on this tour, including a convenience store, a dim sum restaurant, an alley food stall, and an ice cream shop. Many of them are recognized with being a long-standing restaurant, and one stop is even the oldest restaurant in Manila!

Here’s where we stopped on our tour.

Polland Hopia Factory – making baked goods since 1966. We enjoyed a kuchai empanada – empanada with pork and chive filling.

Ying Ying Tea House – a favorite spot for Cantonese dim sum and barbecue. We had dumplings and barbecue pork here.

New Po Heng – alleyway shop known for its fresh lumpia

Toho Panciteria Antigua – the oldest restaurant in Manila, established in 1888. We tried their fried lumpia, pancit (noodles), and fried rice.

Big Scoop – a classic ice cream shop where you can get halo-halo

Between our food stops, we did some sightseeing, including a walk through the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, commonly known as Binondo Church. We also took a fun tuk-tuk ride through the neighborhood.

Are you ready to book your Manila food tour?!

Book Your Food Tour

If you want to book a food tour when you travel, check out A Chef’s Tour. They have tours across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and are expanding to South America and Europe. Book your tour here.

Looking for food tours in other places? Here are some posts to read:

• Why Take a Food Tour When You Travel
• Most Inspiring Travel Experiences in the Last Decade of Adventures
• Eating and Drinking in Mexico City

The post A Chef’s Tour for Foodies – Manila Food Tour appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

We’re lucky to have a handful of chocolate makers and chocolatiers in Austin that share their craft. These are great options for picking up a gift or discovering somewhere new in your neighborhood.

Listed in alphabetical order, here are six companies to find chocolate in and around Austin!

Delysia Chocolatier

Specializing in chocolate truffles, Delysia Chocolatier’s elegant boxed sets feature fun flavors and colorful designs. Their seasonal collections help you celebrate the holidays.

Shop: 2000 Windy Terrace #2c, Austin, TX 78726, United States

Website

Edis Chocolate

This chocolate shop and bakery is a sweet treat, and you’ll want to visit in person to see the full selection. Choose from chocolate truffles and chocolate desserts like flourless cake and hazelnut amaretto torte. I had the best chocolate cupcake I’ve ever eaten, and the torte and truffles were delicious.

Shop: 3808 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78759

Website

Ecuadorian Chocolate Factory

This is a full bean-to-bar production, founded and owned by locals. The beans come from the family farm in Ecuador, and in-store, you’ll be able to see how the cacao nibs transform into chocolate bars, chocolate bark, truffles, and more. I recommend the 85% chocolate bar and the toffee bark.

Shop: 251 N Bell Blvd #110, Cedar Park, TX 78613

Website

Kilwins

Founded in Michigan in 1947, Kilwins focuses on hand-crafted chocolates and sweets. Fudge and caramel are made on-site, and they also sell the brand’s ice cream. This franchise location is the only store in Austin, and one of 11 stores in Texas.

Shop: 3500 E Parmer Ln Ste. 3120, Austin, TX 78754

Website

KESSHŌ Chocolate

For a variety of craft chocolate goodies and to support an Asian-owned business, KESSHŌ is a great option. This Austin-based company makes single-origin bean-to-bar chocolate bars, some with Asian ingredients like hojicha, yuzu, and black sesame. At their trailer, you can also get gelato and baked goods made with their chocolate.

Shop: 603 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704 and 6726 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

Website

SRSLY chocolate

While the company has changed owners since its founding, this bean-to-bar chocolate company has dazzled the Austin area for years, selling its chocolate bars at farmers markets and pop-up markets.

Shop: Online and in local stores like Central Market

Website

Pick up a sweet treat and enjoy!

Want to learn more about chocolate?

• See this post about bean-to-bar chocolate
• Read this post about my chocolate tour in Belize

Looking for more dessert? Check out these posts:

• 30 Best Cold Treats in Austin – Ice Cream, Soft Serve, and More
• Where to Get Mochi Donuts in Austin
• 11 Best Desserts in The Domain Austin Area
• Best Asian Desserts in Austin

The post Best Chocolate Shops in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Toyo Eatery

If you know anything about fine dining in the Philippines, you know Toyo Eatery. Chef Jordy Navarra and his wife, May, opened the restaurant in 2016. Toyo, the Tagalog word for soy sauce, is a nod to their dedication to Filipino cuisine and purveyors. The way they highlight local ingredients and honor Filipino dishes and techniques illustrates the beauty of their menus.

When it comes to design, the restaurant is industrial chic with concrete edges, soft lighting, and touches of greenery. A glass partition separates two dining rooms. One room offers a closer view of the bustling exhibition kitchen, while the other houses the bar. In this fine dining restaurant, they create a casual feel with hip-hop music and simple uniforms. The service is attentive, kind, and gracious, and you get the feeling that the team is truly a family.

Toyo Eatery has been winning awards from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants since 2018, including the Best Restaurant in the Philippines for the last six years, and it earned a Michelin star when the guide arrived in Manila in 2025. They also made Asia’s Best Restaurants list; they are 71st out of 100 on the 2025 list.

Menu at Toyo Eatery

Toyo Eatery presents Filipino food through masterful dishes full of complementary and bright flavors. Their partnerships with farmers and producers

There are two menus at the restaurant: the 8-course tasting and the kamayan menu. They serve the kamayan menu from 6-8 pm and the tasting menu at 8:15 and 8:30 pm seatings.

Kamayan is a traditional, casual, communal Filipino feast. They present food on banana leaves, and guests eat with their hands. Toyo Eatery’s kamayan menu features seafood, pork, rice, and dessert, and they cannot accommodate dietary restrictions.

While the tasting menu is advertised as 8 courses, you technically receive 21 different dishes, including 5 desserts! While a few things are lighter at 2 or 3 bites, the meal is hearty overall, so get ready to feast.

Tasting Menu – Savory Dishes

This was a fantastic meal featuring a variety of Filipino dishes and flavors.

Gulay at Sabaw (Vegetables and Soup) – The first dish was a delightful soup made from vegetable trimmings. The table centerpiece features the vegetables in this dish.

The second part was a do-it-yourself lumpia featuring a variety of vegetables under dehydrated vegetables made to look like soil.

Halaan (Clam Soup)

Sawsawan (Dipping Sauce) – The next section featured their dipping sauce. Our server encouraged us to try shrimp two ways (poached and fried) with and without the sauce.

Mga Kilaw (Filipino Ceviche) – This course featured three different dishes. The mackerel was lightly “cooked” with vinegar like a ceviche. The disc was crunchy with goat floss on top. Cooked similarly to the mackerel, the tuna was finished with pickles and coconut cream. Next came grilled barbecue pork skewers.

Saluyot, Okra, Labanos at Pipino (Jute leaves, Okra, Radish, and Cucumber) – They presented a broth featuring typical Filipino vegetables in a cool bowl, and it was a good way to segway into the next dish.

Kabute, Kamatis, Kamias, Mangga, Soy Beans (Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Sour Tamarind, Mango, Soy Beans) – This vegetable dish was one of my favorites. It featured hearty grilled oyster mushrooms with a presentation of a soy bean base and a bright orange sauce.

Alimasag, Gata, Palapa (Crab, Coconut Milk, Sweet and Spicy Condiment) – The next dish was one of their most innovative. It featured steamed blue crab, a coconut milk sauce, and crispy fried shallots. Again, our server encouraged us to try each section on its own before combining them to create different flavor profiles.

Silog sa Palayok (Garlic Fried Rice in a Clay Pot) – A staple of Filipino cuisine, Toyo Eatery’s variation of garlic fried rice also includes corn and greens.

Chicken, Cassia Leaf, Paminta (Chicken, Cassia Leaf, Black Pepper)

Pinirito at Ensalada (Fried Fish and Light Salad)

Tasting Menu – Sweet Dishes

Finally, it’s time for dessert! I was excited for multiple dishes.

Tostadong Bigas (Toasted rice) – This rice pudding was like a halo-halo variation with jellies and shaved ice layered in.

Palitaw (Sweet Rice Cake) – While palitaw is a traditional rice cake, this version was more like a pudding.

Leche Flan Ice Cream at Asin Tibuok (Leche Flan Ice Cream with Sea Salt) – Made with seawater and coconut husks, “dinosaur egg” sea salt is handcrafted in the Bohol region. Our server ground the salt onto the ice cream tableside.

Cassava at Tsokolate (Cassava cake and chocolate) – To finish the meal, we enjoyed traditional cassava cake and chocolate bonbons.

It’s hard to pick a favorite dish! My favorite savory dish was the Mga Kilaw bites, and my favorite sweet dish was the palitaw.

How to Make a Reservation

Reservations release every Thursday at 3 pm Manila time, three weeks in advance. They share their release schedule on Tock, the booking website they use.

I set my alarm for 2 am Austin, TX, USA time and had no issue getting a reservation for the day I wanted. Comparatively, there were still reservations available six hours later, at 8 am, but only for limited days and times.

There are two dining options at Toyo Eatery. The 8-course tasting menu is ₱6,500 per person (about $106 USD) while the kamayan menu is ₱3,900 per person (about $64 USD). These prices are inclusive of 12% VAT and exclusive of 10% service charge. With the service charge, the price is about $117 USD for the tasting menu and $70 USD for the kamayan menu.

How to Get to Toyo Eatery

Toyo Eatery is located at The Alley at Karrivin in Makati. You’ll find the development, which has a couple of art galleries and restaurants, tucked back from the main street in a tight parking lot. Use the address for The Alley for the clearest wayfinding.

Now that you have all the details, if you find yourself traveling to Manila, make plans to visit Toyo Eatery. You won’t be disappointed!

Toyo Eatery
2316 Chino Roces Ave, Makati City, 1231 Metro Manila, Philippines
https://toyoeatery.com/

Want to try more great restaurants in Asia? See these posts:

• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• Dining at Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand
• Dining at Room 4 Dessert in Ubud, Indonesia

The post Dining at Toyo Eatery in Manila, Philippines appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Disclosure: Electric Gravy provided a complimentary tasting. All opinions in this post are my own! Thank you for supporting the businesses that support this blog.

Electric Gravy

Created by the founders of Old Thousand, a modern Chinese restaurant celebrating a decade in Austin, Electric Gravy uses the same eclectic vibe to create a restaurant with Indian ingredients and recipes tinged with Texan expectations. Here you’ll find familiar favorites of an Indian menu like chicken tikka masala and Texan fusion like curry queso. But the fun of exploring a cuisine is trying new dishes, so venture into some different gravies.

A quick word about gravy, seen in the name and on the menu – what is typically on menus in the U.S., as curry is called gravy in India. Gravy comes in different flavors depending on the spice mix used. You’ll be able to taste multiple versions here.

One thing I loved about dining at Electric Gravy was the sense of community. The founder’s grandmother’s portrait on the wall, smiling and attentive team members, and a corner space that encourages an intimate meal. The restaurant also has a rack of Indian clothing at the entrance to help locals find an outfit for their next Indian event.

Indian Tasting Menu

You know I love tasting menus. This is a way to try different dishes and flavors, and for the chef to showcase their favorite dishes or seasonal specials. Electric Gravy has a tasting menu called Never Empty Stomach. The tasting includes: papadom, chutneys, indian pickles, kachumber salad, naan, rice, and curries. It’s a hearty selection with a seemingly never-ending parade of dishes, but if you’re still hungry, the dishes are refillable! I’ve featured the selection of delicious dishes in this post.

The name “Never Empty Stomach” has a double meaning as well. A portion of the proceeds from this $37.99 per person tasting is donated to charities to help local Austinites, so enjoying this menu ensures others have a never empty stomach as well. 

I also enjoyed a Pudina Pani Marg – Fiero Serrano Tequila, mint, cilantro, lime, and chaat masala. It was a great example of how their cocktail menu adds a twist through spices.

Of course, a great meal ends with dessert, and here it was, gulab jamun paired with a cup of warm chai. This traditional dessert is deep-fried dough soaked in a sweet syrup.

If you’re looking for Indian food in Austin, try out Electric Gravy!

Electric Gravy
1050 E 11th St #100, Austin, TX 78702
https://www.electricgravyatx.com

Looking for more tasting menus in Austin? Check out these restaurants:

• Why Craft Omakase’s Sushi Tasting Became the Best in Austin
• Masa Omakase at Nixta Taqueria is a Tasting Menu Must-Try
• Michelin Guide is in Austin, Texas – What It Means + 2025 Winners

The post Indian Tasting Menu at Electric Gravy in Austin, TX appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Here are 12 places I ate at in January, February, and March.

Lunch at DEE DEE

DEE DEE is back! This Thai restaurant started as a food truck and recently evolved into a window counter at the new Leona Botanical Cafe and Bar in South Austin. The space is focused on outdoor seating, and there are a few other restaurants there. We enjoyed some of their favorites: som tom (papaya salad), fried chicken, and stir-fried vegetables.

Bread Boat

My first time trying Georgian food, and WOW! Khachapuri is the name of this traditional dish. It is bread filled with lots of cheese and butter, and, in this case, topped with an egg yolk that cooks as you mix it. You can also get versions with cooked meat included.

Dessert at Amy’s Ice Cream

Did you know Amy’s Ice Cream opened in 1984? I think that makes this ice cream shop an Austin classic. They feature seasonal specials, like their Valentine’s charcuterie dessert board I got to try. They also have blind pints where a vague description of the flavors is on the outside of the bag. If you’re feeling adventurous, try this out!

Dinner at Aburi TORA Sushi

A new sushi spot opened in Northeast Austin, a revolving sushi restaurant! Order on the tablet at your table, and the dishes fly to your table on a conveyor belt. This chain is known for its aburi, flame-seared style sushi, and they also have nigiri and a few other types of Japanese dishes.

Dubai Cookie at Whipped

The Dubai cookie has been trending, and you’ll be surprised that it is called a cookie. It is more of a cake ball and almost a mochi ball. It includes the typical Dubai chocolate ingredients: cacao, pistachio-kataifi mix, cream, and butter. It’s crunchy and decadent!

Quesadilla at La Santa Barbacha

I had the joy of joining EASTside’s Locals Know ATX Taco Tour and revisited La Santa Barbacha on the tour. Their barbacoa quesadilla is still delicious!

Burger from That Burger

One of my favorite burgers in town – the French Burger has brie, grilled mushrooms, berry jam, arugula, and black truffle mayo.

Matcha at Lau Lau

This coffee shop, rooted in Asian American culture, is a jewel. Their drinks have Asian flavors. Their Thai tea matcha is perfectly flavored.

Dinner at Electric Gravy

Electric Gravy invited me in to try their Texas-inspired Indian dishes. They have a tasting menu called Never Empty Stomach, where you can try chutneys, curries, naan, and more for $37.99 a person. This is a great way to taste different flavors. A portion of the proceeds from this meal helps feed the community.

Matcha and Croffle at Cafe du Bliss

This Korean-style cafe is a great spot, tucked in the Arboretum. The strawberry matcha and strawberry and banana croffle are my recommendations, but they have coffee options too.

Hot Dog at Yellow Ranger

Mapo Tofu Chili Cheese Dog is a winner at Yellow Ranger, a casual, counter restaurant inside two Austin bars.

Korean Food at An Nyeong K-Tofu & BBQ

This is quite possible my favorite Korean restaurant in Austin. While I tend to order the same things when I visit, I can confirm those dishes are excellent! My go-to dishes are the original tofu soup with added ramen and the beef short ribs (galbi).

Where should I eat next?

The post Flavors of the Month Q1 2026 – Austin Restaurants to Try appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Disclosure: EASTside provided a complimentary tour. All opinions in this post are my own! Thank you for supporting the businesses that support this blog.

Locals Know ATX

EASTside ATX is an independent, locally-owned and operated media company in Austin, publishing a physical magazine distributed around the city and featuring the stories on their website for over 10 years. East Austin is a rapidly growing and evolving area of Austin. The community-oriented publication focuses on the best of East Austin, from restaurants and businesses to stories about how city services impact the neighborhood.

As experts in the community, it makes sense that EASTside ATX found another way to share the East Side’s goodness. Through its Locals Know ATX Food Tour, guests visit and taste the best barbecue or taco spots in Austin while learning more about the businesses and the city. EASTside ATX’s relationships with these businesses give guests insight into their stories and what makes them special to the city.

Austin Taco Tour

The newly launched taco tour is a fun one! This walking tour takes you to four taco spots in East Austin, along with mural stops along the way. The tour is about 2.5 hours, and you’ll walk about a mile.

We met our tour guide Cori at The Long Goodbye, a bar with several food trucks where we enjoyed our first tacos from Granny’s Tacos. Their food truck location is about an 8-minute drive away. I had previously had their breakfast tacos, which were good, but the Rico (chicken, rice, Granny’s signature mole) and the shrimp (with cabbage, Granny’s chipotle dressing, avocado) were next-level!

At The Long Goodbye is food truck La Santa Barbacha, known for its barbacoa. It’s another family-owned business with passed-down recipes and traditions. You might have heard they earned a Bib Gourmand honor from the Michelin Guide for the last two years. Here we enjoyed a few noteworthy things: the strawberry horchata, melon agua fresca, and quesabarbacha – a quesadilla with barbacoa, cheese, cilantro, and onions. So good!

Two spots and tacos down, it was time to take a little walk. Our next/third taco stop was El Chilito, little brother to our final/fourth stop. This restaurant is fast casual, with an ordering window and plenty of outdoor seating. Here we enjoyed a tender al pastor taco and very fresh guacamole, both excellent!

Ok, now we really need a break! We walked over to Este, a Mexican seafood restaurant that is sister restaurant to Suerte, to check out their garden. They grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers for both restaurants here. Did you know you can volunteer here?

We continued to the Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Art Exhibit. This duplex was a multi-artist project, featuring murals on the outside and eight rooms on the inside. While the indoor exhibits closed in 2023, you can still enjoy the murals on the outside.

We also stopped by the You’re My Butter Half mural on the side of the United Way for Greater Austin building. This mural has been an Austin favorite since 2012.

Our final stop and taco spot was El Chile, the big brother to our previous spot El Chilito. Here we enjoyed chips and salsa, birria taco, and churro donut. A great way to end the tour!

Take Your Tour

I really enjoyed this experience! This East Austin tour ($85 per person) had a variety of delicious tacos, art breaks, and dessert. We learned a lot about these local businesses and got our fill of great eats; it was plenty to eat! While the walking tour can be a little warm, depending on the temperature outside, there’s plenty of hydration along the way, and you move at a leisurely pace. There’s the option of a $35 additional (alcoholic) drink package if you need more drinks.

Taking a food tour isn’t just for those visiting Austin. This tour would be great for a date, birthday party, or a fun progressive meal with friends. I hope you check it out!

Book here: eastsideatx.com/tacotours
Instagram: @eastsideatxmag

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