Sometimes I just want to go and post things like, “SAIZEN. DAISO. GO. NOW.” But then, I know you guys will just want to go and kill me so I should offer more info. Well, the news is, Daiso, that Japanese chain of 100 yen stores has finally opened a store in Manila. Locally going by the name of Saizen, it’s the same Daiso chain you may have visited in Japan, Singapore and Hongkong. Someone already beat them to the trademark Daiso here, hence the need to go by a different name but hey, it’s the same gigantic wallet blackhole we’ve all gotten to know and love.

Personally, I haven’t been there so I’m inviting you to visit magnetic-rose’s shop report. All her tales (THEY HAVE BENTO STUFF!) and photos have me drooling so you’ll probably see me over at their maiden store at the 3/F Ortigas Wing of Robinsons Galleria this weekend. So while I’m looking forward to Saturday, my wallet and credit card (they accept CCs!) are already weeping.

Red is the color for February. It’s also the color of this year’s Winter seasonal release, the Royce Gianduja Nama Chocolate. Gianduja mixes together chocolate and hazelnut paste—think Ferrero Rocher and Nutella.

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In this fast-paced era where everything is mass-produced and done with machines and assembly lines, it’s refreshing to encounter products that are still made lovingly and painstakingly by hand. That’s why I was so excited about getting the chance to try Bonbons Barnier.

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EDIT: Co-op is now renamed Choto Stop and can be found at 2277 Chino Roces Ave., San Lorenzo Village, Makati City. It’s right beside Kikufuji. Thanks for the correction Mila!

A few months back, my friends and I were thoroughly saddened when one of our favorite Japanese groceries, Co-op, closed down. A small store that was stocked to the brim with snacks, food mixes, cooking ingredients, drinks, fresh vegetables, preserved and ready-to-eat foodstuff, and processed meats, you can spend ages browsing through the shelves, ooh-ing and aah-ing over what they offer. Never mind that I couldn’t understand what was written on the wrappers; pictures on labels, researching through my cookbooks and online and blind faith always worked in my case.

So can you imagine how happy I was when I found out that not only had they re-opened, but they’re now bigger, better and… well, betterer? Our friendly all-goods-for-75-bucks (save a few items that are tagged with other prices) has reopened in a bigger location along Pasong Tamo St. Makati. It’s now part of Little Tokyo, just two stores down from Kikufuji.

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