BITTER HERB

Eastwood New Year Staycation

2018-03-15T07:45:00.002-07:00

Sorry that I have not been updating my blog post (as if someone reads it LOL). It's been almost three years I think since I last wrote here that's why I made it my New Year's resolution to fix up my blog and write more often. Don't be surprised if you see stories about my adventures for the past few years since I will be doing a lot of catching up. Let me begin with my Eastwood New Year Staycation.

Why Celebrate New Year in Eastwood?

I chose Eastwood City because it is closer to my place making it more accessible and there's a free New Year Countdown concert. I was considering Mall of Asia since they also have a free concert, but I already felt tired just thinking of my travel time and traffic. I originally booked a hotel near Ayala, Makati thinking that they still have a street party. After doing some research, I think they already stopped doing it for a few years now so Eastwood it is!

Where to stay in Eastwood

Eastwood Richmond Hotel is the most ideal place to stay since it is connected to the mall so make sure to book months ahead since their rooms get booked out fast for the New Year. Another nearby hotel is Microtel by Wyndham Acropolis. The room rates here are cheaper, but you need to use the footbridge to get to Eastwood City and they don't have a pool as well.

If you have a tight budget, there are a lot of condominium units for rent in Eastwood, but they also get booked out fast so make sure to book as early as November. I use Airbnb since it is more secured and they can help you deal with the host in case you encounter any problems. If you don't have an account yet, use this link: www.airbnb.com/c/micz19 to get P 1,100 off on your first trip!

Since I searched a few days before New Year's Eve, all of the affordable condo units were already booked. Thankfully, there is an available unit at Aspire Tower located along Calle Industria. The host offered me a different unit because the one listed was already booked. The place was good for four people, but unfortunately my mom was not able to join us because she was sick. The one-bedroom unit was quite huge compared to SM Grass Residences. The place can actually fit in around 6 adults because there is a double bed, a couch in the room and three sofa beds.

The guards at the lobby and reception area won't give you a headache so check-in was quite smooth. Guests have free access to their gym, basketball court and swimming pool. It was too cold to swim and the jacuzzi wasn't working, but we still had a quick dip. We have to go back to the room to tend to the utility guy who fixed the broken bed. Yeah, just my luck. I got turned off seeing people swim with incorrect swimwear and eating at the poolside area. It seems like I was at the Laguna hot springs.

Here's a quick review of Aspire Tower

Pros:

Value for money - rate is reasonable
Spacious - can fit in around 6 adults (it could accommodate 10 pax if staying with kids)
Complete toiletries - there are liquid hand soap, shampoo, body wash, and 4 rolls of toilet paper (not cheap brands).
Bidet and hot water - two things I always look for in a bathroom
Amenities - free access to the gym, pool and basketball court

Cons:

View - windows facing the unfinished building so there is ongoing construction

Distance - it's around 10-minute walk to Eastwood mall, no convenience store nearby, and not that safe to walk at night

What to do in Eastwood on New Year's Eve

Attend mass at Saint Pio Chapel

Before the year ends, take time to give thanks to God for all the blessings you've received. The church is just a short walk away from Eastwood City beside Petron gas station and Honda. Some of my friends believe that all of their prayers were heard after going to this church. I was spiritually touched too when I went here.

Check out the giant Christmas tree

While waiting for the New Year's Eve concert, explore the giant Christmas tree near the A Shop. You can enter inside the tree and be amazed by the lights surrounding you. It's actually trippy!

Find an affordable place to have a relaxing dinner

Since it's my first time to spend New Year's Eve in Eastwood, I didn't know it can be chaotic here once it reaches 10 p.m. I thought I can easily find a restaurant near the Eastwood mall concert venue, but everything's packed or the prices are really expensive -- minimum order is 1,500 per head...WTH!

My kid and I were tired and hungry so we just decided to go to Citywalk because it was less crowded and there's also a concert stage there for DJs. Restos are again packed facing the stage, but I saw Senor Pollo at the back of the stage and there's not much people eating there. Jackpot! I really like the artworks and food is delicious and affordable too. Staff were accommodating and even offered me a shot of tequila for free.

I guess my prayers were answered right away because the restaurant was the perfect spot to watch the fireworks and party. They have a veranda and the group of guys drinking there decided to go down and join the party when the New Year countdown began so we got the spot all to ourselves as we enjoyed watching the fireworks.

What to do in Eastwood on New Year's Day

If you decided to stay for another day in Eastwood because you were up all night partying, here are the other things you can do that won't cost you that much.

Watch the dancing fountain (please don't do what my kid did)

Photo op with the mascots, mimes and statues (just give them a tip except the statue of course)

Chillax at the coffee shop (the old school photo booth there reminded me of my childhood)

Costa Coffee Eastwood review: Barista can't seem to create a design on my coffee so he just got a metal shaper and poured cocoa on it. Been to other branches and I really like the coffee art. Their apple tart isn't that good as well so basically, not worth the money. The only thing I like is the interior, but I know their coffee is good in other branches.

There are other activities in Eastwood like bowling, billiards and amusement games but if you don't have any budget, you can just chill at the park and bond with your loved ones.

So here are some tips for those who are planning to spend New Year's Eve in Eastwood:

Book a room as early as November and find a place within Eastwood City.
Get reservations at a restaurant. I recommend Peri Peri because they got seats facing the concert stage.
Check how you can get tickets to the concert which you can see on their website or Facebook page. Usually you can exchange your receipts for tickets.
Bring extra shirt or towel because it can get really hot getting caught in the crowd.

Where did you celebrate your New Year's Eve? Please share your stories and tips in the comment box below.

Get A Taste of Hong Kong at Eat Fresh Restaurant

2014-05-04T01:37:00.000-07:00

Holy Week is all about fasting, but it is really hard to do that when the food in front of you is tempting. Every Holy Thursday, it has been a family tradition to go on a Visita Iglesia. For those who don't know what that is, it is a religious practice of visiting at least seven churches and praying the Stations of the Cross. When we were younger, we used to visit like 14 churches and that's quite tiring. Today, it is faster with seven churches and more people are out of town taking advantage of the long weekend.

After Visita Iglesia, with sadly a few family members getting sick because of heat and exhaustion, the rest decided to go to Eat Fresh Famous Hong Kong Street Food for late dinner. It was located along J.Abad Santos Street in San Juan near Xavier School and Wilson.

From the outside, you wouldn't think that it is a restaurant because people choose the Hong Kong street food on stick displayed in front.

I thought you would have to wait until they grill the food and eat them standing up just like the typical isawan or barbecuhan in U.P.

There are some people though who just wait in front and take out their food. In our case, we want to dine in so we stayed inside the canteen-like restaurant. It had a cozy atmosphere and the owner greeted us with a smile before we left.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take much photos of the food because they disappeared quickly...lol.

I was able to take a photo of the Yakitori which was worth P95 for two sticks. I think it was a bit overgrilled because it made the meat tough and rubbery.

Next up was the Laksa Soup in Steam Boat, worth P180. This is probably the best Laksa I've tasted here in the Philippines. Since I haven't been to Hong Kong, I wouldn't know if this really captured its authentic flavor. But my sis' hubby and nephew, who have been to HK several times told me that it was really good. If you love spicy food, then this is a real treat! The soup is thick and not oily or watery. The noodles are firm like it was freshly made and the bean sprouts added a bit of crunch to it. Actually, just thinking about it makes me want to go to Eat Fresh again.

One thing I also enjoyed about restaurants are the condiments and they have quite a few to choose from, which pleased me a lot. You can try each of them and see what works best for each dish.

Those who are looking for authentic Hong Kong street food experience should definitely visit Eat Fresh. It is rare to find a resto like that here so it is a must to check this out. Here is their menu.

All Iz Good at 7107 IMF: Day 2

2014-03-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

After a night of EDM and hiphop music, the next day of the 7107 IMF was expected to have a different crowd. This is my chance to bump into people my age unlike Day 1 where I felt like a wannabe teeny-bopper. haha! I can't even keep up with all the non-stop dancing and drinking like I used to during my techno rave days in Malate and Makati.

We got to the venue around 2:30 pm and the front area of the stage was already crammed with people. There goes my chance of getting up close with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But I still got my hopes high...even if the chances of meeting them were really slim.

So we settled in the middle part, which we called our home base cos that's were we meet when we get tired of roaming around.

Since the only bands that I was interested in watching at 7107 IMF that night were Empire of the Sun and RHCP, I ended up hanging out with some of my pals who I haven't seen for years.

Finally! Some people I can relate to...and they luckily got their tickets for free...if not..they won't be there. Well, I'm happy for them (cough, cough...bitter!)
The sun was still up, and as you can see the place is already packed with people. It was a huge task (especially during night time) to get back to our home base when you're intoxicated and hoping not to step on anyone's face.

Well enough of the chitchat! I'll start sharing some photos of the bands that performed that night. Let me begin with local band Radioactive Sago Project. For me, they are one of the most talented bands in the country. Well, I used to watch them a lot cos I was an official tambay at U.P. College of Music where most of the band members studied. One thing I can say about their music..."galing!"

Some people think that Sago should be at the Sun Stage because they deserve to be there instead of other local acts...and I totally agree with them. However, if the band played at the other stage then I won't be able to enjoy their set because it was crowded unlike the other side where it was more chill!
It sucks going back to the Sun Stage because of the massive crowd so I just relaxed first at the home base and drank some more beer. When I saw The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, I thought Axl Rose was resurrected. Can you see the resemblance? How I wish it was Guns N' Roses playing at that time.

People started to inch closer when Kendrick Lamar got on stage. It's a sign that I'm already old when I start asking questions like "Kendrick who?" When in fact, he is a famous hip-hop artist and my nephew really digs him.

The younger crowd started to vanish after his set, but a different crowd replaced it. I tried to penetrate (does it sound off? LOL) towards the front stage to watch Empire of the Sun, but some people are giving me the cold stares. What sucks is that I can't dance to their music because it was really crowded so I had to get away from the crowd and settle for the huge screen. Some people in front are just there to take photos/videos. I can't understand why you go near if you don't appreciate nor react to the music?

I'm glad my niece's friend was able to take good photos of Empire.

Next up was the Red Hot Chili Peppers!!! I started to look for a good area where I can watch and still have space to dance. I decided to stay at the left side of the stage...in front of the huge speakers. I was beside the barricade and was glad that no one tried to squeeze me. I was joined by my old (not literally) friends, which made the concert more fun! THIS IS IT! My dream was finally coming true!

The moment Chad, Flea, Josh, and Anthony came out, I started screaming, singing, and banging my head! I wasn't able to take any photos not only because I have a crappy camphone, but I also wanted to enjoy their music. So here are some pictures from Loyva and Sienna.

For those who missed the concert, here are some clips of the RHCP performance at 7107 IMF courtesy of my niece Inka. Also check out Chad's drum solo and Flea's handstand.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers really lived up to my expectations! The two-day music festival ended with an amazing fireworks display to match the amazing performance of the RHCP. The place looked like a battlefield after a two day music war. Look at all that mess!

I can't believe that one of my dreams finally came true...thanks to my sister and her hubby...and of course to the 7107 IMF peeps for bringing my favorite band here. As I remove my bracelet, I felt a bit depressed knowing that my dream was over.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt this way. But instead of feeling sad, I force myself to look forward to next year's music festival...hoping that it will be bigger...better...and cheaper tickets (or maybe even free) :)
Who do you want to see perform in the next 7107 IMF?

All Iz Good at 7107 IMF: Day 1

2014-03-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

I admit I was one of those who doubted the capability of the 7107 International Music Festival organizers to pull off a successful show because of many reasons - dubious ticketing (we are used to buying them at the mall or the concert venue), mystery list of performers (they haven't really completed the lineup not until a month before the festival), and rumoredly funded by the Napoles (the mastermind of the PDAF scam).

Despite all the negative feedbacks that I've read online, I still forced myself to believe everything's gonna be fine because I don't want to waste my hard-earned money on a flopped festival. I was glad that I got the tickets on discount last Christmas plus I wouldn't have to worry about the ride and accommodation. My sister and her family already bought tickets so there's no turning back.

A week before the concert, I was torn between selling my ticket or not because I just resigned from my job (mainly bcoz of the a**hole gaptooth Brit). Sorry for cursing, but I did pray to God to help me decide what to do. I really wanted to go, but I felt guilty at the same time. I asked around who wanted to buy, but there have already been many scalpers posting online that they are selling their tickets at a much cheaper price. Since no one bought my ticket, then all I have to do is enjoy the 2-day music galore!

We arrived at Lewis Grand Hotel in Clark around 2pm and the pool was already inviting me to take a dip, but I didn't give in that easily (hihi!). I waited until the 2-day festival ended before I relaxed in the pool. The hotel was spacious and modern plus the staff were all nice too, so I totally recommend this place.

Since the first day of the 7107 International Music Festival has already started, we tried to eat our late lunch fast. I've heard that the beer at the venue will be costly so I decided to have a bottle of Tanduay Ice before we go there. We tried to hurry up so we can still catch The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. Of course, we had some photo ops first at the gate of the venue and mine was taken a bit too far...PHOTO FAIL!

They checked our bags and asked me to throw the water in my small tumbler. Damn! They said we can bring jugs with water, but they said they changed the policy that same day. Do you know how much the water costs? A regular-sized bottle is P80! People can die of dehydration in there! It could have been better if they have at least set up water fountains or drinking stations. I was forced to buy beer, which was worth P120 per can, instead of water since that won't give me a buzz. Anyways, the moment the alcohol slid into my throat, I started to relax and enjoy the vibe around me since it's all pure music.

When we got inside, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour was already playing so I rushed near the stage...not even noticing that DJ Reid Stefan was in front of me. Can you spot where he is? (like Where's Waldo? LOL)

Too bad the set of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour was about to end, but their music surely was a good way to start the festival for us latecomers.

There were two stages that was set up inside the huge venue. We called it the Carabao stage cos of the bull horns and the Sun stage cos it has the rays of the sun.

Most of the main acts performed at the Sun stage while the Carabao stage was for the local acts. However, some local artists were also seen performing at the Sun stage like UP Dharma Down and Rocksteddy.

7107 IMF Day 1: EDM meets Hiphop

If I make a review of each musician or band that played that day, it will take a loooong time, so I will just let the photos and videos tell the story. I would like to thank my niece Inka and her friend Sienna for some of the clear photos. My phone sucks! LOL

Kid Ink

DJ Riddler

DJ Reid Stefan

DJ Alvaro

Kaskade

The night ended with Kaskade's Eyes and our eyes really popped out when the fireworks started to explode as he performed the song...AWESOME!

To add icing to a superb night since everyone was just chill...not crowded...and had room to dance in front...was getting photo ops with DJ Riddler, DJ Reid and DJ Alvaro

Oh yeah! Kaskade may not have bothered interacting with the crowd, but his road manager gave out shirts to the lucky few...including ME :)

Writing this and remembering what happened that night puts a smile on my face. I will post the 2nd Day of 7107 IMF when I find another time to write...hopefully soon.

Fisher Mall Swims Against Other Giant Malls in the Metro

2014-02-17T07:02:00.001-08:00

One of the favorite pastimes of many Filipinos is malling - after school, after work, during weekends, and even when they are bored or just want to cool off. Another reason why people go to a certain mall is out of curiosity - and that was the main reason we went to Fisher Mall. My mom has been ranting about this mall for weeks already so I finally gave in because I heard that the fish/seafood there are fresh.
But before we started our mall tour (sounds like a concert eh?), we first had our late lunch at Jollibee where the cashier got everything mixed up which caused some delay, but the manager was able to fix it. It was nice seeing my kid making an effort to eat by himself knowing how lazy he was when it comes to that.

After meal, we decided to check out the mall and it was really cold...maybe because there wasn't much people there yet. The mall was spacious and they also have nice designs where people can have their photo ops.

The design is like a crossover of Robinsons and SM Malls. Same goes inside the department store, which resembles more of Robinsons mall than SM because the latter mall is more crowded.

Pardon me with the blurred pics 'cos i'm just using a crappy phone :). Another thing that people consider when going to a mall are the rest rooms. Personally, I prefer going to Trinoma more than SM North EDSA because there are more rest rooms in Trinoma and they are doing a good job in maintaining the cleanliness of their rest rooms. The rest rooms in Fisher Mall are spacious, modern, and also clean although they lack hand soap. I hope they maintain their rest rooms well.

And now for the fun part...the PlayLand.

It is like a mini carnival, but with a modern touch since you use a tap card to access the rides and games unlike other amusement centers that uses a swipe card or tokens. Minimum load for a new card is P50, which is quite affordable.

My son rode the airplane which costs P40 so I told him to use his other load on games instead of another ride.

So he hopped on one of the electric animals which costs only P20 and he had fun roaming around the Playland - passing by the game booths that will remind you of school fairs and a mini playground for toddlers.

The second floor was still a bit bare, but I saw two mini bowling lanes, a game console area for the older players, three KTV rooms, and a row of internet kiosks. The guard told me that you need to have at least P100 load in your card to spend 30 minutes in the KTV room because some kids just hang out there after school.

Fruit Ninja addicts should definitely try the wide screen version...it is only P15 per game. My kid also played the popcorn game and plinko where he won a small ball.

And of course, an amusement park won't be complete without the classic arcade games such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.

Too bad, we got no more load and we have to buy food for dinner. So we took the elevator from the 4th floor to the lower ground floor.

I wasn't able to take pics of the supermarket, but people were all piled up at the seafood section where you can even have them cooked right there and then. Haven't tried that though..maybe next time.

Before we left, we bought ensaymada at their bakery. I was quite impressed with Fisher Mall because they are just new in this business, but they already have their own line of bread and pastries. There's even a Fisher cafe located across the bakery.

The cheesy ensaymada with chocolate shavings on top is worth less than P100. My mom got it cheaper because she used her senior citizen card. It was quite good for its price. I see a lot of potential with Fisher Mall and if managed well...they can definitely swim against other shark malls in the sea.

Quick and Easy Burger Steak

2013-10-19T19:16:00.001-07:00

Instead of buying ready-made burger patties, it is more fun making your own burger because you can add different spices and herbs. All you have to do is mix them all up then fry or grill. I'm going to share this quick and easy burger steak recipe that is also easy on the pocket, which is perfect for busy moms like me.

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo of lean ground beef
1 big white onion (minced)
1 egg
spring onions (minced)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
salt and pepper
1 pack of instant mushroom gravy sauce

Procedure:

1. Combine the ground beef, white onion, spring onions, and egg in a bowl. Mix all the ingredients then season with salt and pepper. Add the bread crumbs but make sure to check the consistency of the mixture. It should not be too dry nor too sticky. Shape them into patties by rolling a small amount of the beef mixture on your hands and pressing them on your palm.

2. Fry the burgers over medium heat or you can grill them too (which is healthier). Put the fried burgers on a paper towel to drain out excess oil.
3. To make the sauce, just follow the directions written on the instant gravy mix. Pour the sauce over the cooked burgers. You can top that with cooked mushrooms or fried garlic bits.

4. Serve the burger steak with rice or mashed potato and buttered corn so kids will enjoy their meal.

Check out my other recipes here by simply typing recipe at the search box. Happy eating :)

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice at Vanilla Cupcake Bakery & Cafe

2013-09-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel? Seeing this dainty bakery and cafe called Vanilla Cupcake will remind you of that because everything here is eye-candy...from its delightfully appealing facade...

...to its cute interiors that will remind you of an old English tea house. The place may look too girly, but my boy blended perfectly with all the pastel colors surrounding him.

Seeing layers of colorful cupcakes will surely make anyone drool...and choosing one cupcake can be quite difficult too because of its wide selection of mouthwatering goodies.

Aside from these tempting cupcakes, the cafe also offers meals that are affordable and have huge servings too so light eaters can share one dish. My mom and son shared the Fish and Chips, which is worth less than 200. We just ordered 2 extra rice, which wasn't necessary anymore because the fries are quite filling already. It took a long time before we got our order...more than an hour (I even had to create a scene just to get prioritized). I think that they forgot all about our order and just reheated the fish because it was greasy and not freshly cooked.

My friend recommended the Garlic Beef Tapa, which was also worth less than 200. It was served with two eggs, garlic rice, and atchara. Two people can share this meal, but I was able to finish it all by myself...and was so full afterwards. It was really good...the meat was tender, the garlic rice was also delicious and two eggs are more than enough...so it was worth the price.

For dessert, we ordered the blueberry cheesecake cupcake, but since I got so full and a bit sleepy...I forgot to take a picture of it :( However, it was good but not that amazing.

Here's a copy of the menu of Vanilla Cupcake Bakery and Cafe (I got it from their Facebook page).

Despite the bad service, I'm going to go here again hoping that I will be lucky this time in getting a good waitress to attend to us because the girl last time didn't even said "sorry" or admit her mistake. She just tried to avoid us so another waitress took over and apologized for the delay in our order. Oh well, I guess not everything is nice at Vanilla Cupcake Bakery and Cafe.

4 Fingers: Another BonChon?

2013-06-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

From Korea to the Philippines, the BonChon craze is here to stay as more Filipinos go crazy over this tasty, crunchy, fried chicken. Because of its popularity, other BonChon-inspired restaurants emerged on the dining scene including Philippine pride Manang's Chicken and the newly-opened 4 Fingers. I did a little research about this restaurant and found out that its first branch is in Singapore, but now it has several branches in the Philippines and Indonesia. I thought it was a US-based company because of the interiors of the restaurant. You will feel like you're in New York because of the music, graffiti, and pipes on the ceiling.

We ate at the North Edsa branch, which is located at the ground floor beside National Bookstore so it is easy to find. My sister gave me a voucher worth P300 of food, isn't it nice eating for free? Aside from the Korean-style chicken, there are other choices in the menu like Chicken Burger, Calamari, and Salad.

We ordered the 2-piece Drumstick Rice Box Meal worth P149 each and that already included rice and drink. I just ordered extra rice because I shared mine with my son (typical mommy-saving move).

The chicken was delicious, tasty, and crunchy, but it would have been better if it was bigger. For its price, it's surely worth it, but BonChon is cheaper by 4 pesos and it's a well-known restaurant. They should have at least matched the price, or better yet made it cheaper or added some side-dish to their boxed meal.

I really don't know why Korean-style fried chicken is this good...aside from frying it twice, maybe they added a secret ingredient like the 5 fingers...I mean 4 fingers :)

Home Cooked Filipino Meals at Kusina Imaz

2013-05-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Do you miss your mom's home cooked meals? If you are far away from home and miss eating classic Filipino dishes like pinakbet, laing, and sinigang, then you can always visit Kusina Imaz. This restaurant is located at RMR Square, Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora. This is where the new Robinsons Supermarket is located and beside Caltex. Since I usually buy groceries at Robinsons, I decided to try out the dishes at Kusina Imaz. The restaurant is spacious and there isn't a lot of people going to RMR square because it is not that visible. A small building currently being constructed was blocking the square. It was supposed to be McDonald's but they later on removed the banner and stopped the construction. Don't know what they're going to do with that unfinished building. That's why I like buying groceries there because it was not crowded.

The staff are nice and accommodating. The have a wide selection of Filipino dishes and the price is affordable too compared to other Filipino Restaurants. They have Mangan Meal Combos, which you can share if you have a tight budget. You can get two meat choices and one veggies with rice for only P119.00. Just order extra rice and you can now share this meal. Pretty cheap, right?

I ordered the Mangan 3, which I shared with my son. He ate the Sinigang na Bangus with rice. Unlike what I ordered at Mang Inasal which has a tiny 1/4 slice of half a bangus, theirs have a real slice of bangus and lots of veggies. It's like getting a serving from your own pot of sinigang at home.

I ate the Laing and Dinakdakan. Laing is a popular vegetable dish from the Bicol region and it is spicy, which I love. It is also creamy because they used coconut milk and no fishy taste.

The Dinakdakan, on the other hand, is an Ilocano dish that resembles sisig because it consists of grilled pig ears, face, and other parts with pig's brain, chili, onions, and seasonings. Really love this dish because I have Ilocano blood in me and I love everything spicy.

My overall dining experience was good and it was a budget-friendly restaurant too. I am going to try their Bagnet next time and see if it will live up to my Ilocano standards.

Update: I ate at Kusina Imaz again weeks ago and ordered same Mangan meal but my choice this time was Adobong Pusit and Dinengdeng.

The Adobong Pusit was good, but not exceptionally delicious. I prefer the traditional adobong pusit that my mom cooks because it uses huge squid and the black ink of the squid.

The Dinengdeng is another Ilocano vegetable dish that uses fish as its main ingredient stewed with vegetables. This dish is a bit salty for me.

Note: The pictures are enlarged so don't expect your orders to have big servings. Since this is a value meal, then you will only get small portions.

Pancake House is Best for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

2013-03-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

Looking for a place where you can have a wide selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Well, Pancake House has it all...American, Filipino, and Mexican-inspired dishes are some of the choices. This is one of my favorite family restaurants, but it is a bit pricey. Although they have huge servings and can be shared. Last time we visited the Pancake House branch in Wilcon City Center, Visayas Avenue, I ordered the Hamburger Steak Special Set worth P257.

I shared this set meal with my son and just ordered rice. It consists of a huge juicy hamburger with gravy, mixed veggies and spaghetti...all of it are delicious! Oh yes, it also includes iced tea.
My mom who was not that hungry and craving for pancakes ordered the Caramel Banana Walnut Waffle worth P191.

This meal can also be shared by two people if it is for breakfast, but if you are hungry then you can eat this by yourself. The waffle is perfectly cooked and topped with banana slices, crushed walnuts, and syrup. This is a healthy breakfast meal, but she ate it during dinnertime.
Take time to read my previous review of other food items at Pancake House.
Check out Pancake House for the complete list of menu and branches.

Beef Pochero

2013-03-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

It's been months since I've updated my blog because I got tied up with work. Now I am going to take time to write and share some recipes, restaurant reviews and more mommy stuff.

Beef pochero is just like nilagang baka, but with tomato sauce and fried saba banana. Here is my simple recipe on this popular Filipino beef stew dish with Spanish influence.

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo beef cubes (boiled with sliced onions, salt and pepper until tender)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium-sized onion (diced)
1 cabbage (cut into small parts)
1 lb pechay (Chinese cabbage)
1 lb Baguio beans
4 pieces saging na saba (cut slantly into 3 each piece and fried)
1 pack 200 gram tomato sauce
1 tbsp cooking oil

Procedure:

Boil the beef cubes with sliced onions, salt and pepper for about one hour or until the meat becomes tender. Remove the meat from the broth and set aside.

Pour the cooking oil into a large saucepan then saute the garlic and onions over medium heat. Add the beef cubes then fry a little until the color changes into brown. Pour the tomato sauce then add 2 to 3 cups of beef broth depending on how thick you want your sauce to be.

Add all the vegetables in the pan then switch the heat into low. Cover the pan and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Open the cover then add the fried saging na saba. Simmer again for about 10 minutes.

Check if all the vegetables are cooked. Remove from heat then serve in a large bowl or individual bowls.

This dish is best served with a cup of warm rice and fish sauce with calamansi. Check out my other recipes here and they are all easy to make. Enjoy!

Tokwa't Baboy

2013-01-20T05:51:00.001-08:00

I am going to share another recipe today and this is a popular "pulutan" in the Philippines. Usually they use tenga (ear of the pig), but you can also use pork cutlets. The tokwa and pork meat are mixed up before adding the sauce, but I chose to mix everything up so you can eat that anytime or even make it as your "baon" packed lunch for work.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork cutlets
4 pieces of tokwa (tofu)
2 medium-sized onions
5 cloves of garlic
3 pieces of siling haba (finger chilies)

Sauce:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
5 teaspoon of sugar
3 pieces of calamansi
dash of pepper

Procedure:
Boil the pork meat for half an hour to make it tender. Prepare the other ingredients while waiting for the pork meat. Dice the onions and garlic. Cut the tofu into 8 parts per piece. Slice the finger chilies into small pieces. Remove the pork meat from the pot and strain the excess water.

Deep fry the tokwa until golden brown. Remove the tokwa from the frying pan and put in a strainer to drain the oil. Next, fry the pork cutlets and make sure to cover the pan. Open it once you hear long intervals in the popping sound (just like cooking popcorn) and check if the pork cutlets are golden brown and crunchy. Remove from the pan and also strain. Fry the garlic until golden brown and remove from pan.

Mix all the ingredients together in a pot or pan. Add the sauce. Turn on the heat to low flame and continue mixing all the ingredients for 2 to 3 minutes. This will help the meat and tokwa absorb the sauce. Serve with rice or with your favorite drink such as beer.

Note: You can make the sauce spicier by adding more chili or sweeter by adding more sugar. Check out my other recipes here. All are easy to do!

Birthday Blues at Super Bowl of China

2012-12-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

I usually get that dreaded birthday blues every year, but that feeling starts to fade the moment I see my friends...drinking, laughing and having fun! I also spend my birthdays with my family...treating them out to a special dinner so I make sure that I choose a good restaurant for us. I was not able to make any plans this year because of an unexpected incident that occurred just a few days before my birthday. I still tried my best to celebrate my "supposedly special day" by watching a movie with my friend...then dinner with my mom and son. My friend told me that the food at Super Bowl of China is good and affordable too so I decided to give it a try. It is located at the 2nd floor of Trinoma near the entrance and fountain area. We were lucky that day because there was a "light and sounds" show that night at the fountain area. The waiter was friendly and the place looked nice, but the smoke coming from the cooking area bothered me a lot because the fan beside me ventilates it inside the restaurant.

We were given a bowl of prawn crackers or more commonly known as "kropek" while we wait for our order. We finished it up fast because we were hungry and still have to wait for around 15 minutes to get our food ready. My kid enjoyed eating kropek because it was crunchy. (camera shy..lol)

The first thing I checked out were their condiments...they got chili...check!..soy sauce...check!..and Chinese vinegar...must try!

First up was the Vegetarian Spring Roll...I was expecting to see more of a Vietnamese-style spring roll, but it was more of a Pinoy-style spring roll...or locally known as "lumpiang prito". There are 3 pieces of spring roll cut in half served on a plate and that is already worth P95. I could have bought that for only P5 or P10 each at small eateries and they even have tofu or beef inside the spring roll...sheesh!

I ordered Roast Chicken Toppings, which I shared with my kid thinking that they have a huge serving...but I was wrong. It was only good for one person. The chicken was dry and bland...you can't even see any chicken drippings/sauce smeared on the rice. Speaking of the rice...it was tough like it was scraped out from the bottom part of the rice cooker. The half part of the chicken was also more of bones than meat so basically my kid and I only ate 2/3 of the chicken in that little bowl.

My mom ordered Steamed Chicken and Mushroom Toppings. She was also disappointed with the taste of the chicken. She said it was quite rubbery and it has no taste at all. She gave my kid a few portion of her food while she forced herself to eat some of her dish. I tasted the chicken, and she was right so I used the condiments to add flavor to what I was eating. There were also quite a few chicken skin parts that were awful to eat.

We were supposed to order dessert after our meal, but decided to skip that because of our bad dining experience at Super Bowl of China. I don't know if we were unlucky to choose the wrong meals...or the food there were just really not good! I was glad that my mom and kid were with me during my birthday because the food surely did not cheer me up.

After paying our bill, I looked for something to eat that would make me smile again. We were walking towards Toys R Us and saw Red Mango.

Oh yes! The perfect solution is Red Mango...my favorite frozen yogurt with blueberry and cheesecake never fails to make me feel good. My mom and kid also love this dessert so we were all happy.

Next year, I would definitely look and even try a restaurant first before I spend my birthday there. Lesson learned!

Jonas: Pasosyal Na Pares

2012-11-30T10:45:00.003-08:00

Answering a "college entry"-like exam as part of a job application was quite draining so I wanted to treat myself to a satisfying meal after that. I met up with my friend at Robinson's Pioneer and checked out the restaurants in that area. When I saw Jonas Pares, I remembered what my niece told me "masarap daw dyan" (with so much excitement in her voice). That was enough to convince me so I gave it a try and see why people are crazy about this restaurant.

It was like a "carinderia"-style resto because you have other choices of dishes laid in front of you. Since Jonas is famous for its pares, then I MUST give that dish a try.

I was quite shocked when I saw the price of the Beef Pares. Is it really worth P124???

If it was this expensive, then I really hope they are damn good. The meal included rice and soup.

The big bowl was only half filled up with beef pares and there are not even spring onions sprinkled on it. The meat which included fat and litid parts tasted bland maybe because the sauce was not that thick. Usually when I make Beef Pares, the sauce is thick and I just serve soup stock beside it so the diner have the option if he/she wants to pour that over the pares. I remember that's how Cocoy's Pares House serve their Beef Pares. We used to eat a lot there when I was still a kid...hopefully I can visit that resto again to see if it still tastes like it used to.

The rice was also a disappointment because when I saw the huge bowl, I was like whoa! But, when I saw the content, I ended up saying "sigh". I finished up my meal maybe in less than 15 minutes and did not even feel it hit the bottom of my stomach.

The drinks are also way too expensive. I ordered Mango Shake and I think it was more than P50. I was hoping to see a tall glass with thick fresh mango shake, but it was served in a small plastic cup and quite watery.

My friend and I were really disappointed spending almost P200 each for a "pasosyal" na pares meal. I know what a good pares is and not going to be carried away by all the hype of Jonas Pares anymore. I would rather sit down in a small carinderia and pay only around P50 for a pares...it might actually taste better than this.

Ersao Looks Cute But There's Nothing Cute About Its Food

2012-11-24T23:09:00.000-08:00

Since me and my friend have eaten at almost all the restaurants in Wilcon City Center (Visayas Avenue), we decided to try something new. Ersao restaurant located on the ground floor has a really cute design and I saw its wide selection of milk teas and shakes so we decided to give it a try.

They have condiments area placed near the counter, but I was not able to try any of them because my kid does not like spices. I was also lazy to go to the counter...so I just settled with the chili sauce and soy sauce.

I ordered Beef Topping which was worth P130. I asked the order taker if their beef was really tender because my kid can't chew that well and she said yes...but I was disappointed because it was not that tender and the taste was also bland...I could make better beef stews than this.

My friend and I shared the Adobong Tofu (P45), Steamed Dumplings (P50) and Pork Chao Fan (P110).

If they think that adding chopped spring onions on the fried tofu would make it look special, then they are wrong..because it tasted just like any fried tofu..it is not even that crunchy. The sauce is a bit spicy and sweet. I would have been happier eating Tokwa't Baboy than this.

The Steamed Dumplings have a soft filling so I let my kid eat this rather than the beef topping. The sauce was thick and a bit sweet which I did not like so I dipped the dumplings in chili sauce and soy sauce with calamansi. I actually ate only a little of this cos I was forced to finish the beef topping.

The Pork Chao Fan has a huge serving so I think among the three orders, this is surely worth it. It tasted good, but I prefer the rice to be stickier.

Ersao is famous for its milk teas and shakes so it is a MUST to order one. My kid loves Mango Shake (P60) so we ordered that. It was good and even has huge pearls inside. I think you need to pay additional for the pearls..can't remember though cos I did not check my bill.

If you would ask me if I would dine here again, then I would have to be honest and say "No!". Sorry, but there are some meals that are overpriced and did not taste good at all. I can maybe get a short drink here while waiting, but won't risk dining at Ersao again. Actually my friend had a tummy ache (her sister said it was food poisoning) the next day and she told me that this was her last meal...but she did not complain anymore. The only thing cute about Ersao is its interiors and that won't fool me anymore :)
Here is Ersao's Menu for those who want to still try this place out.

Take Two on Bacolod Chicken Inasal

2012-11-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

This was my second time to visit Bacolod Chicken Inasal this year because of the voucher I bought online. My first was at the Trinoma branch and the second was at the Quezon City Circle. We went there Friday night because that was the last day of using the voucher. After several stressful day, this was the best day to end a weekday...a relaxing stroll at the park, satisfying dinner and watching the mesmerizing colorful fountain. I live near QC Circle, but I really don't go to that place much...maybe I should start making that as a habit.
Bacolod Chicken Inasal can be seen in this circular strip of restaurants beside Tropical Hut.

The restaurant is spacious and even has a second floor for private dinners and functions. I really hate dining in restaurants where you get bumped all the time by other diners or have a hard time passing by because the tables and seats are close to each other. The festive decors highlight the Philippine culture.

As usual we ordered our all-time favorite Petso worth P99.50 and garlic rice worth P35.50. The chicken was good and the rice is not just plain rice topped with toasted garlic because the rice itself was cooked in garlic. The size is average because I have seen other chicken inasal bigger than that, but it was enough to keep me satisfied. I was happy that they are complete with condiments (vinegar, soy sauce and the chicken oil).

We thought we won't get satisfied with our orders so we added Pancit Efuven worth P165. It looked tasty using flat noodles garnished with vegetables and topped with fried scrambled eggs, but it lack flavor. The calamansi was not enough to make this dish more tasty.

If movie awards have their star of the night, then the star of my meal is the Sago't Gulaman worth P69.50. I think this was one of the best Sago't Gulaman I have tasted in the country. The sweetness was perfect with enough crushed ice and filled with huge sagos. This actually made my meal seem delicious even if the chicken and pancit were mediocre. The Sago't Gulaman made my night!

Even if the food was not that awesome, I had a pleasant dining experience at Bacolod Chicken Inasal because the staff were friendly despite of using a voucher. I had bad experiences using a voucher in restaurants where they overcharge you once you exceed the total amount. They don't have a service charge or additional taxes so I only paid the excess amount and they even let my mom use her senior citizen card on that...very nice people :) I just left them a tip for their good service.
After dinner, my kid and I hanged out at the fountain area...which was a great stress reliever.

Directions to Quezon City Circle:
Coming from EDSA, turn right to East Avenue and ride any bus, jeep or FX going to Fairview or Lagro. Go down in front of the City Hall where there is a tunnel walkway heading to the park.
Coming from Fairview, ride any bus, jeep or FX going to Q. Avenue, East Avenue or Kalayaan Avenue. Go down after the PUV turns right reaching the circle. There is a tunnel walkway heading to the park.

You will see tourism and history pics of Quezon City exhibited at the walkway. Of course the EPAL ads of Mayor Herbert Bautista would surely catch your attention...tsk, tsk, tsk...does he really have to do that? If he used his own money for that project, then he has every right to do so, but if it came from our taxes, then it would be a real shame to put your face and credentials in that area.

There was a guard stationed in the tunnel walkway plus the place was clean so I felt safe walking down there. It was a far cry from what I remember when I was younger walking the underground walkways in Manila. If you are looking for a cheap place to relax and unwind in Quezon City, then make sure to visit QC Circle.

F.I.S.H. Is More Than Just A Seafood Restaurant

2012-11-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

F.I.S.H. which stands for Fiesta Island Seafood Hub is more than just your typical seafood restaurant because first of all, it does not only serve seafood dishes, but also offers all sorts of Filipino cuisine and even has sashimi and baked oysters. This restaurant is also a perfect place to hold your personal events and company gatherings having KTV rooms and function spaces.
My friend invited me over to F.I.S.H. for dinner because her voucher was about to expire that day. It was my first time to visit that place because the last time I went there it was a different restaurant so I was quite impressed with the changes. F.I.S.H. is located along Visayas Avenue corner Congressional Avenue and it was easy getting there because I live nearby.

There was a separate area for regular diners which is air-conditioned and have cable TV. I like the interiors because it gives that homegrown feel using native decors.

And of course there are fish decorated all over the restaurant and aquariums at the lobby area.

My friend ordered Kare-Kare which is worth P345 (good for 2 to 3 people) served with bagoong on the side. The Kare-Kare has a nice presentation, but when it comes to taste there is nothing extraordinary about it. The bagoong was a little too sweet for me and I prefer it spicy like the bottled Barrio Fiesta brand.

For dessert, we ordered Leche Flan worth P75 and I think it was good. There were strips of coconut on top which added a uniqueness to its taste. The flan itself is not that rich because some only use the egg yolk in making the flan, but others who want to save up use the whole egg and I think they used the whole egg on this one. Using Muscuvado sugar instead of white sugar would also make leche flans more richer and tastier. In other words, I have tasted better leche flans.

My overall dining experience was good because the place was pleasant and food were nicely presented. It is a little pricey compared to other known Filipino/Seafood restaurants considering their remote location. I think they should lower the price so that more people would dine in there and just increase it once they have established a name for themselves.
Here is the menu of F.I.S.H. but there's no price so check out other websites for that.

Wait! My story is not yet done because as we were about to leave the restaurant, we saw this nice little shop across the lobby/waiting area called Our Kitchen so we decided to check it out.

It was a really nice shop filled with all sorts of goodies perfect for Christmas giveaways like bread loaf, cakes, sylvanna balls, cookies, mini cupcakes, meringue etc. There are also coffee beans, bottled sardines, bagoong and more stuff sold in that store. Those who don't have time to cook would surely be delighted with the list of packed meals available in Our Kitchen which can feed up to 4 people.

I bought the banana walnut loaf worth P115. It was placed in a nice box so you can give it as a gift anytime. The bread was good and price is reasonable.

We chatted with the cashier and she told us that F.I.S.H. and Our Kitchen are sister companies managed by different chefs. The concept of Our Kitchen is very interesting. Check out the product range of Our Kitchen.

The Aristocrat Restaurant is Well-Loved by Pinoys

2012-10-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

The Aristocrat Restaurant is well-loved by many Filipinos. It became part of the the Philippine tradition wherein most families celebrate special occasions in that restaurant including birthdays, weddings, christening and graduation. It brings back good memories because I remember me and my family dining at The Aristocrat branch in Roxas Boulevard facing Luneta, which I think is their first branch. I am sure I am not the only one who had wonderful childhood memories at The Aristocrat because you could see most OFW workers or Balikbayans requesting their families to take them to that restaurant each time they visit the Philippines. It was my mom's 67th birthday and my sister's hubby treated her (including us) for dinner at The Aristocrat branch in SM The Block.

The restaurant was packed and you could see that most of the people dining there were lolos (grandfather) and lolas (grandmother) together with their families.
Their menu is mainly Filipino that's why it appeals to the older generation.

They also have a high chair and I was glad my tall 4-year old son was able to fit in that so he was able to dine more comfortably. He even removed his shoes and waved his feet all over...LOL...too much feeling at home is also not nice.

The Aristocrat is famous for their chicken barbecue that's why we all ordered that. My mom ordered the 3-pc Chicken Barbecue worth P195. It was served with Java rice, Java sauce and atchara. I remember it was cheaper way back then so I was quite surprised with its current price. The chicken cuts are not that huge compared to the chicken barbecue I ordered at Serye but that was worth P280 so when it comes to price, The Aristocrat is more reasonable. The marinated chicken was tasty and the rice is delicious.

I ordered the Boneless Chicken Barbecue worth P170 and also served with Java rice, Java sauce and atchara. The marinated chicken was soft and tasty that's why my kid was able to chew it well. There was a huge portion of chicken skin which I was not able to eat because it was oily. I only eat crispy fried chicken skin and not soft and greasy ones. I hope that they would be more generous with the atchara and also provide a bottle of the Java sauce rather than sachets of it...not environment-friendly!

Birthdays won't be complete without ordering noodles, which symbolizes long life. We ordered Pancit Canton worth P350. It has seafood, meat, veggies and even meatballs...kinda strange to see that in a pancit. I did not like the taste of the noodles...it was too bland for me.

My overall dining experience at The Aristocrat Restaurant was good. I did enjoy the chicken barbecue, but they could improve on that such as lessening the chicken skin on the boneless chicken and being more generous with the atchara and Java sauce. I was unhappy with the pancit and I think it was too expensive too. Everything was quite pricey, but since they have been in the business for more than 75 years...they have every right to increase their price unlike other Filipino restaurants that demand a huge price without proving themselves first. Despite of being a little pricey, Filipinos still can't resist The Aristocrat and will continue to crave for their specialties. Be prepared to spend around P250 to P300 per head at The Aristocrat. Here is the Aristocrat Menu for your reference.

Pork Steak with Onion and Gravy Sauce

2012-10-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

Since Beef are more expensive than Pork, I end up buying Pork Steak rather than Beef Steak for lunch. I am going to share this easy recipe that both kids and adults would love called "Pork Steak with Onion and Gravy Sauce". There are two ways of preparing this dish:
First: You can bread the pork steak, fry it and then cook the sauce separately before smothering them on the fried pork steak.
Second: I chose this version because my kid have a hard time chewing meat so I need to make sure that the pork is really tender. Here is my simple recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo of Pork Steak (marinated in calamansi, soy sauce and pepper)
2 large onions (sliced thinly)
Instant Gravy (dissolved in water)
Pork drippings from the boiled pork
1 tablespoon butter

Procedure:

1. Add 1 cup of water on the marinated Pork Steak, then boil it for approximately 30 minutes or until the pork is tender. Make sure to check it from time to time to avoid the meat from getting dried up. Add water if needed.

2. Remove the meat. Strain the pork drippings to remove excess pork fat.

3. Put 1 tablespoon of butter on the pan on medium heat flame, then fry the Pork Steak until golden brown.

4. Add the onions on the meat and continue frying until the onions are cooked.

5. Pour the dissolved gravy mix on the meat and onions, but make sure to put it in low heat. Add water as often as needed if the meat is still not that tender. Gravy thickens the longer you cook it. This dish is best served with baked potatoes or a cup of rice.

NOTE: If you have a sizzling plate, then surprise your family with this easy Pork Steak Dish.

Check out my other recipes:
Beef Sukiyaki
Ginataang Hipon with Kangkong
Ampalaya Salad

Cooking does not have to be that hard...just enjoy and experiment :)

Big Better Burgers: Is it Really Better?

2012-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Big Better Burgers...the name itself would make you want to try their burgers since they claim that they have big and better burgers. Me and my kid decided to have dinner at Big Better Burgers located at the 2nd floor of Wilcon City Center, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. I think it was my first time to eat at Big Better Burgers or I might have already in the past, but can't remember.

The restaurant is quite small with only four sets of 4-seater tables and 2 outside. The available table was still cluttered when we sat there so I called the girl at the counter to have it cleaned up. I think they are undermanned because the girl on the counter was the only one taking the order of all the guests so you have to wait for your turn. She also serves the meals and also clean the tables. Since she was in a hurry, the table was still wet so we cleaned it up with tissue. There was also a small fly inside the resto, but i killed it...sorry fly : (

My O.C. kid asked me to fix the condiments because they were all open...maybe the girl forgot to fix it too since she was tending to all the customers...refilling iced tea, following up orders...etc.

I ordered the BBB Value Meal and Meatball Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce for my kid since he likes spaghetti. The BBB Value Meal is worth P140 and consists of quarter pound grilled burger with mayo, cheese and veggies plus french fries and iced tea.

I really loved the burger...it was tasty and juicy. No need to add more condiments because the burger is already oozing with mayo. The fries is good and my kid liked it a lot. He ate only a little of the burger because he has a toothache and can't chew well. The iced tea seems diluted and it is not refillable so it is like drinking a pale iced tea. The price of the BBB Value Meal is okay.

The Spaghetti with Meatball and Fresh Tomato Sauce is worth P122, which I think is too much for its price because the serving is not that big. The meatballs are quite tough and the center area seem to be not that cooked well so I cut it really small so that my kid can eat it. He only finished one meatball. I gave him spaghetti with little tomato sauce because he said it was spicy. I tasted it and yep...he was right. I love spicy food so it isn't really a problem for me, but my kid did not like it. I felt bad because he was not able to eat that much. We took home half of the spaghetti and I tried feeding it to him again...maybe he forgot that it was spicy so he ate a little and again told me it's spicy..LOL. Can't fool a kid.
Now I know what to order next time I eat at Big Better Burgers and if you ask me if their burger was really bigger and better? I need to try more burger outlets to compare that, but I have tasted even bigger and better burgers in the past.
Here is the Big Better Burgers Menu. The prices there are not updated though like the Spaghetti with Meatballs.

My Kid's Friday Night Date at Pancake House

2012-09-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

It was supposed to be just me and my close friend meeting up on a Friday night, but my kid overheard me leaving and wanted to tag along. Since he has no school the next day, then I gave in to his plead. We met up with the godmother of my son at Wilcon City Center along Visayas Avenue since that is near our place. My kid only had a few rides/games at the jampacked arcade because it was very chaotic there...both kids and even adults were kinda wild. My friend suggested Pancake House and it was a relief for me because the restaurant was not full and we sat in a nice corner. The waitress gave my kid some colors and an activity sheet. Knowing my kid, he only colored a few and got lazy again...LOL.

Each time I ask him to write his name, he ignores me or won't do it. He only writes his name if he wanted to show off...and he did that night to impress his Godmother. So proud of you boy!

Since we already had dinner, I ordered Spaghetti with Meat Sauce which can be seen at the Kid's Menu. It was worth P165 and the serving was huge with two slices of toasted garlic bread. The spaghetti was not that sweet and I enjoyed the beefiness of its sauce topped with grated cheese. The bread was toasted perfectly and tasted good as well.

My friend ordered Spaghetti Club Special Set which is worth P216. It is a platter of spaghetti and 2 slices of clubhouse sandwich served with soup and iced tea. She was already full so she asked me to eat one slice of the sandwich. It was delicious and has chicken, bacon and veggies in it.

I ordered Mango Crepe with ice cream for dessert, but they were out of it...so I just ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream for my kid. It tasted like guess what? Vanilla..LOL. No need to make a review of this except that for around P50, I think it is too much for a scoop of ice cream...maybe if its a special kind of ice cream like with nuts or chocolate bits.

Pancake House is really perfect for the whole family because their menu selection caters to everyone...ranging from toddlers to senior citizens. They also have their own restroom, which was clean and very spacious... ideal for those with limited mobility. If you are planning to eat here, make sure to prepare paying around P250 to P300 per person because of the tax and service charge. If you don't eat much, then you can just share a special set to save up.
Check out the Pancake House Menu

Bacolod Chicken Inasal: Stuck Back in Time

2012-09-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Before the birth of Mang Inasal and Chic-Boy , there was already Bacolod Chicken Inasal. This restaurant introduced Chicken Inasal to the common people. There are still several diners who patronize Bacolod Chicken Inasal and I am one of them...remembering my good dining experience at that restaurant years ago. I bought a voucher that is worth P180 for P300 worth of regular-priced food and drinks at Bacolod Chicken...great deal right?
After my kid got his check-up at Manila Doctors, we went to SM City so that my mom can claim her items in exchange of the Worlds of Fun tickets she have been collecting since early this year. My son also got to play of course. I remembered that I have a voucher and instead of having a snack, we decided to have early dinner at Bacolod Chicken...it was quite a long walk from SM City to the restaurant in Trinoma. It is located on the 2nd floor near the fountain area. The Bacolod Chicken Inasal branch was huge and has that festive ambiance which would remind you of dining in the province.

I asked the waitress first before ordering if we would be charged VAT and service charge if our order exceeds the amount of the voucher and she said I would only have to pay the exceeding amount so we ordered more than P300 worth of food and drinks. Since Bacolod Chicken Inasal is famous for its Chicken Inasal, we ordered two Petso worth P95.50 each plus three plain rice worth P25.50 each. My mom wanted soup so she ordered Solo Batchoy worth P61.50.

The Batchoy tasted just like any ordinary batchoy...nothing special about it...so my kid and mom shared it to keep their tummy warm. The price is just fine, but I would not really order that next time.

Now for the main entree! The famous chicken inasal...hmmm...how come it looks smaller than what I used to order years ago? Or maybe the size has never changed, but unknowingly I tend to compare it to the petso at Chic-Boy. The chicken tastes good and grilled just right, but it seems a bit dry. I miss the juiciness and oiliness of the chicken which you can get from JT's or Chic-Boy.

The condiments lack the chicken oil which I love pouring on my rice...yummy but deadly! The vinegar is good so I mixed that with the soy sauce, calamansi and sili. I asked the waiter if they have chicken oil and they gave me a small amount...which is fine so I can control my cholesterol intake.
When we got our bill, I think we only paid around P50 (excess of the voucher amount) which I think was a great deal! My dining experience at Bacolod Chicken Inasal was average. Service was good since we got there during off peak hours and the waiters were accommodating. The location is great since you can watch the fountain after dining and it is near the entrance of the mall. The downside is that they don't have their own restroom so you need to go out to mall for that.
Those who want to dine at Bacolod Chicken Inasal can check out their Menu

Banapple is Bery Bery Good

2012-09-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

I have eaten at Banapple a few years ago and I did not really get a chance to savor it because my kid was still small and a handful. Now that he is already 4, he can be asked to sit still and eat (but I still fix a spoonful) After attending mass at Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, my sis and her hubby treated the grannies (including us) dinner in celebration of Grandparent's Day. They chose to eat at Banapple, which is located at the 2nd floor of Northgate Building, Connecticut Street, Greenhills. You can even walk from the church to the restaurant.
The Banapple branch was quite small that's why we have to wait for our turn to be seated and there were 10 of us.

Instead of waiting for the people inside to finish eating, we decided to just stay outside so we can finally have dinner because we were sooo hungry.

I ordered Baked Fish Gratinee with Scalloped Potatoes which is worth P175. This scrumptious dish is served with white rice and buttered kernel corn. The fish was perfectly baked and the potatoes were soft so my kid had an easy time eating this dish. He also love corn so that was like a bonus for him. The cream sauce and mozzarella crumb added zest and flavor on the fish and potatoes.

Dining at Banapple won't be complete without getting a taste of their specialty dessert the Banoffee Pie. We ordered 3 slices of the pie and just shared it. It costs P85 per slice which is quite affordable.

My kid loved this dish and end up eating all the bananas smothered with caramel while I settle for the crumb and whipped cream with chocolate shavings. LOL.

Finally, I was able to appreciate the meal in Banapple and so did my son...who said, that it was "bery bery good!" Banapple is now one of my favorite restaurants because the price is reasonable, the serving is huge and the food is really delicious. I can't wait to go back there and try their other dishes. I was lucky with my choice because my kid and I liked it a lot.
Here is the Banapple Menu for those who would like to try it and I do highly recommend it.

Ampalaya (Bitter Melon) Salad

2012-09-14T01:34:00.000-07:00

Ampalaya (Eng: bitter melon)is hated by many because of its bitter taste. It is rare to find a kid eating ampalaya and even only a few adults would dare ate this vegetable. I think the first time I ate ampalaya was in grade school when we were asked by our teacher to eat it since it signifies the bitter herb mentioned in the Bible. Now that I am all grown up and enjoy eating all kinds of food, I happen to love ampalaya. My former colleague brought ampalaya salad at work and it was good! You won't taste its bitternes so I asked her how she did it. I made it at home and mom liked it, but my sister did not because she said it was still bitter. FAIL!
As years go by, I think I have finally perfected making the not-so-bitter Ampalaya (Bitter Melon) Salad. I am going to share this to those who love this green veggie and the first-timers who dare to taste it.

Ingredients:

3 tomatoes chopped into medium pieces
1 white onion chopped into small pieces
2 salted red eggs (itlog na maalat/pula) chopped into medium pieces
1 large ampalaya cut into half and then sliced thinly horizontally

Garnish:
4 huge calamansi
2 tablespoons vinegar
4 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon pepper

1. After cutting all the ingredients, soak the ampalaya (bitter melon) in water with 1 tbsp of salt. Wait for about 15 to 30 minutes, then start squeezing the ampalaya until all its juice is gone. (note: the longer you soak it, the less bitter it would be).

2. Mix all the veggies and egg together. Add pepper, sugar and vinegar on the salad. Squeeze 4 calamansi on the salad, but make sure not to include the seeds. Taste it to add sugar, if the salad is too sour.

3. Put the salad in the refrigerator before serving. If it gets too watery, then remove the excess sauce. The salad is best served cold. I made it as a side dish for my pork chop and it was a superb combination. It is also perfect with pork/chicken adobo.

I hope you enjoyed the Ampalaya Salad and finally learn to love this green veggie like I do. Check out my other recipes Beef Sukiyaki and Ginataang Hipon.

NOTE: I am not a professional chef or cook, but I do cook cos i love to eat :)

Tiramisu at Nueve Cafe

2012-09-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy Thursday night, but I have to meet a good friend at Wilcon City Center along Visayas Avenue for personal reasons. After walking in an ankle-deep flood just outside our subdivision and having dinner, I was lucky to get a free ride from my sister going to Visayas Avenue. My friend was already waiting for me at Nueve Cafe which was located at the ground floor of the mini mall.

The only customer that night was my friend who was still clad in her corporate office wear so I joked her saying, "how's the restaurant business going?". The restaurant looked elegant so the food there must be quite expensive.

She was having pasta for dinner and since I already had dinner, I decided to order desert. I checked out their cake and goodies selection tray to find what would fancy my sweet tooth.

The Tiramisu caught my attention since that is one of my favorite desserts so I ordered that. It is worth P125 which is same price as most cake slices in restaurants.

I was expecting the Tiramisu to be soft with a bitter sweet taste in it. It should melt in my mouth, but it did not. It was a bit tough like an ordinary cheesecake so that was quite a disappointment. But if you are a desert lover like me, then that would be enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

After a nice heart-to-heart talk, I t0ld my friend that the Tiramisu was not that good and she told me that I should have ordered their Chocolate Cake. She said it was really good and that was her daughter's favorite. Well she should have suggested that earlier right? LOL. Anyways, as we left the restaurant I saw the sign on top saying Croc Cuisine. Hmmm...that got me quite curious. I would definitely want to go back there and try their crocodile-meat dishes aside from the Chocolate Cake that my friend was bragging to me.