..Pinay kid explores the WORLD..

Cuban Food, Mojitos, Calle Ocho and more Cuban Food

2013-01-30T13:36:00.001-06:00

A visit to Miami won't be complete without a Cuban food feast. It was hard for me to get myself out of South Beach because that place was just too much fun. Thankfully, my love for food was greater than my love for the beach so I dragged myself out of South Beach and drove to Little Havana for some Cuban food trippin'.

Picture: Versailles Facebook Page

Located in the heart of Miami's Cuban community and along Calle Ocho, Versailles has been serving authentic Cuban dishes since 1971.

Ceviche Tropical for appetizer. Fresh fish cured in lime, cilantro and jalapenos served with diced avocado tomatoes and boniato chips.

Picadillo ala Cubana and Ropa Vieja afterwards. Each dish was of course paired with white rice and sweet plantains.

Cuban mojito to drink. Aaahh.. Life is good!

There was no room for dessert so I ordered Cafe Cortadito, an extremely rich and sweet coffee to finish of my hearty dinner.

Can't get enough of Cuban food so I visited Mojitos Cuban Cuisine located on the ground floor of the Dolphin Mall the next day.

Mango Mojito for starters.

Boliche Asado Con Arroz Blanco y Maduros. Pot roast with onion gravy with white rice and plantains.

And the best Cuban dish I've ever tasted so far... Palomilla Mojitos Suprema. Palomilla steak rolled with ham and Swiss cheese, sliced and served over Demi Glaze sauce. I've probably said this a thousand times but it's worth every calories! This dish still hunts me in my dreams. =)

Juice and Java in Miami

2013-01-24T22:18:00.000-06:00

A lot of times I wish I live in Florida. Especially on January when the weather difference between Miami and Wisconsin Dells look like this.

I wish I run along South Beach every morning or practice yoga by the beach on January just like what they do on 3rd Street.

Picture: 3rd St. Beach Yoga

I also wish I could go to Juice and Java everyday.

Picture : Juice and Java Facebook Page

One of my favorite food spot in Miami is the Juice and Java. Located along Washington Avenue, this little restaurant is flocked by health buffs, tourists and locals for their wide variety of healthy offerings.

They have the healthiest food selection. Last time I was there I feasted on grilled chicken breast, organic brown rice, a side of pesto and veggies. I paired this healthy dish with one of their all natural smoothies and a shot of wheatgrass. It felt so refreshing to have this kind of breakfast after a night of alcohol abuse.

For lunch, grilled salmon with organic brown rice, veggies and herb sauce. All their uber healthy platters comes with a choice of organic brown rice, organic quinoa, steamed veggies or baked sweet potato but I'm a true blue Asian so its rice all the way.

This was a food shot from my Miami 2010 trip. Tilapia platter with rice.

Picture: Juice and Java Facebook Page

Next time I want to try their Cranberry Spinach Salad with Grilled Tofu. Looks yummy! =)

Chronicle of My Florida Fall Escape

2013-01-11T21:24:00.001-06:00

I went to Florida just before Thanksgiving last year. It was my second time and as the cliche goes, it's sweeter the second time around. It's because every time I visit a place for the first time I have this "see all, do all" attitude. I have to see everything and do everything. I spend a hell lot of time in Googling things, reading Trip Advisor and watching Travel Channel episodes. I have a day to day itinerary of all the tourist spots and restaurants I want to go to. It's pretty exhausting but it's absolutely rewarding. It's also the best way to get exhausted. Really. Anyway when I visit a place for the second time, it's mostly for pure fun and relaxation.

First stop in Florida is Jacksonville. I stopped for a night to meet with a friend.

That's me with Nina (the one in hot pink) with two of her friends. They call themselves Asian barbies. Haha! They're so hilarious. =)

We went to Pancitan Atbp., a Filipino restaurant along Beach Blvd. We feasted on authentic Filipino delicacies.

Pork sisig. I stopped eating pork since May of 2012 but there's always an exemption to every rule. Pork sisig was too good to pass up.

I left hastily after lunch because I want to be able to walk around St. Augustine before it gets dark.

Photo: cityprofile.com

Aerial view of Castillo de San Marcos. The best view of the fort. Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the US. It's built mainly to protect the city of St. Augustine from pirate raids of the British during the war.

Inside the masonry

The view from the top of the wall was breathtaking.

I of course needed to do a little bit of camwhoring while enjoying the view.

ME..ME..and more of ME..

I also walked around downtown and saw a great deal of Spanish influence in the architecture of the city.

I fought the urge to sit in a bar and have drink. I went back to the car and started driving to Miami. Woot woot!

The only thing I did in advance in Miami is book a hotel. Other than that, I had no plan of what to do, what to see or where to eat. It turned out to be the best plan ever.

One of the many mojitos

I used Cuban mojitos to keep myself hydrated under the heat of Miami sun. I was lightheaded all the time but that didn't matter because I was having too much fun.

I ate tons of sinfully delicious meals.

Seafood Paella from Cafe Carlyle

Tuna tartare from Cafe Cardozo

This was probably the healthiest meal I ate during the course of my Miami getaway. Grilled chicken breast with pesto and organic brown rice from Juice and Java.

I also met with old friends who recently moved to Miami.

We took tons of pictures endlessly.

We wandered along South Beach aimlessly. Super Fun!

I was sad to leave Miami. But all good things must come to an end. So until next time Miami!

I made one last stop in Florida before I started the long and miserable drive back to Wisconsin. I went to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin Florida. I was so excited to go because I've read about this place before in Travel + Leisure and Travel Channel.

Honeymoon Island is one of Florida's State Parks. There's tons of fun activities to do in the park but it's a really popular wedding venue among other things.

I saw two beach weddings on different parts of the island when I was there. Both weddings were intimate and oh so romantic!

There's just one thing that visitors should beware when visiting the park.

This caution sign was displayed by the state park entrance. I was surprised to see it because the articles I've read before about Honeymoon Island never mentioned rattle snakes. I had to double check if I have my insurance cards in my purse before I got out of the car.

I still had fun walking along the beach despite the rattle snake scare. The weather was perfect, the beach was so beautiful and the atmosphere was so tranquil and romantic.

Can't help but snap a photo of this guy watching the sunset. Postcard perfect scene.

I waited for the sun to set before I left the park. Before I left paradise.

2012 Holidays, Travel Escapades and 2013 Travel Bucket List

2013-01-02T23:36:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

That's what my living room looked like on Christmas Eve. Too bad I wasn't able to enjoy this much since I spent very little time at home. I was busy working the entire holiday season. Plus I was too sick. =(

It was really disappointing because I get sick only once a year and it had to be on Christmas. Aside from choosing to stay miserably sober on Christmas parties, I had to work all the time which just made me feel ten times worse. The highlight of my Christmas was opening my Christmas presents under the tree two days after Christmas because that's when I had the time. Most of the gifts came from myself, which was pathetic by the way.

Anyways, I had my share of fun times before I got sick. I went to Chicago with three of my girlfriends to celebrate Katrina's birthday.

And partied with the Karoo girls in Jonathan's surprise birthday party.

I was feeling a little bit better on New Year's Eve so I hosted a mini pre-NYE party at my house.

All dolled up and ready to party!

This was the one and only decent picture that night. I didn't bring a camera in WETT because I forgot my camera the last time after too many shots.

It's now 2013 and I'm looking forward to a better and a more productive year. I set a lot of big goals this year and I hope and pray that I'll be able to make it happen.

One of the many things I'm looking forward to is traveling. Unlike most people my age, My biggest expense is not mortgage, not car payments nor shoes and bags. My biggest expense goes to my travel fund.

I've been to a lot of places in 2012 and I'm so thankful for it. I've been to New Orleans during the Mardi Gras festival. I had more fun in Bourbon street than in Vegas. True story.

I also went to Niagara Falls and New York City. It cost me a fortune but its totally worth it.

And just before Thanksgiving, I went to Florida. (I'll share a more detailed account on my upcoming posts)

mojitos, Ocean Drive, South Beach and palm trees. A piece of heaven on earth. =)

with a quick stopover in St. Louis Missouri

midnight walk in downtown (which is not advisable by the way)

and Nashville Tennessee.

almost bought a pair. Seriously. It's too tempting.

This year, I have two ambitious trips on my travel list. First one would be a western road trip that looks like this.

I am going to need a lot of time and moolah for this trip. But I am determined to make this thing happen. I have delayed this trip so many times. This year, it'll be a dream fulfilled. I'll check out all the National Parks along the way. Live young, wild and free in Vegas. Drive along the Pacific Coast Highway 1. Eat all I can in San Francisco. Explore Seattle. I have this big smile on my face while typing this. I'm so excited! 6,000 miles of pure fun!

Next destination on my list is a long shot. I want to spend my next Christmas in Manila. Yes. That's right. I pray for this everyday. I miss this city so much I'm dying to visit. I miss my family, my friends, the Christmas traditions and the weather. Oh Manila!

I miss you everyday.

So there. My travel plans for 2013. I will have more travel post coming soon. I think that's what I'll be doing while waiting for this gruesome winter to pass.

Do you have any travel plans yet for 2013?

12.13.12 The Morning After

2012-12-16T00:09:00.001-06:00

This will be more of a photo dump than a blog post.

We woke up early to do a little bit of shopping and just bask in the energy of downtown Chicago.

We spent a lot of time in Zara since we don't have it in Madison.

One thing I love about New York and Chicago is its historic and modern architecture. The intricate details of old buildings are just amazing.

And so are the new ones...

I love downtowns!

camwhoring in downtown Chicago

We didn't care that people around us were in a rush to go to work. We just wanted to take our damn pictures!

Before we left, we ate in Little Quiapo, a filipino buffet restaurant in Chicago. As expected, we stuffed ourselves with some authentic Filipino delicacies. We ate waaayyyyy more than we need to.

Pork sinigang. Pork and veggies are simmered in sour broth. Pair it with steaming hot rice and you got yourself a gastronomical orgasm.

Dinuguan. Pork meat simmered in pig's blood with vinegar and chili and some other spices. Hey i know its sounds gross but it's delish!

Me and my fresh coconut juice. Just the way I like it! =)

12.12.12 Chicago girlfriend getaway

2012-12-14T18:39:00.001-06:00

12.12.12 is not just a historic date but also a dear friend's birthday. We decided to go all out and party the night away in Chicago. We didn't have a clear plan of what's gonna go down that night but I pretty much have a clear idea. Call it deja vu. It's the same thing that always happens when we get together. camwhoring + partying + pigging out + overspending.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

We checked in at the Palmer House in East Monroe. The hotel is in Chicago's Loop and is in a short walking distance to literally anywhere.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

I love the hotel lobby. Elegant and timeless.

Photo by : hilton.com

We did not waste any time. From the time got into the bedroom, we dressed up hurriedly and started celebrating KT's birthday, our girlfriend getaway and our awesomeness.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

We popped the champagne and finished the bottle before we left the hotel.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

The birthday girl was ecstatic!

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

One for the road. Or so I thought.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

We took obscene amount of pictures that night. I kept thinking.. "Last picture then we'll leave.." But then we just kept snapping pictures one after another.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

Asian's next top supermodels. =)

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

One more in the hotel lobby. If narcissism is a crime, we should be in jail right now.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

We walked to The Gage for a round of drinks.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

Stolen shot.

We took a cab from The Gage to Paris Club. It was midweek but the club was still pretty packed.

I guess one could say we're a little bit of both.

I'm in love with the club's wallpaper.

We're supposed to go The Underground but our birthday girl had a little too much already. LOL

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

When we got out of Paris, we saw two limos parked across the street. Five minutes later, we found ourselves inside the limo being chauffeured to the nearest open restaurant. Don't ask me why. I forgot why we did what we did.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

KT and Rhiza raided the limo's bar.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

Minutes later the the driver pulled over in front of Bijan's Bistro. We camwhored some more while waiting for our food.

Photo by: Katrina Taloza

We had a sinfully good midnight snack to cap the day off.

Graceland Tour: Everything Elvis in Memphis Tennessee

2012-12-05T19:36:00.000-06:00

One of the things I love about road trips are the stopovers. They're always as exciting as the original destination. Earlier this year, I attended a Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans and stopped in Memphis, Tennessee on the way back home.

I headed straight to the Graceland Mansion to pay my respects to the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley.

He bought this mansion for $102,500 in 1957 when he was just 22 years old. I know right?!

The grand piano has a special spot in the living room.

My favorite part of the house is the dining room. I'm not even a big fan of chandeliers but after this, I want to have my own in my dining room.

If I remember it right, this is his parents bedroom. Tastefully done.

The family room has a carpeted ceiling. I'm not a big fan of moss green. I thought it made the room look creepy. But then again they call it the Jungle Room so it just makes sense.

The entertainment area.

Game Room. I have to say that this is my least favorite room in the house. There's just to much colors that it hurts my eyes.

The mansion includes a trophy building. It is a huge gallery which showcases an amazing collection of album awards, movie posters, concert costumes, vinyl records and other memorabilia of Elvis Presley.

Priscilla's wedding gown and Elvis Presley's tux on their wedding day are also on display.

This is the Meditation Garden where Elvis Presley was laid to his final resting place along side his parents. This is also inside the Graceland Estate.

I also went to Elvis Presley Automobile Museum just right across the Graceland Mansion. It houses over 33 vehicles owned by Elvis.

1955 pink Cadillac Fleetwood. This is my favorite car in the collection.. for obvious reasons.

1966 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

Mercedes 280 SL Roadster. Elvis Presley's gift to Priscilla. There's a lot more but I'm too lazy too upload everything so I'll jump into his custom jets.

Elvis owned two private aircraft. The bigger one was named Lisa Marie after his only daughter. When I saw the interior of the airplane, I suddenly want to become a rock star. Seriously! Their toys are awesome!

The interior of the plane looks like this. And just when I thought that there's nothing extraordinary about the interior, I looked closely and saw this.

Yes. Seatbelt buckle made of gold. Not too shabby!

Dining room in the Lisa Marie

The sleeping area

The sink in the bathroom is also made out of gold. What?!!!! I know! Rock stars do live a crazy life don't they?

Aside from the Lisa Marie, Elvis also owned a smaller jet named the Hound Dog II.

Since it's too small, people were just allowed up to a certain point to take photos. This is the only decent picture I have.

After reliving the crazy awesome rock star life of Elvis Presley, I just stopped to buy some souvenirs then headed to Beale Street. Oh Yeah!

Flashback Friday: One night in New York City

2012-11-30T23:30:00.000-06:00

I was sorting out travel pictures when I saw this one. I thought it was a brilliant idea so I gave him a dollar in exchange of one picture.

A fabulous example of pure honesty.

What happened in the last four months..

2012-11-27T23:13:00.002-06:00

I'm back!!!!

I missed blogging so bad. =(

My summer has been a big blur. I worked at least 80 hours a week this summer. I told myself that I'll still find time to blog and do something else other than working but obviously that didn't happen. So here are some updates.

1. I got my own place. Yes. I'm a homeowner! It sounds so surreal. But yeah. I am.

Yep! It's mine.

The house needed a lot of work so it kept me busy during my days off. I tore wallpapers, painted walls and scrubbed windows and cabinets.

Me doing the dirty work

I also found myself saving up for a couch rather than shopping for clothes and picking out floors rather than hunting for shoes. A little overwhelming but I'm starting to get the hang of it.

2. I had a major lifestyle revamp. Yes! I know that I'm not fat but I'm not fit either. I eat too much and exercise too little. I'm sick of all my stupid crash diets which just did more harm than good. I started asking my coworkers if they know any good workout videos and they all said the same thing: Jillian Michaels

Extreme Shed and Shred is a badass workout! Love it!

When I did one of her workout for the first time, I remember saying "Gosh this bitch is crazy!!!!" I was literally out of breath and my entire body felt like it was going into spasms. I was so sore the morning after. Then I did it again.. and again..and again..and it became part of my daily routine. Needless to say, I became a fan. I started eating healthy too. I try to go to Whole Foods once a week to shop for organic fruits, veggies and grass fed meats.

After a month, I started looking for another kind of workout. Luckily I saw an article about Physique57. I was intrigued so I checked out the website and read all about them. I ordered a set of dvd right away. Physique57 is a barre method which combines yoga, pilates and dance. It's an insanely sexy and challenging workout. It targets each muscle group to the point of overload then stretches it for relief to develop long and lean muscles. I LOVE the workout and I love Tanya Becker too because she makes the workout so much fun.

3. I just came back from Florida and had a blast. Too many mojitos too little time!

Honeymoon Island, Dunedin FL

All the stories won't fit in here so it'll be in the future entries.

Reunited in the Windy City

2012-07-11T18:09:00.001-05:00

Photo: Katrina Taloza

This wasn't the best picture of me but it's a damn good poster. Well, so after a year or so, we were reunited in Chicago. It was so random. KT and I just needed to renew our passports in the Philippine Embassy in Chicago and bum around for the day. We asked Jane if she wants to come and of course she did. We almost thought we weren't gonna go because we can't use my car and we weren't sure if Peter was going to drive us. The only thing we're sure about is that we will be camwhoring that day and so we did. We were like high school girls giggling, chasing butterflies and all that shit. We even brought extra shoes and dresses just in case.

We camwhored just about anywhere.

Photo: Katrina Taloza

Even inside the Philippine Embassy where the picture above was taken. People there must've thought we were weird. KT and I took turns in taking pictures of each other. I have better pictures because she's a photographer. LOL

KT wants a picture with the flag and the president.

After we were done renewing our passports, KT and Jane went to Willis Tower.

Photo: Katrina Taloza

She took amazing pictures. Since I've been there before, I waited in a bar downstairs with my french martini.

We went to Purple Pig after and feasted on sinful and calorie packed food. [more details about Purple Pig on my next post.]

Photo: Katrina Taloza

Then we went to Millennium Park to meet Aya.

We picked a spot. We talked. We laughed. Then we talked and laughed some more. We haven't seen Aya for over a year so we did a lot of catching up.

Of course it's necessary to take some more pictures.

Cheers to more girl talks!

Three Day Juice Cleanse

2012-05-29T00:56:00.000-05:00

I just got out of a three day juice cleanse program from Pressed Juicery! If my unreliable weighing scale was telling me the truth, I lost seven pounds in three days! Yikes! I'm so happy! I've been wanting to do this for quite sometime now but I didn't think I was strong enough to resist food cravings back then.

But I gained so much weight in the last few months I couldn't even weigh myself because I'm scared. I felt heavy, fat and ugly it was so depressing. My pants hardly fit me anymore it was so annoying. My skin was oily and disgusting and pimples keep popping just about anywhere. They're unstoppable. That's when I finally decided to do something. I knew I needed to get back to healthy eating. I chose a three day juice cleanse program to jumpstart my "healthy lifestyle" Yeah whatever!

I got the idea from a Filipina blogger who tried out Juju Cleanse in Manila. So I googled cleansing programs available here in the United States. There are plenty of options out there. If you live in a big city like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, you can even get your fresh juices delivered to your doorstep everyday. But since I live in a small town, they have to deliver all the juices at once. I chose Pressed Juicery among others mainly because they have the cheapest shipping. Some companies charge you like $175 for shipping alone! WTF?! That's like the price of a 1 day cleanse program. Anyway, I received a big box of juice via FedEx Priority Overnight service on a Tuesday morning. Pressed Juicery emailed me the tracking number the day before. They also have a one day cleanse and a five day cleanse available.

It came in an insulated packing container with ice packs. I scheduled it on days I didn't have to work so I don't need to do much therefore I won't be tired and hungry.

Aside from the tracking number, they also sent me an email on how to prepare myself for the cleanse which I didn't quite do because I'm stubborn.

Six juice bottles were numbered in a specific order. I had to drink it in order which actually didn't happen because there were a couple of times where I drank 2 bottles alternately for variety. The fifth bottle was so freakin disgusting I never finished it. It was a mix of carrot, apple and ginger. it was too spicy for me. And also, the taste and smell of ginger lingers in my mouth I just really couldn't take it. I tried to not smell it when I drink it but it didn't help me at all. Yeah I know.. I'm such a baby. There were two other bottles that don't have numbers on them. The aloe vera water was supposed to be taken before sleep and the chlorophyll water can be taken all throughout the day.

They also advised me through email to tone down my usual workout activity which I didn't have any problem with since I hardly do it anyway. Yeah! I'm effin' lazy I don't know why!

I thought I would be hungry and desperate on those three days but surprisingly, I wasn't. I wasn't even grumpy. I was just annoyed a couple of times when I saw Peter eating his big fat sandwiches shamelessly right in front of me.

I also had occasional headaches while doing the cleanse but they said its normal so I took afternoon naps to ease it. I actually think that it's partly because I wasn't drinking coffee during the cleanse. That was my biggest challenge the entire time. A world with no coffee seemed unthinkable but hey, I survived.

On the third day, they emailed me again to give me instructions on how to break the cleanse. I love the results and I wanted to do it regularly from now on. Maybe every three months or something. I also felt so much healthier and better. No more bloating, less pimples and more energy for me.

I made a promise that I will not eat pork from now on. I also want to limit my beef consumption to a minimum. Iw anted to stick to a veggies, fruits, seafoods and chicken. *crossfingers* I'm trying okaaay!

Afternoon tea at Bosie

2012-05-28T00:29:00.001-05:00

Just before we said goodbye to the Big Apple, I had to trick Peter into going to Bosie Tea Parlor.

I tried to stay away from Starbucks the whole time we were in New York because all the other coffee shops in NYC has something different to offer.

Maple and bacon and peanut butter and jelly macarons were so freakin awesome I want them all!

I almost died at the sight of this!

Aside from a wide array of delicious pastries they have, they also have lunch and dinner items like soups, salad, quiche, panini, cheese platters and tea sandwiches. They also have an afternoon tea service which has become my instant favorite.

We picked a corner table at the back of the teahouse. The place was perfect for either a cozy chat with friends, and intimate afternoon tea date and even a relaxing 'alone' time with myself.

Freshly brewed pot of oolong tea for me and a cup of cappucino for Peter.

We also got an afternoon tea tray for two. Happiness!

Everything was so yummy! I couldn't believe one could fit heaven in a three tier afternoon tea tray!

First tier had three kinds of tea sandwiches which were all oh so delicious by the way...Made to order cucumber with cream cheese and dill on white toasts, smoked salmon with red onion, lemon zest and cream cheese on pumper nickel and my favorite chicken breast with golden raisins and curried mayonnaise on multi grain.

Second tier had four macarons of my choice. I picked salted caramel of course, peanut butter and jelly, vanilla cheesecake and coffee. It also had four mini loaves of European tea cakes. Lemon, matcha tea, candied fruit and chocolate. Carb overload!

Of course I saved the best for last. Four petite scones topped with crunchy sugar pearls served with cream and homemade raspberry jam. I ate all the scones of course. Oh I so loved it! <3

Peter didn't mind because he's got all the leftovers boxed up. Oh how cute!

Food Porn Action in New York City continues..

2012-05-24T12:11:00.000-05:00

I had to force myself to finish up this post. I've been awfully busy this past few weeks with graduation, house hunting, loan processing and all that. Anyway, I finally made the time to finish my NYC posts.

Our second day in New York involved a lot of walking, map reading and more importantly.. eating. We got hungry while walking around East Village and I wanted to come back to Krystal's Cafe 81 to feast on Filipino foods. Unfortunately, it was closed that day. I can tell by the looks on Peter's face that he's rejoicing about it. He's not a fan of restaurant repetition. So we walked one block and saw Virage which serves French/ Italian/ Middle Eastern cuisine.

I saw Boeuf Bourguignon on the menu and instantly remembered Julia Child so I just had to get it. The beef was slowly cooked with shallots, mushroom, red wine, thyme and served with mashed potatoes and haricot vert.

Peter got Spinach Fettuccine with grilled chicken, roasted tomato, cream and shaved ricotta.

After a couple of drinks, we went on wandering around East Village, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Wall Street. That was a hell lot of walking and subway. Subway system is horrible if you're not familiar with it. I spent most of the time fumbling through my phone for directions. Good thing there were good NYC subway apps available.

We then went to see Evita on Broadway. That was fun! I have not seen a play in awhile and I didn't even realize how I miss theater until I watched Evita. I loved every minute of it!

I loved our spill proof Jack and Coke and Malibu and Pineapple although we have to pay 30 bucks for 2 drinks. I also loved Ricky Martin's performance. He has this certain charisma that just captures you. Totally hot I'm not gonna lie.

We had dinner at Mr. Robota Grill and Sushi Bar after the play. They have exceptional sushi menu which of course also comes with exceptional prices.

We ordered Mallard Duck Breasts and Foie Gras with caramelized apples and drizzled with warm strawberry sauce for appetizer. Every bite screams calories but it's totally worth it!

We also tried out their special maki rolls. I got New York New York for myself. It has spicy tuna, macadamia nuts, toro scallion and avocado wrapped in seared tuna and topped with wasabi cream cheese, eel sauce and a rice cracker.

Peter had Dreams Come True for himself. It has lobster tempura, caviar, coconut, mango and avocado, wrapped in orange soy-paper and topped with wasabi cream cheese, yuzo miso and sriracha. Dreams come true indeed!

There was one item on the menu that caught my eye but I wasn't able to order it coz I won't have room for sushi if I did. They have a soup called Foie Gras Cappucino. It sound weird and intriguing. I'll have to try it next time.

At midnight we took out the car from the garage and drove around Manhattan. It's the only way you can drive around the city without losing your temper. We tried to see the Brooklyn Bridge Park but our GPS was having a dumb moment that time so we got lost in Brooklyn. on the way back, we stopped in at Gray's Papaya and ordered the Recession Special [two hotdogs and a 14oz drink] for our midnight snack.

I stopped counting calories and weighing myself for a few weeks after that.

Disappointed in T Sushi

2012-05-22T19:40:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, we were wandering around State St. looking for a place to eat. A new sushi place called T Sushi caught our eye and so we decided to try it out. WRONG MOVE. Aaahh..

I don't know how long this restaurant has been opened because I have not been to downtown in awhile but boy it's so disappointing. There were only five tables in the restaurant so anyone would think that they are capable of providing an acceptable customer service. There were two waitstaff, a hostess who also busses tables, a bartender, three sushi guys and a guy in the kitchen doing whatever it is he's doing. Pretty fine day huh?!

So we ordered drinks. Even if we waited for our drinks by roughly 10 minutes after we ordered it, it was still the best part of our customer experience. Not because the drinks stood out but because it was less worse than everything else.

We ordered immediately when our waitress came back. And then we waited.. and waited.. and waited.. and friggin waited! It's not even the worst part. Thew worst part was that the food was actually ready. It's sitting on the table waiting to be picked up by someone.

While the manager or owner or whoever was in charge was sipping his coffee by the bar.

Oblivious to the fact that there were hungry people in the restaurant and tons of food waiting to be expedited. Unbelievable.

After 35 minutes of waiting, food finally came. I'm not gonna say a lot about it because it's mediocre. The 'volcano' (center) was too spicy that all you can taste were the sauces in it. It overpowered the flavors of everything else. The other two were bland. Period.

It seems to me that you haven't quite figured it out just yet. I hope customer service improves soon. Takara, across the street has a very impressive menu and already has a local following. Sushi Muramoto which is a few blocks away has all you can eat sushi nights, an awesome menu and is frequented by all types of crowd even during Monday night. Sushi competition is tough in downtown. It takes more than fancy chandeliers to lure the crowd.

Food Porn Action in New York City (part 1)

2012-05-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

While everybody is busy working out to shred unwanted fats and achieve the perfect body for summer, I chose to defy the rules of society and packed on pounds. It was a four day feast in sugarland and calorie paradise. I don't regret it at all. I don't mind the extra five pounds. I don't mind my maxed-out credit cards. Oh well, not until the bill comes.

My first stop as soon as I got in NYC was a Krystal's Cafe 81, a little Filipino Restaurant in East Village.

Photo credit: Google Images

Last time I was in New York, I had to go all the way to Queens to get a taste of some delicious Pinoy delicacies.

We finished up the Sizzling Sisig in seconds. Sisig is a staple in any drinking session in the Philippines. It's made up of pork's head and liver. It's broiled, fried with onions then served in a sizzling plate topped with raw egg, pork cracklings and chili. It's an appetizer best paired with beer but I ate it with rice. Hell, I eat everything with rice.

Peter tried Red Horse Beer. The only beer I like. He didn't care much about it though.

I also ordered Sinigang na Hipon for the main course. It's a shrimp dish boiled in sour broth with vegetables. The server brought it in a big bowl and two servings of rice in a separate plate to our table. With it also comes two small individual bowls and plates for both of us. While I immediately rolled my sleeves up and get down to business, Peter was more concerned about how much dishes are we using. I rolled my eyes in disbelief. He must have felt sorry for the dishwasher.

Since I don't come to New York very often, I didn't pass up the opportunity to visit Laduree. For those who aren't familiar with it, it's a popular macaron shop in Paris. They opened their first and only North American location in the Upper East Side last year.

Gazillions of macarons are displayed in the store window. I had to wait in line to even get into the store. Peter thought it was ridiculous to wait in line to get pastries. Not until he finished off most of my macarons.

I got two boxes. One with all the fifteen flavors and one with just salted caramels and pistachios.

I also bought financiers and madeleines. I overheard one guy asking one of the associates if they make it there fresh everyday. The lady said that everything is made in Paris and delivered to New York everyday.

We went to Sarabeth's Kitchen next. They have several locations all over Manhattan but we visited the one right next to Central Park.

Photo credit: sarabethspc.com

It was sunny and breezy so we sat outside.

Central Park Summer: vodka, watermelon liqour, sierra mist and grenadine

The cocktail menu was my favorite. They have an awesome list of drink concoction. I love their champagne cocktails too. I ordered Central Park Summer and Watermelon Crush (vodka, watermelon liqour, pineapple juice and OJ) for starters. Yes that's right. For starters.

Cream of tomato soup topped with cheddar chives and basil oil.

Peter had the Flat Iron Steak Frites served with bernaise sauce and french fries. He paired it with some local tap beers.

I had the Pan Roasted Salmon served with fingerling potatoes, crispy leeks and sundried tomato vinagrette. Oh so yummy!

We also shared the Creme Brulee for dessert. I don't have pictures because we finished the whole thing before we could take pictures.

We were bloated by the end of it. But we didn't stop there.

Out and About in New York City

2012-05-03T13:28:00.000-05:00

First on my to do list before summer is to get away, reenergize and get inspired. And boy we nailed it all in New York City. It was my second time and I was able to appreciate the city even more this time. Since I've been in the city before, I decided to skip most of the tourist attraction and just enjoy and absorb all the energy in the city.

One of the major things I absolutely love about the New York City is the architecture. All the buildings have its own unique character. We spent a lot of time walking from the Upper East Side, down to East Village, West Village, Soho, Chelsea and Downtown just looking at buildings and old houses.

It's totally different from the Dells where every apartments or houses and even the cabinets are made the same way.

Peter loves fire exits. Weirdo.

We can't help but stop in our tracks and just stare at these buildings in awe. All the little carvings are just lovely.

We took a little break from walking when we reached Central Park. We sat on top of one of those ginormous rocks and watched kids play, lovers kiss and friends laugh. Life is beautiful.

More walking on the second day for us. I was so in love with brick townhouses in New York. This one was in West Village. I wish to live here.

The Saint Patrick's Cathedral is probably the most beautiful building in Manhattan.

No wonder that the cathedral is visited by over 5 million people per year. St. Patrick's reminds me of Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church both located in Manila. God I miss home!

We picked one spot in Times Square where we can just sit and watch people do whatever it is they do. We sat there for hours, barely talking, watching people pass us by. Very unproductive yet so much fun!

Niagara Falls

2012-04-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

Wow. It feels weird to open my blog again. It feels like I haven't blogged in forever. Well, anyway I promise to do my best not to neglect this blog again.

It has been an ongoing tradition for Peter and I to have a little getaway before summer starts. We do this to keep our sanity intact and survive the summer time. While all others are busy planning their summer getaway, people who live in the Dells work their asses off since it's the busiest time of the year. The original plan was a west coast road trip hitting national parks along the way with San Francisco as an endpoint. However, last minute change of plans and the lack of time prompted us to go east.

Niagara Falls is one of the two stop overs we took on the way to Manhattan. It was a 13 hour drive from Madison. But it was so worth it. We got there at around 11pm. Even though we're dead tired from the long drive, we headed straight to the falls.

This the Toronto skyline which is just a bridge away from us.

They didn't have the fancy lights on the falls and when I asked someone about it they said that it's still not the 'season'.

A quick snapshot before we went to our hotel.

We went back to Niagara Falls State Park the next day to see the falls in broad daylight. To say that the view is magnificent is an understatement. It's magical and beyond words.

The Maid of the Mist is a 'must' because you get to see the best view of the falls.

Oh well.. This is the best picture I could ever find in the camera. The real thing is a million times more beautiful. I swear.

I love how the rainbow was just there constantly. Lovely!

An open letter to Jimmy Sieczka

2012-03-21T13:52:00.000-05:00

Before I start ranting here, I'll post the clip one more time just in case you haven't had enough publicity yet.

Here's another link to the video.

After your video went viral and deeply annoyed Filipinos, I was surprised to see you issued an apology. That was very nice of you.

The following is my official statement regarding the “20 Reasons” video that I hosted:

I, James Sieczka, have considered the Philippines as my second country and Cebu as my second home.The subject video that was aired was made in good faith and as a legitimate and reasonable exercise of my right, “freedom of expression.”There was no intention to scrutinize the city nor the people that governs the same. It’s an honest observation and opinion that I myself think needs to be worked on not just specifically in Cebu. These are little things that we see around us as normal people and from the eyes of an ordinary man like me.But from all that’s happening and me just trying to exercise my freedom of speech, I am very open and amenable for an apology, on the manner and means that I exercise my right, if the need presents itself.

As a sign of my compliance for the duly authorized authority and rule of law, I am not ashamed to apologize to people that I offended in the process with the hope that you would reconsider in declaring me “persona non grata.”

Sincerely,

James Sieczka

Dear Jimmy,

I don't understand the reasoning behind putting in too much time and effort to film the video on different locations, edit it and even going through all the trouble of putting music into it to announce to the whole world how big of an idiot you are. Seriously, why are you even there? It is so easy to just leave if every single friggin' bad thing about the Philippines pisses you off. LEAVE! Nobody wants you there. I hope the publicity and media attention you're getting makes you happy right now. I honestly didn't think that the video was done in good faith. Your intention is to purely insult the country and the people that lives in it.

Now let me address some of your concerns with some simple solutions :

So you don't like reading news about terrorists? Don't watch the news. Don't read the newspapers.

I also do not appreciate the use of profanity especially when referring to the Philippines. You're douchebaggery is totally uncool.

You don't like girls using whitening products? Guess what? It's none of your friggin' business! NOBODY cares about what you think!

You don't like that the city is dirty? Grab a broom and start sweeping. You don't like seeing plastics scattered around the city? Start picking it one by one and throw it in the garbage. Do something useful instead of filming a bunch of crap and showing the world how big of a loser you are.

You're pissed because there's a lot of shitty drivers in the city? Seriously?! Have you revisited Chicago and New York recently? Shitty drivers are everywhere!

You think security guards are useless and that you could do better? So be one! Illustrate how you can do better by being one! Just stop being annoying!

You don't like that there are a lot of homeless people and street children begging for alms? Tell you what, the Philippines is considered a developing country. Third world! Get it? Our GDP is nowhere near the 14 trillion GDP of the United States. But United States has homeless people as well. Even first world countries have those unfortunate people who lost their houses for various reasons.

You don't like how gorgeous the trannies are? Why? Is it because they look better than you? Trannies, just like shitty drivers are everywhere. And just like you, they also exercise their freedom of expression so leave them alone!

You always have two options. Nobody is forcing you to stay in the Philippines. They don't need people like you. So you either stop whining, suck it all up and be a less horrible human being or start packing your bags because the great America is waiting for you.

Sincerely,
Me

Fashion Must-Haves in Mardi Gras

2012-03-01T22:30:00.002-06:00

Fabulous Costumes

Masks and colorful headpieces

Blings

Feather boas

Body Paints

If you get confused because of too many choices, you can also mix and match.

Be whoever you want to be.

It doesn't even matter how old you are.

Dare to stand out. Don't worry about the morning after coz nobody remembers.

Top 5 things to do in New Orleans during Mardi Gras

2012-02-24T15:08:00.002-06:00

A quick must do list for those who haven't been in New Orleans.

1. Walk around French Quarter and savor its architectural magnificence.

St. Louis Cathedral, built in 1718. It is the oldest cathedral in US

quaint Spanish inspired ironwork balconies and Creole townhouses

Every angle and every street in French Quarter looks like a postcard. Spanish inspired townhouses, old fashioned courtyards, cast iron balconies and carriageways brings you back in time and makes you feel that you've time traveled in the 17th century. Everything is authentic. Worn out buildings and brickhouses looks so amazingly beautiful. It proves to show that imperfections make things beautiful.

2. Dress/Undress to impress. (The choice is yours!)

Pink all the way

A body paint and gold bikini ensemble on a 10C/50F weather. I hope this nice lady is already recovering from pneumonia.

Overdress is a foreign word in New Orleans especially during Mardi Gras. Feather boas, tons of bead necklaces, furs, colorful masks and ridiculous headpieces are normal sightings in Bourbon street and all around French Quarter.

3. Watch the Mardi Gras parade.

Join the excited crowd in Canal Street as they watch all the colorful floats go by. Oh and grab your favorite drink on the way since the parade can lasts for hours.

4. Eat, drink and be merry.

Hickory Grilled Redfish with tasso and wild mushroom Pontalba potatoes, topped with sauteed Louisiana jumbo lump crabmeat and lemon butter sauce from Red Fish Grill

world famous beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde. We waited in line for 45 minutes (2 hours for full service) to get a taste of these!

Sizzling oysters from GW Fins. The best thing on earth. Let it swim in butter for an added ecstasy!

New Orleans is known for its outstanding cuisine. Skip red meats because their seafood selection is to die for. Don't hesitate to indulge on local and popular dishes such as sizzling oysters, (a must! If you can just eat one thing in New Orleans, go straight to GW Fins and get 5 portions of it) gumbo shrimps, jambalaya, beignets and cafe au lait. Restaurant reservations during dinner time is necessary or you'll either wait 45 minutes to an hour to get a table.

Booze is available in every corner of French Quarter especially in Bourbon St. You can drink on the street all day and all night since there is no bar time in New Orleans. [This information is based on three locals I talked to. The 'no bar time rule' is not just during Mardi Gras. It's all year round] So drink and be merry! Just don't pass out on the streets and leave your valuables tucked safely in your hotel room's safe.

5. Join the jazz festivities in Frenchmen St. and party in Bourbon St. like there's no tomorrow.

Blue Nile Jazz Nightclub along Frenchmen St. This band did their own rendition of 'Rolling in the Deep'.

Bourbon Street at 2 am

Frenchmen Street is a long strip of jazz clubs frequented mostly by locals, hippies, poets and artists. Bourbon street is more popular among the tourist as it is always featured in travel programs. There's a long line of strip clubs and people in balconies throw beaded necklaces for people willing to show their tits. If you're not comfortable showing yours, it's OK. They will not condemn you for it. Bourbon is more crowded and crazy. Check out both streets. Party all you can!

Even though my trip to New Orleans was very brief, I'm so ecstatic that it happened. Aside from the fact that I was able to cross it off my bucket list for 2012, I honestly think that it was one of the most beautiful city in America. I'm dead serious about this. I never thought that it would be this AMAZING! If you think you've already seen the best parties because you've been to New York, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas, you are absolutely wrong. New Orleans has a lot to offer. Authentic old world feel, amazing food, incredible party scene and an over all unique experience, you'll never run out of things to do.

Eno-Vino Valentine

2012-02-16T00:19:00.001-06:00

I'm unfortunately booked up for Valentine's day. Taxes, school commitments then work at night. So I celebrated Valentine's day two days early. It was one of those let's-eat-everything-today-then-we'll-start-a-new-diet-tomorrow days.

We started with a very sinful brunch in the couch with our favorite TV series.

We were going to watch a movie but since we couldn't agree on what movie to watch, we decided to skip the cinema. I wanted to watch The Vow but he kept insisting that we watch Underworld: Awakening. [Seriously?! Underworld Awakening?! on a Valentine date?! Who does that? sigh.] We tried to keep it simple so we just went to Madison in pursuit of something to do to get rid of boredom.

The mall is full of over the top mushy gift items. This industry must be making a lot of money. There were literally hearts everywhere. Even Starbucks had their cups designed for Valentine's.

It was dinner time and we had nothing better to do. We went to my favorite restaurant, Eno-Vino for dinner. [Read my previous post about Eno-Vino here.] We got seated and immediately greeted by our server. She went on with a very long spiel telling us about Eno-Vino's Valentine special. I didn't pay much attention as I was busy observing everyone in the room. As expected, there were a lot of couples. I silently estimated how much money the restaurants, flower shops, hotels/motels are making on Valentine's day. It's so overrated. We tried not to blend in with those couples. We talked about Europe, real estate and the Federal Reserves. Basically anything other than romance.

We couldn't decide on what to order. So we just settled for their five course Valentine's menu. $65 dollars per person plus the option to pair it with five different wines for a $20 add on. We agreed to do the wine pairing too because we were too lazy to come up with something interesting/different to drink.

She immediately brought a sourdough bread with a little scoop of cheese spread on the table.

Next thing she brought was a pair of little canapes. It's a sourdough crostini topped with salmon and cranberry encrusted cheese. She also brought a glass of sparkling wine paired with it. She muttered the wine variety but it was inaudible since the restaurant was a full house. This pair was complimentary, like a prelude to the main event. I absolutely loved the canape. It was an excellent start. It took us three seconds to chow it down.

She immediately brought the first course which was the Sweet Potato Ravioli with sage cream, brown butter, pecorino romano and prosciutto. Every bite was heavenly. It was paired with Erath Pinot Noir. I wasn't generally a fan of red wine but this was good.

Next up is the B.L.T Salad It was literally a cross between a BLT sandwich and a salad. Roma tomatoes, mixed greens, English cucumber and basil emulsion were staked in between sourdough croutons topped with bacon and parmagiano reggiano. This was my least favorite part of the meal. The entire experience would still be awesome without this. It was too bland for my taste. Good thing it was paired with Remy Pannier Vouvray, a Chenin Blanc from Loire France. It instantly became my new favorite white wine. I googled it as soon as I get home and looked for a place where I could buy it.

The third course was Peter's favorite. Parmesan Crab Crepes with tarragon buerre blanc and lemon shallot vinaigrette. This dish was also a winner and I honestly think that it was not because of the crepe itself but because of the vinaigrette. I imagined it would be good all over my rice too. What?! I eat everything with rice okay! I was getting a little full at this point so I have to give up half of my crepes dish which Peter gladly took advantage of. The dish was paired with Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay. There was nothing remarkable about the wine. I would still prefer Kendall Jackson for Chardonnay.

The fourth course was the bomb! Seared Beef Tenderloin plated daintily over a bed of mushroom risotto and served with baby carrots drizzled with Pinot Noir reduction. This was the highlight of my night. The beef was so tender and flavorful. You know what the best part was? They paired it with rice. It was nothing but spectacular. The Show Cabernet was the wine paired with it. I hardly drink this wine since Cabernet is my least favorite wine.

No matter how full I may be, there's always room for dessert. The fifth course was a White Chocolate Mousse with cocoa espresso whipped cream topped with a fresh raspberries and almond biscotti. Sweet! The biscotti dipped in the cocoa espresso whipped cream was heaven on earth. Seriously. It was paired with Warre's Late Bottled Vintage Port. Sweet and strong just the way I like it.

Just before the server handed us the check, she brought these two rich chocolate covered strawberries. But of course, our gluttonous appetite was still up for it even if we can hardly stand from our chairs.

We left the restaurant with happy hearts and tummy. For sure we'll be back again.. Soon.

HuHot Mongolian Grill

2012-02-09T15:55:00.002-06:00

I can't believe that I have not been in HuHot Mongolian Grill before. I had dinner in HuHot last Tuesday with a bunch of friends and indulged in tons of food.

We got seated and hurriedly ordered our wine. We didn't paid much attention to the server that greeted us since we're all starving when we got there. Since it's our first time in HuHot, we basically didn't know what to do.

But we easily figured it out.

First, we chose the meat that we want to eat for dinner. It's a pretty large selection of meat. They have beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, tilapia, scallops and crabmeat.

If you're not big on experimenting, they have a list of recipes available to make it easier for you.

A few recipes caught my attention.

But I ended up taking control of my destiny. I put everything in my bowl. Yes!

Next, we threw in a bunch of veggies in our bowl. There were also different kinds of noodles available.

I had a hard time choosing since there were so much stuff to choose from.

Last stop is our choice of sauce. This was the hardest part. Good thing they provided us with recommendations since I have no way of knowing what kind of sauce to put in my bowl.

After figuring out what sauces to blend, we proceeded to the grill. We handed over our bowl to one guy who grilled it for us.

He did some exhibitions with his spatula.

I tried to capture it in camera but he was too fast and I couldn't figure out the right setting.

Pre-war

I paired my stir fry with a big bowl of piping hot rice. Yum!

Post-war

It was so delicious that I had to go for round 2. Yeah that's me on a diet! =) After the second round, I still want to get dessert. Yeah I'm on diet. SERIOUSLY.

When I saw s'mores on the menu, I took it as a sign. Yeah, dessert is ALWAYS a good idea! =)

What a sweet way to end dinner!

I found a new place to hang out! Did I mention that the stir fry is all you can eat for just $12.79?! That's not a typo.

Check out their menu.

All set for Mardi Gras

2012-02-05T16:18:00.004-06:00

I'm all set for my road trip to New Orleans! I feel so excited since it's been a while since I last traveled. Peter and I will attend the Mardi Gras festival in Louisiana on February 19-21. As far as I know, the Mardi Gras in Louisiana is one of the biggest carnival celebration in the United States.

Photo credit: Limolivery website

We had a hard time finding a good hotel deal since a lot of hotels were already booked up for the Mardi Gras weekend as early as December. We didn't have a choice but to pay premium rates in our hotel.

Anyway, I can't wait to go since I've heard so many nice things about New Orleans. I've been watching different clips from Travel Channel about the place. I have already started planning our itinerary for the entire trip.

Here are some of my to do and to go list:

Wander around French Quarter and just appreciate the unique architectural styles that reflects the city's rich history and multicultural heritage.

Party in Bourbon Street. Bourbon St. is probably one of the most popular place in New Orleans for its notorious nightlife. Since Peter likes jazz music, we'll probably spend some time in jazz nightclubs along Bourbon.

I certainly have to try the famous 250-calorie-per-piece beignets paired with cafe au lait of the iconic Cafe du Monde.

Photo credit: Flickr

Savor Louisiana's Creole cuisine in Antoine's, the oldest restaurant located in the heart of French Quarter.

Visit Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World to check out sculptures and floats used in previous Mardi Gras festivals. Maybe we'll visit the Warehouse District [Art District] too to check out their art galleries and world class museums.

Photo credit: elvis.com

And on the way back, we'll make a quick stop over in Memphis to visit Graceland, a 13 acre mansion of Elvis Presley.

Anyway, I'm also thrilled because this is my first major road trip. Peter have been into so many that he can't stop raving about it. It's time for me to try it. I can't wait.

Have you been to New Orleans? Are there any other places worth checking out in NOLA? Give me some suggestions!

Valentine's Day Prix Fixe Menu

2012-02-04T01:12:00.000-06:00

Valentine's day is just around the corner. My favorite restaurants in Madison has finally released their Valentine's day prix fixe menu.

Melting Pot, known for their elaborate fondue dinner service came up with this fabulous five course dinner menu for $70/ person. If you are planning to celebrate with a group of friends, Melting Pot provides a special Valentine offer. For a four-five person party, dinner will be priced at $60 per person while if there are six or more, dinner will be at $55 per person. Good deal!

Graze Pub, known for serving locally grown food came up with a more affordable three course dinner menu for only $30 per person.

and of course last but not the least, Eno Vino. I love this restaurant to death. [Check out my restaurant review here.] Reading their Valentine's menu makes me hungry. They will just have two seating on the 14th so I'm almost sure that reservations are necessary.

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta make phone calls and restaurant reservations.

Happy birthday Nikka!

2012-01-23T16:41:00.000-06:00

Happy birthday to my dearest little sister Nikka. Wow! You look so young just before I left.

Time indeed fly so fast. Now you're seventeen! Whaatt?!

So since I can't be there to celebrate your special day, I did celebrate it here in Wisconsin.

This post is two days late but anyway, it's the thought that counts right?

I don't have a birthday gift for you this year. I bought a birthday cake though. Reese's peanut butter cheesecake. Make a wish!

And just so you're sure that I didn't just found the cake in Google images, I took a picture of it with me.

I'll be home next year for your 18th birthday. We'll celebrate it for sure. In the meantime, I wish you all the happiness life can offer. Cheers!