Hat's Off To White Hat!

I have been reading a lot of posts on Frozen Yogurt. I guess since being healthy in en vogue, an altenative to ice cream is indeed a great idea! Enjoy your cool, creamy treat sans the guilt! Yogurt is very good for our body indeed and tastes delicious to boot =)

White Hat Frozen Yogurt....98% fat free soft serve frozen delight!

You get to choose your topping of choice....from fresh fruits, nuts, cereals, chocolate, syrup....

available in regular and large! May I suggest that you get LARGE =D

Kiwi-Strawberry


Dried Cranberry-Strawberry

Yours truly, posing with my white hat =)

The yogurt ice cream tastes really, really good! I could have it plain and not complain. I just wish they be more generous with the toppings since it quite costs a bot...they only put 1 pc of strawberry and like a quarter of a kiwi...and just chop it up...be it on regular or large.

Azul, SM Mall of Asia

There are indeed lots of dining options at SM Mall of Asia. However, everytime I find myself there....I coundn't come up with a resto recommendation...why o why??? Perhaps, I always seem to be wearing the WRONG type of shoes! hahaha Hayayay! Yes, I have placed a mental note in my head....JEN...WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO A PLACE WHERE YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WALKING...WEAR YOUR HAVAIANAS!!!! or at least something uber comfy walking around with!!! My mind gets pre-occupied with the pain my feet, hence, my foodie mind cannot recall noted restos to try, on rare trips like this! Sayang right? Yeah, I live freakin' far from MOA, so I should always carry my Manila/MOA resto list so that I'll be able to grab the oppurtunity to hunt them down and dine when I am there ;P hahahaha

Well, with feet hurting and all, we chose this Spanish-Filipino Resto called AZUL.

Located at the South with of SM MOA,, at the second floor...over looking the Bay side, where I noticed a new strip of restos lined up....SAN MIGUEL BY THE BAY is open and holds a long line of bars, restos, dampa-like themed "paluto" and caoffy shops!!!! Oh my! I got so excited by the sight of ot all! I really, really wanted to cross over..but my aching feet told me to stay where I am at =( sigh.....

The menu of Azul, was interesting enough...they have house red wine for Php 95.00/glass

Not bad for the price. It was a very light bodied red. Served chilled.

French Onion Soup

Hmmm...an opaque broth underneath bread with melted mozzarella. Quite disappointing as it lacked flavor and the onions were not kinda undercooked...un-caramelized...should onions in french onion soup be caramelized? hmmm I am not sure as I have never cooked this type or soup before...nevertheless, the broth lacked any distinctive onion flavor. I'll pass up this one, if I were you =)

Croquetas with Gorgonzola and Ham

I remembered loving the croquetas at Gaudi...and I love my sister Che's Tuna Croquetas! This sounded really good by its name...alas...I could only taste mashed taters, breaded and fried. Dip in the mayo for richness...but where was the ham??? where was the GORGONZOLA??? =(


Calamares

I thought we would be safe with fried calamari....it was bready...but ok...but just ok...maybe because we were hungry.

Perhaps we picked the wrong dishes? The interiors of Azul was very nice though...and I loved the view at the al fresco area.

My experience made me wish I was at the San Miguel by the bay....if only I had comfy shoes =(

Re-visiting Jo

I think is a time of going retro, as I often find myself back in restaurants past! hehehe Yep...a trip back to Jo's Inato this time. This is just my second time to dine here, located along Visayas Avenue...almost at the interesection conjoining Congressional ave.

Here is there famous Chicken INATO

I am happy now that I have better pics for my second Jo's post =) Yummy Pecho...like a cross of Inasal and barbeque. I loved anything grilled =) We had it served with garlic rice...

Bicol Express

Pork cooked in coconut cream with bagoong and sili!!! Hot! Hot! but not HOT-HOT-HOT! I guess the gata makes the heat of this dish manageable for my weak palate.

A scarry thing my friend pointed out to me ....which I wish I was never made aware of, because this might/will inhibitme from going back to this place....they have roosters in a display glass case----several of them----ALIVE!!!!!!!!! =(

Got Kissed!

Yup, it's been a while....since my last vist to one of my favorite cafes during college days...The Chocolate Kiss Cafe =)

They have delicious apertizers, sandwiches, pastas, entrees, breakfast items and yummy cakes to boot! I's nice to be back.

Pigs In a Blanket

Sausage slices, embraced by it's sister bacon, served with a mayobased dip. Let's PIG out!=D

Callos

Looking at the menu ...we go..."ooh Callos!" My friend loves tripe! So we got this and ordered the Fish ala Kiev. We shared this dish first and enjoyed it very much. It was fairly good callos...but we wished for more tripe pieces =) It had chick peas, "buntot ng baka" too. Yummy with steamed rice. We were almost through and wondered where our Fish ala Kiev was...our nice waiter politely told us they ran out of Fish Kiev...so we just opted for its traditional Chicken version. Sad to say....as we waited...we kinda lost or eating groove..and just had our order cancelled.

We just opted for desserts and picked the Kiss Suite...a Trio of Kahlua, Prune and Carrot cake =)

A nice way to get to try several cakes in one sitting.

Still good here after all these years. This is located along Roces avenue, across KFC and the original branch is at UP Diliman Bahay ng Alumni =)

Duck and Lamb on a Rainy Night =)

How about a nice dinner in a familiar and cozy place with good food? Yes, a very pleasant way to spend a rainy evening.

I have been to Taste of L.A. several times and, so far, been happy with their food here =)

Complimentary homemade bread with butter

Bread is always nice...warm and crusty..though I could detect a tad bit yeasty-ness

Something warm for the stomach...Tomato Soup

I love tomato soup. This one had a light vegetable broth with chucks of stewed tomatoes (which I really like), lots of big croutons and some mozzarella cheese =) Like a liquid pizza margherita don't you think?

Cream of Spinach Soup

Crispy Duck Wraps

I really like this! Slices of crispy duck skin (plus the fat layer ofcourse!) with leek stalks and cilantr0 wrapped in rice paper and served with hoissin sauce. I love the way they gave it a twist by adding cilantro and the use of rice paper =)

Ultra-Thin Lamb with Mint and Feta Cheese Pizza

Lamb and mint is a perfect combination! I thought it would taste strange with feta...on a pizza...but it worked. Love the uber thin crust always.

To savor duck and lamb in a "light" way =)

Mikey's Hindi MiCKey'S Deli ah =P

We were looking for a place to eat in Roxas boulevard. Everytime we go to Manila...it seems we are always blessed with RAIN! hahaha We spotted this resto within the complex where King One Hot pot is situated. Mikey's Bar and Grill/Spanish Cuisine.

Somebody told me that this resto is owned by Mikey Arroyo..how true? I don't know =) We tried it anyway....

Free Garlic Peanuts

They were big nuts =)

Tortang Talong

Simple as it may...I really like Eggplant Omelet. Butterflied eggplant witn ground pork.


Grilled Squid, stuffed with tomatoes and onions

Fried Rice with Chopped Chorizo

Now what can I say about the food here...it was generally ok...but the kind where you will have NO intesion of going back to...and the price is not that cheap ah. Surprisingly there were a number of customers there...perhaps the Spanish food is better than the Filipino menu here. The place is big, with a see through kitchen with several chefs who were very busy cooking.

Mental note: on a next trip to Manila...I should think up a resto to hunt to make the trip worth while =) Any suggestions ???

Corporate Give Aways Fair 2008

The 2008 Corporate Give Ayways Fair, was held at the World Trade Center, which ran from July 31- August 02, 2008. It was a pretty small exhibit, taking up only half of the trade floor of WTC.

Promotional give-aways, corporate gift ideas...

...company uniform suppliers...

...signages....

...etc.... were featured by the participating companies.

Cute keychains, water bottles, towels and other trinkets to choose from...

...at various price ranges and volumes, depending on your requirement =)

I think it would have been better if they had invited suppliers from China for more variety =)

Jay-J's, Congressional Avenue

Ang sarap kumain kapag umuulan =)! Oh yes, it was another rainy day... hungry and all, my friend and I saw a new branch of Jay-J's Inasal along Congressional avenue and I told my friend that I have eaten at it's branch in Tomas Morato a couple of times...and loved the SISIG RICE and FREE mini turons!

How convincing am I... ;P

SISIG RICE!!!!!!!!!!!

YUMMMMMMMMMMY! Sisig bits (that was more of chicharon-ish...but so what? it tasted good!) , scrambled eggs with a sweet-savory flavored rice!!! We liked it a lot. Yes, we could tell that they added some sugar! Well, when we say "FILIPINO STYLE" it means "matamis" so I guess they know that we have a preference for sweetish food (e.g. Filipino style spaghetti sauce=matamis na spaghetti sauce! =) )

Crispy Pla-Pla with Bacalao

Remember how enticed we were by the Binukad-kad na Pla-pla at Abe's...but didn't get to have it because we thought it was too big? We thought this dish was like, if not the same as, that, at half the size (and the price!). Perfect for two people. This was our second time to have bacalao...first at Abe's ...but we thought we liked it's rendition here ....because...it was less tangy. Perfect with the crisply fried fish!

And ofcourse, we had to have some Inasal

This was the pecho (breast part). Tender and flavorful! Dip in suka with a little toyo, calamansi and sili.

Our somewhat alternative to Abe! Let the sisig rice be our "bamboo rice" and that crispy pla-pla for the binukadkad na plapla =) hahaha Oh they also have gising gising here...perhaps to try on a next vist.

No free turon though! hehehe Perhaps only in Morato.

No fuss, no frills and very affordable pinoy faves here.

Just Desserts

Let's talk about desserts =) Uhhhhhmmmm...as they say, this is the part of any meal that we always have room for, at times we opt to have it rather than the meal! I have a personal preference for contanst when it comes to my dolci desires. I really find hot and cold treats, say...a warm crepe and a cold ice cream...be it just a freshly fried turon ala mode! Next to that, perhaps anything ala mode...then anything cold ...and then bitter-sweet, dark,decadent and chocolately =)

Here are some sweet endings that I have enjoyed and not so enjoyed ;P

Brownie ala Mode at Mary Grace Cafe, Serendra

Yummy brwonie topped with a DOUBLE scoop of Vanilla Ice cream, drizzled with Caramel sauce and chopped cashews! That double scoop of ice cream made this dessert twice as nice ;P hehehe

Moleten Cake ala mode at Cena, Greenbelt 3

As you can see, the presentation lacked appeal. Kinda looked sad...that dark lava cake beside that chocolate ice cream mound. However, the cake oozed nicely with the molten chocolate center and the chocolate ice cream was nice. A good part in the pleasure of eating dessert, for me, is the enticement by sight....I like getting teased by the looks of a beautifully plated dolci as much as getting satisfied by its taste. Perhaps they could have presented this better for it's full appreciation =)

Chocolate Caramel Cake, at Mary Grace Cafe, Serendra

Not too sweet, moist and decadent!

Mango Cheesecake at Cena, Greenbelt 3

It was the no bake type...satisfaction level from this one..err....just ok =)


Decadent Chocolate Cake, Cena, Greenbelt 3
again, another dessert that lacked excitement. I remebered my first sweet encounter at Cena...it was with the Artic Mud pie...and I really thought it was great then....it was unfortunately unavailble that evening and we ended up with this. It was not bad, though.



Now, on to the cool stuff....

Halo-Halo at Bangus, Greenhills


Since halo-halo is a Filipino classic dessert, so logic told me any decent pinoy resto can serve this one up. This one was made up of, what I surmised, "minatamis" out of the bottle! ;P To add variety..they just made gulaman in two colors! hahaha Good thing I like gelatin =)

Ice Berg halo-Halo
Doulble the fun, with 2 yummy scoops of ice cream! Theirs had corn, which is kind of a deviation from tradition...or so the "traditional" kind I know.

Abe's Hao-halo

I love this one! I think all the mix-in's are homemade. The ube is rich tasting and tastd like the real thing....the leche flan was creamy and smooth....and I love that the gulaman is pandan flavored =)

Mango-Melon-Strawberry Ice of Iceberg

A light and cool...Ice Monsterish treat from Icebergs =) If you find beans, flan, ube, saba bananas etc too heavy...try a fresh fruit halo-halo! Refreshing, healthy and makes for a happy sweet treat.

Ahhh the sweet life =)