La Nuovo Pastilleria

La Nuovo Pastilleria has been in my "to dine-in" list for quite a while now....and finally, I AM HERE! YEY =)

It's a quaint resto, located within the compound where Sanctuario de San Antonio church is, at Forbes Park.

Looky what they have in-store....yummy cakes...that I WILL COME BACK FOR !!! =)


Cheeses! Tapas! Pickled veggies! woohooo.....I wana try them all!!!!! I love cheeses! =)


Marinated olives... tomatoes..veggies...which will be the casting members of your antipasti platter!

Jamon serrano...sausages...cured meats....ahhhhhhhhhhhh

cheese galore!

and more!

vinos!

mi cafe! =)

complimentary pita bread wedges to smear with yummy pate and salsa!

Quattro Formaggio Pizza

Crisp thin crust topped with Gorgonzola, Feta, Mozzarella and Fontina! It's wondefully light and bursting flavor form the melange of cheeses!!!! =P

Mental Note : Must go back for A HEAVIER MEAL, Vinos, Cheeses, Tapas and Antipasti!...Oh--oh...dolci too!

Bubble Tea =)

Moseying along The Block, SM North Edsa... my friend and I were looking for a refreshing break...we stumbled upon BUBBLE TEA, located at the ground floor of SM The Block, beside Seattle's Best Coffee...

They have a variety of Milk Teas, Fruit Flavored Teas, Fruit Shakes, Smoothies and Coffee ...as well as Japanese snacks and meals =)

Cakes and pastries are also available here...very interesting indeed!

My friend had the Taro Milk Tea

and I chose the Pearl Milk Tea =)

We loved that the bubbles or pearls (black sago) were of small and medium sizes....kinda adding funk while chewing on the soft pearls. The milk teas were kinda too sweet for our taste...we needed to add more ice and douse a bit of water to reduce the sweetness.

This place is worth goin back to for the Japanese meals =)

Nestle Pops!

Looking for something cold and sweet yet light to nibble on....my friend and I stumbled upon this not so new ice cream treat at the freezer section, ofcourse, in a local grocery....NESTLE POPS =)

The packaging is oh so cute! For Php 26.00 you get these kisses like morsels of chocolate covered vanilla ice cream!


Looky...looky here.! hahaha Yummy! Light in indeed! Little vanilla ice cream kisses!

Kitchen of Cakes and Coffee

I frequent Baang coffee and Kozui, quite a bit and so it is just but inevitable for me to miss this new coffeeshop, situated adjacent Kozui...Kitchen of Cakes and Coffee =)

I have went in and out of this place a couple of times before actually dining there, just to snoop around and check out their goodies. As I found out, this is owned by KoCo Cafe or KoCo Co? bakeshop is it? I am not sure exactly...but I know it is that bakeshop located behind Taza Cafe in Ma. Clara street, Banawe area.

Anyhooos...finally had the chance to try this place....actually thus post is two visits worth...one with my dear friend Shawie and the 2nd visit with another friend (as per my suggestion)

Here is what we have had here....

My Eggplant Parmigiana Sandwich

This is the first thing I tried here and I kinda liked it (that is why I went for a second go!) It had thin slices of breaded and deep fried eggplant slices with cucumbers and tomatoes in between Ciabatta bread. Served with a siding of french fries. I found it yummy =) plus, if you add 45 bucks it will come with a cup of brewed coffee....pairings with coffee...ALWAYS a good idea for me =)

On my second trip here I shared the Club House Sandwich with my friend...
....a HUGE one at that! A triple decker...ham...scrambled eggs...tuna...and some other mayo-ey stuff inbetween whole wheat bread...served with fries, cucumber and tomatoes. Yummmy! I guess they make pretty nice sandwiches here =)

We also had the Chicken Parmigiana on Pasta

Now, this one...err...was not so nice.... The chicken atop had a floury coating and the part we liked least was the pasta underneath...which tasted like it was just doused with tomato sauce out of the pack...sorry...but it really did taste that way =(

I do like the interiors of the place...and the staff are very nice and polite =)

They serve an array of cakes, breads and pastries...


The brew here is decent =)

They have a selection of teas as well

We my friend Shawie had this Mango Torte

It reminded me of the infamous Mango Bravo of Contis.

I got to try the Decadent Chocolate Cake 9with an over-exposed pic...please pardon that)
Nice and chocolatey. It was moist and good =)

They gave us this to try for free...perhaps a new pcoduct coming up? It was Coffee Bun =)

Not bad...though they flattened it out with killed the thrill of eating it as a "bun" hehehe It was free...it was nice..thank you =)

They have rice meals and other pasta dishes here too.

Tender Bob's Light

Yes...its like coke...you can have it light! hahaha Kidding...my friend and I wanted a place just to settle down and chit-chat so we could get home early too...on a Saturday night! hahaha Sometimes, don't just feel worn out by the work week and just need a little hang time but not major gimmicking? I have that feeling quite often (maybe it goes with ageing! hahaha I hope not!)

Well we chose Tender Bob's because my friend wanted french onion soup...and I liked some salad to go with that...

French Onion Soup

What do you know...it's kinda good! Compared to my last french onion experience at Azul..this is by far a GOOD one! It had a dark brown onion-y flavored broth with caramelized onions topped with bread with melted mozzarella cheese =)

Oriental Salad

Looking at it now, it looks like it had more of those crispy wonton shredded thingies that salad greens noh? hahaha But, but...it's mighty fine with us. The sesame dressing was yummy and it had a few mango cubes to give it a sweetish note =)

Good to have light meal options at a place like this.

Pancake House

I remember frequenting Pancake House in Virramall, Greenhills when I was in highschool and college...it was my mom and sister's fave after-shopping dining place...because each of us has our own fave there. My atchi and shobe love the hamburger steak and tacos....my mom used to love the hot roast chicken (I miss my mom =( )and I love the waffles and spaghetti. I am not sure if the branch in Virra still stands....but this visit was at a branch along Congressional avenue, beside National bookstore, just across Cherry Foodarama.

It's been a while since I have dined at Pancake House. Naturally I chose the Spag!

I am glad it still tastes the same! There is a peculiar taste in their spaghetti sauce...I dunno...I detect RENO liver spread in the sauce! hahaha ;P Yeah I have always thought so...weird but I but I don't there is anyother spag sauce that tastes like this. We likey! Served with garlic toasts!

This was new on the menu....something light since we weren't particularly hungry this time...FLT= Fish with Lettuce and Tomatoes...on wheat.


We thought it would be made with somesort of grilled or fried fish fillet....but when we peeked inbetween the bread and ate our halves....sardines it was! Spanish style. It was good too...nice and light =)

They have added and changed the menu quite a bit...they have a variety of pastas and salads now....and good to see the good ol' pancakes, waffles, tacos and set menus are still there =)

Pizzeria A Veneto

I have known Pizzeria A Veneto from way back college days. It's first branch, if I am am correct....well at least it is the first branch I have dined in, is located along Visayas Avenue. I heard that the owners were from UP also...and I also remeber liking it there for the food and value for the buck! =)

What do you know, they have a branch at the 2nd level of Trinoma too!

We chose the Chicken Pesto Pasta

A generous serving of Pesto pasta on top of which rests thin, breaded strips of fried chicken breasts with a siding of garlic roll. Simple and yummy! =)

We wanted pizza too...and had the flavors split into two! I like that they let us do that =) On the left is the Puttanesca and the other half the New Yorker Pizza

The crust was nice and bordering medium to thin. When we saw the Putanesca...we go "ay walang chesse?" and I thought well, we can just sprinkle on some parmesan cheese! But, when we dug our teeth into the pizza...behold...mozzarella hidden underneath the tomatoey sauce! My friend liked it...but I think I needed to eat it with more bread because I am a minimalist when it comes to saucing! ;P hahahaha (saucing!) The other half was very good too....it had onions, bell peppers, salami, olives etc....oh and mozzarella ofcourse! Well we just love pizza and pasta! Carbs rule!!!!!!!!!! hahaha Don't forget to work out tomorrow!!! =D

Still good here and you still get value for the buck!

Baby's Got Back!

All that moseying and tasting food makes you want to gave more food....REAL FOOD for that matter! Since I had a not so good resto picking experience in my prior MOA visit..it was great we picked the Fort area to satiate or hunger =)

I find myself back at New Orleans...located at Binifacio High Street, adjacent Clawbaddy's...

Complimentary Garlic Bread...

Nachos

There Nachos was very good! It was bad arse NACHOS!!! Gererously ladened with chucks of grilled chicken, olives, mango cubes, mayo or was it sour cream (?), cheese sauce and more grated cheese! The nacho chips even came in 3 colors....blue, pink (yeah pink?hehehe) and the traditional yellow corn hue...pretty funky ei! It was kinda overwhelming to look at at eat but with our tanks empty we really appreciated the hefty serving!

Original New Orleans Ribs

This is just the half slab order, served with dirty rice. We were initially served the full slab but after that huge platter of loaded Nachos we asked if we can just have just half a slab...good thing they obliged because the whole slab was like good for four people! The ribs were tender and the sauce was delicious! The dirty rice went very well with the flavorful ribs...it was spicy but not overpowering in taste, so even with saucy-licious ribs, the dirty rice was nice =)

Loved our meal! =)

WOFEX 2008

Just as I thought I can't frequent Manila, I find myself back there again. I like visiting exbihits and trade fairs...it fun and you get to see and learn new ideas that maybe or may not be useful for your purpose =) It just makes me feel like I am on a field trip, back in grade school and high school days.

It's time for the World Food Expo 2008! I think I go visit Wofex almost annually...being always interested in anything food and anything that has something to do with food =)

Food selling equipments, machines for production and utilities are showcased here...

Ofcourse...what's a food expo without the food? Amidst the bedlam of exhibitors and browser's stalls sell goodies and snacks that you can enjoy while tripping down aisle to aisle...

from sausages, siomais, siopao....to lechon baka!

Another fun feature food expos are the free tastes....this booth of Ms. Jackie Ponce Enrile featured her pasta sauces, dressings and dips which we found very good indeed!

We loved the pasta samples they dished out and was give a tip that we can enjoy yummy pasta dishes as such at Petra and Pillar located along Chino Roces Ave. in Makato ( another resto to hunt down---set back: MAKATEEEEEEE---far hahaha ;P)


I am always drawn to the espresso machines, coffee and coffee contraption booths...

They give our free espresso here...had a double shot! Yeeeha!!!

Always fun looking, eating and learning...with food! =D

Hooot-hooot---hoooters!!!

I have heard much rave from some of my blog friends, when news came out that Hooters will have a branch in Manila (you guys know who you are ;P hehehe) Last time I was in Manila, eating at Mikey's, my friend and I saw a HOOTERS resto across the area where we where, but it kinda looked shabby and declared that it couldn't BE THE Hooter's they were talking about. Well, I was right! Along San Miguel by the Bay lies the real deal HOOTERS BAR! Wooot-wooot! As guys would go =)

We all know what Hooter's is famous for? Or at least most guys do..

This owl?...

....the ambiance?.....

...or perhaps...this??..... ;P hahaha

Not a family place and not even a proper place for girls to hang out in....well, not unless you have a guy or guy friends with you...or perhaps in a big group! The clientele is definitely male dominated...sort of like a Friday's/Chilis atmosphere with a girly bar-ish feel =D ngyaaaa hahaha!!!


They offer mostly burgers and bar food....and they are famous for this...

FRIED PICKLES!

Now that's pretty funky! Never heard, seen or tasted anything like it. How were they? Like slices of dill pickles, battered and deep fried, served with a mayo based dip. It was kinda spicy and ofcourse the fried disks of gurken set off a tang! Tried it with beer...and it was....manly indeed! hahaha I felt so macho being there. The waitresses where nice and friendly..and some a bit too friendly on the friendlier male patrons =)

Man up at Hooter's =)