Lunch at Cafea

Another place I used to hang out a lot in years ago...back along the time of the Aresi hay days...is this coffee shop at Mother Ignacia, behind abs-cbn..is Cafea. That time...no starbucks about around Morato...this place was packed!

Well, gone are those days, as coffee shops abound the area..and this place has become quiet. I had lunch there with a good friend of mine and good to know the good ol' faves are still ok.

The Beef Kebab

I prefer the chicken. Grilled skewered beef, on java rice served with yummy peanut sauce.

My Apple, Wlanut and Prune Salad

A light and nice lunch salad =) I like fruits in salads =)

The place is wifi free! It's kinda gloomy now here..but not bad for quiet lunches.

Night Cap at Cantinetta

So nice to have a nice quiet evening..just having nice dinner and perhaps having some nice dolci or a few drinks..my ideal way to relax and unwind..definitely. After having dinner and window shopping around power plant mall...we met up with some friends to share a nice bottle of red and some antipasti. Naturally, we picked Cantinetta. We didn't dine..but we had their wine =)

Eagle Hawk Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

nice...crisp, semi-sweet red wine


Antipasti Plate

Mix of cold suts, marinated okives and peppers..excellent with the wine =)

A perfect way to cap the evening, indeed =)

Something New or Something Old?

I missed my Oli pooh. It's been quite a while since we hanged out, and so glad we had a chance to have dinner together at a nice place to boot =)

We went to powerplant mall and looked for a nice place to dine in. We contemplated on goin to Cantinetta, we love the food there but we were more compelled to go try something new for the evening. We picked Myron's Steaks, Ribs & Seafood. I seen and read about this place for quite sometime now...and finally.....

This is Oli's Seafood Chowder

A funny thing...after giving our orders, the served goes back to our table and asks us.."papa-split po ba yun soup?" we looked at eachother, quizzical..."malaki kaya yun serving?" but I didn't want any so we just said no. I can just taste from Oli's bowl anyway! hehehe It was kinda funny when the waitress laid this small soup bowl with a thin sliced toast. We go..."if we had it split..tig-1 tablespoon tayo?" hahahaha ;P Soup was ok...a bit too cream tasting....you can really taste the elle & vire here =) Nonetheless, it had a good load of seafood bits that was really nice.

My Carribean Mojo Chicken with Grilled Plantains and Mango Rice

I know, this is as steak and seafood place...but chicken is number 1 on my list when it comes to protein choice! This dish was on the house specialty list so...I gave it a go. Lucky I did because it was delish! The chicken was smothered with this spicy, but not hot sauce. I thought that it would be over powering...but to my delight..thick as it seemed it was just right! I loved the grilled plantains, veggies and mango rice! Yes..fresh mangoes chopped up and mixed in with the flavored rice. I loved it! The sweeteness of the plantains and mangoes in the rice gave a pleasant dimension to the whole entree and cut through the strong flavors of the spicy chicken sauce. Great! The whole fruit and spice experice while eating the dish indeed gave that over-all Carribean flair!

Oli chose from the ultimate sandwiches selections. He just adores Wagyu beef burgers, so when he came across it on the menu..he naturally picked that =)

The Ultimate Third-of-a-Pound Wagyu Burger

Well, looking at the plate as it was served to him...you can barely see the burger here. Mounds of fries and onion rings were pilled up covering the main star of the show. I wonder why they did so?


Let's set those fried sides aside to reveal the burger within!!!

hmmm.. the patty was kinda small...and masked with melted cheese and mushrooms. I tasted the patty and I was a bit surprised that it was lean tasting. Well, i have never had Wagyu beef burger or Wagyu anything yet (another must try soon!). Oli tells me it was not the best tasting wagyu-beef burger he has had...and he has tried quite a few. He says he was definitely more impressed with the La Maison rendition. I want to try La Maison soon =)

We mopped our plates clean and was very satiated with our dinner...alas...no room for dessert! I was eyeing on the bread pudding ala mode with caramel ice cream...sounds yummy noh?

Perhaps on a next visit. =)

Snack Time at Penang

Let's have a break at Penang Hill, Shangri la mall. They have this meryenda set offering...Ham & Cheese Martabak with coffee or tea tarik...hot or cold.
Yummu and flaky roti bread with ham and cheese filling...an indian ham & cheese sandwich! heheheh served with curry dip! Yummy and something differrent for a snack cum early dinner =) I actually asked for coffee..but they served me tea tarik =( Maybe I am reallynot supposed to have coffee..*sighh...

Let's add protein to that....Mix Satay

These are skewered chicken and beef...where's the pork???? served with nice peanut sauce.

It was a nice and kind of light meal...we enjoyed the novelity of our choice =)

Feel Christmas at World Bazaar 2007!

Going to bazaars makes me feel Christmas =) I love seeing people hustling and bustling over stalls...aisle over aisle...I love it! The World Bazaar 2007 is still on-going untill Decemeber 16 (this Sunday)..so if you haven't gone you still have chances to delve into goodies and finds =)

Well, I have had enough shopping the past week...and so I hid my shopping ju-ju for a bit of break...and just let my stomach enjoy the bazaar this time! hehehe

It's always like that you know...shopping and eating do go hand in hand. Naturally when you walk...choose...haggle...fit..carry...for hour and hours...you will definitely work up an appetite! This is why food stalls thrive in these bazaars!

Here are just a few things I got to try there. TAKOYAKI at Mushashi.

Throngs of people line up at this stall...and this is the only thing they sell. I joined in the band wagon and I was kinda disappointed with them. Gwen and I thought they were too floury and had too little octopus bits...if I am not mistaken....1 bit lang ata =) It was cheap though..at Php 40.00 for 4 balls and served hot...so it was ok =)

ANGELATI ITALIA GELATOS

oohhh yeah... delicious Italian gelatos...made fresh daily....as real gelatos ought to be.
here is a create of fresh tubs of gelato....yummmmmm...

my fave...Chocolates & Cereals

The pistachio is excellent and the creme brulee..divine..as in! it has that torched caramel taste of real creme brulleD !!!! hahaha

I had fun helping out selling as well =)

Happy to be in the bazaar..be it for shopping, eating or selling! hahaha

Ahhhhh feeling the Christmas spirit!!!!!

Having Our Wurst Meal with Kindred Spirits

It's really nice to have breaks within the work week. I was just so happy the place to unwind was Mickey's! This is becoming a real fave....like a resto to regularly visit to have some great food and amazing spirits!

My friend had the Erdinger Stout beer and I had the house Red =)

The Erdinger Stout is dark beer, with a very delicious malty flavor...close to a rootbeer sans being a soda. I loved the Red wine served to me....and naturally I asked what was it I was having....

...and this is it. The taste was not too sweet...perhaps it was a semi-sweet red? I am no expert in this but I just like following what my palate tells me is good =) This one I liked.

There is really so many good things to try at Mickey's....that is why I am still excited to go here, inspite the number of times I have dined in this lovely deli. How can I tire of having artisan breads??? ;P

This time I had my WURST MEAL HERE! hahaha You got it! It's SAUSAGE TIME!!!! Yehey!

This is the 6 pc Pork Sausage

Woodfire grilled pork..err..I forgot the name...served with a choice of potato salad or sauerkraut. We had potato salad =)

We had that with the bread basket...and more wurst please!!!!!!!!! This is the Cheese Sausage

again...I didn't catch the name of this exquite sausage with cheese!!! Yummmm..again with potato salad =)

Excellent sausages....wonderful breads and superb spirits! How's that for a weekday break with a very good friend....along the yuletide season...haaaaaa...just great! =) Thank you!!!!!!!

WE LOVE MICKEY'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D

The BBQ Beef Mcdo =)

How sweet is my baby sis Nikki.....shhhhhh don't tell her I said that ;P hehehe Yeah she is so! =)

We have been eyeing the new item on the McDo menu...THE BBQ BEEF MCDO! Everymoring when we pass the ad boards at various McDo branches...we look at eachother and cry in unison"BBQ BEEF MCDO!!!!!" hahaha. Abeit the grief and toil brought by her finals week, she manages to be oh so thoughtful by surprising me with this.........

THE BBQ BEEF MCDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D

hahaha! yes, yes...when I fetched her around lunch time....she was holding a plastic bag with those oh so familiar arches and having that conspicuous shape of styro-containers we know so well! hahaha She was so excited to tell me...."dits!...BBQ BEEF MCDO!!!" HAHAHAH

We hurried back to the office to have a taste of these babies! Well as you can see...nothing to go wild about the looks of the so called bbq...but what the heck...we were excited to try! Upon tasting it we surmised...it is THE MCDO LONGANISA...MADE LONGER AND SLATHERED WITH A SWEETISH BBQ SAUCE! =) ahahah Well, what do you expect from our good ol' fast food joints, but to mask their what-have-yous with different sauce...give 'em a different name...and you got a NEW MEAL! =) Smart, smart! And we love 'em! hahaha

It was very amusing and fun to eat...do give it a try! Next up..the Choco-Fudge sundae line! hahaha

Awww...my sis...a real darling =)

Re-visiting Cafe Juanita

I think I have one too many posts on Cafe Juanita...but let me just another to my repertoire. My sis Che, who just got married, just adores this place. I have never had lunch here, so a first here. Dinner time, the place sets a romantic mood....at lunch....

...festive!

French Onion Soup

Yummy and slightly thick onion soup topped with a slice of baguette. My atchi thought it needed a bit more salth though.

Callos
This is the fave of my two younger sisters. Still delicious!

Lengua Estofado


My atchi is a real lengua lover. Although, she likes the pastels better, she found this dish realy good and absolutely flavorful! It's her first time at Juanita.


I wanted to try something I new...so I chose the Chicken Mozarella

It's chicken breast with tomato and mozarella cheese, served with garlic rice. This dish has a lighter flavor as compared to the dishes my sisters had....but I like the subtle taste of this dish and wellc omplimented by the garlic rice =)

Coffee was good this time =)

and ofcourse...a meal is not complete at Juanita without ending it with the Toffee Pudding ala Mode

your sweet-tooth with definitely jump for joy over this dessert. My sisters especially liked them...they love the sweet stuff!

This resto has never failed me. Each dining experience here is indeed a pleasant one...and there is so many dished to try on each visit. We like =)

SOMS in Tomas Morato!

You read it right my friend! Soms Noodle House is in the house! I actually saw it the week I tried Jozu, but had I much rather blog about it when I get to try it.

It is located at the 2nd floor of Zensho, in Tomas Morato, very near McDonald's and same compound as Lord Stowe's.

I unfortunately have no pictures to share..because, when the food started to come in...and I was about to click at the first dish.....camera batt died =( hay. I used my phone cam to take pics, but wala ako gana i-upload! haahaha ;P Maybe I just need to go back here again. The good news is...food is as good as in the original carinderia outlet in Rockwell...place is way better here...with air-conditioning, glass tables..real chairs hahaha...give that more sanitary feel ;P hahaha I joke! I don't mean to imply the carinderia branch is not clean...please do NOT get me wrong, I have eaten there several times...its ok naman =)

We had the red chicken curry, bagoong rice, thai spring rolls, tonto fish (which was very good and crispy! The meat was redolent of milk fish but fleshier), siomai ( i liked it very much...the filling was similar to the spring roll filling...it had vermicelli noodles and I liked the sauce with was sort of like kechap manis I got from Bali---a thick, sweetish and soy sauce-like dip). We also had tom yum soup and the cat fish salad! All had the same delicious-ness as when I had them in the original branch.

Yey...soms is near and I think we wil be regulars here =D!!!!

We HAVE WIFI!!!!!!!!!!! =)

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM UBER HAPPY!!!! Ladies and gentlemen...I have WIFI!!! =D

Words cannot express how happy I am! We have bought a router a month ago and finally..I have faced my fears and INSTALLED IT TODAY. Well, actually, I was trying to install it yesterday...and I FAILED MISERABLY...which caused GREAT frustration and sadness for me. I had to rush to the GYM and RUN like there was NO TOMORROW to relieve stress and frustration and load up on ENDORPHINS to lift up my slightly scathed spirit! I sooooooo hate technical problems! Aye! I am NO GOOD with computers, I tell you. This is why I feel like this is a milestone for me =) hahaha Yes...just a few moments ago...I picked myself up and mustered all the courage to try to install my router.....

....sweet success!!!!!!!!!!! =) hahaha

Anyong Ha Se Yo!!!

My Sunday bruch gal pal Sal's shobe Joy took up Mandarin lessons in Shang Hai for a year. She had Korean classmates there and they came here for a vist last week! So being responsible and hospitable Atchies, we took them all out for brunch.

We brought them to Banaple. Joy told us that her Korean friends are more fond of eating rice that bread...and the tapsilog here is great! They were all boys...and I was quite surprised that they adore sweets...cheesecake in particular...so Banaple is but a fitting place for them.

We had the seafood chowder soup....tapsilogs and pancakes. The were not so hot about the tapa pala. I think they found it kinda odd =) hehehe But they did like the pancakes and ....cakes ...

Cadbury Chocolate Cheesecake

I found it a bit odd that it had a tad bit salty taste. It was good though...GJ (the owner of Banaple) really make nice cheesecakes =)

Apple Pie

...good with lots of streussle topping

Banofee Pie

Delicious crust and nice ripe bananas...I just don;t like the cream =) Koreans dig this!

We also had snicker cheesecake...caramel cheesecake and so on...hay...sugar over load!!! Well they all enjoyed brunch and they need to really fill up their tanks as they were heading straight to the airport after!

After brunch, Sal and I went to Serendra to buy Krispy Kreme for our Korean guests to bring back to Shang Hai..shopped a bit along Bonifacio High Street and then went to The Intercontinetal Hotel Christams Bazaar!

Let us feel Christmas once more by way of shopping!!! =) My friend Lyn and Gwen had a stall there for their yummy Angelati Itali Gelato. There were lots of great buys!!!! I REALLY FELT THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS!!! =D hahaha

Here is Sal, Moi and Lyn at the Angelati Booth

Sunday perfectly spent! =)

Tasting Married Life ;P

Blogging is really such a great avenue to meet a lot of fantastic people! Last Saturday I got the chance to meet the family of one of my favorite bloggy friends..Ruy and Liv of A Taste of Married Life! They were soooo sweet to invite me to try out their cousin's new restaurant located at Examiner St., where the old Sucre used to stand....a fusion asian resto called Bellore.
A kind of Italian sounding name isn't it? But, as I have learned..it is actually a combination of the surnames of the partners owning this nice resto =)

I dragged my friend Elainey to have meryenda with Ruy, Liv and beautiful baby Andrea. Naturally we got there ahead of them...because we were hungry! ;P hahaha When Liv walked in the resto carrying baby Andrea..I knew it was her...and I go..."Liv!!!!!!! --?" hahaha As if I knew them for a long time already. Ruy came in shortly after....and the chit-chat started on....

Elaine and I shared this Oyster-Bacon Burger

Yes! Oysters and bacon..in a burger! Sounds great and very interesting as I love oysters and bacon...though I am not much of a burger fan. Well, it does taste as good as it sound! You can taste the oysters and bacon married into the thick and juicy beef patty. Yummm..kahit hindi ako burger lover ....sarap! =) Sana hindi kame nag half lang ;P hehehe

We also ordered the Gula-Melaka Chicken Wings

Para may ma-share kame kila Ruy and Liv...because when they got there...naka-order na kame =D hahaha I was intrigued by the name of this appetizer, actually. I havealways thought..Gula Melaka as a tapioca and coconut milk Malaysian dessert....I thought..hmmm perhaps it is marinated in coconut milk??? hahaha It was good!Very flavorful chicken wings with sesame seeds...no need for dip because its really tasty =)

Unfortunately...our kwentuhan was kind of cut short..as my friend called me and was to fetch me earlier than scheduled. I was super bitin!!!! Nevertheless, I am very, very happy to have met them, even for a short while. Well, this only means one thing...we have to have another meet! =)

Thank you Ruy and Liv please, please let's schedule another meet....na mas matagal para maka-make up for the bitin kwentuhan =) You guys are great and your cousin and uncle chef were sooo nice as well =) Super fun and super bitin (sowee for that) !

Hugs to baby Andrea.

Talagang a taste of married life! =) hahaha

Just To Share...=)

I'd like to share 3 more pics of my sister's wedding..just 3 from the thousands of pics by Ariel Javelosa =)

My Family with the Newly Weds

The Entourage....girls

(L-R) My shobe Nikki, Mary Ann (friend of my sis), My cousin Patty, Moi and My Atchi

My New Brothers =)

(L-R) Jerry, Jeff (my sis hubby) & Jules

Love....how wonderful it is! It has a magic to change people's lives....bring great joy and the power of bringing two families together =)

Food Soothe....

Have you ever had a day where the world seems againts you?? Well, yesterday was that kinda day for me. I broke my 2nd espresso machine and my office desktop was acting up like crazy! Hay-ya-yay! Two of the most important things that makes my day-to- day living possible. Caffeine and internet. I cannot function without my daily dose of espresso....and I can't finish a day in the office without blogging..checking our my favorite blogsposts (you know who you are ;p! )and checking my mail. So you could just inagine how I was feeling yesterday....down and out!

Good thing friends are there to lift you up when you are in a slump...and boy do my friends know how to make me feel better....

...howelse? But with Good company and good-mood food! hahaha ;P (baboy ba? hehehe) Well, I am a simple person with simple joys...and so my friends and I went out for good ol', feel good food...at Cibo =)

Our all time fave Spinach Dip

I dunno how many times I have blogged about this...but it's just soo good. Crispy-crunchy melba toasts to scoop that gooey-cheesy and piping hot green dip! A smile crept on my face with just one bite ;P hehehe

Something old...now something new...Pumpkin flowers and Anchovy Pizza!

Squach flowers are sooo nice...can be made into unique appetizers...can be a great pizza topping like so. I don't think it has any taste at all but with the flavorful Anchovies and cheese..on a delicious cripsy crust...a winner!

Now something light for our pasta...Penne with Olive Oil, Roasted veggies with Olives and Sun Dried Toamtoes...

simply wonderful. I love that pasta is consistently al dente at Cibo!

That's just that. Good Italian food you can count on...like my dear friends =) I definitely ended my day with better spirits. Thanks guys..you're the best and thank you Gaita Forres!! ;P

Feeling Chirstmas Already =)

Yes! A bit early actually...but I started to FEEL Christmas already =) Well, actually the feeling crept in last sunday. I promised by dear friends Gwen and Lyn that I would visit their Angelati Italia booth at the Noel bazzar at World Trade Center...then ran for a week (if I am bot mistaken). FYI: Angelati Italia is, by far..the best GELATO IN TOWN! =D

I started my sunday shopping day early. My favorite shopping buddy Mike picked me up from the house around lunch time...so naturally...we both haven't had lunch...goodie because there is reason to go visit Mickey's deli once more! =) I sooo love that place.

Checking out Mickey's at lunch time....still packe with patrons.....still has that waft of delicious freshly baked artisan bread aroma upton entering....ahhh...I love the smell of bread baking...that is one of the reasons I soo love to make bread as well.

Here is something new on the little blackboard of daily specials....Eggplant Parmegiana

Sooo good and cheesy!!! It was great with the bread basket we had. You mop it clean with sourdough bread...delicious! ;P

How about some pasta...this is just simple Olive Oile pasta with garlic and chili...I forgot the name though...

The pasta..aldente..very good olive oil flavored with garlic with a light hit of heat! Simple. Perfect. Delightful...again with bread =)

Well, carbohydrate overload..but hey...good carbs naman right?;P I want to go back and try the rib eye steak...which looked huge and delish ....and I also saw the neighboring table order meatloaf...HUGE and as I over heard the guy say..ang sarap! ;P Pardon my eavesdropping on other people on other tables ...pero only about there order lang nama =) hehehe

After our yummy lunch..we went to Power Plant Mall to do a little shopping...and headed on to....

...the Noel Christmas Bazaar! It feels a lot like Christmas there! They piped in Chirstmas carols in the halls...booths and booths of clothes, gift items and FOOD!!!! How can you not feel the spirit of the Yuletide season with that? =)

This is the Angelati Italia Booth


Check out the yummy gelato they offered!

I had the Chocolate & Cereals---I LOVED IT! You can tell it's really great as people never stop liningup!

Great food..great gelato and great shooping day (promise! winner shopping day talaga! ;P) Thanks Mikey!

It's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas indeed =)

Jozu Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar

There is this new Japanese resto along Tomas Morato...it's situated infront of Hot Shots Burger, where Super Bowl of China used to stand. Well, it is my duty to patronize new business in the vicinity, to help our economy right? ---Right! ;p hahaha The name is Jozu. As I learned, it is owned by the son of Mr. Villavicencio (hope I spelled it right), who also runs Saikono. The place was empty when we entered...and we were greeted by the nice staff. There was a Japanese chef there, who, as I was told, was the Japanese chef of the original Saisaki. The place is quite big..2-storey...modern interiors and the tables with grills were at the 2nd floor.

They offer a lot of interesting jap dishes, apart from the conventional offerings.

Here is the Kamameshi Rice

I love Kamameshi rice! That is why, Kamameshi House was one of my favorite jap restos =) I used to frequent the branch at Libis....I don't know why it closed down =(



Let me open the nice kamameshi wooden vessel...to give you a beeter view of what we had...


It's steamed rice, that turned brownish from the sauce (I guess) with which it was cooked with and mixed with beef, chicken, shrimps and vegetables. It was good...but I still favor the good ol' Kamameshi house rendition. This one was generous with the mixin's and very filling. Can be a meal on it's own =)

The Jozu Sashimi Tokujo (Mixed Sashimi Platter)

Beautifully plated! It consists of Salmon, Tuna, Eel, Octopus, Seabream, Sea Urchin, Tiger Prawn, Squid with shromp roe, Crab-stick roll and egg omelet. A good mish-mash of sashimi faves...all fresh! We are good here. Not bad for Php 470.00!

Tori Chiisu Maki Teriyaki

Perhaps chiisu means "cheese"??- ;P hehehe Well, its Grilled chicken rollled with ..you got it...chees-u =D

And lastly...the Agedashi Tofu...

I think this was too heavily breaded. A bit too floury =)

A good Japanese resto...good service and the price just right! We fun dining at Jozu! Thanks Elpo! =D

Here is my shobe and I...happy after our dinner