Talking About Megamall

I've never been a big fan of Megamall. Most of the time, the large, unruly crowd ticks me off. And the washrooms ... for heaven's sake, one will have to tread the floors towards whatever far end of the mall just to take a pee. Recently, after a long period of not Megamall-ing, we went there to meet up with our friends. I was astonished to see a new wing at the Building B called the ...

Pretty neat! At least there's something relatively new to experience in that area. There are a few dining places opened already for hungry shoppers to try. There's even a chapel located at the uppermost floor of the wing. There was one shop that caught our attention, named The Soap Factory.

I like their tag line, "Freshly Baked Soaps". It's not your usual soap store... most of the items being sold look enticing enough to munch! Doughnuts of different colors, cupcakes of different varieties, and even full cakes like Black Forest are available. They also have a line of hypoallergenic and organic soaps. Nice concept indeed! And the Soap Diva? That's hilarious! Abbu, insecure ka? :-)
Of course, after visiting the Atrium, we had a filling dinner at ...

I ordered my Mexicali favorite meal ... the Beef Taco and Chicken Enchilada platter. Yum-oh! For dessert, the coffee buns by Roti Mum were the best! Coffee-crusted soft buns, filled with oozing rich butter ... how can you go wrong with that? :-)
Of course, the best part of the visit ...

... the good company of friends! With them around, I can go to Megamall anytime! :-P

Pasta 101

Since I'm a sucker for a good pasta dish, I just thought of posting an entry sharing a recipe that I just concocted. It's Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Linguine with Sausage and Peppers.

Step 1: Cook linguine noodles according to package directions. Make sure your linguine will be cooked al dente (firm when bitten).

Step 2: Saute minced garlic in EVOO (extra virgin olive oil... pardon Rachael Ray for using your term)... followed by julienned green bell peppers and sliced pepperoni sausage (from Earl's Deli ... good and cheap).

Step 3: Add one bottled sun-dried tomato pesto (you can buy it from your favorite deli or grocery, or better yet the one in Caleruega!).

Step 4: Toss your cooked linguine with the prepared sauce.

Step 5: Put your pasta in a serving dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Presto! A delightful dish for pasta lovers and carbo-loaders alike. :-P

Amici = Friends :-)

Me and my friends rarely go out on weekdays, but last night was one exception. We had ...

I can't deny the fact that Amici's one of my favorite restaurants, despite its canteen-like facade and ambiance. Furthermore, maybe the food is customized to local taste, but what the heck... this is the closest I can get to savoring Italian cuisine, without spending too much.

I had the Linguine Al Pesto Genovese ... firm linguine pasta, smothered with rich pesto sauce and coupled with potatoes and green beans. Jimmy had Spaghetti Aglio Olio E Pepperoncino ... spaghetti tossed in basic Italian sauce of olive oil and lots of minced garlic, added with mildly spicy red hot pepper flakes and anchovies, showered with Parmesan cheese. Yumyum! We also got the Quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons) Pizza ... thin-crust pizza goodness, topped with cooked ham, mushrooms, black olives and artichokes.
For dessert, I had a cup of Strawberry Gelato, chunky strawberries incorporated in Amici's famous mouth-watering dense ice cream. To cap it all, I had a slice of Pistachiocolatto ... moist chocolate cake with pistachio cream filling, covered with chocolate ganache icing and with pistachio bits on the side. Who says I can't have 2 desserts? :-P

We all had a satisfying night ... good food and awesome company all in one! Beat that! :-P

Sleepless Weekend

Last Friday night was the start of my sleepless weekend affair. We had dinner at Edward's, and the good times rolled from ...

After indulging ourselves with herbed roast chicken, pork adobo, brazo de mercedes and lots of soda, we engaged into topics of interesting nature. Time flew so fast I didn't even notice it was already 3am! Jose Cuervo was the culprit behind that. :-)
My eyes were wide open the whole night, even though my mind was telling me to at least grab some forty winks. I guess I was just eagerly anticipating for our swimming that morning.

Brrr! The morning breeze was cold but that didn't hinder me to hit the water with a mighty splash. After almost 4 hours of immersing in the pool, we waited for our lunch ... Ed brought beef shank and vegetables from Tagaytay for some mean bulalo. Aaargh! Cholesterol goodness indeed!
I went back to Makati and met up with my brother, who's currently visiting here from Miami. It was nice to see him again. :-) Afterwards, I was able to hit the sack for an hour or so, then we went to Las Pinas to meet up again with our friends. With some light beer and chips, we played an interesting game called ...

Oh we "hate" that game, hahaha! It was surely revealing, but what the heck ... with your close friends around, it really doesn't matter anyway. My weekend was definitely sleepless but fun! :-P

Reinier Reigns!

I know, I know ... this post is kinda late but hey, it's better late than never. Last January 17, our good friend, Reinier, had his post-birthday celebration at a private swimming pool complex in Miramonte Village, Calamba City, Laguna. Food, booze, karaoke, warm pool water, good music, laughter ... what a great combination!

We unquestionably had an enjoyable experience! To you, Rein ... we wish you all the best 'cause you deserve it. We heart you! :-P

Matutina's Delight

On our way back to Manila, we decided to have early dinner in Pangasinan. Edward suggested this restaurant named Matutina's which, he claimed, serves good food. He surely wasn't joking about it. Albeit we had a hard time looking for this place, there were no regrets. We enjoyed their dishes without a doubt.

Our order slip: Ensaladang mangga, chicken bbq, crispy pata, sizzling sisig, inihaw na belly, Pinoy pork bbq, several cups of rice, bottomless iced tea, pastillas and the necessary condiments like bagoong, toyo and calamansi ... what a feast! May take-out pa.
That was our last meal together as a group before we parted ways in Makati. It was such a pleasure to savor quality food with your closest friends. Balik tayong Baguio! :-P

Bye Baguio ... 'Til We Meet Again

We made the most of our last day in Baguio. While the guys invaded the city market for some shopping, I was snug as a bug (in a rug) while watching The Golden Globes. :-)
After leaving the inn, we headed straight to Mines View Park market for some last minute additions to our pasalubongs. Then we saw this huge St. Bernard dog up for photo op ... only 50 bucks for 3 shots. Why not? We said ...

Don't ask me why his name is spelled that way. I just saw it in Wikipedia. Hehe. Notwithstanding, the dog's still a gentle giant. Cute! :-)
Of course, we wouldn't miss going to this famous convent, well-known for their food products ...

Guess what? They now sell sugar-free strawberry jam and peanut brittle! For prices a li'l over than the regular variants, health-conscious people can now enjoy these sweets.
The cafe kiosk sells delish pastries like ensaimada, empanada, herb pesto loaves, plus they also offer cheap strawberry gelato (for only Php15 per cup). Yummy!
After some picture taking at the view deck, we headed down Kennon Road, on our way back to Maniiiilaaaaa. :-)

We truly had a grand time during our 3-day stint in the City of Pines. We'll be back soon... promise. :-P

A Mongolian Paupau Affair

Whilst in Baguio, we welcomed Paupau's 23rd birthday! He totally loved what we gave him ... a pair of blue Chuck Taylor's. "That's my favorite color!", he says. By the way, he liked my rendition of the birthday song, too. :-)

To celebrate his birthday, we had Mongolian buffet dinner at...

This Mongolian barbecue in the heart of Baguio (Otek St., near the City Hall and Cafe by the Ruins) is one buffet heaven! For some mix and matching, there's a long line of metal bowls with meat (chicken, beef, pork and liver), crisp vegetables and different sauces and condiments. You can add an egg, too (with extra charge).
My bowl consisted of all meats, except liver (which I totally abhor), nearly all of the veggies (minus the bean sprouts ... high in uric acid), 1/2 cup of rice and the basic sauces (a big NO to the word "hot"). I added a hint of sweetness to my concoction by adding brown sugar and sweetened pineapple, plus a dash of sesame seeds. Voila! My very own Mongolian delight!

We then had desserts from the same place. The Blueberry, Mango, Lemon and Oreo Cheesecakes were sinfully smooth and rich ... that decadent melt-in-your-mouth goodness, the right choice to end an unforgettable dinner.

Of course, it's not a birthday dinner without the cake and candle ceremony. Paupau had his wish before blowing the candle on his blueberry cheesecake slice. Fun!
To Paupau, I wish you all the best. We're always here for you. Happy 23rd birthday, buddy! :-P

Roaming Around Baguio

It was a nice and chilly Sunday when we popped out from our beds and left the inn. We found ourselves traversing the Loakan Road going to ...

This military area never fails to amaze me. I like seeing cadets either running in full battle gear or in their more sporty outfit, or walking around the area donning their patriotic uniforms and head gears and saluting you with respect and dignity. To add, the different spots inside the academy are worthy of good camera shots ... obviously. :-D
After the PMA experience, we then decided to roam ...

Like any normal Baguio visitor, we went to Wright Park (to indulge Dave in his desire to ride a "pink" horse), Mines View Park (for some pasalubongs and some buttered corn on a cob), the silver store named Pilak (right across Botanical Gardens; so Cholo can finally pick his piece) and Camp John Hay Commissary (for some hot brewed coffee and soup.) We had a good time. What a day! To follow: Paupau's birthday bash! :-P

Cafe By The Ruins ... I Love!

I've heard so much above par reviews about Cafe by the Ruins and when we got the chance to eat at the said artsy dining place, I said to myself, it's definitely living up to its good reputation. The place is located right smack in the heart of the Baguio City Hall area, where the pre-war residential house of the 1st civil governor of Benguet used to stand. The overall ambiance is homey and rustic, and the interiors boast of native ingenuity. I like!

And the food? Pricey but worth every centavo. I got the Lon-Si-Log ... soft, garlicky sour pork chunks, marinated to perfection ala Longanisang Vigan, with sunny side-up egg and delectable mountain rice.

Jimmy had their famous Carbonara ... al dente flat egg noodles tossed in its creamy white-based sauce, showered with a generous amount of crisp bacon slices, and drizzled with Parmesan cheese. Most of the guys ordered Tita Susie’s Crispy Tapa ... crispy shredded marinated beef with tomato-onion relish and a cup of beef broth. Yum! Edward shared a piece of his Grilled White Goat Cheese Panini. The roasted vegetables sandwiched with the kesong-puti made it really good. What I loved most was Bingo's Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Grilled Shiitake Mushrooms ... cream-based pasta with slightly sweet, grainy white Ricotta and a hint of lemon, with succulent grilled Shiitake on the side, wonderfully marinated in what seemed like a balsamic vinegar-sugar base. The dish was such a gustatory delight.
Now I have to stop this. I'm hungry. :-P

Back At Inn Rocio

Since most of the hotels and lodges in Baguio were fully booked during the time we visited, we once again opted to stay at Inn Rocio. This time around, we were given an 8-bed capacity room ... big enough for us big guys. I liked it. It was ...

For Php975 per person (that's 2 nights and 3 days)... not bad! With wi-fi internet, hot running water and free breakfast, why not 'di ba? It made us feel we're "home away from home", as Jimmy would put it.
One thing we discovered with the said inn ... the cafeteria's menu boasts of dishes easy on the pocket. To put it more forthright, the food is ...

With my big buddies around, it was like a grand piyesta during lunch time. We would order these staple dishes: Beef with Mushrooms (thin slices of beef in oyster sauce, with fresh mushrooms) and Lechon Kawali (pork belly, pan-roasted to crispy perfection, with tangy soy sauce and calamansi concoction for dipping). And the rice? Did I mention 20 cups per meal? With the best company of friends around, you will definitely have a whopping appetite! :-P

Killing Time in Baguio

We got too early in the City of Pines so we decided to have a ...

We loved the refillable brewed coffee and big servings at House of Waffles the 1st time so we gave them the business again. And I couldn't get enough of their 3-stack flapjacks with bacon and scrambled eggs. So filling!
Next stop was ...

It was Jimmy's 1st time to visit the said Presidential vacation abode. Syempre, photo op na naman. Killing time (while waiting for us to check in later that day) has never been this fun. More posts coming ... :-P

Off To Baguio

We've all waited for this. 8 people who barely couldn't contain their excitement. Yes, last Friday night, we were ...

Sweet ni Abbu, he went to our meeting place (Caltex station of Gate 5, Connecticut, Greenhills) to send us off. I'm pretty sure he was inggit to the max, thus uttering the words "'di kayo magiging masaya!". Whatever. :-)
After a few stopovers, we finally made it! Gad it was friggin' 12°C of coldness we don't experience in Manila. Of course, we were armed with our jackets, scarves and some ...

That time, we said ... "Let the journey begin!" More posts to come ... :-P

The Baguio Primer

Brrr! It's friggin' cold here in Baguio. I woke up with a runny nose and a grumbling stomach. Since most of my friends are still snoring, I just opened the laptop and look at the wonderful photos we just uploaded from yesterday.

More stories to come when I get back to Manila. In the meantime, I gotta find a cup of hot, brewed coffee. :-)

Craving For Frosting

I'm a sucker for sweets. Never mind hyperglycemia (or high blood sugar, in other terms). As long as I want a sugar fix, I'll get it ... without painstakingly considering the harsh effects. What's Diamicron and Janumet for, right Edward? Oh and yes, I'm nuts, too. :-D
Anyway, Jimmy and I were in Glorietta one time and, like a vampire on the loose, smelled something sugar-coated in the air. So, we bought this fancy, light blue box containing what I was desiring for at that time.

Frostings cupcakes, from the family who created the commercially available Lemon Squares baked goodies, are well-crafted, enticing desserts which can satisfy one's sweet tooth. They're not too sweet and dense, as opposed to most of Sonja's Cupcakes creations. They boast of different confections in Regular, Fruit, Premium and Extra Premium choices. We bought the Banana Peanut Butter (Php 60), Crema de Fruta (Php 60), Belgian Chocolate (Php 55) and what I grabbed right away ...

Braso de Mercedes (Php 40)! The taste is full of delight, reminiscent of my all-time favorite desert. The cake is light and not too sweet, and the torched meringue on top is just right. Yum yum indeed! The Apple Pie is good, considering the cinnamon's not overpowering.

Compared to Sonja's, Frostings is less expensive and don't use much buttercream icing. Don't get me wrong, I love them both. They just satisfy my cupcake cravings. I better end this now. I have to drink my meds ... :-P

MOA After the Holidays

It was that Saturday when malls all over the metro are congested with people who can't get over that Holiday feeling. Unfortunately, we belong. Since Bert requested this meet-up, we took a chance of invading the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, despite the fear of being stuck in horrendous traffic or being fondled amongst a busy mob (that, being exaggerated). Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile try. Among other reasons, it was a special day to ...

We truly missed this guy! We were famished so we thought of going to a place to get rid of those hunger pangs. We chose ...

Tempura Restaurant is one of our favorite eating places. Why? 1. You get authentic Japanese cuisine sans the expensive prices, 2. You'll surely have Japanese rice in every meal, as opposed to some restos who serve normal Pinoy rice and 3. You'll like their ambiance, it's well-lit and cozy, plus I love their logo. Hihi!
What's worth trying? The Kani Salad (Php 115) gave us a good start. This Jap-joint favorite tastes so good, from the delectable combination of iceberg lettuce, Japanese cucumber, kani (crab sticks), topped with tobiko (orange fish roe), down to its' secret, the Japanese mayonnaise. The Caterpillar Roll (Php 140) rocks! It's maki with unagi, mangoes and cream cheese. What a fusion of flavors! I did enjoy what Badz and Abbu ordered, the Kaisen Raisu (Php 130). It's sweet and spicy rice, blended with scallops, cream dory, shrimps, carrots, asparagus and corn. Yummy! It goes well with what Jay-R got, the Spareribs Sansho Yaki (Php 225), grilled pork spareribs, with a special sauce and Japanese pepper. It's little bit salty but definitely satisfying. Jimmy gave 2 thumbs up to his dessert, Coffee Jelly (Php 55)... coffee-flavored gelatin that's right to the bite, then topped with 2 scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream. Burp!
After dinner, we went by the bay and had a couple of beers. My camera battery went dead, but we managed to take a few more shots before it completely went berserk. Nice photos, 'no?

In spite of the unruly crowd, we had so much fun. One piece of advice though ... if you don't wanna experience claustrophobia, avoid going to MOA on a Saturday. :-P

My January 1 ...

It has always been the same scenario. January 1st , the day when all the mayhem from the 12MN celebration comes to a halt ... when the streets of Manila suddenly become nearly deserted ... when traffic commuters rejoice (for the meantime) ... when most people dread of going back to reality, thus invading the malls and amusement parks to relish the last days of the long vacation. Haay! Buti na lang I got an SMS from Edward inviting me to go to his place right after my work. It was fortunate that the weather that day was damp and conducive for ...

When I saw the guys swimming in the cool pool, it was very inviting. It surely was "freezing" after I made my splash! But spending time with these guys, including the fun and laughter, made it bearable.
After that chilly experience, we went back to Edward's place and waited for ...

Mmmm! The savory smell of homemade Kapampangan longganisa cooking perked up my senses! I just adore longganisa. Don't ask me why. I'm just into the sweet-salty-garlicky goodness of ground meat, stuffed in those casings. Lovely! Coupled with Ed's chicken-pork adobo, pork tocino, tuyo and my friends' company ... my 1st day for 2009 was definitely a swell one! :-P

Welcoming 2009 ...

It was a much different salvo of New Year for me this time. It wasn't as noisy and festive as compared to the previous years. Secondly, my family's miles away from me. Nonetheless, I surely had a blast celebrating it with my friends at Edward's place. We all savored the ...

Oh we were stuffed to the brim! Wait, there's more! The stars of the night ...

I really don't know how I managed to feast and feast and feast! But knowing my capacity, I shouldn't be surprised at all! Haha!

One thing's for sure ... welcoming 2009 didn't have to be a hubbub full of firecrackers and pyrotechnics. Spending time with your close friends was enough to embrace the coming year with hope, peace and love! Have a prosperous 2009 to you all! :-P

The Hair Says It All

In lieu of using Betty La Fea eyeglasses, this time, we used a new accessory for another wacky "photo shoot".

Did I come up with the right descriptions? Thanks to Dave for letting us use the wig. This is extremely amusing! :-P