Last weekend was a weekend of celebrations. And what would a celebration be without food? Just thinking about what I had that weekend makes me feel stuffed!
On Saturday, to celebrate my sister's birthday, we had our lunch at Chef's Quarters at the Atrium in Megamall. I've tried this resto a few times before and though I'm not much of a steak lover, I must say how they do their steaks is masterful (though I'm no judge). We had Tessie Tomas Salad for starters which, I must agree, is their best seller, salad wise; then we had N. Carolina Pulled Pork in Cabbage Relish Tomato-Coriander Salsa and Rasperry Sauce (hew! that was a mouthful and the name says it all); a juicy and tender Churrasco Beef Tenderloin in Chimichurri Sauce cooked medium well; and some Seafood Paella. For dessert we had Banana Langka Crepe Samurai and Ube Cheesecake Creme Brulee. What can I say? Everything was delicious and had me full and going 'til dinner time.
My "Singles" friends and I had our Christmas dinner get-together at My Thai Kitchen in Eastwood Mall. We finished off our plates with Tom Yam Goong (shrimps in hot and sour soup), Khau Kluk Gapi (bagoong rice with sweet pork and green mangoes), Yam Pak Bung Grob (deep fried kangkong with spicy sour pork and shrimp dip), Gai Hor Bai Toy (Chicken in pandan leaves) Tod Man Goong (shrimp cakes with chilli sauce).
We had coffee and cheesecake at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to cleanse off our palates after that heavy meal...or maybe just to chat and catch up a bit more. I guess a four-hour meal just wasn't long enough.
On Sunday, a joint birthday party between my sister and her bro-in-law was celebrated at Bono Yaki Resto along Libis Road. We had a buffet lunch of Japanese, Korean and Chinese dishes. I'm still deciding which among the dishes was my favorite. I guess I would have to try them all out again! Every single dish including their dessert/pastries, I swear, was deeee-lish! We had fun grilling their wide array of seafood and meat dishes. By the time we were done trying out all their foods, we were the only ones left at the restaurant.
Well? Have I made you crave for steak or seafood or cake yet? I know I'm hungry for some!
What I had last weekend was more than just mouth-watering food to sustain the body...what I got was nourishment for my spirit! Laughter shared, catching up with amusing stories, fellowship, wide and unpretentious smiles, affecting concern, ghost stories, running after babies and kids - these, and not the food nor the places visited, made my weekend special. We celebrated more than birthdays or get together...we celebrated God's blessings - life, family, friendship!
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
food tripping
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
six-hour Christmas lunch
I've had a wonderful Christmas season so far..."so far" because I have yet to attend a number of Christmas get-togethers with different sets of friends. I'd probably party 'til February 2011...yipee!
The Christmas party with the Samonte clan was fun with lots of laughter and singing and dancing and chasing around the kids. It was such a delight and a wonderful assurance to see the family grow - both in weight and size and in number. Christmas eve with my sister's family and in-laws was just as fun what with stories told and a new techie game, Kinect, played by kids and those "feeling kids".
I know I've used this word quite a lot but "fun" was exactly what we had when my friends and I had our party at the newly built house of my BFFeee. We played games not usually played during Christmas parties - hide and seek, Pepsi-Seven Up, etc. BFFee Baby and I joined 3-year old Erica in her Waka-Waka dance presentation. Erica looked so refreshingly cute dancing to the African tune while Baby and I...well, "nakakata-cute" may be THE word to describe us.
Although these parties were filled with fantastic food and exhilarating games and lively stories and melodic sound of happy laughter made more special by the presence of family and great friends, I'd have to say that the most meaningful Christmas get-together I've had has been the luncheon with my high school girl friends.
Like all the other parties and get-togethers I attended, it was also fun-filled. But what made it so profoundly heartwarming for me was not the scrumptuous meal at Cappriciosa, although it was, nor the delectable dessert at Conti's, although it was. Insights told, secrets revealed, fears and dreams shared, past unveiled and future plans confided - these, and not the food, made the six-hour lunch fulfilling. We dared. We dreamed. We planned. We laughed a lot. We thought some. We fretted over "lost" and troubled friends. We were saddened by loss. We "re-discovered" each other. We rejoiced! And we squealed in delight at a pregnant news (wink wink, Yeyet)
We left Greenbelt with more than full tummies (pun intended, Yeyet) and bagful of gifts. We carried with us a renewed friendship, plans for our dreams, hopes for our futures, fun-ny stories to look back to.
God, family, friendship...the real meaning of Chirstmas. Christ is indeed in Christ-mas!
It has been a wonderful Christmas season...so far!
The Christmas party with the Samonte clan was fun with lots of laughter and singing and dancing and chasing around the kids. It was such a delight and a wonderful assurance to see the family grow - both in weight and size and in number. Christmas eve with my sister's family and in-laws was just as fun what with stories told and a new techie game, Kinect, played by kids and those "feeling kids".
I know I've used this word quite a lot but "fun" was exactly what we had when my friends and I had our party at the newly built house of my BFFeee. We played games not usually played during Christmas parties - hide and seek, Pepsi-Seven Up, etc. BFFee Baby and I joined 3-year old Erica in her Waka-Waka dance presentation. Erica looked so refreshingly cute dancing to the African tune while Baby and I...well, "nakakata-cute" may be THE word to describe us.
Although these parties were filled with fantastic food and exhilarating games and lively stories and melodic sound of happy laughter made more special by the presence of family and great friends, I'd have to say that the most meaningful Christmas get-together I've had has been the luncheon with my high school girl friends.
Like all the other parties and get-togethers I attended, it was also fun-filled. But what made it so profoundly heartwarming for me was not the scrumptuous meal at Cappriciosa, although it was, nor the delectable dessert at Conti's, although it was. Insights told, secrets revealed, fears and dreams shared, past unveiled and future plans confided - these, and not the food, made the six-hour lunch fulfilling. We dared. We dreamed. We planned. We laughed a lot. We thought some. We fretted over "lost" and troubled friends. We were saddened by loss. We "re-discovered" each other. We rejoiced! And we squealed in delight at a pregnant news (wink wink, Yeyet)
We left Greenbelt with more than full tummies (pun intended, Yeyet) and bagful of gifts. We carried with us a renewed friendship, plans for our dreams, hopes for our futures, fun-ny stories to look back to.
God, family, friendship...the real meaning of Chirstmas. Christ is indeed in Christ-mas!
It has been a wonderful Christmas season...so far!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
better than sex
A couple of months ago, one of our travels for work took us to Iloilo for a seminar-workshop. There, I met some pretty awesome people who were nice and funny and had loads of stories to share. By the end of our dinner during our last day of the workshop, we were still pumped up. So they invited me out for a taste of the nightlife in Iloilo. Off we went to Smallville which was Iloilo's version of Libis' Eastwood.
The hangout place was smaller and less crowded but just like in Libis, it had bars and restos and cafes. But to my surprise, it did not have a Starbucks branch...nor anywhere else in Iloilo for that matter. They had, however, the Coffeebreak Cafe where we took our after dinner coffee and dessert. Aside from coffee, the cafe offered a variety of cakes and pastries but one cake stood out like a sore thumb...well its name at least. The cake was called "better than sex". Since I've never had a taste of the real thing, I thought I'd give this one a go and see how it fares.
It was moist rich chocolate cake covered with white frosting topped with choco bits and laced with caramel syrup (if i remember correctly). The looks of it was enough to keep me panting for a taste and I eagerly did. It was full of flavor and tender and sweet - but then again, I believe so is my "wrong" guy (wink!!). My new Ilonggo friends asked if it indeed was better that sex, I answered, "NO IDEA!!!" As far as chocolates go, I say I've had tastier finds. It wasn’t the mind-blowing, heart-pounding, out-of-this-world, earth-shattering (I would’ve mentioned orgasmic but I wouldn’t know that either) experience I had expected it would be. It rather seemed anti-climactic for me…no pun intended.
“IS THIS IT?” I wonder. If this is it…if this is supposed to be better…if this is better than what the people of all ages talk and blush and squirm about…if this is better than what men and women and the “confused” die and kill for, then I say all that hype about sex is overrated. Many friends have actually made graphic representations of what I'm missing. But if this is all IT…then I ain't missin' a thang, peeps!
You may find my position arguable...but who am I to argue? I know next to nothing about IT, remember? I think I'm better off not knowing what I'm missing...right?...right?
The hangout place was smaller and less crowded but just like in Libis, it had bars and restos and cafes. But to my surprise, it did not have a Starbucks branch...nor anywhere else in Iloilo for that matter. They had, however, the Coffeebreak Cafe where we took our after dinner coffee and dessert. Aside from coffee, the cafe offered a variety of cakes and pastries but one cake stood out like a sore thumb...well its name at least. The cake was called "better than sex". Since I've never had a taste of the real thing, I thought I'd give this one a go and see how it fares.
It was moist rich chocolate cake covered with white frosting topped with choco bits and laced with caramel syrup (if i remember correctly). The looks of it was enough to keep me panting for a taste and I eagerly did. It was full of flavor and tender and sweet - but then again, I believe so is my "wrong" guy (wink!!). My new Ilonggo friends asked if it indeed was better that sex, I answered, "NO IDEA!!!" As far as chocolates go, I say I've had tastier finds. It wasn’t the mind-blowing, heart-pounding, out-of-this-world, earth-shattering (I would’ve mentioned orgasmic but I wouldn’t know that either) experience I had expected it would be. It rather seemed anti-climactic for me…no pun intended.
“IS THIS IT?” I wonder. If this is it…if this is supposed to be better…if this is better than what the people of all ages talk and blush and squirm about…if this is better than what men and women and the “confused” die and kill for, then I say all that hype about sex is overrated. Many friends have actually made graphic representations of what I'm missing. But if this is all IT…then I ain't missin' a thang, peeps!
You may find my position arguable...but who am I to argue? I know next to nothing about IT, remember? I think I'm better off not knowing what I'm missing...right?...right?
Monday, July 12, 2010
food for thought
Last Saturday was a day of firsts for me – resto and foodwise that is. I enjoy trying out new places and stuff but I had never tried out two new restos and dishes in one day. This blog is also a first for me – a food and restaurant review (sort of). Let’s see your take on these restos.
Let’s start with lunch. After the check-up/visit to my niece’s pediatrician (who is cute, single, successful and “wrong”….again!), my sister brought us to Mom and Tina’s Bakery Café located along C5 in Pasig right across SM Hypermart/Tiendesitas. The café has country-style designed interiors and has a rather homey feeling to it. The crew was nice and friendly (and my niece’s yaya thought the waiters were gwaping). As soon as you enter, you would immediately get a craving for their mouth-watery cakes, cookies and pastries as these are stowed everywhere - below and behind the counter and in the row of coolers on the side. You get to choose to sit on the usual four-seater setting or you could laze around on their couch/settee and table format good for around 8 people.
The food had a home-cooked taste to it and was delish. They serve soup, pasta and potato and meat dishes as well as rice meals. I had Chicken Alexander (P170) which was a baked dish of layered mashed potatoes with chicken (of course!) topped with a thin layer of cheese and served with a couple of freshly baked bread rolls. The mashed potatoes were creamy and tasty. I sampled my sister’s chicken spinach lasagna (P160) and my cousin’s fettucini pesto (P160) and both were also delectable. I wanted to try out their cakes for dessert but what I had was so filling I didn’t have enough room for more.
For dinner, my friend and I scanned the restos at Techno Hub (also my first time there)along Commonwealth Avenue and we both decided to try out Kanin Club. I’ve been hearing about it and I wanted to know what the brouhaha was all about. The first time I saw it was in Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna (or is that in Tagaytay?) and the place was filled to capacity. And just like in Paseo, by dinnertime there was a long line of patrons waiting to be seated. So if you decide to try it out, I suggest you come in early like we did.
The design was old-Filipino inspired… and by old I mean the traditional home style with wooden tables and chairs and capiz window styled walls. The crew was also friendly and attentive. Although they offered an assortment of Filipino dishes, I didn’t read too closely their specialties since I already knew what I wanted for dinner – Crispy Dinuguan (P261). I’ve heard or read about it and, although I’m not a big fan of dinuguan, I thought I’d give it a try….and it certainly lived up to the fuss. It was yummy! Their servings were good enough for two (or three depending on appetite) and like the resto, our tummies were filled to capacity and we weren’t even able to finish half the food.
I had fun and a tummy-filling weekend (and I haven’t even told you about my Sunday at Rockwell) and I most probably gained at least 10 pounds (OA!)…ok, maybe just a couple. But I’d have to pay dearly for that sumptuous weekend with a lot of running and dancing and yoga. I had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend – maybe it was the new restos and food I tried but I say it wouldn’t have been half as fun if it weren’t for the good and fun company I had.
Go and try out these restos and if you enjoyed them like I did, bring home some doggy bag for me….hehehe.
Let’s start with lunch. After the check-up/visit to my niece’s pediatrician (who is cute, single, successful and “wrong”….again!), my sister brought us to Mom and Tina’s Bakery Café located along C5 in Pasig right across SM Hypermart/Tiendesitas. The café has country-style designed interiors and has a rather homey feeling to it. The crew was nice and friendly (and my niece’s yaya thought the waiters were gwaping). As soon as you enter, you would immediately get a craving for their mouth-watery cakes, cookies and pastries as these are stowed everywhere - below and behind the counter and in the row of coolers on the side. You get to choose to sit on the usual four-seater setting or you could laze around on their couch/settee and table format good for around 8 people.
The food had a home-cooked taste to it and was delish. They serve soup, pasta and potato and meat dishes as well as rice meals. I had Chicken Alexander (P170) which was a baked dish of layered mashed potatoes with chicken (of course!) topped with a thin layer of cheese and served with a couple of freshly baked bread rolls. The mashed potatoes were creamy and tasty. I sampled my sister’s chicken spinach lasagna (P160) and my cousin’s fettucini pesto (P160) and both were also delectable. I wanted to try out their cakes for dessert but what I had was so filling I didn’t have enough room for more.
For dinner, my friend and I scanned the restos at Techno Hub (also my first time there)along Commonwealth Avenue and we both decided to try out Kanin Club. I’ve been hearing about it and I wanted to know what the brouhaha was all about. The first time I saw it was in Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna (or is that in Tagaytay?) and the place was filled to capacity. And just like in Paseo, by dinnertime there was a long line of patrons waiting to be seated. So if you decide to try it out, I suggest you come in early like we did.
The design was old-Filipino inspired… and by old I mean the traditional home style with wooden tables and chairs and capiz window styled walls. The crew was also friendly and attentive. Although they offered an assortment of Filipino dishes, I didn’t read too closely their specialties since I already knew what I wanted for dinner – Crispy Dinuguan (P261). I’ve heard or read about it and, although I’m not a big fan of dinuguan, I thought I’d give it a try….and it certainly lived up to the fuss. It was yummy! Their servings were good enough for two (or three depending on appetite) and like the resto, our tummies were filled to capacity and we weren’t even able to finish half the food.
I had fun and a tummy-filling weekend (and I haven’t even told you about my Sunday at Rockwell) and I most probably gained at least 10 pounds (OA!)…ok, maybe just a couple. But I’d have to pay dearly for that sumptuous weekend with a lot of running and dancing and yoga. I had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend – maybe it was the new restos and food I tried but I say it wouldn’t have been half as fun if it weren’t for the good and fun company I had.
Go and try out these restos and if you enjoyed them like I did, bring home some doggy bag for me….hehehe.
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