My EmPtY sToMaCh!!!

EAT

2011-08-09T19:34:00.001-07:00

I would swap lives with the people behind this video anytime. :)

I want to spend less time working and more time travelling. Learn about Penny Stock Advice!

2011-07-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

I came across this guy who at his early 20's was able to turn himself into a dollar millionaire. He has already traveled 60 countries when I haven't even ridden a plane. At the same age he was able to maximize his potentials instead of earning meager salaries on jobs. Curious? I was too, because until now I never even though of reading about stock markets, trading and investing. You know those guys on wall street with hungry greedy faces on the Television screen? That is all I know about it.

However, in a time where people my age work their brains off and earn a living barely enough to sustain their needs, you might want to start learning and tapping into other means to better profit.

I'm not an expert but according to some readings, stock exchange is basically about shares or an ownership of a part of a company. When and if you think about buying a share, you are automatically entitled to a fraction of earnings that the company earns. Now why the heck would these companies want to share stocks? The simplest answer to that is because it needs money as capital, to expand the business further without having to borrow money. Borrowing means the company has to pay the debt along with the interests, selling stocks would instead bring the company money to start expanding plus fewer strings to tie them up if in case things don;t work out.

That's where this guy knows where the best stock picks are. The site offers tutorials, basics and lessons on how you can buy and sell stocks and get profits. Just for starters it is a good read, full of opportunities and techniques on how to be a millionaire at age 20.

Start to get rich!

2011-06-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of people who have been working for quite some time now and they only boast of assets like new IPAD's, cellphones, shoes, new designer clothes and other things that will not get them any closer to having good investments. They been working for 10-15 years and regrettably, they only have these things to fool their friends that they are doing well financially when in truth they haven't got the money to take a step closer to getting rich.

There are only a few ways to get rich instantaneously, and you'll have to be blessed with a lot of good luck to get that chance, win the lottery? get rich through inheritance? become a name everyone will never forget? But for most people, getting rich means to get rich slowly. With good financial management, good investments, good pay and a knack for saving and business, anything is possible.

The first thing I recommend you to do is plan your life, plan ahead, how do you see your financial status in 5 to 10 years? Will it always be break-even with all the bills, insurances you have to pay and spending almost your whole salary? The first step will be managing your finances. Some skip this part and rely on come what may because the task seems to take time. That's where you're wrong, today, so many sites are there to help you manage and automate your financial actions. bills, credits, savings and they can even categorize your spending and analyze how well you manage your finances. Awareness is key, so plan ahead, and get rich!

My Kebab Heaven: Arya!

2011-04-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure that the average person who lives in Metro Manila has tried persian food. There's Mr. Kebab, World Persian or Ababbu in Xavierville. But I'd like to take you on trip to Arya! It's Persian/Mediterranean cuisine at its finest!

I am a fan of the different herby dips, pitas, basmati rice, grilled tomatoes, Kebabs and the likes. But the best I've had of this type of delicacies I must admit can be found here in Arya. I live In Quezon City but I go to Robinsons Place Manila just to eat here!

There are a wide array of food you can choose from, however if it's your first time, I suggest you order the dip and Kebab Platters so you can sample everything. Also ask help when preparing you tomatoe garlic dips, the crew are more than willing to blend the perfect dip for you. One time we even got lucky because the owner of the place took charge in preparing our condiments and dips. He even told us that in order to preserve the flavor of the tomato it shouldn't be crushed but sliced accordingly.

The food is pricier compared to the other Persian places I've mentioned in this entry however, they have big servings and you can share with friends. Perfect for people like me with big appetites!

Xiao Long Bao soupy dumpling!

2011-04-18T04:25:00.000-07:00

I was in greenhills the other day because I had an appointment in AIP, the Aesthetic Institute of the Philippines, but while wiating my friend and I decided to eat at Crystal Jade Restaurant which is famous for their Xiao Long Bao's or Soupy Dumplings!

Xiao Long Bao

I love it! At 158 php an order, it certainly was worth it! I've been a fan of Dimsum probably because I'm part chinese and I grew up eating a lot of them. But it was my first time to ever taste Xiao Long Bao. I've been hearing about it from a lot of friends and eventually got curious.

you have to eat it whole!

It's Soupy Dumpling because it has soup inside the dumpling! How did they ever do that? It's quite tedious and troublesome if you thin about it. But the secret lies in the gelatinous broth they mix with the filling. The gelatine like mixture melts with steam thus when you eat the dumpling, there's soup from within!

They have great desserts too we ordered mango sago and red bean souffle!

mango sago

red bean souffle

Invading Tagaytay!

2011-04-18T04:02:00.000-07:00

Summer's here! And I'm pretty sure beach-bums are psyched about going to the beach and all. But most days, I'm pretty sure people wish it's the Christmas season again. I envy Baguio because they have the sun, but not the heat. But I can't always go on 5 hour drives just to escape the heat. The next best thing would have to be Tagaytay.

My friend celebrated his birthday just recently and wee wanted to hang out and surprise him. It's not everyday that one turns 25 right? We decided to go to Tagaytay.

First stop was: Bag of Beans

We wanted to see the place, We've always had trips to Tagaytay but never had the chance to visit this wonderful place. It was packed with people but had that serene, almost romantic pull with it. They also served meals but we opted to have a taste of their hot chocolates and white chocolate mocha. The hot drinks, the ambience and the tagaytay chill seemed perfect. It's a great date place.

Hot Choco, Biscotti c/o Lot :)

White chocolate mocha

Second stop: Sonja's Garden!

My favorite place in all of Tagaytay! It's a bit farther than the other tourist spots in Tagaytay and will usually require you to bring a car but I assure you, the place is wonderful. They have a restaurant there and they also have offers with receptions. The thing that makes me come back here everytime though is their Cheese Hopia! The best there is! Sonja's Garden is full of plants and places where you and your friends can hang out and take pictures. I've been here a couple of times but I always look forward to going back here. The buffet price is a little bit pricey though, If your on a tight budget you can still enjoy the scenery and opt to eat somewhere else. But I really recommend that you take home their famous cheese hopia with you. A hundred bucks per pack, It's definitely worth it! I was almost heartbroken when we went here recently because all that was left was a single pack. At least I was able to purchase some. :)

Last bag of cheese hopia!

Happy Birthday Dan!

Last Stop: Cliff House!

We used to eat at Leslies everytime but I was not for Filipino Food this time. We were undecided and so we opted to go to Cliff House. Unlike the other restaurants, Cliff House is a collection of so many restaurants. There's also a hotel where you can opt to stay.

Like most restaurants, it is located in a place overlooking the taal lake and Volcano. It has a collection of restaurants and dessert houses. They have yohgurt, mochiko and other places where you can refuel your stomach. We decided to eat in Boun Jurno!

We wanted Italian, I wanted Italian actually haha as always. I ended up ordering pasta and my friend ordered Rissotto.

to die for, they have killer risotto dishes here

my Ravioli

grilled chicken asparagus for my diet conscious friend

I had the best time here, We opted to eat outside because of the chilly air, we managed to secure comfortable seats too! We lost track of time probably because that's how it is when your in good company!

Oh and before I forget, the best part opf eating here was their refillable bread baskets! haha! We ate like crazy there, and though the food's a bit pricey we really ate a lot of bread to make up for it. :)

Welcome to my favorite hidden restaurant: Bellissimo Restorante!

2011-04-14T03:55:00.000-07:00

It's funny how people avoid places with "history" meaning places you used to go to with people who aren't part of your life anymore. I remember having this conversation with a good friend who used to have the same dilemma. I love Italian food, my friends know that pasta makes me happy. I sometimes get this "ouch" because I remember things that are etched in my memory.

But you can't alter your memory, It makes you wish that the movie Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind was possible however the better of me wants to see those things as additional colors on my plain life.

So, I needed to write those things because this restaurant is very special for me. And I usually bring people that are really important to me here. It's like my hidden restaurant. Not many people know of it since it's a little bit hidden and easy to miss out. Plus, they serve the best pizza, calzone, bolognese and fried mozzarella!

No matter what memories the place brings back, I just can't stay away from eating here. Once in a while I bring friends with me to savor good Italian dishes. I figured in order to cloud unwanted memories from sesurfacing, I'd make new and fun memories with my friends here!

Welcome to Bellisimo! :) It's an Italian restaurant owned by Cesar Montano located in Tomas Morato area through a small street near E. Rodriguez Ave.

I love it here because the atmosphere is "unhurried", relaxed and very homey. With magazines on the rack, music on some nights and refillable bread baskets with marinara and pesto dips it's an ideal place for catching up, celebrations and long talks. The crew are so friendly, we wanted to find a place that was quiet and will let us mind our own business because my soon to be doctor bestfriend asked me to teach her how to insert IV's and how to do injections.

They tried to label this day as bloody, most of which are mine because I let my friend practice on me, but I definitely enjoyed my late lunch here and I'm just glad I've got new memories with me now.

Puto bungbong? But it's not christmas!?

2011-04-13T07:34:00.001-07:00

Who says you can't have puto bungbong today? I won't deny that part of the reason why I try my best to get up early during misa de Gallo's is my cravings for the so called christmas delicacy puto bungbong.

When I went to Baguio for the Panagbenga festival, the whole of session road was closed for the event, and one of my favorite Baguio restaurants Solibao, set up their tent and served Puto Bungbong! The lines were endless! Turns out people did wish that puto bungbong can be available all year round. I was delighted to know they used butter instead of margarine, "nyog" (coconut shavings) and moscavado sugar to top it all off!

That was the best putobungbong I've ever tasted in years. My cousins and friends were all new to it. I was surprised to know that most of them never even tasted it. Unbelievable, they almost missed out on one of the best Filipino delicacies. Their first try clearly did not disappoint them because we went there everyday just to buy our daily doses.

I also asked if Solibao will be serving Puto bungbong even after the holidays and they told me they have it on their daily menu any time of the year. Problem is I'm in manila. At least I have something to look forward to whenever I go there, and I know my favorite dessert will be waiting for me any time of the year.

Hands ain't dirty with Buffalo Wings at Sunrise Buckets!

2011-04-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

I've been spending a lot of time with my high school friends and by a lot, I mean every week! sometimes twice a week! Good change actually from our once in a blue moon meetings! Not that things change when we don't see each other, it never changes with them. They're like family, and I'm most comfortable with them. Due to the frequency of our meetings, my food hunt adventures have increased as well.

Here's food trip #1 Buffalo Wings at Sunrise Buckets!

Located at Madison Square, Green Hills San Juan, Sunrise Buckets specializes in their Buffalo Wings!

My friends and I decided to try their house specialty one bucket of Sunrise Buffalo Wings, Hickory flavored Buffalo Wings, Fries and their Sloppy Joe!

All in all we were very satisfied with the food. I particularly liked the hickory flavor, but their sunrise bucket and their sloppy Joe were also very delicious! A few hours after we left the place, my friends and I were already making plans on when we'll be coming back.

Sunrise Bucket!

Sloppy Joe

What I liked about eating here is their unconventional way of making their customers enjoy their Buffalo Wings without the mess hence the plastic gloves!

Battle Gear On!

food glove!

Peruse their Menu, they also have a wide array of local and Imported beers. Buffalo Wings go well with your tasty beers especially when your with fun company.

Happy Blokes :P

after the War!

We're definitely going back, and with more people too! :)

Scrubs that look and feel good!

2011-04-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

The hospital is a very hectic place, I recently attended a seminar for updates on minimally invasive Colorectal surgery and Robotic surgery. I've met a lot of fellow Operating Room Nurses and Stoma Nurses. Most of them related that they hardly have anytime to rest, handling 3-4 O.R. cases each day. For Most nurses, standing, running, transferring patients is part of their daily routine. They hardly ever have time to look at themselves much less eat during work. That's why they deserve to wear quality nursing scrubs.

It's really uncomfortable if you have to constantly pull on your scrub clothing, or fix the way the uniform clings to your body. You have enough problems to worry about at work and worrying about what you wear should not add up to your daily stressors.

What comprises a good nursing uniform? The two things you need to look for in a uniform are Style and Comfort. It is vital for nurses or any other medical employee to look good on uniform. This adds confidence and builds rapport with co-workers and patients. The patient will most likely trust their problems with you if they can see that you don't let the problems you encounter at work show in your appearance. No one will like an unkempt nurse to take care of them! The other thing is Comfort. You need a uniform that will not only look good on you but will literally make you feel good when you wear them. The worst thing at work would be to feel uncomfortable in what your wearing, you will have trouble concentrating on the tasks that have to be done.

Take control with what you wear, look for the perfect scrub suit that will make you look and feel good!

Who would've thought planning could be as much fun as the vacation itself? Plan the Perfect Vacation!

2011-03-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Everybody wants to bag that perfect vacation. After all the stress and demands at work, the pressure of deadlines, your bosses and the daily drags of the routines, you just can't help but look forward to that day where you can finally relax, lie in the sun, or spend quality time with your friends and family. We all need little rewards from all the hard work we've accomplished and what better way to reward ourselves than the perfect vacation!

I think that there are essentials that you have to consider in order to really enjoy that vacation. Be with the people you have the fun with! If you're going to popular tourist destinations better tag a long people who can walk miles without complaining. Make sure to bag great deals on hotels! Booking hotels and finding reservations is as easy as a click away from your home. There are even fun and exciting promos where you can bid for your dream hotel rooms for incredible rates. The Beauty of planning ahead or bidding early in hotel auctions is that you can plan way way ahead of time and be able to look forward to that much awaited date! You can even plan as early as 8 months. What's best about these hotel deals is that you'll be able to stay in famous luxury hotels around the globe at incredibly low rates.

Another essential would be booking flights, remember that airfares come in cheap the earlier you book them! Watch out for great deals and discounted airfare packages!

Go ahead and plan that perfect getaway! The search and the biddings are as much fun itself as the actual vacation!

Chinese Food Adventure at your local malls!

2011-03-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Me and my friends are so fond of eating! That's about all we ever do when we go out! I think we've gone past the stage where going out means we go to party. We don't anymore and going out means eating the day away!

I don't mind the change, at 25 I've avoided drinking alcohol altogether. I used to go out and have drinks with friends after work but I hate the taste of beer, I only tolerate it i it's ice cold or when I gulp it with food. What I've been doing lately is hunting good places with good chow. Good food and a good conversation works fine with me and most of my friends.

We usually either eat Italian, or eat Chinese. So I'm going to talk about Chinese food this time.

Everytime I eat at my favorite Chinese restaurants, I feel like I've eaten too much. And then a few hours later, I feel hungry again! I downed some noodles, rice and a lot of greasy food I'm sure of it but why does my tummy want more?

I used to think Chinese food had some appetite stimulating ingredients with it. That was why we always made sure we took out what's left of what we ordered. We end up ordering too much and eating too much and a few hours after the hunger games begin. Some say the explanation for this is that Chinese Foods has a high Glycemic Index. It means that they are loaded with carbohydrates! Not a surprise right there, we're talking about fried rice, noodles, dumplings and the tasty deserts.The Body tries to cope up with the increase in carbohydrate consumption we had by eating Chinese food and produces more insulin to process the sugar. However after an hour or so of digestion, the carbohydrate load is depleted while the insulin in the blood does not immediately, thus the feeling of hunger. In other words you're not really hungry, you just usd too much insulin and it's still there on your system. That solves the mystery of why we feel hungry hours after a big Chinese food meal.

There are a lot of Chinese restaurants here in the Philippines, go to China Town and there's a fiesta of Chinese food there! But for mall goers you can also fill that Chinese food craving without having to go out of your way to go to China Town. My friends and I usually eat at North Park in Trinoma Mall Quezon City or at Mr. Choi's at Robinsons Manila. Both restaurants offer great Chinese Food. You can never go wrong with these two! At North Park, we usually order crispy noodle dish good for 4 servings, hot pot and lemon chicken. The last time I ate there we decided to try the jelly fish salad with the Crispy Noodle!

Crispy Noodles (not so crispy here because we asked it to be
drowned in sauce)

The Jelly Fish Salad!

I was so scared to try out this jelly fish salad, It looked weird, raw and I had this thing about jelly fish, brainless, alien like animals. haha! But it was delicious. I was glad to overcome my fear of them. At least this one's edible and not poisonous!

For Mr. Choi's kitchen, I always saw to it that I ordered that sinful Baked Seafood rice in Cheese sauce! Good for 2-3 people which I can down alone... i think. Provided I starve myself for the whole day! haha It's basically Fried Rice topped with sea food (fish fillet, clams, shrimp, abalons) and then they make the fishies swim in Heavy cheese/cream sauce and then the whole thing is baked or torched.

Baked Sea Food Rice in Cheese Sauce!

Hot Prawn Salad! (Heavy)

my partners in crime!

Taho! :D

Overall, our Chinese food cravings are usually met by these two restaurants. They usually serve food for sharing so you better wear pants with a little bit of allowance just in case!

on goodbyes.

2011-03-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

I finally understood what true love meant. Love meant that you care for another person’s happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.
- Dear John, Nicholas Sparks

For a brief time in my life all that made sense was how I felt about someone. I thought about risking everything just to keep that feeling, but I realized that when you love someone, you'll know when it's best to let go and say goodbye. Not because you're hurt or you're feelings are not returned but because it will spare them from loosing the people they cherish...

What's not to love about Strawberries?

2011-03-13T01:04:00.000-08:00

One of the best parts of my yearly Baguio Trips are strawberries. They are everywhere! Strawberry Jams, Strawberry Ice Cream, Strawberry Taho, Strawberry shake and strawberry inspired floats!

strawberry inspired flower float!

strawberry shopping!

our friend Dave and the best

strawberry milkshake in the Philippines!

fruits in dirty ice cream anyone?

When you think of Baguio, you think of the cold, vegetables and strawberries! They're pretty hard to cultivate, there have been news of frosts last December to January, damaging a lot of the harvests. My friends and I were relieved when we decided to go to La Trinidad where the strawberry farms are and found out that the strawberries were alright! My friend Ria and Dave were so fond of strawberries that they couldn't stop themselves from sampling the fruit straight out of our just purchased packages. To top it all off, after we went to the farms, we headed straight to Good Shepherd to purchase Jars of Strawberry Jams and sampled Baguio's strawberry Taho on our way out!

Here are pictures of Strawberries that Katy Perry might love. kidding, like her I'm a big strawberry fan!

Baguio Inns

2011-03-13T00:46:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed every bit of my Baguio trip this year. And unlike the past years where in most of the time I travel alone, I traveled with friends. A few weeks before our actual departure, we decided to book a place where we could stay. I was looking for affordable transient houses because they said that it's relatively cheaper compared to a hotel or an inn but I found out that the prices are almost the same compared to Baguio's local inns. A transient home will offer 400 pesos worth of stay per night but you have to share the bathroom with other guests. I decided to book a room for 3 people in La Brea Inn along Session road instead because it's already at the center of the city. The transients available were already on the outskirts and we had to take a cab just to get to common places of destinations.The good bit of the deal was we need not bring with us freshly laundered sheets and towels. We had the bathroom to ourselves too. The room caused us 1,300 per night and it contained one queen size bed and a single bed for a total of three people.

satisfied looks!

this is what the room looks like

After I booked the room via text message, La Brea Inn told us we had to pay a down payment for our booked accommodations. We headed out to PS bank and payed in advance for one night. You have to keep the stab as proof that you paid. The staff of the Inn were all very courteous and helpful. The room given to us was very tidy and clean but my friend brought Lysol with her to make sure. It was hassle free, we were contented with the place and paid in full in advance. It was very convenient for us because you just have to go down and voila, your in session. Late night dinners, coffee breaks and siestas were no problem since the place was a walk away from the stores we were frequenting.

6th floor view on our backs

that;s the 6th floor common area at the back

The room was kept tidy by their crew, the towels were changed each day and the bathroom cleaned. There's a heater too so you don;t have to worry about bathing in ice cold water. The only part I didn't like abt the place was you can hear a little bit of the noise on the road. You can;t help it though because it's their fiesta season. Just be careful too because we were walking around session road when some guy got my friends camera. Good thing he felt his pockets lighten up and there were policemen stationed near our place that the pickpocket decided to return the camera to avoid the fuss. We were rattled though, but nothing a hot cup of cocoa could not fix.

All in all it was a pleasant experience, and relatively cheap but comfortable too.

Trendy and comfortable scrubs at work!

2011-01-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

Nursing is a tough job, but my workmates always told me, you have to carry yourself in such a way that no one would think you’ve been through an entire shift when they see you. It was always a compliment when people think you’ve only started the shift when you’re already on your way home. You can’t really wear anything at work except for your trusty nursing scrubs, a good pair of shoes and a lot of pockets for your paraphernalia. It doesn’t mean though that you have to look worn out and unfashionable at work!

You have to learn how to strut your stuff and wear your uniform with style! The nursing scrubs you wear has a big impact not only with your appearance but with your efficiency at work. We all work better with quality, functional uniforms. You don’t want to mind your uniform while you’re busy nursing people to health don’t you? Most nurses are too busy to take a look at the mirror the entire shift, but a good pair of nursing scrubs can put you at ease and keep you confident without having to constantly check yourself out in the mirror.

Who says you can’t look good in scrub clothing? I’m so glad we can finally say goodbye to those uncomfortable and unflattering uniforms. Choosing the right kind of scrubs can flatter your curves, make you seem slimmer and pleasant looking at work. Notice how your friends, co workers and patients notice the change in the way you carry yourself at work with comfortable and flattering scrubs!

Tempura Japanese Restaurant! I love Uncle Sam's Sushi!

2010-08-04T09:05:00.001-07:00

It was either Chinese or Japanese food because I was a little indulgent on pasta this past few days. Japanese won, I wanted sushi over hot pot! We tried to find a decent Japanese place and saw first Kimpura. Though I know they had tasty food there, I didn't like the name of the place :P So we went on another mall level and found Tempura!

The servers were very friendly, they were very accomodating and happy to assist always with a smiling face! I always take my time in ordering and often times I get rushed to order that I end up regretting what I ordered. Things are different this time, I really perused the menu and imagined how I would feel about what I'm going to order.

Uncle Sam's Sushi

I wanted sushi so I ordered Uncles Sam's sushi, my friend on the other hand ordered Curry Ramen. We also ordered Gyoza just in case! The sushi was heaven! It was a sinful dish though, with all the delicious japanese mayo with bacon, cream cheese and other stuffings. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every bite! Oh I forgot I didn't bite, I kind off ate each sushi in one go! :)

Seafood Curry Ramen

The seafood curry ramen tasted very good! We wanted to add a little spring onion to this image unfortunately the restaurant ran out. However, the curry was just right, I could still enjoy the seafood that came with it because the curry did not overpower the dish!

Gyoza

Gyoza tasted okay, meaty with bits of vegetable! It goes well with japanese mayo... although it had a different sauce :)

I was full after these meal, who wouldn't be? my Tempura experience was great and I intend to come back next time I rave something japanese!

Frostings! Yummy Cupcakes!

2010-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

I met up with my best bud today and after the Inception movie date, I felt woozy. The movie was so good it managed to keep my neurons working overtime so I needed fueling. When I saw Frostings' cupcakes I felt a certain pull.

I love mallows... I remember toasting mallows when I was a kid, I even tried toasting mallows from a candle, from a gas stove just to mimick the first toasted mallows that made me fall in love with them. The candle toasted mallows tasted like wax, and the gas stove mallows tasted like gas. So when I had my first cupcake from Frostings... finally I found my mallow heaven!

They have a wide assortment of cupcakes with mallow frostings! Aside from the frostings, the cupcakes have lots of fillings! The best cupcake I've tasted so far! I tried the Brazo de mercedes cupcake, and I thought tht the usual brazo cake filling was only confined in the top along with the mallow fristing, but when I started devouring my cupcake lo and behold, there's more barzo filling at the center! I was very very happy! :)

They also have other cupcakes that has other frostings aside from mallows. I've decided to try everything one at a time :) I just want to space up the frequency so as not to gain so much weight! There's a branch in the Trinoma Mall in Q.C. if you guys want to try this delightful creations!

Aveneto: Delizioso!

2010-07-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

I love cheese, and I love pasta! My perfect day will only be complete if I'm given a chance to indulge in Italian food! Heck I don't even mind growing old in Rome for the love of pasta and cheese!

I remember this restaurant that screams WE HAVE PASTA, COME HITHER! in Visayas Avenue otherwise called Aveneto Pizzeria Ristorante! I've tried so many Italian delis in town, Napoli's, Sbarro, The Old Spaghetti House, Bellisimo, Cibo, Bigoli... some of the popular and affordable Italian food joints in Manila. And finally, I get to try pasta and pizza in Aveneto!

The food is enjoyable and in big servings ideal for sharing. The place is much like The Old Spaghetti house, brick walls, dim lights, and a homey atmosphere!

Here's what I ordered:

Chicken in Nutty Pesto

Vegetarian pizza slice & Seafood pizza slice

looks yummy??? tastes even better! I didn't touch the vegetarian pizza though, I'm allergic! kidding! Ideal for those who are watching their weight or trying to convince themselves that they are eating "healthy" pizza!

I particularly liked their nutty pesto, the taste was not too overpowering, it was flavorful, and far from dry. I've ordered pesto in almost all the delis I chanced upon and Aveneto's pesto is certainly Delizioso!

MR. UBE in the house! :D

2010-07-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

Intrigued by the conversation I had with someone about a certain hopia, I went to visit Mr. Ube in Erodriguez Avenue near St. Lukes Hopsital.

More commonly known as Eng Bee Tin, the Mr. Ube shop has really evolved. My dad used to buy me Ube hopia all the time because he knew how partial I was with Ube flavored sweets! Through the years, I've sampled different flavored Hopias.

Langka, Cheese, Ube and Mongo to name a few, but I've never tasted the Hopia Mochaccino that my friend was telling me about. I've never really visited the Binondo branch of Eng Bee Tin, their Hopia always made its way to me through my dad. So when a Mr. Ube shop opened up and I saw that they were selling Eng Bee Tin hopias I payed them a visit.

Surprisingly, it was not only about Hopias there, there were all kinds of chinese sweets, Hopias, Tikoys of different flavours, Red Rice crispys (the ones we offer in the altar for chinese offerings), Rice cakes (tastes like puto for Filipinos) and dehydrated meat strips!

Aside from those products, they also offer hot meals. Much like other Chinese restaurants they have dimsum, noodles, poridge and rice toppings. I tried their noodles and Maki mi, and they tasted great. The good part about this place is also their servings. One order seems to be good for 2 people. I have never been able to finish one whole order since I knew the place. I'm so glad they opened a branch here in Quezon City!

Oh and I have to critic the Hopia Mochaccino my friend recommended. It tasted much like the Filipino Sweet Piya-ya, the hint of coffee, mongo and sugar blended extremely well! Ube has always been my favorite but this mochaccino stuff is certainly on the running to become one of my frequent purchases!

Until my next food adventure!

I Love Crab salad!

2010-07-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Although I don't think I will qualify as wife-material with my cooking skills just yet, I think I'd make a decent salad maker, enough to make my friends and family happy and full!

It's not much to look at, I know I need to work on presentation but I swear, it tastes great! Even my brother who's taking up HRM and critics way too much when it comes to food liked it.

It's simple to make, other than the usual ingredients that a fruit salad usually has like:

all purpose cream
evaporated milk
fruit cocktail
buko/coconut meat

I added whole seedless grapes, cheese cubes and crab meat strips. I think it's not real crab but crab flavored strips, the ones you always see in sushis/Japanese dishes. What's tasty about it is the sweet, salty taste. The cheese and crab meat balances out the sweetness and the heaviness of the fruits and cream.

Oh and another tip, I suggest you allow the salad to stay in the freezer until the crab strips become crispy in consistency. It adds that extra sensation to the salad. mix some of the strips with the fruit and save some for the topping! I hope you enjoy this one :) Bon appétit!

I'm planning on taking up French classes soon, I hope they talk about French cuisine there too! :D

cream puffs, ice drops and popcorn heaven!

2010-07-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's the hormones, or maybe I just needed a walk (preferably somewhere cold) so I ended up strolling in the mall. I wanted to watch a movie alone but ended up not watching because if I watched, I will certainly break a couple of traffic rules.

So instead of watching, I went movie food hunting!

my movie food number 1: Cream puffs!

ain't they pretty?

What are cream puffs again? It's been so long since I had some that I momentarily tried to figure out what it tasted like. I came across this food joint in the middle of one of the halls of the mall.. (forgive the tongue twister). It's called Chewy Junior. I honestly don't get why the store is

named that way, but I'm more into the food. :)

I remember eating cream puffs when I was in grade 4. A very good friend of mine had them for snack time! They're filled with vanilla cream, and you can choose from a selection of different toppings: they have raspberry, blueberry, white chocolate almonds, chocolate almonds, cookies and cream, cream cheese and I didn't memorize everything. :)

I chose the one with the cream cheese topping, I wanted sweet and salty and a little bit sour, plus I love cheese! a little bit pricey, but yummy. You can get a hold of these yumminess at the third floor of the Trinoma Mall.

Movie Food number 2: Ice drop @ Stick House

I know, it's not exactly a movie food, but it looks and tastes so good I don't mind munching on them while waiting in the line for tickets!

They come in all sorts of flavors: fruity, dairy, caffeine streaked and mixed flavors plus all the nutty toppings you want!

They're not your ordinary ice drops, they're very creamy and when they say chocolate, it's as if your eating chocolate bars except they melt easier and they're cold to taste!

I already sampled their chocolate and pistachio drops and I intend to sample the other flavors soon. Maybe not too soon because my body won't forgive me. They're ice drops made in heaven. They're everywhere in Trinoma, the top level, and the ground level, I'm sure you won't miss them!

Movie food number 3: the good 'ol popcorn @ TATERS :)

I love popcorn, they're comforting and airy. I don't know if I'm whacked up but since they're fluffy and airy, they help me breath better in times of suspense, scary or drama inside the movie house or when I need comfort food.

What I like about they're pop corn is that they don't have unexploded pops... the stone kernels you suddenly bite on!? They're teeth friendly!

They have all sorts of flavors too, check this out:

They're so colorful! And they're delicious and comforting. I love white cheddar in fact, I bought I zip-lock of white cheddar cheese pop corn enough to last me a whole days meal. Their sour cream flavor is pretty tasty too! they're on the top level, near the cinemas :)

January 18, 2010

2010-01-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

I wish I could blog about love again but I can't, so I choose to blog about food instead.

There's a long line at Red Mango!

2010-01-16T02:24:00.000-08:00

I am a frequent shopper at the Trinoma Mall in Q.C. and my curiosity reached full blast because every time I pass by the Red Mango area people seem to be lining up all the time. It's like Edsa on Trinoma Mall: Traffic Congestion!

I tend to shy away from crowded places because I'm not that comfortable brushing elbows with people but one of my friends bugged me everyday to accompany her and sample the Red Mango Yoghurt. I was already content with Fro-Yo my favourite Yoghurt place because I always manage to secure seats for myself and my friends.

I finally gave in after almost a week of persuasion from this friend of mine and luckily, it was a weekday, there were available seats for us at that yoghurt joint. I sampled what Fro-yo didn't have: The Green Tea Yoghurt soft serve plus their regular one.

It was delightful. I am a Yoghurt Frost fan but Red Mango will definitely steal customers away from them! The soft serve was just right, less sweet but tasty. There are also a lot of topping to choose from. You can go healthy on the toppings or sinful with sweets! relatively cheaper but more softserves, now I know why people constantly line up to sample their yoghurt treats!

I finished my dish in a few minutes even if I was already full from eating a bucketful of chicken joy from Jollibee with my friends. Here's the proof, no wonder I'm gaining weight again! haha

Join the Cue at Red Mango's, I know I will!

My Personal Cake Heaven: Conti's!

2010-01-16T01:53:00.001-08:00

It's been zillions of light years since my last food entry and I'm happy to be back! Thanks to my new camera I can post pictures to support my foody experience with all of you!

Let's start with Conti's!

Conti's is a cake shop/restaurant which just recently opened a few years back. I remember sampling their famous Mango Bravo when a former boyfriend brought some for me. You can't miss "The" Mango Bravo because it's such a tall cake compared to the other cakes. It's a favourite among the buyers but I recently discovered the "perfect" cake hiding in the background, often unnoticed and labelled as just another chocolate cake.

My favorite among all of my favorites: The Turtle Pie!

I can feel my stomach juices acting up at the thought of this cake. The other cakes are forgettable but not this one! I would gladly give up of the huge wedding cake concept if ever I get married and replace it with a dozen of Conti's Turtle Pie!

Turtle pie: Right most Apple Pie:Top Oreo Cheesecake: Bottom

Dying to sample their to die for cakes? I have visited their branch in Serendra at the Fort and Trinoma in Quezon City Philippines. Aside from cakes they also have meals to fill you up.

The best of Baguio jams in Good Shepherd

2009-10-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

ust thinking about this place makes me drool. I will label Good Shepherd as the Jam Heaven in all of Baguio City. Nobody makes Ube jam the way they do! They offer a variety of fruit jams and local delicacies all made with the help of the sisters and the scholars they are supporting.

My personal favorite and food fetish is their Ube Jam and Alfajor. A day spent with these two feels like I'm in food heaven. I can finish one jar in a day if no one's available to stop me! Their products consist of jams (strawberry, mango, orange marmalades, ube), peanut butter, pickled products, local sweet delicacies such as peanut brittle, nuts, alfajor, snowballs only to name a few.

Aside from this, they also offer great tasting pastries like Torta del Rey, ensaimadas, muffins best served with a hot cup of coffee and a breath taking view of Baguio. Huts, picnic grounds and beautiful gardens make this place seem almost magical.

Families, friends, lovers and food enthusiasts will surely find this place irresistible and will find themselves coming back with each Baguio trip.

What's good about Good Shepherd and their products is the mission they hold that with each product we buy, we help send someone to college. With this thought in mind, purchasing their delicious products sports a whole new meaning even for people who just can't get enough of their tasty treats.

Just recently I bought 5 jars of Ube jam, strawberry jams and of course Alfajor! I just recently found out that they have products with no added sugar, ideal for people who are on a strict diet!

KKK: Kainan sa Kalye Kanluran

2009-10-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

I was craving for Filipino food when I remembered eating a Neo-Bistek rendition of our classic Pinoy dish. My now favorite dish Bistek flakes on the verge of being reduced to nothing by none other than me!

Beef "strands" deep fried and served with bistek sauce. I got to try this dish in KKK their branch in the Mall of Asia and I never forgot about it. They also have branches in West Avenue.

Other must tries are their Crispy Dilis and Papaya salad and Kare Kare. Most servings are usually good for 2-3 people. Reasonably priced, and offers a whole new rendition of our famous Filipino dishes.

I'd probably come back and try their laing, sisig and sample their desserts too.

Lets swim in Baguio

2009-09-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

When I decided to go to Baguio City for a vacation, I never thought I’d need my swimsuit. Tagged as the “summer capital” of the Philippines, Baguio has always been associated with cold weather with temperatures ranging from 16 to 22 degrees Celsius. I am currently staying with my cousin and his family here when they suddenly planned to go for a swim! Of all places why Baguio? As if the weather’s not cold enough that you have to get yourself wet and shiver.

Curious, I asked if we were going down to a resort somewhere in Pangasinan, but to my amazement they told me that the place was just a good 30 to 45 minutes away from Baguio City. They said that there were resorts here in Baguio located in Asin Road. We made our way to Naguilian road in Benguet on the way to Asin road. There we found many resorts and I realized that it is in fact possible to go for a swim in Baguio. The resorts were located in between mountains much like in a valley and the temperature was ideal for swimming with the whole family.

We chose Riverside mountain resort as our destination. There were so many people there because Ramadan has just ended. The scenery was great, mountains surrounded the resort and you could see rivers around. Although the place still had much to improve in terms of their facilities, it never stopped us from having fun. The whole family can enjoy slides, Bar-B-Qs and pools of different sizes and depth. The Family could enjoy taking pictures with magnificent views of the mountains at the back.

Truly as secret hide away here in Baguio City, the next time I come visit here again, I’ll make sure I’ll bring my swimming gears with me.

FRO-YO go healthy on yogurt soft serve!

2009-09-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

The first time I tried yogurt was way back last year of December and I'm only blogging about it now because I'm craving for some of it now! Back in manila, I used to have regular trips on my favorite yogurt parlor in Tomas Morato, Yoh-gurt Froz!

It's the best alternative for ice cream fanatics minus the guilt of adding extra calories! you can always go for the classic type, yogurt served alone or with a selection of delectable toppings ranging from fruits to chocolates to cheese cakes. but if your on a strict diet you might want to go easy on the toppings and choose the fruit toppings instead.my personal favorite is kiwi, peaches and almond slices!
and when I'm feeling blue, I usually go for double cheesecake and kiwi!

There's a FRO-YO branch in Tomas Morato Quezon City, Trinoma Mall inside hobes and lands and Robinsons Manila.

Veniz Grill

2009-09-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

I'm staying here in Baguio City for a month and I'm really loving it here! I went to SM the other day to stock up on groceries but I went all curious about the city instead. Since it was a little early to come home, I figured I'd stroll around the places near the mall and come back for the groceries later. I tagged my cousin along and the search for the amazing food stop starts.

We were actually trying to reach the market here in Baguio so we could find some fresh fruits. Being the most unreliable girl who can't retain directions for more than a minute, i asked several times how to get there, and they just told us to get to the Hotel Veniz because the market place was already near from there.

From SM, the hotel seemed near enough for us to walk to, but after a long walk and counter flowing a lot of people who may probably be on their way to SM. I could feel hunger getting to me but I couldn't settle for the restaurants in SM as almost all of them could be found in Manila.

we just decided to ask the hotel personel who were repairing the doors of the hotel where we could eat cheap but delicious food. I was already hesitant to enter the hotel when they said they had a grill on the third floor of the building because hotel food is usually very expensive based on experience.

So I just kept my fingers crossed and decided to go up to check out Veniz Grill.

I ordered Tomato Basil and Cheese Sandwich with potato bites! cost? 84PHP! relatively cheap for something so yummy! I also ordered Chocolate milkshake which to my surprise was sporting a huge serving. I even had trouble finishing everything. the milkshake's cost? 59PHP!

The sandwich tasted like it was gourmet and not like any other sandwich I have tasted in Manila, even in hotels! The pesto sauce together with melted creamy cheese and freshly sliced tomatoes tasted great together! And that's coming from someone who's not fond of veggies!

they even have miniature cakes and eat all you can offers: pasta, monggolian bowl and a salad bar! I'm thinking of sampling those the next time I go there!

The long walk and getting lost was all worth it!
Hotel Venize can be found near Maharlika, a short walk from session road on the third floor of Hotel Veniz.