Da Vinci Wishes You a Happy Trip!

Saturdate with M. 

Only this time, this was a date before he left for his 1-week training in Manila. This was our first time not being physically together for a whole week. So, to serve as our 'goodbye' date, we went to Da Vinci's Pizza even through the pouring rain. I also had to come late for a family dinner so M and I could at least spend some quality time. 

Tonight, we decided on a 9" Meat Lover's Pizza : full of mozzarella cheese, ham, bacon, and beef, in a crispy crust. And for our drinks, we each had a can of Four Season's juice. 

Da Vinci's was a perf place for our little date, because it was cozy, warm, and they have really good pizza at an affordable price. 

I'm gonna miss you for one whole week, M! ;)

Na Na Na . . . TUNA!

A new craze is in town.

The combination of corned beef and tuna in a can : Corned Tuna!

And one of the first brands that has a yummy Corned Tuna is San Marino. The timing was perfect today. I was swamped with work, too lazy to go down for dinner, and M had cans of corned tuna kept in his drawer. HAHA. 

I picked out the Chili Corned Tuna and ate it by itself for dinner. It's good, healthy, and spicy! ;)

Smokin' and Sizzlin' Sisig!

Sunday lunch, and the fam discovered this amazing food stall at the Food Court. 

Among the food stalls at the SM Consolacion Food Court, the longest line of people were in Smokin' Toppings. So, we followed the 'trend' and saw why it had the longest line. 

There was a variety of incredibly delish, sizzling hot, and very affordable meals in there. 

As my first meal here, I chose their Sizzling Sisig. It was a hefty serving of original Filipino sisig, a cup of yummy white rice, and a side of pancit, all in a sizzling plate - and all for just 79php. 

Really goooood. 

Cheesy Moments.

We're as cheesy as this bucket of Jumbo Fries. ;)

Today, M was out of the office for some field work at our other branch. He was to come back around 2pm to continue regular work here. And, it so happened that M was at a nearby mall, and that mall also happened to have a Potato Corner store. 

As a kid, I used to pass by and sniff the yummy smell of freshly cooked french fries at a small Potato Corner stall at the old SM Cebu. That time, Potato Corner was a bit too pricey for me. I mean, being a kid also meant having a smaller amount of money to spare. And I was too shy to ask my mother to buy me a pack, since it was too expensive. HAHA. 

I haven't had this for a long time, and I was jokingly telling M that he had to buy me some Potato Corner fries when he got back from the office. 

And when I got his "I'm here. Come meet me at the old conference room.", I was curious. But, lo and behold, he was standing there with a sealed plastic. Since we were at office premises, we were only allowed minimal interaction, so, he held out the bag and went his way to the office. I had to wait a few minutes to walk in next. When I opened the plastic bag, there it was. 

My favorite cheese-flavored Potato Corner french fries in a jumbo bucket. 

Thanks M. Made my day. :)

ChocNut For Me!

The second time for my ChocNut adventures. 

Although in another differently-designed package, the new ChocNut is still bigger, sweeter, and better. 

This time, this was a 24-piece pack of ChocNut plastic bag, brought home by my mother for all the kids at heart at home. And that means all four of us at home. HAHA

The love for ChocNut runs in the blood and in our sugar levels. ;)

Another Bo Froccino : The Cafe Coffee Chronicles Part 10

The cold evening air did not stop us. 

M and I were seated at a corner table at Insular Square's Bo's Coffee. We were having their infamous froccinos while chillaxing from the office. 

Tonight, I ordered their Chocolate Chip Froccino. It was a blend of coffee, little bits of chocolate chips, and their yummy whipped cream. 

I have to admit though, that Bo's whipped cream is not as spectacular as Starbuck's whipped cream, but it definitely comes close! HAHA. 

It was a good and relaxing night, indeed. :)

Steaks are High Tonight!

Sundate with M. 

After a nice afternoon together, we got hungry and stopped by Insular Square mall for some dinner. And a steak dish was the best ending for the day. 

Jonie's House Steak : tender grilled beef, with yummy gravy, rice, and a side of steamed vegetables in a sizzling plate. The beef was seasoned well, and grilled just right. 

It's a classic. It's affordable. It's delicious. 

A Cookie and A Cream.

Cookies and cream. One of the awesomest flavors ever invented by mankind.

So, one Sunday, I was at SM Cebu for my monthly waxing. I arrived a bit too early for my appointment so I sneaked out of the salon for a while to grab a quick lunch. 

I spotted that little milkshake stall at the middle of the entire second floor that I had been just dying to try - Koldkiss Milkshake. I hurried over and scanned their menu. 

Tada! On their bestseller list was their Cookies and Cream Milkshake.

And here's why : Two huge scoops of pure, unadultered Cookies and Cream ice cream was blended, topped with a dollop of whipped cream, and crushed Oreos. 

The pure goodness of Cookies and Cream. @_@

Healthy Simplicity.

Eating healthy doesn't always mean going the extra length of some diet meal program, and buying expensive and organic ingredients. 

Sometimes, the simplest of ingredients are also the healthiest. 

Take my pre-dinner healthy snack. Earlier today, M had brought a ripe avocado for me. He knew I was extending work hours tonight and he told me to eat the avocado so I wouldn't go brain-dead from hunger. Lol. 

Since M wasn't there to cut up and prepare the avocado (like he always does) tonight, he instead left me with his swiss knife, mug, and hybrid spoon-fork thingy. HAHA. 

And I must say that I am super proud of being able to make this from scratch! Cut up the avocado, mixed it with plain white sugar, and mashed it. 

Perf healthy snack. :)

Oh Boy, Batchoy!

Cold July nights.

After office, M and I were hungry and cold, so we decided to drop by a Carlo's Batchoy branch at Consolacion. 

Carlo's Batchoy has been known city-wide for their quaint and cozy shops, affordable meals, and especially their delish batchoy. 

Batchoy is a local Filipino dish, where the soup is made from beef stock and toasted garlic. When the soup is steaming hot, fresh noodles are then added, and finally topped with chicharon (pork rinds), pork liver, cabbage strips, and sometimes chicken bits. 

And it's even better when an egg is cracked into the hot hot soup, and there you allow the egg to cook. That's what I did with my Batchoy with egg.

Warm tummy. Warm moments. :)

Vanilla + Chocolate : My Milk Tea Chronicles Part 1

Lately, I've been hearing such good reviews for milk teas. 

One after the other, milk tea cafes and milk tea shops have opened in literally every place where there are people. HAHA. 

And with all the craze, I just had to at least try one milk tea to see what it was all about. And here begins my milk tea chronicles!

Here at Cobo, although they offer finger foods, value meals, and fraps, they specialize on milk teas. And if you know me by heart, you would have already guessed the firstest milk tea I bought. HAHA. 

If you said chocolate, then you got that right! Well, in this case, I got Cobo's Choco Vanilla Milk Tea. And it certainly did not disappoint! :)

The blend of chocolate, vanilla, and tea was awesome. 

Breakfast & Fluff!

What's fluffy, sweet, and a good breakfast pastry?

Mamon! 

Mamon is a fluffy and light bread, with caramelized or melted sugar and sometimes cheese on top. And one of the best mamon's I have tasted is Red Ribbon's Mamon. 

Very good, very light and fluffy, and very affordable, for only 25php a piece. 

I was tempted to have breakfast when I saw that we have a pack of these yummy mamon at home. HAHA. 

Triple Treat!

Some say its a triple threat, but I say that is is a triple TREAT. 

Selecta's new 3 in 1 flavors in Super Thick is the best ice cream tub for a banana split. Creamy and thick (yes, it's true) Strawberry, Chocolate, and Vanilla ice cream all in one tub. 

What I do is get a scoop for each flavor and mix it until all the flavors are blended together. HAHA. Some people may think that's gross or weird, but that's how I want it. Lol. 

Aaaand its even better when you put ripe bananas or ripe mangoes!

I seriously am gonna get fatter with this. HAHA. 

Jappy Veggies!

Veggie time!

Here we are once more at Rai Rai Ken. We wanted to take a break from eating red meat, so the fam ordered a plate of Yasai Itame. 

Yasai Itame is a mix of sauteed alfalfa sprouts, cabbage, carrots, and sweet pork. What I love about this is that even after the saute, the veggies still remained crispy and fresh. Nothing is worse than having soggy and/or dry vegetables for dinner. 

So, if you're looking for a good veggie plate, (which you can also trick your kids into eating HAHA), come grab a plate of Yasai Itame at Rai Rai Ken. 

Everyday, Okay!

"Yakult Everyday, Everyday Okay!"

I can't help but remember this tag line whenever I see or drink Yakult. 

Lemme tell you a secret, I'm lactose intolerant. Meaning, too much milk or dairy products will get my stomach really really upset. To the point where I would just curl up in a ball and later on, be rushed into the hospital. 

The only milk I drink these days has been Yakult. Rich in live lacto basilus to help with digestion. And today is no different. M had brought me one cold bottle of Yakult and I drank before attacking the Overtime Report at the office. 

Good drink. ;)

Time for Breakfast at Night!

"It feels like the perfect night, for breakfast at midnight."

This line on TSwift's new single, 22, has been playing over and over again in my playlist and in my mind for the last week. Lol. 

Tonight, M and I had a short date night over at Pancake House. While he chose to have the pancakes, I wanted to go more Western with a classic French Toast. Two slices of fluffy and sweet French toast garnished with confectioner's sugar with a side of whipped cream and maple syrup. 

A tad bit too sweet for me, but still a good breakfast at night dish. 

It's that Pink Drink.

Pink drinks are usually associated with alcoholic drinks. 

Buuuut, this here is an exemption. Sun Tropics' Guava juice may be one of the few pink drinks that is healthy and good for the body. With my new anti-softdrinks revolution, I love how the fam is utilizing fruit and natural drinks instead. 

Who cares if its pink right? As long as it's good and keeps the body fit. :)

So, What's the Flan?

Another childhood favorite. 

I grew up eating and loving Leche Flan as a dessert, snack, and even sometimes a meal. HAHA. A good leche flan would always make me feel better. 

And tonight, I thank my mother for bringing home a box of Goldilocks' infamous Leche Flan. Out of all the flans that I have tasted in my entire 20 years (yes, I am only 20 years old lol), Goldilocks definitely makes one of the best flans. Ever. 

Super creamy, not overwhelmingly sweet, and perfectly melts in your mouth. 

Love. :)

PS: What remains of the said flan in less than an hour. Lol.

Rise for Rice!

As a true and natural-born Filipino, the love for rice runs in the blood. 

And I must say, one of the best rice dishes I've had is this one right here. Rai Rai Ken's Yakimeshi. Sticky japanese rice, mixed with sauteed sweet pork, egg, and crispy veggies. 

The reason for my love of Japanese rice comes from the fact that their rice is stickier than Filipino rice, and gives you a fuller stomach even with just less than a cup of rice. 

I love the texture that the rice, pork, and veggies when eaten together. Aaaand, it gives you just the right amount of flavor - sweet, tasty, salty. 

One plate of Yakimeshi is enough for your tummy. ;)

Ohayo Sizzling Plate!

My love for beef does not stop with grilling 'em. 

This is my first time trying out beef yakiniku in a sizzling plate at Rai Rai Ken. I used to always have their sauteed version. But today, the fam decided to try out the Sizzling Beef Yakiniku. 

Tender strips of beef, with tasty tasty Japanese-style sauce, with a side of crispy sauteed alfalfa sprouts, and finally finished in a sizzling hot plate. 

Have I told you that everything on a sizzling plate looks more exciting? HAHA. 

Japanese food all the way!

Mini Cake, Mini Happiness!

Who says you need a plate and a fancy design on a pastry to have a 'cake'?

Well, I say that Red Ribbon's Mini Moist Chocolate Cake is the antithesis for that. Wrapped in their signature Red Ribbon snack plastic, it's a mini version of their chocolate cake. Though it's mini and small, the taste is definitely up to par. 

It's moist, and not overly sweet. Seriously can't get enough of this!

The good news is, you can actually buy a 10-pack bag for a cheaper price! 

Grab 'em now! :)

Avocado & Cream at Home!

The fam's newest addiction, Avocados. 

It's avocado season, I am thankful for that. HAHA. We've been having this yummy dessert almost every week now, and I sure am not tired of it yet. Lol. 

With about 7-8 pieces of ripe avocados, mother and I would peel them, mash them, and put them in a big bowl. We then mix in condensed milk and all-purpose cream. A good way to sweeten the avocados and make them extra creamy. Best served when chilled. 

Very healthy, rich in fiber, and a great dessert. 

One of the fam's secret house recipes! 

When All Else Fails, Go INSTANT!

More than 2 months had gone by in the office. 

And you know what? I still haven't got the slightest idea on how to make myself good coffee with the in-house coffee, creamer, and sugar. It either turned out too bitter, too sweet, or too bland from all the hot water. 

I gave up, and here I am with my styro cup and instant coffee sachet. HAHA. Nescafe's Sugar Free 3in1 coffee just saved my day. 

At long last, a balanced coffee. HAHAHA. 

All Clammy!

See food? Seafood!

We were at one of the fam's fave Asian resto at SM Northwing, Spice Fusion. 

Aside from our usual appetizers and entrees, we picked a new seafood dish, Ginger Clams. 

Clam is my fave shells, and I love how you can take an ordinary clam and create a super yummy dish like this one. 

It's spicy, tasty, and the ginger does not overpower the natural clam goodness of the clams. It's healthy, high in protein, served fancy, and definitely a must-try dish. 

No regrets here!

Double Decks Ain't Just for Buses.

Posters were up. 

With KFC's new burger in town, I knew I had to try it one of these days. Lol. 

Here comes Sunday, and its lunch out time with the fam. Perfect timing to finally get that new KFC Burger!

KFC's Double Decker : Two layers of crispy, juicy, and spicy chicken fillet, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and strips of crispy bacon. 

One of the most sinful burgers constructed. For sure. ;)

One Romantic Cheesecake!

Personally, I think that out of all the types of cake that ever existed, cheesecakes are by far the most romantic cake. 

Why? Well, it has a delectable flavor on top, a full and creamy cheesecake in the middle, and at the bottom is a crunchy crust. To me, it would be the best dessert to end a good date night at a classy resto, or even just a cozy date at home. 

But, what I'm about to show you is probably the best best looking and tasting cheesecake with a surprise! Presenting, Vanille Cakes and Patisseries' Brownie Cheesecake. 

A slice of that creamy cheesecake, topped with thick chocolate and cream ganache, and for the surprise center, chunks and chunks of fudge brownies. I think I just died right here. HAHA. 

I've been looking at this dessert for some time now, and I was finally able to taste it today, while waiting for the fam to finish in the salon. 

Aside from this heavenly cheesecake, I also had a quick chat with one of my good friends, Pearl. She was passing by and I couldn't help but calling out to her. HAHA. 

Oh, one more thing, it's pretty ironic with all the romance stuff I mentioned, since I was eating this cake alone. :)

Mocha and Cookies and Whipped Cream and Chocolate : The Cafe Coffee Chronicles Part 9

As my loooong blog title says, a few of my favorite flavors all merged into one amazingly good Starbucks Frappuccino. 

It was a date night well spent with M. We stayed at the 2nd floor of Starbucks, with our fraps in hand and conversation flowing. 

I wanted to try their new season flavor, Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino. 

How do I start? Hmm. Its chocolate and mocha frappuccino, topped with their signature Starbucks whipped cream - but here's the catch, its a CHOCOLATE whipped cream! - and finally garnished with a lot of crushed Oreos. 

Nothing else can describe a frapgasm better than this. 

Caramelgasm : The Cafe Coffee Chronicles Part 8

Its a cold and damp night. 

My good friend M offered to take me home that night. But, he had a dinner schedule with one of his friends at a nearby barbeque place. Which also happens to be right beside the university where I went to in college. HAHA. 

I was out by 6pm, and I decided to kill time at the nearest Starbucks Coffee at Oakridge Business Park. M was supposed to text me when they were done so we could go home together. 

Sitting at Starbucks, cold, and alone, with some soft and sappy slow music at the background, I chose to treat myself with a tall Caramel Frappuccino. 

I love love love their whipped cream, especially when its drizzled generously with caramel. 

Sitting alone is not so bad after all. :)

Very Aloe Vera!

Because softdrinks, sodas, and carbonated drinks are too mainstream. Lol. 

I have been keeping check on what goes in my stomach since I started the whole weight loss project. And one of my accomplishments is the fact that I was, and I still am, able to control and reduce my intake of carbonated drinks. 

The fam agrees with me on this. HAHA. Sooo, to substitute our old softdrinks, we bought  one bottle each of two kinds of Aloe Vera drinks. 

The best part is the juicy aloe vera pulps found in every gulp of this drink. 

Healthy, refreshing, and sweet. Perf for health freaks like me. HAHA. 

Get Beef With Me.

It's grill time!

A few days ago, when the fam went shopping at S&R, mother found a bag of freshly cut beef slices, also called in Japanese as Yakiniku. 

Now, I'm fond of Asian food, especially the Japanese variety. And the idea of being able to grill beef yakiniku right at our dining table thrills me. HAHA. 

And that's exactly what we did for dinner that night. 

On the left is the grilling process, done in our little dining table grill. The yakiniku was first marinated overnight in a soy sauce, chili powder, and vinegar. 

On the right is the cooked yakiniku. Tada! 

I can indulge on this because I know that beef is healthy and contains less fat than other red meat. Yey!

Some Delayed Easter Fever!

Easter has gone by a few weeks ago. 

And here I am, still feeling the Easter spirit with these really good bite-sized chocolates. 

A little something from the States last summer, a bag of Hershey's Cookies and Cream Easter Egg Chocolates were still hidden in our ref. 

I love how the chocolates are wrapped in such festive pastel colors. And if I had to design my very own Easter Egg, Id definitely use the same colors and possibly fill the egg with more of these chocolates. 

I think that this is a refreshing alternative for the usual milk chocolate treats. :)

Struttin' Them Strudels.

Pastries. Pastries. 

The highlight of S&R is their pastry section. And today, he bought a pack of freshly-baked apple strudels. 

Personally, I'm not a big fan of apples, but these strudels are on the verge of making me change my mind. HAHA. It's warm, sweet, and surprisingly good. 

Grab a box everybody!

A Classic at Home.

Another full week of work has gone by. Hello, Saturday night. 

The parents were out the whole day and mom decided to have some take-out for dinner. One of the best things to come home to after a tiring week at the office is some hearty food. 

And S&R gives is just that. With two sets of yummy Beef Roll, tasty pastry stuffed with ground beef and vegetables, and a bowl of Clam Chowder, this is definitely a good night. 

This was my first time trying out a Clam Chowder, and let me say, S&R's chowder is really good. Warm creamy sauce, combined with the saltiness of clams, and tender potatoes and bacon bits. 

Also, there is a choice of mustard, mayo, and hot sauce. Cool. 

Homey and cozy food right here. :)

Childhood in a Candy!

Being a child means being totally crazy for chocolates. 

The thing is, being a child also means depending on your measly school allowance to be able to buy yourself a chocolate or a candy. 

It has been such a long time since I've bought Barnuts. It's a crumbly combination of chocolate and peanut butter candy. 

It's cheap. It's really really good. And I'm happy that they sell it at the office canteen. I'm seriously addicted to these. I but them like, every day. 6 pieces a day. HAHA. 

Sweet, peanut, chocolate overload. :)