Slap Those Cakes On The Griddle

slapping our pancakes on the grill

The title of this post is already a giveaway. In case you're still baffled why I titled this post as such, those little pancakes you see in photo (both in rakish white and brownish green color) being heated on the griddle were at Slappy Cakes. And we had so much fun making those little concentric circles and putting the garnishes on top once we're satisfied with the doneness of the flapjacks. But I tell you more about that later.

I've Finally Met Paul

desserts at Paul

In case you're wondering, the Paul that I'm referring to is not an actual person but a boulangerie (bakery) cafe that opened it's first branch just recently at SM Aura Premier. A second branch is currently in the works and would open soon along Rizal Drive, also in BGC Taguig.

Hot Soups & Some Other Things

toast and laksa at Toast Box

Whether the weather is cold or drizzly, I always crave for something hot to slurp with. Such was the case on this two food places that I visited in BGC. Since it's already December and the air outside can sometimes give you the chills, I wouldn't mind paying them another visit and relish the searing hot soup that's teeming with flavor and goodness.

It's Not Cheap... It's Affordable

food at Goto King

My friend Pau often accuses me of always eating at fancy places. He knows that I usually dine out during my off days and when I updated him of where I set my buns and pack my calories, he would always reply (as if it's already a set template), "Pang-mayaman na naman ang lugar." I oftentimes retort that I only order the lowest priced items on the menu to shun his satiric comments but that would instigate him some more. The friends I have, really. =)

A Walk in Maginhawa

food at Friuli Trattoria

This visit to Maginhawa Street in Teacher's Village, Quezon City was spurred by Sebastian's Ice Cream head sorbetero Ian Carandang status update---with pics to boot (Yes, I'm currently subscribed to Mr. Carandang's social media updates) of this new all-day breakfast place in the area. Pumped up with so much excitement, I scurry my butt there in haste right after work. Adrenaline in full swing, I could almost feel my heart doing it's tub-thumping as I walk the front pavement of the restaurant. But nobody attends to me the full ten minutes that I was inside the restaurant. I walked over to the the rack where the laminated 'soft-opening' menus were placed to show the waitstaff that I'm interested in dining there. But one of the male staff only offered me a goofy smile and continued with whatever his doing. I walked back to the table where I was seated prior, already feeling a little flustered. The conversation happening on the adjacent table from where I am is like a slow hum counterpointing with the buzzing sound I seem to hear inside my head. My shoulders slumped and my previously felt surge of emotions came crashing down. Feeling like a defeated soldier, I went out. Feet scuffling heavily.

Quiet Musing

at Chelsea

I know a lot of people who try to avoid (if they can) to eat by themselves. It seems their appetite is lost on them once they're aware of their "lonesomeness" even in a crowded room. Let's say in a fastfood chain. They would rather whip up something from their own respective pantries/dirty kitchens, even if the end product is not as satisfying as one could have at KFC (Oh! Who could just possibly resist their hot and crispy fried chicken?), as long as their state of being alone will not hit them in the face.

Gobbledygook's Corner Turns 2

tea time at TWG

Wouldn't you know? How time flies. I never thought it would last me this long maintaining this online diary of mine. Though there are certain days when I feel I need to pick up steam and I just feel too lazy to sit down and write, a week wouldn't pass by without me spinning something to post on this site. And with that one post at a time attitude, lo and behold, Gobbledygook's Corner is now two years old. 

A Day Of Relieving Stress w/ Friends

rice meals at Cookbook Kitchen

Working in a BPO industry can bring a lot of stress. And harboring too much stress can bring danger to one's health. So for people who still think that working in this kind of industry is just a piece of cake, might be they know little of how the system works in a BPO or they're totally ignoramus about it. 

I Could See Your Halo...Your Yellow Halo

a low fat meal at Yellow Halo

I wouldn't know the existence of Yellow Halo Guilt Free Kitchen if not for the Facebook post of my former colleague Ness on her recent dine here. If not for her, I'll be hard pressed before I learned about this very calorie conscious restaurant and that it's being is just right under my nose. Sometimes being nosy about someone's activities or social media posts (the food related ones, at least) has it's own quirks. 

Ramen & Katsu

a bowl of ramen at Wrong Ramen

Rainy weather always call for something hot (preferably a soup) to slurp. A broth teeming with flavor that would satiate your palate and your growling tummy. At the same time would bring warmth to ward off the almost frosty climate.

Another Burger Odyssey

bacon cheeseburger at The Hungry Hound

I'm on a burger streak yet again. It seems that I would perennially gravitate towards this burger sandwich once I see it on the menu, no matter which restaurant I'm in. This unceasing adoration toward hamburgers was rooted deeply growing up eating burgers from McDonald's and Jollibee. And to eventually learn that there's a wide gamut of burger varieties that one could get from other food establishments has a certain enticement to me that I couldn't get from any other food.

Dining The German Way

food at Brotzeit

There's two German restaurants in EDSA Shang-rila Mall that I was fortunate to try out recently. One is a bier bar that serves Bavarian cuisines while the other is a market cafe that specializes in roesti, galettes and tarte flambe.

The (Edible) Project We're Glad To Be A Part Of

a build your own pizza creation at Project Pie

Project Pie has exploded in popularity in the local foodie scene via word-of-mouth and photo sharing through social media networks (Hello Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!). The main draw here is giving the diners a choice on how to create their pizza their style, their way making this newest US artisan pizza franchise the hippest, trendiest place that no pizza lover (or food lover, for that matter) should pass up.

All Things Sweet & Beautiful

crepes at La Creperie

Aside from pancakes, I also have an inordinate love for what I would call it's sexier, more luxurious counterpart...crepes. It's one elegant dessert, almost "lady-like", that I just couldn't get enough of.

A Charming Korean Bakery In Ortigas

tea and pastries at Mr. Park's

As I write this on my bed, my female tabby cat is trying to canoodle on my lap and walk right over the keyboard of my HP mini. So, my advance apologies if I sounded a little incoherent on this post. I just couldn't shoo her away. She's too damn adorable. =)

There's a new bakery cafe in Eton Emerald Lofts in Ortigas. But this isn't just any ordinary, run-of-the-mill bakery store since it's has Korean spelled all over the place. I did some checking on the Net and found that Mr. Park's Bread & Cake originally started in BF Homes in Paranaque before they spread their branches in other parts of the metro like in Bel-Air in Makati, in SM Sta. Mesa and now here in Ortigas. Lucky for us who live and work in the area since we don't need to go to their other branches in far-flung places when the craving for good, quality breads and pastries kicks in.

All I Need Is Some Sucre

desserts & coffee at Kitchen's Best

Walking around BGC can be all fun and exhausting at the same time. My reason for this long excursion on foot: I'm searching for this Parisian bakery shop brought to Manila by a well-known clothing magnate. But alas! The two branches that I know of where the said high-end bakery were supposed to be located were still undergoing construction. Boohoohoo! So I walked, and walked...and walked. By the time I passed by The Mind Museum, I already felt my knees and legs starting to quiver. No doubt it would soon turn into jelly. Sounds like an image straight from Tales From The Crypt or The Twilight Zone, right? I was already musing on the idea of settling for Toast Box but I wanted to load myself on desserts that were quite exemplary and would give me that much needed energy boost that only sugar can do.

A Durian Affair

at Cafe France

Peculiar as it may sound but I couldn't remember actually eating the durian fruit. I might have during my younger years but the only thing that I could recall was eating the candied version of it. I even urged my Tita to buy me some durian on her weekly trips to the market but she begged off. She's not a fan of durian, especially of it's notorious smell. Nor does the other members of my family. One of these days, I will be the one who will buy that durian from the market and I'll bring it home. Never mind if my household would look at me contemptuously after bringing such a fruit with a pungent smell.

Fuel For The Soul

coffee and cake at Kuppa

I've been on a slump lately. And this is due to the fact that my heart got "crushed" by my crush (pun unintended). Not because of anything that he overtly did. It's just that we never had that chance to really interact. And I'm so scared to even say 'Hi' to him whenever I see him pass by the corridor. Afraid that my voice would come out like a muted croak that in turn would make him run the other way. What if my mere presence irks him? What if he doesn't really want to befriend me at all? There was even a point where I get affected when he's being too chummy and friendly with his girl peers. I could almost hear my friend Pau retorting, "Of course he'll be friendly with them, they're his friends! Duh!"

FACE-OFF: Breakfast Places To Warm The Heart

pancakes

I guess everyone would agree that a good meal (or make that an outstanding meal) may totally eradicate one's blues. But a good brekkie meal may lift you up to celestial heights. I've been going to a few breakfast places lately trying out that quintessential breakfast food. Those fluffy, heavenly discs best serve with some sprinkling of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, a slab of butter and drizzled with lots and lots of syrup. I'm talking about of course, the much heralded pancakes. A classic breakfast meal wouldn't be complete without them. 'But how about the sinangag (fried rice)?', you might ask. 'Certainly a classic Pinoy breakfast meal wouldn't be complete without it?' Well, I might talk about breakfast meals Pinoy-style on a future post. For now, the pancakes and other brekkie food will be the main focus.

Getting Stuck At Stacy's

ribs at Stacy's

You might be wondering why such a title? Because I literally got stuck and stranded at Stacy's for almost thirty minutes or so just as I was about to leave because of a heavy downpour brought about a sudden thunderstorm that appeared out of nowhere.

A Trattoria Worth Visiting

food at Va' Pensiero

From one great Italian restaurant to another. What can I say? We Pinoys just love our pizza and pasta.

A Gem Of An Italian Resto At The Expo

food at Bellini's

I almost skipped this place when I past by Cubao Expo one Saturday. I find the facade brooding and elicit a snobbish air for some reason. I could have gone instead to this diner just a stone throw away but found to my dismay that they're still not open. So I did a little 'moonwalk' a la Michael Jackson and strut my ass back to Bellini's.

Celebrating My Birthday Week As I Turn 34 (Last Part)

cake, ice cream & spaghetti

This would be the last part of a series of posts. If you wanted to check out the first two, you could click to those links through here and here.

Just To Let You Know

via hms-somerset-co.blogspot.com

Hi, everyone! Just to let you know that you could connect with me via social media like Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to message me or give me feedback on how you find this site so far. Cool? Cool! Just check out the links posted below.

Celebrating My Birthday Week As I Turn 34 (Part 2)

pasta and fish & chips at Sci-Fi Cafe

This would be a continuation of my previous post. If you wanted to check that out first, you could click it right here.

Celebrating My Birthday Week As I Turn 34 (Part 1)

ribs at Red Garlic Bistro

I thought the plan was busted. I was waiting by the door of the Mini-Stop convenient store early in the morning for my friends Jhen and Darlene to arrive so we could all go together to Bonifacio Global City to meet up with Karen who promptly arrived to our meeting place at the time that was agreed upon. However my two friends who rarely shows up late without any SMS or call were not yet in sight. It's already a couple of minutes past the agreed rendezvous time, Jhen's number were unreachable and Karen's already getting a little impatient. I made one last call to Jhen with an accompanying text detailing on how to get to Serendra by way of route that I know of from our place.

Something To Tide You Over This Rainy Season

congee at Luk Yuen

Rainy season is definitely in. Cool air coupled with the tippity tappity sounds of raindrops falling on the rooftops. While most of my friends abhor this 'most dreadful' of all season, I kinda like this rainy weather. Especially when indoors. Cuddling on your bed under the coverlet is the first image that comes to mind. Another one would be sitting lazily on the front porch, reading a mystery thriller while sipping a hot cocoa and the soundtrack would be the melodious sounds of rain falling to the ground.

Craving For A Little Bit Of Italian Flair

polleto & pumpkin soup

I haven't been to Robinsons Magnolia since August of last year so one lazy Saturday afternoon I came up with the decision it's high time that I paid this mall another visit. I've been meaning to try back Magnolia Flavor House for their savory items aside from their other ice cream concoctions, but the place was menacingly crowded upon my arrival. So I decided to wonder around for a bit.

Remembering The Hottest Summer Ever

ice cream & smoothie

Manila has seen by far one of the hottest summer in recent history. The torrid heat leaves me breathless at times just by merely standing under the merciless beat of the sun. It was insane, really. This drought-like weather even sent some people that I know begging for rain. Even the slightest sign of nimbus clouds on the horizon conjure images of rain falling down in sleet. At the start of May though, rain showers and thunderstorms occasionally made some appearance. Thus creating a balance of a more bearable climate.

FACE-OFF: Cafes Here And There

hot mocha and food at Tully's

Just like everybody else, I like the perfect comfort that cafes brings. Especially nowadays when the temperature can go extreme. I usually envision myself inside a coffee shop preferably in the afternoon when the day is at it's hottest. Ideal to haul with your laptop, or your Kindle or maybe your Samsung Note or iPad to play Candy Crush while sipping your favorite frapp or brewed coffee. Oftentimes I come here just to people watch. To check out what other people are ordering (I'm just nosy like that), or check out my newsfeed on FB (again, another form of being nosy hehehe!). Rarely, I would bring a paperback book to read. Especially if I'm so hook into the story and I cannot put it down, and it wouldn't create such a embarrassing bulk inside my small, worn out bag.

Catching Up w/ A Friend & A Visit At The Grove

poutine and buffalo wings at Sunrise Buckets

My friend, Karen Anne, came back to Manila from her hometown in Mindanao a few weeks ago for a quick visit and also to run a handful of errands. But getting a hold of her is a totally different matter altogether. Busy as a bee and always with a tight schedule on her belt whenever she's in the city, so getting a chance to see her is almost always next to impossible.

Selecting At Random

truffle pasta at Monsees

I've been eating to a lot of fast foods lately. It's the usual rounds of Jollibee, McDonald's, KFC and Wendy's. Save for a few occasion that we go to Lasapin, a 24-hour food court located at the ground floor of Strata 2000 Building. But it's usually a chore going there, considering the distance from the office I worked for (walking under the intense heat of the summer sun, at that). Although a friend of mine usually complains that the smells brought by the food being prepared at various stalls inside the food court area tends to cling to clothes; and that averse her. I do bring pack lunches everyday especially prepared by my Tita so getting too used (in Tagalog, umay) to fast foods does not pose as an immediate problem. But my friends and co-workers usually don't have baons with them; and food being sold at the pantry usually doesn't appeal to them. So off we go to their chosen fast food of the moment. And the mere fact that I accompany them so I could eat lunch with them, I feel somewhat obligated to order something. Usually a sundae, a Frosty Swirl (choices of KitKat or Butterfinger), Milo Mix-ins soft serve or if I have extra money to spend, the whole nine yards of a burger, fries and drinks combo.

A Secret That Is Not So Secret Anymore

table setting

A gem of a place for those people who likes Japanese food very much and those who would also like to eat in private.

Of Pink Hamburger, Carbonara For Adults & A Big Ass Macaron

desserts at The Cake Club

From the moment that I step inside this restaurant and settled on a table in one corner, a feeling of unrestrained glee envelops me. Who couldn't possibly help to feel that way especially when all the finest desserts and sweets were all at your fingertips? Just ask and the server will give to you in a jiffy. And you might ask where could this be? The restaurant I'm referring to is The Cake Club by The Diamond Hotel and is currently one of the string of restaurants that occupies the very upscale Bonifacio High Street Central.

Some Good Eats

salad & sangria at Pizza Hut Bistro

Just random food features of old favorites and a fairly new tea place that caught my fancy.

Luscious Red Food & A Happy, Peppy Bakery Cafe

food at Buenisimo

I always enjoy long walks, especially on food centric treasure trove places such as Katipunan, Wilson Street and Tomas Morato. Going to these places is more like being presented with a deck of cards, it's up to you to choose which among those cards to pick. In this case, on which food places to try out based on once's whim. I've always wanted to try Cafe Ysabel and Buenisimo, whichever comes first. On a not too hot Sunday afternoon, I finally had the chance to visit Buenisimo on its new dig in Tomas Morato.

A Bakery Cafe I Would Keep Coming Back To

table setting

Mom & Tina's Bakery Cafe will always be my favorite spot whenever I want to be assured that I would get delicious home cooked style meals. My first visit here made so much of an impression that I decided to held my birthday here a few years back following that visit. So last Valentines Eve, when my friend Gael asked if we could hang out since we haven't seen each other for ages, Mom & Tina's was the easiest choice.

Burger Utopia

food at Burger Bar

It all started with a burger order that I had at Jollibee. Their trademark Champ burger. To think I'm not all too crazy with it since I'm not into burgers on this side sweet. But something in me tick the moment I bite into it. A craving was awakened. A longing for a good sized burger, thick and juicy. Goodness amplified even more with the addition of cheese, lettuce and all the necessary trimmings. It's that kind of craving that could never be abated until I get what I want.

A Diner Worth Getting Lost To

food at LA Diner

A recent trip to the boundary of Marikina and Antipolo (or getting lost might be the more appropriate term) had me stumbled upon a gem of a diner. This diner offers delicious All-American comfort food that, in retrospect, getting myself lost momentarily on this short voyage proved to be a blessing in disguise.

This Cafe Is My Compadre, My Padrino

coffee and cake at Il Padrino

A new coffee shop is brewing in Robinsons Galleria. I noticed Il Padrino Coffee when I attended a service in Victory Church a few Sundays ago here. I checked out the board menu situated right at the entrance of this rather "very open" coffee shop. The menu is limited but compact. Pastas, pizzas, some salads and sandwiches. But the main attraction here is, of course, their coffee selection, and quite a number of desserts, to my heart's content.

Four Food Places In One Day

heart shaped cake at Tous Les Jours

Valentines Day is fast approaching, I know. But me being dateless and single is not something of immediate concern. Or at least that's how I would like to perceive my unfortunate status of still being unattached. For now, it's the food the keep my spirit afloat and banish any morose feeling I may have wallowed upon if I let things fall apart and didn't act things up straight. And acting up straight means getting myself revved up as showcased on these four food places I visited in one day.

An Epic Coffee Experience

cakes and coffee at Epic Cafe

There's a new cafe that opened in Kapitolyo with a rather unique set up. The coffee shop has bicycles parked inside which possibly denotes the owners' active lifestyle or penchant for biking activities. I first heard about Epic Coffee Roastery (also called Epic Bike Cafe) from food blogger Lori Baltazar when she mentioned it on Twitter. She was even impressed with the coffee paraphernalia displayed at the counter where I was able to see firsthand when I set foot here just recently.

I Dig This Fish & Chips Shop Big Time!

food at Chuck's Grub

Growing up, I had this immense dislike on fish meat. The same dislike that I had on bitter gourd (ampalaya), okra, string beans and other vegetables of the green and leafy variety. But now as an adult, the foods that I abhor as a kid are now the foods that I can't get enough. I so much like guinisang ampalaya with fried tofu and crushed pork cracklings (chicharon), ampalaya stuffed with ground meat, string beans with vermicelli noodles (sotanghon). I even apportion myself most of the okras whenever my Tita would cook Bulanglang (mixed vegetable stew). And now fish, especially the traditional beer battered fish fillet type similar to the one that I had recently at Chuck's Grub with their Fish & Chips.

Caviar On Pasta & Crispy Tiramisu

dessets at Cibo

Believe it or not, this visit to Cibo was only my second. My very first visit with a friend of mine I only tried the panini sandwiches and those were the Praga and the Panino Porchetta. So when deciding on which resto I would dine right after the New Year revelry, Cibo was my easiest choice.

An Upscale Bakery Cafe w/ The Best Croque Madame In Town

croque madame at Wildflour

Hands down, this is the most extravagant bakery cafe that I've ever been too. I've been planning to dine at Wildflour Cafe + Bakery for quite sometime now, however I always get sidetrack for one reason or another. But last year (which was really like a few weeks ago), I decided to end year 2012---and my food trip chronicle---with a bang. Hence this visit to this swanking bakery cafe in Bonifacio Global City.

An Honest To Goodness Jap Food In Cainta

food at Gyoza Tei

This dine at Gyoza Tei Fushione Sushi Bar was more of a chance thing. I had a minor disagreement with my Nanay that prompted me to travel all the way to Cainta in the middle of the night, in the Q Plaza area to be exact where I used to work to iron out some business with my former company. Right after that, I went to the Bonanza Arcade near Brickroad with hopes to try the milk tea at Teapsy. Apparently, the milk tea place don't compete with the rest of the watering hole establishments on that strip and closes early. I could possibly had gone back to Hassan Kabab & Steak to try out their ox brain which I heard is insanely good. But Hassan was insanely crowded that night. So, I decided to try out its next door neighbor which is Gyoza Tei.

Anchors Away, Army Navy!

Libertea, Freedom Fries & Starving Sailor

There's no doubt that Army Navy Burger & Burrito is the most popular fastfood chain in the metro today. It's the current "it" burger place, evident with a number of its stores that sprouted on strategic geographical locations last year. Most of my friends prefer Army Navy as their go to place whenever they crave for a good sized burger, partnered of course with some Freedom Fries and Libertea. But Army Navy offers more than just burgers, fries and their famous iced tea.

Rustic Italian Food At Piadina

food at Piadina

Piadina is an Italian flatbread traditionally prepared using a terracota dish and usually sold in the region of Ravenna and Rimini. But no need to travel all the way to Italy to enjoy this Italian treat since one could have it within reach on any of the Piadina Italian Passion Food branches in the metro.

Binging At A Bar On The Night Of The Eclipse

at Rue Bourbon

Truth be told, I very seldom go to bars and clubs that nocturnal people seems to inhabit every night after the sun goes down. Since my predilection is more on food rather than alcoholic drinks, I only went to such places if I'm with my beer-drinking friends and colleagues who can't seem to have enough alcohol ingested into their system. Not that I don't enjoy drinking those fizzy, bubbly liquids with its inherent sweetness and a trailing of bitterness at the end. 'Cause I do. I also enjoy the unabashed merriment brought about by alcohol amongst groups that may lead you to do things that you might laugh out loud the morning after, or something that deem too ridiculous that you would be ashamed to share it after the effects of alcohol had diminish. So, it came to me as a surprise when I chose Rue Bourbon to spend a few hours of my night right after work.

One Day In Kapitolyo

gyoza and ramen at Ramen Cool

Going to Kapitolyo, Pasig is always an adventure for me. There always seem to be something new to try whenever I'm here. I envy the people who live nearby since good food are within their easy reach just like my friend, Dyce. I wouldn't mind filling in her shoes even for just a week to enjoy the same privilege.