Romantic Meals For A Table For One

the kouign amann at Brasserie Cicou

I was meaning to post this for Valentines. But since I'm such a slowpoke when it comes to writing articles for this online diary, plus inspiration to write a romantic post was sorta, kinda hard to find (surprise! surprise!) so this will serve as my first post for the month of March. And I'm not gonna try to make this a (to quote a phrase from that 90's hit TV show Ally McBeal) "sappy-sappy-puke-sappy" narration because to tell you honestly, it isn't gonna work. Nuh uh!

A Sudden Whim Fulfilled

desserts at Chateau 1771

Learning new stuff could be quite of a challenge. This prove to be the case after I got transferred to a new line of business in the company I'm currently working with. Good thing I'm getting ample support from friends and mentors that helps me to get by. But after one tedious workweek, I got this yearning to feed myself of some homey, comforting meal which also offers a very relaxing ambiance. Never mind if I have to brace the bumper-to-bumper traffic from Eastwood to Makati. If it would immensely satisfy my hankering, then I deem the long travel inconsequential.

A Date With Nanay On Her Birthday

cupcakes and eclairs at Shine

My Nanay is not as adventurous to food and eating as I am. Whenever we're out and about, she would often ask me to take her to a fast food chain and she would be more than happy twirling her plastic fork on a spaghetti with lots of hotdogs and cheese or to munch on a crispy fried chicken dipped in gravy. She would already consider it high end eating if I take her to a Pizza Hut restaurant. Oftentimes I broach to her the idea of trying out a different restaurant but she always views it with abject horror. It's like pulling her out of her comfort zone. You could just imagine my surprise (and uncontrolled glee) when she agrees that I take her to Shine Bakery & Cafe on her birthday.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Best French Macarons Ever

the best macarons one could have at Chez Karine

This could possibly be my newest favorite dessert place of the moment. I've been wanting to visit Chez Karine Bakery and try their much heralded macarons which was said to be Pierre Herme calibre. Herme is a renowned French pastry chef known for his macarons and was dubbed by Vogue Magazine as "The Picasso of Pastry" with whom Chez Karine owner, Karen Yang, has undergone training in Paris. But due to it's popularity and frequent rounds on other online sites, I felt if I went here right away I might have some difficulty nabbing a seat and making myself comfortable. Discomfort could easily rob me of my enjoyment of the food that I'm eating, no matter how good the taste is. So I waited till the hype went down a bit. And the wait did paid off.

A Secret Coffee Shop in Marikina Revealed

coffee & cake at Biksa

I chanced upon an article by spot.ph listing down 10 Must Try Cozy Cafe In The City. It's already an old online article dated way back in April of last year. However, I was really looking for a coffee shop that I've never been to before and was hell bent on veering away from the usual suspects (e.g. Starbucks, CBTL and SBC). So when I've read about Biksa Coffee on that article (which is just a few blocks away from Tapsi Ni Vivian), I immediately set out a plan to visit the cafe here in Marikina City.

What It Was Like To Be In The Room Upstairs

desserts & coffee at The Room Upstairs

It's quite obscure location in Reposo, Bel-Air, Makati was the reason of this much delayed visit to The Room Upstairs. As I've mentioned on this site quite a few times, I'm very directionally challenged truth be told. I would really need to review the layout of the place via Google Maps especially if I haven't been to that area at all. Asking for directions would only confuse me more. I would have to get a clear picture (visually) of the sideways and hideaways, the nooks and crannies of the thoroughfares that I would need to slip through to get to the place I wanted to visit. Inevitably, one fine sunny Saturday afternoon, I finally decided it's time for me to visit The Room Upstairs.

Celebrating My Online Diary's 1st Year w/ Friends

Filipino dishes at Wooden Spoon

I'm quite hard pressed where to dine and celebrate my blog's first year. I already have a few food places that tumbled in my mind as possible prospects but Wooden Spoon, a fairly new Filipino restaurant in Katipunan owned by no less than Sandy Daza, was the one that always stood out. Partly because I practically grew up watching his cooking shows so trying out his own food creation firsthand somewhat excites me. I also asked a few friends to join me in this simple celebration. Our original plan to meet around lunch time was moved to an early dinner time due to a mean thunderstorm that shrouded the metro around noontime. The whiplashes of lightnings and roars of thunders were truly scary. It even resulted to flash floods on our village and some surrounding area. In my mind I thought this freaking storm already blew up my plans and almost gave up. But when the floods quickly subsided and saw some glint of sun rays on the horizon, I found hope that our get-together would probably push through. I almost succumbed to celebrate by myself at H.I.D. Burgers but thank heavens the storm stopped as immediately as it came.

A Shabby Chic Bakeshop That Offers Gourmet Desserts & More

cake at Nic's

I currently have a monster headache. And this is due to the fact that I've walked the long stretch of Wilson Street from Greenhills Shopping Center and then took another long detour along A. Mabini Street under the glaring sun. After that I got slightly soaked by a sudden downpour earlier (yesterday afternoon [July 19], Manila time) when I made a quick stop in Big R Cainta en route to Robinsons East to buy some bargain books to a Booksale branch there. But I'm not complaining---not at all. Not after I savored the delectable goodies and yummy sweets here in Nic's Gourmet Desserts.

Sweet Euphoria

Roca at Park Avenue Desserts

Having just a one day off can be a pain in the neck. The need to cram all the things that you need to do at a limited time can be a stressful thing by itself. To abate that, one must need to calm down, breathe slowly and seek solace on food that comforts you. Nowadays, my comfort food lean towards desserts and other sweet, sugary stuff. But I don't want just any other dessert this time. I wanted eat a dessert that's ravishingly good it would make me forget all of my current woes and worries.

Desserts And Cocktails, Anyone?

Ice Cream Chip & Chocolate Cocktail pairing

I first learned about Paire Cocktails & Desserts from my friend Mary Kay when she posted a picture of a pristine looking dessert with cocktail drink on the side on her Facebook wall. I was so intrigued by it so I immediately inquired Kay where I can experience that wondrously executed dessert. Kay told me of this new restaurant that serves (or pair) dessert and cocktail. My mind was suddenly filled with incandescent thoughts of beautifully designed desserts with playful design swirls and cocktail concoctions to pair with it of which flavors are limitless.

An Italian Espresso Bar

food at segafredo zanetti

The heat of the afternoon sun is starting to get unbearable. Our feet already felt tired because of constant walking. My mind is on a chaotic state, listless and ambling to and fro with no clear direction. I looked at my two other companions, grim-faced and sweltering under the beat of the sun. Not sure if they also share the gale of emotions I felt at that moment. But one thing remained paramount, we need to be fed.

A Slice Of Good, Healthy Eating

arroz caldo & putanesca

It all started when Karen Anne called me late at night while I was hunched over my netbook inside my room, tapping soundlessly away on my keyboard as I compose the text for The Bread Bag post which I already published on my blog a few days ago. Since its her day off from work the following day and she really need a respite from her call center duties, she asked me if I could join her to go out somewhere. It will be my call on where we would go and where we would eat. I cannot confirm my availability right away since I'm also expecting to meet another friend of mine tomorrow to do some errands. But when I got a word from that friend of mine the morning after that our meet up was cancelled, I immediately informed Karen through Facebook chat that I'm free to join her. I've read a recent post a few days ago on Our Awesome Planet by Anton Diaz that Slice Cafe, owned by Senator Pia Cayetano, is already on soft opening in Bonifacio High Street Central. When I suggested this restaurant to Karen, including the resto's location and the political personality behind it, she immediately agreed without any qualms.