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 Visit To Robinsons Magnolia

banana split & shakes at Magnolia Flavor House

I've been longing to visit Robinsons Magnolia ever since some of the restaurants that I've visited in the past are posting pictures on their official Facebook pages about setting up branches on this new mall near New Manila. It heightened my interest even more when I read a tweet from Monster Radio RX disc jock Fran Tobias about her visit to this said mall and mentioned that the place is huge. So when my friend, Karen Anne, was back in Manila for a week-long visit and asked me if I'm available for some nice stroll. I took that as my cue to suggest to her if we could take a peek of this much talked-about mall.

Lovin' Our Pinoy Tsokolate

Tsokolate Ah at Tsoko.Nut

Smoldering hot liquid, an alluring deep brown color, thin froth forming on the surface, the wonderful taste of cacao; rich, earthy and slightly sweet. Who wouldn't want to have a good cup of hot chocolate? Especially on this rainy weather. I could imagine myself curled up on my bed, reading a suspense thriller paperback and a hot cup of chocolate right on my bedside table while a light rain would make succeeding tapping sounds on my rooftop. Creating a form of sonata that would make the twist and turn of the story that I'm reading more palpable. 

One Quaint Restaurant In Marikina

cake at Cafe Lidia

Ever since I heard about Cafe Lidia in Marikina from friends and the way they described how good the dishes they've tried there---especially the pastas, I've always wondered when will it be my chance to experience it first hand. I'm not really well versed with the geography of Marikina. I even find it dubious if I could find the place without first being lost momentarily even with the aid of Google Maps. I strongly felt, however, it's about time for me to explore the hidden food treasures that abounds Marikina. So far, the only restaurants I've tried in Marikina were Tapsi Ni Vivian At Bulaluhan and Pan De Amerikana. So, when my friend Gael suggested that we meet up at Cafe Lidia along with Henry, I jumped right in without hesitation.

Cupcakes...And More Cupcakes

cupcakes at Gigi Coffee & Cupcakes

I admit, I do love cakes in all shapes and sizes. Whenever I bought cakes as pasalubong, I usually ended up getting the largest portion of the cake compared to other members of my family without me realizing it. Nevertheless, I equally adore cupcakes. Miniature cupcakes of different flavors prettified even more with choices of frostings and toppings. So, one would not easily get bored because of a variety of cupcakes to choose from.

A Lunch Rendezvous w/ DJ Christi & The Christinatix

crispy tilapia

Merlyn first sent me a private message via Facebook about a plan to surprise DJ Christi for her short visit to Manila from her hometown province in Pampanga where she's currently based at the moment. I was thrilled to say the least. I've been wanting to visit her when she's still with RX 93.1 but never had the chance to do so. Good thing the powers that be of the universe connived that allowed me to attend a get-together with DJ Christi and the Christinatix spearheaded by Merlyn.

A Kebab & Steak Place For Night People

food at Hassan Kabab & Steaks

I wouldn't have known the existence of Hassan Kabab & Steaks if not for my friends Gael and Marianne. They lavished me with the wonderful meals they had here that naturally stirred my curiosity. The only drawback was that the restaurant only opens in the evening, right after the sun has set. Around 6 PM onward. I asked them if they know the reason behind this unusual hours of operation for a restaurant. They told me Hassan established their popularity among the night crowd. From people looking for a good meal after a hard day's work or looking for nice, chill place for a watering hole. And Hassan would like to keep it that way. I was also told that there's another branch of Hassan in Katipunan however they were not exactly sure of its location.

A Cozy Cafe In The Most Unexpected Place

food at 14 Four Cafe

This was totally an unplanned visit to 14 Four Cafe. I originally intended to visit Chuck's Deli and Gigi Coffee & Cupcakes in Eastwood City. But when I saw that Gigi Coffee & Cupcakes is closed on Sunday, my spirit dampened and the prospect of trying out Chuck's Deli or any other restaurant in the Eastwood area seemed not appealing anymore. Then I remembered this charming cafe that offers breakfast and brunch meals in Taytay that my friend Jolee recommended to me a little over two months ago. What is particularly interesting in this cafe is that it only opens during the weekends. So I made a 360 degree turn and traveled straight to Taytay.

Craving For Hand Pulled Noodles

"I'm a little teapot, short & stout."

Mey Lin has been the very first restaurant I went to after my bouts with an unrelenting sore gum that left me paralyzed from eating crunchy food and have to subsist on eating soft food that required little molar action. I remember I almost cried a tear when a member of the family brought home two big packages of chicharon and I could had none of it. It was a total nightmare and I wouldn't want to be on that same ordeal again.

The Cheesiest Burger This Side Of Town

hamburger oozing with cheese @ D'Amburger

I initially wanted to try a different restaurant when I went here in Gilmore. I'm actually eyeing the Mexican restaurant named Hermanos Tacos Shop but I missed it. Only when I'm about to set off for home after I gobbled a good sized burger and forked two dainty looking cupcakes in Greenhills Town Center when I saw the said resto. It's just right beside Arny Dading's Peachy-Peachy. It seemed like an invisible hand slapped me on my cheek upon seeing it. And I asked myself, "How could I miss it in the first place?" Oh, well! At least I know where to find it the next time I come here.

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.

The Chicken That Loves To Cluck

chicken meal @ Clucky's

While everyone seems to be going gaga over the twice cooked chicken of BonChon, several restaurant wannabees are trying to get a slice of that crazed market. One of which is Manang's Chicken which I'm not really that fond of because the last time I've tried their chicken, I find the sauce coating the chicken too sweet and salty. One that fares better on my palate and could possibly get a big slice of that pie market that BonChon currently dominate is Clucky's.

A Hot Pot To Wave The Rainy Blues Away

food at Seoul Garden Hot Pot

It has been raining cats and dogs the previous week in Manila because of a tropical depression. Usually the heavy downpour would be at the wee hours of the morning which---Hello! Hello!---the time of my current shift to the BPO company that I'm currently working with. Although I'm quite immune to all sorts of ill, it took its toll on me finally after getting myself soaked wet for two consecutive days.

The Mother Of All Fast Food, Still Alive & Kicking

breakfast meal

Although, Tropical Hut precedes Jollibee, McDonald's and KFC in the fast food scene here in the Philippines, I only had measly recollection of eating here when I was a kid. When we moved to our new office somewhere in the Cainta-Marikina boundaries, I saw an opportunity to somewhat relieve my childhood memory of Manila's landmark fastfood chain.

A (Subversive) Pinoy Cuisine Like No Other

Sisa's Dementia at Pia Y Damaso

Among my circle of friends, Karen Anne seems to be the one who could keep up with my adventurous side when it comes to gastronomical finds. Most of my friends are inclined to eat at watering holes such as Giligan's, Dencio's and Isaw Haus; and the occasional Starbucks Coffee if they wanted to chill. I have no problems with that. In fact, I came to love some of the dishes offered on those watering holes. Especially the Oyster Rockefeller that I've tried at Blackbeard Seafood Island. But sometimes my palate cries out to try something different and beyond the norms. Of food set apart from the burgers, fries, Coke float and Sausage McMuffin with Egg that I've been consuming almost everyday at McDonald's ever since I started my work at a new office location.

Me Love Ice Cream

ice cream sundae & shake

Ice creams are one of those desserts that I absolutely love. It's cool, creamy comfort it offers are just enough reason for me to cheer up if I'm having a bad day. It's also a perfect armor against scorching heat. On a particularly hot day, I would usually buy a tub of ice cream. My favorite of the moment would be Selecta's Pistachio & Cashew. There were also times, right after our church service, a sorbetero would be just right outside our church's gate ready to scoop up dirty ice creams from his cart. Although calling it 'dirty ice cream' seems politically incorrect. It's just that those ice cream that we buy from the cart of a sorbetero has a distinct taste that one could not find with any other ice cream brands. If mamang sorbetero is not around, I would walk all the way to the corner of our street to get my soft-serve ice cream fix at Mini-Stop.

A Food Sanctuary Discovery

pasta Arriabiatta at Naci

I always feel giddy whenever I try a new restaurant. The food establishment may not be necessarily new, more like it's my first time to try out the food of that particular establishment. So, you could just imagine how excited I was to try out Naci Comfort Food & Dessert Bar. I invited my friend Gael to join me. This was more like my birthday lunch treat. I got so excited it came to a point that I became unsure where the specific location of Naci is. All I just know it's near Amici in Connecticut Street in Greenhills. If I didn't open my phone browser and log on to Facebook and check Naci's address on their Facebook page, we might have gone elsewhere. Thanks to the good-natured guard whom we asked for directions where Fox Square Building is. Apparently it's also the same building that housed Conti's. Gael lightly scolded me because of my misguided sense of directions.

A Sumptuous Feast

pastitsio (photo courtesy of Jhen)

It has been a while since I bonded with my friends Karen Anne and Jhen so I was really excited to see them again. It was an advance celebration of sort for my birthday since I have a work schedule on my actual natal day (boo!). So I decided to move the celebration a day before yesterday night instead. I've been head over heels with the delicious food I tried at Cyma Greek Taverna on my last visit so it was very easy for me to choose again Cyma as the venue for this special get-together with my friends. Since I've promised myself before that I would try the other delightful offerings here in Cyma, I deemed this would be the right opportunity to fulfill that promise.

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.

Food Tripping At Megamall

food at Mann Hann

I admit, aside from being one of the fashion mall capital of the metro, SM Megamall is also a food haven. Just a quick look at The Atrium area of the mall and you would see my point. A testament to this fact was when Megamall held their very first Mega Food Sale last year. I dined here quite a few times but there's still a lot of restaurants for me to try. Some of which have been here for quite a while but I was only able to try just today.