What Mary Loves

I have never been a fan of UAAP. I never watched a single game nor had the interest to know the players. (The only one I know is Chris Tiu—because he is one of the owners of Happy Lemon and an endorser of Milo.) So I had low expectations when I watched it for the first time, LIVE. To my surprise, I enjoyed it. It was fun to watch a game surrounded by game enthusiasts. They cheer and utter “awww” in unison. It was a very interesting experience. But the trip back home was pretty horrific. It was traffic! And my generous sponsor, W was starting to get hungry. And he turns into a grumpy rabbit when deprived of his carrot.

We decided to make a quick stop in Makati so that we get to have dinner and W suggested Ukokkei Ramen Ron. I have never been there so I was game.

When we arrived, only a few diners were there so service was pretty quick. W and W2 knew what to order and went with the Ukokkei Miso Chasu(PHP380 for regular and PHP560 for big serving). I ordered the Ukokkei Shoyu Chasu (PHP380) and Gyoza (PHP120).

Our ramen were served in less than 15 minutes.

My ramen was slightly oily and a bit weak on the taste. I guess I got used to the strong flavors of Ramen Nagi and Kichitora. It was refreshing though to have ramen again with a lighter taste. The noodles were not as firm as I wanted it to be but it was pretty good. The chasu was soft and slightly sweet (which I love!).

W and W2’s miso chasu TASTED SO MUCH BETTER! I should have ordered the same thing. I got scared with the color as it looked like it was spicy but it wasn’t at all. It had a stronger taste though not necessarily salty. I loved it more than what I ordered. :(

The gyoza on the other hand was great too! The meat was flavorful. I even ate it without any dipping sauce. Yum yum yum!

However, since it’s in Makati, I think it will be a while before I visit it again. Probably when I’m done exploring Legaspi village.

Ukokkei Ramen Ron is located at 822 A. Arnaiz Ave. (also known as Pasay Road), Makati City.

I have heard a lot of good reviews about a Taiwanese fried chicken place a few months ago but I was never motivated to go as fried chicken is just fried chicken for me. Nothing special. But I guess I was destined to cross paths with this establishment when V recommended that we have dinner here last Sunday.

Hello, Hot Star Large Fried Chicken.

The restaurant is on the second floor of the building with Engine 46 at the ground floor. The place isn’t that big but spacious enough to accommodate more than 10 groups of hungry diners (mostly students on weekdays).

The food is pretty affordable too! The Original Large Fried Chicken and the Crispy Large Fried Chicken are priced at PHP110 while BBQ Large Fried Chicken is at PHP125. Just add PHP35 and you get a cup of rice and drink. V and V2 got Almond Ice Crush while I chose Black Gulaman.

I loved my drink! Though I wasn’t allowed to drink anything cold yet, I still drank it. It was yummy! It was like Black Gulaman shake! I had a few sips of almond and as a person not fond of the Almond Jelly dessert, I didn’t like the drink either.

We were amazed with the size of the chicken. It was huge (but flat). After giving V and V2 a bit of mine, I started munching on my Crispy Large Fried Chicken. I’m not so sure if I was just hungry but the chicken was pretty good. The skin was seasoned well and it sure was crispy. It was slightly buttery.

The BBQ Large Fried Chicken tasted like Crispy Chicken Teriyaki with less sauce. It was good as well. But I guess those who are not fond of sweet food will not like this.

I didn’t try the Original Large Fried Chicken but according to V2, it had an umay factor hence the reason why he removed the skin. (That or he likes to eat healthy.)

Overall, it was a pretty good dinner. It was filling though despite the generous serving, I wanted a bit more chicken. (It’s the glutton in me talking.)

One tip though, come early as the place gets PACKED!

Hot Star Large Fried Chicken is located at 2^nd floor, 316 F. Dela Rosa St., Katipunan, Quezon City.

There was a time when I got so hooked to Groupon sites. I go crazy over the discounts and I end up with coupons or gadgets I want to believe I really need. One of the good deals I recently bought was vouchers for the House of Wagyu Stone Grill.

Hello, House of Wagyu Stone Grill!

We opted to claim our vouchers at the Eastwood branch and the place wasn’t packed at all. There were only about two other tables occupied when we arrived. We got a table near the window which V thought to be a good spot.

As soon as I handed my vouchers, our wait basket and soup were served.

The soup was served warm and it was creamy yet not that heavy as the serving was just right. V though munched on so much bread.

The salad’s serving was pretty small as well but it was just right as the main course was the highlight of the meal.

Finally, the main star—a Grade 8 tenderloin steak on a stone grill—arrived. It was lightly seasoned with salt and pepper with mashed potatoes and a few vegetables on the side.

We were instructed to cut bite sizes of the meat and let it cook on the stone grill for a while before eating it. We were also given an extra “HOT” stone grill when our stone grill started to cool down.

The meat was indeed tender and was the type that melts in your mouth. No hard chewing needed. Plus, eating the steak without gravy made us enjoy the meat more. I went to steak heaven.

Coffee was served last and it was a great way to end the filling meal.

I will definitely try the Grade 10 steak when I reached my first anniversary with work! Or on my birthday, Christmas… or Halloween!

House of Wagyu Stone Grill is located at the Ground floor, Eastwood Mall, Eastwood, Quezon City. Call 0917 823 1248 for reservations.

Kapitolyo sure is a foodie destination with so many restaurants appearing left and right. And since it was a holiday last October 6, the Foodie Trio of UA&P (which I now baptize as F3) decided to explore Kapitolyo once again. Our first stop is none other than Silantro.

Hello, Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina!

This wasn’t my first time to visit this place as I got to try it a few months ago with W. However, we didn’t order food and I just had their unlimited mojito (for only PHP250!!!). And the mojito was not bad at all.

We arrived a bit past 11 a.m. and the place was already packed! It was a good thing though that K’s friends, the Triple J (as they all have J in their names), arrived early and managed to get a table inside.

After a quick look at the menu, I decided to go for the Completo (PHP110) where I could choose three kinds of meat for my soft shell taco (I chose lamb, oxtail and beef), Silantro Quesadillas (PHP160) and a glass of Mojito (PHP90).

First served was the mojito but I did not dare take a sip as I skipped breakfast for the food trip. After the first 10 minutes, I started to become restless and at the 15 minute mark, I started to be irritable.

Twenty minutes later, the server approached us to inform me that they were out of oxtail. I snapped! They could have told me that way before! Why wait for 20 minutes???

Anyway, I told the server to give me lengua instead and make sure that he serves my order in 5 minutes or less. And it did. However, we had to wait for a few more minutes for our utensils and sauce. *sigh*

The food though was awesome! The beef, lamb and lengua were all fantastic! Flavorful and tender, it was such joy munching on it. You don’t even need sauce!

The quesadilla (which was meant to be an appetizer) was served about 2 minutes after the tacos were served. It was oozing with cheese! I enjoyed the slightly burned fries. However, I hardly tasted the chicken bits as the cheese was too overwhelming. But cheese lovers would love this! I did.

The mojito, as usual, was refreshing.

Overall, the food was great but service was extremely slow! I know that the place was crowded but it is still not an excuse. They should always factor that in when they prepare the dishes. I will most likely visit this place when I’m not hungry and would just like to hang out with friends.

Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina is located at 75 E. Capitol Drive, Pasig City, Metro Manila.

[Sadly though, some people take advantage of the foodies who flock the area. Just recently, a car was shot several times. So, warning to all those who frequent, visits, or plans to visit Kapitolyo, be careful and make sure that you park in well-lit areas. -Gluttonshopper]

Finally stuffed and happy, the F3 moved to the next destination with our new friends, Triple Js. While still at Silantro, we decided on where we should go next and we all decided to give Tomahawk Chops & Grill a try.

Hello, Tomahawk Chops & Grill!

When we arrived, all the long tables were occupied and the available tables (which were too small for a party of six) were spread out. The server then suggested that we go to the second floor. Second floor?! We were all surprised that there is a second floor. We all had an impression that it’s a very small restaurant.

The second floor is adorable. There are giant letters that spell EAT and CHOPS. The walls are also adorned with frames.

After a short while, we decided to go for the Grilled Tomahawk Chops (PHP295) and Grilled Baby Back Ribs (PHP425). For our sides, we went with mashed potatoes and string beans. I also ordered a glass of the Premium Iced Tea (PHP60/glass).

Food was served shortly and after a few snapshots here and there, we started to taste the food.

The grilled tomahawk chops had a weird taste. Perhaps the pork used wasn’t that fresh. After two bites, I had to give up. I heard though that this is one of their bestsellers. We probably went on the wrong day.

The ribs were great though. It was slightly burnt but still delectable. The meat was soft and well marinated. I loved the sweet sauce too. Plus two racks for PHP425, it’s a good deal.

The iced tea was indeed a house blend with a tinge of lemon. Refreshing!

Since we find the place so comfy, we decided to stay there for a while to play Cards Against Humanity and have dessert from Kool Kids (which will be in another entry).

Overall, it’s a nice hangout place for big groups. The ribs were good. I heard that the mushroom fries were yummy as well. However, I’ll probably hesitate to give the chops another chance.

Tomahawk Chops & Grill is located at 56-A East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City. Call them at 0917 840 9876 for reservations.

Since most of us had to leave by 4 p.m., we opted to have our last Kapitolyo food stop at Calderon. Yes, I have never been to this well-loved paella place. I guess I'm not really much of a foodie (or I am just stuck in Kapitolyo-Ortigas area... which I am changing now).

Hello, Calderon!

The place looks so homey and the Real Living girl in me went crazy with the warm hues of the interiors. I love it!

Since we were already full from our last three stops (including Kool Kids which I have yet to blog), we decided to go for one paella for sharing. We went with the usual Paella Valenciana (PHP780 for Pequeno). We were supposed to order churros too but they ran out. :(

While waiting, we were given a wait basket of bread which J enjoyed. We didn't mind waiting too as we were busy playing Cards Against Humanity.

After 20 minutes (which the server mentioned beforehand), our paella was served. It was so photogenic! I had fun taking photos of it. It doesn't have a bad angle at all.

As for the the taste, it was delightful. It was flavorful and there was a generous serving of chicken, mussels and prawns. The rice was cooked well too.

I recall one of V's friends suggested the vegetarian paella. I will definitely try that next time.

BRICKS!!! I LOVE BRICKS!

Calderon is located at 12-C East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. You may reach them at 0905 266 6982 or 0999 703 3299 for reservation or advance order.

I think this is more of a traffic advisory than an opening announcement.

The most awaited fashion brand, H&M will finally open its doors this October 17 at its SM Megamall Fashion Hall branch. (Technically, it did yesterday to the press and celebrities.) If you want to be ahead of the (long) line, be there before 9 a.m. with an energy drink or two.

To celebrate it's opening, H&M will also give away gift certificates as much as PHP6,000!

To everyone else who drives to and from work and cannot avoid EDSA, good luck. Aside from the grand opening of H&M (which will be until 12 midnight), it's also SM's 3-day Mega Sale. May the odds be ever in your favor.

I'll most likely visit H&M on another non-pay day weekend.

-Gluttonshopper

I was so excited for the Quezon City Food Fest as it sounded so promising. Imagine, gathering all the best finds in Quezon City in one area. It was a foodie’s dream come true. But I wasn’t expecting (1) that it’ll rain pretty much the whole afternoon and (2) that there wasn’t anything special about the whole event. There were no special dishes or offering and every single restaurant was packed! In short, I ended up being a sticky and wet hungry girl.

After an upsetting trip to this new Japanese restaurant I shall not mention, M recommended that we visit his favorite pizza place instead. And since I was famished and the two sorbetes cones I bought were about to disappear, I agreed.

Hello, Leona’s Art Restaurant!

The place is pretty small and we had to wait for a bit for a table to clear up. Luckily, the wait wasn’t that long.

Since the place was packed, it took the servers a while to clear our table and to get our orders. But since the owner was apologetic, I was more forgiving this time. (Plus, the sorbetes helped calm me.)

We opted to get the Take Three Pizza Promo for only PHP499 (for 10 inches). For the flavors, Three Cheese and Pepperoni are fixed. We could only choose one more and we got the Garlic and Mushroom. I also ordered the Tomato Espresso (PHP80) and Soft Taco (PHP90). I also got a rootbeer float as drink/dessert.

It took them a while to serve the pizza but my tomato soup was served rather fast.

It was such a shocker though that it was in a very small cup. Literally an espressoserving. But the taste did not come short. It was very flavorful given it was pureed tomatoes. I loved the mix of tomatoes with the parmesan cheese, basil and fried garlic. And thank you Leona for not putting too much cayenne pepper. <3

Next served was the soft tacos and it was pretty good as well. However, it was a bit cold when it arrived. The ground beef was juicy and I enjoyed the salsa. B though went crazy when she saw the tomato sauce that looked and tasted exactly like my soup.

Finally, the pizzas.

The Three Cheeseand Pepperoni weren’t extraordinary and it tasted pretty much like those I could get from other pizza places. But the Garlic and Mushroom was love.

Okay, maybe I’m a bit biased here as I love garlic. The flavors were balanced well and the garlic wasn’t overpowering. I’d love to order that again soon!

See you again soon, Leona!

Leona’s Art Restaurant is located at 45 Matimtiman, Diliman, Quezon City.

I have been planning to visit the Japanese restaurant on the second floor of the Koreanrestaurant Lee Hak but the pull of the other restaurants in Kapitolyowas just too strong. But I finally had the chance to visit Moku Japanese Cuisine a few Fridays back when the crazy traffic made us stay in Pioneer.

I was famished. Crazy famished. In short, I was in my HANGRY state. It took us a while to realize that the only way to get inside Moku is through Lee Hak. The guard told us we have to ride an elevator and there ARE NO ELEVATORS in Pioneer Center. I know. I’m a Pioneer Center girl. Anyway, we circled around the area for 10 minutes or so before we realize that we have to get inside the Korean restaurant to get in the Japanese restaurant. There is definitely a lack of signages. Grr.

Hello, Moku. I had a hard time finding you.

I was delighted though with the set up. It was prettier than I thought it would be. There were three (or was it four) teppan tables in the middle and several tables with comfy couches on the side.

I quickly ordered the following: Teppan/Maki/Sushi(PHP1180), Salmon Sashimi (PHP290), Cold Soba(PHP250). My sister ordered Oyakodon(PHP220) as she’s not too keen with teppanyaki. We also ordered house iced tea.

The iced tea arrived first and it was… bland. Oh well. At least it won’t make us thirsty.

The teppanmaster (I’m not really sure how they are called) asked us if we want a “performance” and we said yes. Hey, take advantage of it! Teppan meals are not cheap. (Well, he failed a few times but it was still entertaining.)

We enjoyed watching him throw stuff in the air while we munch on our crisp salad. I liked it so much that I also ate my sister’s share.

The miso soup was your usual miso soup.

They then served some Korean side dishes. I got slightly confused there. But hey, free food!

The salmon sashimi arrived next and it was thick and fresh. I enjoyed it a lot! It was bliss. <3 However, they seem to have some intense hatred with wasabi. They placed too much on my dip.

The bean sprouts and the beef teppan went well together. The beef was juicy and was cooked well. It doesn’t even need to be dipped in the sauce.

My mom enjoyed the fried rice. So I gave her mine.

My sister loved her order. The chickenthough was slightly bland for my taste.

The sushiand maki arrived late and again, there was wasabi overload. After a while, I just can’t eat it anymore as I have low tolerance for spicy food. So we asked them to remove the wasabi for us.

The cold soba was great too. The clean and refreshing taste is the very reason why I love ordering this. I have yet to meet a person who enjoys it as much as I do.

The server returned with a new plate of maki and sushi and they practically gave us a complete set again! I would have been so delighted if I was still hungry. But I was so full. So, the brilliant foodie in me did this.

Overall, it was a pleasant dinner experience. I’ll definitely visit again.

Moku Japanese Cuisine is located at 2^ndFloor, 8006 Pioneer St. corner United St. Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. (You have to enter Lee Hak to get to the second floor.)

I have pretty much established in my previous blog entries years back that I just love anything Japanese. I fell in love with the Japanese culture during the Akazukin Chacha days and I’ve been hooked ever since. From Card Captor Sakura to Rurouni Kenshin, Slam Dunk to Grave of the Fireflies, and even The Ring, I just can’t get it out of my system. I then fell in love with its cuisine—tempura, sushi, sashimi, teppan, ramen, okonomiyaki, mochi and a lot more! I still remember the first time I had a bite of real Japanese mochi. It was heaven and there was no turning back. I need more of that. I have to go back… even if it’s just Narita Airport.

Back when planking was the coolest thing to do. (2011)

I’m lucky that I know a handful of people who travel a lot. I then get to satisfy my craving for food that I could not get here in Manila. Last month, I had an intense craving for beef jerky and ended up bugging 6 people to buy me packs of the yummy Bee Cheng Hiang beef jerky.

Earlier this month, I had an intense craving for Japanese mochi. But every time I buy locally, I end up being disappointed as I have not found any that comes close to the one I bought from Narita. So when my boss mentioned that she’ll visit Japan, it gave me hope.

And she bought me this…

Okay, I have a confession. I’m not fond of green tea flavored food. I love green tea as tea and nothing else. I don’t like green tea cake, green tea chocolates, or green tea toothpaste! But this one is L-O-V-E.

The taste was pretty strong but it was so delectable I just can’t stop eating!

The soft mochi with the matcha powder and the loveable filling… I found Japan inside my mouth.

I’m planning to visit Japan in 2016 and I can’t wait to buy a lot of this (among other Japanese snacks).

-Gluttonshopper

It’s almost Halloween again. Halloween lovers must be busy looking for a last-minute costumes and accessories for the party/ies they will be attending. Well, as a person who hardly attends parties, I prefer to celebrate Halloween with a mini photo shoot.

It has been a tradition for me and my sister to have a mini Halloween photo shoot to celebrate the eerie day. We’d wear our creepiest outfits and posed in the most horrific way. And after a few edits here and there, off it goes to social media.

But how do we come up with Halloween-themed photos?

It all depends on the filters, outfit and location. :)

Step 1: Look for camera apps with grudge and negative look.

Step 2: Venue, venue, venue.

You may be lucky and find a well while on vacation but there are times when you can do it somewhere near your place. Like a random washroom. (Yes, it’s a bit disgusting though.)

Step 3: Pick your “costume”. Think of what ghosts like to be seen with. Black or white are your best bet.

Step 4: Make an ugly face.

Heeey! You’re supposed to look dead right?

Short hair? No problem. Just say, "aaaaah!"

And that’s how you take Halloween-themed photos.

-Gluttonshopper

It has been quite a while since I last saw A and we just have to catch up for a girls day out. (Sorry, I have a curfew so it can’t be a night out.) We decided to go for a mini spa date but ended up having an early dinner with drinks at Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar and arcade afterwards. So much for a girly day.

Hello, Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar!

It has been 8 months since I last visited this restaurant and I could say that I loved the dishes I tasted. It was slightly on the expensive side given we only ordered two appetizers and iced tea but our bill was over PHP800. However, we didn’t really mind since the food was great.

This time around, we ordered Prawnsand ChorizoPasta (PHP599), Salmon BenedictSalad (PHP395) and Pumpkin and Pea Soup (PHP239). We also got Almond Cream Pie (PHP150) for A and Ginger-Lychee Mojito(PHP150) for me.

A’s soup arrived first and she allowed me to take a sip. I was supposed to say no but it’s hard to resist pumpkin.

The texture was quite rough because of the pea so it’s not that advisable for people who have a nasty case of cough. The taste was light too but it was creamy and heavy.

The Salmon Benedict was delightful. Okay, I’m biased as it has salmon. But I never had salad with poached egg. It was pleasantly different. The greens were fresh too. Plus the hollandaise sauce was great!

The Prawnsand Chorizopasta was tasty as well. The serving was generous so at PHP599, it wasn’t a bad deal after all. The pasta was cooked al dente and as a fan of garlic-y food, it delighted my tastebuds. The prawns were not as fresh as I wanted though but it wasn’t bad.

Now for the drinks…

I didn’t get much from A’s drink but if I recall it right, she liked it.

My mojitowas quite refreshing too but the vodka’s taste was very strong. (Not that I’m complaining.) Diners who prefer alcoholic drinks that do not taste like alcohol might want to ask the bartender to lessen the usual portion of vodka.

Again, it was a great meal. I’ll be back again hopefully soon.

Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar is located at the Ground Floor, B3, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Simple comfort dishes are still the best for me. No unpronounceable ingredients, uncomplicated tastes and happy tummy. I think that is a great way to describe a great meal.

I was sick for a week last month and I was off work for almost the whole week as well as I had to visit a couple of doctors. It was just a simple case of cough that got out of hand that made me look like a zombie for two weeks. (Imagine waking up at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. because of your insanely itchy throat.)

Anway, my mom and I decided to pass by Shangri-La to buy my third set of medicines and since it was already past 4 p.m. then and I haven’t had lunch yet, we decided to grab a quick meal before heading home. I recommended my all time favorite Recipes by Café Metro.

It has been quite a while since I last visited Recipes by Café Metro and it is still the same simple restaurant that I love.

My mom ordered Chicken Sotanghon Soup(PHP120, small | PHP220, regular) and Lumpiang Toge (PHP100) while I went with the Lechon Kawali with Kangkong (PHP225) and Gising Gising (PHP185).

The ChickenSotanghon Soup was rather bland yet the warm soup was a great appetizer during that rainy Thursday afternoon.

The LumpiangToge was your usual wrapped toge. Serving was pretty generous for the price of PHP100 though.

The Lechon Kawali with Kangkong is still love as always. The crunchy lechon kawali and kangkong were delightful and the vinegar with soy sauce added tanginess which I adore.

Gising Gising is still my all time favorite though. The chopped Baguio beans with ground beef and coconut sauce is light to the tummy yet filling. The crisp of the beans, tenderness of the beef and the sweetness of the coconut sauce is just too addicting making sharing very difficult.

Recipes never fails to satisfy my grumpy tummy. <3

Recipes by Café Metro is located at 5^thFloor, Main Hall, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.

As a hardcore The Walking Dead fan, my Mondays are blocked for my 1 hour bonding with Rick, Glenn, Terry, Carol, Maggie, Michonne, and of course, Daryl. However, I can get lured by restaurants I have never tried before in an instant. I blame my tummy. >.<

K suddenly wanted to eat out and since he lives a few minutes from my office, we decided to have dinner somewhere in Ortigas. He recommended wings and honestly, I’m not fond of wings. I always think that you end up paying for the bones and not the meat. Anyway, I gave in as I’m not really craving for anything in particular and I had to be home by 9 p.m. so we had to decide fast.

Soon, we’re at Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings, a wings place at City Golf.

Frankie’s has an industrial/basement chill vibe and I noticed that the diners are students and yuppies. Well, with the affordable prices, it’s not hard to attract the young market.

We decided to order the following: a basket of fries, three types of wings—Cheesy Bacon (PHP173), Nagoya Tebasaki (PHP173) and Caribbean Jerk (PHP173). We also ordered a slice of New York Cheesecake (PHP120) and a few bottles of Tanduay Ice to start the week right. :)

First served was the basket of friesand just like what they said, they use real potatoes. Yey! Nothing fancy about it though.

Soon, the wingsarrived.

First to arrive was the basket of cheesy bacon wings. It was literally wings swimming in cheese and bacon bits. After a while, it became soggy. I normally do not like soggy food but this one is an exception as I looove cheeseand bacon.

The Nagoya Tebasaki was pretty good as well. It was marinated with sweet teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds. This one is crispier than cheesy bacon.

The Caribbean Jerk tasted weird. It had a tangy slightly barbeque taste that I could not understand. I didn’t like this one. But I think this is still worth ordering as the taste definitely was different.

K raved so much about the cheesecakeso I was a bit excited to try it.

I didn’t like it that much. First off, the cake was served lukewarm. I like my cheesecake a bit chilled. Also, the crust wasn’t crunchy at all. There was the lack of contrasting textures. It was decent though but I’d rather have my cheesecakesomewhere else.

Overall, it was a pleasant dinner. I never experienced eating wings with plastic gloves so that was definitely interesting. But I’ll skip the Caribbean Jerk and dessertnext time.

Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings is located at the Ground Floor, City Golf Plaza, Doña Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City

There are times when I have intense cravings to the point that I find it hard to sleep as I just have to sink my teeth into whatever I’m craving. Two weekends ago, I had a sudden craving for crispy pata at 12:15 a.m.. Luckily, W was game to try Livestock PH as he heard that it’s one of the restaurants that serve the best crispy pata in Manila and he personally knows the owner. (No, we didn’t get discount.)

It took us over an hour just to get to Livestock PH and we were both hungry. We were fortunate though that we easily got a parking space.

Hello, Livestock PH!

When we arrived, there was no table in the no-smoking area that could accommodate us so we agreed to stay at the al fresco area while waiting for a table inside. Again, it was a lucky night as no one was smoking then.

We decided to order the following: Melts-in-your-mouth Crispy Pata (PHP590), Not-an-Ordinary Kare-Kare (PHP396), Vegetable and Seafood Pot (PHP255), Salted Egg Rice (PHP98). I also ordered a Red Cucumber Slushie (PHP105).

It took them over 45 minutes to serve our food and W and I already ran out of topics to talk about.

Finally, the highlight of the night was served.

I enjoyed watching the server chopping the crispy pata with a popsicle stick. Too bad W was in the washroom while the food was served.

It was really soft yet the skin was so crispy. The first few bites was heaven but after a while, I realized that it had an umay factor and I got tired of eating it. But I ate enough skin for me not to crave it for months. W and I finally had something to talk about… how they prepared the crispy pata.

The vegetableand seafood pot was pretty decent. It didn’t have a wow factor but it was light in taste and went well with the crispy pata. We needed a palate cleanser of some sort. Plus, it somehow made us feel that we’re eating healthy. (Okay, not really.)

I loved the kare-kare! The sauce’s texture wasn’t that smooth proving that they used peanuts and not just some powder or some sauce that you could buy in the supermarket. I loved the nutty taste. It was delightful.

The Red Cucumber Slushie (supposedly called smoothie if I recall it right but I’ll call it slushie since there was no milk added) was refreshing. I love the combination of watermelon and cucumber. I’ll definitely order that again on my next visit.

Overall, it was a great dinner. The wait though was a bit too much. I do hope that they do something with that.

Livestock PH is located at 34 Jardin De Zanaida Compound, Sergeant Esguerra Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City.

I was so scared that the Halloween traffic might be crazy given that some people will be going to their provinces but I was surprised that there were only a few cars on the road come 6 p.m.. However, my friends were late and I was already “hangry”.

After several exchanges on where to eat, I finally decided that I’ll stay in Spätzle. No more moving. I was tired, hungry, and grumpy. Yes, I have reached the bratty foodie stage.

K and E were game to eat there though as they have never visited Spätzle Euro Market Café.

After a few minutes, K finally arrived and we hurriedly ordered the following: Paprika Potato Chips (PHP145), Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Roesti(PHP320), The Spätz Burger (PHP355), Frozen Brazo de Mercedes (PHP230) and Watermelon Slush (PHP105).

My drink arrived first and it was refreshing. I loooove watermelon!

The potatochips were delightful as well. It was slightly zesty making it different from the usual chips. It helped keep us sane while waiting for our mains.

When my order arrived, I realized that I was too impulsive. I just ordered a potato madness dinner. I ordered the salmon dish simply because it says “salmon”.

It was still a great order though. I loved the soft smoked salmon covered with the tangy cream cheese and it was a great contrast with the crunchy potatoes. It was also served with an egg.

K loved his burger as well. Well, you could never go wrong with a USDA burger. It went with a warm brioche, pesto cream cheese, mushrooms and crispy onions on top.

E, who arrived late, ordered a plate of fried chicken which looked heavenly as well.

Now for dessert…

IT WAS THE BEST FROZEN BRAZO DE MERCEDES I HAVE TRIED. I loved the soft and crunchy textures and the delightful slightly frozen custard. I will order this again.

It was another pleasant dinner at Spätzle Euro Market Café. I will definitely be back soon to bring my sister to try the Frozen Brazo de Mercedes.

Spätzle Euro Market Café is located at 5^thfloor, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.

People come and go. Those who stay are just one of the three—family, friends, or the one. Anyway, I won’t be mushy today as I’m referring to the second one. I’m so glad that I have friends to talk with when I have problems or bug when I’m in the mood to eat. It has been over a month since I last saw my MScM friends and so many things happened for the past weeks. We needed a catch up session.

I was looking forward to the 24^th of October as my friends and I were planning another staycation. But we were not able to book a room. *boo*

We decided to have dinner instead at Shangri-La. K and F picked Lombardi’s as they haven’t tried the food there yet.

When I arrived, they already ordered Spaghetti Ai Fruitti Di Mare (PHP440) and Quattro Formaggi (PHP475). I ordered Crèma di Spinaci (PHP175) and Chicken Cacciatore (PHP590). I skipped ordering dessert as I was craving for tea.

My cream of spinach soup was served first and it was quite salty. Actually, it was really salty. But I was hungry so I finished my bowl of soup. It made me look forward to the main course though.

The Spaghetti Ai Fruitti di Mare was scrumptious. The seafood (clams, prawns, mussels, and squid) used was fresh and the pasta was al dente. Delightful! Its light taste was a great break from the salty soup I had before that.

I skipped the four cheesepizza as I already tried that before. (Click here for the pizza’s review.)

The ChickenCacciatore comes with two side dishes so I went with steamed broccoli and potatoes.

The chicken braised with tomato sauce tasted great! It went pretty well with the sides which had lighter flavors.

Overall, it was a fun dinner at Lombardi's. I’ll definitely visit again but I’ll skip the soup.

Lombardi’s is located at 4^thfloor, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.

Okay, I think I am now addicted with Mystery Manila. I have tried four mysteries in total and I still do not have my MYSTERY SOLVED shirt! (Sooo frustrating!)

I was thrilled when I found out that Mystery Manila developed two new games just for Halloween. It was priced lower at PHP300 instead of the usual PHP500 but the time was shorter as well (from one hour to 45 minutes). I didn’t mind the shorter time though as I was feeling confident (just like the last three times) that I will finally make it to the leader board.

I booked the Haunted Hunt since it sounded more interesting and I’m not much of a fan of Harry Potter anyway to try the Alchemist’s Apprentice.

When we arrived, I had no idea that the event will take place in an open space! In short, mall goers will see us go crazy solving the mystery. But… there’s a bigger surprise.

The ghosts and the Mystery Manila crew (Photo from Mystery Manila)

Basically, Haunted Hunt is like a scavenger hunt with a bit of Halloweenelements to it. We have to find the “ghosts” located somewhere in Glorietta(not just G5 but the WHOLE GLORIETTA).

We have clues though to help us out. Can you guess the locations? We had a hard time with the last one.

The ghosts have pieces of an orb that we have to complete within 45 minutes. And once we have 4 pieces of the orb, we have to go back to the site and get more clues from the tombstones for us to be able to open our designated chest. And yes, the cursedlocks appeared again! I now officially hate padlocks!

(Photo from Mystery Manila)

The chest has additional orb pieces and it took us quite a while to complete it. Actually, it took A a while to complete it. We just stared.

And we finally made it with 3 minutes to spare! Our reward… STICKERS. Way better than nothing.

P.S. Mystery Manila’s Chained Chambers in Libis will be replaced with a new mystery soon. So if you haven’t tried this one yet, better book now!

-Gluttonshopper

Since today is Pepero Day (a.k.a. another couple day in Korea) let me come up with a mushy post. I got inspired by the article A Letter From The Love you Haven’t Met Yet and here’s my reply to the letter.

Dear Future Love of My Life:

Image from jolenes-cuppajo.blogspot.com

I know you’re out there. Perhaps you’re just behind me while I get my caffeine fix or the person secretly laughing at my failed joke delivery to my friends. But I often wonder why we never had the chance to “really” meet.

While waiting for you, I went through some crazy experiences. I dated and fell in love—but not with you. I got hurt, cried till wee hours in the morning, and got addicted to Taylor Swift. Then again, looking back, it did help me learn and be a stronger and better individual. I realized my shortcomings and I was able to work on it. I got rid of the whole everything-is-Disney-perfect-once-you-fall-in-love as I realized that relationships are not always all musical with birds chirping with other forest animals helping you clean your cottage while you sing and twirl.

But at the same time, I am still not giving up on our fairy tale. I know it does not mean all happiness as that would be creepy for us to be just laughing, dancing and singing all the time. I also know that relationships entail hard work for it to stay strong and grow. But I’m sure it’ll be worth my time, especially if it’s with you for I am confident that this time around, I won’t be alone in making it work.

Image from http://trekalong.com

There are so many things I’d like us to do. Just thinking about our first this and that makes me smile like a fool. I can’t wait for us to go on adventures, may it be discovering new places, dishes, or activities. But the thing I am most excited about is for us to learn about each other. Our quirks, favorites… what makes us… us.

However, I understand that now is not yet the time. We are not ready to be together just yet as we are still working on our 2.0 versions. We may be preoccupied by our blooming careers or having a bit too much fun with our friends. Perhaps we still want to do a lot of things on our own.

But don’t worry, love. I’m just here and I’ll patiently wait for you.

Yours,

Your Future Love Who Patiently Waits For You

I really find it amusing how the internet reconnects people. Just a few weeks back, I met up with a balikbayan friend I met when I visited San Francisco. I promised that in case he visits Manila, I’ll return the favor and buy him a good meal. I was just not expecting it to be a sudden and unplanned meet up on All Saints’ Day. (I’m quite a planner when it comes to things that involve food.)

Since it was an impromptu dinner on a day that some restaurants were closed, we decided to explore Kapitolyo. My favorite Open Kitchen was closed while Silantro as always, was packed that night.

My other favorite place, Gostoso had a few vacant tables so we decided to settle with the Piri-Piri place.

Since it was already a bit late, we decided not to go wild with the order and just went with an order of Piri-Piri Fries (PHP90) and Half and Half of Chicken and ShrimpSkewers (PHP785). I was also in the mood to drink that night so we ordered a carafe of red sangria (PHP370).

First served was the plate of Piri-Piri fries with sour cream dip. It had a tangy flavor that made it addicting. (Fine, I’m biased as I love anything tangy.)

Next served was the red sangria with fruit chunks. J and I munched on the fruits as palate cleanser and dessert. I didn’t get a hint of the wine though.

And finally, the Half and Half was served.

Okay, it looked a bit sad but the taste did not disappoint.

The chickenthough was a bit drier compared to the first time I went there. The shrimps on the other hand were a bit bland so you might want to keep the Piri-Piri sauce beside you if you order this one.

The sides—cream of corn and spinach were delightful as always. The olive rice made the meal extra yummy too.

Thank you, Gostoso for another great meal. Hope you enjoyed your meal, J.

Gostoso is located at 51-B East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

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Restaurant Love: House of Wagyu Stone Grill

Kapitolyo Food Stop: Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina

Kapitolyo Food Stop: Tomahawk Chops & Grill

Restaurant Discovery: Calderon Spanish Cocina Tapas y Bebidas

Traffic Advisory: Friday Madness

Restaurant Love: Leona's Art Restaurant

Restaurant Discovery: Moku Japanese Cuisine

Japanese Love: Green Tea Mochi

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Restaurant Love: Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar

Revisited: Recipes by Café Metro

Restaurant Discovery: Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings

Best Crispy Pata in Town: Livestock PH

Restaurant Love: Spätzle Euro Market Café

Ti Amo: Lombardi's

Mystery Solved: Mystery Manila's Haunted Hunt

A Reply to A Letter From The Love You Haven't Met Yet

Gusto Ko Sa Gostoso (Piri-Piri Chicken)