When you've satisfied yourself with a good movie, what usually comes next is a search to devour. Much so, if watching is actually a 'work' thing. Let me add to the riddle that since it's work, you just have to find one decent spot to feast- in this case, that floor in Resorts World Manila with cinemas.

Just a few spots away, The Sizzlin' Pepper Steak attracts you with what sizzles.

The interior feels homey with the wooden ensemble and all, coupled with the smoke that sizzles everywhere. You'd find the resto's concept really cool and cute.

First, they have this standee where you just flip 'mooooove' if you want a waiter to tend to you or 'stop' if you want to put things in normal. Needless to say, you don't have to raise your hands to get attention. Cool.

Then, when your sizzling order arrives (unless it doesn't), the protocol is 1.) turn it (because the upper part isn't that cooked yet) then 2.) you pour the sizzlin' sauce and 3.) mix it. You'd find this really enjoyable and unique for something that's not shabu-shabu. It's also a good waiting time to cool it too.

To add to the thrill, (a.k.a your liberty to choose your own pepper adventure) they also have 7 sizzlin' sauces to choose from. When in doubt, just follow what's on the menu. Anyhow, it's posted everywhere you can just help but manage to write while waiting:

1. Twist of Steak
2. Terikayi Trippin'
3. Hottie Tomato Steak
4. Teri-Mayo Duo
5. Marinara Connection
6. Gravy Kind of Love
7. Dippy Tartare Cream

After the smoke effect and all, taaaadaaaaa!

Pork Barbeque Pepper Rice at Php 223 served with iced tea and teriyaki trippin' sauce

The Pork Barbeque Pepper Rice is just normal, nothing really so fantabulous with the flavor. The serving of rice is hefty but not so much with the pork.

Sizzlin' Soya Cream Tuna at Php 160 with (if I'm not mistaken) Teri-Mayo duo sauce

You have to go healthy at times, yes, so this came next (after brooding over if giving it a second try was worth it). From of the greens in the rice, there's no mistaking, it's an embark on the right side. Tasting the tuna alone can be a bit bland but when paired with the teri-mayo duo sauce, it's a good combination. The sauce is so yummy, you can't help ask for more and you'd be surprised asking for more doesn't really cost a penny (mentally took note of this).

Did it really sizzled? Literally, yes but then again food is just normal. Sometimes service can be slow too. But for experience's sake, yes it's a fun place to dine.

The Sizzlin' Pepper Steak has a branch in:


4/F, Resorts World,
Newport City, Pasay City


 

food blog food review Newport City Pasay Pork Barbeque Pepper Rice price Resorts World Manila restaurant reviews Sizzlin' Soya Cream Tuna The Sizzlin' Pepper Steak verdict

Monday, June 24, 2013

I've always wanted to eat in Hap Chan especially when its new branch opened along Alabang-Zapote Rd. Blame it on the “credit cards accepted here” tag hung on its glass walls, I thought it was that expensive.

Where will you take us?

But since we have a very special brother to treat on his 19^th birthday, we tried our luck in this inviting Chinese restaurant and feasted. 

A plate of Yang Chow (Php 230) is enough for a family of 5 but since we had equally special guests with us, we had two. I didn't appreciate their Yang Chow but my siblings did.

You can never go wrong with Sweet and Sour Pork (Php 250). Its yumminess lingered even after eating a spoonful of rice. The balance of its sweet and tangy flavor is perfect! I miss it everytime I eat sweet and sour.

Sautéed Beef with Broccoli Flower (Php 240) tastes just fine although for me, it was overpowered with my love for their sweet and sour pork.

Sliced Chicken with Two-Kind Mushroom (Php 250). Went healthy with this but in a goody-goody way.

Our pahabol order Braised Chicken with Sesame Seeds in Honey Sauce (Php 300). It doesn't look that inviting. I was surprised that it’s sweet (it's the honey!) and the chicken’s tender. 

Their serving is good for two to three people. Service is quite fast. I’m excited to eat again in Hap Chan and try other dishes. Even during eating our desserts in McDo, we still kept on raving about how we loved their food. *winks*'

  
Rating: 4


Hap Chan is located along:


Alabang-Zapote Rd.
In front of Jollibee 

Chinese cuisine food blog food review Hap Chan Las Piñas City price restaurant reviews Sweet and Sour verdict Yang Chow

Saturday, June 08, 2013

In a flighty night when McDonalds is usually craved, we swerved a bit and found ourselves in the bar strip of BF Homes.

We didn't party but we feasted in the yummy Mediterranean/Persian cuisine of Le Souk. Most of the foods served are flaming hot. Since I’m no fan of anything spicy, I tried their Picadillo in soft tacos (you can also choose hard). I got surprised with the feast on my plate. For only Php 160 I had two tacos, a bunch of potato wedges served with salsa or cream cheese. Although I prefer their potato wedges in garlic mayo. :) 

The photo might not be good, but that doesn't mean to say that wasn't a hit. 

Given its value for money, good service (although I’ve read other reviews saying otherwise), average ambiance (it’s a restobar in the first place) Le Souk is worth another trip.

Le Souk is located at:


283 Aguirre Ave.,
BF Homes, 
Parañaque

Aguirre St. BF Homes food blog food review Le Souk Mediterranean Picadillo price restaurant reviews verdict

Friday, June 07, 2013

Yabusog with my Yaburitong food buddies!

Yabu: House of Katsu is like a trip to Japan. Its animated walls, fresh from the land of the rising sun and condiments all complement together to serve the best original Katsu in town. Yabu isn't  all about the food, it’s the experience.

 Yahoo for Yabu

Yabu condiments + Himalayan pink salt

We didn't notice how fast or slow their service was. We got engrossed as their menu retold the beginnings of Katsu in words and in manga. And just before our orders were served, we made our very own tonkatsu sauce.

As we grind the sesame seeds, its aroma filled the air. That's our cue to pour a cup or two of the sauce, and we're now all set to munch.

Grind and Pour

I ordered the Hire Tonkatsu Set (Php 330), as opposed to Rosu because it doesn’t have fat.  It came along with Japanese Rice (I went healthy so I opted for brown rice), miso soup, Japanese pickles, unlimited cabbage with sesame dressing and a bowl of fruit.

Hire-kiri meal!

I enjoyed eating my Hire and did so effortlessly. The pork is soft in my mouth yet it’s crunchy on the outside (sounds like french fries :P).  Although I’m not a fan of miso soup, I banked on the unli cabbage to make a sulit meal. Speaking of sulit, I also was able to try Menchi (thanks to my friend, Kuya Ed who was surprisingly full at that time). It’s oozing with flavor, thanks to its oozy creamy cheese.

It’s a three thumbs-up for Yabu. It’s Japayummy and sulit! Not to mention their good service especially for new-timers.

Yabu: House of Katsu has a branch in:


SM Mall of Asia

food blog food review Hire Tonkatsu katsuretsu Menchi price reviews tonkatsu verdict Yabu: House of Katsu

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Status: INVADED!

What I haven’t invaded? My blow-by-blow account of the invasion with the Difficults! 

Malaysia, here we go!

Our Malaysian tour was a product of excel and research, in short D.I.Y. Maybe that’s one focal ingredient that made it 1forgetable.

The game plan was to start the tour in Legoland, Johor Bahru (but this is for another roll) and enjoy the succeeding in Kuala Lumpur. After our LEGOxiting and LEGOtastic day in Johor Bahru, we braced ourselves for a truly Asian treat!

Last 24 hours

We started our day with a hefty breakfast in Areena Diner. Our plateful (of thick and stuffy pancakes, tasty patty and eggs) was all we need for a 272 step-climb in Batu Caves.

 

One Malaysian energizer at Areena Diner.

Instead of going by train to Batu Caves, we commissioned a taxi in KL Sentral which costs RM 110 (Malaysian Ringgit). From the city, Batu Caves is just 30 minutes away.

The steps seemed unassuming; we were enthralled by the golden Hindu (or maybe our tummies were yet full) that we thought it’s going to be an average walk in the park. But of course, 272 is 272. Along the way, monkeys play, eat or pester guests that nonetheless, added to the thrill. I kept on looking at how far we've gone; how in the middle of the city, there’s something as breathtaking as Batu Caves. When we reached the summit, our friend Grace bought flavored water and to her surprise she saw a snake meddling with business affairs, nice.

Upstairs was a vast temple, we walked through it and found (to our surprise and dismay) another staircase with more statues. What’s remarkable about it was the open-air ceiling, like this inside the cave:

As I don’t know how to describe this nature’s feast.

 It was easier going down, of course and only then did we appreciate the birds owning the ground.

Our memento in Batu Caves

We didn’t have a hard time going to our next stop, Genting Highlands, because our taxi was waiting for us. The ride going to the Highlands was thrilling. We were literally scraping the mountain. From Batu Caves, it’s about an hour's ride.

We were dropped of at Highlands Station. From there, we took a cable car to the peak (2-way, RM 12). Forgive me for repeating but the cable car ride was so thrilling! Naïve to it, we screamed our up up and away. We had 15-minutes of 360 bird’s eye-view feast of Genting tropical forest.

Although at the top, we were kind of at the loss where to go but we did wandered in Resorts World (too bad most of us donned shorts, we weren't allowed to look inside the casino) and Genting Theme Park. We quite spent a considerable amount in Legoland that, it might have broken the heart of my friends, but they have to let pass this ride:

According to Cha: the ride that got away

As consolation (not me, never mind the ride), we bought ourselves sweets from Baskin Robbins because it's not yet in Manila. Yum yum!

I screeeeeeeeeam!

We didn't stay long in Genting Highlands because we already booked a 1:30pm trip back to the city. (Next time, I’ll make sure to see the Chinese temple and strawberry farm).

WHOAH!

We only had drinks and sweets in Genting that famished, we went back to the city. We had our super late lunch in a Chinese Restaurant (I forgot to mentally take note of the name of the resto and foods) near Petaling Street. We rate the yummy foods three thumbs up!

We had:

The best noodles ever! It’s served as a pancit but it’s the tastiest. It was stir-fried to perfection I hope I get to eat this again soon. So yummy I'll never forget how so taken I was!

This is Squid with salted egg. The ingredients sound ordinary but what a calamari this is! This made us conclude that dishes in this part of the globe are fusing with flavor.

 

What is Malaysia without a curry? This is just way hot for my taste buds, but definitely for the spicy goers, this is a good dish.

Our tummies were once again full. Since it’s still early to rest, we tried a tour-around the city via a hop-on hop-off concept. We started our course in Petaling Street since we were already there:

Our KL Hop-on-Hop Off map

This bus takes anyone to 23 major tourist spots in the city. That we started late, some parks were already closed by 6pm (but the ticket is good for 24 hours & can be used again the next day).

We found this bigger than life I <3 KL in Kuala Lumpur City Gallery when we went down for Merdeka Square and so this cute back-drop where we posed:

Mik & I in Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

The tour ended in the famous Petronas Twin Towers. And at night, it's truly a sight to behold.

 

My favorite shot of the twin towers

At the back of Petronas was Suria KLCC. We had our dinner in the peri-famous for peri-hot meals, Nando’s.

 

Choose your own adventure in Nando’s

Since not all of us are hot & spicy fans, we opted for the safe level: Lemon & Herb. We enjoyed the meal, but we were bashed for being cowards. :D 

  Notes from our meal: Not so brave!

But we braved our adventures and misadventures in Malaysia. Especially our Amazing Race going back to the Philippines. In hindsight, we laugh about it now and we banked it already on experience but for those giddy-travelers like us, a piece of advice: tickets are in military time. 1:25 H is not after lunch, but before dawn or else the plane will take off without you :P 

Areena Diner Baskin Robbins Batu Caves blog Genting Highlands Johor Bahru Kuala Lumpur Legoland Malaysia Nando's Petronas Twin Towers reviews Suria KLCC travel travel blog verdict wanderlust

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A premio is what drives you after a fully loaded week. It’s a trophy waiting to be claimed.

It’s not necessarily a new gadget, or shopping galore or a ‘pamper-me’ day. For as long as we stumble upon restaurants that will satisfy our cravings, it is good enough treat for us.

We found our February prize at the first floor of Best Western F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City: PREMIO.

Well Premio's a tad pricey for yuppies like us (and out of place maybe). But here’s when deal sites come in handy. After buying ours, fine dining here we come!

Here’s what we ate in the posh cellar-like resto:

Animal Fries (Php 240) will pass for sumptuous pasta! Never mind why it’s called animal, it’s just oh so good one shouldn’t get out of Premio without tasting this.

Pork Belly Kare-Kare (Php 580) is sinful and we can’t be blamed. Cheers to the flavorful peanut sauce made from scratch!

Chicken Karaage (Php 290) and we said yaaaaaaaaah in approval. The combination mayo is good-good!

Some of us aren't fans of spicy food but Premio’s Buffalo Wings (Php 290) is tolerable. Liked its goat’s milk ranch dressing. Yum!

Corned Beef Brisket (Php 420) is a corned beef with a twist. The combination of mustard potatoes, red slaw, and horseradish gave its flavor a pleasant surprise.

We didn’t give much attention to the Prawns Sinigang (Php 390) already as we were busy munching new to the eyes and taste foods. Maybe because it's too small? 

For dessert, we enjoyed:

Goat’s Milk Panna Cotta (Php 210) is a fare of goat’s milk, vanilla beans and triple berry topping.

The yummy Flourless Chocolate Cake (Php 210)! It’s one of the best cakes! Coupled with a la mode with vanilla ice cream and peanut butter polvoron, it’s truly a treat!

We burped and enjoyed our Premio experience. Although less attention was given to us (probably due to our discount), we’d love to visit Premio again and we’d still bring with us coupons! :)

PREMIO is located at:
32nd St., Ground floor,
F1 City Center, Fort Bonifacio Global City
Taguig

Animal Fries BGC buffalo wings Chicken Karaage Corned Beef Brisket F1 Hotel Goat’s Milk Panna Cotta lourless Chocolate Cake Pork Belly Kare-Kare Prawns Sinigang Premio price reviews Taguig verdict

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

It's a moot point to go overseas looking for fine beaches. Because even if I haven't gone Magellan-like searching, I am convinced, blindfolded, that the best paradise is just next door- well, actually an island next.

Hello Coron and I got my waterproof yet summery wear to enjoy you by!

Coron is a feast for the nature trippers. It can quench thirsty yearnings for greens and blues in an enchanting backdrop. To explore the many wonders of Coron, a 3-day tour might not be enough. Anyhow, this chunk of the pie is already delectable!

Of what I love in Coron:

1. Kayangan Lake! I don't have a waterproof cam and I regret not able to take a snapshot of Kayangan atop the hills. But what nailed it was the lake where we swam. It is just so breath-taking!
2. Banol Beach- Of the vast, sparkling expanse. WOW!

I only have a point-and-shoot camera yet see how the water reflect light.

Your 'red carpet' in Banol.

       3. Siete Pecados. Seven Peaks! Great place to see 'Nemo' and the gang. Perfect!

I'll be getting my point though with an underwater cam. 

          4. Off-road travel to Maquinit hotspring.

Been wondering why the soil is red? Because it's made of silica and dolomite, materials to make a ceramic.

        5. Jogging to reach the peak of Mt. Tapyas

So far yet so near!

        6. Fruit Shakkkkkeeees!- choose what suits your budget, from 5 pesos to grande 35!

    

Watcha:

• Island hopping is requires your one whole, undivided day, so make sure that you take in with you several 'whole-days'
• Souvenirs are much expensive in Coron than in Puerto Princesa. 
• Transportation is easy too, you can just take a trike, or better yet, walk. :)
• The locals are so used to non-locals. Left and right, tourists are everywhere! So this is the place to go find an Afam! :))
• Be careful where you go sing-along. It might get burned, for all you know. 

beach blog busuanga coron experience mt. tapyas Palawan paradise Philippines travel white sand

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Time! I finally gotcha!

A few months ago, when I came back to CPMC, I chanced to read upon View Magazine. Our selling tool not too long a time ago is now a travel mag. Then I realized that my innermost being wants not just to be any writer, but a travel writer. *giggles*with kilig*

But the travails! As we know, no one gets to go places without shredding a bit of skin. And I only have a few travel experience to babble about.

Hopefully, with those few in my pocket, I'll begin to digitally ink the paper.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I've been seriously thinking about the 10%.

But now that Coron trip is 2.5 months away, I don't know how to do all these math plus the things that I wanted done, have before the trip.

But there's no turning back now. I've made this indelible pact with myself. "Come and See", so I've read and reflected last night.

No turning back... yes!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

How far will I go for soul-searching? What will I give up to find my treasure? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is so bold, so aggressive that it's not "me". But then there's something in her adventures and introspection that magnets me to it. It must be the truthfulness of her revelations that touched some string in me despite our difference.

I don't have the wealth of a lucky writer, that I cannot, just at this point in time, travel over Italy, India and Indonesia to find "I" but can afford to Ilocos, Iloilo and the Island of Palawan...

Eat
To unravel the culture of Ilocos was one of those memorable college projects I had. Gastronomical treats for the eyes and tummy were unforgettable.

It could have been a precursor for heart attack, but Ilocos's version of lechon kawali, called bagnet is a must-try! Their orange-colored empanada paired with the local vinegar is curiously good, too. The original chichacorn especially the cheese-flavored one made me mad at its imitators sold here in the supermarkets! Why even try when not a nibble of its goodness was duplicated?!? And to top it all, Herencia Cafe's Pinakbet Pizza is truly delectable.

As for the eye's feast, almost every spot in Ilocos is worth munching. Paoay church, Cape Bojeador, Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud... all of them. The simplicity of the city, void of "city symptoms" wraps it all up in a good break too.

During that time, despite the dearth in moolah, I was determined to explore this country has to offer in little baby steps. The joy of meeting new faces, chatting with them, knowing much of their culture is priceless, too. Meanwhile, you don't realize it, but you get to learn things about yourself too.

Pray
I had been in Iloilo, but only in a fleet moment. The only thing that remained in my memory was the statue of the Virgin Mary while sailing from the port. Too young then, and so much full of myself to understand about praying and faith.

Pray. Faith. These are my treasures now. From then, if I grew in height and age, I am glad that my spiritual health is progressing too. And I am excited that I am learning much about my Christian faith. So that I am not just a Catholic in name but in words and deeds.

Yes, treasure. Without it I can't imagine how my life would be, and that is an understatement. For the meantime that I am nurturing this, I would be curt. Then maybe soon, I'd be able to fill this space with so much of His glory.

Love
We're not on the same page. Because the love that I'd be talking now is love of travel. And Island of Palawan, hopefully, please universe, I hope it wouldn't get cancelled under any circumstance.

Sorry, but that's all I can share under this title. But who knows (let me clear that I am NOT expecting, though) maybe in that island.... Well, these cheesy thoughts, must be the fault of this book and some people I know...

To be in love, well yes I believe that it's one blessing truly worth the pain and sacrifice.



The search for self doesn't stop there though but to go beyond means to find it is really one courageous thing to do. And time flies too, so to race for the prize is worth the sweat. But I am not yet that. I'm still the great procrastinator. Making deadlines that aren't met. Planning just so the planner gets inked. But maybe then, not to rationalize, this might be the reason for my writings... So that I'd get reminded once in a while. Hope I'll see myself soon embarking on that journey.

Eat India Indonesia Italy Love; Elizabeth Gilbert Pray

Friday, June 22, 2012