tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18885573824358957742024-03-13T15:44:27.561-07:00My Food TripsMy Food Trips is a blog site for my food trips around the country, and more. I started writing on Multiply, but I found a need to create a singular spot for all my food trips- whether rants or raves. So, I hope you enjoy what you read and see, as I share what I've tasted and seen lately.
Thanks and enjoy reading and eating!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-42918160933672856812013-05-03T04:17:00.003-07:002013-05-03T06:26:34.366-07:00Our (rainy) Summer last Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This scorching weather reminds me of the holiday we spent in Singapore a few months back. It was December, and it was so hot there. Good thing Singapore is well equipped with good public transportation or else we would go bankrupt taking airconditioned cabs. </div>
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We stayed at The Concorde Hotel along Orchard Road. We were with family and it was best that we stayed in a place where there were lots of food and shopping places nearby. I can see that the hotel has been operating for quite sometime due to the 70's-80's design, but it has been well kept by the management. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our room had a big nice bed and other amenities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We booked early so I hope we got a good deal for this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The view was pretty, we could see Orchard Road and the holiday lights.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">We walked around Clark Quay before dinner to see the sights.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For dinner, we went to this happening hawker's place called <b>Makansutra Gluttons Bay.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The tables are scattered outdoors. It just drizzled when we arrived, so we had to wipe down the tables and chairs before use. Also, it was so crowded so it is highly advised that you don't go there when you are starving unless you don't need to sit down immediately. There was a rest room nearby. Fairly decent. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my brother-in-law's friend's drink. It was just citrus with ice and salted dates. I got curious so I took a pic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Chili Crab, of which Singapore is famous for. It was good! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I couldn't get enough of this toasted cua pao which you dip in the Chili Crab sauce. Yumyum.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now these chicken wings made an impression. So very Filipino in taste because it had some smoky, sweet and salty flavor going on in there. These are called <b>Huat Huat Wings,</b> and they are a must try if you are eating at Makansutra. I wasn't able to order the Durian Kachang, and I am still regretful that I didn't order that.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The next day, before we went to Universal Studios, we had breakfast at a nearby hawker's place just beside the hotel. We had the traditional soft boiled eggs with toast and coffee. The eggs seemed fine. But the notion that everything is sanitary in Singapore was tested here. I can't say that the vendor we bought this from was THAT clean. Ugh. Oh well. I'm still alive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We went to<b> Universal Studios-Sentosa</b> the eve of New Year and it was crowded. Holidays are not the best time to got to amusement parks. It was so hot but then after sometime, it started raining so hard! My sister-in-law was all set to conquer this ride--but the rains didn't allow them to continue. It looked so dangerous!</span></td></tr>
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<b>Cereal Prawns</b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">For dinner, we visited No Signboard again. This was going to be our second time in Singapore, and M wanted the family to try this popular restaurant. I enjoyed the Cereal Prawns immensely. The sweet cereal and the salty prawns was Asian specialty at it's best!</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">White Pepper Prawns</span></b><br />
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The first time we tried it, we weren't impressed. This time, it was so good! M and I figured it must have been the kind of crab used that lent an extraordinary flavor to this dish. So good!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Chili Crabs</span>---enough said :)</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I didn't have any dessert on this trip. I would have wanted to try their famous ice cream sandwich by the Clark Quay or the Durian Ice Cachang. To the next time, I guess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Singapore is a hot city, but the food is surprisingly diverse and good. A really good reason to go back. Until then, I have this summer heat to remind me of this fun vacation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Keep cool, y'all!</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-6877946979430091462013-03-10T22:42:00.000-07:002013-03-10T22:49:17.827-07:00On High Land<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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M and I found ourselves driving off to Tagaytay one weekend for a meeting of his. We were invited to stay for the night at the posh Tagaytay Highlands. It was our first time and we were excited. We drove off early to escape the coding scheme on a Friday, so we found ourselves lounging at Nuvali in the morning.</div>
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For lunch, we went to <b>The Grill by Antonio's</b> to try their Chicken Inasal. But M found other stuff to devour. Give them time to grill your food. :)</div>
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<b>Chicken Inasal P110</b></div>
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It was okay. I like mine a little more garlicky and sweet-ish. It came with some annato oil and some fresh garlic, vinegar and soy sauce. Not the best I've tried, but was satisfied, nonetheless. :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grilled Hito P290</b><br />It came with a yummy side dish of Buro. mustasa or mustard leaves and eggplant. Quite good, actually.</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sisig P320</b><br />Chopped pig's ears on a sizzling plate. With chicken liver. Yum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the evening, we were invited to have dinner <b>The Highland's Steakhouse</b>. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">John Wayne's Prime Rib. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Nope, it didn't delight that night. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Salad with Liver the name of which I forgot. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sinfully good. Just too little greens I think to be considered a salad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The dessert of which we all had a taste of from a friend's plate, were scrumptious!!! Yes, the desserts were lovely. Sorry, no pics were taken.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For <b>breakfast</b>, I had some of the waitress's recommended Longganisa. Nope, it disappointed. Sorry.<br />.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pK3w7vlRbVE/UT1nrm07uqI/AAAAAAAACBM/Qh1_BQe-sJI/s1600/IMG_1968_opt+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pK3w7vlRbVE/UT1nrm07uqI/AAAAAAAACBM/Qh1_BQe-sJI/s400/IMG_1968_opt+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This pond is part of the Clubhouse at the Highlands. Such a pretty spot. This estate has so many beautiful spots, although I think upkeep hasn't been as often judging from some of the structures we've seen. So much more potential for this place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Until next time, Tagaytay!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-26364024924263277402012-12-17T07:09:00.000-08:002012-12-18T01:13:22.445-08:00Cool Taiwan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(This is going to be quite a long post as I have been remiss of my duties lately. )</div>
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We went to Taipei, Taiwan on the first day of November. After initially reading up on Taiwan, I stopped doing research when I realized that it was futile because we were going with a group, and I only had to follow. So after knowing that Din Tai Fung originally came from Taiwan, I let it go at that and packed our bags with a free mind (well, empty was more like it. ) I only knew that we had to eat at Din Tai Fung, and that was it. </div>
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When we arrived, it was cool. We loved the temperate climate. The airport was hazy and had a few pine trees. Dreamy climate. </div>
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Taipei is a very modern city. I thought it would be old fashioned. Like a huge Chinatown from Manila. But M and I agreed that it did feel like Tokyo. We were giddy. When we reached downtown, I saw many sidewalks with motorbikes parked on it. Motorbikes are the popular transportation of choice by the yuppies and some. It was Motorbike City. </div>
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Next to Din Tai Fung, M wanted to see <b>Taipei 101</b>. Only there did I know about it. Were were lucky because we were billeted in a hotel just near it. Around 2 blocks. It was so close, we had a view of it from our balcony. Lucky lucky us.</div>
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We arrived at around noon time, and we were left to fend for lunch on our own. M and I decided that we would explore the neighborhood. Just right behind Pacific Business Hotel, was this food strip of street food.</div>
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M was drawn to this stand. There were so many people lining up, and service was quick. It was just noodle soup. We waited to see how we would order. We waited for quite sometime until finally, the vendor looked at us...amused that we looked like lost kids. Or lost people. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3DcUvI8n24/UMH-WhBZ7AI/AAAAAAAAB44/cEo34X5qFMo/s1600/IMG_9279_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3DcUvI8n24/UMH-WhBZ7AI/AAAAAAAAB44/cEo34X5qFMo/s400/IMG_9279_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ0307XbZrc/UMH-Nq_BMAI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/xVKYmeQOFs8/s1600/IMG_9278_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ0307XbZrc/UMH-Nq_BMAI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/xVKYmeQOFs8/s400/IMG_9278_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's that big vat on the left side of the cart, and on the right side, hidden by the vendor , <br />are the bowls of add-ins.<br />We ordered the NT60 bowl - the bigger bowl. We shared the bowl just to try. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgJzRplGexs/UMH-URbGVcI/AAAAAAAAB4w/MMrwaBraPA8/s1600/IMG_9271_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgJzRplGexs/UMH-URbGVcI/AAAAAAAAB4w/MMrwaBraPA8/s400/IMG_9271_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After Googling this delicacy, <br />we found out that this is the very popular <br /><b>Oyster Vermicelli Soup. </b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJgE7U8Bo7Y/UMH-S3h158I/AAAAAAAAB4k/bJg_U-c1byc/s1600/IMG_9272_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJgE7U8Bo7Y/UMH-S3h158I/AAAAAAAAB4k/bJg_U-c1byc/s400/IMG_9272_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The vendor tapped one of the customers to teach us how to eat the soup.<br />We had a choice of condiments on the table like garlic, chili and green onions.<br />Not bad. But I can't say I would order it again. M loved this soup. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I was just thankful it brought back the heat to my extremities.</span></td></tr>
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Next to the Vermicelli stand was this dumpling stand. The steamed dumplings would be seared for a while before serving. Again, there were so many people lining up, I waited to see how to buy from him. Alas, he couldn't understand a thing. Luckily, a young lady in an office attire understood me and spoke English. She told me that one dumpling cost NT5 or 5 Taiwan dollars. </div>
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Shall I assume that this is <b>Jian Bao</b>? I LOVED IT. </div>
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The dough was chewy and the meat inside soft and tasty.</div>
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I wanted more!</div>
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Right across the stall where we bought these goodies was a fast food where so many people lined up too! It was lunch break, and office people were everywhere.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qylQtSbwdGM/UMHv-KDmRrI/AAAAAAAAB24/B72BD6f3wc0/s1600/IMG_9305_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qylQtSbwdGM/UMHv-KDmRrI/AAAAAAAAB24/B72BD6f3wc0/s400/IMG_9305_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I said we would have this to go, just so I can have this cute box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmjZ4mTt3T4/UMHva58K2jI/AAAAAAAAB2w/rzcH0K2plfg/s1600/IMG_9306_opt+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmjZ4mTt3T4/UMHva58K2jI/AAAAAAAAB2w/rzcH0K2plfg/s400/IMG_9306_opt+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I loaded our box with A LOT of viands. Let me see. Steamed Brocolli from the top right, Spicy Oyster with Tofu in the box, lower right, Rice, Beef with Spinach. It was a smorgasbord of sorts. Our favorite was the Beef with Spinach. <br />
It was so good. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIbB-rmTA8w/UMHvY5aavTI/AAAAAAAAB2o/9FagHnMf40I/s1600/IMG_9307_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIbB-rmTA8w/UMHvY5aavTI/AAAAAAAAB2o/9FagHnMf40I/s400/IMG_9307_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the <b>Oysters with Tofu</b>. Just in case you wanted to have a closer look :D<br /><br />After we got our rooms in the afternoon, and after doing some more sightseeing (or walking around the block), we were invited to have dinner at---- TADA!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc9wM5TbGFI/UMIcALmy8XI/AAAAAAAAB6w/_oEpxDw6Cwc/s1600/IMG_9379_opt+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc9wM5TbGFI/UMIcALmy8XI/AAAAAAAAB6w/_oEpxDw6Cwc/s400/IMG_9379_opt+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome to </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Din Tai Fung!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVdu4FMcWjs/UMIbdVSL8ZI/AAAAAAAAB6o/N4H1g4P64y8/s1600/IMG_9394_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVdu4FMcWjs/UMIbdVSL8ZI/AAAAAAAAB6o/N4H1g4P64y8/s400/IMG_9394_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tada!<br /><b>Xiao Long Bao</b>! <br />The star of the show, and I hope you can see why. Look at those swirls, so perfect. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ctohcrsHBo/UMHuaelwpdI/AAAAAAAAB2I/aeEzIJ0U_IA/s1600/pork+chop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ctohcrsHBo/UMHuaelwpdI/AAAAAAAAB2I/aeEzIJ0U_IA/s400/pork+chop.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fried Pork Belly Rice.</b><br /> I know so many like this.<br />The chops were moist, flavorful and soft. So soft, it feels like a patty.<br />I wasn't too excited about it, but M liked it very much.</span></td></tr>
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Spinach </div>
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Fried Rice</div>
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After dinner, we walked back to our hotel and made a side trip to a the Linjiang St. Night Market. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried on sticks smorgasbord</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They like their fruits.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Caramelized sweet yam or sweet potato.</b></span></div>
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If they stuck these onto sticks, it would be just like our camote cue!</div>
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<b>Day 2</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">National Palace Museum lobby</span></b>We weren't allowed to take pictures of the pieces inside.</td></tr>
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The next day, we went out for a day trip around town. We toured The National Palace Museum before lunch time. For lunch, we went to a restaurant nearby named Frogs. No, we didn't have frogs, thank God :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Wintermelon Soup, or so I think. It's so hard to ask question </span><span style="font-size: small;">in Taiwan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Please correct me if I'm wrong. This soup tastes and looks like Tinola, but has wintermelon</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">cuts in it. The soup is so comforting. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fCM_Ou0UXU/UMHHSouX2xI/AAAAAAAAByE/VOHjjnf9LHg/s1600/IMG_9463_opt+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fCM_Ou0UXU/UMHHSouX2xI/AAAAAAAAByE/VOHjjnf9LHg/s1600/IMG_9463_opt+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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Steamed Lapu-lapu</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beef Tendons. Sinfully yummy :)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fASBVIlCJww/UM7kATxRKJI/AAAAAAAAB-k/dWUIUiUBqR0/s1600/IMG_9486_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fASBVIlCJww/UM7kATxRKJI/AAAAAAAAB-k/dWUIUiUBqR0/s400/IMG_9486_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The Martyr's Shrine</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfcBBZ57cYA/UM7kj_SEA8I/AAAAAAAAB-0/V6ooWKolzm0/s1600/IMG_9551_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfcBBZ57cYA/UM7kj_SEA8I/AAAAAAAAB-0/V6ooWKolzm0/s400/IMG_9551_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2nWVi9Jlz0g/UM8mp7tRKwI/AAAAAAAAB_g/2zri5X0wHYI/s1600/IMG_9577_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2nWVi9Jlz0g/UM8mp7tRKwI/AAAAAAAAB_g/2zri5X0wHYI/s400/IMG_9577_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">This Cadillac was a gift to Gen. Chiang Kai Shek from </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the Filipino-Chinese community in the Philippines. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Ain't that cool?</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irqaDeD_c_g/UM80q9RAnmI/AAAAAAAACAU/fjh1RftrPwo/s1600/IMG_9586_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irqaDeD_c_g/UM80q9RAnmI/AAAAAAAACAU/fjh1RftrPwo/s400/IMG_9586_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Under this glass topped table is a model replica of Gen. Chiang Kai Shek's usual breakfast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">He likes his breakfast simple and healthy. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xkr0pYasTzk/UM8pKaPcVKI/AAAAAAAAB_o/1ULM9JVbi0I/s1600/IMG_9673_opt+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xkr0pYasTzk/UM8pKaPcVKI/AAAAAAAAB_o/1ULM9JVbi0I/s400/IMG_9673_opt+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the evening, we went up the view deck of Taipei 101. This was a portion of the lovely Taiwan lightscape. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Amazing place.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Adzuki ice cream, from the nearest convenience store.<br />
A cool way to end a hectic day.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Day 3</b></span></td></tr>
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On the third day, we took up the courage to take the train. It wasn't so hard. And they had a good "All Day Pass" ticket for tourists like us. We used up the card good :)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQhIWiRkmXY/UMGy2iXblxI/AAAAAAAABwY/nNKSJQ0M1gM/s1600/IMG_9837_opt+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQhIWiRkmXY/UMGy2iXblxI/AAAAAAAABwY/nNKSJQ0M1gM/s400/IMG_9837_opt+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the underground mall at the Longshan. There are a lot of handicrafts here. </div>
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This is the facade of the Red House. It used to be a theater which they then </div>
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converted in to an art gallery of sorts. I love the artworks inside. All modern and whimsical and fun. </div>
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There's also a cute cafe and a mini pasta bar. I can live there!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d27FH-LWIdE/UMGxhx4J05I/AAAAAAAABwA/ND7Zw9FGnl0/s1600/IMG_9908_opt+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d27FH-LWIdE/UMGxhx4J05I/AAAAAAAABwA/ND7Zw9FGnl0/s400/IMG_9908_opt+(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Check out those whimsical paintings on the wall. I love it here!</div>
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We had lunch at the McDonald's of Ximending. Shown here is a McDonald's Cheeseburger Meal. </div>
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The burger here is not that different from ours. But ours is beef-ier, I think. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aam1qu9EaNU/UMGxTe9zJUI/AAAAAAAABvw/1sVzog7DBIs/s1600/mcchicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aam1qu9EaNU/UMGxTe9zJUI/AAAAAAAABvw/1sVzog7DBIs/s320/mcchicken.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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McChicken.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNEuRfICT4I/UMGxLDJCKfI/AAAAAAAABvo/pyKxadcz43g/s1600/mcflurry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNEuRfICT4I/UMGxLDJCKfI/AAAAAAAABvo/pyKxadcz43g/s320/mcflurry.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Look at the spoon handle of the McFlurry there. </div>
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There's a rectangular pipe in the end, with a hook. </div>
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No, I don't know why the spoon looks like that.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1vjSVshJJ6s/UMGx8GXDWYI/AAAAAAAABwI/tjN99rAzB0Q/s1600/mrdonuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1vjSVshJJ6s/UMGx8GXDWYI/AAAAAAAABwI/tjN99rAzB0Q/s320/mrdonuts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I saw this Mister Donut Shop at the mall near the train stop. The Mister Donut here has lots of cruller type donuts. And they look so pretty too, don't you think? Maybe we can have these kinds too, Mister Donut Philippines?:)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N17OFaa4vUo/UMIY33i68II/AAAAAAAAB5w/3Mgb9bHDQ8o/s1600/IMG_0006_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N17OFaa4vUo/UMIY33i68II/AAAAAAAAB5w/3Mgb9bHDQ8o/s400/IMG_0006_opt.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rental bikes. How cool is that. </td></tr>
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Day 4</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sMwRQiqhh9g/UMG0mwPWqPI/AAAAAAAABw4/um3tT2UW7CM/s1600/dimsum.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sMwRQiqhh9g/UMG0mwPWqPI/AAAAAAAABw4/um3tT2UW7CM/s400/dimsum.jpg.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakfast : </span><span style="font-size: small;">I'm glad I was able to try this on our last breakfast at the hotel. M was raving about these dimsum- it's like meatballs wrapped in rice. I don't know what they're called. They weren't bad. But I didn't like them as much as the--</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iz8w5myRlyc/UMHaxqLS2hI/AAAAAAAABzQ/656GYnjPBhs/s1600/PORK+BUNS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iz8w5myRlyc/UMHaxqLS2hI/AAAAAAAABzQ/656GYnjPBhs/s400/PORK+BUNS.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Barbecued Pork Buns</b><br />
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These are actually tiny. A little bigger than a regular siomai, these barbecued pork buns<br />
are similar to asado siopao, but less of the anise-y taste. <br />
Just sweet barbecue sauce smothering the pork morsels inside. Yumyum.<br />
Breakfast buffet is not the same for me anymore.<br />
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After breakfast, M and I decided to go out for a walk one more time and bought more Pineapple Squares for pasalubong at the Jason's Supermarket, just right behind Din Tai Fung. We then decided to have lunch at Din Tai Fung one last time. </td></tr>
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This time, it was just the two of us. We had some more Xiao Long Bao ( for three days in a row!), and we finally tried this <b>Spicy Beef and Tendon Noodle Soup </b>which Taiwan is famous for. I liked all the beefy goodness, and the beef tendon fat. But the soup was a bit too anise-y for me. Hmmm. </div>
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I made M promise for us to drop by <b>Cama Cafe</b> at least once on this trip. </div>
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I found all the cute stuff on the wall endearing. No, it wasn't for the coffee. :D </div>
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Although, I did like the Roasted Milk Tea we had. </div>
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They have so many cute art prints on the wall, and vintage accessories like lamps and coffee makers. </div>
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The wood on white is just the kind of interiors I swoon for. </div>
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Love love Cama Cafe.</div>
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<b>My Roasted Milk Tea. </b></div>
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<b><i>Xie xie, Taipei. For the history and the food. We like you. We really like you. Xie, xie!</i></b></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-57024427945731675122012-07-23T20:42:00.001-07:002012-07-24T08:06:16.111-07:00Healthy Chicken<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QVwKcydlH80/UA4YsxdjBPI/AAAAAAAABsA/uCcopLUFftk/s1600/IMG_8142_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QVwKcydlH80/UA4YsxdjBPI/AAAAAAAABsA/uCcopLUFftk/s400/IMG_8142_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the second time I'm posting a home-cooked meal at home, and I hope you will like it. Why? Because I just found a great chicken brand at the grocery store. </div>
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Whenever my Mom buys raw chicken, she always reminds me to never forget to take out the slimy mucous that coats the flesh, the one that lies buried underneath the skin. She says it is that part that creates all sorts of diseases in the body. So I rarely buy raw chicken, because I know I have to do that tedious task of taking out the slime. Even with fast food chains that sell chicken, you will notice the slime underneath the salty crispy, breaded skin. Gross, right? Oh well, if you can't help ordering fast food chicken, just take out the slime.<br />
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Some say the slime is just natural fat and tissue. Maybe, but I just bought<b> Pamora Free Range Chicken </b>at the grocery, and the frozen chicken didn't have any slime or smell. I just rinsed the drumstick parts after they were thawed and made <b>adobo</b> out of it. It was so good. There is no secret recipe either. I just seared the parts in garlic, added soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves and black pepper. Simmer until the sauced is reduced. The pieces were tender and juicy. So good. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At P185 for five pieces, it wasn't cheap. I wish it was more affordable though.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Ziplock bag that it came in didn't have the characteristic chicken smell and slime that usually sticks to the bags that raw chicken comes in. Truly a revelation for me. :)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With brown rice and steamed sayote--yum!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have also tried the The Farm Organics label at The Landmark after seeing the post on Da<span style="background-color: white;">phne.ph, and the meat quality is also superb. The styrofoam plate that the raw meat is encased is easily rinsed too and leaves no trace of the characteristic smell of meat. </span><b style="background-color: white;"> So inspiring.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I wish we can all......eat healthy all the time! Take care!</span><br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-3658038260807340582012-07-13T02:05:00.000-07:002012-07-13T06:41:26.339-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">M and I spend a lot of time going to different places, I might as well turn this into a travel blog. Last Saturday, M surprised me on a trip to Bataan. He just asked me to pack for an overnight trip and asked me to trust him. Fine, I was anxious the whole time because I didn't know what to pack, whether we were going somewhere cool or warm. But I took his word, and relaxed, packed very little and waited for three hours. After seeing the Welcome to Bataan sign, I knew we were going to-<b> Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.</b> Ever since we saw the website a year ago, we've been meaning to go. There was even a Deal Grocer promo, but we weren't able to avail of it. I think there is still an ongoing DG promo for six people :) Check it out.</span></div>
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So we left Manila at 9 in the morning, and arrived in the resort at around lunch time. We booked a room ( lucky too that we had anything to stay in, because they were running out of rooms.Lesson: Book ahead.), We had lunch at <b>Cafe Marivent</b>, the main and only restaurant operating as of that last week. They serve classic Filipino and Spanish cuisine. We availed of the Set Lunch at P390 each. Not cheap this place. We had a choice of Grilled Fish, Pork or Chicken. It was accompanied by sauteed Togue, Crab&Corn Soup and Leche Flan. Satisfying but not amazing.. </div>
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After freshening up, we headed back to the main casa for the tour. There are tours every hour, until 4:30 pm. We took the 3:30 tour so we could avoid the possible rains in the evening. We were done in an hour or so. We took another stroll at the beachside after getting some Fishballs and Kikiam at Kainan sa Plaza Belmonte. Such fun!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fishballs were better than the Kikiam. And request for the suka (vinegar dip). :)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the evening, the resort management set up dinner at the grounds so we could also witness the folk dance presentation. Alas, it rained before we could eat. Although that was also a good thing because we had time to move in. </span><span style="background-color: white;">We ordered the following for dinner (also at Cafe Marivent):</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Yum, this is the best dish we've ordered here. The only one that we really liked. The salty and tasty bagoong melded the bitter vegetables very well. The crispy pork which was placed gingerly on top of the veggies is a great way of adding the meat without making it soggy. Yumyum!</span></div>
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I'm not sure if this was Blue Marlin, but the fish was cooked too long in the vinegar. It was okay.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the morning, we woke up rather late. Too tired from walking around the cobbled paths, we rushed off to Cafe Marivent before they stopped serving breakfast. We were given a choice of Daing, Longganis and Tocino.</span></div>
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The Longganisa (Pork sausage) was on the sweetish side, probably a Lukban recipe.</div>
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The Daing na Bangus (Marinated Milkfish) was large and tasty.</div>
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The Daing na Bangus won. </div>
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We could have stayed longer. But then, it's not going to be very hard to come back. Someday soon, we will. And we hope to get that studio shot :)</div>
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Maraming Salamat, Las Casas sa inyong mainit na pagtanggap. Sa uulitin.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-3230642127780652542012-06-26T00:31:00.004-07:002012-06-26T05:19:39.478-07:00Rainy Season Treat -Soup!<br />
The rainy, muggy weather is back. We're getting a lot of clouds and drizzle, and this means another round of rainy day food trips. What do you like to eat on rainy days? Most of us would enjoy something hot or warm like a cup of a favorite caffeine. Or maybe a bowl of hot soup. I like soup. It goes fast when I'm really hungry and satisfies every bit of my cells instantly. Must be why instant noodle soup is a popular staple food among the masses, but that's another topic :P<br />
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My all time favorite soup would be the Filipino favorite- sinigang. Steaming hot, sour and salty. I should be looking for my sinigang restaurant favorite. But since I got married to M, I've been getting used to all things spicy. It took me some time, but this muggy weather is reminding me of that bowl of spicy<b> Laksa</b> in <b>Toast Box.</b><br />
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As you can see from the date on the photo, we had this soup early this year. Quite a late post. This bowl is full of seafood and dumplings, the broth a spicy hot and creamy coconut broth. The bowl should be so good with rice, but I don't think they serve rice.(I think I've become really insistent with the rice issue.hehe). I can eat this thing in between gulps of water,while panting and catching for breath. We also had...</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I like toast and I like pork floss. So this sandwich should be good, right? Right! This one's great with the Milo or Horlicks Dinosaur. And the soup above should really have a cup of rice beside it. Maybe someday they can serve rice? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I want to go back soon. Enjoy the clouds, everyone :)</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-405766682461384482012-06-22T04:44:00.003-07:002012-06-22T08:06:17.720-07:00BHS Central Find Number 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had the busiest 7 weeks to date. It had been a series of events and family visits since May, and although it was fun I missed the blog. :D I did.<br />
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M and I went to a lot of food trips- two summer weddings, an office outing, and another getaway to one home province. In between, we went out to food trips with family who visited the metro. It was a busy summer!<br />
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When we visited Bonifacio High Street Central <span style="background-color: white;">, </span><span style="background-color: white;">we were happy to find new places to eat. It's so nice there. There's an arena and at the bottom of it is an interactive fountain, much like the one in Market Market, only bigger and nicer. :) Kids go crazy over this thing. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">We looked up <a href="http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/">Our Awesome Planet</a>, and found a good review of Stella, and so in we went.</span></div>
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Stella is a wood fire bistro, with a very elegant and light interior. I usually associate bistros with dark wood and hardwood furniture. Not this one. It seemed like a French cafe, actually. There was an adjoining bar on the other side of a wall with a tinted glass window- so we can fairly see what's happening in the bar while we're having dinner. <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Oh, and according to pareng Google, stella means star-this explains the star up above the top shelf.:) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For starters, the waiter handed us a basket full of bread and made us pick one piece of bread each. Complimentary. Kind of awkward this way of picking just one piece from a basket full of bread. This is the first time I've seen it done this way. I wish I didn't have to pick if I was getting just one piece. I wish they would change this. Or maybe we could pick from a menu instead of from the basket, if picking is part of the deal. Anyways, I picked a mini baguette, and M got a tomato bread. His choice was way better.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the dip for the bread. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Bone Marrow </b>(395)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">w</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">ith a yummy Rosemary Sultana Compote, Gremolata, Herb Garlic Focaccia Crisps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If there was any reason why we picked this restaurant for the evening, it was because I w<span style="background-color: white;">anted to try this dish. It wasn't roasted enough for me. But I did like the accompanying sides. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mediterranean NZ Lamb "Shepherd's Stew" </b>(495)<br /><br />This was M's dish. It didn't look large enough for him at first, since this bowl is a little small, but under the pumpkin puree is a lot of lamb meat. I think this was okay for him. Not amazing but better than the other dishes save for...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Stella Salad (295)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My order. I was going to make do with salad for the evening since it had bacon in it. But it looked so inviting that I had to share with the three of us. This salad is good. It had a light and creamy dressing, the bacon crisps were wide and salty good. So I shared, and I think I shouldn't have. Hehehe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>California Style Baby Back Ribs (395)</b><br />This was the other meat dish on the table. It was very big and tender. Sadly though, the sauce wasn't smoky enough for me. It was too tomato-ey. A good spicy and smoky sauce would have been perfect. The sauce does remind me to be more Middle Eastern in flavor. I think most of their dishes seem that way, including the lamb.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After dinner, we walked to a Happy Lemon outlet at the High Street. This was going to be my first time to try one and so I got their most popular flavor-</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I admit I expected to be weirded out. But I liked it!:D </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The cheese was a very light and frothy creamy milk on top of a strong and iced Jasmine green tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Refreshing! So glad we don't have to drive to faraway Mandaluyong just to try this. :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Rock on.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-74845815261201032292012-05-13T09:37:00.003-07:002012-05-14T04:59:39.825-07:00<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy Mother's Day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In honor of my own Mommy, I am going to post something I recently whipped in my kitchen, which reminded me of her so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just whisked together all the vegetables in the fridge and surprisingly came up with a pretty array of vegetables which I will call ----</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">You see, next to rice, my Mom likes to stir fry leftovers in our ref. She believes in using whatever is available or on hand:) This creation is meat free- the mushrooms add the protein component.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just sauteed some garlic, then added the shiitake mushrooms. I allowed the mushrooms to steam for a few minutes. After which I threw in some celery and then some broccoli florets and asparagus tips. I allow the veggies to know each other a little, and then I threw in some sliced carrots. I added some salt and pepper to taste. You can also add in some sesame oil if you like some nutty Asian flavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I threw in some boiled pasta spirals after, but this is also delicious with rice. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wish I ate healthy all the time. But I'm only human. But whenever I do find some beautiful produce, I am inspired to make some healthy creations for my M and I. I am so lucky he likes veggies too. This is so easy and, the results are so pretty to look at!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I hope I can make some when my family visits soon. In the meantime, I'm off for some greats finds tomorrow at the grocery. Wish me luck!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Happy Mother's Day!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-44550044363036546332012-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:002012-06-26T05:18:14.134-07:00Trying Japanese Fusion at Mangetsu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a rainy Friday evening when my lovely friend, Nice, invited us to Mangetsu on the eve of her birthday. Mangetsu is a chic Japanese fusion restaurant.</div>
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That evening, I was late. I had to wait for the dear M so we could go together for dinner. Plus metro people, you know what it means to get a cab on a Friday evening, yes? Horror. I had to surrender to a harassed Mom and a couple of shorts clad teenage girls at the cab drop off point. Plus, it was drizzling, etc and more excuses. :D</div>
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It's a good thing we still had some dinner left when we arrived. The first thing I noticed when we arrived at Mangetsu's doorstep were the colors of the place. Truly Japanese. Grays, beige, blacks and reds. I felt like we were back in Tokyo ( we were there last November, remember?) I loved the feel of the place. So authentic. We were brought up to the second floor where the gang was waiting at a reserved area. Cool. Privacy!</div>
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When we got to the tables, I gushed on the dinnerware. Sigh... lovely.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wzRr-G0WpWo/T6i4Oy_9-jI/AAAAAAAABjg/YZ2OXG36REo/s1600/IMG_5478_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wzRr-G0WpWo/T6i4Oy_9-jI/AAAAAAAABjg/YZ2OXG36REo/s320/IMG_5478_opt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am particularly enamored by this pretty plate.</div>
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And check out the cutlery. They use this really tiny slotted spatula as serving spoon. </div>
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The little bowl beside it is a condiment bowl. Cutie!</div>
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Wait. Food. </div>
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<b>Sushi platter</b></div>
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Too bad I didn't have some of this. I'm trying to avoid raw fish as much as possible for health reasons. </div>
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Oh, but I was really tempted.</div>
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This is a classic Japanese noodle soup with beef ,tofu, and leeks and lightly seasoned </div>
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with soy sauce and mirin. It was okay. There's better somewhere. But kudos to the staff for reheating it for the latecomers like us. Service is good :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cheese Tofu Gratin</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The piece de resistance. This is composed of tofu blocks swimming in a pool of spiced mozzarella cheese . I suspect the spice is nacho chips! It's soooo good, and when you get a block of tofu, the cheese stretches like forever! Ah, fusion! Oh, and check out the spatula again :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I wasn't there when they were ordering so I wasn't able to peek into the actual menu. But they do have a website. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You will also enjoy their artworks. I did! I love Japanese art.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> It's so detailed, and yet simple. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So calm, yet colorful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is my Cinco de Mayo foodtrip because my friend's birthday falls on the 5th of May. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Happy birthday again, Nice!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-46701354447046318162012-05-07T01:43:00.004-07:002012-06-26T05:18:38.761-07:00These crab cakes and that shake!<br />
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What is it about men and sports that drives them out of their caves and makes them travel from one "city" to another just to be able to watch a live telecast of their favorite game? It's crazy!! </div>
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M called me out of the blue to "invite" me to lunch at<b> Italianni's The Fort</b> because his favorite game was being telecast live at that branch. I had lunch when he called so the invitation was late, but the thought of him rushing there to watch that game was just too much for me to resist. I needed to get some baking ingredients at the grocery anyways. </div>
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I arrived after the game was over, and he was doing some work, and using the available wifi. I ordered a special on the menu-the Crab Cakes Capri. I thought they would be a light and filling supplement to my leftover pizza lunch :D Seafood is summer food! These were really good!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Crab Cakes Capri </b>(P175)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pure white, flaky, juicy real crab meat. Yum. Good deal!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There were 6 pieces to this order. M had enough of the pasta that he ordered </span><span style="font-size: small;">so he didn't get any of this. I was so full after. I think 2-3 people should share this dish. 2 would be perfect, 3's fine.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Strawberry Shake </b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was so hot outside... er, if you live in Metro Manila, I think you know how hot this summer is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I then ordered a truly refreshing Strawberry Shake that got me right in the mood to explore The Fort. It was full of fresh strawberries, with a hint of mint. I'm not so sure but I think this beverage cost as much as the Crab Cakes. Hehe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's so good that I would like to thank the Lord for the creation of the blender :D</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've had the Peach Mango from Shiok and this awesome Strawberry Shake </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">from Italianni's </span><span style="font-size: small;">to make this summer refreshing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What's your summer drink this year?:)</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-7973812698034438982012-05-05T12:47:00.002-07:002012-06-23T10:35:13.359-07:00Shiok in Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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It was a dreadful weekday. Hot & Humid. Then the rain fell. One of those days. Having missed Tonton massage Perea, we decided to try Tonton Massage's Fort branch. Have you ever had a massage before dinner? Try it! You'll feel light and hungry. Well, having your massage before meals is actually more ideal for the body, they say. </div>
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We parked right across the block where <b>Shiok</b> was located. Shiok is a Singaporean specialty restaurant supposedly reminiscent of the hawker centres in Singapore. This is what we had for the evening:</div>
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<b>Hainanese Chicken Rice</b></div>
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I'm not a big fan of the Hainanese Chicken Rice, because I'm used to having my chicken dry or crispy. But the garlic rice that accompanies this dish is yummy. M likes that it's moist and juicy.</div>
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This one was spicy and had way too much curry powder. <br />
I like Toast Box's Laksa better because the curry, spice and coconut milk was my perfect balance. I think M liked this one better though. He likes his food really spicy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peach Mango</b><br />
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This beverage served to refresh my spiced out taste buds. <br />
Alone though or without the laksa, it would taste a bit cough syrupy ( I suspect the peaches were the canned variety.) <br />
I am learning to prefer fresh fruit shakes instead of my favorite cola.<br />
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Hot summer and Peach Mango- nomnom.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-33821706362635915752012-04-26T05:31:00.000-07:002012-04-26T09:25:24.729-07:00Another good deal<br />
It was luck again when I chanced upon another good deal in <b>Deal Grocer</b>. A month before M's birthday, I found deal on the <b>7 Corners Lunch Buffet for P995+ net at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.</b> Last year, we got a deal at Sofitel Plaza.<br />
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We've always wanted to try the buffet here because it was one of the pioneering popular hotel lunch buffets in the metro.This year was our chance. I read some bad reviews of the place, but we had to see for ourselves. I booked a slot on the weekend right after M's birthday.</div>
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The buffet hall isn't as huge as the other hotels in the metro. In fact it was quite small. The buffet was lined up on one side of the hall, cut up in 7 corners. <br />
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Of course we attacked the seafood first. (We always do that. :D) They had lobsters, prawns, and hidden at the back , some oysters-which we failed to see until we had to leave. Boo!</div>
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This is the cutest pile of wasabi that I have ever seen.</div>
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It's almost a shame to blend it with the soy sauce. But of course, I did!:D</div>
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They had Chawan Mushi! It's a savory egg flan, that's almost like soup. </div>
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This version was a bit too firm. I think it was overcooked.</div>
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The seafood loot. </div>
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We also had some steak, which I wasn't able to take a photo of because we wolfed it down right away.</div>
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The steak was a bit thin, but you can always go back for more if you want. </div>
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It was cooked just the way I wanted it- medium well. Happy :)</div>
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This is my dessert loot. There was ice cream, creme brulee, a chocolate fountain (which wasn't doing so great that day), and a lot of cakes. I had two plates of cake, but this was my favorite batch- Ube cake, Chocolate mousse, Caramel Mousse. Good cakes!:)</div>
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They serve coffee and tea on the house, so make sure you avail of that when you try it there. :)</div>
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I will admit that we've tasted better and bigger buffets. </div>
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It is a delight though to know they have a good dessert corner :) </div>
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Have a happy weekend ahead!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-33340288002836258032012-04-23T23:02:00.002-07:002012-04-24T06:20:33.167-07:00Long Weekend at Home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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M and I got to visit home (Cagayan de Oro) last Holy Week. It was another good chance to indulge on food we miss.<br />
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As soon as we arrived, we found ourselves at:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hungarian Sausage with mashed potatoes <br />at </span><b style="font-size: medium;">Vienna Kaffeehaus</b><span style="font-size: small;">.</span> </td></tr>
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This Cebu franchise which serves Austrian dishes will always have a special place in our hearts. Wink. I ordered my usual Hungarian sausage and M ordered a cheese weiner with mashed potatoes too.The sausage and spuds have decreased in size. That was sad. The price increased too. Inflation is a heartbreaking thing.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This huge crispy and sugary banana-langka wrap is found in the streets of CdO. I don't know of anyone who makes Turon the way this particular street vendor does. No scrimping on the sugar, wrap, nor of the bananas and langka. When you bite into one, the coating breaks in sugary shards. You can actually see the shards in the photo. It's so big, so we cut it in half and share the calories. For less than P20--winner!</span></div>
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We also chanced upon the opening of a new branch of <b>Chicken Charlie</b> along Borja Extension, CdO. Now, we haven't tried this here in the metro because it was always so full at that time we tried. With the advent of all these crispy fried chicken craze that is Bon Chon, Manang's Fried Chicken and even Chowking's Chinese Style Fried Chicken , we had all forgotten to try Chicken Charlie. </div>
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with Soy Garlic Sauce & Hot Sweet Sauce (with the sticks)</div>
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These were big pieces of drumsticks. I think I like the Soy Garlic sauce much better than the kimchi flavored foreign counterpart. But the foreign counterpart has crispier chicken.</div>
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Cheesestick Dynamite- cheese and jalapeno rolled in lumpia. A hit.</div>
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Since it was nearing M's birthday, we were treated to dinner at another Cebu franchise- the Filipino specialty restaurant <b>Cafe Laguna</b>. Everything's always good here. We had-</div>
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They put mayonnaise. Not my thing.<br />
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This is so creamy, light and refreshing. </div>
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I like that it uses a vegetable to highlight the coconut cream based flan, so I can imagine all the beta carotene coming into my system while I eat dessert. </div>
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I forgot to take a photo of the yummy Kare Kare and the Sizzling Bangus. Next time.</div>
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That was a good dinner. And a really good home visit. :)</div>
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Until next time, Cdo. Have a great summer.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-81636107642851652842012-04-21T03:31:00.000-07:002012-04-21T03:31:55.516-07:00Talk about Dystopia<div>
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I was browsing through my Facebook contact's travel pictures in China, when I saw one of her posts regarding fake eggs in China. I was appalled! Fake eggs? There is such a thing? How do they look? What are they for? And WHY?</div>
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In this day and age when everyone I know wants to eat healthy and be healthy, spending more money on organic produce and meat--the thought of fake eggs in the market is CRAZY. </div>
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I checked on Google to see other news on this fakery and I saw this site where it provides how and why fake eggs are made-- check out this link on ---> <a href="http://www.chengduliving.com/fake-eggs-are-no-joke/">FAKE EGG</a>S.</div>
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I don't eat eggs everyday for breakfast, but I appreciate fresh eggs. You know it's fresh when the yolk and the whites are firm yet soft, breaks only upon a steady poke and has great color. How many of my favorite sweets and carbs have eggs? Noodles, bread, cakes, ice cream, flans, sandwich spreads not to mention my husband's favorite Chinese soups! </div>
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In the ideal world, all beings should be eating all natural, all organic food. If eggs can be faked and made from chemicals, there is no stopping the other food stuffs in your grocery shelves to be made from who knows what kind of laboratory experiment. What's next?</div>
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Eggs are the starting point of life. When that point of beginning is faked, the future should smell rotten. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-4023282085021811582012-03-23T10:33:00.002-07:002012-03-23T10:33:40.361-07:00Blasting the summer heat!<div>
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Summer time!</div>
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I can't get over heat. I have to have my cold water, juice, soda....name it! I now have a nice collection of chilled fruits in the refrigerator for the healthy version of all things good, sweet and cold. :D</div>
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But last week, I went to Jollibee with my Mom and we both tried their new summer offering .....</div>
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The Milo Blast!</div>
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It's like breakfast in a dessert version. </div>
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The buttery vanilla ice cream is blended with Milo powder, and a healthy measure of Milo Cereal. </div>
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Yumm!</div>
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I would prefer this one over Magnum because it's lighter, but then that's just me.</div>
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Happy Summer to all!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-54016420675492072422012-03-09T09:38:00.001-08:002012-03-12T06:10:50.166-07:00Incredible India<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello, everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How's the new year treating you? Since January, I've been in two trips, and many metro foodtrips. My latest trip, which I am going to feature in this post is exotic in every way- was in India. M had another conference (thank you, lucky streak) and I got to tag along again. Thank you, God :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wasn't as prepared for India as much as our previous trips. We were too busy, plus our visa was a miracle, so I did not get my hopes too high up for this trip. But there we were last month- in <b>India</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, India is all that we heard it to be- chaotic and exotic. Both good and bad- like the Philippines, or well like any country for that matter. We experienced the extremes though, from almost royalty to indignant squalor. A matter to be discussed in another forum. For now, I will talk about the food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am no stranger from Indian food. I actually enjoy having the vegetable samosas at a certain weekend market in Makati. I like ordering vegetable or beef kebabs, and have cumin powder in my spice shelf for my ground beef. I also have curry powder for those rare instances that I have some coconut cream and make chicken curry. So I thought, I wouldn't have a problem with the food for a week. I did bring some soda crackers, chips and sweets for the occasional hunger pangs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We got to taste out first Indian dish on our flight to Bangalore on board Singapore Airlines, via Singapore. I had a fish dish with a spicy tomato sauce, and M had a chicken masala dish. Both were good, save for M's dessert which looked like a yogurt dish with raisins</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the flight back to Singapore, I think we almost ordered the same stuff . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, that was our first Indian fare on this trip</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We stayed at an amazing hotel in Bangalore City.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It had a lot of Indian, British and Persian influences in its architecture, I think. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The standards were very international, and the breakfast buffet was superb.</span></td></tr>
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Day 1</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">M's omelette. They shape omelettes this way. I don't quite like it, but I am very amused. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a half day trip around the city- we had our first dinner at the hotel's resident Indian specialty restaurant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There were three of us, so we each ordered one dish, which the waiter graciously served individually in each of our plates, so we could taste each dish. We had fish and chicken kebab, while M had a lamb dish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our mouths were pungent with all the spices, so when the waiter graciously served us these after dinner mints, we were elated! There were candied anise with a a few combinations, also candied and dried fruit. Some looked like colored and sugared millet seeds. One of the bowls here tasted like lavender. It was fun trying out each of the mints. :)</span></div>
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Day 2</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had breakfast alone this time, because M had to attend a conference.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I got to take a few pics though, so I had a fun time. During the half day Bangalore tour, the driver recommended that we try certain Indian food, which I tried as soon as I recognized them with the name cards on each dish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the <b>Idli</b>. It's a savory rice cake, with nuts and a few Indian spices. It tasted like a salty puto (rice cake).:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> a spicy/savory doughnut made with black beans and flavored with ginger, coriander and others. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is not Indian, but I did want to highlight my favorite pastry in the buffet.- Danish butter pastry with strawberries. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm telling you, it was divine. :D</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were a host of other dishes, that I wasn't able to try and was too shy to take a picture of. Really, it's alright to take pictures in a buffet, right? I seem to cower in hotel buffets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">After M's 3-day conference in Bangalore, we flew to Delhi so we could take the tour to Agra. Sad to say that our food experience is Delhi was not pleasant. The business hotel we stayed in served almost the same kind of food in the posh Bangalore hotel, except that service was not good and it wasn't that clean. I don't know if the stay in Bangalore had affected our senses, but I'd like to think that cleanliness has a universal standard. So there. We also ordered a Tenderloin burger in their cafe, and the meat smelled awful. So awful, I couldn't eat it, and swore hence </span><u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">not to eat beef</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"> durin</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>g the duration of our stay. </u>We had KFC for dinner. Even that was not that pleasant, the servers needed more training in handling utensils, and I noticed a spot INSIDE the disposable soda cup, after drinking from it. Sigh. No, I didn't enjoy it. I really hope it was just that one branch at the Connaught Place that did that. Please.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The day after, we drove to Agra for 5 hours. On the way, we saw my favorite big yellow arches- McDonald's!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The McSpicy Chicken.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">No, they weren't kidding about the spice. Hotter than a KFC Zinger, it served to satisfy my hunger for a burger. We then resolved to buy the same thing for dinner.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The reason for being there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Majestic!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">After the tour of the Taj Mahal, we had lunch at a local restaurant that was recommended by our tour guide Mehran.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The one in front is the <b>Chili Chicken</b>, and the one behind that is the Chicken Tikka Masala. We loved the Chili Chicken, which was ordered by our guide. He says the dish is not featured on the menu, but is a local favorite. It was good. It tasted like a spicy chicken dish with an almost sweet and sour-ish sauce. The sweet was provided by the bell peppers and the sour notes, by the tomatoes/ M objects to my description of the sauce, but I think you will agree with me. Hehe. The <b>Chicken Tikka Masala</b> was just spicy, and paled in comparison to the Chili Chicken. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">They say the Indians from the north eat bread, and the south eat rice. And for this meal, we had Naan for our carbohydrates. M had the Cheese Naan, the guide had a garlic naan, and I had the regular Naan. I love <b>Naan</b>. Someday, I will try to make at home.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I ordered the Kebab Platter. Having had that amazing Kebab at Jamavar in Bangalore, this one was blah. Dry and not much flavor. The guide's Chili Chicken was the clear winner. :D Tip: Next time, let the guide order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The day after the Taj Mahal trip, we hied off to Singapore so we could take our flight back to the Philippines. Since we had to stay the night, M and I met up with his friend so we could tour the city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He brought us to No Signboard, a popular restaurant along the esplanade </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">which was highly recommended by M's boss.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> White Pepper Crabs .</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The history on the menu says that the restaurant was known for the White Pepper Crabs, and so this is what we ordered. I think we should have stuck to the Chili Crabs that the city is known for.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDmfqRW-Zc0/T1ojs_WQXZI/AAAAAAAABZo/IiNpGYXjRAg/s1600/IMG_4976_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDmfqRW-Zc0/T1ojs_WQXZI/AAAAAAAABZo/IiNpGYXjRAg/s400/IMG_4976_opt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Garlic Prawns</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saute Chicken with Dry Red Chili</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">No Signboard Seafood Restaurant gets the thumbs up! Yum. I hope next time, I will be able to make tummy space for the sidewalk ice cream sandwich. :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">For brunch, M's friend recommended that we go to one of the food courts along Orchard Road- the Food Republic, for some easy, fast, local fare.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IjAPgxrXcBw/T1ojvOxIRJI/AAAAAAAABaA/8SZXOu1JnA0/s1600/IMG_5062_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IjAPgxrXcBw/T1ojvOxIRJI/AAAAAAAABaA/8SZXOu1JnA0/s320/IMG_5062_opt.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">M had to have his coffee, so we had some of the local favorite- Toastbox Nanyang Kopi. I then had some Floss Thick Toast, soft boiled eggs and a Milo Dinosaur. The Milo D in GB5 is thicker and better.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hot Sauce & Garlic Sauce for the Hainanese Chicken Rice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">If M and I were sauces, he would be one and I would be the other. Guess which is which. :D</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ISVNy-o7t8g/T1ojxEE7t8I/AAAAAAAABaU/e4455e4lERc/s1600/IMG_5067_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ISVNy-o7t8g/T1ojxEE7t8I/AAAAAAAABaU/e4455e4lERc/s400/IMG_5067_opt.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Hainanese Chicken Rice.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">My second time to try Hainanese Chicken and this one was really good. Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I spotted this sweet shop at the Changi Airport. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a Malaysian dessert shop and each and everything looked yummy! I need my sugar!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Lapis Sago</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Feels like "sapin-sapin", but is softer, smoother, creamier. I am in love with this dessert.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Gula Melaka.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just like our "Malagkit" or "Biko", but with shredded coconut mixed in the layers. Sweet. Good with coffee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A sweet ending to an amazing adventure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you God for Thy guidance and provision. You are amazing!</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-33019709007834123552012-01-13T06:01:00.000-08:002012-05-10T10:40:15.141-07:002nd time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><a href="http://backfor2nds.com/">2nd's</a> </b>at <u>The Fort</u> is a restaurant on the <i>second</i> floor of a building at The Fort. I like this place for<i> two </i>reasons. It's ambiance and the food. I like that the place stays true to what they deem is good food, and did not attempt to stick to a theme. The first time we went there I ordered the Smoked Caprese Tower- a salad. I liked it, but I was enamored by my friend V's order- the <b>Beef Ribs Adobo</b>. </div>
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On our <i>second </i>visit last weekend, this is what I ordered.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beef Ribs Adobo (P545)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b><br />It's not cheap for it's size. I also think that only<i> two</i> people can share this dish, with a good large cup of rice. I wish though the rice was brown ( they served a cup of pristine white jasmine rice).<br /><br />Adobo is a quintessential Filipino dish of pork or chicken, or both- cooked in soy sauce and vinegar. Good adobo takes some time to cook so that the meat is tender. This one was made with beef ribs, tender and succulent-although I must say, not quite healthy. Could beat a steak dish. Highly recommended. </span><br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-32564480211131774272012-01-10T01:56:00.000-08:002012-04-27T09:08:21.397-07:00A Splash of Red for Good Luck<div>
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I don't really do luck and all that, but in keeping with the New Year, tradition and all things sweet and nice, I am posting this vibrant red Coca-cola thingamajig to greet everyone a sweet and sparkling Happy New Year! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaDMMKNc6AE/TwwL2rWckJI/AAAAAAAABVI/5LyjvwZUIiA/s1600/dec%2B1483.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695940662694547602" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaDMMKNc6AE/TwwL2rWckJI/AAAAAAAABVI/5LyjvwZUIiA/s320/dec%2B1483.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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Happy New 2012, everyone!</div>
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May the good Lord bless and keep us all as we usher in the new year. ;)</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-64731146938065745442011-12-05T07:14:00.002-08:002012-06-26T05:19:08.731-07:00Konnichiwa!:D<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>Hello!<br />
We were in two countries in the last four months. M was there for work, and I got to tag along! Lucky me!<br />
I have fallen in love with the "Land of the Rising Sun." It is so enchanting, I <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>understand now why some people gush about this lovely country.<br />
M <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>was excited to<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>see Fuji-san, while I was thrilled to be witnessing the "koyo" (fall season).</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We got both wishes and more!:)</div>
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<img height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-feHQGToj1fE/TtzpG2_cxtI/AAAAAAAABQk/uetqGEGSLbY/s400/IMG_0425_opt.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><u></u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On our first night, we went to this ramen bar, just a block away from our hotel <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>along Prince Dori. It was a tiny and busy place, with only bar stools for chairs and one lone counter for a table. It was a ramen BAR, but of course!:) The staff who assisted us outside the outlet didn't<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>understand much English, but did understood that 1.) we were hungry 2.) we wanted to<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>try good Japanese food. She suggested we order the bestseller on the list ( heaven<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>knows how we understood it was the bestseller!oh, I also remember the nodding and the thumbs up sign! :D)</div>
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<u style="text-align: justify;"></u></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8q17UEJGCME/Ttzk1eddedI/AAAAAAAABP0/WftYl-ES7c4/s400/IMG_0184_opt.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thick, al dente ramen</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nm33zOAjfZc/Ttzk-cMcWcI/AAAAAAAABQA/ZrnKMPOlHf4/s1600/IMG_0182_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682668591206128066" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nm33zOAjfZc/Ttzk-cMcWcI/AAAAAAAABQA/ZrnKMPOlHf4/s400/IMG_0182_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" width="300" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">Shio-based Ramen, with cured pork, leeks and an egg.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
YUM! First meal in Japan was a hit!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next morning, M had to attend a conference, and I had to look for breakfast on<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>my <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>own. Of course, I mustered enough courage to ask the front desk where the nearest <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>McDonald's was! Good thing it was only two blocks away! Yey!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ad0dsTftxOE/TtzkWMxXMrI/AAAAAAAABPo/wlhKHeTJBgg/s1600/IMG_0212_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682667899871244978" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ad0dsTftxOE/TtzkWMxXMrI/AAAAAAAABPo/wlhKHeTJBgg/s320/IMG_0212_opt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center; white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">The McGriddle</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">- mapled flavored pancake sandwich with an egg, bacon and cheese.</span></span></div>
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<div style="white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">Divine!</span></span></div>
<div style="white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">It was not easy ordering at <b>Mcdonald's</b> though, because not all knew how to speak in English. Good thing one crew member understood me and saved me from hunger!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AN5B4hXSe1U/TtzkP5KRTwI/AAAAAAAABPc/8TKtRTuNcoU/s1600/IMG_0328_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682667791527792386" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AN5B4hXSe1U/TtzkP5KRTwI/AAAAAAAABPc/8TKtRTuNcoU/s400/IMG_0328_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify;">I walked around <b>Chiyoda-ku</b>, </span>exploring the The Walking Map provided by the hotel of nearby tourist spots. By 3 p.m., I took my lunch fro the nearby <b>Family Mart</b> and had some convenience store ramen. All I can say is it was awful. Never again!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzp5xTJ6AV0/TtzkF5McFaI/AAAAAAAABPQ/1jNEplTMkWw/s1600/IMG_0332_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682667619738195362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzp5xTJ6AV0/TtzkF5McFaI/AAAAAAAABPQ/1jNEplTMkWw/s400/IMG_0332_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px;" width="300" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzp5xTJ6AV0/TtzkF5McFaI/AAAAAAAABPQ/1jNEplTMkWw/s1600/IMG_0332_opt.jpg"></a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzp5xTJ6AV0/TtzkF5McFaI/AAAAAAAABPQ/1jNEplTMkWw/s1600/IMG_0332_opt.jpg"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzp5xTJ6AV0/TtzkF5McFaI/AAAAAAAABPQ/1jNEplTMkWw/s1600/IMG_0332_opt.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span></a></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Good thing I bought this chocolate mallow cookie</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">to erase the memory of that ramen.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That evening, M had dinner with the delegates, so I explored the nearby fastfood joints.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAXHshWed2c/Ttzjyhhc7qI/AAAAAAAABOs/s-O4sdCeiac/s1600/IMG_0356_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682667286966365858" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAXHshWed2c/Ttzjyhhc7qI/AAAAAAAABOs/s-O4sdCeiac/s400/IMG_0356_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span"><div style="text-align: center; white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> <b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><b>Iwamoto-q's Tempura Bento meal.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> I l</span></span>oved the freshness of the shrimp and the fluffy rice.</div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50jUXHHVk78/Ttzjq095QyI/AAAAAAAABOg/gl03Uy3UxsM/s1600/IMG_0368_opt.jpg"> </a></span><span style="text-align: left;">I went to a nearby Family Mart for my dessert</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50jUXHHVk78/Ttzjq095QyI/AAAAAAAABOg/gl03Uy3UxsM/s1600/IMG_0368_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682667154746983202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50jUXHHVk78/Ttzjq095QyI/AAAAAAAABOg/gl03Uy3UxsM/s320/IMG_0368_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Azuki Mochi</b>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50jUXHHVk78/Ttzjq095QyI/AAAAAAAABOg/gl03Uy3UxsM/s1600/IMG_0368_opt.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="color: black; text-align: center; white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n5MzXZ1QZqY/Ttzjj7HIeII/AAAAAAAABOU/I9i3AVManFM/s1600/IMG_0369_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682667036137257090" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n5MzXZ1QZqY/Ttzjj7HIeII/AAAAAAAABOU/I9i3AVManFM/s320/IMG_0369_opt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the <b>Blueberry yogurt by Meiji.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPEN3Gla8sU/TtzjZ-pXIbI/AAAAAAAABOI/S-sDTJQir3s/s1600/IMG_0460_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682666865287438770" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPEN3Gla8sU/TtzjZ-pXIbI/AAAAAAAABOI/S-sDTJQir3s/s320/IMG_0460_opt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">This was my lunch the next day, I just got some</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b> </b></span><b>Onigiri </b>(rice balls) at Family Mart. I got one stuffed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span>with fish roe. Slimy but yum. I must say, I love rice balls!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Later on, it rained harder. I was invited by M's boss to join the dinner for later. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span>Embarrasing as it was to join the delegates, I gratefully obliged. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>Dinner was at <b>Shiba Tofu-ya Ukai,</b> a Zagat-rated tofu specialty restaurant. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <i> </i></span></span><i>Fancy.</i></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZC4QZ_iRmY/TtzjPLq4nqI/AAAAAAAABN8/fIL1hD2Bh4o/s1600/IMG_0520_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682666679804927650" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZC4QZ_iRmY/TtzjPLq4nqI/AAAAAAAABN8/fIL1hD2Bh4o/s320/IMG_0520_opt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sake</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V57tw_qySXI/Ttzi66rOM9I/AAAAAAAABNk/DSzr9gahP1g/s1600/IMG_0522_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682666331645555666" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V57tw_qySXI/Ttzi66rOM9I/AAAAAAAABNk/DSzr9gahP1g/s320/IMG_0522_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Candied yams</span></b>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRoN0cCWdBw/Ttzi305jPkI/AAAAAAAABNY/V9S-_MGKOG4/s1600/IMG_0525_opt%2B%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682666278555434562" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRoN0cCWdBw/Ttzi305jPkI/AAAAAAAABNY/V9S-_MGKOG4/s400/IMG_0525_opt%2B%25283%2529.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Pan fried Tofu with a teriyaki-like sauce.</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-23Yaiouhqjo/TtziwySKVoI/AAAAAAAABNM/eNrMaWDW03Y/s1600/IMG_0527_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682666157594269314" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-23Yaiouhqjo/TtziwySKVoI/AAAAAAAABNM/eNrMaWDW03Y/s320/IMG_0527_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sashimi</span></b>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iu8YFxIvvwQ/TtzisoHvy8I/AAAAAAAABNA/962PDYEtctA/s1600/IMG_0529_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682666086146755522" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iu8YFxIvvwQ/TtzisoHvy8I/AAAAAAAABNA/962PDYEtctA/s320/IMG_0529_opt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">Soft tofu in soya milk. Slightly salted. The odd one among them.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uELLJ41ADNU/TtzimcfFNqI/AAAAAAAABM0/EfFdoP85TC0/s1600/IMG_0533_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682665979944187554" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uELLJ41ADNU/TtzimcfFNqI/AAAAAAAABM0/EfFdoP85TC0/s320/IMG_0533_opt.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Grilled salmon</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="color: #0000ee;"></u></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wasn't able to finish the whole set. All good, but everyone got busy with activities.</div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span style="white-space: pre;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify; white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center; white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">The next day, we plotted to have breakfast at Tsukiji, but I failed to see</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"> that it was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">CLOSED.ON. SUNDAYS. Boo to me for not reading up on that.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; white-space: pre;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">We were so hungry because we thought we were having breakfast at Tsukiji, we got into a Family Mart along the area and got these for me.</span></div>
</span></div>
<div>
</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Warm lemon tea and a doughnut. The Japanese love their sweets :)</span> </td></tr>
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Speaking of sweets, we entered <b>Hama-rikyu Gardens</b> since it was a stone's throw away from Tsukiji Fish Market. Inside was a lovely tea gazebo, and we tried their tea special of green matcha and sweets for a <i>traditional tea ceremony. Love!</i><br />
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Lunch was at <b>Sushi no Midori Sohonten</b>. Will post pics at the latter portion, when I took them on the second visit. Yes, it was that good that we had to visit again:)</div>
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At dinner time, after hopping from one train to another, and experiencing the lovely Shibuya area, we had dinner near<b> Hachiko station</b>. We ate at this simple ramen bar. I had a chicken noodle soup, and M had curry.<i> The Japanese LOVE curry, we learned. </i></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This beautiful bento dish was what we had for lunch during the Mount Fuji tour. It was <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a delight to the senses, this array. Almost everything in Japan was beautiful. Even my lunch! Awww.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>M and I experienced the lights at Ginza and had some more</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></span>dessert and tea at a nearby Starbucks. :P</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Now, h</span>ere is the <b>Sushi No Midori </b>meal that we had on our last night in Tokyo.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Thanks to various Japan blogsites, we were able to try this delectable feast!</div>
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Oishi!:D</div>
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Me thinks this was made for the gods!</div>
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It was a steaming cup of savory egg custard soup with tiny pieces of shrimp that had settled at the bottom. </div>
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So good! This my first time to try it!</div>
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The popular <b>Ponzu-</b> teriyaki marinated eel over a rice ball. Nom nom.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">Yum.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">I was especially entertained by this lovely handful of rustic toothpicks.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">The lovely end to a lovely meal-Tiramisu.</span></span></div>
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Arigato gozaimasu, Japan!</div>
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Until we meet again. I really hope we meet again.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-40266948557396522802011-09-10T09:46:00.000-07:002012-04-27T09:07:40.420-07:00Island Paradise<div style="text-align: justify;">
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We were whisked to Boracay last month for M's office outing. We were so excited for the beach and the food!</div>
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Because there were meals provided by the hotel where stayed in, we didn't have to food trip all the time. For those times we could though, we tried our best to have the stuff I've been reading in other blogs. </div>
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For our first stop, we had lunch at Manana Restaurant, a Mexican restaurant that I read at Dessert Comes First and Our Awesome Planet which serves the most wonderful burritos. It was packed full when we arrived, and we had to wait for a table outside. Well, we waited by the beach so it wasn't so bad. :) Anyways, I must agree (and the husband heartily agrees), that the food was awesome!</div>
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M ordered this super good <b>Avocado Shake</b>.Perfect for the beach breeze!</div>
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Burritos</div>
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Hard-shell Tacos</div>
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The Burritos and Tacos were delicious! The tortillas were obviously freshly made, so it was all gooey and sticky with the cheese and the filling. Yuum. The Tacos were just as good. Save for the corn grits, everything was perfect! Our first meal in the island was a success. No picture of us two in the resto though, so boo!</div>
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The next meals were all sponsored by the office, so we had meals at the hotel. Our next food trip was for an afternoon snack the next day- a very long walk to JOnah's at Station 1 for the infamous milkshakes! M had a Mango Milk and I,</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><u>a Mango Lemon</u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><u>This photo was taken with the Instagram. That's my smile and my hand :)</u></span></div>
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In the evening, we had dinner at The Sandbar so we could also watch the Fire or Poi Dancers. Food was okay. But the burger we had at Nigi Nigi Noo Noo was yuuuuum! Fat, juicy, old-fashioned burgers, they were only P180! Soooo good!</div>
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We weren't able to get our hands on some of Real Coffee's Calamansi cupcakes. </div>
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Maybe next time. And I will definitely make sure that I will make it my first stop. </div>
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Have a nice Sunday!:)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-69873905538221852732011-08-14T21:50:00.000-07:002012-05-10T10:21:18.724-07:00Food Porn<div>
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I was checking out clothing (for a change! :P) on Team Manila, and I found this amazing food video on their blog by <b>Rick Mereki</b>. Food porn at its best= lovely shots +gorgeous hunk! </div>
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Click on this<a href="http://vimeo.com/27243869"> link</a>! Enjoy :)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-84722138525041599252011-08-12T10:31:00.000-07:002012-04-27T09:08:03.468-07:00Garlic and all things nice :)<div>
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I almost always cook with garlic. Save for desserts, and maybe soup, I can't imagine food without it. The onion may be forgotten, but never this white bulb. </div>
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We were in the Pasay area at lunch time, and hunted for good food at the gigantic (at least, for my feet) SM Mall of Asia. Facing the bay, we headed in Abe's for some Filipino fare and rice.</div>
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And true enough, my garlic-loving heart was happy here. M ordered a seafood dish and I ordered meat. Was hungry!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xX7TcQRPLo/TkVjpdgYI6I/AAAAAAAABI0/S98IWJwVLRE/s1600/DSC00369_opt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640023672297628578" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xX7TcQRPLo/TkVjpdgYI6I/AAAAAAAABI0/S98IWJwVLRE/s320/DSC00369_opt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><u>Sinuteng Baby Squid</u></span></div>
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span">Squid cooked in olive oil and garlic, they were really tender and melted </span>in the mouth like some seafood custard. Sigh.</u></div>
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Mutton Lamb Adobo</div>
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This is really flavorful and tender. Cooked to perfection, I had noticed only a hint of gamey aroma, a pleasant one at that. M loves goat meat. Maybe someday I will try this at home. And maybe, just maybe I will be successful. </div>
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All these and glorious, white, steaming rice. </div>
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So good! Abe's. I miss you :)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-14238662249960780962011-08-11T03:35:00.000-07:002012-05-10T10:21:41.635-07:00Sour Trip<div style="text-align: center;">
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Discovered at Food Court of the SM Hypermart Pasig is this Philippine </div>
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favorite combination of sour green mangoes and bagoong ( a fermented shrimp paste). </div>
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Dubbed as the Mango-ong, it is clean and crisp at P20. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ug1n9QKs8oY/TkOwtzwhLsI/AAAAAAAABIk/qJg-vT39JoA/s1600/DSC00390.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639545459432304322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ug1n9QKs8oY/TkOwtzwhLsI/AAAAAAAABIk/qJg-vT39JoA/s320/DSC00390.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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Mango-ong</div>
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Now, I can have a sidewalk style sliced manggang hilaw, and not be afraid of germs. Yipee!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-61808380817369937852011-08-11T03:29:00.000-07:002012-06-26T05:20:12.523-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwPAAGmU5Jc/TkOwA4YFZVI/AAAAAAAABIc/55oxQibzkf8/s1600/DSC00377.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639544687577883986" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwPAAGmU5Jc/TkOwA4YFZVI/AAAAAAAABIc/55oxQibzkf8/s320/DSC00377.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oz-Azavyq9o/TkOvlta0JUI/AAAAAAAABIU/gop-eW9ARa4/s1600/DSC00378.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639544220780078402" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oz-Azavyq9o/TkOvlta0JUI/AAAAAAAABIU/gop-eW9ARa4/s320/DSC00378.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1888557382435895774.post-85350781974842640332011-07-29T10:24:00.000-07:002012-05-10T10:23:18.441-07:00Of Brick Walls and Pasta Trios<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">My Mom and I like two other things other than food-- and those are hardwood and bricks. This place we went to last night was a lovely, rustic and romantic Italian restaurant called <b>L'Opera Ristorante Italiano</b> at The Fort Strip, with walls warmed up by bricks. I was staring at the brick arches and walls from the loft, and I forgot to take a photo. Imagine that.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But I did not forget the grub. M was in the mood for splurging on a Friday night.</span></div>
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This was his soup- the Minestra con Granchi or simply Crab Soup in a tomato base. He liked it, and I could see big chunks of crabmeat on top of the soup.</div>
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Please forgive me for the mobile phone shots. I ran out of batteries. Sigh.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This photo doesn't do justice to my </span><b>Minestrone Soup</b>. It was so good. Earthy. </div>
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It was enough to fill me up. But the night was young. </div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Trittico della Casa</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And because this was an Italian restaurant, I thought it was necessary to order pasta. We ordered the Trittico della Casa, a special selection of three pastas of our choice. So, the merry pinpointing began, where we ordered one from each category (Vegetable, Meat, Fish and Seafood).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They were good, but I am not going to do that again. It was excessive and not right. We couldn't enjoy each flavor on its own. Not again. But among the three, what stood out was the strong and pungent Penne Funghi Porcini ( under the Vegetable </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">category, leftmost)). The sauce consisted of a thick and creamy Porcini mushroom cream sauce. Good. The other two flavors were the basic Ragu Toscano ( Meat sauce) and the Vongole Bianco (Seafood). They were good too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVHJ3UeQCHQ/TjLvSWzOt9I/AAAAAAAABH0/9oCGjKb7_AA/s1600/IMG_0886%255B1%255D"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634829182431049682" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVHJ3UeQCHQ/TjLvSWzOt9I/AAAAAAAABH0/9oCGjKb7_AA/s320/IMG_0886%255B1%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;"> Tagliata di Manzo con Fegato D’oca in Salsa Tartufata con Spinaci e Asparagus</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But this one stole the show. Steak, medium well. Split into two.</div>
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Melts in the mouth. Salty, buttery. Enough said.</div>
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I only wish my camera was fully charged.</div>
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Their service is also good. Highly attentive waiters. :D</div>
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Bon appetit!</div>
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