Turo-Turo

UP Fair 2012: Status Change

2012-02-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

UP Fair 2012: Status Change

WOW! It’s already February, the so called month of love J.

What do we usually do during this month? Buy flowers, chocolates, big giant teddy bears with hearts, cards, jewelry, and whole lot more. We also would spend on dates, dinners, hotel bookings, and other sweet stuffs.

Yes, you could go with the usual gifts and places BUT wouldn’t it be better to try something new with the person you love.

Well, I have a suggestion! Why not go to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fair. It’s happening on February 14-18, 2012. During those nights there would be bands who would be performing live, plus raffle prizes.

I have decided to go on one night this UP Fair and it’s on the 17^th. The name of the concert that night is Status Change. They feature both local and international bands and artists like: Salamin, Julianne, Doki, Maya’s Anklet, Quest, The Crew (UP Street Dance Club), Stephanie Dan, Alarice, Every Nation Singapore, and many more! And they will also be giving away Apple Products plus other great prizes. I’m so excited!!! You get to watch great bands and win amazing prizes… now that’s a unique Valentine celebration experience!

Hope to see you there! J

For more information check out their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/StatusChange

or watch this:

http://youtu.be/-jfCf5rh_pw

-DOT-

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

2012-01-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Hey Everyone! This is the first for the year… and it is a late post J But nonetheless… I’d like to share how I spent the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year was on the 23^rd of January, but while waiting for that day to arrive my family and I spent the 22^nd by having lunch at a Chinese restaurant, Gloria Maris. We really felt the Chinese New Year celebration because of the wonderful interior of the place, which was red and gold.

We feasted on different dumplings and chicken feet. I loved their siomai (dumpling) it was packed with yummy steamed shrimp wrapped in dumpling wrapper (I’m not so sure what it’s made of though).

Dumpling Galore!

We also had Chinese-style fried chicken. It’s really different from the typical fried chicken because it does not have breading or gravy, instead the chicken becomes yummy because the chicken has the entire flavor. The sauce just compliments it. We had sweet and sour fish fillet as another viand. My mom loves sweet and sour. I like it too. I like how the crispness of the fish goes with the sweet and sour sauce… oh yum! And off course we had to have noodles (signifies long life –a saying). The name of the dish was crispy noodle with mixed vegetable. This type of noodle dish is my favorite because of the texture, the crispiness of the noodle complimented by the sauce of the mixed vegetable equals mouthwatering goodness. J

Chinese Fried Chicken

Crispy Pancit

Sweet and Sour Fish

On the 23^rd we had Tikoy! It is also known as the Chinese New Year Cake. It is made from glutinous rice and it comes in different shapes, sizes, and flavor. I was able to taste special Tikoy from Hap Chan Tea House. We cooked it with egg. We also did the same to the Tikoy from Shangri-La Makati. It was shaped like real koi fishes. It looked so cool and tasted good too.

the packaging of the Tikoy (fancy eh?) :]

don't they look awesome? :)

-Dot-

Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

You know it’s Christmas when...

2011-12-20T03:54:00.000-08:00

A taste of Filipino Christmas

I am truly sorry for not being able to post the past weeeeeekkkkssss (yes it was that long). J I have been teaching preschool kids these past weeks so I was tired and busy. But the long wait is now over….

If you ask me what is a symbol of Filipino Christmas I could say the parol (star lantern) or the belen (manger), but if you ask me what food symbolizes Filipino Christmas… I would say bibingka and puto bumbong. There are no direct English translations for these yummy Filipino Christmas sweet. It might just be called rice cakes but in the Philippines there are various types of rice cakes. These two particular rice cakes are mostly available only on Christmas.

Bibingka is made from rice flour topped with salted eggs, butter, and toasted coconut. While puto bumbong is made from a sticky type of rice called pirurutong, this makes the puto bumbong purple. It is then cooked in bamboo tubes by steam.

A few weeks ago I was able to eat puto bumbong from Via Mare. This was after going around the mall looking for Christmas decors. Eating this made me feel that it was Christmas already because traditionally puto bumbong would be sold alongside bibngka every simbang gabi (Christmas night mass). It was freshly made when I ate it. It was topped with toasted coconut and brown sugar. Oh boy did it taste good! It was warm and sweet… such a perfect treat J.

bibingka

the purutong being placed in the bamboo tube

off to be steamed

finished product :)

So if ever you find yourself in the Philippines during Christmas don’t forget to try puto bumbong and bibingka. J

-Dot-

Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

You know its Christmas (season 2)

2011-11-21T02:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

For the next days, weeks, and month I will be blogging on my “You Know it’s Christmas…” series. It’s now on its second year! J I hope you will enjoy the next few blogs J.

I also hope you would enjoy the Christmas season no matter where you are in life. I pray that despite all the business or craziness or festiveness of the season we will never forget why we have Christmas.

Advance Merry Christmas J!

-DOT-

picture was taken from ricekrispies.com :)

Yes! mama: nomama

2011-11-20T19:18:00.001-08:00

Yes! mama: nomama

Have you watched the movie “The Ramen Girl”? The star of the movie was Brittany Murphy. I really enjoyed that movie. It was fun and it was about ramen J. But I’m not going to write about the movie [check it for yourself J], what I will be writing is about a relatively new restaurant here in the Tomas Morato Area. The name of the restaurant is Nomama.

Nomama reminds me of the movie so much because of the restaurants interior the food. Yes! They serve ramen and what’s amazing about it is that they make their own noodles J. They serve really good food… good in a sense that it tastes great and looks great.

I was able to dine at Nomama last month (think if I’m not mistaken). My family and I had no reservations but thankfully we got a seat and it was perfect. We were seated on the counter table that was facing the kitchen and the chefs. We saw how the food was prepared. It was fascinating because it was like watching Top Chef because of the avant-garde techniques done to the food. At Nomama, we ordered tuna tataki and soba salad, prawn and red curry noodle stir-fry, Japanese steak and fries, and, of course, Nomama ramen [when in a ramen place one must eat ramen J]. The food was delicious and delightful. The flavors and textures were awesome! J Here are some pictures:

*i was not able to get the picture of the ramen because my dad ate it right away :) (it's that good hehehe)

Chef Him Uy de Baron

tuna tataki and soba salad (the tuna was gooood!)

prawn and red curry noodle stir-fry

japanese steak

That’s all for now! ありがとう

-DOT-

For more information on Nomama check out:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nomama/268437836506070?sk=wall#!/pages/Nomama/268437836506070

Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

The Coconut House

2011-11-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

The Coconut House

Here in the Philippines the coconut tree is also called as a tree of life because most, if not all, of the trees parts are useful. The trunks are used as wood materials for furniture and housing. The leaves are used as roofs in small huts and sometimes in houses. It can also be used in weaving. But the part that has the most use is the fruit. From the husk to the milk, the coconut fruit is very useful.

One of the, popular, uses of the fruit is for food and drinks. At the Coconut House, located at the Quezon Circle, they serve different dishes that are made from coconuts. This place is certainly for coconut lovers … and foodies too. J

All dishes served at Coconut House contain coconut (duh! J) from coco-butter to coco-wheat crust. I love how they incorporate coconut in all the dishes and how good it tastes even if some of the dishes sound different or odd.

I am blessed to have visited Coconut House more than once and I enjoy my visit there every time J. Some dishes that must be tried (well, actually you should try all since their so coco-tastic J):

Pancit Buko- pancit is like stir-fried noodles and this dish is like pancit but instead of using egg/flour noodles it uses coconut strips

Laing Pizza- Laing is a spicy native dish from Bicol (a region in the Philippines) made from taro leaves… now this dish is good as viand but at Coconut House it’s also good as a pizza

Dishes from their binalot menu- theses dishes already some with rice and viand served in banana leaf

Coco Dessert Combo- No meal is complete without yummy desserts. Although Coconut House serve delightful desserts, I highly recommended this one because this is a combo of 3 desserts: suman latik, coconut ice cream, and buko salad [with choice of panda jelly or fruit mix]. With this dessert you would be able to taste coconut served in three sweet ways J.

Simple Buko drinks- what better drink to accompany your delicious dishes than fresh coconut water J

Binalot meals and Panghimagas(desserts)

Tanghap menu [viands]

Almusal [breakfast], Pampagana [light meals]

Laing BBQ (from the binalot menu)

Pancit Buko

Laing Pizza

Suman Latik from the Coco Dessert Combo

I love coming back to Coconut House because the dishes are new, inviting and refreshing… hope you could try them too. J

-DOT-

For more information on Coconut House check out:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/COCONUT-HOUSE/117524054952383?v=info

Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

Happy 1 Year Turo-Turo

2011-10-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Happy 1 Year Turo-Turo

I just checked my past blog entries…… and I can’t believe it been a year since I first started this blog!

1 amazing year of blogging… I am so thankful for all the readers that have been following J. I enjoyed the year and I look forward to blogging more amazing stuff J. Thank you Lord for allowing me to experience all this wonderful things and also a big thank you to my family J.

1 year baby!

thank you all these countries :)

Salamat [thank you!]

-DOT-

Almost Tagaytay

2011-10-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

Almost Tagaytay

FINALLY!!!! SEMBREAK!!!! I am so sorry for not being able to post for a long time. J School kept me busy but it did not stop me from going different places and trying new stuff –food. J

Last, last month my family and I had a long weekend and we intended to spend it in Tagaytay [known for cool weather and the Taal volcano]. Our family enjoys going to Tagaytay because of the wonderful scenery, light breeze, and delicious foods. This particular long weekend was due to a holiday, and so most people were also out and about. The traffic was really heavy going to Tagaytay but we kept going till it was an hour past lunch time (12 noon). We were hungry and we wanted to get down since our legs were cramped in the car. Luckily we stopped by this wonderful new place: Nuvali.

Nuvali was like a new city being built it was such a pretty place… so we stopped there for lunch. There were so many new awesome restaurants there but we went to John Bamboo. They served yummy Indonesian dishes. For our lunch we ate Tumis Kangkong Dengan Tempe, Beef Empal with Balado Sauce, and mixed Satay. The first dish I did not eat because I am allergic to soy products [bummer!]. But I did eat the Beef Empal and the Satay. They were booth spicy but in a good way. The beef was tender and juicy. J I loved the satay because the presentation was cool [they served it to you in a rectangular brick that had coal in it]. It looked like a mini barbecue grill. I also loved it because the seafood, chicken and beef were juicy and tasty and these are qualities that sometimes lacking in barbecued food. For dessert, they gave us a complimentary apple pie J [thank you John Bamboo].

Beef Empal

Tumis Kangkong

Satay <3

After lunch we explored Nuvali [we decided to just stay there since traffic was still bad]. There so many things one can do while there. They had fish feeding which was so fun and wild [yes, even fish feeding can be wild J]. They also have bike rentals if you want to bike around the place. One of their main attraction was the boat ride, where they let you ride a boat in their man-made lake J.

wild fishes :]

activities

restaurants at Solenad, Nuvali

We might have wished to go to Tagaytay but almost was awesome J.

-DOT-

For more information on Tagaytay check out: http://www.tagaytay.com/

For more information on Nuvali check out: http://www.nuvali.ph/

Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

A Cupcakeful of Joy

2011-08-15T01:24:00.000-07:00

A Cupcakeful of Joy

Hello everyone! I’m sorry for the delay… I just finished weeks of exam and projects in school [my explanation for the delay J]. The past weeks were stressful but people and different things around me helped me finish all those requirements. One of the things that helped lift my spirit up is a boxful of Cupcakes by Sonja (off course I shared it with my family J).

I love love love cupcakes especially cupcakes from Cupcakes by Sonja. Their cupcakes (the bread part) have nice moisture. It’s not really wet and not really dry—in other words just right J. When you bite into it, it crumbles perfectly into your mouth. They have various types of batter for the cupcake. They have chocolate, vanilla, Traditional Southern Red Velvet, carrot, lemon, peanut butter, and many more! They are ALL GOOD! J And if the cupcake doesn’t convince you yet… let me describe to you their divine frostings. Their frostings are light and silky to the mouth. It does not have a buttery taste but rather a smooth taste depending on the flavor of frosting. The frostings give the cupcake more life and “personality” J. Each type of frosting has the right sweetness. Together, the cupcake and the frosting, it makes a cupcakeful of joy. J Maybe it sounds silly but seriously a bite of cupcakes from Cupcakes by Sonja makes me smile J. Yep! It’s that good. But if your still not convinced… I hope you would be thru these pictures J…

open a boxful of joy :)

yum!

<3 <3

Or check out Cupcakes by Sonja’s website [it’s so fun J] : http://cupcakesbysonja.com/

Enjoy!

-DOT-

Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

A Sunny Idea on this Rainy Day

2011-06-24T03:46:00.000-07:00

A Sunny Idea on a Rainy Day

Right now, here in the Philippines, it’s raining hard because of a storm. And since there is a heavy down pour, I am stuck here at home.

To spend my time, I surfed the internet for something to see or do. While surfing the net, I stumbled upon an interesting Yahoo News headline that says… “Incredible photos of 'levitating' woman”. Now, who would not be intrigued by this? First, I was intrigued by this article because of the fact that people don’t just levitate and, second, because I love photos and photography J.

The article turns out to be photos of, Japanese photographer, Natsumi Hayashi from her website yowayowacamera.com. In her website, she posts daily levitating photos of herself and sometimes with other people. Her photos are so beautiful, creative, and inspiring. Hayashi’s photos are fun, cool, and sunny. It was such a joy to browse thru her works. It definitely made my, rainy, day warm and sunny inside J. Because of her photos… I now wish to have a photo just like hers or join her in her photos J.

Well, till I get my photo with her… I picked some of my favorite levitating pictures from her site www.yowayowacamera.com . Enjoy! [the captions are my personal insights :)]

i like this so much.. this gave me an idea.. what about having tea :)

awesome| surreal

halfway in

i like this so carefree :D

try flying out the train :)

this reminds me of mary poppins :) and since its raining here i'd also like to float away :)

-Dot-

Credits to:

http://beta.news.yahoo.com/photos/defying-gravity-tokyo-photographer-levitates--1308611593-slideshow/defying-gravity-tokyo-photographer-levitates--photo.html#crsl=

For more levitating photos check out Natsumi Hayashi’s site : yowayowacamera.com

Yummy Chicken!!!

2011-06-10T06:42:00.001-07:00

Yummy Chicken!!!

I love chicken so much, especially when their fried to delicious, crispy goodness. J My love for fried chicken was redefined by Bon Chon’s Chicken [available in soy garlic and hot and spicy flavor]. The chickens are crispy and tasty on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. You will surely love their chicken J.

from: http://www.facebook.com/Bonchon.Chicken.Philippines

Bon Chon is a South Korean restaurant now found in different parts of the world J. Here in the Philippines they are located at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Greenbelt 1, Megamall (bldg. A), and Acropolis.

-DOT-

check this site for more details: http://www.facebook.com/Bonchon.Chicken.Philippines

Sparkling Seoul [part 2]

2011-05-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

Sparkling Seoul [part 2]

Paris won’t be Paris without the Eiffel Tower, India won’t be India without the Taj Mahal, China won’t be China without The Great Wall, and Seoul would not be Seoul without the N Seoul Tower.

When in Seoul, don’t miss visiting the N Seoul Tower because it gives you a 360 view of the whole city. It also gives you wonderful panoramic views of the different parts of the city. It would be best to visit and go up the tower during late in the afternoon, to see the busy streets, till at night, to see the colorful night life in Seoul. Or you could just stay the whole day up in the tower as scenes change from early morning to sunset.

Riding the cable car is a great way of going to the tower

Going up Seoul Tower (via cable car)

Seoul (late afternoon, check out the cherry blossoms)

all of the window panels in the observatory have labels of diff. cities and the corresponding distances

panoramic view of Seoul (sunset and night)

Aside from the observation deck, the tower also has gift shops and restaurants at the top. But the tower is not the only thing to visit at N Seoul Tower because below the tower different things can be seen. Below the tower one can find the “Locks of Love”. Literally these are thousands of padlocks with different, shapes, sizes, and color that symbolize couples’ love for each other that can’t be broken. It is such a wonderful sight to see. Not far from the Locks of Love is a small version of the Teddy Bear Museum. The Teddy Bear Museum features teddy bears (of course J) depicting the different scenes in Seoul history. Speaking of history, the Beacon Lighthouse, a structure that serves as a lookout for the army, is also situated below the tower. And across the lighthouse is a beautiful pavilion.

Locks of Love <3

The Teddy Bear Museum

The pavillion

With all these sights to see, one can relax and dine at the different cafés and restaurants found below the tower.

N Seoul Tower at Night

I hope that I have given enough information on the wonderful N Seoul Tower… well if you’re not fully convinced… check it out for yourself J.

Till next blog! 감사합니다!

-Dot-

Check out this source for more information on N Seoul Tower:

http://www.nseoultower.net/english/nseoultower/intro.asp

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=260067

song in the video: Summer Parade by Depapepe

the Photos and the video are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

Sparkling Seoul [part 1]

2011-05-04T03:54:00.000-07:00

Sparkling Seoul [part 1]

I have just arrived home from my four day trip to South Korea, particularly in Seoul. I really enjoyed my time there. I loved the weather (since here in the Philippines is so hot), I loved the food, I loved the places, I loved the shops, but most of all I loved the people (they were so kind J).

So starting with this blog entry, I will be writing about some random awesome stuff I liked while in Seoul.

When in Seoul, make sure to watch a Nanta show. Nanta is a theatrical performance infused with music, comedy, drama, a bit of martial arts, and cooking. Nanta is a story of four chefs, a manager, the manager’s nephew and a wedding to prepare. As the characters near the deadline of the wedding preparation, they do all sorts of things like cook, play around, and make music. The characters do finish the task and finishes it triumphantly J.

Inside the Theater ( show was about to start and no cameras are allowed during the show)

You will surely have fun :)

As the show continues, I’m sure that the audiences will enjoy and really feel the performance. Nanta is for all ages and for all nationalities. Dialogue won’t be an issue since Nanta performances have few Korean dialogues but are accompanied by great acting and facial expression. I am sure of this because I too experienced it. It not only entertains you but it also teaches you some Korean culture like the music, traditions, and food.

So when in Seoul make sure you stop by to watch a Nanta performance or other great theater shows like Miso, Jump, and many more. J For more information on where to watch a Nanta show or how much would a show cost or questions regarding other shows, check out this website: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_3.jsp

-Dot

photos are owned originally by the writter ask permission or atleast acknowledge the source :)

Oh me! Oh my!: An Update

2011-03-28T05:13:00.000-07:00

Oh me! Oh my!: an update

Wow! It has been a while since my last blog… (Blame it on the academicsJ). I’m finally done with schoolwork and now its summer time here in the Philippines. These past week have been really hot now- an indication of summer!!

This blog entry is an update of blogs to come. I will soon be posting an entry on a new restaurant at The Fort. J I will also update you guys on summer happenings here in the PhilippinesJ.

Since summer is here let me just reminisce great beaches I’ve been to. The first beach worth reminiscing about is Boracay!! It is located in the Visayan Area of the Philippines particularly in Aklan. It is known for its long stretches of white sand shores and breathtaking sunsets. (I always find sunsets to be beautiful). There are a lot of great places to shop, eat, play, sleep, and more. When I was there, I enjoyed going back and forth to D Mall. There one can buy jewelries, shirts, souvenirs, food, drinks and many more!

Another beach that I would like to go back to is at Sipalay, Negros Occidental. This place may not be very well-known… but let me tell you... this place is so AWESOME!!!! The place is very quiet and still “untouched” (not to public and exposed). The sand is also white there J. When I was there I enjoyed walking at the shore, island hopping, and just chilling.

The last beach I would like to revisit and highly recommend would be El Nido, Palawan. There are so many good things I could write about El Nido… but here are just some things that make me crave for El Nido: beautiful clean beaches, clean and super clear water (therefore you see all types of sea creatures), wonderful wildlife, and lush green forests. When I was there I loved island hopping and swimming at the cool clear waters. Oh, I could just be lost in my thought right now. J.

I just love these beaches. If ever you’re planning for a seaside vacation… I highly recommend these places J. So that would be all for now! Stay tuned to my next blog entryJ.

-DOT-

Photos are from : http://www.tourism.gov.ph/SitePages/PhilippineBeaches.aspx and from the writter. kindly site or acknowledge owners when using the photos thank you.

A Wonderful Birthday Indeed

2011-02-28T05:32:00.000-08:00

A Wonderful Birthday Indeed

Last last week, I celebrated my birthday! Hooray for me! [Thank you Lord for Your faithfulness to me.] I thought that my birthday would be celebrated by having dinner at home or just watching a movie, but I was wrong. My parents had better plans for my birthday celebration. Although it was only celebrated by only me and my family, I had a wonderful time.

My parents treated me to dinner at Katre, a Mediterranean fusion restaurant. It is located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. It is described as a Mediterranean fusion because it combines Mediterranean dishes with Filipino cooking… and the marriage of both is just so wonderful.

For my birthday, my dad ordered grilled tuna on top of rice served with mussels and potato strings. It was very good. The fish had the right moisture and the flavor was perfect. My mom had chicken covered with a rich white sauce with mash potatoes and a tomato salad side dish. Again it tasted so good. The chicken was, I think, roasted since it still had a nice brown skin part. I loved the mash potatoes. The dishes my parents picked were really good… but I think mine was the best [biasedJ].

my dad's dish

my mom's dish

I liked the dish I ordered because it had the combination of my favorite foods. It had grilled chicken and pasta. These are my comfort food. The pasta was the base of the dish then it was topped with the grilled chicken then topped with potato strings. It was so delicious. The pasta had white sauce with mushroom and the chicken was grilled to perfection. The sizes of the dishes were just right for me and my parents to appreciate the wonderful flavor masterpiece.

so goooooood!

After enjoying our dishes, the management and staff of Katre gave me a complimentary chocolate birthday cake slice. It was very good. The cake was so chocolatey, but not too sweet and it had the right moisture. It was so scrumptious.

Truly I enjoyed my birthday not only because of the food but also because of the people who were with me. If you’re in the Tomas Morato Area and you’re craving for good Mediterranean fusioned dishes, stop by and dine at Katre… also be sure to check out their other delicious dishes.

-DOT-

P.S. sorry for the bad quality of photo… it was taken using itouch.

OH My Goodness!! (A Crazy late update)

2011-02-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

OH My goodness!! (A Crazy late update)

Oh my goodness… do you guys remember my last update on the Christmas blog series, entitled “You know it’s Christmas when…”? Yup, the last update where I greeted everyone a happy new year….

Well on that blog I did say that the camera I used to take pictures of the U.P. Lantern Parade got stolen. It’s still stolen BUT I found the memory card! Yey!! So this blog is to show you some pictures during the lantern parade. It was so pretty and colorful! Hope you enjoy!

BTW, I will soon be posting a blog entry that’s so special. J

-DOT-

College of Mass Communication

Asian Institute of Tourism

College of Engineering

The college of Fine Arts' theme was under the sea

photos were originally taken by the writter.. photos may be used but please ask permision or at least acknowledge the source :)

kung hei fat choi

2011-02-07T06:37:00.000-08:00

kung hei fat choi

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Yes! I may be late in greeting you… but anyway… here’s how I celebrated the Chinese New Year…

I was able to eat traditional tikoy cooked with egg courtesy of my classmates ^_^. My mom and I also ate tikoy that had a modern twist from Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli. We also ate different types of sweet hopia like buko pandan and ube macapuno, also from Eng Bee Tin. Eng Bee Tin is one of my favorite Chinese Deli places because they have the original types of Chinese delicacies and innovated delicacies. All of this food tasting happened before and after the Chinese New Year but during the day itself I did not eat tikoy or any traditional Chinese New Year food instead I ate a chocolate cake. Yup you read that rightJ!

Hopia with a twist

Not your regular Hopia :)

During the week of the Chinese New Year my mom bought a really cute and delicious chocolate cake from Icings. It was decorated with white rabbits, since it is the year of the rabbit, and a banner-like sign that says Kung Hei Fat Choi. All of this cake décor were made of white chocolate. The goodness of the cake does not end with its exterior but also the interior. The cake was moist and really chocolate-y. The inside of the cake had chocolate chiffon bread while the filling was chocolate mousse. It was so good… off course it is good since it has been made by Icings. I love icing because their cakes look good and tastes even better. They have cakes for everyone [children, couples, singles] and for any occasions [birthdays, weddings, etc.]. They are located at Dr. Lazcano St, Quezon city, SM Supercenter in Pasig, and Market! Market!

cute and yummy

delicious detail

Check out the cute rabbits ^__^

That’s all for now… be sure to taste their cakes! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

-Dot-

Buon Giorno!

2011-01-30T05:56:00.000-08:00

Buon Giorno!

Buon Giorno is Italian for good day! Buon Giorno is also an expression or feeling you surely will have after dining at Buon Giorno café and bistro.

Buon Giorno is a wonderful restaurant that first opened in beautiful Tagaytay. The scenery in Tagaytay was breath taking. While dining, you can see the smallest volcano in the Philippines, the Taal volcano. Buon Giorno Tagaytay is not only known for their beautiful cozy ambiance but also their great Italian food. They serve a variety of Italian dishes like pastas, pizzas, salads, soups, risottos, and many more. They also have a menu on Filipino breakfast like tocino, tapa, and others.

I think that the only problem is that it was a bit far from Manila (my place of residence). BUT, today this problem has been resolved because Buon Giorno opened its second restaurant at Rockwell Business Center (beside Medical City).

And because they opened a new restaurant my family and I decided to go. I could say that the view in Tagaytay is different, but the ambiance still radiates cozy Italian. During our dining experience we ordered the following dishes: Frito Misto de Mare, Steak Panini, Spaghetti Bolognese, Gamberretti e Funghi Ravioli, and lamb chops.

The Frito Misto de Mare is like mixed seafood calamari. It is deep fried seafood (fish, mussels, shrimp, and squid) and batter. Buon Giorno’s Frito Misto is not soggy but is deliciously crispy.

The Steak Panini was good. It is a perfect meal but could also be a yummy snack. It is sided by fresh salad and potato chips.

Paninis :)

Pasta is my comfort food so allow me to generously describe Spaghetti Bolognese and Gamberretti e Funghi Ravioli. Spaghetti Bolognese in simpler terms would be spaghetti and meatball. I love Buon Giorno’s pastas because of their rich flavored sauces. The Spaghetti Bolognese has a tomato sauce base making flavors rich and creamy. This pasta dish’s key player is the huge yummy meatballs. These meatballs are made from ground beef with various spices that makes that meat so yummy. The Gamberretti e Funghi Ravioli also has a tomato sauce base mixed with seafood stock (I think?). The ravioli in this dish is stuffed with mushroom and shrimp filling (the reason why I think this dish has seafood stock). When biting into the ravioli you could clearly taste the wonderful marriage of the mushroom and shrimp. Oh… writing this makes me want to eat one now J.

Spaghetti Bolognese.... with lots-a-meatbalssss

Gamberretti e Funghi Ravioli

mmmm!!!! :)

My dad was the one to who ordered the lamb chops. It looked good and tasted good. It is accompanied by mash potatoes and mixed vegetables.

Delizioso

All this talk about Buon Giorno really makes me have a Buon Giorno. So what are you waiting for?... have a Buon Giorno moment too. J

-Dot-

*for more information on their menu check this out:
http://www.munchpunch.com/restaurants/branch/menus/5066.aspx
*photos are originally owned by the author please ask permission when using photos. Thank you :)

Great things can be found just around the corner...

2011-01-12T04:44:00.000-08:00

Great things can be found just around the corner

[Patio Carlito & White House on the 84^th]

A new restaurant and restobar just opened near our place. The name of the restobar is White House on the 84^th. This place serves great Filipino dishes with a twist. Some examples of their delectable dishes are: Picha pie (a Filipino twist on pizza) and Chicken Adobo Wings (a Filipino version of Buffalo wings). They also serve a variety of cocktails and liqueurs.

both found on the same corner

Beside this new restobar is Patio Carlito. It is a Filipino restaurant with a modern zing. It is located at 84 Sct. Tuason St., corner E. Lopez Sr. Ave., Quezon City, Philippines.

menu cover

beautiful ambiance

During my dining experience I was able to sample 4 dishes. The first dish was Kinilaw na Lamang Dagat sa Gata. Kinilaw is raw fish that was soaked (so that it becomes cooked) in vinegar. Lamang Dagat is the Filipino term for seafood and Gata is coconut milk. This dish was very good. It was spicy but the bite that the chili brought was so good. The next dish is Adobong Kangkong with Crispy Cuchinillo Strips. This dish was also superb! The Cuchinillo (chicharon) strips were so good and crunchy. I was also able to taste their Tagaytay Osso Buco. Tagaytay is a wonderful place in the Philippines and to fully understand what an Osso Buco is here is a link of an example recipe: http://www.monterey.com.ph/frenchPorkChopShanks.html. The last dish I tasted was Classic Lengua. Lengua is ox tongue. This was my favorite of the night. The creaminess of the sauce was just right with the meat of the dish.

Dish 1

Dish 2

Dish 4

Patio Carlito offers very good food at an affordable price… this will surely make me come back for more J.

-DOT-

Myron’s Place: A place to be

2011-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Myron’s Place: A place to be

Found in Greenbelt 5 (Makati, Philippines) is a wonderful place. A place were wonderful gastronomic experiences happen. This place is Myron’s Place.

Myron’s Place or Myron’s serves fine American cuisine. Their menu consists of fresh salads, appetizing appetizers, mouthwatering steaks, scrumptious seafood, and so much more. The place looks really nice and the food taste better than how the restaurant looks.

During the noon before the New Year, my family and I were able to visit and dine at this delightful place. The place is quiet during lunchtime… so when we were there we were the only costumers they had. That afternoon we had a taste of four yummy dishes. The first was a plateful of Gratinated Mussels. It is an oyster topped with cheese, herbs, and spices then either baked or browned to let the cheese melt.

Yummy Oysters!

The second dish was a bowl of creamy pumpkin soup. It looked really good and tasted so good. It was not a thick pumpkin soup but it was creamy and so pumkin-ny (not a word but it describes the dishJ).

SOUPerb!

The next dish was a juicy well-done steak. It was so good… that I forgot the name of the dishJ. The steak was also served with sauteed garden vegetables, baked potato, and a choice of three House Sauces: Shiraz Cabernet-Shallot Jus, Brandy Pepper or Mushroom Sauce. I must say that the sauce allows you to taste the stake in different perspectives… which is awesome! J

The Steak with vegetables, baked potato, 3 tasty sauces

The last dish we ate was the U.S. Certified Angus Corned Beef and Cabbage. It was the real deal corned beef (not the canned type). It tasted good.

The corned beef

The dining experience was lovely and I sure will return to that wonderful place… Myron’s Place J.

~Dot~

Photos are owned by author. Please ask permission when using the photos. Thanks! :)

Happy New Year! ....(updates)

2011-01-02T04:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope everyone will have a prosperous new year ahead.

One of my new year's resolution, btw having a new year's resolution is great because it means you are setting a goal for yourself, is to blog more :) So hopefully... this year i will blog more on great stuff :)

Another updatre is that i promised to give an update on the UP Christmas Celebration... ummm .. i did go and i took pictures... lots of them... but sadly the camera i used got stolen and the memory sd card is missing.. [bummer!] so here is a link to UP's site and it pretty sums it all up.. : http://www.upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/index156.html

So I'm looking forward to more fun and exciting finds this year!

-DOT-

You know it’s Christmas when... IT’S Christmas!!!

2010-12-24T20:53:00.000-08:00

You know it’s Christmas when…

You know it’s Christmas when... IT’S Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone across the world! As the song goes… may your days be merry and bright. I also pray that we not forget the true reason for the season Jesus Christ.

Thank you Jesus for all that you have done for me… thank you for being my Savior friend and everything.

God bless everyone! May we all be grateful of what we receive this Christmas… may it be a simple letter, a hug, a kiss, a new car, new clothes…

In everything and in anything we must always be thankful.

Below is a favorite songs of mine.

Grateful by Julianne

Merry Christmas everyone!

-Dot

photo from:http://vintagemetalart.com/shop/images/christmasornaments.gif

You know it’s Christmas when... {UP celebration}

2010-12-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

You know it’s Christmas when...

Another sign of Christmas for me is when the University of the Philippines (Diliman) or U.P. celebrates the Christmas season with various activities.

The first activity, or the opening ceremony of all the events for the Christmas season, is the Pagilaw [ pagilaw means “to light” in Filipino]. During the Pagilaw, lights from different college buildings are lighted to signify that it is the start of the Christmas celebration in U.P. The next activity is the Karol Fest. This activity is an amateur choir singing contest among student choruses, wherein they sing various Christmas carols. The finals of this contest will be held at the Asian Center GT Toyota Hall of Wisdom in U.P. at December 13, 2010, 4 pm. Everyone is welcome to this event. Simultaneous to this event is the Pagandahan ng Belen contest. It is about making the best manger scene or the belen out of recycled materials. The winners of this contest will be announced on the day of the most anticipated Christmas event in U.P. … the Lantern Parade!

The Lantern Parade is the main attraction/activity that culminates the celebration of the Christmas Season. Each college and some organizations have a theme and they show their theme through lanterns, floats, and other things that light. I love watching and being part of the parade because of the beautiful lanterns and floats. This is open to everyone! [This makes it even more fun]

Here are some reminders and tips on the Lantern Parade. The parade starts at 4 p.m. of December 17 at the Academic Oval (Acad Oval). Be sure to go early because the Acad Oval would be swelling with people at around 5 pm. As they say the early bird catches the early worm [such a cliché], if you come early you are not only guaranteed with a good view but you also get to park your car easier. Bring your cameras, but make sure you keep it safe and near you at all times. Same goes to children because the place will be field with people it is best to hold on to children. Bring some snacks and water because the parade can go on till 8 or 9 in the evening. If you forget your snack or water do not fear! There will be food kiosk or food vendors around. After the parade… stay for some fireworks. Don’t forget to enjoy and have fun! J

-DOT-
P.S. I will be updating you guys on the happenings regarding the UP Christmas Celebration :D

reference: http://www.upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/index144.html
photo source: http://www.coolwindsresidences.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/lantern-parade.jpg

You know it’s Christmas when... {Krispy Kreme}

2010-12-05T02:21:00.000-08:00

You know it’s Christmas when...

For me, I know it’s Christmas when Krispy Kreme starts selling their holiday doughnuts.

For the past years I have not yet tasted any holiday doughnut since I would stick to the regulars. So last week, my cousin and I tried the new Krispy Kreme Holiday Doughnuts. We both choose something similar. We picked Original Iced Glazed doughnuts with Holiday Sprinkles. [shown below]

This looks like Christmas :)

Compare the Original Glazed from the Holiday Doughnut

These doughnuts were very yummy. It had the same base as the Original Glazed Doughnuts, but the thing that made this doughnut special and Chrismasy was the ice glaze and holiday sprinkles. The glaze is thicker than the original glaze which makes it a little sweeter (but not totally sweeter than the original… just a bit J). The holiday sprinkle definitely defines the doughnut from the regulars.

Along with the two types of holiday sprinkled doughnuts, the Snowman and the Present or Gift [I was not sure of what the name was (please forgive the writerJ)] doughnuts add to the Holiday doughnut series. As the name suggest, these doughnuts looks like a snowman and a gift because of the shape and design. The snowman had cute little details like a scarf, a nose, eyes, and buttons.

So before this Holiday Season ends… make sure you at least tasted one of these Krispy Kreme doughnuts. And oh! Don’t forget to comment on your Krispy Kreme Holiday Doughnut experience. Merry Christmas!

-Dot-

Choose one :)

Dizzy for Doughnuts? :)

Photos from: http://www.krispykreme.com.ph and writer

You know it’s Christmas when… [introduction]

2010-12-02T04:39:00.000-08:00

You know it’s Christmas when…

Starting today till Christmas I would start a blog series on Christmas and all things related from gifts to places to go to memorable Christmas experiences. Feel free to comment or suggest on specific topics you would like to be blogged about related to the Holiday season. :D

Christmas in the Philippines [click for more photos] :)

In the Philippine culture, Christmas begins when the “BER” months start. [September, October, November, December] which may extend to early January. Christmas Season is the truly the most wonderful time of the year when you’re a Filipino because this is really a time for families to have get-togethers. There are a lot of wonderful happenings during this holiday… so I hope that you would enjoy succeeding Christmas blogs :D.

-Dot-

Photo from: http://www.allaboutthephilippines.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/christmas-intro.gif

The Verdict: The Double Down Experience

2010-11-26T05:55:00.000-08:00

The Verdict: The Double Down Experience

Today was such a wonderful day; just two classes [which ended at 1 pm], a warm breezy afternoon [I love warm breezy afternoonsJ], and a delightful fellowship with friends. This afternoon I was able to have great time with my friends at U.P- Ayalaland TechnoHub. This is a great place for anybody since there are restaurants that cater to all ages. Flapjacks, Seafood Island, Pizza Hut, Reyes Barbecue, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are just some restaurant and food places found inside TechnoHub. Clearly there are different types of cuisines available. TechnoHub is not just about the dining experience but also the entertainment and shopping experience since one can find Timezone, National Bookstore, and CDR King inside the place. This place is also great for people who just want to walk around and experience nature. J

Now back to my day today… As I have said earlier I had lunch with my friends. We ate at The KFC store inside TechnoHub. Finally! I had a Double Down for lunch today! [well not just me but all of my friends] And here is the verdict:

It was smaller than what my friends and I expected [looks can be deceivingJ]. i was at first puzzled on how to eat this no bun sandwich… so I decided to use my spoon and fork [haha XD]. First bite was good. It tasted just like an original recipe KFC chicken. A couple more bites [here comes the cheese and bacon]. It tasted like KFC original chicken with cheese and bacon. For me, the bacon looked pale; unlike the bacon shown in the picture. I thought it would taste like something new. I imagined tasting a wonderful unique blend of chicken bacon and cheese. But I think it was the KFC advertising that got that idea in my head.

The Double Down

Writer and friends

I enjoyed tasting this new concept of KFC. Now I can say I’ve tasted it. I realized that good marketing can really make a differenceJ. I think I won’t go gaga over DD but I do appreciate it.

So now that I had my DD experience… what’s yours? J

-DOT-

Photos from: Cathe S. J thanks cathe

Jab! Jab! Uppercut! Double Down!

2010-11-25T02:38:00.000-08:00

Jab! Jab! Uppercut! Double Down!

Hooray! Congratulations Manny Pacquiao! He truly is a great fighter, another win for the Filipinos. It was so fun watching the fight because of the interesting throw of punches. It was entertaining and exciting.

Pacquio vs. Margarito

I was able to watch the fight on television and not on pay-per-view places via direct satellite, which meant commercial breaks. And men! The commercial breaks were really commercial breaks. Most, if not all, of the commercial ads shown were either sponsors of the fight or endorsements by Manny Pacquiao and his motherJ.

One of the new commercials was KFC’s new product the… DOUBLE DOWN! The ad was shown every after round, therefore causing a lot of intrigue to viewers. Well let me tell you this… it sure was effective. Nice one KFC! :p I would hear stories from my friends that in some KFC outlets it would be sold out early in the morning. I myself have experienced it. It’s crazy but I bet KFC likes all this craziness :D.

As of now, I have not yet tasted this new buzz [due to high demand and little supply]. But let me describe to you what it is based on how KFC describes it. Double down is a one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce.[information from http://www.kfc.com/doubledown]. Yes! No buns... and yes all meat [with a cheese and sauce]. SO far I have heard of mixed feedbacks some say it’s salty … while others go gaga over it.

For now that’s the verdict… I soon will grab a double down to see [taste] for myselfJ.

You? What’s your Double Down Story? :D

-Dot-

Photo from: http://www.facebook.com/kfcphilippines?v=wall#!/kfcphilippines and http://i.cdn.hbo.com/assets/images/sports/boxing/fights/2010-11-13-pacquiao-vs-margarito/pacquiao-margarito-fight-1024.jpg

A chewy Treat

2010-11-09T02:19:00.000-08:00

A chewy Treat

One of my newest favorite dessert/ snack place is Chewy Junior. This is located in Trinoma Mall, Quezon City. This is the only place one can find Chewy Junior in Manila.. i think :). Chewy Junior first started in Singapore and is now located in 5 countries namely: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Philippines.

Although the place in Trinoma is a small, I do not mind it because it’s the food that mattersJ. Chewy Junior is all about their hard crusted, soft filling and melt-in-your mouth creampuffs. These cream puffs are not your usual creampuffs because these are hard on the outside but really soft and chewy on the inside. Chewy Junior has a lot of varieties. Almond chocolate crunch, strawberry cheese, cheese ensymada deluxe, apple delight, and chocolate madness are some of creampuffs available at Chewy Junior. Each type of creampuff is good and different because of the different toppings and fillings that are oh so good.

Bring home the chewyness :)

you really gonna love it! <3

front [left to right]: strawberry cheese, blueberry cheese
back [left to right]: chocolate madness, almond chocolate cruch

right top most: apple delight [:

When I checked the official site of Chewy Junior [http://www.chewyjunior.com.sg/], I saw other types of creampuffs that are not available here in the Philippines. There were savory creampuffs (creampuffs stuffed with savory food like sardines, chicken, mushrooms, and many more) and mini puffs (small version of the creampuffs) at the original branch in Singapore. There were also other flavors of sweet puffs that are not available here in the Philippines like pandan kaya and fresh durian creampuffs [this sounds interestingJ].

I hope that in the near future other flavors and other types of creampuffs would be available here in the Philippines. But for now it is worth enjoying the yummy Chewy Junior creampuffs.

Happy eating!

-Dot-

for more information check the official site:

http://www.chewyjunior.com.sg/

Johnny Rockets

2010-11-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

Johnny Rockets

If you’re looking for a diner for the whole family… visit Johnny rockets!

Johnny rockets is an international food chain that serves American dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, milkshakes, and many many more! Johnny rockets restaurants also boasts their diner-style atmosphere, which includes the tables and chairs and music.

Inside the Tomas Morato branch

Yes, all you can eat fries!

Just last week I was able to dine at the newly opened Johnny Rockets branch in Tomas morato. Upon entering I was greeted by all the staff. It was surprising because I felt that the whole restaurant greeted me. The atmosphere was very cheerful and energetic the lights were bright and welcoming. Since the celebration last week was Halloween, almost all the employees were in costume. It was so fun!

I was able to sample their burger [#12], and two yummy sweet treats. The burger was good and is good for sharing. I forgot to mention they DO serve free refillable French fries. The two yummy sweet treats were their apple pie and their Perfect Brownie Sundae.

the writter and her dessert

The Apple pie was very good. The pie was warm. The crust had the right crunch and softness. It was topped with real apples, a vanilla ice cream, and sweet sugary syrup. It is good for an individual or for sharing. The perfect brownie sundae was also very good. Vanilla ice cream on top of warm moist chocolate brownie swirled with chocolate syrup is really a dessert to try when visiting Johnny rockets.

Johnny rockets would not be complete without the dancing staff, from waiters to cooks to managers. Every fifteen minutes Johnny rockets’ staff dance to music from the past, like music from the bee gees, Elvis Presley and many more. Johnny rockets is a fun, entertaining, and yummy place for everyone.

-Dot-

for more information visit:

http://www.johnnyrockets.com.ph/

Tinapa for all

2010-10-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

Tinapa For All

My lunch somewhat looked like the picture above. I had tinapa. Tinapa is a Filipino term for smoked fish. There are different types of Tinapa, like tinapang bangus (smoked milkfish), tinapang galungong (smoked mackerel) and others.

Tinapa unlike other fish dishes is simple to prepare and is not expensive (depending on what type). The easiest way to cook it is by deep-frying it, serve it with hot rice and you’re good to go. Tinapa can also be added in various dishes like pasta, pizza, salads, and many more. It also is a dish for all types of people. Young or old, rich or poor, tinapa will go with anyone and with anything. It is also a dish for any time of the day: breakfast- good with fried rice with tomatoes or with egg, lunch-pasta puttanesca with tinapa on top, snack- tinapa pizza (may sound weird but it tastes good :D), dinner-however you want it J

-Dot-

Let's Begin!

2010-10-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Turo-Turo is a Filipino word, which means “to point”. Thru this blog I wish to share where good food, good finds, and other great stuff can be found both from the Philippines and outside the Philippines. If you have any queries, comments, or suggestions, you are free to ask :D. Enjoy!

-Dot-