Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad

How was your Christmas Celebration? I hope that you were able to have a wonderful celebration!

As for me, I had a great time with my family. We stayed up till it was December 25 and greeted each other then followed by opening of presents. I feel so blessed with all the gifts I received this Christmas and I also feel blessed because I was able to spend the entire day with family (without having to do school work or errands).

For Christmas Dinner, my father decided to treat us in one of my mom’s customers. (Background story: My mom’s business caters to restaurants, hotels, and other food establishments. She delivers fresh fruits and vegetables.) The restaurant’s name is Tapella. It is located at the ground floor of Greenbelt 5. Tapella serves modern Spanish dishes. Their signature dishes are tapas and paellas.

So guess what we had…. J Yup, we did order paella and also other dishes. My father went ahead and ordered Croquetas Variadas,  Pollo Moruno con Couscous, and Rabo de Toro. Croquetas Variadas are croquets when translated in English. Inside these croquets are ham, salami, and mushroom. The mixture of the ham and salami together with the mushroom tasted good and different from the croquettes I have tasted in the past. Pollo Moruno con Couscous is Moorish Chicken on Couscous. The chicken was lovely. It was juicy and flavorful, without overpowering the chicken flavor. I have heard of couscous but haven’t tasted it before. It’s like rice but not quite. It has a different mouth-feel and taste. The Rabo de Toro was also good. My father picked right. Rabo de Toro is ox tail cooked in wine herbs. The first time I bit the meat, I was able to taste the wine immediately.  The wine made gave the dish an extra kick. The meat was tender and cooked right.  

Croquetas Variadas

Pollo Moruno con Couscous

Rabo de Toro

My mom ordered the Paella de Cocido. Cocido is a type of stew that is based on meat. And it did taste like it. The paella was yummy! I’ve been craving for paella and this dish satisfied it. J

Paella de Cocido

My brother wanted calamares, so he ordered Calamares a la Romana. The description of this dish is “Fried squid, Mediterranean way”.

Calamares a la Romana

Then there’s me, I wanted pasta that evening so I looked for pasta dishes in the menu. I didn’t find a lot of dishes, perhaps this is because the restaurant was Spanish J. But I did order Canelones Vegetal or vegetable cannelloni. It was so good! I thought the dish would taste rustic and earthy because of the vegetables, but it wasn’t. I loved it. It was covered with cheese, I did not know what cheese it was but it was not salty. It complimented the pasta really well.

Canelones Vegetal

It was such a great evening because of great food and great company. Next time, I would like to taste their tapas and other paellas. J

-DOT-

For more information check out: http://www.tapellarestaurant.com

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

Heart-felt Christmas

Heart-felt Christmas

        Well, it’s the most wonderful time of the year again! And I’m sure that most of us are done with Christmas shopping and whatnot . I’m also pretty sure that currently we are busy with parties left and right…

      

        In preparation for Christmas, I pondered upon the thought of “what gift do I give people that would show how grateful I am for being a blessing to me?” (what a pretty long thought J). One of the things that came to mind was to list down what I think a specific person needed. So I did, I listed the names of all the people I am to give gifts and beside it I wrote the thing I would buy for them. BUT not everyone on my list had a gift listed. SO, I thought of making hand-made stuff. I made a penholder/bookmark out of felt cloth. I had excess felt cloth from my last semester of preschool practicum so I made these. It’s not only a bookmark/penholder but the colors have meaning.

felt craft

[Yellow for heaven, because God has a prepared heaven for us and has a wonderful plan for each of us; Black for sin, because each one of us are sinners and because of this we are separated from God and His plans for us, Red for Jesus’ Blood, because Jesus, God’s only Son, paid for all our sins; White for clean, because of what Christ did we can be reconciled with God if we choose to; and Green for growth, to know what God’s plans are for us we need to read and grow in God’s word. J]

        Not only did I make these bookmarks/pen holders, I also made cards!! J I love making cards especially when I have cute and artsy materials. Thankfully, my cousins from Canada gave me these pretty foam cut-outs and also these sparkly sequins. I used scrap items such as old wrappers and old papers as backgrounds and base of the cards. I also used rubber stamps that were given to me.

Stamps, board paper, foam and glittery cutouts, wrappers

Here are some of my works:

Christmas Cards

Mini cards/ gift tags

        I believe that when we give handmade or handcrafted items they deem to be more heart-felt because the gift took time and effort. So, if your thinking of something different or are low on budget you may try making things. Just be creative and enjoy! 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 it’s Christmas (season 3)

You know it’s Christmas           

Hello December! Today marks the second day of December and you know what that means… It’s time for my “You know it’s Christmas” blogs! Hopefully I get to post more blogs this time :D. So, if you know and recommend a good place or great buys or delicious food for Christmas or related to Christmas comment away or send me an email and I will try my best to try it and blog about it J. Oh! It must be within the Philippines… specifically in Metro Manila for me to visit it since I commute J. But I do welcome suggestions! J Have a wonderful Christmas Season! Here’s to season 3 of “You know it’s Christmas”!

-DOT-

Photo was edited by writer, original candy cane photo from: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79677796.tip.html,  if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

Whozits and Whatzits Galore!

Whozits and Whatzits Galore!

Finally I’ve been to a 10A Alabama's Handmade Arts and Crafts Fair! For months (literally) I’ve been planning to visit it because I have heard and seen a lot of good things about the place and the arts and crafts fair. I love trinkets and small knick-knacks. I also make small quirky things so going there was really a treat for me.

Welcome!

For those who are not familiar with 10A Alabama, it is the address and the name of the place were handmade things are sold by various artists and crafters. I would say that this place and the fair is a celebration of art and creativity. I would describe the fair as warm and cozy because you get to see different the art pieces and you also get to talk to the artist themselves. I believe that there is something for everyone there. From dolls to jewelries to bags to sculptures to furniture, they have all things cute, colorful, creative, and delightful.

During my visit there I gravitated towards jewelries particularly earrings (I have an earring fetish… if there was such a word) J. I saw A LOT of beautiful earrings studs, dangling, and more. I couldn’t buy all that I wanted because I was working on a budget and I had to restrain myself J. So I went over all the booths and found one booth, booth owner was Jaime, that sold these cute food jewelries. No, the jewelries were not made from real food, but they looked like tiny versions of well-loved dishes. There were fruit earrings, burger necklaces, and pasta rings. Well, I have been looking for these types of jewelries for so long and I found them!! So I choose to buy two cake earrings one for me and another for a friend. J Oh! My dad came with me and he too found something to buy. He bought paintings… and he bought me and mom earrings J (sweet).

one of the booths that sold notepads and paper crafts

another booth that sold felt crafts and jewelries

food jewelries from Jamie

yumm!!

<3 

Hopefully 10 A Alabama would have another fair on December because I would surely love to visit again. For those interested, they would also be having a gift wrapping workshop on December (which I won’t be able to attend…BUMMER). For more information about this workshop and more information on 10 A Alabama visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/10aAlabama 

-DOT-

Title inspired by the Little Mermaid song. :) Photos are personally owned by writer, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

Yabu…dabado

Yabu…dabado

When you think of Japanese food, you might immediately think of sushi, sashimi, and tempura. Well, Japanese food is more than those things… and that’s a great thing! J Japanese cuisine can also be composed of rice bowls or donburis. One of my favorite rice bowl dish is katsudon and I’m so glad I found a restaurant fully devoted to katsu… and this place is called Yabu!

Katsudons are one of my favorites because it’s one of the Japanese dishes that don’t require soy sauce to be used. (I am allergic to anything soy). In other words, you can alter the dish without sacrificing the taste.

Ok back to Yabu.

My family and I were able to dine at their Robinsons Magnolia outlet. (Visit the new Robinsons Magnolia Mall it’s so pretty and uncongested there J). The place was full! The ambiance was great. It did not look like your traditional Japanese restaurants. As we were seated, I was intrigued by the food being served to the other tables beside ours. The food all looked the same. When I flipped thru the menu, I found the same thing. I was used to lengthier Japanese menus because of all the different types of sushis, appetizers, and others. BUT it was a good thing because it just shows that this is Yabu’s forte. So I ordered chicken katsudon set, my brother ordered the pork katsudon, and my parents ordered pork katsudons which were either Rosu or Hire. Roso and Hire were variations to the pork katsudon. MAN! The food was YUUUUMMMMYYY!!!!  It was the best Katsudon I have tasted to date. It was crispy, and not oily, on the outside and tender in the inside. It tasted best when drizzled with Yabu’s sesame-mayo or sesame-oil dressing. The set that my brother and I ordered had free miso soup, Japanese pickles, fruits, rice, and cabbage salad. Ohhh… did I mention that rice and cabbage in Yabu is UNLIMITED! J

Dad's food

おいしい

<3 <3

UNLIMITED! :)

Yabu was great! I would definitely return to Yabu soon! J  

-DOT-

Photos are personally owned by writer and some were taken from Yabu’s Facebook page, if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J For more information check out: http://www.facebook.com/yabuhouseofkatsu

GoodFellas: good food

GoodFellas: good food

                So I’m currently in Tagaytay helping out in a conference about children J. The weather here is perfect! It’s cool, windy, and sunny. The comforting weather made me think of a certain comfort food…burgers! Then I remembered that I haven’t blogged about this great place I recently visited.

                Goodfellas Steaks and Burgers is located at 56 T Gener corner  K-1^st Kamuning, Quezon City. It serves delicious foods, from burgers to pastas to steaks to so much more! I love the place because the ambiance is so inviting and interesting. It takes inspiration from the movie The Godfather so the interiors are a bit dark and masculine. I also like this place because its location is far from the busy street of Morato (But not too far away from it) perfect for enjoying their delicious food.

Leather seats... brick walls.. what's not to love? :)

                The last time I was there, my family and I ordered the following: Goodfellas Burger, seafood pasta (sorry I forgot the name), and Goodfellas House Steak.  2 out of 4 of us ordered the burger since that was Goodfellas specialty. It was yummy! It was 100 grammer charbroiled burger, served on an oatie bun with lettuce and tomato plus fries and ice tea. The meat was juicy and well cooked.  It was so mouth-watering and scrumptious.it is definitely a must try when there! Or try any of their burgers!

 

the Goodfellas Burger

            The seafood pasta was something new on the menu when I was last there. It was fettuccini cooked in a tomato-based sauce topped with clams, shrimps, and other seafood. I am a sucker for anything pasta so I loved this. The sauce wasn’t too oily and the seafood wasn’t too overpowering. Altogether it was delightful!

 

 

My dad was the one who ordered the steak because it seemed “masculine” at that time J. I did have a taste of it however, and let me tell you this… ladies should also try it. It was juicy and aptly seasoned. At Goodfellas, they serve 100% U.S. Certified Angus Beef which are served with mixed vegetables and mashed potato or rice pilaf.

 It was another fun time with the family! Certainly looking forward to another one at Goodfellas! J

-DOT-

For more information check out: Goodfellas Facebook page J

The last photo is from their Facebook page

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

Music of the Night: Phantom of the Opera

Music of the Night: Phantom of the Opera

 

                        Hooray! I’m blogging again! I apologize for not posting for several months nowJ…. BUT I’m back!

 

            So brief background on why I wasn’t able to blog for a really long time… I’m currently on my last year in college, which means I’m now deep in my majors. Some of my majors and classes this semester require me to teach preschool, create a seminar, write papers, and more. J All is well and I am on the last week of the first semester.
 

            NOW back to the topic, Last Night I was able to watch The Phantom of the Opera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). And let me tell you it was AMAZING!! Everything was spot on, from the lighting, to the props, to the backdrops, to the costumes, to the orchestra, and to the performers. I sat at the center of third row, balcony one. It was far but it was alright because I was able to see the entire stage. I did bring binoculars which really helped. (Oh, if you don’t have one, you may buy at CCP they are selling it at 75php a piece.)

 

Splendid Indeed!

 

Had fun watching with friends :)

  

some of the costumes

 

            I loved every single bit of the show. It’s really different from the movie because some parts in the movie were cut in the show and because hearing and watching live will give you chills, the good kind. J Here were some of my favorite bits during the show:

·         Prologue: LOT 666 (the Chandelier) - it was spectacular how the chandelier unfolded and rose from the stage to the ceiling. Plus the dramatic overture by the orchestra will definitely give you goose bumps.

Le Chandelier

·         Act 1:

o   Angel of Music- Phantom coming out of the Mirror! (needs no further description J)

o   The Phantom of the Opera- The stage slowly unfolds into Phantom’s lair. The candles, the fog, and the moving boat! The exchange of voices from the actors was superb.

o   All I Ask of You- Need I say more. J This song makes The Phantom of the Opera THE Phantom of the Opera. The sweet serenade from the orchestra together with Christine and Raoul’s singing makes you melt inside J.

·         Act 2:

o   Masquerade- The costume was epic! Each performer had a different type of costume complete with small details.

o   Point of no Return- When Christine removes the Phantom’s mask and shows his deformed face. The make-up was so good and gory.

o   The final scenes in the Phantom’s Lair. Oh the drama! You’d really feel the pain and agony through the actors’ voices.

o   Phantom disappears- still boggled by how he did it!

 

Overall, I had a wonderful time! Watching The Phantom of the Opera was a sweet way to end the semester. Bravo!

 

-DOT-

Credits to:

TJ (thank you for your photos) and Phantom of the Opera Manila facebook page for photos

if you would like to use it kindly inform or at least cite the source thank you! J

Last Friday Night: A Night at Mezza Norte!

Last Friday Night: A Night at Mezza Norte!

Last night was awesome!

Last night, my friends and I went to Mezza Norte for a foodie adventure and bonding time.

[BACKGROUND INFO: Mezza Norte is a food bazaar/haven where one can find different stalls of food. It is located at UP Ayala Techno Hub. It’s open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday every 6pm -3am]

Mezza Norte! :)

find your type of cuisine from the different food stalls

Jam-packed with people

Okay back to last night, so after a very busy week my friends and I thought of trying the pasta-all-you-can at The Old Spaghetti House at Techno Hub, BUT when we arrived the line was soooooo loooong. We then decided to instead go to Mezza Norte, thank God for Mezza Norte.

Mezza Norte was packed with people, despite of the rain. Entrance was free so it made my experience more fun. My friends and I decided to go around the different food stalls first before buying anything. By doing this, we got to see different dishes offered at Mezza Norte and we got to scout for empty tables and chairs. While circling the place, I saw buy-one-take-one desserts, Korean cuisines, Filipino dishes (particularly tapa), burgers, barbeques, burritos, tacos, Chinese dishes, pizzas, ice creams, and many more!! After two rounds at Mezza Norte and soaking feet, {tip: wear boots when visiting Mezza Norte on a rainy day} we decided to go for the burgers at Big Bob’s Burgers, but the line was long and when we asked it would take about 40 minutes due to the number of orders. So, instead we decided to go pika-pika (sharing food by buying small servings). I bought mini tacos from Taclings. My friends bought pizza (I wasn’t able to get the name of the stall but it’s in front of the stage J) and chicken from Dadi’s Berd.  We shared these and we loved the mini tacos. Afterwards, I bought dessert brownie mix with chocolate sauce) from Med Chef.

colorful juices

desssertsss!! :)

Big Bob's Burgers

flame on! :]

My Friends: Nikka and Sab

pizza for three: Sab and me

juicy chicken from Dadi's Berd

pizzza

TACLINGS!! <3

We went around for the last time to buy drinks. My friends bought tamarind juice and lemongrass juice while I bought milk tea. We stayed for a little while and listened to some live music then went home.

Last night was so fun! I’d go back to try the other stalls J

-DOT-

For more information check out: http://www.facebook.com/MezzaNorte

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