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And when I’m simply down, sometimes a doughnut will do ^^
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Category Archives: food
Serendra Piazza: A Food Trip ^^
Serendra Piazza, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Yey! haha i actually only wanted to do this challenge coz it’s my first time to use the maps. hahaha normally, these things confuse me,lol ^^
Lately I haven’t really been living up to the “foodie” part of my blog — I’ve been focusing much on writing poetry and fiction and sharing photos of travel and nature. So, I’ve decided to use this prompt as a way to make it up to you (those who follow my blog for restaurant reviews/ food porn) ^^
Our destination: only the ultimate foodie paradise in Metro Manila — Bonifacio Global City ; Serendra Piazza, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Let’s go on a little food trip, shall we? ^^ We’re doin’ it my way: DESSERT IS SERVED FIRST. ^^
1) First stop: Cupcakes!
I’ve already made a post about cupcakes by sonja, click the link for more cupcakes. ^^
pistachio berries and cream
This is just one of my favorites! We’ll also have Berries and Cream, Red Velvet Vixen and Bunny Hugger Carrot Cupcake cos they’re awesome.
Ok, that’s it, enough! Quit stuffing your face with cupcakes coz our next stop is just fantabulous!
2) French Macarons and Royal Pudding at Chez Karine
So we have dark chocolate, pistachio, lemon, earl grey, choco mint, strawberry and my favorite: salted caramel! ^^
Muscovado Royal Pudding.. ahh the soft set custard pudding with dark caramel at the bottom.. pretty little jars too. And yes, you can take the jar home.. ^^
So it’s time for lunch but the sweetness doesn’t end here! I bet you never had a sweet burger before 😉
3) Lunch: Murray and D’vine — burgers, sliders, and damn good wine
If you happen to be in Manila and somehow specifically craving a heart-shaped burger, lol, then now you know where to get it. ^^
Murray and D’vine is what I’d call a win-win situation. Why? Well, for starters, their slogan says: “Burgers, Sliders and Damn Good Wine” so you know it’s the perfect dating place when you’re in the mood for something not too fancy but not too low-cost either. Yeah, their gourmet burgers are pretty pricey compared to other burger chains here in the Philippines but IMHO the price is still pretty decent. After all where else can you find a place where the equation: [(girl gets wine + heart shaped burger) + (boy gets beer + sports channel + burgers) = everybody happy] exists. ^^ — It’s ok, math confuses me too. ^^
in case you’re wondering, yeah, I believe all of their burgers are heart shaped, except for the sliders and yeah, they tasted good too ^^
4) Dessert — again! : Gelatissimo
chocolate truffle and forest berries are my fave flavors… a definite must-try ^^
I bet you’re tummy’s pretty damn full by now so let’s spend the rest of the afternoon walkin’ around and doin’ my favorite past time. I WILL SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP . ^^
I’m bettin’ you’re hungry again.. And that your arms are aching from carrying my shopping bags.lol ^^ How about we sit for a while and grab a slice of pizza
5) Sbarro @ Bonifacio Global City
My fave Chicago White Deep Dish Pizza ^^
So I know this place with the best cheese rolls and ensaymada in town…
6) Mary Grace Cafe
More bread? ^^ Don’t worry, I got it covered.
7) Le Petit Artisan
bamboo charcoal bread
well, i’d have to say though, i prefer the macarons at chez karine!
Oh no, don’t you dare tell me you’re full now ^^ We haven’t even gotten to dinner yet!
8) Filipino Cuisine — Sentro 1771
On the menu: Dried fish spring rolls, glazed ribs, Beef tapa with bagoong rice, Green Mango Salad and Sinigang na Corned Beef
Don’t worry, no more desserts ^^ promise. But how bout some pica pica and mojitos instead? ^^
9) Shots: New Orleans Bar & Resto
Sizzlers and nachos and some mojitos ^^
And of course, you can’t leave without bringin’ a little sumthin sumthin home with you ^^
10) Krispy Kreme
Let’s go all out and get some donuts ^^ Wherever you are in the world, you gotta love your original glazed
I hope you enjoyed spending your day with me.^^ Glutton! ^^
xo, kz
SUNDAY POST : Christmas — Pinoy Style ;)
Last year our Christmas eve was pretty silent. Some relatives living abroad weren’t able to make it. There was too much food, too little to do 😦 So unlike Christmas Eve 2010 when the whole family’s there… We all dressed up in green, each one trying to outdo the other.lol And we wrote our names down in little pieces of paper for our little Monito Monita/ Exchange gifts. To me Christmas Eve with family means a lot of things and one of the words that I can’t help but associate with the season is FOOD —- like LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of it. We eat like the world’s about to end.lol In fact, I feel like I eat more on Christmas Eve than the rest of the year combined. Oh boy.. ^^ Below are photos from Christmas Eve 2010.
lechon / roasted pig — a must in every huge Filipino festivity ^^
chef wang — kind enough to work overtime and spend Christmas eve with our family
palabok or rice noodles with shrimp gravy, seafood, pork cracklings and deep fried pork and eggs
cordon bleu
shrimp tempura
steamed fish by mommy (my grandma)
rellenong bangus — milkfish stuffed and deep fried
chicken stuffed and baked
embutido — ground meat stuffed
crema de fruta
mixed buttered veggies — an attempt to have “something healthy”– as if! lol
lumpia 2 variations fresh and fried aka spring rolls
caldereta — beef stew with tomatoes, carrots and potatoes. i know it looks gross but it’s yummy!!! my specialty
buko salad – young coconut strips with condensed milk, cream, preserved fruits
gulaman/ gelatine
By the time you reach the end of this post, you’re prolly already suffering from a stroke. ^^
Here’s my happy news… This year, the family’s complete again– well almost.. we’re doing exchange gifts again and dress up in green and it’ gonna be awesome! ^^
see and share how Christmas is celebrated all over the world at Sunday Post by Jake
Merry Christmas from my fam’ly to yours 🙂
Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise
surprise parties are soooo my thing!! and for me, a surprise just ain’t a surprise without CAKE! ^^
for my uncle who’s a HUGE Lakers/ Kobe fan ^^
from me to boyfie on our 7th monthsary ^^
from me to boyfie… just because..
malteser cake from boyfie to me.. for my b-day this year ^^
surprise farewell party for loved ones
more SURPRISES here ^^
Daily Prompt: 32 Flavors
Vanilla, chocolate, or something else entirely?
Yup this is a response to a previous prompt. but it fits so well! so I hope it’s still a valid entry. ^^
Well, it’s a pretty easy one and my answer’s pretty damn obvious too! ^^ BOTH. and a whole lot more…
Below are the evidence of me indulging in my other lover… my sordid love affair… with ice cream.
I really meant to post about my fave local ice cream parlor in Naga City, Coldshack. ^^I mean seriously, forget Haagen-Dazs (not that I don’t love ‘em too,lol) but the best ice cream for me are the ones with real fruits.. My favorite flavor of all time is the Nangkasuy (jackfruit and cashew). Boyfie’s fave is the Durian flavored ice cream but I kinda think it’s gross, lol, not for everyone ^^The Korean fish-shaped ice cream sandwich is also yummy… it’s wafer filled with vanilla ice cream and red bean… I’m gaga over desserts with red bean! ^^ Some days, I bring my laptop there and surf away.. some days I just drop by to take home a pint of my fave. It’s also my special bonding place wit my 14 year old cousin. So really, how can I not love this guilty pleasure? ^^
Sigh. All in all, I’d have to say… It’s a bit of a Love-Hate relationship. ^^
Cupcakes by Sonja : Where to get cupcakes in Manila
I miss making a post that’s not for a challenge or prompt! So I’ve decided to make a quick one. At the end of a stressful day, nothing picks me up like good cupcakes — along with chocolate, ice cream and macarons, they’re the addictions that I just can’t seem to kick. ^^ It’s not such a bad thing though to reward yourself every once in a while… ^^ If you ever find yourself in Manila and craving good cupcakes, I suggest you check out Cupcakes by Sonja in Serendra Piaza, Taguig. It’s where I ran off to after taking my recent Japanese exam in DLSU. ^^ and what comfort the pretty little things gave me ^^ Their store, with its vintage theme, is very charming too. ^^ My favorites are Berries and Cream, Red Velvet Vixen and Bunny Hugger Carrot Cupcake. ^^
Pistachio Berries and Cream- brown butter pistachio cupcake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream icing
my favorites on display — red velvet vixen and bunny hugger carrot cupcake
Red Velvet Vixen – traditional southern red velvet cupcake made with belgian cocoa and topped with cream cheese icing
Bunny Hugger Carrot Cupcake – very moist classic carrot cupcake spiced with cinnamon and covered with cream cheese icing
Obviously, I’m crazy about cream cheese frosting! ^^
so good, you just can’t help but take home a couple ^^
I’m not affiliated with them! lol be sure to check out their website though coz it’s soooo cute ^^ like, one of the cutest I’ve ever seen. ^^ cupcakesbysonja.com warning: the site plays a really jolly supersweet tune ^^
Drop that Turkey! It’s not Thanksgiving anymore…
Seriously. Stop eating. It’s been days. I don’t know if anyone can relate with me but the -ber months are the most dreadful —- for my diet, that is. There’s family (that’s good) but when there’s fam’ly, there’s also FOOD. And once I start, it’s sooo easy to just slip back into old habits. I still got less than a month before Noche Buena (Christmas Dinner) so I’ve decided to spend MOST of that “in-between-time” eating healthy. Won’t you join me? ^^ You wouldn’t wanna waste all the hard work and discipline you’ve practiced all year round just coz of one Thanksgiving dinner — go back to your healthy routine and I promise, you’ll have so much more to be thankful for. ^^
strawberries, mangoes and pineapples on a bed of fresh lettuce and mango vinaigrette — hold the grilled chicken, i urge you ^^
Not bad huh? ^^ So grab your salad bowls and for the love of God, leave the Thanksgiving leftovers alone! It’s been days..
Recipe for mango vinaigrette here
More healthy salads/ dressing posts:
Creamy Garlic dressing
Mango and pineapples
Camote tops salad
PS. Little hypocrite that I am, I’ll be gone for my annual food-tripping this coming weekend (that’s what the countdown’s for) That’s the time of the year when boyfie turns a blind eye as I roam the city face-deep in my other lover — cakes and sweets. ^^ What did I tell ya about -ber months? ^^
Chips Substitute: Japanese Cucumber w/ Sweet Vinegar Dip
Just wanna share with you the awesome snack that I just had; you oughta try it too! You know those times when you’re watching a little TV and just wanna munch on something crunchy but feeling really torn coz you don’t want all those calories? If you just want “something to much on” then grab a well-washed Japanese cucumber (not those other types of cucumbers that just don’t taste good; save those for your eyes ^^) , cut into really thin slices, and there you go! I love dipping it in Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar with raw wild natural honey (I use 1:2 vinegar:honey ratio). 🙂 This is hardly a recipe lol. But i just wanted to share it for those who haven’t tried it yet. ^^
Japanese cucumber with sweet vinegar dip
Stir Fried Greens Recipe
What no challenge? ^^ well, time to make a post that’s not for a challenge..but come to think of it, this is kinda perfect for this weeks photo challenge. Nope, “green” entry is here.
One of the reasons why people love fast food so much is coz it’s fast –obviously. ^^ Well, here’s another one of my healthy versions of “fast food”. Another quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for days when I’m feelin’ just a little bit lazy (which is most of the time). 😉
Pak Choi is a type of cabbage and perhaps one of the most popular vegetables in the Philippines and Asia. It is quite different from other types of cabbages; the leaves are a darker green and may differ in length from 10 to 30 cm. It has a light flavor and compared to other cabbages, it is less crisp. Though it is mostly used along with other vegetables in stews and recipes with broth, many don’t seem to realize that it’s also good when eaten on its own. Pak choi contains high levels of Vitamin A and about 50 mg of Vitamin C per 4 oz. serving.
Sometimes, I eat it along with a matchbox-sized chunk of grass-fed beef and a few spoonfuls of organic brown rice. Although rice is a staple food for Filipinos, it makes you fat, you know. Gasp! That’s why I enjoy eating Stir Fried Greens on the family table while everyone else is happily munching on fried chicken and/or pork chops and heaps of fragrant white rice. >< Do I feel the temptation to reach for a chicken wing? Hell yeah, sometimes… but my cause to eat healthier often wins. Ha! Besides, it TASTES GOOD.
So I did say it’s a quick recipe and everything kinda has to happen real FAST here so make sure all the ingredients are prepared and at your side.
2 big bundles (around 350g) of washed Pak Choi
Bragg Liquid Aminos All Purpose Seasoning or soy sace
Garlic, chopped (I use 1 bulb native/organic but you may add as many/less as you want)
6 tbsp vegetable oil (I prefer extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil) – this is a lot so opt for the healthier choice
A pinch of salt ( I use sea salt)
Heat the oil in a pan/ wok. Add the garlic, stir a bit, but DON’T wait ‘til it gets brown! Immediately add the Pak Choi and stir quickly and cook up until the leaves begin to wilt. Add a pinch of salt and shake some Bragg Liquid Aminos for flavor, as desired. Remove from heat and serve while hot. Good for 1 (if it’s all you’re gonna eat) or for sharing (if eaten with rice and/or something else ^^ ) Sometimes I add less than a teaspoon of muscovado sugar while cooking when I want the “sauce” to taste sweeter. I feel silly coz everyone might already know how to cook this, it’s so simple, but whatever, just in case… ^^
*350g of pak choi – referring to estimated amount of prepared leaves w/ already trimmed stalks
PS if you’re Pinoy, you know this gulay; cousin lang sha ng pechay 😉 actually you may substitute pechay.
Ingredients for Green Juice Recipe
As promised in my previous post, I shall be providing you with pictures of the ingredients in my green juice recipe. Previous post and green juice recipe here I just don’t want anybody eating or drinking any toxic plants and dropping dead for making an effort to be healthy. My crazy, barbaric semi-herbivore of a bf eats leaves straight from a tree –gross, I know — why I ever hooked up with him is beyond me, lol. (Nice ass. Oh, ding! ding! ding!) But seriously, safety first, guys! Do a little research on your herbs before dropping them in your juicer or blender. I already told you that there are plenty of different types of horsetail and this is the one that I use for my green juice (sorry about the pics, they’re taken from boyfie’s rather unkempt but very beneficial backyard)
horsetail
the Other ingredients for the green juice:
saluyot or jute
peppermint
malunggay or moringa
sweet basil
Thai basil
unknown 1
unknown 2
I told you that we had two unknown leaves in the recipe and that I’ll get back to you on their names but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember! >< We're sure that it's edible and even confirmed it with the owner of our fave vegetarian restaurant. If any of you knows the name these leaves, be a neighbor and share the info. ^^
*guys read my recipe on my other post;remember to put in lemon/lime to remove the bitterness. or maybe add fruits. also, i use coconut water, as stated in my previous post ^^
