Baby's Dreamplay Adventure

The little kid and the big kid really enjoyed themselves in Dreamplay. We only got to spend a couple of hours inside (the queue at the entrance was INSANE when we got there), but it was more than enough to drain the hell out of me.

I can't wait until Dyther is old enough to enjoy all the activities that Dreamplay has to offer. But don't grow up too soon, kiddo.

Mom and Dad's Anniversary @ Canyon Cove

Mom and Dad wanted some quality family time for their 40th anniversary, so they brought the entire gang to Manila just so we can be complete on this momentous occasion. There was no clear plan, but we eventually decided to go on a road trip of sorts. There was a really strong storm in Luzon, but that didn't keep us from going for it.

 

Here's a video of how things went during our stay at Canyon Cove.

Baby's Trip to Nuvali and Tagaytay

It was Dyther's first trip to Tagaytay, and we had so much fun bonding. It took all my charm to get on his good side, but I think I finally managed to penetrate his picky heart.

 

Here's a video of some of the trip's highlights.

10k Dinner @ Ruby Jack's Steakhouse

Once in a while, I like to indulge in expensive (and hopefully good) food. My parents' wedding anniversary was a good opportunity to splurge so we headed over to Ruby Jack's Steakhouse at City of Dreams. And splurge we did. 

 

The place doesn't look like much from the outside (as evidenced by the photo) but the interior screams posh. Champagne and wine can be seen anywhere and there are tables for couples, small groups and bigger groups. We were given a table beside the entrance (by the glass window), making us quite visible to the gamblers who are passing by.

 

For starters, we had the Crab Cake Donut with Tartare Sauce. This dish had around 10 delectable crab balls and cost around P550. It did taste like it was made of actual crab meat and not some meat alternate, but then again I could be wrong. I really liked it, and I thought the sauce was good too.

 

The T-bone Steak (P4000) was an obvious choice. At 800 grams, it was big enough for sharing and was perfect for a not-so-hungry family. Paired with the really expensive steak rice (P300 a cup!!), it was enough to satisfy my steak cravings. The meat was tender and juicy, and it was seasoned well. It came with a special sauce, but I prefer my steak without it.

 

We also ordered the John Dee Super Gold 160 Day Grain Fed Black Angus (P3000), which is a mouthful to order. To simplify, you can just say ribeye. It's 250 grams of pure bliss. Even the garlic was good enough to eat. 

 

Funny story - I gave my brother P10,000 and told him he can have whatever is left after paying the bill. He was happy, but the smile disappeared when he saw what we ordered. I jokingly told him that 10k was not enough and that he had to cover the balance. Thanks to Dad's senior citizen card, we ended up "within budget."

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad. You inspire me. I love you both.

13 Things To Do In Boracay (Aside From Swimming)

I've been to Boracay a couple of times but didn't realize until my last trip that there are a LOT of things to do in this paradise island. With a couple of friends, I explored but a fraction of these activities and ended up with a really full 5-day itinerary.



So here are 13 things to do when you are in Boracay!

1. Start the day right by eating a hearty breakfast at your hotel. My friends and I had a great buffet breakfast selection from Astoria Boracay, although the bacon does get a little old if you eat it every single day.

Real Coffee is also another good breakfast alternative. The omelettes are really good but a bit expensive (P300 for eggs???). They are also famous for their Calamansi muffins and (duh) their coffee.

2. Pig out at D Talipapa. If you love eating "dampa style," then you will definitely love the D Talipapa experience. Buy your fresh seafoods from the nearby market and have one of the restaurants cook your meals for you. WARNING: It's so good that you will likely leave the place with a really full stomach. Try to burn some of that food off by walking around the beach area or shopping aroung D Mall.

3. People always rave about Jonah's, but I find Jony's Fruit Shake a nice alternative. Astoria hotel's beach front is really crowded (all the sailboats are parked there), so we had little choice but to walk a short distance to find a less dense area. We just got a table from Jony's, ordered a couple of shakes, and went to the ocean in between sips.

 

4. Paddle Boat @ White Beach. I used to think that I had great balance. I was wrong, so wrong. Paddle boating looks so easy when you see other people do it. I was wrong, so wrong. I'll probably get the hang of it on my 10th attempt.

5. Island Hopping - Cliff Diving @ Aron's Magic Island. Everybody does it, so it must be super easy, right? Well, don't knock it til you've tried it. You will need to muster all your courage to step up the 10-meter high beam, and even more courage to jump. Go for the highest jump off point - it is, after, the same fear that will paralyze you.

6. Island Hopping  - Crocodile Island Snorkeling and Fish Feeding. I really REALLY wish I brought my full face snorkeling gear with me, but I could not find where yaya hid it. Nevertheless, I had a great time snorkeling in the middle of the ocean and watching the fishes eat the bread that we brought with us. They should open up a floating bakery in the area - there is not enough bread to make you want to stop.

7. Drink buko juice in the middle of the ocean. Yes, there was this buko vendor who sold fresh buko right where we were snorkeling. How cool is that? And yeah, the juice was refreshing.



8. Lunch @ Nami Restaurant. If you want to experience the best view of Boracay, this is where you should go. You can ride a tricycle going to Diniwid beach, walk for a few minutes, climb steep stairs, and finally ride a makeshift elevator to get to this place. The view is fantastic, but the food was (sadly) over hyped. It was still good food though, but the view was the scene stealer.

9. Swimming @ Diniwid Beach. This area is one of the more "tranquil" spots in the island. If you don't want to swim with too many tourists, then this is the place to be.



10. Experience Boracay at night. You should not leave the island without having dinner by the beach - this always makes the dining experience extra special even if the food itself is just average. Afterwards, you can go around and watch the fire dancers, go shopping, play beer pong and drink to your heart's content. And of course, one of the best parts of your day: heading back to your comfortable hotel room and getting some sleep!

11. Try new restaurants. The paella at La Cozina was decent, and the churros was also good. I had fun watching how kuya made everything from scratch. We also tried the food at Pamana and everything we ordered was absolutely yummy!



12. Eat at Smoke Restaurant - they are famous for their bulalo steak. We initially went to the original branch but it was fully booked. The waitress suggested that we try the Bulabog branch (with free shuttle) and it was one of the best decisions of the night!

13. Get a hair braid or a henna tattoo. The place is crawling with people offering these services. You can also get a massage - quite relaxing and a great way to cap the day.

Boracay Food!

A Boracay trip is never complete until you enjoy the variety of dishes and cuisine offered.

 

Boracay: White Beach and Diniwid Beach

Our fourth day in Boracay was less stressful. We spent the morning at the beach, went to Nami Restaurant for lunch, spent some time in Diniwid Beach, and slept the rest of the afternoon off.

 

Check out the video :)

Boracay @ Night, and Astoria Hotel

Dinner by the beach, fire dancing, shopping, long walks, and lots of drinks. Boracay evenings are normally characterized by these activities. 

 

A big thanks to my friend Terry for hooking me up with a great Astoria Boracay deal. The hotel is located near the crowded station 2 but was very accessible to all the Boracay musts. 

Boracay Island Hopping

I'm so used to spending an entire Boracay vacation by the resort, just swimming, drinking and eating my heart out. But guess what? There are other things to do in Boracay!

 

Snorkeling, fish feeding, cliff diving, and more beaches! And yes, someone even sold us Buko in the middle of the ocean!

Check out our video :)

A Day in Boracay

A fun day spent at the beach. With 5 days to spare, there's time to lay back and relax.

 

Check out our video!

Harvest Hotel - When in Cabanatuan

Thanks to my friend Rhea's wedding, I had the opportunity to visit Cabanatuan. I place that I otherwise would probably never visit (because there are no beaches I think). I booked a room at the Harvest Hotel, and it was a pleasant stay overall. I saw a Microtel nearby, but I think that Harvest Hotel may be one of the better hotels in the area. Correct me if I'm wrong :)

 

The room was very nice. It was just the right size for two and the bed was very comfortable. It had the basic necessities like wifi, a ref and coffee/tea provisions. The TV was ok, though the channels were limited. I also liked the painting that was situated right above the bed.

Funny story. When I got in the room (I was alone), I went straight to the window area to check out the view. I opened the drapes and enjoyed the pool view. Then suddenly, I felt a series of taps on my shoulder. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. I froze. Shit. I was supposed to be alone in the room - who would be tapping me on the shoulder? I slowly turned around, prepared to run for my life. And then I saw it. The curtain rod (the white plastic rod that's used to pull the curtains) was poking me repeatedly.

 

The bathroom was simple and catered to my basic needs: a hot shower, a bidet, and toiletries. How I wish there was a tub, but I guess 3k per night won't get you too far these days. The towels smelled really nice, but I think they need to improve on the ventilation system just a little bit (if you know what I mean).

 

They also have an outdoor pool that's shaped like the number 8. I guess that's their version on "infinity," huh. It didn't look too inviting to me because there were a lot of kids swimming when I went out. Kung may cute sana, why not. But it does look relaxing and everyone in the area seemed happy and thrilled.

 

The room charge already included breakfast for two. Breakfast is served from 6am onwards, so as usual I was enjoying my working breakfast. The menu wasn't too extensive - and I was sad that there was no bacon. They did serve a beef dish, luncheon meat, beans, eggs, fish, fruits, bread and cereals. My friends joined in and it was a fun lamon session of sorts. They also had taho, and I had fun getting the pudding from the container (it was my first time, not as easy to get those smooth layers as I thought).

 

Another fun fact before I end. I decided to wear a light blue coat to Rhea's wedding (I was under the impression that the event was not super formal). And it looked exactly like the uniform of the hotel staff. I should have just borrowed one from them.

Hapag Vicenticos - When in Cabanatuan

I was left all alone in Cabanatuan and so I had to find a place to end my boredom (by eating delicious food, of course). I searched online and came across Hapag Vicenticos - supposedly a "must go" in the city. Who am I to resist the temptation of a good crispy pata dish, right?

 

As advertised, the place looks like an old house that got converted into a restaurant. There was enough (old) wood to make it a fire hazard but it felt cozy and warm. It brought back memories of our own ancestral home and how much fun it was to have a lot of visitors coming over.

 

There was enough space in the garden for photo ops and just lounging. Kids had a great time running around and playing while the adults either watched over or checked out the menu. Don't worry, the kids probably won't get lost. There's a dutiful guard at the main entrance, and I'm sure that his watchful eye won't miss a straying kid (who may want to cross the street to get to the freedom park).

 

But of course, I came for the food. My first concern - there were so many things on the menu that I wanted to order, but there was just me and my appetite. How on earth can I satisfy this craving without ordering everything and breaking the bank? That ended up as a suggestion from me - I hope that they consider serving small portions for people who may come alone or with just one other person. Probably a nightmare for the kitchen staff, but it was worth mentioning.

 

The specialty of the house, I believe, is the Crispy pata. But that was way too much for me, so I ended up ordering the "2-in-1" specialty - the Krispy Kare Kare (P505). Without the sauce, it's actually Boneless Crispy Pata so it was like tasting 2 dishes. The Kare Kare was good - I liked the sauce and the bagoong was tasty. The crispiness of the meat added to the appeal, and I just craved for more. However, I was looking for tripe at the back of my mind so perhaps that's what prevented me from enjoying the dish at a 100% level. The Crispy Pata side of the dish, on the other hand, was really yummy. How can you go wrong with boneless? And the sauce was well balanced. Treating them as two separate dishes, however, was probably a mistake. My mind and palette got confused. But that's a "me" issue.

 

The Chicharong Bulaklak (P180) was also delicious. I know I should not have ordered this dish anymore - there was more than enough Pata to last me the day. But I just could not resist the temptation. So hello, high blood pressure. I will see you again soon.

 

And finally, dessert. I saw the other table enjoying their leche flan so I had to get a llanera for myself. As it turns out, it's called CARAleche Flan (P70) because it was made with carabao milk. In my research, I read that carabao milk is a thing around these parts so I went for it and tried it out. Delicious.

 

The best part of the visit, however, was probably the warm reception I got. I'm not sure if they felt bad for me because I was all alone in a strange place, but they were extra attentive. I felt like I had a personal waiter assigned to me who was tending to all my needs, giving food suggestions, and asking about my visit to the city. He pretty much just lingered, which I usually hate but was somehow comforting on that particular occasion. He got a hefty tip and a good satisfaction rating (he wouldn't let up - I HAD to fill in all of the blanks - even the "suggestion" portion.

So, when in Cabanatuan, it's probably a good idea to drop by this place. And may I suggest that you do it by yourself, too!

More Duets

Photograph

The way you look tonight 

Tears in heaven

Back to you

ChopStop - Where Pork and Chicken Can Taste The Same

I rarely ever go to the new section in Eastwood where some of the smaller restos are located - the area where S & R and Unionbank is. I didn't really think that the place offered much food wise, but I was immediately drawn to the "rice all you can" sign at the door.

 

My expectations were not too high. It looked like they served takeout food and catered to people who don't have a lot of time to eat and enjoy food. The place was also semi deserted (only one other table occupied). So what's up with that, right?

 

The staff, however, was really nice and accommodating. Our waitress patiently explained which items we should order and reminded us that the rice is unlimited. The menu primarily consists of pork chops and chicken with pretty much the same sauce options. 

 

The Pork Chop in Buffalo sauce was surprisingly good. It tastes, well, like Buffalo chicken wings without the wings. It had the right amount of spice and the meat was drowning in the sauce. The sauce probably works better with chicken, but it was a good fit for the Pork chops too. Probably not gourmet, but a good steal at P139.

 

The alcoholic in me couldn't resist ordering the Chops wig Jack Daniels sauce. To be honest, I doubt that they actually used Jack Daniels (perhaps mixed with something else), but it turned out ok. It doesn't compare to the sauce from Fridays but then again, it' only costs P139. Why complain?

 

The Bacon Cracklings (P119) were good. Because anything that has Bacon on it is good in my book. It was probably made of thinly sliced liempo fried to a crisp, but they got me at bacon. Bacon bacon bacon.

In summary, it's a good place to eat if you are a bit short on the budget and in the mood for a lot of rice. I kinda wished that we ordered a chicken dish as well, just to validate my theory that the pork and chicken probably tastes the same (when drowned in the sauce). Maybe next time. And yes, bacon.

Chocolate Kiss - We Meet Again!

Updated October 4, 2016. Additional comments at the bottom.

- - - - - 

Back in the days, we loved going to Chocolate Kiss in U.P. Food was good, desserts were divine and the price was reasonable. When I moved to Panay Ave., I was happy that there was a branch in Roces. And just recently, I stumbled into another branch right in the heart of UP Town Center.

 

It's been a while since my last Chocolate Kiss visit so I had to ask the waiter about the best sellers. He gave me several options options and I needed a few minutes to ponder - I wish I could order (and eat) them all! While thinking, I noticed that the ambiance of the place was a lot posher than the other branches. I can't help but wonder if the prices here were also different? I honestly couldn't remember.

 

With a glass of bottomless iced tea in hand, I decided to get the Hickory Smoked Spareribs. For P270, it was well worth the price. It was a bit too sweet for the "mature lady" I was with but it was just right for me. I've had better, but I'm not gonna complain about what I got tonight. Still really good.

 

We also ordered the Chicken Kiev (P240). It's chicken breast  with cream cheese, butter and herbs and it tasted just right for "mature lady." I would have preferred it with a little Knorr Seasoning, but it was still delicious as is. I loved the cream cheese filling.

 

For dessert, I was torn between the Devil's Food Cake and the Dayap Cake, but ended up choosing the latter. To be honest, it didn't look like it was going to be delicious but I'm glad that looks are often deceiving. It was really good, with just the right sweetness level. I could eat this all day.

 

I'm really happy to see you again, Chocolate Kiss. Mwaaaah.

- - - - -

Updated October 4, 2016

I went back to The Chocolate Kiss Cafe a couple of days ago and I tried some of the other dishes (and have some additional comments, too!).

For starters, service wasn't as good this time around. The place was at around 70% occupancy but it was not easy to get someone's attention. I noticed that most of the waiters were either busy with customers or standing near the counter. That made it a bit hard for them to see the customers seated near the entrance. I decided to just walk up to the cashier, told the nice lady that I wanted to order, and gave my list despite her minor protestations. Service was so much better after that.

 

So my friends and I ordered the Pancit and it was actually good for sharing. It was good, in all fairness, especially coming from a guy who does not normally eat Pancit. I enjoyed poking around the dish for meat though the noodles were also delicious. Good to order for merienda or early dinner.

 

The Beef Stroganoff used to be one of my favorites, and it was still good enough to devour. To be honest, it does. It taste as awesome as I remember it, so I guess my taste buds have evolved over the years (or they changed the recipe a bit).

 

The Beef Caldereta was okay I suppose. I just tasted a really delicious Caldereta recently (from a catering service) and that killed any chances that this dish may have had. Also, the serving was too small. I think I only ate a piece and some shreds.

 

The Chix in a Basket was also average. I must point out that the fries were poorly seasoned (I relied on the ketchup), and the chicken fingers only taste yummy when dipped in the BBQ sauce. 

 

Finally, there were those Piglets. In concept, the dish is simple enough. Wrap some sausage slices in bacon, fry (or bake?), and serve with some dip. They got me at bacon. Anything wrapped in bacon is worth trying.

Pho Hoa - "When I was in Vietnam"

The Pho Hoa Restaurant in Eastwood has been in that location for as long as I can remember, and for good reason. Vietnamese food is awesome - and Pho Hoa's dishes are delicious! I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's the BEST that I've tasted (I always go back to the authenticity of the Viet Ville resto in Palawan), but it's in the vicinity.

Let me dispense of the bad stuff right off the bat. Service was oddly out of place when my friends and I went over for dinner the other night. It was probably because of the late hours (nearing closing time) and it seemed like the staff was already busy preparing for closing time. But what's "unforgivable" was the rationing of ice cubes. I felt that they were being stingy with it, and found out later on that they run out of ice. Kind of a bummer for people (like me) who like their drinks extra cold. 

 

The food, as always, was good. The Vegetarian Cha Gio (fried spring rolls) is a nice starter but also perfect with rice. It came with a lettuce wrap that I never touched. I just loved how tasty it was with or without the dip. I wanted more!

 

We ordered a couple of Phos - another staple dish. The beef stew reminded me a lot of the ones served in Viet Ville. It had a generous amount of beef and a delicious base. I just got a small serving to try, but that was enough to make me want to order more.

 

The other Pho seemed to have more ingredients but came with a lighter soup base. I personally prefer the spicier one, but this one was also delicious. The rice noodles were nicely done and it had some of the most unexpected ingredients on it.

 

For those who can't live without rice, the Pork Stew with Beancurd and Egg is the perfect choice. It reminded me a lot of Pork Humba, but with a different twist. The eggs don't look appetizing (at least to me), but overall the dish is a winner. Loved eating it with rice and the spring rolls.

 

Finally, there's my favorite sandwich - the Banh Mi. I got the grilled pork variant and it was very tasty. It's made differently from the Banh Mi of my youth, but it's still delicious. I was able to finish an entire sandwich even after devouring some of the other dishes that we ordered. 

The food was so good that I forgot about my ice issue. We even forgot to take a group photo, which would have made this blog entry more interesting. I'm now looking forward to our upcoming Ho Chi Minh trip - I'm dying to taste Vietnamese food right from the source!