Batangas-bound Manileña

So to clear things up: I am a city-girl. There's no getting around the fact that I was born and spent my lifetime in the city, where nearly everything is an FX or taxi ride away, there is no shortage of malls, commercial centers and such, and traffic is part of the everyday routine.

That's not to say I've never gone outside the city, as evident by previous posts and photos. I've never gone off beyond the city alone though, EVER. It's always with a group of friends or family, sometimes by bus, most of the time via a rented van or someone's borrowed car. And I've NEVER had to worry about where we're going or what route we'll be taking - will there be stop-overs? What about food? Where do I put my things? All my life, all I had to do was try to nab the window seat, get comfy and relax all the way during the trip. I can even sleep if I want, and when I wake up, we'll already be there.

Not that I'm complaining - traveling long distances can be stressful enough on its own. Might as well keep it as uncomplicated as possible, right? Still though, somewhere between learning to take the jeep on my own and getting out of town without my parents to hold my hand, I figured I really should learn to take that bus to a far off place, all by myself. 

Urban Stay-cations: A Manila Ocean Park Weekend

I promised myself I’d save the week-long beach trips with my loved one for the actual “honeymoon” to make it more ‘special’. That’s not to say I wouldn’t say no to a long weekend spent at a nice accommodation away from our hometown for a little vacation.

So how do you combine the “getting away from it all” vibe of out-of-town vacations, without actually going out of town? It takes a bit of creativity to get around this one, plus a general knowledge of the local hot-spots, useful promos and what-not. With a bit of research and a couple months worth of savings, my boyfriend and I were able to plan for our first Urban Stay-cation - our version of a out-of-town trip without having to go beyond the borders of Metro Manila.

The objective? Have a fun weekend away from our usual comfort zones, without the hassle of going to remote areas, maybe take part in some fun, new activities and get that vacation vibe going.

The limits: Metro Manila only, and never beyond

The time-limit? Three days - enough to get that much-needed R&R without getting a massive vacation hang-over.

Our first stay-cation was planned for our 4th Anniversary celebration. We chose Hotel H2O, right at the heart of the famous Manila Ocean Park in Manila. We have always wanted to check out the ocean-themed attractions at Manila Ocean Park, and figured a weekend stay at an on-site accommodation was the best way to go since it will allow us to try out the activities at our own leisurely pace.

Left: entrance to the Manila Ocean Park; Right: it's iconic logo, where dozens of families and visitors have their photo taken. Is that a whale shark in the logo? Because there definitely wasn't one inside...

The CWC Challenge

Most resorts offer the same basic features and services - a pool, a beach, some pretty cabanas and restaurants, and the promise of days in the sun, sand and sea. A few have some specialties, like dive sites and surf spots and,  most recently, a shot at wakeboarding.

My friends and I decided to try out Camsur Watersports Complex, a large resort devoted mostly to wakeboarding, in Naga City, Camarines Sur. 

Get ready to ramp it up (or faceplant, whichever..)

Homemade Gulaman

No other drink is best of summer than a tall glass of ice-cold gulaman, a traditional Filipino drink made of sweet syrup mixed with water, lots of ice and chunks of of the gelatin-like gulaman.

Tired of going out in the searing, summer heat to search for this drink, only to bring home a few in flimsy plastic cups, my mom and I learned to make this drink at home where we can whip it out of the refrigerator anytime for a fuss-free cooler.

my best friend for summer

Chowking Halo-Halo

This is less of a blog entry and more of a mindless rave about one of my favorite comfort foods for summer - Halo Halo!

Halo-halo is a cold Filipino dessert made of a wide assortment of sweet beans, saging saba, nata, sago, gulaman, and pieces of jack fruit on a bed of shaved ice, topped with milk, toasted pinipig, eche flan and a scoop (or two) of ice cream). We usually find a lot of that stuff in stores and stalls around the metro during summer, but when you're at home on a stifling summer night and can't bring yourself to go outside, best dial the Chowking delivery hotline (98888) and order their famous Halo-Halo. 

pictured = HEAVEN

They have it in regular sizes, but if you're famished, I suggest going for the Halo-Halo Fiesta at Php94. Add another scoop of ice cream if you will. It's not inexpensive, but totally worth it since the toppings are generous, and it's a cold piece of heaven delivered right at your doorstep.

Ka Domeng's Pares

Nothing spells a good, old-school meal like some beef pares and mami, served and eaten on a bench at a random pares house along the road in the wee hours of the morning.

We discovered and frequent such a place called Pares ni Ka Domeng, a small canteen-like spot beside the Petron gas station at Fairview. It serves the usual, simple stuff like tapsilog (and all varieties of it), siopao and siomai, a wide variety of mami, and of course, its house specialty, beef pares served with some garlic rice. 

the menu board

Open 24 hours, it's the best place to sate you hunger (and drown your angst) after a bad case of overtime late into the night, or before heading off the work early in the morning.

A shot of Blueberry Cheescake...or rather, Tart

I love cheesecakes. No other dessert could be better for me, especially in my cheesecake-craving moods, which happen an awful lot.

A colleague recently made my day by bringing a box of Rowena's Blueberry Cheese Tarts to the office this morning, and offered one to me. 

sneaking a bite during office hours

Rowena's is a popular cafe-slash-pasalubong shop in Tagaytay, and is often one of the must stop-overs for city folks on their way back to Manila for take-home surprises for family and friends. The shop features mostly miniature sweets like bags of nuts and tarts of all flavors and sizes. 

I never tried most of their products so these Blueberry Cheese Tarts were new to me. It was a delightfully different kind of 'cheesecake' than what I'm used to - the base was a soft pastry instead of the crumbly Graham cracker crust, followed by a dollop of creamy cheese frosting and topped with some blueberry filling (with whole blueberries).

What I liked about this was that it wasn't too tasty like most cheesecakes. Don't get me wrong, I love a full-bodied, in-your-face cheesecake flavor like anyone else, but too much of the taste can be exhausting to the palate from time to time. I appreciated the tart's modestly flavored crust and barely-there cheese frosting, letting me enjoy the blueberry goodness on its own. The miniature portions didn't hurt either, letting me have my dose of much-desired cheesecake without over-indulging. 

Note to self: drop by Rowena's the next time I'm in Tagaytay. I'm dying to to try out their Cherry Cheese Tarts!

The (Intro) Dive Experience - Part I

Being a self-confessed beach-bunny/water-baby, I always jump at the chance to be at sea. From swimming, snorkeling, surfing - you name it, I've done it. One thing I have never tried, though, was scuba diving. 

I've been curious of scuba diving ever since my cousin kept putting "scuba diver" in the "What is your ambition" portion of my slum book. I've tried a bit of snorkeling as a child and found it immensely fascinating and enjoyable - there were dozens of colorful fishes and forests of seaweed to explore under the water! Granted, I never went deeper than 3 feet, but it was something I appreciated all the same.

My chance at diving came when a dear friend, who was a seasoned diver herself, offered us a chance to try an Intro Dive, a sort-of basic lesson and 'first taste' of what it's like to go scuba diving, via Scuba One. 

Apple Strudel Ice Cream

My dad chanced upon a new ice cream flavor last weekend while doing the groceries for my  late grandfather's birthday celebration. Mom asked him to buy the halo-halo flavor because chocolate was a little overdone; dad couldn't find halo-halo, but he did find a Limited Edition Apple Strudel Ice Cream from Magnolia. 

refreshingly different

This was when I realized I have never tasted apple-flavored ice cream before, and it was surprisingly good.

Taking inspiration from a popular Austrian pastry, Apple Strudel ice cream has red and green apple-flavored swirls, bits of apple cinnamon and crushed chocolate-covered pretzels. The ice cream base has a very mild taste, allowing the apple flavors to shine through. And shine through, they did. 

I found this one a very refreshing respite from the usual rich and creamy ice cream flavors out there,  not too heavy on the palate or the stomach. It's perfect for the summer, which was why we went ahead and bought another tub. Too bad it's a limited edition piece only, so we might as well enjoy it while we can.

Yummy Goat's Milk

I heard from the office grapevine that a colleague was selling fresh goat's milk, but never really bothered to find out more. Everyday I'd see these unmarked, sealed bottles filled with pale pink, brown or milky, peach-colored liquid in the pantry fridge, most of them with the owners' names scrawled on the plastic (it's a shared fridge, you can never be too sure) and can't being curious as to why this particular product did such a roaring trade.

I eventually plucked up the courage to ask my colleague (casually), about his goat's milk business, and he was nice enough to give my boyfriend and I a free taste - a small bottle each of strawberry and chocolate-flavored goat's milk.

 

 

chocolate, plain, strawberry and melon!

Well now, I'm wondering why I never bothered to ask or buy the stuff before. The milk was simply delicious, rich and smooth, and arguably more tasty than the usual carton-milk we find at groceries. It was easy to understand my officemates' fondness for the drink, it being a healthier alternative to soda and all, and it has  already become the latest food fad at the office.

At Php35 for the small bottle, and Php65 for a 500ml one, it was also quiet a deal, especially since this was honest-to-goodness goat's milk, fresh from the farm and pasteurized and bottled by the family business. 

On a health issue side-note, goat's milk is also considered to be closer in composition to human milk, making it a more compatible source of nutrients for us growing kids. It also contains more potent amounts of protein, calcium, and a lot LESS fat than cow's milk. 

What I like about it the most though, was that drinking  the milk felt less like a chore, and was something I really enjoyed. I like mine cold from the freezer, shaken and enjoyed with some cinnamon toast for breakfast and oatmeal cookies in the afternoon for that daily shot of calcium. They come in 4 'flavors - plain, chocolate, melon and strawberry. The chocolate milk was thick and creamy, and very tasty without being too sweet. The strawberry milk tasted a lot like melted ice cream; very lightly flavored, so it didn't have that in-your-face, synthetic strawberry taste. I haven't tried the Melon and Plain Milk yet, though based on their aroma I'm sure they taste just as good.

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Casa Xocolat's Aztec Xocolat

This is such a no-brainer, after my endless fawning over this particular drink from a chocolate cafe on one of my earlier posts. After such a long day, that's not likely to end anytime soon, one could do with a favorite comfort drink. Mine would usually be hot chocolate, and finest being a cup of Aztec Xocolat from the one and only Casa Xocolat. 

hello, old friend

Simmered in milk until it's thick and velvety, this concoction goes an extra mile by being 'hot' in more ways than one, as an infusion of spices gives it an exotic kick you wont find in store-brought mixes. Don't be alarmed by the presence of 'spices' in this hot chocolate - their flavors are very mild and wont over-power the base, chocolate flavor.

You can buy a tin can of the powdered Aztec Xocolat to whip up your own version at home, though I personally prefer going to the cafe to have a cup, mostly because I don't believe I can duplicate the exact spiced chocolate experience. It'll take a little effort and time to go to Casa Xocolat just for this, but absolutely worth it.

Tita Rose's Chicken Barbecue with Ensaladang Mangga

Another one of my boyfriend's favorite dishes that we decided to master, cooked at our home and sampled by the family :D

The outcome was pretty good, just like my boyfriend's mom used to make; sweet and tangy, accompanied by a yummy sauce and refreshing ensalada. We just didn't have time to allow the marinade to sit for a longer period of time; if we had, the flavors would have been more pronounced. 

Nevertheless, the resulting chicken barbecue was a big hit with the family, with it's sweet, saucy flavor and the tangy ensalada that went with it.

Perfect summer lunch

Good Old Isaw at North Farview

When it comes to street food, nothing beats good old isaw; succulent chicken intestines basted in a simple sauce and grilled til crispy, then dipped in hot vinegar to finish. At around Php3 a piece, it's a staple for college students, PUV drivers, hungry passers-by and a must-try for foreigners seeking the "local thrill" right alongside the infamous balut.

With the various health risks of having street food, though, it's hard to find a reliable isaw spot that serves (relatively) safe products without sacrificing the classic street-food taste. Luckily, we found one right in our own hometown; a portable isaw spot snuggled inside the entrance of one of North Fairview's subdivisions.

The isawan is located near a tricycle terminal beside the East West Bank and is actually a motorcycle with a large sidecar that can be converted into a grilling station, operated by a small family. They arrive at their spot everyday at around 5pm and set-up shop for their hungry patrons.

a small bulb provides light when it starts to get dark

The Great Binondo Food Trip

I've had my fair share of Chinese food, from fast food to fancier restaurants. But I've always been curious about real Chinese food, found only deep in the heart of Binondo's famed China Town, one of the many places in the metro that I have never, ever been to.

My chance came last weekend after a friend suggested a Binondo food trip, where we can tour old China Town and sample some of their most highly-recommended cuisine, guided by none other than The Big Binondo Food Wok Map, a colorful map showcasing the area's food hotspots, shops and must-see cultural establishments.

the colorful and creative food map

A quiet repose at Lawiswis Kawayan Garden Resort

I was never much of a 'garden resort' person, me being a beach bunny and all. Too much land, I'd think. Why settle for a cottage in a secluded garden, if you can get a cottage by the wide open beach?

An overnight stay with some colleagues for our annual teambuilding seminar changed my mind somewhat, thanks to a charming garden resort in Bulacan. 

Lawiswis Kawayan Garden Resort (named after the rustling sound bamboos make in the wind - funnily enough I don't remember seeing any bamboos around) was tucked inside one of Bulacan's suburban areas, about an hour or two away from Makati City.

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Lindt Lindor

I've mentioned this in a former blog and I will say it again - Lindor chocolate from the Swiss brand Lindt is one of the most seductive chocolate treats I've ever had.

Lindor Christmas Edition chocolates in star and bell shapes

On the surface it might not seem that much different from other chocolates; it's got a smooth and thick texture, the kind that would stick to the roof of your mouth, and a very milky-chocolate taste. It's got a less-milky chocolate filling too.


Eating it cold makes it a normal chocolate (albeit a delicious one)- crisp and snappy, a little hard to bite, especially with its shape (they usually come as chocolate balls). But what got me hooked was when I accidentally ate a piece that was almost melting. It was at the temperature where the chocolate can barely hold itself together, and one wrong move while peeling the wrapper can squish it and turn the thing into a yucky mess (but still very delicious). 

Unwrap it gently though, then pop in your mouth, bite down, and the filling (which melts into a more liquid consistency) just explodes in your mouth. It's one of the most seductive (food) experiences I've ever had, something any girl would truly appreciate.

Vector Drinks, anyone?

My first stab at creating vector food via Photoshop Illustrator. Not perfect, but it's a start.

I LOVE cocktails! And I had so much fun making these, probably going a bit crazy over the colors, haha.

Illustrator is a little trickier than Photoshop, but definitely worth learning.

a toast to a new hobby

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Roasted Pumpkin with Crab Meat Hash

I've only recently started to take a liking to creamy pumpkin soups, but this one from Plaza Ibarra, tasted at a cousins' wedding, has got to be one of the BEST pumpkin soups I ever had. 



photo taken as hurriedly as the soup was ladeled, yours truly being extremely hungry and all :">

Suprsingly, it didn't have that strong pumpkin taste as with most soups; the taste was very mild, somewhat  sweet and enjoyable. I found myself gulping (yes, gulping) spoonful after spoonful without tiring of the taste. It didn't have that usual pulpy texture either and was amazingly thick and smooth and feels oh so good on the tongue.

There were fairly sizeable pieces of crabmeat in it, and it was real crabmeat, not those red, stringy things found in grocery stores, and the helpings of the meat were generous so you don't feel cheated at all.

Unfortunately, the soup was part of Plaza Ibarra's catering service and cannot be ordered nor bought individually, so there are little chances for me to actually have this again.

But hey, if you ever wind up attending a debut or wedding at Plaza Ibarra and see this soup bubbling in a large, black boiler, go grab a bowl-full (and get those accompanying Soft Butter Rolls while you're at it) and it just might make your night :p

The Best Thing I Ever Ate Series

I chanced upon this last week on the Food Network. It looks like a miniseries on some sort, featuring various chefs, from restaurant owners to cooking show hosts to authors, who share some of the best food they have ever tasted.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate 

how can you NOT tune in after this title?

It featured some of my favorite TV chefs like Tyler Florence and Giada Di Laurentis, which was a good enough reason for me to watch.

This has also inspired me to try and root out some of the best things I ever ate - in fact, I already have a couple of food stuff in mind! Granted, you need to have tasted a LOT of different kinds of food to say which one was the best, so I better get started >:D

Watch out, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, my edition, is coming out soon!

My (current) Favorite Desktop Nurse: Campbell's Instant Soups

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I still need that hot something to sip on slow, lethargic days. Chocolate is a little tricky to make (but only because I have VERY specific taste in hot chocolate *cough* casa chocolat *cough*) and I'm too lazy for tea.

On some days I have those cereal drinks for a sweet treat, but most days I go for Campbell's Instant Soups - one of those 'pour contents into a mug and add hot water' varieties. Almost as good as the real thing, and very filling too.

mmmmmmmmm....

 
They taste great on their own but I love mixing them up with some other things:

Hash Brown - eat on the side or crumble it up and toss in the soup for a makeshift creamy chicken/mushroom-potato soup

Crackers or Toasted Bread - classics! Same as the Hash Brown

Sunflower Seeds - just sprinkle on top for an added crunch

They come in two flavors: Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom, with some varieties like Croutons or Twisted Pasta. Though I am hoping they have more flavors, or would branch out eventually - I can only take variations of Chicken and Mushroom for so long XD XD

Spicy Butter Wings with Cabbage Slaw

Technically, these were supposed to be Buffalo Wings, the recipe taken from Yummy Magazine.

Buuuuut...

We didn't have all the spices listed and I chickened out on making it too spicy because my mom might kill me if she wouldn't be able to eat it; we ended up veering slightly away from the original recipe to work with what we have The result was a not-so-red batch of wings and they were more buttery than hot. But  they already have that Buffalo taste and a nice zing, plus the wings were still very crunchy.

Also, the Cabbage Slaw (no particular recipe), was supposed to be good old coleslaw but my dad forgot to buy carrots.

Next time we'll make some really hot, really red, honest-to-goodness Buffalo Wings :D

For now, though, this makes a good family meal (especially if not everyone can handle spicy flavors)

mmmmmm..wings..

Breakfast Icons (sort of)

Some artwork I did a while back (yes, it's about food).

egg in a basket, pancake, marmalade and jam on toast

 I love the clean look of vector art and the soft-painted look of digipaint art, so I tried mixing the two up when creating this, thought admittedly it ended up looking more painted than vector. 

This is the first in what I hope to be series of art, and after the next few batches I may be able to perfect by vector-digipaint hybrid :p

The Concept of Miniatures + Desserts = ♥ ♥ ♥

I was at my cousin's wedding last Saturday, and at the reception at  the MMDLC Foundation, they have, as with most buffet settings, this wonder, wonderful dessert bar. It's got the usual stuff like fresh fruit cuts and salads and a chocolate fountain, but I love how most of the desserts are presented - placed in mini cups, mugs, ramekins and even shot glasses.

Top Left: some, jelly-like dessert, citrus-flavored, very refreshing; Top Right: cream-something with chocolate shavings; Bottom: some kind of custard :p

It made the whole thing cute, and it works for both the catering business and consumers, since it allowed them to limit the amount of food we take at a time, while it allows us to sample a greater variety of sweets without over-indulging ourselves.

And hey, if you end up liking one particular dessert more, you can also go back for seconds..and thirds..

Quick Fix Salsa

My aunt came 15 minutes before our New Year's Eve dinner with a big bag of tortilla chips and said, "Do you have any dip?".

We didn't have anything prepared, and even though it was good enough on its own, the chips need one more thing: SALSA! 

My mom and I used to make homemade salsa before so it shouldn't be problem, unless you weren't expecting to make it so soon and not knowing if you had all the needed ingredients. But hey, I managed to make a quickie version of the salsa in 15 minutes' time with whatever I could find in the fridge, so there XD

Tortilla chips aren't tortilla chips without this

Red Wine Punch

My boyfriend stumbled on this recipe about a year ago when making a special holiday dinner for his parents. 

This simple drink requires just three ingredients but is really yummy and perfect for the holidays, which was why I decided to make it for our Christmas and New Year dinners. It's also perfect for parties because the taste is mild enough even for those who cannot tolerate the full-bodied flavor of red wine, and the additional ingredients can make one bottle go a long way.

Ahhhhhhh...