Catching up at Conti's

Trinoma Mall, North Ave. QC
900-5013/15

After a year, Mavic and I finally got the chance to go out and bond as sisters and cousins like we always do from way back... Ever since she went to Med School and I started working, we barely see each other anymore and we only had our time together when there's a family occasion. I thought it's going to be just an ordinary Thursday, my restday... then my phone buzzed and there she was calling me... The next thing I knew, I was heading to Trinoma to meet her at The Medical City where she had a check-up for her "asthma" (She's faking it to be excused for being absent! LOL!). It was almost lunch when she's done and we're both starving, Conti's is just beside TMC so we decided to eat there.

Kani Salad 140Php

Buffalo Wings 195Php

Fettuccine Carbonara 210Php

Smoked Boneless Bangus 165Php

Since Mavic's on diet for her upcoming wedding, she ordered the Boneless Bangus and I'd say it's "sulit", the serving can be shared by 2 persons. For a pastry restaurant, they offer BRUNCH Menu up until 10:30am and a Filipino complete meal of "silogs" all day. The rest of what we ordered were  just a so-so, nothing much to rave about. I was about to order for dessert, and Conti's is known for their 'Mango Bravo' but she insisted to have our dessert at Starbucks. We took our treats inside the movie house while watching "Amorosa, the revenge".

I dunno why, everytime we watch a movie it's always a horror film... well, I guess we enjoyed watching while our eyes were closed! =P

Spending time with her brought back memories like it was just yesterday...we talked about so many things, some of it were non-sense but it made us laugh and remember the times when we were young, care-free, and SINGLE! Lol!...

www.contis.com

Mezza Norte: Midnight Snack??!!

UP Ayala Land TechnoHub
Quezon City

It all started at Banchetto in Ortigas, then Mercato Centrale in The Fort, a chain of night food markets with an extensive selection of great tasting foods that you can enjoy with friends and family. And now, here comes Mezza Norte! The newest place for a foodie adventure in Quezon City! Ayala land together with the organizers of Mercato Centrale made this possible at the heart of Technohub in UP Ayala along Commonwealth Avenue. It's open during Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6PM to 3AM. Kiks and I wouldn't let the chance of having a taste of delicious home-cooked treats, pastries, and desserts that it has to offer and so off we gooo...

Basically, the place is made up of tents with a vast variety of food stands. There's also a tent with tables and chairs that are not enough! I advise you to look around first so you can choose the best, but in our case, we failed to do that since it's really crowded and it's hard to move around. The lines were pretty long and you're patience could be really tested. Here are some of what we managed to buy despite the box office pile of enthusiasts...

Grilled chicken and Pesto Wrap 110Php From Wrap Battle

Bacon and Mushroom Melt 180Php From Macheesemo Burgers

Frank Furter 135Php Promo of Buy 1 take 1 ;) From Z's Sausages

Sisig =P From Chef Bob's

Brownies and Butterscotch in Caramel Fudge

So much for a midnight snack! But who cares?!? We enjoyed the food and we'll definitely go back to try the other stalls. Here are some of the vendors at Mezza Norte: Edgy's Foodtrip, Dadi's Berd, Sinangag Trip, Spare Ribs delight, Seven Plates, Manila Q, Mexicanto, Merry Moo, Taclings, Big Bob's Burger, Cakes by K, Resty's Roast Beef, Carlo's Kitchen, and more! I just hope they add more space for eating so it would be more convenient ;)

Snackaroo

J. Jimemez St. 
Kamuning, QC

T-Bone Steak 140Php

This is one superb hole-in-the-wall restaurant that you can have without being disappointed. It offers great tasting Charbroiled T-Bone and Porterhouse Steak in town that's budget-friendly! For only 140Php you'll be in for a treat that will guarantee you coming back for more...

Everytime I pass by Kamuning, I'm always intrigued on what's inside this small eatery that's always full of people. By the looks of it, I expected the food to be cheap since the place looks like a 'Carinderia' and not one for the 'sosyal'. It happened to be lunch time when Kiks and I got curious and tried what they can offer us. What I did not expect was that, it's a haven for carnivores like me! The steak was perfectly packed with flavors that's tender and juicy in every bite! The serving is actually for one but with its humongous size, it's good for two and you'll be asking for extra rice for sure! No wonder why a lot of people  from  businessmen, managers, down to drivers dines here.

It's even featured by SPOT.PH : TOP 10 Steaks in Manila. The only thing that I did not like about it was their poor service. It took us 20mins before we could eat our lunch and I was so hungry. But, it's worth the wait... They should hire additional service crew and add more tables since their patrons are growing; And to avoid the long wait for ordering and billing out, don't eat here during lunch time or dinner if you don't want to fall in line before being served. We will definitely eat here again! Burrrp! ^_^ 

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2nd Branch:

Matalino St. Diliman QC

Casa Filipino by Chef Laudico

Scout Torillo, cor Scout Fernandez,
Brgy Sacred Heart, Quezon City.
Tel No: 921-1850

Dinner Buffet for my Birthday!

I've seen this restaurant on the internet and it caught my attention that they have unlimited Angus beef! The price is reasonable enough so we headed for it for my birthday!

There are a lot of restaurants that has their own buffet, even well known hotels offer them. Take your pick, Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, Italian, but what is with Casa Filipino that's different among them? It's Chef Laudico and his reputation as a skilled chef with his famous inventive twists on Filipino classics, and we are about to have a taste on some of his work...

We arrived just on time at 6PM and we had the place for ourselves! Their staff were very attentive with our needs and even advised us on what to get in the buffet. 

We started on the Appetizers. The Baked Mussels were great! I loved it with the cream cheese! The Calamares were perfectly fried! The Dumplings jut a so-so while the fried Lumpiang Ubod is a must try! I can't believe they have pizza here but it was good.  They also have Fresh Lumpia that you can prepare by yourself with your own choices of fillings, Enseladas, and Salad. Before we even tried the main course we were almost full. So, even if the starters are great, don't forget that there's MORE! Lol!

FYI, this is not my plate... =P I adopted kiko's plate for he managed to get a little of everything! Angus fried rice, Angus Pepper Steak, The famous Angus Kare-kare, Lechon Cebu, Lechon Paksiw, Fish fillet, Crispy Binagoongan, and Tomato Pomodoro. The Angus Beef was superb! It was so tender that it melts in your mouth. The fat tasted like Bulalo and it's sinful enough to make me wanna go back for more!

Halo-halo Shooters

From the name itself, its Halo-halo in a shot glass. They succeeded in the idea of nothing will go down to waste since you can eat this instantly. But, I think it's an added work for the staff coz everytime we want it they have to fill it up with ice and milk before bringing it in our table.

Pana cotta, Rumballs, Chocotart, Truffle cake

The Pana cotta is perfect with the Halo-halo, what I did was mixed it together. =) The Rumballs tasted like Choco crinkles, the cake was fine, nevermind the tart...

We left this place with smiles on our faces satisfied with what we had. I was even planning when to dine here again. Maybe soon =)

Cafe by the Ruins and Cafe Veniz

Baguio City, Philippines

"Bagyo sa Baguio"

      Malapit naman na mag August at "Linggo na ng Wika" kaya mananangalog nako ok??? Isa pa, gusto ko mashare ng ayos ang bitterness ko sa bakasyong ito... So eto na nga... Last week pagkagaling namin ni kiko sa La Union eh dumiretso kami ng Baguio. Di na kami ngdalawang isip kasi libre naman ang shuttle papuntang Veniz Hotel mula sa Thunderbird Resorts. Kasabay namin yung mga patron nilang sugalero sa casino dun sa van. Alam na naming may LPA na namumuo pero di namin alam na pag dating sa Baguio eh kasabay din namin dadating si "Ferding". Oh well ang saya ng byahe, ang lakas ng ulan! Sasabayan pa ni manong driver ng pagovertake sa zigzag na daan habang ang hamog eh halos lamunin kami. Grabe para kaming may libreng roller coaster ride sa likod dahil halos tumilapon kami sa bawat pagliko ni manong na di man lang magslow down! Mas nastress ako sa byaheng ito kahit isang oras lang sya kumpara sa pitong oras naming byahe sa bus papuntang La Union! Ayos!

Bumaba kami mismo sa Hotel. Hmm maayos naman sya para sa 1500Php. Di mo sya pwede ikumpara sa isang 5star Hotel dahil malaki ang kaibahan pero pwede na magpahinga lalo pa at umuulan pa din sa labas at nakakatamad maglakad. Buti na lang at may Mcdo sa 2nd Flr ng bldg! Thank you Lord!!!

Etong si kiko, hindi mapakali. Sya kasi ang nagbayad kaya ayaw nya masayang ang lahat. Kaya ayun, kesehodang bumabagyo eh kinaladkad ako para maglakad sa labas! Ang kagandahan sa tinuluyan namin eh malapit sa mga pasyalan at kainan, as in walking distance lang... 

Nagsimba muna kami sa Our Lady of Lourdes at dumaan sa napakahabang hagdan, na may ibang daan naman pla...

Hanggang Baguio, sa Sm pa din ang punta! At ang mga tao nakakaloka kahit bumabagyo eh nakadress up pa din. Kaya kami ni kiko nagmukang yagit dahil nakatsinelas lang kami! Kung alam ko lang sana binaon ko ang trench coat at aking boots with the furrrr! =P

Dahil malapit lang kami sa market, namili na kami ng mga pasalubong. Ang hirap tumawad ha! Pero in fairness honest mga tindera dito, nagtanong ako asan kami makakabili ng taho kasi umuulan, tapos sabi ni ate "wag kana bumili non hindi naman masarap un!"... ah ganon ba teh, sige yung mga bbq at isaw na lang sa burnham park.. " Aysus, wag kayo bibili don, madumi yown!" Dahil sa honesty niya, sa kanya kami namili...

Dumidilim na... Ayoko na maglakad dahil sobrang lamig... at oras na para kumain... =))

Cafe by the Ruins ang on the way na Restaurant pabalik sa Veniz so dito na kami nagdinner. Ang cozy ng place parang ruins talaga haha at nakakatakot dahil ang lakas ng hangin at t-a-g-o-s sa loob! Lol! =) Kidding aside, very pinoy ang ambiance parang kubo na tinubuan ng kainan...

Kamote Bread and Herb Cheese 80Php

Best seller daw nila ito with the spread, ewan ko kung bakit, para saken masarap pa yung tinapay namin sa bakery! Pero yung Cheese spread masarap, mas ok siguro sa pesto pandesal...

Chicken Molo Soup 180Php

Pagdating pa lang ng Baguio gusto ko na humigop ng mainit sa sabaw. Kaya ito ang inorder ko, tamang tama sa bumabagyong panahon! Yung Kamote bread sinawsaw ko dito, pwede! =)

Chicken Arrozcaldo with Tofu 180Php

O san ka pa? Sa Baguio pa talaga dumayo para lang kumain ng Lugaw!haha! May katabangan lang po pero yung tofu ok kasi nifry nila na may breading. Naengganyo kasi sa mga naglulugaw sa daan! Ayan tuloy.. =P

Sana nag O' Mai Khan na lang kami o kaya Pizza Volante... T_T

Pagbalik sa Hotel, sinabayan pa ng pagkatalo ng Brgy. Ginebra...

Perfect talaga...

But wait, there's more! This time pambawi naman... Masarap talaga gumising pag alam mong kakain ka na lang.. Salamat sa Veniz at meron kaming breakfast buffet na nagaantay sa amin.

Kumpleto ang salad bar at napaka fresh ng mga gulay! 3 ang dressing nila, Pesto, Thousand Island, and Tuna. Sabi ni kiko pagganyan, put a little of everything daw. Naweirdohan ako nung una pero pwede pala! yung next refill ko di ko na sinama ung tuna.

Unang plate namin ni kiko. Yung crispy bacon namin sa Thunderbird Resort napalitan ng crispy daing!haha! Pero masarap! Gusto ko nga magkamay kaso nakakahiya, tapos mas ok para saken kung garlic fried rice ang kasama. Pwede pala gawing lumpiang shanghai ang tofu? Kung di kasi sinabi saken ni kiko na tofu yun eh hindi ko malalaman! 

Second Plate with Vigan Longganisa! Very authentic, perfect sa sukang Iloko. 

Ang Tower Pancake ni kiko! Ok naman sya, lasang pancake =P. May kasama dapat yan pandesal kaso sinunog ni kiko sa oven. Naglagay ulit kami ng pandesal, pagbalik namin may nagnakaw naman! Ay nako, yung pancake na lang ang nilagyan ko ng strawberry jam! 

Dahil nakakain kami ng maayos may energy na kami maglibot-libot ulit. Kaso yung panahon ang mukang walang energy at sige pa din ang ulan! Wala na kami pakielam at nagpicture picture kami sa gitna ng ulan.. Try niyo, exciting siya promise, habang pinagtitinginan kayo ng mga tao! haha!

Oras na para umuwi... Nagtaxi lang kami papuntang Victory Liner at 50pesos. Pamasahe namin pauwi 445pesos each. Ok na sana eh, matatanggap ko ng binagyo kami.. kung bakit pagbaba ng Baguio... UMARAW BIGLA! T_T