Category: food

just some random photos of food

1. So I’m sure you have heard the news that Jollibee has bought Mang Inasal for P3 billion. So maybe this explains the sudden disappearance of soy sauce in little air-filled plastic tubes (that you have to open carefully with your teeth or the tines of your fork, unless you want soy sauce all over your shirt) and actual calamansi from their rice meals.

Toyomansi! How horribly civilized! But at least they still included sili with the meal. We thought they now didn’t, at first, until we found the sili stuck in the underside of the chicken. Jaykie was so worried.

2. This is my favorite dessert combo from McDonald’s. Apple pie + plain vanilla sundae = apple pie a la mode. I invented this shit, yo. (Not very original, but let’s pretend I’m the first person in the  entire world to think this up.) We had it maybe two weeks ago, and again on Friday. The boyfriend liked it. My flabs screamed in revulsion but I ate the dessert anyway. It was heaven.

3. Despite the occassional apple pie a la mode or choco mousse or Mister Donut’s belgian choco dip (I have a sweet tooth, it is just IMPOSSIBLE to cut sweets from my life), I’m still sticking to my no-rice diet and my exercise regime (quite lousy, compared to other people’s: one-hour jog/brisk walking two to three times a week, and weights on Saturdays). I think it’s working. I think. I feel lighter now. I haven’t weighed myself yet, but I’m glad to know that I still got things under control.

4. If things go downhill again, I’ll try Mark Haub’s Twinkie Diet. It sounds awfully fun.

cake with a side of guilt

So. Diet. Little to no rice, no sodas, no chips. Desserts should be limited only to fruits.It would really be best if I didn’t eat anything at all.

I want to lose weight so bad, but friends ask you out, and you ruin your diet willingly.

* * *

Jaykie and I went out with my high school friends on Friday. Dinner at Mang Jimmy’s. Had rice, had soda. Probably had too much tapa mix. After that, Banapple. I bought the Snickers cheesecake for me and the boyfriend, but also sampled 1) blueberry cheesecake; 2) cookie dough cheesecake; and 3) their famous banoffee. Probably gained ten pounds right there. But it’s always fun to go out with my high school friends. For some reason we ended up talking about Maria Ressa. (“Si Ging Reyes daw papalit. Bongga pala ‘yun. Akala ko itinapon lang siya sa Amerika.”)

Flashback: That morning I went with Jaykie to UP (he was just going to pay for the second sem – PMAM y’all). Walked in the rain. Typical, really, for rain to pour during enlistment period. I miss UP, but I don’t miss this torture. Jaykie wrung his shirt dry on the Bahay ng Alumni parking lot while I shielded him with my umbrella. Lunch at ROC, where I had fish and a slice of pastillas cheesecake. Mmm.

Saturday lunch was at Trinoma. Baked ziti and one-half of a pizza at Sbarro, then yogurt at Golden Spoon. Jaykie took me shopping as a birthday gift!

Kikomachine Komix No. 6:

A new mp3 player! (My Zen player conked out oh many months ago, and I’m too poor to buy an iPod.)

Shirts from Artwork, which entitled me to a free doodle book. :)

Thank you, Jake. :)

This cell phone bag I bought for myself. Only 80 pesos!

That night I was reading a book that mentioned chocolate, and all of a sudden I wanted chocolate. We ended up ordering from KFC. I had mousse but for the first time in my life, I had my rice replaced with a split bun (which by the way tasted like day-old bread).

I should exercise like a crazy person this week to burn all those calories gah.

But great weekend, as always.

twelve

Jaykie and I celebrated our first anniversary together in Tagaytay. The weekend! The wind! A quiet hotel stay! Food! Alcohol!

I’ve been to Tagaytay before, but that was back in grade school, back when I still hated buses and long rides and was prone to paralyzing motion sickness. So of course I had no fond memories of the place, except that it was cold. Since then I’ve learned to love looking out the window while in transit, so when Jaykie mentioned Tagaytay months before the anniversary, I was excited. We needed a weekend away from Metro Manila. We needed a good view and a cool breeze.

We settled on Taal Vista Hotel. Around the time we were planning to place a reservation (end of September), Taal Vista had just wrapped up a promo, which was sad because their room rates were a bit pricey. When October rolled in, I called their sales office in Mall of Asia to ask if there was going to be a promo extension. I was delighted to hear the sales agent say that yes, there would be another promo. Starting October 15.

The exact day we planned to go there. This is a siiiign.

We immediately placed a reservation for a De Luxe room (3,999/night) from Oct. 15 to the 17th. Note: You’ll need an SM Advantage Card or other SM membership cards (BDO, Prestige) to avail, so go get one first. You’ll also need a credit card, because this is a book-and-buy promo. But they won’t charge you yet; they just need a guarantee. You can choose to pay in cash when you get there.

Tagaytay, Day 1

We arrived too early. The sales agent I spoke to said if the room’s available we can actually check in by noon, but the front desk was adamant in saying that check-in was at 2 p.m. FINE! Jaykie thought the front desk was masungit, but meh, we might as well just drive around and have lunch first.

Pictures!

Lunch was at Buon Giorno.

I was very very very happy with my salad. (Foie Gras Insalata.) I loved the pecan caramels. :D

Jaykie had a risotto. (Pollo E Funghi.)

We had a slice of chocolate espresso torte for dessert.

We got back to the hotel at half-past one, and we were finally able to get into our room.

Jaykie looks guilty here. What did you do? Haha.

Unfortunately the room didn’t have a view of Taal Lake. Oh well.

Dinner was at the hotel’s Cafe on the Ridge, plus welcome drinks (calamansi juice) and alcohol at the Lobby Lounge. (You can use your SM Advantage Card to get a 10 percent discount.)

Good night, Tagaytay!

Tagaytay, Day 2

Good morning, Tagaytay!

The Lobby Lounge in the morning.

After breakfast, we went out for a stroll. The weather was nice.

The wind!

It was basically just a day of lounging around. We dressed up and went back to Buon Giorno for dinner, then went back to the room and watched something scary on Discovery. We ended up sleeping with the lights on! Ha!

Tagaytay, Day 3

I woke up with this stupid vertigo, so Jaykie was kind enough to get up and buy us breakfast from McDo, just across the street. While outside, Jaykie sent me a text saying he had switched the papers between our room and the next, because we were given [a certain newspaper that I shall not name]. Jaykie snatched up the Inquirer and put it on our door handle, and I got up and took it before somebody realized this folly. LOL.

It was a day of errands, but Jaykie’s driver took care of it. Mahogany Market, then Rowena’s. You should go to Rowena’s! I sampled their tarts, apple crumble, and sylvanas.

We had lunch at Antonio’s Grill. Sizzling bulalo!

Oh, it was delicious.

Then back to the metro. We had a mall date at MOA, saw The Town (Ben Affleck, that was a pleasant surprise. You should direct more movies!), had some Mediterranean food, and bought each other books!

My anniv gifts from Jaykie:

Here are the books I gave him:

So, yes, that weekend rocked.

* * *

Love,

We should do this again.

Love,

 

healthy living

Still not the kind vegans will be proud of, but hey, we’re trying.

Friday

Breakfast – Oatmeal with dried mangoes and coffee

Lunch – Romain lettuce with dressing on the side and chicken fingers; yogurt for dessert

Lunch # 2 – For me:  Seafood tempura meal at Tokyo Tokyo

For him: None.

Heh. Jake had an exam, and I still had at least half a dozen SM GC’s, so I went to the mall and shopped. I was so hungry. But at least I didn’t order a steak. Hence, the meal at Tokyo Tokyo.

I bought three tops, a pair of sandals (that looked like those fake pairs you see in Philcoa hahaha!), and a dress.

When Jake and I met up later for an early dinner, I found these babies at Comic Quest.

The Philippine Genre Stories Horror and Christmas issues. Excited to read them. :)

Jake was feeling down after his exam, so we decided to really eat, and headed to Burgoo. While waiting for the food, he worried over a Math problem.

I don’t know what’s going on here.

Dinner: For us: Burgoo Stew

For me: Chicken Steak (with potato wedges and corn salsa)

For him: Chicken and Seafood (with rice)

Late at night, we had homemade margarita and Baked chips (less fat) while watching Flight of the Conchords, the perfect show for drunken folks.

Saturday

Breakfast – Romain lettuce with dressing on the side, toast with cottage cheese, coffee

Lunch – Hotdogs and eggs with rice; yogurt for dessert

Carrot chips with dressing on the side for snacks while watching some TV shows.

Dinner – Cheat meal!

For him: Chicken and ribs meal (with soup, salad, side dish and brownie)

For me: Ribs meal (with side dish and choco mousse)

Sunday

Breakfast – Hotdogs and eggs with rice and coffee

I’ll have a couple sandwiches later. :)

in photos

Wednesday. Cupcakes by Sonja at the office. Via City Delivery, P500 minimum. Yummeh.

Thursday. Kate borrowed this copy from the office library.

Because a close-up shot is necessary.

Friday. I went with my brother to have his eyes checked at an optical shop in SM North, and we saw a dancing robot.

We’re all bespectacled now. (Save for my mother, who needs a pair, but refuses to wear them. Istorbo raw.)

Saturday. Yakimix date!

We went to the Tomas Morato branch. They open the dinner buffet at 5:30 p.m. during the weekend. The place closes at 11 p.m., so you can actually pace yourself.

The remnants of my first plate of food (which, to my defense, mostly had tofu, veggies and seafood):

Sushi!

I wasn’t able to take a picture of my dessert, but I sampled their small chocolate cakes, a cream cup with fruits, and candy. Lots and lots of candy.

After that craziness, Jake and I will again try to eat healthy. (This is the nth time we’ve promised this to each other.) Oh well, good luck?

I am excited:

1) to buy a bunch of books by local authors and review them in the near future;

2) to go shopping this coming weekend;

3) to greet mid-October with our first-year anniversary celebration (We’ll probably go on a food-trip, lols.); and

4) to open November with my 24th birthday. *cartwheel*

eleven

Eleven months since the day, which means just one more month and it’s the anniversary! Here’s a picture of us before heading out for the Serendra date on Friday.

Another solo for meeeeeee.

There.

Early dinner was at Chelsea Market Place & Cafe. Great ambiance. We had the Chelsea Fritto Misto Collection (appetizer) and the Three Mushroom Truffled Fettucine (one of the specials). We tried one of the boutique beers, but I can’t remember the name now a glass of Stella Artois. Ooh fancy, lol. (I wasn’t able to take a picture of the food because we were starving by then, heh.)

They also sell cakes, but I wanted to have dessert elsewhere.

Cupcakes by Sonja!

I’m a big fan of Mint Condition. Mmm.

I looked around A Different Bookstore not planning to buy anything, but I saw a cheaper copy of Joe Hill’s acclaimed 20th Century Ghosts, so I bought that. At Fully Booked, I claimed my free Signature Chocolate drink at Starbucks (they have a promo) and Jake picked up a Warhammer novel about the Space Inquisition.

I also saw a copy of Under the Dome, and wow I didn’t know the novel’s more than 900 pages. That’s a huge book. I’ll probably get it next time.

Then we sat at our usual spot, just outside the bookstore, facing Serendra, and peoplewatched and talked about whatever.

* * *

Saturday. We could have gone to the Open Gaming Meet or the Book Fair at SMX, but we were lazy and weren’t exactly in the mood to deal with crowds (lol), so we just watched Better Off Ted and Through the Wormhole and ordered takeout. Later in the day I had this huge craving for Starbucks chocolate (again!), so we went out for a short walk and ordered our drinks and shared a glazed donut and pandesal.

* * *

For your Moment of Zen, the new sign of the University of the Philippines! Ang yaman!

* * *

P.S. I got my medical exam results for the year, and I’m overweight and my cholesterol level is seven points higher than what’s acceptable. ARGH.

P. P. S. Hey, you: Thank you for making the weekends so special.

Even though most of the time all I do is eat and sleep while you play the PSP. Haha!

Still. :)

here be some homemade margarita

The weekend, as always, was awesome.

Friday

Mall date! We haven’t done this in a while, finding greater pleasure in staying indoors, watching one sitcom episode after another, and ordering takeout. But Despicable Me was already in the theaters, so we decided to go to the mall.

Requisite camwhorage before we headed out.

I went book shopping! Oh, it was heaven looking through the books even though I only ended up buying two: Jessica Zafra’s Twisted 8 1/2 and Joshua Ferris’s second book, The Unnamed. I wanted Pacific Rims, but there’s still no paperback available, and the Hunger Games books I decided to just borrow from friends to save money and space. I saw Tana French’s third book, Faithful Place, but gah STILL NO PAPERBACK, and Veronique Olmi’s Beside the Sea was nowhere to be found. Poe’s Children was out of stock, and so was The Monster of Florence. Hay.

Lunch at Five Cows, which I thought was just an ice cream bar. They serve real food (I had their chicken and fish combo), but I only took pictures of our desserts.

Jaykie’s order, Ferrero Crunch.

My After Eight (choco mint chip ice cream cake):

It took us several minutes to choose our desserts because there were just so many excellent choices.

Then, Despicable Me. As promised, it was full of fluffy goodness. Cute film. I want: 1) a copy of Sleepy Kittens, 2) Minions, and 3) Minions that glow in the dark. “SO FLUFFEH!”

Saturday

Having seen the lovely Nigella make margarita ice cream on TV, Jake bought tequila and decided to do his own mix right at home. (Thanks Wiki!) So after seeing the sweet and dorky Eagle vs. Shark:

Those were mint candies from Candy Corner, btw. The margarita’s excellent! Wasak!

* * *

For your Moment of Zen (or, Why You Shouldn’t Trust the Audience, or, Look At These Assholes Who Answered “Corn Cob”) –

Haha! Till next week! :D