Special Pancit Palabok, Lucky Me!

May 15, 2013 by

 

One of my favorite Lucky Me! memories was way back when I get to set foot back at home before the sun is down.  I remember late afternoons spent with my sisters trying to find the best snacks / merienda cena to share among the three of us.  4-5 packs of Lucky Me Pancit Canton were just right between three hungry tummies.  Joyce, Joanne and me never get tired of those flavorful noodles of IPC (instant pancit canton) since it’s very tasty, it tastes like stir fried noodles and it’s easy to cook.  Sometimes you can add tuna.  We heat some bread on the toaster and we’re good to go.

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More Memorable Bantayan Island, Cebu

April 23, 2010 by

 

 

 

April 17-19, 2010 –Our flight was scheduled at 430AM.  It was such a déjà vu of our flight to Cebu in 2008.

 

That Friday night, Bubba had a long meeting at work that ended late.  11pm, we were headed to their place since I was sleeping over.  Bubba started to pack for the trip around 1130pm at the same he finalized and printed out the items to do in Bantayan.  He finished almost 1am.  I think even beyond that but I was already a goner.

 

The 1-hour sleep didn’t help at all.  It took me 5 minutes to force myself off the bed, carry my stuff, and board the cab.  I was still so groggy.  I groaned upon seeing the big crowd at the airport.  I thought at that early in the morning, I wouldn’t see long long lines of people trying to check in.  Wrong.

 

Good thing Cute Bam Bam (a.k.a) as Ethan is with us.  Every time you look at his face, our stress seems to melt away.  After paying the terminal fee of P200 per head and security check, we all had quick bites at Ya Kun Kaya.  What a surprise that Bubba had to insist on getting a Yin-Yang before getting served one.

 

My energy seemed to surge when Bubba whispered, “it’s Billy.”  I looked at the last security check area and said, “No, that’s not him.”  Bubba said, “It’s him.”  I perked right up.  “Are you sure?”  Another glance and I was convinced.

 

I’m not really much of a fan girl.  There’s nothing really wrong with being one but I’m not seriously that stirred with the local actors/actresses.  Other than Derek Ramsay, Jay-R and Billy Crawford, I wouldn’t even bother to care.  Derek Ramsay has the most amazing bod in the local scene now and I’ve always liked him even when he was still barely known as a model (I had the chance to meet him briefly once but I seriously doubt he remembers at all).  I generally like dark men (excuse me Bubba) and a sun-kissed man with great smile and eyes like Derek’s, surefire head turner.  Jay-R and Billy are not dark but they swoon me away with their albums and dancing prowess.

 

Back to the airport, Bubba said he’d ask Billy for a posterity photo with us.  I was soooo shy and really hesitant to do it.  Survivor Africa’s Ethan Zohn was in Manila in 2004.  I am his biggest fan in PI.  I attended the meet and greet event at Capones but couldn’t even look him in the eye or be anywhere within a few feet from him.  I think it was both SE and my college soul sistah King who got the autograph and photos.  Even at the worst El Niño, I’d really freeze right where I’m standing.

 

Good thing Jayme was up for it.  Even at 5 am with barely any sleep, he was kind enough to give us a smile.  I loved his NY shirt and Yankees cap.

 

 

Boarded the plane and in less than 2 hours, Cebu’s fresh air welcomed us.  The private service we hired brought us to the port, where we rode a ferry to Bantayan Island.  2 or 3 hours land travel and 1-hour ferry ride. 

 

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There are resort services waiting at the port to bring you to the respective resorts.  We stayed at Kota Beach Resort.

 

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After settling in, we rode the “padyak” (PHP 40/head/roundtrip) to get to the Santa Fe Beach Resort where we had lunch.  The restaurant’s menu is mostly Chinese cuisine.  We had our fill and headed back to our resort.

 

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A bit after lunch, Jayme, Rosette, Oliver, Bam Bam and the parentals spent the afternoon at the beach.  Bubba and I were knocked out since we were only running on a 1-hour sleep for 2 days.

 

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Evening came and we walked towards the street where most of the bar-restaurants are.  Choice of the night was at the Portuguese restaurant Bubba picked.  That Saturday night, they had a buffet spread for PHP250 per head.

 

 

The Portuguese owner is actually the one who was manning the grill.  Included in the buffet is unlimited fresh seafood and meat for grilling.

 

 

After our hefty dinner, we dropped by the restaurant across where we ate and saw their scrumptious spread as well.  Their Saturday buffet goes for PHP290 per head but they seem to have more dishes available.  We planned to eat there the next day but were told by the owner that they only have the buffet special every Saturday.

 

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Dinner done and Jayme, Bubba and I watched Big Bang Theory until we called it a night.

 

 

April 18, Sunday –Next day, we all had breakfast at our resort’s restaurant before heading to Virgin Island.  Virgin Island was supposed to be part of our trip last time we were in Cebu but Travel Factor decided to go straight to Malapascua Island, where Bubba was itching to go diving to see some Tresher sharks –good thing they don’t allow unless you’re a licensed diver.

 

It was a short 20-30 minute boat ride to Virgin Island from Bantayan.

 

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More Virgin Island Photos

 

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Bubba, Jayme, Oliver and Rosette all went snorkeling.  I stayed behind to play with Bam Bam.  Auntie took Bam Bam to the water with some shade and taught him his first swimming lesson.  He was utterly cute!  That got me in the water and I kept snapping away photo after photo.

 

 

Not long after, we had our lunch cooked by the beach by our guide.  The guerilla lunch on the table included grilled liempo, shrimps, squid and fish. 

 

 

After lunch, the foursome continued to swim but I opted to stay behind again to read my book.  But I fell asleep in the hammock.

 

 

Around 4pm, we bid Virgin Island adieu and headed back to Bantayan Island.

 

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That afternoon until sunset, the whole family plus Rosette and I all lounged by the beach, enjoying the serene beach and relaxing water.  We all liked the sand bar of our resort! \m/

 

Takes and Outtakes

 

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I like this shot of father and son.

(just don’t mind the kids on the background)

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Bubba playing with Jem’s Hat

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Bam Bam grabbing my face 🙂

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“The Flower Shot” by Jayme

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Time is well spent with family 🙂

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It was fun taking photos of the beach and of everyone.  Keepsake photos!

 

April 19, 2010 –Monday, Bubba and I strolled along the beach soaking in the morning sun and our weekend away from the city.  Last year at Sorsogon was fun, but I really enjoyed this year’s trip to Bantayan much more. 

 

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Water is soooo clear.

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Funny, Bubba and I were in Bantayan in August 2008 but we both don’t have any recollection of the trip.  We barely remembered Bantayan that year… only bits of Malapascua and Cebu City with Norman.  But Bantayan was zero.

 

 

That’s changed this year. 

 

Most definitely.

 

 

 

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Zubuchon on the next post!!! 😉

 

Bantayan Island Album (Jem’s Camera)

 

Bantayan Island Album (My Cam)

 

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Tahanan ni Aling Meding and Outdoor Lunch at Lake Pandin

April 6, 2010 by

 

 

We were out of the country only a week ago and I didn’t expect that we’d have plans for the Holy Week.  I was really thinking of staying in but was pleasantly surprised that Bubba had something up his sleeve for me.

 

Although it’s been on my Things to Do/Visit list for quite some time, it was Bubba who managed to pull off the Ugu Bigyan-Tahanan ni Aling Meding-Lake Pandin trip.  It was probably the best local trip he ever planned!

 

 

Casa San Pablo was Bubba’s first choice to reminisce our first trip together to San Pablo Laguna in early 2008.  However, I opened the idea of trying a new place –my choice in mind, Tahanan ni Aling Meding.

 

Wake up to the soothing view of Sampaloc Lake from the balcony of your room and relish the feeling of living at a mansion.  This house was built initially to be the rest/vacation house of the Borja family, whose whole family (11 siblings) is already based in the States.  The hotel serves as their own mansion for relaxation and family reunions and other events when they fly to the Philippines.

 

Tahanan ni Aling Meding opens up their big gates for folks who are visiting San Pablo City, it’s your secret hide-away residence in Laguna.

 

Type of Rooms:

 

1 Family Room PHP 5,500

(5 beds for 6 persons)

 

1 Honeymoon Room PHP 3,500

(1 queen-size bed)

 

This is the room Bubba got.

 

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Closet

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There’s computer desk for your laptops.

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2 Superior Rooms PHP 3,500

(2 beds)

 

4 Executive Rooms PHP 3,000

(2 beds)

 

2 De Luxe Rooms PHP 2,500

(2 beds)

 

 

Amenities:

 

*Wi-fi Zone

*Aircon

*Cable TV

*Swimming Pool (7am-10pm only)

*Hot and Cold shower

*Refrigerator

*Telephone

 

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At breakfast the next day, we noticed a table of foreign guests and a lot of families staying in Tahanan ni Aling Meding.  Two families enjoyed swimming at Tahanan’s pool.  We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wilson Borja and sharing a breakfast conversation with him –reminiscing how the whole Mansion started.

 

 

Tahanan ni Aling Meding

Dagatan Blvd., Sampaloc Lake,

San Pablo City, Laguna

Manila Line: (632) 520 6089

Laguna Line: (049) 562 5951/ (049) 562 5855

Email: admin@tahanan.info

 

 

How to Get There:

(From Tahanan ni Aling Meding Brochure)

 

 

Coming from Manila, after San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika Highway.  You will see a Caltex station to the left, immediately before a fork in the highway.  The right side of the fork leads straight to Lucena, the left leads to San Pablo City Proper.  Take the left road.  At the junction to Calauan, take the main avenue to your right.  This is Rizal Ave.  Turn left at the corner of San Pablo Central School.  Follow the road beyond the City Hall.  As soon as you see the lake, turn left on the perimeter road (actually more of a sharp U-turn).  Tahanan will be to your left.

  

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Reminiscent: Jay’s Kinabuhayan.  Elusive: Kusina Salud.  Revisit: Palmera’s.

 

During this trip, we fought the urge to drop by at Jay’s Kinabuhayan Café to just say hello.  We remembered our fantastic time at Jay’s eating that delicious spiced chicken and greens/flower salad of his.  After that lunch in 2008, we also had some bonding time with Jay and his trustee aide and friend and some of his pet animals over some smooth lambanog –yes we were drinking at 3 in the afternoon!  After which, we had a short trip at Kubli Springs and took an energizing dip while playing some guitar music.  Good times, yeah.

 

We missed to try Kusina Salud last time we were in town.  Bubba has been trying to contact Kusina Salud since Tuesday that week to no avail.  Nobody seems to answer the phone or maybe we have the wrong or an old number.    It was included in the plans to have dinner there that evening.  Unfortunately, since we weren’t able to place our reservations, we hesitated to walk-in. 

 

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Palmera’s restaurant was again recommended to us.  When it was being described, I felt that I knew the place.  And I was right.  We dined there in 2008.  We were supposed to go to Jay’s Kinabuhayan Café for dinner that day but ended up going to Palmera’s instead because of fear of getting lost and rebel attack (?).

 

Bubba couldn’t remember that we ate there until we walked inside the place.  Palmeras’ has its own appeal as a grill-resto-bar that offers live music on certain nights.  Bubba ordered Crispy Tilapia slightly recalling that he liked it the first time we were there.  My order was grilled liempo and hot calamansi juice.

 

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Before Shot

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He massacred the tilapia

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A sweet smug smile.

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Whatta really large snake!!!

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He in fact did like it and finished the three tilapias.  We drove back to Tahanan ni Aling Meding to retire for the night.  Bubba’s plan didn’t end there.  The next day after checking out, we headed straight to this “secret” place Bubba has been keeping under wraps.

 

I was very much in the know about the Ugu Bigyan and Tahanan ni Aling Meding plans but he cooked up something special for me –a simple outdoor lunch at Lake Pandin.

 

Lake Pandin

 

Lake Pandin is one of the seven lakes, called Pitong Lawa, in San Pablo, Laguna.  We reached the gateway point and parked our car.  Aling Siona, the wife of Mang Tano, who Bubba corresponded with regarding our reservation that day, welcomed us and guided us in the trail. 

 

 

It was a 10-15 minute trail walk to Lake Pandin.  Bubba asked me if the trek feels like the Kabigan Falls trek we did in Ilocos Norte.  I said it was a bit the same but there were more scenery in the previous trek I think.  He knows I have my qualms on trekking but I like it better than hiking.  I’ve never hiked in my entire life.

 

 

Mang Tano and wife are part of the group (“samahan” in Filipino) who escorts the visitors –they are the same group that live nearby the lake and make a living out of fishing and the Pandin Lake tours.  Nowadays, it’s all ladies who paddle the raft because the “men” felt a bit awkward in the past when foreign guests wear only their skimpiest.

 

 

The idea is they serve your lunch on the bamboo raft and the lady paddlers will take you across the lake at a quiet corner with shade.  Enjoy nature’s breeze in Pandin Lake while eating your lunch made by the locals. 

 

 

I was taken by the calming beauty of Pandin Lake.  The sun was out but we didn’t feel the heat –just the cool wind whispering softly in our ears.  We had the view of the lush greens at every corner. 

 

 

Lunch was simple but tastes good.  We loved the little shrimps in coconut milk (gata).  And despite having tilapia the night before, Bubba was able to finish the 3 tilapias on the table again -this time grilled instead of deep fried. 🙂

 

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After lunch, Bubba and I relished the calmness of the scenery and stillness of time.  We look out at the “docking port” where we came from and felt so on our own.  Our minds were very relaxed… while my body was such in a tranquil moment. 

 

 

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Our Fun Rapid Shots (Neoprint style photo sesh haha)

*WARNING*

Might be too cheesy for those with strong gag reflexes.

 

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Our “Pose Ode” to Madz *salute*

 

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More Photos:

In his own time.

Bubba with the pink paddle.

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Thought-bubble: “This is just so nice.”

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Yea, I have a tummy. 

I tried to exercise but with my eating habits…

there will always be a happy bump there in the mid-section.

Sexy ain’t in my dictionary.

Never mind, I’m happy.

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The lady paddlers resting as we were resting.

A coconut suddenly fell, almost on the head of Marlyn.  We all laughed.

Out of relief.

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Bubba and Boozie-la

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At peace with nature.

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Back to the roots.

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“Initiation?”

“Baptism of Fire?”

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Oh no!

I wasn’t trained for this. 😀

 

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After a couple of hours in this peaceful setting, we decided to head back.  If only I didn’t promise “Moms” that I’d be in Manila for dinner-out, we’d be staying until past 5PM.  Bubba helped in paddling back to shore. 

 

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The Baranggay Tanod who makes us feel safe.

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It was a short 20-minute paddle, where we bonded with our raft paddlers, Marlyn, Malou and Nik. 

 

Ate Marlyn, Ate Malou and Nik

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The Other Lady Paddlers

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The Baranggay Tanod who protectively watched us from afar and helped us trek back to the parking lot.

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You can opt to take the ride at PHP 180 and with lunch, an additional PHP 180.  We enjoyed the afternoon so much that Bubba gave PHP 500 as extra.  If you plan to visit and you enjoy it tremendously, please feel free to leave an extra for the community locals.  They earn here through integrity and hard work that it’s so easy to give from the heart.

 

 

The Afternoon at Lake Pandin

 

It’s one of those afternoons I will long remember.  Tranquil.  Serene.  Rural.  This was the part where we most felt recluse from the world.

 

 

Bubba and I shared varying moments here.  There were moments we talked.  Moments we took photos.  Moments we look out to the world… …even moments where we each had our own thoughts, devoid of the other’s presence. 

 

Being enclosed in the rural surroundings is a humble reminder that life started out simple.  And in simplicity, we are in touch more with our inner selves.

 

 

 

Lake Pandin

Baranggay Santo Angel

San Pablo, Laguna

 

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What Bob Blumer Wrote

August 15, 2009 by

 

Surreal Surprise with Bob Blumer

July 17, 2009

Rockwell Tent

 

 

Bob Blumer is brilliant in many ways beyond cooking.  His brilliance shows in his creativity and humor.

 

He signed off his photo with Bubba with “best dishes” playing on the pun of “best wishes.”  That “D” in “dishes” was supposed to be “W.”

 

 

Cute.

 

What could he have penned that set me off like this…

 

 

 

Just between you and me… 

(Reveal)

 

 

 

 

I think that “L” was supposed to be “C.”  He missed the curve.

 

He definitely wasn’t served Alphabet soup growing up.  Or Alphabet crackers.

 

Laughter is brightest where food is best.

 

 

Events This Weekend Album

 

 

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Surreal Surprise Dinner with Bob Blumer

July 27, 2009 by

 

Surreal Gourmet’s Bob Blumer visited Manila and whipped up a dinner for me.

 

It was a raining Friday last January 17 and most offices have allowed their employees to go home early (by 1PM, some companies have canceled work due to heavy rains and probable flash flood.  While the rest of Manila was eager to pack their stuff, I, on the other hand, was standing comfortable and dry in our boardroom in front of a panel presenting our project).  Although there was worry about the heavy rain causing flashflood and crazy Manila traffic on a weekend, many couldn’t pass up the chance to meet Bob Blumer.

 

 

The show must go on. 

 

In his show, Glutton for Punishment (now going on its third season), Bob goes to different cities and challenges himself to extreme gastronome adventures against the locals.  Among his attainments are living on nothing but Guinness for one whole week in Dublin, chile-pepper eating contest in Mexico, and many other daunting feats.  As they say, no guts, no glutton!

 

The Rockwell Tent was the venue for the Discovery Travel and Living event and Giata Fores was at the forefront of the catering service.  Joey Mead hosted the event and couldn’t go tongue fencing with the very funny Bob Blumer.  It seems like she was out of her element but despite the ho-hum hosting skills of Joey, Bob Blumer endeared himself to the enthusiastic crowd especially when he tried our local unfermented egg, “balut.”

 

 

On the Table

 

(Apologies for the poor photos)

 

Flower Pot Salad

The salad was served on a rectangular tin can representing a flowerpot.  Even if I have tasted flowers on salads (the first experience at Kinabuhayan Café) before, this salad didn’t enthuse much.  It tasted overly flowery making the greens taste a bit on the bitter side.

 

Beef Cheek Cupcake

Shredded beef balled into a cupcake with a raspberry or beet mashed potato as its “icing”.  It was served unpredictably cold that probably caused parts of the beef to be chewy.  They used the local vegetable “sigarilyas” as a siding that added quite the crunch and texture to the whole dish.  The side dish was more enjoyable than the cold beef.

 

Existential Eggs

This was the highlight of the meal for me.  The third course arrived looking like Cleopatra, lonely but gallant on top of a wanton carriage.  The fried noodle was weaved together to look like a nest while the slightly cracked egg rest on it.  It was regal in both presentation and taste.  A mélange of flavors rest on your tongue with the creamy goodness of this semi-sweet delicate dessert.  This is the dessert I’d definitely want to be punished repeatedly just to get another serving.

 

 

The food, though not as exotic as it sounds and I hoped for, was still worth trying.  All three piqued the gourmet senses despite some elements that were lacking.  The beef was probably affected by the cold weather while it was resting.  The existential egg was worth sitting through the entire course.

 

There’s always an extreme danger lurking in Bob’s epicurean adventures.  Catch Bob as he takes on exciting culinary challenges in the new season of Glutton for Punishment, only on Discovery Travel and Living.

 

For more info on how to subscribe to the channel, please call Sky Cable Customer Service Hotline at 631-0000 or visit the Sky Cable website.

 

Events This Weekend Album

 

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Thursday Food Club: Pizzeria Toscana

June 27, 2009 by

 

The usual suspects of the Thursday Food Club met yet again last Thursday for dinner.  This time it was Didi’s turn to choose the restaurant and since she was craving for pizza (like we all were after reminiscing about the pizza event we attended the other week), her choice was Pizzeria Toscana.

 

Bubba and I have eaten here before and liked the comfortable homey ambience.  Like usual authentic Greek/Italian/Persian restaurants where the whole family is involved in the business, Filipino owners Chef Angel Aban and former bank director Anthony Parungao decided to dedicate their time to the restaurant business –a lifelong dream for the two who are equally passionate about food.  I remember that during our first visit, our table attendant who was the son, told us how inspired his parents were about starting this restaurant.

 

Image Source: Fran

Image Source: Fran

There is a younger boy now who attended to our table and he fancied us with his magic tricks.  He reminded me of “me” when I used to do magic tricks as my “show and tell” project in speech class both in high school and college.  It was cute and he was nice enough to let me show him a trick (I was really rusty but he appreciated it). 

On the Table

Pumpkin Soup (2) PHP 150 (?)

Since the dinner schedule was pushed back an hour later 8pm, Bubba and I were really hungry and couldn’t resist taking a bite at home.  And yes, we took more than a bite.  We even nicked the plate.  And so, we didn’t order much this time around. 

 

 

 

Didi and Fran both ordered pumpkin soup for their starters.

 

Pizza Rustica PHP 310

Thin crust pizza with anchovies, pimiento and black olives.

 

 

Pasta Salmone PHP 260

Cream-based pasta with smoked salmon.  Fran really loved the pasta.  I took a bite to taste it and it was pretty good al dente cream pasta with bits of salmon.

 

 

Gelato Balsamico PHP 70

Even if there was no room anymore, I couldn’t resist not getting Gelato Balsamico.  This was after all the most memorable for me during the first visit… I still love it.  Some might find it weird on their first try ice cream with sour balsamic taste and garnished with slop of mint, but it’s really good and transports me to the mountainous picturesque Tuscany.

 

 

Gelato Blueberry PHP 70

Bubba finished this all by himself and didn’t even let Didi, Fran or me try.  Boo.  Selfish.

 

 

 

Thanks Fran for the Baguio pasalubong!

Pizzeria Toscana

G/F Dunville Condominium,

1-A Castilla Cor. Valencia Streets, New Manila.

+632 411 3550

+63917 825 9546

Email: Toscana.pizzeria@yahoo.com 

 

 

Pizzeria Toscana Album

 

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Sabroso Lechon

May 26, 2009 by

 

A poker buddy went to Cebu 2 weekends ago.  He teased me about Lechon pasalubong that started a craving.  Good thing that my mom craved for the same and wanted to order Lechon during my Mother’s Day treat for her.  I tried to satisfy the Lechon craving during the lunch at Mesa, but it wasn’t enough to satiate my quench for flavorful Lechon (slow-roasted pork).

 

It was a slow Saturday for Bubba and I starting our day with a 2pm late lunch.  I proposed to just have lunch at home to save some buck but he said he was going to “date” me so I inclined.  I almost forgot that he asked me to block my Saturday lunch because he was bringing me out.

 

I thought he was bringing me to the Persian restaurant next door because I’ve been eating Persian food from Behrouz all week long.  Sabroso’s was really our main stop.  I like Sabroso’s quirky yet tasteful signage.  Sabroso’s is a small lechonan place in Quezon City.  The yellow-tuned interior design and short menu are pretty straightforward.  So far, they only serve here what they do best –Lechon. 

 

 

 

On The Table

 

Lechon Meal PHP 120

The only thing on the menu chalkboard was the Lechon meal at PHP 120, where you get soup, rice and a drink to go with the single serving of Lechon.  Their placemats were made of native material usually used in banigs.  Note also the detail of the plates that can make you feel like you’re eating on banana leaves, one traditional way of Filipino dining.

 

 

The soup was made of sinigang broth, which is a lovely hot sour broth, ideal to start the meal with.

 

The Lechon was so flavorful and surprisingly tasted close to a Cebu lechon!!!  The meat was excellently tasty and aromatic even without the sauce.  The perfect skin was extremely crispy that it crackles when you bite into it.  But the meat, oh, the meat had herbs and spices infused in it.  Sabroso maintains that the distinct flavor is from the herbs and spices unique to Western Visayas.

 

I was in a trance engulfing one bite after the other that Bubba said he felt that I wasn’t there.  The male attendant was nice enough to give us a small serving of binagoongang lechon (roasted pork in salty shrimp paste) for us to taste.  Bubba finished most of this and he really liked it.

 

They only cook free-range native pigs and can do delivery for your order of 1 kilo to 1 whole lechon.  I was looking through their multiply account and saw that they have three dishes available.  The menu online includes Lechonero Meal PHP 120, Chicharon Bulaklak PHP 80, and Sinigang na Lechon PHP 150.  I think I need to revisit soon to try their Chicharon Bulaklak (which is another favorite sinful treat of mine) and the Sinigang Lechon.

 

This Lechon hub is quite the discovery.  If you want a straightforward special Lechon experience with lean and tasty meat, Sabroso is the place to be.  Now I know where to go in Manila for any Lechon cravings.

 

Sabroso Lechon –Incredibly Flavorful Lechon

E. Rodriguez corner T. Morato,

Quezon City, Metro Manila

(632) 515-8259

Operation Hours: 9AM – 9PM

 

Sabroso Album

Sabroso Lechon Multiply Site

 

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