Apt. 1B

Had dinner last night with high school friends at Apt. 1B. This cozy but elegant restaurant is located in Sedeno St. cor. Leviste St. in Salcedo Village, Makati.

I got there early for my dinner date but I was allowed to go to our table already which was reserved in the 2nd floor of the resto. I was ushered by a waiter who stayed with me in the 2nd floor. He immediately handed me separate menus on drinks, dessert, appetizes and entrees. I scanned the prices and I can say that they are a bit more expensive compared to other restos in Greenbelt 5.

My friends came one by one. Tina ordered Baked Samosa - pastry filled with spinach, cheese and mushroom, and Three Cheese Vegetable Lasagna. I on the other hand felt so hungry that I ordered Baby Back Ribs with side veggies and mashed potato AND a cup of plain rice. I was so surprised with the amount of food that was served to me because it turned out to be a whole rack of ribs!

On the ribs: It was yummy. The meat was tender and separates easily from the bone. The glaze was just right--not too sweet and tangy. The mashed potatoes was a welcome side dish since it balances the flavor of the meat and its sauce and so that I will be able to et more of it and not get tired of eating the dish right away.

I tasted Tina's order and I must say it was really yummy! Though I think most of the food they served us were just too rich and is better for sharing instead of for individual consumption.

Rosy and Andie, both came in at a later time, ordered Macaroni and Cheese and Carbonara. Was able to taste Rosy's Mac and Cheese. Just like Tina's food, it was so rich and yummy! But she wasn't able to finish it because it was just too much. Both dishes came with 2 pieces of garlic bread.

For dessert, we had a frozen cake--vanilla ice cream with oreo crust, walnuts and chocolate sauce, and apple crisp--apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup. I must say the apple crisp was a disappointment since the apples were just too sour and didn't go well with the rest of the ingredients. The frozen cake on the other hand was to die for and if I weren't diabetic, I would consume it all!

All in all, my Apt.1B experience was a good one. I think I will eat there again, but with the knowledge of what and how to order in that restaurant. I can't wait to eat there again!

it's Good Ah!

Went to GoodAh!!! BF Homes this morning for lunch. I was welcomed with smiles and greetings from their staff which I like. :) I wasn't that hungry yet so when I scanned their menu board, I just went with my usual food choice, Barbecued Liempo. Partly because it was only 99 pesos. :) The kuripot in me always wins since they also sell it for 130 pesos if served with garlic fried rice, but i still bought the one that costs 99 pesos only :)

It was a good surprise when I sat down and scanned again their menu board and found out that my order came with unlimited rice! This marketing strategy is really common in most fast food chains that serve rice meals. I think this is a good strategy since most Filipinos (especially the men) love rice and eat more than one cup. 

I was quite happy with what they served. A long thin serving of liempo cut to bite size pieces with two small cups of rice. I smilingly asked for a saucer and kalamansi for my sawsawan! 

The serving was substantial and the marinade of the liempo is not overpowering. It has that smoky flavor but the meat was not burnt which is good since the meat was not very thick. I was already full with the two small cups of rice and didn't need to ask for more.

The only thing I didn't like about the place is that they didn't have enough electric fans and since it's lunch time and summer, it really felt uncomfortably hot.

Overall, I think I like GoodAh!!! and will definitely eat there again in case I pass by that place.

photos courtesy (grabbed from) of ph.openrice.com.

My Favorite Cinnamon Roll

I can really say that Cinnabon has the BEST cinnamon rolls in the metro! They serve it to you warm, soft, moist and well...cinnamon-y! ;)

What makes their cinnamon rolls special is its cream cheese frosting and we, or maybe dessert-loving people, all know that any dessert with cream cheese is special!

I attacked this baby in their Mall of Asia branch which is in between the food court and the stores. If I remember it correctly, their food stall is near Figaro.

My favorite roll came in a combo, original cinnabon and brewed coffee! Best combination ever!!!

At that time, I was inspecting my newly bought camera and this was a sample shot. So I wasn't really paying attention to what I was eating until I got a bite it.

After that day, I had serious craving for a cinnabon! During one MA class break, I rushed to Robinsons Place Manila only to find out that their food stall was pulled out! Good thing, one of my co-teachers volunteered to buy one from me in a gas station in SLEX. I forgot to eat it in school, placed it in the ref and brought it the next day. I wasn't expecting much anymore since it's not freshly bought. To make it more appealing, I heated it in the microwave oven for a few seconds. To my surprise, it still tasted good, stayed moist and soft!

To this day, I wait for the day I can enjoy another Cinnabon! Who wants to come?

Trisha's Runaway Bride-Themed Party at Cafe Breton

The usual themes for a birthday party are retro, disco, wet and wild/swimming, luau/hawaian, etc. But my crazy and lovable friend, my "bes," Trish wanted to dress up in a gown out of envy (our friend, Juen, recently got married) so she decided to have a runaway bride themed birthday celebration.

Luckily/Unluckily, it was also Jill's bridal shower so we had to start a bit late, at around 7. The agenda: wear dresses and pretend we just came from a failed wedding.

We all went to our favorite hang out and crepe place, Cafe Breton in Westgate, Alabang, where Trish treated us all to coffee and crepes. We enthusiastically played our parts as her guests and tried to fool the waiters and waitresses of Breton who probably thinks we're all crazy!

 The birthday girl, Trisha.

 Sad coz of the turn of events...(haha)

Everything is yummy in Cafe Breton. For budget conscious diners, you can opt for the simple but delicious butter and sugar crepe or Tarzan, crepe filled with sliced bananas and condensed milk!

The usual coffee that my friends order is Cafe Ligeois. I think this is a combination of coffee and chocolate with whipped cream on top.

For heavy eaters, try their Mozzarella Burger---an all-beef patty with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, onions, lettuce and tomatoes. This comes with a side salad.

My personal favorites are La Pinay, crepe filled mangoes and chocolate, topped with vanilla (or is it mango) ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate syrup, AND Tuna Melt Sandwich. :) The tuna melt sandwich is tuna and cheese and a side salad. :) Yum!

Most Cafe Breton branches serve the same food quality except the one in Mall of Asia. Everything I ordered just tastes different! I particularly didn't like their butter and sugar and Tuna Melt! :(

My favorite branch on the other hand is the one in Westgate, Alabang, since it gives the most homey, country house feel and has the best location.

'Til next time, Cafe Breton!

Post Thanksgiving/Pre-Christmas Dinner, Another HS Friends G2G

I just finished blogging about a HS friends G2G (get2gether!) and here I am finding myself starting another one. -->My friend Macy told me a whole ago, "You should've started a food blog a long time ago! Ang dami mo nang experiences!" So pardon me if I am writing about past food trips/dining experiences in one sitting.

Every Christmas season, without fail, my close friends from HS and I plan a simple get-together and it is usually at Katsy's place since she's the one with a house in Makati.

The one we had for Christmas 2010 is extra special coz it's the first time we're "celebrating" Thanksgiving! Pretend lang since we called it that simply coz we had dinner fare that is typical of a Thanksgiving celebration---Turkey!

Aside from the Turkey, prepared by Chris, we also had sweet potato pudding (?) and baked potatoes also by Chris, my usual meat sauce and pesto pasta (ordered from Tita Macris and Tito Carl), baked macaroni, sliced ham, pizza and bread.

 The food spread!

 Do you remember the stars?

 Katsy's Gingerbread Cookies! :) Yum!

 Andie helped make them!

 My plate! I got everything of course!

 Remember the sinamay cloth and the stars?

 That's my good friend, Kara, who I miss soooo much!

 For dessert, we had Sans Rival, Polly's Chocolare Cake and Bing's Egg Tarts! Everything's super yummy!

 That's our kulit selves playing with Katsy's glittered stars!

Another successful gathering! Cheers to our friendship! Til our next get-together! :))

High School Friends Get-Together: Jecyll's Bridal Shower

Get-togethers with my high school friends mean eating the same food and enjoying it! For some reason, my friends and I order or bring the same food and yet no one's complaining. Whether it's because we know already what we like or 'coz we only do pot lucks 1-3 times a year, it's been a tradition to ask each other to bring the same dish/dessert.

This one's a typical get-together with the purpose of throwing a bridal shower for our dear friend, Jecyll. The party host, Katsy, decided to combine Jecyll's high school and college barkadas. Of course, the more, the merrier!

Katsy decided to be the one to order the food though she asked me to bring the pasta that I always bring---a combination of Tita Macris and Tito Carl's Meat Sauce and Pesto Sauce on spaghetti noodles. :) Yum!

Katsy decided to order the usual food from Tita Lenn's in Pasig: mini siopao, mini rainbow pimiento sandwiches, mini bbq, mini burgers and frozen brazo de mercedes! She also added another favorite of the group---home made chicken cordon bleu!

 *sorry naman. the rainbow pimiento sandwich looks prettier in person. the camera was not able to capture its "cuteness" :p

Aside from the frozen brazo, Tina and Tasha brought other cakes! I thought we were gonna die (happy) from all the sugar!

 This one's from Banapple. Yes, that's chopped Reese's Peanut Cups on top of the cake.

This beauty is Tita Vilma Santos' Caramel Cake. This is soooooo yummy. It doesn't look so intimidating like the one from Banapple but the simplicity of this cake is what draws you to it. Who wouldn't want a corner piece to get more icing?

This one is the famous frozen brazo de mercedes from Tita Lenn's from Pasig. I don't really know if she already opened a shop. I just know that everything is home made and you have to contact her for your orders.

The one with the pink veil is the bride, Jecyll. Michelle and Karla are the ones wrapped in toilet paper.

 This is our charming table decor. It was conceptualized by our very creative friend and host, Katsy. Even the centerpiece was a family project. Her mom and sister were the ones who did the flower arrangement. My role: help Katsy place the stars and the burlap cloth in the center. Hehehe

This was before we parted ways. It was nice meeting her college barkada! :)

 And this is us...Tina, Andie, Michelle with Raeema, Jecyll, Katsy, Tasha and ME!

After all the major kwentuhans, fun games, food overload, I can definitely say that good food with GREAT company is the best!!!

Midnight Snack: Lotteria Chicken Burger

 It was our first night in South Korea. From Incheon International Airport, we headed to a Presbyterian Center in Pohang where our choir will stay for a couple of days and perform.

One of our members is a Korean and knowing how Filipinos love to eat, she asked her parents to treat us all to a Lotteria Chicken Burger and soda.

Just by looking at the wrapper, you can already tell that it's just like any other burger that you can buy in a local fast food chain in the Philippines.

It is the typical sesame seed bun, chicken patty, lettuce and barbecue sauce. It tastes similar to KFC's Wow Burger in Barbecue Sauce.

Nevertheless, even though we were all tired and some of us were already asleep, we all woke up to the call of food! :) Even if it's just a simple chicken burger, I can say...IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR MIDNIGHT SNACK! :D