Adventures of the Happy Tummy

Ways to enjoy galbi? In a spacious place with boxy wooden tables, iron pans, stainless chopsticks, and brass chimneys! Yoogane! Heard they have numerous branches in Korea. And now it's here! Appetizers - standard Korean fare: sweet dilis, sweet raddish, blanched togue/ beansprouts, baby potatoes in syrup, and super spicy kimchi - all refillable :) Main dishes of chicken or chicken with pork are served raw with leeks and cabbages. They'll cook it on your table and the interesting chimneys sucks the smoke out of your hair and away from your clothes :) There are still some items that are not yet available but so far, we give all thumbs up to what was served: Gyoza - steamed or pan seared Chapchae - lots of ingredients Ribs paired with lettuce - yum! Php 300 - 450 Casual, Korean Il Terrazo Tomas Morato, QC +63917-8107179

QQ - a Chinese retaurant serving well-loved home-cooked dishes in a simple teahouse setting. Placed in the middle of a small commercial compound by the market of Mayon and A. Bonifacio Sts., one might think it odd for this kind of cuisine to be here. It's actually a delight to taste familiar dishes in a not-so-noisy Chinese teahouse. The noise would actually be outside from the tricycles, jeeps and the stereo blasting "cultured" music. Yes, think Frank Sinatra's rendition of Christmas carols instead of the utterly famouse Gangnam Style. Lookit the pictures posted! All are rated 5* from my companions. My personal favorites are: the hot and sour soup, sizzling beef tenderloin, french beans with XO sauce and yellow eel :) nomnomnom! Other dishes featured: Seafood hotpot Buttered Garlic Prawns and the breaded meat with an interesting sauce which I forgot the name of... all are very tasty anyways so order away!

For ladies who lunch, and merienda too! Filipino comfort food and then some. Best sellers: Cheese ensaymada Cheese rolls Filipino breakfasts Sandwiches Soups Salads Pasta Dessert Everything! Tip: For a hearty lunch, try the set only for Php400! And Greenbelt's Mary Grace has the best ambience. Casual Php 250 - 500 Café Mary Grace Greenbelt 2 Ayala Center, Makati (02) 501-3089

Love coming back to Chef Florabel Co - Yatco's ELIAS. It was a refreshing sight to see a familiar Filipino resto in a neighborhood mall. And it's not another one from the big chain of grills, mind you. This is a good ol' pinoy served at a "classy-er" setting :) My seniors love it still. :) Featured are: Pinaputok na Isda (plapla i think) Laing sa gata (needs more spice) Queso de bola chhesecake - luvit! and their cleverly-disguised bill peasant envelope :) Php250-400/pax Classic Filipino Casual/ Dress-up weekends ELIAS Robinson's Magnolia Upper Ground Floor Right-most wing if coming from the verandah area

Inspired by Rachel Rae's meatloaf recipes, I opted to try out her most simple one: Cajun Style :) For now, I'm posting a picture of the recipe I've written down. Will wite it here soon afterwards, don't worry :) Added side notes are my own and based on our family's taste. I'm note: lean meat is used for ground pork so it will be a bit dry. Use meat with fats or add raisins for a juicier meal :) You're welcome to tweak it as I've already done so. I served it with ketchup due to time constraints :) You may use canned tomatoes or fresh ones as a sauce to top the meal. Check it out!

Take a break from shopping at Tiendesitas... pet stuff, antiques, home furnishings and apparel and fashion accessories... a delightful food court awaits in the middle of it all: Bibingka Suman w/mango Suman w/ube Suman w/langka Suman w/chocolate Pair 'em with: Fresh buko shake Strawberry & mango shake and Tsokolate eh! What a nice Filipiniana snack! Then head off to shop some more!

Craving for something different? How about Yugoslavian? :) I don't know what to expect but it was a pleasant surprise altogether :) We got: GOULASH- a hearty meaty soup split into 3. just the right serving size for starters. LAMB - roasted and served with veggies. fall-off-the-bone softness and non of the gamey smell. the meat is something like that from a gu-ma soup. from something broiled since early this morning and served for dinner. yeah, that's what it's like! I FORGOT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE LOMI - seafood dish... still good and tasty I would come back for more. There's a number of dished I'd still want to try :) BALKAN Eastern European cuisine Perea Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City

I asked for cheese and lookit what I got... CHEESE!!! I looked in the fridge and saw 9?! Excluding the pack of herbed feta we have just consumed! Parmesan - grated/powdery or shaved (more flavor) for our Sunday Spaghetti Smoked - uberly good for sweet sausages like chicken ala cubana :) Emmental - to pair with Hungarian sausages; melted for munching without the woody taste on your tongue Blue - pungent... a tiny li'l pinch will do! I went straight to the toilet after digesting about a teaspoon on my veggie salad :) Feta - cubed with herbs, great for salads Cheddar - must have this always Cheddar slices - milky, great for breakfast sandwiches Cheese Melt/Melt Sarap - cheddar, quickmelt. For baked lasagna and cheesy potatoes too! Cream Cheese - to dillute the blue! Cheez Whiz - cheese spread great for nacho dipping, baked potato topping or just plainly on bread slices for a cheese snack!

Quick Japanese snack? Teriyaki Boy has loads to offer and still does not disappoint: Miso Sukiyaki Maki Gyoza Tofu Ramen Sushi Tempura Coffee jelly! Ice cream!! For a quick and lite dinner by my lonesome, I got a few variants to keep me company :) Seared tuna sashimi, pan fried gyoza, Japanese fried rice, and their hot, house tea to melt it all.

Trinoma branch. Shopping spree. Tired feet. Afternoon tea. Grab a seat. Seniors get a discount. Sit properly on chairs too high, Tables too low, Get tea on vintage bottles... With fruits too! Sugary but mild. Nice and cute southern american Country home concept. Will try pasta next time :)

Deep dish pizza - awesome! Careful with over eating. Better share with a friend!

Homey with a touch of French. Bakeshop and cafe, with a fine selection of Japanese coffee, plus a little bit of grocer choices of Japanese goodies. Japanese, Casual Php 300 - 450 Tip: 30%off on all breads from 6pm!!! Aomori, Greenhills Lower Ground floor Northeast Square Bldg., Connecticut St Greenhills, San Juan (02) 724-1952

I luv it! And we keep coming back for more! Quaint, american, homey feel... Like you're transported to Tagaytay where it's a few degrees lower and the faint smell of wood and cedar welcomes you "home". Bests: - shepherd's pie - chicken spinach lasagna - bacon breakfast meal - wild mushroom soup - pumpkin soup - cordon bleu - pork chops - ribs - cupcakes!!! Verdict: 4* food taste & quality 3* value 3* service (too many guests & they're always under staffed during lunch)

Afternoon choco + hot pandesal in different native cheeses. Consume immediately. What a nice place for a decent meeting. It is quite warm during this time though, but the staff is very attentive so + points. I tried other dishes here some dinners ago and I don't remember hearing any complaints in my brain. Have to look for the shots. Verdict: 4* food and service 4* value for money 2* for cleanliness due to small roaches by the glass windows!

Early day Saturday! After a very early morning run, it's totally time for some real breakfast! Somewhere where our celebrant hasn't been... Banapple :) Corn Chowder - super thick, salty, & cold. Herbed Chicken Roll - ala cordon bleu - salty, like the soup. Tapa Rice Plate - big serving of rice, tapa and herbed & creamy scrambled eggs. The meat is too sweet though. Ask for suka (white vinegar) on the side. Chicken Bacon Dish - a but on the salty side but our celebrant enjoyed it a lot :) Classic Cold Coffee - dark coffee with ice, literally. Ask for creamer/milk if you wish. Banoffee Pie - yummy and rich :) too much cream for elders :) Verdict: Quaint place to hang-out and have a good meal. p200/pax. Meal taste should be made more consistent. I remembered sayin yum for every dish I tried before.