Adventures of the Happy Tummy

 Entertaining Balikbayans ain't complete without visiting the venue where my parents had their 1st date (cheesy!!!)  Sago't Gulaman (3*) Jelly cubes + tapioca pearls + sweetened water and lotsa ice  Sotanghon Soup (4*) Vermicelli noodles in oily garlicky chicken broth... Half finished Boneless Chicken BBQ (4*) complete with Java rice, atsara (pickled vegetables), and lotsa Aristocrat BBQ sauce!

Surprisingly good food despite the queer name: IMC Kavino I didn't understand it at 1st and I thought it was the name of the building! Good thing I carried on with my driving from QC-Binondo-Fort-Makati and obliged my aunt to treat us for lunch (ehem)! Appetizers palang, masarap na!  (Starters were already delicious!) Pickled vegetables with sesame seeds refilled to your liking... Takoyaki - fried squid, fish peel, mayo, etc on cabbage leaves (4*) Crrrrrunch!!! Almond crusted fried soft tofu with sweet and spicy sauce... delish! (4*) Fragrant rice wrapped in lotus leaves... (3*) only because I am avoiding rice :) Fried Lapu-lapu topped with slivers of ripe and green mangoes, cucumber, carrots, bell peppers and sweet and sour sauce. (3*) Steamed sukiyaki-cut beef on bean sprouts + soysauce. It's a must to put the soysauce, not much flavor here. (2*) Mixed crunchy vegetable with lotus (2*) Black rice, red bean, corn kernels in coco milk... COLD! (5*) request for a big serving! So...

Tucked at the far end of Salcedo Street in  the quaint side of Legaspi Village is a new food joint loved by its neighbors and transients alike.  Our Balikbayan cousins see this daily as we drive them home to their condo along Benavidez and so it has definitley caught our attention. Here's lunch on their last day in town: Piquant appetizers + herbed cheese and sourdough bread... and my very filling Tomato soup... Mussels in white wine sauce... heavenly! Chorizo Pasta... White sauce Sourdough pizza... best seller! Napoli sourdough pizza... yum as well! Collage c/o Picstitch app... Watermelon Ginger shake is a must-try!

Famous Butao from HK has arrived in PH and we call it: Ramen-nagi! We visited the SM Aura branch on Labor Day and had a late merienda (snack). Am not surprised at all to see a long waiting line outside. Good thing the orders arrive within 15mins so that meanszf Saving the best halves for last... My date... + shots with his date!

THE CURATOR: Coffee or Drinks in a secret place BLIND PIG: Drinks in a really secret place You may ask the server for recommendations based on your preference: light? vodka based? dark? EXIT BAR Yes, you enter at te Exit door of Corinthian Plaza, where the Rolex sign is. Or just askthe guards :) Chill place to hang-out before the big night out or just nice conversations over some drinks. Can't say much about the nachos but I like the Bourbon mixed drink with grapefruit.

Cravings after work brought from Makati to middle-ground, Pasig. Looking for food thrills to celebrate a mid-week holiday, off we went to pursue the famed dishes of Cafe Juanita. West Kapitolyo is known for the quaint hole-in-the-walls and utterly good food. Tonight, it's Pinoy (Filipino). Medium-tier priced delicious Filipino dishes in a bahay-ni-lola (your granny's home) setting.  Presentation: 4* Taste: 5* Quality: 5* Ambience: 4* if you like the kitchyness of it Fish: Fried Lapu-Lapu Pork: Adobo with crispy meat hash Beef: Kare-kare (ox tripe and meat in peanut-based sauce with local vegetables)  Pork: Lechon Kawali The hungry gang from Makati Curiously delectable experience! Will come back for intimate celebrations. Cafe Juanita West Kapitolyo Drive Pasig City

Country style comfort food on a surprise pocket beside Lacoste at Eobinson's Magnolia. Fam loves it here! Get a carafe of iced tea too!

Fisher Mall is open! Not much to see yet but there's a home-grown favorite calling us to its humble nook: Mister Kabab! The oriinal place is now at West Avenue and is always packed. The branch here at the mall has so-so # of customers.  Missed these! Keema Chelo kebaba But where's the shawarma plate!??? Nice lights!  Er... what a view... We still prefer the big, almost al fresco setting. We'll soon go back there! Mister Kabab 3rd floor Fisher Mall Quezon Avenue cor Roosevelt Ave, Quezon City Original: West Avenue, Quezon City

Ushering in the good vibes, celebrating early the will-be successful meeting ahead with the team: Have to try: Chicken: fried chicken  Rice: kiam pong Oyster Cake: o-ah chien Pork roll: kikiam  Noodles: cha mi Sincerity restaurant Nueva St., Binondo, Manila

Hello, backyard! Lanai/ Open entertainment area + shots of two of the bedrooms: Looking from the beach side... The cliffs... with a view of the humongous bahay kubo: Sunset beach: Dinner, al fresco: Tali Beach Holds a few of the best Summer escapades of this decade of my life.  Accessible either via Tagaytay Road or Cavitex, it's usually a 2.5hr roadtrip.  It's a private, residential beach-side subdivision. Homes are usually kept orderly by at least one caretaker. Bookings are mostly through personal connections.  Bring your own: Food Cook Bath Towel Toilettries Drinks Ice Charcoal Samples of what lind of food can come out from the kitchen, just bring your "cook"! Pancakes for breakfast!!! The gang after lunch on Sunset Beach: The view from the cliff: Tali, 'til we see you again!!!