Unforgettable

I just heard on the radio that Natalie Cole passed away last New Year's Eve.  It was in the mid-seventies that I first heard her with Inseparable, which was one of her first chart-topping songs.  I love the passionate way she sings it; the lyrics and melody always puts me in a pensive but happy mood.  People remember her best for Unforgettable, the electronic duet with her father, the late great smooth voice, Nat King Cole.  Shivers run up my spine!

Kit Kat Wasabi

Kit-Kat's wasabi flavored white chocolate wafers is a certified hit with the family! Erika gave us several boxes to munch throughout our biking day, and this probably gave us enough energy to keep going under the grueling sun.  I don't think this Kit-Kat variety is sold locally though, must have been purchased from the specialty sellers of Japanese goodies in either Greenhills or near the Makati Cinema Square.  It's a bit on the sweet side, but I'll take one or two bites, just enough to feel the zing of the wasabi.

Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant

Coming back to Manila from Bagac, Anton and I were famished.  We found ourselves checking our GPS for places to eat and the first thing that popped onto our screen was Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant in Balanga.  Of course we made a beeline for the restaurant!

It was a seafood specialty store, so we had crispy squid, polonchay and braised fish and tofu. Food came to us piping hot!  It was almost 2:30 pm and we were the only ones in the restaurant, so it felt like the chef was cooking just for us.  We spent around P400 per person.  Not bad at all. 

It seems that the Fortune chain is all over Central Luzon.  From the menu, I understand they have branches in Angeles, Tarlac & Dagupan; the Legend restaurant at the reclaimed area in Pasay City is a sister restaurant.

Anvaya Cove

It was a windy day in February, just perfect for our long drive out of town.  First on our agenda for last weekend's road trip was Anvaya Cove, a residential enclave developed by Ayala Land.  I'm always on the lookout for nice properties to purchase, and this seems like a nice place to set up a vacation house.

The community is lined with houses clearly espousing the tropical island look and feel.  I developed an instant liking to the place, which is easily accessible via SCTEX through the Subic Morong gate.  The community has both a beach club and a golf club, and lots and condominiums are currently being sold.  Relaxing views.

The only drawback with vacation homes is the number of times we get to use it a year's time. If the house is seldom used, it turns out to be a very expensive investment decision.  Love the place, but let me sleep over it...

Homedics Shiatsu Massage Chair

Anita finally found the exact chair that Kong Kong has been looking for.  Homedics came out with a shiatsu massage chair that we think would soothe his tired back (he has a wartime bayonet wound).  The chair also has built-in heating pads and is perfect for his study!

Whatever BBQ

We had a meeting with some colleagues at the Whatever BBQ restaurant along Maria Orosa St. in Ermita, in between UN Avenue and TM Kalaw, very near Luneta.  I couldn't believe the name when I first saw the place, and kept on smiling at the seeming joke as we entered the restaurant.  The interiors were done in wood, and felt quite cozy--a roaring fireplace was all that was lacking to recreate the ambiance of a distant mountain getaway.

The eating concept is do-it-yourself grilling, Chinese style.  We had a fast snack of different sausages and hot beef mami soup.  Spending was around P250 per person, which was quite reasonable.  I think the concept is patterned after the food stalls in various night market districts of Hong Kong (e.g. Mong Kok).

Burger Machine

I was loading up at a gas station in San Juan when I realized that there was a Burger Machine food truck on the premises.  Oh my, memories of days past just came flooding in. In the early eighties, Kong would fetch my sisters from school, and they would inevitably pass by the Burger Machine outlet located along Aurora Boulevard, right in front of St. Paul's College.  They would always purchase an extra sandwich for me, and I'd eat it as soon as we would meet up at home.  The burger would have some coleslaw and cheese, and they would come up with buy-one-take-one promos every now and then.  We loved it!

The burger hasn't changed much, and is still priced cheap (P22).  As you can see above, the counter girl grilled me a single pattie (yes, it's quite thin) and the bun has a little dab of flavored mayonnaise for taste.  It's still a popular roadside gathering place for cheap tummy fillers.

Hotel 101

I was interested to purchase a unit at Hotel 101, a condominium-hotel project of the Injap group located very near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay.  I heard from a friend that 26 m2 units were selling at less than P3 million.  We looked at the place in order to familiarize ourselves with the project and it turns out that all the units have been sold out!

The interiors are pretty standard throughout the 500-room hotel.  Clean, well-appointed and functional.  I like it, no-frills yet accessible to the SM Arena, the SMX Exhibition Center and the World Trade Center, which makes it a clear choice for the convention market.

Kuilans Siopao

The siopao from Davao!  Vicky arrived from Davao with this tasty siopao that's got a soft fluffy dough that's so delicious.  I can't believe I've already eaten 3 pieces for my afternoon snack...

UCC Clockwork

I don't know how the UCC group distinguishes the Clockwork sub-brand from the rest of the UCC shops (Vienna Cafe, Park Cafe, Terrace Cafe).  The interiors are self-explanatory though, you see clocks everywhere.  The ambiance is international rustic, spacious and relaxing.  We met in their Blue Bay Walk branch for an early morning brekky, but we found ourselves munching on nachos instead of the usual breakfast items.  Prepare some P600 per head if you are there for a meal, and around P200 per person if you are there for coffee and light snacks.

Pixie's

Monique and I have days when we crave for inihaw na bangus.  Being the impatient people that we are, we just head off to Pixie's Sinugba for this and we are back home in 20 minutes with our meal viand.  The large ones go for around P250 while the relleno goes for some P300.  Instant gratification!

Rita's

Monique has gotten me hooked over this wonderful cold dessert.  Rita's Ice & Custard shop opened at the UP Town Center and I was very happy with the lime ice and chocolate custard combination that Monique ordered for me.  It's almost like flavored shaved ice and ice cream, but the experts say they are quite different (finer than shaved ice and more egg than ice cream).  Average spend is around P150 per person.  Try it!

UP Town Center

The old UP Integrated School is no more.  In its place is the UP Town Center, put up by the Ayala Malls on a 100 year lease from what I understand.  The mall has been continuously growing, with more shops and a department store now open.  I hear that theaters are coming up soon.  On school days, the place is populated by students from the Ateneo, UP and Miriam (formerly Maryknoll).  Quite congested with carloads of entire clans on weekends and holiday, so better be early.  Progress, progress!

Cocio

Monique and I passed by the Wonderbake store at the UP Town Center to get this absolutely top-notch Danish chocolate drink.  Cocio, I understand has been called the world's best tasting chocolate milk drink.  Hands down, I totally agree. 

Aying's Pastillas

Vicky goes around the Philippines on a regular basis and this time, her trip to Nueva Ecija landed us a box of Aying's Pastillas. Texture is smooth and the taste is creamy as it is made in the traditional way using carabao's milk.  I can only eat a couple of pieces though; it is quite sweet and I have to watch my sugar intake.

Triple-O's

I just love the name of this Canadian burger joint.  Sounds so sensually exhilarating!  I first saw Triple-O's outlet at the SM Megamall, but it was on this trip to UP Town Center that Monique and I spent some time for father-daughter bonding over, well of course, Triple-O hamburgers!  Pricing is on the high side at around P300 per person, but the burgers are juicy, delicious, and worth every centavo.  I especially liked the one with mushroom toppings; the pickle atop the bun was a lovely bonus for me!

Heston for Coles Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding

I just love Erika's new find!  This stuff is quite hard to find.  A few years ago, I recall reading about the shortage of Chef Heston Blumenthal's Christmas pud (sold out over a weekend) and the subsequent brouhaha in Britain because the puds were sold on eBay at 250 quid apiece (18 times the store price).  I think the novelty of having a whole orange inside the pudding drove prices crazy.  The orange is supposed to keep the pudding moist throughout its shelf life (the citrus oils interacts with the pudding over time).  Don't leave it the fridge too long though, it can get quite hard to chew.

The District - Imus

The mini-malls of the Ayala group seem to be sprouting up in lots of places.  After looking at some property over at the Daanghari stretch, we had a fast lunch at the District Mall in Imus.   The mall is big enough to have a variety of stores and restaurants, yet fits on much less land area to keep overhead costs to a minimum.  Plenty of greens, ample parking, good locations.

Victorinox Chocolate

When my friend extended his arm to give me his Christmas gift, I thought he was overly generous to give a Swiss knife.  Turned out to be a Victorinox chocolate bar!  That was totally cool...