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God's Perfect Timing

I am still in awe at how God can plan everything so perfectly, how things fall in place in unmistakably impeccable timing.

 

Keep the faith, God will surprise you in ways you could have never imagined =)

Gayuma ni Maria

 

After one long run session with the BFF in UP Diliman, of course we were hungry. Since we're allowed to carbo-load, we decided to head somewhere to eat.

 

We wanted to go to Likha Diwa to stay in tune with our healthy mode, sadly, they were also staying in tune with their healthy mode and are closing in early. So, we headed to Gayuma ni Maria instead which I've been wanting to try for quite some time.

 

Back in college, there was a Gayuma in the Loyola area and I remember to love the restaurant back then, so my hopes were up for this one. When I came in, I was honestly quite disappointed on the design department. Sorry for the comparison, but the old Gayuma was put together effortlessly with its knick knacks and had an overall romantic feel. Gayuma ni Maria, for me, somehow feels that it was trying too hard to create a quirky feeling, which it sadly didn't achieve.

 

The food, however, was a different story altogether. If the overall design disappointed, I'm happy to report that the food did not =)

 

I can't remember the exact names and prices, but I'll be back (for the food!!), so let's satisfy ourselves with the below pictures for the meantime.

 

My friend had chocolate-covered dory with rice and kamote fries, which I loved! I love chocolate and I love Dory, but I thought it was odd to put them together. But, they did go well together, the sweetness of the chocolate accentuated the dory and created a flavor that's unique and quite a pleasing discovery.

On the other hand, I ordered pasta for myself, which was not bad but was quite unmemorable. So unmemorable, I don't remember what it was now. But believe me when I say, it was not bad, just not outstanding.

 

 

 

I'll definitely be back, and the next time I'll give a more detailed description of the food, with the prices too!

 

Wildflour: My New Favorite Brunch Place

 Haha, I've actually never eaten brunch here at Wildflour but they have perfect brunch and comfort food so I'm calling them my new favorite brunch place =)

 

 

 

Was exhausted that night from the office and I was choosing between getting a massage or drowning myself in good food, and as like how it happens more often, the call of food won over. I've been hearing about this new cafe which is conveniently located a few blocks from where I was working (read: slaving away). 

 

It was a thursday night so I thought I could get away with no reservations, but alas! the place was packed, with quite an affluent crowd, if I may say. And so, even if I generally prefer to be indoors when I eat (Manila is not exactly the best place for al fresco dining), I agreed to be just seated outside.

 

I perused their menu and found the selections quite straightforward. When my eyes saw the Hazelnut Hot Choco (Php150), Nutella automatically came into mind, and so I ordered that. Yes, it was dinnertime; go ahead, judge me, haha.

 

 

 

When it came, I immediately took a sip and I slightly burnt my toungue. But there are pain worth enduring for. Wildflour's Hazelnut Hot Choco is like liquefied Nutella; thick, flavorful without going overboard, just right, just perfect. It soothed my nerves just like what I needed that night.

 

Such a shame that they served me their complimentary bread a tad too late as I've already finished my hot choco by then. I would have wanted to dunk in the bread to my cup of goodness.

 

 

 

The bread has crisp lining of a crust, and soft pillow goodness inside. I put a generous dollop of butter into a slice of my bread and bit onto it happily. Hhhmmmm.

 

After some time, my soup, salad, sandwhich combo (Php 370) came in and continued my destressing mode. It had tomato soup, green salad and a grilled cheese sandwich, which in my vocabulary is already a healthy meal, hahahaha.

 

 

 

I am not much of a tomato soup fan, but Wildflour's was done finely. It didn't feel like I was sipping tomato ketchup. No, not at all. The green salad had an interesting vinaigrette, and made my salad flavorful. I am a grilled cheese fanatic so I was quite skeptical about this one, but it was gooey enough for me =) All three had quite strong flavors going on for each of them, so I guess the trick is take one portion after the other so you won't easily get tired of any of them.

 

Price is a bit too steep for my budget, but I'd say it's worth it. And I might actually come back for their Croque Madame soon enough =)

 

Wildflour is located at Ground Floor, Net Lima Building, 4th Ave. corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig with tel. no. 856-7600.
Open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Friday to Saturday)

I'm surprised I've never written about Cyma!

Really, I am.

Cyma is one of my favorite restaurants. Ever. As in. Hahahhaha, seriously, their Roka Salata is one of my favorites. And very healthy, too.

I order it all the time whenever I'm there. Actually, I sometimes go to Cyma just to have Roka Salata =)  It's healthy, has interesting textures all thrown in and going well together =)

And last time, I also had their chicken kebabs, which was good but reminded me so much of Go Greek's kebabs =)

I'll definitely be back to Cyma; I just love this place <3

Quebiertos: Not Your Usual Glorified Carinderia

I've recently discovered a quaint and unassuming new restaurant that will surprise you in many ways. It actually is a glorified carinderia serving regional, local dishes. However, if one looks a little closer, Quebiertos actually takes being a glorified carinderia a notch higher with its well-thought of dishes and free valet services to boot!
 

Quebiertos is a no-fuss restaurant serving good food, set in a place that does not intimidate and a line-up of dishes that does not disappoint.

My personal favorite is their Kambing Platter, which you cannot easily find elsewhere in Manila. The platter serves Kambing in three ways – Kaldereta, Papaitan and Kilawin.

 

The Kaldereta is rich and creamy; one is convinced Kaldereta was invented precisely for Kambing. Next is the Papaitan that gives off a good kick just the same. But if I would have to choose one from the three, I would probably opt out for the Kilawin. The meat is tender and it has just the right spices to achieve that raw and refined taste reminding you how exactly it tasted when it was served in your own home.

I would also recommend the Inihaw platter with its complete set of chicken, pork and fish grilled to perfection and kept juicy all throughout.

 

I personally liked their stuffed Lumot or squid which was served in a sizzling plate. I was initially surprised because I didn’t know squid also come by the name “Lumot”, literally translated as moss in English. You can get stuffed squid anywhere, but Quebiertos’ version stands out because they use other ingredients not too common used for stuffings elsewhere. I will not declare it here but take my word for it when I tell you you’re in for a good treat.

Be sure to leave space for Quebiertos' signature dessert - Suman Crepe - Suman and mango cubes are sandwiched in paper-thin crepe and is richly lathered with chocnut syrup. It’s a curious creation, a visual feast and a delight to your taste buds. And to top it all, it only sells for Php65!

Quebiertos definitely redefines being a glorified carinderia. And the next time you’re in Quezon City, visit Quebiertos and let it endear you to its charms.

Quebiertos is located at No.117 Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City. It caters to dine-in clients, offers function spaces and family KTV for reservations. Quebiertos also offers free delivery for a minimum purchase of Php300.

What Do You Pray For When You Don't Know What To Pray For

I once asked my dear friend, Lhory, what do I pray for?

She told me, in her most candid self, "Ipagdasal mo kung anong nasa puso mo.".

On Compatibility

Had a random, spur-of-the-moment thought earlier.

Out of nowhere, I realized that you can't really force compatibility. It is never about one person going at out of her way being the person which she thinks her partner wants her to be. Well, up to a certain degree, I guess you'd have to compromise and meet the other person halfway. But if you start overhauling your personality, your habits, your routine, your wants and your aspirations for that other person, then there must be some dysfunction going on somewhere in the relationship.

I think compatibility is about you being yourself, and finding a person who appreciates the person that you are. And of course, it follows that you feel the same way towards that same person =) It's a two-way street. And I don't mean just appreciating the good stuff, I mean loving you in all your nice, sweet side, and more importantly, adoring you when you're at your smelliest, ugliest, bitch-est mode. Ok, at least endure, if not adore.

And as I write this here in the office, I realized this goes for relationships, as much as for work. Hahaha. Bottomline, if you have to work so hard for it, then at one point you'd get tired, eh? And some genius once said, find a job which you love and you'd never have to work for the rest of your life.

Here's sending a message to the universe that I'd find THAT person and THAT job I'm compatible with =)

If you only...

Then you'll know that I cared, but I just didn't know how.

Healthy Eating and Learning How to Drive

Haha, I wish I can be more creative with my title, but this is as creative as it gets, hahaha.

And with that, yes, I'm trying to eat healthy ("trying" being the operative word) and learning how to drive =)

The road to healthy living...is an expensive one, hahaha. I'm just starting to map out my meals, and it's been quite expensive so far with the salmon and the brocoli, but I'm enjoying it so far =) But I still have my fail moments like earlier, where I ate a huge slice of brownies and lots of chicharon. Oh my =( But I will carry on, and start living right.

Driving! I've started learning how to drive and it's just exciting, this one I'm just giddy over =) I think it's something I can really, really get used to =) and enjoy =)

Life goes on; and I've seen darker days, let's move on to happier ones =)

Comfortable

Sometimes it feels like I was forcefully displaced from my old, comfortable life. Back then everything was familiar, and I was literally and figuratively home. I had my own room, living under our own home in the province where I can do anything and be comfortable about it. My parents took care of me in amazingly loving ways, my cousins, nephews and nieces lived next door and everyday there was a house party. My friends could come over anytime. Life was comfortable, in a totally different sense.

And I never realized how wonderful  life was back then. Until now, when I don't have it anymore.

Believe me, all the cliches you hear are true. Don't wait before life comes in and makes you realize all the good things you have now. Life's ways could sometimes hurt. Big time. 

But this is not to say life is not good now, anymore. If I think about it, my life is actually more comfortable now, literally speaking. I live in the city, not more than 15 minutes away from work in the early morning, and everything is just so nearby - the malls, groceries, church etc. And everything is just a cab ride away. I am being taken cared of, quite luxuriously by my aunt these days. It's all good actually, and I like it.

So while not discounting how blessed life has been recently, let it be said that I look back at my old life, with fondness, and with longing that doesn't stop me from enjoying what's in front of me right now. I think that's exactly one of the things life has been wanting to teach me after all.

Foodie Finds @ Ortigas

As a number of friends work / live in the Ortigas area, I would often go to Megamall and Shangri-La to meet up with friends to eat or just hang out. Recently, I've gone more often in Megamall and have had a few great foodie finds =)

First stop is Yabu, The House of Katsu.

Yabu, for me, is not your typical Japanese restaurant. I don't think there was even sushi in the menu. The specialty of the house, as the name suggests, is Katsu.

I ate their alone and had to ask the servers to guide me all the way. They first had to ask me the grind the sesame seeds (?) I'd use for my sauce.

Yabu actually had different choices for sauces and condiments which I liked and splashed my food with :)

Then came my food :)

1 Rosu 90g (with soup, rice and slices of fruit), Php 327.60 (with VAT and SC)

At first, I thought, what could be so special about Katsudon? But boy, I was glad I tried this one out. The meat was so tender, it was tasty, and i love the dressings for my cabbage. I'd have to mention that the cabbage is unlimtted! And I'd have to commend the staff; they were very, very cordial and attentive. I spilled my soup, and they hurriedly offered to refill my bowl at no extra cost =) Price was a bit steep, but I'd say it's worth it!

Next - my green tea cheesecake from Akiba Cafe!  

Green Tea Cheesecake, slice, Php130

Hhmmm, I don't find the green tea flavor strong enough for my liking, but I'm glad I tried it all the same =) Note, though, that I haven't been craving it again.

But of course, there's always go-to restaurants like Cibo, this time at Shangri-La.

Cibo is nothing new, but I still like their food just the same =) I'd list them as comfort food, but they can be quite pricey.

Hhhhmmmmm, their Creamy Cabonara is one of my favorites =) I generally order Carbonara whichever restaurant I am eating at if I do not know what to order or if I'm not sure what I want. That said, Cibo's definitely tops my list.

And their Flourless Chocolate Cake is love =) With real slices of strawberries plus the gooey chocolate, aaahhh, the perfect cap to a hearty meal =)

Ok, that's it for the meantime, let's revisit the list soon =)

Green Tea Chocolate!

Yet another green tea discovery!

Meiji's Meltykiss Green Tea Flavor is love <3

1st trip of the year: Mt. Pinatubo!

Wow. Time heals all wounds. That's my first thought after laying my eyes on the majestic Pinatubo crater.

More stories after I've settled down!

A Dream Starts Here.

Hehe. Sometimes, I dream of how my wedding would look like. And these are some of the details in my oh-so-lovely dream =)

I would be wearing a Veluz Gown.

 

The Philippine Madrigal Singers would provide my background music.

I will walk down the aisle of the dreamy Caleruega Church.

Reception would be at Sonya's Garden...

...where we would be served an awesome, hearty meal =)

Cake would be by Penk Ching

An Epiphany.

You are stronger than your pain if you draw your strength from God.

I'm claiming you, 2012. Bring. It. On.