Balanga, Bataan

If you haven't been to Bataan, then you should! I, myself, regret not being able to spend more than a night in Bataan (details later), but I would definitely go back again if it were possible.

On Pigs on Facebook

A few days ago, this post appeared on my FB wall:

And I found it horrifying.

Psyllium Fiber: Fibrolium vs Watsons Brand Supplement

In an attempt to kill the urge to eat between meals, I decided to try 2 pysllium fiber supplements and settled on Fibrolium and Watsons brands because they were the cheapest and most expensive brands available in my local, well, Watsons.

Fibrolium Psyllium Fiber Supplement

Psyllium is a fiber whose foremost effect is to help you do the number 2. It helps with water absorption in the colon, creating softer stools while stimulating those pipes. It helps retain a feeling of fullness without flatulence and can help with those cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In supplements such as these, only the ground husks are used.

Watsons Psyllium Fiber Supplement

How did they match up?

Erwin's Gastrobar

Last month was a great month for theater for me. Another good thing was I got to try out new places to eat that I haven't been to. One of these places was Erwin's Gastrobar at the City of Dreams, Manila. Since Solaire was so close, our party decided to go there for the first time.

While being a gastrobar, none of us drank alochol. The board was pretty cute though!

Cupcake Lab Peanut Butter Reese Cupcake

Cupcakes are a bit of a dying trend in the Philippines. People have already gotten tired of the cronut. I'm hoping the macaron will gain more popularity, especially since Laduree is coming to the Philippines (but that's another story). However, there's still a part of me that craves a cupcake now and then.

I then ended up getting a Peanut Butter Reese Cupcake (not sure if this is the real name) at Cupcake Lab for P90.

Peanut Butter Reese Cupcake

Why? I love me some peanut butter and Reese. And this did not disappoint.

Sushi Foodie

With all the Japanese restos around the Metro, I'm surprised it's the first time I've seen a sushi place (that's not a mall kiosk) catered specifically to those who want sushi on the go.

There was only a small variety of selections in Sushi Foodie (the place is relatively new, and I came relatively late in the day) so I chose the set below for P162 (~$3.5) because it looked like the most filling and appetising option. They had some cans of CC Lemon and a few other drinks, but it wasn't cold, so I declined.

Sushi Foodie P162 Set

As seen above, there are 8 pieces of maki divided into 3 pieces of nigirizushi, 1 piece inarizushi (3rd from top) and 4 makizushi (bottom 4).

Marumiya Ajidouraku

Are you kitchen-illiterate? Do you want cheap, cheap food?

If you answer yes to both questions, you are probably part of the population that exists on canned goods and instant noodles.

But did you know that you have another option?

All you need is rice - available via rice cooker, convenience store and cafeteria - and Marumiya's Ajidouraku: a  rice topping for the busy or lazy person!

Marumiya Ajidouraku

Gino's Brick Oven Pizza

I've finally been able to try Gino's Brick Oven Pizza at Podium Mall!

Gino's Brick Oven Pizza

I've been curious about this restaurant ever since C recommended it, but I've only been able to try it recently. So far I was able to try the following:

SMEGG, P420

 A pizza composed of sausage, mushroom, egg, gouda and cream. Very good by itself but I think it works better with their Spicy Honey.

Salted Egg, P190

Salty, delicious and interesting. I'd try this again.

BOMB, P420

Balsamic onions, mushroom, blue cheese. My favorite pizza of the night. The mushrooms had just the right level of sweetness and the blue cheese complemented nicely.

Aglio Olio Pasta, P170

A bit too heavy on the olive oil, probably wouldn't order again.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza, P395

Tomato sauce, mozzarella, buffalo chicken, blue cheese. A lot of my companions loved this, and I liked it too (especially with the super generous mozarella serving). It was a bit too spicy for me though.

I loved the pizzas I've tried and would probably return for the same or other varieties. Each pizza is sliced into 6 generous slices, and I'd honestly be able to put away half a pizza because of how good it is.

Something to try is the dalandan pitcher for P170 because it's pretty rare to find in a restaurant. It's pretty sweet and the pitcher serves around 6, diluted in ice.

Gino's has pretty great value for pretty good pizza. Service was decent, and the place looked well enough with metal and wood furnishings. The only problem I had was the prevalence of backless chairs, which could be replaced with normal dining chairs.

I highly recommend this place.

Saizen Instant Noodles

The country is crazy about ramen. Unfortunately, there few sources of ramen that can be considered both good and affordable. One of the best instant noodles I've tried is from Nissin and are found in Daiso/Saizen Japan. I bought these when they were 70% off and about to go off but they retail for P88 normally.

This is the   noodle bowl I'm talking about. Each cooks for around 3 minutes, use 420 ml of water and contain a whopping 497 Cals. The red one comes with a little tempura piece and a spice packet set. To make, put 420 ml of boiling water in the bowl along with the bigger half of the spice packet (the one on top of the fork).

I love the Nissin soba noodles because they both look and taste good. I like it more than the ones at Family Mart, and for around the same price. After three minutes, you should see the results below:

They look great, and taste quite differently from local instant noodles. It's not quite as good as the real thing but the price and energy value is quite nice.

Add the tempura piece and the smaller half of the spice packet:

Eat and enjoy!

Saturday Salads

I've been eating more salads this summer. By choice. And this is not to lose weight, but because I've found that I get tired of eating hot food on hot days. Salads, with their crisp crunchiness and pops of color, are a cool alternative for those who just can't bear the heat.

A basic salad has ingredients that all come from the ref. Fancier options may involve heat, but laziness and a lack of cooking skills prevent me from doing so. Unfortunately, my basic  salad consisting of pretty leaves + tomatoes + dressing don't really keep me full long so I usually add more protein to the mix.  

If my salad is a snack between meals: add olives and/or cheese.

If my salad is a meal: add tuna.

Salad Lunch

I like putting everything on a plate so that I can see exactly what and how much I'll be eating before I mix it up. It makes my eyes full as well as my tummy.

I never thought I'd see the day where I'd actually like salads, but here we are.

Summer is now a time for ice cream, iced drinks and salads.

Weekend Misadventure: Brew Up

Actually, i'm not quite sure if it's Brew Up or Brew UP. And I never found out.

Last weekend, R and I went to UP Diliman in order to try the coffee and treats at Brew Up. I looked up their hours on zomato and saw that they were open on Saturdays. When I got there….

BREW UP CLOSED

It was closed.

Forever.

Sadface.




I looked at their FB and found that they were having trouble with ISSI, and that they were hoping to move to a new location. I hope I do get to try it sometime this year once they find a new one. But lesson learned: Facebook stalk places you want to visit to see if they're still there.

The FB account showed that they've been closed for a week, though their Saturday closure was announced afternoon of that day.

 I was disappointed because it seemed like such a cool place.

It looked like a place I could chill at. See the trees?

R and I ended up at the Snack Shack instead. Best P70 burger I've tasted. Waiting time: 20 minutes. I ended up buying some other food and drinks at the Shopping Center and Area 2 while waiting.

Snack Shack

No picture of the burger because it was hot and I was hungry.

This weekend's adventure wasn't a total fail.

Australian Harvest Oatmeal in a Box

Between Quaker, Australian Harvest and other brands, I'd choose the one most convenient for me: either the Quaker single serves or the Australian Harvest resealable bag - the only brand I've seen that had resealable packaging. I'd choose other brands, but I didn't have a dedicated container to place it in. Fortunately, Australian Harvest came up with new packaging: a reusable box! 

Australia Harvest Oatmeal

I got it because I wanted a container for my oats: The non-box packaging doesn't seem to be resealable anymore. The package with the box is a bit more expensive than the bag version, but the convenience made me buy it anyway... but I might refill it with a different brand, considering that the "refills" are 500g for a 400g jar, and a single serving has a whopping 1.3g of salt per serving. FYI, you're only supposed to have 5g a day!  Still, right now, it's one of the healthier cheap convenient options I have for a healthy meal or snack. Pair it with some fruit, milk, spice or even coffee for different delicious variations.

Halo Halo de iloko

Halo Halo de Iloko is a great place to try Filipino dishes. The decor includes bits of old furniture and framed comments of famous (I think) people who've been there.

Out of the dishes we tried, the Sisig Iloko was the best. We tried the okoy, which was also very popular, but liked the sisig best.

Sisig Iloko

We also tried their halo-halo. The deep fried halo-halo is a must try. Though it's delicious, I think a bit more ice cream would have been preferred.

Fried Halo-halo

There were two other halo-halos on their menu, one served in a coconut and one in a glass. By the time we ate, there was no longer any of the former so we had the classic one instead. It did not disappoint.

Fiesta Halo-halo

I wish I got to try the Buko Halo-halo, but we did not have time to return; the restaurant only has a set amount of Buko Halo-halo per day. The night we came (dinner time) was very busy, and there was a waiting time of around 30 minutes before we could get a table. Since it was also very busy, the food took a while to come.

I would suggest going a bit earlier in the day, to best savor the icy coldness of the halo-halo.

Halo-halo de Iloko
San Fernando, La Union

Nasi Lemak at Robinsons Galleria

I may not be able to go to Singapore, but I sure can eat some Singaporean food this summer!

Nasi Lemak Singapore Laksa

 I've been here a few times and I really liked their salad (the one with shrimp bits), along with their laksa. There were some other dishes I liked but I can't remember their names. While I did learn how to eat hainanese chicken here (more chicken, less rice rendering rice-all-you-can hainanese chicken places filling but inappropriate), it's not something I'm crazy about. I also liked their service: they use a buzzer system so you need never raise your arms :)) and they're very friendly.

Dishes are good for sharing.

Nasi Lemak Lava Cake

Not so much the lava cake though. Nice presentation (one of the drops looks almost like a heart), warm but lacking in consistency (more like a warm brownie or a dry cake) and lava.

I'd recommend this place for their entrees but I'd go for dessert elsewhere.

McVitie's Dark Chocolate Digestives

I like biscuits, I love dark chocolate and I always seem to end up buying a pack of M&S Dark Chocolate Digestives. 

This week, I found this at the grocery and couldn't help snagging a box.

McVities Dark Chocolate Digestives

What I like about this is that important information like this is written in front of the box, so I am reminded of how many calories I put into my mouth everytime I get a cookie (it sure stops me from eating half the pack in one go). Also, that this does come in a box covering the plastic packaging, it makes storage much easier.

The biscuit itself is coated on one side in a layer of dark chocolate, around a quarter of the height of the biscuit itself. Unfortunately, it doesn't taste quite as dark chocolate-y as expected.

I end up eating 2-4 of these at a time- they're a bit more filling than the M&S ones (I end up eating 4-6 of those at a time).

The weather is still pretty nice and it's nice to pair with a cup of hot coffee, or even tea.

Pizza Hut Cheesy 7 Pizza

Pizza Hut  Cheesy 7 Pizza

I don't know if it's still available right now, but this was my favorite pizza last Christmas break - no wonder I packed a few pounds at the start of the year. It really is a cheesy fantasy! Although the flavors of the different cheeses weren't that distinct (I would have preferred a stronger bite), they still worked well together, especially with the cream cheese on top. Spread the cream cheese around to get a thin layer all around so the creamy sweetness doesn't overwhelm the other bits.

Time to diet now.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe

Warning: Picture Heavy

A few weeks ago, I went and ate in Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe, in Mall of Asia - near the IMAX Cinema - a couple of times.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe offers free Wifi, though I didn't use it. The place is cheery and there are a lot of tables. It's really cold though, and the menu is intimidating, so it's hard to decide what you want.

Steamed Spare Ribs With Black Bean (P100)

 This was the first time I've had this, actually. And it was pretty good, except it had bones (which I hate :)) ).

Udon P195

 I don't remember if this was pork of beef since it was a while back. The serving was big, for P195, and from what I remember, the noodles by itself was delicious, the meat was ok.

Lychee Ice Blended P70

 This drink tasted like lychee, as promised. It also had 3 pieces of fruit inside, which I liked. Very nice for the price.

Yin Yong Snow Ice P135

 While this serving of snow ice was huge (good for 3-4 people). It's basically ice, so I'm not impressed. It tasted like really cold milk tea, with red beans hiding at the bottom.

Macau Iced Coffee P75

 A bit too milky for my taste, but I liked the fact that the ice had flowers inside.

Cheese Baked Rice with Black Pepper Beef P245

 This was the best dish I've tasted there: because I love cheese and beef. This might be share-able but not for me! Best enjoyed by hungry self.

Chicken Bulgogi with Rice P195

The meat was a bit dry, so it wasn't that enjoyable.


Will I return? Most probably yes, if I'm in the area, since the servings are big and sometimes even good for sharing.

Review: Quizno's + Dakasi

As I am writing this right now, I am trying to drink a Dakasi Bubble Milk Tea. While the servers were cheerful and accomodating - plus points for using forceps to give me tissue - the waiting time was long and the milk tea was very disappointing. They used powdered milk, and boy, did it taste like it. Rather than milk tea, it tasted like a powdered milk drink with pearls. I don't think I'll be able to finish this drink, which is quite a shame as it costs P100. Wish I had bought from Serenitea instead.

On a longer note, I visited Quiznos in Shangri-la Mall!

Quiznos Storefront: Shangri-la

It's a bit small and located at the basement, near the food court, so it's easy to miss if you don't normally stop by that level.

Inside Quiznos: Shangri-la

We came at a slow hour, so it was mostly empty.

Quiznos Sub Sizes

Quiznos' subway sandwiches come in 5", 8", and 11". It's nice to have a visible guide as to how big your order is. Also, they show you their actual bread sizes if you ask. ^^

Ordering at Quiznos

 The menu they've mounted is hard to read. Better read the one on the table.

5" Classic Italian

I ordered a 5" classic Italian for P125- I think. It was much taller than I expected.

5" Classic Italian - Sideways 

And it was really yummy! Unfortunately, it didn't fill up this sloth >.< Wish I got a larger size. I think the 5" is still a snack size. the 8" would be perfect for a meal and 11" for super-hungry times.

Quiznos Trash

Their subs come in these speech bubble shaped trays (I like the fact that you have something to hold on to). You're supposed to drop the contents in the hole after eating and leave tray. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, most people just leave their trays on the tables.

Quiznos Snacks

While I didn't buy any sides, you can buy these as additions to your meal, like in the more familiar Subway. While my sub was delicious, it was a bit pricey - especially since Subway often has promos. I like the subs here more though and will probably eat here again if I have the chance.

Secret Recipe at Shangri-la Mall

So yesterday I went over to Shangri-la Mall because I heard about a Kiehl's challenge over at Animetric's. That's gonna come later. I'm excited about it, but that has to wait!

Shangri-la Mall East Wing

 The new wing at Shangri-la Mall. It was actually a pretty nice shot until these two walked in. Haha.

TWG Coming Soon

 Hee. TWG is coming over to Orti. It's not looking as nice as the one over at Greenbelt, but it would be nice to have a tea place close by.

Shu Uemura - Shangri-la

 At Floor 2/3 -Is a Shu Uemura.

Kiehl's - Shangri-la

And a Kiehl's where I got my 5 free samples.

While waiting for some family members, I ended up waiting at Secret Recipe on the highest floor of the Mall and ordered an Americano with milk (P95 - according to munchpunch, it's called a Flat White).

Americano and Free Cake

 Apparently, you get a free slice of one of their cream cakes when you order a coffee hot or iced. Yay!

Coffee and Terry Pratchett

 I'm not a big fan of Terry Pratchett, but he is funny, especially his footnotes.

Chocolate Banana Cake

 The free slice, while by no means can be considered a sliver, is a little on the lean side. I don't know why I got a plastic fork with it, but it was yummy! :))

Americano

 I did like the foam art, along with the service: very prompt and very hospitable servers. I got a glass of iced water sometime while I was reading without prompting. The coffee went excellently with the cake.

Chocolate Banana Cake again

I would definitely buy this if it were a bit bigger :)) But I'd rather have it free with a coffee, even if it's a smaller slice.

Would I return? Definitely yes, if I ever had to wait for someone at Shangri-la, or any other mall with a branch as long as they had this promo and I had a good book.


Secret Recipe is at the 5th floor of Shangri-la Mall.