tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126754712024-03-08T06:02:35.196+08:00bogchinoypiA Manila-based food journalbogchiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525723466919573690noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-84051109397811905062011-08-05T15:52:00.006+08:002011-08-05T17:32:42.964+08:00Top 5 Chatime Must-triesWe’d like to think we were one of the early fans of the bubble tea craze. Chasing down branches of Serenitea when people thought we were still referring to peace and calm. So when Chatime opened in Pioneer, we weren’t in a rush.<br /><br />Thanks to a lot of friendly prodding though, we trudged all the way one weekend. And have been addicted ever since! Even buying three drinks at a time (sayang yung wait e ;p). If you’ve been too timid or overwhelmed by the choices, here’s a quick guide for dipping your toe before diving right in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Classic</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ChaTime Roasted Milk Tea </span><br /><br />If you’ve already tried Chinese style milk teas before, this hits the taste you’re familiar with.<br /><br />A refreshing mix of the dark roasted tea flavor lightened by the creamy milk. Once you’ve tasted Chatime, you’ll realize what a big difference there is between the ready-to-drink, bottled variety and Chatime’s handmade serving.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Interesting but still safe</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Brown Rice Green Milk Tea/Green Tea</span><br /><br />If you enjoy the tea they give for free at Japanese restaurants, then give this a try. Who knew it would work as a cold drink? The milk addition puts some sweet into the earthy, turning this into one of the most refreshing drinks that got us through summer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Exhilirating<br />TieGuanyin Tea Mousse</span><br /><br />If you thrive on energy drinks and coffee to stimulate your senses, this tea was made for you! It literally drives you into all-neurons firing, all nerves tingling overdrive – without overwhelming your palate. That’s the danger actually, it tastes so good (try with mousse!) you’ll drink a lot of it, then before you know it you’re on full throttle the whole day. This writer was literally palpitating! But if you have the heart for it, go go go try it!<br /><br />Warning though: do NOT drink at night, unless you don’t plan to go to sleep.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fullsome<br />Taro Red Bean Milk Tea</span><br /><br />If you want a fuller taste to go with the creaminess, the red bean is the perfect match for Quickly-popularized taro milk tea. Add mousse to complete this dessert drink.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Crisp and light<br />Grapefruit QQ</span><br /><br />If you’re still in a summer flush and aren’t that into teas, try Chatime’s fruit drinks. Grapefruit is a more novel, still tangy, very refreshing alternative to your iced teas, orange or mango drinks. Sweet and beats the heat!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Add-ons</span><br />Don’t miss out on Chatime’s add-ons. The quality is really superior to most bubble tea places.<br /><br />The pearls are fat and chewy with a tantalizing almost-chocolate taste.<br /><br />Their mousse is a m-m-mmmmmust try. Don’t think thick gelatin blob congealed in the middle of a Red Ribbon cake (we love it there though), but more like a moderately heavy cream that sits delicately on top of your drink.<br /><br />Their pudding is egg-y and fresh. Light in the mouth.<br /><br />Haven’t tried it ourselves but a lot of fellow Chatime fans have sworn by their Grass Jelly too.<br /><br />Tea you there next time!<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Chatime can be found at Pioneer Center, Pasig; Robinson's Galleria Supermarket; Landmark Bridgeway, Makati; One Archers Place, Taft; SM Mall of Asia, Manila</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-32398091794478051052011-07-07T01:08:00.014+08:002011-07-08T01:12:20.752+08:00Oh Mine ShineLoyal fans of this crisp, sweetish drink will remember its sudden, panic-inducing disappearance from exclusive retailer 7-11 around 2008. (Coincidentally around the same time as the milks-with-melamine ban. Completely coincidentally.)<br />
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Remember that time of withdrawal, I mean, slight disappointment? Well! Those trying, I mean, inconvenient times are back. Mine Shine has disappeared again! Not a drop of its 800kcal goodness in sight. (Please email me immediately should you find one. Immediately! Or if you have contact details of the importer, I'd really like to have a word, I mean, find out what's up.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NAGKMD7DLJKlVnQBL6WU1q24gScKop3J-ypTf34sZjdbQ3Z3mbp9jkX_rOheHClxTspWt4JvcuN8_SI0NHP5K27BDj29MajN1MQt04ad7ZHdw2ECzFjfinbxcGTus6jFCqwo/s1600/DSC01819.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626294379797457074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NAGKMD7DLJKlVnQBL6WU1q24gScKop3J-ypTf34sZjdbQ3Z3mbp9jkX_rOheHClxTspWt4JvcuN8_SI0NHP5K27BDj29MajN1MQt04ad7ZHdw2ECzFjfinbxcGTus6jFCqwo/s400/DSC01819.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Last seen at 7-11 President's Ave one month ago</span></div><br />
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True, prior to the 2008 months-long disappearance, its supply has been patchy. But post-melamine, I mean, post-reformulation, it has been on steady supply - encouraging dependence!.. I mean confidence!<br />
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For fans who are missing it as much as I am, I've found that <a href="http://www.facebook.com/chatimephilippines">ChaTime</a>'s ChaTime Roasted milk tea (arguably their most populist tea flavor) a very worthy replacement. For one, it IS freshly made upon order, adding a richer, deeper tea taste. The fat chewy pearls add quite a bit of happy in your mouth too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y8hdVayNHoMvWvQjtboHr0AWH-6JZtduOCiiFPsKFPbHwLUUBduNaD5SsELoOxg8fucZ1qDP5z2pGOM7vYuVhV0kR-e0oi5Ff43LFaMXcdeLNx0xol0P6AQCiG67VWfC7wWk/s1600/Picture+16.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626297257806104498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y8hdVayNHoMvWvQjtboHr0AWH-6JZtduOCiiFPsKFPbHwLUUBduNaD5SsELoOxg8fucZ1qDP5z2pGOM7vYuVhV0kR-e0oi5Ff43LFaMXcdeLNx0xol0P6AQCiG67VWfC7wWk/s400/Picture+16.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 264px;" /></a><br />
Of course, if you find yourself too loyal to Mine Shine, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/chatimephilippines">ChaTime</a> has a looong list of non-similar flavors to choose from. Feel free to stray and sample how else milk tea can be done. (As we certainly did. Stay tuned for Bogchinoypi's ChaTime favorites in an upcoming post.)<br />
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In the meantime, lemme just check that tucked-away 7-11 branch inside that building. Not that I'm looking for anything in particular.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-11117903058784886872011-06-28T14:10:00.090+08:002011-07-05T22:05:21.578+08:00HELLO, 911-1111? IF THIS WERE 911 INSTEAD, I’D BE DEAD BY NOW.Hello. I’m the latest addition to Bogchinoypi’s line-up of writers. I should caution you though: I’m completely new to this, whether “blogging” in general, or writing about food. I guess I’m saying this to all the readers who frequent this site—yes, both of you—in the hopes of lowering your expectations and, therefore, inflating your opinion about this article.<br />
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For my inaugural post (and quite possibly my last post, depending on whether this blog’s "chowers that be" decide I’m too offensive or annoying to keep writing here), I decided to write about pizza. Pizza Hut, in particular. Their delivery hotline, to be even more precise. Yes, this is not about the quality of their toppings, or how crunchy or golden brown their crust is, or how their pizzas generally taste (Answer: their pizzas are pretty good; sh*t, this “food blogging” thing is easier than I thought).<br />
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Instead, I want to write—rant, really—about the spiel which their call center agents give me each and every single goddamn time I call 911-1111 to order a stupid pizza (so, for everyone who came to this blog looking for useful tips on where or what to eat, you’ve been warned about the enormous amount of your time that’s about to be wasted. Continue reading this profanity-ridden, amateurishly formatted and pitifully unfunny post at your own risk).<br />
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<a name='more'></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4eiI-fXNPx1M3bT15nfOBrWHUf79BTHnvQlO6L-e7I46YkBnPFXy6suqgzC73tb74RkglrDhCDUSF0jZTGYz-UFwFtWLBC7HYb23504SQesExwWB3A7KJ9mPKJbkBJNbmv-ACA/s1600/pizza+hut+delivery.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623504486181857522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4eiI-fXNPx1M3bT15nfOBrWHUf79BTHnvQlO6L-e7I46YkBnPFXy6suqgzC73tb74RkglrDhCDUSF0jZTGYz-UFwFtWLBC7HYb23504SQesExwWB3A7KJ9mPKJbkBJNbmv-ACA/s640/pizza+hut+delivery.jpg" style="display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 139px;" width="635" /><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4eiI-fXNPx1M3bT15nfOBrWHUf79BTHnvQlO6L-e7I46YkBnPFXy6suqgzC73tb74RkglrDhCDUSF0jZTGYz-UFwFtWLBC7HYb23504SQesExwWB3A7KJ9mPKJbkBJNbmv-ACA/s1600/pizza+hut+delivery.jpg"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>“Hi, I have a delivery for Mr. ____.<br />
Wha … whaddya mean he just died?”</i> </span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br />
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</span></div><br />
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<div align="left">But before I go on, let me get this out of the way: yes, I’m aware that these call center agents are contractually obligated to give the aforesaid spiel, that they have no real choice, that they’re just doing their jobs and are simply trying to make an honest and honorable living, and that, in any case, taking someone’s order for a pizza over the phone is hardly the proper vehicle for individual expression or creativity. I know all this. So this rant isn’t directed at them personally. I don’t blame them. I blame the script which their corporate masters gave. I blame <b>the System</b>.<br />
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I order pizza pretty frequently. This is because of a number of factors: our family “cook”, Bing, can’t really cook for sh*t (except for her spaghetti), and I like to stay home a lot and just masturbate, er, vegetate in front of the TV. So, quite often, the arrangement that suits me is to have pizza delivered. Plus, since I always order a pizza bigger than what I can finish by myself in one sitting, there’s the added bonus of being able to eat leftover pizza on some later day, whether it’s because I have a case of the late-night munchies, or I’m simply not in the mood to tolerate whatever culinary abomination Bing conjures up for that day.<br />
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Unfortunately, however, the phone call I have to make to order a pizza is one big exercise in frustration, and it takes every single ounce of civility in me to refrain from giving in to my rage at the inane script which costs me precious moments of my life, moments which I’ll never get back (kinda like the moments you’ll never get back after reading this).<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-TAAYqGYhAXhtIOEyVTryEUVazWjRk-hs4MPeBFva6IsCx7uP66S1LLesppqE63eb3VcHcakGNr8ocgnIGrstcRIJ8PAQWdZNAa-7nIub3Wy47I152IFOaefeWQSKh8cFFpG6w/s1600/call+center.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="299" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623506087562170818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-TAAYqGYhAXhtIOEyVTryEUVazWjRk-hs4MPeBFva6IsCx7uP66S1LLesppqE63eb3VcHcakGNr8ocgnIGrstcRIJ8PAQWdZNAa-7nIub3Wy47I152IFOaefeWQSKh8cFFpG6w/s400/call+center.jpg" style="display: block; height: 194px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 259px;" width="400" /><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-TAAYqGYhAXhtIOEyVTryEUVazWjRk-hs4MPeBFva6IsCx7uP66S1LLesppqE63eb3VcHcakGNr8ocgnIGrstcRIJ8PAQWdZNAa-7nIub3Wy47I152IFOaefeWQSKh8cFFpG6w/s1600/call+center.jpg"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>“Thank you for calling Pizza Hut Delivery.<br />
What kind of shoes are you wearing right now sir?<br />
And may I know your zodiac sign?”</i> </span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br />
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</span></div><br />
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<div align="left">To everyone out there who has ever ordered Pizza Hut by phone, this will probably sound a little familiar:<br />
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NOTE: What follows is a more or less accurate transcription of a typical call to Pizza Hut. All personal details are left blank to protect the identities of the persons concerned (namely, me, so nobody knows how much of an assh*le I am), the phone conversation is in italics, and my annotations are not. (Sorry, is all this already understood? Told you I’m new to this “blogging” thing).<br />
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<i>PH: Good evening, sir, thank you for calling Pizza Hut delivery. How may I help you?<br />
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Me: Good evening. Yes, puede magpa-deliver?<br />
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PH: Yes, sir. Can I have your phone number?<br />
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Me: Yeah, it’s _______.<br />
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PH: [sound of someone typing on a computer] Oh hi, sir _________. It’s so nice to hear from you again. For how many people are you ordering?</i><br />
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[One quick tangent: this reminds of me of another of my pizza-related pet peeves. I absolutely hate it whenever the situations are reversed, and I ask the cashier/waiter at a pizza joint about the number of people who can be served by each of the different sizes of their pizza. Obviously, I want to know if this or that size is good for 1 person, for 2 people, and so forth. Almost every single f*cking time, however, the cashier/waiter tells me the pizza has 8 slices. Hey, dipsh*t, I know it comes in 8 f*cking slices. That means absolutely nothing to me and gives me exactly zero information. Nearly every single pizza which has ever been made in the history of civilization can be cut up into 8 f*cking slices, whether it’s as big as a car tire, or as small as Haw Flakes (Actual Opinion About Food or “AOAF” No. 1: I like Haw Flakes. They’re good). Okay, end of tangent.]<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0q3ueRylbxsNSTgWS6oHUALDDMtzFJo7oEc8oUEp1wCruL89lhUnDOlMz1FVyH721T2cUVC22bnTR50jt72Z-k7I4oPg0RKL7mndXF8AMiT0ORbydmGg6sbiV1DivyrsvPU-OQ/s1600/haw+flakes.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623506377546949570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0q3ueRylbxsNSTgWS6oHUALDDMtzFJo7oEc8oUEp1wCruL89lhUnDOlMz1FVyH721T2cUVC22bnTR50jt72Z-k7I4oPg0RKL7mndXF8AMiT0ORbydmGg6sbiV1DivyrsvPU-OQ/s320/haw+flakes.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 194px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 259px;" /><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0q3ueRylbxsNSTgWS6oHUALDDMtzFJo7oEc8oUEp1wCruL89lhUnDOlMz1FVyH721T2cUVC22bnTR50jt72Z-k7I4oPg0RKL7mndXF8AMiT0ORbydmGg6sbiV1DivyrsvPU-OQ/s1600/haw+flakes.jpg"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>ANGEL LOCSIN BOOBS.<br />
(Sorry, was just hoping that Google might misdirect some people to this blog, thereby increasing our readership.</i></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i> Besides, her nipples might look like Haw Flakes anyway. Crap, I think I just sprouted a boner.)</i><br />
</span></div><br />
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<div align="left"><br />
Anyways, as I said earlier, I always deliberately order a pizza that’s too big for me to finish alone in one sitting. That’s because I like eating leftover pizza (sometimes, even more than freshly baked ones), and because, sometimes, my brother eats the rest (yes, I still live at home, with my parents. If you think that makes me a loser nerd, well, would a loser nerd own a sweet, sweet lightsaber replica? I know, right?).</div><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5ktNgBOxNoig3l27gkk7hT4uvhN-XA_Fube9Wxj8Mp7ljCHywRthDxcCn1AlL6oYjAvLdnr9QiPNnSlag-SnmEQES4g4fiZJ0GD4ywbHG0XvVOV5R-msNNLim1b5df6PhGbWBw/s1600/starwars+kid.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623506727286796802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5ktNgBOxNoig3l27gkk7hT4uvhN-XA_Fube9Wxj8Mp7ljCHywRthDxcCn1AlL6oYjAvLdnr9QiPNnSlag-SnmEQES4g4fiZJ0GD4ywbHG0XvVOV5R-msNNLim1b5df6PhGbWBw/s320/starwars+kid.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 199px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 253px;" /></a> <i><span style="font-size: 78%;">Pictured: a total badass.<br />
Not pictured: a loser nerd.</span></i></div><br />
Obviously, though, this is far too much information than I want to share with a complete stranger, and I really don’t want to unnecessarily prolong a conversation which, as far as I’m concerned, is already taking way too long.<br />
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However, if I tell the Pizza Hut guy/girl that I’m ordering for one, he/she’s going to think I’m some loser (and we’ve earlier established that I’m not) who can’t even find someone to share a pizza with. To make matters worse, if I say I’m ordering for one, without sharing my life story or philosophies about ordering pizza, and only to later disclose that I want a “family” sized pizza, he/she will also think the reason I’m some loser eating pizza at home alone is because I’m f*cking obese. And I’m not. I’ll have you know I go to the gym. Like once a month, <b><i>at least</i></b>.<br />
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Of course, all this could have been avoided, and I wouldn't have had to grapple with my neuroses, if they'd simply asked me what size of pizza I wanted. But nooooo, they just had to be nosy and ask how many people were going to sample their fine pizza.<br />
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Anyways, the solution to all this? I lie.<br />
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<i>Me: Uh, for 4 people.</i><br />
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F*ck you, Pizza Hut, Inc. F*ck you for making me feel bad about myself that I’m eating home alone, f*ck you for making me care that someone might think I’m obese, and f*ck you for forcing me to lie.<br />
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<i>PH: Okay, sir. What would you like to order?<br />
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Me: I’d like a family supreme pan pizza, please.</i><br />
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AOAF No. 2: I order supreme, and not super supreme, because I hate pineapples on pizza. I think it’s gross. (Hey, I’m getting the hang of this. Actually, let’s call it “SARF” instead of “AOAF”. Stands for “Statement Actually Related to Food”. SARF. This will catch on. I can feel it.)<br />
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<i>PH: Okay, sir, that’s an excellent choice. I’ve tried that myself.</i><br />
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I know it’s an excellent choice. That’s why I ordered it. Why the hell do you feel the need to reassure me about my life choices? Did I mistakenly call Dial-a-Friend? Jesus, just a few seconds ago, you made me think I was a loser, and that I was a pig for ordering a family sized pizza, and <i><b>now</b></i> you want to give me affirmation?!? Stop playing with my emotions, Pizza Hut. Just stop it.<br />
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<i>PH: Okay, sir, can I just confirm your delivery address …</i><br />
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One quick explanation before I continue. My family owns a small rinky-dink hospital, and it carries my surname. Let’s call it Skywalker Hospital. Since giving directions to my house can be complicated (you might, in fact, miss a turn if the shirtless drunk I normally use as a landmark decides to stand someplace else), whereas the hospital is relatively easier to locate, and since my house is accessible from the hospital, I always have all deliveries sent to the hospital’s front desk/reception area, where they’ll take care of bringing the pizza (or whatever else) to me.<br />
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<i>PH (continuing): … okay, Mr. Skywalker, is your delivery address Skywalker Hospital, ____ Street, ________ City, at the front desk?<br />
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Me: Yes, that’s right.<br />
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PH: Are you a patient?</i><br />
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Oh, where do I begin?<br />
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<b>First of all</b>, that’s really none of your business, and it’s not really necessary for you to know that, is it? You know the delivery address, so please just have the delivery guy bring it there, ok? Pretty please?<br />
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<b>Second</b>, if my name and address are stored in your computer database, that means I’ve ordered before, right? And if I’m a patient, and I’ve ordered before, and during all the previous times I ordered, I gave my <b><i>permanent</i></b> address as a hospital, that must mean I’m really sick, right? Like really, really sick. Dying sick. And if that’s the case, why in f*ck’s name are you wasting whatever little time I have left on this earth with idle chit-chat? (And by the way, Pizza Hut—if I were dying and had few precious meals left to eat, I’d eat steak or something, not your pizzas. Which brings us to SARF No. 3: Pizza Hut supreme pizzas are good, but they’re not “deathbed good”.)<br />
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[Another tangent coming up: On that note, I’ve just come up with a scale for rating food. In ascending order of greatness:<br />
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• Semen good — You can swallow it if you’re adventurous or have kinky tastes, but most of the time, you’d rather just spit it out (not that I’ve ever done either). This does not, as some of you might have thought, mean that the food sort of smells like pancake mix.<br />
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• Bing good — Edible, but you’d rather have something else if you can help it. And not good enough that you’d knowingly pay for it. Basically, it makes you say “meh”.<br />
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• Bing spaghetti good — Pretty good; worth the price and something you’d want to come back for<br />
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• “Om nom nom nom nom nom” good — So good you just scarf it down, eat loudly, and stop talking to your dinner companions (or masturbating, as the case might be)<br />
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• Deathbed good — The highest accolade possible. As the name plainly implies, it’s so good you’d want to spend your last few moments eating this (but then again, maybe you should just masturbate one last time instead. I’m pretty sure they serve fantastic food in Heaven; on the other hand, I’m absolutely certain they won’t let you “choke the chicken” there. And even if they would, there’s not likely to be any available porn).<br />
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Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the greatest rating scale <b><i>ever</i></b>.<br />
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(And yes, I know what you’re thinking: if “om nom nom nom nom nom” good > masturbation, and deathbed good is supposed to be > “om nom nom nom nom nom” good, then how can masturbation be > deathbed good? Because I said so, that’s how. My scale, my rules.)<br />
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End of tangent, back to my rant.]<br />
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<b>Third</b>, you know my name is ______ Skywalker. And the delivery address is Skywalker Hospital. The conclusion you draw from that is that I’m a <i>patient</i>? I suppose I’d understand if my delivery address were St. Luke’s Hospital, and I said my name was <i>Luke</i> Skywalker, but that’s clearly not the case here. In fact, if, for some strange reason, somebody asks you to deliver pizza to Shakey’s (or Magoo’s, incidentally one of the exceptions to the “8 slices” thing) and says his name is Mr. Shakey (or Mr. Magoo), do you ask him if he’s a customer? (Wait, come to think of it, the caller’s probably jerking you off, so, yeah, you should ask. I would. Then you should tell him to go f*ck himself. Poor example. My bad.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDnWvKRAC9tZNMSLyAzJfAcIATuOcETS-sBx1cAbK-vlLS0QBbf3x7j-naBtYF8_MJnBsFvnLS-HHnsI-RR5xpJ3Ki5fCZjaB0TAbuURCpisPfDrHfdVCohqPlSrscNJpUEgMCA/s1600/magoo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623507000966254114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDnWvKRAC9tZNMSLyAzJfAcIATuOcETS-sBx1cAbK-vlLS0QBbf3x7j-naBtYF8_MJnBsFvnLS-HHnsI-RR5xpJ3Ki5fCZjaB0TAbuURCpisPfDrHfdVCohqPlSrscNJpUEgMCA/s320/magoo.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 139px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 187px;" /><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDnWvKRAC9tZNMSLyAzJfAcIATuOcETS-sBx1cAbK-vlLS0QBbf3x7j-naBtYF8_MJnBsFvnLS-HHnsI-RR5xpJ3Ki5fCZjaB0TAbuURCpisPfDrHfdVCohqPlSrscNJpUEgMCA/s1600/magoo.jpg"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>“What’s that, young man? Yes, I really do want one of your pizzas.<br />
Why? Because f*ck those square pizzas, that’s why.”<br />
</i></span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="left">In the interests of transparency and fairness, though, let me say that, in Pizza Hut’s defense (and, yes, I realize I’m defending Pizza Hut against my own tirade), the blame for this “are you a patient?” bit can’t be placed on their script (and they obviously could not have foreseen this would happen). Plus, it happened just that one time, with a female call center agent who didn’t have enough common sense and/or was simply too intrusive. I’d like to think she was just wooed by my manly voice, that she was smitten, even over the phone, by my general, all-around Jedi bad-assery, and that I was just oozing too much pheromones and midichlorians (my apologies to the non-nerds out there; go ahead and “Google” it, if you like) for her to resist, so much so that she just had to know more about me. Or maybe she just wanted to know if she should send me flowers for my speedy recovery. Even though I’m apparently dying from some lingering disease. <i></i></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="left"><i>Me: … No. I'm not a patient.<br />
<br />
PH: Can I interest you in some garlic bread or chicken wings?</i><br />
<br />
No comment here, except to say that although this means more time wasted, I know Pizza Hut is just taking advantage of every available opportunity to maximize its sales. I can respect that. I’m reasonable, see?<br />
<br />
<i>Me: No, thank you.<br />
<br />
PH: Okay, sir. Your pizza will be delivered, hot and fresh, within 45 minutes. Thank you for calling Pizza Hut.</i><br />
<br />
Of course, what I really want to say is “Look, if you had just gone straight to asking me what I f*cking wanted instead of wasting both our times, the pizza would have been here by now.” But Mama Skywalker raised me to have some manners. So I don’t say that.<br />
<br />
<i>Me: Thank you.</i><br />
<br />
I’d like to end this post with an appeal to Pizza Hut, to its executives and big bosses. Please, Mr. Hut, change your goddamn script. It’s in our mutual best interests: we, your loyal customers, will be able to get our pizzas quicker and get back to our miserable lives sooner, and you, on the other hand, will be able to field more calls and make more sales.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMcIEeYNp7zKibrzH9H8fJRbC0ALJXvFArrKsCSVfW5TOL6_0HySrkId6iYgGv4gg41FTJCpaAmpiNmrDUrpEkLcUckWtkDZ7avWmA_xGu9v-4bLhllMz-hb1Tnep06l5tTOdsQ/s1600/jabba.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623507172687589554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMcIEeYNp7zKibrzH9H8fJRbC0ALJXvFArrKsCSVfW5TOL6_0HySrkId6iYgGv4gg41FTJCpaAmpiNmrDUrpEkLcUckWtkDZ7avWmA_xGu9v-4bLhllMz-hb1Tnep06l5tTOdsQ/s320/jabba.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 209px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMcIEeYNp7zKibrzH9H8fJRbC0ALJXvFArrKsCSVfW5TOL6_0HySrkId6iYgGv4gg41FTJCpaAmpiNmrDUrpEkLcUckWtkDZ7avWmA_xGu9v-4bLhllMz-hb1Tnep06l5tTOdsQ/s1600/jabba.jpg"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>Above: Pizza Hut’s head honcho (in my head, anyway).<br />
Coincidence? I think not.</i><br />
</span></div><br />
Plus, if your database has our names, numbers and delivery addresses, surely you must realize that we’ve called, and we’ve heard the spiel, at least once before. The friendly banter might be nice the first time, but it gets progressively more annoying with each succeeding call. And the bit about how we’ve made an excellent choice and that the agent has tried it himself/herself? Well, it sounds particularly trite, and comes off as being so insincere that I automatically don’t believe anything he/she says anymore. That's precisely why I instinctively reject his/her offers of garlic bread or chicken wings, out of sheer principle. So everybody loses (well, everybody except the chicken). I mean, when somebody brings their kid to Skywalker Hospital to have him circumcised, the doctors don’t say “<i>tama po ‘yan, misis. Ako din po nagpa-tuli kasi ayokong maging supot</i>” (in my head, Skywalker Hospital doctors always speak in Filipino).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfHLLzmYe1WGjMZKQEJop4wOHWmzOPwCQY8JD-S8voNp_fkiy53B-uW2OI-AXIPQw3yh87E9ifwqtx220oOBTm6HEgeYojUOBVtYKY3ZAyRFo5KJmP9Zn7h6PfLwHxXO8eU92ZA/s1600/doctor+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623507335629123570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfHLLzmYe1WGjMZKQEJop4wOHWmzOPwCQY8JD-S8voNp_fkiy53B-uW2OI-AXIPQw3yh87E9ifwqtx220oOBTm6HEgeYojUOBVtYKY3ZAyRFo5KJmP9Zn7h6PfLwHxXO8eU92ZA/s320/doctor+1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 128px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 128px;" /> </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfHLLzmYe1WGjMZKQEJop4wOHWmzOPwCQY8JD-S8voNp_fkiy53B-uW2OI-AXIPQw3yh87E9ifwqtx220oOBTm6HEgeYojUOBVtYKY3ZAyRFo5KJmP9Zn7h6PfLwHxXO8eU92ZA/s1600/doctor+1.jpg"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>“I’m sorry, not sure I heard you right. You’re going to do WHAT to my penis … ?!?”</i> </span></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpXzxPq4gWq_kWeJNib-u2t_2AHdyp0_Iqo0noHeuyNQ9G_poPS4a-V-z3ZQQLx9Wr1qAjaqplwHgKoDmNAxYVOGd45rBIXfCxyONhGuj_Y68qlsCITZ3Tj8UJbWYxTQfx46JYw/s1600/doctor+2.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623507518133716450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpXzxPq4gWq_kWeJNib-u2t_2AHdyp0_Iqo0noHeuyNQ9G_poPS4a-V-z3ZQQLx9Wr1qAjaqplwHgKoDmNAxYVOGd45rBIXfCxyONhGuj_Y68qlsCITZ3Tj8UJbWYxTQfx46JYw/s320/doctor+2.bmp" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 186px;" /><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpXzxPq4gWq_kWeJNib-u2t_2AHdyp0_Iqo0noHeuyNQ9G_poPS4a-V-z3ZQQLx9Wr1qAjaqplwHgKoDmNAxYVOGd45rBIXfCxyONhGuj_Y68qlsCITZ3Tj8UJbWYxTQfx46JYw/s1600/doctor+2.bmp"></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><i>“The bad news: we cut off waaaay more than we should have.<br />
The good news: you look like a girl anyway.”<br />
</i><br />
<br />
</span></div>It’s just unnecessary over-sharing; a painfully transparent but woefully unsuccessful attempt to manufacture an artificial sense of personal bonding between the parties to what is merely a commercial transaction, which just ends up irritating the recipient of the unsolicited information, not only because of the patent lack of authenticity behind it, but also because he/she resents, perhaps subconsciously, the unspoken premise that the other party’s ostensibly personal assurances would somehow affect his/her own decision-making process. So what I’m saying is, yeah, it annoys the living f*ck out of us.<br />
<br />
So please, Pizza Hut. Change your script.<br />
<br />
And while you’re at it, maybe you can ditch the pineapples and put Haw Flakes instead.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-9541986404008690652010-09-27T13:55:00.006+08:002011-07-08T01:03:39.692+08:00The common cuapao in not-for-commoners Greenbelt 5A pleasantly surprising merienda option in hoity-toity GB5. <br />
<br />
Amidst Restaurante Pia y Damaso’s baroque menu is the very earthy Cua Pao Pan De Sal. The pan de sal adds a slightly grittier texture & more salt into the over-all taste (vs the oh-so-soft & almost sweet mantou). With big chunks of pork asado, a thick serving of pickled mustasa & lots of nuts, it’s a heftier price for a heftier cuapao. <br />
<br />
<br />
(Still, if you want a reeeaally sulit cuapao, then make the trek to Makati Cinema Square. But more on that later ;p Also, sorry for the blurry pic.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3SMJFxIfAgBJT7ZX29fz_n0SGhxjBdIxq_H7JiF1JWZSQW1fe4HevGyvsTQvuYthZG4aSTNydVkOuht22HI9xdULEPYSrmDiDxvk8OGJMRSqpNHAl0giL261SJJuDB92dYFG/s1600/Image0139.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521468653466837154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3SMJFxIfAgBJT7ZX29fz_n0SGhxjBdIxq_H7JiF1JWZSQW1fe4HevGyvsTQvuYthZG4aSTNydVkOuht22HI9xdULEPYSrmDiDxvk8OGJMRSqpNHAl0giL261SJJuDB92dYFG/s320/Image0139.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Do you like cuapao?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-16091990813182664052010-09-22T10:03:00.010+08:002011-07-08T01:11:29.213+08:00Sexpress!Nope, we haven’t been trawling Makati Ave, just picking up on what racier La Salle peeps call Sinangag Express. <br />
<br />
A beloved Taft area haunt and now with 2 branches in the South, Sinangag Express probably inspired the very first time “SOLID!” was used as a Pinoy term of approval. Like the best small gems, Sinangag Express sticks to simple favorites done well. Flaky tapa, shredded adobo, tender tocino, fried chicken, bangus.. The very first time I ate in S-Express, I knew there was something special about this place when <br />
<br />
1) they served the –log wet rather than fried-too-long dry. Perfect for folding into your garlic rice.<br />
<br />
And<br />
<br />
2) every table had its own bottle of chili oil. A sure indicator that the owners know how to enjoy their –silogs!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabufjiCZaqaT_tmolTKgKEhjXTMK41OkCXk596gFQh0iun9-k2RYOCX2tiYQYSJ8DfJuTG8ZZ0LODvRuUI8Uo3q1ejcXMH8uSTIpLWNVxRFJrQSysog0bVrjxtyH1t2oTD6NK/s1600/Image0144.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabufjiCZaqaT_tmolTKgKEhjXTMK41OkCXk596gFQh0iun9-k2RYOCX2tiYQYSJ8DfJuTG8ZZ0LODvRuUI8Uo3q1ejcXMH8uSTIpLWNVxRFJrQSysog0bVrjxtyH1t2oTD6NK/s400/Image0144.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Sure enough, every meal in Sinangag Express since has delivered on that solid Pinoy meal. Tasty, marinated cuts of meat. No scrimping on ingredients. & a few extra goodies on the side to round out the meal. <br />
<br />
Their iced tea for example, really is quite special. Rather than go with mass-produced vended stuff, they’ve come up with their own yummy, brewed blend. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAan1u50Ts2ymknJk0tRDGvqbOqwxX_7O-UBHj6fhb9_m99IstmfZEEIC_yOfNS9Xvbmr3da_dpB53MngUPv3iXqwxSMcOFfHLrcbf6-szMBYGv-ZWBTGCMePC7-vU_MycYDV/s1600/Image0145.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAan1u50Ts2ymknJk0tRDGvqbOqwxX_7O-UBHj6fhb9_m99IstmfZEEIC_yOfNS9Xvbmr3da_dpB53MngUPv3iXqwxSMcOFfHLrcbf6-szMBYGv-ZWBTGCMePC7-vU_MycYDV/s400/Image0145.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
They also have chilled taho – a refreshing end to the meal. Plus the occasional yema or brownie on the counter. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpp3VNS8b374NC83PFpBeQ3LgnqbDdu6G1Ux37U4Hb2Ll0h0SKVsIHRFwSEVHz4RH_IO5JoYlYT6CFP9p8CjOhlWl9nM4pAxXhgF9-WxTXGBIepSjdhpPO6BW64JwIMXw5UJt/s1600/Image0149.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpp3VNS8b374NC83PFpBeQ3LgnqbDdu6G1Ux37U4Hb2Ll0h0SKVsIHRFwSEVHz4RH_IO5JoYlYT6CFP9p8CjOhlWl9nM4pAxXhgF9-WxTXGBIepSjdhpPO6BW64JwIMXw5UJt/s400/Image0149.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
If you have a large appetite, I suggest either getting extra ulam or doubling your order. At generally php65 a meal, feel free to go for 3 even. Walang problema. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhOShGay0Gw0Lg7HxIHg_91rkRnKH4wQR9pWYdi3ca35R_b2BrkgF-udfMqZAfV2N_2TUFEpGrIQlX7bOjWS3_guPFOkq_VpxxDAZy67zTqVuAI9X3MIR_MeaUI0VU1NpDP2o/s1600/Image0148.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhOShGay0Gw0Lg7HxIHg_91rkRnKH4wQR9pWYdi3ca35R_b2BrkgF-udfMqZAfV2N_2TUFEpGrIQlX7bOjWS3_guPFOkq_VpxxDAZy67zTqVuAI9X3MIR_MeaUI0VU1NpDP2o/s320/Image0148.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdzQqog6bS99I9V8xOme0DF5q4PGxfpsojjuR-auNc01Ji2r6-AWTT57_pXcL2ULlT7rQ_FYLmTn-_EfAawMNyHd_8WOTgTWl0Eflb8tGhyphenhyphenoFQbZ0dUvulDddSP0f-rmtwOnE/s1600/Image0143.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdzQqog6bS99I9V8xOme0DF5q4PGxfpsojjuR-auNc01Ji2r6-AWTT57_pXcL2ULlT7rQ_FYLmTn-_EfAawMNyHd_8WOTgTWl0Eflb8tGhyphenhyphenoFQbZ0dUvulDddSP0f-rmtwOnE/s320/Image0143.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
What's your favorite -silog? :) <br />
<br />
<i>Drop in on 24-hour Sinangag Express at President's Ave. in Sucat. Near DLSU, in Better Living Subd., Pedro Gil Makati and again in BF Homes Aguirre Ave. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-6903650680388160662009-04-30T17:44:00.007+08:002009-04-30T18:11:56.176+08:00Tea time at Serenitea!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7ujFfEPRoe2b6LgQKjAtWNyCrz-T2mtsJBhIUws1YxKLvzL6CgiCoC1V6tjpUwpT1XKHphbuZUhrDtJgnuT0uMMrNWcw9Zo8pvBUiJ1-ID0taoQdo6Bsi6Dw_PKCVx6je4gn/s1600-h/2009+04+30+serenitea+05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7ujFfEPRoe2b6LgQKjAtWNyCrz-T2mtsJBhIUws1YxKLvzL6CgiCoC1V6tjpUwpT1XKHphbuZUhrDtJgnuT0uMMrNWcw9Zo8pvBUiJ1-ID0taoQdo6Bsi6Dw_PKCVx6je4gn/s400/2009+04+30+serenitea+05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330422687556584642" border="0" /></a>B, who is a friend and a boss (not in that order), recommended that I check out <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://serenitea.multiply.com/">Serenitea</a>, since I have <a href="http://bogchinoypi.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-ive-been-hoarding-lately.html">a thing for milk tea.</a> So after my nearby shoot today, I headed over to J. Abad Santos (off Wilson) in San Juan try their milk tea.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUZuMlzExpbCRzEw3g55McaSmGc8DzoZNJMWG7g_ZYOSSfiYCLWo-u2i4ktDVRtmfDsLL4pdZSQs6k1weUsm53mdrI4fn6rmuJWuxjTZ9CkQ9bkg7n1DVKjCahXRqzYdycuI8/s1600-h/2009+04+30+serenitea+02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUZuMlzExpbCRzEw3g55McaSmGc8DzoZNJMWG7g_ZYOSSfiYCLWo-u2i4ktDVRtmfDsLL4pdZSQs6k1weUsm53mdrI4fn6rmuJWuxjTZ9CkQ9bkg7n1DVKjCahXRqzYdycuI8/s400/2009+04+30+serenitea+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330422678104614082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYdvZ_liqtHT7zgGpKp5VcqmjHhj8qZ9idX_OcQDaZ-o-jQkpADjPUqS-nqvYwnzt9IFdq0uziVgTcbDB0OF0ucMvEBiTcZoaq6aPEXsD3OBGnllgb3UMg3ghYv9hyphenhyphenMc6fRlF/s1600-h/2009+04+30+serenitea.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYdvZ_liqtHT7zgGpKp5VcqmjHhj8qZ9idX_OcQDaZ-o-jQkpADjPUqS-nqvYwnzt9IFdq0uziVgTcbDB0OF0ucMvEBiTcZoaq6aPEXsD3OBGnllgb3UMg3ghYv9hyphenhyphenMc6fRlF/s400/2009+04+30+serenitea.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330424658073509058" border="0" /></a>At first, the options were daunting. But the girls behind the counter were very nice and explained the differences between Royal Tea (Earl Gray) and Hokkaido Tea (a bit caramel-y). I went with Royal Tea. Then they said I could select the amount of sugar I wanted in my tea. I tried 50% and they let me have a taste test first. 50% was pretty good. Not too sweet as to overpower the subtle tea flavor. But I went with 100% anyway. Haha. I think I can go for 75% next time. And despite the many options, I appreciate the precision.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywC9Swf5CKUjh-q7J4Q_aoRtyCRfZhkXYeZQxyLi0H0-Kho6mij1FMI-YY_y3on7Q_wIyDR2XNnRiSBcd4A8ODh-_NCX31rycOMDT7V7pA-93wlTJ7yaqd38FPsyZg1bUd57N/s1600-h/2009+04+30+serenitea+04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywC9Swf5CKUjh-q7J4Q_aoRtyCRfZhkXYeZQxyLi0H0-Kho6mij1FMI-YY_y3on7Q_wIyDR2XNnRiSBcd4A8ODh-_NCX31rycOMDT7V7pA-93wlTJ7yaqd38FPsyZg1bUd57N/s400/2009+04+30+serenitea+04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330422682284810402" border="0" /></a>The tea at Serenitea is freshly brewed, and it shows in the flavor of the milk tea. I like that I can customize the sweetness and that I can add other stuff like pearl and crystal bits. Next time, if I find myself tiring of milk tea, I will try their Grapefruit Yakult.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1xLjqV40bLn83Ml9Ey9V3cKdmQubwozlx4HUnYvtqOspiBiQqbC6iEqgTUQCMyQ39zqSEyNhRgH1JAjlY2WN-GeAHshUg1JGJJ_G1vhdrsXEoDeW3KEFQu4uMkA3uYwQ_qIR/s1600-h/2009+04+30+serenitea+06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1xLjqV40bLn83Ml9Ey9V3cKdmQubwozlx4HUnYvtqOspiBiQqbC6iEqgTUQCMyQ39zqSEyNhRgH1JAjlY2WN-GeAHshUg1JGJJ_G1vhdrsXEoDeW3KEFQu4uMkA3uYwQ_qIR/s400/2009+04+30+serenitea+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330422689829388594" border="0" /></a>PS. J. Abad Santos Street seems to be a happening place. It's where one of my favorite bars, Moksha, is located. Gloria Maris is at the corner. And down the road, they have <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sandyspizza1.multiply.com/">Sandy's Pizza</a> and the new and improved Mann Hann. Worth further exploration in the future.</div></div>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-61455133884128484662009-04-25T21:26:00.004+08:002009-04-25T21:44:03.912+08:00New picksI haven't had much time to do a proper post lately. But I have had time to eat, and here's what I've been liking - <br />- Charlie's in Kapitolyo - good burgers, great buffalo wings (nuclear!)<br />- Chiggy's jumbo liempo - what's their secret, boil, brine, and/or marinate in crack cocaine?<br />- BBQ Chicken - but not the Red Hot Drumsticks (while they are hot, I find them too sweet) (this is the only Korean fried chicken place I know about in Manila)<br />- Mamou's chicken and pork with rice and beans<br />- Piri piri chicken in O'Sonho's along Jupiter - I can't believe this isn't fried<br />- Piri piri grilled pork and clams in the Portuguese stall in the Legaspi Sunday Market (this guy's piri piri sauce is much hotter than O'Sonho's but he could do with a better grill)<br />- Ukkokei ramen along Pasay Road - not cheap but worth it once in a while<br />- French dude's sandwich stall in Salcedo Market - the homemade sausages are great<br />- Mini stop fried chickenbogchiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525723466919573690noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-77756870198266469602009-04-21T17:54:00.006+08:002009-04-30T13:26:37.043+08:00save your moneyDon't eat at John & Yoko at Greenbelt 5. Or at least don't order the Hollywood Tuna, basically a tuna sashimi salad drizzled with soy sesame dressing. Don't be fooled by the yummy-looking picture. The tuna is overpowered by way too much coarsely ground black pepper and the dressing is blah. <div><br /></div><div>Their Dragon Roll is ohkaaay. But not great. The Beef Spinach Tamago is yummy, but not yummy enough to make up for the other two dishes. </div><div><br /></div><div>The interiors are Cibo meets Tokyo Tokyo. Pero 'pag pumikit ka, feeling mo nasa cafeteria ka lang sa ingay ng mga tao.</div><div><br /></div><div>So many of their waiters have blond highlights, I suspect it's an employee benefit. Or maybe they just work at salons during the day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, sayang sa pera. Mag-Omakase na lang kayo :-).</div>karabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-55804012560034211042009-03-24T22:03:00.003+08:002009-03-24T22:22:18.641+08:00Gabby Concepcion's sister makes damn good pizza<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-aqBIMpLx12Y41ywkS0gb0cHT_7TsINAEOw-ldEr8lpZTHBbQc9loFXT0SSZmL91HKCj8fQEZwlqmyZTG_afbuYZ_-r74BAWf21nORGOd7Mv5MsYFvMJnRbIeMHsxiZSZDc2/s1600-h/DSC00230.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-aqBIMpLx12Y41ywkS0gb0cHT_7TsINAEOw-ldEr8lpZTHBbQc9loFXT0SSZmL91HKCj8fQEZwlqmyZTG_afbuYZ_-r74BAWf21nORGOd7Mv5MsYFvMJnRbIeMHsxiZSZDc2/s400/DSC00230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316755162397515650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYE1ZdEXMF0mfHDvNDqmSXBQm0p9Vk9V8tFyCUF4n8XdVZkbxbcYHLOvvxvdDcAIjIHOORYzHzJ3UtRHniYqaBMfJYoyow0qEThmJMfJOZKjTK_okd7l7CIZbW7EmjcbSxjbY/s1600-h/DSC00229.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYE1ZdEXMF0mfHDvNDqmSXBQm0p9Vk9V8tFyCUF4n8XdVZkbxbcYHLOvvxvdDcAIjIHOORYzHzJ3UtRHniYqaBMfJYoyow0qEThmJMfJOZKjTK_okd7l7CIZbW7EmjcbSxjbY/s400/DSC00229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316755162163228130" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">First time I tried <a href="http://sandyspizza1.multiply.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sandy's Pizza</span></a> was at an editorial shoot some time middle of last year. I was shooting a barkada of personalities, one of which turned out to be Gabby Concepcion's sister. She served some great buffalo wings and unique, tasty pizza (I forget the flavors, sorry!) Turns out she had a pizza take out place, and they deliver.<br /><br />Fast forward to last night, my brother and I were home alone. He wanted KFC, I wanted pizza but was tired of our usual Shakey's order. I remembered that pizza I had half a year ago, googled them up, and ordered for us a <span style="font-style: italic;">Garlic Chorizo </span>pizza and buffalo wings. They were awesome. Both dishes were flavorful, and I felt the ingredients were fresh and of good quality. My only problem was that the buffalo wing's dip was an extra order, and the crust of the pizza was a bit tough to chew. I usually eat my crust, but I gave up on this one. In any case, and more importantly, everything in the middle of the pizza was awesome.<br /><br />Anyway, check out <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sandyspizza1.multiply.com/">Sandy's Pizza</a>. They used to deliver in the San Juan area, but I think they've expanded their reach by now. They have a full menu and better, more appetizing photos on their Multiply site. Other flavors I want to try out are <span style="font-style: italic;">Garlic Tuyo in Olive Oil </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Thai Chicken Curry </span>pizza.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sandy's Pizza: 721-8834, 721-8329, 467-5404 and 583-2296.</span><br /></div>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-60705438900325250582009-03-17T13:21:00.007+08:002009-04-30T13:26:53.416+08:00the ultimate oxymoron<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_6FYstP-7-yI3RLiI_P9m6hG7fVfa9msX7klblKcSvZOKAm9vdgL4y-2uYjIKvjJ7p7jpP4gKa2xKrb8SYpJjA6x_F2rKetGBwLhLlTi5csVBQerHQZNytpn5ZVjYx1uG7k/s1600-h/veggiecharon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_6FYstP-7-yI3RLiI_P9m6hG7fVfa9msX7klblKcSvZOKAm9vdgL4y-2uYjIKvjJ7p7jpP4gKa2xKrb8SYpJjA6x_F2rKetGBwLhLlTi5csVBQerHQZNytpn5ZVjYx1uG7k/s320/veggiecharon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314131823237814130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YwbP67jJn30iNRjb9GSyKTYtsNuPasEcBJ3DudBMQ3u_QPwJ_jYLgkj-hcvFXp97ZNpZgtdwjnlb9C9eEGjLSEbjMuf0-7OytovV2_rXPEi6ukZZKV7zqfrREfKsZkAJnnA/s1600-h/veggiecharon.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Vegetarian chicharon, it says on the bottom of the pack. 0% trans fat & cholesterol too. But read the fine print coz each serving has 20% of your saturated fat allowance. So it's still kinda evil. P22 at 7-eleven, probably cheaper at supermarkets. The bags are half air, half chips, pero sulit na rin. Really, really tasty.</span></a><br /></div>karabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-56347783672682317972009-02-05T12:27:00.006+08:002009-02-05T12:57:48.150+08:00walang karibal<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU6flS59scptz24zUL2v9UNS1_ebEPKTYnW7t93mBI1VkUZWlPQ7lOyCGwvfCOlGM689aufMZQ24gEnmfFc933fDPNW2fkHgVQxN-fgfTuZafwpNgVJ0iAEN0woAWy8V6I4Oh/s1600-h/2009+02+05+sans+rival+02.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU6flS59scptz24zUL2v9UNS1_ebEPKTYnW7t93mBI1VkUZWlPQ7lOyCGwvfCOlGM689aufMZQ24gEnmfFc933fDPNW2fkHgVQxN-fgfTuZafwpNgVJ0iAEN0woAWy8V6I4Oh/s400/2009+02+05+sans+rival+02.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299168906490046802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmORIbLXA4OH89xXDKajcagnrqu4OI6x3OTtiVoFxi8isC-t7a8u8mtcgX1x-P_2Emi3obuUYMGHe_2xwu1gA6OEGi7GTmgYsaIAT3Ki9aiNODxXoAV6F6-CvMJYHGsJh8-4g/s1600-h/2009+02+05+sans+rival.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmORIbLXA4OH89xXDKajcagnrqu4OI6x3OTtiVoFxi8isC-t7a8u8mtcgX1x-P_2Emi3obuUYMGHe_2xwu1gA6OEGi7GTmgYsaIAT3Ki9aiNODxXoAV6F6-CvMJYHGsJh8-4g/s400/2009+02+05+sans+rival.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299168906720640578" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />One of the best sans rivals in town is from out of town. From San Pablo to be exact. (Although, I hear there there's an argument to be made for Burger Machine's version). Anyway this San Pablo sans rival is a bit of a mystery. I've never bought it on my own. I don't know where to buy it. I don't know the name of the person who makes it.<br /><br />I know this sans rival because my mom brings it home from her trips with her amigas. And when I had to do work in San Pablo last weekend, our team was gifted with a sans rival for each of us. I asked our host where he got it and all I got was a smile. Later that day, I asked another San Pablo person where they sell the awesome sans rival, and she said that I could get it from a certain subdivision. Without mentioning the subdivision's name, she smoothly changed the subject. Damnit.<br /><br />Later I find out that, in that still unnamed subdivision, there is a nondescript house that sells the sans rival through a slit in the gate. Like illegal drugs, I suppose. Anyway, I got a clue off the packaging. This mystery sans rival can be ordered through 049-562-3620.<br /></div>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-7788177140437668502009-01-25T22:47:00.008+08:002009-01-25T23:02:08.378+08:00the mother shipKung Hei Fat Choi!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />To celebrate with our buddies in the Fil-Chi community, I want to write about one of their best contributions to our country. And I don’t mean <span style="font-style: italic;">tikoy</span>, I mean <span style="font-weight: bold;">Le Ching</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yPqxteU1EIsyi-Q0VDb94_QEEfgpxEnSL6wdqZ-AdN7CMg_UnBex3lCRAlWOUWauCodaOAyyvL1c6MAIZ6HDIHWrFGess8SszbPVImvn_IQwjhInAevG17K4dHD6-YIfja7s/s1600-h/2009+01+25+le+ching+spareribs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yPqxteU1EIsyi-Q0VDb94_QEEfgpxEnSL6wdqZ-AdN7CMg_UnBex3lCRAlWOUWauCodaOAyyvL1c6MAIZ6HDIHWrFGess8SszbPVImvn_IQwjhInAevG17K4dHD6-YIfja7s/s400/2009+01+25+le+ching+spareribs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295244521627665570" border="0" /></a>Le Ching has been talked about <a href="http://bogchinoypi.blogspot.com/2007/11/not-another-greenhills-chinese-resto.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here in Bogchi before</span></a>, but this time we’re talking about the Banawe branch. Over a week ago, I had a job to do in the area and decided to go early to finally check out where it all began. (Actually, I really don’t know what came first, the Le Chings in Greenhills, or this one on Banawe. But like the chicken or the egg argument, it’s moot and academic. Basta! Masarap!)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Banawe branch will give you exactly what you crave for, and more. The usual combo of spareribs rice and chili garlic is incapable of failing. But in this particular branch, they have an extended menu featuring more short order choices in addition to the usual rice toppings or dimsum. I was feeling adventurous so I ordered the fried chicken. Haha. Also, the savory radish cake deserves a mention because it’s deep fried in a portable station right in the middle of the resto as opposed to being done inside the kitchen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YWQ0FHsBWFsXN9FovnT3n3D6NhEBOMh4BM_TH4yBuPnhnquNpAWp_5pRKNQMGrFJQJUDT2sWVo5pP83qfkrWfVYwpOVyOHlwOkjTlkBT-kUAwdJxPyyn3DcmJb0K-Brxl9-I/s1600-h/2009+01+25+le+ching+chicken+radish+cake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YWQ0FHsBWFsXN9FovnT3n3D6NhEBOMh4BM_TH4yBuPnhnquNpAWp_5pRKNQMGrFJQJUDT2sWVo5pP83qfkrWfVYwpOVyOHlwOkjTlkBT-kUAwdJxPyyn3DcmJb0K-Brxl9-I/s400/2009+01+25+le+ching+chicken+radish+cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295243396544219794" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I probably won’t travel all the way to this part of town for my spareribs rice fix because the Greenhills branches are way closer. Unless I’m in it for the nostalgia. This particular Le Ching is actually on the corner of Banawe and Del Monte and a few blocks away from the house I grew up in. Had I known that Banawe would evolve into this Chinese food haven (aside from being an auto surplus supply haven), I would have never moved away.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfinFlquK8Sc5tXS9E4gH8nIfk6Yc-T1pL75N6Uq1KPQCNHMPN6cu0M7jgiNV5Xv5VuC8FenXHc_sJq4XKDMey8vR6FfT0p6QEBpQw4tAWZGaTEIQoNaUWkbB5AMVnxfpOtZdm/s1600-h/2009+01+25+le+ching+ext.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfinFlquK8Sc5tXS9E4gH8nIfk6Yc-T1pL75N6Uq1KPQCNHMPN6cu0M7jgiNV5Xv5VuC8FenXHc_sJq4XKDMey8vR6FfT0p6QEBpQw4tAWZGaTEIQoNaUWkbB5AMVnxfpOtZdm/s400/2009+01+25+le+ching+ext.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295243392055551474" border="0" /></a><br /></div>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-37219035392932286122009-01-24T17:35:00.006+08:002009-01-24T17:42:29.077+08:00Bánh mì<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMVxugIc7kYaA0yXu7zZIF1dKGpeKjajI84nOrtGvFVXBCbcEoIeelv-jvCMYecgnPyDzBGW6CsHb1-uWz8XB4njMS1Ph4EiqaTmvpxMq0f5x2d5S8oGgmfHIcGgPdP9QdnPB6A/s1600-h/IMG_0519.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMVxugIc7kYaA0yXu7zZIF1dKGpeKjajI84nOrtGvFVXBCbcEoIeelv-jvCMYecgnPyDzBGW6CsHb1-uWz8XB4njMS1Ph4EiqaTmvpxMq0f5x2d5S8oGgmfHIcGgPdP9QdnPB6A/s320/IMG_0519.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294791973682301154" /></a><br />Paté and patis. That odd couple, some cilantro, cucumber, mystery meat, mystery sauce, and soy sauce stuffed in a crusty baguette make for probably the best sandwich for under P50. <br /><br />Bánh mì stalls can be found on every other corner in Saigon. The one pictured has a little compartment off to one side where the lady heats your baguette over a charcoal grill before stuffing it with magic.<br /><br />Locally, I think Pho Hoa sells these sandwiches, but I don’t know if they can compare.bogchiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525723466919573690noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-51939694011310109802009-01-19T20:20:00.005+08:002009-01-20T19:34:11.708+08:00DO YOU DARE TO EAT?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUz9XWgXZx9vFunVfdx9zddfc0zn-oelTRRCZi5CuNCEVo1_CJRQ0mgw-L_MJeBgGI5N_yxGBeKZ2Qhkqq1F-jsOH2boxlqe1JoUFP7FrNIib9G2HgM4f33ovjVpFFd7kmuE/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUz9XWgXZx9vFunVfdx9zddfc0zn-oelTRRCZi5CuNCEVo1_CJRQ0mgw-L_MJeBgGI5N_yxGBeKZ2Qhkqq1F-jsOH2boxlqe1JoUFP7FrNIib9G2HgM4f33ovjVpFFd7kmuE/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292979461429045186" /></a><br /><div>P12 at your friendly neighborhood convenience store. I love that they used actual pics and not graphics :-).<br /><br /></div>karabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-34418155742646244292009-01-15T21:57:00.001+08:002009-02-05T12:58:57.870+08:00i'll be fatFatter, to be honest. Anyway, so I tried <a href="http://www.hamburgers.ph/baconator/index.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Baconator</span></a> from Wendy's. Here's what it looked like in the ads:<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpiipzjX_OPKyixQQPPZ22rL2UOBlAKTpAArKja2vjN99jQzJZhylHFZLB_3Y3syvH_b1TIZ993yByL9ie3y1bKFeclO5DW8BwKRzSE4fwZ1DTO41hTmESlJ8wweLVzJgZjVoLQ/s1600-h/2009+01+15+baconator+advertised.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpiipzjX_OPKyixQQPPZ22rL2UOBlAKTpAArKja2vjN99jQzJZhylHFZLB_3Y3syvH_b1TIZ993yByL9ie3y1bKFeclO5DW8BwKRzSE4fwZ1DTO41hTmESlJ8wweLVzJgZjVoLQ/s400/2009+01+15+baconator+advertised.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291514521344772898" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here's what was delivered:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW7o2QOtYcX2nl-ll-nR4NEXAKqGEsGBlMpL3OTU2cEM9ofrFtMJhLJzvsA7WaFi9-PRONjqgqIay9bCvUnAKmXi7qTXxPR6Ia3HFbcYCwmT3Yw2HahAl8I2-gj5AhBadDzQ4zw/s1600-h/2009+01+15+baconator+real.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW7o2QOtYcX2nl-ll-nR4NEXAKqGEsGBlMpL3OTU2cEM9ofrFtMJhLJzvsA7WaFi9-PRONjqgqIay9bCvUnAKmXi7qTXxPR6Ia3HFbcYCwmT3Yw2HahAl8I2-gj5AhBadDzQ4zw/s400/2009+01+15+baconator+real.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291515079042833826" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Was I disappointed? Hell no. In this day and age, who really thinks they're going to get what they see on TV and on print. Especially when it comes to food.<br /><br />Also, the Baconator was GREAT. How can you go wrong with the taste of melted cheese, greasy meat, and <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >bacon</span><span style="font-size:100%;">? Bacon is awesome. There's nothing like wafer-thin, crispy fat attached to a dead and deep fried pig. In this world. You know what was really considerate and thoughtful of Wendy's to do? There was nary a superfluous, sacrilegious veggie in sight. None of that awful, sickly tomato liquid to run down your neck. No leaf of lettuce to dillute the taste. No pickle to make me gag. (I could've used some onion though.) And I washed everything down with a thirst-quenching Biggie Iced Tea. None of that sugar-free stuff.<br /><br /></span>Anyway, based on <a href="http://thewvsr.com/baconator.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this spot on review</span></a>, (which bases this on Wendy's corporate site) a Baconator, in terms of bad stuff, is the equivalent of each of the ff:<br /></div><blockquote><b>Sodium </b>(1920 mg)<br /><br />180 Pringles potato chips<br />132 Doritos Cooler Ranch chips<br /><br /><b>Calories</b> (830)<br /><br />10 Rolling Rock Light 12 oz bottles<br />4 Dodger Dogs<br />5 7-Eleven Cola Slurpees 12 oz<br />3 Chili Dogs from The Varsity in Atlanta<br />33 tablespoons of Oscar Mayer Bacon Bits<br />83 Life Saver Five Flavors candies<br />166 Starbucks coffees of the week 12 oz<br />4 Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts<br />Enough Pam No-Stick Cooking Spray to cover 138 10-inch skillets<br /><br /><b>Fat grams</b> (51)<br /><br />10 Dolly Madison Zingers<br />3 orders of A&W cheese fries<br />4 Dairy Queen banana splits<br />22 Oreo cookies<br />51 cups of Froot Loops<br />10 servings of KFC mashed potatoes with gravy<br />22 Mrs. Paul's Crunchy Fish Sticks<br />23 3 Musketeers funsize snacks<br />1 Sara Lee frozen cheesecake<br />6 ounces of Oscar Mayer hard salami<br />19 Chips Ahoy cookies<br />4 Jimmy Dean Pancake and Sausage on a Stick, chocolate chip flavored<br />68 Aunt Jemima microwaveable pancakes</blockquote>A whole frozen cheesecake?! That means it's all good. But check on me in the morning.mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-66126048384762473072009-01-10T20:36:00.016+08:002009-01-15T13:03:15.646+08:00WARNING: BRING BREATH MINTSThe dishes at Santush will make your breath smell funky. So don't bring a date there, unless close na kayo. But chances are your breath will be an afterthought once you've tasted their yummy yet affordable Persian fusion food. Conveniently located in Ortigas, it's fast becoming a favorite after-gimmick pit stop. A nice, steady place to hang out 'til the wee hours of the morning. <div><br />Must tries are the Shawarma Grilled Pizza and Chicken/Beef Kebab Pizza, priced at P140 and P135 respectively.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl9_UPlr_Jwa8f464VQpAyygrvPmiqCG3fvqH0MD1I-aYv-igc-8CFxNbFEH9iOG0A4ha-AWmeoYXVxnsCQD8cVB_OAEqzNvAu_LhRhi1l8nD4TDO554m9mu_R8dSBSH7XI4/s1600-h/shawarma+pizza.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl9_UPlr_Jwa8f464VQpAyygrvPmiqCG3fvqH0MD1I-aYv-igc-8CFxNbFEH9iOG0A4ha-AWmeoYXVxnsCQD8cVB_OAEqzNvAu_LhRhi1l8nD4TDO554m9mu_R8dSBSH7XI4/s320/shawarma+pizza.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289649601351844018" /></a><br /><br />They also have a dip platter priced at just P73, while their ox brain goes for P60.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgOCHBmGW16vXP4Aa_8kRrKb6mNH3BbULjcAgelJx2z9XSCx4zQavp5qbJMyuXr8ZMwFKQtvaTMvpUqE4y2JF4CiwkBeBXrRxlDOAnLiqeosHOoyINDFkeqpB7Bk6g8QVssc/s1600-h/dip+sampler.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgOCHBmGW16vXP4Aa_8kRrKb6mNH3BbULjcAgelJx2z9XSCx4zQavp5qbJMyuXr8ZMwFKQtvaTMvpUqE4y2JF4CiwkBeBXrRxlDOAnLiqeosHOoyINDFkeqpB7Bk6g8QVssc/s200/dip+sampler.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289650251736220386" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4sz6HjJ2zi9bswrdvctPj4PPVUyPpM6J2dv7LuLCt-oLywyuiynO6o6RQmZrtSi0TPdF4ErSSFSmboW5-YY6PiEhGnnPuS_n2JQWL0j1yTao4lHlYA8DCuBp8DhKccoyUow/s1600-h/ox+brain.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4sz6HjJ2zi9bswrdvctPj4PPVUyPpM6J2dv7LuLCt-oLywyuiynO6o6RQmZrtSi0TPdF4ErSSFSmboW5-YY6PiEhGnnPuS_n2JQWL0j1yTao4lHlYA8DCuBp8DhKccoyUow/s200/ox+brain.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289650699074850546" /></a><br /><br />Santush is located at 88 Meralco Ave. cor. Dona Julia Vargas St. Avenue (PRO1 AUTO GARAGE, Inc.), right before Metrowalk, and is open until 2 a.m. on Saturdays.<br /><br />Photos courtesy of TMAC.</div>karabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-90980921462673655992008-11-30T17:52:00.007+08:002009-01-24T11:51:52.161+08:00OMG Kawaii Bento!<div style="text-align: justify;">So cute, I almost didn't wanna eat it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Eftzcw8bNahyE9WzXX-ORgoBR_hIdswMrMfKEHkm1EC-Ip_HivHZYlRuSCZ-LGL93z1e7m1EE0P-uLgb46FKwpbtYBiAezaXK7d05WUbDQMcp3ZvoDPTakZQKAAW_9el8JA/s1600-h/kawaii+bento.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Eftzcw8bNahyE9WzXX-ORgoBR_hIdswMrMfKEHkm1EC-Ip_HivHZYlRuSCZ-LGL93z1e7m1EE0P-uLgb46FKwpbtYBiAezaXK7d05WUbDQMcp3ZvoDPTakZQKAAW_9el8JA/s320/kawaii+bento.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274386962480838994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The doggy bento meal I tried at the recent UP Komik Kon came with two sticks of chicken yakitori and one tamagoyaki. The dog parts were made of potato curry croquettes while the mouth and eyes were made of cheese. For me, the tamagoyaki was the highlight of the meal. I suspect the croquettes would've been better if I had bothered to pop the bento in the microwave before eating. Overall, it wasn't spectacularly yummy but it was totally worth its P150 price. <br /><br />If you want OMG Kawaii Bento for a party or event, call Dale at 09266715375 or email him at dale@omgkawaiibento.com<br /> <br />You can check out their other adorable bento meals at www.omgkawaiibento.com<br /><br />*Photo above was swiped from their website. But the meals are just as cute in reality.</div>karabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-52505246696572685992008-04-12T23:21:00.017+08:002008-04-13T00:05:34.374+08:00Out of this worldWe’ve been remiss.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEflJ9BeOrNsKSPx2CPnCBH3o9u_JKYrTGJqGQtxoGVWSxMqzmTE5MQifvdCJWXasBV5zJFyMA6hHpoz6TWCYgYW5rzp84UAR_jNCNebCbG0F61YdxTgSw6KU3dw30IuWKbLEF/s1600-h/DSC00032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEflJ9BeOrNsKSPx2CPnCBH3o9u_JKYrTGJqGQtxoGVWSxMqzmTE5MQifvdCJWXasBV5zJFyMA6hHpoz6TWCYgYW5rzp84UAR_jNCNebCbG0F61YdxTgSw6KU3dw30IuWKbLEF/s400/DSC00032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188382131827031730" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For an almost strictly MidMetMan * dweller like me, going to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ambos Mundos</span> is like going to another world because it’s located in, well a side street off Recto. So it was really cool that fellow food blogger, <a href="http://diaryofafoodluvah.blogspot.com/">Tish</a>, got Issa and me to accompany her to this part of the Metro.</div><br />Yep, that is a pig at the entrance of the canteen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ambos Mundos, according to the photocopied news clippings slipped into the menu holder, has been around for a while. It’s primarily a Filipino comfort food eatery with a heavy Spanish influence (ambos does mean both). The ground floor is an open air cantina, where you order from their long list of rice toppings, among others. Upstairs is the airconditioned dining area.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV52h5GtCcEWqihdAGZVSnGjh0TLtI3DpvT3e5tev_WcNUcBSUzXui52hcXMq3I4pec7dmT3_3tjMiGHkFFjD5ANWY5rpCQfA4vy4pAZVkcaIO-YGU0oScUtycqZdftUKTTUAF/s1600-h/DSC00019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV52h5GtCcEWqihdAGZVSnGjh0TLtI3DpvT3e5tev_WcNUcBSUzXui52hcXMq3I4pec7dmT3_3tjMiGHkFFjD5ANWY5rpCQfA4vy4pAZVkcaIO-YGU0oScUtycqZdftUKTTUAF/s400/DSC00019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188379975753449074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm7FVDifaSgxwW1CHqkaVAR8YuBKfCGSQsDjIe0ZGCBKHiUOWL34Jby9bkW-DxW-Yu9-Cu4sGgMfYQatIrUbZRWw_VFu5t5J9ksFtoXozDG3_Z3Frr6tiKbp-kiIC9BteKHxc/s1600-h/cold+milo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm7FVDifaSgxwW1CHqkaVAR8YuBKfCGSQsDjIe0ZGCBKHiUOWL34Jby9bkW-DxW-Yu9-Cu4sGgMfYQatIrUbZRWw_VFu5t5J9ksFtoXozDG3_Z3Frr6tiKbp-kiIC9BteKHxc/s400/cold+milo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188382943575850690" border="0" /></a>Anyway, to the meal at hand, first to arrive was my drink, Cold Milo. This is probably my next favorite drink after cold milk tea. Which makes me wonder why I just don’t buy Milo and make it myself. Still, it was great, and complete with unmelted Milo bits.<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Next up were the house specialties, <span style="font-style: italic;">Paella Ambos</span> and the <span style="font-style: italic;">morcon</span>. Paella Ambos is Paella With Everything On It. It had crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, chicken and pork. The small order (P390) was good enough for us hungry three. While they surely didn’t scrimp on the ingredients, I think I like mine to be of the more traditional Valencia type, including the toasted underside.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4okGIcOUQ3tvvJfPnRkd2Y955nnehchyphenhyphen6tU9APu_2CeLQfkEVUaM9GUUfruNl4TutzXebOpceejjhPMnKE74efCu9gIwc5rGhuW5bm2AuFLAena98XeUZ5-3PRuW7HWTPnh7/s1600-h/paellamarcon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4okGIcOUQ3tvvJfPnRkd2Y955nnehchyphenhyphen6tU9APu_2CeLQfkEVUaM9GUUfruNl4TutzXebOpceejjhPMnKE74efCu9gIwc5rGhuW5bm2AuFLAena98XeUZ5-3PRuW7HWTPnh7/s400/paellamarcon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188384446814404322" border="0" /></a>Not a cause for worry, because the rest of the viand were pretty good. Can’t remember having morcon (P227) before, but this roll of beef was tasty. And while I mistook those red tubes to be hotdogs, thankfully, it was real, good sausage.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We then had <span style="font-style: italic;">inihaw na liempo</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">torta</span> crabmeat <span style="font-style: italic;">sa talukap</span>. The liempo, normal and all, was my pick. It doesn’t quite go with the whole Spanish theme, but grilled pork (and toasted fat) was pretty good with their sweet and spicy sauce. I forget the price but one order should be good enough for two or three.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I sort of arm-twisted Issa into order the torta crabmeat because my lola used to make this exact dish and I wanted to compare. I’m happy to say that the Ambos Mundos version was up for the comparison. The crabmeat was tasty, and even if it was priced at P200 per, it was one fat, stuffed crabshell.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuOsL9urAhXGcFriTO5_QDJv97V8pGB77xxzC6vB8eE0Rvjc6rwV7VhK4qDd9elVMluYapitoBoQwV-3Mhb-6W2brkOyh9tZDHDI4ugGxKTikjwtl_2timP4AHEyYpmSwNuoR/s1600-h/liemboalimango.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuOsL9urAhXGcFriTO5_QDJv97V8pGB77xxzC6vB8eE0Rvjc6rwV7VhK4qDd9elVMluYapitoBoQwV-3Mhb-6W2brkOyh9tZDHDI4ugGxKTikjwtl_2timP4AHEyYpmSwNuoR/s400/liemboalimango.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188388316579938066" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the meal, we got the <span style="font-style: italic;">ginataan</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">bibingka</span>. The ginataan wasn’t exceptional and won’t even make this story. But the bibingka was pretty good. Interesting that they mix sesame seeds with the niyog and sugar. I like my kakanins and rice cakes, and this was awesome.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPM7YPW2cW_VbvElvGydsNOovV7ImAYOhqjaXMki1LLGH-PnrWTKkF4lEXGHCcJiTL3nzFMDBVSPZINzkZ0crJDA_p9E9fkavdFahP9ormGzX-Jgz48eBTC3bMAnS610jpVn_/s1600-h/bibingkamenu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPM7YPW2cW_VbvElvGydsNOovV7ImAYOhqjaXMki1LLGH-PnrWTKkF4lEXGHCcJiTL3nzFMDBVSPZINzkZ0crJDA_p9E9fkavdFahP9ormGzX-Jgz48eBTC3bMAnS610jpVn_/s400/bibingkamenu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188385915693219586" border="0" /></a>Incidentally, right across Ambos Mundos is what seems to be a famous Chinese resto / panciteria – <span style="font-style: italic;">Wah Sun</span> (formerly known as Sun Wah, seriously). <a href="http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/2006/03/carlos-recommends_30.html">Carlos Celdran’s blog</a> says that, way back, the families of each restaurant intermarried. Interesting twist to the whole “both worlds” idea. Anyway, the product of that marriage is the fact that you can now cross order dishes from either restos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rmMcPg165WHE3PD_1c-Trs_dOFcIPEkanfhuwK9KTMqVum-GGHnzoSWoNAYDxK3rc59fnKodFUrM8JxPjbtgIWwPaszMJRbOXt_PQGss3NDanHfliW20q8ebh1-eVnE6gcSJ/s1600-h/wahsun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rmMcPg165WHE3PD_1c-Trs_dOFcIPEkanfhuwK9KTMqVum-GGHnzoSWoNAYDxK3rc59fnKodFUrM8JxPjbtgIWwPaszMJRbOXt_PQGss3NDanHfliW20q8ebh1-eVnE6gcSJ/s400/wahsun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188385915693219570" border="0" /></a></div>Sounds like this makes for another great reason to head out of MidMetMan (okay, annoying).<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Notes:<br />1. Ambos Mundos is on F. Torres St, Sta Cruz, Manila. Tel no is 733-1160.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgJT3vVS31D8yJGV3hgHWKgVFJjtanUlTE6GJCOldjJbXh_byuVp9xLrcpOPz0QmB8HEWcQBTKD-ZzYTU29098nrlgbgI1ACX9SLCFwbbpGo0lSfWcx9uWtkARVMEn60fvH5X/s1600-h/menu.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgJT3vVS31D8yJGV3hgHWKgVFJjtanUlTE6GJCOldjJbXh_byuVp9xLrcpOPz0QmB8HEWcQBTKD-ZzYTU29098nrlgbgI1ACX9SLCFwbbpGo0lSfWcx9uWtkARVMEn60fvH5X/s400/menu.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188389209933135650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">2. We were given the heads up that parking might be difficult. We took the LRT2 line (from Gateway) and got off at the end, Recto. Get on the side of Isetan, head towards Rizal, cross it, and you’ll see F. Torres St on your left. For LRT1 line users, I think Doroteo Jose might be your stop. I think.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">*Middle Metro Manila. My pauso term for the area within the triangle of the QC-San Juan border, Pasig and Makati. Also Taguig… so I guess we have to make that a rhombus<br /></span></div>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-37406842355672482582008-02-25T12:02:00.003+08:002009-01-24T11:51:18.432+08:00Really eating out in Malate – Super Six Grille<div style="text-align: justify;">Utterly ignorant politically, I only judge leaders by their output. And though I heard a lot of flak about Atienza, I miss what he had done in Manila. I miss being able to walk along Carriedo without jeeps bearing down on me. And I miss walking Roxas Boulevard’s nightlife, amidst the vibrant, salty throngs.<br /><br />Buti na lang, Super Six Grille hasn’t been shooed away despite its spilling over Remedios sometimes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://img5.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12310_DSC00329_122_1114lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img5.imagevenue.com/loc1114/th_12310_DSC00329_122_1114lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Craving the beach but unable to get out of the city, I settled for, uh, the caress of the malagkit and briny wind off of Manila Bay. Practically broke, I dragged D into a slumming dining experience he survived naman.<br /></div><br />If I do influence you to try <span style="font-weight: bold;">Super Six Grille</span>, push away ANY expectation of ambience. This place is unapologetically street. And not Som’s kind of street pa which is at least quiet and homey.<br /><br /><a href="http://img41.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12380_DSC00328_122_841lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img41.imagevenue.com/loc841/th_12380_DSC00328_122_841lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A and I discovered Super Six on another slumming adventure maybe 2 years ago. On a break from working in Bangkok, I wanted to find Manila’s version of Khao San (and its requisite cheap street eats). We figured Malate would have it. And it did :)<br /><br />For Php20 each, you can get basics like a stick of pork or chicken bbq, as well as other choices like pork with garlic, pork liver, pig ears, chicken with onion, chicken heart, chicken gizzard and liver.<br /><br /><a href="http://img211.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12639_DSC00322_122_475lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img211.imagevenue.com/loc475/th_12639_DSC00322_122_475lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A platter of liempo is Php 50, as is bbq chicken thigh.<br />Three pieces of grilled chicken ass is Php 40. <br /><br /><a href="http://img152.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12567_DSC00324_122_608lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img152.imagevenue.com/loc608/th_12567_DSC00324_122_608lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What really caught my eye though was their fresh bbq ideas like tomatoes wrapped in bacon, onion leeks, grilled eggplant, grilled garlic, grilled tofu and crab sticks bbq. All also 20 bucks each. Cheap AND so yummy.<br /><br /><a href="http://img175.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12726_DSC00323_122_882lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img175.imagevenue.com/loc882/th_12726_DSC00323_122_882lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I think we ordered half of their menu and lots of sticky garlic rice. We only paid Php 300.<br />Plus, we got serenaded pa with “Kay sarap ng may minamahal”. Well, parang mas-masarap pag may murang pagkain ;p<br /><br /><a href="http://img179.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12513_DSC00327_122_588lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img179.imagevenue.com/loc588/th_12513_DSC00327_122_588lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img174.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12460_DSC00320_122_1076lo.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://img174.imagevenue.com/loc1076/th_12460_DSC00320_122_1076lo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Super Six Grille is right along Remedios St., in front of Socialista, Club Tekshi and Tia Maria’s. Grab a monobloc table and wait for a guy to take your orders. Or go to the grill counter and pick out your sticks ☺</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-41269224249520738862008-02-15T12:09:00.006+08:002008-02-16T23:08:44.244+08:00dream puffs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKwzFzLGVGU1s9dl6hfOeGpy2vn39ZDr4krihNsiRNpWrdMD2RtNOFGh-XqD9alETvhEyzQKSvmSEfG7qKpoQmnwueMBQOqs8jrdZsPJOYnCNIUkmYsvDo5cS_EEF3zaWvzM/s1600-h/Photo+109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKwzFzLGVGU1s9dl6hfOeGpy2vn39ZDr4krihNsiRNpWrdMD2RtNOFGh-XqD9alETvhEyzQKSvmSEfG7qKpoQmnwueMBQOqs8jrdZsPJOYnCNIUkmYsvDo5cS_EEF3zaWvzM/s320/Photo+109.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167591726354605330" /></a><br /><br />Tee Up Cream Puffs, it should read. The latest offering from Monde. Little balls of crispy pastry filled with chocolate or custard cream. Yum. <br /><br />At P12 per box at 7eleven, it's really too good to be true.karabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-20951229224198164752008-02-08T16:50:00.000+08:002008-02-08T17:01:23.169+08:00Everything At Steakhas been reviewed every where else. But it took me awhile to try the place out. It's along P Guevarra in San Juan. It's right at the Petron Station nearest to Wilson. It's not quite your 99 bucks steak joint. My T-bone with rice came out to be 132 bucks. But that's still not bad for what I got. And they do have P88 meals, I think.<br /><br />The place tries to be a bit homey and country. But there's no disguising that it's a cheap steak joint. But what's important was that my T-bone was soft and juicy, and the gravy tasty. Ok na ko dun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgFrhP2oE7sxegkTshBgd8GwHAEF_XauVJXcLUPliRfQ28uGqJa4sWBsR-o9dO6XoMbXEwq0If-lI8mNHU7yCco9_cI0rnnbC68bx7AcpavljTRbOXnrGO8IQfXbajbFPmqmN/s1600-h/Photo-0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgFrhP2oE7sxegkTshBgd8GwHAEF_XauVJXcLUPliRfQ28uGqJa4sWBsR-o9dO6XoMbXEwq0If-lI8mNHU7yCco9_cI0rnnbC68bx7AcpavljTRbOXnrGO8IQfXbajbFPmqmN/s400/Photo-0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164530566730010882" border="0" /></a>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-18792889851247617262008-02-05T11:37:00.000+08:002008-02-05T12:01:51.063+08:00popcorn is evil<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9iVrKckM-EmMB0v6s7OnKcgmwn7JH9HbU7odJmSF2kFIAs1hE9iWsycaXy-F_nqr2JH_d-dJXJFAiWgREM5wTDeObBOXfYCVL4_bbLavLT-wsLRJM3UkE1kTQM4nmt6TB_s/s1600-h/Masthead-001-720x150.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9iVrKckM-EmMB0v6s7OnKcgmwn7JH9HbU7odJmSF2kFIAs1hE9iWsycaXy-F_nqr2JH_d-dJXJFAiWgREM5wTDeObBOXfYCVL4_bbLavLT-wsLRJM3UkE1kTQM4nmt6TB_s/s320/Masthead-001-720x150.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163338808718849154" /></a><br />When you eat a whole giant tub. Which is what I can't help doing when I come across Chef Tony's white cheddar popcorn. Don't let the eager salesfolk trick you into getting the parmesan. Medyo bitin siya sa lasa for me. <br /><br />I've tried two other flavors-- caramel and white chocolate walnut (?). Pero white cheddar fan pa rin ako. Sweet, salty and extremely addictive. It says low fat and low cholesterol on the label. I really hope that's true. Consuelo de bobo y gluttono. <br /><br />Stole the pic off Chef Tony's website. Hope he doesn't mind. You can look for the nearest Chef Tony's outlet here-- http://cheftonyspopcorn.com/TheBranches.htmlkarabauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787384804534651466noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-57728275225904292472008-01-28T13:58:00.000+08:002008-01-28T14:01:19.436+08:00wheee :D<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb5z_mbmwR2ih2Vn3ajyK5_oekH1hqKSpLQnZgUlbVgus0xiNa5Bq1hyphenhyphenyW6xEifO_Txc0gCAmpBcvyAfc8kPLrOb7Lh3nb2LN1RhfmuN1t3d5zENaI9PzhOK5JdQexYo6IZDo/s1600-h/DSC00289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb5z_mbmwR2ih2Vn3ajyK5_oekH1hqKSpLQnZgUlbVgus0xiNa5Bq1hyphenhyphenyW6xEifO_Txc0gCAmpBcvyAfc8kPLrOb7Lh3nb2LN1RhfmuN1t3d5zENaI9PzhOK5JdQexYo6IZDo/s320/DSC00289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160403136807198258" /></a><br /><br />Relatively quicker and cheaper. Been open at the Glorietta 4 foodcourt for more than a week now. Yehey! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-25882242255921554962008-01-11T00:34:00.000+08:002008-01-13T09:13:58.373+08:00Ihaw Balot Plaza<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrP4QjAREnvLlG32K1T_l37i8Q-ZlhAAtguKAlGq5hXn_tNWfgScVwq8gKGcKAmAokOBAC773z4UEXEgRprEDcHJxaCzmGS0q96nTPEvMVtl17EkKSnQp77M7M4giy_XU047C/s1600-h/_MG_0048.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrP4QjAREnvLlG32K1T_l37i8Q-ZlhAAtguKAlGq5hXn_tNWfgScVwq8gKGcKAmAokOBAC773z4UEXEgRprEDcHJxaCzmGS0q96nTPEvMVtl17EkKSnQp77M7M4giy_XU047C/s400/_MG_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154630552565091298" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IyMrVuj0ThQ/R4ZAKVoEixI/AAAAAAAAACw/YHGyrM_Ogiw/s1600-h/_MG_0047.JPG"><br /></a></div>And then there’s the quintessential QC beer garden. Going to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ihaw Balot Plaza</span> is like entering a time warp. They still have multicolored light bulbs. In-house rock ballads come from the videoke machine they’ve set up in the garden. And one time, I ordered a Coke Light, and got served what was probably the last bottled Diet Coke on earth. Serves me right for ordering a softdrink in a beer house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ16D6U3bGLu5NQki__Qzq_aMYbVPbc7Mzr2MrebGktJizHEdLzyzF1bJ2eIEPWSoc6OKusfGwCMAx2B0iqznIOJyszGa4i0Z4lFgkdSgoaRtxXzLg-zcrjR5SUrMzOFEirtK/s1600-h/IMG_3699.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ16D6U3bGLu5NQki__Qzq_aMYbVPbc7Mzr2MrebGktJizHEdLzyzF1bJ2eIEPWSoc6OKusfGwCMAx2B0iqznIOJyszGa4i0Z4lFgkdSgoaRtxXzLg-zcrjR5SUrMzOFEirtK/s400/IMG_3699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154630767313456114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />A buddy of mine introduced us to this beer house/garden found along a little street between Panay and Quezon Ave. His father used to bring him and his siblings there, when they were little. Later, when my buddy married, he got his sisters together to bring them back to the place where you can find the best <span style="font-style: italic;">inihaw na pusit</span> and chicken ass. There was also a drunken brawl at the nearby table as an added treat. (No worries, doesn’t happen that often.)<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy7XcyK4IipD6Hx5biANsyqkiV4AhnZK_PY0R0XhMTQ7cIG0IvmOXjYYx8luTpryN9UsBNsu0rHEeKAOt74Y63n53iSEzJQhSzVjSoVnkV9mBBNXzUZ8QDMJGBCXW2gtc-9Hi/s1600-h/IMG_3701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy7XcyK4IipD6Hx5biANsyqkiV4AhnZK_PY0R0XhMTQ7cIG0IvmOXjYYx8luTpryN9UsBNsu0rHEeKAOt74Y63n53iSEzJQhSzVjSoVnkV9mBBNXzUZ8QDMJGBCXW2gtc-9Hi/s400/IMG_3701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154631050781297666" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Nowadays, IBP is a brightly lit, wholesome beer garden. If you go early enough, say 6 to 9pm. Appetizers come in the form of <span style="font-style: italic;">kasoy</span>, green mango, and <span style="font-style: italic;">bagoong</span>, from the <span style="font-style: italic;">manang</span> who sits by the gate (thought they've moved her indoors lately). <span style="font-style: italic;">Kasoy</span>, sour, unripe fruit and sweet shrimp paste hardly go together. But it’s IBP, and anything goes, including your sense of what goes together.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUXhn16nHbBqEaIwvAEk-TciSEB9LyGxzjFPkFStkeEU7LIpVzKwRUYvlggAWVRg2s9bkOowmO_KPJ3cx5JtLHLKIhcOQMcvkEEEjH-zYVrKTH0BNwfHtyrAi8IrrG8yUairo/s1600-h/IMG_3717.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUXhn16nHbBqEaIwvAEk-TciSEB9LyGxzjFPkFStkeEU7LIpVzKwRUYvlggAWVRg2s9bkOowmO_KPJ3cx5JtLHLKIhcOQMcvkEEEjH-zYVrKTH0BNwfHtyrAi8IrrG8yUairo/s400/IMG_3717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153884718609238994" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><br />At IBP, they have consistently excellent and simple food fare. Their grilled chicken ass is sweet, and the sizzling <span style="font-style: italic;">bulalo</span> is tender and meaty. Their <span style="font-style: italic;">sisig</span> is underrated. And lest you give yourself a heart attack, the <span style="font-style: italic;">inihaw na pusit</span> is even better. Theirs is seasoned, smoked and slowly grilled to perfection. It’s not too soft, not too chewy, and always fresh. Arguably, the best <span style="font-style: italic;">pusit</span> in town.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoBk-HLmIai7vr_QK-FanCY7te5r4YGlNexOREReg4c45zL48TBftXCMAlo9ErneOidpkDCszrv21vl0xFZs8SoOaEwhQbLFuVqCJ1RMqoZESpkjVEtSrKLbiSYPHOWi_nV5E/s1600-h/chickenasspusit.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoBk-HLmIai7vr_QK-FanCY7te5r4YGlNexOREReg4c45zL48TBftXCMAlo9ErneOidpkDCszrv21vl0xFZs8SoOaEwhQbLFuVqCJ1RMqoZESpkjVEtSrKLbiSYPHOWi_nV5E/s400/chickenasspusit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153884177443359682" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It’s the perfect place for the guys (with the patient, low-maintenance girlfriend or wife) to kick back and talk about the most important things in life: family, politics, and our NBA fantasy leagues.<br /><br /></div>At Ihaw Balot Plaza, you’ll find that the chicken ass good, the squid better, and the cholesterol and beer induced conversation best. I hope it stays the same for the time I bring the wife and kids over.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Going all the way (chicken ass, 1 kilo of pusit, sisig, bulalo, rice, softdrinks and beer) cost our group of 6 over 200 bucks each. Not bad, I reckon.<br /><br />Ihaw Balot Plaza is along Scout Borromeo, between Panay and Mother Ignacia. Side of Tropical Hut.</span>mignachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18442005957030385733noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12675471.post-12449439088231823792008-01-07T11:01:00.000+08:002008-01-08T11:31:34.910+08:00Poochini’s<a href="http://img170.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=61655_DSC00130_122_864lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img170.imagevenue.com/loc864/th_61655_DSC00130_122_864lo.JPG" border="0"></a> After the extravagant spending and eating of the holidays, it’s back to work with as lean a meal allowance as possible. Can you get a good meal for, say, 50 pesos? Bogchinoypi was started to answer that question. And to find possible solutions like Poochini’s.<br /><br /><a href="http://img173.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=62647_DSC00127_122_638lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img173.imagevenue.com/loc638/th_62647_DSC00127_122_638lo.JPG" border="0"></a> With a niche carved out of the Valero parking building, I expected higher prices than a jollijeep. They have seats after all. And bespoke at that – orange, with cut-out carrots like the one on their logo. Don’t expect to get your bum on any of them though, unless you come way before or well after the lunch rush hour. With only three sets of tables and its popularity because of the jollijeep prices, your best bet at lunchtime is take out. <br /><br /><a href="http://img164.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=62744_DSC00126_122_772lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img164.imagevenue.com/loc772/th_62744_DSC00126_122_772lo.JPG" border="0"></a> Poochini’s set-up is carinderia-style. But rather than huge, stainless casseroles, they have food warmers. So lunch almost seems like a wedding buffet gone wild. Attendants stand behind the long table of warmers, while diners come up to the table and swarm around. <br /><br />If there’s no free spot right in front of the table, stand behind someone and wait patiently. When he or she’s done, take his/her place and wait for an attendant to pay attention to you. Once one does, point out the viands you want and she’ll ladel them out for you. It’s chaos, but its organized. Typically Filipino, no?<br /><br />The great thing about Poochini’s is that there’s lots to choose from. I’d say they easily have twice, even thrice the number of choices you’ll get at a Jollijeep. Just today, I counted 24 warmers of different viands on the table. <br /><br />Plus, despite the jollijeep prices, their servings are more generous. And I guess because of the presentation, you’ll feel more confident about how sanitary your food is.<br />I usually come in for staples like their thick monggo (10 pesos), their very tasty, crunchy squid (30 pesos) or tokwa in black bean sauce (30 pesos). But officemates swear by their adobo (30 pesos), caldereta (30 pesos), pata tim (30 pesos) and sinigang (30 pesos). Biko lovers will be glad to know they always have a few slices on hand. Leche flan seems to frequently grace the table too. <br /><br />They have a good range of choices for pork, beef, chicken and, important for me, veggies. Chances are, if you’re craving for a specific pinoy dish, they have it. And it’s bound to be truly satisfying too.<br /><br /><a href="http://img197.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=62936_DSC00129_122_547lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img197.imagevenue.com/loc547/th_62936_DSC00129_122_547lo.JPG" border="0"></a> Poochini’s is along Valero st., along the line of Valero parking building shops like Bugong (another favorite!) and Mercury Drug. Open til 9pm, sometimes even later. <br /><br />p.s. don’t forget to claim your free broth!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4