Top Dish

Time:     22:45:00

Flavour:  Korean
Location: Durban St., Poblacion, Makati City (near P. Burgos St.)

Food Ordered:

Ggongchi Kimchi Chigae 
     - kimchi and fish mackarel pike pot stew with rice

     - includes side dishes or banchan which is common in Korean meal

Kimbob
     - Korean Sushi Rolls

Barbeque Chicken
     - sweet and sour grilled chicken with glutinous rice

Soju
     -distilled liquor (like vodka)

Dining Experience:


     - Taste: 5
     - Service: 4
     - Ambiance & Cleanliness: 4


* scale of 1 to 5 (5-highest)


Notes:

• Chosen as Top 5 Korean Restaurant in the Philippines in an article in Phil Star, a local newspaper, in 2009.
• Restaurant is run by a Korean couple and so expect authentic Korean dishes

감사합니다
gamsahabnida!

Kanin Club

Time:     20:30:00

Flavour: Filipino dish with a twist
Location: Ayala Triangle, Makati Ave., Makati

Food Ordered:


Crispy Dinuguan
     - chilli pork blood stew, but surprisingly, this one is crispy!

Sinangag na Sinigang Rice

     - "sinigang" is a tamarind based soup characterized by its sour taste with pork, beef, fish or shrimp and vegetables in it

    - but this is a rice dish so don't expect any soup, amazingly it captured the flavor of sinigang

    - served with liempo and crispy vegetable leaves

Crab Omelette

Aligue Rice
     - rice with crab paste  

Kare Kare
     - stewed oxtail, pork, beef or seafood and vegetables in peanut sauce

Take Out!
Big Servings

Dining Experience


     - Taste: 4
     - Service: 4
     - Ambiance & Cleanliness: 4


*scale of 1 to 5 (5-highest)


Salamat!

Cebu Adventure

Exploring and dining in Cebu City, Philippines is both fun and exciting...

First Stop - The Tourist Spots

Magellan's Cross

     - shrine of the wooden cross brought by Magellan from Spain to introduce Christianity to the Philippines (1521 AD)

Fort San Pedro

Basilica Minor del Santo Nino

Cebu Cathedral

Taoist Temple

Lapu-Lapu Monument (Mactan Shrine)

     - national hero who defeated Magellan to prevent him from conquering the Philippines

Next Stop - The Sky Adventure Experience

The tallest hotel tower in the Philippines - Crown Regency Hotel and Tower offers spectacular thrill rides.

Edge Coaster Ride - a two-seater coaster hanging at the edge of the tower's 38th level that will tilt 45 degrees as it move sideways. Indeed a heart-pounding experience while enjoying the top view of the splendid city.

Sky Walk Extreme - an exciting walk around the outer rim of the tower's 37th level with no handrails. No worries as harness, jumpsuits and guides were provided for safety measures.

Certifications were given to those bold enough to complete the ride.

*For those on a tight budget and for practical reasons, avail of their Asian and international lunch/dinner buffet which includes one free ride.

Last Stop - The Dining Galore

Try some Cebu lechon . Tastes good even without sauce

Jo's  Chicken Inato

Sutukil - buy fresh seafoods from local stalls and they'll cook it for you - in three ways:

     su - sugba or grilled

     tu - tula or soup

     kil - kilaw or raw salad

Enjoy the meal with fresh buko (coconut) juice.

A man, playing a harp, might serenade you for a small fee.

Best Buys:

Handmade souvenirs
Guitars
Dried Mangoes
Danggit (dried fish)




*Cebu Pacific Airfare Promo: P800 Roundtrip
*Diplomat Hotel  Promo Rate: P1,000 per room/per night

     -90 F. Ramos St., Cebu City

Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes

Featured Resto:

Food Sampled:

House Salad

Lasagna Roll-Ups

 Baked Fish Gratinee with Scalloped Potatoes

Banoffee Pie

Notes:

• Ø  Newly opened branch at Ayala Triangle, Makati
• Ø  Place was small and always jam packed  with avid customers
• Ø  Servings were generous
• Ø  Food was great !
• Ø  I especially liked the lasagna with rich cream cheese filling
• Ø  Cakes were awesome
• Ø  Great value for money

New Year's Luck

Many Filipinos follow different Chinese beliefs in welcoming the New Year with the hope of getting lucky this 2011. 

New Year's countdown @ Rizal Park, Manila

Last New Year’s Eve, as the countdown begins, non-stop display of fireworks, loud firecrackers, honking of horns and other ways of making noise greeted the coming year. This practice deems to drive the bad spirits away.

Another belief is to prepare 12 round and sweet fruits. By doing this, they say, will bring abundance and prosperity for the whole year round.

watermelon, papaya, ponkan, mango, pear, fuji apple, melon,pineapple, grapes, persimmon, kiat-kiat, longgan

Eating together as a family during medya noche will also make the relationship stronger.

The Feast

roast beef

fruits and vegetable salad

bacon carbonara

fish fillet w/ caesar dressing

mashed potato sidings

wine & brandy - cheers!

In other countries, the song Auld Lang Syne is frequently sung during New Year. It was composed by Robert Burns during 1788 and originated in Scotland according to an AM station I had listened to. The song means to forget the past and welcome the New Year with hope.

Goodness within, I believe, is what attracts luck. It is how you see and do about the situation. Let’s start the year right by reflecting on the past, improving one self, thinking positively, being at peace with others, helping the needy, protecting nature and by enjoying life. And with God’s grace may this year be truly blessed and fruitful. Happy New Year!