Best Laing Delicacy

During our visit in Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur, Bicol region, tasting their very own and unique delicacies was part of our itinerary. I am not chef or a cook but according to some friends, I have good and active taste buds. So for the first time I will be a food critic. First is the famous Laing. This is a spicy dish with dried taro leaves, siling labuyo, and coconut milk as the main ingredients.There's a linamanam factor and the texture is smooth inside my mouth. Continue Reading >>>

Best Travel Blogger | Bistro Filipino

As a newcomer in the world of Travel Blogging, to be invited in this event was really an amazing experience.  This was my very first time to receive an invitation, and good thing that it was really a huge one.  Together with Kim, even though we didn't knew the right place for this event, we didn't care about it, we wanted to be a part of it, and I knew will be going to meet new friends and new connections.

September 15, 2012 was one of a special night that I had in my entire life.  I was one of the 15 bloggers who were invited and attended a dinner party at Bistro Filipino sponsored by Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief.  The said event was attended not just bloggers, media people but also some of the stars like Victor Basa, Divine Lee (sitting beside me), Ginger Conejero, Patty Laurel, Carla Abellana, Billy Crawford, Nikki Gil, 6 Cycle Mind members, David and Anthony Semerad and many more, I already forgot the others, and I gave my two thumbs up to Chef Lau that night, that was an awesome event.

I had a time talking with Chef Lau, Victor and Divine. Chef Lau is really a great Filipino Chef, who caters sumptuous Filipino foods, but he also promotes  the products coming from different provinces.

Lumpia

Adobo Shitakee Mushroom Soup

Salad Course

Kitayama Wagfu Beef in Sampalok Glaze

served with Taro Puff and Oven-roasted Tomatoes

Bananacue Tart flambe with Langka Ice Cream
and Caramel Crunch

That night was full of excitement and happiness.  Thanks Chef. Lau for the wonderful foods, and smile that the event brought to us, also, thanks for your magical and creative hands that turned the foods into an ornamental design - such a great talent with the great heart in COOKING!  If you have time to visit Bonifacio Global City, try to experience Bistro Filipino at Ground floor NET 2 Building, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The Venice | Global City

Like the Grand Canal, in Venice, Italy

The Venice (photo above) I saw a friend posting a photo, in facebook, that is so familiar. Out of my curiosity, I asked my friend if where was that photo taken. And she told me the details. I told my travel buddies about this place but I was sad, they already knew it.

 

The Venice Residences

Very similar to the Grand Canal in Venice Italy

For shops and dine

Balaw-Balaw Specialty Restaurant | Angono

Balaw-Balaw Restaurant is located in Angono, Rizal, Philippines.  This is the only place that fits my personality.  I love to try exotic foods, frog, kamaru and others.  Today, I was able to taste the Balaw-Balaw has to offer.

Today is my first time to be here, but, the whole experience including the Higantes Festival 2012 was really amazing.  Other people who already tasted exotic foods always say that frog tastes like a chicken meat.  Well, that's also what I think, I always believe to what others are saying, that's if we are talking about foods ONLY.  And that's the main reason why I really want to prove if it's correct. 

When I was young, I have cousins from Bulacan, Philipines visited us in Romblon.  Since our house is just few steps away from the rice fields, so the frogs are living in that wet area.  When my cousins saw those frogs jumping to our garden, at the backyard, they said: " why not grilling that frogs, it tastes good like chicken. "  The first time I heard that, I was shocked, but now in the photos below, I've enjoyed a lot eating frogs.

Look at this Higante or Giants, the one with yellow green scarf, I think he is hiding himself on us.  I don't know the reason why he did that.  Hello, how can he hide himself to that red van, he stands more than 10 feet. 

When we entered this restaurant, we were shocked, because we thought it is just an ordinary resto.  But, inside the Balaw-Balaw, it's like a fine dining resto with gallery.

if you want to play piano and have concert, you can do it here in Balaw-Balaw

the Gallery inside the resto

Pinakbet, I love this dish, I promiss . .  you'll gonna love it too

Crispy Fried Frog - I love this exotic food

ginger rice -  more calories . . I don't care about it . .

Today is not my first time to visit this place, but this is my first time to experience eating in this unique restaurant.  I always read articles online about exotic dishes, then I found this, so it's great to be here and I will visit this place again, for some other exotic dishes.

Lola Helen Panciteria

December 4, 2013 - We had one hour jogging in Marikina Sports Complex.  That was my second day to be in that Complex, and of course I spent thousand of calories for the entire activity, so we need to replenish our lost energy.  Marikina City is famous not only to their shoe-products, they also have several dishes which originally came from here.  

December 3, after we had our jogging, we ate at Bancheto just beside the Sport Complex, and we ordered grilled foods, and I can't forget the 2 inches soda cup there.  But, this day, we want a new dish for our empty stomach, we want soup, but since soup dishes mostly served every morning, we asked the guard if where is the location of the Restuarant known for their Pancit.  And they answered appropriately, plus they promoted it to us: " Lola Hellen Panciteria " is one of the famous restaurant serving Pancit.

To all the travelers, or if you'll have time to visit the Marikina Sport Complex, or just in Marikina City, you can visit this simple resto, but they serve a mouth watering pancit products.  We ordered 3 dishes plus 2 cup of rice and we paid less that 500 pesos, take note, we were only three that time, so Mae had a chance to bring home the taste of Marikina in Cainta, Rizal, well it's just few kilometers.

National Heritage Month - Philippine National Museum

Oktubre ng taong 2014, nalibot ko na ang isang gusali ng Pambansang Museo, at may isa pang gusali ang hindi - ang gusali na kinalalagyan ng Spoliarium ni Juan Luna. Ang balak, kasama ko dapat ang mga ka-team ko sa opisina. Eh, dey andami nang plano, at excited pa talaga. Pero nung dumating na ang araw, ayun cancelled. Dahil nag-cancel din ako ng lakad para lang sana dito, ayun nabakante ako sa araw na ito. Dahil may pagka Durah -  ang baklang negra sa katawan ko, ayun solo-backpacking ang peg ko, para lang may magawa. Dahil galing akong probinsya ng Rizal, sumakay ako ng tren, galing LRT Line 2 Santolan at bumabang estasyon ng Recto. Tumawid sa connecting footbridge patungong estasyon ng Doroteo Jose ng LRT Line 1. At dahil pasikat ako, feeling ko ang galing-galing ko sa ruta ng LRT, ayun bumaba ako ng estasyon ng Central at nag-lakad. Mas malayo pala yun, dapat estasyon ng UN sana, pero dahil nakababa na ako, inenjoy ko nalang ang pag-lalakad sa lansangan kahit medyo mainit, pero malamig naman ang hangin.

Ilang minuto nalang bago ang ikaw-2 ng hapon na ako nakarating sa Pambansang Museo. Pag-kapasok sa loob, nakipila para sa registration. Habang nasa pila, isang babae ang lumapit sa akin, at nagsabi: "Sir, can you deposit your bag in the baggage counter." Sa totoo lang ikinagulat ko yun, dahil sa dami ng nakapila, sa akin lang sya nag-Igles. Pangatlo na syang taga Museo na nag-ingles sa akin; una sa Cebu at pangalawa sa Bacolod. Mukha ba akong banyaga?

Pagkatapos mag-register at mag-deposit ng bag ko sa baggage counter, ang una kong inasikaso ay ang pamosong obra ni Juan Luna, ang Spolarium. Pagkapasok ko na pagkapasok ko sa pintuan ng hall, agad na bumungad sakin ang isang malaki at napakagandang painting. Ito ay may laking 422 cm by 767.5 cm at gawa sa oil and canvass. Minsan na itong nakakuha ng mga parangal sa iba't ibang sulok ng mundo. Dahil nabigla ako sa pagkakakita dito, nilapitan ko talaga ang pinta upang makita ang bawat daan ng hibla ng brush. Ang ganda!

Mga pintang nilikha pa noong 18th Century.

Maliban sa mga pintang obra, hindi rin mawawala ang mga iskuturang likha pa ng mga batikang iskultor sa bansa.

Portrait of a Lady by Fernando Amorsolo

Isa pa sa mga dahilan kung bakit nais kong malakad mag-isa, dahil marami akong nakakasalamuhang iba't-ibang klase ng mga tao. Katulad nalang netong nakuhanan ko ng litrato sa taas. Gandang-ganda ako sa aking nakitang mga likhang sining, subalit noong pag-tingin ko sa aking kaliwa, mas lalong uminit ang aking pakiramdam, siguro dahil malayo ako sa aircon, oh dahil sa taong ito. Akala ko magkakasakit ako, ngunit napakanta nalang ako ng: "di makatulog, di makakain, mga tag-hiyawat sa ilong, at sa pisngi, at sa baba, at sa noo, at sa batok," andaming tagiyawat no? Pag-katapos naming kumuha ng mga litrato, dumeretso sya sa kabilang gallery, eh sakto dun din ang aking patunguhan, hindi ko ginusto yun, nasakto lang talaga. Pagkapasok ko ng gallery, nandun sya, nakaupo sa isang lamesitang gawa sa kahoy, na nakulayan ng puti at tumitingin sa kanyang telepono. Pagkapasok ko, nagkatinginan kaming dalawa, wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang mangiti ng kunti at sabay hawi ng aking mala-sutlang buhok pa-kaliwa ngunit agad nyang ibinaling ang kanyang tingin sa kanyang telepono. Kaya ibinaling ko nalang muli ang aking atensyon sa gandang ipinamamalas ng mga likhang sining ni Amorsolo. Ngunit pagtingin ko sa taong iyon, nawala nalang syang parang isang bula, at hindi na kami muling nag-kita. Buti pa ang mga paintings, nandyan lang sila kapag gusto kng makita, hindi kagaya ng iba, nawawala nalang bigla kapag kailangan mo.

The Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines

Bust of Vicente Silva Manansala with Painting of the First Cross

Ika-apat na ng hapon ako natapos sa pag-lilibot sa buong gusali ng Pambansang Museo - Art Gallery. Pero dahil meron parang ilang minutong natitira ba mag-sara isa pang gusali, agad akong nag-madali patungong Museum of the Filipino People, nagbabakasaling may panibago akong makikita sa loob, ngunit wala halos nagbago pagkatapos ng ilang buwan. Kaya dumeretso nalang ulit ako sa seksyon na kung saan makikita ang isang kabaong na gawa sa inukit na kahoy na nakuha sa Banton, Romblon.

Kaunti lang ito sa mga larawang kuha ko gamit ang digital damera ko. Kahit mag-isa akong nag-lakad at nag-byahe, naging masaya parin ang aking lakad. Hindi nito mapapantayan ng kung anung bagay sa mundo. Hanggang sa susunod na lamyerda!

Where to Eat in Binondo: Wai Ying Restaurant

After Binondo Church, we walked on the street beside the church going to Binondo’s Pride: “Manila China Town.” We had our lunch break at Wai Ying Restaurant. This restaurant is said to be one of the famous in terms of the Chinese dishes.

The food servers are properly dressed and are courteous. I don't know about cooking, but in terms of presentation and taste, I think those are my talents. The foods were served hot and looks mouth watering. The appearance of the steamed foods like sio-mai and sio-pao looks great.

After our lunch break, we walked and checked some products in China Town, but we’re lost on the streets. Instead of asking, I used my GPS App on my phone and searched for our next destination, click here: Sta. Cruz Church.

More photos and information about this travel, click here: 9 Old Churches in Metro Manila

What to Visit in Marikina City - Wharf Bar and Resto

Destinations will not be the end of your journey when you're travelling. Travelling includes the whole journey itself - it can be successful or not! When we say journey, it also include the: "what and where" right? What happened during the journey, and where is for the place you discovered. Now, I will be going to share the What/Where in Marikina City.

Pakbet - bet na bet!!

The country's favorite vegetable delicacy is now here.  The Pakbet or Pinakbet in some areas.  This delicacy is actually rich in different vitamins and minerals which are really good for everyone.  This is the combination of squash, amplaya, eggplant, string beans or sitaw, okra, ground pork and the famous bagoong isda.

I think everyone in the Philippines knew and tasted this local food, correct?  But, for those tourists from other countries need to taste it, if you'll be visiting our gorgeous archeapelago.  You can find this food anywhere in 7,107 islands.  And take note, the taste of these food depends on the way of cooking in different locations.

Fat Butchie's

Taking my lunch break is part of my Itinerary everyday especially if I am in the office.  Today, I will be giving a tribute the only place that I always visit for my lunch.   Fat Butchie's  Native Lechon Liempo - located at Tiesdesitas, Pasig City, Philippines.  I always enjoy eating angus and some vegetables served with free ice tea for just less than a hundred pesos.  The waitress are so kind.  If you want to request something, surely they will provide it to you.

Healthy Mushrooms

Tiendesitas, Pasig City – perfect location for everyone; you can go shopping, dine and if you are a pet lover, you can also choose one.  Last Saturday, I had a meeting with Batang Hamog Mountaineers and Couch Surfing Manila in this place and one thing captured my eyes – the mushrooms.    

One company embarked on this business with the end in view of putting nutritional value.  Mushrooms are rich proteins, vitamins and minerals.  They are also known for their medicinal value, with Shiitake being anti-cancer and possessing immune system enhancing ability, King Oyster (Eringii) with inhibitory effect on cholesterol level and laxative effect that treats constipation, and Maitake (hen of the woods) with noted ability to lower blood sugar levels in addition to being known as antioxidant.  

Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula Edodes)

Healthy.Mushrooms Inc. (HMI) – is a corporation created and registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2010 with primary purpose to engage in the cultivation, growing and processing of gourmet mushrooms using state of the ear equipments under controlled environment and utilizing technology-based production system.  Its plant facilities and offices are located at Angeles Livelihood Complex, EPZA, Brgy. Pulung Cacutud, Angeles City.

Mushrooms with Oyster Sauce

Ingredients:

100g Shiitake mushrooms

100g Eryngii (king oyster) 2 pcs.

50g Broccoli, chopped

1 tsp. Vegetable oil

4 cloves garlic, minced, chopped

1 pc. White onion (small) diced

1 tsp. Oyster sauce

½ tbsp. Butter

Salt

Black pepper

¼ tsp. Sesame oil (optional)

Directions:

1.       Cut the stem of shiitake, and then slice the top of the head and the stem lengthwise 3 mm thick.

2.       Chop the eryngii in three parts; slice each piece lengthwise, 2 mm thick.

3.       Heat the vegetable oil in a pan (preferably non stick pan).  Saute the garlic, onions, broccoli and eryngii.  Stir for 2 minutes then put the shiitake.  Add salt and pepper, stir for another 3 mins.  When the mushrooms have released its liquid, add butter and oyster sauce.   Stir to blend.

4.       Add the sesame oil, cook until vegetables have softened (Do not add water since the vegetables has its own juices and the sauce will be thicker.  But if you prefer to do so, add only small amount.

5.       Serve while it’s hot.