Ate's Birthday

Still a whirlwind month, losing two people in the family, attending a wedding in between, Lolo's death anniversary and now Big sistah's birthday. Lifting our spirits a bit, we spent a night celebrating with food. What's a birthday without good food, eh?

Mom's dying to check out Maginhawa St. for a time now and so after arguing where to dine for a couple of minutes now we agreed on a unanimous decision. We looked over the whole street and can't seem to choose which restaurant to eat and that's when I suggested Don Day, not exactly in Maginhawa St. but just around the corner from it. It is where I with my KCC girls frequented our dates from my previews posts. It is affordable, not really fancy and worth it. There were a few changes from when I last visited. They have expanded the place and offered an air-conditioned area. Also, they're unlimited meat options also offers variety now. They have unlimited pork only, unlimited beef only and unlimited pork and beef as well. They're buffet consisted of spread of Korean food still and two soup choices.

We were lead to our table on the other side of the room. We settled and then started checking out the buffet. As all of the times I've been there, the food is satisfactory. You don't get fancy Korean dishes but you get familiar dishes you might have seen in some Korean dramas. I still find Happy 6 days Korean Restaurant more authentic than Don Day. But if you're finding affordable unlimited samgyupsal with a nice spread of Korean buffet come and visit Don day, you won't be disappointed. *wink wink*

After supper, we are now in the hunt for desserts. Initially we opted to cross the street to Pino to check out their dessert offerings. Unfortunately, the spot was already closing that night so we ended up looking out some other place. And it's the wonders of google and GPS once more. I searched this cupcake place named Frosted along Maginhawa St. and prayed that it's still up for grabs at that time. And because I am so great with directions and maps *pun intended* we were sort of lost our way to Frosted. hah! certainly not my fault if they trusted me to read the directions to it! *defensive* XP

We found the place after a little back and forth and turns. It was unnoticeable really and I wouldn't be blamed for having lost our way since they too did not notice it as well. It's a small part of a house and having said so it must have been a converted shop, mostly likely.

They have selections of teas and coffees and varieties of cupcakes, which I must say looks so yummy. They also offer cakes for pets! Props at that! They make custom made cakes for pets is so awesome to think and cute tooo. We saw the brochure and was tempted to buy one for our dear Prince and Princess.

Coffee is nice. *bias judgement of a coffee-lover* because I'll drink any coffee that's strong and smelling nice. The cupcake... hmm.. nothing special I think. It tastes nice but it's too sweet for my buds I guess. oh! I remember I have a bland tongue, don't blame me for an inaccurate taste description please. We enjoyed the place though. Like any recently popping cupcake place, it is cute as well. It's simple to look at yet so girly, which is a good thing I think. It appeals to most of the girls.

Snapshots of the birthday gal

And this wrapped our night.. bonne nuit!

with love,
♥A

Saturday Hungry

back to food tripping... *oink oink* lol

I am not really familiar around Makati City and today I am to explore a bit. I will be meeting my KCC friends for lunch at Shin Dang Dong Korean restaurant. And since I am getting off from work early in the morning I have few more hours to myself.

I left the office at around 7 am because I can't take it anymore! Fridays always feel like that, too lazy for work or too tired of it for the week. I called on a cab, which I don't normally do, but since I am at risk of losing my way again and I am tired from working to walk back and forth and back and forth a couple of times so I gave in to it. And I failed! I still did the walking before I found A. Venue Mall.

While waiting I  decided to grab a cup and wait myself inside Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf because I'm too early for lunch and while waiting I logged in for a little bit of work. I can't believe I did that! I was just ranting about it a few sec ago and now I'm working on remote access. Humor me!

I'm nursing a cup of cappuccino and bran muffin while working and waiting until Christine-unni saw me, then Jo-unni came in as well and then all of them. We then walked to Shin Dang Dong along the other side of the mall, or maybe not the accurate side I might be referring to, still it is on the side of the mall.

We ordered two kinds of Ddeokbokki.. yum! one has cheese in it and the other was somewhat like a concoction of jajangmyeon + Ddeokbokki = Jajang Ddeokbokki. *incredible huh?*

Jajang Ddeokbokki | Ddeokbokki + cheese

We ate heartily and felt so full. It is close enough to what I had back in Korea and I still dislike vegetables. We stayed for a bit, then I pushed them to order a bottle of soju to toast for today. Yey! The food was great and the service was good and the staff are kind. And since at that time the place was not busy we had all their attention. As for the price, 500 pesos for this huge pot was worth it! You can share it with a group and still it's worth it. Well, there's nothing wrong with being selfish and eating it by yourself, just saying.

 The interior is so cute! I want the wall of pictures, somehow we thought of how to get our pictures included in the wall. And it remained like that, just a thought. =P

We stick around until my sister came and settled for a bit. She and family is going around malls for Ate's last minute packing for her work-related trip to Sydney. And Aya is not happy about the shopping thingy knowing Ate.. I'll feel the same I was just lucky to be meeting up with KCC friends today.

We head our own way at around 4 in the afternoon and while waiting to be fetch by mom and dad with Ate we tried to look for another place to camp out. And that's where we found Focaccia Italian Restaurant! I love Italian and Aya love pizza and we saw the salted caramel ice cream display, so in we go. Again, we're just one of the two other couples who're dining in at the time. Seems like it's a slow day today.

They served Focaccia with dip for starters. It's on the house but then seeing how pricey the food were... you know what to think. =D

Yes it's expensive for me. It's not that the food was not superb but then my sister and I were not really impressed by it. When our Panizza came we also had our ice cream served as well.

Tartufo al Funghi

We took a bite then just ate our ice cream. I can't help but compare so biased of me. Anyway, the ice cream for me is a bit on the sweeter side. It's too sweet for my sweet tooth I guess or maybe because I came from a cleansing diet that my taste-buds were overacting on me.

Once done with the ice cream, we had our panizza wrapped up..

Now I think I'm obsessing over walls and wall arts! I like Focaccia's stained glassed wall with sort of short messages / notes in it. It looks pretty cool. Ambiance wise, it feels more like  a casual dining.

And we still have to wait. The parents texted and said they're starved from searching for Ate's trip necessities. She needs quite a lot of things for the trip because it is currently winter in Australia at this time. That's when Aya thought of another restaurant she saw on TV the other day that she really wanted to try. She remembered reading somewhere that the restaurant has a chain in Makati and luckily it was just across from the mall.

It is the Tex-Mex restaurant Chihuahua Mexican Grill. Perfect! Not an hour from eating and we're eating again for the nth time. I think I need a few minutes to digest all the food I'm taking in, not that I am complaining. =D

The wall design described it all. What they offer and what they have.

I like the fact that you get to choose what you like to put in your burrito. They have the step by step guide by the counter to get you through it. At first we were confused on how to order and even mom didn't want to ask and would just concede with what they have readily. lol Thank goodness to the lovely cashier, she helped us through it and explained how to do it. We ordered a couple of burritos and bowl of nachos and chips.

They have this corner that Aya loved! See why...

It housed different sauces and condiments. She likes sauces and condiments such as these especially the spicy ones.

After a while our food was served.

chips and dips

bowl of nachos

burrito

It was more than what we expected, truly a generous serving. I can't finish mine even if Aya and I just shared. I am too full to eat more and burritos are not my favorite, beans and all turns my tummy a bit upset. Nonetheless, I would love to come here again and try the other food in their menu. It's a self-service restaurant so you do get your own stuff but they do set the tables for you. I'd like to believe you get back the what your money deserved. Awesome interiors too. Hip!

We're now heading home! Finally, I'll get my deserved sleep. But then we passed through the parking lot and there were a couple of thrift shops. And since Ate likes to look, we then took a look and I got this. er... just a cute purchase for 50 pesos. I hope I'll be able to use it.

Mashimaro

Anyway, finally.. signing off... with lalalalalooovee! ♥A

bonne nuit!

and we're back again...

Good or Bad?? Mom liked the food and it's her birthday.. the reason we're here again! Hello Happy 6days Korean Restaurant! Thrice in a month, I think it's too much! I like Korean food once in a while, but please, not every dayyy.. okay I'm exaggerating! Anyhow, we're back. We didn't stay up to have dinner after my cousin's recital because it's Mommy's birthday and we had some plans to have dinner of our own before I get to work. =) And it's Friday, meaning 'traffic'. And UST is quite far, Manila to Ortigas?? oh. I may not be good with directions and all, but on a Friday, I know the roads are busy!

We came in past 8pm and almost 9pm, while my shift starts at 10pm?? Hmm.. guess I need to be late for this one.

That's the couple! Happy birthday Mommy!

We ordered a selection of food. Almost the same as before but Aya and Ate tried something else. I'll just stick to safer planes you know. From what I see some things come in surprises, this time I won't risk it! I want to have a wonderful dinner tonight.

Ate tried this seafood hotpot thingy? Super spicy and warm to the tummy. It's soothing at some point. :) But it gets spicier after a while.

Then Aya had this fermented bean curd stew. Hmm.. I don't know. not my cup of tea I guess.

And of course, what mom really wants. The chicken! :)

And then just the same as before, bulgogi, japchae, and other stuff. :) The safer stuff.

Happy birthday Mother!!! More of this and that in the coming years! Cheers for long life! ♥


***can't wait for tomorrow's spa day.. yay!! massage after work! ***

and we're back!

I didn't expect that just after a few days we'll be back here! Korean dinner again with Tito August and Tita Aida, my lola's sister and brother-in-law, which makes us family. :-) They are here for the length of the holidays and will be back to Switzerland in a few days, I think. Not quite sure though. It is the same as last year's I think, unfortunately I was in Seoul at the time of their visit that I wasn't able to join them for dinner, only for lunch by then after I came back from the trip.

We went there to spend some time together and treat them as well.

side dishes (kimchi, egg, macaroni salad)

Samgyupsal

beef stew

Ddokbokki

Bulgogi

Kimbap

complementary Bibimbap

Spicy Chicken

Eureka!!

Today, I have a couple of personal meetings planned out.
> Lunch with Ate Heidz and Ralei
> Dinner with Aya at Happy 6 days Korean Restaurant

Ok. second day in the morning shift and I am starting to dread it. Being too early at work then rushing off to end my shift on time. er. Thinking about it on a daily basis? hmm.. I don't know.

Anyway, I started again my day early. Did my morning deliverable before the training, then the training.. then lunch. I felt bad to decline my team mates invitation for lunch today but then I have committed already with my friends. We meet up in Sbarro, had a slice of pizza, half servings of ravioli and a dash of soda! lol. Tell me who's hungry? haha

After lunch was uneventful. Already I wanted to finish everything and leave. I am excited for dinner. I am craving some Korean cooking for some time now and I heard from my KCC friends this was one of the good place for Korean food. This is the restaurant I've been looking for the last time to meet them. Where I failed, lost the choice and just head to the office. This time I will surely find it with Aya! We set to meet at Rustan's in Shang ri-la. I waited for her a bit because I ran off early. lol.

We took the cab and we found it. But still, I don't know the way. All I knew is that it is adjacent to the NEDA office.

We ordered a couple of things.

Bibimbap Special

Complimentary Bibimbap

Kimchijjigae

Spicy Chicken

I must say, the taste of their food is the closest thing next to the one I had back in Korea. Sajangnim daebak! ^__^

December dondate

And still I have a date. Home from PEO christmas party, sleepless, with headache and all, I just took a shower to freshen up and I am all up for another round of date. So I head on to Trinoma to meet Joanne-unni. She'll be picking me up there. I was a bit early so I stopped by Starbucks to grab some hot thing called coffee!

Flushed and groggy from all night drinking, I was still able to make it! It was the thing I can't miss at all. Fun talks and catch up, quality time it is with my unni-deul! We are reminiscing our past date at around the same time from last year, the planning-date on our Seoul - Busan trip. How we miss it! Why so fast time?

 Unlimited samgyupsal! Great for the starved me! I had no nothing after Jack, Jose and vodka all night, just water to re-hydrate and that's it. And now I'm hungry! hahaha.. I'll love anybody who'll serve me food at this time! And it's this time that I appreciate buffet and endless meat servings! Donday restaurant is yet to fail us! We love the place and we felt it to be cheaper than some other Korean restaurant in the area. The table is always full with food and the staff is commendable. I have acquired a bit of the taste of kimchi but not entirely all of it. Still, I am a meat lover and not a vegetarian. So off you go veggies, I can't love you.

We broken off at around 2pm? Joanne unni needs to be somewhere else and I need to be home or maybe head to the mall for some Christmas shopping.. *sigh* and I thought, I need rest too, eh?

I went with Ate Heidz and Karen unni on the way home. Endless talk about Rourouni Kenshin movie *swoon* it was so awesomely done we can't believe it! Yes! Yes! We fancy anime.