Tootsie's Home-Cooked Specialties, Tagaytay!

Tootsie's Home-Cooked Specialties
Tagaytay City

Grilled Maliputo 

I always see this restaurant every time I visit Tagaytay but it never occurred to me to try it out... until recently. I was with my Tita when I finally entered Tootsie's (known for their Grilled Maliputo). The place is cozy, servers helpful (they don't try too hard). As for the food, well, the Grilled Maliputo was okay (though a bit under cooked, we had to asked the kitchen to cook it some more) as expected. 

Kare-Kare 

Beef Ribs with Gravy

The ribs were over cooked, they were leathery (bad to the teeth). Next to the Maliputo, I liked the Tawilis. Crispy and perfect with the tomatoes, onions and eggplant. 

Tawilis

Eggplant, Tomato, 

Onion, Bagoong 

Ryzza Mae: Low-Batt!

Energy Drained!
Ryzza Mae is exploding with energy like any kid her age kaya hyper na hyper yan especially sa backstage! Then eventually, she uses up her energy na parang battery na naglo-low batt. Don't worry, in a few minutes lang, babalik na naman energy ng Phenomenal Child Star... mas madali siguro kung may kasamang isang supot ng pastillas?? Why not!

Ryzza Mae, Nasira Ang Appetite?!

Lunch na! 
It was past 12pm, tapos ang The Ryzza Mae Show. Nasa dressing room ang magkakapatid na Ryzza Mae, Nicole at Nathan. Nandun din si Mommy Rizza at hinahanda ang lunch ng gitnang anak na kakatapos lang sumalang sa show. Masarap ang special lunch na hinanda ng caterer (Adobong Pusit ang gulay!) ng EB for the host plus the Dizon kids. 

The thing is, walang gana ang Phenomenal Child Star! May sakit ba kamo? Nope! Nasira lang ang appetite niya dahil kumain nang kumain ng pastillas! Favorite talaga ang pastillas! Well, when you think about it... healthy din naman ang pastillas dahil its made of milk! Pero hindi talaga pwede kay Mommy Rizza na hindi siya kakain ng lunch. But, being a good daughter, kumain din naman siya, eventually (masarap ang Pusit!). Well, all's well that ends well.  

Greek Yogurt & Cardamom Iced Tea!

Kos Greek Ouzeri 
UP Town Center, Katipunan, QC

Greek Yogurt (P140)

with honey and sprinkled with nuts

with fruit preserve 

Head Chef Yoli has this to say: "Bubs, you'll surely love it!"  And yes, I love it. The Greek Yogurt is tangy and at the same time, sweet from the fruit preserve topped by the nuts which give it, not only the slightly salty taste but the crunchy texture as well.   

When you order this special house-blend iced tea with Greek Cardamom and Lemon, don't get the single serve. Make it bottomless.  

Flavored Iced Tea (P80)

Greek Cardamom and Lemon

(bottomless)

Alex III Breakfast: Laguna Cheese Flying Saucer!

Laguna Cheese 

Flying Saucer (P235)

Of all branches of Alex III Restaurant, it is only Matalino Street that has a special Breakfast Menu. Customers here start coming as early as 7am ordering coffee with their favorite breakfast fare. I tried the Laguna Cheese Flying Saucer with steaming freshly-brewed coffee. It's light breakfast (the Kesong Puti from Laguna is the real thing!) and I just love it. 

Ryzza Mae: Gifts! Gifts! Gift!

Excited Birthday Girl!
The show hasn't started ay nagbubukas na ng regalo ang excited na Birthday Girl! Sinong bata ba ang hindi excited sa pagbukas ng gifts? And Ryzza Mae is just like any girl! Anyway, witness kami sa dami ng nagbigay ng regalo sa ating Phenomenal Child Star! Just to show na maraming nagmamahal sa kanya! 

Ryzza Mae: Happy Birthday, Happy Family!

Close-knit family!
Kitang-kita during the 9th birthday celebration ng Phenomenal Child Star ang pagiging close ng family niya! All the Dizon Ladies (Ryzza Mae, Mommy Rizza, Nicole, Lola) ay nasa dressing room nagpapaganda and having an all-girls-day while the Dizon Boys (Daddy at Nathan) ay nasa audience bonding! Ang sarap nilang panoorin! Yun naman talaga ang importante above everything else. Ang family, diba? 

Ryzza Mae & Family: Preparations for the Big Day!

Happy 9th Birthday! 
Wala pang 10:30am ng June 12, 2014 ay nagkakagulo na sa Broadway Studio. Everybody was busy setting up Ryzza Mae's 9th birthday grand celebration! At sa dressing room nandun ang Dizon Ladies... si Ryzza Mae, Mommy Rizza, Nicole at si Lola na madalang na lumalabas sa TV. They took turns in having their hair blown dry at kung anu-ano pa pagpapaganda! Everybody was especially gorgeous that day! 

Kos Greek Ouzeri!

Kos Greek Ouzeri 
UP Town Center, Katipunan, QC

Grilled Salmon Fillet Ladolemono (P350)
Grilled herb marinated salmon fillet
on roasted vegetables with lemon oil

Kos Greek Ouzeri is a new restaurant that has been enjoying good business in the UP Town Center (the area used to be the playground of UP Integrated School. I used to watch kids my age as we pass along going home from the blue school. Well, that was so many moons back). 

Simply stated, Kos Greek Ouzeri is a small restaurant with a promise. As Chef Yoli Naluz admits, they never scrimp on the ingredients which undergo meticulous quality inspection (you will never capture the delicate taste of Salmon if not fresh). My Grilled Salmon Fillet was perfectly grilled and seasoned right that nothing was left on my plate. Their version of Moussaka was on the "saucy" side but still unforgettable. Before I forget, they serve free warm bread for which we ordered the Artichoke Spinach spread. And yes, we finished everything.  

'Til our next visit, Chef Yoli! 

Artichoke Spinach (P165)

Moussaka (P260) 

Potatoes and eggplants in layers 

with minced meat sauce and bechamel

Ryzza Mae is a Loom Band Addict!

"Kahit tulog..."

Loom band addict!
When we went to the studio, bising-busy si Ryzza Mae sa kanyang bagong libangan at yes, negosyo (ang kita niya dito ay para sa charity). Yun ang maganda sa "addiction" niya... nalilibang na and at the same time nakakatulong pa din siya! Pero iba talaga ang obsession ng batang superstar sa loom band! Nakita namin na kahit saan na lang naglu-loom band siya! Sabi nga niya sa floor director ng EB... kahit naka-pikit ay kaya niyang mag-loom band! We're not surprised!