Friendship and Ice Cream!

Swensen's @ MOA

Nothing beats having a reunion with a BBF (who's been living in Canada with her giant-of-a-husband) and eating good ice cream (good ice cream and juicy chat are THE perfect partners!). It's just wonderful. 

I first tried Swensen's in Eastwood Mall early part of last year with another group of friends who attempted to finish what's called, Earthquake (P655)... 6-8 scoops of different flavors served on a monster boat! Anyway, going back... we (the Saunders, Chris and +Mary Ann) walked around MOA after an early Thai dinner and decided to have dessert. We had the Swensen's Banana Split and two chocolate-based preps. With the cold, calorific ice cream refueling us, another round of ruthless and (most of the time) worthless talk resumed. The sugar in the ice cream didn't help in curbing our malicious banter.

Like what I said, it's just wonderful. Miss you guys! 

Jipan's Chili Dog!

Jipan @ Glorietta

I wasn't actually planning to eat at that moment since I was on my way to meet my BFF in Greenbelt for early dinner. But on the other hand, G5 is a looong walk from Glorietta so I decided to take something light at Jipan. My favorite Baked Spaghetti (too heavy!) was out of the question so I settled with their Chili Dog. 

It was smaller than I anticipated but I tell you, it was really filling. The chili meat sauce tasted like their Spaghetti sauce only this one is a tad spicier. Not hot. The sausage was not the commercial-tasting type and the bread (just what I  expected from Jipan) was freshly-baked, very soft and buttery. And let me add that the servers were polite, alert and quick to attend to the guests' requests. Did I mention that it's wallet-friendly to eat here? 

Ryzza Mae is in Love, Love, Love!

The Little Miss is truly a darling! During one of her break times pagkatapos ng kanyang segment, "Hakot All You Can," derecho siya sa dressing room niya which doubles as her playroom (and EB Production war room). And started doing one of her favorite pastimes... writing. 

 She wrote the word, LOVE a couple times (with the drawing of hearts) which she gave to me as a gift! I asked kung sino ang LOVE niya, ang sagot niya with a big smile... Shhh! 
Thank you, Ryzza! 

Cold Mocha on a Hot Day at Jazule Coffee

Bluejaz Beach Resort @ Samal Island

"Samal is a part of the Metropolitan Davao area and is located two kilometers away from Davao City. To reach the island, transportation is available via a barge/ferry service or passenger boats along the Sasa Wharf." Wiki

That's what we did. We paid P500 for the ferry service which took us to the Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark. It wasn't a high-end resort, it was pwede na especially for a group like us who were on a tight budget (we were already on the last day of our long week vacation). 

Anyway, I can't say anything about the resort's facilities. For one thing, I didn't use them. Secondly, I don't enjoy the beach and any activities that require the sun do not appeal to me. Give me food (or drink) in any form, served anywhere, ibang usapang yan.    

So, chose to stay inside this airconditioned coffee shop and just started writing on my best friend's Ipad. Jazule had this inviting smell of brewing coffee which was so fine with me. How's the coffee? The Cold Mocha was predictably too sweet. At least, the coffee used was not powdered and the syrup was Hershey's.    

This may sound cheesy but while sipping my cold mocha that afternoon, a particular beach scene caught my attention. What is it? Well, there was this unmanned jet ski just floating... Don't worry, I immediately snapped out of it and went back to writing my blog (no, I didn't blog about the floating jet ski). It was a good afternoon...      

Ryzza Mae, EB's New Make-Up Artist!

"Tita Pauleen...

Don't move. 

Hwag masyadong magulo ang ulo. 

Baka lumagpas ang lipstick!" 

"Okay, good girl!

Konti na lang... Tissue! Tissue! 

Nasan ba ang P.A. ko???

Hay naku!

Mama... ikaw ang susunod ko, ok?

Kailangang maganda tayo pareho

para sa Press Con!"

"Who's next??

Naku, Tita Ruby... take a number. 

Nauna na sina Tita Pia at Tita Isabel!

Promise, ikaw na ang kasunod!" 

"Whew! I'm tired! 

Nakakapagod talaga...

Tito Jimmy, gusto mo din ng make-up??

Whaaaat?! 

Teka... Stand by na pala ako!

Good! Makapag-chacharap muna ako!

Kailangan mawala ang stress ko!" 

"Magkita-kita na lang tayo, mga Dabarkads! 

Remember, 11:30am tayo 

every Saturday!"  

On The House!

Burgoo @ Rockwell
 
Here's the frozen dessert Burgoo gifted us when we had our lunch (a few months back) at their newly-renovated Rockwell branch. It's ice cream cake with chocolate syrup with dark and white chocolate chips!

Hamburgoo is Back!

Burgoo @ Rockwell

Hamburgoo never left the menu. What  I meant was, we saw the decline of Burgoo food including one of it's bestsellers, the famous Hamburgoo. So we stopped going there and were half expecting for the brand to just quietly fade away. Sayang. To think that it's one of the very first good International Food Franchises that came out with humongous servings (drowning in french fries and dripping with oil) in the tradition of Friday's, Chili's, CPK, among others. 

When the Rockwell branch finally re-opened last year after months of renovation, we tried it out immediately. And we were not disappointed. 

And thank you, Burgoo, for the dessert! We loved it! We'll definitely be coming back! 

Hamburgoo P395
Caesar Salad P325
Nachos P325  
  

Ryzza Mae, Diva!

She was wearing an elegant, sequined, electric blue gown na parang anytime ay magbe-belt out ng isang highly-emotional Torch Song! 

And watch this 5-second video of the pro where my amateur camera caught the Little Miss gave this funny "move" na Divang-Diva ang dating! Hilarious! I just had to post and share it! 
 

What Happened to TOSH?

The Old Spaghetti House @ Market, Market

There was a time when I would meet one of my BFFs (sir Tok) at Ayala Techno Hub just to have dinner (at least, once a week) at The Old Spaghetti House (and have coffee at Figaro) after work. That was a few years ago when I was still a Marketing Manager of a restaurant chain.

Recently, I chanced upon TOSH when I was killing time in Market, Market. Excited, I went in and immediately ordered their bottomless iced tea, which I really love. Upon learning that they changed the menu design, kinabahan na ako. Marami ang nabago dito, I thought. True enough. I didn't order my usual (Golden Crusted Chicken, Ham and Cheese Crepe with Angel Hair Pomodoro) but instead tried a new item, Fish Fillet Amandine (P165).  

So, how was it? Not good. The butter (come on, it was margarine!) was so overwhelming that you cannot anymore taste any other flavor... you just have to imagine it. Suyang-suya ako. On my third bite, I had to push my plate away and called for the manager.

As a result, I had a good four or five servings of the iced tea while sipping and complaining (no wonder there were only three tables occupied at that time... and it was dinner time!). I didn't anymore accept whatever she was offering to appease me. I just asked for their wi-fi password and a pitcher of their iced tea.
 

Garlic Vegetable Rice With Tomatoes!

Let's Cook My Way @ Urdaneta Village

In her "Garlic" cooking class last time, Tita Nelia (Let's Cook My Way) taught how to whip up this fried rice wonder! In a frying pan with oil and butter, she fried sliced garlic, added vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, etc), seasoned with oyster sauce and light soy sauce, put in cooked rice and mixed everything! Done! 

Simple. And I should say, nutritious. She served this with steamed fish. What can be more perfect than that?