Ginza Bairin

Last weekend, the hubby and I escaped for a quick date. I remember Daphne almost ran out of pj's (she literally outgrew everything we bought in the last 6months) while hubby needed new dry-fit shirts. For hubby's clothes, our shopping venue will always be in Trinoma. I don't know but he sort of have everything he needs in that mall. Good thing he seldom shops! LOL. 

Papa John's

Exactly two weeks ago, hubby and I had our first date night this year. I read from MommyTopaz' blog how it helps the husband-wife relationship keep intact despite of a non-free from distraction environment. I couldn't agree more! There are gadgets, internet, cable channels, social media sites - everything that could take away even our few minutes from talking with our spouses. It is that crazy so we couples really need to find a way to squeeze in from busy schedules.

Choosing a perfect spot is also a challenge so I try to plan ahead to also make sure we both enjoy the quick date. At this age, which I think is not too old I suppose, loud places turn me off a lot. Sorry to say but I don't understand how a 35 year old can keep up partying hard all night. Serve me a macchiato and lend me an old book in one corner and I'd probably be  the most contented woman in the whole Manila. Chos!

 

Going back to our date, we went to Papa John's Pizza. That's not Papa John below, okay? Ha ha! Just a disclaimer, a date for me doesn't necessarily mean we need to dress up and eat in fancier restos. Of course, we can be maarte at times but if only called for special occasions. Anyway, have you dined recently in Papa John's? I actually liked it there because it wasn't as crowded as I had expected and our bill was fairly reasonable.

I got tired of drinking iced tea so I chose Sprite with a twist of green apple. I rarely see sodas with cherry on top and you might think it's Vodka with ice. We settled for Potato Wedges for appetizer, Margherita Pizza and Mediterranean Seafood Linguini. That pasta was so good and unique because of the crab meat. I had fun cleaning up my plate. Hubby enjoyed it more by sprinkling a few chili flakes. The potato wedges were thick, piping hot and definitely crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside.

As for the pizza, I feel bad because it did not stand out for me. It's like I've tasted something similar before but couldn't recall when and where. But I have to commend the pizza dough, excuse my expertise but I can tell that it was fresh. We kept our take outs refrigerated and come next day, pizza were still soft and with a finer taste of Mozarella cheese. Weird but maybe the Seafood Linguine overpowered our Margherita that night, something like that. If ever you visit Papa John's for an Italian fix, Php1K budget is good enough for two, no service charge added.

PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA
3rd Level, SM Megamall A,
Mandaluyong City

Army Navy

Quick burger + burrito night with ze hubby because that's how we love Army Navy!
No food review this time, just sharing our photos as we "break in" my new 50mm/f1.8 II lens in my Canon 550d. Still getting the hang of it. Now I'm more than excited to take lots and lots of pictures! :-)

My Longest Week

Last week was the longest week I had this quarter. So many things have happened within the circle. One for instance, the "spark" faded like a thin smoke which made me wonder if there is something more I should look forward to. Or if I needed to take the back seat before going further without hesitations. Another one is about health goal setting and reducing risks and issues. You may have encountered this as a green joke - "Katawan lang ang puhunan" but I think it should be taken seriously, especially for family providers. Consider yourself lucky if you are receiving the best health package. I really hope to remain positive against the odds. It's been a challenging week.

To lift up my very low spirit last week, hubby and I went out for a little shopping spree. I did not buy anything for myself that day but it made me so happy having an advance Father's Day present for hubby and gave me blushing cheeks when I came in to Pois Belly and Kids. Check out their latest kids' collections below. Just to share a bit of an info, Pois is for tweens, Belly for expecting Mommies and Kids or Great Kids for kids and toddlers.

They were all cute and pretty and price are very reasonable too. Roughly Php1K for a pair of top and shorts. I would actually pick everything displayed on top, if hubby allows me to. For now, I'd say this is the place to be for your little girl's outfit needs. Will be back very soon before our family photo shoot project.

Look at their fancy paper bag. Back in college, I used to collect paper bags from the stores we shopped and this became an ongoing habit. Don't ask me why I keep most of them, that's my way of reusing/recycling. Ha ha! To date, this is my favourite paper bag from all the kid's shops we've been to. I want something similar for a new blog design. Speaking of, I just renewed my domain few days ago, so that means OneGutsyMom.com is about to celebrate its first anniversary. Must cook something for my lovely readers. :-)

We also got the chance to try Army Navy Burger + Burrito. I've been meaning to try this for the longest time! There's a nearer branch from home which is along Shaw Blvd. but it never happened. The hubby liked it much, caught him non-stop pouring mustard. Here's what we ordered:

• Classic Burger for Php165 each 
• Added extra egg Php17 (him) and cheese for Php30 (her). 
• Large Libertea Iced tea for Php75 and Soda in can Php50. 
• Freedom Fries (not on photo) for Php75

I don't think it's a juicy burger, I find it quite dry but tasty which is good for me. It is not overwhelming either (perhaps the Double Burger is) so I was able to finish the whole of it. Fries were really crunchy which were thin-sliced. I should try their Burrito next visit before I can say mission is accomplished. :-)

How was your week Mothers? Tell me about it.

xx,

OneGutsyMom

Dessert at La Crèperie

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You have probably spotted this quaint French tea salon and pastry shop if you've passed by the second level of The Veranda at Robinson's Galleria. I won't be surprised if you already find it enticing just by looking at the facade. To be honest, I got completely intrigued and my eyes were glued to it until reaching the escalator area.

 

I'm happy that hubby and I spent a little date here one Sunday afternoon. Both the place and menu were excellent because all I really want is to sit down, enjoy our conversation and indulge with a toothsome dessert. After all  it's weekend, time to relax our minds from work. We owned the place for a few minutes and so I took as much photos as I could. 

 

They absolutely have posh design ideas inside. The entire place was properly lit and these long hanging lamps created an illusion of having tall ceilings. I see yellow, including my shirt, all over the place and can imagine blossoming sunflowers and golden honey. 

 

You can also see neatly pasted artworks on the glass walls, probably a few of the pastries they offer.

 

La Crèperie also offers boutique catering through Madeleine Boutique Caterer. Now I dream of English Breakfast tea in vintage little tea cups with the girl friends. The life!

Their menu offers a do-it-your-own set of crepes and have decided to try Mango Nutella with Vanilla ice cream for Php 235. I was swept over by the entire beautiful place that I missed to order my favourite Blueberries and Cream. That gives me enough reason to come back here very soon. My order however did not disappoint. It looked pretty thin from the outside but just as I was about to slice the sides, I realised how my crepe was overfilled with mangoes and yummy Nutella. Scrumptious until the very last bite.

 

My wide smile from ear to ear, unquestionably a satisfied customer! Sure enough will try the Le Gastronomiques and Toasts next time I come here. And if you plan to visit soon, make sure to bring that camera for some selfie happy snapshots!

 

La Crêperie 

The Veranda, Level 2 Robinson's Galleria 

EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City

The Sweetest Thing 2013

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For over a decade, I can only count the times hubby and I go on a formal date. We go out for a quick coffee  or dessert fixes, occasional dinners or even margarita nights but we never had a date on a Valentine's day. It wasn't really his thing I guess and I find it really baduy (back in college) going out on the exact date. I've also mentioned here before that flowers don't really flatter me, in fact, I can trade it for a box of J.Co donuts in a blink of an eye. But now as married couple, things have changed and I felt that a relationship becomes healthier if you put an effort to find alone time with your partner. It doesn't matter if it's expensive or not. Just spend the night together eating good food with a perfect choice of background music. 

I'll leave you with these set of pictures to describe what a romantic night we had last Thursday at the Rockwell Tent. I truly wish that you received a wonderful surprise from your other half or special friends and had a lovely celebration. ♥

Our lovely table set up with that night's menu. Bizu prepared a three-course meal and couples were serenaded by Manila String Machine quartet. Lucky winners of a raffle received free Rockwell Cinema tickets and Moschino perfume.

{ Bread service: Focaccine, Sesame seed soft roll and butter }



{ Oriental salad with grilled zucchinis, carrots, pineapple and aubergines tossed with mesclun and special oriental dressing topped with crisp vermicelli and black sesame }



{ Main course: Duo of 10-hour US roast beef belly with demiglace sauce, cobbler fish with mushroom and spinach cream, grilled vegetable brochettes and mashed potatoes }



{ Dessert: Opera cake, calamansi and raspberry mousse trifle and fresh fruits with syrup }



On rare occasions like this, the white wine made the evening more special for us. Everything was perfect - the music, the venue, the food and the whole experience.

An unforgettable dinner date.
 Will definitely have our seats reserved again next year.

 

My special thanks to Ms. Ingrid for the The Sweetest Thing 2013 invitation.

xx,
OneGutsyMom

Happy Heart

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"When you finally allow yourself to trust joy and embrace it, 

you will find you dance with everything."

source: http://www.inspirational-quotations.com

Last night was a glass full of sweetness..

A happy heart indeed. 

xx,

OneGutsyMom

Happy Birthday at TGIFridays

Despite a rainy Tuesday in Manila caused by the tropical storm "Helen", hubby and I still pursued to have a little date to celebrate his 32nd birthday. Mom and Daphne were of course originally included in the plan but it would be safer to just let the little one stay at home to avoid the sickness causing weather. Since we missed going to the North, we put a lot of effort just to get to Trinoma, plus the shoes that I promised as a birthday present is kind of hard to find so we had to search all the stores that cater the product.

It was almost 3pm when we were finally exhausted and hungry so when I saw TGIFridays, I didn't have second thoughts and scurried in. Good thing the restaurant has a lot of seats available.

Their ambiance has been proven to set a distinction, I feel so American for a while. Here, I don't really mind eating my food with some group of people enjoying their beers even at late noon.

Notice the waiter behind me? For years, they have been consistently wearing cute head gears paired with black pants and that striped red and white shirt. Sometimes they also wear silly costumes. By the way, I also want to share this candy pink lipstick I'm wearing from M&Co. That's a cheap haul during the SM North EDSA sale event.. I really like it!

For appetizers, we chose their traditional Buffalo Wings, marinated in spicy sauce with a few carrot sticks. The cheese dressing is perfect! 6pcs costs Php295.

Since I'm used to ordering Cajun Chicken and Shrimp pasta, I tried to experiment this time with the rice meals. My main dish was Mushroom Chicken and Mushroom - I love the melted mozzarella cheese on it . The rice serving is almost good for two which I wasn't really expecting because I only chose the small order for Php395.

Look at this humongous plate! Hubby chose Jack Daniel's Chicken and Shrimp (Php565). That's a juicy fire-grilled chicken breasts in sweet glaze plus the Cajun-spiced fried shrimp. The shrimp was really tasteful although hubby didn't quite like the sweet sauce for the chicken. (The menu should have a brief description, I think.)

I was really laughing at this huge plate. It's almost the size of his body width! Nevertheless, it was a fun dining experience in Fridays (as I normally call it) with these generous servings. Best of all, we get to celebrate his birthday together even on a working day.

Happy birthday, Daddy! Thank you for being the sweetest father to Daphne and a thoughtful husband to me. Let's not look at the calendars starting today, alright?

( He didn't really want a photo taken kasi he's wearing the same shirt daw ^^ )

Much Love from your Wifey,

OneGutsyMom

For store info:

T.G.I. FRIDAY'S Trinoma

Level 4, Trinoma Park

http://fridays.com.ph/

Love Love Love 2012 ♥

I love flowers, Mom taught me how to love them since I was a kid, but I'm never really a fan of receiving flowers on Valentine's day. The thought of getting one from an admirer may somehow makes us "kilig" but don't you feel the burden when you carry that big bouquet, commute on your way home and then people stare at you. Ha ha!

Hey, I've nothing against those who prefer having them and hail to the person who made extreme efforts just to send a surprising one! It's just not my thing, really. I'd prefer chocolates and hug-gable teddies. I got a huge box of Toblerone from hubby which we both indulged at home. Perhaps, it's the thought that counts.

This year is our first Valentine's as a couple. Nothing grand celebration, which is totally my persona. I've thought of booking a hotel in Tagaytay but I didn't pursue due to work commitments and besides, I can't leave my daughter yet for an overnight stay without her, so we opted to dine out instead a day after. We met after work and did the usual routine at the mall - scout that promising running shoes.

Was hoping to find a chair at Bon Chon but I guess those people seated are the luckiest. Why is Bon Chon always full? So second stop was at Kangaroo Jack. Delish menu and I liked seeing that cob of corn.

For starters, we ordered Fish and Chips. I am Mrs. No Pork at the moment.

I ordered Seafood Alfredo. I love that they put a lot of Parmesan cheese on it and it wasn't just those tiny little shrimps.

He ordered Baby Back Ribs in spicy sauce and he liked it! He didn't eat that corn though.

The place is neat and the waiting time didn't take long. I appreciate restaurants who serve drinks promptly. It's funny that when I looked around, everyone inside were couples, they might be celebrating too? *wink* Happy tummies later on.

BTW, I got this cute little red teddy with some chocolates at work. It's nice to receive such gesture from our employer, isn't it? ♥

Kangaroo Jack
2F Robinson's Galleria

How did you spend your heart's day, friends?

Foodspotting: Yabu The House of Katsu

Yesterday was a date night for me and hubby. We first went out to order some home furniture which will all be delivered on Tuesday. I'm so happy that we are now halfway through with our two "major" projects before the year ends. We then rushed to the cinema to watch Breaking Dawn and we made it just in time. I was amazed with how Bella's make up was done, it looked so real! She probably intended to lose weight. I was just expecting more scenes though in Brazil, but of course, we should leave the credits to the books. Can't wait to see the second part. 

Our next hop is to visit the newest authentic Katsu house in the Metro. I was hoping to take decent photos but since cameras are not allowed in cinemas, I decided to leave it at home. *sigh* Photos were taken using our BBs. It was past 7pm when we got there so we waited for a few minutes to be seated. No biggie. I love the casual minimalist theme inside.

Bottomless Iced tea

We were asked to pound these fresh sesame seeds before pouring the sauce for a better katsu experience.

I ordered Chicken katsu (admittedly a chicken lover) while he chose Hire (pork tenderloin, pronounced as hee-reh). The meat strips were soft and tender. No dramas if you wear braces. It's not oily either. I'm sure I'll go back one of these days with my friends. Considering our bill, boy it's affordable! I suggest you pay a visit. I wish to be seated inside next time. More stuff to take snapshots.

{ Chiken Katsu 90g Php275 }

{ Hire 90g Php295 }

Serious mode. Ready to dig in! LOL

Yabu: House of Katsu

2/F, SM Megamall, Julia Vargas Ave

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 576-3900