YakitoriOne

   
 


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Chili's x Hi-5 Family Day

After a heavy week with a series of not so good news here and there, we eventually had the chance to break the negative setbacks that weekend. It was only a few days before the proper event when I learned that Hi-5, the famous Australian children's musical group, will be coming over to perform at SM Megamall. I felt giddy and excitedly shared the news to my daughter who's as ecstatic as me. In fact, she did her own countdown until that Saturday. 

We arrived a bit early as we need to shop a certain amount first to get the free passes. But as soon as we stepped in the mall, I knew we couldn't make it. Hubby confirmed if there were slots available but unfortunately, everything were sold out until Sunday's event. We also found a very long queue on one side of Bldg B - these people successfully got their tickets but need to wait like that until the event starts. It must be tiring for the kids but I'm sure they loved it.

If only I had the chance to go to the mall before the event, I'd definitely shop earlier to ensure my daughter's tickets. Maybe next time. They will be having a concert come December in Resort's World Manila but tickets are way too expensive! I'd rather spare it for our travel funds next year. Instead of feeling low and guilty, we headed to Chili's for our late lunch. It was the little girl's first time to eat there and she liked it. Here's our orders:

Bottomless Iced Tea P105


Little Chicken Crispers and Fries P190


Beef Salpicao P595


Chicken Enchilada Pasta P440

We definitely enjoyed the food. I'm proud that my little girl finally joined us with the orders. No more fast food take outs this time! If you read this old post, hubby ordered the same food though he said it might be a whole lot different if he was served plain rice only. Pinoy na Pinoy talaga! :) I on the other hand loved my unique pasta dish.

Soon after we finished our food, we came back to the venue and it was jam-packed! I even saw my cousin's family who's there too for her son. In all fairness, Hi-5 has a huge impact on toddlers. When Daphne was almost two years old, I felt slightly sad because she doesn't appreciate the show. She'd rather watch Barney on her iPad. I remember her seated on her high chair watching it.

But a little before she turned 3 years old, her mornings wouldn't be complete without her singing and dancing with her favorite Casey. Sayang, the group had new casts na but they were equally talented as the old members. 

When the host finally introduced the group, the crowd went crazy! Kids were dancing as they sing along, so fun to watch them! Even older people (particularly women) went wild screaming for Stevie's name! We stood at the right side of the stage, just few steps away from them. 

Here's my daughter showing off her Hi-5 pose! Kudos to Daddy who's strong and eager enough to carry her the entire duration of the show. Mind you, she's really heavy and busog pa so I'm sure hubby went slightly numb! LOL. Here's the funniest part, my daughter wasn't quite satisfied just watching them. She keeps telling us "Mama, I want to go there, I want to talk to them!". Oh dear daughter, anything for you, you know I would if I could! I promise next time, we'll make it to the meet and greet session. And I'll make sure to like the official Facebook pages talaga so I am well-informed about any upcoming events, especially for kids.

Have you watched the Hi-5 show too, mommies? How was the experience? :)

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Mama's 57th

My Mom celebrated her 57th birthday last October and being the person who never observed birthdays, we decided to fill her day with a sumptuous lunch in her favorite pizza house no less than the Pizza Hut Bistro. That morning, I checked online their latest dine-in menu. I wanted to try their meal set 9 so I made sure everyone is hungry enough before leaving home. 

 

I didn't know that the Mega B branch recently renovated the place which made it more homey and well-lit. I think the place was perfect for this special treat for Mama dearest plus we spotted a free couch in the corner. Look at my poor daughter who's still healing that time from her eye infection. 

Their meal set 9 is comprised of mushroom soups, two family pan pizzas, a plate of carbonara and  a garden salad for only Php899. Not bad at all, though I personally believe that this set is only good for a group of 6 "on diet" persons or maybe "not-so-hungry" people. *wink*  

We started off with the Crab Salad Rolls for appetizers (not included in the meal set). This has been our staple order ever since it was introduced. They were kind enough to refill our dip. I can guarantee the freshness and crispness of these rolls.

The pizza can be upgraded to the latest flavors of the world offering with no added cost, so we tried the American Roast Beef pan pizza. By the time our pizzas were served, our table went literally crowded! I even asked not to serve all 6 of the mushroom soups because aside from the obvious that we were just 4, there was no space left in our table. Probably I was in the "ayaw ko magkulang ang pagkain" mode. LOL! Maybe Pizza Hut should work on table sizes or provide a separate pizza stand.

I loved their spaghetti carbonara, not so thick but still creamy. This was the highlight for me though I just wished they used linguini. My daughter's not a fan of white pasta but she was voted out this time. Hehe!

We capped off with a Dip-licious for dessert. My daughter definitely enjoyed squeezing the fluffy mallows before dipping. It was indeed a highly satisfied lunch time with the family. More than this feast, I also prayed and wished for Mom's continued good health. We love you so much Mom and thank you so much for helping us in taking care of our small family. I also hope you never get tired looking after your uber active apo. :)

PIZZA HUT

LGF SM Megamall B, 

Mandaluyong City

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Cafe Mary Grace

Hello there! Grabe it's been a while since my last entry and I really apologize for the lack of posts. Work has gone wilder these days as bigger clients came in. It was months of chaotic preparations before going to production. If you or anyone you know are into software development then I'm sure they can relate how "ngarag" can you get before going live. Plus my daughter has been getting sick recently and caught eye infection. I never had a me-time as I need to switch from career mom to Nanay mode to keep things balanced and orderly pa din. In fact, I had to cut my hair really short so I can do things quickly and efficiently. Iba na talaga pag motherly levels! Haha!

Anyway, last month, when hubby joined his mountaineering group somewhere in Tarlac, I brought Mom and Daphne to SM Aura. It is now my favorite date place for our family Sundays as most of the time I'd like to avoid bigger crowds. Unless of course if there's a BIG SALE going on. So I wasn't really expecting that this mall was quite full that weekend. At almost 2PM, I could hardly find a free table for us even in Cafe Mary Grace.

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. 

14th Anniv @ Chili's

It's funny how the husband and I celebrate our BF-GF anniversary instead of our actual wedding anniversary. Though it's not usually done in a hotel or a posh restaurant, we make it a point to go somewhere we've never been together. We usually pass by at Chili's in Megamall and Greenhills but have never attempted to get in! I remember going to Morato branch with ex-colleagues years and years ago but only for a glass of Margarita. It looked pretty expensive from the outside only for us to find out that it is indeed expensivo! You can compare it to some hotel buffet price sold in Deal Grocer.

I am not familiar with the food but for appetizers we got Triple Dipper Php495. This is a combo of Southwestern egg rolls, buffalo wings and Chicken crispers. It was really really good! I can still imagine the taste of the egg rolls, there's a twist in between tangy and spicy. Although I munched the celery whenever the oiliness kicks in, that made me fed up a bit. I think this platter is quite heavy for an appetizer so be careful not to be overly excited.

We also got Grilled Chicken Sandwich Php375. This was supposedly my main entree but the Triple Dipper satisfied me too early! We just took this home but of course I had to check and there was a thick slab of grilled chicken between those buns. About more than half an inch thick to be exact and the veggie slices were not that far either. I couldn't recall the actual taste when I ate it the following day so I believe it was just so so while my daughter nibbled the fries.

Bizu + New Blog Design

First of all, do you like my new blog design? I've been skeptic about it for a while because I had so much memories with my first customized design. A few of my readers even sent me compliments on how how dainty it looked. But I guess, most bloggers would agree to a blog revamp. We all need it, at least not every year. Besides, I am so embracing change at the moment. So I chose a design that best describes my personality. Yes, this is me - less complicated, fairly simple yet out of the ordinary.

 

Anyway, two or three weekends ago, hubby and I visited Greenhills to have our phones undergo a little repair. How lucky can we get, our units were both outside warranty! My back camera lens acquired a small dirt that annoys me to the highest level! I'm a lady who's always behind the camera so this thing is really important to me. I honestly don't know how it get there and tried all the possible means to get rid of it. I found out that iPhone5 has the most cosmetic issues amongst other models and camera dirt is the most common.

So when a friend, who happens to be the best iPhone technician in Greenhills according to his colleagues, finally took off the dirt, of course it calls for a small celebration! I want that best Instagram pic, thus, the above photo. Really delighted to see these stunning macarons. It's also my #day1 of my #100happydays. *teehee*

 

More than just being relieved from distress on my iPhone, I really wanted to try the luscious Macaron de Paris of Bizu. My last visit was posted here and had no chance to order them so this time, I made sure I'm taking home a box of 8 (sold at Php435) of these yummy macarons! They also sell it per piece for Php55/each and luckily, all my favorites were available that night!

 

They were too pretty to eat.. and I don't even want to remove the hot pink ribbon! It was perfectly crunchy from the outside and soft in the inside. It's definitely a small piece of heaven! Keep it refrigerated so it doesn't melt on your first bite. Among my favorites are Raspberry, French Earl Grey and Almond, Blueberry and Hazelnut and White Truffle. So, yeah I finished half of it in two days! Ha ha!

Bizu Patisserie & Bistro has different locations now so make sure to visit the nearest branch posted on their Facebook page.

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

Slice High St.

We continued our Sunday family day at BHS. It's a good escape from crowded malls plus we love it here because my little girl can freely scream, run and play. Also, the weather was something we really wish for, giving us cool breeze even at 2pm. That's very unlikely in Manila.


I was already looking for coffee or pastry shops before she tires out her energy running here and there. She will most definitely ask for something to eat, so I should come up with a plan before she says the magic word. Good thing, SLICE was just right behind us.


Sadly, I couldn't spot a free table outside. Gusto ko pa naman sana ma-enjoy yung libreng hangin. It turns out that being seated inside was way better. I really loved the color scheme, anything in green to me is "queen-like", that elegant! It made the shop look more calm and restful, everything was so appealing.


I asked Mom to check out the cake displays and gleefully suggested to try the Double Choco Yema cake. Insert "magugustuhan ni Daphne yan kasi chocolate!". It was my first to hear a "yema cake", too sweet I suppose, but we gave it a shot. They ran out of Banoffee pie so I replaced it with Brownie Sundae. Sugar treats!


Double Choco Yema Cake Php240
Two words: THE BEST! It was thick, moist and decadent. It was a generous slice, my pictures don't give justice. And I was too quick to judge, the cake wasn't even sweet at all. In fact, it was the chocolate that neutralised the sweetness. I'm happy that my daughter approved this order as she clearly enjoyed every bite. The three of us shared one slice and we could hardly finish it. It was that rich! I suggest you order this when you visit SLICE and grab someone to share with. I also have to mention that right after this cake was served, three tables had the same order.


Brownie Sundae Php220
I describe it as "milky-chocolatey" and the brownie bars were chunky. I used to combine cake and ice cream (regardless of the flavors) whenever we have both at home, so this one's a better version. Though if I was aware of the cake size, I'd probably just settle with the Double Choco Yema and add some fruit juice.


Yeah, drop those gadgets, talk to your seatmates and enjoy the good food. I'm happy with this random food discovery and will be back very soon. Let's try the healthy burgers and salads next time! :-)

SLICE
Bonifacio High Street Central
G/F Bonifacio High Street Central,
7th Ave cor 29th St
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 553-7783


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Sunshine Kitchen

"When was the last time you did something for the first time?" Haha. Yeah, I still have this Frozen movie hangover. But if you really wanna know my answer to that, it would be purchasing a deal from a group buying site. I know, I'm way way behind! It's just that my shopping preference is quite uncommon, or let's say, quite outdated from today's trend. I chanced to be a member of about three group buying sites for quite some time but didn't ever proceed to the check out counter. Why is that? *face palm*


Moving forward, and congratulations to me for finally getting rid of my old-fashioned way, I finally purchased my first ever deal last December! *woohoo* My plan was to take the hubby for a brunch date for no particular occasion. (Of course, wives can do it the other way around!) I was actually certain that we will only be able to use this after the holidays and even our wedding anniversary.


When we entered Sunshine Kitchen, I noticed right away how it is contrary to early morning sun rays and bright skies. It's basically a bistro, with dark wooden furniture and bricked walls, that serves good breakfast.


Had I forgotten to book a reservation, there will be no free table for us at 12nn on a Sunday. Little girl chose that spot, near the window, so she can freely see kids playing at the Fort Strip grounds.


Limitless Strawberry bellinis
Don't be fooled, it may look sweet and refreshing, but the alcohol's presence will kick in on your second glass. Or could it be my tolerance went down to zero now? Nevertheless, Mom and I enjoyed our champagne for brunch. It would have been lovelier if dining al fresco.


Breakfast Pizza
I always liked my pizza thick but this artisan pizza can be an exemption. Also, I'm not used to small round pizza, so I was contemplating if this really is good for sharing. Surprisingly, it can be filling. As for the taste, I can't recall anything to rave.


Crabcake Benedict
I wasn't into something leafy that day so Mom took the greens. She did like the salad and finished the limited dip. I can't really say if the salad and crabcake was a good pair. It is though, on pictures. As for the crabcake, it is crispy from the outside and oily from the inside, like I cringed when the oil juiced out when I sank my teeth.


Peach French Toast with Chocolate Caramel Sauce and Creme Anglaise
Finally, there's something served that could cheer me up. You should know the power of chocolates in a human body. My french toast wasn't fluffy nor soft but just about right to hold the peaches on top. I also recognized the bittersweet mixture, so dark chocolate must be used.


Though my first visit did not exceed my expectations, I'm still giving Sunshine Kitchen a next try. I'd probably order Slow Roast Porchetta and Key Lime Pie. Just before posting this, I emailed them a little inquiry about this purchase on Deal Grocer, something wasn't right and I want it confirmed. Updates later.



Sunshine Kitchen
2nd Floor Fort Pointe Bldg 1
The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City
Taguig
(0928) 821-2625

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