The night crawler in me should be sleeping and not daydreaming of truffle fries and burger this very moment. I made the HUGE mistake of picking up a call half asleep (ugh Globe!) and now I can’t hit the sack back because for some reason, this photo appeared on my home screen:

Truffle Parmesan Fries

Meet BurgerBar’s Truffle Parmesan Fries. I’d like to call this the “truffle connection” between myself, Sophie, Fran, Nikki and Shen. I’ve definitely had better versions in Singapore and Japan but it is what it is — hot and freshly cooked french fries doused in parmesan cheese and some truffle oil. It’s literally my kind of heaven and hell.

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Ok call me crayyy but like Miss Junkie Poo, I love savory pastry and tuna. *close your eyes, press your lips together and smile* If you did exactly that then you would’ve known the mug Junkie and I sported when we learned that the Jollibee Tuna Pie’s back for a limited time this Lenten Season.

what I purchased with my last money (my debit card was captured!!!)

I first fell in love with the Tuna Pie around 2008 (I won’t forget for rather sentimental reasons) and I would always get it whenever I’m lost in Jollibee (even during training season). Flaky crust, chunky tuna, mushroom and creamy, peppery sauce. Mmmmm.

Whether you’re fasting or just a big fan of the Jollibee Tuna Pie make that dash to the nearest store to get your hands on this filling yet guilt-free treat before it goes MIA again. :)

Whenever I’m at Mercato with friends, we would one way or another have this bantering before ordering away:

Friend: What are you getting?
Me: 6 piece original from Manang’s Chicken
Friend: Manang’s again?!?
Me: *evil stare*

Why not chocnut?! Their double deep fried chicken’s one of my favourite sins! LOL

357 days ago at Magallanes Village, Makati for the teaser of Best Food Forward 2012

*le sigh*

Almost a year after my last Manang’s Chicken post, they have so much more to offer. My new favourite dish, while I didn’t order it last Sunday, is the Sesame Beef Stew Rice Meal. Here’s the massive feast I shared with a friend:

om nom nom nom

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at the Ben Thanh Market roundabout

Apart from Singapore, Vietnam’s another Asian country that swept me off my feet. In a nutshell, I would say that if you’ve got a knack for backpacking, war memorabilia, and lots of spring rolls, coffee and pho (pronounced as the F word without the K), consider going the Vietnam this quarter (while the weather is cool).

fruit peddler at the Pham Ngu Lao Street

hamming around at the War Remnants Museum

Fanny’s fancy ice cream & lemon sherbet

Pho 2000 beef pho: Bill Clinton loves this!

*le sigh* Vietnam! What I would give to be with you in a heartbeat! While there are plenty of (mainstream) Vietnamese restaurants here in Manila, in all honesty, nothing comes close. There’s one that’s reminiscent and until recently, is one of Makati’s best kept secrets.

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casual na casual lang at the Singapore Zoo

Every so often, I miss Singapore. Singapore (SG) is one of the first countries I went to that I absolutely fell in love with. The shopping, food, zoos, transportation and not to mention, the outstanding overall security is absolutely noteworthy.

my kind of shopping

As much as I’d love to just jet set to SG whenever I feel like it, of course there are a handful constraints, time being on top.  This is why I resort to just browsing old SG photos, SG magazines (I love Female!) + lifestyle blogs and eating Singaporean or Malaysian food when I get into that zone. :)

Makansutra Gluttons Bay

Makansutra Gluttons Bay

Mother Goose & Gov feasting on my then 1/2 month’s salary :]
Makansutra Gluttons Bay

I digress to the actual meat of this entry. I was in Ortigas yesterday and boy I missed this place! I spent almost 5 years in this district and while the traffic caused by Megamall sucks, I love this neighborhood. Just like Ayala, I feel like I can walk anywhere. Everyone’s relaxed unlike Makati where you see everyone brisk walking (including myself). The Podium mall is very close to my heart because it’s the first mall that absolutely ripped my bank account into a million pieces as a yuppie. It’s also my 911 fix for quick, comfort food after a long day at work.

inside Ang Mo Kio, The Podium

Piecing Singapore and The Podium together, say hello to Ang Mo Kio. Ang Mo Kio dubs itself as a Singaporean, hawker style restaurant. Upon stepping into its doors, I missed Makansutra Gluttons Bay in Raffles Avenue. Ang Mo Kio is reminiscent of Makansutra (to me that is) but of course, it’s organized and it’s smokeless. I love its tables and chairs! Very much like the rustic feat I want for my flat!

inside Ang Mo Kio, The Podium

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I know it’s freezing cold all over the metro but when things get steamy and stressful at work or in school, I highly recommend these new beverages from Starbucks.

Starbucks Refreshers in Very Berry Hibiscus and Cool Lime.
starts at Php 115

I can’t decide which one I like love more than the other because both are super delish (Very Berry Hibiscus has real blackberries while Cool Lime has a lime wedge), light to the palette (I can totally confuse it with a cocktail sans the buzz), and best of all, jam packed with antioxidants and caffeine thanks to a heaping of the prized green coffee extract.

Have you tried these drinks yourself? What do you think of them? Spill the beans (pun intended) below!

source

Have you tried Beurre Blanc‘s dinner buffet? I think it’s one of the most underrated buffets in the metro. For Php 715/pax (Php 650 + 10% SC), you get to wolf down on all you can eat salmon carpaccio, grill endless ocean protein, and relentlessly beef up on US Top Blade.

Salmon Carpaccio  (Php 395, ala carte)
No exag but I must have had at least half of the service plate. 

US Top Blade with potato wedges (Php 595, 180g. ala carte)
I can’t eat meat this red so I sent it to be grilled well done. 

Grill Station (Php 450, 150g. ala carte)
shrimp, tuna, mahi-mahi, squid, and cream dory

my ocean grill with Beurre Blanc’s fantastic Béarnaise sauce

IMO, the Php 715 I spent last Saturday night was worth every peso. Should you try the buffet because of this post and instantly fall in love with it, you’re welcome.

Beurre Blanc is located at Level 2 Resorts World Manila. Reservations not required but encouraged during the weekend (tel. no. 836-4342).

Happy 4th of July! While everyone in the metro’s cursing the awful traffic and rain, I’m beaming with glee because I don’t have to go to work tonight. :) Working for a US company definitely has its pros and cons and one of my favourite pros is that we don’t operate on the 6 major US holidays, today included. *cartwheels*

Mid-week breaks are made out of pure win because I get to catch up on all my reading plus I get to have longgggg lunches like the one I had earlier at Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge (another write-up here).

After a Singaporean (themed) breakfast with my colleagues, I went for the kill and found myself at Relik. If you love Relik’s themed nights, you must try having lunch there too. Apart from the (already) great food, you also get to appreciate the restaurant’s lavish yet rustic interiors.

It’s my lunch date’s first time to dine at Relik so naturally, I ordered dishes I love myself.

Tasting Board
Jamon Serrano, 15 months
Boneless “Diego Martin”, Corizo Pamplona
“Casedemont”, Stuffed “Serpis” Spanish olives and
Manchego 6 months “Artequeso”

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Last Monday, I had another (generous) serving of my latest non-stop palate lemming:

my large Red Mango Yuzu Lemon with muesli, Hershey’s chocolate kisses, and Dezato Mochi Balls

Apart from getting all the natural and guilt-free benefits from yogurt and lemon, overall, slowly noshing on the chilled bowl above felt like a hug at the end of a bad day. Last Monday was a true killer in and out of the office and this was my kind of escape past 9pm. While the bowl I had above’s literally a spoonful of heaven, the Yuzu Lemon frozen yogurt’s also best paired with almonds and the latest topping from Red Mango: Lemon bits (candied chewy lemon peels).

Get your Red Mango Yuzu Lemon fix at Trinoma (Levels 1 and 3), Greenbelt 3, SM Megamall, Eastwood Mall, Regis Center Katipunan, Ayala Center Cebu, Robinson’s Place Manila and their newest branch: G/F Forbeswood Parklane Fort (along Rizal Drive near Burgos Circle).

I’m grateful for so many things. One of them’s being welcomed by these ladies who’ve been friends since first grade (or prep even). I’ve known them for almost 11 years and it’s amazing how after three weddings and three beautiful kids, we’re still doing these date nights.

I arrived at Melo’s Burgos Circle early. So early I had to order a beer to whet my appetite.

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