Pito and Mita

Finding a good restaurant in our village is one of the few upsides of the (annoyingly fast) growing commercialization of BF Homes. And unlike many of the visually loud bars and restaurants sprawled like mushrooms all over the place, Pito and Mita is such a lovely quiet discovery. Tucked in Aguirre Avenue, Pito and Mita is very unassuming, you might just miss it if it were not for the billboard outside. Its interiors were never renovated to become like a restaurant so it still retains its original framework of a house. Very apt for its theme of serving hearty cooked-by-your-mom comfort food, the place feels like dining at your lola's house. It is not just homey, it IS a home. But its casualness stops there. Once you see the menu offerings and taste the food on the pretty lace plates, you're immediately brought back to this fine dining mood, fit for any date or special occasion.

We started our meal with some raspberry iced tea, which was a steal at P60 bottomless! I had the IBERIAN CHICKEN W/ CHORIZO RICE (P225), one of the more interesting entrees on the menu. Being a sucker for rice, I loved how it felt not like gooey risotto (which I like too), but al dente and toasted, like the rice that has stuck to the bottom of the paella pan. The sweet-lemony chorizo rice was complemented by the garlicky chicken thigh served on top of it.

Iberian Chicken w/ Chorizo Rice (225)

Allen ordered the EGGPLANT LASAGNA (anything with the word lasagna sounds good to him) (P310). Very sinful with tons of mozzarella tapered down by the smoky taste of the eggplant. It was so rich, there was more filling than pasta. 

Eggplant Lasagna (P310)

We also had to try the POTATO GRATIN (P165) - layers of thinly sliced soft potatoes baked with 3 different kinds of cheeses on top. It was good with loads of butter perfected by the subtly pungent cheeses. 

Potato Gratin (P165)

But my favorite FAVORITE part was the dessert - the HALU-HALO TURON (P55) - the baby of two tried and tested Filipino desserts, how could it go wrong? With sticky macapuno (sweetened coconut meat), sweet beans, sago (tapioca), kaong (what's this in English? :p), ube (purple yam), sweetened saba (banana) and langka (sweetened jackfruit) all snugged up in a crunchy/chewy sugar-covered wrapper topped with vanilla ice cream, I forgot Allen was with me and almost finished it all by myself. 

Halu-Halo Turon (P55)

Indulgences are good sometimes, and it doesn't have to be in a fancy 5-star restaurant. It could just be literally a few streets away from your house, all for less than P1000. :-) 

Pito and Mita is located at 176 Aguirre St. BF Homes Paranaque. They also accept food orders (only P750 for 20 pieces of turon!). 

Domesticating Allen & Gis Series 1: Mushrooms and Cupcakes

Like everything else, cooking seems simple in theory. Google "recipe" and it's easy enough to find short procedures with pretty pictures. But actually doing it is the problem. So inspired by the multiple cooking reality shows we've been watching and driven by our craving for burgers and effort to be healthy eaters lately, Allen and I decided to cook Portobello Mushroom Burgers and Red Velvet Cupcakes. It took us three hours, but it was really an accomplishment for us. 

We got the recipes at: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/portobello-mushroom-burgers/detail.aspx and http://allrecipes.com/recipe/red-velvet-cupcakes-3/detail.aspx. You can find all the ingredients at Landmark (only place which had the mushrooms) and Rustan's (for the provolone cheese) and they cost around P2500-3000 for 12 persons (P250 for 6 mushrooms). Although the portobello didn't satisfy our burger craving, it was still pretty good. We added wasabi mayo and caramelized onions to give it that little extra. We also used mozzarella cheese to add a salty taste to the bitter provolone. The cupcakes were moist and not too sweet, so it was a hit with the mommies and daddies. 

Marinate mushrooms in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, oregano and basil for at least 15 minutes, turning them once or twice.

Grill mushrooms for 5 minutes on each side. Don't be afraid if the rough side turns black.

Add caramelized onions, wasabi mayo, and lettuce. We also used mozzarella in addition to the provolone cheese. 

Yes, it's supposed to look like clay. :-p

Hardest part was scooping the batter into the pans. But you don't have to be OC since they will still look good even if they look messy uncooked. Bake for around 15-20 minutes.

Put the frosting in the fridge first if it's to runny to spread on the cupcakes. Use a small plastic knife to spread the frosting. Chill before serving. Enjoy! :-)

Up Dharma Down at San Mig

Allen and I always say that two things brought us together: music and food. Our first conversation was over Dave Matthews Band on the back of a pick-up truck in Camarines Norte. Since then, we always knew we would be great friends because we like  the same music. We would chat or text endlessly about what songs to download and fight over which version is better (he likes Crash into Me live at Folsom Field, I like the Abbey Road one).

Four years ago, we discovered another band to obsess about, Up Dharma Down. I'm too scared to write anything about them, but I can honestly say that we haven't heard anything we don't like. Their lyrics are eloquent but still relatable (I keep saying Allen and I got together because of Oo). And you don't hear their sound, you feel it. Armi's voice is extraordinary (girl crush!). Plus they offer something new every time. The never run out of different versions to their songs, whether it be a change in the rhythm, arrangement or melody. We just love them. There's nothing like the feeling of driving early in the morning with UDD on the background. It really transports you to some place else. Very addicting and otherworldly. 

Mochi's Ordeal + The Non-Supermoon at Vieux Chalet Antipolo

MOCHI

First of all, some good news. Mochi, my dog is alive! We wouldn't know until a few weeks if the virus is completely gone, but he's back to normal. The whole experience was a nightmare for us. It all started when Mochi stopped eating. The vet said there was nothing to worry about. But after two days, he contracted colds and cough. The blood test showed distemper virus. I couldn't accept it at first because you couldn't even imagine how obsessed I am with taking care of this dog. His shots are complete, he's taken to the vet/groomers every week, he eats well, and he takes more vitamins than I do! So I was really heartbroken, more so when the vet told us that he has a 50-50 chance of survival. Distemper virus affects the respiratory and nervous systems. If the disease progresses, the dog might be paralyzed and will eventually die. The vet told us there is no treatment and that his immune system must be strong enough to fight it on its own. The first treatment Mochi underwent was supportive, which means they started to boost his immune system by injecting him with vitamins C and B-complex and antibiotics for his colds. After 3 days with no improvement, we were referred to Vets in Practice in Alabang for an experimental spinal tap procedure used on chickens. At this point, we were desperate because we heard the three other dogs that contracted the same disease already died. Poor babies. The vet injected antibiotics on his spine. The treatment seems successful because after a couple of days, Mochi started eating by himself and running around already. We still need to give him vitamins C, B-complex and antibiotics. But I can say that the worst part is over. If you need more information, feel free to leave a comment here and I will give you my contact details.

Mochi!

VIEUX CHALET

Last week, I read about the supermoon on Yahoo news and immediately thought that Allen would probably enjoy taking photos. Being "south people" we've never gone to Antipolo for a date so I thought this would be a great opportunity to catch the supermoon and try out a new restaurant. Research led us to VIEUX CHALET. It would've taken us only 40 minutes from Katipunan, but we got lost somewhere so we arrived after an hour. The restaurant was not at all what I expected. It was very old style and home-y. It reminded me of my Lola's house, with all the old furniture and fixtures (there's a creepy lola's cabinet!) and quaint decorations. 

Vieux Chalet

The View

Unfortunately, we didn't see the supermoon, or any moon for that matter, so we just set our eyes on trying out the cuisine. We started our meal with the potato and pumpkin soup. It was okay, a little bit one-note and flat. Perhaps some pepper would've made it better. Then we tried the ricotta ravioli and spaghetti (supposed to be fettucini) padilla. The ricotta ravioli was our favorite. The noodles were perfectly al dente and tasted homemade. They didn't scrimp on the ricotta cheese. The spaghetti padilla was okay and less of a treat than the ravioli. Perhaps because the noodles weren't homemade. The sauce was really creamy though, which is always a plus. The salty slivers of majestic ham were complimented by the sweet shitake mushrooms. We finished it off with the swiss chocolate cake. This was our favorite. The dark chocolate ice cream was homemade, and it was so creamy, it didn't feel like the regular ice cream at all. The texture was so smooth, and felt like eating pure chocolate-flavored all-purpose cream. The cake had generous amount of cinnamon and was so moist, but not under-baked. This satisfying meal set us back only P1000. Main courses definitely cost more though. 

Cream of Pumpkin and Potato Soup

Ricotta Spinach Ravioli

Fettucini (Spaghetti) Padilla

Swiss Chocolate Cake

Vieux Chalet is truly a lovely restaurant, but I guess we're just not big fans of the theme and the food. There was also this very strong scent of incense, which made my throat hurt. A lot of blogs have given great reviews though, so we might just give it another try. 

An Appeal

My dog Mochi was diagnosed yesterday with distemper virus. Three doctors said there is no treatment, only supportive medication. They said it's a 50/50 chance of survival. Please do include him in your prayers.

Singapore Weekend

I recently took advantage of the EDSA long weekend and tagged along with my sister to Singapore. I booked a flight with TIGER AIRWAYS ((US$159) and arrived Friday morning. Outside the budget airport, it was easy to grab a cab to our hotel. The cab ride took 15 minutes and Sg$13. IBIS HOTEL on Bencoolen St. (Sg$200/night) rooms are a bit cramped but comfortable enough for two persons and seemed new. Don't count on good cable channels though. We later found out that the location of our hotel is quite ideal because everything seemed to be 15 minutes away by cab and is somewhat in the middle of the city. It is also right beside the BUGIS MARKET (an outdoor tiangge) and 2 temples. From our hotel the BUGIS MRT STATION is only a 5-minute walk.

Ibis Hotel Room

When traveling, I always make it a point to visit McDonald's and try something new, whether it be a localized version of the burger or something completely different. It's also a chance to grab a milkshake (tell me again why we don't have that anymore?). So my first Singaporean meal was McDonald's. Aside from the regular burgers, fries and shakes, McDonald's offers the samurai burger (Sg$4.65) and chicken wings (Sg$4.60). The samurai burger has teriyaki sauce and the same mayo sauce in our McChicken. I liked the combination of the sauces and didn't mind at all how messy it was. The chicken wings tasted like the good old fried chicken but with a touch of curry. Oddly enough, they don't have rice.

Samurai Burger

After a quick lunch, we headed out to explore the city. A block away and we were on the train via Bugis station. Transportation in Singapore is fairly easy. Everything is connected and easily accessible by train (Sg$1-2). We didn't get lost because there were signs everywhere. 

On the MRT

Our stop took us to our first mall, ION MALL. This mall has neverending floors, starting from basement 3, which is conveniently connected to the train station, until the fifth floor. We took time to shop and discovered a store called RUBI, where we got five pairs of shoes for Sg$55! 

Rubi's Tagline (How clever!)

Outside Ion Mall, we set foot on ORCHARD ROAD. They say that Orchard is the best shopping street. Though it seemed to us that there are malls everywhere else we go. We met with Ate Mi-an's friend and headed to another mall TAKASHEMAYA on Orchard Road. We had a late lunch at COFFEE CLUB and had bacon chicken and piripiri chicken. The treat however was the iced vanilla latte. 

Orchard Road

Coffee Club

Bacon Chicken

Later on in the evening we rode the SINGAPORE FLYER (Sg$26/person) for a full view of Singapore. Unfortunately it rained so we weren't able to catch a good sunset. But the view was still amazing, even for one who's afraid of heights (me!). Singapore Flyer is apparently the tallest in the world, even beating the London Eye. The ride took about 30 minutes and we were lucky because they closed it after we got off due to the weather. 

View from the Flyer

After this, we took a cab to MAKANSUTRA GLUTTONS BAY. Makansutra is an outdoor food hub where many kiosks are lined up by the bay. I looovvveeddd it! I am a firm believer that the best way to experience another culture is through food and Makansutra did not disappoint. It was food trip heaven. I was able to try out different Singaporean delicacies, like satay with curry and cubed rice, kaya toast, milk tea, chendol (halo-halo is still better though), and sting ray (tasted like a cross between fish and chicken breast). Be ready with water, as some food can be really spicy.

Makansutra Gluttons Bay

For after-dinner drinks, we went to CLARK QUAY, a strip of bars and restaurants along the other side of the bay, to try out the famous SINGAPORE SLING. Singapore Sling is a mix of gin and cherry brandy. It tasted like sweet juice and wasn't bitter at all. Drinks in Singapore are pretty pricey. Cocktails are Sg$15-17 and beers are at Sg$13-15. Cigarettes will set you back by Sg$11-13/pack of 20s (so better stop smoking! :p). After a scary run-in with a drunk and rowdy Chinese (don't count on the very lax security in Singapore), we called it a night.

Singapore Sling

Saturday was devoted to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (Sg$72/ticket). From our hotel, we rode two trains and then the monorail (Sg$3) to RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA. Universal was pretty much the same as the one in Los Angeles, but a lot smaller. It also has the Jurassic Park, Shrek and The Mummy rides and the Waterworld show. I suggest going on a weekday because the lines were so long. We spent an hour waiting to get on the Jurassic Park ride. The highlight of it was the dueling  roller coaster ride, where two cars (one hanging!) simultaneously drop (which Ate Mi's hair survived! Finesse hairspray is miraculous!). We also went crazy over Garrets popcorn, our favorite from Chicago. 

Battlestar Gallactica

On Sunday we walked to the oldest church in Singapore right in front of the Singapore Art Museum and heard mass. We visited RAFFLES HOTEL, the oldest and most expensive hotel in Singapore. We were supposed to grab our last lunch there but the steakhouse was closed for the day. So we ventured outside and found a small nook where they serve hainanese chicken for two for only Sg$13.80. Yummy! After lunch, I said goodbye to Singapore.

Raffles Hotel

Hainanese I love!

All in all, Singapore is a tourist-friendly city. It has a good transportation system, a lot of hotels and a lot more restaurants and shopping malls. Although people don't seem warm and friendly, they were still helpful and it was easy to communicate with them. We also felt safe to be by ourselves. It was as if we were still in the Philippines, but in a different city. There are still a lot more things left to try and many friends to visit again. So we'll definitely go back!

Mornings with Mochi

This morning, as I shuffled for my glasses, my dog Mochi greeted me. Already a routine for him, he makes it a point to say good morning by laying his head on the side of my bed the moment I wake up. We bought Mochi through a breeder last March 2010. He's a cream chow chow, with purple tongue and everything! I never understood "dog people" before. We've always had cats and I've had apprehensions about getting a dog because they're so high maintenance and they smell. :p But after a few months of taking care of Mochi, I can't imagine not ever wanting a dog. There were of course a lot of ugly moments. From the shoe-chewing fiasco phase to wanting-to-kill-the-cats phase (the cats launched an attack and showed him who's boss!). But generally, Mochi has been a good dog and a wonderful addition to our family. We could spend hours just watching him and talking about him and shopping for him. Popsy has found a new "bunsoy" and Mama now has a protector. Me? He's my baby. :-) I think the reason why he fits in so perfectly is because like us, he is genuinely happy and excited about the everyday, and especially about spending time with each other. Perhaps the reason why dogs are the perfect companions is because we should be like them - contented with the little things and values family above everything else. Although it's hard work (3-hour baths, meticulous food preparation, early morning "pee-pee" breaks), there's really nothing like the feeling of seeing your dog so happy just with the sight of you. Now, I'm one of those "dog people" and watching Hachiko makes me cry even more. :-)

Hot Air Balloon 2011

(This is the result of my feeble attempt at video-editing. I have the old version of iMovie so it was kind of hard to manipulate. I find editing very calming. I forget the woes of law school because I get so OC with the details of the video. :p)

This was the third time we went to the HAB Festival. As their tagline goes, it was a day of everything that flies. There were kite-flying, aerial shows, Japanese lanterns (Tangled!), bubbles, and of course the HABs. But you have to be ready to rough it out and walk walk walk! The schedule for the HAB shows was first thing in the morning and last thing in the afternoon. In the morning, they let the balloons fly. The evening was a grounded light show. Between that, we had nothing to do but eat (kwek kwek and goto!) and take pictures. Tickets were still at P150 and a balloon ride was at P7000. Because we weren't able to get photographer's passes, we were lucky enough that a friend had access to the field. Otherwise, we would have had a hard time, because there were a loooooot of people behind the fence so an unobstructed view would have been impossible.

For me HABF is always a great opportunity to feel like a kid again. To be excited about the little things, like being able to launch a kite, wave to airplanes, pretend the balloons are Christmas lights, and role play Star Wars scenes beside the Darth Vader balloon. It is also fun to spend time with family and friends over all kinds of food, from sour worms to pastel, because there's nothing else to do in the afternoon!

Photo Entry No. 2

Photo Entry No. 1: Aglow

Hot Air Balloon Festival 2011, Clark Pampanga

Escape to Ilocos Norte

A vacation quick fix is perhaps the best way to describe the province of Ilocos Norte. Just an hour plane-ride away and you’re transported to a place of immense culture and relaxation. A paradox of new and old, history and development, virgin and inhabited, Ilocos Norte was seemingly meant to be a confusing paradise of sorts – for the adventurer, the historian, the escapist.

Ilocos Norte Sunset

Thirty minutes from the airport and we ended up in the town of Currimao, where we were greeted by a friendly face, my high school best friend Toni, owner of PLAYA TROPICAL. Playa is one of the more high-end beach resorts in Ilocos Norte. Sunlit Bali-inspired villas surround the infinity pool that looks over the ocean. It is detachment from the real world, at its best and one of the most popular wedding reception and pre-nuptial photo shoot venues in the area. Our favorite spot is the hammock hanging from huge coconut trees with the view of the beach and the sunset.

Sunset at Playa

The Famous Hammock

Playa's Room

We had to fight the urge to just lounge around the resort. We drove off to PAGUDPUD, which is about two hours away. On the way, we passed by STA. MONICA CHURCH, where Imee Marcos got married. Unfortunately, they were closed for the day, but we still enjoyed taking photos by the brick walls and the beautiful bell tower. The church was also facing a bay, which makes the atmosphere all the more peaceful. After this, we saw the huuuugggeee BANGUI WINDMILLS. I was so tempted to run around flapping white cloth and sing Regine’s Biyahe Tayo, to Allen’s horror. Also on the way to Pagudpud is CAPE BOREADOR, a deserted lighthouse. The keepers let tourists go up all the way to the bulb itself. Dangerous and not outfit-friendly (wear shorts!), but worth it nonetheless. We arrived at Pagudpud at sunset. After a pretty rough ride, we chose to just enjoy the view of the big waves in front of KAPULUAN RESORT while drinking beer. Kapuluan is a surfer’s resort, with very minimalist accommodations and a very hyper poodle.

Sta. Monica Church

Bangui Windmills

View from Cape Boreador

Kapuluan Beach Resort, Pagudpud

The next day we headed to the most photographed place in all of Ilocos Norte. In CRISOLOGO ST., with its well-preserved old Filipino architecture, one would feel the urge to sing Armida Siguion Reyna songs while pretending to be Maria Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra. One strut through the avenue, and the history we just read in high school came alive before our eyes. Photographers would surely go crazy in this place! After which, we visited Chavit Singson’s BALUARTE, where miniature horses run around without care. We braved the scorching temperature to see the butterfly garden and feed the camels. For the kids in us, this was perhaps the best part.

Calle Crisologo

Baluarte

Of course, the biggest highlight of every trip (especially in the Philippines) is the food! Having Ilocano roots, it’s as if my taste buds were genetically made to enjoy everything we ate there. It truly felt like biting into history and connecting with our Filipino heritage. There is nothing more Filipino after all than a feast of longganisa, bagnet, poquepoque (don’t to pronounce the E!”) and kamatis and bagoong which can be found in many restaurants throughout the province. Of course there is the Ilocos empanada, which is an institution in itself. While many have attempted to bring this wonder into Manila, nothing has compared to buying those freshly fried Batac orange empanadas (double meat and eggs please!) with sweet vinegar and watching the oil soak into the brown paperbags. A new gastronomic experience for us was meeting the dinuguan and longganisa pizza. Not being a big fan of dinuguan, I was apprehensive to try this east-meets-west oddity, but after the first bite, I was hooked. Allen still craves for it to this day! We can't wait to visit again!

Batac's Empanada