Anicteric Lunch at Joseph and Jaemark's Family Grill

 As I was heading to this new resto, I was expecting a site that would be ordinary, but hoping that the food would at least stand-out.   I took the MRT, for me to get to GMA Network faster and there I was at GMA Drive asking the guard where Sgt. Esguerra is, well he didn't know, but luckily a pedicab was on by so we asked where it is and asked for the new place, Joseph and Jaemark, then the driver said it was a grill and he knows it.   I was thinking of a typical restaurant till the word grill came through.   Well the place could be smoky, crowd would be ordering lots of beers and alcoholic beverages and waitresses on skimpy clothing, sorry but honestly, those were the images on my mind.   And what do you know, the place is like 3 minutes from EDSA, the driver should have told me it was near so I could have walked.
As I get there, oh sure the place is clean, newly painted and colors are warm and inviting, of course it is new, wait till I get it...  A waiter assisted me to the fourier, take note, it was a waiter, no female attendant.    Some of  the co-bloggers are there, waiting for the food to be reviewed.  I ordered dalandan shake.   The shake is not bad, sweet enough for me, tangy as it should be but not sour, really refreshing, not the usual beverage i take, but I needed to be adventurous.
Then comes Ms. Tony, one of the owner, and introduced us to the couple co-owners, the Arceo.  We had our lunch inside the main dining area.   Eventually, the grill is owned by a group of young couples.   A new ownership by the way from the previous Joseph and Jaemarks Grill, but still the same chef heading the well preserved game, Mr. Mars Reyes.

So let us see...how much would one  have to eat to rupture the stomach...Hmmm... I do not have the faintest idea about  what's on the menu till they one by one serve the dishes and  they were serving mainly Tuna and other seafood specialties, so thus the telephone number speaks, 410-TUNA.  For me fish speaks health, but has to be fresh to be equally hearty!
So here are what we feasted upon...

Catfish salad

BIZU: l'expérience

In the mood for French Patisserie!

At Bizu, pastry creations are really eye-tempting, the art in cake decorating has been given importance, every detail displays flair and an interest to the palate.  Vibrant colors are used to infuse art into dining...oh what the heck, since centuries I've been dieing to try out their products.   I've so many times bypassed their cafe at Glorietta 4, never did I thought that the money I'd be spending would really be worth it!

At last, with a smoochy here and there to a quite precocious hubby, my wait was finally over. With a long list from  L E S   G A T E A U X   D E   L A V I T R I N E   P A T I S S E R I E  (Cakes from the Vitrine)       I could hardly choose.   Yes, mind you, I want to try everything, that would be gluttonous though, but  I did not say I want to eat all, in my case that would be insanely deadly! We are a family that has diabetes, you know.

So I asked for their best-seller, Samba.  A combination of milk and dark chocolate mousse between layers of chocolate cake and coated with our own homemade chocolate brilliant sauce.

Cafe Mocha

Bibingka and Puto Bumbong is Already Around the Corner

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Why is it that Bibingka sellers only do this during the Christmas season.
Thank God then for the Christmas season, not only was .we commemorate  the birth of our Lord Jesus and forever more realize the importance of the His birth, as our Savior, but we also enjoy the fun and excitement and the love that overflows through it.
When December comes, I would definitely look for bibingka sellers, were we see smoke going up the air at night and terra cota pots make-shifted to cookery.
I remember the first time I had my taste with the native delicacy, it was December, my sweet December.
When my boyfriend, that was when I was in HS, gave me one.   Funny, hahahaha, it was wrapped in newspapers, still warm when it was given, and I hardly know that I would look for it every December since then I just could not remember when it was given.

One of the tastiest we tried was at Kalayaan Ave, in Guadalupe, also a friend bought me one at Shell Magallanes, but it was replaced by Go nuts Doughnuts.

So what do we look for in a best Bibingka?  The dough has to be really smooth.   The baked bread should be soft, nicelt done inside, but not "sunog" outside.   Yes it is baked using charcoal on a pot and coaled pan to cover it.  I should not be too sweet nor bitter.   I have tried some which are a bit bitter.
Bibingkinitan, sells on malls all through out the year though, but it does not capture the one I tried the best...
at Mangan Restaurant, at MOA.   You can order Bibingka seperately at Mangan or have a Meryenda package for a mere P 115.00, which includes an ukuy, pancit, puto bumbong and bibingka.

Now we're on our ultimate search for the yummiest bibingka an puto bumbong in town, or even the whole country.

Nighttime at Bonifacio High Street

After a gastronomic and wild experience hosted by Nike Philippines and Ogilvy PRW, and prepared by Fridays, we enjoyed the strip with its lights and happenings.

It was our first time to come here and we were excited not knowing there was a nice place to stroll along and find a better place to eat at.

A

Here are just a few places to enjoy company talks and acquiantances...

Krispy Creme Doughnuts and Coffee

Sonja's Cupcakes

And woah, just the treat I was looking for, GELATTO, Italian Ice Cream, displayed and served as I had it in Duomo, Milan, Italy.   The not-so-big cafe, has a lot off unique and hard to find ice cream assortment.    You can enjoy it on a cone or on a cup of different sizes.   A dollop of scoop costs only P 130 pesos, cheap considering the flavors and quality they are offering.

They not only have gelatto but a whole wide range of food on their menu.

My hubby bought me Panna Cotta flavor! Sooo yummy!

They even offer discount rates for students.

And guess what happened when we got out of the creamery... Just a few meters away from the store, a dn few bites here and there, my ever yummy, ever favorite gelato, fell , due to the amount of ice cream served to me.  Wahhh!  This only means we have to come back here again, and I will definitely bring my kids here with us so we can enjoy different flavors of ice creams.

To our frustration, we just got ourselves our favorite local ice cream brand, Arce Dairy,since we got to Market Market already to go back to were we parked.  I had Atis Delight, and Bhogs had, the yummiest mango ice cream we ever tasted.

What a night, there are a lot more restos and bars available and not crowded, to choose from visit http://www.myfoodtrip.com/tags/serendra/restaurants.html for list and resources.

Marriott Hotel Partners with Habitat For Humanity to Open up the Season of Giving

      Marriott Hotel waves the magic wand over homeless Filipinos and behold Christmas is warm and more beautiful.   Yes the people behind Marriott Hotel plays "fairy-godparents" in support to Habitat for Humanities Philippines' cause of assissting families in need of a decent shelter.

       As the qoute goes, "Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart,"  by Washington Irving, echoes on the lobby of the hotel, with all the Christmas adornments, Christmas trees on every hallway, gracious staffs and  Christmas songs from the night's performers, really felt Christmasie when I walked in!   But what was even more appropriate to that qoute was how charity had been the main point of the event.
      A certain Christmas tree was left plain and unlit, and here is were it will all come together.

      After a few hours it will be adorned by Christmas balls, lighted by the alluring Ruffa Guttierez, Pasay City Mayor Calixto and Marriot Hotel's Gen. Manager Richard Saul.   The balls for decorating the tree will cost 200 pesos each, and guests can sponsor the worth of the balls, and the cost of all the balls will be donated to Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
     To tell you the truth I was a bit flaky with my situation there, as a novice at this field, I don't know where to start, should I speak to the managers myself or act like just a spectator.  Well what the heck, might as well enjoy the moment, ambience- the finest, the people= interesting and the food-scrumptious.  Of course, 
hors d'oeuvre were served and while we await for the spectacular program and Christmas tree lighting, I had to know who the man is behind the banquet.

      Some big shots were there, GMA station's VP,  Rodrigo Cornejo and wife, Cory Quirino, Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Singapore Airlines Executives, Habitat Managing Director & CEO Ricardo Jacinto, celebs, Phoemela Baranda, Richard Gutierrez, Ruffa Guttierrez and Tim Yap who emceed the program.   Similarly aside from the Christmas sweet feast, attractions like, Chinese Acrobat dancers and Laarni Lozada wowed us.    And the final attraction, the Christmas tree lighting and ornating.

       Hats off to the organizers of the event,  wishing both Marriott and Habitat for Humanity more charity and lives to change.   Need not forget Chef Felino Afable, Executive Pastry Chef of Marriott for a spectacular display of desserts!   What a party to  kick off the Holiday Season.