Dana's Momentous Birthday with a Staycation at Island Cove Hotel

Our family was yet again blessed with another year of promises, added to that are our prayers for un-numbered years more for our Dana!  If you happen to know me personally and my family, or if you happen to stumble upon one of my past blogs, where I would tell of the journey our family have gone through battling and conquering Diabetes Mellitus, then we are on the right page, my friend.

My daughter have been fighting the daily routine that comes with controlling blood sugar to either spike up or go down.   Thankfully, she had been so brave enough throughout the five years since she was diagnosed with Juvenile DM.  

When you have diabetes, facing an unexpected food choice can be a little daunting, even for parents like us.  I have become so aware of what not to give and what could be best to give her making sure her blood sugar is controlled.  However, kids will always be kids, they have that innate sweet tooth, especially to a country with a carb-rich lifestyle.  So, I learned how to count carbs and basically play along with close monitoring of her blood sugar, even though she craves for sweets.

On a different news...

The girls had a blast when we spent Dana's birthday at Island Cove Hotel last May 5.  It was very momentous, for she learned how to swim on her own in the hotel's private pool.  

The pool, secluded from the public guests of the resort had provided me and the girls with the relaxation I've been dying to have since summer came.  We swam like there's no tomorrow and they even met some "balikbayan" girls at that.  The water, heat-treated has less (or even has the least amount) of chlorine in it.  It was like having the pool just for us.

Also, reserving for rooms for the family is so easy. 

All you need to do is go to their website:

http://www.islandcovephil.com/

then, click on the Reserve button located below the page.

Here are the simple steps you need to follow to book a room/rooms

1.  Select the date you want.

2.   Select the rooms.

3. Confirm reservation.

4. Fill up the guest details.

5. Payment and booking confirmation

 This is the newly renovated look of the rooms, btw.

 Eco-friendly hotel, makes use of refill bottles for their soaps and shampoos.

Note that only 3 kinds of room accommodations come with breakfast- Superior De Luxe, Veranda de Luxe, Hotel de Luxe.  We had 2 Superior de Luxe and we just paid two extra breakfast for the "bulilits."

 All rooms have:
Air conditioning• Deck/balcony• Refrigerator• Key Card System• Coffee/Tea maker• Wireless Internet Connection• Multi-function Telephone System with IDD/NDD• Individual Temperature Control•

 Sorry, Island Cove for the rowdiness of this bunch.
On with the afternoon swim...

We've been going to and fro the Jacuzzi and two kinds of pools.

Then, when Dana thought that was it for her birthday, we surprised her with this before we went out to eat dinner.

 I appreciate the help made by the hotel's cafe's staff for decorating this mini cake for our birthday girl.

After miles of driving along Binakayan down to Tanza, we ended up eating at The Countryside Steakhouse, at Puregold, Tanza.  Must I say that it was the cheapest but one of the most relishing meal the family had.  We usually spend a lot when the six of us goes out to eat.   Oh yes, my two teens admit that they are the ultimate "PG" kids, as in "patay-gutom", LOL.

Pork Sisig

 Tenderloin Steak

 Fried Chicken Legs

Porter House Steak

Famished, I was not able to take photos of the two other dishes we had, each dish' cost range from P 75 to P200, the Porter House being the most expensive at P200.   Serving was ginormous!  Depending on how hungry you are, each dish can serve up to two persons of course without the rice, it's served and ordered separately.

I would love to go back or try other branches to see the consistency of the dishes, for the sauces were great and the meat were tenderly done, with buttered veggies still crisp.

YUM! YUM! YUM!

Believe it or not, we went home so full and bloated, and above all satisfied!

CaliBurger Brings Out New Products from their Kitchen

"California is about the good life. So a bad life there seems so much worse than a bad life anywhere else. Quality is an obsession there—good food, good wine, good movies, music, weather, cars. Those sound like the right things to shoot for, but the never-ending quality quest is a lot of pressure when you’re uncertain and disorganized and, not least, broker than broke. Some afternoons a person just wants to rent Die Hard, close the curtains, and have Cheerios for lunch.”  ― Sarah Vowell, The Partly Cloudy Patriot

I may never have experienced living that Californian life and I am definitely not familiar with the said lifestyle, however, part of that may have been introduced to me and even to some by CaliBurger.  Being the newest hip comfort food, pit stop in Manila, Caliburger sends out a message that burger-eating is not only an answer to hunger pangs or cravings.  It's more of a lifestyle, a laid-back, summer-feel comfort that every urban souls need even with a quick meal.

I was part of a group to check out their new branch at Timog Ave.  Their first Philippine branch got off the ground just last February, 2014 at the 4th level of Century City Mall, Makati.

 The place is just across GMA network along one of Quezon City's frolicking street, Timog Ave.

 These colorful chairs and tables will make you think of the beach, only there isn't a trace of sand or sea water.

CaliBurger in Timog is a two-story building with ample seating on both floors.  If you don't want to be with the crowd, or prefers an outdoor venue, you can savor your California-inspired burgers at the veranda and sit luxuriously at these wide, cushioned wicker chairs and tables.

Simplicity!  That's how I can truly describe CaliBurger's menu.  No fuss, just great tasting hamburgers with meat patties made from Certified USDA Prime Angus Beef.
They have been known for their Cheeseburger and fries combo, but they have added three new products as they had celebrated Cali Fresh Weekend (which was last June 13-15).

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger and Onion Rings

How can you go wrong with bacon?  CaliBurger's Cheeseburger is perfect in itself, with locally-sourced fresh produce such as lettuce and tomatoes, and real American cheddar cheese melted on the grilled patty.  Now, it's made insanely relishing with double smoked bacon drizzled with a sweet and tangy house-made BBQ sauce.

Another side dish you might want to order with your burger are onion rings.  Of course you can still have some of their hand-cut fries, but why not try their hand-battered onion rings mildly flavored with thyme.

 Sweet Cali Wings

 For some days when you want to pass for the burger, you can instead savor the Sweet Cali Wings.  Chicken wings slightly bigger than your regular buffalo wings are crisp-fried to perfection then coated with soy honey glaze.   I was caught by a fellow blogger literally licking my fingers off after a few wings because the sauce was so damn good.  An order gives you four big chicken pieces.

Strawberry Milkshake

If you ask a California-dweller what's best to pair your burger and fries (or onion rings in this case) with, they would say "Milkshakes!" in a heartbeat.  I would agree!  So, I also tried their milkshakes, my first choice was Strawberry.  I love how dense and creamy my milkshake was, not the icy,strawberry-flavored, I guess they used dairy-based ice cream to make every sip pleasurable.  The serving too was quite huge, it was good but I wasn't able to finish mine cause I became full with all the stuff I had.

Make sure to check out CaliburgerPH at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for some promos and product updates.

Makati Branch

Address: 4F Century City Mall, Kalayaan Ave., Makati

Phone: (02) 403 8554

Email: info@caliburgerasia.com

Website: http://www.CaliBurgerIntl.com

Timog Branch:

Timog Avenue, Quezon City, in front of GMA Network,

         beside, Highlands Coffee

Getting Acquainted with Sunday Producers' Market at Evia

Last Sunday was hotter than the usual...or maybe not.  I guess we spent the day longer outside the house to visit friends located at the South.  It was a routine before the start of a school week, so it's market or grocery day for this domestic diva and for the girls.  This time it included the family's "bunso," our pup, Hazel Nutella.

We first visited my friend Julie and her kids at their house at Cerritos Heights along Daang Hari to finally meet their latest family addition, their princess type Shi Tzu named Summer.  

Another plan was to buy farm staples from the EVIA Producers' Market.  Below is the event poster which I shared in our Facebook page.

Sangley Point, Island Cove

After a dip in the pool or a shower from the newest water park attraction, Oceana Water Park in Island Cove, what follows after?  Yes, sun spots and tan lines!  Wait that's not all, of course, the kids would not mind having those as long as they are having fun, agree?  But what I really want to tell you is the partner of every swimming sessions - sumptuous and tummy-filling food.

Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park boasts of their culinary take on comfort food, leaving you wanting for more after you have tried their menu.  Sangley Point is just one of the many food stops inside the resort, to name them - Fishing Village for authentic Filipino dishes, i Cafe at the O Hotel lobby, and you can also have your fill while tuning a note at the Bayside Live Music and KTV.

Kalayaan Feast at Siklab

In the mood for celebrating nationalism tomorrow, or not having any idea yet how you can celebrate the Independence Day?

Far away in time, our first president waved our flag and declared Filipinos free. Since then, we celebrate Independence Day by waving our flags and by keeping the fire in our hearts burning, every year on the same day. The only thing missing is that we’ve never really filled our tummies to the brim to keep up with all the patriotism. Fortunately, Siklab is here to help us out.

Keep the fire alive in your hearts and your stomach as Siklab launches the Kalayaan Feast. In the celebrations of our 116th Independence Day, we salute our people by serving our best seller Chicken Barbeque for a very patriotic price of Php116. Marinated for six hours and tended with lots of love and nationalism, it is a heroic meal worth sharing.

So celebrate our independence by eating something that is closer to home. Come on out and try our Chicken Barbeque at Siklab, Level 3, Greenbelt 3, on June 12 and feel the Filipino love ala Bistro.

It’s Dad’s Turn for Treats at Century Park Hotel

In our family, though material gifts are appreciated in every occasions, food and hearty, gourmet meals are more likely to be fond of.  Father's Day is on the bend and for most of us, buying gifts can be very tedious and sometimes stressful.  Dads likely have almost everything and not most of them really like receiving trivial items.

So, it's just so timely that Century Park Hotel have once again developed a Father's Day treat that would really answer your gift-giving need.

Give dad or your loving husband a special treat on the special day of recognition of all his love and effort with our flavorful offerings this June 15.

With that said, why not bring the whole family at the Café in the Park and experience a delightful feast. For only P 1,250+ for adults and half the price for children 7 to 12 years old and free for children 6 years old and below, their taste buds will be all awhirl with the flavors of a wide selection of perfect food starting from the appetizers, cold items, soup, fresh meats and seafood to salads, main entrées and desserts.

The Japanese culture has always highly regarded the man of the household for carrying the pride of the family. On Father’s day, let dad experience the splendor at the Century Tsukiji with a special set meal good for two at P 1,895 + per order.  The savory meal starts you off with slices of salmon and lapu-lapu, followed by entrées of squid, sea urchin and soft-shell crab rolls which lead to the main course, deep-fried chicken wings, Nagoya style, breaded ground pork and U.S. sirloin steak with vegetable sauce served with crabstick fried rice, pickles and udon soup, all put to a refreshing close with an energizing green tea cake.

 Father’s day set meal, P 1,895 + per order, good for two persons.

Class up the celebration and bask in the ambiance of the music-filled Atrium Lounge.  Fun and relaxation awaits you and the whole family with our “Power Hour” from 10 pm to 12 midnight.  Get three for the price of two on their standard drinks aside from the 20% discount on food from the Atrium menu.  What more can you ask for in a rewarding bonding moment?

Thinking of a perfect take-home surprise for dad? Deli-Snack is the ideal place for goodies to go.  In addition to breads and deli items, they have prepared a special Father’s day cake that will surely satisfy dad’s sweet tooth.

Surprise dad with Papa Crema de Mocha, their classic take on the traditional mocha cake in three delectable layers, with chocolate ganache at the center, delightfully sandwiched by tasty caramel cream and thick custard cream ornamented with choco coffee beans, chocolate pistachios and red cherries.

For inquiries, contact us at telephone no. 528-8888 or email us at foodbev@centurypark.com.ph.

The Century Park Hotel is owned and managed by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation.

Appreciating an Aunt with a Dinner at Pugon Roasters, McKinley

Have you done something special for someone without even noticing you've made a mark on that person's life?  I do hope I did.  If it didn't matter that much I hope in time it will be realized.

But I'm not going to tell you what I did, this time, I want to share something that had been done for me.  She wouldn't have guessed that she had been part of my life all along.  I'm talking about one of my many aunts. Though we are not blood related (my mom's brother is her husband) it was more than blood that saw us through.  

Now is the time for us (my kids and I) to appreciate her for inspiring me to bake and being such a blessing to our family.

Maleficent Movie Experience at Trinoma

Directed by Robert Stromberg (production designer of "Alice in Wonderland", "Avatar", "Oz the Great and Powerful"), produced by Don Hahn ("Beauty and the Beast", "The Lion King", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame") and Joe Roth ("Alice in Wonderland", "Oz the Great and Powerful", "Snow White and the Huntsman"), and written by Paul Dini (both Batman and Superman: The Animated Series, Tiny Toons Adventures, Batman Beyond) and Linda Woolverton ("Alice in Wonderland", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Lion King"), this big-budget live action remake of Walt Disney's classic Sleeping Beauty explains how and why Maleficent turned so evil that led her to curse the infant Princess Aurora. This is the story of how a once-good fairy became the "Mistress of All Evil". - IMDB

So, last May 30, I was blessed enough to attend an early screening of Maleficent at TriNoma and I have to tell you right off the bat that I loved the movie entirely. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of this movie ever since we first heard that Angelina Jolie would be starring as the titular character way back last year. But before I tell you all about the movie, I would love to share my wonderful cinema experience at Trinoma Cinema.

Patis Tito Garden Cafe

A visit to San Pablo, Laguna would not be complete if you missed stopping by for a gorgeous Filipino meal at Patis Tito.  When I first saw it in some blogs when I scoured for places to eat in San Pablo, it gave a familiar ring.  It was formerly known as Kusina Salud, which I soon remembered that we were frantically searching for it years ago when we explored the seven lakes of San Pablo.  On the face of it, the garden cafe was left to be closed long ago and re-opened as Patis Tito Garden Cafe.

Rockwell's Secret Menu

It's said that you can find almost anything in Manila, and that statement couldn't be more true, especially for adventurous eaters. I have been resisting several food tours which have been slowly gaining popularity in different parts of the metro. In a city that's a melting pot of nationalities, it's no surprise that there's a variety of foods from different cultures available everywhere you look. 

To excite our tastebuds more, Powerplant Mall and it's dining community have thrown together a fun food adventure for this weekend.  It's actually a sequel to the first weekend of the Rockwell's Secret Menu. If you're ready to try a food that's much different than the quintessential all-meat pizza, there are several dishes around Rockwell that will really test how bold your palate is.

What is even greater is that you can also get to go home with P15,000 or P2,000 after gorging wonderful dishes from acclaimed restaurants in Powerplant mall.

On May 31 to June 1, eat around the Power Plant Mall and and get to try limited edition flavors from participating restaurants with the likes of Hatch 22, AK Bistro, Rambla, and Bizu. These restaurants will be introducing original concoctions that are not part of their usual menu. Impelling twists will be discovered on some of your all-time favorite dishes.

Here are the mechanics to grab home the cash prize:

I can finally try some of the dishes that I've been wanting to taste from the restaurants that are in my bucket list. How about you, are you ready for the challenge? 

Visit the Power Plant Mall on May 31 to June 1 and join me and other foodies, as we discover Rockwell’s Secret Menu!  Call 898-1702 for more information.