Happy Lemon's Green Tea with Rock Salt and Cheese

Sounds interesting?  No?  Sounds weird?  Yes?  That's what I thought too.  That's what made me try it out.  It was the drink my sister wanted me to try out.  She's been drinking several kinds from Happy Lemon and she wanted me to try it out too.

I would have enjoyed it much more if I drank it the way it's supposed to.  And that is drinking from top to bottom.  Ergo, NO STRAW allowed. I was told to drink and finish the froth or cheese on top before I go down the bitter clear green tea.

Unfortunately, I was carrying Via and I couldn't drink it without cover or straw OR else, I would risk spilling the drink all over her.

Via already looks tired from all the walking around.

Sunday Lunch at Italianni's

My sister and I decided to have lunch in Eastwood Mall yesterday.

And we decided to dine in Italianni's.

We were actually there for the bread that they serve 

while the customers wait for their orders.

The place was packed. Good thing we were there just in time to get the last remaining table.

Or else, we have to look for another restaurant.

Taste: 4 out of 5

Ambiance: 5 out of 5

Price: 3 out of 5

Service: 5 out of 5

Sicilian Salad

The chicken cubes, grapes and mangoes make this a great salad.

Pepper crusted fish

Fish is just too salty. I'm not sure if that's the way it's supposed to taste, though.

Or the cook has just put too much salt in it.

I love the pasta mixed with the light sauce of the dish.

This was supposed to be for starters but they served it late during the meal.

The artichoke dip was as good as the one they serve in Cyma.

We got this for free.

The photo is not doing justice on how good Parmesan-crusted fish fillet is.

This is my favorite!  I think they serve this too (but with a different name) 

in Fish and Co.

Italianni's chicken isn't that impressive taste-wise.

I was crushed when I found out I forgot to bring my camera.  I had to do my best with my camera phone.

Buko Pandan Shake

I love our own local creamy dessert, Buko Pandan shake.

I'm not a fan of the jello, though.

What I really want to try is the home-made buco pandan ice cream/sherbet from Pampanga.

Has anyone tried that?

Down To The Last Three Chips

It's a good thing somebody thought of leaving some behind.  I'm having coffee with the last three chips from the package I found in the refrigerator.  I didn't bother warming it up because cool chocolate chip cookies goes well with hot cup of coffee.

Going back to my reading... and leaving you with this:

CBTL's Salted Coffee

Powerbooks had a book sale and I bought some books for P100.00 each.  Yay!  And since I couldn't wait to get home to read them, I stopped by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to read.  Good thing there was still a table left where I can stay.  

That was the only time I saw from their coffee list that they have something called Salted Caramel Cappuccino.  I asked the barista if it was any good and she said yes and that I should try it.  So I did.  

It was sweet and salty.

I think there were tiny rock salts on the rim of the mug.

It's like drinking from a tequila shot glass.

Not that I know anything about tequila.

But I sure do know that this was really good.

I'm going to let my sister try this because I don't think she tried this before.

 

On My 5th Cup of Coffee

Well, that was yesterday.  In a matter of three hours, I was able to consume five cups of freshly brewed coffee while I was in TongYang, Megamall.

The first one was with strawberry ice cream.

It isn't as wild because we're all familiar with 

cafe latte with raspberry syrup from Starbucks.

This one is kids' stuff.  I placed light mocha ice cream in my coffee

and topped it off with marshmallows and chocolate chips.

I hope I can try new coffee concoctions in the future.

Kimchi Potato Chips and Ranch Dressing

I bought two bags of Oishi's Kimchi-flavored potato chips when we did some grocery shopping a couple of days ago.  I opened one to keep me awake during my working hours at home.  

I was looking for mayonnaise but I found a bottle of ranch dressing instead.  

Good combination... Unusual but nevertheless, good! 

Max's Halo-Halo

I don't know if it's just me but the Filipino dessert, Halo-Halo all taste the same.

I remember eating this in the province. Across the street of my grandmother's home, there is halo-halo stand.  I remember that it wasn't usually manned by anyone.  The ingredients were just displayed there without any attendant.  You have to go to a nearby house to ask them to call the vendor.  (There wasn't any phone line then nor intercom back then - well, until now).

So Max's was not different from what I'm used to.  And I think in that way, it is special.  Remember Ratatouille?

Chef's Quarter for A Quick Lunch

I have always thought that they had this buffet of American and Italian dishes but I just found out awhile ago that they only offer that during the weekends.  And so, they offered me the combo for 5 people.  Let me tell you now that it may be good for 6 people instead.

Taste: 3.5 out of 5
Based on what we ordered, the taste was in between ordinary and extraordinary.  I think the rolled-up pizza had too much cheddar cheese.  It's like you ordered cheese pizza instead of Beef and Mushroom.

Ambiance: 4 out of 5
I love the semi private room they had.  It was tastefully decorated.

Service: 5 out of 5
I don't know if it's because we were eating at a time that there were few customers hence, the staff were able to attend to us really well.

Price: 4 out of 5
The price was reasonable for the food, service and ambiance the restaurant had to offer.

Their roasted chicken is not as roasted as what you would expect.

It's almost like steamed Hainanese chicken with a much better sauce.

In the menu, they call it Special Fried Rice.

It resembles Bagoong Rice which was surprising because

all along, I thought it was an American-Italian restaurant.

But it's pretty good, nonetheless.  

They cooked the rice the way I want it.

Some pork ribs with a side salad

Their version of Yellow Cab's Dear Darla pizza.

The European/Mediterranean interior

I just have to share Ate Rose's photo while she's talking on the phone...

Tutyal!

Me and my cousin Kate

My Favorite Chowking Set

Whenever I go visit our local pseudo-Chinese restaurant, Chowking, I always the same thing over and over again.  It's not the way I really am (because I usually order something I haven't tried before) but with Chowking, I'm like my parents - I order the same thing with every visit.

Chorizo Chao Fan, Tofu, Kangkong with Bagoon and Ice Cold Rootbeer

Nothing more, nothing less.

Their tofu is soooo good! 

Caldereta For Dinner and Breakfast

Oh it has been a long time since I tasted Calderata (beef casserole with tomato sauce and melted cheese).  That's why when the cook served this, I went ahead and scooped me a large amount of rice and topped it off with this straight from the pan(?).

It was so good!  I think this grabs the top spot from my favorite Kare-kare.

The cooked left spoon and fork while the beef was cooking.

She says it will tenderize the beef faster.

I don't know how true that is.

Domino's Pizza Night

My sister wanted to eat pizza last night but she's getting tired of Shakey's already.  She had some delivered from Dominos, instead.  When I went out of the den, I found pizza boxes on the kitchen counter.  It looked really good but I have no idea what they were.  Maybe you can make a guess or let me know what they are.

There are still some leftovers from last night and I'm planning to eat that for lunch today.

Does that mean it ain't as good as Shakey's thin crust pepperoni pizza?

Milk And Wafers

This is definitely toddler food.  I grabbed some Febisco chocolate wafers and poured me some Cowhead last night.  I liked it very much.  I think I'm going to do it again tonight.

Not a good picture, I know ^_^

Folgers and Selecta in One Cup

I have been drinking coffee like water over the weekend.  The supply of brewed coffee had been unlimited so far because the help has been running up the coffee machine.  They're also getting their own cups of coffee from that.  I think they like the taste of Folgers, that's why.   Since someone bought Selecta Extra Thick Vanilla ice cream, I've been topping off my cup of coffee with that (no more added sugar, cream or milk).

I'm literally sipping melted ice cream over the weekend.  Uh-oh!

Dining Alone At Pancake House

Can you eat by yourself in a public place?  

When I was younger, I wouldn't be able to do so.  And if I did, I would not be too comfortable to be surrounded by strangers and dining by myself.  But as I grew older, I thought being able to eat alone is a step towards independence.  I can do that now.  I'm just working on the next step - watching a movie in the cinema alone.

When I left the house today, I wasn't able to get any breakfast.  And so, I had to stop by Pancake House to get a quick meal.   I had the usual and I got something I haven't tried before.  

The usual Banana Walnut Waffle.

Crispy "almost burnt" Bacon

I should have complained but didn't bother.

I somehow got an acquired taste for their non-oily crispy "smoked" bacon.

I dipped some of it in syrup.

Sweet and salty ^_^

 I tried something new. Well, it's more like "something I haven't tried before". 

Vanilla Milk Shake.

It's the old-fashioned kind of milk shake. They use Cowhead brand.  

I got this instead of ordering a cup of coffee.  I want to replenish my calcium intake somehow.

The interior.

The metal chairs like you are in a cafeteria of some sort.

CBTL's Peach-Flavored Tea

Lesson learned:  No peach-flavored tea for me.  Freshly brewed or not, it's nauseating!

I wanted to get another drink after finishing The Ultimate.  I wanted to get another lift-me-up and so I resorted to ordering something I haven't tried before.  It was one of the bad choices I made in life - in connection with food, of course.

Never again!

No Savory Crepes at French Baker

I wasn't hungry and I just wanted to finish cold coffee drink that I brought inside French Baker restaurant from the coffee shop almost next to it in Megamall.  But my dad insisted that I order something from their menu and I was happy to oblige.

I wanted to get the Bacon and Mushroom crepe from their menu thinking that it might be light on the tummy.  Unfortunately, all savory crepes were not available so I had to choose from the sweet ones.  

I then got Butter and Sugar crepe which cost only P60 ($1.20).  It was served warm with generous helping of caramel syrup.  They wanted to serve ice cream on top but I had to decline.  I was thinking of the whipped cream in my coffee I was already drinking.  

My dad got himself a plate of Chicken Barbecue

and was constantly removing the burnt part.

I wanted him to remove the whole skin portion

but I'm sure he wants it more than the white meat.

Starbucks: Flat Bread Sandwich

Have you tried this one yet?

Grilled Chicken, Mushrooms and Hummus on flat bread sandwich.

Best with safe drinking water c/o Starbucks.

^_^

Beef Steak

What could be better than a juicy steak grilled slowly to make it more tender than usual? 

The answer: Eating them!

The Mahogany market in Tagaytay was walking distance from our house and so, we can fresh beef every weekend we stay there.  I always request for this whenever I remember about it.  I know that it's not healthy if I eat these too often but ... weekend doesn't come very often.  It's just once a week.

I like it medium to well-done.
Unfortunately, there were burnt portions.  

Snack: Coffee and Wafer

For a quick snack at home, I went down to fix myself a cup of San Mig Light (wait a minute) coffee and pulled out two Stick-O wafer sticks.  I think Stick-O should never go out of the market.  With it's chocolate-filled sticks and thicker wafer (in comparison with the other brands), it's so satisfying already and can be a good match with your cup of instant coffee.

Last Meal in Seoul

Somewhere within the hotel vicinity.

These were fried dumplings surrounding an oriental salad with the traditional red paste.

Bibimbap again with egg drop this time.

Bibimbap not in traditional hot stone bowl.

It was Bulgogi for me. (I wasn't able to take a picture of it though.)

More on Seoul:  http://inandoutmetro.blogspot.com