Aresi, Subic Bay

Aresi Restaurant, Waterfront Road,

Subic Bay Freeport Zone, 

***

After three hours on the road, we finally reached 

our destination, Subic Bay.

I asked my friend Mel where we could eat steaks

and have a quiet lunch near the bay.

She suggested Aresi Restaurant. 

I remember eating at Aresi in Quezon City

quite a long time ago.

Mel suggested the Chop Chop Salad for starters,

but it had lots of ham and I don't really like eating ham.

Must have had too much ham during the holidays.

Instead we got this Chicken & Corn Salad.

Their serving was huge and would feed four

hungry boys.  I expected the serving to be just a 

small plate.  Got so used to  minute servings

of salad in Manila. Hey, this is three hours away 

from Manila. We took home two-thirds of the salad.

We also got the Seafood Chowder.

 HubB likes clam chowder and loved the

seafood chowder a lot! I didn't get to take a

photo because HubB was quite famished and started eating. 

The plating wasn't IG worthy. heeheehee

Roast Beef Sandwich was HubB's lunch.

Actually,  I got it for him.  He would spend a long

time reading the menu and end up not knowing

what to order.  He had a heavy breakfast and I

knew he wouldn't want a heavier lunch.

He ate the beef and the slice of bread, while I consumed

the mashed potato and corn. You know me...

the carbo-loader! 

We changed our mind about eating steaks.

I love lasagna. I am like Garfield Senior! hee hee hee

Syempre, I ate the two pieces of French bread

and only one fourth of the lasagna.

Their lasagna was meaty, "tomato-y", cheesy ...

and just the way I like it. 

But I still love Sbarro's lasagna.

I must head to Eastwood later today to eat lasagna

at Sbarro or ravioli at Italianni's.

Now, I'm confused and hungry!

A healthier sweet ending.

I finished the watermelon. It was super sweet.

Mangoes were sour according to the HubB, that's 

why I don't really like eating mangoes,

unless the mangoes are from Davao.

We had the rest of the fruits wrapped

for take-out, for our merienda later in the day.

Okonomiyaki at Dohtonbori, Greenhills

I finally found some free time to blog.

Yehey!!!

Alvin and I spotted this restaurant several months ago,

but it was still under construction.

We were finally able to have lunch here on Christmas

day or was it New Year's day.  I've forgotten.

Anyway .... 

I hope you read what's written in the first three 

photos ...  Quite informative!

Sauces, spices, salt & pepper.

Paper napkins, chopsticks...

This bowl contained the ingredients for the

okonomiyaki.  I'm not really sure which variant

Alvin chose.  There seems to be some octopus

in this one.  He loves octopus!

The server / cook mixed the ingredients in the bowl

and placed it all on the grill, like a huge pancake.

She said that she'll be back in 10 or was it 15 minutes.

So, Alvin and I spent the next 10 minutes

on the phone.  He played some games while I

checked Instagram.

The okonomiyaki was flipped and we waited for another

5 or 10 minutes for it to be fully cooked / well done.

Sauces, herbs and spices were placed on top.

***

I ordered this meal. 

***

***

That's their take out bag.

Had half of the okonomiyaki in the bag.

He must have enjoyed the okonomiyaki

and agreed to have his photo taken

beside the raccoon mascot.

Someday, we're going to have an authentic

okonomiyaki in Osaka.

But since our plans to visit Japan is on hold,

Dohtonbori is the next best place to

savour okonomiyaki.

Yum yum yummy!!!

Arigatou gozaimasu!!!

***

Last gathering before I keep the Christmas decors

Alvin's friends from UP had a post-holiday

gathering for dinner last Saturday.

***

Lechon tray waiting for Ms. Piggy, 

the star of every party.

Empty platters on our simple buffet set up.

The last party for these Christmas decors.

My sister said the cake stand is too girly

for a frat party.  I really didn't mind since the 

red cake stand matches the red coffee mugs.

Red coffee mugs given by my sister in law.

Her husband sells Nescafe products.

She gave me two dozens last Christmas.

Ms Piggy finally arrived,

HubB couldn't wait to slice the crunchy skin off

Ms. Piggy's back.

Linguine with  Spicy Tuna Vodka Sauce

Found the white cake stand for this yummy

chocolate cake.

That's it.  Holidays are over.

***

Eri Curry at SM Megamall

Alvin loves Japanese curry. He says it has this sweet taste which differs  much from the usual curry  (Indian or Thai) that we have been used to eating. Japanese curry doesn’t have the coconut milk and the red or green chilies / bell peppers.

We chanced upon Eri Curry after I was done buying a gown at SM Megamall, two days before the new year. The traffic and the extremely long line of vehicles that were trying to get inside the parking buildings were outrageous and really tested my patience.  But nothing, no one could stop my determination to buy that gown.  We parked at Shangrila Mall and walked all the way to Megamall.  Glad that it didn’t rain.

Going back to Eri Curry. It’s not a Japanese food franchise or chain but a locally owned restaurant by a chef named Erica.  At Eri Curry, you can customize your curry, its spiciness,  even choose the amount of rice you can consume and  specify the side dishes or vegetables you want. Isn’t that fun?

I love anything wrapped in bacon ..

I love anything wrapped in bacon … 

bacon wrapped Chinese mushrooms; 

bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms;

 and bacon wrapped asparagus or French beans! 

 You can find these at Eat Fresh Hong Kong Street Food.

Takoyaki or Samurai Balls

I used to eat these delicious Japanese street food back in the day.

When my niece first came home to Manila, (after being away for 

almost ten years since her family emigrated to the States)

she craved to eat those delicious Takoyaki balls,

which we used to eat at Rustan's Cubao.

Much to her disappointment, I didn't know 

where to find these Takoyaki or Samurai balls.

A few years ago, I bought two cast iron pans that are used

 for making pancake balls and thought of making Takoyaki

using these pans. But I never got around to actually 

cooking pancake balls or Takoyaki.  The pans are still

in their original boxes.

It's a good thing that Takoyaki or Samurai balls are now

sold in almost every shopping mall in the metro.

These delectable Japanese street food snack is sold for

Php 28,  quite cheap.  You can even get a cold sugary

gulaman drink for Php 12 to go with the Takoyaki treat.

... just a yummy trivia from me.

Feast of the Three Kings marks the end of the Christmas Season

The Feast of the Three Kings used to be on the

6th of January, but it was changed to the first

Sunday of the new year.  I was at Rustan's the 

other day and I just had to take photos of their

window displays before these gorgeous

Christmas trees are taken down. It's still the 6th of

January and for me, Christmas ends today.

All things end. 

The longest celebration of Christmas in the world

ended today.  All I have are beautiful memories,

lovely photos of my Christmas trees and delicious

holiday food. My heart is full... filled with love

from the HubB and Alvin, from our extended

Sanders' families, from those thoughtful friends

who did not forget to greet me, some of them 

made me feel very important, even

dropped by the house to bring their gifts. 

Thankful that I am still in your Christmas list.

'Til next year !!! 

***

2016's first blog

First, let me greet you all a Merry Christmas 2015!!!

***

I have been remiss in updating my blogs. Oh yes, I have several blogs. Please don't think I am a show off, a narcissist or has nothing to do all day.  The blogs serve as personal diaries, a repository of my photos, compilation of paintings, recipes, food trips, or some kind of jouranl where whatever I feel is written or talked about in the blog. It's difficult to maintain four blogs, two at blogspot and another two at wordpress. I also have Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram accounts. I just don't have that much free time anymore. ... and I try to sleep at night instead of blog.

Last time, I said that there will be some changes on how I post on this food / travel blog.  Now, I am saying that I will not be writing regularly here. Oh dear... as if naman I have lots of followers... haha! Just probably two avid stalkers who visit this site quite often, kaya nag-skyrocket ang statistics ko. Haaaay    ....iiiimmmbbbb!!! It's because of these stalkers that I have kept one blog private. 

(hey stalkers ... get a life! we're not friends anymore, DUH!!!)

It's the new year, so let's stay positive and grateful for the blessings of last year. May we all be blessed more in the coming year. Happier, healthier and hopefully wealthier new year for all of us!!!
HAHAHAppy NEW YEAR!!!