Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A Beautiful Day

I'm 32 today, and I had a great day.

Finally had the chance to actually dine in Corniche. I have been dreaming to do this since it first opened in December and I am just thrilled to have lunch there with my favorite person in the world.

I've been taking a peek at its interiors every chance I got, and it's undeniably chic. They have a lot of metal fixtures now, serving as dividers to softly delineate one area from the other. The pattern is just delicate, muting the hardness imparted by the shiny steel.

I love the entire modern updated feel of the restaurant, but I also love the fact that they contrast it every now and then with traditional cushioned heavy wooden furniture. There's a little bit of native flair from the wooden panels and bamboo-ish place mats.

The buffet counters go tres chic with convection warmers. Now we don't have to worry about getting food in a way that we won't burn or that the warmer doesn't topple over the side with the unconsumed contents. It's just so convenient and stylish.

Of course, food is still divine and plentifully varied. This and the most courteous and friendly hotel staff in the metro make for a splendid experience. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. =D


Noy wanted a massage so badly, so we headed on to Lotus Spa to try their signature massage. It's a combination of three massage types - lomi lomi, tuina, and one other type - that left us satisfied, as usual. It was nice to come in on a weekday afternoon; we were the only clients and we had everybody's attention.

We heard mass at the Greenbelt Chapel with my brother and his girlfriend. It was my first time to be in church with Seryl, and I think it was high time we spent some time out together. It was really warm as the church isn't air-conditioned, but we all had a lovely time nevertheless.

Finally, we had dinner at Big Buddha Roast Kitchen. We didn't really plan on going there, but since we were all craving for Chinese food it was a runaway winner. Moreover, the place was recently revamped and it definitely looked better inside and out. The menu was decidedly minimalist both in content and presentation. I was a bit sad that they didn't have Birthday Noodles so we got Crispy Noodles instead. We also had Hot and Sour Soup, French Beans with Pork, and Yang Chow Fried Rice. Everything was delicious.

Over sugar free ice blended drinks at Figaro, I thanked everyone for a wonderful day. I don't remember spending a birthday when everything went on as I wanted them to, and for that I think God rewards those who do not complain very much. Life is tough and it gets tougher when you least expect it. But if you let God be with you every single time, it gets better even when you don't ask for it.


Cheers!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Folk Food. Fearful Fun.

When I learned that my Mom-in-law was going to celebrate her birthday at Balaw-Balaw in Angono, I reminded myself to munch on some Jollibee burger on the way there. If you haven't heard of Balaw-Balaw, you probably haven't been watching Andrew Zimmern's Bizaare Foods . The restaurant is famous for its exotic cuisine - Kamaru (crickets), Cow’s Balls Soup, Palos (fresh water eel), Bibingkang Abnoy (aborted duck eggs), Adobong Baboy Ramo (wild boar), Bayawak (monitor lizard), Sawa (python), Tapang Usa (cured deer meat).

As usual, Noy and I were late despite the place not being too far from Ortigas, so the family had ordered and eaten when we got there. On the table:

Inadobong Uok (larva of coconut beetles) - I ate one piece. It tasted like isaw that has not been cooked properly, with an exoskeleton. The sauce is tasty. I personally think the dish would be more acceptable without the crunchy covering of the larvae.

Nilasing na Palaka (deep-fried frogs that have been marinated in wine) - When they said it tastes like chicken, they weren't lying. It's delicious and crunchy. Had it been served in smaller pieces I would have munched away. Notice that only three frogs were left for us? It must be good.

Ulo ng Lechon - This one is sadly forgettable.

The other items were Pesang Dalag (mudfish in light soup), Beef Caldereta (Filipino stew), Ginataang Itik (duckling in coconut milk), and Laing (taro leaves in coconut milk). I felt bad there wasn't enough left to take photos of. I don't eat dalag, but the soup was really good. The vegetables in the soup were delicious as well, and that made me full already - rice, soup and vegetables. No Jollibee! The caldereta was not good at all, the itik was too rich, the laing was okay.

Which leads me to conclude that people come to Balaw-Balaw for the experience - more for the art and the house itself and not so much for the food that's supposed to satisfy the everyday hunger. The tall ancestral house is packed with artwork by its owner, Perdigon Vocalan, a painter and a sculptor.


One will see various religious art, paintings of people that look so real they seem to come out of the canvas, murals, really old household items and furniture that give an initial creepy hint, but later just take the breath away.


The stairs are stringent yet vulnerable-looking, and as one is led down the hall to the second floor, it almost felt like a vacuum sealed within the era of Spanish reign.


It's the ultimate venue for a horror thriller scene. It was dark, the sun-rays that filter through the multicolored capiz windows provide the only illumination.


A personal favorite is the sunken dining area adorned with huge jars. I could imagine it being a cocoon of sumptuous comfort food for the dwellers during its heyday.


If it tickles your fancy just a wee bit, or if you're looking for a quick change of dining scenery, give Balaw-Balaw a visit. Whatever your experience unfolds for you, I only have one word - feast. It's what it'll provide for your stomach and your senses.



Saturday, April 09, 2011

The Groupon Bug Hit Me

I am a sucker for discounts and I definitely shop more when the items I've been drooling over are finally on sale. So when the groupon announcements came flooding my email, I could not help but buy the really tempting ones that offer huge discounts on pampering services.

First, there was the "90-minute tri-hilot combi therapy full of indulgence worth Php1150" on sale at Php350. Outside, the spa place looked stylish and relaxing, what with the uber-prime location just outside Greenbelt 5. Inside, the entire place is no bigger than the average apartment. The reception area is also the place where the guests' feet are soaked in salted water prior to the massage. Naturally, those waiting for their turn or merely inquiring would look at you and your soaking feet.

The "deal" promised 3 kinds of massages - ventosa, dagay-dagay, and traditional hilot. I have a friend who once told me that ventosa therapy makes her feel good always because the glass-enclosed heat of the candles sucks all her bad energies away. True, but when done properly. My therapist was a clumsy one who dared ask me if I walked on the way there because I was perspiring.

Dagay-dagay uses a certain wooden stick to tease the soles of the feet to take away the tiredness. Whatever. It didn't really make a difference. I cannot even recall if the traditional hilot was good in itself. Why? Because the computer keyboard in the office beside my cubicle was being heavily used, the guest across me was snoring like there was no tomorrow and Noy's therapist kept on sniffling.

I cannot believe the entire crap costs more than a thousand bucks. They should definitely learn from Lotus Spa, which makes up for its lack of shower facilities by great service and truly relaxing ambience.

Not to be disheartened, I purchased another coupon from another groupon company. This time, it was "50% off on Prima Donna foot spa pedicure (hot stone, foot and leg massage and foot scrub)". The actual value was Php 680, and considering this was coming from a new and pretty-looking nail care place, I gave it a go and treated myself and Noy.

I was impressed by the interiors - plush furniture, comfortable pillows, colorful quirky walls ergonomically designed stations. I jut think the lighting could go a little more dimmer for a truly relaxing atmosphere. There already are lamps that should suffice for the therapists' use.

I have to give it to them for the technical qualities of the foot scrub and massage; they felt really clean and relaxing. After the scrub, my legs and feet were wrapped with plastic with the mint lotion on "for better infusion". They were rinsed, followed by the pedicure. More lotion was applied then they were wrapped again, this time with hot pink, warm electric booties. They were so cute; too bad I was too lazy to have pictures taken. The massage followed. After a brief rest, a hot stone bag was kneaded on my legs & feet.

My problem was that my therapist wasn't really happy to serve me. Her hands were heavy, literally and figuratively. At times it almost felt like she was nagdadabog. My toenails are heavily rounded and difficult to clean, and I think it almost tested her patience. Either I'm too tired to complain or I just didn't care, but I felt sorry for her because she's not happy with the job that she's been given.

I think the foot spa service wasn't a bad deal at all. But just in case Noy asks that we come back, I'll make sure that it's the middle of the day when the therapists won't be very tired and have had lunch, when they won't be clamoring to head home and catch up with their favorite telenovelas.




Here's to better deals,





Photo credit:
http://everythinginbudget.blogspot.com/2011/02/nail-spa-lounge-50-off-prima-donna-spa.html






Saturday, April 02, 2011

Krazy Garlik

We never really wanted to eat there. Sure, at around the time of its grand opening we were intrigued because Noy is such a garlic lover. The menu, however, was a great turn-off. Sure, we love good food, but we hate okay food that demands a lot from the wallet just because of its location.

It's in one of the poshest places comfortably accessible to the middle class - Greenbelt 5. As one steps inside though, the feel is one of those rather sleazy restobars. I am not an interior design expert but I do know what's appealing and not. It was just dark and cramped. So we decided to proceed to the balcony and dine al fresco. It was a lot better, but they should have provided cooling fans. Yes, we dined. Just because we love the friend who wanted to see us on a whim that day. Anyway. The waiters are good-looking, had good manners, and provided good service.

We just had late lunch so we suggested that we share a pizza and let the friend order a pasta for himself. We had Four Cheeses (Php 495) which in all honesty was good. The cheeses taste strong and full in the mouth, the garlic imminent in the background. The crust was not that crispy but I didn't really mind.

The friend had Penne Arrabiatta (Php 325) - a creamy concoction of spicy tomato, basil and parmesan which tastes overly spicy I didn't feel the garlic at all. I got full from all the water I needed to drown the scary red sauce down.

That was all we had, for which we were charged Php1k++. I know, it's a Bistro Group restaurant known for their expensive taste and good service. I appreciate the effort of putting up a place where garlic lovers can worship their favorite ingredient, but it just feels insufficient as far as creativity is concerned. The name is cute and believable, so we expected the menu items to be spectacularly garlicky different.

I may not have all the right in the world to be blogging about the restaurant after trying only two dishes. I may have to give it a go again sometime to try the other dishes but with the price, I don't think so.



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