Pizza from my Childhood

As a major cheese lover, naturally, I enjoy pizzas with loads of cheese! It can be pizza with 'authentic' and imported cheeses. Or it can simply be the processed type that you find in local groceries here in Manila. For me, cheese is cheese. As to which one I prefer, it really depends on the day and my mood. ;-)

For the real deal when it comes to cheeses, we often go to hotel buffets for those. Or for pizzas with loads of mozarella, we either head to Yellow Cab or Brooklyn Pizza. But when I'm craving for processed cheese (you better believe it! ;-), we often head to our trusted Lot'sAPizza stall. Their pizzas remind me of the ones that I used to eat as snacks in our cafeteria when I studied in La Salle. I was only in that school until Grade 4 but nonetheless, I still had a lot of fond memories there. And it's these type of pizzas that bring back those many memories with my childhood friends, which, thanks to Facebook, I still keep in touch with up now! ;-) If you grew up in the Philippines, I think you know which type of pizza I'm talking about. They're the pizzas with thin and super soft crusts -- almost like bread, actually. It comes with processed ham to go with the processed cheese and sweet tomato sauce. ;-) Yes, it goes against everything that a pizza should be right? ;-) More than anything, it's catered to the Filipino palate that hates anything bland and subtle when it comes to flavors. For most of you, you might even feel a bit grossed out if you're not used to this type of cuisine. I'm not always fond of these flavors. I still opt for subtle flavors. But for my guilty pleasure, these type of pizzas are my go-to ones for comfort food. I just loooove them! ;-)

Well, for years, we've been going to Lot'sAPizza for these type of pizzas. We've been finding though that each time we order, the cheese keeps getting sparser and sparser! Even if we pay to add extra cheese, it's still not as cheesy as it used to be.

So you can imagine how excited my husband and I got when we came across this great find at Cash & Carry. Not only is the location convenient to us since it's in Makati, but the pizza is SOOOO much better than Lot'sAPizza's! Have a look at the family size Ham and Cheese Pizza that we ordered below. ;-)

It's from a stall called Patricia's Pizza on the ground floor of Cash & Carry. You'll find it outside the grocery store -- on the opposite side of National Bookstore. You'll find it on your way to the washroom.

That's how we found the stall, actually. On our way to the washroom, we got curious because there was a whole line up on this stall. And poor thing, there was only one guy acting as cashier and cook! Or should I say 'pizza heater'? ;-) The pizzas were all ready in their boxes and just had to be heated up. But don't be turned off by that. It seems that the turnover is quick. I'm sure the pizzas were freshly baked.

Anyway, would you believe that we got that whole thing for only 110 pesos??!?? And it's soooo good! The cheese oozes and when you grab a slice you can see strings of cheese resisting. ;-) The crust is a little thick yet soft and chewy. The sauce, on the other hand, just has the right hint of sweetness. Not overpowering at all. Best of all, they don't scrimp on the toppings. There's enough ham and the cheese is just all over! ;-) It was a family size pizza but believe it or not, Jojo and I finished it between the two of us. I had 3 slices and Jojo had the rest. (Sorry for 'outing' you hon!) ;-) We practically inhaled the whole thing in the car on our way to my in-laws. The whole thing was gone just right before we got to Pasay. ;-)

Why not give it a try and if you grew up in the Philippines, be transported to your childhood like I was? ;-) Who would have guessed how, many years later, the distinct smell and taste of school cafeteria food can give us comfort and a smile on our faces? ;-)

Curious yet? ;-) Check out the pizza box below to locate the nearest Patricia's Pizza outlet. ;-)

IMAGE SOURCE:

Lot'sAPizza picture = http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/dwindle18/IMG_0362.jpg

My Current Addiction

If you know me or are a follower of this blog, you're probably thinking that this is another shopping entry. ;-) Yes, I AM addicted to shopping too. But no, this is not a shopping entry. It revolves around my second love, actually. And that is: eating! ;-)

In particular, I'll be talking about some of my favorite grocery store-bought snacks. When my husband and I watch a movie at home, our go-to snack is Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream. The chips are not only very crunchy but the combination of the sour cream and cheddar (lots of it!) is just perfect! We don't even need a dip to go with it. Actually, eating it with dip is not a very good idea since the chips alone seem "sinful" as it is. The dip will just be piling the calories some more.

When we have a hankering for chips with dip, we go for the cheese or sour cream-flavored Piattos. It's a local brand and it tastes very light. It goes really well with a homemade dip. Just buy some sour cream (we go for Nestle), chop some garlic, mix it together, and let it cool. Take it out of the fridge after a few minutes and there you have it! Just remember to gargle with mouthwash or at least, pop in some breath mints after eating this. Pity the people around you who will have to stand your dragon breath if you don't! ;-)

Here in Asia, seafood-flavored chips is a big deal. Give it a chance. They're really not bad. Our favorite is Okeji Tempura Chips. The chips are light and airy with a mild crunch. There are bursts of flavor everywhere and because it seems like a light snack, it would be easy to eat it mindlessly. You're watching a movie, you have a large bag in front of you and before you know it, you've actually finished more than half of it on your own! ;-) That's probably why they only sell large bags of Okeji. I haven't seen any grocery store sell them in small bags...

Although I don't get to have it very often, another favorite of mine are Ikea's Dill-flavored chips. I only get to buy these when we're out of the country since it's not available here. The flavor of the chips certainly wakes up your taste buds. It's a unique taste, actually. I imagine not everyone will like it. But if you enjoy eating salt n' vinegar-flavored chips, this should become a favorite. It's sour and salty combined really well. I love it!

Just recently, Jojo and I found two new faves. That's actually an understatement. More aptly, they should be called our current addiction! ;-) One of them is called Red Rock Deli Chips. We discovered it by chance. We were at Rustan's grocery and there was a stall that offered us a free taste of the different variants. The flavors that are available here are Honey Soy Chicken,
Sea Salt, Lime and Black Pepper, and the one that we liked the most -- Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream. We got to try the others and none of them were bad. In fact, a close second favorite would be Lime and Black Pepper. ;-) We only needed to buy one bag though so we chose to get Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream -- the flavor that the the two of us unanimously voted as our number one choice! ;-) I found out that Red Rock Deli also makes chips with the Tzatziki flavor. Wow! This might potentially bump off Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream as my number one! It's too bad that it's not available here yet. Just gotta wait! In the meantime, we'll be stocking up on our new favorite chips which brags that they have "authentic seasonings, no artificial flavors, and colours or preservatives." How great is that! ;-)

Another healthy snack that I discovered was actually introduced to me by a co-worker. My friend Yazmin, being a mother of five, always has a bag full of snacks wherever she goes. ;-) She's one who likes to try new things at the grocery too. One time, she shared with me a new find. They're rice crackers so at first, I wasn't interested. I'm not really fond of rice crackers. When she offered it again and convinced me that I would like it, I decided to give it a chance. They're called One One Hot Chilli-Flavor Rice Crackers by Monde. It says in the package that it has no cholesterol and that it's baked which translates to a healthier snack. One bag comes with 10 small packs of rice crackers with two pieces in each bag. I wondered why they had to be wrapped individually like that. I was thinking what a waste it was of plastic. But when I took the first bite, I understood why. Man, these rice crackers are VERY crunchy! Oooooh and the flavor, wow! There's a burst of flavor from the first bite to the last! I absolutely loved it! Now to be honest with you, of course it does not compare with Ruffles chips. But for a much healthier alternative, it will do. It has the flavor, it has the crunch, what else do you need? ;-) I imagine that in the future, they'll have variants of this in other flavors. Hopefully they come up with a cheese-flavored one! ;-)

Planning for a movie night at home? You might want to try one of my favorites above. You might end up liking it. In the mean time, 3 more days till the weekend! ;-)

SOURCES:

http://www.fritolay.com/assets/images/blue/RUFFLES_Cheddar_Sour_Cream.gif

http://www.philamfood.com/images/P/4800016671500.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55sw01pgJfHUqdLjcdVcRgx5IR3mvaoRRZh7KJORG8p1jSGpHByqIYeQz0xwqymnZLuLaC2Q7K7mb9tXkuhSd_yS08nQHTnuWZBRE7-F6r-V1FkT5wX_vDtuCYAC_i7dMTsfP3LczaTL3/s400/21062008394.jpg

http://www.pinoygoods.net/img/p/121-167-large.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPukBbb-OdQswi4PZnZkWABE3fPZblz5KFNaL9iBhXhVoIMjSoUZoCCXy4mgOleFqcKnmuN4NN0mLWWujT538DXSjJuZEftJbSfAL24zvrq2yCk7MenXoFBI4aLQyKSyGUE7KiWkYbs8/s400/IMG_0650s.jpg

http://www.mondenissin.com/images/products/large/monde/monde_products/one_one_rice_crackers.jpg

Top 10 Comfort Foods that I Miss in Calgary, Canada

In the spirit of Canada Day (July 1st), I'd like to share with you a list of all the food that I miss from Canada and in Calgary, in particular. As you may or may not know, I grew up in Calgary and just moved to the Philippines right after I graduated university. I've been in the Philippines for 6 years now and I've only been back in Calgary twice since then! But during my visits there or when I have relatives from Canada that come over to Manila, I never fail to ask them to bring me the items below for pasalubong. Manila is known to be pretty diverse and offers a good collection of international food items at grocery stores, delis, and restaurants. But sadly, none of the items below are available in Manila. Or if they do have them here, they just pale in comparison that I don't even bother to get them. Well, if you happen to be going on a trip to Canada or know people from there who will be coming over for a visit, you might want to jot down the list below. Trust me, you're in it for a treat! This is the best of what Canada has to offer. For all of us who are not going to Canada anytime soon, let's just pray, cross our fingers and hope that these are on their way to Manila soon! ;-)

1o.) Donairs

I just found out that this is a Canadian creation. From its Turkish roots, it's been given a twist. It's kind of like a shawarma or gyro, but not. ;-) The pita is toasted, added with cheese, beef or chicken, fresh tomatoes and onions. But instead of sprinkling it with a tzatziki dip, the donair has a much sweeter sauce. From my research, they say that the donair sauce is a mixture of condensed milk, vinegar, and sugar. It's really a very very yummy combination! Our go-to places for donairs in Calgary are My Donair and Uncle Moe's Donairs and Falafels.

9.) Safeway's Whole Roasted Chicken

Safeway is a grocery store that's not only available in Canada. It's also available in the United States although I don't think it's as famous there as it is in Canada. Also, for those that have tried Safeway's Roasted Chicken, you might say that our own S&R, Kenny Roger's, or even Baliwag Chicken is better. But there are days when I just crave for Safeway's type of chicken. It's peppery, very tender, light, and subtle in its flavor. I remember passing through Safeway with my family for an instant lunch during lazy and very wintery Sundays after mass in Calgary. We'd take the roasted chicken home and eat it with rice. Oftentimes, we'd dip the chicken in our concoction of soy sauce and melted butter for extra flavor. It reminds me of that warm, fuzzy feeling of being surrounded by family. And the chicken is great to boot! I haven't had anything as tender as Safeway's roasted chicken. ;-)

8.) Perogies and Sour Cream

Perogies are actually a Polish staple. But because Canada is so multicultural, perogies had long been introduced to the country through its large Polish population. Now, perogies are so common that you can order them in restaurants or buy them frozen at grocery stores! They come in so many delightful flavors and they're very easy to make. When you buy them frozen, they look like a cross between large Asian dumplings and Mexican empanadas. The difference is that the dough is not as soft as dumplings and they're not as thick and hard as empanadas either. Perogies come in so many different flavors and combinations of the following: cheese, potatoes, spinach, cabbage, sauerkraut, and meat. To cook them, you have a choice of boiling them to get that soft and gooey texture or by frying them in butter. How I usually cook mine is by boiling them so it's healthier. Then, after I drain them, I immediately put a bit of butter on top to let it melt. You may choose to put bacon bits on top too. I put a generous amount of sour cream on everything and there you go! But if you're health-conscious, you can eat it plain and still enjoy them.

I've been on the lookout for perogies here in Manila and I haven't found them yet. Earle's and Santi's Deli don't have them either. Although I have yet to check S & R for them. One of my students said that they're available there in bulk.

7.) Coffee and 'Timbits' at Tim Horton's

Krispy Kreme lasted only 2 odd years in Calgary before it decided to close down. Tim Horton's, on the other hand, must have been around even before I was born! And I think Tim Horton's is there to stay. Just like maple syrup, Tim Horton's is one of those things that people associate Canada to. Dunkin' Donuts can be found anywhere in the world but would you believe that we don't have that in Calgary??!?? Well, I think it's because Tim Horton's might have "monopolized" the coffee and donut industry in Canada. But you won't hear any complaints from me. ;-)

Tim Horton's has one of the best coffee I've ever tasted. It's brewed but it's not too strong. There's no weird aftertaste too. And it hits the spot perfectly, especially during harsh, cold, and "slushy" winters in Calgary. ;-) The coffee goes so well with what we call "Timbits." You know, I've gotten so used to calling those little donuts 'timbits' that I call them that when I order from Gonuts or Dunkin or Krispy Kreme. And I only realize that after I get that strange look from the cashier. ;-) They're aptly named don't you think? ;-) Anyway, Tim Horton's Timbits are soft (though not too too soft like Krispy Kreme), not too sweet, and they perfectly complement the coffee. There's no sugar rush or ick feeling after downing them both. What's more, when you order coffee at Tim Horton's, they've got this contest called "Rrrrrrroll up the rim to win!" ;-) You can get cash prizes and freebies if you're in luck. ;-)

On a side note, I love Tim Horton's coffee so much that we served them during our wedding rehearsal a year and a half ago. I got my sister to buy them for me before coming here to visit. As part of our gift set, we also gave away cans of brewed coffee to our principal sponsors during the wedding. They all loved it and were raving about the coffee too! ;-)

6.) Vietnamese Subs

I have been to Vietnam. But you know what the weird thing is? Although I've tried the authentic banh mi (Vietnamese sub), I still prefer the ones sold at Vietnamese stores in Calgary! I suppose those are authentic too because coming from a Vietnamese store, they were made by Vietnamese people too right? ;-) In Calgary, I know that we get these Vietnamese subs either in a store near Chinatown or one near this Asian grocery store in Forest Lawn. I actually prefer the latter. Ohhhh, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. First, they lather butter on a crusty baguette. Then you can choose between beef or chicken satay or vegetarian. After that, they put shredded carrots, cucumber, sliced onions, cilantro, and even cheese! The toppings are quite tasty. They seemed to have been marinated in something. Oh and when you bite into it, wow! There's that burst of flavor from the satay. Everything just goes so well together! The baguettes are crispy and crusty on the outside and as you bite in more, the actual 'meat' of the bread is soft as it's complemented by the butter, then you get to the vegetables, and finally, at the bottom, the generous serving of oh-so-flavorful meat! YUM! Hmmm. I wonder why they don't make it that good in Ho Chi Minh. The ones I had there were too bland. If you're going to Canada and in Calgary, in particular, please do yourself a favor and don't miss having a Vietnamese sub. In fact, don't miss eating at a Vietnamese restaurant altogether! Take your pick at the Vietnamese restaurants along 17th Ave in the Southeast. You can order with your eyes closed and everything will still be great! ;-)

5.) Swiss Chalet

It's been AGES since I've eaten at Swiss Chalet that I think I've honestly forgotten how everything tastes there. But I know I love it. I totally remember loving everything they serve there. I remember we'd often order their chicken dinners. They come with rotisserie chicken, bread rolls, and a choice of side dish (fries, mashed potatoes, baked potato, coleslaw, buttered corn, garden salad, Greek salad, or poutine). The side dishes are good but I remember that it's really the chicken that's to-die-for. The meat is tender and tasty and the sauce! Oh, it's something else, I tell you. It's not at all like gravy. It's not as thick and clumpy. The chalet sauce that goes with the chicken is sweet, peppery, and as a twist, might even have a bit of tomato sauce mixed in there. The sauce is a really nice and pleasant surprise. It goes so well with the chicken and it's different from the other chicken dips that we're used to. In fact, I think that Swiss Chalet's sauce has become very popular that a lot of people have been trying to replicate it. I found a number of these recipes online. I might give one of them a try these coming days. Now all I'm missing is the Swiss Chalet chicken! ;-)

4.) Taco Bell's Fries Supreme

This is also another Canadian "thing." Just like how it is only the McDonald's in the Philippines that serve spaghettis, it's only the Canadian Taco Bells that serve Fries Supreme. And it's such a shame too! In my opinion, fries are so much better than hard nachos. It goes much better with the seasoned ground beef, sour cream, chives, tomatoes, and gooey cheese than nachos ever could! It's bad enough that the two Taco Bells in the Philippines are at Gateway Mall (Pasig City) and Trinoma Mall (Quezon City)! They're both far from where I live (Taguig City) so I really only get to eat Taco Bell maybe just once a year!

Being a cheese lover, Taco Bell's Fries Supreme is a recurring craving that I haven't satisfied for the longest time. And I'll have to go back to Canada for a visit just so I can have this again. Siiiigh. Hmmm. Maybe it IS time now for another visit! ;-)

3.) Cheesecake Cafe

There's a lot of Cheesecake Cafes all over the world. I think we even have one here in Manila. But I'm talking about the franchise that's only available in Calgary, Lethbridge, and Edmonton. Cheesecake Cafe is known in Calgary for their huuuuuge servings. I guess it's kinda like the Calgarian version of TGI Friday's. They have the same offerings except at Cheesecake Cafe, the whole highlight of each visit is, obviously, the cheesecake. ;-) When eating there, I remember we would get either Mocha Kahlua or the Turtle Cheesecake. We get one slice and I'm not exaggerating when I say that one slice is good for 5 or 6 people. And we're not talking 5 or 6 Anorexics either. ;-)

Their cheesecakes are thick and creamy at the same time. It's packed and when you eat it, you really have to savor it as you "unfold" each layer in your mouth. Let it swirl around and take your time. The cheesecake is rich but it's not too sweet. I haven't had cheesecake that can rival the one at Cheesecake Cafe. And they have a huge selection of cheesecakes to suit anyone and everyone. Aside from Mocha Kahlua and Turtle, you can also choose from Callebaut Chocolate, Lemon Raspberry Swirl, Cheesequake, Key Lime, Rolo, and Oreo. You can even ask to add any of the following toppings to the classic cheesecake: Sour Cherry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Callebaut Milk Chocolate, Callebaut Milk Chocolate and Caramel, Strawberry, and/or Four Berry. Hungry yet? ;-)

2.) Tiki Ming

Tiki Ming, a Chinese fast food restaurant, has been around for the longest time too. As young as Grade 7, I remember my friends and I heading to Tiki Ming at the TD Square food court for our Friday "binge." ;-) And while I was going to University, Chinese fast food at Tiki Ming was something that I quickly associated with as a reward for hard work. ;-) Well, let's face it. I don't think there's anything healthy about eating it. Their set meals come with Chinese fried rice and a choice of two viands. I'd often go with Sweet and Sour Pork or Ginger Beef and pair it with Mixed Vegetables. Everything is a bit greasy and it might even have MSG mixed into it. But what the hey. It's soooo delicious! Sinful but soooo good! The meat is very flavourful and saucy. The fried rice can be a meal on its own too. And the vegetables are crunchy and everything is served in generous portions. All this goodness in one big plate plopped together. ;-) I often feel guilty eating it afterwards but I do get over it very quickly. Eating Chinese fast food is a guilty pleasure--especially the way Tiki Ming does it. But it's ALL worth it, trust me. ;-)

1.) Cookies By George

I'm a big dessert lover. And believe me when I say that nothing, absolutely NOTHING compares to the way Cookies By George makes their cookies. Not only do they have such interesting flavours, but the cookie itself, wow! I've died and gone heaven after each bite! The flavors range from the typical: Classic Chocolate Chunk, Milk Chocolate, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin, and Peanut Butter to the creative: Reverse Almond Chocolate Chunk, Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk, M&Ms, Macadamia Chocolate and Macaroon Chocolate! My most favorite is the Cappuccino one. I can eat this forever and never tire of it! Where do I start? Cookies By George does not lie when they say "Chocolate Chunk." They're huge! And these chunks are all over the cookie. The cookies have the perfect 'chewy-ness' too! They're not too soft that they break apart while you're holding it. It's a little crispy on the outside but when you bite into it, you'll get into gooey layers inside it. The Cappuccino Cookie has chunks of white chocolate and the coffee taste is subtle. Not overpowering but not too too subtle that you'll doubt whether it IS a coffee-flavored cookie. Their cookies are large and thick and buttery. You know that they don't scrimp on the ingredients. And they're all high quality ingredients too from the chocolates to everything else! I LOVE it! How I wish I could bring Cookies By George to Manila. Famous Amos and Mrs. Fields' would go bankrupt! ;-)

Whenever I have family coming to Manila to visit, Cookies By George is my number one request. They can forget my MAC lipstick, Gap perfume, or La Senza bra and underwear sets. Just DON'T forget Cookies By George, PLEEEEASE!!! ;-) Hahaha! My sister is coming over in September and until then, I guess I have to wait three months before I can have Cookies By George again. I'm patiently counting down the days...;-)

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Photo Sources:
http://www.medicinehatmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/samirs_donair.jpg http://sammitt.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/roasted-chicken.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3176309386_da0e4f7a49.jpg http://movershakerbirthdaycakebaker.blogs.com/generation_exhausted/coffee_and_timbits.JPG https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEaQVfyNSDVOjcirtyRnMR3oQeSI2rpDRNyzsjCOQAL_gSVqxQZlGUNREOlgE1FwjxglYzkV9BvWS-LlyBAruoUQhR-UtxUzHpKnyOAZ3L3kcmGvLYb8qLt-A7mzbYgjbAw5ZOeL9PKQ/s640/banhmi.JPG
http://www.cheesecakecafe.ca/images/main-pics3.jpg
http://smartcanucks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/swiss-chalet-chicken.jpg http://brianpmichael.com/images/Design/Thumbs/TacoBell_FriesSupreme_v.2.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3355204524_349a078a0c.jpg http://vanfoodies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/p1000631.jpg

My Favorite Things: Kenny Rogers' Grilled Four-Cheese Sandwich

As you may already be aware, I LOVE cheese! Just as much as I love shopping, cheese is the other thing that leaves my day on a high note regardless of how awful it's been. Or if I'm not feeling particularly awful, cheese is just my go-to for comfort food. In short, cheese is my "happy" food! ;-)

Whenever that craving for cheese kicks in, automatically, it's Kenny Rogers Roasters that come to mind. Or if I can afford it, from some swanky hotel's cheese plate at their buffet. Usually though, my choices are pasta at Sbarro, pizza at Yellow Cab, Pizza Hut, or Greenwich, or the Ham and Cheese Sandwich at Pancake House. These are the restos at Market, Market which I usually pass through after work. These places all have good cheeses but I'm usually feeling guilty after eating at any of these restos. Do you know how many calories there are in a serving of pasta at Sbarro's??!?? Find out for yourself HERE. That's 700 calories for a plate of their Baked Ziti. The rest are just as sinful, I'm sure.

Anyway, I get my cheese fill at Kenny Rogers when I order their Grilled Four-Cheese Sandwich. It costs PhP 105 on its own. But I often order it with their Lite Iced Tea and crispy Fries at only PhP 135 in total. It's a perfectly light meal with that ultimate cheese goodness! I absolutely love it! In fact, to maximize that cheese "kick," I take out the top bread slice and eat it open-faced. YUM! And that's without the guilt! It is, after all, served on a whole-wheat panini with nothing but the four gooey cheeses (cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Monterey Jack). The fries that accompany it are crispy and not too too greasy. Frankly, I like the fries at Kenny Rogers better than McDonald's. As for their lite iced tea, it's obviously sugar-free. Not too sweet but it has a bit of an aftertaste. From the Splenda maybe? Well, if you're not fond of sugar-free drinks, you can always opt to get one of their smoothies. I think these start at PhP 90 each.

PHOTO CREDITS
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/cheese_mites430x300.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/mongit/For%20My%20Blog/September%202007/Kenny%20Rogers/IMG_3855.jpg

Mom's Manyaman Homemade Goodies

On my way home, I found this food stall on the second floor of Market, Market. It's near Goldilocks and right beside the escalator. I've seen it before and yesterday (although it was a Friday during Lenten season!), I finally gave in. Bad Nina. I couldn't resist the buttery-looking ensaimadas and cheese rolls! I just bought one of each though. They have these ensaimadas in a pan (about 12 small pieces) which you can get plain or topped with caramel-type sauce. I didn't want to get indulgent so I only went for the individual packs -- one cheese roll (30 pesos) and one plain ensaimada (32 pesos). The caramel-topped ensaimada wasn't sold in individual packs.

So what's the verdict? It tastes as good as it looks! Just the way I imagined it would taste! The bread is verrrrry soft and buttery. In fact, it's the bread that's the star here, not the cheese. I can eat it with just the bread alone. Having the cheese, butter, and sugar on top is just an added bonus! ;-) Mom's Manyaman's ensaimada and cheese roll did remind me of Mary Grace's. But the taste is more straightforward. It tastes simpler -- just like how your Mom or grandma would've made it. ;-) It is aptly named!

Aside from Market, Market, I think you can also find a Mom's Manyaman stall at the Greenhills Theatre Mall. Or if you're ordering in bulk, you can contact them at 726-4679 or 09175776507. It says on the sticker that their main location is at 33 Mariposa St., Cubao, Quezon City.

Revisiting T.G.I. Fridays

Every Friday, my husband and I often go out for what we call our "Date Night." ;-) Yesterday was a long and exhausting day at work. And with the traffic, Jojo and I didn't get to meet up later that day until 7:00. I was waiting for him to pick me up at Bonifacio High Street. We had planned to go to Mall of Asia, initially. But because we were already starving, we decided to just stay put.

As usual, I was craving for something cheesy. Jojo, ever the "typical" guy, said that at the moment, he could eat anything as long as it had rice and the servings are huge. ;-) To suit both of our requirements, we found T.G.I. Friday's to be the perfect choice. We were third on the waiting list but surprisingly, we were accommodated in a couple of minutes!

There's a myriad of choices at T.G.I. Friday's. It was so hard deciding! Jojo wanted the baby back ribs. You would think it would be that simple. But with the back ribs, there's the option of either glazed in barbecue sauce or Jack Daniel's. I wanted chicken. But which one? As garlic primavera pasta, alfredo, in burger form, glazed and served with side dishes, or on top of my salad??!?? Man, when you're hungry, you just want to eat them all! ;-) Well, it took us a while. But Jojo eventually ordered the Half Baby Back Ribs with Tangy Barbecue Sauce (595 pesos). There's one side dish that went with it. Jojo got the fries and eventually ordered an extra side dish of Rice Pilaf (65 pesos). I ordered the Jack Daniel's Chicken (365 pesos). It came with corn-on-the cob and I opted for their cheddar cheese mashed potatoes.

Jojo was quite happy with his Baby Back Ribs. It was indeed, very tender. But he commented that the flavour of the marinade or glaze did not seep through to the inside. It was, nonetheless, still good. But he was being frank when he said that Rack's ribs were better.

I really liked the Rice Pilaf though. It was tasty and it went so well with the meat dishes. Jojo thought it was okay. He likes his rice more garlicky. I, on the other hand, just think he's a weirdo. ;-) Hahaha! ;-)

My Jack Daniel's Chicken was just the way I liked it. The sauce was sweet and a bit "plum-y." My three pieces of chicken breast fillet were tender and very filling. The corn was sweet and it went well with the chicken. A lazy part of me wished the corn wasn't served on the cob though. It gets stuck in your teeth and it can get a bit messy.

Although I loved the chicken that I ordered, it was not the real highlight of this meal. What I wanted to rave about was T.G.I. Friday's cheddar cheese mashed potato. I've tried a lot of mashed potatoes in my whole lifetime. But I would have to say that T.G.I. Friday's is the best! It was smooth and it glided easily in my mouth. At the same time, there were bits of potato skins in there that gave it texture in every bite. It's quite hard to spot the cheese just from looking at it. But when you take your bite, oh, it's definitely in there! Everything went so well together! For a cheese lover like me, this side dish was pure heaven. And it definitely upstaged the chicken! ;-) After that first bite, I remember telling my husband that I could eat T.G.I. Friday's mashed potato everyday and never get sick of it. ;-) I absolutely loved it.

So hurry on out to T.G.I. Friday's to fulfill that craving for an All-American meal! Don't forget to order that cheddar mashed potatoes though. Whether you end up liking or not liking what you ordered with it, trust me, the cheddar mashed potatoes will definitely be worth its price. ;-)

Cheesy Goodness!

Out of all the movie theatres here in Manila, the ones at Powerplant Mall are not exactly the ones with the cushiest seats or the best surround sound. There are other cinemas with much bigger screens too. And frankly, we find the PowerPlant Cinemas to be too cold! I always have to make sure to bring a shawl to keep myself warm! But regardless of all these, Jojo and I have vowed to watch our movies there every time from now on. So you must be wondering, what's the draw?

Well, it's all in the popcorn, really. ;-) The concessionaire there has THE best cheese popcorn ever! Not only are they ever so generous with the cheese powder, but I also love how the popcorn is more "chewable." You know, without the annoying hard kernels that get stuck between your teeth. ;-) It also has a slight buttery taste that complements the cheese. Jojo and I are absolutely loving the popcorn! Between the two of us, we get the large bucket(105 pesos). We go to the theatre early to see the trailers and previews. And just before the movie starts, we've usually wolfed down half of the bucket already! It's sooo good and really very addicting. It's a real treat for all cheese lovers. But of course, without the guilt! Loooove it!

We just saw the "Surrogates" last night. And now, I'm looking forward to dragging my husband to see "The Ugly Truth." It's a chick flick. But with PowerPlant's cheese popcorn as a bribe, I don't think it'll be such a feat to ask him to accompany me! ;-) Hahaha!