Embutido- Food

Hubby and I were thinking of a food that we can prepare ahead of time, stuck it up in the fridge and just cook it when needed... what best food that will be... our very own pork embutido.

Embutido is a mixture of minced pork, carrots, onions, cheese, pickle relish, sausage,raisins and beaten up whole egg and salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything together, roll it up in an aluminum foil and steam it for an hour.
Then, it can be eaten immediately, or fried or in between that tasty, hot pandesal :) yummy!

Vacation 2008- Part 2 - Food, Food, Food!!!

Every vacation we had, I always made sure that we got to eat what we have missed for so long in a year away from home.
I usually make a list:

1. Taho
2. Street food- fishball, kwek-kwek
3. Siopao
4. Siomai
5. Lechon baboy and/or lechon baka
6. Ube Cake
7. Balut
8. Itlog na maalat
9. Tuyo, dilis, danggit, daing na pusit
10. Jollibee spaghetti
11. Kuya Atiok’s kikiam
12. Pata bihon
13. Turon
14. Banana-q
15. Pork bbq
And the list can go on and on….
In addition to this, we got to try some restaurants, old and new.

Hubby and I were fortunate enough to be treated for a dinner by our friend, Karen Ayson. Noel was with us as well. She brought us to Oody’s- a Thai restaurant in Greenbelt.
It was dinner time, and the restaurant was almost full. The hostess was not there to book us a table so we took the liberty to take a table by ourselves.
We saw a lady doing a back massage to most customers while waiting for their food.
And Noel decided to try it. The massage was good, but the food was better.

Karen recommended their catfish salad- a mixture of shredded green mangoes, veggies, fried catfish and oriental dressing. The texture was good, and the sourness of the mangoes in combination with the dressing worked up our appetites.

Then came the sour prawn soup, not much to say. It was served steaming hot, 3-4 prawns were seen with some limp veggies.
The glass noodle rolls were fantastic… I will definitely come back just for this one. I will make sure I will order a least 2 plates of this yummy, heavenly rolls.
The beef stir-fried with the veggies was just cooked right. There is still crunch with the veggies and the sauce was not overpowering.
The shrimp paste rice is the same old binagoongan rice with some eggs, meat and the usual accompaniments. However, this complemented the stir-fried beef.

After this, we went to Café Breton for dessert. A decision we never regretted. This café still consistently serves the best crepes since I last tried this restaurant, that was 3 years ago.

We ordered coffee shake, which I was not able to take a picture, I think, it did not last that long in the table… I supposed that I have gulped it..? :) It was not so sweet but the caffeine just shoots through your taste buds. It was not that too milky or too creamy shake but the right proportion of coffee and cream was just enough for me to say, I have to have it again.
And the ultimate quest of the night was the crepe… forgot the name but not the crepe itself…moist crepe with silky nutella spread, nuts and bananas with cream on top and drizzle of chocolate sauce. Good that I have to share it with Noel, Karen and hubby, otherwise, am sure my sugar level will just rise up… honestly, I can finish it all by myself.

Another restaurant we visited was… Shakey’s. Just cannot leave Manila without having their thin crust Hawaiian delight… got to be thin crust! Noel treated me, hubby , mom and sis for a pizza night. There was a buy one, take one promo but the pizza must be family size.., we also ordered Manager’s choice due to the promo. So there we were… enjoying this simple thin crust pizza, crisp, flavorful and certainly not to be missed.
My sis and I shared their mocha shake, but nothing to rave about.. after my experience with Café Breton’s coffee shake, I have a standard that is waiting to be exceeded.

Vacation Philippines 2008- Part 1

Just got back from our vacation.

One of the highlights of the vacation was a trip to Agno. We spent 3 days there with the whole family.

Agno is a town in Pangasinan, 7 hours drive from Manila. We stayed in one of the "jologs" huts there and relished the beach just a few steps away from our accommodation. Jologs because it does not offer luxury things other resorts has but just essentials- bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining/lounge area. Do not expect extra towels, slippers and the like... bring your own.

Coming from Manila, you can buy the best, crunchy bagnet in Camiling and seafood in Alaminos. Since we have to bring everything, even water, one truly advantage of this is we can cook whatever we want and enjoy.

There is a short hike that we did going up and see the whole beach and on the other side is a hidden white sand beach. Though we never got there, due to time constraints, just looking at it is enough to invite us to come back again.

The slideshow above is composed of pics taken by my friend/photographer Noel Galang.

Global Village- Jan 2008

My hubby and I decided to visit Global Village here in Dubai. Global Village is a huge place composed of pavillions of different countries. Philippines, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Lebanon, Thailand and a lot more, each have their own pavillions. Each country can showcase their own products from fabrics, food, housewares, homewares, native products and even services(thai massage, etc). This is the best place for cultural exposure, proving more to the world that Dubai is an active melting pot of today. In addition, it also offers fun rides and games for kids and adults alike. It is like their Star City plus the pavillions. As the nights goes deeper, the colder it gets, so better be equipped with heavy jackets or sweaters plus occassional drizzle.
As usual, as soon as I got hold of the map, we immediately looked for Philippine pavillion. I did not get to see it the first time, that's why hubby and I decided to eat some grilled shawarma and KFC chicken fillet supreme. We decided to roam around the area, checked out each pavillion that interests us.
One thing that took our attention was the hanging band. There were very tall structures and each band member with their respective musical instrument is tied up and left hanging while performing. It was a sight, and hubby can't help but to take lots of pics.
A 15 minute fireworks ensued and I took my chance to attempt some fireworks shots.
Then we walked again and ended in the games and rides area.
There was this particular game wherein there were big empty pints placed horizontally. The aim is to throw the ball inside without the ball bouncing back and instead stays inside the pint. It took some techniques to win stuff toys and hubby and I spent a whole hour trying to get the techniques of the winners. Alas, hubby tried it himself and we won a caterpillar stuff toy, we now named "Higgy da Higad"!
We then decided to go to Philippine pavillion and see some fish balls, kikiam, tuknene being sold. There were also some capiz and Team Manila t-shirts and the usual items(housewares,etc), ironically, made in China as can be seen at the back of the products. Videoke such as Mediacom was also there selling their products. Nothing more to see in Philippine pavillion, which is quite disappointing. This is the best chance to offer Philippine products to foreign markets and it seems that this chance has gone to waste.

We left at 12 mn and left the place colder than ever. I recommend that, given a chance, you take a visit to Global Village, it is a place not to be missed.

Dec 25, 2007 Part 2- Japengo Cafe

Continuing our Dec 25 dinner, hubby and I chose to dine in another restaurant. A few blocks away from Bento-Ya Kitchen, this time in front row, is Japengo Cafe.
As we opened the doors, the smell of sauteed food is evident. Bright, clean cafe and cooks in the open kitchen will entice you to try this restaurant. The same concept in another branch of Japengo in Mall of Emirates.
Japengo Cafe is a modernized Japanese restaurant, this time, it also offers other cuisines- Mediterranean, Italian and Arabic/Lebanese, in addition to the usual Japanese items. Since we had our fill of Japanese food, it's time to try other items.
Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad

The real reason why we chose this restaurant is because we were checking if the consistency of this item is the same with the restaurant's other branches. In MOE, this item satisfied us. However, my hubby has his own satisfaction measurement, which I agree.
We both loved Dusit Dubai's Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad, and we went there twice ( that was start and end of last year), and it truly satisfied our palates. The leaves were nicely cut, the grilled chicken moist and the amount of dressing was just enough.
In Sheikh Zayed Road branch, the salad was dripping with the dressing (a no-no for me and hubby, this type of salad must be justly dressed, due to the richness of ceasar dressing). Disappointingly, the chicken pieces were grilled dry.
Though, garnished with lots of shaved parmesan and the black olives and cherry tomatoes hidden in the center of the dish, the main ingredients were still disappointing. Good thing was, there were too many leaves, letting me fork in more leaves to balance the dressing.
The garlic bread is good, however, due to the nature of our orders, we have not touched it, too much carbs already!
Clubhouse Sandwich

I ordered this item, for no reason at all. I just craved for it and I have to have it. Looking into the plate centered with a pile of french fries certainly reminded me that I do not want to have a carbo load at night time. 4 pieces of triple layered sandwich surrounds the fries with a small portion of salad with vinagrette dressing.
The sandwich in detail
The sandwich is layered with grilled chicken, turkey and the usual stuff- cheese, tomatoes,lettuce etc. The bread was good, but yet again, the chicken was dry.

We might be disappointed with the dishes (we left most of the fries, black olives, boiled egg slices of the salad), but the service was great. The server already anticipated the fries, hence she placed all the condiments we may need. A wow! for that.

Approx AED 95 with one diet coke.

Dec 25, 2007 Part 1- Bento-Ya Kitchen

Ten Chili Roll


My hubby and I decided to dine outside for Dec 25 dinner. One of our favorite restaurant is Bento-Ya Kitchen- located along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. This Japanese restaurant is small, hidden in a corner, that's why it is like finding a jewel in a city jungle.It has 2 floors for dining and a small open kitchen in the ground floor.
We have been here twice and I have observed that the place is always filled up with Japanese families and loners. The place is neat, clutter-free, with few restaurant review articles posted around the place. The menu has lots of various items on a classified basis- appetizers, soups,bento packages, sushi platters, noodles and rice dishes, making it harder to choose-but quite an adventure.

I usually order California Maki but this time I tried the Ten Chili roll, a decision I never regretted. It came in 8 pieces(I never get to know why it was named ten).
The rice is interspersed with what I perceive as black sesame seeds and in the middle is a crunchy, filling ebi tempura topped with a teaspoon of chili sauce just right enough to tingle my taste buds. Served with the usual soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger. The textural enjoyment of this dish makes it unforgettable. Soft rice, crunchy sesame seeds and the soft-crunchy ebi tempura as you enjoy each bite.


Ebi Udon


The real reason we decided to dine here is because my hubby suddenly craved for this dish. He likes the mild sweetness of its soup, told him it is because of an ingredient called, mirin. Though usually served with fat noodles, my hubby initially requested for buckwheat noodles, yet was given an option of thinner noddles,which he chose. I tried the dish and found myself wrestling my way for more than a taste. The noodles are just right to the bite, the eggplant, and the ebi tempura complemented each other. The dish is not oily, which I believe makes this dish a star of its own. It is filling and refreshing. Hubby swears he will order 2 bowls next time, hahaha!


Hubby enjoying the last drop!

Though, there are still room for improvement for this restaurant. A great dish should come with great service. The Filipina waitress, smiling and welcoming, can improve more by being knowledgeable in its menu items. This will allow the diners to be guided on what to try, and build confidence on the waitress' recommendations. This time, I relied on my own instincts (which I usually do), but having a good waitress/server to inform you what the restaurant can best offer is much more helpful.

Need I say more?!


AED 95 including one diet coke and one big bottle of water.

First Photo Exhibit

I enrolled in a basic photography course and ended up graduating. One of the highlights of the course is a photo exhibit wherein you send a photo entry that goes with the theme, “Our climate, our actions, our future”. I took a shot of one of my colleague’s daughter (future) and let her hold a globe(actions), with a clear blue sky (climate) at the background.. a rather positive outlook, thus, the title, “My World, My Future”.

It was an experience to see my own work posted with other photo entries. I did not win anything but the pride and joy it gave me was priceless.
It has let me realize that the 3 months worth of waking up early and attending the course every Friday, which is the best day to wake up late, was all worth it. The course did not only let me get a certificate but has given me the opportunity to gain new friends and acquaintances.

The course was spearheaded by Lightform- a Filipino group of photographers whose aim is to help fellow overseas Filipino workers gain knowledge and, if pursued well, may be a means to earn money. True to its sense, a lot of the students have been gaining some customers and experience.

But one thing I will not forget is my own group (all students were segregated into groups), Group 7- we call ourselves, The Raketeers, since we all aim to earn more money (hahaha), and we won the Most Outstanding Group for Batch 19.

My first photo exhibit was truly an experience for the year 2007.