Shopping Center (SC), UP Diliman

After dropping off my sister-in-law at the UP College of Music one cloudy Saturday morning, bibi and I went to the Shopping Center (SC).

SC…so many memories from this place. Can’t believe that more than 16 years has already passed since bibi and I spent long hours in one of the computer shops in SC, typing away my Humanities II report using Wordstar (hihi, pre-Microsoft Word days) – we were just friends then : ) There was also this shop where I buy my white UP shirts (the colored ones were more expensive) which I used as my school uniform, paired with shorts and sandals.

Highlights of our trip are as follows:

RODIC'S

A typical Isco (Iskolar ng Bayan – term for UP students) diet will not be complete without Rodic’s famous tapsilog (forgot to take a pic), though my preference then was their bopis and the free clear soup. Bibi and I usually have our lunch dates here.

ENRIQUEZ

I was not a fruit-veggie person in college but this stall now caught our attention as we have been trying to be more health conscious. I was very happy to spot the fruit shake stand inside. I was surprised to see langka (jackfruit) among the fruits that can be “shaked”. We tried the langka-avocado combination. Yum, yum for those who love langka! The sweetness of the langka is paired with the smooth texture of the avocado.  There are also a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as sausages, longganisa and snacks (nuts, chichacorn, spicy dilis, etc) being sold inside.   Too bad their best seller, garlic longganisa, was sold out already.

Aside from SC, there are a lot of other food places in UP that bibi and I would like to revisit so we can reminisce our happy college days (Beach House, isawan sa Kalayaan Dorm, fishball stand sa Ylanan, lumpiang togue from vendors sa Sunken, Aristocarts, Vinzon's canteen, etc). Looking forward to bringing buting to UP and let her experience food tripping, the UP way.

Kuting's Kitchen: Avocado-Shrimp Tango

My househelp and I love watching Kusina Master, the cooking show of Chef Boy Logro. Since I am busy with the baby, my househelp tries the recipes of Chef Boy.  Good thing she loves to whip up new dishes and she’s very good at it. 

But there was this easy recipe that I was very eager to try. I was able to prepare it while the baby was sleeping though it took me 30 minutes before I was able to eat it since the baby woke up just after I made the finishing touches :)

Avocado-Shrimp Tango

Ingredients:

avocado
shrimp/prawn
white onion
olive oil
cucumber

Procedure:

1. Blanch shrimp/prawn in salted boiling water for a few seconds. Remove and refresh with ice water. Strain and set aside.

2. Combine the diced the onion, avocado and cooked shrimp in a mixing bowl.

3. Toss gently and gradually add in olive oil, season with salt and pepper.

4. Marinate the sliced cucumber with salt for 5 minutes in a tray.

5. Rinse with cold water and season with freshly ground black peppercorn and mint leaves.

6. Arrange cucumber into desired mold and fill up with the shrimp salad.

The verdict: Yum, yum, yum!

recipe --> https://www.facebook.com/KusinaMasterGMA

Bulgogi Brothers, Greenbelt 5

My friends from my former company invited me to a lunch date. I suggested that we eat at Bulgogi Brothers. I have been wanting to eat here for a long time but wouldn’t want to be adventurous before due to my pregnancy. Good thing they haven’t tried this place yet : )

Welcome appetizers - it's free! Think of bread from Italliani's :)

More free appetizers - veggies including kimchi!

We ordered the Gwang Yang Set (available from Monday to Friday only), which includes the following (sorry, don't know all the names but one thing I am sure of - delicious!!!):

reminds me of pizza, fritata and okoy 

 

 stir fried beef with bean sprouts

We also ordered ala carte items:

Seoul Style Bulgogi - sliced beef with vegetables and Bulgogi broth (broth is made of fruits, onions and soy sauce) 

my personal serving of the beef broth

Sogogi Japche
- the glass noodles are very flavorful and the glutinous siding is tasty

 

Melona Melon (melon frozen yogurt)
- very smooth  

each is given their own sauce - double dipping allowed!

a drawer of tissues and chopsticks in every table

The verdict - I will bring bibi here! (and we did just two days after - sorry no pics of new food items that I tried because we were starving already; we also have the Bistro card so we got 20% off from our bill :)


07.27.12

Hershey’s Treats

I love chocolates but I prefer chocolates combined with something like cookies, wafer, nuts. When I saw Hershey’s Treats on TV, I immediately asked bibi to buy at the grocery. Lucky me because he did! I think his leniency towards my food cravings when I was pregnant hasn’t waned yet : )

I love them all!

Stock Market, Bonifacio High Street

Hubby signed me up in MyBistro, the website of the Bistro Group of Restaurants which includes Italianni's, Friday's, Stock Market, Flapjacks, Fish & Co., among others. Upon signing up, the member gets a MyBistro P250 Gift Coupon. I was excited to use the coupon since it's been a while since I tried a new restaurant.

Last Sunday, during my "me" time, I dropped by Stock Market at Bonifacio High Street, its only branch. The place has a relaxed ambiance, may be because there were only a handful of customers that time. Perfect for someone who wants to have some quiet time while eating. The food were kind of pricey, typical of a Bistro restaurant. Here are what I ordered:

Slammers (prime fillet mignon, caramelized onions, bleu cheese crumble, mushroom ragout on soft mini buns, served with chips and fries)  - tastes like an ordinary burger, only smaller 

The fries and chips that come with the mini-burgers - loved the fries - twister!! but the chip is so bland, could use a dip

Lemonada con pandan - the pandan made the fresh lemonade to taste weird; the serving is "bitin"!

The verdict - I will not go back to this restaurant  unless I get a coupon specific for this resto.  I'd rather go to the other Bistro restos, like Italianni's.