Late Lunch at SF Bistro

SF Bistro brings the laid back, relaxed atmosphere San Francisco has through their Frisco style dishes. And true to that, once you enter you could already feel how relaxing the place with how interesting it looks with pictures and painting of distinct places in San Francisco.

(Apologies for the photos I was just using my BB phone)

the menu

Tito Chef Restaurant and All Things Culinary (BF Homes)

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for quite sometime already. I always pass by this restaurant on my way home from school. Although it's very near our place I refuse to dine here because of the usual traffic in President's Ave. I find it unpleasant to battle the traffic just to dine. Tito Chef's vibe shouts comfort and traffic is totally not comfortable.

But since it was a special occasion we're celebrating, my daughter's 2nd birthday we decided to have our late lunch here not thinking about the traffic.

Le Soleil de Boracay

grabbed fom Le Soleil Website

The resort we stayed at for our 4 days 3 nights vacay at Boracay was Le Soleil de Boracay. My original plan was to stay at Boracay Mandarin. For how many yeas that I've been checking Boracay in the internet it was Boracay Mandarin that really caught my heart. But because I've been so busy in school preparing for midterms I wasn't able to reserve a room on time. When I contacted them, all deluxe rooms were booked already. The other rooms they offer were over my budget.

Luckily, I saw a deal in Ensogo for Le Soleil. 4 days 3 nights in a premier room with 2 breakfast for 2 pax. Since I wanted a resort with a swimming pool I got the deal as soon as possible.

Food Tripping in Boracay (Where to eat)

A trip to Boracay Island wouldn't be complete without trying the different restaurants and foods known in the island. Boracay is not only known for it's fine white sand and night life, it is also known for the wide variety of rave worthy restaurants you can find in the island. And a trip to Boracay will not be complete without pigging out. :)

Oysters from Gasthof

First Timer in Boracay Day 1

I'm not much of a traveler and if I do I always go with my family. My parents never allowed us to travel or go out without them. Growing up I was afraid of going to unfamiliar places without my family, my mom to be exact. But my mom had to leave for us to live. She needed to work overseas because the income here in the Philippines is no longer enough. Being separated with my mom helped me mature through a not so good way. But those mistakes I've done in the past taught me how to be independent and responsible enough.

My fear of travelling has long been gone since I went to Cebu, a part of my black sheep days. That trip to Cebu became an eye opener on how fun it is to travel and I told myself that someday I will go to different places here in the Philippines and abroad. Among all other destinations, Boracay has been my top choice. Who wouldn't want to go to Boracay? Even Mr. Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet said "Boracay is one of the places that you should visit in the Philippines before you die." And of course, Boracay is my first travel destination.

Remembering our staycation at THE BELLEVUE HOTEL MANILA

Today is not a very fortunate day for the people of Luzon. Typhoon Maring enhanced by the Southwest Monsoon caused a lot of flooding and suspension of classes. I'm lucky enough that our village is not prone to flood. I never saw our village flooded, it withstood Typhoon Ondoy of 2009 and the habagat (Southwest Monsoon). And since school got suspended and staying at home is a little boring all I did was check my old post/pictures in my facebook account and saw photos of our staycation at THE BELLEVUE HOTEL in Alabang.

Last December 2012, I was checking the hotel's website and saw that they have promotions for that month. It was a very decent deal Php9,000nett for a 2 night stay in an Executive Suite in the Main Wing. I contacted them through email and facebook and it took a while for them to reply. I become very impatient and emailed them again and this was the reply I got:

Sausage Rolls

I always wanted to learn how to make puff pastry and it was a dream come true when our professor/chef taught us how to make one on the second week of classes. But as much as I want to make my own puff pastry it would be very difficult for me to do for the following reasons:

Chocolate Fondant / Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

We ate at Yabu last Tuesday while shopping for my niece's school supplies. Kevin decided to order their Chocolate Lava Cake and instantly fell in love with it. He's not into sweets and he doesn't like chocolates so it was quite a surprise that he liked it.

Since I love cooking for the people I love, I planned on making one at home. I tried making this 3 times, used 3 different recipes but FAILED. Felt really sad about it but luckily I found Gordon Ramsay's recipe for Chocolate Fondant.

Though I followed his recipe, I made changes on mine just to make-up with the ingredients I didn't have.

Prawns and Squid in Crab Fat and Coconut Milk

As much as I love cooking, it was never my duty to cook food in our house. It was my dad who cooks our daily meals. My dad is a very good cook. His Beef Caldereta is a great hit in the family. But at times like this, when he goes to our province to visit my lolo, he leaves this duty to me.

I was never fond of cooking Filipino cuisine. If I do, it probably was an experiment. You know, mix and matching all those Filipino ingredients we have in our kitchen and ending up creating a good dish. hehe

I was at the grocery last night and got some prawns, squid and a bottled crab fat paste. I don't know how the latter tasted, I just wanted to give it a try. At first I just thought of sauteing all those ingredients in butter and garlic but today I wanted it to be more Filipino and added gata or coconut milk.

Darth Vader invades Maja's Home Cafe

 Back in 2012, during my preparations for my daughter's baptism I chance upon a caterer that really caught my attention. I was actually looking for a caterer who does not only serve good food but was also excellent with decorating. I was planning to have flowers & butterflies theme for the reception and when I saw Passion Cooks Catering's multiply I knew this was the one. I've read from other blogs that their food is really good. And all the photos of their "themed events" is just awesome.

Photo from Passion Cooks Catering's Facebook account

 But unfortunately their service is too expensive for my budget. Being a student who just depends on her mother I really need to minimize the expenses for this event because as long as I'm studying it'll be my mom who will spend the most for my daughter.

 A year later I found out that they'll be opening a restaurant in BF Homes, Paranaque and the menu will include their best selling dishes. I was really delighted with this news. Finally, I'll get to try their food.

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