Drunk with Ramen Bar

I’m drunk… and I’m using a spoon to get drunk… with ramen that is.

 

I’ve always wanted to try Ramen Bar ever since two of my friends told me to meet them there. To make the story short, I got stuck at work, was late, and they were already done eating when I arrived thus we had to move to the next restaurant for snacks instead. *sniff sniff*

However, the food gods really love me as an opportunity came and soon, I found myself inside Ramen Bar waiting for my friends.

The staff was pretty friendly and alert for as soon as I stepped inside, they led me to my seat. (I like that!)

The place seemed spacious too and the lighting made the place quite relaxing.

Healthy 2012: Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino

Pork. Lots of pork and fried too! What more can make one feel so guilty, especially after undergoing a rather expensive cleansing diet? Thank goodness for the owners of Pino though for making healthy living accessible right after devouring its famous Kare-Kareng Bagnet.

Right above Pino Resto Bar is its healthier counterpart, Pipino.

 

Stuffed and heavy, we braved the stairs (well, it was just one flight from Pino but it looked like a mountain for us with pork-filled tummies).

My First Bite: Sancho Churreria Manila

Ever since I saw a post claiming that a quaint restaurant along Maginhawa serves the best churros in town, I’ve been itching to go back to Maginhawa to try it myself. I’ve always been in love with Dulcinea’s churros and I wondered if I’ll have an affair with a new one.

 

We were still in our “Invade Maginhawa” mode but it was almost 5PM then. We didn’t care if our tummies were about to explode. We just have to check this place out.

Home of Kare-Kareng Bagnet: Pino Resto Bar

Our second food stop during our first Maginhawa food trip this 2012 was Pino Resto Bar as I have been eying its Choco Turon for some time now.

Hello, Pino!

 

I can’t help notice the cute doodles on the wall of Pino upon entering. It definitely gave the restaurant an artistic vibe.

Charmed By A Girl Named Maria

I missed doing all-day food trips thus I decided to organize another one last February 4 and target stops were Gayuma Ni Maria, Pino, Pipino, and Sancho. Yes, we’re back at Maginhawa for another Quezon City food trip. (And to help me accomplish one of my goals this 2012.)

My friend H and I met early as we both live a bit far from Quezon City. We were expecting that it will take us an hour before we reach Maginhawa. Wrong! We arrived around 10:30 am and not a single FOOD establishment was open. (I just had to emphasize food as Ricky Reyes opens early.)

We decided to roam around instead and I got to see other restaurants I was not aware of. There was this vague sounding restaurant that I have to try next, a cute café called Zombie Café and I heard that there’s this place offering pizza all you can. (The phrase “eat all you can” never fails to entice me!)

Soon, restaurants started to open and we met up with our tour guide, yet another foodie who lives a few steps away from Pino. Lucky guy!

 

Our first stop was Gayuma Ni Maria as we planned on eating something heavy as it was almost lunch time.

A Healthier 2012: Juju Cleanse

As a food lover, I would have never thought that I would last more than a day not eating anything that requires chewing.

Start the year right. Cleanse. Detox. Get rid of the bad habits. Don’t you just love the first quarter of the year? For hard core junk food lovers [like me], we’re pretty much apathetic.

Yet, being addicted to challenging myself and just about the most random dares, I immediately said “ME!” to a colleague when she asked who’s game to try the Juju Cleanse.

Juju what?

Juju Cleanse, according to its website is a “no fuss, all benefits approach to juice fasting.”  Basically, you will be under detox where the only thing you will eat, rather, drink, will be juice.

Kapitolyo Food Stop: Mad Mark's

I heard a lot of good reviews about this new sandwich place in Kapitolyo and since Kapitolyo is one of my “target” venues for food trips this year, it gave me the added push to visit it this month. Right after lunch at Ramen Cool, my friend and I drove to Mad Mark’s.

 

The place had this nautical feel as there were red and white hues all over. It was also small and there was only one parking space in front. 

 

We were still full from our lunch and our short walk around Pioneer Center didn’t help burn all those calories but we were determined to have at least two stops that day. We decided to order just a half of Mariner (PHP150; PHP220 for man sandwich) to share and a cup of Mandheling Macchiato ice cream for dessert (PHP68 for one scoop; PHP98 for two scoops). 

Kapitolyo Food Stop: Ramen Cool

As part of my 2012 plans, I will be visiting all restaurants in Kapitolyo. I have already tried Nav, Cafe Juanita, St. Geralds, Share Tea, Soho, Three Sisters, Poco Deli, Mad Marks, and Rub Ribs. Just a few more to go. Food trip anyone?

I love checking out new restaurants. I’m sure that I have mentioned this several times already (but the three words “I love salmon” must have been repeated way more). Disclaimer: I will say these again… very soon.

 

I got so excited when a colleague told me that there’s a new restaurant that recently opened near my place and where I work. (Convenient!) I-just-have-to-try-it!

Katy Perry Manila Dream Awesome Find!

Yesterday was an interesting day for me as it was my first time to watch a concert. Surprisingly, it was not as loud as I thought. People were also well-behaved. Maybe I had wrong ideas on what happens during concerts.But one thing remained true... the long wait. But because of that, I discovered something awesome!!!

I love to observe. I usually check what's happening left and right [when I'm not doing anything]. The people around me were getting bored and I was getting tired of entertaining myself with thumb wrestling. Then I heard my seatmate say, "it's so clear!". It made me curious that I just had to check out whatever she was holding (discreetly of course). 

Cardboard?

Rub at First Sight: Rub Ribs & BBQ

Ribs. Who doesn’t love them? Even those on a diet cannot resist the big slab of oh so good meat with overflowing barbeque sauce. I could testify. I momentarily forgot my diet--at least for a good 2 hours.

 

Finally, Rub Ribs! I’ve been hearing a lot of good reviews about this place. I know three colleagues who could not stop raving about it and I just have to try it. Actually, the reason why we had a “rib lunch out” today was because of my colleague’s addiction to the place.

The place was quite small and parking was a bit difficult that we had to park on the other side of the street. The place also has another side business—SMILE intervention center.

We were all very hungry so we ordered within 2 minutes. I ordered the Singles—half slab with one side dish (I ordered Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes) and plain rice (PHP190), an additional side dish of Buttered Vegetables (PHP65) Soup of the Day—Cream of Potato Soup (PHP100), and Fried Oreos with Vanilla Ice Cream (PHP140).

Restaurant Favorite: Trattoria Gourmet's

For some reason, if we’re at home, we always forget to have lunch. It happened again last Sunday as we left for mass at around 4PM already. We felt really hungry when the mass was about to start. *Fasting mode on*

My sister was so excited and slightly grumpy when we settled down at Trattoria Gourmet’s. She quickly ordered her favorite Four Cheese Pizza (PHP305 for 8 slices) while I ordered Mushroom Soup (PHP175) Salmone al Sparkling Wine (PHP425), Spaghetti Mare Monti (PHP295) and Calamansi shake (PHP60) to help digest all the food I’ll be eating.

Usually, Trattoria Gourmet’s serve waiting baskets filled with toasted bread and two dips—liver and pesto but it took them about 15 minutes to serve the basket that Sunday whereas before they used to serve it as soon as people sit down. [Of-all-days-why-today-when-dear-sister-is-cranky was the only thing on my head at that moment.]