Resto 101 @ Enderun

Enderun

Mckinley Hill, BGC

I have been keeping myself busy lately and have read great reviews on this restaurant within a school ;)  So I was giddy to try it out one fine night where the stars were twinkling and the moon smiling. hehehehe

I knew it was somewhere in Mckinley Hill but my friend and I got lost somehow. hehehe I had thought it was just besides the Venice-inspired mall, but apparently, it was behind it and poor Blake had to make a U-turn. hehehe  But it was worth it.  Parking alone spoke for itself, the array of Chedeng, BMW, Chrysler, Monteros.. and Blake. hahahaha :) 

The facade resembled that of an old church (didn't take any pictures, my poor E72 couldn't handle it hehehe) and we were curtsied to Restaurant 101.  Such simple name! hehe

This was what greeted us..

My gahd!! Ang gondah!! hahahaha I've always fancied lamp fixtures on the ceilings and this was by best.. uhm, fancy? hehehehehehe It set the tone for what was to come that night. Plus, plus, the waiters were.. uhm.. delectable?? haahhaha They were students from the Enderun College and they were soooo, uhm, prim and proper. I like :)

I took a look at their menu.  Darn!! The review I read must have referred to their lunch serving, Php300 for a trio-combination of soup, main dish and dessert.  

I skimmed down further.  Acccck!!  Each dish cost Php600 the least! hahahaha Sh*t.  There was no turning back now. hahahaha Might as well enjoy this.  Sh3t! hahaha

The cute waiter was asking us for our drinks.  I decided to have the mango shake, and I noticed my friend gave me quizzical look. hahahahaha  Ok, ok! I'll opt for the red sangria wine instead. Hmf.  I forgot this was a fancy restaurant I was in. hmf. 

It was yummy. hehehe Per my friend, Sangria is wine mixed with fruits, so essentially, it's like punch… and what a punch it delivered!  That glass made me tipsy after!!  I had wanted to order another glass, but decided not to as I was literally swaying when I went out.  Loser! hahahahaha

I didn't order any appetizers, despite the plea of the waiter for me to try their chef's special for the day (ham something), so I ordered soup. French Onion, gruyere cheese, multigrain croutons, to be exact.

Uhm.. it was something unique.  I could feel the mozzarella cheese mixed with the sweet onions in it.  I was trying to compare it to the other soups I've tasted, but this stands out.  I had it paired with their complementary bread and it was soothing on a cold night.  Not bad… though not good either.  Somewhere in between :)

Then off to the main entree :)  My friend had this, Slow roasted Kurobota Pork Belly, with balsamic adobo glaze garlic rice and green mango atchara.  I took a bite of it and it was yummy.  hehehe  Sorry, I just don't know how to enunciate yummy in other parlance. Chos :)

My dish was Chicken Basquaise (don't ask me how to pronounce it, I had to ask the waiter :p)

It was a delightful experience!! :)  The blend of both bacon and chicken was purrfect!!  The chicken melted in my mouth, while the bacon added texture to it.  The potatoes fit well with the dish, so it won't be too boring.  It was like Filet Mignon, chicken-style!  Ay lavet! hehehehehe

Set-back? Php1,000 per head. hahahahahaha :p

I didn't mind shelling out a thousand bucks though.  Once in a while, I treat myself to a nice restaurant, a fine-dining one indeed.  It was sooo worth it.  I would definitely recommend highly, especially dinner time.  The ambiance is just worth the price.  I could not imagine eating out during lunchtime at 101.  The lighting would probably be different.

Finally, I've found the purrfect restaurant to take my date to.. Hmmmm.. now if I can only find the purrfect guy :p hehehehe

*hush, hush*

Casa Verde

Cebu
Casa Verde, Ayala Terraces 
08.10.11

Had to drop by my fave resto before I fly back to reality.

Brian's Baby Back Ribs (Php189)

My bro said it's cheaper at their original place across Velez Hospital at Php130 something.  I say the cost of gas would probably compensate for the difference in Ayala.  Mind you, this was at Php85 way back 4 or 5 years ago when I was still based in Cebu.  Humongous and the sauce!  You would just have to drool over the sauce!


My bro ordered the Dax (?) which was their steak.  He had it well-done and it had shrimps to compliment the dish.  Not bad.  Set off at Php250.  Not bad indeed for a steak.

Death by Chocolate (Php125)

Finished off with this dessert.  It's crisp outer layer coupled with the ice cream and marshmallows in it is to die for.  I guess this is why they called it such.  This used to be around Php50 before!! How times have changed.


Cebu.  Should I go back?  Hay.

Not So Classic Savory

July 12
Lunchtime, Makati

Jechel announced to the group that we would take our lunch at Savory Chicken and proceeded to show to us the free stub that offered free 16pcs shanghai rolls.  I asked, are there strings attached, such as minimum purchase spent?  No, she responded, as long as we  eat at the restaurant.


Cool.  There's one in Makati Avenue, but apparently, that one is the ORIGINAL Savory Chicken, which is different from CLASSIC Savory Chicken.  That I didn't know. :(


So off we went to D-Link (right across Landmark) and proudly showed the free stub :) We thought of just ordering rice (I mean, 16 pcs is enough for 4 people, right??) and bottomless tap water, but gallantry (and probably stagger-stares from the manager later) shoved us to order another viand, the half-chicken-something from the menu. hehehe


.. and to our horror amazement, we were served this:

Look closely!!!


The lumpia shanghai were sliced into 2, which is way way different from the coupon they gave out!  Talk about deceiving marketing strategies!!


I know that, yah, the thing was for free, but they should portray what they will actually serve the clients!!  Regardless if its half the lumpia shanghai or not!!! Hmf!! 


No wonder, even at lunchtime, this restaurant has few customers.  Tsk tsk.  

.. and because I felt short-changed (though it was free hahahaha!), I trudged towards Landmark and bought myself some taro milk tea at Chatime :)  Large please :)

Yummy!!  The blend of taro and milk tea soothed my scratchy throat and was refreshingly good :9  Price though is at Php90.. so-so :)


Then again…

What am I to do with these stubs??? hahahahahahaha :p


Hhmmmm.. I'll use this on Sunday with Josh :)  Josh who?? hehe


*hush hush*

Krazy Garlik, I Like ♥

I had promised to treat Idelle out for dinner today and thought to take her to Contis, since I find the food there sumptuous and affordable.  She suggested that we check out Krazy Garlik at Greenbelt 5 since she had heard rave reviews about that restaurant.


'For the record, libre mo to ha', she texted.


'Oy, It's my discretion whether I find the prices reasonable or not, for the record also, otherwise we go back to Contis', I replied.


As expected, parking was full at Greenbelt and it took a while to get to Krazy Garlik.  The place was packed!! Hmmmm… good sign that the food must be palatable :9

I love the ambiance that the restaurant depicts, I fancied the lights that looked like, uhm, garlic? hehehe I easily felt right at home :)  On the left side of the entrance had collections of Garlic-stuff toys and I simply adored them.  I forgot to ask the attendants whether they were for sale.  I was anticipating that they would give it for free to dine-in customers. hehehehe hmf.

cute menu

Since it was both our first time, we asked our attendant, Trisha, for the best dish.


'Sir, our best seller is the crispy pata'


'Uhm, miss, wag naman yung kababuyan po.  Medyo light lang'


I scanned their chic menu and was curious with their Amazing Krazy Garlik Salad and ordered it.  Aside from being picturesque, it was fantastic for my taste :)

photo grabbed from http://www.krazygarlik.com/menu.php#

Bbq Garlic Chicken

We also ordered the BBQ Garlic Chicken and the burst of flavors with each bite was exhilarating!  The strong barbeque sauce, together with the melting cheese, chewy chicken bits and sweet onions was enough for one to crave for another bite :) hehehe  Plus top it off with Tabasco, and I was blown away! Whew! 

We complemented our food with these beverages: The Shadow and Infinity Ice Tea.  Well, the latter, I alternated with their Infinity Lemonade. hehehehe Trip lang.

The Shadow

Infinity Ice Tea and, uhm, bottomless in-house water :p

This is where the restaurant, I think, fell short of expectations.  The attendant highly recommended the Shadow, which is a mix of dragonfruit, vanilla ice cream and strawberries (per their menu), and it did sound delightful, yet when I took a sip of it, it tasted like children's flavored medicine!! And for the price of Php180, I definitely will not order this drink the next time around :(

The Infinity Icetea (or bottomless ice tea given a fancy twist) was, I think, just Nestea, and I can't help compare to the bottomless ang saya commercial of only Php10 per liter, against this Php110 drink. Hmf.  Next time, I'll just have the in-house water with ice :)

I also noted, and I don't know if it's a good thing or not, but I simply can't distinguish the garlic that complemented the pizza and salad.  I heard that everything in their menu, well except for the drinks, has garlic in it! Or probably because I am not an expert in food tasting.. well :)

The prices are comparable to that of Itallianis (read: Php 450 and up per dish), well given the fact that both are under the Bistro Circle, and our total bill cost me Php1,105 (including service fees).  It would definitely be considered under the high-end bracket for me.

I enjoyed our dish, plus of course, the camaraderie and gossips I got from Idelle.  It is always nice to hang out with my ex-San Miguel officemate and the ideas and ventures we would want to go into seemed endless for just one night :)

I'll definitely go back to this Krazy restaurant :)  I like it.

*hush, hush*

Blue Roses :)

March 31, 2011
(Mandaluyong to Makati)

I woke up at around 10am last Thursday.  I was supposed to attend the 6am mass at the Divine Mercy Church in Boni Circle, but since I got home late, plan B was to attend the high-noon mass.  I offered my thanksgiving and prayers for Marxus and treated myself with Jollibee spaghetti (for long life!! hehe) and yum burger.  I just sat there, internalizing all the things that transpired for the past 30 years (well, those that I can still recall) that went by so quickly!

Gift from Gel

I was on Skype last night with Gel from Cebu (hmmm.. I haven't blogged about him) and he showed to me what he bought for my birthday. hehe :)  He knows that I am collecting Starbucks bearistas, and he took pains to go to Crown Regency Cebu to buy the Geisha bear we saw at Blue Wave when he came to visit me a couple of weeks ago (hehehe ganda ko :) )  He is planning again to come back to Manila right after Holy Week and I'll offer my thanks then.. weeeehhh :)

Tita (mommy of Marxus) also called up to greet me and informed that she sent over 4 (as in FOUR) kilos of strawberries via Victory Liner.  She reiterated her thanks during those critical days with Marxus and that I am already part of their family.  I was touched and responded that it was the least I could do for him and will still continue to keep in touch with his family. 

Fresh from Baguio

Bday card that came along with the strawberries.. I haven't received one in ages already! :)

I went home to shower and proceeded to the office.  Though I am allowed a personal leave on my birthday, I have no choice but to go to work since it ALWAYS falls on month-end!  I have been telling my colleagues that I don't like balloons set up on my desk today (demanding, di ba?) but instead, I want it filled with flowers! :) Blue roses! hehe

While driving, I received a call from Janyka (AMIGA!! hehehe) asking where I was.  Hmmmm… sheet may surprise! hahaahaha  I said, I'm already at Rockwell and am on my way already to the office.

When I got to my desk, aba, no signs of flowers whatsoever.  All 3 (Ferns, Marco and Jechel) acted nonchalantly and Jechel even proclaimed, 'Hoy Hush, wag ka mag.expect ha!!'  Hmf!  HIrap pala mag.expect!! hahahahaha

Jechel and Ferns excused themselves towards the restroom, but I relentlessly followed them. hahahaha I was really expecting my flowers! hmf!! Wala talaga. hmf!!

I was hanging up from a call with UK personnel when somebody tapped me on my shoulder.  A guy I didn't know was handing me a single blue rose and greeted me happy birthday! hahahaaha I looked over to my officemates and they were grinning from ear to ear and Janyka took out pictures! Puttanesca! For the first time in my life, I was stupified and didn't know how to react! Dagdagan mo ba naman na he had tantalizing eyes and hair that swayed from side to side. Hmf! Puttanesca! ang gwapo! hahahaahaha  I totally forgot the name of the guy, since after that, another batch of men, as in the best that the bank has to offer, gave out singly a blue rose to me! hahahaha  I think they were 20 of them, even my admin officer messaged me in Office Communicator, 'wow! ang daming cute na nagbigay ng rose sa yo! :)  At dito pa sila sa area ko nagtago!'.  They came from all floors, 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th and took effort to greet me, or was persuaded with no choice but to comply (I would like to believe it was the former! hahahaha), even though it was month end. :) I didn't know how to react and how to respond and I was already a bit embarrassed with the commotion at my area!

Then a surge of all my friends came in with a cake on hand and sang to me :) Awwwwww, I was touched to the bones :)  They handed out the remaining 10 roses, and I later realized, they stand for my age! hahahahaha 30 beautiful blue roses! :) Ganda, ganda :)

Untrimmed blue roses :) weeh

What was left of the cake! hehe

Then we went to ate at Huey Ying in Macapagal Dampa and feasted on these :)

buttered shrimp in garlic sauce

tempura tempura!!

adobong pusit :9

baked scallops :) my favorite

Ang handaan

The Best :)

Hush, hush for now**