A Slice of Heaven

The best things often come in small packages. That's exactly what I got after trying out a cupcake from this newly opened store beside Jamba Juice. 

While I was waiting for Gus to get off work, I chanced upon this stall beside his workplace. I assumed it was just a temporary stall since a bigger place behind it with the same name was being constructed. Thank God for boredom. Since I had nothing to do while waiting, I decided to take a look at the different cupcakes and cookies they were selling. 

Being a baker myself, curiosity got the best of me. I wondered how one cupcake could cost as much as the ones I was seeing. It looked like regular cupcakes. I assumed people were also paying for the place where it was being sold, thus the unusually high price of each cupcake. I got one without asking what it was. I just picked the most classy-looking cupcake I could see.

I picked a chocolate cupcake with rosette icings on top, which, judging from the color and texture, was made of caramel. I paid P60 for a cupcake that looked like another cupcake I usually buy for P11. But, I had to find out. Was it worth my P60?

Chocolate Yema Cupcake

(P60)

The answer is a big, fat YES! The first bite was all it took. The cupcake was so full, the icing, to die for. The cupcake was filled with cake, not just air. It was heavy, unlike other cupcakes I tasted. I knew this was real cupcake. Not just aired batter baked to perfection. And the caramel rosettes? Turns out it was yema. Cooked condensed milk. The sweetness complimented the rich chocolate flavor of the cupcake. It wasn't a battle between two sweets. It was a union of bitter and sweet.

Wow, I can't believe how poetic I sound describing this cupcake. It really is a must try. No wonder this was their best seller. For P60, this is definitely worth it! 

Grab yours at Slice Bonifacio High Street. They are currently on their soft opening, so you can also taste their other non-sweets specialties like the Brown Arroz Caldo, and Seafood Puttanesca.

Price Range: P60-110 (for the baked goodies -- cupcakes and cookies)

5 out of 5 for Slice (their staff were very friendly and accommodating)

Slice

G/F West Superblock (beside Jamba Juice)

Bonifacio High Street Central

30th cor. 7th Street

Bonifacio Global City

Contact details courtesy of: http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2012/03/slice-of-pia-cayetano.html

안녕, Jang Ga Nae

For our monthly date, Gus and I decided to go Korean. We were supposed to try Ye Dang, but we decided to check the Korean carinderia I was telling him about. We didn't end up eating there because he wanted a Korean place where he could grill the samgyeupsal himself. We eventually found ourselves in one of the more formal restaurants along Escriva Drive, which had table grills -- Jang Ga Nae.

Since we were both very hungry, we immediately ordered what we were craving for: bibimbap, and samgyeupsal. While waiting for our meals to arrive, the server brought us a pitcher of cold tea (yes, cold tea!) We were actually surprised, but very pleased, with the cold tea. It was the first Korean restaurant we've been to, which served cold tea instead of just plain water.

Cold Tea

Eat My English

At first glance, one would think that this little hole-in-the-whole restobar is of Korean origin. With Korean restaurants and karaoke centers surrounding it, one would be quick to assume that this too, is a Korean establishment. It is not. Eat My English is a restaurant/bar that serves affordable Filipino, and American dishes, alcoholic beverages, and your usual pulutan (snacks to go with your beer/shots).

We chanced upon this restobar while looking for a 24/7 restaurant that serves Beef Steak or Beef Tapa. The name of the place caught our attention so we decided to have a look-see. To our surprise, they offered both at very reasonable prices so we decided to stay and check the rest of the menu. 

I decided to get my Beef Tapa, as originally planned. For only P98, I got crispy beef tapa, egg, and garlic rice. The tapa was really good, a mix between salty and sour, not the typical sweet tapa other restaurants would offer. Their vinegar mixture complimented the salty/sour flavor of the tapa. The garlic rice was real, garlic rice. Not just a cup of rice topped with garlic flakes. However, the serving was not enough for one meal. I had to roder an extra cup of rice to finish my food.

Tapsilog

(P98)

MonDATES: Spicy Fingers

Due to our busy working schedule, we rarely get to have weekend dates, or dinnerdates anymore. So today, Gus and I decided to make the most out of my light workload and his dayoff. We went around Greenbelt, grabbed a cup of coffee from McDonald's (because I always need my cup of coffee everyday), and went back to strolling around. I showed him the iTouch case I wanted to buy, and after that, we decided to look for a place where we can have lunch. On the way to Greenbelt 1, we chanced upon a tarp, which offered P120 lunch meals from 10 am to 3 pm. We scanned through the list of their lunch offerings, but continued to walk, thinking whether or not we should try it. The meals they offered looked good, and for P120, we decided to go back and try it out. 

The place looked more like a bar, booths and tables were both available in the air conditioned area, with a stage in the corner. But at 2:30 in the afternoon, it was a quiet little resto. There weren't a lot of people inside. Apart from Gus and I, the only other person eating inside was an American. Still, we went in and sat in one of the booths. The lady who was attending to us was very nice. Instead of shooing us away because I had a cup of coffee in my hand from another restaurant, she simply asked if it was okay for her to transfer my coffee into a glass, which I agreed to of course. We were shocked that she asked nicely, instead of going with the usual, "Hindi po pwede 'yan sa loob, ma'am." (You can't bring that inside, ma'am.) I had a feeling that this was going to be a good, blog-worthy lunch. Assuming the food is as good as the experience. :) 

Best Friends Pares and Mami House

It's been a while since my last update. I've a lot of entries waiting to be published, but I just don't have the time to finish all of them yet. Fortunately, I've some time to finish one today. 

A few months back, Gus and I decided to try this "pares" house along Aurora Blvd. It looks like your typical pares house -- simple tables and chairs, open air, fancy/colorful designs, and tiled floors. If you haven't seen other pares houses, you might think this is just a fancier eatery, or sidewalk restaurant. But don't let it's cutesy, or simple exterior fool you. Best Friends Pares House offers delicious, inexpensive meals fit for a king! 

Gus ordered the Beef Pares Meal, which came with a bowl of soup, two pieces of siomai, and UNLIMITED rice. All for the very low price of P89.

Beef Pares with UNLIMITED Rice

I ordered their Lechon Kawali Meal, which also came with a bowl of soup, a side dish of chopsuey, and a big cup of rice. As you can see in the photo below, their chopsuey serving was good enough for one more meal, not just as a side dish. Their serving of rice was also bigger than your usual cup of rice. All this for just P89 too.

Lechon Kawali Meal with Chopsuey

Best Friends Pares and Mami House prides itself in serving clean, delicious, and affordable meals, which, in our opinion, they succeeded in doing so. The food was delicious, we had everything we needed and wanted in a meal -- a bowl of hot soup, vegetables, more rice, and the assurance that what we were eating was clean food. For those midnight cravings, or spontaneous dates, drop by Best Friends Pares and Mami House for a delicious and affordable meal. They are located along Aurora Blvd. just a few block away from the Anonas LRT Station. They are open 24 hours. 

Price Range: P50-100/person

5 out of 5 for Best Friends Pares and Mami House

Best Friends Pares and Mami House
972 CDO 
Aurora Blvd. Quezon City
Phone Number: (63 2) 912 8957; 912 9614

Contact details courtesy of: http://bestfriendsparesandcateringservices.com/branches.php