Binondo Eats: Ang Tunay na Beef House

Another Chinatown post courtesy of my beloved Chinese boyfriend. 

A few weeks back, Gus and I found ourselves in Chinatown, again. This time, I was running an errand for my dad, who wanted to find out the price range of gold rings here in the Philippines (he's in the US).  He requested that we look for it in Chinatown. After going around Binondo, looking for daddy's gold rings, we decided to have lunch before heading home. Since Binondo is like a big pot of delicious, varying delicacies and dishes, we had to spend a few minutes walking around, deciding what and where to eat. We finally decided to eat where Gus' angkong usually eats every Sunday -- Ang Tunay na Beef House.

Ang Tunay na Beef House is like a cleaner, more posh carinderia-style restaurant. It is air-conditioned with very simple tables and chairs. The different dishes they offer are posted on a menu board on the wall behind the food counter. Unfortunately, the prices are not posted.

Most of their dishes can be seen behind this long, stainless steel food counter. Dishes are placed either on plates or in rectangular chafing dishes. Other dishes are made-to-order and are not on display. A serving staff usually comes up to you to take your order once you reach the stainless steel counter. Just tell her which dish you want (and if you're not sure what the dishes are, just point and ask her what it is -- the serving staff are Filipinos.)

Day 3 of 3: The Last Stop -- Kainan sa Dalampasigan

Before we went back to civilization, Gus and I made sure our vacation was worth more than the expense. We dropped by the famous Kainan Sa Dalampasigan for a late lunch to check out why this restaurant is the most talked about in Nasugbu.

Kainan sa Dalampasigan is along R. Martinez St. It's easy to miss unless you really are looking for the place. If you're coming from Manila-Tagaytay, the street will be on your left side. The restaurant is also on the left side of the street, just a few houses away from the corner where you turned.

You can't miss the entrance to the restaurant. It looks like an enchanted garden with greens hanging above the driveway, and trees and plants along the sides. But, cars give and take as they enter and exit the restaurant compound because the driveway is not wide enough for two cars. 

Day 2 of 3: A Tale of Two Cities (From Tagaytay to Pico de Loro)

After a wonderful overnight stay, we packed our bags, looked at the view one last time, and bid goodbye to Taal Vista Hotel. We readied ourselves for our next adventure, which was a trip to Hamilo Coast in Batangas City. Our next stop? Pico de Loro.

We've been to other parts of Batangas but this is actually our first time in Pico de Loro. Armed with just a virtual map of Tagaytay to Hamilo Coast, we went on our way to our next destination.

3rd Stop: Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast, Batangas (Click here for Stop #2)

We didn't really know how to get to Batangas from Tagaytay City. I could vaguely remember going straight, just following the road and eventually finding a sign that says, "Welcome to Batangas City." But of course, my memory could be faulty. So we put our virtual map and my memory together to hopefully get to Batangas just in time for check-in.

Taiwan Visa Application for Filipinos

Gus and I were supposed to go to Taiwan for a 6-day vacation. Unlike the more famous tourist destinations Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, a visa is required if you want to enter the beautiful land of F4. :)

We planned our vacation for three months. We bought plane tickets as early as January of 2013. We made reservations in this quaint little hostel in Taipei City. Our itinerary was fixed, packed with various tourist destinations that included traveling from the north of Taiwan (Yilan County) to the south (Kaohsiung). Everything was well-planned, including where we would have our first dinner, our first street food, our first night market visit. All we needed was the visa.

Unfortunately, we didn't get one. We had to cancel all the reservations me made, our plane tickets wasted. Why? Because contrary to most of the blog posts I've read about getting a Taiwanese visa, it is actually very difficult to get one. Especially if you're a fresh graduate or on your first job.

Because of our very unfortunate experience, I decided to blog about the process of attaining a Taiwanese visa, to at least prepare/warn those who really want to visit this beautiful country. The process is actually easy. The requirements are the difficult part.

So how do I apply for a Taiwan visa?

Day 1 of 3: Revisiting Tagaytay -- Taal Vista Hotel

Gus and I were supposed to go to Taiwan this summer, but unfortunately, the Taiwanese Embassy denied our visa application. Since we already had a 3-day leave from work, we decided to find an alternative summer getaway. Fortunately, I stumbled upon Taal Vista's tweet about the Ultimate Vacation Package. For PhP12,100, you get to stay overnight in one of Taal Vista's Premier Lake Wing rooms, which has a perfect and beautiful view of the Taal Volcano, and another overnight stay at Pico de Loro in Hamilo Coast, Batangas. It sounds a bit pricey for a 3-day/2-night holiday, right? But let me give you the breakdown of their regular room rates.

Taal Vista Premier Lake Wing Room = PhP8,000-10,000 (depending on the day -- weekday/weekend, peak/non-peak, with or without breakfast buffet)

Pico de Loro Premier Lagoon View Room = PhP6,699 + PhP500/head for non-members/guests of members

Had we availed of separate, regular rates for each room, we would've spent around PhP17,000. This is a PhP5,000 saving!

Day 1 of 3: Cecil's Cafe

1st Stop: Cecil's Cafe

Cecil's Cafe was the first stop on our 3-day vacation getaway. Gus discovered it by accident while he was browsing through various travel blogs. We didn't know whether this stop would break or make our first day on the road. We've been going to Tagaytay since college, but not once did we notice this quaint little cafe on the side of the Sta. Rosa Road. Being the adventurous duo that we are, we decided to just try it out and see if we made the right choice.

Cecil's Cafe is located along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road. You can find it on the right side, if you're coming from Manila, just a few blocks after Nuvali.

R&J Bulalohan and Tapsilogan: The taste of victory.

The past week has been hell for me and quite frankly, I had lost interest in everything, even blogging. But amidst the darkness that clouded me during what was supposed to be a "Holy Week," the Lord had given me some sunshine.

The results of the Law Aptitude Exam of the Ateneo Law School came out yesterday. I've been planning to apply to law school for the past two years but my fears of being rejected and failing prevented me from doing so. But after two long years, I finally conquered my fear and took the exam. And finally, the day came for me to know whether or not I was going to law school this year.

The 1st of April 2013 was a very long day for me. I knew that the results would come out, but somehow, fate decided to prolong my agony for a few more hours. I couldn't access the website so I still had no idea whether or not I passed. The day was about to end already and still, I was clueless. Until two of my closest friends sent me congratulatory messages.

That's when I knew.

Since I go home at 11:00 at night, Gus and I couldn't really celebrate yet. Most restaurants and malls were already closed. We didn't want to celebrate that night by getting drunk since we were both tired from work and doing errands, so we had to think of a good place to celebrate our little success. That's when I remembered this well-known bulalo house that was open 24/7.

R&J Bulalohan and Tapsilogan is located beside Petron, near the Mandaluyong City Hall. It is a famous bulalo house simply because their bulalo is made of real meat and bones, not beef bouillons. They have two kinds of bulalo -- regular and special. Since there were only two of us, Gus and I decided to order their regular bulalo. For PhP199 only, this was definitely a steal. We got a big bowl of pure meat and bones, with refillable bulalo soup. The only mistake we made was not knowing that the regular bulalo had no vegetables. It was just pure meat and bones.

 PhP 199.00

Yves Rocher: My BB Cream Alternative

A few days ago, my mom asked me to try this free sample she and my aunt got from the Yves Rocher store in Trinoma. She knows I rely on my BB creams too much, and as impressed as she was with the functionality of BB creams, she can't help but try new beauty products, especially if they're given for free.

The sample she gave me was for a botanical liquid foundation. They got two kinds of sample, one with a matte finish, the other with a more supple-looking finish. I tried the latter -- the Yves Rocher Flawless Finish Fluid Foundation.

Beauty in Every Cup: Caffe Bene

I don't really know the difference between American coffee shops and Korean coffee shops. For me, coffee is coffee no matter where you are. I enjoy drinking it in Manila, I enjoy drinking it in China. I enjoy drinking coffee from the US, I enjoy drinking coffee from Columbia. I enjoy drinking it from a recyclable cup, I enjoy drinking it from a glass cup. I just love drinking coffee and I pretty much don't care where it came from, as long as it's good and clean. :D

But of course, there are times when we just want to relax, enjoy our surroundings with a hot cup of delicious coffee in hand. Sometimes, we just need to get away from our beds to finish projects or study for exams in peace. At other times, we just want to meet up and catch up with friends over a good ol' cup of joe. For these different reasons, we tend to rely on the nearest coffee shop we know and enjoy our coffee there.

The usual coffee shops we go to are the more well-known establishments here in the Philippines, those that have built their name in the country. But for those people who are willing to try something new, I suggest you visit this new coffee shop in Eastwood City called Caffe Bene.

Caffe Bene is a famous coffee shop in South Korea. A few months ago, they opened their first branch here in the Philippines. As I mentioned earlier, I don't really care where I get my coffee, as long as it's good and clean. I've never tried Caffe Bene's products before since I haven't been to South Korea, but friends have been praising it so I had to try it out myself.

The first thing that will catch your attention when you visit this coffee shop is it's wooden interiors. It gives you a different feeling, nothing less of relaxing, but it is something refreshing. It's like being one with nature.

Yen Yen: A Taste of Taiwanese Street Food

Since we've been planning to visit the hometown of the ageless F4, we decided to pay Yen Yen another visit to get a taste of authentic Taiwanese street food. We are really looking forward to trying out different Taiwanese street food once we get to Taiwan so we decided to familiarize ourselves with some Taiwanese street food made available here.

For those of you who are not familiar with Yen Yen, it is a small hole-in-a-wall type of snack house. It used to be located beside a car wash along Ortigas Road, but they've since transferred to a much bigger location along P. Guevarra in San Juan. They boast of authentic Taiwanese street food, a first in the metro (as far as I know).

The first time we ate in Yen Yen, Gus ordered one of their most famous dishes, Pork Chop Rice. But since we are planning to visit the home of beef noodle soup, we decided to try something different this time.

I ordered a bowl of their Taipei Beef Braised Noodle Soup. Since the first stop on our itinerary would be Taipei City, I decided to try their beef noodle soup so I can compare it with the real deal when we get to Taipei. As for Gus, he'd been craving for pork kidney so he decided to get Stir-fried Pork Kidney with Rice.

When we got our orders, we were so surprised. My beef noodle soup was in a very large bowl. There was a lot of beef, huge carrots and radishes, and a lump of noodles. I had already eaten half of the noodles but it still looked full after.

Welcome back, Popsi!

A few weeks ago, our beloved son, Popsicle, had to be sent to the hospital. He was losing all his fluff and was starting to lose weight. :( Gus and I tried to look for a place where we can have him fixed. Unfortunately, the Philippines isn't really a teddy bear country so there aren't many places where you can have your teddy fixed.

Loose fluff :(

Food Find: Uncle Moe's

Last night, Gus and I decided to eat out after work. I saw this post on Yahoo about the many hidden gems of Pasig City, and it piqued my curiosity. I told him about the different places that were featured on the article, and we decided to try out one of these places. At 11 at night, it was the only place from the article that was open so we really had no choice.

Uncle Moe's is (apparently) a famous kebab house in Pasig City. For those of you who have been to Mister Kebab (usually after a night of booze and dates with the bathroom sink), you'd find Uncle Moe's menu quite similar, but simpler (no yogurt shakes, but they did offer ice cream in cups) than Kebab's. We didn't have a hard time choosing since we wanted to compare the two kebab houses.

We got Uncle Moe's Beef and Chicken Kebab combo. This platter comes with two sticks of chicken kebab and two sticks of beef kebab with the usual butter-on-top-of-steaming-white-rice, and.. Salsa. Yes, salsa. Unlike Mister Kebab's, Uncle Moe's plates come with fresh tomato salsa instead of grilled tomatoes and onions.

So, what did we think of Uncle Moe's kebabs? We're definitely coming back for it! The chicken kebab was very tender and flavorful, not the rubbery kind some restaurants serve. Gus loved it! Since I'm more of a beef person, I liked the beef kebab more. This was perfect since we both got what we really liked after the first try. The beef was not hard and chewy, it was grilled just right. The beefy flavor was preserved so all I could taste was pure beefy goodness. 

Jesi Mendez Katipunan: Defining Excellent Service

This isn't really a review since I hadn't had anything done, technically. But I do want to write about the excellent service I got from the staff of Jessie Mendez in Katipunan, even if I wasn't really a client.

Last Saturday, as I was about to meet a friend in Katipunan, I noticed that my hair was sort of "tangled" since my brush couldn't glide through it smoothly. When I tried to untangle it, I found out that it wasn't tangled at all. There was gum on my hair! *horror* After feeling so disgusted, I decided I had to get rid of it quickly since people might notice. *embarrassment* I tried looking for a pair of scissors so I can just snip it, but ironically, the clothes alteration store I went to said they didn't have a pair of scissors. I tried looking for other shops that could possibly have a pair somewhere and I ended up in Jessie Mendez. I asked the receptionist if I could borrow a pair of scissors and she asked me what for. When I told her about my dilemma, she directed me to their senior hairstylist. 

Being turned away by the alterations shop was actually a miracle in disguise (c'mon, what kind of clothes repair shop does NOT have a pair of scissors?). My original plan was to just cut the hair strands with gum and get going. But the senior hairstylist didn't agree. Instead of cutting the affected area, he put some kind of cream on my hair and worked the gum out until not a small piece was left! Yup, my hair was saved. He didn't cut it, he just removed the gum. And as a bonus, he even blow dried my hair. 

When I approached the receptionist to ask how much I had to pay, they told me I didn't have to pay for anything. They told me a small gratuity to the stylist would probably be okay, and they just jokingly asked me to have my next hair service done there. Since I was really surprised and amazed with how they accommodated me, I gave the stylist a small thank you for saving my hair without asking for any payment and assured them I would try their salon next time.

Talk about excellent service! If they treat non-clients that way, I wonder how much more they treat their clients. I am definitely going back their for a real service.

Jesi Mendez

Regis Center, Katipunan

Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Etude House Sun BB Cream

A few weeks ago, SM North EDSA had their annual super sale. Gus accompanied his mom to go shopping since the first day of the sale usually had a lot of perks (think, getting up to 40% off a product from 10%). Thanks to a boyfriend who understands one of my girly necessities, I was able to go "shopping" during the sale.

Gus bought Etude House's newest BB cream for me -- the Sun BB Cream. The original price was P978, but we were able to get it for around P780. Anyway, I've never tried this one before that's why I decided to purchase it. Based on the reviews, it was as good as the previous EH BB creams but I had to check for myself.

First things first. According to its packaging, Etude House's Sun BB Cream has SPF50, whitening, anti-darkening and anti-wrinkle properties, and is waterproof. This one also comes with a puff end to help with the application.

*wink Laser and Wax Studio

A few weeks ago, I ranted (is there such a word?) about my favorite waxing salon in the metro. I was so frustrated that I decided to look for alternatives, or a possible replacement -- a waxing salon I can go to every month to satisfy my girly needs. Fortunately, I came across a voucher on one of the coupon sites I was subscribed to. It was a coupon for a new waxing salon in BGC and it was exactly what I needed! 

Since I'm not really a fan of change, I was a bit hesitant in purchasing the coupon. But I really needed to find another waxing salon because my favorite salon was driving me insane (read my rant here). It looked like a great deal so after a day of thinking about whether it was worth it or not, I took a chance.

Sentro Selene

Last Sunday, one of our friends celebrated her 25th birthday. Her boyfriend arranged an intimate gathering at Sentro 1771 to surprise her. Since this was a surprise dinner party, we didn't know what kind of food to expect. We were just asked to go to the place by 7 PM.

Since Gus and I had prior engagements, we arrived a bit late. They were already having some appetizers, most of which were skewered meat. Dinner started with a green mango salad and grilled bbq minis. Unfortunately, we were so hungry, we forgot to take photos of all the food.

Grilled BBQ Minis

P350

The Grilled BBQ Minis were a bit too overpriced for me since the meat on each stick were sliced thinly. Then again, we were in Greenbelt. The price was not unusual.

After the appetizers, we ordered our drinks. Gus and I tried their Unlimited Homemade Sago't Gulaman. Yes, it was unlimited. For P90, this wasn't bad at all. The drink was not too sweet, but it wasn't that bland too. Sometimes, sago't gulaman tend to be too sweet because they put too much syrup in it (to make up for the loads and loads of ice they put on the pitcher or glass). But this one was just right. It was a very refreshing drink.

Unlimited Homemade Sago't Gulaman

P90

Pink Guava: Something Different

A few months ago, Gus and I saw this interesting new place along Quezon Avenue. With all the milk tea and coffee shops popping out of every corner, we thought it would be weird to name a milk tea or coffee place with a name of a fruit. After speculating for weeks, we decided to check it out.

Pink Guava is NOT a milk tea or coffee place. It's more like a trio -- juice + coffee + milk tea bar. Their specialty is guava juice mixed with different other juices. They do have other drinks like milk tea and coffee, but their most famous drink is the Guava Lychee.

Baby's Day Out: Rockefeller, Greenbelt 3

Last Saturday, we had a get together at Rockefeller. I had just finished meeting a friend in Rockwell, and my sister mentioned she was in Greenbelt with our niece so we decided to meet up.

My sister has a certain liking for oysters so we found ourselves in Rockefeller for dinner. We didn't really plan on eating, but since it was a little past dinner time, we decided to grab something to eat as well.

In case you haven't noticed, I love buffalo wings. Even if Rockefeller is known for its, well, oysters, I still tried my favorite -- their version of buffalo wings. (I never really liked oysters in the first place.) Anyway, for an oyster "bar," Rockefeller's version of buffalo wings wasn't bad. It was actually great! Not too spicy, not too sour, just the right combination of spices and peppers. It was flavorful for buffalo wings, actually. Most of the wings I've tasted were either too spicy on the outside, too sour, too spicy and sour, but all the same bland on the inside. But Rockefeller's is one of the exceptions. The flesh of the chicken was also bursting with flavor. It complemented the spicy skin very much. 

Lay Bare: BARED!

This isn't really a review but more of a rant. I have been a loyal customer, a patron, of Lay Bare Waxing Salon since my college days. I would frequent their first Katipunan branch whenever I needed unwanted hair removed. I was so impressed with their service that I've sworn to no other waxing salon but Lay Bare.

For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, Lay Bare is a waxing salon that uses cold wax in its treatments. They also offer threading for those who are still afraid to try waxing. Their salons have private rooms, regardless of the service that you're availing. Each room is kept orderly by a specific therapist. The wax therapists are well-trained and very friendly.

At least that's what I experienced in their Katipunan branch.

After I graduated, I barely had time to visit their Katipunan branch. I had to try other Lay Bare branches. The first one I visited was their branch in Megamall. I booked an appointment online, received my confirmation e-mail, and went straight to Megamall during my free time. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to have anything done. All I got was a rude therapist who told me they couldn't accommodate me because they had no clean towels available. I asked them why they sent me a confirmation e-mail if they couldn't accommodate any clients that time. Again, rudely, I was informed that they had no telephone line to inform me that they wouldn't be able to accommodate me. Sensing my growing hostility, a manger stepped in, and to my surprise, gave me the same treatment. She was just as rude as the therapist, and to make things worse, she told the therapist to just accommodate me, after telling me there were no clean towels available! What towels did they plan to use on me? I left the salon and quickly filed a report to their head office.

After the whole Megamall incident, I discovered that Lay Bare also had a branch in Podium, which was more convenient as it was nearer my office. I decided to try it, and I was happy with the result. The place was clean and orderly, the therapists were very friendly, and the service was done well. Just the way Katipunan does it. Unfortunately, it was not the case for my second and third visit. On my  second visit, I received a rather less-than-welcoming greeting from the therapists. The room where they took me looked dirty -- the beddings hadn't been replaced (you could still see powder marks on the sheet), the pillow was also dirty, and there weren't any folded towels on the mattress. Was I going to lay on a sheet used by another person who had an unknown service done? Eeck. I went through the process and once again reported the incident to Lay Bare.

Assuming that something had been done based on my report, I once again went to their Podium branch as it was the most convenient branch for me at that time. Unfortunately, nothing was done. The room I got wasn't prepared and ready for another client, yet the therapist brought me there. The service wasn't excellently done, nor was it near good, to be honest. I still saw some hair strands (apologies for revealing too much information) that weren't supposed to be there (since they were supposed to be waxed off). Apparently, this was the therapist's idea of getting the job done -- with stray hairs still visible. But this wasn't the worst part. When I was about to pay, they asked if I had a smaller bill. I told them I only had P150 and a whole P500 bill, which was the bill I handed to them. Instead of giving me my change, they kept on babbling about how they didn't have enough small bills to give me. After about five minutes of just talking amongst themselves about how they didn't have change, showing me the P500 bills they had, one of them started asking the other therapists if they can shoulder my change for the mean time. 

Two things: 1) You don't continue showing the customer that you don't have change, as if by some miracle your customer will come up with a smaller bill she does NOT have. 2) Instead of wasting everyone's time, making the customer feel uncomfortable, why not look for change right away? Why wait for a couple of minutes before actually looking for change? This was by far the WORST experience I've had.

The fourth incident wasn't as bad as the third, but it still affects the way customers see Lay Bare. This happened in their Congressional branch. Since it was the holiday season, and Lay bare Katipunan closed early that day, I decided to look for nearby Lay Bare branches. I decided to call first because they might have closed early too, but thankfully, they were open. Since I was in a rush, I asked the receptionist if they had a full house. She told me that they did NOT. I confirmed by asking if there was a waiting line. Once again, I was told that there was NO waiting line. My boyfriend and I quickly drove to Laybare, only to find a LONG waiting line in their CRAMPED space on the second floor. I didn't mind the small and less-than-inviting space they had (I felt like they just forced the whole shop into that small space). What bugged me was the fact that the receptionist told me a whole different story than what was in front of me. One or two people would've been fine, compared to the NO WAITING LINE she told me, but there were about six people in the salon when I got there. That's far from none. 

I don't know what's going on with Lay Bare's management, but it seems like the Katipunan branch is the only branch left with superb service and cleanliness. Their rooms are still well-maintained and clean whenever I visit, the receptionist and other staff are still friendly as ever, and you wouldn't catch them chit-chatting in front of customers in wait. The quality of their other branches, on the other hand, is just unacceptable. I actually tried one more branch, their Scout branch, and sad to say, I was also frustrated with the service. It felt like the therapist did not know what she was doing as that was the most painful waxing service I got, considering my high tolerance for pain. She kept on patting the wax, pulling it SLOWLY 1/4 off my skin, then putting the wax back again to pat it, then finally pulling it completely off my skin, ever-so-slowly. I'm not a waxing therapist, but I've had so many waxing sessions to notice if someone knows what they're doing or not. These experiences were so frustrating that I finally decided to look for another waxing salon I can frequent in case I couldn't go to their Katipunan branch.

What's happening to you, Lay Bare?

Josephine Restaurant: Before and After

Tagaytay is our go-to/quick vacation spot whenever we feel very stressed and toxic. Last year, Gus and I decided we needed a break from our heavy workloads and a trip out of town was the solution. I was craving for some juicy, crunchy crispy pata and hot bulalo at the same time, so we knew Tagaytay was the place to go.

Based on our quick research, Josephine is the most frequented bulaluhan in Tagaytay City. I know there are more famous bulalo houses in Tagaytay, but given the time that we had, Josephine's was the #1 most recommended by people we knew. So we drove all the way to Tagaytay just to grab a hot bowl of bulalo.

Unfortunately, when we got there, they didn't have bulalo anymore. It was understandable, given that we got there at around 9 PM already, but still disappointing. We decided to order the closest thing to bulalo we could have: Beef Nilaga.

It wasn't bulalo, but their beef nilaga still made the trip worthwhile. The soup was served hot, with generous portions of both beef and vegetables. The serving was big enough for four people to share. Aside from the beef nilaga, we also ordered crispy pata.

Their crispy pata (Crispy Pork Knuckles) was good! The skin was really crisp, and the meat, soft and juicy. It was flavorful inside out. Plus, their soy-vinegar dip was done right, it complemented the pata well. 

So, we might not have gotten what we went there for, but it was still a really good meal. Josephine does live up to its reputation -- excellent Filipino food. We enjoyed our meal so much that we decided to have dinner there again, this time, during our anniversary weekend. For our Josephine Experience Part 2, read ahead. :)

Burger Bar

A few weeks back, one of my good friends mentioned this new burger joint in Makati. She didn't really say anything about it, except that one of our friends ate their a few nights before. Since Gus and I are such foodies, we decided to check out the place. The photos we saw online made our mouths water that they were enough to convince us to go to Greenbelt 2 just to try it out.

If you were one of those people invited at their launch, you probably know which burger joint I'm talking about. Burger Bar. It opened just a couple of weeks back, and I've heard people talk about it already because of their special patties. So what's the fuzz about this place?

Burger Bar boasts of making their own patties, and allowing its customers to customize their burgers by choosing the patty and other toppings they want. It's actually an interesting concept, allowing your diners to choose the kind of beef they want in their burger patty. I grew up making my own burger only by choosing the toppings or add ons I like, but never the patty. That was something new to me.

On the Green Side: Zark's Burgers

This has been a long overdue entry. Last year, I treated the family to one of Manila's most famous burger joints. If you are green-blooded, I'm sure you know which burger joint I'm referring to. This place is famous among the La Salle crowd, though it has won the hearts of people all over the metro because of its exciting, adventurous, and gigantic burgers. This has become a go-to burger joint for those who live around the area, and for those who find themselves in the Manila area.

Zark's is a burger joint along Taft Avenue, which is famous for its mouth-watering, reasonably priced, gigantic burgers. I found out about this place because of my brother, who unfortunately, is green-blooded. He said there was a famous burger place near his school that sold really delicious and big burgers. He has tried this place before but he really wanted us to try it and taste it for ourselves. So, when I got my first bonus from work, I decided to take the family out and try Zark's.

Zark's is a relatively small burger joint on the 2nd floor of Archer's Nook. I say small because the place is definitely small for the volume of people that eat there everyday. Theplace was jam-packed even if it was a Sunday. The place had a diner feel to it. There was a bar, where the drinks and orders were placed; a TV that was set on a sports channel, and booths on the sides. The decor was mostly green -- framed jerseys of famous La Salle players and pictures of satisfied customers on the walls. After waiting to be seated,we were given menus and the journey to picking only one burger started.

Ye Dang Korean BBQ Restaurant

After trying and discovering several authentic Korean restaurants in Manila, the boyfriend and I finally decided to try one of the most talked about Korean restaurants in Manila -- Ye Dang. But we just couldn't find the right time to do so. It was always closed whenever we'd get there since it closes earlier than the restaurants around it. After trying to reach the restaurant before closing time several times, I was finally able to try Ye Dang. Sadly, Gus wasn't available because of work so it was just the family and I.

Taiwanese Invasion: ChickenZilla

I guess by now, you know how much Gus and I love food. A few days ago, we decided to drop by Banchetto Forum after work to eat. We had something in mind already since we've been going to Banchetto for quite some time now. We had regular food stalls we'd go to for certain dishes, but we would still go around at least once, to see if there was anything new. (We usually discover new food spots whenever we're out, or whenever we visit old places.) Like always, something caught our attention. CHICKEN CHOPS.

The first time I tried chicken chops was almost a year ago. I discovered this chicken chop shop inside Theater Mall in Greenhills. I know fried chicken is very common in the Philippines but because of my obsession with Chinovelas and everything Chinese, I was instantly attracted to chicken chops.

What are chicken chops anyway? A chicken chop is a big fillet of chicken, breaded and fried, then peppered with chili and your choice of spice. It's like a big chicken fillet, but instead of gravy, different spices are sprinkled all over the breading to give it flavor. This is apparently a big hit in Taiwan. A common snack that the Taiwanese have everyday, so I was instantly hooked.

 The photo above is NOT mine.

The image is courtesy of this website.

Food for the Skin: Skin Food's Tea Tree Cleansing Foam

Last year, I found out that I could get a privilege card from one of the Korean make-up stores I go to if I  had an accumulated purchase of *censor* Your purchases must be within six months of each other. This card entitles the bearer to a 10% discount and other membership benefits, and considering the price tags on their products, members who get any discount will surely be thankful for it, no matter how small.

Anyway, I only had about two weeks until my big purchases expired so I decided to go on a blind shopping spree. I got two tubes of BB Cream, but I still needed a few more pesos to complete the requirements so I just grabbed the first product I saw on the shelf in front of me -- a facial wash. Not bad considering I could've snatched something I wouldn't be able to use much, like an eyeshadow palette or mascara. 

Introducing Skin Food's Tea Tree Cleansing Foam.

 

B. Wings: The New Buffalo Joint in Town

A few weeks ago, Gus and I discovered this new buffalo place. Actually, it wasn't really a place. It was a stall in the newly opened Manda Centrale near Greenfield District in Mandaluyong. We accidentally discovered the new food bazaar on our way home (since we took the inner route instead of the usual J. Vargas route to EDSA), and decided to stop by since we were already there. As most of you might know through experience, the smell of good food is enough to make anyone hungry or salivate. We ended up craving for some meat. Steak, to be exact.

Once we went in, our craving turned to cravings. We wanted beef, steak, shawarma, Japanese food, soup, and everything else that caught our eye. After a while, Gus decided to get steak and shabu-shabu from two different places. I wanted shawarma but we weren't able to find a stall that sold one so we had to go around one more time to find something for me. We saw this new buffalo wings place the first time we toured the place, but we weren't really interested in it. But the second time we passed by, we just couldn't ignore their staff. They were so nice, we just had to stop and take a look at what they had. 

He offered us one whole chicken wing to taste, while introducing us to their different kinds of wings. Aside from this fellow's very accommodating disposition, the name of their spiciest wing made us even more curious about this new wing place. They called it the "Obama." Out of curiosity, I decided to order that. Unfortunately, the orders got mixed, I think. Instead of the Obama Wings (original name: Barack Opakpak), I was given the Black Mamba.  

Kupo's Pamper-Me-Day: Vanity Fur Mobile Pet Salon

Our dog spent his 1st birthday last 30 December, alone and dirty in the garage, running after every single thing that moves. Since he really enjoys staying dirty, covering himself in dirt after we bathe him, I decided to bring him to a pet salon for his monthly grooming instead of tiring myself only to find him dirty again. Because Kupo, our beloved pet, is a big dog, I couldn't just drag him to the groomers. Fortunately, I discovered this mobile pet salon via a coupon site.

L'oreal: Total Repair 5 Daily Repairing Treatment

I've been having my hair treated since I was a freshman in high school, and I don't really remember what my natural hair texture was. Since I decided not to have my hair straightened last year, I focused on trying to fix it. I wanted to see if it was easier to manage my natural locks than have my hair straightened every year, and use a straightening iron everytime after my natural hair grew back. But of course, once you have your hair treated, you can't avoid damaging it. It may not be noticeable, but trust me, even the shiniest and softest hair maybe already damaged.

Anyway, I used to have hot oil treatments at home but these hot oil treatments were a little messy and complicated. I needed to wrap my hair in a warm towel for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it with cold water. After I heard about new hair product of L'oreal, a hair repair treatment, I decided to try it and see if it could replace the tedious hot oil treatments I did weekly. Here is L'oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Daily Repairing Treatment.

Lucky 88: Beeswax Lipbalm

This is actually an unexpected and short review. I don't normally write about lip balms but this was an exception.

A decade ago, I found out that I was allergic to a certain lip balm brand. I felt like my world crashed because 1) my lips were always dry, and 2) it was the only brand I knew, trusted, and used. To this day, I still don't know why I suddenly became allergic to it after years of use. After that incident, the only lip balm I was able to use was from another brand. Even expensive lip balms didn't work. I'd develop a severe case of windburn after even just one application. Since then, I only stuck with one lip balm. That, or the good ol' petroleum jelly. But all this changed during Christmas. 

My brother bought everyone two gifts for Christmas. A funny/prank gift and a serious one. For my fun gift, he bought me a lip balm. 

Physiogel Intensive Cream

I haven't been able to take care of my skin in the past couple of weeks. There was just so many things to do that I had forgotten to take care of my skin. As a result, my skin went from healthy to dry in just a couple of weeks. My heels were the worst. It was so dry that the only thing missing was an actual crack in my skin. Thankfully, I noticed it in time and decided that I had to get back to my skin care routine no matter how busy I was. Unless I really want to see a crack in the next couple of days.

Since my heel had become so dry already, I knew that tons of lotion and petroleum jelly was the only solution. But, I remember hearing my mom mention one of the products I got from my November BDJ Box. She said something about it being a known skin moisturizer, though she hasn't tried it yet. So I immediately grabbed my box and went through each product, looking for a cream or lotion or anything that was for the skin. That's when I saw the tube of Physiogel.

BDJ Box: Acetone-free Nail Polish Remover from Yuka

This is the first time I'm writing about a product that came from a box. Yes, this is my first BDJ product review. I've been so busy at work, I haven't even blogged about the two boxes I've received so far. But since I have some free time today, I'll finish this post about a new product I find convenient and very useful for us girls.

My November BDJ box came with a new product (since I haven't seen anything like this in the Philippine market yet), Yuka Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover. The name is already a giveaway as to what the product does, but what makes it different is that it comes in thin, round sheets. Yes! This isn't your usual liquid form nail polish remover. It looks and feels like baby wet ones, but the round tissue-like sheets are "soaked" with the polish remover already, making it convenient for us girls to use it anytime, anywhere. No need to bring cotton balls or cotton sheets along with a bottle, big or small, of your nail polish remover.

BDJ Box 2.0

My second BDJ box arrived a couple of days ago, and I'd have to say, this was better. It had more brands and products compared to the first one, which was, in my opinion, was overflowing with Garnier products (not that I have something against the brand). 

Remember, remember the 1st of December :)

Happy December, everyone! My first December post is dedicated to Vikings SM Marikina for their delicious spread and very accommodating staff. I've been writing about food for some time now and if you read my posts, you'd notice that I'm not only big on the flavor (of the food), but also on the service the restaurant provides.

It was my mom's and boyfriend's birthdays so I was very stressed and nervous about how the whole thing was going to go down. I made reservations three weeks in advance. Their MOA branch was already fully booked a month before, so I had to make sure we got a slot. Thankfully, I was able to get a dinner reservation, and all I had to do was wait for the day.

We arrived at 5:30 in the afternoon, and I was so thankful for having a reservation. There was a very long line of people waiting outside the restaurant already. Since this was a surprise birthday dinner for Gus (my mom knows I'm treating her for her birthday), my family and I went in first. My boyfriend's sister, Gin, helped me distract him while I made sure our table was ready. A waiter led us to our table and made sure we had everything we needed before leaving. Once everything was set, I met Gus and Gin outside and brought them in. I gave them a walking tour of the restaurant, pretending that we were only there to check their buffet selection. When we reached the end of the long, very long buffet table, I told Gus to grab a plate and start eating. 

SURPRISE! We're celebrating your birthday dinner here! :)