Seven Corners Restaurant of Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria (An IHG Hotel)

Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Manila is one of those hotels we usually stayed at whenever we need to do errands for several days in Ortigas area.  Because of that, Crowne Plaza's Seven Corners Restaurant is always the first choice when dining - not only because it is convenient but because I honestly think they serve good food and their service is always stellar. 

While Seven Corners Restaurant is known for their buffet service, their options for ala carte offerings are nothing short of amazing too. 

Located at the 3rd floor of Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria (an IHG Hotel), Seven Corners Restaurant is the in-house restaurant of Crowne Plaza Manila and Holiday Inn Galleria while their Fab Restaurant is still close. 

Theo & Miguel Restaurant

My nephew is very fond of Filipino food. When dining out, he's the one to suggest to try Filipino restaurants we have not yet. This time, we tried Theo & Miguel Restaurant in Robinsons Place Antipolo. I have not heard of this restaurant before so, I have no idea what to expect. 

The food options on their menu is very limited, which makes me a bit apprehensive. In my mind I'm already thinking of the next restaurant to hit once I didn't like whatever we're having at Theo & Miguel. 

My apprehension grew when I realized that there's not a lot of seafood and vegetable dishes at Theo & Miguel. My father who is a senior only enjoy vegetable and seafood, I myself is trying to dodge meat, but I can still enjoy a bite or two. My nephew is a meat eater but mostly it's jut steak that he enjoys. Still we decided to give this restaurant a try. 

Nono's Comfort Kitchen & Bakery

This year, I had my first birthday without my mother. It hasn't been a year since she passed away. Hence, celebrating my birthday was the farthest thing in my mind. Normally, there would be cakes, ice cream, and spaghetti or pancit for long life. None of them appeared on the table at  home this year.  

Instead, my father decided to at least we eat out, share a simple meal and a prayer of gratitude for another year in his daughter's life.

I don't want for this blog post to sound somber, because did a great job of choosing Nono's Comfort Kitchen. A restaurant that serves comfort food, I must say that we were given a service that's heartwarming and food that's satisfying. 

There's Something New About Chowking Chinese-Style Fried Chicken #DeliciouslyDifferentChicken

Have you had Chowking Chinese-Style Fried Chicken recently? Have you noticed something different? I know I did. I had it this lunch time and upon first bite - in all it's crunchy and deliciousness glory, I thought, it's deliciously different chicken!

The Chinese-Style Fried Chicken we all love from Chowking is deliciously different now, indeed. 

Truth be told, it's always been one of my favorite fried chicken because it's so good and crunchy. I always choose it over other Chinese restaurants' rendition of fried chicken in a heart beat. And just when I thought it couldn't get more better than the way it is, Chowking upped it's game and make their Chinese-Style Fried Chicken all the more delicious!

The Fried Chicken Ice Cream

With the events that happened in my life in the recent past, I got caught up in dealing with things as it happen that for a moment, I lost my usual enthusiasm to new things to try food-wise. It was my nephews who introduced me to The Fried Chicken Ice Cream one time when we were at Newport Mall. 

I literally don't have any idea that it's actually a thing, The Fried Chicken Ice Cream.  I've been away from social media for far too long I've missed out on a lot. So when we chanced upon Dessert Club's pop-up that sells this interesting creation, I got some for us to try. 

Of course, my nephews were elated but I was skeptical. I've had Bacon Ice Cream at Crowne Plaza's Seven Corners Restaurant and it was downright amazing. But fried chicken? I wasn't sure what to expect that time. 

Promo Alert: Buy 2 Get 1 Chowking's Chunky Asado Siopao on National Siopao Day

August 21 is National Siopao Day and Chowking will be spreading the love by making it a siopao-filled day for us.  Chowking has always been known for its Chunky Asado Siopao that won the hearts of many Filipino. It is reasonably priced and delightfully satisfying, so, what's not to love?

It is no surprise that Chowking Chunky Asado Siopao is one snack that is really hard to resist. The combination of soft freshly steamed bun and the chunky, saucy, Hongkong-style asado filling is something that anyone can enjoy regardless if you're a siopao lover or not.

What's Your Favorite at Marugame Udon?

Lately, whenever asked where would I like to eat, I have this autopilot response; Marugame Udon. When thinking about fast, customizable, and affordable Japanese food that comforts a hungry tummy, it's always Marugame Udon.  When I don't want to complicate my life and overwhelm myself with lots of restaurant choices, It's always Marugame Udon for me these days. 

I know it is just a phase and it will pass. I know I will go back to my old self who, in a blink of an eye, can whip up a comparative analysis between two restaurant whenever faced with an important decision about where should we eat next. But for now, I am enjoying and will continue to enjoy Marugame Udon. 

My father who is a fan of affordable restaurants and my nephew who recently developed an appreciation for Japanese food, undoubtedly enjoy this phase in my life. Ever since my mother and my sister - my nephew Cai's mother, passed away, I would often have these two men in tow whenever I'm eating out. It's part of our ways to cope with grief. 

Breakfast at Yellow Bird Cafe

Ever since my mother and my sister passed away, meal times during weekends are mostly spent outside whenever we can. Eating at home with just my father and my nephew can sometimes feel lonely. We miss my mother's cooking and my sister's company. To somehow lessen the sadness, we eat out.

I've written about Yellow Bird Cafe and Kitchen before. It's one of the homegrown cafes and restaurants in Antipolo City. But it is often overlooked because of the many commercial cafes and restaurants popping in the area fast.  

One weekend, we decided to have breakfast at Yellow Bird. Very convenient because it is near home and it's just a stone's throw away from Transfiguration Chapel where we attend mass. 

Miguel's Garden Cafe

You know that feeling when you are going for one thing but ended up stumbling upon something which makes the experience all the more perfect? We had that kind of experience when we chanced upon Miguel's Garden Cafe in Antipolo City. 

We were dead set on having a nice afternoon coffee and some light snack while enjoying a really great view. It turns out, the place we had on mind could only offer great view and none of the things we want to feast on to tide us over before we hit dinner. 

loss

It's been a long while.  This space is already gathering dust.

I could wax poetic about the food that nourished my body and travels that fed my soul, to compensate for a year of absence. But the reality is, it took me a shitload of courage to hit that New Post button and start to write. 

Early last year, my younger sister passed away. Six months after that, we also lost my mother. I wish there's more eloquent way to say it - to soften the blow. This is the first time I am putting this into writing, after all.  But I am so spent and that's all I've got.

Most days, I would wake up and I still cannot make sense of what happened. The pandemic we all fear at that time doesn't even have anything to do with it.