For Palaweños currently based elsewhere except Puerto (as what we, the locals, lovingly call Puerto Princesa City) it is imperative for us to visit our favorite Chaolong-an place before going back again out into the wild. However, during my surprise visit in Palawan two weeks ago, I was so caught up with family and friends (a good problem to have, btw) that I forgot to include eating the local Vietnamese food into my itinerary.
I have worked and lived in Taguig for nearly six years now. I guess one of the things I like the most is that I don't have to go really far to grab something to eat. Especially now that more companies have set up shop in BGC and McKinley Hill, the food variety has gone up faster than you can say Geronimo. (Yeah yeah, the song. I'm listening to Sheppard as I'm writing this.) There are a lot of places to satisfy every craving--some expensive, some within reasonable range.
I have a love-hate relationship with Sundays. It's the day of the week that says "It's Monday tomorrow. Why, of course, you should squeeze in every non-work thing you have during this wonderful day!" And that's what I usually do, plus one thing to Treat Yo Self! (Er, myself)
For this particular Sunday, I went all the way to Alabang for lunch. Going there was the errand but the lunch itself, I surely can call the treat.
For this particular Sunday, I went all the way to Alabang for lunch. Going there was the errand but the lunch itself, I surely can call the treat.
Located at the 31st floor of Vivere Hotel is the Nest Alabang. It offers a dining in the sky experience, familiar comfort food, and warm and excellent service. Like the hotel, this recently renovated restaurant is owned and managed by the Garcia siblings, who beeteedubz are amazingly just around my age. And as it is family-managed, one can definitely feel that homey vibe. Like what Anina Garcia (owner) said, it was kind of like how birds would fly back to the nest for safety and comfort, and to eat.
Upon entering the room, it's very noticeable how everything is so bright and serene, practically how every perfect Sunday lunch would look like in my mind. Thanks to the natural ambient lighting, the place and the food served were all undoubtedly Instagram-worthy.
Now, onto the food. I have posted last Sunday's menu above for your reference. The food description and its respective prices are copied from the menu and in italics.
Now, onto the food. I have posted last Sunday's menu above for your reference. The food description and its respective prices are copied from the menu and in italics.
It's the month-end yet again. For most working professionals, it means having just gotten their paycheck; for me, it means 10 more days until I get mine. It's what we like to call Petsa de Peligro.
I try to cook as much as possible since it means saving monies. But even in Petsa de Peligro days, I want to eat something that doesn't say "Hey, I'm currently cash-poor." So when I chanced upon a peddler at the Guadalupe market carrying a net filled with live crabs, I just had to ask how much they cost.
Presenting... the 120-Peso Buttered Garlic Crabs!
Grocery List:
1/2 kilo crabs - Php100
butter - Php10
Sprite - Php10
garlic/pepper/salt - from the kitchen (okay, so this dish was maybe more than 120 pesos, but I didn't buy these seasoning today so)
Total: Php120
There were four crabs in this dish so I went to my best friend's apartment to share the seafood goodness. They tasted pretty good, I must say. Sobrang sulit!
Oh by the way, half a crab cooked the same way are sold for also Php120 in a Market! Market! food stall. I guess what I'm trying to say is that homecooking can really expand that tight budget. And I should do it more frequently.
Presenting... the 120-Peso Buttered Garlic Crabs!
Grocery List:
1/2 kilo crabs - Php100
butter - Php10
Sprite - Php10
garlic/pepper/salt - from the kitchen (okay, so this dish was maybe more than 120 pesos, but I didn't buy these seasoning today so)
Total: Php120
There were four crabs in this dish so I went to my best friend's apartment to share the seafood goodness. They tasted pretty good, I must say. Sobrang sulit!
Oh by the way, half a crab cooked the same way are sold for also Php120 in a Market! Market! food stall. I guess what I'm trying to say is that homecooking can really expand that tight budget. And I should do it more frequently.
Chos! This post is about me not being able to sleep without eating a second dinner. Really.
It is almost 6AM as I'm writing this. I was supposed to sleep at 2AM. I have my monthly period and sleep-deprivation wasn't an option. But try as I may, I couldn't still sleep. Maybe I was just hungry. I tried eating some of my KitKat stash but it didn't do anything for me.
Alas, 15 minutes ago, I decided I should just eat it out so I opened a can of meat loaf and took my leftover rice from the fridge. Along with some cloves of garlic and an egg, I made this uninspired fried rice. With a bit of seasoning, it tasted decent at best.
The thing when you're not exactly Miss Industrious and you don't wanna spend for food deliveries is that you learn to be creative in making your own grub. It's not exactly something you can be called a "foodie" for but hey, I'm still getting sustenance! And according to people I have not seen in a long time, it looked like I gained some weight.
It is almost 6AM as I'm writing this. I was supposed to sleep at 2AM. I have my monthly period and sleep-deprivation wasn't an option. But try as I may, I couldn't still sleep. Maybe I was just hungry. I tried eating some of my KitKat stash but it didn't do anything for me.
Alas, 15 minutes ago, I decided I should just eat it out so I opened a can of meat loaf and took my leftover rice from the fridge. Along with some cloves of garlic and an egg, I made this uninspired fried rice. With a bit of seasoning, it tasted decent at best.
The thing when you're not exactly Miss Industrious and you don't wanna spend for food deliveries is that you learn to be creative in making your own grub. It's not exactly something you can be called a "foodie" for but hey, I'm still getting sustenance! And according to people I have not seen in a long time, it looked like I gained some weight.
The good thing about having a kitchen is that you never have to leave home when you get hungry. Yeah yeah, there's a 24-hr Jollibee just outside the gate. But when you're too lazy to be troubled with walking outside, you'll just have to make do of the supplies you have. And do I even still need to mention that it's much cheaper to cook your own food too?
To satisfy today's craving, I made pancakes. Er, I didn't really make 'em from scratch. I used a ready-to-cook pancake mix. Heh.
According to the box cover, this is what the final product would look like. It even says it could make 12 mini pancakes. But like every other misleading advertisement out there, as expected, it would never turn out the way you wanted it to be.
