MAD MARK'S (ROBINSON'S GALLERIA)

(LATE POST - Our lunch was last December, 2019)

Saturdays used to be reserved for date nights or gimiks with friends but lately my weekends are now reserved for family. I'm working on weekdays and the boys are usually asleep by 8:30pm (my usual time in getting home). That's why I usually make my plans for friends during that time.

One Saturday, THE YAPPY BUNCH were out and about again and we decided to go to Galleria for some shopping and ikot ikots.

When deciding where to eat, I remembered the tip of a cute reader and suggested MAD MARK'S! Alam nyo naman me, basta food, I'm open to ALL suggestions.

Glad that I listened because my guys LOVED it!

Check out our gimik below!

MAD MARK'S in Robinson's Galleria!

PANCAKE HOUSE (ROBINSON'S GALLERIA)

Even if I promise so many times that I will buy the boys' school supplies a month before school starts, I often fail. It's just procrastination at its best!

That's what happened for schoolyear 2019-2020. It was the last week of July and AAAAAACK... we haven't bought anything for the boys!!!! So one Saturday, by hook or by crook we decided to head on to Robinson's Galleria to buy what the boys needed for school (uniforms, sandos, socks, brips... he he he etc). And after a full day of shopping, I was ravenous.

HELLOOOOOO! NAGIMBALA NA NGA HIGA KO SA KAMA E GUGUTUMIN PA AKO, AY SUS!!!

Tee heee!!!

The Yub and I decided to go for PANCAKE HOUSE since it's been a long time that we've been there last. Though I always get to eat PANCAKE HOUSE goodies (from our office meetings) syempre, it's still different to eat at the actual restaurant.

So even if Master Mati was asking for Ramen Nagi (neknek mo, I'm the boss of you now) we went to PANCAKE HOUSE for some good ol' comfort food.

Yay! And all was well again. 

PANCAKE HOUSE!!!!!

LA VITA ITALIA IN MARCO POLO HOTEL

Sunday is sacred for family days and I could not imagine spending the last day of the weekend without them. It is also on this day that the Yub and I usually plan something special with the little guys (we have always stressed the importance of Sundays for family and made sure to always reserve the day only for them). That's why when MARCO POLO MANILA invited ERICJAZ FOODIES and the boys for the LA VITA ITALIA buffet in CUCINA, we were excited that we will enjoy it as a family. The great thing too is that besides being back again in the "hands" of Forbes Travel Guide's 5-Star Awardee, MARCO POLO MANILA, we will also get to meet world champion of pizza acrobatics Chef Pasqualino Barbasso and taste his creations.

Of course, THE YAPPY BUNCH is fine anywhere as long as we're together. But if you add to the mix authentic Italian pizza, pizza making lessons for the kiddies, and pizza acrobatics by a world champion, (not to mention CUCINA'S popular buffet serving fresh and mouth watering dishes), THEN, WE. ARE. SO. SOLD.

Heck, I'll even desert the kids for that! He he he he! Family Shmamily.

That's a 180-degree turn for you.

OH I'M KIDDING.

See what delicious food does to us?

Check out our buon appetito Sunday lunch in CUCINA, MARCO POLO HOTEL, and see how you too could have the same authentic Italian experience!!!

THE YAPPY BUNCH spent the first day of the Ber months in CUCINA!!!

COCO ICHIBANYA AGAIN (2019)

You know us, whenever we enjoy a certain restaurant, it is most likely that we'll go back there again and again. Take the case of COCO ICHIBANYA in Estancia Mall. THE YAPPY BUNCH ate there the week before after Master Mati's Kali lessons, then the following week, we are back ONCE AGAIN because how the baby bunsoy pleaded!!!

Oh wells... It's a good thing that Master Mati was hungry after his KALI lessons that he was fine to eat at ANYTHING (though he's grumbling a bit that "pinagbigyan na naman namin si Andrei).

As for us, yep, we're still SO fine to have dinner once more in COCO ICHIBANYA because we're hungry too (hirap kaya mag-antay!!). He he he he he he!

And as always, it was an enjoyable dinner and family time for all of us!

COCO ICHIBANYA!!!!

COCO ICHIBANYA (ESTANCIA MALL)

After so many months, (because of the Christmas break, then exams, then etc etc), Master Mati is FINALLY back taking up Kali. If you've seen movies like Bourne Identity, John Wick, the Equalizer, etc, they used Kali in their hand to hand combat scenes. If you're interested, I'll put more info below.

My dearest Mati is not really sports-minded and gets lazy with any type of activity that would get him sweaty (che!!) but his interest got piqued by Kali and he was really into the lessons. Hopefully he would be promoted to a higher level yun lang, he doesn't regularly attended sessions because of our weekend schedule.

Yohooo!!! KALI!!!

Syempre, Mati has our full support while he takes lessons. We're all here -- the Yub, Andrei, me, and SERENITEA!!!!

TORI TORI

My beautiful niece Rocio was the lead in her school's production of "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING" and my family all went to watch.  After the play, my brother treated us to one of their simple Japanese discoveries that was familiar but I haven't tried it out before.

TORI TORI!!!!

PARADISE DYNASTY WITH THE FAMILY (2019)

It's my parents 51st wedding anniversary and though my Daddyowzers is in heaven already (huhuhu...) I still feel that we should go out and celebrate it. Of course, my Mom said she's fine at home but since THE YAPPY BUNCH came from a staycation, we should at least go out and treat my Mom in honor of her Anniversary with my Daddy (RIP).

For tonight, our choice was in PARADISE DYNASTY. Because of course, special occasions like this call for "sureball" deeeeelicious dishes! 

PARADISE DYNASTY!!!!

On weekends, reservations are recommended in PARADISE DYNASTY.

RAMEN NAGI GALLERIA AGAIN (2019)

As part of our wedding anniversary celebrations, we thought of having a special day with the little lords and have them join our fun. After all, our Anniversary also signified the official start of our family that's why the boys should always be included in the "party".

For today we went to Robinson's Galleria and had another shopping day (aka use up the GCs that I won in our last Christmas Party... he he he he) where the boys and I got a LOT of Avengers shirts (ENDGAME! WOHOO!). After shopping up a storm, I asked the little lords where they wanted to go for lunch and their cravings were unanimous: they liked bowls of piping hot rich soup with chewy noodles. With that, I know what they were going to say next:

RAMEN NAGI.

Dang! I was planning on not having carbs today!!!

Oh well! I really wanted to make the little lords happy during our anniversary. So yes, RAMEN NAGI it is. Guess I'll be having extra inches again (probably the amount as our anniversary years... he he he he).

That's okay. It's our Anniversary anyways. Time to party hardy....with RAMEN!! He he he he he!

WOHOOO!!!

JIN JOO KOREAN GRILL AGAIN (2019)

We were having my 44th... este... 34th birthday celebrations and my favorite foodie family of THE FOOD ALPHABET invited us to have a Korean lunch.

Me (with pa-pouty pouty effect): Wag na mare, nakakahiya!!!!!!

Mareng THE FOOD ALPHABET: No mare, birthday celebration namin ito for you.

Me: Mare are you sure???

Mareng THE FOOD ALPHABET: Oo naman. Tara na mare sa Saturday.

Me (kunwari  nagiisip pero decided na talaga): Hmmmm.... SIGE NA NGA!!!! Sure ka ha??? (Pahabol... he he he he)

Honestly though, as embarrassed as I was with THE FOOD ALPHABET family, I always have a great time with them that whenever there's an opportunity to meet up, we go. Great thing too that they invited us to go to JIN JOO KOREAN GRILL -- I had a delicious dinner there with my HS school friend before that it was indeed high time for a part two.

Tapos just in time for my 44th... este... 34th birthday celebrations pa!!!

BAWAL DIET. He he he he he!

JIN JOO KOREAN GRILL!!!!

DUCK AND BUVETTE

My kumareng Gail and I have this long standing tradition of treating each other during our birthdays. It's a simple but enjoyable tradition that I always look forward to because besides taking a break from our usual kuripot selves (he he he he he he), my long time kumare and I are able to set aside a date amidst our busy schedule.

At least, sure na that we'll meet up 2 times a year! He he he he he he!

For this year, when my mareng Gail asked where we'll go for my birthday treat, I said that I was fine wherever. My only condition was that it should be a place that I haven't been to before because I wanted to blog it.

With that, she came up with many suggestions but I was torn between Japanese or French food. At first I said Japanese, then French, then later on Japanese again.

FINALLY, my fickle-minded super self really took over and urged me that French was a better choice. With that I sent a very meek (but cute) text asking if she'll bust her pipe if I chose French again. Knowing my good friend, who's always fine with everything, she agreed without a problem. Yun lang when I asked her if I'm magulo na she answered with a "Mejo..."

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! CHE!!!!!!

Well, if that French restaurant meant DUCK AND BUVETTE, I'm sure you'll have a difficult time choosing your favorite Japanese over it!!!!!

DUCK AND BUVETTE!!!!!

DUCK AND BUVETTE has been in Edsa Shangrila Mall already for a loooooong time but it's our first time here.

BROTZEIT WITH THE BOYS (2019)

For our VALENTIMES celebration every year, the boys and I would always go out on one-on-one dates with their venue of choice. With these dates, I also take it as an opportunity to teach the little lords how to be a perfect gentlemen when they're out with a lady. I believe that you can't start them early enough when it comes to proper behavior!

Everything goes well of course, except for the food and farting department. He he he he he he he! KIDDING!

ANYWHO, our schedules were so full this year (plus somebody got sick again) that I was not able to have one-on-one dates with the boys. At the same time, when I ask who wants to go out on a VALENTIMES date with me, they would eagerly point TO THE OTHER ONE.

MGA CHE!!!

With that, the Yub and I just resolved to have a family date to officially end the VALENTIMES season. It was perfect timing too because we received an invite from BROTZEIT for their event "A FAMILY VALENTINE."

Family? That's something you don't hear in BROTZEIT everyday.

It's true though. BROTZEIT is now becoming popular with families because of their delicious dishes in their extensive menu that could be appreciated by the kiddies as well. The Yub and I haven't brought the little lords to BROTZEIT that's why we're happy that for our family VALENTIMES date, we'll get to do this with them.

Check out our VALENTIMES night in BROTZEIT where we all had a great time feasting on meats plus more. It may not be our usual venue for VALENTIMES but huwadaheck, we all had an enjoyable family date!

BROTZEIT!

It was a full house that night!

NONNA'S PASTA AND PIZZERIA (ROBINSON'S GALLERIA)

Remember the time when I won loads of Robinson's GCs in our EAT BULAGA Christmas party?

Well I haven't used a peso from it because I don't really go to Robinson's malls that much.

One night however, enough was enough. I told the Yub that we have been putting off buying him "brips" because we wanted to save money by using the GCs. So we braved the Saturday traffic in Ortigas to go to Robinson's Galleria and shop our brains out.

You should have seen us in the department store -- gone were the faces that would mentally calculate the total and subtract it from our budget, we got everything we wanted.

If Andrei liked this black polo, put it in the basket.
If the Mati asked for socks, put it in the basket.
Remembering that we needed new pans, put it in the basket.
There's 50% off in granny knickers, put it the basket.
There's extra extra small brips for the Yub, PUT IT IN THE BASKET.

Whatever my guys fancied, they could get. The sky was their frikkin limit (below P24,000 of course). 

He he he he he he he he!!!!

All that shopping made us all hungry. With that, we marched over to the restaurant that we've been wanting to try in Robinson's -- NONNA'S PASTA AND PIZZERIA.

I have actually been to NONNA'S before when I gave the Yub a surprise birthday party for his 40th birthday. We all loved the food and promised to return but their Nuvali branch was just so far from where we lived.

Good thing that NONNA'S opened in Robinson's Galleria because the Yub and I wanted the boys to try it out. You know us, when we had an enjoyable experience, we'd immediately share it with our boys.

Come to think of it, our dinner at NONNA'S motivated me more to go to Robinsons than the GCs because that was the night when I was craving for some pasta! He he he he he he!!!!

Oh well. Everybody happy. It's great too that we had a lot of GCs left so that means we have another excuse to go to Robinsons Galleria..... and NONNA'S!

NONNA'S PASTA AND PIZZERIA!!!!!!!

WANG JIA TEA HOUSE

ERICJAZ FOODIES went out Saturday morning for an early getogether with THE KAIN TULOG GANG in Ortigas Center. We already went home about 1:00AM from a gimik that Friday but when our KTG beckons, we follow.

It's very likely anyway that delicious and hot food is waiting for us at the end of the "rainbow." He he he he he he he!

The venue for that morning was in WANG JIA TEA HOUSE, a simple and unpretentious restaurant located inside CW Home Depot Compound. When we got to the venue, the Yub and I knew that this would already be our kind of place especially when we're craving for affordable comfort food.

And knowing that they serve Yub's usual favorite (e.g. dimsum, noodles, rice toppings, kikiam, etc) just made him feel like he hit the jackpot.

WOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!

WANG JIA TEA HOUSE!!!!!

NIU BY VIKINGS (PODIUM)

It was a Friday and the Yub and I were particularly excited because not only was Monday a holiday ("Yipeee!!!") but we were also officially starting the long weekend with a date that we're both so looking forward to.....

We're going to have dinner at NIU!!!!!!

The fine dining buffet version of VIKINGS just opened their second branch in Ortigas Center.... The Podium!!!!!

JANG GA NAE KOREAN RESTAURANT

It was Karen my sister in law's birthday, and they invited the family for a Saturday Korean dinner at JANG GA NAE!

Welcome!

JANG GA NAE is located in Ortigas City and was busy that Saturday.

NEW BOMBAY WITH HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS

Normally, the Yubhub is fine with everything when choosing restaurants for our date nights. He may be a picky eater, but he would still find something that he'd enjoy from the menu. Indian Food however, is where he draws the line. Of course, he'll tell me it's okay if we eat there but he'll just buy his food somewhere else. Even if he's fine with it, I know that I'm not that evil. Well, not yet. So I would just shove aside my cravings for another day.

Good thing that when some of my High School friends and I decided to meet up, they shared the same dietary cravings as I do and agreed to go to NEW BOMBAY!!!! Yeheeeeeey! FINALLY!!!! We've actually been planning this meet up for months and I'm excited that it's actually going to push through.

And in the restaurant that I've been wanting to go to, no less!!!!!

Check out my dinner date with my High School friends at the New Bombay -- the restaurant that my picky hubby wouldn't eat in. 

But that doesn't mean, he wouldn't take me there. He he he he he he!

Yep! I used to call him my Chinese stalker. He he he he he!

Yay! We're in NEW BOMBAY!

OUR FAMILY DINNER AT LUNG HIN - MARCO POLO ORTIGAS

Chinese cuisine is one of THE YAPPY BUNCH's favorites. And whenever a strong craving arises, we have our usual places to go to that serve the greasy and saucy dishes we are very familiar with and love.

Sometimes though, it is just fitting that you go somewhere special. And for our 5-Star staycation in MARCO POLO HOTEL, we didn't need to go far to get that extra-ordinary serving of award-winning delicious Chinese food -- we just have to go up to the 44th floor and indulge in the wonders of LUNG HIN RESTAURANT!

Welcome!

When you enter LUNG HIN, you'll be immediately greeted by their awards and recognitions. Hmmm... This just made me more curious of the meal ahead. (Mas awarded pa LUNG HIN sa akin e! Ha ha ha ha ha!)

SIAM THAI (PIONEER CENTER)

It was a hot Monday and as much as THE YAPPY BUNCH would like to stay in and just sleep the holiday away, we are going out for some Thai food. Now having sizzling barbecue and spicy cuisine may not be the ideal plan on a hot afternoon, but I've been hearing raves about SIAM THAI, plus we were going to see our favorite Kain Tulog Gang, so yeah, we are DEFINITELY going!

Yup! The holiday, sleeping in, Game of Thrones, household chores, online surfing, giving the cat a bath, dying my hair red, buying a bikini, studying my book on rocket science, etc etc. will just HAVE to wait! The Chinese Dimpol, Master Mati, and I will be stuffing ourselves with some hot Thai food as if winter is coming.

And with the amount of delicious plates of SIAM THAI food we ate that lunch time, you would think that we were getting ready to hibernate!

Check out our fun and yum lunch at SIAM THAI with the KTG! :) 

SIAM THAI!

SIAM THAI is located at the Pioneer Center in Kapitolyo. We arrived early so we were lucky to park in front of the restaurant. Normally though parking is so bad that you may have to sacrifice your first born to a white walker to get one.

Tee Hee!

FROM PALETTE TO PALATE AT MARCO POLO MANILA

International dishes may become the rave from time to time but no cuisine reigns more supreme for us than Filipino food. With that, MARCO POLO MANILA, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awardee, invites you to celebrate the awesomeness of our taste with "From Palette to Palate!"

From August 22 to 31, 2017, our very own Chef Ramon Antonio will show how Filipino food is like a work of art -- literally. The world-class chef is known for sketching his dishes and bringing it to life for his diners. With "From Palette to Palate" you will experience first-hand a feast for the eyes AND for your insatiable hunger at CUCINA for as low as P1,500.00!

Check out my date with the Chinese Dimpol as we enjoy Chef Ramon Antonio's beautiful and tasty dishes at CUCINA, in MARCO POLO HOTEL Manila!

ERICJAZ FOODIES are going to have a date night with Chef Ramon Antonio's creations! 

Enter....

Too bad we were not able to attend the launch last August 22, 2017 but we were still able to see Chef Antonio's sketches displayed throughout CUCINA!

CUCINA BREAKFAST BUFFET (MARCO POLO STAYCATION)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a family staycation at MARCO POLO HOTEL in Ortigas and after sleeping really late last night, we woke up frantic....

We're going to miss breakfast!!!!

We all dressed up hurriedly and rushed downstairs to CUCINA for MARCO POLO HOTEL's breakfast buffet. We're grateful to discover that we were still on time! Yey!!! Now that's an early reason to rejoice!!!!

If you've enjoyed the food at CUCINA, you will certainly know why we're doing the happy dance!

CUCINA!!!