CAUSEWAY TOMAS MORATO (2020)

During Master Mati's birthday week, we asked him where he wanted to have dinner for our Fridate.  The Yub fetched them then they were going to pick me up so that we'd have a family dinner.

The big guy chose Chinese food and without further adieu, the Yub and I both knew where we should go....

CAUSEWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINIO (TOMAS MORATO)

It was Friday and the Yub and I were deciding where to go for DATE NIGHT!!! You know us, we're okay anywhere, as long as it fits our super low standards and budget. He he he he he!!!!

Good thing that during breaktime (stress on the BREAKTIME), I was scrolling thru Facebook and saw this ad for FINIO. I checked it out and can't believe how at the low price of P295.00 you get to eat crispy pata and mongolian barbecue ALL YOU CAN!

But wait, there's MORE!

Besides the eat all you can Crispy Pata and Mongolian Barbecue, you also get some hot dishes, a salad, plus pasta, and drinks!!!

HUWAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!! How can that be??

It's true Mike! He he he he he!

Anyway so when I brought it up with the Yub, I didn't need to say that it is only P295.00, because he was already tumbling for joy at the thought of having Crispy Pata as much as he can.

That's AMAZING! (Well moreso that he knows how to tumble pala... he he he he)

Now how did we find our dinner?

Basa basa lang pohzzzz....

He he he he he!

We're in FINIO!!!!

HALF SAINTS - TOMAS MORATO

The Yub and I had an overdue meeting with good friends Albert and Suet, aka THE POGI CEO couple (he he he he), as part of the Yub's birthday celebrations. However, just when we already agreed on a date, something came up (the life nga naman of a pogi CEO ha ha ha ha ha) so it's a mad scramble na naman to think of when and where.

Finally, we agreed to do it the Friday before my anniversary with the Chinese Panget. We also decided that since we were also supposed to treat this ever generous couple for the Yub's birthday, it's only fitting that we do the same in "sharing the love" (ick?) for our Anniversary.

The venue that night for us was HALF SAINTS because I saw the many recommendations it garnered online. It received a lot of raves from reviewers (either that or he's just my stalker... he he he he) that it has also gotten the curiosity of The Pogi CEO.

So HALF SAINTS it is!!! I told THE POGI CEO couple that I made reservations for 8:00pm when really it was for 7:30pm. I got confirmation from work that I could leave early and since these two were SOOOOOOOOOOO notorious for being so on time always, I wanted to go ahead of them and say GOTCHA!!!!!

And when we arrived, as usual, THEY'RE ALREADY THERE!!!

GRRRRR!!!

He he he he he! My mission is foiled again!

NINYO FUSION CUISINE AND WINE LOUNGE

TAPE INC has been operating close to 40 years and would you believe that I have officemates who have been working here since it started????

YUP!!!

For others naman they're here for more than 30 years. As for  me, it's already been a decade.

If you're wondering why, it's because we have THE BEST PRESIDENT ever and we all love our jobs. Everyone here believes in EAT BULAGA that we are all so loyal to the show.

ANYWAY....

The TITAS of TAPE (as we have fondly called ourselves)  went out for lunch one time because a former officemate, Ms. Oying, is visiting from the US. Mam Leslie said it'll be her treat and invited us all to join them.

The place they chose for that lunch was a restaurant called NINYO. I thought at first that it's like Gerry's or Gilligan's type of restaurant where diners could down beer along with their sisig. "Okay" I thought. At least I'll have some of my favorite sisig with garlic rice......

OH WAS I WRONG!!!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

If you've been to NINYO FUSION CUISINE AND WINE LOUNGE you'll know what I mean.

NINYO FUSION CUISINE!!!!!!!!!!

NINYO FUSION CUISINE was so near our office but far from the lines of popular fast food restaurants. You might even miss it because the lot looked like a residence filled with trees.

Even the entrance seems like a private home too!

LA CARNITA MODERN MEXICAN CANTINA

One night, I was craving for Mexican food soooo much that I spent an hour in the office looking for restaurant recommendations.

(Remembers something) OOPS! Ah eh.... 1 minute! I meant 1 minute in the office... He he he he he he he he!

(Buti na lang nobody in the office reads my blogs)

ANYWHO....

I looked up the top Mexican food in the area and came across the name LA CARNITA. It has received many good reviews and it's the restaurant where that viral video of nachos doused in cheese came from.

So LA CARNITA it is!!!!!

It was also the season of hearts so it was perfect for the VALENTIMES season. At least, we'll be going somewhere affordable that I was craving for. Eh you know the Yub, he lives to answer my cravings.

Teka. That didn't sound right. Pero pwede din. He he he he he!

Here's our pre-VALENTIMES date in LA CARNITA! Did it answer my cravings?

Oh you'll see. You'll ALL see!!!

Dan. Dan. DANNNN.....

LA CARNITA!

CHILI'S TOMAS MORATO (2019)

THE YAPPY BUNCH had to be in Quezon City one Saturday and we were deciding where to have dinner. Of course, we left that choice to our birthday boy Master Mati, since we were still  within his 2 (or is it 3???) week celebrations, that whatever he was craving for that night, we're game!!!

There were a lot of restaurants in that area that making a decision was already giving us all head-aches. The Yub mentioned some places but either my big guy didn't like it OR we had that in Powerplant Mall (which was so near us).

After a few more names, my big guy saw the bright red lights of a familiar restaurant. His face lit up as he declared, "Mommy I like CHILI'S!!!"

Me: "CHILI'S? E we have that in Powerplant Mall! We could go there anytime we like!!"

Master Mati: "Sige na Mommy please. It's one of my favorites. Parang, you can't have a birthday month na walang CHILI'S!!"

With that, I get his point. Yep. CHILI'S has indeed been an integral part of special times in THE YAPPY BUNCH. (Heck, it's where the Yub and I met via a blind date!!!!!) So even if we could eat at CHILI'S anytime we wanted (since it had branches at the usual places we go to), I was so fine with having one of Master Mati's birthday celebrations there. It's like a birthday won't be complete without CHILI'S!!!

And then I heard somebody mumbling/pouting, "Sinabi ko naman na kanina yung CHILI'S...."

Me: "Don't worry Yub, kaw naman ang magbabayad!"

Har de har har!!!!

Kidding!!!!!

:P

We're in CHILI'S!!!!!

WING ZONE (ARANETA CENTER)

As much as I'm a drumstick-and-thighs kind of girl, I would never pass up the opportunity to relish a plate of crunchy and juicy Chicken Wings. The great thing about these bite-sized babies is that you get an appetizing  skin-to-meat ratio that every mouthful is perfection.

Add to that a plateful of steaming hot rice, OMG!!!!!

Yes, Chicken Wings may usually be considered as appetizers because of the size and the handiness of eating it (instant grips!) but for us Pinoys it is already a (ful)filling entree to our table.

That's why when the Yub and I recently visited WING ZONE in its new branch in Araneta Center, we happily and hungrily discovered that they don't have just the usual flavors made popular by the Westside. Besides the usual Buffalo or Honey Barbecue, WING ZONE tosses its newly fried wings in flavors such as Thai Chili, Sweet Samurai, Adobo, Sisig, etc -- so many choices right?

And yes, like you, I also immediately started craving for rice. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Check out our Friday dinner with other foodies in WING ZONE. I'm sure, you'll also start craving for some wings and more!!!

With extra rice... He he he he he he!

WING ZONE !!!!!

It was a busy night in WING ZONE that Friday.

OHAYO MAKI X SUSHI

I think it's no secret already how much the Yub and I love Ramen because many times you'll hear (or read) our raves on our usual favorites like RAMEN NAGI, IPPUDO, MENDOKORO RAMENBA, ICHIRAN, etc. etc.

As in paulit ulit!!!! OMAYGASH!!!!!!!!!!!

One stormy night however, the Yub and I got stuck extra late at my office because it got flooded real bad (I'll share at the end what it looked like). With that, we were naturally craving for something piping hot to get in our tummies to warm us up real fast.

Good thing while I was scrolling my Instagram account, I came upon the post of my favorite MASARAP BA where she shared this Ramen stall she discovered in Quezon City which served quality Japanese food at very cheap prices.

So of course, when the Yub heard "noodles" and "cheap" in one sentence, his ugly face went DING! DING! DING!!! "ABA AY! PUMUNTA AGAD TAYO DON!!!!"  He said.

And so we did.

The great thing too was that when we got there, the rains stopped and we had a parking spot right in front of the humble ramen stall. So it was REALLY meant to be!

And THAT was the start of a beautiful friendship....

Or FOODship for that matter.

:P

The Yub and I are in OHAYO MAKI AND RAMEN BAR!!!!!!

MASARAP BA was not kidding when she said this was a simple stall because what we got was a "carinderia-like" kiosk by the road.

TERRACE 45

It was a Friday and usually, we would go out with the little lords or meet up with some friends. But then the boys went out with my Mom, while we didn't make any definite plans with the peasants (tee hee) so it's just going to be me and the Chinese boy toy.

Insta-date night!!!!!!!

We didn't really know where to go but since traffic was so bad that night, we just decided to eat somewhere that's near my office. 

And after browsing over my friend's IG and facebook pages, we ended up in TERRACE 45!!!

OUR VALENTINE'S (2018)

VALENTIMES arrived. And even if I'm normally very excited for this  happy hearts day celebration every year, I have to admit I was not that into it as I was before. Of course, a big part of my lack of enthusiasm was losing my first Valentine  and I was expecting (or dreading) that everything will be different this year.

It turns out, everything went like it was before: I received flowers, I got kisses from my boys, some officemates gave me chocolates, had great dates with the hub and the family -- I actually had a lot of fun during VALENTIMES.

But how did it REALLY turn out?

See below!

Happy VALENTIMES!!!!

When I woke up, lo and behold, somebody was creepily standing there with a proud smile. If it weren't for the flowers, natadyak ko to ng di oras. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Sorry. I'm an aswang talaga in the mornings.

When I came to my senses na... Awwwwww... Thank you so much Yub!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!

When I got downstairs, I got some candy hearts from my sister and more flowers from my Kuya Jon.

On my way to office, I saw many posts about VALENTIMES. My favorite would have to be this one.

I read this in the voice of Ken Jeong from The Hangover movies. Ha ha ha ha ha!

A close second would have to be this one.

Now I wonder how THAT happened??? Hmmmm.... Tee Hee!

CAUSEWAY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT (AGAIN)

I may have posted about CAUSEWAY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT only once in this silly little foodie blog but trust me, it's our go to place EVERY TIME we're craving for some dimsum on a weeknight.

It was a Monday and the place was almost empty. It's okay. That means we'll get served asap all the hot dimsums that we wanted.

CAUSEWAY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT (TOMAS MORATO)

When I crave for something, I'm like this bratty baby that just have to have it right away. When it comes to food, there's no EQ-shmikew on me. I want to have it NOW.

That's why for our pre-Mother's Day celebration last May, I was soooo kulit on having dimsum. While chatting with my good friend Aning, I kept on including in the conversation how dimsum was perfect that night. Finally she relented and we went to my favorite dimsum place of all time...

CAUSEWAY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT!

Yes!

(Belated) Happy Mother's Day to me!!!!

CAUSEWAY!!!!

It was actually our first time in CAUSEWAY TOMAS MORATO because the branch more convenient for us was the one in Libis. 

SNOWBING (SM CITY NORTH EDSA)

It's very rare that the Chinese Dimpol and I find ourselves in SM City North Edsa because it's quite far from our lurrrv nest. (He he he). But when we do it's probably because of (Ding! Ding! Ding!), you guessed it, to try something out with my fellow foodie friends. And this time, we were happy that we ventured this far to taste something so cool from this side of the Metro....

SNOWBING!!!!

SNOWBING is actually a Philippine franchise that whips up popular Korean favorites that tastes oh so right for our palate! 

EAT O'CLOCK (ALL DAY BREAKFAST)

I have always declared that breakfast is my weakness. Even if I'm controlling my carbs, just present me with coffee, eggs, garlic rice, (my favorites) and I become powerless. I don't know what but there is just something about breakfast that makes my tummy a bottomless pit. I NEVER get full when I'm wolfing down my usual "silogs" no matter what time of day.

So imagine my glee (with a matching yipee) upon discovering EAT O'CLOCK in THE NORTH HIVE FOOD PARK. With the growing popularity of food trucks in the Metro, it's great to know that one of them is serving the type of food I will never mind going back for.

And I'm sure that after one taste of it, the all day breakfast food at EAT O'CLOCK is something that you'll be craving for again and again.... 

It's a Friday night and we're in NORTH HIVE FOOD PARK!!!

Food parks are certainly the place to be in these days especially if you're in the mood for a variety of dishes in a very casual, no frills setting.

POULTRY STACK

Chicken lovers rejoice!! There's a new hub where you could converge and splurge to celebrate your favorite bird!

POULTRY STACK!!!!

POULTRY STACK is the new restaurant in Tomas Morato that doesn't look anything like your favorite chicken place!

OUR MAMA LOU'S FRIDATE!

One time, I was chatting with the "Quezon City Chapter" of our "BP Group" (he he he he) and we kept on talking about how we were craving for some of MAMA LOU'S pastas and pizzas. Finally the Filipino owned Italian restaurant set up base in the Metro (besides their Nuvali and Paranaque restaurants) and I sensed it's going to be one of our regular restaurants for gimiks! When we have confirmed a schedule on a Fridate, it was just too bad that one of my friends was not available.

But whaddaheck, this is MAMA LOU'S we're talking about. We cannot and will not cancel because we have already been drooling for days!!!

Also, at least we'll have an excuse to go back with her. He he he he he he he!

So after work, the Chinese Dimpol and I went straight to UP Town Center. Good thing there was no traffic that night that we were still early for our meeting time with dear Chel. After doing the groceries, some shopping, and more working, we have worked up an appetite to wolf down the food we have been craving for so long in MAMA LOU'S.

Me hungry then dinner at MAMA LOU'S with great people? Sounds like a perfect Fridate for me!!!

MAMA LOU'S!!!

It's a Friday so it's no wonder that the popular restaurant is packed.

KING CHEF CHINESE RESTAURANT

If you're looking for delicious Chinese comfort food that is not cooked up the old and usual way, then KING CHEF is the way to go!

We were able to discover it for ourselves during one Saturday when we joined up with some of our KAIN TULOG GANG!

SHANGRI-LA FINEST CHINESE CUISINE

One Friday in February, my friends from the "Quezon City Chapter" got together to feast on Chinese food at what, they would claim, to be my very early birthday celebration. When asked for a venue I decided to  name out the restaurant where our office mates would always order take-out from whenever we're craving for some Chinese food!

And that's in SHANGRI-LA restaurant in West Triangle. Quezon City!!!!

It will actually be my first time to eat in the restaurant at SHANGRI-LA after just ordering their food for take-out for many, many years!

PINAC (UP TOWN CENTER)

Marianne, the daughter of my TAPE INC., friend Tita Flory, was recently in the country for a mini-vacation from India. You might remember her from the wedding we attended in Tagaytay Highlands, and the Tita's of Tape Inc (myself included) love her as our grown-up daughter as well.

So it's no question that during her stay, I invited to treat her out to a restaurant of her choice.

Me: "So what are you craving for Marianne?" (Hoping for it to be Italian, Japanese, or even American).

Marianne: "Filipino sana Tita".

Me (HALA -- I just ate Filipino food non-stop from our Undas vacation in Lucena) : "Are you sure? Aren't you sawa na from Filipino food from your house? We could go for something else if you want."

Marianne: "No Tita. Filipino sana because whenever I'm out with my friends/family they always treated me to Italian, American, Japanese cuisine, that I haven't had a real chance to eat Filipino."

Me (Oops! And I was planning to do the same thing): "Ha ha ha ha! Okay! So Filipino it is, then!"

And based on reviews on which restaurant serves delicious Filipino food in UP Town Center, we ended up in PINAC!

PINAC!

PINAC is popular in serving heirloom Capamcapanga cuisine and we all know how Capampangans love cooking because it shows in their delicious food!