WOODEN SPOON (Ladies Who Lunch)

When my officemate Ms. Grace Acojido, turned 30 last June, 2012 (he he he) she treated the LADIES WHO LUNCH group in the newly opened restaurant along Katipunan by the ever famous Sandy Daza.

Ordinarily, if you're a Katipunan, Quezon City newbie, you might miss WOODEN SPOON if it were just having an ordinary sign on display.

BUT...

Chef Daza was smart and showcased his timeless good looks on the WOODEN SPOON banner that you would be crazy not to take a second stare!

Haaaay.... so handsome... Ha ha ha ha!

Inside WOODEN SPOON they have truly maximized the limited space but without making the hungry diners feel cramped or jammed up.

Besides, if Chef Daza was there, I wouldn't mind getting too close for.... ahem... comfort... Tee hee!

Just in case you are not familiar with Chef Sandy Daza, he is the son of the cooking legend Ms. Nora Daza, and has published articles such as in Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Of course, I knew him as the Chef in the long running Del Monte Kitchenomics which aired in the 80's and 90's in what else, the longest running noon time show ever!

EAT BULAGA!

And yes, the famed chef WAS there and it was sort of a reunion for him and the other EAT BULAGA ladies (The "Ladies Who Lunch" are officers of TAPE Inc., producers of EAT BULAGA and they have been with the company for over 30 years now. Some of them were even "extras" in various episodes of Del Monte Kitchenomics just for fun. Haha ha ha!)

(l-r) SVP - Finance Ms. Zeny Buenavista, MEH, Disbursing Manager Ms. Flory Antonio, Finance Manager Ms. Grace Acojido, SVP - Admin Ms. Leslie Dionisio, Executive Asst to Mr. Tuviera (our President) Ms. Josie Tolentino, and Chef Sandy "pogi" Daza. 

The birthday gal for the day, Ms. Grace!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MS. GRACE!

Of course, before we ate, we should have pictures first as "proof" of everyone's attendance... He he he he!

Ms. Josie and Ms. Eileen Macapagal...

Ms. Grace and Ms. Leslie!

Ms. Zeny (feeling extra sweet to me... he he he), Ms. Flory, and Mrs. Tuviera :)

Lovely ladies!

But my tummy is lovely too and hungry!

All the dishes featured here are recommendations by the chef so I guess we'll never go wrong with this meal!

Now let's eat!

First on the table was WOODEN SPOON'S Crab Pancit (P145.00).

If the appetizer was a peep at how the meal would turn out, then we were assured that we would have a delicious lunch!  The WOODEN SPOON dish was runny eggs with crabfat poured over fried vermicelli noodles!

We asked the very accomodating waiters of WOODEN SPOON to give it a good mix so that we could all devour it... like ladies.... He he he!

I could take in a few tips from Ms. Eileen and Mrs. Tuviera on this department... Ha ha ha ha!

Up next was WOODEN SPOON's Fiesta Rice (P145.00)! The hearty plate of carbs is already a meal in itself as it was loaded with crispy adobo flakes, salted eggs, and fresh tomatoes. Be sure to put a little bit of each on your heaping tablespoonful for that perfect chomp!

I added a dollop of the garlic aioli mayonnaise dressing from another order. The extra layer of tasty fat made it more rich to the bite!

WOODEN SPOON'S Breaded Fish Fillet with Wansuy Sauce (P195.00) was crunchy on the outside and the dory was perfectly tender on the inside. 

Extra delectable when you give it a generous dip on the wansuy sauce!

WOODEN SPOON's Squid with Chili and Mushroom (P225.00) had the right amount of spice in every bite and was a very savory "ulam". I loved putting the bits of chili in my rice!! 

The clear crowd favorite was the WOODEN SPOON Stuffed Pechay (P155.00) in lip-smacking coconut milk. Inside the tender vegetable was a tinapa like spicy stuffing which went well with the creamy sauce!!!

 

If you have been a good girl lately, then order a plate of WOODEN SPOON's Lechon Kawali (P195.00). Each pork chunk is bursting with oil and fat but uber scrumptious!!! It won't hurt to dip it into the sauces on the side to remove that "cloying" effect, AND, drink some pineapple juice afterwards. Ha ha ha ha!

Don't forget to order the WOODEN SPOON'S Adobo Flakes (P195.00)! Each strand is perfectly crunchy with the right seasoning of soy and vinegar! Believe me you would find yourself shoveling spoonfuls of this in your mouth along with the fried rice!

There's that aioli dip I was talking about which I added more to my already loaded plate.

Our table was SO FULL!!!

My plate! My WOODEN SPOON loaded plate!

Sorry if I did not even think about proper plating... I was pathetically hungry at this point!

After that hearty WOODEN SPOON meal, all of us shared this one dessert because we were all so full!

Don't pity us too much as this WOODEN SPOON Pandan Crepe (P115.00) was worth getting extra pounds for.

Ha ha ha! Check out the shy piece... and how somebody stuck her finger on the chocolate syrup to get chocolate in her mouth. 

Not me!

Kidding!

Burp! Meal was done! Guess why I am smiling naughtily in this picture?

Look... closer... ha ha ha ha!

BURP!

That was such a superkalifragalisticextraordinary lunch!!

Thanks Ms. Grace! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Wooden Spoon

Loyola Heights

329 Katipunan Ave

Loyola Heights, Quezon City

(02) 426-0044

Wooden Spoon

Power Plant Mall

Power Plant Mall, Amorsolo Dr

Poblacion, Makati

Check out my first LADIES WHO LUNCH post in 

HOUSE OF WAGYU STONE GRILL

RAMEN COOL

Call me Ishmael....

No this is not THAT story... but it also involves a man... and his whale...

Well... FUTURE whale...

Because it was not always that way...

In one cold rainy night sometime last June...

A Chinese guy with beautiful sleepy eyes accompanied his Lady Boss for a steaming bowl of hot ramen...

While waiting for their order... they checked out the condiments...

The COOL menu...

The Chinese man and his Lady Boss were overly fond of the attractive colors and the abundance of food....

The RAMEN COOL Tempura was oh so crunchy and flavorful.... It had more breadings than the Chinese guy preferred but it was okay...

There was no coke zero for the Lady boss in RAMEN COOL so she just settled for an ice cold can of Pepsi light...

While munching on his RAMEN COOL tempura, the Chinese guys' Beef Fried Rice arrived....

... and it bought the sweetest smile to the famished traveler even if his beautiful eyes were on its way to a long slumber...

The Lady Boss agreed that her man's food were all delicious but she was feeling cold and felt that something warm and spicy would satisfy her tummy...

So a bowl of piping hot spicy pork with tofu arises....

Little did she know that the fragrant soup had a magic spell to entice her to crave RAMEN COOL'S magical broth and increase her appetite.... 

It would only work if she is able to annihilate the contents of the spicy delicious soup.... 

The Lady boss wondered if she could finish such a big bowl of spicy goodness in RAMEN COOL...

She then lightened up and decided that this will be her Mount Everest...

She will eat it because it was there...

... and it smelled M-mm good!

First slurp.....

RAMEN COOL Noodles were very firm and chewy... Soup was spicily nutty and intense...

The silky tofu of RAMEN COOL would temper the heat with it's creaminess...

AND in no time.... .... everything was finished. 

The soup then worked its wonders....  

Afterwards there was no turning back for the Lady Boss... She always craved the simple but flavorful soups of  RAMEN COOL....

She discovered that there was true joy in indulging and giving in to all food desires....

And now..

She became a whale...

Check out ERICJAZ FOODIES 2013 posts to see how fat I am now!!!

Har de har har!

=============== 

Please do NOT take any referrals to magic potion in the soup seriously. RAMEN COOL broth is indeed hearty, healthy and safe! We became regular diners eversince!

Oh and no offense to whales... In my opinion they are the most gentlest of creatures... But they still weigh tons....

Also being fat is STILL beautiful... Ask my hub! He has his own reasons why he likes the 2013 Jaz now. Ha ha ha ha ha! More of me to love !!!

Ramen Cool

Pasig

25 East Capitol Dr

Kapitolyo, Pasig

KANZHU HAND PULLED NOODLES

Growing up I would always play this game with my sister where-in I ask, "Okay it's the end of the world... Who would you marry? This *disgusting guy* or this *MORE disgusting guy*?"

When my sister answers "THIS disgusting guy!"

I would always up the ante by declaring triumphantly "HA! But you gotta make A DOZEN babies with him!"

And we would laugh till we cried! HA HA HA HA!

Oh don't pity us too much! We get our kicks that way! 

Anywho, it does get me thinking that at the end of the world, I BET that I will be the only living being in the planet because of the TONS of noodles that I would eat.

And just in case you are not Filipino or Chinese, we have this belief that noodles give us "long life" because of the length of its strands. When we eat noodles, it is like we are extending the number of lives allotted to us by the heavens above. That is why usually, during birthdays or whatever important celebrations, the guests are usually made to eat noodles, pasta, etc, etc, so that the celebrant will have.... LONG LIFE.

Okay so if I base how long I will live with the bowls of noodles I have eaten in my existence, I guess that would be like...

... A HUNDRED YEARS?

Hey where did everybody go? Why are you all screaming hysterically?

And why is my husband Eric leading that incorrigible pack of howling people???

Kidding! He he he he!  

KANZHU!!

KANZHU boasts that their noodles are all hand pulled made with the finest ingredients. Nothing instant or packaged in here. What you get is fresh from their kitchens!

They have an open kitchen at KANZHU so if you want to ogle at the chefs making their noodles, go right ahead. Just don't be like somebody I know who made howling noises while the chefs were stretching out the noodles.

I'm kidding :) He just stared with mouth open though.... Ha ha ha ha!

KANZHU meynuh!!!

TEAM YAP just heard mass and will be having lunch in an hour with my family. HOWEVER, the maternal leader of the group suddenly got hungry and thought of having a VERY light breakfast....

And so we ended up at KANZHU.... he he he he!

At KANZHU they gave out free candied peanuts with sesame seeds. These are so addicting by the way!

My order! KANZHU's Sliced Beef XO Dry noodles (P165.00)!

Hmmm.... somebody likes leaving his mouth open.... He he he he!

One look and I instantly feel in love with these KANZHU noodles!

What is there NOT to like? Fatty chunks of beef tendon and "litid" plus chewy noodles, vegetables, and this richly flavored sauce!!!

I could imagine though some people who have an aversion to coriander (cough cough yub) and raw garlic (cough cough yub again) will have an aversion to this dish. You could just easily request to have it on the side. The whole KANZHU plate will still be fantabulous!!!!

I for one LOVE coriander (wansuy) and raw garlic!!! I would always ask for an extra serving of this! Do try it!!!

Sorry yub! Somebody will have garlic breath tonight!!! He he he he!

Anyway, just give your KANZHU noodles a good stir!!!

Don't forget to give your camera a cheesy smile! Tee hee!

We also ordered some KANZHU pork and chive dumplings (P120.00)! You could request to have this fried or steamed! We love this fried because the extra crunch goes so well with my saucy and oily noodles! 

Double Y.U.M!

My finicky eater Andrei loves it!

We just shared a plate of KANZHU noodles and dumplings since we WERE just having a light snack before our lunch with my family. 

Don't mind if we have light meals like this EVERY DAY!!!

For the kids, I just removed the garlic and wansoy....

Andrei proceeded to round up a big twirl of noodles in his fork and dove it right in to his mouth!!

And I don't blame Andrei... one bite and you would appreciate how special "hand pulled noodles" are. It's more chewy with a special bite to it. I don't know if it also has something to do with the noodle pulling process but it was also able to soak up all that special sauce!So each slurp even if it was not swimming in the sauce was extra tasty and delicious! OMIGAHD!

Nothing gives a mommy more joy than seeing her finicky eater take in a forkful of noodles!!!

But nothing is more gratifying for MY boys than covering Mommy for the shot! GRRR!

After Andrei finished with his KANZHU noodles, he requested for an extra plate of candied peanuts for dessert....

Sorry Daddy... that's just for Andrei!

I guess he got MY very "generous" nature with food... Tee heee!!!!

After 2 weeks, I got craving for some of KANZHU noodles once more that I begged my husband to eat here after work!

We were feeling a little crazy and ordered all the carbs that we could in KANZHU!

Yub ordered the Chinese Sausage Fried Rice (P165.00) and though it smelled good I know this might be a fail for my husband since he does NOT eat vegetables.

Still, it tasted so delicious that we will still order this next time... but request to have it with less veggies!

I am not really fond of eating meats with my noodles so I would just give away my beef to Yub!

Look how much I love my carbs! ha ha ha ha!

But it IS packed with vegetables so I guess I'm not really committing a mortal food pyramid sin here!

We ordered the KANZHU dumplings once more... 

Yub proceeded to make his special sauce at KANZHU!

Special sauce means Soy Sauce, Calamansi, and Chili Garlic sauce... He he he he!

He does it with a lot of love though...

KANZHU noodles again for me!

Egad! This was just after 2 weeks since my last meal at KANZHU and I think I already packed a few pounds. I look like I'm eating a chinese bun here or something.

Oh well... I'll just forget that weight gain realization with some free soup that came with the KANZHU fried rice!

And after asking for extra garlic, extra wansuy, and mixing everything up, it is time to eat!

DONE! Oh wow... IAnd I don't blame Andrei... one bite and you would appreciate how special "hand pulled noodles" are. It's more chewy with a special bite to it. I don't know if it also has something to do with the noodle pulling process but it was also able to soak up all that special sauce!So each slurp even if it was not swimming in the sauce was extra tasty and delicious! OMIGAHD! can't believe I ate it all...

I guess that's 10 more years for me?

                       
                                                           Yub... why are you crying?

HA HA HA! Kidding!

Let's eat!!!!

Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles

San Juan

G/F Citiplace Bldg., J. Abad Santos St.

San Juan, Metro Manila

(02) 477-7919