MY MOM'S 70TH BIRTHDAY DINNER PARTY

My Mom just turned 70 years old and besides having a family breakfast (GLORIA MARIS) and dinner (MAMOU TOO) to celebrate her birthday, we also planned to have an intimate dinner party for such a lovely lady! We only invited our very close relatives and her best friend to share this special evening with us because we want everything to be just for HER. It was great too that the people who joined us were the ones who truly mattered and we really appreciated their presence. They made my Mom so happy that night!

Normally when we have parties, it is my Mom who is chief of the kitchen. This time, we told her to just sit back, relax, and enjoy this dinner -- her children and grandchildren were in charge. And we cannot be more excited about it. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!

My Kuya Jon is an animator and drew this caricature of my Mom. 

MY DATE NIGHT WITH ANDREI (100 REVOLVING RESTAURANT)

The Chinese Adonis and I always have a great time when we're together but when we're with the little lords, we are assured of having something always memorable for our books.

Now as much as we love spending time together as a family, we also practiced having one on one date nights with the little lords. I got this idea actually from JON AND KATE PLUS 8 where they discovered that their kid usually acted different alone with them compared with the rowdy sibs. As for me and the hub we would usually split up and schedule another night with the other little lord.

And yes, I have to agree. There is something more personal and intimate when I went out one night with Mati then another one with Andrei. I saw the excitement in my son's eyes when I announced that it's going to be a date night with JUST him and Mommy. Every time we have a date night, the boys were both overwhelmed and felt so special that Mommy (or Daddy) really made time to spend with either one of them.

And I know we're doing the right thing because I asked Mati why he loved his Mommy, his answer was "It's because you took me on a date night and it was so fun". Yes! He never forgot about it. Sniff! Sniff!

As a result it became a regular thing (like once a month) for us and the rugrats. For me it would be no yaya, no Yub, just me and the driver for my date night with my little guy. Now we even added a new tradition where the little lords would each take me out for Valentimes and Mother's Day (Father's Day for the Yub).

Usually our date night consists of asking my little guy where he wanted to eat and what he wanted to do afterwards. If it's Andrei, his choices would usually be in Healthy Shabu Shabu then playing in an arcade or Active Fun afterwards.  As for Mati, his choices had more variety because he loved trying out new food.

One time, I was surfing through the net and I saw this article where award winning chef Danny Boulud treated some Grade schoolers to a fine dining seven course degustation menu. I thought, I have always treated Andre to his usual ordinary restaurants that it would definitely be a thrilling change if we dressed up and go to someplace fancy shmancy. I looked for a place to take my little lord within Ortigas, San Juan, or Quezon City (since we would be coming from my office).  But I couldn't find any fine dining restaurant that would suit both of us. I was looking for someplace that was quiet, not crowded, formal, but still had food that was kid friendly. Also if it was not too much to ask, I wanted the restaurant to have that look that would blow away my little guy.

With that I decided to take my little lord to 100 REVOLVING RESTAURANT. I remember we had a lot of fun the last time we were there when we celebrated our Anniversary. I figured not only it was close to my office (just in case I get out late) but I remember Andrei often asking me when we were going back in the restaurant that "goes around".

So I told him that we were going to have a date night. Before he could open his mouth to say SHABU SHABU again, I told him that Mommy planned someplace special and we would be dressing up. At the thought of wearing a tie, my Andrei's face lit up and I already sensed his excitement. Yes! He liked getting formal and he instantly knew this DATE NIGHT was going to be something different.

As for me, I'm positive it's going to be something that I expect it to be -- a very memorable night with my son which I will never ever forget even if he has his OWN date night with other girls. He will always and forever be my baby Andrei.

And now I'm going to cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:(

My handsome date picked me up at the office!

Yup! It was our dress up DATE NIGHT!

Even if it's just the start of our date, I already planted a wet one of my Andrei!

THE PLAZA (DELICIOUS PREMIUM ITEMS/ FOOD TO GO)

I'm sure it may be obvious by now (if you are one of the two regular readers of my silly little foodie blog) that I am such a nostalgic person.  Yep that's me. The overly sentimental schmuck who will never throw away used slippers by the little lords because there is a memory connected to it.

So it was no wonder that when the Chinese Adonis and I attended a dinner featuring the delicious PREMIUM GIFTS/ FOOD TO GO by THE PLAZA, a flood of memories caused pandemonium in my big forehead as the famous catering service was present to 2 of my life's milestones!

Yes you gotta believe it! Even I was astounded myself.
       

For your information, THE PLAZA may be the longest catering service in existence in the Philippines as it was established by husband and wife tandem of Jose Cruz Reyes and Imelda Albano, in 1965.

And guess who the little cutesie poo who was born and baptized at 1985??? 

Yup! That white cotton ball is me!

Yep. The 80's still had that 70's vibe to it!

As THE PLAZA was one of the popular caterers at the time, it was also the venue for my baptismal reception! Isn't that such a coincidence? That's why every time I hear the name THE PLAZA, I get this warm and fuzzy feeling inside that I am within the depths of the familiar. 

Too bad I cannot find a clear picture with me in it but that's my brother and sister standing on the chairs.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET Kuya Jon and Ate Jit for not reading my blog. HA! :P

For the ERICJAZ FOODIES union (blech) I made a scrapbook of everything that went on after the Chinese Adonis said in tagalog "Yub, it's okay. We could get married soon."

What the.......?????????????????

It sounded like the hostage was giving up to his captors!

Anyway I remember that THE PLAZA was our top choice to be our wedding caterer. What you see on the picture above is a page from my scrapbook about my meeting with THE PLAZA banquet head (sorry I forgot her name) and we were scheduled for a food tasting. 

We were expecting really just some little saucers of food. Imagine our surprise when THE PLAZA presented a full spread for us. OHMYGULAY! Our diets are in trouble now!

Yup! A decade ago I was already a master of making faces. Tsk tsk tsk... And wrong grammar. I won't tell where. Ha ha ha ha ha!

IPPUDO RAMEN (AGAIN)

Remember how I would always have a "flavor of the month" where I am suddenly infatuated with this certain food that I just HAVE to have whenever we're out? Then, my poor but loving Chinese Adonis, who has such a finicky appetite, has no choice but to put up with it? Well for this "month" the choice would always be IPPUDO and it was something my cutie pie husband had no trouble going for because it was the first bowl of Ramen that he really enjoyed.

Yes, you read it right! After hearing that lame "I really don't like Ramen because I only eat Wanton Noodles" EVERYTIME we go to my usual favorites (Ramen Nagi and Ukokkei Ramen Ron), FINALLY my husband has met his Ramen match with IPPUDO! At least when I had my usual craving of the rich broth of IPPUDO, my husband was such a willing submissive and let himself be dragged to SM Megamall.

And finally, there was no whining about "I love wanton noodles" here. All I could hear from the Chinese Adonis were happy slurps and the constant rave that he loved the taste of IPPUDO soup it was almost sickening.

JUST kidding! It was really music to my ears because that meant I could yank him to IPPUDO as soon as possible!!! Like tomorrow?

He he he he!

IPPUDO!

This was a Friday night and I was surprised that the lines did not extend up to the heavens like what happened to us the last time. Our wait was only about 30 minutes and we're in!

MAMOU TOO (MOMMY'S BIRTHDAY)

I love the ring of September because not only do "bers" signify the start of the Christmas season but it is also the beginning of our "birthday months". Yep! For my family, every month from September, somebody is celebrating his, her, or ITS, birthdays! Yep! Tis the season to get fat(ter) until  we officially end it on April -- the "birth" of ERICJAZ FOODIES aka our anniversary (blech).

So since it's the birthday of my Mom, the family got together for a dinner of her choice. Usually, we have our birthdays at KIMPURA, but my mom, being the loving lady that she is, remembered that my eldest brother was not with us during our impromptu dinner at MAMOU TOO so it became her birthday venue for the night.

As much as I wanted to eat at our usual teppanyaki favorite, I did not fret TOO much. Remembering the delicious grilled steaks the last time we had dinner at MAMOU TOO, was enough to give me a temporary bout of amnesia. He he he he he!

Of course, I did not lose my memory TOO much to remember  to get a generous helping for myself before anyone realizes I almost got their share! He he he he he he!

MAMOU!!!

GLORIA MARIS BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST (2014)

I'm sure you guys may already be getting tired of me and my family's "traditions" since it has somewhat became a byword in my blogposts. But guess what? Here comes a new one! Every birthday, the family and I would ALWAYS eat at GLORIA MARIS after mass. I know it may be very trivial to some but I suggest you all to try it because nothing is more comforting than having a cupful of hot congee after thanking the Lord for all of our blessings.

Well... THAT and my hugs. I doubt though you'll get the latter UNLESS you give me and the Chinese Adonis GC's to SPIRAL buffet all year round. HA!

Our GLORIA MARIS birthday breakfast tradition was accidental really because it's not like we decided to eat there since it was somebody's birthday.  We just noticed though that every time after we attended a birthday mass (for somebody in the family) and my Dad would ask the celebrant where he/she wanted to eat, the choice would always be GLORIA MARIS probably because we always had dimsum and congee for Sunday breakfasts growing up, and it was so near our church.

And so it started. Without really expecting something else, the answer to the birthday question would now always be GLORIA MARIS. Great thing, we all wouldn't have it any other way.

Except with MY warm hugs though (tee hee... like Olaf!) So sorry you all won't get to experience that!

 

GLORIA MARIS!!! 

Even though our family's birthdays fall on a work week, we all take half day leaves so that we could all be together.

Except for my eldest brother though. He lives in the mountains. Joke! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

TRICK OR TREATIN AT 2014

Besides Christmas and New Years Day, another favorite "yearly event" for me would be Halloween. I remember when I was a teenager about 10 years ago (you better believe it), I would always have a blast with my family in my lola's house in the province. I remember that we would go to the cemetery then roam around exploring the weirdest or most extravagant tomb there is. Let us not forget forming many artistic creations via the melted candle wax and sharing haunting stories that would keep us wide awake at night. Those times were such wonderful childhood memories that add to the sentimental value for my November 1.

Halloween is also the season when frightening movies such as "The Shining", "The Exorcist", and "Miley Cyrus goes to Vegas" would be on repeat in our vcr player (wait... scrap the last one).  I may not watch local television programs a lot (except for EAT BULAGA yohoo!) but I would always be on the look out for my favorite scary specials on "Magandang Gabi Bayan" and "MAD". Up to now, I get the willies remembering some of their scariest episodes.

He he he he! Halloween. It could be the most haunting time of the year and I LOVE it!

When I got married and had kids, a lot has changed on how I celebrated Halloween. Well for one, I don't go to my lola's province anymore since we would visit the the grave of Yub's father who passed away before Andrei was born.  Another is that as much as the Chinese Adonis and I would love to spend the whole day watching scary movies and shows, we cannot do so when the little lords are still awake. When they're asleep naman, we do something else. 

BWA HA HA HA HA! Yeah right. Like cutting our toenails.

Well another development to our Halloween celebration is that now, we have 2 little lords to dress up the costume of their wishes and take them TRICK OR TREATING! Before, I would usually just take them to malls or hotels having special gimmicks for the event. But the old school in me really wanted the boys to do it the traditional way where they knock up on houses and scream the proverbial phrase "TRICK OR TREAAAT!!!".

That is why I'm so grateful that my High School and College bud Mareng Heidi would always invite the boys and treat them to their subdivision activities for Halloween. Yes! She is so generous and would never fail to make us part in their village activities. It is thru her that I got my wish for the little lords were able to walk around and get candies from different houses.

So now, there will be new memories for me for the Halloween season. And wow. You could say that with THE YAPPY BUNCH, it is a different kind of TREAT.

TRICK OR TREATING!

Wow! Look at Andrei and Coco already checking out each other!

The first time that mareng Heidi invited us was the year 2010. Mati was already into Marvel that time while my bunsoy was veering more for the darker side. 

Me and Mareng Heidi!

Tsk tsk.... The era when I was so thin! Haaaay!

IPPUDO RAMEN

If it may not seem that obvious enough, but I am a lady who loves her noodles. Yup! After being a scrawny kid who would always "side" all of her grub with Nissin's Ramen (beef flavor mind you), I am all grown up and with a vengeance. I may have been contented with the curly noodles and packets of instant flavorings before but now I am doing all that I can to catch up on what I have been missing when I was a squeaky girl of 10: Bowls and bowls of piping hot authentic Japanese Ramen! Oh yowza!

So after spoiling myself rotten and getting pounds of fat by my noodle "comfort zones" such as RAMEN NAGI, MITSUYADO SEI MEN, UKOKKEI RAMEN RON, IKKORYU FUKUOKA, WRONG RAMEN, ETC ETC...., wouldn't you know it? ANOTHER ONE COMES ALONG! Yep! The new "bowl on the block" is supposed to be one of the most popular Ramen houses there is and it is here to promote long queues once more...

Introducing IPPUDO RAMEN!

I have seen the scary images of how the lines just stretch out to kingdom come for diners who are yearning to slurp on this legendary Ramen. At first, the Chinese Adonis and I promised that we would just go there after a month or so to wait until the hype dies down.

BUT! Since I'm a lady who would ALWAYS eat that blasted marshmallow even if there's a promise of one more piece, I got impatient and declared to the hub that "Yes. We will do IPPUDO tonight."

And so we did! On a Sunday even!

Oh yes. Just like Austin Powers: I TOO like to live dangerously.

:P
 

IPPUDO RAMEN!

You think the coast is clear?

I DON'T THINK SO.

Now what's the english of "Inangkupu?"