FLOSSOM KITCHEN + CAFE (SAN JUAN)

It's my 33rd (he he he he) birthday and I cannot turn a year older without celebrating it with my FRAMILY (friends who are like family), the BP Group. This was actually scheduled the eve of my birthday making it like a "salubong". But something came up and I asked if we could reschedule it sometime after. Bless all of their hearts as everybody was game because either (1) they love me so much or (2) they're just looking forward to the restaurant venue -- I will try to believe that it's the first reason. He he he he he!

For the venue, I was looking for a place that will close late since it was a Friday, and well, we want to stay out long. As much as I wanted it to be in BGC, I had to be considerate of the peeps who will be traveling from Northern area (because the North WILL remember). Good thing my mareng FRANNYWANNY suggested our group to try out FLOSSOM KITCHEN since it had all the points I was looking for and she said the food was so yum!

Everyone was game na game with FLOSSOM KITCHEN because they have also been reading about the chic cafe online. They were too enthusiastic in fact na parang nalimutan na nila that it's my birthday! I knew it! Reason number 2 talaga!!!!! Huhuhu... Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

So in the end, we came, we saw, we celebrated. Yehessss! It was an uber awesome birthday celebration with my BP Framily at FLOSSOM!!!!!

Happy 33 to me at FLOSSOM!!!!!

FLOSSOM is located in the quiet streets of San Juan. Parking could be a challenge at night time though.

GIZELLE AND HIRO'S WEDDING #lovebeGinswithoneHIRO

One year ago, my officemate Tita Grace announced that her unica hija will be getting married and she invited us all to attend.

Actually, "invited" was a very mild word because she said it in a way that if we declined, we will be REALLY sorry. As in head-for-the-hills-because-the-Terminator-will-be-coming-for-you, sorry. He he he he he! So of course I agreed (will do so naman talaga even without the non-verbal threats... he he he he), but that was BEFORE I discovered that it will be fall on my actual birthday.

HALA!!!!

Sensing my doubts, Tita Grace gave me the "Humanda ka" look. So with that, I gave my wholehearted yes agad. He he he he he he! Wala na talagang choice. Tee hee!

Duh of course I'm kidding!

Yeah, it may be my birthday but this was a once in a lifetime special event for Tita Grace and her family that I wouldn't dare miss it. Besides, one of the best ways to celebrate a birthday is to be in a room full of love, laughter, and FOOD, right??!!!

O di ba??? Instant party for me??

He he he he he he he! Check out the fun we had when we attended the wedding of lovebirds Gizelle and Hiro!!! Congratulations kiddies!!!!! Thank you so much for inviting us!

Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!!!

MABUHAY!!!

And yes, that's Imelda Papin at the far left. He he he he he he!

8 CUTS BURGER BLENDS (GREENHILLS)

We are still continuing my 33rd (ahem) birthday celebrations and for one night, ERICJAZ FOODIES met up with my grade school friend Virginia.

Virginia, or Ginny as she preferred to be called but I don't follow, was my bestie during my elementary years, especially during Grade 6. We're both nerdish and shared the same taste in music, movies, etc. etc. and we could just chat the whole day. I actually attributed to her the pronunciation of my name. Before kasi, my family would pronounce my name as "jusMEN." But when Virginia became my friend and would call me at home, she looked for me by asking for "JAAAAAHZmin". Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! It made my family laugh and they teased me over it na "jusMEN ka lang huy!" but hearing my name handled in such a chic (and less kadiri way) made me love it na.

So JAAAAAAHZmin it is!!! Thanks Virginia! Ha ha ha ha!

We lost touch when we grew older (alam mo naman ang bata, kung sino classmate yun ang bestie) and we had different friends in High School. We met up each other again when lo and behold, our boys are studying in the same school! Yayyy!!!!!

With that, we would chat up from time to time, give gifts to each other via our sons, then share our food discoveries and favorite dishes. Finally during my birthday month, we met up to have a mini-getogether to celebrate! Other friends were supposed to join us but last minute nang-indyan (ha ha ha ha ha) so it was just the two of us. It's okay because we were able to catch up and talk the way we did during Grade School.

The great thing too is that we did it over plates of my favorite food.

Yay!!!!!

8 CUTS BURGER BLENDS!!!!

The Yub and I were happy to discover that 8 CUTS had a branch in Promenade, Greenhills. At least if I was craving for a burger after work, THIS is where we'll go.

TORCH RESTAURANT (GREENHILLS)

The Mareng Gail and I have this long standing tradition to treat each other during our birthdays. It's actually a very good tradition because during the times when we get so busy with our lives, we have no choice but to "reconnect" because of this commitment. He he he he he! Even during the times when we don't feel like it, then BOIIIIING!!!!! Everything oks again!

Yup! We have been doing this for about 10 years and counting. And there's NO stopping us now! Hanggang seniority na to!

So for my 33rd birthday celebrations (YEHESSS), the mareng Gail punctually sent me a message asking me where I wanted her to treat me. After a loooooooooong and extensive deliberation (more so because I don't know what I will be craving on our actual date), I thought of going for TORCH RESTAURANT in Greenhills. The Yub and I would always pass by this mysterious bright yellow sign na parang motel na nagaanyaya (oops... my dirty mind) but we never got around trying it (nagmomotel kasi kami. Kidding!!!). So tonight, since mareng Gail rejected my passionate suggestion of Spiral (tee hee), we're going to have a couples night in TORCH RESTAURANT instead.

And I just know that it's going to be a VERY good night!

TORCH!

I was quite surprised with the bright and earthy interiors of TORCH considering that their entrance would give you the impression that you're entering a bar (tugs tugs).

KIMPURA GREENBELT (2018)

Let me start off by saying I'm really annoyed now.

I already did a draft of this blogations and finished it already. Now for SOME WEIRD AND MIND-BLOGGING reason, it disappeared and what I got were 2 COPIES of ANOTHER blogpost!!!!! How the freak did that happen???

@#$%^&&

Now since I don't have a photographic memory like the other geniuses out there, I HAVE TO REWRITE THE WHOLE THING!!!! Egad! My big forehead can't handle all that thinking!!!!

If I'm in front of you I would gladly dramatize my sarcasm and anger with actions. He he he he he he...

ANYWAY..... 

(Using my sweet voice na) It's the actual day of my 33rd birthday (tee hee) and after mass, I invited my family to a Japanese dinner treat in our favorite.....

Yup! You guessed it!

KIMPURA!

Yup! It's ALWAYS going to be at KIMPURA. 

But this time though, we're going to be at their Greenbelt branch because their Greenhills restaurant closed down (it will be transferred to another location).

PARADISE DYNASTY (PODIUM)

I have been hearing a lot of raves about this new restaurant in the Metro that I was overly curious to check it out. At first, I learned that their only branch was located at MOA ("Inangkupushness!! So far away from the mental institution where I lived), but still, for good food, I was willing to travel far and wide.

Good thing PARADISE DYNASTY opened a branch in Podium at Ortigas that it made my tummy do the Hallelujahs. This was so much nearer my homebase!!! Now I don't have to suffer from Manila traffic just to be able to taste their best sellers.

Great thing too that for the birthday of THE FOOD ALPHABET, our venue for the night was PARADISE DYNASTY. Aba... aba.... This was meant to be!! The food gods really want my appetite and their dishes to come together and get it on!!

Check out our dinner that's written in the stars (naks) in PARADISE DYNASTY. 

PARADISE DYNASTY with my foodie friends!

Woah.... This restaurant features the "Legend of Xiao Long Bao."

Now this made me uber curious of this Chinese specialty! Parang alamat ang dating e. He he he he he!

DONU (PORK AND BEEF GRILL BUFFET - GREENHILLS)

The Yub and I were celebrating my 2-week birthday (Bakit ba? buti nga hindi 1 month... he he he he he!) that when he fetched me from work, it was MY decision where to go for our late dinner.

For that night, I was seriously craving for Korean. And though we could have tried our usual suspects, we decided to check out a place that made us so happy before.

DONU!!!!

However, we usually ate in their Makati branch. This was our first time to try their restaurant located in San Juan.

Enter!!!!

There were only a few diners that night and that's just fine and dandy with us. I was seriously craving for some spicy Tofu and Kimchi soup so that meant we'll be served faster. He he he he he he he!

MY 43RD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Blogspot has a problem.

It seems that no matter how many times I put in "33" in the title. It won't accept it. Laging "43!!!"

Hmmmm.... Curiouser and curiouser....

He he he he he he!

ANYWAYS...!!!!

For my 43rd birthday (ayan na naman), I was not as excited as I used to be. Sure I was expecting celebrations, getogethers, gifts, and foodfests, but it was my first birthday without my dear Daddy and I know that it will be different. Before, he would always make a fuss about our birthdays and always made us feel special. Every year, he would never fail to treat us and have the servers sing a happy birthday. Last year I remember how he insisted on paying for my birthday celebrations THE WHOLE DAY (when I initially promised that I would be doing the treating). I guess he felt it will be my last birthday with him that's why he still made an effort on giving it his last hurrah.

:( Oh well.

This year, I missed his presence SO MUCH but I just put on my party-party-tugs-tugs face because I'm sure my Daddyowzers wouldn't want me to be sulking at my special day. And though he's not with us, I could somehow still feel his love from his "representatives"; that's why I was thankful for all the celebrations with my family, close friends, a long lost buddy, and especially, my little lords.

Here's to growing older, lovelier (he he he he), and fatter (che!), with the people who truly matter....

This is me #happyat43.... este #happyat33.

YOWN.

This is for you my Daddyowzers! 

Happy Birthday to me!!!