MY 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

And the day has finally come...  

I turned 50. 

When I was younger, 50 was like oldy-oldy with grandkids and a ton of accomplishments. 

But ENNNNNNNGK (buzzer sound na matinis) when turning 50 was around the corner, I realized that I didn't have a lot...

a. I didn't have grandkids (not that I know of... well I better don't).
b. I didn't have a lot of major accomplishments BUT I'm working for a boss whom I idolize and respect soooo much in the number one noontime show in the Philippines.
c. I didn't have a lot of friends (well..... just valued the reals and so lazy to make new ones... ha ha ha).
AND
d. I didn't have the reality of what I projected for when I turned 50. 

But you know what? Honestly? Seriously? 

I'M JUST FOINEEE WITH IT.

Of course there will always be room for improvement and goals to accomplish, but the good thing though is that I'm not as worried nor insecure of my non-achievements as I did before when I would celebrate my earlier birthdays. 

So yeah! The golden 50??? Yohooo!!!!!!

I got actually so excited for 50 because my family and I had a lot of plans -- I saved for multiple travels and plotted all the restaurants that we'll be eating in. Yep. If you saw my other birthdays where we did a lot, trust me, it was going to be double this year. 

Or so we thought. He he he he he he! Dan! Dan! Dannnnn!!!!!

I don't want to get into details but like they say if we were initially planning to go West, plans went for the East. He he he he he he! It's okay though because no one may have warned me about life going to be this way (thank you "FRIENDS" series) we still had a LOT to be thankful for. And I think one of the main reasons why I'm now so FOINE and thankful for everything is that life has a way of putting trivial matters in perpective. 

So saying that plans did not go the way we wanted to may be an understatement, but believe it or not, EVERYTHING was still memorable and had it's own special charm to it.

We had many unexpected celebrations but they are all something which I will definitely not forget!

One of the best things too is that we have yet to do our initial plans... so yeah, there is still something to look forward to and excited for....  ha ha ha ha! Party party tugs tugs!

Also, looking at the bright side and valuing what we have right now. I just know and pray that everything's going to be better by the grace of God. 

So here I am sharing also my simple celebrations... yet I assure you, they're the most memorable, unforgettable, and somehow romantic for me.

And if you ask if given the chance if I'll change anything for the last 50 years? (Well.... apart from hoping that I should've followed BTS sooner so that I'll be able to watch when they were in the Philippines....) 

I would say, not a minute.

:) 

I'm 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaah!!!!!

SENIOR CITIZEN NA AKOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEGUSTATION DINNER AT THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM (THE MANILA HOTEL)

Hello everyone! Remember me??? He he he he he!

Yeah... yeah... before you remember me as the person you blocked before (he he he he he he), this is Jaz of ERICJAZ FOODIES who still believes in her online diary. I know I am not writing here as much as before, but work got hectic, annnnnd there are some things happening in my private life (PRIVATE LIFE DAW O) that warranted the delay of my posting. 

ANYWHO...

To say that our year was uneventful is an understatement.... BUT would just like to focus on what gave us smiles and happy tummies. Sooo no chismis for you... Ha ha ha ha ha! Maybe soon!

So last 2024, we were planning how to celebrate Mommy's 80th. There were a lot of options but I came upon THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM at the MANILA HOTEL when I was checking for some promos and what have you. 

At first my bossy kapatids didn't want to go that far as they're allergic to traffic, but later on they changed their minds so as to try out something new, AND because we luuuuuuuuuv our Mummy.

So to THE MANILA HOTEL we went, and we're all sooo glad that we did because it was the start of a beautiful friendship with THE MANILA HOTEL! :) 

We're in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM!!!!

OLLE KOREAN BARBECUE (LONDON 2024)

While planning our itinerary in our LONDON TRIP 2024, we focused not just on the museums and historical sites but also on the restaurants!!!

We were able to go to a  lot of places but one of places I really wished to go to was OLLE KOREAN BARBECUE. 

You may be thinking... Why would we want to have Korean food when we should just be focusing on Fish and Chips, Sunday Roasts, English Breakfasts, etc????

Well... Let's just say that this BTS fan has learned that OLLE KOREAN BARBECUE is the restaurant that my favorite group went to in LONDON, and if I cannot (yet) be in their presence via a concert, then I will at least go somewhere proven that they have been to, so I could at least get a bit of their essence.

Yeah. Gross I'm gross I know. Ha ha ha ha ha! 

Anyway, the bad news is that as expected, didn't get to see or catch BTS' essence (ha ha ha ha). The good news is that I saw some of their actual autographs and I was able to take pictures with it. So I was able to touch something that they did... WOAH (shivers).

OH and the food was very good too! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Sharing our dynamite of a dinner in OLLE KOREAN BARBECUE and if you're a true blue BTS fan, it is indeed worth a visit. Hoewever even if you're not a BTS fan (like, what is wrong with you???) but craving for some Korean grub while in London, you could check this always packed resto too! 

Yup! Because if BTS loves it, then it's really recommended! He he he he he he he he he! 

Woohooo! I'm at OLLE KOREAN BARBECUE!!! 

SUNDAY ROAST AT DUKE OF YORK - LONDON

While we were planning for our recent trip to London, I saw many recommendations that we should try having a SUNDAY ROAST. 

What's a SUNDAY ROAST? 

SUNDAY ROASTS, as defined by mareng Wikipedia, "is a traditional meal of British origin. Although it can be consumed throughout the week, it is traditionally consumed on Sunday. A plate usually consists of roasted meat, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes and accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, and condiments such as apple sauce, mint sauce, or redcurrant sauce.

ANAK NG... ALL OF THAT IN ONE PLATE??? WE WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO TRY IT OUT!!!! Ha ha ha ha!

(Ayan I almost said profanities... tee hee)

ANYWHO..... So on a particularly lazy Sunday in LONDON (naks) we decided to go for that SUNDAY ROAST.  The Yub searched around and saw many positive reviews on....  

THE DUKE OF YORK!

LE RELAISE DE VENISE - L'ENTRECOTE LONDON

HAPPY 2024!!!!!!

As my first official entry to my silly little foodie blog, let me share one of our mind-blowing experiences in LONDON during our trip there last December, 2023.... 

LE RELAISE DE VENISE - L'ENTRECOTE LONDON!!!!!!

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD CALIFORNIA 2023

One of the highlights of our family's US trip this year was our visit once more to Universal Studios. 

I know, I know, there are many more places to go in the US... BUT if you've been reading my weird blog, you'll know that if we're there, we cannot NOT go to Disneyland and Universal Studios (hopefully I'll be able to blog on those soon ha ha ha ha ha) as they are my favorite places, EVER.

ANYWHO.... 

I chose to post about SUPER NINTENDO WORLD because it's the newest attraction in UNIVERSAL STUDIOS the month we came. I'm not really familiar with the game but the boys, especially the hub, played a lot of this growing up so it's just important that we go.

And what SUPER time we had there!!!!!!! 

We're in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD CALIFORNIA!!!!!

CHRISTMAS 2022

I know it might be too late by the time I post this, but I cannot just ignore CHRISTMAS especially that we had another blessed celebration this year. 

Of course, I would have preferred for my Dad and BGP Mariane to be with us, still, we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus and it always bring a feeling of gratitude and comfort in my heart. Happy too that we have a new member in the family to party on during this holiday season. 

So with that, thankful we are once again together for Christmas, thankful that we did our usual traditions (most especially the picture by the tree... tee hee) and most of all, thankful FOR ALL THE FOOD. Ha ha ha ha ha!

May be a belated Merry Christmas coming from ERICJAZ FOODIES, but still, here we are. He he he he he!

ENJOY! I know we did!

YOOO to the HOO!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

KUYA LEVS LOMI BATANGAS

When we went to Cavite for our New Year's Eve celebration (which I hope to be able to blog about soooon), we decided to have an early lunch at this restaurant I saw on tiktok --- KUYA LEVS.

I know what you're thinking "Where is this sosy wosy romantic haven that ERICJAZ FOODIES decided to go to?"

EEEENNGGGG wrong answer.

(I apologize for the pathetic text but that's supposed to be a buzzer sound. He he he he he). 

Anyway, come on!!!! As if you didn't know us. Dining at swanky places may be fun BUT we find it more thrilling to discover hole in the wall restos that get our worth in pocket and in appetite. 

So yep. KUYA LEVS was IT. Of course, don't expect to be mind- blown, but I assure you, that if you're craving this certain kind of food but you're in Cavite, then this is the spot to go to.

YEBAH.

Going on a trip in our favorite  rocket ship..... 

And we're here in KUYA LEVS!