A NOBU STAYCATION FOR ANDREI (PART ONE)

It's our bunsoy Andrei's birthday and we have booked a staycation at CITY OF DREAMS' NOBU HOTEL. Initially, we're just going to celebrate my little lord's birthday by going to his usual favorite restaurants or letting him be KING of our silly household for 10 days. But then I caught this special deal by this popular Japanese-themed hotel that we just GOT to try out.

And so, THE YAPPY BUNCH was able to conquer....

NOBU HOTEL...

Dan... dan... DAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!

After breakfast and playtime, THE YAPPY BUNCH drove out for NOBU HOTEL!!!!

ANDREI'S BIRTHDAY DINNER PARTY (2016)

It's Andrei's 10th birthday and to make it more special, I thought of having a mini-dinner party for him with our close friends!

The Chinese Dimpol and I weren't really planning on giving him a party. But for many weeks, he has been bugging us for a sleepover for his birthday weekend. In addition to that, he requested for me to cook this and that and this again.

With that I thought, why not invite our friends over and treat them to Andrei's birthday food? He's also best friends with the kiddies anyways!

ANDREI'S 10TH BIRTHDAY (2016)

My most favorite baby OF ALL TIME is celebrating his 10th birthday and we are all so excited!

Yep. I know that he's already too old to be called a "baby" but he's my bunsoy and will forever be my adorable little being whom I'll kiss and hug and bite till the end of eternity!!!!!!!!!!

Well...  Until he becomes a teenager anyway. He he he he he!

Or until he gets married. #hulingtawad

And like what we do every year, the birthday boy lists down all the things that he wants to do for his 10-day celebration. He also gets the ultimo VIP treatment from the family and gets his way in the car radio. He he he he he!

Yup! Birthdays are such a big deal to us!!!!

I remember when I was a kid, my parents did the same to me and my siblings that we can't contain our excitement at turning a year older. Would you believe that my Mom would even buy a live chicken from the market and cook it as "pamalit buhay?" Yuh-uh!!!! And that's just at the break of morning! He he he he he! Because of the special and loving birthday memories that I had with my family, we are also doing it now with the little lords. Don't worry. Our celebrations do not bank (well, sometimes it could but we make sure to save up for it) -- it ranges from hotel staycations to simple Jollibee dinners -- depending on THE boy of the day. One thing is for sure, we make a lot of effort to make our celebrant feel that he is KING for the duration of his birthday weeks.

And right now, it's ANDREI'S turn!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY our dearest Andrei! Awwww!!! This is him doing my favorite "cute-cute pose!

This took a lot of convincing because he felt old na daw. Ngek!

My bunsoy is now 10 years old and I'm so proud of him already!!!!

On the eve of his birthday, the Chinese Dimpol and our angels set up our dining room with balloons and signs. We want our birthday celebrant to be surprised with the colorful greeting when he goes down for school tomorrow.

ANOTHER DELICIOUS DISCOVERY PRIMEA BREAKFAST!

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a fun-filled weekend with friends in DISCOVERY PRIMEA and we know we're going to have a more awesome second day!

Why you ask????

Because we're going to wake up to some delicious DISCOVERY PRIMEA breakfast!!!!

ANOTHER DISCOVERY PRIMEA STAYCATION (PART TWO)

It's day 2 of our fun family staycation at DISCOVERY PRIMEA to celebrate my godson Jelo's birthday, and if day 1 was a basis of how our day would go, then we're assured of ANOTHER helluva good time!

THE YAPPY BUNCH with friends in DISCOVERY PRIMEA!!!!

We all slept at about 2:00 in the morning that's why the Chinese Dimpol was still snoozing at this early hour.

But my baby is already awake!!!!

ANOTHER DISCOVERY PRIMEA STAYCATION (PART ONE)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are back in DISCOVERY PRIMEA for another staycation and even if it is already our second time, we are still so excited as ever!

And why not? We are going to have another sweet family bonding session with great friends in one of our favorite hotels in the Metro!

WOO TO THE HOO!!!!

DENNY'S WITH TEAM MINA

DENNY'S is fast becoming one of THE YAPPY BUNCH's favorite restaurants that when we're deciding where to treat Team Mina for my godchild's birthday dinner, we immediately called it out. Because what's not to love? The food was delicious and the servings were usually enough for sharing. Of course, like any new restaurant in the Metro, they still have a lot to improve upon especially when it comes to service and maintenance of the place. But still, THE YAPPY BUNCH was willing to give it a second, third, or even fourth chance, just to have a taste of our new favorites (Hello peanut butter chocolate pancakes!)

And as expected, we all had a fun dinner at DENNY'S not just because we're with our best friends or that we're celebrating something special. We really have a great time because of DENNY'S delicious food.

Are we going back again????

You betcha by golly wow in a DENNY'S minute!!!!

DENNY'S!!!!

My godchild PaoPao recently celebrated his birthday and we were not able to attend because we were in Lucena with the Chinese Dimpol's family. With that I promised BGP Marian that I'll treat my pogi Pao Pao in KIDZANIA then continue the "party" for dinner later. 

Me, the Chinese dimpol, and my bunsoy Andrei. Master Mati was supposed to go with us but he missed his Lolo Pogi and chose to go with my Dad to be his "assistant" for tonight.

(Belated) Happy Birthday Pao Pao!

Ordering!!!!!

DENNY'S was still fine tuning their service that some of the food took a lot of time to be served. However, when we indicated how important it was for Pao Pao to eat earlier (because he was already hungry), they managed to take out a hot platter of their Chocolate Overload Peanut Butter Pancake Plate (P395.00)! 

I was not hungry yet but man oh man I wanted to dive into that moist and creamy pancake ahead of Pao Pao! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

We requested the bacon to be extra crispy and they got that so right too!

FINALLY our food is here!!!!

Our own Chocolate Overload Peanut Butter Pancake Plate!!!!

Manong Fred got the DENNY'S Rib-Eye Philly Melt Cheesesteak (P495.00) and I swear to you it WAS SO GOOD! The thinly sliced marinated meat was so tender and flavorful that each bite was an explosion of awesomeness with creamy cheese on the side. Besides being so yum, an order of the cheese steak was more than enough to satisfy one hungry ogre (Manong Fred) or two normal beings.

Tee Hee! 

I missed Master Mati so much that I ordered his favorite DENNY'S Cajun Shrimp (P375.00)!

It was as still good as I remembered it but I think it was sitting at the counter for long because it was not sizzling anymore and was lukewarm.

The Chinese Dimpol suddenly craved for some sausages ("jumbo hotdog kaya mo ba TO?/") and ordered the Country Sausage (P125.00)!

This was juicy, meaty, and so tasty!!! We loved that it had that slight crunch when you bite into it.

ERICJAZ FOODIES with TEAM MINA in DENNY'S!!!!

Let's eat!!!!

For dessert, Andrei and the Birthday Boy each ordered an Oreo Milk Shake!!!

Yummm!

This was so delish that Andrei focused more on the milkshake than his food. H aha ha ha ha ha ha!

Burp!!!!

As an additional treat for my little godson, we arranged for a birthday song from the DENNY'S staff!!!!

YEYYY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAOPAO!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAOPAO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAY..... 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAOPAO!!!!!!!

YIHIIIIIIIIIIIIII! SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOHOOOOOOOOO!

HOWEVER....

PaoPao: Seriously?

(Cricket.... cricket...)

My inaanak's face....

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

He finally smiled when the DENNY'S servers left. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

There you go! Don't worry PaoPao! We won't subject you to a loud birthday song again. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

We're still thankful to DENNY'S servers for being so nice and accommodating with the birthday song.

Afterwards he requested to sit beside his Kuya Andrei and the two huddled up together while the (feeling) grown-ups talked about anything and everything.

The DENNY'S bill!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAOPAO!!!

Seriously we are craving to go back IMMEDIATELY to DENNY'S!

Don't worry PaoPao. It won't be to celebrate anyone's birthday with a birthday song. He he he he he he he!

LET'S EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

DENNY'S

Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, 

9th Avenue Corner 38th Street, 

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

02 7724371

ERICJAZ FOODIES IN DENNY'S LAS VEGAS

DENNY'S IS NOW IN MANILA

KIDZANIA FOR MY GODCHILD'S BIRTHDAY

My very handsome godchild, Paolo, recently celebrated his birthday and since we were in Lucena for the Undas Weekend, we were not able to attend. I promised little PaoPao though that Ninang will treat him to a Paolo and Andrei day of fun and there was only place I could think of for that....

KIDZANIA!!!!!

KIDZANIA is fast becoming one of our favorite places to treat the kids to. We love how it inspires them to decide on what they want to be when they grow up.

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!

JILL AND OLIVER'S WEDDING

I think I have said often enough how much I love weddings. And for 2016, I was invited to 5 beautiful and lovely ceremonies!!!!

Weddings are like a "level-up" kind of date night for me and the Chinese Dimpol where we get to dress-up, hob-nob with our "grown-up friends", and eat fantabulous food. Of course, besides those things (which I find utterly important), I love being a witness to two people vowing to be together forever: in sickness and in health, and for beauty till wrinkly. THAT is why we make it a point to always attend the ceremony rather than just go straight to the reception. We don't need to watch the latest romcom -- there's a real life FOREVER romance going on and we have the best seats!!!!

Such was the last (but certainly not the least) wedding that we attended in 2016.

Dear Jill is the lady behind THE FOOD SCOUT and I found her so interesting that I stalked her in FB.

Yeah I know. I really stalked her. I'm so pathetic. :(

The stalking paid off when I got to personally meet her and she was just so sweet like a real life Disney princess! I loved her immediately!!!! We became kindred spirits and would often chat up during our KAIN TULOG GANG getogethers. When we finally met her Prince O, we all just felt that they were so perfect for each other. It may sound like a cliche but it was true: they were both good-looking, adorable, super sweet, fun, and just over-all nice people.

So when we got news that they were going to get married, the Chinese Dimpol and I really saved the date. Their upcoming nuptial had all things that were so important to us: we're going to put on the ritz, we're going to chat up with fun adults, and we're going to eat fantabulous food (HELLOOOO... CONRAD HOTEL??).

But of course, the most important of them all was that we will see with our own eyes the union of two souls who were matched up by God to spend the rest of their lives together. We were all so sure that it's just going to be oh so beautiful.

And we were SO right.

Congratulations dear Jill and Oliver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JILL and OLIVER'S wedding....

The PERFECT last wedding for us in 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A study in pink!!

He he he he he!!!!

The Chinese Dimpol and I looked GOOD!!!!!

COLLEEN AND PV'S WEDDING

I love weddings.

Yup! There's something about dressing up, going to a nice venue, chatting with  friends who put on the ritz, eating an elegant dinner, and drinking goblets of wine or champagne.

It's like having date night but ten times more special!

Of course, what we also love about weddings is basking in the glory of two people so in love that they are shouting up to the high heavens in declaring it. Even if I have attended quite a number of weddings already, I still find myself choking up with tears when the couple profess their vows, and when the Dad gives a special message to his daughter. Yes. Really good times.

When the Yub and I received an invite from dear Dabarkads Colleen, the lady in charge of the wardrobe in EAT BULAGA, I got immediately excited! I know that it was going to be a fun event because that's just how she and fiance PV are: so fun, so alive, and so very in love! So without really thinking about what I'm going to wear or what we're going to give the couple who seem to have everything already, we confirmed our attendance for that Sunday.

Like I said, I love weddings!

The great thing about it is that this time, I don't have to join the bouquet toss for singles, or, answer irritating questions such as "why are you still single?" At least now, I am more confident in dressing up, chatting with friends, eating elegant food, and drinking goblets of wine.

Yup! Because for me, the best part of a wedding (or in any event for that matter) is being with a partner who is as still in love with you like the day you got married.

Naks.

Yes. Even if he snores like a truck.

:P 

COLLEEN AND PV's WEDDING!

We picked up Tita Josie, my TAPE INC officemate/friend, and drove out for Palazzo Verde!

TASTE THE LOVE AT BROTZEIT!!!!!

To have a great VALENTINE'S celebration, it's not always about the roses, the pink hearts, or the empty promises you declare to make the night go somewhere. Nope. Personally, I believe that to have a memorable VALENTINE'S day, you should have something special, scrumptious, and utterly delicious to make your way to your date's heart via his/her stomach.

And if you agree with me, then you should check out how they'll serve up your VALENTINE'S and MORE at BROTZEIT. 

It's time to TASTE THE LOVE!!!

BROTZEIT German Bier Bar and Restaurant!

It was a busy Friday night in the famous German restaurant with diners celebrating the start of the weekend.