BENCH CAFE (GREENBELT)

One night, ERICJAZ FOODIES set out to meet up with Team Mina for dinner. After a looooooooooooooooong discussion where to meet up (mostly from Manong Fred), we ended up in BENCH CAFE!

I have heard many raves about BENCH CAFE that my hungry and curious tummy got its force awakened (he he he he). Originally I was going to veer away from Filipino food tonight (because I was watching my carb intake) but since I wanted to try this out SOOOO much, I forgot about my initial aversion to rice.

HALF SAINTS - TOMAS MORATO

The Yub and I had an overdue meeting with good friends Albert and Suet, aka THE POGI CEO couple (he he he he), as part of the Yub's birthday celebrations. However, just when we already agreed on a date, something came up (the life nga naman of a pogi CEO ha ha ha ha ha) so it's a mad scramble na naman to think of when and where.

Finally, we agreed to do it the Friday before my anniversary with the Chinese Panget. We also decided that since we were also supposed to treat this ever generous couple for the Yub's birthday, it's only fitting that we do the same in "sharing the love" (ick?) for our Anniversary.

The venue that night for us was HALF SAINTS because I saw the many recommendations it garnered online. It received a lot of raves from reviewers (either that or he's just my stalker... he he he he) that it has also gotten the curiosity of The Pogi CEO.

So HALF SAINTS it is!!! I told THE POGI CEO couple that I made reservations for 8:00pm when really it was for 7:30pm. I got confirmation from work that I could leave early and since these two were SOOOOOOOOOOO notorious for being so on time always, I wanted to go ahead of them and say GOTCHA!!!!!

And when we arrived, as usual, THEY'RE ALREADY THERE!!!

GRRRRR!!!

He he he he he! My mission is foiled again!

TACO TUESDAYS AT CHIHUAHUA!!!!

When it comes to our best friends BGP Marian and Manong Fred, we don't pick a day in the week when we'll meet them: it could be on "Date Night Saturdays" because they're one of our favorite couples in the world, and on "Family Sundays" because they're already like family!

When we have to meet on a weekday though, we recently designated a new day for us just because it has become our favorite night for grubbing...

TACO TUESDAYS!!!!

And where do we do that? In CHIHUAHUA!!!!

Ole!

FREEZER BURN

We just finished dinner at VILLAGE TAVERN with Best Gal Pal Mariane and Manong Fred when we realized that we just saved the best for last....

DESSERT!

And for that night, there was only one candidate for us as we have been reading a lot of great reviews about it. Yup you got it. FREEZER BURN -- the new baby of Chef Miko Aspiras and Chef Kristine Lotilla, the cool tandem that gave us Scout's Honor.

FREEZER BURN is indeed the place to be at BGC. Even if temperatures were below normal in the Metro, people were still flocking the small hub to get a taste of Chef Miko and Kristine's uber creamy creations. I for one got under the "spell" too because even if I was supposed to be on a diet, I gave a very resounding yes that would've brought Sally Albright to shame when FREEZER BURN was brought up.

So it was definitely a luscious and delicious nightcap for us that time in FREEZER BURN. FINALLY, we were able to taste (and enjoy) what the hype was about!!!!

FREEZER BURN!

The lines were ultra long in FREEZER BURN that night. But BGP Marian and I still went for it!!

FREEZER BURN had a very small area with counters and seats. While we were lining up, I got more excited while checking out what the other diners ordered.

Entering FREEZER BURN is like getting inside an ice cream truck especially with the colors and designs!

YEY! Finally I could see the menu!

FREEZER BURN menu 1...

FREEZER BURN menu 2!

I was slightly disappointed that they didn't have coffee in FREEZER BURN. It's okay though because there was a coffee shop beside it.

Lining up with my Best Gal Pal!

While our boys saved our table outside.

Hmmmm... I feel the need to bonk both their heads. He he he he he!

Kidding! We asked them to buy coffee and tea for us later on.

Hmmm... Now what should we get in FREEZER BURN?

Should we go for their specialties or just ice cream with toppings?

Ice Cream flavors in FREEZER BURN are not your usual run of the mill types!

Cookies and Junk Food...

Corn and Cheese???

Butter Ice Cream??

Ketchup and Mayo????

WADAPAKESHNESS???/

(Don't worry. I'm just using the above word for comical purposes. I don't say that out loud. He he he he he he!)

PAK GANERN???

Same with that too.

FINALLY! Chocolate! My favorite!

FREEZER BURN had an open kitchen where you'll see your orders being whipped up.

BGP Marian treated me that night well because maybe I was looking cuter than usual. 

Yup! The wonders of using deodorant.

:)

We got this and just waited for the FREEZER BURN signal!

And after a few minutes....

YEYYY!

While Manong Fred got our ice cream, the Chinese Dimpol caught me talking to myself while making my coffee.

What the....?!!!!

Now that's my look of death.

BGP's missing her hub already. UUUUUY!

My FREEZER BURN Ola (P295.00)!!!

One full scoop of very decadent and rich chocolate ice cream with about 4 pieces of churros!

The chocolate ice cream was so fudgy and decadent that you could use it to "dip" your churros!

I loved that the FREEZER BURN churros were crunchy and not greasy at all. I could actually eat it by its lonesome and not be cloyed by it.

If you want an alternative to the chocolate fudginess, you could go for the vanilla sauce that's in the syringe.

As for the BGPness, she ordered the FREEZER BURN 3 scoops!

She got the butter, the Maple, and the Cookies and Junk Food!

We all loved the Cookies and Junk Food and the Maple. We liked the Butter flavor the least because it was salty. Those who wanted more bite in their ice cream would love it. As for us, we'll go more for the sweet flavors. He he he he he!

You may think that the FREEZER BURN servings are not enough. But for us, since they were all so rich, we were all satisfied!

In no time, we're almost done!

Manong Fred was hesitating to finish off the shy piece.

As for the butter, we finished it off little by little.

Afterwards we fooled around with the Snapchat filters!

Yup! We just discovered the beauty AND fun of SNAPCHAT! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

When you can, do follow us on SNAPCHAT. I try my best to be normal in it. He he he he he he he!

Truly an enchanted and luscious evening for ERICJAZ FOODIES with our BGPs (Best Gal/Guy Pals). 

Soon we'll be back at FREEZER BURN to try out more flavors!!!!

OH.

YEAH.

Add me on Snapchat.... He he he he he he he he!

FREEZER BURN

Ground Floor, Q3, 

Bonifacio High Street, 

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

+63 9773572191

VILLAGE TAVERN ONCE MORE!!!

Ever since BGP Mariane and Manong Fred returned from the US, we would always meet. Yup! Sometimes everyday! You might say that we are just "making up for lost time" from our 3 month separation. To be honest though, I'm sure we are just making excuses to hang out whenever we can. After we meet up, our last question would always be "When uli tayo magkikita ah???"

Of course, that's just the way we wanted it. There's really no limit to the enjoyment of hanging out with true friends who will also give the same time and effort to be with us. So for this Friday night, even if we were already together on Thursday, we will be meeting up for dinner again. And since it has been ages since we've been there last, the venue was naturally one of our new favorites...

THE VILLAGE TAVERN!

 Yup! AGAIN!

We were first to get a table. And upon taking our seats, we were immediately served with Crusty Bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

Loved that the bread is still warm and crunchy on the outside.

A little later, BGP Marian and Manong Fred arrives!

CIRCLES BUFFET THE THIRD TIME (SHANGRI-LA MAKATI)

My friends and I raided MAKATI SHANGRI-LA HOTEL once again to have dinner in CIRCLES BUFFET. But this time, besides Mike and Donna, I had a very special guest joining us tonight --- my eldest son, Master MATI!!!!!!

ERICJAZ FOODIES with Team Mina, Team Sales, and my dearest Master MATI!!!!

And THIS is where we're heading out for tonight.

I made reservations for 7:30pm that Saturday night in Makati Shangri-la. As usual, we were there early not only because we're punctual but because we want to start eating before my friends arrive. Of course, we didn't want them to see us pigging out!

TEE HEE!

THE TERRACE (RESORT'S WORLD HOTEL)

We were celebrating the birthday of dear Tita Grace and once again we found our lovely selves out loose in RESORT'S WORLD MANILA!

But this time, we will be in THE TERRACE!!!

THE TERRACE is located in the top floor of (whispers) RESORT'S WORLD MANILA at the Maxim side.