TITTOS LATIN BBQ AND BREW

Once upon a time before the pandemic....

It's been a while since I saw the dear Godoy's that's why when we needed to meet up for one night, we made it into a gimik. He he he he!

You see, I have finally decided to do some "adulting" and get myself insurance. I thought that when I depart for heaven (for heaven daw o!!!!) I don't want to burden my family with the cost. At the same time, I'd like to give the boys a little something to help them out.

Kidding. I just want to get my ginormous "noo" insured. Ha ha ha ha!

So with that, I met up with dear Lieza to make my payment and sign some documents. At the same time, she offered to treat me for dinner as my 40th pre-birthday celebration.

Yes. 40th!!! May reklamo????

Lieza suggested we try out TITTOS LATIN BBQ AND BREW and I was game because everytime we passed by Greenhills, that restaurant was always packed.

And eat there we did. It's great that I was finally able to try out this restaurant (that seems to be the new haven for "titas of Manila" he he he he). We enjoyed the food and I immediately made mental plans to return with my family.

(Not! -- Jaz from the future in ECQ)

Tee hee....

TITTOS LATIN BBQ AND BREW!

KIMPURA (2020)

Once upon a time before what's happening now, I CELEBRATED MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

Now...

I don't care if we have done this here many times before...

I don't care that it may make me go over my budget...

I don't care that I've made SEVERAL blogs about birthday celebrations here ordering the same food with the same people...

But we're having my birthday in my favorite KIMPURA and here's my post about it!!!

DAN DAN DANNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yohoo! We're in KIMPURA!!!!!!!!!!!

MOMMY'S SURPRISE BDAY PARTY (2019)

It's my Mom's birthday and even if she's not the type to have a grand party, my sister and I thought of making her celebrations MORE special....

We're going to give her a SURPRISE PARTY!

It's Mommy's (belated) birthday!!!!!!

GILIGAN'S RESTAURANT (2019)

The Yub and I have been long familiar with GILIGAN'S RESTAURANT way before pa because they catered our wedding (meh) when they was just starting up. From what I remember, the food was okay and it was more on the casual side. During that time their menu was limited and I had no choice but to pick from what was offered because it was requested by the future in-laws (they're friends with the owner and prices were very reasonable).

Fast forward to the present and GILIGAN'S RESTAURANT now have MANY branches across the metro and in the provinces. You could never fail with their extensive menu of Filipino specialties that are very affordable. That's why click na click!!!!

We have dined many times already at GILIGAN's but the last time we did so as a family left such a bad taste in our kiddies' mouth because well, maybe the branch was having a syesta. The Yub and I also had another experience in it on one date night that we said it would be a loooooooooooooooong time before we go back there.

But "back there" we always did. Maybe because of sentimental reasons. Good thing that in our latest meals there, service and their food improved that we would now become happy regular customers.

Syempre, when you're always eating out it's a steal to find restaurants that service delicious yet cheap food!
 

GILIGANS!

HOUSE OF WAGYU STONEGRILL (2019)

The Yub and I were celebrating our 20 years of being MAG-UN, and as expected, he forgot about it.

With that, I contemplated on how I should handle the situation...

Should I be the model wife and just understand everything? We're already married anyways and that's more of a blessing.

OR....

Should I be petty and make a big drama about how he's always forgetting special events? In that way, he'll think of a way to make up. Big time.

Syempre I chose the latter.

Tee hee... Oh wells. Before you get angry, know that I did it for women everywhere who have fallen victim to the "forgetful husband syndrome." Let's all unite and fight for our right!!!

Naaah. Kidding. I'm just hungry and craving for some steak. Ha ha ha ha ha.

Carry on!! 

Happy 20th to us!!!

BLECH.

KAMAMESHI TOWN HONTEN (SAN JUAN)

My high school buddy Sandra and I planned to meet up one night in celebration of her ultra belated, as in a month after, birthday. She treated me during my birthday week before in KIMPURA, so now it's my turn to take her out and the choice was for a Japanese dinner, again!

We decided to check out KAMAMESHI TOWN HONTEN also in Greenhills. I have read mixed reviews about the place so I don't really know what to expect.

I shouldn't worry too much though because I'm sure it's still going to be a great night whatever food is served.  Besides, there'll be a lot of talking anyway! He he he he!

:P

KAMAMESHI TOWN HONTEN!

When you enter KAMAMESHI TOWN, you'll surely fancy the Japanese al fresco-like set up of the place. It's like you attended this outdoor fun Japanese party!

THE COFFEE SHOP (UNIMART GROCERY)

Greenhills Shopping Center used to be like "home" to our family. At the time when Powerplant Mall, SM Megamall, Shangrila Mall, etc, were not yet existent, GREENHILLS was the place to be for us:

-- It was where we heard mass (Santuario de San Jose).
-- It was where we did our shopping (before the infamous tiangges and dibidis dominated the place).
-- It was where my Mom and Dad would jog and exercise (their basis was how many times they could go around the shopping center).
-- It was where we celebrated family events (Sun Moon, Kimpura, Mcdonalds, etc).
-- It was where we did our groceries (Unimart).
-- PLUS MANY, MANY MORE (since a LOT of memories are flooding in my head right now like the opening of Mcdonalds, me joining their first halloween contest and seeing a kiddie Lea Salonga, eating in old restaurants like Green Patio, Tom Sawyers, etc, borrowing laser discs, having Coney Island ice cream, etc, etc, etc.)

That's why imagine my grief after my Daddy went to heaven and the Yub and I passed by GREENHILLS shopping mall. I immediately broke down in sobs because I could see him EVERYWHERE. (The same thing happened with my Mom -- she had a difficult time going to Greenhills because wherever she went, she would see one of their friends/sukis who'd greet her and look for Daddy. Besides their Greenhills barkada, my parents kasi are also friends with a whole lotta people there -- the security guards, the Mercury Drug salesladies, the other store salesladies, etc. etc.)

Then suddenly, I don't know if it's God's way of helping me or what, GREENHILLS SHOPPING CENTER had a major renovation that it's not like the one we went to before. EVERYTHING WAS NEW! At first it got me a bit sad that I somehow "lost" the place that we went to almost everyday before. But at the same time, I'm grateful because at least my heart won't be in pain anymore whenever I see the places that had special memories of him. (Maybe my Dad loved Greenhills so much that he "brought" it along with him in heaven? Ha ha ha ha!).

So one time we needed to do groceries and the Yub suggested we go to UNIMART because it's already so near us. I gave him a hesitant "Okay" because I know I've been putting off going to the new UNIMART for so long. I don't know why but I know it would just feel so weird going there without asking my Daddy to buy me something from "Orange Julius." I was comforted with the thought though that at least the place is new and is not like the old UNIMART that we loved. So off we go to UNIMART for our groceries and everything went smoothly naman. It was just AFTER shopping that I became emotional again.

Do you know how some other people would hear a song and remember something with it? Well that's ME and FOOD.

Yup. Read on. Ha ha ha ha ha!
 

We're in UNIMART!!!! The new one that is!

HOUSE OF MINIS - GREENHILLS (2010)

For the Yub's birthday, I was supposed to treat him to our favorite HOUSE OF WAGYU because I saw that they had a promo for BPI credit cards.

Lo and behold, the 50% off promo was only extended to BPI Visa cardholders e I have Mastercard lang. Ha ha ha ha ha! Drats. Though there was also a 30% off promo, the kuripot in us cannot bring ourselves to pay higher because we're already set on the 50% discount (Yup, we have that kind of reasoning. Ha ha ha ha!).

I was not in the mood anymore to celebrate because I got so irritated that our original plans didn't push through. With that, the Yub suggested that we go for HOUSE OF MINI'S, the more practical and, come to think of it, happy choice for us.

You see, HOUSE OF MINI'S is not just a restaurant -- it's also the happy haven where the kids of 80's had their first experience of sizzling steak in a, supposed to be, fine dining setting. I could still remember my excitement where as a little girl, I got my own small plate of bread, then served with the salad and soup courses. Then, there's the thrill of anticipation as the server pours the hot gravy over the steak then I duck behind the table cloth so that I wouldn't get splattered from the sizzle. He he he he he!

So many happy foodie memories!!!!

The Yub knows this and I think it is one of the main reasons why he invited me to go to HOUSE OF MINI's instead.

"Treat ko!" He said consolingly. He knew I was on my way to monsterhood. (Ako na nga nakaligtas sa pagbabayad, ako pa brat no? Ha ha ha ha ha!)

To be honest, the Yub didn't need to exert extra effort to stop me from turning into the hulk. I actually became excited with the thought of eating in HOUSE OF MINI'S again!!

Hey, it may not be as sosy wosy of HOUSE OF WAGYU, but promise, I'll be more than willing to go to HOUSE OF MINI'S anytime. Because corny as it may seem, HOUSE OF MINIS is like a foodie home to us already.

Now you wouldn't say NO to the prospect of celebrating where your heart is, right?

YOWN!!! 

We're at HOUSE OF MINIS!!!

You know how impromptu your dinner plans are when you wear something similar to the restaurant tablecloth. He he he he he!

KIMPURA GREENHILLS ( 2019 )

I know what you must be thinking...

KIMPURA AGAIN???

Not only that, it's KIMPURA again on MY (belated) birthday. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Yep some time last March my dear HS friend Sandra invited me out to treat me on my birthday. When she asked me where, the usual "tug-of-war" of who will name what place, erupted. FINALLY, fickle minded me decided on Italian. So Sandra arranged for this restaurant she loved in Greenhills.

Then at the last minute while I was on my way to the venue, I texted her "Sandz, will you get mad if we switched to Japanese na lang again?" (I said "again" because we'll already been changing and re-planning the venue).

Her answer was, "He he he... Sige Japanese" -- you'll get the impression that she's about to wring your neck.

KIDDING!!!

So KIMPURA it is because she hasn't eaten there yet and we felt that it was the best choice for Japanese in the Greenhills area.

YAY!!!

Once again, my KIMPURA loyal heart (and tummy) is happy!!!!

WOHOO!

KIMPURA baby!!!!

TORCH AGAIN (2019)

When Master Mati had his birthday celebrations for 2019, his requests were simple: we'll eat in his favorite restaurants, he'll go out with his friends, and we'll meet up with my BP (BAWAL PANGET) Group!

As always, my friends are so game so that is very to fix up!!!

HOWEVER...

We were supposed to meet up on a Saturday where everyone is available. But then, we got word that Yub's sister will be going back to the US the following week, so that meant we needed to visit his family in Quezon Province that weekend.

I told the group and sadly discovered that on Friday, Team Navarro and Team Quitoriano cannot join us because of prior commitments.

Awwwwwww... I cannot move it naman to the following weekend because we also made plans already.

When I told Master Mati that his birthday dinner was moved and that some of our friends cannot go, he was initially disappointed, but gave me his "It's okay" later on. I guess he understood the situation and also realized that what's important is we're still meeting up with some of my BP friends.

Awwww.... My big guy is really maturing na!!!!

When I asked him where he wanted to go, he said that anywhere is fine with him. So looking at places that were still geographically desirable on a Friday the Yub and I thought it should also be someplace that would close late (since it's most likely that we'll arrive late as well).

With that I suggested TORCH. I remember the great dinner I had with mareng Gail when she treated me for my birthday last year. We enjoyed the food so much that we promised to be back soon but, since TORCH wasn't connected to a mall (he he he he he), that never happened. It would be nice to bring the little lords there as well as Team Virrey because they haven't been to that restaurant near Greenhills.

So TORCH it is. And we're happy with the choice because it was the perfect venue for our group that night -- mouth-watering food at reasonable prices in a cozy ambience.

Best part too was that our Master Mati loved it!

Yay!!!!!!

TORCH RESTAURANT!!!!

THE NEW KIMPURA (GREENHILLS)

When the Yub and I were thinking of how to officially "end" Andrei's birthday celebrations for 2018, we thought that it should be somewhere special that he loved.

We already went to Baguio...
We already had a staycation in Discovery Primea...
We already spent the day in Star City....

Now where to next?

That's when I remembered that KIMPURA in Greenhills had finally opened after being closed for about 2 years. The original restaurant was taken down because of "structural development", and they were able to transfer to a new location that was still within the Greenhills commercial center.

When I asked the Androse if he's game for KIMPURA he gave a very enthusiastic and eager, "YES!!!" Kimpura was, after all, one of our favorite birthday places. Too bad lang that the rest of my family were in London so they missed the "finale" of Andrei's birthday celebrations.

Ok lang because... MORE FOR US! BWA HA HA HA!

KIMPURA!!!!

WELCOME BACK! WOHOO!!!

KIMPURA had a more sleek design with warm and soothing lighting.

PERI PERI CHARCOAL CHICKEN AND SAUCE BAR

THE YAPPY BUNCH met up with Team Virrey one Friday night for our usual food trip, chika, and coffee. You know us, when it's with good friends, it's always going to be a family affair. 

And for that night, the venue for our family bonding is in PERI PERI CHARCOAL CHICKEN AND SAUCE BAR!!!

YUMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!

KANTO FREESTYLE BREAKFAST 65 (SAN JUAN)

KANTO FREESTYLE is a popular breakfast hub that is like your favorite street tapsilogan but with loads of style. One of their earliest branches was in the kalyes of Mandaluyong where you wouldn't mind eating as tricycles roar by and pusakals meow needily around your legs -- yup, the food was THAT good! The great thing too was that besides serving "gourmet" silog plates that were very affordable, KANTO FREESTYLE was open 24 hours! Now THAT was perfect after a night of "tugs! tugs!" He he he he!

KANTO has many branches but their newest one recently opened in San Juan near the Greenhills area. It is a bit different from the gourmet-carinderia style that we have been lovingly used to, but they still serve the same delicious plates of hot and affordable food that we love.

And for us, THAT'S what matters. He he he he!

KANTO FREESTYLE BREAKFAST recently invited us to try out their dishes plus more in their cozy new branch. It's cool that their latest spot is near the Greenhills shopping area that if you're craving for some cheap, Filipino comfort food before (or after) a day of shopping, KANTO FREESTYLE BREAKFAST will be there for you.

Check out our wonderful morning that stretched all the way till afternoon. He he he he he he he!

Yep! Good food does that to us!

The Kain Tulog Gang is in KANTO FREESTYLE BREAKFAST 65!!!!

The new KANTO FREESTYLE BREAKFAST branch is located in Annapolis street in the continental court building.

YUUJIN JAPANESE CUISINE AGAIN!

The Yub and I have a new favorite when it comes to cheap yet delicious Japanese food -- YUUJIN!!! We would often pass by this house converted to a restaurant many times when going home from the office. At first we stayed away from it thinking it was expensive. But when I recently checked the menu, the prices were far from NOBU. Ha ha ha ha ha! Manageable naman. So now, whenever we have an instant craving for some simple Japanese food, we always head on straight to YUUJIN...

And then magbibiglang liko kami.

Sorry I cannot resist. We don't do that naman kasi.

:P

YUUJIN!!!

MANAM GREENHILLS

As much as I love my ugly friends (who obviously don't read my blog), there is a different kind of fun hanging out with the foodies from The Kain Tulog Gang. Besides being gorgeous (like me... bwa ha ha ha ha....), they know the great places to eat in, have a full appetite (bawal diet), plus it is already understood how we'll take pictures of our grub before eating (even if it's not a sponsored meal).

These days I don't get to see them as much as I want to because I always get out of work late and I usually have plans with my family on weekends. Good thing that one time our schedules aligned and I was able to join some of the lovely ladies of THE KTG for an early lunch. The venue for that Saturdate was in MANAM -- a popular Filipino restaurant which I haven't tried yet, that's why I'm extra excited.

We obviously had a great time that Saturday. Well that's bound to happen because you could never go wrong with gorgeous people who love good food. He he he!

For those who don't agree, there's a special place in hell for you.

:P

We're in MANAM!!!!!!

Even if we frequent Greenhills shopping mall, it's our first time to go to MANAM since it was fairly new in the area. 

And since we were really unfamiliar with the new establishment, we even went to the wrong parking area. TOINK!

KIMONO KEN GREENHILLS

One weekend THE YAPPY BUNCH went to Greenhills to meet up with the other families of our BP GROUP!

And our venue for that night was KIMONO KEN!!!!!

KIMONO KEN was pretty full that night but since we were pretty (tee hee) we able to get a table for our big group.

WILDFLOUR CAFE + BAKERY (AGAIN)

One Friday night, ERICJAZ FOODIES met up with friends Albert (the POGI CEO as I would always call him... ha ha ha) and his equally lovely wife, Suet, in Greenhills. When deciding where to go, I left him to make the choice (at baka Jollibee mapili ko.., Ha ha!!). As expected of my OC friend, he really deliberated on it and gave me numerous "candidates" for our night-out that was so long overdue na.

In the end, we went for WILDFLOUR CAFE + BAKERY, a restaurant where we had a stormy lunch in at their Podium branch. But this time, we'll mark this mini-reunion of sorts in WILDFLOUR in Greenhills. I'm sure the POGI CEO has already forgotten our gimik before in Podium (OR maybe he's reminiscing???) but I'm sure, he and dear Suet had a deja vu moment with the same comforting delicious food and the (ahem) superkaduper fun company.

Naks!!!

Check out ERICJAZ FOODIES enjoyable night with the POGI CEO couple in WILDFLOUR CAFE + BAKERY!

WILDFLOUR is located at the new O Square Building at the ground floor. To enter, you would have to go to their doors facing the Ortigas Avenue main streets.

OMAKASE (GREENHILLS)

Every year, it has been my tradition during Mother's Day to take the little lords out on a one-on-one date. We don't get to do so as much as I want to that's why it's great how this special occasion makes us really stick to it (and hopefully carry on with the tradition until they grow up so that they won't forget me... he he he he). Don't get me wrong, family outings are still the best but sometimes, it's nice to take out the boys on a date and get to know them more without the other brother. Besides making them feel special, getting them away from the family makes them open up more and just be themselves. I also take it as an opportunity to teach them how to properly behave and treat their ladies well when they go on on their own dates. Yup it's still far but you could never be prepared enough when it's the female creature you're talking about. He he he he he he he!

I know this is something that I should keep up because our dates are very memorable to the boys. When I ask Master Mati why he loves Mommy, "because she takes me on dates" is always on his list.  Here's hoping that they'll still agree to go out with me even when they're all grown up na. Huhuhu! Don't forget me please!!!!!!

For this year's Mother's Day, I'm happy that nobody was sick, had school requirements, or was somewhere for a vacation, the little lords were all at home so we were able to go on our dates as scheduled. With Andrei, nung una pakiput pa si bunsoy, but later on bumigay din (he he he he he). He asked if we could have some Japanese food and I had just the place for him...

OMAKASE!

I have often passed by this restaurant when I'm in Greenhills but we haven't eaten here as a family. That's why when Andrei requested for Japanese food, we went here! 

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.

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!