SHAKE SHACK (PHILIPPINES)

It was a holiday and even if my mindset was to stay in bed the whoooooole day and just watch Netflix, the Yub naman was determined to go out.

E DI LUMABAS KANG MAG-ISA MO!

Tee Hee! Kidding!

I agreed later on because the Master Mati had a sleepover while the bunsoy Andrei went out with his Lola (yes, he'd rather go out with her than us). When deciding where to go, the Yub said we should try out SHAKE SHACK.

ANAK NG.... HAVE YOU SEEN THE LINES THERE???!!!!!

Sometimes I really don't get how my husband's mind works (especially when he goes for the weird choice). One thing I could say though: if he feels strongly about something he would stick to it no matter what the cost.

I'm sure you have an idea as to how bratty I could be but that is nothing to the Yub when he's hell bent on something. You'd think that he's a horse wearing blinders.

So to SHAKE SHACK we went and even if there were long lines, my Yub was adamant to stay.

In the end, I'm thankful because at least we were able to try out this popular burger franchise in the US. At the same time I realized that waiting is not really hard when you have a loving asungot with you.

TEE HEE.....

BLECH.

We're in SHAKE SHACK!!!!

GREEN PASTURES AGAIN

The last time the Chinese Panget and I were in GREEN PASTURES in Shangrila Mall was when I treated the mareng Gail for her birthday about 3 years ago. The food was delish and we had no qualms in coming back. However, we don't go to Shangrila Mall as much as we used to because of the traffic situation and there were other venues closer to our house.

Fast forward to a night last summer when Team Campo, Pogi CEO couple, and ERICJAZ FOODIES were planning where to meet for our Thursday dinner. After much deliberation, we ended up in GREEN PASTURES, well mostly because the POGI CEO was going to give us our pasalubongs from Japan and we were at his mercy. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Mahal pa naman sa GREEN PASTURES! Che!

Seriously though, it was a great choice for our couples night getogether -- the food was delicious and the place had a nice vibe to it.  We already know that it was going to be a fun meet-up because we could chat about anything non-stop. But if you put great food (healthy one at that) in the equation then it will surely be an awesome and successful night.

Successful kasi we got pasalubongs!! Yay!

Now I want to go back here. He he he he he!

We're in GREEN PASTURES!!!!!

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.

A CHILI'S DINNER FOR THE CHINESE DIMPOL

It's the Chinese Dimpol's weeklong birthday celebration and though the little lords cannot join us (being a school day and nearing exam week), I thought of giving him a simple treat at one of our favorite restaurants...

CHILI'S!!!!

To be honest though, this was not really supposed to be a full-blown birthday night (especially that it's a weekday and the boys are not with us). It's more like a He-Picked-Me-Up-From-Work-Now-We-Need-To-Eat somewhere type of thing. But since it's his birthday week, and it's more likely the boys are already asleep (I get out of work late), HE gets to choose where we'll go and what we'll do (baka gusto niya tumingin ng dibidi... He he he he he he!). When he chose CHILI'S, I'm so go na go!!!! Yun lang, I already ate because of our production meeting, but still, it's ALWAYS fun at CHILI'S!!!!!!

And what do you know?

THE FOOD ALPHABET family is here!!!!!

When we got to our table, I was about to ask the receptionist if we could go to the other side (for privacy kuno) but then we head the familiar greetings of THE FOOD ALPHABET family, kaya we're staying put here!!!!!

We joined up our tables! Instant gimik night! WOHOOOOOO!!!!!

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!

APPLEBEE'S (EASTWOOD)

APPLEBEE'S recently opened its 2nd Philippine branch in Eastwood, Quezon City, and the foodies in the area can't be happier. FINALLY, they have one of America's favorite restaurants that serves hearty salads, pastas, steaks, and most especially, their signature dish, the riblets, closer at this side of the Metro.

As for me and the Chinese Dimpol, even if we live in the area of "Upside Down" (tee hee), we don't mind going the distance to get a taste of the food from the restaurant that we have been hearing AND seeing for many years. Yup! We have tried (BLANK) and (BLANK) restaurants but we could never get away from the familiarity and presence of APPLEBEES from the shows/movies we watch or from the drool worthy advertisements in cable TV. So yes, we're REALLY going. And to learn that an APPLEBEE'S branch is so near the place I work in is like cherry on top of a huuuuge sundae for me --- suhweet!

So for those who think that BGC is like the edge of the world, REJOICE! We now have APPLEBEE's in Eastwood, Quezon City to keep you company when you're needing to have platters of your favorite American comfort food.

And you don't really need to follow confusing red and green colored lights to get to it. Just look for their big and white apple and you are SO good to go!

APPLEBEE'S! WOHOOO!

The big apple is now in Eastwood!

OF WEIRDNESS AND CHILI'S P999 CRAZY DEAL!!!!

One Tuesday, I was tasked to buy something for work in the Greenbelt area. With that, I left the office early to head out to Makati because knowing the traffic situation these days, I might get to the store at midnight. On the way there, I decided to call BGP Marian and Manong Fred to join me for dinner with the Chinese Adonis (who was going to pick me up after my company driver leaves). Of course the first question that came forth right after I belted out the invitation was....

Where are we going to eat???

Though we have a lot of favorites in Greenbelt, Makati City, there was only one clear candidate that night -- CHILI's!!! It has forever been the favorite of me and the Chinese Dimpol's because it's where we met (yuk). And since I introduced it to BGP Mariane and Manong Fred (as an alternative to another favorite, TGIFRIDAYS), it has been on the top of their list as well.

Of course, one of the factors why we were raring to go to CHILI'S on a weekday is their P999.00 promo. Would you believe that for that affordable price,  we could share one (1) tasty appetizer and two (2) full-size entrees????

Yuh - uh... And THIS crazy deal was available for Mondays to Fridays!

So since it was a Tuesday....

CHILI'S is coming....

in our bellies!!!!!!!!!

YEAH!!!

CHILI'S DELICIOUS NEW CRAFT BURGERS!!!!!

I don't think I could stress enough how much ERICJAZ FOODIES love CHILI'S. Well for one, it WAS where the Chinese Dimpol and I first met via a blind date. And two, the taste and the quality of the food haven't changed since the day the restaurant opened it's doors to us. Yep!!! Unlike the franchises that have opened (some already closed) in the Philippines, CHILI'S has deliciously maintained the servings and awesomeness of their food. The Chinese Dimpol and I cannot have enough of it! We just HAVE to eat at CHILI'S not just to relive that first date (blech) but to get a dose of SUPER SULIT American/Mexican dishes as well!!!!

That is why when CHILI'S invited ERICJAZ FOODIES to try out their new craft burgers, we did not waste a minute (no a second) into making up our minds that WE WILL BE GOING. Add to that, an opportunity to hang out again with my favorite foodie group, THE KTG (Kain Tulog Gang) --- this is something we CANNOT miss for sure!!!

And we definitely DIDN'T!!!! It was a great night of KTG, good vibes, and UNFORGETTABLE juicy burgers from CHILI'S!!!

Yep! With CHILI's, more life SURELY happens here!

CHILI'S!!!!

It may be a weeknight, but CHILI'S Tomas Morato was jampacked!!!!!

MY LES MISERABLES DATE WITH MOMMY!

For many years now I have this tradition with my Mom that if there's a popular Broadway musical that will be shown in the Philippines, we will DEFINITELY watch it!

We have seen "Mamma Mia", "Wicked", "Rock of Ages", "Saturday Night Live", and "Phantom of the Opera" among others. And we still want MORE.

So you could just imagine MY eagerness when I got word that LES MISERABLES will be showing in Solaire!

Inangkupu!

To say that I love LES MISERABLES is an understatement. I am actually VERY OBSESSED with it! At work, I would listen to the 10th Anniversary concert (with Colm Wilkinson) while typing reports and I would sometimes choke up and cry at the touching lyrics. YES! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY!!!! AT WORK!

I told my Mom that I will be treating her for LES MISERABLES and bought tickets (with the help of my friend Albert using his Visa card) as early as last year. I really rushed to get ahead and buy at the first week of ticket selling because I wanted to get the best possible seats for the section that is financially manageable for me (he he he he he).

And we were successful!  Wohoo!

I loved EVERY MINUTE of LES MISERABLES! Even if some of the songs were not done as the original, I was still floored by the whole show. It was indeed worth every peso and I would watch it again if given the chance.

Of course, the best part of watching LES MISERABLES is having my Mommy as my date. I really cherish the times when we have one-on-one night-outs but since there is a lot going on in our lives right now, we cannot do so as much as we wanted to. In fact, our LES MISERABLES date was in danger of being cancelled because my Mom is not used to be apart from my Dad's side! Good thing I pulled the "Nobody wants to buy your ticket!" spiel to my Mom so she had no choice but to go. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Oh well!

Bottom line is, we all had a great night and we had a much needed "Mommy-bunsoy" alone time.

And there is no other person I'd go "On My Own" with.

So. There.

Solaire Hotel!

We were early to watch LES MISERABLES!!!!!

AN UNFORGETTABLE ANTIPOLO BARBECUE

Even if my boys Mati and Andrei are quite big already, I still have separation anxiety from them. Let's just say  I cannot bear having the little lords sleepover at another place! Once, Mati had a week long vacation at my brother's house and I thought to myself "never again!" It's not that I didn't trust the people he's with. In fact, Mati was very well taken cared for by my brother's family and they seriously fattened him up! Ha ha ha ha!

Oh well! Maybe that's just me being me. I remember that up to Grade School I would have trouble staying at my aunt's place that one time, I asked my Mom to pick me up in the middle of the night because I got so homesick. I guess all my attachment at being together stems from my strong belief that "Home is Where the Heart Is". I'm at my happiest when I'm with my family: my parents, my brothers and sister who bully me, and now the Chinese Adonis, and the little lords. So with that, it's no wonder why it's quite unbearable for me if somebody from my new family is away since it's like a part of my heart is incomplete. Seriously.

Before our trip to the US, my brother Kuya Jay planned a sleepover in his house in Antipolo with the little lords and my Ate Jojit.  I really did not want to let them but the boys and sister were persistent. So fine. I packed their bags and gave a checklist on what they should use and where they'll find it.

I haven't even finished with their other bags (I packed about 3 including a bag filled with snacks) when they rushed to our vehicle going to Antipolo. You might even say that they didn't want to risk saying good bye to me since I might change my mind. So I went out and said my farewell to them while they gave me these forced smiles. Ha ha ha ha!

Let us go already!!!

Well if the little lords think that they have already escaped from their "ultra lovable" Mommy (tee hee), they thought wrong! Kuya Jay and his wife Karen invited us for a barbecue underneath the stars. Normally the Chinese Adonis and I would turn down invites on Saturdays since it's our date night and all. But the words BARBECUE and LITTLE LORDS sprang to mind so we cancelled any other plans.

We were invading Antipolo and the boys TONIGHT.

Yub and his shaken, not stirred, martini... :P

And it's all thanks to our ANTIPOLO BARBECUE!!!!