ITALIANNI'S WITH MATI (UPTOWN MALL) (2021)

Every VALENTIMES, I always plan a date with my sons. Of course, it's fun to go out as a whole family during this day of hearts but I find that spending quality one-on-one time with your son is also needed. You'll find that they'll tend to behave differently without the brother/aka enemy. Tee hee! I've made it a tradition and I hope the boys do it even when they're adults na.

Usually it's just US with the driver for that definite alone time. This year however, we planned to do it on a night where it was our driver's day off. So who's the next best choice???

THE YUBHUB! Aba syempre... Drayber sweet lover din yan!!!!!

When asked where he felt like going, Mati answered that he's in the mood for some good ol' Italian food. With that, we went to our current favorite, ITALIANNI's!!! Not only does the restaurant serve delicious pasta, pizza, and complimentary bread, BUT, they also have a 50% off promo! Yay!

(Jaz of 2023 - not anymore... bwa ha ha ha ha ha)

Don't you just love Mati for sensing that?? It may be the reason why he chose ITALIANNI'S in the first place!

That's my boy!!!

We're going to ITALIANNIS!

Malamig Yub???

ITALIANNI'S BGC AGAIN (2020)

Once again we are out and about in BGC on a Saturday, and once again we will be planning to eat at our "flavor of the month," ITALIANNI'S. This time though my big guy joined us because he got "inggit" with how happy we were in last week's lunch with Andrei.

I don't blame him because we really had a lot of great food that time. I'm sure with this family lunch, we'll have another awesome lunch!

And that we did!

ITALIANNI'S!!!!

OUR NEW ITALIANNI'S BGC EXPERIENCE

Saturday is fast becoming our BGC day because it's somewhere we could all go to have a change in scenery, enjoy food-trippings, and have some good ol' family quality time.

That day though we were on a mission to eat at ITALIANNI'S. We read that Citibank had a promo where the total bill is cut down to 50%. You know naman us, always on a budget so we couldn't (and wouldn't) let a deal this good pass us by.

Plus, we love Italian food so this is PERFEK!!!!!  

ITALIANNI'S!!!!

ITALIANNI'S RESORTS WORLD MANILA (2020)

Once upon a time before the pandemic....

THE YAPPY BUNCH met up with our Bawal Panget Group in ITALIANNI'S RESORTS WORLD MANILA. We were all excited for our Italian dinner because the whole gang was complete to celebrate dear Gem's birthday. He he he he he!

As for me, I'm also VERY excited to do some serious carbo loading. ITALIANNI'S has been one of my favorite Italian restaurants here in the Philippines and it's been a while since I've been there last. So yeah... I will definitely be there!

And my tummy and chika powers are super ready!!!!!!

ITALIANNI'S!!!!

CIBO WITH THE BUNSOY

One Sunday, our little guys were rejoicing because they didn't have classes the next day. With that, the Yub and I invited them to go out (since we don't have date nights with the boys as much as we wanted to) to go to our favorite Powerplant Mall.

Master Mati bowed out because he'd stay with his Lola since my brother is going to Greenhills. (I'm sure my big guy also plans on using the computer as well). Traitor!!!!

So it's just me, the Yub, and our baby bunsoy who'll go out. When deciding where to go though, we all made pompyang to help us choose. I won our little hand game but I realized that we should just go for wherever Andrei wanted to have dinner. Even if I'd rather go here or there, I know that what would make my night is making the bunso happy. I'm sure if you're a parent you'd agree that your child's happiness is your happiness na din.

So with that, we ended up in CIBO. Normally I would rejoice but I just had Italian food the day before. Kaya, ick!

It's okay! Seeing my baby bunsoy's excited face made the repetition of cuisine worth it. Great thing too that CIBO never fails to cook up delicious dishes that I STILL had a wonderful dinner in the end.

Yooo to the HOO!!!!! 

CIBO!!!!

LA VITA ITALIA IN MARCO POLO HOTEL

Sunday is sacred for family days and I could not imagine spending the last day of the weekend without them. It is also on this day that the Yub and I usually plan something special with the little guys (we have always stressed the importance of Sundays for family and made sure to always reserve the day only for them). That's why when MARCO POLO MANILA invited ERICJAZ FOODIES and the boys for the LA VITA ITALIA buffet in CUCINA, we were excited that we will enjoy it as a family. The great thing too is that besides being back again in the "hands" of Forbes Travel Guide's 5-Star Awardee, MARCO POLO MANILA, we will also get to meet world champion of pizza acrobatics Chef Pasqualino Barbasso and taste his creations.

Of course, THE YAPPY BUNCH is fine anywhere as long as we're together. But if you add to the mix authentic Italian pizza, pizza making lessons for the kiddies, and pizza acrobatics by a world champion, (not to mention CUCINA'S popular buffet serving fresh and mouth watering dishes), THEN, WE. ARE. SO. SOLD.

Heck, I'll even desert the kids for that! He he he he! Family Shmamily.

That's a 180-degree turn for you.

OH I'M KIDDING.

See what delicious food does to us?

Check out our buon appetito Sunday lunch in CUCINA, MARCO POLO HOTEL, and see how you too could have the same authentic Italian experience!!!

THE YAPPY BUNCH spent the first day of the Ber months in CUCINA!!!

AMARE LA CUCINA AGAIN (2019)

It was Mother's Day and I invited the family to honor THE BEST MOTHER THERE IS, my Mommy!!!!!!

Sunday mass!

For that Sunday I made reservations in AMARE LA CUCINA, a restaurant that we loved in Baguio. We're happy that they have a branch here now.

LA PIAZZA RISTORANTE ITALIANO (OKADA HOTEL)

The family was having a weekend staycation at OKADA MANILA HOTEL and for dinner plans, we made reservations in LA PIAZZA RISTORANTE ITALIANO.

We're going to have Italian tonight!!!

CIBO POWERPLANT MALL (2019)

Many months ago, I celebrated my 44TH este 34th birthday, and as expected we're going to have dinner that night!!!

Before, we would usually go out as a family for birthdays. But since my brother moved somewhere far, far, away, and my sister would sometimes go out of town with her husband, we would usually schedule our birthday treat during family Sunday lunch.

So since it's only going to be THE YAPPY BUNCH, Kuya Jon, and my Mom for tonight, where should we go?????

I was sooooo tempted to treat them to Kimpura (our favorite) since the bill would be more manageable without the other asungots (he he he he he) but then we decided it's better to just stick to the mall nearest to us (Powerplant Mall) since my birthday falls on a day where heavy traffic was expected.

I then remembered how much I was craving for pasta. With that, our automatic choice became CIBO!!!!!! Yayyy!!!! No objections there because EVERYBODY from the family loves CIBO.

Oh THAT, and if somebody requests for something else, I'll use it as excuse to make them pay for it.

YAAAAAYYYYY again! Tee heee!

Kidding!  

CIBO!!!!!!

NONNA'S PASTA AND PIZZERIA (ROBINSON'S GALLERIA)

Remember the time when I won loads of Robinson's GCs in our EAT BULAGA Christmas party?

Well I haven't used a peso from it because I don't really go to Robinson's malls that much.

One night however, enough was enough. I told the Yub that we have been putting off buying him "brips" because we wanted to save money by using the GCs. So we braved the Saturday traffic in Ortigas to go to Robinson's Galleria and shop our brains out.

You should have seen us in the department store -- gone were the faces that would mentally calculate the total and subtract it from our budget, we got everything we wanted.

If Andrei liked this black polo, put it in the basket.
If the Mati asked for socks, put it in the basket.
Remembering that we needed new pans, put it in the basket.
There's 50% off in granny knickers, put it the basket.
There's extra extra small brips for the Yub, PUT IT IN THE BASKET.

Whatever my guys fancied, they could get. The sky was their frikkin limit (below P24,000 of course). 

He he he he he he he he!!!!

All that shopping made us all hungry. With that, we marched over to the restaurant that we've been wanting to try in Robinson's -- NONNA'S PASTA AND PIZZERIA.

I have actually been to NONNA'S before when I gave the Yub a surprise birthday party for his 40th birthday. We all loved the food and promised to return but their Nuvali branch was just so far from where we lived.

Good thing that NONNA'S opened in Robinson's Galleria because the Yub and I wanted the boys to try it out. You know us, when we had an enjoyable experience, we'd immediately share it with our boys.

Come to think of it, our dinner at NONNA'S motivated me more to go to Robinsons than the GCs because that was the night when I was craving for some pasta! He he he he he he!!!!

Oh well. Everybody happy. It's great too that we had a lot of GCs left so that means we have another excuse to go to Robinsons Galleria..... and NONNA'S!

NONNA'S PASTA AND PIZZERIA!!!!!!!

ITALIANNI'S BGC WITH OUR DOGGIES

We promised the bunsoy baby Andrei that when he was super behaved and when the time was right, we will take out his little doggies. He has been begging us to have a doggie outing for sooooooo long but were not able to do so because our weekends are usually full with other family plans. The only probable day for us was on a Sunday but we always put it off because there's school and work the next day.

Finally, the Yub and I decided to have a spontaneous outing with our boys and doggies. Of course, being the model parents that we are (he he he he he), we made Andrei "suffer" first -- we made him eat a lot of veggies (which he really hated. ha ha ha!), we made him take a long nap (he would rather play drums but he followed), and he became our mini-"servant" ("Andrei, get us water, with ice, now na!" KIDDING!!!). He he he he he!!!

That Sunday night, we finally went out with our doggies, Cable and Penny, to Bonifacio High Street. Truth be told, I was a little excited because it was Cable's first time out.

And like before, gimik with the doggies was very fun. Of course, it was a bit tiring (when we arrived Cable threw up while Penny pooped and I cleaned all of it!!), but the laughs coming from Andrei and seeing our cutie doggies all happy just made it all worth it.

And syempre, we ended our night pa with a delicious meal at ITALIANNI'S!

Yehessss!!!

Our night out with Cable and Penny!!!!!!

Just so you now:

1) I'm not preggers. I'm just FAT.

2) The paper bag I'm carrying have our doggie essentials. So useful when Cable threw up and Penny made poopy.

3) When I cleaned up their mess, the Yub was parking while Andrei held on to their leash. I'm sure if he was there, he'd help. BUT nanandya our doggies when it's just me!!!! 

3) Kuya Mati didn't join us because he'd rather go to Greenhills with his Tito Jon.

4) The doggies were so raring to run around when this picture was taken.

ITALIANNI'S AND THE BGP IS BACK!!

If you've been following my silly little online journal (ay kawawa ka naman hija!!!) you would know that 2017 was a very hard year for me.

For one, I lost my Dad, so life will never be complete again. Secondly, my Best Gal Pal (or BGP) Mariane discovered she had breast cancer while on a vacation in the US so she stayed there much longer than expected for her treatment.

Imagine expecting your best friend to be gone for only 2 months then learning that you wouldn't see her for more than a year? Ayayay!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a very difficult time for both of us because we cannot be for each other during those painful moments. During my Dad's wake, she was undergoing different examinations for her condition. At times when I wanted to pour out my heart-aches to her (as I would often do), I'd hesitate because I didn't want to burden her further (though she said it was okay). Hay. We may always talk on viber and messenger, but it was not the same and I wished for her return ASAP. I just consoled myself with the fact that it didn't matter how long she stays there as long as she's getting better. 

Though it was so hard to be away from each other during that painful time, I guess it just made our bond closer. We may have been thousands of miles away but we still felt each other's love and concern. You may say that it just made our BGP-hood stronger and really eternal. It's indeed proven that we're best friends in good and bad times, no matter the distance.

When she told me that she's finally cancer-free, hay naku! It was such a happy day! We were laughing and crying at the same time. FINALLY!!! Her Dad overhead us talking and he said "Ayan, magkikita na kayo ng best friend mo!" We were like college girls who got so kilig at the thought.

So finally she arrived but not at the date I was expecting: She and her hub Manong Fred didn't tell me that they are actually going home at an earlier date because they wanted to surprise me with the Chinese Dimpol as their accomplice.  

But I guess we were such BGP's that malayo pa lang I already saw her!!

LAS CASAS DINNER 2018 ( LA BELLA TEODORA )

My family and aunts were in LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR for our family summer trip and when deciding where to eat, the only restaurant that came up was LA BELLA TEODORA.

THE YAPPY BUNCH already had dinner here before in our last trip in LAS CASAS, and remembered how much we loved the food. The dishes are on the pricey side though but I guess the overall experience added on the expense. He he he he!

So I suggested LA BELLA TEODORA and my family agreed. I made reservations and hoped that they would enjoy the food as much as my little family did before (otherwise, they'll wring my cute neck).

In the end, our dinner in LA BELLA TEODORA made it a wonderful night LAS CASAS. Not just the food but also the service, the atmosphere, and the music. Yes the music.

Check out our enjoyable dinner with all the feels at LA BELLA TEODORA!

We're going Italian this Saturday night!

SALVATORE CUOMO AGAIN

It was Master Mati's birthday weekend and after having a staycation at our favorite F1 HOTEL MANILA, we thought of going Italian that night at SALVATORE CUOMO!

Yehess!!!!

It was a Sunday and there were many diners that night in SALVATORE CUOMO!

AMARE LA CUCINA ( KAPITOLYO PASIG CITY )

When THE YAPPY BUNCH was in Baguio City for Andrei's pre-birthday celebration, we had a delicious Italian dinner in AMARE. Andrei had so much fun there that he wanted to eat in the restaurant for the rest of our stay. Of course, as much as we love him, nakakaawa naman ang milyong kilometro na nilakbay namin for Baguio.  Ha ha ha ha ha!

Good thing we discovered that AMARE LA CUCINA recently opened a branch in Kapitolyo, Pasig Cityyyyy! Hurraaaaay! At least we don't have to travel A MILLION miles just for our bunsoy Andrei to have a taste of it.

And when we were having the bunsoys MANY birthday celebrations, he really made sure to include AMARE LA CUCINA in the list!!!! 

AMARE LA CUCINA!

AMARE in Barrio Kapitolyo is brighter than its Baguio counterpart.

AMICI GREENHILLS 2017

My BP Group has been very busy lately that meeting up was next to impossible. Good thing that BB Aning invited us all to have dinner to celebrate my godson Jelo's birthday and she wouldn't take no for an answer (demanding!!!). 

The venue for that night was one of my favorites...

AMICI!!!!

AMARE WOODFIRE BRICK OVEN PIZZA (BAGUIO CITY)

Before our trip to BAGUIO, I was already checking out online recommendations on which restaurants to go to. Of course, as much as we want to visit the popular places, we have to consider if the food will be appetizing for the little lords and if prices were affordable for for us.

My friend BAON FLAT LAYS was in BAGUIO the week before our trip and I saw the places she went to with her family. One restaurant particularly caught my eye because it let their younger diners make their own pizzas. When I asked her about the food she said it was delicious.

Now I'm sold!!!!

With that, the Yub and I really included AMARE WOODFIRE BRICK OVEN PIZZA in our itinerary. We just know that our bunsoy, whose pre-birthday were celebrating, will have a great time.

And we were SO right! 

AMARE WOODFIRE BRICK OVEN PIZZA!

AMARE was located inside a mall and there was a line for the available tables.

There were tables outside but since this was our first time, we wanted to have some AMBIYENSSSSS!

MY HUSBAND'S SURPRISE PARTY at NONNA'S!!!

How to throw a successful surprise birthday party?

I have given about 20 plus surprise parties but I still get excited every time I plan for one. For me, it's because each celebrant and situation is different so there is always a new kind of fun in every party.

And to think, this time the VIP for the day is the Chinese Dimpol -- my Yub, my boyfriend for life, my Captain Maharlika, my husband. This night should be special and it should be ALL ABOUT HIM.

So while planning Yub's surprise birthday party, I could think of many tips and points, but the most important thing I have have to remember is that I should do a lot of acting!!!!

Yep! That's where I put my frustrated theater skills to use. Not only would I act so convincingly but I would also create a back story (with props) to really throw off the celebrant.

I'll share more as I go on. Though this was a simple event, it was a loooong and well-oiled process to make everything perfect. Nothing is more gratifying than seeing the celebrant getting shocked then giving the sweetest and most happy laugh afterwards.

Now THAT is always my favorite part.

As for the Chinese Dimpol, the ever deadma-boy, he gave a very stunned and dazed reaction. He really can't believe what was happening. He didn't know what to say! Yayyy!!! But all throughout the night, you would feel his joy, his gratitude, and his excitement at seeing his good old true friends. And one thing's for sure, we were all feeling the love at celebrating somebody's special 4-0 party. It was really an unforgettable night for him and for all of us!

What a very successful night!!! Happy Birthday Chinese Adonis! You are so loved!

YIIIII to the HIIIIIIIII!

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY YUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you may ask, why DID I throw my husband a party? I just thought that it was high time for him to spend a night out with his favorite childhood friends (whom he rarely meets up with) at this momentous time in his life. 

To think that during my 40th birthday, he didn't do anything AT ALL. Yup! Not a thing. But even if I'm past that already, I thought of using that reason in throwing him off for his 40th. Early February, I was already telling him, "Yub, ikaw na bahala sa birthday mo. I WON'T DO ANYTHING since that's what you did for my 40th".

But really, it was just an alibi to program his mind how nothing will happen on his birthday.

Or so he thought!

CIBO FOR MY 42ND BIRTHDAY (2017)

When I was asked by my friends how I wanted to celebrate my birthday with them, I only had request...

For everyone to be there.

(Well I also requested for Villa Escudero, but yippy skip, plans went pffftttt).

Anywho, given the choice, no couples night or ladies only gimik for me. I would always be ultra happy with my friends and seeing my little lords having fun with their other good buddies as well.

So really, even if Villa Escudero didn't push through, I still had an awesome birthday with the people whom I also treat like family. More so that we had it in one of my favorite restaurants in Powerplant Mall, CIBO!!!!

Wala sa Villa Escudero niyan!!!!!!!!!!

CIBO!!!!

Wohooo!!! I'm having my 32nd birthday (ahem) with my favorite Italian food!

FESTA ITALIANA AT CUCINA

MARCO POLO HOTEL is celebrating the bold flavors of Italy with FESTA ITALIANA! From June 7 to 18, 2017, feast on the mouth-watering dishes prepared by award-winning guest chef Andrea Delzanno from Marco Polo Hong Kong.

And that's what we just did!!!

ERICJAZ FOODIES were able to indulge and savor these delectable Italian favorites served for a limited time in CUCINA. We felt so happy that we almost posted a selfie with the caption #blessed (inangku) because Chef Delzanno's creations were all molto delizioso. Not only that, we also got to satisfy our cravings with CUCINA'S buffet spread.

Check out our fun night with MARCO POLO's Italian feast plus MORE below!!!  

FESTA ITALIANA in CUCINA!!!!

ERICJAZ FOODIES are with our KTG mates The Food Alphabet and Frannywanny!!!!