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!

BALAY DAKO (TAGAYTAY)

THE YAPPY BUNCH went to Tagaytay recently and while planning our itinerary, the Yub insisted that we try this restaurant...

BALAY DAKO!!!

I agreed quietly with him and aired my concerns about how the restaurant was ALWAYS full. In truth, I was SO eager to try BALAY DAKO but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of being the one who made the right choice.

Teee Hee! Yes I'm evil I know.

VALLE VERDE SUNDAY LUNCH

We may not go to VALLE VERDE CLUBHOUSE as much as I wanted to but it's definitely one of my favorite places to visit with the family. For one, it's like taking a trip back in time and entering a Viva Films movie circa 1980 because it seemed like they never changed their interiors (it's just the way I liked it because there's something so comforting and relaxing about their set-up). Also, they served delicious food that's still affordable (I guess that's how it really is with exclusive clubhouses with membership), that's why it never hurts our appetites (and wallets) to go back again and again. The pool is also the best too! We almost always get it all to ourselves!!

That's why when my brother Kuya Jay, who's the real member in VALLE VERDE, invited the family for Sunday lunch, I got all excited. It's been awhile since our last getogether there and I was really looking forward to having my usual favorites.

The great part too is that it's his treat! Yayyy!!!!

VALLE VERDE Clubhouse! Definitely a happy place for us!!!!!

:)

VALLE VERDE CLUBHOUSE for Sunday lunch!

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!

JAZZ UP IN THE SKY (HEROES HOTEL)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a family staycation with some of the Kain Tulog Gang at HEROES HOTEL. Come noontime, we were not really looking forward to lunch since we all just had coffee and we were relaxing in our rooms. Alas, food awaits and as much as we wanted to just be lazy our day, getting us fat is still the priority (tee hee).

Check out our unexpectedly enjoyable lunch where our not-so hungry bellies still managed to finish platters of delicious food. Yup. It's that good!

Ayayay!!  

We're in JAZZ UP IN THE SKY STEAKS AND GRILLS!!!!!!

DADDY'S FIRST YEAR IN HEAVEN

Last June was the Anniversary of my Daddyowzer's first year in Heaven. Now as much as I'm yearning to make this another dramatic post and recount the pains of how much I still miss him, I'm sure my Daddy wouldn't want us to be always crying and overlydramatic (Siguro konti lang he he he he.... He doesn't want us to be too unsentimental!). So yeah, I'll try my best to keep this as light-hearted and fun as I could (because that's the way he is).

And also like how my Dad would always prefer, his Anniversary will involve prayers and GLORIOUS FOOD!!!!!!

We started off the day with a mass offered for him....

Andrei cam!

ALTA BY RELIK AGAIN AND AGAIN

My Ate Jojit recently celebrated her 65th birthday (bwa ha ha ha ha!) and she asked where she could treat the family. My Mommy remembered how much she enjoyed our MOTHER'S DAY LUNCH and recommended ALTA BY RELIK to my senile ate (tee hee). Now that was SO fine with THE YAPPY BUNCH because we always have a delicious meal in ALTA BY RELIK everytime!

The great thing too is that my family and the VERY OLD birthday celebrant loved the food! So YAY!!!

PS. Ate Jojit, THIS is for not reading my silly little blog. Ha ha ha!

:P

We're in ALTA BY RELIK!

PAWIKAN BEACH BAR AND GRILL - ANVAYA COVE

Our staycation in ANVAYA COVE was coming to an end and even though THE YAPPY BUNCH would like to stay longer, we feel that we were able to make the most out of our family weekend in the resort.

Still, we cannot leave without one last "hurrah" with the gang. With that, we had our late lunch together with our BP (Bawal Panget) family in ANVAYA COVE!

PAWIKAN BEACH BAR AND GRILL!

There was a bit of a walk going to the PAWIKAN BEACH BAR AND GRILL. But our little ones didn't mind because it gave them more chance to play with their fellow kiddies!

MAX'S NLEX (MEXICO PAMPANGA)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were with my family and aunties for a weekend in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and going home, we thought of having a quick bite for lunch. We passed by many restaurants but for some reason, I think the Filipino population went to all the popular tourist establishments that we cannot squeeze ourselves in (yes, kahit na gano pa ako kaganda! :P). In the end, since we were all tired and hungry na din, we just went for the familiar and 100% "fosho" scale of serving delicious Filipino food...

MAX'S FRIED CHICKEN!

Yup! It's time to go for some "Sarap to the Bones!"

ALTA BY RELIK AGAIN!!!!!!

It was Mother's Day and though my super beautiful (and also smart, kind, generous, epitome of a lady, mahinhin, mabango, sees the good in everybody (but is fierce when wronged), devoted wife, dedicated mother, dependable daughter, THE BEST grandmother, loving friend, a real "ilaw ng tahanan", puts family FIRST over ANYTHING/ANYONE, truthful, has table manners of a royal, practical, simple, queen of inner beauty, etc etc.) Mommy didn't ask for anything (and even offered to pay), the Yub and I insisted on treating her out and the family for Sunday lunch (to spare her from cooking as well). When deciding where to go, she mentioned our usual restaurants in Powerplant Mall (where we'll hear mass). But we thought that it'd be nice to go somewhere new for the family to try out where it's not too crowded and the food delicious.

With that we remembered ALTA BY RELIK because the Yub and I really loved the dishes when we recently ate there with friends. It was located Santolan Mall Plaza and since it was a fairly new mall, it wouldn't be too crowded compared to the other more popular establishments out there.

So for our MOTHER'S DAY lunch, we will be at ALTA BY RELIK! Hopefully my beautiful Mommy will love the food as much as we did.  Of course, it's not as pricey, shoshal, or glamorous like the other restaurants out there. But the food was delicious and, like what my simple Mom always believes, it's the "inside" that matters.

:) 

ALTA BY RELIK!

ALTA BY RELIK had more people today than the last time we ate here but it was still fine for us. Good thing too that I called ahead for reservations.

ALTA BY RELIK

It was a holiday and ERICJAZ FOODIES scheduled a meet-up with our other KTG foodie friends.

The venue for today...

ALTA BY RELIK!!!!

(Hello there my bunsoy Andrei!)

PINK SISTERS AND JOSEPHINE RESTAURANT (TAGAYTAY CITY)

My Las Vegas Aunties (Daddy's sisters) recently had a vacation with us and one of their wishes was to go to Pink Sisters and offer prayers for my Daddy.

Since we have Daddy's sisters with us, we also thought of inviting Mom's sisters and make it a fun family outing!

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!

MAX'S RESTAURANT (QUEZON CITY)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a staycation in MERANTI HOTEL and when it was time for lunch, we were excited to learn that it was going to be in MAX'S RESTAURANT.

Sure there are other more hip places in the area that would be a more "fashionable" choice for us to feature in our silly foodie blog. But awcmown man, MAX'S is already a Filipino institution of our country's cuisine, that when it is part of the decision to be made, YOU GO FOR IT.

Yep. ALL caps are in order.

At least with MAX'S RESTAURANT, you are assured that you are going to have a helluva delicious meal. It hasn't been around for 71 years for nothing. When I was a kid, I remember that when my Dad would bring home boxes of MAX'S fried chicken, it was a happy day for us. Because not only would my Daddy bring home MAX's when he received a bonus at the office (he used to work in a multinational company) but he would also do so when he wins in the casino! Ha ha ha ha ha! Don't worry, he only played sporadically that we would even tell him "Please Daddy play more in the casino so you could bring home MAX'S Fried Chicken!"

Tee Hee! Happy memories. Nothing spells FOODIES more in the family when you encourage gambling just to get fried chicken. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

The great thing about MAX'S RESTAURANT is that even if they are so famous for their fried chicken, they would always cook up more dishes that soon became our new favorites!

So read up and drool boys. Be jealous of our ultradelicious MAX'S RESTAURANT lunch. Maybe it's high time for you to head on to MAX'S and go back to its delicious home cooked meals that it has been serving for 71 years.

ENJOY!!!!

MAX'S RESTAURANT!

MAX's RESTAURANT is brought to us by MAX's GROUP which also owned MERANTI HOTEL, the place where we're staying in for the weekend.

After settling in, we were going to walk towards MAX'S restaurant which was just next to the hotel.

And we're here!

Do you know that this is the first MAX'S branch in the Philippines?

Yup! And now it's gone a long way from its humble home in Quezon City with about 127 branches in the Philippines! Not to mention serving its famous fried chicken in the US and Canada!!!

ROVILIAZ

One weekend, the YAPPY BUNCH traveled to the South to meet up with BGP Marian, Manong Fred, dear Donna, and Kuya Mike for some great food and good times.

Now this  may also be known as....

ROVILIAZ!!

ROVILIAZ is this cozy restaurant in Betterliving Paranaque that serves delicious Filipino comfort food at very reasonable prices.

Manong Fred says that sometimes you need to make an advance order of ROVILIAZ' barbecues because they easily run out of stock come night time. 

FELY J'S KITCHEN

As much as I love meeting up with my BGP (Best Gal Pal) Marian and her husband Manong Fred, it always spells disaster to my "good on paper" diet. Don't get me wrong, I have the willpower of Justin Bieber and his quest to be irritating but when I'm faced with great company, it would always come with great appetite.

And for that night in FELY J'S all hell broke loose as we were also served with delicious Filipino food! There was really no other way to cap off the great night than by pigging out! 

FELY J'S KITCHEN!

FELY J'S is part of the popular LJC group which also brought us ABE, LORENZO'S WAY, CAFE ADRIATICO, and CAFE HAVANA to name a few. 

I was there early so I passed the time by checking out the menu. 

And heeeeeere's Ms. Fely!

LORENZO'S WAY (AGAIN)

When we have couples night with BGP Marian and Manong Fred, we usually do it in Greenbelt since they live far, far, away in the wonderful city of Paranaque. Whereas me and the Chinese Adonis, ahem, we are residents of Cutietown -- a place where the "feeling cute" converge.

Har de har har!

So during one of our numerous date nights, we thought of meeting up at LORENZO'S WAY for some hearty Filipino food just the way the LJC groups of company makes it. We have already eaten there before, (in fact "eating" may be an understatement since we really pigged out that night) but even if we loved the food so much, it is only recently that we made a return (curse you Ramen fad!!!).

And yes, it was again an awesome night! Great company and savory food from LORENZO'S WAY always result in delicious meet-ups for the feeling cute and the really cute of friends!

Naks!

Yep! No matter how different our realms are!

LORENZO'S WAY...

and somebody's thumb.

I'm sorry about the thumb. But I'm sure you know by now that ERICJAZ FOODIES is not a blog about amazing pictures. He he he he he he!

ARISTOCRAT WITH THE BP GROUP

When my friends and I recently had a MANILA DAY with our families, we decided to go all the way and have Filipino food for lunch.

And that's how THE YAPPY BUNCH came again to ARISTOCRAT.

ARISTOCRAT RESTAURANT since 1936!!!

THE YAPPY BUNCH had our INDEPENDENCE DAY lunch in this ARISTOCRAT branch 2 years ago and it was great to be back with our friends in celebration of the holiday.

ARISTOCRAT in Malate was packed that day but it was a good thing that they opened their function rooms for us hungry customers!

KANIN CLUB

KANIN CLUB is one of those restaurants that I would love to eat more of but can't. As much as I would like to include their sumptuous Sinigang Rice, Crispy Dinuguan, etc. etc. to my daily date regimen, their restaurant locations are not within our usual go-to areas that we often find ourselves just promising to go there but never do.

Lo and behold! When my nephew Chuckie was visiting the Philippines for a major food trip, he mentioned he was craving for some Crispy Pata, Kare Kare, and Dinuguan, that KANIN CLUB immediately came to mind! We were all tired and hungry from our hot day in ENCHANTED KINGDOM and there would be nothing more comforting than jamming up all these Filipino favorites down our throats. Great thing that there was a branch of KANIN CLUB on our way home that it was indeed a unanimous decision to have our dinner there.

KANIN CLUB again. FINALLY.

And all is great again in my hungry world.

He he he he he!

KANIN CLUB!

It was our first time in KANIN CLUB at Filinvest City and like its other branches, the place was packed!

We were about 10th in line but the little lords didn't mind. They were comfortably (and lazily) going on at the rocking chairs.

Of course, only until a Senior person comes by and need to sit down. 

MY OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY (PART 2)

For the part 2 of my OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY blog, allow me to be superficial for just one moment:

Yes we are so thankful to be working at a company that has been so good at what it's doing for more than 35 years...

Yes we are happy that we are in an office where everyone treat each other as family.....

Yes we are so grateful to be in a company who has the most generous President who also believes in "giving back" to the needy and less fortunate....

Yes we are so blessed to be in TAPE Inc., for so long because we truly love and believe in what we are a part of. We just know that we will be loyal for another 35 years more because every day  we are inspired to do better for the community and share a laugh at the same time....

(NOW comes the superficial part)

BUT for our OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY 2014, I only had ONE thing in mind....

THE RAFFLE!!!

Of course, I wouldn't go into specifics just how fun our raffle is but like I said in the earlier post, everybody has a rocking good time in it no matter how high their position is in TAPE Inc. Nobody is allowed to waive or give away what he/she has won so we all have fighting chance in getting the much desired "pot" for the night.

Now, I have been in TAPE INC., for about 7 years and I'm hoping that this would be the Christmas party where I would go home happier than usual. You see, I'm not really lucky at raffles. I remember that in a Christmas Party for another office, I won a water bucket!!!!!! Yes! A friggin water bucket! Ha ha ha ha! It doesn't get any weirder than that!

Oh well. They did say that those who are lucky in love are unlucky in raffles. But for that party I was secretly pleading and praying I don't score tonight with BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH and just win something from the major raffle. It doesn't matter what it is but I don't want to go home empty handed like in our other parties!

So PRETTY PLEASE with sugar, cherry, and even THOR, on top! Let TONIGHT be THE NIGHT!

Now what will be in store for US in this OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY for 2014???

So after wearing green, purple, and red (my lucky colors) in other Christmas Parties, I heeded the advice of Ms. Josie and donned a polka dot blouse! She said, it gave her luck in our last Anniversary Party!

We were having our office Christmas party in SAMPAGUITA GARDENS and about to wrap up the minor raffle.