OOMA WITH THE GUYS (2018)

It was Friday and THE YAPPY BUNCH will meet up for dinner somewhere in Rockwell. We were having Master Mati's birthday celebrations so I asked him what he felt like having.

Mati: "I'm in the mood for Japanese food Mommy but not in (blank)."

Me: "Okay. How about in (blank)?"

Mati: "No Mommy. The (blank) there is my former (blank)."

Me: "Hala di nga?!!! Sabihin mo si (blank) ay naging pang(blank) mong (blank)???"

Mati: "Yes Mommy. And you know what?? (blank) is the real (blank) of (blank)!!!!!"

Me: "AY SUSMIO!!!"

(I'm sure you know that some aspects in this conversation are not true anymore (he he he he he) and that we're just pulling each other's leg. Yep. Gutom lang yan.)

To make a long story short, we ate in OOMA because my big guy was in the mood for a different kind of Japanese food --  and we're glad we did because everything was wiped out!!! My birthday guy is happy.

My guys enjoyed the food at OOMA so much that they immediately asked when we could go back there again.

Me: "Soon anak. Let's go back on (blank)."

(He he he he! Baka may sumama pa. KIDDING!)

:p

OOMA!!!!!

SUMO SAM (POWER PLANT MALL)

The Chinese Dimpol picked me up from work one night and since it was summer vacation, we thought of kidnapping bunsoy Andrei as well to join us. We called him and he gave us an eager yes. He was getting bored at home and didn't mind waiting a bit just to go to Powerplant Mall.

While we were deciding where to eat, he gave a very enthusiastic suggestion of "Japanese food!" He doesn't like anything else daw -- just Japanese!

Aba! Namili pa ang loko. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Sya na nga ang sabit!!!

KIDDING!!! We always ask the boys where to eat first.

When we got to Powerplant Mall, we all decided to check out the new wing and saw SUMO SAM. It was more like a chic diner and sported a vibrant look compared to before that it caught my bunsoys attention.

"Mommy, let's eat there na lang!"

Okay fine. I was totally craving for something else but we're going to SUMO SAM! That's the life of a Mom and Dad! He he he he he!

In the end though, we all had fun because we were all laughing and just enjoying the night. Syempre, eagle-eyed Andrei noticed it.

"See? Good thing we ate here! I made a right choice kasi!"

Aba, pinuri pa ang sarili ng loko. Ha ha ha ha ha!!

OH I'M KIDDING!

Anyway, just goes on to show that (even if it's a trivial comparison) Mommies and Daddies would always be behind the choices of their kids. And whatever they choose, it's always going to be an enjoyable experience because they're all together.

Yup! The life of a Mom and Dad! He he he he!

OOPS. I forgot about Mati! May anak pa pala kaming isa!

:P

SUMO SAM!

SUMO SAM in the new wing of Powerplant mall is more casual than the old one.

YABU SATURDATE (POWERPLANT MALL)

The plan for that Saturday was the Chinese Dimpol, Master Mati and I will go watch a movie because the bunsoy Andrei said wished to go with his Lolo (RIP) and Lola. Unfortunately, my parents' gimik that night got cancelled so Andrei was left by his lonesome. He asked if he could watch the movie with us but unfortunately, we're going to watch something PG-13.

So what to do?

Since Andrei seemed so wawa that he'll be left home, I asked the Chinese Dimpol if he could cancel my ticket so my bunsoy and I could just have a date night. The Yub grumbled then agreed adding that he and Master Mati could have a bro night too (maybe it dawned on him that mababawasan gastos niya! Ha ha ha ha ha).

With that my bunsoy and I had a lovely pre-Mother's Day date night. But, unlike what I wished would happen, we went to HIS dinner of choice -- YABU!

It's okay. I'm sure most mothers will agree that as long as our kids are happy, we're happy.

Surely helped too that I loved YABU as well! Har de har har!

Andrei and I are going on a date night!!!!!

While the Yub and Master Mati are watching a movie, we'll be shopping, going around, and having dinner at YABU. 

My bunsoy then asked if we could have some Salmon Sushi for a pre-date snack.

GAME!

COCO ICHIBANYA DATE WITH MATI

For so long Master Mati and I have been planning to eat in COCO ICHIBANYA. But since it's not located in Powerplant Mall and we have two party poopers who dislike curry, it's been put off many times.

Finally during the Mother's Day week (yes, it's a week for me... ha ha ha ha ha ha!), Master Mati thought of taking me out for our yearly Mother's Day date. And naturally, the choice for us that night was the long awaited COCO ICHIBANYA!!!

YAHOONESS!!!!  

My date is here!!!!

We went straight to COCO ICHIBANYA in Greenhills.

ICHIBA JAPANESE MARKET (RESORT'S WORLD)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are having a staycation in BELMONT HOTEL, and for dinner, it was decided that we'll do a bit of travel for some delicious Japanese food!

Nooo... We're not actually in Osaka! He he he he he! But yes, we traveled (by foot!!!!) from our hotel to Resorts World for ICHIBA JAPANESE MARKET!!!

It was a Saturday night and we were all ready!

OOMA JAPANESE RICE BAR

One of the unforgettable BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS that I had for 2016 was when Mareng Gail treated ERICJAZ FOODIES for dinner at my restaurant of choice. She asked me where I wanted to go and at first, I was thinking of my "usuals". In the end, I wanted to try something new so that I could also feature it in my ERICJAZ FOODIES blog.

Wow! Isn't my blog awesome? It really encouraged me to veer away from my usual water and vegetable diet.

Yeah. Water and vegetable diet... NOT.  Tee hee!

So I decided to go for OOMA since I remember an old couple coming up to me and the Chinese Adonis at a restaurant once and recommended it to us. Besides that, mareng Gail truly raved about it and declared that I would love OOMA because the food was absolutely delicious!

I'm happy that too that the Santillana's were able to join us since I remember how much they enjoyed the food at OOMA before. Plus, it's always fun whenever the PC (Pogi CEO) Albert and his CW (Charming Wife) Suet are around!

So wohoo! It's another HAPPY BIRTHDAY night for me at OOMA with my super cool foodie couple friends!!! I'm sure that it'll be another night of chattin, grubbin, "kodakin", plus much more!

And you know what? I was all soooo right!!!!!

OOMA JAPANESE RICE BAR!!!

Like what mareng Gail said, OOMA was packed that night! Good thing they were able to get a table immediately because usually there would a long wait.

KYOTO RAMEN KOJI (JAPAN TRIP 2015)

On the day that we went to Kyoto during our Japan Trip, we woke up extra early and had an itty bitty bite from our hotel because we were really planning to have our breakfast at Kyoto Station.  There are actually many restaurants that served authentic Japanese food in the popular train station that we were all raring to try it to get properly energized for the (undoubtedly) exciting day ahead.

After depositing our bags in the KYOTO TRAIN STATION LOCKER, we all walked around and looked forward to where our hungry tummies would take us. 

And so we came upon KYOTO RAMEN KOJI!!!

KYOTO RAMEN KOJI is this small restaurant near the JR Kyoto on the Isetan side.

MATSUYA DAIKOKUCHO restaurant (JAPAN TRIP 2015)

When THE YAPPY BUNCH has an out of the country trip coming up, I would usually go online and plot out the places we're going to eat in based on internet reviews. Now even if I have already listed all informations vital in getting us to the restaurant, most of the time we are not able to accomplish the food itinerary. Why? We would often be walking around the whole day that we already get so tired to look for that particular restaurant. As a result, we would always just eat at whatever nook we drop into --- no reservations and no idea what to expect.

We are always so thankful though that we have loved all the places that we ate in during our international getaways. That just goes to show that part of the fun in going to foreign places is making these delicious discoveries that have not been influenced by any particular review. Our judgement is based on our own and taste and experience alone.

For our JAPAN TRIP last April we all planned to eat at many restaurants. But on the day of our arrival, we were just so hungry to function our brains and legs that we just went to the first restaurant we saw that was still open at such late hour.

And with that we got to MATSUYA DAIKOKUCHO.

Now at first, we were a bit hesitant because the name was very unfamiliar to us. Also, we didn't want our first meal in JAPAN to leave a bad taste in our mouths (pun sort of intended). But fatigue and hunger won over us that we went inside and just got ready to face whatever will come our way with an open mind (or tummy).

And, we're so happy to say, that our happy tummies got a delicious welcome in our first day in JAPAN via MATSUYA DAIKOKUCHO!

MATSUYA DAIKOKUCHO is part of the Matsuya Foods, Co., that has about 1,036 outlets all over Japan!

  

When we came upon MATSUYA, there is no english translation of ANYTHING. I don't even now the name of it!!! To get just the name of the restaurant, I had to look in the Daikokucho map and match the images I found online with what I have in my camera. 

NOMAMA (CAPITOL COMMONS)

At the start of summer vacation, I received an invitation from my Kumareng Gail for lunch at NOMAMA in Capitol Commons, Pasig City.

Our conversation went something like this...

Gail : Mare let's meet up Saturday. We're going to eat at NOMAMA to celebrate Sasha's graduation (her daughter).

Me : Okay! We'd love to celebrate with my god daughter. Are you sure it's fine for us to join you guys?

Gail : Yes mare pero it's KKB ha (Kanya- Kanyang Bayad).

Me : Of course! I don't have a gift ha. We'll just go there.

Gail : Yes mare! See you!

Now I don't know about you but I think THAT'S how real friends talk. Ha ha ha ha!

Come Saturday, we were surprised to learn that Sasha was nowhere in sight. It turns out, we were celebrating my god daughter's graduation in NOMAMA FOR her. Ha ha ha ha!

Doesn't make sense to you? Yeah I thought so.

And THAT'S why me and Kumareng Gail are close -- we have this weird connection and understanding. PLUS, we make whatever excuse just to meet up. Ha ha ha ha!

NOMAMA ARTISANAL RAMEN!

YABU

I really can't believe that we haven't featured YABU yet in this silly little foodie blog when it is actually one of our favorite restaurants. In fact, we celebrate the start of the weekend by having YABU Fridates and it has now been included in our Birthday Go-To places since our little lords cannot get enough of their fried goods as well.

The first time I got to taste YABU though was not with the Chinese Adonis nor with anyone from my family. The restaurant has already been making waves in the dining scene for months and I was still clueless why it was so popular save for the reviews from food blogs. Finally, my dear friend from College, Anne Virrey, invited me to the famed Katsu restaurant since it was my birthday and she wanted to treat me. You could say that the rest was history because after that first bite of their very tender pork, it was the start of my beautiful friendship with YABU!

Some of these pictures were actually from last year but I'm also posting this because it's going to be my birthday soon and here's my gentle reminder to Mareng Anne... AHEM!

"When are you going to treat me at YABU???" He he he he!

Kidding!

YABU!!!

Perhaps one of the reasons why it took me a long time to eat in YABU was because the lines could just get so crazy and I was not willing to wait it out at something I was not sure of.

After a year, yes I AM willing to line up because YABU is just Mmm..good!