MENDOKORO RAMENBA (BGC)

Once upon a time before the pandemic....

It was the Yub's birthday week and as much as we wanted to have loads of celebrations (like what we would do before), we didn't have a choice but to end it after a week because the Covid-19 situation was making everyone nervous.

For the last official celebration though, the Yub and I decided that since it's most likely that we'll not go out in a LOOOOONG time, we should go somewhere that is best eaten at the actual restaurant and not just via take out. So burgers or anything fast food is out of the question (Drats! It's going to be my treat pa naman). Ha ha ha ha!

With that, the obvious choice was RAMEN because soup and noodles were always best consumed as soon as it was served. Also, even if they have all of the Ramen kits in the market, it's still not the same as when you have the actual chefs cook it for you. 

And of course if there was one place where we'll have Ramen it's going to be our favorite  -- MENDOKORO RAMENBA!!!

To think that our dinner there would be our last family outing in a loooooooooooooong time (like 4 months and counting).

 

WOHOO! We're out for some Ramen!!!!

OF BASKETBALL AND CHILI'S!!!

Once upon a time before the pandemic...

The Chinese Panget loved playing basketball (he used to be in their varsity team in high school and college) and would play if time permitted. He cannot do so as much as he wanted now because of work and also, because medyo tanders na sya and his friends, it's difficult to find playmates (ha ha ha ha).

That's why when his Rotary Club (Makati group) invited him to join their team, the Yub gave an immediate yes. He missed the competition and the exercise. At least he won't be pressured too much because the other players will be in same age group. He he he he!

So for one Saturday, THE YAPPY BUNCH joined the Yub's first game to give our noisy support. Afterwards he said we'll have dinner and make a real family night of it.

Yun lang he said that what we eat depends on if he wins or not.

Kekekweng kweeeeng!!!!   

It's basketball time!!!!!

KAYA POWERPLANT MALL (2019)

(This was documented before the ECQ....)

One Saturday, the Yub and I invited the boys to go out for Saturday gimik night. Andrei was game na game to go. As for Mati? He was like, "Meh. Never mind."

With that, the Yub, Andrei, and I went to have dinner at Kuya's favorite -- KOREAN!!!

Belat. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

We're at KAYA!!!!!

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!!!!

BENCH CAFE (GREENBELT)

One night, ERICJAZ FOODIES set out to meet up with Team Mina for dinner. After a looooooooooooooooong discussion where to meet up (mostly from Manong Fred), we ended up in BENCH CAFE!

I have heard many raves about BENCH CAFE that my hungry and curious tummy got its force awakened (he he he he). Originally I was going to veer away from Filipino food tonight (because I was watching my carb intake) but since I wanted to try this out SOOOO much, I forgot about my initial aversion to rice.

GANSO SHABUWAY FOR DAD AND THE FAMILY

It's the second year since my Daddyowzers went to heaven, and even it was a very sad day for us, the family got together to honor a very great man and offer our prayers for him.

Hello Daddy! We miss you!!!!

GANSO SHABUWAY AND AVENGER'S ENDGAME AGAIN

I guess it's fairly obvious how my boys and I are such super hero addicts. That's why after watching AVENGER'S ENDGAME, we wanted to watch it again and again.

One weekend, my big guy and I thought that it's high time for our AVENGER'S ENDGAME part two. My Master Mati pointed out that it could be our pre-Mother's Day date already.

Awwwww... That's my Mati! He's a man with a plan!!!!!

With that, I asked him what he wanted for dinner. He wanted to know what I craved first but I countered how making him happy makes me happy already. He then thought long and hard and chose a restaurant where we recently enjoyed that the Yub was not in a hurry to eat in. We both looked at each other and said in unison --

GANSO SHABUWAY!!!

He he he he!

Yihiii.... It's date night for us!!!!!

CHILI'S POWERPLANT MALL WITH RELATIVES (2019)

After we all packed up and set out last Holy Week, my Mom was thinking where to have our late lunch. At first we entertained the thought of eating in our favorite Dampa along Roxas Boulevard. But then, we remembered how much seafood we had over the course of the week that it would be nice to have something else.

I then suggested to go to CHILI'S because why not? They cook up delicious American food with big servings for sharing, the branch is located in the comforts of Powerplant Mall (which is so near our place), and yes, CHILI'S is my favorite and I would like my relatives to revel in its goodness as well.

(Or maybe I'm just making another excuse to eat there for free.. tee hee).

Whatever the reason, it's good that we went for CHILI'S because we all had an enjoyable late lunch after a looooong and traffic-filled travel. CHILI'S will always and forever be our favorite and I would NEVER get tired of putting in our "places to go to."

Especially if malilibre ako... BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

CHILI'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUDDY'S AGAIN (2019)

Remember when I told you how much my sister and her husband were so sorry (or remorseful) that they were not able to join Yub's BUDDY'S treat during his last birthday?

They regretted not being able to join us SO MUCH that they offered to give Yub another birthday treat in BUDDY'S!!!!

Wohooo! This was just SO PERFECT for family Sunday lunch!!!!

Of course, dapat may gift pa din!!!!!!

#anokayosinuswerte

KIDDING!!!

Or am I????

BUDDY'S!!!!!!!!!!!

This is Yub's favorite restaurant. I think he could eat here EVERYDAY!!!

BUDDY'S (2019)

When the Yubhub celebrated his birthday last March, he only requested for 3 things:

A. To attend mass.

B. To have BUDDY'S for his birthday dinner.

C. Not to receive ANY gifts from yours truly..... 

He he he he.... Okay fine. Only 2 out of 3 is true.

Anyways, it's fine of course but I was just concerned that my senior citizen Mom might not be suited for BUDDY's especially that the popular restaurant is always jampacked and standing room only. But she was SOOOO game and said how everything would be fine (after I raised my worries). See? She's not pintasero of a place (Unlike some people I know. Nitpicking fakers).

Good thing that when we got to BUDDY's, the place was nearly empty and we were able to have Yub's cravings ASAP (after a few minutes that's when the people came jamming the place up.)

I love it when our guardian angels help us out. I guess they're "hungry" too! He he he he he!!!

Or maybe, that's their "birthday gift" for the Yub this year! He he he he!!!

PWEDEEEEE....

:P

We're in BUDDYS!!!!!!

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!!!!!!

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!!!!!

THE NEW KAYA - POWER PLANT MALL (2019)

One Sunday, THE YAPPY BUNCH went to our favorite mall in the metro for dinner. The Yub and I were not really craving for anything. So we asked the little lords:

"Where do you guys want to eat?" (It's really a standard question because we always go for what they wanted. Ha ha ha ha!)

The first one to speak up was Master Mati (since he's our resident foodie) and he hurriedly said KOREAN!!!!!!! (Just in case we changed our minds).  So the Yub and I decided KAYA may be a good choice for us that night because we haven't eaten there since it opened. 

And KAYA it is!!!!

TAPENADE, DISCOVERY PRIMEA (2018)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a staycation in DISCOVERY PRIMEA for the birthday of the December celebrants and the Christmas season as well.

For our dinner that night, we decided that it should be somewhere special. We are after all celebrating something special anyways. We wanted to go out but we realized that since it's the holidays, traffic would be terrible and the restaurants would probably be jampacked (reservations are zero pa on weekends).

Aning and I decided that it would be best if we just stay put in the hotel and have dinner in TAPENADE. We remember how much we enjoyed the food before and I'm happy that this time, we would be with the boys. Yun lang, since it's a Saturday on a Christmas season, they cannot take our reservations for our big group of 20. Good thing that since DISCOVERY PRIMEA values their hotel guests (and because we're soooo CUTE), they finally agreed. 

TAPENADE! HURRAH!!!!

DONU AGAIN WITH THE FAMILY

For one Sunday family lunch, my Mommy craved for some Korean food and asked where we could go after mass.

Hmmmm..... Korean restaurants are so abundant now in the Metro that deciding where to go could be a Herculean task. Not only that, the popular ones would surely be sporting long lines that the shortest wait time would probably be an hour or more.

Poor us! Eh we're hungry na!!!!!

I then remembered our recent midnight dinner at DONU and mentioned it to the family. I told them that DONU is a simple Korean restaurant that satisfied our cravings before.

GAME, they said. That's where my Mom will treat us for Sunday lunch they said.

And life was so well again! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Yep! Food does that to us.

May reklamo?

:P

DONU!!!!!!

DONU AFTER A HEART-ACHE

It was a Saturday and THE YAPPY BUNCH were in Master Mati's school because it was their cheering competition for their Intramurals. Every year, each House (Rinaldi, Rua, Caravario, and I forgot the last... ayun Sandor) would come up with a song, dance, and cheer to kick off their week-long sporting event. It could be actually very competitive and it was evident in their colorful and super entertaining cheers. 

The start of the cheer was at 5:00pm but since Master Mati had to be there ng 2:00pm, we stayed and waited for it na lang.

At least we were able to get good seats for the event. Yun lang, our pwits suffered SO MUCH!!! He he he he he he he!

OH YEAH. All for one and one for all kami lagi!

THE GRID FOOD MARKET AGAIN

The YAPPY BUNCH have a new favorite in Powerplant Mall --   THE GRID FOOD MARKET!!!

We loved the food because everyone took their pick in the cuisine they liked. There were also several stalls that offered not your usual food court menus but instead served special gourmet dishes that kept everything exciting. Another great thing too was that the servings were big enough for sharing! Kaya yay! That would make it more affordable for me and the Yubhub!!!!!!!

So now, whenever we're thinking of a place to eat in Powerplant Mall, we would always blurt out in unison...

THE GRID!!!!

Yup! With that, everyone will be truly and deliciously happy!!!!!

THE GRID FOOD MARKET!!!

Yup! Again and again!!!!!!!!!!!

PHAT PHO MANILA

One Saturday, the Mommers invited me to hear mass with her and Ate Jowjits in Powerplant Mall. The Yubhubs and the boys were supposed to go with us but when they heard that we're going to have mass, they said that they suddenly had to go somewhere.

CHE!!!

It's okay. It's been awhile din since I've had an all ladies' date with my Mom and Ate Jit. So I'm sure it's going to be fun.

ESPECIALLY that there's no asungots around.

CHE AGAIN!

PHAT PHO MANILA!

OF SIDESHOW AND NEXT DOOR NORTH PARK

SIDESHOW the musical recently had its run last September and I was able to treat my Mom and family to watch it in RCBC Plaza. The Chinese Panget was not that enthusiastic to go with us but sorry siya, we needed a bodyguard (ha ha ha ha ha ha!). I just consoled him that it would be an memorable musical to see onstage especially that the story was based on facts and that he'll see 2 pretty cute girls.

OKAY SOLD!

Aba! Aba! Aba!

Come look at the freaks!

Not us ah. The ones behind us!

IPPUDO RAMEN (POWERPLANT MALL)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were in Powerplant Mall for some lunch, window shopping, and people watching. When we had nothing else to do, we all got home and got ready for a late siesta and some serious idle time in the TV room.

Yep. I guess we're the close relatives with the sloth. Tee hee!!!!

Then my Mom called me saying that they'll be having dinner at IPPUDO RAMEN with Daddy's sisters and asked if we would like to join them.

DID WE??? Of course we did!!!!

Though it would disturb our declaration of laziness at home, it was our duty to our appetites and tummies to dress up once again and go to Powerplant Mall. Big steaming bowls of our favorite IPPUDO RAMEN awaits and were just too good to pass up.

Tapos we'll be treated pa?

Ay kakaripas talaga kami ng takbo! He he he he he he he!!!

IPPUDO RAMEN!!!!

IPPUDO RAMEN in Powerplant Mall just opened July of this year and woah, as expected, the lines are always long.