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!!!!

OUR FIRST DATE POST ECQ

Ever since the pandemic started, my family and I dutifully stayed at home. Save for work and other essentials, there's no going out for us.

The great thing was I had such a great family that I didn't mind the solitary life with them. I didn't yearn for our usual mall gimiks, or out of town trips -- as long as we're all together (eating, doing chores, praying the rosary, having movie nights, etc), I'm happy.

Yun lang the Yub didn't agree. He REALLY wanted to go out and fast. BWA HA HA HA HA! So di siya masaya sakin ganern??? Che!

Kidding! In his defense, he has been religiously working at home for 4 straight months now, only going out for grocery runs. So yeah, he felt like having a bit of a social life even for just a few hours.

That weekend, the boys were in Antipolo with my brother's family so I didn't have that guilty feeling of going out without them. With that, the Yub jumped at the opportunity and excitedly invited me out for a mini-date in Powerplant Mall.

To be honest, if given the choice I'd rather stay at home and chill. At the same time I wanted to be practical and just save money. The Yub though was very insistent and declared that he will treat me to ANYTHING. Minsan lang naman daw.

E DI SIGE! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! Basta I already raised my points ah (nagpapilit... he he he he).

FINALLY after 4 months, we're out on a date!

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!!!!

MAMMA MIA (UPTOWN MALL BGC)

The Yub and I usually make it a date night for Saturdays but since every night became date night for us when he picks me up from work, we decided that weekends should also involve the little guys as well.

YUN AY KUNG SASAMA SILA!

So for that particular Saturday, the Yub and I were in the mood to be good parents (tee hee) and asked the guys if they want to go out with us.

Mati gave us a firm "No way..." because he already made plans to go out with his lola and tito Jon. The traitor.

As for sweet, innocent, little Andrei, he gave us an eager yes. Oftentimes he loved going with me and the Yub without his Kuya because it made him feel special. At the same time, the night is assured to be "quarrel-free".

So the bunsoy is our date for the night and his "reward" for keeping 2 geezers like us for company is that he'll choose our restaurant for the night.

And my bunsoy's choice?

MAMMA MIA!!!!!

PANCAKE HOUSE (ROBINSON'S GALLERIA)

Even if I promise so many times that I will buy the boys' school supplies a month before school starts, I often fail. It's just procrastination at its best!

That's what happened for schoolyear 2019-2020. It was the last week of July and AAAAAACK... we haven't bought anything for the boys!!!! So one Saturday, by hook or by crook we decided to head on to Robinson's Galleria to buy what the boys needed for school (uniforms, sandos, socks, brips... he he he etc). And after a full day of shopping, I was ravenous.

HELLOOOOOO! NAGIMBALA NA NGA HIGA KO SA KAMA E GUGUTUMIN PA AKO, AY SUS!!!

Tee heee!!!

The Yub and I decided to go for PANCAKE HOUSE since it's been a long time that we've been there last. Though I always get to eat PANCAKE HOUSE goodies (from our office meetings) syempre, it's still different to eat at the actual restaurant.

So even if Master Mati was asking for Ramen Nagi (neknek mo, I'm the boss of you now) we went to PANCAKE HOUSE for some good ol' comfort food.

Yay! And all was well again. 

PANCAKE HOUSE!!!!!

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.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!

CAFE MARY GRACE - POWERPLANT MALL

The bunsoy Andrei recently learned that they will have his confirmation in school and he was beyond excited. It may not be obvious (because he's very  naughty) but he's the most religious one in the family, and got very curious with what's going to happen in the confirmation. We picked out his godparents and he counted the days till the date of the ceremony.

Yun lang, dear Andrei is sooooooo unfortunate to have an eng-eng Mommy. BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

You see, we are Filipino Catholic. So I thought that like in his first communion, they were fine with mix religions in the ceremony.

OH I WAS SO WRONG. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

Turns out, you HAVE to be Roman Catholic to be able to be confirmed in Andrei's school. Ha ha ha ha! Oh well. I guess I was sleeping when they taught that in High School.

Andrei was soooo mad. Tee heee.....

ANYWHO, I guess it was a blessing because we discovered that Master Mati hasn't been confirmed as well. He attended this mass confirmation with his lolo in Cavite when he was about 3 years old and has forgotten about it. That's why he's open to having another one. With that, we made plans and listed down the godparents that the little lords wished for. The great thing too was that since we have our own schedule in our church, the little lords would be the only confirmants. We appreciated the solemnity and privacy that our own schedule would give. At least, we won't have to wait and crowd around with about a hundred students, parents, and godparents.

Now where to go after the ceremony?

It's quite difficult to look for a venue close to our chosen church because it was a Sunday, and most restaurants don't accept bookings that day especially for big groups.

So imagine my relief when CAFE MARY GRACE in Powerplant Mall agreed to my request and offered to put us in their function room at no charge.

Woaaaahhh!

This was a far cry from another restaurant whom I made arrangements with where I was at the mercy of the sungit receptionists. I loved the food as I've been there before but they were not very welcoming.

In the end, we cancelled our reservations in the first restaurant and went for CAFE MARY GRACE because of their friendliness and helpful attitude. The great thing too is that since it's in a mall, there would be a lot of parking spaces and our guests could shop around after our early lunch.

So yay! See how everything worked out for the better???

I guess sleeping that day in religion class was meant to be! Har de har har! Kidding!!!

Congratulations dear Mati and Andrei!!!!!!!!!!

Proud to be Aglipays!!!!!!!

CAFE SANSO - SAN JUAN

THE YAPPY BUNCH met up recently with our BAWAL PANGET family to celebrate my 44th....este... 34th birthday, and our venue for tonight was this curious little restaurant I often pass by in San Juan.

CAFE SANSO!!!!

I've always wanted to try out CAFE SANSO because the restaurant seemed so stylish and artsy-fartsy.

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!!!!!!

DUCK AND BUVETTE

My kumareng Gail and I have this long standing tradition of treating each other during our birthdays. It's a simple but enjoyable tradition that I always look forward to because besides taking a break from our usual kuripot selves (he he he he he he), my long time kumare and I are able to set aside a date amidst our busy schedule.

At least, sure na that we'll meet up 2 times a year! He he he he he he!

For this year, when my mareng Gail asked where we'll go for my birthday treat, I said that I was fine wherever. My only condition was that it should be a place that I haven't been to before because I wanted to blog it.

With that, she came up with many suggestions but I was torn between Japanese or French food. At first I said Japanese, then French, then later on Japanese again.

FINALLY, my fickle-minded super self really took over and urged me that French was a better choice. With that I sent a very meek (but cute) text asking if she'll bust her pipe if I chose French again. Knowing my good friend, who's always fine with everything, she agreed without a problem. Yun lang when I asked her if I'm magulo na she answered with a "Mejo..."

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! CHE!!!!!!

Well, if that French restaurant meant DUCK AND BUVETTE, I'm sure you'll have a difficult time choosing your favorite Japanese over it!!!!!

DUCK AND BUVETTE!!!!!

DUCK AND BUVETTE has been in Edsa Shangrila Mall already for a loooooong time but it's our first time here.

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!!!!!!!

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!!!!

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!!

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!!!!!!