ALBA (CAPITOL COMMONS)

Once upon a time, before the pandemic....

It's the super pamatay belated birthday of my dear Mareng Gail and as tradition permits, I will be treating her to her restaurant of choice.

DRATS... este... MAGALING! MAGALING! He he he he he!

Her choice for the night was ALBA in CAPITOL COMMONS because she was craving for some good ol' Spanish food. I have eaten with the family in ALBA many times before but I haven't tried out their dinner buffet (P933.00 per pax).

I guess there's always a "tindig-balahibo" first time for everyone and I'm glad that I'm going to do it with a friend.

Wait. No pun intended and suggested AT ALL there. Ewwy. Kadire.

:P

We're in ALBA!!!!!!!!!

LA TIENDA

My eldest brother invited us out for lunch one Sunday to celebrate Father's Day last June!

And the choice for that special lunch was LA TIENDA!!!

The family has eaten in LA TIENDA many times before but THE YAPPY BUNCH was not able to join because we would always be in Quezon Province with Yub's family.

ABA! Sinasadya na ata! He he he he he he! Kidding!

Seriously though, it was just painful coincidence. He he he he he! Good thing that for this Sunday, we were finally at home so that we could taste their specialty that my Kuya Jay just loved...

Refer to picture above.

He he he he he he!

CAFE ADRIATICO

I remember when I was still single (with no one to mingle) my family would have occasional lunches at CAFE ADRIATICO in its Greenhills branch. I always have fond memories of our meals there because the place had that classical old Manila ambience while the food was indeed something to go back to for.

Fast forward to decades later (ugh it's true) when I'm already married, with two kids, and having birthday staycations to appease the fact that I'm getting older. During our birthday weekend in DIAMOND HOTEL, the Chinese Dimpol and I were deciding where to have our Saturday dinner that we could dress up for. Of course, we're still on a budget so SPIRAL is out of the question, and we want someplace more special than our usual LAU CHAN when we're in the Manila area.

It was then that I suggested to go to CAFE ADRIATICO since I remembered my family's wonderful meals there. The Chinese Dimpol strongly agreed and stuck to my recommendation even if we saw other possible restaurants for us to try. Naks! I guess he trusted my family's good times!

And what a great dinner we had! We may have had other options to eat in Manila but we were all so happy for a chance to go down memory lane with the delicious food at CAFE ADRIATICO. I'm glad that my Yap guys were able to get a taste of why this cafe is so memorable to me. What makes it more special is that we were all treated to the Filipino/Spansh goodness that CAFE ADRIATICO is famous for during our birthday celebrations!

So Yipeeekeeyey! There is really nothing like food because not only does it make you reminisce about GOOD times, but it also taste so damn GOOD as well!

CAFE ADRIATICO in Malate Manila!

When I called to make reservations, the lady said I didn't really need to since they don't usually have a lot of diners.

When we got there, the place was packed that even their second floor area was full. See? Like I always say, better be safe than sorry!

SPANISH INVASION AT THE DIAMOND HOTEL!

In celebration of their MADRID FUSION MANILA 2016, THE CORNICHE at the DIAMOND HOTEL will be serving up "Fiesta de Sabores Espanoles" cooked up by their guest chef Edgard Sanuy Barahona. This mouth-watering festival of hot and colorful Spanish food will only run from April 4 to 10, 2016, and as luck would have it, ERICJAZ FOODIES was invited to bask in its sumptuous glory!

Photo from DIAMOND HOTEL PHILIPPINES Facebook page.

There will DEFINITELY be a festival in my tummy tonight!

Here we are entering the brightly colored archways of THE CORNICHE and anticipating the gastronomic night ahead.

The Chinese Dimpol and I were actually a bit full from munching junk food the whole day but we were raring to dig in to these hot platters of Spanish goodies!

RASTRO

In life, there would be days wherein you should just sit back, relax and sip on a hot mug of coffee. Sometimes though you would encounter some glitches either at work or with your personal life that it requires a long chug of beer. Then, there would be nights where in everything was so awesome that a beer won't just cut it and you yearn for something else.

And in comes RASTRO with their new specialty Cocktails and delicious food to go along with it.

Believe me, after one sip and maybe two bites, you would know that the night is just beginning.  And most definitely because of that distinct taste of RASTRO's latest cocktails and delicious food, you would know and feel that it is going to be an amazing one.

Presenting, your ultimate date for the night...

RASTRO! 

New logo by PATHRA CADNESS!

RASTRO!

This is THE tapas and restaurant bar to go to in Fort Bonifacio!

ALBA

You may accuse me for being a bit biased but hey, EVERYONE who has met her would agree that my MOM is one of the most beautiful ladies there is -- inside and out. I always maintained that she is the perfect epitome of a loving Mother who prioritized her children (especially the angelic bunsoy) over her career in medicine (she's a doctor). You know the type who gets principal sponsor/godmother requests left and right? Yup that's her. And every time I talk to somebody who has met my Mom, they would always remark on her beauty, elegance, and kindness.

Yup that's her. My complete opposite. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Anyway, it was her birthday last October and the family had one of the celebrations with a Spanish Sunday lunch in ALBA'S.

ALBA!!

I was about to write that this Spanish restaurant has been here from goodness knows then and my question was instantly answered when I saw that it has been with us since 1952.

LAS PAELLAS

My paternal aunts from somewhere far, far, far, away were here last August and as a welcoming "gift" to them, me and my husband decided to treat them to one of their favorite restaurants, LAS PAELLAS. 

Oh yes, do realize that in our family, events and gifts always coincide with the word EAT: 

"Oh it's your birthday? Let's eat... " "Oh you just had your first day of school? Let's Eat" "Oh you just had hair implants in your forehead? Let's Eat."

By the way, the last line? Purely fictional and wishful thinking on MY part. Tee hee... 

LAS PAELLAS CAFE

LAS PAELLAS in Greenhills accepts reservations on weekends that's why I think it's a perfect restaurant for the family after church. 

Believe me, the last thing you want is to see my growing boy wailing and pulling his hair if he does not eat on time....

I'm talking about my husband by the way... Tee hee!