ERICJAZ FOODIES

Thursday, October 30, 2008

AVENETTO

I love pizza.... because you could just pile on the toppings, squish the crust, and you have for yourself, a handy grub on the go....

I love pasta... you just toss olive oil, garlic, with your choice of toppings, add the pasta, and you're good to go as well...

We love ITALIAN food because everything is just so handy and easy... nothing is too complicated and it satisfies eaters of ALL ages...

And that is why we LOVE Avenetto...

My 4 year old son Mati is willing to eat anything. However, me as a mom, I don't want to give him raw japanese grubs, oysters, or spicy noodles... yet. For now, I would like his cuisine to be on the safe and tasty side... In that aspect, Italian cuisine is such a great candidate. It is truly kid friendly, plus, I think children naturally love it! Who DOESN'T love Filipino style spaghetti right?

Plus, I have another person to consider... My husband will NOT ever eat, japanese raw grub, oysters, or spicy noodles. He is such a "selective" eater (to better describe him) that if we want him to be happy as well, we go to Italian. Tsk tsk!!

We don't normally order appetizers because it would just fill us up for the main course. But we love their Onion rings! Yub and Mati, who are such carnivores, cannot taste the onion... Instead what they get is something crunchy with a nice sweetish treat in the middle! I find it quite tasty too and it's even better with their garlicky ranch dressing!

Oh yes... Once in a blue moon could I make this guy eat his veggies... But when he does, he does it GO-OD... Or gross? H aha ha ha!

When I was a kid, I always ate spaghetti with the sweet tomato sauce. As I grew older, I wanted to have more variety in my toppings and sauces. The more different, the better... However, with my husband and my boy, I still have to be on the safe side. So we reach a compromise: Since Yub DETESTS tomato sauces with that authentic italian "sour" taste, and I find the alfredos too fattening, we just go for the aglio olios (garlic and olive oil based) with different toppings. I got this, with sausage, which my husband loves... so there you go. Compromised.

Yummily compromised... he he he he!

My boy eats anything we put his plate... I hope he'll be a foodie like me when he grows up! It would be fun to have him as my date in food adventures!

Is it possible that he's thinking about it as well? :)

For now, I'll just enjoy my pasta in peace... Tee hee! And I did enjoy platefuls of it. Their servings are enough for 3 hungry people and priced reasonably. I would say, it is a steal but I won't since they might increase their prices!

Let's EAT! All of us are smiling at the camera while my little guy wants to proceed with his food... Can you blame him? THE PIZZA ARRIVED! And it was all hot and gooey! The great thing about AVENETTOS is you could have 2 different flavors in your pizza... My favorite is the cheeseburger (ground beef, onions, tomatoes) while Yub likes the pepperoni... So there you go again... COMPROMISED!

Oh yeah... if that pizza was on a mission to live, it was definitely COMPROMISED. Ha ha ha! Look at Mati devour his crunchy slab of cheeseburger pizza!!!

Of course my husband stayed with his every favorite pepperoni... It's the only pizza he will eat!

My Mati goes for another piece and we were all fascinated how the cheese just dripped, stretched, and was just steaming hot for us. YUM!

He goes for his 3rd piece...

Then fourth piece... Note how he reserves one on his plate always?

Until... all that's left is a lonesome pepperoni pizza... possibly for Mommy. I'f I'm lucky!

I'm NOT too sure though. Ha ha ha ha!

For my birthday the next year (February 2009) I treated my family again to Avenetto, this time at their SM Hypermarket Branch.

The reason I chose this was because everybody will be able to enjoy the food AND prices are reasonable! Just right for little ol kuripot me!

Isn't it cute how my baby Andrei is sitting at the head of the table but still turned for the picture? He's my little me that one!

HOWEVER... he is not like his Kuya Mati when it comes to food. He, like his dad, is verrrrryyy "selective" (again) with the grub he puts in his mouth.

But when he does, he does it oh so cutely! He does not like eating so it really melts my heart when he reaches out for something and takes a bite. I guess AVENETTO's pizza are TRULY kid friendly because it's sweetish sauce made Andrei like it!

He even digged the onion rings! Look how Mati is celebrating. Ha ha ha ha!

Even my niece, Rocio, loved the food.

I guess when it's a family grubbing event, Avenetto's will be always in the list because everyone leaves oh so happy.

Now who wouldn't LOVE that? :)

LET'S EAT!

A Veneto Napoli Pizzeria Ristorante

Glorietta 3

Glorietta 3, North Drive

Ayala Center, Makati

(02) 818-3090

A Veneto Napoli Pizzeria Ristorante

SM Supercenter Pasig

SM Supercenter, 114 Frontera Verde, C5

Ugong, Pasig

(02) 634-6110

Sunday, October 5, 2008

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN (our first date)

It's our very first post! And what better way to celebrate this than to share with you the first restaurant that me and my husband had our FIRST official date... at CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN or CPK!!!!

For our 9th year anniversary as Boyfriend and Girlfriend (yeah we're already married but celebrate this momentous occasion just to have a reason to eat), we went to the resto where Eric claimed the pasta was like their "chami" in Lucena.

Believe me, he meant that as a compliment.

So off to CPK we go to pig out and celebrate our undying (cough cough) love... eeew!!!!

Eric, or Yub as I always call him, loves pizza but is not really adventurous in the toppings... so it's always PEPPERONI for him. He loved the chewy dough of the pizza and enjoyed his order... angrily.

I don't think I could be happy with just an order of pasta so I had a plate of bread with their hummus!

AND.... an order of their special CHAMI... I'll get back with the names soon.

It's not obvious with this picture but he enjoyed his pizza very much. Too much that I think he wanted to marry this after I die and go to heaven.

I hate pictures of me eating so Yub took one from behind.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!

Finished!

This was VERY good and the only reason I was not able to finish it was because I did not get any help from my husband here.

Happy 9 MAG-un years!!!

ERICJAZ foodies!

I'll get back to the name of this dish soon...

THIS WAS SO GOOD! Too bad I don't know how to use the macro yet during this time!

Finished in no time though!'

Yub was just faking it... Did not try a bite of this appetizer since he's a very picky eater!

He loved it... he just LOVED making faces as well.

Hopefully I'll be able to load all of our food adventures... Think about 200 worth of FACEBOOK albums! Ha ha ha ha! Coming soon!

Monday, July 16, 2007

USA EATS (What We Grubbed in Las Vegas and LA)

I once heard somebody on television claim that "You haven't been really to a place until you have tried their food" and I strongly agree to it. Besides basking in the colors of a country's traditions, and sceneries, you would really find their culture in how they cook and serve their food.

That is why when I go on trips abroad, I do not shop for clothes or gadgets. Instead, I splurge on experiences and FOOD. My point is, I could do my shopping back home anyway. And even if it will be converted to calories and fat when I get back to Manila I know that the whole experience of eating the grub is worth it.

So for our 2007 trip to Las Vegas, that was what I did to my Padawan... and yes he learned fast enough to be a "Jedeater"! We ate and ate and ate to the delight and fascination of my cousin Kuya Nap because he shed tears of joy...

Or maybe it was because we robbed him of his grub. Ha ha ha! Kidding!

This is the first of, hopefully, many more editions of the "What We Ate" series in vacations and trips. Hope you would somehow enjoy it as much as we did.

Here's to livin', lovin', and EATIN'! Cheers! :)

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!

My first cousin's son is getting married and he asked my 3 year old Mati if he was willing to be the ring bearer. Without batting an eyelash we agreed because we love Las Vegas! We don't gamble but we just can't get enough of sin city!

We cannot say what we do there because like the cliche always go, "What happens in Vegas, stays in the restroom, este, in Vegas!".

Unfortunately, my husband has work so he cannot join the trip. Instead, my brother Kuya Jon served as our "body guard". He he he he!

By the way, I would have to apologize if the coverage of this trip is not blog friendly. Since I was taking care of a 3 year old who could run around like the Tasmanian devil, I was on vacation and did not feel like doing some writing or rememberin of names. My brain could only take so much y'know.

Tee hee heee!

Here's my cousin Kuya Nap picking us up at the Las Vegas airport. He immediately called my dad and assured that he will "take care" the little master Master.

Look how scared Mati was... Ha ha ha!

Kuya Nap then immediately drove us to New Orlean's Casino to eat their Alaskan King Crab.

You would really know that me and Kuya Nap are related because who else would pick up somebody from the airport and drive straight to a buffet? He he he!

We loved the Alaskan King Crabs! I particularly relished the ones fried in garlic! I dipped the soft meat in butter and squeezed a bit of lemon!

In this picture, Mati was already groaning that his tummy was so full!

Come on! JUST ONE PLATE MORE! Tee hee!

No kiddie meal for my boy here. He's going to enjoy the grub like a pro!

After our heavy dinner, Kuya Nap took us to see how 7eleven converted their stores into THE SIMPSON's Kwik E Mart! This was in line with the showing of THE SIMPSON'S MOVIE. Cool right? I was not able to take pictures inside but we were able to get a squishee! Yummmm :)

The next day, Kuya Nap took us again to another buffet in Sunset Casino. I know they also have a wide array of grub there but for some reason what I always remember is their big tub of corn swimming in butter! (Drool..........)

My aunts (the senior ladies) treated us to some steak and wine!!!

Before going to the airport to fly to Minnesota (where the wedding will be) we had a wee snack in Mcdonalds. Mati had the big breakfast with scrambled eggs. Check out his morning hair!

After the dry desserts of Vegas, we saw the beautiful greens of Minnesota! I loved that in every corner you would be reminded of some scenes from "The Notebook"

The wedding reception was a sit down dinner in a clubhouse at Minnesota. Check out how I wrapped Mati with the table napkin.

The tots had their own kiddie meal for the reception. Mati feasted on his chicken fingers and fries!

Look how messy Mati could get when eating. That's why the cover up was so necessary! :)

The adult plate! Unlike other sit down dinners I have attended, the food here was still hot like it was straight out of the oven. The breaded chicken with gravy was lipsmackingly good along with the twice baked cheesy potato. YUM!

I know this pic does not have any food in it but I would just like to share our family wedding shot. I remember when Raymund (the groom) was Mati's age, I took care of him. I'm so proud at how gentlemanly he became! His wife Elizabeth is such a lovely lady!

Check us out... MEH (l-f) Kuya Nap, his mom Tita Carol, his wife Ate Sheila, my niece MJ, and below there is little Mati!!!

We also had a late night dinner at Chevy's after some family bonding!

On our flight back to Las Vegas, we stopped by for a snack in Starbucks. Mati feasted on chicken wings and a tuna sandwich.

Those are actually MY orders but what the heck... (grumble grumble).

Check out Mati's "rope"... I don't really want to tie him up but this was very helpful when I needed to talk to somebody (airline attendant) and needed him to stay close.

My aunts once again treated us to a Korean dinner to welcome our return in Vegas!

All the beef we could eat galore!

There was a time Kuya Nap took us to Lake Mead and planned on throwing Mati to the fishies...

He was kidding of course...

Or was he?

If I took care of Raymund, Kuya Nap was always there for us when we were kids. He stayed at our house and would baby sit when my parents were away.

One time he called my eldest brother and showed him a wedge of calamansi (Philippine lemon). He said "Jay, look at this, there's something funny coming out of this calamnsi."

When my Kuya Jay took a closer look, Kuya Nap squeezed the helloutta that lemon making my brother's eyes sting and tear up.

He would hysterically laugh afterwards.

That's why we think he's sooo awesome! After 20 years, he planned to do the same with Mati I just stopped him. Ha ha ha ha!

He never ages... That's why we love him (and his wife Ate Shiela) so much!!! They are just SO cool!

But if you were in Mati's shoes and seeing the hungry fishies waiting for your limb, you would definitely not agree. Ha ha ha ha!

In our trip to Disneyland, Mati loved the cotton candy.

(Just an FYI, no tourist shots here... Just the food that I was able to take when I was not running after the master Mati!)

After getting all crazy in Disneyland, he toned down when we gave him Mickey lolly. We took another one home but he ate it before we reached Manila.

While we were still in LA, Ate Baby (Kuya Nap's sister) and her daughter MJ took us out to a seafood dinner.

It's a shame you can't see the view from the window. We were eating seaside and the splashes of the waves complemented the whole dinner experience!

Surfin' and turfin!

Mati wanted to take more pictures from his Philippine Airlines camera...

My wonderful plate of steak, lobsters, and mashed potato with butter and lemon!

This was effingly delicious!

When Kuya Nap toured us at the Venetian hotel Mati requested we have a picture with this Haagen Daz mascot! ha ha ha ha!

Kuya Nap took us to the Fremont experience to ogle at the lights and have some of the drinks!

Mati had some margaritas too! Tee hee!

I love the Philippines but our country cannot produce plump strawberries like they do in the US!

Mati would take huge bites of these berries and was amused at the juices that would spurt out. He was surprised at how sweet it could be when he was so used to our "tart" versions. Tee hee!