A trip to Pan De Amerikana

There are days when you just want to hang-out in a very relaxing place, have a nice conversation and eat good food. You know, the simple joys of life. I always adored restaurants which is known not just for their good food but also for their ambiance and character. I've seen a lot of pictures of Pan de Amerikana in Marikina. Those giant chess pieces really got me interested, who wouldn't, right?

When you think about Marikina Food Trip, this resto should definitely be on your list, but then for us, the timing wasn't always right. We're in Marikina most weekends but then we never had the time to drop by this beautiful place. And one fine Sunday, we finally did.

It looks pretty interesting from the outside but you'll be wowed when you get inside!

October Daily Photos

October 1: The 30-day Plank Challenge

Oct 2: reunited with my favorite Tuna Wrap

Hot Tomato is really hot

Yesterday we attempted to stop having rice in an effort to lose some belly fats. Well, I had fruits for breakfast which is my usual. Lunch time, we had Pork Sinigang so we only had the vegetables, meat and soup. All throughout the day I was just snacking on fruits (strawberries, grapes and bananas) and I was feeling super full especially after I had green tea.

After a busy day and a 30-minute stroll in the mall to do some price canvassing for a TV, well, I was really hungry as in very hungry but I don't want to eat rice. Subway wrap crossed my mind but it's still not good enough. From IMM we transferred to Westgate Mall and then I remember this restaurant which I've been wanting to try for quite some time now.

The place is called Hot Tomato and their main menu includes grilled meat and pasta. The good thing about them is that the price is pretty affordable even for steaks. Way much better than the price of Aston's.

We both ordered their Steaks and Prawns which consists of a steak, 2 grilled prawns, lettuce and aglio olio pasta. Would you believe that that order only costs SGD13.50? Pretty good, right? And it looks good too.


Now, you also have the option to upgrade it into a meal for an additional SGD3.50 (SGD2.50 on their lunch time express 11AM to 3PM for weekdays only). This option consists of garlic bread, soup of the day (top up SGD1 if you opt for their other soup) and a choice of drink (iced lemon tea, lime juice, coffee, or tea). It really is affordable, right?

Racking it up!

We're back in Manila and back to living in our condo. It's convenient to live here when it's just for vacation but we find it challenging to fit in all our things and where to hang out clothes when you actually live here for an indefinite time. Condo living is restricted with space and hanging the clothes inside your unit is not only an eye sore but takes up so much space as well.  We try to find ideas via Google search and Pinterest of what type of drying rack is applicable for us and our space. We have a balcony beside our bedroom where we think is suitable for this purpose but it shouldn't be very visible since the condo admin prohibits showing of clothes in the balcony. We also want to to look neat when not in use. That's quite a requirement and a challenge. And we came with these choices:

1) Accordion Drying Rack

        Full stretched of the drying rack

 

          Neatly stacked when not in use.

    We bought this accordion drying rack in Handyman store in Trinoma at around Php5000. 

Wine Experience of Beginners

We are new to wine although we're very much interested to wine pairing and wine itself for quite a long time now.  I've always associated wine with happiness, romance, good food, intimate conversation, celebration, classy, and long lasting. Well, that's how I see it based on the movies that I watched and the helpless romantic in me. Whenever there's a scene wher the couple are on a date to celebrate their anniversary, or their still just getting to know each other, or the guy proposing or there's just something to celebrate, there's always wine or champagne in their table. I remember a scene in the movie, the devil wears prada, where Anne Hathaway was cooking her dinner. She prepared a very simple dinner for herself, a pasta paired with a wine and she looks so satisfied and happy. Even in birthdays and weddings, we always toast with a wine. And whenever a classy couple having steak for dinner, it's always paired with wine and everything seems super delicious. 

Then there's the picturesque vineyards looking so elegant and divine be it in Italy or France. When the camera is focused on the grapes, the oh so beautiful it seems so sacred grapes that will be made into wine. Picture that then ask yourself if you want a taste of the wine that it would become.

The thing is, wine is still alcohol and I'm not fond of the bitter taste of alcohol. I can't drink beer cause it's bitter. For cocktails, I'm a frozen margarita girl and maybe a moderate amount of cosmopolitan. But wine, I don't know. Honestly, I'm quite afraid that if I find it too bitter it will ruin how I see wine.

I like my wine sweet, not fruit juice sweet but a good blend of bitter, sour and sweet.

Cebu's Zubochon Experience

It is a well-known fact that when you're in Cebu, Philippines, you should HAVE their famous Cebu Lechon (Roasted Pig). One of the known Lechon Restaurant in Cebu City is Zubochon, we have heard of CnT and Rico's as well but Zubochon's name was stuck in my mind. While we were checking in at the hotel, I immediately asked the receptionist where is the nearest branch of Zubochon and they mention Escario branch but it's quite a long walk from the hotel.

Since our afternoon nap took longer than expected, we actually didn't know where have dinner since the mall is already closed. The receptionist told us that we can still try the restaurants and fast food in Cebu IT Park, good thing they offer service car for hotel guests and we only paid 50php since it is farther that Cebu Ayala Mall. We were surprised as there are so many restos and fastfood like Jollibee, McDonald's and KFC that are still open, it was around 11pm when we arrive there. We were driving around, looking for a restaurant that will catch our eye and at one turn, I saw the logo .... Zubochon's logo! And in unison, we told the driver where we want to eat and we all excitedly walk to see if it's as tasty as they said it is.

For a party of 3, this is what we had:

Part of Zubochon's menu featuring the main dishes

Zucchini Spaghetti

I've been reading about Zucchini as a pasta replacement for quite a lot and it got me curious.
I love pasta, I really do! It's just that I'm trying to lose some weight and some flab in my tummy and so I'm looking for the healthy alternatives that can make me eat the foods that I like. You see, when you're trying to lose weight and you cut down on food and try to stay away from "sinful" foods, you feel deprived and will eventually craved for those foods everyday and trying to lose weight and converting into "healthy living" an agony.

So finally, I had the motivation and eagerness to try zucchini as a pasta in my spaghetti. Here's how I did it but I think, it still doesn't look like a pasta.

1) This is optional, but I decided to peel off the skin of zucchini.