Food Galore at Venice Piazza, Platter for 8

I was a mighty Plus One on this day. There were 14 platters to choose from and we were only 5. To be a glutton by glancing is what happens when there are so many choices in front of you, when a swarm of eager waiters from each restaurant approaches the table and you're hungry. There's Blackwood Bistro, Carlo's Pizza, Empire Deli, KBOP, Kuse, Little Asia, Old Vine Grille, Pincho's Restaurant and Bar, Ramen Bar, The Red Crab, Sol Gelato, Stacker's Burger Cafe, Sweet Pea and Tokyo Cafe.

Watch 3D at Resorts World Manila! - What to Do, A Long Weekend Suggestion

J and I went to watch Puss in Boots in 3D at the Newport Cinemas the other day and I finally got a breakthrough in watching 3D cartoons. I think my fear developed out of my Disneyland and Universal Studios 4D experiences, the ones where the droids or aliens or terminators and even Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse or swarms of insects are in front of you. I would always place my 3D glasses half-way down my nose to remind me that everything was not real. I would never pay attention to the story and I passed on the chance to watch Shrek and even Toy Story in 3D. Yes, I let cartoons torture me then and I have a super active imagination.

With Dad at Yue Lai Restaurant Manila

I had the opportunity to dine with Dad one-on-one this month. Some time during the meal, he just smiled and said, "It's (Eating this and eating like this is) so simple, right?" I marveled at how opportunities for appreciating the grace of eating with the family were so rare nowadays and how simple a happy day can be created. By the end of this simple Chinese meal, I finally realized where my love for food, traveling, China, the Chinese language and music came from. I actually can't believe that I had forgotten at all. It was no accident that I chose to be a travel blogger and it has been brewing ever since I was a child.

Unlimited Cravings Festival

While a lot of mall-goers took the opportunity of a payday weekend coinciding with a sale period, my friend and I were busy shopping in a non-sale mall and enjoying the Unlimited Cravings Festival in Shangri-La. It was a very happy Sunday dinner. Imagine, P450 for unlimited Cravings salad, soup, roasted chicken, dessert, coffee, cake and iced tea! I didn't notice the come in a full orange outfit and get it for free part until today.

Spanish Tapas at Cirkulo Restaurant

The Filipino tapa has always been one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast when I'm on a provincial trip or for a midnight snack at Tapa King. As we left the Cirkulo restaurant, I became aware that my new favorite dish is categorized as Tapas with an S in Spanish. I saw the Tapas Festival celebration and incidentally chanced upon a PDI article about "The many flavors of 'tapas'" by Rina Jimenez-David. I came to understand that the initial fascination with Tapas started with association with Tapa and the curiosity grew because of an extraordinary dinner at El Cirkulo.

Blogger Manila and New Jollibee Menu Picks!

Blogger Manila just celebrated it's first year in the blogosphere! Many thanks to Jonel for the invitation and for including us in the Jollibee party. You were one of the first bloggers that J introduced me to in my early years of attending blogging events and gigs. Thank you for always being around and congratulations on your most recent awards and milestones. I acknowledge you for creating the Blogger Manila apprentice program and being of service to fellow bloggers. Lastly, thank you for the prize and the new Jollibee experience =)

Easy Pha-Max Wheatgrass Stories

I'm not a horse, you can't make me eat grass. I swallowed one big gulp of wheatgrass in S&R and I tasted grass for the first time. I smiled at the lady who gave me a very generous serving, turned around and walked away.

Blogapalooza Manila and Pure Imagination

I was invited to be a part of the first ever Blogapalooza in Manila and I came as Girl Kuripot. I was on the hunt for new opportunities and to be a part of a new, old community. Old because it is actually made up of friends whom I've grown to love and appreciate especially this past year when I finally chose to be a blogger myself. New because there were more people there whom I don't really know yet and it made me present to how much I can still grow both in blogging and in creating relationships. I wanted to say that I'm more than Girl Kuripot and this post along with the reviews of the companies that caught my attention in that event rightfully belongs and is most appropriate to Manila Overload. 

Thai Dara in Gilmore, New Menu Picks

One of the things I love about coupon sites is that I get to try out new food at an old favorite restaurant. My eyes widened when I saw Thai Dara. No doubt about it, one coupon was sold in Manila.

NACI Dessert Bar in Greenhills!

Let's all drool over together and give it up for NACI Comfort Food & Dessert Bar in Fox Square Greenhills! Naci is named after Nacy Nocom, the restaurateur behind the former Cosmopolitan Bar and the husband of celebrity Lovely Rivero. Together with daughter Nadine and son Nate, they have decided to give us some comfort food and desserts that is meant to be shared with family and friends. This post is dedicated to chocolate and dessert lovers. If you are a comfort food lover, please visit the post before this.

NACI Comfort Food in Greenhills!

The long wait is over. Now, there's a new restaurant that serves food to crave for in Greenhills, to add to my recent encounter with Yumemiya's Curry Udon! NACI Comfort Food & Dessert Bar opens this October 16, 2011!

Winebar at Cafe 1771

The Winebar is nestled "upstairs", just above the Cafe 1771 in El Pueblo, Ortigas. It looked like a quiet fine dining place and felt like a secret library or secret society (with the matching "books", some gentlemen's chairs and quiet corners). I was impressed with the ambiance before I got to the food.

Yumemiya Cafe's Curry Udon

I absolutely hate curry and onion, both big and small chunks, while I absolutely love soup noodles and beef. What happens if you combine my two extremes all in one dish? It gets to be the center of the conversation for this post.

Flapjacks is Back... Better... Best!

J and I had a great time re-trying out Flapjacks in Greenhills the other day. We haven't been here for years. They have 4 "new" dishes that have been revived from the Chef's old signature menu. The come-Back was truly a Better Flapjacks in terms of service and food choices. I'll reveal my Best out of the four below. By the way, J is giving away a Flapjacks GC in his blog.

Stand-Up Comedy in Manila

I told you about The Grillery and their superb buffalo wings a few reviews ago. I didn't tell you about the stand-up comedy show that was staged upstairs while I was there. I was actually there for the launch of The Suplado Show of Stanley Chi and get my Suplado mug. Read more about the show here.

Food Trip: MAGYAR for Under P350, Hungarian Food in Manila for 2!

I had my first taste of Goulash with Sauerkraut in MAGYAR more than a year ago and I hadn't forgotten it ever since. I was so sold on that particular dish that I wouldn't order anything else on the menu. Then I fell in love with the Spaetzle that came with some of the paprika dishes. It's Hungarian dumplings that I substitute for rice and I still can't pronounce it. I would always end up in my own world and putting my Spaetzle in the Goulash. MAGYAR is listed in My Favorite Guiltless Restaurant Picks in Manila.

Eating a Society Lounge 5-Course Meal!

It was a repeat of our holiday French degustation last year, divided by two since it's not yet Christmas. My siblings and I went out together for a Friday dinner date at Society Lounge in Makati. Attire for the night was "dressy". 

Yen Yen Taiwan Street Food in Gilmore

I know J loves Taiwan food and I was on the lookout for it in Manila for our next food trip. I found an article online which introduced Yen Yen in Gilmore as the place for cheap foodie finds. 

Alexandre, French Lounge in Manila

If I'm looking for a quiet place for a business meeting or to hang out with girlfriends or work online in my laptop, I think I'll go to Alexandre at Fort Bonifacio again. You could order food to share and spend the day in this French patisserie slash lounge and perfume shop. J and I took a few hours to finish the big servings.

Saturday Legaspi Market in Makati

After 2 rounds around the Legaspi Market, I finally chose what I was going to have for lunch - The P30 Melon Juice. There were too many expensive choices and too many people for me at 12 pm. My sister bought pasta with Mussels drowned in Vodka Sauce.