Moon Garden Tagaytay

I needed a break.

Work and wedding preps have taken it's toll on me and I felt so stressed out the past few weeks. No, make that burned out. So Jeff took me to a quick trip to Tagaytay. I started browsing for places to stay in Tagaytay and I suddenly remembered Moon Garden Tagaytay. My former coworker, Leslie told me about this a few months ago.

They charge Php3,000.00 for an overnight stay for two plus breakfast. By the way, this officially became our last trip as a couple because we are getting married next month. :)

Blue moon somewhere in the garden.

Bulgogi Brothers

I told Jeff I'll treat him out to lunch for his birthday. I wanted to eat at Pepper Lunch but the line was so long so I told him to check out the other restos. We ended up eating at Bulgogi Brothers. Here are some of the photos we took.

Happy birthday, love! :*

Happy birthday, beyb! 

Terry's Selection

Last night, I've been thinking what to give Jeff for Valentines. I don't have enough budget, plus I don't have time to go out and buy whatever. So I recorded a song for him. If you need lessons on Gifts of a Poor Girl to her Fiance, please talk to me. I have a lot of ideas. :P

Since I don't have a gift for him, I called all the restaurants around the office to book a reservation. Dinner for two is the answer! Apparently, Apartment 1B and Chocolate Fire are fully booked. I can't remember the name of the other restaurant along Leviste, so when I called Apartment 1B, I asked them what was that restaurant. IKR? Haha!

I called Terry's Selection and thank goodness they are not yet fully booked! Yay!

We ordered paella and cuq au vin (geez, somebody teach me how to pronounce this!). Before dinner, Jeff ordered white wine and cheese. Naks pasosyal! Also, Jeff has a 'Valentine pack' for me. It contains: an edible flower, two balloons, and a box of Sonja's cupcakes!

So looks like our Valentines-on-a-budget plan backfired. Happy Valentine's day everyone!

Terry's Selection located at Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Manila Bay Buffet Ship Cruise with Prestige Cruises

Few months ago, I bought a buffet deal from Metrodeal. It was from Prestige Cruises and today, we used it. I paid Php 250.00 each.

Jeff and I were seated upstairs as we paid a hundred more pesos to be there to have a perfect view of the Bay. Prestige Cruises served a very simple meal -- rice, pasta and two meat dishes. It was just disappointing that they charged us Php 75.00 for a can of Coke. But everything else is fine. Here are some photos that we took.

Two dorks making use of the good lighting.

The J's Top 11 for 2011

A great year has passed. Whew that was quick! So many great things and great food and great trips that we had. We thought of sharing our Top 11 for 2011. I hope you enjoy our picks!

Our first and last picture in 2011. What a great year it was!

Chef Laudico's BFAST

Nothing special about today other than the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which happened to be celebrated in Antipolo. So mom closed the store in the afternoon. I get to have the afternoon for myself and thought of visiting my fiance. Naks!

I came around 2PM in Makati with a pounding headache and and empty stomach. I asked Jeff to grab some paracetamol before meeting me. He wanted to watch a movie and for the first time, I said no. Naks ulet! I have to leave Makati before 5PM because for sure, traffic will be really bad going back to Antipolo. I asked him if we could eat in Ayala Triangle. He suggested Bfast.

Bfast, or (I think) Breakfast is one of the restaurants in Ayala Triangle. We picked this because, well, it serves salad. Hahaha! Jeff has been on a diet for four days now and he is only allowed to eat fruits and veggies. So far, so good! I see less tummy. My fiance is working hard to lose weight for the wedding, while I still enjoy pigging out.

Anyway, Jeff ordered the Christmas Salad. I had Angus Beef but for some reason, I can't find its picture. Sadness. We also saw Z (aka @zeeheehee on Twitter) here. We have one thing in common, we found love not in a hopeless place, but on Twitter. Awesome, right?

Bfast may stand for 'breakfast' or 'be fast'. I should ask next time. ;)

Toast Box

One thing I loved most about my stay in Singapore back in 2008 was the food. Every morning when I go home from work (yep, I was in nightshift), I pass by the hawker centers to buy either Kaya set, fried rice with egg and sausage or whatever, nasi lemak, or whatever I thought of eating. At night during our shift, my coworkers would ask me to go out and eat prata, nasi goreng or nasi lemak. There's also a place in Singapore called Newton and Makansutra which is a must try for all tourists.

So today, we tried Toast Box. I definitely know what I want -- KAYA TOAST. Jeff had Nasi Lemak, which I think is what he orders most of the time when he goes to a Singaporean restaurant. He also likes his Hainanese Chicken steamed, while I like it roasted. We both love oatmeal prawn too. I wish we could go to Singapore so I could take him to the places where I loved to eat. Soon, I hope. :)

My kaya toast. Yum!

Tootsie's Tagaytay: My Birthday Lunch

I'm turning twenty seven in a few hours. Jeff took me to Enchanted Kingdom. Yay for another surprise trip! Before going to EK, I asked him if he wants to have lunch in Tagaytay. Our friend, Jel suggested we check out Tootsie's. It is along the highway just before Yellow Cab and Leslie's area. We arrived around 1PM. We were asked to sit outside because there are a lot of people inside the restaurant. It was not a problem for me. I wanted to feel the Tagaytay breeze, though it wasn't very cold that day.

We ordered two of their specialties: Kansi Bulalo and Roasted Lamb with Potatoes. Both were priced at less than Php500 which is good for 2-3 pax. Not bad, yeah?

Candlelit lunch. <3

Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe

After our lunch at Ristras, we dropped by WINK (Written in Ink) for our invitations. After that, we went to Jeff's basketball practice at Rocky's village. ABL is coming up and he will play again. Of course, he/we need a recovery meal. Hey, I got tired watching him too!

He suggested Mom and Tina's along C5. We always pass by this place but never stopped. The place was sooooo Christmasy. There are Christmas lights and decors everywhere. And it felt like home. Very cozy.

So who's mom and who's Tina in the picture? 

Ristras - BGC

It's been a few weeks since we dined out. I guess we were just busy? No, we're not. We went to our couturier, Te' Artsy Couture and had my gown fitted. I kind'a don't like the girl. She's a snob and not warm to her customers. We may be thirty minutes late, but that isn't a reason for her to frown. I'll write about our experience with her on my wedding blog.

So anyway, we later decided to have lunch at Ristras in Bonifacio Global City before heading to another wedding related meeting. We have a schedule with WINK for the wedding invites. Ristras is located near McKinley Drive. I heard it opens at 12nn so don't come too early. We had tacos and their famous burrito. Jeff was looking for some kind of drink that I don't remember.

Chili!!!

La Creperie - Shangri-La

We decided to go home right away after the movie but it was raining so hard! I told him we should kill some time for a while and have dessert. My treat. LOLS. We walked around and found this little vintage crepe shop in the middle of the hall. Glad we found it.

I really loved the colors of the shop. Pale blue and white and some yellows and grays. The chairs are white too. I'm such a fan of old things. We tried their choco-mango crepe. It was awesome!

La Creperie.

Sumo Sam - Shangri-La

Today is our anniversary. Yay for 365 days of togetherness! Jeff and I met in Shangri-La. I was surprised when I met him in front of Sumo Sam with tulips in his hands. I forgot to tell him no flowers because I am commuting. Then again, who am I to say to tulips. I mean, to him. Haha!

I wanted to have yellow tulips for my bouquet on our wedding. When we met our florist, Serge Igonia, he said that we can do it but there's a big chance that the flowers will wilt even before the reception ends. I was brokenhearted but I don't want that to happen. So we had to change my bouquet flowers to something else. this is why Jeff got my tulips today. Isn't he the sweetest? :)

We had lunch at Sumo Sam. We had our normal Japanese fix -- ricebowls and maki. I wonder why I didn't take pictures of the makis. We later watched Real Steel, a touch movie that will melt your heart.

Happy anniversary, love! :*

Christopher Rolls Bakery Cafe

We left Tanay after lunch. It was a great drive going back to Antipolo because it was chilly and drizzling a little. Jeff suggested we go to Charm to have a massage. There's this Thai massage parlor near my place that I visited a few months ago and I totally loved their service. Charm was my masseur. So I introduced this place to Jeff and he was totally satisfied too. We go to this place once or twice a month. For only Php350, we get an hour of foot massage and an hour of full body Thai massage. Yay! If you wanna visit them, check out their website at http://thaiboranmassage.com/.

Anyway, after having our massage, we felt hungry. So in front of the massage parlor was a bakery/restaurant. I told him that we should try it. The place was called Christopher Rolls Bakery Cafe. I used to eat here once in a while when we go out and drink in a nearby bar. A few months ago, my mom told me that she saw the place was a total wreck. I asked the staff what happened and he said that there was a fire in their kitchen and their gas tank exploded. The entire place was fixed now. The Rugby championships was also on when we went there.

Christopher Rolls Bakery Cafe.

Papa John's Pizza - BF Homes

Jeff picked me up in my house this morning. He said we're leaving this afternoon. We have a schedule of ring fitting today with the Franco's. We dropped by The Wedding Lounge once again and we finally saw our rings. We were very satisfied. I will post a picture of the ring later. :)

We drove to his house where he needs to finish some errands. We had lunch at Papa John's in BF. I forgot my camera in the car so I took pictures using my phone.

Papa John's BF Homes. 

Aristocrat Restaurant

My future husband and I at CCP while waiting for Stomped to start.

Our anniversary started today when Jeff asked me if I wanted to watch Stomped. And we're so dressed up! I was wearing a little black dress and he was in his barong. We looked so sosyal. Hahaha! Before the show started, he took me to Aristocrat along Roxas Blvd.

Jeff said that Aristocrat was the first to introduce the 24-hour store and not McDonald's. He said they used to go there when he was still small. I wish my family went out a lot too when I was small.

Joey Pepperoni - Pioneer

Today before going to the game, Jeff and I met with our jeweler, Jewelry by Franco to discuss the final design of our wedding bands. We booked them from the wedding expo in SMX last month so we got 40% off on our rings! Yay for savings! Ruth and Erick were very accommodating. They also suggest what is better for the designs that you choose. I like this couple. Turns out Jeff's friend, Carlo, also bought the engagement ring she gave to Rocky here. So if you're looking for a good jeweler, go try the Francos.

Anyway, we were starving and decided to eat first before going to Araneta for the game 1 of UAAP championship. There's a Joey Pepperoni beside The Wedding Lounge were Jewelry by Franco is.

Salt. Pepper. And some sauce.

Racks - Festival Supermall

I was yet again in Jeff's neck of woods. I had to visit our branch in Festival Supermall to conduct an orientation regarding a new promo. So anyway, before I went to the clinic. I asked Jeff if we can have lunch first. We met at South Station and walked to Festival. We walked around and decided to eat at Racks.

Racks Festival Supermall.

Charlie Chicken - BF Homes

It's Friday and I decided to see Jeff. I just miss him. I took the shuttle to BF Homes from Paseo Center at around 5:15PM. Traffic was really bad and I arrived in Sucat at 7PM. Yeah, traffic was that bad. Jeff picked me up at Shopwise Sucat. I've been bugging him about Charlie Chicken because we've been reading good reviews about it.

Charlie Chicken is along President Ave., which is very near Jeff's home in Tahanan Village. I was kinda disappointed about it. It wasn't as good as I thought it was. Or maybe, I just like Bonchon a lot.

Believe it or not, I just used my HTC Wildfire taking these pictures. I'm amazed about the picture quality. :)

Yummy Roast - Eastwood Mall

We discovered a great and affordable restaurant today in Eastwood. The chicken and rice are so delicious. And the best thing about it is it's very affordable. For only P99, you get unlimited rice. They have two kinds of rice, the plain rice and the yummy rice. The yummy rice tastes like the hainanese rice that you can buy in Singaporean restaurants.

We ordered six pieces of wings and four rice. Yep, we ate two rice each! We were able to enjoy a sumptuous meal for only P300+. I think Yummy Roast is a potential Bonchon killer. Or maybe it's just me.

Yummy Roast is near Food Junction in Eastwood Mall.

Mister Kabab - West Ave.

Ateneo has a game today versus the National University. Again, Ateneo won. After the game, we headed to Imagine Nation Photography office in Araneta Ave to get my photo. I had a photo shoot with them which they call The Boudoir Dolls. I had so much fun doing it. I believe every woman should try it. It was my gift for Jeff. You wanna see the picture? Nah, Jeff doesn't want to share it. Haha!

After dropping by Imagine Nation, we thought grabbing a bite because we realized we're already hungry. He suggested we go to Mister Kabab. 

Jeff's beef kebab. 

My chicken kebab.

Mister Kabab

95A West Ave., Quezon City

(02) 373-5941