Goldilocks

If I wanted Filipino food, I would skip the food court not only food is serve cold, often times it's unappetizing. If I can't have it at home, because cooking is not one of my many talents *hehe* , I would head to the nearest restaurant or diner to give in to my cravings. That's what happen one Thursday afternoon. After my follow up check up, I had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy a few weeks ago, my mom and I decided to have our lunch at SM Calamba. The many times we went there, Chowking was our go to place due to the fact that I can only eat kangkong and siomai because of my gall bladder problems. Imagine my frustrations when I wanted to eat something really good but I can't because the choices are limited to steamed or boiled and bland. That was before the surgery now I can eat anything (including my favorites) but in small amounts. Hooray! That is better than nothing at all.

To cut the story short, we head out to SM Calamba. With Filipino food in mind knowing that we have limited dining choices, I knew Goldilocks will never disappoint. I have always known Goldilocks as a bakeshop. The cakes for different occasions  whether it's for a 7th birthday or an 18th, a graduation or for just random get together. The fluffy mamon and ensaymada, which I love. How about their polvoron and caramel popcorn for your sudden cravings. The success of Goldilocks lead them to expand and offer food choices, preferably Filipino favorites. 

One of which is Kare-Kare, my all time favorite pinoy dish. Knowing that Goldilocks offer such, what else can I do. Right? :)

Kare Kare Ala Carte: Php 135 ; w/rice Php 150

I really love their Kare Kare. I love this after my mom's version *hehe* You can really smell the peanut and I just fell for that. It is really good especially with bagoong on the side. The tripe is tender and they didn't scrimp on the veggies. The serving size is good enough for two. This is a must try. Thumbs up! 

Rellenong Bangus Medley (Php 140)

The mom ordered the Rellenong Bangus Medley comes with a sotanghon and it is served with a 12oz pineapple juice and a cathedral window slice. Both the relleno and the sotanghon are my mom's favorite. I get a taste of both and agree with her that both are delicious and tasty. 

Cathedral Window Slice

Isn't it wonderful? It's a tedious process to make your own Cathedral Window Jelly. Good thing it is serve at Goldilocks as well. I like the firmness and the not so sweet jelly and get the creamy milky flavor which I love. 

Goldilocks surely knows how to capture the heart of Filipinos. It is evident with there almost 5 decades standing strong and firm. It is not only a brand but is considered now, a tradition.

See yah! Ciao

Mang Inasal: Nuot sa sarap!

I think it is Mang Inasal who started the UNLIMITED RICE craze way way back that we Filipinos absolutely love. Considering the long waiting lines and cramped dining place, Mang Inasal definitely made it's way to the Filipinos heart. With it's distinctively Pinoy ambiance and pinoy na pinoy na lasa plus swak na swak sa budget no wonder it is a hit until now.

Mang Inasal is our go to place after running sessions. Replenishing from lost energy (and calories?! ) *wink* Chicken Inasal Pecho without a doubt, would always make it on our table. The size of their chicken is enough for my buddies to have 4-5 cups of rice or more, in which I don't know where they store while I can only take down two. Of all the many reasons why I love Mang Inasal, eating with your bare hands is what I like most. No one would mind. Would you?

 

Grilled Boneless Bangus

At any other time I would have ordered Pecho, but now is not that time. Instead, I had Grilled Boneless Bangus. Which, in turn, came out to be really savory and smoky. It was good. Really good. Accompanied by their sinigang soup, the pairing was just PERFECT and makes you want to call for another cup of rice.

Halo-Halo

I also tried Mang Inasal's Halo Halo. For Php 69, it was creamy and not to sweet which I like because I'm not a sweet tooth. The ingredients were overflowing and to finish it, it was topped with an ice cream and barquillos that makes it more appetizing. The only thing that I noticed was the sago was really tough to eat but other than that I'm o-kay.

Mang Inasal experience always make your tummy happy and your wallet happier. :)

Till next time! Ciao! 

SumoSam ~ Crafted the Japanese way

I'm back! I am apologizing for the delayed posting in this little world of mine. I'm fixing a lot of things from the real world which is becoming so stressing I think I'm growing eye-bags and wrinkles... NOoooo!!! And there's not a lot of things to share except for personal issues which I doubt someone would like to hear. But I did find a spare time to finally share a little get together with my mom and two brothers. It's my younger bros 18th birthday, yikes! Our baby is no longer a baby. How time flies really fast. Happy Birthday my dearest brother you know I love you to the moon and back.

Birthdays like this means complete family, the dad, the mom, the two brothers and I. Now I know it'll never be. I was really hesitant for a celebration because my father passed away two months ago. Heck, I didn't celebrate my own birthday because I'm not up for it. But we have too, because apparently life has to go on and I know my dad doesn't want us to stay hidden on our caves. Life is a celebration and we have to make the most out of it and make memories to cherish.

So off we went to Nuvali to scout the area and have a breathe of fresh air or not. *hehe* in the midst of the city. Here are some of the pictures I've taken:

I remembered I told you once that occasions like this means Chinese or Japanese food, a lot of things changed but this one, NEVER. Brother like japanese food, we had it his way. We had chosen SumoSam since we haven't tried it.

If you know me well, you know that I will always have a serving of ramen but my two brothers beat me for it, they both ordered TONKOTSO RAMEN and CHASU RAMEN. So I did settle for a CHICKEN TERIYAKI BENTO while my mom had TONKOTSU SET ( Pork loin).

Tonkotso Ramen

You can choose from either SHOYU and MISO base. The shoyu is sweet while miso has a combination of both sweet and salty. My brother chose the latter. I get to taste the base and it has the right balance of sweet and salty. My brother agreed with me. He finished it to the bottom.

Chasu Ramen

I forgot to asked what the base is but it has subtle and slightly sweet taste compared to Tonkotso Ramen.  

Tonkotso Set

I haven't tried Yabu but this looks like Yabu except for the part that you'll do your own grinding for the sauce they don't do that here in SumoSam. I was actually looking forward for it because the pictures say so but instead they gave us I dont know what it's called but it's not the mortar and pestle thing. The set comes with a handful of cabbage and a miso soup and some picked veggies for the side.

The big bento box

Chicken Teriyaki

Sashimi. My Favorite

For myself, I had Chicken Teriyaki and it was served in a big bento box that I wanted to take home myself. *heehee. It comes with a miso soup and slices of pineapple for dessert. The Chicken Teriyaki is tender and is not too sweet. The sashimi is fresh and it melt's in your mouth.

The food may come as a bit pricey for me but considering the huge serving, who am I to complain right? Not to mention you can also ask for additional cabbage and miso soup. That is so awesome because I love both! Heehee!

The mini celebration dinner turns out great we share laughs and tears, we all miss our dad and his jokes. He's the strict but funny guy that everyone loves. He may not be physically here to celebrate with us but I know he's smiling on us from heaven. We're taking small steps dad. One day at a time.

Till next time! Ciao! 

A Little Piece of Me

Hi guys!!!

I AM SORRY. I know right?! What a way to start a post. Time pass like a blink of an eye. I've been neglecting this blog since March and I am apologizing for my procrastination. A lot of things have change and I can't still get a hang of it. I'm still grieving for the loss of my dad due to liver cancer hence the hiatus. I feel heart broken. My life turned upside-down after that and I don't know where to start. I don't know, it's just that I feel lost all of a sudden. I am not ready for such drastic change in our family. Since I'm the eldest I have to step in to all the responsibilities that is left by my dad. I AM SCARED. I AM AFRAID. But it's already there and and I cannot change the change so I just have to face it and not get my fear of failure to dictate my life. I'm doing the best I can. I know I can do this. Please pray for me people. Love y'all!