FASTeatING

For the past few days, I don't have time to eat out  and spend  for a long hours of dining. My work requires me to have 15 minutes break therefore my only resort is to take/dine out. ;)

Bake Mac on Monday

micahs bake mac

Michas is known for there delectable pastries and cakes, but aside from that they also provide there own variety of Baked Macaroni. Way back in my HS days, I always drop by in Micha's to purchase baked Mac. The cheese and milk really taste well with the macaroni. at that time there serving was really big, you can't eat the whole portion of it. since then, hinahanap hanap ko na talaga yung taste nan bake mac nan Michas. You really cant resist it's delicious  taste. sa sobrang sarap nauubusan pa kami ;( 

KFC Pasta Bowl Creamy Tomato and Halo Halo Krushers on Wednesday

My work needs stamina to stand longer for 4-5 hours of work. Well at some times I cant have rice, I don't dare my self to eat heavily, it may cause me stomach pains. so carbohydrates?. Although breads are good sources carbs, it's to light for me energize. so i prefer pasta.

Creammy Tomato

The pasta looks pale, i don't see the creaminess of tomato in my bowl. a bad bad choice ;( and the taste was a little bit salty from the parmesan and the chopped KFC original Chicken. I want to enjoy it as much as i could but the taste is really bad.

Halo halo Krushers

but the good thing is the KFC halo halo Krushers. aside from my favorite strawberry and Mango Krushers, this really goin one to be one of my list. the bits of gulaman and other ingredients really taste great. I want some more ;)

*i cant have pictures of them credits to people who owns this pics ;)

SODA-liciuos

According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, Americans drink more than 50 gallons per capita of carbonated soft drinks each year. That adds up to thousands of extra calories, sugar, and who knows what else. 

But lets define first was is SODA. According to www.buzzle.com Soda is a chemical compound containing sodium and carbonates. Sodium bicarbonate also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, is a widely used form of soda in all soft drinks, cocktails and alcoholic beverages as well. 

Sodas are the most readily available and cheapest way to quench our thirst. but how much calories we can get from them? Here is a table showing the nutrional value of SODA.

Soda Type	Calories	Fat	Carbs	Caffeine(mg)
Pepsi (240ml)	100	0	28g	25
Diet Pepsi	0	0	0	24
Coca Cola Classic	97	0	27	23
Diet Coke	1.0	0	0.1	31
Orange Soda	120	0	32	0
Lime Soda	110	0	31	36
Soda Water	0	0	0	0

Trivia: If you drink only one coke a day for a whole year, that means your body has stored 17 lbs of fat!

Most people enjoy soda because of it’s taste. Well somehow it’s really delicious and most of the time we almost forget our meals because were drinking a lot of it. Sodas are really cheap and very convenient. You can have it anywhere you go, its available even on a 24/7 convenient store and mostly here in the country it’s part of the combo meals, like chicken meals with free soda.  

For some, they take it for granted to drink soda. They drink as much as they can in a day…. Not knowing the danger of consuming too much of it.

Based on the research conducted by pharmacytechniciancertification.net They found out the top ten seriously disturbing facts about sodas.

1. Can increased the risk of Osteoporosis
2. Passing Soda May be Harder Than You Think
3. Soda-holics on the Rise
4. Annual cost can be huge
5. Linked to tooth decay
6. Phosphorous content
7. Mountain Dew syndrome
8. What’s not on the label
9. Can cause cancer
10. Seeing is believing

To sum this up, SODA contains Phophoric acid that may interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients.

Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects. Most sodas include over 100 percent of the RDA of sugar.

Some Soda contains caffeine. Caffeinated drinks cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer.

Perhaps now you have idea on what are the possibilities you can get from soda but for every Filipino soda also has a positive part. It makes the family to bond together, to grow closer and live a happily ever after. We usually serve it in our dining if we have occasions like parties or even just simple merienda. It’s already part of our daily life. seems consuming of sodas can't really be irresistible, just keep in mind to drink in moderation. ;) or else…. You want to read it again haha

The Old Spaghetti House

After grooming myself at Benchfix, Jerz and I stroll around the 3^rd floor of SM Calamba. Appreciating the paintings display depicting the works of our national hero Jose Rizal. Well all the paintings are very unique and really interesting. Showcasing the works of calambenio makes all the Filipino to be proud of.

Unexpectedly, we saw our friend Mycah Formaran at TOSH. At first were uncertain to see if she really is she not until she gladly welcomes us in the store. Since were a bit hungry, we decided to dine in.

We embrace the ambience of the store, the cozy and light feeling make us feel comfortable. Light fixtures and display also adds interest that makes it good conversational pieces. Very lovely, although the store is small, you must be prepare for your big appetite.


 

I ordered a pesto with grilled chicken and mango shakes while Jerz, ordered classic lasagna and fresh mango.

Pesto with grilled chicken 

I like pesto, the oild based vinaigrette really brings out the natural and healthy flavor of the pasta. Either spaghetti or fettuccine, pesto really blends well with them. In TOSH,  the pesto and grilled chicken will cost you only for 160.00 php (inclusive of 10% tax and service charge). The plate was really enticing. The pesto really taste good, though basil and peanuts not jive well, I had to add more parmesan cheese to balance it. The strips of grilled chicken were somehow over cooked but it’s alright. I’m satisfied with it.

Classic Lasagna

Fresh Mango Shake

The classic Lasagna(170.00php) was a bit blunt according to Jerz preference, but for me it so milky and creamy. Overloaded with cheese and pomedoro sauce makes delicious. This is really mouth watering treat. It’s like baked Filipino styled spaghetti with lot’s and lot’s of cheese.

The fresh mango shakes was not good. It’s not satisfying and refreshing. A plain mango shake, I rather choose mango juice instead. I’t wasn’t cold enough to quench our thirst. too bad.

After a while, we ask our self if we have enough? Hmmm both of us agree “No” but wait it’s not too late. We ask the menu and look for dessert.

It took us a while before we order for dessert, we are deciding if we share it or not.

Chocolate Truffle Pie

But then we shared a chocolate truffle pie (125.00). This lush chocolate dessert top with whipped cream really tastes great. It really pulls out our sweet tooth, yummy! The caramel sauce also adds sweetness to the truffle that makes it sweeter. the chocolate was really pure and dense. It was really worth it! I guarantee you…. It’s a must try! J I assure you gotta fall in love with it.

We are really satisfied and happy with our TOSH break. I will be back soon for more. J I also want to give credits to Myca for giving us great discounts!!

Food Score: 4/5     Place:5/5    Service:4/5

Located at 3^rd Floor SM Calamba City

Elbiccino

It was late in the evening and there is no PUJ’s passing by from the campus. So I decided to drop by at BOSTON coffee shop in Grove. The only coffee store available 24/7 in Elbi. I would like to sit down and stay for a while but I need to go home as soon as possible. And since it’s already late I choose to order elbiccino.

Elbiccino truly wakes up my senses the bitter taste of dark roasted coffee, and coffee jelly really bombs my tired body. I like the coffee jelly, its wobbly and not too chewy just right to give some kick. The ice cream topping balances the sweetness of the coffee which gives the whole body of the frappe. I can't help my self to zip and zip maybe because i'm just thirsty after a long day of work ;)

A last sweet treat ends up my day as I go my way home.

I will surely come back to BOSTON to tell you more stories.

BTW I credit this picture to pinkurinal.com tnx!

Food Score: 3/5
located at Lopez Ave. Grove, Batong Malake, Elbi

Family Feast

Until now I can’t believe I’m already 21. I once ask my self in the mirror… do I look like 21? Act like 21? Feel like 21? But I’m not… I look 3x older (kiddin aside). They say turning 21 is the mark of manhood and it must be celebrated. :P

2 weeks ago, my friend Topher Jerz suggests to have it in Pizza Hut Olivarez (elbi) so he can provide me some discounts. And since he insists I agree with his deal. He will get another set of pizza for free (from his pocket actually). How cool is that. So we both decided to have it on the 16^th by 3pm.

meet Topher aka Jerz

yuki and dustin

3:00 pm > 4:00 pm > 5:00pm I thought no will come, many replied they can not make it cause they have important things to do. But I’m glad I’m with Yuki and Dustin who spend two hours of waiting inside the chain. We already talk for bunch of things, taking pictures, blah blah blah and due to our so called “hallucination”; we have thought a girl passing by is one of our friend Gem. Yikes. We stared as her as she walk inside the mall but she vanish. Creepy.

Before the night falls Gem and Xai arrived but still we can not start without our boss. He was so busy that day that he hasn’t expected it much. After 30 mins he arrived, tired and exhausted. Finally, the wait is over. Topher He present to us his MOT or the “Moment Of Truth” the actual procedure of a team player will present his menu. ;) It was a very fun experience seeing a friend entertaining us to order in his menu. But the thing is he really did a very special treatment, (performance level ika nga). We purchase the 1 Family feast (for 749.00 pesos it consist of of 1 Family Supreme pan pizza, 1 plate of Ceasar Salad, 1 plate of fettucini Ala king, 1 Plate of Bolognese with meat balls, 4 cold lemonades) 1 plate of pesto penne(149.00),2 cold ice teas (49.00 pesos each) and 1 hot xtra cheese dip(35.00) for Pizza Huts Stuffed Crust pizza (Courtesy of Jerz). Then you do the math. Haha remember every purchase of food items is inclusive of 10% vat, and service charge.  After taking his order, Jerz stood up and walk like Venus on a runway. (Taray nan lolo mo.)haha

A Caesar salad is a nice way to start. With it’s fresh and organic ingredients; vegetarians, vegan, and even meat lovers will fall in love with this dish. Simple as it looks like but it’s taste was very exceptional. The dressing is just right to cover the greens, it’s not too salty and cheesy (parmesan).

Cesar Salad

Fettuccine ala King

Fettuccine Ala king a combination of chicken, ham, and mid garlic flavor. Light white sauce wrap up the taste of fettuccine. The bell peppers also enhance it white sauce.

To balance the light taste of fettuccine, a plate of pasta Bolognese was also serve. It’s like mountain of red pasta top with three Italian meatballs. An explosion of red dressing over a big ball of spaghetti makes me to get some more.

Pasta Bolognese

Aside form the two pasta, we also ordered a pesto penne (as requested by our boss).  Chicken strips sautéed on a white cream sauce and tossed with the penne. Jerz really made a good suggestion, I like this more compare with the first white pasta.

Pasta Chicken Penne

And now for the heaviest part of the evening, eating the two family sized pizza.

but wait drink first to taste them all well! 

The family supreme pizza is serve with six enchanting toppings; beef, pepperoni, bell pepper, mushrooms and onion rings. Well it’s the classic pizza serve at pizza hut. The equal amount of toppings makes the pizza look perfectly and not overloaded. Jers lifted up one slice as part of their SOP, the cheese will individually melt down as he pull it up but unfortunately it doesn’t happen hihi. Crust is well done like soft bread which I like the most. I don’t like pizza crust as hard as stone and charged in the oven for a long time. It’s kinda heavy, at some point I cant eat more pizza.

family supreme pizza

The rewarding part….

Jerz treat us with pizza huts cheesy pops a 24 pops with mozzarella and cheddar cheese. It’s like a crown of chunks in a pan pizza of bacon cheese burger supreme. The pops are soft and chewy; the cheese combines well inside a roll of bread. Dipping it with the extra deep cheese is a blast. Yum as a crazy cheese lover, I want more cheesy pops waah I wonder how it will looks like in a 1 pizza there is a hundred cheesy pops(lol) I just love it again and again.

cheesy pops

The bacon cheese burger pizza supreme is the same as burger on a fast food chain. yes! it does… haha the flavor is the same, the chop bacon and meat over the melted cheese was awesome.

We filled the evening with lots of fun stories, heavy meals and unending laugh trips. We even wear party hats that weren’t fit. Taking wacky shots with xai was fun! Take a look in her blogsite http://lifebeginsattwenty.blogspot.com/.

thank you guys...oops and credits to Dustin

9:00pm we packed our things up, paid the bills and out. I’m so much full, my tummy is a like bomb ready to explode in 2 minutes. I really have a good time with my true long lovelable 5 friends. Xai, yuki, dustin, jerz and gem.  I hope and  Zai and mae anne are with us, but it’s not to late I have more years to enjoy life with them.!! J

Food score: 4/5    Place: 5/5   Service:4/5

Located in upper grounds of Olivarez Plaza, Los Banos, Laguna

Mang Toto's Inasal

A journey of a true blooded knight will never be complete without eating in Mang Toto’s Inasal.

LABIDABS

Located in front of our college building, this smoking hot (literally) dining restaurant chain is a witness of some of my happiest moments in college years. Blow outs, celebrations and casual meetings are some of these fond memories. Even we soaked on a wet rainy monday or dried out on arid sunny friday, nothing can stop us to eat in our favorite lunch partner. Foods are prepared and cooked right before your eyes, so we are really sure that the food is fresh and clean.

THOMASSCERS

Mang toto’s Inasal or TOTOS is known for it’s Bacolod dishes. Mainly most of there items are marinated with their unique ingredient which give their products a distinct taste. Here is my top 5 list of Totos’ best.

5. Yema and other sweets. Actually, this is not their main products, but I like recognize these goodies since it makes me happy after eating a heavy meal. ;)

4. Barbeques.  For less than 50.00php you can already enjoy your lunch with a two sticks of pork BBQ’s, rice and soup. It’s really good for a student who has a tight budget for food. It’s also convenient to those who has to do their homeworks or study for their next class.

3. Sisig. As of now they provide blue marline sisig and pork sisig. Consequently, I haven’t eat blue marline since it’s fish it may trigger my allergies but I prefer pork sisig. They serve a right portion of sigsig top with fresh egg on top. When they serve the sizzling plate on your table, you must combine the egg while its fresh, so it will cooked immediately and enhance the flavor of the sisig. I also suggest to add mayonnaise to your sisig. Just try it! ;)

Meng and Xina 

Ron and Jelyn

2. Pork chops and Liempo. These are best and affordable meals in totos. Most of the time these items are sold out due to unwavering students demand. I remember in the first days of TOTOS, every order of liempo is almost a foot long wide and we need to buy more extra rice just to cover the left liempo. That’s really feed are stomach to the extent we can not stand and stay longer.

peter holding a tray of chops 

1. Chicken Inasal. Was there main attraction, you choose either picho (thigh), paa (leeg) or pak-pak (wings). These marinated grilled chicken really taste good, especially dipping it in toyomansi (soysauce and calamansi). Perfect!! It will surely satisfy your hungry appetite.

"caught in the act"

Recently, I return to my sole school where I meet my college barkada. Seeing each other again was a big joy for us. We talk and walk like we never seen each other for a long years until we felt our hunger. And where else we will eat? ;) (Obviously.) Catching up our untold stories was our drama. I did miss my labidabs family.

another story has become to life..surely i'll come back to TOTOS to make more remarkable moments.

Follow Mang TOTOS at facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/MangTotosChiken

*photos courtesy of Yen Villaflor's album

Kari.......Po-ku

Recently we experience the bagyong Dodong and by these times we can not leave our home sweet home and eat out to enjoy warm soups.

While watching tv, I saw the new commercial of Lucky Me’s Kari and Po-Ku. I was so curious of what the two Asian men arguing on these two new instant Ramen.

Kari is a Japanee beef curry. Surely curry lovers will love this much, the beef and curry flavor resembles Indian-asian taste. It’s not spicy because the curry spice was strong (taste and aroma wise) … it’s just light and warm soup.

Kari

Poku according to lucky me was Japan’s #1 noodle flavor!! Well I absolutely agree! The soups really taste good, the rich flavor of the pork and the spices like onions, garlic, star anise and other combines well to bring out the Asian flair. The soup was not strong but it’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

poku

To end up, I prefer Poku because of it’s pleasant flavor and it’s more ASIAN taste than Kari ;) but both are really taste good especially in this cold and wet season. Lucky Me! provide this very convenient way to enjoy, aside from that they have the NAPA seals, that proves the product uses natural green tea extract that preserves the item naturally.