and this is why am FAT!!!

Yummy homemade Brazo de Mercedes -- must have eaten it all in two days!!!
was just wondering tonite why I gained weight and a bit of a tummy this Holiday Season -- though I ate not more than I usually do -- I even did a lot of running around for the wedding this past weekend and did not ge to eat much of the feasts....

I believe I finally figured it out... it is all the sweet treats... home made cakes by David & Ace... cakes from Red Ribbon, Goldilocks & Max's... kakanins from just about everywhere.... and now, SEE's Chocolates all the way from America that my friend sent to me after seeing my XMAS wish list -- boy, how I have missed See's candies (Thanks Keeennnnniiiieeeee!!!! For Making Another Wish Come True!!!)...

Lasagna ala Marketchow

Friday nite, while I was coloring Shaun's hair, David was doing what he does BEST -- making something of what ingredients we do have in the refrigerator... after taking out a few things, he realized we happen to have enough for a SPINACH LASAGNA... Freestyle that is, as he was making do of what's available...
The Challenge: Spinach Lasagna ala Freestyle
Available Ingredients: Tri color Pepper, Onions, Garlic, Bayleaf, Carrots, Spinach Pasta & Sauce.Layers of Spinach Pasta filled with the sauteed veggies and sauce.
The Tasty Result, complete with slices of Baguette.

surprise! surprise!

YOWZA!!! I never even knew there was such a thing as Open Faced Pancakes!!!

When David told me he was making pancakess for breakfast one morning; then I was served these flat croissants; I thought for sure he had messed up somewhere.... and that he was just making it up when he kept calling them Open Faced... so I had to google it later on, and Lo and Behold, they do EXISTS!!!
and I can honestly say, I like this version sooooo much more... it was tasty and endless possibilities as to what to eat them with....

so keep the surprises coming, Marketchow!!!

SumoSam, Shangrila Mall - Edsa, Philippines

Located at my FAVE Mall in Manila, Shangrila-Edsa, SumoSam has got to be one of the BEST -- in just about everything! -- a Japanese Restaurant has to offer...

I first tried this place a couple of years ago, after finding out that it is owned by a FAVE actor of mine, Marvin Augustin... thought I would give it a shot just for the heck of it... I loved it -- and I have been a BIG FAN and FREQUENT visitor since!!!
From the really cool Menu... to the Deliciously, well presented, food... and right down to the Great & Friendly Services by the rainbow colored accented hair staff (this is a prerequisite for those who works here!) -- everything is just to my liking!!!

Our fabulous meal along with a shot of the equally fabulous decor...
Photos are taken during my last visit in Manila with my friend, Juliana... Of course, I had to start out her visit by showing her my most favorite places -- the Shangrila Mall, ZARA, & SumoSam...

Krispy Kreme Holiday Treats

Am missing them already..... got to TASTE a few of these SWEET SNOWMAN TREATs being offered by Krispy Kreme for the Holidays... Guarantee, once you have one Krispy Kreme Doughnut - you cannot stop... soooo addictive....Juliana and I were able to have this Holiday Tasty Treat last month, we each had one, plus another extra FAVE... told you you cannot stop with just one!!!
Of course, my first Krispy Kreme Experience was in the Bay Area a few years back... then each and every visit, we would make sure to stop by there for some DOUGHNUT treats.. deliciously fattening but who cares!!!
Since last year though, branches of this sinful place opened up all over Manila... am sure they know the Filipinos are BIIIG on SWEET THINGS -- I could not be HAPPIER, as am able to have their treats at least once, each and every visit...

The Beauty In Ugly

How many times have we all traveled to a Foreign land, or even go to a friend's home for dinner, and was served something never in your wild IMAGINATION would you thought about as edible?? And yet, for the others, they are delicacies....

Over my travels, I have seen people eat dogs, beetles, grasshoppers, eggs with almost formed little chickies, snakes, and so many more to remember... actually, i do try to forget them...

A couple of nites ago while grocery shopping with marketchow, we happen upon these froggies... all de-skinned but totally together... of course, at first site one wants to PUKE... but the more I look at it the more I had to think that it must be a delicate art to be able to painstakingly de-skin these creatures without cutting them up in pieces... So, no matter how UGLY the thought of eating it is -- in fairness, I still was able to find some beauty in it... something we ought to do in our everyday life, travels, etc... WE MUST ALWAYS FIND THE BEAUTY IN UGLY!

5 Cows : Manila, Philippines

Hanging out at TriNoma with Juliana for the day... seeing a movie, shopping, and food -- of course! I wanted to try something I have yet to try before... and at the same time take Juliana to a themed restaurant, someplace I know we both will love -- for it's uniqueness... 5 COWS, was our choice!!!

The NEON colored cow heads on the front of the restaurant was enough to draw us in for lunch... the RUSTIC white decor was an added bonus... minimal, clean, with some cow knick knacks here and there... The service was pretty good,too -- with plentiful attentive staff... Each and everyone beaming with a genuine smile on their faces as they bring us our orders or refill our water glasses...

The food was pretty good, too... for the type of restaurant that it is... my Cheeseburger was tasty and a pretty good size... and Juliana's pasta was not too bad either... nothing to boast about but certainly nothing to complain about, either... just right to satisfy the moment's hunger and taste for something different... and fun!!!Alas, we were sooo full by the time we finished our main courses -- the servings were plentiful -- no room for their famous desserts!!! Besides we already planned on the KRISPY KREME Snowman Treats... Oh well, it just means I will be heading back there again soon... to get the SWEETS Experience!!!