Via Mare

Affordable and delicious food. Place' ambiance is quiet and cozy.. You'll be surprised with the prices of the food, coz it's not that expensive. Think of the feeling na you're eating a lugaw in a classy resto.  ^_^

Halo-Halo

Palitaw (P42)

Poached rice patties with grated coconut and toasted sesame seeds

One of the best lugaw in town
Lugaw Toppings (P195, good for 2)Rice porridge topped with adobo flakes, salted duck egg, crisp tofu, pork kilawin, fried wanton, garlic flakes and spring onions

Food Rating out of 5 star:    ★★★★★Place Rating out of 5 star:★★★★★
*Prices from munch punch.
Shangri-la Plaza MallG/F Shangri-la Plaza Mall, EDSAWack Wack, Mandaluyong(02) 632-0350

Ampalaya Roll

Lumpia veggie version. Para sa mga batang hindi kumakain ng ampalaya, try this daddies & mommies, your kids might love this lumpiang ampalaya.

Ingredients:

ampalaya

cheese

tuna

lumpia wrapper

Direction:

1. Slice the ampalaya into lengthwise. (Note:  improperly prepared ampalaya can become too bitter, so right after slicing, wash it at least twice, then immerse in clean water, add salt and set aside.)

2. Boil ampalaya. Do not stir, so the dish wont taste bitter. Add a dash of salt or magic sarap to taste. Then add tuna.

3. Scramble the eggs. Add a pinch of salt. Fry in a pan. Let it cool then slice into lengthwise. 

4. Slice cheese into thin.

5. Prepare lumpia wrapper. 

6. Roll up slice of ampalaya with tuna, slice of egg and cheese into the wrapper.

7. Once completed wrapping up all ampalaya mixed, deep fry until golden brown.

Gerry's Grill

       

House Special and my new favorite: Beef Kaldereta (225.00)Ang tender ng beef cubes. And I liked the very tasty sauce, sweet, kulang lang sa anghang. This order is good for 2, pero dahil masarap, halos ako lang ang naka-ubos. :)

Special Iced Tea (65.00)Which is masarap din. One of the best iced tea!

Garlic Rice (35.00) 

Food Rating out of 5 star:  ★★★★★Place Rating out of 5 star: ★★★★ (non-smoking area)

*Prices from munch punch.
SM City North EDSA-Sky GardenSto. Cristo, Quezon City(02) 332-1111

Homemade Milk Tea with Pearl

Ingredients:
Jasmine tea or any variation
slightly frozen nestle cream or fresh milk
tapioca pearl
brown sugar
ice
water


Directions:
1. Boil water in a large pot.
2. Add tapioca pearls in the boiling water, stir.
3. While waiting on the tapioca, prepare tea/bag in a cup of hot water.
3. Continue to stir tapioca to prevent from sticking in the bottom of the pot. The tapioca pearls should float in the water.
4. Boil for about 15 minutes with the pot cover.
5. Remove from heat and drain 3/4 of the water.
6. Add some water again if you want syrup and bring to boil again.
7. Cook for another 15 minutes or until your desired tenderness.  Add brown sugar.
8. Turn the heat off.
9. Put pearl in a glass then the frozen nestle cream, pour the tea.

Mandu: Korean Dumpling

Tried another korean food, but I guess this is a Filipino version because I found out on my google buddy that the main ingredient of mandu is pork, tofu and cabbage kimchi, while the one I bought is made of pork and pechay (sabi ni Kuya nagtitinda). I am disappointed sa sauce, hindi ganun kasarap, just an ordinary soy sauce and ketchup.. Pero okay na din snack. :)

Food Rating out of 5 star: ★★
Place Rating out of 5 star: ★★

Robinsons Pioneer1st floor, near supermarket

Pumpkin Soup

New experimentation.. A healthy veggie soup :)

Ingredients:
squash
milk/cream
salt to taste
butter
croutons (optional)

Directions:
1. Cut squash into pieces. Puree squash using a food processor or blender.
2. Put squash puree in a large saucepan. Bring to boil.
3. Add butter, salt or magic sarap then milk. Stir.
4. Pour into bowl. Top with croutons.

Garlic Bagoong Rice

I was invited to have dinner at KKK-SM megamall (my bf's cousin from Australia). They missed Filipino that's why they ordered authentic pinoy food, and one is Binagoongan Rice, with tocino ( If I'm not mistaken). Masarap siya, so noong birthday ko sinubukan ko lutuin. Hindi ko lang gaanong nagawang brown yung bagoong kaya pinkish pa ang color. 

Ingredients:
bagoong alamang

garlic bits

cooked rice

green mango

Directions:
1. In a non-stick pan, heat 1/4 butter, saute garlic bits until roasted. Remove half of garlic and set aside.

2. Add bagoong alamang, add sugar and cook until brown.

3. Add cooked rice, toss, make sure bagoong is mix well with the rice.

4. Transfer in a bowl, garnish with thin sliced of green mango and garlic.

Anniversary Cake for Him

My sweet treat for our 5th anniversary (last Jan 5, 2012). It was my first time to bake a cake. It took me 5 hours (for a beginner like me, I think it's not bad). I used Pillsbury devils cake, nestle cream for the whip cream, mallows, chocolate drops, and melted cadbury chocolate and mold it in hearts, and scrapbook letterings for the message.

He told me that he was so surprised when he saw it as he picked it up in their receptionist @ Plantersbank Makati. I was so happy with his reaction, it melts my heart. Hihi. Thanks for taking a picture. 

Pho Hoa Vietnamese Noodle House

My first Vietnamese food experience! ツ

Grilled Pork and Fried Spring Rolls with Rice (My choice) P255

Vegetarian Noodle Soup with Assorted Vegetables (P235)
I forgot the name of veggie... :D

Food Rating out of 5 star: ★★★
Place Rating out of 5 star: ★★★

*Prices from munch punch.

SM Megamall A

G/F SM Megamall-Bldg A, Doña Julia Vargas AveWack Wack, Mandaluyong(02) 636-6692

Hearty Pine Lumpia

Ingredients:
puso ng saging
crushed pineapple
carrots
kintsay
small amount of ground pork

Cooking directions:
Just like the usual lumpiang shanghai, there are only added ingredients. 

Gelatissimo

1st gelato experience. :) While waiting for his Aunt’s arrival (last december 2010), we stayed and had dessert @Gelatissimo Greenbelt 5. We ordered choco mint, ferrero and tiramisu. 

Food Rating out of 5 star: ★★★★★
Place Rating out of 5 star: ★★★★

Greenbelt 5

2/F Greenbelt 5, Legaspi StAyala Center, Makati(02) 728-3587

Digestive biscuits

BF bought me this Marks & Spencer milk chocolate biscuit. My first time. I thought M&S was just a clothing store.. :D

New Year 2012

Sauteed shrimp, clam, mushroom in oyster, topped with quail eggs and parsley

Blogging food for last 2012.. I, Dadi and mommy's dish. 




Ingredients:
ground pork
green peas
hotdog
raisin
carrots
egg
flour
magic sarap
ground pepper
barbecue sauce
chorizo
Just like an embotido with barbecue sauce. 





I cooked the pasta (check out my pasta tab), baked tahong and garlic bread. :)

Pork Siomai

My tita's home made pork siomai with malunggay and kalabasa.

Ham & Corn Carbonara

I prepared this pasta last New Year’s Eve. 

Ingredients:

ham

corn kernel

nestle cream

evap milk

cheese

parsley

mushroom

spaghetti noodles

Cooking directions:

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti noodles until al dente. Drain well. Toss with 1 tablespoon of oil, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile in a large skillet, cook chopped ham until slightly crisp, add mushroom and corn kernel. Add chopped onion and garlic and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add nestle cream and evap, mix well, add grated cheese, remove from heat when cheese melts.

3. Toss noodles with the white sauce. Serve immediately parsley sprinkle on top, and cheese.

Cheesy Eggplant Lasagna

Layered lasagna and slightly fried eggplant, topped with cream cheese and parsley. It was my sister’s birthday when I baked this, and was my first time too. I’m glad that family, friends and relatives so loved the taste [one says “the best in town” thank you! hihi :)]

Ingredients:eggplantlasagna noodlesnestle creammagnolia quickmelt cheeseparsleyspaghetti sauceground porkblack pepper

Honey Bacon Strips In Leaves & Flowers

Honey cured bacon strips with cauliflower tops plus arugula leaves. Sauteed cauliflower, tomato, garlic & parmesan cheese tops. Left over arugula leaves with crushed chili pepper from dear darla pizza. Because I woke up early I decided to cook breakfast for the family and thanks to the left over arugula leaves from yellow cab the night before this. 

Chicken Stroganoff

Ingredients:
chicken breast

black pepper

cream

mushroom

garlic powder

onion spring

cheese

butter

Cooking directions:
1. Slice chicken breast into strips or half size. Rub with black pepper, garlic, and salt.

2. Steam chicken with onion spring.

3. SAUCE: Saute mushroom in a butter, add cream, stir until medium brown, add grated cheese.

4. Pour cream sauce over steamed chicken.

Saba-Corned Beef

Bored in your potato corned beef? Try this banana version, "saba". I once crave for corned beef but with a sweet taste. I came up of adding saba instead of the usual potato. 

Ingredients:

Corned beef

Saging na saba

garlic

onion

spring onion

brown

sugar

Preparing directions:

1. Cut saging na saba into halves, rub with brown sugar.

2. Minced onion and garlic.

Cooking directions:

1. In a non-stick pan, pour over a little amount of cooking oil. Stir fry saging na saba, until brown or tender. Set aside.

2. Saute minced onion and garlic. Add corned beef.

3. Sprinkle with italian seasoning or rosemary.

Honey Lemon Dory

First time to create this recipe. Because it was Holy Week that time, and my family has the tradition of no meat, I decided to cook our dinner. It's a bit expensive, but worth it. 

Ingredients:

Dory Fish Fillet

Honey syrup

Fresh basil leaves

Lemon

butter

Marinade directions:

1. Cut lemon into halves then squeeze over honey syrup, add salt.

2. Slice fish fillet into 2 inches.

3. Pour honey lemon mixture into sliced fish fillet. Rub each slice to the mixture. Marinate for 30 minutes. Set aside in refrigerator.

Cooking directions:

1. In a non-stick pan or grilling pan, melt 1/4 butter, cooked marinated fish fillet until golden brown. You can add some syrup while cooking the fish.

2. After cooking all the fillet, spoon sauce over the fish. Sprinkle with basil and garnish with left sliced lemon.

Some says, it tastes like a leche flan.