New Seafood Offerings at Yabu, The House of Katsu

Ever since Yabu opened at the SM Megamall Atrium last year, Paul and I have been frequenting this place whenever the craving for good authentic Japanese katsu comes up. In Manila, Yabu tops our list as the best go-to place for katsudon and tonkatsu.


Thus, when I got a pretty invite to visit Yabu a few week ago, I immediately said yes as I would love to check out the new product offerings from our favorite katsu place. Together with fellow blogger Richard, we were one of the first guests to arrive and while waiting for the rest, we shared their four appetizers available in the menu. We had the Wakame + Edamame -- I love these two as they make a good starter combination. The wakame salad stays crisp and refreshing while the edamame is somethign that I enjoy munching on. Open the boiled pod and sprinkle a little Japanese salt because eating the peas inside.


We also had the Hiyayakko Tofu + Superior Egg and Potato Salad. I wasn't able to try the tofu as I'm trying to stay away from soy but the Potato, Egg salad was creamy and something kids will also like.


I also had some Watermelon Shake as well. This is something that I always order whenever I'm in the mood to have some fruit shake to go with my meal.

Kitchen Talk : Cook it up with Solane!

*SPONSORED POST*

As much as I enjoy eating out, there are just some days that I really appreciate a good home-cooked meal prepared by Mommy. I grew up having mostly Chinese food at home but my favorites include Mom’s Chicken and Pork Adobo, her signature Corned Beef Macaroni and of course, her delicious Curry Fried Rice. Not wanting to give out excuses but really, how can one stay slim with all these delicious food coming out from our kitchen?

How I wish I got Mom’s talent in cooking (and her slim frame too! Haha). I guess, for a while back she saw a glimmer of hope when I began taking cooking classes every summer and I would spend every weekend trying out various recipes from Yummy Magazine. Sure, I’d make a mess but I’m pretty proud of my edible creations to say the least. Weekends got pretty busy that I haven’t cooked anything in months!

My Pasta Specialties:
Italian Eggplant Lasagna
Three Cheese Penne
Fusilli alla Genovese ala Frannywanny

Oh how I miss cooking! The smell of stir-fried garlic, the sight of cookies and cakes rising and taking shape, and definitely, the sense of satisfaction as I watch Paul and my family enjoy my kitchen creations.

Cooking should always be taken seriously. Cook with your heart and with a big smile on your face. My Kongkong and Mommy would always say that one who cooks with a grumpy disposition will surely give the dish an awful taste. I really didn’t understand this at first but after watching Rataouille and Julie and Julia, I realized that cooking is a passion. There’s no right or wrong but instead you use all your senses to determine the right flavor for you.


Safety is also another thing one should take note of when cooking. The last thing we want is to burn the house down due to negligence in keeping your kitchen safe. It all begins by choosing the right cooking gas for you. In our household, Mommy only trusts one brand and that’s Solane. It used to be called Shellane but it now sports a new name and a cute new logo too! Nonetheless, it continues to assure us with the same trusted quality and safety mechanisms and procedures. I guess that should be every home cook’s numero uno priority.


Ordering is a breeze! As all of us are busy with our respective careers, we normally leave the ordering to our ever-reliable helper. All she needs to do is to call 8-8-7-5-5-5-5 or send an SMS through their text hotline +63918-8875555 and our new gas tank will immediately be delivered within the day. She also enjoys getting the perks such as the ongoing promo -- Solane Loyalty Plus Program.


Where customer gets an instant prize for every purchase of a 11kg Solane tank. On our first purchase, we immediately got a Solane Collectible Mug. As we order our next tank, we will be given a Milo 20g sachet. What a great way for Solane to reward loyal customers! This card is valid until the end of December 2012.

Highlands Steakhouse in Tagaytay Highlands

Recently, my best friend T and I had a fun R&R weekend in Tagaytay City. Believe it or not, it was our first time to go on a trip together despite being friends for more than two decades already! This is because a handful of plans have been postponed and cancelled again and again. Finally, after two decades of planning, we finally took the first step by having an all-girls bonding session that weekend! How I wish my two other best friends C and E can join us next time.


Well, there was just one major thing that T and I did all weekend... that was to eat. We started by having lunch followed by grabbing some milk tea...then we headed to our hotel and after resting for a few minutes, we drove to Tagaytay Highlands to do a little walking to prepare ourselves for our much-awaited steak dinner at Highlands Steakhouse!

It was my first time to dine here and I was really excited about it. I'm glad that T made reservations as we got to the restaurant at 7PM sharp and it was already full! Mind you, there was an inside and outside dining area. As we entered the restaurant, I can already smell the delicious aroma of the steak. My heart began doing mini cartwheels!

The menu was simple and pretty straight-forward. The price ranges from Php. 880 to Php. 3,200. They have steak cuts big enough to be shared and a personal size should you want to have your own plate of steak.

Since T has been here before, I just followed her lead on what to order. In fact, I followed exactly what she got and I know I won't regret it as T has one of the best and most reliable taste when it comes to food.


While waiting for our orders to arrive, we were served with a loaf of warm crusty bread. It was so good as the bread was crunchy outside and very soft inside. I enjoyed spreading a thin slice of butter before taking a bite.

Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant at the Diamond Hotel

Growing up, when shopping malls were just a handful, I remember hanging out at hotels with my family. We love having our afternoon snack at the lobby and later on would continue to have dinner in one of the hotel's food establishments. We would frequent the ones in Ortigas simply because its really near our home.


Once in a while though, we would venture further to Makati or Manila to check a new hotel out. One of which was the Diamond Hotel where I remember having buffet dinners at the Palm Court (now called Corniche) and being prohibited from entering the Sky Bar because we were underage. Mommy and my A-I (ah-yi) loves the tempura at the hotel's Japanese restaurant and they have been telling us about it for more than a decade now. I wonder how come we never were able to try it out ourselves before.


At last, the time has come that it was MY turn. Turning 30, Paul and I celebrated my birthday with our friends from Diamond Hotel. Dinner was set to be at Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant and we're having teppanyaki dinner! How exciting!


I love teppanyaki as I enjoy watching the chef perform tricks as he cooks our beef, seafood and my favorite teppanyaki fried rice on the grill. I love the pretty interiors of Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant. It feels like walking inside a Japanese courtyard complete with a pretty cherry blossom tree at the main dining hall. Along the way, you'll see private rooms where you can host your dinner party with privacy.

My Purple Nails meets Purple Oven

For the past week, my nails have been sporting a new color. PURPLE!


No, I'm not attending neither Barney nor Grimace's birthday party. It just came to a point wherein I wanted to deviate from my usual baby pink nail color which I've been sporting every so often for the past decade. CHANGE is good, after all.

I've been so happy showing off my deep purple nails most especially as it has a good smooth and shiny finish. Good job Nail Tropics! ♥


A few days ago, my college best friend L celebrated her birthday and Paul and I dropped by our favorite bakeshop to buy her a box of Chocolate Revel Bars before heading to our dinner venue. I first heard about Purple Oven more than 5 years ago when I began obsessing over Starbucks Coffee's Banoffee Pie. A friend pointed this place out to me and I've been a regular customer ever since. It's also a plus that it's located so close to where I work making it so convenient anytime I have to drop by to buy a cake or to just have a box of their delicious freshly-baked cookies or bars.


My favorites include the Chocolate Lava Cakes (Php. 420), Chocolate Macadamia cookies (Php. 240),  Chocolate Revel Bars, Lemon Bars, and of course the Banoffee Pie (Php. 650). Paul and I love the smell of these freshly-baked goodies which you surely won't miss as you enter their small store in Pasig.

Toki Q : First Ever Rotating BBQ in the Philippines

Tonight, I left the office later the usual as I had to attend a work-related event. It's a Friday night and with no other plans for the evening, I invited Paul to join me for late dinner. There's a newly opened restaurant in the neighborhood called Toki Q and I've been excited to try it as I see it every day on my way to work. Finally, it's now open and ready to serve the public.


Toki Q boasts of being the first restaurant in the Philippines using the Rotating BBQ griller. Contrary to traditional grillers, it takes one Yakitori stick 3-5 minutes to grill while others would take more than 10 minutes, give or take. This allows them to serve your order fresh and hot just the way a yakitori should be.


I tried the Combo 2 with Miso soup and Drink (Php. 149). All orders except for the group platters come with Unlimited Rice. This is perfect for office workers looking for a good lunch option nearby. The rice was sticky and fragrant which I like. The Combo 2 comes with a stick of Chicken Balls, Tontoro Pork (Pork Belly), Pork Balls and Chicken Fillet each. Among the four, I loved the Tontoro Pork the most as it was very tender and the coating had a delicious sweet-salty flavor. I would have wanted more of Toki's Special Sauce on my rice!

[CONTEST ALERT!!!] Summer continues at Starbucks Coffee Philippines

The weather here in Manila continues to get more and more unpredictable. Extremely sunny and hot in the morning and later raining like there's no tomorrow in the evening. What's up with that Mr. Sun?!

While we will soon bid goodbye to June and July will surely bring in more gloomy clouds, the cold wind and rains, it's nice to know that you can still enjoy a bit of summer right at the comforts of your favorite Starbucks Coffee store!

Bringing a touch of Japanese in their drinks, the fun crew behind my favorite coffee store now introduces two new drinks that I truly loved and I'm sure you will too!


Meet the Hojicha Tea Jelly Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Php. 155/165/175). Hojicha is actually a type of Japanese roasted tea and this is perfect for all milk tea lovers as it is a mix of the Hojicha Tea, your choice of milk and Tazo Earl Grey tea-infused jelly! While I find the Hojicha a tad too sweet for me, I still enjoyed this sweet tea drink which makes a good alternative on days I'm not planning to have coffee.


The next drink is perfect for all matcha Green Tea lovers! Introducing the Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Php. 155/165/175). To counter the sweet-bitter taste of the matcha, they have added in scoops of red azuki beans to complete the Japanese feel. I enjoyed this drink very much as I am a big fan of Azuki beans! I love Green Tea Frappuccino yet it gets too filling and boring after sometime. Having to chew the beans after every sip makes this Frappucino Blended Beverage more fun to drink!

While enjoying either the Hojicha Tea Jelly Frappuccino or the Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino, be sure to try one of these new savory and sweet creations now available at any Starbucks Coffee branch all over the country:


Purple Yam Cake with Macapuno and Red Bean (Php. 110)
Paul and I love cakes made with purple yam (ube). We loved it so much that we would even drive all the way to Pampanga to have one of the best Ube cakes in the country. Needless to say, it really will take a special ube cake to win Paul's heart.

After trying Starbucks' Purple Yam Cake, Paul exclaimed that this tasted similarly close to the one that we get from A La Creme! Wow! That means a lot coming from Paul who sticks loyal to his favorites!I enjoyed chewing on the sweet macapuno and the red bean too. It went so well with the fluffy ube chiffon cake.


Green Tea and Berry Cheesecake (Php. 140)
Yum! That was the first thing that I said after taking a small bite of this pretty cake. What made me love this was the contrast between the velvety smooth green tea cheesecake vs. the crunchy blueberries on top of the walnut crust.


Beef and Mushroom Pie (Php. 95)
I had this for two lunches in a row! Yummy beef strips cooked with sliced mushrooms, carrots and creamy mashed potatoes all encased in a golden brown pastry crust. This is like my favorite Shepherd's Pie only made more meaty.

Market Cafe at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila

We love trying hotel buffets! Be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner I really enjoy going through the wide selection of fresh seafood, roasted meats, colorful line of sushi and sashimis..and the list goes on and on! There are even times when I have a hard time sleeping as I am just so excited for breakfast time to come! *giddy*


So just imagine how happy I was when the group trooped down to the Market Cafe right after our dimsum brunch at Li Li. Both restaurants are part of Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Manila and I’m so happy to be able to get the chance to try them both of them all in one day!

I’ve mentioned this before that the secret to buffet eating is to feast with your eyes first. Do a thorough survey around the buffet area and take note of the dishes that you would like to try. As you do this, you tend to prioritize your top choices and, while it may be really hard to do so, avoid wasteful-eating.


Market Cafe, as the name suggests, presents their dishes similar to how you see it in the market...only in a more tasteful, hygienic and mouthwatering way. Seafood are displayed fresh and you get the option to choose which way you want it cooked. Roasted meat are skewered in barbecue sticks and you can dictate how you want it grilled.


The restaurant has several areas from the grilled meats moving on to the pasta and pizza corner. I stopped by the cheese section to help myself to some soft cheeses that I truly love.


Since we already were semi-full after coming from Li Li, I thought that starting my buffet meal with a plate of Arugula Salad topped with Kesong Puti and Mushrooms to make me feel less guilty as I indulge.

Moshi Moshi in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

Moshi Moshi Anone, Anone, Anone!

A few weeks ago, Paul and I joined The Food Club in yet another foodie get-together, this time at Moshi Moshi in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. The restaurant is located right across the Ateneo de Manila University so expect to see a lot of students dining and hanging out in almost all food establishments and coffee shops within the Katipunan strip. Paul and I are not Blue Eagles but since my sister graduated from ADMU school, we used to frequent this place whenever we would wait for her class to end.

A lot of restaurants have opened since then. Though, I'm glad that a lot of our favorites are still around. I really think we should go back and visit them again.

Moshi Moshi is located at the 2nd level of the Regis Center, a new building that houses a big Gold's Gym, Bonchon Chicken, Saint's Alp Coffee Shop and a lot more. Basement parking is available but quite limited. It was a good thing that Paul and I were able to get a good parking spot right in front of the building given that it was a busy weeknight.

Moshi Moshi is a modern Japanese fast food restaurant that caters primarily to the students within the area, the residents nearby and food lovers who wouldn't mind driving the extra distance like yours truly. They are known for their bento boxes that has a number of combinations to match their diner's preference.

That evening, we were able to try quite a number of dishes prepared by Moshi Moshi's Japanese chef.


Jumbo Healthy Mixed Salad (Php. 255)
It's always a good thing to start your meal with greens. I enjoyed the fresh crisp lettuce, wakame (seaweed), potato salad, slices of sweet mango and kani while drizzling a little sesame creamy sauce over my salad. This salad is good for sharing and comes with three different sauces. They also have a Jumbo Kani Salad (Php. 188) available. Kids, do order this and please eat your veggies. ;o)


Premium Bento Boxes clockwise from top right: Take (Php. 280), Matsu (Php. 280) and Gin (Php. 320)

They have about 5 bento boxes available that is composed of at least 5 different viands. The Take is a bento box that has stir-fried vegetables, their signature gyu (beef), 3 pieces of gyoza, a mix of Ebi and Veggie Tempura and corn. The Matsu, on the other hand, has 3 pieces of Takoyaki, Chicken Karaage, Gyu (beef) and Potato Salad. Lastly, the Gin is the Japanese term of Silver. This bento box has Chicken Teriyaki, Pork Katsu, California Maki, Curry and Kimchi in the middle.


Among the three, I liked the Gin Bento the most because of the California Roll and Japanese Curry. Each bento box may be served with either Plain or Fried Rice plus Miso Soup for a minimum additional price.

What makes Moshi Moshi different is that you can choose your choice toppings from Gyu, Curry, Kimchi, Egg, Cheese, Sweet or Spicy Mayo, Corn and a lot more. This allows you to customized your bento box to suit your taste. Be it Takoyaki with Cheese or Gyudon with Spicy Mayo, the choices are pretty much endless. I'll definitely try this next time.

LiLi at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila

I love Chinese food! 

Yes, you read that right. Despite the fact that we always have Chinese food at home and most, if not all, of our family gatherings are held in Chinese restaurants, I tend to choose a basket of dimsum over a slice of pizza anyday.

It's then no surprise that I immediately said yes when my friend and fellow blogger Spanky invited me to have dimsum lunch with him at Hyatt Hotel's signature Chinese restaurant -- LiLi.

It was actually not my first time to dine here. A couple of years ago, I had the privilege to accompany my former boss on one of his monthly restaurant reviews and it just so happen that he invited me to join him at LiLi! I can't remember exactly which dishes we had but all I remembered was they were all delicious and I had a marvelous time admiring Lili's beautiful modern Chinese interiors.

Our meal began with the traditional Gongfu tea ceremony. In China, this is being done to show guests how welcomed they are in a friend's home or at a business place. It has 6 steps which includes warming of the cups, cleansing of the leaves, removing of any bubbles from the surface of the tea and finally serving of the tea. It was done so swiftly and smoothly that it felt like watching a cultural show.

Moving on to serious business, out came our first dimsum : Har Gao -- my personal favorite. I just love these tiny dumplings filled with steamed shrimp and bamboo pith. The best way to enjoy this is to dip it in  soy sauce mixed with a little chili oil to perk up the flavor even more.

Dining Out : Father's Day 2012

On June 17, 2012 -- the world celebrates Father's Day. Similar to Mother's Day, my family also makes it a point to go out on this day dedicated to my dad, kongkong and uncles. I've received a number of text messages and emails from friends asking for recommendations on where they can take their dads and husbands out on this special day.

Here are some of my recommendations, majority of which are my Dad and Paul's personal favorites too:

For Dads who take his MEAT seriously....

1) Elbert's Steak Room
  For me, Elbert's is truly the king of all steak places. Whenever someone would ask me where to have the best steak, I'd always say Elbert's in a heartbeat. I'll never forget the night when Paul and I shared a huge Ribeye steak complete with all the sidings, the delicious Fantan bread and desserts to cap our delicious meal off.

Elbert's Steak Room is located at the 3/F Sagittarius Building III, 111 H. V. de la Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines. Do call them for reservations at 0915-3151813 / 339-3363.

2) Myron's Place

Here's another go-to place whenever we crave for steak. Myron's President's Steak is good for 4 and it comes with steak rice too. I highly recommend for you to also try the Creamed Spinach as well!

Myron's Place is located at the Ground Floor of The Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati. Call them at 728-9898. 

3) 'Cue Modern Barbecue

My newest discovery! How can you say no to the Bone Marrow and Steak Tacos? It's sinful yet oh, so good! This Sunday, try also their Baby Back Ribs. It's big enough to be shared by the entire family (of at most 6).

'Cue Modern Barbecue is located at the Ground Floor, Bonifacio Highstreet Central. Bonifacio Highstreet Central is located at the 7th Avenue corner 29th Street, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Call them at (0917)899-2283.

4) 22 Prime


Father's Day is the perfect day to treat Dad like a KING! Check out 22 Prime at Discovery Suites and they have a wide-array for steak choices and sidings for you! I was able to try the gigantic Tomahawk Steak which is the biggest rib-eye steak that I've ever seen. Despite its big size, the meat has remained tender and really delicious. I also love the bread basket and homemade dips that comes with it.

22 Prime is located at the 22nd floor of Discovery Suites, 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Call them at 719-6821, 7196822 or 719-8888 for reservations.


For the Dads who love to EAT their hearts out

[CONTEST ALERT] Frannywanny's Birthday Giveaway!!!

My sister just got back from her trip and she brought home goodies not for only me but also for one lucky reader here in Frannywanny.com! YES! She thought of you guys when she was in the Land of the Rising Sun and decided to sponsor my much-awaited Birthday Giveaway!  Let's all give Pan a big big HUG!

Speaking of the Land of the Rising Sun, I really can't wait for DRUM TAO to come to Manila! They're coming in a month's time and I'm so excited!

Here's a piece of good news, all readers of Frannywanny.com immediately gets 20% off for every ticket purchase done online. Simply click on this link and type in the magic word GRANDIOSO on the box provided for the Promotional Code. This discount is valid until July 11, 2012 (our 2nd wedding anniversary ♥) only.

Here are some important links to know more about DRUM TAO: 
Official DRUM TAO website
Must Watch : Drum Tao in Manila this July 2012!

CONTEST ALERT! 

Now let's head on to the fun part. My birthday celebration continues as I'm giving a lucky reader a special gift bag filled with all these goodies!

LOOK Chocolate Bar (Matcha Parfait and Matcha Azuki flavor), Special Sumo keychain, Limited Edition Japanese Bear bag accessory, Php. 1000 worth of Moshi Moshi Gift Certificate and a Starbucks Coffee 16oz Red Bean Tumbler! 

DRUM TAO originates from the Land of the Rising Sun and since I still can't afford to fly someone there...this special gift bag has items specially flown in courtesy of my sweet sister.

Here's the mechanics:
1) Like the official Frannywanny.com page on Facebook.
2) Click on the SHARE button found at the upper left hand corner of this entry.
When a box appears type this "I'm joining @Frannywanny's Birthday Giveaway!"
Note: Please make sure that your profile is set to public (everyone) or this won't appear on my Facebook page.
 
3) Answer my five easy TRIVIA QUESTIONS. (note: answers can be found here and here)
4) The last page of the form will ask for your Name, Email Address and Facebook URL Link. Please make sure to fill that in completely.

Frannywanny's 5 Easy TRIVIA QUESTIONS 

Some notes:
- Contest will run from June 11, 2012 to June 30, 2012.
- Winner will be chosen via Electronic Raffle. I will be raffling off the prize to those who got the correct set of answers.
- The winner will be notified via email. I will also be announcing the winner in this site.
- The prize will be sent to the winner via courier.
- This contest is open to all readers in the Philippines only.
- ONE entry per person only. 

GOOD LUCK!!!

Going beyond COFFEE at UCC Coffee

For years, UCC Coffee has always been my go-to place for all-girls bonding sessions with my high school friends. My top picks include their Unagi Rice Casserole, French Toast and their delicious House Blend Coffee. Be it for brunch, lunch or dinner, I always enjoy my meal at UCC Coffee.

Recently, The Food Club was invited to try UCC Coffee's newest products. This includes some savory dishes such as the Char Siu Curry Soup Spaghetti (Php. 389) that Paul enjoyed very much. Imagine having thinly slice char siu simmered in rich Japanese curry soup and served with al dente spaghetti noodles. It was so good that we actually forgot to take a photo of it. Ooops!

I, on the other hand, had the Lengua Omurice (Php. 389) which was a very heavy meal. I had to share this with Paul as the omelette was tightly packed with Japanese fried rice and they were very generous with the lengua slices too. I think I just found a new favorite which I can alternate with the Unagi Rice Casserole.

Actually, upon receiving the invite to dine at UCC Coffee, I was told that they have a new line of desserts and this is what I was initially excited to try. I've long been a fan of UCC's Tiramisu and French Toast thus I'm curious what are the new addition to their already great dessert line-up. First came the Halo Halo Cake (Php. 250). This is one of our popular local summer treats and it makes perfect sense to create a cake inspired by this. Sandwiched in between two ube chiffon slices is a mix of ube halaya, leche flan, caramelized banana, red bean, langka (jackfruit) and macapuno. That's not all! This cake is topped with cornflakes and a scoop of Nangkasuy Ice Cream too.

Bonchon Chicken goes Under the Sea

Chicken lovers all over town rejoiced when Bonchon Chicken finally landed in Manila 4th quarter of 2010. I still remember missing out on The Food Club's first visit to their Ayala Triangle branch as I was bedridden with a nasty and traumatic case of amoebiasis (believe me, a food blogger's worst nightmare). It took me a couple more months before I finally was able to give it a try and as expected... I liked it!

Since then, Bonchon Chicken has been my go-to place whenever I'm craving for some Korean Fried Chicken and most especially some Kimchi Coleslaw when in the mall. With 19 branches all over Metro Manila, it makes it so accessible to dine in whenever the craving arises.

However, there are just times that I would prefer a seafood dish over a meaty one. Luckily, Bonchon Chicken now has the answer to that as they recently introduced a line of seafood options for the non-meat eaters.

A month ago, I was able to try their Fish & Chips Box (Php. 145) that comes with three long strips of breaded fish fillet coated with the same sweet, delicious Bonchon sauce and a generous amount of crispy fries. I really enjoyed this! It's a good deal as this comes with a glass of your choice of soda or iced tea already. Should you prefer to have rice over fries, then you can try the Crispy Fish Ricebox (Php. 145) instead.

Milk Tea Discovery : My SerendipiTEA

I can still remember the day I had my first cup of milk tea.

It was a Friday, the evening after my monthly publishers meeting and after learning about this new milk tea place from no other than my boss, Paul and I thought of having our after-dinner drinks there. I met J, the owner of the said milk tea place and on my first sip of Hokkaido Milk Tea...I got to say, my life was never the same.

I got truly addicted. A cup was enough to calm my nerves as I went through intense preparation for our BIG day. It was my happy pill as I would always drop by to get my favorite drink on my way home from work. I couldn't stop talking about it offline..online...to the point that I've spread the milk tea love bug everywhere. In fact, the Food Club's first dinner out ended with us having some milk tea.

The milk tea fad spread far and wide. A lot have opened in almost every mall, in every corner of town. Some brought in foreign franchises, others took the plunge with their own creations.

Once in a while, I love discovering new milk tea places. Recently, Paul and I found ourselves in Quezon City to attend my nephew's baptism. I grew up in this place thus I truly enjoy testing my memory as we navigate around this quiet neighborhood in Quezon City. On our way home, we spotted My SerendipiTEA, a small milk tea place located in the Scout area. I remembered this was recommended to me by a blog reader named Iris who told me to check this out should I find myself within the area.

Call it Serendipity...or rather SerendipiTEA, but a cup of cold milk tea was just what I wanted with that day's sweltering heat from the sun! Parking was easy as the roads were wide. We got to the shop and I love the fun and casual vibe of the store. If only this is located closer to home, I would loved to hang out here more often.

NKOTBSB 2012 : One Night, One Stage -- Once in a Lifetime

I had the time of my life last night.

Just the perfect way to cap my birthday weekend off that is to spend a fun evening watching my favorite band perform on stage. The only band that I spent my teenage years obsessing over to the point that I have kept every single magazine article, centerfold pull-outs, a card signed by all five of them and countless CDs and singles that I bought using my school allowance. My love affair with the Backstreet Boys began on the school year of 1996 and it goes on till this day.

To Nick, Howie, AJ, Brian and Kevin (who no longer joins the group), you got a loyal fan in me! :)

So when news broke out that the Backstreet Boys are teaming up with the New Kids on the Block, a popular boyband in the 80s -- expect to see the newly-constructed SM Mall of Asia Arena filled with eager fans majority of which are screaming ladies in their 20s/30s.

To be honest, I had second thoughts about watching this particular concert due to the high ticket rates and the uncertainty of who's going with me. It was until I received the best birthday gift of the year from no other than my bestest friend T who was determined to give me this as she was 101% sure it's something I will like love. You're right about that T, that's why I love you to bits! Luckily, my sister was game to watch the concert again with me as Paul made it clear that he doesn't want to be in the middle of a big sea of screaming fan girls. At least, my sister and I bonded while singing and dancing our hearts out to our favorite BSB songs.

Since we both got General Admission tickets which means seats are on first-come-first-served basis, we decided to head to the SM Mall of Asia as early as 4PM to be able to have early dinner and to just leisurely walk to the Arena at 6PM. That's two hours before the show...we figured we'll be able to score good seats with our plan. I was surprised to see a line forming already outside the venue as early as 4PM! Woah!

Luckily, going inside the venue was a breeze. We didn't have to line up that long. Yay!

I was impressed with the high-tech ticket entry machines installed by the entrance. It's similar to those seen in subway stations. All you have to do is to scan your ticket's barcode on the scanning box and tadah! the door opens magically.

Inside the Arena, there are a lot of snack stations and food stalls. I saw Krispy Kreme, Yellow Cab, Kobe Kroquette and Starbucks Coffee has a branch there as well. You'll surely won't go hungry when you're in here.

We were told to head up to the fourth floor where a door leads to a flight of stairs to get to the Gen Ad section. We passed through the Lower Box section, the Premier Suites which looked so pretty, the Upper Box and finally the gate to the Gen Ad.

Here's the line when we arrived at the fourth floor. Minuets after this shot was taken, more and more people filled up this section and since the security failed to device a good way to make people line up fairly or to at least cordon the place off... there was a slight stampede that happened the moment the gate opened.
People were screaming, pushing, shoving...it was pure chaos. It somehow showed how poorly disciplined some people were as they simply just wanted to get ahead of others...even those who spent more time waiting in line. Wish the SM MOA Arena management can do something about this.

It truly felt like a scene at The Amazing Race as people scampered to get a good seat. The cemented steps were steep at the Gen Ad area so my sister and I still had a good mind to take our time going down. Better safe than sorry! Luckily, we sat at the 2nd row which wasn't too bad.