Experience Great Food and History at Casa Roces!

Last Tuesday, November 8, 2016, after conducting a hearing at the Women's Correctional in Mandaluyong City, as suggested by my officemate, we had our lunch at Casa Roces. 

I was really excited as it is really not everyday that I got the chance to enter the vicinity of the Malacañan Palace, much more, to dine in one of the most famous restaurant in the area - Casa Roces. It was actually my first time to visit the place! 

Casa Roces

Casa Roces is a full-service restaurant and café located in the genteel district of San Miguel, Manila, right across the most prestigious address in the country: Malacañan Palace. The place is actually an ancestral home which was transformed into a stylish restaurant best described as classic-meets-contemporary.

Entrance to the Restaurant

Classic furnitures add to the elegance of the resto!

So lucky to have the place all to ourselves! Well, almost! :)

The ground floor of Casa Roces features a coffeehouse with an outdoor wooden deck, a dessert bar, and a memorabilia and accessories shop. A bar also serves cocktails, wine, beer and liquor for evening patrons. 

These cakes are really inviting, but I'm just not much of a sweets person.

Cafe and Bar

Although we are not really able to explore the second floor, it actually has a bistro, an art and family heritage gallery as well as private rooms decorated with a mix of Commonwealth elegance and modern flair. And as what my boss told us, the second floor also serve as a function room for intimate events. They actually had their Christmas Party there once. 

So much on the place. Let us now go to my favorite part - the FOOD! :)

Kape Chino

Kape Chino was named after the late great Joaquin “Chino” Roces. It offers a complete menu line-up ranging from appetizers, soups and salads to entrées, pasta and even breakfast and merienda fare. Hot and cold beverages, specialty coffees, espresso-based drinks, desserts, cakes and pastries, and light deli sandwiches are also available. 

Here are what we had for lunch:

Sopa Molo Castiliana

Sopa Molo Castiliana is a rich garlic soup with deep-fried pork dumplings, poached egg and parsley. This soup really tastes good. The dumplings are really yummy. I really wanted to have another serving, but of course, I have to save some space still in my tummy as there are still more foods to try! :) 

A solo serving of the soup costs P 115.00 while the large serving (good for 3) costs P210.00. 

Pollo Iberico

Pollo Iberico is a slow roasted chicken with potatoes, garlic, herbs and olive oil. For the chicken lovers (who's not anyway?), this is a must try! The chicken was well cooked. The vegetables are fresh and crispy. And the potatoes- I just love the baby potatoes! Buttered and roasted just right, I almost ate all the potatoes on the plate! :D What I just don't like much are the herbs as I find them somehow overpowering for my taste. I did not hear a single complain from my companions, though. So, I guess its just me who had  herb issue. hehehe....

Half order of this menu costs P520.00 while a whole roasted chicken costs P800.00.

Oven-Baked Salmon Wellington

For our seafood dish, I opted for Oven-Baked Salmon Wellington. It is actually a salmon fillet stuffed with Boursin cheese in flaky crusty crust with spinach lemon cream sauce. This is another dish that I really enjoyed. You can really taste the freshness of the fish, and the mashed potato, it is definitely one of the great tasting mashed potato that I've tasted! It is really delicious! How I wish I was able to take home some. 

An order of this menu costs P460.00.

Ox Tail Kare- Kare

Last but definitely not the least because this is one of my all-time favorite, is the Ox Tail Kare-Kare! For those who are not familiar with this menu, it is actually braised ox tail in peanut with vegetables with sautéed shrimps paste. Some prefer using beef meat, and some pork pata, but for me, it doesn't really matter. I love all of them! :)

And as expected, this menu did not fail my taste buds! The meat (ox tail) was tender, the vegetables are just cooked right, the sauce was deliciously creamy and the paste was perfect! I really wish I doubled this order! hahaha!

An order of Kare-kare costs P380.00.

We really enjoyed our lunch at Kape Chino. Aside from great food, we really love the whole look and vibe of Casa Roces! I do hope to come back again soon!

Casa Roces is open daily from 10AM to 10PM to serve its loyal patrons and those who are hoping to experience the history and the luxury of the place for the first time. And did I mention that the service is great too?!

So go ahead and experience Casa Roces for yourselves. It also offers some promos and treats especially during special occasions, so do visit their page from time to time. You can also contact them at these numbers: (02)735.5896, (02)488.1929 and (0917)550.9743 for more inquiries.

Sunrio Diner: A Hello Kitty- Themed Resto in Taguig

 

As a Hello Kitty fan, ever since the Hello Kitty Cafe started popping up in malls and other locations, I have been wanting to try it ASAP, but I just can't get the chance to do so because they are not strategically near my place. But fortunately,  I've learned that they will be opening a store in Uptown Mall, or is it open already? This I'll have to find out, soon! :)

So, when I've learned about the opening of a Hello Kitty- themed diner in our place, I immediately convinced my husband to try the place. 

And so, last October 16, 2016, after hearing the mass, and in celebration of an important milestone in my first born, we proceeded to Sunrio Diner just in time for dinner! The diner opens at 3:00 in the afternoon and closes at 10:00 in the evening. 

The diner is located at the 2nd floor of a three-storey house located at Blk. 18, Lot 35, Pinagsama Village, Phase 2, Western Bicutan, Taguig City. 

Entrance going to the diner

Stairs going to the 2nd Floor...

At the second floor, this is what will welcome you.

This area serves to be the main attraction of the diner. This is where most of the customers take their selfie shots. I find this spot cute and I really want to take home the sofa! :)

Hello Kitty is somehow synonymous to the color PINK (Although, in the early years of the Hello Kitty craze, majority was red. I even remember owning one when I was still very young.), so it is really expected that diner will be dominantly pink! From the wall, the furnitures, fixtures, and even the utensils - they are all pink! Oh, this place is really heaven for a Hello Kitty and Pink fan like me! Well, almost.

Kitchen and counter area

I really like their idea of having the customers see how their orders were prepared. This way, you can be assured that your food is clean and safe to eat. :)

pink table and chairs

The diner, I think, has around 5 to 6 tables, which can accommodate more or less 24 customers at a time. So, if you really want to be seated and served immediately, better come early in the afternoon or very late in the evening.

the bathroom...

Menu

For our meal, we ordered the following:

Strawberry Frappe for P 55.00

Bolognese Pasta at P99.00

Strawberry Pancake for P75.00

Charmmy Kitty for P99.00

Chibby Maru for P99.00

My Melody for P79.00

Yna with her Strawberry Pancake

Yna with her Strawberry Frappe

So, the verdict?! We all find the food a little too sweet for our taste. Yes, all the food that we ordered. My daughter was not able to finish her pancakes and strawberry frappe. And although we are all able to consume the rest of our orders, there is really nothing exceptional with the taste of the burgers. The only thing that we really enjoyed was the pasta, maybe because it was still hot when it was served :) 

In terms of the prices, I really find it a little bit pricey considering the location. We paid the total amount of P506.00 for snack/early dinner. How I wish they would lower the price even for just a little. Well, this is just me, just my opinion. Because honestly, after trying it the first time, we no longer have plans of coming back. But for the first timers, especially for the Hello Kitty fanatics out there (and especially if you are just near the vicinity), go ahead and try this place. Cute naman yung place, eh. Although, again, I really hope that from time to time, they do update their diner so as to have something new to offer to their customers from time to time. :)

Oh, by the way, they have their Facebook page, so if you have some queries, do visit their social media page: https://www.facebook.com/Sunrio-diner-1124753174266204/.

Till next time! Ciao!

Team Bahala! :D

Fried Chicken and Bear-shaped rice decorated with Love Bento Meal

Friday! It was the last day of the week and the last day (for the week) of my Bento Making journey and I decided to make a Fried Chicken and Bear-shaped rice decorated with Love Bento Meal. My daughters are both fried chicken lovers. Well, who doesn't anyway?!

First week of Bento-making completed! Can't wait to prepare more improved Bento Meals next time. And of course, I'll be sharing them again to all of you! Till next time! :)

Posted via Blogaway Pro

4th Day Bento Meal

For the 4th day of Bento-making, I was not really able to prepare much as I was really rushing that day. Hurriedly I prepared a Chicken adobo rice with apple slices as dessert. For my cheese lover panganay, I spelled out her name using cheese to make her meal personalized. Was not able to able to personalized the meal of my bunso as I do not have anything to use. She's not much fund of cheeses and so to avoid wastage, I  just left her bento meal as it is. I will just try to be more creative next time! :)

Posted via Blogaway Pro

2nd day: Hello Kitty-Fried Chicken Bento

For my 2nd day of Bento Meal Preparation, I decided to make a Hello Kitty-inspired meal to match their Hello Kitty lunch kits! 

And for my 2nd day, I am so happy that I was able to put a little more detail on my hello kitty rice mould! For Renee Joy, I used cheese for the detailing as she really loves cheese while I used chicken hotdog for  the details on Reena Joy's bento meal as she's not that crazy about cheese compared to her big sister. :)

Renee Joy's Lunch Bento

Reena Joy's Lunch Bento

This mommy is now excited for her next Bento Meal journey! I'll keep you all posted! :)

Posted via Blogaway Pro

First Time to Bento!

Yay! Finally, I was able to somehow squeeze a little of my very hectic schedule into bento-making!

I have been purchasing bento tools whenever I chance upon them in supermarkets, department store, crafts stores, etc, hoping that someday, I will finally find the time to prepare bento meals for my two daughters.

And yes, finally, last Monday, August 22, 2016, I have finally made my first bento meal! Tsaraaan!

Bear-shaped rice with Hotdog and Apple Slices

And although my first creation was not really that good yet (well, really far from what I hoped to be!), I was still happy that these meals were able to put a smile on my daughters' faces!

Till my next bento meal! Ciao!

Hello Kitty Lunch Kit

Posted via Blogaway Pro

Bear-shaped Spam Sandwich

Wednesday Bento : Bear-shaped Spam Sandwhich with a banana on the side!

Survived the third day of Bento-making! Yay!

I just can't help smiling whenever I remember how excited my daughter Yna was in showing her baon to her classmates. This really motivates me to do better next time! :) Aja!

Two more days to go before the week ends! :)

Posted via Blogaway Pro

Get your FREE Jollibee Pinoy Favorites

Yesterday, we finally get to try the newest offering from our favorite kiddie fast food chain - the Pinoy Favorites - Adobo Flakes Yum! Burger and Halo-Halo Sundae! 

Inspired by one of the famous yummy Filipino dish - Adobo, the Yum! Burger had undergone a delicious twist! The adobo flakes and its special sauce can truly satisfy anyone's cravings for a unique yummy taste!

Adobo Flakes Yum! Burger

That's one big bite! My daughter loves the new Adobo  Flakes Yum! Burger!

And who says that summer is already over?! With the new Jollibee Halo-halo Sundae, everyday will always be summertime! 

Imagine our favorite vanilla sundae topped with our favorite halo-halo ingredients - nata, macapuno and langka - the combination is truly delicious! 

Halo-halo Sundae

These two Pinoy Favorites are available for a limited time only, so do not miss to try these out ASAP. But wait, in celebration of our Independence Day, Jollibee is giving away 24,000 samples of these Pinoy Favorites! Yes, you read it right - FREE! All you have to do is visit the select Jollibee stores nationwide and get your coupon. Coupon distribution will start at exactly 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Only 100 coupons will be given per each time slot, so better get in the line early! :)

And once you get the coupon, present it to the counter to claim your FREE Pinoy Favorites. Please be reminded though that the coupon can only be used and accepted today, June 12, 2016!

So what are you waiting for? Head on to the nearest Jollibee stores now and experience the goodness of being a Filipino! Ang sarap talagang maging Pinoy!

You can see the list of participating  stores on this link: https://web.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines/photos/a.177020915677476.36028.170055766373991/1120928351286723/?type=3&theater















Posted via Blogaway Pro

Cupcake Baking and Decorating Class at The Maya Kitchen

My future Chef!

"To become a Chef." That will be one of the responses that you will get whenever you will be asking both of my daughters what they want to be when they grow up (to be an Architect for my eldest and to be a teacher for my younger child would be the other answers).

And this dream was further intensified by YouTube! They never really get tired browsing and watching cooking and baking videos/ tutorials. And ever since, they've been really trying to convince me to enroll them in a Baking Workshop. Well, wish was now finally granted (for my eldest, at least )! :)

Last May 28, 2016, in partnership with Mommy Bloggers Philippines (MBP), my eldest daughter and I, together with the other mommies and kids of MBP, got a chance to be part of The Maya Kitchen's Cupcake Baking and Decorating Class!

It is a two-hour workshop wherein all the MBP mommies and kids were able to learn some of the basic techniques of baking, while having fun of course!

We learned to bake two kinds of cupcakes - Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes and Peanut Butter and Choco Chip Cupcakes.

We worked in groups. Mommy Shari and I worked together with our kiddos.

And so the baking begins!

We started off with the Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes, followed by the Peanut Butter and Choco Chip Cupcakes.

The ingredients...

The ingredients are all easily available in the market, so there is really nothing to worry about.

Aki and Renee Joy

The dry mixture...

Mommy Shari and I doing our part of the job! :) 

The batter...

Transferring of the batter to the cupcake moulds...

After we finished filling up all our tray, the trainees took our trays and they were the ones who placed them in the oven. So while waiting for the cupcakes to bake, Ms. Icy of The Maya Kitchen taught the kids how to do the cream.

The kids surely had fun learning how to whip the cream! :)

And at last the cupcakes were finally baked!

Aki and Renee Joy while removing the cupcakes from the pan...

And finally, it's decorating time!

Mommy Joy & Renee Joy

Renee Joy, busy decorating her cuppies...

And whoala! Our finished products!

Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes

Peanut Butter and Choco Chip Cupcakes

And the best part of the workshop?! Getting to eat the cuppies, of course! Yummmmy!

The Cupcake Baking and Decorating Class at The Maya Kitchen was really another successful event made possible by MBP! All the kids and the mommies really had a great time bonding, not only with their respective kids, but with the other mommies and kids as well! I really hope that there'll be more workshop like this in the very near future! :) Thank you so much MBP for always coming up with events that combine learning and fun at the same time! 

And to the people behind The Maya Kitchen, thank you so much for always accommodating us, and for always supporting the members of MBP in its endeavours! Till next time!:) 

If you want to know more about The Maya Kitchen and the schedule of its classes, you may visit their facebook page on this link: https://www.facebook.com/Mayakitchen/. You may also visit their website: http://www.themayakitchen.com/.

Want to get the recipes of these cupcakes? Just click your preferred recipes below:

* Strawberries and Cream Cupcake

* Peanut Butter and Choco Chip Cupcake

Posted via Blogaway Pro