FOODIE THOUGHTS: Koryo's @ SM North Sky Garden

I found a great find at SM City North Edsa's Sky Garden! 

I always pass by this corner coming from Trinoma to SM North. From the footbridge connecting the 2 malls, this is the first sight that would greet you. This tiny nook that has a legion, of course I'm a wee bit exaggerating, that you would notice right away. Because I'm such a curious cat, I also fell in line and patiently waited for my turn. And when it was time, I was greeted by the sight of cute potato wedges that were cooked until they were looking crispy on the outside but for sure, so soft on the inside. Plus this gooey substance added to it for the flavor. That was the only option that was being sold so I did try it and after my first spoonful, was I so happy to have patiently waited. Good riddance.

Garlic Potato - For me, it's deep-fried perfectly! So great tasting! Small, bite-size pieces that absorbs 

all the flavor of that special sauce.I read somewhere here in the world wide web that the sauce composes 

of mayo, rice vinegar, soy, minced garlic, and sugar. I don't know if that's true because I ain't tried it yet but 

I plan to do so one of these days. 

The verdict? Perfect! I love it everytime I buy. But sadly, from an original price of P55, it is now P65. I guess 

that's how you can measure the popularity of one product, prices go up. And the serving has lessened a 

little bit as well. I hope they can still maintain the original serving size even if they raise the price just a little bit. 

Calling Koryo! 

RESTO FACTS:

Sky Garden, SM City North EDSA, 

Quezon City, Metro Manila

FOODIE THOUGHTS: Gotti's Ristorante @ Megamall

I was with a group of people who are on the trail of new places to explore when it comes to enjoying good food..not necessarily expensive but whatever catches our fancy. On this certain day, the place to go was already decided almost a week before. Why we do that? Because we have to ready our budget for these gastronomic experiences. 

I've read about Gotti's from reviews as well as suggestion of other peers. So on that day, it was the right time to give it a test flight on our palates. 

So here it is..

Dirty Fingers - P155. Crunchy and yummy and tender and the honey-mustard dip was wonderful. It was not at all boring, if I may say.

Mushroom Bruschetta - Now this I find a little bit bland..a little too light-tasting for my taste. Maybe it was because it was supposed to be healthy consisting of just mushrooms and some special herbs? I really don't know but I just give this dish an average for a score. 

Creamy Basil Bacon Pasta - P245 (to share size) Average tasting too. Nothing very special. The lot of us should have listened to our 'experienced' teammate' that we should just go with the red sauces but we did not listen and insisted on ordering this. Boohoo! But at least now we know what not to order next time we come to Gotti's.

Frutti De Mare Pasta - P275 (to share size) Now this was awesome! Red sauce really rocks! Saucy enough to cover all of the pasta and seafood contents were abundant at that time. I always prefer seafood flavored pastas with red sauces. I never get tired of trying these kind of pasta.

Mi Mama's Quattro Formaggi Pizza - P296. So cheesy! That's it! And so good too. All those cheese combinations just blended well with their peers and made an explosive impact on us diners..or lunchers.. Haha! 

hunger..100% satisfied! :)

The verdict? Coming back for more. The service was great too, by the way. Of course, not all restos are 
perfect in their dishes but thank goodness for food reviews/blogs like these they will get to know what people
think of their dishes, that is, if they try to find these helpful comments. But this place is a must-try especially 
for Italian-loving foodies.

RESTO FACTS: 

SM Megamall, The Atrium
EDSA cor. Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 634-0348

Caleruega "Close to Nature, Closer to God"

This place has always been featured in TV shows as well as TV commercials and because of that, I became very curious on how it looks like up front. So when opportunity presented itself when my family and I decided to go to Tagaytay for a short weekend getaway, I knew I had to think of a way for us to go there.  

Caleruega is in Nasugbu, Batangas but since it's still quite near to Tagaytay, I did not stop badgering my parents to go in this place. Lucky for them because they've been there before but how about me and my brother, who are both first-timers. 

So they gave in to our persistence and we made the drive for less than 30mins, if I remember correctly. Upon arrival, I just reveled in the beauty and serenity of the place. 

Here are the picture-perfect sceneries (though the shots are not that good but this is our best effort)... :)

It gets a little bit tiring doing all the walking and the ups and downs..exercise..but it was worth it.

Their slogan is correct.."Close to Nature, Closer to God". Makes you so thankful for experiencing beauty of places like this and for the opportunity in capturing the moment.


ADDRESS: 
CALERUEGA PHILIPPINES
Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao,
Nasugbu, Batangas

Cebu in all its glorious city tourist spots

Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines that's why tourists, local and foreign, flock to this province in search of a well-needed vacation. I have been to this place for, I think, more than 10x already but it never ceases to amaze me nor find ways to entertain me. That's the beauty of it. 


Last year, my friends and I went here as the second stop to our 2-province vacay. We went to Bohol first then spent a day here in Cebu. 


Time flies so fast so our itinerary must be quickly executed. Eventhough we are a little bit tired, and sunburned, we can't afford to laze around. Right after arrival at the port area, we headed to our affordable but very nice hotel, Sampaguita Suites, which is conveniently and centrally located at the heart of the city, took a quick bath then headed to our first spot to visit. 


Here are the places that we covered in just, basically, one day:

Sampaguita Suites..low rates, great service

at the basilica de Sto. Niño

lunch buffet for less than P150 at Joven's..winner!

scenes at the dried fish place.Tabo-an Market!

Tops..overlooking Cebu City and nearby provinces..beautiful and serene place

Taoist Temple at Beverly Hills..in Cebu that is, not 90210

Magellan's Cross..right across our hotel..loved it!

dinner at Sunburst Ayala Center..fried chicken skin was so sinful! yum!

sweet endings to a great day at Dessert factory at Ayala Center Terraces

One day only but so many places covered.. fun, right? Next time, I'm definitely going to try the beaches at Cebu. Gotta save, save, save! :)

Festive Kadayawan (looking back with a smile)

Festivals are so cool! This is an avenue where you get to experience the culture of a certain place and at the same time, the people are united in having fun for that precious few days or hours.

I was lucky to get to experience Davao's famed Kadayawan Festival. To explain it much better, according to Wikipedia "The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in the city of Davao in the Philippines. Its name derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living."

Even if I was there for work, I took in pretty much everything. Might as well take advantage of the situation, right? I did. I did, I did. :)

Proof of experience: 

 My first ever Kadayawan experience

 Love the hat! Kapuso eh!

 My second Kadayawan experience..this was taken in front of the hotel where we were staying

 Who were present for the festivities? Kami! But work related. :)

Did some shopping, of course, that's the spirit of fun! 

MAMBUKAL RESORT in Negros Occidental (places I've been to..and want to go to again!)

The City of Smiles... that is Bacolod City. My province. A city so lovely that it makes visitors come back over and over again to experience the candid memories that it offers to both local and foreign tourists.

I never get tired of going here..aside from the reason that almost 70% of my kin are here, I enjoy the general ambiance that this province exudes. 

There is this one place though that I never did get to maximize. Mambukal. The first time I went here was with my cousins but we stayed for a very short time only and I was only able to get to the first falls, mind you, there are lots of them there! And I lost my balance while going down fast and almost fell. The second time was for work, and of course, I had to take pics. 

Taadaah!!!!!

 Just had to satisfy myself by taking pics of the rocks that I was not able to stand up on because of the tight schedule..tsk tsk

Nah, just a photo op..did not go anywhere near the waterfalls nor the hanging bridge

 With Pilita Corales and Vangie Labalan.. Summer episode taping for Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita

Nearly naked mud-packed men..and woman.. of Mambukal Resort. There was someone from this bunch that stained my bag with the mud..haha! 

BASIC FACTS:
Mambukal Mountain Resort
Minoyan, Murcia, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental