O'Pollo Grilled Chicken and Burgers

I've been seeing O'Pollo whenever I go to St Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.  We need to get some ice for my injectables and there is no available parking in front of 711. We decided to park at O'Pollo. It's lunch time and lots of parking slots! I think it's inappropriate if I do not buy anything.

I checked out what O'Pollo has to offer. We just had our very late breakfast at Cafe France I don't think there is enough space in my stomach for lunch. I ordered half chicken, smashed potatoes and gourmet coleslaw to go.

 

The aroma of the grilled chicken filled the car as we drove home. The chicken does not come with the regular gravy sauce. The dip choices are Peri O' (spicy), Preg O' (sweet), Garlic O' (garlic), Tangy O' (sweet and spicy) and the Lemon and Herb sauce. I chose Peri O'.

Verdict:

The chicken is somewhat dry. Smells good but tasted different. Not your usual grilled chicken. The Peri O' dip I chose is very spicy but I liked it. 

The smashed potatoes come with mushroom gravy.  Not velvety, somewhat chunky. Got a funny sweet taste. Ate a quarter of the cup.

The gourmet coleslaw tasted weird though I was able to finish this one.

Over all, we did not like what we ordered. I guess I was expecting the food to taste like Kenny Rogers or Pollo Loco.

When Words Leave Off, Music Begins.

 

 There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.

I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; 

and you have yours.  

But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, 

in all times and in all places.  

Music is the only means 

whereby we feel these emotions 

in their universality.

Starbucks SM City Masinag

www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines

Yey! We need not go to Shangri-la, SM Marikina or Marquinton to buy Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. Starbucks SM Masinag is only 15 minutes drive away from our house.

 

I was the only customer here this morning.  And I love that. It's the first time there's not a single soul to share Starbucks with.  

I bought my favorite (actually the only drink I order) Coffee Jelly and the barista offered me the Starbucks Christmas Traditions Promo Card. I already told myself that I won't be collecting stickers this time. I said, "No, I don't want to collect." He said, "I'll still give you plus your 1 sticker." And I said, "Okay." Hahaha!!! 

So now that I've got 1 sticker, I'm compelled to have the remaining 16!

Lemongrass Asian Bistro

There used to be a Lemongrass in Megamall near Mexicali that serves the same menu as Pho Hoa. When Megamall underwent renovations, Lemongrass and Soup Kitchen were replaced by other establishments. 

I now prefer Shangri-la over Megamall because it is not as crowded as the latter and it is easier to find a parking slot. I've been noticing Lemongrass near Mrs Fields and Mercury Drug. All the while I thought they have the same menu as Pho Hoa which is located on the cinema level.

I was surprised Lemongrass Asian Bistro does not have the same menu as the Lemongrass of Megamall I used to frequent. I've read that Lemongrass Asian Bistro opened only last February 2011 and is managed by the same group managing Pho Hoa.

I ordered the LEMONGRASS Baby Back Ribs BBQ. I enjoyed the fall off the bone goodness. And when I say I enjoyed it means only the bones where left on my plate!

 

Homestyle Korean Beef Ribs for my husband. I love this dish. The beef is so tender. It actually tastes like Bistek Tagalog. The only difference is the sesame seeds and the chili. I think I can cook this in my kitchen.

Really had a satisfying early dinner. And I want to try the other food on their menu. I will definitely come back for more!!!

Cafe France: Coffee, Food and Everything French

I was at St Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City yesterday. Whenever I have an early doctor's appointment, I look forward to having a sumptuous breakfast at Cafe France.

 

 My Deluxe Tray

Wheat bread, scrambled eggs, ham, country sausage, bacon, butter and strawberry jam, orange juice, brewed coffee and fruits.

 

Hubby's Deluxe Tray

Same as mine except for the croissant. :D

==

Christmas Menu is now available at Cafe France, visit their website for a list of their delicious treats.

God Listens

Be an angel to someone else whenever you can, 

as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you. 

I prayed to God last Thursday not to let my blood extraction appointment fall on a Friday. It did.  Big problem. My car's plate number ends in "0". So I have to commute from Antipolo to Makati Med then to St Luke's Quezon City.

Friday morning. I prayed to God to at least help me reach my destination on time.

I had to take a shuttle to Makati then  wherever the shuttle will drop me off, I need to hail a cab that will bring me to Makati Med.

I arrived at the shuttle terminal 645am. The queue was sooooo long! No way for me to reach Makati before 9am.

In my mind, I was singing my favorite song "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way, He works on ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me" over and over.

710am. A white Honda car arrived. He was offering a carpool for 4 ladies going to Ayala. Lucky to be one of the four.

The three ladies alighted before we reached Ayala. I asked the driver if he could drop me anywhere near Makati Medical Center or anywhere I could hail a cab. He said, "I work near Makati Med. I'll drop you right there." Before getting off his car, I told him " You are such a big blessing for me today. Thank you so much and God bless you." He said, "Welcome. I'm glad I was able to help someone today. Pay it forward." 

I made it on time. 

After the blood extraction, I need to meet with my doctor at St Luke's Quezon City. While on the elevator, I prayed that I'll find a cab that is not difficult to convince to travel from Makati to QC. 

Voila, there waiting outside the building is an empty Basic Taxi. Another answered prayer. When we reached New Manila, there was a pick up request on his radio. Somewhere near WalterMart E. Rodriguez. I told the driver, "That's near St Luke's. You can pick up that passenger." He said, "Really ma'am? Thank you." I told him, "Just drop me off Cafe France. You need not enter the St Luke's premises. You'll be delayed by traffic inside."

He was so thankful for me being considerate. I said, "Welcome. And thank you too."

Thank you because I was able to pay it forward right away.

God is good.

All the time.

Beauty Captured Lying Down

A photographer that focuses on creative lying down photography, Jonerie Nerecina has a special talent of empowering women through photographs.  With only beauty in his mind, even those who are not ready to get semi-naked feel relaxed and exude confidence. Artistically experimenting on a variety of outfits and moods, he can create something striking with every pose.

young and alluring

Nikka Edrinal

sexy and sultry

Aica Tizon

approachable and sweet

Angel Harina

sunshine on a gray day 

Lala Garrido

captivating charm  

Diane Castro

provocatively elegant

Aica Tizon

  fierce beauty

Marice Caparas

seductive sophistication

About Jonerie

Fondly called Jons by his friends, he bought his first dslr camera last April 2010. His fascination with photography started as a hobby and eventually developed into a love affair. He wanted something extraordinary and came up with the idea of doing photo shoots of women lying down. He named his collection Take Down. Derived from the sport Wrestling, it's a powerful move of putting down your opponent. In the women's case, the opponent is the fear of showcasing her beauty in a sexy lying down position.

Jons is an officer of the Laguna Photography Club.  The LPC is an association of photography enthusiasts, hobbyists, amateur and professional photographers from Laguna. The LPC promotes the arts and science of photography through education, training and exhibition in an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie.

Links:
Twitter
Facebook
Take Down

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

We can now enjoy Starbucks coffee everyday minus the annoying, loud-mouthed  coffee drinkers with their bare feet  up on the chair. I do not have a coffeemaker and I'm not eager in owning one because I'm not actually a coffee drinker. My decaf coffee stays in the shelf for I don't know how long. My husband is the coffee drinker. He got excited when he found out about the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew.

written on the box:

The flavour of Colombia -- anytime, anywhere.

Grown in Colombia's rich volcanic soil, this coffee is as distinctive as the countryside. Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Colombia delivers round body, juicy mouthfeel and signature nutty flavour. We use 100% arabica beans to create a blend of instant and microground coffee. The result is a smooth and balanced, yet crisp, cup of Starbucks Columbia coffee.

And because it's Christmas Season, A Christmas Blend is also available.

 

Let's be merry, wherever we are.

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Christmas Blend begins when our signature blend of spicy and cedary aged Sumatran  coffee  meets mellow Asia/Pacific beans and lively coffees from Latin America. Much like good friends, they've been coming together in celebration every holiday for more than 25 years. We use these 100% arabica beans to create an instant and microground coffee that lets you enjoy a sweet, spicy cup of Starbucks Christmas Blend wherever the holidays take you.

We'll be opening the Christmas Blend tomorrow. I hope the taste is as good as the beautiful packaging. 

The box contains 12 single serve sachets for P495 (around $12). I was told Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is sold cheaper in Malaysia. I should hoard when I visit Malaysia :D

Bank and Breakfast

Two consecutive days of waking up very early (6am!) for some bank transactions. Today though my trip to the bank is something I always look forward. I went to my beloved China Bank this morning. I love going to this branch because here is where I had my first job after college. I resigned five years later but maintained my account to at least have a good reason to always come back.

This photo was taken a decade ago. The office has been renovated twice already. I did not notice if those ancient looking typewriters (at least they are electric) still exist. All of us in this picture no longer work at China Bank. Hazel is now residing in Singapore, Jeff in Houston, Tom in Australia and I think Benjie is in Canada. And me -- yeah, still in the Philippines.

 

No more old faces at my former branch. I'm just glad that somehow I'm friends with the new employees. I miss working in the bank BUT I don't want to work again in the bank ;p Anyways, my transactions went smoothly. I stayed there for only 20 minutes with lots of chatting on the side.Unlike my oh so boring, time wasting experience with BPI.

Then we headed to Robinson's Metroeast for breakfast. We were too early the parking is almost empty. I was craving for Pancake House's Tapsilog. Too bad, the restaurant is undergoing renovation. Ended up eating at Red Ribbon.

Pancake House's All Beef Salisbury Steak is way better in terms of taste and presentation compared to CBD's.  And it's cheaper and comes with a slice of cake and a regular size drink.

My husband enjoying the Tocilog. The tocino tasted really good. I don't know though if I'll order it because I can cook that at home.

BPI Express Assist

I'm not fond of going to the bank to do my transactions. I hate the waiting and the filling out of slips. I do everything online. It's the most convenient way of banking for me. My sister was able to make me go to the bank to deposit money for her by bribing me with a sumptuous meal at Gerry's Grill. I agreed because I was so craving for tahong ala pobre.

Note to self: Never talk to Kate whenever I am craving.

Wrong day to transact in a bank. It's a Monday. I should know! I worked in a bank before.

I woke up early this morning (this is very unusual for me!) and then went to BPI. I has been years since I last had a branch transaction. The branch was so full of people. Bad. It means I have to wait for hours. I noticed there are no transaction slips available. I asked the guard for deposit slips and he told me they don't have deposit slips anymore. I have to enter my transactions in the BPI Express Assist machine.

I was horrified. It's my first time to see the machine. I do not know how to use it. The branch is full of people. I might look stupid! I convinced myself that I'll figure out how it works. Most probably it's just like the ATM.

Luckily, the touch screen machine is user friendly. You enter your account number, the transaction you wish to perform (cash and check deposit, withdrawal, bills payments), the transaction amount and then you'll be given a queue number. There's also an option for multiple transactions. When your number is called (I'm N95 and they are serving N53), the teller will simply confirm the transaction. 

I like it. But I  wasted 2 hours waiting for my turn.

Online banking still works  best for me.

It's the Possibility. Not the Guarantee.

I'm not much of a risk taker. And if ever I take a risk, it's always a calculated risk. I am now about to engage into something very big. Very costly. Mentally draining. Physically taxing. Emotionally exhausting. I'm counting on the fact that everything is possible. I know very much that should I triumph, the reward is priceless.

I'm nervous. 

Nervous in an excited kind of way.

And always hoping for the best.

Patrimonio for Philippine Tennis

Not Alvin Patrimonio, of course. But very much related to him. I'm talking about Anna Clarice Patrimonio who  moves on to the semi-finals in women's tennis at the 26th SEA Games. I do not know anything about Anna Clarice except that she is the daughter of basketball superstar Alvin Patrimonio and haven't seen her play tennis before. I saw a retweet from Mico Halili that there is a live coverage of an ongoing match in tennis. Got curious. Haven't really seen a Filipina compete in tennis.

Anna Clarice Patrimonio, born November 25, 1993 won against Lavinia Tananta, born November 3, 1987 from the host country Indonesia with an impressive 6-4, 6-1. I do not know who will be her opponent in the Semis but I do wish she'll go all the way to the Finals.

I googled about Anna Clarice and found some information from the ITF Tennis website. She doesn't have a wikipedia entry yet compared to Tananta. Anyways, Anna Clarice started tennis at age 8. She plays right handed and a double handed backhand. Her favorite surface is hard and is coached by Karl Santamaria.  She's got an interesting career record. Current year Singles win-loss 18-6 and her career Singles record is 56-34.

I hope she improves her tennis dramatically so that soon our beloved Philippines will have our own version of Li Na, Azarenka, Kvitova, Wozniacki, Sharapova and Williams.

My Nuffnang Story

My interest in blogging started way back 2004. It was a private blog back then and most of my entries are either about my musings or my rantings.
You can probably relate to what I'm talking about. My blog is like any other girl's blog. Full of stories, poems and quotes and stuff that I like.

Nothing really extraordinary that would make it standout from other bloggers.
Until one day, I decided to share my entries to whoever will accidentally bump into my site. I did not even put a counter because I'm afraid no one will notice.
Fortunately, some people find my blog interesting. Other girls could relate to my poems. Some love the food that I love. And some would like to go where I have been.
Fantastic isn't it? Especially if you can connect to total strangers and eventually become friends with them.
Newbie no more, I tried to find ways to reach out to more people and at least earn something from blogging. And then I noticed most of the blogs I visit have a banner that says
Ads by Nuffnang
Nuffnang what??
Googled it, and the rest is history in the making.

Since I joined Nuffnang, blogging became more fun and exciting.
Trickles of visitors no more. My counter keeps updating. I've only been a member for a week but I can already feel that soon enough, Nuffnang will make my blogging experience a lot more than just blogging.
Out there, I know a lot of bloggers like me would want to get more out of blogging.
Register to Nuffnang and before you know it,
You are one happy blogger like me.

And by the way, how does blog awards appeal to you?

Come 16 December 2011, 500 bloggers from around the Asia-Pacific region will flock to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011 in Putrajaya Marriott. The Awards aims to not only honour the region's best bloggers, but also to bring together blogger communities from across Asia-Pacific. The Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards is brought to you by Volkswagen Malaysia and Putrajaya Marriott.

Excellent Product Promo

Purchase this cough medicine and you'll get a FREE cone twirl.

The Vince Lahorra Quartet

 

I was at SM Masinag last night with my husband. As we entered the mall, we heard beautiful jazz music played at the activity area. Had we known about the quartet show, we surely had arrived at an earlier time. 

I googled about the quartet upon arriving home and glad I found their site. The jazz ensemble is a young group. They will be celebrating their 3rd Anniversary next month. The ensemble members are Vince Lahorra on saxophone, Mel Santos on piano, Dave Harder on bass and Lawrence Nolan on drums.  

The gig last night was so great. Such talented performers. I just wished though SM provided chairs because the people had to endure two hours either standing or sitting on the floor. But even with such inconvenience, the wonderful musical treat was all worth it. I love all the songs they played. How I wish to hear them play my favorites -- Feels So Good by Chuck Mangione and Wave by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

I was able to record them playing Jose Mari Chan's Christmas In Our Hearts. I have piano sheets of most of the songs they played and I can't wait last night to go home and "jazz" them up.

You can hear them play at Rockwell Power Plant on November 18 and 25, 1130am to 230pm. Visit their website for updates on their gigs.

Contact Information:

Vince Lahorra
Mobile # 0915 641 2407
Email: vincelahorra@gmail.com

Ayala Triangle Gardens

 

Ayala Avenue + Makati Avenue + Paseo de Roxas = Ayala Triangle

The last time my shoes stepped on the grass of the Ayala Triangle was in 1997 while I was attending seminars at the head office of China Banking Corporation. Last night, my husband had a basketball match at the gym of Makati Stock Exchange. I have read about the developments made at the Triangle we decided to take a walk after the match. 

 

We couldn't help but marvel at the sight that greeted us. This used to be a boring lonely park. 

One of the attractions is the  strip of restaurants opened during the last quarter of 2010. I was surprised with the volume of people dining here last night. Restaurants at the strip are Amici, Cara Mia, Banapple, Bon Chon, CBD, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Golden Spoon, Kanin Club, MoMo Cafe, Omakase, Pho 24 and Wee Nam Kee. 

 

I really wanted a Tutta Carne from Amici but because it was dinner time, so many diners are already waiting in line outside.  C.B.D. is one of the few restaurants that has a lot of empty tables so we just went here for a quick meal. 

C.B.D. or Cheesesteaks, Burgers and Drinks by Tender Bob's has a relaxed atmosphere where you can simply enjoy your food. There are three LCD televisions on the wall and clocks with different time zones. I've read that the cheesesteaks are good.

 

I ordered  the Pure Beef Burger Steak. For the price of P175, I think there should be some sort of presentation. I can make this look better had I prepared this at home. I'm also disappointed with the burger steak. The texture is rubbery. Not the pure grilled beef patty I was expecting. Red Ribbon's Salisbury Steak is so much better! 

 

My husband's Teriyaki Burger looks better except that the tomato and the onions are mainly for presentation purposes. Also, it would have been better if they gave him an extra serving of teriyaki sauce instead of gravy.

The "Manila Special" is interesting. You can have rice instead of buns to go with your burger.

 

I really should have tried the burger or the cheesesteak. They look so yummy.  May be next time. If ever I'll convince myself to give C.B.D. a second chance. 

I had my picture taken with the giant tree for my background. I just think the tree will make me look thinner than I really am.

The streets of Makati Business District are festively adorned with lights. This is Makati Avenue at around 930pm. Traffic is not so bad.

Let There Be Lights @ Ayala Triangle

Johnny Rockets: The Home of the Dancing Servers

The first Johnny Rockets opened in Los Angeles on June 6, 1986. This year, Johnny Rockets  celebrates its 25th anniversary worldwide. My recently promoted sister  wants (was forced??) to treat us and so we decided to celebrate at  Johnny Rockets Eastwood.

I really had a hard time deciding what to order because I want to try almost everything. But since this is the home of the original burger, might as well try the burger on my first visit.

I chose the simplest of them all: The Original. My hamburger patty is made of 1/3 pound, 100% imported ground beef that was grilled only upon order.  The lettuce, tomatoes, chopped onions and pickles crunched as I bite. And here's a treat: refillable french fries!

Those who wants a healthier option may substitute the beef patty with 100% soy or turkey patty. Wheat bread for the bun is also available.

Kids are given a paper hat, crayons and an activity sheet. Since the food is prepared only upon order, expect to wait for 10-15 minutes. The adults can pass the time by watching the servers dance. I'm not sure if there is a specific interval between their performances or if they dance whenever someone plays a song from the jukebox.

 

I wasn't able to record their dance. I was really entertained with their performance but if you look at their faces, there is no enthusiasm. Or they were probably too tired already. I was wondering, a song will only cost you P1, and if indeed they dance to every song played on the jukebox... I'll understand why they could no longer smile.

 

My husband ordered St. Louis -- thick bacon, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, pickles and their "St Louis" sauce.  Thumb up means YUMMY!

 

Kid's meal for my 8 year old nephew. Their kid's meal I think is for a kid with a very big appetite. He chose the Kid's Mix and Match. This meal includes a mini hamburger,  mini hotdog sandwich and half plate of french fries! My sister's strawberry shake is the best strawberry shake ever!

I was no longer able to have my soda and french fries refilled. I don't even have any space in my stomach for dessert.

Verdict: Gastronomically Satisfied!