Forget Me Not Cafe At Lilac Street

Forget Me Not Cafe At Lilac Street

Monday, February 29

I live 10 minutes away from Lilac Street but have been to only three of the restaurants lined up on the stretch of the street. One of the restaurants I've been to a couple of times already is Forget Me Not Cafe. Let's start with the place. I was told that the building where Forget Me Not is currently located is much better compared to it's previous location. 

I love the color scheme of the restaurant. Although the layout of the ground floor makes the place feel a bit crowded especially during lunch and dinner, it helps that it is brightly lighted and the walls are painted white which makes the small space a bit comfy. 

I particularly like the corner seat at the second floor of the restaurant. They rent out this space for private events. You might want to consider spending your birthday here.

The Food

Click HERE for the menu

We went to Forget Me Not for our late snack early dinner fix. People usually dine here for their pasta and cakes. I have yet to return for the pasta. Here are what we ordered..

Fish Fingers and Potato Fries, PhP175

Fish Fingers and Potato Fries. Fried fish fillet served with potato fries and tartar dip. An order costs PhP175 which I find a bit expensive.

Croquettes, PhP215

Croquettes. Fried potato balls stuffed with bacon and cheese on crushed tomatoes. Yummy! 

Roast Beef, PhP285

Roast Beef. Thinly sliced beef in mushroom sauce served with mixed vegetables and white rice.

I've been to Forget Me Not twice already and ordered the Roast Beef on both visits. A bit expensive but the serving is generous. Ergo, I like this :)

Pink and Blue Lemonade, PhP85

Choco Treat

Carrot Cake

Mango Cake

The chocolate cake is moist and perfect with coffee. The third cake has mango and I like it but it was Sam's so I only got to have a small bite :D 

I'll dine again and I'll try the pasta dishes.

Forget Me Not

41 Lilac Street, Hacienda Heights, 

Concepcion Dos, Marikina City

238.5021; 942.0087
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CafeForgetMeNot/

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PSSTph Team Invades Seafood Island Restaurant Circuit Makati

PSSTph Team Invades Seafood Island Restaurant Circuit Makati

Wednesday, February 10

The dynamic PSSTph team where yours truly is a proud member has its first ever face-to-face meeting at Seafood Island Restaurant in Circuit Makati. After weeks of doing brainstorming and goals setting via online chat, it's about time we have a traditional meeting while enjoying good food.

The restaurant of choice: Seafood Island Circuit Makati

Our EIC was all business during the first few minutes. Most of us who are bloggers know each other so it was expected that we are a noisy bunch.

But when the food arrived, galit-galit muna! The boodle feast got all our attention. 

Here's what we devoured...

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Pinoy Nachos, PhP165

Pancit Espesyal con Lechon Kawali, PhP275

Garlic Smothered Jambangus, PhP395

Mt. Apo Boodle Feast, PhP1,650

Imbao sa buco, steamed crabs, grilled liempo, inihaw na manok sa gata, grilled squid, steamed shrimps, fried tilapia, law-uy, knilaw na tanigue, balbakwa, ensalatang lato with crispy dilis and salted fish rice. 

Good for 5-6 persons.

Tali Beach Boodle Feast

Grilled chicken, inasal big bbq, steamed white shrimps, grilled tilapia, grilled tahong, crabs, grilled squid, grilled tomatoes, lato, mangga, pakwan with steamed rice

Good for 3-4 persons 995.00 Good for 5-6 persons 1,345.00

The PSSTph team had a truly satisfying meal at Seafood Island Restaurant Circuit Makati. The ambiance was perfect. It was a windy, cloudy lunch time. We occupied the table near the veranda and it felt like we're eating near the sea. The waitstaff were very attentive and friendly. The food is delicious, served fast and warm. 

Seafood Island Restaurant

Circuit Makati, Olympia

Makati City

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Chicken Curry Recipe

Chicken Curry Recipe

Sunday, February 7

Chicken curry is one of my favorite chicken dishes because it is very flavorful. It has been months since I last cooked this dish. The Pinoy-style chicken curry uses coconut milk. But my husband doesn't eat any viands with coconut milk. I use Alpine evaporated milk instead.

Ingredients

cooking oil

minced garlic

1 medium size chopped onion

6 pieces chicken breast

2 tablespoon McCormick Curry Powder

1 cup evaporated milk

2 cups water

1 carrot (cubed)

2 potatoes (cubed)

1 red bell pepper (cut into strips)

salt to taste

Heat the cooking oil. Saute the onions and garlic. When the onions turn transparent in color, add in the chicken. Cover the pan so that the steam will cook the chicken. When the chicken meat turns white, add two cups of water and let simmer for 10 minutes. Then add the carrot and potatoes. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Add water if necessary. Pour in 1 cup evaporated milk and 2 tablespoons of McCormick Curry Powder. Let it simmer for another 15 minutes. Add in the red bell pepper. Season with salt.

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Marison's Filipino Cafe and Restaurant: The Best of Antipolo

Marison's Filipino Cafe and Restaurant: The Best of Antipolo

Monday, January 11

I've got the best start for 2016. Zomato invited me to a foodie meetup somewhere in Antipolo and I immediately accepted. This is my territory. I've been to as far as Alabang, why on earth would I miss a gastronomic adventure in Antipolo.

Marison's Filipino Cafe and Restaurant is located at the 2nd level of  The Village Center at Mille Luce in San Roque, Antipolo City. It's a short drive from the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo. You should include dining here in your itinerary.

Let me begin this restaurant review by sharing with you a photo of our plates. I need not say anything to convince you, my dear readers, how delicious the dishes were. 

Are you ready to salivate? Here's what we had last Thursday...

Starters

Deep Fried Kesong Puti, PhP260

Deep Fried Kesong Puti. Fried lumpiang kesong puti served with spicy pineapple sambal dip.

The owner told us that when Kris Aquino visited Marison's, she liked the Deep Fried Kesong Puti very much. I wouldn't argue with her. 

Pork Confit, PhP210

Pork Confit. Shredded pork topped with crispy bihon wrapped in romaine lettuce with spicy honey sauce.

I ate three of the five on this plate. I actually don't want to share this! It has the right amount of sweetness and just a hint of spiciness. The pork was tender. The lettuce was so fresh and the crispy bihon was a surprise treat. 

Other starters offered in the menu: Empanada, Crispy Beef Tadyang, Chicken Fingers, Balut Tempura and Crispy Crablets

Salads

Roco Salata, PhP170

Roco Salata. Mixed greens with grapes, queso de bola, and caramelized cashew nuts with special dressing.

This salad is too sweet for my taste. Or my judgment was a bit impaired because I had too much of the Pork Confit before I ate some salad. 

Other salads offered in the menu: Ensalada Filipina, House Caesar Salad and Ensalada Marison

Soups

Spinach in Seafood, PhP130

Spinach in Seafood. Fresh spinach and crabstick in thick broth.

This is my kind of soup! I want it thick and rich. I'm even thinking of this as a meal substitute. Very filling and healthy.

Shrimp Laswa, PhP160

Shrimp Laswa. An Ilonggo dish that is served with fresh shrimps, malunggay, squash, sweet potato, okra and eggplant.

It's my first time to taste this Ilonggo dish. I'm a bit hesitant because of the shrimps. I'm not fond of shrimps in a soup but this one is really good. I would love to pair this with fried fish.

Other soups offered in the menu: Pork Sinigang, Chicken Binakol and Molo.

Pasta and Noodles

Sotanghon Guisado, PhP180

Sotanghon Guisado. Sotanghon noodles with chicken and vegetables

I eat my pancit with rice. Yeah, carbs overload. If not for the other dishes that we were about to taste, I would have eaten more of the Sotanghon Guisado. 

Other pasta and noodles offered in the menu: Pasta Ilocos, Pasta Chinoy, Shrimp and Pesto, Shrimp and Fresh Mango Pasta

Main Course

Crispy Tripe Kare-Kare, PhP330

Crispy Tripe Kare-Kare. Tender beef in peanut and cashew-based sauce topped with crispy tripe and served with house bagoong.

Marison's bestseller is the kare-kare. I got excited because this is my favorite dish. I don't like tripe though. But when this was served, I was surprised that the tripe was cooked crispy. The peanut and cashew-based sauce has a smooth texture and a balance of sweet and salty. You won't even need a bagoong. I just wish there's more veggies.

BTW, the owner's son told us that they make their own bagoong. 

Seafood Kare-Kare, PhP400

Seafood Kare-Kare. Mahi-Mahi, squid, mussels, shrimps in peanut and cashew-based sauce and served with house bagoong.

I've only tasted the Mahi-Mahi in this Seafood Kare-Kare. Although I'm not fond of Seafood Kare-Kare, I liked this one. I'll order both seafood and crispy tripe when I return to Marison with my family.

Sinaing Buntot ng Tuna, PhP410

Sinaing Buntot ng Tuna. Deep fried tuna tail served with sauce and pork cracklings

This one is interesting. It's like a healthy alternative to crispy pata. 

Humba, PhP310

Humba. Braised pork cooked in sugar and served with saba.

I'm looking for a little bit of saltiness from this dish. I find it too sweet. But I think my sister will like this.

Grilled Salmon sa Miso, PhP330

Grilled Salmon sa Miso. Grilled fresh Norwegian salmon fillet glazed with honey miso sauce and caramelized peach.

Salmon is a favorite fish at home. I serve oven-baked salmon at least every two weeks for dinner. Marison's Grilled Salmon sa Miso has introduced me to something new. 

Pork Binagoongan, PhP310

Pork Binagoongan. Lechon kawali in toasted alamang served with eggplant and fresh green mango

Extra rice please!!! 

Other main course offered in the menu: Pork Adobo, Lamb and Chicken Adobo, Pork Baby Back Ribs, Fried Tilapia and Sarciado Mahi-Mahi

Desserts

Halo-Halo, PhP100/135

Halo-Halo. A delightful combination of sweet "halo" with Marison's signature ice.

I should have left enough space in my stomach for dessert. Marison's Halo-Halo has the softest shaved ice I've tasted in my life. I'll go to Marison just for this!

Frozen Brazo, PhP110

Frozen Brazo. Rich Brazo de Mercedes on top of mantecado ice cream and crushed sweet apa.

Brazo de Mercedes is my least favorite dessert. BUT when I tasted Marison's Frozen Brazo, I wanna bring home a whole serving of this! 

Sans Rival, PhP140

Sans Rival.  Layers of sweet meringue topped with macadamia nuts.

Macadamia on my sans rival?! Insane!!!! The best sans rival ever!!!

Other dessert available in the menu: Sumaka

I should have brought home an order of Sumaka because I'm so curious with this dessert. Sumaka is a local Antipolo delicacy, suman infused with candied cashews, covered with coconut and topped with ripe mangoes served with chocolate dip.

What I love about foodie meetup is that I get to meet the owner of the restaurant. When the owner of Marison's arrived, it felt like it's your mom or tita you are talking to. She is so natural. Magaan sa pakiramdam kausap. And with that you know she's a good person. It also makes the experience like eating at home. Something like a Sunday reunion with the family.

I must admit, I still enjoy looking at the photos and I can still vividly recall that afternoon spent at Marison's. And I so want to go back.

Marison's 

2F Village Center at Mille Luce

ML Quezon St. San Roque, Antipolo

246.9069

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Love Desserts Buffet: Sweet Indulgence for P199

Love Desserts Buffet: Sweet Indulgence for P199

Thursday, December 17

It was a gloomy, rainy Tuesday morning when I got to visit Love Desserts in Banawe for the first time. When I saw the buffet spread, I know the 90-minute commute all the way from Antipolo was all worth it. I was the first to arrive and had the pleasure of taking photos of what Love Desserts has to offer that day.

Let me share with you some of my favorite from the desserts table. Ready?

Strawberry Cheesecake

There were at least three kinds of cheesecake at the buffet table. I love cheesecakes because they don't make me feel guilty eating two slices.

Crepe Cake

The crepe cake is a winner! Kinda felt like this goes perfect with a cup of coffee. But I'm not a coffee drinker which made me feel like I'm missing out a lot.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Chocolate Chip Cookies were placed near the ice cream freezer. It was so tempting to make an ice cream cookie drizzled with chocolate syrup from the crepe station.

Chocolate Caramel Brownie

This brownie with caramel sauce is so moist and soft and delish!

I love anything with strawberry and gelatin so I devoured two of these!

I want a mango dessert that uses real mangoes. These shots got really mango bits!

I don't know what this one is called. Somewhat tasted like cookies and cream.

Halo-halo station

I didn't make it to the halo-halo station. I told myself that this will be the highlight of my desserts buffet but I was too full already.

Chili Cheese Roll and Nachos

The culprit why I wasn't able to eat halo-halo. I had too many of these in between my desserts rounds. I'm glad Love Desserts offers these non-dessert dishes.

Are you craving now? Here are more photos...

For only P199 good for 2 hours, you'll get to enjoy your money's worth. Aside from the desserts, your P199 includes unlimited iced tea, milk tea, coffee and hot tea. There's also a crepe station and an ice cream station. 

Ala carte menu is available if you want to have a meal first before having the dessert buffet.

And because Love Desserts Buffet is budget-friendly, these Thomasians can beat the stress out of university life.

Love Desserts

915 Banawe Corner Roxas Street,

Manresa, Banawe, Quezon City

(02) 246.9069

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