Instagram Food Sightings 2012

We've dined out several times since the year started, and here is just a compilation of some of the quick pics I took of what we ate shortly before they all disappeared from the table.

These were taken using my iPhone 4S and then processed and shared via Instagram, that nifty little photo app that allows you to tweak your pics to make em look a wee bit more interesting, and then lets you show it to many people on your friends list, including your FB wall.

Dinner at Romulo's in Makati

Ensaymada and hot choco at Damaso's, GB5

assorted desserts at Damaso's, GB5

Jalapeño chili on cheese dip, Papa John's

Hainanese Chicken Rice at Wild Ginger, Power Plant

Roti Prata at Wild Ginger, Power Plant

Affogatto at Cafe Publico, Greenhills Promenade

fresh baked oysters at Via Mare Oyster Bar, Power Plant

Beef Sukiyaki from Kuretake, Power Plant

Japanese at Jozu Kin, Ronac Centre, Greenhills

Niro's 30-inch pizza delivered to the office!

Peri-Peri Chicken, Megamall

Sansrival at Espressamento, Power Plant

Coffee break at Espressamento, Power Plant

44th at Katre

Special occasions require special celebrations. And what better way to celebrate than eating out for dinner at a restaurant where you know what you're going to get, and enjoy doing so!

That is why on my birthday early this month, I decided I wanted to go back to this restaurant off T. Morato Ave. in Quezon City. We've been here before, very, very long ago, and all I remembered was that I enjoyed the food immensely.

The place is called Katre Mediterranean Fusion Cuisine, and its still as good as when it first

opened about 10 years ago. We started with Greek Salad, then fried oysters for appetizer. M. had Beef Salpicao, S. ordered some Roast Chicken on pasta, while A. chose her favorite Penne Carbonara. I ordered my all time fave, the Crispy Adobo Flakes on bagoong rice!

It's been a long time since we last ate here so it was good to be back. Nothing fancy, but it hits the spot. Glad to know there are still places that are consistent with their quality and service. The servings are sizable enough, prepared very classily, and the quality and food value top-notch! Kudos to the chef!

We made the right decision in choosing this place. A great way to celebrate my 44th birthday!

A Night With The Noodle Boss

We love noodles, in any form, shape, or application.

So it was with great excitement that we recently got to try a new Japanese noodle place not too far from where we live.

Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss is a compact-sized dining place along Shaw Blvd, corner Ideal Street, in the same building where a Red Ribbon is located. I remember this area used to have a Chinese restaurant a long time ago, so it was quite a surprise that we found ourselves back, this time to try out something new.

Admittedly, I wouldn't have known about Moshi Koshi if my friend hadn't told me about it. She gave me a postcard GC worth P500 so that we could try it out. The postcard was ingeniously designed to look like a Japanese noodle stall that popped up into a standing 3D counter.

The theme is focused on Japanese Koshi noodles, the kind that many Japanese are passionate and crazy about. Koshi, which means "that sweet state of a noodle that is tender and chewy, firm but not hard, with resistance to the bite."

Happy noodle time is the theme that Moshi-Koshi wants to prevail. All dishes are prepared by The Noodle Boss, who is "master of the bowl." We saw him inside the kitchen, busily directing all food preparation. He's as authentic as the noodles, you can't miss him!

The restaurant is simply laid out, Japanese in its austerity but thoroughly modern in execution. A no-nonsense dining place if ever there was one. I like its straightforward interiors, with walls that are clean and neat, and subtle lighting that's quite pleasing, and not tiring, to the eyes.

The servers are keenly attentive and are able to answer the most complex of questions, like, "what noodle should I get?" Kidding aside, it is quite a challenge to choose any one kind of noodle when faced with a plethora of varying choices.

To think that they offer the three main kinds of Japanese noodles -- ramen, udon, and soba -- the difficulty came from selecting a particular dish to try out. Do we go with beef, chicken, pork or shrimp?

Since my wife and I were in the midst of our non-meat phase, we opted for Ebi tempura Teishoku, which was a set meal that consists of Ebi tempura, Japanese rice, a side of kani salad and miso soup. We also got Ebi Tempura Soba, a side order of Agedashi Tofu (actually 2 side orders of this!), and an extra pair of Epi Tempura.

This was more than enough for a two-person spread. Since we love noodles and soup, the udon was just the right concoction to end a busy Saturday. That's my new comfort food, I think, along with ramen. The soup was flavorful and rich, so I didn't need to add more soy. I merely sprinkled some hot chili powder sauce on it coz I like my noodles hot and spicy!

Moshi-Koshi also has bento meals with Chicken Teriyaki, Kara-age and Shogayaki choices, consisting of rice, miso soup and 4 special sidings.

We couldn't finish the rest of the tofu and extra tempura so we just brought them home for the kids. At least we still had space for a tub of Green Tea Ice Cream. Our total bill was about P650 only! Unbelievable!

I don't want to say that the food was great, only because I wouldn't want it to be too crowded when I come over again. But that wouldn't be fair, would it?

I love my noodles koshi. And for that, its a sure bet that I'll go back to Moshi-Koshi.

Its best if you try Moshi-Koshi yourself because I'm not really a food critic. If you love Japanese food, especially noodles, then you'll probably enjoy this place, too.

Hopefully, other branches will be opened soon, so that you don't need to drive all the way to Shaw Boulevard.

Moshi-Koshi Noodle Boss is located at 431 Shaw Blvd., cor. Ideal St., Mandaluyong City, M.M. Telephone 72-MOSHI.

www.moshi-koshi.com

More Fun in 2012

Here's my contribution to the Department of Tourism's new campaign to attract in-bound visitors to the Philippines.

Happy New Year!

We say goodbye to 2011 with renewed hope of better days ahead.

2011 was rough, no doubt about it, but through our resilience, courage and faith, we were able to weather the storm, face the challenges and surmount obstacles both natural and man-made. We welcome 2012 with much excitement and eagerness.

Here's wishing everyone all the blessings of the coming year! Peace! Joy! Love!

Season's Greetings

Sounds Like Christmas

by Sabine Antigua

Listen,
Can't you hear it?
It's there--
Though you may not see it.
Strain your ears
You'll catch a sound
Each note floating
Up and down.
What is it
You're trying to perceive?
You won't hear it
If you don't believe.
Not just the catchy songs on the radio
Not some SM Santa going 'hohoho'
Not only the carollers on the street.
Not the tapping of dancing feet.
But something else,
An evanescent tune
Riding on a frequency as high as the moon.
Some catch it too early
Some catch it pretty late
It's the sound of the season
But it's there every day.
The song gets louder
Like bells in your ears
When Christmas is coming
And it's that time of year
You'll hear it in kindness,
And friendship and such
As well as in empathy
And generosity and love.
Once you hear the music
Get up and dance
It happens once a year,
So now is your chance--
Add to the tune,
Contribute to the song
Follow the beat
Make it last twelve days long
Till you hear the sound fading,
As we reach the new year
And you hit the 'play' button
For a new song to hear--
Wherever you are,
Be it home or abroad
You'll hear the music
And you'll give a nod
Time will stand still--
And the stars will shine bright
And you'll realize that--
It never WAS a silent night.

HK Holiday, Part 1

Off to Hong Kong we went right after the semestral break, a well-deserved vacation for all of us.

We kept the trip a surprise from the girls, merely telling them we were heading to Davao. Up until the day we went to the airport, they still had no idea of what was in store.

M. broke the news to them right before we checked into our CebuPacific flight, and boy w

ere they surprised!!! They were so happy they were not going to Davao, haha!

So, we checked in to our flight using the special counter for CebuPac's web check-in facility.

Terminal 3 is really a far cry from the old, dilapidated Terminal 2, which rightfully earned its inclusion in CNN's "World's Most Hated Airports." Terminal 3 is more spacious and new, although it still isn't up to the same standards as the airports abroad. A big improvement, yes, but definitely needs constant improvement just the same. But it was all good, coz we were going to be in HK in a couple of hours.

Since we were already checked in quite ahead of schedule, we had enough time to catch a quick lunch from a ramen place. We then called my Mom, who was also in on the surprise, so she could be one of the first to talk to the girls as soon as they found out.

This was their first ever visit to Hong Kong, so they were full of excitement as the plane took off. About two hours later, we were landing in HK's luxurious airport considered to be one of the world's favorites.

It was already past 7pm when we got out of the airport. We took a red taxi to take us to our hotel on Hong Kong side. The weather was not too cold, unfortunately. But it was quite comfortable, not too warm, with the occasional gust of wind.

The long taxi ride from the airport in Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island, through a long bridge that traversed a small channel, and on to a longer bridge that brought us to Kowloon, and then a few more kilometers through a tunnel that passed under the sea, emerging in Sheung Wan on the western side of Hong Kong island.

The girls didn't believe me when I told them that the tunnel went under the ocean, until I asked the cabdriver for confirmation. They were elated to find that out!

After a 45-minute ride, we stopped outside our hotel's main doors. I had booked a three-night stay at the Hotel LBP, in Sheung Wan, near Central, after negotiating with their staff via email on the kind of room that we required.

The hotel was located just a short walk from my brother's flat on Queen's Road West, so it was ideal for us as we were scheduled to transfer to his place after three days. He found it while walking in the neighborhood some weeks back. They checked out the place and found it suitable; quite new as it had just opened for business last September; and pretty decent and clean, with spacious rooms compared to the usual HK budget accommodations.

The staff were pretty attentive, and quick to provide us with sundry little items that we needed: extra towels, adaptors for our mobile phone chargers, among other things. They gave us an upgrade to a bigger room layout that had a living room area apart from the bedroom, and free use of an extra bed during our stay, all at no extra charge! Plus, we also had free in-room WiFi.

A few minutes after we had deposited our luggage and got settled into our room, my brother arrived and warm welcomes were handed out to everyone. We then headed to his flat he shared with D. and they served us a great dinner that both vegetarians (me, M. and youngest) and meat-eaters (eldest) enjoyed!

We then marveled at the spectacular view of the HK skyline from their 31st floor balcony, with the many glittering lights emanating from the skyscrapers and buildings that stood in the dark night.

We made it to Hong Kong, and the next six days would promise to be an exciting adventure for the whole family!

Next: Day 1, The Peak

***

Here are more photos of our hotel.