Betty's

     What I love about being lakwatchera is that I get to discover the wonders of my world. There are a lot of restaurants who are not in the food zone. Most of them are hard to get to, especially if you are not familiar with the place. But, sometimes these hidden places are the wonders one is just looking for.

     Good food and great dessert goes together. At Betty's you can have both worlds for a steal. Food is really great and definitely very affordable. They can also cater to your party needs whether it be for your baby's baptismal, your birthday, debut, weddings, etc..

     Instead of eating at our beloved fast food chains, which I like by the way, why don't you go down to Betty's and grab lunch for just P108.00 where you already have your main dish with free ice tea and soup!

     Their main entrees range from P98.00 to P198.00 only! They also have all day breakfast, appetizer, salad, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and piadina ( it is an Italian flat bread folded in half, it looks like soft taco).

     They also have brownies, food for the Gods, sans rival and choco revel bars per slice or in small/big box to satisfy your sweet cravings.

Sans Rival quarter box (6 slices) : P255.00

Ozaki for IPad

     If there is one thing I love about Apple products, it is that they have countless number of protective cases to choose from. I have bought several different brands and types of cases for my precious Ipad 2. OZAKI was the best for me. I love how creative and versatile their products are. They have designs for different types of personality and colors you would certainly like. Their products are well crafted and certainly worth the money for me.

     I have been scouting stores for a new case for my Ipad, but I can't seem to like any of them. I went on the internet thinking that I might find something that I would fancy. I did! I found OZAKI. But it seemed to me like they don't have it here in the Philippines. All the cases I found at the stores were boring and out of date. I decided not to buy, but when my old trusty Ipad case seemed to be in the verge of death. I went back to the mall and when I spotted the Ozaki Icoat (Slim-Y+) it costs around (P3,495.00), The collection has 7 different colors, each with a different design. When I saw the Baroque in pink, I knew she was the one!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich from Starbucks Coffee

     On a cold rainy day like this, everyone would grab a coffee or a hot chocolate to warm them up at home or at work. Since it has been raining for a few days now, I hope that everyone is safe and sound. Do not go out anymore if not necessary. 

     But I am so cold now that I suddenly wanted coffee and I thought of Starbucks new creation that is perfect with coffee for this gloomy weather. If there is a fire place in our house somewhere, I would sit there and cuddle up with my blanket! Starbucks has done it again! Their Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich (P80) is made up of 2 awesome chocolate chip cookie with melted marshmallow in between, and with a few seconds inside the microwave. PERFECT! Oozing with its chocolaty goodness in every bite!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich (P80)

Tacklings Bite Size Taco

     Mexican food is always a delight to eat. Oh how I love taco bell, but it seems to me like it is not that much of a hit anymore. Branches are closing down. Philippines is down to 2 branches : Trinoma, Gateway. PLEASE SAVE TACO BELL!! They don't have taco bell at Sm North Edsa, so I had to grab the next best thing.

     I first got to try this cute little creation at a Bazaar in World Trade Center. This bite size treat is really addictive, I can't seem to have enough of it. TACKLINGS is located at the 2nd floor of Sm North Edsa near Seiko watch center. are bite size taco's that comes in 6 (P60) or 12 pieces for (P110). It may be in Beef or Tuna flavor. But what really gives it its marvelous taste is the Garlic dressing and tomato topping. It looks pretty simple and easy to make. But where to find that exact dressing and the mini taco shell they used?! Oh did I mention that they also have a Malunggay taco shell for those who are health conscious??

Tacklings Bite Size Taco (6 pcs for P60)

SAMURAI killed all other Takoyaki

     Whenever we go to the grocery at Sm Supermarkets, I would always look forward to reaching the cashier. From there, there would be several picka-picka foods to choose from. SAMURAI would always be my first choice. My big brother was the one who introduced Mr. Samurai to me. It never really occured to me that was a takoyaki, I only knew it as Samurai balls. I feel like there is this special bond between me and my childhood favorite foods and this is one of them.

     I was at Cash and Carry last night and when I got there I immediately went to the food court located at the 2rd floor because I was craving for some. It is really affordable it only costs P35.00. It has been a while since a few of their branches have already closed down. If you like takoyaki and has never tried Samurai. This is the perfect time!

Samurai's Takoyaki (P35)

Mrs. Kreme and Mr. Joe

     It is now late, but I am hungry. I don't feel like eating junk food. I was snooping like a rat and guess what I found!!! Original Krispy Kreme in the refrigerator hohoho!! But I also felt like eating the very famous Trader Joe's cookie butter or CRUNCHY cookie butter!  I decided to make do with what I have and go with the Crunchy version.

Trader Joe's

     Seriously I felt that there are a lot of people who are hoarding Trader Joe's goods. Great for them. But please do leave some for the hungry. :)

This was how I made my awesome snack!

Kichitora perfect for the cold weather

     RAMEN RAMEN RAMEN. There are a bunch of ramen places popping up everywhere! I have a weakness for Japanese food! So when I see a ramen place, I wanna bring out the chopsticks and start munching. I find that there are some Ramen restaurants limit their menu to their special ramen and their usual gyoza that when you eat with other people who aren't in the mood to eat noodles it would be a big problem. Still it hasn't stopped me from drooling over their menu.

     I was craving for ramen. So I asked GOOGLE for a great ramen place that I haven't tried out yet and I found Kichitora, it is located at the 2nd flood of SM Mega Mall (Mega Atrium) and another Glorietta 5,

     I am such a ramen freak that I have my own expectation of what my ramen should taste like and it hitted the spot perfectly! They have their usual ramen and tsukumen-which has the noodle at the side and a few rice topping dishes for those who aren't in the mood for noodles.

     They also have 7 toppings you can add to your ramen if you think that whats in your bowl isn't enough (Which I always do!). When I order, I would always want to go for the house specialty. If that food doesn't deliver, how would their other food meet the people's expectation, right?

     So let us start of with their Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se (P420) which is similar with their Paitan Ramen (P360) that salt or soy based white chicken soup with 24 hour chicken broth topped with either chicken/pork chashu, bamboo shoots, green vegetables, spring onion, fried garlic bits, only difference is that the Zenbu no Se has dried seaweeds and tamago. Ooooh how I love that tamago, you can never go wrong with it!

Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se (P420)

Kumain parati sa MESA

     I think I am quite a picky person when it comes to food, but I think my dad beats me big time. It won't be often that you would hear him complement restaurants that they cook good food. So when my dad says that they cook good food. THEY DO! I was somewhere busy with my life when they first tried MESA at Tomas Morato. One day we were at Trinoma and he told me that he wants to eat at Mesa, so I teased him and said we always eat at mesa a.k.a at the table. There was a Mesa available at Trinoma but it is their sister company "La Mesa". We ate there and food was not bad. We ate there a couple of times. But whenever we go out, he would always want to eat at Mesa.

     At first glance, it looks like an expensive place to eat. Talk about ambiance. It seems like the perfect place to take your date, especially with that half circle table. I wanted to sit there but since there were 4 of us at that time, I had to sit at the normal table. Too bad! But what struck me most is that they have managed to make natural bamboo look pretty expensive. I took a seat and immediately took at the menu.

     After a long wait I am finally dining at MESA located in Tomas Morato. At the first glance of their menu the Shrimp with century egg & chilled tofu salad (P255.00) stood out. "MAMA!! We are ordering this." True enough the picture delivers. We all love it! There were 4 of us, and 8 pcs. of it, how I wish there was more because I think I can finish the plate myself. I was so bitin!

Shrimp with century egg & chilled tofu salad (P255.00)

Adobong Pusit (P250)

     Back in La Mesa (Trinoma), my dad kept looking for something pata like and crunchy, but the waiter said that they don't have it there. So I was like daddy, this maybe it! The boneless crispy pata (P550) is the one you are looking for. Yummy! But how do you eat crispy pata without rice? Here comes the bagoong rice (P150) it was also delicious and was enough for the 4 of us, it actually isn't good for 4 but we all claim that we are on a diet so we made it work.

 Boneless Crispy Pata (P550)

Bagoong Rice (P145)

     I am a dessert person. So, I always want dessert after a good meal, but I always end up too full. This time I can't help myself I know they have turon with langka and ice cream and that was that! I was surprised when it came! It looked and tasted different from the turon with ice cream from La Mesa, because it had a fried wanton as its wrapper. Full or not, everyone had a bite! and it was delicious :)

Turon with Langka and Ice Cream

     La Mesa from Trinoma and Mesa from Tomas Morato definitely have similar menu but not all. Mesa has more options and a sweet ambiance. I am definitely looking forward to my next visit to try their other menu.

Ramen madness at Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

   If you haven't been to Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong for a while now. You will be in for a great surprise, because the long awaited east wing is finally open, but the stores aren't completely open yet, but horay for people who love to shop because there are a number of new stores to choose from.

     After a long stroll around the main mall, I finally spotted the "hidden entrance" to the new wing or at least that is what I call it because it wasn't easy to spot. It was so cold thanks to the new air conditioners! So, I thought of eating something hot. While walking around I saw several new restaurants. What caught my eye was Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen. It is located at the 5th floor of their east wing. JACKPOT!! Hot soup and compared to the restaurants beside it which were totally deserted, there were loads of people inside, we even had to wait a couple of minutes. I was thinking that food here must be great. As always I went with the Chef's Recommendation. Good thing about this place is that there are several specialties. Since my dad wanted the normal ramen, he ordered their special blended soy sauce base topped with special half boiled egg known as Ajitama Tonkotsu. It was superb! Dad was happy :)

Ajitama Tonkotsu (P380)

Pandora's Box

My mother isn't a compulsive buyer but when she saw this ring that was designed like a crown. I tell you, her eyes lit up and I never saw her so happy. 

On my part, I was so "inggit". I wanted one for myself. No, actually I want one for every finger I have.

So ever since that day I have been dying to have a crown ring of my own. So whenever we go out, I would hunt down jewelry stores for the crown ring. (My preeeeeeecious!). 

Finally when my chinky eyes laid eyes on PANDORA's Fairy Tale Collection. I saw "THE" ring and I fell in love with it and just like my mom I wouldn't let go. She had no choice.

My Awesome Crown Ring!! whaddaap :D