John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese Resto

Therese and I first ate at John and Yoko in November last year. We liked it so much that we vowed we'll eat there again. Well that vow was only accomplished just last August. Being busy and so many other restaurants to try we only got back just recently.

We ate at our usual spot in Greenbelt 5, Makati even to the very same table near the window. There were reviews before that when you eat at John and Yoko you'll come out smelling like food. I think they have fixed their exhaust system now because when we went there recently and being a full-house since it's lunch time we still came out smelling fresh. The other customers seem to think that way as well. The waitresses donned their usual mini skirts which nobody seemed to mind because their service this time was good. The last time we went there they had leggings or dark stockings beneath their skirts so it wouldn't be too revealing. There were reviews before that their service wasn't that good and put the fault on the revealing skirts making them too uncomfortable.

But overall Therese and I had a lovely time. She as usual ordered too much and had to take home some of her food. Below are the pics of food we ordered last November (the first four) and the rest the ones we ordered last August. As usual I'll come back again when I crave for some Japanese fusion.

Finding Nemo - this is good for 3 people. loved everything on it

Beef Teppan - Therese ordered this and she said it's so so. (I think beef is not one of this restaurant's strong points)

Chicken Teriyaki and Mango Pizza - this is their bestseller! and one of the reasons why we keep coming back. Yum!

Hehe there's actually three of us but the other person hasn't arrived yet. Also we recommend the 'green' iced tea if you're choosing between colors

Oyster Overload - I love this! I always loved tahong or oyster with cheese. this made me full very fast

Ocean's Eleven - Good for 3 or 4. I don't know why Therese ordered this but it's too much for two people. But still yummy. At the back you can see the Wagyu Rice. It's still so-so.

Crunchy Tuna Roll - since I liked Finding Nemo before, I ordered again one of the sushis in it. If you like spicy you'll like this one. I'll order the Philadelphia roll next time.

Media Noche 2011-2012

Happy New Year! One great thing about living in BF is that people here love to buy fireworks. Our family are a bit of a coward when it comes to firecrackers and fireworks but since living here we don't have to buy anymore. We just look up at the skies and marvel at our neighbor's hard-earned money blow up in the skies. Some are really amazing I must tell you and must have cost quite a sum. Below are some pics of that night when the clock struck midnight as well as our Media Noche dinner. Happy New Year everyone!

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks next door

Fireworks next door

Fireworks next door

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks in the sky

Fireworks in the sky

Media Noche (front left to right)  Caesar Salad, Barbecued Ribs, Buko Salad, Krispy Kremes, Cuerva's Mango Torte

Media Noche (front left to right) Mac and Cheese, Pochero, Lechon Kawali, Caesar Salad

Mostly round and 13 kinds of fruits for luck

Noche Buena 2011

This year we opted for a simpler Noche Buena. Filipinos always love to have a "fiesta-like" serving on the table but we're tired of having so many dishes during Christmas and not being able to taste all of them. We decided to limit ourselves five dishes only and the result was fantastic. We were not overwhelmed with the different varieties that's usual in our Noche Buena so we were able to appreciate the few dishes that was served. Since we decided only to have a few we wanted it at least to have some punch. So, instead of the regular fiesta ham we tried this year Purefood's Smoked Bone-in Fiesta ham. We've been waiting for this kind to come out but last year it's either they didn't release any or the supermarket had ran out. When we were told they have the bone-in this year we just bought it right away before they ran out again. For other dishes we have chicken salad and lasagna. For dessert we looked in our recipe books and the Buko Salad Pandan Crepe caught our eye. We had buko salad already for our dessert so we just scooped some from it and put it into the crepe. Lol. It was great. It became my favorite dessert :). So, below are the pics for our Noche Buena. Enjoy!

Noche Buena

from top left to right: Buko Salad Pandan Crepe, Purefoods Bone-in Ham, Chicken Salad, Lasagna

The bone-in ham tastes much better than the regular fiesta ham

Purefood's Smoked Bone-in Fiesta Ham - we actually used the bone for Pochero in New Year's :)

Buko Salad Pandan Crepe

christmas

Brownies and cupcakes from Bread Monster

My sister brought home these heavenly brownies and cupcakes one day from the Fort. I'm a fan of Brownies Unlimited and I really don't know other brownie brands who are as good as them. Until now that is. Well the cupcakes and brownies from Bread Monster really tastes so good, has a fluffier texture to it and has that melt in your mouth kind of feel. Although it's really good I still can say the chewiness of the brownies in Brownies Unlimited is something I will always crave for especially their Rocky Road. But if you want something new, a different feel but with the same satisfaction then try this out from Bread Monster. My sister said they're located in Market Market at the Fort. Enjoy!

brownies and cupcakes from Bread Monster

food

Dragged at Café Breton, Westgate

I just accompanied my older sister to the mall one weekend to go to the salon and she going to have a facial. It's just one relaxing afternoon and after I'm done I just went to my sister's derma and was ready to go home. So while I waiting for her to come out I was quite shocked when I saw a friend of hers greeting me in front of the derma place. I thought what a coincidence but wait, is it? Then I realized we're both waiting for my sister. As it turns out they're going to hang out. Wow very nice of my sis not to inform me. She did give me a choice though, either she'll take me home first or her friend is going to treat us both out. I really wanted to go home and relax but of course it's kinda rude so I went with them anyway. Yes the treat didn't entice me at all, believe it or not. Hmp.

I'm glad I went anyway. It's been a while since I went to Cafe Breton. Too bad it's not my younger sister who went with them. She's the one who's been wanting crepes for the longest time. I didn't feel like eating dinner though since I'm hung up with this Scottish actor. *Sigh* it's one of my phases when I admire someone so much. So I went straight to dessert since I can eat sweets even if I don't feel hungry.

My sister's friend ordered Galette Paysanne, a whole Hungarian sausage, onions, egg, asparagus with cheese sauce, with Hungarian sausage slices; for my sister the Poseidon, Smoked salmon, dill sauce, sour cream, capers; and mine Strawberry Short Crepe, Strawberry preserve in syrup and cream, a generous serving of strawberry ice cream topped with whipped cream.

I tasted the sausage and salmon. They're both great. The salmon maybe a little too small for its price. I'm not sure if one will get full in that. But my crepe is humungous! It's not a camera trick. It's really that big. I mean the plate is big already and the crepe is almost covering the whole plate. I'm satisfied with my dessert or maybe it was too much for me. It's best when you're sharing it with another person. I love the quiet ambiance of the place. I love their food. I love Cafe Breton at Westgate.

Galette Paysanne and strawberry milkshake

Poseidon

Strawberry Short Crepe

Poseidon and Strawberry Short Crepe with white wine and mango juice

desserts

Cielin's cupcakes

Cielin's cupcakes was an instant success in our family. We all have different tastes so everyone found a flavor to their liking. All cakes are soft and just right, the icing not too sweet since I think they're all made of whipped cream (which I dearly love!) unlike the other cupcakes out there that has a towering icing of pure sugar or whatever. I just really don't get that. Anyway below is a pic of the cupcakes. I imagine it would be hard writing down the cupcake flavors saying L-R, clockwise, etc, so I made a pic with the details below.

Cielin's Assorted cupcakes, chicken pie and tarts

I love the Strawberry cupcake most of all. It's not too sweet. The cream on top has a refreshing strawberry flavor and the cake soft with a strawberry filling inside. Whenever I have this cupcake in front of me I have this urge of burying my face in the cream and lick everything afterwards. I just wish I have tasted this during my childhood. I'm pretty sure I would've been the happiest girl back then knowing that a cupcake like this existed (that goes also with Yulo's strawberry shortcake). Lol. I know what I would want for my birthday! My younger sister loves the Mocha cupcake. You can really taste the mocha-ness in this one. The cake is bursting with mocha flavor and goes well with the cream on top. It would be my fave as well if not for my overly fondness of strawberries. My older sister's favorite is the cheese tart. Oh yes not all are cupcakes in this assorted box. We have a chicken pie and tarts as well. The Cheese tart is somewhat similar to the egg tart but oozing with cheesy goodness. Not too salty and not too sweet, just the right amount of cheese. I think everyone in my family loves this tart. The Chicken pie is great for merienda. It doesn't have sauce inside like other chicken pies but it's flavorful and satisfying to the stomach. The Walnut tart is a tart on the sweet side so you would want to eat this one slowly. I love it  especially when I'm craving for something sweet with some crunch. The Mangoes and Cream honestly I can't remember tasting it. I think I have but maybe I was too smitten-ed with the strawberry cupcake I totally ignored this one. It would be one of my favorite flavors as well.  The other cupcakes I find just normal probably because it's not my favorite flavor or there's none left for me to taste it. Next time I'll revise this post and add more pictures of the cupcake fillings. By the way the most expensive one in this box I think is around P24. The price for each cupcake or tart or chicken pie ranges from P18 to P20+. Not bad eh? Enjoy looking at the pics!

Cielin's cupcakes including the choco cupcake from my Mother's day post

Cielin's cupcakes (without the text)

Cielin's cupcakes (another view)

food
desserts
cakes

Cielin's Lemon Meringue Torte

My younger sister discovered this cake house at BF, Paranaque and she was able to convince me to try out one of their cakes since the pics in their Facebook page looks appetizing. We also found out that the delicious 'free' chocolate cup cakes we availed from Shopwise during Mother's Day was from them as well. Knowing that, I decided to try one of their cakes since the price is quite reasonable as well. I asked my sister to buy me Lemon Meringue Torte to try one day while she accompanies her three-year-old son to preschool and will be passing by there.

I chose this flavor because I haven't tasted a lemon cake before and I have a soft spot for lemons. Why I ask myself. Hm let me see. When I was a kid I had these pretty pencil translucent erasers that are shaped and colored as lemons, limes and strawberries so I've always thought of them as pretty things. It reminded me of preschool, of soft sunlight, of grass and leaves and the cartoon Strawberry Shortcake! Lemons don't grow in our country so I was only able to taste it when I was older since trade liberalizations only started in the 90s . When I tasted lime I found them too strong. When I tasted lemon and found out about their soft tangy sweet taste it has earned my respect. Strawberries on the other hand... that's another story and will be having a different post for it -- for the perfect cake!

Oh! I have to mention my older sis's lemon squares. She did make one before when she was first trying out her cooking skills. I was so smitten-ed she's making a lemon dessert. But alas she mistakenly put salt instead of sugar so the pastry was a disaster. Imagine eating a sour salty dessert. I think the family still managed to finish it all since it's still food, and we don't waste food, but my sis never recovered from it and hated baking ever since. While me I'm still looking for that perfect lemon dessert.

Cielin's Cakehouse box with address

Cielin's Lemon Meringue Torte

Lemon Meringue Torte

Getting a slice of the torte

 I almost truly love this cake. It just had the right sweetness and tang and I love the nuts and meringue inside. But I think it was lacking crunch and has too much cream. Well actually everybody in our family said it had too much icing and less of a cake. I think if you take a thin slice it would be okay but we're accustomed to slicing as much as we want. lol. Also I think if lemon zest were added to the icing it would just be fine. I just taste too much of the egg whites and it's almost like eating a Brazo de Mercedes without the yellow filling. Well for those who love icings I would say this is for you. I do hope they improve it a little because it's almost perfect.

Me and my sis do plan to try out their other cakes as well. Will keep you posted :).

food
desserts
cakes

Valentine's Day

Valentine's day is the time for lovers and romance and being lovey-dovey with your partner.  Well for our family it's just the time to satisfy our sweet tooth since all we're hearing and seeing in the media are chocolates, cakes, etc.  It's family time for us as well because everyone's at home due to the city holiday.  Well most of us are single anyway so we didn't have plans on dining out with a date.

 So, to get the feel of Valentine's I asked my mom to make us Carbonara which is a common date food and since I was craving a heart cake I asked my sisters to bring home one.  They said they searched the mall and only one store had a heart cake on that day, Feb 14, and it was Sugarhouse.  I was kinda hoping for Bizu because their Valentine's cake looks wonderful but the store didn't have it.  Oh well.  Anyway, here are the cakes -- yes cakes with an S -- that my sisters brought home and made my "single" Valentine's day complete ^_^.

Chocolate Truffle from Sugarhouse and Tentazione from Cara Mia Gelateria

Chocolate Truffle from Sugarhouse
This cake is just what I craved for.  It's surprisingly light and fluffy and just the right amount of sweetness for me.  I think we finished this cake in one sitting because one slice is literally not enough since it's so light.  But it's yummy so it was satisfying ^_^.

Chocolate Truffle from Sugarhouse

Slice of Chocolate Truffle

Tentazione from Cara Mia Gelateria
This cake is very rich and chocolaty.  My sisters and I agreed it tastes like Conti's chocolate cake but with a sweeter taste.  We cannot finish this cake in one sitting.  That's how rich and thick it was.  Also for me I found it too sweet for my liking but my brothers and sisters seem to like it. Anyone who has a sweet tooth would really like this.

Tentazione from Cara Mia Gelateria

slice of Tentazione

Tiramisu from Cara Mia Gelateria
This I recommend a must have.  I think everyone will like this Tiramisu.  It's soft, fluffy with the right amount of cream and sweetness.  Next time I'll be requesting a whole of this one instead of a slice.

Tiramisu from Cara Mia Gelateria

Tiramisu

Midnight from Sugarhouse
This cake and the Tentazione are quite similar in taste and richness.  I'm not really a fan but my officemate and my brothers and sisters seem to like its rich and sweet flavor.

Midnight from Sugarhouse

valentines day
food
desserts
cakes