Living the Good Life for Less

Crispy Mashed Potato! WOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:03:00 +0000

Crispy Mashed Potato (Bangkok Edition)

When I was in one of the conferences in Bangkok, I had the chance to taste crispy mashed potato, one of the dishes served during the break. The mashed potato were wrapped into small bites like a "sipa"as shown in the figure. I tried one and wow, the mashed potato explodes in your mouth since the wrapper is crispy. The experience was so memorable such that I suggested we try recreate the recipe during our Christmas or New Year meal as a substitute to Apple's tradition potato croquet. Read our how to make potato croquet post.

Our first try (Christmas) was not successful since we used a wrong wrapper. There was no lumpia wrapper at the supermarket when we went shopping. So I made sure that for New Year, we have the lumpia wrapper. So Apple used the lumpia wrapper in the previously cooked mashed potato. Simple ala lumpia roll wrapping was used. There are tutorials on how to prepare lumpia mashed potato in YouTube.

Come new year, they were deep fried to make sure that they will come out crispy. And lo and behold, our Crispy Mashed Potato was a succes. We may have no "paputok" during the new year, but our mouth were so delighted with that explosive crispy lumpia mashed potato. Happy New Year!

Apple's Crispy Mashed Potato (Altrnative to potato croquette)

Seoul's HBAF Nuts & Snacks - Wow!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:57:00 +0000

Our Seoul Visit last October brought many surprises including our discovery of the popular HBAF Nuts and Snacks. HBAF is pronounced with a silent "H". We were booked at a hotel im Myeongdong, a very lively place in Seoul and just beside the hotel is one building for HBAF. I was intrigued on why HBAF is popular so before we left Seoul for Jeju, I bought three small packs of the 3 different flavors to check their products. My first taste of the almond nuts was a WOW for their most popular flavor, Honey Butter. The Tiramisu was awesome, one of my favorites too. The Wasabe flavor was good and I liked it, sweet and spicy. Aside from almonds HBAF also promotes different types of nuts and chips - like peanuts, cashew, macadamia, popcorn etc.

Watch a HBAF promotion at their website. Here is a sample from YouTube.

https://youtu.be/QRfwVMBN-qw?si=5bhTxVr_Ttm8cigk

If you want to know more about the different HBAF products, visit their website: https://en.hbaf.com/products

So remember, thinking of a "pasalubong" from Korea, HBAF is one unique food product aside from their Ramyeon that you can bring home to your family and friends.

Fujiyama55 - Tsukemen Ramen that you will crave for!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Mon, 05 May 2025 14:56:00 +0000

Fujiyama 55 Ramen Philippines opened today (05/05/2025) at Ayala, Makati. Their Specialty is Tsukemen Ramen Risotto Set. You dip 200 gm of aldente cold ramen noodles in a very thick and tasty pork broth sauce. After eating the ramen noodles, you pour the rice with cheese in the left-over sauce making a risotto. This is the finale and the ultimate experience at Fujiyama55. This is the reason why you will come back because you will crave for that exciting & estraordinary taste. Rating. Taste 5/5, Value for Money 5/5 (Looks expensive but the quantity of noodles is about twice of other noodle houses). Their serving is suited for the hungry for good food! Their Jiro Ramen is overwhelming in quantity and taste, not your normal ramen for the sauce is also thick. Their serving will totally fill your hungry tummy. After a meal at Fujiyama55, you feel fully filled and will look forward for another GoGo Ramen!

Note: Fujiyama55 at Nagoya, Japan is a Michelin Star Restaurant.

Tsukemen Ramen Noodles

The Risotto - Rice & Cheese mixed with the Tsukemen Sauce

At Fujiyama55, they make their own noodles

Jiro Ramen

Fujiyama-kun - The restaurant's mascot with Geof, Graphics Designer

Nagoya's Symbol - The Golden Killer Whales

MAPA RAMEN - "Mapaparami ang kain mo ng ramen dito!"

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 11:24:00 +0000

MAPA Ramen is a new "Japanese" resto along Congresssional Ave. (replacing the former JT Inasal). We are ramen lovers, so one Sunday, we checked-out the resto and ordered their ramen. The price of their ramen and other dishes are relatively cheap compared to the Japanese restos you will find in malls. The price for ramen ranges from the basic Mapa Ramen at P99.00 to their Seafood Ramen at P199.00. We ordered five vareities of ramen - miso, shio, shoyu, seafood and tantanmen. We were not disappointed with the taste and quality of the noodles of their ramen. They use flat noodles (maybe similar to Nagoya flat noodles) and the noodles are soft and easy to slurp. The taste of the soup varies based on the type. The only downside of their ramen is presentation - they need to upgrade the appearance similar to authentic Japanese ramen. We also ordered their Mapa Maki - taste good but the rice is not the Japanese type. Their shrimp tempura was also good.

It seems the owners treat their Japanese resto as a simple carinderia so the appearance and presentation of their dishes is secondary. If they will inprove their food presentation and use plates that a more Japanese-like not the simple white and plain plates and if their waitresses practice some simple greetings like "irashaimase", "domo arigatou gozaimasu", "konnichiwa", Mapa Ramen will go a long way and will be patronized by Filipino Japanese-food lovers who want reasonable, tasty and tummy-filling dishes. Try Mapa Ramen, "Oishii desu yo!" Mapaparami ang kain mo ng ramen!

Mapa Maki

Tantanmen (The peanut taste is very dominant)

Miso Ramen

Seafood Ramen (A little bit spicy)

PRINCESS - PAALAM

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 02:37:00 +0000

Princess

by Andy Oreta (12/01/2023)

Princess, Isa ka sa limang tuta ni Zoey

Princess ka nga, Sa kulay pa lang ikaw ay na-iiba

Sa bakuran, masungit ka, feeling princess talaga

Di makapalag si Oreo, Di ka maagawan ng tinapay na tira

Ganoon pa man, buddy buddy kayong dalawa

Nang pumanaw si Oreo, Sadya kang nalungkot at nabigla

Sa sulok ng iyong kulungan humihiyaw ka’t nagmukmuk pa

Tunay mo ngang mahal si Oreo, At dali dali ka ring lumisan

O Princess, Dito sa lupa at pati na sa langit prinsesa ka talaga

Bruno

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:19:00 +0000

Bruno

by Andy Oreta (9/12/2023)

Disiplinado sa kulungan, Sobrang bibo naman kapag pinakawalan
Matalas ang pandinig, Alisto kapag may bantang nararamdaman
Paikot-ikot sa kulungan, Kapag oras na ng kainan
Kagat ang “rubber ducky,” Gigil na gigil sa pagtakbo’t puno ng kasiglaan
Matikas, malikot at maliksi, Bruno ang kaniyang pangalan

NOTE: Si Bruno ay isang mini pinscher na kapatid ni Luna (Sept 2016 +) at Pepper ( Jan 2017 +)

Read related blog about the mini pinschers.

Oreo - ikaw ay kaakit-akit

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 12:41:00 +0000

Oreo

by Andy Oreta (9/12/2023)

Oreo, Bunga ng bawal na pag-ibig

Mula kay Seria at Hachiko nagsanib na magkapatid

Oreo, Ang asong kulang ng tulis at bangis

Ganoon pa man, Nakakaaliw ka naman gid

Tuwing umaagos ang tubig, Ikaw ay nag-iinit

Paikot-ikot sa tubig, Para mong winawalis

Oreo, Hindi ka man wais, Ikaw naman ay kaakit-akit

Seria - Ang aming mahal na alaga

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 11:05:00 +0000

Seria

by Andy Oreta (9/11/2023)

“Seria” ang binyag sa iyo ni Julia

Bantay ng bahay, Sa garahe nag-iisa

Mga higanteng daga, Madalas mong mabiktima

Mga pusang kalye, Iyong mga kabaka

Sa maingay na paputok, Ikaw ay nababalisa

Matingkad mong tahol, Maasahan kapag may sakuna

Kung lambing ay gusto, Biglang titihaya

Kaunting himas lang sa tiyan, Ikaw ay masayang-masaya

Seria, Ang aming bantay, Ang mahal naming alaga

PUSA - Isang tula

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 07:35:00 +0000

Pusa

by Andy Oreta (9/10/2023)

Noong kuting ka, Ang kyut kyut mo talaga

Tinawag kang “Nene,” Akala namin babae ka

Paglaki mo, Mali kami, Lalakeng pusa ka pala

Kaya “Nunu,” Ang naging tawag na sa iyo, Pusa

Sa umaga, nakatambay ka, malayo ang tingin sa may bintana

Sa hapon, Nakahiga sa mesa, Nakatihaya pa

Sa gabi habang may K-Drama, Nakikinood ka

Katabing nakikisalo at may chips na pabirito pa!

Sa maliit na kahon o butas, Sumisiksik ka

Ano bang mayroon sa kahon at komportable ka?

Sa mesang kainan, doon madalas kang nagpapahinga

Katabi mo ang mga pagkain na naka-ahin sa mesa

Sa looban ng bahay madalas nakabantay ka

Akala namin, Daga ang iyong pinupuntirya

Hindi pala, Gusto mo lang makihiga sa malambot na kama

Ay Pusa!, Di ka lang bida, Ikaw pala ang boss sa pamilya!

Oscar - Isang Tula para sa Isang Bida!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 01:57:00 +0000

OSCAR

by Andy Oreta (9/9/2023)

Paglabas ko sa kuwarto naka-abang ka na

Wagayway ng buntot kaliwa’t kanan pa

Pag-upo ko sa mesa, Nakanganga ka na

Naghihintay ng almusal, Yung masarap na tira

Habang nagpapahinga at nanonood ng K-drama

Ikaw ay nakahiga paikot-ikot sa aking mga paa

Madalas nagpapansin para maglaro at magsaya

Ay Oscar, Sa loob ng bahay, Ikaw ay bida

Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi - Good Food! Reasonable Price!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:01:00 +0000

We love Korea - KDrama and Korean dishes like kimchi, bulgogi, ramyeon, Gimbap, Samgyeopsal, Tofu Jigae and more. So for lunch my wife and I decided to try Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi at SM North Annex which is a new discovery for us. Myeong Ryun is a new resto at the 1st floor of SM North Annex. We ordered their Korean Lunch Box - one pork and one beef set. Surprise, surprise at P199.00 each only! Their lunch box (Bento style) is served with the main dish (pork or beef) with egg on rice, kimchi, potato and other side dishes. To complement the lunch box, we ordered their Kimchi Tofu Jigae at P180. The food is really good - their meat is well marinated - and their veggie side dishes are fresh and crispy. The Kimchi Jigae is spicy - the way I like it and I usually dip my rice on it. Wow! Our lunch was really satisfying. Next time, we will bring our big kids here!

Hoy Trapik!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:41:00 +0000

Hoy Trapik!

Andy Oreta (08/29/2023)

Maaga aalis, Makaiwas trapik sana

Palabas pa lang ng bahay, may abala na

Kotse ng kapitbahay, Bakit naka-park sa tapat pa

Hoy trapik, Isa kang problema!

Biyahe sa kalye, Kotse’t trak nakapila

PUJ sa tapat, Sa bagal ng takbo ay isang aberya

Kaliwa’t kanan, Motorsiklo biglang haharurot pa

Hoy trapik, Nakakainis ka na!

Pagdating sa interseksyon, May ilaw trapiko na

Berde, dilaw at pula - Mga kulay na giya sana

Pero pag kulay berde, ang trato ni pulis ay pula

Hoy pulis trapiko, Litong lito ka ba?

Sa wakas malapit at makakarating na

Usok, init at pawis – aking naging parusa

Hoy trapik, Oras ko ay sinayang mo na

Mag LRT na lang ako, Makakaupo’t makaka-idlip pa!

NOTE: Ang tulang ito ay nabuo sa isipan ko habang nagmamaneho ng dalawang oras mula sa aking tahanan sa Quezon City papuntang Marco Polo Hotel sa may Ortigas Ave. Dati kulang lang 30 minuto ang biyahe.

Mga Unang Tula ni Andy

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 03:14:00 +0000

Sa araw araw na pananatili sa bahay ay minsan ako'y nabibigyan ng inspirasyon upang magsulat ng tula. Itong dalawang tula (tula nga ba ito?) ay sinulat ko sa dalawang okasyon - noong maulan at tinututukan ang mga tulo sa bahay at noong pawisan akong nagkokompyuter. Sana magustuhan ninyo ito.

Ulan, Ulan

by Andy Oreta (07/29/2023)

Ulan, Ulan, kailan ka magpapaalam?

Baha na sa aming kapaligiran

Lubog na ang lupa at ang mga halaman

Tila ilog na ang mga kalye’t daanan

Ulan, Ulan, kailan ka magpapaalam?

Inip na ako sa bahay at walang kakuwentuhan

Sawa na rin sa Netflix at KDramahan

Gusto ko ng lumabas at maglakad sa malawak na lansangan

Ulan, Ulan, kailan ka magpapaalam?

O Araw

Andy Oreta (08/14/2023)

O Araw, ang init mo naman

Maghapon naka-ON, ang aming elektrik fan

Ilang ligo’t shower sa maghapon, di ko na mabilang

Ganoon pa man, pawisan pa rin ang aking katawan

O Araw, ang init mo naman

O Araw, bakit ka nagkaganyan

Noon, pagsikat mo, mahangin sa buong kabahayan

Presko’t masaya, aso’t pusa at mga halaman

Parusa ba yan sa amin na di malingap sa kalikasan?

O Araw, ang init mo ay aming buhay at kinabukasan

Mga kabataan, yan ang inyong dapat tandaan

JT's Manukan along Kalayaan Ave., QC

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:51:00 +0000

We love chicken inasal. We have tried various restos serving chicken inasal and one of our recent favorite inasal resto is JT's along Kalayaan Ave., QC, JT's is owned by actor Joel Torre. What would you expect from JT's? JT's Kalayaan is a cozy place - good for drinking ice cold beer with your friends or simply lunch or dinner with the family. My usual order at JT's is the popular chicken inasal and batchoy plus inihaw na atay. Chicken inasal is eaten deliciuousli if accompanied with the 3 condiments - toyo, suka and the yellow oil topping on the rice mixed with kalamansi and sili. The price of the food is very reasonable. Try JT's and you will not be disappointed!

The 3 Condiments that makes Inasal Tasty

Pork Sisig

Batchoy is good for sharing also

Paa - Red chicken meat is my favorite

JT's should already include the rice in the price of the inasal or indicate rice not included. I read complaints from take-out and delivery costumers, asking why no rice in the inasal?

Thai Original BOAT Noodle

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 11:42:00 +0000

Craving for a new taste of noodles after having tasted the Japanese ramen and Chinese Mami at SM, the Original BOAT Noodle, a new Thai restaurant at SM North EDSA was a blessing. The resto is still new and its menu is still limited but they have a very interesting choice of Thai noodles that you can try for P65 per bowl @90 gms. There are four choices at the moment with different soup base and a choice of beef or pork filling. I tried two of them (Pathumthani and Ayutthaya) hoping to taste the "Tom Yang" taste but missed it. Maybe the next two types of noodles (Tom Kha Kai and Kaho Soi) will be closer to the spicy "Tom Yang" taste. The noodles with the fillings were good. Ninety (90) gms of a bowl may not be enough to fill your tummy, that's why I tried two of them plus deep fried Thai Spring Roll. They have a promo for you to try the four types of noodles or 4 + 1 sampler set at P399 (The plus "1" refers to an extra drink). I am looking for my next visit with my family to try their rice dishes and pad thai and mango sticky rice,

Ayutthaya Noodles

Pathumthani Noodles

Thai Spring Roll

Our favorite bakeries - Bagong Pag-asa, Pan de Manila and Balai Pandesal

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 09:43:00 +0000

I have suki bakeries when buying bread and pastries. My number one bakery is Bagong Pag-asa Bakery (BPB) at Pag-asa, QC. Their bread are of good quality and reasonably priced. My favorites are Premium Loaf Bread (P74.00), Wheat Monay (P38.00 x 6 pcs), Spanish Bread (P21.00), Kalihim (P19.00 x 4) and Kababayan (P22.00 x 6). I also love their Shing-a-Ling,

Bagong Pag-asa Bakery

Pan de Manila has become our alternative bakery when the pandemic happened. Pan de Manila delivers their bread and pastries via Grab or Food Panda. Our favorite choices at PdM are Cinamon Pandesal, Cheese Stick Pesto, Pan de Coco, Banana Loaf and Regular Pandesal. Compared to BPB, prices at PdM are higher. But the advantage of PdM is that there are many branches near our place.

A new discovery for us is Balai Pandesal. I tried once to order via Grab their specialties like Cheese Bread, Coffee Bun, Spanish Bread, Cinamon and Banana Loaf. Eureka! I was suprised with the quality (soft texture) and taste. The prices are not high compared to other bread shops like Bread Talk but the taste and size are comparable. After my first order, we have become a suki of Balai Pandesal. I tried their Coco Jam, it was great with their pandesal! Now, Balai Pandesal specialties has become a regular bread at home for mirienda and breakfast. Like PdM, Balai Pandesal has also many branches.

https://www.facebook.com/BalaiPandesalPH/

NAM NAM - A Cozy Vietnam Pho Resto

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 03:33:00 +0000

NAM NAM along Maginhawa St., QC is a new discovery for us when it comes to Pho and Vietnamese specialties. Nam Nam is a small cozy restaurant (15 pax max inside) that serves limited dishes (a) two types of beef Pho noodle soup Pho Bo (Regular) and Bun Bo Hue (Spicy), (b) two types of spring rolls - fresh and deep fried. Their drinks can be a choice of Vietnamese coffee (cold/hot), lemon grass juice and beer (local or imported). With their short menu, you are sure to taste their best and only dishes.

Bun Bo Hue - Spicy beef noodle soup is superb. The quantity of the flat noodles may not be as much at other Pho restos but the soup is the highlight! You can judge how good the dish is after. No left over soup for the Bun Bo Hue!

Pho Bo - another outstanding beef noodle soup - if you want to add some spice, you may add their secret spicy red sauce.

The deep fried pork spring rolls with their secret sauce is awesome. This may be a little bit expensive for P120 for two pieces but the crispiness and taste would make you forget about the price.

The Vietnamese coffee is another reason why you will return to this place. Not bitter when mixed with condensed milk. Just right. Comparable or even better than the expensive coffee served in SB or CB.

GYUD FOOD at UP Diliman

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:38:00 +0000

A new place to meet and dine at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, QC is GYUD FOOD along Emilio Jacinto St. opposite the UP College of Fine Arts and just beside Mang Larry's Isawan. The place has a building which houses food kiosks like Korento, Miss Sizz, Heaven's Barbecue, UP Student Canteen and more. On our first visit, I tried angus burger of Miss Sizz (It was good althoug the burger size is relatively small) and my daughter tried Koreanto's honey fish. The price of the food in the various kiosks ranges from P100 to P400 for individual meals. There are also group servings and I am curious with the Heaven's Barbecue - their prok barbecues are tempting for those who crave for juicy and oily pork :-). Outside there are food trucks and you can also eat al fresco. And yes, there is even a corner where you can squat ala Japanese and enjoy your food. GYUD is really a "Good Yummy Destination."

Angus Burger and Honey Fried Fish

What's inside and outside Gyud Food?

https://www.facebook.com/carlos.centeno.927980

SteakFix along Maginhawa St., QC

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 04:52:00 +0000

Maginhawa St., QC is a popular food street at Teacher's Village, QC. Our favorite restos here are Crazy Katsu, Fruilli Tratoria, Pancinteria and Pappa Didi's Ice cream. A new discovery is SteakFix - Tendermelts, a resto that serves "value for money steak" sets ranging from P185 to P500.00 with side dishes of your choice. Our Food ratings: Steak (3.5/5), Taste (4/5), Price (4/5), Service (4/5).

Gudo Pizzeria & Steak along Congressional Ave., QC

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 04:22:00 +0000

If you happen to be traversing Congressional Avenue, QC from Mindanao Avenue and have time for a quick bite of steak, pizza or pasta, GUDO Pizzeria is one good place to visit. It serves value for money T-Bone steaks and Tasty Pizzas and Pastas. It is now located at its new place just after Tandang Sora Ave. intersection along Congressional Avenue. Our food ratings - steak (4/5), hungarian sausage (4/5), Alfredo's Pasta (3/5), Taste (3.5/5), Price (4/5). Price ranges from P200 to P400.00 Next time we will try their pizza.

One attraction of Gudo's is Kusing, the Mr. Bigote Cat. Kusing welcomes the guest with a meow!

Relaxing at Pawikan - Pansol, Los Banos, Laguna

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 04:10:00 +0000

To break the monotony of staying at home during the pandemic, our family decided to relax at a private resort at Pansol, Los Banos, Laguna on 13 August 2022. We reserved Pawikan, a private pool resort with a rustic and native theme but with modern facilities. The resort actually can accommodate about 15 people but we had the place for ourselves - four of us. There are three rooms which have at least four beds. We occupied the three rooms, one for Julia, another for Geof and the third room for us, Apple and I. All rooms are airconditioned.

There are two pools - one for kids and dipping and another for adults. The water is warm and relaxing - not so hot unlike in hotsprings. It has a big separate room with a kitchen, dining room and billiards. You can actually brig your food ingredients and cook your meals there since there pots and pans and gas stove for cooking. You have to bring your plates and eating utensils, though. There is a refrigerator and free drinking water.

You can order also for food by delivery since Grab and Food Panda are readily available at the vicinity. Overall, we had a relaxing day but not a quiet overnight stay since there loud speakers of Karaoke music in the other resorts nearby. We will be back for sure to this place.

Our Tasty Walk-in at WOK INN during the pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 02:37:00 +0000

For almost two years, we have been dependent on food delivery via Grab or Food Panda to be able to taste our favorite dishes from popular restaurants. But visiting our favorite restos seems to be more enjoyable and fulfilling just like when Apple and I had our unplanned walk-in and dine-in at WOK INN, a popular Chinese resto beside the Malate Church.

By tradition, you order at Wok Inn by pointing to their display of fresh seafood, meat and veggies. Our favorite orders are alahan soup, sipa(stuffed with minced pork) and the stuffed squid. The taste and the serving of Wok Inn remains the same- tasty and value for money. Eating our favorite dishes brings back memories when we were still not married and now going into our senior years, Wok Inn remains one of our favorites. After enjoying our dine-in, we made sure we have take-home also for the kids - stuffed squid and stuffed tofu. Our total bill for dine-in (3 dishes, 2 cups of rice and one canned soda plus the take-out dishes (with SC discount) is only P1100.00 +. What a treat!

Wok Inn Display of Fresh Seafoof, Meat and Vegge

A soup of alahan is a good way to start your food adventure

Sipa - it's stuffed with minced pork and shaped like a sipa (a kid's game)

My favorite stuffed squid with leeks and special sauce

Watami on Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 10:22:00 +0000

19 June 2022 is Father's Day. A day to celebrate to thank the Lord and celebrate for the life despite the challenges specially the pandemic. I suggested Watami, a Japanese restaurant which I found to be serving good and tasty hotpot. My first Watami experience was at Shangrila Mall when Apple and UP friends, Gil, Chuck, et al met for a reunion with Annette, my niece living in the Netherlands.

So we had lunch at Watami at UP Town Center, QC. We ordered pork curry, tempura, chicken wings and the shabu shabu hotpot. I realized after tasting the hotpot that it was not the same hotpot that I enjoyed during my first Watami experience. The Sumu Hotpot was phased-out by the resto according to the manager at Watami when we visited the Shangrila Mall branch in one dinner. I told the manager that it's the Sumo Hot Pot which I craved for, why did they removed it from the menu. Anyway, back to the original story on Father's Day lunch. We enjoyed the Watami food except the Shabu Shabu Hot Pot. Food rating is 4/5.

Pork Curry

Tebasaki

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot

Ebi Tempura

Nunu, the Naughty Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 10:01:00 +0000

Nunu loves to watch the birds outside. This is his new tambayan.

Our family adopted a kitty from Malabon. We named the kitty as Nene since we assumed that the kitty is female. But when the cat grew we noticed some balls and finally realized that Nene is male. Hence, the change of name to "Nunu" or simply "Pusa." Nunu is a naughty and playful cat. Everyday we release him from the cage so that it can explore around the house with Oscar, the shitzu. Nunu loves to go inside a cartoon box, peek outside through the windows and go inside the bedroom.

I never like cats because of their sharp nails which cause scratches when they defend themsleves or even when they play with you. As Nunu get used to be domesticated, he has become playful and now allows us to pet and touch him with very little resistance. I didn't realize that dogs and cats can be friends. Nunu loves to play hide and seek with Oscar. Sometimes they engage in physical play. Nunu has become part of the family with five of our dogs - Oscar, Bruno, Seria, Oreo and Princess.

Nunu loves to watch K-Drama with us! Aish!

Nunu explores the food pantry 😁

Nomiya Izakaya

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. DigS) — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 03:25:00 +0000

A rare opportunity to eat out during the pandemic with the family. A small Japanese resto. along Scout Santiago, QC is Nomiya, Izakaya. I was looking forward to grilled dishes like yakitori but there were none. We were not disappointed though. The maki, ebi tempura, agedashi tofu and seafood with vegetables were great. Looking forward to our next visit. Kampai!

Spicy Salmon Maki

Califronia Maki

Ebi Tempura

Seafood Tepan

Agedashi Tofu

Selfie infront of the Izakaya