My Thai Love Affair

Sa-wat dee ka! How was your week? 

Can I be honest with you? Since last week, I've been stuffing my face with delicious Thai food every chance I get. In my ideal perfect world, it would be Thai food today, tomorrow and every day. Period. I'm so in love with Thai cuisine *for now*. Exotic flavors I just can't get enough of. 

Unlimited Yakiniku

When you're a recent graduate, you get eager to start hunting down job opportunities and sending out your resumes to your long list of well-known companies thinking that they can provide better for you. You pass off smaller companies because you think they lack potential. By doing that, you just might end up overlooking some of the best opportunities out there. 

South African Trip: Shakaland

the group

Once upon a time, a little lady traveled to a land far far away

Where the sun was harsher and way hotter in that part of the world.

Vast lands stretch on and on to the horizons. 

The animals run free and wild.

In that land, she saw some people that are fair. 

Some with the same shade as her, though they are few and rare.

Many possess a darker, richer skin color.

All living together as one nation

The little lady felt out of place in such a strange country.

She didn't belong. She stood out like a sore thumb.

But through these friends, she gained a unique insight of some of this nation's proud culture and tradition.

Paris, Je t'aime 2: Château Vaux-le-Vicomte

Day 2 in Paris 
Did you know that this smaller baroque style french mansion inspired the more famous, much grander Château de Versailles? 

The Story...

The chateau was constructed for Nicholas Fouquet, the finance minister of King Louis XIV, by three very talented men - legendary landscape architect Andre Le Nôtre, architect Louis Le Vau and the painter Charles Le Brun. These three men did such an amazing job at building this masterpiece, where Fouquet often threw the most lavish parties, that Louis XIV became immensely jealous he had Nicholas Fouquet arrested and exiled for embezzlement. Driven by his envy and his desire not to be outshined by anyone, he then brought together the very same team to build Versailles on a much grander scale to the southwest of Paris. 

Perfect Hangout and Good Grubs at Irie

Irie Gastropubliko is owned and operated by business partners, Lito Inso and Jan Rodriguez, who also happens to be the executive chef of both Ila Puti and Irie. The restaurant is named after Rodriguez's second son, Euan Irie. In Jamaica, Irie means "good vibes and feeling happy or cool".

David's Kitchen

It feels like the week stretches forever and the weekend seems so far. Thank goodness it's Friday, sooo looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning. Ahh the simple joys in life - good sleep and good food! This week has done me in. I've been feeling tired every day, too tired to stay up long enough to have a decent chat with the hubby. But it won't be long now when I can finally be with him to enjoy a three month long holiday. 

Happy Father's Day at Feria Radisson Blu

I have the best dad in the world who has given me everything I ever needed and the best life I can possibly have and I couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you for loving me in spite of all the wrong (and at times hurtful) things I've said and done, for all the sacrifices you've made for me and my brother, for your patience that never failed, for understanding and for always being there for us throughout all these years. I love you, dad.

Craving for Sweet And Salty: Salted Caramel Donut

There are just days when I crave for certain food and I get restless until I am able to satisfy my cravings. I'd hate to think what sort of things my mouth will be looking for when I do get a bun in the oven. I pity my husband. Hopefully not something you cannot find in the Netherlands in the middle of the night like shrimp paste or dried fish or green mangoes. I don't even know where these cravings come from. They come and go and change as they please.

Craving for Sweet and Salty: French Salted Caramel Ice Cream

FRENCH SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM

The salt-caramel craze have spread to the ice cream world. Nestle went beyond the usual standard chocolate, oreo, double dutch flavors and created a new flavor. One of its latest flavors (proudly bearing a picture of the French flag and The Eiffel Tower in the background) is French Salted Caramel -  salted caramel ice cream with ribbons of caramel ripple. But does it live up to what it promises?

Anzani : The New Mediterranean Cuisine

High-end restaurants with luxurious interiors like Anzani intimidate me. I've always thought I'd be too uncomfortable to eat to enjoy my food. I expect the crowd and the waiting staff to be snotty. 

But I was wrong about that. Anzani sets a very high standard for quality and service. It's definitely more than what I normally spend for and far above than what I'm used to but Anzani gave the best service I've experienced ever in any restaurant. You get nothing less than flawless customer service and amazing fine-dining quality food for the price that you pay for. This restaurant would score an A in my card. 

Tim Tam Slam Ice Cream: Do It Like the Aussies!

Finally, a recipe after what seemed like eternity! It's long overdue. I'd been stuffing my face and eating out more often than spending time in the kitchen and I apologize for that.

Ever heard of Tim Tam?  Tim Tam is only the world's most popular Australian biscuit! Think chocolate biscuits sandwiched with a chocolate creme in the middle and DOUBLE coated with milk chocolate. These Australian "bikkies" of Arnott's are seriously oh so good.

Mission Accomplished at Army Navy

I'm not a burger person. If I have a spread of buffet in front of me, the last thing I get would probably be a burger. But the past couple of weeks I'd been on this crazy craving mood for anything sweet and salty. (And no, I'm not pregnant.) It all started with KK's Salted Caramel Donuts which turned to craving for peanut butter ice cream which turned to burgers and fries. Why do all the bad things taste so good? I even tried Jollibee's amazing Aloha burger after seeing it on several blogs. It was incredibly disappointing. I could have spent half the price for a regular yum and bought my own can of sliced pineapples.

Filipino High Tea: Cafe Laguna

I've always wanted to do this ever since I read about it online. Cebuano food blog hopping has become one of my pastimes in the evening. I never used to eat out this often but I find myself constantly plotting where I am going next. Eating out is fun though with inevitable consequences. My waistline is getting wider and my wallet is getting thinner. Tsk. This will have to end soon though. 

Desserts for Breakfast: CMYK Dessert House

Chocolate Makes You Kiss...(depends on who you get it from, if you ask me). But CMYK also means "Cyan Magenta Yellow Key (Black)" - the very colors used for color printing and as you can see, the same hues on the cafe. One of the owners, Lea, is not only a fellow blogger but has also knack for photography and is very talented at it too. 

Mexican Love for Cinco de Mayo: PUEBLO Mexicano

Two days ago I had a bad craving for Phad Thai noodles and on the way to Little Saigon, Big Bangkok at Banilad Town Center, a Mexican restaurant that recently opened (occupying the space that used to be Postrio) caught my eye. Perfect timing since making Mexican food has been on my mind these days. 

Lemon Grass: A Taste of Vietnam

A Taste of Vietnam

Take your taste buds on a Vietnamese tour at Lemon Grass Restaurant without all the trouble and expenses of flying all the way to Vietnam ( unless you've got the time and the moolah ). Check out Mustachio Ventures for travel tips to Vietnam.

Giddy-Up at Rodeo Grill

If you're feeling like a cowboy and you want to giddy-up or simply enjoy cowboy-approved ranch-style dishes, then Rodeo Grill is the place to be. Yeeeehaw!

Warm Brownie Cup at La Marea

I decided to drop by at La Marea after a sad and disappointing breakfast experience today (I'll share that on another post). Nothing like a good solid dessert and friendly faces to turn that around and make your day better!

Little NONKI

I've been feeling crappy for the last two days. My sniffles have turned into a full blown cold with cough. Lucky I don't have a fever. I had a small breakfast, just some fruits and I skipped lunch. I didn't feel like eating at all but after much prodding from my mom to eat something, I finally gave in. We decided to share a bento and veggies at Little Nonki yesterday.

Hainanese Delights

Of all days when I had to do errands for work, it had to be this day to feel a little off and sick.  I could feel a cold coming. My throat is sore. I feel really tired. Typical symptoms. (I must have gotten it from someone sitting near me in the jeepney. I hate it when people have no decency to even cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough in public especially those with a really bad cough *think phlegm*.)  The heat outside didn't help matters. As soon as I got back to the office, I knew I had to eat something good. I was craving for a hot bowl of chicken soup. Chicken soup always does wonders when you feel sick but I couldn't think of where I can get one so I ended up at Hainanese Delights.