Toy like people make me boy like.: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Lunch at Dulcinea

I didn't go to work since I could not get up out the bed this morning. I was so exhausted and tired yesterday from work and I didn't have the energy to wake up early. I was feeling under the weather but I'm feeling better now since I was able to eat Dulcinea's delicious Paella Valenciana and their very awesome unforgettable Fruit Shake.

I woke up around 11 am hungry since I didn't able to have dinner last night, I was standing in line to order Jollibee's Amazing Aloha burger (2 burger pattie w/ pineapple and bacon) but my good friend text me to have lunch at 12 pm.

Anyways, plan was to eat at Wham! burgers but I asked kit if he have eaten spanish paella before or at least tried eating at dulcinea before which to my surprise, he wasn't able to eat at dulcinea before.

All photos are taken by good friend Mr. Kit Stephen Agad.

Paella Valenciana (P495) Rice dish that is good for 2 persons. You have to wait fir 30 minutes for this amazing mouth watering dish before you could actually eat it. The clams are fresh, the shrimps are fresh, the eggs are nice, the flavor is soo good! I know it's not authentic like they have at Alba's but it's close. Their Paella is a must try.

Dessert Sampler (P99) I didn't like the leche flan but the chocolate brownie is good, but the most delicious is the sansrival! it was sweet and crunchy.

Tropical Fruit Shake (P175) The best fruit shake I tasted since that Mango Smoothie from Manila Peninsula Hotel. It was soooo amazingly good and sweet (sweet because of the ripe fruits) Kit and I thinking to match this shake with Siao Long Pao and Asado Siopao of H.K. Choi.

Dulcinea have branches in Morato, QC / Greenbelt 1 Makati and somewhere else.

Dulcinea SM Megamall

4th F, SM Megamall

Wack Wack, Mandaluyong

634-0612

Exciting news for legacy flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL)

Ever since San Miguel Corporation (SMC - one of the biggest conglomerate in the Philippines) bought 49% of PAL, PAL is glowing tremendously! Losses are getting smaller and Profits are higher this year compared last year. My previous post: Reviving PAL reveals the biggest aviation deal done in Philippine History and that is made by PAL. Mr. Ramon Ang (president of SMC) is familiar with industry since he is a licensed pilot and trough the track record of San Miguel under his leadership, PAL is in good hands.

So what's new with PAL?

1) Re-Fleeting for Long-Haul Airplanes.
2) New destinations
3) Return to Europe
4) New Interiors

1) Re-Fleeting

PAL is currently on a major re-fleeting program in with their short-haul and medium-haul routes. PAL has an existing fleet of 45 aircraft composed of 19 Airbus A320s, 8 A330s, 4 A319s, 4 A340s, 5 Boeing B777-300ERs, and 5 Boeing 747s. PAL's order with airbus are: 34 A321ceos, 10 A321neos, and 10 A330s. It also has another $2.5 billion option to acquire 10 more A330 aircraft.- Rappler.com

When Cebu Pacific fully embraces being an LCC, they became the leading domestic carrier in the Philippines. Actually, If it weren't for CP airfares will not go down and maybe, Pinoys are still traveling by boat.

So it's Boeing for the wide bodies =)

PAL plans to initially acquire 10 Boeing 777X aircraft, the airline's president and CEO Ramon S. Ang told reporters on the sidelines of the 5th year anniversary celebration of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

“It depends on the price. We are looking at the new Boeing 777X. We will buy 10 and if it performs well, we’ll exercise an option for 10 more,” he said.

“We want those planes for our long-range flights,” he added. PAL captures the most international traffic among local competitors.

PAL is undergoing a major refleeting program that involves acquiring 100 new aircraft to cut fuel costs, which account for bulk of the airline's operating costs. The new aircraft feature feature more fuel efficient engine, bigger wings, and lighter cabins. - Rappler.com

I'm excited about all the news! PAL would be another pride for the Filipinos. However, the government should act fast in fixing our airports and the congestion at NAIA. Also, regaining the category 1 status imposes by the FAA and lifting the Ban of the Philippine Carriers to fly to Europe imposes by European Union. The good news is that ICAO have lifted the SSCs this year and more or less FAA and EU will follow.

2) New Destinations

In a kick-off ceremony on Friday, April 26, PAL announced 12 new destinations in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, China, Australia and the Middle East in its growing route network.

This is double the 6 routes it previously announced in March.

The following new routes will be operated from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila using Boeing 777 aircraft:

Basco, Batanes in northern tip of the Philippines, starting May 1 (operated by PAL Express)
Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, starting May 2
Darwin, Brisbane and Perth (Australia), June 1
Guangzhou (China), June 2
Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, starting Oct. 1; and Dubai, by Nov. 1
Doha in Qatar, starting Nov. 1
Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, starring Dec. 1

PAL president Ramon Ang said the new routes are meant to address the needs of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as that of the tourism market, which the Philippines is banking on as a new leg for economic growth.

PAL also will start introducing on board wifi services to the some of these new flights June onwards. By August, all their A330's will have wifi.

Also, PAL also launch new route to Sao Paulo, Brazil starting next year via Los Angeles (w/ 5th freedom rights).

- Rappler.com

3) Return to Europe

PAL plans to have direct access to key cities in Europe such as Paris, Milan, Rome, Madrid, and London as soon as the lifting of ban from the EU commission is set.

4) New Interiors

I have seen the new interiors for the Business class of PAL and It's so amazing! It's like first class! I will not post the picture here because I'm afraid of legal constraints =) Also, I don't want to spoil Mr. Ang's moment for PAL.

Photo courtesy of my good friend Mr. Kit Stephen Agad

Photo courtesy of Philippine Airlines.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Yes!! shootfirsteatlater

The blog I have been following for many years now followed me on twitter and foodspotting. I'm so happy and very excited about the happening! Ms. Leslie of shootfirsteatlater.com is an inspiration for me and for many bloggers. Her blog is one of the most popular and leading food and travel blog. I wish i could be like her and have a lot of followers in the future. Thank You Ms. Leslie!

Jade Shop / Great Wall of China

Part of our trip to beijing is the tour the Jade Shop which I think is government owned. Anyways, I was so excited for this part of our trip since I'm so fascinated with Jade. Never mind gold, silver, or even diamond, but much prefer Jade. Jade is a natural rock made with minerals and formed trough time and natural earth formation. Jade is usually color green and it's color gets lighter over time when you wear it without removing it in your body. To tell you the truth, Jade items is much expensive in China than Thailand because chinese people value jade as it gives numerous benefits and also trough the usage of their ancestors.

Old style of processing minerals.

some display

Stones

I want this. Jade Tea set.

I think this is Gold and Jade.

Jade Horse

Old style phone

Jade pillow mat.

Great Wall

Dessert at Icebergs

Beat the heat with Ice Cream!!

Icebergs is known for it's premium Ice Cream especially their Supreme Halo-Halo

Strawberry Sundae. Creamy strawberry ice cream topped with whipped cream, strawberry, underneath are strawberries and banana with nuts. I love how the whipped cream balances the sweetness of the strawberry syrup, banana and ice cream. (P178)

Strawberry Tower (P220) Banana slices at the bottom followed by Strawberry syrup, thick whipped cream, chocolate ice cream, strawberry syrup, strawberry ice cream, strawberries, whipped cream, and strawberries at the top. It was sinfully blissful! It was sooooo good! I didn't finish the syrup at the bottom since it's too sweet and I might end up having diabetes.

Supreme Halo-Halo. Filipino's pride and all time favorite local dessert which bursts with flavors and sweetness. It contains shaved ice, ube and strawberry ice cream (best combination), corn flakes, corn, jelly, sweet beans, milk, nata de coco, ube halaya, and flan. You have to mixed them all together (Halo-Halo is the tagalog term for mix) so that you can taste all the flavors of the different ingerdients.

Anthony Bourdain trying the halo-halo

Sarah Jessica Parker trying the Halo-Halo

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Lunch at H.K. Choi Megamall

It was day of fun and good friendship with fellow Airplane hobbyist. the 5 of us are members of Philippine Plane Spotters Group (PPSG) and we all have 1 thing in common which is taking pictures of Airplanes arriving and departing from NAIA. It was Food and Airplane brought us together =)

H.K. Choi is my happy place! It's not cheap nor expensive. It's very yummy and very sulit.

Asado Siopao (P80) It's so soft and uber yummy! The mantao is so white, smooth, and so so soft. The asado filling is so yummy, thick, meaty, a little sweet, and very tasty . The soft mantao and thick filling was a killer.

Siao Long Pao (P90) This particular siomai is not very popular in the filipino eating culture maybe because only few chinese restaurants offer this but I was expecting more with their Siao Long Pao. This dimsum have soup inside the wrapper so that when you eat it, the soup burst out. Unfortunately, the soup content was little. But still, it was good! it was delicious and very savory.

Chicken Feet (P90) Regular chicken feet but theirs was sweet and nice. It was soft, tasty, and good texture. A little bit spicy too.

Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style (P280) Sweet and a little salty. The beef was excellent, it was soft but firm and tender. It's so good with rice.

Lunch at Jatujak Thai Restaurant

I've been to a lot of thai restaurant and probably so far the best thai restaurant yet is Thaidara and the cheapest and yet flavorful thai restaurant is S.R. Thai. I'm quite disappointed with Jatujak since I was expecting more and better than Thaidara since it's more pricey and ambiance is much better.

What i like about Jatujak is their Thai Iced Tea, probably the best so far. I really love thai food compare to other asian cuisines, thai food is much flavorful and it invigorates you taste buds.

Chatuchak is a place in Bangkok, Thailand were incredible market bazaar is loaded with a lot of people especially tourists.

Interiors

Thai Beer on display

Best Thai Iced Tea so far. (P78)

Tom Yum Shrimp (P195 medium) Their Tom Yum is disappointing. It's not sour enough, it lacks more ingredients, and lacks taste quality. Sorry but, Thaidara has the award winning Tom Yum (more ingredients and better taste)

Lunch at Cyma

My friends and I opted to eat at cyma since greek food is rare in manila and the only greek restaurant i know is Cyma. I've eaten here many times before and Cyma didn't fail to make my tummy happy. Although cyma is a little bit pricey, it's all worth it.

Photos are taken by my photographer friend Kit Stephen Agad.

Leonida's Pasta (P590 - to share). The Pasta is cooked Al Dente, the pasta is flavorful and very tasty. The vegetables are nice cooked just right.

Cold Pikilia (P530) Greek appetizer, the dips are nice especially the bread. The bread is so soft and yummy, the white dip is really nice and creamy. the tomato dip is also nice, very fresh. the top dip is also nice the taste is something new and i can't put my finger on the taste. All dip is different and exciting.

Saganaki (Cyma Original P220) Opa! shouts the waiter. This flaming cheese appetizer is their best selling signature dish. The cheese is so creamy, thick, and very very tasty. A must try.

Lunch at Borough

I went to the hospital to have my ears check and I took my breakfast around 6 am and my appointment with the doctor finished around 11:30 am and we are hungry. I was craving for Borough's Mom's Milk and Cookies, and my friend is craving for beefy cheesy burger. I knew that borough is the right place to eat.

Nice atmosphere

Boruogh restaurant bakes their own bread, and cookies so everything is fresh baked =)

Bar

very nice place to eat with friends

Falafel (P140) I didn't know that falafel is soo yummy! The bread was so soft, the ingredients are fresh, the meat is sooo tender and sooo tasty. I'm so surprised that it's cheap!

Cathay Pacific Economy B773 MNL-HK / Dragonair Economy A330 HK-PEK

Our flight was suppose to depart around 11:00 am but due to heavy congestion, the return aircraft was a little late and our flight departed around 11:30 from the gate and take-off was around 12:00 pm. MNL-HK-MNL is a heavy route since many people go to Hong Kong for travel, and OFWs. CX have a total of 6 flights daily from this route. the economy class is about 98% full and business class i think is about 30% full.