Gel Jose

A happier lunch experience at the new Friuli Trattoria

A trattoria is an Italian-style eating establishment, a happy medium between a ristorante and an osteria in terms of formality. Friuli Trattoria, named after a region in Northeastern Italy, serves signature Italian dishes such as pastas and brick-oven pizzas.

I already tried out Friuli Trattoria’s Maginhawa branch but was not terribly impressed with the service nor with the food so when my daughter was hankering for Italian food for our Saturdate lunch at UP Town Center, I had some misgivings before agreeing to eat here. I was won over by the relatively lower prices in this joint compared to the other Italian restaurant in the area (Cheapskate Mommy strikes again!).

We were lucky to find a table for two given the sizeable lunch time crowd. I was also pleasantly surprised by the friendly and relatively fast service of the wait staff. We didn’t have to wait long for our order:

Pesto Spaghetti (Php175)
Mushroom Pizza (Php220)
2 cans of A&W Cream Soda (Php60 each)

The combination of flavors was just right and the meal was satisfying for the both of us (although we did save some room for dessert elsewhere;-)). The total bill amounting to just Php515.

I had a better experience here compared to the Maginhawa branch and I wouldn’t mind bringing my family for a quick Italian lunch of we’re in the area.

Friuli Trattoria branches are located at:

2nd Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, QC
79-A Maginhawa Street, Teacher’s Village, Quezon City

Korean barbecue craving satisfied at Arariyo

Arariyo, named after the endearing lyrics of the popular Korean folk song “Arirang,” has brought a delightful taste of Korea to the Q Plaza in San Isidro, Antipolo. This charming restaurant serves a variety of Korean dishes, including braised meats, noodles, and seafood. However, its true claim to fame is the Unlimited Korean Barbecue offer.

For just Php399, indulge in all the samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) and chadolbagi (grilled beef short plate) you desire. This makes Arariyo the perfect spot when your family is craving a Korean food feast. The grilling is a fun, DIY experience, and you can enjoy a range of delicious side dishes while your meat cooks. To round out our meal, we always order a dolsot bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables served in a hot stone pot) and treat ourselves to some refreshing Korean ice cream for dessert.

Keep in mind that lunch and dinner times can be quite busy, so you might need to wait for a table. Given the unlimited barbecue offer, guest turnover tends to be slower. To avoid long waits, it’s best to arrive at least 30 minutes early to get your name on the list. You’ll be called as soon as a table is available.

Visit Arariyo at Q Plaza, Felix Avenue, Barangay San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal, and satisfy your Korean barbecue craving!

Where have we seen the members of the Justice League before?

The movie event that the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been leading towards since 2013 is finally here. The first batch of DC superheroes are coming together in the wake of Superman’s death in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) to face an even graver threat against the world.

While the DCEU had a rocky start with the dour Man of Steel (2013), the uneven Suicide Squad (2016) and the aforementioned Batman v. Superman, inclusion in the superhero franchise is still a feather in the cap for many of the actors involved. For those of you wondering where you’ve seen these actors prior to Justice League, here’s a recap of some of their notable works:

Ben Affleck

Role: Batman/ Bruce Wayne

Prior to his role as the Caped Crusader, Ben Affleck took on the mantle of another superhero in Daredevil (2003). He was also in School Ties (1992) with Brendan Fraser, Armageddon (1998) with Bruce Willis, and, more recently, Gone Girl (2014) with Rosamund Pike and The Accountant (2016) with Anna Kendrick.

Henry Cavill

Role: Superman/ Clark Kent/ Kal El

Before he was The Last Son of Krypton, Henry Cavill was best known for his work in The Tudors (2007). He was also in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) with Jim Caviezel, Stardust (2007) with Charlie Cox, Immortals (2011) with Luke Evans and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) with Armie Hammer.

Gal Gadot

Role: Wonder Woman/ Diana Prince

Before her career-making role as Diana of Themiscyra, Gal Gadot played femme fatale Gisele in four installments of The Fast and the Furious franchise, starting with Fast & Furious (2009). She also starred in Date Night (2010) with Steve Carell and Knight and Day (2010) with Tom Cruise.

Jason Momoa

Role: Aquaman/ Arthur Curry

Before his role as Aquaman, Jason Momoa was best known for his role as Dothraki chief Khal Drogo is Game of Thrones (2011). He also played the lead role in Conan the Barbarian (2011).

Ezra Miller

Role: The Flash/ Barry Allen

Aside from his cameo appearances as The Flash in Suicide Squad and Batman v. Superman, Ezra Miller also recently starred as the Obscurial Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016).

Ray Fisher

Role: Cyborg/ Victor Strong

Aside from his came as Cyborn in Batman v. Superman, Ray Fisher was in the short film The Good, the Bad and the Confused (2008) and the TV series The Astronaut Wives Club (2015).

Justice League opened in theaters November 16.

Photo Credit: Justice League Movie Official Website

My Korean Food adventure continues at Masil

My love for Korean food is well-known by my family and friends. In fact, I have dined again and again at various Korean restaurants in various places in Metro Manila.

I was happy to discover that Masil has opened in Tiendesitas, which I find very convenient. Before or after grocery shopping, I can bring my family here to satisfy our Korean food cravings.

Weekend lunch and dinner times do get crowded and we sometimes have to wait for our table, but there is a waiting area inside which serves fragrant tea while you wait.

We usually order the samgyeopsal (grilled pork – Php330), chadolbagi (grilled beef a Php390), along with dolsot bibimbap (rice mixed with veggies served in a clay pot – Php350). The grilled meats are handled by the wait staff (so we can focus on enjoying our food). Our orders are also complemented by generous servings of side dishes which include kimchi, soy peanuts, green salad and steamed egg.

We enjoy ourselves here so much that we’ve returned so many times and even celebrated mother-in-law’s birthday here.

Masil branches are both located in Pasig:

The one we often frequent is at Tiendesitas, Frontera Verde, along Ortigas Avenue
The one we have yet to try is at 100 Oranbo Drive, in Brgy Oranbo

Comforting food and surroundings at Plana’s Pantry

Considering my workplace for the last three years is located so near to Plana’s Pantry, it’s a wonder that I’ve only been able to dine here just last month.

The place has a rustic shabby-chic feel to its decor. Walls and ornately carved furniture were mostly in white highlighted respectively by framed pithy sayings, teal cushions and various bric-a-bracs. It’s interiors were designed to look inviting and cozy.

It’s offerings are mostly comfort food: a mixture of Filipino and American dishes with some pastas thrown in.

When I dined here with my co-workers, we ordered the following:

Tapsilog (Php180)
Pasta Carbonara (Php220)
Hickory BBQ Ribs (Php285) – my order – I found its marinade a bit too sweet but the meat is fork tender
Beef Salpicao (Php260)
BBQ Pork Belly (Php230)
Fresh Dalandan Juice (Php75)
Iced Tea (Php60)
Hand-crafted Avocado Ice Cream (Php60 for single scoop – I couldn’t pass this up as I love avocado ice cream, especially artisanal ones

The food were reasonably priced, considering the generous servings. I would probably order the Lengua on my next visit (along with another scoop of Avocado Ice Cream!)

Another plus factor for Plana’s Pantry is the Hi-top Supermarket right next door where my officemates bought some chips and sweets before we went back to the office.

This branch of Plana’s Pantry is located at the Hi-Top Supermarket Building, 1650 Quezon Avenue corner Sgt. Esguerra Street, South Triangle, Quezon City. Another branch is located at the Ground Floor, RC Building, 50 Domingo M. Guevarra Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City.

Sumptuous Seafood at Shrimp Bucket

Shrimp Bucket is where my officemates and I go when we feel that we deserve a very happy lunch. For one thing, we eat here fairly often despite the pricy menu or we make our pleasure so evident that the friendly wait staff can recognize us on sight and already know what we will order.

The resto’s interiors have few decor but the most interesting are the bucket chandeliers. There is ample seating for around 30-40 people.

We plan our outings here ahead of time (usually to coincide with payday), so we usually have a lot of time to fantasize about our signature orders:

1 pound of shrimp with Salty Eggsperience sauce
1 pound of Mussels with The Mardi Gras sauce (slightly spicy with yummy chorizo bits thrown in

These sumptuous seafood dishes are best eaten family-style with steaming hot rice. Do take advantage of the bib and plastic gloves provided by the resto so you can eat with your hands to really enjoy the experience without worrying about making a mess or dirtying your clothes.

I have tried some of the resto’s other offerings such as the pan-fried fish fillet in soy ginger sauce and the crispy belachan pork but the combination of the Salty Eggsperience shrimp and the Mardi Gras mussels is still unbeatable for me.

This Shrimp Bucket is located at the 2nd floor of Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato cor Scout Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at the following:

2nd floor of Ayala Malls the 30th along Meralco Avenue in Pasig
Along Missouri Street in Greenhills
Ground floor of Grand Hamptons Tower 1 along 31st Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ground Floor of UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City
Circuit Makati in Olympia, Makati

A rare steak experience at Vittorio’s

Some small distance from my workplace is a small (but well-known among steak lovers) restaurant called Vittorio’s Steak House. It took some time for me to visit this place because:

It’s hard to find fellow steak lovers among my coworkers.
Pricing in this joint is a bit steep for the ordinary office worker like me.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, so together with my fellow carnevores, I hied over to Vittorio’s.

I initially found the place a bit dark and hot at first (the aircon took some time to kick in) but the food made up for it. By splitting an order of ribeye steak with a friend, I was able to sample one of Vittorio’s celebrated offerings. It came with steak rice which complemented the steak very well.

Others in the group also enjoyed their orders of hainanese chicken and rice, buffalo wings, seafood pasta and pork ribs. With my share at over Php700, though, the meal was very very pricey.

I might return to Vittorio’s sometime, but I will recruit fellow steak lovers to share the meal (and split the bill) with.

Vittorio’s Steak House is located at 32 Scout Borromeo Street, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, QC. Parking spaces are limited so you might find it more convenient if you walk or take a cab going here.

Why we should donate blood

I joined the Red Cross Youth org in my university during my college years. While I handled several projects for the org, I never got around to donating blood. At the time, I was afraid of the needles used, the sight of blood or the medical team sometimes had trouble locating the blood vessel in my arm optimal for blood extraction.

I started donating blood a few years ago. The employees’ union at my office had a bloodletting activity and, as a show of support and with some friendly competition among my coworkers, I joined those donating blood. It was fairly painless plus the union officers even gave me a mug and a shirt as a souvenir.

Since then, health and schedule permitting, I have tried to regularly donate blood at a nearby hospital. I even brought my husband with me once and we made the experience into a bonding activity. On my next donation this December, I plan to bring my eldest daughter so I can instill the habit in her as well.

My reason for donating blood is that it’s one of the easiest ways I can contribute to someone’s life. One pint of blood can be broken down into three components – red blood cells, plasma and platelets – thereby possibly saving up to three lives.

And don’t worry about your donation going to waste. There’s actually a lot of demand for donated blood. Yours may even reach the farthest areas in the country, and may help save lives in far-flung provinces.

Given the demands on my time and resources, I can’t contribute much to charity or volunteer at my chosen causes. Giving blood, however, simply involves a trip to the hospital and a few minutes at the blood bank, or some time away from my desk during the office’s blood donation drive.

Blood donation also affords me several health benefits:

A free mini-physical that checks my pulse and blood pressure as well as a free blood analysis that checks for the presence of infectious diseases.
Prevents hemachromatosis, a health condition brought about by too much iron in the blood. By maintaining healthy iron levels in the blood, the risk of certain cancers, liver and heart ailments are also minimized.
It helps in weight loss. Every donation burns around 650 calories, which to me is the equivalent to three hours at the treadmill.
It also stimulates production of new blood cells further contributing to the maintenance of good health.

To be eligible to donate, I needed to be the following:

In good health. You should be feeling well at the time of donation.
Between 16 to 65 years of age. If below 18, you will need your parent’s consent to be able to donate.
Weighing at least 110 pounds.
Having a normal blood pressure, between 90 and 160 mmHg (systolic), 60 and 100 mmHg (diastolic)
Able to pass the physical and health history assessments that will be conducted immediately before the donation.

After the procedure, I was given refreshments (usually a snack and a juice box which I should consume before leaving the donor area), and these reminders:

Rest and remain in the area for 15 minutes.
Increase fluid intake for the next 24 hours.
No smoking within the next 3 hours and no alcoholic beverages for the next 24 hours.
No strong pressure or heavy lifting on the donating arm for the next 24 hours to avoid bruising.
No strenuous activity or hazardous work for the next few hours.

Blood donation is a way for me to give of myself. It is my gift of life to whoever has the urgent need for it.

If you want to donate blood, check out the Red Cross website for more information.

A quiet and restful getaway at La Luz Resort

To escape the stress of work and city living, Hubby and I took our little boy to La Luz Beach Resort in Batangas during the All Saints Day break.

As soon as we arrived, I felt an immediate sense of tranquility. This small resort, nestled farther away from the bustling bigger resorts, offers a serene and restful family-friendly getaway that’s perfect for us city folks seeking a break from our hectic routines. The resort’s commitment to maintaining a natural environment is evident as soon as you step onto the grounds. Existing trees have been preserved, and new ones planted, creating a lush and green sanctuary that complements its location adjacent to a marine sanctuary.

One of the standout features of La Luz is its dedication to environmental preservation. A swimming ban during low tide protects the nearby coral reefs, ensuring that the marine ecosystem remains undisturbed. This resort truly feels like a nature preserve. Plus, for those who can’t bear to leave their furry friends behind, La Luz is pet-friendly, allowing dogs on the premises.

The resort’s amenities are clean and well-appointed. Our room, furnished with local bamboo pieces, exuded a rustic charm while still providing modern comforts. Though there were no TVs, the strong air conditioning and robust free WiFi signal ensured we remained comfortable and connected. This absence of TVs encouraged us to disconnect and enjoy our surroundings, which was a refreshing change.

Dining at La Luz is a delightful experience. Meals are served buffet-style in the pavilion, and while bringing outside food is prohibited, the mandatory food package is well worth it. Each overnight guest is treated to a series of meals that include lunch upon arrival, an afternoon snack, dinner, and breakfast the next day. The variety and quality of the food exceeded our expectations, making every meal a pleasant part of our stay.

The beach, though a bit rocky, is clean and the water is wonderfully clear. For those seeking adventure, La Luz offers a range of activities for an additional fee, including helmet diving, disco boat rides, flying fish, kayaking, banana boat rides, jet skiing, snorkeling, and even a separate bonfire. These activities provide plenty of options for fun and excitement, ensuring that every member of the family finds something to enjoy.

Our visit to La Luz Beach Resort was a quick getaway that left us feeling rejuvenated and eager to return. Despite some rough patches on the road leading to the resort, the journey was worth it. The resort’s peaceful ambiance, excellent service, and commitment to environmental preservation make it a standout destination for anyone looking to unwind and reconnect with nature.

For more information, you can visit La Luz Beach Resort’s website or contact them directly via landline at 02-806 7667 or 02-806 7581, or mobile at 0916-370-4017, 0927-805-3484, 0920-603-8814, or 0998-338-7111. You can also email them at customerservice@laluzbeachresort.com.

Elegant buffet spreads at Marriott Cafe

Thanks to a timely credit card promo, we found ourselves celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday with a buffet lunch at the Marriott Café in Manila. Nestled on the ground level of the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, this café takes dining to new heights, both literally and figuratively.

The first thing that strikes you upon entering Marriott Café is its elegance. The place is very well-appointed, with a modern yet inviting ambiance. The buffet spreads, featuring cuisines from various countries, were aesthetically presented, each dish a visual delight. The engaging open-theatre kitchens add an element of excitement, making dining here a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

The staff were courteous and attentive, ensuring that our dining experience was seamless and enjoyable. Their professionalism added to the overall charm of the café, making us feel pampered from the moment we arrived.

Being a card-carrying carnivore, my favorite station was the grill. I helped myself to the “Cuts of the Day,” which were juicy and well-marbled steaks, along with an assortment of smoked meats and sausages. Each bite was a testament to the skill and expertise of Executive Chef Meik Brammer, who has been leading the kitchen operations since 2010. His more than 27 years of culinary experience were evident in every mouthwatering dish.

One of the standout features of the buffet was the variety of stations. The Live Station offered a variety of a la minute dishes, with the Singapore Chili Crabs being a particular highlight. The Sashimi Station transported us to Japan, offering a fresh and delicious selection of Salmon Tuna, handcrafted Japanese Maki Rolls, Cucumber Rolls, and California Rolls, complete with wasabi, soy sauce, calamansi, and assorted pickles.

At the Live Pasta Station, Grandma’s Pomodoro was a daily delight. Choosing from a variety of sumptuous pasta dishes, it felt like comfort food elevated to gourmet levels. And then, of course, there was the dessert section. I gorged myself on their selection of tartlets, cakes, cookies, and pastries. The chocolate fountain was a hit with the kids and, admittedly, with me as well.

Dining at Marriott Café is an experience I wouldn’t mind repeating. The extensive buffet, the elegant setting, and the exceptional service all combine to create a memorable dining experience. Though I might wait for another promo to indulge again, the quality and variety offered at Marriott Café make it worth every peso.

Buffet prices are as follows:

Breakfast (6:30 am to 10:30 am, daily): Php1,450
Lunch (12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, Monday to Saturday): Php1,900
Brunch (11:30 am to 3:00 pm, Sunday): Php2,500
Dinner (6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday to Thursday, Sunday): Php2,100
Dinner (6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Friday to Saturday): Php2,500

For inquiries, you can reach them at 02-9889999 or via email at marriottcafemanila@marriott.com. Dining at Marriott Café is truly an inspired experience in Manila, one that I highly recommend. Visit the Resorts World Manila website for more details.