Carmen's Best: Pure Indulgence

True to its word, Carmen's Best Pure Indulgence artisanal ice cream is indeed indulgence at its finest. I've seen numerous raves about it in social media including blogposts that kept my mind glued on it until its availability reached here in Davao City and can only be bought at Echostore here and here at that time. I'm happy about it because only a step away, I'd be able to taste the much talked about homemade artisanal ice cream and gelato made available in the local market. And since it is now available in NCCC Supermarket, I couldn't be any happier! That's what I call accessibility granted!

I couldn't believe it's this plenty when I saw it yesterday
at NCCCMall Supermarket. To my heart's delight!

Last Sunday, and because it's Mother's Day, I posted in my FB days before that all I want is to have this ice cream and nothing else. I cannot remember telling my husband about what I want for that day but he asked me if that ice cream I want is available in GMall Toril. No, it's not.

I like it that it has 'best before' note written.
Sorry for the blurry photo. But for the one I bought,
it'll last until April of 2016 when kept chilled. 

Honestly, I find it expensive at 450 pesos for a small tub of container. But hubby gave me money for this and his gift for me as I wished for. Why not? I splurge because it's Mother's Day! Amusing part. After the cashier punched it in the cash registry, she kept looking at the bar code and also the bagger. They were having small conversations I assume of how much it cost. I smiled at them and said that's really the price. She then said, "Does it taste good?" And I said, "It's my first time to try that too. We'll see…" 

That creamy, rich, velvety and smooth texture is sooo damn goood!!!

I must admit, having a sweet-tooth, is a bit difficult because I easily submit to every dessert and pastry that is available for me to eat. I love everything sweet! No questions about that. Of all the ice cream that I've tasted and tested (though I haven't tasted yet the Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry's or Dreyer's to name a few expensive ones), I love the mild sweetness, melts-in-the-mouth Mudslide flavor of Tillamook available in S&R. Now, having tried this flavor of Carmen's Best, I'll surely try out the rest of its available flavors even if I sacrifice buying other things/'wants' I want. This is what I call pampering oneself and submitting to my heart's desire. Carmen's Best is the best!

The Best Vegetable Chips #OnlyInDavao

In this generation, we are gearing towards healthy lifestyle and eating the right way is part of it. I am so happy to introduce to you a homegrown product that is making a name on its own. It is recognized as the best vegetable chips in Davao published in Sunstar Davao, a local newspaper here in the city (March 2, 2015 issue). If you can't read clearly the caption on the photo below, here's for your clearer view:

FRUX'S VEGGIE CHIPS. This healthy alternative to the regular chips you find in the market is a combination of squash, carrots, malunggay, ampalaya, camote tops, alugbati, saluyot and kangkong. This product of Panabo City-based Frux Food Products is always a hit during trade fairs in Davao City. If you happen to travel to Panabo, pass by at the Panabo City Pasalubong Center.

Once published, you can never go wrong. Highly recommended!
Salted and sweetened variants tastes so good.

The first time I tried it, my taste buds is into it instantly. Being the junk food lover that I am, I like this more since it has healthy ingredients. No need to worry too much of artificial flavorings that is bad for our system. Its thin, crispy serving is satisfying and cravings are definitely solved.


Aside from its vegetable chips, one product that Frux Food Product is known for and is available in leading local supermarkets is its homemade peanut butter. One thing I love about its spread is that you cannot see oil forming on top of the spread like other brands. It's not greasy and you can really taste the real peanut in the butter itself.

The next time you encounter the name 'Frux', go ahead and grab every product with its name. #GawangPinoy #Davaoproduct #BestVegetableChips #healthychips 

Green is love too! A Valentine's day gift suggestion

In my previous post here, I've said that colors red and brown (for chocolates) signifies love. As we celebrate this month of February with love, naturally we love to shower our loved ones by giving them flowers in red bloom as it is romantic and chocolates in brown as it is sweet to declare our love in our own little way. Well not only those two colors, I would say that green would suffice the meaning of love too. Love for oneself, family, health and well-being. In this generation, we can be creative by giving them something extraordinary but meaningful presents for this Valentine's day. Let's give them green by keeping it healthy. Healthy in the way we intake food into our system by eating the right kind of food. For example, by consuming green leafy and green-colored vegetables as part of our eating routine.

Freshly picked bounties. You may put this in a decorative container
for a more presentable appearance.

Aren't they glorious and refreshing? Big chunk of tomatoes, japanese cucumbers and three heads of lettuce. Crisp, juicy, hydrating not to mention it costs way cheaper than flowers and chocolates and with more health benefits to add. I'm not saying that I don't like receiving flowers and chocolates from the ones you loved. Who wouldn't? Just saying that if you have limited budget thinking what you could give to your loved ones this Valentine's day, here's one suggestion for a change. Why not? It sure is healthy and your loved ones would think that you are concern too of their well-being not just a commercial stuff Valentine's day nowadays has to offer. 

My dinner yesterday which I prepared for the household to share.
This is served with grilled tuna belly and squid. Yum!

These are the dips I have. But I mixed my salad with
Sesame dressing and Parmesan cheese to add flavor to my greens.

For those who are clueless yet of what to give to their loved ones, now here's what I can share. Head now to your nearest market and pick up the freshest and healthiest green bounties that you could give to your loved ones. It's something personal and more meaningful because it goes out with all the love and effort you did. 

Happy Valentine's day to y'all! Cheers to love and well-being! 

The Swiss Deli and Restaurant -Davao

When I was reading the blog post of Ms. Jane Go of Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice here, I know right away where to take hubby to have our dinner on that Friday night, The Swiss Deli and Restaurant it is. Its first establishment is located along J.P. Laurel Street, Davao City. Now that it opened its second store down South (along McArthur Highway Matina. The building where it is situated is beside Davao City Water District), it's much more accessible to Southerners like me. Upon looking at Ms. Jane's orders, I went for this…

Photo courtesy from Ms. Jane's blog post.

I am more on eating light nowadays, so I prefer this as my order. Aside that it is priced reasonably already, I am surprised that it is priced lower by 3 pesos here in Davao City at 162pesos. And one order is already huge in portion perfect for those who are on diet or watchful of what they are eating. I even shared this with my hubby. This one is yummy in itself. But because I love it saltier in taste, I wish it had bacon tidbits or parmesan cheese to have a kick on the pasta in it. But overall, I loved how it tasted and I'll surely be back ordering it again with them. 


The Swiss Deli and Restaurant:

Website: www.swissdelidavao.com

I. Lanang Branch
D’ Butcher D’ Baker, Inc.
The Swiss Deli and Restaurant
RS Compound (fronting Damosa Gateway)
Km. 7 Lanang, Davao City 8000
Philippines

Telephone Number: (+63-82) 234-0271
TeleFax number: (+63-82) 235-3418 / 235-3417
Business hours: Monday- Sunday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM

E-mail: swissdelidavao@yahoo.com

II. Matina Branch
Matina Swiss Deli Inc.

La Cima Building 1
Mc. Arthur Highway
Corner Duhat and Camias Streets
Matina, Davao City 8000
Philippines

Telephone Number: (+63-82) 295-6168
TeleFax Number: (+63-82) 295-6169
Business hours: Monday- Sunday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM

E-mail: matinaswissdeli@yahoo.com
Facebook Page: Matina.SwissDeli

WiFi Zone
With Function room for 30 persons
With affordable set menu

My Manila Diaries

Recently, just a few days ago, I was in the metro with hubby. And because I am not allowed to divulge anything (reserve for a separate post) and because it was just a quick visit, my photos will speak for my presence there with just a handful of evidence whilst in the place. I love Manila for some reasons: 1) there are a lot of places to see, experience and enjoy, 2) malls, shopping and a lot of sales going on, 3) food discoveries which are endless and 4) the vibe is always alive and up, on the go and updated. However, I don't see myself residing there because I want a laid back life and it's too chaotic for my preferred lifestyle. #justsaying But nevertheless, Manila is such a wonderful place to go, to be seen and experience. 

On board here. Always on time and most of the times ahead of time.
I am afraid of heights. Cebu Pacific arrives 10 minutes ahead of its time of arrival 
(as far as my experience is concerned). It lessens 10 minutes of my fear at that.

Taken when the in-flight voice recorder announces our arrival in Manila.
Plane is descending towards the runway. I took this to show my kids and housemates
what's it like when you are on top and inside the plane.

Took a cab towards the left to our place for one night.

After checking in, we headed to Makati area, particularly the Glorietta/ Greenbelt/ Landmark/ Rustan's, all found in one area which is really confusing when you are not familiar with the place. After we took our power lunch which is way past 2 in the afternoon, we stroll around like we are in a maze! As we found our way to Landmark which makes my heart skipped faster because of all those red letter SALE hanging everywhere, here's what I ended up buying. Kid's stuff! #motheratheart

These clothes are all on sale and for everything, I just paid less than 700.00pesos. It's almost closing time and as a result, I ended up panicked buying and I just grabbed everything and whatever my eyes crushes on.

To cap the night, we had coffee. I told hubby we eat at food shops where we can 't
find in Davao City. So far we managed it. Headed to our place past 11pm.

The next day was the real reason why we where there.
We were more than an hour ahead of our appointed time
and decided to eat breakfast in the vicinity to save time.
This budget-friendly breakfast meal is only 89.00pesos with a huge amount of serving (well, more than enough for my appetite, hehehe…).
It taste good too. Who says food in Manila is very expensive?
I don't think not all.

We took our lunch here.
It's at Greenbelt/Glorietta (not sure what building we were in).
Food and serving is alright and huge.
We were quite satisfied enough to fill our stomachs. 

And because hubby was craving for more, quite unusual for him, we ended up eating here less than an hour only after our lunch. And because, I wanted something sweet, I bought this yummy sans rival at only 60.00 paired with my hubby's cappuccino.
Such a sweet delight before heading to NAIA Terminal 3 for our return flight
back to Davao City.

Thank you Manila!

A Father's Day Celebration

How was your Sunday like guys? For sure, yesterday was a truly memorable day to celebrate and honor the day with our fathers. I'm pretty sure you had an extraordinary day too celebrating it like dining out or just simply in the house with all of you complete. As for some Dads who are away from their loved ones, the social media or technology didn't make it too far away, right? Traditionally, my family celebrate special occasions, like Father's Day, by gathering and dine together. There's nothing more grandiose as long as we are complete whether outside or just at home. Normally, we gather at my parental's house. But for this occasion, we chose to dine out and have our lunch at Lyndon's World's Worst Ribs and Awful Chicken along Lanang, Davao City. Why we chose to dine here? Nothing specific really. It just popped out in my mind while rolling my mind where to eat. For a change, me and my sister don't want to feast in the mall where we know it's too crowded and a lot of people flock there especially because of the occasion. Second, we want a little privacy. We have 3 toddlers in tow, so we want a bit of free space where they can run their hearts out without worrying they might get lost and still can enjoy our eating pleasure. Third, we knew the food is great there especially their tender and flavorful pork ribs. Their "worst ribs" slogan is just an attention grabber but it's the exact opposite. Their chicken though is not that awful but the taste is just okay. Nothing worth bragging about unlike their ribs. What we have ordered worth trying is their grilled Vietnamese Lapu-Lapu. Tender and juicy it is. 


After our hearty and satisfying lunch, we headed to SM Lanang Premier to kill time and do our grocery. Indeed, we feast our eyes on those vintage cars displayed in the Atrium. There I saw sleek Porsche and other luxury sports cars. While 'wasting' our time there which we really enjoyed albeit tired because of 3 toddlers running and chasing around, personnel from the mall handed out cookies to the men of the our lives (my father, my gandfather and my hubby). He got this cute cookie treat.

Truly, you are the best father because you always do your best to provide for us in the best way you know how. You always 'abuse' your hands every weekend tilling the soil while farming for the future of your children and, you always say, for a more comfortable lifestyle later on. I just wish 'Pop' (that's what I call my hubby sometimes) that we are not wishing for a richer life but a simple yet comfortable life with a quality time with you. Thank you for  having the desire to give us the quality of life. We pray that God will bless you good health always. This goes too for my Papa Dodong (my father) and Lolo Gerun (my grandfather). Ate (older sister), me and Rom wish you longer and healthy life ahead so that you will enjoy your grandchildren (the Tres Marias and the only boy, coming soon!). Happy Father's day too, Bro! We are super ka-duper excited for the coming of the only thorn among the roses. Thank God for the 3 (or make it 4) men in my life!

Melts in the Mouth Macarons

I've seen and read from renowned mommy, lifestyle and foodie bloggers about this french macarons that I've become curious about. Not until my ever generous and beloved boss gave me a box of this delectable piece of haven that I'll be sharing with my officemates. The packaging itself is love at first sight. More so when the food jewels were unraveled to me right in front my very delighted eyes.

I've never tasted a local version of this. One of my officemate said she was able to try a similar pastry as this in French Baker here in SM Lanang Premier. But the sweetness is overboard. When she tasted this, she liked the sweetness as the filling melts in the tongue. The rich chocolate filling is very smooth and the dough is not crumbling. I love how velvety the filling and the combination of the softness of the dough. Each color has different twist of flavor. But the chocolatey goodness is constant. I don't know how much a box of this but I bet it's a bit pricier because of the brand itself. #chocolate #frenchmacarons #sweettooth

Welcome Year of the Green Wooden Horse, 2014!

How time flies super fast. The month of January is ending tomorrow and we'll be welcoming the New Year in Chinese way...;-) (I don't know what I mean about that, tee hee..) and the day after tomorrow is yet another month, February. Oh the love month! I'm so excited about that.

Anyhow, what are you guys planning for tomorrow's declared holiday? As for me, though we don't practice it every year, but for this year I feel like celebrating it for the sake of the occasion and for the horse (hahaha! whatever!). Even if it's not mine or my hubby or any of my kids animal year (but for my older sister born in the year 1978, it's her year), I might as well give it a try. One thing that kept me thinking about celebrating it is what to feast on our table. I would love to buy tikoy (sticky rice) for a change and then hopia from Eng Bee Tin, or I would whip the No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake recipe of Mommy Michelle of My Mom-Friday, or try a crispy tofu recipe which I longed to cook for a while now. I'd love to cook a noodle recipe too which I recently love cooking because of the quality of the noodle we got from my hubby's officemate. For fruits, I think the soursup (guyabano) will do the trick since it has all the nutrients one can get from the many fruits available. We have that one at home now, avocados and bananas will be our fruits in our table. It's as simple as that. What's important is to welcome the new year with new beginnings, hopeful tomorrows and a positive outlook for 2014.

Oh by the way, I said it's a green wooden horse because I saw and heard in the television that Jade is the lucky stone this year. Well, Jade stone is said to be green and that's it! For more info about this year's wood horse, see informations here and here. Happy Chinese New Year or 'Kiong Hee Huat Tsai' (Hokkien) or 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' (Mandarin) and 'Gong Hey Fat Choy' (Cantonese). Notice my greetings instead of the usual Kung Hei Fat Choi that we normally see in ads? Here's why. Now I know why. But nevertheless we mean the same thing but to properly address it to Filipino Chinese, we need to correct it. Enjoy a long weekend everyone!

Full Head but Empty Stomach

Are you like that? Or have you experienced thinking about food you want to intake but never had a chance to do so. Well I'm most of the time like that. I have the nicest appetite for food especially sweets more particularly the sweet bitter taste of a dark chocolate like that of a pure cocoa or "tableya". Now I'm imagining again. I prefer the sweet bitter ones compared to the sweet milkier type. But either of them, it makes me happy and gay.

Why I choose to blog it? It's because I was handed a baking book for me to scan. I can't help it but to just imagine the food right before my very eyes. All sorts of breakfast sweets, tarts and pies, cakes, cookies and spoon desserts are in the book authored by Dorie Greenspan, also author of the best-selling Baking With Julia. The title of the book is Baking From my home to yours. It says it's a winning book of James Beard Foundation Book Awards. It's tempting, drooling, melting and gooey-licious. I bet you are now imagining and salivating too.

Well from the cover itself, you know that something delicious is about to unravel.

The cover book speaks for itself already

This cake is called the Devil's Food White-Out Cake.

Chocolate Armagnac Cake

I'd love to share with you the recipe but it seem I can't get a clear picture of the recipe using my android phone. The camera shots really suck. The photos above are enhanced already. But anyway there are really plenty of feel-good recipes in the book. The two were the first ones that caught my eyes and it really makes my stomach churn until now. How good is that?

Valentine's day is nearing and I'm sure these are wonderful gifts for the loved ones. How about you? What's your feel good food you really enjoy? #chocolatecakes #baking #valentinesdaygift

Godiva, You Chase My Blues Away

What a good day to start the week. I love August because every week there's a one day off. Lots of holidays! And look what greeted me on a Monday morning. Chocolates!!! A belated birthday present from someone I admire and respect. Help me unravel and unmask the urgency of our senses, one by one...

Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get. - Forrest Gump in "Forrest Gump" (1994) 

It's hard for a reader to just plainly look at the food in a photo noh? I've encountered a lot of food bloggers and every time I see food they blog about, it makes me drool, hungry and craving for it. I detest (in a good way) them for making me envious of their journey towards paradise without me around. Gosh! I hope you won't hate me as much I hate (in a good way too) food bloggers (tee hee) feeding my eyes with so much. Well, it's not their fault! I just wanna be glued and be satisfied by merely imagining it is mine.

I have a love-and-hate relationship with chocolates. I love them for being so sinfully delicious and I can't stop and can't say no. I hate them for having too much of you can cause a lot of negative side effects on me. Oh! whatever! I'm in love with you.

Our Backyard Harvest

Like most average Filipino income earner whose means of living relies mainly on an 8-hour job 5 to 6 days a week, every money and cent spent is thought of wisely. Especially if you have a family with 3 to 4 members, you would rather spend on a need rather than a want. In our case, in order to make efficient spending and to cut cost on certain expenses, my hubby and I thought of putting up a small vegetable garden right at the premise of our home. We have a tiny lot, so we have to sacrifice some of my husband's ornamental plants that he painstakingly labored to beautify our humble abode. For your information, my hubby has a green thumb and he loves planting and farming (lucky me!). As a matter of fact, he together with my brother-in-law is making productively a 5-hectare family-owned land full of banana, coconut, cacao, rubber, durian and some fruit bearing trees in an area where for a few years it has been idle. And since, we regularly cook vegetable food dish at home, hence the idea of putting up a vegetable garden.

At first, I told him of the idea that I just want a planter box to plant Parsley. Why Parsley because I read somewhere that it helps in the cleansing of our kidneys. Chop parsley leaves then let it boil in water. Let the water cool down and drain the chopped leaves. The water that has been boiled by the Parsley is the one that we have to drink 1 to 2 glasses a day. You may store the water in the fridge for you to drink. You would notice a different color in your urine. And that they say are the toxins inside your body.

Anyways, some of the vegetables my husband planted are eggplant, cucumber, tomatoes, spring onions, pechay (a type of cabbage or gourd) to name a few. Sadly, the tomatoes did not manage to live (hehehe). It was way too cool on how my husband planted it sana. He planted it in an upside-down method as what he saw in the YouTube website. But I wouldn't post it here because it's not successful (Teehee). However, I would gladly show off the fruits of my husband's labor on the following photos below.

The second cucumber that is so big. The first one I forgot to take a photo.
We already ate it. I tell you it is very juicy and crispy.

My officemate that is also a green thumb told me that we should cover the cucumber with a cellophane to prevent from "injury" (see the brown patch on the cucumber?). I haven't asked her what caused that.

This is the third cucumber ready to be harvested too.
But my hubby told me that he will harvest it by himself tomorrow. (he's happy)

Three more to go. Grow faster. And mind you they grow faster in a matter of days.
I was surprised how fast that can be.

This is another one awaiting for the right maturity.

This is okra (lady's fingers, bhindi or gumbo in English). This is plant 1.
Look how many are now sprouting. We already harvested twice.

Plant 2. More to come. My Green thumb officemate told me a trivia.
Okra is prone of having aphids. Hope ours would not have.

Plant 3. See how plenty are flowering and sprouting.
We are very happy with our small vegetable garden.

We already harvested our spring onions and pechay, but that I haven't taken photos of it. But, I was amazed how juicy and crisp our pechay when we cooked it. It was my first time and didn't expect to taste it that good. As a matter of fact, I don't like the taste of it. But now I realize when its freshly picked, the veggie is more crisp, juicer and tastier even if our homegrown pechay is thin and not as big as the one sold in supermarkets.

I now encourage you to have one in your own yard. It's more healthier and cheaper to have your own vegetable garden at home. And as to the Parsley, we planted it there too together with the vegetables, but we cannot identify it anymore if it's the Parsley or a weed ;))

Auntie Anne's in Davao City

Yesterday, I was able to visit SM City Davao in Ecoland. Well, to my surprise I saw this...

OMGeez! Auntie Anne's you're coming! I can't wait for you to open. I had experienced and tasted their world renowned pretzel first hand for the first time more than a decade ago in Manila. Imagine, what took you so long to arrive here in Davao City. My favorite here is their Cinnamon flavored-coated pretzel. Actually I really love everything Cinnamon because of it's aroma and of course the taste it brings to the food or drinks. Sometimes, I do put Cinnamon powder on top of my coffee drink. And that makes a kick of aroma and smell to my cup of coffee knowing the coffee addict I am. I use the McCormick Cinnamon powder by the way.

Well, I'm waiting for it's opening and that would be soon. I can't wait to grab a bite of their pretzel. Another food chain that I know will get a long queue. 

My First #ThrowbackThursday Photo

What is Throwback Thursday?

As what About.com defines it, it is the name of a weekly post theme that social media users participate in as part of a very general "throwback" activity for posting content.

On Thursdays, people usually post photos on sites like Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook that are from the past. Photos can be from years ago or from just a few days ago. There aren't really any limitations, and it really just gives people an excuse to post more.

Throwback Thursday is very popular on Instagram, and users often tag their photos with a variety of hashtags like #TBT, #ThrowbackThursday or just simply #Throwback. Adding these hashtags can help get photos more exposure from a wider audience of people who are searching through those tags. 

The trend is quickly catching on to other social networks, and some even expand content to include songs and videos from the past as well.

It's also known as: TBT Throwback

-----------------------------------------------------

Now in keeping with the trend and before this day ends, I'm posting my first ever #TBT, #ThrowbackThursday or #Throwback photo. This is a throwback of many years ago. Who would forget Tootsie rolls? I love these chocolate muncher. A few days ago my officemate blogger gave these to me. I was a bit depressed and since chocolate is known to be anti-depressant alongside banana, I was happy munching on these.

What still puzzles me is why throw back on a Thursday? And why not on other days of the week? Would you know?

How about you? What's your #ThrowbackThursday, #TBT or #Throwback photo for this week?

Farming, Fruits and a Refreshing Honey Dew

I am one lucky person because I have a partner who has abundant supply of fruits from their farm almost every week. And we rejoice for the plentiful of food we get from my hubby's family. I am not much into eating fruits unlike my hunger rush for chocolates and sweets. My MIL's ethnicity is Bagobo and they acquire quite a big expanse of area which they plant fruit bearing trees years ago. Good enough that hubby got my MIL's (mother-in-law) and FIL's (father-in-law) love for farming. In my hubby's younger days, he talks about living a simple yet abundant life in the farm. Simple because they are not as comfortable as with their way of living now but they are happy and content with it. Abundant in the sense that their means of living is just outside the vicinity of their small house full of fruit-bearing trees. They have durian, banana, cacao, lanzones, marang, avocado to name a few which they and we enjoy until present.

I may not be a fruit eater but I have a selection of fruits that I may be selfish of. Like this one: Honey Dew

Juicy

Crunchy and sweet.

Honey Dew Melon fruit. Photo source here

Honey Dew is part of the gourd (term: Gourd is occasionally used to describe crops like cucumbers, squash, luffas, and melons) family. It is the sweetest of all the melons. My office mate usually brings this to office and shares with us. The first time I tried it, I immediately fell in love with the taste. I didn't expect that it taste this good since it is not that common unlike bananas, mangoes, watermelons and the like. This is good when eaten cold as the crispiness and the juiciness of the fruit brings out freshness to ones mouth and body. This is rich in Vitamin C, potassium, pantothenic acid and Vitamin B6 which helps beat high blood pressure levels, skin conditions as well as other difficulties of the circulatory system (source and more information about Honey Dew including its benefits here). 

Petite Brownie Bites of S & R

I have a sweet tooth. That's what I am. You can feed me sweets everyday without giving up. But because I am also cautious of my food intake and for health reasons, then most of the time I don't give in to my cravings. But nevertheless many of my friends know me that well that it's my weakness. Thankful that I have lots of them  :)))

Just right after lunch, my officemate gave me this..

It's a bite-size brownie. There's no name when she gave it to me. But because as I said in any form that is sweet, I will whole-heartedly accept. No second thoughts.

At first site, I'm drooling already. First bite was soft. Munching it is chewy and wanting some more. It is sweet but it is just right for the size. I had this brownie at 4 bites only. Wanting for more. Then later found out that it was purchased from the newly opened S & R store. First here in Davao City located along corner MacArthur Highway and Ma-a Streets. This heavenly goodie is named Petite Brownie Bites. Grab this eat. You won't regret.

Photo source (jinlovestoeat)

Planning now to get membership card of S & R since members can only have access to the store. I heard their pizza are delicious. When S & R opened last May 28 here in the city, the pizza section had a very long queue.

Morning uplifts

Today is Tuesday! It's a cold and rainy morning down South. I already had a mug of coffee during breakfast at home. But because of the weather, it's nice to have another shot of hot and steaming drink. I didn't think twice of getting another mug of coffee. So on my way to office, I passed by the convenience store to get a sachet of coffee and a food to eat with it. I chose the "hopia" (I don't know how it's called in English. Only Filipinos know what it is) to partner my coffee. My current favorite now is The Great Taste White. But unfortunately it's not available. So I saw this "White" in the shelves. It's the San Mig version.

My verdict: I'm sorry for the makers of San Mig White. But I still prefer my favorite Great Taste White. It's much creamier, foamy and with more aroma.

But anyhow, I still was filled with my "want" to have another mug of hot and steaming coffee. My tummy is somehow satisfied and my cravings solved.

Simple Happiness

Look what I got today? Super love this cold Wednesday afternoon! A cup of hot brewed coffee coupled with a nice and fun chit-chat with officemates over merienda break. Instant surprises indeed makes me happy and gay. How's your day by the way?

Ultimate wishlists for 2013

Each and everyone of us has goals every new year. I do not have goal lists in particular but this year I feel that this is worth something looking forward too. Even if 3 months has passed already I still can feel that this year is something good for me. Good vibes, positivity mode: on! Well, I have so many things I wanna have and to achieve may it be materially, spiritually, emotionally and physically (literally!) For one, I already enrolled my self in Zumba classes which I see myself to be healthy this year to start off everything. Because being able to move and actively participate in such health and wellness program promotes positive vibes and a good aura on oneself and to the people around. I believe being healthy in mind, body and spirit makes one a happy person. Would you agree?

So, here's my ultimate wishlists/ goals for year 2013. I am listing 10 of my possible and make-it-happen things. I still have more than 10 but those are still impossible to achieve for now unless I make a bet in lotto and win the jackpot. So here it goes:

1. Good health: for myself, my family and loved ones. Staying fit and healthy. Hitting it with Zumba! A living proof below.

Source

A 12-peso Merienda

Gone were the days when you can buy 3 pieces of candies for a peso. It even cost a peso for piece now. I remembered in my grade school days (the 80's), our school canteen is selling spaghetti burger (Yes! you heard it right. It's the spaghetti right in the middle of the bread bun) and it only cost P2.50. That's big enough for my small tummy. I am saying this because nowadays there's no cheap stuff. Prices of commodities are soaring up. A decent meal that can fill your tummy is almost like a luxury for an average worker. But in the middle of Metro Davao, a small bakery named Meister Baker (located in Bolton, Davao City) had this tasty and satisfying food discovery. I don't know what is it named but my brother-in-law told me just say it's "empanada". I am happy with this because it is cheap but the filling which is made up of a mayo, cheese and ham is not "kuripot" as well. My officemates liked it. The bread is big as the price suggests. It is best eaten when it's hot because there's like bread crumbs coated on it. I have it toasted before we ate it so that you will have a crunchy crumbs.

The bread is fluffy and soft. Big bits of ham and cheese are inside that almost filled the entire bread.

It's good to recommend it for merienda when you like cheap but tummy-filling food. I'd buy this again. Every peso is worth it.