A visit at the Barasoain Church

One morning, before our afternoon hearing at Malolos, Bulacan, we dropped by first at the historic Barasoain Church. This one is the paronamic view of the church, which has a museum beside it. When we went there, we thought that the church is closed. However, upon inquiry, we learned that there is a side entrance to the church, which can be found by entering the premises of the museum.

The shot below was taken inside the Barasoain Church.

Across the street, you will find a Barasoain Bakeshop, which sells sumptuous ensaymadas and authentic Bulacan pork chicharon. 🙂 I also love their peanut empanada. 🙂 Don’t forget to drop by and buy pasalubong. 🙂

Caffeine fix at Los Banos’ Cafe Antonio

After our trip to Isdaan Floating Restaurant in Calauan, Laguna (see previous post), we dropped by at Cafe Antonio in Brgy. Maahas, Los Banos, Laguna for a coffee break. I’ve been meaning to try this place ever since I have read posts and blogs about it. 🙂

Cafe Antonio is located along the national road. Coming from Manila, you would see the cafe at the right side of the road. I’ve read that this cafe has moved location several times. The location before was at the Grove, which is the road leading to the gate of U.P. Los Banos. This new location is one at the national road, you would pass by the crossing (with Jollibee as the landmark) leading to U.P. Los Banos and go straight to the road bound to Bay, Laguna.

Since the parking lot is full, we just parked near the road and ordered to-go coffees.

Owltonio Blend

I ordered the “Owltonio Blend”, which is the cafe’s special blend. On the other hand, my cousin ordered the “Sleepy Time Blend”, which has less caffeine. For strong coffee drinkers, Cafe Antonio also offers “Hardcore Blend”, which really is the aromatic kapeng barako.

If we were not in a hurry, we would definitely stay longer at the cafe and enjoy the laid-back surroundings.

The verdict: The Owltonio Blend is superb. It’s a bit strong, but not enough to make you palpitate. 😀 Though I am a coffee lover, I prefer medium over strong coffee and the Owltonio Blend is the one for me. The cafe offers muscovado sugar, which went well with the Owltonio blend. 🙂

with my equally coffeeholic cousin

It’s just so sad the place is far from Manila. I am already craving the Owltonio Blend. 😦 Hope I’ll be able to return next time with my hubby. 🙂

Bonding with the ladies at Isdaan Floating Restaurant, Calauan, Laguna

Earlier this week, I was finally able to see and dine at Isdaan Floating Restaurant in Calauan, Laguna. The experience was made much more special because I went there with “muh ladies”: my mom, my aunt, and my cousins. 🙂

I have been hearing and watching about Isdaan Floating Restaurant just about anywhere; from my relatives, friends, from the media, from social media… Curiosity would surely be piqued especially after seeing gigantic Buddhas on the background. You would be able to conclude that going to Isdaan Floating Restaurant, whether in the Gerona, Tarlac branch or Calauan, Laguna branch, would not be an ordinary dining experience.

We went to the branch in Calauan, Laguna. You would not miss this branch since this is located along the highway. For those with private vehicles or commuting via bus en route to Sta. Cruz,  you would see this by the national highway, where all vehicles pass, whether public or private.

One thing extraordinary about this restaurant/park is the existence of gigantic structures all over the place. You would see gigantic buddhas, like the white Budhha below:

Or the golden Buddha.

You would also see King Kong. 😛

Giant elephants. 🙂

Aside from the visual attractions, there are floating “balsa” all over the place where you and your companions could dine privately. There are group meals or the so-called “boodle meals” available, which is practical if you’re going as a group of six or more.

You can also order rice good for 2-3 persons, which is contained in a “caldero.” 🙂

simmering “kaldero”

Filipino dishes like kare-kare, crispy pata, sinigang, pancit, and many more are available. There are also “Junior Meals” for kids.

Another attraction in the place is the “Tacsiyapo” wall.

The term “tacsiyapo” stands for “Shame on you.” This wall is for those who want to vent their anger on common problems encountered, such as infidelity, fraud, creditors, etc.

You can throw a plate, but for those with even “greater” anger, you can throw a radio or a television, for a fee. 😀

The trip to Isdaan Floating Restaurant may be lengthy. From Calamba exit, you would pass by the towns of Calamba, Los Banos and Bay before reaching Calauan, Laguna. But the place is worth the distance, due to the combination of good food, visual attractions, and activities like venting on the Tacsiyapo wall or riding a boat, for a more enjoyable view of the place.

This is all of us. 🙂

Green Halo: An artsy cafe at Cubao X

When you’re tired of the malls dominating Cubao, Q.C., take a walk at Cubao X, the area’s “artist center”. 🙂

Green Halo is an artsy cafe located at Cubao X. Their specialty is food for the health conscious. However, we were already full when we visited this cafe so we tried their coffee instead.

The menu and an ancient telephone.

Kape de Bohol sounds interesting, so my hubby ordered one.

Kape de Bohol

On the other hand, I ordered the “Chocnut Coffee”, which, as explained by the waiter, is Kape de Bohol mixed with Chocnut. 🙂

Chocnut Coffee

We both enjoyed our coffee and its distinct taste. My Chocnut Coffee has a generous serving of chocnut which made it sweet but not too sweet that you get sugar-high. 🙂 And the price is very reasonable.

As mentioned, the cafe serves healthy and organic food. You will not see a “pork” meal on the menu. From the menu, we saw that they serve veggie meals and pasta, and chicken meals.

You would also love the interior of the cafe. Everything is done in the colors of golden yellow and brown.

All photos taken by my hubby, Thaddeus Chu. 🙂

The paintings hung on the wall are for sale. 🙂

The cafe is a bit small, but it’s worth the visit again. Especially since the cafe is surrounded by thrift shops, bars, and restos.

A trip at Cubao X is definitely a trip down memory lane. 🙂

Sightseeing, Sunburst, and Starbucks at Lapu Lapu City

Aside from the adventures, my office mates and I also went sight-seeing and food tripping in Cebu. None of us hails from Cebu and we did not have any tourist guides with us, but we were guided during the trip by blog entries about Cebu must-have’s and must-do’s. 🙂

We got to learn about Sunburst through blog posts and reviews. That’s why we did not hesitate to search for this resto and to finally taste that much-talked about crispy chicken skin. 🙂

That’s a picture of me and my fellow lawyers in front of Sunburst.

Photo courtesy of panyera Paulinne

Once inside, we ordered our respective chicken meals and the crispy chicken skin or what they call the “Chick ‘N Chips”. 🙂

Their chicken meal has a coleslaw on the side, and potato chips on the side.

You cannot go wrong just by ordering the chicken meal and the chicken skin. A two-piece chicken meal is enough to satisfy you and there is something about their coleslaw that makes it the perfect side dish. And when it comes to the chicken skin, well let’s just say it’s not for group sharing, LoL!! It was already gone by the time I am about to take pictures. It’s cooked to perfection, crispy golden skin that you can dip into vinegar to lessen the guilt. 🙂

I’ve read that there is already a branch in Bohol. You bet my hubby and I will search for it, scour for it, just to taste the chicken meals once again. 🙂

Of course, a visit at Cebu is not complete without stopping by at the Basilica del Sto. Nino de Cebu and Magellan’s Cross.

Pasalubongs bought from Taboan Market.

Taken inside the Magellan’s Cross Shrine.

We also went to Fort San Pedro, which is Cebu’s “Intramuros”. It’s tiring but fun to walk and climb on the ancient walls.

photo courtesy of Atty. Bob

My panyera and I also hung out at Starbucks Lapu Lapu City branch while waiting for our colleague to arrive (we came on different days). It’s fun to hung out at this particular branch which is very much alive and full of Koreans. 🙂

See my bracelet? I love Cebu, I love Cebu. 🙂 And I miss it soooOooooo bad!

*To read more about our zipline and Skywalk adventure, please read my previous post. 🙂

Zipline and Skywalk at Cebu

As mentioned in my previous post, it has been two years since I visited the “queen city” of the South. I can’t help but feel a nostalgic pang as to my unforgettable weekend in Cebu with my office mates.

It’s a weekend of “firsts” for me.

It’s my first time to try a zipline ride.

This one was taken at Adventure Cafe in Balamban, Cebu, which is like Cebu’s “Tagaytay”. Balamban is about 45 minutes to an hour ride away from Cebu City. My panyera and I went there via passenger van.

This is us after we let go….

… And us again, coming back. 😀

Whew! Such an accomplishment. A 510-meter zipline ride. Adventure Cafe is located in a mountainous area so you could just imagine the view, and the depth…

Adventure Cafe is the country’s first adventure-resto. I tried their zipliner’s steak. 🙂

Yum! The price of their food is reasonable. And heavy, especially made for adventure-takers. 🙂

There are other activities to choose from, such as wall climbing and rappelling.

It’s also my first time to try the Skywalk during that weekend.

We tried the Skywalk at Crown Regency Hotel on our last day in Cebu. While the price for the Skywalk activity is a bit expensive, it’s worth it since not only you get a shirt and a certificate after taking such risk, you also get a breathtaking view of Cebu City. 🙂

You’re not allowed to bring your camera during the Skywalk session (for obvious reasons). LoL!

They have an official photographer who will take your pictures during the Skywalk.

Afterwards, you’ll get a certificate, a priceless remembrance of the cool activity (also terrifying for some). 🙂

This explains why that particular weekend in Cebu is very memorable to me. It’s a weekend when I tried two major activities for the first time. Good thing I do not have fear of heights. 🙂

Cebu, It’s been 2 years…

This was taken at the top of Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu, after my office mates and I have finished the nerve-wracking but highly exciting Skywalk. It’s been 2 years from today. 😦 Expect the following posts to be a reminiscence of my days in Cebu with my office mates and our adventures and food trips that are worth sharing. 🙂

Mood Coffee at Cafe de Lipa

Mood Coffee. Sounds interesting. Smells good, and tastes even better. 🙂

This is a belated post about Cafe de Lipa since I was able to taste the famous “mood coffee” last Holy Week (it was Black Saturday, I think).

We tried the branch in SM City Lipa, the one located near the mall entrance.

Cafe de Lipa is decorated with bright colors, most particularly and dominantly in the vibrant color of red. 🙂

The branch in SM City Lipa met all my expectations of a cozy coffee shop: Lights that are not-so-dim, not-so-bright (LoL!), good music, unique coffee tables and chairs, and the best of all: Fascinating choices of  coffee flavors, especially the mood coffees.

There are mood coffees to choose from, like Happy, Mischievous, Zen… But I chose “Companion”, it’s a combination of mocha and almond, which would give you a warm, fuzzy feeling. 🙂

Of course, this Batangas-based coffee shop would not be complete without the signature “Kapeng Barako“.

Cafe de Lipa also offers pastries and assorted brownies. I was able to try the Moist Barako Coffee, which is bittersweet due to the taste of Kapeng barako. Hubby loved it. 🙂

Although Cafe de Lipa branches are scattered in Lipa City area (the main branch is at Mataas na Lupa, Lipa City and the other one at Star Tollway), there is also a branch in the Metro Manila area, at Market Market.

The best way to end this blog is by way of this quote, (as can be seen on the coffee paper cup below):

A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.

 

The Beanery at Balanga City, Bataan

During my election stint at Bataan, my hubby and I got to explore Balanga City before going back to Manila.

We immediately scoured for the local coffee shop, The Beanery. 🙂 It is found on Capitol Drive, Balanga City.

Inside, you will see that it is not your ordinary coffee shop. It’s not the usual beverage-and-pastries kind of coffee shop. The Beanery also offers rice meals and sandwiches.

We also adore their wide array of cheesecake flavors. 🙂

I forgot the exact name of this “white cheesecake”, but it’s really heavenly.

On the other hand, my hubby, being the Oreo addict, ordered the Oreo cheesecake. 🙂

The Beanery also offers its own blend of cappuccino, coffee mocha, lattes.

We really love the ambience of The Beanery. It’s cozy even though it’s not the typical “small cafe”. You can choose whether to settle on a booth or to be on a secluded corner with a small coffee table and your laptop.

The Beanery is the place to be in Balanga City if you want to have coffee with friends, or with your loved one, or if you want to hang around with yourself, either with a good book or your ever-reliable gadgets. 🙂

The Beanery has two branches in Balanga City, both found on the Capitol Drive. The other branch is smaller, but it’s the one originally built before the second branch featured on this blog entry.