Pretty Braids

Just a random post on hair... 

Cafe Juanita

Finally we got to dine @ Cafe Juanita. I've been hearing so much good things about this restaurant for so long, they renovated and opened another branch at the Fort already, but it is only now that  we had the chance to try it out... I think it's a perfect place for family dinners and gatherings. As you enter the restaurant, you will feel it's charming, inviting ambiance, albeit all the  shabby chic interiors and decorations that crowd even the littlest corners of the place. (a little too granny for my taste)  It's that kind of restaurant that serves no-fuss home cooked dishes that simply aims to hit your cravings.

Ajisen Ramen

I've seen Ajisen Ramen in Hongkong, but never got around to trying it. So when we chanced upon it in Greenhills one night, you know... J would never pass on the chance of eating ramen... Konbini Japanese Store was also just around the bend but we've already tried that (wasn't able to take photos) and it was pretty good too.

unagi & tempura sushi

Ajisen Ramen

The Ajisen ramen is composed of leeks, hard-boiled egg, barbequed pork, cabbage and "fungus", more commonly known as "tenga ng daga" or wood ear mushrooms.  

Ajisen Ramen 

Northeast Square

Connecticut, Greenhills

Fairy Tale Posters

Tell me, aren't these posters just so clever? Who would have thought that our "Once a upon a time..." bedtime stories could be interpreted and rendered into something as cool as these? Christopher Jackson recreates the familiar fairy tales from our childhood into these minimalist works of art.

photo credit: www.mymodernmet.com 

Mirror, Mirror VS. Snow White and the Hunstman

Two movies I will definitely watch out for!


Mirror, Mirror , starring Julia Roberts as the evil queen,  and Phil Collins' daughter, Lily Collins as Snow White and Armie Hammer (The Winklevoss Twins in The Social Network) as Prince Alcott.

Snow white and the Huntsman, starring Charlize Theron as the queen, Kristen Stewart as Snow White and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) as the Huntsman.

Vivian's Tapsi at Bulaluhan

“Bulalo is a light colored soup that’s made rich by cooking beef shanks and beef marrow bones for hours, until much of the collagen and fat has melted into the clear broth. The seasonings vary from chef to chef with some using only salt and black pepper while other variations call for patis (fish sauce), bay leaves or even garlic. But at its core, Bulalo a simple cattleman’s stew, best made in a large cauldron with whatever (vegetables) are growing near by.” – by Marc Matsumoto, the author of No Recipes: Cooking is More Fun Without Them.

Tapsi ni Vivian at Bulaluhan, tagged by Spot.ph as "the best bang for your buck bulalohan". Let's see, shall we?

Toro Restaurant & Bar

TORO in Japanese refers to "tuna" and in Spanish refers to "bull", thus the logo of the bull's horn. In my opinion, Toro is more of a Japanese restaurant finished with a Mexican twist. Not entirely fusion, I should say, just with a different spin.
This is our first time to experience a degustation, you are probably thinking why we're having our "first" degustation experience in a Japanese restaurant. Actually, I was able to chance upon this on Deal Grocer. I thought that a 12-course meal for about P900/head was a good deal. So before we get to the food, I'd like to explain what "degustation" is... A degustation is a tasting/sampling menu. Essentially a number of courses in small portions that feature the chef's signature dishes.

(*pardon the photos. I'm trying my best to tinker with my camera haha and obviously, I have been unsuccesful!)

Salt, Pepper, Togarashi

Salmon Nigiri

Toro Maki

Volcano Maki

Nori Chos- crispy seaweed with salsa - >it's like nachos made Japanese style.

Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna

Age Dashi Tofu with a sweet soy glaze <---i enjoyed this a lot! one of my new favorites!

Ebi Tempura Tartare -- hmmm, why call it tartare if it's not raw?

Pork Gyoza with a sweet creamy bacon sauce and salsa

Salmon in Caper Sauce 

Spicy Beef Bowl

Turtle Pie

Butterfinger Dessert Shot

a good cup of jo

Sadly, we didn't get to finish all that. J didn't even make it to the salmon and the beef bowl. Our tummies were filled despite the small servings. The rice from all the sushi we had was just too heavy for the stomach, and we got to a point that we just gave up ("naumay") because every dish that went out tasted the same. Although most of it was good, (It was suppose to be the chef's best dishes after all...) We thought the pairing of flavors from every course did not work. It failed to introduce a different experience for the palate and the senses as everything just about tasted the same. I wish they put more effort and creativity in putting up elements in the degustation  menu.
I looked up their ala carte menu and was not surprised to see that the items are quite pricey. Given the ambiance and the restaurant's cool interiors, and the fusion thing going on, one would certainly not expect for food prices to be cheap. I still think it's worth a try. =)



Toro Restaurant & Bar
Unit 6, Ground Floor One McKinley Place
4th Avenue between 25th and 26th street (Located behind Mini Cooper showroom)
Bonifacio Global City
www.dinetoro.com

Into the blue

 Just because we've been having pretty hot sunny days lately. . . 

(photo credits: bohemian-summer, saltwaterbeaches)