Food: Coco Hut Fried Chicken and Fish

After the eye doctor visit at Makati Medical Center, we decided to have lunch at IHOP at Alabang. But the hot weather made us decide to have lunch at Army Navy instead so we'll be able to park in a covered area. When we got at Commerce Building, myB asked if I like to try Coco Hut instead. We've been curious about this restaurant for the numerous times that we eat at the nearby Army Navy so we decided to try this out instead.

The place has the look and feel of Army Navy but with coco lumber instead. The chairs were just a little uncomfortable since it has no back rest. But otherwise, I like that it's roomy and the air-conditioning unit is enough to take off the summer heat.

Obviously, their specialty are fried chicken and anything fish. I was very tempted to try their Poorman's Fish which is just our very own GG fish - galunggong! It looks so tempting in the photo with all those leeks and chili with coco squash and spicy vinegar sauce. But I can't resist anything with egg so I opted for their Tapa Ala Pobre all-day breakfast meal served with garlic rice, sunny side up egg and achara. MyB got their Cream Dory Set which is battered deep fried dory served with coco squash and tartar sauce. I also ordered their signature Teamarind (tamarind iced tea) drink.

Unfortunately, I didn't like the tapa meal. The garlic was so toasted that it made the tapa and rice bitter :( Nothing special with their tamarind iced tea either. It got bitter after a few sips. MyB's dory meal is okay, nothing special but I liked it better my own meal.



Happiness count: ♥♥



Coco Hut Fried Chicken and Fish
Commerce Center East Asia Drive
Muntinlupa City

Food: Kichitora of Tokyo

If you still don't notice it yet, we love ramen. And we have this goal to visit all the ramen houses here in Metro Manila hehe! We had to run an errand in Makati and so when we got hungry, where else to go? Off we go to Glorietta 5 for Kichitora of Tokyo.

We first wanted to eat here a few months ago but unfortunately it was being renovated when we first went there. So when we found ourselves again in the Glorietta area and craving for ramen, naturally this was first on our list.

I make it a point to get Tantanmen ramen if it's available. This is so I have a single point of comparison among the ramen houses that we have visited hehe. Kichitora don't have the exact Tantanmen ramen, but they have what they call the Tan Men which is with the same spicy sesame taste, so that's what I got. MyB decided to try their best-selling Paitan Ramen, which I can't help but associate with our local papaitan dish haha!

We enjoyed their ramen. The Tan Men can compete well with Ippudo's or Yushoken's Tantanmen. The broth is very tasty too, one that can be achieved only if the broth is prepared meticulously for at least 12 hours. It was so good that I thought this is another Japanese brand, so I was surprised to know that this is actually Filipino brand (but with a Japanese chef).



Happiness count: ♥♥♥♥



Kichitora of Tokyo
Glorietta 5 Second Floor
Makati City

Food: New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream

I've been hearing about the New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream early last year. They said it's made from the freshest milk from cows which are grass-fed in the unpolluted New Zealand. I've been meaning to try it since then but I just didn't have the opportunity to be at Megamall (their only branch before) then.

When we're looking for some dessert last Friday after our ramen fix, I researched what's in the area and was so happy to find out that they already have another outlet in Glorietta 2! We ordered their best-seller Hockey Pockey (with butterscotch) and the one with caramel (sorry, I can't remember its name!). You get to choose if you want it in a cup or in a waffle cone. As expected, they both tasted yummy! Something that you would like to have over and over again. For something that's of good quality, it's not that expensive so you will definitely won't regret having it again. The staff was very polite too, we had great service!

So if you are looking for other dessert place, you want might want to try this place. What's great is that you can find their ice cream tubs at some supermarkets too! And maybe next time I will try their cake as well :)


Happiness count: ♥♥♥♥♥



New Zealand Premium Ice Cream
Glorietta 2 Ground Floor (across Landmark)
http://www.nzn.com.ph/

Food: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

After some quick errand last Friday night, my Hubby and I went on to get some ramen fix. I suggested another Japanese restaurant but unfortunately it was closed for some kitchen renovation that night (of all nights! boo!). So the next best choice for us is none other then Hokkaido Ramen Santouka in Glorietta 4. If I remember correctly, this was our 3rd time there. So it's kind of obvious already that we like it there.

Whenever we eat at a ramen house I usually look for Tantanmen but the closest that they have is the Kara-Miso Ramen (which my Hubby ordered that night) and I already had that before so I had Shio Ramen instead. Their ramen has generous servings of shredded mushrooms, shallots and char siu (pork belly). It even had a plum fruit on top to complete the look!

I think it's good to have "plain" ramen for a change. If a plain soup base turned out great in itself, it speaks a lot about the quality of their product, would you agree? And I was right, it's very creamy already, I sipped more of its soup before I started eating the noodles. I just had to add a few drops of the chili oil (can't stay away from spicy!) and I was in ramen heaven. After a while though, it got really salty which I think is expected since it is salt based.

We also ordered some gyoza as a side dish and additional tamago (which is the perfect marinated soft-boiled egg that I was looking for) and a couple more of nori. Overall I think Santouka is one of the best ramen place we have here in the Metro so go visit once you have a chance!



Happiness count: ♥♥♥♥



Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Glorietta 4 Ground Floor (facing SM Makati)

Food: Kenji Tei Ramen House

All those hair pampering made me hungry so what do you think we're having? Ramen, of course! My hubby initially thought of going to Yushoken in Molito but since we still have some errands to do at the mall, it's not a good option. Good thing the first restaurant that we spotted is a ramen house so off we went there. Presenting, the Kenji Tei Ramen House.

Like any other ramen house, the interiors are simple. But what I like here is that it doesn't look so cramped. If you have baby strollers or shopping carts, you won't have to worry about the space. But look, is it just me being hungry or their ceiling really looks like ramen noodles? Lol!



 

I had the Spicy Negi Ramen while my hubby got their Negi Itame Ramen. It doesn't look appetizing in this photo, but I actually like the broth, it's comparable to the other more popular ramen houses. It's not that creamy but it can do. Their regular size I think is the same size you'll get at the other competitors but with a cheaper price. I also find their chashu slices thicker than the others, so yay. My only complaint would be that of the tamago. It's just plain boiled egg. I'm looking for those ajitsuke tamago from other ramen house, I like it soft-boiled!

If you're used to having choices with your noodles (soft, medium, hard?), here you'll only get the hard one. No problem with us since we usually choose that anyway. This place is definitely worth a try.



Happiness count: ♥♥♥



Kenji Tei Ramen House
Alabang Town Center Ground Floor

Beauty: Regine's Salon

I've been sporting a long 'do for a few years now (has it been 6 years?) and I don't really know why but I just can't find myself cutting my hair. Usually, I just ask to trim the ends just to take away the ugly split-ends and fly-aways but I've never really gone above my shoulders. Then we planned the wedding and as everybody would tell, it's easier to style a bride's hair that's long so I still kept it that way.

But at the onset of this year's summer season it really felt so hot (and it's only getting worse I tell ya!) that all I wanna do is tie my hair up. Also, it's not helping that my hairfall is on its maximum level that it scares me every time I wash or brush my hair. So I told myself, I really need a low maintenance hair now - something short that will not need much styling and more trauma to my hair.

Enter the Regine's Salon in Alabang Town Center. It's the same salon that has a branch in The Link Building in Makati. I think they also have one in Ortigas but I've never been there. And since I'm now a "south girl", I'm happy to know they also have a branch in ATC. Saved us some toll fee, hehe!
My hubby was kind enough to go with me and he came prepared- he downloaded a couple of tv series on his phone to watch while waiting! :) And it's my first time at ATC! But I'll be reserving another post for that hehe!

We got there a little past 10 in the morning and I was only the 2nd customer in line which is a good thing since I didn't make a prior reservation/appointment. I asked for a haircut and I was immediately ushered to the wash area to get my hair shampooed. I just told the stylist that I want something short since it's summer and he just went chopping my mane. Since my hair is kinda dry, I also requested some hot oil treatment.

Overall I'm happy with the service, the stylist and the assistant were both very efficient and polite. I even had a back and arm massage. The salon itself is not that posh and flashy, unlike the new ones you'll see in the Greenbelt area. But somehow it has this homey feel to it. I like that it's something that will not make you feel intimidated. While I was there, they had at least 5 more old customers. They know each other already. That means good since they've already established a loyal clientele, it says a lot about their brand right?

So anyway, if one of these days you'll need some salon service, you might want to try them and see for yourself.



Happiness count: ♥♥♥♥



Regine's Salon
Alabang Town Center Service Town

Movie: The Theory of Everything

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I have never heard of this film until Eddie Redmayne was given the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role recently. My husband recognized him as the actor who portrayed Stephen Hawking, apparently a world-renowned British physicist, also being called as the “modern Einstein”. I like biographies/bio-documentaries and physics used to be my most favorite science subject in high school, so it’s enough reason for me to be interested in this movie. Plus it reminded me of “A Beautiful Mind”, a story about a mathematical genius but with a not-so-perfect personality. Somehow it’s a humble reminder to us that really you can’t have it all.

It’s based on the memoir “Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen” by Jane Wilde Hawking, Stephen’s first wife. They met while in the university, an astrophysics/cosmologist nerdy student smitten with the pretty literature girl. But at the age of 21, Stephen was diagnosed with a motor-neuron disease (remember the ALS ice bucket challenge?) and was given 2 years to live. He then became recluse and won’t see Jane. She however, has already fallen in love with him and won’t take the disease as a hindrance to their relationship. They eventually got married and even had 3 kids. My husband and I were at awe how he managed to have kids, when he can’t even lift his jacket onto his head. I am more surprised when he and Jane divorced and he got himself a new wife in the person of his nanny-nurse Elaine. Surely, that thing down there is not controlled by the same nerves that control our motor skills.

His health has deteriorated so much through the years, now he is permanently stuck in his wheelchair and can’t even talk without a voice synthesizer. But no, he’s not the type of person who will just give up on life. He wrote his international best-seller book “A Brief History of Time” using the computer with a built-in voice synthesizer.

With all of these, it’s easy to say that this movie is about Stephen- his genius, rise to fame and his struggles with his disease. But more importantly, I think this is the story about love. Cliché as it is but love really conquers all. When you love someone, you tend to look beyond the imperfections. You will try to make it really work, you will defy all odds. For this, I salute Jane. It’s hard to see someone you love lose his ability to walk and talk, and still have that affection that goes beyond the physical traits. It takes a very strong person to do that. Stephen is strong to rise above his disability, but I think Jane is the stronger person character-wise.

How about you, how far would you go for the person that you love?



Happiness Count: ♥♥♥

Mr. Grey versus Mr. Darcy

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Stumbled upon this photo from Instagram and all I can say was, Heck yeah!

In case you don't know, Mr. Darcy is from the novel Pride and Prejudice. I've read the novel and watched the movie adaptation too. It was the film I first saw Keira Knightley. The last scene in the lake was one of my favorite scenes ever! Watch this in YouTube so you know what I'm talking about. Even up to now when I watch it I get so kilig ! And you know what? I even named my then brand new HP laptop (which I scored during the Black Friday Thanksgiving sale in the US!) as.... Mr. Darcy! Haha!

Mr. Darcy is the epitome of a gentleman, aloof romantic hero. He is a man who puts other people's needs above his own. He will not take advantage of anyone. He is someone who will offer you marriage because he loves you and not because he wants your body.

Now, I've also read the 50 Shades of Grey (I was given an e-book :-p) but somehow I didn't have the ardent desire to watch the film. I even ditched the Grey movie in place of a local indie film. Uhm yeah, I will still watch it given the chance, but only if someone offers it for free :-p

Hands down, between the two men, I will still choose Mr. Darcy over Mr. Grey. A million times over. :)

Movie: That Thing Called Tadhana

I've been seeing posts about this movie in my social media feeds but never really entertained it. Then one day, I got myself into an elevator with two young officemates talking about the movie. Then a gay officemate told me sadly, "Sad ako ngayon, sold out na tickets nung Tadhana movie dito" (our office building is beside a mall with a cinema). So it really made me curious that I had to research what's the fuss all about.

The movie made its debut in the Cinema One Originals Film Festival last year with mostly sold-out screenings. It even won a Palanca award even before it was filmed. It's that good I guess. And with the catchy title and relatable hugot lines, no wonder it has left such impact on its audience. At the get go, you’ll think that this is your typical rom-com plot --- a heart-broken girl meets a boy, her knight in shining armor (or in this case, a knight with an extra luggage space). The scenes are not cinematically ground-breaking but instead mirror the normal life situation, combined with very honest dialogue lines and lots of swearings (when you’re in grief you swear, okay?).

I’m sure by now you already know about the hugot lines from the movie. I won’t be surprised if you even memorized them and posted them in your different social media accounts. Heck, I won’t be even surprised if I hear “Where do broken hearts go?” as the cellphone ringtone of every affected individual. So let’s say I’m giving yourself a break from reading more of those hugot lines and instead tackle other areas in the movie which caught my attention.

The dialogues. And I'm not just talking about the famous hugot lines. Hearing the two main characters talk just like ordinary people makes it so real and somehow you feel that you are part of the conversation. "Tange, di pa start!", "Bakit pa kasi ako nabuhay", "Ahh burgis...", "Pakita mo abs mo", are just few of them which stuck to me. I remember how my friends and I would talk or bash each other.

Videoke is the answer. You're happy? Let's sing and celebrate. You're sad? Let's sing and cry. We're Filipinos, we're born to sing. Misery loves company. Why is it that when we're sad, we tend to watch more sad movies? And speaking of broken-hearted, who could forget Popoy and Basha and their epic love story in the epic movie Once More Chance? Not to mention that it stars the dashing John Lloyd Cruz, who is the real-life boyfriend of Angelica Panganiban.

Speaking of Angelica, this character is so her! I think she made some of the lines herself (the "Tange" part was an adlib as the camera was still rolling even after the scene). She deserved the Best Actress award. JM De Guzman was also good in this movie. So subtle, so cool.

I could talk and talk here more about what I think about the movie, but I'd rather leave it at this. Sure, this movie is a refreshing take on what seemed like a typical plot. It has no pretensions, no promises. And I guess, aside from the catchy dialogues, this is what made it tick.



Happiness count: ♥♥♥♥

Food: Ramen Yushoken

The day after our big event, we went to a happy place... a ramen house! And finally, we're able to taste what every ramen fanatic has been raving about... Ramen Yushoken!

I remember someone said that in Japan, you'll know that a place will offer an awesome dining experience if (1) the line is long you have to be on wait list, (2) their menu is short, meaning no variety (either all ramen or all katsu or all sushi, etc). It is so because they just have to offer their specialty. So most probably, you won't see sushi platters in a ramen house, and vice versa.

That is exactly Ramen Yushoken. Although on our very first visit, we're luck enough not to be put on wait list (as we arrived a little past 11 in the morning, still early for lunch) and I think that is because the other customers before us arrived in groups of 4 and above. The two of us can be easily accommodated in their bar section and need not wait on tables to be vacated. I was hesitant at first because I want to be seated with a "proper" table but I thought if we wait, it will take us a while to be seated. I want my ramen fix already!!

I always order Tantanmen (or the equivalent spicy ramen) so I could easily compare each version hehe! Hands down, theirs is the best Tantanmen ramen I've had! It doesn't matter if it's spicy, I've been slurping the broth up to its last drop!

Service is impeccable, there's always someone to assist you. I also like it that they serve you your own pitcher of iced cold water. It saves time when you had to get their attention for a water refill. The place is small though, I wish they will expand given the demand. We will definitely be back!!!



Happiness count: ♥♥♥♥♥



Ramen Yushoken
Molito Lifestyle Mall
Madrigal corner Commerce Avenue
Alabang