Delish Treat: Rumah Kari

It must be very obvious, by now, that I am such a big foodie. I can attribute it to my Kapampangan lineage. My maternal grandparents are from Tarlac and I can boldly attest  that my grandmother's cooking treats are heavenly. At a young age, I am exposed to nothing but delicious food.

Unfortunately, unlike my mother, I was not able to inherit my Lola's cooking expertise. I may not have become a chef but I would gladly settle to what I enjoy the most... being a foodie! Thus, I am very grateful to God for giving me friends whom I can be with for food trips.

A couple of days after I arrived from Hong Kong, Faye and Bubbles brought me to Rumah Kari at Marfori Heights Subdivision (landmark is the Mercury Drug Store). Rumah Kari specializes in Indian and Malaysian cuisine. If you like the kick of spicy food then you will have a great time enjoying their offering.

Nurturing Friendship through Delish Treats
Image from Faye Anne Marie Escueta

The restaurant has a homey ambiance which can make dates with friends relaxing and convenient for updating.

painting/ pictures make the interior attractive

attractive counter top

My friends and I ordered different varieties of delights with Sambal Sauce: Chicken, Shrimp and Squid. You can choose to have rice or rotti and you can also request how spicy you want your sauce to be.

I had the squid which was very tender and for a first timer I like the sambal sauce. The Sambal meal costs Php 285 each and is good  for one person. Their meals do not have the price of a fast food but it can surely suffice your indulgence for quality food. I will surely visit Rumah Kari again and bring my mother.

plate setting

Chicken with rotti

Squid Sambal with rice

rotti

Date nights with friends can contribute to weight gain. But more importantly, it celebrates a bond from which one gains wholeness from one's union with and for others.

obligatory group picture
Image from Faye Anne Marie Escueta

Couple Selfie
Image from Faye Anne Marie Escueta

chillin' at their veranda with a bottle of ice cold beer

The extra pounds, money and time spent are all worth the genuine friendship! Persons (and food) are gifts!

How do you nourish friendship?

DelishTreat: My Sweet Tooth... NOT!

I rave over spicy and sour tasting food but very seldom on sweets. My doze of sweetness would be my addiction on Coke and ice tea. Thus, i am not really a fan of cakes and ice cream until I discovered... Selecta Chocolate Truffle and cupcakes.

I can live without eating ice cream but if this will be served to me, I will surely would not let it go without having a round or two. The real chocolates in this ice cream would be worth all the calories I will gain after feasting over it. This 1.66 L, Php 360+ worth of ice cream is a delish treat from heaven.

the cover is telling me it is something special

yummy on the outside

the choco chucks inside make it doubly yummy.

gone in a flash

Another delish treat for me would be cupcakes. I have been looking around for cupcakes in the city and I must say the cupcakes of Joniel's and Taste of Home stand out.

I discovered Joniel's through my friends who have good taste for pastries. Joniel's cupcake is a delish treat for its very affordable price of Php 15 each. 

we surprised our birthday boy with Joniel's cupcakes.

The search for adorable and gratifying cupcakes continue and I finally found one at Taste of Home through the recommendation of our Jesuit brother and fellow foodie, Bro. Jeff Pioquinto. The look of their cupcakes are so appetizing and the taste is divine. Taste of Home is at the Matina Town Square and their cupcakes cost Php 45 for each.

Hershey's on top

chocolate all over

say hello to the ferrero!

I may not have a sweet tooth but these delish treats are toothsome so please do not judge me by my weight. Until our next delish treat, xoxo! ♡♥

Delish Treat: Cafe France

The hubby took me for a thursdate to try his new discovery, Cafe France which is located in the second level of the building where Manila Bulletin is billeted.

This spicy tuna, which the hubs brought the other day as a surprise, made me want to try their food.

spicy tuna 101

The classic and homey ambiance of their cafe is such a date inspiring.

beautiful stairs and balcony

the logo

counter ambiance

menu board

there were a few, we got lucky

We would like to try their baby back ribs unfortunately it is unavailable for Davao City as we were told so instead the hubs had their very tasty roasted chicken and i had their fish fillet which was a little overcooked. By the way their rice and tartar sauce were superb. 

ask and you will recieve

healthy place mat

fish fillet

roasted chicken

twin tower soda

Of course, we did not go without a take out for my pretty monkeys. 

yummy muffin

I would definitely go back to try the Cafe France pasta and the spicy tuna of course. 

If you have new food discoveries, i would really appreciate if you will share it with me.

xoxo,

K ♡

Delish Treat: Dexter's Pizza

Gastronomic Adventure is one bonding activity my family loves to do. In short, we love to eat and try out different restaurants and food chains. This weekend, we tried Dexter's Pizza at Caltex Starmart in Ecoland, Quimpo Boulevard which is very near SM City Davao. 

I was surprised that they serve big pizzas with very affordable prices. It was also advantageous for us that they have kiddie sizes (Php 60/each) because Jeka and Lena do not like the same variety of pizza. I must say that their pizzas were good and served fresh. Aside from pizzas they also serve wings and wedges. We ordered the 6 pieces at Php 125. 

Shawarma Pizza at Php 285 for 5- 7 persons

Spanish Sardines Pizza at Php 200 for 3-5 persons

I would like to share with you another good news for our family: Lena got good grades and improved already with her confidence in school and Jeka is an honor student again. Big thanks to my Creator for always guiding and blessing my family.

Aa's Honors Card

Until our next Gastronomic Adventure! 

xoxo, K

Backyard Burgers

After a whole afternoon of being alone and cleaning our home, I requested (forced maybe!) my husband to treat me for dinner. I asked him if we can try Backyard Burgers because we have been planning to eat in this place for many months now and he gladly obliged. We visited their place in Ecoland phase one near SM City Davao. 

photo op while waiting for our order

It only took us few minutes of waiting before having our home- made grilled burgers. 

BB Yard Cheesy Bacon Burger for Php 140

BB Yard Cheesy Steak Burger for Php 145

                                                                   A platter of Fries and Onion Rings for Php 100 

                                       

                                                                  Onion Rings are so good!

And in addition, their grilling station is clean.

BB's burgers are tasty and delish unfortunately though my gurls are not ready for their burgers (maybe in few more years we can bring them to this place). After eating, just don't forget to hit the gym or run! 

Have you been in this place? Feedback, anyone? 

Au Revoir, until the next gastronomic adventure!

celebrating Life, Love and Friendship (2)

We left Boracay but the spontaneity, learning and fun continue as we invaded Negros Occidental. The celebration of Life, Love and Friendship was given more meaning and depth as our journey was more than  just appreciating places and its culture. The second half of our trip paved the way in nurturing family ties. 

Highlights of our Trip (the continuation):

8. For ten year now, I am very honored to have a second family in them. My in-laws are wonderful people, very accepting, very supportive. My mother-in-law and my twin sisters-in-law have been very involved, patient, understanding and loving with our recent challenge as a married couple. Being with them is always a happy and consoling moment. We are again visiting them in August and we are getting excited!

Our first meeting was in the Kong's residence to celebrate Joey's graduation in medicine.

 Ricopuerto- Montesino Family

lunch with Monica, Nika and Mini

We stayed overnight with the hubs' younger sister, Monica.

Mini and Nika

Nika and Tito Nonoy

And attended Nika's summer ballet class at MMB Dance Centre in Bacolod City (Monica used to teach here). 

our pretty ballerina

ready for her butterfly

class

9. One of the best highlights of this trip was revisiting the hubs' roots. This was not just important for him but for me too because knowing his childhood and having a glimpse of the family's context completed the whole picture. And God knows that deep inside my heart I appreciated the family more. The experience made me feel that I am more part of the family. 

The first visit was in Binalbagan which is the hometown of my father-in-law, daddy Jesal. Nonoy stayed in this town until he was 13. So I must say, he had so much fond memories in this place. The revisiting began with daddy's former workplace, BISCOM and then in their old house. 

BISCOM ambiance

the hubs used to play basketball here

old house

the avocado tree is a living witness of the siblings' moments

with Lola Igme

The hubs was able to meet his friends since elementary.

Allen, the hubs, Nino and Andrew

And we were able to pay our respects to our dead loved ones. We had to go through all the whole Binalbagan Public Cemetery to find them. Thanks to these helpful kids.

The second stop was in Su-ay, Himamaylan which is the hometown of my mother-in-law, mommy Vilma. Mommy entertained us with her fond memories of her younger years. And throughout her stories, I was able to know that her dad, Lolo Ramon Montesino became a Vice- Mayor and realized that during her hay day she usually goes out on gimiks.

former house

Montesino relatives

And on our way back to Bacolod we passed by this church in Hinigaran where the body of former Negros Occidental Representative Iggy Arroyo was brought for viewing.

10. Our trip from May 4 to 10 is one gastronimic adventure. Love for food is one commonality my family has with my husband's family. And these pictures would be the evidences.

Even before reaching the Borro residence and just a few kilometers from Iloilo airport, we stopped at Cabugao Seafood Haus to experience what Iloilo has to offer... SEAFOOD!

baked talaba (oysters)

steamed talaba

shrimps

steamed kasag (crabs)

fish soup

sizzling fish

sorry!

After our brunch we began the four- hour drive to Boracay and arrived at the Island around dinner time and we went to I <3 BBQ at the D'Mall.

pork belly

burger

The next morning we skipped breakfast because of our early Island hopping. Our island hopping ended at around noon time and we were all hungry. We ate at a Thai restaurant named Siam which I think is in station three.

Bagoong Rice

Thai soup

seafood

For our last night we made sure we had a big one for our last supper in Boracay. We went to D' Talipapa to buy fresh seafood and have have it cooked in one of the stores in station three.

steamed talaba (again!)

baked talaba with Mozzarella cheese

grilled squid

We had fish Lapu- lapu soup but because of my excitement to eat I was not able to document it. Fail!

When we transferred to Negros Occidental sweets are additional treat. It did not become the sugar capital for nothing.

puto maya with mascuvado

suman latik

bicho-bicho

okoy

We also went to Kalan-an sa Dalan in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental for our food trip.

resto ambiance

i never said no to talaba

fish steak

tasty pork chop

Geez, I think I had 3 cups of rice here!

Back in Bacolod, we had dinner at Aida's Manokan in Manokan Country (Reclamation Area) to have the world's tastiest chicken.

chicken inasal

Then we were craving for Kadios, Baboy, Langka or KBL and we had more in Bacolod 18th St. Pala-pala.

KBL

shrimp laing

fresh

valenciana

sizzling squid

lagao (bisugo)

Back in Iloilo, the night before we went home, the Borro's are not just good in making batchoy but will all of these too.

home made shabu shabu

shrimps

bangus steak

chicken adobo sa mantika

After reading the posts about my recent trip, you will be able to conclude that:

a. I had an awesome experience with lovable and loving persons.
b. Family makes an important contribution in our lives. I so love my family.
c. I am a big eater.
d. I never got hungry during the duration of our trip.
e. I love to travel (so i save!).
f. The traveling continues.

P.S. previous post celebrating Life, Love and Friendship (1)