South #FoodTrip: EAT, DINE, and ENJOY at Hernatto Food Hub Las Piñas

Ber months are just around the corner.Ü Everyone instantly nicer and friendlier + you won't miss the excitement that the ber months bring. Plans for vacations, family gatherings, bazaars, and parties usually start around this time. Sounds busy, eh? That's just the beauty of it. Those of you who I have been friends with for a while would remember that I always greet everyone MERRY CHRISTMAS on 01-September 1. It's an odd but rather positive habit that I have been doing for the past 10 years. It just shows how excited I get around that time.


One of the things I always look forward to during one of my favorite seasons of the year are the night food bazaars. Each year, these night food bazaars become more and more popular. And, I was delighted to learn that they're beginning to expand in the South and one of the much-anticipated night food bazaars would be the Hernatto Food Hub's  "A Southern Taste" , which will open its doors on 03-September 2015 (Thursday). They will also have a kick-off party on Friday, 04-September 2015 with invited bands, celebs, and chefs.

The Hernatto Food Hub will be open every Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays of September from 6:00 P.M. – 3:00 A.M. and it is located at the H-District in front of SM Southmall, in Las Piñas. The Hernatto Food Hub aims to tap the hearts & tummies ( yes! ) of BPO employees in the area and residents of nearby cities ( Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Las Piñas, and possibly those in Bacoor ) who are looking for a venue where they can dine, party, and bond with friends and family during weekends.

Aside from all the food lovin' the we shall all enjoy, The Hernatto Food Hub also have other activities such as Food Wars, Best Booth Design Contest, the Next Big Foodtrepreneur, raffle, games, and entertainment. All these and more make the Hernatto Food Hub exciting and definitely a foodie's heaven.


Hernatto Food Hub envisions to not just be be like any other food bazaars or food hubs. The people behind the Hernatto Food Club takes pride in it being a masterpiece of a creative team that's committed to delivering culinary excellence. At the same time, the Hernatto Food Club aims to provide a unique and unforgettable event experience that will surely satisfy every person’s food and beverage craving — hopefully, it makes you want to come back for more!Ü

The Hernatto Food Hub is still open to accepting concessionaires, so if you are are a food entrepreneur, restaurant owner, or even a start-up business owner who wants to expand your business — the Hernatto Food Hub will be a business opportunity for you. Those interested to do sponsorships or for booking inquiries, you may get in touch with Jenica Ti at +63.917.580.9770. You may also send them an email at hernattofc@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page HernattoFC for more details.

---

Are you as excited as I am with the BER months? If yes, what are you most excited about this BER season?
☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Our #CoffeeBean experience at Evia

I'm a pretty picky customer, a little difficult sometimes but reasonable. You can't just make me try this brand from this, much more make me switch from my brand to another one. I become a promoter of establishments and brands that are consistent and those that always deliver excellent service or superb product quality. I'm just like any other paying customers, I want to get my money's worth. And, if I leave a restaurant or a store happy, trust that I will come back. I will even refer to friends + colleagues + relatives. And again, I will come back.Ü Sometimes there's even a bonus — I write about the experience here in my little space on the Internet.

Last Sunday was all about this: I have been loyal to a lot of brands for as long as I can remember, but every now and then, you take a side trip when you find something new. Sometimes, you'll be surprised that you're even considering changing old habits because of exceptional brand experience.

---

A Sunday habit is about to change
I have this Sunday morning thing that I do when I'm up unusually up at 7 o' clock in the morning. I just have mornings when I need good, strong coffee but don't really want to dress up because I'm just too sleepy to do so. My Mom and I would drive-thru Starbucks Evia for our Sunday morning caffeine fix. She gets her Americano and I always have my Short, Non-Fat Caramel Machiatto at 120°.

Feeling spontaneous last Sunday, instead of the usual Starbucks drive-thru, we parked the car to check out the stores in Evia. And, that's when I discovered Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf beautifully tucked away in a corner at Evia Lifestyle Center. I love how spacious this CBTL is. It also has these huge glass panels that allowed a lot of natural light to pour in making this store conducive for studying and a pleasant place to do some take-home work. Inside, it's not cramped and it has this right mix of vintage and a chillax-ed ( chill + relax ) South vibe that will make anyone want to go inside and stay for a while.




Good Coffee. Great Breakfast. Excellent Customer Service.
I love coffee. I like mine milky and bold. That's no secret. However, I sometimes want to have my coffee with food. So, while coffee ( or it may be their sugar — sometimes, it just doesn't click ) isn't one of CBTL's strong points, they do have awesome breakfast meals that other coffee shops don't have. If you have not tried any of these breakfast sets, I suggest you try 'em out soon because you won't get disappointed.Ü I normally get the Brek o' Day but last Sunday, I went for something that I haven't tried. I ordered their Eggs Ben while Mother Duckie had her usual Brek o' Day with Chicken Sausage. And since it was Sunday treat day, we shared a Strawberry Cheesecake to complete our favorite meal of the day.Ü

And finally, delivering a good and memorable CBTL experience was the team on duty last Sunday. I remember that there were a lot of customers that morning, but service didn't falter. Our barista / cashier also showed my Mom, who is a senior citizen, extra TLC. The receipt and the stuff that she needed to sign were brought to our table instead of making Mom wait, which she appreciates and seems to remember. I overheard my Mom talking to one of her friends a while ago and was telling this Tita that they'll have tea or coffee soon at CBLT Evia. Isn't Mom a cutie?

---

How about you? Are you a coffee person like me? Are you loyal to any particular coffee brand or coffee shop?Ü Any coffee thoughts you'd like to share?  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
—

✎  Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ( Evia )
☎  +63.917.5692160, +632.4371737
✉  0007 GL Everyday Building, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Las Piñas City

FOOD TRIP: JAY-JAY'S BF PQUE

One thing I love about holidays is how roads are almost spotless. It's usually a nice time to drive around and if you get extra lucky, you end up discovering something new. Early this month, after Mom and I had our bonding over grocery shopping, we passed by this new building along Aguirre Ave. here in BF Parañaque. Although it wouldn't be my first time to dine at  Jay-Jay's Inasal  ( I frequent the branch in Macapagal ), it was a good time to try the only restaurant at this time in the new building on this food strip in BF.

Before you continue reading, allow me to warn you that this is going to be carb-filled post but please indulge me on this.Ü You're in for some comfort food staples of Filipinos that warm one's heart and tummy. Jay-Jay's happens to serve a lot of these favorite Filipino dishes.

---

Pork Tocino, P135 or approx. $3

For the love of comfort food
Tocino is one of the best all-day breakfast meals of Filipinos. So, the moment I saw the signage from the road, I already knew what I was gonna have and it's what I always get when I dine at Jay-Jay's Macapagal Branch: Pork Tocino — it's cured pork that is a little sweet & best eaten with vinegar dip and it's something that will always have a spot in my heart. [ Read: Homemade Pork Tocino Recipe ]

Admittedly, I was disappointed when I saw their Tocino Meal. There were just a few slices on my plate and mine sure didn't look too enticing, but I was up for it anyways because I haven't had breakfast yet that morning. I just got used to seeing the huge & really generous serving of the same meal in Macapagal so this doesn't get my two thumbs up.


Initially, I had no plans of getting Chicken Inasal, but my Mom said that the two of us would look funny eating at an Inasal Place and not have it. I obliged. Chicken Inasal is a popular dish from Bacolod that's "not marinated or prepared like the usual chicken barbeque found in the rest of the country. The marinate does not make use of soy sauce and consists of other ingredients to create a unique flavor found only in this part of the Philippines. There are different variations to this dish's preparation". [ Read: Bacolod's Chicken Inasal ]


Chicken Inasal ( No Rice ), P99 or approx. $2.20

The Chicken Inasal ( got the pa-a or chicken thigh ) was a good call because I haven't had one in years. I remember how my friends and I used to drive in the middle of the night all the way to Greenhills from our little kingdom here at the South, just to have Chicken Inasal in the most popular Inasal place in San Juan. Yes, this dish is that good. So, if you ever get to visit Manila or even Bacolod in the future, the Chicken Inasal should be on your list of local dishes to try.

That morning, Mom was in the mood for a classic comfort food — The Palabok, a noodle dish with this thick, orange, shrimp-flavored sauce with bazillions of toppings such as flaked smoked fish ( Tinapa ), Adobong Pusit, pork, shrimp, sliced wedges of hard-boiled eggs, chopped green onions, roasted garlic, chicharon and is best enjoyed with some calamansi. [ Read: Manila's best pancit palabok ]


One thing that I like about Jay-Jay's is that they have this relaxed, South casual dining vibe and yet they have good brewed coffee. The reason why I'm saying this is because there are some casual dining restaurants that will just serve their guests with overpriced 3-in-1 coffee. I'm glad that the experience with Jay-Jay's is different. It's always a superb deal to find a place that serves a un-pricey great coffee.

---

Regardless how carb-filled they may be, we all have those moments when we just need our favorite feel-good comfort food. It's nice that Jay-Jay's BF Parañaque offers a wide selection of different Filipino dishes and people can have them even at 3:00AM! I just wish that they'd be more generous with their servings.Ü  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
—

✎  JAY-JAY's INASAL
☎  +63 943 7066848
✉  Ground Floor - MetroSouth Mall, Along Aguirre Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque ( across Scuba World )

Food Trip: Welcome Back, Las Paellas

I don't remember much about the old  Las Paellas , but I do recall that I always ordered their Salpicao & Baked Oysters. I used to be hang a lot at their old branch along President's Ave in BF Homes Parañaque for afternoon Sangria(s) with Landco colleagues. For one, it was a 5-minute walk from our office and the place had a really nice ambiance. This was before we had Amalia's in BF, Alba Restaurante Español in West Gate, and Barcino in Alabang Town Center. Mom was the bearer of good news. She cheerfully woke me up one Sunday morning just to tell me that Las Paellas is back.

Las Paellas' new home is still inside BF Homes, along the stretch of the more serene side of Aguirre Ave. This is one place that I will go out of my way to visit because it's cozy and quiet. As the name suggests, they are known for their Paellas, which I have yet to try after so many years.

Except for the color scheme, Las Paellas didn't really capture the Spanish ambience that I was expecting. Albeit, the wall sticker looked a bit tacky up-close if you ask me, Las Paellas still did a good job in creating that cozy and chill South vibe typical in this side of Southern Metro Manila. The first thing you'll notice when you enter the restaurant is the splash of bright, warm colors which create a lively atmosphere that's perfect for lunch-out with girlfriends or for a hearty meal with family.



While Las Paellas sounds very Spanish, this casual, neighborhood restaurant offers a blend of cuisines. You'd be surprised that they have Thai Bagoong Rice, all-day Filipino breakfast, Soupe à L'oignon ( French Onion Soup ), Sizzling Bulalo Steak, and Hamburger Steak on their menu. They serve wine, but their staff are surprisingly clueless about wine, which if you ask me, is not their fault. It is a huge business mistake to have a restaurant that offers wine with servers who were not educated even about the basic wine stuff.Ö



Although there is room for improvement, dining at Las Paellas is a warm, welcoming experience. Food's reasonably-priced with decent serving portions. Almost everything on their menu is delicious ... their Arroz ala Cubana is promising and the Pork Chop Andaluz ( 1-piece at P220 ) is one of my favorites. My Mom recommends the Salpicao, Tinapa Rice, and their Angus Tapa. However, I don't think I will develop an acquired taste for their Tortang Talong / Eggplant Omelet that's stuffed with Galunggong ( tastes like Rellenong Bangus ).

---

Comfortable and homey without being dingy, Las Paellas is a nice addition to the food scene in BF. It gives us another reason to fall in love with the South and even more reasons to bond with friends, family, and colleagues over delectable Spanish dishes and more! I will definitely be back and will bring P with me next time.  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
—

✎  LAS PAELLAS CAFÉ
☎  +632.8205888
✉  256 Aguirre Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City

Food Trip: Project Pie Alabang

I'm a thin-crust-pizza kind of girl because I like to save room for dessert. With the exception of Yellow Cab's Roasted Garlic Shrimp Pizza, Steveston Pizza, and Pizza Hut's Supreme Stuffed Crust Pizza, thick crust is a bit too much for me. For my thin crust pizza fix, there's Shakey's Special sans the olives with extra cheese and my favorite go-to gourmet thin-crust pizza heavens here in the South — Mulligan's and Mama Lou's. Going all the way to the North is La Bella Teodora in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan. They also have one of the best thin-crust pizzas I've tried.

About eight months ago, I chanced upon a friend's pizza pic post in Instagram. Yup, it was thin crust and she framed it in such a way that her name, which was written on the corner of the pizza tray stood out. This piqued my interest and I knew that I was bound to visit Project Pie one of these days.

The build-your-own culture comes to Alabang
I was very curious and at the same time, I'm guessing that brand recall was strong because I found myself constantly planning to go all the way the first Project Pie chain in the Philippines. I always planned, but never got the chance to do so because my schedule was always wild. Going to Shaw is challenging because it is FAR. If I were to brave through the traffic in Metro Manila, Shaw becomes VERY FAR. And the only day of the week that I may have the chance to go to Shaw is sacred because of family time and extra zZzzz hours.

So, when Project Pie finally opened a store in Alabang ... I was ecstatic :)

Changing the game
I find the mix of pizza players here in the Philippines interesting. Shakey's and Pizza Hut have always dominated this industry, but not-so-smaller players like Yellow Cab, Domino's, Brooklyn Pizza, and Papa John's found ways to cut the market share of these pizza giants. And, if you're another pizza company who wants to penetrate the market, offering something that competition does not have is definitely good for business.


His and Hers
Actually, it's not like the other pizza chains don't have a create-your-own-pizza option because they do! It's just that choosing your own pizza toppings will make you dish out a lot more bucks compared to getting the stuff on the menu and it's not an offering that these pizza companies pushed. This was a huge opportunity of Project Pie.

I'm not too sure if that was their intention, but their Build-Your-Own-Pizza at P285 ( about $6.50 ) is making a lot of buzz and changing the game. It's an excellent deal for great pizza if you ask me. I have been experimenting a lot with my orders and I'm happy to say that the most recent one I had this month by far has to be my best combo: Red Sauce + Mozzarella Cheese + Ricotta Cheese + Prosciutto + Canadian Bacon + Mozzarella Cheese + Ricotta Cheese + Red Onions + Fresh Garlic + Rosemary + Basil.


Other Project Pie Finds
Project Pie doesn't just offer baked-to-perfection personal-sized pizzas. They also have salads for the more figure conscious, local and global beer brands, wine ( P250 per bottle, don't look for a wine glass ), and dessert for those with a sweet tooth.

---

My growing appreciation for Project Pie stems from having more ways to enjoy my pizza. And, thanks to their press that makes the close-to-perfect thin crust, yummy pizza is usually ready in less than three minutes. Lastly, the best part of coming to Project Pie is their service — I've had a concern once, but it didn't stop me from coming back.Ü So next time you need a pizza fix and you want something new, you know where to go.  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
—

✎  PROJECT PIE ALABANG
☎  +632.3308314
✉  Block 28, Commerce Avenue, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

BF'S GREEK + TURKISH DELIGHT

BLE (μπλε) is the Greek word for the color blue.


Greece, as you know, is one of the countries that I intend to visit before I get married. [ Read about the Greece post here ]
And yes, I am insanely, wildly crazy about Greek Food ( which is so much more than souvlakis )! We don't have that much Greek options in Manila and in the South. For the longest times, we only had Cyma. My Mom and I used to dine a lot in their branch in Alabang Town Center, which is now houses Larcy's Cupcakes. It used to be one of the most convenient places to go to for those cravings until they closed shop. And, I was heartbroken.

So now, if I am in the mood for Greek food, I have to go all the way to Greenbelt 3 in Makati or Shangri-la Plaza in EDSA-Shaw area for my Cyma fix. My other options of Greek bit, are both a short 5-minute drive from my house. These are Cafe Mediterranean in Alabang Town Center, a fusion restaurant so it's not too Greek-Greek and the other one is Sophia's Cuisina in Pergola Mall inside BF Parañaque. Sad to say, the latter's a little overpriced for the taste & quality of food that you get.

Greek culture meets BF-South vibe
My friend, Candace and I, had some catching up to do very recently and suggested that we meet at this new Greek place inside BF Homes, Parañaque —— Blé Real Greek Food. Situated along Aguirre Avenue, near Mini-Stop Dela Rama and slightly across Get Polished and The Tea Hub, this restaurant has a lot of potential in it. You can't keep great food a secret, and I hope that more people discover it.

---

This newcomer in our neighborhood gets my nod for their interiors and for playing Greek music ( you don't get this in other Greek restaurants ). Since blue and white are Greece's colors, you'll be greeted by a lot blues as you walk in the door. It's Greek and all with a casual, unpretentious, pseudo-bistro setting that goes well with the laidback, chillax vibe of the South. It brings friends and family together to catch up, to have some more good times over wine, and of course, to enjoy yummy Greek & Turkish food.

I also loved the Turkish Evil Eye wall decors and I was so tempted to ask Yannis ( the owner and he's from Greece ) for one, but I thought of doing that on my next visit. They may seem to be beautiful space accents but in other cultures, they're like talismans and are supposed to ward off evil spirits.


Delicious Greek & Turkish fare
Candace, who's been to Blé several times and has always loved their food, gave me a bit of a primer, told me that Blé's menu evolved from what they initially offered during their soft opening. When I saw their menu, I thought it was okay. From appetizers to the Souvlakia and their main course, there's Greek and a bit of Turkish on their menu and it's more than what I expected from a quaint Greek restaurant.

There's an array of mezes like Hummus, Tzatziki Dip, Babaganush, Skordalia, Midye Tava, Greek Salad, and Kalamarakia. I got a Hummus and something new to me, Midye Tava ( PHP 200), Turkish style beer-battered pan-fried mussels. For the main course, again, I picked something that I haven't tried before. I had the Garides Saganaki. It's a soulful dish that had everything I love: shrimps, tomatoes, and cheese.


Blé's Hummus ( PHP150 ) is one of the best I've tried.

This was the first time I had Garides Saganaki ( PHP280 ). I loved it!

I had another first on this day. A good meal ends with a sinful pleasure and my pick that day was their Baklava. Blé's Baklava is extra special because it's homemade with love by Ayse, Yianni's wife.


Baklava is a classic Greek pastry made with flaky phyllo dough layered with
cinnamon-spiced nut filling, and bathed in syrup or honey. - About.Com


I dunno if those who've tried this will agree with me, but I think Baklava's acquired taste. I love it anyways :)

---

Discovering Blé is good news for me because I know that I can have my Greek fix anytime I want it. I love the authenticity, the food offerings, and of course, the service. Reservations are recommended especially if you're a big group because the place can get packed. Another reason to be happy about Blé Real Greek Food is that they deliver in BF. Sobrang okay, diba? ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
—

✎  BLÉ REAL GREEK FOOD
☎  +63.917.7217488 and +63.917.8339271
✉  188 Aguirre Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City

PAT, TITA RUSS, & GOOD CONVERSATIONS

Last week was tough. I thought I’d be able to get a breather because August is ghost month ( started last 07-AUG ) and things usually tend to slow down at work. The owners of the company where I work are Chinese and they do what they're supposed to do during ghost month. This is my third ghost month with them and this year seems to be a little different — I guess it's because of the new set of demigods that got on board last June.

I was really thankful for the 09-AUG Friday holiday even if I have work on Saturdays. I intended to do absolutely nothing so I’d get some time to spend with Pat. He is the son of my sister from another mother, Niña.

Lucky Russ had a date with the not-so-little boy last Friday. 
We went to a late brunch at Larcy’s, one of my favorite places here in the South. I usually bring my friends from the US or other countries here whenever they visit. It's that one place that I'm sure they don't have ( yet ) outside the Philippines. Oddly, I'm no cupcake fan and Pat's not a cake person, but Larcy's is the best place to meet-up. They have all these drool-worthy cupcakes and other goodies. Patrick had pasta, which he paired with iced vanilla while I had a cup of Americano — coffee lovers, this one's A-ok.

What I loved about last Friday was the fact that I had one of the best conversations ever. We talked as if we just saw each other yesterday and not years. We talked about Math, writing, Cebu, pizza, leftovers, Science, basketball, Phil Jackson, LBJ, Kobe, Dwyane Wade, La Salle – Ateneo rivalry, girls from his school who have a crush on him, his friends, his mom ( of course ), the Philippines, floods, etc. One could already see what kind of a man he’ll be when he grows up and I'm really proud of Nins for raising Pat in the Pat way that he is. He sure does know how to carry a conversation with a girl and he's smart, funny, & is really nice ... so get ready Mommy Nins, a lot of girls will definitely like Pat. 

I was very happy to see that he loves his mom very much. I gave him a set of minions, which Nins asked me to get for her and a purple purse-ish bag. I told Pat that it was for Nins and his eyes lit up and he had this big big smile on his face. He said, “Yey! It’s purple, my Mom’s going to love this.” He is such a sweet, adorable not-so-little boy. 

I’m going to segue a bit. Skip. Skip. Skip. Going to the world of grown-ups, I’d say it’s important that your partner is someone you can talk to. When you two are old & gray and you can no longer go out on dates, sensible conversations matter. Given that, yup, I am drawn to smart, witty men with a good sense of humor and can communicate with me. They’re not that many. I know, it must sound crazy, but I was once with a guy whose world revolved around basketball, hip-hop music, smoking, and his fraternity. We were obviously not compatible. 

Point is, love will eventually not be enough so there has to be something that will continue to give spark to a relationship even after the honeymoon stage and it's this phase that you'd want your relationship to live through. ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. __RUSS.

—
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
—

✎  LARCY'S CUPCAKERY CAFE
☎  +632.4782849
✉  178 Aguirre St., BF Homes, Parañaque City

Store Hours: 
11:00AM to 12:00MN, Monday to Thursday & Sundays 
11:00AM to 02:00AM, Fridays & Saturdays