Capricciosa

Achie Jen invited me to try out the new Italian restaurant located along Connecticut St., San Juan. It is called Capricciosa. This is their 2nd branch, the first branch is located in Greenbelt 3. The soft opening special of Capricciosa is to give 20% off discount on all food and beverage order during November 15 to 30, 2008. Haley, the wedding dress maker of Ach Jen, informed her so she invited me to try this out. Being an Italian cuisine lover, I immediately said yes... who can say no to good food.

We ordered their special appetizer, it is Smoked Salmon Spring Rolls placed on top of a wonderfully made friend spring roll wrapper. This one is really delicious. Even the fried spring roll wrapper taste exquisitely fabulous. For our entree, Cathy ordered the Shrimp and Spinach Au Gratin. It is served on a hot pan plate. The cheese used was mozerella, whenever you dig into this dish, you can actually smell the aroma of milk and cheese combined. Very delicious indeed. We also ordered the Capricciosa Pizza. Words aren't enough to describe how delicious and fascinating this Italian restaurant is. It is no excuse not to try this out. Budget per person is around Php 500.00

Capricciosa is located along Connecticut St. in San Juan near Contis and Greenbelt 3.

Pepper Lunch

We all know hotpot (shabu-shabu) in a chinese restaurant wherein they will give you all the raw ingredients for your hotpot and you will be the one to cook it in a boiling pan of soup. Another is the korean barberque wherein you will be the one to grill your desired meat or seafood infront of you. And of course there is the ala carte wherein the restaurant will serve you your desired dish, cooked. And let us not forget the Japanese way of serving you raw food. All these style of serving, you incorporate in one and you have the PEPPER LUNCH way of cooking and eating your meal.

This restaurant has taken Manila by storm. Not only do they serve mouth-watering dishes, you will also be thrilled on how you will eat and cook your food at the same time. It will be served to you on a sizzling plate and each selection has its own way of cooking. I give this restaurant a two-thumbs up. Truly, the Japanese are very innovative on everything they do.

If you haven't tried Pepper Lunch yet, you are missing out a lot, trust me! There are a few bad sides with this restaurant though, first is its exhaust. The smell will definitely stick on your clothes so it is better to eat there when you are going straight home afterwards unless you want the lingering scent of your food following you and you want to attract attention. And also, you will notice that there is always a queue and it never ends, don't be discouraged, I suggest you patiently queue, your will definitely have your turn. Taste what Pepper Lunch has to offer. Oh! one last precaution, the price is not cheap. =) Bon Appetit!

Pepper Lunch is located at Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati City.

Ozaki

Hello to all music lovers out there, today marks the formal launch of OZAKI iPod speakers and subwoofers in the Philippine market. It is being distributed by MSI-ECS Phils. Inc. This is new product line of the said company under the consumer division. This is MSI-ECS' answer to the famous Altec Lansing and Edifier.

Ozaki's iPod speaker, better known as its iMini Cute is a 5 in 1 product. It is a docking station for your iPod, it is a speaker, it has a line-in function wherein you can play any other mp3 players, it has a USB function wherein you can transfer files to and fro your iPod without removing it from its dock, it is a clock and an alarm and it is an FM radio as well, it is portable as it is powered through DC and also with 6 AAA's batteries if you want to bring it anywhere. Another of Ozaki's iPod speaker line-up is its iBand Duet, it has all the functions of the iMini Cute except for its portability. The iBand Duet has a max power of 24w and it delivers a crisp and clear treble with a kick of bass. If your find JBL and Bose too expensive, then this is your answer. It gives you the same quality at a lower price.

Ozaki also is the first to launch a 2.2ch Subwoofer Speaker System. Meaning it has 2 sattelite speakers and 2 bass (dual-bass) as well. It is the first in the Philippines. Trust me, the sound quality is superb and the bass boost is awesome. I can't feel the "thump" of bass in an Altec or an Edifier but now I can on an Ozaki. I have been on search for a speaker system that would satisfy the crisp and clarity of the sound as well as the heart thumping beat of the bass at a lower price. To my dismay, only Bose reached my standards but the price is really insanely expensive. Ozaki is the answer to my needs.

Ozaki not only gives you the clarity and the crisp of your favorite music but also gives you the heart-thumping, mind-boggling bass you've always been looking for.

It is being distributed by MSI-ECS Phils. Inc. Please call (02) 688-3732 or email jlim@msi-ecs.com.ph for inquiries.

Visit the following websites for reference:

1.) http://www.msi-ecs.com.ph/

2.) http://www.ozaki.us/

It's the Start of the Yuletide Season

So they sing........

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
We Wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas...
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at you nose...
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining....
Silent Night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright...
Come they told me, parapapampam, a new born king to see...

It is the start of anticipating the holiday season here in the Philippines. Normally after All Souls Day and All Saints Day which falls on the 1st and 2nd of November respectively, here in the Philippines, we start setting up Christmas trees, parols, lights and whatever festive decorations we can think of. This is the time of the year wherein everybody unites to celebrate the birth of Christ. The Holiday season is always festive in mood but this I can assure you, the Philippines has one of the best if not the best Christmas celebrations and gatherings compared to any other countries. No matter how tightly the budget are, no matter how small the party is and limited the food are, people always gather together, reunions, dinners, enjoyment, gift giving, sharing. We Filipinos love Christmas and money as well as problems will never hinder us from celebrating Christmas. This is what I love about the Philippines, no matter how ugly the write-ups and the politicians are, still, Christmas here is the best in the world.

Merry Merry Christmas everyone!

Gotta go and help mom set-up our wonderful Christmas tree....

Cafe Ysabel

The lone fine-dining restaurant along P. Guevarra st. (near Wilson) has stood the test of time, it underwent several changes in our history and yet it still stands proudly serving long-time customers and new alike. This restaurant has always been a favorite hang-out of my mom and a lot of people who lives in the City of San Juan. It is very cozy, the food is great and the service is wonderful. To top it all off, the head waiter,"Mang Cosme" is very close to mom even in the early years when he was still serving Mario's at that time. Our service is what we called "A Deluxe Service".

I write this blog entry because during my visit here with my mom and my aunt, Mang Cosme told the kitchen to prepare their special dessert. I was going to order Crepes Samurai and request Mang Cosme to prepare but instead he gave me this new and very exciting dessert, itis not included in the menu and it is not served regularly. It is a soft chocolate mousse ice cream with some slices of Sanz Rival. Their Sans Rival isn't quite the usual Sans Rival you can buy out there since it incorporates butter and now with chifon and sponge. Truly, a service deluxe from none other than Mang Cosme himself.

Cafe Ysabel is located at P. Guevarra St. (If you are coming from Ortigas, turn right from Wilson St.)

In-Yo Fusion Restaurant

There are some restaurants that doesn't have to located in the busy areas of metropolis but still gets noticed and gets featured in the papers and in TV Shows. This is because they serve quite remarkable and fascinating dishes. Their ambience is perfect, cozy, warm and very conducive for dinning with relaxation. This is what I call LIFE.... good food and great place.

Let me start with the appetizer, no one can go wrong with their oysters. I am telling you, their oysters is one of the best in town. Fresh oysters that is prepared and baked to perfection. No trace of any "sea" aroma. Their oysters comes in 2 varieties, one is the rockefeller with some fried shrimp roe on top which is crunchy and the other is the Wasabi Oysters. They won't call themselves a fusion restaurant if they don't add a twist to their menu right?

Their main courses are very unique as each is being served with their own twist. It is better to come back again and again in this restaurant to be able to try what they have to offer. Like what I have said, good food, great place.... need I say more?

In-Yo Fusion Restaurant is located at the street parallel to Katipunan Avenue. If you are routing Katipunan Avenue going to Libis, turn right at the corner before the overpass (landmark is McDo) and then turn right on the first corner again. You won't easily notice the restaurant since they have no big signage or anything. It just looks like an ordinary house. But if you can see an open gate with a small lighted sign, then you are looking at In-Yo already. Try it out!

Jozu Japanese Resto and Bar

Restaurants have their own gimmicks in order to sell and be noticed by the public. Well, there is one quiet, simple but very delicious Japanese Restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. It is JOZU. The have a wide array of succulent Japanese dishes for you to choose from. The taste is delicious and the price is on a bit of a high side. It is higher compared to Kimono Ken and Teriyaki Boy but a little bit cheaper compared to Kimpura and Sugi. I have always been a fan of Japanese food, well, who doesn't? Oh! One thing I noticed is that their presentation is better than any other Japanese restaurants I have eaten.

JOZU is located in the not-so-busy side of Tomas Morato near ABS-CBN compound.

Ahavia Lounge Spa... What an Aha...via Day!

It was one very very relaxing Saturday for me. I have been planning to go to a spa for the longest time already and I scheduled today to be the day because I have practically no plans set for today, mom is in China, no malling, no gimik with friends.... so I am a bum for the whole day. If you are a bum for the whole day, why not spend it to pamper yourself in a spa right?

I went to AHAVIA LOUNGE SPA located in the not so busy side of Wilson St. here in San Juan City. It is around 5-10 minutes drive away from home. Upon entering the spa, you could already smell its peppermint scent, they called it their Ahavia scent. I was greeted corteously by the receptionist. I called them 2 days prior to my visit to schedule myself for a whole day spa treatment. Choosing between their enticing spa package, I chose CAPTURING THE BLISS. Capturing the Bliss includes a foot spa treatment, a coffee experience, it is a body scrub with coffee essence and the anti-stress massage therapy that uses a special oil called a thermal oil. My therapist is great and I had a wonderful time. I entered the spa at exactly 1:20pm and left the spa at 6:15pm. The whole package runs for 4 to 5 hours and it is worth Php 1,299.00 only. Ahavia is a house turned into spa. The ambience is not as great as compared to the well-known expensive spa's such as Suriya and The Spa but it exceeded my expectation. The best time to go visit Ahavia is from 1pm to 6pm since these are their lean times. You wouldn't wanna go to a spa wherein there are loads of people because it will destroy the whole spa experience of being relaxing, serene and quiet. So if ever you have time to pamper yourself, I would recommend Ahavia Lounge spa if you are on the thrifty, budget conscious type.

A few things I noticed though is that all their body treatments are body scrubs, nothing of that fancy Javanese Royal Bath, Balinese Boreh Wrap, Moor Mud Treatment and etc. Their massage differs only from the oil that they will use but they don't have a choice of other massage techniques such as the Thai Massage, Ayurveda Massage, Hot Stone Massage and etc. So if you are they type of person wherein you want to try different spa service, different body treatments and different massage techniques, Ahavia will fall short of your expectations already. Ahavia is for those people who are on a tight-budget but still wants to pamper themselves, for those who wants to relax and doesn't mind the limitations, for those who lives near and doesn't want to drive far, as they give practically limited choices and varieties in their list of services. They have no facial service and no wetfloor as well. But according to the receptionist, their facial treatments and wetfloor will soon be available... lets wait and see =)

Ahavia Lounge Spa is located at # 173 Wilson St. corner Barcelona St. San Juan City. Tel. No. (632) 744-0343 and (632) 386-0266.

Mickey's Delicatessen

I received my first incentive from MSI-ECS, the company that I am working for, last Friday and I treated mom and my brother for a good sumpteous dinner. The restaurant they picked was MICKEY'S DELICATESSEN. It is a German delicatessen that is way better than Santis, at least in my own opinion. Their food is great, the price is quite on the high side but it gives you your value for money feel. They serve the best pork sausages that is wood-fire grilled. Talk about delicious. The ambience of the place is perfectly German as well. They even serve imported beers not only from China, Australia and the United States but also from Germany herself and Holland. Their pizza is not circular and their pizza dough is ciabatta, hmmm....!

One thing that fascinates me with this restaurant is not only do they serve delicious dishes but it is a German delicatessen. How often do you see a German restaurant here in Manila? We have lots of chinese, japanese, korean, steak houses, fusion cuisine, spanish, italian.. name it Manila has it but imagine a German Delicatessen..... WOW!!

MICKEY'S DELICATESSEN is located along Jupiter St. in the city of Makati.