Kabigting's Halo-halo, another Kapampangan's pride

Talking about Halo-halo, Pampanga has a lot to offer.  There's Razon's of Guagua, Corazon's and Susie's of Angeles City and Kabigting's of Arayat.   I have tried the Razon's halo-halo in its main branch in Guagua years back and I fell in love with it that is why whenever I get a chance and is craving for one, I easily go to their branch at Nepo, Angeles City.  Corazon's and Susie's are also very accessible. I can get an order immediately whenever I want to.

With Kabigting's, it's a different story.  Arayat, Pampanga is far from my town, Porac.  I never get a chance to check theirs in Arayat.  So, when I heard a colleague from work, Jackie being addicted to this halo-halo and frequenting Marquee Mall just for that, I had to pull my friend, Nikki who's a sweet-tooth person like me to sample it.  Boy, I wasn't disappointed! It's addicting!  Just thinking of it and writing it about it now makes me want to grab one!

Nikki San with her new look while waiting for our orders.

Their menu.  This could have been better if not for the handwriting and erasures.  Anyway, it doesn't matter as we're after the taste.

Palabok.  Equally delicious as their halo-halo.

The star! My eyes were drooling over the pastillas settled at the bottom. I was getting anxious to spoon it.  Hahah!

See?  The secret ingredients.  I really don't think they are secret.  The milk is not sweet which I heard is carabao's milk.  The spooned ingredients are pastillas which they also sell, sweet corn and beans.  Just like Razon's, its simplicity is what I love!

What can you say? You be the judge and tell me if we enjoyed it.  :D

Our Korean look by Tony & Jackey

I have been getting bored with my long hair and wanted a different look.  I was considering a haircut and/or a digital perm so, I asked my friend, Nikki which I know can always accompany and support me with such activity and request.  So, last June 2 before I reported to work and which is in time before my niece's birthday (talking about preparation...LOL),  even if it was raining, we pushed through with our plan of meeting up at Marquee Mall and check the Korean salon, Tony & Jackey.  Even before this was put up in Pampanga, I have read reviews from blogs in Manila of the said salon that perked up my curiosity and wanted to try it then.  Time has been the problem.

It's a good thing it's available here now.  Well, we have a lot of Koreans in Angeles City, thus a ready market for them.

Tony & Jackey's spacious entrance.

Me and Nikki before our transformation. Hehe!  Prior to going to the salon, Nikki wasn't hundred percent sure if she really wanted to have her hair done.  After seeing the magazine of beautiful haircuts, she immediately gave in!

I love having my hair shampooed here. The chair is soooo ergonomically friendly! It adjusts automatically to where needed.

Nikki's turn.  You might  notice that I was wearing a robe while Nikki is not.  This is because I had a hair spa done as well which I guess requires to wear a pink robe. LOL

Nikki's looooong hair now ready to be cut.  The hairdresser is so cool and very meticulous.

Heat as being applied to my treatment.  I like the combination of pink and purple.  So girly! I wonder what colors they use for men. Hahah!

Our new looks.  Do you like them?  Feeling Koreans, huh?

I had a funny feeling in this salon because while all salons I've been to , after the haircut and blow dry, hairdressers would straighten the hair.  With this one, the hairdresser used a hair straightener iron not to straighten but curl our hair in less than 5 minutes! So cool! I wish I could do such.

Nikki and I looked like we're going to attend a party. Hahah!  Seeing the outcome of this, might consider digital perming next time.  :)

Tony & Jackey

3rd level of Marquee Mall, Angeles City

http://www.tonyandjackey.net/

Haircut: P500

Haircut + Hair spa: P1000

"Pasalubong" from Vietnam and a Treat

Last June 3 at around 7 AM when I was starting to get my sleep (I worked from a night shift  on that previous night), I heard loud knocks from our main door and shouts of  my name.  My sister Azha (Maritza) has just arrived from Vietnam to attend my niece's birthday party which was to happen in the next 3 days.  She was calling me to open the door for her.  Well, I was the only one at home so I had no choice but to get up and open the door.

It's a good thing my disturbed sleep was compensated with her luggage bag's content.  All sweets and nuts and Vietnamese coffee which I all love!  THANKS!

Nut & Coconut Nougut.  Haha! Rhyming...

Noodles.  Azha brought different flavors.  I prefer the spicy one.  This one tasted like our "Tinola".

Cashew nuts with honey.

Nescafe Vietnamese Coffee.  I love it!

Sesame seeds. One of the seeds I love in this world. :)

More sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, peanuts and cashew.

More candies...

and peanuts...

and more sesame seeds...

and MORE pasalubong for me to come hopefully! LOL

The following day she invited me to go shopping.  We were supposed to go to Marquee Mall but was running out of time as it was already late afternoon and she and her boyfriend, Art will be traveling to Isabela that night while I and my sister, Mylene will be baking the cakes and cupcakes that we will be bringing to Isabela the following day.  Talking about cramming again. LOL.

We decided to go to SM Clark instead.  While at Plains and Prints checking on some dresses, my youngest sister, Mylene and her boyfriend, Lucky arrived in the boutique and we were surprised because both boyfriends were wearing Astro Boy shirts! I can't imagine my "future" boyfriend wearing such. Hahaha! Oh well, unless he is in his 20s which I doubt will happen. LOL. What's with Astro Boy anyway?

Lucky and Art in their Astro Boy shirts. Be the judge and tell me who wears it better. Hahaha! Just kidding.

Azha trying a Plains & Prints dress.  I tried this same dress at Marquee mall to purchase for another sister but the size may not fit her so I didn't buy it.  I asked Azha to fit  it. She looks good on it. Unfortunately, they don't have her size.

Mye & Azha

Me & Azha. We all love Buko Express.  That deserves another post. ;-)

Azha trying a fashionable pair of Parisian shoes.  She loves it but she already bought a new pair of shoes in Celine so "regret" just fell on her. Sorry for you. Hehe!

We ended up at Gerry's Grill for our dinner.  My camera gave up so no pictures of food were taken. :p

My IT friend and The Village Chef

I have a number of pending activities and happenings to post but today I'll write about something that's fresh as it just happened a few hours ago.

I had a great time with my high school and college friends and dormmates.  Aileen, my IT friend whose two-week vacation ends today will be flying back to Singapore in a few hours.  I was out-of-town and busy for the past two weeks,  so it's only last night that our date materialized.

Aileen and I met with our other friend, her roommate actually in college, Arceli, the historian turned lawyer turned Village Chef.  Isn't that amazing? Yes, she's the chef of a restaurant in Marisol "village", hence the Village Chef. LOL.  I don't know if that is where the name came from, I just put that up, so don't take it seriously.

It's my first time to visit this restaurant and I must say everything is "eccellente".  It's not that I am biased because the chef is my friend but the dishes that we've tasted are all delicious and the ambiance is really great, a very cozy one.

The main entrance. Photo credit: The Village Chef's Facebook account. Heheh! My friend and I were excited to see the chef so we entered the restaurant immediately.

The Menu's cover.

Homemade Iced Tea, a refreshing one.  P50

Four Cheese Pizza, P320 (12 inches).  A must-try dish. I sooooooo love it!  I am not a fanatic of thin crust as I always get disappointed on thin crusts I have tasted before so when I order pizza it's always the thick one. There's one exception though, I am addicted to "panizza".  And the crust of this pizza is close to that so I am loving VC's thin crust now which  has changed my view of the thin crust.

Arugula! This herb has now been a  common name for those foodies who love Italian food. It's a nice touch to top it to the pizza as it gives a twist to its flavor.

Cannelloni, P170 or P180. For those not familiar with it, here's what Wiki has to say - "Cannelloni (Italian: large reeds) are rectangular pasta sheets that are rolled into a cylindricalshape encompassing a filling. After a pasta sheet has been boiled, it is typically filled with asavory stuffing which may include ricotta cheese, spinach, and various meats. It is then covered with a sauce, typically a classic tomato or béchamel sauce"

I love this too!  For those meat lover, this is for you.  The pasta was fresh and cooked al dente.  Cheese is also generously included in the dish which makes it more delicioso.

Photo credit: The Village Chef's FB account.  Panna Cotta, P80.  I got excited to try their Panna Cotta as this is one of my favorite desserts so I forgot to take a picture of it. LOL.  It was HEAVEN when I tasted it!  Its creaminess melted in my mouth!  The mango and cream topping added more flavor and contrast to the dessert.  I now know where to find the best panna cotta in town.  HEAVENLY!

Okay, after the dessert, we got a tour of the VC's kitchen.  Me and Aileen posing with the VC's chef, Arceli.

Outside the kitchen and into the garden.  The 3 of us.  Darn! I can see the burnt I got from the North and the fats.  Calling more sunblock and diet (ooops not that)  exercise. Heheh!

Aileen, who never grow old, modelling a pot arugula .  She still looks like the baby-face, sweet high school friend that I had back then.

The Village Chef has a beautifully landscaped garden and a green house where different types of herbs grow.  They also sell most of them which includes Arugula, Rosemary, Thyme, Tarragon, Oregano and Mint. Prices range from P60 to P150.   Here in the picture is the Italian Oregano which was added to our pizza.

Arceli also studied in The Blue Elephant in Bangkok, so some plants and herbs that are used in Thai cuisine grow in her garden.  Kaffir Lime is one of them.

After our tour in the kitchen and garden, we were served the Tarragon tea.  This is new to me and I like it so much! I can't wait to grow my tarragon and have this tea every morning.  Very calming!

Thanks, Aileen for the dinner treat. It was nice seeing you again after more than a year.  Thanks Arceli for the free desserts.  I super love your panna cotta. You bet I'll go back to your restaurant and bring my friends and family soon.

The Village Chef

406 Broadway Street, Marisol Subdivision

Angeles City, Philippines, 2009

0923-374-8752

Fri - Sun:

6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Is summer over?

I've been meaning to post this last week  but I couldn't find the right time as I was busy with baking and preparing for my niece's 7th birthday party.   Added to that is the no internet connection on places I've been to.

It has been raining the past week I left Pampanga and I was lucky to have another close-up pictures taken on my current favorite tree, the Flame Tree.  This tree is just near our office so on one of our breaks, my team and I decided to head to Mini-stop and pass by this beautiful tree to have a glimpse of it and a picture taken. On our way back to the office, raindrops started to pour.  If I remember it correctly, it started raining last May 29.  It rained daily until I left Pampanga  on June 5.  I have no idea if it rained still after that.  I guess, El Nino has ended and we're welcoming La Nina now.  I just hope not too much rain nor typhoon.

Isn't the tree very lovely? With its vibrant red-orange color, who would not be awed by its beauty?

I felt I was in another country when I saw the soil topped with fallen petals.  Actually, I always feel there's autumn season in Clark Field, Pampanga when some trees change their colors and leaves start to fall. Hahah!

Click the picture to see Abbey's smile. Heheh!

Abbey, Me & JB

Abbey, Jlyn & JB

Yours truly.  Have a "flame tree" weekend and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Goodbye IE, welcome GC!

My cousin, John saw me using Internet Explorer as my browser when we were on vacation a couple of days ago.  He suggested that I try Google Chrome and told me it's a lot faster than IE.

Today, I remember what he told me while surfing in IE and my patience is slowly dying.  So, I decided to download Google Chrome.  Boy! It was indeed fast and amazing!.  Interface is a lot better too as my window is maximized. I am not a computer techie and didn't even think a browser can make a big difference. Heheh!

Thanks, John for the suggestion. I can now blog faster and post more because of this. :)