A date with my bestfriend, Grace

May 17 is one of the important dates I always remember.  It's the birthday of the kindest, selfless and most caring person I know in this planet.  She's my best friend, Grace.  I've known her since I was born and  we practically grew up together.  Today, I spent the afternoon with her to celebrate her birthday which I missed last Monday.  We had a late lunch at Gerry's Grill.  It's the only restaurant that we always frequent together (including Riza, our other childhood friend on some occasions when she's in Pampanga). 

After having full stomach, we watched a local movie with an English title (ironic, huh?) - "You To Me Are Everything" .  It makes me wonder now why our movies are titled in English.  Just for this week,  the two movies I watched  - "Here Comes The Bride" and "You To Me Are Everything" are both in an English title.  What's with having a Filipino title? 

Grace (I call her Auntie Grace at times for she's my third degree aunt or Gara when I am about to tease her) - the ever shy person that never outgrew that  behavior. 

We both didn't have breakfast and lunch and it was already almost 3 PM so we ordered a lot but didn't finish it all. "Takaw mata at tiyan." LOL.  Our order of Chicken Inasal.  The chicken was somewhat dry.  I prefer Mang Inasal's version over this. 

My all-time favorite side dish of Gerry's Grill - their Pinakbet.  I love how the sauce tastes a little sweet and how the "chicharon" complements the whole dish. 

Sizzling  Sisig Tuna.   For me a Sisig is not a Sisig if it doesn't have a liver incorporated on the dish.  This dish is delicious in itself but it could have been better if chopped grilled chicken liver was added.  Just thinking of it makes me say YUMMY!

Buko juice or Young Coconut juice.  Very refreshing!  I had a urinalysis (pardon me for saying the  word when I am talking about food...hehe!) and have a positive result :(  prior to having this lunch so this drink is a heaven-sent for I was about to order plain water which is boring when you're dining out.

 We opted not to have dessert.  That saddened me because a meal without dessert is not a meal for me. Haha!  I had to discipline myself though because I have an LBM (again, sorry for the word. LOL).

I couldn't control myself though.  I bought small Lindt mint dark chocolate from SM department store that were on sale (buy 1, take 1) and ate them while doing a little shopping. LOL.

Here's a teaser of the movie we watched.   It's a feel-good movie and I can say that being a hopelessly romantic person (hahah!), I was able to appreciate it.  I loved the scenic view in Benguet.  Just don't mind the high-pitched voice of Marian Rivera and corny lines in the movie.   

 

Sumo Sam

One weekend,  due to boredom, I dragged my younger sister, Manel to Marquee Mall (a new mall in Angeles City owned by Ayala) to check some make-up stuff.  Looking for a place to have our lunch, we ended up at  Sumo Sam.  I was craving for Japanese food so this was the right place.    

The ambiance was okay.  The menu has extensive dishes to offer which has caused a problem for a person who's very fickle-minded as me since I had to change my order now and then. :D  So, what did we get?   

Crunchy Squid @ P138. This is an appetizer that is sweet & spicy.  I like this dish particularly the cucumber that was added to balance the spiciness and sweetness of the sauce.  

  

California Roll @ P189.  Nothing spectacular about this dish. I  prefer the California Maki at Hanami along Fields Avenue over this one.  

  

Ninja Fry at P108. When I got this dish, I wondered on how I will eat it. LOL.  Anyway, I used chopsticks and had around three bites to finish it. Haha!  The dish is like a tortilla-wrapped dish except it's nori that was used to wrap the rice and vegetables. Nothing more to rave about. :(  

  

Beef Yakinuko @ P228.  Overall the dish doesn't taste good.  The rice is soaked with too much sauce/drippings from the meat dish.  However, the beef was tender and tasty.   

  

My sister and I were not happy with the dishes we ordered, thus may think twice of going back to this restaurant. 

For Cheska - Charice's BaBy =)

Checked on my Facebook account and found this video posted by a friend.  It's Charice Pempengco's version of  Justin Bieber's BABY. My niece would love this! She's a fan of Charice and loves the song Baby.  Cool! 

 

By the way , Charice's album with the carrying single, Pyramid ft. Iyaz debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200! More updated information about Charice can be found on her website - http://www.charicemusic.com/

Here Comes The Bride...the movie ;-)

I saw the trailer prior to watching the movie and I was excited to watch it for I know it will make me laugh.  Yes, it did on a few scenes. :(

We didn't enjoy the movie much.  Even if most people around us were laughing at it, we find the lines corny.  I was disappointed with Eugene Domingo (I watched a play of her with Candy Pangilinan in UP Diliman when I was still in college in early 90s that was soooooo hilarious that kept me laughing all throughout) and I think she can do better than that.  I think it's with her role though.  Tuesday Vargas (I had the chance to make chika with this lady in the restroom on one of our company's anniversaries where she was one of the hosts.  Very funny on stage!  But on the restroom, she was so serious...LOL) was funny with her lines.  Angelica Panganiban was good too especially the pole dancing.  Here's a trailer of the movie.

the kids in us...

Last night after my shift, my sisters, our friend and I had a date.  We all met up at SM Clark around 8 PM.  It's easy for my youngest sister and I to go there as we are both working in Clark.  We planned on watching the last full show of "Here Comes the Bride".

On our way to the cinema, we passed by "World of Fun".  Manel and Tin "nagged" me and Mye to try a game/ride at World of Fun. They told us we would enjoy the experience and that it's somewhat similar to Rialto in Enchanted Kingdom.  Oh well, Mye and I both gave in after being "pestered" by them. LOL. 

 Mye, Manel and Tin while waiting for our "ride". 

Mye with our mini rider.  There was a couple inside before us.  Can you see the guy's hand in the rider?

It was our turn! We need to wear seatbelts. It was as if we're going somewhere farther. Hahaha!

 Yay! The game and ride was about to start.  We chose number 3 which is a Space Roller Coaster.  It was fun indeed for I have a partner who kept shouting! Haha! The ride could have been better and more realistic though if I was not seeing bright light on my lower left side from the outside.

 On another story, since I am talking about games and being kids, last year my colleagues and I went to an off-site team building and went crazy over Lazer Xtreme in Market! Market! in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

 It was cool seeing the leaders in their vests and laser guns.  LOL. This group was my team's enemy. 

 

My group.  There was a father and son who joined our team and they were good so we WON! Yay! There was no price though. :P

 I love this game! It is a great way to really lose weight. Look at all our hair! They were a mess after so much perspiration from running and fighting even if the whole gameroom is fully airconditioned.  This is a must try for groups having team building or for friends who just want to go bonding.  It's a lot of fun because there are times you get confused on who your enemies are. Hahah! 

Credit:  Lazer Xtreme photos are from Joy's camera.

Moving on...

I moved to a new site - http://dimmpss.wordpress.com/. Do check my new posts there. :D

Clawdaddy and Shangri-La Plaza

Last Easter Sunday, after spending Holy Week at Club Punta Fuego, my sister's family and I headed to Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyung. 

Mau's family is based in Isabela.  For them, (especially my niece, Cheska) going down to either Manila or Pampanga meant a lot of shopping. It's like coming from a remote area that have been deprived of shopping in their city.  LOL. Well, I can relate to them particularly when you're used to big malls.

So last Easter, we spent the whole day at the mall doing shopping for Cheska's needs in school.  Too early, huh? Hehe!

Before heading to the different stores and boutique, we had lunch at Clawdaddy.  It was our first time there and we weren't disappointed.  The ambiance and food were great as I felt we were somewhere in the US even if I haven't been there. Haha!

My sister's family - Mau, Mon and Cheska

With my soooo "kulit" niece

Cheska and her orders - fried chicken tenders and shrimp popcorn

Fried Chicken Tenders is nicely presented in a car box.

Shrimp popcorn - a must try! The shrimps are soft and tender and tasty.

A cup of hot green tea is a tandem to a heavy meal. LOL.

Butter Ginger Crabs with Garlic Rice - according to the menu the crabs were simmered in white wine, ginger and butter.  I prefer my chili crabs over this one though. 

Smoked Baby Back Ribs with French Fries and Rustic Mashed Potatoes

A few hours after lunch and doing shopping we lazed for a few minutes at The White Hat - one of the best frozen yoghurt I've tasted. 

Cheska had a waffle dog and tea which she bought herself.  She can't have yoghurt since her mom wouldn't allow her to drink nor eat cold or frozen drinks or desserts.  She has a great voice and her mom wants to preserve that. 

We concluded the shopping at Kashieca where this nice sofa is located.  Isn't my niece so cute with this pose?

Clawdaddy Crabhouse and American Grill
the Ledge, 6th level, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City
Tel. No. 636-5679

http://www.redcrabonline.com/clawdaddy_about_us.htm