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Mama Lou's Italian Kitchen

by 9:11:00 PM
Mama Lou's Italian Kitchen offers a wide variety of Italian dishes in their menu. From Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Pasta Dishes, Pizza, Main, Desserts up to Drinks they have it. They have Fries, Nachos, Cheese and Seafood for Appetizers. They have tons of choices for their Pastas depending on your taste - Tomato based, Spicy sauced, Oil and Garlic, Cream sauced & Homemade, Their Mains are Chicken, Pork and Seafood. 

 I've always wanted to try Mama Lou's but every time I end up dining in other restaurants. So over the weekend I was able to give it a go. 

 Menu (menu pictures below are not mine; credits to the owner. I just grabbed it from the net - prices are the same as it is before)



















Our order: 

 Antipasti (Appetizer): For Appetizer we ordered Poutine (175.00) and Nachos (195.00). For the Nachos it tastes as expected. I just wish it comes with more beef. Poutine is actually known as a Canadian dish. It is basically french fries with cheese curd and gravy. I recommend you to try it. It was so good. Well, we all know french fries is a favorite appetizer but with cheese curd and gravy it is a sure winner.




For Pasta: We skipped Salads and Soups, we had Shrimp Formaggio (325.00) and Spaghetti Seafood Olio (335.00). Shrimp Formaggio (tomato based) is a penne pasta with shrimp, mozarella, white cheese, basil in cream and tomato sauce. Spaghetti Seafood Olio is an oil based pasta, cooked in olive oil and garlic with assorted seafoods - shrimp, clams, mussels and squid. Shrimp Formaggio tastes fine to me or maybe because i am not a fan of tomato based pasta but I can give this a passing grade. Since i am into Olios, Spaghetti Seafood Olio is a hit to me. I can finish 2 plates of this for sure. 

They don't have pastas for sharing (big plates for a group). Their pasta dishes are only good for 1 person or maybe 2 persons if you don't have a big appetite. I hope they would offer their pastas in group serving. 





We also tried their homemade pasta Ravioli Spinaci (350.00). Ravioli is a type of dumpling with filling between 2 layers of pasta dough. It is served in broths or in this case pasta. Ravioli Spinaci (Spinach) is composed of Spinach, Mushroom and ricotta stuffed in ravioli smothered with blue cheese sauce. This is so good! I can say this is one of my favorites. 
For the Pizza: As i have mentioned above their pasta is only good for 1 person can be two max. So I suggest you get a pizza. Good news, their pizza comes in small and large. Small is 12" and Large is 14". We chose to try their Bianca Pizza. This is a must try too! Bianca pizza (395.00 - Large) is mainly cream, mozarella, mushroom and bacon - what more can you ask for?  It is rich in cream and mozarella so it is very tasty. 


For Risotto: Risotto is an Italian rice dish cooked in broth to a creamy consistency. For their Risotto we chose to get Risotto Tartufo Funghi (325.00). It is risotto with mushroom and truflle cream. This tastes good too because of course who wouldn't love truffle? It is so creamy. The rice was cooked right. 


My Recommended Dishes: Poutine, Spaghetti Seafood Olio, Ravioli Spinaci. All in all I am happy with my experience in Mama Lou's. The price of the food is affordable given the rich taste. 

 Expenses: 

 Poutine (175.00)
Nachos (195.00)
Shrimp Formaggio (325.00)
Spaghetti Seafood Olio (335.00)
Ravioli Spinaci (350.00)
Bianca pizza (395.00 - Large)
Risotto Tartufo Funghi (325.00)

 Service Charge (120.00)
VAT (200.00)

 Total: 2420.00 (VAT and Service Charge included) - This is good for 5 pax

 Branches: 

  • Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
  • Block 1, Lot 36, Tropical Avenue Corner Tropical Palace, BF International, Las Piñas City
  • Second Floor, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Las Piñas City
  • Second Floor, Ayala Malls The 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City


XO,

Ann 💋


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Backyard Kitchen + Brew

by 3:11:00 PM
Backyard Kitchen + Brew is a farm-to-table bar and grill concept from Chef Ed Bugia of Pino, The Burger Project and Pi Breakfast and Pies fame). I said farm-to-table because the ingredients they used for their menu are sourced locally. They get it straight from the farmers. Backyard serves modern comfort food from appetizers down to small plates and main dishes. They also serve craft beers and beverages on the side. 

 The Backyard Kitchen that we tried is located at the newly opened Circuit Mall located in Makati City. 

 The ambience screams chill. The tables have large numbers on it which of course clearly represents the table number. The one that catch my attention was the lamp covers that are car plates. 

 Menu: 

Their menu are consists of Appetizers, Flat breads, Kiddie Meals, Small plates, Soups, Mains, Salads, Sandwiches, and Desserts. I think they should have offer group meals or those that can be for sharing. The ones good for sharing in their menu at least (good for 2 pax) is their Salted Egg Chicken Skin (Appetizer), Slow Roasted Pork Belly (no rice) and Chicken Lollipop. 











Our order: 

For Appetizer we chose to have Salted Egg Chicken Skin (225). It is crispy chicken skin,salted egg yolk with chili pineapple vinegar as sawsawan. This is according to their menu, a backyard favorite. For me I wasn't able to taste the salted egg in it. Just the taste of ordinary chicken skin. The flavor is bland for me. I think i was expecting it to be flavorful since its chicken skin might be salty because of the skin and salted egg but it isn't. 

Chicken Lollipop (325).  Chicken Lollipop tastes like a normal chicken lollipop well its goes well with Sriracha and Ketchup. 

Roasted Beef Belly Salpicao Rice (435). It comprises of Beef Belly Chunks, Roasted garlic and rice. This is a backyard favorite stated in the menu. It tastes really good. Its just that there's more fat (taba part) than the beef meat. 



Slow Roasted Pork Belly (275). Slow roasted bbq rubbed pork belly, papaya slaw, homemade rhum coke bbq sauce, mac & cheese/rice. This is also a backyard favorite and one of their recommended dishes. I was not able to taste the mac and cheese. The slaw tastes fine. The pork belly is tender. 

Lobster & Prawn Roll (375).  Buttered brioche bun, lobster and prawn bits, lobster and prawn mayo-butter dressing, cherry tomatoes, fried celery leaves, papaya slaw. The bun is soft even after being exposed to a cold ambience. The chef mixed it with some shrimp so it won't be as expensive if it will come only with lobster. I can't really say i am impressed with the taste. Its just okay for me. The chips well tastes like potato chips of course with Cheese flavor. 

Pizzookie (385). Baked to order chewy chocolate chip cookie, mantecado ice cream, rock salt. This is a backyard favorite. I loved it as well. I am not a fan of sweets but this is the one i can really recommend for you to try. The mantecado ice cream pairs well with the chewy chocolate chip cookie. Its a combination of hot and cold that blends well. 

 Branches: 

  • Second Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
  • The Grove By Rockwell, E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City
  • Circuit Makati, Olympia, Makati City
  • Fourth Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

XO,

Ann 💋
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Isla De Gigantes

by 7:42:00 PM
Isla De Gigantes known as Islas Gigantes or Gigantes Group is an island chain in the Visayan Archipelago of the Philippines. It is included in the municipality of Carles, Iloilo. I am not sure how many islands Gigantes group consists but 2 largest are Gigantes Norte (North) and Gigantes Sur (South)


Since its a long weekend for normal employees (not me, I am pertaining to those who works on normal shifts during weekdays and rest days covers the weekend.) and semestral break from school. My family decided to take a short vacation to Gigantes Island since it is pretty much starting to be one of the "go-to-islands" for travellers. 

Directions (How to get to Gigantes) 
Flights: 
Manila - Iloilo

Other possible flights (but longer travel time)
Manila - Roxas (1.5 hrs land travel to Iloilo)
Manila - Kalibo (3 hrs land travel to Iloilo) 

I was informed about our vacation September so since no one will arrange it (other than myself, my family members are not tech savvy because of age) and I am not sure when will be the seat sale I booked our flights right away.  Only to find out later September that airlines will have their seat sale. So my advice is for you is to plan your trips ahead, months from the actual date so you can catch seat sales online. 

The flight my grandmother want me to book is MNL - Kalibo ( like what I said above, we weren't able to wait for the seat sale so it was the cheaper flight. I just agreed to what they said because i can't argue with them). Our ticket costs us 3,050 round trip. For our land travel going to Iloilo we didn't pay anything as my uncle's wife's relatives resides in Roxas City so they picked us up at the airport so we spend the night in Roxas City. 


Port (going to Gigantes) 
Carles (nearest)
Estancia 

So there are 2 ports that can take you to Gigantes. The nearest is Carles, I suggest you take this route because it takes about 1 hr - 1hr 30 mins boat ride to reach the island if you go from here. I have read other directions going to the island some take Estancia port (I think this is the main sea transportation hub in Iloilo). 

Its easier of course if you already have a contact person in the port. Upon arriving at the port ( This is Carles since this is the route we took) you need to go in the port office to pay Environmental fee (75.00/head - if your trip includes going to Tangke Lagoon). They give discounts to students and senior citizens so make sure you bring IDs(60.00/head). 

I expected we will the port at 8am because that's our meeting time with Darius our contact person. Its raining when we got to the port and travel time according to them varies because they need to wait until its high tide again, So we left Carles port at 9:00 am. We arrived at the island ( I am not sure what its called around 10:30 am or past that. Its wavy on the way maybe because of the rain too.) where we will have our lunch (its not the same island where you will stay).  

If you are a seafood lover then its your time to rejoice! Lunch served is all seafoods! 


Scallops 


Wasay Wasay (the first time I've seen and heard about this. I didn't know there's like this that exists. It look like wood but its a shell. It tastes like clams and mussels.) 


Crabs!! 

We had Scallops, Crabs, Wasay Wasay and Squid for lunch. After we finished eating and rest we head straight to where we will stay. Brgy. Asluman. We stayed at Hideaway Resort in Brgy Asluman. I can say that the rates they offer is really cheap and affordable. We paid 2,560/head 12 pax. 6 persons per room. 

Package (2,560/head for 3 days and 2 nights stay) 
Inclusions:
  • Boat (to and from Carles port - Brgy Asluman, same boat for island hopping and Lagoon)
  • 6 meals (2 lunch, 2 dinners, 2 breakfast)
  • Standard room with fan and ceiling fan, 2 double deck beds, 2 regular sized bed, comfort room
  • Entrance fees 
  • Habal Habal 
  • Cave guide (Boyet - there were 2 guys forgot the name of the other) 
  • Tour guide (Miko)
  • Island Hopping (Antonia Island, Cabugao Gamay Island, Bantigue Sandbar, Tangke Lagoon)
  • Cliff diving at Tangke Lagoon
  • Bakwitan Cave
  • Lighthouse
There's no signal in the island but you can ask the Habal Habal drivers to take you where there's a signal but i cannot assure you that you'll have it. I am a globe user I was able to get signal for about 1 minute then it goes off and then back. For smart users, there's none. Habal Habal ride from that spot where there's cellular signal costs 15.00 pesos one way. It is not included in the package of course. I suggest you don't go there because it a waste of time. You might just get bitten by mosquito or other insects. Just put up with no signal for 3 days. 

For the tip of the drivers and tour guides its up to you. If you want to give extra aside from your package. I have learned that the one who cooks our food are volunteer students. For the food, they already have a certain menu since that is a package, You have a choice to add another dish of course you need to pay for it then just pay the cook extra. 

Warning: Brgy Asluman is the Scallop Capital so i am writing this to give information and to set your expectation about the menu. Lunch and Dinner, they also serve seafood. We were served Scallops and Squids for Day 1 and Day 2 - Lunch and Dinner. It just varies sometimes its Adobong Squid, sometimes Grilled. For Scallops its Adobo, Baked, and Curry. I AM SETTING YOUR EXPECTATION about the menu. again if you can eat it go, if you want to add another viand then you can. Sometimes along with Scallops they serve chicken. We had one dinner that they served fried chicken. 

About the seafood serving, I completely understand it as it is an island so they don't have meat and the likes. 

I don't have pictures alone of the Hideaway Inn but it is consists of tree houses resting on a balete tree and other trees. They have a swing too. Talk about nature feels. 


This Picture is not mine. Credits to the one who owns it. So just so you can get the picture of how it looks like. 

Day 1 - We rested for a while then come 4pm we went to Bakwitan cave then the Lighthouse.


Bakwitan Cave



This is a legit human bone. They didn't transferred it. They just let the remain stay where its at. (RIP)






Bakwitan Cave was said to be evacuation area of the locals during war and up to today if there are typhoons coming. 

Its hard to take pictures in the cave as it is dark. We only use flashlights and gopro can't take good pictures without light unless you edit it. We went there 4pm its kind of dark and slippery. It is raining earlier that day. Be careful because there are sharp rocks along the way up the cave. 

There are animal formations and even a Mama Mary image that were formed by stalactite and stalagmite. You will be warned not to touch them as they might stop rising/falling when touched by bare hands. I think because of the sweat in our hands that contains lipids might ruin its growth. 

There are 2 options for you to exit the cave. 
  • First option is the same path you took on the way up - this is the shortest and easiest. 
  • Second option involves crawling according to the guides. If you are adventurous to do it then go. As for us we didn't took this route as it is dangerous that time because of the rain. This route also might take 2-3 hours out according to Boyet. 
Lighthouse
You won't really see the inside of the Lighthouse but you can take pictures in the abandoned house like in front of it. 





Antonia Island 

You can stay here but that isn't part of their package anymore. You can stay on the tents. You can snorkel here to see fishes but the water isn't that crystal clear so use goggles. We climbed rock formations. Its quite easy to climb to take pictures but be careful not to slide as you will slip directly to the sea or worst you might get scratches. You can ask for assistance to go up from your tour guide. 








Bantigue Sandbar

Bantigue Sandbar is a stretch of sand in the middle of the ocean caused to be visible by the low tide. 

The seawater is too salty careful not to swallow. The waves are too strong that times but the island is beautiful. 



Cabugao Gamay 

It is the icon of Isla de Gigantes. When you search Gigantes Island for images. much of the images you'll see in the result is actually this island. You can get a better look at the island up. So you need to go up the rocks, this time its easier as there are stairs made to step on. 








Tangke Lagoon
is a natural saltwater pool located in a hidden spot behind the steep cliffs of Isla de Gigantes Sur. It is filled by the seawater especially when its high tide. When we went here it is kind of low tide. There's still water but you can manage swimming without the life jacket. You can try cliff diving in the front part of the lagoon. You will fall straight to the sea. The cliff is not too high. I am not sure if you can wear life jacket. Mostly of what i saw didnt wear any. Anyway upon jumping off there are guides waiting right next the spot where you will fall in. So no need to worry if you aren't much of a swimmer. 





Breakdown of Expenses



 Contact Hideaway: 

 Joel B. Decano - 09184685006

 Sometimes he replies right away sometimes not. Be patient. They only ask for 1,000 reservation fee. It will be deducted to the total expenses of your package upon check out. 

XO,

Ann 💋
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