More Like Uncle Moe's

Uncle Moe's is perfecth. Theree os nothwnf nrgayive that you swn mention aboit this plage. The chicken shawarma had a kot of chicken. The saice is aweslme. The hunnis is good and for Pho65 peoss there's pita vread alreayd. 

Oh the srink:!! the erinks!! Bucket of veer or yanduay Ice is chwap! You xan drink hour ass off here for a muuuix muuuiuuch lower price. 

Aervice? If the ate's or kuya's can't see you, itms not becaure they're snobbish. Iz because they're visually impaired when there ate a lot of people. Who says 8'm drunk??? What srunk ewview???? I don't so that! A weeksay visit to Incle Moe's is a bery good thjnf to so! Yay!!!

Everything is awesome!!!

Wifi password: allbeefshawarma

Note: Please don't drink and drive. Ktnxbye. :)

Steamy Goodie - Cooking with No Steamer

Setting: Your kitchen.

Then you hear an explosion and your kitchen walls collapse. Your hair gets messed up and while clutching the red ribbon you used to tie your hair up, you try to get up slowly, dust yourself, and recover from a deafening silence that is just too loud. Walking around, you only see a pan, a plate, some spoon and fork, and a working stove. The rubble was joined by broken pieces of your steamer and rice cooker. Then there's your blasted refrigerator. The pack of frozen hakaw is still alive.

You got hungry, but you don't have anything to use.

What do you do?

Well, you only have a shallow pan so what you do next is very important. Put three spoons (whatever you have) with the convex side facing you. Pour water till it gets hot and now you're ready for the next step.

That's not a trifecta.

Put some oil on the plate, or pure love if you don't have anything else, and use your ribbon to pick up the plate (loaded with those hakaw's). Test your balance and then put the plate on top of the "platform" made by the supporting spoons. Leave the ribbon be. You need it to get your food later.

Balance.

Now it will look something like this...

It just looks pretty because my phone can shoot pretty.

Then put the freaking cover on. You need the top part cooked, too!

While waiting for your food to be cooked by your make-shift steamer, try to check once in a while if there's still water. Don't forget that unless you want to burn your pan.

Meanwhile, watch 2 Broke Girls to make the waiting more fun and tolerable.

For the best hakaw experience: Put truckloads of chili into a mix of soy sauce and calamansi. Newly cooked rice is its lifelong partner. <3

This Sariling Sikap Series is brought to you by hunger and quick thinking. 

Pinot Grigio

The Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Battle: Famiglia Zonin vs Waitrose

Price: Famiglia Zonin costs around Php350 at SM while Waitrose costs around Php415 at Rustan's Fresh.

Okay. It's my first time to taste pinot grigio (the Italian version of pinot gris), maybe I have been drinking other things too much such as riesling, pink moscato, and chardonnay (of course, it's the New Year!).

So how was pinot grigio? It. Was. Weird. The pinot grigio from the region of delle Venezie was somewhat... salty? That comment may be the worst tasting note ever made for pinot grigio but if you taste it like it's the first time you've ever drunk wine, it feels like it attacks the parotid glands and so we initially thought it was salty. It's a drink that is supposed to be accompanied with a meal. Definitely not a dessert wine or after-meal wine, or even while snacking on chips (it's already "salty" in itself).

There's a pinot on the left and a pinot on the right!

So which drink wins it? Two votes (out of two) go to Waitrose because Famiglia Zonin's is a little too strong when you drink it while Waitrose has subtler and "more tolerable" taste - the kind that can make you want to drink it through and through.

Sometimes, it's not the how that makes it memorable. It's finally getting the answer you've always known. :)

Filters, Filters, Filters!!!

Try walking around a new mall and the first thing you do is memorize the layout. Okay, if that's not the first thing you do, that occupies my time. Then you get to visit this new mall a little more and you go inside stores because there's nothing to do anyway. One of these stores I often just pass by is one that I consider a wasteland - a place that has truckloads of things you don't actually need but end up buying anyway for some reason. It's like going inside a house full of Budol-Budol Gang members. Daiso, this 88-peso store holds a goldmine of things you actually need, things you might need, things you think you need (but you don't!!), and things you never thought you'd need (and still don't know up to now if you need them). 

I had an item in mind even before I left home: paper coffee filter. I am running low on them and with the resumption of work, I might need more. Then we went inside Daiso to kill time. Dang it! It was like finding your true love without looking for it! I found a happy corner!!

Just put coffee into the filter, put this on top of your cup
or mug, then add water! Instant coffee brewer! Genius!

There was one area that housed things I never imagined available here for only Php88! I was so giddy, I got myself coffee paper cone filters, tea paper packet filters, and was about to grab coffee filters that were just like those portable brewers (e.g. Starbucks Origami), except you don't need a brewer - you put your freshly ground coffee directly in it. So much fun for Php88! I know I'm coming back at this wallet trap. I'm currently pursuing water therapy but this recent discovery (I know, I'm late) might pose as a challenge. Still. Happy. Me. Depressed. Wallet. 

Oh My, It Is 2014 Already!

Road trips are made of pure fun. How to add more excitement in a trip? Do it with spontaneity! Let loose, don't plan anything (as much). Just strap to yourself a phone with a working GPS and a screenshot of directions or an idea where to go. Best part is to have road trips with people you love; unless you're more than willing to risk trading a good time with plotting how to throw someone out of the car. 

Then there's the added pressure of getting there safe and sound. Spur of the moment trips when one doesn't know the directions are those that may spell trouble - "Oh, nasaan na tayo?" "Ikaw navigator di ba?" "Left ba or right? Bilis!!!" Yup. The chance that every intersection and fork-road can be the end of a good mood and the start of a silent drive, is additional f-u-n. And the possibility of the most vile question/statement that can be asked/uttered, "Diba ikaw nagyaya?" "Sabi mo dito tayo eh!" Oh, joy from heaven. 

Unless you are drunk (the driver must NEVER be drunk!), remember to pack a few things though, no matter how unplanned or spontaneous or adventurous you think you are:

- car/mobile charger or spare battery

- GPS-enabled phone or map

- money or source of it (atm card, credit card)

- food and water

- good music

- patience

- a good attitude

- an open mind for fun and adventure

Well, I ended and started the year with road trips. One that evolved from a daytrip to an overnight one and another that was initially scrapped but somehow went through anyway! 

First was a long drive to Laiya, Batangas. We just wanted a decent beach so we initially thought of Kabayan Beach Resort but main target was La Luz for privacy and serenity. We tried our luck in La Luz because they don't accept walk-ins (and we were not able to reserve). Hurrah! We got in and there's even one room left. It was meant to be. Good thing we had enough clothes and money. Haha. 

Peace and quiet. Plus some dogs around.

With good company, wine is inevitable. Ahhh... Bliss. I have been to La Luz before and my second time is still pretty much the same. The sand is fine on one side but gets a little rocky towards the shoreline. The sand is not white but more on the lighter shade of brown. The beach umbrellas, the wonderful service, the buffet, and the peaceful place is perfectly fine. We didn't do any water sports or any activities except very little swimming and frying our skin under the sun. We particularly chose the dangerous timeframe you must avoid - 9am onwards, because we're crazy like that.

Just a few days ahead, we ventured to Bacolor, Pampanga for a birthday party. From SLEx a few days ago, to NLEx a few days ahead. Ah, we're rich with experience but so poor with gas and toll money. HA HA. NOT. -___-

Happy birthday, Kristal! We've been true friends to you for 2 years now (we rode the bus last year since no one wanted to drive all the way)! 

Then A Different Cab Story

I love cab stories. I remember the one time I rode a cab, on the last day of work (we have shutdown, baby!), and as usual - I send the cab details to people at home and engage the driver into a conversation just because I want to know the person whom I have entrusted my life with for at least an hour or less of our travel time.

We started with the usual route and traffic conversation starter. I noticed a Blackberry hanging from the rear-view mirror. He told me about his experience with a really arrogant passenger who wanted him to swerve and drive recklessly. He asked the passenger to step out of his cab and he continued with, "Some passengers think just because they pay their fare, they own us already." Then he started talking about Born Again Christians and we then shifted to his son. He asked me if I'm still studying and he said that his son was changed by his Christian friends. He was a dropout of HRM and just spent his time playing mindless computer games. He stopped studying, he didn't have vices and is a good son, well except that he doesn't want to study anymore. Then he got involved with a Christian group. He joined their cell groups and the praise-and-worship band, becoming their keyboardist. Then one day, he told his parents, "Mom, Dad, I want to study again." Given that they are supportive parents, they asked him of his chosen course. He wanted to take IT and the best thing is that apart from the 50% scholarship, he actually wants to have a degree this time.

Then he mentioned something else. His son is not his eldest child. He has a stepdaughter from his wife who had a child with someone who left her. He was bestfriends with his wife and since he was still single then, they got together. He was able to provide for his family and his stepdaughter was able to finish school. Now, she lives in the US where she married a soldier who has a position and has a son. He asked me if I want to see a photo of his grandson who looks like an artista. He was really excited so who am I to say no? He handed me his Blackberry (with the AT&T mark on!) and showed photos of his grandson. He mentioned that when his stepdaughter and grandson visited them (when the husband was stationed in Afghanistan), he brought the kid with him and entertained the passengers.

It was a very good trip. Neither of us noticed that we were at San Juan already. It was a really interesting cab ride for me, one of my most interesting ones to be honest. I even told the driver about my ill-fated encounter with a creeper-driver. He definitely countered that misadventure.

Death: Canine and Eletronics

Late November and early December was a sad and depressing time. Butchoi, our ever lovable Japanese Spitz, passed away. Nov 25, 2005 - Nov 28, 2013. I cried buckets! Yaya Susan cried buckets. She fed and bathed and took care of that dog for a long time. The dog who barks even if you're a block away from the gate. The dog who always barks when I open the car, unless I tell him first, "May kukuhanin lang!" and he somehow doesn't bark at me or the car. The dog who gets crazy when there's a car parked in front of our gate. I'll miss this fluffy guard dog who looks like a white wolf. The bigger version of a normal Japanese Spitz. Japanese Spitz as a breed can't really boast a long life for its line but that doesn't make them less popular. I was just relaying the story to my friends the next day in the office during breaktime and suddenly waterworks ensued. It was my first time to silently weep in public ever since the Great Depression occured. After my dog's death, my phone decided to become a brick. Just like that, they left me. :(

Death Cab for Ruthie

Sweet baby geez, I haven't really posted anything in an eternity even though there were already a number of things I wanted to talk about such as how beautiful it is watching at Dolby Atmos cinemas. Or like how douchey cab drivers are lately. Oh yeah, I remember that!

It was a regular Friday (Nov 8 to be exact). I hailed a cab in front of our office building and had the luxury of choosing between a rickety old Corolla versus a spanking blue and white Vios. Of course, the Vios won. I got in as soon as the previous female passenger got out, lugging with me my laptop and 2 other bags (eyebags not included). Do you have that spider-sense? I don't. But it felt like I had one and it was on red alert. My SOP of texting the cab details wasn't forgotten, yet the last number of the cab was scraped off, so I had to look at the front passenger seat's side to check. Ok. Got the details! The driver was really suspicious. Like, reaaaally suspicious. My gut feel was way off the chart! He looks at me from the rearview mirror a lot, turns the aircon at full blast, and keeps on raising his three fingers in front of the vent. I was reaaaaally nervous already. I was waiting to smell something unusual or feel my lungs contract and then I called up a friend to break the silence (I tried making conversation with the driver but it's just one liners from him).

Finally he spoke. He mentioned that he needs to check the engine. Petron wasn't really full but he said, "Ay walang tubig." After one last intersection, I can't take it anymore. I asked him to drop me off because I forgot something in the office. "Bababa ka na? Bakit?" One foot was out of the door already and I gave him money before he drags me off to zombieland. 

I stayed outside and walked for a while and hailed a cab again. I was so scared I didn't ride a can afterwards for some time again. Yeahp. Who knew that old Corolla was safer than that new Vios?