Taste Buds At Work: Emong Malunggay Pandesal

First night of my long(er) weekend in Guimba, my sister was scheduled on night hospital duty. Before she left for work --

Me: 'bili mo 'ko ng Amazing Aloha pag-uwi mo bukas sister.

Vian: Okay.

The next morning, sa awa ng Diyos, walang Amazing Aloha. But she got me these --

I wanted to be disappointed pero na-excite na lang ako. I had been hearing a lot about Emong Malunggay Pandesal from our househelp, Ate Emily. Masarap daw. Super. At blockbuster palagi ang pila. 

Diz iz it!

That's 15 pieces of freshly baked malunggay pandesal, P2.00 a piece. Ambango lang! (If nag-compute ka, yes, P30.00 lahat 'yan. Galing mo sa Math kid!) ^_^

Although, Emong Malunggay Pandesals are a bit smaller than Baguio's Danes Pandesal that I'm used to buying, I think they're much tastier. They're quite crispy on the outside - parang matigas at first look, pero parang lang - and soft and chewy inside. 

However, I wondered why "malunggay"? There was no hint of malunggay taste in them. I don't know, maybe it was just me. When I looked closer --

Ah okay. Meron naman palang mga tiny flakes of, I suppose, malunggay. 

Also, I find these pandesal sweeter than most pandesals that I've tasted. Vian said they're better when hot. I have to say they really were, pero masarap pa din, at malambot, even nung afternoon na hindi na sila mainit. 

Anyhow, I liked Emong Malunggay Pandesal. At first, I thought it was an original product of Guimba, hindi pala. May kilala kasi akong Mang Emong sa Guimba. 'Kala ko business niya. Haha! I Googled and learned that this bakery is all over the Philippines, originally from Bulacan. Wala pa kasi yata sa Baguio nito, o baka lang hindi pa nakarating sa akin ang balita. 

Those who have tasted Emong Malunggay Pandesal, 'no say niyo?

Emong Malunggay Pandesal

Poblacion, Next to 7-11 

Guimba, Nueva Ecija

Note: There may be a lot of other blogs out there that offer an extensive and more detailed review on the same topic as the above. Things I put here are just my two cents. I don't even consider this a review. Just a kwento on the experience per se. Enjoy! ^_^ 7-11

Ciao! ♥

Taste Buds At Work: Puno's Cheese Cashew Macapuno Ice Cream And Langka Cheese Cashew Ice Cream

I don't remember exactly when I first learned about this Puno's Ice Cream. I think it was about a year ago from my Sisterful Vian when I was visiting. She mentioned to me how sarap daw talaga this ice cream. That it was incomparable to some commercially known ice cream brands. Of course whose curiosity naman wouldn't be tickled upon hearing that, davah?

But at that time, Mr. (or Mrs. maybe) Puno still had to put up an outlet in Guimba. Closest outlet from Guimba that Vian could think of was in Talavera - two towns and maybe around 30-minute drive away from ours. We dismissed the idea.

Whenever there was a party in the house, we always ordered dirty ice cream from someone who was Muder's suki and family friend. The last time we visited Guimba for Muder's birthday, I couldn't be happier because there's already a Puno's Ice Cream outlet there. Yay!!! So this time, we had Puno's Ice Cream for a change.

I sent Vian and Jerico to buy "enough" ice cream so bahala na sila kung gaano karami. She told me that its price was much cheaper than usual ice cream brands so I handed her P1,000. Sorry guys if I cannot tell you the exact price or even just an estimate price for each because when they arrived from the store, we became too busy with the preparation for the party that afternoon and I forgot about my change na. Surely, I'd spent P1,000 for a 1.9L, a 3.8L, an 80mL ice cream plus Vian's service fee. Haha!

This is how the container looks like.

Puno's Langka Cheese Cashew Ice Cream

I thought it tasted like something really, really familiar to me. After so many scoops of it, that's when I finally figured out what it was. It tasted like halo-halo maybe because of the langka in it. Hansarap!

Taste Buds At Work: Army Navy's Charlie Bravo Querida Mia

When Elmer and I dined at Army Navy in its Session Road branch for the first time, he had a burger while I had a burrito. Fair enough for Army Navy is well-known as a Burger+Burrito joint, right? That time, I took photos of the place, the food that we ordered and this ad table standee showcasing Army Navy's Querida Mia.

That's why I promised myself that I'd order Querida Mia next time. So when Aunt Erma invited us for a dinner at Army Navy, I fulfilled my promise. ^_^

Taste Buds At Work: 50's Diner's Pizza Burger

If you love pizza, and you love burger, then you would definitely love a pizza burger.

On Sunday when we dined out at 50's diner, I was not in the mood for a rice meal although I didn't have lunch that day. I thought, it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner. I knew 50's Diner's burgers were much bigger than the usual size that were served in most fast food chains. So burger - pizza burger - it was.

50's Diner's Pizza Burger, P135

With lettuce, onion rings, tomato slices, cucumber slices and few potato slices - usual burger add-ons

With lotsa cheese, mushroom, bell pepper and pineapple slices - common pizza toppings

The lettuce, onion rings, tomato and cucumber slices were not yet topped to the burger patty so you could have some kinda make-your-own burger thing on your plate. But the mushroom, bell pepper and  pineapple slices already were along with the thick grated cheese. I easily tasted the familiar pizza flavor in the juicy patty. 

As a pizza and burger lover, I just simply couldn't find anything not lovable about this pizza burger. I just loved it! Aunt Sol, who was sitting next to me ordered a 50's Burger that was exactly as huge as the Pizza Burger that I ordered, commented, "Pinilit ubusin ni Mia ang burger. Anlaki kasi." Inubos ko talaga 'yun kasi ansarap e. 

And now that I am writing about it and have again taken a look at its photos above, kahit malakas ang bagyo, parang gusto kong sumadya sa 50's Diner at kumain ng isang masarap na Pizza Burger. 

50's Diner

92 Upper General Luna Road Corner Brent Road

Baguio City 2600

Military Cutoff Road

(Beside Kubong Sawali)

Baguio City 2600

Note: There may be a lot of other blogs out there that offer an extensive and more detailed review on the same topic as the above. Things I put here are just my two cents. I don't even consider this a review. Just a kwento on the experience per se. Enjoy! ^_^

Ciao! ♥
  

My First Hodori Experience

Remember I mentioned how our new house was so empty? We've started filling it with furniture.

Last week (Oh yes, this is a very late post. Hamsowsowri!), during Elmer's only rest day, he and I went to Tiongsan Mabini to check out their dining sets. And we got one. We finally bought a dining table and chairs. Yay!!!

There's nothing spectacular about the one that we've bought. Nikki was even complaining "bakit walang bilog na umiikot sa gitna" (Lazy Susan), to which her Daddy replied, "Pang-tamad lang 'yun!". Then I explained, "Kasi pang-malaking mga tables 'yun. At pang-mayaman."

Okay, this is not about our dining set. Near Tiongsan Mabini was Hodori, a popular Korean and Japanese Restaurant here in Baguio. Elmer had been bugging me that I try dining there. He already did couple of times before with I forgot who. We headed right there and there was m first ever experience at Hodori Restaurant.

First we were served with this. Please don't ask me what it's called.

Jar of water with two bags of I-don't-know soaked in it.

At first I was, "Anong nasa loob?"

Taste Buds At Work: Chowking's Chunky Beef Chow Pao

Eleven days ago (or was it just ten), I was beaming with joy when Muder brought me a new yaya. Yesterday, she already left. Today, I officially have no yaya again. Hindi ko na ii-stress ang sarili ko sa issue na 'yan. But lemme make that clear, hindi ako ang may problema. Sure na sure ako diyan. ^_^

After work, in the middle of Dindo's super heavy rain and strong winds, I had to drag Nikki and Calli with me to bring the ex-yaya to the van terminal. (Ayan. I'm starting to feel a li'l inis again. Ha!)

It was raining animals yesterday.  Before going back home, my kids and I sought warmth and found it right next to the van terminal along Chanum Street...Chowking!

Police station right across

There were only very, very few customers inside. 

Nikki and her PJ

Taste Buds At Work: Mr. Kimbob's Bulgogi Japchae Dubbob

It was Mother's Day. I had work in the morning and needed to run some errands in the afternoon. Elmer also had work that day. Straight from work, I went to town and did what I had to do. When I was already about to go home, and even when I had just arrived in town, I was already starving. I thought aabot pa sa bahay ang gutom ko pero andami ko na talagang gutom. Kebs sa dami ng tao sa food court. Sumide trip ako sa Mr. Kimbob. 

I have already tried Mr. Kimbob's Bibimbob, Kimbob and Shabu-Shabu many times. (I think their names are really intended to say "bob" at the end instead of the supposed "bap". Whatcha think?) So I told myself I gotta try something different that time. 

Before I continue, let me share to you a li'l lesson on Korean language. (Howkei. What am I now after a few Korean meals? An expert on their language? ^_^) I may be wrong with some of these. I only got these from all over the Internet. Feel free to correct me.

Taste Buds At Work: Bubbatealicious Caramel Milk Tea

Elmer and I frequent SM City Baguio. Whenever there's a change in it, we notice. Whenever there's a new food shop, we notice...and drool. Whenever there's a scheduled weekend sale, we know. Whenever there's rally, we know. ^_^ Well, who doesn't? Most people here in Baguio do. This is a small city, and there's only one decent mall here. Yep, SM City Baguio that is. (Howkei, this is not a paid post. I wish!)

Couple of months ago, I noticed this new stall somewhere near the food court area - Bubbatealicious Pearl Milk Tea Place. I can't tell you how much I love milk tea. I was introduced to milk tea when I was...I don't remember. A cup of water (hot or warm then just chill sa fridge later on), tea bag (Susan Baker or Lipton), brown sugar and canned evaporated milk (I prefer Carnation). Solb ang milk tea fix ko at home. 

Taste Buds At Work: Army Navy's Bully Boy Burger And Chicken Burrito

Remember this post from couple of days ago? During times like this, I always exploit Elmer's hazy thinking and decision-making. ^_^ So before going home, I asked him first for us to grab a bite. And since we were already in Session Road and had been longing to dine at Army Navy Session Road, we chose Army Navy to dine at. By the way, Army Navy branch in Session Road was only put up earlier this year. The one in Camp John Hay has been there for a long time already, I guess. But I have yet to try dining at Army Navy Camp John Hay.

Now in Session Road

The place was of course, clean because it's new and gave a different ambiance from other restaurants and food shops.

Taste Buds At Work: Mogu Mogu Fruit Juice

Mogu Mogu is a Japanese term that means "to chew" but this product originally came from Thailand. I know, I know. Mogu Mogu has been here in the Philippines since about two years ago. This perhaps is just another post about this fruit juice health drink with real nata de coco. Pardon me. I have never heard about this product until a couple of months ago I guess, and never seen and tasted the real thing until today. Finally, I have met Mogu Mogu. Why did I not hear about it then? Where was I? What was wrong with me? As I researched more on this product, I found out that there was even a craze over this when it first arrived here in the Philippines. 

Taste Buds At Work: Selecta's Magnum Classic

Enjoy the royal treatment for a royal price

I first heard of this Magnum Ice Cream in Twitter thru @mondgutierrez. (Yes, I follow him on Twitter, you got any problem with that? ^_^ ) But he would just say "Magnum" in his tweets. I was like, "What is Magnum?", to myself. (I found out later that Raymond Gutierrez is one of the Magnum "icons" daw, along with Erwan and Solenn Heussaff, Liz Uy, Rajo Laurel and Tessa Prieto Valdes).

Then my friends at work explained to me what it was. Oooh, it's a chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream on a stick which originated overseas (not sure where) and locally distributed here in the Philippines by Selecta. And they said there's already a TV commerical for it. I was like, oh-kay! When did that TV commercial start airing? Where was I all that time? I have not seen the commercial until Thursday last week. I got intrigued by it, and so did Elmer. 

Taste Buds At Work: Jollibee's Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

We all know that kids are very fond of Jollibee, its mascot and its products. Jollibee and its products target mainly the younger population. Through the years, Jollibee tries to come up with products that are more pleasurable to adults.  This new Chicken and Mushroom Pasta is one of them. It's like Jolly Spaghetti for adults.

This is how it looks like in the ad.

This is how it does on the actual plate.