Beeffalo by Hot Rocks

My first time at a new dining place which is surprisingly near to our house. Just located within 1km from my place and it's so easy to locate. The place is called Beeffalo -- the backyard grill by Hot Rocks. Owned by foodies, Louie Abad and wife, the idea and experience of putting up a business in Marikina is a surprise. They are not from Marikina and the risk of placing the business there is a blessing. Funny thing is that even the residents themselves don't know such place exist.

Unnoticeable at first, the cozy ambiance of Beeffalo is often mistaken as a humble bungalow with a nightly party and barbecue setup on weekends. Just like the old times, you can relax in the al fresco or enjoy the cool air-conditioned interiors. Go vintage with record labels and the Vespa motorcycle and have that Grease feel. The best of it, the place is guaranteed clean.

Beeffalo interiors

Beeffalo Barbecue Backyard

Serving originally American cuisine, the business expanded by adding Italian dishes like pasta and pizza. What's more amazing is that they added isaw to the list. Don't see it as a posh diner because the price list is so affordable. Click here for the menu: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.537101966392548.1073741844.107743755995040&type=1

Their best-selling Baby Back Ribs and Steak are really to dine for! The marinade is very tasty and it sinks in the meat. Side dishes are served fresh and soups are not too hot to slurp in. Enjoy it with their Java rice or bread and you'll be very satisfied. Louie also told us that one guest frequents the place and orders a huge slob of ribs for himself. I envy that guy.

Beeffalo is truly one great discovery in Marikina. Take Marikina Sports Park, along Sumulong Highway, as your starting point. Go straight and turn the first left to Gil Fernando Avenue. Move along until passing Marikina Engineering Dept, and find Beeffalo at your left. From Marcos Highway, take Gil Fernando Avenue. Go straight passing Blue Wave Mall (Marquinton) and Marikina Engineering Department.

Read More

Indulge in goodness in SM BF Paranaque

Watch this commercial entitled TASTE by SM City BF Paranaque. Sorry for me it's just too far from Marikina. Some joints are also available in the SM Malls near my place.


Taste includes the following food joints:

Caffe Bene
Cafe Mary Grace
Chop Stop
Gaspi's
Guernica's
Katsu Sora
Kimono Ken
Kuya J
Manna
My Little Buttercup
Shitamachi
Thousand Cranes
Toho
Vikings (Opening soon)
Zabo Chicken

Try them this weekend.

Read More

Wendy's all-famous Salad Bar returns

It's  quite a long time when 90s kids waited for the return of Wendy's famous Salad Bar. And once again, I'm able to try it with just half the experience.

The Salad Bar costs P199 per serving but sadly, the bar is half empty so I just have to take what's left. Macaroni Salad, some shredded carrots, slices of tomatoes, cucumber and jellies. I am not so experienced with the Salad Bar so I ended up with this:

My attempt to the Wendy's Salad Bar

Many people are taking advantage of the Salad Bar because it's an art to craft a salad tower in a small plate, it's fresh and healthy, and it's delicious. If people can come back to the bar, they will. We will.

There are just 3 rules when availing the Wendy's Salad Bar:
1. Only one visit to the bar (So pile up the ingredients all at once.)
2. Do not spill over from the plate (I doubt if anyone has obeyed this)
3. Only for dine-in (Leaving some food behind is bad, remember there are other people hungrier than you are.)

Now go to your nearest Wendy's joint and grab a plate.

Read More

#MeatlessMonday at Monsee's

i could possible eat anything. from the simplest to the luxurious food served on the table, i cannot resist unless im full or not really hungry. im not also under strict diet so im welcome to eat whatever's on my plate.

but there's still a healthier option. most of us don't eat vegetables until they realize the importance of it. i learned it earlier on that eating natural food may also increase our life on earth. im not really into reading books about eating healthy but good thing there are people out there that can encourage you to do the right and healthier choices. they explain the reasons why eating vegetables is essential for living and i guess it's the fountain of youth for some. in Monsee's (aka Harina Artisan Bakery), they are very proud to say that they are not just serve bread and very satisfying meals, they also give you an option to try something new and healthy.

Monsee's aka Harina Artisan Bakery

i entitled this post #MeatlessMonday since most of us all start our week with Mondays. people tend to make a change on Mondays, initiate something good on Mondays, etc. and to also spread "vegetarianism" among Filipinos, under the supervision of Atty. Marina Demeterio and Sally Yunez, they developed recipes that even i thought they were hard to resist. very yummy dishes that anyone could ask for more without much of the filling.

i and a couple of friends tried these vegetarian dishes. more from the surprises we had during my first visit at Monsees, the dishes were so delicious and even non-vegetarians can love. once i tried their recipes, this entry is my recommendation that YOU SHOULD REALLY TRY IT! see the photos of the sumptuous meal served here:

you might be interested in some "unusual" dishes like the vegetarian dinuguan in the last photo. even a non-dinuguan eater can eat it since it's not really blood. they also used tofu as meat substitute to retain the "vegetarianism" in the dishes. when we ate it, they are really good.

i am definitely recommending that you try to visit Monsee's. if you want to start eating healthy but have scares in eating vegetables, this is the first step since they are very good. it also gives you a lighter mood when you eat healthy, did you know that? and vegetables are abundant in the country and you will have this concern and care for nature.

if you want to try them, Monsee's is located at Katipunan Rd, near White Plains in Quezon City. and these dishes are not only served on Mondays but for the whole week. they are open upto 9PM, by the way.

Read More

Bhe'st Lasagna is simply the best!

i had this rare chance to eat the famous lasagna in the Metro. it's not from a restaurant but it was home-cooked by a humble housewife. Bhe'st Lasagna, from the nickname of its owner, Rossini Rufon, which had no plans before of turning her recipe into a big business, thanks to the persuasion of her family and friends.

we had a little chitchat over her two best sellers, Chicken and Beef lasagna. it was a guilty sit-down since Holy Week will be coming over. but i couldn't resist from the yummy beef lasagna that i had that time. she didn't mind about revealing her secret. she just devoted her time and love making the lasagna. it was true that when you're happy when you're cooking, a smile is a secret ingredient i guess. 

it was such a blessing for her pursuing the lasagna business. she was able to send her 4 kids to school and in return, they are helping their mom do the lasagna as it also serves as their family time. they even joined expos and bazaars introducing the delicious dish to the people.

Bhe'st Lasagna is also been discovered by local celebrities and voluntarily endorsed to their friends. examples are Snooky Serna and Christine Babao. you can check their Facebook page for other testimonies. i personally love the beef lasagna especially with the cheese sauce and pandesal garlic toast.

Pandesal Garlic Toast (Php 100 / 24pcs)

did you know that you can also customize the lasagna? special requests had Rossini innovate on her own lasagna and make is more special for occasions. you can put a short dedication for the large servings of Bhe'st Lasagna for the person you love.

for orders, you can check here:

Read More

join the QC-na Culinary Competition year 4

as i attended the Quezon City Tourism Council membership meeting last Friday, a news was delivered by the QCTC Chairman, Teresita Tirona, and i was excited to know that the 4th year of the QC-na Culinary Competition will be on the works soon. it is an annual gathering and competition of culinary experts to showcase the rich culture, tradition and talents from Quezon City. this year, it will be at the Trinoma Activity Center this August.

there will be two categories: the professional and student categories. the Professional group is open to all restaurateurs and hotels in Quezon City only while they encourage schools even outside Quezon City to join the Student category. registration is not yet open but i will update you with details soon.

what to cook? they QCTC opens the theme on what to serve the national heroes, Jose Rizal, Teodora Alonzo, etc. these have to be 3-course dishes: appetizer, main course and dessert. so this is a call to every culinarian to invent and be proud of the rich culture of Filipinos.

at stake are prizes from the City Government of Quezon City, bragging rights, plus the winner of the Professional Category will be the country's representative to the HOFEX (Hong Kong Food Expo) come 2013 and compete with the best culinarians in Asia.

so gather up your team and prepare for the QC-na 2012. start your training now!

Read More

Chili Prawns by The Cookery Place

this is my favorite dish we cooked at The Cookery Place. large prawns in spicy Thai sauce, I can eat the whole thing through dinner. Mmm! though some people like me cannot tolerate much chili and heat, you can put in less.

Cooking method: Stir-frying
Serves 4

Ingredients:
200 g prawns, peeled, deveined
¼ cup shrimp stock
¼ cup tomato catsup
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp chili paste
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, minced
1 tsp shallot, minced
2 pcs bird’s eye chili, sliced
1 pc egg, beaten

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the stock, catsup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste and sugar. Set aside.
2. In a hot wok or pan, add the oil and stir-fry the prawns until cooked. Remove from the pan and set aside.
3. Using the same work or pan, add oil, garlic, ginger, shallots and bird’s eye chili. Stir-fry until fragrant.
4. Add the sauce and stir a few seconds before adding the egg in a circular motion to thicken the sauce.
5. Add the cooked prawns and mix well with the sauce.
6. Remove from the heat and serve.

check out their Facebook page or you can contact them at (02)8220768. The Cookery Place is located at Unit 2GH, Kensington Place, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Read More

Pineapple Fried Rice from The Cookery Place

how about cooking this early in the morning. it perks you up the whole day!

Cooking method: Stir frying
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 cups rice, cooked
½ cup coconut milk
1 cup pineapple, diced
4 tsp curry powder
2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
4 stalks spring onion, sliced
1 tsp bird’s eye chili, sliced
2 pcs tomato, sliced
¼ cup ham, diced
2 tsp cilantro leaves

Directions:

1. Pour the coconut milk in to a wok or pan on medium heat and cook until the oil surfaces. Add the curry powder and stir until fragrant.
2. Add the pineapple and stir-fry, mixing everything together.
3. Add the rice and stir-fry. Season with the sugar and soy sauce. Stir to mix everything together. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
4. Transfer the rice to a place. Top with sliced tomatoes, spring onion, ham and chili before serving.

check out their Facebook page or you can contact them at (02)8220768. The Cookery Place is located at Unit 2GH, Kensington Place, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Read More

Grilled Beef Salad by The Cookery Place

Cooking method: Grilling
Serves 4

Ingredients:
350 g Beef, tenderloin
1 tbsp Vegetable oil
2 tbsp Oyster sauce
salt and pepper
¼ cup Water
2 tbsp palm or brown sugar
2 pcs bird’s eye chili, sliced
1 pc cucumber, sliced thinly
½ pc onion, thinly sliced
40 g long beans, sliced
½ cup mint leaves, shredded
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp thai fish sauce
2.5 tbsp lime juice
2 pcs tomato, quartered
50 g kinchay, sliced

Directions:

1. Marinate the beef in oil, oyster sauce, salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Grill beef according to desired doneness, turning once. After both sides are cooked, allow the beef to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing thinly.
3. To make dressing, in a small skillet, heat the water with sugar, stirring until dissolved. Transfer to a large bowl. Add garlic, fish sauce, lime juice and Thai red chili. Let cool.
4. Add the cucumber, onion, tomatoes, sitaw, kinchay, mint and sliced steak. Toss well and serve right away.

check out their Facebook page or you can contact them at (02)8220768. The Cookery Place is located at Unit 2GH, Kensington Place, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Read More

a business dinner

thank you to the wonderful couple who treated me last night at Gerry's Grill for dinner. it was unexpected but surely the memories will be cherished forever. Estelle and Ulysses of BizWhiz, i wish you success in your endeavors and may the next days be more prosperous. our little chat will not just strengthen our business partnerships but friendship as well.

i hope that this is not the only time that we'll have our food trippings. see you again soon.

Read More

Bizu hosts a party for bloggers

I remember eating at Bizu before with a couple of bloggers. It was really a good time and it was also the time I got baptized with macaroons. And just last night at a special gathering, we had not just good food but we enjoyed the joys of living.

It was a very informative and fun night, discovering the history of Bizu Patisserie. Literally came from two French words, "bisou" meaning: kiss and "patisserie," which is French for "art gallery for food." True enough that Bizu Patisserie has a gallery of yummy food and pastries, hence the name. And also, we found out that the pioneer store was just a building away and after 10 years and as business is getting stronger, they will open another branch in Rockwell and other areas. The owner, Anabel Tanco, must really be very happy when she steps into another property of Bizu. Her fond of the French cuisine and its heritage is very well accepted here in the Philippines as they developed recipes in fusion of French and Filipino taste.

We had games and pretty delicious food served last night. They had made it extra special because Bizu Patisserie believes that all of us should enjoy life. Four courses served starting with French Onion Soup, a Truffle Salad, then a 10-Hour U.S. Roast Beef with potato gratin, grilled vegetables, horseradish and mushroom espagnole. Their Trio Desserts ended the sweet night.


An ongoing contest is set last August 15 to October 31, 2011. All you have to do is capture a moment in photo and upload it in facebook.com/ilovebizu. You can also read the mechanics there. This is in celebration of their 10th year in the business. Show everyone the simple pleasures of life through photos. You can also say it in French: "Joie de Vivre" - The Joy of Living. Find the categories and criteria for judging at www.facebook.com/ilovebizu.

Bloggers enjoying Joie de Vivre at Bizu last night.

Winners in each category may win Bizu gift certificates or even a vacation for 2 at Acuatico Beach Resort. Only by sharing the simple joys of living.

Read More

SM Hypermarket's Super Chefs

SM Hypermarket has launched a contest open for all those who spend their times in the kitchen! SUPER CHEFS combines three big reality shows - Iron Chef, American Idol and Survivor! and like these shows, interested participants will undergo three stages: 1. audition, 2. elimination and 3. the grand finals. TV chef, Chef Tristan Encarnacion will host the grand finals on Asian Food Channel.

to get qualified for the audition round, interested participants just need to present a P1,000 single or accumulated purchase from any SM Hypermarket inclusive of the sponsors’ product together with your cooked dish on the submission day. throughout the competition, their creations will be judged by celebrities like Winnie Cordero and the country’s top chefs like Reggie Aspiras, to ensure that only the best survive.

DISH TO SUBMIT: ADOBO
June 15 - Centris Station, Valenzuela
June 18 - Marilao Molino, Sucat, MOA

DISH TO SUBMIT : KALDERETA
June 16 - Bicutan, Pasig, Clark
June 19 - Novaliches, Mandaluyong
June 30 - Makati, North Harbour

DISH TO SUBMIT : MENUDO
June 17 - North EDSA, Las Piñas, Taytay
June 23 - Muntinlupa, Rosales, Baliwag
June 25 - Fairview

The grand winner of the SM Hypermarket Super Chefs will get to take home a kitchen showcase worth P100,000 and go on a 4-day all-expense-paid trip to Singapore for a culinary training. Runner-ups will also win a P50,000, P25,000, P15,000 or P10,000 SM gift certificates.

The contest runs from May to July 2010. For details, visit any SM Hypermarket branch, log on to www.smhypermarket.com, or like Super Chefs on Facebook.

SM Hypermarket Super Chefs 2010 is sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions, Nestle, San Remo, Purefoods, Selecta, Kraft Miracle Whip, Cheez Whiz, Eden Cheese, McCormick, Lee Kum Kee, Kikkoman soy sauce, Clara Ole and San Miguel Beer.

Read More

Foodivities is nominated!

it is a great honor to become a nominee by one of our friends, Lace -- who by the way taking time down under, as one of the Top 10 Influential Blogs for 2009! yes, we are nominated and she describes us as:

love the photos taken by mobile phone, like a reality show for restaurants and quick bites.

i think it would also be fun if i would nominate other blogs to be included on the list. by the way, this is Ms. Janette Toral's project.

so this is my list:

1. foodivities - two make two nominations. *wink* it's not only about food but everything related to it. enjoy your promo announcements, my reviews and events.
   
2. The Accidental Teacher - from a teacher's point of view. i support teacher because my mom is a teacher too!
   
3. Pinoyjobless.com - so what does a jobless man do? hehe
   
4. Delamar's Brain Farts - yeah, that DJ from RX got the buzz!
5. New Wave Underground - music diversity!
   
6. StyleandRelax.net - of course, lace, it's your blog!
7. PinayAds.com - great celeb moments, photos, entertainment news, etc.!
   
8. Perstaym - ohmski's sosyal travels in his most jologs narration.
   
9. Absolute Cousins - (mmm) Plurk mode
   
10. Digital Manila - this is another *bangis* blog.
    

10 is a small list to enumerate all my favorites. and this is my first time of joining but i hope this will go a long, long way!

this year's Top 10 Influential Blogs writing project is sponsored by Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, and Business Summaries.

Read More

what Foodivities has been checking out

EAT MATTERS
CHINESE NA MATAKAW

want your own button to be featured in my blog? subscribe and reply to this email and link me back to your site.

Read More

Foodivities already has its own domain!

after a hundred times thinking of buying my own domain, i now finally introduce to you www.foodivities.info! it took me a long time of setting this up and the technology doesn't get into my veins. well, what do i know? i just love food. hehe

so in the mean time, let's stay with .info. i might use .com after this domain expires. there's a lot more content that i will be writing about in the future and i hope you constantly visit me.

good day and let's feast!

a lot of thanks to the tech-hyper mind of www.itot54joni.com for helping me set this up too.

Read More

Welcome to Foodivities

we all love food and we all have favorites. but what's fun about food is that you can share it with everyone during a special occasion or maybe a simple gathering.

and everyone has a story to tell. a little chit chat with friends over cookies and tea will cheer them up; a kid learns to mix his pancake batter; a baby enjoys his nutritious baby food; a group talking about latest gossip at a party: everything is served with food.

but this blog has more than you can think of. it will not only give you reviews and recipes, but memories from childhood, special cooking skills, our original recipes or modified specials are great additions to the idea. this would also feature stuff about food unimaginable.

i thought of coming up with special categories here:

1. Mom's Recipes - mom's secrets and procedures that taught me how to cook and appreciate food;
2. Food Cravings - you want to request for a recipe? sure!
   
3. Contributions - your food moments featured here;
4. Reviews - books, magazines, shows;
5. Kitchen Arena - techniques that you can use in the kitchen;
6. Food Parade - parties and events announcements.

and some posts that will just pop out of my head. of course, you partygoers, i will also post some party tips and those cocktails that you are thinking about.

the world is full of food for our minds, so let's have a feast.

Read More