One of the things I love most about Singapore is diversity and culture, add up the variety of cuisine available in the country. Even without the tourist attractions, I can live with it.

Last June was I think my 4th or 5th visit in Singapore and it indeed became another memorable trip for me as this time, I went with my friends. It was also the most tiring trip I had since I had to bring them in key places. We seemed to have walked endlessly but it was worthwhile.

We’ve gone to each malls along Orchard, shopped for some souvenirs, tried the one-dollar ice cream, and then shop for more by end of the day.

We’ve gone to Sentosa, Chinatown, Bugis, Vivo City and a lot more places I can’t remember but thanks to the very efficient transport system in this country for a hassle-free touring and commuting.

Although some would think this was an expensive trip, we fortunately scored cheap holiday deals at Marina Bay Sands which was our last stop but turned out to be a highlight of our trip. We just scored a big discount for a night of stay in this luxurious hotel.

That’s just a summary of my recent trip in Singapore. I’ll share to you some photos and more details in my next posts.

Since I found myself a little busy than I was before and I don’t have much time to do length posts, I decided to just come up with a project 365 for this blog so I can maximize this space.

I wish I can do it though so wish me luck.

Watch out for my travel and foodie journey in the next 365 days.

Regards,

Ed

It’s been few months and still I would think my trip to India was unforgettable. It was a very quick trip but still I was able to squeeze some nice places in my itinerary.

It was actually an unplanned trip. It  is a very interesting country for me but it wasn’t on my priority list but then, I ended up booking a flight.

Being an unplanned trip, I rushed to the Embassy of India in Manila for my tourist visa. It wasn’t that difficult to obtain a tourist visa just as long as you have completed the requirements. Usually they would ask for financial papers like bank statements or anything that could prove that you can finance your travel.

Anyway, I’ve heard visa on arrival is now being offered to tourist so that’s a great news if in case you can’t go to the embassy and apply for a visa. (I’ll do a separate post about obtaining a visa in a separate post).

On a quick note, what have I done for 4.5 days in India?

- I spent part of my days in Bangalore and roam around. I’m impressed by their International airport

- Flew from Bangalore to Goa to experience the Arabian sea in this side of India. The place is very active and nice. Goan food is awesome too.

- Flew from Goa to New Delhi for Taj Mahal and other sites. Taj Mahal is awesome and unforgettable. You should never miss this place.

I’ll give more details about my trip in the coming days. There are just a lot to  say about India. It’s truly incredible and all I can say is four days is not enough to explore India.

At this moment, I just wait to come back. I’m dreaming of an all inclusive holidays in India, or probably in Maldives if there will be a chance for me to go there this year. Have I said I have already booked a trip bound to India again? Hopefully my schedule will permit me to push through.

Isn’t it a great news that another budget airlines will be set up for a competition to the existing budget airline companies that we already have? AirAsia Berhad, or simply known as AirAsia for budget travelers, will be shaking the local airline industry as it opens it doors to Filipino travelers in 2011.

The venture which will form AirAsia, Inc.,  gives 40% stake to AirAsia and 60% of equal shares among partners Antonio Cojuangco Jr, Michael Romero and Marianne Hontiveros, will pave way to the start of its target start of operations in August or September 2011.

Tagged as the largest low-cost Airline in Asia, its Philippine operations is expected to compete with key players in the country such as the Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific, Lucio Tan’s AirPhil Express, and Zest Air.

This is really a good news. It means, as it will not only translate to more job opportunities for the Filipinos, but also more chance to Filipino travelers to explore more domestic and international destinations at a low-cost (considering CebuPac did not have good enough deals in the past months, right?).

So anyway, one weekend, I decided to try doing baked tuna lasagna out of my boredom. Yes, for most of you who don’t know, I love cooking and baking as much as I love eating.

It was actually my second attempt to have a baked tuna lasagna. Instead of having pork and beef on it, I decided to use tuna to give it a healthier twist. It may taste a little different than the usual lasagna you have eaten but making it more cheesy can do the trick.

taken out from the oven

I still consider it as another attempt because actually, since I am playing on the pasta sauce I’m using so next time I would know what’s the best sauce out there.

Baked Tuna Lasagna on the plate

I may consider it was another successful attempt because there were no leftovers.

]]> http://www.eatmatters.com/my-baked-tuna-lasagna-attempt/feed/ 3 http://www.eatmatters.com/starbucks-2011-planners-hot-or-not/ http://www.eatmatters.com/starbucks-2011-planners-hot-or-not/#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:58:19 +0000 admin http://www.eatmatters.com/?p=27 The time to collect stickers for the Starbucks 2011 planners has started together with the re-release of Starbucks coffee “Christmas drinks” — Praline Mocha, Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha.

Although if people are asked about last year’s limited edition Starbucks planners–yey or yay–they would probably say “yay”. Yet, the promo was a big hit making the collection of stickers or stamps and the release of their limited planners almost a Christmas tradition.

The 2011 planner has been announced few weeks ago and been launched last night. Just by taking a look at the photos of it, I would say it looks better than last year’s.  However, the journals released in earlier on looked much better (I think).

But who am I to judge? I can’t remember any instance of me using a planner. I did not even attempted to complete the stickers just to get their planner. If not only for my love affair with their Peppermint mocha, I won’t have a sticker at all.

So when it’s “Starbucks planner season”, I’m also back with my Peppermint mocha addiction. With my love for this drink, I think I will just attempt to collect stickers and  have my Starbucks planner. Anyway, I think it’s time for me to use one. But the question is, will it be worth it to get their planner or should I just look for one at the mall? Yey or Yay?

(credits: photo via Starbucks Philippines Fanpage)

When you’re at the store, just say “I am a Starbucks Philippines Facebook Fan” and you get a free Creme Brulee Macchiato.

No need to say it with feelings though or your choice of tone. We dropped by Bonifacio Global City branch and we just told them “hey, you have a promo right?”. And that’s it. We had our free coffee.

Remember to order for a Creme Brulee Macchiato first. For those asking, it’s not totally free. It’s like a buy-one-take-one promo. When you buy one, you get another one for free, either same size or smaller.

Promo duration: October 26-28, 2010.

Since I have only tried Soms among the other Thai restos in the metro, I am looking forward to try same kind of restos soon. Thankfully, the owners of Nak Muay Asian Thai Cuisine invited us bloggers to try out what they are offering.

Nak Muay Asian Thai Cuisine is the newest of its kind in the metro. Owned by a muay thai fighter, rest assured you’ll savor the richness of thai flavors in their food while you will have an authentic Thai dining experience (of course, without the Thai massage and muay thai punches).

Before we got to taste their food, we had the chance to take photos of the food first. But I tell you, the smell was distracting enough and made me take the photos as much as I can so I can start to indulge and eat.

After the photo opp and a brief background on what they served, I decided to take a portion of their Pad Thai. Once served, you will initially think it’s an omelette as it is covered with egg. I love noodles in general, so I would say Nak Muay’s Pad Thai is now one of my favorites too. I suggest you should not allow it to get cold, or else it might end up dry. If it gets dry, try asking for some sauce.

And so, before the soup gets cold, I then got a serving of Nak Muay Soup. I did not have much expections about this soup but to my surprise, if you will ask me about my Nak Muay favorites, it will go on top of the list. The sour taste and the spice in the chicken broth along with the herbs added in it,  I could say it is a very good comfort food and it’s really perfect for a gloomy day or during rainy seasons.  I’ll be good even if it’s the only dish I’ll order from them. If you’re on a diet, I suggest you get this soup. FYI, this is what Muay Thai fighters eat as part of their preparation before getting into battles.

If Nak Muay soup has not made you full yet, you can jump to their next noodle delight–Thai noodle soup. Though I find it a little salty, matching with either noodles or rice is perfect. The herbs added in it can be beneficial to anyone too.

I just regret not being able to try the bagoong rice meal. It landed on my area, unfortunately, none was left for me to eat.  So I guess, I’ll take it as a proof that this meal is a must try. And as they say, it’s not the typical bagoong rice you’ll find so I think I’m definitely coming back for this one.

On the other hand, if you’re craving for something sweet and a little sour, you may try out their Khao Pad pineapple rice or the Khao Pad pineapple rice meal.

Another common dish in Thai restaurants would be Chicken Pandan. It’s not surprising that it’s one of Nak Muay’s best sellers. It’s a perfect match with the bagoong or khao pad rice, an appetizer, or a perfect buddy of beer or any alcoholic drink. It’s comparable to Soms’ chicken pandan– much better and much tender. It also got a hint of Andoks chicken, or is it just me?

Talking of a perfect pair for beer, Nak Muay’s Steamed Cream Dory reminds me of the local dish, “kinilaw“, with it’s spicy, creamy, curry-like sauce with lemon and other herbs. The only difference, of course, is it’s steamed unlike with the “kinilaw” which is usually served raw or semi-raw. Hot, steamy rice is perfect for this dish.

Another dish that actually surprised me and I would recommend was the stir-fry Kangkong with yellow bean sauce. They’ve done a good job in turning this common vegetable into an extraordinary dish. If you got no problem in eating veggies, this dish would be a delight. This is also a favorite.

After indluging into dishes, should a dessert junk like me miss their desserts? Of course not. This part is what I always look forward to, and I will always look for especially after trying out Kamo Thai, their version of our local favorite dessert–ube. Though it was served fresh and hot to us, the owners told us that it’s also good when served cold or frozen, resulting to an ice-cream like consistency.

Another option for dessert is the Banana in Coconut syrup. It comes in a glass with shaved ice, more like banana con hielo (banana in ice), with a Thai twist.

So, I’ve mentioned all about the food but not the drinks. I decided to put it last as their Thai Milk Iced tea deserves to be on the spotlight and the star of this review. Served in a big glass, it’s really worth a gulp. It’s a steal and worth it for its price at P80 just for a delicious, milky, rich taste of a freshly-brewed iced tea. Can we start an online petition so they can have it bottomless? I assure you, Nak Muay’s Thai Milk Iced tea is way better than Som’s version of this drink.

Wanna try these Thai dishes but going solo or on a limited budget? Don’t worry as they also served rice meals and budget meals available starting from P39 to P150. Extra rice ranges from P15 to P45. Nak Muay’s Power Punch budget meal, packed with Nak Muay Chicken strips, rice and their signature sauce with sweet cucumber, is definitely a steal at P39.

It was a worthwhile visit at the restaurant. Thai dishes don’t only make you full, they can make you healthy too. I also learned a lot–about Thai cuisine, Muay Thai, and a little of Thailand’s history. Definitely, I’m coming back.

Don’t forget to tell them how spicy you want your dish to be.

Value for money – 4.5 out of 5
Cleanliness – 4.5 out of 5
Service – 4.5 out of 5
Food Quality - 4.5 out of 5

Nak Muay Asian Thai Cuisine
139 Mother Ignacia Place
Mother Ignacia Avenue
South Triangle Q.C.
Open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 AM, Mondays to Saturdays

For deliveries in Quezon City area, reservations and for more information, call 5760972. Nak Muay is also available for catering services and customized packed meals for business meetings and other gatherings. Nak Muay is also available for franchise packages.

Click here to join them on Facebook too.

Tonight was a perfect timing for our first visit. There was a TV crew from QTV featuring YKK for the TV show “Ang Pinaka” (which airs every Sunday night). I think it will be shown for the June 6 episode (so watch for us as well, haha).

Ya Kun Kaya Toast (or YKK) was established 1944 and it’s popular throughout Singapore. Too bad, I ain’t good as Cathie (she’s a YKK regular, haha) when it comes to YKK’s background but it’s a good thing that it’s finally here in Manila! No need to fly to Singapore to try out their famous toasts.

The peanut butter toast tastes perfect with a cut of butter in the middle which makes it become more creamy.

The star of the night were, of course, the kaya toasts. Through the help of the branch owner, Richard Co, we got to order three different sets of toasts–Kaya Toast, Cheesy French Toast, and Peanut butter toast. Each set comes with a cup of hot coffee or tea (which can also be upgraded to cold drinks) and yummy soft-boiled eggs which are perfect to be paired with your toasts.

Soft-boiled egg can be seasoned with pepper and Singaporean soy sauce

If you think you can’t have the full sets, there are the half sets you can choose from. For less than P200 (or about $4), you can enjoy YKK’s full sets.

Iced Coffee

I enjoyed the Kaya Toasts with their signature sweet coconut spread but it’s really hard for a sweet tooth like me to choose what I really like. I love ‘em all, haha. My main purpose in going here was to try their lemon iced tea, but I failed to order it. At least, it adds to the reasons why I have to go back to Ya Kun Toast.

By the way, if you can’t get enough of the toast at the branch, you can buy bottle of their coconut spread if you’re planning to have your own home-made toasts.

Click here for more Ya Kun Kaya Toast photos

Value for money – 4.5 out of 5
Cleanliness – 4 out of 5
Service – 4 out of 5
Food Quality - 4.5 out of 5

Address: Ground Level of FERN Building, Escriva Drive, Ortigas, Pasig.
Contact no.: 470-4285

For the past weeks, I’ve seen bloggers on my plurk timeline talking about Serenitea and how they badly want to visit it again. And from there, I really got so curious so when I had the time last Friday, I decided to pay a visit. We were really planning to visit Serenitea together with other blogger friends but since I was so excited, I decided to visit even if I were just alone.

Hokkaido Milk Tea and Raspberry Tea

Though I was so curious about Serenitea, I did not have much expectations about it. Since their branch in San Juan is much convenient for a Makati resident like me, I opted to take the MRT all the way to Annapolis station, then head to Shoppesville and take a cab from there. Commute is the best option especially if you would want to burn calories and get hungry before you get hooked to Serenitea.

Going there was a challenge for the taxi driver, more so of a challenge to me since it was my first time to go there. I am not even familiar with any places in San Juan, of course, except Shoppesville.

Pepper Corn

The moment I saw their shop, I was enthralled. I was greeted by the staff the moment I entered. Excitement filled me while looking at their menu up to the minute they took my order. Initially, I ordered a large Hokkaido Milk Tea (P 95) with twice the serving of pearls and half the usual serving of sugar. Yes, you have that option if you want less or extra of the add-ons and sugar. I also ordered chicken chops, but few minutes after, I was told it’s no longer available. I ended up ordering Pepper Tofu and Pepper Corn for P 50 each. My cravings did not stop so I make the most of my stay there by ordering another drink. If I’m not mistake, i ordered medium raspberry tea for P 55.

Since I love pepper, I enjoyed the meals I ordered. The pepper was not too strong and food were not even to salty. I worried about the corn getting stuck in between my teeth but the corn was cook perfectly which makes you bite it smoothly.

Pepper Tofu

I expected a lot about Serenitea and good thing, my expectations were met, if not exceeded. It feels like home in Serenitea. I love the hint of tea inside the store which I find very relaxing.  Serenitea is simply awesome. I will definitely frequent this place whenever I could. I’m wishing for a branch in Makati or the Fort.

My ratings:

Value for money – 4.5 out of 5
Cleanliness – 4 out of 5
Service – 4 out of 5
Food Quality - 4.5 out of 5

Serenitea is located at J. Abad Santos cor V. Cruz in Little Baguio, San Juan
Contact no. : (02) 379-4166

Other branches:

268 Aguirre Avenue, Phase 3, BF Homes Parañaque
Contact no. : (02) 794-3288

74B N. Roxas Street, Banawe, Sto. Domingo (beside Goldcars) Quezon City Contact no. : (02)238-2545

More of my Serenitea photos here.