BLOGGERS’ MEET-UP: About Meeting Place, Of Food, Of Fun, and Of Awesome Bonding - PART 1

Pao, Me, the famed blogger 'Bino' of Damuhan, and Mecoy

If you pursue blogging, one must (in my opinion) be ready to the idea of meet-ups with fellow bloggers. It's hard to exist as a blogger if you're not open to such things. 

Well, for anonymous bloggers it may  sounds threatening to them. For anonymous ones, it's like unmasking their anonymity and so I presume that they aren't really into "meet-ups" which is clearly logical. 

Meeting up strangers that only exists in the online world somehow gives us qualms and misgivings right?

There are “what” and “if” that haunts us occasionally. Pretty normal right? 

But on the other end of the rope, there is this certain amount of excitement that pushes us to go and to get to know them in real time and real world. And that's what had happened to us  last February 09, 2013 when we finally had our chance of seeing each other in person.

About Restaurant Hopping, Of Unexpected Moments, Of Disappointments, Of Long Roads, and Of Every Road Led Us To Fushi Again: The Second FUSHI Encounter

I was late! That’s it. No further explanation. LoLs!

No! wait I need to explain. I was late because I took a nap and the nap almost turned out to be an uninterrupted sleep. Just woke up when my phone alarm rang that disturbed my comfy sleep.  So, I rose up rushing to the bathroom for a quick bath. Consumed 5 minutes, yes it's 5 minutes shower and went out to fix myself up. Looking at the clock, it's 7:04PM already, the agreed time was 730pm. I was running late. Dammam was like a 15-20 minutes drive going to Rakkah where my good friend Bong was waiting. But what added more to the dilemma was the lack of taxis around my area. It seemed though that they connived with time to prolong my delay. Such a crap! I hate being late. Apology guys!

About Sinarsa, Budbud, Siniguelas, and “Bago Leaves”: Top 12 Foodies I Miss in Sibuyan Island

When you're far away from home, there are moments when out of nowhere you just miss the food that you used to eat during childhood days and growing up.

And as a regular guy who grew up in a remote island of Sibuyan, moments like such always sink in. As a result, your mind will once again transport back to those early years of your life where simplicity reign, where food is simple and out of culinary standards - in short "native preparation" - hahaha!

Perhaps calling it remote now isn't appropriate already since there were several changes that had occurred during my decade's absence. Somehow, internet access is kind of available already. Well, I say kind of because it’s not that fast in terms of speed of downloading and of availing its services. Blame it also to the fluctuating signal of network providers.

On the other side, it still fall under the category of "remote" for me since presence of malls and shopping centers are nowhere to be found. We still have the basics of the basic. The only major changes that had impacted to me is my former school upon which from a simple technical courses being offered before it had earned few years  back a status of a university.

It has been around 12 years of me being gone in my home town.

Okay, here's the deal, since food is the topic, I will give you a run down of the different (exotic to some extent I guess) that are used to be served on top of our wooden table, or every household or in town in general. Eto yung tinatawag na sariling atin, sariling gawa (sariling imbento - hik! hik!).

About Spot on Moments, Laughter, and Rolls: "The FUSHI Experience"

November 6, 2012

Unplanned! Yes, this is the exact word for it. None of us knew that it would happen but it did. And we had fun, great fun. Nothing can beat the idea of an unplanned meet up because it's spot on and friends available just converged with us that night. I won't elaborate on how we ended up in Fushi but I'll try to divert your attention highlighting my raw and unofficial food review. I'll briefly chronicle in the later part about how the unexpected meet up was.

I am a neophyte cook and perhaps my review won't be at par with those whose knowledge about culinary and food are to vow for. This is just an attempt of how I find this new found restaurant so far. New for me since it was my first visit..

I had been in several oriental restaurants in Manila particularly those which caters Korean and Chinese food. I'm a lover of Korean food - a thing which has been introduced to me when I tutored two Korean students in BF Homes in Paranaque way back 2006 until late of 2007. As far back as I can remember, the only Japanese restaurant that I frequent to is the all accessible TOKYO, TOKYO which you can find anywhere in the metro. None in my wildest fancy will I ever encounter one Japanese inspired resto that caters mostly Japanese food. Let alone here in the Mideast - KSA in particular. Though I'm not sure if all are authentic Japanese cuisines since nowadays, food fusion abounds everywhere. I presume they serve a variety of Asian dishes that makes it more of an Asian cuisine and not purely Japanese. Oriental cuisine fusion so to speak. 

Before we went straight inside this fancy restaurant, I was caught in awe of its exterior design, the blending of colors make it more attractive that anyone who passes by would easily generate interest taking a peek inside and eventually dine in. 

The entrance area. - it's flashy in lavender and neon green color

Dining Adventure: La Tavola - Italiana Restaurant

I consider eating now as one of my most tempting guilty pleasures in life.

If it's called as such then so be it. After all, who would've resist eating good food. More so, dining inside a fancy restaurant not locally inspired but internationally made.

How did we end-up into La Tavola - Italiana Restaurant?  Lemme tell you, it was a laid-back afternoon yesterday when my wife approached me like this "Are we goin' out? referring to maybe a stroll in a mall or a dine out escapade. I was really having a not-so-good-mood since I'm feeling dizzy for no apparent reason. I was blaming the gloomy lights inside our house giving us a yellowish-inspired surroundings as the cause of my being dizzy. And so I responded unconvincingly "Uhmm Yes? and then suggested to call our CFC family friend (Otadoy family) to go with us. First few attempts weren't successful. My wife gauging that maybe they're having a siesta probably as of the moment they're on a sleeping mode. And yes, she was right after about past an hour when she received a call from Rachel. A short convy took place then my wife prompted me once again if I'm still willing to go out. She's having qualms since I'm in a sleeping mode and perhaps she might be thinking I would just pass on the idea of goin' out. Well, guess what I finally decided to go. So my wife asked me what time shall we go out and I told her around 5:30pm. We mutually agreed and so we waited for the Otadoy's to fetch us up from the house.

They've fetched us a bit late but it's fine since not everyone was in a hurry or at least hungry that time. Floyd drove smoothly heading to Sports Ghornata first since my wife and Rachel (they're office mates in the hospital they're working at) had to canvass prices for trophies needed in their hospital's "Hygiene Division". I'm not certain if it's intended as awards for their sport fest. 

After several minutes of discussion and checking out of prices they ended up not buying even one instead just took photos of the different trophies and intends to present it to their superior. Thereafter, we drove fast to Al Othaim Mall. But before that, Bea was having a bad mood before entering and after going out of the store. She was crying -- just having tantrums maybe.

The Neophyte Cook # 1: "Chicken Cordon Bleu"

The Neophyte Cook - this segment in my blog will feature my cooking apprenticeship without the formal culinary lessons, shy of cooking standards, and is done out-of-passion in cooking. Recipes will vary from various cuisine's dishes as long as I can modestly prepare and my guts tell me to do so.

The result of my kitchen hardwork

It's been a while since I last blog about food. Well, for the reason that we seldom go out these days. I usually do the food blogging after a dining experience in a restaurant or a food chain. Normally, my food blog entry will end up rating these restaurants we have dined in. You can check out my other food blog entries in the archives portion of this blog.


Last weekend, I decided to cook my own apprentice version of "Chicken Cordon Bleu". It was supposed to be done last week but due to a limited time, my wife and I agreed that we'll do it next week. And so it was it. It's my third time and I still feel uneasy preparing it. When in fact I should have had mastered it already. Read the next paragraph as it explains the uneasiness in me.


The little dilemma added up when I realized I don't have a print-out recipe to look upon the procedure since I didn't bring my laptop going to my wife's place. (FYI - My wife and I don't live in the same roof everyday, I mean our jobs were the reason. I only go home during weekend, seldom on weekdays since I'm staying in a flat near my office. The distance of our place to each other is like close to two hours' drive). So I ended up collecting my thoughts to come up with the "how to" prepare one.

Looks succulent and palatable isn't it?

Food Review: The Burger Joint

Like what I've said in my previous post, I am not a full blooded fan of hamburger or simply burger. Normally, I can't finish a single order. If only there is this kind of serving like --half cut burger--I would probably has no trouble eating a single dine in or take away one. But last night I did and should since for me it's quite costly to have one burger at BJ - hehehe!

Today, I will share with you my (our) experience in this burger station situated just within the Dammam downtown area -- more specifically aligned with other food and restaurant variants store like the Pizza Co, Tony Romas, Burger King, and others I forgot to name. 

It's not even our first visit since we have had our first try probably a couple of months back with the same group of happy-diners Satt, Jimmy, Ryan and Me. Our frequent trips to any of the restaurants or food chains around is one of the reasons why I gained 10+ pounds.

Well, let us not focus on my weight, I can still run a sprint though or smash a badminton shuttlecock. It's still not a problem to me yet. So here are few items we collectively agreed to eat last night. But before that, we decided first to just have plain mineral water as our meal-enders drink. Hahaha! I don't know if it can be called a meal-ender since water is like a universal solvent that can be partnered with anything. Let's see what we've got.

The Accidental "Yogurt" Experience

It has been running for like a week or two now that every time we take our lunch we would visit Baskin Robbins after and feast with a pint-sized & sometime even on a cone ice cream as our dessert.

Today, after a quick lunch we head-off again to Awwal Street corner 1st Street where Baskin is located. But while we're about to take a left turn then straight to Baskin's location we saw this "Freshly Berry - Frozen Yogurt Cafe"---hmmm..sound like parang pambabae lang tong food store na to. Pero, out of curiosity, we entered in and check out what's the stuff inside. Siyempre yogurt ang dominant since yon ang nakalagay sa banner nila. We're hoping that somehow may ice-cream sila. Pero, kabayan Joseph Aldea- the store attendant who served us said it's purely yogurt. Immediately he handed us a taste-sampler while discussing a bit about their products. So, umiral na naman ang katakawan namin. Taste dito, taste doon. And bingo, masarap naman siya...hahaha..With our taste buds convinced, we abandoned the idea of going to Baskin. Right there and then, we began checking out the flavors. And they've got the following: Fresh Berry Tart, Vanilla, Pomegranate, Decadent Dark Chocolate, Classic Strawberry, and Mango.

The takaw-tingin gang checking out what flavor to try-out. While Joseph was busy giving details of what to try and what's the good choice.

The "BurgerFuel" Experience

What a name!

What an awesome fast food chain! It really fuels one's desire to come and try their mouth-watering burger delights.

How annoying it was to see four easy-go-lucky guys  last night whose primary purpose was to check-out gym outlet yet ended inside a fancy-built and presumably one of the best servers of burger in town. Too bad there's none of it in Pinas.

Our not-so-hungry stomachs led us to one of its store -outlet in Carre-Four, Dammam. 

I'm speaking of the BURGER FUEL. This dominantly purple, highly decorated yet not-so-over-top fast food chain boasts of its cool ambiance and the awesome burger experience.

Burger Fuel originated in New Zealand and is labeled as the original gourmet burger.  And here's the short story about how it was formed.

Burger Fuel -Carrefour, Dammam highlights also its
almost all-Filipino staff and crews

Baskin Robbins: Your Neighborhood Ice Cream

Ice Cream!

I mean really?! Since when did I so crave to eat this junkie- I guess none that I remember. I don't buy it kasi di ako mahilig talaga. It's not that I completely do not eat it but I just don't go for sweet foodies.

Itutuloy.......

One Steaky Night

I claim I have a talent in cooking - a raw one but trainable, unrehearsed yet willing to be exposed in the kitchen. 

Soon I know I'll walk down the road of the lucrative world of culinary arts and have my degree from it. It's not too late though for talent doesn't choose an age.

I can cook and I know I have this gastro intelligence in me. Well, chicken cordon bleu is one fave recipe which excites me every time I prepare one. There were considerable numbers of Filipino recipes which I'm at par in cooking. Oh boy! I won't elaborate it here. Name it and I'll cook it for you...hahaha.

But being a neophyte food blogger is way far from the alleys of those professional ones, those whose living depends on it. My blog does not mainly focus on it. Food and resto reviews comes only when we dine outside our kitchen-court advantage at home (lutong bahay).

I feel the enthusiasm to test my raw talent in writing a food review with a resto I would say, is one that is at par with the rest of the best fine dining restos anywhere. Raising the bar a notch higher, I'm talking about STEAK HOUSE. 

Yes, it's spelled STEAK HOUSE! And this entry will evolve all about this fancy restaurant in a not-so-highly sophisticated city of Dammam.

The Dammam-branch of Steak House near Corniche

Krispy Kreme - Krispi Na! Kreme Pa!

I'm not really into sweets! o kung sa sariling wika ko isasalin ay ganito lang naman yon: "di ako mahilig sa mga matatamis na pagkain".

Cakes, pastries, candies, tarts, and doughnuts - Oh boy! don't gift me with those or else your effort will just be wasted and disappointment would just slaps you right in your face. So, never ever give me one.