O' Mai Khan

On our countless Baguio trips, O' Mai Khan has always been full packed with dining costumers. A crowded resto gets a "no today" from us but surely it would be on our waiting list of "yes in the future" when we chance upon it on a much lesser crowded day. We shy away from torturing ourselves with ridiculous queue. But the message is clear, a full packed resto means there must be something good going on there.

So on our very recent Baguio trip, same scenario of crowded O'MaiKhan greeted us. Everyday we would passed by and on our 3rd night, finally we saw vacant tables. I thought this was the right time.

This resto is actually famous for their Mongolian buffet and barbecue.



But we had enough of those and was eyeing for a hot soup dinner against the cold rainy night of Baguio.



So glad with the fusion of dishes going on in the menu.

We opted for a big Mongolian Hot Pot.

And requested to transfer table outside. Where we enjoyed the super cold night weather of Baguio and the hot soup as a contradiction.



The thing is_ I didn't get to like their hot pot. I'm used to Chinese hot pot with lots of spices and flavours. This Mongolian hot pot was bland to me. Lacking in everything except a hint of grocery bought meat cubes. Nevertheless, the rest of my family was happy for the hot soup.



To save my night. .

I was happy to check the sweets. .

Well, this decadent choco slice made my night. .

The girls and the dad enjoyed a cake too..

Happy Father's Day to the gangstah of our life !!!! You're the bestest!!!!

also to my best ever papa and my dad-in law and to my brods-in law. . haaay, it's hard to start. .I could go on and on with cool dads I know and for sure would miss a name or two. .so to all DADS around the world, thankyou and we all love you!!!

Ube (purple) Jam

Can you believe it_ in 2 nights it's gonna be Christmas Eve !!! panic**. . rush%%. . The Noche Buena!!! I remember when I was small, at this point my mother would already be busy in the kitchen.  The likes of leche plan, macapuno, gelatin would be by this time, in my mother's time, already in the fridge_ ready to serve! And never to forget the most tedious to prepare but one of my favorites_ the ube (purple/water/winged yam) jam.

Well, in the mommies generation I belong now, where everything is instant_ gone were those days of bicep/tricep- aching, hand mixing of ube jam until achieving the right sticky consistency. If you really want a personal touch and want it homemade, a handful help of a food processor/blender is not bad .

Me?_I had long resolved the issue of my failure to achieve my mother's ube jam. I quit doing it myself! I just buy bottled ube jam. But I make sure I get the best in town.



I buy from the Good Shepherd in Baguio City. That's why an annual, nearing Christmas day, visit to the city of pine is a must.. hehehe!! Along with the ube jam, I also buy some of my favorite preserved sweets and condiments from this convent store.

The 3 bottles limitation is easy to resolve_ after me, I send the rest of the group to buy more for my household.

While the ube jam and other regular products lane is always jampacked. .

I found myself alone in the organic section.

The annex bakeshop amused me thu' in my recent visit. Freshly baked healthy breads were selling like hotcakes. I especially liked their whole wheat pandesal. Unlike those I buy from the pugon bakery here in Manila, Good Shepherd's were surprisingly tasty and not weight-y. Just right!



The gals enjoyed Good Shepherd's original version of siopao which was kindah' uncanny. The meat fiilings were shelled in a pandesal- like bread. I took a bite and my my it was so good!!!



These mothers only want the best for their families and don't really mind the long travel to Baguio for the best ube jam on the Noche Buena table!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!

Bibingcrepe

It's the sixth night of misa de gallo/simbang gabi/rooster's mass. Many vow to complete the traditional Christmas novena, but not all end up to be successful.When I was young and single, I used to complete the whole 9 nights masses with my friends ofcourse. After each mass, pinoy native delicacies were such a treat. The puto bongbong and bibingka.



At Halfmoon Asian Cafe (Baguio City), a variation of bibingka can be found.



It is called  bibingcrepe. A thinner, crepe-ly version of bibingka . Delicious but a box is not sufficient. Unlike the original thick version which is a piece is hearty enough to be an early whole meal breakfast.
I miss simbang gabi's bibingka.

Merry Christmas!!!!

MXT Tea House, Baguio

When the weather is cold , everyone likes to sip a hot soup, right? We actually love shabu-shabu (hot pot) and for the second time_ our first lunch in Baguio upon arriving to this chilly city was at MXT Tea House at SM. That would be before checking -in a hotel. I would have had refused the idea of taking lunch there if it wasn't for our cousins from Davao who wanted to try a shabu-shabu for the first time. My issue is that dining at MXT, Baguio is not at all elevated-ly different from eating at MXT, Ongpin (China town,Manila). The issue of hygiene remains. Utensils at their cheapest forms.



We went for all -meat. The other choices were_ seafood and all-vegies.

Since, cuzin Che and I frequent some shabu-shabu houses in Manila, we felt we were  experts ( really ???) to teach our older relatives from Davao the basics of shabu-shabu.

I only ate a bowl of hot shabu-shabu soup, thinking that the boiling soup would surely kill any living bacteria, in case it's confirmed.

fried chicken, covered with kropek?



pancit canton, very tempting

No doubt that MXT dishes are all delicious. But the issue of hygiene kept me away from enjoying the chinese dishes.



As if I was calling for it, after this last photo, we saw a cockroach crawling from a plastic tiny bowl in our table !!! Immediately, I called the attention of the food server. He said nothing. As if it's a normal-daily occurrence, he just took out the said bowl. Nada!

That was it!!! I totally lost my appetite and ran out of the table.

Tam-Awan Village Cafe

Tam-awan Village Cafe is located at the heart of this garden in the sky in Baguio City.

Every corner of the cafe' is loaded with mind boggling art works.

We didn't have time to feast on its interesting menu, but we made sure we tried the cafe's must try.

The Tam-awan salad. See here.

The famous Benguet coffee.

Cuzin' found her new fave drink here_ lemon hot tea. She was having a sore throat that day and she swore the hot lemon tea soothed her pain. She let me had a taste of it and agreed it was mixed perfectly.



We sure had eye feast on the art works but time bounded visit limited our food tripping. We'll definitely be back here to satisfy our gustation.

B-fast at Zenz

Although our complimentary breakfast at Mines View Park Hotel was not buffet, we all enjoyed our plates. It was good to be served with a slice of papaya each  first before main dishes were served. Papaya is actually recommended eaten when stomach is totally empty in the morning. Fibers are wisely digest that way. Breakfast was served at Zenz.

We all ordered for Filipino plate, those come with garlic rice,egg and which you need vinegar and catchup as dipping side mates.

crispy bangus

bacon



bacon again

tocino



ham

The meal was simple but we were all satisfied and ready to start the day right.