Samanea

This was at Samanea, an outdoor reception venue option of Acasia Hotel in Alabang. Last month. we stayed in a room just above this Samanea. See arrow_ that was the veranda of our room.

The prev photo was taken at day. That Saturday summer night, Samanea turned into this beauty. .This I took from the veranda of our room.

A hotel staff went to knock our door and handed this. . hmmm. .the idea of an outdoor bbq party on a humid summer night like this was quite inviting.



 But it had been more than holy 3 hours  since they set-up (at 5pm) and I saw no single guest came-up to grace the dinner. hmm, I smelled  a smoke of  a "flop"?



Past 8 pm, I glanced down the pretty Samanea again and it was as still as it was 3 hours ago. In the next few minutes (before 9pm), I saw the staff  gave-up and went to fix the buffet and tables for closing. Such a waste. I wonder if this was an isolated case. I only got to witness this one time cos it was just an overnight stay.



Well, as for us a friend happened to drop by with bento dinner (carton) boxes, haha. Not bad eh. :)

Best Side Dish For Crabs

Last weekend, I had a one day visit to my hometown ( Guinayangan Quezon) and quick and short as it was, I still managed to indulge myself with the best crabs in the country ( for me, our crabs are the best!) over lunch that day.

 

We set-up a random budol ( foods are laden on banana leaves spread and eaten with bare hands, everything is meant to be shared to everyone in the table) lunch at my father's backyard.


 

Hence the randomness, we really didn't have much food, except for the stars of the table _ the crabs ofcourse and the hot rice and some fresh fruits.

Can you spot that white dish over there?



It's  the best side dish you could eat with your crabs. An eggplant recipe my brother and I had grown-up with and til' this day we couldn't enjoy crabs without it. A hand-me-down recipe from my beloved mother, I'll try to share  with you. Actually, it's my brother who is more keen on preparing this as I rarely eat crabs at home if not the rare times I make it to my hometown.
Anyway, as my memory serves me right, the recipe goes like this:

> peel off the grilled eggplants,say we're using two large pieces, set aside
> in a bowl prepare the vinaigrette, everything just to taste please, vinegar, salt & pepper and a dash  of sugar.
> now combine the vinaigrette with a cup of coconut cream
>everything now into the eggplant, mix and taste, already pleasant to your taste, no need to add anything

 Eat your crabs  and rice with this, perfection!!!

Itacho Sushi

When you are in Singapore do what's the S'poreans do_ que-ue !!! It was the mall day of our recent a week visit of Sg  and we got to Ion in Orchard Road. Lunch time came-up and a long queue infront of this Japanese resto got us (already with depleting wallet)  joined the wagon.

Hmmm, let's see what caused the queue here at Itacho Sushi. . half priced off! good. Also some selected sushi-s were on promo starting price at  50cents . better!



Finally after more than 30 minutes outside we were brought to a table. The place was jam-packed. Nevertheless, the service was quick and efficient.

We had one of the sushi on promo at 50cents per piece_ salmon with soy sauce sushi. It was okey, sweet and soft. We ordered a second plate of this.

Daughter had a bowl of eel on top of rice. She didn't like it. She was irritated with the presence of fish bones. I don't know to her, but the eel looks delish in the photo, agree?



 Bestfriend had a bowl of ramen /udon (not sure if beef or pork) and didn't like it too. This too looks delicious in the photo. Well, you know how photogenic Japanese dishes are, haha.

We enjoyed the salmon lobster salad roll. .



. .and ordered two more plates of it.

Somemore sushi, salmon seemed to be the our sushi of the day.



Well, it was nice that we had tried it. Now we the following are better choice : Sushi Tei and Sakae Sushi, next time the sushi craves hit us in the mall.