Buon Giorno! Cliff House, Tagayay

My wife and I really planned for this trip days in advance. from preparing expressed milk both ready to drink and frozen, to keeping track of weather and traffic on-line during the days leading to the target departure time. This was a restaurant that we wanted to experience as a family. Why?

Very good, down to earth 'traditional' italian cooking! This was the Canneloni Spanci. The method of cooking and ingredients used were so simple, you can easily figure out how to cook it at home. And yes, this is what good italian food is all about- simple, easy, basic ingredients.. full of flavor! No shortcuts or 'fusion' cooking here that's for sure...

Even our 2 month daughter agrees! She really enjoyed our seat outside. The wind was cool and we all shared just one large  sofa-seat. It was large enough that we were able to change her 'nappies' after we had lunch!

Again, the desert was fantastic! Pictured here is Buon Giorno's very own soft dark and warm chocolate pudding, topped with home made pastillas ice cream to die for! yummy indeed!

Finally! we have a picture of our baby amidst the famous taal lake view!

side note: all photos were taken using my wife's vintage nikkor lens.

Tapella, Greenbelt 5

Tapella Bistro & Bar was our first mid-afternoon 'tapas' date. I've read that 'tapas' is best experienced with a glass of your favorite 'soft' cocktail or easy white wine. The ambience of this part of Greenbelt 5 this particular late afternoon was cool and wet, so my wife and I chose to stay at the al-fresco portion near the bar just outside the restaurant. A bit pricey but the quality of food was good enough to keep you full and maybe resort to a very light dinner afterwards.
Where was our 7-week old daughter this time?... with my in-laws of course!

I can't wait for our next family foodie adventure! This time with Una Isabella.

Little Tokyo, Pasong Tamo Makati

Newly renovated! Little Tokyo really captures the look and feel of a typical downtown city in japan. Quaint food shops and noodle "soba" cafe are found here as customer traffic usually peaks right after work hours 'till early evening.

There is still space tho for a small but authentic "zen" garden right at the middle of the common grounds. Large heavy wooden chairs make for a cozy experience underneath the large traditional japanese lanterns.

'Hana' probably the smallest "homise" amongst the area was where I decided to take out the best 'takuyaki' (octopus balls).

Here, the japanese owner cooking right outside the cafe while the charcoal grill right beside him was being prepped up for some japanese grilled fish.

Amoroma, Tagaytay

Cris and I finally gathered our courage to go on our first out-of-town trip with our daughter Una Isabella. It was decided that since we were going all the way to Tagaytay, might as well try a new foodie place and make our little family adventure more worth while! Amoroma, Ristorante Italiano along the tagayatay highway was highly recommended by my mom.

By lunch time we were at the restaurant which immediately gave me a feeling of an authentic traditional italian dinning! We eventually helped ourselves to their home-made bread, two-flavored pizza and a very interesting spinach ravioli The verdict..... pricy.. but very fresh and authentic.


RISTORANTE ITALIANO AMOROMA
Brgy. Tolentino East, National High-way, Tagaytay City
(046)-6963582
09163829883
09292690370

Deli france, SM Makati

Our daughter Una Isabella, just turned 1 month old today. Cris and I wanted to spend a simple but special afternoon away from home. We consider this as our 1st family merienda, even if Una slept the whole time.

'L Incontro, Reposo St. Makati City

photo by: Jem Villarin

photo by: Pen Mulingbayan

Triple celebration of my and my mom's birthday ( same day )... and the baptism of Una Isabella S. Bilbao.

Special Thanks goes to Maite and Tom for the BEAUTIFUL birthday cake & cupcakes for the celebrants!!!

At the end of the day, Una just got "knocked out!"

Seryna Japanses Cuisine - Makati

Seryna at the entrance of Little Tokyo Makati is our top japanese restaurant in Manila!

Why??? here are just some of the obvious reasons why i am so convinced about this 'homise'.

The food is "top quality"! never mind the presentation (which is also very commendable by the way) just take note of the "choice" cuts used for each element of the sashimi mix. I remember when I was having our usual 'sirashi bento' over at the sushi bar one lunchtime with my wife, I witnessed how the japanese sushi chef went thru maybe 2-3 whole slabs of raw tuna and inspected it as if he were checking a cut diamond for the 3 C's! Eventually, he discarded 1 whole slab, which to me looked perfectly fine. And then was astounded as he started cutting the second slab... he paused, then discarded it as well! whoa! So on to the third and final slab.. which the sushi chef eventually cut into his standards of tuna sashimi was finally served to various customers.
This Bento meal certainly is good enough for two people, and priced at just under PHP400!

Another thing is that it the only restaurant I have seen around that incorporates its art in the overall architecture, which in turn ends up as part of the 'homise' furniture. Imagine, what looks like a sculpture made up of large casted steel bars at the restaurant's facade , crawls inside and acts as the roof decoration. Then further extends downward towards the suhsi bar area and eventually becomes the seats or bench for the customers there! Amazing!!!!

Laguna Food Festival, Los Banos Laguna

May 5, 2009 - Los Banos Laguna- Filipino Heritage Festival Inc's event on local culinary heritage was held at the Hill Spa, Los Banos Laguna. Pictured here is the "Relyenong SILI". For more details about this years FHFI sponsored Heritage Month 2009 calendar of events. pls visit the FHFI website at http://filheritagefest.fateback.com, or call their office at 8925865.

San Fernando, Pampanga

Pampanga in a Plate full! The Ultimate Pampanga Food Tour! (photo by Oskie Ravanera)
The highlight of our culinary tour... the 5 hour lunch at Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung in Angeles City. His restaurant is located at Villa Gloria Subdivision. This is a gated community but his place stands out from all the other houses in that area.... It is very rustic & "rice mill" inspired. Claude, in case you haven't heard of him is considered one of the " MUST SEE and TRY when you are in Pampanga "... SEE his artworks and TRY his cuisine.... but a word of advise... IF you plan to try his cuisine.... be prepared for a long leasurely lunch (5hrs for the 5 way lechon!!!) and come with an empty stomach. Claude prepares all his dishes ... he never delegates this task to anyone.

for more details on our heritage & culinary tour, visit my mom's blog
for details about Ultimate Philippines Tour schedules, visit: http://ultimatephilippines.com/
Here is the video teaser our team; Cinematic Concepts produced for OAP TV:


video shot and produced by: Rommel Diaz and Iggy Bilbao
www.cinematiconcepts.com

Brielli, Glorietta 4 - Foodcourt

Choose your sauce! choose your pasta!!!
I recommend the spaghetti-kung pao combination and the penne-seafood pesto!
prices start at PHP 110 only!!!