OUR SUITE STAYCATION AT HOLIDAY INN & SUITES MAKATI!

If there's anything that Rain really enjoys, it's when we have a staycation at a hotel. Since I've had a grueling work schedule, we haven't been able to go on a staycation for a awhile, so when I went out of town on a business trip, I promised her that her mom and I would take her to Holiday Inn Makati for a fun filled weekend. The relaxing environment of our One Bedroom Suite allowed me to get some work done, while Rina enjoyed being able to shop at the neighboring Glorietta Mall!

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JIN JOO KOREAN BBQ OPENS IN GLORIETTA 4

I was invited to an exclusive pre-opening event of Jin Joo Korean BBQ's newest branch at Glorietta 4! During my first visit to Jin Joo at Podium, I managed to try their unlimited samgyeopsal offerings. This time, I got to try their ala carte dishes, and I was immediately blown away with how amazing their food was!

Jin Joo Korean BBQ Ground Floor, Glorietta 4

Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex 

Makati City

ASCOTT SERVICED RESIDENCES PART 2: CAFE ON THE 6th!

        During our recent Staycation at Ascott Serviced Residences in Makati, we had the pleasure of having our dinner and breakfast at Ascott's Cafe on the 6th. With its delicious food and relaxed ambiance, It took only a few moments for me to ask myself why I had never eaten here before! 

A WEEKEND AT ASCOTT MAKATI: PART 1

         "Did you know there's a swimming pool in Glorietta?", I asked Rina. She looked at me rather puzzled then replied, "Huh? Where in Glorietta?".  "Glorietta 4.. In Ascott.", I said. "Oh.", she said answered, thinking I was being a smart ass (again). "Yeah, I knew that.".

     But you see, I wasn't just being a smart ass. I was trying to prove a point. Ascott Serviced Residences has been operating Glorietta 4 mall complex for quite some time now, yet it doesn't seem to be the top of mind when it comes to Staycations and even dining in Makati. 

    Well, as me and family discovered last Father's day weekend, it should be. 

THE DAWN OF DONS: YABU'S MASTER CLASS CREATIONS

(2015 version)

      I will forever be a fan of Yabu. Any restaurant that puts my picture near their toilet will always hold a special place in my heart. What I like about Yabu is how they never feel they should rest on the laurels of their success. Their kitchen is always coming up with new dishes that keeps their menu fresh, leaving their customers curious with what they might come up with next. 

     As the first quarter 2015 comes to a close, Yabu has unleashed two items that belong in their all new Premium line, that they have dubbed their "Master Class Creations". 

    Behold, the Dawn of the Dons is upon us. 

    And it is awesome :) 

MODERN SHANGHAI: A GRAND DINE-ASTY!

   Modern Shanghai kicks off the new year by adding some new, delectable items to their already mouthwatering menu! And what better way for me, Rina and my blogger friends to welcome 2015 (and my birthday) than trying Modern Shanghai's "Grand Dine-asty" dishes out for ourselves! 

MAD MARK'S: THE MADNESS CONTINUES AT GLORIETTA 5

            My first visit to Mad Mark's was a memorable one. You throw in a Beef and Chicken Sandwich in front of me the size of a battleship, and yes, that will definitely leave a mark in my memory for ages to come. Although the first branch had a cool, hole-in-the-wall vibe to it, the popularity of Mad Mark's food made it impossible for their progress to remain stagnant. Considering its fan base, it was only a matter of time that Mad Mark's would expand, and go to a more mainstream venue. 

   

    

  Sometime in October, the inevitable happened.. Mad Mark's opened their second branch at Glorietta 5 in Makati. I always knew that they would go mainstream, but I didn't think they would go THAT mainstream hehe. 

       Agent Smith said it best:

          

CUPCAKES BY SONJA AT GLORIETTA!

      "A red velvet cupcake?".

      Those were exactly my thoughts when a friend of mine, Zee, mentioned about this tiny wonderful cupcake shop in Serendra sometime in 2006. Until now, due to my lack of knowledge in anything culinary, I still don't know what flavor / ingredient red velvet really is. Aaaanyway, I'm getting off track. This shop was probably the daintiest shop I have ever seen at that time. It was just so pretty that I felt so ugly in it! And it wasn't just the shop that was pretty. It was their cupcakes too! I know I took photos during my first visit but I can't remember where I put them. I'm sure it's long gone :( Sniff...

This was the first shop I have ever been in that exclusively sold cupcakes, and the Red Velvet Vixen was the first ever Red Velvet treat I devoured. So just like the rest of Manila, I was hooked! Cupcakes by Sonja was amazing! The taste you get from each bite is truly a pleasure in the mouth! (Confession: I thought this whole time it was pronounced "Sonya" hehehehe *blush*) As for the price, at first I found it a bit steep but after tasting the cupcakes, it all started to make sense.

A G'DAY FOR OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE'S LUNCH SPECIALS!

                It's been years since I had been to Outback Steakhouse. As in, I can't remember the last time I was there. I think it could have been during my college days, when my then-girlfriend and we would sneak out of class, and take an LRT Ride to Robinson's Place Ermita to watch a movie. I would then try to impress my ex by taking her to Outback. Unfortunately, since I was still on student allowance, she and I had to split a "Jackaroo Chop" (And when I say "split", I was fine with giving her all the meat as long as she gave me all the fat hehe)  

           I've always loved the food, but for some reason, I had never gotten around to making a return (Which is weird because, although i'm not exactly Mr. Megabucks either, I'm fairly certain that I can afford more than just half a Pork Chop by now hehe). 

          When an opportunity came along to try Outback's New Lunch Specials, I felt like a giddy college kid once again! 

A MEMORABLE T.G.I.FRIDAY'S EXPERIENCE

       Do you remember when the first T.G.I. Fridays opened in Manila? I do. All of a sudden, when it came to dining out in Makati, T.G.I. Fridays became THE default choice of everyone. The line to get in was ridiculous. You would think that the Filipino people were once again holding a "People Power" rally to overthrow an evil dictatorship at the third floor of Glorietta 2. You'd never think that all these people would wait hours in line for some chicken fingers and burgers. 

      Whether you were with your friends or family, it mattered not. Forget Cindy's. T.G.I.Friday's was the place to be. 

TONY ROMA'S!

         For our 2nd Year Anniversary celebration, Rina & I decided to spend the night at Hotel Dusit. We just really wanted to shut off our cellphones off and keep ourselves away from the outside world, even just for a day, and since I had a free room (and free breakfast buffet), we made the most of it. During the afternoon, we decided to take a leisurely walk around Glorietta for awhile. Not to mention the fact that since we were both starving. We were thinking of a place to eat, and since it was a special occasion, we agreed it should be a place where we had never eaten yet together. Given the fact that we've been on so many hunger quests together, we actually drew a blank.

                         Then, as we entered the doors of Glorietta, a promo girl handed me a coupon for a 20% discount at Tony Roma's. And just like that, it was as if the gates of heaven opened, and the trumpets of the angels blared into the pristine azure sky. All of a sudden, I knew what I wanted in life. Some god dang good Ribs!!!