Weekend Footnotes: Xavier Ball + A Lesson In Graciousness

This is the last weekend before summer break officially starts for my kids.

But for my graduating girl, she's technically done with school already and so her social calendar is booked solid with parties and hohols with friends. Her weekends are fully booked, so in effect this #tsupermama is also. Maybe it's also because a lot of her friends are turning 18 this year, so they are celebrating that, too!

The weekend that just passed by was no different, she attended a friend's birthday party on Friday, and then nung Saturday I helped her prepare for Xavier Ball. She was invited by the same guy who asked her for Xavier Prom so we kinda know him a bit more na.

{Weekend Footnotes} Cowrie Grill + Nikko's Baking Studio + UPCAT + SoruIzakaya

Cowrie Grill by Manila Hotel

I met up with some friends for dinner at the Cowrie Grill last Friday. It was my reward to myself for the hectic week. It was the perfect start to my weekend!

From the moment I walked through the door up to to the time I left the restaurant, the staff was very attentive. For dinner, I had lobster tail and Angus beef, which were both cooked to perfection. It's seasoned very well and is like cutting into butter.

There may be newer and fancier steak places, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better steak. I love this place! I will tell you more about all the food I ate here in my next post.

Weekend Footnotes: Toast Asian Kitchen

I met up with my friends, Michelle and Rowena a few weeks ago to have lunch at Toast Asian Kitchen & Tasting Room. I love exchanging stories with other moms of teens because I always get something out of it, if not a lesson, then surely a laugh!

It was also my first time to visit Ayala the 30th. The mall is still new, but I like that it's spacious and not so populated with shoppers, yet. I'll have to bring my family with me one of these Sundays.

Toast Asian Kitchen & Tasting Room has a new menu, and so the three of us agreed to meet up to try their new dishes.

{Weekend Footnotes} G-League SC Leg 1

I haven't been posting regularly, I know. And I'm sorry.

But, here's one now. This is going to be snippets of what happened within this month, so far.

My weekends always seem like a blur lately. 

We used to meet up with my in-laws for Sunday lunch after worship service. But for the past two months, my father-in-law has been in and out of the hospital, so weekends are usually just spent visiting with him. If you could help us pray for his comfort, it will be greatly appreciated.

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Two weekends ago, my fave son (and only because he is my only one!) competed in yet another meet. 

{Weekend Footnotes} Start of G-League Season 2016

The past weekend was too hot to handle! The family had to stay under the sweltering sun in the middle of the hot and humid Manila summer!

The first swim compe of the year just happened, and that means a handful more swim meets to follow. But I'm not complaining. I always enjoy watching my kids swim!

{Weekend Footnotes} Xin Tian Di

I realized that it's been so long since I've last posted a Weekend Footnotes posts. You know how it is sometimes, life just simply overtakes us. I still did a LOT of eating out, which I might have posted occasionally in IG, but somehow I couldn't find time to sit down and do a blog post about them.

Anyhow, just last week, my sister in law invited us for lunch at Xin Tian Di, the Chinese food outlet of Crowne Plaza, I wasn't able to post right away because I took a week-long break from social media. But I'm back now.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy looking at the photos. I was too busy eating, that I did not pay particular attention to what each dish was called, but everything was good.

Hot Prawn Salad

{Weekend Footnotes} Marufuku Japanese Restaurant

Marufuku Japanese Restaurant in Ortigas is one of our fave places. The restaurant is not that big, and we usually have to call in for reservation to make sure we get a table. There's an open kitchen fronting the bar, and if you don't mind eating on the bar stools, then you can also enjoy watching the Japanese chef prepare your meal in front of you.

When my daughter graduated from grade school last March, the husband decided to celebrate the occasion here. We were very pleased with her as she was able to accomplish her goal of graduating with honors. Only 30 of them girls went up the stage to get their medals out of a batch of about 300. Great job, B!

Great job also to the Phenomenal Papa for doing a wonderful job with ordering! Everything was LOVE!!! Please do not judge the number of food we ordered. It was way past 12 noon, and we were hungry. Looking at it now, it looks like an exaggerated amount of food, but the kids really are BIG eaters. Don't worry, they swim about 5,000 - 8,000 meters a day, so they pretty much burn everything they eat.

Being that we were famished, I wasn't able to jot down most of the names of the food that we ate, too. Just enjoy the photos, and believe me when I say that it is good!

We all loved the salmon sashimi, even the kids, that we had to order another platter. It was fresh and kinda like melted in our mouths.

Weekend Footnotes: Hole In The Wall at Century City Mall

A few Sundays before summer officially ended for the kids, C and I decided to take the kids out to Century City Mall to try Hole In The Wall.  The concept is that of a food hall where you order from different restaurants and eat it at a common dining area… the concept is like that of fast food, but the atmosphere is definitely much more upmarket.

  

Weekend Footnotes: A Wedding at Mango Farm

It's been such a long time since someone has gotten married in the family. So when we learned that our younger cousin is getting married, everyone looked forward to a reason for the extended family to get-together.

There's always something specially intoxicating about a romantic and enchanting garden wedding. Notwithstanding the summer heat, I think almost everyone present at the Mango Farm reception will agree that the lovely and ethereal set-up did wonders to the heart.

There was a lot of crying, emotional speeches from both sides, drinking and dancing. The brother of the groom shifted to being a party DJ, and went over to the booth "played his set."  But of course, we left the dancing to the younger set, because it was way past our curfew already. teehee!

Enjoy the sweetest details captured by my camera that day.

 Notice the 4 cute and standout messages we all commissioned my J to doodle for us. She really has an artisitic bent which I think she should enhance some more.

{Weekend Footnotes} Summer Palace + The Wholesome Table

Yesterday was Resurrection Sunday! I hope everyone found the time to say a short prayer of thanks to the Lord who died on the cross for us.

Happy Ressurection Sunday! Let's all remember that it's not about the bunny and the eggs... It's all about the Lamb. {John1:29 "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!} #RessurectionSunday #easter

A photo posted by The Phenomenal Mama (@thephenomenalmama) on Apr 4, 2015 at 8:39pm PDT

{Weekend Footnotes } Jam Foods Angus Salpicao + Cookies Unlimited + Marca Leon Healthy Oils

My family has been the recipient of a few yummy treats the past few weekends.  Such a blessing! Everyone in the family looks forward to the weekends because it means pigging out and eating out.

The kids don't get to eat desserts on weekdays because between swimming training and studying for school, there's really not much time to indulge their sweet tooth.  I avoid packing sweets into their lunch boxes because I am in the process of training their palate to eat fresh foods that do not require cooking. So recess usually means bananas, melons, apples or salad greens.

But weekends are different... it's the time when it's kinda free for all as far as food is concerned. I want to share with you some of our recent discoveries because they are all so good!!!

Jam Foods Angus Beef Salpicao

{Weekend Footnotes } CO/OP + Chef Jessie Rockwell Club

And just like that, the first week of December just flew by.  Are the holiday lunches, dinner parties, reunions and get-togethers in full swing already for you? Mine are paced just right, BUT I feel overwhelmed because the kids have been having swim meets  for the  three straight weekends!  Whew, can anyone spell "tired mama"?

Mommy duties have been taking up much more time than usual, so a get-together with some friends is always a welcome break during the weekends.  Last Friday, I had lunch at CO/OP.

CO/OP is a hip coffee shop and retail store located in San Juan.  The place is tucked in a quiet spot along A. Mabini that if you drive by too fast, you will miss it.  I've always wanted to go in everytime we pass by, so when some of my mommy friends invited me to have lunch, I knew I have to say yes.

One side of the place is a retail store that sells unique items such as the one shown in the photos below:

{Weekend Footnotes} Rita's Italian Ice + Ramen Nagi

I realized that it's been sometime since I last made a Weekend Footnotes post, but that doesn't mean that we haven't been busy eating a lot.  Most often, we are too busy enjoying the moment that I forget to capture them in picture. 

Last weekend was busy - as always!  I think having three kids is already synonymous with a full schedule. We were invited to taste-test everything at Rita's Italian Ice.  The famous Rita's Italian Ice from the US is now in Manila! They opened their first store in the whole of Asia at VMall Greenhills last November 8, 2014. You  can now get your frozen custard and blendinis as often as you want!!! Yay!

Anyway, my friend Didi invited me and my three kids to try out Rita's Italian Ice a day before its soft opening. The owners are relatives of hers and she was asked to bring in kids, kids, and lots more kids! It was a taste-anything-and-everything kind of invitation, so naturally my kids won't say no to that!!!

My B ordered this frozen custard sandwiched between giant Oreo cookies. This one is about the size of a siopao, and is reasonably priced at just P70.

Their frozen custard is so thick and creamy!  Look!  Frozen na frozen pa din!:)

Here's the full menu of the store:

Italian Ice. This is their signature classic, and it is similar to a snow cone, except that it's much smoother and made with real fruit.

Cream Ice. “Cream Ice” is actually “Ice Cream” backwards. That’s because it’s more creamy than it is icy. It has a smooth, silky texture and full of indulgent flavor.

Frozen Custard. This is a very rich and dense dessert similar to ice cream, but made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. The egg yolk gives frozen custard a thick, creamy texture and a smoother consistency than ice cream. You can have it in a cup or cone. Add some sprinkles, hot fudge or caramel toppings.

Gelati. A layering of Italian Ice and creamy Frozen Custard

Blendini. Choose your favorite Italian Ice, or Frozen Custard, then mix-in your own topping.

 

 
Rita’s Custard Cookie Sandwiches made with OREO.  This one is not on the menu board, but it is part of their regular offering.  It is Made with Rita’s famous Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard sandwiched between two delicious OREO Cookie Wafers. Then, if you want some more indulgence, add chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles on the side. Which we did!

With about 20 toppings to choose from, there’s no stopping you from creating your custom mix of dessert paradise.  Add them to a Sundae, or mix them into a Blendini!

 

 

This will surely be one of your favorite stops when we find ourselves in Greenhills from now on!

Rita's Italian Ice

Vmall, Greenhills Shopping Center

(right beside Watson's)

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The kids had a swim meet last Saturday, and I always look forward to watching them compete. I just hate that I have to wake up so early for it. Imagine waking up at 5:30 in the morning on a Saturday... and coming home at 7:30 at night. It's always so tiring, but I love cheering for my kids!

#GoldMedal #Breaststroke
I am happy that R is doing well in his swim and is constantly improving.  But more importantly, I have noticed how being in a sport has improved his attitude towards his studies and how it is shaping him in the area of his self-discipline.

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Paul Tanchi shared a wonderful message last Sunday about how to Please God in All Things. We often think that pleasing God entails doing mission work or doing things on a grand scale, but the best place for us to please God is to stay exactly where we are and continue on doing our work being the best we can be, and giving our best effort.  

{via}

There are a few times in the past when I felt that what I do at home can be tiring and repetitive- cooking, tutoring, running errands. I felt like it was a vicious cycle on non-stop repeat! I am sure a lot of full-time home-makers share this feeling with me. But now that I have a different viewpoint, I consider my current work as a full time housewife to be sacred because managing my home and raising my kids have become my ministry.  Taking care of my family is my way of pleasing God, so I give and do my best to please Him. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Collosians 3:23)

I do encourage you to listen to Paul's entire message, which you can do if you just click on this: http://www.ccf.org.ph/videos/view/please-god-in-everything#.VGBF2NyM2So

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We tried Ramen Nagi for the first time last Sunday.  Long queues are usually a turn off for C who doesn't want to stand in line that long.  But since we found ourselves in Robinson's Magnolia and there wasn't any line yet when we got there, we took it as a sign that we should definitely go in.:)

Ramen Nagi serves four kinds of ramen: the Butao King (original tonkotsu broth), Black King (squid ink, garlic), Red King (spicy) and Green King (basil and cheese). We tried out everything except for the Black King. 

C ordered the Red King.  They were not kidding when they said it is spicy! C found it good, but the spiciness was too much for his comfort level that he suffered from heartburn for 2 days. You can personalize your order, but he went with the Chef's recommendation.

J ordered the Butao King.  She loves ramen as much as her dad, but she still considers Ippudo as the best.

M gourmand, B, ordered the Green King.  She's always the one with the adventurous taste buds, so naturally she got drawn to this novel way of eating ramen with basil and cheese.  Despite looking rather off, she swears it was soo good.

My son and I are not really so much into ramen.  We need rice for our carbo fix, and my son could eat rice like there was no tomorrow. So between the two of us, we ordered Chicken karaage...

...spring rolls

...and three orders of gyoza. One order comes with 5 dumplings.  The presentation was excellent since it came in a sizzling plate, and we could actually hear it sizzle, but my son said he prefers the gyozas of Osaka Osho better.

Overall, we had a good lunch at Ramen Nagi. Food was served fast, and quality was good.

Ramen Nagi
SM Aura 8286793 | MOA 5502394 | SM North 3740503 |
Robinsons Magnolia 4701356 | Robinsons Manila 3535067

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Weekend Footnotes: F7 Rallos (Senor Pollo + The Burger Project + Purple Oven + Mrs. Graham's Cafe)

As you may very well know by now, C insists that I take a break from cooking on weekends, so we usually eat out - a lot!:)  The past weekend, we tried almost all the restaurants at the F7 Rallos complex.

We first visited F7 Rallos a few weekends ago with the swimming family of my kids after a swim competition. F7 Rallos is a restaurant complex just off the busy street of Tomas Morato in Quezon City. The place has a mix of affordable restaurants that is perfect for a quick bite with the family during the weekend, or a great place for friends to catch up.

{Weekend Footnotes} Smoked Salmon & Asparagus Pasta Recipe + Central Square BGC

The long weekend that just happened is another excuse for me to share with all of you our foodie indulgences.

Let me start by giving out my recipe for this Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pasta. What I love about this dish, other than the smoked salmon, is that it is so easy to do.  It is almost fail-proof, and provides a lot of room for improvisation.  You can add cream, leave out asparagus, use arugula, throw in some capers, etc. The essentials are smoked salmon, salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic, and pasta with some olive oil.

Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pasta
8 ounces spaghetti (or other) pasta
Salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cream (optional)
4 ounces smoked salmon, cut into bite sized pieces
Freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Add in asparagus at the last 2 minutes of cooking. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold the pasta, such as a 12-inch saute pan or a large, shallow pot. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it just begins to turn golden on the edges-don't overcook it! Carefully add the reserved pasta-cooking water to the garlic and oil and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about a third. If you want a slightly creamy sauce, add the cream and let boil a minute more.
3. Add the drained pasta to the garlic sauce and toss. Turn off the heat, add the smoked salmon and toss well. Allow the pasta to rest off the heat for 5 minutes for the sauce to be absorbed. Taste for seasoning and serve warm with lemon wedges and Parmesan on the side.
4. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

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If you've been following me on Instagram, then you know that I've been cooking up all sorts of dulce de leche sorcery. These choco chip cookies filled with dulce de leche are just so good that one tray is not enough for my family.

We promised the kids pizza night, and C's favorite pizza is Yellow Cab.  It surely did not disappoint, and left-overs were gladly eaten for breakfast the next day.

I am so happy that Purple Oven decided to open in the Scout area.  It is now much more convenient to pop in to buy their baked goodies. My kids love their lemon bars and chocolate revel bars. 

Purple Oven

F7 Building, Scout Rallos corner Tomas Morato, QC

What's a long weekend for if there's no time to visit the bookstore? For my kids, a trip to the mall will not be complete without a pit stop at the bookstore. Fully Booked at Boni Hi-Street is always a fave.

Baskin Robbins Philippines just reopened at Central Square in BGC, and C wanted to take the kids there.

Do you know that Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors?  Look closely at their logo and you'll see 31 between the “B and R”.

Central Square is located beside BGC High Street, and this is also where the new 4DX cinema is located. On the floor where the movie theaters are, we tried Mr. Franks. 

On the opposite end, but on the same floor, one of our favorite Italian restaurant opened its second store. It's thep erfect place to have an early dinner when watching a movie at Central Square. Va Bene Pasta Deli's original store is located at Petron Gas Station in Dasma.

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