Patti's Palette

Aha | SIEM REAP

2012-02-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

I'm a little sad that my Cambodia posts are coming to an end! Even though the trip is over, I was re-living it through my blog entries... Aileen and I ate at AHA on my last night in Siem Reap. We took our time, ordered wine, and recapped the trip over our flavorful (Khmer + Western) food. It's owned by the same people as Hotel de la Paix, but AHA is tucked away in one of the main alley's of the old market area, which is just nearby. I'd suggest it as an alternative to eating at the hotel; same quality in food, service and atmosphere. We sat outside of the modern, tapas meets wine bar concept. We learned that AHA is Khmer for "food."

*I've just decided that I will share the restaurant pictures first, and post our dinner in the next entry. Enjoy!

Cafe de la Paix | SIEM REAP

2012-02-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Hotel de la Paix is Siem Reap's most stylish hotel, it offers guests outstanding levels of luxury and world class dining & spa facilities. In Cambodia, who would have thought! For such a fancy hotel, you can still feel the grace and charm of the Khmer people. The property grounds are a feast for the eyes, there's something to look at in every nook and cranny - it is designed very well. After witnessing the sunrise at Angkor Wat, Aileen and I went to Cafe de le Paix for some pastries and coffee. It's the hotel's "gourmet deli for global nomads."

Madame Butterfly | SIEM REAP

2012-02-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

Check it :: http://www.madamebutterflyrestaurant.com/

Cooks in TukTuks Pt.2

2012-01-30T19:21:00.000-08:00

Here's the cooking part of the class... We learnt that the ancient Khmer Empire spread over Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. These three countries have had great influence in most Cambodian dishes. If you like Thai or Vietnamese food, you will definitely enjoy Khmer cuisine :) Although, most people say that generally Cambodian cooking is not as spicy as Thai. Take a look at what we, Cooks in Tukuks, made!

Hibiscus Tea (not pictured) - refreshing iced drink made from hibiscus flowers

Banana Flower Salad (pictured) - salad of shredded banana blossoms, fresh greens, chicken and flavorful dressing

Amok Trei (pictured) - steamed curried fish made with kroeung curry paste

Sweet Potato, Sago & Coconut (not pictured) - sweet dessert similar to other Asian desserts around the region

Cooks in TukTuks Pt.1

2012-01-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

Our first full day in Siem Ream started out with an activity we enrolled in, "Cooks in TukTuks." It's basically a cooking class offered by the River Garden hotel wherein you begin with a tour of the local markets and end by eating a full meal that you have collectively prepared. Oh yes, and the cooking of course is in between...

Tuktuks were waiting in the lobby to take us to the local markets and eating places of the Khmer people. Our first stop was a "snack" stall, which translated to water snakes, beetles and other insects! We had some people on our tour take a nibble, and the verdict was the usual, "It really doesn't taste like anything..." Sorry to say, Aileen and I were both chicken so we don't have any first hand comments for you. The next stop was an outdoor market for meats, seafood and vegetables. What a contrast to our supermarkets! Our chef/guide bought a few fresh veggies at the market but to our relief, he told us that the meat and seafood for our dishes were purchased at the supermarket and waiting for us back at the hotel.

A few snapshots of the tour below. Will post about the cooking in my next entry!

Blue Pumpkin | SIEM REAP

2012-01-27T05:38:00.000-08:00

After our dinner at Cafe Central, we felt like it was too early to go home [the time was about 11:30ish]. We weren't looking to go out clubbing or drinking, but we did want a reason to hang out before going back to the hotel... This was obviously a no-brainer for me, did I hear DESSERT?! And just like that, we landed at Blue Pumpkin. At the time, I thought we were pretty impressive for scoping out a fun, foodie spot - little did I know, Blue Pumpkin is thee place to go for ice-cream, breads, pastries and that of the sort. They also serve light snacks, sandwiches, coffee/tea and shakes. We saw quite a few outlets planted around the city, even at the departure area of the airport. Anyways, we made the right choice indeed. I had a refreshing passion fruit sorbet and Aileen a creamy coconut scoop.

If you're wondering who our 2 friends are below, I will explain. When we were outside enjoying our sorbets, 2 boys came up to us selling books about Cambodia. We felt bad refusing and repeating ourselves, "Sorry, we don't need the books." Trust me, these boys don't take "No" for an answer. They kept insisting we buy the books and that they were very cheap. The books were cheap -nothing more than $10- it's just that we really didn't need them. Then Aileen offers, "How about instead of buying books, I buy you 2 some ice-cream instead?" The ear to ear grins on their faces said it all. It was so cute, Aileen and the 2 boys went to the counter and she let them choose their dessert. You could tell this was such a big treat for the 2, and just seeing how thrilled they were... Priceless.

Cafe Central | SIEM REAP

2012-01-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

Before each New Year, I look back at my journal and write a recap. It usually consists of how I feel about the year coming to a close & a new one beginning, my most memorable moments & significant events and things I was most grateful for. The last part of my entry is dedicated to goals and continuous dreams -if they haven't come true yet!- for the New Year. Each year there's a section about travel, I always want to visit new cities and explore new corners of the world with either J, my family or my bestest friends. Lucky me, 2 weeks into 2012 and I'm already visiting a new city -country, actually!- with my best friend.

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

My trip started off with VIP service, Aileen was at the international airport in a tuk-tuk ready and waiting for my arrival. There's a very comforting feeling being greeted by a familiar face in a sea, and city, of strangers. I spotted my bestie right away and we were off to our hotel in a matter of minutes. We didn't stay long as it was getting a bit late and we didn't want to waste any time... The plan for the night was to feel out the Old Market area and find a restaurant to have dinner at. After walking around, we decided on Cafe Central - a spacious, breezy all day cafe. Their menu has everything from the usual breakfast suspects, coffee -my favorite Illy!-, options for hearty or light lunches, great snackies, cocktails and lots of choices for the dinner crowd. Aileen and I shared a bacon/chicken/broccoli pizza and the mezze platter, both of which we finished with ease ;)

Back-logged on the Bee-log

2012-01-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

Back-logged on the Blog

Goodness! I can't believe it has been pretty much 2 months since my last blog post. I've been busy with Sweet Patti Cakes, Etcetera, a home project, the holidays, guests in town and more... However, that is no excuse for the long blog hiatus. I'm sorry :( The good news is, that I have recently been traveling and taking pictures of all the fun food along the way. So get ready for some posts from *drumrollplease*

CAMBODIA

SINGAPORE

POTATO HEAD | Bali

2011-11-25T01:50:00.000-08:00

KU DE TA | Bali

2011-11-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

Ku De Ta always seems to make it on the "list" when people ask what to do/where to go in Bali... For good reason, too! Ku De Ta is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your vacation. This beach club in hip spot Seminyak is a restaurant/lounge/bar all rolled into one (in my opinion, they are lacking a pool, i hope they get one). Jon and I went during the day, we were lucky and snagged the cabana lounge chairs right as a couple was leaving. We ordered some drinks and a pizza from their grazing menu. Our Romeo & Juliet pizza -grilled zucchini, white anchovy, dried chili, candied lemon parmesan- was served on a wooden board, we didn't have to move an inch from our perfect sunspot. Ahhhh, vacation :)

METIS | Bali

2011-11-21T03:43:00.000-08:00

METIS :: My favorite meal from Bali 6.0

If you get the chance visit Bali, please please dine at Metis. I only have the best words for this restaurant... It's a place for elegant dining in a romantic setting with of course, superb food, which they classify as French Mediterranean. This might have been the biggest meal Jon and I have ever shared. We started with warm bread, ordered our own appetizers and shared the cote de boeuf and everything that came with it. Mind you, the portion on the menu said it would be good for 2-3 people! If you know me, I was still able to make room for dessert - I chose from their signature kinds of souffle. To be honest, we could have skipped appetizers and just done the meat with dessert... What can I say, we like to eat, and we like to eat a lot :) Alfresco dining made for a lengthy dinner chatting over all kinds of things, we were certainly in no rush to get out of there. The sublime beauty and ambience lit up the evening and we just took it all in - note the surrounding rice fields in the photos below! I can't wait to go back to Bali, and will for sure visit Metis again.

Red & White

Jon's: Yellow Fin Tuna Sashimi, Ginger Coriander Soy Sauce, Ginger Tempura, Crispy Garlic

Mine: Trio of Tartare, Yellow Fin Tuna, Tasmanian Salmon, Chilled Steam Alaskan King Crab

Ours: La Cote de Boeuf {this came with garlic parsley cottage fries, shimeji mushrooms, tomato provancal x2, green salad x2}

Green Salad

Ours: Pista Choc Souffle {caribe chocolate souffle, pistachio parfait, grapefruit confit, vanilla cream}

STAR FISH BLOO | Bali

2011-11-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

I can start my Bali posts! Can I just say I had the best (mini) vacation... I say 'mini' because it was too short, I would have loved to stay longer to see more and explore different areas of the island. Our hotel was the bomb so it was hard to leave knowing we only had a short time to soak it all in. We stayed at the *uber-chic* and laid-back W Hotel Retreat & Spa. Click on the link and check it out!

Dinner on the first night was at Star Fish Bloo, the signature restaurant of the hotel. Its beachfront location, fun aquamarine tones, over-sized lobster pot booths and excellent food make it a beach-chic dining spot you don't want to miss! The menu is inspired from the sea -duh- and everything else is built around that. There are other items on the menu which are more telling of the Pan Asian region (like the Korean fried chicken we ordered and also the shrimp-stuffed chicken wings) but I'd say it's heavy on the seafood at Star Fish Bloo; as it should be! Amazing first meal to welcome in the anniversary celebrations.

Chinese @ CHANGI

2011-11-19T00:48:00.000-08:00

MNL > > > SG

We started our day quite early, catching the 8am flight from Manila to Singapore. We slept on the plane and skipped breakfast. Three and a half hours later we landed in Singapore, our stop over city on the way to Bali. If there's any airport to have a 3 hour layover at, Changi is the place to be! By the time we deplaned, grabbed lunch [below], quickly browsed the shops and found free wifi, it was time to board our next plane. So convenient!

Lemuria 6.0

2011-11-11T01:56:00.000-08:00

P♥J

We chose to celebrate our 6.0 at Lemuria

Salad Lyonnaise - greens w/ sauteed lardoons, croutons & poached egg

Lentil Du Puy - creamy lentil soup & smoked salmon

Sea bass w/ mushroom risotto

Wagyu rib eye w/ potato gratin

Molten Chocolate Cake

Kai 6.0

2011-11-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

"You love birds stay in love..."

Thanks to our fellow foodie and good friend Eric Dee, Jon and I were able to continue our anniversary celebrations... *still need to post our dinner from the day of* He set up a seafood-only dinner for us at Kai, mine and Jon's favorite Japanese restaurant here in Manila. He may know some people that know some people at Kai ;) Thank you Eric!

Watermelon Sake

Simple Japanese Salad w/ Tomato, Goat Cheese & Orange

Sashimi 5 Ways... and our sushi plate behind

My favorite Sea Bass dish

Jon's favorite Black Miso Cod dish

Lychee Sake (...did he think the watermelon wasn't enough?!)

Our favorite Banana Nutella Sushi Dessert

I get the Chocolate & Caramel // J gets the Strawberry & Vanilla

The Alpha Restaurant

2011-11-05T23:53:00.000-07:00

THE ALPHA, RESHMA'S BIRTHDAY LUNCH

Facebook // Website

Salmon Carpaccio

Caesar Salad

{Karen's salad was a special, it was Japanese inspired if I remember correctly}

Truffled Mushroom Soup

{My salmon dish was a special, it came with cheesy mash and sauteed veggies}

{Karen's Singaporean sea bass was also a lunch special}

Chicken & Prawn Wild Rice Risotto

Caramelized Forest Berry Panna Cotta

Chocolate Souffle - the *best* part of the meal for me ;)

Birthday Girl, Karen, Patti

Mr. Kurosawa

2011-10-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

MR. KUROSAWA at RESORTS WORLD, MANILA

Canele | SINGAPORE

2011-10-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

If you couldn't tell from my last post, Canele is one of those places were everything looks like perfection. Here are some more snaps proving my point... Goodies from Canele!

Canele | SINGAPORE

2011-10-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Love Me. Eat Me. Tempt Me. Pick Me. > > > CANELE

My favorite traveling partner, J

J's Cappuccino

Our Flower of the Sea crepe was TO DIE TO DIE (we made the correct here)

I got the Ultimate Iced Chocolate to pair with my crepe ;)

Famous Amos

2011-10-12T18:54:00.001-07:00

When I was in Singapore, I got my [daily] fix of Famous Amos cookies. No Nut Chocolate Chip to be exact! There's no way you can resist that smell of fresh cookie batches being made throughout the day... And if you can, you're officially weird in my book :P

GOODIES Jones the Grocer | SINGAPORE

2011-10-09T01:26:00.000-07:00

Some goodies (take-home & ready-to-eat) from Jones the Grocer > > >

Jones the Grocer | SINGAPORE

2011-10-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

"Driven by our desire to provide the best gourmet food for everyday living, Jones the Grocer aims to inspire and excite the imagination of all food lovers."

Read more about Their Story and you'll see why Jones is everyones' favorite grocer...

CUT | SINGAPORE

2011-10-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

From the City of Angels to the Lion City

CUT

DESSERT @ PIZZERIA MOZZA

2011-09-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

...You didn't think we skipped out on dessert at Mozza, did you??

Jon and I joined fellow visitors Kae and Iza for everyone's favorite third course. Kae has been spending quite some time in Singapore -and Mozza ;)- so she was able to get us a last-minute table for some late-night sweets. It's always nice to rendezvous in a new city with friends from home. Mabuhay from Singapore!

Cafe Latte

*Talking about friends in different cities... I bumped into a Kappa sorority sister from college days in MALIBU! Small world, I tell you. Hi Jen :)

Butterscotch budino, Maldon sea salt & Rosemary pine nut cookies

Coconut gelato pie w/ hot fudge & salted almonds

Espresso Gelato

Pizzeria Mozza | SINGAPORE

2011-09-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

Fun {italian} Facts from MOZZA

Pizzeria Mozza | SINGAPORE

2011-09-22T02:29:00.001-07:00

From LA to MARINA BAY -- Oh you fancy huh!!

PIZZERIA MOZZA

Mango Tree

2011-09-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

"Sawasdee Kah."

Although I didn't hear anyone greet me quite like that, they mighty well could have. I went to dinner at the newly opened Mango Tree Bistro last night [Greenbelt 5], and to my surprise was very satisfied with the food. I heard it was a Thai restaurant, and I was just praying it wouldn't be "Filipino" Thai - where everything is sweetened up for our local taste buds. I didn't find that at all in Mango Tree; our dishes had just the right kick, spice, and flavor. I really hope they keep it that way! We attended a tasting dinner and got to sample some of the top dishes from the menu. I took a look at their menu and found other things that I want to go back and try, including some of their drinks as well. They are still in their soft opening stage, so give them a while to warm up in the kitchen. The ambience is not as traditional as the food, it's more of a modern atmosphere with mirrors, beaded window curtains and over-sized red and purple pillows lining the cushioned seats over at the back wall. Come to think about it, those were probably Thai silk pillows... Haha! Anyways, let's show some love and follow Mango Tree on Facebook & Twitter.

Tom Yum Goong [spicy sour soup w/ mushrooms, shrimps kaffir, lemongrass, fresh herbs] This was really spicy for me!

Thod Mun Goong [deep fried fresh shrimp cakes w/ sweet chili sauce]

Som Tum Thai [green papaya salad w/ dried shrimps, peanuts, tomato] Loved this salad, so refreshing.

Talay Prik Thai Dum [stir fried seafood w/ black pepper sauce]

Gai Ta Krai Yung [grilled lemongrass chicken w/ Thai dipping sauce] You *must* get this, I think this will be their star best seller.

Panang Nua [red curry w/ beef and kaffir lime leaves]

Bagoong Rice Don't get plain rice, get this!

Pad Thai Jay [stir fried rice noodles w/ bean sprouts, egg, tofu, peanuts chives] Vegetarian friendly; another dish I would order again.

Khao Niew Mamuang [fragrant sticky jasmine rice w/ coconut cream sauce and mango] My favorite Thai dessert!

Thanks, love.

Awfully Chocolate | SINGAPORE

2011-09-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

(cont'd)

I got the cold poached chocolate with Kahlua cream. I probably should have tried their signature chocolate cake too... Oh well, there will definitely be a next time. We were browsing the food court at 4pm, after we had been to lunch someplace else... Didn't want to spoil dinner, so there was just room for 1 thing in my tummy. Needless to say, I made a scrumptious choice!

The cold poached chocolate is a soft, rich dark chocolate "slab" that was invented by their own cold-poaching method. It's thicker than a mousse, almost like a creamy ganache. The different "flavors" are the fresh liquor creams on top. Definitely getting this again when I'm in Sing-a-ling!

Awfully Chocolate | SINGAPORE

2011-09-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Leave it up to Ion's food court -Singapore- to have such cool, boutique'y meal/snack/drink/dessert choices. It is here where I fell in love with Awfully Chocolate. A small, corner stall that caught my eye with its simplicity and yes... name. How could I walk past something saying Awfully Chocolate?! I noticed quickly that the choices were quite slim - 3 types of chocolate cake, chocolate ice-cream, 2 cupcake flavors, Kahlua bars and poached chocolate mounds. Everything is based on... duh, chocolate.

I checked out the website and learned that this is exactly their philosophy; to have a limited product line, focusing on quality rather than variety. Awfully Chocolate wants to bring the humble chocolate cake back to its glory days, and that's exactly what the business was first built on - 1 kind of cake. They've expanded a bit since then, but it's clear that chocolate has remained the star attraction of this awfully wonderful concept ;)

Wait 'till my next post to see what I ended up tasting! All the wonderful pictures first...

Din Tai Fung | SINGAPORE

2011-09-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

Dim sum, dumplings, or even yum cha... Whatever you wanna call it -though I'm sure there are slight differences between those three- you can't deny how amazing these little pockets of goodness are. Din Tai Fung is something I miss, I wish they had it here in Manila. It's a no-fuss, affordable chain of restos that churn out *hand-made* dumplings like a friggin' machine. I was SO excited to eat here in Singapore; Jon and I went for a mid-morning 11am meal at the Paragon branch. As usual, there was a line - since we expected it, we weren't bugged. They're very efficient though, you write down your order as you wait (which also builds up your appetite!). As soon as your number is called, you hand in your order and wait for the food - how easy is that :)

Throwback :: Din Tai Fung in LA

BRO CODE

2011-09-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Wendell didn't get Happy Lemon with us... He got a healthy fruit juice instead. Him and Jon were reading the BRO CODE during our shopping breaks.

Happy Lemon | SINGAPORE

2011-09-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

After all the Happy Lemon buzz in Manila, Jon and I finally tried it... in Singapore.

I don't know who, or what, started the buzz but it did get around quickly. Everyone was tweeting or talking about their drink from Happy Lemon. The one's that got me most curious were the "rock salt cheese" concoctions. When I heard about it, I couldn't even begin to imagine what that would taste like. In Singapore, they told us that the most popular drink was the Green Tea Rock Salt Cheese - just like in Manila! Jon always goes for the "best sellers" so he was quick to choose it. I still stayed on the rock salt cheese path, but I chose the cocoa instead of the green tea. So there, we broke our Happy Lemon virginities in Singapore together. LOL

For the record, even after having tasted it, it's hard to describe exactly what the rock salt cheese element does to the drink. You'll have to try it yourself ;)

Bread Talk | Singapore

2011-09-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

Getting breakfast at the hotel was a no-no, we were just walking distance from Paragon, a much better place to grab something. One morning we headed over to Bread Talk to get a little carbo fuel to start our day... I know we have Bread Talk here in Manila, but not all items are the same. Jon got "Eggs in a Basket" and I got a very chocolate'y "Chocolate Crossaint" - both of which I've not seen here in Manila. Anyone wanna prove me wrong? It'll be a happy surprise!

Newton Circus | SINGAPORE

2011-09-05T19:31:00.001-07:00

No tourist should leave Singapore without having visited Newton Circus... This last visit, I must admit, I kind of felt like a tourist; so many things have changed since I last lived there. However, I was still around when Newton Circus went through it's "upgrade", so this night wasn't new for me.

Newton Circus is arguably one of the most popular hawker centers in Singapore. "Hawkers" are basically outdoor food courts - they say that this was the traditional way of eating in Singapore before the city became so fancy schmancy. It's nice to see that they still keep the hawker culture very much alive despite all the progress that Singapore has experienced. There is an astounding variety of local fare at fairly cheap prices, I say "fairly cheap" because I did notice the price hike compared to a few years ago. The whole atmosphere is part of the experience too - eating outside, interacting with the locals, the smells, the sights... It really is fun, I kinda miss it already! Check out our dinner pics below...

Fresh Coconut Water

Beef & Chicken Satay

Garlic Prawns

Chicken Rice - not just plain white rice!

Chicken (for the Chicken Rice)

Chili Crab - sooooo goooodddd

Sushi Tei | SINGAPORE

2011-09-04T01:11:00.000-07:00

Just came back from a lovely trip to Singapore! My old stomping grounds ;) Sometimes I forget that I spent 8 crucial years in the Lion City - Middle & High School, c'mon that's crucial. Food wise, we were able to squeeze in a lot of places during our long weekend visit... We basically walked a shiz load on Orchard Road which lent us to little snacks throughout the day. I won't do my posts in chronological order, but this lunch here was our very first meal after we checked into our hotel.

SUSHI TEI BABY! I reference Sushi Tei often, when talking about possible new Japanese concepts for Manila to bring in. Their dishes stay true to Japanese flavors, yet their menu is still interesting and creative. Sushi Tei also offers monthly specials to boot - I used to always look forward to that. On the plane ride from Manila to Singapore, Jon and I agreed we'd go here first. We were SO excited to be back and eating at Paragon again :)

*Check out my first Sushi Tei post here - brings back memories of blogging from Singapore - awww*

Salmon Wafu Carpaccio

Special: Mushroom Salmon Wrap

Special: Ebi Vegetable Gyoza

Chicken Kaarage

Cha Soba

Dragon Roll

Malcolm's

2011-08-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

A new [dangerous] neighborhood spot ---> Malcolm's, Salcedo Village

Complimentary Bread + Dip

Grilled Asparagus + Shiitake + Tomatoes + Truffled Egg

Malcolm's Wagyu Burger

Truffled Mac 'n Cheese

4 Seasons Pizza

Apple Pie a la Mode

nahm | HONG KONG

2011-08-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong transit // Kowloon Station // Elements Mall // nahm

EGG TARTS | MACAU

2011-08-10T19:03:00.001-07:00

I DIE.

If I ate egg tarts from Lord Stow's for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner of my stay in Macau, I'd be one happy girl. Forget the rest of my Macau posts, these egg tarts were the best thing I put in my mouth! I seriously think we found the best egg tart bakery there... They were churning these babies out every 15 minutes. I got a peep at the bakery window and it was dominated by egg tart production - definitely their specialty. We went twice, and both times our tarts were still warm when served... MMM. They tasted like little cups of heaven... The pastry crust was flaky, crunchy and not too thick. It was like the perfect pot for the custard filling, which reminded me a bit of creme brulee. The tops were caramelized and they were just amazing. Kinda hope my dad goes for another trip - I know what to ask for pasalubong ;)

*Nevermind! Just found out they have Lord Stow's here in Manila too. Score.

Vergnano Italian | MACAU

2011-08-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

It's nice to know that Dad thought "the kids" were decent enough to bring to dinner with some business colleagues. It was the one night where no dinner meetings were held, so everyone was free to plan their own evening. We went to an Italian restaurant in the heart of St Mark's square; the area of the hotel where the ceilings are painted to replicate the sky and the canals are built to make you feel as if you're enjoying an al fresco meal in Venice. A fun, vacation-like atmosphere indeed. Jon, Chris and I sat at the end of a long table - so we were kind of in our own world, talking about our own thang. I got the chance to blog about our food; not everyone else's. Pictures below :)

Jon, Chris & I got a pizza to share for appetizer... 4 Cheese

Chris got Lobster Risotto, one of his fave dishes when eating out

Got myself a big bowl of Angel Hair Aglio Oglio

Jon got a nice cut of steak... Chris and I helped him finish this

Thanks for the family pic, Jon! PS this was not in the St. Mark's Square area.

Illy Espressamente | MACAU

2011-08-07T04:57:00.000-07:00

If I see an Illy Espressamente while traveling, I'm always sure to take a coffee break there. It's my favorite coffee "chain." Each and every latte I've had comes out perfect over and over again...

Don Gelato | MACAU

2011-08-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

After dinner at McSorley's, Chris and I were the only one's with room for some dessert - Don Gelato was the answer.

MrSorley's Ale House | MACAU

2011-08-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Get ready to see more burgers than the last post...! Before I go on, let me just say my brother and I were the only one's not to get burgers at McSorley's Ale House. This is definitely the "British pub" concept of the hotel; Chris and I made the right decision in sticking to -half our- roots and eating the familiar pub grub. I got fish 'n chips and Chris got the steak pie. Mom, Jon and Patrick got burgers. Bon Appetit!

Cheese sticks for starts

Jon's burger with bacon, onion rings and American cheese

Pat's bacon burger with Swiss

Mom's veggie burger with provolone and avocado

My fish & chips

Chris' steak pie with mashed potatoes and gravy

Kraze Burgers | MACAU

2011-08-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

I think Jon and I attract burgers... or vice versa... Haha! We always seem to "stumble upon" burger joints in the different cities we travel to. There's something quite comforting about biting into a juicy, fresh burger -with a side of french fries ;)

We walked by Kraze Burgers at the Grand Canal Shoppes while shopping and made a mental note to return for lunch the next day. As if we would forget. Kraze appears as a fast food place, we actually went up to the "counter" to order, but we were told to sit down and wait for the staff to approach us. We soon figured out the burgers are made fresh to order and that Kraze also offers sandwiches, salads and different side dishes. The pictures below look like Jon and I ordered the same burger; we didn't. I got the Original KB with cheese and he got something along the lines of a hot 'n spicy burger with jalapenos and special sauce. What we both did though, was go for the whole-wheat bun option. I guess it's safe to say that we caved into the burger kraze in Macau :)

Imperial House Dim Sum | MACAU

2011-08-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

My Dad hosted a little getaway trip to Macau -or Macoozy as we called it- last week... He was there for biz and decided it would be nice for the fambam to come along as well. (Thanks, Dad!) Gambling and clubbing is synonymous with the city, but we kind of steered in the opposite direction - we enjoyed the hotel's facilities and of course did our fair share of food exploration :) We stayed at the Venetian Hotel and all our meals were either there, The Grand Canal Shoppes or The Shoppes at The Four Seasons. Oh we fancy huh! Not really ;)

Jon and I arrived a day after everyone else. Our first meal was at the Chinese restaurant, Imperial House Dim Sum. We had been traveling since 5am Manila time; flight to HK and then ferry ride to Macau - so when we saw the dimsum... ATTACK!

Restaurant Repeat :: LU

2011-07-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

Seem to be on a restaurant repeat, first Apartment 1b and now Lu...

It was just a little too convenient when my friends from Hong Kong told me they were staying at Joya in Rockwell. Of course I was gonna suggest just popping downstairs to their ground floor for dinner :)

the diabLU

LUjito

Chipotle Crab Cakes

Zucchini Blossom & Goat Cheese Fritters

Grilled Veggie & Feta Wrap - Kym is a vegetarian and she loved her wrap

Gambas Al Ajillo Angel Hair - this was mine :)

...I think this was a special, Stefan do you remember what you ate?

Salcedo Stroll

2011-07-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

Jon and I took a Saturday morning walk over to Apartment 1b for some mid-morning food... This is the first time we've ever walked to breakfast, or any meal for that matter. Salcedo makes it an easy neighborhood to walk places, I oughta do it more often!

Orange French Toast

Apartment 1B Breakfast

Only at KYSS...

2011-07-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

Udon Carbonara + Edamame + Bacon Chicharron

Steamed Salmon + Silken Tofu + Grilled Sushi Rice

Only at KYSS...

2011-07-22T03:31:00.000-07:00

Jalapeno Pesto Pasta + Sesame Tuna Tataki

Asian Beef Tenderloin + Onion Rings + Truffle Mash

Dine Toro

2011-07-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Forgot to blog about lunch I had at Toro with some friends before I left for my US trip last May - better late than never!

Check out Toro here : www.dinetoro.com

Toro Caesar

Volcano Roll

Chicken Katsu

Chef's Table Manila

2011-07-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

Another new restaurant to share! When people ask me what I enjoy doing, among the list I'm sure to say, "Trying new restaurants." Of course I like to go and eat at my favorites, but there's something about trying a restaurant for the first time that's always exciting and stimulating. You eye the menu a bit longer, gaze around to see what other people are having, and you just take in a whole new experience.

Our friend Tony invited Jon and I for lunch to celebrate Jon's birthday - and he picked the place, Chef's Table. If it sounds familiar, it should. Chef's Table is a cooking show on the Asian Food Channel starring Chef Bruce Lim. Put two and two together, and yes, this is Chef Bruce's kitchen playground. Seriously though, the open kitchen in his restaurant is the star of this stylized space. Chef's Table is Filipino cuisine done Chef Bruce style - he was born and raised in America, studied at Le Codron Bleu in London, and returned to his roots here in the Philippines. You'll really appreciate all the components of his Filipino dishes, definitely a restaurant to return to! Thanks Tony :)

Mango Tango

Cebuana Chili Chicken Wings

Ensaladang Tuna at Salmon

Calamansi Tuyo Spaghetti

Prawn Aligue

Stir Fried Kangkong

Garlic Rice

Mango Cheesecake

Buko Pie Martini

2011-07-01T02:31:00.000-07:00

#blessed #thankful #sohappy

A big, fat THANK YOU to our customers who've kept us busy baking for a whole year... Many more cake batters and frosting flavors to go, please stay on the journey with us. Sweet cupcake hugs to you all ~ XO

The Goose Station [Pt 2]

2011-06-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

Eggs Benedict - slow cooked egg, hollandaise foam, white truffle oil, bacon tuile

Summer Salad - textures of beet & carrot, goat cheese, hazelnuts, micro greens

Unagi Foie Gras - apple, radish, raspberry, balsamic, togarashi

24 hour Steak - USDA Prime short rib, steak sauce, haricot verts, crisp onions, truffle oil mash

Dessert "Snack" - Macaroon Burger

Strawberry Sorbet - various strawberry textures

Chocolate Candy Bar - dark chocolate ganache, milk chocolate & early grey tea mousse, praline crust, frozen raspberries

Brioche Bread Pudding - bacon maple syrup, caramelized bananas, chocolate ice-cream

The Goose Station [Pt 1]

2011-06-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

Jon and I celebrated his birthday at The Goose Station. We had been hearing about this restaurant here and there from a few of our foodie friends, so we added it to our "must try soon" list. In all honestly, I was always wondering if they were saying "Degustation" or "The Goose Station." Now I finally get it! The Goose Station is actually a play on words for degustation... Known for their 9 course tasting menu, it makes sense. Degustation means "a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods, focusing on the gustatory system, the senses, high culinary art and good company." That was a mouthful :)

By the way, if 9 courses seem like too much, they also offer a 5 course express menu and there's a la carte too. The menus are seasonal, so it's exciting to know a few dishes could change the next time around. We did 9 courses for Jon's birthday night; we really enjoyed the playfulness of the food and all the tiny details on all the plates - nothing left unthought. It was a fun, progressive dinner, and something different to do here in Manila dining-wise. The Goose Station is different in terms of what else is out there in Manila's food landscape - it's nice because they have pushed the bar and hopefully inspired others to be creative with this sort of culinary art. The chef couple Rob and Sunshine Pengson nailed it with this concept; a smart casual, intimate restaurant that's making noise in Manila - well done.

"Snacks" - filo pastry filled w/ foie gras cream, dried figs, hazelnuts

"Snacks" - Olive Oreo, Corn Custard, Potato Glass

Potato Glass

Squash Soup - corn, chorizo bilbao, white truffle oil, thyme froth

Caviar Surprise - avruga caviar, king crab, white asparagus cream, prawn jelly

The Yard

2011-06-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

After a long day shopping down 3rd Street Promenade [and Santa Monica Place!], you deserve a good, satisfying meal. I'm going to recommend for you to try The Yard, Chris Jacobson's three-year old baby. Yes, CJ from Top Chef. He has created an American-style restaurant in the heart of Santa Monica serving upscale comfort plates full of seasonal, fresh, quality produce. It's kind of known as the "neighborhood gastropub." If you know me, I'm not so into the booze but I did notice that they have quite the extensive selection... So if you're feeling small plates, entree portions, a quick drink -or 3-, or even a few creative desserts, you now know to hit up The Yard :)

Buratta Caprese

Farmer's Market Salad

Mini Pulled Pork Chuckers

Sliders

Sweet Potato Fries... Like we needed more fries!

Fish Tacos

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert

...More Graduation 2011

2011-06-18T04:11:00.000-07:00

Speaking of graduation... I've known this "little one" since she was lugging boxes into her freshman dorm 4 years ago. Being her grand-big [wow that makes me sound old] throughout college was so much fun; like hanging out with a little sister I never had. Countless late nights, baking sessions, foodie adventures, mojitos and more... Anyways, not so little now, she's stepping into the real world. Don't get in her way, Steph knows what she wants and she will get it. Love you.

P & S

----

PICS FROM OUR BREAKFAST @ HUCKLEBERRY LAST MONTH

Who Run The World? DAD's :0)

2011-06-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

JUNE 19 :: FATHERs DAY

GRAD 2011

2011-06-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

Long overdue...

CONGRADS to my brother Christopher! You made it... Now show the world what you got - get 'em!

Ceremony at Pepperdine University, Malibu CA

Brunch celebration at Shutters, Santa Monica CA

Clinton Street Bakery | NYC

2011-06-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

Watchu' know about maple butter syrup?!

Blueberry Pancakes [me and Maris got our own - no sharing :p]

Breakfast Biscuits for Christine

C & M

Imperial No. 9

2011-06-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

I bet you my Monday night in New York was better than yours ;)

I had such a fun dinner with Marisa and Christine at Imperial No. 9. It's Sam Talbot's -of Top Chef fame- restaurant at the Mondrian in SoHo. On the website, it's called a "sustainable seafood concept", so let's go with that. That being said, we did order some beef and chicken which was really delicious too. Be prepared to share, as the dishes are quite large if you want to try a few things. It's such a beautiful space; we were lucky to get seated in the greenhouse atrium so that made it even better. Check out the website [here] to get better pics of the place!

Funny Ordering Story

P: We don't really know how to order, so we just picked 2 things each, and you tell us what you think

Waiter: Sure, go right ahead

M: We want a,b,c,d,e,f,g

Waiter: Um, that's too much for you ladies

M: Ok - we'll get that then!

Keste Pizzeria | NYC

2011-05-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

If you're going on a pizza tour in NYC -how fun does that sound!- you best make sure you stop at Keste. My friend Rich told me about this pizzeria; he went with a chef friend who was doing some research on the best pizza in the city. Now, it's Rich's go-to spot for pizza. That's saying a lot, he's an avid foodie that just happens to live a block away from Lombardi's... Anyways, back to Keste. They have a sick oven in the back - all the pizzas are made fresh to order. I can't even type this whole blog post without acknowledging the pizza craving I have right now... All I want is the buratta pizza! Take me back!

Tomatoes, Artichoke, Mushroom, Mozzarella

Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Prosciutto di Parma, Basil

Burrata, Cherry Tomatoes, Basil

Little Pie Company | NYC

2011-05-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Breakfast pies!

The only time Claudia and I found time for our pie was first thing in the morning... You see, we had quite the check-list of foodie spots to try for the 2 nights I was staying with her. They say to never skip breakfast, so pie was the decision for our perfect first meal for our second day. Fruits in the morning are good for you, right? I thought so ;)

Check out their website :: www.littlepiecompany.com

4 words :: Sour-Cream-Apple-Walnut

Sour Cream Apple Walnut

Three Berry Pie

Burger Battle

2011-05-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Speaking of the East Coast/West Coast [burger] battle in my last post, check out this link :: The First Bi-Coastal Side-by-Side Taste Test with Shake Shack, Five Guys & In-N-Out

Shake Shack

2011-05-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Finally!

After much wait, I can now say I've eaten at the famous NY "roadside burger stand", Shake Shack. Claudia and I went to the original one in Madison Square Park. We were immediately greeted by a long line of locals, tourists and pretty much everyone in between at what seemed to be a neighborhood fixture. I thought New Yorkers were always on the go... Quick, fast, quick! Not here. Everyone was happily enjoying the sunshine and greenery in that afternoon line.

I remember asking people what was "so good" about Shake Shack, and they would always tell me it was the equivalent of In N Out. So now I get it, it's pretty much the same novelty. Honestly, I think the battle of In N Out vs Shake Shack is probably comparable to an East Coast/West Coast battle. They're both delicious (or in the other case, great cities)... But as usual, you do have one favorite ;)

Shack Burger (ok i was so full from eating 2 Levain cookies right before this... i could only stomach a burger and no fries... sad i know)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Custard (obviously i had room for this teeny dessert!)

Nespresso

2011-05-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

A pick-me-up latte (and sandwich!) before hitting up the beach...

What a cute snackie!

I got the [Grilled Cheese w/ Truffles] and Aileen got the [Caprese Panini]

P&A

My Latte

My Sandwich

Nespresso

2011-05-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Eleven Eleven Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

...serving upscale brews from Ten AM - Ten PM

Le Tub

2011-05-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

“The Best Hamburger voted by GQ Magazine and as seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show” - www.theletub.com

Before Aileen and I reunited in Miami, our last meal was at Mac Bar in NYC about year ago [here]. Le Tub was our first meal together since then – we do pretty well for our foodie reunion dates don’t we? ;)

Right after Aileen picked me up from the airport, we came straight here...

Seafood Salad

Sirloin Burger

Fries

Downtown Miami :: Food Trucks

2011-05-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

So I thought food trucks were only a LA/NYC thing... Wrong!

It looks like Miami has caught on to the meals on wheels as well. Aileen, Andrew and I made it downtown and checked out the food truck buffet, if you will. There was a total of 15 -give or take- to choose from... And as much as we wanted to try it all, there was no way our tummy's could handle it. We did our best to pick and choose the "specialties" of a few trucks. I took pictures, but with it being evening time and forcing me to use the flash - I'll keep them to myself aka my i.photo album. Below are just a couple shots of the trucks in Miami :)

Cinco de Drinko

2011-05-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Clevelander, South Beach [MIAMI]

I spent -part of- Cinco de Mayo with my best friend, and some mojitos...

Kogi Truck

2011-05-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Good to know my love for Kogi hasn't changed a bit ;)

Sweet Patti Cakes [Video]

2011-05-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

Grilled Cheese Truck

2011-04-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

So.Happy.

One of the best days of my trip so far... Spending the afternoon with Brooke; grilled cheese(s) and chit chats. Eating and talking, the 2 things we've always done best ;)

Oh 'dem dumplings

2011-04-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

[Hong Kong]

MOTHERS DAY :: MAY 8

2011-04-27T23:44:00.001-07:00

Chuck's Deli

2011-04-20T02:41:00.001-07:00

Doesn’t Chuck’s Deli just sound like a place that would serve hefty, hearty, specialty sandwiches?

Handsome Threesome [beer ham, Canadian ham & back forest ham w/ Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber]

Philly Cheese Steak [beef, American cheese, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms]

Happy Holy Week!!

2011-04-18T02:33:00.000-07:00

LU

2011-04-17T00:54:00.000-07:00

With Holy Week coming up (lots and lotsa orders in the kitchen), this will have to be a quick photo blog. Hope y'all don't mind!

G/F Joya Building, Joya Drive

Rockwell

Chipotle Crab Cakes w/ Calamansi Ranch

Zucchini Blossom & Goat Cheese Fritters

LU's Homemade Paprika Fries

Pan Crisped Salmon w/ Oregano Pesto

LU's Naughty Fish & Chips

PB&J Tart

Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Terrine

Easter Basket

2011-04-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Hop, hop, hop on over to Sweet Patti Cakes and grab an Easter basket! How could you not ;)

Miss B's Tuckshop

2011-04-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Enter another comfort food type restaurant, Miss B's Tuckshop.

From their website [here] I learned that Miss B's likes to focus on the back-to-basics-approach to food, "producing honest fast food which people can identify with wherein satisfaction is always above and beyond paid value." They categorize their menu as simple food fare influenced by American comfort food, executed with basic French techniques.

Let me break it down real quick before the photos:

3 pros

+they have proper malt vinegar for the fish & chips; such a pet peeve when restaurants only serve tartar sauce without the right vinegar

+grass fed beef; need i say more?

+fun desserts and milkshakes

3 cons

-i found the serving sizes a bit small

-their location; it would be hard to stumble upon this restaurant if you didn't know about it

-wish there was more sandwiches and salads

Lechon Salad

Garlic Fries

Fish & Chips

Crispy Pork Confit Burger

Calamansi Beignet

Nanatella

2011-04-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

Our newest flavor at Sweet Patti Cakes, NANATELLA!

Fresh banana cake + Rich Nutella frosting

This divine marriage of banana and Nutella came about by popular customer demand, sink your teeth in and you'll see why...

Back for... 2nds

2011-04-04T06:19:00.000-07:00

Now here’s a place where you’ll be coming back for exactly what the restaurant is called - 2nds. The rustic design and down to earth vibe sets the stage for the warm, filling and comforting dishes that are found on the menu here. After all, the tagline of the place is “Comfort Food Revisited.” I feel like the comfort food concept is becoming increasingly popular, customers are looking for upscale versions of their favorite meals. Also consumers are seeking out restaurants that are priced reasonably in a casual, friendly setting.

Our stomachs were empty, so it was the perfect night to try out the dishes here at 2nds. You’ll see below that we went through quite a few plates… Finishing every last crumb and french fry! 2nds really does serve up cozy eats based on simple and familiar feel-good dishes. It is located on the second floor of Bonifacio High Street, Quadrant 3. Please do try this spot out, happy eating!

Cornflake Buffalo Pops

Sherry Lewis Cheesesteak

Roast Beef & Raclette

Red Horse Fish & Chips

Apple Crumble

Baby Cupcakes

2011-03-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

Not a lotta people know that Sweet Patti Cakes also does mini cupcakes... Mainly for events or special occasions. There is a minimum order of 4 dozen cupcakes. Keep us in mind ;)

2011-03-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

SPOT or GET SPOTTED

Get ready for the newest Powersnet promo! 5 lucky winners will win Canon digital cameras; a must-have for every blogger in the field. The lucky few will be chosen, given the following criteria:

- They have the most "likes" and positive comments on their Spotted posts from April 1 - 15

- Their Spotted entry will have a brief writeup talking about their photo

If you're already on the site, start Spotting away!

If you're not yet a Powersnet member, what are you waiting for?! Sign up now :)

Jozu Kin - The Japanese Gold

2011-03-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

I checked out this new Japanese restaurant at The Fort [Burgos Circle] called Jozu Kin. If you're down to try yet another Japanese fusion restaurant in Manila, it's worth a shot. The x-factor here is that their head chef has worked in New York City under Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali... You may find dishes you like at Jozu Kin done better than your usual sushi haunt. With that said, I like to stay loyal to my favorite Japanese spots in the city ;)

Hamachi Carpaccio - thinly sliced yellowtail with extra virgin olive oil & lemon zest

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

Cupcakes on the Dance Floor

2011-03-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

...Why don't you grab your cupcakes and come chill with a star

Manila's #1 party spot Republiq was fortunate enough to be graced by the boys of Far East Movement. They performed an hour-long gig packed with energy and pure free-wired-ape fun! After their show I was able to join the guys backstage and give them a "well done, excellent job" treat... What did they get? Sweet Patti Cakes, of course ;)

DJ Virman holding up his Banana-Nutella cupcake

Prohgress sinking his teeth into a Seriously Chocolate cupcake

Alice Blue

2011-03-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hooked on Alice Blue

Whenever I pass their kiosk in Rockwell, I can’t resist the smell coming from those dainty looking Tiffany colored boxes. Alice Blue has created familiar, beloved scents that are able to permeate any space; be it your living room, office or bedside table. My favorite, of course, is the "Is something baking in the oven?" scent. I not-so-secretly achieve that smell by buying the Berry Crumble soy candle ;)

This isn't a foodie post per se, but when you smell the candles - you'll think they're good enough to eat!

Berry Crumble

White Tea & Ginger

Below is a cute excerpt from their website on how they came up with the brand’s name…

“The classic Alice Blue container candle comes in the natural color of soy wax -- white. Since our candles are white, we decided to name them after a color. Alice Blue is a pale shade of blue and was named after Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice Roosevelt-Longworth.”
*First blogged on my Powersnet account

Gourmet Pao

2011-03-23T03:51:00.000-07:00

Gourmet Siopao. You better believe it.

I can't believe I haven't blogged about Gourmet Pao yet... It was actually one of my first "foodie finds" when I moved to Manila last year. I was so intrigued by the fact that model/mother/wife/entrepreneur (and now certified broker!) Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez started this business. It has been great to see Gourmet Pao expand in the last year; they now frequent food bazars and have kiosks popping up everywhere, in addition to their original delivery service. From the outside, Gourmet Pao looks like a regular siopao... Until you've broken into the fluffy dough and see that, inside the flavors are gourmet indeed. Take my 2 favorites Tuka Dekada [spicy tuna, egg, capers, cheese] and Pesto Veggie [petso, garlic, red peppers, zucchini, eggplant] as an example. Other fun flavors are Dancing Queen, Chucho and Maxi-Moo - go see for yourself what's inside!

Game On

2011-03-22T03:52:00.000-07:00

Fashion and food? Game on. Sports and cupcakes? Sure, I'll give it a go!

Looks like my attempt to play around with basketballs, bowling balls, golf balls and baseballs didn't turn out so bad after all... Here we have a Sweet Patti Cakes birthday box for a young sport who loves basketball, bowling and golf. Below it, a celebratory box congratulating the San Francisco Giants on their World Series win. I knew there was a way to get me into sports ;)

Trousseau by Reshma

2011-03-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a perfect example of where my 2 passions, food & fashion, merge together. I was asked to bake a few dozen mini Sweet Patti Cakes for the Trousseau by Reshma launch earlier this month. The launch showcased my friend's new line, which focuses on gorgeous bags and cuffs - all made in the Philippines with the finest materials. An afternoon of shopping and cupcakes doesn't really get any better...

Sweet Patti Cakes

SPC Banana-Rama Tray

Me & Jon with Miss Trousseau herself ;)

I.Scream

2011-03-19T03:17:00.001-07:00

It's always fun to entertain, especially in your own home. Making each dish from scratch (read: homemade) can understandably be both tiring and time-consuming; more so if you're doing it all alone! By the time you come to the dessert course, you're just about ready to buy a cake from the nearest shoppe and plop it on the table for everyone to enjoy. Well, here's a little sumthin' sumthin' you can put together with the illusion that you've prepared a sweet-ending. You can buy all the ingredients, yet still assemble them in a way where you've made something of your own.

Easy steps below to a DIY: Ice-Cream Sandwiches

What You Need: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Vanilla Ice-cream

Take 1 jumbo scoop of ice-cream and sandwich it between 2 cookies

Roll the outside of the sandwich (the ice-cream part) in the chocolate chips

Congrats!! You're finished and ready to serve a plateful of ice-cream sandwiches to your guests :)

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's a few options to add some variety if you want to switch up your dessert sandwiches:

-Instead of chocolate chip cookies, you can use any other cookie you prefer, store bought or even homemade [sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, white chocolate chip cookies, etc]

-Instead of vanilla ice-cream you can use any other flavor you like [chocolate, strawberry, cookies&cream, etc]

-Instead of chocolate chips, you can try something else [M&M's, chopped nuts, rainbow sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, etc]

Join the Cru

2011-03-13T03:28:00.000-07:00

Cru Steakhouse, located in the Marriott Hotel, is Manila's answer to a modern chophouse. Quality steaks take center stage, but great thought has also been extended to the appetizers, sides and dessert. With an open kitchen, subdued lighting, dark wood and textured furnishings, you are likely to enjoy a meal here.

Complimentary Trio of Bread

Goat Cheese Spread

Lime Marinade Tuna Avocado Tartar

Ocean Shrimps w/ Homemade Salsa

Rib Eye [Australian grain fed Angus]

Onion Rings & Creamed Spinach

Rib Eye [Australian grain fed Angus]

Black Truffle Risotto & Portobello Mushrooms

Apple & Rhubarb Crumble

P & J

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

Rock My Swirl

2011-03-06T01:45:00.000-08:00

SweetPattiCakes' newest addition to the menu :: Raspberry & Strawberry cake + Luscious swirled frosting

The combination of sweet strawberries and tart raspberries in our cake and frosting give 'pretty in pink' a whole new meaning...

Cookie Cluster

2011-03-05T05:07:00.000-08:00

apricot X oatmeal X raisin X clusters

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

Breakfast for Brunch

2011-03-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Reshma and I ate breakfast food at brunch hour. Apartment 1b serves brunch until 3pm; so we had plenty of time to order our first meal of the day :)

Buttermilk Waffles

Ricotta Pancakes

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

What's your combo??

2011-03-02T02:26:00.000-08:00

SWEET PATTI CAKES

Chocolate Chip Scones

2011-03-01T00:26:00.001-08:00

Homemade scones using my Grandma's recipe - delish!

I replaced the handful of raisins for a bucket of chocolate chips ;)

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

Omakase

2011-02-28T20:35:00.000-08:00

Irrashaimase!

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

K

2011-02-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

K is for Kitchen [Greenbelt 3]

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

DIY Sandwich

2011-02-15T23:53:00.000-08:00

My favorite : Havarti + Tomato + Basil + Honey

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

Home Baked

2011-02-14T00:46:00.000-08:00

coconut X oatmeal X raisin X clusters

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

2011-02-13T18:32:00.001-08:00

SWEET PATTI CAKES