Ladera Tagaytay

Going to Tagaytay is inevitable...that was what I said a year ago. The town proper is half an hour or less from where we live so it's always a very convenient trip. We've been going around the city since we arrived, had pleasant food experiences but not today. We were supposed to have a photo shoot, a prenuptial of sorts for my brother and his wife to be. My brother-in-law, a photographer by profession, has been doing photo shoots around Tagaytay for the longest time and he knew well the best places there. We went to Splendido Taal, at the Ladera Grill..a small terraced restaurant overlooking the terrains of Taal. (Admittedly though, we lack the permission from the management that time.) They serve a mixture of Filipino food, pasta and pizzas, crepes and more. Unfortunately, I wasn"t able to taste any of them (the Tilapia na binusog sa Laing sounds really good pa naman). Read on to know why.

We decided to do some shoots first before ordering anything, we really enjoyed it there so it took a while until one of the crew (I assumed him to be a crew) came out and told us that it's not allowed to take photos in the place. Bro-in-law argued that he's been doing shoots there before and that we got permission from the guard stationed at the upper level of the place. Still we were told not to do any more photos.  Pissed off, we scratched the idea of dining in altogether. We did some more shots at the adjacent lot you see above...The kids were with us (all 3 plus my nephew) and one by one they asked for something to drink. One of the other crews came near us so I asked what drinks they serve and the reply came "Madami po." (Many.) I asked for Iced tea and he said "Yes." In I went, ordered Peach and Lemon Iced tea. Peach was not served so the little girl also settled for Lemon...

While waiting for the drinks I looked around, took some photos and noticed a Delimondo products corner. I asked if the place is owned also by Katrina Ponce Enrile of the high-end carinderia Petra and Pilar, the answer came "Opo, sila din po." (Yes, it's them also.)

Notice that no other soul was around? I wonder too, it was around lunch when we came (a Thursday). :) Anyway, the Iced teas came, the kids had a sip - I was surprised at their reaction...their faces were like "weeeeh" with tongues out...I asked why and  my two older kids said "This is not lemon..."  I sipped from dawty's glass and true enough, it was calamansi which is new to them...I liked the concoction anyway.

Great view, great food (perhaps) but definitely not a great crew...or just a bad first acquaintance...I'm not sure but I'm not spending time again there for my short stay here. After the shoot, we went to Splendido's other side, unlike the crew of Ladera (who never even said thank you that I bought some Iced tea lol), the Manong guard there was friendly enough to allow us to shoot. (Salamat, Manong!)

Below is a take from my cam :D I was trying out some shots behind my brother-in-law kasi. After the shoot, we went to (future) Sis-in-law's house (a 10 minute-drive from Splendido's) and ate there instead with the experience of being told off from Ladera almost forgotten. ;)

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Ladera

Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club l Taal Ridge Road, Laurel, Batangas

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Yoyogurt

(strawberry milkshake, dawty and her yogurt in a cup with smarties and candy sprinkles, older son with his yogurt on a big sugar cone with the same toppings as Ate and 5kg jars nutella)

This is my second yogurt post for this month. :) As what was previously said, I don't usually get my fix of yogurt craving unlike the kids. I stock yogurt and yogurt drink (like yakult) in the fridge for them. Speaking of yakult makes me think of Japan again. Seriously do I have to link every post to them? Waaah. I'm just glad that Mommy Clang of Kizuna has sent a message that she and her family are doing okay, save for a few things to be cleaned at home.

Yakult (yakuruto) is derived from yogurt too, it is a Japanese probiotic milk-like product made by fermenting a mixture of skimmed milk with a special strain of the bacterium Lactobacillus casei Shirota. (I remember this from the TV ads lol).

Yoyogurt also serves crepes, fillings of which include apricot jam, strawberry jam, nutella, vanilla or a combination of any of them. I hadn't the chance to try as I was still so full from an earlier lunch out. We only decided to try out the place as I got another deal from Groupon.

Other delectables to choose from would be doughtnuts, milkshakes and cookies.Kuya O had strawberry while I had Pi


One of my favorite food bloggers is raising funds for Japan here, we can donate a bit or so too.

Talkative as I am I chatted with the server and she has a familiar smile that prompted my to ask where she's from (I assumed she's not from Austria based on her looks). I was surprised when she said she is Austrian-Filipino with a wide grin.

It would be awesome if they would have other branches throughout the city. The lone yoyogurt is a bit far from our place so we cannot go as often as we'd like.

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 Yoyogurt
Gasometer
Guglgasse 6
1110 Vienna
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Freshii frozen Yogurt

I won't deny that I am or have become a health buff as of late. For one, I bake and grill than fry and  I incorporate more soup into our daily diet. I try to reduce the unhealthy fats by substituting olive and coconut oil for the usual vegetable oil when frying. It isn't much for me but I am turning over a healthy leaf for the hubby's sake. I don't get to see what he eats at the office so I have to make sure that he eats healty at home. Sometimes I would fix him a bento complete with fruits because the workaholic him would stay hours on his PC even when his stomach growls.
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One of the health food that I crave for is yogurt. My kids regularly have their share of yogurt but I don't  - so once in a while we go out for some frozen yogurt. The kids actually would actually insert popsicle sticks on yogurt (still in containers) and put them in the freezer and have them as popsies but they enjoy it ala gelato too. Frozen Joghurt/Yogurt is a new in Vienna. (Yep, I've monickered this city as "late-trender" - trender pertaining to trend and not the one who free wool from its filth.) Freshii is the second foodjoint that we visited offering frozen yogurt. They have a wider selection of toppings and other food choices than at Yoyogurt...where the kids and I spent an afternoon snack of donuts, cookies and smoothies after they got well from the cold.

Above is yogurt topped with mango and banana. It was dawty's but after a spoonful, she gave it to me saying the yogurt tastes odd...surely, this is the super sour kind with the toppings not blending in. :( I am not sure of going back soon but hopefully, that was a first and last sour cup experience.

I also took home a bag of chips, garlic-rosemary if I'm not mistaken and this was good. Oh, while at the counter, there was something  familiar that I laid eyes on...those yummy black seeds that we munch on while watching TV at home! Butong Pakwan (watermelon seeds), I exclaimed to myself. Turns out they were actually pumpkin seeds with rosemary hehe. Well, I told the person at the counter that we have such back home and he said it would be a good idea for them to try.

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Freshii
Donauzentrum
+431 202 32 66 
Wagramerstr. 83-85
1220 Vienna

P.S. Though spelled Yoghurt, yogurt or yogourt - I prefer using Joghurt (german). lol

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Potato pancakes with Salmon and dill

Eggs are a staple for our breakfasts.It doesn't mean though that they'd be served fried, boiled or as plain yolk and white. When time permits I cook up pancakes with the help of the kids or muffins with 2 good fresh eggs.On lazy days, we just have toast with egg and ham or tuna spread. I learned to appreciate eggs when I started my gym routine. I needed protein for workout and egg whites side by side with tuna is the best source of protein readily available from our kitchen. Whey, of course, I could just buy from the gym.

One of our favorite bite-size breakfast meal and sometimes appetizer would be this potato pancake. I saw this from one of Nigella's video and loved how easy it is...yummy too and fancy since smoked salmon is included. :D (I'm biased when it comes to Salmon.)

Knowing Nigella Lawson you'd know how she likes to cook express meals and would often feature meals that can be served within half an hour. This is one of those dishes and I really love it being so.

Recipe here.

(I can't find my card where the photos are stored...I'm skipping May Lee until the card is found...)

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Where's the meat?

When the kids and I got free time, that is when we finished doing homework and household chores, we sit half an hour to read a bible-based book or a good whole hour to watch a film. Thanks to hubby we do not need to borrow or buy DVDs. He copied our most favorite movies and animes in one hard drive and set it up with the TV, a sort of entertainment system sans DVD player.

Aside from Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, we also enjoy superhero movies. :) Batman, X-men, Iron man, the Avengers and the chibi versions.  True, these films are on the violent side and in the past I've often expressed my dislike for watching movies and playing games of this genre. Maybe I've overcomed this animosity over the years...I just see to it that my kids knew that these movies shouldn't be something to imitate. :) Well, less the explosives and death-defying stunts all that's left are harsh words and loud sound effects.

One of the films that I limit them to watch is Hancock (2008) with Will Smith playing the title role of John Hancock, a homeless superhero. I watch this often alone. Here's a trailer where you'd see him holding a bottle of vodka as he flies, where he tosses a kid who calls him jackass...(sorry, that's all I can get)...

Anyway, spaghetti with meatballs was often seen in the movie, that's because the dish is Ray Embrey's (Jason Bateman) favorite. He happened to be a public relations spokesperson that Hancock saved as he almost died, trapped in his car on a railroad track with an incoming freight train. This is where Hancock's story of redemption began but along came Mary (Charlize Theron), Embrey's wife...who was cold and distant to Hancock. She cooked those meatballs of course! I was surprised at the turnout of this film...perhaps it is the twist that others find messy that makes me watch this film...The approach was original and disparate from the usual heroic movies I've seen.

True, Will Smith has had his share of awesome movies and many think that this movie isn't for him...well, no. The guy is one very good actor. (He follows Johnny Depp in our list of most loved Hollywood actors.) He did a great job portraying the useless hero whom the citizens see as a liability instead of a helper. And that is why the movie seems off. Casting one of the most charming movie stars to play a charmless, unloved lout is totally sardonic.Well, who would need much meat when Will Smith is in it? ;) You can  have the bowl up there!

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3 slices bread, crumbled
2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 clove garlic, smashed, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
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Sauce:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 large can (28 to 36 ounces total) crushed Italian tomatoes
2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
16 ounces thin spaghetti
Parmesan cheese
Preparation:

Recipe for spaghetti and meatballs

Make meatballs. In a medium bowl, beat eggs lightly; add milk and bread and let stand for about 5 minutes. Add ground beef, onion, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper; mix gently until well blended. Shape into about 24 meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place meatballs in a generously greased large shallow baking pan. Bake meatballs at 450° for 25 minutes.

In a Dutch oven, in hot oil over medium heat, sauté onion until tender and just begins to turn golden. Add remaining sauce ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, if necessary. Add meatballs; cover and simmer 50 to 60 minutes longer, stirring from time to time.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain.

Serve spaghetti topped with meatballs in sauce; sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

(recipe lifted fom about.com)

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Salmon Steak with Rosemary-Orange Glaze

I looked up my Groupon account to see that some of the deals I bought were expired. ):   - (Unlike!)

I think I've been buying too much that I can't keep up. So now, I promised myself I'm going to use all that I bought before buying new deals. First stop, Fisch Gruber. It is a fresh fish shop at the Naschmarkt, quite known for its freshness and high prices. Well, given that they sell fresh instead of frozen, it's justifiable.

I got two deals worth 40€ each at the price of 19€ a deal..so that's 38€ for a catch of 80! So off I go with Kuya O and Tita S. This is actually fulfilling my promise to Tita S. She never liked buying eventually eating frozen fish. I think it has to do with her growing up eating them really-really fresh from the sea. I was a bit forgiving as frozen is ok with me...or maybe because I really miss fish too! 

Tuna, salmon, seabream, trout, octopus, calamari, sea urchin, giant lobsters, blue marlin, oysters, butterfish and a wide range of sea-fruits were there. We weren't able to decide immediately what we'll be having. The patient seller was friendly enough to let us decide...

Sidestory: seeing eel, catfish and other live fish, my C (older son) asked if we can have them as pets. lol. I don't think our koi would be happy to have them...

Were there selections of milkfish, tilapia and mackarel scad I'd definitely get those, lol. Lacking those three, Salmon was obviously the first choice...there were fillet cuts too but we settled for steaks because it's  cheaper...I asked for two 1 kilos separated but she (seller) mistakenly weighed two 2 kilos each. :) I didn't complain nor did Tita S...the deal is, one should buy not less than the 40€ worth of deal so we had to add some more to exceed 80€. We got each a Goldbrasse which I have always heard from friends...turns out this is seabream or besugo but definitely bigger than the ones I used to have. (will post about it next) 

I had opted of letting the 4€ go like give it as a thank you but they were adamant that I spend it :D so we got a piece of calamari (it was 8€ for 100g)...

At home, I made a simple dish for half of the steaks. I normally pair salmon with dill but this time rosemary won the which-herb-would-it-be battle. :)

Click here for recipe.

Ittadakimasu!
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Nihon no tabemono

Sorry, I'm posting mochi again. :D These were the last ones  I had, paired with green tea one warm winter morning. The sun has generously shared its glory with us the past days and we really have been enjoying it in this supposedly winter season. It feels like summer...the perfect weather to enjoy mochi and tea.

Hopiang hapon, one with mung beans was something I remember from childhood. I'm sure one can usually buy it from the sari-sari store  opposite the street. The older people from our neighborhood would have them with coffee. I can't say that these are my favorite because I'd prefer hopiang baboy anytime (which I recently learned were not really pork but candied winter melon, so imagine the relief I felt, I was always guilty munching on them).

These "real" Hopiang hapon were also from Kuya O...The one embedded with leaf design is filled with red bean paste, reminiscent of munggong hopia. The other two would be green tea (what do you expect?) and I think chestnut paste, same with the white mochi above...the brown, peached-shape might be peach but I am not too sure...it was yummy though! I learned too about Kuri manju which is supposedly a recently introduced treat.

P.S. If you love Eng Bee Tin's ube hopia like I do, be advised that because of the food color content, they are banned by the US FDA. ):

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