Bonding moments while preparing a no-bake-chocolate-cake-with-Cadbury-frosting.
An extra huge greeting card made by Gabby as his school project.
A bouquet of carnations (my mom’s favorite) from relatives in Abu Dhabi (my youngest brother, cousin & cousin-in-law & my niece).
A tub of COKLAT flavored ice cream.
And unconditional LOVE, GRATITUDE and my LOVE for our LOVE-HATE-relationship. 
Thank You, God for creating MOTHERS! 
*This blog series includes : Christmas Break 2011 Day 2 : ULINGAN, TONDO
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16 December 2011, Thursday night. I arranged a pick up from our place in Butterworth to Penang International Airport via SMS with an Indian taxi cab driver whom we frequently call whenever we need a ride prior to departure and arrival. He came at around 7 in the evening and with the expected rush-hour-traffic jam, we arrived before 8PM at the terminal. Dropping of our 49 kilo-luggages and bags was such a breeze because I did the online check-in already and had our boarding passes printed from the web days prior to our flight. And because we’re on a very limited budget and value practicality above something else, we went home via Malaysia’s budget airline, Air Asia (May kamahalan na din ang nakuha naming ticket kumpara sa karaniwan at promo airfares dito –humigit-kumulang PhP 35K kaming tatlo, one way from Pen-KUL, then KUL-CRK).
I set to use my annual work leave in spending Christmas season in Pinas. I didn’t go home or utilized my paid days off else where (read : our breaks in Paris, New York and London *kidding!* I wish but we only went to Kelantan, Malaysia, Singapore and Hatyai, Thailand this year were all enjoyed during public holidays) but saved it for the yuletide. After all, it is Christmas that Tina, Gabby and I consider as the most wonderful time of the year, the happiest season of all!
Despite Penang is only1545 miles away from the Philippines, there’s no direct flight yet to connect my current work place and our home. So it’s either you fly Singapore or Hong Kong first –which would cost you your arms and legs at this time of the year, or either take the cheaper but longer route by the bus or train or fly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur first that we usually do.
At the Penang International Airport which has on-going renovations (hey look, NAIA 1, terminals outside our country are on the road to improvement, and you?) we had dinner from one of Gabby’s favorite fast foods. It was a simple delight to have twister fries and quarter pounder before a flight. 
After dinner, the waiting period began. Our local flight from Pen-KUL was supposedly 11:15PM but was delayed for 30 minutes. What can we do but bear with the waiting game. Are you fond of waiting for your flight/s at the airport? I do except when it’s not on time. I mean, I maybe impatient at other matters but killing time at the terminals for me is not that bad.
We safely reached KL-LCCT after 45 minute flight. Everything’s fine except the looooong walk from the tarmac to the airport itself. The fatigue and lack of sleep were gone withe the sight of this heavenly food place that we’ve been wanting to try…
The Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Kuala Lumpur may not be one of the best, perhaps not even included in top 10 great terminals in the world and in my opinion has also its share of inconvenience but nontheless has decent choices of food places. We passed on Starbucks Coffee, Mary Brown Fried Chicken (Malaysia’s answer to KFC), and some other few but we failed to resist the charm of Theobroma Chocolate Lounge.
the ambiance is casual and inviting.
Forgive us for indulging chocolates before 2 in the morning. Sinful is it not?
Look, everything looked nice and tasted great too but they served the knife & fork with its tips exposed and the handles wrapped with tissues and before you wrongly judge Theobroma, let me inform you that this is a common practice in restaurants around Malaysia; and frequently, availability of tissues is a rarity in hawkers too! (read: I am not a foodie expert neither have a degree in culinary but my common sense dictates me that it’s best to wrap and cover the parts you’ll put in your mouth rather than expose and drop it directly on the table. Spell HYGIENE and CLEANLINESS, people!).
Moving on…Tell me, how can you resist Theobroma’s Belgian Waffle with Ice Cream?
Me speaking to the waiter : “What are your bestsellers here? What can you recommend?”
Waiter pointing to the menu he handed us : “Ah, eto po ang masasarap, ok po ito, iyan…”
Me : “Ah, Kabayan! Saan kayo sa atin? Ano ba masarap dito?“
the eyes tell you that they're sleep deprived but hungry. hehe!
Our verdict : The waffle’s tasteful! The strawberry slices rippled with chocolate were divine. And it’s so amazing that the scoop of ice cream took several minutes to melt which made us ask ourselves, is it gelato?
Gabby went to the counter and checked out the cakes. I believe he wanted Oreo chocolate cake but we were served with Orange Chocolate slice. We did not complain; I felt there’s no need to because we also wanted to sample such flavorful combo.
Gabby’s taste buds were a bit purist. When he wants chocolate, he wants nothing else. In fact, our kiddo doesn’t want any nuts when eating anything chocolate. But the cake was a delight for me and Tina. It reminded us of one of Haagen Dazs’.
Tina asked our kabayang-waiters (we talked to 2 of them-one serving us and the other at the counter) their recommendations. One of them highly suggested QUEEN OF ROCK AND ROLL.
Me asking Tina :” ‘ney, design lang ba iyong nasa cup or chocolate ripple talaga? “
Tina : “ano ka ba, chocolate!” –tapos ngumiti iyong waiter sa clueless moment ko.
We trusted our kabayang-waiter and the suggested cup doesn’t disappoint! Queen of Rock and Roll (left photo below) went to Gabby and he loved it! That chocolatey creamy drink indeed rocks! While Tina opted for a coffee-chocolate blend called MADAME ESKIMO which was beautifully served with a coffee bean on top. My lovely wife, despite sleep deprived was happy!
Thumbs up for Theobroma's blends!
As for me, I needed to have something warm; I settled for FLAT WHITE.
Sarap! Nakakawala ng antok! Someone should bring home Theobroma Chocolate Lounge to NAIA Terminal 1 please!
The prices are comparable to Starbucks Coffee. Service is efficient. Goodies are yummies!
The Air Asia check in counter didn’t open until it was past 4AM. Maraming PASAWAY sa pila na ibang lahi. SINGIT! I didn’t allow them to get in over my queue. Our international flight from Kuala Lumpur to Clark Field, Pampanga was scheduled at 6:45AM. And so I thought, di ba 4 hours dapat bukas na ang airline counter kapag international flight?
Waiting, waiting and more waiting. After few bladder and bowel breaks, yikes! (hey, it’s part of morning rituals, right?), we decided to spend our last hour prior to the flight and our few remaining ringgit in OLD TOWN WHITE COFFEE restaurant also in LCCT.
Tina and I had a plate each of this noodle dish that the name slipped my memory.
I may have forgotten its name but the taste was etched on my palate. Sarap! It’s so comforting to eat hot noodle dish in the wee hours of the morning.
I was fortunate enough to avail of our RETURN FLIGHT on the first week of January 2012 last April 2011 at its promo sale. It only costs me PhP 8K nett for the 3 of us with 40 kg check in luggage and I think that’s a steal! However, due to tight budget, I only purchased our airline tickets from Pen-KUL, then KUL-CRK last week of November for our Dec 16-17 flight. Understandably, most of the aircrafts servicing Malaysia-Philippines route are alreay full because of the holiday season and prices of tickets are expectedly steep than usual. Nonetheless, come hell or high waters, Tina, Gabby and I have to spend Christmas in the country we call HOME.
From the arrival area of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), we claimed and paid our reserved bus tickets from the friendly ladies of Philtranco bus liner kiosk located at the lobby. I googled their website and did the reservation via email; a ticket from DMIA to SM Megamall (even up to Pasay City) costs PhP 400/pax.
The trip was only an hour and a half and everything went OK except for the traffic from Balintawak in Caloocan after NLEX to EDSA then Ortigas approaching SM Megamall. But hey, it ain’t home without the traffic! *pun intended*
The next morning, we savored one of our missed breakfast meals…
Nothing spells the Christmas celebrations better than spending it in your home country with your love ones. Walang katulad ang Pasko sa Pilipinas!
From Tina, Gabby and me, Maligayang Pasko po at Manigong Bagong Taon!
We seriously miss cakes from Red Ribbon, Bizu, Goldilocks and Conti's but Secret Recipe's fill the emptiness somehow, hehe!
Last Sunday afternoon, I traveled and was out for almost 5 hours from home and back just to buy some ingredients and bring home a box of cake. Despite hassles in the trips via buses and ferry, I was nonetheless successful.
I wrote the spelling of our names correctly of course, before I handed in the small sheet of paper to the Malaysian lady at the counter for her to decorate on the cake. I also checked it before leaving the shop but perhaps, my eyes really do have error of refraction because when Tina opened the box at home, she instantly noticed Gabby’s name was mispelled as DABBY. It made her laugh though.
Chocolate Indulgence : our favorite from Secret Recipe -bar none!
I made sure that our little surprises for Tina’s big day that fell on a Wednesday were already at hand 3 days prior. We didn’t plan to be absent from work but it happened. On the morning of her birthday, she didn’t feel well and can’t go up to report to work (blame her Vertigo again). I cannot leave her alone at home thus, I decided not to go to work too (anyway, I had no class schedules); so did Gabby for his school.
It tastes better than it looks!
Gabby became excited to safely use my favorite kitchen gadget, the peeler with one long carrot. Together, we prepared and cooked our own version of Seafood Marinara with only mushrooms, diced carrots, onions, a kilo of prawns and a kilo of scallops! Sarap!
Tina cooked Pasta Carbonara last September on my birthday, and last October on Gabby's. Now, we had roasted garlic and parmesan tomato-based sauce for our own version of Seafood Marina!
Thank you for everything, honey and I’m sorry for my shortcoming. Gabby and I love you so much!
Thank you so much, Lord for giving her to me and Gabby! She’s one of Your greatest blessings to our family!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Don’t you wish life would be like a piece of cake?
I don’t. Honestly, I appreciate few difficulties, sad moments and bit of daily hassles not because I am pessimistic and masochistic, hell no! ha ha! but like you, I know these things make us stronger and better persons. Do we have the same perception?
Whatever you think, that chocolate cake made my afternoon last week. However, sweeter thing than that plate was the fact that I scored a 50% off promo airfares from MNL-KUL for Tina+Gabby from Cebu Pacific for my family’s 2 week-break here in Penang from second week of December to a day after Christmas.
Imagine, I only paid PhP 11,304.64 for their 2 roundtrip tickets; inclusive of 2-way seat-reservations and travelsure insurance; all in! It may not be a better deal than “piso fare” but I felt so lucky to availed it for them.
If the entire universe will conspire, I plan to go home with them after their 2-week-stay here for me to pig-out on lechon, excelente ham, keso de bola, kare-kare, pan de sal, tocino, longganisa, binagoonga, bibingka, puto-bumbong etc. spend New Year in Pinas.
I’ll make sure it’ll be a happier yuletide for all of us. Now, I only wish we have a FFW button to press to pull the days to December; I’ll definitely do it in a heartbeat.
Enjoy the new week, everyone!
God bless us more.
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How long has it been since you last enjoyed your favorite chocolate?
Although we have varied preferences, my family and I do not deny the fact that we all LOVE CHOCOLATES; who doesn’t? Either fruity, nutty or just plain, for as long as it’s DARK–bitter and mildly sweet, my day’s fine! While Tina and Gabby want their chocolates better with nothing. We’ve been eating, munching, drinking chocolates but haven’t taken any effort in appreciating its origin, the required processes before it becomes a candy bar, a syrup, a divine ingredient in cakes, pastries, ice cream, fondue and whatnot until we attended HEAVENLY CHOCOLATES’ Chocolate Appreciation 101.
I’ve been invited to this monthly chocoholics’ FREE workshop by fellow blogger and the chocovangelist herself, Ms. Marga (a.k.a. Midge) of SybDive several times since early part of this year but it was only yesterday that I got to bring Tina and Gabby to this fun but comprehensive event.
Tina who came from her work, met Gabby and I in a fast food along Tomas Morato at around 4PM where we had our early light dinner. Then we came to Heavenly Chocolates several minutes before the 6PM workshop (poster above with 7PM schedule was an erratum).
On the wall : Chocolate Facts–
The Aztec Emperor Montezuma drank nothing but chocolates -50 pitchers prepared for him each day (Just so you know, chocolate wasn’t sweet those days but SPICY!).
Cocoa beans were used as Aztec currency : 10 beans for a wife and a hundred beans for a good slave (no typo error here, just facts!).
Only Aztec kings and members of his court could drink chocolate. It was a drink for royalty.
It was Gabby who was really excited to sample one of Heavenly Chocolates’ yummies –cakes! So he went to the display bar and pointed to his mom his choice. The staff commented, “Marunong syang pumili!”
FRENCH DARK, PhP 100 per slice.
One of the most delicious chocolate cakes we’ve tasted; heavenly is an understatement! Price is reasonable and it surprisingly comes in a generous slice; bigger than usual servings in most coffee and cake shops. Thumbs up for this cake; next time we crave for this delectable treat, we want a whole!
After Marga met us briefly, she ushered us to THE LOUNGE, Heavenly Chocolates’ newest offering–a party space for intimate gatherings, with cool and casual interiors that can be booked for PhP 3000 consumable (that’s lot of cakes, drinks and more!) for 3 hours, FREE CORKAGE FEE so anyone can bring in potluck foods and drinks; the room upstairs has wide flat screen TV fit for videoke or Magic Sing moments, also with comfy couches, seats and tables, good for 20-25 people. It serves as CHOCOLATE APPRECIATION 101 venue.
The workshop started as Marga handed the attendees dried lavender. She instructed us to rub those tiny petals in between palms, then bring it closer to our noses to sniff and inhale. And in a blink, soothing aroma kicked in; everyone instantly became relaxed and in the right mood for the event.
The early attendees, including Tina, Gabby and I were lucky to sample GHANA AOX, a chocolate serving with nuts and raisins; the fusion of its flavor and textures was nice.
As the interesting lecture-workshop on chocolate history, trivia, differences between some chocolates we like, countries that produce and consume chocolates, manufacturing processes were relayed (it was our first time to see on slides those huge amazing refining and conching (uninterrupted stirring) equipments–from the old windmill-powered machines to the ones chocolate factories used these days), FREE TASTINGS of Heavenly Chocolates’ goodies came one after the other. It was indeed engaging!
SUMAN+MANGO SYRUP paired with SINGLE-ORIGIN DAVAO chocolate drink :
We learned that SINGLE-ORIGIN in chocolate terms means its beans were grown in one particular area or region. And this locally produced chocolate drink doesn’t disappoint. Sarap! Its taste is comparable to a chocolate tablea used in chocolate porridge. It perfectly compliments the suman with mango syrup.
SAO TOME :
“An island republic in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa, that is a prime growing area for the Amelonado subspecies of high quality Forastero. São Tomé cacao can be bitter with flavors of pure cocoa, sharp red fruits, cinnamon, and vanilla. It is a good base for blended chocolate.” Sourced via The Nibble.
SAO TOME jas thick consistency with smoky taste and richer aroma.
GANACHE which is actually an accidental discovery when a chef’s assistant poured cream into a chocolate mixture was also introduced. The velvety smooth combination of cream and chocolate can be dipped in chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder to make a TRUFFLE.
SACHI NAMA (left) was served; Tina liked it so much and TRUFFLE (right) with a light hint of rum was made on the spot by Marga:
Yum! And look how Gabby involved himself as the only kiddie participant amidst chocoholics :
We’re so glad we finally attended Heavenly Chocolates’ Chocolate Appreciation 101. It was truly more than a well-delivered live lecture and a fun workshop but a pleasant interactive event for everyone interested to be more appreciative of what we usually enjoy.
I was told that topics vary per month, so if you want to experience this FREE chocolate workshop and tastings or simply want to savor Heavenly Chocolates goodies, you may call them at (63-2) 6662208; they’re located at 127 Roces Avenue (near Tomas Morato), Quezon City. Click the map on the right to enlarge.
You may also ‘like’ and give thumbs up to Heavenly Chocolates via their facebook account and get loads of updates.
Special thanks to Ms. Marga and Mr. Benjie for making us more sensible of chocolates! The experience was indeed glorious!
Other than great-tasting food, enticing ambiance, impeccable service, location and figures on the menu, my wife and I always look for family-friendliness in any food place.
Because we love our Kindergarten son, Gabby so dearly, he’s our topmost priority of course, particularly in choosing a place where we can chow down; either in a turo-turo, a fastfood joint or a restaurant in hotels or somewhere, there should always be something for Gabby to munch and/or to keep him busy.
Before heading to the Century Corned Tuna Bloggers’ Cook Off at The Stock Market where I was invited to be one of the foodie-judges, we had our late lunch at TEXAS ROADHOUSE GRILL in Bonifacio High Street last Saturday. It was our first time to eat there and you know our expectations.
We’re really really ready to grab a bite at something for it was past one in the afternoon already. As we’re quickly ushered in to our table; we immediately browsed the menu and we’re offered dried peanuts as appetizers while waiting. Luckily, not too long after we ordered, the cowboy and cowgirl wait staffs of Texas Roadhouse Grill brought to our table these…
WILD CHEESE FRITTERS, PhP 200 but we got it for FREE because we have a coupon stapled at their flyer valid until 15 November. KIDS also EAT FREE every weekend at Texas Roadhouse Grill but since we availed of this promo already; we only got one freebie. No worries, for cheese sticks are one of Gabby’s favorites. It’s a bunch of fried mozzarella sticks in marinara sauce. It’s a really good starter!
While Gabby was enjoying his wild cheese fritters, Tina had this…
SWEET SOY MARLIN, PhP 385+. It’s a great serving of grilled Blue Marlin drizzled with melted garlic butter, served with Texas rice and fresh veggies. I, of course tasted what’s on Tina’s plate and like her, I was amazed at how they grilled the fish into almost perfection! It was so flavorful I almost forgot it wasn’t my plate, LOL One thing that I like best with most restaurants is when they serve freshly blanched veggies that they cut and sliced themselves. I am so partial to those who try to avoid using instant corn and carrots that are readily available at most supermarkets.
It was definitely a late lunch for us without red meat because I also chose seafood to pig-out.
SHRIMP and SALMON SKEWERS, PhP 420+ . Three skewers of juicy shrimp and salmon, grilled and seasoned with Roadhouse herbs and spices. Served on a bed of Texas rice and fresh veggies. The cowboy-server was so compelling that their dishes are best served with sauteed mushrooms, so I requested an add-on; but little that I know it’ll cost me PhP 95+, a price that’s equivalent to 3 cans of button mushrooms already! Ayos lang, it really complemented my plate well.
If you’re a frequent reader of my posts, you know by now that I do love almost anything with shrimps. I like it buttered, steamed and yes, grilled. This plate of shrimps and salmons + veggies and lemon butter sauce was my HAPPINESS last weekend! It may be pricey yes, but a sure treat to someone who likes seafood so much.
Of course, a better way to cap a nice meal is to have a sweet ending.
Gabby’s choice for our dessert-to-share : 
COWBOY CHOCOLATE CAKE, PhP 220+. This is described in their menu as the most decadent chocolate cake in the West. Rich, moist chocolate cake; you’d ask for more! It’s topped with vanilla-flavored ice cream coated with melted chocolate. It was so heavenly! (that my wife told me its price sky-rocketted to 7th heavens! She meant was there are some who offered almost the same kind of dessert for less) :D Good thing about this was the fact that Gabby liked it.
The place is cozy; we like the tavern look made up of wooden planks and swaying doors to the kitchen and toilets. One side of the resto has the bar where one can enjoy a good drink while watching a nice play at their flat screen TV.
The wait staffs clad in plaid long-sleeved shirts with scarves and in boots were commendable for being courteous and smiley.
We dined there at Texas Roadhouse Grill with other families who were also enjoying their weekend. It’s enough proof that it’s a good place not only to hang out with friends but a venue where wholesome family fun can be enjoyed. 
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TEXAS ROADHOUSE GRILL, Bldg 1 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Tel # (63-2) 856-1547 / 856-2499. Other branch at Ruby Road, El Pueblo Real de Manila, Ortigas, Pasig City. Tel # (63-2) 635-6715.
Last Sunday, my wife Tina, our son Gabby and I went to TriNoma mall in Quezon City to have our almost-weekly grocery shopping. But before pushing those two grocery carts shelf after shelf, we enjoyed our lunch at this small but very charming cafe.
One thing that I and my family share and enjoy so much is our own passion towards eating good food. It doesn’t need to be pricey although I personally developed the preference to that flavorful and appetizing dishes; it must be deliciously stimulating not only to the palate but to the senses too. I guess my wife was severely infected. I am also bias with good plating and nice presentation of food combined with fair ambiance. And surprisingly, all of these we found in CAFE MARY GRACE in TriNoma.
It was our first time to dine in this quaint food place and it was far from being unpleasant. I like the homey atmosphere and that very inviting interiors. With the use of well-polished wood furnitures and interesting tables with notes and wonderful comments from diners written in different stationaries and some in colorful cards adorn the glass table tops. One may easily notice that no table is alike in CAFE MARY GRACE because of this well-thought-of concept.
Tina and I were delighted that our preschooler son, Gabby was beginning to feed himself with adult food. He’s still picky on solid food and usually prefers chicken from Mcdonald’s. But last Sunday, he asked for two dishes – a soup and a dessert. So we ordered SEAFOOD CHOWDER, PhP 137 for him…
While I had my own plate of SPICY LEMON SCAMPI, PhP 268.80. I like it, sarap, but I certainly wish that they have a BIGGER SERVING to satisfy my HUGE APPETITE. Nonetheless, it was really worth a try!
SPICY LEMON SCAMPI is made of fresh pan-seared shrimps atop linguini noodles in a sauce made of lemon juice, chili flakes, minced garlic and extra virgin olive oil.
I found this pasta so delicious that I can probably eat it everyday. LOL It’s not irritatingly spicy and has the ingredients that I like best – SHRIMPS!!! My plate was wiped off in a few minutes.
Each plate of pasta and starters like salad (which we’ll try on our next visit) and soup comes with toasted bread. Unfortunately, Tina had preference to her order, and disliked mine. She had this CLASSIC CARBONARA PASTA, PhP 202.68.
CLASSIC CARBONARA is a creamy pasta with mushroom and lots of bacon bits.
For our drinks, we tried Cafe Mary Grace’s home-made iced teas. Tina had her glass of PEPPERMINT and FRUITS, PhP 75 and I had RASPBERRY ICED TEA, same price.
These tall glasses of iced teas were refreshingly bubbly that made me want to try their other concoctions – SANGRIA and HIBISCUS soon.
On the list of desserts, Gabby singled out MANGO BENE so we ordered it, but few minutes after, the waiter came to our table, apologetic that he admittedly did not inform us that they ran out of that cake. Sayang, it looked gorgeous on its picture at the menu. I appreciated though, the courtesy of the wait staff. So Gabby settled with his second choice – a slice of CHOCOLATE CAKE, PhP 80.
It was perhaps a blessing in disguise that we’ve tasted Cafe Mary Grace’s version of the usual favorite chocolate cake. It has the right amount of sweetness, with caramel filling and that richly thick chocolate fudgy icing that would make you crave for more.
These moments are priceless…
My family’s showing PDA (public display of affection) @ Cafe Mary Grace…
Cafe Mary Grace, TriNoma Mall in front of National Bookstore, North Avenue cor EDSA, Quezon City.
What a better way to celebrate weekend is to have a restful day and to give in to one’s craving…
Since he woke up early Saturday morning, Gabby repeatedly asked for a cake until he had his piece this late afternoon when we trooped to one of the restaurants along Tomas Morato in Quezon City. How can we say NO to our only son’s request when he became so studious the past week in his preschool. Besides, my wife and I were also too weak to resist (I always say that, LOL…it’s true anyway).
This wasn’t Gabby’s but my choice. It’s called LOW-FAT FRUIT MEDLEY (PhP 135), lovely, isn’t it? Tropical fruits mixed in light and creamy cheesecake mixture topped with slices of fresh fruits in season – thin slices of kiwi, grapes, and mango made into petals. Appetizing to the senses, made me crave for more.
My wife Tina shared generously ofcourse, her dessert – one of the premium cakes called BERRY TEMPTATION (PhP 135). It’s a strawberry cheesecake layered with raspberry swirled cheesecake, it was really tempting indeed.
Now this is CHOCO DOME CAKE (PhP 160), Gabby’s own slice. Actually, he had hard time choosing his cake from the wide variety at the counter but the friendly smiley lady-wait staff named Val suggested for us to try this Choco Dome Cake which is one of their delicious cakes (a bit pricey than the others) included in their Selections menu.
We availed of their sampler (PhP395)- choice of three cakes for a plate cheaper than per slice.
It’s been a while since we last dined at Cheesecake, etc. We’ve tried their branches in Greenbelt 3, Eastwood City, and in Greenhills but it was our first time this afternoon at their cozy restaurant in Tomas Morato. The staff were just great; they rendered service with a smile which is one of the satisfying-factors that I always want whenever I order from a fastfood, a restaurant, or a carinderia, LOL. 
It’s always satiating when the wait staff are smiley and the area clean.
Gabby loved the slice of Choco Dome Cake. He enjoyed it so much that he didn’t even bother to taste his parents’ cakes. Tina and I were happy to see Gabby eating real food. He’s still choosy when it comes to solid food, just like most of his age of would-be five, who usually still prefer milk, we’re trying hard to introduce to him some adult meals.
Spoiling the sweet tooth once in a while isn’t bad, right? Other than cakes which we had as desserts of course, we were first busy enjoying these plates ….
I liked my sandwich. It’s called HAM IT UP! (PhP 165). It has toasted wheat bread with lettuce, tomatoes and onions, with mayo-mustard spread in two generous slices of forest ham. It has this tasty sidings of egg salad that reminded me of what my late maternal grandmother used to prepare as my baon and merienda during those school days before. It’s done with chopped boiled eggs mixed in mayonaise, spiced with pepper, sugar and salt. I don’t know about you but it’s one of my favorite palaman or sandwich spreads in the entire planet. I swear I’ll make this egg salad again as my sandwich spread for my baon to work.
Tina opted to have the MELTS (PhP 95). It’s a plate of two slices of toasted wheat bread with pizza sauce and quickmelt cheesy toppings. Sarap! Also served with egg salad on lettuce.
Other than the many cheesecakes and sandwiches Cheesecake, etc has, they also serve soups and salad, rice meals that include Beef Stroganoff (PhP 185), Boneless Bangus (PhP 185), Chicken Pork Adobo (PhP 175), Pork Sisig with Egg (PhP 165) and Chicken Ala King (PhP 165). A wide variety of Pasta also are a must-try from their menu, among which are Seafood Pasta (PhP 195), Aligue Pasta (PhP 195) – a must-try next time we dine! and a lot more…
By the time I asked for the bill, Val gave me a promo card that entitles me to avail of a free cup of brewed coffee plus a 5% discount on my next visit. How good was that?
CHEESECAKE, ETC. / Tomas Morato, Quezon City / Tel # (63-2) 929-0725.
OPINION COUNTS…