Shoot First Eat Later

Batanes Day 3 Part 1 – Chawa View Deck and Mahatao

Day 3 in Batanes brought even more spectacular views. This was my favorite day. I took so many pictures that I have to split this day’s shots into three entries.

No more boat rides! We spent the day driving around Basco.

We drove by the other places where you can stay in Batanes. We didn’t get to see the interiors though. But after seeing all these lodging we all agreed that we made the right choice of staying in Batanes Resort. We loved the big property and individual cottages and of course the view of the water.

Shanendels

Ivatan Lodge

Batanes Seaside

Pension Ivatan

DDD Habitat

We drove to the Capitol where our tour guide, Chris, had a surprise for us.

Batanes Provincial Capitol

This wasn’t part of the itinerary but he thought we would enjoy the Kulay Festival, an annual event held by the local government to promote eco-tourism and sustainable environment.

Kulay Festival

There were street dancers and floats but what we enjoyed most was the open market selling all kinds of local delicacies, fruits, vegetables and even meat.

sweet rice cakes

We had to buy fried sweet potatoes again! They put much less sugar than the Manila version.

camote q

The simply boiled sweet potatoes tasted even better. They were so much sweeter than those in Manila.

boiled sweet potato

Next was the long and winding drive to Chawa View Deck in Mahatao.

Due to so many blind corners there were plenty of signs with “Blow Ur Horn” painted on rocks. This was exactly how it was written decades ago, long before cellphones and text lingo. They were ahead of their time. ☺

The view from the Chawa view deck was amazing. But when I saw all those stairs I knew my sore knees wouldn’t forgive me. So I didn’t go down.

I did the next best thing. I sent my camera with Vivian and she took the next 7 pictures. Great shots Viv! Although there were far too many pictures of her family. Ha ha.

The water in that small area is a different color. Pretty.

We stopped the van along the way and took this picture.

The next stop was Mahatao town proper where the San Carlos Borromeo church was. This church was completed in 1789 and has been declared by the National Historical Institute as a Heritage Site.

San Carlos Borromeo Church, Mahatao, Batanes

You can see the limestone used on the church’s steps.

Most of the churches we went to in Batanes had beautifully maintained gardens.

Right at the edge of the garden was the oldest and smallest lighthouse in Batanes.

oldest and smallest lighthouse

Another lamp was across the street in the backyard of a house. Lamps were placed in both lighthouses and the fishermen would head towards the middle of the lights.

Wilson is wearing the best souvenir from Batanes.

Another beach not being used for swimming. I wonder why there isn’t a beach resort in Batanes when everywhere we go there are beaches and the whole island is surrounded by water.

Watch out for part 2.

Batanes Day 2 Part 2 – Sabtang Island Conclusion

There is no shortage of beautiful sceneries in Sabtang island and the best was at Chamantad.

We walked down the hill all the way to the edge. Well I took a shortcut and almost slid down all the way. Luckily I got my balance and was able to put on the brakes.

Yes, I made it up there all by myself. I wish I wore sneakers instead of my crocs sandals.

Wherever I turn I see so much beauty. I took hundreds of pictures in Sabtang and it was really hard to pare it down to just these shots.

Uggghhh I almost died on the climb up. Pant, pant, pant….

Next stop was the small village of Chavayan.

The stone houses here were more preserved than those at Savidug.

We had a snack of fresh coconut water and camote q (sweet potato fried and coated with caramel)

camote q

After drinking the coconut water we had the coconut split open. We were given a piece of coconut shell to scoop out the super tender and young coconut meat.

We met Marcelo Hostallero who at 104 yrs. old was the oldest man in Batanes. He doesn’t look over 80. He still has excellent hearing and eyesight and still weaves fish nets to this day. He said he has never been to a hospital. I wonder what is his secret?

(picture c/o Wilson)

These houses were occupied by the residents of village.

I caught a boy happily swinging on his hammock.

This was the interior of the thatched hut where I took a nap.

En route to our last stop we stopped the van just to take more pictures of this beach.

Our last stop was Nakabuang Beach where we had lunch inside this structure.

This was a breadfruit leaf or locally known as kabaya. It’s commonly used as a plate liner in Batanes.

The soup was really oily and of an unknown origin. (imho)

pork adobo

sauteed veggies

Finally we got to eat really fresh lobster and coconut crab. The only problem was there wasn’t enough for 5 adults and 3 kids. At least we got to try the coconut crab. We determined that there wasn’t really anything special about it. Somehow we still preferred the crabs in Manila.

We did enjoy the super thick and meaty fish.

Spanish mackarel

This was my lunch. I actually brought raw bok choy from Manila which they cooked for me. All for my diet. Sigh.

Dessert was sweet sticky rice.

Our lunch for 5 adults and 3 kids cost P1,800. Not bad for a meal with lobster and coconut crab.

Nakabuang beach is known as “white beach”. This was one of the few beaches where you can actually swim. Too bad none of us brought swim wear.

Nakabuang Beach

The natural arc formed by rocks was a popular attraction at this beach.

(picture c/o Wilson)

After lunch and a short rest we were ready to go back to Batan island.

A guy waiting for ride had these live coconut crabs that he tried to sell to us. I read that coconut crabs are a threatened species in the Philippines thus buying or possessing them are illegal.

Coconut Crabs

Sabtang Lighthouse

This time I made sure to sit at the front area of the falowa and thankfully the water was very calm. Our trip back home was so much better.

Except for the nauseating falowa (banca) ride we really enjoyed seeing the stone houses, beaches and hills in Sabtang island.

Batanes Day 2 Part 1 – Sabtang Island

We had an early start on the second day of our trip in Batanes. We left the hotel at 6:00 am to make it on time for the boat ride to Sabtang Island.

We weren’t late but there was a big group ahead of us so we had to wait for the next trip. A lot of bags of sand were also loaded into the falowa or round-bottomed banca. All the supplies were transported this way to Sabtang.

falowa

While waiting for the next falowa to arrive we walked around the port. This church was right across the Ivana Seaport.

We also went to the famous Honesty Coffee Shop. There wasn’t anyone manning the small store. Instead all the snacks, souvenirs and props were labeled with prices and a container was placed on the counter to put in your payment. There were three ladies there eating instant noodles which they made themselves with the hot water provided. Even hard boiled eggs were available.

Honesty Coffee Shop

We didn’t want to buy the rain gear or vakul (Ivatan headdress) but we wanted to take pictures of the kids wearing them. So we paid P10 for the rental as the sign suggested.

The one on the right is the vakul or woven headdress worn by women. Zak said it was heavy and itchy. The vest on the left is worn by men.

The falowa ride to Sabtang took 30 minutes. My friend Raymond told me to sit on the end of the boat to avoid the fumes from the engine. Did we listen? Noooo. Well, we didn’t have any choice because the others used to riding the falowa descended quickly and occupied both ends of the banca leaving us poor tourists to sit in the middle smack dab where the engine was.

Here are some tips on riding the falowa. Thank you Raymond!
1. Sit up front or the at the back faw away from the engine.
2. Wear a windbreaker to avoid getting wet. Sometimes you luck out and don’t get splashed.
3. Bring a garbage bag or a waterproof bag to protect your bag and camera gear from more splashes.
4. Take Bonamine before riding the falowa.
5. Wear sandals or flip flops. I guarantee your feet will get wet.

The falowa was manned by two people. The ‘captain’ and the ‘engine guy’.

30 minutes felt like an hour with the rough and bumpy ride, fumes and noise from the diesel engine. I was quite dizzy but I managed to zone out and even fell asleep. Some in our group threw up. I really hoped the place was worth it since I really hated the falowa ride.

The San Vicente port looked good from the falowa.

Our first stop was the municipal tourist information center where we had to register our names and ages.

municipal tourist information center

This was the view from the back of the tourist center.

Basco, the capital of Batanes was located on Batan Island, the most populous of all the islands.

souvenir stone houses

The tourist center had 3 rooms you can rent if you wanted to stay overnight in Sabtang or if they cancel the falowa ride due to bad weather and you had no choice but to wait until it is safe to travel.

Sabtang Island’s accommodations

As we were about to leave the young mayor arrived in a police vehicle. He didn’t have a car because we were using his van and driver to tour around the island. Thanks mayor!

We saw many arches around the island with the words Dios Mamajes. It means God Bless You.

San Vicente Ferrer Church

Cool color! Tiffany blue?

Our next stop was the village of Savidug.

Hundreds of years ago people lived in these lime and stone houses.

The stone walls were really thick.

Some color amidst all the stone.

I call this the Ivatan tricycle.

I felt so hot and still a bit woozy so I skipped most of the walking tour and took refuge in this thatched hut. It was quite cool inside.

To be continued …

Greenview Residences Model Unit

Last year I posted about a townhouse project being built in San Juan. Now it’s fully finished and I’m posting pictures of the model unit.

I know, I know this isn’t about food or travel but you might be looking for a new townhouse or thinking of a good investment. Take a look at these pictures and forward this page to anyone you know who might be interested. The units are ready for occupancy.

The best thing about Greenview Residences is the location. It’s just a few minutes from Shaw Blvd. and Greenhills. It’s the perfect location if you have kids studying in ICA, Xavier, La Salle or OB Montessori. Another plus is the quiet and safe neighborhood surrounding it.

common courtyard

Each unit has an average floor area of 265 sqm. Lot areas are from 62 sqm to 108 sqm. Each unit has 3 bedrooms, 3 toilets & baths, a powder room, and a maid’s room with own T&B, a spacious living and dining area, a kitchen, a 2-car garage, and a utility/laundry area.

living room

dining room

kitchen

2nd floor landing w/ big storage cabinets

masters Bedroom

2nd bedroom

3rd bedroom on the third floor

typical bathroom

3rd floor access to roof deck

garage

Greenview Residences is accredited with Unionbank & Metrobank for end user financing up to 80% of total contract price.

location map

The best is for you to visit the actual site. For any questions contact the authorized broker at +632 637-2765 and +632 637-2766 or send us an email.

Greenview Residences
969 Schuyler Street, Mandaluyong City

Batanes Day 1 Part 2 – Vayang Rolling Hills, Basco Lighthouse

I never thought of myself as a nature lover. Most of my vacations revolve around shopping and eating.

But seeing the Vayang Rolling Hills really amazed me. I enjoyed climbing up the hill so much and seeing the beauty around me.

The top of the hill looked high but the climb was very easy.

Wherever you look you see such beautiful views.

I felt like I was in another country. Ireland perhaps?

We enjoyed the cool winds and cloudy weather but I could have used more sunlight for my pictures.

At the bottom of the hill were some skinny cows grazing.

Our last stop for the day was the Naidi Hills where the Basco Lighthouse was located.

Our van stopped and we opened a window to take a picture of the carabao. Thank goodness it didn’t stand up and say hello.

Of the three bunkers left behind, one was converted into the Bunker Cafe.

Sure it looked cozy and inviting.

But please, please DO NOT eat here. Eating here wasn’t part of our itinerary but we insisted. BIG mistake. We called it the insect cafe. Whether we sat inside or outside we were attacked with all kinds of annoying insects, big and small. I won’t even discuss how BAD the food and service was.

Basco Lighthouse

We climbed up the lighthouse to see the surrounding view. This lighthouse isn’t in operation anymore.

Views of Basco city and the sea.

Other than our horrible dinner at Bunker Cafe and our delayed flight, it was a fantastic first day touring Batanes.

Batanes Day 1 Part 1 – Tukon Church, Valugan Bay

I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t seen much of the beauty of the Philippines. All I see everyday is the hustle and bustle of city life in Manila. I don’t enjoy seeing pollution and traffic everyday. That’s why I was very excited to see Batanes.

The Province of Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippine Republic, both in terms of population and land area. The provincial capital is Basco. (Wikipedia)

On our first day we checked in to Batanes Resort, our home for four days. After lunch we started our tour at the Tukon Church. Of all the churches we went to in Batanes this was my favorite due to it’s architecture and details.

Tukon Church

The ceiling had beautiful frescoes of saints.

I loved all the wood work in the church.

The Tukon church was a project of Dina and Butch Abad for the residents nearby to have a place to go to mass instead of going to a much farther church in town.

Our next stop was the Basco Pagasa Station.

Basco Pagasa Station

I wasn’t listening so I didn’t really know what was so special about this weather station. All I understood was there was some beautiful views surrounding it.

This simple looking device was used to measure rainfall.

rain gauge

This wasn’t a crystal ball. Through research I learned that this was called a Campbell–Stokes recorder otherwise known as a sunshine recorder. Neat huh?

Campbell–Stokes recorder

Sunny or cloudy, I just liked the picture I took through the sphere.

From the top of the weather station we could see the church we came from.

The Japanese Tunnel served as a hideout of the Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Japanese Tunnel

The entrance was really low and you had to duck-walk towards the back where you could stand. It was cooler as you went in. We didn’t go further in.

One of my favorite destinations was the Valugan Bay. The beach had a kilometer long stretch of fine white beach with large multi-colored rocks.

Valugan Bay

I walked down the huge rocks slowly, step by step while the three boys ran and skipped from rock to rock.

I’ve never seen anything like this. Really amazing.

The next church we went to was located in Basco’s town proper. The Sto. Domingo church was the oldest church in Batanes. It was built in 1812 under the supervision of Dominican friars. It was also one of the first limestone buildings built under the Spanish regime.

Sto. Domingo Church

The ten commandments in Ivatan.

Part 2 here.

What We Ate at Batanes Resort

With our flight delay we arrived at Batanes Resort just in time for lunch.

Lunch was pre-ordered for us. That was how it was done on packaged tours in Batanes. The tour operator tells the restaurants how many people to expect and they prepare the same food for everyone. We wanted to order the food ourselves since the lunch served was way too much and there was lots of food we didn’t finish.

This was some soup that was quite forgettable.

soup

Turmeric rice was an Ivatan specialty. Since I couldn’t eat rice I asked my friends if I was missing anything. They said it didn’t taste anything great but the slightly sticky texture of the rice was good.

Ivatan turmeric rice

chicken afritada

The Ivatan salad was everyone’s favorite. Typically pako or fiddlehead fern salad is served raw. The Ivatan way was steaming the pako until soft and topped with tomatoes, onions and spices.

Ivatan Salad – steamed pako or fiddlehead fern

The thick tanigue or Spanish mackarel steaks were cooked just right. Quite tender and simply seasoned. This was a common fish in Batanes since we had it several times on our short trip.

grilled tanigue steaks

fried squid

My first meal in Batanes while on a diet and I was already cheating by eating veggies and fish that weren’t allowed. At least the portion was correct. I cheated by trying a couple of fried squid. Yummy too!

my lunch

watermelon

We also had dinner at Batanes Resort one night. Since we sat at our favorite table outdoor we were swamped with salagubangs or June beetles. The kids were freaked out and kept running when a salagubang would go near them. Us adults were pretty calm since we all remembered playing with salagubang when we were kids.

salagubang on Jennifer’s back

The waiter recommended another Ivatan specialty, seaweed soup. Very bland but not too bad.

Ivatan seaweed soup

We were happy to eat another kind of fish.

stuffed steamed fish

We had to order the Ivatan salad again.

Stuffed bell peppers seemed out of place in Batanes right?

stuffed bell pepper

We were really excited to try lonyes or crispy fried pork, an Ivatan dish. The flavor was good, salty and sour, but the pork was over fried and it was so HARD.

lonyes

We asked for knives and they didn’t have any so they gave us this huge kitchen knife that was so dull we had a hard time cutting the pork plus we couldn’t stop laughing.

We had breakfast there every morning. They served the typical Filipino rice meals for breakfast. You had a choice of plain or garlic rice. Each plate cost P100.

daing na bangus

The kids chose Spam. For non-Filipinos have you ever eaten Spam with rice?

spam

beef tapa

I actually brought my own pre-weighed veggies and asked them to cook it for me. They didn’t even charge me! I ate a healthy breakfast of sauteed mushrooms & spinach with a fried egg.

fresh mushroom & spinach

Suffice it to say the food at Batanes Resort won’t win any culinary awards. But the people there were so nice even when the service was slow so we didn’t mind so much. At least our bellies were full and it kept us going for whole days of touring around Basco and Sabtang islands.

Batanes Resort

One day from out of the blue my friend Vivian called and asked if I wanted to go to Batanes. My first thought was “Why do we need to fly to Bataan?”

Silly me I didn’t even know where Batanes was. Now I know it’s the northern most island in the Philippines. There’s only one way to go there and it’s through Seair. Since they have the monopoly on flights they charge an astounding P15,327 (as of today) for a round trip flight. Vivian was able to buy our tickets at a recent travel fare for significantly less so that’s why we decided to visit Batanes last April.

There were only 2 flights a day to Basco, Batanes and my friend told me that the flights are often delayed on cancelled if they need to use the planes on more popular routes like Boracay.

Seair shared the old domestic airport with Zest Air. It was a nice and clean airport with really strong aircons. They had decent food selections from Goldilocks, Cinnabon and local eateries. As expected the prices were higher too.

The first frame below showed a lot of people from different flights waiting. The last frame was when the place was almost deserted except for the passengers waiting for the Basco flight which was delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes. We were lucky it was just delayed. There was a group of 3 women who told us that they were supposed to fly the day before and the flight was canceled. And the bad thing was they waited in the airport from 5:00 am until 2:00 pm when the flight was finally canceled. They were given hope that another plane would arrive.

This was our group who went to Batanes.

The small plane had a 2-1 seating lay-out. Our flight got delayed because the aircon on our original plane was busted. This plane had super duper freezing aircon.

The first glimpse of Batanes from the plane.

The airport had the typical stone cladding popular among old Ivatan houses in Batanes.

Basco Airport

inside the airport

I thought this was to be our ride during our tour. We did inquire with Batanes cultural travel agency but their package was more expensive.

Batanes cultural travel agency vehicle

Vivian and I searched all the possible accommodations in Batanes and there wasn’t too many choices. My only choice was Fundacion Pacita but it was fully booked and the price was really over our budget. We settled on Batanes Resort, a government owned facility. (that’s my pre-diet body :D)

Batanes Resort was the only hotel located on a big open lot surrounded by hills and beautiful foliage. It also had a really nice view of the sea. True it’s the farthest from the city but we didn’t mind since we had a van to take us everywhere.

Batanes Resort

This was our van for the duration of the trip. It fit our group of 5 adults and 3 kids just fine. I appreciated it’s aircon and wouldn’t trade it for the cute open air lavander vehicle anytime.

our tour van

This cottage served as the check-in area and it extended to the dining rooms and public bathrooms. The whole place was very clean and well maintained.

check-in area

We had breakfast here every morning. Breakfast was P100 per plate of rice with your choice of viand and eggs.

dining room

outdoor dining room

The outdoor dining area was our favorite part of Batanes Resort. We had our welcome lunch here as well as a couple of dinners. We also enjoyed sitting here and simply chatting and enjoying the cool breeze.

This is the view from the dining area.

There were 10 stone cottages on the property. Each cottage was divided into two rooms with two double beds each. My roommate Jennifer and I chose the Sabtang cottage which had a direct view of the sea. This cottage was just next to the outdoor dining area.

stone cottages

Unfortunately our room was one of the older un-renovated rooms. The bed was firm and comfy though. The window type aircon was quite cool too. Our neighbor Vivian had a renovated room but their aircon was really loud and not cold at all.

Sabtang cottage

The water pressure wasn’t really strong but at least there was a water heater. I took a bath wearing my Crocs sandals.

This was the view from our room.

The next night we all moved to another cottage. This was at the back area of the property so there wasn’t any view and it’s farther to the dining room but at least the room looked much nicer and cleaner.

The wooden flooring was changed to tiles. They still kept the annoying red-orange curtains though.

The biggest welcome was the bathroom with new tiles and fixtures.

Batanes Resort is located at Kaychanarianan, Basco, Batanes
Rates are P1,000 per person a night.

For inquiries and reservations you may contact Batanes Resort directly at:
Cellphone No: (+63 927) 582-9078
Batanes telephone: (+63 78) 533-3444/ (+63 78) 533-3456
Manila Office telephone: (+63 2) 927-2393

Lunch at Mana-ish and More!

Last April Rochelle celebrated her birthday and she wanted to treat us for lunch. She knew I just started my diet so she emailed me a magazine scan of a list of good restaurants and told me to choose where we will eat. Isn’t she so thoughtful?

I diligently googled each restaurant in the list and looked at the menus to see what I can eat. I chose Mana-ish and More because of their simply grilled meats. Before seeing that article I didn’t even know this restaurant in Makati that served “Middle Eastern grills and delights” existed.

Mana-ish is located in Jupiter St. just across the Buendia car exchange. From Edsa turn right at Buendia then turn right at the gas station to the beginning of Jupiter St. We made a mistake and started at Jupiter St. near Makati Avenue.

wall oven

They had one of the nicest looking shawarma ovens I’ve ever seen. Too bad that it was hardly used and one had just a small amount of chicken. I guess it’s not one of their popular items on the menu.

shawarma oven

They also sold several kinds of spices.

This was the “And More!”After your meal you have the option to puff on a shisha and choose from strawberry, apple, mint and other flavors for only P250. I tried this once in Hong Kong and all I can say is it’s not for me. I’d rather have a chocolate dessert.

hookah or shisha

There were 4 of us for lunch. One was on a strict diet, one doesn’t eat meat, one doesn’t eat chicken and one doesn’t eat beef. I couldn’t wait to see what my friends would order.

Since I couldn’t eat all these food I had to rely on my friends’ comments which I wrote down in my trusty notebook. That’s how a food blogger on a diet operates :D.

All 3 of my friends raved about how tasty the baba ghanouj was. They loved the grilled flavor of the eggplant and the strong spices. They had to order another plate of pita bread to wipe the dish clean.

baba ghanouj P158

The name Mana-ish came from the word manakish which is like an Arabic pizza. They ordered the sampler called Magnificent 6 which featured 6 different toppings some with meat but mostly were vegetarian. They liked some toppings more than others but they unanimously declared the thin, crispy pizza two thumbs up.

magnificent 6 manakish P200

Oozie was pastry filled with rice, ground meat, spices and served with yogurt. This was the dish they least enjoyed. Rochelle and Chris said it was very bland.

oozie P285

The yogurt was quite watery and mild. Not a very appetizing sauce for the oozie.

yogurt w/ cucumber

Rochelle and Chris agreed to order the taggen shawarma for their main course. This dish was made up of a fried pita bread as a base and topped ground beef and lamb, tahini sauce, butter and cashew. I’ve never noticed this in other Middle Eastern restaurants I’ve eaten at.

taggen shawarma P320

Rochelle doesn’t eat beef but she made an exception for this dish. They oohed and aahed at how creamy, savory, yummy it was. The pita soaked up all the sauce and was the perfect vessel for the tender meat. This was the one dish that really tempted me to cheat and try it. But my will was strong and I just mentally planned when I could come back to try it.

Db was the one who didn’t eat meat so she ordered the fish harra which was baked fish with spices and tomatoes sauce and walnuts and served with saffron rice. They all said it was delicious until Chris said the fish was dory. The waiter confirmed it and suddenly the fish didn’t taste as good. My friends had an aversion to cream dory fish which is widely used in restaurants in Manila.

fish harra P315

Pie? Arabic calzone?

Tada, it’s saffron rice! It looked similar to the oozie but it tasted so much better.

saffron rice

So, what did I eat? I ordered two sticks of skewered chicken breast marinated in shish tawook spices and grilled.

shish tawook P130 per stick

I brought my scale and weighed the chicken. My allowed portion was one stick plus one piece. I brought my own veggies, sauteed baby bok choy, and had a very hearty and filling meal.

The chicken was much better than I expected. It was uber tender and juicy. The flavors were bold but not too salty or spicy. Although I’m pretty sure some ingredients in the marinade were not allowed in my diet. My friends were amazed with the quantity of my food. They thought I ate teeny weeny amounts only.

Muhalabieh was a light flan similar to panna cotta but topped with orange flower water, rose syrup and pistachio nuts. Their first comment was it smelled like a classy hotel’s bathroom. I almost choked from laughing. They didn’t enjoy the dessert so much since we all couldn’t stop chortling.

muhalabieh P100

Halawe or halva was a confection made from tahini or nut butters although we didn’t know it at that time. It was served with saj bread and honey was drizzled on top. Arabic peanut butter sandwich?

halawe w/ honey served with saj P125

Chris loves strong black coffee but the Turkish coffee was beyond her powers. She described it as tasting like driftwood and it didn’t have any aroma.

Turkish coffee P35

We all loved the free minty black tea served at the end of the meal.

minty black tea

Before we left the server poured scented water on our hands. It was so fragrant that we vowed not to wash our hands forever!

We were all happy to try out Mana-ish and More! There were so many other interesting and unusual food items on the menu that we would like to try. Another bonus is the very affordable price. For all these dishes and dessert our bill came to only P2,000. I would definitely go back.

Mana-ish menu

Mana-ish and More!
#20 Jupiter Str. Brgy, Bel-Air, Makati City
(across Buendia car exchange)
telephone: 896-6262, 501 52 98

Operating Hours
Monday – Thursday 11:00 AM -11:00 PM
Friday – Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM

My Last Meal Requests

A criminal due for execution usually gets his last meal request granted. I was about to start my diet for real this time and my wonderful friends granted me my requests with a pot luck dinner.

Upon arrival from Bangkok, Rochelle and I rushed from the airport to Deb’s house to partake of my last meal. My first request was crispy pata (pictured above). Who can resist fried pork knuckles? I eat it all the way to the bone!

I have a new favorite and it’s crispy beef ribs that Janet made. Tender, salty, citrusy, crunchy pieces of beef. So delicious!

crispy beef ribs

My all time favorite kare kare (ox tail stew) is the one that Deb’s cook makes. Others use peanut butter as thickener for a short cut. Her cook does it the old fashioned way with ground rice and ground peanuts. You can really taste the difference in flavor. It’s so good it doesn’t really need bagoong (shrimp paste) at all. The sauce was just heavenly with rice.

kare kare (ox tail stew)

These were the veggies that went with the kare kare.

Chicken galantina or stuffed chicken is another of Deb’s specialties.

chicken galantina

Ever since I first tried sisig I was hooked. Elisa brought sisig from Sisig Hooray. Yummy!

sisig

Garlic butter crabs were requested by my other friends. I ate my favorite part, the creamy, fatty bits on the shell. Yes it’s bad for my cholesterol but, hey, it’s my last meal.

garlic butter crab

I was too full to even try the suman or glutinous rice roll cooked in coconut milk. They all raved about it.

suman

But I’m never too full for my favorite queso de bola cheesecake.

It’s been 3 months since this meal. I was quite nostalgic writing this entry. I haven’t been near any of these Filipino comfort food for 3 months. Well except for the crab sans butter.

I know it’s weird for a food blogger to be on a diet but somehow I am still able to eat out some and take pictures of what others eat while I look at their food longingly. Anyway one day soon I will be able to eat all these goodies again. You can be sure of that.

Thanks again to Deb and all my wonderful friends who made this dinner possible.