Breakfast at the Peninsula Hotel, Shanghai

My brother and I watched elders performing Taichi along The Bund, then for breakfast we treated ourselves to the nearby Peninsula's breakfast buffet. The breakfast buffet went for RMB 240 plus taxes: it was a price I had to pay for great waffles.

Belgian Waffles from Starbucks

My last few weeks in Manila has been marked by my search for that one mouth watering waffle. Nothing seems to satisfy, but the closest one I will get to is probably Starbucks' Belgian waffle combines with Pia Y Damaso's bibingka one, so it was either one or the other.

Belgian waffle for Php 70. Have it warmed and topped with whipped cream.

Sigh. Still, the search continues.

Starbucks - all over Metro Manila!

Xtremely Xpresso in Subic, Zambales

On our way home from our surfing trip in Zambales, we passed by Subic for brunch in Xtremely Xpresso. It's great how SBMA maintains the discipline in the operations of its ship repair and shipbuilding facilities, ports, oil storage and refueling stations. Everything is just so orderly and clean, which makes it a conducive stopover during a long trip up North. It's also a nice place to hang out in (for a couple of days) because of its revved up tourism activities and the forests that they've protected. Just don't swim on the beach though!

When I went to Subic for my Bayer Environmental Envoy training 4 years ago, they introduced us to the environmental battle that was waged within Subic: the set up of the first landfill and incinerator in the country. This was a huge issue since Subic took a stance for environmental preservation.

Interiors of Xtremely Xpresso

Waffles with choco banana topping for Php 110. Still unsatisfactory. My search for the perfect waffle continues.

Mozarella fingers for Php 180

Xtremely Xpresso Cafe

Subic - SM City Clark

Marquee Mall, Angeles

Pampanga, Philippines

Grams Diner in Rockwell Info Center

Another mad craving I've had these past few days is the craving for the perfect waffles. I tried looking for it in Antonio's last week, to no avail, so I chose my breakfast date to be in Grams in case they had something that I can try, and there was nada. I think I will end up in Starbucks for their Belgian waffles.

What I had in Grams instead were some addicting pieces of pancakes. They came in small circles, were sweet just right, and I couldn't get enough of it. I just kept on popping it in.

Silver dollar pancakes for Php 65.

Interesting matter on pancakes from Wikipedia:

Archaeological evidence suggests that varieties of pancakes are probably the earliest and most widespread types of cereal food eaten in prehistoric societies whereby dry carbohydrate-rich seed flours mixed with the available protein-rich liquids, usually milk and eggs, were baked on hot stones or in shallow earthenware pots over an open fire to form a nutritious and highly palatable foodstuff.

Ha! I cannot imagine pancakes in stone ovens! Thank god for progress.

Some other items we had

Eggs benedict - two poached eggs served on toasted muffins layered with ham and topped with hollandaise sauce and served with home fries for Php 225. I wasn't a very big fan of this, perhaps because I have tasted the perfection that is in Chateau 1771's eggs benedict

Patriotic breakfast - US beef tapa served with egg and rice for Php 175

Grams Diner

Rockwell Info Center

Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati

Tel: 632 898 2890

Breakfast at Antonio's in Tagaytay

I was lucky enough to join a trip to Tagaytay of Marion, Archie and select School of Management faculty. It was a day full of a laughter and a lot of revelations, but the biggest one is that teachers are fun! Except when they release grades...

Our first foodie stop was Breakfast at Antonio's. I have been subtly telling Sir Mike about this and I am so glad he took up the challenge as I have been craving for superb waffles for a while now. Antonio's (the dinner) is frequently cited as the best in the Philippines in prestigious food publications all over the world, while Breakfast has garnered high praises as well.

The last two times I went to Breakfast at Antonio's (in the old location) was at night time, so I very much loved this morning visit because I was able to see its manicured and romantically designed garden in its full glory. They had a great ambiance, the mountain air breezed through the lanai softly, the way the light filtered through the windows was just perfect. The grand staircase was awesome. The wooden tables and the random wooden decor stayed consistent with its earthly theme.

Stolen shot of one of my most treasured mentors and my beautiful friend

They foresaw the need. Thanks for placing the entire pot by my side!

House Special Beef Tapa for Php 365

Super Omellettes - 3 eggs omelette in ham and cheese flavour with house potato and panini for Php 340

French Toast - dipped in Vanilla Creme and cinnamon egg butter served with hot apple compote and whipped cream for Php 275. I felt this was our best pick. It looked gorgeous, and tasted as great as it looked.

One of the house specials: Chorizo with Eggs for Php 480

Chocolate Chip Waffle with rasberry whipped butter for Php 235. I was a bit disappointed with this because I expected something larger and fairer. This seems like something I can take from Pancake House. But seeing how everyone else's food looks like wiped the negative vibes away.

I'm still on a high from dining here, and I always look back to my photos of the place. I'm still keeping (the world famous!) dinner at Antonio's in mind, perhaps when I go back in a few months.

Breakfast at Antonio’s

Bgy. Neogan

Tagaytay City, Cavite

Tel: 63 918 899 2866

Restaurant Pia Y Damaso at Greenbelt 5

One of the best decisions I made this week was to go back to Damaso for dinner. It's one of my favourite restaurants in Manila, if only for their creative food titles and homey ambiance - cause I think food is ordinarily yummy Filipino, but overall presentation makes my feel like the food is extra delicious! =)

Had dinner with my brother, and later with Marion, which gave me the (evil) excuse to taste more of their food!

Tubig ni Maria Clara (Maria Clara's water): fresh cucumber juice, ginger and citrus water for Php 300

Pumpkin wonton ravioli: stuffed wonton with roasted pumpkin and garlic sauteed in browned butter with toasted walnuts for Php 175

Chunky beef soup with fried onions: caramelized onions, beef short ribs, carrots and water chestnuts with crisp french fried onion rings for Php 300

I forgot! Essentially this is crispy chicken skin. Bad! =P

Shortribs rioja: beef shortribs braised in red wine, celery, onions, carrots, tomatoes, shitake mushrooms, fresh bay leaves with rosemary potatoes for Php 450

Binagoonan with okra: braised stew of pork with homemade fermented shrimp paste "alamang bagoong" and tomatoes for Php 300

Bibingka waffle: with Malagos goat's cheese, quezo de bola, salted egg and coco jam for Php 150

Ensaimada quezo de bola with tsokolate Php 150

Reminds me of Mary Grace Ensaymada (Hi Raffy!)

We had to ask the waiter how to eat this. This is the way!

Restaurante Pia Y Damaso

Greenbelt 5, Greenbelt,

Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St.,

Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila, PH

Tel: 632 729 5511