Hana: A Titan of Taste

To satisfy our drive for 'trying something new', my best friend and I once again hit the streets. This time, we went Japanese.

I have always wanted to try out this restaurant called Hana down at Pagsanjan Laguna. It's not in the center of public traffic, so you have to go there on purpose. It's quite hidden on the quiet side of Pagsanjan, just along the National Road.

Upon entering, as every Japanese restaurant does, they greet you respectfully with a bow and they proceed to give you the menu. The place isn't that much Japanese per se. It doesn't have the usual Japanese set up for the dining table, though there's this sushi making counter with the big flyer blinds, ones that you see on anime or Jap live action dramas. It's a mix, I guess, of Filipino comfort and Japanese cuisine. There's also a little magazine shelf in the middle of the place that made it quite more charming.

The menu was eye catching. Japanese cuisine is known for their eye-catching visuals that makes eating raw fish enjoyable. We ordered this egg-shaped sweets and a bento containing sweetened beef, salmon in the shape of a rose, crab sticks, some veggies, coleslaw and 4 side dishes that we enjoy very much. We didn't order a lot as our cash is limited, but we did in fact share because, we are so cautious on eating Japanese foods. Both of us hate vegetables and we are tiptoe-ing on certain fish and meat that doesn't taste good.

But our Hana Restaurant experience was delightful. I was never a fan of salmon because it tastes so fishy. But their salmon was quite refreshing. It tastes something like the sea and not the sea with lots of fishies. The crab sticks are divine as well as the meat. But I think we enjoyed the anchovies more and the egg-looking sweet dessert. (heck! I always got the name confused). 

It is a quaint little place. A nice watering hole if you want to try something new and something refreshing for your tastes buds. It's a first, I guess, on this part of the district of Laguna, to have a decent Japanese cuisine-serving restaurant that's really authentic and with genuine service. 

Sweet Magic: Baked in Swirly Goodness

Since I started the Elvensies escapade, I have been seeing my best friend more often. This new tradition for us is a healthy way to keep each other in check and in full. You may know her as Marvy and I galaband around town from time to time. Somehow, we enjoy this leisure time together.

And it's just the beginning of the month, we are sort of running low on cash and that's when we have to devise something. We need a nice new place nearby to eat and take photos with. And so, ding~! Idea. There's a newly opened cupcake shop nearby my house. And it's pink and swirly, and oh, you'll get the idea.

It just recently opened at Taft Street, Pakil, Laguna and I remember the place because mum kept bugging me to try out their cupcakes, and also because it's where she ordered my Doctor Who inspired cupcake cake during my birthday. And so off we went.

It is a small shop. Too small, in fact, you can only fit a couple of tables and chairs. But with nice chandelier lights, frozen glass fridge and swirly painted walls, it is now too cute. Even the outside of the place receives a lot of double takes.

They sell chocolate-based cupcakes with different toppings. Their cupcakes ain't that sweet, so it is just the right amount of moisture and sweetness for me. The flavor of the toppings makes it even more delicious.

We ordered 3 cupcakes, one for each of us and the other, is for to-go, to my other best-friend Daine.

Cafe Alberto: A Delightful Treat

It's highly unlikely that I'll take off and do something risky or anything new. I'm a creature of habit and that leaves me in my own imaginary limited comfort zone. I'm not proud of it though, but that's what works for me.

Now I happen to address that I would be doing something new every month (this was way back in January, and this post is more than long overdue) and so I did.

All it takes is a home-bound bus ride to Laguna. If you know me, I'll get on the terminal and get off at the end terminal, no gist, no surprise, straight to the point routine. But then, I was feeling really hungry and if I wait to have my food, I'd wait for another 30 minutes or so. And that's when I decided to jump off at the first decent restaurant I saw. And ta-da~! Cafe Alberto.

For years, I went back and forth Manila that I saw this little cafe right beside the National Road in Sta. Cruz Laguna, exactly at the center of the Sambat intersection. You can easily miss it because it is right along the lines of those other food stalls. But with its front yard and welcoming ambiance, you might really want to consider stopping by.

It was downtime when I came in. Lots of seats. Mirrored paneled walls, nice comfy rattan seats and even more nice place mats. The place has a modern-rustic feel to it because of their choice of furniture and also because they serve Italian cuisine and luscious array of desserts.

And I, love, no, WORSHIP desserts. It's like a reward for eating a full course meal and being guilty about it, but the dessert says, 'it's alright, you can continue your diet tomorrow.' They have mini Chocolate Cakes, Vanilla Cakes and my favorite... Blueberry Cheesecakes~! Then again, I was contemplating whether to get the cheesecake or the yema cake, which is downright delicious. It's a modern twist to the 'Yema' flavor. Mostly made up of sweetened milk and peanuts. And of course, I also ordered a Carbonara to be guilty with.

I ended up my happy meal of the day with a big bowl, yes, bowl, not cup - bowl, of coffee. They have big servings of coffee and in the exact amounts that you will consume with a solo mini blueberry cheesecake.

And of course, it was a delightful experience, so I had to bug the waitress to take a photo of me and my nice bowl of coffee. A delightful indeed.

Project 365: February 2014

February was quite a surprising month, I have to tell you. It was overall unexpected and just the perfect timing for everything. It started off well with a new obsession - Attack on Titan, followed by an immense craving for peanut butter and jelly almost everyday. Then I finished a couple of books with great reluctance because I really need to brush up on my reading: Gaiman's Coraline and Tolkien's The Hobbit. I also made a website for my uncle and compiled all his press releases that are still available online. I got a photo featured on Vogue, finally with Vonna this time on it. I managed to learn the Game of Thrones theme song on piano. Despite all the nice little things, it suddenly drops, Grandpa had a high-blood pressure and was checked up on the hospital. He also suffers greatly from his arthritis to a point that he could barely stand-up. That was quite the low point of my February. But God answers questions when you least expect it. I got appointed a day before Valentine's day and it was quite a bit emotional for me. I have been waiting for such an opportunity for so long. To prove myself again to myself that I am not a quitter. Then it's Valentine's day wherein I celebrate it Japanese style. Most of the weekend too, I spend it with my Geek League, we sort of have that weekly meet-up where we just hang and eat and play. Then the rest of the month was preparing for my first day of work. paper works, clothes, going back and forth to Manila, medicals, the whole enchalada. Then my first week at work is all the last week of February. It was indeed fun and totally different from working in the private sector. Happy February~! Indeed it was.