Monday, March 21, 2016

Chubschasers' Smoothie Discovery

cucumber malunggay smoothie
I recently visited a small restaurant in Visayas Avenue in Quezon City. It looks vintage from the inside with more words in the wall and inspiring sentences in the table. My discovery there is not just the place that I like - I like vintage ideas - but the smoothie that I had never tried before.


Chubschasers looks like one of the restaurants that I visited in Nimmanheimen Road in Chiangmai. Simple and friendly.  The discovery that I am referring to is Chubschasers' beverage. At a price of 99 pesos, the cucumber malunggay smoothie is the best and first time I have ever tried for this. It is a combination of cucumber, malunggay and lime juice.


For those who have never tried, visit Chubschasers and try the cucumber malunggay smoothie and definitely, you'll gonna say, let me order another one. The value added for me for the smoothie is the fact that it uses a bottle like that of the glass being used in Gawad Kalinga's Enchanted Farm's organic restaurant. I really love the idea of reusing old stuff and making the most artistic way out of it.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Suncruises' Manila Bay Cruise Dinner Buffet

My assigned table is good for four persons.
MV Spirit of Manila
I was so damn bored last weekend. When I am in this condition, I reward myself with sweets, food and visit to any interesting place (not necessarily mall). Cruise dining is one in my wish lists but not that day yet. As often, when I plan a getaway, it does not happen but when unplanned, it happens.

Since I do not use any credit card and my Paypal is empty as well, I had to call the booking office of Suncruises if I can still be accommodated for early dinner. The 6 p.m. dinner is fully booked therefore, I had to choose the earlier one, 4:15 p.m. onward. It is an hour and 30 minutes cruise in Manila Bay with dinner buffet and live band.

Suncruises Reservation Office in Pasay City just beside Prestige Cruise office.
I called on the booking office and reserved for a seat. They usually get the complete name of the guest and age. Passengers should be in a manifesto when in Manila Bay. In case any untoward incident happens, everyone has to be accounted for. A reference number was given to me and I had to be at the Esplanade Seaside Terminal - Suncruises Booking Office at 3 p.m. for me to pay the fees.

From Mondays to Thursdays, regular rate for cruise dinner (plated) is 550 pesos per person while on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; dinner buffet is available at 650 net per person. Immediately after paying for the cruise dinner, I had to pay for terminal fee at 30 pesos per person. The place where the booking office is located is called Seaside Terminal, which is along Seaside Boulevard, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.



The seats in the upper deck have been booked that is why I was assigned to a seat in the lower deck. Before boarding, it is compulsory to have the sticker put on the guest's dress. The Suncruises booking office provides the sticker immediately after paying the dinner buffet and the terms and conditions of the cruise. It contains the name of the guest and the table number where he or she has to be seated aboard.

The Seaside Terminal opens with the security guard inspecting the sticker and the terminal fee before boarding. I was the only guest who was just alone while the rest came by two's or more - some families, foreign tourists and pairs. I seated in table 14 which is good for four persons.

The motif inside the cruise was still Valentine, no wonder, February had just came past. On board is music being played and live band with acoustic guitar while the buffet dinner is already open. The crew were accommodating while there was a Filipino pair who used to take too much pictures - no wonder, Filipinos. I hadn't had much pictures, not even by myself. Unluckily, I was disgusted with calls that are work-related while I was already savoring the food. I had to stop for a while and answer all calls and make calls pertaining to office concerns. My goodness!


Going back to the food, there were several courses. I liked the pork very much. The sesame seeds in the beef tasted well. The sotanghon gave a Chinese taste. Two types of desserts and some crackers added more. The one I loved because I missed to have - brewed coffee. If you are not contented with the food yet and wanted to order more drinks, there are more to order while on board  for a separate fee.

Lucky that I was seated next to the buffet table; people from the upper deck had to move down to get their food and go back upstairs. I can get more coffee and take more viand. Despite going there alone, it was another food experience I had. Although last year, I cruised Manila Bay buffet was not included in the package. This time, I was so full that I did not eat breakfast in the next day.

How to Reserve
Call +632 834-6857; +632 831-8140
Mobile 0917-513-2625; 0922-337-0068

Reserve Walk-in
Suncruises
Esplanade Seaside Terminal, Seaside Boulevard
SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City (near Viking restaurant)

How to Get There (Commuting)
LRT from Roosevelt Station in Quezon City
Alight in Buendia/Gil Puyat Avenue
Ride a multicab going to SM MOA (Fare: 7 pesos)
Ask the multicab driver to drop you off at One Esplanade
Walk toward Esplanade Seaside Terminal

Well, my next destination being planned - Corregidor!

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Good Food in Donsol


I went to Donsol about three years ago together with Couchsurfers from Spain. There, I didn't join the whale-shark adventure because I just thought that I had an adventure when order was not yet in place in 2001. What I discovered while waiting for my companions was good food for Bicol delicacies, the laing.

Recently, I went back to Donsol together with my family. While the weather was not good due to strong sea current caused by tail-end of the cold front, we decided to go because that was my only free time to be with them.

One serving of chopsuey is good for 3 to 4 persons. 
Compared to my experience about 10 years ago, I could say that Donsol has indeed evolved into a tourist destination friendly for both local and foreign visitors. Whether one is able to see a surfacing whale-shark or not, the plus point for me is good food. Good food is my requirement for every destination that I go to.

In Dancalan, the barangay where the tourism center is located, tourists flock to register for the adventure and board the local boats. While waiting and as tourists return, they can savor the good food that the local restaurants offer. Take for example, Mommy Nem's restaurant, where we ate for lunch. The menu is just affordable and at a serving good for three to four persons already. Add more the mango and banana shake, perfect for a lunch by the beach while sniffing fresh air.


The neighbor restaurants are budget-friendly yet neat and with a nice view of the sea. Take for example the Siramsana Restaurant. It was there where I ate the locally made laing. For a Bicolano, who used to taste laing and can tell whether it has been prepared by a genuine Bicolano or not, I could say, "siram sana."