Quick Review: Karne Frio

Deciding where to eat in elbi in an instant is always a problem, especially when you practically tried the good ones, heard negative reviews about the others, and well, you're just simply on a budget.

Yesterday, Paully and I tried this not so new restaurant called "Karne Frio"at the ES Plaza. I've seen it before and did not really got curious to try it because I'm cutting down on red meat. But yesterday we just went for it, what the heck?

I like their location and how it is air conditioned. I was actually looking for an alternative to Bonitos where I can hold private meetings. 

But the place is not so private, eh? 

You know when a place is student dominated when you see boards (and the likes) like this: 

And oooh! They sell planners! I already have mine for 2015 but I still checked it out. (Will share on my next post)

Without further ado,  Let me share their menu: 

I asked for their best seller and they recommended this. I ordered the Garlic Rosemary Pork Marimadas for only 69 pesos! 

But for 69 pesos, let's get real about the actual serving size:

Paully ordered the Meatzzanini for 99 pesos.

The Meatzzanini is actually good, although it can get better if they have more cheese on it. 

I wanted to try other things on the menu, like dessert perhaps?

But I got frustrated because unfortunately, on that day, no dessert is available and it's only 1pm in the afternoon. I'd probably come back next time, hopefully, the ones I will be ordering will be available.

A new cafe with (still) a working title/name

It is actually easier to just eat at home than to decide where to eat during lunch hour. At home, at least you just eat what is there, but if you are presented with many choices for lunch, that's the problem. Where to eat lunch after having tried practically all the good ones (and reasonably priced) food hubs around the university?

Good thing, Frankie invited us to have lunch at a newly opened cafe which is just literally ten steps from his office. I've been to the opening but haven't tried the actual food served there.

I got disappointed having to pay Php 30.00 for this small sized lemonade that seems just like any other lemonade.

Look, Frankie's iPhone 5 is taller.

Also this Panye (Apple, Lemon, Grapes) smoothie, that is also not a smoothie to the truest sense. Like juice with foamy thing lang. 

 I ordered Pasta Alfredo. (Php 80) and I have a wish list for this pasta:
1. More sauce please
2. A lot softer bread. (Because I almost scratched my gums. Seriously.)

This is their Panini, a Tuna cheese melt, I was told. Aya ordered this and got quite a little disappointed for its lack of cheese.

 Meanwhile, this is  Frankie's pesto. It was alright.

Anyway, I think they are still on their soft opening. Nutritionists actually take note of the stuff that the Chef in this cafe prepare.

But you have to give points for the very nice ambiance and location:

(The two photos above were taken on a different day)

We were really hungry that we finished all of what we ordered. Yes, all of them. But we headed straight to Mc Donald's afterwards. Haha!

So there.

There's  a new cafe in the university and I think I just gave away its name. :)

Modus Operandi of Salisi members in Los Baños (elbi), Laguna caught on CCTV!

There are two gay men walking around Los Baños, going inside stores, eatery, and other business establishments. This happened last June 4, 2014. Another boutique had the exact same experience from these two and was reported to the authorities last May 28, 2014. A newly opened eatery was swindled Php 2,000.00 by these two gay men. Reports show that similarities among the incidents happen around 5pm-6:30pm.

Please be warned and share this to your friends, family, facebook networks and other business owners. They are not only targeting business establishments, but they are also targeting properties of customers, students in coffee shops, and restaurants.

1. Two gay men enters the boutique and pretends to look for something:

 2. The Culprit looks in the CCTV camera to see if it is working.

 3. Culprit leans again to see if it is a CCTV camera.

 4. The two talks about their plan. They will pretend to look for something.

 5. The gay man in stripes shirt and glasses served as the look out.

 6. After distracting the sales ladies, the culprit tries to steal the sales lady's cellphone.

 7. The culprit returns it immediately then pretends to pick up the tape dispenser when the sales lady saw what he is doing.

8. What happened to other stores is the bag of the customer/owner gets stolen. In this case their next plan is to distract the cashier into giving them money. Notice the encircled hand ready with a spare money for exchange.

 9. Earlier, the culprit hands over Php 1,000 to the saleslady, pretending to pay for the items they want to purchase. Then they will change their mind, not buy anything, and ask for the money back.

Please check the encircled right hand as the culprit already has a spare Php 100 that he will exchange later.

 10. The culprit handed the Php 100.00 back to the cashier, claiming that she handed over the Php 100 pesos using the right hand and not Php 1000.00.

Notice the other gay man in stripes blocking the scene.

 11. The cashier will give the Php 1,000.00 back to culprit.

 12. The culprit takes the Php 1000.00 away.

 13. Both the culprit and the look out will leave the store.

The CULPRIT:

 The LOOK OUT:

Full blow by blow account screen capture found here.

If you have information about these two, please report here or to the nearest Brgy Hall in Los Baños, Laguna. This has already been reported (blottered).

Municipal Action Center – 049-530-2818

Batong Malake – 049-536-4349

Thank you and keep safe.

(UPDATE: A month later, this incident was featured in 24 Oras, GMA News Network)

Satya: A Vegetarian Restaurant in elbi

Frankie just got back from Apayao and requests "Vegetarian resto tayo please. This is my acquired craving after weeks in Apayao."

We found this Vegetarian Cafe and Restaurant called "Satya"and Frankie recommends that Aya and I try their "Vegchon"( Vegetarian Lechon Kawali) for us without veggie cravings. He said it looks and tastes like real lechon.

Aya and I were intrigued. 

We found the road to Satya beside Lopez Elementary School. I've seen their signage before but I did not know that it was a Vegan restaurant. 

This cute little nook houses vegan and organic food. The place looks like a secret hide out for peace and quiet. There's a small library for customers who likes to read but there are mosquitoes in the place. But don't fret, its a good thing they have anti mosquito repellent on display to be used by guests for free. 

They also have fast, free wifi too! I asked our server for how long has this restaurant been around elbi, but she's not sure. I think its been around since last year.

Not really an adventurous eater but we tried stuff like Crispy seaweed (Php60), the good old potato fries (Php60) and what we went for: The Vegchon, or their Vegetarian Lechon Kawali with their all around sarsa (Php170.00). They also have brown and white rice (Php35/serving).

The Vegchon, I heard, was a mixture of different kind of veggies. Interestingly, when you take a bite, you will see a meat-like strand, which you might think that it is meat. Of course it does not taste like meat.It was worth a try but what I didn't like about it was there are some portions that "felt" like fat, but it isn't fat. I felt like really fine sticky rice (kakanin) that quite resembles the stickyness of mochi in Japan).The sauce is homemade and taste exactly like fresh lumpia sauce.

If you're wondering what else to order, below is their menu:

Over-all, it was worth the experience and worth trying. I just don't see myself craving for it again, being non-vegetarian and all.

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 26 - April 26

I already graduated last October 31, 2013 and got cleared from the University right before I turned 30 last year. So this graduation march is really just a formality. But, since our office will be covering University Events, might as well attend all the University graduation events such as Chancellor's Night, Testimonial and Recognition Day, Hooding and Recognition Ceremony (for Masters and PhD candidates only) and finally the University Graduation last April 26.

This blog was born out of the desire to get my writing groove back on when I was still studying in graduate school. A photo of me graduating must be in order! (Photo by Kuya Karl) 

One of my relatives, Tita Eves, couldn't make it to my graduation so she watched the live streaming at home, waited for me to be called on stage and took a photo of me getting my certificate on stage. (Honestly, I secretly want to have a photo of me via live streaming, so imagine my delight when someone actually took it for me! Kire lang, I know.)  Thank you Tita Eves for the photo. 

It rained during our graduation march, but I enjoyed it even with all the water splatter. Because, a little rain don't hurt, at least I am finally, formally, receiving my degree! After the march, we were blessed to have a beautiful sunset graduation and fabulous fireworks. I even enjoyed getting the last seat at the back because I get to be relaxed, walk around a little, chat with others, and even have a little picnic of my own. Here is my photo by Paolo Aquino, who kept trying to take candid shots of me, snacking at the back during the announcement of graduates. 

But the cutest surprise of all is I came home to find not one, but two tarpaulin from my High School friends, congratulating me on my graduation. It was so cute, that my mother insisted to have a photo op at the gate of our house when we arrived. (Not the best photo of me guys, but thank you!)

The next day, I wore the exact same dress that I wore during graduation and brought my certificate of completion of my Masteral Degree, just like what I promised Tatay, 39 days after he passed away. 

Now after every milestone, we get asked (or probably we ask ourselves) so what now? Inspired by my friend, Josh, this is now my life verse:

Congratulations to all 2014 graduates! 

Quick Review: Dainty Gourmet Bites

It probably isn't a good idea to bring an actual foodie to a place that says "Gourmet". Because when you say "gourmet" certain expectations just come around.

I've been meaning to try to this little corner at Vega Center called Dainty Gourmet Bites and I'm not really sure if it's good. We tried Kaska before, find it so-so, after more than a year tried it again and it appears that it redeemed itself. You just have to choose the correct pasta to order.

Anyway, the first time I saw this corner, it was jam packed with diners. It looks cute from the outside and I wondered for how long it's been around.

 We got lucky one lunch hour, because there were only two customers dining inside.

 Check out the space. Not really a good idea if you want some peace and quite but when you get the chance to come here on a not busy day, it might just work.

I just had my lunch but my foodie friend is hungry. I decided to just get some ice cream (Php 25/scoop) and was pleasantly surprised with the presentation:

My friend ordered the mushroom burger (Php60.00). My friend, who is  a good cook and an actual foodie, took a few bites before I asked her how she found it:

 "Ordinary." She said. "The burger in that bar on the second floor of Coffee Blends (IC's Bar) tastes a lot better."

Anyway, I enjoyed my ice cream and its presentation and maybe consider ordering the crepes in the future. The menu looks affordable, the pasta the other table's eating smells yummy but maybe it was just not Dainty Gourmet Bites' day today. Maybe like Kaska, it'll redeem itself some other time.