Manila Buffet | Sambokojin, Dad's, Kamayan and Saisaki in one!

We had lunch at Sambokojin last month and availed offer for the buffet crossover priced below Php 1000/pax. 

Overall, the experience was good and we stayed for almost 2 hours. 

Next time again!

Another quarantine buffet experience:

Kintan BBQ Buffet

♡,

Mari

2020 List of Merienda, Dessert, Snacks (shop online)

Hello everyone!

I'm sharing below list of desserts that we've tried last year for merienda! Have you tried any of these too?

Which one tasted best?

1. big AL's Chocolate Caramel Loaf Cake (below Php 500)
 

Moist and chocolatey cake. It melts in your mouth!




2. Everyday.ph Macaroons

 

Best macaroon I've had! A close friend sent a box for Christmas (thanks Aline 😘) 😊

It was so good! Soft with balanced sweetness and coconut bits, perfect with Ka Bernie's Kopi Kapeng Barako 💯

I also found out that she bought it from our friend! (Patty, ang saaaaraaaap!!! Mixoo 🤗)

3. Plantita cupcakes by Panaderya.ph
(below Php 200)

Cheeseroll, ensaymada and pandesal - my constant breads from this online bakery. 
Now they've launched cupcakes with a specific theme - plants.

For plantitas out there, you can check this out!
 

I like that their cupcakes were moist.



4. Mang Tootz' Banana Rhum-a (not new but definitely will not pass a chance to eat this!)

 

Turon turned fingerfood, glazed with their special sauce of sugar and rhum! Topped with sesame seeds and cinnamon powder.

We bought 5 pieces each and was satisfied!

Bought 20pieces for take away 😁 

5. Weirdoughs PH

Are you in for something weird?

Yes?

Then try Burong Santol flavored donut by Weirdoughs PH. It's sweet with little sourness in taste.

 

6. Burnt Basque Cheesecake by Chele Gonzales

Get a slice at their booth in Mercato High StrEAT!

Tastes like eggpie 🙂 

7. Salta
 
Ever heard of panbombs?
  

 

SALTA sells panbombs in different flavors, as well as other breads (check their website).

We tried panbombs in 3 different flavors - hazelnut, matcha and shortcake. We certainly love the hazelnut flavor amongst the 3.

We also tried their cheesepillows and can attest that its really good! Pair it up with your pasta 🙂

8. Kermit Pizza 

 

Been craving for pizza and saw that Kermit sells frozen pizzas!

I bought mini margherita pizza to try and other than the crust that turned hard after I toast the pizza, I don't have any problems.

I still prefer pizza fresh from the oven vs frozen pizza!




9. Lola Nena's 

I first heard this shop from friends because of their trending triple cheese donuts!

We've tried their classic donut, toasted siopao and pancit.

Brings back childhood memories! I recommend this to those craving Pinoy merienda 💯

Did you get hungry? 😁

♡, Mari

Japan Nov 2019 | Daiwa Sushi at Toyosu (Tsukiji) Fish Market, and teamLab PLANETS TOKYO

We spent a day each for sashimi, sushi and an interactive museum.

 

We were supposed to eat at another sushi place but the restaurant was fully booked. So, after spending a lot of time checking and being disappointed, we chose to visit 'Tsukiji' market (now relocated at Toyosu) and try our luck at any of the sashimi places.

Fortunately, we went there very early and need not require waiting/queueing in line.

For sashimi, we chose Daiwa Sushi

Salmon and tuna that melts in your mouth. Way to go for breakfast! This really made our day and totally completed the trip. I wish I can go back and eat sashimi again.

Thanks to my bestie 🤗

Last stop after going wherever: teamLab PLANETS

We got lost and thanks to the bus driver and locals for helping us!

I'm totally amazed and inspired! This interactive museum is much better than teamLab Borderless, in my opinion.

I like the idea of playing water and arts together. So cool!!! I wish mama bear was able to join us! If ever, I'll be happy to do another visit with her 🙂

From the simple sandbags, to threading waters with arts, and then moving borders and lights - really! They're all awesome! 💯

Let's go back!!!

More of Japan: 

Nikko, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

Day Tour in Kimono

♡,
Mari

Poem | Unexpected

 Before the day ends, 

Unexpected

♡,

Mari

Japan Nov 2019 | A day in Kimonos and Yukata

That time, we decided to visit temples and parks while wearing kimonos and yukata. 

We started walking around Senso-ji then rode a train going to Ueno park. Then stopped by an icecream shop for refreshments 🤣

I like Ueno park. The trees and flowers were in different colors at that time. It felt peaceful.

Going back to Asakusa, we queued again for a good meal at Asakusa Gyukatsu! 😊

Overall, lovely day indeed!

More of Japan Travel:
Nikko, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

♡,
Mari

Japan Nov 2019 | Spent days in Tokyo

After staying for a few days in Nikko, we travelled back to Tokyo! 

And all hell lose 🤣

The plan is to leave the airbnb early so we can check more places, and yes, it didn't happen.
We (always) slept late (like 4am) 😁 Thanks to the non-stop stories and food on the side.

So, we've readily accepted that the first meal of the day is brunch 🤣

I cannot remember the exact sequence of what we did but here's the list, you might want to check it out as well: 

1. Yebisu Beer Museum
2. Food trip!
3. Gundam Odaiba/DiverCity Tokyo
4. Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
5. Akihabara
6. Gundam Cafe
7. Asakusa Suzukien (best Matcha gelato! Try level 7 - no regrets ♡♡♡)
8. Tokyo Sky Tree 

We also spent a day around Mount Fuji area!

More of Japan: 

Nikko 

In Kimonos and Yukata

♡,
Mari

Nikko Japan: Edo Wonderland, Toshogu Shrine & more

Reunion with childhood friends! Fun tour in Japan 😊

We were supposed to be 5, but Mama Bear wasn't able to join this time 😔

The weather was cold during our stay in Nikko (no kidding!).

Anyway, I'll just go over what we did since I can't remember exactly what happened back in 2019.

Three of us went ahead to Nikko, and we traveled via train and bus. Japan's transportation is amazing. As long as you know the train/bus schedule, you're good. Otherwise, take the pricey cab 🤣

It was about a 4 to 6 hrs of travel ( estimate) from Narita to Nikko.

Nikko is home to the famous World Heritage sites such as the Toshogu shrine.

We booked an airbnb that we thought was nearby the heritage area but turned out to be 2 to 4 stations away from the place.

Here's a quick video recap:

1. Edo Wonderland

We planned to stay for half a day, but we opted to stay the whole day since the place gave a glimpse of old Japan.

We even wore kimonos and yukata to enjoy the day. Our activities aside from eating, included watching a samurai play that really looked so real! The effects were also good! We had a photo with the actors right after! 

We also saw another play but its about geishas and wow, I wonder if she's really a maiko/geisha! Then we participated a samurai training too that included riding a dummy horse while shooting arrows 🙂

It was a day full of interesting activities!

We left at closing time and enjoyed a relaxing onsen at an onsen spa.

It was very cold and the onsen bath really helped!

Note: be mentally prepared to be naked when you step inside the onsen area.


2. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE: Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge, Rinno-ji Temple

The next day, we fetched another friend at the train station before going to the shrine.

There were a lot of visitors too and food stalls. We had gyoza first!

The park itself is big and you'll be lost if you don't plan ahead on where you want to go or what to see.

As the place is full of trees and flowers, timely season as well, it felt like being one with nature.

The next day, we were supposed to visit the waterfalls, but due to time constraints, we chose to return to Tokyo, with a plan to see the Tokyo Skytree.

More of Japan Nov 2019 Travel:

Tokyo

In Kimonos and Yukata

♡, Mari