Birthday Plans

For my 32nd birthday, my husband and I are just planning to go up to Tagaytay with our daughter to celebrate. We're trying to cut back on expenses since this year is a big year for us with Zoe starting preschool and our condo getting turned over. 

A few weeks back, I booked a room at Taal Vista through Agoda but took advantage of their Buy Now Pay Later scheme wherein the total hotel room cost will only be deducted on your credit card about a week before the actual stay. The initial price of the deluxe room with breakfast for two is Php 6,700. It was a little bit steep but I cannot think of staying at other hotels aside from Taal Vista. So we did our budget plan and we were all set. Couple of days ago, I checked back into the Agoda website and just viewed the room prices for the same hotel on the same date. You can imagine my surprise when I saw a rate of Php 5,000 for the same room with breakfast for two. So I immediately cancelled our first reservation (which hasn't been deducted from my card yet, thank goodness) and booked this room for a lower price. I couldn't help but feel really good about saving Php1,700!

Family Fridate: Brunch Buffet at Rustic Mornings

Buffets. We love buffets. So when I read the post on Rustic Mornings FB page about their Friday breakfast buffet, my husband and I didn't pass up.

We called for reservation and chose the 9am-12nn slot. The spread was already laid out when we got there and there were already quite a few people. I was a bit shocked since I was expecting it to be nearly empty being that it was a working Friday. 

The buffet was at the lanai near the entrance to the airconditioned dining area. It was small but quaint. Some of the dishes were crispy bacon, minestrone soup, garlic parsely rice, chicken fricasse, beef tapa, longganisa, pancakes, french toast, bread and fruits, omelette station. You can request for crispy waffles to be made for you and they will bring it to your table. The same goes with refillable orange juice and coffee.

Here are some of the pics that we've taken. I wish I had my Iphone 5 with me but it was still held up at work, darn it.

Tiny Tucked Gem in Marikina: PATIO VERA

I'm so overwhelmed by Marikina's food gems. We first discovered Cafe Lidia, then Rustic Mornings, and now Patio Vera. I've chanced upon this resto when I was looking for places to eat last Valentines but sadly we werent able to secure a table. So last Saturday out of my dismal mood, I told my husband to scout this place for dinner.

And there were no regrets. I was very sorry to not have been able to take decent photos because my Iphone is out for a good month (which is one of the causes of my depression). It's a wonder how Marikina has all these wonderfully nice restos hiding behind what you would think are residential gates.

We ordered seafood pasta, steak ala pobre, and garlic rice for dinner and almond sansrival for dessert. Their portions are pretty hefty considering the price. We were also very happy with the taste and quality of the food. Overall, it was not just a gastronomic experience but a total one for that matter if you also consider the ambience and the service. Real value for the buck if I may say so.