I don’t know why I do this to myself, but I said yes to a 4-day hiking trip.
It’s gonna be hardcore and I am dreading it.
I am extremely unfit. I don’t know if the legs can take it.
Please pray that I’ll survive.
Or that there’ll be a lot of good food to take away the pain.
Photo grabbed from Roving Light Travel Photography
See you all next week.
IF I make it back alive.
Although I miss the more personalized service and cooking show-theatre dining experience at the old Chef’s Table, there are many things I like about Chef Bruce’s new place.
Like this pencil. I wish I took it home.
And the bigger and sleeker open kitchen with more Chef Bruce shaolins than ever.
I wish I took all of them baldies home, but then Mom would freak out.
And Chef Bruce in shorts. This guy used to play golf with my dad before he gave up the fairways for the kitchen. Best decision ever. (Dad says hi, too!)
Chef’s Table Iced Tea and Dalandan Spirit
Cebuana Chili Chicken Wings – nice and spicy
Crab Cakes – there are bits of crab shells in them and the aioli needs more sampaloc flavor
Hot Rock Pusit – a new take on squid, but can’t say I am a fan
Dinuguan – the creativity rocks but the pork is also as tough as rock 
Chicken Sat on Salt – tender and silky, can use more flavor
Chill-A-Fino – except for the ube, I find this quite ordinary
Salted Eggs and Minced Pork – ok lah
Aligue Rice and Chicken Rice – need crab fat and chicken flavors, desperately
And here are the dishes I’ll come back again and again for:
Prawn Aligue My Way – I don’t care that my cholesterol now exceeds 200. I am forever in love with anything crab fat.
Kare-Kare – melt-in-your-mouth ox tail tenderness. Ask for bagoong for the ultimate experience.
Kalderetang Lamb – super tender and full of that richness and gaminess I love in lamb
Binagoongang Baboy – now this devil is responsible for my carb overloading. It is bursting with flavors I just couldn’t stop. Hands down my favorite dish of the night.
Oh, I like this doggie bag, too. And this one I AM taking home.
Jen with Little Reign, Sherylou, Vic, Irwin, Sheryl, Me and Elisa with Kylie asleep on her lap
Mini versions of my friends: Kaizer (Irwin), Reign (Jen), and Alecis (Vic)
Chef’s Table: Unit 106, The Infinity Tower, 26th Street, The Fort Global City, Taguig, Philippines. Tel: +632-399-1888
Look what I found in the fridge during one of my midnight raids.
“Jamie’s cake. Don’t finish, jinlovestoeat.”
Ahhh… Sisterly love.
February 14, 12:54pm
Milkfish belly with garlic, Chinese cabbage with XO sauce, mustard greens, rice
Pomelo, orange, dragon fruit
February 14, 8:51pm
Barley drink. Yes, this is my Valentines dinner. SHUT. UP.
Brownie a la Mode. Thank you, Monica! 
February 15, 12:39pm
Steamed lapu-lapu, Chinese cabbage with XO sauce, radish, broccoli, rice
Banana, dragon fruit, pomelo, orange
February 16, 12:48pm
Steamed lapu-lapu, mushrooms, ampalaya, pork with pickled vegetables, rice
Orange, dragon fruit, cantaloupe, pear, banana, pomelo
Fresh watermelon juice
February 17, 10:02am
Glutinous rice ball with peanut filling. Thank you, Auntie Vicky!
Dragon fruit, pear, persimmon, pomelo, orange
Fresh OJ
February 18, 10:07am
Orange, guava, apple, pear, cherries, persimmon, dragon fruit
February 19, 9:58am
Pork chop, pork and beans, crabsticks, Chinese cabbage, assorted mushrooms, rice
Orange, cherries, star apple, persimmon, guava, pear, dragon fruit
February 20, 12:47pm
Braised pork knuckles and mushrooms, Chinese pechay, rice
Orange, pomelo, persimmon, pear, guava, dragon fruit
Fresh OJ
I end up eating half of the cheesecake.
Anyway, she said “Don’t finish,” not “Don’t eat.” 
And finally, after more than a year since the restaurant opened, I get to try the famed Romulo Café.
Already more than a year in business, it is still drawing crowds.
Must be good.
I walk in with high expectations.
I like the modern and clean lines, but the place is small and hungry people are abundant. Warning: Not for the claustrophobic.
And luckily, I possess the talent of amusing myself with edible things put in front of me, because my eating partner for the day is extremely busy texting and calling and talking and texting.
And calling and talking and texting and talking.
Good thing there’s enough food to keep me busy.
Buko Shake – could be less sweet
Pinoy Nachos – kamote and taro chips drizzled with melted kesong puti, keso de bola and tomato. Needs more cheese. (And maybe some crispy lechon bits, too, hehe)
Boneless Crispy Pata Binagoongan – the skin is nice and crunchy, but the meat is also fried to death it’s so exhausting to chew!
Flying Tilapia with 3 Sauces: sweet chili garlic, honey bagoong, soy vinegar.
I love the honey bagoong, but not very much the fish.
Laing with Adobo Flakes – a bit on the salty side, but nothing a bowl of rice can’t fix.
My favorite dish of the meal. Yum. Hey waiter, bring on the rice!
Vigan Longganisa Fried Rice – oilinesssssss
See what I mean about the calling and talking?
I don’t think he even notices how oily his plate is. Tsk.
Romulo Café: 32 Scout Tuazon corner Scout Lazcano, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Philippines. Tel: +632-332-7275
