Food Spot: Hana Restaurant in Little Tokyo

I met together with Lea again last monday for some girl bonding time. We decided to eat lunch at Little Tokyo.

First spot on the rosters of restos there is Hana.

The resto is actually pretty small, but it has that real japanese feel to it.

It even has that nice sushi bar!

We were just talking while waiting for our orders. We ended up with almost the same order, tempura udon, but the waitress suggested if i want soba just to make it different & i said ok.

Tempura!!!!

There's really a difference when you eat tempura at an authentic japanese restaurant compared to ordinary japanese fast foods. Tempura in regular fast foods are just fried shrimp covered in batter. Tempura here is way way beyond those bland ones that you order somewhere out there.

Hana's tempura is somewhat sticky on the inside, which compliments the refreshing taste of the shrimp. You can really tell that they used fresh shrimps! I have never been a fan of shrimp dishes all because i can't really tell the taste of it from other seafood, but this time, i was able to fully savor the taste of the shrimp!

It's juicy & a bit sticky on the inside but crispy & light on the outside. Ah.... i have to go back if only for their tempura! It gave me a taste of what seafood heaven is like!

Mine is Soba...

I have never tasted Soba this good!
If you are hesitant in trying out japanese noodle dish, start out with this one. I'm sure you'll love it!
Especially for filipinos since the soup base is actually sweet, not too sweet though. Just enough to give your taste buds some sweet tender loving!

The soba is firm yet soft.
Unlike other noodle dishes that i've tried where the noodles are overcooked it just crumbles with the touch of your utensils. It doesn't have any strong taste so it compliments the soup base really well. I just hope that put in a couple slices of kamaboko. I like kamaboko!

I didn't put the tempura in my soba because i don't want to drench it with the soup. I rather like it crispy!

Hers is Udon...

I just also tasted her soup & compare to mine, the udon soup base is not as sweet as mine. I guess it compliments the udon better with the soup base as being savory better than sweet.

banana parfait - Php 180

One of the classic japanese dessert!
I was actually looking for pudding on the menu but since they don't have it so i just copied Lea's order too.hehe

I thought that it's just one of the usual sweet treats that you can order from common dessert shop. Actually, it almost is. The only difference is in the ice cream that they used. I think it's a vanilla flavored home-made ice cream! The texture is really different but i think that's what made it quite special!

Unfortunately, it was drowned with the big dollop of whipped cream & choco syrups but it's still nice to know that it complimented everything perfectly.

The bar for my taste of japanese food has just been raised when i dined at Hana!
Oh, one more thing, Hana is known for their takoyaki.

I tasted their takoyaki the first time i dined there together with Walter. It's good!
Well, im not a fan of ginger so i didn't really like it because of the Beni Shoga, but it's way better than the takoyaki that you buy at the mall. I guess next time i buy takoyaki, i'll just ask them to hold off on Beni Shoga. hehe

We also went to Teppen to buy some groceries... as if i didn't make a stop at Choto Stop for my furikake fix..hehehe

furikake - Php 80 each at Choto Stop

I could live with furikakes alone! hehe
I'm not sure about the shiso furikake though. That's the first one that i've opened. I like sesame leaf but this shiso furikake is quite overwhelming.. hmmm...

On to what i bought at Teppen....

seasoned laver (kim) - Php 45 each ( i bought 5 packs)

I love love love Kim/Gim!

I actually prefer this over Nori. 

I just can't describe it but it's more delicious...

 instant noodle - Php 25

I'm sorry but i don't know what kind of noodle this is. I think it's still ramyun... just not spicy.

Unlike the Shin ramyun that is soooooooooooooo spicy it makes my ears itch, makes my face red, makes my eyes teary & makes me sweat tons!

LOL

Almond Pepero - Php 39

Yes, it's only Php 39!!!!
Compare to Almond Pocky that you can buy at SM for double or sometimes even triple the price, this one is only for less than a dollar! I actually got 3 boxes but i gave it to my brothers. hehe

Then finally, as if the banana parfait wasn't enough. I asked Lea to also try out their ice creams. She bought an Ice Cream Sandwich, while i got the Double Bianco!

Double Bianco - Php 55

It's not named as Double if it isn't double!

What you see there is the sweet vanilla ice cream generously slathered with thick strawberry syrup, but underneath is a nice surprise! A sorbet! The tangy taste of sorbet compliments the sweetness of the vanilla ice cream!
^_^

I am one happy & full lady!

hahaha!
Thanks for the pic,Lea!
At least hindi na ko mukhang sako dito!
LOL

I'll make a haul post tomorrow.
Hope you all will have a great day,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Sweets: Matcha Pudding~

A little break from beauty blogging...
let's about something sweet!

I love matcha!
Every time i go to a coffee shop, i always look for matcha lattes/frappuccinos. The best one i've tasted so far is the one from Bo's Coffees. Make sure you try it when you are in Bo's. I think i've tried Starbucks before but since i can't even remember it then i guess it didn't made an impact.
*shrugs shoulder*

Anyway, i bought this at Choto Stop last thursday. It is in a pack of 3 & i gave the other 2 to my brothers.

It's a very light & sweet pudding!

I'm actually expecting that it would have a bitter sweet taste just like the regular japanese pudding, but since it doesn't have a caramel so there isn't.

It's very sweet!
Unfortunately it doesn't even have the matcha taste that i am looking for. If there is the sweetness of this hid the matcha flavor. sad....

My brother actually gobbled it in just 2 bites!
haha
I'm sure kids will love it!

While, I, on the other hand tried to really relish it by taking small bites in order to really experience the full taste. I won't recommend it if you really want a strong matcha taste, but for something light that can clean your palette from the heavy meal that you've eaten, this is good!
^_^

I bought a pack of 3 for Php80 at Choto Stop.
Now, i have to make my own matcha pudding!

Hope you are enjoying your wednesday,darlings!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
I will post the pin-up look (for those who had requested it on facebook) within this week. I just can't find teh time to finish it up because i am not satisfied with how i explained it on my draft..haha!
But i will post it!
^_~

salamat to salamat.ph + korean & japanese food!

The best things in life are free...so as what the saying goes.
It's great that there is a company that actually believes in that & really gives out some of the best things in life for free! I'm talking about Salamat.ph.

I went to Makati yesterday because i have to drop by at Salamat.ph's office to claim the GCs that i was able to grab  from their site. For those who have been asking me if their site is real, yes it is! Most discount/group buying websites will require you to pay in credit cards or paypal. How about for those who doesn't have any? Well, fret no more, Salamat.ph wouldn't require you to any of it since you just need to download the coupon for free then present it to the merchant! How easy is that?!

Yes, it's true!
You can check it out HERE.

Here are my GCs that i got from their website.

Their office is located at the 6th floor of Multinational Bancorporation Center along Ayala Avenue in Makati.

Here are their gorgeous ladies, April & Mylene (i hope i remember that right!), who accommodated me. They are very friendly! Thanks,ladies!

Salamat, salamat.ph!
I'll be bringing my mom when i drop by at Skin Metro to avail of their services. Yipee!
Guys, do check out their site Salamat.ph because they offer great deals. Make sure you also take a quick look at their community board to find out the latest promos happening.

I'm not affiliated with the company, i'm just sharing my experience as a user.

Then, i decided to drop by at Choto Stop to buy some japanese foods. I just decided to walk from Ayala to their store..yes, i was able to make it through. haha!

I first passed by Teppen to buy a couple of Gim (Korean Seaweed Laver) because i prefer it over Nori.

I'm actually bad at directions, but since i was just walking i thought that i won't get lost...luckily, i was able to reach my destination..haha!

I was just planning on getting some furikake since i want to make some onigiris. I bought that onigiri/kimbap wrapper because i remember watching it at Aeris' video before, so furikake to make my onigiri better is what i need. But when i browse around the store, i found out that they do have Maxim Strawberry Latte!

Cho Ureshii~!
I have been craving for this & i have been seriously checking out NapaJapan.com even though i have put myself on an online shopping ban. The urge to drink it again is so overwhelming. I wanna scream when i found that they have a lot of boxes!

I died & went to Maxim Latte heaven! My original plan of buying 3 furikakes, enokitake, & dashi powder all vanished just because i saw pink in my eyes!
La la la la la~!

I also saw one Matcha pudding hidden in their freezer & i immediately grabbed it!
OMG!
I can't believe that i am lucky!
I asked if they do have Maxim Matcha Latte but they said that they are out of stock but they do carry it. I have to really drop by every now & then.

For those wondering how much it is. Most items in Choto Stop are sold for Php80 each... except their instant noodles which are Php50 each.

Yay!
I'm so happy i could fly!

Then when i got home, a package greeted me & when i opened it, i saw a cute purple box full of Nivea goodies!

What a way to end my day!
Yay!

I love Nivea products!
I have tried their eye cream & it does work! Take a look at my post to see the difference.

Did you all know that Kate Middleton actually uses Nivea Cream?
Yes, it's true.
You can read it HERE.

No wonder she looks amazing! I tell you, Nivea products are amazing!

I'll do a review for their creams most probably next year. I am using collagen as my night cream & i can't stop it yet. You'll only see the effects of topical collagen products with at least 6 months of using it, as what i read on an article before.

I usually hate thursday, but this time, it's an exception.
I'm so happy yesterday!
Shiawase~!
^_^

I'll be making a pin-up look today, if i could do it because of my busy schedule so just wait for it,ok?

Hope that you'll have a nice friday,hunnies!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

Food Spot: Gloria Jeans Coffees

I went to Robinson's Galleria last Saturday because i figured that it's the shortest way from the MRT Ortigas Station to Strata 100, that's where my Make-up Workshop was held the past 2 Saturdays. I was late on my first Saturday & i don't want to be late again so i was already in the Ortigas area an hour early. hahaha!

I took the long route before by going around St. Francis Square just to get to that building so i was 30mins late! geez!!

It's 12pm & i haven't had my lunch yet so i decided to grab a quick brunch (yes, i don't eat breakfast!). Gloria Jeans is located at the main entrance of the East Wing & since i want to make sure that i can break into a sprint if ever i am already late so i decided to hang my hat there for a while.

I don't frequent coffee shops as much as i do before & mostly i just stick with one shop so this is my first time trying out Gloria Jeans.

I ordered their Mixed Berry Smoothie & Blueberry Muffin. I love Blueberry Muffins! Just give me a whole tray of it & i'll die happily! hahaha!

I just asked them to have it on the go since i plan to really walk.

Their Mixed Berries is nice though i find it sweet. I didn't know how they made it or if they put an artificial sweetener but i find it sweet for my taste. I am used to a very mild sweet taste. that's why. I still like it though...

As for the blueberry muffin....hmmm....

I'm still undecided though....
It's very filling, of course, but as for the taste, i think the ones from French Baker is still by far my favorite!
I like the cream cheese on top, plus the fact that they reheated this but then i don't find any special taste to it to make an impact on me.

But this muffin is big!
I just ate half of it & i'm already full so i just kept the other half.
I lasted more than 6 hours on this whole piece alone!hahaha!

The center of the muffin is filled with blueberry jam so be careful when breaking this in half because the jam would ooze from it.

The smoothie & this muffin gave me the energy to survive the whole day.

I can't judge GJ on these 2 alone though so the next time i go back i'll be trying out their lattes instead.
Any recommendation?

Have a great evening,sweeties!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Sweets: Maxim Strawberry Latte

Just a quick post...
One of the best latte that i have tasted!

This is perfect for those days that just seems to never end.

If you are stressed out from all the work & activities, just pop open a pack of this & pour it on a cup of hot milk. You'll be engulfed with the sweet scent of strawberry as you hear the popping sound that it makes as it dilutes in the hot liquid.

It's so frothy it's like the ones from coffee shops!
As you drank it, the wonderful taste of strawberries just seems to spread to take away any lingering taste in your mouth. It tastes so mild but not overly sweet.

I just wish that Maxim Lattes are available here in the Philippines. I'd kill just to see this on the grocery aisle, that's how good this is!

I have been checking NapaJapan when they will be restocking this but to no avail...
*sigh*

Anyway, if you ever get the chance to travel in Japan, make sure you grab a few boxes of this. You'll be thanking me once you tasted how awesome this is!

By the way, thanks for the support & motivation, ladies!
I really appreciate it.
My camera is now working! Thank goodness for little things!
^_^

Hope you all will have a great start for this month!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

Food Spot: California Pizza Kitchen

Last week, Walter & I went to the mall with all the walk that we did we soon got tired & was looking for a place to hang out. We're not really hungry because we had heavy lunch but just tired.

I said we ought to try out California Pizza Kitchen for once... he's not a fan of Italian dishes. I do sometimes eat at Italian restos, but not bf.He just doesn't have an affinity for natural tomato-based dishes.

Since CPK seems comfy & cozy so we decided to hang our hats there & sit back in their plush seat...

Sorry about this blurry picture, i did not notice that my camera was set in close-up the time that i capture this so it blurs whenever i take panoramic shots in that specific setting... but you'll see how cozy it is here.

As soon as you enter, you'll be escorted to a seat & will be given their extensive menu list. Since we are not really hungry, we decided to just have pizza & clam chowder.

The waiters & waitresses are so friendly & accommodating, they always have a warm smile.

They do have a wine & cocktail list so if you want to indulge in wine, you'll be happy with their selection!

Since Walter got a cold, i just got him tea.. chamomile in this case... A Tazo tea.

Tazo Chamomile Calming Tea - Php 120

I just decided to drink milk..hehe

Anyway, we waited a few good minutes before it arrived, you wouldn't really mind waiting since it is very comfy, i wasn't able to resist the urge to take off my shoes & sit on my legs..hehe

They serve clam chowder in a cup (individual serving) or in a bowl (group serving)...

Clam Chowder in cup - Php 165 

New England style chowder with clams, diced potatoes, sautéed bacon, onion leeks and celery with a touch of white wine.

I have to say their Clam Chowder is the tastiest & creamiest that i've tasted so far.. not that i have eaten a lot of them, mind you... but it's so thick & creamy!

It captures the true taste of clams without being overwhelmed by other ingredients. The potato cube also added body to the soup as well. It is not lacking in clams unlike most that i've tasted. In fact, it so generously full of clams that every time i dip my spoon, i am able to eat clams. The creamy tangy taste compliments the unique taste of the clam itself.

For those who love clam chowders, you ought to try this!

Then our pizza...

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza - Php 394.99 

I decided to get the their Hawaiian pizza because as what i said, Walter is not into Italian foods but since hawaiian pizza is one of the most common here in the Philippines, i thought that i ought to slowly introduce him to italian dishes once more with a cuisine that would somehow be as a "neutral ground" between filipino & italian dishes.

On to the pizza itself...

Fresh pineapple, BBQ chicken, smoked Gouda and Mozzarella cheese, barbecue sauce, sliced red onions and fresh cilantro.

It's so light, you won't even notice that you have already eaten everything! That's what happened to Walter, at least. He kept on eating it that he was so surprised that he had eaten almost everything. I just took a slice for i am not hungry, but he ate all 5 slices!
hahahaha!
OMG!
I kept on teasing him about it. He said he is not hungry but he ate everything!

I can't blame him anyway because it really is good.
The smokey flavor by the Gouda cheese gave this a very distinct taste as opposed to the usual Hawaiian pizzas. I wasn't able to really pinpoint the taste of each ingredients anymore because it compliments each other.

What's great about CPK Pizza is that it's not oily at all!
One thing why i don't like pizzas that much is that it's too oily it feels like you taking in lots of oil in your body. It also leaves a greasy taste in your palette that makes you lose your appetite. You wouldn't want to hold it in your bare hands because it would leave grease all over your hands.

But you're in for a treat with CPK Pizzas...
You can hold it on your hands without leaving any grease-marks!
You just have to try it to believe me.

I have to say it's not affordable at all...
Our total bill amounted to Php 822.39 for just the 2 of us.
I consider it quite steep already because we only had 2 dishes. I could go a long way in other restos but considering the service, ambiance & food it's not something that is worth hesitating over.

Needless to say, we enjoyed our dining experience.
We will be going back, of course, but not very often..hehe
If the price is not that steep, we will definitely be putting this on our "restos-we-can't-live-without" list.
XD

If you haven't tried CPK, i highly suggest that you try it.
I'm pretty sure that you will enjoy every morsel that you take in!
^_~

Have a great day,bellas!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Food Spot:Persia Grill

This restaurant had earned a spot in my stomach.hehe
I never would have tried this restaurant if i didn't buy a voucher but now, i'm glad i did because i will be going back again & again! Walter said so himself...

The one that we've tried is in SM North Edsa Skygarden but i know that they have different branches as well.

Once you entered the premise, you'll be greeted with a homey feeling. It's quite spacious with its high ceiling...

I like how casual the resto is. Often times going in a resto on which everything is so uniformed somehow makes me feel quite cramped but not here.

It just feels like an extension of your house.... seriously! I feel so comfy i even want to just put sit on my feet on the soft plush chair. That's why this is also a nice place to hang out.

Love the lamps!
I would love to dine here in the evening when everything is lit. I'm sure it would look exotic.

They got shishas too.
I asked them how much it is & they said it's just Php 300. That's pretty cheap!
I thought it would be a lot more expensive. I don't want to try it though...i'm just curious...hehe

Let's start with the appetizer...

Salad Oliveyeh - Php 110

Love love love this!
I like how simply delicious this is... served with hot Pita bread.
This is the perfect way to jump start your meal.  You can order more pita bread for only Php 20 i think.

Mozzarella Cheese Puff - Php 95

I love mozzarella... i love cheese puff.

but not this one... the batter got this exotic smokey-flavour that personally is just too strong. It overwhelmed the taste of the cheese.
Maybe if you like strong smokey-flavour you might like this, but i prefer my cheese puff to just have that creamy cheese flavor.

The only salad that we've tried is this...

Tehrani - Php 155

I love my greens.

Vegetable salad is something that i always try but oftentimes salads in restaurants are being drowned in their dressing that i can't appreciate the natural sweetness & crisp of the veggies anymore. 

Sadly, that's the case in this..

Consist of lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, cucumber & parmesan cheese... the persian dressing drowned out the vegetables... i'm not sure if i like the combination of grapes & cheese but this is something new.

On we go to their sandwiches...

Beef Shawarma - Php 70

I used to hate shawarmas because the ones that i've tasted so far as too fatty/oily & are laden with onions..lots & lots of it that will surely give you a bad breath.

But this is a delight!

The beef is so tender that every bite seems to just melt in your mouth!
It doesn't have a strong taste... no onions as far as i remember.

I'm half expecting that as i eat it, oil will drip out from the bottom of it wetting the wrapper then finally my hands. But lo! I've already eaten everything & not an ounce of fat! I know for sure because i dissected each bite i took & have been prowling on the inside of it looking for the suspect but there's nothing! Unbelievable!

I love this!
I will definitely be trying out more shawarmas in the future...

Beef Kebab Wrap - Php 99

Now this one is oily...
But if you love beef, you shouldn't miss this!
The taste of beef plays around your mouth in every bite! Again, the beef is really tender!

I can't explain it, but this one is really good.
It is consist of tomatoes & onions but the beef is something!
You have to try this at least once.

Then their Kebab Meals...

Chelo Morg - Php 199

Chicken breast marinated in Persian spice served with grilled tomatoes, long grain rice & their very own eggplant & yogurt dip.

I like how subtle it is on your first bite but as you continue chewing the taste of their exotic spices just burst on your mouth!

Business Meal 1 - Php 120

A stick of beef kebab served with grilled tomato & their dip.
Just a simple meal but it's enough to satisfy you.

Chicken Barbeque - Php 150

Served with Java rice & salad, this one is a big hit on Walter.
He said that it tastes really good!

As for the beverages....

Raspberry Iced Tea - Php 55

Not too strong unlike other iced teas...

Creamy Yogurt Shake - i forgot how much...

I love this one!!!
It's not very tangy but the taste of yogurt is still there.
Very mild & not too sweet!

They also have hot tea... Php 40 (i think)
Walter drank it... i tasted it & it has this ginger-y taste to it..
I hate ginger so i don't like it but he likes it so it's still ok...

You have to try their sandwiches/wrap.
You'll never go wrong!

Though I think that 1 thing they just need to improve on is their service. The servers, though not snobbish, are always huddled together on the counter chit chatting. I just hope that they would somehow do it in a discreet way. At least, they always have a smile every time you call them so it's not bad over-all.

Ambiance - excellent
Presentation - excellent
Taste - quite satisfactory
Service - satisfactory

If you haven't tried any Persian Restaurants yet, i think this is a nice place to start.
It's quite affordable & it hits the spot!

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^