January Food Adventures Part 1: Yakiniku at YakiMix

Yes, I admit I'm a foodie. I may not look like it, but I love to eat. Food, for me, is an adventure that needs to be experienced. So it's only fitting for me to spend the first month of the year trying out the different flavors offered around the metro.

To get this food adventure started, we headed off to YakiMix.

I have heard rave reviews about this eat-all-you-can-smokeless-grill chain of restaurants (they're all over the metro), so when my boyfriend took me to Yakimix in SM North last January 3, I was, in a word, ecstatic. Since we went there pretty early (we went in at 6:00 PM, their buffet dinner starts at 5:30 PM) and on a weekday, it wasn't difficult to get a table, but I heard you'd usually be on the wait list if you come in late or on weekends. I guess it would be a good idea to call them for a reservation.

Anyway, on to the food.

Yakimix offers Japanese, Cantonese, and Korean cuisine so they pretty much offer quite a variety in their buffet table. They have a long section for sushi behind the buffet table, and I couldn't help myself but pig out on gimbap, maki, temaki, and nigiri. Their cooked dishes mostly consist of tempura, beef with broccoli, a couple of chicken dishes, and steamed veggies. They also offer a wonderful variety of desserts from ice cream, to fruits, to mini cakes.

The highlight, for me however, is the yakiniku. There's all sorts of raw meat and seafood, the names of which I could neither pronounce nor recall at all.

The smokeless grill on the table (and I am thankful it's smokeless so at least I didn't smell like what I ate afterwards), where you grill all you can get from the buffet, is what makes Yakimix the exciting buffet restaurant that it is. The food, in itself, is not bad, but it's not that mouth-wateringly scrumptuous either. What I really enjoyed is the novelty of getting to grill your own food right at your own table. It's the fun of getting to choose all the shrimp, squid, fish, pork, beef, or chicken you want and being able to cook it on your own table, that makes a great time for bonding with your date, friends, family, or whoever you're with.

Random Inspiration #4

And so something which I thought I was seeing with my eyes is in fact grasped solely by the faculty of judgement which is in my mind.

~René Descartes (1596 - 1650), Meditations on First Philosophy (1639)

Holiday Food Trip

'Tis the season to be full!

December had always been the time of year when people can pig out without guilt and I am no exception. So while on vacation in Baguio, I visited some of the old and some new places to dine and hang out.

Forest House

Like they say: "... a trip to Baguio would not be complete without a visit."

"Forest House was born of a concept to capture the very essence of Baguio City. A place to escape the harshness of reality and take time out for a breath of fresh air ... a place where you can sit back, relax, over a cup of freshly brewed coffee as you pine the hours away ... a place where you gather with friends and relatives to celebrate the joys of life ... a place you call home.

"The warm and cozy ambiance is one of kind that will keep you glued to your chairs as you listen to Baguio's best musical talents serenade you with their repertoire of jazz, classics, standards and probably even your favorite songs to reminisce by.

"Service is above par to compliment our international and local cuisine. Bagnet, an Ilocano pork dish, is the house special and is a must try, but the staff would be more than glad to assist you with your preference. And after a heavy meal, a wide variety of pastries and our very own BOTTOMLESS Forest House coffee awaits you. Oh, and not to forget, the WiFi is FREE!"

This one's pork chop topped with chili con carne on a bed of fries. I forgot what they called it.

This one's chicken with white wine sauce. It's like chicken pastel except that the sauce has white wine in it.

This is sinigang na bagnet. Yummy and fatty.

Cafe Will

I've been planning to visit the place since early 2011, but never got around to it. This holiday, I finally got the chance to check the place out.

The place is very elegant and roomy. The food is okay. Service is good.

Since I forgot to take a photo of the food before chowing it down, I thought I might as well get a snapshot of what's left of the seafood gambas.

Hill Station

Voted as one of Asia's finest restaurants, Hill Station at the old Casa Vallejo offers "robust dishes that blend the flavors of Asia’s hill stations with the tastes of Old World Europe and New World America."

Their Spanish Callos is a tasty blend of textures. I was never a fan of innards but this dish felt unexpectedly delectable to my taste buds.

The gyoza burger was simply divine!

While waiting for your meal, Hill Station offers you a complimentary bread basket served with olive oil dip and nuts with some spices reminiscent of satay sauce.

The Flying Gecko

Gecko, as we fondly call it, had always been one of our favorite places to hang out in while in Baguio. It used to be called Swiss Maid and had a cow with bell for a mascot and offered mostly juicy sausages and a variety of Swiss cheese. Then it became Bruno's before it came to be known as The Flying Gecko.

The restaurant is easily accessible, open 24/7 and offers free WiFi.

My last visit to the place was a little disappointing, however... Their once healthy servings aren't as healthy anymore. They now offer portions and their menu is shockingly a simple print out on a bond paper.

The photo above is a portion serving of a sad apple pie.

Steaks and Toppings

One of our favorite places to go to for a fulfilling budget meal, Steaks and Toppings used to be just a small, narrow restaurant in Patria de Baguio building at the corner of Session Rd. and Fr.Carlu St.

Now located in Puso ng Baguio Building at the heart of Baguio's central business district, they restaurant looks and feels more upscale but still offers affordable and tasty meals.

For only Php130.00, you can already enjoy this hearty 2-piece garlic steak.

The JunA's Ramblings #6

People ask for advise not because they wanna be told what to do but mostly because they're looking for someone who'll take their side.

Random Inspiration #3

Rien n’est plus dangereux que le travail discontinue; c’est une habitude qui s’en va. Habitude facile a quitter, difficile a reprendre.

~Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), Les Miserables (1862)

The Past Few Weekends

Andami nang nangyari. Andami nang mga naganap. Sa dinami-dami nakalimutan ko na ang detalye ng karamihan pero tamad pa rin akong i-blog ang mga kaganapan.

FTC had its first meeting a few weeks ago. Pero since Rocky already blogged about it, I won't get into the details na. To sum it up, we had wine and cheese and games and lots of fun!

Last weekend, we visited our lolas at the Home for the Golden Gays. Dahil may blog entry na rin si Jade about it, hindi ko na rin ide-detalye (and because I'm really just lazy). Happy naman. Happy not just because the program was fun, but because it really feels very fulfilling helping out other people. Happy kahit hagas at walang tulog tulog.

Saturday morning right after my work shift, I went straight to Ortigas to have a breakfast meeting with Lanchie, Jade, Bern and Acee to plan the outreach. Walang tulugan 'to! Kinaya pa naming rumampa sa Megamall after the breakfast so katanghalian na kami nagsiuwian. Sunday morning, I woke up really early to prepare breakfast. I had to have a big breakfast kasi I was very sure 'di na ako makakakain afterwards. It turned out I was right. Alas tres na ang sunod na kain ko.

After the outreach, we went straight to CA for a debriefing. Actually, we just wanted to eat so we ordered some pizza but the delivery took too long we decided to get a start on the alcohol. By the time the pizza arrived, we were all so hungry the four boxes were wiped clean in 4 minutes.

After a few more glasses of alcohol, Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adele Blanc-Sec, Les Miserables' 25th Anniversary Concert, and halfway through The Phantom of the Opera (at pagod na rin), I fell asleep. It was more of a power nap, really, that lasted for just roughly 30 minutes. Which I was already thankful for because if I hadn't, I'd have been awake more than 24 hours.

We left CA at a few minutes past 5AM. More hungry than tired, we decided to grab some breakfast at R&J's. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I saw the food but I attribute the 2.5 cups of rice I downed more to the bulalo and hito tasting great.

By 7:30AM we were already on our way home. At last!

The JunA's Ramblings #5

Isn't it weird that after you have forgotten and dismissed something, then you see that something being wanted, craved by others, all of a sudden you want it back?

Outreach Program: Home for the Golden Gays

This 20th of November, Akei and PinoyG4M will visit the Home for the Golden Days.

For more information, you may visit the event page on Facebook or join the conversation in the PG4M forums.

Random Inspiration #2

Why do you try so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?

~Oliver James Hutson as Ian Wallace, What a Girl Wants (2003)

Give Back This Pride Season and Christmas!

PinoyG4M and the Akei LGBTIQ Working Group is teaming up to aid the Home for the Golden Gays!

Choose one or both ways to help:

I want to sponsor:
You may donate cash by contacting us below or you may opt to give slippers, colorful shirts, fans, combs, handkerchiefs and/or toiletries. Pledges & donations will be publicly listed but you may request to remain anonymous.

Click here for instructions on how to donate via GCash.

Click here for a list of Internation GCash Remit partners.

I want to volunteer:
Join us for a fun afternoon at the Home!
1:00 - 5:00 PM
November 26, 2011 | Saturday
Home for the Golden Gays
#108 David Street corner F.B. Harrison, Pasay City

For more information, visit the event's page on Facebook.

You may also join the conversation in the PG4M forums

Home for the Golden Gays

The Home for the Golden Gays is "a refuge for the elderly and vulnerable gays of Manila. A home for those, who have nowhere else to go, for those whose families have rejected them, and for those who simply want to be in the company of other elderly gays."

PinoyG4M: Straight Talk for Gay Men

PG4M (Pinoy Guys4Men) is an online message board for Filipino and Philippine-based gay and bisexual men. This site aims to provide a venue for conversation and exchange of ideas among its members, providing a venue for friendship, a sense of community, and a sounding board for opinions and concerns of gay men regarding the current issues and trends facing not just the LGBT people, but the society in general.

Contact:
Lanchie Abanco
+63 917 365 9620
lanchie@gmail.com

Akei LGBTIQ Working Group

The LGBTIQ Working Group of Akei considers the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual & questioning/queer (LGBTIQ) peoples as one of the last great civil issues of our time. In countries around the world, LGBTIQs face issues on multiple fronts--in justice systems, workplaces and even among their peers. Akei plans to concentrate on improving movement tactics, social networks and cultural capital in the LGBTIQ community through harnessing intellectual resources so as to create systemic changes in how LGBTIQ people are treated in society.

Contact:
PJ Salenda
Akei LGBTIQ Working Group
+63 918 942 8513
prsalenda@gmail.com

Suddenly You Were Out of My Reach

Suddenly you were out of my reach
And I was an infant without my rattle
Then I was a baby without a bottle

Suddenly you were out of my sight
And I was a child without my mother
Then I was a kid without a father

Suddenly you were no longer beside me
And I would feel the cold of winter
Then I would sweat in the heat of summer

Suddenly I could no longer feel you
And I am a man with just a memory
Then I am someone living in reverie

Suddenly I will open my eyes
And I will see I am one and alone
Then I will not see why I am alone