Dakasi Milk Tea

I have been a fan of milk tea from the day we met. Over coffee and milk tea, I would choose the latter because it's more beneficial. It's a big hit nowadays especially that people are slowly gaining consciousness on being healthy.

I have tried a couple of milk teas from different stores around the area; I came across Dakasi when it opened few months ago at SM Santa Rosa and of course being the milk tea fan, I checked it out.

Cutie-patootie star

Dakasi originated from Taiwan in the 90's. Today, they have stores established in Southeast Asia particularly in Taipei, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hongkong, Indonesia, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines.

Remembering Ninoy

Benigno 'Ninoy' S. Aquino, Jr. (Source)

21st of August 1983, the year that was. In the tarmac of then Manila International Airport with the Philippines eagerly waiting for your return. A bang, a gunshot - it took your life, but never your legacy.

"But I knew, that somehow, I will regain my freedom, maybe not in this world, but elsewhere, and I knew, that sometime, somewhere, Mr. Marcos and I will meet, and in that meeting I will have my satisfaction." Freedom rally symposium by the Movement for Free Philippines. Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, California; February 15, 1981 (Credits: Quotation Source)

Thirty years after (now it's raining and flooding like forever in your Motherland), we remember and celebrate your greatness. Your death sparked a realization that there is power in unity and that the government is for the Filipinos.

"I have carefully weighed the virtues and the faults of the Filipino and I have come to the conclusion that he is worth dying for because he is the nation’s greatest untapped resource.” (Quote taken from here)

Luca Cucina Italiana and Lodge

Located in Talipanan Beach, the final stretch of sand connected to White Beach, Luca has been popular to both local and foreign tourists in Puerto Galera for its authentic Italian taste. The restaurant is nothing fancy, just a simple structure with wooden tables and bamboo chairs.

View of Talipanan beach from Luca

From Tamaraw Beach Resort, we headed to Luca to have our late lunch. We decided to walk along the shore to save money and to discover the stretch. But when we arrived in front of the luxurious Sunset at Aninuan, it was high tide and we were apprehensive of the water's depth, so we decided to take the tricycle going to Luca.

Tricycles are found at the main road, just opposite to TBR's entrance. The regular rate from Tamaraw Beach Resort to Luca is 150 Php but you can always TRY haggling. In our case, we paid 120 bucks for the bumpy road ride. Travel time is about 7-10 minutes, the catch is the tricycle will not really stop in front of Luca, it will stop after the uphill rough road just before the downhill path which we walked to reach Luca. For this reason, I think the tricycle rate is both reasonable thinking of the fuel consumed during the ride and quite unreasonable because it did not really drove us to where we were really going. From the downhill path, we passed by Bamboo Beach House (we're coming from the back) then walked our way to Luca.

The steep downhill path

The rough uphill road

Skimboards for rent

Fresh Pasta and Brick Oven Pizza at Bistro Ravioli, MOA

After a day of errands in Manila, we dropped by MOA for dinner before taking the bus home. Because Doc K was very supportive of my blogging craze, she said we need to dine at a place where we haven't gone before so we have something new to taste and blog about. Driven by our curiosity to know what ravioli is, we settled at Bistro Ravioli. And indeed, we made a wise decision.

Bistro Ravioli is at the Ground Floor, North Arcade of SM Mall of Asia. Taking it from their website, Bistro Ravioli started out as a small kiosk in the food court of a bustling mall in the Ortigas Business District. Simply called “Ravioli”, the kiosk put the spotlight on this traditional Italian dish of stuffed, savory pasta pillows, inviting hungry mall-goers to try “the goodness of fresh pasta”. The kiosk rapidly gained widespread acclaim for its delicious and refreshing take on specialty pasta, and less than a year after it served its first ravioli to the public, a bistro was born.

We were so intrigued with what they offer in Bistro Ravioli that we ordered their must-try foods for their ravioli, chicken and barbecue, pasta and pizza choices.

We ordered Spinach and Feta Cheese Ravioli in Pesto Sauce. So what is ravioli to begin with? They are small, square pasta cases stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables then cooked in a pan of boiling water and served with tomato or other flavored sauces and often grated cheese (Source: BBC). The one they serve at Bistro Ravioli contains spinach and feta cheese enveloped in pasta pillows and sautéed in their traditional pondoro sauce topped with pesto (Source).

Spinach and Feta Cheese Ravioli in Pesto Sauce

Food Adventures at Buffet 101

Howdy everyone! I have been hibernating for the past month that I eventually missed my very first blogversary. Oh yeah! Despite that, I am glad I was able to keep my new blog running. I have been blogging for years now, but it's the first time I was able to offer something new to people who were interested to read my posts. Before, I used to blog about my personal experiences, my rants and raves (I believe I am still doing it here) but there's an addition of some informative travel and food escapades. I am also thankful I reached my target views on my blogversary, 2700+ views. Hallelujah! *insert drumrolls and party poppers here*

To kick off with my second year, I will share my food adventure with my dentist friend, Doc K at Buffet 101 at Mall of Asia.

Buffet 101 is located at MOA Seaside Blvd., San Miguel by the Bay, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. It boasts of its 'five star hotel feel' of course, at a cheaper price. When I entered the restaurant, I felt like I was transported to a new dimension; indeed, the interior and ambiance were convincing of a five star hotel feel.

This plant added beauty to the place

No Leftover
No Take Out
No Sharing

Food variety in Buffet 101 is not as many as in Sofitel, so as in Vikings (I have read in some blogs). Despite that, as a customer, I would rate the restaurant as satisfying because all of the dishes that I believe I have missed out trying in Sofitel (because I was so overwhelmed) were available in Buffet 101. Apart from that and my happy tummy, let me run down other reasons why I had a great time at Buffet 101.