My Ramen Fix in LA - Ramen Yamadaya

I love Ramen!  I knew where to get one back home in Philippines.  But now that I am in LA, I have some homework to do! =)  We just googled for Ramen places in LA and saw one (Ramen Yamadaya) which is near our place and is also rated well.

One weekend, we decided to go and try it.  It is situated near a freeway exit and sits in a lot which includes a laundromat, a couple of shops and a convenience store.  It was such an unassuming place that you wouldn't think that it is included in the 12 best noodle spots in LA (as listed by Zagat).  I was surprised to see how small the place was that I quickly told my husband (who was just about to park) to turn around, haha!

Okay, not that I am picky or snooty!  For the record, I love exploring the hole in the wall kind!  But if you have two toddlers in tows who are sleeping (and that means two strollers!), you need some space.  I think you will understand where I am coming from when you see the next photo.   

I knew we will come back. . .  when we only need to bring one stroller, haha!

And we did.  The Princess wanted to eat some noodles so we thought this would be our chance to go back to Ramen Yamadaya because our Prince is sleeping (again!).  

Welcome to Ramen Yamadaya!

Did I tell you that it was a small place?  Haha! (22-seater).

And yes, that's our table (by the corner) and stroller (lower left in the photo).

The Menu

We have been to this place twice already (after I said "No", hehe)

Here are the things we have ordered. . . everything we had was good!

Takoyaki Balls - my favorite =)

Tori Kara-age

Pork Tonkatsu-curry

Chicken Teriyaki

Tonkotsu Ramen

Goes without saying that Ramen Yamadaya has been our go-to place for our Ramen fix.  We always leave with happy and satisfied tummies! =)  

If there's one thing you can take away from this post is. . . . Don't judge a book by its cover!

Haha! =)

For more details about Ramen Yamadaya and their locations, please visit their website.

My Favorite Pancake place!

And it's not IHOP =)

I've always loved pancakes!  There is just something about them that is so comforting (or is it because of the butter and syrup? haha!)

One day, I was craving for some pancakes.  I could have made some but I wanted to eat pancakes that are not from a box.  We didn't go to IHOP because I was disappointed with their pancakes the last time we went there.  But I will go back to IHOP for their Big Steak Omelette!

What is my favorite pancake place?  It is The Original Pancake House!  (I got to know about this place through Yelp, my go-to resource for foodie places in LA)

So what was for breakfast?

I've mentioned in an earlier post, I have been craving for blueberries so I ordered some blueberry waffles!

I was expecting the waffle to be thick (which I usually like).  But after taking a bite, I didn't mind at all!  =)

You know you're enjoying your food when you don't care if you have a messy plate, haha!

The kids had Chocolate Chip Pancake --- I prefer their pancakes over IHOP's.

Half order - 3 pcs

Do you know what makes their waffles and pancakes really good?  It's their homemade whipped butter! I don't put butter in my waffles and pancakes but this is so good that I slathered my waffle with it!  I like that it doesn't taste too buttery.  It's like butter/cream, well, something like it. Haha!  (Wish I was a food blogger to give you a better description, haha!) 

And another reason why we go back to this place is because of Hubby's fave . . . the Homemade Corned Beef Hash!  It comes with two eggs and their famous Potato Pancakes.

A very satisfying and filling meal!

Writing this post made me crave for the blueberry waffle. . . . again!  Or perhaps I should try their signature Apple pancake or Dutch Baby.  Whatever it is, we will definitely be going back!

For more details (menu and location) about The Original Pancake House, please visit their website.

My TV List for Fall (2014)

Fall is just around the corner and it is my favorite season because (besides the cooler weather) it means there are new TV shows to watch and the new Season for my favorite show is here!!! (Well, not yet as it starts on September 29).  Falls also means Football Season so that would make Hubby a happy camper too!

I would like to share share with you what's on my TV list :)

My most favorite show is "NCIS: Los Angeles" because of this guy . . . (Haha!)

Marty Deeks (portrayed by Eric Christian Olsen)

NCIS: LA always has good story plots and the cast has such good chemistry!

And since I love NCIS LA, it would be interesting to watch another NCIS spin-off, "NCIS: New Orleans"!  It would be nice to see Scott Bakula in action again (I loved him in the TV series "Quantum Leap").  Okay, for the Gen Y-ers and those born after this generation, you may google to know more about Scott and "Quantum Leap", haha! 

Image from www.tvweeklynow.com

Another TV show I am excited about is "Scorpion".  Sounds intense huh?  Umm, not quite.  

The story is about a group of super geniuses who were put together as a team to help solve the world's most complex problems.  It actually reminds me of "Whiz Kids", another favorite TV show of mine when I was in Elementary, haha!  (Okay Gen Y-ers, please google again, haha!) 

Image from www.tvguide.com

Another show in my list is "Madam Secretary"

Image from www.whatdidnatthinkofit.com

As read in TV Guide:

Tea Leoni plays a former CIA agent whose former boss, now the president of the United States (Keith Carradine), asks her to take on the role of Secretary of State after an accident claims the life of the office's previous occupant. Using her no-nonsense, unconventional attitude toward politics, she shakes things up in Washington, D.C. while also juggling her home life as a wife and a mother.

Let's see how a powerful woman manage to run things for the government and her household!  It's actually an Editor's Pick in TV Guide =)


I am also excited to watch the comedy series, "Selfie"!  What title can be more fitting in today's social media driven world, right? =)

Image from www.imdb.com

From Wikipedia:

Overview

Using a premise similar to Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, the series will follow the life of Eliza Dooley (a modern day version of Eliza Doolittle), a woman obsessed with becoming famous through the use of social media platforms (including the use of Instagram and taking selfies), until she realizes that she needs to actually find people that she can be friends with physically instead of "friend" them online. This prompts Eliza to hire Henry Higenbottam (a modern day version of Henry Higgins), a marketing self-image guru who is left with the task of rebranding Eliza's image in the hopes to show her that there is more to life out there than just playing Candy Crush Saga with an iPhone and connecting with a Facebook page.

These are just a few of the TV shows that are being shown this Fall.  Yes, I have my list.  The problem is if can I actually watch them?  The kids have been hogging the TV!  Guess, the DVR is going to be busy this Season then =)

(Honey, is this a good enough reason to buy another TV then? Haha!)

BERRY Beautiful Summer!

We are lucky to have enjoyed two Summers this year!  When we left Philippines, Summer was about to end and when we arrived LA, Summer was just about to start in this side of the world!

One thing I like about Summer in the US is the abundance of fresh produce.  All of the fruits I've had were sweet and juicy (seedless watermelon is my favorite) and I had some really sweet yellow corn!

In a trip to COSTCO (a happy place of mine), I saw these beautiful strawberries and got one tub (while they are in season!).  How do you eat your strawberries? I just eat them fresh, as they are.  Sometimes, if they are not that sweet, I dip them in sugar.  Hubby on the other hand likes to pour condensed milk over them.

In another trip, I saw fresh blueberries that were so cheap that I had to get some, haha!  I haven't tried eating fresh blueberries but I knew what I wanted to do with them.  I thought of baking blueberry muffins!

T

The muffins turned out well but they can be better. =)

Since last week, I have been craving for anything that has blueberry in it! (Not pregnant!)

So I googled for other blueberry muffin recipes that are easy to make.  I found one from Sally's Baking Addiction and tried her Buttery Blueberry Streusel Muffins.  While the recipe calls for fresh blueberries (which I don't have), I just used canned blueberry which also worked well. (I just rinsed them gently with water).  There was one ingredient which this recipe has which I didn't use in the first recipe I tried----yogurt! Sally says Yogurt makes the muffin more moist. =)  

They also look prettier than the first batch I baked, heehee =)

I am so happy how this recipe turned out!  The muffins were berry good and moist (though Hubby likes a to add a little bit more of sweetness to them).  

I finally found the One, my favorite Blueberry Muffin recipe, definitely a keeper! =)

Happy Baking!

Late Post: Nanay Pacing's from Baler

There are a few things I know about Baler.  It is a town in the province of Aurora in Philippines where the local film entitled "Baler"was also shot.  Probably the most unforgettable story about this place is about the Siege of Baler where a group of Spanish soldiers refused to surrender and besieged the Church of Baler where they stayed for over a year until they finally gave up, signifying the end of Spanish rule in Philippines. 

Baler has also become a favorite surfing spot in the Philippines which means more tourists are exploring the place! (Woohoo!) 

But this post is not really about Baler (haha!) but it's about something from Baler!

We got these (and suman) as pasalubong (gift) . . .

I'm not fond of Coco Jam but this is one Coco Jam that I like!

The peanut butter has the right amount of sweetness, it's creamy and easy to spread.  (I actually prefer our local peanut butter over imported ones)

I haven't been to Baler and I do hope I get the chance to go someday.  

If you are and looking for pasalubong, I recommend Nanay Pacing's Peanut Butter and Coco Jam! =)

For more details about Nanay Pacing, please visit their FB page =)

To know more about Baler, please click on this link.

Going BIG!

I'm baaacckkk!!!  This is the longest time that I haven't posted anything on my blog!  I love writing but with the BIG change that happened in my life, I have to make extra effort in writing posts for my blog.  Why?  

I am happy to share with you a good news. . . .I'm expecting Baby #3!!!!

(Nahhhh, just kidding!!!  Hubby won't even find that joke funny, hahahaha!!!)

But there really is a good news. . . we have finally joined Hubby in LA!  For those of you who don't know, Hubby and I have been apart since we got married.  So after 5 years, countless trips back and forth (we take turns visiting each other), free phone and video calls (thanks to YM, Viber and Skype!) and two kids (we are blessed for being able to have them in spite of being apart, haha!) . . . we are finally in the same time zone!  Woohoo =)  We are just extremely happy that we are all together now!  

I can say that we we are all adjusting pretty well in our new home (though the Princess who is used to drinking formula milk before coming here didn't like the taste of fresh milk so that meant no white milk for her. . . just chocolate milk, haha!)  I miss my family and friends back in the Philippines but Home is where you make it, right? =)  

Another BIG thing that happened was .  . . I have celebrated the big 4-0 last July!  (So when does Middle Age start again?)  Back when I was 18, 40 sounded . . . sooooo old, haha!  Now that I'm 40, all I can say is Age is just a number and a state of mind!

I guess it's true what they say, life begins at 40 because I am starting a new chapter and living a life differently. . . . from what I was used to. =)

To celebrate my big 4-0, there was one thing I wanted to do. . .  

Get a hair colorrr!!!  Haha!

Hubby noticed my white hair. . . but to SAY something about it . . .

I knew I had to, haha!

And if you are asking me what the good Hubby got me for birthday. . . Well, he wanted to take me for a trip to my favorite city (San Diego), wanted me to choose a luxury bag . . . both of which I said No to. . . for now. (Honey, please take note.  It's not a NO-NO, it's just a NO. . . for now okay, haha!)  

Because honestly, I couldn't ask for anything more! =) 

My Treasures . . . My Loves

There's no other way to put everything that has been happening in the past few months but the fortune I got from a fortune cookie I had in one of our lunches says it all .  . .

Yes, moving to a different country at 40 years old is a bold and dashing adventure . . . and I'm going to tell you more about it!    

(Thank you Honey for getting me a laptop . . . it makes blogging easier!)

Finding my "Zen"

I had a throbbing headache awhile ago. . . I guess because of the stress from all the things I have to do (there are a lot!  And I'll share with you why in the next few days) plus the intense heat we are having right now! (Yesterday, the temperature we read was at 39 degrees Celsius!)

To relieve my headache, I usually rub menthol sticks on my temple or take my favorite pain killer.  I really try not to be too dependent on pain killers but sometimes (most of the times, haha!), I just go and reach for one!  But I'm so happy that I finally found something that would help me stay away from them! (Woohoo!)  

I am loving Zenutrients' All is Well Balm.  As described in their website, this balm is a blend of Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and Peppermint.  It soothes away headaches, dizziness, coughs and colds.

Sells for Php 225 (50 g)

And I got a good tip from the girl at the Zenutrients kiosk!  She told me that I should put and rub the balm at the nape (and not at the temple!)  Once I rubbed the balm and massaged my nape, I felt the menthol slowly creeping in and after a few minutes. . . .I felt so much better (that I was able to write this post!  Haha!)   I'm really glad this particular balm works for me!  It's definitely going to be a part of my everyday bag! =)

Products work differently on each of us.  Should you try it, I hope it work well on you too. =)

By the way, another Zenutrients product that I love is their Underarm Deo Tea Tree Roll-on and  my sister love their Coconut Smooth and Shine Shampoo (which I have yet to try).

To know more about Zenutrients, their products and stores, please visit their website.