Ramen Sunday

There is a Ramen craze going on in Manila that I've lost count of the Ramen places that I've been reading in food blogs!  

Over the weekend, we were in Glorietta and were looking for a place to have  lunch a late lunch.  When you are with a toddler who loves soup and noodles, it's either you go Chinese or Japanese!  Then I remembered a new Ramen place in Glorietta which just opened early this year.  Actually, I had to ask Concierge what the the name was because I couldn't remember what it was!  Haha!  

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (a franchise which originated from Hokkaido, Japan) is a fairly small restaurant.  It has a nice interior, proper lighting and a cool air-conditioning system!  (If you're a Filipino, a restaurant which has a good air-conditioning system earns an extra star! Haha!). . . love the place's ambiance and vibe.  =) 

Image from Ramen Santouka's FB page

Menu items include Ramen (of course, haha!), a few Rice Bowls, Salad, Side Dishes and Dessert.  I find the menu limited though.  I was hoping they would have some Japanese rolls or Makis. . . okay, I know, IT IS a Ramen place!  Haha!  But just saying. . . 

(If you want to see their menu, please click this link.)

I ordered Shio Ramen for Ate.  "Shio" means salt.  I always get this type of broth for Ramen.  I haven't tried Shoyu (soy sauce) or Miso though.    

I asked for a Bowl for Ate and when the staff learned that it was for her, they gave me this . . .

Cute noh?  How nice of them to think of their young diners!

My sister had Tonkatsu Curry Rice (sorry, wasn't able to take a picture of it) and for myself, I ordered a Small Ramen and Tonkatsu Meal Set which came with a small salad (it was a really small bowl, it was a cute bowl, haha!  Loved the sesame dressing!) , a fave of mine --- Chawan mushi (steamed egg) and tea. 

Such a beautiful, golden-fried Tonkatsu!  

The Tonkatsu sauce came in a jar and a serving of black and white sesame seeds which I believe should be crushed and then mix the sauce with it (just like what I've seen in other Tonkatsu places). But I didn't bother to ask the staff anymore about the sesame seeds simply because . . . I was really hungry starving!  Yes, I had a low EQ that moment, Haha!

When I saw that the pork cutlet was thick, my fear was it's going to be chewy.  This is one of the few times when I'm happy to say that I was wrong!  It was tender and I didn't have a problem cutting and chewing it.  

I loved everything we ordered.  The Ramen is really good (broth, noodles and all), the cutlet was tender and I like the sauce that came with it.  The food came in big portions---their small bowl of Ramen is filling already and their Set Meal can be easily shared by 2 people.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is the first Ramen place in Manila I have tried and I know there are other Ramen places that I still need to check out.  But I had a nice meal in this place and loved everything about it.  The casual and relaxing ambiance of the place, nice staff and of course, food that is good and filling!

I will definitely come back . . . even if they don't have any Makis!  Haha! =)

For more details about Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Philippines, please visit their FB page.

Ramen Santouka

G/F Glorietta 4

Ayala Center, Makati City

(Across the Food Court entrance of SM Makati) 

The Voice

Nobody in our family can carry a tune (well, my Dad is the best singer among us, haha!)  So I'm not really surprised when I wasn't accepted in Glee Club when I was in Grade 5.  (For the record, I auditioned because all the girls were required to do so.  Defensive??!)  

I may be a Glee Club reject (promise, hindi ako bitter! haha!) . . . but I've found my audience now who just loves my makabagbag damdamin rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". . . that this song is always on loop mode!  It rocks Bunso to sleep . . .never fails =)

Goodnight and sleep tight from me and the Little Ones =)

Word of the Day: Tep

Ate usually watches Barney or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in the morning.  This morning, as I entered the room:

Ate: Mama, Tep

Me: Ha?

Ate: Tep

Me:  What?

Ate: Teeppp

Me: (Was quiet for a few seconds. . . thinking. . . trying to figure out what she just said, haha!)  Then the Aha moment came!

Ate was referring to these . . .

"Tep" means the DVDs!  Because she calls them "tape"!

Why?

Because she's been hanging out a lot . . . with the young ones ONCE!  Haha!  

(Though "tape" is really easier to say than CD or DVD!)

What the F!

And It's not what you are (might be) thinking, haha!  But my Sunday was all about the letter F!    

I had Fun with the Family . . . had some girl bonding time with L, my Sister (and as we grew older, she has become one of my Best friends too.  Sis, I know you are reading this---yiheee, haha) and some quality time with my Princess too.

Scored some good Finds that are marked down significantly. . . 70%!!!  Sweeeet!

Got myself a pair of jeans (from Php 3,150 to Php 945), a black linen capri (from Php 1,650 to Php 660) and a top (from 1,650 to Php 660).  You gotta love a Sale!  Haha!

And because we want to look good and be Fab for somebody (you will know who in the succeeding posts!) we went to the Salon.  

It was Ate's first time to have her hair cut in this Salon I go to.  We usually go to a Kids Salon for her haircut where there are toys and cartoons to watch.  But I think she's ready for a "grown up" salon!  She sat still, enjoyed being shampooed (I know it doesn't show, haha!  But she did like it) and didn't even mind the blow dry!

I waaannt her hair!  Haha!  And I think she loves it as much as we do!

And of course. . . though shall not forget. . . FOOD! Haha!  Having Ate with us only means we go to a place where there is soup and noodles. . . .so we had Ramen!

(Will be blogging about this in a separate post)

So yep, my Sunday was all about Fs.  But if I have to give one word to sum up everything, it was a Fruitful day!

Hope you enjoyed yours and wishing you a good week ahead!

As for me, I'm going to have a really, really memorable week!  You'll know why soon!

P.S., If you loved Ate's hair (we loved ours too!), please look for Lita at H&M Hair and Make-Up Studio located at 4/F, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati. =) 

She's got the moves . . .

Ate loves Music . . .one of the songs she liked before was "Moves like Jagger".

While she's far from experiencing the "Moves like Jagger" (and I pray that she won't ever!  Haha!), she has some moves of her own . . .

Some delaying tactics when she doesn't like what she's eating . . .
(Ate, just like what your Lola taught us, 
you should eat whatever is on the family dinner table . . . 
well in this case, your chair-table)

But she doesn't beat around the bush when she likes what she's eating
(Sarap ng buhay, eating while watching TV . . . parang ako lang, haha!)

The moves of a Donya . . .Donyang-Donya!
when there's somebody who spoils (not me!)

The moves of a good Interviewer . . .
listening intently to the Interviewee
("You're hired!") 

She is an active toddler who loves to explore and play around.  But sometimes, she has her lazy days.

Sarap nga naman kasi humiga!

And the most favorite of C (my friend and my Twinnie) . . .

The moves of Madam, hahaha!

Choose the caption for each photo:
1) Inday, maglampaso ka doon sa kusina.
2) Inday, mag-da-day-off ka na naman?
3) Inday, bakit ngayon ka lang?

Disclaimer: Wala pong Inday na inabuso at minaltrato sa mga larawan na ito,
ang mga ito ay pawang mga kathang isip lamang =)
In English. . . we are nice people, hahaha!

Have a groovy weekend!

What's the point?

There's actually no point, haha!

But the quote below makes a good one =)




Wishing everyone what may be a pointless weekend . . . but one that is full of fun and adventure! =)

My Earliest School Memories are made of these. . . .

I'm sooo glad I enrolled Ate in her Pre-Nursery class.  She is slowly coming out of her shell and is enjoying her class a lot!  She has familiarized herself with the names of her classmates (sometimes, she just suddenly does a roll call at home, haha!).  Her most favorite part is the singing and dancing in school.  She has also become comfortable with the environment that there is no need for me to say with her in school anymore. (So proud of you Ate!  You are truly my little Ms. Independent!)  Seeing her in school brings back fond memories of my own.

I remember attending a Nursery class where the only things I can remember doing were having recess and nap time!  Probably because I was too young to remember . . . or they were just really my most favorite things to do in school perhaps?  Haha!  The one big thing I remember was when L, a girl classmate of mine (oh yes, I still remember her name!) hit me in the stomach (it was a light punch) just when the photographer was about to get our class photo.  Yes, I had proof!  You should see our class photo. . . it was written all over my face!  (Poor me, haha!)  It was the closest thing to bullying which I've experienced in school.

Then I attended Kinder and Prep classes in a Montessori school.  I remember going to Clark Air Base (when the Americans were still occupying it) for a field trip and met "Santa Claus" riding a sleigh.. . . a carabao!  Haha!  I remember doing a Hawaiian and Tahitian dance for a school program, being a Narrator during a Cinderella play, being Mama Mary in a Christmas play, attending Advanced Reading classes in the morning, setting the table for Recess . . . and receiving (for the first time) a flower from a boy (C). . . and three green leaves (??? Haha!) from N. . . I threw the flower in the trash can which made C really mad but I held on to the green leaves because . . . N was actually a nice boy with a beautiful pair of eyes. . . he is cute actually. . . though I'm taller than him, haha!

During our graduation from Pre-School, our Class Adviser, Ms. A, asked me to deliver the graduation speech (which they wrote).  It was not a short speech!  It was pretty long that even my parents asked my teacher if she was sure I can do it. . . And I did!  I think my parents had more butterflies in their stomach than I did!  But I know it was one of their proudest moments too.  

And if there's one song that makes me remember my Pre-School days, it is this Carpenters song.  When I hear it, I still sing along and sway to its music. . . just like how Ms. A taught us.

I am so excited for Ate . . . and for all the good things that are yet to come.

And I hope she remembers the happy (and sometimes, even the not so happy) and funny moments that make going to school exciting and memorable!