We arrived already in the evening and Korea is an hour advanced from Manila time.  It takes about an hour depending on traffic it could be more, to get from Incheon airport to the city.   We checked in the hotel and we were very hungry!  Everyone suggested Arirang which was highly recommended by our friend, Grace.  The earlier group had eaten there the day before and warned us that it was expensive, but we still went since it was nearby the hotel and we were very hungry

Our table!  That thing from the ceiling is the exhaust which is adjustable.  Cool!!  The only place we have seen that had that feature.  You still smell korean though but atleast it is not smoky while you are eating 

It was expensive for us!  But later on we realized that Korea is expensive really. ( For easier conversion, it is around 1,000 won to 1US$. )  In most of the restaurants we went to for korean BBQ, these were the prices.  But of course the quality of the beef is really good though portions are small.  But at the end of the trip, Arirang was one of our favorites and we went back again on our last day!

Free soup Pumpkin soup 

Then they brought out all the condiments for the bbq 

This was everyone’s favorite which you cannot also find in other bbq restaurants.  It’s an onion condiment that you eat with the korean bbq 

Then a guy brings the charcoal to the cooker 

Tongue! Yum around the tongue is the Chadol bagey or marbled thin sliced beef

The server is the one who cooks, we noticed that in all restaurants, they are the ones who cook, they won’t let you cook! :-) 

I love it that they put pepper on the tongue while cooking 

then squeeze fresh lemon 

The most expensive dish on the menu, the Charcoal Grilled King size Prime Rib 

we ordered also the Chuck Flap tail which she said was the neck I think and it was also really good - it’s the small pieces beside the king size rib 

Korean side dishes 

Bulgogi which was not on the main menu - we ordered this in our second visit already 

James likes eating raw beef 

Marbled Thin Sliced beef which we figured was Chadol Bagey!  Later on we tried to avoid this as it is mostly fat! But YUMMY Of course!

YUM YUM! Pajeon!!  We loved this in Arirang since it was very crispy!  Make sure it is crispy because that is how we got it!  YUMMY!

Chap Chae 

Their dessert is always fruit - we were looking for the usual rich sweets, but they don’t have!  We were thinking maybe that is why the Koreans are so slim!  :-) Very sweet and gigantic pears!! Only a slice though! 

 It’s the company and the fun that counts!  We had a great dinner and enjoyed! My two boys are there also on the side

 share with a friend

 Lucille invited us once again to her home…It seems like she is doing it every other year

Previous Entries:  From the Kitchen of Lucille December 17, 2007 

Lucille’s Birthday Treat January 8, 2009 

Here she is welcoming us as we arrive and take note of the parol on top of her.   She is part of the group from St. James Parish in Alabang who sold these beautiful parols last Christmas

She is always proud of her two children who are presently studying abroad

Our group photo taken by Lucille’s Staff

She had different cocktail drinks for us since we all had dietary requirements - buko juice for me, orange and apple for the others

It was Lucille’s birthday and we made her cook for us again!  WE LOVE IT!!  Quoting here a note from Det who said it very well: 

Dear Lucille,

Many thanks for being the usual gracious host! 

Each year, as December comes, I always look forward to your birthday lunch!  What I most love about visiting your home (apart of course from the very good food) is how I feel the warmth of your hospitality; how each year you have transformed into an Oprah a Martha Stewart which you do so well with your own personal touch and style!  The only downside is, each time I leave your beautiful home, I always ponder about having a sabbatical even just for a month so I get to learn “your favorite things.”  It has always been my dream to become a home maker but sometimes life takes you to a different path which of course I can’t complain!

Cheers to you birthday girl and cheers to loving company and a friendship which will forever be in our hearts!

Always,  

Det

And Mother Butler Lucille says our grace before the meal

The buffet

This was the highlight of our meal.  Lucille’s homemade Cochinillo!!!!  YUMMY!!!!!! It was half a piggy and it was really really good!!!!!

Here it is again up close

and we had other Filipino dishes

Luzanne insisted on having her cochinillo with Mang Tomas sauce!! It’s a good thing Brenda had some with her.  Luzanne can finish almost half the bottle

LOOK AT THAT YUMMY COCHINILLO!!!! Homemade dishes are more meaningful and taste much better!!! And Lucille’s cooking is always WITH LOVE!

And dessert

Happy Birthday Lucille!!

 And Lucille shares with us her FAVORITE THINGS

Her waring smoothie blender!  We all want one!!! 

and she made a fresh strawberry smoothie for us using fresh Holly’s yogurt

previous entry:  Lucille’s Smoothie Recipe June 10, 2011 

Fresh super sweet Mangoes from her farm in Cebu!!! 

Fresh super sweet pineapple with champoy powder 

and her Viking oven where the cochinillo was cooked.  It has to be big enough to put the little piggy in  

And we all exchanged gifts for christmas and we all support our very own

Brenda from the commissary she works in  

Triumph underwear from Det 

Lucille will always shop at Rustan’s! Forever Rustan’s loyalists just like all of us! 

Golden Spoon from me :-) 

Taken with an 

 share with a friend

Tito Ralph brought in Jamon Serrano from Spain.  He has a few pieces left.  It’s a beautiful gift or perfect for your buffet celebrations. New Year is still coming up.   It comes already with the stand to put the Jamon in.  It’s only P 15,000.00 for the whole Jamon

Please contact Ralph Joseph at 0917-842-6450 

 It comes in this box

 

and this is the stand that it comes with

 He also has Champagne Nicolas Feauillatte Palmes d’Or 1996 Robert Parker 98 points for P 6,000.00

 share with a friend

We were so happy when Jigger and May invited us over to their new home to have dinner.  And this time, we had them all to ourselves!  which we actually like better so we can catch up.

 

Previous Entries:

Wedding of the “Century” Part 1 - Arrival and Rehearsal Dinner Nov. 7 

Wedding of the “Century” Part 2 - Church Wedding  Nov. 8

Jigger and May by Jason Magbanua 

Wedding of the “Century” Part 3 - Reception 

Wedding of the “Century”  Part 5 - Luau and Dinner Nov. 9

I instantly liked May when Jigger first introduced her to us.  Jigger is so lucky to have her!

May showed me her pink phone gadget!! You can attach it to your cellphone and use it like a regular telephone

I see a lot of similarities between Jigger and James….afterall they were roomates in College in Pennsylvania

Jigger is also OC and is very detailed in everything he does!  Here are his computer cords and accessories which are in zip loc bags before putting inside his computer bag  That is a step further than what James would do!

Jigger is always prepared with all kinds of vitamins and medicines, of course it is also properly labelled and packed

Our dinner venue in their new dining room.  Thank you Jigger and May for inviting us over, we had a great time

May bought her dining accessories in Rustan’s!  No wonder it is so nice

Jigger and May ordered food from Stephanie Zubiri and it was really good

Spicy Thai Beef Salad

Black Angus Short Rib Balsamic Beef adobo

Truffle Mushroom Lasagna

Bicol Express marinated Broiled Chicken

Dory with Chorizo Lemon Sauce

3 kinds of rice  Garlic Brown rice, Couscous and Plain rice

Assorted mini cakes from Classic Confections

 share with a friend

This was our first Christmas dinner for the year, we started before December and before all the other christmas parties start So happy to have the kids join us plus Baby Santino via iPhone

Thank you Newts and Mish for hosting in your lovely home!  And we always love your home cooking!!! And of course we love you! And we love Pao and Trins!!  Looking forward to our Valentine dinner already

 share with a friend

I don’t mind going to Batangas for 2 1/2 hours because we can always break the trip and have a good excuse to stop by Tagaytay  We looked for the restaurant which we heard about from Gaita and so glad we found it!

 

This is the main counter where you can also order and they have a few dining tables here 

It’s outdoor dining  by the parking lot

 

in a bahay kubo!  

 With singers going around and will eventually serenade you in your kubo 

 Our bahay kubo

My dates  who are so game and adventurous too 

They bring you all your utensils in a pot with hot water and the pitcher is covered since they walk from the kitchen to the outdoor bahay kubo 

Even the catsup bottle is covered  

Tapsilog! YUMMY!!  

Fresh buko juice!! YUMMY! 

And our main dishes!  All covered as it arrives!  Though once the food is opened, there are flies hovering the area so just watch out for them still flying around. I should have sprayed my insect spray to avoid them from coming near, but I was so hungry and just concentrated on eating :-) 

CRISPY PATA!!!! 

BULALO!!!! 

TAWILIS!!! 

And for dessert, the banana hanging on the bahay kubo!!! You can eat as much as you like! There were other desserts but we were so full already and didn’t even finish our food 

Ohhh..how cute!!! 

The restrooms :-) 

 Our bill for all of that :-) 

 share with a friend

 We bumped into Leah Sison Magallanes who is the head of Food and Beverage at Pico De Loro.  She is in charge of all the food outlets and training all the chefs in the place

The dinner buffet comes with the show and was supposed to be by the beach also but due to the rain, it was moved indoors.  

Together with great entertainment was great food!  We had great Filipino food!!  Leah is obviously doing a great job!! 

Food and Beverage outlets in Pico de Loro 

 share with a friend

I heard about this place from our friends, Mart and Sam and thought it would be a nice place for our next lunch with the group.  When I arrived it reminded me of a place we went to here before and apparently it was.  It was the old Fat Michael’s.

A French guy, Chef Patrice, took over the place.  He used to run a restaurant in Puerto Galera and has decided to come to the city

A nice and cozy place, just like we were in our own home :-) 

Two notes from Lucille which she sent to us  

 Chef Patrice says that he makes everything fresh except for the bread!  He can make french breads but it is just too time consuming for now.  And just like the real French Cuisine, Chef Patrice says he does not put any salt and pepper, you have to put your own

Brown bread!  A healthier aletnerative 

There is an ala carte menu 

Det who is on a Cohen diet, did not get the set menu instead she just ordered the Terrine, French meat loaf.  Which was good 

Carbonara for everyone to share aside from our set meal 

And we all had the set menu which we find very reasonable.  It’s always good to have a set meal where you have a complete meal from starter to dessert 

Starters

Terrine, French Meat Loaf 

Soup of the Day - Cream of Broccoli 

Green Salad 

This is what Mart knew I would like.  Steak Tenderloin in Blue Cheese 

Salmon Papilotte 

Beef Stroganoff 

And Brenda had the Special Main course for the day 

All desserts come without any sugar added.  They were good enough for us.  We appreciate healthy dishes nowadays especially with two of us having caner, one on a Cohen diet and the rest who have to lose some weight and eat healthier :-) 

Chocolate Mousse 

Creme Caramel 

Apple Pie 

Directions:  Take EDSA southbound (going towards Pasay) after Magallanes flyover turn right at Evangelista Street (landmark is McDonalds), then turn right at second corner (General Belarmino Street; landmark is Chowking), then turn left at second corner (Rodriguez Avenue), go straight and you will find the bistro at the sixth corner on your left (General Lacuña Street).

 share with a friend

Thank you Steve and Lindy for inviting us to join you at the Commanderie Gala Night.  We are truly honored to be part of this very exclusive group.  We had a really great time.  We enjoyed all the wines that evening! and the food and company of course! Congratulations Lindy and the rest of the newly inducted members of the Commanderie de Bordeaux, Manila Chapter 

 

 share with a friend