Everytime I would crave for a really good burger, the first restaurant that we would always check out is Pound by Todd English.

We frequent the Robinson Ermita branch because that's our favorite mall (a.k.a. the only decent mall accessible to us coz we all hate traffic).

My favorite is the Sliders. 2pcs mini burgers for only 155Php. Sulit! And I must tell you, they have the juiciest burger patty and the yummiest crispy onion.

Another favorite is their chicken wings! If I am not mistaken, they have 3 flavors of wings which are all good. I love that the wings are not too spicy so my daughter was able to munch on them.

We would usually order this and a cup or two of white rice and super busog na.

Another favorite is their alfredo pasta which is a perfect cream pasta that is also a hit to the kids and kids at heart. The pasta is not nakakaumay and the caramelized bacon helped enhance the flavor.

Crispy Chicken Sliders (2pcs) - 195Php

On our last visit, we tried their crispy chicken sliders because the #FabSkye asked for it. But I didn't really like it. It's too crispy and just too big for a chicken burger with teeny tiny burger buns. If eaten as a dish, it's actually really yummy. Ayun! Inulam ko nalang sya.

But what I really love most about the restaurant is the ambiance. The nice black interiors with golds here and there. The very prompt waiters and the fast and efficient service. It is always a nice dining experience whenever we are there.

For my birthday last month, the #ReigningTatay decided to treat us for dinner at Casa Roces.

It's a beautiful restaurant located inside Malacanan in Manila. 

It's a special night so our Tatay wants to dine somewhere special too.

This restaurant is perfect for me because I grew up with Spanish cuisine, my grandma being half Spanish.

I asked our server for their best-sellers, and my heart flips over when I heard Paella! I was contemplating between Paella Valenciana and Paella Negra. The former being an ultimate favorite, I am really very picky with my Valenciana since my grandma makes the best Valenciana for me. So I opted for Paella Negra. A much safer option.

I usually enjoy Paella Negra specially if there are loads of squids. However, they run out of squids that night according to the server so ours only have shrimps on it. Sad. But it's still very much tasty. I liked it.

I know the photo didn't do it justice but this dish is mouth-wateringly good.

I love Lengua. My bestfriend's mum makes the best lengua and that's when I started to love this dish. So when our server recommends this, I know I had to give it a try.

The lengua is good. My daughter loves the mushrooms that comes with it and I love the string beans. However, the homecooked lengua from my bestfriend's are still the way better than this one.

Pork Stew Binagoongan (310Php)

Sorry for the blurry photo but this Binagoongan is really, really good. The pork are crispy and the bagoong is really good. I love this dish so much but it doesn't go well with our Paella. The husband ordered white rice and I ate this dish with our good old white rice.

Salmon with Balsamic Glaze (460Php)

Been craving for salmon that time so when I saw this on the menu, I really made sure to get it. The salmon is fresh and the sauce is really, really good. This is my favorite out of all the dishes that we ordered. Super must try.

My brother's girlfriend wanted pasta so we got Fettuccine with Blue Cheese and Roasted Mushrooms. I didn't get to try this one but based on how my daughter devoured this dish, I think this is pretty good.

Overall dining experience is superb! The waiters are all nice and very alert. The food was served hot and fresh and all of them tastes really good.

        

We're trying to save up as a family. With mortgages to pay and the sky rocketing tuition fees and everything, kailangan talaga wais ka kundi pupulutin ka sa kangkungan. But if there's one luho that we have as a family that we can't seem to let go, that'll be eating out.

The #FabSkye loves to eat out and the Tatay too. Plus all of us are busy so the #ReigningTatay can't cook anymore. So to compensate the luho, we've been trying out hole in the wall restaurants around the metro. Since early this year we've been checking out several small restaurants and even carinderias. To our surprise, madami sa kanila are actually good. We have a couple of favorites already and one of them is Tejeron Sizzlers and Milkshhakes.

Found at Tejeron St. in Sta. Ana Manila, this small hole in a wall restaurants serve the best dishes!

They have a wide selection on their menu as well. From sizzling steaks to sisig to carbonarra to sandwiches and even milk shakes! What's more nakakatuwa is the fact that the prices are really competitive. Mura sila in fairness. As in 150Php for a large chunk of T-bone sizzling steak. At mga around 100 for ham and cheese sandwich with fries on the side pa! We would seldom spend 500Php for 3-4 pax kahit na mag order pa kami ng milk shakes and desserts.

This is also the perfect place to treat your family kasi nga masarap sya at mura and the place is really nice.

I love the ambiance in Tejeron. The colorful paintings on the wall give that posh feel sa place. Even the nice wooden tables and everything, well-thought of sya. Even the food presentation is nice. Restaurant levels talaga kahit presyong carinderia.

Here are some photos of our favorites!

Part of my #Wiser2016 and #Simplify2018 efforts, I am trying really hard to cut on our food trips and eating out. Something that's really difficult for us as a family coz all of us loves dining out. Yes, including the little miss.

So, what have been working out so far is trying out these small hole-in-the-wall restaurants that offer reasonable prices. Most of the time we're on a hunt for nice little cozy restaurants na swak sa bulsa. Tuloy ang foodtrip without breaking the bank.

And on one of our foodtrips, we tried Kanto Freestyle Breakfast in Makati.

It was actually the #ReigningTatay who discovered this place thanks to Zomato. We went here one evening on our way home. It's our little date night...

The place is full when we went there but the staff are efficient. The guard assisted us in parking, the crew immediately ushered us to an empty table and we were given the menu right away.

The #ReigningTatay opted for New Zealand Beef Tapa. We both liked the tapa because it's tender and it's on the sweet, saucy type so I really liked it.

Since I'm supposed to be on a diet and not eat rice at night, I ordered suman. I know! Totally forgot na kanin ang suman besh. Was supposed to get champorado which is heller? Kanin also. Minsan talaga fail tayo eh. Sorry na!

I love the suman. It's a little bit crunchy and buttery so I love it. I asked for extra goya ganache because I love my suman smothered in chocolate ganache. I know! Sorry ulit! Kaya di pumapayat eh.

Paired my suman with tuyo flakes with kesong puti to balance the sweetness and I'm shookt! Ang sharap besh! The saltiness of tuyo flakes and the suman dipped heavily on chocolate ganache is just perfection!!! Ang sarap!!

Finished off with Kanto hot choco and I'm in heaven. Goodbye diet muna that night.

We also got Mixed Berry Pancakes (110Php) for the #FabSkye for take away because darn! We just can't stand the fact that we're eating and the #FabSkye is not with us. Sorry na! Though the #FabSkye loves her pancakes so much. So yay!

No wonder the place is always packed. Reasonable price. Good food. Nice ambiance.

After posting myCharlie's adventure, I realized that I totally forgot to post my Ace Hotel and Spa staycation last May!!!! I know! I know! Most efficient blogger it is.

But don't blame me! I have a gazillion backlogs. Haven't started with my Camiguin-Bukidnon-CDO adventure and my El Nido-Puerto Prinsesa trip yet. And this pregnancy is making me a lazy woman! Lazier than usual so imagine how lazy that actually is.

So enough of the ranting and on to the actual topic shall we?

My BFFs and I finally had a staycation last May. Being all yuppies, everybody's so busy which each other's life so planning an actual vacation has proven to be difficult. Thank heavens that staycation was invented. Who ever thought of staying at a hotel at the heart of the metro for some R&R is such a genius! Alabshoooo...

I'll be doing a separate post of my review of the actual hotel but for now allow me to share with you my favorite part of the staycation...

THE BUFFET!!

You know, I've been to a couple of hotels already and one thing I learned is that hotel food is not usually awesome. Sure they'd look great (especially on those 5 star hotels) and is Instagram perfect but there's nothing really special once you taste it. Sometimes pa nga, I really don't like the food at all! The only 5 star hotel food that i liked is The Peninsula's. But still, it's not that awesome. Just so-so.

Ace's food however is superb! Definitely the best hotel buffet that I've been to. They offer a wide array of choices for morning buffet. They have bread and different kinds of spreads. They have different kinds of sandwiches and pastries. They have eggs, an omelet station and soups and pancakes and waffles. They offer different viands and fried rice and white rice. They have veggies. They have siomai! Loads of makis and sushis. They offer shabu shabu. Lahat na! Buffet kung buffet talaga. Na-haggard ako ng slight sa choices. Kasi lahat gusto ko!!!

They also offer different fruits and different kinds of desserts. From chocolate mousse to strawberry something. All in those cute shot glasses. Plus some bibingka (ay not sure pala kung bibingka pero parang malagkit). Hahahahaha! Hangdami din! Nahilo na naman ako....

They also have a salad station if you're health conscious. I'm not! So i didn't try this at all.

They have a cereal station for the kids as well. I am not really a cereal fan so I didn't try this out. But those fruit loops are cute. Once the little one is out, I'd bring him/her for a staycation and would let him/her prepare his/her own cereal bowl. That'll be messy for sure!

They even have a yogurts! Didn't get it at first, I was thinking I'd get one after I finish my meal kaso naubos na pagbalik ko. :( Didn't wait for them to refill it na.

And of course! they offer different softdrinks, fruit juices, iced tea, lemonade, hot tea, coffee. They even have yakult! \m/ Pati sa drinks mahihilo ka! I only had coffee. Ansarap ng kape!!!