MAPA RAMEN - "Mapaparami ang kain mo ng ramen dito!"

MAPA Ramen is a new "Japanese"  resto along Congresssional Ave. (replacing the former JT Inasal). We are ramen lovers, so one Sunday, we checked-out the resto and ordered their ramen. The price of their ramen and other dishes are relatively cheap compared to the Japanese restos you will find in malls. The price for ramen ranges from the basic Mapa Ramen at P99.00 to their Seafood Ramen at P199.00. We ordered five vareities of ramen - miso, shio, shoyu, seafood and tantanmen. We were not disappointed with the taste and quality of the noodles of their ramen. They use flat noodles (maybe similar to Nagoya flat noodles) and the noodles are soft and easy to slurp. The taste of the soup varies based on the type. The only downside of their ramen is presentation - they need to upgrade the appearance similar to authentic Japanese ramen. We also ordered their Mapa Maki - taste good but the rice is not the Japanese type. Their shrimp tempura was also good.

It seems the owners treat their Japanese resto as a simple carinderia so the appearance and presentation of their dishes is secondary. If they will inprove their food presentation and use plates that a more Japanese-like not the simple white and plain plates and if their waitresses practice some simple greetings like "irashaimase", "domo arigatou gozaimasu", "konnichiwa", Mapa Ramen will go a long way and will be patronized by Filipino Japanese-food lovers who want reasonable, tasty and tummy-filling dishes. Try Mapa Ramen, "Oishii desu yo!" Mapaparami ang kain mo ng ramen!

Mapa Maki

Tantanmen (The peanut taste is very dominant)

Miso Ramen

Seafood Ramen (A little bit spicy)

PRINCESS - PAALAM

 Princess

by Andy Oreta (12/01/2023)

Princess, Isa ka sa limang tuta ni Zoey

Princess ka nga, Sa kulay pa lang ikaw ay na-iiba

Sa bakuran, masungit ka, feeling princess talaga

Di makapalag si Oreo, Di ka maagawan ng tinapay na tira

Ganoon pa man, buddy buddy kayong dalawa

Nang pumanaw si Oreo, Sadya kang nalungkot at nabigla

Sa sulok ng iyong kulungan humihiyaw ka’t nagmukmuk pa

Tunay mo ngang mahal si Oreo, At dali dali ka ring lumisan

O Princess, Dito sa lupa at pati na sa langit prinsesa ka talaga

Bruno

Bruno

by Andy Oreta (9/12/2023)

• Disiplinado sa kulungan, Sobrang bibo naman kapag pinakawalan
• Matalas ang pandinig, Alisto kapag may bantang nararamdaman
• Paikot-ikot sa kulungan, Kapag oras na ng kainan
• Kagat ang “rubber ducky,” Gigil na gigil sa pagtakbo’t puno ng kasiglaan
• Matikas, malikot at maliksi, Bruno ang kaniyang pangalan

NOTE: Si Bruno ay isang mini pinscher na kapatid ni Luna (Sept 2016 +) at Pepper ( Jan 2017 +)

Read related blog about the mini pinschers.

Oreo - ikaw ay kaakit-akit

 

Oreo

by Andy Oreta (9/12/2023)

Oreo, Bunga ng bawal na pag-ibig

Mula kay Seria at Hachiko nagsanib na magkapatid

Oreo, Ang asong kulang ng tulis at bangis

Ganoon pa man, Nakakaaliw ka naman gid

Tuwing umaagos ang tubig, Ikaw ay nag-iinit

Paikot-ikot sa tubig, Para mong winawalis

Oreo, Hindi ka man wais, Ikaw naman ay kaakit-akit

Seria - Ang aming mahal na alaga

 

Seria

by Andy Oreta (9/11/2023)

“Seria” ang binyag sa iyo ni Julia

Bantay ng bahay, Sa garahe nag-iisa

Mga higanteng daga, Madalas mong mabiktima

Mga pusang kalye, Iyong mga kabaka

Sa maingay na paputok, Ikaw ay nababalisa

Matingkad mong tahol, Maasahan kapag may sakuna

Kung lambing ay gusto, Biglang titihaya

Kaunting himas lang sa tiyan, Ikaw ay masayang-masaya

Seria, Ang aming bantay, Ang mahal naming alaga

PUSA - Isang tula

 

Pusa

by Andy Oreta (9/10/2023)

Noong kuting ka, Ang kyut kyut mo talaga

Tinawag kang “Nene,” Akala namin babae ka

Paglaki mo, Mali kami, Lalakeng pusa ka pala

Kaya “Nunu,” Ang naging tawag na sa iyo, Pusa

 

Sa umaga, nakatambay ka, malayo ang tingin sa may bintana

Sa hapon, Nakahiga sa mesa, Nakatihaya pa

Sa gabi habang may K-Drama, Nakikinood ka

Katabing nakikisalo at may chips na pabirito pa!

 

Sa maliit na kahon o butas, Sumisiksik ka

Ano bang mayroon sa kahon at komportable ka?

Sa mesang kainan, doon madalas kang nagpapahinga

Katabi mo ang mga pagkain na naka-ahin sa mesa

 

Sa looban ng bahay madalas nakabantay ka

Akala namin, Daga ang iyong pinupuntirya

Hindi pala, Gusto mo lang makihiga sa malambot na kama

Ay Pusa!, Di ka lang bida, Ikaw pala ang boss sa pamilya!

Oscar - Isang Tula para sa Isang Bida!

OSCAR 

by Andy Oreta (9/9/2023)

Paglabas ko sa kuwarto naka-abang ka na

Wagayway ng buntot kaliwa’t kanan pa

Pag-upo ko sa mesa, Nakanganga ka na

Naghihintay ng almusal, Yung masarap na tira

 

Habang nagpapahinga at nanonood ng K-drama

Ikaw ay nakahiga paikot-ikot sa aking mga paa

Madalas nagpapansin para maglaro at magsaya

Ay Oscar, Sa loob ng bahay, Ikaw ay bida

Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi - Good Food! Reasonable Price!

 

We love Korea - KDrama and Korean dishes like kimchi, bulgogi, ramyeon, Gimbap, Samgyeopsal, Tofu Jigae and more. So for lunch my wife and I decided to try Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi at SM North Annex which is a new discovery for us. Myeong Ryun is a new resto at the 1st floor of SM North Annex. We ordered their Korean Lunch Box - one pork and one beef set. Surprise, surprise at P199.00 each only! Their lunch box (Bento style) is served with the main dish (pork or beef) with egg on rice, kimchi, potato and other side dishes. To complement the lunch box, we ordered their Kimchi Tofu Jigae at P180. The food is really good - their meat is well marinated - and their veggie side dishes are fresh and crispy. The Kimchi Jigae is spicy - the way I like it and I usually dip my rice on it. Wow! Our lunch was really satisfying. Next time, we will bring our big kids here!

Hoy Trapik!

 

Hoy Trapik!

Andy Oreta (08/29/2023)

Maaga aalis, Makaiwas trapik sana

Palabas pa lang ng bahay, may abala na

Kotse ng kapitbahay, Bakit naka-park sa tapat pa

Hoy trapik, Isa kang problema!

 

Biyahe sa kalye, Kotse’t trak nakapila

PUJ sa tapat, Sa bagal ng takbo ay isang aberya

Kaliwa’t kanan, Motorsiklo biglang haharurot pa

Hoy trapik, Nakakainis ka na!

 

Pagdating sa interseksyon, May ilaw trapiko na

Berde, dilaw at pula - Mga kulay na giya sana

Pero pag kulay berde, ang trato ni pulis ay pula

Hoy pulis trapiko, Litong lito ka ba?

 

Sa wakas malapit at makakarating na

Usok, init at pawis – aking naging parusa

Hoy trapik, Oras ko ay sinayang mo na

Mag LRT na lang ako, Makakaupo’t makaka-idlip pa!

NOTE: Ang tulang ito ay nabuo sa isipan ko habang nagmamaneho ng dalawang oras mula sa aking tahanan sa Quezon City papuntang Marco Polo Hotel sa may Ortigas Ave. Dati kulang lang 30 minuto ang biyahe. 

Mga Unang Tula ni Andy

Sa araw araw na pananatili sa bahay ay minsan ako'y nabibigyan ng inspirasyon upang magsulat ng tula. Itong dalawang tula (tula nga ba ito?) ay sinulat ko sa dalawang okasyon - noong maulan at tinututukan ang mga tulo sa bahay at noong pawisan akong nagkokompyuter. Sana magustuhan ninyo ito.

Ulan, Ulan

by Andy Oreta (07/29/2023)

Ulan, Ulan, kailan ka magpapaalam?

Baha na sa aming kapaligiran

Lubog na ang lupa at ang mga halaman

Tila ilog na ang mga kalye’t daanan

 

Ulan, Ulan, kailan ka magpapaalam?

Inip na ako sa bahay at walang kakuwentuhan

Sawa na rin sa Netflix at KDramahan

Gusto ko ng lumabas at maglakad sa malawak na lansangan

Ulan, Ulan, kailan ka magpapaalam?

O Araw

Andy Oreta (08/14/2023)

 

O Araw, ang init mo naman

Maghapon naka-ON, ang aming elektrik fan

Ilang ligo’t shower sa maghapon, di ko na mabilang

Ganoon pa man, pawisan pa rin ang aking katawan

O Araw, ang init mo naman

 

O Araw, bakit ka nagkaganyan

Noon, pagsikat mo, mahangin sa buong kabahayan

Presko’t masaya, aso’t pusa at mga halaman

Parusa ba yan sa amin na di malingap sa kalikasan?

O Araw, ang init mo ay aming buhay at kinabukasan

Mga kabataan, yan ang inyong dapat tandaan

JT's Manukan along Kalayaan Ave., QC

We love chicken inasal. We have tried various restos serving chicken inasal and one of our recent favorite inasal resto is JT's along Kalayaan Ave., QC, JT's is owned by actor Joel Torre. What would you expect from JT's?  JT's Kalayaan is a cozy place - good for drinking ice cold beer with your friends or simply lunch or dinner with the family. My usual order at JT's is the popular chicken inasal and batchoy plus inihaw na atay. Chicken inasal is eaten deliciuousli if accompanied with the 3 condiments - toyo, suka and the yellow oil topping on the rice mixed with kalamansi and sili. The price of the food is very reasonable. Try JT's and you will not be disappointed! 

The 3 Condiments that makes Inasal Tasty

Pork Sisig

Batchoy is good for sharing also

Paa - Red chicken meat is my favorite

JT's should already include the rice in the price of the inasal or indicate rice not included. I read complaints from take-out and delivery costumers, asking why no rice in the inasal?

Thai Original BOAT Noodle

Craving for a new taste of noodles after having tasted the Japanese ramen and Chinese Mami at SM, the Original BOAT Noodle, a new Thai restaurant at SM North EDSA was a blessing. The resto is still new and its menu is still limited but they have a very interesting choice of Thai noodles that you can try for P65 per bowl @90 gms. There are four choices at the moment with different soup base and a choice of beef or pork filling. I tried two of them (Pathumthani and Ayutthaya) hoping to taste the "Tom Yang" taste but missed it. Maybe the next two types of noodles (Tom Kha Kai and Kaho Soi) will be closer to the spicy "Tom Yang" taste. The noodles with the fillings were good. Ninety (90) gms of a bowl may not be enough to fill your tummy, that's why I tried two of them plus deep fried Thai Spring Roll. They have a promo for you to try the four types of noodles or 4 + 1 sampler set at P399 (The plus "1" refers to an extra drink). I am looking for my next visit with my family to try their rice dishes and pad thai and mango sticky rice,

Ayutthaya Noodles

Pathumthani Noodles

Thai Spring Roll

Our favorite bakeries - Bagong Pag-asa, Pan de Manila and Balai Pandesal

 I have suki bakeries when buying bread and pastries. My number one bakery is Bagong Pag-asa Bakery (BPB) at Pag-asa, QC. Their bread are of good quality and reasonably priced. My favorites are Premium Loaf Bread (P74.00), Wheat Monay (P38.00 x 6 pcs), Spanish Bread (P21.00), Kalihim (P19.00 x 4) and Kababayan (P22.00 x 6). I also love their Shing-a-Ling,

Bagong Pag-asa Bakery

Pan de Manila has become our alternative bakery when the pandemic happened. Pan de Manila delivers their bread and pastries via Grab or Food Panda. Our favorite choices at PdM are Cinamon Pandesal, Cheese Stick Pesto, Pan de Coco, Banana Loaf and Regular Pandesal. Compared to BPB, prices at PdM are higher. But the advantage of PdM is that there are many branches near our place. 

A new discovery for us is Balai Pandesal. I tried once to order via Grab their specialties like Cheese Bread, Coffee Bun, Spanish Bread, Cinamon and Banana Loaf. Eureka! I was suprised with the quality (soft texture) and taste. The prices are not high compared to other bread shops like Bread Talk but the taste and size are comparable. After my first order, we have become a suki of Balai Pandesal. I tried their Coco Jam, it was great with their pandesal! Now, Balai Pandesal specialties has become a regular bread at home for mirienda and breakfast. Like PdM, Balai Pandesal has also many branches. 

https://www.facebook.com/BalaiPandesalPH/

NAM NAM - A Cozy Vietnam Pho Resto

NAM NAM along Maginhawa St., QC is a new discovery for us when it comes to Pho and Vietnamese specialties. Nam Nam is a small cozy restaurant (15 pax max inside) that serves limited dishes (a) two types of beef Pho noodle soup Pho Bo (Regular) and Bun Bo Hue (Spicy), (b) two types of spring rolls - fresh and deep fried. Their drinks can be a choice of Vietnamese coffee (cold/hot), lemon grass juice and beer (local or imported). With their short menu, you are sure to taste their best and only dishes. 

 

Bun Bo Hue - Spicy beef noodle soup is superb. The quantity of the flat noodles may not be as much at other Pho restos but the soup is the highlight! You can judge how good the dish is after. No left over soup for the Bun Bo Hue!

Pho Bo - another outstanding beef noodle soup - if you want to add some spice, you may add their secret spicy red sauce. 

The deep fried pork spring rolls with their secret sauce is awesome. This may be a little bit expensive for P120 for two pieces but the crispiness and taste would make you forget about the price. 

The Vietnamese coffee is another reason why you will return to this place. Not bitter when mixed with condensed milk. Just right. Comparable or even better than the expensive coffee served in SB or CB. 

GYUD FOOD at UP Diliman

 

A new place to meet and dine at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, QC is GYUD FOOD along Emilio Jacinto St. opposite the UP College of Fine Arts and just beside Mang Larry's Isawan. The place has a building which houses food kiosks like Korento, Miss Sizz, Heaven's Barbecue, UP Student Canteen and more. On our first visit, I tried angus burger of Miss Sizz (It was good althoug the burger size is relatively small) and my daughter tried Koreanto's honey fish. The price of the food in the various kiosks ranges from P100 to P400 for individual meals. There are also group servings and I am curious with the Heaven's Barbecue - their prok barbecues are tempting for those who crave for juicy and oily pork :-). Outside there are food trucks and you can also eat al fresco. And yes, there is even a corner where you can squat ala Japanese and enjoy your food. GYUD is really a "Good Yummy Destination."

Angus Burger and Honey Fried Fish

What's inside and outside Gyud Food?

https://www.facebook.com/carlos.centeno.927980