Valentine's Day Shenanigans: Di' Mark's

We’re itching for some Italian. It’s been so long since we’ve eaten a good pizza. It’s Valentine’s Day and it’s exactly pay day (and since we also have to do our groceries), we decided to eat out instead. We haven’t tried Di’ Mark’s pizza yet. I’ve read good reviews about it. It’s a go.    

  

A little Di’ Mark’s History

It used to be a family resto which first opened on Menlo Road, Pasay City. Five decades of home cooked quality food, beat that!

Each Di’ Mark’s Pizza is made with our very own fresh dough, homemade processed tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, oregano and authentic olive oil – the big difference in pizza! (from their website)

Hubby’s vegetarian again for the night. It’s a meat-free dinner (except for his bacon bits!) So, here’s what we’ve ordered:

Tossed Green Salad
 salad greens w/ bacon bits, grated and cheese
 and Di Mark’s vinaigrette dressing

Normally, hubby would order a salad with a creamy dressing. It’s a first that he actually did enjoyed munching a salad with a vinaigrette dressing, so I’m guessing it’s that good. For me, all tossed greens tastes the same (well, it’s just me). 

Fettuccini with Garlic and Olive Oil

This pasta is something. I haven’t tasted anything like it. Not too garlicky, pasta’s cooked just right, generous amount of cheese, has a distinct taste (I noticed it has roasted sesame seeds in it, hence the slight nutty flavor). Except for the excessive oil, overall it’s a WOW.

Menlo Special Pizza
Mozzarella, Native Cheese and Grated Cheese

What sets a good pizza apart? I believe it’s the crust. Di Mark’s Pizza crust is: thin, but not too thin, crunchy on the outside but still soft and chewy on the inside, baked just right and no excessive grease! This pizza is divine! And I love the earthy herbaceous taste of it!

I'm loving the old school picnic feel tablecloth! :)

The place is really small so expect it to be cozy. And I love their yellow walls (the color gives a warm ambiance)! We’re loving the cantina feel of the place. The sight, smell and feel of it. Yes, it’s home cooked quality food at its finest! Reasonably prized menu (we spent around P550 for our meal). The distinct food taste compensated its small serving size. The place was kinda packed that night, so I guess it’s to blame for the blah service.

We’re definitely coming back. Maybe after our long beach trip so I could chomp on more food. Oh my, this diet is killing me!

Located at Alabang Town Center for residents of the South.

Tagaytay Getaway: Tower Ground Bulalohan

This bulalo house is located at Aguinaldo Hi-way, Tagaytay City. A swarm of overlooking bulalo houses in Aguinaldo Hi-way awaits you, plenty of choices to choose from. I didn’t get to eat much, I haven’t eaten Bulalo for almost 6 years now, and I hadn’t had the chance to try Sisig as well. When it comes to food musings, I’m not that good when it comes to describing meat dishes. I’m sorry, but I already asked my siblings to describe it for me.

The place looks like a canteen. It’s an open-house type eatery, so if you’re more on the upper class side, steer away from this place. 

So here’s what we’ve ordered:

Kapeng Barako: P48
Barako coffee has a strong caffeine content.
It's Batangas' well loved coffee. :)  

Pork Sisig: P200

Extra Bulalo: P380
(sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the entire earthen pot) 

My siblings loved the Sisig. I asked hubby to have a taste as well and claims that it’s that good too. (I’m so sorry if I can’t elaborate. Hahaha! I already forgot what meat tastes like!) 

Hubby and I ordered Calamares and Fresh Lumpia (sorry, I wasn’t able to take pictures because we’re too famished, LOL). I’m so disappointed with both. The squid’s overcooked and it’s almost like chewing rubber. I have braces and my teeth hurt like hell! The veggies from the lumpia filling were soggy. It looks like it has been reheated a dozen times.

scenic view of Taal Lake :)

There’s a corkage fee, a minimum of P1300 order so you could use the huts located at the bottom of the resto, which overlooks an amazing view of Taal lake. This place is a good bulalo house, hence, the name. It’s a nice place to hang out with family and friends.

w/ my siblings, Paul and his brother Chie

good cheap eats! for only P200 per head! :)

Next time, I’ll just bring my own food. :P

A Quick Post

Ohhh my! I've abandoned this blog! I'm so sorry, blog. Mommy lost her food writing mojo due to unfortunate twist of events. But I'll post food reviews soon. I miss food blogging. :(

DIY: Pesto-Nut Pasta w/ Chicken Paprika Strips

Ingredients:

garlic

chopped fresh sweet basil

ground walnut

grilled chicken strips

your choice of cooked pasta

olive oil

spanish paprika

salt and pepper to taste 

How to:

for chicken strips

marinate chicken breast in olive oil, 

paprika, pepper, a little salt for at least 15 mins

pan grill until done

cut into small strips

saute garlic in olive oil

add basil and ground walnut

add your grilled chicken strips

toss w/ cooked pasta

season according to taste

**drizzle w/ white sauce for extra oomph** 

Popular Post: Chic Boy Chicken at Baboy

It was just recently that I've been blogging about food posts and I decided to make a separate blog about it. Apparently, eating has been more pleasurable to me nowadays (hence, the weight gain) because it's the only luxury we can afford for the time being. 

So I was surprised when I received a PM on my FB account that says:

click to zoom photo :)

Somebody reads my food blog! LOL. I'm glad they found it wonderful, though it isn't what you will call a review. The Chic Boy post is more like of a rant because it's not that detailed and it's very brief. But thank you, I appreciate it. So, I don't mind at all. :)

I know it's nothing. I'm not a popular blogger and most of the time, I just blog about personal rants. But it means to me because I don't blog to get paid, and definitely I don't do this to become famous (and most of my readers are very few friends). I blog because I love to write and I wanna share my instantaneous search for budget-friendly-yet-to-discover food restos around the metro with the people around me and with the people who also happens to be a cheapskate when it comes to restaurant choices. 

And it made the Chic Boy post the most popular post in this blog of mine. 

Till next! :)

Thank you Ms. Cat Juan for posting the link in your website!
Means a lot to a newbie food blogger! :)  

Cheap Eats: Weekend Munchies

Some random eats over the weekend. :)

Red Dragon's Ebi Tempura:
Yummiest tempura I've tasted from Seaside Dampa Daanghari.

My New Year Munchies:
because I've had too much to eat :P 

Holiday cupcakes:
and because I just can't stop staring at them! :)

Good Cheap Eats: SM Southmall Las Pinas

We went to SM Southmall a few weeks ago and was surprised by the newly renovated mall. We're impressed! It's a knockoff of SM Mall of Asia, but a smaller version of it. There are those high-end stores, stores you can only see in upscale Northern Metro Manila malls. Well, you get the picture. :P

Hubby's sick that day and he's craving for some hot congee and I miss eating from BODHI as well, so we went to the nearest mall within our proximity area. Where else but the MOA of the far south? ;D

approximately p90 and it comes w/ an 8oz iced tea! :)

ME: You always have tofu every time we go out to eat,
Di ka ba naumay? Tofu's all we eat at home!
TATAY: No. Sarap eh. 

Hubby's another attempt at being a vegetarian. ;)

sickly boy on New Year's day

    

Happy 2011, everyone! :)