Royce' Collection - a wonderful mix of goodies

We conclude the first month of the year with this post about a box of chocolates. Well, not exactly like the one in Forrest Gump or other boxes I've featured here in my blog. This one is from Royce of Japan. Friends gifted us with this box containing a generous sampling of Royce chocolates last December.

The box itself was elegant and one could already get excited to see what's inside.

The 'menu' or a description of what are inside is in Japanese. Most of the names are in Katakana so one familiar with this writing could probably figure out what each treat was. The one at the bottom left reads "nutty bar chocolate".

Here are the contents of the box. The photo is rotated so the "nutty bar chocolate" here is actually at the top right of the photo.

We thought this was an excellent gift or souvenir idea. We'll be looking for this box the next time we pass by Haneda or Narita, or perhaps when we visit Japan soon.

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Dinner at Nono's, Arcovia

Last week after our daughter's football tournament, we decided to proceed to Landers at Arcovia (formerly the Union Ajinomoto plant along C5 in Ugong, Pasig City). Before doing some shopping we decided to eat an early dinner. We ended up at Nono's, which is just across from Landers. While the wife ordered Fried Chicken and Waffles, our daughter went for Mac n Cheese. I decided to try something new and interesting from the menu, and ended up with their Pan-roasted Sole with Aglio Olio.

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Their Pan roasted Sole with Spaghettini Aglio e Olio is really good!

The mixture of flavors or tastes from the sun dried and cherry tomatoes, the lemon, capers and olive oil was splendid! I think this will be one of my go-to meal at Nono's from then on.

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Exhibit of images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Antipolo City

Today marks the Solemn Declaration of the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, more popularly known as the Virgin of Antipolo. The shrine is one of the most popular if not the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Philippines. It is certainly among the most visited along with Baclaran (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), Quiapo (Black Nazarene) and Cebu (Sto. Nino). 

Last Tuesday, as we were to have dinner at a nearby mall to celebrate the birthday of our daughter, I was surprised to see a Marian exhibit. The exhibit featured replicas of images of the Virgin of Antipolo. Note that the original image is in the shrine like  those of other images, often very old (e.g., some more than 100 years old) that are usually kept and preserved in thier 'home' churches. Among the more familiar images are those of Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the original images of which may be found in France, Portugal and Mexico, respectively. Locally, there is Our Lady of Manaoag (Pangasinan), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Baclaran), among other images.

 

A replica of the Virgin of Antipolo is at the center of the exhibit. The others, while also replicas, were dressed or adorned differently and perhaps according to what the owner-families preferred other than being faithful to the usual garments worn by the image at the shrine.

The replicas are mostly owned by various families who have maintained or cared for these sometimes across generations of their families. Many appear to be images used in processions like those in town fiestas or during the Holy Week.

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Ramen Kuroda at SM Marikina

We've eaten at Ramen Kuroda before but I had not taken photos of previous meals there. I decided to take a few photos of our lunch to share these in this post. Here are three bowls we ordered for lunch and the additional tempura we had.

Shiro ramen

Kuro ramen

Aka ramen

Tempura

 

Ramen Kuroda serves good quality ramen at relatively more affordable prices than other ramen shops. This branch's facilities and service is straightforward and efficient. Nice for a quick, no frills meal to satisfy ramen or Japanese food cravings.

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Best otap in Cebu?

A close friend gave us some otap as pasalubong after the New Year. They spent the break in Cebu and one of the favorite souvenirs from there is their otap. The otap is like a cookie but with a somewhat crispy and flaky (both at the same time) texture to it. There is usually sugar on top of the otap. It is also described as a puff pastry as stated in many otap packaging. It is perfect as a snack and goes well with a beverage especially coffee or chocolate.

My friend told me that Hillside Bakeshop's special otap is the best in Cebu.

The otap is made in the town of Carmen, which is located north of Cebu City. The product bears the logo the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which assisted in the production and packaging of the otap.

Nutrition and allergen information on this delicacy

The otap is packaged in two's

The usual otap we buy would be either Shamrock or Titay's. Shamrock is the 'go to' pasalubong and can easily be purchased at many stores including their own and the local groceries or supermarket. Of course, these are also sold at the airport terminal. Titay's is also available in most stores and supermarkets but has better packaging than Shamrock. But Titay's is better known for its other products. It just so happens they have otap, too. It is Shamrock that claims to be home of Cebu's finest otap. I even recall that at one time their packaging stated "the house that otap built" or something like that. My friend says Hillside's is the best otap now. Tasting it, I thought it is better than Shamrock and Titay's. It tasted creamier than Shamrock's or Titay's. I would say that based on the pack I was given that this was better otap. However, I wouldn't discount other otap in Cebu being better in taste (or quality), or that there are other otap made elsewhere that would taste better. I guess the jury is still out there for the best otap.

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Sunday lunches at home

There was a lot to thank for and celebrate during the holidays last year. That meant some good food on the table during the weekends. Sunday lunches and dinners are with our families so we cook or order food for what we consider our special meals of the week. We love grilled food and I'm able to purchase great quality seafood from the market (I usually go to the market on weekends.) for grilling. That will usually be tuna (jaw, belly or steak), pompano, blue marlin, or prawns. We also like pork barbecue, chops or liempo. Sometimes we also have grilled sausages. If we can get marinated chicken (Mediterranean or inasal, for example), then we also grill the chicken.

Grilled tuna jaw (panga ng tuna)

The grilled tuna from another angle

Chicken with pineapples and bell peppers

Salad with romaine lettuce, apples and mangoes

Pork barbecue

That's grilled pompano behind the tuna

When we are at my parents' home for Sunday lunch, we usually just order food. We typically also order grilled or roasted food (Peri-peri or Kenny Rogers) or go for some Japanese food (Botejyu or Tokyo Tokyo), which we also like and is like a treat for my father who loves to reminisce about his travels to Japan in the 1960s and 1970s.

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Chef Hazel's Table, Village Corner, Beverly Hills, Antipolo

There's a new restaurant in our neighborhood. What used to be a pandesal store is now a nice restaurant. Chef Hazel's Table, as we learned from the owners themselves, used to be located in Taytay. We didn't ask why they transferred or moved out of their former location but assumed its probably to find a better place from which they can attract more customers.

Restaurant menu featuring familiar items like those for breakfast and Filipino cuisine. A must try would be the Chef's specials.

Restaurant menu showing pasta, noodles, sandwiches, desserts and drinks

Streetballs for appetizers

Their four seasons is the real deal from real fruits and not an instant mix or from a tetra pak.

Their version of canton bihon guisado is really good.

A must try is their grilled chicken alfaham

The food is good and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity of their servings. They also have pandesal, brownies and cakes. We'll definitely come back for more and especially to again enjoy the chicken alfaham. Chef Hazel's Table is located at the ground floor of Village Corner near the Beverly Hills Subdivision gate along Ortigas Avenue Extension.

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Bye bye shoes!

Last December 31 and before the New Year, I decided to discard a pair of shoes that I have used over the course of the pandemic. Before going for my last morning walk of 2023, I placed my old pair of Merell's on top of our garbage bin where I thought someone would find it and take it. It would have been garbage and probably destroyed if I had put it inside instead. True enough, I saw the pair being carried away as I rounded the corner near my home.

The shoes are still repairable and probably good for a couple or more years depending on use.

It would be difficult to estimate the number of steps I made using these shoes. Ive had them for more than 5 years and wore these shoes during field work (they're water resistant and have good grip) and leisurely travel (they're great for walking around cities). I hope whoever got them uses them and that the shoes would be useful for a few more months if not years.

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Collectors or pickers in the neighborhood?

We were on our regular walk one morning when we can across this sign mounted by a neighbor at his property beside his home. It was probably taken down during demolition or perhaps replaced by a newer sign for the restaurant branch where it came from. The neighbor is a contractor so I was not surprised he was able to get this piece for what I assume to a collection. Or maybe it's just that one piece of curiosity they decided to take home and install?

A familiar face greets walkers and joggers along one of the streets in our village

I joked that seeing the sign during our walks somehow made me hungry. The chain, after all, serves breakfast aside from the usual burgers, fries and the fried chicken they are most known for.

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On Closure for Indiana Jones

Last year marked the end of another series - a movie series that is. I looked forward to the final chapter for Indiana Jones. I have been a fan of the character and the series since Raiders of the Lost Ark and enjoyed and re-watched it so many times along with Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade.

I did not like the 4th installment of series. The Crystal Skull was a bit unusual for me considering the first three delved into the religious items we were quite familiar with - the Ark of the Covenant, a mystical stone, and the Holy Grail. The 5th and last movie (Dial of Destiny) actually almost had a religious flavor to it when one of the items mentioned was the spear of Longinus (the one that was supposed to have pierced the side of Christ while crucified). I was content with the main story being about an ancient calculator, the Antikythera, by Aristotle. Of course, aside from new characters including an interesting main villain, many of the original cast returned for this finale. Their appearance was also a farewell and I appreciate the way this was written and executed in the movie. Its not perfect but its satisfying for me.

If I were to be asked who my favorite Hollywood actors were, I would easily say Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford. I thought they always brought their best stuff no matter what role they played. Except for Toy Story, Tom was not in a series unlike Harrison who was in two of the most successful ones- Star Wars and Indiana Jones. His farewell to the Star Wards franchise wasn't exactly how I would have like Han Solo to go so I really hoped this would not be the kind of ending for Indiana Jones. I was happy for the closure.

Happy New Year to all!