commune ph

April 9. Because the eager beaver husband had work that day despite its being holiday nationwide, I had no choice but to stay home and go idle, I don’t know but the idea of going out alone wasn’t really a comfort for me besides its too hot to come out of the house so I remember spending the rest of the day in bed where it’s pretty cooler.

And commonly during the summer season cooking is another of those difficulties, so I try to cook mostly in the morning alone to avoid sweating and stinking badly. But because I was very immobile that time, I had sandwich the entire day. And rather had my full meal at dinner time –out to some place cooler and fancy. I was suspecting the mall to be crowded as well and noisy and I don’t want to hassle myself so we decided to look for a place nearby where we could eat decently and relax.

Commune is one of those third wave coffee shops which became popular in the social media scene because of its cute coffee art. I love coffee art and I sometimes feel short if the coffee art is too plain for my taste. I love it that Commune wasn’t crowded that night, its contemporary vibe was perfect for some light talk with family and friends, with the husband in my case. 😀

The seats were comfy and that’s more than enough for me to make a second come back. Hehehe.

The food was another reason to revisit Commune, I was planning to get myself a sandwich only but that all day breakfast meal was so hard to pass esp when my favorite is offered. You know how I love Tocino and theirs didn’t fail. It was tender and sweet and serving was just right.

Pork Tocino P160+  

The husband had Beef Tapa which was equally tender and juicy tho a little steep at P220 compared to my plate. Anyhow, you want it best then be ready to pay more, I guess it’s the little hoax of eating a real meal.

Beef Tapa with garlic rice, fried egg and atchara. I’d like to have two eggs next time.

After dinner, we stayed and had coffee of our choice. I got myself the Café Mocha, P124 mug serving, you have the option to order it by cup only which is slightly cheaper.

The husband had Brewed Coffee only so there’s no cute latte art to capture in his cup. To pair my coffee I tried a cookie, it’s not cheap at all because with its price I can have an Eric Kayser big cookie already. I was tempted to order a slice of Apple Pie but the price was sickening as well, probably they’re just outsourcing the pastries the reason why it’s pricey. Pero bakit naman si Starbucks, affordable pa rin kahit outsourced lang, I’m just saying. I wish they’d bake and create their own sweets.

If there’s no work the following day we could have stayed longer until its closing time, we’d like to go back to try their comfort food –adobo, sinigang and more,

…and another cup of coffee with a kitten latte art next, please. 🙂

Commune

Liberty Plaza, 102 H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City

T. +632 889-2660

 

 

sundate no.26 + earth hour

March 30. A supposed happy and exciting lunch with the maternals became the conduit of that not-so-happy news, tho I’ve already had negative feelings prior to that day I remained positive and hopeful.

We’ve initially plan of road tripping during the Holy Week, the maternals were so excited in fact and I was the one with little apprehension foremost because my BIL would be arriving from abroad and we have to keep him company during the holiday and seeing that, I worry that we might not be able to join the group the entire trip. But perhaps the hasty cancellation of the trip to north was for everyone’s good, it’s what I’d like to believe now.

Maybe it’s not really meant to happen this year, let’s look forward to next year. 🙂 And tho it came a big disappointment to some I hope there’s no hard feelings into it. C’mon let’s just accept and let go, as simple as that. I still dream of beach bumming with you guys just like the old days when we were so much younger and innocent, and free from life’s unending trouble. I’ll see you soon. 🙂

The eye and that feeling of home…

The night before the fambam was out in Tagaytay to unwind and to savor the remaining cold breeze, it was warm which was expected because the promenade was packed with people then. Everyone must want to save electricity as well so they’d trooped to watch the free show; we chanced KZ Tandingan who did a very good performance. I’m not a fan but she wowed me esp when she did the Eheads songs. KZ changed a lot after her winning the first X-Factor Philippines tho I’d like her better when she first went on stage singing reggae plus raps. By the way, coincidentally that night was Earth Hour too.

And because the temperature was rather humid, Razon’s halo-halo was the perfect ending to our night. ♥

P.S. I miss the kiddos and the two B’s… 

 

hay buhay!

*my view during Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, i miss the serene sunset and the carefree beachgoers…

After vacaying for 7-days I’m shortly back at work, and what welcomed me was a big chaos, kumusta naman di ba? It was an exhausting Thursday and Friday, I’m dead beat. I don’t know what’s there for me this weekend other than I really, really need to recharge to brave another Monday. The life of a corporate slave, I’m beginning to despise it more and more.

I wish they had a word for being happy and sad at the same time because that’s what I feel this very minute. 😦

 

it’s friday eve!

It’s been a tiring week and I need another coffee fix, only that and I’m all right. ♥

Have a cheery weekend folks!

 

spinach and three-cheese omelet

I’m all by myself again yesterday, the house was all mine as early as 6am. Tho it’s quite lonesome to be alone on Sunday I’m getting used to it besides it’s becoming the perfect moment for my trivial me-times. 🙂

The remaining cold breeze in the morning pushes my body back to bed so I got up late, it’s permissible because I’m not cooking for anyone this time and I just need to cook my own food, no pressure on that. Other than I can’t help but missed the husband’s presence, even his annoying habit and our morning convo in bed. Well, I’m not spending the day in miserly, life goes on for me.

I wanted a good breakfast, a restaurant grade or even grandeur depending on what I currently have at home. I need to load up because I’m not planning to lunch anymore other than I don’t want to starve myself either while waiting for dinner. Eggs are good for breakfast, it’s so versatile because I can create more than 101 delicious ways with it and omelets are the best tho a tasty frittata would be much wanted if only I have a good skillet at hand. Now you know what to gift me next Christmas, I want a cast iron skillet from Gourdo’s. 😛

 

Spinach and Three-Cheese Omelet,

Serves 2

 

3 large eggs

1 cup baby spinach leaves

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 slice (1oz) of sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into cubes

Salt and pepper to taste

1.  In a bowl, beat the eggs, and stir in the baby spinach, parmesan, and cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

2.  In medium skillet/pan coated with canola or olive oil over medium heat, cook the egg mixture about 1 minute, until partially set. Flip with a spatula, and continue cooking for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking for 2 minutes.

3.  Fold and Serve. Sprinkle omelet with cheese and pepper (optional). Fold omelet in half, allowing cheese to melt. Slide cooked omelet onto a wooden bread tray. Serve with loaf bread and forest ham of your choice.

 

Mornings can’t be anywhere perfect except at the comfort of your own kitchen, the smell of breakfast and the happiness it brings. Sundays remains to be my love! ♥

 

italianni’s, illy and cucina andare

A Saturdate. I had a quite fulfilling, tiring day yesterday but I’m no way complaining despite Manila’s very hot climate, despite the scarcity of fund to splurge and shop, despite the aching toes from window shopping. It’s the day of the week I always look forward to aside from Sunday. It’s the day I could care less of all the issues I have in my bag. And it’s a day I can snatched my husband from his pestering routine. 😦

Like most weekend I have plans for us but most of the time those plans but becomes the next weekend plan and so on and so forth until we really find time. You know how I’d love to wake up on weekends before and indulged to some breakfast plate, I love it when most people are out early, savoring their hot cup of coffee while reading the papers and chitchatting with family. I love it when the sun is up and kissing me gently. ♥ But because we tend to go out more often on Fridays this time (he’s mostly off on a Saturday so it’s permissible even if we stay late, very late on Friday nights) we’re more likely to extend sleeps on Saturday mornings and get up late for breakfast, it doesn’t took any advantage for me that there are a lot of restaurants these days offering all-day breakfast, still I want to eat my breakfast at around 7-8am, the best time for pancakes and omelets, ham and bacon, corned beef and spam, dried fish and hotdogs, coffee and oj, and cheese and butter, hmmm…I’d die with the smell of breakfast alone!

Other than we missed breakfast again yesterday, and it was past lunch already when we arrived at the mall. I have nothing so specific in my list for lunch tho I’d easily discarded the husband’s penchant to eat Chinese-y. I’m not in the mood for dimsum and chili flakes and noodles, I’m not in the mood to eat rice either, so we’d happily found ourselves settled at this not so cheap bistro. That normally happens when we’re not decided for anything it’s either we end up in turo-turo or in a fancy restaurant that we feel like.

Italiannis isn’t our run of the mill restaurant; sometimes we need to wait for a special occasion to come by to excuse its pricey pasta and pizza. But yesterday was like a form of reward, I had a pretty good week or probably it’s what I’d like to believe. 🙂 Seriously, I think I’ve said what I needed to say, I think I made myself very clear, and I was able to listen in as well. And for that, I’m not so guilty to eat to my heart’s content.

*this was the second serving, tuscan bread

To start we had complimentary home-baked Foccacia bread which we dipped in olive oil and aged vinegar, and because we were famished already we had a second serving of Tuscan bread this time.

I would have wanted to eat a refreshing healthy salad but calculating my resources I can make my very own feast at home, so we skipped and rather picked the pasta of our choice.

Shrimp Fra Diablo. Fettuccini sautéed with shrimps, garlic, spinach, asparagus and feta cheese in tomato cream sauce. It’s a default for us that we order our pasta with seafood, we loved it especially the generous serving of shrimps.

We’re a bit thorn between Truffle Mushroom and Quattro Staggioni pizza, I love the latter because its four flavored already however the former won because of the black truffle cream and prosciutto which were both very foreign to me.

The dough which we both love had some bite and chew; I can attest that it’s freshly made.

By 3pm we’re done, satiated and all, I couldn’t afford to have dessert unless it’ll be given free. Hehehe. Italianni’s once again impressed me with another great experience –good food and service was evenly superb! Burp!

Husband and I split ways after, he was running some errand without me so I was left in the big mall. But sometimes I love it that we have our alone time, and I guess it’s another secret to a happy marriage, me-time! 😀 Tho the downside of it I always end up with the luxury side of self-nurturing, and retail therapy becomes a necessity. Hahaha. I went to window shop but eventually end up with a loot from Forever 21.

By the way, for the first time I was able to try Illy Café Delizio at the Ground Level of National Bookstore, I thought it was the perfect break from the sweltering summer heat plus I need a good place to sit down, a bit remote from the clatter of mall ambiance.

I had Iced Mocha, it was steep at P181.50 and I swear to myself that I’m not going back there for coffee or frappe, its way over my budget. I’d probably go back for the Tiramisu alone.

Before dinner time the husband and I met up once again, we had a quick round at Rustan’s Supermarket and bought our weekly supply –forest ham, cheddar cheese, paper towels, chips and fruits. It’s a must that we have a good stock of fruits at home because that aids me from digestive disorders, the limitation of being old and out of shape.

And because I’m maximizing our couple time, we made a trip at Cucina Andare’s new location. I wanted a carefree dinner and The Link’s roof deck was perfect for Manila’s very warm climate now, it’s windy up there. Other than the food market need more ads to continue its operation. Unlike at its old location, it’s in plain sight and people who are just passing by would normally stop and peek around. I noticed that there’s not even a tarp at the entrance of the Link, and the visible signage so far was placed no more than at Level 7 of the parking area. I suggest that they put a classified at the elevators so people would see it right away. 🙂

Anyhow back at Cucina Andare, the choices were a bit limited now, but we happily settled with one of our favorites –baby back ribs! Cheap at P120 only with a kind serving of rice already.

We got another order of Cajun Pork Chops with mashed potato at P130 only, everything was so dirt cheap and that gave me no guilt to splurge on sweets, all from Cakes by K.

We stayed late because my BIL made a call, he was pretty enjoying the video calling thru facetime and we thought our signal would slow down if we move out right away.

My Saturday was far from being dull, it’s a day out I’d love to go over again, it’s just right that we spent time together and it’s rational that we enjoy what we earn. Tomorrow is the start of another workweek and I’m more than ready to face all the challenges coming my way, after all I believe everything has its own resolution, I’m confident you know. 🙂

 

 

Italianni’s Restaurant, Glorietta

Level 2, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City

T. +632 757-1323 / 757-1324

 

 

Illy Café Delizio

Ground Floor, National Book Store, Glorietta, Glorietta Complex, Makati City

T. +632 4753834

 

 

Cucina Andare

Roof Deck, The Link Glorietta