Midway Grill on the Hubby's 49th

 

Someone turned forty-nine this month and off we went to Midway Grill  for a simple lunch. We ordered our favorite Midway Salad for its nutritional benefits. Nothing like greens, oranges, purples and yellows to spice up the mood! 

View Point Grill and Restaurant- A Sun-Date

The hubby took me to View Point Grill today.

It's been months of community quarantines and finally the restaurants are opening at full capacities although health protocols are still in place. 

View Point Grill is atop a hill. It is located in Bacsil, San Fernando City, L.U so most of the early customers are bikers. 

Of Anniversaries and My Beloved Elyu!

Okay, so this a long overdue post. Our anniversary was on the 31st of October. It was our 18th! So the hubby who is as of late hooked to tripadvisor.com bookings searched for the best hotel for us to spend the day in the province. He chose The Little Surfmaid Resort in San Juan La Union because the price was right 😆 and the reviews we read online were all great!

Where To Eat In La Union: El Navi Restaurant

Today the hubby and I dropped by one of his favorite restaurants in the northern side of the province. He quipped he kinda misses the "clubhouse sandwich" of El Navi Restaurant in the heart of the town of Balaoan, La Union.

A Night At Oasis Country Resort Hotel

Last month the hubby and I finally got to avail of the discount card and coupon for a free stay at one of the rooms at Oasis Country Resort Hotel.

We availed of the promo- "free room for ordering food costing a minimum of 1000 Php". I just came from a week long seminar in the metropolitan area and we were supposed to attend our law school acquiantance party. Talk about perfect timing to enjoy such amenities. The room actually had two beds and had the basic comforts of home away from home. 

Sebay Fat's Bar 'N Grille: One of My Favorite Sunset Watching Venue

 

Dear Friends,

This is a rather late post of one dinner we spent at the beach side restaurant of Sebay Surf Resort at the surfing capital north of the country. It's one of those places where I love watching the sun go down.

Sunset, Surfing Capital of the North, San Juan, La Union

In case you missed my feature on the Surfing Area in San Juan, you may view it here. 

Now back to our foodie adventure at Sebay Fat's Bar 'N Grille....

It was a friend's treat and we arrived there late. Turns out the table was already all set!

Please bear with the tempting seafood and meat overload....

When the hubby and I took our seats this was what got my attention first!-
A huge platter of mixed grilled seafood, chicken and pork with an assortment of the healthy side of eating! The green mangoes, eggplant and the pretty onion, tomatoes and cucumber arrangement was enough feast for my eyes!

- What crispy deep fried meat! Sinfully good! These are the awesome stuff that led to the need for cholesterol lowering medicines. Hmmm nope I honestly did not indulge! The hubby did though and he enjoyed every bit of it!

Whew! The above was sumptuous egg-wrapped fried rice! Just looking at it makes me feel the slow bursting of flavors and the soft creamy taste of protein mixed with fat and sodium.

Sizzling spicy, thinly sliced meat topped with greens! With juicy lemon squeezed over it this recipe is perfect with wine or a glass of beer- a male friend's opinion. I could probably end up just munching the onion leaves hehehe.

While dining at Sebay Fat's Bar N Grille on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays a band plays soothing music. I love ballad being played on keyboard and being sung live.You could request for your favorite songs and could even take the microphone to entertain your friends with your melodious voice. Something, ahem- I do not have.

Care for dessert which is a natural source of potassium and fiber?

Bananas!- my favorite fruit! I recall almost not having space in our stomachs for these! It was one night of indulgence compensated by working out and sweating the next days. Sometimes, allowing ourselves a bit of gastronomic freedom keeps us from craving and totally giving up on healthy eating.

We left the grille satiated and planning to one time sleep in one of Sebay Surf Resort's nipa hut inspired rooms. For the nth time I promised to try surfing. I live quite near the surfing capital of the North but to this day have not yet rode my fist wave and I feel I am so missing something huge! Since summer on my side of the world is fast approaching- watch out for my Surfing Adventure soon!!!

Sincerely,

~Not a sponsored post but another one of those happy customer's honest opinion.~

P.S. 
Sebay Surf Central is located in San Juan, La Union, Philippines
You could get in touch with them through their website- http://sebaysurfcentral.com/
or the following numbers- 

TELEFAX:
(072) 888-4075

MOBILE NO: SMART / +63910-739-5698 GLOBE / +63917-640-1118 

Kubong Sawali Restaurant

Before Valentine's Day we had a family V-date at one of those nipa-hut themed restaurants in our home sweet province. This was after we had a long walk shopping at San Fernando's Fiesta Trade Fair. Remember that? You can view that post here.

Now Care to join us virtually at...

Kubong Sawali Restaurant?

 The resto is bahay-kubo inspired. Inside, you could feel the breeze from the nearby sea because of its open windows and raised ceiling made of crisscrossed bamboo.

The lamp ornaments are likewise made of bamboo and furniture particularly wooden native chairs adorn the corners of the restaurant.

Places like this always warm my heart reminiscing the simple childhood days I spent with my grandparents.

 The resto has some sort of an annex on one side of the main hall where the dining sets resemble those of nipa huts' "bangko," simple wooden, low chairs and the architectural design allows air to freely enter. I think next time we visit I'd love to dine in this area.

Looks all comfy and cool for summer day lunches! 

On the contrary, for those who prefer an air-conditioned room, there's one for them to occupy on the right side just after the entrance.

Looking at the walls and exploring these rooms I saw these displayed...

The above framed magazine clippings features the humble beginnings of Kubong Sawali having been first established by its entrepreneurs in Baguio City as well as their house specialties which include "Pinaputok na Pusit" (Stuffed Squid), the hubby's inspiration for his Valentine recipe for me. In case you missed that post, you can view it here. 

What To Order At Kubong Sawali?

Let's check out their menu...

The kiddos were the bosses that day and we allowed them to choose first!

 One thing I cherish about our kiddos is that they appreciate natural food more than highly seasoned ones from fast food chains.

So....what were the boys' orders? The hubby suggested it would be best if we ordered one of the combo seafood platter to which everyone agreed.

 The halo-halong pagkain sa bilao (platter of mixed food) consisted of 

• garlic Bangus (milkfish, fried topped with sauteed tomatoes, garlic and onions)
• chicharon bulaklak 
• Nilasing na Hipon (shrimp)
• Fried Squid (supposedly vinegar marinated but since we were dining with the kids we had it fried)
• Inihaw na Liempo (pork barbecue)
• Enseladang talong (eggplant salad) with freshly cut tomatoes and onions

The sight of the oh so green banana leaf spread on the platter was enough appetizer for me!

I loved the garlic milkfish! It's quite a simple dish or so I think hehehe which I am planning to cook one of these days. When exactly?-depends on the movement of the moon hahaha.

Chicken always makes its way into our dining table. This one came with a sauce just right for the kids' taste buds.

Lechon Kawali

 ahhh ohh..not quite healthy for adults huh, our son Roel ordered for this one, he needs the protein and some fats for growing his muscles!

 With some juicy calamansi, red pepper and fish sauce the family had a blast!

Fruit shakes, Guyabano and Mangoe completed our meal...

a glass of cool water all made us say "Happy Valentine's Month" burp! hehehe

See???

Everything disappeared in a flash and someone is planning to eat even the fish scales hahaha.

It was a happy pre-V day family lunch. After all, as long as we are together, everyday is Valentine's day. We didn't get to spend Heart's day itself together so we also had a post V-day dinner hahaha...keep posted for that.

Happy Hearts' Month Everyone!

 

~just another happy customer's honest opinion~

..you might wanna READ MORE of places to dine in La Union here....

as for Kubong Sawali Restaurant, you can find them at:

National Highway, Pagdalagan Sur, Bauang, La Union

Tel Nos. (072) 705-01-50

Cafe Esperanza- A Mellow Cafe for Mellow Thoughts...and Sweet Valentine Conversations...

Cafe Esperanza

~a  place in the heart of the city that I ......love visiting

they got the tastiest native cakes and

sweets as well as pastries and 

 pasta and Chinese dishes

and of course coffee

I love eating while watching passersby along the busy city streets

It is a corner in the world where I could

go back in time and be the innocent girl

-I used to be

because it is on the right side of my highschool Alma Mater

and the St. William the Hermit Cathedral where 

I spent so many hours praying for a blessed future...

I usually drop by here when I'm without company

and I just love to talk to my dreamy self and

reminisce...

hmmm yep, dating myself too is one way I keep my sanity in this sometimes too toxic world called 

ADULTHOOD...

The cafe  has a homey feel

Something I love most

and the mere sight of bricks on the walls 

..bread and pastry on jars
!takes me to Neverland

Cafe Esperanza's Cream Pop is the best
!!!I also enjoy their home-cooked style spaghetti
I wonder what their secret ingredient is
....
Their native rice cake believe me
amazed me the first time I tasted it
..having been too stuffed with the serving of pasta I just took home the rice cake...
I put in in the fridge and remembered only to eat it the next day and whoa to
my surprise it was still soft and chewy
and marvelously just sweet enough to
make me scream with delight
and I am saying this not just because I am an Ilocana and a sucker for native cakes...

The place could get too crowded at times but for the love of their specialties everyone seems patient enough to wait for their turn to order and pay....

They offer catering services and I heard they have another Valentine dinner promo!

Too bad, I ain't got my partner tonight!

~The place is hard to miss when you're in San Fernando, L.U.
because the cafe is overlooking the city plaza.~

I just checked their facebook page here-
and had a peek into their Valentine's Dinner menu...

Menu for Dinner Buffet on Valentine's Day

Appetizers: Garlic Mixed Nuts, Nachos with Mexican Salsa, Cheese Sticks
Main Course: American Beef Stew, Southern Style Barbecue Ribs, Chicken Ala Kiev, Fillet of Fish Wrapped in Bacon, Mixed Vegetables with Pasta Penne, Java Rice, Steamed rice
Bread BasketCarrot SoupOpen Salad BarDessert Bar: Fresh Fruits in Lemon Syrup, Mango Jubilee, Cinamonettes, Macaroons, Assorted Cake Bites..

Buffet Starts at 7:00 PM
Price @ Php 399.00

For reservations, please call at telephone number 072-242-0659
Buffet Starts at 7:00 PM Price @ Php 399.00

~geeezzzz the Mango Jubilee and assorted cake bites is enough for me to crave here~
~since the hubby is not available tonight...who wants to raid the Cafe with me????!!!!~
~pay for your own buffet girls! hehehe~

They're at P. Gomez Street, 2500 San Fernando, La Union

see you there tonight SINGLES?

you just might finally meet, Mr. RIGHT!

~definitely not a sponsored post but just another happy customer's honest opinion

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE

Olives Restaurant, Thunderbird Resorts

The Letters In November would like to take you to another must visit place in La Union.

 

 

If you are going North of the country, fail not to dine at  Olives Restaurant at Thunderbird Resorts.

The Mediterranean inspired place makes you feel relaxed, refreshed and carefree. You could either stay at the balcony and enjoy the sight of blue skies and sea or stay in the air-conditioned area.

If you are a loyal follower of The Letters In November you probably remember SILLAG Festival which I featured here twice. Both took place at the boardwalk area of Thunderbird Resorts. The place is also one of my favorite spots in La Union to take sunset shots!

But today I did not visit the place to take nature shots but to satisfy my craving for good food and bonding with my sisters at work. Come dine with us virtually.

Now, what do we order? Let's see....

hmmmmm everything sounds interesting and sumptuous!

I honestly could not make up my mind :)

 while my friends already decided to have rice, meat and veggies I spent time taking photos of their food :)

I do not remember what they were exactly though hahaha but I am sure the above photo is a "duck" recipe. My friend swore it was delicious beyond imagination and wanted me to try. I "chickened" out LOL.

Then I finally remembered what I went there for!- their famous Ilokano Pizza freshly cooked in their wood-fired stone oven!

Ilokano pizza of Olives Restaurant, is a unique blend of Vigan longanisa, Tomato concasse, mozzarella, cheddar cheese, tocino, tuna and onion.

My friends gasped thinking I could eat the whole thing! I denied it of course but had not anyone been looking I could have finished the entire pan!

Oh yes, we had fruit shakes which I suggested should be a variety....

so it would look great in a photo LOL

We also ordered tea and dessert ahem, for the sake of having a taste :)

 Healthy Living has made me a fruit lover and therefore wherever I eat I tend to ask for their fresh fruit version, not that there is any huge difference .

My sweet tooth cravings are still quite hard to stop though so I requested for...

Vanilla Parfait with chocolate flakes
It was divine! What with the cherry on top and my first love-chocolate! 

..and then we had some tea to aid in digesting 
 everything while chit-chatting about life and all the ooohhhh and urghhh and ahhhs of working in the medical field.

We seldom have the time to hang out together and cherish those moments of simply enjoying good food and deep to non-sense conversations about everything under the sun.... I do not tell the world often but these two girls make my life at work a breeze....

meet my besties at work- dockies Jhen and Seves at your service

love yah sisters!!!

..now if you happen to drop by La Union, we could tour you around and you could ask us for some medical advice which we would not give for free! -just kidding of course!

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We all believe that LAUGHTER is indeed the BEST MEDICINE, coupled with nature therapy and lots of Tender, Loving Care :)

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come visit La Union dine, swim and watch the sun go down majestically at Thunderbird Resorts

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Thunderbird Resorts Info:
Location- Poro Point Freeport Zone San Fernando City, La Union Philippines 2500
Contact them at E: pororeservations@thunderbird-asia.com
T: (+63 72) 888 7777 F: (+63 72) 888 3888 M:(+63) 917 586 5126
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*This is not a sponsored post, although I honestly wish it were LOL