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.

Three Fears You Could Conquer at Tangadan Falls

So I finally reached my first waterfall. True or false? (Pun intended) True! Truly it was one amazing experience! Forgive me for my delight, I sort of ceased being adventurous until recently. As the title implies this is all about the fears I conquered at Tangadan Falls.

Want to hear about it? Read on and I hope I get to lure you to visit one of the best places in my province La Union. Proud to have been there and to have ditched the following fears:

Healthy Lifestyle: S.O.U.L. Cafe (Spice of Urban Life)

"So, I am a disturbance to you eh?"- I told the hubby when he grumbled about me suddenly popping into his office while he was in the middle of something. He replied- "Not a disturbance dear but a distraction!" with all smiles and that deceiving smile that enchants me most.
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That conversation brought me to a quaint resto yesterday. I came from the university to secure some papers I needed for floating my thesis questionnaire. All thanks to my decision to surprise the hubby I finally got to see the cafe I've been hearing about for sometime now and found it as awesome us I heard. Join us!

I didn't realize what an artsy place I was about to enter until the hubby pushed open those doors for me. I found myself marveling at the oh so refreshing ambiance of S.O.U.L. Cafe. It felt like being transported into a totally different world after coming from the hustle bustle of the city.

 I just love the colorful walls and chairs and their friendly crew. We were lucky the place was all ours to enjoy for several minutes!

 We could not make up our minds at first which table to occupy and as I was finally settling myself in one of those crafty green chairs the hubby announced he'd rather rest on the sofa beside the stairs.

The homey, relaxing atmosphere was overpowering! Look who went to dreamland in an instant! :D As always when I see a place for the first time I am drawn to take pictures first before ordering. Come explore the cafe virtually with me! Pardon the quality of the shots because I merely used my ever reliable smartphone.

The fancy design of their floor near the entrance is hard to miss! It makes me smile thinking of the sun's beaming welcoming face on a beautiful summer day.

I think this is what lulled the hubby to sleep in a flash aside from the comfort of the sofa- the sound of water flowing from this artificial falls. I could also hear the tweet tweet chirping of birds yet I could not figure out where the sound was coming from.

Adjacent to the artificial falls was this condiments carrier reminiscent of old wooden carriages.

There is no corner of the cafe which isn't put to use and this area below the staircase looks like the business book-keeping zone.

Now let's go up the mezzanine!

 The staircase is quite steep so I recommend taking off your shoes especially when they are high-heeled when getting to the mezzanine. After all this is what's waiting for you up there...

...cuddly throw pillows and mats for straightening up those tired legs; interesting reads on the shelves and the view of pristine mountains...you wouldn't need your shoes there, just your calm self breathing in and breathing out soaking in the peacefulness that emanates from the view.

I could have stayed there longer had I not felt the grumbling of my stomach smelling the aroma from below.

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And so the ordering began...

Now what to order?
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Since I am on a fresh food and low carbohydrate diet it was easy to pick from the menu...

The Chef's salad got my attention in a flash! It's a refreshing mix of fresh greens drizzled with crab sticks with almond nuts with a choice of either garlic or vinegrette dip. I was tempted to order something sweet and cold like their fire on ice but managed to stop the craving.

The hubby on the other hand totally indulged and requested for his all time favorite- pancit palabok!

 ...this was a totally tasty version the hubby swears :)

looks like somebody with the name "Kulasa" envied her hubby's farm ham sandwich that came with a food for the soul- a note that said...

"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared."  Proverbs 22:24-25

I read it out loud to the hubby who sometimes fails to keep his temper with the toxic nature of his work. I said maybe he should crumple the note and eat it! We had a good laugh!

Now that was me allowing myself to let all the food sink inside while you could see the hubby's head bobbing out on the lower left side corner satiated and sleepy again!

Care to join me take a peek at the garden al fresco dining area while we waited for our bill?

The oh so green plants and fresh air makes one feel rejuvenated and ready for another journey. The hubby and I got an idea of turning our backyard into something akin to this where we could entertain our family and friends. We still got other priorities so that will have to wait until we have the time and more importantly the ample budget.

I freshened up before we left and what do you know? I found myself taking selfie shots in the ladies' room simply because the sight of trees and the plants inside were simply irresistible.

 The next time we visit I would love to try out their three new menus!

• Soul Cafe Steak Breakfast
• Soul Cafe Rib Eye Teppan
• Soul Cafe Salad Tropique

 and their various gourmet coffee, pasta pastries and more using only the freshest ingredients....

My weekday short dates with the hubby never fails to make our relationship not only smooth sailing but always sweet oh amidst all the toxicity of our jobs. I wish all the married couples out there get the time to go out and explore together too....

So, if you're heading North of the country you might want to drop by our new discovery-

S.O.U.L. Cafe (Spice of Urban Life) where you'll get the feel of home, away from home...

"do check out our restaurants label for more of our foodie adventures"

Have a Blessed Weekend dears...

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This isn't a paid post, just another satisfied customer's honest opinion

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S.O.U.L. Cafe is located in Rosario, La Union...just a little after the bridge joining the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union if you're coming from Manila.....
........for further inquiries you could contact them at tel. nos. (072)712-0852, 0919-9285345

 

Pho Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant

   

 After my twenty four hour duty today, the hubby  fetched me and we sent forth for another foodie adventure. I've never really been the adventurous type when it comes to food not until I discovered the wonderful world of blogging. As planned we visited the Vietnamese Restaurant a co-worker Dr. Rey shared to me weeks ago. Thank you for the info dokie! 

the frontage of Pho Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant at
744 Mabini Street, Catbangen, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines

     The hubby and I were intrigued by their authentic Vietnamese cuisine and were craving for the healthy dishes we saw on the menu. The first page of the lists of specialties featured the historical background of Vietnamese culinary tradition, the French as well as the Chinese influences created a variation of mildly spiced food in the North to the simpler yet spicier cuisine of the tropical south Vietnam and the country's center where the attention is made on food presentation. The combination of the three made our eyes bulge with delight unable to decide which to order. 

Beating The Summer Heat at Morning Seven Resort Hotel

   

     Summer is almost over! Today it is raining again, a sign that soon vacation will be over for the kiddos. In the coming months they will be so busy working on school stuff and us moms will have our hands full shuffling household chores and career. For those of you looking for a place to spend the last days of summer in La Union, you might want to visit MORNING SEVEN RESORT HOTEL in Luna.

     My family and I spent one Saturday at the said resort swimming, eating and just enjoying the breeze and life's precious lazy moments courtesy of one of my generous, handsome uncles "wink."

Mommy Lu's Resto

The Letters In November would like to take you to another place to visit in San Fernando- "Mommy Lu's".

Their specialty includes steaks and seafood. I've been begging the hubby to take me there for months now but I just couldn't convince him because surprisingly he does not enjoy steak much.

So when my friends and I had another time to bond and enjoy eating out last December I gladly suggested we dine there! 

The architecture and design of the place brought me back to another time as antique jars and furniture welcomed us.

It brought me to the Spanish era in our country. The dining set on the left crafted magnificently by the bare hands of our ancestors  reminded me of my loving grandpa, a very industrious farmer and carpenter who lived his entire life bonding with his tools. He used to sharpen the teeth of his wood saw regularly while singing folk songs. I wish technology was this advanced then so I could have taken a video of him creating furniture.

There are plants everywhere at Mommy Lu's even the ceiling boasts of a million roots that gently sway with the wind.

I love places replete with history like Mommy Lu's resto. I feel at peace and one with the past.

I could not help but capture this mirror on the bamboo wall. I forgot to disable my smartphone's flash though. I wonder how many faces have peeked into it. If only mirrors could speak they'd tell us a gazillion of secrets.

Now come let's take a seat and dig on the menu!

See the painting on the left ? It features "sungka" a wooden sort of game board where one uses small stones to distribute into holes. We used to have one as kids. We would play it under the shade of trees and when we got bored we would run around the neighborhood chasing each other even on moonlit nights. Gee how technology has changed our lives! Majority now seemingly has the need to consume electricity to entertain themselves. Many kids nowadays are missing the beauty of nature spending so much time with computer games... that is why the hubby and I make it a point to balance the kids' playtime so they do not miss out on the real fun stuff in life- sunshine and fresh air.







 Now, what to order....

I've been told their steaks served with rice/mashed potato and mixed vegetables are a must try! My friends both ordered steak. I failed to take a photo though, wonder of all wonders hehehe I think they must have consumed it before I remembered to capture!

 ..They also had sips of sago and gulaman while I could not make up my mind as always. I was craving for egg that day so from the long list of food I could try I opted to have.... jaraaannnnn!!!!!                                                                                   

"Corned beef and eggs"

..and tried their beef with mixed vegetables.

Both tasted great!

We had halo halo for dessert. The shaved ice with milk was refreshing!

and yes, my friends and I had a grand time away from the toxicity of our profession...by toxicity I mean "between LIFE and DEATH" decision makings...

 You might not believe it but this year we all vowed to practice what we preach and eat in moderation to keep our tummies just the right size LOL.

...until our next foodie post!  Have a blessed day! Thanks for dropping by!

*not a sponsored post, just a happy customer's honest opinion~

If you're headed North of the country you might want to try the homey, cultural and historical dining experience at Mommy Lu's Resto.
You'd find them in front of Coco-Cola Bottler's Philippines,
Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union
tel no. (072)607-6231/ (072)242-4938

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