For creamy and cheesy pasta cravings: House of Lasagna

A couple of weekends ago, I visited the city of Manila with Ryan. He had errands to run at Divisoria and I happily agreed to tag along. We ended up having dinner at Robinson's Place, Manila. We couldn't decide where to eat exactly that day so we walked around the mall for awhile in search of a restaurant that would appeal to both of us... til we saw House of Lasagna.

It was a first for both of us since the branch of House of Lasagna in Makati is not in the vicinity of Greenbelt-Landmark-Glorietta-SM where we usually are.

So what did we order? Well lasagna of course! We ordered two different flavors since we were told the serving is good for 1 person only.

Chicken lasagna

Beef  Lasagna

The chicken lasagna with parsley is lighter in flavor while the beef with rosemary and thyme is darker. However both are creamy and cheesy and very delicious! They were served piping hot too! The serving is actually big so you can share it with a friend.

We also ordered salad since I try to make it a point to add green leafy veggies in my diet. Try being the operative word here since I don't often get to do that. Anyway, we ordered Caesar Salad.

Again, the serving is big so good for sharing. As for what it taste like - it's crunchy and salty. Really good salad.

Now when I'm craving for creamy and cheesy pasta, I would go back here. And if I can't, then you can bet that I would be looking for a restaurant that will give me the same satisfying feeling of being satiated with good food that I found at House of Lasagna. This place has now set the bar higher for what delicious lasagna is to me.

 

An Artsy Weekend: Art Fair Philippines 2016

Confession: In school, one of the subjects I least liked was Art class. We had projects like collage, painting and drawing and I just didn't have it in me - that artsy fartsy creative bone in my body. I remember watching my friend, Anerine back in 6th grade, create an artwork using pastels and being equally fascinated and jealous at the same time because she's got the talent for it. I do believe she even entered art competitions in school back then.

Anyway, I learned to let that go and simply appreciate other people's works of arts. So last month, another friend of mine, Mai Ann invited Ryan and I to visit Art Fair Philippines. She'd wanted to check out since last year - for some reason though we didn't get to do so 'til this year.

Art Fair is held annually at The Link, Makati. Since 2013, this event has served as an avenue for modern and contemporary Philippine visual artists to exhibit and sell their best works. Art Fair is also another venue where art is made accessible to enthusiasts, those who are looking to discover a new art work to invest in and those who are simply curious. The 4th floor of SM Megamall also houses some art works that people can view, appreciate and buy too.

Here are the various art works that we saw at this year's art fair exhibit. 

Glass sculptures by Ramon Orlina. This is not the first time I saw pieces of his work. When I visited Tagaytay with some other friends a couple of years back at his then newly opened museum. 

Of course I did see a lot of paintings there. Here are the ones that caught my eye.

Other kinds of art that I liked at the Art Fair:

Eye see you! 

This is the first time I saw an art installation like this. I was seriously amazed that this is just the effect of mirrors.

City of Pencils 

I enjoyed going to the Art Fair even though my feet hurt from walking around and climbing up the stairs (the elevator was too packed with people). It's nice to do something new and different on a weekend when I'm usually just hanging out in a coffee shop. 

New TV addictions

With my favorite Shonda Rhimes TV series Scandal nearing its season finale and How to Get Away with Murder Season 2 already wrapped up, I went searching for new TV shows to watch. These are the two new shows I've added on to my list of must-watch series every week:

Jane The Virgin

I know this series started 2 years ago. But I was only enticed to watch it after seeing a preview of the tagalized version on ABS-CBN about a week or two ago. I'm not watching that version. I'm watching the original English version. 

I found the preview amusing so I decided to watch it. I'm only on season 1 since I just started watching but it's not disappointing me at all. I'm loving Jane's quirky family - Abuela, her mom and her Dad (the telenovela superstar). 

And I love her detective ex-fiance, Michael Cordero. 

They had such a meet-cute story. And he's so in love with her that he's actually willing to wait for her to be ready for sex. And when she got pregnant with another man's baby, he was still willing to stick around and take care of the baby (granted he freaked out for awhile and didn't really want Jane to keep the baby but he got on board eventually so I gotta give him credits for it). 

I'm just not into Rafael. I agree with her mom. They are just from two different worlds. I think he also wouldn't have noticed Jane's existence again if she didn't get accidentally impregnated with his baby. He kissed her five years ago and never bothered to call which makes me think he's a real bad boy. 

So yeah, needless to say, I'm all for Team Michael!

Oh and can I just say how fabulous Rose, Raphael's stepmother and his sister's lover looks? 

Using this Holy Week break to catch up on Jane the Virgin. I can't wait to find out how Jane's story progresses in Season 2. 

American Crime Story: The People v OJ Simpson

So this one is based on a true story. OJ Simpson was a popular football athlete back in the 90s and he was charged with double murder - that of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Lyle Goldman. It was a very sensationalized trial. I was too young then when this happened. But this series, it got me hooked. I don't know if OJ was really guilty (he was acquitted) but from watching this show, I have to say he really did have a great team of lawyers working for him. 

 

 

I gotta give props to Sarah Paulson who plays Marcia Clark in the series. Great acting! From her, I can already feel the frustration and hardship that the real Marcia Clark went through during the real trial. And the biggest blow of it all, they lost the case after believing so much that they had all the evidence to convict OJ. 

Also great acting from John Travolta as Robert Shapiro!

 

Bridget Jones' Third Movie Installment is Here!

Was browsing Facebook tonight and found that finally! The third sequel to Bridget Jones' Diary is here! I think I read about it last year or the year before but I thought the third installment won't be happening anymore because they've hit some sort of a problem in the script or something. But it's here and I am super excited to watch it!

I absolutely love Bridget Jones' Diary - especially the first one. Colin Firth was sooo lovable as Marc Darcy and Hugh Grant as the asshole Daniel Cleaver was adorable. And of course, Renee Zellweger as Bridget - loved her! She's so funny!

Plus Bridget represents the modern single woman. When it came to love, sometimes Bridget was strong...

"I will not be defeated by a bad man and an American stick insect. Instead I choose Vodka. And Chaka Khan."

Sometimes, she had her moments of weakness...

Anyway, Hugh Grant is no longer in the third installment. Instead, Bridget seems to have found herself a new love interest! I mean Marc Darcy's still there of course but there's another new man in her life played by Patrick Dempsey.

I only wish Renee didn't get plastic surgery. She looked way better before than she does now. Oh well. I can't wait to see the third installment to Bridget Jones' Diary! I can tell it's going to be good judging from the trailer. 

A Taste of New York through Dean and Deluca

I first knew about Dean and Deluca from watching the TV series, Felicity. The leading lady of the show, Felicity and her leading man, Ben worked as baristas at Dean and Deluca in the series. In real life, Dean and Deluca is described as a chain of upscale grocery stores with the first store established in Soho, New York City.

Dean and Deluca came to the Philippines opened last year at Edades Tower at the Rockwell area in Makati City. I paid a visit to Dean and Deluca a couple of weeks ago when I was in the area for work. 

   

Dean and Deluca has outside seating and what I like about this one is that it's surrounded by plants. I think that gives a peaceful and relax vibe to the place.  

       

This is how it look likes on the inside:

I really love its black and white interiors especially in the morning. It's just so easy on the eyes. 

At the counter, you'll find lots of breads and desserts that will just make your mouth water. 

On my first visit with my colleagues from work, which was late afternoon, I ordered a pasta, a milkshake drink and dessert! 

I was craving for pesto for the longest time and so I ordered that at Dean and Deluca. This is one of the best pestos I've eaten so far. The pasta was firm and it wasn't super oily or super dry. I love it! Just blogging about it makes me crave for it again. Must. Drop. By. Dean. and. Deluca. Again. 

Who doesn't love Red Velvet? We ordered one Red Velvet cake and one Red Velvet Cheesecake. Yummmm! 

Dark chocolate cake

And with milkshake drinks to wash it all down. 

The next day, my officemate and I decided to meet up early and have breakfast at Dean and Deluca as a way to energize us for the second day of our planning. We ordered bagels. Nothing thrills me more than ordering a delicious breakfast. Dean and Deluca bagels did not disappoint. Their bread was so easy to take a bite off.  

It's Dean and Deluca and Sex and the City that have made me want to be a New Yorker. Dean and Deluca has particularly made me want to live in Soho. Aside from Felicity, I also became familiar with D&D through Devil Wears Prada wherein Nate, Andy's boyfriend bought a pack of strawberries from Dean and Deluca) and Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl helps herself to a Dean and Deluca coffee. 

I want to visit again. I know my besties would love to have a taste of Dean and Deluca too.