Mitchi Chronicles 2: Of Food Trips and Land Trips

December 8, 2012, Saturday.

Because it was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, I did not miss mass. Even if I slept late, it was not an excuse not to attend the solemnity. So there. If I had to catch up on sleep, I had to do it after the mass. But before that...

I checked in the hotel. And the hotel offers room service. Why not take advantage of it? It was a good thing that Sunburst is located downstairs. Otherwise, I would have to go out to eat elsewhere. It was worth the stay.

My apologies. I was not able to capture a photo of the breakfast that I partook inside the room. I think it is all right. I will sound so narcissistic if I post everything, and I mean, everything. Anyway, I took my meal while enjoying the show on TV. And it happened to be "Showbiz Korea," which featured the latest and juiciest scoops in and out of Korean showbiz. Thank you, thank you so much, Arirang Channel, for saving my life! One of the news that got me giddy was the news about Song Joong Ki and his 2012 hit movie, "Werewolf Boy." I mean, I love Joong Ki since his Goo Yong Ha days, but I can say he really is a good actor. Not bias much, but really, he's good. You may think it's easy to portray the part of a feral boy, but it isn't a piece of cake at all.

Anyway, moving on...

One of the reasons why I traveled to Dipolog was because of the restaurants only found in the city. My cousin, however, invited me to Rizal, my father's hometown. Of course, it had been years since I last went to Rizal, so it is time to go visit the town. Before the travel back home, I met with my cousin, my uncle, and my nephew to Lee Plaza, my favorite mall in the city. Things get boring if you decide to eat in the same fastfood chains that you happen to eat in Cebu, so we decided to have lunch at Big Joe's.

I have to tell you this. If you happen to be in Dipolog City, you should never, ever miss Big Joe's. This chic restaurant is the home of affordable super burgers. When I mean super, I mean that your burger will have a lot of toppings, depending on the menu. Name affordable, and I'll spell out Big Joe's. For less than Php100, you can buy a scrumptious burger that will leave your tongue asking for more even if your stomach can no longer take it. See how amazing it is?

But Big Joe's is not only the home of the big, luscious burgers. They also offer a variety of other food like how a ritzy yet affordable restaurant should. My nephew is fond of sisig, so he ordered one. Sisig, by the way, is a dish comprised of parts from the head of the pig, such as the fat and the skin, and other meaty pork products. Sisig will not be complete if there is no slice of kalamansi (the native lemon) to bring out the sweet sourness that one is looking for. The dish is also commonly seasoned with some pepper to give that extra kick.

Big Joe's luscious sisig... Why did I not try this????

Here in Cebu, there are also a number of restaurants offering baby back ribs, but I had not tried eating them. When I sat down at Big Joe's, I asked my cousin for a recommendation. She related that baby back ribs is a must here at Big Joe's. Instead of waiting to get back home to Cebu, why not try Big Joe's baby back ribs? But of course, due to trade secrets, one menu will not taste the same as the other, right?

Baby back ribs at Big Joe's

My uncle ordered the chicken in the menu. I had not tasted the Big Joe's chicken, but the looks of it, I can tell that it is crispy and tasty. If I can go back to Dipolog someday, it should be one of the entries in the menu that I should try.

Big Joe's chicken

A meal will not be complete without desserts. During my last food trip at Joe's some years ago, I just ordered tea to finish off the meal. For this occasion, however, my cousin recommended the choco lava flow. I don't know what was so hot with it until I realized that it was the cake that was literally hot. She ordered the one with strawberry ice cream, and I had chocolate on mine. Double chocolate much? ^_^

Hot fudge care of Big Joe's

Anyway, this is how Big Joe's will look like from the exterior. And see that green cab? If you do not have any vehicle, you can just take the cab and tell the motor cab driver to bring you anywhere you like. Just say, "Big Joe's," and he will drive you to the spot.

Big Joe's.... only in Dipolog!

Before we traveled to Rizal, we visited an elderly distant relative who was confined at Dipolog Medical Center. We also had other errands after that. Then, we stopped over to Cafe Isabelle. If I were to describe this place, Cafe Isabelle has a really chic ambiance. Just imagine any TV series or Korean dramas wherein the characters would meet at a certain resto even just to have coffee. Sort of like that. Adjacent to the cafe is the bakeshop which sells not only bread but also souvenir items. How cool is that?

One of the things I love about Cafe Isabelle is that the desserts not only look presentable, they also taste heavenly. They are the kinds that you would want to bring home and give to family members as gifts, or as items for pasalubong. Not only that, the store also showcases different souvenir items like those available at the bakeshop. For me, this is a gourmet pastry shop and souvenir store in one.

This shop is located in Turno, and not too many cabs pass that way. If you are planning to lounge at Cafe Isabelle, you need to own your own vehicle, or you need to talk it out with a cab driver.

This is how Cafe Isabelle looks like from the outside. Ritzy, isn't it, Darling?

From the left side, you can see the souvenir items ranging from bonbons to notebooks to planners. Far by the glass display are the tasty cakes.

The item that caught my eye first was the red cupcakes.

This is the planner that I bought and gave to the owner of Topokkiman as a Christmas gift.

A wide variety of sweets cry out for attention in that saccharine way of theirs, making customers marvel and give in right away. Who would not?

Finally, after an hour of travel, we reached Rizal. I stayed in my uncle's house, in my cousin's room. Sweet! And what could be sweeter than being able to get back to the farmhouse which had formed some of my fondest memories? Langging, the caretaker of the farm, was almost due for delivery at that time. Though her status in life is a far cry from mine, I still have high regards for her because of her brains and her diligence. And she did surprised me with a promise: she made mangosteen jam for me! Now, all the grocery stores will envy me for not being able to have a friend such as Langging who can cook home-made jam with so much devotion. For me, that was one memorable Christmas gift that I will never forget. And because it was also marang season, she also promised to make marang jam. Wait, wait, that was a bit too much, I said.  To her, making marang jam was just a piece of cake. Nothing can also compare to Langging's stubborness (if I have to call it) when she wants to do something for her masters, but I greatly appreciate her for it. It saddened me, though, that she would not allow me to carry the jam back to the town proper because she was doing chores here and there with her round belly. Ay, Langging, can I just bring the jam by myself, pretty please?

Speaking of sweets, my day was loaded with a lot of 'em. Hot fudge, candies, jams, and whatnot.... My pancreas is screaming to me to shut up already! And I promise you, my dear pancreas... Let me just indulge in this red scarlet cheesecake, and I will not touch another one for this day... please?

Red cake is rare, I suppose... and this red scarlet cheesecake from Cafe Isabelle had earned a spot in my memory.

One of the habits that my cousin, my aunt, and my nephew do every Saturday evening is to attend the anticipated mass. My uncle used to attend the mass, but surprisingly, he just stayed home. I informed him that I will be attending the mass the next day (a Sunday), so he invited me to attend mass in Misamis Occidental. Ha! My vacation was more than I actually paid for, I guess. Not only did I enjoy Dipolog to bits, I was also invited to attend the mass in the next province. I don't mind, though. Travelling, they say, is a good experience, so why not?

As the next day would be Manny Pacquiao's fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, my uncle and I just stayed at home talking about the fight. He chose Marquez, and so did I. Well, the reason? Why don't you look around for signs?

It would be boring to just spend the rest of the evening in Rizal at home and lounging on the sofa while watching the show on the tube, so my cousin told me to go see the lights at the park by the municipal hall. I remember the park so much because it has a statue of the legendary Maniway. The statue was craftily designed in a way that her body parts (head, hands, legs, and feet) surfaced from the ground, making it look as if she was bathing in the pond or river. By the time my niece, my nephew, and I went to the park, there were already lots of youngsters loitering around to enjoy the evening and the sights. Well, I think it is indeed much better than watching too much TV. And for these younger folks, keep it up! It's much better than playing DOTA the whole day! Showcased below are some of the Christmas designs (manger scenes and all). I applaud the people of Rizal for their brainchild.

Well, what can I say? My day was filled with unexpected and pleasant surprises! Of course, I told myself that if I always stick to a plan, I might not enjoy. Truth to be told, I did myself a favor, and enjoyed my second day of vacation.

What else awaits me for my third day?

Check out soon!

좋은 하루 되세요!!!!

Mitchi Chronicles 1: From The Queen To The Orchid Garden

Paper planes aren't meant to fly high....

Because if they do, I would not have been able to fly to the Orchid City of the Philippines, Dipolog City. Technically, riding on an airplane was my second time, but doing so on my own was a first. It was also my first time travelling by myself.

I will not share the whole story as to how I was able to familiarize Dipolog City, but I will just put in my chronicles of my Mindanao journey, which occurred last December 7 to 10, 2012. It took me this long to write this blog because I was also waiting for something else, but I never got to do it, so I thought of just sharing exactly what I had compiled.


December 7, 2012, Friday.

I will not give the entire details of my flight because I might sound ignorant, but the first thing I felt when I entered the aircraft was I felt suffocated. I know. I do not like closed spaces which I think have less oxygen supply, which is why I hate dressing units and tunnels. Nevertheless, the flight went fine because I was able to get a glimpse of Cebu island from my window seat.

First stop after the airport was Hotel Camila 1. I got in room 330, the room that my friend and boardmate, Marife, who is working as a cashier in Sunburst Fried Chicken downstairs, had booked for me. Because I was travelling on a conservative budget (and I dare not consider this as shoestring budget), I booked the cheapest room, the one which costs Php750 a day. When I got inside the hotel room, I was surprised to see how elegant my room was. Not bad! And for a price of Php750, it was like hitting the jackpot.

Room 330 of Hotel Camila 1, Dipolog City... 2 beds for only Php 750? 
대박!

I stayed in my hotel room for a couple of hours until Riza, my other friend and boardmate, and I decided to hit the streets. Marife aka Yang-yang was not able to join us because she worked straight till ten at night. It was just me and Riza bonding.

At first, we decided to visit our former landlady's house, which was located at the back of the Capitol building, but she was not around as she attended her daughter's school activities. I guess that if Christmas is coming around the corner, schools are going to get busy with different activities such as Family Day. Because I was not successful in meeting our former landlady, Riza and I decided to chow at Jollibee.

Dipolog is relatively a small city, and if you ask me, one can cruise or stroll around most of the top spots in the city proper in a day. Personally, I prefer strolling in the morning when I can see where I am going. Anyway, Riza and I strolled near the city hall. The city hall in Dipolog is one of the few political arenas where I want to hang out during the Christmas season for its decors that spell magic. The city hall is located a few meters from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral. By the way, just a trivia. The altar in the Cathedral was designed by the national hero, Jose P. Rizal during the time when he was in Dapitan as an exile.

Imagine if stars were that close... and form a bridge of arc above your head...

The manger scene near the city hall

If trees should bear stars for fruits, there will never be dim nights.

One of the places where we often hang out some years ago was the boulevard. Because the vicinity stretches long, there are a lot of businesses such as barbecue stalls opened to accommodate space. There is also some kind of a "park" where different themes are put up during the Christmas season.

Yang-yang told me years prior that when she and her friends would gather at the boulevard, they would plan to gather around a certain landmark, which actually bears the details of the Seawall and Foreshore Development. As the landmark has a very unique appearance, it will not be hard to locate it and gather around. Due to the length of the boulevard, it is necessary to meet at a certain landmark.

The Seawall and Foreshore Development landmark.

This is the caption stated on the face of the landmark.

No matter how much I would love to stroll around for some more, my body could not take it anymore. I had a long day, so the next thing we did was hit the hotel room and bond. What better way to bond than to chatter and catching up while watching TV shows?

What goodies awaits me for the next day? Stay tuned?

좋은 하루 되세요!!!!

When "Piccolo" Is More Than Just A Wind Instrument

I am not talking about a character from the anime "Dragon Ball Z" either. 

I am talking about a firecracker that has been the hazardous toy of kids during the Christmas season. Despite the warnings sent by the Department of Health every year, many kids (and grownups) still do not heed. And lo! They get injuries of all sorts.

So much for the weird title, though.

Anyway, when most people were staying up late to greet Christmas day, my family and I slept early. What is more important to us than staying up late and playing with dangerous firecrackers is the Holy Mass on Christmas Day.

The abundance of food and the expensive gifts do not make Christmas special. This day is special because it is Jesus Christ's birthday. He as God came into the world in man's image in order to save us. 

For many Filipinos, Christmas is a time of giving, sharing, and loving. The song "Give Love On Christmas Day" is not just a cliche. It is true. My Aunt, Uncle, and cousins dropped by to give their gifts, and we invited them for some snacks because they would not stay for lunch. They had their own agenda too. But the highlight of our gathering was inviting a poor neighbor, the son of my godmother.

He had been staying in the mountain for long to study, and he only goes down the mountain to the city during vacation days. For the rest of the year, he and his mother would only be eating vegetables and fish. When they have no money at all, he would go out of his way to look for meager jobs in order to earn money to get by. My mother used to say that when my neighbor was in his early years of high school, he would catch some spiders to sell. That's how poor his life has been. For us, inviting him for a Christmas lunch will make it memorable for him, that, at least, even just a few days in a year, he could feel love and he could feel comfort.

I don't mind receiving gifts and stuffing my mouth with lots of food anymore. Just seeing him with a smile and contented with our simple meal is a great accomplishment already.

Another great accomplishment for me is cooking a Korean dish called tteokbokki. I had been wanting to cook this for the longest time, and finally, I made it! ^_^

Christmas tteokbokki ^_^

메리 크리스마스입니다!!!!

Mag Love

It had been years, and I forgot how it all began. I think it was during the day when my sister and I found an old copy of a March 1996 edition of a Reader's Digest magazine. We were enthralled with the stories in it, most especially the death-defying, heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, and very inspiring story of a surgeon who performed tube thoracostomy on a woman who was injured in a motorcycle accident ("Emergency on Flight BA 032," by John Dyson, March 1996). However, take note, the procedure was done inside the airplane! And utilizing improvised materials at that! Who would have thought that one can use cognac to sterilize materials?

After reading that story, I got hooked.

My reading life revolved around reading Reader's Digest. Of course, I read school books, but I had fallen in love with Reader's Digest that I was thrilled when my father bought two more copies. Soon, my aunt from the United States, when sending items from there to here, also included a lot of the magazines inside the balikbayan box.

When I became patient enough to read novels, such as the Twilight Series, I began to read them. But I am mostly impatient with novels, and you may say I am not really a wide reader. Between novels and Reader's Digest, I prefer the latter.

There were a lot of fine stories that I loved that were published in Reader's Digest. The stories were very inspiring because these gave me insights and realization about the world. Here are some of the stories that were noteworthy.

* "They Never Came Home" (by Per Ola and Emily D'Aulaire, March 1996) is an account of different teenagers who died from car accidents. There were different reasons why their trips ended up in tragedy, and it got me thinking to always pray before I leave the house. This also made me realize that such accidents can be prevented, but sadly, still happened many times.

* "For The Love Of Music" (by Linda DeLibero, August 1998) is about the impossible shot to the moon done by the pianist, Jon Nakamatsu, and the wings that took him there, his piano teacher, Marina Derryberry. Indeed, if you have a dream and pursue it, you will get what you want. This is a story that shows that dreams can come true.

* "The Family That Never Forgot" (by Joseph A. Reaves, August 1998) tells us that no boundaries, not even the war between North and South Korea, could tear down the hearts and minds of a separated family, with the hope that they will be reunited one day. This story tells me that, in the end, everybody will find their hope.

* "A Mother's Love" (by Joseph A. Reaves, July 1998) is a story of how a mother's love can defy every impossible thing just to save the life of her offspring with thalassemia. Erma Mata did not have the means to pay for the medical bills of her sick son, Caesar. She and her family, who were residing in the Bicol region, did all means possible to earn money for the treatment though they were poor. They were told that the best option was to fly to the United States. The hopeful mother looked up at her hopes to the then President Ronald Reagan, Cheche Lazaro, and other good Samaritans who reached out in order to give back the life of her son. Indeed, a mother's love is a strong force that can make the impossible possible.

* "Finding My Way Back" (by Ekaterina Gordeeva, March 1997) is a beautiful and romantic story about how two single skaters, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov, got paired up, and how they fell in love with each other. This is like a fairy tale to me, so wonderful, fantastic, but yet so sad. In the end, Sergei died of a heart attack, and all that was left of Ekaterina was her skating ability and their daughter Daria. Even in death, love still conquers all. 

There are book sections and featured stories that got me hooked, and no matter how many times I read them, they still mesmerize me. Here are some of those.

* "Nothing This Family Can't Do" (by Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D., March 1996) is a story depicting the power of dreams. The Thorntons were poor African-Americans. Their father, Donald Thornton, though poor, believed in the dream that his five daughters will grow up to be doctors. Though not being able to achieve the dream, all his daughters, including their sixth, an adopted daughter, became successful professionals. This story reminded me of the Japanese manga, "Dragon Zakura." Just be amazed at how powerful dreams can be.

* "The Seeing Glass" (by Jacquelin Gorman, July 1997) recounts the terrifying experience that Jacquelin Gorman had when she got blind one day, and how a tea-colored glass that her autistic brother used to use while catching crabs got back her sight. The best line I read in this story so far is that one can imagine his perfect age.

Even some published short entries also showed how a mundane life can be made special, like how some things so ordinary can be made so memorable. Here are some of the short selections that had captivated my heart and soul--and even my interest.

* "The Loves We Leave Behind" (by Lisa Bain, August 1998) tells us how some unexpected twists of fate or incidences of our lives turn out to be blessings in disguise. Sometimes, we dwell in the "what if's" and the "what could have been's" of life, and we can see that our lives are better than if we had ever been in the "what if."

* "Unforgettable James Michener" (by Lawrence Grobel, August 1998) tells us of how a renowned author put encouragement to a young girl, and allowed her to dream and write like he did.

* "God's In My Basket" (by Christopher de Vinck, March 1997) is a story about a student who was tasked by his teacher to write about an elderly person. This story teaches us that even the sick and the old still can give us some lessons to ponder and to live by.

* "What A Coincidence!" (by Sylvia Fraser, October 1998) is about the weirdness of things and how things unrelated can be connected by some occurrence we call 'coincidence.' Many have known about that tragic incident that happened to the so-called unsinkable ship Titanic that sank after colliding with an iceberg on its maiden voyage in April 1912. But does anyone have an idea that years prior to the incident, in 1898, an author, Morgan Robertson, wrote about the demise of the so-called unsinkable ship that sank after colliding with an iceberg on its April maiden voyage? Title of the book is, "Futility: or The Wreck of the Titan."

Who would not forget about some funny anecdotes? There has never been a dull moment with "Laughter, The Best Medicine," "Life's Like That," "Campus Comedy," "Humor In Uniform," "All In A Day's Work", and "Quotable Quotes." Get to improve your vocabulary by trying your brains with "Word Power Made Easy." Another entry that I love, but mostly found in the Asian RD version, is any entry by Nury Vittachi. I commend his wit when he writes. Just when I thought he was being serious, he inserted some punchlines that could elicit laughter. For example, do you believe that the world wide web is produced by a really large spider? Or that his father never came home for four months because he was a perfect description of a workaholic? It is his serious writing with some (or many) insertions of exaggerations that I really, really enjoy.

There are a lot of Reader's Digest magazines at home that were just hand-me-downs, but there are those that I received as Christmas gifts. Other people opted for new shoes, new bags, new gadgets, or even new boyfriends (if there is such a Christmas wish as that). I preferred Reader's Digest. If someone will ask me what Christmas gift I will want to receive every year, it will be this magazine. I like to buy mine rather than read the mag online, but if someone will give me a gift, Reader's Digest will always be the best.

The first Reader's Digest I received as a gift was back in 2009 while I was shopping in a grocery store. I saw this December copy, and I was thrilled to see Diether Ocampo on the cover. And why not? Diether is one of my showbiz crushes! Another thing that got me thrilled is due to the fact that a Filipino icon had been featured in my favorite magazine. Now, how cool is that?

Part of the 2009 pack was a December 2008 copy with Manny Pacquiao on the front cover. I am not a fan of Pacquiao, but I admire his discipline. Anyway, enough of Pacquiao. This copy was a freebie that came along with the December 2009 issue. I cannot forget this gift because my board mate gave this to me.

I received this foodie issue last December of 2010, and my manager gave it to me. He was thinking that I was the other employee, but I was really thankful that he gave me this as a gift. Do you know how happy I was to receive this? You can say I am greedy and a sucker for this magazine, but I really do enjoy this one. A lot. A lot. A lot.

Ehem.... Who would not fall in love with the Younghusband brothers? I like Phil, and my sister likes James. (But honestly, my favorite Philippine Azkal player is Chieffy Caligdong, the sly soldier on the soccer field). This gift was given to me by an officemate December of last year, 2011. I had twice the reason to rejoice because I also received a copy of Edith Hamilton's "Mythology." While my officemates enjoyed dipping into the pool, me and my thoughts (and my annoying cold) flew away to Neverland while reading my favorite magazine. The simplest way to whisk me away to travel is to hand me this magazine. As simple as that.

I am not advertising or anything. Anyway, if you want to read Reader's Digest online, you can visit their site at http://www.rd.com/. If you want the Asian edition, you can visit their site at http://www.rdasia.com/. If I am online, I find time to read my fave magazine, but I will still wish to have a hard copy of Reader's Digest to accompany me when I am alone or bored, or when I am waiting for something, or when I am falling in line, or just to cover my eyes before I take a nap.

Indeed, nothing can replace the joy of being together with this magazine. It is the most inexpensive way for me to travel around the world, to outer space, and even to realms unknown to mankind.


좋은 하루 되세요!

To The Moon On A Magic Carpet Ride

You can call it a boring Sunday afternoon.

Most may not find it so, but I found it boring. I was way too bored that I thought I had to go out and have fun. After all, it's a Sunday! I can enjoy my break every weekend after a week of stress at work. Hey, I love to write, but it does not mean that I will not experience a writer's block.

And a writer's block I did experience. For a boring Sunday afternoon, I need inspiration. I need to be out there.

I had been looking for salsa and anything that are Mexican, so I decided I want to eat tacos. And cruising at the mall to soothe my tongue was all I had in mind.

I decided to look for that kiosk that sold tacos and quesadillas, but I found out it was not there anymore. It was replaced by a kiosk selling crepes, and I was not craving for crepes.

Strolling around I did until my eyes landed upon the sign that says "Mooon Cafe." It is quite a knowledge already that Mooon Cafe serves Mexican-style food--just the way I like it.

I don't know, but I am fond of strolling alone, so by the time I got inside the restaurant, a waitress ushered me to a table which, by default, could accommodate four persons. I sat and took the menu and read. I am not that familiar with Mexican food, which was why I embarked on this odyssey. Salsa, salsa galore.

Actually, this is my second time to be in Mooon, the first time with my friends from Mindanao. One friend of mine had suggested that chimichanga is delicious, but since I forgot what it was, I ordered one this time. And I had to forgo with the tacos for now. Gotta have it later...

By the time my chimichanga arrived, my heart melted like mozarella cheese. Awww... that food is a darling! Finally, I took my fork and dismantled my food. I don't care how other people eat theirs, but I just ate mine the way I like it. Of course, I wanted to know what comprised my dear chimi.

Ah, the salsa rojo complemented well with the cheese that it was too perfect! Even the ground beef inside brought a whole lot of good. Did I just sense the taste of chilli pepper? It was not as hot as I thought it would be, the spiciness just moderate, but nevertheless, it was great.

And there you go! 

Chimichanga, with the salsa rojo, cheese,  ground beef and extra yumminess inside the crunchy dough

Before I went to Mooon, I had been strolling around looking for backpacks. I will not tell the reason as to why I am looking for those big bags. Anyway, I passed by another restaurant, this time, specialising on Indian and Middle Eastern food. After Mooon, I decided to hop in to Persian Palate.

I am not that all too familiar with Indian and Middle Eastern food, so I had to try. I HAD to try. I just got in and sat on the table for two.

The waiter handed out the menu, and I had to scan. The good thing about the food in Persian Palate is that they serve vegetarian food. That is a very good thing for those who are cutting out their source of meat from their diet. I can say that the food is a bit pricey, but what the heck, why not try?

I ordered aloo tikki and the beef kebab because I was too curious. And finally, when my order came, I dug into the aloo tikki first. When I took some to my lips, the flavor of chilli greeted me, the way it did with Mexican food. It was just so heavenly that I find it hard to describe in words. To balance off the spiciness of the dish, there's the sweet mango sauce provided for. If you want something pure vegetarian food, aloo tikki is one of the must-haves.

Aloo Tikki, with the mashed potato and green chilli peppers and sweet mango sauce

I had always been curious what kebab is all about. I had to know, right here, right now. The beef kebab wrap is all I tried because I wanted to, and if I want to try the chicken kebab, maybe that will fall under my next agenda. This kebab came with two kinds of sauces: the green chilli sauce and the cold garlic sauce. I could have eaten it like the way I do with shawarma, eating it wrapped and whole, but I chose to dissect my food as I ate it. No offense, and please do not be offended. I just chose to try eating my food like that, for the reason of getting to know every bit of ingredients, treating them like friends.

My verdict for the beef kebab wrap and aloo tikki: delicious!

Beef Kebab Wrap, with the green chilli hot sauce and cold garlic sauce

My odyssey for Mexican food ended up with eating Indian food as well, but it was totally worth it. By the time I got home, all I had were good memories and a refreshed mind.

There is no more room for word blocks, and no more excuses for grabbing my soft and luxurious hair using my slender fingers. When nothing else comes as inspiration, food can do the trick. Try it!

좋은 하루 되세요!

Topokki Man is Heaven! (떡복이맨은 하늘입니다!)

안녕하세요?

I need to clarify something. Nobody asked me to write this. I wrote this because I want to. I wanted to write something that interests me, and I wanted to write something that will be interesting to people out there who want to go on a food trip, most especially trying out Korean cuisine. I want to write this because I am just wanting to share my very good experience.

My romance with the Korean culture "officially" started when I watched "Tale Of The Gumiho," also known as "Forbidden Love." I know that there were many others before that, but I really was not attentive to the other K-dramas which were shown because I was busy with studies. After "Gumiho" came "My Girl."

For Korean songs, I remembered "Answer The Phone" by Mina in the early part of the 2000s, but I did not pay much attention to it either. The one song that got me loving it was Howl and J's "사랑인가요 (Perhaps Love)" from the K-drama "Princess Hours." But the highlight of my love for K-pop songs happened when 2NE1 came to the scene back in 2009, and for me, officially, they were the first group that I knew. Many K-pop and K-rock songs and groups came after that, and I got more familiarized with them as time went by.

Immersing into Korean culture would not be sufficient if you do not learn how to speak and write their language. I had been doing self-study using online materials, but honestly, my learning as of the present is a bit scarce. Sorry for the comparison, but if the Korean language is like patbingsu, my learning of the language is about 0.00001% of a tteok, if I can help comparing it like that.

Of course, appreciation for the Korean culture would not be complete if you have not tried eating their food. My fascination with Korean food went back to some episodes in the 2010 K-drama, "God of Study," wherein the students were eating with their teachers inside the classroom. I think it was it.

I had been trying to find some Korean restaurants here in the district, but because I was either out of budget or too lazy to get off the public transportation, I had not had my chance of getting inside big restaurants. There were instances of eating Korean food back in 2011, with my sister. But after that, I contented myself to going to Koreana convenient store or at Assi Mart.

One day, I met with an elementary/high school/up-to-know friend, and we were chatting. I told her that I wanted to try eating Korean food again, and she suggested going to Topokki Man. At first, I was no familiar as to the location, and she told me it was at Rosedale near University of San Carlos. I am familiar with the place because I live near the vicinity.

When I had the chance, I finally went there on a Saturday, at ten in the morning. Topokki Man is a small resto unlike the ones you see in other parts of the district. It has a cute ambiance filled with cute glass stickers of houses and buildings. There are also a lot of pictures inside the resto, and lots of "footprints" from customers who had fallen in love with the place and the food. I myself had fallen in love with the place because I can say it is cozy and homey.

My friend suggested baby rolls because it was her favorite. It was my first order, and of course, I really liked it. It is good news to me because this dish is affordable. Php50 anyone? ^_^

잘 먹겠습니다! (I will eat well.)

Baby rolls (꼬마김밥) [Picture c/o me ^_^]

I had also been curious as to what tteokbokki is, because during the first Korean day which was held last October 1, 2011, one ajumma in a colorful hanbok gave me tteok on a toothpick. At first, I did not know what it was, but she gave me the English term: rice cake. It was chewy, and I love it.

I think it was in the third visit to Topokki Man when I tried tteokbokki. And I tried the cheese tteokbokki. I don't know if this is true to some people who were born in the year of the Rat, but I am also born in the year of the Rat, and I love cheese. Hmmm... The taste got to me, and the memory of it stayed in my consciousness. Tteokbokki is addicting! I also love the odeng (fish cakes) with it, ah, just so perfect! By the way, tteokbokki is made of the tteok (tubular-shaped rice cakes), thin slices of fish cakes (odeng), veggies, gochujang (the pepper paste), and others. Of course, I will not tell you the other ingredients because the ones I enumerated are the basic ingredients that I see and have researched in the internet. As to what the "others" are, that is prerogative of the restaurant to keep it a secret. I don't know it either. This is all I can tell you. Tteokbokki is truly, truly delicious! 너무 너무 맛있어요! 

There are also a lot of variety of the tteokbokki, but much as I want to try the seafood variety, I am not able to because of my food allergies. If it were not for these allergies, I will not have problem with food.  

Cheese tteokbokki (치즈 떡볶이) [Picture c/o me ^_^]

I updated myself with the happenings and stuff at the Facebook page of Topokki Man when I began commenting on the page. Later on, the administrator of the page added me as friend. And of course, later on, Sajangnim posted a picture of patbingsu (팥빙수), which is shaved ice with lots of sweet red beans and other yummy ingredients such as assorted fruit bits, corn flakes, tteok bits, and ice cream. When I saw patbingsu for the first time, I realized that it looked like our halo-halo, but the owner of the resto and his staff told me that patbingsu is less sweeter than halo-halo.

Just a trivia though. Halo-halo comes from the Filipino term "halo," which means, "to mix." If you take it literally, it may mean "mix-mix," but it is actually shaved ice with the yummy ingredients. Yes, our halo-halo is indeed sweeter, must be because of the leche flan.

As to Topokki Man's patbingsu, I will not tell what other ingredients I see in the bowl. It would take out the surprise, of course. You can research what patbingsu is made of, but as to the patbingsu of this cute resto, you have to go out and try for yourself.

정말 정말 팥빙수를 좋아해요! (I really really like patbingsu) ^_^

Patbingsu (팥빙수) [Picture c/o me ^_^]

One night, that friend who introduced me to Topokki Man met with me for dinner. She is the one in the picture, hehe. Anyway, because the two of us love to eat, we ordered the food that we loved. We did not regret because it was worth it.

Original tteokbokki, kimchi, and bibimbap [Picture c/o me ^_^]

I had been telling my cousin about this cute resto, but because of her time, she was unable to go visit. One Saturday evening, however, I was talking to her about bringing some tteokbokki and yummy Topokki Man treats over to her boarding house when she suggested going there "now." I agreed to go with her and her brother because I was soooo looking for tteokbokki. See? Tteokbokki is so addicting! ^_^

My cousin told me that her Korean students suggested her about eating the fish cakes. By the way, there are times when the resto is so busy that Sajangnim himself serves the guests. At that time that my cousins and I went, it was a very hectic day, so Sajangnim served us the fish cakes. My cousin asked for the Korean term, and Sajangnim told us that it is called "odeng," as it was derived from the Japanese. When I researched, the Korean odeng was derived from the Japanese oden. When I saw the fish cake on sticks, I suddenly remembered Lee Min Ho's role as Go Jun Pyo eating fish cakes with Geum Jan Di's appa and namdongsaeng in "Boys Over Flowers." Ah~~~ another great and memorable K-drama.

Verdict: yummy! ^_^

Fish cake or odeng (오뎅) [Picture c/o me ^_^]

Ramyeon is also part of Korean cuisine, so we ordered it as well. The serving is worth sharing with three to four people. So you see, Korean dining is also all about fellowship. With dishes served like that, it can really be shared with friends and family. Sharing is loving. ^_^

Ramyeon （라면）[Picture c/o me ^_^]

There are a lot of dishes that I need to try when I have the time. Maybe my next agendum is to eat mango float, Topokki Man style!

Other things that endear me to Topokki Man are the politeness, smiles, and friendliness flowing out from Sajangnim and his staff.

"Annyeonghaseyo?"

This is the first thing that they will greet you when you come in, whether you are a Korean customer or not. When you are comfortably seated, the staff will give hand you the menu. If you are not familiar with the food, you can ask the staff for recommendation. I suggest you should try the food without hesitation.

When you are in Rome, be like a Roman.

Just like that. Do not come to this place if you are not willing to adapt to the culture. If you are not willing to learn new stuff, no one is forcing you. So, if you take the recommendation that the staff gives you, take it wholeheartedly. Eating new food is a learning experience. 

Music videos, anyone? There was one afternoon last July when I went in the resto to eat the half-serving of ramyeon, but I ended up ordering curry. By the way, the curry is delicious too, but I had not taken some photos of it. Speaking of music videos, the first MV I saw on the television screen in the restaurant was that of DBSK. Though I am not a fan of SM Entertainment, I like DBSK. Later on, "Pinocchio" and "Hot Summer" by f(x) was shown. I so so so love "Pinocchio." I was also happy to see Park Bom's "Please Don't Cry." You see, I really love Park Bom, and I love 2NE1. My happiness was complete that day when I saw IU's "You and I" and "Good Day." In another occasion, the first video I saw was Jung Jin Woon's "You Walking Towards Me," from "Dream High 2" soundtrack. If my sister had watched it at that time, she would be screaming for joy. The other videos I saw were from KARA, Secret, Sistar, and Miss A, my other favorite.

I also got acquainted with the owner of the resto, but I call him Sajangnim. That is a polite way to address someone who holds a big position in a large company, or someone who runs a business. Sajangnim is also helpful and very friendly. One time, when I was eating tteokbokki while reading an English book (which was found in the bookshelf), Sajangnim handed me a rolled-up lettuce. He explained to me that it is samgyupsal. When I bit into it, I found out that inside the lettuce was some rice and the piece of meat. As to the whole coverage of what samgyupsal actually is, you can lean on to Mr. Google. But on my ocular inspection, those were the ingredients I saw. What can I say about samgyupsal? Delicious!

잘 먹었습니다! (I ate well/ I had eaten well.)

My aunt once suggested that I post a picture of myself having a good time at Topokki Man. Not that I am afraid of cameras. I want others but myself to be subjects in a photo. And since many people were leaving their marks at Topokki Man, I thought it would also be nice to leave a note of appreciation. I left this note on the day when Sajangnim gave me samgyupsal.

Picture c/o Sajangnim ^_^

For the benefit of those who do not know how to read in Korean, I will explain what I have written thus (the body of the note only):

Ah~~ The food is so good... And affordable!!! ^_^ My heart is happy!!!! Topokki Man is heaven... Thank you very much!


All my experiences can really tell that for me, Topokki Man is heaven. Even the younger friends of my sister asked me for directions. Even another cousin wanted me to take her and her husband some other time. Sure! Why not?

It is always my pleasure to accommodate friends and family members if they want to eat. For me, there are ways to bond with people, but hearts bind together when people eat together. While eating Korean food, you not only bond with the people whom you are with, you are also learning another culture.

It's great, is it not?

네, 맞아요. (Yes, that's right.)

Finally, when you leave the store, they will give another greeting.

"Annyeonghigaseyo."

At first, it confused me with another greeting, but as I tried to make a mind map, it was no longer confusing. And in a polite society, of course, you always thank the services of people who served you.

"Kamsahamnida. Annyeonghigeseyo." 


So that ends one day of encounter in Topokki Man. But rest assured, I will go back when I have time and try the other dishes.

Indeed, Topokki Man is heaven! ^_^





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