FOOD: Makiling Onsen Hotel and Restaurant 2014

I was suddenly craving for Japanese food last Sunday morning! So I told my husband, Ed, and he agreed to eat out for brunch. It's still too early (9:30am) and most Japanese restaurants open at 11:00am. We find Hana Japanese Restaurant in Pagsanjan, Laguna (which we consider close to being authentic) too far to drive just for this craving. There's Eat-Sumo Restaurant near UPLB, although cheap, we find it unsatisfying. There's Ippon-Yari Japanese restaurant in Calamba (which I love) but didn't want the hassle of being stuck in heavy traffic. Then, I thought, there's a Japanese hotel which is a 5-minute drive from where we live. I haven't dined in it yet, so I'm excited to give it a try... introducing Makiling Onsen Hotel and Restaurant.

Main Entrance

Restaurant

This is a medium size restaurant that can probably accommodate up to 40-45 people... just my estimate.

Appetizers 

(L-R: Sweet and Salty Anchovies with Sesame Seeds, Kimchi, 

Kropek or Deep Fried Prawn Crackers)

Makiling Onsen serves both Japanese and Korean food, as you can see on their appetisers. And yes, they're free. Served as well with a glass of cold water.

Ed ordered Sashimi Mix and iced tea. His Sashimi Mix consists of a couple of maguro (tuna), shake (salmon), kanikama (artificial crab stick), ika (squid), and ebi (shrimp)... served on top of shredded radish. I was able to try his food. I just hope they were fresher. That's all. 

Sashimi Mix = PhP270

Iced Tea = PhP22

I ordered Salmon Teishoku and cold calamansi juice. Teishoku means a meal of a fixed menu. Here means fresh salmon served with rice and miso soup. I'm happy that I chose salmon (alone) instead of mixed sashimi. Mine is fresher than Ed's ordered. What I didn't like though is the miso soup, it's too salty for me. It tasted like Eat-Sumo's and my home-made miso soup, which nobody ate/consumed... I've tasted miso soups from Sai-Bachi, Ippon-Yari, and Fu, and they were wonderful! So I guess that was the downside of my meal. I know it's rude but I didn't finish it.. sorry.

Salmon Teishoku = PhP365

Calamansi Juice = PhP85

We plan to stay at the hotel in the future and try their onset (hot bath). I'm not sure if I'm ready for it though. 57 degrees Celcius sounds too hot for me... For those of you who plans to go to Makiling Onsen Hotel, here's their contact number:

Manong guard courteously guided us to the covered parking lot. On our way there, I glanced upon the KTV/Karaoke room, gym, and driver's lodge.

So, will we come back again? Yes, to try the onsen at the hotel :)

xoxo,

FOOD: Breakfast at Bugong Restaurant

Ed and I have been on a light-dinner-diet for more than a week now. That's why we feel soooo hungry when we wake up in the morning. Today, we decided to eat out for breakfast. We went to Vega Center near UPLB because we thought we'd like to dine in at Chowking. But when we came, it was jampacked by people who have just finished attending mass. So, we decided to eat at Bugong, which dine-in restaurant is located inside the Vega Center. Don't get me wrong, it's not that we like Bugong less. We actually love their menu line-up & ambiance more than the other fast food restaurants ;-) And we've kept coming back.

Since it was early, I decided to have a "breakfast" meal. I ordered their Herbed Kesong Puti, which I've been wanting to try for quite some time. I got toasted wheat bread topped with kesong puti and slices of fresh tomatoes, served with two pieces of fresh basil leaves and hot coffee. I think they purposely put the basil leaves on the side because not everybody likes it, but me.. I LOVE BASIL! I think fresh basil has milder flavor than the dries ones. Anyway, I love the freshness of this meal. I wish i can have this everyday! P135.00 as of writing.

I've always had a BIG appetite ever since... so it became normal for me to have another set ;-) I also ordered their Omu Rice (omelette rice). For the filling, you can choose between roasted chicken and frankfurters that goes with rice. It is finally drizzled with barbeque & other sauce (can't recognize!) and then served with hot coffee. It's a simple but beautiful meal that is priced at P99.00 as of writing.

I've been talking about what I ate... Ed ordered a quarter chicken meal with mexican salsa and iced tea... a "not-so-brekky-meal" ;-) which in the end, he shared with me because he's not a fan of  chicken breast :-)

Didn't I tell you I have a big appetite? :-P

xoxo,

Glaiza

FOOD: Faustina's, Los Baños, Laguna

We've discovered Faustina's  two years ago (I think) and have fallen in love with their crepe and pasta. Since then, we've eaten there countless of times already and we'll keep coming back to try the rest of the items listed on their menu :-)

We decided to have our dinner at Faustina's earlier. I'm actually torn between having pizza & pasta or rice meal... (I actually thought of ordering both, and just take out the leftover pizza which I am planning to eat for breakfast, lol) but since I want to stick on my diet, I decided to omit the pizza & pasta (for now!) 

Pumpkin Soup (PhP93) - For starter, Ed and I both had Pumpkin Soup, served with a piece of garlic bread. It's like the comfort food for me (the one that I wished for but momma "never" made, lol). Well, I really liked it.

Grilled Soy Ginger Chicken (Php196) - Ed had this char-grilled chicken marinated in a soy and ginger sauce, served with steamed rice, a side of green salad and garlic mayo dressing. You get to choose which dressing you would like to have: garlic mayo, french, or tomato french. Yummy!

Pan-fried Fish Wrapped in Bacon (PhP218) - This is my first time to order this. I saw in the menu that this is Cook's Favorite so why not give it a try ;-) It's a pan-fried fish fillet marinated in citrus and herbs, wrapped in bacon, served with steamed rice, a side of green salad and garlic mayo dressing. I had two garlic mayo dressings, one for the fish and one for the salad. Had I known that the fish will come with garlic mayo by default, I think I would have chosen french or tomato french for the salad. But hey, it's no big deal :-) I like how the bacon added flavor to the fish, which by the way is very soft and juicy. Having this, I got that "healthy eating" feeling! Good stuff ;-)

And lastly Ed had Apple Shake (PhP65) while I had a Hot Chocolate (PhP52) made with tablea from Batangas and a spot of milk.

Prices indicated above are as of writing, July 11, 2013. You may check their complete menu and prices from their facebook page: Faustina's Complete Menu

Faustina's

Lola J Building, 10278 Ruby Street, Los Banos, Laguna 4031

Tel. No.: (049) 501-1509

How to go there?

When in Los Banos, ride a jeep with "UP College - Kanan" signboard. Tell the driver to drop you off at Raymundo Gate. It's just about a 100 meters upon entering the UPLB campus. Faustina's a minute walk from Raymundo Gate, you won't miss it ;-)

xoxo,