The Cuisiniere Brasserie

Yes, I eat a lot... But unfortunately, not so much near our area because
I believe, the only fine dining restaurant near our place is Zucchini's...
And my monthly allowance isn't sufficient enough to pay
for my resto bill, haha!

The other night, as we were strolling the streets of T. Morato and Timog, we came across this new restaurant...
At first I thought, I shouldn't check it out and why should I bother,
no one's inside anyway?
But it came to me that there's no other place like this in QC...
We have been roaming around and all we see are
resto bars, with no parking spaces...

So when I saw this, I called the rest of the group and led them at
The Cuisinier Brasserie.

The interior is modern, European, chic, and classy.
(I sometimes think it is not appropriate in the QC area since most of the people here look for bars.)




But what the heck, I just found out another place to crash whenever I feel like having Wagyu... Mind you, the food here are reasonably priced... I can still count how many dishes were on the 4-digit range on the menu, 2??? And I'm talking about Cochinillo and Paella levels.
Which costs a whole lot more in other restaurants...

Cheers!!! Mojitos and Beer Night!

Loved the Mojitos concoction!

For Appetizers we had the Antipasto Misto - a selection of cheese, Parma ham, olives and grapes, or seasonal fruit
P595.00 or $14.00

and this sumptuous Canard A'la Orange -
roast magret of duck valette, served with orange and Grand Marnier sauce, and promine croquettes - P760.00 or $18.00

and the last ordered appetizer, the Coquilles Saint-Jacques Mornay -
Baked half shell scallops, piped potato, and Gruyere cheese sauce...

The presentation was great... But sadly, it was a disappointment...
The scallop in the middle is tough and chewy, plus it lacks flavor.
I didn't taste the Gruyere on the sauce, all I can taste is the bland mashed potato on all sides of the scallop...
P220.00 or $5.12 for 3 pieces.
(I guess the price speaks for itself)

Then came the heavy ones...

Pasta in cream Pancetta with white truffle oil - as expected, it was creamy and rich. But it was good. I recommend this as a side dish to your fish, chicken, or beef. Share it with everyone! P380.00 or $9.00

and (sorry for the blurry pic)

Aglio Olio - P320.00 or $7.45
Another disappointment... It was bitter, I guess the garlic
was too cooked,
which made it a bad dish...
Hope they improve on this...
It's my favorite, for crying out loud!!!

Then we also tried their Pizzas...

Pepperoni - Tomato, Mozzarella, Pepperoni, and Parmesan
- P480 or $12.00 (good for 6)

The sauce is very Italian, and I loved the Arugula on top...

Should have requested for more Arugula leaves!

And another...

Pizza Bella, Parma ham, Arugula, and truffle oil - P520.00 or $12.00
A favorite!!! Next time I'd really ask for more Arugula stalks!!!!!!

Next came the Buffalo Wings

it was good, an original Buffalo recipe I believe...
Around P320.00 or $7.00

and finally, Oysters!!!

Unfortunately, I missed this... Too full to try this out, plus, it was served in front of me and I thought it didn't smell good... Didn't dare try it...
But they said it was "just ok"... Costs around P300 or $7.00

Oh and yes, the dessert!!! This is to die for:

Gosh, the vanilla bean and caramel worked well together, and as you take each bite, small slices of crisp almond plays with your tongue and palate... A mixture of sweetness, creaminess, and crispiness... This is heavenly!!! P260.00 or $6.00

Tiramisu

The Tiramisu was ok... It's just not my favorite... P190.00 or $5.00

Pair these desserts with their Illy coffee... This is really good...

I felt very satisfied when we left the place... I was happy that I don't have to go too far to eat at a very comfortable place, with a European taste, at a reasonable price... Next time I'll order the steaks...
Yes of course, I'm coming back!!!

Over all, I am rating this restaurant, 4 out of 5 Toques !!!

Happy Eating!!!

The Cuisinier Brasserie
102 Timog, Quezon City
Tel. Nos: 586-8798
(0917)828-chef(2433)
email: cuisinier_brasserie@yahoo.com

A Haute Fan

Yes it is raining here in the Metro, but still, you can feel the heat of the summer! But on a lighter note, our skin are kept moist due to humidity... sun, rain, sun, rain... so don't get mad at all, but instead, make the most of out of it...

Get a Haute Fan that would make you feel comfortable on those warm and sunny days....

The Louis Vuitton Chinoiserie Fan
$2155.00

Whoa, for that amount, I hope it emits an
"air-condition" effect on me...
Would it???

Home Improvement

And I quote, 
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."
- George Moore

I love staying home...  But it only happens at night after office hours, or Sunday mornings...  How I wish it's the other way around where I could stay at home awake for 10 hours and sleep at the office for 8 hours. 

Although I don't stay long enough at home, I still want to see it beautiful, clean, and "liveable". 

And I always see to it that everything is in order, and that all the people living with me are comfortable.

Last week, I passed by Mindanao Avenue, and saw a newly constructed building.  It was really hot last week, I was sweating buckets,  and the place looked very inviting because it looked so cold and comfy inside, and it's as if something was dragging me to stop by and check what's inside this huge terracotta structure called Geneve...

(click the link for its Facebook account)

I noticed there were Uratex logos everywhere, that's when I realized that it's the new line of their company.  Home and Office Furniture.

Check this out...

 Gosh, I've never seen so many mattresses in my entire life!!! 

 and beds...

And I love those leather bed frames!

and tables, and cabinets, and drawers, and everything!!!



I'm eyeing on some (lots actually) of the items I really need... 

I'm coming back next week and get them one by one!!! 

And guess what?! You can also ask their friendly staff if you want to have your home designed by their in-house Interior Decorators!

(At a friendly price, of course!)

 If you live near the area, go check out this place, you might find what you've been looking for, even though you've traveled the whole world!!!

The Bieber Fever

For Justin's fans, I am not going to say something foolish about the concert.  The kid is talented...  But I don't like his voice...  His speaking voice is way, way different from his "lipsynch" voice...   But nevertheless, he got "hits", and he dances well...

Well, all I want you to know is that you can't get your money's worth when you watch in MOA Concert Grounds...  It is better to just park somewhere in MOA, and just watch the concert at the screens provided by the exits...  

I mean I didn't expect to be seated very far from the stage when my ticket says:  Gold A Right Side Reserved Seats.  I thought it was something special...  We were seated behind the VIP seats, (sponsored tickets) which is almost half of the concert grounds - then, us, the Gold Seats, which I believe around 15 rows only, then, behind us, the Gold B, free seating...  But no one was sitting down...  

I pity those moms who paid tickets and brought their sons/daughters who stood on their chairs but couldn't even see the top of the screen....

And during exit, I saw 4 mothers crying out loud, shouting their kids' names because they lost them in the crowd... 

I just hope the producers don't just take advantage of the artist's fans...  

I promised myself never to watch at MOA grounds again....  ever....

Bracelets, Bangles, and Great Friends!

When I go out with these group of friends, 

I always learn a lot about fashion...  

But not only about clothes and make up...  

They talk about "on how to be a real woman"...  

From root hair colors, IPL's, brow shapes, massage therapists, spas, waxing salons, just to name a few... In short, they are what I call "hardcore women" 

of the century...  

 The Purse Ladies...

Last night, three of them were donning the same bracelets.  The CDC Collier de Chien by Hermes. 

Lovely!  Unfortunately, I don't think one could fit my swollen wrists...  But good thing Rachel Zoe blogged about the new Hermes Lacquer Bangles!  

 So chic!

Easter Sunday

Easter is more than just Eggs and Bunnies.... 

It's a celebration of our faith...  

In the Easter Mass, we were baptized again, 

blessed again...  

As if we are renewing our Baptismal vows 

with Jesus Christ, as we say the Apostle's Creed, 

we welcome Him to be our guide to be the "new" us.  

It is of God's plan to let his only begotten Son 

to suffer for us, so that we may be able to remember this, over and over again, repent, and renew.  

However, sometimes, we only think 

of the long weekend during this season.  

We somehow forget the true meaning 

of this "Holy Week"...

I believe It is my time to reflect, study myself, 

and change for the better...  

As the priest bless me and sprinkles me

with Holy Water, 

let this be the start of my

"new" life

and change my

"old wretched ways"...

Visita Iglesia 2011

I feel so blessed...  I kept on thanking Jesus for giving me the opportunity to do Visita Iglesia this Lenten Season, because I believe I may not be able to do this in the future...  

1  Our first stop was San Pascual Baylon, or popularly known as the Obando Church.  

San Pascual, Saint Claire, and Our Lady of Salambao are the three focal points of this church.  For the men who wants to have a wife, they dance and pray to San Pascual, for Ladies who wants to have a husband, they dance and pray to Saint Claire, and for couples who are asking for children, they pray to Virgen de Salambao...  We were also fortunate to see some men in Penitence, who were re-enacting the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

2  Our second stop is the Parish Church of Our Lady of St. Carmel, or popularly known as the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan.  

The church was the scene of the proclamation of Independence and where Pres. Joseph Estrada took his oath.

3  Next stop is St. John The Baptist Church in Calumpit, Bulacan.  

Built in 1572, this is the oldest church in Bulacan. Constructed under the supervision of Augustinian priest Fr. Diego Vivar-Ordoñez, the church had been witness to the Filipino’s struggle against Spanish, American and Japanese rule. Inside the church is a tunnel that, according to history, was used by priests during the Spanish regime to keep gold, religious statues, and ornate jewelry hidden from the sight of treasure hunters. Likewise, it is in this tunnel where revolutionaries and Spaniards were buried during the war. This was also Gen. Tanaka’s (Japanese Imperial Army) last battlefield.

4  Fourth is the National Shrine of St. Anne in Hagonoy, Bulacan.  

As Mama Mary's mother, St. Anne's Church looked very neat, clean, feminine, and pink to me. This is the only church that shows the relics of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary - St. Anne and St. Joaquim.

5  Fifth is Parokya ng San Juan, 

6  followed by (Sixth) Parokya ng San Jose, 

both churches in Hagonoy, Province of Bulacan.

7  And finally, our last stop, the Seventh Church is the Church of San Guillermo in Bacolor, Pampanga.  

The church was originally constructed by the Agustinian Friars in 1576 - also the town's founding - with Fr. Diego De Ochoa, OSA, as the town's first parish priest.having been installed as such two years after.

In 1880, the church was destroyed by an earthquake only to be rebuilt by Fr. Eugenio Alvarez in 1886. On September 3, 1995, lahar flow from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo which erupted into world notice on June 15, 1991, buried the church at half its 12 meter height.  But in spite of this, the Church is still being used as a place of worship, hence, inviting more people to visit the province of Pampanga.  This church was also used by ABS-CBN's religious soap opera, May Bukas Pa, which ended last February of 2010.

Somewhere along the way, we asked ourselves, where are we heading at?  Is this the right way?  Did we do the right thing?  How long are we gonna sit in the car?  Never ending doubts and what if's...

But our goal has clearly reminded us - To focus on the journey, and not the destination...  That's what we did...  And then later on, everything else was perfect...

I encourage each and everyone to do the same...  

Credits:  Bulacan Tourism

Holy Week 2011

 This is the first time I'm doing this...  The first quarter of 2011 has been very challenging and fulfilling for me, that is, financially, and emotionally...  

There had been many ups and downs...  

Contrary to this, I have been spiritually high 

during those times...  

I feel very blessed...  This Lenten season, 

I've been offering prayers to my loved ones, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, everyone!  

Yes, you're one of them!!! 

And for my most exciting activity this Lent, I am doing the Visita Iglesia with my family...  

And this is going to be our first stop.  

The San Pascual de Baylon Church, 

or popularly known as the Obando Church.

 

Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigberto/

And to make our journey fun and hassle free, 

1) I've uploaded my iPod with R&B Soul, Pop, so my kids could relate and sing while we drive through the NLEX...  

2)  I wrote down all the churches to be visited, researched every location, and highway Exits...   

3) I brought a Bag of Chips, (and chocs) 

with their favorites...  

4)  I made sandwiches...  

5)  I bought lots of drinks... 

6)  I briefed each and everyone on their reading 

assignments on our Way of the Cross... 

7) I'm fully charged with happiness and love 

for my family...

Red Sandwich Bags - Corned Beef

White Sandwich Bags - Corned Tuna

That's it!  We're all set!  

I'll keep you posted on our 

Visita Iglesia adventure 

as soon as I can...  

Have a meaningful weekend everyone!!!