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Review of TADEO Filipino Mexican Comfort Food (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

Love Mexican cuisine and Filipino food? Tadeo in Tomas Morato, QC is right up your alley. My brother-in-law recommended this restaurant for us to try. It’s a certified Let’s Eat Pare-approved restaurant, which means that the top food community in the Philippines today believes in their inventive and elevated take on Fil-Mex food. Last week, we checked this place out and were amazed with the interesting and unique tastes of food, especially their burritos and nachos. One bite and you’ll be a believer! 😛

Review of TADEO Filipino Mexican Comfort Food (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

Ambiance:

The industrial setting has a minimalist vibe. With only a limited number of tables and chairs, Tadeo easily gets tightly packed even with the fast and helpful staffers that start serving customers as they arrive. It showcases a hip scene with no frills and no pretension. There’s an open kitchen where you can really see how staff prepares and cooks the food. We were lucky to be seated in the bar area so we got a first-row view of everything. Ambiance is really casual and modest. So don’t judge the decor, judge the wonderful dishes. 😉 Tadeo’s location is somewhat hidden but it’s well worth the trip to find it.

Food:

At Tadeo, food variants are delightful and creative, featuring “next-level” dishes that are out of the ordinary. While their dishes might not register high on the authenticity scale, they each bring a special sizzle to the food scene. You won’t get disappointed when expecting a novel twist!

Sinigang Burrito by TADEO Filipino Mexican Comfort Food

Fittingly for pica, we began with Layered Beef Nachos (PhP 230), which perfectly achieved the perfect gooey-to-crunchy ratio. It consisted of beef guisado, Annatto cheese sauce, beans, tomato, and onions. The various accompaniments make up a great flavor and texture combination.

Next, the Inihaw na Mais or Elote (PhP 75) was served hot. We watched how the corn was grilled in front of us, so it was extra exciting to know how it tasted. The result? We all liked it. Calamansi sour cream, grated cured egg, and calamansi were put together incredibly that will leave you wanting more.

Loaded with sharp cheddar, mozzarella, emmental, Tadeo’s Chicken Inihaw Quesadilla (PhP 180) was made with well-seasoned lean chicken breast that offered a balance with the cheese. Its crisp golden brown exterior is something truly satisfying. Talk about delicious Fil-Mex comfort food everyone will go crazy for!

My vote for the most flavorful dish of our meal goes to the Binagoongan Burrito (PhP 260). It was made with crispy pork, eggplant, tomato, and bagoong rice. This will leave you feeling just filled, not overloaded. It’s a real gem on the menu. I can imagine eating this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Dive in!

Tilapia Fish Rebosado Taco (PhP 160) is the kind of fish taco I crave. It’s made with fried battered tilapia fish, garlic sour cream, red radish, red cabbage, tomato, and spring onion. Altogether, these ingredients add up to taste ultra-fresh and nice, yet they still feel light and healthy. Don’t skip it!

Price for Value:

Tadeo in Tomas Morato offers food at reasonable and inexpensive prices. No wonder it’s a destination for foodies! The serving of each dish can be good for 1-2 people. While straight-up delicioso tacos and burritos make the headline on their short, top-notch menu, guests are always welcome to try their special dishes like pork sisig and pollo inasal. Since the space is quite small for a large group of people (>3 pax), there’s a wait to get in, but the reward is a permanent smile on your face and a happy tummy. 🙂

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October 23, 2019
12 Tips to Plan and Celebrate Your Baby’s First Birthday Party
Lance is officially one year old! We’ve all survived the first year of parenthood, with the help of our family and yaya. This milestone definitely deserves a great celebration! Fortunately for us, planning had been easy and stress-free. What’s more, we got to celebrate on his exact birthday. 🙂 In this post, I’m sharing party ideas, tips, and reminders to make sure the day doesn’t end in mishaps and hiccups. Below is a list of our suppliers as well for your reference.

12 Tips to Plan and Celebrate Your Baby’s First Birthday Party

1. Choose a fun theme.

Delicious food and good company are important factors to any awesome party, but to make baby’s bash extra special, consider picking a first birthday party theme. Without a solid theme, it will be much harder to plan and think of all the things you need to put together for the party prepping. Choosing a simple theme and sticking to it will make everything look more cohesive and organized.

We thought of all the characters in Universal Studios Osaka since it was the last place we visited before our planning, and we decided to go with Minions of Despicable Me. We wanted to celebrate in true blue and yellow fashion, and so we did!

2. Choose an appropriate and accessible venue.

If you’re feeling adventurous and the big day happens to fall during summer, an outdoor location or a garden sounds fine. Else, it’s best to go for indoors to avoid rain stopping play. It can be in a family’s or friend’s house, restaurant, clubhouse, kid’s party place, function room, or a dining hall.

We chose one of our favorite Chinese restaurants, so there will be no hassle and another step in finding a credible food catering supplier separately. Also, there’s no need to spend an additional fee for the venue rental since it’s already part of the food package.

We held our party in Gloria Maris Greenhills because it’s close to the christening church, we love Chinese food, it has enough room to accommodate all our guests, and there’s a lot of parking spaces available within the Greenhills Shopping Center compound. Other big advantages are: they have different sets of food menu available, servers are efficient, you won’t get stuck with cleanup, and fixtures such as the stage, cake table, registration table, designated gifts table, high chairs for babies and kids, and kids’ tables can be provided according to need.

3. Create the guest list and make your party invitation.

The guest list determines the party size and the working budget, and vice versa. Focus on your immediate family and close friends, and only extend out if budget permits. Take an Excel spreadsheet or a notepad to list the names, contact numbers, or social media accounts of guests. This will come in hand soon when inviting them and asking to confirm their attendance. This will also serve as the basis for the count of invitation cards to print or send out online. Once final, arrange the guests per table and print out the guest list with assigned table numbers as this will be used during registration. Chase up any outstanding RSVPs a week or two weeks before the party.

4. Plan your baby’s outfit.

If you’re having a themed party, shopping for the outfit can be easier since you’ll have a peg in mind. Just refer to the character’s style of clothing as your guide. You can either buy an outfit, make a DIY outfit, or ask friends and family for outfits you can borrow to a chunk of your budget.

If you’re not having a theme, it’s best to do some research! You don’t need to move the sun and the moon to prepare for your baby’s clothes, shoes, and accessories, but if you want to make it special, it’s worth looking around and getting a few ideas. Don’t buy the first thing you see at the first price. It’s always recommended to shop around and check ideas on Pinterest, Instagram, or anywhere online to get solid ideas and save a fortune with great finds. Lance was dressed as a minion on his birthday. 🙂

To avoid last-minute scrambles, leave the baby’s outfit and shoes somewhere obvious before the big day. That way, you can grab them quickly when the time comes to get dressed up.

5. Pick a birthday cake.

You can get a cake from a supermarket or a local bakery, but if you want to make the day that little bit more special, order a unique cake featuring your baby’s name instead or a design that goes with the birthday party theme. Start sourcing out suppliers who can make and bake personalized cakes. Choose the right size of cake that’s enough to be served for your guests.

Since we were pretty satisfied with our wedding cake supplier, Hearts and Bells, we decided to get the Minion birthday cake from them. Their cakes taste good (you can choose two flavors for a cake: chocolate, mocha, vanilla, banana with chocolate chips, tropical carrot, red velvet), they have plenty of customized cake design selections, their customer service is very responsive, and their rates are very reasonable. Thumbs up!

6. Plan the setup and decors.

You can consider custom inflatables of different shapes such as a cartoon character, or your theme-related character, or other inflatable buildings and products. Depending on your venue, you can also place bouncy houses, or slides, which are safer for little kids. These inflatables are always entertaining and bring huge fans both to little ones and their parents.

Will there be food carts, balloons, photo booths, a stamping booth, a face paint booth, or a play area for kids? Plan the setup and arrangement of these booths in your venue. Contact suppliers at least three months before because most of them require at least a month’s notice when booking. Get in touch with them early to ensure they have your date in their diary. If possible, visit the venue with them for an ocular inspection and get feedback.

When it comes to decors, consider your baby’s favorite animal, character, or color and base the theme around that, or simply choose a bright, happy color palette in lieu of a specific theme. To ensure safety, keep balloons, sharp objects, and dangling things out of your baby’s reach. Make sure to dispose of balloons after the party, since they can pose as a serious choking hazard for little ones.

We spent one afternoon finding suppliers of decors and balloons at 168 Mall and Lucky Chinatown Mall – Annex. We found Issa’s Candies & Party Needs General Merchandise which immediately became our top and only choice. Not all stalls that sell balloons in these two malls can make customized and themed balloons for parties. If you’re looking for a really affordable package with good quality outputs, Issa Gen won’t let you down. We started communicating three months before. All instructions and agreements were made clear, so the result was exactly how we imagined it. 🙂 Their stall is located in B-185 2nd floor Building B of Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo. They specialize in decorating for corporate events and birthday parties. They have the right people who can suggest creative and fun ways to make your event pop.

7. Organize entertainment.

The best way to fill time on the first birthday is to have some party games ready. Activities designed to occupy everyone from babies to grandparents offer a chance for guests to engage in fun activities and create special memories in honor of the occasion. We chose “rock, scissors, paper” and invited everyone to join. Of course, a party game isn’t much fun without a prize for the winner, so make sure you shop for some simple, low-cost prizes. Chocolates and sweets are always winners here.

Another good idea to keep children occupied is to offer crafts. Print out coloring pages and place crayons at the kids’ table, and ask an older teen to help lead the gang in the activity. For handling bigger crowds, maybe getting a clown, performer, magician, or ventriloquist can help better with keeping guests entertained.

8. Create a music playlist.

Grab your music library or subscription service and set up a special playlist that features children songs and tunes that befit your child’s birthday party. Make sure your playlist doesn’t include any lyrics not suitable for children’s ears. Our son’s favorite songs are those nursery rhymes and popular children songs from Super Simple Songs on YouTube, so I saved them as mp3 in my usb and shared the files with our Lights and Sound supplier, NJ Light and Sound. Kudos to their team-there was no technical glitch encountered. Videos looped properly and background songs played without a problem.

9. Time your party perfectly.

Adults can party all day but kids, especially your baby, need to rest. Schedule the time of the party around the birthday baby’s nap time and limit the length of the party to at most two hours. Any longer and babies tend to get cranky. It’s best if you can allow your baby to nap first before the party starts or before the guests arrive for more chances of smiles than tears. A well-rested tot is a much happier host!

10. Choose a trusted photographer to document the event.

Birthday party photos will be priceless down the road. This is the only first birthday your baby will have, and you’ll want to capture every moment. Don’t miss experiencing the joy of the day because you’re stuck behind your camera! Ask a trusted friend, family member, or a professional photographer who can document the day for you. If the budget allows, consider hiring a videographer as well to take videos at the party.

We chose Christine Kiac Photography and we’re so glad we did. Christine is very well-organized, on time, talented, and has a good eye for detail. She also has a baby now so apart from truly loving her job as a photographer, she’s also familiar with handling babies and she knows the best angles and moments to capture. Her editing skills are sharp and amazing, too! I love that her team is successful in telling the story of in-between moments during both our son’s christening in the church and at the party. We’re happy to see wonderful results on the same day (SDE).

11. Thank guests with party favors.

Though not required, party souvenirs are a nice way of saying thanks to your guests. We sent our guests home with customized Minion soaps made by My souvenirs shop and others. Other simple and good ideas are: personalized candies that fit into your theme, sugar cookies, homemade cupcakes, marshmallows, keychains, photo holders, mini donuts, candy pops, bath bombs, mini pies, handy hand sanitizers, and potpourri.

12. Don’t forget to have fun!

Remember, this is a birthday party for a child and it’s a celebration of life. 🙂 Avoid feeling stressed out and just enjoy the day. Time goes by fast — before you know it, they’ll be planning their own birthday parties.

Wrap Up

Based on our experience, planning our baby’s first birthday party wasn’t quite as hard as managing his first diaper change, first teething session, or our struggles in every late night feeding. Still, it’s an event that takes some consideration, time, and budget to plan. Your child won’t remember the details of his birthday, but you (and maybe some family members and friends) will. 🙂 I hope these tips and ideas can help you navigate your way through your baby’s first birthday party celebration!

Summary | List of Suppliers
- Venue and Food: Gloria Maris Greenhills
- Setup and Decors: Issa’s Candies & Party Needs General Merchandise
- Lights and Sound: NJ Lights and Sound
- Birthday Cake: Hearts and Bells
- Photography Package (Growing Up AVP, Unlimited Photos on the day, SDE): Christine Kiac Photography
- Souvenirs: My souvenirs shop and others
October 22, 2019
Gringo Welcomes Holiday 2019 with New Dishes and Food Boards

Gringo, your friendly amigo and jovial host who loves food and fun, makes celebrations more memorable as he treats your family and friends with a muy delicioso party filled with a special new dish and two Holaday Boards. To prepare for the holiday season of 2019, Gringo has been spending lots of time in the kitchen to come up with dishes to make you come back for more! This time, Gringo is introducing his own version of Lechon Cubano.

The Lechon Cubano, a slow-roast, Cuban-style lechon belly, is marinated with a special mixture of aromatics. It is perfectly crunchy and crispy on the outside, yet truly tender on the inside – somewhat like Gringo who has a soft spot for families and friends who gather together for a meal during the season of sharing.

Drizzled with a special Chimichurri sauce, Gringo is offering the Lechon Cubano in different sizes: Chikito (for one), Pepito (for two to three) and Bendito (for four to five). This can also come in set meals with sides. But for office parties and potluck celebrations, make sure to get the Fiesta Pack which is good for eight.

Celebrations are more fun with friends – especially those who also help in the kitchen! So Gringo invited over his friends Sancho and Buena to help him whip up this year’s Holaday Boards.

Sancho, who loves his meat dishes, is serving his ‘Sancho Board’ featuring his new favorite – the Lechon Cubano. Meanwhile, their amiga Buena is sashaying in seafood realness with her ‘Buena Board’ that is highlighted by Tilapia fingers with Salsa Verde. Both Holaday Boards include a combination of Gringo’s bestsellers such as the Original Roast Chicken and BBQ Ribs. Each board also comes with four soft tacos, a platter of rice, side of nachos, and a pitcher of delightful house-brewed iced tea.

Now, a feast with Gringo, Sancho, and Buena is not complete without sweets! The Holaday Boards, which can fill up four to six amigos, are served with a special limited-time only dessert that’s off the menu – the Ube de Queso.

With a special dish and sharable food boards, homey ambience with friendly staff, and accessible locations nationwide, Gringo is the ultimo destination of your next celebrations. Say hola! to good times and good food!

To see Gringo and feel his warm welcome, visit the restaurant outlets located in Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Ayala Malls The 30th, Ayala UP Town Center, Festival Mall, O Square 2 Greenhills, Palanca St. cor. Dela Rosa in Makati; SM CDO Downtown Premiere, SM Dasmariñas, SM Fairview, SM Legazpi, SM Manila, SM Marilao, SM Megamall, MAAX (beside SM MOA Arena), SM North EDSA, SM Santa Rosa, SM Sucat, and The Fort in BGC.

Follow Gringo on Facebook (gringochickenribs) and on Instagram (@GringoPH). Don’t forget to tag and use the official hashtags (#GringoPH #HoladayBoards #LechonCubano).

For advanced orders, reservations, functions, and events, you may also email: customercare@gringo.ph. Earn points with every purchase and redeem exclusive rewards from Gringo when you download the McWilson App for free in Apple Store or Google Play.

About Gringo:

Ever since it started its first branch in SM North EDSA in April 2016, Gringo has been winning the hearts (and bellies) of people of all ages, making the branches grow today at 19. Its latest branch just opened in SM Dasmariñas.

Gringo, a homegrown, potluck-themed restaurant, has elevated flavorful flame-grilled chicken and fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs that are perfect for sharing for any occasions and celebrations.

October 18, 2019
Camping and Fishing: Some Tips to Catch the Big One

Camping and fishing go hand in hand. There seems to always be a body of water nearby where you can throw a line and hopefully add some excitement to your camping trip. Nothing beats the feeling of bringing a fresh fish back to the tent to throw on the grill that you caught yourself. Or, if you are not a fish eater, then catch and release is equally exciting.

What if you don’t know how to fish, though? Fishing is not as hard as it seems to be. With the right preparation, you can catch yourself a fish and really add to the camping experience. Here are some tips to get the most out of your fishing trip.

Camping and Fishing: Some Tips to Catch the Big One

Know your gear

There are so many types of fish and each has a special rod and gear that make it easier to catch. Did you know there are four types of fishing line? There are also different sized rods that are suited for various types of fishing. Familiarize yourself with some of the fishing gear that is needed and you will make your life easier.

Know the fish in the area

To maximize your chances of catching a fish, you need to know what is out there. This way you can bring along the correct gear for that type of species. For instance, when we went to Calaguas Island there are abundant grouper, dorado, and billfish, just to name a few. Knowing that means we could have brought along specialized rods and the right type of bait to fish for them.

Bait vs lures

When you know the fish you wish to catch, you then need to know if you are better off with bait or lures. Some fish are easily tricked and using a lure is the best bet. Trout fishing, for instance, is best when using small shiny lures called spoons. Whereas fishing for grouper is best done with cut up fish as bait. If you are squeamish about putting bait on a hook, then try using some plastic bait that looks like the real thing.

Know the local fishing laws

There is a matter of permits that needs to be considered when you decide to fish. This is especially true when freshwater fishing. Getting caught fishing without a license can result in serious fines. Make sure to look online for your area that you plan to fish to understand what is required before going.

Be patient

Fishing can take quite a while. Make sure you are not going out with the expectation to catch a fish as the only fun part. You have to make a day out of it or you are doomed to come home empty handed. If you only go for an hour and then lose patience, then fishing is not for you! Try to enjoy the whole process. Just being out on the water with some friends or family is reward enough as it is.

October 18, 2019
The 5 Weirdest Things to Do In Quebec Province

Canada. Long considered the USA’s quiet neighbor. They may not make a lot of noise up north but they aren’t boring. Not by a long shot. In fact, there are plenty of unusual travel destinations just over the border in Quebec Province that are worth a visit to the Great White North. If you’ve been reading my blog you know that I love to visit weird places off the tourist path including Canada. Let’s dive right in and check out the 5 weirdest things you can do in Quebec and the Province.

The 5 Weirdest Things to Do In Quebec Province

1 – Stay at the Hôtel de Glace, aka the Ice Hotel

We know it gets cold up in Canada but don’t avoid it because of that. I say that you should embrace the ice and stay at the Hôtel de Glace. It is made entirely out of ice and snow so it melts in the spring and has to be rebuilt every year. It isn’t strictly a gimmick, however. You will get the full hotel experience including 85 rooms, a nightclub and even a sauna. Make sure to bring warm clothes because even the furniture is made out of ice!

2 – Toboggan Slide Au 1884

Another reason to visit Quebec in the winter is to try to toboggan slide that has been running through the center of town since 1884. At speeds of up to 43 miles per hour it isn’t for the faint of heart, though! The views from the top of the hill where the run starts are amazing any time of the year, but when faced with a high speed ride they’re even better.

3 – Pingualuit Crater Lake, Pingualuit Provincial Park

Going further afield you can see something truly unique in the world. A well-kept secret is the crater which holds a lake within it. It seems out of this world and not something you expect to see. It was created by the impact of a meteor over 1.3 million years ago. Although it seems otherworldly, the accommodations there are modern. It is a bit of a trek to get there. Getting there is tricky. You’ll have to fly there from Montreal and then jump on a helicopter from Kangiqsujuaq to the park.

4 – The Grand Gathering, St. Lawrence River, Sainte-Flavie, Quebec

Looking like something out of a sci-fi movie are over 100 life-sized statues carved out of wood overlooking the Saint Lawrence river. Created by Canadian artist Marcel Gagnon, they have become an attraction to an already beautiful location immersed in nature. It is a few hours drive from Montreal, so you’ll want to rent a car from Globe Car Rental at YUL airport and make a day or an overnight out of it.

5 – Festival d’été aka Summer Festival

Enjoy the brief summer in Quebec and go to the Summer Festival for music, food and some unique entertainment. There’s even a huge area for kids to play if you want to go with family, including realistic dinosaurs and bubble machines.

October 3, 2019
Review of Muhan Samgyupsal (Greenhills, San Juan City)

We suddenly craved for Korean bbq last weekend and decided to try Muhan Samgyupsal in Greenhills. Muhan PH surpassed our basic expectations of a regular restaurant offering unlimited samgyupsal and K-meat dishes. It also offers shabu-shabu and not only grilling. This time though we just availed their P449 package which includes unlimited pork, beef, side dishes, lettuce, egg stew, soup, and rice.

Review of Muhan Samgyupsal (Greenhills, San Juan City)

Ambiance:

Want reliable and tasty Korean unli samgyupsal in San Juan area? Check this place out. Muhan Samgyupsal uses a smokeless electronic grill that cooks fast. Every table has a high-end tabletop grill and duct to minimize smoke. In addition, if you get the unli 3 package, they’ll bring out a shabu shabu grill as well to allow customers to enjoy and experience shabu-shabu dining and barbecue at the same time. The ambiance felt calm, classy and casual. Three c’s! That said, Muhan Samgyupsal in Greenhills is the perfect place to indulge in a big lunch, a leisurely dinner, or a fun night out no matter the occasion.

Food:

The menu isn’t as extensive as Romantic Baboy‘s or your upscale Korean bbq joint, yet every dish has layers of enjoyment and surprise. Unfortunately, out of the eight items on the menu, two were unavailable–Bulgogi Beef and Gochujang Bulgogi, to be specific. To compensate for the “loss,” we were billed P399 per person instead of P449.

Our favorites were Yang-nyum Beef, Yang-nyum daepae, and Daepae Samgyup. These are thinly sliced pieces of quality meat that taste so good you would cry if it dropped to the floor. The Yang-nyum Beef (Prime Angus Beef)and Yang-nyum daepae were marinated in a special tasty seasoning so you can really relish the goodness of every bite even without dipping in any sauce. But to add oomph to the flavor and pleasure to the mix, dipping the meat in melted cheese is recommended. Yum!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2y5UoEn0Dx/

Beef Samgyup and Tong Samgyup were also good. The juiciness and tenderness of the meat was apparent and we loved it. Yang-nyum Moksal (not in photo) had spiciness and I couldn’t tolerate; it was just too much for me. It’s the only thing I wouldn’t recommend ordering if you’re not a fan of food that’s too spicy you couldn’t enjoy the flavor anymore.

Price for Value:

Overall, I think the selections at Muhan Samgyupsal are okay and prices are fair and reasonable. It’s best to go when you have a bunch of friends to share the food with. You can order with freedom and try a bit of everything, safe in the knowledge that it’s not going to get expensive. It will only set you back at P399 (Unli 1-Pork dishes only) or P449 (Unli 2-Pork and beef). It’s not a crowded restaurant even at peak lunch time when we went there, so if you want to avoid a long wait and you know you’re craving for unli samgyupsal, you need Muhan Samgyupsal. Walk-ins are welcome but you can also call and make a reservation ahead. Contact +63 956 3912240 for inquiries.

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September 26, 2019
How to Stay Healthy on Holiday

We all go on holiday to relax, escape, unwind and get away from it all. The last thing any of us want is to become ill. Unfortunately, some areas of the world have much lower standards of sanitation and hygiene than others and all have their own ecosystems of micro-organisms such as bacteria and insects that you may or may not be immune to. Additionally, access to healthcare facilities may be extremely limited. This is not a reason to avoid exploring new places (unless official advice dictates otherwise!). It just means that you need to be organised well in advance of travel.

Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pexels

Here are a few tips:

Be prepared well in advance

It goes without saying that its wise to be pre-prepared before embarking on any new vacation. Depending upon where you are travelling to, vaccines may be required. These need to be administered before you go in plenty of time to have an effect. Certain countries will require travelers to show evidence of vaccination before entering.

Pharmavaccs offers a clinical service specifically for this purpose with tailored vaccination packages for the most popular holiday destinations including Cambodia and Thailand. The most common vaccines are for Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio, Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

Typhoid

Typhoid is an infection that can be found in countries across South Asia including, India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. Typhoid fever is a very serious and life-threatening infection that can have fatal consequences if justify untreated

Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio

A Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio vaccination is required for countries with limited access to medical facilities and countries of high risk. This includes parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Hepatitus A

As for most illnesses, this is most widespread in parts of the world where standards of sanitation and food hygiene are poor such as Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, Middle East and Central and South America.

Have a health check

It is also worth checking that you are immunised against more common conditions such chicken pox and STIs if you consider this necessary.

Do your research

Wherever, you are going, it is worth finding out if there are any disease outbreaks that you need to be mindful of and what the precautionary steps are. Depending upon where you are going, more than one vaccine may be required.

If you’re short on time, don’t despair-Pharmavaccs are on hand to help. Their clinics are located all around the country and they offer a same day service – timings are flexible to fit around your routine. You can book in online and prices are competitive so you don’t need to worry about an unwanted cost burden before you go.

Look after yourself

Follow the basic hygiene rules when you get there to protect yourself and be smart. Take medication if needed and water sterilising tablets with you and if something looks dodgy, don’t eat it.

Provided you do all these things, there’s no reason why you can’t have an amazing holiday!

September 20, 2019
Review of King Kaijoo Fusion (Banawe, Quezon City)

Fusion is what King Kaijoo is all about! 🙂 Literally, Kaiju is a Japanese word which translates to “strange creature,” “monster,” or “giant monster.” It refers to large creatures mostly seen in movies from Asia. King Kaijoo Fusion uses this as inspiration to promote different cuisines and form harmonious a fusion to satisfy customers. We were impressed by the creativity of not just their food, but also how they described them as well on their menu. You’ll see what I mean below! 🙂

Review of King Kaijoo Fusion (Banawe, Quezon City)

Ambiance:

Just beside Chinatown’s Best Food, King Kaijoo Fusion is located in Banawe, where a culinary innovation is booming in new concept restaurants. The space doesn’t look anything festive or atmospheric but rather cozy. This is ideal for those looking to dine in a quiet and reserved place while not having to drive far away from Banawe area. Spotlights and dark upholstery fabric suggest an ambiance of class and set the mood for intimate conversations. One wall is covered or decorated intentionally with a map, which provides a hint that food here are inspired diversely from across the globe.

Food:

Mimiga (PhP 248) didn’t strike me as the love-at-first-bite type, but its texture was spot on, positively and delightfully crunchy. It’s a good snack to have as a conversation starter that you can eat by your fingers. Made of crispy pig’s ear with shichimi, it was served with vinegar dip on the side. It wasn’t greasy at all.

Next came the Giddora Onion Soup (PhP 178) which four of us shared. 🙂 It’s a blend of three onions, cooked with beef stock, and topped with cheesy croutons. It’s one of the better onion soups we’ve tried.

Given our penchant for tacos, West Coast Tacos (3 pieces, PhP 288) was obviously a must-order item, and boy, did it ever deliver. The miso and black sesame seeds just added a fantastic depth and savor to the sashimi, which was then utterly balanced by the brightness of wasabi aioli and coriander.

Miso Monster Wings (PhP 348) were presented as 6 pieces of chicken wings in a platter. These chicken wings showed off a wonderful back-and-forth of the combination of salty, sweet, earthy and savory elements of the miso glaze. Make sure to squeeze out the lemon to add a citrus accent and freshness to the harmony.

Volcano Kimchicken Nuggets (PhP 298) was another standout as it imparted an almost explosive rendition of kimchi fried rice. The kimchi was spicy, but not in-your-face spicy as you can still relish the flavored taste of the rice. Gooey cheese sauce, fried chicken nuggets, and spring onions were all superb ingredients making up the dish.

Furi-Kareizee Fries (PhP 278) were fluffy yet crunchy on the tooth, with a subtle taste of bacon goodness, masterfully made with furikake (dry Japanese seasoning). When you’re done, you’ll have that same sense of surprise as when your fingers hit the bottom of a bag of chips you thought you only just opened. Yummy!

The Legendary Seafood Pasta (PhP 378) was similarly enjoyable. With a oceany character that married well with Thai herbs, the pasta was cooked with green curry and a mix of seafoods, it had a creamy consistency but still light on the palate. Like their other dishes, this recipe welcomes creativity. Imagine marrying the taste of carbonara and laksa. It’s uncomplicated and soothing for any meal.

KFC Sandwich (PhP 288) looked chunky and tasty. It’s Korean fried chicken, gochujang glaze, sriracha mayo, brioche bun, with fries.

For desserts, we started with their Chocolate Tempest Tempura (PhP 298) as it’s recommended on the menu. What set this one apart was the interaction between the hot deep-fried snickers and cold vanilla ice cream topped with a caramel swirl. It resulted in a lovely sweet, hot and cold creamy interplay. Quite nice!

Lastly, their Fire and Ice (PhP 248) was indulgent, with a slightly over the top presentation and a little bit boozy. It’s neopolitan ice cream, meringue, and brandy surprise. Inside, expect to chew a crumbly texture with subdued sweetness of chocolate and vanilla well-matched with the tartness of strawberry.

Price for Value:

Prices won’t set you back much, but they aren’t cheap either. But what’s important is that you’re happy as you walk out of their door. We left King Kaijoo almost button-burstingly full and also impressed. King Kaijoo in Banawe isn’t the flashy type of restaurant, so it might not be one of the places you’ll consider for a weeknight date or a family meal. If you like creative fusion food with a hodgepodge of global influences, it’s worth a try! 🙂

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September 19, 2019