19th Travel Tour Expo 2012

Another travel expo is coming up! I’ve always been a “suki” of travel expos because of the low airfares, cheap accommodations, and discounted travel packages you can score.

The 19th Travel Tour Expo will be from 17 – 19 February 2012  at SMX Convention Center, Halls 1,2,3, and 4 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex. Entrance fees  are PHP 50/day for general admission and PHP 20/day for senior citizen.

Last year, we were able to book a 3D/2N hotel accommodation with daily breakfasts + 1 night free accommodation at La Carmela de Boracay.  For a 4D/3N trip, we paid around Php840/person. Great deal! Read the related blog entry here.

Although I promised that I won’t book anything, I’m still excited with all the travel promos and discounts offered during the 3-day travel expo. There’s no harm in looking and I’m really gonna try to control my impulsive self to buy anything. Haha. Wish me luck!

 Seeing the list of exhibitors makes me ecstatic! For the full list, check here.

Anyways, I will be there on the 18^th. See you  travel junkies!

Hydrotherapy massage at Ace Water Spa

Last weekend, instead of joining the mad crowd trooping out of Manila we decided to spend it the long weekend at home. These past few weeks have been really scorching hot, well except for some days. One of the best ways to escape the heat is to spend in the water and combine it with a good massage.

I purchased two vouchers (Php299/each) from Ace Water Spa for a 4-hour hydrotherapy massage via CashCashPinoy. Regular rates are Php550/adult and Php250/kid. We called up Ace Water Spa's reservations a few days ahead and they confirmed that we can just come to the spa any day we want,there was no need to reserve slots. So last weekend, with the unbearable Saturday heat, we thought it was time to visit Ace Water Spa.

Ace Water Spa follows the European concept of therapeutic spa that utilizes ultrasonic jet system that massages specific areas of the body and when combined with heat, it removes oils,fats, and other non-essential materials from the skin. This results to slimming and good blood circulation. This type of massage is is also more commonly called as hydrotherapy massage.

We arrived in their Banawe branch around 4pm on a Saturday. At the reception, we were given stubs for our lockers. As I entered the locker room, the attendant requested for my slippers to be taken off and provided me my locker key.

The locker room consisted of shower cubicles, lockers, toilets, and changing rooms. It was clean and very well-maintained. I did not see any spot of untidyness but I just didn't like stepping on a wet rubber-matted floor. But other than that, the locker room was spotless. Two thumbs up for Ace Water Spa on cleanliness!

I immediately changed into swimming clothes and met Erick outside the waiting area. I must say that fitted swimwear must be worn during the hydrotherapy massage. It would be better if a one-piece swimsuit will be used. I am guilty of this. I brought my 2-piece string bikini thinking that it was just okay but I felt awkward. Good thing, I bought an extra tight-fitting swimwear. For males, fitted swimwear like swimming trunks or cycling shorts are required. Boardshorts are not allowed.

The water spa was big enough but since it was a long weekend, the spa was crowded. It seems that everyone was there to beat the summer heat that afternoon. I also like the fact that cameras of any kind are not allowed in this establishment because this is a spa and not a resort.

There are five main areas in the spa which you can use: kids area, lapping pool, hydrotherapy massage area, hot herbal pools, and sauna and steam rooms.

The kids area was a treat for both kids and those young at heart. There are a number of water activities to choose from. I especially loved the Lazy River where you can just enjoy floating in the current using a floating mat.And oh there was also the Bucket Splash where you can pull the bucket from above using a rope and cold water will be splashed to you.

The lapping pool was for spa-goers who would love to take a swim in the pool. The pool was divided into two: fun swimming area and non-stop area. As the name suggests, when you decide to swim in the non-stop area you should be aware that there are other people swimming behind you, thus you have to continue swimming until you reach the other end. The whole pool is just 4 feet deep so you wouldn’t worry about getting drowned.

On the other hand, the hydrotherapy massage area is one huge and spacious pool with more than 20 unique and automated ultrasonic massage system. It is equipped with therapeutic aquatic jets for you to relax and target those tired muscles.  The massages can be categorized into soft, moderate, and hard massages. I personally liked the bubble bed where you can lay down comfortably and feel the bubbles massage your back, buttocks, and feet. I also had a great massage time in the chest and waist jet chairs. In the waist massage, the water pressure vibrated and massaged my tummy and waist. I felt like losing a few inches after. What you can do is alternately use the aquatic jets to target specific parts of your body such as the tummy, chest, back, and leg areas. Although the place was packed, we were able to maximize the aquatic jets since the other spa-goers were all courteously taking turns in using the water equipments. Plus points for this! Also since this is spa and not a resort, the people are not so much rowdy..well except for the kids.

The hot herbal pools are my top favorite in the spa mainly because the pools are scented with natural herbs. In this area, there are separate sections for men and women which is just actually just adjacent to each other. There are three pools in each area: mint pool at 32 degrees, jasmine pool at 36 degrees and the hottest of them all- the lavender pool at 40 degrees. Persons with high blood pressure are not advised to soak in the hot pools for it may trigger their blood pressure to rise. There are steel neckrest/side handles in the pool where you can rest your neck and head to balance your body’s temperature.

To fully maximize the benefits of the aromatic herbal pool and prevent you from exhaustion, you can alternately dip in the hot pool and in the cold pool. I did this so I can endure staying in the hot pool. If you are the type who easily gets cold, dipping in the cold pool once or twice would cause your feet to freeze and feel numb. I can only bear plunging once on it and then I run to the hot herbal pool to defy the coldness. It’d also help if you hydrate especially when you already feel parched. After all, there’s a free flowing potable water in the area.

Lastly, there are also steam and sauna rooms separate for men and women. But when we were there, only one steam and one sauna rooms are open. That means sharing the rooms with the opposite gender which wasn’t bad at all if you want to spend it with your friends. We spent five minutes in the steam room since I am not really comfortable with the steam getting into my eyes. I was wearing contact lenses. And I find it really hard breathing in the steam room, the air was just so thick. But if you have colds, the steam would help clear your lungs and air passage. We stayed in the sauna room for 15 minutes and just waited for the hour glass to finish the time.
By this time, we spent a good three hours already. Believe it or not, we felt exhausted and sleepy from all the aquatic jet massages and dipping in the hot herbal pools. We decided to have a quick nap in their rest area. Feeling recharged, we went to the lapping pool and swam for a few minutes.

The Lazy River was really my favorite so we went back there once more and just laid on our backs in the floating mats as the current gently pushes us.

After that, we decided it was time to shower and change clothes. It took me around 40 minutes to shower and dress up. Ace Water Spa’s locker rooms also have free lotion, hair gel, and cotton buds. They even have free plastic bag for your wet clothes.

The hydrotherapy massage was good, relaxing, and fun. It really felt like getting a real massage from a therapist. My legs and tummy areas were firmer. My back and shoulder areas felt relieved. It’s really like stepping out from a spa! Plus having fun in the water!

Ace Water Spa is my new discovery. I know i know, they have been here for quite sometime with two branches already – Pasig and QC. I am definitely coming back! And just to let you know that I had a really good hydrotherapy massage at Ace. I had a nice sleep and woke up feeling refreshed and energized.



Hydrotherapy massage, you will keep me coming back at Ace.

My Birthday Staycation

For my  2xth birthday, Erick and I decided to have a staycation just here in Manila. Staycations have been becoming popular these days especially for urban professionals and families who don't have the luxury of time to get away from work or responsibilities at home.  Staycation is just staying in the comforts of your own home or somewhere close to your home for vacation instead of traveling to a destination.

Last year, we celebrated my birthday in Bangkok. Although I enjoyed my birthday getaway with my girlfriends and the boyfriend, I kept thinking about home. So for this year’s celebration, I had it simple and low-key. It was a simple dinner with the family and a birthday staycation.

I must say that I’m very persistent when chasing great travel deals. We attended the Philippine Travel Mart (see related post here) last September and I was able to book a discounted overnight stay at A.Venue Suites in Makati. Aside from that, during the travel mart we booked our stay with Thunderbird Resort in Poro Point, San Fernando La Union. Read the first and second parts of my Santorini-esque experience. 

Our very suite stay

We arrived at A.Venue Suites a little past 2pm, just in time for check-in. It took awhile for the receptionist to accommodate us. He was the only one in the front desk and there were like five of us waiting for him to attend to us. So anyways, we patiently waited for our turn. I filled out some forms and paid an incidental fee.

After checking their records, he informed us that they ran out of deluxe room which I reserved weeks ago so they’re upgraded us to a two-bedroom family suite. Yey! Good things come to those who wait. What a great birthday treat :D

We immediately proceeded to our room at the 12^th floor. And the moment we opened our door, we can help but say that the suite was huge. There was a living room, dining area, and kitchen.

Living and dining areas

kitchen

The moment I saw how big is our room, I wanted to text all my friends that it was house party tonight care of moi.. haha but of course, it was such late notice so I didn't. 

There was a smaller bedroom with a single-size bed and a study desk.

Bedroom 1 aka the smaller room

The master bedroom was complete with a queen size bed, study desk, wall-mounted flat screen TV, closets, and the bathroom.

chillaxin in the master bedroom

nooks of the master bedroom

The bathroom was small but was equipped with the basic necessities. There was a bath tub which is a + point although it was small. There could have been a view while you soaking in the tub – but the outside was a construction site for another hotel/ condominium complex.

the cozy bathroom

Yes, I brought the whole bathroom with me

Our hotel suite has no view at all. Everywhere you look, it’s all construction site.

There was also a hint of funny smell in the suite. It smelled like cigarette smoke that stayed in the couch and the room. 

Another downside of the whole suite is that the rooms would have to share the bathroom which is inside the master’s bedroom.

But other than that, we are satisfied with the hotel room. As soon as we settled in the room and organized our things, we just watched TV the whole afternoon and went online. The hotel has a wifi service but you have to pay for it. Good thing I brought my very portable Globe Wimax.

It was already 6pm when we prepared for our dinner date.

the maxi dress is a gift from Erick and my koosh sandals is from VNC :)

The birthday dinner

It has been planned long before that we’d have the buffet dinner at the Spirals in Sofitel. But unfortunately, as you all probably know the famed Spirals was closed for renovation after Typhoon Pedring storm surge flooded the ground floor of Sofitel where the restaurant was also located.

It was hard thinking of another alternative since we’ve been dead-set to try Spirals buffet. Oh wells. We decided we’d just have dinner at Serendra in Bonifacio Global City. I’ve been hearing good food reviews about Mamou so we tried our luck to get a table there. We arrived at Mamou around 7pm and the attendant reserved a table for us at 8:30 pm. Okies, not a problem.

We checked the shops at Serendra and BHS and then we landed at Topshop where I bought a cute orange bikini. When I was a bit younger (gosh I feel old now), my hobby was to collect swimsuits since my friends and I love hitting the beach almost every month. It was only recently that I had to stop this addiction and instead buy clothes that would actually cover my whole body :D I didn’t buy it but Erick seemed to see in my eyes that I really wanted that cute bikini. So being a good boyfriend, he bought it for me as another birthday gift. Thanks love <3!


We then received a text message from Mamou’s that we already have a table. So we rushed back to the restaurant.

Mamou is one the best restaurants in Serendra and Bonifacio High Street according to my favorite food blog, OurAwesome Planet. It has one the best steaks in Manila and its other entrée dishes could not be missed too.

Mamou's homey ambiance

The restaurant has a homey ambiance for family dinners and get-togethers which makes it a perfect venue for those special occasions. The place is cozy and has an intimate ambiance. We were seated in small corner near the counter. 

We ordered the following.

For appetizer..

Truffle-flavored Vegetable Mushroom Dip with Whole Wheat Melba Chips (Php 195)

We both  loved this appetizer especially the mushroom dip. We kept on munching it until we realized it was gone. That's how we liked it so much. It's also very light on the stomach.

They also gave us complimentary white and wheat bread and butter placed in a small woven basket. The bread was very soft.

Complimentary appetizer

And for our entrées...

I wasn't very happy when they served my plate. First off, it wasn't the look of the Asian Duck I saw from other pictures. Where's the duck?? Look and dig till you find it. It was actually cut into strips instead of a quarter serving of duck.

What it lacked in presentation, it compensated for its taste. Although I did not taste the duck in my meal, the chorizo rice is already good by itself.

Asian Duck with Red Chorizo Rice (Php395)

The Roast Pork and Chicken is Mamou's version of citrus rubbed pork and chicken , buttered onions, red or white Cuban rice (Erick had the red rice), cinnamon saba, and black beans.

Roast Pork and Chicken (Php345)

I think this plate is one of those food where you get the best of everything. There's pork, chicken, vegetable, rice, and even a fruit. Their taste complemented each other. I surely loved this entrée although this wasn't my order.

And lastly for dessert.. It is always the favorite part of my meal.

Whew.. I love their Dark Chocolate Sans Rival! I can be so shallow when it comes to sweets, so please bear my indulgence for the Sans Rival.

Dark Chocolate Sans Rival (Php180)

By the time, we were having our dessert I was feeling very sleepy which Erick noticed. I don’t know if the food was such a comfy food that evoked my feeling to sleep. I felt very bloated after our meal. We finished dinner around 10pm and since I wasn’t feeling very lively that night, we went home to our hotel.

I was feeling a bit guilty because I dozed off to sleep as soon as we got back to our hotel. I was such a lousy birthday girl that night. Me thinks.

Things always get better in the morning as they say… I woke up with a slight fever and I can’t seem to move my body normally. Every step is an effort for me. I was officially SICK. Boo.

But since I am still mobile, we went down Azzuro Bar in the 4^th floor to have our breakfast, I wasn’ hungry to eat but I needed to get something in my stomach. The breakfast spread was limited with soup, fried rice, adobo, scrambled eggs, breads, pastries, and cereals.


We checked out the pool after our breakfast. Erick went for a swim while I stayed in the pool bed.

Pool area

There are two pools - one for adults and the other one for kids. There wasn't any other guests that time so the place was all to ourselves.  I learned that the upper floors of A.Venue is actually a residential condominium based from what I read in the pool policy.

They also have a small gym in the hotel but we weren't able to check that out.

We went back to our room and prepared for check-out at 12nn.

I loved the whole idea of staycation so I guess I'll be having more of these vacations. It's self-paced, relaxed, inexpensive, and fun. Who says you have to travel far to have a vacation?

Our very suite staycation

Spa bonding session at Tocarre Spa, Antel Spa Suites

I promised my bestfriend Yana that I would treat her to a relaxing massage when she comes from Dubai for her 2-week vacation. I’ve been hearing good reviews of Tocarre Spa so I decided that we’d probably have our spa bonding there. But as luck was on my side, I spotted a deal for Tocarre Spa from Deal Dozen. 

The deal included a relaxing 60-min massage plus foot ritual and delicacies at Toccare Spa plus use of spa amenities like sauna, jacuzzi, and steam room  for only Php699. The original value of the spa package is Php1790. So I didn't think twice to buy two vouchers for me and my bff. 

Fast forward to our spa bonding…

My bestfriend and I decided to use it the day after we had our La Union and Baguio trip since knew that we were gonna be tired and need some relaxing after our 3-day trip. I called up a week ago for our preferred date and schedule which is at 10pm. 

Earlier that night, we met with first our high school friends and we had dinner at Greenbelt 3. After our dinner, we waited for a cab to bring us to the spa but it was raining hard that night and everyone’s just all waiting for a cab. I texted them that we were on our way already just to ensure we don't lose our reservation. 

Tocarre Spa is located in the fourth floor of Antel Spa Suites in Makati Avenue. It is just beside A.Venue Suites. Tocarre prides itself as the spa having personalized treatment from the massage oil to the music, themed rooms, complimentary beverages and all.

We arrived in the spa just in time for our appointment. We then presented our vouchers and was asked to choose a scent for our massage oil and music. I chose lavender while Yana chose peppermint. We agreed that we both wanted classical music to listen to while we were having our massage. We were offered an upgrade to VIP room with additional Php250 charge but we declined since we noticed there aren’t any customers at that time, only us.

We were ushered to the ladies locker room and we changed into our robes. We took a quick shower and Yana and I met at the jacuzzi area.

Ladies locker room

I love that we were the only ones in the spa at that time. We get to maximize the amenities. We stayed at the jacuzzi for about 20 miniutes and had chit-chats about each other's lives. We used to live together in the same apartment and had our pajama talks before bedtime. We'd talk about our work, boys, love life, dreams, and other girly stuff. Nowadays, we only get to send messages thru Facebook and YM. In the middle of our conversation, a kind attendant offered us cold water. 

Dipping in the warm jacuzzi was very relaxing as it was been raining hard outside. After that, we slipped into the sauna room. I always loved staying in the sauna room especially after a good workout in the gym. So getting in the sauna was a treat for me. I poured some water into the hot volcanic stone to increase the temperature in the sauna room. I love that their sauna room looks well-maintained and clean. We stayed there for 20 minutes I guess and then we transferred to the steam room which was just next door. If I love staying in the sauna room, the steam room is my least favorite. Because the steam always dries my contact lenses. Plus I feel scared, you never know who’s hiding in the steam. Hehe

Photo taken from Tocarre Spa's website

We took another shower and then we’re ready for our classic massage finally!

In the massage room, there were around 4-5 beds but we were the only clients at that time. I was really looking forward to the massage since my body is screaming of tiredness and ache from surfing in La Union and the bus travel we took. My therapist put a good hard pressure especially on my upper back. I kinda twitched when she pressed my upper back but I didn’t not complain although she asked me if the she's using the right pressure. I felt that my back has lots of “lamig” that’s why she kept on kneading it.  During the massage, I dozed off for a couple of minutes until the therapist told me to change my position. For me the best part of the massage was when the therapist massaged  my calves. I always feel strain in those part of my legs and the massage actually relieved my tired leg muscles. After the massage, I felt I had just waken up from a good sleep.

After our massage, we were led to the foot massage area where there are comfy couches and an LCD TV. We had our foot paraffin where our feet were dipped in a hot water. A wax was formed in our feet and they were wrapped in a clear plastic bag. 

Photo taken from Tocarre Spa's website

As we waited for our  feet's cooling time, our snacks were served. They served us iced tea, empanada, and  an ensaymada. I wasn’t feeling hungry so I just munched the empanada. I like the fact that Tocarre Spa actually serve snacks after the massage. 

At 12 midnight, our spa session ended. Overall, I was satisfied with the services and the massage I had at Tocarre Spa. The attendants and therapists are courteous and see to it that you are well taken cared of. I especially loved their amenities which you can use – jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms. The spa is not that big compared to those I’ve gone to but it just means that you have more privacy since lesser clients are being accomodated. Just one thing I noticed, they didn’t have any music in the common areas like the reception and foot massage sections. It’d be nice if they set the mood of the spa all throughout the place – not just in the massage rooms.

I will probably come back next time to try their other massage offerings like the half-day spa experience :)

Two thumbs up for Tocarre Spa!

Secret Recipe and Mercato Centrale on my birthday

So last Sunday, your dear streetsmartgirl celebrated her 2xth birthday. This year, I opted to celebrate it in a simple way with my family.

I purchased five Secret Recipe vouchers from Ensogo and I used them to treat my family to a dinner J I called up Secret Recipe for reserve a table only to find out that the only branch that can accommodate us is in Fort Bonifacio Anyways for a change of location, I gave it a go.

Secret Recipe is café chain in over nine countries mostly in Asia. Its menu consists of Asian, western, pasta, chicken, and vegetarian dishes. They are also popular for their fresh cream cakes and beverages

One thing I liked about the restaurant is the ambiance with its white and red walls. You can just dine, relax, and enjoy your food with family and friends. It gives you a feeling of comfort which makes you feel at home.

Casual dining at Secret Recipe

Here’s what we had..

Pan Grilled Dory in Lobster Sauce (Php 345)

Known as one their bestsellers; I ordered it. The dory was cooked fish fillet style with fries and salad on the side. Quite honestly, I didn’t like it. The fish didn’t taste fresh to me.

Chicken Cordon Bleu (Php 265)

This chicken dish is served with fries and salad. My sister didn’t like it but my cousin  said it was average. So I’m not sure how it tasted.

Irish Lamb Shank (Php 485)

The lamb is served with mashed potato. Erick ordered an extra rice to match it. It’s one of their award winning dishes according to the menu. So I insisted Erick to order it. Well, to begin with the meat was soft and juicy. But I’m not so sure if it was really lamb or it was just beef. The sauce was okay but it tasted bland. You need to put more pepper to savor the taste.

At this point, honestly I’m not sure if everyone was enjoying his food. Off to the better dishes..

Fried Rice with Satay (Php 280)

The serving was small just enough for my sister’s pocket-sized built. Hehe I think what she liked about the satay was the peanut sauce.

Tom Yum Spaghetti (Php 220)

This tom yum wasn’t really spicy. This dish is a must try if you want to taste how spaghetti will taste with sour/spicy sauce on it.

Grilled Mushroom Chicken (Php 245)

Surprisingly, this dish is not on the bestseller list but it was actually the best tasting food of the night. The chicken was sliced proportionately with brown sauce and mushrooms on it.

Since we have a kid with us, we also ordered the Kid’s Burger.

Lemon slush, Apple Kasturi, and Fresh Watermelon shake

For our beverages, I had the Frosty Lemon Tea which is good. I’ve been craving for lemon slush since I had one in PNKY Café on my recent Baguio trip. This one’s quite a good alternative. They ordered Green Apple Kasturi which is a favorite drink in Secret Recipe and Fresh Watermelon.


Since I used five vouchers in a single transaction, we were given one whole round cappuccino cake which we all loved. Maybe the secret recipe of this restaurant is their cakes and not their entrée dishes.

with my family and my Capuccino cake

Aside from that, we also got free Secret Recipe VIP cards for discounts for card (10%) and cash (15%) transactions for dine-in and cake orders. Not bad eh? I was entitled to have 10 Secret Recipe VIP cards but since they ran out of stocks, they only gave me 6. The manager asked me if I could just return and get the remaining cards. But I don’t think I will go back there just to get the cards.

Secret Recipe VIP cards

The service wasn’t too bad at all but it can be improved. First off, I called up all the other three branches (Robinson’s Midtown, Shang, Megamall) to reserve only to get declined. They told me that the date I wanted to reserve is a mall-wide sale and they prioritized shoppers and non-voucher holders. Hokeeeey..I called up their BGC branch to see if I can reserve there. Good thing, there are available tables. Well, the restaurant wasn’t full actually; we were the only big group when we we got there J

We were told that the free whole cake specified in my voucher wasn’t available and they forgot to order it. They initially told us to return the next day to claim my free cake. It was disappointing because I reserved our table two days in advance . I told them that I am availing using the voucher which clearly stated that there is a free one whole Chocolate Cream Fudge Cake. So why are they telling me that it wasn’t available. Good thing that it was straightened out and I was given the Capuccino cake instead which wasn’t bad at all. 


They are attentive to our needs but I can’t help but feel this belittled sense that I am using a voucher. It turned out that I have to tell them everytime that it was said in the voucher.  Blah, blah. Blah.

The bottomline of all of these were resolved. So I give them a thumbs up for not getting us disappointed at the least. But as I said, they must improve on their service and food.

Our total bill amounted to Php 3420. I paid using five vouchers with Php3500 value in total.  I ordered a slice of Chocolate Indulgence cake (Php80) to consume the value left in the voucher. 

my take out which i remember is still in the fridge...remind me!

I would probably return but not for their dishes but for their cakes next time.

Since we were in the area, we decided to drop by Mercato Centrale to check the night food market. There were more food stalls now compared to our last visit. 

Of course, I wouldn't miss to check if there was a milk tea store. And yes, we found one! We found Bubble Tea Chills and ordered the Sweet Black Milk tea and Wintermelon Milk Tea. 

Bubble Tea Chills

At around 12mn, I was home blowing my birthday candle. HBD to me!

Birthday girl

Cheers to life! :D

The Burger Project

For our foodie project, this time let's talk about burger and fries! As I mentioned in my previous post, Erick and I are on the challenge of trying all the restos near our offices in Ayala Center, Makati. We're also on the lookout for new food and restos to try. 

CBD (Cheesesteaks Burgers and Drinks)

If you’re craving for burger and fries, look far no more because there's CBD. It’s conveniently located in the Ayala Triangle Gardens, perfect for those after wok meet-ups with friends. This burger joint is also one of our favorites besides that it is near our offices, it offers a good ambiance and moderate prices food in their menu. 

The ambiance is like the usual burger joints with big LCD screen tvs showing your fave sports channel. Here, you eat while watching tv  and lounge in their comfy couches.

CBD interiors

I tell you what’s are usual orders at CBD.

I usually order their CBD Burger with quarter pound pure and beef patty and their French Fries Original. The patty is tenderly cooked and juicy up to the last bite. 

CBD Burger + Shoestring fries

Their fries remind me of New York Fries and Dip (NYFD) without the dip because of its taste and fine cuts.

Leftover fries and a heart

I don’t have such big appetite and for a pocket-sized like me, the burger + fries combo never fails to make me full!

Erick usually order their Hickory Smoked Beef Brisket made from Angus beef. The meal already includes rice and coleslaw siding. This one too is one of CBD’s signature meals. The food presentation is nothing really to rave about but the food is..

Hickory Smoked Beef Brisket

I haven’t tried this yet but they have a local beer promo. For 35 bucks, you can get one local beer from 4-7pm daily. Sounds like a happy hour must be planned in the coming weeks. 

35 on all local beers!

ArmyNavy

Just last week, we tried ArmyNavy in Makati. I’m not so sure of the street because we kept on walking to find a place for dinner until we saw ArmyNavy. I think it's somewhere at the back of Robinsons Summit Building. I gotta ask Erick for the exact street. The place wasn’t packed yet at 7pm which was good.

Aside from burgers, ArmyNavy also offers burritos, soft tacos, quesadillas, and fried chicken on their menu. 

I ordered the ArmyNavy burger, which I think is their most basic burger. This classic burger is made with natural beef patties, then topped with fresh and crispy lettuce, tomato slices, mayo, and ketchup. The burger itself is already good and juicy and I loved their Sesame Seed Kaiser Bun. The moment I took my first the bite, I instantly tasted that their bun was good.

Of course, I wouldn’t miss ordering their Freedom Fries.

We also had ArmyNavy’s Libertea which is like Wendy’s famous lemon iced tea.

Erick had their Starving Sailor meal in steak. The moment he got his order, he couldn’t help but comment how huge the burger is.. just right for a starving sailor! I took a bite and it also tasted delicious and the overloading cheese definitely added more flavor.

One thing that I didn’t like about ArmyNavy is their service. It really took a long time for our order to be ready, We waited like almost 20 minutes for our food. Considering that the burger joint is a self-service establishment, they should be more quick in preparing the food. I noticed that one customer complained about ArmyNavy's slow service because they’ve been sitting there for 45 minutes and their order is not yet complete.

But for the quality of food and price, I am a satisfied ArmyNavy customer. 

Brothers Burgers

We have dined at Brother Burgers several times in Convergys Building in Ayala Ave. For me, Brothers Burgers still tops my list as my number #1 burger joint.

Last weekend, I was browsing through the net what activities Ericka and I could do for the weekend. I happen to browse that there was a Mega Food Sale happening at the Megamall that particular weekend. I checked on the participating stores and learned that Brothers Burgers was one of them. So off we went!

Brothers Burger promo was a 50% discount on the Big Brothers Burger (1/2 lb) for dine-in and take-out from 2-6pm. Since, it was 50% off, the half pound burger is only Php97.50. Yay!

We arrived there exactly 5:15 pm. The line was long. But since we were there already, we decided to take advantage of the promo.

Erick and I both order the Big Brothers half pound burger. This half pound burger is flame-grilled and weighs around 200 grams. It was topped with lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, and mayo.

Although we waited a bit long for our order to arrived, I was ecstatic to eat the half pound burger. Unfortunately, we forgot to take some pictures because we were starving already. Photos are grabbed from Brothers Burgers website.

Here's what we had.

We ordered finger foods like Brother French Fries and onion rings and iced tea to go with our food.

This blog post is making me really hungry now, seriously.. especially in this stormy weather..