Bittersweet Symphony: Photo Blog

Showing posts with label Photo Blog. Show all posts

Gourmet Italian dinner with a tight budget: Café Lidia

Café Lidia is a familiar spot for me for a friend invited me to dine with him on this place last 2010. Now we went to this café to celebrate my parent’s 26th wedding anniversary. The place was more spacious nowadays and they have a parking space already. Yey! (:

OVERVIEW:

This is located in #64 Calderon Street, Kalumpang, Marikina City. For commuters, you can ride any jeepney going to Marikina and it will pass thru the area. For those with private vehicle, at Ligaya turn to the street opposite the side where you see the Sandugo outlet and Jollibee (be sure to turn on the way heading to Marikina and not the one going to Pasig) then turn right at Calderon Street (beside Metrobank) go straight ahead and you will see Cafe Lidia on the right side of the street.

Elegance defines this café. It really looks like a fine dining restaurant however when you enter their place a lot of people middle class men were inside. Moreover, their interior design suits their foods. Very nice.

During my 2 visits in this place it is always jam-packed. This is definitely a hit for individuals near the area. Oh well, for the taste of their food coupled with its affordable price who would not love to dine in here.

SERVICE:

Fast, delicious and even though they have been featured in a lot of newspapers and/or tv shows their food are still very affordable.

FOODIES:

Buffalo Wings Php 170

Their buffalo wings were the best I have ever tried. It was so tasty. Very enticing for an appetizer. Trying this is highly resommended! (:

Calamari Fritti Php 290
(Crunchy coated squid wings with tartar sauce - Casa Lidia)

They give big serving of their calamari fritti but as for the taste it is like any other calamari.

Mixed Seafood Marinara Php 170
(in white wine and spicy marinara sauce - Cafe Lidia)

We also ordered a mixed seafood marinara. I have been craving for this since we went to Mama Chit’s and here it is. This is so delicious indeed.

Pizza Papa Php 230
(Bacon, Pepperoni, Ham, Beef - Cafe Lidia)

We also tried their all meat pizza- Pizza Papa. I liked the one that we ordered before. I think that’s House Special Pizza and Shrimp and Garlic Pizza. Must try!

For our main entrée, we ordered for chicken marsala, grilled pork belly and salisbury steak. Amongst the three I love chicken marsala but all were so tummy filling.

Salisbury Steak Php 255
(200G of ground beef stuffed with mozzarella cheese with mushroom sauce,
served with mashed potato and mixed vegetables - Cafe Lidia)

Grilled Pork Belly Php 210
(Served wtih Java rice and mixed vegetable - Cafe Lidia)

Chicken Marsala Php 250
(Chicken breast sauteed with mushroom, sundried tomato and marsala wine
served with mashed potato and mixed vegetable - Cafe Lidia)

We’re so full actually but we still pushed to order for a dessert- a sylvanna. Yey! So happy! This is my comfort food ever since and I am just lucky to have found one in this store.

Sylvanna Php 25

If you intend to enjoy gourmet food but you want it inexpensive. This is the place to be. Must try!

Photo credits: Instagram, Photomarkr, PicsArt

Café Lidia

#64 Calderon Street, Kalumpang, Marikina City

(02) 647 7606

cafe_lidia@yahoo.com

posted under Anniversary, Bonding, Cafe Lidia, Celebration, Family, Foodtography, Fun, Gourmet, Happy Tummy, In the Metro, Instagram, Italian restaurant, Marikina City, Photo Blog, PIcsArt, Restaurant and Food Blog, Yum | 0 Comments

Having merienda with Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe: Mama Chit’s Coffee House

My parents heard about this restaurant in a local TV show and since it was near our area we decided to take a look at their place however it was so jam-packed during that time that we decided to come back some other time and that time is now.

OVERVIEW:

This place is located near the church of Our Lady of the Abandoned and the Shoe Museum in Marikina.

Our Lady of the Abandoned Church

Side walk of the Shoe Museum

Riding the gigantic stiletto... Cool! :)

For visitors with vehicle you can park your vehicle at the church then walk your way on the restaurant. For commuters, you can ride a jeep at the jeepney terminal under the Katipunan flyover. The jeepney will take you to the city center. Just ask the jeepney driver if they will pass by the church of Our Lady of the Abandoned-San Roque.

SERVICE:

I can say that their service improved as compared to the first time we went there. During our first visit they warn each and every customer that the order will take about 45 minutes to 1 and ½ hour to be served but now they were able to serve our orders in approximately 20 to 30 minutes in spite the numerous customers. And their servers were friendly too.

THE PLACE:

Upon reaching the coffee house this is what welcomed us.

Wacky burger shot. So cute! :)

And the house is full of antiques. It was like a museum of memorabilia and Coca-Cola merchandise. It is so nice- picturesque that is.

Counter shot :)

Queuing... Look at the old soda cans on their ceiling

Marilyn Monroe

Elvis Presley

Old slot machine and lampara

This is so cool... Old iron :)

Old ice shaver. I think we had this when I'm younger

Old converse shoes

Memorabilia of a lady taken in black and white

Old pharmacy signage. Cool! :)

FOODIES:

So we queued for our food and it was served after a while. We ordered for a family burger, creamy pesto and carbonara.

Family Burger (Php 600)

Mama Chit's family Burger. This is so overwhelming and mouthwatering.
It was even bigger than the one that we ate at Cebu Casa Verde. So yummy! :)

The family burger is humongous. It can be eaten by 4-8 persons and be very filled. I think they use wheat bread for their burger that makes it even more tummy filling.

Mama Chit's Carbonara (Php 150)

Mama Chit's Creamy Pesto (Php 150)

The creamy pesto is really creamy but I like the carbonara better.

My tummy, as well as my family’s, was so satisfied. ^_______^ Kudos to Mama Chit's.

This is indeed a must visit. By the way, I agree with the local show host when she said that this place served the best burgers because so far their version of family burger is really something.

Photo credits: FotoRus, Instagram, InstaMag

MAMA CHIT’S COFFEE HOUSE

278 J.P. Rizal St., San Roque, Marikina City

Tel. No. 646-8547

Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

posted under Bonding, Burger, Carbonara, Creamy Pesto, Family, Foodtography, FotoRus, Fun, Happiness, Happy Tummy, InstaMag, Mama Chit's Coffee House, Marikina City, Photo Blog, PhotoMarkr, Restaurant and Food Blog, Rizal, Yum | 0 Comments

Love for Cakes: Conti's Bakeshop and Restaurant

I was introduced to this restaurant way back last year and I really enjoyed their food specially their cakes. I am always looking forward to having their cakes ever since but their branches were far from our place so I rarely dine in there.

Earlier this year, my friends and I used to hang out at Robisons’ Magnolia and fortunately Conti's also had a branch there. We promised each other to dine on the restaurant on our next visit on the mall and walah, that day is now ~~(after 7 months)~~ and of course we delight in their cakes for dinner.

OVERVIEW:

Conti's is located at the ground floor of Robinsons’ Magnolia. Its entrance, however, was not located on the mall per se but rather facing Dona Hemady Street.

SERVICE:

They have very visible service crew. They are also attentive to our wants which made me smile. Well, we only ordered for cake slices and a pasta so they have not done much work on us.

FOODIES:

I did not order for their famous Mango Bravo since I have tried it before. I, as well as my friends, opt to try other cakes so we take their Viennese Mocha Torte, Bananalicious Pie and Mango Tart.

Mango Tart for Php 80
Sweet pie crust filled with vanilla cream and chunks of fresh ripe mangoes
topped with mango slices (from contis.ph)

Their mango tart was delicious. It is a cream filled cake that matches the generous amount of mango slices on top of it. Plus, the crust was so delicious.

Bananlicious Pie for Php 90
Buttery crust filled with vanilla cream and chunks of ripe bananas topped
with cashew nuts, chocolate and caramel syrups on whipped
cream icing (from contis.ph)

My friend wanted to have frozen bananas on her cake so she take the Bananalicious Pie. The cake was so yummy. It also has a yummy crust which taste like mango tart's crust. Frozen bananas are so delicious.

Viennese Mocha Torte for Php 115
Layers of mocha-flavored mousse, wafer and moist choco
cake coated with rich mocha butter cream icing topped
with almond sticks finished with chocolate ganache
(from contis.ph)

Last, but not the least, is the Viennese Mocha Torte. I think it has the same slice size as that of the Mango Bravo. It was made mostly of chocolate but not the very sweet one. What I like most about this cake is its icing. I rarely ate icings but this was different because it is mocha flavored and I believe it has a high caffeine content which rubbed my sleepiness away. Its icing was also garnished with almonds and I love almonds a lot which made the icing more appealing for me.

I really recommend this restaurant for foodies like me. Nothing beats a great dessert at the end of a tiring day! So satisfy your cravings for desserts the Conti's way.

Photo credits: FotoRus, PicsArt, Instagram

CONTI'S BAKESHOP AND RESTAURANT

Upper Ground Floor, Al Fresco Area, Robinsons Magnolia

New Manila, Quezon City

(02) 385-4375, (02) 624-5933,

(02) 961-0866, (02) 961-0553

0932-882-6691, 0917-542-6667;

http://www.contis.ph

posted under bananalicious pie, Bonding, cakes, Contis, desserts, Foodtography, FotoRus, Friends, Fun, Happy Tummy, InstaMag, Photo Blog, PhotoMarkr, PIcsArt, Quezon City, Restaurant and Food Blog, Robinsons Magnolia, Yum | 0 Comments

Perfect Match: Mami and Siopao from Ma Mon Luk

Remember these lines:

“Nang abutan ng gutom

si Juan de la Cruz

tumapat sa Ma Mon Luk

inamoy ang mami siopao lumpia pansit

hanggang sa mabusog.”

_from Jose Lacaba’s “ Ang mga Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Juan de la Cruz”

Ever since I have always read about this restaurant but I have never tried dining in it. My parents used to buy their huge siopao as pasalubong when they come to pass by the area. Fortunate for me I went with my dad at Banaue, Quezon City and the place where he went was about 4-5 street away from Quezon Ave so we pass by the restaurant for early lunch.

OVERVIEW:
One of Ma Mon Luk’s branch is located at 408 Quezon Avenue, Doña Josefa, Quezon City. They are open daily from 9 AM to 10:00 PM

FOODIES:

I ordered for a beef mami and a bola bola siopao.

Beef Mami for Php 115

The beef mami was so authentic. I had tasted a real Chinese noodles and this one is made almost the same. It was indeed delicious. For those who’s craving for soup and egg noodles this one is definitely the one that you must try.

Chicken Siopao for Php 60

As for the siopao. It is so huge. One siopao can satisfy two people seriously. The siopao coupled with their Ma Mon Luk’s siopao sauce. Superb! :)

Those stores at Binondo serve delicious Chinese foods as well but I must say that nothing beats the Ma Mon Luk’s dishes that never ages in spite time.

Photo credits: FotoRus, PicsArt

MA MON LUK RESTAURANT
408 Quezon Ave, Doña Josefa, Quezon City
(02) 712-3560

posted under Chinese food, Foodtography, FotoRus, Happy Tummy, Ma Mon Luk, Mami, Photo Blog, PhotoMarkr, PIcsArt, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Restaurant and Food Blog, Siopao, Yum | 0 Comments