dekaphobe.com | Food, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog

Note: This location is already closed. I finally visited The Chocolate Kiss Cafe a few weeks ago. I've been hearing lots of good things about this place from UP friends that I really regret the time that I had to decline an invite to try this resto a few months ago. Glad my friends were more than willing to try this place with me. :) We went to their 2nd location at Roces Avenue, which can be really crowded late in the evening. I had a few minutes of peace since I arrived a bit early, and had extra time to browse through the menu. I was supposed to take a photo of the menu, but I was stopped by the server. He explained that it wasn't allowed since it contains the ingredients. Huh? I didn't know I was holding their recipe book. Anyway, I didn't bother to protest. Here's a little secret: the same menu's can be seen in their website. ;)

Finally! I reached my quota last August! I spent my August reading --even during vacation. :) I read in the airport and I still read on the plane and even in the hotel before I sleep. Nerdy, right? I tried reading books with old settings: mostly 90s when cellphones don't even exist. It was fun reading them, it makes me realize how easy communication nowadays, yet some people fail to communicate. As a continuation of my July post, here are my August books: 23. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks A 57-year-old Landon Carter recalls his teenage years when he met a girl named Jamie Sullivan, the Baptist pastor's only daughter. He used to make fun of Jamie due to her unusual teenage ways like carrying a bible wherever she goes. He spends time with her by walking her home until he realizes he is in love with her. Jamie admits that she's dying of leukemia. Landon asks Jamie to marry him. Landon recalls the years he was with Jamie and he still hasn't removed his...

Yes, it is spelled with three O's. I've seen Mooon Cafe during my December trip to Cebu and during my mall tripping in Davao  but wasn't able to visit until recently. Mooon Cafe is a Mexican-inspired restaurant serving affordable Mexican dishes and more. It originated in Cebu and currently has branches in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila. :) The whole restaurant looks like a Mexican kitchen, from the decors to the tables and chairs. The colorful environment was really inviting. :)

It pays to be early, as proven by the jaw-dropping Maroon 5 Overexposed Concert Tour last September 18, 2012 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. Unlike the Katy Perry concert where we got the tickets the day before the concert, we got our Maroon 5 concert tickets the first week they started selling.  We got Upper Box A tickets at Php 3710, thanks to my friend who voluntarily ran to Araneta to buy the tickets there. :) I wasn't prepared for this event, I SWEAR. Yeah, I listened to Maroon 5 songs and I researched on the set list too. If that wasn't enough proof, I wrote the set list on a small sheet of paper (like a cheat sheet,hehe). See? I wasn't prepared. :P At around 8:15pm, the concert's front act, The Cab, starting playing. The Cab played 3 to 4 songs, none of them familiar to me (hahaha, sorry I just don't know the band). 

Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who joined my King Bee giveaway. I have received a total of 2495 entries! Thanks guys! :) I really appreciate it! :) Again, the winner will receive King Bee Chinese Food GCs worth Php 1000, which he or she can use at any King Bee Chinese Food branches. :) And the winner of the King Bee giveaway is:

The Story Circle, a community for magic in the Philippines, is inviting you to witness a night full of magic entitled: Crash Night: Living the Magic, Sharing the Smiles.

One of the popular restaurants that we visited during our Cebu vacation is Casa Verde. I've read and heard about this place from every person who has been to Cebu, so we really had to give this place a visit. Though I have seen the Ayala Center branch, which is near Dessert Factory and Harbour City , I opted to visit the Ramos branch, its main branch. Casa Verde (Spanish for "greenhouse"), was named after the Ramos branch, which used to be an ancestral house. They serve American comfort food at reasonable prices. The ambiance was quite classy and cozy. There's also an alfresco area if you want something a bit more laid-back.

Note: This location is already closed.  After our lunch at Kangaroo Jack , I dragged my friend to Masatami Shave Ice so I could use the GCs Richie gave me during our Zark's meet-up . (Thanks Richie!) Fortunately, I was given two GCs of their bestsellers, so I was able to share a free dessert with a friend.  Shave Ice is a common dessert in some Asian countries like Taiwan, China, and Malaysia. Actually, Filipinos also share the same love for shaved ice, we have halo-halo, mais con hielo, and one of my street favorites: ice scramble. :)

UST College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and Hash Quatre Productions cordially invite you to attend the most flavorful event of the season entitled: IMPLOSION : Experience Four Seasons in Hospitality Flavors.

I love Triple-V, especially Sambokojin . It has been my friends' go-to place whenever we want to catch up on each other's lives while enjoying delicious food. Also, this is where I had my birthday dinner last year . In all my numerous visits, I haven't been disappointed with the food and their service. EVER. When I received an invite to visit their newly-renovated branch at West Avenue branch, I immediately accepted! I was a little busy running last-minute errands for my little sister's birthday party, but I wouldn't miss this for the world. :) Lechon de Leche Meat Carving Station DADS, Kamayan and Saisaki have been serving buffet favorites for generations. Who wouldn't love DADS classics lengua, paella, pasta, and roast beef; Kamayan's Filipino dishes like Kare-kare, Sisig, and Lechon de Leche; and Saisaki's sushi, sashimi, and tempura?

I went to see "The Mistress" last night with my friends Kenny and Steph . We haven't seen each other for a while so this movie was just perfect timing. :) I love John Lloyd. I try to watch all of his movies. He has chemistry with whoever his screen partner is, may it be Sarah, Toni or Angel but I really love watching him with Bea Alonzo. (Sorry for the showbiz intro :P)

Note: This restaurant/hotel is already closed.  I got vouchers for a lunch or dinner buffet at Cafe Jeepney, Hotel Intercontinental from Deal Grocer earlier this year. I almost wasn't able to use it. Fortunately, I received an email from Deal Grocer reminding me that my vouchers are about to expire. I bought the vouchers for Php 875 each (original price is Php 1760++ per person). The voucher includes a lunch or dinner buffet and a glass of iced tea per person. True to its name, Cafe Jeepney is decorated with jeepney paintings, horse decors (the ones seen in front of the jeepney), and of course, a miniature jeepney. :)

Be the winner of Php 1000 worth of King Bee GCs!!! Click HERE to join!!! After our sumptous lunch at Harbour City , we looked around Ayala to have dessert. No better place will we ever get satisfy our sweet tooth than The Dessert Factory. The Dessert Factory is a circus-themed restaurant and bakery that serves full meals like rice meals, pasta , sandwiches and of course, dessert , like cakes , ice cream cakes and many more. :)  

Julie's Bakeshop brings a lot of memories, especially during my college years. I would drop by Julie's Bakeshop to buy my favorites, like the Cheese Streusel, Cheesy cheese bread, and Ensaymada Monggo to share with friends in between breaks. :) Of course, who wouldn't love Pan de Sal, Spanish bread and the loafs?  Julie's has been a part of the Filipino household for more than 30 years, serving quality breads to almost every part of the country.

Note: This restaurant is already closed. My friend and I recently tried one of the newest restos near the office: Kangaroo Jack. I was always curious about this place and with the tagline "Steaks, Grillers, and Sizzlers", I knew I shouldn't delay my visit. I love eating on sizzling plates that it doesn't matter if I burn my tongue. During high school, I used to order a sizzling chicken or sizzling pork chop for recess. Yes, that's for recess, lunch is a different meal (those were the days when I can eat anything and not even gain an ounce). Since the place was named after an animal from Australia, the place was decorated with Aborigine-inspired displays. A picture of a kangaroo was also painted in the ceiling.

I’m a huge fan of online shopping because you can find savings online that you just can’t find in store.   No matter what type of product or service you want to buy, I can almost guarantee that the best price will be found somewhere on the interest.   And the reason isn’t just competition, but that there are so many different ways to get discounts and savings.   Here are some simple ways to save online.

Throughout my entire trip to Cebu , Harbour City is the only resto we visited twice because the food was really addicting! This post will be a combination of my two visits to this awesome place! I've first learned about this place from Richie, who loves (worships, obsesses, venerates) Harbour City . I've been to Cebu before but I haven't tried this place. Harbour City belongs to a Cebu-based restaurant chain which also owns Ding Qua Qua and Dimsum Break (it's a quick-serve chain). When we visited their Ayala Center branch, the place was awfully crowded that we were almost made to wait for a table. Good thing we were seated immediately since we were already hungry. :)

Photo from thereelbits.com I spent my weekend bonding with my little sister (who's turning 7 this week). I promised her last weekend that we'll watch Katy Perry: The Movie 3D, and we did. :) I'm a huge fan of Katy Perry. I watched her California Dreams Tour: Live in Manila last January. I also have her "Teenage Dream" CD. I love that she writes her own songs (like Adele and Maroon 5). Katy is such a darling that even little girls like her, including my little sister, who knows the lyrics of her songs. 

The Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas season, since we start celebrating Christmas by  September 1.  It's time to be with our loved ones to celebrate and give thanks.  So I'm starting the Christmas celebration with a giveaway! :) I'll be giving away King Bee Chinese Foo d GCs worth Php 1000 to one (1) lucky winner! The GCs may be used at any of following King Bee locations: - Daang Hari, Las Piñas City - Marcos Highway, Antipolo City - E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City - Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City - General Trias, Cavite (2 branches) - Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Enjoy eating delicious dimsum and other authentic Chinese dishes with your family and friends!