Thank you series: Hotpot dinner with friends

It was bitter sweet.

Last Friday, we had one great dinner but we had to say Bon Voyage and Goodbye to our friend, Chalito. He's my hubby's colleague and soon he's leaving to look for better opportunities.

We will miss him here. He has been like the big kuya for Noel, Dada and my hubby. We will also miss his witty jokes!

God bless my friend.

Thank you series: Christmas day trip

December 25. My hubby came home from half a days work. Yahoo, he is now officially on vacation! :) I had so much fun! We discovered a great new restaurant that helped relieve our slight homesickness. The place was cool - free movies, awesome restrooms, great ambiance and authentic Chinese tea. The name was a bit weird, but who cares?

'The place - Jack and the Magic Pea'


'Blueberry cheesecake, Chocolate mousse and Mint tea'

'Electronic waste bin, Toilet cover plus . . . free movie!'

We also walked around to discover a few more places we've never seen before. It's our 4th month in Zhongshan and we are now seeing more of the place.

Thank you series: A simple Christmas dinner

Last night was our first Christmas as husband and wife. It was a simple feast of soup, chicken, sandwich, chips, strawberries, orange juice and . . . chocolates! I enjoyed the simple meal with my husband especially the conversation we had. Truly, family and friends make Christmas great .

I look forward to the 10 days of vacation and quality time I have with my husband. (Just one more day of work and it's vacation time. Yahoo! :)

sunnysideup perspectives: Are you daring enough?

Do you eat exotic food? What is the weirdest one you've had so far?

In my 31 years of life, I've tried at least 8. Some of them are considered specialties and delicacies in some countries or provinces but to me they are not part of a normal menu. Here's a rundown:

1. Frogs
My mom insisted it tastes like chicken. Still I can't seem to acknowledge it. Not when the frog legs are sooo distinguishable.

2. Kuhol (Snails used for Escargot)
This I've learn to love - specially when with coconut milk or 'gata' in Tagalog.

3. Dog (So bad of me, a dog lover! I was a child then as was tricked to eating it. All along I thought it was pork :(

4. Ant eggs
A specialty in Ilocos Norte, something, I had to try.

5. Raw shrimp (straight from the river)
Another experience I got from Ilocos Norte. My Tita got it for me so I couldn't say no. Truth is it was too small for me to taste :)

6. The infamous "Balot"
Can't eat this anymore. I just intense feel pity and can't swallow.

7. Chicken feet
To this day I still wonder why my mom liked it. Nothing much to eat.

and last but not least . .

8. Worms
At one of our weekend night out's, I discovered worm served on a plate. Since my personal rule is to always try at least once, I did! I just always try so at least I am aware and informed. Best to try before judging. Not bad really... just a crunchy protein-packed worm. :)

Thank you series: Pinoy Pre-Christmas at Alex bar

Last Saturday, I joined my hubby and his colleagues for a Filipino feast. Instead of attending the nearby Octoberfest we decided to go to this food and music fiesta! It was held in one of the popular bars here in Zhongshan. I enjoyed the buffet of Filipino food (something I don't get to cook). The food served included:

• Sopas (Filipino Milk-based Soup with macaroni, veggies and hotdog)
• Pakbet (Veggies sauted with Shrimp seasoning)
• 2 types of Longganisa (Sausage like, Seasoned Pork rolled and fried)
  
• Menudo (Tomato based sauce with Pork, Potatoes, Carrot etc)
  
• Dried Squid
  
• Adobong Pusit (Squid Sauted and Boiled in Soy-sauce, Laurel leaves, Garlic, Pepper)
• Adobo (Pork or Chicken Sauted and Boiled in Soy-sauce, Laurel leaves, Garlic, Pepper)
  
• Giniling (Minced Pork cooked with veggies)
  

Yummy!!! :)

Note: Did not take a lot of food photos. I guess I was just too excited too eat, hahaha!

This is me - excited to eat!

My hubby and his colleagues.

Yummy eh :)


'The band'

Thank you series: Best Korean Restaurant for me

Thursday night, my husband's boss asked us to join him for dinner. He took us to a Korean Resto located in one of the malls here in Zhongshan, China. My verdict... it is the best Korean resto for me. I loved the veggies and the dressing. It was simply superb!I ate so much that I had to literally loosen up my pants. Uh-Oh need to get back to my diet this week. Tsk Tsk!

Note: I love it that most Korean restaurants offer the veggies for free but this one even offered free ice cream for dessert!

Don't know the name of the resto. This is my only clue.

'The Menu'

'Food feast'

Cooking Beef with onions and mushrooms.

Not sure what this is..but it was good.

'Greens'

'Our Apron or Bib?'

'Group pic'

Thank you series: The Revolving Restaurant in Zhongshan, China

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, we went out last weekend and had dinner with friends. This time we tried 'The Revolving Restaurant'. It's located in the upper floor of the Fuhua Zhongshan hotel, also very near the Sun Wen Xi Road.

Food was good and the view was great. It took two hours to make a complete revolution and it was just enough time for us to enjoy the food and the company.

One small reminder: In case you will be eating here soon, don't leave your bag on the side. The glass walls are steady but your floor isn't :)

"My view from the restaurant."

"The walls."

"My favorite Pearl Milk Tea."


"Our salads, Caesars and Chef."

"Meat and rice galore."

Sunnysideup cooking: My recipe for buttered veggies

Cooked not too differently from the normal buttered corn and carrots, only difference is that I add Broccoli and white onions to it. By the way I've read that Broccoli is high in vit C and is also good for helping preventing cancer so great to add it too!

Ingredients:
Broccoli flower
Corn grains
Diced carrots
White Onion
Butter
Salt
Pepper

Method:
1. First blanch or steam the Broccoli
2. Heat the pan and butter
3. Once butter melts, immediately add blanched broccoli, carrots and corn
4. Season with salt and pepper
5. Cover pan for 15-20 mins.

Sunnysideup cooking: Sauted Cream Dory in Onion, Tomato and Thyme

Got a message from fellow blogger, Jeng, a few weeks ago. She suggested that I share my recipe since I uploaded photos of the food I cooked.

Quite late but here's the first of my recipes. Most of these are experimental, usually I don't cook following a cookbook. I just head straight to the fridge and cook based on what's in it or what needs to go. It also helps watching cooking shows though since I learn a few tricks. Ok here it is, my first recipe - Cream Dory in Onions, Tomatoes and Thyme.

Ingredients:
1 large slice of Cream Dory
1 large Tomato cubed
Half cup of diced White Onion
Tablespoon of Olive Oil
Thyme, Pepper, Salt (to taste)

Method:
1. Heat pan add olive oil, white onions and tomatoes
2. Add (thawed) Cream Dory
3. Season to taste with thyme, pepper and salt
4. Wait for 15 mins then serve.

Good for 1-2 persons.

Thank you series: I love weekends!

Our Saturday was packed with activities. Although we woke up late, my hubby and I got to do so much during the latter part of the day. In the afternoon, I played tennis for the first time. Jason's
colleagues, also our next door neighbors, invited us. I never thought tennis could be so much fun and yet soooo tiring. I had muscle cramps the entire Sunday, my arms and shoulders hurt. Still it was fun, maybe we can do this more often since we've been swimming less lately because of the weather.

"My turn to serve."

"My baby playing with Darwin."

"My hubbies friends and colleagues."

After the game we had dinner in a Chinese restaurant. Almost everything they serve is fresh, so you need to choose which one you want cooked - fish, crab, shrimps, shellfish, turtle, snake or frog. We didn't order the snake or turtle. Maybe next time when I have the guts to try them.

"Group picture."

"Yep they're alive."

Oooh our day didn't end there we also headed straight home for a quick game at the playstation.
WOw this is the first time I won! I actually won! HaHa, now I want one too. Wait... we had to cut our game short, seems we will end the day in a bar.

"Yoko and Duggy, fight!"

"Si baby naman."

"Another Group picture, Oops, without my baby who is taking the picture"