Lifestyle: SM Angono Food Crawl

Long overdue post. Sorry. We've been really busy. "Secrets" concert, Rogue One week and of course the big baby surprise! You know in hindsight I think I was already pregnant when we had this food crawl in SM Angono. So I wouldn't be surprised if I start craving for some of these awesome dishes! 

Here goes! 

Whenever you go to the mall, you already have a ready set of places to go to eat. Whenever you want chicken  you can either go to these places, places which have stores in all malls, all across the Metro. I guess we can't help it, we just got used to having these choices that we fail to become a little adventurous and try something new. Which is why I am grateful for this food crawl because we got to discover new and exciting restaurants and of course got to try delicious new dishes as well! 

Another great plus is that you also get to support the small local businesses and I'm always more than happy to do that. 

First Stop: Mojo Frites 

Reinventing fries as we know it, Mojo Frites Authentic Belgian Fries will rock your world. 

As its owner Carlo has said, in the Philippines we are used to having soggy thin fries seasoned with salt or powdered flavors but that is not how 'French fries' were originally meant to be enjoyed as thick pieces of fried potatoes dipped in savory sauces. :) 

Speaking of original, contrary to popular belief, 'french fries' did not originally come from France but from Belgium, where in the 1960's villagers have been known to fry fries. Soldiers simply called it "french fries" because of the language that was used in the region. 

The fries are made to order, which means no risk of eating soggy fries! 

I really loved the Poutine, I think its my favorite! (I feel a craving coming in) it's fries covered in a special gravy, cheese, bacon bits and chives. (Mmmmmm!) Definitely coming back for that. We didn't get to try the Shiznel burger - will definitely order that, the next time.

There are over 11 different sauces to try! Now, while I may not be a big fan of sauces (Paul is) it was still fun to experiment and try out each one! 

Aside from the awesome booth, the ambiance was nice and cozy at Belgian Frites with beautiful photos and personal messages from customers as to how awesome Mojo Frites (pronounced as mo-jo freet) was. 

Next stop was Cusina - which had a nice canteen feel to it and served authentic Filipino dishes at affordable prices! 

Because you know sometimes you get tired of the usual fast good menus and just crave for some good old Pinoy home cooking and if ever you have any of those you can just head over to "Cusina". 

For someone who grew up with my relatives sending over/fighting over authentic "laing" from Bicol, its refreshing to get to taste something full of memories and I got that with Cusina. 

Paul really liked their 'kilawin" too! Now you don't have to pester relatives to cook for you when you are looking for that special Pinoy flavor-since there is Cusina now for that! 

For the past few years, "ramen" has become very popular, especially during the cold and rainy seasons. Now most of the popular Ramen houses are in the Metro but its good to know that there is an a ramen house nearby which can give you that authentic Japanese feel and food that you are looking for! 

Welcome to Kasumi's Cocoro (Heart of Katsumi) whose impressive and authentic interior will give you that unique Japanese feel once you step inside the restaurant and you haven't even tried the food yet! From the warm Japanese tea served in cups to the delicious ramen and huge tempura! :D 

Everything is worth trying and taking photos of and posting on Instagram for your #foodporn posts. 

The perfect way to end the food crawl was of course 'Mystical Cakes' which served delicious premium cakes! Like chocolate to die for! I kid you not! I simply cannot wait for a family member to have a birthday so we can have them try the premium chocolate cake-which is just heavenly. :) 

So needless to say, it was a truly satisfying food crawl experience, maybe next time we should fast first. We were definitely in a food coma after. 

Thank you to SM City Angono for having us and to all the resturants! It was definitely a delightful experience. 

More photos here!

FOOD: Greenwich-SM Angono Pizza Party!

Pizza and Pasta have always been on my all-time-favorite foods-ever and Greenwich has always been a go-to source when the craving sets in. I love their Lasagna so much that Paul would complain whenever we go on consecutive Greenwich visits. He becomes very much willing to go, though when we are at SM Megamall, where the Greenwich branch serves beer, so go figure. 

Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon and Vice Mayor Antonio Rubin at the Pizza Party along with the Management of Greenwich and SM Angono. 

Beer or no beer, I'm just happy that there's a new Greenwich around our area and that's the one in SM Angono. I also love that it follows their new brick walled Art Deco inspired hip interior design. So just imagine the joy of the little pizza lover in me when we were invited for their first ever Pizza Party! :) 

In attendance were Mayor Gerlado Calderon and Vice Mayor Antonio Rubin as well as local residents and folks from the school districts and local media. We were served their tasty signature pizza dishes, wacky wings, as well as their new summer drink- Pineapple slush :) I also got to try their new cheesy bread sticks. They're pretty good with the tomato dip that goes with it ^_^

Probably the highlight of the pizza party was the pizza eating contest (which Paul got to participate in) :p Winners were awarded with Free Pizza for a year cards! We were also seranaded with an acoustic performance as we got to stuff ourself with Greenwich goodies, not bad for a Saturday night eh? :) 

Click here for more photos!

Art Made Public Opens in SM Center Angono

I don't know if you've noticed it but art seems gaining in popularity recently and Paul and I couldn't be happier. In our hometown of Rizal, Angono has always been known for it's artistry in it's children, such as National Artists ‘Botong’ Francisco and Maestro Lucio San Pedro. This artistry has been passed on to generations and these talents continuously flourish into the national and international art scenes. 

And in celebration of the National Arts Month, SM Center Angono partners with Metrobank Foundation in staging Art Made Public exhibit for the first time in the town of Angono and in Rizal Province.

True to its commitment to launch the careers and provide opportunities for young Filipino artists and designers, the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) launches the 32nd year of the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE), one of the most prestigious art & design recognition programs in the country. With the theme “Finding Phenoms in Art”, MADE hails Filipino artistry and creativity through its annual recognition programs for the painters, sculptors, interior designers, and architects. 

Now on its 4th year, the “Art MADE Public” of the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. aims to heighten public appreciation for the arts at the same time promote Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) to young Filipino artists and designers to join its recognition programs. Art exhibitions and art lectures has been held nationwide in various cultural institutions, the academe, including commercial establishments like SM Supermalls.

Mallgoers of SM Center Angono can now view thereproduced art pieces by contemporary Filipino artists who are MADE awardees such as Antipolo natives Reynaldo Samson, Antonio Leaño. Also on exhibit are the works of ElmerBorlongan, Melvin Culaba, Lynyrd Paras and a lot more.  

A lecture series about contemporary painting and sculpture were given by past MADE winners – Prof. Thomas Daquioagand Juan Sajid Imao, son of National Artists Abdulmari Imao to Fine Arts students of University of Rizal System Angono Campus under the tutelage of Jose Glenn Blanco, a scion of the brilliant Blanco Family.

The Art Made Public Exhibit runs until February 29, 2016 at SM Center Angono.

Click here for more photos.

Grab Your Popcorn! SM Cinema Opens in SM Center Angono!

If you have been following the blog, you know that I write a lot of movie reviews and I have always believed that films should be enjoyed in the movie house, because they were made for it. 

So, I'm really happy and excited that SM Center Angono has just opened their very own Cinema! :)

Just in time for Star Wars The Force Awakens too! You can read on my non-spoiler review here! 

SM Cinema completes the movie entertainment experience in Rizal with 4 new fully digitized cinemas in SM CenterAngono. The cinemas boast of its crisp digital surround-sound system and crystal clear images that convey that best theatre experience. Promising to deliver optimum movie-watching, each theatre will cater to 200 patrons in a stadium-like seating, making certain that all patrons will enjoy the view from any seat they choose. As a standard in all SM Cinemas, SM Cinema apportions an area dedicated to PWD to accommodate all varieties of guests.

Instead of the traditional ribbon cutting, the ceremony had  used the giant clapper to commemorate the opening of the cinema. 

Complementing the newest cinema branch on the block is SM Cinema’s official snack and merchandise arm, Snack Time. Snack Time will serve popcorn, drinks, and other snacks, along with the latest movie merchandise that fans will surely love to collect.

The 4 theatres in SM Center Angono will round off a total of 306 SM Cinema screens found across the entire nation. Reaching out to every corner of the country, SM Cinema secures its location in Rizal with cinemas in SM Taytay, SMMasinag, and SM San Mateo. SM Cinema is the Philippines’ largest cinema and exhibition brand with 60% of the country’s total market share.