Solace in Mary Grace

April 2012

Lettuce Says,

Work and wedding preps made us excited and stressed at the same time. Good thing, Sunrise and I, found some solace fix in Greenbelt 2.

Meet my lovingly kaagaw sa iced tea, este, my fiance, Sunrise :)

Iced tea pa lang solved na lolo nyo.

Peach Ice Tea, Pitcher (PhP224)

We really love the iced tea no matter that a pitcher cost us an entree. 

Grilled Ensaymada (PhP 73)

Expensive, yes, but amazingly good! Bread is super soft and  you can taste the high quality of ingredients used.

Sunrise and Squash

Summer Squash Soup (PhP124)

If I'm sick, I'll get better by just looking and smelling this soup.

Pasta Americana with Italian Meatballs (PhP210)

Serving is really good for one with a small appetite. But Sunrise felt full because of the relaxing atmosphere and the good quality of the food served. I love its garlic bread with real garlic bits. The meatball is really meaty but could use some salt. Sunrise asked for extra parmeasan cheese to make it more salty.

Table Trinkets

This restaurant will remind you of your grannies' house. I can relate to this but a more sosyal version of my lolo and lola's former wooden house in Pinagbakahan, which is sadly, now physically demolished, but will forever stay in my memory. And instead of spaghetti and iced tea, arrozcaldo and Sarsi will greet you then. Once you enter, no matter how adult you are already, all your pain and troubles simply melt away, and you're instantly enveloped with the comforter-like love of your lola. Aww, I'm sure a lot of you can remember your grannies crib that evoke the same melancholic feeling.

Their servings are small and good for only one person. As always, Sunrise and I shared everything. Food prices are quite expensive here. A light meal can cost you around PhP500 per person. We normally don't order drinks since they are always the overpriced items on the menu. Unless, well, because I just can't resist the iced tea! Their drinking water tastes good too with all that lemon and orange slices.

Taking in the homey ambiance, good service, and quality food, it's definitely worth it, not everyday but at least once in a while. As often as you visit your grannies' farm.

Sunrise Says,

If you haven't tried Mary Grace yet, you are missing a lot. A homey experience because of the food they serve plus excellent service. And if you are budding entrepreneur like me, you should know how Mary Grace became to be. Their story is one exceptional entrepreneurial journey that can inspire many. 

Mary Grace

Greenbelt 2, Makati City

Updated 2012 Prices

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us:

Wendy's Macaroni Side Salad

My Hero Salad

Sunrise says,

Would you consider having this for lunch? Yes, LUNCH, that is my lunch for the day. Besides the fact that I need to really trim down my waist and weight before our wedding day, I am currently experiencing pain. Severe pain from my toothache which would not permit me to get a burger at least. Good thing I have my hero salad of the day to rescue me.

This salad has always been my favorite. I miss the days when you can get to load everything you want in one take on a plate through the Wendy's Salad bar. I called it the salad tower, and my brother was an expert on it, building it from core to each side making sure it would not fall on side. It was an art by itself, making it inch by inch, ingredients by ingredients making sure everything fits well and stick well so that it would not collapse.

I wish Wendy's would bring that back. For now, I'm still happy they still have their salad. Oh, did I mention they made a good move by making it available on disposable rectangular packaging, a big improvement from the then round one. The new packaging would give you enough of everything to your satisfaction. Believe me, I'm satisfied with it, please... I want more. I wish I can bring some for Lettuce, but that would be another serving for her, or if I would say, half serving for her and more for me.

note: sorry pictures take from webcam, Lettuce has the camera.

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us:

RML Manokan Haus Kamayan Antique

Snapshots of Last Year Series

Lettuce Says,

I unearthed a lot of photos of my construction career days. I'll be sharing with you some of our food finds in the provinces.

After a long and tiring day of survey works, we grabbed some dinner at RML Manokan Haus Kamayan in Antique.

 Nice Interiors

I love the simplicity and cleanliness of the place. Perfect for some bottles of Pale Pilsen. Beer for my bosses, fresh buko for me.

The Snob Fish

This large fish amused me. They said it brings good luck to the resto. And she’s not for cooking. Cute diba? :)

Chicken Inasal Pakpak with Rice

This is their specialty. Well, plenty restaurants here that offer inasal. But this is way far tastier than what we have here in Manila. They only use fresh native chickens. I should have ordered the paa (thigh-leg) part instead of their skinny wings.  Then, drizzle your rice with some sinful chicken oil! No need for spoon and fork here, kamayan restaurants have washing areas for your oily hands.

Talaba (Fresh Oysters)

This is not the first time I ate some fresh oysters. But I usually ignore this in buffet tables because of the fishy-slimy texture. I always order it baked. But after some bullying from my bosses, I got to taste the freshest oysters in the country (so far)! They said that I shouldn’t believe those restos in Manila that have “fresh” oysters in their menu. The oysters in Bacolod are the real deal. Why? The sea is just behind them! Talk about some sea to plate transfers.

Hmmm, I have to bring Sunrise here.

2010
RML Manokan Haus Kamayan
Roxas, Antique, Aklan

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us:

Bake and Churn Ice Cream Cakes

Snapshots of Last Year Series

Lettuce Says,

Whenever we have sweet cravings, Sunrise and I always look for some ice cream or some cake. That’s dessert staples. How cool is that if you found out you can have both in one and turned out it’s affordable too?!

Bake and Churn Ice Cream Cake booths have sprouted all over Mega Manila. We sampled some at Festival Mall Alabang.

They have whole dome ice cream cakes(PhP530), ice cream cake logs(PhP250), chilly cups (PhP50).

Some of their ice cream cake flavors are French Chocolate, Midnight Cookies & Cream Strawberry Cheesecake, Rocky Road, Black Forest, Cookies and Cream, Ube Classic, and Mango Madness.

Ice Cream Cake Slice

Their cakes make a perfect gift for all occasions.

2011 (With Updated 2012 Prices)

Bakeand Churn Ice Cream Cakes
Festival Mall Alabang

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us:

My Empty Plates is Back!

Lettuce Says,

Finally, an update! We terribly miss this blog of ours. So Sunrise and I have decided to somewhat revive this from sleeping for almost 3 years now!

In the past years, we've been rather busy with our handmade crochet business Lettuce and Sunrise which was featured in Kabuhayang Swak na Swak. We are still planning on how to move the business forward. But for now, we tapped one of our previous customer and loyal reseller, Ely of For Little Feet, to manage our Facebook account.

Then, I changed careers from being a Land Surveyor to Planning Associate for a premier real estate company. I'm currently enjoying the corporate benefits while still using my geodetic engineering skills at work. Sunrise widened our networks by attending conferences related to business and online marketing.

We also decided to GET MARRIED! by the end of this year. :)

So, that's it, we'll post snapshots of where we have been for the last year. Where we have traveled, eaten, and the emptied and refilled plates along the way, courtesy of our God Above.

Glad to be back!

Sunrise Says,

Oh yes, we are back... After a very long rest... My Empty Plates is officially back.

We promise a new range of food reviews for all foodies, and we will also expand our topics to everything and anything under the sun. It will still be a food blog but we will include our journeys, discoveries and testaments of more blessings for us... to share with all of you.

and YES we're Getting Married.

October 2012  

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us:

Meister’s by Almon Marina @ Glorietta Food Choices

Dec2009

Lettuce Says,

After the Tosh incident, I hurriedly went to Ayala to soothe my grumbling stomach. I bought this 12 inch submarine sandwich with smoked ham at Meisters. I ate half of it and saved the other half for my other half. Hahaha. I paired this with mango-kiwi shake from Fruit Magic.

Smoked Ham Submarine Sandwich (showing half) (P110)

Fruit Shake (P80)

Smoked ham, very delicious with the freshest lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pickles, and dressed with mayo and mustard. Perfect, except for the bread. This is wrinkled and comparable to the bread used in foot long stands around the common neighborhood.

Sunrise Says,

I have always been a sandwich lover. 

Guess what I bought with my first pay from my first job? Yes, I bought myself one good jumbo hotdog sandwich from 7 Eleven.  We would not go further with that because we would definitely feature that sandwich soon.

Imagine yourself singing an old song as your LSS (last song syndrome) while being served with good food on your table. They said LSS is a result of a present emotion after a certain situation. Well, if that is how it is defined, I definitely sang YELLOW SUBMARINE of THE BEATLES after I ate this submarine sandwich. But I only know one line of the song … and it goes, “We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine.” Anyone care to share the lyrics? Yellow? Hmm, it was colorful in its own way.

I call this a wonderful sub-sandwich, it was a submarine sandwich made by fine selection of ingredients. I only had part of it, but the taste was enough to satisfy my palate. The smoked ham was perfectly paired with vegetables and was not overwhelming in taste. I think the vegetables were fresh when the sandwich was prepared, and it was still fresh when I ate it. 

The dressing was fine, but if I was to choose, it would be dripping with mustard and mayo, also Thousand Island dressing would complement this. I do agree though with Lettuce that the bread was too wrinkly, like those at the street stands. 

My half of the sub-sandwich was divided into four because I shared some to my niece and nephew. The fourth share was not able to reach any other mouth but mine. My share was too small for my hungry belly then.

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us:

Don Henrico’s @ Festival Mall

Hall of Famer – Pizza Haven

Dec09

Lettuce Says,

Sunrise and I went to Festival Mall Alabang for some last minute Christmas shopping rush. And after much walking, searching and thankfully ended up buying all gifts for our loved ones, our aching feet led us to Don Henrico’s.

Don Henrico’s 10 inch Supreme Pizza (P280)

Clap clap clap! I’ve found the perfect pizza! (so far, for me)

Stringy mozzarella – check

Fresh Veggies – check check check (everything tasted fresh even the olives!)

Meaty Goodness – check

Crust – big check!

Why big check for the crust? I’m not really into crusts of pizza because it’s really just bread for me, but this is just the right crust that I love!

Baked Ziti in Three Cheeses (P280)

We ordered baked ziti in share serving and here we go again, just like with the Angus Pizza of Sbarro, this is heavy! The pasta was baked to perfection with beef and mushroom. The mozzarella is still stringy (messy but fun!) when I ate it. I hope they would have potpourri herbs too in the future. The fresh garlic bread is so yummy as well.

Oven Baked Ribs with Fries and Buttered Corn and Carrots (P195)

We know that Don Henrico’s is known for their pizza and pasta, so it’s a gamble for us to have tried this. The meat is too dry, stringy, and bland for me but the barbeque sauce is an instant hit.

We are so wickedly full by finding another Hall of Famer and found ourselves eating half of the pizza when we got home and still saying ahh uhmm yumyum...

Sunrise Says,

When the plate of baked ziti arrived at our table I was already hungry, but the eyes always eats first.  I was looking for some color, yet it was served plain and straightforward that the chopped green basils are noticeably few. It was overwhelming in meat and mushroom though, and for a fact that I love cheese, it was already a feast for me. I kept on craving for more herbs to add flavor to it, but O.K., they served it with good garlic bread. It’s a heavy meal.

A common Filipino would order a cup of rice with an entrée but good thing I did not order one for this Oven Baked Ribs with Fries and Buttered Corn and Carrots. It was too bland and dry, but it was cooked well that you can easily cut through the stringy fibers of meat. I mean, how could I think of rice on this entry, it really won’t match at all! ;)

I know that you should always give options to your customers.  I know that because I have worked in a customer oriented environment, and if I was given that option on how this entrée should have been cooked, I would have it cooked with that sauce that was paired with it. It was a nice, flavorful sauce, which they can really boast of. Anyway, as for standards sake, maybe it was really meant to be served that way.

Hail to the fries and buttered corn and carrot! I hope they serve more, as a side. We’ll it was just a siding, but still, I hope they served more.

There are only few pizza makers in the Philippines that I know that serve excellent pizzas. Well, this one, is just exceptional! The flavor was like a mixed, cultured way of representing the Filipino-Italian taste.

It was like home baked straight from your mom’s oven, prepared with love and gusto. The vegetables were fresh and chunks of meat and mushroom were grand. Luckily, more cheesy surprise for me! On this pizza, complementing the crunchy texture of its crust, was that the tomato sauce and stringy mozzarella. Wow, pizza to perfection!  …and it was still perfect when we ate the leftovers at home.

Verdict - Hall of Famer – Pizza Haven


*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Follow and Like us: