An Uber Saturday!

An Uber Saturday

So how does one make a weekend really uber? And what does it take?

Not much, I say. Perhaps the only three things you’d need would be enthusiasm, friends and energy.

After a long week that was my weekend started as early as Friday night. I went to Greenbelt 5 to cram for a gift for baby Via Montebon. Although I was by myself, it didn’t feel bad or anything. In fact it was rather therapeutic, as I normally would say.

Greenbelt 5 is uber-magnificent.

I guess most of you know that I had a very short stint with Ayala Land (for Greenbelt). I had not been to Greenbelt in a long leisurely stroll after a long time and it felt great to be back in what I used to consider “home”. And amazed I really was. Phase 2 of Greenbelt 5 has finally opened and it really is such a sight to see. The extension part features some of the best brands the mall rats have yet to see. And I am quite amazed how fast the turnover was. And seeing those stores just broke away the financial worries and recession bad news that had been haunting me for some time now. Well, at least for an hour or so.

What’s also nice with Greenbelt 5 is that it finally completes the Greenbelt series malls. I can really say now that Greenbelt is truly connected. I remember back then how Greenbelt felt so inaccessible to me especially when it’s raining. Imagine, one has to go out of the building and brave the summer heat, or rainy weather just to get to the other side. And as if not enough, many still get lost inside the area (not me, though :P). And now with the interconnection of all the Greenbelt buildings, it’s just so easier to go around, without getting lost. And identifying the building is a cinch.

I remember my bosses reminding us all to find a way to somehow make the interconnection work. By that she meant accessibility and convenience in the grand address. I know. As shoppers, aren’t we all looking for little conveniences?

And so seeing Greenbelt 5 now connected with Greenbelt 1 is really fantastic. Although I was not able to take a full glance, I somehow saw a newly face-lifted Greenbelt 1.

That same night, I saw my ex-boss AC Ocampo with Chef Ricky and Sheryl Laudico of Marciano’s, John and Yoko and Sumo Sam fame. It was fun to see them again. Had a fun time working with them back in Greenbelt.

Shopping for Gifts: Uber-confusing.

I thought shopping for a gift will be easy. Apparently not…

I went to Chicco to check out what stuff do they have there. The friendly staff there toured me around and recommended what to give baby Via. I was particularly excited when I saw this baby book that had all the textures in it. What makes it exciting is that it had textures inside the storybook. It had rough, smooth, rolling, furry and everything else. It also makes a sound. I didn’t know that babies at 3 months or so are actually looking for texture already. And hear this, they are also anticipating sounds. There in the storybook had a button that was making all these cutey-patootey sounds made especially for babies.

And I looked for more things around the store and it just confused me more. Should I give clothes? Or something educational? Or perhaps something that Via could use right away like milk, or diapers. It’s such a tedious process to buy gifts. But seeing all those cutesy stuff make you want to have a baby sooner.

But wait. I had to remind myself to give Via what she really needs. And so I left the store… and just ask from mum who have better experience in buying stuff for babies. I am quite inexperienced so better heed advice.

Bar Uno: Uber-funny!

After milling around the mall, I thought it would be nice to go back and see a comedy show. So I went to my new favorite comedy bar BarUno. It was just so funny that whole night. I had 6 bottles of beer that night and went home with a slight buzz and headache. But it was worth it. I can’t forget the slapstick jokes they dished that night. For a change, I needed a laugh particularly because of a heated argument during a meeting last Friday. That argument kind of got ugly and I just needed to brush those thoughts away.

I slept smiling.

Uber Saturday Delight

Gastronomic feast: that’s how I’d call my Saturday. Despite waking up with a slight buzz still, I had to perk up my morning sooner. Via’s baptism was at 1PM at the UP Chapel.

Mum prepared lunch early enough. She served the yummiest lunch! Ginataang Tilapia, Fried Chicken and Pinakbet. I ate a lot. The tight long-sleeved shirt was going to get tighter, that much I knew.

Via has got to be one of the cutest babies I’ve ever seen. She’s so lovely and well-mannered. She only cried a little considering that this is her first outing.

Reception was then held at Chateau Verde inside UP. This is a famous restaurant frequented by UP students and other guests. The food was yummy. I remember there wascarbonaragyoza, piadina, mango crepe and spring roll. I liked the gyoza because it was fried just fine, and not too oily and soggy. I also liked the empanada piadina.

After that, we all headed to BED Bar in Eastwood for some drinks and pulutan at 5pm. Happy hour it is.

After that, we decided to give TANKE TANKEKO’s newest baby a try – 1521. 1521 is the newest resto very near Mr. Poon along Shaw Blvd. Tank’s resto allowed me to re-discover and look at Filipino food differently. I love Filipino no less but the food there, made me look at Filipino food at a higher respect. The food she recommended were POCHERO, BONGGANG BONGGANG BINAGOONGAN. We also tried her silinglabuyo with white cheese, Kare-Kare with hint of turmeric.

We started with the silinglabuyo with cheese. It was so yummy. There was no hint of anghang in that. It was so cheesy and yummy. As you bite into it, the cheese is slowly melting in your mouth.

Then came out the crunchy binagoongan. The sauce was just so mouthwatering. It just has the perfect saltiness and sweetness to it. Every bite was crunchy. Angsarap, lalo, with rice!!!

Then the Kare-Kare too! It was heavenly. Though I still prefer the traditional kare-kare this one is a variety of its own. Partner it with binagoongan rice with tomato, onion, egg and nuts. YUMMY! And the pochero too was served with a twist.

I had kamias cooler to refresh me. It was just perfect. The asim gave the meal enough kick cleansing the palate and making you ready for the next bite.

Trinka had the chocolate with yogurt for dessert. That means dark chocolate melted to perfection with yogurt and nata de coco. To die for. It was absolutely yummy.

We capped the night with Greenbelt and Greenhills (read Kamias Margarita and Green Apple Margarita). It’s nothing that you ever tasted.

I thought the meal would somehow be a little commercial like Bistro Filipino, but this one is a little cultish for me. All the right food, with cutie name study is sure to make you want to crave for more.

I am already looking forward for my next visit there.

Sunday – Just resting.

Today Sunday, I am just resting. Trying to write something for my blog is quite a struggle again. I don’t know. Last week I wrote a full version and commentary of my favorite horror movies but the internet hanged. And all those things that I wrote, kaput in ten seconds. That’s why I am slightly irita with bloggingnow a days.

Oh, well. Are you having an uber-weekend?