The Return

Ha Yuan Signatures
Madison Square Granada
Granada Street, Quezon City

One of the best Maki-Mi in town can now be found in our neighborhood. Strategically located at Madison Square Granada, it now sheds off the cafeteria/turo-turo concept and concentrates on their signature dishes.

It's still as amazing as I remember it and brings back a lot of good memories of my forgotten youth.

Friendly Neighborhood Ramen Place

Moshi Koshi
Shaw Boulevard

The food was ok but definitely not as great as Ukokkei. I tried the Shio Butter Corn Ramen which was a bit on the salty side. The combination of the broth, butter, and corn was ok but I would prefer Miso Butter Corn still for the strong flavor. Sadly, they don't offer that. I did like the noodles and its texture. I also tried their Gyozas which I'm a bit picky with. I liked Ukokkei's Gyoza better. Moshi Koshi's was a bit "too veggie".

All in all, the place wasn't that bad. Service was good. And the chef was actually smiling. Something Ukokkei patrons like us are not used to. The best thing about this place is that it's literally steps away from my house. Perfect for that ramen craving.

Lisbon Experience

The EU (European Union) has been so greatly affected by the world's economic crisis and coming to Portugal made me see it with my own two eyes. Streets are almost empty during dinner time and shops are closed really early. It's sad really. Portugal is a beautiful country. The people are nice. Food is not that great but at least they try. Maybe my only wish for this coming new year is that the world become a much happier place to be in. Apart from financial happiness, of course. I seriously miss the genuine smiles on people's faces.

Paris Layover

My Paris experience was just so so. Must've expected to much. Don't get me wrong. The food was great. Sights like the Eiffel Tower, Notra Dame, and Louvre were amazing. The only thing lacking maybe was the feeling of those romantized movies and photos. Didn't experience those at all. Frankly, Paris is more of a woman's travel place than a man's. The city is beautiful but it may be just not for me.

Amsterdam Layover

The place is amazing. Walk around and make sure you go to the Rijksmusem, Van Gogh Museum, Heineken Experience, Red Light District, and the Anne Frank House. Cannabis can be found in "Coffee Shops". Some can be found in the outskirts but most are within the Red Light District. Walk. I could not stress that enough.

The cuisine is pretty much mostly influences from other countries. So just try the hotdogs, deli, herring, and doner kebabs.

Eurotrip

I'm off to a business trip tomorrow in Lisbon but spending a couple of days in Amsterdam and Paris.  This will be my first time so I'm both excited and scared.  Been hearing a lot of negative stuff about Europe lately.  Hopefully we get to eat some good food and see some amazing sights.  I'll try to squeeze in some posts into the blog so stay-tuned. See you soon.