Category Archives: Travel

Longrain

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Another popular recommendation from friends and family.   Thai fusion!  I love fusion everything because I always want to try something different and something someone created something out of the ordinary.   I wanted to label the dishes but when I went to their website, the menu has changed already from the time we were there and as I read the latest menu…. I WANT TO GO BACK ALREADY!!  So I will just give my generic description as I remember them which will actually not do justice to what they were called or what they were….all in all it was a great meal

dsc_8764.JPGawardslongrain.jpgdsc_8765.JPGdsc_8766.JPGdsc_8768.JPGdsc_8770.JPGchefboetz.jpg

cheflongrain.jpg

Oyster dish 

dsc_8771.JPG

This was a fried fish dish- my favorite actually that evening 

dsc_8772.JPGdsc_8774.JPG

Always happy to have steamed rice! 

dsc_8776.JPG

Thai fried rice 

dsc_8777.JPG

Duck and Lamb Curry 

dsc_8779.JPGdsc_8780.JPG

This was a pork dish – sort of like their version of roasted pork or crispy pata

dsc_8784.JPG

a chicken dish 

dsc_8786.JPG

vegetable dish 

dsc_8787.JPGdsc_8792.JPG

Desserts 

dsc_8814.JPGdsc_8816.JPGdsc_8818.JPG

 

Visit their website to see their menu:  Longrain Restaurant Menu Sydneylongrainsydney.jpg

 

[email_link] 

Mayette

By | Travel, Tributes, What's New at Rustan's | 8 Comments

We were so happy to see Mayette during our visit to Sydney.  Maybe some of you know Mayette as she used to be the Store Manager at Rustan’s Supermarket Makati.  She is very popular among the regular clients though she left 13 years ago to migrate to Australia where her husband, Francis, was working already for 3 years.  She decided to follow.  Mayette is very funny, very entertaining, very sweet and very kind. 

dsc_8140.JPGdsc_8142.JPG

Her office was right behind our hotel, Sheraton on the Park.  She now works with David Jones department store in the Customer Service department.  

mayettedj.jpg 

I am not surprised why she got that job because she fits it perfectly as she is very good with handling customers.  She told us some stories about her job and how she was interviewed when she applied in David Jones.  She told them that she used to work for the best store in the Philippines, Rustan’s, and took care of the President of the Philippines, Mrs. Amelita Ramos.  She even had a photo with her which she showed to the one interviewing her.  The interviewer then asked if she knew the more popular First Lady, Imelda Marcos…. sure enough Mayette had a photo with her too. Hence, she got the job!  🙂  While working and answering the phone from customers, she told us that there was even a gentleman customer who asked her out for tea…and Mayette told him…”But Sir, my voice may sound young and beautiful but I am really old and ugly!!”  🙂  SHE IS HILARIOUS!!  I can sit all day and just listen to her.  We all love her! and will miss her again until we see her… 

mayettealmazan.JPG

[email_link] 

 

  

Nick’s Seafood Restaurant, Cockle Bay Wharf

By | Foodie, Travel | 3 Comments

Another highly recommended restaurant by friends… Nick’s Seafood 

Beautiful aquarium by the bar area 

dsc_7930.JPGdsc_7997.JPGdsc_7958.JPGdsc_7933.JPGdsc_7936.JPG

Meet Captain Sam!  It is so nice to meet people who take pride in what they do.  Captain Sam is the one opening and cleaning the fresh oysters 

dsc_7937.JPGdsc_7935.JPGdsc_7934.JPG

He was so proud to show his awards and the restaurants awards which were above his counter in the restaurant 

dsc_7951.JPGdsc_7944.JPGdsc_7949.JPG

Wow! Their garlic bread was really good!  

dsc_7940.JPGdsc_7950.JPGdsc_7941.JPGdsc_7943.JPGdsc_7956.JPGdsc_7994.JPGdsc_7996.JPG

Beautiful harbour view from the restaurant 

dsc_7928.JPG

Since it was a friday evening- they had fireworks in the harbour 

dsc_7980.JPGdsc_7988.JPGnicksseafoodmenu1.jpgnicksseafoodmenu2.jpg

 Nick’s Seafood Restaurant

The Promenade, Cockle Bay Wharf 

Sydney NSW 2000  Australia 

Reservations  T (02) 9264 1212     F (02) 9264 8686

Website:  Nick’s Seafood 

 welcome-to-nicks-seafood-restaurants-20090617.jpg

[email_link] 

Golden Century, Chinatown Sydney

By | Foodie, Travel | 4 Comments

I forgot to mention that Chinatown is around 2 New York blocks from the hotel- so it is nearby too.  Our first meal was lunch and we chose Golden Century which was recommended by almost everyone we had asked.  And this became Dad and Mom’s favorite that we ate here 3 times!  And you will be surprised how long the lines are even if the restaurant fits maybe 300 people- it is 2 floors!

Fresh! Live! Tasmanian crabs!! 

dsc_7751.JPGdsc_7752.JPG

Fresh water tanks with all seafood!! WOW!!!  You shop for your seafood by the kilo and they weigh it and show it to you,

dsc_8444.JPG 

then you decide how you want it cooked 

dsc_7754.JPGdsc_7755.JPGdsc_7756.JPGdsc_7757.JPGdsc_7761.JPGdsc_7763.JPGdsc_7764.JPGdsc_7766.JPGdsc_7767.JPG

Here is the Tasmanian crab we got- it was big because we are quite a big family 

dsc_7772.JPG

The waiter was giving it to me to carry – I did not want, so did Javier- he was scared 

dsc_7775.JPG

But here is Quito carrying the crab – he said it was heavy – 6 kilos plus!! 

dsc_7777.JPG

Oh my gosh, nice to see coke in bottles! 

dsc_7778.JPG

We had the crab 3 ways- All were really good but we were too full to eat the noodles which came last

with Ginger and shallot

dsc_7781.JPG

Salt and pepper 

dsc_7785.JPG

and with crab fat ( Aligui ) noodles 

dsc_7794.JPGdsc_7801.JPG

Abalone 

dsc_7788.JPGdsc_7802.JPGdsc_8440.JPG

The second time around, Dad wanted to try the snow crab which is a white crab and it is smaller than the tazmanian crab. YUMMY TOO!

dsc_7806.JPG 

We had it two ways- with butter and garlic 

dsc_8445.JPG

and just steamed with garlic 

dsc_8448.jpg

We also had fresh fish 

dsc_8453.jpgdsc_8450.JPG

Oh, and we ordered more snow crabs but this time salt and pepper!  YUMMY! 

dsc_8456.JPG

They had other Chinese food just like any Chinese restaurant but I did not feature the others that we ordered like siomai, pork ribs, spring rolls – they were also good but it was the fresh seafood that really caught our attention!

Here is some mixed seafood  salt and peppered also – I like those small fish! 

dsc_8458.JPG

3rd time we went back was Dad’s choice since it was his birthday!  So, he wanted the Tasmanian crab again!

dsc_0018a.jpgdsc_0046.jpg

We ordered other fresh seafood 

dsc_0019.jpg dsc_0025.jpgdsc_0033.jpgdsc_0049.jpgdsc_7759.JPG

website:  Golden Century Seafood Restaurant

[email_link] 

  

Sheraton on the Park

By | Travel | 6 Comments

You cannot imagine how many people we asked and how much research we did to find the hotel to meet our needs…Many people also ask Heart2Heart for hotel recommendations…but then again…it really depends on what your needs are, what you like doing, what area you prefer….So just like food…it is a matter of taste! 🙂

Thanks to our cousin, Anton, for recommending this hotel.  It was perfect for all of us.  Even after seeing where all the other hotels are located, we thought that this hotel had the best location 

dsc_8111.JPGdsc_8827.JPGdsc_8830.JPGdsc_8828.JPGdsc_8144.jpgdsc_8112.JPGdsc_7917.JPGdsc_7918.JPGdsc_7921.JPGdsc_7923.JPGdsc_7924.JPG

The Sheraton Hotel is in front of Hyde Park – so it is really beautiful

 dsc_8133.JPG

and when you cross the park – it is the beautiful St. Mary’s Cathedraldsc_8006.JPGdsc_8835.JPGdsc_8834.JPGdsc_0062.jpgdsc_8129.JPGdsc_8131.JPGdsc_0064.JPGdsc_0065.jpg

The hotel is so convenient as it is CENTRAL for everything and anything especially restaurants and shopping.  It is nearby almost everything – train stations, major attractions, bus stops, etc etc 

The next building is David Jones, which is the high end department store of Australia, they say the Rustan’s of Australia dsc_8135.JPG

And next to David Jones is the Sydney Tower where you can get a 360 degree view of the city if you choose to climb or go up through the lift dsc_8125.JPG

3 streets inside parallel to the hotel’s street ( Elizabeth Street ) is one of the main shopping streets, George street

dsc_9293.JPG

Go down George street – maybe around 3 New York blocks long and you will be at THE ROCKS 

dsc_7913.JPG

Then you can walk down the harbourdsc_7866.JPG

and get a nice view of the Opera House from across  

dsc_7881.JPG 

two streets down parallel to the hotel’s street is another main street, Pitt street

dsc_9294.JPG

After George Street, walk down two or more streets and you will be at Darling Harbor 

dsc_9305.JPG

 After the bridge, turn right and it will lead you to the Wildlie Center and Sydney Aquariumdsc_8155.JPG

and the Maritime Museumdsc_8230.JPG 

and King Street Wharf with many restaurants to choose from by the Harbour dsc_8229.jpg

on the other side of the bridge, turn left and you will be at Cockle Bay Wharf where there are many restaurants too

dsc_9310.JPGdsc_0198.JPGdsc_9382.JPG 

with a beautiful view of the Harbour

dsc_9309.JPG

 Website:  Sheraton on the Park

 sheratonlocalarea.jpg

[email_link] 

Sydney, Australia

By | Travel | 8 Comments

I was so happy we decided to go somewhere we have never been to.  This summer we were fortunate to have visited Australia…a place everyone is raving about.dsc_8559.JPG

As soon as I arrived in Sydney, I was so happy to have travelled only 7 hours direct from Manila and felt like I was in Europe!  Sydney is a nice vacation place where you can literally relax.  Life seems to be very laid back…They know how to enjoy life! 🙂  Shops close at 5 pm!  Everything is in order and the city is very clean.  It is definitely not New York where everything is so fast and alive! But as Dad said…each country has its own charm and you need to appreciate each one on it’s own.   Since it was turning winter from Fall, the weather was getting cold with rainshowers every now and then.

The first thing we did was we took the HOP ON HOP OFF Sydney Explorer bus to get ourselves immediately and quickly acquainted with the city.  The whole loop takes about two hours without hopping off.  Beautiful city with many beautiful buildings and harbor views

Photos are taken at around 4pm already so it was getting a bit dark and taken from the bus so a bit difficult to take moving shotsexplorethecityexplorersydney.jpgsydneyexplorertourmap.jpg

dsc_8044.JPGdsc_9423.JPGdsc_8047.JPGdsc_8048.JPGdsc_8049.JPGdsc_8050.JPGdsc_8051.JPGdsc_8154.JPGdsc_8053.JPGdsc_8054.JPGdsc_8055.JPGdsc_8059.JPGdsc_8062.JPGdsc_8066.JPGsydney-explorertour.jpg[email_link]  

C Italian Deli and Wine Shop

By | Foodie, Travel | 8 Comments

On the way back to Manila from Subic, we passed by Clark to eat in this restaurant that everyone is talking about!   Thanks Tito Ralph and Tita Babot for the surprise lunch treat !!!dsc_4865.JPGc-italiancover.jpg

Good thing the owner, Chris Locker, was there to take care of us …. by strict instruction of Tito Ralph 🙂  

dsc_4928.jpg

Chris told me that when he first opened 5 years ago, he had 24 seats and 8 employees.  Now he has 190 seats and 45 employees! Wow!  More power to you Chris and I hope you open in Makati!! 🙂

c-italian-4.jpgc-italian-5.jpgc-italian-7.jpgc-italian-8.jpgc-italian-9.jpgc-italian-10.jpgc-italian-11.jpgdsc_4915.JPG

They have an outdoor area for private functions/parties or for night time seating when it is a bit cooler 

c-italian-12.jpg

This is where the famous panizza is made 

c-italian-13.jpgc-italian-14.jpgc-italian-15.jpg

There is another dining area in front of the restaurant 

c-italian-16.jpgc-italian-17.jpgc-italian-18.jpgc-italian-19.jpgc-italian-20.jpgc-italian-21.jpg

This is what people from all over come all the way here for!  I LOVE IT TOO!!! I like the way he called them in his menu – It would be nice names if you were looking for baby names 🙂 Chris told me that it was he and his girlfriend ( now his wife )  who discovered this panizza.  My Dad was trying to fish as to what Chris puts in his panizza that makes it very good…. all he said was it was made with five cheeses!  Wow! No wonder it is so good and I like it so much!

c-italian-22.jpgc-italian-23.jpgc-italian-24.jpgc-italian-25.jpgc-italian-26.jpgdsc_4888.JPG

Chris also makes other great Italian food!  

c-italian-27.jpgc-italian-28.jpgc-italian-29.jpgdsc_4887.JPGdsc_4889.JPGdsc_4891.jpgdsc_4895.JPG

Chris makes his own deli sausages which he is very proud of and he served it to us

dsc_4987.JPGdsc_4899.jpgdsc_4866.jpgsc000a3d3a.jpg

[email_link] 

 

FILTER