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As June is Bridal month, Heart2Heart would like to feature some weddings in the past. Heart2Heart was already covering weddings but only a few photos with a small digital camera. I asked a few couples to send me their professional photos so I can mix it with my unprofessional photos 🙂 but then I changed my mind and decided to just use what I have. So please bear with them.
This wedding was a very beautiful wedding held in Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club. I always love the decor when Tita Nena or Rustan’s flower shop designs it. Tita Nena and Rustan’s Flower Shop were the pioneers in this business. She should have made a book on all her events and I wish I had captured all of them through photos.
Thanks Kat and Pao for letting Heart2Heart share your SPECIAL DAY!
Superb dinner by Gaita Fores!
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Last year, Lolo Atomic ( Dad’s Uncle ) was telling me how sad he was that his daughter, Sabina, was leaving for New York.
We were able to meet Sabina during our visit to New York. It was so nice to meet her. Of course immediately you can tell she is a model. I am very sure that Lolo Atomic is very proud of Sabina, After all, she took after her mother who is also a model.
Sabina just graduated from highschool and now wants to have fun and do some modelling in New York before going to College in Columbia University in New York.
More power to you Sabina!! May you continue to represent our country and show them that all Filipinas are as beautiful as you! 🙂 You make us proud!
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When in New York, there are thousands of restaurants to go to. It is PARADISE for anyone who loves to eat!!! One of the reasons I LOVE NY! So many restaurants and each is unique and has it’s own character and story to tell. We look forward to every meal!
1.) WonJo – Korean in Korea Town is always a must for us – If you have not heard or tried Chadol Baegi- try it. My cousin Gippy introduced it to us many years back in New York and from that time on, it is a MUST- we have not ever seen it in any korean restaurant in other countries except for the ones in New York
The photo on top is the regular kalbi beef but below is the Chadol Baegi – it comes with a salt sauce. TRY IT and you might like it too!
23West 32nd Street New York, NY 10001Tel : (212) 695-5815
2.) Hatsuhana 
It is really a sushi restaurant, but we liked the 2 unique tempuras they had – Lobster tempura and the Anago ( eel ) tempura
3.) Serafina– WOW! This was a yummy Risotto!!
Serafina Broadway 210 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 315-1700
4.) Joe Shanghai – We only go here for the Xiao long Bao ( Soup Buns ) – nothing else! And that is really what they are known for. James went here three times this trip! It is his favorite. He said to make sure you order the CRABMEAT with pork soup buns
From Joe Shanghai’s website:
Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)
Xiao Long Bao or “Little Dumplings from Basket” was originated from Nan Xiang, a suburb of Shanghai. Their perfectly symmetrical shape, resembles a pagoda.
These tender pouches, “little dumplings”, are freshly made to order. They arrive at the table in piping hot bamboo steamers. Each plump dumpling contains a little pork meatball surrounded by a delightful meaty broth.
To prevent burning one’s mouth and to savor the dumpling, the preferred method of consumption is to bite off a little piece of the doughy wrapper, suck the broth with a “slurp”, then eat the rest.
There are two variations available at Joe’s Shanghai – crab meat and pork meat. Each basket is freshly made to order, so don’t forget to order your Soup Dumpling upon arrival at your table. Otherwise it might be a long wait.
A cartoonist, Robert Zimmerman, had drawn “Soup Dumplings: A Survival Course” comic strip that was once published in the newspapers. It comedically depicts the hazard of eating a fresh, piping hot dumpling. Although a little extreme, the danger of burning one’s mouth is no different from the dangers of enjoying a hot cup of coffee.
Soup Dumplings : A Survival Course
5.) Doughnut Plant- Our brother, John recommended this place. So we made sure we went to check it out. It is a small shop downtown with only one branch in the city. Since they only have one shop, they sell their doughnuts in other locations – Dean and Delluca, Whole Foods, Zabars and other known food specialty stores.
This is Tres Leche which is supposedly their bestseller and recommended by John. We liked it. It is a different kind of doughnut. More “cakey” – not the Krispy Kreme melt in your mouth type.
Buttercup is the Queen of all cupcakes! This is where we first fell in love with cupcakes many years ago! Even the kids always ask to go back to Buttercup so they can have their cupcakes. The icing is the BEST! 
7.) Basta Pasta
Basta Pasta was established in Tokyo Japan 1985, which was designed after the TV program Iron Chef with a totally open kitchen as a Kitchen Theater. In 1990 Basta Pasta opened in New York. We would like our guests to enjoy Italian as The Japanese do
As you enter the restaurant, you see this gigantic freezer where they store all their ingredients
One of their specialties – Spaghetti with Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma prosciutto,served in half a wheel of Parmesan cheese at table – Pepato in Greenbelt also has something similar to this dish
37 West 17th Street New York, New York, 10011 (212) 366-0888
8.) Ollie’s- Thanks to Tito Stephen and Tita Reggie for our despedida lunch
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Ninja was a fun eating experience! Only in New York will you find places like these.
When you enter the front door, you are greeted by a receptionist It is dark inside. She then lets you use the elevator which takes you down to the restaurant. And when the door opens, a Ninja comes out from nowhere and shouts and greets you! It was so funny! We were all startled! 🙂
Then he makes you choose between two doors…of course we chose the more interesting door…. it is a hallway but you are walking on a bridge like thing- its very dark and the ceiling is low….halfway we are startled again by another ninja and then that takes you to the restaurant finally. 
There are many rooms of different sizes in the restaurant – so everyone gets a private room to themselves.
This was a sashimi dish being served and Jaime pulled a sword out of it…..
And the sashimi that had smoke…. they had many interesting food presentations
This was an appetizer but i made it my main dish- SPICY CHEESE TEMPURA! It was actually good and the spicy was not that spicy!
CLAM BOMBSHELL
The clam was closed and they lit it like they were lighting a bomb – when it reached the clam, it sort of exploded and opened the clam shell….all throughout we were entertained by the dishes!
Mom always likes to order Shabu Shabu
Chicken Teriyaki and KIRIKABU – Wagyu beef with Woodstamped KIRIKABU FILO- it has a filo pastry on top and you remove it
Happy Birthday Quito!!!
We thought that was it – but a guy came and did some magic tricks! It was Stewart the magician! He was really good! Of course Jaime and Javier who love doing magic as well were amazed!
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Whenever in the States, we go crazy with all the snacks they have to offer.
Here are some new and exciting snack discoveries, most of which are CHEESE related ( of course! ) :
Always like the Lindt truffles but this time they had STRACIATELLA which is white chocolate ( Heart2Heart’s favorite ) with cocoa pieces. YUMMY!! This was a hit with everyone else !
YUMMY flavor!!! Ants, when will we have it here in the Philippines? It says Limited edition though. I hope they make it a basic.
This UTZ Cheeseballs is equivalent to 10 cans of the regular sized cheeseballs. This costs only US$ 6.99!
From Trader Joe’s, FAT FREE but definitely not SUGAR FREE but YUMMY!!
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EMAIL FROM KRIE: “go to gray’s papaya for the super sarap tastes-like-steak hotdogs (take the boys) “
So I did! YUMMY!! I just wish they had more locations so it is easier for us to get them.
Rudy is a Filipino and he helped us out. I took his photo and he told me to send it to him. I told him he will be in Heart2Heart so this is dedicated to Rudy!
As usual we get harassed when there are many people lining up or ordering in a place. Rudy asked us how we liked our hotdog. Gosh! We did not know. So we said, just put everything! This is how “everything” looks like….
Jaime likes the ” EVERYTHING” while Javs and I liked the plain. You get to taste more of the hotdog and Krie was right, they are “taste-like steak hotdogs.” They have no mayonnaise but they have mustard on the counter if you want to put mustard. The hotdogs are very small so even my kids can finish two pieces.
539 8th Ave New York, NY 10018
402 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10014 at 8th St.
2090 Broadway ( cross street 71st street ) New York, NY 10023-2802
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Play the video to listen to the theme song while you read this to put you in the Pinkberry mood! 🙂
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How I wish I were eating a Pinkberry right now! Last year, James had mentioned to us about Pinkberry as Starbucks had invested in this new concept. So it was a definite MUST TRY on our list. We visited Pinkberry the night before we left New York. We kept procrastinating since the family said it was not their type, it was sour, the kids did not really like it, etc etc. The kids were expecting the typical soft serve or something like their favorite, Golden Spoon. So I guess when you have expectations, of course you will be disappointed. Though Jackie and Krie told us they loved it. So, just like anything else, it is a matter of taste. This is now Heart2Heart’s all time favorite frozen delight!
One shop had just opened a few days after we arrived near where we stayed. and OH MY GOSH!! James and I loved it!!!!!!! We wanted to pass by and get another Pinkberry on the way to the airport but we were running late!
There are only 3 flavors to choose from- ORIGINAL PINKBERRY, GREEN TEA and COFFEE
We were able to taste all since they sample out small cups- we liked the ORIGINAL PINKBERRY FLAVOR! It is so refreshing and so YUMMY! It is more icy than creamy and it has a sweet taste to it contrary to what the others said. And adding the fresh kiwi and strawberry made it even taste better. 
Love this flyer which they gave out!
“Absence makes the HEART SWIRL fonder!”
PINKBERRY TO GO
Some material taken from their website: PINKBERRY
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My brother, Quito-okay okay now there is a photo of you – was more of a New York foodie compared to us. His best friend Carey took him to all the good places!
Quito was trying to make me jealous by sending photos of his meal at the SHAKE SHACK. He was telling us to go. We attempted to go there the day before we left but the traffic was heavy and we were already pressed for time. Definitely a reason to go back to New York!!!
“It’s a double patty with portobello mushroom in the middle with cheese oozing out of your ears with lots of dressing! Who cares if the line is long , the calories are deadly! This is something you must eat before you die! “
Thanks Louele for letting me use your photos! Next time bring me with you and don’t just show me photos! 🙂
website: Shake Shack
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