Taiwanese Traditional Breakfast At Fu Hang Soy Milk Restaurant

We were delighted to know when we booked our flight ticket to The Netherlands that our stopover would be in Taiwan. Again, another dream destination of us, as a married couple to visit one on our convenient days. Before coming back to our home in The Philippines, a mini vacation there would be awesome!

To learn the country is to try their traditional offerings. And that is exactly what we did! How we love to explore new food and cuisine! Here are some Taiwanese meals we had on our second day in Taipei.

As early as five in the morning, we started our day with some 10 minutes walk in the very calm area of Taipei. It was such a surprise for us because since Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan, it stays so pleasant and quiet.

Anyhow, we finally reached our destination. The night before, we made sure to look for a place where we can have a good taste of the island. Then we found Fu Hang Dou Jiang (Fuhang Soy Milk), a food court located along the street of Zhongxaio.

You tiao in-the-making (fried cruller/churros/dough/breadstick)

Surprisingly, despite the long queue of hungry souls even falling in line from the first floor of the building, it moved pretty quick. That always reminds me how these people work so fast and efficient. Everyday, there are freshly made meals for everyone.

Shāo bǐng (baked sesame flat bread)

There are actually a good bunch of choices but we only had a few. Let's start, shall we?



First from our tray is this salty and savory hot soy milk (Xián dòu jiāng) served with fresh cilantro and bits of their fried breadstick (you tiao). It is curdled with a hint of vinegar on it. Somewhat reminds me of eating taho (Filipino soy curd) but with soy sauce and herbs.



We also had the plain hot sweet soy milk soup (Tián dòu jiāng). It was yummy, I love soy milk.



Here's my favorite among all, their stuffed sticky rice ball (Fàn tuán). What's inside? It is filled with a generous amount of pork floss (makes it salty), you tiao (fried breadstick) and pickles.



The rice outside is perfectly al dente (love the small chubby shape of the sticky rice, made it more enjoyable to eat). The floss made a good salty viand to the rice. The fried breadstick, on the other hand, gave a nice crunch into the roll. Love it, as in!



This thing alone is already so filling, but yeah, how can we be a foodie if we will not try everything?



Lastly, we had this sesame flat bread with egg and breadstick (Shāo bǐng yóu tiáo jī dàn). It is soft outside, crunchy and salty inside.

We enjoyed having these dishes while being camouflaged with a lot of Taiwanese inside the food court. Every one just had the same thing as what we had, suddenly, we felt that we belong. It was a very nice experience. So if ever you'll visit Taipei soon, do not forget to wake up early in the morning and try their Taiwanese breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk Restaurant.

Wintry Appreciation at Intratuin Emmeloord

It has always been cold. Since the beginning, until now. It has always been like this. Chilling, frosty, wintry. What other words can describe it? I couldn't find any. Since day 1, I have always been in The Netherlands in wintertime, and this is my third. In a total of four years, I have been leaving the country and chasing winter. *sigh*

But I finally came to a realization that it has been very kind and loving to me. This season, the only season when I come and go. Since I needed a lot of warmth, my family is always there to make me feel so cozy. And it was a very fine Friday morning when my mom-in-law asked me if I would like to go with her to buy some plants. And since greenery is one of my favorite hints in life, I went. She brought me to this specific garden center and we started to roam around. I've been lurking on it since we arrived, it was always on our way whenever we go somewhere. Finally, I set foot on it.



I was fascinated by the different kinds of plants, indoor or outdoor and was amazed to gaze on those pretty little bulbs of varieties of their national symbol, tulips. There are not that many facts about it that I know, despite craving to see it for the last 4 years. Yet from stories, they actually originated from central Asia, then in Turkey, then now, in the vast farms of The Netherlands. I might inform myself a little bit more about this so I have something to tell.



So upon on the way to this green shop, Mom and I started chatting, catching up with our lives since we do not actually see each other that often. Talking about history, experiences, or just anything with her is always so enjoyable.



As I roam around alone, I discovered the extent of the size of the shop but there are still details to see. Minutes have passed and she invited me to have something to eat or drink (they have a decent size cafe inside). How can I say no? I saw a big round chocolate chip cookie and it just made me weak. Paired with a cold glass of strawberry smoothie, I decided that it'll be all for my lunch. I was satisfied.

After that, our stories continued and it's like it's never-ending. I don't like to reach the evening. May the time just stand still was my secret wish.

But time is the only thing that's unstoppable. We've come to the furthest part of the trip. The next thing was riding the car and going home. It was such a pity cause I always thirst for moments like this. And since it will be the last chance that day, I wandered my eyes around to keep the sight as a memory in my mind and the experience I had, a recollection of the things I would like to occur again.



You might want to visit this place if in case you are around. Aside from the plants (real and artificial), decorations, barbecue essentials and animal needs, they also have organic food in their stash. Oh yeah, they also do workshops.

You can find details on their website: https://www.intratuin.nl/winkels/intratuin-emmeloord
Just make sure to translate it in English for it is in Dutch.



Special mention to this kind of grass I found inside the shop. It is called makahiya (shameplant) with a scientific name of Mimosa pudica. It is a common plant that grows in everyone's backyard in The Philippines. So surprising to see them here. If ever I will feel super homesick, I will buy one for sure.

Girls Date at Estasyon Batangas

It has been an annual "ritual" when my friends and I meet together in a restaurant to catch up with life happenings. We always make sure that there is a day in the year that we will be together enjoying meals and each other's company. That is one thing I will definitely miss.

Anyhow, this year, we visited another food station that creates a spin on Filipino classic meals. It is situated in front of Pontefino Residences in Batangas City. I am blessed to have my girls who love to eat, just as much as I do. And this time, diet was not in our vocabulary.

Estasyon has a variety of choices. From sandwiches, pasta, rice meals to pastries, and unique coolers, they have good selections. And to begin with, we had their cool coolers. Here's Tanglad (lemongrass) juice and Champorado Cooler.

Tanglad Juice

Champorado cooler was unexpectedly good. As an avid fan of champorado myself, I never thought it can be something to slurp on. It is basically a rice porridge mixed with cocoa powder topped with fresh or powdered milk. My mom always makes this and I love it steaming hot! But having the cooler version was very new to me. I just wish that the sticky rice was as soft as it is in the hot version, I remembered myself chocking a bit. Also, they said there's a hint of liquor, so be very moderate.

Champorado Cooler

Our appetizer was a bowl of fried Isaw Chips. It has been ages since I had isaw (pig or chicken intestines). These ones were crunchy and tasty. There's just a hint of bitterness aftertaste which I am not really a fan of.

Isaw Chips (Php170)

Chicken Wrap (Php110)

Now comes the main dishes. Ate C had her serving of Chicken Wrap. Well, without any discussion, a wrap is always good, and healthy. It was so fresh!



Then Ate K's. It's admittedly fancy to see how they did the presentation. Gourmet Tuyo Rice is a mix of tuyo (dried fish) and cooked rice, topped with salted egg and dill.

Gourmet Tuyo Rice (Php230)

Finally, here's the serving that I had. It's a Shawarma Bowl with sirloin steak bits, hummus, and pita. I am inlove with Middle Eastern food, and even when in Europe, I make sure that I get good shawarma and kebab.

Shawarma Bowl (Php135)

Sadly, the serving I had was a lil' bit rubbery and I wasn't able to finish the meat. There's also a small portion of hummus, and that's sad. Ate C knows how much I love that dip. But overall, the dish was good.



We owned the place at that time cause we came a little bit earlier than lunchtime so we were one of the first to seat. The staffs were friendly and very accommodating. 'Twas an enjoyable food trip at Estasyon.

JapaNalo at Shinsen Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Pasig City

A long rainy weekend without ramen isn't complete! Right? So here's a quick Japanese ramen and noodle fix we had in Pasig last Sunday. Thanks to our cousins for recommending Shinsen Sushi Bar and Restaurant​.



It was actually surprising to know that the restaurant is owned by a Filipino and their staffs are Japanese-trained. Who would have thought that there's no Japanese blood running around the place? It feels so authentic.



Since it was just around the corner of my relative's house, the location was never a problem. It was just one ride away. So there we went, headed to the restaurant and kept ourselves warm with their noodle offerings.




GJ had to try their dry noodles so he opted for the Yakiudon. It was as tasteful as it sounds like, believe me. He enjoyed his meal.




My cousin, on the other hand, had one of their maki. They're all so inviting, do they? And they're heavy, these maki's for a one-man meal!





At the end of the meal, we appreciated the nice ambiance (with Tagalog translated to Japanese songs), good service, lovely staffs (you can hear them say thanks to their coworkers) and also yummy food! A person who has been to Japan can tell that they have legit food. I am not talking about myself since I haven't set foot there yet. My husband and cousins visited Japan a few years back.

We have not tried that much so there's another reason to go back.

Staple and Perk Cafe at Ecoplaza Makati

I only had water for breakfast. That was when we went to the Netherlands Visa Assistance Office (VFS Global) in Makati for my visa appointment. It was my third application, but I still feel terribly nervous about things. I haven't received any rejected application, happily, but still, you cannot take away my anxiousness on what's next to come.

We arrived early. My appointment letter states that I should be at the office at least 15 minutes before the appointment time. We were there an hour before. Who's excited? Of course, me! And since we only had liquid intake that morning, we need to fill up our tummies (with good food!). Ecoplaza is a very busy building since a lot of visa application/assistance offices are situated in that building.

Just went straight the entrance, we found Staple and Perk Cafe, oh so inviting. So we went. They're open 24 hours by the way.

Mushroom soup

There we ordered breakfast meal and started it with a serving of mushroom soup. Oh, it was so creamy that it melted in our mouth. It was Dutch approved!

Breakfast Champ

For the heavier meal, G ordered their Breakfast Champ. It was good too! And filling! There's scrambled egg, bacon strips, toasted bread, two hotdogs, marble potatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Winner!



The ambiance is good, as well as their service. Might go back there if in case I need to apply for a new visa. Hehe.

Finally, I needed to leave G at the cafe and proceed to the office upstairs. Good thing, there are not that many applicants so the line was short and it only took me less than an hour (submission of papers, payment and biometrics). If you are interested of getting Schengen visa through the Netherlands in The Philippines, you might want to visit my blog post here: http://www.myxilog.com/2017/01/how-to-get-schengen-visa-in-philippines.html

East Meets West at Share Cafe, Batangas

You might have come across one of the hottest cafes within Batangas these days. This one has a menu serving that changes daily. How cool was that? It's not just it actually. Taking order was made to be innovative, which was the first one in the city. Connecting to their internet connection, you can make the selection on the array of menu choices they have without even calling their staff, although assistance is well offered.

It was so intriguing, so we tried it ourselves.

To start with, we had their Artisan Garlic Cheese Bread for our appetizer. I am telling you, it was a hit, one of my favorites. Wait, we haven't even started yet. They also have chicken, chorizo cheese dip (which I am eager to try on our next visit), nachos and potato wedges.

Artisan Garlic Cheese Bread (Php99)

The second course called for something hot. Here's a cup of Tomato and Basil Soup me and my husband shared. It is not really for sharing, but we are as cheesy as Gouda that even a piece of something we tend to split. Their alternate one is squash soup, a definitely must try next time. Oh, they have salads too if you want to start light.

Tomato & Basil Soup (Php70)

Finally, our main was their signature hand-tossed Crispy Pata Overload Pizza, perfect for two. Aside from this Pinoy inspired pizza, there's also salmon if you opt for fish, chicken, all meat, Hawaiian and pepperoni. No need to fret if you're a vegetarian, they have vegetable pizzas too!

Crispy Pata Overload Pizza (Php159)

Of course, a meal isn't complete if there's no dessert in the end. Our big appetites deserve this small but heavy Bread Pudding. Their assortment of afters includes different kinds of cakes and churros. If you want to have something fancier than those, they have chocolate fondue dip as well.

Bread Pudding (Php70)

And for a coffeeholic like my husband, any meal won't go finished without a cold serving of his caffeine drink, more likely compared to his afters. He then had their Iced Caramel Macchiato which surprisingly tickled my buds too! It was nicely refreshing. But I did not take that much, I'm caffeine intolerant.

Iced Caramel Macchiato (Php65)

That's what we had from our visit at Share Cafe. The meal we had is satisfying and also, not really hitting the pocket that hard. They even have a meal that costs Php48 (not even a dollar) for rice, viand, a side, and a drink. Incredible right?

G had a good time as well, having western food without leaving the city and without spending that much.



You can visit their website at https://sharecafe.ph/.

Our Wedding DIYs

It has been a year since we got married, yeps, this is long overdue. And all the other efforts we put into it was all worth it, I believe. Since GJ was here to help me with all the favors for the wedding, there's not that much hassle. I was blessed to have my family to be all support for the crafting stuff that we thought of.

The preparation actually began when GJ arrived in the Philippines, that was March last year. It was all started with the paperwork since we do not have the same nationality. That was such a tiring week for both of us. Happily, documents and requirements were completed. Next to do, have the wedding suits sewed, have our rings done, look for a reception, ask for approval for the usage of the hall, book hotel accommodation for visitors from abroad, talk with the makeup, flowers, & media suppliers and finally, prepare the teenie tiny bits of details on our wedding day.

Some of our DIY's were:
-Invitation
-Giveaways
-Usherettes' hat
-Table names/number
-Menu cards
-Cake Stand/Deco
-Video Loop

invitation

From the very start, I always want to have my very own and unique wedding favors, most especially, the invitation. Since we are in an interracial relationship, there's nothing else that would best fit than a passport and a flight ticket.



We also incorporated a signature initials in the envelope of the invitation. This was the final design we picked among the other three that I made. It looked more elegant in the form of a wax stamp.



Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Fonts: Candlescript, Times New Roman, Courier, Agency FB and Maratre
Printing Shop: JustInPrints Batangas
Wax Stamp: Online shop from Facebook (can't find them anymore, I'm sorry)
Ribbon and brown envelope: National Book Store

cake deco

This part was copied from my cousin's wedding a year before ours. We found these at Divisoria and painted them blue.

Flight attendant hat

To make it a little bit nostalgic, giving our guests the feeling of being in a real airplane, I requested my usherettes to wear this customized at the reception. They were in a white blouse with black skirts, and a scarf to make the feeling complete.

Felt paper: Divisoria
Tutorial: Youtube

Menu card & name tags

Every time we fly to Europe, this is my favorite part, the menu card in the planes. That's the reason why I never let my wedding miss this small detail. I used the same font like the ones in the invitation.

Tarpaulins

A flight setting won't be complete without a greeting from the company and the seating arrangement.

Editor: Photoshop CS5
Fonts: Candlescript, Arial, and Maratre
Printing Shop: Octa Prints Batangas

Table Numbers

We did not put table numbers, ours are JW branch offices around the world. Well, that's where we all want to go, why not incorporate it with our once in a lifetime wedding? I've visited three already, PH, FR and NL, but the most exciting is, if ever we will be able to visit the WHQ. That would be super awesome.

Wooden Frame: Divisoria
Photopaper: National Book Store

giveaways

Merging our cultures means merging our products in our souvenirs. We made loot bags for our giveaway which consists of three different items. One was from The Netherlands, my favorite Dutch treat called stroopwafels, the second was from my hometown, Batangas, of course, coffee (Kapeng Barako) for deodorizer and lastly, a fridge magnet with our faces.

Cookies: The Netherlands
Coffee beans: Sulit Coffee Store Batangas
Magnet sheets and photo paper: National Book Store

If ever I remember something that's not included in this list, I'll definitely make a part two. But for now, that's about it! I'm happy I could share my wedding DIYs. It is really satisfying having a hands on wedding. Thanks for reading! Bye!