rainy day specials
Posted at 05:30 PM

i haven't had a day like this in a long time... staying at home because of the rain.

one of the perks was getting to have merienda at home. instant mami and crackers for me (too sleepy to cook...) but was thinking that this sort of weather does lend itself to a particular kind of food experience.

a hot bowl of arroz caldo, heavy with garlic and ginger is a good way to fight off the chill as would a nice bowl of champorado - with tuyo please. or tuyo with sinangag and a fried egg, crispy around the edges but flowy in the middle.

a cup of tsokolate would also do wonders as would the lemon grass tea at cafe by the ruins in baguio (with just the right touch of honey). regular milky coffee or black barako could also be called for...

but my all-time rainy day favorite has got to be spanish sardinas - the one in oil - and sinangag. and for it to be just right, the sardinas has to be fresh out of the bottle (without anything done to it) and the rice on the toasted side. definitely day-old fried dry with garlic. with the tsokolate, this would make most damp days something to look forward to.

easy escaping, big-time pampering
Posted at 11:31 AM

finally got the chance to escape to tagaytay and check out T House. Had first heard of it when my friends Sherie and Jorem got engaged there, and when I found out that the place was set up by another friend, April (and her family), well, I knew it had to be good and immediately started making plans to visit.

the place is easy to find. once you get to the Tagaytay junction from Santa Rosa, make a left. in 5 minutes you will see the T House sign, and turn in to a place that is sheer Zen. the whole area is designed in a minimalist elegance look that at once signals both warmth and tranquility.

when you go, do try the spa. from there i got what is definitely one of the most soothing massages ever...

but aside from the place itself, the must-try is their food. T House has a set menu consisting of 2 soups, a salad, a main course, and dessert. upon April's suggestion we tried the salmon on wasabi mashed potatoes and the spicy chicken with pesto dressing. pure gastronomic delight. make sure you try the wild mushroom soup and the grilled vegetable salad too. i would never expect to find such finely blended flavors outside an upscale restaurant and there i was thoroughly enjoying that sort of meal in a tagaytay bed and breakfast.

the place is certainly a must-go... i know i'm certainly going back. and the next time i'll make sure to spend the night so i can have the chance to try the peanut butter pancakes