Va Bene Pasta Deli

The friday crew had decided to try something posh for the Friday Lunchout. Va Bene is located in BGC Central, near the Cinema.

The waiter said one order is good for a person but since the serving size is big, 1-2 person can share. Upon hearing that, we’ve decided to order 4 dishes for 6 people. Big mistake! It was not enough!!! End of the meal, most of us were hungry.

Free appetizer as we wait for our food.

BRAISED CHICKEN PANSOTTI

ORGANIC EGGS TAGLIATELLE

BIANCA

MASSIMO

The food is really good! Although, a bit expensive. It was worth the try. The pasta has the right texture and it was so flavorful. The pizza hmmm… It’s like a homemade pizza on pan bread. And for 288 Php, it was pretty small.

I would come back for the pasta, but not when I am hungry. For I feel it’s not enough.

To commemorate our first meal here, thanks Kuya for the artistic shot. :p

Sandaya Yakiniku

With no plans whatsoever, we have decided to go to Fisher Mall and after hauling toys, we’ve decided to look for a place to eat.

We saw this restaurant and browsed through the menu, it was a go because they have ramen. Edward won’t go hungry.

While browsing through the menu, husband had a sudden urge to try Yakiniku. They have 3 variants. Regular is at 1,000 Php for 1-3 people. Premium at 1,600 Php and Special at 2,200 Php. The difference is Special has Wagyu beef while premium mainly has US beef.

We ordered the 1,600 Plate and here’s what it looks like.

The food and service is really good. We asked the staff to help us cook. Don’t expect much flavoring, this is grilled meat at the core but still, the taste is enjoyable.

What I don’t grasp is the identity of the restaurant, it seems to be serving Japanese cuisine but they have Korean food as well. I’m not complaining… The bibimbap tasted splendid.

They are serving noodles in half sizes. 250 Php for half size Tonkatsu Ramen and 350 Php for full size.

Would I come back? Probably for special occasions. The food is good but it’s a bit pricey. If you like yakiniku then it’s worth a try. And for the price of the meat, I wish they can throw in the leaves for free instead of charging 120 Php per order.

TWG

On a perfectly normal office Friday... My teammates and I have decided to try out TWG, located at Ground Floor, BGC Central. A posh place we were excited to try. As we were all first timers, we can't help but be giddy about it.

The first thought... "ooh... it's really a nice place" but honestly, I was a bit overwhelmed that I didn't give the macarons much attention even if they were near the entrance. I was trying to compose myself to hide the excitement.

We were greeted by courteous staffs and the level of poshness made us a bit awkward. I rarely go to fancy places... So the idea of someone pulling a chair for you and placing a napkin on your lap is a bit overwhelming.

The staff provided us with a menu and a Tea Book, and believe me... With the hundred of teas to choose from, having the tea book will help. If you're unsure of what to get, you can always ask the staffs. Like what my friend did, the staff showcased tea leaves to help us decide what to do get. A pot of tea is around 195 Php, good for 2-3 cups.

We got Chocolate Tea, it was a bit bitter at first. I've added a bit sugar. It was a still bitter until I ate the macarons with it. By then, it was a perfect blend. The second tea pot was Pink Garden Tea, it was a bit flowery for my taste. I don't fancy it much. But my friend loved it.

The macarons are to die for. It costs 50 Php a piece. Not sure if it's pricey or not as it was my first time to try one. After tasting it, I'm sure it's not my last time to try it. The texture was perfectly soft and the taste was so flavorful. Yummy!!!

By order of preference, I like Salted Caramel, Red Velvet, Napoleon then Pistachio.

The verdict? Will definitely go back. For the tea and the Macarons. The lunch set is a bit pricey though. Ranging from 500-1000... From what I remembered.

You can buy Macarons in boxes. 6 pcs for 300 Php. 12 pcs for 550 Php and one more which I forgot if 24 pcs or not. Where you pay the price less 2 macarons cost (100 Php). So if it's 24 pcs then it's 1,100 Php as each cost 50 Php.

There are tea leaves you can take home but it's a bit pricey. Most of it cost above 1,000 Php.

So if you want to enjoy a cup of tea. I would highly recommend TWG. Initially, I thought it was super expensive.... But it was alright. For the quality of the taste and service... It was definitely worth it.

The photo below is to serve as a memento of our first time in TWG.

Beauty and the Beast Musical

Spectacular! As it was my first Broadway Musical to watch... It was truly memorable.

The stage was breathtaking. My breath literally stopped as I entered the balcony, it was steep and my fear of heights took in. I like for the details, lights and stage design. It stood out during the play. Even the transition of the scenes is remarkable.

Length of the play was okay. Act 1 is longer but I didn't feel bored in any part of the play. It runs a little over 2 hours. But no dull moments for me.

The voice of the actors/actresses is crisp. The smoothness of the sound is soothing and comfortable. The high notes are sang pretty well without breaking my eardrums. I love the rendition of the songs.

Costume is also good as it's exactly how I envisioned it. It was astonishing to see an animated film come to life. And that's how I feel watching the show. I absolutely loved it.

I love the Gaston and Be Our Guest number. Words can't describe my awe in seeing it. Truly marvelous.

Story wise, there's a little deviation from the movie but it was done in good taste. Totally entertaining.

I guess I've used up all the words to sing praises for the show. Because I truly loved it. Awesome Musical! Money and time permit.. I'll rewatch the show.

Here's what they are selling as souvenirs. Pamphlet costs 800 Php while the shirts cost 1,300 Php. Mugs costs 800 Php.

Llama Llama Misses Mama

This book is part of the Llama Llama Red Pajama series. This is the first book of the series that we've read and I liked it. The story is about Llama Llama going to school for the first time and he misses his mama. When I told Edward the story, he said it's papa. Yeah, that's for his case. I told him it's mama since The Llama has a pink bag...in the end he agreed.

Right after finishing the story, he asked me to read it again. The book is enjoyable and the rhyming is cool.

What I like about the story is it's realistic. It covers what a child might feel on the first day of school. I recommend this book as a guide to show kids what would happen at school for them to enjoy their first day.