Cello's Alphabet Doughnuts and Gino's Burratta

One gift that the recent diets I've tried have given me was my love of carbs back. I may be loving it too much, so the weight loss part I didn't really get, but I now have a belief that if I eat it in moderation, it's ok. So now, Gino's is back as an option for Sunday lunch with the siblings.

I really love their Salted Egg Pasta

Look at those chunks of bacon and salted egg.

Even the Salad with Burrata is something I really crave for. 

Who can say no to all that yummy Mozzarella.

Though I'm not really a fan of their Pizza

Gino's started in Katipunan, owned by the same owner as Cello's doughnuts,
so if the place is full, you can even sit at Cello's.

They have a nice cozy place. Look at that chalkboard art.

I didn't realize that they were famous for their letter doughnuts,
which I only saw when we had to sit here because Gino's was full.

You need to order the letter doughnuts at least 3 hours in advance, but they only cost Php35 a letter, so I couldn't wait to eat in the area again so I can order SOFIA doughnuts for Fi.

Their Creme Brulee donut and coffee is also really good.

Perfectly burned sugar crust, and oozing with custard.

Last New Year's Eve, we decided to try Shrimp Bucket in UP Town Center. You can read about it here. Since it was on the way, I called and ordered doughnuts for Sofia before hand.

SOFIA in Oreo, Chocolate, Cheese, Peanut Butter and Cinnamon flavors.

I couldn't resist, so I also ordered assorted Happy Birthday
doughnuts to bring to Auntie Rusty's birthday dinner.

Sofia loved her doughnuts which she ate for New Year's Day.

Since we were in the area again for Sofia's Sip and Gogh painting class which you can read about here, I asked her if she wanted me to order her SOFIA doughnuts again, which she was very excited to do. When I asked her what her favorite flavors were, she named Cheese, Oreo and Chocolate, but since I told her to choose the two flavors she wanted to order 2 of, she couldn't decide because she wanted 2 of everything, so she asked me if we could order NICOLE instead.

I really can't say no to smart reasoning, so NICOLE it is.
2 doughnuts each of Oreo, Cheese and Chocolate.

Selfie with my smartypants little girl.

Ordering Cello's alphabet doughnuts is easy as ABC - pun intended. Just call them 3 hours before you want to pick them up. I think it's now one of our rituals to do it when we plan to eat in the area, but I think Sofia will keep on insisting on getting NICOLE doughnuts. just saying.


Cello's Doughnuts
Katipunan Avenue, 
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Gino's Brick Oven Pizza
Katipunan Avenue, 
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Portobello Road Market

We're already planning for our London-Lyon-Paris trip in February, and I realized that I haven't even finished blogging about my last trip in April, and one of the places I really loved, which deserves it's own post is Portobello Road Market.

Last April, I was very lucky to find a landlady who lived right on Portobello Road. You can read my post on that here. I was totally channeling Hugh Grant's character in Notting Hill. In fact, I visited some of the film's locations like a total groupie (which is the same as what we did with the family in 2000). You can read about that here if you plan to do the same.

Now, back to Portobello Road Market. Tourists normally come for the Antiques on Saturday, but I was quite surprised when I lived there to see that the Market was already quite alive on Friday.

This is me stepping out of Julie's flat, directly into Portobello Market.
Love love love.

So happy I got a chance to live here.

I was staying closer to the New Goods end,
which is near the Ladbroke Grove Station.

If you want to start at the Antiques, go for Notting Hill Tube Station and start walking up Portobello Road.

On my first day in London, I already found a mobile charm seller who
had so much stock in Silver. Since he was also there on Saturday,
I was able to sleep on it, but I did come back bright and early to buy everything.

I was staying near Portobello Green Market,
which had leather and vintage stuff, open Fri, Sat and Sun.

The Vintage Market is a good place to source period costumes.

It was also near Acklam Village, which has something new everyday.
Busiest on a Saturday of course!

If I'm not mistaken, the Fruit and Vegetable Market is there every day.

Here are some things you can find in Portobello Road, even if it's not a Saturday (but I don't think they are there daily).

Accessories Galore

Cheese, Cold Cuts, and chocolates and snacks at discount prices.

Look! Boursin for 50p?!?! If only I could hoard to bring this home.
The 1D chocolates come from Poundland, a Supermarket Chain beside it.

Pre-loved branded stuff like DVF wrap dresses, and Prada heels,
towards the New Goods area.

So, you may be wondering, what's so great about Portobello Road Market on a Saturday? It's when all the antique sellers (and tourists) come out. Though it's a known fact that starting prices at Portobello Road are expensive, bargaining is part of the game, and the more you want to buy, the more leverage you have for bargaining.

Because tourists come in droves, there are a lot of food stands to choose from.

Look at that Paella stand. I was able to catch them setting up when I headed
out, and almost ready to serve the lunch crowd when I was walking back.

Piri Piri Chicken Stall

Look at that chili, cheese and olives

Coconut is very expensive though, so best to get your fix in Asia.

This is the Saturday Market Crown (view from Ladbroke Grove).

As a general rule of thumb, if the store is inside a building, their rent is
generally more expensive, so expect to pay more or haggle harder.

I normally just go for the Gold Sellers. But I prefer the ones on the sidewalk,
with display cases (upper right) vs stores (left), unfortunately, last trip,
I was only able to score more mobile charms for Sofia in Silver.

Here are the other things the market has to offer on a Saturday.

Fresh flowers, because I was there in Spring. I'm not sure about Winter though.

The normal tourist crap, local crafts, old books, and hideous clothes.

Silver

All kinds of colorful knobs

Antique letters from the letter press

Street Performers outside the pub.

There's a coffee (chain) chop on every corner, but I think this is one of the
saddest Starbucks stores I've ever seen.

Coffee Plant on Portobello Road

I'd much rather get my fix from one of the famous local
shops. 

Coffee Plant was my favorite hang out when I was there, and it was always
full.

I'd just sit and watch the hustle and bustle of the market, while reading the
free Portobello Market Magazine.

Trivia Time:

Selfie at my favorite spot

This was my view from my favorite seat.
I found it funny that the stalls have Pizza delivered for their lunch (lower right).

This is what the Saturday Market Crown looks like from the Notting Hill end.

It's a few minutes walk to the Market from the Notting Hill Tube Station.

You'll pass the Beatles memorabilia store.

And the second hand store selling pre-loved as new designer items.

There's also Book Warehouse, one of my favorite discount stores.
It's owned by the same chain as the Travel Book Store.

Coley's Just Saying, reporting from Portobello Road.