Another Winner Japanese Restaurant at Ogawa

We recently tried Ogawa Restaurant at The Fort, and it was quite good, I wanted to blog about it even if I didn't take much photos... until it was too late. (Oh hunger, you distracted me)

Their Crazy Maki was excellent. Humongous serving too.

Best tofu steak ever. Tasted like Beef. Hahaha.
Then we had Tempura and Karaage too.

The Steak Teppan was good, but I was expecting it to
come with more veggies than this.

We ate there roughly at the same time as my brother's birthday...

Just like food shots,
my brother looks better with a flat lay.

I think the food is pricey though, I heard the Chef used to work at the Japanese Restaurant at the Shang. Next time, when I pay the bill, I'll tell you if it's worth it. Hahaha, but I did enjoy my lunch.  just saying.


Ogawa
The Fort Strip, 
28th Street Corner 5th Avenue, 
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, 
1634 Metro Manila

Phone: (02) 886 4994

Antonio's was great, Balay Dako was for the experience, Abe pa din for the OFW

I love Antonio's in Tagaytay. We don't really get to eat there often because it's far, and you normally reserve it for a special occasion. Thankfully, Highlands Steakhouse, our go-to for year end Christmas Lunch, was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so by default, Antonio's it was.

Anna and I were the first to arrive so we had time to enjoy the place, and take some photos.

We also got to order for everyone else. Hahaha. I was a bit disappointed that there was no Baked Oysters. I remember the last time we ate here I was vehement that I did not eat oysters, and when I was finally convinced to try it, I loved it but then it was all gone. You can read about them here.

Gruyere and Portobello Souffle brings back memories of Le Souffle in Paris
You can read about it here.

They recommended the Scallop Tempura since there were
no Oysters and I'm glad we listened. 

The highlight of the meal was the steak, which we ordered to share.

Yum-meh!

Antonio's provides Soup, Salad and Dessert for everyone since we ordered the mains to share. We ordered pan seared foie gras to go with the salad... but ooops! it disappeared before we took any photos.

I love how they gave me a baby pink steak knife to match my things.

I can live without ordering their pasta. Next time, I'll go for more starters. Hahaha.

That was a great lunch spent with great company.

Dessert is either a very generous sampler...

Or chocolate souffle. We ordered both to share.

Looking towards a bright New Year!

After Antonio's, we visited Pete's house, until we were hungry enough for dinner. We tried out Balay Dako (The Big House) which is also owned by the same owner of Antonio's. I heard such great things about it that it did not measure up to my expectations at all. (Just look at what we ordered... so you don't order the same) Hahaha.

My favorites were the Batchoy and Chicharon Bulaklak.

In fairness to them, the food was ok. Not just great.
Good thing the company still was.

But let me be quick to add, Balay Dako has the best Piyaya ever... and Chili Oil too. You can buy it from their Deli. Now, it's up to you if you want to leave after that and eat elsewhere. Hahaha.

I kept measuring them against Abe.

When all else fails, Abe pa din for the best Pinoy comfort food. You don't even need to be an OFW anymore to enjoy it. just saying.

Antonio's

Purok 138, Barangay Neogan, 

Luksuhin-Mangas Road, 

Alfonso, Tagaytay City 4120

Phone: 0918 899 2866

Closed on Mondays

Balay Dako

Tagaytay - Nasugbu Hwy, 

Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite

Phone: 0943 264 1680

Abe

Ground Floor Retailer Area, Taguig Street, 

Serendra Complex Bonifacio Global City, 

Makati, 1208 Metro Manila

Phone:(02) 856 0526

Thank you 2016!!! We look forward to what 2017 will bring...

At the start of this year, I remember creating 2 goals for myself.

First Goal:

Only 3 Personal Trips with Sofia (as 2015, which you can read about here got a bit too hectic with all the flying I had to do as part of my work). DONE

I told Fi we could only go on 3 trips together, and she chose them really well.

1. Taipei

We celebrated my birthday weekend here so she really didn't have a choice.
#37inTaipei

2. Europe - 

This was my concession to Fi for being away so much. 

I let her plan her own itinerary in Paris and she did really well. You can check out Sofia's tips on Things to do in Paris for Kids here.

Not only did we do Paris... we did Pisa: Read post here.

Cinque Terre: Read post here.

Riomaggiore

Monterosso Al Mare

Vernazza

Manarola

Firenze: Read post here.

Mercato San Lorenzo. Shopaholic like mom.

 

3. And for Sofia's last trip, she asked for a Legoland Birthday trip to Singapore. 

(Sorry, no post on this yet). 

We did Brick or Treat after the Waterpark in Legoland.

Sofia planned the whole Singapore itinerary.
It was made all the more special since she was allowed
to play in the "IKEA SMALAND PLAYGROUND"
for the LAST TIME... twice!!! 

Just like Performance Management where I work... the personal trips came out to be a 3+1.

We did a very impromptu weekend trip to Hong Kong to help my future sister in law plan their Hong Kong wedding (which BTW is still up in the air). Read post here.

We love our future sister in law... but she doesn't like sharing her
Salted Egg French Toast. In fairness, masarap talaga.

Second Goal: Blog at least once a week. DONE. 94 posts in 2016 if I am able to finish this one. So let me breeze through the rest of my highlights.

Work still continued to take me places. 

If I'm not mistaken, I think I did 25 different work trips, squeezed into 15. I get 2 for 1 on my trips since I am now smart enough to do my Singapore mtgs during the layover for the none direct flights. Even for business trips, I am a sucker for a good deal. Hahaha.

Singapore

Vietnam

Malaysia

Indonesia

Thailand

I visited a new place, Myanmar, and I loved it. I was lucky enough to visit thrice. Read post here.

Yangon

Bagan

The secret to success at your job (well at least in my case)... is loving what you do and loving the people you work with.

I am lucky enough to work with this team that feels like family.
Complete with our dad, my kids and my pesky brother. Hahaha.
You know who you are.

My mantra for 2016 was "Dream. Then Do." 

If I were to refine it further, it would be "Dream Big, because You Can Do It!" (thank you Nike!)

It goes hand in hand with stretching your creativity to its limits, and let me
tell you... there are none.

I learned how to make my own Jewelry in Bali.

I also developed myself to myself to be a leather artisan and entrepreneur.

Wanderlust Sandals has expanded into Ballerines and leather accessories.
I'm so proud of what we achieved in our first year:
3 styles, 11 colors, 300 pairs sold, 3 styles in the pipeline

I now think I can make anything. Seriously.
Some ideas just need more honing than others.

I learned how to make scented candles too.
Thank you Tita Joy for generously teaching us your craft.

Lastly, I would say, this year was about Adulting. (Such a Millennial phrase)

It was both an honor (and a shock) to be asked to be a Godmother at
Peachy and Karlo's wedding, but I am very happy to be there for them.

On the same topic, I was happy to finally meet my cousin Jay, who has
literally been "ahente ng gastos" who has been aiding me in
Condo Hoarding because I started planning for my retirement
12 years and 2 months from now.

Excited for what 2017 will bring. I already see Hong Kong, Barcelona, Lyon, Paris, Madrid, Segovia, Marrakesh, Casablanca, Sri Lanka, more Singapore and definitely more Legoland in the plans, with tickets included. Clearly we don't have a 3-trip rule next year. 

So that makes 94 posts this year. Hope your 2017 will be just as exciting as ours. just saying.

HAPPY 2017!!!