A 14 Four Cafe Valentine

A very much delayed post-Valentine post. Teehee. :)

I love quirky places. They're heartfelt, personal, warm spaces of someone else's creativity and passion, but instead of feeling intrusive, you feel so welcome and so happy to have chanced upon such a unique little spot in the city.

My boyfriend brought me to 14 Four Cafe in Taytay, Rizal for a post-Valentine's and pre-anniversary treat this year. Admittedly, I was whining the whole time that it was just so far away from my comfort zone (Taytay, all the way from Alabang!), but by the time we got there, the birdnest-like gate of this house-turned-cafe-and-showroom was enough to perk my interest. And, ah! What a lovely, lovely surprise this turned out to be! I really should have brought Duccio home along, because all I have to show for this awesome date are pictures from my phone!

While the food was just so-so, I suppose I'd go back just for the really nice ambience of the place. It's one of the reasons why cafes are my favorite spots to hang out in instead of bars; cafes are relaxed and laid back, and you can people-watch in peace over tea and good conversation. The furniture differed per table and bulbs hung exposed from trees and the lamps were beautifully mismatched. And because it was a Valentine's weekend when we went, they had a whole gig where they took an Instax photo of us and stuck it inside this adorable card with washi and fabric tapes and a cute animal paper clip -- my kind of thing! Suffice it to say that my boyfriend did well in bringing me to a place he knew I'd love! :D

Do visit for the experience, if you're one of those quirky old souls who love eclectic things, furniture and generally unique cafes. You'll probably love it as much as I did!

14 Four Cafe is located in

144 Magnolia Lane, Barangay San Isidro,

Gregoria Heights Subdivision,

Taytay, Rizal, Philippines 1920

Fridays and Saturdays 10am-10pm

Sundays 10am-9pm

Little Tokyo

Let's just say that this is the best precursor to a real Tokyo visit. Heh.

Little Tokyo's quite the institution in Makati, having been there probably even longer than when my parents started working in the city, and is still the most authentic place to go to when you want real Japanese food in Manila. Based on other blogs, it's most alive at night, but when we went there, we came for lunch, and while most restaurants and stalls were closed at that time (maybe that day being New Year's Eve was to blame), there were still some that remained open to customers dropping by. 

It's not just the food that you have to go there for, I think, but the quaint charm that the whole alleyway has. It's got the red paper lanterns with kanji in black ink, plastic sakura, the old street-like features that make me think of Rurouni Kenshin, the tininess of the restaurant and wooden sliding doors, the bonsai and the zen gardens, and, well, the fact that so many Japanese people frequent that place that probably remind them  most of home. 

Little Tokyo is located in Pasong Tamo, Makati City. 

You can't miss it; it's got this imperial arch in red with embossed silver letters that say Little Tokyo. 

Heh. Worth a visit indeed!

Cupcake Attempt #1

For a cupcake rookie, these sure did turn out well, even if the original plan was to make yummy red velvet cupcakes and the recipe we followed was for them. 

Instead, we made pinkish strawberry velvet cupcakes topped with frosting laced with maple extract in place of vanilla. The grocery and the nearby baking supplies store ran out of red food coloring and vanilla extract, and we had to make do with what was already in the kitchen. Le sigh.

These took the whole afternoon to make, and pictures had to be taken for documentation of the first time my mom and I attempted cupcakes! :) 

It isn't obvious in the pictures, but these are pinkish. Really. 

It was fun to put the frosting on top, and we sprinkled a bit of cinnamon on top of that to spice it up!

Le ingredients!

Moving Out

Today I moved out of my dorm. I won't deny that it's been my cozy spot up north, and seeing my space empty and devoid of any memory that I had been there for the last five years was sad. :( I already miss my bunk bed even though it hasn't got the softest mattress, my always-creaking cabinet, my shelves that serve as my ladder, and the blank wall I stuck post-its, inspirational quotes and photos on. 

But alas, college is almost done and I can't help but remember what the priest said one Wednesday mass - that this is a train stop I've been in for the last few years and it is time once again to board the train for the next destination. What and where it will be I don't know for sure, but leaving this stop will leave quite the bittersweet mark. 

On the bright side I've begun organizing my stuff at home, starting with the architecture books and magazines I've collected over the years. I'm having a new shelf made with the remaining plywood from my thesis model, and wondering just how many plastic containers I need to buy soon. Plastic containers excite me the way new notebooks do, and I can't wait to move back into a cleaner, more organized bedroom! :) 

The last few photos are basically just happy additions to this post. My brother ordered frozen brazo from my good friend Carissa and when I picked it up, she whipped up a batch of this lovely pastry which was basically a cross between a brownie and a... cupcake? I'm not sure at all, but she did give me a sample and it had such a yummy peanut butter-y center, hihi. :D

Anyway, I'm off to pack for what is hopefully not a rainy trip out of town with friends tomorrow! I'm crossing my fingers that weather forecasts are in the wrong, and that the beach shall not be so rainy. 

Vivere, Part 2/2

Joseph and I went out for dinner at Vivere's Sky Lounge last Saturday in Filinvest, Alabang. He researched on noteworthy places to go to in the area (particularly those with a great view) and reserved a table for us  in this restaurant early on. This was, after all, in celebration of The Big Day. :)

Aside from Mona Lisa, this was probably the fanciest place we'd ever gone to; normally, we like simple places (fast-food chains, for example), and if not simple, anonymous places that offered sort-of-exotic cuisines like Indian (Raaz Mahal in BF) and Korean (Bulgogi Brothers being our most recent favorite!). 

We had a table right by the view, where you could see the expanse of Alabang and the Makati skyline in the distance. You could see a picturesque scene of Laguna de Bay, and the silhouettes of the Antipolo mountains across the water. There was a defunct infinity pool by the al fresco dining - I say defunct because it really used to be a swimming pool, but because of the wind, there was that risk of slipping and other hazards.

The wind was exceptionally strong so we made the right decision of having ourselves relocated to a table indoors. Otherwise, dinner may have been a disaster, what with all that crazy wind!

The food was very good. It was undoubtedly expensive, but we agreed that what we were generally paying for were the view and the fact that this was still a restaurant in a hotel. We didn't necessarily order the chef's recommendations apart from the wonderful minestrone soup, but oh, the gambas was just delicious (that, or I really just love gambas in general) and the salpicao was juicy. :3 The complementary bread came with dried pita crackers and a garlic mayo dip, and that managed to satiate our appetites while waiting for the entrees to come. 

At the end of the night we were happy and full, and while we aren't going to go back anytime soon (the woes of we who stick to affordability), it was definitely a most wonderful treat for ourselves. :)

The Sky Lounge is located on the 31st floor of Vivere Suites, 5102 Bridgeway Avenue, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. To reserve tables in advance, call  771-7777.

Vivere, Part 1/2

10 March 2012. 

Just a pic!spam of last Saturday night, wherein we were at the top of a building having gambas, minestrone soup, complementary bread, and beef salpicao. 

A second post shall be dedicated for more details of this restaurant. :) 

Hearts on Cupcakes and Cards

My good friend Carissa is baking her yummy red velvet cupcakes again! This time, they're topped with red candy hearts, teehee. <3 

Order a box of twelve for PHP480.

Order one cupcake for PHP45.

Contact her at 09178233239 or send her an email at carissa.kitchen@gmail.com. 

Better if you give a hearts card along with a cupcake to your special someone. ;) 

Get a hearts note card here for PHP25! Get a set of six for PHP120. :)

Email me at carlambcruz@yahoo.com for orders!