Weekend Foodtrippin’

.Eating is one thing the family loves to do together.

Nothing like Tayamen’s isaw!

The only pizza that we mutually love — Saramsam’s longaniza pizza!

Rufino’s for desserts. Life is sweeter when shared with people you love.

Hotchick on a rainy day

I can count with one hand the sky was clear and sunny since I got back from transitioning seasons. Out of the mishmash of clothes and shoes I brought with me, I’m living in shorts and flipflops, just like old times, rain or shine. Ilocos is so much about laidbackness, certainly low-pressure, which makes it the best thing about this province that has a little and more than a little of everything. What else is new here? A food park at the Valdez Center in the fast-growing town of San Nicolas. In contrast to the huge mall a few meters away, the new hangout that is actually the Venvi IT park consists of individual snack and divey bars catering not only call center workers, but also anyone who shuns mainstream culture, I think — just like this homegrown sushi shop called Hotchick that makes sushi by the “bilao”, with a menu that is an unpredictable hybrid of ramen, jap chae, cucumber cooler or beer — thank God, I am able to enjoy such places when I’m with the boys.

Hot shoyo ramen is just the best thing to order on a rainy day. Even if the egg is not the legitimate ajitsuke tamago (marinated egg), Hotchick’s version is comforting and pocket-friendly, you can have a fill everyday and won’t go broke. Also liked the jap chae, but hated the tight boat dish. Spent only P350 for the three of us. Service was slow though.

On another note, saw Eulodogs, Barney’s Burger and Moonleaf.

Still rediscovering my home province. Be back for more.

Revisiting Casa Armas Tapas Bar Y Restaurante

An unexpected short trip with the hubby to Manila afforded me time for new food adventure. Not brand-new, though never been blogged here, is a revisit to my favorite Spanish restaurant along J. Nakpil in Malate. It was an unforgettable than long crab dinner with friends several years back that haunts me from time to time. We had too many crabs that night that I vowed never to order them again at Casa Armas. So for lunch on a roomy Saturday, my sister-in law and I were on the same mind. Instead of squid-inked paella negra, which is the last thing you’d want to order in the daytime, we got a half paella marinara, gambas ajillo and a tabla Casa Armas special with all the mouthwatering, delish Spanish cold cuts.

The Spanish colonizers left an indelible mark in Filipino cooking. The pronounced affluent flavors are occasionally recreated in our lengua estofada, lechon de leche, arroz a la Valenciana, salpicao, bacalao a la vizcaina to name a few.

Casa Armas offers authentic Spanish cooking, with Señor Jesus Armas at the helm.

– Honest-to-goodness gambas ajillo is simplicity in shrimps and loads of garlic in olive oil and spices.

– Authentic paella derives its color from saffron.

– Separate photos of Imelda Marcos and Bongbong Marcos are among the old framed photographs of celebrities adorning the walls.

Throughout all the 17 years Casa Armas has been satisfying customers for authentic Spanish food cravings, the same dishes retain those homey, indulgent flavors of Spain we’ve grown to love.

The staff — Rose, Mary Ann and Jocelyn — having savoir-faire, were all warm, apparently enjoying making certain diners have a pleasurable dining experience.