Toyo Eatery

Last long weekend, I had dinner with my friends at Toyo Eatery. Guests are served many small courses during service, making it a haven for foodies who want to try many different dishes. It's a very expensive restaurant but I had been curious about this place for a while so when my friend asked if I wanted to have dinner there, I agreed. We were served 8 courses, although some courses had more than one item. The waiters explained each item to us in detail, including its history and the inspiration for making it. They don't provide a menu so I don't remember the details of everything we ate. The theme was seafood and vegetables, probably because of the Lenten season, but a few meat dishes were also served.

Toyo Eatery

First up were grilled mushrooms that were styled like street food. We were also served a very hearty and delicious vegetable soup.

This was followed by vegetarian dimsum and some Philippine-style sushi.

Next came Ilocos empanadas and baked oysters. I'm not normally a fan of oysters but I actually really liked this preparation.

We then had fish kinilaw. This might have been my second favorite dish of the night.

My favorite was the one that came next, a blue crab dish (I think it was blue crab). I'm not sure exactly how it was prepared - I do remember there were rice cakes in it - but it was really good and all I could think of after consuming it was that I wish I could have more of it.

We were then served a "Bahay Kubo salad". It is called that because apparently, it is made with all vegetables that are mentioned in the song Bahay Kubo.

Next up was some kind of fish wrap. I call it a wrap because you fold the leaf around the fish and try to eat it in one or two bites.

We then had their version of tortang talong, which comes with Toyo's own banana ketchup. As our waiter explained this to us, he asked us if we knew what Maria Orosa is known for and I did because it was a question during a trivia contest I previously participated in. The answer: Maria Orosa invented banana ketchup!

Before moving to the next dish, we had sorbet as a palate cleanser.

We were then served what I believe was the main course: black pig with vegetables, a very crispy bisugo, and pork fried rice. Everything we had prior to this dish could be eaten in 1-2 bites so this was far and away the biggest and heaviest set of food we got. I actually started to feel quite full after this.

Our meal was not over yet, though. Next up was dessert. Shockingly, we were served 5 dessert dishes! I honestly can't recall what the first one was, but it was the biggest dessert we got. Despite feeling a bit full, I still managed to eat the entire thing.

Our second dessert was what seemed to be their version of strawberries and cream.

The third dessert was salted caramel ice cream. What made this extra special was the salt it came with, called Asin Tibuok. This salt is very expensive because it takes a long time to produce. You can read more about it and how it's prepared here.

Our final two desserts were served together: cassava squares and chocolate truffles.

It was a really unique dining experience made even more memorable by the fact that the dishes we had deeply honor their ingredients as well as Philippine history and tradition. Case in point: before leaving, we were given "baon" - some Pinoy-style biscotti - because according to the waiter, it is customary in our country to take something home after a meal. Very cool! I will say though that I think I'm not the target market for Toyo Eatery. While some dishes were spectacular, some were just okay to me. Personally, I would have preferred to have more of the dishes that I really loved. I also realized that I don't particularly enjoy having a couple of bites to eat then waiting 10-15 minutes or so for the next one. That said, the dining experience was truly topnotch and the wait staff provided exceptional service. I am happy that I got to have dinner here. If you can afford the price tag, I do recommend you to try Toyo Eatery.

Toyo Eatery

https://toyoeatery.com/

Address: The Alley at Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Extension, Makati
Email: reservations@toyoeatery.com

 

Board Gaming Bonanza

One of things I'm really thankful for is that I am starting to play board games more and more frequently now. Just this month, I got to play three times. The first game night was hosted by Cla at her house. She just got a copy of Flamecraft, which is a relatively new game that has been getting really good reviews from people. Players take turns placing dragons in shops around town, gathering items, and casting enchantments. The actions per turn are simple so this is quite an easy game to learn and play. It also looks really cute!

Flamecraft

I feel like it's a good game to play with casual gamers and I was tempted to get a copy but I decided against it because I still have way too many board games that I haven't played yet haha. We played Flamecraft twice that night, and I was lucky to win both times by really slim margins (in fact, the first time we played it, I won by only 1 point!)

Winning my first Flamecraft game by the slimmest of margins!

We also played Acquire, a game which Cla says she really loves. The good thing about this game is up to 6 players can play it so all of us that night were able to participate. This game is essentially a business and stock investment game. It mirrors reality quite well because you have to predict which businesses will grow and which ones may acquire others, and your decision to invest in stocks will be based on these predictions. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but an early decision to invest in a certain stock that grew massively turned out to be a great move. I ended up winning the game, much to my great surprise!

My winnings in Acquire

We also played Acquire, a game which Cla says she really loves. The good thing about this game is up to 6 players can play it so all of us that night were able to participate. This game is essentially a business and stock investment game. It mirrors reality quite well because you have to predict which businesses will grow and which ones may acquire others, and your decision to invest in stocks will be based on these predictions. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but an early decision to invest in a certain stock that grew massively by the end of the game turned out to be a great move for me because I ended up winning the game!

My next game night was with my FGTC friends (yes, our board game group has a name!). I used to be able to play until dawn with them but since the pandemic, I realized I don't have the energy to play until the wee hours of the morning anymore so now, I am usually the first person to leave. Despite this, I was able to play a few games with them that night. The one I enjoyed the most that night was The Lord of the Rings: Shadows over Middle-earth Exit game. This is like a tabletop version of escape rooms. We managed to figure out most of the challenges unassisted save for one, and for that, we had to get a clue. It took us about an hour and a half to solve the game and we had to get a clue so I thought we didn't do very well but we actually did get a decent score.

We also got to play That's a Question, a really interesting game where you present a questions to one of the other players and everyone else has to guess what that player's answer is going to be. If all players answer it correctly or no one does, you score zero points. If no one gets it correctly, you also score zero points. But if some people get it, you score points. On other players turns, if you answer the question correctly, you also score a point. It's a really interesting and fun game but it works better if you know the other players well enough.

Just last weekend, I met up with another set of friends for my third board game day/night of the month. This time, I got to play with some people who hadn't played board games since before the pandemic, including Denise and Mike. Most of the games played that night were games I had played before, including Lords of Waterdeep which Denise requested, Parks which I asked Mitch to bring, and Wingspan which Mike really wanted to play.

I have several more game nights lined up in the upcoming month so I am definitely looking forward to those. The key now is for me to start playing more of my board games that I hadn't played before yet.

[Throwback] Mt. Pulag

A few weeks after our white-water rafting adventure, my friend Mike organized a hike up Mt. Pulag in Benguet. At 2,928 meters above sea level, it is the second highest peak in the Philippines after Mt. Apo. I was definitely looking forward to this.

Mt. Pulag

The plan was to drive up to the basecamp and leave our vehicles there. We would then hike up the mountain and set up camp for the night. We would then wake up at the break of dawn and head to the best spot for photographs at the summit just as the sun rises.

Unfortunately, our plans got badly derailed. First, I got a flat tire on my way to basecamp. Worse, once we arrived, it started to rain heavily. Since we were already there, we all agreed to continue with our plans.

The hike to the campsite was about 4 hours long, made even more difficult by the fact that it was absolutely pouring. Once we got there, Mike and I set up our tent and invited everyone else to stay inside it to keep as dry as possible while we set up the rest of the tents. While this seemed like a good idea at the time, when we were done, we were absolutely drenched. Also, the inside of our tent was soaked. This made for a terribly cold evening that left me shivering badly all through the night. I'm not sure how I managed to fall asleep.

Our campsite

We woke up very early the next morning but I wasn't sure whether I wanted to get up because I was feeling sick (understandably). Still, all my efforts that weekend would be for naught if I didn't have the full Mt. Pulag experience so I willed myself to join everyone else. Thankfully, as soon as I started moving and it started to feel warmer and I felt stronger and more energized. When we got to the top of the mountain, we were all rewarded with some stunning views!

View from the top of Mt. Pulag

Unfortunately, we didn't make it there before sunrise, which I guess was expected given how tired and miserable we all were the previous night. Also, we didn't get to see a sea of clouds covering the mountains, a sight for which Mt. Pulag is known. Still, it was a truly magnificent experience being atop the tallest peak in Luzon.

I needed a photo despite my bedhead (hey, there's no shower on top of the mountain! haha)

Once we had our fill of taking photos at the summit, we made our way back down to our campsite. It was there that I had another unexpected and memorable moment: an absolutely sumptuous meal. We brought a lot of cooking equipment with us to the summit and there were three exceptional cooks (including trained chefs!) in our party. Together, they whipped up several delicious pasta dishes. After a difficult climb up the mountain and a cold, damp night, it was an absolute treat to be able to feast on hot pasta ! Even watching my three friends work together to prepare our meal was an absolute joy. They all really knew what they were doing!

Heading back down to our campsite from the summit

We took a few more photos at the campsite before packing everything up. Interestingly enough, it started raining again. I was just thankful that it rained when we were already about to head down. It took us about four hours to arrive at the basecamp. We drove to Baguio where we had dinner at a Mongolian Barbecue restaurant. A few folks spent the night there but the rest of us headed all the way back to Manila that evening.

It rained again on our way back down

This of course was way before TPLEX was built so the trip from Baguio to Manila was still several hours long. It was past midnight when we got home and I was absolutely exhausted but grateful that I was able to experience a very memorable hike up Mt. Pulag.

[Throwback] Adventure Weekend in Tuguegarao

A while back, my friend Mike left the country to study abroad but before he left, he wanted to go out of town a couple of times. I joined him in a couple of these weekend trips, the first of which was an adventure-filled weekend in Tuguegarao that included white-water rafting, kayaking, and caving.

White-water rafting at the Chico River (photo taken by my friend Mike)

We joined a tour organized by Anton Carag, the co-owner of Adventures and Expeditions Philippines, Inc. We departed Manila on Friday night, taking an overnight bus that arrived in Tuguegarao very early the next day. We were picked up at the bus station and taken to Casa Carag, which would be our home for the next two days. After getting settled and having breakfast, we boarded jeepneys that took us to the Chico River for our first activity: whitewater rafting. (About a decade later, I visited the Chico River again; you can read more about that trip here.)

A still moment on the Chico River (photo taken by my friend Mike)

The experience was exhilarating! It was my first time to experience whitewater rafting and getting to feel the power of mother nature was really incredible. The buzz you get from putting all energy into paddling while working with others and following the instructions of the guide is hard to explain. I remember getting off the raft and promising myself I would do it again in the future.

Chico River rapids (photo taken by my friend Mike)

Shortly before sunset, we were taken to the Pinacanauan River to witness thousands upon thousands of bats heading out of their cave shelter. I wonder what it is in their instincts or wiring that make they head out at the same time and fly together in the way they do. In any case, it was a magnificent spectacle that was a great way to end our first day.

Bats flying out of their cave (photo taken by my friend Mike)

More adventure was lined up for us the next day. We started by exploring a couple of caves. Callao cave is quite easy to walk around in and it is quite popular for its amazing skylight that makes for amazing photo ops.

Natural skylight in Callao cave (photo taken by my friend Ray)

We then made our way through Roc cave, which was a lot more challenging due to the fact that we really had to go through narrow passageways. It was quite the experience!

Squeezing through Roc Cave (photo taken by my friend Tim)

After lunch, we did our last activity that weekend: kayaking on the Pinacanauan river. I love kayaking but that was my first time to do it on river rapids. Pinacanauan is actually milder than Chico but because you are alone in your kayak and it so much lower and closer to the water than the raft, it actually feels scarier and less stable. Which also means you get an amazing adrenaline rush! It was definitely more challenging getting through the rapids on a kayak, as proven by the fact that a few folks fell into water. Of course, this is a known risk, and some would even say it's a fun part of the experience, so our guides were properly positioned along the river to help anyone who fell off. It was a source of pride that I managed to stay on my kayak, although I think it would have been cool to have fallen into the water myself haha.

Kayaking on the Pinacanauan River (photo taken by my friend Paul)

We took the overnight bus later that evening. We got a flat tire at some point - I remember waking up in the middle of the night wondering why we weren't moving - and I think we lost a couple of hours. I was still quite young back then so I still had the energy to go to work on Monday morning but I ended up being late because of the flat tire delay. Still, it was such a fantastic weekend. Aside from the awesome outdoor activities, the food was fantastic, and Anton Carag was an incredible host and guide. That I got to do this with my friends made it truly special and absolutely memorable.

Starting the year right

2023 has been great so far, filled with so many get-togethers with family and friends. Some of them were post-Christmas celebrations and some were reunions with people who were in town. One of my closest friends from my second company, Duncan, had a business trip to the Philippines. He was staying at Shangri-La The Fort so we decided to have dinner at One Bonifacio which is just a short walk from the hotel. It's been about four years since we last saw each other so there was a whole lot of catching up that night, and if it wasn't for the meeting that Duncan needed to take later that night, we could have probably stayed out even longer. 

I passed by this Chinese New Year display at Shangri-La The Fort when I met up with Duncan

Raych, one of my dearest friends from my first company, was also in town. Dinner was at Crisostomo in Vertis North but because it was a Friday night and I was coming from work, I got stuck in very bad traffic and by the time I arrived, dinner was practically over. As such, we moved to La Creperie for dessert. It was my first time in La Creperie. The main course I got was not so good but I did love the crepes and crepe cakes we ordered. I'm really glad we got to catch up even if I was very late.

Crepe cake from La Creperie

Interestingly enough, I was also in Vertis North just a week before to meet up with my friends Denise and Ricci. We had been trying to organize a get-together with our friends from the CSR initiative in my previous company but most other people had to cancel at the last minute. We decided to push forward, even if there were just three of us. That was my first time in Vertis North and my first time at Katherine's Cafe. I really enjoyed the Blueberry French Toast I ordered. I wouldn't mind trying this place again, especially since they have a lot of items on their menu that appeal to me.

Blueberry French Toast at Katherine's Cafe

That same night, I joined a mini-high school reunion because Ed was in town. It must have been about four years since I last saw him so it was really good to catch up. Clearly, everyone enjoyed the evening as well because almost everyone arrived at around 6pm and we parted ways at past 2am. My friend Mitch commented that it was the latest we had all been together in a really long time (or maybe ever).

Dinner feast with my high school friends

My college friends and I also met up for a post-Christmas dinner - we had been trying to schedule something since November but our schedules just wouldn't mesh - and to celebrate Gary's birthday. We had an early dinner at Mamou in Ayala Malls The 30th (we took the 6 to 8pm seating) and since we needed to leave by 8, we moved to Lartizan for dessert and coffee. I actually got Gary a Concorde cake from Sugarhouse. Lartizan very nicely allowed us to eat the cake while we were there so we just ordered coffee and tea. Don't feel too bad for Lartizan though since Mike treated us all to take-out breads and pastries at 9pm, which is when a 50% discount is applied to many of their baked goods. Mike said that since he was unable to celebrate his birthday in November with us, he decided to treat everyone for an unplanned belated celebration. Cool!

Sugarhouse Concorde cake for Gary's birthday

I also met up with some ex-colleagues for breakfast at Gram Pancake. I had been there once and I promised myself I would go back but up until then, I hadn't yet. So when they were asking for venue ideas in BGC or Makati, I suggested this place and they all agreed. We all ordered our own dishes and while I wanted to get a souffle pancake, I decided to go with their Sausage and Eggs French Toast (with a side of bacon haha) since I wanted something savory. Since Tin also wanted to try the souffle pancakes, we all agreed to just order one and share it. Everyone enjoyed the food and Tin and Win felt that their kids would like this place so I'm glad I suggested it.

Sausage and Eggs French Toast at Gram Pancake

My ex-boss Jay also came home to Manila for Chinese New Year so we met up while he was here. He wanted to have dinner in the BGC area so we opted for Barcino in Uptown. It was great catching up with the gang and what made it even better was that we had a couple of guests pass by during the evening. The first one was Jody who I probably hadn't seen in 5 years. After he left, Magnus passed by. I honestly don't remember the last time I saw Magnus, who I worked with very closely for a few years about a decade ago. It always really good reconnecting with people with whom I have a lot of shared experience!

Jovan celebrated her birthday last month so we celebrated with a board game night (of course), lots of food, and some cake. I didn't want to surprise her anymore so I asked her directly what kind of cake she would like and she said she wanted a caramel cake. I ended up getting one from Costa Brava in Makati, which was only about a 15-20 minute drive from our game night venue. While Jovan wasn't surprised by the cake choice, she still enjoyed it.

Jovan's birthday cake from Costa Brava

Finally, I attended a couple of family reunions. My uncle Tito (yes, his nickname is Tito so we actually call him Tito Tito haha) was in Manila for the first time in years so his family organized lunch at their home. While it started during lunch, it extended all the way to the evening. In the late afternoon, some folks said that we should have some musical entertainment so Tito Chet started playing the guitar and I ended up singing maybe about 20 songs that afternoon/evening. My grandmother also sang. I'm really very grateful that she is still strong enough to be able to go to parties and even sing! My brother passed by in the late afternoon to pick us up but once he arrived, our relatives asked him to stay. He ended up singing and playing the guitar too. I guess music runs in my family haha! It was a really good day (albeit a bit tiring for me as I sang so many songs haha).

Tita Ace and Tito Sandro also hosted a party in late January since a lot of our relatives hadn't been to their house yet and they wanted to see it. Many of my relatives went to Kalibo for Ati-Atihan so after lunch, we were regaled with many stories and anecdotes from their recent trip. Naturally, the afternoon wouldn't be complete without musical entertainment. It just so happened that Tito Chet was there and my cousin Alfonso had a guitar so we started playing again. The singing and guitar-playing was shared by many people so I just sang a few songs this time haha.

It's amazing how many get-togethers I've attended in just over a month. Hopefully, this is a sign that the rest of 2023 will be filled with wonderful moments with family and friends.

Australian Open 2023

Another Grand Slam event, another set of records tied or broken. Novak Djokovic won a record-extending 10th Australian Open, which is an absolutely staggering achievement on so many levels. First, he ties Nadal with 22 major singles titles, the most for any man. He also extends his men's record for most Australian Open titles (the next after him? Roy Emerson and Roger Federer with 6 each). The fact that Novak hasn't lost any final at this event makes this accomplishment even more incredible. He also moves back up to #1 and it's just a matter of time before he eclipses Steffi Graf's record of 377 weeks at number one. This is also the 10th major title he won while in his 30s, the most of any man and tying Serena Williams' record. Novak continues to be a very serious threat at every event he plays and I won't be surprised if he ends up being the person who breaks Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Grand Slam title No.2⃣2⃣@DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/DuwBEY5qmy

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in a 3-set match to win the women's championship. This is her first Grand Slam title and considering her very bad serving problems just a year ago, it's really wonderful to see her conquer those problems and turn things around in just one year. Rybakina seems to be doing really well too. Her Wimbledon title last year didn't come with any ranking points so she was unable to move up significantly in the rankings but despite that, she beat three seeded players en route to the final, including #1 Iga Swiatek. It will be really interesting to see whether Aryna and Elena can continue to play well the rest of the year.

SABALENKA IS CROWNED #AO2023 CHAMPION 👑 pic.twitter.com/tO8PoYxDSr

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2023