#FamilySundays | CHINATOWN! (PART 2)

If you missed Part 1, click here.

We decided we'd catch a late lunch x early dinner right after shopping at Mandarin Supermarket. Yaya J and I didn't get to eat lunch so we were hungry. We passed by both Wai Ying and President's on the way to Mandarin, so after asking Cai, Didi and April, we settled for Wai Ying. The restaurant was full, and we had to wait a good ten minutes before the waiter found us a table. We waited another five minutes for them to clean it up. Really, really slow service.

Wai Ying's Take Out store next to their fast food restaurant.

The server took our orders. I wanted to see if their Roast Duck rice lived up to its reputation. Unfortunately, this was what they served me.

My pathetic-looking Roast Duck Rice. :(

I was, however, very happy with my Iced Lemon Tea.

The kids and Yaya J each got Asado Rice. A said it was "okay lang." Do they really serve their roasts cold?

Asado. Yes, that's the actual color.

RL, right before he dug in. Hehehe.

RL wasn't too excited that Yaya wanted him to clean his plate. He says he was full since he had a cake after lunch at home. A didn't think of eating his leftovers though, so that says a lot about how good (or bad) this was. She actually loves Asado. So for her to pass was a surprise.

Good thing A got an order of their Pork Siomai. This was good. Unfortunately, they made us wait another 20 minutes for the bill. Turns out, they was a shift change and the servers all disappeared as they were changing out of their uniforms. So I took my troop downstairs and paid at the counter. Sigh.

Pork Siomai.

WAI YING (this visit, 2/28/16)
Food | 3
Service | 3 
Cleanliness | 4
Wait Time | 3

April says I probably just ordered the wrong things. I dunno. Maybe. But my gauge of a good roast resto would be their roasts, of course. Will try President's next time.

Halfway through my meal, I was thinking about the Fried Siopao across the street. LOL!

Shanghai Fried Siopao. 

At P17/ piece, this was a clear winner for A.

The kids unwillingly tried the bicho-bicho with sugar. RL surprisingly loved it, and went back to get another piece.

Should have gotten fruits. They have gigantic strawberries!

We wanted to explore more, but it started raining. So we ran back to Masangkay Street to get the car, drove to Mandarin Supermarket to pick up our groceries, then went off to church.

It was an afternoon well-spent. I do not regret pushing myself to go downtown. I wonder if I should push myself a little more this Sunday? LOL.

#FamilySundays | CHINATOWN! (PART 1)

Starting this series on Family Sundays - not that it will be as regular as I want it to be, but the kids and I have resolved that we will make it a point to explore more of the metro on Sundays. Well, I hope!

I haven't had a relaxing, no-work weekend in weeks! We didn't have catering the past weekend, so I slept my Saturday away. I needed to rest my back anyway, so who cares if I slothed around? Hehe. My friend Cai has been asking me to check out a supermarket in Ongpin for Hong Kong treats, etc. I've been wanting to go since she bought a pack of Hi-C Lemon Tea for me a few weeks back. If you follow me on social media, you would know how much I love this product!

Photo from applesanddumplings.com

So I found myself lazily planning a trip downtown on Sunday. I wasn't sure I wanted to go anywhere, but we also needed to get to Church, so I pushed myself to go after lunch.

After plotting down my destination on Waze, we made it to Masangkay Street around 2pm. Cai had advised to park along Masangkay or Salazar, since Ongpin Street would normally be full. The last time I went to Chinatown was way, way back when I was still in Sales, handling Convenience Stores for the food group. So this trip out to Binondo was a treat in itself! It was my kids' first time in that area - that is if you don't count our many trips to Divisoria.

Crossing the estero on Ongpin Street.

My kids were thrilled that the place looked and felt like another Asian country. Even Yaya J exclaimed that it felt like we were in Hong Kong (well, minus the smell, hehe).

Established in 1594, Manila's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in the world!

Classic Kalesa! A took this photo when we were still in the car. 

We were there with one goal: to get more Lemon Tea! So off we went to find Mandarin Supermarket on Ongpin Street.

Ah! We made it! I sent this photo to Cai and Didi right when we got to Mandarin Square!

Mandarin Supermarket is a haven for hoarders like me, especially since I really miss Hong Kong. It sells all sorts of grocery products from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and China. I was so overwhelmed that I didn't think to take more photos. Sorry! I even forgot to Snap!

Boxed Milk and Soy Milk selection.

Tea-k your pick. LOL!

What a pretty sight!

Would you? Preserved food and snacks from China. I'm talking vacuum-packed chicken wings, chicken feet, veggies, etc. 

I'm in noodle heaven!

The kids and I spent a good hour and a half in this supermarket alone. We ended up buying one huge box worth of stuff (my siblings asked me to get them Lemon Tea, too!). It was too heavy to lug back to the car, so I asked if we could leave it first then swing by for it later. It wasn't much of a problem if we wanted to explore first, because Mandarin Supermarket closes at 10pm!

Didi wanted me to post my finds, but since I didn't get to take a lot of photos inside the supermarket, I took photos of our Mandarin Supermarket loot when we got home.

Our loot!

RL's loot | From top left clockwise:
Prebiotic Drink (tastes like Yakult. Well, sorta...)
Thin Coconut Cookies (so good, but maybe because we love coconut cookies)
Hi-Chew Grape (RL ate up a lot already, so only three made it to the photo, LOL)
Woody Fan
White Rabbit Candies (the classic kind with the edible wrapper)

A's Loot | From top clockwise:
QQ Gummy Candies (P10 each!!!)
Glico Caplicocot
Meito Dessert Chocolat
Sakuma Fruit Candy Drops (Yes, like the ones in Grave of the Fireflies!)

My loot | From top left clockwise:
Serena Crackers - Seaweed, Vegetable, Green Onion, Spirulina
(My favorite cracker brand from Taiwan! Didn't think I'd find them here!)
Hi-C Lemon Tea (Our family's favorite - I bought 7 packs!!!)
Nissin Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu Noodles
Nissin Curry Noodles
Nissin Hokkaido Tonkotsu Noodles
Toothpick (the spiky kind my mom likes)

As you can see, I do not regret taking that trip to Binondo!

Mandarin Supermarket 
G/F Mandarin Square
777 Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila

(To be continued...)

Finally... Smoovlatté!

We first discovered Nescafé's Smoovlatté in Hong Kong. I had needed coffee to soothe a pressing headache. So the kids and I walked into a 7-Eleven and saw it sitting on the chiller shelf. Didn't think it would be anything special, but surprisingly, it was true to its name. Smooth and good!

We took a couple of bottles back to Manila. I gave one to KC, my brother's coffee-addict friend, who stocks up on canned Nescafé coffee by the box. He loves his canned ready-to-drink coffee, yet asked for a bottle of Smoovlatté when I claimed (in a shout out on IG) that this one was way, way better than anything in a can. Haha, me and my big mouth.

| This is goooood!  thanks @nappykaye #coffee
Photo from KC, while watching the ADMU-DLSU volleyball match at SM Arena.

A week ago, my brother sends us a shout out on Facebook...

Its here!!!
Photo from KA, taken at Mini Stop Shell, Katipunan.

So we've been hoarding these lately. So far, the supermarkets don't have it... YET. Heard though that Rustan's got it recently (unconfirmed), but so far, no luck at the big stores. Smoovlatté comes in a 190ml bottle and retails for P39.00 at Mini Stop. The best part is... this whole bottle is only 110 Calories! I've been keeping tabs on Calories lately, and have been trying to keep my daily intake to a maximum of 1,000 kcal. So this ain't so bad.

My first bottle in Manila! After waiting just a couple of months. Yay!

Now please don't go lecturing me about coffee. I am no coffee connoisseur, and I will not claim to be one. I don't even drink a lot of coffee, and have actually limited my coffee drinking to about twice a week (health consequences). This is just something I felt I could share to my readers, because... well, it's good. And we were really glad to see this available in the market.

Yes, finally!

| This is not a paid post. Tsk. LOL!

How to Load a PEZ Dispenser

My kids are crazy about PEZ candies. 

When I was a kid, my dad would bring home a new PEZ dispenser from the US, just for me. Too bad, I didn't know anything about collecting and didn't think this would be valuable. Nowadays, you can get PEZ candy from just about any local supermarket.

My dad still loves buying the kids PEZ candy. He takes them to the little grocery store beside the office, and treats them to a pack each time the kids are there to visit. RL probably has over two dozen dispensers - Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Lightning McQueen, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, etc. A was delighted to find that they now have Littlest Pet Shop dispensers! I'm just a tad peeved that the distributor doesn't carry the candy refill packs here - what a way to make more money and have parents buy dispensers each time. Ha!

Anyway, when I was in Hong Kong with RL a few months ago, I had to load and reload his dispenser over a dozen times (we shared the candy with friends). I never really learned how to load that thing properly, and it took me several tries to find the perfect way to load a PEZ dispenser WITHOUT touching the candy with your bare, oftentimes, dirty hands.

Last time A and RL got their PEZ from my dad, my brother and I thought to document step-by-step instructions on how to PROPERLY LOAD PEZ INTO A PEZ DISPENSER.

Here's how:

1) Choose a PEZ dispenser.

A's Littlest Pet Shop PEZ Dispenser with Orange-flavored PEZ.

2) Take a PEZ refill pack, and tear out one side of its wrapper. Make sure you tear out a narrow side (see photo below for reference) You can peel off outer wrapper if you choose to do so; I just find it less time-consuming to leave it on. Plus the outer wrap keeps the inner paper wrapper from tearing during handling.

Peel off wrapper off one of the narrow/ thin sides. Make sure you leave 3-sides of the wrapper around the candy.

3) Open PEZ dispenser and secure candy tray with finger. Make sure the tray doesn't slide back down. Have your "peeled" candy ready, and angle it such that the open "narrow" side faces the open tray.

Use pointer finger to secure candy tray from slipping back into the dispenser.

 4) Push the whole refill pack into the dispenser's candy tray. The whole pack should fit all standard PEZ dispensers. Make sure you are still securing the candy tray, such that it doesn't snap back down into the dispenser.

Push everything into the open candy tray, narrow-side first.

5) Use wrapper to push the PEZ candy all the way into the tray. Look, Dad, I didn't use my bare hands!

Keep your candy clean! Don't use your bare hands! The wrapper keeps it finger-free. Hehe.

6) Make sure the candy is aligned and you don't have one protruding out of the candy tray. Snap the candy tray back into the dispenser.

Once all the candy is in, snap back candy tray into dispenser.

7) Tilt dispenser head back to open. Et... voila!

Enjoy! And don't forget to brush your teeth!

Do your kids love PEZ, too? My kids are PEZ cccccrrrrraaaaazzzzzyyyyy!

That Java Rice Craving.

It started when I brought two whole bags of an assortment of Clara Ole's Ora Mix Mo to Hong Kong. I wanted to give my friends AB and M some to try. Two weeks after that trip, AB tells me on Facebook how she and her hubby E both love the Java Rice variant. Hmmm, I've never tried that one. I always stick to the safe ones - Adobo, Beefsteak and Bagoong Rice.

I really am not a fan of Java Rice. Even on past Barbeque nights in Tiendesitas, I always skip on the Java Rice and ask for plain. Yup, just plain or garlic, for I am no Java Rice girl. But when AB told me how they both loved Ora Mix Mo's Java Rice mix, I just had to give it a try.

I got a big pack from the office coop and cooked a small batch. Just a cup, because I only wanted a taste. But waaah! IT'S SO GOOD! I think I cooked up two more batches.

So ever since, it has been Java Rice almost everyday in my household. Even A takes it to school because she loves it. The best part is... it's easy to make.

What you need:
A Pack of Clara Ole Ora Mix Mo Java Rice (or any variant; there's Adobo Rice, Beefsteak Rice, Bagoong Rice, Tocino Rice, Java Rice, Paella Rice, Japanese Fried Rice - available at leading supermarkets nationwide)
2 cups of cooked rice
a little oil


How to cook it:
1) Preheat a little oil in a pan.
2) Pour in rice and heat it a bit.
3) Add a little of the Ora Mix Mo sauce. 
4) Mix until rice is coated.

Okay, okay. Those are not the instructions on the pack. But you get the gist. It's so easy to cook. And best of all, it contains no added MSG.

It's as easy as 1-2-3!

1) Heat oil and rice in a pan.

2) Add a little of your Ora Mix Mo sauce.

and 3) Mix until rice is coated. Voila! Java Rice!

Get to know more of the Clara Ole brand! Check out their Facebook page here.

http://claraole.com/

Dear Shopwise...

I have been a customer since you opened your first store in Alabang. Those were the days when I worked less than an exit away (read: east service road office) and my ex lived a stone's throw away from Festival Supermall.

I have been a Wise Card member since 2002 - the fateful year I got married and started shopping with my hard-earned money. Needless to say, your rebates have been something I looked forward to, even when my mother-in-law compared you to the Rempson's of her youth (I wanted to tell her you were Rustan's-owned, but I didn't want to get her ire by making her think I knew more than she did).

I faithfully shopped every First Wednesday, as well as each time you announced double points, and sometimes x10! I thanked the heavens when you launched x10 Wednesdays and hardly ever missed shopping on that day (just once this year because I was in HK). I rejoiced when you introduced your reusable bags and offered Double Points with its use. I rejoiced even more when you offered the new Bags of Life, as you definitely encouraged your shoppers to use reusable bags...

...and that is why I was surprised when yesterday, the cashier asked me to voice out my feelings on a comment card, when she told me you (as well as your sister Rustan's) were taking away the Double Points Incentive on the use of your reusable bags. Do you know how many of your bags I own? Four of the old canvass bag, two of the "bayong" ones for wet groceries (one I lost to a helper with sticky fingers), two of the Rustans shopper bags and two of the new Bags of Life ones. Yes, even the cashiers and bag boys at your store are amazed that I've amassed so much - ok, not exactly a fortune in bags, but a lot, nonetheless - definitely more than my fair share. But I didn't mind, I was getting double points with each use.

Face it, you're more expensive than most stores. Your rebates come as an incentive to most - a lure to the non-loyal customer. Of course you were educating the public on saving the environment, and I understand it was an incentive we've probably enjoyed too long. But it IS one of the main reasons why I am loyal to your store. It probably IS one of the reasons why anyone bothers to bring their bags to Shopwise. Maybe not the main reason, but a perk anyway.

It's funny because, just recently, you limited your special promotions (pick-a-prize, spin-the-wheel, pick-an-apple, etc) to the weekends - a shopping incentive we enjoyed on any given day in the past. And now, you decide to take away the incentive of double points with the reusable bag WITHOUT announcing it on either Facebook or Twitter! (Ok, maybe a few members have questioned it, but we don't see member comments on our news feed...) And that small card you placed near your cashiers to announce the change effective March 1, 2012? Couldn't you have made it any bigger? Tsk. I was told that those cards were delivered first week of February. What happened to at least a few months' notice before effecting a change? Thanks for surprising your loyal customers!

Don't be fooled. The actual card is even smaller than this photo. Thanks for the head's up...NOT!

And there I was, just telling the folks at the office coop how I earn more with rebates at Shopwise. I suppose I should do more shopping at the coop now (and finally earn from dividends) and limit my Shopwise shopping to x10 Wednesdays (first of the month) and special sales (sunrise, Fresh Fridays, Anniversary specials, etc).

As for the bags? Well, I still love them and will keep them handy. Meanwhile, I shall see you, Shopwise, once a month!

XOXO,
Kaye