The Real Thing Diner: Opening up Happiness in every bite!

Your well-loved Coca Cola is now morphed into one of the coolest diner there is!

The Real Thing Diner houses everything Coca-Cola. From the red and white signage and the Coke can on the outside, and countless memorabilia displayed on the inside, to place mats, vending machines, decors, and everything. It was every Coca Cola lover's dream! Their specialty of course was that every dish had a Coke product in it.

Opening the menu was such a delight! We couldn't decide on what to try. Everything on the list seemed so promising.

But eventually we had to decide. Their Coke Float made me all giggly! It was like drinking up your best memory.

[caption id="attachment_281" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Coke Float (P69)"][/caption]

To kick off our Happy Experience, Sarsi Wings seemed to be a popular choice so we went ahead and got ourselves one of those.

[caption id="attachment_282" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Sarsi Wings (P199)"][/caption]

Buffalo wings glazed with no less than Sarsi. It was a bit too sweet for me. I know I've got a sweet tooth but it was kind of unusually interesting - that mix of chicken and sugar in my mouth. I can't remember how Sarsi tasted like but those wings were a pretty good reminder. Jason loved it by the way.

Then came Jason's Eight O'Clock chicken priced at P279 (Unfortunately wasn't able to take a pic along with our other main course). It was very juicy with just a hint of sweetness. Served with mixed veggies and his choice side dish: wedges. It's definitely worth a try and without the guilt feeling too since it's just chicken and your favorite (healthy) fruit flavored juice.

My main course was Coca-Cola Baby Back Ribs (P399).  It was baby back ribs glazed in Coca-Cola BBQ sauce with my choice sider, side salad. Its glazing tasted a bit like Sarsi wings, but less sweet. It could improve though on its supposedly tender and moistness.

*Two things you should observe is that after these coke-filled meals, there's this feeling of minty-ness at the back of your throat like you've had coke forever. Plus you'd feel full after a couple of bites since these are carbonated products that would expand in your tummy.

Our dessert was a great way to end this Happy Experience. Happily Appley was just too perfect for me!

[caption id="attachment_287" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Happily Appley (P99)"][/caption]

The Swedish Apple Pie was freshly baked I still got to see the steam slowly evaporating. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was just the right hot 'n cold combination that would make me leave this happy dining place with a new well-loved memory.

For that happy happy Coke experience, give this diner a try for more joyful times to remember by... :)

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The Real Thing Diner

2nd Flr. Il Terrazzo Mall, 305 Tomas Morato cor. Sct Madrinan, Quezon City

Tel No. 352-4320

Chef's Bistro + Cobo Bubble Tea and Snow Ice : Dinner and Tea anyone?

Just beside our all-time hang out place, Cobo Bubble Tea & Snow Ice is a quite interesting restaurant we decided to try one time - Chef's Bistro.

Since we didn't want to park all over again for dinner and then tea/coffee somewhere else then this place was quite ideal. Dare I say the cliche? It's like hitting two birds in one stone. Ok there I said it.

On the downside though, both share a limited parking space only good for 2 cars at a time or else if you insist, you might also be up for taking a stroll to and from the establishments. (Healthy Bonus: Good for the heart <3)

Chef's Bistro seem to have recently expanded since the extension wasn't in the same feel yet with the rest of the dining area. The new wing was a bit isolated and had a rawness to it far from the first impression of  it being somewhat refined. We opted to stay in the new wing by the way since it was more spacious for a guest of 3.

First we were served complimentary bread which looked filling all right, but I decided to skip it and save my appetite.

[caption id="attachment_133" align="aligncenter" width="322" caption="Complimentary Bread from the Chef :)"][/caption]

I didn't know if we enjoyed conversation so much that we didn't notice the time because my order of Fish Fritters (Php295) seem to be served just when I heard my tummy give a little yelp.

I do have a thing for fried foods especially what they served - Deep fried cream dori fish fillet with rich aioli dip.

As soon as the plate was laid on the table, I didn't hesitate to grab my first piece of fry then chomped my way to oil heaven.

[caption id="attachment_134" align="aligncenter" width="322" caption="Fish Fritters (P295) - Good for 2-3 persons"][/caption]

This dish is best enjoyed shared. Why? If I had this all to myself then my excitement for fried stuff would have immediately gone dry. I'd have to abstain from oil and all from a couple of months or so.

For our main, we had one of their bestsellers, Rib Eye  Steak (Php595). Served with herb mixed vegetables and mashed potato. The beef was really juicy and the glazing was flavorful I could still taste it in my mouth. And the crispy leeks couldn't be more perfect in adding texture to the dish.

[caption id="attachment_136" align="aligncenter" width="363" caption="Rib Eye Steak (P595)"][/caption]

Overall our main was no doubt appetizing! If you're in for a heavy also value for your money meal, give this specialty a try if you do get the chance to drop by :)

 Then for dessert, stop at Cobo Bubble Tea & Snow Ice after for sips of the sweets. Enjoy their often ordered drinks like Taro, Coffee Jelly, and Cobo Milk Tea for only Php90. Or try their Honeydew Snow Ice for only Php85 + add P10 for toppings like popping yogurt balls.

[caption id="attachment_147" align="aligncenter" width="403" caption="Honeydew Snow Ice with Popping Yogurt Balls (P85)"][/caption]

 What better way to end your meal than either sipping your choice milk tea, or nibbling on tapioca pearls and sweet coffee jellies :)

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Chef's Bistro

94 Scout Gandia near corner T. Morato Quezon City, Philippines

Telephone No.: 359-9975

Mobile No.: 0906-4124338 0922-8189811

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Cobo Bubble Tea & Snow Ice

#96 Scout Gandia Street, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Philippines

Telephone No.: 736-5621

Thaipan: Fine Thai Cuisine - TRIPLE A: authentic, ambient and simply appetizing!

On the hunt for an authentic Thai experience? You just HAVE TO try THAIPAN.

 

 Located in Scout Dr. Lascano in Tomas Morato, this fine thai cuisine houses the best tasting curry, a filling and incredible appetizer with a lovely ambience. Discovering this place was yet again - dare I say it - an accident. Jason and I wanted to try something new - not our usual rice meal or pasta and pizza dinner - so we scouted for a new place to satisfy our adventurous taste buds.

 Coming from ABS-CBN, we drove along Tomas Morato and made a left in Scout Dr. Lascano. What a great discovery that was because what used to be just another awesome restaurant, Bagoong Club, in that area, now has an equally awesome dining establishment right beside it. Might I add with ample parking space, although not right in front of the restaurant as not to block it's warm-lit and inviting exterior.

From the outside we could already see what awaits us inside since only glass walls separate the area. But wait, there's more! Glass mirrors I mean. Wall-to-wall mirrors and hand-painted decors lined our way towards our seat. While we thought this was just a small place, we learned that there were many divisions inside - smoking area, non-smoking , a spacious dining place, a more intimate one, and even a door that leads to a private room where you can celebrate special occasions, host meetings and other intimate events.

Soon after we thoroughly appreciated the warm atmosphere, we realized we were really famished. But not to worry, the servers were very attentive to attend to our needs and offer us their specialties. For appetizer, we had their bestseller, Khong Waang Thai, which was a delectable selection of Thai delicacies.

Khong Waang Thai (Php340) - Thaipan Appetizer Selection

Have the best of everything with deep fried spring rolls (Paw Pia Thawt), chicken satay (Gai Sateh), grilled aromatic pork wrapped in betel leaves (Moo Ping Bai Cha Plu) and crisp shrimp pastry (Tung Tong). Served with 3 kinds of sauces - peanut sauce, vinegar and a sweet & sour tasting plum sauce. It was authentic Thai no less and appetizing to the last bite!

For our main course we ordered another of their MUST-TRY, Kaeng Khiaw Wann, which is their Thai green chicken curry. We were on a low-rice-low-carb diet then but this dish just had to be better appreciated with rice.  And so we ordered one, Steamed Jasmine Rice (Php45), to go with it and we didn't regret it not one bit! The green chicken curry was very tasty with hints of Thai herbs and spices that just tickled our tastebuds. It was incredible! And the curry sauce was addicting! Even though we were already full by then, I just had to sneak a couple more spoonfuls of the sauce.

Kaeng Khiaw Waan (Php320) - Green Chicken Curry

You just can't have enough of this sauce and the next time we go back we'll surely try their next best thing!

 

Bangkok, I know you are just a few miles away and having a taste of you, I can't wait for the real thing.

 

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Thaipan Restaurant

Fine Thai Cuisine

120 Scout Dr. Lascano, Tomas Morato, Quezon City

Tel No.: 352-4926

Mobile No.: 0917-8080718

Email: thaipanresto@yahoo.com

On a Vegan roll @ Greens : Who said going green is pricey?

At the start of this year, I vowed to the undisputed, tried and tested KAMOTE DIET. On very few occasions though, I still have my rice and my sweets so I won't go berserk in my lack of sugar and other nutrients. But sometimes, after a long week of the once-interesting and now dull-tasting root crop, i tend to CHEAT making me feel incredibly GUILTY. Thanks to GREENS, the occasional guilt-trips are now miles away.

Discovering the place in Scout Castor street in Quezon City was really just an accident. Straying away from the Tomas Morato strip, we entered one of those side streets and well hello there Greens, you were such a pleasant surprise. <3

The facade is garden-like with a stone path leading to its threshold. Inside, a homey atmosphere awaits - quite small and very intimate. You can enjoy a night of good conversation over good and healthy eats.

I'm simply addicted to shawarma, so anything in pita bread is my choice pick. In Greens, I had one serving of VEGGIE WRAP take note, for only Php80!!  It was tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, a bit of cheese and other greens in a delightful roll! I had the garlic sauce container all to myself so it is but natural to me to have the roll oozing with the creamy shawarma blend. I was on a vegan high! Plus it was really filling too. I'm gonna pass on dessert. Thank You.

Veggie Wrap (Php 80)

Not to mention my fondness for pasta and lasagna, I also had a bite of their Parmigiana (Php140). Instead of using the regular lasagna pasta, they used eggplant as substitute with the usual melted cheese on top. Served with 3 pieces of bread sticks and mixed veggies on the side. Cheesy, most definitely! But remember those greens on the side when you've had too much of the cheese bite. Oh guess what? It didn't taste like eggplant at all! It's your baked lasagna heaven minus the carbo loaded pasta. Great isn't?

Eggplant Parmigiana (Php140)

Not only is it a cozy place but their food is affordable too. So whoever said going green is pricey better take a bite of those vegan yummies!