REVIEW: Pine Country Steaks and Waffles

I have intended to blog every restaurant I go to but many are just too regular or too plain, but tonight is totally different. It was getting dark as we approach this place but it was cozy-looking due to the effects of the lights surrounding the trees and the mini-candle lights on the tables located outside the shop. Due to this, my mind was pre-set that this place is worthy of a review.

We decided to get one of the tables placed outside for some fresh air. As the case may be, due to the volume of diners and lack of crew, we had to wait for the menu to arrive and again,we waited longer for our food. The wait was worth it though, first came my fish and chips, the serving was good enough for its price. The fish was fried to perfection, crispy outside and soft inside. What I like most is the oil was drained well so that the fish didn't taste greasy which I don't like about fried food. The potato wedges were baked exactly how we liked it.

Fish N' Chips at P158

The boys wanted to have glazed BBQ ribs but they ran out of it so they opted for the Country Style Liempo with  rice and a side dish of buttered vegetables. I had to eat some slices from their meal so I could say something about it on my review. The meat tasted really flavorful. Perhaps the meat was soaked with their marinade for some time. It was soft and chewy.  The boys had to order extra rice which turned me off because it was priced at P48 per cup, that could be one complete meal at the school canteen.(chuckle)  My hubby, who is on a diet ordered for a Country Style Fried Chicken with potato wedges. It was one of the best tasting fried chicken I have ever tasted. The flavor wasn't too strong nor too salty, it was a flavor that you wanted to play inside your mouth. It was the juiciest and crispiest chicken I had in a while. The gravy complimented it consummately. My girl got attracted to the title Buttermilk Pancake Tower, she said no sharing but because there were 5 pieces of pancakes on top of each other and realized that it was more than enough for her she offered the boys some slices. Topped with maple syrup and mixed-fruits is perfect delight to a girl's eyes. Obviously, the ingredients used were the top of the line.

Country Style BBQ Liempo at P178

Country Style Fried Chicken at P188

Buttermilk Pancake Tower at P138

There are more on the menu and we are sure to go back to have them. Then I can update this blog.

I hope the management will maintain the food quality we had now. Improve on the promptness of the crew and reduce the price of the extra rice. ;-)

Disclaimer: This review is based on our personal experience and the food we ate, It doesn't represent the totality of the restaurant itself.

Located along Leonard Wood Road just beside Safari Lodge.

HOW TO APPLY FOR JAPAN TOURIST VISA

"Go for what you want, ask questions, and take that one step forward..you'll never know until you try."

For us living in the Philippines, applying for a tourist visa for sought after countries like the U.S. and Japan gives us jitters. But as the saying goes, you won't get what you want if you will not go after it.

When an opportunity to visit Japan came my way, I had to research on how to apply for a visa. I appreciate bloggers who wrote about their experiences in applying for they helped me prepare for it. In return, I would also want to share mine hoping it would guide those who want to try too.

The requirements for tourist visa can be seen at the Japan Embassy website.  Click here for the link

Here are the documents I have submitted:

1. Passport. Validity should be 6 months or more before the expiry date. In my case, my passport will expire on October this year, I only have until May to use it so it prompted me to just go on with my application right now.

2. Visa Application Form which can be downloaded here.

3. My latest 2X2 Visa Picture with white background pasted on my application form. Just tell the studio that it will be for Japan visa. Sample here.

4. Birth Certificate. NSO copy with the receipt. It should be issued at least 1 year before the visa application. The receipt will show the date. I got mine at our local NSO for P140, released in less than an hour. 

5. Photocopy of my ITR. I submitted all 21 pages of my ITR report from my accountant with the BIR receipt.

6. Bank Certificate. I got my BPI bank certificate in a swift, no need to wait for another day, they will just print it out. The P100 fee was debited to my account. That's why I love BPI, they make things easier compared to other banks I had before. Now, I'm a BPI loyal. Anyway, I included the receipt with my bank certificate. Based from my readings, the embassy doesn't have hard and fast rules on how much you have in your bank account. It is believed it would depend on your itinerary in Japan. Don't stay in Japan for 15 days when you only have P50,000 in your bank account. Also, it would be unbelievable for you to have P300,000 if you are just a new employee fresh from college. You know what I'm saying...do the math.   Your bank certificate will also show how much is your Daily Average Balance, so it will not be convincing to have P100,000 in your bank statement when your DAB is just P100. It will also show when did you open your bank account. So the key here is, save first and maintain a good amount in your account.

7. Daily Itinerary. Detailed schedule plan while you are in Japan. This is only your projected plan since most of us wouldn't dare to book for plane tickets without visa assurance. Mine looked like this:

8. Hotel Booking Confirmation. I got mine from Agoda. I printed the e-booking confirmation emailed to me. It is not required but it may help.

9. Certificate of Employment. Depending on how fast your company acts to print out a copy, this should help you prove you are stable in your home country. It is not mandatory from the website list of requirements but I included it anyway.

Next step is you have to choose an accredited agency by the Japan embassy. One can't go directly to the embassy and apply, it would all be coursed through the agency. Here is the list of accredited agencies posted on the website of Japan Embassy:

1. Universal Holidays, Inc

2 .Discovery Tour

3. Rajah Travel

4. Reli Tours

5. Attic Tours

6. Friendship Tours 

7. PanPacific Travel 

I called all the agencies to inquire and it was Friendship tours who answered me patiently with my probe. Since I am not from Manila, I asked if it would be okay to just let my documents be shipped to their office and my passport back to me. They gave me the instruction on how to do it. First, I deposited the handling fee of P1,200 plus the P200 shipping fee of my passport for sending it back. You can check for their bank account details on their website. I included the deposit slip with my documents. Photocopy or take a picture of it for your file.  I sent my complete documents through LBC for P260 on March 24,Tuesday at 4:11 pm. The next morning,the 25th at 9:37, I received a text notification from LBC that it is already out for delivery. At 2:27, my documents were received by Friendship tours representative. I tried to call the agency to confirm if they have indeed received it but their phone line has been busy the whole time. I tried calling on a Thursday morning, the 26th, this time, a staff answered me saying they have received and have already submitted my papers to the Embassy. 

Now, the count down starts...the agony of waiting drags.  Officially, it takes 5 to 7 working days for the decision to come out but some experienced as short as 2 days. While I was waiting, I kept on rereading blogs, every time my phone beeps I would hope that it's a good news coming from the agency, it was a crazy moment. On March 27th, Friday at 5pm, I called the agency hoping that my passport is already with them but it wasn't. So the torture have got to continue for the 2-day weekend. One tip, if you don't wan't to burden yourself for a weekend torment, since the embassy is closed during these days, complete the requirements on a Friday, if you are from the province like me, send it through a courier on a Saturday, so that the agency can have it on a Monday, for filling at the embassy. Hence,you have any time within the weekday (working days) to wait for the result. 

It's Monday, the 30th! I was holding myself not to call the agency. Good thing, I got so busy closing a sale with my client, so I forgot all about it. At 3:05 pm, I got a call from Friendship Tours representative saying I am granted a visa. They will send it to me through a courier and it should be with me the following day. It was processed after 3 working days. I am euphoric! Thank God for an answered prayer. I'm grateful too, to my partner in life for pushing me to just go for it.

As I look at my visa, it was actually issued on March 26, the same day the agency submitted it to the embassy, maybe handling it back to the agency took a while so they only had it on a Monday. That was quick! 

For Japan to continue granting us the privilege to visit their country, let us show them that we are worthy of their trust. Go back home after your few days tour! 

It's time to fish for a promo ticket! 

Japan, mata chikaiuchini o ai shimashou! Domo arigatu. :-)

Work From Home! It is Possible.

"I'm not cut to be an 8 to 5 person," says someone I know.  Some people really can't function well if their time is restricted to a routine. Some may be great at it but their current situation may not allow them to go out and stay at an establishment for the regular 8-hour job, say for example, a mom who needs to be at home to manage the household, or a graduating student who has only few hours to spare. 

Sometime ago, the thought of earning from home is impossible. But with the new technology we have nowadays, everyone is entitled to earn. There is no excuse of just being idle. One can post their merchandise through facebook, be a virtual office assistant or be an English online tutor, like me.

Aside from the hefty salary I could get from it, I like this job because it gives me the freedom to adjust my schedule according to my availability. You see, I am a mother of two kids, an entrepreneur of various commerce and a happy-go-lucky traveler. There are instances when a client would give me a call and ask for a meeting to close a deal, or my husband would schedule an abrupt date.

As an online English tutor, I could select the time I would be teaching. Most of my students are Japanese professionals and retirees. We use the company's system of teaching and skype for our calls. All you need is a stable internet connection, a good personal computer and of course, a good English skill. If you are an English major graduate, it would be an advantage but not required. As long as you can speak English well, could explain grammar rules and loves to listen to people then you can be in it.

Apply now! Follow the link...

Rarejob Application Site

There is no excuse, every one can earn only if you really want to.

Most of the time, this is how I look when I'm conducting my classes . Awed and amazed by the stories, experiences, and education I get from each of my students. Teachers can learn too! Culture and all. 

BOODLE FIGHT - THEMED RESTAURANTS

Boodle fight is a Philippine  military tradition of dumping all the different dishes on some banana leaves and feasting on them as fast as they can with their bare hands. It has since adapted by civilians and now restaurants.

Our family has always been food lovers. We find happiness whenever  we get together sealed with dining, much more if we can eat all we want. See what I mean?

Lechon Kawali boodle fight. Taken over a year ago hosted by my uncle. 

The boodle fighter family.

And on another occasion...

Breakfast boodle

Food feast

But when we are busy to prepare and hunger pang strikes, there are other sources just like 3 boodle fight restos I am going to talk about today.

SEAFOOD ISLAND

Camp Johnhay, Techno Hub

We got curious and excited when we learned the concept of this restaurant. Just like boodle fight, they serve their dish that way. At different dates, we had visitors from the U.S.A. and Japan. We wanted them to experience our way of eating with bare hands so we brought them to Seafood Island at Techno Hub. So they would not get too shocked, Camp Johnhay is the place to be, we thought.

We ordered different boodles from their menu. In fairness, it was delicious but the quantity is too little for its price. There were just enormous serving of not so soft rice. I actually appreciated more the ones in ala carte, they are more fair than the set meals.

Ala Carte Garlic-Buttered Shrimps and Lechon Kawali 

For any restaurant, most specially for this kind, that one has the option to use their bare hand to eat, lavatories should be numerous. However, at this Seafood Island, they only have one small space for a wash area so we had to fall in line to do so. Also, one common toilet for all the customers. It was a major turn off.

Also, during the times we went there. We noticed that they lacked working staff.  Imagine we had to follow up our request of extra plate. There are always customers in and out of this place, so there should be more staff or at least they should be more alert of their client's needs.


DENCIO'S Bar and Grill
Sm Baguio

It was a birthday treat for a family member that brought us to Dencio's. We were becoming uneasy because of the long wait. However, that anxiety was erased when the food arrived. The servings and the taste are worth the price. Their pork BBQ was tasty. Perhaps it has been marinated well that you could savor it to the last bite. Their sisig is the best! Crunchy and yummy.

The staff are okay, it's just that they should be more prompt in attending to their clients. It was not a busy hour when we got there but the waiting time took so long for our food to arrive.

Overall, the dining experience was satisfying. Great food!

Crunchy Sisig

DINAWIS Cafe and Restaurant

Puguis La Trinidad, Benguet

"Dinawis" is a kankanaey term of grilled food and based from this restaurant's facebook advertisement, they have boodle fight meals.  One cold night, together with the family members who love to eat, agreed to have dinner at Dinawis. We wanted to try their main branch at Shilan, but many of us coming from Baguio, opted to go to the nearer branch.

We had to slow down when we arrived at Puguis to make sure we won't miss the spot. It is located at the right side of the road when you are coming from Km 5 Pico area. When we reached the site, we were hesitant because what we saw were a few tables and chairs in an open air just beside the road. There were 13 of us so we thought we won't fit in the space. Good thing one of my uncles explored the place a bit more and found out that a building is located behind that facade which houses the restaurant and a beauty spa at the second floor.

The area at the right side of the picture is what you can see from the main road.  I took this picture at a private road where the parking space is. The area on the left is the restaurant.

We found a good spot just in front of the entrance.

We ordered sets 1 and 2 to compare. We also had 4 orders of pork silet.

If the boodle menu is too much for you, you can always try the short order.

The verdict: Pork silet according to my uncles, who have been exposed to this dish through the years judged it the right way to cook silet. Not overcooked, which would make it too hard to chew, and not undercooked. They said, it was cooked well outside and still moist inside. The serving is not so much though compared to the place where they usually order this dish. Maybe add a little more pieces and we are ok. :-)

For the boodle set 1. The serving is generous. Portions are good enough to be shared by everyone in the group.  The kids loved the grilled milkfish and catfish. I devoured on the grilled eggplant with tomatoes and onions. I was wondering why the kids didn't touch the fried chicken, when in fact it should be the first one to be gone. When I tried it, it was over fried. Too dry and hard, it should be crunchy outside but juicy inside. The pork tasted yummy dipped with soy sauce and chili. And there was the "bulalo". The soup tasted so good. The beef was tender, the young ones enjoyed it so much. For the boodle set 2, without the fish, it has crispy pata. I wasn't able to partake of it though because I was too busy with the other set that I forgot there was crispy pata on the other "bilao". Too bad it was gone in 60 seconds when I remembered about it. Hahaha

Boodle Set 1

Boodle Set 2

Pardon me if I may have to suggest that it would have been better if banana leaves were used instead of the foil lining. The coconut serving spoons were dainty. To wrap it up, we were happy with the staff, they were snappy enough to serve our food and everything that go with it. They seem to love what they are doing. We can notice from the tone of their voice and how fast they move that they are customer oriented. The facility was alright, perhaps a little more design for a cozy interior. We are thankful for the parking space, we didn't have to waste our time looking for a safe zone for our cars. We were sated by the food, which by the way comes with unlimited rice, unlimited iced tea and unlimited soup! And there's more, I asked one of the crew if  brewed coffee is also included, she said it's not but she came back after a few minutes to tell me that her boss decided we could also have our coffee included in the set. That was a generous act from the management, bravo! Mind you, the coffee they served was not just flat tasting one. Their coffee got full taste and aroma of freshly brewed arabica. What a delight! We will try the main branch next time. ;-)

Disclaimer: This is based on the writer's own experience only, the food that we ordered and the treatment that we got. Others may have other judgement.

Buffet Restaurants in Baguio Review

My standard of a superb eat-all-you-can buffet is that of Yakimix in Manila. I wish that a branch would open here in Baguio soon. However, Baguio folks also have our own buffet restos sprouting recently.

My husband and I had a breakfast buffet invitation from our friends one Saturday, so even if the temperature is down we had to pull ourselves up for a morning meeting.

Citylights Hotel offers the breakfast buffet for hotel guests as well as walk-ins like us. That day, hotel guests ate at the groundfloor cafe and walk-ins at the 2nd floor function room.

The array of dishes fitted a standard breakfast for Filipino tummy. There were two choices of rice, the plain rice and the fried rice. The viands consisted of around eight varieties ranging from the basic scrambled eggs to fried dried fish. They also had a table for fruits, breads and pancakes. Coffee and iced-tea are over flowing at another corner. And soups too.

I wanted to start on pancakes but it took them more than 15 minutes to replenish the pancake tray. I didn't want to waste time so I grabbed a plate and started off with the rice set. The dried fish was cooked crispy, the eggplant with alamang was tasty but it was too oily, the other dishes could have been more delectable if it were served warm. The chafing trays should have been lighted to maintain the warmth of the food. Even the soup isn't warm. In a cold place like Baguio, it would be proper to serve most meals warm. I love their overflowing coffee. They should have served more variations of fruits, that time we only had slices of papaya. Overall,for a price of P220 per head, it was good but I could give a higher rating if the flaws mentioned above would have been addressed.

Incidentally, we have also scheduled a lunch buffet at the same day with the kids. This time, it's at the new Buffet Republic located at 2nd Floor of the building beside Baguio Centermall. Since it is newly opened, they are advertising an opening promo price of breakfast or afternoon meryenda buffet at P120 and Lunch buffet at P180.

What greeted us as the elevator door opened at the second floor was a wide hall where the restaurant is. A staff by a makeshift counter greeted us to take our payments before we can enter the place.

We immediately started lining up to the buffet table to choose our stuffs. There were 7 trays lined up the center table. Two trays for the plain and fried rice. Five trays for 1 chicken dish, 2 pork dishes, 1 fish dish and 1 vegetable dish. The side buffet table was where the salads, desserts, dumplings and the drinks are.

For the promo price, the quality of food was satisfying albeit a little inadequacy of choices. The food presentation was inviting. The fruit salad tasted good, it wasn't very sweet as some commercial ones are. Here, watermelon and papaya were fruit choices. I loved the taste of their cucumber salad. What was also good which I noticed was on the coffeemaker side were choices of different sachets of sugar. They had white, brown and the artificial sugar used by diabetics. I don't have any complaints about the staff, they refilled the trays the soonest they see that a particular food is running out. The place however, was too wide. The ceiling was too high, it doesn't make you feel cozy. The chairs are like the ones you see at a fastfood. They didn't have backrest, just stools. If only they would improve on the interior to make it more a little classy, then I would be really appeased.

The Salad and Desserts Corner

Fish Dish

Vegetable Dish

Pork Dish

Fried Spareribs

Fried Chicken

We also tried dinner buffet at Kamayan Restaurant at Quezon Hill, Baguio City. The ambiance of the restaurant was really inviting, likened to real house. My guess is, it was really a house converted into a restaurant.

That night, we were the only group when we got in. It was about 7:30 pm then. After some time a couple came in. The whole time we were there, there were only two groups, so we enjoyed the place like it were ours.

Around nine dishes were served. It was really disappointing because they were too ordinary every-day meal. The dishes looked like it has been reheated over and over. I couldn't even remember what dish I liked the most because they seemed to taste all the same. My daughter enjoyed her small crabs though, and she used her bare hand to eat. There prices were P279 buffet per head, P299 buffet with a glass of iced tea and P320 buffet with bottomless iced tea. We got the one with bottomless which we regretted because we never asked for some refill due to the fact that their iced tea was too sweet. Their logo states, "Home of Lechon Cebu", but it was not included in their buffet choices. :-(

With so many buffet restaurants opening in Baguio, Kamayan would better improve on their menu for them to compete.  

One of these days, we will be trying other buffets here in Baguio. I will be updating this blog once I'm ready.

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This is an update to this old blog on Baguio Buffet Restaurants.

The Heritage Hotel Buffet. 

This buffet resto has been a hit since last year.  Within the 4 times I have been there, the pork lechon belly was my favorite. The skin was crispy all the time and the meat was tender and juicy. It is chopped right before your eyes. The server would give small serving perhaps to control it but you can always ask for more. Which I always did. haha  The meat is best with its lechon sauce or a mixture of soy sauce and calamansi.

My teenage son's 8th plate of lechon belly. :-D

Japanese cuisine will always melt my heart in a buffet.  The first time I visited this place there was shrimp tempura on the Asian corner. I indulged, totally, really! However, with the several other visits, it was no longer included.  I think one has to pay it separately when you request for it to be cooked. They also have different makis but I find it lacking with ingredients compared to what Japanese do with their cooking. Korean side dishes will always find a place on my plate.

Small portions to start with..

The Italian corner where the kids would surely enjoy. One can find pizzas and pastas to feast on. On the opposite side, one can find a display of traditional Philippine cuisine such as pinapaitan, karekare, etc. 

The dessert corner is where my daughter with sweet-tooth stayed most of the time. The choices were limited though. Not so inviting especially to adults who have eaten variety of cakes and sweets.

For a P398/pax of eat all you can. Why not? Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This is based on my personal experience, the food we ordered and the treatment we got. Others may have other judgement.