Escala Hotel

Escala Hotel

Are you looking for a nice hotel in Tagaytay City to spend two or three days with your special someone once everything is back to normal?

Then Escala Hotel is the right place for you.

Viewed from a far distance and seen at different angles, Escala Hotel appears to be precariously perched on top of a ridge.

The structure itself is an engineering feat as the 60-room luxury hotel projects stability and physical soundness. Seen from the lobby, it has a U shape.

From the Escala Hotel, you get a stunning view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano as you breathe cool mountain air. The towns below and the singing hills can also be seen.

A special feature is the infinity pool where you can dip and refresh your body as you enjoy the sights as well. If you need to work out, there is a gym.

Each room has a balcony where you can read a good book, listen to good music or take pictures of the lush greens unfolding before you.

And using the hotel as your base, you may proceed to other tourist destinations like Caleruega Chapel, Sonya's Garden,  Taal Vista Lodge, Bag of Beans, Josephine's and The Pink Sisters Chapel.

While in Tagaytay, while at Escala Hotel, simply enjoy the moment and let the rest of the world go by.   🎉🎉🎉

KONTED

Escala Tagaytay

Purok102, Poblete Street, Barangay Maharlika West, Tagaytay City (from Aguinaldo Highway, turn left before the exit of Sky Ranch)

Escala is a much-talked about luxury hotel in Tagaytay City.

Breath-taking view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano

Perched on top of Tagaytay Ridge

Infinity pool is a special feature at Escala Tagaytay.

Escala Tagaytay has 60 rooms with each room having a balcony.

Relax in the comfort of a well-furnished room.

Rooms are classified into Executive, Premiere and De Luxe.

                                                                      Escala's lobby

                                                                         Escala's restaurant

Lunch at HillCreek

Escala Hotel is certainly one of the finest in Tagaytay.

_________________________________________________________

Kimchi: Back In The Day

Kimchi:  Back In The Day

Back in the day, notably in the 70s, 80s and even in the 90s, there was one food station that stood out at SM Cubao Food Court. 

Kimchi was a big hit with its Korean Beef Stew and Chicken BBQ. There was always a long queue that you had to endure to be able to place your order.

Super Sarap talaga sila. The Beef Stew, with sesame seeds and spring onions, was a little bit spicy and with a taste of sweetness. The Chicken Barbeque was incomparable.

I remember that before watching PBA games at the Big Dome, where the Crispa Redmanizers and the Toyota Tamaraws were battling it out for supremacy, and with the Utex Wranglers as dark horse, we would have a bowl of Beef Stew and Chicken Barbeque at Kimchi.

But with a sudden turn of events, Araneta Center suffered losses in terms of patronage of business establishments. We lost track of Kimchi. It wasn't there anymore. It sank into oblivion, so we thought.

But, wait, there is one Kimchi outlet that has opened at Ayala Malls Feliz. And it claims to be the original. We now have the chance to try again what we have been missing for years. What are we waiting for?

Incidentally, if you are on a road trip, and in the vicinity of Tagaytay City, you may want to savor Kimchi's delights at Ayala Malls Serin near the Tagaytay Rotunda. It is owned and managed by Parokya ni Edgar's Chito Miranda and wife Neri Naig.

Happy eating !!!

KONTED

Kimchi's Beef Stew is unbeatable

Chicken Barbeque is served with rice and bean sprouts.

Beef Stew and Chicken Barbeque: A good combination

Beef Stew, Pork Barbeque and Chicken Barbeque

Kimchi has a huge following and they swear by its goodness.

You see, the lady is back at Kimchi. It is getting to be a habit.

Kimchi is so good you keep coming back for more.

Kimchi is at the 4th floor of Ayala Malls Feliz along Marcos Highway in Santolan, Pasig.

Prices are affordable at Kimchi.

Parokya Ni Edgar's Chito Miranda has a Kimchi outlet at Ayala Malls Serin in Tagaytay City. (ayalaserinpic; caption is mine.)

________________________________________

Halo Halo: Keeping Your Cool

Halo Halo:  Keeping Your Cool

DID U KNOW that Japanese migrants introduced Halo Halo in the Philippines during the pre-war years? 

Halo Halo was then called Mitsumame which had mongo beans as main ingredients. 

Later, it became Kakigori with more mongo, garbanzos and kidney beans. 

Supply of shaved ice was not a problem as the Insular Ice And Cold Storage Plant was located at the southern end of Puente Colgante Bridge, which is now known as Quiapo Bridge.

For one (1) cent or isang kusing, u could have a small bowl full of sweet dessert. And Filipinos liked Kakigori. 

At this time, life had been good for most Pinoys. It was a time which some historians refer to as "the best of times."

Japanese businessmen enjoyed brisk sales and, as a result, their stores were turned into big refreshment parlors. More kiosks were opened.

But with the crushing defeat of the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II, these Japanese migrants fled the country for fear of retaliation.

Business-minded Pinoys saw an opportunity, took over of what was left by the Japanese and added ingredients like macapuno, sweet banana, ube, langka, gulaman, etc.

The rest is history.

-KONTED

Halo Halo is the most popular iced dessert in the Philippines. It is available throughout the year with demand peaking during the summer months.

Chowking's SuperSangkap Halo Halo

Like the mami noodles, siopao and siomai, Halo Halo is a fast selling item at Chowking.

You don't wait long for your Halo Halo to be served.

Chowking's Milky White Halo Halo

Kirsten's favorite is Chowking's Milky White Halo Halo.

Pizza Hut also serves its own version of Halo Halo.

Halo Halo at Buddy's across Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Q.C.

Mang Inasal's Pinoy Halo Halo

Hands down, Razon;s Halo Halo is the best Halo Halo in the Philippines.

Razon's Junior Size Halo Halo

The regular size and the junior size

My balikbayan friend from Burnside, Victoria in Australia misses Razon's Halo Halo so much that he always asks for both the regular size and the junior size.

Elsa's Halo Halo: Norzagaray's Pride

_________________________________________

MA MON LUK

MA MON LUK

Before Henry Sy, Lucio Tan and John Gowengkei, there was MA MON LUK. 

A poor migrant from Canton, China, Ma started walking the streets of Manila in 1918, peddling mami noodles. 

Magiliw, masayahin siya and people liked his noodles. 

Soon, he had outlets on Salazar St. in Binondo, Quezon Blvd. near Quiapo Church and at Quezon Avenue near Banawe in Quezon City.

Ma became rich, super rich.

Today, after 102 years, there is still a legion of diehards willing to brave the rain and endure heavy traffic to have a taste of Ma Mon Luk. 

Ma Mon Luk remains a force to be reckoned with.

KONTED

Whenever this lady buys beads and accessories at Villalobos St. in Quiapo, she makes it a point to have a bowl of Chicken Mami paired with Special Siopao at the Quiapo branch of Ma Mon Luk.

After more than 10 decades, it is still the same broth, the same noodles, the same chicken strips, the same sauce and the same aroma. Nothing has changed.

Ma Mon Luk along Quezon Avenue near Banawe St. in Quezon City. With my dog, I had to wait for a parking slot as the resto was filled to the brim.

Brace yourself for a longer waiting time at Ma Mon Luk in Quezon City

Certified diehards

First on this balikbayan's bucket list:  a bowl of Chicken Mami and Special Siopao

When Ma Mon Luk was peddling Ma Mi noodles, he would cut, with a pair of scissors, the chicken strips. It was termed 'gupit'.

Siopao Asado, Siopao  Bola Bola and Special Siopao

I used to see this wall sign at the Quiapo branch of Ma Mon Luk in my college days. (philstar pic;;caption is mine)

Ma Mon Luk Ma Mi King restaurant on Salazar St.in Binondo in the early years(g-gle pic;caption is mine)

Ma Mon Luk branch in Cubao, Quezon City in the 60s, 70s and 80s when the legal heirs of Ma Mon Luk decided to expand the family business. (D.O.T pic; caption is mine)

Whenever there was a crisis or calamity, Ma would respond by donating sacks of rice. (g'gle pic; caption is mine)

________________________________________