Tous les Jours: When Korean Bakes French

Ara (my ever bubbly, smarty cousin) and I were walking our way down to Eastwood which is just few meters away from their house. Again, I always keep on promoting my one and a half month-old blog to her but still, I am receiving same feedback since the day I wrote Michael Likes Mark Floro 

Michael: Why won't you just read my blog!

Ara: Eeehh. Ayoko!! (I don't like!!)

Michael: But why?! Everybody is like going crazy about it!

Ara: What the... As if. 

And she rolled her eyes in front of me.

Michael: Give me just one page view come 'on. Read Thanks to You. That one is for you. 

And I smiled like a frustrated poor storekeeper trying to sell his firecrackers for tonight's occasion.

Ara: Eh ayoko nga. Ano yan, sapilitan ba yan? (I just don't feel reading it. Is that reinforced?).

Michael: Yeah. It's required. 

And I laughed sheepishly.

Ara: Okay, okay. I'll read it tonight. 

Michael: Talaga (Really)?  

My eyes brightened. She nodded her head for confirmation though was a little forced.

Ara: You wanted more readers, don't you?

Michael: Oooh yeah. Of course.

Ara: I can recommend something worth blogabble. 

Michael: I don't think so. 

I wasn't convinced.

Ara: Yeah. You'll love this one.

I didn't replied because I was still thinking.

Ara: It's a new bread store at Eastwood. Not your ordinary bread shop but it is most likely a specialty store. Very authentic. The name is Tous les Jours.

Michael: Oh. French.

Ara: Korean.

Michael: Korean? It doesn't sound one. Say that again.

Ara: Tous les Jours (too-lay-jors)

Michael: Huh (like what are you saying?)

Ara: Why won't you just follow me. 

My eyes twinkled.

Michael: Lets go. 

________________________________________________________________

Tous les Jours. Korean maybe but more of French on the other side. A new discovery for a bread lover like me.  

Here is a brief history of Tous les Jours: 

image courtesy of http://www.touslesjoursusa.com/about.asp?smnu=02

Tous Les Jours is French for "Everyday", which most aptly conveys the idea of freshly baked goods. (http://www.touslesjoursusa.com)

I won't take this any longer, so come on in!

So imagine me that I'm the one opening the door for you. =)

Michael: Your order please...

Michael: Is there anything else?

Of course, we did not leave the store empty-handed!

Munching my Tous Les Jours!

Ara bought her garlic bread too! Sorry if I have not even showed you one of her pictures. She's kinda camera shy. Don't worry, you'll know her better soon. Today, year 2012 would be ending. Expect me to  unravel more exciting and funny stories about me and Ara this 2013. 

Addendum:

While writing this post, I caught her quickly glancing at my work.

Ara: Patay tayo dyan, Dora and Boots pala tayo sa 2013.

Michael: Oo, ikaw si Boots. 

image courtesy if http://media.nowpublic.net/images

Then we ended up laughing crazily!

Thanks to You

The "Like" symbol, courtesy of Facebook.com
User in the photo do not have the rights to own this registered symbol. 

They were talking about me again.

I could hear the loud noise that my friend, Joyce, was making that time.

Joyce: So he'll blog about it then? Gosh...

I felt that she knew that I was listening so I just kept quiet.

Cathy: Yeah. You know him...

Though I couldn't see these two gals talking, I could still but hear their playful hiss and silent laughs lingering in the thin office air.

Joyce: Did he bring his camera along with him when you went there?

Cathy: Yeah, and all we did was to take pictures.

Okay. Now, I guess its my time to make such interruptions.

I cleared my throat as if I was talking to somebody over the phone.

Michael: Yes, Miss Joyce, is there a problem with my blogging? 

I wish I could say this on a British accent but wasn't able to; so I just grinned sarcastically instead.

Joyce: Nope, just wondering why you always blog about food. It makes me hungry. (oh, finally she admitted!)

Michael: Yes, because that's what I always do. I love eating and always want to talk about food.

Joyce: Alright, I'll wait for your blog then. Besides, I am the only person in this whole wide world who follows your blog. And I should always make sure that upon reading it, I would click the 'Report Abuse' button after.

Then she laughed out loud profusely.

Michael: Huh. Just wait and see.

_____________________________________________

Joyce and I were friends for few years now and that is how we usually behave. We praise and compliment each other with little sarcasm but I know that this was just some of the few steps to put up spice to the friendship.

I am happy because some of my office friends already knew that I am blogging now. Some were like joking around that I must 'blog this, blog that'.

As a matter of fact, we have coined the word 'bloggable', which I know it had never existed to any English dictionary at all,  hoping that it will be added soon--maybe. Then if it will, then it's an honor for me or us who started to use the word.

I was quite surprise when people approach me, "Hey, I read your blog".

I was like: "Really, where? I mean, which post?" As a matter of fact, I don't really care which among my posts it was. But to me, if they say "I read your blog", it means a lot. Very flattering.

I started my blogging career on the second week of November when Mark Floro talked to me one-on-one in front of some other people during one of my photography classes. He said, "If you have the talent, why won't you try writing a blog instead of just being satisfied of gathering feedback about what you have posted on  your Facebook wall. It could lead you to something worth appreciating".  Very straightforward. Awakening. I have never forgotten that.

So the next day, I collated my thoughts. I planned. I thought about catchy ideas. A catchy title. About what I want. Until that very same day, What Michael Likes was born.

Funny because I was like becoming a funny kid opening up his laptop checking who have read his post. I was like a pop star starving for fame, finding out who have bought his album. Sometimes, I felt like I was the political candidate who 'called Garci' to know how many people have voted for him. Everyday was like an "oh-my-gosh" for me. Blogging never felt this good. I felt like I'm not the only person living in this planet because I know that I am now sharing my ideas and "What really Michael Likes"!

I don't really know when will this ends up. In two years time. Five years maybe. Ten years or maybe up until the internet connection will be interrupted eternally. I don't really know.

All I know is carpe diem. I appreciate what I am doing right now. I always dream of becoming a writer when I was a kid and I think I am fulfilling this small dream now.

Thank you. Yeah, it's you (while Michael is nodding). Thanks for reading my stories. Thanks for fulfilling my dream.


                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                   Sincerely,
                                                                                                                     Michael

                                                

                    

Don Henrico's Restaurant: A Melting Pot of Italian Flavors

After visiting La Trinidad, we finally decided to go back to Baguio City for lunch.

It was past eleven in the morning when we felt the first shot of hunger in our tummies so we thought about finding a good place to eat. When I say, a good place to eat, I really mean it!

I started thinking about some places along Session Road or maybe some casual restaurants around Burnham Park. Getting frustrated, I was also thinking of going back to SM Baguio and maybe just do some munching at some same, old fast food stores there!

Until I started asking:

Michael: So where do you want to eat? (Hoping they were thinking the same thing I have in mind)

Mom: Maybe we could eat at Chowking in the city proper or maybe at SM.

(Oops, so I was right.)

Michael: Oh c'mon, We're in Baguio City,Ma. Think of a place that is a little different. I want to try something new!

Mom: Okay. Since you can think better than I do when it comes to food, I'll leave the decision making to you then.


So I was like think, think, think after that!

Finally I figured out what to say.


Michael: Ma, I saw this resto along Session Road this morning, it's called Don Henrico's. I have been there before, but that was so long ago. However, I could still remember how great their food is.

I wasn't really sure what she was thinking right after I said that.

Mom: Are you sure?

That's the only thing she uttered. So I answered her with a strong affirmation.

Michael: Yes. Just follow me.

We're back in Baguio City again. We have no choice but to park our car so far away from Session Road that we need to walk for about 20 minutes again. The city was so crowded that time since it's still a peak holiday season. Almost all parking areas were occupied.

I could already feel and see that they were so tired and hungry that everyone's asking, "So where is that resto?" with a deep sigh.

Until few more step up the hilly road, we reached Don Henrico's.

We immediately looked for a place where we could have free seats and table. And again, it's pretty much difficult to locate one because there were so many people eating around--families, couples, friends and tourist too!

Finally, we found one good spot. =)

So we started to make an order then. It took us a waiting time of 20 minutes, but I guess this delectable and delightful meal was worth waiting for:

Buffalo Chicken with Salad and Rice

Captain Crunch Fried Chicken with Salad and Rice

Salisbury Steak with Salad and Rice

Don Henrico's Supreme Pizza (1)

Don Henrico's Supreme Pizza (2)

Spaghetti Carbonara 

I was about to go binge eating when I first saw the food being served to our table. And so I did! 

I would say that this was really a satisfying, rewarding, and appetizing meal after a long-walk tour at La Trinidad that day.

La Trinidad, Benguet: Strawberry Fields and More!

We were doing the same thing for three hours--walking.

We went to The Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet, the next day (December 25) of our stay in Baguio City. The walking started from there. We 'beat around the bush' literally. From strawberry fields to the plantation of lettuces and cabbages--it was really an amazing view!

We also found ourselves lost around Benguet's Capitol. We decided to walk few meters away from there and here's what we found out:

 A place of Detention: La Trinidad District Jail.

We walked passing by the jail and here's more exciting photos:

Whew! This was quite a tiring activity. There's nothing much special about this place though. But the most special thing to me I guess is we were enjoying and doing all-same thing as one united family. And this what makes Michael happy =)

Ristorante Bigoli: When Tuscany's Good Food is Just Around Eastwood

For me, looking for a good place to eat lunch at work is always a task. Yeah, really. If you are working at the same area, at the same environment, with the same people and same old friends at work, OMG--don't ever think to have a new set of food because for sure, it's all gonna be the same too.

Some of my office friends were bored that night that we are thinking of the same thing--where to eat. We have like few fast food names clouding our mind that time.Yeah, these inexpensive fast food chains: McDo, KFC, Goodah and some other food stores around Eastwood City.

Until I remembered one better resto around that area just along the City Walk. I have been there twice and still looking forward to eat there again. And I think this would be the right time to do it. 

"What if we'll eat at Bigoli", that's what suddenly came to my mind when I was talking to my friend, Ep, who's working station is just facing mine few inches away from me. 

With no hesitations, she replied quickly, "Why not!". She grinned, as what she always do.

To be honest, my office friends know how good the food at Ristorante Bigoli is. The pasta, the chicken, the garlic bread and all--oh my! Somehow, this simple but enticing bunch of  food could bring us a little excitement, joy and delight.

But let me just give you some brief info about Bigoli before telling you what's really inside the resto. I tried searching what would the real Bigoli pasta could look like and this is what Mr. Wiki (read: Wikipedia) have said about it:

Bigoli is an extruded pasta in the form of a long and thick tube. Traditionally they were made with buckwheat flour, but are more commonly made with whole wheat flour now. Traditionally, duck eggs are used for the pasta. Bigoli is a term used in Venice, whereas the term pici is used in Tuscany for a similar sized pasta without the hole in the center.

So this is what a traditional Bigoli pasta looks like: 

image courtesy of http://www.joylife.it/resources/art_330/bigoli.jpg

Not let me show you the 'new' Bigoli that is located at Eastwood City, Libis.

Come on in!

I just love the fascinating interior design.

...and more spaces for you.

And their all-Italian food too:

If Mang Inasal have unlimited rice promo, Bigoli can beat'em with their unli-Garlic Bread which I find it soooo amazing.

Pasta condiments

Their own version of Italian Fried Chicken

And here we are enjoying every single bite...

(From the left: Cathy, Me, Ep and Tony)

(From the left: Tony and Vince) 

Lesson: Whenever you lose your way in Eastwood City, your tummy is crumbling and tightly squeezing because of hunger, you know where to go: Ristorante Bigoli. Italian pasta at its best!