mga kapalmuks...

As Jaims put it, with the current competition, they need us more than we need them. So we're grabbing opportunities that feed hungry mouths and are wallet-friendly hehe...

I'm talking about our first-ever food tasting with Auffrance. Jaims received a number of text messages from them inviting us to visit them for a free food-tasting. I was hesitant at first because I was too shy to eat for free, when I know we're not sure if we really wanted someone to cater for us. But we still did.

When we got there, we were served with water and iced tea. We were busy looking at the slideshow of venues when Jes gave us the pictures of venue and package sheets.

The first entree was the Eggplant Tempura. It's the typical tempura with a dip. I'm not sure if it was sour cream and some seasoning but it tasted like one. It served its purpose of being the appetizer because I was craving for more after a few bites. Not bad for an eggplant. The next entree was the Corn Chowder soup. I only had a couple of sips because I didn't like how it tasted. First, I'm not a fan of corn soup and second, the combination of the ingredients just didn't match my taste buds. I think the experience was the same with Jaims. For a corn-lover, he should have liked it but as I said, he didn't. We just checked the packages again while waiting for the next course.

After the appetizers, we were served the main course. Along with the rice, we had Fish Fillet with Corn Salsa, Greenbeans with Almondine and Beef Stew with Red Wine. I have to say, the fish fillet was great. It was so good I finished it that Jaims called me patay-gutom hahaha! The Corn Salsa complements the fillet. I don’t really like fish fillet because they tastes bland even with the tartar sauce but with corn salsa – it was great! Here’s a picture of the Fish fillet.

If you’re wondering how the eggplant tempura and the soup look like, I’m sorry I can’t post pictures. Maybe you could check their site. We were so PG we only remembered to take pictures while digging through our main course heheh…

The Greenbeans Almondine was also good -- a perfect alternate for the usual buttered vegetables along with the main course. bitin lang because we were only served with around 6 strings each but it was great. God, I can’t be a food reviewer. I’m running out of perfect adjectives. The Beef Stew with Red Wine was too plain. It would pass as a usual canteen viand. I only had a single bite, and then I didn’t touch it anymore.

The Porkloin with Mustard Cream which was served on a different plate is good enough but it was so hard I didn’t enjoy it. The mustard cream was tasty though. This came with the Lemon-Peppered chicken. It was grilled. The taste was too ordinary for me. Jaims loved it. Maybe my expectation was too high. I was looking for the sweet yet lemony taste but that’s not what I get. I was even thinking of the usual household lemon-pepper taste but I wasn’t able to find it. Besides, the breast isn’t exactly my most favorite chicken cut.

For dessert, we were served with buko lychee. Upon hearing the waiter mentioned lychee, I commented how I don’t enjoy the taste of lychees but I stand corrected because I was able to finish a goblet-full of this dessert. Yummy!

Their package was too expensive though. They have a budget wedding package for 330 per head but when we discussed with Jes, he mentioned that that was the one without the arrangements and other inclusions. Bahala na, as for now, Jaims and I are looking forward for our next patay-gutom adventures.

...eto na....eto na...

After 18 days of secrecy, we were (or let's just say Jaims was) finally able to tell them about our plans but there's nothing to be happy about. Last night, I insisted Jaims that we tell mama already since she was alone in the dining table. But when Jaims went to the restroom papa came so of course, we had to tell them. Mama was already done with her dinner but was waiting for papa before she goes up. Jaims and I were still trying to find the right moment when papa stood up, so I blurted, "mama, may sasabihin daw si Jaims". It was too late though because Papa had to go out to get water at the other house. So we were left with mama, she even kidded Jaims if he's going to ask for the payment for Kuya's album. But I told Jaims to tell mama already. While I was washing their plates (which was more of an escape rather than an obligation), Jaims told mama about it.

I know mama was surprised with what Jaims said. But being a great pretender that she is, mama kept quiet for a while, pretended to do something else and then told Jaims to tell papa about our plans. I remember hearing her said, "ok na ba kayo?" I mean how could she ask that question, six years is not a joke. Well, she left us in the kitchen hanging. Papa came back but we never opened it to him. I know she'll do it, chismosa yun eh.

I am sad. Last night I was scared but today I am sad. This morning papa didn't talk to me before I left. I talked to mama, though it was only to ask her to break my 100 bill to smaller denomintaions. This afternoon when I came home from work I talked to her about merienda, she looks okay. She's weird (like me). I wish I could decipher her actions.

God, I wish you could make my life normal....

momma dilemma

The trouble with getting all too excited about something is that it has to be relayed to everyone else so someone shares your happiness. But then there are things that cannot be rushed…like breaking the news to my mom and dad. Okay, okay, don’t get too excited. Yes I am engaged, and it happened during our anniversary. I must admit that while I was expecting it to happen that night, I still can’t stop myself from crying. This is real.




It took me two weeks before I could blog it. I was busy and I don’t have a proof yet. So I waited until I had my pictorial and here’s the pic.

Back to my dilemma, I haven’t mustered enough courage to tell them about the engagement. I promised Jaims I’ll them the week after the engagement but days passed and I still couldn’t do it. SO I begged him to help me. We were decided that we would tell them over dinner on Valentine’s Day. But even Jaims chickened out. What’s even funnier was Jaims was telling me he was ready that morning, but over dinner we were both quiet. I got so depressed that night. I felt like my heart was breaking from this secret. I envy Jaims because he need not worry about anyone’s reaction. Everyone in his family are thrilled while I am here wallowing in fear hu.hu.hu.

I could use some words of wisdom now…

six years...and still counting!!!

Tomorrow, Jaims and I are celebrating our sixth year of being together (yey!) I still remember a few days after we became an item I was still counting our first week together, our first month…who would have thought we’ll be able to reach our sixth year.

We don’t have concrete plans for tomorrow. I have work and he has backlogs for editing but we promised to celebrate it nevertheless. Maybe we would pass by the Church, have dinner and hopefully be able to discuss our wedding plans. A few days ago, we were talking about THE plans over the phone, and I suddenly become all so jittery. Just thinking about breaking the news to mama and papa makes me feel so stressed out.

But really, I’m excited about tomorrow for two reasons. First, six years is SIX YEARS. Not all couples are lucky enough to last that long, and I’m really proud that Jaims and I have managed to reach this point. We do have our shares of conflicts --- with me as the main reason why these conflicts arise in the first place --- but we still manage to get pass them (because of Jaims’ extra long patience). The second reason why I’m excited tomorrow is because I’m thinking that Jaims is cooking something up for tomorrow. I know I shouldn’t expect. It would be terribly disappointing not to find something surprising tomorrow…but that’s okay.

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Happy 6th Anniversary, sweetie!
I love you very very very very very very very much!