Gastronomy: Lunch at Bigby's

Potato Soup

Fisherman's Catch Platter

Wild West Steak Rice Bowl

Raging Hungarian Pasta

Midnight Dream Cake

Photo courtesy of HIMATI. This is not intended for copyright infringement.

We had lunch at Bigby's Cafe & Restaurant (SM City Davao Branch) last Monday (February 20, 2012) after my mother and I attended our school University of the Philippines Mindanao's 17th Foundation Day and Recognition Ceremonies. We were there to support my sister Miko who was one of the students who got recognized for being a part of the Dean's List.

Don't you just love having an intelligent sibling when you're otherwise? Mediocrity is what I get for being a complacent student who breaks her parents' rules more often than not. Kidding aside. I don't want to sell myself short just because I'm not even an honor student. LOL. Did I sound like I'm sour graping?

Anyway, we ordered two Potato Soup (P50 each - $1.2 each), one Fisherman's Catch Food Trip Platter (P575 - $13.4), one Wild West Steak Rice Bowl (P219 - $5.1), one Raging Hungarian Pasta (P225 - $5.25) and two Midnight Dream Cake (P95 each - $2.22 each). Obviously, we got really full so we just brought the pasta and ate it at home instead.

My favorite among all these would have to be the Fisherman's Catch Platter, because I'm a big seafood fan. I love the crispy fried Dory Fish, the grilled shrimp and of course the calamares. The burst of colors in this dish made me so hooked with it. I also like the tall slice of cake because of the rich chocolaty frosting.

My least favorite is the Raging Hungarian Pasta. It was too sour because of the generous amount of tomato sauce. As a Filipino, I'be been used to sweet & sour, and creamy pastas. I could say we made a mistake of choosing it, because I was the only one who ate the majority of this meal. I did it so nothing would go to waste.

That's it for today's Gastronomy episode. 'Til my next food trip moments, my fellow connoisseurs.

Desires of a Mystic Nymph: Food Edition

When I'm broke that's the time when my mind is flooded with so much thoughts of food. Like now, I don't have even a cent left in my wallet. I can't buy what I want to eat. All my extra money for this week all went to school projects and contributions. Fudge! Poor Mystic Nymph, only pictures of delicious meals make her full. And on that note, I wanna scream that I really want to eat something appetizing. I've been craving for food for the past two weeks. The last time I had such a heart-warming and mouth-watering meal was when my boyfriend and I had a Pre-Valentine date at La Toscana, and when we celebrated Maxine's birthday at Bigby's. That was more than two weeks ago. I miss pleasuring my palate with one hell of a.. I mean "heaven" of a gastronomic adventure!

"Without food everything is less than nothing."

- Bunyip Bluegum (The Magic Pudding)

"Amazed at how something could taste this good in the midst of life's being this bad."

- Dolores Price (She's Come Undone)

"It's important to begin a search with a full stomach."

- Henry Bromel (The Big Kiss)

"I am acutely aware of food, and its omnipresence is astounding."

- Adam Scott (The Monkey Chow Diaries)

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food."

- George Bernard Shaw (Man and Superman)

I wanna pig out! Just looking at the photo I first uploaded for this post makes my stomach grumble. It's a food (obviously) from Sofitel Hotel in Manila. That luxurious place is most famous for their international buffet. I've known some acquaintances who have already dined there, and I envy them a HUGE deal! I'd love to splurge on it. I would definitely want to try a smorgasboard of food from all the continents. It's good to try all sorts of cuisine even though they look and taste different. I bet that will absolutely be a distinct and extraordinary meal to remember. I do hope to partake of fine cuisine as many times as I can someday -- twice or thrice a week for an instance. I don't mind getting insane just as long as I get to gobble up all the goodies that have been striking my fancy (just kidding).

I've been yakking about food, and it's making me hungry. It seems like I can't contain my cravings any longer. Web-surfing has been my stress-reliever for the past days, and I happened to chance upon some food available in the Philippines that actually give me an eyetooth for. They're so yummy-looking that I end up thinking about them MORE than my thesis proposal defense on Monday. The photos of those gratifying foodstuffs never fail to jumpstart my mood although I've seen them a number of times already. They get me revved up and chillaxed at the same time. The bad thins is, I haven't tried those delightful things just yet. I know it's not the end of everything for me. I know I can devour them when the perfect time comes! Anyway. these are the food I'm talking about.

GOURMET PAO

This is a gourmet siopao. These are also available in different sizes and flavors. I'd love to try their Giant Seven Treasures Siopao! So enticing!

CELLO's DOUGHTNUTS

What do you think is better-tasting, Krispy Kremes or Cello's Doughtnuts? These are also available in Governer Sales Street, Davao City.

JOSE RAFAEL FINE COFFEE's JAFFLES

This is actually called Choco Chip Jaffles. This is available in the said coffee shop in Lanang, outside the entrance to Insular Village Phase 1.

BEEF TERIYAKI BENTO

Need I say more? This is available in Izakaya Nonki Japanese Restaurant located at F. Torres Street, beside Davao Trade Convention Center.

FILLET of MAHI-MAHI

Pandawan or Dolphin-fish. This is available in Swiss Deli-cious located in Lanang, Davao City, on J.P. Laurel Avenue across Damosa Building.

I love food! I'm having a relationship with them, as quoted from Liz Gilbert from the movie Eat Pray Love. I would like to share you this term I learned from my favorite Davaoeño food blog, Davao Deli. It's called FOODNOGRAPHY. They use it as a term for food photography. Good idea, isn't it? So, what food makes you crave these days? Let's talk about them! :-)

PS: Information on the location and details of the food posted have been copied from Gourmet Pao Facebook Page and Davao Deli website. All images used in this post are not intended for copyright infringement.

Maxine's B-Bash at Bigby's

Yesterday was my friend, Maxine's 20th birthday and she wanted to treat us at Bigby's. She was supposed to be celebrating her special day with her bestfriend, but he was still somewhere I shouldn't divulge. Anyhow, we still had so much fun. The Bigby's gang surprised Maxine by singing her a Happy Birthday Song and by giving her a little cup of cake topped with ice cream. Sweet! Here are the photos we had through Charina's camera.

At Bigby's SM. Some of my friends say their branch at Torres is way better and beautiful. I actually don't mind about it.

Max treated us with the Food Trip Platter and Classic Valentine Cake, but we also had some "by pair" orders.

With the SPCM girls (Maxine, Jewel, Charina, Shimea and Lavinia) and our former classmate Janice.

The self-proclaimed Mystic Shutterbug -- yours truly! As you can see, I enjoyed a lot! mysticshutterbug.blogspot.com

Happy birthday to my photography buddy, Maxine! I wish you well on your defense this Monday. Forget about your problems!

Last week was one of the best weeks ever! I devoured some of the best dishes I've been craving for. I love the Manhattan Burger Deluxe. It's one of the best burgers I've tasted. I can't wait for my next food adventure. Where will we be at next? I'm thinking of going to Cafe Demitasse with Ciovic after my defense on the 28th. That place will be my treat for myself. I'm excited!