Food Trip: Amici

I thought Amici was a Japanese restaurant when I first heard its name. I later learned from my sister that it serves Italian dishes such as pasta, pizza and gelato.

Recipe: tomato basil pasta

Aside from Samantha Brown’s travel guides, another favorite of mine is Jamie at Home, English chef Jamie Oliver’s cooking at home series. He has his own garden where he grows the fruits, vegetables and herbs used in his recipes featured in the series. Inspired with Jamie’s home-grown herbs, I bought several herbs during my recent trip to Tagaytay.

One of the herbs I bought is basil. I believe this is a Genovese Basil, also called Sweet Basil, the most common variety.

Here’s the recipe of the Tomato Basil Pasta I made for the family last night.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf 2011 Giving Journal and some notes to myself and CBTL Philippines

First and last drinks.

Last Monday was no ordinary day. 

Alas! I finally completed collecting 24 stamps and got my Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf 2011 Giving Journal. But what’s more rewarding is the thought that I have shared a good time with family (my sister in particular) and friends (you know who you are) over cups of coffee and, sometimes, tea.

Plus, a part of the sales from the coffee treats we have consumed (and will be consuming) are given to the scholars of Real Life Foundation, Inc.

Deep fried Oreo cookies, yum!

Oreo is in itself a comfort food. But what happens when you coat it with a light batter and deep fry until golden brown?
 

Heaven…
 

Thanks to my sister who introduced me to another yummy treat to include on my list of comfort food. Today, I took my first big bite into a deep fried Oreo cookie at The Old Spaghetti House.
 

TOSH’s deep fried Oreo cookies a la mode (P90).

Take a peek inside Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s 2011 Giving Journal

It’s becoming pleasantly cooler now that  Christmas is just around the corner, making it impossible for me to resist a warm cup of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s (CBTL) coffee.  Aside from getting the 2011 Giving Journal, what makes CBTL’s coffee (tea and yogurt) more enjoyable this season is the thought that you are “changing lives with every cup.”

The 2011 Giving Journal is a huge upgrade from last year’s journal notebook with blank pages  (which is my notebook of choice when jotting down business-related notes, making to-do lists and doodling). Not a bad reward for gulping down 24 CBTL drinks:  1 Original Ice Blended, 1 one Tea Latte, 1 Apple Caramel Ice Blended or Apple Pie Tea Latte and any 21 drink of choice (Original Ice Blended, Frozen Swirl, and coffee- and tea-based drinks).

CBTL's Swirl Rewards Card

I don’t exactly know why I like Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) better than other coffee shops. It may be the homey ambiance, feel-good music or simply the excellent coffee and tea concoctions.

I love coffee. And I feel like I’m starting to fall in love with tea. That’s why I decided to get a Swirl Rewards Card. For P195, I think the perks that come with the card were worth it – free WiFi access at any CBTL branch and merchant discounts (I just hope they will get more participating merchants).