Red Ribbon's Cookies and Cream

Cookies and cream is one of my favorite ice cream flavors from any brand. And when I heard that Red Ribbon has come up with their cake version, I knew I just had to try it.

I had my chance today when my favorite branch had Cookies and cream on their list of "cakes for the day" (cakes that can be served by the slice). The cake looks heavenly from top to bottom.

Vanilla, chiffon and chocolate cake layers with chunky cookies and cream at the center... with an oreo cookie atop each slice...

It was good... not too sweet. But it was a bit too creamy for me. Umay for my taste. The different layers each had its own creaminess and they didn't quite meld together for me. Maybe the textures of the layers were too different... Or maybe I was just too used to the Cookies 'n Cream ice cream that I love. Well, I think I will stick with the ice cream...

Cibo

We celebrated Da's birthday at Cibo in Trinoma last April. I know, I know... I should have blogged this a long time ago... now I couldn't quite remember the names of the great dishes we had.

After about 11 years of serving real modern Italian cuisine, we tried it, finally. The branch at Trinoma was a bit small and cramped, but the interior was modern and fancy. Nice.

Let me try to check out at Munchpunch if I could find the names of the different dishes we had....

For starters, we had the salad... I think this was the Insalata di Mare (shrimp, squid, crab, greens, basil pesto, lemon vinaigrette)

.... Linguine Alla Siciliana (gamberetti, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, anchovy, capers)


.... their Italian bread, Ciabatta.... my and Reina's favorite ... soft but with just the right amount of delicate crunch on each bite, light and tasty!

The pizza was good... and loooong..... thin and crispy... topped with authentic Italian ingredients... I love the shape.

The bestseller of the night... Manzo Tagliata (?) (ciabatta, beef tenderloin, gorgonzola, grilled onions)... I wished the serving was a bit bigger though...

Gone without a trace...

Cibo is, no doubt, here to stay. It may not be the best Italian restau in the Metro but you get your money's worth with every visit. Definitely.

Tapa King

Tapa King started small in 1987 and has now grown into one of the more famous and affordable tapahans in the Metro. I was pleasantly surprised that they have also invaded the malls with their franchises.

The interiors are bright for the dine-in customers... still with self-serve counters.

The prices have gone up since, but are still relatively affordable than most.

King and Queen sizes and others.. all customized to suite your appetite and "hungryness", there is always one that fits you right.

Chef Tony's Popcorn Company

One of the best companions to have when watching a movie, be it in the moviehouse or right in the comfort of your living room, is a big bucket of popcorn.

When I saw this in the mall, all popped and ready to go, I decided to give it a try and take a break from making my usual microwaveable stuff.

I decided to get the Original and the Cheddar varieties.

I liked the Cheddar variety more than the original. The cheddar is definitely there in every pop, plus the slight sweet taste of the caramel to give it a good balance.

What I like about this popcorn.... it is fast... quick and always ready.