Who wants Crispy Kare-Kare?! Raise your hands!

As a treat to their 2,000-strong (and growing) Facebook fans, C2 Classic Cuisine is giving you the chance to sample their best-seller (and one of my personal favorites) - the Crispy Kare-Kare!

There's a reason why they're famous for this dish, and now is your chance to find out why. How? 

1. Like C2 Classic Cuisine's Official Facebook page.

2. Go to the album 'Crispy Kare-Kare On Us!'

3. Select from the photos which date you want to avail of the free Crispy Kare-Kare. 

4. Leave a comment, 'I want that kare-kare!' on the particular photo.

5. If you're among the FIRST 30 to leave a comment in any of the photos, dine in at C2 Greenhills for P1,000 and above, and that kare-kare is yours!

Promo is from March 24 - 31, 2012 and is valid only at C2 Greenhills.

It's graduation season so make sure C2 Classic Cuisine is your top choice where to celebrate this memorable occasion.

Kain!

<3

Tasty Thursday

I do not even know where and how to begin this.

Ever since Madel's invitation to the launch of C2 Classic Cuisine's launch, I have to admit it was all what Maine and I looked forward to for almost a week. As I am only a 'foodie' in terms of eating (I can burn a kitchen, haha) I thought of bringing with me Cai, since by experience I know she knows her way around the kitchen; or Paulo because he has a way with food. Neither could make it so I went head-on alone in my first ever food blogging experience.

C2 is operated by the Cravings Group and is an affiliate of Center for Culinary Arts. They serve redefined classic Filipino comfort food - from sinigang to halo-halo - you'd think it's an entirely new dish.

Today, they invited a handful of Facebook fans and bloggers to sample the latest additions to their menu this 2012. 

Chef Oliver took us through the ingredients and inspirations behind every dish and the new look of C2 Greenhills. The interior's look is now more homey and more Filipino, accented by the mural paying homage to the Ortigas area. 

Photo: C2 Classic Cuisine

He also runs Casa Roces, a Spanish-Filipino restaurant which is right across Malacanang.

The weather was just perfect for the first dish that began what would be a glorious food coma: Grilled Liempo Sinigang

In true C2 fashion, the broth is served separately from the meat and vegetables. You can enjoy the grilled liempo as it is, and you can smother your rice with the sinigang broth. The combination seems unlikely but they actually complement each other. Plus, their sinigang has just the right amount of sourness to it.

The Tinolang Binakol was brought out along with the sinigang.

It's the classic tinola (one of my homemade favorites) but C2 served it with another Filipino noodle staple - sotanghon. 

This bibingka-like dish is called Tortang de Canghero. It's crab meat omelet with vegetables, topped with the same garlic-y sauce that goes with their Lumpiang Hubad.

Of course, a true Filipino meal is never complete without rice.

We were served Bringhe (top) which is stir-fried rice with Chinese chorizo, chicken, and vegetables. The clincher for this is the coconut cream. It's not overwhelming - just the right kick to give it that surprising burst of flavor once it hits your mouth. The Adobo Rice (bottom), meanwhile, is another Filipino dining staple. I guess you can never go wrong with this.

Then it's time for another pork dish, Kinilaw na Liempo.

I was actually not able to try this dish because I was so busy with the Bringhe. But according to Maine, there was a hint of spice in it.

And then they brought out what is now OFFICIALLY, my sworn C2 favorite: Walastik!

It's C2's take on the ultimate Bistek (slang for beef steak) Tagalog. What makes it uniquely C2's is the fact that it's not only beef that's in it, but pork liver too. And I loved the onion rings! Like what Chef Oliver said, we're used to the onions served together with the bistek so he decided to shake things up a bit and make onion rings instead. Genius.

We took a break from the meat and made room for Grilled Gindara.

Don't let the fact that it's grilled fool you - the fish was actually tender! 

The last of the main course was Sotanghon Guisado. 

C2 aims to re-create the familial feeling of shared meals in a typical Filipino household, hence the serving sizes of all their dishes are meant for sharing. This was a perfect example. It was more than good for three! 

Yes, there MUST be room for dessert.

Who wouldn't love some good old Palitaw?!

Around this time all of us were feeling full already. I thought the Palitaw was the last but wait! there's more!

                

The sun was beginning to peep from the clouds and the halo-halo was a perfect way to end lunch. One of the reasons I'm not fond of eating halo-halo is the ridiculous amount of ice I have to chew after I get past the ingredients on top. C2's halo-halo is an exception to that because the ice is blended - think frappucino-style ice. It wasn't a chore eating it! And the sweet coconut jam (which almost everyone guessed to be caramel) more than satisfied our sweet tooth.

Prior to today, C2 was synonymous to just 'Crispy Kare-Kare' in my mind. Now that I know there's more to discover in their menu, for sure I'm coming back to try the rest and for more of what I got to sample this afternoon. 

Photo: Michelle of My Mom-Friday

Thanks again to the team - Kat, Rafael, Madel, Chef Bless and Chef Oliver - for having us! Will definitely see you again soon :)

Now, I'm off to sleep with Bringhe dreams! 

<3

Sweet treats

Today was a food trip of sorts. I'm going to do a reverse post and start with the 'post-dessert' Maine, Janelle and I had.

HAPPY LEMON

Going to Greenhills is (somewhat) not complete without making a stop at Happy Lemon. I FINALLY got to sample the Coffee with Oreo Cookies and Cream!

                  

Though nothing really special, it's a good break from the usual Rock Salt and Cheese I get.

FOR THE LOVE OF MAGNUM

Practically EVERYONE in my Facebook and Twitter timeline has been posting pictures of the much-talked-about Magnum ice cream. The marketing / PR team behind this dessert should pat themselves on the back for sending everyone to their nearest grocery / convenience store to try the Classic, Almond and Truffle flavors.

For me it was a toss-up between the Almond and the Truffle one. But since Truffle's been getting all the rave, I decided to go with it.

After the effort of scouring Greenhills (from Unimart to Mercury to at last, Caltex 7-11), the verdict: nothing special too. It must have been the effect of too much sweets already, but in all honesty it didn't bring the 'wow' flavor I was expecting. It is every inch Belgian chocolate and the chocolate coating complemented its creaminess. It's just something I don't see myself having a sudden craving for.

Mind you, I ate these two just right after hitting a food coma at C2 Classic Cuisine (which ultimately deserves a separate post). I swear my head felt bloated from all the sugar! I'm even skipping dinner now because I'm still full from today's feast.

Goodbye, diet. ;)

<3

Experience a new C2 Greenhills

I know it's summer and everyone is on a crash diet mode because of the beach. But here I am practically eating at any given time of the day - chocolates, hotdog sandwich [the Smokey's stall on our floor isn't really helping], pasta, McDonald's - name it, I won't say no!

What's harder to say no to is this:

A good friend of mine in college invited me to the launch of 'something new' at C2 Greenhills. Of course it's an automatic 'Yes!' because hello, how can you say no to their Crispy Kare-Kare?!

Excited to share with you the latest from C2!

<3

Relax. Unwind. Reunite.

I originally wanted to see The Vow with some office-friends and Unofficially Yours with Maine two weeks ago. Sadly, I got sick on the day we were supposed to watch the former and plans to watch it evaporated into thin air. Good thing Unofficially Yours was still showing so Maine and I finally got to catch it yesterday.

Everyone was talking about how what a 'risk' this movie took and well, I knew why just by the opening scene.

I know relationships like that do exist and only one real rule applies: Una ma-in love, talo.

Then today, after how many plans to meet up, Jarvik, Jovy, Anj and I FINALLY pushed through with Baang day!

All of us are now on BBM so it's easier to organize weekend dates. It's kind of funny that we planned for BRUNCH and not a drinking session or clubbing. Sign of aging!? Unacceptable! Lol!

Baang's nachos and Fries Overload are our comfort food! There was a time when eight of us had to share one platter of nachos! Poor lang ang peg! Anj, being the last one to arrive, bought the nachos.. and she brought homemade salsa to go with it :) 

Anj gave Jovy and Jarvik passes to watch Unofficially Yours since she's part of the team who did the movie's post production. I passed up to watch it again because I had to go to Posh Nails after our brunch.

And because we're stage friends:

Talagang kinunan ng picture! Second name from the top! Haha! I do stay for the credits too if I know Anj did the editing. It's true what they say that the only 'high' we media people get is if we see our names in the finished product. The feeling is really very rewarding.

After Baang, I had some me-time at Posh Nails. Probably my favorite out of the nail salons I've tried :) Great ambiance, super cute interiors, not to mention celebrity sightings especially on weekends. Last time I saw Sam Pinto, this time Sunshine Cruz was there.

This was the waxing area where I had my ... eyebrows waxed. I've always gone for threading and it's my first time to try to have my brows waxed. In fairness, less painful and less tears! Yes, no matter how used I am to the feeling of threading I still get teary-eyed right after. So I guess I'm going to stick to brow waxing from now on.

It was three-way tie among red, tan, and this glittered-black polish. The bottle had a masking tape label that read 'Nicki Minaj' so I guess she wore this or a similar polish? Couldn't say no to glitters so I guess the red and tan have to wait. By the way, the glitters are actually embossed and they're sequin-like. Love!

Having a great weekend so far. So thankful that I got to spend time and laughs with girlfriends since this week has been a confusion of sorts for me. Nice to spend two days not brooding over something that I *sort of* regret not doing something about.

Hope you have an awesome weekend :)

<3