Som's Noodle House

Read First:
Som's Noodle House - cheap authentic version of SukhoThai (October 25, 2005)

Living Room Area in Som's Noodle House

I first blog about Som's when it created a buzz in Rockwell area around October of 2005 (Som's Noodle House - cheap authentic version of SukhoThai). Ever since then our verdict was the thai food comes close to Sukho Thai except the Pad Thai. Also, after our first trip to Som's in Rockwell, we never went back because the mosquitoes and flies were annoying us. Their full pledge restaurant along N. Garcia is still down to earth and serves the same quality of food. I liked their idea of having a living/dining room area with TV that you can rent for P100/ hour. It was perfect for us especially since we have kids and we are a big group of 8. Also, this is good if you want to watch a much awaited telenovela with your officemates or simply watching NBA with your friends.

Overall, Som's is highly recommended for the Sukho-Thai taste of Thai Food except for the Pad Thai.

Check out the Som's Noodle House Menu

Inside we were surprised that Som's was a spacious and can accommodate 50+ people. I liked the simple down to earth interior -- nothing fancy but you would feel at home and at ease.

Thai Ice Tea (P30+). Aidan did not waste any time to consume one of favorite Thai Iced Tea.

Tom Yam (P135+). It looked super spicy but when you taste it, even Aidan could take the chili levels of this soup. We loved this and this is how we like our Tom Yam Kung.

Bagoong Rice (P95+). This is home-made bagoong rice and it resembles that of Sukho Thai except that the presentation was toned down.

Green Curry (P102+). We love the curry!! It is rich, spicy, and I can still taste the yumminess of this dish. I can't wait to go back to Som's.

Pad Thai (P102+). This is always a disappointment. It seems they got it from those ready made, do it yourself pad thai products.

Som's Noodle House
1766 N. Garcia St. Corner Milagros St. Brgy. Valenzuela, Makati City
Telephone No: +63 927 440 6399

This is along the same road as St. Andrew's Church and the closed down Cafe Maestro.

Pinoy Blog Mascots *** Check out the juicy updates as of 05/30/07 ***

This post is a collection of blogs that I admire because of the blogger's:
1. Passion and love for designer toys,
2. Travel "gnome" inspired by the 2001 movie Amelie where she brings her father's gnome in her travels.
3. Cosplay (costume-play) Characters

Please share with me if you came across interesting blogs with their own "mascots" (for the lack of a better term).

Title: Mistula's Uno (www.mistula.com/uno/) by Joey

I'm amazed at this so called Ball Jointed Dolls (some call it Asian Ball Jointed Dolls) or BJDs for short. It costs at a minimum P30,000 a piece and Joey of Mistula is the first pinoy to have a BJD in the Philippines aptly called Uno. You have to buy it straight from the manufacturers from Korea or Japan. To date, Joey would have 4-6 BJDs already and you can see her dolls in her Mistula.Com Uno site. The dolls are 2 feet tall and looks creepy according to Nina and I would have to agree from the photos on the blog.

What are Ball-jointed dolls (BJDs) or Asian Ball-jointed Dolls (ABJDs)? They are realistically proportioned dolls, usually manufactured in east Asian countries (primarily South Korea and Japan). These dolls are fully articulated with ball joints at the appropriate locations on their bodies. These dolls are fully poseable and customizable, with removable wigs, eyes, hands, feet and heads. Many different variations are available. Clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories are also available. Much like collectable porcelain dolls, BJDs are often collected by adults. Like many vinyl baby dolls, they are often anatomically correct.

Ball-jointed dolls follow a traditional Asian view in their aesthetics. The designs are diverse and range from anime-inspired to the hyper-realistic. They are often considered to be collectors items. Many owners assign their dolls to a certain personalized character, and they are sometimes used as subjects of artistic works, such as photography.

Title: Be@r Brick Love (bearbricklove.blogspot.com) by Juan Ariel Comia

What is a be@rbrick? "Be@rbrick is a collectible toy designed and produced by MediCom Toy Incorporated. The name is derived from the fact that the figure is a cartoon-style representation of a bear, and that it is a variation of MediCom's Kubrick design. The @ sign in the place of the letter a is a visual device that is a part of the Be@rbrick brand, and as such, a trademark of MediCom Toy."

It is fascinating to see the different kinds of cute little bears which resembles a Lego bear. This young blog is dedicated to Ariel's love for these little creatures and his own personal Be@rBrick collection. I like the way he creates stories out of each be@rbrick complimented by a well composed portrait. I actually wanted to buy one after reading Ariel's blog, especially if there would be a Pinoy be@rbrick version.

Title: Teenage Kicks (isabetlog.multiply.com) by Isabelle Ramos

Here is an interesting concept which provides a fitting tribute to the "Tabo" as a symbol of pinoy culture. Being a part of NU 107, she has the privileged to interact with artists and she was able to convince them to have a creative pose with the "Tabo". I like the Nina Sandejas blowing Tabo pose. I wonder what was her inspiration for this Tabo series. I wish I could meet her someday and probably have Aidan pose with the Tabo too.

It started out as a conversation on toilets and bathrooms between Kage Gozun (kagey.multiply.com) and Millie's random-conversations-about-bathrooms. This was the blog post that gave life to the whole group: What do you do with a tabo?! This gave birth to the legion of tabo travelers.

Title: Where in the World is Spiderman? (spiderman.kwentongtambay.com) by Batjay

This spiderman "gnome" has been to more countries than I do. This is probably one of the longest running "gnome" pinoy blog which started 3 years ago (June 2004). Since this is a Batjay's blog, you should expect to see funny poses of spiderman and sometimes, rated R kind of poses. I wanted to have a similar companion for all my travels in the Philippines but I'm still waiting for someone to give me a travel "gnome".

Title: Pinky:St Sumire/Sayuri (www.flickr.com/photos/nina/) by Nina The Evil One

"June 21 marks the day I owned my first Pinky. Sayuri, a PK010 Sumire, shares a birthday with my cousin. I chose this Pinky because of the five other Pinkies available in the store, she is the most similar to me." -- Nina

I got introduced to the world of Pinky:St by Nina whom I met in one of our Pampanga Trips. These girls are really cute, check out the complete list of Pinky:Pix.

What is a Pinky:St?
"Pinky:St, also written Pinky Street, are plastic (Polyethylene Terephthalate) figures designed by BabySue and manufactured by the Japanese company Vance Project. Currently 14 regular Pinky Street dolls and an accessory set have been released (a second set has been given an August 2007 release date), as well as repaints. Repaints are differentiated from the original-color releases by sequential lettering (e.g., the first repaint for the first doll is referred to as 1A, the second repaint as 1B, etc.) The figures are compatible with 1:18 scale dollhouses, furniture, vehicles and accessories.

" A unique feature of the Pinky Street dolls is interchangeable parts. The heads, hair styles, clothing and accessories can be easily switched between figures according to taste. Beyond the base sets available for purchase, the figures also enjoy an active customization community. Pinky garage kits are also available. " (wikipedia)

Title: Curry puff, lah ! (www.flickr.com/photos/currypuff/) by Khursten Santos

Her flickr site is dedicated to her Pinky collection and I must say the photography is really good. Check out the Greenbelt Park series and how I wish that I would also have a doll model for my photos...

Title: Merlin's Adventure (www.flickr.com/photos/via/) by Happy Via

" Inspired by the movie Amelie and her father's gnome, I've created this gallery of my favorite stuffed toy -- Merlin, the spotted owl (aka Spotto). He loves to travel! He was given by a good friend of mine, Mavi! He, unfortunately, doesn't have a picture with her." - Happy Via.

Via is a pinoy based in the US and I met her when she was on vacation in the Philippines. I think Merlin's adventure was only limited to the U.S. and I hope someday that she would bring Merlin to see the wonderful sights in the Philippines.

Title: Miss McDonalds (miss-mcdonald.livejournal.com) by Genie Ranada

Whatever happened to Miss McDonalds? I was fortunate to see her last exhibit in SFA (Store for All Seasons) but I never really got a chance to meet her personally. This was a blogosphere favorite in 2005 and I was wondering if the McDonalds franchise decided to pursue a case against her. Please share any insider scoop on what really happened with Miss McDonalds?

Title: Aidanacious (http://aidanacio.us) by Our Awesome Planet

As for me, Mila is right, I have Aidan as my travel companion. He actually has a photoblog of his own maintained through the love and dedication of his mom. If most people would have physical albums, Aidan has a photoblog ever since he was born. I do hope we will be able to maintain it as long as possible.

Gaster Deli-cious!

Gaster - a modern european deli which means "stomach" or "belly" in greek.

In its 4th Reincarnation, Gaster Deli @ 6750 is perhaps receiving good karma these days. This is the fourth transformation of this corner restaurant in 6750 by the same owner which used to be known as Giraffe, Dream Bar and in its recent past life, Quisine. The highly anticipated opening of Gaster Deli last Monday, May 21, was well received by the 6750ers which includes folks from our company, caltex, microsoft, etc... The food is expensive and there is a bet whether Gaster Deli would survive this time around. This is the closest we could get to a Cafe Central setup (ala Friends) near our office. Good thing they serve good Illy's coffee (suppose to be the no.1 coffee in Europe) as their secret weapon against Starbucks and UCC.

So far, we are getting great raves and reviews from people who have tried it for the first time. We tried all the pasta and rice options, which is the only affordable meal for us, and all of them were great! I heard people raving about their prime rib (P770+), and strawberries in the shelf, etc. As if all the people who have tried their food on their first week of operation, came out with songs of praises and a vow to come back the next day. As for me, I've eaten thrice in the span of 5 days, and can't wait to try their wide assortment of gaster-deli-cious menu.

Gaster Deli Menu
(Check out the menu so that you won't have an awkward look when you decide to go for the cheapie ones. Or you can just go in, sit down and just say what you want to order, as if you are a regular in this place. I wonder if they have those secret dishes not indicated in the menu.)

Main Course - Meat, Poultry and Fish -- The prices are enough to keep me turn quickly to the next page.
Soups, Pasta and Rice -- Only items we can afford when eating out for lunch.
Appetizers and Salad
Sandwiches -
Breakfast Menu -- I can't wait to try this next week.
Desserts Menu -- decent desserts but I wouldn't go here just for this.

Finally, a great restaurant right underneath our office. Thanks to Chef Chris Kalaw and Chef Mike Tinsay for a job well done with the Gaster Deli-cious gourmet dishes . This is definitely better than Swiss Deli in Pioneer. Have you tried Gaster Deli? If you see me here, please don't hesitate to say hi :)

" Our design concept is a seamless integration of store and restaurant operations never seen before in the country. Modern Architectural detailing provides strong character and whimsical feel that suggests movement and warmth. "

A gourmet resto with integrated retail shelves? I'm sure it is just a good excuse to be unique but I did not like the mix. It would have been better if it was gourmet resto, cafe and a karaoke bar :) Or why not just create a Cafe Central like the one where the Friends gang would hang out?

In terms of design, the accent pieces like the lamps and wall patterns were done very well. Although you could notice the poor workmanship in the crooked floor tiles or the warped plywood ceiling. You could see that they have to rush through the setup of the resto so that they could open in time in May.

"Our gourmet section showcases the finest goods that money can but (?) from the world food markets.
"Our wines and liquors - carefully selected from around the world to ensure your total satisfaction."

Ok I detected a wrong spelling in their menu-- the "but" should have be changed to "buy". But who am I to criticize, I make a lot of grammar sins and spelling errors in my blog! (sorry for that :) As for the selection of goodies in the deli, I don't have feedback if the items are really uniquely imported just for gaster deli or you can just buy the stuff anyway in Cash & Carry, Landmark or Rustans. I saw a keg of the best beer in Germany which costs P1,400! I want to try it during a team celebration.

Here is a view of the mezzanine floor where they can accommodate a more intimate setting of group lunches/ dinners.

Italian Soft Bread (P150++) served with Babaganoush, tatziki, and tarmasalata

I love the tamasalata dip. The soft bread feels soft but heavy when you eat it. P50++ for one long bread and a dip, is expensive don't you think?

Prawn Bisque (P250++) - Linguini sauteed in a prawn bisque and tossed with baby prawns, wilted spinach and sundried tomatoes .

If you like prawn bisque taste, then this pasta is for you. The pasta servings are good for two despite the fact that the waiters insist that it is only good for one. You could decide to share but there is a feeling that sharing is not allowed in Gaster Deli.

Chicken Parmigiana (P230++). Breaded Chicken fillet topped with shaved parmesan served with linguini tossed in a tomato sauce and basil sauce.

I know of two persons who tried this and both of them are raving about how good the tomato sauce and basil combination. Also, the addition of the chicken makes this dish all worth it!

Scallop and Herb Risotto (320++). Pan fried scallops served with a three herb risotto topped with parmesan cheese. I will order this next time. I never had the guts to ask for a bite just to taste this. Looks good, yummy, and rich in carbo.

Iced Lemon Gateau (P70++). If you are looking for a good dessert to end your meal, try this lemon gateau. What is a gateau? It is a rich sponge cake mixture, filled with cream and iced. It is french for cake. I like lemon cakes when I got introduced to it when I ordered the Lemon Torte from Roshan.

Orange Creme Brulee (P90++). Just a perfect serving of creme brulee.

"The introduction of modern designer furniture pieces gives dept and evokes a casual, modern, fast paced lifestyle. "

I love the long back chairs! This is one of my favorite spot.

Did I mention that Gaster Deli has a lovely young staff? Thanks for the great service so far !

Gaster Deli @ Ground Floor of 6750.
Tel No. +632 813-6750 (nice number!)

Rodic's Makati Invasion

We decided to check out what is the real buzz about Rodic's Tapsilog. Being a green archer, I'm just starting to discover UP's foodie delights. In fact, I was talking to Ivan Henares to give us a tour of U.P.'s legendary food places. Rodic's tapsilog is quietly invading Legaspi Village with two branches -- one in Salcedo Street and the other one in Adelantado Street near Makati Medical Plaza. A canteen in a Makati setting which it serves "Jollijeep" type of food in a nice quaint turo-turo setup. The Salcedo Street branch is owned by Ma. Socorro Tecson Mangahas, the daughter of the original owner of the Rodic's in UP.

The Bestseller in the house is of course Rodic's Tapsilog. All the silog meals comes with free ice tea and it would only costs P60 net. The Tapsilog is like a shredded bits of sweet beef that is similar to the fruity beef or pork my wife used to buy in Shin Tong Yong (I'm not sure if this is still alive). This is an interesting take on the Tapsilog and now I know why UP folks keep raving about Rodic's. One of these days, I'll try to visit the original store in UP. Have you tasted Rodic's before?

Another UP popular food place I've been to is the Chocolate Kiss Cafe - The Good Stuff?

I decided to surprise Rache one Saturday morning. She likes to eat home-cooked Filipino food and I thought Rodic's in Makati was the perfect lunch venue.

There are pre-cooked food served turo-turo style. Somehow you feel that the food is clean and safe to eat because of the restaurant setup.

We tried the Sisig but we did not like it because it is full of fat. I guess you get what you pay for.

They try to keep the canteen setup with plastic chairs and tables. What is interesting is the Spice of Life Mural inspired by Larry Alcala depicting the life in U.P.

This is one scene which I do not understand. What's the significance of the nuns ringing the church bells?

This is an interesting take on the scenes in U.P. Oblation.

Rodic's Diner since 1949:
Telephone #: 75-928-75