happy steps

October is here again, another great month for us to enjoy! After our recent family vacation, I’m looking forward to working full blast and keeping up with some pending projects. My happy steps would probably just be here at home, but who knows, there might be some surprise trip coming up. We might squeeze some time though for an ongoing celebration just nearby – October is an exciting month for Bacolod City which is currently celebrating its 29th Masskara Festival from October 1-19.

I am not usually a big fan of this event though. Last Sunday we were at the public plaza and the crowd was just too much! The streets along the Cathedral and downtown were closed to vehicles and all sorts of vendors are lined up selling food, toys, clothes, footwear, and of course masks! Let’s see if we can visit Bacolod within this week and maybe I can take some photos as well. Anyway, we’re looking forward to my siblings coming home for the holidays. Yey!

I’m still here in Prague and enjoying my vacation a lot. But that doesn’t mean I am not missing the Philippines, especially the native dishes we have at home such as yummy fresh seafood!

Recently, I cooked Tom Yum which is a Thai spicy sour soup with shrimp (or any seafood), mushrooms, lemongrass and lime. Too bad the fish was not fresh (it was fish fillet bought straight from the frozen food section) and not as tasty as the fresh catch we usually buy from the wet market back home.

Seafood is quite pricey here in Europe so I’ll just content myself with the photos of some of the food we ordered during cutie sis’ birthday celebration at Enteng’s of Sagay in Lacson Street, Bacolod City few months ago:

Crispy Shrimps

Kinilaw (raw Tanguigue or Spanish mackerel in vinegar with chopped onions, ginger, tomato, and red chilies)

Grilled Squid

I was cleaning up the mess in my desk when I chanced upon a tiny strip of paper which I was about to throw but the scribble on it made me scrutinize it a bit. It was my Mom’s handwriting with this phrase: “P. Bulata 433-5160”. It’s the phone number for Punta Bulata White Beach Resort, one of my dream destinations in Negros Occidental. Aha! Another sea paradise for me to explore.

Photo credits: Punta Bulata White Beach Resort

We’ve seen it as just one of the new restaurants along Lacson street. We pass it by everytime we head to Bacolod and back. But Uncle F has nothing but praises for Enteng’s native restaurant (originally from the city of Sagay, about 84 kms from Bacolod) so, one time we stopped by for lunch and decided to give it a try. Food was really yummy as what uncle told us, and the prices are affordable. We ordered grilled scallops, buttered vegetables, lechon baka (beef), baby back ribs and sizzling squid. Aside from their native lechon (roasted pork), Enteng’s is famous for kinilaw which we haven’t tried yet so we vowed to be back again.

When Uncle F and Auntie V celebrated their wedding anniversary recently we decided to treat them to Enteng’s. We still ordered grilled scallops (my fave!) again, including grilled squid, grilled tanguigue (Spanish mackerel), fish sinigang (sour fish soup) and mixed seafood platter.

We still haven’t tried their kinilaw since it was evening and it’s not advisable to have raw fish for our tummies. I brought my own baked moist chocolate cake for our dessert and the staff was accommodating enough to provide us with the extra plates and forks. The owner Enteng (whose kinilaw expertise has been featured in magazines and news articles) and his wife were present that time, sitting behind the cashier unassumingly. Mom handed them some cake slices too. It was an evening of good food and family togetherness. Until next time again!

We had our dinner yesterday at 21 Bar and Restaurant, popularly known to Bacoleños as Bar 21, located at 21st Lacson street in Bacolod City.

If you’re looking for some fine dining with a quiet, homey ambiance - a relaxing family dinner or sweet romantic date - then this is the place. Service is great with very attentive staff and food didn’t take too long to prepare.

Prime Rib (standing roast)

Calamares with marinara sauce

Steamed fish (Lapu-Lapu)

We will definitely be going there again for snacks next time to try their famous special Batchoy.

When I’m not visiting another place, riding in a bus that would take me to another island or waiting at the airport lounge, my steps usually wander right here at home. Yup, the garden outside our house, though not that spectacular and well-landscaped, provides a happy trip of sorts among the plants and blooms. I’m sharing here some of those pretty flowers that seem to smile at you as you pass them by.

Bangkok Kalachuchi

White Angel

Orchids

Photos taken from my site ideasnpink.