CASA FELIZ

Before Sweetie and I went on an evening road trip last weekend, we decided to grab something to eat at Casa Feliz. I have heard so much about the place, specially their cakes and pastries, so we both agreed to tick off next from our Marikina food trip checklist "Casa Feliz" (Spanish for "Happy Home").

We arrived quite late, it was almost 9:00! Which worked to our advantage: the place was lit with Christmas-y lights, perfect for their garden setting.

There are two dining areas, the main dining area and the one near the bakeshop. You can see some furnishings that render the place a bit more homey.

After looking around a bit, we sat down and asked for the menu. As with some of the previously featured food spots in Marikina, their prices are very, very reasonable. Marikina is indeed the food-trip-place-to-be.

I know you are excited to see the food photos, so here they are:

 Buffalo wings - loved the sweet and spicy and sour sauce with the dressing. Yum! (70 PhP)

Pesto aligue (crab fat) pasta: I can order this every single time. (90 PhP)

 Where did this cheese-tangled pizza come from?

 Where else, from a whole Spanish pizza (220 PhP). These guys are sure generous with the mozzarella!

 My favorite shot of their Carrot Cake! :) (Notice the lights?)

 They actually serve the cake slices with art. :)

And the star of the night: their famous VIDA VERDE cake! A slice of Sans Rival with green tea infusion. So light, so crisp and chewy at the same time, with just the right sweetness.

After munching on all those goodies, we dropped by their bakeshop and bought some chocolate chip cookies. Sorry, no photos. I already devoured them. They taste so good!! They're different, believe me. I am just so happy to know that there are so many great food places in Marikina that exist which make the city worthy of being called a food trip haven.

Interesting stuff we saw at the bakeshop:

 Scarlet red cake...wow!

Colorful cupcakes!

Uniquely Casa Feliz. :)

CASA FELIZ

95 Rainbow St., Hacienda Heights, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 933-6653
Open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
You can also visit wwww casafelizcakes.com
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

My map of Casa Feliz made with love (click on the image to enlarge):

And yes, Casa Feliz is a neighbor to SKOW!

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

ALING REMY'S SPECIAL DELICIOUS PUTO AND KUTSINTA

From my elementary years up to now, I remember only one type of puto (another type of rice cake) ever-present in parties I go to: birthday parties, weddings, fiestas, name it. It's the little orange puto with a chunk of melted cheese on top: It is Lola (Aling) Remy's puto!

You may see lots of puto manufacturers that have similar-looking puto, but Lola Remy's is the original, and the best. It is chewy, with just the right sweetness...and a very milky-salty chunk of cheese as its topping! Really, really good with grated coconut.

I had the honor to talk to her and her husband when I was in high school and see how they make puto but I had nothing to document their craft with but my memory. Both of them have already journeyed to heaven, leaving the business (and the secret recipe of course) to their children.

This is how the stand looks like so you won't miss it in case you drop by and buy your puto. Lola Remy's shop also sells miniature kutsinta, and white puto. You can take the Calumpang jeep from Katipunan and get off right in front of her shop.

The shot above was quite rare, the place is usually packed with people and there are so many parked cars.

The shop also sells other sweet treats, like maja blanca (a dessert of coconut cream with corn kernels and caramelized coconut), pichi pichi (sweet little cassava cakes with grated cheese topping), everlasting (the Pinoy version of meatloaf - only better, hehe) and leche flan. They also have a sack of chicharon in case you want some pork cracklings, hehe.

ALING REMY'S SPECIAL DELICIOUS PUTO AND KUTSINTA
229 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 467 9806 / 09163191811
Munching Budget per person: starts at 65 PhP per pack

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

More Reasons to Love SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL CAFE (SKOW)

Okay, so this is crazy: Only a couple of weeks after posting my Some Kind of Wonderful Cafe (SKOW) feature, it has received most views and has surpassed all the other stats in this blog. WOW. If you look at the side bar of this blog, it is now the most viewed entry! Congratulations SKOW!

And thanks of course to all you visitors who keep on checking in, thanks for all the views and comments. Please visit Marikina for all your food trippin' needs, I promise to feature more foodie places for you to check out. :D

Anyway, last weekend, I was back in SKOW, this time with my family for an extended birthday celebration of my sister. I raved so much about the place that in the end they were the ones insisting we go there!

I tried their pasta, which I wasn't able to order last time I was there because we already had too much to eat. I ordered the puttanesca (120 PhP) which I ALWAYS order in all restaurants I go to that has Italian cuisine on their menu.

Three words: IT. WAS. FLAVORFUL. Order this!!! I actually believe all the pasta dishes are good, so I'll try another one on my next visit.

My bayaw (brother in law) ordered the cheeseburger (140 PhP) according to my high recommendation.

Of course, he LOVED it. I know, right? :)

Now, introducing the star dish of the night: BARBECUED SPARE RIBS (140 PhP). Served with potato salad and rice, it was a hit with everyone. I'll order this next time too, all those ribs to myself! Hehehehe!

FLAVORFUL FOOD, HAPPY PEOPLE. :) (Do you see those big oatmeal cookies on our table? They're really good too!! Must-try!)

The service, as always, was impeccable. I love these guys! (That's co-owner Dennis at the counter, if I am not mistaken.)

Told you I would order buffalo wings (135 PhP) again.

SKOW is operated by brother-sister tandem Dennis Malonzo and Chef Graciela Malonzo, with Chef Suzie Reyes actively helping out with the improvement and formulation of their recipes. No wonder their food is sooooo good!!

And oh, when I was there, they were playing SEONA DANCING!

Visit SKOW today! (Except if you're reading this on a Tuesday.)

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL CAFE (SKOW)
Rainbow Street, SSS Village
(Right across St. Paul Parish, if you're commuting, take the SSS jeep or FX and ask Manong Driver to let you off near Saint Paul Parish)
Marikina City, Metro Manila
(02) 409-1242 / 09282714998
OPEN everyday EXCEPT Tuesdays FROM 12nn to 10pm
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

Visit this post to see my map: Click me!

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

MANG FREDERICK'S BARBECUE

Since 1964, and tagged as "Marikina's Finest", Mang Frederick's Barbecue has been a constant stopover for all Marikenyos and tourists alike. The secret marinade is the key to Mang Fred's success...not to mention the vinegar mix that goes with all his specialties such as pork barbecue, tenga (pig's ear), and my favorite isaw (pig intestine)!

And no, their barbecue is never tough. So tender, so juicy, so tasty at only ten pesos per stick. A perfect snack, or ulam.

Mang Frederick's barbecue has four branches. The easiest to spot is the one beside the San Roque church. To get there, just take the Calumpang jeep to Marikina and ask the driver to let you off San Roque Church, or OLA (Our Lady of the Abandoned). If you're driving to Marikina, immediately turn right as you go down the Marikina river bridge, and just go straight until you reach the church. If you're really not good at this, just follow the Calumpang jeepneys that you will see...hehe! :D

The other branches are in San Roque along W. Paz (about 50 meters from the church branch), one in Calumpang, and another one in Sto. Nino (near "trading", just ask around when you get off at Bayan, they know it for sure -- this time, turn left as you go down the bridge).

Barbecued delights. I want to go to Mang Frederick's, right now. As in, now na.

Hello my favorite isaw! I'm on diet mode (mostly) on weekdays, so see you this weekend, okay? :)

MANG FREDERICK'S BARBECUE
Beside San Roque's OUR LADY OF THE ABANDONED CHURCH
San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
With another branch at 129 E. DELA PAZ ST., San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No.: 6463685
Ihaw-ihaw set up usually starts at noon. :)
Munching Budget per person: starts at 10 PhP


Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni