Spread Some Awesome

Duration: 2-3 days

Budget: ~Php5ooo

Bummers: Insufficient body fat to provide protection against the cold

You’ve never been in Baguio City if you haven’t been there during Panagbenga (Flower Festival)

Panagbenga 2011

I have been in Baguio City for many times but the best time to go there is during Panagbenga (Flower Festival). This February, take some time off and travel to the Summer Capital of the Philippines to enjoy this majestic feast of blossoms!!!

Here is the tentative schedule for Panagbenga 2011:

November 16, 2010 – Launch of Panagbenga 2011
February 1, 2011 – Grand Opening Parade
February 1 – Mar 6, 2011 – Market Encounter
February 12, 2011- Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom
February 13, 2011 – Pre-Valentine Event & Fluvial Float Parade
February 26, 2011 – Grand Panagbenga Street Parade
February 27, 2011 – Grand Float Parade
February 28 – March 6, 2011 – Session Road in Bloom
March 2, 2011 – Pony Boys Day
March 3, 2011 – Central North Luzon Tourism Fair
March 6, 2011 – Grand Closing Ceremony & Grand Fireworks Display (Flowers in the Sky)

Click here to read more..

Tags: Baguio, festival, flower, strawberry

Budget: ~Php500 per person

Duration: 1-2hrs, service is A-OK!

Bummers: Servings are in small portions

Authentic Italian Taste meets One More Chance memories, that is Bellini’s..

 

Bellini's and Breadstick

The main reason that I wanted to try Bellini’s so so badly is because of Popoy and Basha. Maybe, if you knew about this also, you wouldn’t think twice of visiting this Italian Resto. One More Chance is my all-time favorite movie and I probably share the same sentiment with millions of moviegoers in the entire country. This is by far the most realistic movie I have seen that everyone can relate with the characters. The restaurant where the “barkada” in the movie One More Chance regularly meets to share good food and friendship is just right at the heart of Cubao Shoe Expo (formerly Marikina Shoe Expo) in Cubao, Quezon City.

We searched for Bellini’s and when we found it, it was like finding treasure in the middle of the jungle. At first, you won’t easily notice of the restaurant because it is inside a compound of old business establishments in the busy vicinity of Cubao. Maybe if I point out the location to you, you wouldn’t believe that there is an Italian Resto that serves great food in that area.

Bellini's Facade

One More Chance Hangout Spot

When we entered the Resto, my eyes sparkled of amusement because right there in front of me is the dining spot that has been used in the movie. The waiter guided us to our table and gave a menu with tons of choices. This is most challenging part of dining in this place. With so many choices, I wanted to try everything on their menu. When you go to this place, I recommend that you try everything that you can because all of their food selections are great.

We order pizza, pasta, and roast beef. For pizza, we ordered the Bellini’s Special and the Quattro Formaggi (Four Cheese). For pasta, we got the Spaghetti al Pesto, Spaghetti al Cartoccio (Mixed Seafood), and Spaghetti allo Scoglio (Mixed Seafood without Shells).

Roast Beef

The roast beef comes in a very small portion. However, it is one of the best tasting roast beefs that I have tried. The beef is cut in thin slices and it comes with a side dish of steamed cauliflower and cucumber. It is topped with mushroom sauce that completes the entire dish.

Bellini's Special

Bellini’s Special pizza is a concoction of tomato, onion, bell pepper, eggplant, and cold cuts. Yeah, that is correct, this pizza has eggplant in it. If you don’t like eggplant, you’ll surely have a change of perspective about this vegetable as it tastes so good.

Quattro Formaggi

Quattro Formaggi is the Four Cheese pizza recipe of Bellini’s. This is one of the best dish that you should order from this restaurant. The cheese melts in your mouth with a burst of the perfect combination of saltiness and creaminess. The blocks of whole cheese in the picture above makes this dish oh-so-yummy!

Bellini's Special Chili Sauce

If you want to really enjoy the flavors of the pizza that you’ll order, pour in some of the Bellini’s Special Chili Sauce before you munch on them.

Spaghetti al Pesto

Spaghetti al Cartoccio

Spaghetti allo Scoglio

All the pasta dishes that I have tried are very flavorful. If this three represents the entire selection of pasta dishes from Bellini’s, I can confidently say that all other pasta dish will taste good as well. There is a certain herbal infusion in their pasta that makes each dish delicious.

Bellini's Wall Paintings

Bellini's Dining Area

Going to Bellini’s Italian Restaurant did not only let me fulfill my yearning to see the place where my favorite movie spent a lot of time building friendship and love, and rekindling broken ones. Going to that place gave me a new Resto to add in my list of favorite Italian restaurants and so far it is now on top of my list. The good food and the relaxing ambiance makes Bellini’s an appetizing escape hidden at the heart of a busy metro.

Spread some awesome..ness..

Tags: food, Italian, One More Chance, pasta, pizza, roast beef