Michi Photostory

So I suggested to my husband na magstaycation na lang kami ng Christmas and advance na lang namin yung Christmas Family Get-Together sa bahay. Malakas lang ang loob ko na magstaycation because I knew na free yung accommodation namin care of Marriott Bonvoy Points.

We’ve been to Sheraton Manila, Sheraton Manila Bay, and Sheraton Mactan so ang pinagpipilian namin are The Westin Manila, Manila Marriott Hotel, and Clark Marriott Hotel. And the winner is Clark Marriott Hotel kasi hindi pa namin napupuntahan.

This is our first Christmas Staycation because normally, sa bahay lang talaga kami at kakain sa labas ng Christmas breakfast. We left early to avoid the traffic and arrived at Clark Marriott Hotel before 9AM.

The staff gave us 2 options kung magpay kami ng deposit or pay as order na lang sa restaurant, we chose the latter. And since we only used our points for our accommodation, breakfast is not included. The staff informed us that we can avail the Buffet Breakfast for PHP1,200/person kasi yung sa restaurant pa daw kami mag-avail, PHP2,100/person daw yung rate. Since it was our first time, I had no idea sa buffet rates nila. Plan ko sana na magroom service na lang kami but in the end, we availed the breakfast and the staff gave us vouchers and keycard. Yey! Early check-in. 

We prefer 2 double beds but it is not available so siksikan kaming tatlo sa king sized bed. We have a couch, mini fridge, TV, complimentary coffee/tea maker. 

Marbled bathroom. The toilet has a bidet. 

Clark Marriott hotel has Goji Kitchen + Bar, Smoki Moto, Wu Xing, The Lounge, Urban Coffee, Pool Bar and Noodle Inc. You can also visit the restaurants of Swissotel and Hann Resort. These 3 hotels are connected so you can just explore the area. Sa dami ng pagpipilian, hindi ka talaga magugutom, nakakabutas lang ng bulsa. Hehehe! 

We had lunch at Wu Xing, breakfast at Goji Kitchen and for dinner, wala gusto sa amin magdinner na kasi may leftover kami sa Wu Xing and madami din snacks na binigay ang Marriott so we just ate Gelato at Oma’s -Swissotel Clark. Our initial plan is dinner at Smoki Moto kaso hindi na natuloy but I hope next time, we can try this restaurant kasi maganda yung review. I will share our food trip in a separate post. 

We got a complimentary chocolate bar, cake, snacks, and may Christmas gift sila na towel with Marriott logo. So wala man silang Christmas events or activities, may pagift naman. 

Clark Marriott has spa, fitness center and swimming pool pero wala kami pinuntahan. We literally ate, rested, and slept last Christmas. No late check-out so we went home early at sa bahay na kami naglunch kasi marami kami leftover from our family get-together. Hehehe! 

5398 Manuel A Roxas Highway Clark Freeport, 

Pampanga, Philippines

Most of the time, we would just eat Blizzard at Dairy Queen but last month, we saw Rita’s near TGI Fridays so my husband and I went there while waiting for my in-laws.

Rita’s is back and so far, they only have 8 branches. According to their website, Rita’s is known for its Italian Ice, made daily featuring real fruit, and award-winning Frozen Custard. 

I can’t remember kung natry ko na Rita’s before so ang tagal ko tinitingnan yung menu nila and I was trying to remember kung may natry na nga ko. Kaso while I was checking the menu, yung staff panay suggest ng kung anu-ano so hindi tuloy ako makaconcentrate sa pag-iiisip, in the end I ordered Sundae PHP250. 

I am not sure kung best seller ba ito, this is classic custard with two toppings, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. For toppings, I chose chocolate chips and cashews. It is regular in size but good for sharing, naman. But for its price, I would go back to Blizzard but I will try their Italian Ice next time. 

Lower Ground Level, SM City Santa Rosa 

Old National Highway, 

Brgy. Tagapo, Santa Rosa, Laguna

Anyway, my nephew-in-law celebrated his 13th birthday at TGI Fridays - SM Sta Rosa, and fortunately, pasok pa sa 50% off credit card promo. For a group of 10 people, here are the foods. I am not sure about the complete name of the dishes because I did not order nor pay for the meals. 

One thing I noticed, wala na complimentary chips while waiting for our order. Pero naserved din naman yung meals namin after few minutes since nag-advanced order na. Among the dishes, I only tried the fish and chips, baby back ribs, baked mac and cheese and fried mozzarella. 

I made a birthday cake topper too, I used Stylish Christmas Font.

Other Bistro Group Restaurants that we have tried using the credit card promo. 

Sa totoo lang ang hirap magdiet kung ang daming 50% Off Credit Card Promo especially sa Bistro Group of Restaurants. So far last year, we were able to eat at Texas Roadhouse, Modern Shang and Italliani’s.

My husband celebrated his birthday at Italliani’s before and hindi na naulit because we knew that this restaurant is on the expensive side and wala din naman malapit na branch sa place namin. I think it was only last year, nung nalaman ko na meron na branch sa SM Sta Rosa so meron na sa probinsiya. 

So last month when my friend suggested na magfood trip kami sa Italliani’s after ng errands namin, I immediately agreed because it’s been a long time since I ate at Italliani’s. I checked my old photos and their menu and parang wala na sa menu yung kinain namin dati, ganun katagal na. Hehehe!

I browsed their menu online so I already knew what to order pero medyo natagalan pa rin kami kasi we needed to reach PHP3,000 bill to avail the promo. Dapat kasi 3 kaming kakain kaso dalawa lang kami natuloy, so we already knew na hindi namin mauubos yung order namin so take out na lang yung iba.

We ordered Peach Mango Lemonade PHP185, Three Citrus Combi PHP185, Italian Truffle Fries PHP455, Eggplant Parmigiana PHP495, Baked Ziti PHP475, Lasagna PHP395, Pizza Margherita PHP695, Zepole Custard PHP270. 

After five minutes, they served our complimentary bread na medyo sunog. Then after 12 minutes, they started serving our food at minute intervals, and surprisingly, nahuli yung drinks i-served.

Funny story, may tanim si hubby na eggplant sa garden namin na ang sipag mamunga so nauubusan na ko ng menu para sa eggplant. Then last month out of the blue, my husband told me that he liked the Eggplant Parmigiana at Italliani’s and lutuin ko daw iyon. I told him na ang hirap magluto ng hindi ko man lang natitikman so when my friend and I went to Italliani’s, I ordered this and kahit hindi ko mahilig sa eggplant, nasarapan ako dito. In fact, mas gusto ko ito kaysa sa Lasagna na order ko. My friend and I just tried this dish at take-out ko for hubby. 

After our hearty lunch, nag-ikot ikot pa kami ng konti and then punta na ng parking lot. On our way there, nadaanan namin yung Kuya J Restaurant and we were so lucky because we saw Jericho Rosales. Waah! When we entered the mall, napansin na namin na opening ng Kuya J Restaurant and nag-ask pa ko sa guard kung darating ba si Jericho and hindi daw siya sure so kumain na kami and sa isip-isip ko baka busy sa taping ng Lavender’s Field. 

And we were so lucky na naabutan pa namin siya bago siya umalis, I was checking my phone, 15 minutes of kilig moments. Hahaha! Hindi ko alam kung sa Italliani’s ako nabusog o dahil nakita ko si Jericho Rosales ng personal. My crush since Mr. Pogi days. Hehehe! 

When my friend and I ate at Italliani’s, I knew that I would go back so before the promo ended, my husband and I went to EVIA just to eat lunch at Italliani’s after our grocery. It was my son’s Christmas party in school so hindi siya nakasama. 

We were the first diner and while were browsing the menu, the staff went to our table and asked for our initial order para maprepare na daw. Nagmamadali, hehehe! Good thing, kakain ko lang so may idea na ko ng oorderin. Natatagalan lang ako kasi nga nagcoompute ulit ako kung aabot na ba kami ng PHP3000. 

We ordered Fried Calamari PHP545, Pizza Margherita PHP695, Grilled Porkchop PHP595, Spaghetti Vongole PHP445, Blueberry Mango Cheesecake PHP480, Three Citrus Combi PHP185, and Americano PHP145. 

My husband and I enjoyed our food trip, ang take out lang namin yung pizza for my son. And if ever we will go back to Italliani’s, for sure ito yung irerepeat ko na order.

My son is already in Grade 10 so it means, Senior High School na next school year and we decided to transfer school so new environment na rin. Ang tagal na rin niya sa present school niya, Kinder pa siya nagstart so may be it is time to change school na rin. So last week, he took his first entrance test and after that, we went to SM Sta Rosa for lunch. 

Bistro Group promo is back so I asked my son kung Modern Shang or Italliani’s kami and he chose the latter. This was my third visit to Italliani’s in a month but I did not order a new dish, nirepeat ko ulit yung dati. 

For our family of three, we ordered Eggplant Parmigiana PHP495, Pizza Margherita PHP695, Spaghetti Vongole PHP445, Grilled Porkchop 2 pieces PHP995, and Blueberry Mango Cheesecake PHP480.

Yung complimentary bread pala nila is 1 bread per person and hindi na sunog. 

I thought, mauubos na yung order namin since 3 people na kami pero may leftover pa rin kami na pizza and porkchop. 

Favorite ni hubby yung porkchop, that’s why I ordered it sa EVIA para matry. I liked it too so I ordered it again sa recent visit namin kaso hindi na tender yung porkchop, siguro depende sa nagluluto.