Family is Love: Stella's Christening and Sambokojin

I am writing about my family today, yes, because family is love, and we should celebrate love in all its forms! It was Stella's (my cousin Denise's daughter) Christening yesterday, so it is reason to gather and celebrate, of course! We had lunch right after at Sambokojin in Eastwood. It was my first time to try the restaurant, and it was better than I expected...it was really good! :)



Sambokojin Yakiniku Smokeless Grill is a grill all you can, eat all you can place where you find the "ultimate pleasure of camaraderie dining," as their website says. They serve US beef, assorted seafood, Japanese sushi and specialties, and Korean specialties. Yummm. "The ritual of grilling enhanced, the merging of cuisines celebrated, the mastery of Japanese and Korean craftsmanship acclaimed."

It is obviously a Japanese x Korean mix, not like any other eat all you can place out there. They are comparing it to YakiMix, but frankly, I have not been to the latter, so I would not know. What I know is that I like the food and the ambiance of Sambokojin, and I will definitely come back and celebrate food and love family/friends.

Interesting Facts: Sambo Kojin is a Japanese kitchen god with three heads and two pairs of hands. "Bearer of fire, protector of the hearth, watcher of the household, keeper of the brotherhood."



Before I forget, the star of the day, Stella, with her mom, Denise, and her aunt, Gretchen. YES, aunt. Auntie Jen, we are getting older! O_O Anyway, Stella's so cute, tiny and adorable. Can't wait for her to grow up as tall as her mother? :)) "Land of the giants" part 2? Go, go, go!



Another notable circumstance, Ima Tising (left) just arrived in the Philippines from Taiwan, and our ever so fashionista and lovely grandmother, whom we love so much and fondly call "Mimi" and not lola, just picked her up from the airport and brought her to the party. Yay for reunions! :)





The photo above is an attempt to feature Tippi's huge Swatch watch called "The Opulence," which is part of the three Jeremy Scott Swatch Collection (see photo below), and Lu Jean's humongous flower ring. I, on the other hand, just flashed my phone, an HTC Chacha, because I do not have anything to show. Fierce shot daw sabi ni Lu Jean. No one told me so. Boo! Anyway, I like the Lightning Swatch, of the three. Who agrees? ;)



The cousins: Earvin, Tippi, Jason, Me, Lester, Justin, Adi, Jao, Gretch, Lujean, Jaja and Carol.



Take 2 (with partners, and the next generation): Earvin, Migo, Chris, Sean, Gio, Jason, Jaja, Me, Carol, Lester, Adi, Gretch, Justin, Lujean, Jao, Stella and Denise.



Not in the photo but present: Tippi and Jones :)
Not in the photo: AJ, Tin, Chay and Cheryll

Crazy Katsu along Maginhawa

While driving down Maginhawa Street in Teachers Village, Quezon City with my family last week to satisfy our craving for Moon Leaf Milk Tea, we saw this brightly lit restaurant, Crazy Katsu, which, judging by its name, is a Japanese restaurant. We wanted to try it, but we already ate dinner that time.



I got the chance to try it some days ago, after work, with my colleague/friend Ly. We were hungry and craving, and decided to try Crazy Katsu, for the first time. Parking might be a problem, if Maginhawa is jam-packed with diners, but I am sure you will be able to find a parking spot. Patience is a virtue. :)



We were really hungry by the time we got to Quezon City, so we went straight to ordering. I got the Chicken Katsu, while Ly ordered the Tonkatsu. We also ordered the Gyoza. All orders of the "Katsu" came with a bowl of rice. The Chicken Katsu is fried boneless chicken strips, really spicy because of the chopped chili on top of it, marinated with a sour-spicy sauce over a bed of chopped cabbage. The food was good, nothing extraordinary, but for the price, it is something worth trying.



Ly got the Tonkatsu, which she says is okay. Nothing special, but I guess it satisfied her hunger. Fried pork strips, over a bed of chopped cabbage. It came with rice. Tonkatsu sauce and Japanese mayo were also served, which the customer gets to put them on top of the food, as much as he/she wants.



Crazy Katsu is located at #81 Unit I Maginhawa St., Teacher’s Village U.P., 1101 Diliman, Philippines. You can contact them at +632-435-0030. I would suggest that after you eat at Crazy Katsu, you go a few blocks down to Moon Leaf Tea Shop to try out their milk tea selection, which you would definitely go back for. ;)



All Photos are taken using an HTC Chacha, and the Camera360 application. Sorry for the quality of the shots.