Karaoke + food = Fun!

(My kids singing Michael Jackson's Ben)

It's given that we Filipinos love to eat and love to sing. Well, maybe not as much...we sing as long as we know that we can sing well...I mean others would shy away from the microphone but let them have a bottle of beer or two and they'd be ready to hit those high notes too. It's possible we got this liking to singing from the Japanese (though they were brief in staying there and it wasn't always a good memory of the war)...and it would have been better if we don't care about our voice as them...I mean have you heard all their cute-y songs? hehe My kids love singing along with those songs...

It has been customary to have a karaoke party with friends when we're home and not only do I enjoy it...my kids would battle over the microphones (so whenever possible, I ask for 2 or more). So we had such fun when we went to a get together with my highschool buddies...with my best friend now based in Doha also coming back home and his ex (ehehe) who also went home then.

We sang Michael Jackson, Carpenters and other classics or any song we know that would evoke memories of those around us...doesn't matter if that's fond or painful.lol.

As mentioned, we love to eat too and you know with all those singing you really easily get tired. So what did we have then? Korean beef...sweet and tender with veggies on the side (bean sprouts, carrot strips, red bell pepper and onions sauteed in butter.)

Pancit or pansit is the term for noodles in Filipino cuisine. Noodles were introduced into the Philippines by the Chinese and have since been adopted into the local cuisine. The term pancit is derived from the Hokkien pian i sit (Chinese: 便ê食; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: piān-ê-si̍t) which means "something conveniently cooked fast."

Pancit malabon (above photo), is a stir-fried noodle dish, which originated in Malabon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It has a yellow-orange color due to its sauce that includes patis (fish sauce) and crab fat. Its toppings draw heavily from the fresh seafood that is available in the area and may include fresh shrimp, squid, oysters, and hard-boiled duck or hen eggs, as well as pork.

Pancit bihon is the type usually associated with the word "pancit", very thin rice noodles fried with soy sauce some citrus, possibly with patis, and some variation of sliced meat and chopped vegetables. The exact bihon composition depends on someone's personal recipe but usually, Chinese sausage and cabbage are the basic ingredients in a pancit bihon.

We also had puto (steamed rice cake) with a greenish color...blame the pandan flavor for it, which was really yummy! We enjoy puto everytime of the day, though it's mostly categorized under dessert, it can also be eaten as breakfast. It's filling being made from rice.

Lumpiang Sariwa, or fresh spring rolls in English, consist of minced ubod (heart of palm), flaked chicken, crushed peanuts, and turnips as an extender in a double wrapping of lettuce leaf and a yellowish egg crepe. The accompanying sauce is made from chicken or pork stock, a starch mixture, and fresh garlic. This variety is not fried and is usually around 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length; it is also the most popular among the Filipino variants. This is my favorite especially when it's served with my mom's homemade sauce.

We also had roast whole chicken then and sans rival and crunch as additional desserts...I can't locate my photos though lol. I think this is a feast in itself. I'm grateful that even for a little while I was able to see my friends and the kids get to know them and their kids as well.

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Breakfast @ Cafe Ritter

The Groupon.at deal experience continues. I have bought a lot of good deals from that website and am using them one by one. I bought a 9Euro deal that normally costs 21euro for a breakfast for two at Cafe Ritter. The deal would have ended on November 30 so I took a friend (well, she's actually the mom-in-law of a highschool friend) one Saturday morning. We were late for breakfast so we had brunch!

Cafe Ritter is located at one of Vienna's busiest street, the Mariahilferstraße. It is a shopping street housing many famous and not-so-famous fashion names. With all the shopping that's going on, they decided to close off the street; which surprised me. I haven't visited this area for a long time though we used to live just a few minutes away. The transfer to another home proved beneficial as I don't get to spend much because I used to idle time window shopping or --- shopping there. :D

Tita S and I had the traditional breakfast consisted of Semmel (roll), butter, jam and honey, boiled eggs, black bread plus cheese and ham plate. A cup of hot or cold drink of your choice tops off the list. We both had cappucino. Like always, we had a talk about life in general; her kids, my kids, her husband and mine, her work and mine...we were taking photos in between and sharing laughs as we finish our food. Talk about multitasking.

 

 

Cafe Ritter boasts of tradition having served guests for more than a hundred years. The wall-panelled interior is very classy and is the epitome of how Vienna Coffee houses should be. Chandeliers, leathered seats and a piano at one corner adds charm to its already elegant atmosphere. I regretted that I didn't bring my daughter along. She could have played a piece or two as we and other guests savor our bread and honey. (After she has eaten, of course.)

The server was really nice. Perhaps a tinge of surprise can be seen at the corner of his eyes as he asked us our orders but that's it.  He took the gift certificate that I handed without questions, served our orders and voila! He was quick and did the rounds on other tables too.

All in all, the place is commendable except for the non-smoking area being at the farther end...you have to pass by the open-area which is for smokers, I am so particular with the smell of smoke specially in the mornings and (emphasis on) while eating...I find it annoying that even if you want to avoid the smell of cigarette, you can't because that's the first thing you smell when you open the door. Such small things are negated by good experience and food anyway.

Cafe Ritter
1060 Wien, Mariahilfer Straße 73
Tel: 01/5878238
Fax: 01/5878238
E-Mail: cafe@caferitter.at

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We were so full we didn't finish everything up. We decided to walk around the shopping district a bit to shake off the calories and somehow lose the belly fat that has been bothering us both. lol. The street was so busy with constructions, stores having sale and people going about their businesses. Despite all the hush we found a street performer just across the train station showing his skills off.

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Winter has come

...and it's time for cars to be extra careful. I'm taking about changing tires for winter use, checking the brake if everything bites well and other precautions one must take to make sure that accidents are lessened if not totally avoided. This is one of the reasons why I prefer taking the public transpo but all the cold the winter brings is still a good reason to use a car than walk to the stations, wait for the bus...with the kids in tow.

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Bags

Do you love bags? I do, I think we all do. But my liking bags would only be second to my obsession with shoes. :)

Burberry messenger bags, Oilily weekender bags and Marc Jacobs handbags, nike gym bags and even Puma ladybags are some that I've set my eyes on. I had  a few but not really the ones that cost all my month's earnings. But I seem to be having a somewhat simpler eye nowadays. It's more of a must than a choice. Maybe I'll stick with my grocery bags for now to save up for more. :)

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