Panzerotti

My snack at Piadina-Glorietta---Panzerotti, an Italian style empanada with insalata, and a bit of Zee's pasta.:p

 

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Linguine alle Vongole

Baba Ghanoush

I was in the mall again a couple of weeks ago for some errands and was in the look out for an ink-efficient printer.  I noticed Stavros, a Mediterranean bistro, and made a mental note to have dinner there after I finished my errands.  

I was the only customer when I got here around 7 pm, and the kitchen crew seemed happy to see me.   I was focused on hummus for my pita but they were fresh out of stock.  The lady at the counter suggested Baba Ghanoush instead---a Levantine dip of eggplant and tahini, mashed and mixed with olive oil and garlic.  I remember the eggplant dip/appetizer at Chateau 1778 that I have been trying to make at home but was never successful.

Anyway, I still prefer the eggplant appetizer at Chateau 1778 but this Baba Ghanoush was also tasty.  Eggplant is one of my least favorite vegetables that I'm always delighted when I encounter an interesting and flavorful eggplant dish.

I wanted something light for the main course, and decided on Linguine alle Vongole--a lighter pasta made with fresh clams, garlic, wine, parsley and olive oil.  This was scrumptious! 

Linguine alle Vongole

Footnote:  I returned to Stavros recently but it was no longer there.:(

Linking to Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Spinaci Zola

An antipasti U and I shared at Cibo---Spinaci Zola, or spinach and gorgonzola (Italian blue cheese) dip with warm crostini (small toasted bread).

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Garlic cheese focaccia

@ mirandablue
Garlic Cheese Focaccia with Checca

I was faint from hunger while waiting for my newly-married friend [and hubby] at CPK-Greenbelt.  Apparently, they were caught in a Makati traffic jam. My lifesaver was an Italian-style pizza bread topped with Mozzarella cheese, garlic and herbs, hearth-baked and served with a combination of fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and evoo. By the time the couple arrived, I already finished off four slices of focaccia!  As for the rest of our food...I got a bit shy to take photos--it was my first meeting with my friend's husband, I didn't want him to think I'm a camera-freak. *LOL*


P.S.  I'm having a hard time uploading photos.  Is it just me, or are you experiencing it as well?

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Focaccia

@ mirandablue

While waiting for my 3 o'clock appointment last Friday, I heard my stomach grumbling and realized that I missed lunch. I needed a quick bite before the meeting, and ordered this grilled vegetables focaccia. Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread---this was served crisp and warm with French fries on the side.  There were grilled carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, topped with goats' cheese and drizzled with olive oil.  I thought this was huge but I finished it anyway.:p

Posted for Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Fruti di Mare - Panini

Fruti di Mare means Fruit of the Sea.  I got a panini of warm ciabatta (Italian white bread) with mozzarella, white cheese, tomato, anchovies and basil served with potato chips, or shall I say, patatine fritte (forgive my trying-hard Italian accent!:p).  This was my lunch-cum-snack at Cibo in Greenbelt 5 one Wednesday afternoon.  I was rushing from one meeting to the next that I skipped lunch.  When I got to Cibo, I was ready to chew on the paper placemat!  Good thing the service was prompt.

I've always enjoyed food at Cibo.  Love their antipasti, salads, meat, salmon and vegetarian dishes. I usually bring diet-conscious friends and clients here. 

Posted for Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Risotto Di Mare

A scrumptious plate of sauteed mixed seafood on saffron risotto, a house favorite at Amici.  This was one of our orders when Gem, a friend and former office mate, treated us to dinner when she was in town last month.  Amici serves home-cooked Italian food cafeteria-style---it means, you go to the cashier, choose your food and pay for it.  Just be patient when the person ahead of you takes her/his sweet time choosing from the menu of pasta, pizza and panini.  The original Amici is the school cafeteria of Don Bosco-Makati, started by an entrepreneurial Italian Salesian priest and run by nuns.  I enjoyed the home-made Italian sausage antipasti, the freshly-made pizza, olive oil-based pasta, and this seafood risotto.  Oh, and they have a gelato counter---my pistachio ice cream was delicious!

     

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