This is another Japanese hoppin’ we are doing.

Bought fresh tuna slice…I forgot to take note of how much it was per kilo!  Bummer!  I really can’t rely on my memory nowadays….so many notes in my mind…numbers specifically!  Confusing for this ageing mind of mine!  Anyone can suggest how I can boost my memory?

Back to the tuna…it was fresh alright.  Finished it right away!  We didn’t let AD eat it because he might not be able to take it well so the 2 adults happily munched the tuna down into their hungry stomach.

I’m just the accessory in this photo…HB was trying to take photo of the man cooking Takoyaki balls on my right side.  I think they prohibit taking photos anything inside the store.  New Hatchin Japanese grocery cook takoyaki balls (P78/8pcs) and gyoza (5pcs) every weekends only.  My HB knows I love Takoyaki balls so he surprised me just this Saturday and we bought 2 orders of it.  We asked the cook what are the ingredients of the balls, here’s what he enumerated:

• Red Ginger (Benishoga)
• Octopus, sliced to bits
• Cabbage
• Shrimp powder
• Tempura powder (hmmm?!)
• Secret White liquid (I wonder what they put there? Flour, water, salt…hmmmm, what else?  Would you know?)
• Okonomiyaki Sauce
• Nori flakes as toppings

Verdict:   True, it was far from my usual fare of Samurai balls (that’s the first takoyaki balls I’ve tasted) simply because of the ingredients of New Hatchin’s Takoyaki ball. If you are familiar with Samurai balls, you’ll only see that they only put 2 ingredients inside samurai balls and those are dyed octopus and fish flakes.

When eating the balls alone, the red ginger was the most evident taste of all, followed by the shrimp flakes and octopus. The balls are now with taste than being bland.  The cabbage was barely noticed.  I think that’s just to add color.  When eaten as a whole, the okonomiyaki sauce was too strong that I got turned off eating it.  I decided to just dab a small amount of it.  To be honest,  even if the cook says their takoyaki balls are authentic unlike Mang Chito’s (where’s that?  He says it’s in Robinson’s malls) or samurai balls (for me) , I still love Samurai’s sauce version than Hatchin’s.  I can’t stop rolling the balls over and over again until my takoyaki balls are drenched with the red sauce and powder.  I think I just love to eat Samurai balls just because of their sauce!  Maybe I just better discover what their sauce is so I can just buy that instead and use it on New Hatchin’s takoyaki balls.  I’m sure it would taste perfect (and I’d be fat because I keep on eating those balls!)!

How about you?  Do you like Takoyaki balls?  What’s your favorite?

You just wait there and I have more Takoyaki balls adventure to share!

Do not be deceived by the name title of this bazaar because anyone could still come and visit ExpoMOM!   You’d be amazed how you can still buy so many things even if you’re still single and no kids of your own…it is because you’ll be buying for your sibling, nieces & nephews and godchildren or for your own use in the future!  See, there’s so many excuse just to be there! So, save the date!  December 7 (Sunday) is a day to be in Makati, Rockwell Tent to be exact.

This time it got better…they have FREE inflatable ride for kids while moms shop!  I do hope they have something for DADs too!  I do remember the 1st time ExpoMom organized an event, Masterpiece band played, there were many dads who were sitting and eating while waiting for their wives get tired of going around the booths.  I do hope they have a programme once again with a lively host.

Lastly, do not be surprised…they have a P50 entrance fee.  A small fee to ensure not just anybody can enter the tent.  I do hope you don’t mind…

Actually, the sentence should have been…

This is near where I parked my car when I went to Divisoria.  Golden Fortune is along Soler St.  and there’s a pay parking near, right in front of PSBank.  I was bringing my car ALONE for the very first time.  I am not an expert around downtown so I had to ask a friend of mine where I can safely park my car and she pointed me here….

Too bad, it was not the night where my HB and his friends had dinner because I would just be in time for that dinner.  I arrived around 9am and left before 8pm.  Talk about being obsessed with Divisoria!  There’s so much to find there but so little time!  Everytime I go there, the time flies soooo fast that I dread of going home hahaha AND schedule another trip back (w/c usually takes me months before I can go back nowadays…with 2 kids! Pffttt!).

I don’t usually bring my car to Divisoria but I had to buy these heavy stuff and no way will I carry those load by myself!  So, I had no choice but to bring my own car but to tell you honestly, it is much better to just commute especially this holiday season where traffic is at peak at all times.

Have you been to Divisoria?  How do you go there and where do you go?

I would usually go to 168 mall but before 168, I’ve been a regular at Divi Mall which is just a walking distance from 168.   I buy anything I fancy but you have to check its quality before you buy.  There’s so much I have yet to discover…I have yet to spend a day with my SIL because she is the expert around Divisoria!

So, what about you?

Do watch the Hairspray Manila!  We’re selling Nov 22 (2pm) and Nov 29 8pm show.

To know more of the Hairspray Manila, check this out:

Hairspray, Manila: Still Undecided About Watching Hairspray?

Here are the stars of the show:

From R-L:

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Velma Von Tussle (played by Michelle Pfeiffer)
Dulce as Motormouth Maybelle (played by Queen Latifah)

Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad

Monica Reynoso as Penny (played by Amanda Bynes) — performed with Enchang Kaimo

Tim Espinosa as Link Larkin (played by Zac Efron)

Nyoy Volante as Seaweed J. Stubbs (played by Elijah Kelley)

Not in the photo are:

Michael de Mesa as Edna (played by John Travolta)
Leo Rialp as Wilbur (played by Christopher Walken)
Noel Rayos as Corny Collins (played by James Marsden)
Christine Allado as Amber (played by Brittany Snow) — performed with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

Gabe Mercado will play the Male Authority Figure, while Enchang Kaimo will be the Female Authority Figure.

In the ensemble are Jordan Aguilar, Emy Alcid, Caisa Borromeo, Erika Cedilla, Red Concepcion, Gerlin Francisco, Bea Garcia, Crienna House, Yanah Laurel, Cheeno Macaraig, Michael Odoemene, Anthony Ong, Myrene Santos, Mark Tayag, and Lee Villoria.

Tickets at P600, P800, P1000 and P1200.

Venue: Star Theater, beside Star City

I will be back next week!

See you next week for more post!

JX and I just got from Havaianas Playback event at Boni Hi Street.  I think I had more fun than JX!  AD was with his Poppa doing their Ultimate Pampanga Tour so it was only JX and I.

Here’s what I did (Low-tech me, I again didn’t capture any photos.  I have an excuse, I was carrying JX.):

1. Registered and got the Havaianas Passport for me to be able to play.

2. To earn points, you have to play games and there are corresponding points.

3. After playing, go to their redemption center.  Playing doesn’t stop there!  They will be giving you a pingpong ball (# of balls depends on how many points you earned from playing) and eventually will land into a pocket hole.  The hole it lands to has a corresponding letter and has a corresponding prize.  Easy huh!

4. Don’t forget your kite!  Because you joined, you get a kite!  I got one!

TIP:  Playing under the sun means you need to be in your comfortable attire.  And also, I do hope you are none other Havaianas sandals (yes, not the other sandals…)  Also, bring towel for you will sweat a lot! :)  But truly fun!  When was the last time you really played those games?

I was in grade school when I last played Chinese garter (Wait a minute!  Is this a Pinoy game?)!  I aced it when I played a while ago.  I was also carrying JX at that time! hahaha Kidding!  I tried piko (just learned how today!) which was fun too but super tiring with all the jumping around!  I didn’t like sipa but played it anyway.  I only get to hit it once and the sipa drops unto the floor.  Bummer!  I didn’t get the chance to play patintero and tumbang preso because we had to go home.  Sleeping time for JX.  By the way, JX had fun with the sungka!  He was trying to eat the shells!

So, what are you waiting for?  Get dressed and head for Boni Hi because I’m sure there are a lot of goodies waiting for you there!

Lastly, they are offering 20% off on selected Havaianas slippers at the store ONLY FOR TODAY! Is it time to buy another pair?  Well, this is the right time!  Because you get to save 20% of the original price of Havaianas pair!