Graduates get a treat from Sambo Kojin Yakiniku Smokeless Grill. When you dine in and bring a proof that you are a graduate, you get a free drink and stuffed toy.

There was a good mix of meat, poultry, and seafood slices aside from desserts, sushi, kimchi, and other Korean and Japanese favorites. Yakiniku, basically, is grilling thin strips of meat – maybe marinated or not.

A buffet lunch is at Php 495 each with no left over, in case there is, you will add Php 100. I think for dinner buffet it’s Php 595 per person.

We recently visited Sambo Kojin, which is located at the second floor of Somethin’ Fishy at the Eastwood City Walk. It was one memorable family day. Tatay enjoyed it the most having a penchant for Korean and Japanese food. The place is spacious and has high ceiling. So that even if it was a very busy lunch jam packed with new grads, there was still enough room to walk around getting food for grilling. The tables and aisle spaces were also at comfortable distance.

I’m looking forward to go back with family and friends to another good experience in Sambo Kojin. There is a newly open branch in Edsa and I’m hoping it’s as cozy as their Eastwood branch.

Now Melo’s is also home to what is considered the best around the world, Wagyu, and has been mixed with the finest ingredients and favorite Italian pasta and sauces.

I believe that choosing the ingredients and considering the needs of the person who will consume the food  are as important as the techniques of cooking. The Italian Trio experience has allowed me to not just get a taste of the best ingredients but also be reminded of the most important people in my life.

The Dad

Steak: 8 ounce Wagyu center-cut tenderloin with creamy peppercorn sauce

Pasta: Linguini with Aglio Olio

How many can relate with Dads who just love steaks, probably has hypertension, high sugar level or maybe diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.? Mine, AOTA… all of the above.

Let me list down why this reminds me of Tatay. First of all, peppercorn is the so-called “King of Spices” was originally popular for its medicinal properties relating to the digestive and respiratory systems. Garlic and olive oil, referring  to the aglio and olio, has medicinal benefits for the heart and regulate blood sugar levels.

So for me, this dish represents Dad, Pop, Itay, Papa, Tatay. A simple addition: steak + gravy + pasta = Dad’s Delight, which Melo’s has elevated to the highest possible level equation in Wagyu + Creamy Peppercorn + Linguini with Aglio Olio = Dad’s Ultimate Delight

The Mom

Steak: Wagyu rib-eye topped with Foie Gras,  rosemary red wine sauce

Pasta: Pasta Alfredo

Described as the Mediterranean steak, Wagyu rib-eye topped with foie gras reminds me of Moms. I have learned in the past that we actually feel with our liver and not with our heart. The heart reacts to the chemical reaction in the liver that makes it palpitate or do a fast lubdub, that’s why we feel. Correct me if I’m wrong but that’s how I remembered that old trivia

Anyway, the reason this dish reminds me of Mom, Mothers Mama, Inay, Nanay is because Moms are the heart of the family represented by the foie gras and that in the history of Christians, Eve was from Adam’s rib. Got it?

Moms are also best known to be good hostess. This relates to the Pasta Alfredo, which was originally created having tourists or visitors in mind, specifically US tourists visiting Rome. My Mom can spice up just about anything from various stuff in the fridge when there will be surprise visits and all the more when there are scheduled ones.

In terms of health, rosemary wine is said to strengthen the heart and this is what I’d like for my Mom, who has a heart condition. This dish is a perfect treat for my Momi and I’m going to call it Mom’s Heart.

The Kid

Steak: Wagyu center-cut tenderloin wrapped in bacon,  al funghi porcini mushroom sauce

Pasta: Penne Rigate with Pesto Sauce

The combination of this dish is just the best. Porcini mushrooms has been called a lot of names including ” one of God’s great gifts to humanity,” to quote About.com. Should I repeat that Wagyu is the best beef there is and bacon is an all-time favorite. Bacon and Wagyu. What else can get any better than that?

The kid in me goes out at the mention of bacon. Imagine a bacon wrapped around the best beef there is with the delicate flavor of porcini in what I will call My Favorite Steak. Now… I’m at a loss for words.

But wait, that’s bad for a blog, therefore I need to recover fast.

The Italian Trio is another reason why Melo’s lives to its name as the HOME OF CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF. Where else can Filipinos find a steak restaurant that serves the best ingredients and  considers their clients’ needs at best? The answer is glaring, only at Melo’s, with the long time trio of fine food, excellent service, and unique ambiance.

Other equally interesting dishes:

Angus Beef Rice

Tenderloin Steak

Wagyu Steak

One important part of my childhood that I vividly remember is boarding the Love Bus to Lungsod ng Kabataan (Children’s City now called Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC)) in Quezon City. Not sure how frequent we went there but what I’m sure of is that my fingers and arm had numerous pricks from regular blood extractions. My blood count was always below the normal range. This routine had me exposed with other pale kids, same as me, who have thinning hair and rough breathing, which my innocent mind has not understood why. Sometimes I’d wondered if the extractions would make my hair thin as well. My mom would allow me to push the “stop” button in front of PCMC just so I would be delighted to see an LED of “Stop Bus” in front to inform the driver that we were getting off.

As a kid, I felt the anxiety that my parents have every time we went to PCMC. As I grew older, I understood that most of the kids I played, while waiting for my turn to be bitten by a hippo (their blades were hidden in puncher like shaped like various animals), have leukemia. It is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow. My parents may have been praying that I won’t have such.

Fast Forward to mid 2000′s

The tallest and biggest among those waiting in line to see Dr. Edwin Rodriguez, a pediatric hematologist, of Cardinal Santos Medical Center, I am yet to seek advise for my rather odd blood count. Instead of leukemia, I was diagnosed to have thalassemia, another blood condition that is. Mine is a minor condition that I’ve learned to live with.

Again, I see children with leukemia and as I’ve casually discussed with Dr. Edwin one time, some of his patients in the province “namamatay ng walang kalaban laban.” Citing that some would not even have the chance to medical heldp after diagnosis, just waiting for their time to be with the Maker. How devastating to see parents trying to mask their emotions from their kids after getting a message that they only have a few months to live.

There are no words that will help comfort these people. Both the kids and parents. As I sit down there, the best I can offer is a silent prayer for strength and for the remainder of their lives to be happy.

Action: Real Love

Social responsibility of institutions like Unilever Foodsolutions and Team Manila will be a big help to kids with cancer through their REAL LOVE campaign. For every 1,000 “likes” in their Facebook page until it reaches 10,000 fans, Uniliver will donate 1,000 sandwiches through Kythe Foundation.

OUTREACH PROGRAM

You may also support this cause by getting yourself, your family, and friends a Real Love shirt from Team Manila. Part of the proceeds will also help the cause of Kyther Foundation in helping kids with cancer.  These shirts are available in Team Manila branches and online by ordering here  –> Men | Women

As we have the opportunities of driving action in this information age, it was the post of Janette Toral that has inspired me to share this with you. Thanks for asking me to spread the word.

I am highly encouraging all of you to support this cause for kids with cancer.

Want to win a limited edition Real Love shirt?

1) Simply complete this sentence: “I will share my love to the kids of Kythe by____________”

2) Send in your answers by commenting on this post.

3) A winner will be chosen based on a comment that best caught my attention that was entered up until midnight of October 11, 2010. Extended until October 12, 2010  :)

4) Winner will be announced on October 12, 2010. October 13, 2010 instead

Best answer wins one (1) Real Love shirt!

Note: Winners need to be within the Philippines only.

Best of all, don’t forget to LIKE this –> http://www.facebook.com/spreadreallove

We got puppy named Makir. He was three months old and was a mahogany shi tzu. We were excited to have him at the same time a bit apprehensive because we grew up in household that is not really very fond of pets. Most of my sisters and my mom has asthma and the commitment level is something we were not up to.

Tiendesitas has a pet village where I got him. With papers from Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI) and vaccine records, I brought him home. He was a very sweet puppy, always wanting to run around and be around people. I noticed he had occasional cough and cold during the night from the first day I brought him home. He was given vitamin C. He knows how to drink the syrup from a spoon, lick it first then try to hide his face after. With much prodding he’d drink it anyway.

One day – it was Sunday, he won’t eat and the his stool was different. At night, he started crying and our maid called me that Makir seems to be dying. He won’t move his head and even if assisted, he can’t stand up. This all happened in a day.

We rushed him to Tiendesitas hoping that a clinic might still be open. Luckily Dr. Siday was still in the clinic past the clinic hours. Makir was given a nebulizer, an oxygen mask, some sort of meds and he was okay. He can at least sit after an hour. He needed confinement so we were referred to Vets in Practice located along Maysilo, Mandaluyong.

Dr. Dan of Vets in Practice took him and made three tests, I can’t remember all but what I recall are parvo, fecalysis, and another one . The results were all negative. So we left around midnight and the next morning I got a message that he was positive with corona virus. It was explained that such infection is not fatal but given Makirs low immune  system and respiratory condition, he was not able to fight it. Three days after, he was already responsive until one morning that he collapsed and was revived. After an hour, Makir passed away. Even Doc Dan who just came back that morning from night shift was surprised of the news.

We don’t have a place for him to be buried so I was glad to have the support of the hospital to prepare the arrangements. Makir was buried in a lot provided by one of the doctors in Laguna.

This experience has given me some thought that having a pet is not really meant for me. It takes a lot of commitment and given that we only had Makir for a month there was already a big emotional investment as well.

I admire the pet owners, what they do is a combination of talent and skill plus the right intuition.

To be a pet owner has a huge difference to being a pet lover. I’d say I can be the latter but it’s difficult to be the owner.

Mine was a Full Body Scrub with free Cream Bath (Php 1120) – This is a one hour exfoliating full body scrub with moisturizing cream. The effect was not just polished skin but also invigorating with the massage that comes with this service.

Other services we had were:

Foot Spa with Back Massage, 1 hour   Php 560

Hair Spa with Scalp Massage, 30 mins   Php 560

Aromatherapy Steam Bath, 20 mins   Php 450

Manicure/Pedicure, Php  150/Php   150

Lilac Package, 2.5 hours   Php  2580

Lilac package comes with body scrub with a choice from rose, banana, green tea, or olive grove plus facial and hair spa, Sonya’s signature massage.

By the way, the soaps in their bathrooms were the mini-honey soaps from Ilog Maria, a honey bee farm nearby.

And then, there is a Panaderia (Bakeshop) with various local breads and pastries.

Sonya’s Garden

Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines (near the vicinity of Tagaytay City, Philippines)