Good food, finds and a wedding

Ever had one of those weeks when you feel like nothing goes your way? Well, I’m glad tomorrow is a Saturday. All the calm and happy vibe of the past few weeks (Happy New Year!) have been sucked out by the past few days. So let me use this post to look back and be grateful for the week before for all happy things big and small–when I saw two good friends get married, when I got to finally try this cafe and bakery near the office, and when P and I discovered something new in an old haunt.

The wedding was held on a Tuesday, which was a welcome break at the start of the work week. It was also out of town and if you are looking for a place to get married outside crowded Manila, Tagaytay is a favorite choice. One of the loveliest churches there (well, just outside of it, technically it’s already in Nasugbu, Batangas) is the Transfiguration Chapel in Caleruega. The chapel with its beautiful brick facade (supposedly reproduction of the original chapel in Caleruega, Spain) sits atop the highest point of Caleruega, a hilly and sprawling area that’s also a favorite venue of folks going on spiritual retreats and photo hobbyists. (My friend Terrie wrote about the beautiful ceremony and party here.)

Transfiguration Chapel in Caleruega. It’s really beautiful though you might not appreciate it so much when you’re wearing really high heels.

The happy couple! Their joy was contagious

Two days later, a few office mates and I made our way to Wild Flour Cafe + Bakery instead of having our usual lunch at the pantry. We’ve all heard so much about the restaurant, which is a short walk away from where our office is, we decided to finally schlep our way there. It’s within the business district of Fort Bonifacio and attracts (at least at the time we were there) a throng of smartly-dressed professionals and young ladies who lunch. But the atmosphere was casual, the service brisk, and the food, at least the ones we ordered (Croque Madame, Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup, and the Shortribs Sandwich), were really good. The flavors were rich, and the bread, oh the freshly made bread made me want to go out, buy my own oven and harass their baker for the recipe.

By the entrance is a counter filled with pies and breads and all sorts of pastries. How can you not enter?

I love a good grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup

By the weekend, since P and I needed to be in Quezon City, we decided to visit Cubao Expo. Originally a compound  filled with only shoe stores from the shoemakers of Marikina (hence it was known before as Marikina Shoe Expo), second-hand clothing stores (which my friends and I used to frequent) and other thrift shops crammed to the ceiling with an overwhelming amount of… everything, it transformed itself suddenly into a hip hangout more than a decade ago and keeps on changing. But the same ukay-shopping friends and I kept coming back and then the vintage furniture store where we used to drink beer closed and the crowd became younger and younger and then we hardly went.

The bars and coffee shop and boutiques that used to be there last year have been replaced with different bars, coffee shops and boutiques. And there was this new vintage store: Uvla (or Unique Vintage and Lost Art). Unlike the other older thrift shops nearby, this one had some gloss to it. It wasn’t dark and intimidating like the antique shop nearby; the walls were bright and newly painted, and the owners are friendly. It wasn’t crammed to the ceiling and you actually don’t need to dig through dust-covered piles. The toys were lined up, the knickknacks and accessories in a glass case, furniture were restored or reupholstered.

Bright (relatively) new vintage store. (The next door properties were under construction when we visited)

Stack of chests

I like this 1950s chair and even though it’s relatively cheaper compared to other restored vintage furniture, it was still beyond my budget

What I did bring home that day was an old Kokeshi doll from a doll store nearby. It now sits on the shelf with all my husband’s manga.

Next week may shape up to be another exhausting week, but will keep in mind to focus on the good things no matter how small it may be, to be grateful and to stay positive. Yes, I’m saying this to myself now. Let’s all have a great weekend.

Where to get married: Transfiguration Chapel, Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas; mobile: (+63921) 270-9890, (+63921) 830-4226
Where to eat: Wild Flour Cafe + Bakery, G/F Net Lima Bldg., 4th Ave cor 26th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig; phone (+632) 856-7600
Where to shop: Uvla, Unit 64-A Cubao Expo Gen. Romulo Ave. Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City; iamevayu@yahoo.com; mobile: (+63917) 819-9922

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