It Takes a Man and a Woman

It was not planned but I am so glad we went ahead with this movie date.

I was expecting a lot of laughter but was surprised to find myself crying on various scenes from the movie...

* Empire Theatre, Surrey B.C.

* It Takes a Man and a Woman

“Today I realized I won’t be making any vows in my wedding… Because this is not the day for promises. Today I stand here in front of you in complete surrender. I have no worries. I have no fear because I know… I am sure I’m yours.”

* * * * *

I know it was not your cup of tea but,

Thank you hubby for watching it with me...

You're the BEST :)

Mini date with Kenzo @ Caffe Artigiano

When I was younger, I never went to a dermatologist, no problems with Kimi either, but when Kenzo came, he got rashes right from month 5 which had the doctor referring him to a dermatologist at 2 1/2 years. I was a bit worried why he needed a specialist for his skin problem but it turned out that the dermatologist had to see him to classify what kind of Eczema he's got a refer a cream/med that would hopefully work on him.

A month later, we went for a follow up appointment and the dermatologist says that he was so happy with the improvement with Kenzo's skin and that we would probably no longer need his service. Yey! Eczema will come back again and again and to just put on that cream until the gaps between each rashes will hopefully be far and father apart.

Thanks Dr. Joseph Lam.

* Kenzo's Dermatologist

We did a mini celebration after the consultation at a nearby cafe. It was our time. No Kimi, No Papa. Just the 2 of us...and Kenzo was really behaved. I guess he wanted to do this more often, hence the good behavior ;)

* The first of many...

* * * * *

DR. JOSEPH LAM/ 

CAFFE ARTIGIANO

West Broadway

Vancouver, B.C.

A dinner and a movie...

I know it is the norm for some couples but it had been awhile since we did this normal dating and finally, it happened...without any kids in tow... double yey!

We usually go towards Vancouver or Richmond but this time around we did New Westminster...

As small as this place is... it is a hidden gem of a restaurant which serves great dish (so far) every time, regardless of what dish we ordered.

* Stuffed-full

After the full and quick meal, we proceeded to the new cinema in New Westminster. According to him, it just opened last May, 2012. 

* New Cinema in New Westminster

We decided to watch Amazing Spiderman instead of the Dark Knight.

* Amazing Spiderman

I liked this movie compared to the one which starred Toby Maguire. The effects were amazing. The story also showed not only how he became Spiderman but also a little backgrounder of his childhood as well. His enemy in the movie was The Lizard.

...and outside the theater, there was a booth with a Reptile girl. It turned out that a make up artist was showcasing her talent by doing some samples of The Reptile, Joke (for Batman), etc...

* Makeup artist with her version of The Lizard

To more future dates...cheers!

* * * * *

TAMARIND HILL/ 

LANDMARK CINEMA

New Westminster, B.C.

Dine Out 2012: Bistro Sakana

After a bumpy start for year 2012, I decided to just focus on the goods and enjoy each weekend as it comes with a celebration...

...Dine Out comes just in time for us to enjoy food (hubby's favorite pastime) with an Asian twist.

Bistro Sakana was our Dine Out choice this week :)

Ratings online were good although the place was not so good with finding parking, we drive all the way with Kimi in tow for a Friday night out (A rare night to go out- Yey!)

The place was small but we were seated immediately because of a reservation I made weeks before

* Dine Out Menu

When I read the reviews for this restaurant, the rave about the selection of wines are pouring but then, I don't drink much so this doesn't apply to me...

* Sake as backdrop

We decided to get Kimi a Mini Sukiyaki Hotpot plus rice... Everything was really good but my only complaint is that all the food required a long wait that is not within reasonable time. 

* Yummy Sukiyaki

Hubby decided on the real appetizer while the rest of us settled on soups.

* Tai (New Zealand Red Snapper) Sashimi

with fresh ginger and ponzu sauce

* Atlantic Lobster Miso Bisque

NO PICTURE

* Sockeye Salmon Miso Chowder

* Additional Order: Tuna Tatami

* Additional Order: Crispy California Roll

* A Sampler of Signature Dishes

Wild Sockeye Jalapeno Aburi "Hakozushi": Scokeye Salmon layered with rice, box pressed, flame torched and topped with jalapeno slices

Toro Red Chili Abuir "Hakozushi"": Albacore Toro marinated in Junmai sake and miso, layered with rice, box pressed, flame torched, and topped with red chili and key lime slivers.

Yuzu Black Sesame Encrusted Tuna Tataki: Albacore sashimi tataki encrusted with roasted black sesame and drizzled with tangy yuzu miso sauce.

Ume-Shiso Smelt Tempura: Japanese butterfly smelt lightly fried in a delicate batter with Japanese plum paste and fresh "Shiso leaf"

Shiro Miso Black Cod: Grilled white miso marinated black cod with pickled ginger sprout garnish

* Hojicha Creme Brulee

...Creme brulee flavored with roasted green tea

I love the dessert a lot :)..

the real downer is the looooooong exagerated wait we had to endure to get these dishes...

* Little Date

* Real charmer :)

* * * * *

BISTRO SAKANA

DINE OUT 2012

Yaletown, B.C.

Date with Hubby and Kimi for Mom's Day

I have been hounding my hubby for a date for some time now. Something always came up before the date night and we ended up cancelling every time.

Finally able to squeeze one date, I guess we need to do it since it is also Mother's Day. I know it was just us 3 but it would be hard to bring the little one since he is at his tantrum stage... I don't recall Kimi being this difficult at this age.... I hope it will get better soon...

We decided to do Steaks this time... My Idea! Hubby relented because it's my day he he!

The steak was really good (the rave about the steak here is sooo true!) the outside was a bit charred and has a saltiness to it while the inside was soft... I love it a lot and I was really full but happy after. The Aji Tuna hubby ordered was good as well, I was a bit worried hubby might not find anything he likes but he was all praises as well for his order. Kimi, on the other hand, got the Penne with Tomato sauce from the Child's Menu. It was a good size for a child. A little bit sweet maybe to fit a child's palate.

Thank you hubby... I love you!

* * * * *

GOTHAM STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR

615 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC V6B3K3

Tel: (604) 605-8282
Fax: (604) 605-8285

MGM's Shibuya, Las Vegas

A reservation to a dinner date with hubby... at MGM's Shibuya. One of the reason I chose this restaurant was that I saw this featured in Food Network's Chef vs City (Las Vegas)

After reading about the reviews and knowing that hubby loves Japanese cuisine. It was easy to convince him to go along with a reservation here :)

* The Chopsticks

* Yummy! Lobster Miso Soup

* Black Angus Tenderloin

-Hubby who is scared of steaks that is hard raves about this dish

* Tempura Shrimp

Source: MGM GRAND website

• Inspired by Tokyo's Shibuya district
• Ultimate sushi and Teppanyaki experience
• Extensive sake and Japanese beer selection
• Epicurean Magazine Best Las Vegas Japanese Restaurant 2005, 2006
• Best Las Vegas Japanese Restaurant SNCHA 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
• 4 Diamond AAA Recipient 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

To more dinner dates together...

* * * * *

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Goto King In Vancouver

I am admittedly not the dometic goddess that my hubby would have love to have as a wife hehe! SO when I found out that there is a new Goto King in Vancouver ( ...and a chance to stay away from the kitchen to cook...), I simply jump at the chance...

I originally wanted to order the Goto but was swayed when I saw the Tapsilog being served at the next table...

It was okay actually except that I would have love a soup to go with the meal which was normally done at my favorite Tapa King Restaurant in Manila.... I SOOO MISS MY TAPA QUEEN...

Tap-Si- Log

TAP-a (beef), SIN-angangag (Philippine Fried rice) and it-LOG (egg)

This would do... for now.

Top of Vancouver

Karl normally doesn't consider eating at a Western restaurant and I was expecting to be taken to the usual Chinese or Japanese restaurant, a fine dining one though, for our 5th couple's anniversary.

So when he told me that he reserved the Top of Vancouver for our celebration, I was delighted that he would try western and good ambiance in exchange for his fave Asian cuisines...

I love the downtown and was happy to go earlier for a stroll. It was a different experience walking without a stroller and my being with Kimi everyday made that day of finally being away without kids much more special...

THE LOGO

OUR VIEW FROM WHEN WE FIRST SAT DOWN

KM...all done...

I LOVE YOU BIBI
HAPPY 5th COUPLE'S ANNIVERSARY...

My Sister's Keeper

I first came across this title by Jodi Picoult when I was looking at the books by the fiction aisle on our nearby library.

I really loved how the story goes and was intrigued as to how the writer would be able to tell that story and the thin line between family and betrayal.

Then, there came the movie which was based on the book... And i decided that the book usually is better than the movie. I wanted to see the movie first and then get the book.

""You don't love someone because they are perfect -
you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.""
— Jodi Picoult My Sister's Keeper

I cried throughout the movie. I guess you would be pretty heartless if you did not get moved by the story. I can't wait to get a hold of the book and enjoy this story from it's original form.

Dinner date (oops!) at Anducci

K has never been a fan of Italian food so I was happy when he decided to go with me to Anducci's for lunch... I was really craving for pasta after talking to an Italian co worker of mine as to where is the best Italian place to try out.

We tried the Anducci's near the Lougheed Mall

Caesar Salad

House Bread... YUMMY!

POPEYE

.... a really full meal, I didn't have enough room to try their dessert.. :(

NoodleMakers Chinese Bistro

Friday night and a date without the baby all the way at North Vancouver... We went there to buy a carseat which I have reserved earlier that morning for Kimi. We had to wait after 6:30pm so we can leave Kimi with K's mom.

We arrived at Capilano Mall almost dinner time and had to make a run for the Sears department store to get the reserved item and finally to have dinner at one of the restaurants inside the mall.

935 Marine Drive
North Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-982-0833
Fax: 604-982-0811

The Sign out front was quote confusing because of the name, "Noodle Makers", we were expecting great selections of Noodle dishes to choose from. We were quite surprised that the menu contained just the typical sort of selections a Chinese Restaurant would have had.

The interior of the restaurant reminds me a lot of Manila's Little Asia with red walls and a great influence of Asian details throughout the area. They also have asian window details which they hanged near the stairs which is also the same as Little Asia's T. Morato branch.

The food was all quite tasty. Being famished during that time maybe help with the taste also he! he! The wait for the dishes was quite long, it was good that soup was served really fast though.

SEAFOOD and BEAN CAKE SOUP


PEKING STYLE SPARERIBS

CLAM w/ BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Downtown Date...

A date in the afternoon with just Sab :)... No Babies to worry about for the whole afternoon.... Whew!

First off, we decided to have lunch at Milestone Grill Bar. The interior of the restaurant was cozy with lots of different textures applied to the walls. The steps from the ground bar to the 2nd floor dining area was textured ceramic tiles. The chairs for the dining area was of different styles creating an eclectic look. We chose a grill with the intention of veering away from the Italian dish we just had a few nights ago but ended up having pasta and strawberry lemonade for drinks.

GRILLED CHICKEN ASIAGO

After the wonderful meal swapping stories and just enjoying each others company, Sab decided to have sweets at Cafe Crepe. She was able to lure me into the little cafe to eat a whole crepe with a full stomach...Talk about persuasion!!... and the wonderful aroma of the crepes being cooked... I was defenseless and ended up 2x full at the start of our date. Sab has a reason of being pregnant to eat more, while I, had none... :(

NUTELLA CRAZY!
Strawberry Nutella for Sab and Little Ang
Banana Nutella for MeL n MeL

Enough (food) is Enough! Or perhaps time was finally running out. We have to rush to the theatre at Tinseltown Mall for the 4pm showing of the movie, "He's just not that into you...". We went into the movie with a full stomach and after 2 hours went our still half full... :)

FEET PROPPED UP
READY TO ENJOY THE MOVIE

... Till the next date!

MOVIE DOUBLE DATE NIGHT...CANCELLED

We were supposed to watch the newest download before Brian leave for Manila... A film about the end of the world starring Keanu Reeves.

I honestly don;t know the title of the film but was looking forward to having a night just for relaxing...
But with 2 kids between the four of us, an arranged plan can easily get cancelled :(. Till next time...