I’ve to admit it was brunch for me, but lunch for my best friend. I don’t wake up early enough for breakfast =P
It’s so funny how the roles are sorta reversed now. I was in khaki shorts and a dri-fit (or whatever Puma calls it) tee, the perfect get-up for the sunny walk from my place to Pancake House. Very relaxed. While my best friend was gorgeous in her power-outfit – for some reason when she’s in her corporate wear, she always reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. Maybe it’s the clean lines, or just how utterly chic she looks in them. But my point is, I used to be the power dresser, and she the more relaxed one, having been in a more artistic line of work. Who would have thought?
Two of the things I miss the most when I’m in Jakarta:
- Pancake House food (Filipino breakfast, caramel banana walnut waffles, tacos & pan-fried chicken!)
- Lunch/dinner/drinks with my best friend whenever
To be honest all’s not perfect in both our worlds – when is it ever when you’re married right? But before we could always just call each other and meet up in the middle of her workday for lunch, or I’d come over in the middle of the workweek and have dinner with her, her lovely husband and the cutest godson a girl can have! Whether it’s to laugh or cry, she was always just down the street.
And I super miss it =( One of the consequences of the diplomatic life is that I’ve had to leave all my best girl friends. I’ve known them for ages (my other best friend I’ve known since 4th grade!) and now I have to make new friends every few years, then have to leave them all over again.Don’t get me wrong, I love the friends I’m making now and I’m sure we’ll be friends for life, but when you know someone for YEARS you know that person inside and out. And that’s the best thing about old friends… it great not to have to explain and just be perfectly understood.
I guess, I just have to enjoy the moments I have now. At least Jakarta has been near enough that I can visit often and it’s as if I never left. You know you’re with a true friend when, no matter how much time has passed since you last saw each other, it always feels like you just hung out yesterday. I had the best time during yesterday’s brunch, catching up over food we love.
Borrowed some pics of the food from other bloggers since I was too excited to take pics. Sources are watermarks on the pics. I had the Daing na Bangus (Php 208) , while my bestfriend had the Almondigas Soup (Php 77) & Arroz ala Cubana (Php 198). The bangus was fried perfectly, brown and crunchy all over. The weird thing about the Arroz ala Cubana was that the bananas had sugar sprinkled on it. No feedback from my friend on the soup.
Boneless Daing na Bangus (Boneless fried milk fish) with atsara (sweet-sour pickled veggies), sunny-side up egg, and garlic rice
Then for dessert (I know – HOW did we have room right?!?) we split my absolute favorite Caramel Banana Walnut Waffle (Php 188)! YUMMMMMMMMMM….. This is seriously the best. “POW!” As one of my friends would say =) Dessert was paired with brewed coffee (Php 58) for my friend and a cappuccino (Php 58) for me.
Golden waffle with chopped walnuts, banana slices served with caramel syrup
*Photos belong to their respective owners, indicated in the watermark.
Now I miss Pancake house too! 🙂
What’s your favorite pancake/waffle in Pancake House? I always order the Caramel Banana Walnut… maybe I should be more adventurous next time?!? =P
I am so happy you’re home for a while, sweetie. Have missed you too much.
The soup was ok lang, just needed something salty to mellow out the raisin-y ground beef, and additional fluids since I’m still nursing. So grateful they let me have it without the pork meatballs! That waffle was KILLER. You forgot to mention the coffee – I LOVE Pancake House coffee. How was yours?
My cappuccino was a bit too strong for my taste… I think I’m used to the yummier Good Day Instant Cappuccinos I’ve been having in Jakarta. I know, I know… I have turned into a coffee wus in Jakarta, where coffee is usually super strong. Weird right? However you have to admit, coffee-snob or not, Good Day instant coffees have taken instant coffees to a WHOLE new level, so I am not ashamed to admit that I drink them =P
Sniff I miss you guys and everyone back home
I miss you too hun… wish you were with us at our reunions! I can’t imagine how much more I’d miss everyone when we’re assigned even farther! Hmmmmmm… UNLESS if it’s somewhere really really fun =P
You should have gotten the tapa, tacos, and banana (walnut) pancakes. I actually miss their tacos righ now. The tacos are very Filipino but oh so yummy.
The only thing I find annoying is that if memory serves me right, they only sell them per piece. Either that, or they’re so tiny that they don’t seem like a full serving.