I love the contemporary furniture the fast foods are sporting nowadays. I noticed when I went back home to Zamboanga last month that Jollibee/Greenwich/Chowking/etc were newly renovated or undergoing renovation. Greenwich is now full of sofas instead of hard chairs! Love! ♥

Check it out – Max’s Restaurant is already in Zamboanga! Yay! It’s about time we got some new family-friendly restaurants in town. Would you categorize Max’s as a fast food restaurant? I think for Zamboanga it would already be considered upscale, since we seriously lack good restaurants back home.

Like, if you were to celebrate the graduation of a family member, where would you go? Off the top of my head I would say Palmeras, Greenfields or Alavar’s. A good place to eat is Aristocrat, however I think the service/ambiance is a bit lousy (same goes for former Sunburst, renamed Zacky’s Chicken, where I prefer take-out). Lantaka is a hit-or-miss (do NOT try their steak!) and the service is really bad. There are many other restaurants in Zamboanga, but I’ve dismissed most of them since I don’t think their food is up to par, or they don’t have enough space to host a big group. Well – correct me if I am wrong, since I haven’t spent that much time home in the last few years already. For example, I heard that Country Chicken has a new owner and already upgraded their menu, but I didn’t know that so I wasn’t able to eat there before I left (next time!). And how about Hai San (not sure if I’m correct), the last time I ate there the food was really good, but I didn’t like the ambiance – too many old men.

Anyway, the point is, Max’s is a welcome and much-awaited addition to Zamboanga! Everytime we passed by there was always a line! The first few days of opening, the line was so long. And it seemed everyone I knew was there. One time, I told Gim we should go somewhere else because I didn’t want to talk to a certain acquaintance, haha. The next time, there was again another acquaintance I didn’t want to chitchat with, but I stayed and bore it because I really wanted to eat at Max’s already! Haha. For such a big city, we have such a small town… it’s next to impossible to not bump into someone you know when you’re out and about. One time I had dessert with friends in Catribo, it seemed my entire high school showed up. Haha!

Ah, but I miss Zamboanga. ♥

Lantaka by the Sea

We got caught in the rain while joyriding through the streets of Zamboanga. We were about to drop by Paseo del Mar, but it was full of Sunday folks. So we decided on Lantaka by the Sea instead, even though the rates were considerably higher, the solitude and quiet would be well worth it.

And a good decision, too, since mere minutes after settling in our cozy little hut, the rain started pouring by the buckets.

We ordered Pasta Marisco (seafood pasta) to share, Choros de Chocolate (bread with chocolate) for dessert, a Cookies and Cream frappe for me, and two San Miguel Lights for him.

Spent the evening just taking photos, eating good and having fun, until the rain let up and we were able to head home.

Getting caught in the rain always leads to fun times when I’m with Gimmi.

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Three days before Christmas, my best friends and I reunited over lunch and chocolate cake. Raquel, Jotie, Chris and I enjoyed a buffet at Lantaka, a restaurant with a very beautiful sea view. I was unchaperoned by Gim, who had doctor duties at General Hospital, but managed to escape for a 30-minute lunch break, showing up unannounced and leaving me to take care of his bill. Hmmmpfff! He did not get any pictures. Haha.

I did not know there was an eat-all-you-can buffet at Lantaka every Sunday – it was Raquel who suggested the place. For only P175, it is quite inexpensive, but maybe my views have been affected by Manila prices. Hehe. I would have wanted to eat more than just one serving (it’s an EAYC affair, after all) but Gim’s arrival surprised me and I forgot. Hehehe.

After lunch, we decided to go visit Brian – as he had suddenly decided to pull out of our meeting with a terse text message the night before (“Something came up.”) – and force him to come with us visit Donnel, who was reportedly sick. Raquel drove us over to Brian’s boarding house whereupon Chris all but manhandled Brian to come with us. Hehe. It took a while, but then we were all set to visit Donnel. Unfortunately, he texted us that he was not at home but with his relatives. Hmmmppfff. How can he he sick but not at home???

Anyways, we decided not to go all the way up to Cabaluay anymore. What was the point? So we thought of having dessert, and we went to Antonio’s, an always-favorite restaurant with the young people of Zamboanga, and certainly Gim and I have had more than a few dates there. Antonio’s Restaurant has a very fresh ambience – open, wooden cottages amidst lots of trees and hills, and it has one of the best menus in town, with affordable prices at that. And free music. Can’t beat that.

We did a lot of catching up and taking photos. It’s always so much fun being with my friends. Here are a few photos, for more visit this link.

Me and Chris and Brian. On Raquel’s family’s van. (Thank you for the ride, Raq!)

Chris and Brian, accessorized to the max. Hehehe.

Jotie and Chris sitting in the front bench at Antonio’s Restaurant. That’s good lighting.

Me at the steps leading out of Antonio’s. Hmm, that’s bad lighting. Have to be more mindful of my choice photo backgrounds.

Raquel and me – awww, we’re missing Katrina!

Chris and Brian. Brian, you’ve lost a lotta weight. But you’ve upped your fashion sense. Heheh. Chris makes the best faces. Hehehe.

See what I mean? Hehehe. Jotie and Chris kinda look like a couple here, don’t they? Hehehe, joke lang. We all know you’re the best frenemies.

Jotie and his headphones. Ahh, I think I know who Brian is starting to resemble. Hehehe, joke lang!

Raquel and me again. Who’s making you mad, Raq??

Brian and his peace sign. I’m with you for world peace!

Looking good there, Chris. Don’t make any more faces, okay? Hehehe.

Aww, the day is over… We’re going back to our respective homes. ‘Till next time!