Maginhawa St. Gastronomic Walk #11: Fat Cousins' Diner

When I first read about this diner's name, I thought it was kinda funny. And then I tasted the food and found out there wasn't anything funny about Fat Cousins' Diner. In fact, I took this small restaurant very seriously that I ate there three times last December! Now isn't that proof I loved Fat Cousins' Diner? Food is good, prices are great and the deals are the best! What am I talking about? The unlimited drinks and unlimited rice that come with every meal! Now, what could be a greater deal? 

There isn't much on the menu - just four main entrees which I've all tried and loved. These are the Australian T-Bone Steak (P199.), Hungarian Sausage (P129.), Home Style Roast Beef (P149.) and 1/3 Pound Beef Burger (P99.). I can't tell you which one is my favorite because as I said, I loved them all!

Australian T-Bone Steak

This steak came in a huge serving. At its price, don't expect it to be a prime cut but hey, it's a lot better than you would expect. That day, the gravy was on the salty side, though. Still, this T-Bone steak is delicious and probably the best that your 200 bucks could buy. 

Hungarian Sausage

This was my friend's order on our second time here. She loved the sausage and let me taste it. It was spicy and just rightly salty. Good! I would love to have it more with toasted bread rather than with rice, though. I wish Fat Cousins would offer that as an option for all-day breakfast.

Home Style Roast Beef

I had this on my second visit. On my third when I brought with me one of my kids and two nephews, the kids ordered this one, too. Tender slices of beef poured over with gravy are the perfect accompaniment to rice, along with the mashed potato. Yummy!

1/3 Pound Beef Burger

At its price, I didn't have much expectations about the burger. Remember that at just P99, it comes with fries and unli drinks! Surprisingly, the burger was really good with the patty thick, juicy and rightly spiced. There's even veggies and yup, fries on the side. 
It's perfect for an afternoon snack.

Iced tea

Pepsi products for the soda

Inside Fat Cousins' Diner

 Fat Cousins' Diner at 114 Maginhawa St., Teachers' Village, Diliman, QC

So what's not to like at Fat Cousins' Diner? There is no dessert here and no coffee either. And the menu that you could see when you Google, it might as well be called a hoax! I looked up the menu before we first visited and had the resolve to order a banana split for dessert but once there, the crew lady that took our order looked surprised! I also ordered coffee but they didn't have it either, I was told. So why do they put those on their menu that is shared on the web? They might as well have a new menu published to avoid confusion and frustration on the part of their clients. 

Still, I love Fat Cousins' Diner and recommend it to anyone for the good food, 
efficient and polite service and pocket-friendly prices. 

Check it out, folks! Happy eating! 

Costa Coffee at Robinsons Place Manila

In the middle of 2015, another coffee industry player from abroad arrived in the Philippines, much to the excitement of ardent Pinoy coffee aficionados. It's Costa Coffee, which is said to be the No. 1 coffee chain in the United Kingdom. Is was founded in London in 1971, and according to an article I read, it offers cheaper coffee that's better in quality than Starbucks'. Costa Coffee now has 2,900 stores in 30 different countries. The Gokongweis of the Robinsons group of companies brought it to the Philippines. By this time, they could have opened five branches 
in Metro Manila and Antipolo City as they have planned. 
On the Saturday after Christmas, my two girls and I went to Costa Coffee at Robinson's Place-Manila for dessert and yes, coffee, right after our whole family had lunch in Wok Inn - that iconic Chinese restaurant near Malate Church. Inside Costa, I literally saw red - it's the dominant color. But even before coming inside, the color red is what strikes you, with their signature telephone booth that's present, I think in all of their stores in the Philippines. The interiors have a very homey and relaxing feel, it made me want to linger, which I did, just to think and clear my head of the many stuff concerning work that I had to finish before my three-week vacation from work started. The cappuccino that I ordered helped me do some pondering..
Our orders:

Cappuccino, P120. (primo size)

Strawberry Pavlova Frostino, P175. (medio size)

Raspberry and White Chocolate Cream Frostino, P175. (medio)

Christmas Ube Flan cupcake, P95.

Original London Cheesecake, P150. 

Counter

An array of cakes and sandwiches

This Red Velvet Cupcake must be so good Santa couldn't help but bury himself in it.

Preparing the stencil art for my cappuccino

Menu

Interiors

Costa Coffee at Robinsons Place Manila

My cappuccino was bold and delicious. Costa indeed serves good coffee! The girls likes loved their Frostino. The London cheesecake was not too sweet, thankfully, and firm though still soft and moist. Yummy! We didn't like the Christmas Ube Flan cupcake, although it was such an eye candy. If it was indeed ube, the flavor didn't make itself distinct. All in all, it was a delicious, relaxing first visit to Costa Coffee. I'm looking forward to more visits this year to try their sandwiches and other sweets, and hopefully see more items on the menu. Meet you there, folks! 

Happy eating!

New dawning

In just over two hours as I write this, year 2015 will be part of history. The present chapter of our lives will be closed for good, sealing with it both the joy and pains that would soon become mere memories. How are you ending 2015? With gladness and hope or with sadness or regret? I do hope you will bid 2015 goodbye with hope however heavy your heart feels. Every new year, and in fact, in every new day, God gives us an opportunity to do better than yesterday, 

if we allow Him to lead us into the right way - His way. 

Remember that God loves you and wants you to experience His immense and faithful love in the most profound way. Begin the coming year by seeking Him and experience His transforming power in your life. See for yourself how the Lord can bring you 

promotion, prosperity, peace and happiness.

Have a blessed New Year! 

Sunrise in Tambobong Beach, Dasol, Pangasinan, Dec. 31, 2015