Two weekends ago, some friends from Dubai spent the weekend with me. Being the host, I was thinking of how to make this one a little different. Normally, we would eat out aside from the other intended activities. I decided to go back to basics. I put myself in the shoes of those based overseas (as if I am not heehee), new or old ones, on how I’d probably want to unwind at a humid month, beach not considered. But still, it depends on your type of guests whether they prefer to chill out through basic or extreme stuff.
During the first half of the day, I took them out for an early morning picnic. I incidentally learned about this picnic area near the Marina Yatch Club when I was jogging the other month.
It was a little foggy that morning but the sight was (always) refreshing. Within the surrounds, you’d see and hear birds chirping, you can wait for the sun in its full rise while you lie down on the clean grass and make an early morning “soul searching”. 
You don’t really need to invest on a fancy picnic basket, mat and other utensils. I just grabbed this eco-grocery bag, put in it the plasticwares containing the breakfast munchies and grabbed old newspapers/magazines. Also, I normally stack up paper/disposable plates, cups and other utensils whether there’s a picnic or none. So that during the days I’m so lazy to wash the dishes, they are there to my rescue. Hahaha. Of course, I’m kidding. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I think it’s necessary to have disposable utensils including chopsticks under your inventory at home.
We had danggit, korean squid (now my friends understand why I’m so hooked!), bacon, fried eggs and eggplant. The environment is so appetizing that I forgot to take photos, but of the aftermath.
You’d know that you’re late for an early morning picnic or it is (should be) over once the scheduled watering begun. Normally at 8:00 AM.
For lunch, instead of trying out the restaurants where Filipino dishes are a scarcity, I thought that it’s better to feast on Filipino yummies at home.
The traditional ginisang monggo with little gata in it.
Sauteed shrimps ala adobo.
Our old favourite pinakbet. I followed the recipe in Kulinarya cookbook, but modified it by adding chicharon (exported by San Miguel Foods) and Barrio Fiesta bagoong.
And of course, mangga’t bagoong.
Continuous dessert in the form of chatting and exchanging views about whatever is on TV, including John Lloyd and Ruffa, swine flu, etc.
Comfort food never fails to bridge the distance from wherever we are to our home.
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
ginisang munggo is one of my comfort food. truly heavenly. i plan to eat more of it because when i get old,i know i won’t be able to eat a lot (uric acid). hehe.
gusto ko tuloy mag foodtrip mamaya after office! hahaha… i’m absolutely salivating sa mangga at bagoong!!!
The pictures are awesome, Wits. And yeah, nothing like your home country’s cuisine ‘no?
nice choice for a tour and food trip! i like the rustic boats from afar. very great photo subjects!
i can see mongo.
waaaaah..sarap ng danngit..
tapos meron pang bagoong at mangga.
penge!
with that food, parang nasa pinas na rin kayo. ang sarap naman nyan. i want the shrimp and pinakbet. *penge* hehehe
I love picnics and I love everything you had..hehehe!
wow that was fun and the food super sarap.
ang sarap naman ng food! did you cook?
wendy and i sometimes have a picnic in our garden sa likod ng bahay. we lie down on the grass, no blanket, eat ice cream, popcorn, sandwiches…solve na kami!
This post made me hungry!!!
i miss comfort food. i haven’t been eating that much lately due to my medical appointments…sigh. i’d like some of that green mangoes.
what a coincidence that i dropped by at lunchtime! now i’m even more famished! haha
am currently eating my lunch in front of the computer while reading this. my lunch? i brown-bagged store bought dinuguan left overs and steamed rice.
if i feel homesick, i always fix myself garlic fried rice and some lumpia or sardines and eat that for breakfast. that makes me feel so good.
Naglaway ako dun sa mangga’t bagoong, and sa lahat ng pinakagusto ko bilang comfort food, I love love ginataang munggo, wag lang lagyan ng talong, hehehe
creamy mushroom soup.. yummm!
Dinuguan ..yummmmmmm!
ang sarap jo! wow, ang linis ng aftermath ng picnic! hahaha!
Parang kahapon lang hipon yung ulam namin. Gusto ko ulit ng hipon. Nakakapaglaway naman itong post mo Wits!
para sa akin, full meal na yung ulam sa picnic ninyo.. sarap
Yummm…the food looks so enticing. Craving for mangga’t bagoong tuloy, nomnomnom!!!
I envy youuuuu!! Ang sarap pa ng food! Sigh, Manila needs picnic spots talaga. I can’t find a place where me and my wife can picnic without the fear of getting mugged. Kaya siguro ang lakas ng mga fastfood restaurants dito, kase no place to picnic.
Buti pa sa mga probinsya…