This is something worth checking out when you visit one of Adriano Zumbo‘s branches. 

The Malt and Teaser Cake is made up of chocolate sabayon mousse, almond malt dacquoise, malt bavaroise, vanilla creneaux, almond praline feuilletine. 

Malt & Teaser Cake by Adriano Zumbo

It’s like eating a giant Malteser only that the inside is made of delicious malt and good quality chocolate. It’s very rich but it’s not as sweet as I thought it would be. The crunchy outer covering and the smooth core provided a balanced texture. I could easily finish this in one sitting but I split this in two so I can share it with the hubby. 

Malt & Teaser Cake


Do you have any interesting food find/s lately?

This foodie adventure happened in September in celebration of the Husband’s birthday. We had a quiet birthday celebration for him but on the week of his birthday, we took Friday off so we can have some “us” time. 

Like our usual Fridates, we took this chance to try out a different restaurant. There are a lot of restaurants at Regent Place in Sydney that we haven’t tried yet. We have eaten at a Vietnamese Tuck Shop called Miss Chu and Chanoma Cafe once and our favourite Chef’s Gallery is one that we frequent but we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to trying out the other restaurants there. 

This year, we noticed a new Japanese restaurant called Yebisu Izakaya. The colourful facade looked young and hip. The atmosphere inside was cozy and casual. 
The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya
The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya

We came a few minutes before noon and easily got a place to sit. The iPads on each table made ordering food easy with a just a tap of your fingertip. The name of the food, description and amount are clearly written on the tablet. 

The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya

We started of with something to refresh us. The Husband got his Asahi Beer while I enjoyed my Green Tea Mojito. The lime and mint in it was so refreshing!

The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya
They offer lunch specials so we both got a set each. The Husband’s Pork Tonkatsu Lunch was juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It came with a generous siding of rice, salad, a little bowl of tofu and sashimi and miso soup. 
The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya

I had the Salmon Teriyaki Lunch which I loved even if I’m not the biggest fan of teriyaki sauce. The flavour wasn’t as sweet as usual teriyaki sauces that I’ve tasted–that made me loved it! 

The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya
The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya
My set lunch had sushi and sashimi which made me loved my meal more. The fish they served were all fresh. 
The Husband's Birthday Lunch at Izakaya

We enjoyed our lunch and we plan to come back for dinner to we can try their various food varieties. 

Dessert at Chanoma Cafe
We didn’t have dessert right away as we were so full from lunch. We took a walked around the shopping area in the city and came back to Regent Place to have dessert at Chanoma Cafe.  The first time we dined here, we tried their Japadogs (Japanese Hotdogs) and liked it. Since they claim that Matcha Teas are their specialities we tried their Matcha Latte Frappuccinos. I had the regular one while the Husband had his with Oreos. I favoured the Oreo Matcha Frappuccino more as it was sweeter than the regular one.

Dessert at Chanoma Cafe

We also tried their Matcha Noir which was a Danish pastry topped with whipped cream and Matcha ice cream. The maple syrup around it gave the danish a little more sweetness. 

Dessert at Chanoma Cafe
The food we had that day left us full and satiated. It was one of those days where food played an important part in making our Fridate more worthwhile.

Yebisu Izakaya
Shop 7-10, Regent Place
501 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9266 0301

Chanoma Cafe
Ground Floor, Regent Place
501 George Street, Sydney
Phone: 02 9266 0667
Before I faced my extremely hectic October, I was able to squeeze in some well-deserved “me” time on the last week of September.

I left the office early one Friday afternoon and got out of my work area via a different route. Instead of taking the bus, I took the tram as I wanted to have a walk from Pyrmont to Darling Harbour.

I got off at The Star, Sydney’s premier casino, and had gelato at Messina. I had a scoop of their Salted Caramel (my favourite) and Coffee (because my “me” time almost always includes my beloved beverage). I was by my lonesome and yet these “me” times of mine are some of my happiest respite at the end of the day. It is more enjoyable when there’s some sort of yummy food. 

Another thing I enjoy about my “me” time is that it usually involves a lot of walking. This activity relaxes me. Walking makes me think, helps me clear my mind and soothes my soul.

As I go out of The Star, I chanced upon a big Pink Snail, an art installation which was part of Sydney’s Art and About for this year. It is the city’s collaborative arts festival where streets, laneways and buildings becomes a canvas for creation and storytelling.

A sunny afternoon awaited me as I walked out to Pyrmont Bay Park. From the wharf, one can see the Harbour Bridge peeking. I stayed there for awhile and looked at some pretty boats. 

From Pyrmont, I walked towards Darling Harbour, my favourite little harbour in Sydney. I can never get tired of this lovely scenery. 

Our city has a laidback culture that it is normal to see people just hanging out at the wharf. They sit down, talk, watch the sunset, have a cuppa. 

As I left Darling Harbour, I took one last look from the stairs leading out to the train station and captured the Sun that was about to set. Like a ring of fire, the sunlight gave out a burst of warm colours. A wonderful way to say goodbye to a lovely day. 

As part of Sydney’s Good Food Month celebrations, Shangri-la Hotel Sydney started the Philippine Food Festival yesterday and it will run until 15th October.

Experience the annual Philippine Food Festival featuring traditional cuisine like 
Kare-Kare, Pork Sisig, Chicken Inasal and much more to excite your palate.

The Philippine Food Festival buffet is available from 1st – 15th October. 

Buffet lunch from 12pm – 2.30pm on Mondays to Fridays and 12.30pm to 2:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays at $48 per person. 

Buffet dinner from 6pm – 10.30pm at $75 per person.

For reservations, call (02) 9250 6206 or email dine.slsn@shangri-la.com.
(info source)


I’ve been told that the Chefs from Shangri-la Hotel Manila are cooking it up for us here in Sydney.

I’m unable to participate in this festival at this time (how sad!) but a friend of mine has made reservations and was sent the sample menu and it looks good. See below:

APPETIZER 
Embotido (Minced Pork wrapped in Crépinette) 
Lumpiang Sariwa (Fresh Vegetable Spring Roll) 
Kilawing Tanguigue (Spanish Mackarel Ceviche) 
Tokwa’t Baboy (Bean Curd and Fried Pork with Soy Sauce Vinaigrette) 
Adobong Talong (Eggplant cooked with Soy sauce, Garlic and Vinegar) 
Green Mango with Bagoong (Green Mango with Shrimp Paste) 
Itlog na Maalat na may Kamatis (Salted egg with Tomato) 
Kilawing Talaba (Oyster Ceviche)

SALAD 
Kangkong na may suka at toyo (Swamp cabbage with Soy vinaigrette) 
Inihaw na Talong (Roasted Eggplant) 
Ensaladang Inasal na Manok (Chicken Inasal Salad) 
Atchara (Pickled Young Papaya) 
Macaroni and Ham Salad 
Puso ng Saging “Kilawo” (Banana Heart with Coconut Milk) 
Pepino Salad (Cucumber in sweet and sour vinaigrette) 
Ensaladang Okra (Lady Finger Salad) 
Ensaladang Togue (Bean Sprout Salad)
SOUP 
Papaitan (Ox Tripe and Ox Feet Soup) 
Monggo at Hibi (Green Monggo Soup with Dried Shrimp) 
Bulalo (Beef Shank Soup) 
Sari-Sari Lamang Dagat na Pochero (Seafood Pochero)
ACTION STATION 
Sisig (Stir Fried Crispy Pork) 
Pinaputok na Maya-Maya (Red Snapper Wrapped in Banana Leaf)

IHAW-IHAW 
Lamb Rump , Beef Ribs , Chicken Wings Inasal

SAWSAWAN (Condiments) 
Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Barbecue Sauce, Bagoong, Mang Tomas

MAIN COURSE 
Pusit Bicol Express (Squid with Chilies Coconut Milk) 
Pusit Gambas Style (Garlic Squid cooked in Olive Oil) 
Estofadong Dila (Slow cooked OX Tongue in Tomato Sauce) 
Kare-Kare (Stewed Ox Tail in Peanut Sauce) 
Pinakbet (Vegetables cooked in Shrimp Paste) 
Guinataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (Pumpkin and Squash cooked in Coconut Milk) 
Suwam na Tahong (Steamed Mussel in Ginger Broth) 
Pata Humba (Pork Knuckle cooked in Sweet Soy Sauce) 
Lechon Kawali (Crispy Pork Belly) 
Callos (Ox Tripe and Ox Feet Menudo) 
Adobong Manok (Chicken cooked in Soy, Vinegar and Garlic) 
Bulalong Kaldereta (Veal Stew in mildly spiced tomato sauce) 
Pancit Palabok (Rice Noodle with Smoked fish and Shrimp Sauce) 
Blue Marlin Inasal (Grilled Blue Marlin with Anatto Oil) 
Adobong Pusit at Talong (Squid Cooked in Vinegar and Garlic) 
Sinigang sa Miso na Lapu-Lapu (Grouper with Sour Broth with Miso)

DESSERT 
Matamis na Saging at Sago (Banana and Tapioca Pearls cooked in Palm Sugar) 
Fruit Salad (Mixed fruits with Cream and Condensed Milk) 
Buko Pandan (Young Coconut with Screw Pine Jelly) 
Brazo de Mercedes (Meringue Roulade filled with Vanilla Custard) 
Crema De Fruta (Vanilla Sponge Layered with Mixed Fruits and Cream) 
Guinataang Mais (Glutinous Rice cooked in Coconut Milk with Sweet Corn) 
Guinataang Halo-Halo (Glutinous rice ball with sweet potato, yam, taro, banana in coconut milk) 
Maja Blanca (Coconut Pudding with Sweet Corn) 
Ube Halaya (Purple Yam  Pudding) 
Turon (Banana and Jackfruit Spring Roll) 
Leche Flan (Caramel Custard) 
Dila-Dila (Sticky Rice with Sugar and Sesame Seeds) 
Halo-Halo Station (Assorted Sweetened Fruits topped with Shaved Ice, Leche Flan and Ube Ice Cream and Milk)
If you have time, make a reservation and come to Cafe Mix of Shangri-la Hotel Sydney to enjoy the Philippines’ hearty and delicious dishes. 
Ibyang + Instagram = Ibyangram

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I’ll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

September was such a busy month! But wow, it was one of our most productive yet. Work took so much of our time for the past weeks that even on weekends, we have committed our Sundays to a project we’re working on together. It also involved doing something for the community: voting on the national elections and being called for jury duty. September was a festive month too! We were blessed to quietly celebrate the Husband’s birthday and Mooncake Festival at home, plus spend time with friends whom we haven’t seen in ages. 

Sorry for the not-so-regular posts. I have days wherein the word “hectic” is an understatement. I face challenging tasks at work which sometimes result to long hours that whatever’s left of my night, I spend it doing important chores at home and de-stressing (either I walk on the treadmill or curl up in bed with a book). Blogging is still one of my favourite habits. I feel incomplete when I don’t get to sit down and write. Writing is one of my creative outlets and it’s something that I terribly miss when I never get to do it.  

Good news though, one of the things the Husband and I are busy with involves this blog too. We bought the domain www.awifescharmedlife.com a year ago and this year, we decided to do something about it. Hubby and I are currently designing the site and maybe finally launch it before the year ends. I hope you watch out for that because we are working very hard in making the design of www.awifescharmedlife.com as attractive and user-friendly as possible.
  
So that’s a little heads-up on what I’m up to. I have so much to write about, I hope you bear with some blog inactivity on some days. I hope these September Ibyangrams will help make up for days I never get to publish a blog post. Enjoy and I hope your September was fabulous too. Let’s welcome October with delight!

Having a drink on a Thursday. With the boss’ consent, we head to the pub for some Apple Cider after our department’s quarterly meeting. 

Early Voter. We had the national elections scheduled on the 7th September but in order to get the task out of the way and avoid the big crowd on election day, I went to a polling precinct on a weekday and voted early. During elections, voters are given an option to vote early, either by sending their vote via postal forms or going to a polling precinct two weeks prior to election.

Surronded by Love. It’s a gift when you feel loved when you’re with your best girlfriends. 

Jury Duty. This was a source of anxiety for me that clouded my mind for days. I was anxious because I don’t want to be picked as a jury due to work. I was anxious because it was my first experience to be called for jury duty; I have no idea what happens in court. On the day I came to court, I was nervous. Luckily, all cases that day pleaded guilty so we were all sent home. We have served our duty for the day and all we did was wait to be called. Although it never came to the point where I became a jury for a case, it was still an unforgettable experience.

Hubby’s Birthday Cakes.The Husband wanted a very quiet celebration and that’s what I tried to give him….and cakes! I gifted him with four cakes!  Michel’s Vanilla Sponge Cake, Max Brenner’s Chocolate Souffle, Adriano Zumbo’s Malt & Teaser Cake and of course Moon Cake! haha. 

Our first TV’s last night at home. We bought this reliable TV from a friend for only AUD$250.00 and it has served us well for the past four years. I was sentimental to let it go simply because it was our first TV. It’s presence in our home reminds us of how we began our married life together. 

The Smart TV is smarter than me. The old TV was replaced by a smart TV which left me in awe when I saw it. It’s huge, can record TV shows, has a 3D feature, has WI-FI so I can use apps in watching stuff on TV, connect to social media via apps, use it for Skpe, read blogs. I love it! 
I was once a cheerdancer. I got tagged in FB by a former mate in college to one of our cheerdancing photos so I shared it in instagram too. One of the best times of my life. Being an athlete taught me the value of discipline, teamwork, camaraderie and help others develop their potential. Most of all, I found friendships that lasted beyond the competitions we participated in.

Philippine Tourism Ad under Sydney’s blue skies. Always makes me smile when I chance upon these ads from the Philippines.

Seeing Something Pretty. Our first time to be at Ryde Park and I saw this pretty structure with the blue skies as backdrop. 

Yummy Desserts at My Goddaughters’ Parties. Kids parties are always fun even for the kids-at-heart like me. Such parties are a good excuse to indulge in delicious cakes. 

Tweethearts Reunion. Yup, it definitely felt like a reunion of sorts because we haven’t seen each other for a while. So happy to caught up with my lovely friends. 

Fancy Meeting Vera. Social media has definitely made the world smaller. Vera is one of my IG mates and it turned out we have a common friend in Sydney. We were introduced at my goddaughter’s party and I found out we lived in the same area. Yay! 🙂
The Husband and I. Sometimes we go home from an event with no photo of us! Most of the time, we’re busy taking photos during events that we never thought to have a photo together. We’re glad our friend was able to take a photo of us at a party we attended. 

My Peace Lily now has two flowers. And they blossomed in time for Spring!

Stop and smell the roses…even if busy. No matter how tired I may be when I go home from work, I take time to appreciate the little things that make the world pretty. Thank God for flowers!

Pine Trees by the beach. Early morning breakfast at Brighton-Le-Sands. Such a relaxing view.

Trees Make Me Happy. I love them! 

Sunshine on our Cuppas. Saturday morning, out on a beach with my favourite person in the world. 
Boiled eggs and sweet potatoes to get us thru an all-nighter. We had a working weekend on the last weekend of September. The Husband and I sometimes take in design projects that we do on top of our 9-5 jobs. It makes our life crazy sometimes but we enjoy it. Last Saturday, we had to work til wee hours of morning as we needed to present something to the client on Sunday. We pulled it thru and the client was happy with our efforts. Whew!
And that was September for us. It was an overwhelming month for us but we’re grateful for busy but rewarding days.