Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater - Lunch Buffet (SM Mall of Asia by The Bay)

ABBEY: We scheduled a date with Papa Boy before going back to Singapore. We reserved seats for lunch in Banzai, a Japanese restaurant at SM Mall of Asia. Ate Beth and Rai tagged along. An adult costs 668 pesos (drinks included) and free for my nephew. 

My first plate had sushi and sashimi. Then I had beef tepanyaki, chicken karaage and yakitori. They also have variety of fried rice; teppanyaki, garlic and shrimp paste. Yes, that was a cheat day for me. They also serve Filipino food like chicken-pork adobo and spare ribs sinigang. And I was really with the sinigang. I went back 3-4 times. 

It was fun time and I enjoyed it much as I can see my father happy as well.

Banzai Building 

Tempura Station

Sushi Station

WILL: Buffet Restaurants are really the craze in Philippines. No wonder many Filipinos (ehem, including my siblings) gaining weight. The buffets are more affordable than buying an ala-carte meal plus drinks in other food establishments.

Anyway, if you want to see some choices for buffet, you can go to Mall of Asia and more than 4 restaurants are offering eat-all-you-can in there. 

I made a reservation at Banzai! It was located just beside the MOA Eye (Ferris Wheel). Luckily, there is a promotion for Visa Credit Card holders, we pay three for 4 adults. Nice right? 

As usual, indulge with ebi tempura, sashimi, and sushi. I can't remember how many plates I had of those. Haha. I tried their flavoured fried chicken and some sweets. I fell in love with their mocha meringue. I am the culprit! Haha! I ate it all and felt sad when I saw nothing left on the table but after few minutes, saw some refills and I attacked it again. Remembered my childhood days. Haha. 

We went there for lunch buffet, weekdays. Very recommendable.

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Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater Bldg J, By The bay Leisure Park, Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

(T) 09177067328 or 5527368

(F) https://www.facebook.com/BanzaiPH/

Kuretake Japanese Restaurant - Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City

ABBEY: At last after a couple of years, I'm able to meet again the leader of Rabasu team; Aris Azur. He came along with Nica and His son Arwind. We met at Kuretake, a Japanese restaurant, at Rockwell Powerplant Mall.

I had Katsuma Tama Ju Box that came with miso soup and pickles for 320 pesos. I love the rice toppings. The chicken is tender and moist and rice is cooked well. Serving is good enough to make me full. Then I washed it all down with mango shake. Philippine mango is really the best.

The restaurant also serves teppanyaki, sushi, sashimi, ramen, and soba.

Tori Udon

Katsuma Tama Ju Box

WILL: We should be dining at Mamou II, but there is a 2 seating time and both cannot accommodate the timing we have scheduled. Just beside this restaurant is Kuretake. 

Abbey's best man, Aris and his wife Nica and baby Arwind were already there when we arrived the place. The restaurant is serene and this is the right place for us to catch up on our lives. 

I ordered Tori Udon (Php330.00) . The soup is perfect, the meat is tender and the thick noodles make my tummy full in an instant. 

Over that meal, we shared a lot of events in our life. It so nice to see an old friend face-to-face. Nothing beats that. :) Thanks Azur Family for the time spent with us. Till next time. Tori Udon $330.00

*** Kuretake Japanese Restaurant (Philippines)  Ground Level Power Plant Mall Rockwell Drive corner Estrella Street Rockwell Center, Makati, Philippine 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM / 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM (T) +63 2 898 0509 (E) jgihrdept@gmail.com

Playing Monopoly With Kids

ABBEY: When I saw Monopoly board for the first time, I started to like it. The feeling of owning houses and hotels and lots of money at hand interests me. This is what I asked my father to buy me when he's abroad. And he gave me the British version. So Mayfair is my Boardwalk. But time passed and I have no one to play with as I knew that the game will take time and my siblings got no time for that. :)

I got an iPad and I bought the electronic version. Still nothing beats the physical ones.

We want to teach financial education to our nephews and niece and I know this can break the ice. For them it is only a game but I'm hoping that they will learn from this. We started the game 10pm and ended at 3AM as the tutorial is being counted in. They now knew how to make a deal, when to buy houses, what are the key spots and getting out of jail free with the roll of a dice. I even heard one of them saying "Tatalunin kita Tita Wil" which made me think that they are having goals now. Few more games and then we'll introduce Reobert Kiyosaki's Cashflow 101.

Hannah, Baste, Sam & Tito Abbey

WILL: Financial lesson must be learned firstly from home. I just want to pass-over all the lessons that parents thought me when I am still young. In my early age, all I have in my hand is either book, Barbie, or dice of this Monopoly / Millionaire Game. At an early age, they thought as how to save money in the bank (even, they do not trust banks, haha)! Our mind is open how to use “paluwagan” to benefit the members in good things. As early as 7, I am at our lumber business and learning to be a cashier and listening to tales for us not be fooled by my parents’ employees nor clients.

And I am so proud to my nephews and niece that they chose to have Monopoly Board Game than to have a rubber shoes. Haha! So we did bought it and asked them to take an extra good care of those.

When Abbey and I went home, they keep on bugging us to play with them. I witnessed for myself what are their traits in handling and solving issues about money.

My niece cried and threw a white flag when she realized that she have a small amount on hand. We explained to her that that is just a game, a practise. And the reality of life is a bitter or sweet and that will depend on the result of her choices. She then told us, she is ready again to fight us on the next round.

I observed that my Sam (the fat one) is really eager to defeat me and his Tito Abbey warned him “You will never defeat Tita Wilma in regards with money, Sam”. I smirk to my niece and look onto his eyes challenging him more.

Baste, the thin one, while he and his brother is bidding for a certain lot blurted out “$900.00!!!” Sam happily responded “Iyo na!” Sam knew her brother do not have enough cash and the pitiful Baste can’t do anything but to mortgage some of his properties with the bank. It does taught him to honor his words.

Consecutive days, we are all out of sleep. But I am happy playing/teaching them. 

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Toys"R"Us - VivoCity

1 Harbourfront Walk #02-182/3