Dining Discovery : Mad Mark's Kapitolyo

Anissa's been going to this place with her friends and has always raved about the food there. I finally got to go with her and Sabine the other night (after spending 4 hrs in the salon while A had her hair coloured - we were naturally famished!). 

Mad Mark's was a stone's throw away from the salon we went to so it was the perfect choice for our starving tummies.

It's self-serve style at Mad Mark's so this photo was taken while we were waiting for our orders to arrive

We're Iced Tea fans. When I ordered 3 glasses, the girl at the counter told me I could instead get the pitcher, which translates to about a litter, for just Php 110.00. 

While we were ordering, Anissa said I had to try the french fries. This was the only kind they had left. The Herbed Parmesan Fries (served Tuscan style with select herbs and parmesan). They were really good! However, I prefer my potatoes thin and crispy (like Mcdonald's or Army Navy's). These were too thick for my taste. They were flavorful, nonetheless. Anissa was right.

Then our respective orders came ... 

Anissa and I had the Cream Mushroom Steak. Too bad I couldn't touch the salad (I don't have my Onco's go signal to eat raw food). For less than P300, this was not bad at all. In fact, I really liked the creamy mushroom gravy that came with it. We ordered extra gravy at P35 each.

For Sabine who loves fish, this is what I got. Unfortunately, I totally forgot the exact name of this dish. It's fried fish fillet, really soft and tender. It came with a dipping sauce of lemon, butter and anchovies (she didn't like it because of the anchovies but I did). This dish also didn't cost more than P300.

Unfortunately, even if people keep saying that your Mad Mark's dining experience is never complete without trying their homemade ice cream, we didn't have space for it anymore. I made a mental note to drop by the next time I'm in the area, just to try it. 

Oh and since N couldn't join us, I got him one of their best sellers, the Lumberjack. I should drag him to this place next time!

Mad Mark's is on East Kapitolyo Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City  

Back to Havaianas?

I remember those oh so crazy days when I was totally addicted to this flip flop brand. There wasn't a Make Your Own Havaianas event that I didn't go to. In fact, my Havie friends and I (that's what we call the group of friends that was formed out of our love for chinelas) eventually got VIP invites to this annual thing. We were there making our flip flops, a day before the event was opened to the public. Naks, diba?!! But like all addictions, this one went away eventually. It passed without me even noticing it. One day, I just noticed myself walking past an All Flip Flops store without bothering to enter it. That was how I knew that my love affair with Havaianas had died down. Not to say that I would never pay for another pair again. It was just your typical "too much, too soon" kind of thing. I had soooooo many pairs because I jumped at every opportunity, every new design. That's probably why I suddenly wasn't too excited anymore. 

I don't remember the last time I bought a pair. In fact, I don't even remember the last time I looked at them inside a store. I got to do this very recently at The Complex in Eastwood Mall. Anissa was checking out some swimsuits and trying them on. I was getting bored so I decided to check out the wall of Havaianas flip flops they had. I tried on a few pairs and I suddenly had the urge to get a pair. It's summer anyway!  I didn't buy one right there though. I wanted to familiarize myself with the new designs. My favorite will always be the TOP style. It's the plainest one of all and it's also the style that agrees with my weirdly-shaped feet. My black and brown ones which are years and years old are still with me and none of them look old. 

Hmmm ... parang I want one in red

My next favorite style is the HIGH LIGHT. I haven't been updated, I didn't know the plain/solid-colored ones are back in the market. They're the ones I really really like.

I like them because they're half-wedges. Not too high for the lampa like me. 

Lastly, I also like SPIRIT. I already have this in black (booooooring!). 

I'm kinda liking the white and gold. Still boring? Hahaha. I'm safe when it comes to colors.

Anyway ... I haven't decided on what to get yet. Maybe I need to actually go inside a store so I can finally choose my comeback pair. I just hope this planned purchase doesn't lead to a revival of that old expensive addiction! 

Go Away, Virus!

It's not even the season for it so I don't how this virus can be around at the moment. Saturday morning, Sabine woke up with a cough and slight fever. Thankfully, the phlegm was loose. I hate it when she has a dry cough because it's always painful to listen to. She slept for the most part of Saturday, probably her body's way of making up for all the activity the day before (we spent afternoon to evening supporting Anissa at a major dance competition). I doubt that Sabine caught the virus here. She must have picked it up from school, where kids are normally exposed to these things. The fact that classrooms are now air-conditioned is also a huge factor. 

Anyway, the fever has been on and off since then and I honestly thought she would make it to school today for the 1st day of her 3rd term exams. But alas ... after being fever-free the whole day yesterday, she suddenly developed a temperature at 1am . I was asleep but as always, the sleep was not that deep because I knew I still had to be on the lookout. Her arms felt hot so I grabbed the thermometer and took her temperature. Dammit, 38.6. I gave her some Paracetamol and a sponge bath while she slept to bring the fever down. Around an hour later, it was safe for me to go back to sleep because the temperature had settled at somewhere a little over 37. 

I again woke up 4 hours later to the sound of my iPhone's alarm so I could give her another dose of Paracetamol. It was 530am. I decided to text her class adviser to let her know that she wouldn't make it to class today. I also updated her Pediatrician. Anissa complained of not feeling well when she left for school without Sabine earlier, after already taking a Biogesic to hopefully address the situation.

Argh. I don't remember the last time both my girls were sick. In fact, I'm quite sure they've never been sick at the same time. Sabine is more sickly than Anissa though. 

I'm praying so hard that this is really just a virus and nothing more. Sabine is still coughing, which kind of gives me that feeling of relief. Without the cough (I hate the thought of dengue!), I'd be a lot more panicky. 

Another thing ... I haven't had my blood counts checked yet although I'm sure my WBC level is fine by now. I'm hoping to God I don't catch whatever it is my girls have!

Anyone else out there feeling sick?