Carbo Loading at Benassi Ristorante Italiano

It is not always that I get to try Italian food. So imagine my thrill when Madz invited me to try dining at Benassi Ristorante Italiano. This hidden gem, found along Meralco Avenue in Ortigas, is a tiny place that offers variety of home-cooked Italian family recipes, inspired by the little town of Massa in Tuscany, Italy.  

I found the place very relaxing with simple yet interesting wall decals. 

When we arrived, we were first offered complementary garlic bread in a basket while waiting for the set course prepared for us. There is nothing special about the garlic bread but it is still okay. 

The soup followed. I made a little mistake of accepting the waiter's offer for some pepper so it triggered my already itchy throat. But hey, the entries that followed made me forget it afterwards! Please take note that the following dishes are their signature showstoppers. I'm such a lucky preggy!

Crema di zucca. Php150

Risotto com Funghi Porcini. Php370

Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare. Php 380

I know this is rice but I wasn't able to resist this! If I wasn't really that conscious I could have finished the whole plate! I love love love seafood and cheese and ripe tomato made into risotto. So heavenly!

Antipasto Misto. Php695

Ravioli con Funghi Porcini. Php 350

This one is another favorite of mine. It is made of riccota cheese with porcini mushrooms. For me, the cheesier it is the yummier!

Ravioli con Spinaci. Php350

Osso Bucco. Php900

This one is a killer. At first I thought it's Bulalo but then I learned that it is an Italian specialty of cross-cut veal shanks! I've heard it took 8 hours to prepare this dish. The veal shanks are then braised with vegetable, hite wine, and broth. My husband, who's not a fan of pasta, almost finished the entire takeaway I brought home. It only meant one thing: this dish is delicious!

Prosciutto e Rucola. Php490

The distinct taste of the prosciutto carried the flavor of this pizza. Unfortunately I find the pizza a little dry. I guess I'm just used to eating a stringy one, but if that is how it should supposed to be then I guess they did a great job here.  

Mascarpone Cake. Php 220

This authentic Tiramisu version of Benassi is a little light and foamy. I usually do not eat Tiramisu because I am dead allergic to coffee. But I gave it a try. It is good! For me it just got a little hint of coffee and more on cream filling. 

 

L-R: Madz, Me, Katia (owner) and Mel

 

Benassi is owned by husband-and-wife DJ and Katia Benassi-De Guzman. Mrs. Katia is sooo beautiful and accommodating. She even joined us while dining and I had fun discussing with her, besides Italian food, mommy diaries and breastfeeding. I am really an advocate of breastfeeding so I easily liked her. They are hand-on with the management, together with her mom, Rolyn, who is culinary-trained in Italy, was the one who develop Benassi's menu. 

Benassi Ristorante Italiano

Ground Floor of the Exchange Regency,

Meralco Ave., cor. Exchange Road, Ortigas Center. 

For reservation: 310-8566

For delivery within Ortigas 0917 6203932

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/benassi.ristorante.italiano 

Blog Update!

Hello! As you can see, I'm pregnant with my second son and is due this June. So my blog title "Life with a Little Dragon" is no longer appropriate. I also made a little revision to my address because my dream of putting up a waffle cafe is a wee bit far from reality. No more mrswaffles for now. Also, I'm on a diet. LOL. So there, since I'm a lady and I really do have a pink pen for writing then I guess the title somehow holds true. That's it for now. Enjoy reading and have a great life ahead! 

Reducing Stretch Marks using Bio-Oil

During my first pregnancy, my stretch marks were so dark and scary that I am afraid of ressurecting them once again. The darkness were eventually healed but the stretch marks are still there! You have no idea how many cocoa butter products I've used to try to minimize them in the first place. I've got it in my tummy, inner thighs and upper thighs. Even in my breast! But I wont show that. Haha!

It's not that visible but they were too dark! 

When my sister gave birth, she also had the same problem and mentioned she was using Bio-Oil. She heard that it's effective but at first I was hesitant.  Then I saw some of its pamplets in my OB's clinic and it got me interested. So today, I made a quick trip to Mercury Drug store and bought me a bottle. 

It cost Php495 and this is what it got to offer:

"Bio-Oil is a special skincare product that is recommended to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. It is also recommended for ageing and dehydrated skin.
It contains the breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil which reduces the thickness of the formulation. This makes Bio-Oil easily absorbed and helps ensure the targeted delivery of its key engrodients: Vitamins A and E, and the natural plant oils Calendula, Lavender, Rosemary and Chamomile."

I am clinging on to their claim that it is hypoallergetic and can be used on the face and body. I am also concern about my ageing with semi wrinkled skin under the eye so I guess I'll be hiting two birds using one oil here. 

I do hope this one works and remind me to give a review after sometime or after 3 months - as instructed, it should be used for a minimum of 3 months only. 

When a Star was Born

It was the evening of February 20 when my mum called to inform me that my sister is about to give birth to their first child. We knew what the gender is and she already had a name for her. But we were still very excited (and nervous, I was nervous for my sister!) at the same time. 

We were due to come home on the 25th and honestly, I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't there during her delivery. But anyway, being there late meant more time with (drumroll...)

Tala Mari Yza belle B. Sarmiento

Isn't she a doll? I was used to carrying and cuddling a toddler that I enjoyed having her tiny little body in my arms. Her soft skin is something very addicting! I made a couple of stolen kisses and I know it's bawal to kiss any infants in the face but I can't help it! Hahaha

Here are the very proud and excited parents: my sister Majal and my brother-in-law Bryan. 

My brother-in-law is due to go back to china soon. It will be a very challeging situation for the new parents but I know they would make a very wonderful parents. I know that for a certain because of how they treat our Dibo. By the way, here is Dibo's first meeting with Tala:

That's how he first saw her and he keeps insisting that we put her back in her crib whenever he finds her lying somewhere else. A bit of a territorial attitute, as my mum says. Hehe! Here he is after we taught him how to be sweet with his little cousin: 

We will see our princess Tala soon on September. Hopefully she could still recognize us. Hehe

Do You Wanna Watch Bruno Mars Live for Free?

It's simple. Just follow these steps below:

How did I know about it? Well thanks to Max's Restaurant for holding a bloggers night to introduce this once in a lifetime chance to be part of Bruno Mars' The Moonshine Jungle Tour 2014. 

Not only that, Max's also prepared some scrumptious meal while we get entertained with some Bruno Mars fun games and trivia. 

Sizzling Tofu

Pansit Canton

Chopsuey

Fried Chicken

Kare-kare

Ugh! I forgot to take a photo of our dessert! Well I guess I got too engrossed watching the bloggers who participated in 'Best in Bruno Mars Attire' posed their way for a chance to win an instax camera. 

Not only that, Max's also raffled two, yes, two lower box tickets!!! You have no idea how I kept rubbing my preggy belly while they drew the lucky winner. Unfortunately, it was Joy of Occasions of Joy who got the tickets :( Anyway, I just went ahead and followed the instructions above instead. Who knows, right? So what are you waiting for? We could be one of the daily winners!

Before I end this post, let me thank Max's Restaurant for a very fun and lively evening and for the very generous giveaways :)

+ 2 half spring chicken gift certificate

Mrs. Waffles Became Mrs. BusyBee

Hello! Happy New Year! Happy Valentines! Hello! Hello!

"It's been a while" statement is quite underrated so let me start by just saying that I've been very busy lately. Plus the lack of a better laptop is one great factor why I've been sluggish. 

Anyway, updates as to why I was so busy:

1. I'm pregnant with my second son. Yes! The household will be full of testosterone so I'm really trying to prepare myself physically, emotionally, financially and SPIRITUALLY. I'm both nervous and excited at the same time. Here he is: 

Go on, stare at the glory of his manhood! Haha!

2. I've got deployed to a new client. Farther than the previous one. And also got promoted to being a Test Manager. To God be the Glory! And we all know that with great power comes great responsibilities. That includes longer commute, more walking, more brain cells to burn, more people to manage, and more tasks to consider. I'm not complaining. In fact I like the challenge. I just hate the commute part. Haha! 

I'm never too old to fancy the color pink *wink*

3. Personal issues that demanded too much of emotional investments: marriage issues, Dibo's ashtma confinement, and my plantar fasciitis. LOL 

That's during my first therapy session at the Philippine Orthopedic Institute. Para lang akong nag paspa!

There are too much stuff to share but I'll save it for another entry. Anyway, it's good to be back. Will mostly draft through my iphone (unless someone's kind enough to sponsor me a macbook pro/air. Lol!) 

I know it's kinna late, like a quarter late, but HAPPY 2014 to all!!!