Santorini: A Gateway to Korean Food

So I haven’t written a blog in a long while. I have been incredibly busy with school. All hell ended a few days ago and as of now I am relaxing and not even thinking about other academic matters. This blog won’t be about my rants nor my dreams or goals. It would be about food.

I don’t wish to recall my stresses the past few months so here is a blog about Korean food. My schoolmates and I are fond of eating at this small Korean restaurant near our university for a year now. (I believe) We visited quite a few times already and I must say I haven’t grown tired of eating almost the same dish every time.

Santorini is the name of the restaurant. No, it’s not one of the famous tourist spots in Greece, it’s a Korean restaurant. When I heard of it, I never thought it would be a place serving Korean cuisine. I assumed it was some kind of Grecian food fair. At first, I thought they were offering Italian pasta. (Sorry I didn’t know Santorini was in Greece, it sounded more of an Italian city to me, until I’ve done my research that is) 

Anyway enough about that, let’s talk about the menu. I wasn’t able to snap a picture of it, but all I could remember is that they have Kimbap’s to Ramen, to Bulgogi to Spicy Rice Cakes etc. The price range is around 100 pesos to roughly 200 pesos. All these meals are a la carte and good for sharing. They also have canned soft drinks, bottled juices and specifically Banana Milk. The beverages are priced I guess between 25 pesos to 45 pesos. However if you are low on budget, they do serve free mineral water. Another free item they offer is the ever so popular side dish, Kimchi. They have it in radish and cabbage Kimchi, so if you want some, you need to let the helper know since not everyone likes it. At least you are given the freedom not to have it.

Now, I never came out this small food establishment not stuffed. Since a lot can be for sharing, my friends and I order a couple of dishes and eat to our hearts content.  I can say, it’s definitely worth the money since you get to taste authentic Korean food for I believe in somewhat reasonable prices. So here are the pictures of some dishes we ordered the last time we ate there.

 Cabbage Kimchi (left), Radish Kimchi (right)

Note: I prefer the Radish Kimchi since it's more sweet and less sour

 This dish is called "jjajangmyeon" or black bean noodles. When we first saw this on the menu we immediately wanted to try it since this is seen in almost all Korean dramas. I myself, was curious how it tasted like. It really couldn't describe its flavors but it came to my liking the first moment I took a bite. Now I am somewhat addicted to it. 

Another thing I am probably in love with is the so called "bibimbap". It consists of vegetables, strips of cabbage kimchi, white rice, egg, ground beef, drizzled with red chili paste plus a dash of sesame oil and seeds. I remember seeing this in a Korean drama also. All I can say is that there is a right balance of flavors and textures, adding to that, it never fails to satisfy me. A warning to those who don't fancy vegetables, this Korean dish has a lot, so I advice you order a different meal instead.

 Last but not the least, dessert! There is definitely more room for dessert every time we visit. Even if I feel full, I still find myself craving for sweets. Unfortunately Santorini does not serve Korean desserts like I guess "patbingsu" (it's like S. Korea's version of our own Halo-Halo) and the likes. 

Well I do wish they would so the whole experience would definitely be complete. Anyway, what they do have is Korean ice cream. (Melona, Binggrae etc.) I always and will forever order Binggrae's Oreo Cheesecake Ice cream. Not only am I a huge fan of cheesecake I am also in love with ice cream. Combine them and I have one of my ultimate favorite desserts. I wish they make these things locally though. 

All in all, I believe I spent around 300 pesos. We shared the black bean noodles and Korean pancake (which I sadly don't have a picture of). It's pretty pricey for me but the experience and the food is all worth it I tell ya. So if you want to try Korean food and live within UST or Manila, then drop by Santorini located at the busy street of Padre Noval. You may want to visit their Facebook page for more information. (Santorini Facebook page) Oh yeah, before I finally end things, additional information, the owners are pure Korean. I think. Anyhow, until my next blog! Annyeong!

Fall in L

Finally after a gazillion years moi is back! So I am waiting for my download to finish. I am downloading MS Office and as of this moment I am typing on WordPad because I want to write another blog (I remember I still have an unfinished blog about the Dream Kpop Fantasy Concert here in the Philippines last January 19). Alright let's get things started! 

I remembered this one occurrence or whatever you call it, wherein there was a guy who seemingly found me attractive. I actually have met him before, well we were just acquaintances though. Well, so I kinda said that he was not my type and that sort of made me look bad? Anyway, you see I am not saying the guy was ugly or anything like that (couldn't even remember his face that well) and I'm purely flattered someone actually likes me but that is it. I think I sounded harsh though (but I just said it plainly as far as I could recall, and I just shared it to my friend). Yeah, you'll be telling me that I haven't even given that guy a chance, but I already said he ain't my type?  I am sorry for that but maybe because I wasn't that interested in being in a relationship for now (not that I think it will get to that point) so I said that statement? 

The dating world does make me curious but not to the extent that I want to be in it just yet. Besides I don't think I am obliged to like him back right? (clueless girl here) I felt like I am forced to like him just because he likes me. I don't want that.  I am that person who wants things to go its natural way, or maybe I am just over thinking again. Meh, I don't think I made sense and was successful to get my thoughts across because I am just really clueless with romantic love and anything else related to that. I pity myself sometimes but hey, love will come to me eventually so I'll patiently wait. 

On the other hand, I think I did kinda reject some guys... I think. I just don't know how to accept another person's feelings okay? I always get misunderstood and I over think and panic. I think they also misunderstood my actions towards them? I really don't mean to. Trust me, I am one lost girl when it comes to that. Plus I think my head is still stuck in Fantasy World wherein you can find my dream boy running around the green meadows with his hand intertwined with moi. Ah yes, I still have my own little fairy tales going on in my mind. Say whatever you want but that is solely the truth.  

My close friend told me I have high standards, oh man, I can't believe I do either. How do you even make it un-high? So probably that was also one problem with me? If you can actually consider it a hindrance. I keep telling myself, "I am not some great girl to even dare look for a greater guy." But I do. It's really frustrating. I believe those pretty flower boys I admire so much, were the main reason I had high standards in the first place. Wishing you could meet someone like him. How could I possibly meet someone who is almost perfect in my eyes? My dream boy that I will only forever dream about. So I guess I just dream (oh yes very redundant) of the wonderful relationship with him and never got interested in Real Life Dating? Meh, what the heck am I saying. Anyway in short, swooning over pretty-perfect-talented-caring boys is not that healthy because it can lead you to have high standards for men and probably be alone the rest of your existence.

I should wrap things up before I continue to talk non-sense. I seriously think I was not able to express my thoughts well. Anyway, for those K-pop lovers out there this song truly fits having standards.Juniel - Pretty Boy ("Fall in L" is the name of her album where I "stole" my blog post title from XD)

Girly Rants

Uhmm… I always start my blog posts usually with what I am currently doing or feeling. So I will keep that I guess, unless I could think of something very creative to start off my very first paragraph. I doubt that though. 

Right now, it is raining outside. Well, it’s probably just drizzling but it’s been on for a few hours now. I am very cold, plus I have a runny nose. I also feel like I want to just lie in bed all day tomorrow. Of course, in my dreams I could. I need to refrain myself from doing so because I should be a responsible daughter and citizen. I should go finish my school tasks and not laze around nor procrastinate. However, considering the weather and my lack of motivation, I don’t think I could pull that off well over the weekend. I am obliged to pass two ‘projects’ next week and I need to study, since the Preliminary Examinations are coming up as well. Typical student problems.

Anyway, so I think I’d like to share what happened to me earlier today. So we had this class wherein the professor is teaching us on how to develop our personalities and proper grooming at that. Now, we were kinda thought how to put on makeup since we were at the ‘proper grooming discussion. We were required to fix ourselves up (which I am not accustomed to) and show up in our corporate attire. I never fix myself up whenever I go out. I seldom wear fashionable clothes as well; I just feel weird doing that okay? I don’t think it is necessary. I am trying to radiate the, ‘what you see is what you get’ aura. I am kidding. I guess I am acting this way because I am the only girl among the siblings (I have two brothers). I grew up loving animé and playing video games. I did have Barbie dolls here and there and people sent me those pre-teen makeup sets but, the girliness was just not strong enough to overcome my inner manliness…? Okay don’t assume just yet, I am still a girl. A boyish girl, it is different from a lesbian. I still prefer the opposite sex but I don’t go for skirts and all that. In short I grew up not liking to fix myself or make myself look pretty or dress myself up in girly clothes. I guess that explains why I don’t have a boyfriend yet? Haha. 

Although now that I am getting older… older… older… like needs-to-be-responsible-enough-older, I am dreaming of becoming fashionable, sporting those pastel colors and those puffy skirts and cocktail dresses with those cute pair of high heeled shoes. However, I am not that confident to even try. Plus I wear glasses and I could not afford contact lenses for now because having my very own costs more than the ordinary ones. I don’t know but I usually get the notion from other people that having glasses and wearing girly clothes don’t match at all. There was this one time we were having our P.E. class. I had this classmate come up to me and said that she overheard these two guys talking about me that they think I was pretty, but too bad I was wearing glasses. I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment actually. What the hell is wrong if I am wearing specs? Does it give off a nerdy aura? Does it hinder the ‘beauty’? What did they mean by that? People also tell me I look different without my eye glasses. I don’t know if I should feel bad about that too. It could mean something positive or it could mean something negative. Ugh. People. I have to stop there before I could completely forget what I am really talking about. So I still do want to try on those girly clothes on but I don’t know how to carry it well. I think my hiding masculinity would show through and ruin the outfit. 

About makeup… I have no idea how to put makeup on. I only learned about those bronzers, primers, moisturizers and all the rest recently. Except for BB cream though. I don’t know how to properly apply those things on my face and the right strokes and techniques. It is driving me crazy! Heck I can’t even put on a straight line with eyeliner. I was forced to somehow do all those procedures on my own for ‘proper grooming’. I needed to survive so I had to pretend I know how to beautify myself and add color to my very oh so pale skin. It was kinda successful but my professor said I still needed more. I just don’t apply too much because I think I will look like a clown… and I could possibly look like a clown. Since I have fair skin heavy application could lead to a miserable outcome. I see no advantages here. Haha! When she was checking me though I had to take off my glasses so she could see my makeup well. She said I really looked different with makeup this time. I don’t know what I should feel about that. I know she didn't mean it in a bad way but still, I am so unsure of how to take that in, as a compliment or something else… Oh my life.

I do hope someday, someday I could fulfill my goal of becoming girly at least; knowing how to dress myself appropriately and how to fix myself properly. I’ll be really happy if I could and show those people that I can look decent. 

 Uh so I can’t think of anything else to talk about… so good bye for now!