Upper Class Coffee, Anyone?

Jen: "Babe, kanina nagpuntang UCC sina Bing. Sabi nila mahal daw dun." (Babe, Bing and company went to UCC earlier. They said it's expensive there.)

Moi: (reading a book) "Yup... medyo mahal dun especially if you're more used to the likes of Starbucks, CBTL and SBC. O bakit daw mahal?" (Yup... it's a little bit expensive especially if you're more used to the likes of Starbucks, CBTL, and SBC. So, according to them, why is it expensive?)
Jen: "Kasi Upper Class Coffee dun." (because that's Upper Class Coffee)
Moi: (speechless)

Ok, that may or may not be relevant to the latest eating experience I inflicted upon Jen. But she does have a point. There was a concert at MOA that night and the veranda restaurants had to be "booked". As I understood it, patrons need to pay a certain amount and present the OR to their chosen establishment. Kinda like a deposit... just so the dining place would be sure you'd order something and not just order iced tea and ogle the boy band singing on stage.

UCC wasn't taking reservations. Maybe they didn't need to as we were 24 hours to early for the Hearts Day rush. When we got there, we were the only people in the shop (four outdoor tables were occupied).

Jen and I had intended to have dinner and desserts at UCC but on the way, she had wanted to check out ZooYork and I Team Manila. Down the hall was the Chicago Popcorn Shop. This is where my appetite was ruined (in a delish way) and my digression begins.

I first read about CPS (it's acronym day today!) on DCF (another acronym!) and I vowed I would visit the shop and indulge my "carmel" cravings (next to chocolate, caramel is my fave flavor). A few weeks later I did.

I had been looking forward to this... and I thought it was a good idea. Jen loves cheese and I am the hugest sucker for caramel. Though it ruined my appetite, I'm still glad I got these treats!

Gosh, these look so good!

Even the tin can looks good enough to eat!

Jen loves the stuff too!

So, after we noshed and chomped on the salty-sweet popcorn (it was divine - thought Jen still prefers Chef Tony's) we succeeded in wiping out half of the stuff without trying very hard. SO we only had enough tummy room for dinner. Which was not as nice as I wanted it to be.

Jen and I got curry. I got seafood. She got the beef plate. It looks nice on the plate.

But not on the palate. The curry flavor was weak, almost non-existent. It was also watery and a bit salty. Even the broccoli on Jen's plate was overcooked. Redemption came in the form of: al dente rice grains and crisp battered fish (on my plate).

Mine


Jen's

The crowning glory: Sumiyaki coffee. Still as good as I remember it to be.

Jen doesn't like it. But I love it: thick, dark, slightly bitter, strong and addictive. A pinch of crystal sugar won't hurt either.

The only part of the meal Jen liked. Hahahaha!

After dinner, we wandered aimlessly around the mall. I came upon the Korean grocery store on the corner at the second floor (next to Subway) and found green Pepero! I also found Melona, my staple ice cream bar during my stay in Seoul (it was winter so all ice cream products were selling at 40% off) and Chilsung Cider.

Like I said, walang kwentang title. So much for upper class coffee.