Need to Fuel Your Cravings? Dine at Krave of Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Craving for something really good to eat? Now, exactly a month old since it opened last July 28, 2019, Krave, a family-owned restaurant, of Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon is quite busy in continuously serving diners with their very own rice meals, pasta, snacks, and sweet treats. 

A part of Krave's dining area. The whole place can be reserved for intimate functions, parties, and gatherings of 20-25 people.

To travel is to love.

Another cozy spot in the restaurant.

 "Lumaki kami sa pamilya na kapag may handaan, lahat ay kasama na mag-prepare ng pagkain. Kaya halos kaming lahat ay inclined sa pagluluto," Cath mentioned. Majority of the dishes on Krave's menu are the crowd favorites during their reunions and gatherings: her ate's carbonara, bunso's embutido, and her partner, Chef Chy's Malunggay Pesto (Admiringly, Chef Chy has won and was awarded a bronze medal in the Chef Wars competition at the World Trade Center back in college for the Filipino Fusion Cuisine category). Meanwhile, the boys of the family were tasked to work on the restaurant's interior. Thus, Krave is the result of everyone's efforts, bringing in their talents on cooking and designing together.

Munch on some crackers while waiting for the food to come.

Or maybe get a basket of nachos for a good start. Krave's nachos can be shared or eaten solo.

Good food is here na. Where na you?

For its rice meal line up, Krave has Breaded Pork, Tapa, Embutido, and Leny's Laing as its bestsellers. The pasta plates are also well received by diners, having adobo flakes, tuna pesto, carbonara, and mac & cheese as their favorites. The chicken wings of Krave is also a crowd drawer which comes in 6-pieces or 12 pieces. To end a good meal, churros, coffee jelly, and waffle may be ordered. "My nieces and nephews love waffles," Cath shared, further explaining that kids will definitely like the mentioned dessert.

Moreover, the meals that are served in Krave are all from scratch so you can be assured that what you are eating are all made with TLC.  For example, their tapa and embutido are all made from raw ingredients, not store-bought.

Leny's Laing is a favorite of One Valenzuela. Mommy Leny, the owners' mother, makes this signature dish out of gabi leaves and coconut milk as its main ingredients.

Adobo Flakes Pasta. An interesting twist where you will enjoy eating Classic Pinoy Adobo served with spaghetti. Adobo is a star among Filipino viands and this fusion dish nailed it so far.

Chicken Wings. The chicken wings come in three flavors: Original, Teriyaki, and Buffalo. The buffalo wings are really good - savory and just a bit spicy. "We adjust the spice level depending on our customer's request," the Krave team mentioned.

Finally ended the meal with a tall glass of Krave's creamy Coffee Jelly.

Look at those coffee jelly cubes! Sarap di ba?

Just like a car which needs some gas after a long drive, dining here will make you happy and all fueled up! So the next time you drop by Gen. T. De Leon, try this new dining spot and fill up that craving tank up to the brim. 

Thank you, Krave! 

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Krave: Fuel Your Cravings

Location: 3004 Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City (Landmark: across San Roque Supermarket)

Open Hours: 12:00nn-9:00pm, daily

Contact Number: 0927-6045165

Like and follow Krave on Facebook here for updates.

How to Go to Krave:

If you are coming from Valenzuela City Hall in Malinta, ride a jeepney (i.e. Monumento/Pier/Divisoria) which will pass by Karuhatan. Go down Karuhatan Jeepney Market and cross the road via bridge. Pass by the Karuhatan Wet and Dry Market. Go to the Jeepney Terminal which will go to Ugong (P9.00 as of this writing). Ask the jeepney driver to drop you near San Roque Supermarket. Krave is just a few meters across the said supermarket.

Cakes and Bakes: Crown Royale of Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Life isn't a piece of cake and we all know that. But after a day's work, isn't it worth celebrating to have something delicious like a good bake?

Wandering around Barangay Gen. T. De Leon brought One Valenzuela and her friend along Heron Street. Here, a bakeshop painted in blue with photos of customers with personalized cakes on its wall greeted them. "Seems like a shop which has already made a lot of people really, really happy," One Valenzuela thought.

Crown Royale of Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

When they finally got into the shop, she realized that her initial thoughts were correct. Tama nga. It was a privilege to get to meet the very welcoming couple who is behind Crown Royale -- Keempee and Mary Ann Chuyaco. "Bata palang ako, gumagawa na ko ng figures sa clay," Keempee mentioned as he never thought that he would be using his talent as a child into molding toppers and decorations for bakes and cakes one day.

Crown Royale's bakeshop gives a very vibrant and happy vibe to all customers. 

"Ang biggest break namin ay nung gumawa kami ng cake para kay Enchong Dee," Mary Ann expressed. Enchong Dee is a well-known artist from ABS-CBN. Since then, they have been baking cakes for Enchong and his mother every year. "Six years na rin," she counted. They usually order Crown Royale's signature chocolate moist cake. Crown Royale has already baked for the following stars as well: Alden Richards, Glaiza de Castro, Maja Salvador, Katrin Bernardo (for her 18th Birthday), Kiray, Julia Barretto, Kim Chu, and Xian Lim. 

Enchong Dee and Crown Royale's cake

Their cakes have also graced many significant occasions of Valenzuelanos. And the list just goes on.

To add, Crown Royale's bakes have already been brought abroad by many loyal customers. "Hina-hand carry talaga nila!" Mary Ann fondly recalls. Some of the places that their cakes have reached are Macau, Korea, and USA. Yes, it's that good.

Photo Credit: CrownRoyale Cakes

Crown Royale's daily bakes include ensaymada, cupcakes, mini donuts, and chocolate crinkles. They have these baked goods everyday in the bakeshop.

Chocolate crinkles at P5.00 each. The taste? Pang-P10.00 ang sarap!

What are Crown Royale's bestsellers? For those special occasions, do go for their chocolate moist, banana cake, customized cakes, and cupcakes. They also offer pastry and candy buffets for events. Craving for some good stuff on a regular day? Get some of their daily bakes! They have ensaymada and cupcakes in the store everyday. Don't forget to grab crinkles as well which come in ube, red velvet, and chocolate flavors (Highly recommending the chocolate crinkles!). They also have mini donuts with flavors like blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, macha, chocoberry, and milk (3 pieces for P10.00 lang!).

Oh my. These crinkles are so heavenly. Highly recommending the chocolate crinkles.
Yes, One Valenzuela hoarded two boxes of these worth-every-calorie chocolate crinkles.
The price? Only P5.00 each. 

Refresh with some cucumber lemon drink and partner it with their baked goods. 

This is Crown Royale's everyday cupcake. Looks so good, right?

Since the Chuyacos have been so blessed, they make it a point to give back.
 "Panata na namin ang magbigay ng cupcakes sa SPED for their Christmas Party," Keempee said.

Look: Here's one of the boxes that One Valenzuela bought. Mini-donuts!

The next time you go to Gen. T. De Leon, make sure to drop by Crown Royale to have these baked goodies. Life isn't a piece of cake, but we do deserve a slice of cake even on a regular day. 

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Crown Royale Cakes
Address: 4669 Phase 2 Heron St., Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City
Shop hours: Opens at 8:00am daily
Contact No: 0917-9722425
How to get there:
From Gen. T. De Leon 3S Center, ride a tricycle at MAPASATODA terminal going to Phase 2.
From Robinson's Beehive, ride a tricycle at SANPATODA terminal going to Phase 2 Heron Street.
Follow Crown Royale Cakes on Facebook here.

Crown Royale Cakes is located along Heron Street at Barangay Gen.T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Where to Find Authentic Batangas Lomi: Doming's Lomi House at Barangay Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Tag-ulan na naman! (It's rainy season again!) We all exclaim this when June comes with its chilly rains and winds. We bid goodbye to summertime and say hello to our survival packs composed of umbrellas, slippers, and raincoats as we go to our offices to work and schools to study. For foodies like One Valenzuela, it is also but a must to know where to get good bowls of soup-based meals, a part of an unofficial "Where to Eat Survival Foodie Guide" during this cold season. So like a moth attracted to the light and warmth of a lamp, she wandered the streets last week, searching for the now well-known hole-in-the-wall lomihan at Barangay Gen. T. De Leon: Doming's Lomi House.

Rainy weather is Gala weather! Time to find a good bowl of lomi. In Photo: Special Lomi of Doming's Lomi House (Php40.00/bowl) 

It wasn't raining when One Valenzuela reached the 7-11 Convenient Store near Our Lady of Fatima University and so she decided to walk her way to the lomihan rather than ride the tricycle at the terminal. It's a good 15-20 minute walk  which is something that One Valenzuela leisurely enjoyed (Note: For those po who are not used to walking long distances, ride the tricycle.). To spice up the moment, it eventually rained! Good thing, she already saw the signage of the lomihan, dashing to the place (Second note: Don't forget your umbrella. You will never know when it will rain.). Lammmig!

And it suddenly rained! Thank God, One Valenzuela is almost near the lomihan.

Doming's Lomi House in action. The lomihan was opened last September 2017 and has been serving 2 house specials which people fall in line for: the lomi and the guisado.

Doming's Lomi House was packed with people when One Valenzuela came. It is a simple and no-frills lomihan. Good thing, a couple of diners were already done with their lomi bowls and were almost ready to leave. After getting the table, One Valenzuela ordered a lomi bowl and a plate of guisado, the two house specials. While waiting for the lomi and guisado to be cooked, more people came to dine in and waited for their turn to be seated. A few minutes later, One Valenzuela heard a number of people come, place big orders and, again, wait patiently.

People waiting to be seated. Nagkaubusan ng tinapay! Doming's Lomi House also has monay (bread) which they source from a local bakery. But if they ran out of stock, go to the nearby Malabanan Store and buy a pack or two (Php12.00/pack).

Yes, the lomi is worth the wait! Sooo, what's with their Batangas lomi? 

One: The noodles are brought to Valenzuela all the way from Batangas! The miki is not that salty as compared to the typical noodles we find in other restaurants serving lomi. And do take note of how many kilos of noodles are served in a typical day: about 70 kilos. On a holiday? It reaches around 90 kilos! Now, just imagine how many bowls of lomi are served with that volume of noodles.

Look at this bowl of piping hot and rich lomi. This is their Php40.00 bowl (Special). Ang daming laman! There's egg, chicharon, minced meat, kikiam, and liver.

You can also order a plate of guisado (Php60.00). It almost has the same ingredients sans soup. It also has vegetables. Sarap din! 

Two: Unlimited condiments. Big containers of fried garlic and chopped white onions are served on each table. One Valenzuela learned a lomi-eating trick here: she was taught that one should make a sawsawan composed of calamansi, soysauce, and chili. You can also add the onion and garlic to it (or directly to your lomi bowl). Scoop some of this with every spoonful of lomi. 

Filipinos love their condiments and Doming's Lomi House delivers this Pinoy tradition very, very well.

Three: It is cooked by Sir Doming Catapang, whom One Valenzuela would say is a legit lomi master! One Valenzuela asked a fellow customer waiting for her order on what she has to say about the lomi sold here. She said that "Dito ako pinabibili ng mga hipag kong taga-Batangas lagi. Kumpara mo sa lomi ng iba, yung lomi nila dito, hindi puro sabaw. Tsaka malasa talaga at malaman."

Sir Doming Catapang together with diners at the Lomi House. He personally cooks the lomi and guisado fresh from the kitchen. Thank you po for this quick photo-op amidst the very busy cooking hour!

Four: The price of the lomi is very affordable! As they say, pang-masa. Even though Barangay Gen. T. De Leon is a bit far from One Valenzuela's place, she has to say that it is worth visiting and is worth your money. She recommends that you go here with friends or families because the lomi bowls are really huge. Alternatively, order a takeaway for pasalubong because your loved ones will 100% appreciate the lomi here.

Lomi: Special (Php40); Jumbo (Php60); Super Jumbo (Php80 - this is really BIG!)
Guisado: Php60 per plate
Photo Credit: Facebook page of Doming's Lomi House

Busog! Thank you ladies for this snapshot.

So that's one foodie survival tip for the rainy season! Maraming salamat po to Doming's Lomi House for giving One Valenzuela a few minutes of your precious time for a short interview. 

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Doming's Lomi House

Address: 1372 Marissa Street, Barangay Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Open from Monday to Saturday, 7:00am to 7:00pm (Closed on Sundays)

Like Doming's Lomi House on Facebook here for updates. 

Doming's Lomi House

How to reach Doming's Lomi House:

The Facebook link below provides a detailed way of going to Doming's Lomi House. One Valenzuela will be posting the directions from the said link because it is very easy to follow:

Cool Things at Daiso Japan - One Mall Valenzuela

One Valenzuela would exclaim at the back of her mind, "Oo nga noh! (Ah yes!). This item makes doing this work a bit more easier!" or "This is a really cool twist!" when she finds herself big-eyed looking at the stuff you can buy at Daiso Japan. Other than being budget-friendly to an average Juana consumer like her, Daiso Japan has always amazed her mind with things that it offer on its shelves. And so seeing a Daiso Japan shop at the third floor of One Mall Valenzuela made her happy (insert *dancing Happy Feet*). 

Daiso Japan - One Mall Valenzuela 

So what might you find interesting? Scroll down the photos below for some stuff worth checking out at Daiso Japan-One Mall Valenzuela branch:

Here are some water dumbbells to help you start exercising.

This Pretzel at the Sale Corner was recommended by the cashier. Yep, it's good!

This egg timer will help you know if the eggs you are boiling are already soft, medium cooked, or hard boiled. Genius!

Massaging with the Scalp Point Tool

Blind cleaner with microfiber may help you clean those blinds faster.

Two-in-one: walking seat and cane

Very handy poop bag dispenser. Having one of these when you go out with your dog will make poop cleanup easier. 

Toilet bubble cleaner to keep your private throne free from dirt

Multicolored muddlers to help you mix drinks

White blocks of erasers which you can also carve to make personalized stamps.

Since you might find a lot of things really useful, kawaii, and quite affordable here, always remind the little-shopper-in-you to purchase the needs before the wants. But... it won't hurt to buy a stuff or two of those things which are not in your need-to-buy list, especially if it is a treat for one's little successes, right? Happy shopping, Valenzuelanos!

Daiso Japan - One Mall Valenzuela

Address: 3rd Floor One Mall Valenzuela

Gen. T. De Leon Road, Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon,

Valenzuela City (near Gen. T. De Leon National High School)
Like Daiso Japan on Facebook here.

Setting foot at One Mall Valenzuela, Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

If you have been to Gen. T. De Leon, you will certainly not miss the new towering building near Gen. T. De Leon National High School. A new mall in Valenzuela City! 

Front of One Mall Valenzuela

Gathering  more information from the Internet, One  Valenzuela came across WTA Architecture and Design. On their page, One Mall Valenzuela was described to be about 31,400 square meters and serves as "a linchpin for the neighborhood as an everyday respite and a communal destination point". YIC Group of Companies, on the other hand, says that it is a 4-storey mall with 2 basement levels for carpark. 

Here are some more photos:

People roaming around the new One Mall Valenzuela

 Penshoppe Box and LBC at the first floor of One Mall Valenzuela

Jollibee and SM Savemore are already open. A signage at the front of the mall says that Templora Dermatologica is also located in the same floor level (second floor).

 

Daiso Japan and Handyman at the third floor of One Mall Valenzuela

Basement parking of One Mall Valenzuela

You will notice that many of the shops are yet to open when you explore One Mall. What excites One Valenzuela is that there will be a cinema in this mall! While we are waiting for things to pick up, let us explore Daiso Japan (see next post) and the interesting items One Valenzuela found there which you might find fascinating as well. 

One Mall Valenzuela

Address: Gen. T. De Leon Road, Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City (near Gen. T. De Leon National High School)

How to Go There: In Karuhatan Market, go and ride a jeepney at the terminal (Karuhatan-Ugong route). One Mall Valenzuela is just a few meters walk from Gen. T. De Leon National High School.