The Pink Muse: Baguio

Look at their menu! It even has an adorable painting
of Hollywood's famous personalities :)

Ritchie's Diner is one of my favorite places to eat in BF Homes Paranaque. I have never frequented any other restaurant as much as Ritchie's Diner. I like them so much so I decided to promote them by making a blog post. Here are the reasons why I love Ritchie's Diner:

1. Their menu is so diverse

I will bet that you will have a difficult time choosing what you want from this restaurant because you can choose from several items from their menu--from starters, salads, soups, pastas, entrees, name it--they have it! Never once did I come across an instance that something is not available or out of stock in their menu so I am very satisfied that there are many options to choose from. You can even eat breakfast meals during the evening! What more can you ask for?

The triple treat platter. Yumyum!

2. Everything tastes great

I think that I liked almost everything that I ordered from Ritchie's Diner. My favorite however would be the appetizer platters which are usually good for 3 people. It has the starter favorites which are the fish tacos, nachos, smothered fries, and the like. I am literally drooling while typing this. The entrees are also worth-mentioning. They have ribs, fried chicken, salisbury steak, chili, all served with generous amounts of rice. There are also several pastas and desserts.

The 50's diner feel. Credit: http://zomato.com

3. The ambiance reminds me of some kind of a 50's American diner

This is an ambiance which I find charming a reminiscent of Baguio's popular 50's Diner. They have those leather covered, steel-bordered chairs, hanging lights, large mirrored walls, and waiters are dressed just like how you see in vintage movies. They also have 2 flat-screen TVs to watch movies (which are also good conversation starters) and their playlist is comprised of the best hits from the past--think Beatles, George Harrison, Beach Boys, etc.

4. The staff are friendly and accommodating

There's this one waiter who is very friendly to us each time we visit the diner. He always served with a smile and his attitude towards his work impressed me. We would always have humorous small talks with him and we even asked who Ritchie was. I won't tell who he is, you have to visit this diner to find out. Hahaha.

Fried ice cream and another type of appetizer platter, I forgot the name...

Milkshakes! My favorite :)

Average prices range from: 150-400 pesos per meal

Food options are: Burgers, pastas, sandwiches, meat entrees, shakes, sundaes, salads--basically those you see in American diners and a few Filipino breakfast meals

Caesar's Salad

Cheese Flautas: another one of the favorites :)

That wraps it up! I love going to this restaurant and I'm always excited to try something new from their menu. If you're a fan of the retro, vintage-style all-American types of restaurants, visiting Ritchie's Diner in BF Homes will definitely be a pleasant experience.

Also see:

Annyeong-Haseyo Chang Teo! Affordable Korean Restaurant in Paranaque City

First Time to Try Project Pie, Try It Too!

Check out these great finds from Amazon!

The obligatory car selfie

When I was younger, I thought to myself that I will never be interested in cars. I always say to myself, "Cars are for boys, and makeup, clothes and other pretty things are for girls." When I studied in Manila, and realized the perils of commuting such as snatchers (my cellphone was snatched in along Taft), pollution (I have asthma triggered with cold virus, smoke, dust and other environmental irritants), and overall general exhaustion of the whole ordeal, I decided to buy myself a car. I didn't care what it was, as long as I had a car where at least I felt safe and comfortable from the hazards (and hassles) of public transportation. I am not saying that having a car is hassle and danger free. Nobody is completely free from all the possible dangers of going outside of our comfortable homes, what I'm trying to say is that having a car least minimizes the discomfort, at least for me. Aside from that, I basically spent most of my childhood commuting since my family doesn't own a car. So I thought to myself, if I will buy something worthwhile and will make our lives easier, let it be a car. By God's grace, I was able to find a perfect unit that is on automatic transmission, a mortgage I can live by, and a size that will allow my family to fit in comfortably. What a blessing! I really thank God.

Anyway, the story doesn't end there. With a newly purchased car comes a new and heavy responsibility. Here are the 5 things I learned as a new driver:

1. Always have presence of mind.

If you have any baggage, literally any type of baggage--may it be physical, socioemotional, mental--let go of it first--and then drive. Thinking too much about something else, or being preoccupied with other things is highly dangerous and even fatal while driving. Just thinking of a different topic can distract you with all the things you have to consider while driving. Yes, divided attention takes time to learn but as a new driver, I learned to silence my head and just concentrate on driving.

2. Strike a balance between aggressiveness and giving way

Too much aggressiveness on the road can cause accidents. Being too cool and confident imposes risks as you might get head to head (or, shall I say bumper to bumper) with those kaskaseros or ansty drivers out there. For those types you have to give way, but for some instances you have to assert yourself not for the sake of just wanting to, but because you don't want to be a pushover on the road.

3. Practice in this sequence: Linear driving, turns, reverses, maneuvers and parking

I highly recommend this sequence because I had an accident when I tried learning about maneuvers first. I accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the break and ruined my bumper before, all because I had to consider so many things and I wasn't able to practice much on the easier ones first. Take note that I only recommend, it is not necessary. I realized that I had to do it in this sequence to have avoided prior accidents.

4. Look at all the mirrors for your next decision

For all the close calls that I had such as bumping onto another car, accidentally bumping onto a pedestrian, it was because I wasn't looking at the mirrors that I have to look at. I learned that before making any decisions, one must learn the skill of looking at the necessary mirrors needed to move the car on where it's supposed to be.

5. Driving is a huge responsibility

Driving is not only a responsibility to yourself, but a responsibility to your passengers, loved ones, and also the people on the road. If you love the people you're with or with yourself, learn to drive safely. It may be hard at first, easy when you get better and fun when you think you're the best, but it's not fun anymore if someone gets harmed. The least you want to be is a reckless driver.

6. Pray to God before your trips

May it be a trip to the nearby grocery or an uphill 7-hour drive to Baguio, always pray for safety. I believe in a God that grants prayers and protection, and I do believe that He grants our desires that are in accordance to His will. It never hurts to ask for safety, and I always remember God's promise in Mark 11:24: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

To all the new (and old) drivers, be safe and have fun driving! Don't forget to share this article to someone you know who is a new driver. :) If you want to know more about tips and tricks on how to drive as a pro, I recommend this book:

Professional Driving Techniques: The Essential Guide to Operating a Motor Vehicle with Confidence and Skill
The essential guide to operating a motor vehicle with confidence and skill. This book walks you step by step through the intricacies of the Driving System the Driver, the Vehicle and the Driving Environment.

Menu

Infinity Ads

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Ritchie's Diner: All-American Favorites in BF Homes Paranaque

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Things I Learned As A New Driver