During my week-long stint on the graveyard shift, I discovered Banchetto, a "secret" food tiangge at Emerald Avenue (Ortigas). It felt like one of those pre-Christian magical dream places: the food tents materialized during the ungodly hours between Friday and Saturday, and people just came in from everywhere to feast and make merry!

We got there at around 4am (lunchbreak for our shift), and the place was still teeming with people. Table turnover was pretty quick (around 30 minutes per batch), probably because most of the revelers are also on their 1-hour break. There was a very wide variety of food, from barbecues to Pinoy fiesta food (kare-kare, sinigang) to cake desserts to pasta to any and all kinds of food you can think of. And the price felt like magic, too. Complete meals are only on the P100-range (P70-P80 for the food, plus around P20 for drinks).

I think I need to revisit Banchetto one more weekend to make sure I didn't just dream it up.

For 8 days, post 1 thing every day that made you happy. Then tag 8 other people. (Tagging anyone who wants to do this meme.)

Day 4: I woke up to my sister making fried rice. I don't think we've had fried rice for breakfast since Daddy passed away (since he was the only one matiyaga enough to do it).

I wish I could bottle happiness; I have so much right now.

You know those 14" diameter mocha birthday cakes from Goldilocks? I ate a whopping half of that during the weekend. Yes, I did. Heh heh. Good thing my sisters were at home, or I would have finished the whole thing.

And in case anyone was wondering: no, it wasn't anyone's birthday. I just wanted cake.