El Pancho (My first restaurant review;p)

After my salon disaster experience, my friend and I were starving as we stepped out of the salon. We headed straight to this well known Mexican bar/restaurant in Shinsaibashi called El Pancho.  Its not actually the first time ive been there. Ive been a loyal customer to them ever since my ex coworkers took me there to celebrate another coworkers birthday. I fell in love with El Pancho`s restaurant interior and authentic Mexican cuisine. It makes you forget that you are just around busy Shinsaibashi and gives the feeling that you are actually in a neighborhood bar/restaurant in Mexico. I thought it was really a good place to take my friend there since she was craving for Mexican food too.:) 

Since we were quite in a hurry to get home, we hesitated to go there at first because its always packed with customers on the weekends and the place isnt that big.  Luckily, the place still had a couple of vacant tables when my friend called to ask while we were on the way.  We were glad that we didnt had to wait outside for earlier customers to finish and leave the place.  Usually, El Pancho have customers patiently waiting outside the door especially on happy hours. As we walked in, we waited for a few minutes for the waitresses to accommodate us `cause they were busy serving. For me, its always a good thing when you see a busy restaurant.  You`ll know that the food is good and the customers are happy and satisfied. Im not surprised that they`re busy though.  El Pancho is a crowd favorite way back even before I first dined in the place. Well, duh... it was established in 1979! I wasnt even born that time. ;P

We first ordered their famous American Style Nachos. It was so sinful but we loved every piece of those guacamole, cheese and sour cream loaded nachos in our sinful mouths.  For 740 yen the serving was very generous for two ladies, not to mention the other lady (ME)  is a big heavy eater and I am not on a diet. We couldnt even finish the few servings left on the plate.

El Pancho`s American Nachos

 My friend, Rika ordered their Chicken Chili Quesadilla. Again it had sour cream, frijoles refritos (refried beans) and cheese like most Mexican food have so it was also definitely calorie sinfully rated. The quesadilla was really good but if youre not a hot and spicy eater that much, me and my friend wouldnt recommend it. The small slices of chili peppers made her give it up after a couple of slices.  We both agreed to take a pass on the chili quesadillas or just order it as a side dish when we decide to come over to drink and enjoy the margaritas next time. We also couldnt finish all of it so my friend decided to take home the rest. For 840 yen it was indeed a very generous serving for two people.

Chicken Chili Quesadilla ( Someone was excited to try it!;P lol )

Next, I ordered El Pancho`s Chicken Chimichanga and yes of course I loved every bit of it! I tried their Beef Chimichanga before and it was also great.  The serving was two big fully stuffed pieces of chimichangas. My friend and I shared one piece and thats when we felt we were too full already, we couldnt even manage to drink more. I decided to take home the remaining piece then.  For the price, err... Im sorry I forgot how much was it but im very sure it wasnt over 1000 yen!;D lol!;P

Chicken Chimichanga  ( Almost forgot to take a picture!;P )

El Pancho also has a wide range of drinks. From Mexican beers like Corona and other liquor/cocktails like margaritas (highly recommended especially for groups), tequila, mojitos to non-alchoholic beverages like their famous fresh hand-squeezed lemonade. The drinks are a bit pricey though like how the usual Japanese bars charge their drinks. When youre a bit short on the budget or just plain stingy, you can always ask for water anyway. Just tell the waitress that youre going easy with the drinks to manage your calorie intake because Mexican food is fattening. ;P (Just kidding;P)

I will surely go back and dine at El Pancho every time I`ll have Mexican food cravings or PMS cravings. I highly recommend this wonderful small and cozy place. That it my verdict!;D  I still have lots of dishes to try there too and did I mention that they serve vegetarian meals? Yes they do!;D  Next time im going to try their taquitos, enchiladas and some of their liquored drinks. As for my friend, well she came back to eat at El Pancho with her family a week later.:)) Enough said!:D♥

What to eat? hmmm...;P

Taking pictures while waiting for our food. ;)

A post with hand writings of dates and names from satisfied customers.  Top Right: A cute steel cactus ornament. Bottom Right: A painted picture of a Mexican boy on the wall.

Hand written decorated walls, usually dates and names by satisfied customers.  Top Right: Mexican decors that gives an authentic Mexican feel.  Bottom Right: Empty liquored bottle decors and some postcards.

If youre living or visiting Osaka and craving for Mexican cuisine, here is El Pancho's address:

El Pancho: Shinsaibashi

Shinsaibashi-suji 1-10-1, Shinsaibashi Tower Bldg 8F. ( The building in front of Zara and just beside the stairs/escalator to Crysta Mall and Shinsaibashi station.)

Theyre Open from 11:30am to 11:20pm daily. Theyre also open on Sundays! Yay!:D

Note: Please visit my friend`s blog too for nail arts, fashion and easy yummy recipes!:) Click this link!  http://rikangelifestyle.blogspot.jp/

Girlfriend Bonding and My Hair Color Disaster

My blonde transformation. I look like an Asian with racial identity crisis. lol

Me and my friend Rikangel have this girlfriend bonding every month. We do all sorts of things like cooking together, having lunch and hanging out at cafes. We plan what clothes and makeup to wear before our girlfriend date so it makes the day more exciting for us!:D I wanted to share this day out `cause it was both a bad and good day.  Quite unusual for me `cause when I start having a bad day, it also ends bad as well.  If Im not boring you yet read on! ;P 

So, we planned for this girlfriend date weeks before. The plan was to get a total makeover at a salon, eat out and have a little shopping since the salon is located just around Shinsaibashi where people in Osaka usually shop. Shinsaibashi is a haven for Osaka fashionistas, cosmetic addicts, bar and party goers. This place never sleeps because the area around Shinsaibashi is packed with restaurants, cafes,  bars and clubs. Someday ill blog just about Shinsaibashi.:) 

Okay, back to our planned date. We wanted to get a hair makeover. Rika wanted to have ombre hair and get her hair permed.  I wanted to color my hair "milky brown" since I just saw it on a magazine and it said it`s the "in" color. At the salon we told our stylists what we wanted. We found out that Rika wont be able to get her ombre hair coz it required bleaching and she didnt wanted to bleach her hair `cause it might get damaged since she was going to have her hair permed too. She and her stylist just agreed on going for the natural beige brown color then. Me and my stylists agreed on having my milky brown hair which required bleaching as well. I agreed to bleach my hair as my stylist assured me that my hair was going to be fine since Im just going to have my bangs straight permed only. 

We sat for more than five hours at the salon, chatting and flipping pages of magazines to kill our boredom. We were also excited to see our new hair too of course.  But half of myself is starting to get worried about my hair as I see myself transforming into an asian blonde. Rika and I reassured ourselves that the stylists was going to color my hair with dark brown after bleaching. We even asked the stylists about the process of my hair color and he also reassured us that they`re going to color it. We went back to our usual "sit back and relax" selves.

After waiting for long hours, it was time to wash my hair and style it. As I got back up on my chair to face the mirror after my hair was washed, a sudden shock and panic rushed through my veins! The stylist was already blow drying my hair and I just couldnt get the words out of my mouth to ask him if that was the final color. My friend was already getting final touch ups on her hair and loving her makeover. As I called out her name to try to tell her if that was really the final color, I saw her look up to me with the very similar reaction I was having! My hair was screaming "YELLOW BLONDE! WAHAHA!;P"

I was actually close to tears when words finally got out of my mouth to tell her that this wasnt the color I had in mind and if she could do the complaining for me `cause I was just so scared to say something out of my shock. I heard my friend talking to the stylist and I kind of got what the stylists was explaining. Turned out he thought he heard that I wanted a "milk tea brown" hair color which actually is a bright yellowish brown.  We explained and told him again what color I wanted to make things clear and I was so relieved when he owned up to his mistake and assured us that hes going to fix the mess as much as he can right away.  He said he was going to tone down the yellow shades and make my hair darker as he can. 

We extended our time at the salon and waited for my hair to get fixed again. I was very glad that my stylists did actually fix it right away and made my hair darker as it could get. My hair became screaming yellow blonde to a dark brownish ash blonde. But then again I wasnt still satisfied with my hair `cause it wasnt the color I wanted. Since it was getting late and we were running out of time to do the rest that me and Rika had planned on doing,  I just decided that I was fine with my new hair. Well at least it wasnt that scandalous as the screaming yellow blonde. I could carry this hair with pride and dignity and I could also just say that wanted to rock a blonde hairstyle!;P nyahaha!:D Good thing the salon offered a free fix service within 10 days. I could go back and get my hair done again if I feel that Im still not satisfied with my new hair color.

My friend and I went straight to El Pancho Mexican Restaurant to feed our angry hungry anacondas inside our stomachs. The food was divine! It wasnt actually my first time to eat there but I could say that El Pancho is one of my favorite restaurants in Shinsaibashi. They serve authentic Mexican food and the bar/restaurant`s interior is great. It gets you in a happy mood especially while listening to the Mexican music playing at the restaurant. 

We ended our day with great food and chats so I was still really happy when I got home despite my hair disaster. Well, You can never go wrong with good food and good friends to hang out with even though half of your day turned out not fine. Truly, when you surround yourself with positive vibes and just breath out or laugh at any troubles you have, everything will end just fine and negativity will fail to creep into your life as well.:)♥♥♥

Rikangel, the gorgeous alien getting her hair done and greeting us earthlings. lol

On our way home but still in the mood to take our narcissist pictures!;P  nyaha!;P

 Picture! Picture!;P

NOTE: Next blog is about El Pancho, the restaurant Rikangel and I went to!:))

Please also visit my friend and blogger mentor, Rikangel's blog for yummy food recipes, nail art and fashion. Click this link! http://rikangelifestyle.blogspot.jp/

Pork with Yellow and Red Peppers

Easy, Quick but Healthy Pork with Yellow and Red Peppers

I wanted to make a quick and easy but healthy pork dish for my family and found this recipe on the net. I only made a version of my own by adding fish sauce instead of canned anchovy fillets which the recipe I saw online really required. 

This is also the day I thanked the Italians for inventing balsamic vinegar! It was my first time to try this famous ingredient that most chefs use for their cooking and I fell in love with the strong but smooth sweet and sour flavour it contributes to meat dishes, veggies and fruits!:D 

PGI Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

I hope youll like and try my version of Pork with Yellow and Red Peppers! Goodluck and have a healthy meal!:D

Ingredients

• 1 pound pork tenderloin cut into an inch size medallions or pork chops cut into thick strip size
• 1 red bell pepper (cut into thick strips)
• 1 yellow bell pepper (cut into thick strips)
• 3 cloves of garlic (thinly sliced)
• 2 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary (divided for while cooking and garnish)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Pork,  garlic, red and yellow bell peppers and fresh chopped rosemary

Directions

1. Prepare pork and sprinkle salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet then cook the meat evenly for 5 minutes turning it over and waiting for it to brown.
2. Add olive oil, garlic, red and yellow bell peppers and 1 teaspoon rosemary. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons fish sauce. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until the red and yellow bell peppers are tender and the pork is done.
3. Just before turning off the heat, drizzle 2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and sprinkle 1 teaspoon  rosemary on top.
4. Turn off the heat and prepare your favorite staple food ( white or brown rice, mashed potatoes)
5. Top Pork with Yellow and Red Peppers on a bowl of rice or on the side of your mashed potatoes. Enjoy your meaty healthy meal and dont forget to say "Itadakimasu!" before eating!;D

NOTE: Here`s the link of the original recipe and a link about balsamic vinegar.:)♥

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pork-tenderloin-with-red-yellow-peppers-recipe-50400000109575/

http://homecooking.about.com/od/howtocookwithcondiments/a/whatisbalsamic.htm

Summer Bright Red Lips + Japanese Drugstore Lipstick, Eyeliner and Mascara Review

Summer Bright Red Lips, Natural Eye Shadow Colors and Simple Winged Eyes



     Im not really a fan of the Summer season ever since I moved here to Osaka.  Japan`s humid summer is too hot and icky that sometimes you just dont want to put anything on your face but sunscreen or sunblock! But there will always be a time when you need to get dolled up and look fab even on torturous hot summer days. I say drop the dramatic, dark and heavy makeup. Give the black smokey eyes a break for awhile and go for makeup that will make you look simple, fresh and fab at the same time!


    Bright red lips will make your face stand out even when your wearing natural and simple eye makeup. For my Summer bright red lips look,  I chose Canmake Creamy Touch Rouge Lipstick in Cherry Red.  Canmake is one of the most popular and affordable drugstore makeup here in Japan. Its very popular among Japanese teens and their packaging is super cute and girly.  Canmake is like a drugstore version of the high end brand, Jill Stuart, I think.;) I super love Canmake lipsticks and im digging this cherry red color these days!:D♥  The lipstick is semi-matte, glides on smoothly and it doesnt dry the lips. The creamy texture even moisturizes the lips, I think.:D


 Also on the lower right side of the picture below is a mascara/eyeliner combo I used for my eyes. The combo`s brand is Naris Up. Im not familiar with the brand but for a mascara/eyeliner combo its really super affordable and the quality is surprisingly good! I bought it for only 1300yen!:D  The only thing I didnt like about it is the cheap packaging. Im a sucker for cute and stylish packaging but Im also the type of person who believes in the saying "Dont judge a book by its cover".  As for makeup, "Dont judge a makeup by its price and packaging". ;D Both mascara and eyeliner doesnt say its waterproof so, I assume that it isnt but when I tried the eyeliner and mascara on,  it didnt rub off easily! Which I actually like especially on hot summer days when my face gets oilier than usual. I think im going to buy this combo again next time.:)

Canmake Creamy Touch Rouge Lipstick in Cherry Red and Naris Up Mascara/Eyeliner Combo

From left to right, top to bottom (For Face): Moisturizer with SPF, Foundation, Highlighter Pen, Concealer, Face Powder, Orange Blush, Bronzer and Highlighter Powder. 

For the Eyeshadow Colors:  Shimmery Beige, Matte Brown and Shimmery White Eyeshadow.

 Quick How To

1. Apply your favorite day moisturizer with SPF and foundation. (For lighter coverage just mix moisturizer and foundation together, making a DIY tinted moisturizer) Cover your dark circles with concealer then lighten them using a highlighter pen and set your face with face powder using a powder brush for a lighter application.
2. For my eyes. I just chose a shimmery beige color all over my lids,  matte brown for the outer V corners and crease area and a shimmery white eyeshadow to highlight my brow bone area and my lower lash lines.
3. Apply your choice of liquid black eyeliner on your lids, making a simple winged eye effect. Curl your lashes and apply waterproof black mascara.
4. Define and shade your brows.
5. Brush on an orange blush just above the apples of your cheeks. 
6. Contour your face with bronzing powder. Highlight your forehead, top part of cheeks, cupids bow, and top of your nose with highlightingb powder.
7. Apply your choice of bright red lipstick. Pucker up and face summer looking fresh and fabulous! goodluck!:)♥

NOTE: Heres the website for Canmake and Naris Up Makeup.

http://www.canmake.com/en/elip/item_lip018.html

http://www.narisup.com/product/makeup.html