The Nikon D80 DSLR is definitely a worthwhile investment. Now I can finally take photography seriously. It's extremely handy and it seems its functions are limitless. Of course, I will have to familiarize myself with the camera and re-learn the basics of photography. Despite my being "rusty", the camera could still capture so much detail that the photo seems to come alive despite having been taken in an empty restaurant. This is the first photo I'm proud of; though let's admit it's amateur. :)

I can say without flinching that this Christmas presie I got for myself is money well-spent.

http://www.nikon-d80.com/

A few weeks ago, my family and I had a very late lunch one Saturday afternoon at a place called Angel's Kitchen. We were all in the mood for some honest-to-goodness home-cooked meals, and thankfully, we found just that at that humble restaurant located along Connecticut Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan.

The ambiance was very cozy; its tables and chairs looked as though they came straight out of a Stepford wife's own little breakfast nook, tables decorated with fresh flowers everywhere. As soon as we were seated, we scanned their menu and each found something to satisfy our individual cravings.

My sister had just come from teaching a class at the gym. Since that left her ravenous, she had her sight set on a hearty serving of pasta. She ordered the Sardines Pasta, which turned out to be a tad too spicy for her taste. I volunteered to exchange my dish with hers since I was in the mood for something with a little kick. I loved the Sardines Pasta, especially since the combination of textures felt truly divine as I savored every forkfull: al dente spaghettini pasta, flaky bits of sardines and the thickness of the olive-oil-based sauce, topped off with that umph that only chilli can bring to a dish.

My original order, Unagi Shitake Pasta, was also a big hit. My sister loved eating it as much as I would have since we are both a fan of shitake mushrooms. It's chewy texture and smoky flavour meshed well with the eel and oyster sauce.

My mom ordered the Lengue Con Setas as she was feeling in the mood for a familiar Spanish/Filipino viand. It's safe to say that the taste made up for what it lacked in portions. It came with far too much rice and not enough of the lengua to go around. The mushroom sauce was very tasty, though, and the meat itself so tender I almost didn't have to do any chewing.

Our hands-down favorite among all the dishes would have to be what my Dad ordered: Baked Salmon. It was a thick slice of pink salmon topped with steaming mashed potatoes and served with a lite side salad. The slice was taken from a choice part of the fish, which would melt as soon as I put a spoonful in my mouth. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I could eat that dish everyday.

The price range was rather reasonable considering the quality of ingredients they put in. Presentation wise, I liked the way it was so no-fuss-fresh-from-the-kitchen-made-with-love-ish. I would definitely recommend it to families, friends and couples looking to spend some good quiet time together and who are in search of great-tasting, quality home cooking.

More photos in "Foodtrip" album.