Pancakes with Carmen Miranda

After getting a little lost while driving around Baguio, which by the way built our appetites to lumberjack levels, we finally arrived to a perfectly art-directed scene outside the diner… Perfect blue skies and… A DUNE BUGGY?!?

Nothing screams American diner more than checkered floors and neon signs. Love the waitresses' bubblegum pink uniforms too!

I got so caught up with the restaurant's ambiance that I couldn't resist getting myself the perfect accessory — a super thick milkshake. Strawberry, of course, to match the interiors. Hahaha!

Whoa, even the jukebox is pink!

I was secretly hoping they'd have Ella Mae Saison. Hahaha!

I learned that Charro! is the only film where Elvis Presley appears with a beard, and is his only movie appearance in a non-singing role.

Of course, between you and me, I initially thought the poster was referring to Charo, the Spanish-American comedienne best known for her trademark "cuchi-cuchi!" LOL!

I could feel Anthony's nervousness as I approached this fruit tray, as he was well aware of my, ahem, Carmen Miranda tendencies. LOL!

After all, Carmen makes fruit so much more fun, don't you think? (wink)

Anthony could barely contain his excitement over his Pancake Tower, which came with mangoes, bananas, two kinds of sauces and grated cheese. Now that's one happy American!

Feel free to imagine how Anthony was feeling as I took my sweet lovely time shooting his pancakes for the blog. Hahaha!

And within seconds, the butchering began.

Clearly, someone else was channeling his inner lumberjack too.

By the way, the reason these photos are pinkish is that we were seated directly across from this.

As Anthony pointed out the Marilyn Monroe poster hanging on the wall right next to me, I looked at him straight in the eye and reminded him by way of a serious whisper, "Marilyn is ALWAYS beside me." Hahaha!

Hungry beyond belief, I kept an eye on the waitresses sashaying past our table, wondering if my order would be served next.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to present my Mix Grill platter, which includes one minute steak, one chicken fillet, one porkchop and one hotdog, all grilled and served with buttered vegetables. Would you believe this cost only 195 pesos?

Oh, and my order came topped with a crown of fries, which were crispy on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside. Just the way I like it!

Just when you thought there was nothing else left in the kitchen to serve, Anthony manages to croak up one last request… More syrup please!

My sister Cristina will be happy to see that I trimmed this off my pork chop — She always watches me and my dad like a hawk each time we order anything fatty. LOL!

I would be lying if I said that this last piece of hotdog was all that was left from my meal, coz I ended up eating this one too. LOL!

I gathered all the waitresses for a group shot. Don't you think they all look pretty in pink?

I took a few last sips from my milkshake as Love Me Tender was playing over the speakers, and suddenly it was the Fifties all over again…

Nothing snaps you back to reality faster than a little Pinoy humor.