After 3 days feasting on fresh seafood, we needed a glucose fructose break. Sans Rival is a famous "pasalubong" (gift) stopover to buy up those yummy silvanas and yes, sans rival cakes. So off we went!

Our earlier visit was meant to pre-order our "take-home" silvanas but we didn't miss going on a sugar overload as we sat to taste the famed silvanas, brazo de mercedes and chocolate chip pound cake. Not wasting time, ei?

This time around, we walked up to their bistro fronting the Rizal Boulevard -- Dumaguete's equivalent to Manila's Baywalk -- and ordered paella negro to be shared among 4 of us. That plus our individual orders. Such gluttons!

Spareribs, 2 orders of bacalao a la viscayna, callos. We overordered as usual. Midway through our meal, we swore we'd be back for more. Each dish tasted delish and they're cheap too! Our bill (with 3 s.c. discounts came under P1,000. Even less than $25! Great value.

A QUICK update: We were back sooner than planned. The next day, we were ordering the Paella Mixta. A meal by itself, yet we couldn't resist ordering the Lengua Sevillana and the Fish Almondine. Once more, a delish adventure. ;-)

For more travel photos and details, check out my travel site, lifeisacelebration. Buen provecho!

Not too far from Lake Conjola is this heritage bakery in Milton, New South Wales South Coast. Lovely building. Big parking lot. Long tables. Sit in or out. Perfect for my big family traveling in 3 cars!

There'sa good selection of pies, sandwiches and quiches to choose from. The kids went for shakes while adults lusted for their hot cocoa or caffeine fix.

Can't say they're the best. But served hot, and with a spread of 15 pies (!) we had a feast. A slice or a sliver of each baked goodie it was. Yum!

You can even have salads to go with your chosen quiche or pie to complete a meal. In fact, you can order a steak if you're that famished. And there's the choice to dine inside or sit outside. This late in autumn though -- and with this cold snap -- we decided to eat in.

Since 1870, this charming building sits along the (197) Princes Highway in Milton, Shoalhaven. The bakery must be facing stiff competition from other eateries but I'm drawn to its lovely, old structure. Besides, you can't go so wrong with pies and coffee served piping hot. ;-)

And who's to argue with an establishment that has seen 2 world wars and stood witness to much of Aussie history? Since 1870. That's a mighty long time!

For more travel and food tips, please visit my other blogsite, lifeisacelebration. Indeed, it is!

My first Nando's experience was in Kogarah. T'was love at first bite. At the time, I thought Nando's was a homegrown food chain in Australia. Never found it anywhere else till my Sydney-based nieces brought me here.

Then I learned it's Portuguese chicken and I promptly thought I should have tried the "original" foodchain when I visited Lisbon. WRONG!

The real story goes that Portuguese explorers searching for spices discovered the AFRICAN BIRD's EYE CHILLI or PERI-PERI. The rest is a story worth retelling.

In 1987, Fernando Duarte invited his friend Robbie Brozin to an eatery in Rosettenville, South Africa to try this flame-grilled chicken marinated in this unique peri-peri sauce. The rest is history.

Nando's, set up in 1987 by these 2 buddies, now counts over 1,000 outlets in 24 countries on 5 continents. When I visited with "my elves", we tried the platter of chicken ribs, tenderloin marinated in lemon and herb. Yum!

For more food and travel tips, check out my blogsite, lifeisacelebration.

I'm told to skip overthinking about which is the correct way to say it. Lilies ON The Park is how this resto in Homebush Bay was called. A pleasant al fresco breakfast or brunch place right within Sydney Olympic Park.

Found no lilies though. Do they bloom only in spring? July is winter down under but that's no excuse not to enjoy our brunch outdoors. After all, you get this view!

Servings can be shared and enjoyed. There were 4 of us and a little boy and ordered 3 big helpings of seafood platter, chicken nuggets and what looked to me like a big breakfast for athletes! Each came with side salads.

This place is right within the Sydney Olympic Park. We were actually surprised to find a sizeable breakfast/brunch crowd when we arrived. Most diners went for a walk within the Park grounds after a good meal.

For sure, there's one little boy who won't complain about this morning at the Park. I'd like to go back and next time, I'd have an honest-to-goodness walk around the Park's many lakes, ponds and gardens. I can spend an entire day here!

An Update: Went back this May 2014 with the teens. No brainer now whether it should be Lilies On or In The Park. The place is now called Waterview. Same view of the pond. Same menu. More birds!

Check out this link for my blog series on Sydney and day trips out of the city.