Sunday, October 30, 2011

My Halloween Cupcakes on Centerstage

 

Here I am and my Halloween cupcakes making centerstage, ahaha...Well we actually were at Centerstage KTV at Jupiter St., Makati yesterday.    Theza Ozaeta, celebrated her 18th birthday simply with family and close friends.   Her mom, Flora and aunt Cielo made it extra special by ordering cupcakes.   I felt so privileged for having been considered for this.   
Got so tired, I did all 70 of them in a day, my assistant, my daughter, was sick, so she wasn't able to help me.   Thank God for the strength and good health we were able to make it on time for the delivery.   

The day didn't end without us receiving Words from the  Lord.   After which, we head on to New Life, The Fort.  In fullness, we receive blessing, knowing that God is able, more than able to open up opportunities to grow in the knowledge of our righteousness.   I'm not saying I am righteous but it is the Lord who says I am because as it is said, in 2 Corinthians 5:21, we are made righteous in Christ!
"For our sake he [God] made him [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

 
 Boo!  The birthday sanctum...
The Sala Room

Thursday, October 27, 2011

As T.G.I.Fridays Opens at Eastwood City

It finally happened!  I had waited an awfully long time for the stars to align once again for us to chance on visiting Eastwood City.   What luck, not only was it our first time here, we were on for a burger rush.  Now I don't have all that much to say about Eastwood lest I became seasoned food and event bloggers' laughing stock.   Now I know how to go to the restaurants I've been meaning to visit  which are around the vicinity.
T.G.I.Fridays  Eastwood branch was made a flagship, being the most modern-looking and the 13th of all the branches.  According to Miss Lisa Ronquillo, Head of Marketing of Bistro, the newest rendition to a line up of  Bistro restaurants has  the contemporary feel but still the same funky and rocky character.    With its iconic interior design were memorabilia may seem to be blasts from the past.    Chance upon Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Superman and lots more.




We were sat where we can see a view of the stairs, unbecomingly artistic, leading to more seating and a veranda upstairs where you can find more interesting wall decorations.  To our left is the isle facing the bar where the staff make it a groovy dance floor, while welcoming. guests and of course to entertain everyone.



The drink that went so well with our winning burger, the Gold Medalist.   A concoction of banana, strawberry puree and pina colada.   Y-U-M-M-Y.  I could repeat that  a hundred of times.   I've been to many different branches of TGIF but never have my discerning palate gazed upon this amber-ry-liscious-looking tall glass,   All thanks to Gheyl, the attendant who made sure our dining is a pleasurable one.
I may not be a chowhound or an ultimate beef-eater, but I know how a good burger sounds.   Or better yet let me tell you also how it should taste and how attractive it should look.
Layer upon layer of symphony of what nature offers.   For me the true color of the ingredient matters.   If the food doesn't look good in my camera, I wouldn't even smell it, worst taste it.
In between freshly-baked buns are what comprises  a complete meal.   There are crisp vegetables.  shredded lettuce, onions (red ones), tomatoes and pickles.  Well of course, the beefy patty, char-grilled to perfection, cooked inside and out, but oozes with juicy taste that's not salty.  Atop is the Swiss cheese, melted, making sure that the beef patty has just left the grill.   Americans are so fond of it for lunch.   When I was still working at call centers,  I always had it for dinner.   I don't even mind having it for breakfast.   That being said, I guess you can say, I love hamburgers.   And I do!
What I so love about their burgers, is nothing drips.  Nada.  Zilt.  The juice in the patty is intact, no messy sauce masking the true beef flavor and the veggies are not wet with any liquid.   That means everything is fresh.   And who would want a  soggy burger?
Just look at the size of that burger, it could actually eat you (an exaggeration by Jerry Seinfeld)!
Isn't that  thing of beauty or what, PETA would disagree with that and they may take my license for blogging, if there is such a thing, hehe...


Let me end with this...But wait, moms who might be reading this with kids, please don't let them reach this portion!


"A Hamburger is warm and fragrant and juicy. A hamburger is soft and nonthreatening. It personifies the Great Mother herself who has nourished us from the beginning. A hamburger is an icon of layered circles, the circle being at once the most spiritual and the most sensual of shapes. A hamburger is companionable and faintly erotic. The nipple of the Goddess, the bountiful belly-ball of Eve. You are what you think you eat."
Qouted from Tom Robbins.


Do like their Facebook Fan page , https://www.facebook.com/welovefridays.
For more info, such as menu, company profile and what nots, here is ther website:
http://fridays.com.ph/






mY fOOd trIP fRIDAy ENTRY

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Capping a Year of Haute Cuisine at Chef's Table

Last week ended with  a blast as the Filipino-fusion acclaimed Chef's  Table celebrated its first anniversary.   The theme for the night, "bald is beautiful as long as you can make the food right, Chef Bruce Lim's style!"   Donning the bald-head look, the chefs paraded with their culinary skills as beauteous guests looks on while hors d’oeuvres are being prepared.   If you've been to Chef's Table you know that  half of the the restaurant's area is the open kitchen so everything is in the open,  but I just ever so wonder how these bald but good-looking chefs were ever so cool  even in the hot kitchen.   
Here are just some of the drinks we had which began the spectacular degustation.  The yellow drink, Chef's Star is my favorite from the mock cocktail selection..   On the middle is the Pipino Cooler,   refreshing with  mild kick, and of course Lemon Coke. 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Halloween Treats From Bo's Coffee

Coffee Lovers are in for a treat from  Bo's Coffee!
For every P250 worth of food and drinks bought at any branch, a complimentary Halloween-inspired cookie will be given for you to enjoy your cups of Joe with.
The nationwide promo is from October 22 till November 5.  So let's hurry up.
I've also heard they have special cupcakes in time for the spooky holiday, that I'm sure is worth checking out!

Enjoy A Spook-filled Weekend at Mercato Centrale



 Mercato Centrale, the country's premier day and night weekend food market located inBonifacio Global  City, promises a fun and fright-filled Halloween weekend from October 28 (Friday night) up to October 30 (Sunday morning) 

 The Halloween celebrations start off on Friday night (10pm-3am) as Mercato Centrale turns into the venue for SINE SINDAK - the yearly Halloween event of the number one cable channel in the country . There will be an outdoor screening of top-grossing horror movie 'Dalaw' along with amazing performances, fun games, exciting prizes and celebrity guest appearances. Admission is free! 

On Friday and Saturday night (10pm-3am) and Saturday and Sunday morning (7am-2pm), Mercato will turn into a haunted tent as our food vendors dress their booths in Halloween-inspired decorations. Children of all ages are welcome to visit the market in costume to go trick or treating at their favorite Mercato food booths. 

There will also be an ongoing Halloween costume contest from Friday night up to Sunday morning. We will be giving away prizes from your favorite Mercato food vendors for the best halloween-inspired food booth and the best in Halloween costume for children, adults and dogs! 

Get ready for a scare at Mercato Centrale! Mercato Centrale is located at the corner of 34th st and 8th ave beside MC Home Depot in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. They are openevery Friday and  Saturday 10pm-3am and every Saturday and Sunday 7am-2pm.  For more information, please visit www.mercatocentrale.ph orwww.facebook.com/mercatocentrale.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Halloween Goodies for 2011

Chocolate Cupcake  with  Gooey Choco Frosting

Chocolate cobwebs on the cuppies
White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate with chocolate cookies
Anyone up for a treat without the trick?
Really sweet treats to warm up the spooky season.

For inquiries or orders please text me at 09228726680 or call me 632-8547636

Let me also invite you to Gastronomy By Joy's  First Blog Anniversary!
Click on the picture to check my post on that, you might win a chance to dine with me and other food bloggers at Pages Deli!


My Food Trip Friday entry!


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Rich Rice at Nasi Lemak


NASI LEMAK, as Wikipedia would interpret, is a dish, for it's namesake, the best-selling dish (and Malaysia's national dish)  they serve from their menu.   Considered also as Malay's national heritage for its versatility and promising eating indulgence, which happened to be primarily a breakfast meal but as now considered served anytime.   Food-hawkers in Singapore serve this dish mainly on a banana leaf and have been one of the dishes which got famous in the same country as well as Malaysia, Brunei, and Southern Thailand.   

In Manila, Nasi Lemak is home to some of the best Singaporean cuisine. Nasi a Malay word meaning rice, Lemak, on the other hand means rich, consequently,  rich rice.   My husband would always boast about his dining experience when his employers invited him over at Singapore to sign some contracts, and he would tell me how much he liked the rice meal wrapped in banana leaves, never knowing it was the famed Nasi Lemak. 

Unfold the leaf to discover a portion of fragrant rice that’s been cooked in coconut milk, a small deep-fried fish, some fried anchovies, a slice of plain omelette, some fresh cucumber and the all-important sambal (a paste made from chillies, dried shrimp and spices). 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tasting the World with the Appetite Restaurant Festival

In celebration of Appetite’s 7th Anniversary this October, Appetite Magazine brings back the most delicious event of the year—the Appetite Restaurant Festival 2011!  Together with Shangri-La Plaza and MasterCard, Appetite presented the launching last October 13 at the Atrium of Shangri La Plaza.  The Festival is  a unique dining experience where you can let your taste buds travel all over the world, all in one fabulous place.   Foodies  converged to  indulge in international cuisines from different restaurants.
The stellar reputation of  Appetite Magazine have magnificently  carried out a launching that was grand to the point that I could almost go in food coma, even without having to sample all of it.   Yep, it was too magnanimous for me to handle.   I think I just had three rounds, with about just 5 of the different participants out of the 13.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Binondo Kiddie Express: Wai Ying Chinese Fastfood

This was  the first time these kids got here.   Chinatown home of  Binondo Girl (a show were Kim Chiu stars).    Look how excited they are,  not too camera shy though.   My kids, Danica (6), Dana (7) and Jaeda (6) their cousin can't help but read aloud the Chinese words around and uttered, "are we still in the Philippines, Mom?"  Jokingly they were quite remembering scenes from a certain Star movie just recently shown and pointing to the exact venue where a scene was shot.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

An Organic Late Lunch

 A lovely plate of Zesty Tinapa Pesto Farfalle and Pennette Rigate.   Richly adorned with fillets of grilled Bangus (left-over from last night's dinner), sundried tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts both from Healthy Village.
You might be wondering where I ordered the dish,  but it's not from any kitschy restaurant, and sure I was at Mercato Centrale this morning but I did not buy the pasta dish there.   I however bought some of the ingredients there to make this dish.   And it's "as easy as a pie" to do.
So at Mercato we were, my daughter and I, to deliver some of our pastries for a friend's slot.   More and more unusual but interesting food-finds pops anew every time I go there.   What I was also looking forward to was checking out the newly-opened Organic and All-natural Producers' Market.

Yes, my secret now revealed.   Celebrations by Sharon has partnered with Bravo and had come up with kitchen selections that are superb and unquestionably irresistible.   We know Bravo carries delectable pasta sauces, dips and salad dressing.   One of the product I love is their Italian Pesto sauce, now they have pumped up the jar and added Tinapa in it, putting a Pinoy twist to the Italian-famed pasta sauce.   Also, Bistro Better now supports Fruit Garden Jams.
Served also as an opportunity for me to engage into promoting my baking skills commercially.  Here are my humble cupcakes (in Moist Choocolate with butter frosting and Banana Walnut drizzled with dark chocolate)  and chocolate confections.   So if anyone would want to question my cooking or baking, go to Mercato and check out this cakes at Bistro Better's table and judge for yourself.
Above are just some of the products on the organic market, which OPTA organized with Mercato.  I still have to update this post though and give you bits and pieces of the organic produce and what-nots.
Till next weekend organic marketing, for now let me relish  my late-lunch organic pasta plate, which I hastily cooked after coming from the sunny and traffic streets of Manila.
Time for fun-time Friday with Food Trip Friday!



Chihuahua Grill and Margarita Bar

I'm in the groove for some ...

What can make you move...
Can you feel the groove...
What can make you dance...
What can make you shout...
What it's all about...
What can make you love...
Ohhhh! Chihuahua!
Have you heard about the last song syndrome or LSS?   About two nights ago, Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 was on Disney Channel, well of course the movie ended with the credits and duh the song being played till it ended was  Chihuahua, and my kids won't stop singing it till they dropped.   Would you believe that till morning the song was still on my head.    When you ended up singing songs, randomly or not,  which would be the last song you heard, usually accompanied by subconscious humming, that is LSS.   Some may attest that this syndrome may be dangerous when the song happens to be the most pathetic, crappy, albeit catchy song ever.
But you know what, I kind off had fun with the song.   It's a good song to babble whenever you're happy or steamy.   My kids and I don't really mind having that song in our minds.   But I think their getting way off.   Since they saw that movie even with the first movie, they've wanted to have Chihuahuas, the dogs.   But I still have mom-reasons why they can't have pets yet.
    Enough with the the term Chihuahua, or not!  Do you know that it is a state in Mexico, and for those who don't know, it is pronounced as "tsi-wa-wa."
According to Elian Habayeb, General Manager of Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar, it also came from a Mexican expression " Ay Chihuahua!" The euphemism may mean many things, like if a heavy object blow unto a thumbnail, a "wow" exclamation, or "this chili pepper is really spicy."  For its namesake they also have the restaurant mascot, named "Chuy" (pronounced as "Choo-ee"), a Chihuahua with a sombrero and a long Mexican moustache, so cute.
And how's that,  now there's a Tex-Mex joint named after my kids favorite breed of dogs.   The modern and inviting look of the restaurant makes you feel at home and I bet on a dollar, the pictures taped on the walls will keep you entertained.   Before I give you more details let me give of  an alert.
Warning!   This post is HOT!
 Aside from the steamy promos and hullabaloos at Chihuahua, the couple  Elian Habayeb and Ines Cabarrus, are hot in their own rights.   Being the owners and authors of the best-selling coffee-table book Manila's Best Kept Restaurant  Secrets (where MBKRS Awards are drafted, which they themselves organize every year) while  writing the weekly lifestyle column Music and Wine for the Manila Standard Today and hosts to the show MUSIC AND WINE  on 106.7 Dream FM, whew! 
 Also not forgetting the now becoming famous "The Sauce Library,"  an impressive collection of rare hot sauces gathered from all over the world given by friends.    But they have more to boast about than sauces left by friends, they've concocted their own sauces.    Three of them are now being used and according to Elian they'll be adding other spicy sauces.    Sampled here are Dr, Evil's  Global Warming Garlic Sauce,  Charlie Sheen's Krazy Sauce and  sorry but I kinda forgot the other one, but you see, how fun can that be.
And then the more hot stuff which are highlighted on the menu.
We started off with the Nacho Grande.   A bowl of crunchy tortilla chips, queso,  topped with their house special Chili,  guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa, cheddar cheese, sour cream and jalapenos.  Now if you think that's hot enough wait till I  give you more.
 The Steak Salad, however gives you a light and refreshing sway from the harsh (for me) spice that I've encountered from trying out some of the sauces.   Okay here's the thing, I'm not into spicy foods, but the explorer in me give me the brevity to try what's offered to me as long as it is not toxic.   According to Ines, the food they have, starts basically with natural-tasting ingredients and no-chili peppers.   The customers build up on the hotness of their own food by requesting for salsa or sauce.   They actually have a salsa bar which I found pretty amazing with an assortment. of toppings, sauces, salsa, etc.
Three varieties of Tacos, chicken, steaks and pork carnitas.
 Mexican  Rice is something nice for those who wants it heavy but savory, works fancy well with the main dishes.
 And the, ahhh, my favorite from them, the Burrito bowl.   With a touch of sweetness form the pork carnitas.   A magnificently seasoned rice hides under the hand-full serving of meats.
 Now here's the pro.   The Chili,  also known as Chili Con Carne,  designated as the official state dish of Texas on 1977.   If someone says Tex-Mex cuisine, then there should be Chili on the menu.  Tex-Mex, basically originated  from the American Southwest, which is a fusion of American-Indian and Spanish cuisines.
Let me tell you, this is where the comfort is,  gosh, when I was eating this together with the chips and rice, I felt like going home,  and dreamed of having a bowl of it with my favorite chips while watching Nacho Libre or Zorro...hmmm.
Then there's the Buritto.   A total meal wrapped in foil.  An order of this is really too much for a well-fitting eater like me, so this can be equally shared with someone special or just someone.    A familiar hand-held take-out food category, more classy and flavorful than any Shawarma.   As you can see it has the rice, the greens form the lettuce, the red from the beans, the yellow from the quezo and of course the meat and  the salsa.
And lastly, to wash off all those degustation of hot elements, is a selection of imported and local canned soft-drinks and beers.   Chihuahua is also famous for their  Chihuarita, frozen Margarita in layman's term.   I'm not really a drinker so, I couldn't tell whether which is the best, however, with the stars on their shoulders and the many that claim theirs is the best, I 've only one option, to believe.
There are a lot of things going on at the place, during Mondays they have Margarita Mondays, Chip and Dale Tuesdays, also Chili Throw downs, The Salsa Project on Saturdays, Board Games and fun times at Hangover Sundays and more.   For more inquiries on this please add their Fan page up at  https://www.facebook.com/chihuahuamexicangrill
So let's feel the groove and head to the new, but the best Tex-Mex in town,  Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar.


Address:  

7838 Makati Ave across A-Venue (in Makati's Nightlife District), 1209 Makati, Philippines

Contact Information: 
0916-3737-308, 890-3192

Website: