Erwan Heussaff and Philips Showed How to Host Dinner Parties, Condo-style

Being a condo-dweller himself and part of the growing population of "YUP-pies," or simply young urban Pinoys, Erwan Heussaff have collaborated with Philips, producing a couple of videos showing how easy-breezy it is to whip up what you think may seem to be a recipe that's hard to follow.

An intimate dinner was organized for a couple of media guests at Erwan's bar and kitchen in "the red light district of Makati" - The Red Light.  Though, it wasn't just a dinner, it was a gorgeous kinda one, as The Fat Kid Inside was the one who hosted, prepped and even served us a five-course dinner.

With a twinged pointed finger, he was able to keep everything near perfect, if not perfect.  This hunk, cool as a cucumber, delegated in the kitchen heat was able to give us key points in living healthy, enjoying food, and what it would make for a perfect dinner at the comfort of one's condo or apartment. 

Gourmet and Artisan Stuff from Pastry Armoire to Fill Every Kitchen with Precious Memories

A new addition to BF Homes' growing foodie go-to list is Pastry Armoire, tucked at the second level of Ivory Building, along El Grande.

Last Sunday, with some South-based mommy bloggers, we were treated as a princess for a day, as we were all given some foot spa treatment care of Pick and Polish Nail Salon.  It was a collaborative celebration as Pastry Armoire, Chef Anna Chua's new sweet venture was launched.

When Fat is Good yet Sinful: An Awakening at Fat Restaurant

Forbes Town has not have a face lift for a long time and I don't think it's intended to be, however more and more restaurants and bar seem to be popping up and they are begging to be more creative and surprising.  So after having fun discovering at the Mind Museum, why don't you spring right over to the building across the street and pay FAT a visit.

I know, I know, Fat can be a scary or challenging name for a resto, right?  

But for a food-lover like me, there is something behind the word that's enticing yet mischievous at the same time, repulsive yet encouraging.

The stimulus behind this idea was Jennifer McLagan's cookbook.  It pretty much says it all: Fat.  A glance at the cover — a white-marbled shank of meat and that single word floating in large letters — you know exactly what you're getting into. But, as these things go, there's also that pesky subtitle, in smaller letters, which tells the real story. This isn't just a collection of recipes, it's "An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, With Recipes." 

Sheridan's Organic Farm

Good things come to those who wait. I mouthed these words over and over like a mantra while on a bus with a friend.

All farmers and gardens live by this principle or quote.  Even at church yesterday we were talking of The Vine and the branches, pruning and being fruitful.  I guess all these might give you hints of what I'm going to feature next.

You are right! Farming.

Wicked by Cravings + Life Lessons In Controlling Sweet Cravings

Wicked is an adjective which means evil, sinful, immoral, wrong, morally wrong, wrongful, bad, iniquitous, corrupt, base, mean, vile; villainous, nefarious, erring, foul, monstrous, shocking, outrageous, atrocious, abominable, depraved, reprehensible, hateful, detestable, despicable,

 odious, contemptible, horrible, heinous, egregious, execrable, fiendish, vicious,

 murderous, black-hearted, barbarous; criminal, illicit, unlawful, illegal, lawless,

 felonious, dishonest, unscrupulous; malfeasant; crooked; dated dastardly, 

intended to or capable of harming someone or something. 

extremely unpleasant. nasty, harsh, formidable, unpleasant,

 foul, bad, disagreeable, irksome, troublesome, displeasing, 

uncomfortable, annoying, irritating, hateful, detestable, 

All of the words above are negative connotation of the word wicked.

However, after visiting Edsa Shangri La mall a couple of months ago, wicked was given a whole new meaning, something positive.  

We actually found this cute cafe while window shopping.  It was my daughter who found and was actually captured by how the place was designed.

The lamps are so adorbs.  They are probably customized inspired from baking whisks and painted red.  

This is how we define wicked differently...

 playfully mischievous. playful, naughty, impish, roguish, arch, puckish, cheeky

excellent; wonderful.

Me and my daughter Dana, who is diabetic, btw, totally was in awe of the place, not only was the chocolate aroma wafted inside and outside the store, their glass encased showcase is filled with all wickedly insane chocolatey and sugary creations.

The crazy mix of red, citrus and of course brown in the interior design was enticing, makes you think of only one word, dessert!

It was hard to for me to decide which one to get.  Firstly, I'm caught on this dilemma - get a chocolaty sugar-free treat  for my daughter Dana and making sure she would enjoy it.  Secondly, There is a miscellany of pastries and chocolate all whispering their names to me.  

Guilt-free Chocolate Cake is their sugar-free flourless chocolate cake!  Hurray!  The silky smooth texture of the cake was a simple gift from the baker while the chocolaty goodness you get from every fork-bite with a mix of bittersweet and milky chocolate, is just a piece of heaven on earth, on Shangri La Mall Eastwing for that matter.  

How did I know well, my goody goody daughter know she couldn't have too much so she gave me 1/4 of it.  And yes, I'm one happy mom, who made a girl truly happy this day.

If you are on a look out for this kind of cakes, do check out My Pink Wasabi's Flourless Chocolate Cake. 

Chocolate Earl Grey Macaron de Paris for me.  

I really wished I ordered more varieties and try some chocolate barks, but I needed to show my daughter the value of control-controlling oneself to get something that could be sinful and addicting.  Cause well, I couldn't argue anymore if someone could have been addicted to this place, I myself I have been a chocolate addict and I have sobered up.

As always cappuccino for me without sugar.  Cause I just value the importance of following kitchen rules and this isn't an exception.

So you see, even though our family is faced in this kind of condition, we can still enjoy like other people who doesn't concern themselves with monitoring blood sugar levels or getting insulin shots just to make it through every meal.

After this wonderful afternoon, we didn't hail a cab, instead we walked towards MRT and rode in it home and walked with her more.  Just to compromise with some of the sugar she had from what we had for afternoon snack.

Can't wait to come back here and try out more of their menu and maybe, just maybe they could add more sugar-free pastries

Experience why WOFEX is the Philippines’ Biggest & Most Anticipated food show!

After seeing the success of the previous WOFEX yearly events, I couldn't help but get more excited. The Philippine food scene will be given more spotlight while new international food that needed to be discovered by Filipino's taste palate will be roofed in not one but two ginormous building made fro trade fairs as such.

WOFEX (World Food Expo) on its 15th year, continues to be the food and beverage industry’s main source of supply solutions. The phenomenal rise of the event in terms of exhibitor bookings, visitor traffic and sales generated has reinforced its growing importance in the industry.

You can read up on my WOFEX 2013 articles at th links below, so you can share in my excitement.

WOFEX 2013, The Ultimate World Food Expo

All Roads Lead to WOFEX 2013

WOFEX 2015 will be held from August 5 - 8, 2015 at both World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center, Philippines and we invite you to be part of our continued growth as we bring together all segments of the food and beverage industry.

The two venues are also now more properly defined. World Trade Center is now also known as the venue for WOFEX Trade which will have restricted entry for trade visitors only for the first 3 days while SMX Convention Center is now better known as WOFEX Marketplace which will be the biggest selling and order taking event of the year.

Once again, WOFEX is the home of the PHILIPPINE CULINARY CUP, already the most prestigious culinary competition in the country where the best meet to compete! 

On this note, I will be giving away 5 free ticket passes along with some other prices and surprises so stay tuned.

August Shower of Discounts at Century Park Hotel

Century Park Hotel begins the countdown to its anniversary with the abundance of discounted indulgences sure to be enjoyed by everyone.

First on the list of discounted treats is definitely a perfect match with the bed weather. Warm up the cozy season as we give you a big rate drop on our staycation package. Book a superior room for only P3,800 net/room/night and deluxe room/studio/one-bedroom park tower suite/junior superior suite for P4,800 net/room/night. Packages include buffet breakfast for two at the Café in the Park. Promo is until August 31, 2015.

An exclusive treat awaits all young at heart at the Café in the Park as we present our Senior Citizen special promotion. Enjoy 50% off on total buffet charges every Wednesday dinner, Saturday lunch and Sunday breakfast, lunch and dinner. Promo is until August 29, 2015. Likewise, savor a delectable buffet feast with your family and colleagues with our Big Group special promotion. Enjoy up to 25% off on total buffet charges every Monday and Tuesday evenings. The promo requires minimum of 15 persons and maximum of 25 diners and will run until August 31, 2015.

Century Tsukiji joins the party with its irresistible Japanese flavor as it offers an exclusive Buy 3, Get 1 Free Set Lunch promotion for only P488 net per person to all employees of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Start your dining adventure with a choice from garden green salad with crispy chicken or crispy dumplings or spinach and fried bean curd or mixed vegetable salad. Continue with our selection of main course from pan fried red snapper with mint butter sauce or pan fried chicken bacon roll with teriyaki sauce or deep fried breaded pork or steamed rice or mixed fried rice wrapped in omelette.  Finish your meal with dessert of trio of seasonal fruits, glutinous rice with sweet red beans or choco-vanilla ice cream.  A complimentary green tea completes your meal. The promo is valid until August 31, 2015.

PAL Mabuhay Miles members can enjoy a sumptuous dining experience everytime they convert their Mabuhay miles to dining vouchers. Members can choose from deep-fried minced chicken on a skewer or deep-fried ground pork or pan-fried beef tenderloin all with a choice of fresh vegetable salad or vegetable roll. The menu includes rice, soya bean paste soup and pickles. End a satisfying meal with sweet and fresh desserts from mango ice cream, trio of fresh fruits and Japanese green tea.

Your sweet-tooth should grab this discounted treat at the Deli Snack while it’s still up! Enjoy an hour of mouth-watering delights from 7pm to 8pm daily and take 50% off on selected pastries and breads. Have a perfect take home surprise from a wide array of our chefs’ delicate works of art. More of your favorite delicatessen items are available at the Deli Snack from 8am to 8pm.

Century Park Hotel is also one with Philippine National Bank’s countdown to its centennial celebration. Enjoy rain of discounts exclusively offered to all PNB credit card holders. Take 45% off on rooms except suite rooms based on best available rates and a 39% off on lunch or dinner buffet at the Café in the Park.

For more information, contact us at telephone no. 528-8888 or email us at information@centurypark.com.ph.


The Century Park Hotel is owned and managed by Maranaw Hotels & Resort Corporation

Awesome Wins When you Dine with Australian Grassfed Beef

Red meat consumption is often disparaged due to serious unawareness matters.  I had to admit I am one of those who often dispraise (despise even) eating steaks.  If I am to choose between white meat over red meat, without a doubt, I would easily raise my fork for white meat.  But you see after hearing from meat experts from the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), I have come to know  a definite difference between farm lot red meat and grass-fed, pastured beef from happy cows (those come from The Land Down Under, you know).

In cases that I do want to eat beef, I often go for Wagyu and Kobe beef.   When times that I challenge myself to prepare beef, I often check the marbling on the meat, never really realized that I'm putting my health my health and the family’s to danger.  Many gourmands over time have attested to the delightful flavor and texture of a good marbled steak.  The marbling of the meat is actually fat, not the good fat but the cholesterolific one.

This is also true whenever we dine out.

But you see, far from being the heart-disease causing food it is made out to be, grass fed beef (as opposed to grain-fed such as Wagyu, etc.) is a source of many nutrients and is an important part of a healthy diet.

Enter Australian Grass-fed Beef...

Hotel Review: A Hotel Staycation at Discovery Suites my Girls Would Always Want to Have

If you happen to read back from my previous post, about how wild my weekend went, you might conclude that this gal needs to take it slow and de-stress.  Well, that's what I did.

I was referring to this post entitled, Of Friendship, Family and Death.  

God was able to bless me again with a quick weekend get-away, from the topsy-turvy life of an over-worked mom to a blissful stay at Discovery Suites Hotel.  Sadly, we couldn't bring two of our kids, since no one will take care of our three dogs.  

A Savoring of Australian Grass-fed Beef Specials At Acacia Hotel's A Steakhouse

Among the many firsts in my life - first kiss, first truffle experience, first airplane ride, first zip-line adventure etc., one that I truly treasure the most is my first step into such hotels.  I'm such "mababaw" like that, but who wouldn't, each hotel evokes uniqueness in every details.  Adding to my long list of hotel dining experiences is the one I had yesterday at Acacia Hotel in Filinvest Alabang.

I'm also trying to recall any past feat in a hotel where it involved gormandizing in the lobby.  Maybe there would be an occasion or two, but I could hardly picture them anymore.  I guess it would be safe to say then that the lunch I had at Acacia can be categorized under this.  A Steakhouse, Acacia's premier resto serving it's namesake -steaks alongside The Lobby is conveniently settled at no where else, the lobby.  Haha... On the second floor is Acaci, where buffet is served.