Break the Fast at Sulyap Gallery Cafe and Restaurant

The allure of the old-world charm timelessly whisks me away from the slaving modern world.  I can't explain it, I've grown to love vintage arts including architectural structures however I'm glad that I don't have the tendencies to hoard old stuff else, my home would be haunted with stories from the past and with the scent attributed to it.

What better way to start a heritage culinary tour than to visually step back in time as we were welcomed on the first part of our tour at Sulyap Gallery Café and Restaurant in San Pablo, Laguna.  Overwrought when I received the initial invitation for a Southern Tagalog food tour upon seeing Sulyap, I said yes in a heartbeat. 

Buddy's 30 Glittering Years of Success

Lucban, Quezon  Mayor: Celso Olivier T. Dator giving words 

Buddy's humble beginning was one that Lucban had always been proud of and something that pushes fellow locals to be passionate in what they are doing.  Not only known for the iconic Quezon Province' festivity, Pahiyas Festival, Lucban is also known for their famous pancit of its namesake. Pancit Lucban also  acknowledged as Pancit Habhab made a mark to many nearby towns and now had become one of the primal dining pleasures of Manila foodies.

photo linked here

Cooking with Samsung Smart Oven and Chef Ernest of Gala Stars

Last July, some media friends were invited by Samsung for a cooking workshop at The Gala Stars Culinary.  Chef Ernest Reynoso Gala II was so gracious enough to teach us two recipes, easy-peasy and the best dishes to prepare and enjoy with the whole family for the rainy season, as Chef Ernest would say "very masarap."

Restaurante Pia Y Damaso: A Call to Subversive Foodying

While others rhapsodize over organic, farm-to-table resto concepts, Pia Y Damaso have been already the talk of foodies with their inventive takes on usual  heirloom dishes. 

I have dined here with friends and on meetings on several occasions but this is the only time I have written about this restaurant, not that you would consider it a crime, well for food bloggers probably. Even though I've never written any words, though worthy of every praise, this is top on my list when asked about my fave Filipino restaurant.  Damaso however is caught in the blurry lines of Filipino, Spanish and Fusion cuisine.  

Culture and Flavors Melded as Resort World Manila Brings New York Pinoy Deli

And the bread is broken!  

What a way to launch a new concept restaurant at the heart of Manila's crowning entertaining center, Resort's World Manila.  This food fanatic is right at home in New York Pinoy Deli - the restaurant in town that never sleeps.  

I've always thought of New Yorkers to be especially lucky in the international flavor of the Empire City.  Dozens and dozens of Italian restaurants, some as good as those in Rome or Florence, dozens of Chinese and French, as well.  A hungry person can sample every ethnicity from Afghan to Vietnamese as well as exotic combinations like Cuban-Chinese.  Of course there are all the Americans, South, Central, Standard, and nouvelle. 

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