a matter of teys.t

Food pics for foodies out there! These are some of the food escapades we did with the grandparents during their stay with us early Feb. this year. The kids love it when the grandparents come because part of the fun is finding new places to eat around town.

First stop, TRAVEL CAFE PHILIPPINES - Greenbelt 5

Kids are the best sales people you  can find. We had tried Travel Cafe for a quick snack of pandesal and tsokolate é a couple of years ago so when we passed by the resto with the grandparents, they enthusiastically recommended the place to them. Of course, how could the old folks decline with two persuasive adorable little sales tots. Ü Lunch it is!

My son ordered the tomato soup in a bread bowl…

… while the old folks ordered this deconstructed kare-kare dish. In contrast to kare-kare being served stew-style, the meat and veggies were served on a plate with the kare-kare sauce poured on top like gravy. Quite interesting. I liked the flavor although I would have preferred it to be drenched with more sauce.

Aside from the above we also sampled their adobo and beef ( I forgot the name of the dish but it was yummy and it was gone before I could take a pic). The old folks ended the meal with a hot mug of Cordillera Coffee served in a clay mug with a cute little “pitsel” for the milk- extremely hot and a bit pricey. I’m no coffee drinker but I  sipped a little bit just to taste and boy! it was a like a shot of nicotine straight to my veins! (barako sa tapang! very brave - joke Ü hehehe)

Next stop, MINI SHABU-SHABU - Bonifacio Hi Street

I took a shot of the interiors, nope, these are not cardboard displays…

… this geisha was directly above me Ü

Finally, the food… healthy and guilt-free…

…. a little bit guilty

Über guilty!!!!!!

… prepare to meet thy maker!

awww…

The kids had fun cooking their own food, although the little one had more fun cooking than eating.

You can almost smell it right?

One last look before they go into the hot pot!

Happy and satisfied! Ü

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If you want to try affordable Wagyu beef you can order them at Harana, Sarungbanggi or Bistro Rosario along Torres Street in Davao.

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I am not a movie fanatic but once in a while, an interesting story can catch my attention and make me stay on a channel longer than usual. I chanced upon the movie “Awake” starring Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) and Jessica Alba one time and I was intrigued. It tells the story of a man who remains awake during his own heart surgery and how he discovers that it was all along a plot by Jessica Alba and the doctors to kill him to get his money. There was a time when I avoided shows or movies that had hospital scenes in them especially when there were cardiac arrest scenes and they had to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) to revive the person…painful memories associated with those kinds of scenes.

Going back to the movie, I started it midway so I didn’t know that there would be a scene like that. I just kept on watching because I was curious to see how the story would go. In the movie, Hayden was under sedation because he was about to have a heart transplant. While he was in that state, he had something like an out-of-body experience and it was during this time that he found out everything that was being done to him and how his girlfriend and the doctors were going to kill him. For those who haven’t seen the movie or if I’ve piqued your curiosity, I won’t tell you how it ends. You can probably grab a copy at your neighborhood movie rental shop and watch it over the weekend.

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… and so it did. Typhoon “Pepeng” did move by the grace of God and I’m sure because a lot of people from all walks of life prayed and asked God to spare those who have suffered from Typhoon “Ondoy” another onslaught. I’m sure there were lots of people who fasted as well. (Yes, Virginia… Fastin‘ does wonders.) Of course, although Metro Manila and the nearby provinces were spared, those in Northern Luzon still got hit. The biggest lesson they learned was disaster preparedness. IMHO, it made a world of difference to those in the North. Gleaning from what happened in NCR, the local government units were ready for Typhoon “Pepeng” and their constituents, thankfully, were cooperative as well.

But are we really prepared for disasters on a massive scale? The pitiful number of rubber boats and emergency equipment and vehicles pro rata to the population of this country makes me wonder what the politicians do with their pork barrel. Typhoons will always be part of our landscape and they are inevitable. Think of how many rubber boats, amphibian vehicles etc. etc. that could have been bought with the money spent by our politicians on that elaborate dinner in New York! Disgusting! Perhaps it’s time to pray and then say to these disasters called politicians-”MOVE!” so that they would disappear?  Hmmm, I wonder…

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That is what crisis does. It unearths what one tries to hide and peels away the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. This is what happened to us as a nation this weekend because of Typhoon Ondoy.

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Continuing from my last entry, the place we went bird watching was an estuary.  It is an ecosystem where the river and the sea meet.  Characteristic of this biome are the mangrove forests and mudflats.  As we were walking through this place, I was once again marvelling at the mangroves. The mud banks of the river dont have much air in them so these wonderful creatures have roots dropping from up their trunks all the way down.  They have this “tree on stilts” look if you see them.  This may be the inspiration for typical human dwellings in this ecosystem.  Another peculiar creature we saw were fiddler crabs.  Without any disability insurance, these crabs with one oversized claw function perfectly in this environment.  They use their big appendage to attract females.  My students were so amazed with these creatures such that they went to catch a couple for pictures (short of wading into the mud).  Nature is very much well designed.   Bravo to the Great Designer!

Btw, speaking of disability insurance, did you know that : Allsup is a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities. Since 1984, Allsup has helped more than 110,000 people receive their entitled Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits. And you don’t have to have an oversized claw if you need help.

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In my previous entry, I mentioned about the field trip of my College of Saint Benilde Students in San Juan, Batangas.  At the latter part of that same trip, we took the students to a fishpond where we went bird watching.  At first, I wasn’t really keen on doing this activity but I went along for the sake of my students.  While walking to the site, we spotted a couple of crows.  This brought memories of my stay in Penang, Malaysia where these big black birds, with feathers more elegant than tuxedos, would block the road.   A little later we spotted egrets and some little birds I was unfamiliar with.  By this time, I was getting excited.  It was quite a thrill to see all these species of birds, so I decided to move further.  We went to another spot.  Along the way we found more egrets and a couple of kingfishers posing for us.  The best of it was our sighting of a flock of Philippine Mallard.  Not only did we see them in flight but also as they were swimming in a pond.  Wow!  These magnificent ducks, endemic to the Philippines, looked more like brown swans.   This experience makes me want to go to more bird watching trips.

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I recently took my Saint Benilde  students for a field trip in San Juan Batangas. There we had the chance of looking at the marvels of nature at the marine sanctuary at Laiya.  While the corals we saw were not as beautiful as in other places, they remain remarkable specimens of the species. This prompted me to read more about corals in the interest of teaching it to my 1st grade daughter who studies biology.

Corals  are made by coral polyps. These are coelentrates or species with a hollow middle.  They are related to sea anemonies, jellyfishes  and hydras. These animals have little tentacles and have a little hole in the middle for ingesting food.  Coral polyps are special because they are colonial. These little creatures group together and secrete limestone to create reef structures.  Their workmanship rivals the craftsmanship of Ferrari parts! Not bad for creature with no brains.  They painstakingly build a 1cm growth of coral for about a year.  (Just imagine if you break a 10cm segment…10 years work!!!)

I would consider them keystone species’ because of the fact that the reef ecosystem is built on them. The presence of the polyps attract dinoflagellate algae known as zooxanthellae with whom they share a symbiotic relationship. These algae, fondly called zooks, give corals their peculiar color.  Zooks also attract primary consumers such as small fish, starting of an entire food web that sustains the ecosystem.   That sad thing is that when our garbage, especially plastic bags, covers the coral.  These kill or drive away the zooks which in turn kill the coral polyps. This is evident with coral bleaching.  With the mortality of these species comes a collapse of the food web eventually leading to the reduction of our fish supply.

Considering that food for humans is at stake, we really need to reduce our usage of plastic bags to ensure our kids will have a steady supply of fish in the future

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My schedule in the recent days has been quite hectic.  The trimester is about to end so I’ve been rushing some academic work for De La Salle University, Manila and De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde.   Complicating things would be the traffic along the SLEX due to the Skyway extension construction.  As in my previous experiences, God has taught me another valuable lesson during my ordeal. This time its  the value of commuting.

I have rediscovered that commuting  is a much more efficient way of traversing high traffic thoroughfares for the following reasons : 1.) Bus drivers are more familiar with short cuts ; 2.) they  take the skyway at minimal  cost to the commuter and 3.) you can always get off a bus when you’re in a rush.   You also don’t have to worry about parking and gas.

In the light of Climate Change, commuting is a simple but effective way to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  A liter of unleaded gas (without bioethanol) would yield about 2.3 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions.    By taking a bus you make the existing usage of fuel more efficient in a per capita basis.  You also get the chance of putting on your Ugg shoes and do some zero emission mobility (i.e. walking) whenever you can.

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One of the main struggles we have as a family is keeping our children healthy. Our kids have been prone to coughs and colds and almost every other month or so they get sick. Even if only one child is sick, because they play with each other constantly, sooner or later the other one catches the same sickness as well (except for tummy aches or gastro-related illnesses). Right now, the kids are recovering from another bout of coughs and colds but it seems that they are holding up pretty well this time. We’ve been vigilant in beefing up their diet supplements, lots of rest and lots of fluids and I think because they’ve had their flu shots for the year a few weeks back, turn around time is much better this time. The flu shots were a bit expensive especially because it cost us double but anyway, the relief of not having to deal with the sickness longer than its normal course is worth it. Whew!

So don’t forget, an ounce of prevention is always better (and much cheaper) than a pound of cure. Stay healthy, folks!

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I was totally swamped today with chores, chores, chores. Aaaargh! I tried to finish all the laundry today but the on and off rain showers was a bit of a hassle. I finished airing and cleaning the kids’ room, folded the clean laundry, did the dishes, cleaned and scrubbed the ceramic tile counter, fed the kids and gave them their meds, and now I can finally catch up on my online stuff. Whew! But first, I need a sugar break. :) I’ll be back later for more, y’all.

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On the heels of the revival of patriotism and love for country spurred by the passing of President Cory, the country faces another battle over the will of one and the will of the many. It is sad to note that the ongoing controversy between Malacañang and the members of the Arts community over the latest ‘National Artists’ recipients is tainted with politics and payback. I am not one of the experts who can claim to have the expertise in choosing who should or should not be proclaimed National Artist but as a parent raising children who might someday (who knows?) be qualified for that honor I would rather that it be bestowed upon them by those who are in the best position to give it to them. I would consider it an insult if it were granted to them on a silver platter without them truly deserving it.

For what does it profit a man if he gains the world and loses his soul instead?

As I watched the final funeral rites being given to President Cory yesterday I could not help but wonder at the outpouring of love and honor by people from all walks of life. Thousands upon thousands waited, stood in the rain to pay their last respects to her. It was spontaneous in the sense that this was not a “hakot” crowd. They were not programmed like “custom software” to behave a certain way, say the right words at the right time, to lift their hands and flash the L sign. They were not ordered to bring yellow posters, banners, balloons. Anonymous donors gave out bottled water and boiled eggs to those who wanted to get a last glimpse of her not because they wanted recognition but out of the generosity of their hearts and out of respect for the leader they loved.

Respect cannot be coerced. True honor when given is not mere lip service that can be cloaked by plaques, trophies or medals. It springs from the heart and is freely given much like the woman who broke the alabaster jar and poured it over the Master whom she so loved. The trophies, the medals, the public honor are just tangible representations of the inner reverence and recognition we accord to those who truly deserve it. Even a simple person can sense true honor versus mere flattery. Honor if forced, leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and is tainted with resentment.

I think one of the great legacies that President Cory has left us is her humility. It is to her credit that she leads and inspires so many without the fanfare and the propaganda. She lived not for the applause of men but for the applause of heaven… for an audience of One.

I heard someone say during one of the many speeches said at her wake that “there are many leaders who lead, but great leaders inspire“. In light of this current challenge re the ‘National Artist’ imbroglio, I watch on the sidelines to see if there are any great leaders among them. If there are any who live not just for the temporary honor that may be remembered by men but more so by heaven. I hope some if not all will rise to the call for greatness. Meanwhile, it is time to bow the head and bend the knees.

Let your voice be heard. I missed going to the streets during EDSA 1. I missed going to the streets yesterday again. The many gifts of EDSA and the restoration of democracy was the freedom to speak freely without fear of being arrested.  I will use this gift to speak here on my blog for the sake of my children and the generations after us. How about you? Share your thoughts and let your voice be heard.

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Remember this?

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into Springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad.

(from the Musical - The Sound of Music)

I have a few of my favorite things that make me feel happy on the inside and no, it doesn’t include the latest tech gadgets today. I was thinking more of the “rustic, make you feel warm and cozy” type of stuff much like patintero, kite flying and playing on swing sets make you feel.

So what are some of my favorite “comfort” things:

1. Chocnut - who needs See’s or Godiva when you’ve got chocnut! The fat one of course.
2. Lugaw Tokwa - I miss the authentic probinsya lugaw-tokwa with lots of browned garlic on top.
3. Rain - not the typhoon kind or the ones that cause flash floods but I remember growing up listening to the raindrops pitter-pattering on our roof. Music to my ears.
4. Fresh bedsheets - especially when they’re cool because of the rain in #3. :)
5. Fishballs in UP - I’m not a UP grad but I remember going to UP with my roomate and just pigging out on fishballs and sago. I loooove it when my little fishball swells up with vinegar and the sweet and sour sauce. yum!
6. Chinese garter, tumbang preso, patintero, sipa and piko - nope. no Counterstrike for me.
7. Ice drop with munggo, keso, beans or buko - they used to make it with those metal molds.
8. Chikam - a word coined by my little girl. It’s actually, pork adobo fat cut up into little pieces and fried till crunchy before adding rice from the night before - something I learned from my dad. Singangag to the max.
9. DZFE FM - there’s something soothing about classical music. I love listening to the classics especially on a rainy day.
10. My dad’s keys with his dogtags - I miss hearing the sound of the clicking of those keys with his dogtags. Once I hear those keys, I immediately know my dad’s finally home. I miss you, daddy!

So these are some of my favorite things. How about you? Care to share what your favorite things are? Just leave a comment if you do.

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The internet has revolutionized all of us. Our lifestyles have changed… from communicating, to doing business, recreation and even our way of shopping. Imagine yourself, sitting in the comfort of your home and shopping in your pajamas! Isn’t that awesome? Who would have thought of that five to ten years ago?

Five to ten years ago, I had to content myself with whatever the local malls had to offer. Online shopping was still fairly new and sometimes scary. Shipping was limited to certain countries. Credit cards were vulnerable to hackers and there was very little or no means of paying in currencies other than the currency used where the store was located. Fast-forward to today. Online shopping is as normal as buying from your local sari-sari store. Convenience at your fingertips! What’s more if you have a broadband connection, checkout takes just a few seconds. No more waiting in line.

A few months back, I remember doing research on desktop computers because I needed a new one desperately. I was considering whether to get a Mac or a PC and I scoured the net for info and data so that I could compare notes on which one among the two was the better purchase. Value for money, so to speak. I’m a pretty thorough person and I don’t leave any stone unturned till I am fully satisfied with the results. I think I spent hours just doing research and going back and forth between tabs to find the best deal out there. I wish I had found Shopwiki back then. It could have saved me a lot of time and effort because a lot of the information I needed was already there in one place. They have this handy buying guide that helps you compare product information at a glance. That could have been a real time-saver for me back then. Oh well, if you are planning to purchase anything in the future, maybe you should check them out. Who knows, it might make your online shopping more convenient than ever!

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We had dinner with my in-laws at Fire Lake Grill located at the exclusive Cliffhouse Tagaytay last night. We were already in the Alabang area earlier and had planned to have dinner at Melo’s but we had a change of plans because my FIL wanted to eat somewhere closer to home. They had an early flight the following day and he didn’t want to be caught in traffic on the way home. So off we trekked back to Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I told the husband that there was a restaurant I watched on ANC’s Shoptalk that they might want to try. I watched Chef Paul Huang being interviewed by Pia Hontiveros (a distant relative of the husband’s family according to my in-laws) and during the interview, it was mentioned that Fire Lake Grill was another one of those awarded restaurants much like our hometown fave Kanin Club. My MIL had a steak craving so I thought this might be a good place to try out.

We arrived at Cliffside Tagaytay a little over 8 pm. The sign said that parking cost P100 pesos. I was quite surprised cause that’s a little bit expensive for parking but they do waive that if you get your parking ticket validated at any of the restaurants inside. It was a bit rainy and windy because the storm was just blowing over and exiting the country but nevertheless who’s to stop you from having a good meal with the family.

Tucked away inside Cliffside Tagaytay, we were greeted with cool, modern interiors inside the restaurant with a view of Taal Lake outside. Of course it was dark so we didn’t get to see the lake but I can, from memory, imagine seeing it even in the dark. I love the chairs! Mine was sooooo comfortable I couldn’t help but comment to the head waiter David about it. My MIL stepped outside to enjoy the cool wind. Chef Paul, owner and executive chef of Fire Lake, was outside as well and he and my MIL started talking. Soon, my 9-yr old son joined their conversation which is not unusual. LOL  They came in and MIL introduced me to Chef Paul. I mentioned to him that I had watched him on Shoptalk and that’s what brought us to his restaurant. He started out as a corporate guy who left the corporate world and pursued his passion for food. Reminds me of  that saying “Do what you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.” In my opinion, one of the best business insurance for your business is to love what you do and enjoy doing it because if you do, success is just a by-product. You can find out more about him on his website Fire Lake Grill.

Okay, okay I’m sure you are curious about the food so here’s the tell-all. This is what we tried on the menu:

1. For starters we had nicely warmed bread and butter. I like the bread because it was sort of crispy on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside. You can ask for more if you want. Great way to start a meal.
2. Cappuccino of pumpkin with cinnamon froth and rare beef slivers served in little espresso cups  - reminded me so much of those Iron Chef creations; very creative use of the pumpkin; my MIL loved the idea!  I think I’ll give it :   **** stars
3. Fresh salad of assorted Tagaytay greens, julienne carrots and capsicum, sliced cucumber and tomato wedges with your choice of dressing - we chose the raspberry vinaigrette. For me salads are mostly the same but what makes it stand out is the dressing. I love how he used the raspberries in the dressing and the greens were crisp and fresh… no brown spots! The husband and I split the salad and we both give this refreshing dish : *** stars
4. Grilled C.A.B. rib eye steak served with the cutest little Bugs Bunny carrots and french beans sauteéd in butter and with a side dish of your choice - we chose the roasted garlic mashed potatoes upon recommendation of head waiter David and it was sooooo good. I’ll give it : **** stars
5. Citrus-lemongrass marinated Australian lamb chops (3 pcs) served with those cute little veggies again and with french fries on the side for the kids -  the lamb was tender and juicy (sounds like a hotdog commercial lol), a little fatty though but that’s lamb so… the kids loved it anyway. My son couldn’t help but smile and in the middle of all that yummy goodness he said to me “Mom, this is so heavenly!” So for making my son smile from ear to ear alone I’ll give it : **** stars
6. BBQ pork loin with fresh cilantro and tomato-jalapeno relish served with rice for Yaya. She was quiet the whole time she was eating and so concentrated on her food. So for making Yaya speechless I’ll give it : **** stars
7. For drinks, the husband and I had the Fire Lake Grill Iced Tea which is their own house blend of iced tea and local fruits, pineapple being the most abundant in the area. For using local resources and helping reduce carbon footprint I give it : **** stars
8. Finally, pineapple carpaccio poached in Malibu rum and served with pink peppercorn, candied lime peel and home-made coconut ice cream in a brandy snap basket was our dessert highly recommended by head waiter David. I took a bite and I was surprised to taste something familiar in the dessert that I  normally use in regular cooking. It had peppercorns! I asked David if they were real peppercorns in the ice cream and he said they were pink peppercorns… not as spicy as the black ones but it added that little something to the dessert. Awesome and unique! For being creative I’ll give it : **** stars

Service was awesome. My FIL was happy to meet Chef Paul. Head waiter David was cheerful and attended to our needs and little requests. Our tummies were quite happy. How much did the whole meal cost - approximately 5k++ for 7 people. So it’s roughly around P700 to P900 per pax.  Overall, it was a pleasant and delightful experience to dine at Fire Lake Grill. No wonder it’s consistently been on the Philippine Tatler’s best restaurants list. Check out this little secret and find out for yourself!

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