Hard Rock Cafe

I picked up Monique from her party at the Buddha Bar, and feeling the twinkletoe effect, she suggested we move on to another location.  The night was young and we decided to see what was still open at the Glorietta area.  Fortunately, the Hard Rock Cafe beckoned, and we found ourselves munching on their Legendary Burger (P800) within 20 minutes from the time we walked in.  Monique had tried this at their Singapore branch, and she said that this was a centerpiece attraction (yes, it came with a giant 10 oz patty). I thought it was a bit on the bland side and could use a bit more salt and pepper, but overall it was good.

The band was lively, and played a wide variety of music, as I expected.  Rock and roll hits from the fifties, seventies, and through the nineties were played (of course with the obligatory disco round).  The band even had a popular star from GMA7 as a guest singer.  It was also good that several current hits were played, so that Monique's interest wouldn't wane.  We had some cocktails (mojito and Long Island iced tea), and I was surprised with her innate tolerance for liquor, just like her mother.  I do miss the club scene and this was just perfect for father and daughter bonding!

Uraro

I haven't had uraro cookies for a long long time.  Made from arrow root tuber flour, these cookies are crunchy on the outer portion, but have a sweet powdery inner core. Vicky's colleague gave her a box of these cookies, and I found myself suddenly stuffing three or maybe four of these in my mouth.  Shades of my childhood; we used to treat these like mini puto sekos, and we'd try to whistle while chewing (which is next to impossible).  We used to call these cookies arurut (in reference to arrow root), and while today's packaging is pretty neat, these used to come rolled in plain Japanese paper.  Ah, the sweet memories of youth!

Ma Mon Luk

Ma Mon Luk is probably the grand daddy of the local fast food restaurants. Established in 1920, the restaurant practically introduced beef and chicken noodle soup (mami, "ma" meaning meat and "mi" meaning noodles in Chinese) and steamed pork buns (asado siopao) to the Manila gentry.  You enter their restaurant along Quezon Boulevard (near the corner of Banawe St.) and it seems that you step back in time to the mid-fifties.  A portrait of the restaurant's founding father adorns the walls; and the furniture seems to be the original furniture used when the store opened.  There is no air-conditioning; it was 2:30 in the afternoon (a very hot and humid afternoon, I must add) when Monique and I entered and it was amazing to see that the seats were 60% occupied.  Old habits die hard.

The siopao dough is tough on the outside, and most people peel off the outer layer.  The texture of the asado filling is chopped fine, a bit mushy, I used to remember that I could see bigger chunks of meat as the filling.  The regular size siopao goes for P45, while the special siopao is bigger, has chicken meat and ground pork, and is priced slightly higher at P60.  The noodle soups are priced for about P110 to P125 for the large sized bowl, and I was happy that the meats were soft and tender.

While stepping back in time is an interesting part of the experience, I must be objective enough to say that the place needs a good makeover to keep up with the 21st century.  Prices are reasonable and the food quality is still okay, but it would probably be some time before I visit the place again.

Lola's Kitchen

It seems that workplace eateries are slowly evolving; what used to be called a company cafeteria is now re-styled as a food court, with various fast food brands each seeking their own market niche.  I had a meeting at the GT Tower along Ayala Avenue, and found myself having lunch at Lola's Kitchen, which is today's glorified version of the turo-turo carinderia.  The meal consisted of a meat viand (I chose pork humba), rice, vegetables (chop suey), soup and a glass of sago gulaman, all for P125.  I understand that other buildings in the Makati area have cafeterias that charge only P75 for the same meal configuration, and you can probably even get the same meal at the ubiquitous "Jolijeep" turo-turo stalls for only P50, but hey, come on give em a break--Lola's Kitchen is located in a Class A building with high rentals!  Well, don't expect anything fancy though; food court meals do tend to have a generic but acceptable flavor.

The Herios Kamasutra

On the last day of our recent trip to Hong Kong, Vicky has some last minute shopping at the World Trade Center.  It was a good thing for me, as I had enough time to ogle at the watches at the Milus showroom located at the WTC ground floor.  Such elegant (read expensive) timepieces, that I can only dream of.  It was a sad thing for me though that I wasn't able to see the Herios Kamasutra model that I am so fascinated with (shown on the right).  Yes, I am such a fan of horological erotica, so limited in number, so collectible, so lovely to behold....

Wake up, you hypnotized man!

;-)

John Legend

I can't get this song out of my head.  It's John Legend's masterpiece, All of Me, this time performed with Lindey Stirling, the Dancing Violinist of America's Got Talent.

John's stirring performance is probably because it comes from the heart; the song was written for his wife, model Chrissy Teigen.  The song was number 1 on the US charts a couple of weeks ago.

Why do violins give love songs that extra oomph?  I think the violins give the song an extra layer of soul.  Don't you agree?

Sabangan

The beach bum in me will brave long drives to get to a decent beach.  It was my first time to visit Laiya, a 4 kilometer stretch of warm sandy beaches in Batangas, and I wasn't disappointed.  You take the Lipa or the San Juan exit along the Star Tollway, thereafter you drive through the inner towns; true enough, as my colleagues predicted, traffic can sometimes come to a crawl, a complete stop even.  We got to our destination, Sabangan beach resort, after 4 hours of travel.

The lush greens and the homey feel wiped off the groggy feeling that I had on the bus.  The pool made my eyes twinkle and a smile broke--I could get used to this lazy pace.  It was a welcome respite from all the frazzles of city life.

Rooms were reasonable at around P10k for 4 people; the air-conditioning was strong, the beds were cozy and the bathroom was clean.  To top it all, the room rate was inclusive of buffet meals (breakfast, snacks and dinner).  How can you beat that?

The best part of the trip?  The beach was clean.  No rocks, no jellyfish.  No trash.  The water was very clear.  The waves were a bit high, but quite manageable.  The only cause for concern (specially non-swimmers) was that the water depth would increase drastically just some 20 feet away from the shoreline.  Biglang lalim, as the fisherfolk would say.  The resort was wise enough to establish floating buoys to mark the swimming perimeters, and the kids were reminded not to go too far out.  Fun rides were available--banana boats, wave runners, and inflatable skis, for a reasonable fee of course.  Lots of beautiful beach bodies in bikinis, too!

It can get to be tiring to travel almost 300 kilometers back and forth just for an overnight stay, but I still think I'm a spring chicken!  I can do this!

Someone Like You

This song has been playing in my head for a few days now.  Funny because it's just now that I learn the song was written and sung by Adele, the British superstar.  It's her real life story; her boyfriend did leave her to marry another woman.  See the soulful rendition and the outpouring of emotion in its entirety!

Absolutely splendid!

Highlander

There can be only one.

And heads would fall.  That was how The Game worked.  Immortals would fight each other to the death, by chopping each other's heads.  Christopher Lambert was the last remaining immortal, and he claimed the prize--a cure for his sterility.  Wow!

I just loved the concept, and all the hype that goes with that 1984 movie.  Vicky and I watched it on a date, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole show.

How hard can it be to be immortal?

Crowne Plaza

My niece Raquel got hitched to her fiance Karl last Saturday, and the wedding reception was held at the elegant ballroom of the Crowne Plaza on Ortigas Avenue.  I never knew that the ballroom was that big!  The food was simply amazing-- 

Tuna Tartar in Avocado with Lemon Aioli with Fresh Soya Beans and Celery Strings

Creamy Mushroom Soup with Duck Dumplings and Shitake Mushrooms

Braised Sea Bass served with Fricassee of Leek and Mashed Potatoes in Creamy Truffle Sauce

Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Gratin of Green Beans, Mushrooms and Braised Carrots
with Thyme and Garlic Beef Gravy

Tarragon Creme Brulee served with Hazelnut Brittle Wafer

While the hotel opened as the Galleria Suites, the Bass group of the UK was brought in some ten years ago to manage the place.  The entrance to the hotel is very simple, unassuming even.  The size of the hotel, however, gets clear once you get inside; the long escalator rides going up make it all evident.  Interiors are elegant, tastefully done.  A perfect choice for a memorable affair.

Almon Marina

I'm glad Monique agreed to my suggestion:  Almon Marina!  We were walking around looking for a place to have a quick merienda at Robinson's Place Ermita, and I wanted to have a lazy meal, not having to rub elbows at the more popular eating places which were filled to the rafters.  While I haven't eaten at this deli for some time now (well, admittedly around two to three years), I haven't forgotten their delicious sandwiches which were made to order, unlike the ones served by the fast food chains--comes out of production lines and then stored in food warmers.

Monique had a lemonade to start off her meal, while I gave in to my cravings--lychee shake! I must say the callos that I had was delicious; the meat pieces were soft and the chorizo gave just enough flavor to the dish.  Monique's roast beef sandwich wasn't bad at all, and I would guess the Swiss flag signified that the sandwich had Swiss cheese in it!

All in all, prepare something like P300 per head, which is one of the best reasons why I love eating here.  It's very affordable, and the food is well prepared.

Cold Layers

Monique and I paid a fast visit to Fisher Mall along Quezon Avenue last Saturday.  This newly opened mall is situated at the former site of the Pantranco Bus Terminal, and is easily accessible from both Espana and Roosevelt Avenue.  We had some ice shavings at Cold Layers, which was familiar to her, having eaten at their former branch in Connecticut Avenue a few years back.  These desserts are commercial known as "snow ice" and are priced a bit on the high side (around P150 to P200 each), but I can assure you, these are really addictive.

I would guess that the name Cold Layers comes from the layers of shaved ice.  The texture is somewhat midway between crushed ice desserts (which is coarse and usually artificially flavored) and ice cream (which is smooth and creamy).  It's very light, yet packed with flavor.  I had a green tea creation with red mongo beans and corn flakes, while Monique had a chocolate version with popped rice and coffee jelly.  The names of the desserts are geared for the young ones in love--for example, First Date, First Kiss, Deep Temptation, Sweet Surrender, and It's Complicated.  I had a smile on my face, just reading the menu!

The Old Spaghetti House

The Old Spaghetti House is a fixture in a lot of the Robinson's Malls, and a couple of weekends ago, Monique and I took some time off from our grocery chores to have a fast lunch there.  Dishes are reasonably priced, and you could have something basic at P150 per head, although the fancier dishes go for around P250 each.  The ambiance is pretty laid back with the brick wall and the charming batibot chairs; moreover, the unenclosed shop design makes you feel welcome, cozy even.  Since it's not as crowded as other fastfood outlets, it's a good meeting place for quiet meetings and get-togethers.

The Alfredo pasta was quite flavorful, although I must say that the tomato sauce pasta was ordinary (I expected something better).  At least it wasn't done sweet style, which I don't approve of.  The fried chicken was surprisingly crunchy outside and juicy inside (when it came in, it looked like a large rolled chicharon piece to me).  The accompanying waffle was served with some light maple syrup.

Pastel

Obie-Lobie went on a work-related trip to Cagayan de Oro and came home with Vjandep Pastel, which are soft buns filled with vanilla cream.  These are famous in Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro, and was the first on his list of pasalubong stuff for the household.  I first tried this around 15 years ago, when Vicky had clients in the area.  I understand it's inexpensive, and a good mid-day snack to have around the office.

Vitalis

I got a Viber message from a good friend of mine; he was touring across the United States and he came across Vitalis hair tonic, something that we haven't seen in town for ages.  We used this product extensively in the seventies, to keep our hair firmly in place, even "when the wind blows."  I'd use it once in a while, but he was a firm believer in the product, and he wouldn't leave home without it! 

Dusit Thani

I was pretty amazed at the transformation of the Dusit Thani.  I haven't been to this hotel along Pasay Road for some time now, and it was a very pleasant meeting I had at their Executive Lounge (library is shown above) last week.  I remember when the hotel was the Nikko Manila Garden; Kong and I have pleasant memories of their Japanese Grill Restaurant, Gojinka in the mid-seventies.  Years later, in the early eighties, my late father-in-law would take me to dine at their Benkay restaurant, which was then still of top-notch quality.  By the mid-nineties, however, it was obvious that the hotel needed not just a face lift, but a massive renovation.  The owners were not keen on starting the needed works, and were ready to part with the property.  I looked at the hotel for a client of mine, but the Dusit group was the lucky prizewinner.  I distinctly remember spending some time discussing the deal with a known French hotelier who previously worked with the Accor group.  The new owners closed the hotel for a year-long renovation, and today, the hotel is pretty much the Thai icon in the local business scene (the other being state-owned PTT).  Refreshing!

Vom Fass

It was an interesting find, this Vom Fass store at the basement of the new wing of the Shangri-la Mall.  It's like buying tingi at your favorite sari-sari store!  Those of your old enough will remember that suka and toyo could be purchased in small bottled quantities in practically any neighborhood sari-sari store (not pre-packed, but metered right in front of you).   The concept is exactly the same.  This German store dispenses oils, vinegar and alcohol by the milliliter!  They even have various bottles to choose from.  These are items that are usually expensive to purchase in bulk, yet taken in little quantities such that most often, the remaining unused portions remain stuck in your ref, or your pantry.  The store makes the purchase affordable, and you don't even have to worry about being unable to finish the whole 1 liter bottle.  Smart marketing tactic, I'd say!

Quiznos

Somehow I associate sub sandwiches with airports, I just don't know why.  This time was different; I was hungry in Makati, and when I saw Quiznos store, I wanted a sub.  I liked the atmosphere of the place instantly, it was not crowded, with only two other tables taken during merienda time (that was around 3pm on a weekday).  I didn't realize then that Quiznos had over 2,100 locations all around the world, and that this Denver based company is slowly coming back to life under Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States.  I hadn't heard of this sub sandwich maker until about last year when I saw their shops sprouting up, first in the Katipunan area, and now in the Greenbelt Mall.  The manager engaged me in friendly conversation and told me that they oven toast their subs, and he guaranteed that their sandwiches were bigger and better than that of the competition.  I had a roast beef sandwich and it was topped with cheese and quite filling.  I would have wanted it a bit saltier though.  Prepare around P200 per head, and that would be enough to enjoy your meal!

Black Bridge

Tony, Anita's hubby, has always talked about the famed Taiwanese brand Black Bridge as the standard for preserved meats, and I found myself in a Black Bridge store somewhere in the Tin Hau area.  Curious, I picked up two packs of pork jerky, one crispy style and another BBQ style (around HK$60 each, thereabouts, if I recall right).  Both are absolutely winners! The crispy pork comes in super thin wafers, with lots of black sesame embedded, imparting a unique taste.  The pork jerky is tender, finely flavored with some Chinese herbs and spices. No burnt portions, it appears that the meat is smoked rather than char-broiled.  Monique and I just love this stuff!