Arnold Palmer

* photo from espn.com

ARNOLD PALMER

(1929 - 2016)

More than just the tournaments that he won, or his style of play; it was his personality and life that amazed us.  Golf was not only a sport, not only a competition, but an attitude in living. Arnold Palmer, truly the King of Golf, a gentleman's gentleman, rest in peace.

Apero

The Corinthian Hills clubhouse is a good midway meeting place for those from Quezon City and those from the Pasig areas.  A new place there is Apero, billed as a neighborhood cafe, serving simple dishes in the French style.  Because of the name, I half expected the place to be a drinking place, and was surprised to find that coffee and light meals were the order of the day.  I read somewhere that the cafe owners of the Duck & Buvette at the Shangrila Mall are the same people behind this restaurant.  Yes, French food lovers!

My host informed us that the corned beef wasn't bad, and while you won't see the beef outright (the pieces are under the egg), it was tender and tasty.  Portioning, however, was controlled (I had wanted more).  Had chocolate cookies as a mouth sweetener, okay but not rock-your-world.  Coffee was aromatic, and my friend told me that he was satisfied with the taste and temperature.  I'd estimate that you need around P500 per person for a good satisfying meal.  Interiors are neat and simple, service was fast.  Basement parking at the clubhouse is satisfactory, don't have to worry about that.

Hotdog

* photo from youtube.com

Most Filipinos can easily recognize the first chords of Manila, it's practically the national anthem of our overseas contract workers.  The brothers Rene and Dennis Garcia truly defined the course of Original Pilipino Music.  They churned out several hits of Hotdog, thereby creating what was then referred to as the Manila Sound.  There were plenty of hits, all with their own memorable background stories.  For example, Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko was launched in time for the Miss Universe beauty pageant (Miss Spain, Amparo Munoz won).  Annie Batungbakal was a running commentary to the disco-fueled lifestyle we all lived and loved.  We listened to Pers Lab and Dying To Tell You with our favorite crushes in mind. And with Ella Del Rosario's unmistakable and sexy timbre on O, Lumapit Ka, we couldn't ask for more.  Time flies so fast!

Spice & Cleaver

My birthday treat for the family was held at the Spice and Cleaver at the Estancia Mall.  I love this mall, it's an easy place to bring the elderly--wide aisles allow wheelchairs to roam freely, elevators are easy to get to, air-conditioning works well and parking is well laid out.  We started out with some salads.   My mom and my sisters loved them.

Pizza was the next item that came out.  We tried 4 different kinds of pizza, and just passed the trays around.  The dough was nicely made, resulting in a crispy-gooey crust.

The kids, of course, had their pasta.  Flavorful, definitely a staple.  Of course, this is the only item that Andie will eat, and we had to make sure she wouldn't give a tantrum!

The meat dishes came in next.  Succulent lamb chops.  Rib-eye steak, which I must commend is as juicy and mouth-watering as they come.  Various kinds of sausages, which is their specialty.  Yes, they do have quite an extensive spread--I've only heard of Thai and Mexican inspired sausages here.  Someone ordered a prawn dish, although I didn't get feedback on how this tasted like.

Everything happened so fast, so I don't remember the specifics of what we ordered, but I can assure you we all enjoyed our meal!  Overall, expect to spend some P1,000 per person if you want the works, but you can well do with P500 per person if you are just having a casual lunch.

Anderson Valley IPA

This is powerful stuff.  Just took a swig from the bottle that Monique was drinking, Anderson Valley Indian Pale Ale.  Both she and Luisa like their craft beers strong.  You can find this at Spice and Cleavers at the basement level of the Estancia Mall.

Xena: Warrior Princess

* pic from dailymail.co.uk

Twenty years ago, it was the adventures of Xena: the Warrior Princess, that made our night time television interesting.  The sexy Lucy Lawless had a hundred and one facial expressions that made Xena such a lovable character.  Her character's signature yodel war cry on the show was pleasantly unique (although some friends of mine found it quite irritating) and, like an alarm clock, made me turn my head to start watching the TV intently.  Beautiful women. Acrobatic stunts.  Out of this world costumes. Love twists.  Lesbian love angles even.  Sword fights.  Lots of comic relief.  What more could you ask for?  While the story is set in ancient Greece, you can see the adaptations they made to keep it on its edge.  Check out the samurai sword below!

* pic from thecomicbookcast.com

Jay-J's

Chris, my Filipino-German nephew from Hanau, brought his Russian girlfriend Marina to the Philippines to swim with the dolphins in Oslob.  They had dinner in the main house, and Gwammy requested me for some laing to impress them.  Jay-J's to the rescue!  Got four orders at P185 each, all gone in 60 seconds!

Because the restaurant is very near to City Hall, it has been a favorite of mine when we entertain guests with a quick lunch.  Food is home-cooked in style and flavor, and prices are very affordable, going at around P400 per person for tummies that will burst at the seams. 

Orange Swits

The original candy was named Orange Kisses, but I don't see that anymore.  It was shaped like an orange slice and has a gummy bear consistency.  Orange Swits is the local version, I guess.  You probably won't find this in the supermarkets, but if you commute, any side stall near jeepney sakayans will most probably have them.

Cheddar Burst

Monique and I passed the Cheddar Burst sign along Rolex St. and she instantly noticed that their burgers were billed as Juicy Lucys.  Patties are laden with cheese.  As you can see from the pictures below, the cheese variants are oozing!

Simple interiors; the place is pretty much the dating place for students studying at nearby FEU Hospital.  Burgers are priced below P200, reasonable enough.

Casa Italia

A little distance from Wrong Ramen you can find Casa Italia.  Monique and I decided to have handmade gelato.   I wanted more scoops but I had to stop myself from over eating, we were, after all, just finishing up our merienda.  I realized the place also served pizzas and short orders.  When these are paired with coffee and ice cream, you can spend virtually the whole afternoon chatting there with your family and friends.  The ambiance is clean, open, and very cozy and casual.  I like it very much!  Average spend for a fast take out, maybe P200 but I probably could spend up to P800 on my whims and capriccios if I stayed there for 3 hours...

Wrong Ramen

Merienda time, Fort Bonifacio Burgos Circle.  Just Monique and I.  We chose to share a seafood ramen at Wrong Ramen.  Yes, you heard it right, it is the Wrong Ramen!  Broth was rich and flavorful, filled with shrimps, squid and clams.  The playfully call it Sea Men Ramen... oh the pun!  Topped with garlic and onion tips.  Perfect for rainy afternoons; spend is just under P300.