Holiday Repast

Christmas is celebrated in an infinite variety of ways, but there is one universal truth-- a lot of eating is involved. And food just seems so much yummier with good friends around.

During this stretched out festive season, a few new finds were made:

SAM WON
Driving down BF Homes Paranaque's main vein, it soon becomes evident that either locals love Korean food or there are just A LOT of Korean locals. Because there are A LOT of Korean restaurants... and Korean parlors... and Korean boutiques... and Korean groceries... and Korean churches... and Korean-invaded schools.

Joanne and I chose Sam Won at the corner of A.Chioco to energize us for our wedding prep day. Despite its nondescript exterior... and interior, a renovated 80's house like most establishments dotting Aguirre Avenue, our bibimbop and bulgogi lunch truly was mashinun.


RED KIMONO
Christmas dinner with the Zobel gang was at the month-old Red Kimono at Westgate in Alabang. The Better Than Buffet promo was certainly the draw. How could one go wrong with eat-all-you-can Japanese for just P535?!!!

I confidently plunged into the challenge with Celso as my tag team-mate. Sharing is allowed so long as you each fully consume a bowl of rice and clear out the dishes. Layered Spinach and Tofu, Gyoza, California Crunch, Hot Shot Roll, Wasabi Oyster Tempura, Sukiyaki, Green Tea Halo-Halo and Banana Katsu... HA! Chicken!
www.redkimono.com.ph


COUNTRY SUITES
Finally I got to go to traditional December 24th breakfast with Gia, Tope, Liza and Jokjok. Discovery Suites' quaint Tagaytay property boasts of 7 fully-serviced suites along with a fantastic vista of Taal Volcano.

It can also be proud of their Restaurant Verbena's breakfast buffet menu. We all ended up coveting Liza's Crunchy French Toast stuffed with Nutella and Strawberry Preserves, P290.
www.discoverycountrysuites.com



MR.MOO
I discovered a treat for driving wedding cakes to Tagaytay: Mr.Moo for a lactose fix. Two kiosks are along the Sta.Rosa road, one going and another heading back. Well, that really depends on where you're coming from, doesn't it? Ok, so they have one on each side, both much closer to the ridge than farther.

They have hand-squeezed cow (P85/L.), carabao (P125/L.) and goat's (P163/L.) milk, and an impressive selection of milk products (kesong puti, goat's/ricotta/herbed cheeses, yogurt, candies, sauces, shakes... goat's milk soap). Best darn pastillas around! No sugar coating to distract from the unparalleled pure quality, and available in several flavors. Bottles are packed in ice to make sure they make the trip, but I usually down my pasalubongs even before hitting SLEX again anyway!

GRANDSLAM!

Anyone who grew up in Alabang in the 80's will recall that Halloween was always celebrated almost as big as Christmas. Costumes were planned, routes were mapped, goody bags filled, lawns dressed... and golf carts revved. In the 90's, it got huge... then too huge.

That was merely part of my training in dressing up. My entire family gets into it. Last April, Lola Dolores' 90th birthday was celebrated in Roaring Twenties style. A message I once sent my best friend read: "You know how they say, 'you will grow up to be like your parents'? My mom just drove off in a tintless car fully made up as a CAT. Should I shoot myself now?"

The College of St.Benilde's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management has established a fun tradition for the faculty Christmas party. Every year, a central theme is voted on as basis for everyone to come in costume as-- and as luck would have it, I am the undisputed Costume Queen!

2004 (70's Disco): This era's bell-bottoms and hair, lots of it, scored for me top prize!

2005 (United Nations): A borrowed Rajo Laurel ensemble from Ven's glamorous wedding proved convincingly Indian.

2006 (Workforce): Feeding Academy One ballet students for the past 15 years came in handy. I realized a childhood dream in tutu.

2007 (Western): Still smarting from having my Old Cow lose out to G.I. Jane during 2003's Favorite Movie Character affair, my reprised spots came back with a vengeance as a Cow Girl or more precisely, a Girl Cow.

2008: (Fairy Tales and Fantasies): And last night, as the de-glamorized Wicked Witch, I won the coveted title for the 5th straight year! Whoo-hoo-hoot!!! Sorry, it's really such a trip! Oh o-kay, since I've made my point and inarguably snagged the Hall of Fame, I announce retirement next year. Hmmm... MAYBE.




Not an hour later, Joanne and I walked into CCA Manila Chef James Antolin's surprise 40th birthday party in 80's Goth. We were joined by sexy Madonnas, sweaty Flash Dancers, preppy Argyles and funky Brothel Creepers.

But with heels higher than any I own, leggings shinier than I'd ever buy, and more significantly, an honest-to-goodness KIREI jacket that even two decades ago I would never have been able to get away with, that round went to Diva DJ Angelo Villanueva... hands down.

I'm sure glad I didn't pull that trigger. This is just too much fun!

A dozen eggs

After already a week in, I find myself still battling with jet-lag-from-hell (at least that’s my excuse). Coupled with lack of sleep from excess of work and a monster schedule, I hurried to dress for a 9am breakfast meeting last Saturday. Barely functioning with just 2 hours sleep, I wound up mistaking Lysol for hairspray. That sure woke me up!

It was a crazy day of rushing about or thinking on my feet, a mirror image of everyday before. So when the opportunity to take a breather fell into place, I snuck out to attend the exhibit of designer/furniture maker/sculptor of recycled Philippine Hardwoods Benji Reyes’ exhibit in Antipolo.

Although many are talented, not all artists are recognized, few are respected, and certainly even less are successful. But because Benji is the man he is, he is all of the above. He and wind-beneath-his-wings-wife Careng are two of the warmest and most generous out there. The presence of patrons, family and friends at their mountainside residence were tribute to this power couple.

Loverne Suratos, a very close mutual friend and one of our most staunch supporters, commissioned me to replicate Benji’s signature BARAKO coffee table in celebration of his 50th birthday and 26th year in the industry. I learned to ‘make’ Kamagong and Molave in sugar.

The night sky was clear and the breeze cool, a perfect night to be at their 3-level home and gardens, conceived and handcrafted by the master himself. It was the premier setting for Benji’s latest works, retrospectives of his classic pieces.



A surprise treat was Careng’s spontaneous jamming with old friends from Acoustic Jive, led by May Bayot and Romy Jarolan. All I can say is, that woman CAN SING!

And at the end of the evening, when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the crowd held breath as Benji rifled through the bowlful of business cards to draw for the last raffle prize—The EKLOK, a dozen eggs fashioned from 12 kinds of indigenous local wood. I silently whispered, “Nice and shiny card, nice and shiny card, nice and shiny card…”, until, I WON!!! Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoot! I hobbled down stone, gravel and soft topsoil, ignoring that each step sunk my NEW 4 INCH NORDSTROM SALE HEELS deeper into the garden. You can picture how embarrassing I was in my glee. But I didn’t care, I am the proud mama of these babies! Winning them… and on this occasion, makes them mean so much more.

Withdrawals

I'm baaack! And hit the ground running, literally. After 2 hours of debating with myself, I decided to get up from bed, shake off jet lag and break in my new Asics GT-2140, the trainers for overpronators I got especially fitted for at FLEET FEET.

"Yummy, yummy, yummy!", I thought, the first kilometer. Blue and pink aren't so bad after all. Yup, my new shoes are blue AND pink. For someone who runs the opposite way from blue and pink, my buying for performance over color is a testament to my seriousness about getting back into shape. When the first question I used to ask was, "What colors does it come in?", now I know it should be my last.

In a running-friendly village as Ayala Alabang, you'd think that more would take advantage and get into a regular routine. It is such a pity that at primetime 6am, there were only a handful that I came across. There were the usual early morning exchanges of 'hi' and 'good morning', then the odd 'como estas?' --ooh! ;)

7.5kms might have been too far for Day 1, or I may be undergoing latte withdrawals, or I may be dealing with horrid jet lag… but I am definitely struggling, trying to stay awake to function through work and look remotely human. I was dragged to the American Woman's Bazaar only to stand in the middle of The World Trade Center, useless. Yesterday, the school purchaser had to call to confirm my Fidelio market list for class: 250kg almonds blanched whole, 150kg almonds sliced, 350kg mixed nuts, 1kg vanilla beans, 200kg fresh blueberries, 600kg chocolate chips?!! I guess I might have dozed off for a while.

Thanksgiving

The first time I was ‘flown-in’ to make a wedding cake was a challenge I embraced that had me tap-dancing for months. REALLY! The Asian Cuisine class I was lecturing when I received the call can attest to that.

Through that project, I developed an even more intense appreciation and deeper respect for my staff. Save for my Tita Puri, I had to prepare, bake and clean up on my own in an unfamiliar kitchen. At 2am, after a particularly tiring day of testing ingredients, my dry and chapped fingers shakily dialed Paranaque, and I tearily declared, “I miss you guys!”
The reception venue was at the gorgeous vineyard the groom’s family keeps in the Sonoma Valley in California. Not only are harvests top grade, but their kitchen is also fitted with the best… it was love at first sight.

For two days, I practically did without sleep to complete the task at hand: a twin bridal cake, dessert cakes, and cupcakes for the kids. But on the morning of the event, at hearing that Tito Dado was going to the tasting rooms of Ferrari-Carano and Silver Oak , I gathered fumes and worked in turbo speed to stack layers, shave chocolate, finish set-up… and load my withering body into the car, securing a seat just in time.

The weekend event included wine-tasting on the property that also had guests taking premium bottles home. The Banataos sure know how to throw a party!

A kick-ass entry to my Wine Journal was that served during this year’s Thanksgiving dinner at their Atherton home: Chateau St. Jean’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that garnered 34th spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines for 1996. The 18-year old wine was all the more impressive in a Salmanazar (9 liter) bottle, huge enough that I was too scared to lift it for a pose. I felt pressure build every time Tito Dado came 'round the table with his decanter that I’d gulp my glass clean for another top-up. I managed to stay on my feet by neutralizing alcohol with heaping servings of pumpkin and apple pies a la mode.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

(The Magdaraogs of California- Francis and Camille, Juan and Cheryl with Mia and Gabe, Jonee and Puri with Dolores)

Project: SUPER MOCHI KART

The reason for this US trip was a groom's cake. And as a fitting commemoration of a relationship of nearly 12 years, I was determined to do a darn good job. When consulted for ideas, fiancee Camille contributed that, apart from herself, the things Francis loves most are his screenwriting, video games and devoted yellow lab, Mochi. Egad! How to put all that together?!

I 'get' screenwriting, I've also met his dog, but weeks of researching and downloading, even consulting with my students didn't ease the frustration of not being 'with-it' enough to play those games. What quickly became apparent is that there were more varieties than I had the time and patience for. A turning point to the design dilemma was a chance interaction with a group of young ballerinas studying at our building. At the off hand question, "Who plays Super Mario Kart?", three DS players were instantly whipped out and 7 fifth graders fell on top of each other as they fought to give the best suggestion to my plight.

All the hand-molded sugarpaste decors were made, packed in and hand-carried from Manila. When told of the contents of my large bag, the immigration officer at the SFO Airport commented with a chuckle, "Tell Agriculture that if they break anything, they will have to report back to me!"

The cake was baked in San Francisco, iced in Santa Monica, and decorated in my hotel room at Woodland Hills, LA. It was not an easy feat but my support team was of high caliber.


To say that the cake was well received is an understatement. More people took pictures of and with this cake than the actual bridal cake-- sorry, Camille. Hey, but your cake was really delish! I had seconds of the Vanilla and White Chocolate Cake with fresh berries, as well as the Chocolate and Banana layers.

Food Trippin'

Coming out of the BART Station and at the first sight of Montgomery Street, my drowsy face clears into a smile that would not be contained. I LOVE San Francisco! The city is a blend of old and new, with a touch of quirk, a lot of wit and all around hip.

At each visit, what I look most forward to is the eating!

Like a kid in a candy store, I ooh and ahh over restaurants and cafes that cater to a multitude of tastes. And every time, I trust my downtown guides Abbey and surfing miracle boy Greg McDonald to take me to the latest and the coolest...

'WICHCRAFT- With branches in NYC and Las Vegas, this casual sandwich service at Westfield Centre on 868 Mission and 5th Streets serves a variety of soup, sandwiches and salads perfect for the on-the-go. The Grilled Cheddar with smoked ham, pear & mustard on cranberry-pecan bread was sooo good inspite of my catch-up monologue. (www.wichcraftnyc.com)

SOUTH- Contemporary Australian and New Zealand food and wine is featured in Sydney celebrity chef Luke Mangan's (Glass Brasserie, Sydney/ Salt, Tokyo) Mod-Oz menu at SoMa's 330 Townsend Street. Chef Josh, formerly of Abbey's Four Seasons Hotel, prepared the most mind-blowing Hiramasa Kingfish sashimi with ginger shallot dressing and crumbled goat cheese, and treated us to yummy Honey Pudding with Pomegranate coulis and Blood Orange segments. (www.southfwb.com)

MAMA'S on Washington Square- Brunch is epitomized by this lovely classic on 1701 Stockton Street that has known hour-long queues. Understandably so, as evidenced by the best Eggs Benedict and French Toast I have ever tasted. Everything from the bread, pancakes, jams, and desserts are fresh and from scratch. (www.mamas-sf.com)



BLUE BOTTLE Coffee Company- Move over Starbucks and Peet's, Blue Bottle is what's in! Priding themselves as artisanal microroasters of organic coffees, this Oakland native takes freshness to a whole new level that borders on impractical. The modern Mint Street cafe was busy and full, certainly the happening place. (www.bluebottlecoffee.net)





The FRANCISCAN- November 15 having been the opening of Dungeness season, this 50 year old restaurant at famed Fisherman's Wharf was chosen as the venue for a mini reunion of old friends. Chucking queme aside, we got down to our fingers and picked heartily at the juicy clams, mussles, oysters... and of course, crabs. (www.franciscanrestaurant.com)