As you have noticed, my posts on this blog are kinda infrequent. I admit, I am avoiding to blog because I was thinking of giving up blogging until today when I learned that this blog gained PR2. At some point I realized, someone is reading this blog. I hope I was able to translate into words and share my experiences to your satisfaction and somehow made difference in your daily lives.

Up there, Tian Tan Buddha statue, Hong Kong

Rest assured that I'll continue writing small and big things that I think relevant to my life...and maybe to yours. Thank you for following my stories of the road. Allow me to introduce my other blogs and interest in food (The Cuisineuer) and travel (Gest to Utopia).

We were billeted at Dorsett Hotel while in Hongkong. The 2nd day of our stay was the busiest. We planned to join the city tour in the morning. Then, ride a cable car going to Ngong Ping 360  to see the Tian Tan Buddha statue in the afternoon and we ended the day at Disneyland Hotel where I hosted my birthday dinner. With busiest itinerary ahead of us, I knew I need a nutritious breakfast. I dont want to intake more heavy meal because I knew we'll be having a big photoshoot, and I don't want to see photos with bulging stomach, eeww! 

Breakfast was buffet, offers an abundant selection of foodies featuring asian and american cuisine. Cereals, cofee, bread, noodles, sausages, siomai, steamed and fresh veggies and wide array of fruits and to make our own salad. Although the wide selection of food was really tempting, I controlled myself and I  made my salad with ample of peaches instead. yum!

Hi guys! How are you doing? I hope you are all doing good and well. Here's good news to all foodie lovers out there, starting 26 June, Restaurant 101 will be open on Sundays for brunch! It features appetizer and dessert buffets, and main course served a la carte. Experience international-caliber food at its best! Restaurant 101 is the application restaurant of Enderun Colleges located at Enderun Colleges,1100 Campus Avenue, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634 Philippines.

I was preoccupied on facebook these past few days reading some cute quotes on my friends statuses. There are sad, motivational and inspirational statuses but what caught my attention were the cute ones.   There are jokes and funny texts. I cant help but laugh alone in my room to the point that my uncle knocked on my door asking me whats going on, hilarious!

White Garlic and Almond Soup

I was just excited about hitting up a Tapas & Paella restaurant a couple of weeks ago. That week, I had my first, authentic tapas and paella meals. The Cuisineuer was privileged to discover this Spanish rice recipe for Paella when I was invited to join a blogger’s event in Tapella. I, Rizza, Jim, and sissy Peachy walked into a quaint, charming restaurant located at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5 Ayala Center, Makati were the crew led us to the restaurant’s al fresco.

The  executive  chef  of  Tapella,  Chef Alexandra Cacho demonstrated how Paella Manchego, Cojonudos and Sangria are being prepared. First, she introduced us to Paella Manchego using the freshest and tastiest ingredients such as saffron, calrose rice, prawns, chicken breast, broccoli, asparagus and Manchego cheese.

 Paella Manchego


Cojonudos is made of Quail egg, Jamon Serrano, Pimiento (redbellpepper) on top of Sliced fluted bread

Tapas  and Paella are mouth-watering traditional cuisine which is quintessentially  Spanish.  This  classic  dish  is  a  hearty meal that is perfect for large numbers. Paella Manchego takes a while to cook, of course, so to keep us bloggers occupied and happy Chef Alexandra put together some Spanish treats  to pass on trays.

Camembert with Caramelized Onion on Fluted Bread

Octopus with Paprika, Salt and Virgin Olive Oil 

Chorizo

Calamari with Black Ink Batter 

If the Philippines has 7, 107 islands, 1,780 islands can be found in Palawan where every island is an adventure. I am from Palawan and I never had a chance to explore all of its islands and islets. My province has the highest immersion of islands and one of the largest provinces in the country geographically speaking. The capital, the only city in my province, and the cleanest city in the Philippines is Puerto Princesa. It  has the lowest  crime rate compared to other cities in the Philippines where the World Heritage Site, Puerto Princesa City Subterranean River National Park can be navigated. Known as the the Philippines' last ecological frontier, Palawan is rich in natural resources both flora and fauna, it is home to exotic and endemic species of animals that roam freely in its verdant hills and plains. Isn't it great to be a Palaweno? I am proud to be one!

On June 13-23, 2011 we will be celebrating the 109th founding anniversary of my province. You are hereby invited to join us. From the Cuyonon dialect, we call it Baragatan which means "convergence". People will be coming together from 24 municipalities to bring their songs, dances and music together.  We will present all these aspects of life through cultural presentation, trade shows, exhibitions, float parade and street dancing. Amos Tara! 

I been saving a small portion of my daily budget the moment I learned that Max's unlimited serving of the Filipino favorite home-cooked fried chicken promo is back. I saw the ad last Sunday at the LRT station when I met my friend, Faye. I thought it was on that day so we decided to hit the nearest Max's resto, only to find out that it will be on Friday, June 10. Since we already there and we are salivating to quarter sliced fried chicken, we ordered whole, sarap to the bones fried chicken instead. Just like last year, the taste had never changed.

My appetite is bigger than this promo because Im a fan of their home-cooked fried chicken. Tommorrow is the day. I guess I saved up to PhP 199 already, the cost for this promo. Last year promo though was only PhP 165 celebrating their 65 years but this year rate includes a glass of Pepsi. Tomorrow at the first crow, i'll be at Max's Greenbelt 1 with Faye. The nationwide promo runs from June 10 to July 10, 2011 so if you are thinking to go on a diet, you might wanna start on July 12 instead.

So  there,  I  hosted  my birthday dinner at Lotus Restaurant in Disneyland Hotel  in Hong Kong after months of anticipation. Thank you for my sponsors (ya  know  who  you  are)  and  to  those  who  joined me in celebrating my birthday,  the duo sissys Anney and Peachy, Dia, Joff, Peanutbutter (screen name of Peachy’s hubby), Ykaie, and Tita Becka, I am very grateful.

Crystal  Lotus Restaurant in Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is an award-winning restaurant that offers outstanding cuisine from four major culinary regions of  China.  It  is the signature dining experience for Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Hotel's flagship restaurant. The Restaurant has recently won the  Best  of  the  Best Culinary Awards 2009 - Gold with Distinction Medal from Dim-Sum Category. Of course, nothing but the best on my 30th birthday that's why we chose to dine here.

We  were  supposedly  feasting  on  delicately created Disney Dim Sum, like "Duffy"  Steamed  Lotus  Red Bean Puree Bun, "Chicken Little" Steamed Lotus Seed  Puree  Bun  and  Little  Green Men Pork and Vegetable Bun, at Crystal Lotus  but  weren’t available when we got there. The special, Disney themed dim sum offerings are only available for lunch during Wednesday and Sunday, we  were  told.  I’ve checked their website they have "Disney Chef Mickey's Buffet" offer from May 29 to July 15, 2011. Advance reservation is required for the offers. You may call Disney's Hollywood Hotel at +852 3510 5000 and book your table.

We  ordered  different  food  that  are available from the menu instead. Everyone  chose their food according to their liking. Nevertheless, we were satisfied  with  the  reasonable  prices of the yummy foodies that everyone enjoys.  Service  was  fast, crews  were  attentive.  The  whole  culinary experience was a blast

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It  maybe  hard to accept that I had turned 30 years old last May 30 but on the  other  side  I  was  pleased  to know that I made a lot of difference. Counting  the  blessings  that  God given me, I have more than enough, I am loved.  I  am  very grateful. Thank you so much for those who remember and for  the  greetings  on my facebook wall, y’all made me happy. I wish y’all were there. It was spectacular.

Acknowledgement: Sissy Pinky for the pictures.

Note:  A  10%  service  charge  will  apply  based  on  the original price.

My cousins and nieces woke me up on the eve of my birthday.
Live a little, live on fire

I lost my bubblegum havaianas at the resort when we had a get together outing last summer. I and one of our companions lost our flip-flops. Mine was left beside the kiddies’ pool, when I get back after photo shooting with sissy anney, it wasn’t there anymore. Discretely, I searched every cottage but I wasn’t able to find it. It was bad experience because I love my havaianas so dearly.  If you want to visit Sitio Lucia keep your flip flops in your cottage so that you won’t experience what I had just experienced.

Sitio  Lucia Resort is a dinosaur or Jurassic themed park resort located at Km.40  Fidel  de  Jesus  St.,  Pulong  Buhangin,  Santa  Maria,  Bulacan, Philippines. It is both a training and leisure destination fully accredited by the Department of Tourism as a Class AA property.

Five  years  ago,  we  have  been  here  when  the resort was new, when the swimming pools smell fresh and tidy, when the water was clear and blue when the  staff  were  friendly  and  courteous,  when your belongings are safe, yeah…that was five years ago.

Now  it  has  changed  a  lot.  I  can’t  help but noticed mossy dinosaurs, swimming  pool  water  was  brown (the color of tea), crowded and wasn’t in order  when we checked in maybe because the receiving area is small. On the other hand, if compared to Amana I liked the shades of the trees. I love to breathe the fresh air in here.

As I have promised, I'm going to showcase high caliber food from high caliber culinary school in the country. These are the food we had when sissy and I attended an event in Enderun Colleges. Enderun Colleges is an undergraduate college that offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration (BSBA), major in Business Process Management and Consulting, Finance and Wealth Management, or Marketing Management; in Entrepreneurship (BSE), with focus on Family Enterprise; and in International Hospitality Management (BS-IHM), with specialization in Culinary Arts or Hotel Administration. Enderun, committed to the highest international standards of academic excellence, is partnered with Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland and Spain, and with Alain Ducasse Formation in France.