Enhance Your Kids' Culinary Talent at The Maya Kitchen

This summer, your aspiring little chefs get their chance to shine as The Maya Kitchen rolls out its Junior Culinary Workshops (JCW) on April 10-13 and Young People’s Cook-In (YPC) on April 17-20. Both sessions run from Tuesday to Friday.




In four days, boys and girls, 6-12 years old, could learn how to prepare the following: Quick & Easy Party Dishes, Classic Dishes, Nutritious Home Prepared Meals and Snacks and Desserts. Teens, 13 years old and up will learn Italian Specialties, East Meets West Menu, Delectable Treats and get the chance to join a real life Chefs’ Competition on the last day.

For a unique bonding experience with your kids, try out the Parent and Child Cooking Tandem on April 28 and May 5, 9am-1pm.

Other Lifestyle Classes for April include: Coffee 101, April 14, 1-6pm; Pastry Shop Sampler, April 21, 9am-2pm; and Frozen Delights, April 28, 2-6pm.Certificate Courses with Hands-On include: Basic Culinary is on April 10, 11, 12, 14 from 1-6pm and April 24-27, 9am-3pm. Barista starts on April 14, 1-6pm that includes 120 hours of on-the-job training. Fundamentals of Bakery Production is on April 17, 18, 19, 21, 2-6pm.  TESDA registered courses for career and professional cooks features Commercial Cooking NCII inclusive of 400 hours of lecture and demo with on-the-job training. Class starts on April 24, 9am-3pm.

For more information on other courses offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com  or e-mailcontactus@themayakitchen.com  or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F  Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 / 892-5011 local 108 / Mobile No. +63947 835 2290.


What REALLY is Brewing at NaiCha?

Shrimp Toast

The real deal in blogger's event last Saturday was to introduce Naicha's new concoction: buttery Caramel tea was based in authentic Taiwan oolong tea leaves brewed on that day and healthy Green Apple fruit juice, pureed and ice blended. Both are new to me as I stick to my ultimate favorite matcha green tea but made me realized I missed a lot of flavored teas. Now, I temporarily switch to Caramel tea.





The blogger's assembly was held at Naicha Lounge inside the LG2 Auto Haus Motor Services in Congressional Avenue, Quezon City. Tea lounge inside an automotive shop? why not? A new marketing approach to young people and car owners. Complete with WiFi access and high-definition tv, customers won't be bored waiting for their newly cleaned cars. Nice, isn't it?



Chips and Meaty dip



For me, the real deal of the event was the upcoming dishes to be served in all of their branches soon. I couldn't think of anything that complements my iced tea than cakes and pastries but NaiCha challenged my taste buds when they served Asian favorites .



Asian Tofu


To complement the refreshments, Shrimp Toast lead  the parade of delectable dishes, beautifully presented in white rectangle plate with very tasteful dip. Followed by chips and very meaty dip. I forgot the name of the below photo but it was my favorite. Nope, its not pretzels  but dried and crispy squid coated in sweet sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds.






It may not be good in pictures but the Pork Ribs Steak tasted so tender and flavorful. I wondered what sauce they used so I could imitate that at home and I thought I have an idea. Honestly, I tried it yesterday but I failed. I'm craving for it as I write this but I need to wait until their new menu appears.



Pork Ribs Steak



Website: NaiCha



What's Brewing at NaiCha Milk Tea Lounge?

Caramel with Pearl and Pudding


Trendy brews including healthy green, herbal, black, oolong teas and fruit blends are tempting the country away from the traditional coffee and real tea. Milk teas which many people do not regard as tea at all, are winning new customers specially the nation’s younger consumers. This group are more likely to be more open to discovering the benefits of loose leaf, such as the full flavor of the larger leaves. Milk Tea, indeed, is the new cool drink!


Caramel and Green Apple


Something really good has invaded the Philippines since December 2010 when NAICHA MILK TEA started selling its blended milk teas from its first store located across Royal Duty Free Mall. 




Majority of NaiCha's silky milk teas were based in natural leaves of authentic oolong tea from Taiwan, freshly brewed everyday. They have a wide array of Tea and Fruit Blends at very affordable prices.




The newest addition to their "tea-novations" were unveiled last Saturday and I was one of the first few who tasted Caramel and Green Apple (2nd picture above). We also tried their best sellers Pearl Sweet Milk Tea, Kiwi Yakult, Wintermelon Naicha, Choco Milk Tea with Pudding, Lychee Juice with Sago and it was all so good! Their Milk Teas were creamy, unlike other tea store who uses full milk they are using a combination of milk and cream on it and if you are on a diet, you could request to lower down  sugar portion of your chosen tea. I hope more options like non fat milk and soya would be available soon.

More exciting good news regarding latest NaiCha's offerings are coming up on my next post. In the meantime, why not grab a big cup of milk tea and satisfy your thirst at the nearest NaiCha branch, where tea never tasted this good!
 
Branches in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

-Royal Duty Free Mall, Subic Bay Freeport Zone
-Food HubPalm Street, Subic Bay Freeport Zone
-Traders, SBMA Freeport Exchange
-Marquee Mall, Angeles Pampanga
-N. Domingo, Quezon City
-24 Congressional Avenue, Quezon City
-Convergys, Technohub
-St Paul College, Quezon City
-Centerpoint Building, Ortigas Center
-Petron Katipunan, Quezon City
-Vivida Towers, Omega Street, Regalado West Fairview, Quezon City


***NaiCha Milk Tea is also available for franchising, please contact;

Larry Castillo
Mobile: 09178951516
email: larrycastillo_lgz@ yahoo.com

Enrolment for TRAVEL AGENCY OPERATIONS COURSE is now going on!

When:April 25 - 27, 2012, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where:Kaisa Angelo King Heritage Center, 32 Anda corner Cabildo Sts., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Who Should Attend:
- Travel assistants and frontline staff of travel agencies;
- Current and future owners of travel agencies;
- People working in non-travel related fields who wish to shift to a
career in travel;
- College students and graduates seeking employment in the tourism
industry.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION/PAYMENT: April 18, 2012

The course is a basic skills training program focusing on outbound travel for new travel professionals. It has been designed to meet the growing demand for well- trained staff in the travel industry.

The course materials have been produced by a team of travel professionals and training specialists from airlines, travel agency, and tour operations businesses and are reviewed periodically in accordance with IATA standards. Training manuals used are based on training manuals used by the Association of South East Asian National Tourism Associations (ASEANTA).

The APTTI certificate guarantees a high standard of training and has gained industry recognition and acceptance. The APTTI Certificate is required by the Department of Tourism for travel agencies applying for DOT accreditation

How to Register:

Call Elli Ella / Tess Pascual at Tel. No. 8134781, Mobile No. 0916-4741701 and reserve a slot for the seminar.
- Fill up registration form which we will fax to you. Please fax it back.
- Pay registration fee of P9, 500.00 cash or check payable to Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. We will send a messenger to your office / house to get the payment. An Original Receipt will be issued to you.
- You may pay at our office at Suite 11-D, 11th Floor, The Valero Tower, 122 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. You are considered registered only upon full payment of the registration fee.
Course Fee: P9,500.00 (VAT inclusive)- Covers hand-outs, lunch, am & pm snacks and certificate of completion accredited by the DOT.

Cancellation Policy:
- Cancellations made between April 11 and April 18, 2012 are subject to refund less 10% administrative fee.
- Cancellations made after April 18, 2012 are non-refundable and may not be applied to the next Travel Agency Operations Seminar.


COURSE OUTLINE:

First Day:
- How to Open a New Travel Agency
- Accreditation Requirements for a Travel Agency
- Overview of Travel Agency Operations
- Documentation Services
- Other Products and Services Offered By a Travel Agency

Second Day:
- World Geography
- Itinerary Planning
- Reservations
- Air Fares / Ticketing
- Philippine Geography
- Inbound & Local Tour Operations
- Tour Costing (Please bring calculator for tour costing)

Third Day:
- Quality Customer Service and Effective Communication
- Financial Management and Controls
- Sales and Marketing/New Technologies in Travel
- Wrap Up Session
- Awarding of Certificates of Completion

Fore more details, please contact:
ASIA PACIFIC TOURISM TRAINING INSTITUTE, Suite 11-D, 11th Floor, The Valero Tower
122 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Tel. Nos. 813-4781
Fax: 8925232
Email: appi@asiapacificprojects.com
Website: www.asiapacificprojects.com

Emailcast by:
Department of Tourism - Region III
City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
Email celtour@yahoo.com
Website www.visitmyphilippines.com

Source: VisitMyPhilippines.com

Little Greecian Goddesses at "White" Themed Tea Party



Oh yeah, this is another backlog from my lengthy blogger's draft.....a post supposedly in harmony for my post at The Cuisineuer's White themed tea party last year.

You see, we had our series of afternoon tea parties and I chose "White" theme instead of the British-y floral theme because I thought it will be more pleasing in photos...and I am correct. Although we just used cheap tea,  white tea set and wares, our dishes and photoshoot were perfect! The kids were very much into it.




Ritual of afternoon teas maybe prettier if floral themed but it would be more expensive if we bought floral dresses for my nieces. Maybe next time if I could afford glorious tea with exquisite bone china and porcelain pieces.




Here, we just re-used my nieces white tops and Anney bought them an identical white headband to complete their tea party outfit.



Learn How to Surf, Yoga and Samba in One Weekend

Happening on April 28 to 30 at the Aliya Surf Camp in Baler, Aurora, Philippines, join the 7th FLOW Surf Yoga Samba Weekend Retreat! A boutique 3-day experience that will spark your spirit and leave your body and mind relaxed and revitalized. The whole retreat is complemented with healthy food to help nourish this unique journey to self-discovery.

Practicing yoga will develop focus, strength and flexibility. Surfing will develop confidence, stamina and ocean awareness. Dancing and music enhances a sense of well-being and builds social skills.




Package Inclusions:

1 Vinyasa and 1 Yin Yoga session by Monica Eleazar-Manzano
2 Surfing lessons
2 Samba lessons by Escola de Samba de Manila
Round-trip private transfers, Manila-Baler, Baler-Manila
3D/2N accommodations at Aliya Surf Camp, Baler
Healthy meals and raw food snacks
Flow tote bag and freebies from sponsors
Event Shirt


PLUS:Intro to Raw Food, Kirtan with Clayton Horton, Chillout beats by DJ Martin Lugtu, Waterfall hike and Thai Lanterns


For more information please visit the following sites:

www.flowsurfyogasamba.multiply.com
#/flowsurfyogasamba
www.twitter.com/surfyogasamba
instagram: flowsurfyogasamba

ENTRIES TO 2012 UNESCO ASIA-PACIFIC HERITAGE AWARDS IS ON

Sharing with you an announcement from UNESCO Bangkok regarding the Call for Entries: 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.

Projects involving buildings more than fifty years old which were completed within the last ten years are eligible for consideration. Houses, commercial, cultural, religious, industrial or institutional buildings, gardens and bridges, for example, are all eligible for consideration. Public-private partnership projects such as historic towns, urban quarters and rural settlements where the essential elements are more than 50 years old are all eligible.

Established since 2000, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation recognizes the achievement of individuals and organizations within the private sector, and public-private initiatives, in successfully restoring structures of heritage value in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to the established awards, the “Jury Commendation for Innovation” will also be judged. The Jury Commendation for Innovation recognizes newly-built structures which demonstrate outstanding standards for contemporary architectural design which are well integrated into historic contexts.

The Heritage Award entries with an official 2012 entry form and relevant materials such as drawings, photographs, a project description have to be submitted by 31 March 2012 (Deadline for receipt of entries) to:

Culture Unit
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO Bangkok Office
920 Sukhumvit Road
Bangkok 10110 , Thailand
Email: heritageawards.bgk@unesco.org

For more information and to download entry forms, please visit the following website: http://www.unescobkk.org/news/article/2012-unesco-asia-pacific-heritage-awards-call-for-entries/


Dining Recommendations in Boracay

This summer, you probably chose the sensational sea, sand and sun of Boracay island to be your grand summer getaway. You can be sure, beach bummers and vacationers will be out in force in the island’s restaurants and bars, seeing and being seen this summer season. So come on, hole up in these restaurants for relaxed dining and partying at a reasonable prices....


Aria Italian Restaurant


To complete the feeling that you are really on a holiday, I suggest to go Italian for lunch at Aria Italian Restaurant nestled at the front of D'Mall in Boracay. For me, Pasta and Pizza is  the general idea of Italian food. It is such a big part of Italian cuisine.


Friday's



Or try Friday's for dinner! They are well known for "Famous Friday's Night Buffet". The buffet is serve three times in a week from Monday, serving traditional Filipino buffet, Wednesday, Viva Italiana Buffet and Friday, catering BBQ and Grill Buffet.The restaurant has a great ambiance. Majority of restaurants in Bora are offering dine-by-the-beach-while-the-sun-sets but Friday's beach front is different among others because it is perfectly positioned on Boracay's eye-catching White Beach. Plus, it offers delectable cuisine.



Nigi Nigi



Breakfast like a king! Try Nigi Nigi's Millionaire's Meal: Brewed Coffee, toast, butter, jam, huevos mejicanos, bacon, beans, cheese, sausage, buttered mushroom and fruit. 



Gelato


Indulge in a creamy, summer treat from authentic Italian Ice cream from Gelato that will definitely melt your cold, cold heart.



Jonah's Fruit Shake and Snack Bar


Jonah's is popular among netizens for it's frothy fruit and milk shakes. So I tried, I asked what was their bestseller, the crew suggested their Tropical Shake. Two thumbs up!



The Beach Café, Le Soliel de Boracay


Their Buffet was priced at P396 net per person plus unlimited iced tea.  Dinner starts from 6:30PM to 10:00PM. Judging from three days of flavorful journey  in this famous island, Beach Café serves the best oysters.I have no idea how the oysters were prepared but I'm sure it was not steamed. The texture was between cooked and raw.



Don Vito Ristorante Italiano


Dine and Wine at Don Vito Ristorante Italiano. This is also not a restaurant where the waiter automatically recommends the most expensive wine on the menu. The restaurant has liquor and wine list offering a wide selection to complement Italian meals. Nonalcoholic beverages include coolers, specialty coffees and hot teas. There has been a lot of buzz about this place and it's easy to see why. From the cool ambiance to the fine spread of comfort food, the restaurant has hit the mark.



Epic


Put your bad feelings under the bridge. Have a good time! Party like its the end of the world with good collaboration and choices of pop songs only at Epic!



Club Summer Place


  At cheerful atmosphere of Club Summer Place, beat the Pacquaio's Punch. With its loud and super nice choice of music, dancing is surely a very fun and entertaining thing to do in this bar. Party until the early hours of the next morning.




The Millionaire's Breakfast at Nigi Nigi, Boracay

Millionaire's Delight, Php 395.00 all in


Nigi Nigi's Millionaire's Meal: Brewed Coffee, toast, butter, jam, huevos mejicanos, bacon, beans, cheese, sausage, buttered mushroom and fruit. Sounds like British fry-up? Yes it is.....a heart attack on a plate, lol! Oh goodness... I felt like I pumped cholesterol directly into my veins.  Indeed, this breakie is very rich.....in cholesterol! Hey, I don't need to worry about my waistline anymore cause its our last day!

Yep, I devoured on this big breakfast on our last day in Boracay while Carlo and Josh chose the same old milkfish Filipino breakfast they already had since day 1. I wonder what was on it but nothing interested me when stole a bite. For me, Millionaire's Delight is the best breakfast I had on the island.



Memories of Two Summers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport



"C'est la vie "

....an echo he heard while he ran in slow motion on the seashore along with his friends, flying a colorful kite, laughing, soaking up the sun in Magalawa island one sunny afternoon. It was a very short vacation from tedious work out of the metro. Is it a deja vu or he's just dreaming? He pinched himself.....Suddenly, his vision blurred and he witnessed himself alone in beautiful almost magical lake....lake kayangan, he remebered......




The noise of a crowded waiting area awoke him but he was still trying to hang on to his dream....ahhhh, those were the good times...

When he finally found full gaze of the surrounding, Rome realized he was in NAIA. It was 11 AM on the clock and  they were waiting for their delayed Air Philippines flight bound to Kalibo and hopeful to reach Boracay before the sunset. His friends Carlo and Josh were sitting on the floor of the NAIA 3. Yes, on the floor! Seats were already taken by travelers stuck in the terminal for quite some time.

He thought to himself "NAIA maybe dubbed as the world's worst airport but is comfortable for a snooze". He then took another nap....


 

Gelato on our Boracay Holiday

That dinner buffet broke our hearts. We were thinking of a great dessert to mend or broken hearts when we passed by Gelato which was about to close at that time. Josh and I ordered 2 scoops each ( Php 90.00/scoop) of Mango and Mint flavors.




Mama Mia! My cold, cold heart melted when I indulged in a creamy, summer treat from authentic Italian Ice cream from Gelato.




Sunset Grilled Buffet, Boracay



Spelunking....swimming..... helmet diving...... island hoping......We were very tired at the end of our second day but eating was never far from our mind. In fact, I was expecting of a candlelit tables adorned with flowers, groaning under the weight of homegrown organic delicacies for our dinner that night.

Out of numerous restaurants on my list that serves perfect dinner buffet, we tried Sunset Grilled Buffet instead which by the way, not on my top ten list because it was near to our place and we were really tired to look for fancy Italian, or perhaps tapas, maybe some sushi....




What we've entered was a tourist trap.  Although the price (Php 275.00 all in) was on the same range of the dinner buffet in the island, the food doesn't justify the cost. What we had was traditional Filipino dishes soaking in cooking oil. The lechon above was chewy, menudo and fried chicken were undercooked, and three small pieces of barbecued pork skewered was really offensive.  Here's my plate....




Dessert was gelatin and watermelon...



Enjoy Your Puerto Galera Adventure this Summer

Let us celebrate our summer vacations at home, I mean locally - domestic travel. Explore and rediscover destinations of your respective provinces and be surprised to find out that truelove is at home and it is indeed, more fun are in the Philippines. Why I say so? Because traveling at home requires no passports, no jabs, no visas, and no $$. No wonder traveling at home is so great!

"Summer days had gone too soon" - Save this status update and come home to Puerto Galera as the Summer's days has just started. 

Here is the summary of the destinations we been to the last time we visited the beautiful tourist spot.


Puerto Galera Yacht Club offers sailing courses (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced) cover three days of full time tuition with maximum time on the water. Sailing courses are supervised by a full-time instructor, safety boat and crew. All safety equipment is provided as part of the course fee. Click here for the rates.




Puerto Gallera has three ports, Sabang , Muelle, and White Beach. We picked White Beach the farthest of the three because its the most beautiful.



Tamaraw Waterfalls

The 423-foot Tamaraw Falls is just a few meters off the road in Barangay Villaflor near the city of San Teodoro. The falls has a series of small falls. Water descends a series of rock steps into a natural pool that run under a concrete bridge into two man-made swimming pools across the national road, then flow out again into a jungle.



Ponderosa Golf and Country Club

The Ponderosa Golf and Country Club has nine hole, artfully designed course. With abundant greens, trees, azure skies and gentle wind, it makes for an ambient and relaxing environment. It is an appeal to both nature lover and golfer. A 1.2 kilometer zip line is being constructed when they visit the place. That will be a new attraction later of  this year! He was so excited  to come back and try it by the end of this year. 




A settlement of Mindoro’s indigenous ethnic group by the bank of Big Tabinay River and a gold-digging sites along the Small Tabinay River. The village was initiated to provide sustainable working and learning opportunities for the indigenous Mangyans on the island of Mindoro, their driver added. At the main entrance of the village, handicrafts like woven textiles, beaded items, nito and rattan baskets handmade by Mangyan people in the mountainous regions of Mindoro are being sold. Any profits go towards cultural program, healthcare, and scholarships for Mangyan students.




An exclusive resort neighboring the White Beach with Rock formations for photo opt.



Aria Italian Restaurant, Boracay

Margherita Php 390.00


I believe that the heart of good food is "FRIENDSHIP" and being able to share every delicious dishes on the table with them.

Our vacation in Boracay Island was indeed an occasion ...a spectacle....and a gastronomic journey....

To complete the feeling that we are really on a holiday, we go Italian for lunch at Aria Italian Restaurant nestled at the front of D'Mall in Boracay. For me, Pasta and Pizza is  the general idea of Italian food. It is such a big part of Italian cuisine.

Thin and crispy, we ordered the beautiful Aria's Margherita Pizza with the generous toppings of tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella....


 Carbonara, Php 350.00

Melt-in-the-mouth Carbonara, is a memorable experience and a favourite of Josh's no less. Fresh pasta is teaming in an egg yolk cream sauce with Parmesan cheese and crispy bacon bits is to die for - we regretted  to order an Italian bruschetta to mop up all those lovely and creamy sauces.
 
 
 Marinara Pasta , Php 425.00
 
 
The Marinara Pasta stood out with unbelievably fresh ingredients,  this dish will blow you away. Here, fresh pasta, seafoods and seafood sauce cooked and presented as at the heart of the best Italian cooking.


Although the criticism over the crowded restaurant is likely to remain, waiters are attentive not intrusive commensurate to a world class service.




The dishes were last-meal-on-earth material, lol! Me, Carl, Josh and our tour guide, reflected on the meal. 'Twas the food that makes sense, undeniably comforting and that you can really put a bit of love into.....



Wake Up Call: 2nd Day Breakfast at Nu Nu Noos Beachfront Restaurant



Beef tapa, smoked fried milkfish, eggs, toasts, cheese, tomatoes, watermelon, brewed coffee, and canned juice.....that's what we had for breakfast on our first day at Nigi Nigi Nu Noos 'e' Nu Nu Noos Beach Resort in Boracay. 

We all felt that no meal has quite the same power as Filipino breakfast so the three of us chose another Filipino set of breakfast on our second day and some add on. Pretty big, eh? We've chosen the healthiest way to start our 2nd day in Boracay because that day would be full of activities. In fact, it was a very long day. Activities we had will be revealed on my travel blog soon. 

Carl can't get enough of milkfish he missed it so much after a year of working overseas. This time, he ordered additional longanisa, a Filipino sausage that I'm sure not available in Angola.




Josh had corned beef, fried rice and eggs with cheese while my choice was tocino (sweetened cured pork), a traditional Philippine breakfast. 

Nothing has changed since the last time we dine in here, the dishes were extremely delicious and servings were huge. Oh, not to forget the tomatoes! It was firm and not soggy, love it!




Tamaraw Beach Resort, Puerto Galera

Destination: Tamaraw Beach Resort,
Puerto Galera Oriental Mindoro
Philippines



They trooped to the nearby resort when the sun was about to set. Rome treated them for dinner. Ironically, they ordered breakfast dishes. Pictures he took using Anney's expensive lens where kinda blurry so he opted not to show it to y'all.





They explored the place, unlike the neighboring White Beach, the resort was almost deserted. The kids found a playground at the end of the resort, they don't want to leave the place when Anney called them for their photoshoot.




A lot of convincing powers were exerted before they agreed to strike some pose. At the end of the resort, rock formations became their backdrop and medium for the photoshoot.





What a fun way to end their trip. For Rome twas a great day-off from a week of loaded work. They hiked back to their cottage and get ready to go back to Manila the following morning.