"Green, Green, Green!"

So, last week, we finally ate here.  We’ve been planning for weeks to try the place but for reason, hindi matuloy-tuloy. To think that we always pass by Sugarleaf which is located at the second of a big clinic at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Senator Gil Puyat Avenue on the way home. We hear that the Queen of All Media gets her food delivered by Sugarleaf?  Interesting.

Okay. Let me say that Sugarleaf is just like any store/restaurant that serve “healthy” food. 

Crabstick and Mango Wrap (Php 188)

Light food inspired by the Japanese Maki.

Served chilled with Kefir dressing served 

in a soft wheat tortilla

Meaning… no frying, salt-free, sugar-free, organic, meat is strictly limited to animals that swim but if you have to, limited to animals with wings (only white part, never dark!).  And yes, mammals are definitely taboo.  In short, healthy food is boring food.  

 Turkey Waldorf (Php 208)

A classic salad in a sandwich.

Turkey with Bifidus, red apple, celery, toasted cashew

dressed with Kefir, nutmeg & home made mayo

served in a raisin cinnamon bagel

They may look really creatively appetizing but my eyes and tongue can only take so much green.  

Look, healthy living (and eating) is not something you dive into just because you feel like doing it at that moment. No. Just like dieting, it’s a lifestyle change and it requires for you to commit to it wholeheartedly.  For how long? Try forever.

But you need to ask yourself first if you’re ready or not.  

 He ain't ready.

G-2F MEDICard Lifestyle Center

51 Paseo de Roxas corner Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

  

One More Time: LMP 2012 Winner, Little Miss Ryzza!

Little Miss Ryzza is on her way to superstardom! 

People just can’t have enough of her!  And for the ones who weren’t able to watch (a big portion of Caloocan City suffered brownout last Saturday) Ryzza’s LMP 2012 victory, here is an edited version of that segment…

 

Watch her as she played it sooo cool during the Question and Answer portion with Tito Bossing and Tito Joey! 

I would to thank Eat Bulaga for this edited video.

 Now... do you see why she won
the coveted title? 

Incidentally, she has been reporting to Eat Bulaga since Monday.

Does this mean that she's already joining the DABARKADS permanently?

 

I would like thank also the Mayor & the people 
of Angeles City for this picture.

Stay tuned!   

  

Congratulations, Little Miss Ryzza!

 Another case of brains winning over beauty!

The Little Miss Philippines 2012 winner, Ryzza Mae Dizon is not the usual pretty girl. She seems too small even for her age and her skin… too dark. But I loved the way she tied her hair. And her talent, most of all... very impressive. 

Honestly, I also wanted First Runner Up placer and Little Miss Vaseline with Vaseline Mom (and English speaking!) Maria Franchesca Rojas from Cebu to win but like I said, Ryzza Mae was one intelligent young lady. Walang panalo si Maria Franchesca because Aiza Seguerra is back sa katauhan ni Ryzza Mae.

I guess that was what the five judges (Michael V., Eugene Domingo, Ms. Lillian Juadong, Judy Anne Santos-Agoncillo at Lucy Torres-Gomes) saw and admired. A smart and glib Little Miss. Meaning a bright future ahead in show business?

I like the whole production of this year’s LMP though I was  expecting it to be held at a big venue. I remember when the Grand Coronation of past LMP's were staged in Araneta Coliseum taking all of the almost three hour presentation. 

I miss the banter of a much younger Vic and Joey. Very funny and witty ang banter during the Question and Answer portion that was the source of so many na-usong kalokohan. Remember this?  Thank you po, Tito Vic and Thank you, Tito Joey. Then Vic answers… You’re Welcome, Rotonda, Quezon City, Balik-Balik…  Who would forget?

 

Anyway, Congratulations again, Little Miss Ryzza and I hope na lumaki ka nang tama if your mommy decides for you to pursue a showbiz career. Former child actors normally stop growing during their teen years like Nino Muhlach and Aiza. Mag-vitamins ka. 

But malakas ang kutob ko na sisikat ka.    

By the way, during the Grand Finals, they announced the launch of this year’s Mr. Pogi (open to 16-23 y/o young gentlemen). So, it’s back?   
Interesting. 

Light Japanese Lunch at Yurakuen!

Yurakuen @ Diamond Hotel, Manila

Tita Nelia & I have been pigging out since breakfast so we weren’t really THAT hungry come lunch time.  So we just ordered for some relatively light food (whatever passes for light!). 

I can say two things about the food here at Yurakuen: Very good and a bit expensive.  

Scorpio Maki

Eel Eggroll with Spicy Mayonnaise

Sake Teriyaki

Grilled Salmon with Teriyaki Sauce

Agedashi Dofu

Yurakuen

Diamond Hotel

Roxas Blvd cor Quintos St.

Ermita, Manila

Little Miss Philippines: Pretty Little Ladies!

One of the most popular (and the most successful?) contests in Philippine television is Eat Bulaga’s Little Miss Philippines. 

LMP has been the springboard for contestants who dream of a career in show business.  And a handful of them made it.

The more well-known names are Pauleen Luna, Camille Pratts, Gladys Reyes,

Jessa Zaragoza, Donna Cruz, Geneva Cruz, Dindin Llarena, Ella Cruz. 

Of course, ang pinaka-sikat sa lahat… Aiza Seguerra. 

Aiza Seguerra is not the usual cute, dainty little lady. What she lacks in the beauty department is compensated by her talent and yes, wit.  Kinaya niyang makipag-sabayan kay Joey de leon at Vic Sotto.  She was the Child Superstar then.  

Speaking of Aiza, I remember her sidekick, Lady Lee (also an LMP contestant) who used to danced do this “sexy” number during the Bulagaan segment. Nasan na siya kaya? 

Anyway, I do hope that Eat Bulaga invite these LMP graduates for a number together. It’s going to be a blast! 

By the way, don’t forget that the LITTLE MISS PHILIPPINES 2012 GRAND FINALS IS HAPPENING ON SATURDAY, JUNE 09, STARTING AT 12 NOON!

Don’t miss it!  

Sunday Breakfast!

Toastbox @ The Fort

I didn't use to like eating at Toastbox. I remember how I hated the way they served my fried chicken I ordered. It was too dry and over-fried (Greenbelt branch).

Anyway, my Tita and I, one early Sunday morning, craved for good breakfast. Sila ang bukas that mga oras na yun. We didn't have any other choice.  Their breakfast was okay though the bread was too matigas for my taste. Nadudurog ang toast nila. Well, maarte na lang yata ako.  But I loved their tall glass of Milk Tea. 

 

 

BGC ECommerce Bldg 31st St cor Rizal Dr, 
The Fort

Good Pecan Tart With Double Cream!

Lusso @ Greenbelt 5

I’m not a big fan of Lusso. For me, I've always said that it’s just High-End CIBO. But it's one of my BFF's favorite places (what can I do?). We met there for an early dinner.  

Surprise, surprise! The biatch didn’t order her usual Foie Gras… instead, Spinach Taglierini, Lobster & River Prawn Roll & Pecan Tart (her usual).  We had to ask the kitchen to split everything into two. I was still full from an earlier pigging out.   

I need to say that Parma ham went well with the pasta with white sauce!  And the Pecan Tart with Double Cream... good!  

Pecan Tart

Double Cream

Potato Crisps

Spinach Taglierini

Asiago, Mushroom, Parma

 Lobster & River Prawn Roll

with Homemade Mayonnaise

Great Depression Cooking with Clara!

It was an accident.

I was just surfing the internet the other day when I thought of downloading some 80’s songs at YouTube when I came across the title of this on-line cooking show which suddenly popped up.  I’m sure I pressed something that made it happened, knowing me. For a second, I thought that the show is a treatment for the psychologically challenged.  Then, I saw Clara’s picture. I got it.  

  

Well, Clara is Clara Bonfanti Cannucciari. According to Wikipedia, “she was born in Melrose Park, Illinois on August 18, 1915 who went on to live through America’s Great Depression.”  

Poignant and touching black & white pictures are interspersed with her cooking which are uncomplicated and yes, very Italian. I say that Clara had a full life. One can tell from the photos.  

Her grandson, Christpher Cannucciari, serves as her producer and director.  Here are two episodes where Clara answers questions from fans and teaches how to do Eggplant Parmesan. You will love her.

 Clara Answers Questions

Clara Cooks 
Eggplant Parmesan

Award-Winning Chocolate Cake!

KITCHEN’S BEST @ Pasong Tamo, Extension

We're in the thick of things trying and checking out different restaurants in preparation for the “Deli” we’re supposed to open last year. We’ve tried Gustare, Conti’s, Mary Grace, Blue Kitchen, among others.   

We can't forget Kitchen’s Best’s (awarding-winning) chocolate cake. It was moist, slightly bitter perfection!

As for the Panini, very ordinary.  Nothing great. And the Lasagna? Parang everything about the Lasagna ay tinipid: the cheese, the meat, pati tuloy flavor, tipid. 

Chocolate Cake! 

Moist, moist, moist!

The presentation as its taste is... 

blah. 

Don't be fooled. 

It's not a deep serving platter.

Get it? 

Noontime Nostalgia!

Ibang-iba ang noontime shows noong araw.

Before, competitions among shows were not as cut-throat as today. Before, artists may guest from one show to another. And before, Vic Sotto was just Vic Sotto.  Matagal pa bago siya naging Bossing.  

“Eat Bulaga” during my college days was just a collection of different game portions (This has been brought to you by… blah, blah, blah).   

Weekday episodes (one and a half hours) had at least 3-5 sponsored game portions plus a beauty contest for young ladies (She’s Got The Look), or young gentlemen (Mr. Pogi),  or little girls (Little Miss Philippines), or little boys (That’s My Boy) or even for not young nor little but ageless gays (Super Sireyna). 

When “Eat Bulaga” transferred to GMA 7 from ABS-CBN, things got a bit competitive.

“Sang Linggo nAPO Sila” stayed on air for three years (never really reached the masa with their high-brow humor).  Then, on November 1998, “Magandand Tanghali,  Bayan” piloted over ABS-CBN.  With it, I must say, noontime television went into suspended animation. 

Competition went into high gear. Both shows tried to outdo each other. Both shows unabashedly copied from each other. Dumating sa puntong magkamukha na ang dalawang shows.  At this point, Eat Bulaga was eating MTB’s dust. 

John Estrada, Randy Santiago and Willie Revillame lorded it over. They were the smug “kings of the world” as they set a new  standard for being uncouth and vulgar. They were hailed to be the new Tito, Vic & Joey (without the talents).  At this point, almost everybody was saying eulogy for Eat Bulaga.

It wasn’t until February 2003 when MTB had its farewell episode.

The three were re-introduced on “Masayang Tanghali, Bayan”  which was just a rehash from the earlier program. And before that year ended,  Willie resigned and  well… floated like a soul in purgatory. He made his presence in the Kapuso network by guesting in Paolo Bediones’ show, “Extra Challenge” shot in Bali (it garnered the show’s highest rating with 47 %).  People thought that his fall from grace had been an eye-opener for him and the Kapamilya big bosses.  Mali pala. They were secretly hatching a new program.  

 Thus… “Wowowee.”  Thus... a baby monster (ABS-CBN was the nurturing mother). 

Over the other network, Eat Bulaga was busy re-formatting trying to re-gain its former glory. While Wowowee was busy hugging the limelight, the Bulaga Team was quietly drawing up its battle plan.  

And then, the unexpected happened. The untouchable king was finally dethroned. The monster had been clipped of its fangs as he, for the nth time, fell from grace. Still conceited, he left his nurturing mother and transferred to the Kapatid network. After a slew of bad behavior in TV5, people just got tired of him. Now, he's old news. Filthy rich but still old news.  

As for Eat Bulaga? Well, they smarted from the last ugly battle with Wowowee.  That period taught everybody a very big lesson and have armed everybody all the necessary artillery for another battle.

Oh, I purposely left out “Happy Yipee Yehey.” There’s absolutely nothing in that show worth mentioning (mas lalo namang ang "Pilipinas Win na Win"). That show was just an afterthought and like any bad idea, disappeared into thin air.  

So, who's the new contender?