Thaipan!

We were invited to lunch at THAIPAN (Thai restaurant), in Scout Lazcano Street by one of the owners. This is actually a sister restaurant of SIMPLY THAI in Greenbelt 5 which we have earlier featured here. 

We were told that the restaurant will undergo a grand re-invention at the middle of the year that's why it would be fair that we hold our 2 cents until then. We will definitely watch out for it! 

Anyway, we were treated to a number of THAIPAN'S best sellers. And I have to say that my group's (Tita Nelia with daughter, Isabelle) favorite was the Soft Shelled Crab. 

The favorite

THAIPAN 
120 Scout Lazcano Street,
Quezon City
(beside Bagoong Club)

Usapang Fried Chicken #4: 4 FINGERS CRISPY CHICKEN

There is another relatively new (since December 2011) fast food restaurant (Quick Service Establishment) whose star in the menu is yup... fried chicken. Unlike Bon Chon and Chicken Charlie which are both from Korea, 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken is from Singapore.

I remember many, many moons ago, my family 

used to buy a whole chicken 

packaged in a colorful box called Popeye

 (I feel that they serve the 

best soy sauce based gravy!)

in Binondo and Country Chicken along 

Quezon Avenue, in front of 

Sto. Domingo Church. 

I wonder if they're still operating? 

I like this new chicken restaurant. Everything about it seems just right except for one thing which I would bitch about later. 

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken's (only branch is at SM City North Edsa) best seller is the Fried Wings (six pieces of chicken wings marinated in Soy Garlic)with french fries (there's an option to change to steamed rice). With an upsized Coke Zero, my bill totaled P239.00. Pretty stiff for a fast food, no? I would say that it's a bit more expensive to eat here than in Bon Chon. 

Best Seller: Fried Wings (Soy Garlic)

Creative.

The other side.

It's served in stainless steel containers. Reminded me of my Boy Scout campings when we used to line up for our meals with our stainless steel Mess Kits and Water Canteens.

Anyway, 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken is on the sweet side with a little garlic kick. Dark color is from the soy sauce marinade. Not juicy, a bit dry. Better than another brand that may be very juicy but bloody as well (a Joyful Chicken?).     

Next time, I'll try eating the chicken with steamed rice. I didn't like it when the salty flavor of the french fries started overpowering my chicken.

A break from the usual red, plastic Coca Cola cup.

The other items on the menu.

I don't like this.

I really don't understand why restaurants keep on using this. Look, I'm paying good money for this chicken so, let me enjoy... it's just too small! Good thing that a server had the good sense to hand over a catsup dispenser. 

It was good chicken. Plus I love it that there were only a handful of customers (at dinner time?! hmmm...) and that the place still has this look, feel and smell of being "new." You know... new paint, new staff uniforms, new utensils, among others. 

It's expensive here. Well, the prices are a bit stiff for the SM City market. They may come in out of curiosity but come back?? 

And bad news for the sweet toothed (like me). They don't have dessert. That's really bad.

Cake Pops for All Occasions!

It all started late last year when Isabelle took a baking class under Heny Sison. 

Early part of the year before she turned 20, she was having restless periods about what to do aside from her Fashion Design classes at CSB along Taft. She wanted something productive to do. Something that would challenge her. 

To help her out, her mom (herself was a former student of Heny Sison) enrolled her to one of the Cake Pops classes. And after that first class, a new world has opened for Isabelle!

Cake Pops For All occasions!

She developed a passion for baking, Cake Pops in particular. Her mom, a foodie and an established name in the cooking and baking community, bought her books and baking materials that further fueled her newly-found passion. 

Purple Cake Pop!

She spent days perfecting the art of making Cake Pops while coming up with different designs for all (conceivable) occasions. 

Happy Dad's Day!

At that point, ONCE UPON A CAKE was born. Isabelle with a friend, brainstormed and executed the logo and together with her very supportive mom, came up with beautiful (various!) packaging (for wholesale).   
 

Cake Pops are

hand-designed cake balls 

 (chocomint, vanilla, 

red velvet and brownie flavors)

dipped in milk chocolate, 

bittersweet, semisweet chocolate.   

New and repeat orders poured in... Birthdays, Anniversary, Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Graduation, Valentine's Day, Easter, among others!

Isabelle has, indeed, found what she was looking for. 

It's a girl!

Happy Mother's Day!

Congratulations!

I love you!

Happy Anniversary!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday!

I'm sorry.

Sweet success!
 

For orders: 

Isabelle S. Dee  

Nelia S. Dee
  0929-2452888

Facebook: Once Upon a Cake

Life Imitating Art: The Sando Bag Moment

It was Wednesday, March 28, when it happened. I never knew that something like that would ever occur in my life, but, well, it happened. It's not anything life-changing but you can say that it had an effect on me.

Have you watched "American Beauty?" That Academy Award-winning film about "romantic and paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, alienation, self-liberation and redemption" (Wikipedia, not mine)?

Well, there was this scene in that film which really struck me (and stuck with me) when I watched it years back. It's up there (favorite cinema sequences) with "Magnolia's" Wise-up scene and the one in "Ordinary People" where Timothy Hutton breaks down. 

What happens in this scene?

"Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world 

I feel like I can't take it, 

like my heart's going to cave in."

Yes, it's THAT scene. 

Now, would anyone believe me when I say that I witnessed a scene exactly like that while waiting for a cab in Tektite (Pasig)? 

I was so surprised at that time that it didn't occur to me to get my camera (I always carry my small Canon wherever I go for moments like this... well, it's obvious that my camera failed me this time) from my sling bag. 

It was a two-part sequence. The first was when the white plastic bag (I'm sure it was a Sando bag and believe me, had it been a different color, it would've been less dramatic) zoomed past me and disappeared behind the Tektite water fountain. After a few seconds, it re-appeared. And this time, the bag wasn't in a hurry, it made a slower entrance. More dramatic.

It just glided. It took it's sweet time. Passing cars would blow it in different directions... up, down, up, sideways... this went on for about 10-20 seconds. Maybe longer, before it decided to exit from my view.

Was this what screen writer, Alan Ball, called an "unexpected emotional response?" The same thing he felt when he likewise saw  a plastic bag blowing in the wind? The same feeling (among other things) that inspired him to start writing the film? 

In my case, will it push me to make any life-changing decisions? Will it make me sit down and start on my next screenplay and come up with my own version of "American Beauty?" 

I doubt it. Sorry.

So, what did I learn from the experience that actually affected me to blog about it? Nothing, really. 

Except that I realized that in spite of my growing cynicism and distrust (of people and things around me) that I'm still moved by such moments... moments like a floating Sando bag. 

It was my "unexpected emotional response" moment.

That's good news, right? Because if I don't get moved that way anymore then, I must say that I'm already doomed to a life of misery, to a half-empty life. Who wants a "Walking Dead" existence?

I was touched. And I liked it. 

And that for me was enough.   

Repost: Marcia Adams' Hidden Tagaytay Gardens

MARCIA ADAMS, along J.P. Rizal, Alfonso (Tagaytay). From the outside, you won’t think that it’s a restaurant, no signage, no security guards. Like Sonya’s you need to call a day before to reserve. But unlike Sonya’s this one doesn’t have any website only reviews from Awesome Planet and margauxlicious and a Facebook account. 

We call the place Marcia Adams because that’s what's written on the menu. 

Amalfi Prawns were really salty.

The slice of lemon helped temper the 

strong salty flavor. At least,

the prawns were fresh.

Greens with Peaches.

They bake their own bread which were really soft,

a bit buttery and served fresh from the oven.

Our group had three orders of the bread.
Tells you that we enjoyed eating it, no?

I ordered for Chicken Kebabs with Couscous.
You need to ask for salt or any seasoning.

It was too bland for my taste but I finished 

the chicken, nonetheless. 

Tita ordered for this one. 

Spanish Chicken Casserole.

It tasted like Chicken Afritada 
(and I would say that its not even good Afritada)
bought from the nearby eatery.

Everything about this menu item was uninspired...

especially the presentation. 

Grilled Aromatic Pork.

The group's unanimous choice as the best

of the three entrees we ordered.

The pork was tender and very flavorful.

Yes, they weren't lying... it was very aromatic
(although plating can still be improved). 

Grilled Orange with Vanilla Ice Cream
topped the three desserts we had in terms
of presentation and taste (sweet & a bit sour).

Panna Cotta with Lemon Sauce.
It was nothing spectacular.
Or maybe I really don't like tangy desserts.

 The Fried Bananas with Dark Chocolate Sauce
looked ordinary but it was surprisingly good.
Kudos to the dark chocolate sauce!

I was introduced to Bundaberg Ginger Beer here
and I loved it! 
But the sugar content of this pseudo-beer 
is impossibly high.  

Married to a British, Mr. Neil Adams.

Marcia Adams prepares the food herself.

Gives you that 'rustic' feel.

One thing about the place is that it is not friendly 

to the physically-challenged... actually 

even to the capable.

Given a chance, am I going back?

If someone's going to drive for me all the way to Tagaytay

and if he's picking up the tab,
why not?