LANCE ARMSTRONG & OPRAH: The Worldwide Exclusive!

Discovery Channel & TLC

Oprah Winfrey will speak exclusively with Lance Armstrong in his first no-holds-barred interview, "Oprah Winfrey and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive!"  Armstrong will address the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his storied cycling career.  

In the interview, Oprah talks with Armstrong at his home in Austin, Texas in the only interview since the seven-time Tour of France Winner was stripped of his titles and dropped from millions of dollars of endorsement deals after the US Anti-Doping released an extensive report accusing the renowned cyclist of doping throughout his career. Armstrong was given a lifetime ban on competing professionally. 

Don't miss this special 90-minute episode  of  

"Oprah's Next Chapter"

on Discovery Channel and TLC!

Cooking Spatchcock with 80 Garlic Cloves!

Let's Cook My Way @ Urdaneta Village

"A spatchcock, (also known as 'spattlecock', 'butterfly') is poultry or game that has been prepared for roasting or grilling by removing the backbone and sternum of the bird and flattening it out before cooking... The term 'spatchcock' is used when the backbone is removed..." Wiki  

I say that this dish is one of the best (in my book, THE best) Tita Nelia (Let's Cook My Way) has taught her students. The rich chicken flavor was enhanced with generous amount of oregano, marjoram, thyme, tarragon (not to mention, salt and pepper) olive oil and of course,  garlic... all 80 (roasted and fried) cloves of it before searing and baking for about one hour. 

We were feasting on the Roast Garlic Spatchcock with toast and butter while bathing in the smell of roast spatchcock wafting from the kitchen! I tell you... the house never smelled this good!

Please watch the short video. You can actually hear and smell the spatchcock sizzling! Enjoy!

Rediscovering Mary Grace Desserts!

Mary Grace @ Greenbelt 3

For once... I didn't have my usual brownie squares nor a chocolate cake slice with black coffee. I let my good friends (former co-teachers) order dessert and I, well, just eat from their plates. Not bad. As usual, I ended up finishing everything.

The best of the three.

We wanted a more 
tart Cheesecake. 

I liked this except for the fresh mangoes strips,

way too ripe!

Rediscovering Mary Grace Sandwiches & Pasta!

Mary Grace @ Greenbelt 3

Honestly, I don't think of Mary Grace when I'm hungry. I mean, I go to Mary Grace only to have their Brownies and Chocolate Cake with black coffee after a full meal (in another restaurant). But when former co-teachers (Angie & Amy) planned to have a get together, I suggested Mary Grace at G3 which was the first restaurant that came to mind. They agreed immediately. It was my chance to 'rediscover' their sandwiches and pasta. 

Anyway, how was the food (umikot ang plates namin)? The Grilled Vegetables on Foccacia, I liked the best and the Vigan Longganisa, the least. 

Spanish Sardines and Olives Pasta P212
Vigan Longganisa and Kesong Puti P215
Grilled Vegetables on Foccacia P176

Spanish Sardines, aglio e oilo (garlic & olive oil),

tomatoes and mushroom

Pan de Sal with Vigan Longganisa bits 

topped with grilled kesong puti 

garnished with tomatoes

Grilled Foccacia (Italian Herb Bread) with

grilled zucchini, eggplant and 

oyster mushroom marinated in 

balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Usapang Fried Chicken #17: KANGAROO JACK!

Kangaroo Jack @ Araneta Coliseum

It was my first time to eat at Kangaroo Jack (after the America Concert). I was never interested in trying this place maybe because I always see their SM North Edsa branch na laging puno! Waiting for a seat never appealed to me. Secondly, well... I have this impression that it's one of those international franchises like Chilis, Friday's, Burgoo that serve gigantic servings of generic-tasting, American fried food in big platters drowned in a sea of very oily thick-cut fries.

Well, I was wrong. Kangaroo Jack is so local. Maybe, they're marketing this fast-casual dining restaurant as Australian what with the Kangaroo element in the logo. I don't know. All I know is that before they position their brand, they need to exert more effort in addressing the most basic. Try cleaning. That night, the place was beyond filthy. The dining area can actually double as their rest room. I kid you not. And the service? It's better that I don't go there. Readers might think I'm doing a demolition job in favor of the other (cleaner?) fast-casual places (with better trained staff?). 

The food (yes, their fried chicken). The menu promises: "leg quarter homestyle fried chicken marinated in KJ special sauce. Served with Java rice, steamed veggies and corn on a cob."  Now, look at the photos. Closer. 

THAT is Java rice? And where in heaven is the corn on a cob? I see corn kernels. But do you ACTUALLY see ANY corn on a cob? 

The chicken was sweet (the menu claim that the chicken's "marinated in a special sauce") the gravy, runny. It's not breaded, good thing that the meat did not dry out. Hindi siya mukhang fried chicken. Mukha siyang (my favorite) Aristocrat Chicken Barbeque.  

KJ Fried Chicken P150

Ryzza Mae and Her New Toy!

She arrived at Broadway Centrum little after lunch

all smiles and waiving 

to the delight of the waiting fans kasunod ang 

kanyang new toy! 

Buti na lang,  mahusay at competent ang EB security

that they can handle the crazy crowd na hustong makalapit 

sa ating Little Miss na talagang very accommodating naman 

lalo sa mga gustong humalik at magpa-picture! 

As she entered the recording room, tuloy

ang paglaro sa kanyang new toy!

She's spoiled by everyone especially

the EB staff including Boy Katawan! 

And Ryzza Mae would like to remind everyone 

that on Saturday, January 12, dadalawin tayo 

sa Broadway Studio ng isa sa mga sikat na sikat na

Eat Bulaga Indonesia hosts
na may dalang magandang balita!

Watch out for it! 

Man v. Food: Monster Burger!

Travel Channel

I've always been fascinated by food shows from the really weird (Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Food), the really normal (Barefoot Contessa) to the really lovable (Great Depression Cooking with Clara). And of course, there's Adam Richman (Man v. Food, Man v. Food Nation) who's fixated on the biggest and the most number of whatever. 

I saw this monster burger episode... And it just blew me away: 26 inch-diameter pattie, 10 lbs of assorted cheeses, 4 lbs of bacon, 20 lbs burger bun. 

Sshhh... Ryzza Mae Sleeping?

Sshhh...

Quiet. 

The Little Miss is sleeping.

Mahimbing na mahimbing 

na natutulog sa recording room ng 

Broadway Studio...

Ano kaya yung hawak-hawak 

ni Ryzza Mae?

Hahahaha! 

Actually, gising na gising ang ating 

Cha-Cha Princess when we arrived. 
She was busy playing with her video thing.

Then, I thought of asking her to pretend 

na parang natutulog siya.

Bigla-bigla, she closed her eyes and slept!  

Pro na Pro!   

Ito ang video which I got 

bago siya nagtulug-tulugan!

Here, she gave her big, patented smile!

The Ryzza Mae Smile!

Global Port's Jason Deutchman on TV5 UP LATE!

UP LATE @ Broadway Centrum

The Global Port has been touring television shows lately. Before appearing in  UP LATE hosted by Mr. Fu, Direk Joey Reyes, Lucy Torres, Global Port's popular basketball hunk Jason Deutchman guested with the other players, AJ Mandani, Josh Vanladingham and Alex Crisano at Cristy Fermin's Cristy Fer Minute. 

The good-looking and very tall (6'5'') player talked about his life in the United States and his new life adjusting in the Philippines. The hosts, obviously smitten by the cager's shyness, had fun bantering with him. We will see more of Global Port in 2013 on the hardcourt and they are also scheduled to appear in different television shows within the first half year. 

UP LATE airs every night over TV5.  

Christmas Breakfast at Bizu!

Bizu Patisserie @ The Promenade, Greenhills

Like with my Tita Nelia who loves having breakfast at Bizu, my BFF also adores eating here. This is the second time that we had our Christmas breakfast at the Promenade branch. As usual, it was pig-out session again. It wasn't a great morning meal but the talk we had, as usual, more than compensated for the not-so-good steak we ordered. How bad was it? For the price... really bad. It wasn't the tender steak (she's a big steak eater!) we wanted and expected. We shared a medium well steak which was not leathery, to be fair, but hopelessly fatty. Worse, it was bland. Not the salt-and-pepper kind of bland but beef bland. Zero beef flavor. In short, it wasn't good beef. Allow me to be redundant to stress my point. It was bad beef. 

Good thing, I had my fluffy Classic Pancake which I drowned with maple syrup and butter. Perfect with black coffee. Well, like what I said, the food comes second only to meaningful talks between two old friends. Oh, did I mention that meaningful bitching is a big part of our meaningful talks? Merry Christmas, BFF.