Ang Kaladkarin

Does H Cuisine really have Awesome food?

2012-02-13T17:08:00.003+08:00

When a restaurant claims to serve “awesome food”, it officially gets me intrigued. H Cuisine has been in my radar for some time but this was the first time I attempted to try the place out. I was surprised to see that it was a quaint restaurant, for some odd reason I thought it would be bigger. Service wasn’t H Cuisine’s best attribute; thank god the food was waaaay better.

Asian Chicken Salad (P178)
Crisp wanton rice noodles, lettuce, fruit, chicken, capsicum, soy-orange vinaigrette.
I don’t normally like asian (inside joke! Mwahahahaha right Berenice?!) salads but this one I took a liking too. The orange vinaigrette did not over power the dish and all of the elements worked well together.

Breaded Chicken Parmesan Rolls (P188 – single, P288 – for sharing)
Chicken fillet with garlic mayo dip and h-rice.
The H-Rice was the star of this plate. I would have downed that rice without anything else. It reminded me of hainanese rice but with a stronger sauce. The cheese coated the chicken pretty well but without the coating, the chicken tasted a tad bland. I also found the mayo dip too strong.

Most Awesome Angus Beef Belly (P288 – single, P428 – for sharing)
Slow-roasted, fork-tender with demi-glace gravy.
Ah, lo and behold the reason why I wanted to try the restaurant – the supposed awesome angus beef belly. I am happy to report that the dish absolutely lives up to its name. The pork was so soft it could melt in your mouth. It was so delicious I could feel it go straight to my thighs. Haha

Combine the Most Awesome Angus Beef Belly with the H-Rice and you have the best meal ever from H Cuisine! Seriously! I would like another chance to go back to H Cuisine to try the other dishes; I just hope they’re as awesome as the beef belly.

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H Cuisine Casual Dining Restaurant
64 Rallos St. cor. Tomas Morato, Quezon City
02-4130347; 0917-5908000

Fluff List: Kitchen 5

2012-02-13T00:02:00.001+08:00

I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day but I saw some items that would go with the day so here yah go.

Clockwise from the top:
Heart Tea Infuser $10.95
Heart Bamboo Spoon $8.00
Stir in Some Love Whisk $11.99
Dip-Hop Hit Fondue Set $49.99

Prado Farms Photo Walk for December 2011

2012-02-10T09:26:00.005+08:00

Can you say overdue post much? Haha

This December photo walk was rather special; it was my out of town trip with a “balikbayan” (well she tries to go home every 2 years haha) cousin and friend Kimie. Our group originally consisted of college friends Owee, Kimie, Pabsy and me. That almost doubled because of our foreign contingency. Haha To make a long story short, Kimie brought her sister Katrise and their Chilean friend Sofia while Pabsy brought her Mexican intern Roxy with us on this trip. Pardon my giddiness, I find our United Nation-ness rather awesome.

We were supposed to go to the beach but plans fell through. We ended up heading to Lubao in Pampanga to spend a day in Prado Farms. We wanted to do something different for a change.

Before the Gutierrez’s - the family behind Silverworks and Ocampo’s Jewelry, acquired the property, it was an LPG warehouse. The property transformed from being a warehouse to the family’s private vacation house. It was further worked on and eventually became open to the public. Prado Farm’s architecture is based mainly on recycling which you will see prominently in the farm.

The Theater Library

Prado Farms also supports the Waldorf system of education and the students have their activities here. This also happens to be an old Train Station.

Besides recycling a lot of materials, the family also likes to travel. These steps came from China.

The Blue House

This is made of recycled newspaper.

The Library

The Tree House

The Chapel

The farm has its own chapel and is ideal for small weddings.

The Hotel

For people who would like to spend more than a day in the property, Prado Farms recently added a hotel. They have different types of rooms and lofts that can accommodate you, a couple and even the whole family. The hotel also houses the massage area.

The Farm

Everything you eat at the farm is made at the farm. It’s a good thing we didn’t have lechon during our visit because we met the organically fed pigs that were just adorable! They were the thinnest pigs I’ve ever seen.

Siesta!

Lo and behold, we had the surprise of our lives when we heard that the siesta was part of the tour’s itinerary. Can you remember the last time you had your siesta? Haha Some of us spent that time sleeping while the rest of us spent it having tea and catching up.

The Food

Y’all know I’m a carnivore but you don’t have to worry because Prado isn’t a purely vegetarian farm. Upon arriving, we were served our morning snack which consisted of hot chocolate with pinipig plus pandesal with homemade kesong puti and longganisa. Who wouldn’t want to start the morning like that?

For lunch, we had cream of vegetable soup topped with chives, mixed fritters of samosa, alugbati leaf tempura and spring roll accompanied with sweet chilli sauce, sautéed Backyard Greens in season topped with Bataan Cashews, multi-colored Biodynamic/organic rice slightly fried with a hint of garlic and chives, a chicken and pork dish. Our foreign friends particularly loved the unlimited lemongrass tea that came with our lunch. You have to go to the Prado with an open mind, because if you expect the usual buffet food then you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Our last meal at the farm was our afternoon snack after the tour. From Prado’s site, this is what we ate: “Sa-Le a local “tinola” of Duck soup simmered in Lemon grass. The Prado version is accompanied by fresh picked garden fresh herbs, sotanghon, topped with a sprinkling of crushed chicharon and a dollop of taba ng talangka.”

I don’t remember what this was called but we ended up taking a lot of photos here. Haha

We paid P950 per person for the whole tour including the meals. Prado Farms is not open to the public. They have pre-determined dates as to when tours are available so it’s best to email them. Since this is also a social enterprise, a lot of their staff are locals and students.

I think Prado Farms is not for everybody. If you have a deep appreciation for Mother Nature or have an intrinsic need to take your time to slow down and inhale this type of ambiance – you’ll enjoy the farm. It also is a good place to take the family, unwind and slightly unplug from technology. We enjoyed our slow carabao ride, our bike rides and saw a lot of kids loving fishing. It is also a good place for artists; if I were a writer or a painter, I could imagine myself finding inspiration here.

If you’re looking for an escape from the city and like tranquility, give Prado Farms a try. This entry rounds up my year of photo walks! It was a goal I wanted to do in 2011 and I’m glad I was able to do it. I loved it so much, I’m continuing with it for 2012.

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Prado Farms
Prado Farms, Prado Siongco Lubao Pampanga
pradofarms@gmail.com
0920-9030964

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Past Photo Walks:

January - Quiapo and Makati

February - Negros Occidental

March - Zamboanga

April - Corregidor

May - Bellarocca

June - Cirque du Soleil's Varekai and White MoonBar

July - Venice Piazza Food Adventure

August - Manila
September - Little Tokyo
October - Tagaytay
November - Banoi's and Backyard of the Universe Exhibit

Lovely Items from the Correctional Institution for Women’s Livelihood Project

2012-02-08T00:50:00.003+08:00

The first project I got this year was for the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), yes our prisons. The BuCor had an event last January 27 at the New Bilibid Prison to launch its 2022 Road Map and Stakeholders Fellowship and it was attended by the president. The event showcased BuCor’s plan for its 7 facilities all over the country.

I was able to be part of this project because of my boss, Sir Mike Marasigan. The souvenir program for the event was in magazine format so several articles about the facilities were created. Together with Owee, we were assigned to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong. It was my first time inside and I came out with such an overwhelming and amazing experience. All the horrible visuals I’ve seen on television and film were nowhere in sight. Despite the many problems that the CIW face like congestion, the facility was a place of pleasantry. The inmates and guards have a good relationship. The CIW is really a place of rehabilitation and not punishment. We heard a lot of stories of inmates who successfully go through the process and are ready to be immersed back into society.

As I mentioned, it was such an overwhelming experience. I don’t want to write a novel here but I would like to share something with you guys. One of the things that excited me in the CIW was their livelihood program which allows the inmates to add to their skill sets as well as generate income while inside. The women are exposed to poultry and livestock farming, bead making, sewing, candle making and much more. I just seriously loved the things I saw inside. Ask my family and friends, I’ve been talking about these items all month long.

these pouches are made from the film inside computers they say

pillowcases made from scrap cloth (P35 each)

knit pouches

bookmarker

various paper products

I was so happy seeing the products that Owee and I started styling the items.

Keychains (P15-20); Coin Purses (P25-50); Cellphone Holder (P65)

Bags (P500-1,000)

This bag made of beads was in the middle of production when we saw it. Doesn’t it look like a mosaic? You can really see their creativity and hard work in their merchandise.

It’s very obvious that I’m most passionate about the beaded items. I really fell for the Philippine Flag designed items. Do you have a themed party any time soon? I’m sure they have a beaded item that you can give as a prize or giveaway to your guests.

This is my favorite photo from the livelihood project “shoot” Isn’t it inspiring? You don’t have to wait until June to buy nationalistic items. Cmon, get your hands on one of these. Customers can visit the facility from Mondays to Saturdays to see more of the inmates’ creations.

You like what you see? Help me help them! I really want to share the love about their products so that more people will buy! It’s just that simple. You can also donate materials that the CIW can use for their products. This was an unforgettable and enriching work shoot that I will never forget. Thank you universe for allowing me to have this. =)

For interested buyers, do get in touch with Ms. Jennifer Llanes or Elsa Martorillos at 02-5321726 or 02-5339986.

* Photos by Owee Salva.

Fluff List: Techie 4

2012-02-06T00:02:00.005+08:00

From the top:

Photorito Lens Wrap $20

Touch Pencil Stylus $11.99

Audiobot Speaker $16.00

Wooden USB Stick 4Gb $74

* I wanted to change things up a bit and played with this layout. Let's see how long I'll use this. Haha

Get a copy of the February 2012 issue of Food Magazine

2012-02-05T18:38:00.002+08:00

Wanna sink your teeth in some chocolate but you know you can’t because you’re on a diet? This month’s issue of Food Magazine shows you what to buy without gaining any calories!

The calories are actually gained during the shoot! What happens during a Food shoot? You stuff yourself silly with good food, aaaahhhh!!!

Class picture, my babies! Don’t forget to grab a copy otay?

Back at Sweet Bella

2012-02-02T06:11:00.005+08:00

During my first visit to Sweet Bella, I was only able to try their (pricey but delicious) desserts. A late lunch with the girls secured my 2nd visit to the restaurant. I was surprised that they had actual food (ok desserts are “real” perse but you know what I mean) because upon entering the first floor, you’d be welcome by the luscious sweets.

Garden Mix Chicken Salad (P350)
romaine, mesclum, Chicken, caramelized walnuts, cherry tomatoes, grapes, feta cheese & gruyere, parmesan with grape vinaigrette
This was the first dish that arrived and when we saw it, we had the saw reaction – “Isaw!”. Mwahahahahaha You had a choice between the grape vinaigrette and honey mustard for the salad and I’m glad we chose the grape vinaigrette. Everything meshed wonderfully in this dish. It was a light and perfect start to the meal.

Rustica (P395)
Italian sausage, Hungarian, Pepperoni, Frankfurter, mozzarella, parmesan
This heavily meaty pizza wasn’t what I expected at all. I thought everything would be piled on for each slice but was surprised to see that some slices had Hungarian, some had pepperoni only and so on and so forth. It was a heck of a cheesy pizza but I’ve had better.

Farfalle Aglio Olio en Pesto with Chicken (P295)
Garlic, olive oil, sun dried totamo, hint of pesto
I’m a big fan of pesto and this farfalle did not disappoint. The pasta dripped with scrumptious flavor and it surprised me since I’m used to pasta dripping with flavor thanks to the sauce. The Farfalle Aglio Olio performed excellently.

USDA Beef Salpicao with Steak Rice (P450)
The carnivore in me approves of this dish. The salpicao soaked in lovely garlic and I enjoyed it. The garlic rice that came with the dish was the real deal, not the cop out white rice with garlic chips on top. I could eat the garlic rice on its own without any viand – that’s how delectable it is.

We stayed on the second floor of the restaurant which made for good conversations. However, there was only 1 server assigned to our section. We visited Sweet Bella and they seemed undermanned which meant that our server wouldn’t be in our area from time to time. It became a bit frustrating trying to get service but it was because of the situation and not the performance of the server.

Though Sweet Bella is famous for its desserts, I would gladly go back for their “real food”. Oh, if this post is getting you hungry I’ve got great news for you! Get your hands on the Sweet Bella 50% off coupon at Ensogo.

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Sweet Bella Cafe
Burgos Circle, Rizal Drive, Global City, Taguig

I don’t think Bantayan Island loves me very much

2012-01-31T06:28:00.004+08:00

Dear Bantayan Island,

When we first met in 2009, that meeting was short, rainy and uneventful. I’ve seen how gorgeous you are and was disappointed when I didn’t witness that.

(not my photo...I didn't see this during my visit)

A seemingly good opportunity arrived and I seized it. During the short plane ride to Cebu, the weather looked very promising. I set foot on you once again wishing to finally see the awesomeness I’ve seen in photos but was sorely thwarted; the rain joined our reunion once again.

Needless to say my heart broke a bit because of this. My uninspired self hardly took any photos and spent most of my time sleeping. Our 3 day vacation with you was made worth it because of several factors.

Despite the gloomy weather, we had a magnificent time snorkeling during our island hopping tour. Even with the overcast, the beautiful colors of the ocean stood out.

The staff at Beach Placid were very accommodating, it may not have the professionalism you’d expect from a 5 star hotel but they were welcoming and in true Filipino fashion – hospitable. Also, this resort had a longer shoreline than Kota Beach Resort, where we stayed at in 2009, which I absolutely adored.

Any trip with good friends is always a great trip. Plus, the Lakwatseras helped so much!

So there Bantayan, I left you with a heavy heart. We rode the slippery slide bus ride back to Cebu City and on our last day in the South had an awesome dinner – hello Zubuchon! (Where my camera died. Haha Fitting.)

Will I ever catch a glimpse of your blue waters, white sand and long shoreline on a sunny day? Maybe not any time soon since I’m still hurt; anyone willing to sponsor a trip for me and my friends? I would gladly accept it. Haha

Til we meet again (hopefully) without the rain joining us,
Rica

* Additional photos from Berenice Ong, Kim Ignacio and Mj Maranion.

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Beach Placid Resort
+63917-7222993

Fluff List: Furniture 3

2012-01-30T00:02:00.004+08:00

1. Rockwell Metal Chest of Drawers P61,351
This might seem odd but it reminds me of the cabinet that holds all the library cards. The roughed up and used feel of the drawers is just awesome.
2. Adirondack Waterski Chair and Ottoman $500.00
It’s bloody ingenious.
3. Calandria Armchair, Longshore $1,598
This beautiful chair would make for a great addition to any house! Can you imagine yourself comfortably settled in while you buy baltimore ravens tickets, home depot center tickets or camden yards tickets?
4. Vintage Chalkboard Organizer P6,565
I do realize I'm too old to have this in my room. It would make for a nice addition to my future kitchen instead! Haha

Milky & Sunny and Cab at Kapitolyo

2012-01-26T03:50:00.001+08:00

I remember eating at Wild Honey Singapore wishing there would be a breakfast place in Manila that was near my hood. Lo and behold a month after, Milky & Sunny opened its doors in Kapitolyo. Both restaurants boost of having a menu that consists of breakfast items but the similarities end there.

Milky & Sunny is a cozy all day breakfast nook in the foodie haven neighborhood in Kapitolyo, Pasig. It does not have the same sophistication as Wild Honey but I still wanted to try it out. As I said previously, I love breakfast food but am hardly awake to have it. They have an extensive menu of familiar breakfast food and some surprises thrown in.

BLT (Bacon Leek and Tomato) Soup (P80)

I expected this to be tomato based so I was surprised to see that the soup was white. The BLT Soup was loaded with a lot of onions and had an overpowering taste of leeks. It was rather thin and went down your throat smoothly.

Bacon Tostadas (P100)
I wanted this to taste the bomb, but sadly it didn’t. The tomato sauce used in this dish was rather sweet, Filipino sweet, which wasn’t exactly my favorite. When I took a bite of the first tostado, I did not taste the bacon at all. However when I had my second tostada, it was only then when the bacon was apparent. Oh, this little sucker is messy to eat with a capital M.

Bacon and Spam Pasta (P180)
Yes, you read it right – this was our third bacon dish for the day. Teehee You could really taste the spam in the white sauce but the bacon only seemed like a topping. The good news is the sauce isn’t that rich so it’s not overpowering.

Overall, we didn’t love our meal at Milky & Sunny. Like Subspace, this was another case of interior design and ambiance trumping the food. However, I don’t mind giving Milky & Sunny a second chance in order to sample the other things on their menu.

Oh, right next door to Milky & Sunny is Moonleaf. It was my first time to try this brand so I didn’t have expectations. The Tiramisu Milk Tea (P75 – on the right) was sweet and you could really taste the tea. The Peppermint Milk Tea (P75 – on the left) lost the tea taste but the Peppermint sure made its presence felt.

We went around Kapitolyo and headed to Cab Café for dessert. Cab Café is from the same family that brought us legendary Bob’s in Bacolod. We only had enough space to devour the Pavlova and the Sansrival. I will keep this short, they were excellent and I plan to go back.

There is so much more of Kapitolyo that my tummy will explore and so should you.

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Milky & Sunny
9 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo in Pasig City

Cab Café
18 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Kung Hei Fat Choi

2012-01-24T01:27:00.000+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone! The photo above of a dragon key chain was taken by my friend Owee when we worked on a story together. The keychain is one of the products of the livelihood project of the Correctional Institution for Women here in the Philippines. I’ll be posting an entry about that in the future because I really was touched during my visit there for the project.

Fluff List: Travel 2

2012-01-23T00:02:00.004+08:00

1. The Lens Cap Strap Holder $18
2. Mighty Tags (Passport) P280
3. Scratch Off World Map $34
4. Passport Cover & I.D. Tag in Mosaic design $48

It's time to learn to surf!

2012-01-21T03:05:00.003+08:00

I met Elaine years ago when she participated in a uhm…let’s call it a segment for the TV show I was part of. She also happens to be a good friend of another friend. I’m happy to share that Elaine is taking her passion for surfing to another level by setting up Surfista Travel Philippines!

Elaine aims to create different surf tours around the country to promote the sport. For its premiere trip, Surfista Travel is organizing a weekend of sun, sand and waves in La Union on February 11 and 12. You get schooled by the Billabong San Juan Surf School and stay at the legendary San Juan Surf Resort. Your weekend will include:
- Roundtrip Private Transfers: Manila to La Union, La Union to Manila
- Private Instruction and 3 LESSONS with Billabong Surf School (1 hour/lesson)
- Surfing Equipment Rental - surfboard & legrope
- Rashguard Rental
- Overnight Accommodation at the beachfront San Juan Surf Resort (airconditioned rooms)
- Toll & gas fees
- Breakfast at the San Juan Surf Resort Restaurant *
- Transportation within San Juan to try different local restaurants (unless participants would like to experience riding the jeepneys!)
- Surfista Travels T-shirt by Agos Pilipinas
- Certificate of Attendance
- Products from our sponsors - Lightwater, Vitaminboost, etc.
- Internet access and 24-hour security

There are 10 slots available so grab a spot now by emailing surfistatravels@yahoo.com or call 0917-9284583. Surf trip fee: P 4,500

*Meals are not included since our clients have different tastes & meal preferences. We will have the option of going to different restaurants and trying different kinds of food during the weekend.

What are you waiting for? Reserve your slot now!

* Photos from Surfista Travel Philippines.

More Food Thoughts from 2011

2012-01-19T02:52:00.001+08:00

I didn’t have any plans of posting a year end blog. I did however look back on foodie adventures and realized that for great and terrible reasons, there were restaurants I didn’t blog about. I still wanted to give my short and sweet 2 cents about them so here goes.

Bistro Vignette

Have you been to Pages Deli in Shangi-la Mall? If you haven’t you should go! It’s a small deli with insanely scrumptious food. So when Vignette opened in my neighborhood I was extremely excited because it came from the same people behind Pages Deli. Vignette’s prices are more affordable than Pages but the food was also less fabulous than Pages. I wanted Vignette to be extraordinary but sadly it was unremarkable.

Chimara

You all know that I am a carnivore. I was the one who insisted to my friends that we try out Chimara because of their reputation for great tasting healthy food. Their presentation was impeccable but we were all disappointed when we started our meal. My meatless taco salad was way too sweet and the flavor profiles of the other dishes we tried did not register well with us. Perhaps next time, we should order something more familiar.

Draft Gastropub

Draft occupies the space of former Cafeteria in the Fort. It’s known for its extensive selection of beers and a menu that compliments it. I found the menu a bit pricey, food relatively good and the service absolutely horrible. It took forever for our dishes to get to our table. We ordered our dessert and after 25 minutes it was nowhere in sight. We asked for our bill and the dessert we never saw or ate was in our bill. We asked for it to be removed and the server said they couldn’t because it was on its way out. Fine. 5-10 minutes have passed and we still didn’t get it. It eventually arrived with no apologies from our server. We informed the manager about the situation and again he didn’t offer any apology. Even with good food and friends, I won’t be egging my friends to come back here. I went back a second time with my cousins (not my pick) and the service was a tad faster.

2nds

With its relaxing and sophisticated interiors, I’m happy to report that 2nds in the Fort serves exceptional food to match. For my Mom’s birthday, we ordered 6 dishes to celebrate. Everything we ordered had a distinct taste and everyone in our table had his/her own favorite. This is another case of me enjoying the meal too much to want to blog about it. Be warned though; expect to shell out some moolah if you dine here.

Naci Comfort Food & Dessert Bar

I needed a kid friendly dinner place that had a nice ambiance and fantastic food for my barkada’s Christmas tradition. We visited Naci Comfort Food & Dessert Bar in Greenhills to try out a new place. I was very happy with the dishes we ordered and their presentation. I was too full to try their famous desserts so I swore to come back for more.

B&T Mexican Kitchen

I feel about B & T the same way as how I feel about Tootsie’s – it’s one of my faves so I prefer eating and enjoying than taking notes of my thoughts. Haha Whenever I have a massive Mexican craving, I head to B & T Mexican Kitchen. Their prices may look hefty but it’s simply because their servings are generous and they use quality ingredients. The owner remembers me as a regular at “the other Mexican restaurant” and was glad we found our way to B & T.

* Additional photos from Rissa Cortez and Tin Samson.

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Bistro Vignette
Ruby Road, Ortigas Park, Ortigas Center, Pasig 1605
02-4702665

Chimara
4th Floor Greenbelt 3, Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St., Ayala Center, Makati City

Draft Gastropub
Unit C, The Fort Entertainment Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
02-8469725

2nd's
2nd Floor, Wumaco Building 1, Quadrant 3, 9th Ave, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig
02-8465293

Naci Comfort Food & Dessert Bar
2/F Fox Square Bldg. Connecticut St. Greenhills, San Juan City
02-7267266

B&T Mexican Kitchen
368 Sekai Center, Ortigas corner Madison street, Greenhills, San Juan City
0917-8126218; 02-9751850

Singapore Shopping Spot: Hershey’s Store

2012-01-17T01:19:00.003+08:00

“So Rica, where did you spend your money the most in Singapore?”
Uhm. At Hershey’s!

How can you not go wild here??? The Hershey’s space was smaller than Candylicious but we seriously spent more time here. It even came to a point wherein I forgot Pasto and left him on a shelf! Bad owner.

We were all over the place checking out everything. I am a huuuuuuge Reese’s lover. I inspected all of the Resse’s variants and brought home a lot.

We shamelessly posed with all the available merchandise that we found adorable!

Oh so much to see, buy and eat!

Our haul, no judgment. Haha

I end my Singapore 2011 on a chocolatey note. I hope y’all enjoyed all of the posts! As long as my cousin Nix is in the Lion City, it will always have a special place in my heart.

* Additional photos from Rissa Cortez.

The rest of my Singapore 2011 posts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, and Part 12.

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Hershey’s Resorts World Sentosa
Sentosa Gateway #01-075/076/077, Singapore 098138
(65) 68846733

Hershey’s Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5 #01-32 Tampines Mall, Singapore 529510
(65) 67867233

Fluff List: House 4

2012-01-16T00:02:00.000+08:00

1. Glo-Boy Solar Night Light $29.99
2. Life is A Party Neon Light P16,000
3. Crosley Pay Phone $90
4. Some-pin to Hang Onto Wall Hook $54.99

Singapore Shopping Spot: Candylicious

2012-01-12T12:23:00.007+08:00

Right outside Universal Studios, you’ll get to encounter two more of my happy places: Candylicious and the Hershey’s Store!

Candylicious is a Singaporean store that sells a variety of candy, chocolates, apparel and every candy related item imaginable. My SG girl Nix happens to work for the company that owns Candylicious and graciously extended some of her uhm perks to us. Ssssshhhh...

We spent at least an hour here! Why??? We were like 8 year olds again let loose in our favorite place in the world! Check it out below and you’ll understand why! (warning, photo heavy!)

Candylicious merchandise and some home items.

Jelly Bean addict? Attack!!!!

Candy, candy and more candies!!!! Waaaahhhh!!!

You know what these are? Different colored M&Ms!

A particular grandfather would love these! Hehe

Nix gave this to me during her last visit to Manila. Like I need an emergency to eat chocolate! Haha

Would you rather detox or de-chox? Hehe

Nix trying to guzzle down a champagne shaped chocolate – solid!

Candylicious also has its own gelato bar.

Do you now understand my Candylicious is one of my happy places? Sugar overload but we had too much fun just walking around the place marveling at all the possibilities! For the record, we didn’t go wild here. We actually went wild at my next entry, Hershey’s! You’ve been properly warned. =)

The rest of my Singapore 2011 posts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 12 and Part 13.

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Candylicious: Eat Happy
24 Sentosa Gateway, 01-225-230, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore 098138

391B Orchard Road, B2-25/27 Takashimaya Shopping Cente, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238873

Let’s do our part and help Batad

2012-01-10T07:15:00.003+08:00

Isn’t she beautiful? Admittedly, I haven’t seen her. For the past couple of years, i had plans of heading North but they always don’t push through. Anyhot, Richard frequents that part of the North and has taken on a new project to help Batad.

Let’s help Batad rebuild! For more information, you can also visit the Batad Project Facebook page. Please spread the word about this project because they need more help!

* Photos from Richard Yulo.

Fluff List: Kitchen 4

2012-01-09T00:02:00.000+08:00

1. Touchdown Chip & Dip Set $29.95
2. Graffiti Spray Paint Cocktail Shaker $19.99
3. Mustache Baking Mold $16.00
4. Brain Freeze Ice Cube Tray P100

Singapore Shopping Spot: USS’ the Dark Room

2012-01-05T21:59:00.006+08:00

For every section of Universal Studios, you’ll find a souvenir shop that matches that section. I completely and utterly fell in love with Hollywood’s the Dark Room! I’ve already mentioned the spot in my heart for production so this store was heaven.

I wanted to buy so much from this store but I was neither a director nor an actress; I was a producer! If they had “Producer” merchandise ay kaloka! You would have had to drag me out. So perhaps it was a blessing?

Oscar anyone?

There is so much to obsess over!

Action pouches, laptop sleeve and bag. My gosh…I’m so tempted to get one! Ahk. I’m sorta regretting not getting the bag.

Honorable Mention: shot glass from Madagascar

My Mom collects shot glasses and if I may say so, this is quite a unique addition to the collection.

Honorable Mention: This “thing” from Far Far Away (S$12.99)
For the purpose of this entry, let’s call it a bottle. Haha I don’t know what exactly it’s called but we saw this bottle early on during our visit. When we did our rounds of all the sections of USS, we went back to Far Far Away because we couldn’t imagine ourselves leaving the park without it. It’s just an endearing bottle that comes with a lanyard so you can troll along with it, hands free. The adult in me spoke; it actually makes for an awesome drinking bottle! Pour in the juice, the alcohol, shake vigorously and you have yourself a perfect mix of juice for adults.

Idiot little me, I was too concerned with the prices to buy anything! Granted they are quite expensive but it was my birthday! I should have gotten something special beside the bottle from Far Far Away.

* Additional photos from Rissa Cortez.

The rest of my Singapore 2011 posts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 12 and Part 13.

My Singapore Shopping Haul: Little India, Chinatown and Bugis Street

2012-01-04T14:24:00.005+08:00

* Disclaimer, I'm being an irresponsible blogger because this post still lacks some photos. Eeeeepp....Please bear with me lovelies! =) Real world work + balikbayans in town have been keeping me busy. Thankie! =)

Since my eyes were set on the F1 race during my first Singapore trip, would you believe I just bought pasalubongs and didn’t buy anything for myself in Little India or Bugis? I was dumbfounded; I did not understand how I could let this happen! Haha

Chinatown

Chinatown is known for 3 things: food, architecture and shopping. I didn’t buy much here but got engrossed in the architecture instead. My pasalubong list was rather short so I was only able to score a few things here.

Different little knick knacks (1 for S$2 - approximately P68, 3 for S$5 - approximately P170)

Tourist tee (S$10 – approximately P340)
My Dad is the easiest person in the family to buy a pasalubong for because he loves destination t-shirts. I try my best to find the coolest ones when on vacation.

Little India

Little India is a treat for all of your senses. I enjoyed the colorful streets and wares on display in the area. It is also a treasure trove for spices.

Fine Mixture Spicy and Muruku (1 for S$4 - approximately P136, 3 for S$10 - approximately P340)
These 2 are spicy Indian snacks whose herbs and flavors instantly explode in your mouth. I remember loving the Muruku and planned to hoard to bring back home. I was surprised that when I was munching on these in Manila, my love shifted to the Fine Mixture instead. The delicate strips of this snack was perfect for popping in your mouth and proved to be a good addition to meals as well. My Dad would add the Fine Mixture to noodle dishes and soups adding a crunchy texture to the dishes.

3 bundles of bangles (S$10 approximately P340)
In 2009, I bought bangles for some of my friends and I regretted not buying for myself. My love for blue reigns and is evident in my picks.

Bugis Street

I liken Bugis Street to our very own Greenhills. It’s a shopper’s haven filled with local designers and affordable items from shoes, clothes, bags and even sex toys. Haha The prices aren’t as cheap as Bangkok though but Bugis is one of the cheaper shopping places in Singapore.

Watches (S$5 – approximately P170)
We have P100 and P150 watches being sold in Divisoria and Greenhills here in Manila and I used to buy at least 1 watch whenever I went to these places. Apparently, I haven’t out grown this since I bought a couple in Bugis. Paola came home with a couple of nice watches and those designs were exactly what I got. We cousins have the same taste. Haha

Belts (3 for S$10 – approximately P340)
The stall where I got this from had so many different types of belts in various colors. My skinny belts are just brown and black and I wanted to expand that collection. Luckily, I was able to find these beautifully hued belts that in coincidentally UAAP colors – my Animo Lasalle green belt and my fave color in Ateneo blue.

Dress (S$10 – approximately P340)
Photo - with my Blonde Fish partner, Owee!

The thing about Bugis is, most of the shops won’t allow you to fit their clothes. Paola was the one who tipped me about the S$10 dresses. She was able to buy a lot but I only got this one. The other dresses were priced higher or the store owner didn’t allow fittings which I didn’t like.

Reversible Sheer Shirt (S$10 – approximately P340)
I saw this reversible shirt and was astonished with the simple concept of the reversal top. I instantly imagined the outfits I could use this top with. Not only that, it would make for a great top for traveling. Though I would still need to check how it fairs against wrinkles.

When it comes to shopping, I was able to find a few pieces in Singapore but if you want to go all out – Bangkok still gets my vote hands down.

* Additional photos from Rissa Cortez, Nix Sionosa and Richard Yulo.

The rest of my Singapore 2011 posts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 11, Part 12 and Part 13.

Fluff List: Random 3

2012-01-02T00:02:00.000+08:00

1. The Butt Station $18.00
2. Floppy Disc Screwdriver
3. Sort-O-Matic Coin Bank $9.99
4. Cosmetic Makeup Organizer $75

GV in 2012

2012-01-01T00:01:00.002+08:00

from: Threadless

May we all ride on the wave of positivity! Give hugs and love this 2012 y'all! May this year (the end? haha) be an awesome one.

Huuuug!

Singapore Shopping Spot: Haji Lane

2011-12-29T01:57:00.005+08:00

Nestled in the Kampong Glam area is a small street bustling with contemporary Singapore culture, step into Haji Lane. My Singapore tipster Paola also insisted that I visit this place since she thought it was something that would interest. Boy was she correct.

This street is lined with different Singaporean brands and retail shops. It has hints of the Philippines’ Cubao Expo. I really like the shops here in Haji Lane as well as in Ansiang. I love how they’ve kept the architecture but was able to personalize the space.

If I were a shop owner, I would love to open my space in an area like this. You really get a feel of Singapore along Haji Lane stripped of the international brands that have saturated the malls.

Do check out the Blogshop. Their store window display was effective; it made me want to enter.

They have bike shops, salons, a tattoo shop, bakery and so much more in Haji Lane.

If you enjoy slow shopping experiences, you’d enjoy visiting the different stores that the lane has to offer. Marvel at the hand crafted bags, beautifully made jewlery and other works of local artists at Haji Lane for a truly unique shopping experience in Singapore.

* Additional photos from Rissa Cortez.

The rest of my Singapore 2011 posts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12 and Part 13.

My Singapore Shopping Haul: Fair Price

2011-12-27T08:09:00.003+08:00

I like going to groceries here at home because I get to discover new things. I like being able to try out all these things which may or may not join my list of favorites. Groceries or even convenient stores abroad raise my level of fascination even higher. On our last full day in Singapore, we headed to Fair Price in Marine Parade to buy supplies for our last home cooked dinner in Singapore and for us tourists to explore.

I bought a couple of old faves I scored from the 2009 trip while adding some new finds to my cart.

Biore Nose Strips

Most of the ones I tried in the past didn’t deliver. I felt like the nose strip didn’t remove much. There are a lot of nose strips available here in the Philippines but the pulling power of Biore made me a believer! I tried it once in SG and was impressed with the results. You could really see the blackheads stick to the nose strip. And no, I have no plans of showing that strip here. Haha

Mi Sedap Instant Noodles

This continues to be my favorite instant noodles from Singapore. It’s spicy with a kick of saltiness in pancit canton-ish consistency. A definite must buy!

Maggi Curry Instant Noodles

As mentioned in the past, my threshold for spicy food is not high. I challenged that part of my palette when I was in Singapore trying to push the limits of my spiciness meter. The hot food we consumed during the trip made me yearn for more thus the curry instant noodle purchase. And daaaaaaym this Maggi curry is red hot spicy but I still liked it. Every spoonful of curry would be followed right away by water.

Dancing Chef Soups: Cream of Tomato, Cream of Chicken and Mushroom, Cream of Vegetable

While we were at Fair Price, this brand was giving free samples and we liked how it tasted. We got all 3 flavors and these soups are a good companion to lunch or dinner dishes.

What’s your favorite grocery find?

* Additional photos from Rissa Cortez.

The rest of my Singapore 2011 posts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12 and Part 13.