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Dubai International Airport (Day 1)

2012-01-31T06:58:00.000+08:00

Dubai International Airport

Spent four hours at the Dubai International Airport before our flight to Rome. Definitely one of those airports you wouldn’t mind spending a few hours waiting.

Duty free shops, coffee shops, and restaurants abound and are open 24 hours. The space was big and clean. It even had an indoor garden to relax the minds of tense travelers.

Flying Emirates (Day 1)

2012-01-30T08:10:00.000+08:00

Four years later I'm back on a long haul flight bound for Europe! We flew with Emirates to Dubai, had a 4 hour lay over there, and then took the flight from Dubai (DXB) to Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) in Rome! All in all it took us around 19 hours to get to our destination. Travelling seems to fit one of those joys in life where in one has to go through hardships first before reaping the rewards. For my back's sake, I'm certainly hoping so! Definitely looking forward to enjoying this trip!

Will we live to see the time come when the other side of the world will only be an hour or even just minutes away from us? It shouldn't be that far away.

Emirates Airlines

Spotted: Holding Ahhhhmmm ...

2012-01-06T23:21:00.000+08:00

When your sweetheart longs to hold your hand when

they are not free, opt for the alternative ....

Holding Legs

... Hold legs (interlock legs) instead! (^0-)v

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:19:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Using my new Kindle Fire and an app called Go Go Kiddo, I was able to make these holdiay greeting cards! It's very simple. All you have to do is drag, drop, and pinch! (^o^)/ (I wonder how Apple officially calls that pinching action to zoom in or zoom out of picture in touch screens.) Now, it's so easy to be creative! More greeting cards after the jump.

Ayala Triangle Christmas Lights

2011-12-21T02:36:00.000+08:00

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! at Ayala Triangle Makati City, Philippines

Someday I'd like to decorate my house just like this for Christmas! I just can't get enough of STARS! Reminds me of my elementary days where in I would eagerly seek STARS from my teachers! hahaha (^o^)/ Watch the video after the jump.

Scandal!

2011-12-20T23:21:00.000+08:00

It was so tempting to name this post "Davao Scandal." That way it can potentially lure traffic for people seeking sex videos or naked photographs. They say it's one of the most profitable ways to earn money online. But then again, I really don't want to do it that way. And it would probably be best to keep those types of readers away from this personal blog.

While this post won't be about a sex scandal in Davao. I would still definitely consider it a scandal that happened in December 2011, right here in Davao.

Shamcey Supsup - Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner up - Miss Philippines 2011

Accessing Amazon App Store in your Kindle Fire (Outside the USA)

2011-12-11T18:06:00.003+08:00

Here's a SIMPLE way to access the AMAZON APP STORE outside the United States. These instructions are specifically for accessing the app store in the Kindle Fire but you can use the same instructions to access the Amazon app store using any ANDROID PHONE!

You ask why it might be good to be able to access the the store? I'll give you one good reason! The Amazon App Store features a FREE APP everyday! Apps that otherwise would have costed you a dollar or two are made available for free! Today I just got hold of the app - Kung Fu Panda Holiday! I can't wait to try it. On launch day, it gave out Angry Birds Rio! How cool is that? I wasn't able to get this app but I do have Angry Birds Seasons Free and Angry Birds Free. Two Angry Bird apps that's more than enough to satiate your angry birds craving. And who knows, Amazon App Store might just feature Angry Birds Rio as the free app for the day! So what are you waiting for? Access the Amazon App Store now! Instructions after the jump!

We go the extra sMILE

2011-12-06T15:44:00.000+08:00

WE GO THE EXTRA SMILE!

I like the new tag line for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) - "We go the extra SMILE." A smart play on the popular idiom "go the extra mile." Reading it while waiting for my turn to go through the security machine made me smile. I hope that the airport staff and personnel will embrace and live up to this new tag line.

WE GO THE EXTRA SMILE

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Kindle Fire vs. iPad2

2011-12-01T16:40:00.000+08:00

Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, iPad 2

At first I really didn't care much for ebook readers or tablet computers. I really didn't think there was a need for it. Whenever I needed to read an ebook, I just used my laptop. But now that I have my hands on a Kindle Fire - thanks to somebody great who gave me one as an early Christmas gift - I can see why many regarded this as the missing link. Reading ebooks in an electronic publication format (EPUB, MOBI, KF8, etc.) is just more interactive and fun compared to reading it in PDF format. And the best part of these tablet computers are the games! The screen is bigger than those in your iPod Touch or Smartphones, making them more enjoyable to play with. And when you're using the Amazon App Store, you get a free app everyday!

SPOTTED: MOSQUITO in the BIG CITY

2011-11-22T22:16:00.000+08:00

Cafe Breton's Mozzarella Burger

2011-11-22T15:21:00.001+08:00

Cafe Breton
French Crepes and Fine Coffee

"Britain" is short for Great Britain, and a "Briton" is a native of Great Britain. "Brittany" is a region of France, and a "Breton" is a native of Brittany.

When craving for dessert crepes, everyone in Manila rushes to Cafe Breton to get their fix. Unknown to most people, this cafe also serves one of the best burgers in town!

Hong Kong Smorgasbord

2011-11-17T20:04:00.000+08:00

Went to a 3 day Shopping and Food trip Adventure in Hong Kong courtesy of The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank! (Used the credit card to avail of a free round trip ticket to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific!). While everyone came ready to shop, not much research and preparation was done for the food tripping part. Here's a not so comprehensive guide to Hong Kong's food scene.

From our hotel at Tin Hau station, we wanted to go to Times Square in search for Lei Garden Restaurant which was highly recommended by a friend. Upon asking a local, he pointed us to LEE GARDENS TOWER! So we had no choice but to make a quick stop at the West Villa Restaurant (西苑酒家) located inside Lee Gardens Tower 2.

West Villa Restaurant Hong Kong

While it wasn't our intended destination, everyone came out full and satisfied with the dishes served at this restaurant. Voted favorites were the Pork Xiao Mai, Chicken Feet, Hakao, and the crunchy vegetable. The Chinese are really great vegetable farmers. Whether you're in Beijing or Hong Kong, the vegetables are always so plump, green, fresh, and crunchy! We aslo ordered the Spicy Beef Stew with Enoki mushrooms. While the flavors were good, the broth was too spicy for our Filipino tastes buds. Lesson learned: never order anything with Spicy on the label!

Steamed Shrimps in Ginger Chili Shallot Sauce

2011-11-15T04:00:00.000+08:00

In another Masterchef Australia Masterclass episode, Celebrity Chef Peter Kuruvita, owner of the renowned Seafood restaurant -Flying Fish- in Australia, was invited to teach the Masterchef contestants a few tips on how to cook shellfish. In that particular episode, he prepared Marrons with Ginger Chili Shallot Sauce. He specifically said that the sauce he's using has been used in his restaurant for years! It's a time tested recipe that his patrons just come back for every time. It's one of his trade secrets! Knowing this, I couldn't wait to try the sauce and see how it tastes. I jotted down notes and came up with this recipe for all of us to enjoy! It's a majestic universal sauce that can be used for any shellfish. Peter even said that it can be used for chicken. Go ahead and give it a try!

Triple Decker Cheesecake - Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

2011-11-14T20:43:00.000+08:00

Triple Decker Cheesecake at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

The Triple Decker Cheesecake: Layer on layer of Coffee Bean's Coffee, Oreo, and Chicago Cheesecakes with an almond cookie crust. According to the their site, it is best paired with the Southern Blended Iced Tea.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is opening soon at Abreeza Mall in Davao City. While I wasn't totally sold out with this cake, it's a great way to sample the different cheesecake flavors that The Coffee Bean has to offer. I liked the Coffee Cheesecake best. Didn't care much for the Oreo flavored Cheesecake.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Store Directory

The Early Birds

2011-11-09T00:58:00.000+08:00

I couldn't sleep and so i went out of the room and lazed around at the beachfront huts at The Villa Amparo Resort in Samal Island. Thought I could get some shut eye while enjoying the cool breeze but as it turned out, the birds were busy and chirping away.

More pictures after the jump ...

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Pomelo Salad Thai-Style (Yam Som-O)

2011-11-02T03:00:00.002+08:00

Yam Som-O is how people in Thailand call Pomelo Salad. I first got introduced to this salad a couple of years back when my sister took me to eat at People's Palace - a modern Thai cuisine restaurant in Greenbelt 3 ran by Chef Colin Mackay. The salad was so good I was blown away by the mix of fresh flavors with just the right amounts of acidity and seasoning. I remember listing the ingredients after we ate the salad but I never got to try and make the dish myself. That is until recently, when sacks of Pink Pomelo from Davao, landed on our doorsteps. I do not claim this to be anything like the Pomelo Salad at People's Palace because only emotional remnants of that experience remain. I have to back there and eat that salad again. And then maybe I can come up with a new version of this refreshing and healthy dish. Regardless, this version of the Pomelo Salad by The Billionaire Chef is as good and memorable as well.

Thai Pomelo Salad (Yam Som-o)

Thai Pomelo Salad (Yam Som-O)

By: Chef $B

(2-3 individual servings)

Peek-A-Boo!

2011-11-01T12:05:00.000+08:00

Peek-A-Boo! A hermit crab checking out another shell.

Happy Halloween!

Baby Back Ribs!

2011-10-28T20:08:00.000+08:00

One very intriguing dish is the very succulent and juicy Barbecued Baby Back Ribs! First and foremost, the size of the meat is quite intimidating. And since you don't normally see this cut of meat cooked at home, one is led to believe that it's hard and complicated to prepare. You'd be surprised that it actually is quite easy to prepare! While it takes a lot of time to make the meat really tender, the process is very simple. You can just leave the mixture behind and let the heat and the braising liquid do their job.

While watching season 2 of MasterChef Australia, chefs and hosts Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris held a Master Class teaching the contestants how to make American-style Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs! All the contestants were dying to try the dish and it left my mouth watering after the said episode. And so now that I know how easy it is to make, I tried cooking a batch last night. I adopted this Baby Back Ribs recipe from Gary's version. It's an absolute winner! Enjoy!

Chorizo de Bilbao and Garlic Spaghetti Recipe

2011-10-21T17:55:00.002+08:00

Chorizo is the Spanish term for sausage. It usually refers to several types of pork sausages. One famous chorizo in the Philippines is the Chorizo de Bilbao. While Bilbao may refer to a municipality in Spain many believe that Chorizo de Bilbao is actually a Filipino creation. It is generally made with lots of Spanish Paprika which is probably the reason why some would refer to it as Spanish sausage. It's garlicky taste adds a lot of flavor to any dish you mix it with.

There's a very good Chorizo Bilbao with Garlic Pasta at Petra and Pilar at the JAKA Bldg. (Chino Roces) in Makati. I often craved for this dish every time I'm in the area. And then it dawned on me that I should just have made my own! One order can set you back for around 350 pesos while you can buy a pack of Chorizo de Bilbao from the same restaurant for just around 100 pesos. And that's exactly what I did. Here's the recipe for Chorizo Garlic Spaghetti in White Sauce. My own take on this delectable dish from Petra and Pilar.

Alor's A Home Kitchen Davao - New Menu

2011-10-10T14:53:00.002+08:00

In the company of friends, I got to try out a few new addition to Alor's A Home Kitchen's Menu. With these additions, Alor's is definitely transitioning from home-cooking goodness to heavenly gourmet. If you haven't been to this restaurant in Davao, check out my recommendations for Alor's A Home Kitchen here.

Warning: These pictures could possibly be detrimental to your health. View with caution.

ROAST BEEF - USDA CHOICE GRADE

Roast Beef (USDA Choice Grade): Melt-in-your-mouth tenderness paired with an intoxicatingly good Pepper Gravy. Gather a group of 6 and your group would be better off eating this rather than eating the steaks at Sarung Banggi.

More pictures after the jump!

MultiMillionaire Mr. Bellum Tan of Rich Dad Asia is coming to Manila

2011-10-06T23:57:00.000+08:00

Rich Dad Asia is bringing to Manila this October, Mr. Bellum Tam, multimillionaire and Robert Kiyosaki's business partner here in Asia. As the popular book Rich Dad, Poor Dad always ask: "Are you ready to get out of the rat race and on the Fast Track to Financial Freedom?" Then this workshop might be the right one for you. Workshop details and instructions on how to register for the workshop after the jump.

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jamie Oliver

2011-10-04T22:39:00.000+08:00

Orange Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Coffee

On my way back to one of my trips in Europe, I got hold of Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Ministry of Food cookbook. I got it tax free but I wasn't quite sure whether it really was a bargain. Regardless, I was impress with the chef's advocacy of teaching people how to cook at home so they can have healthier and more nutritious options rather than eating out or buying at convenient stores all the time. According to the book, anyone can learn to cook in 24 hours. And Jamie Oliver actually encourages his readers to pass on the simple recipes that they learn so that everyone can learn how to cook. It's the same concept as paying it forward.

While I don't really use this book as reference for dessert recipes, I was intrigued by one of his cookie recipes. I tried it yesterday and you can get Jamie Oliver's recipe for Citrus Cookies after the jump.

Hot Prawn Salad Recipe ala Shang Palace or Mr. Choi Kitchen

2011-09-29T15:15:00.000+08:00

Hot prawn salad with Steamed broccoli and candied walnuts!

I don't exactly know where this dish originated from but it's definitely Chinese. Some say that it's Cantonese. If you're going to eat at the Shang Palace, Makati Shangri-la Hotel's mainstay Chinese restaurant serving "authentic flavors of Cantonese cuisine" as their website puts it, or if you're planning to eat at Mr. Choi Kitchen, don't forget to try and order the Hot Prawn Salad. The sweetness of the fruits and the mayonnaise dressing complements the sweetness of the Prawns, making this dish a favorite among loyal patrons. However, due to the sweetness of the dish as well, this dish may not be for everyone, especially for those who prefer their meals to be savory. Regardless, no matter who you serve it to, it never fails to impress. Here's the recipe for the Hot Prawn Salad or as others might call it, Shrimp Mayonnaise.

Hot Prawn Salad or Shrimp Mayonnaise Recipe

(2 small Servings)

Ingredients:

¼ kilo Prawns or Medium-sized Shrimps (around 14 pieces)

Leche Flan Recipe (Filipino Style Creme Caramel)

2011-09-26T16:02:00.000+08:00

I grew up eating Leche Flan. It's one of my favorite desserts. There's nothing like it in the world. Some of you may refer to it as a Creme Caramel or in Japan they call it a Purin or a Pulin, referring to a Custard Pudding. Basically it's milk and eggs steamed to form a custard flan. It's smooth and creamy! It's melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

The closest you would get to a Leche Flan outside the Philippines is a Creme Brulee. But believe me when I say that nobody else makes this dessert as creamy and delectable as Filipinos do. It's a national favorite. You can practically find it anywhere from high-end restaurants, food stalls in shopping malls, and even school canteens.

Like any other dessert though, every cook has their own recipe. As for me, the closest I've come to replicating my childhood favorite was using this special Leche Flan recipe below. The secret to this recipe is to use condensed milk instead of sugar, and to not include egg whites in the mixture.

Good Old Fashioned Leche Flan Recipe
by: The Billionaire Chef

General's Chicken ala Recipes by Cafe Metro

2011-09-20T15:40:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered why it's called General's Chicken? This dish which is made from deep fried chicken covered with a crispy batter and covered with a sweet and spicy sauce is rumored to have been a favorite of one of China's generals back in the Qing dynasty. The general's name was Tso Tsung-tang or Zuo Zongtang. There are no historical proof however to verify this. Regardless, this dish has become a favorite not only in North American Chinese restaurants but also in the Philippines. Get General's Chicken ala Recipes by Cafe Metro after the jump.

General's Chicken ala Recipes by Cafe Marco