Suitcase Stories

Brownies on a Rainy Day

2012-07-23T21:36:00.002+08:00

I have not been blogging for months and months. Been busy but also lazy to write and update my blog. It's been raining for two days now and going out doesn't seem to be appealing at the moment. Not wanting to brave the rains and traffic in the streets, I decided to bake after months and months and maybe years. All those times when I couldn't get myself to bake, my trusty friend Bel was kind enough to give me some home baked goodies. My dad is absolutely a fan of hers. Bel gave us some brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Let me just say that they were really yummy. Thanks, Bel for sharing all that yummyness.

I had a box of unsweetened chocolate stashed in the ref since I have been planning to bake some brownies for quite some time now. Why brownies? But on the other hand, why not brownies? First, brownies are fairly simple to make. If you are a beginner and want to get the most satisfaction with the least effort, this is definitely the way to go. Secondly, given the right recipe and if you know how to follow instructions, you cannot go wrong. This brings us to the next question on what makes a good brownie. It's very basic really- not too sweet and yet choclate-y enough, fudgey but not greasy. I chanced upon a brownie recipe by Smitten Kitchen and based on the description and comments, this looked like a winner. And I am happy to tell you, that it is.

I would have wanted it with nuts but my dad ate the nuts. So here it is plain but still full of that chocolatey goodness. Fudgey and yet not greasy. I knew that this was going to be good as I licked the remaining batter from the wooden spoon. Please wait for two hours before slicing as it makes for more attractive brownies. My dad and I couldn't wait as we had to just take a bite.

Somtam: A CNN Winner

2011-09-19T18:12:00.006+08:00

I wrote about Somtam at Soi 5 sometime ago. Well, I got good news. It's was judged as the best place that served green papaya salad in Thailand. You will be able to find almost every food stall selling somtam so you're probably wondering what makes it different than the rest. Well, you've just got to try it for yourself. Hope you drop by there soon. Be prepared to wait in line.

A Thorny Tree, Adulterers Beware!

2011-09-12T14:29:00.001+08:00

Back in those days in Cambodia, lovers caught in an adulterous relationship were made to strip down to their birthday suit and climb a tree full of thorns as punishment.

The thorns are not too obvious and look rather small at first glance but if you focus on the right side of the photo, you'll see how nasty these thorns are. Imagine climbing a tree like this. It must have been a bloody affair.

This type of punishment may no longer be practiced but then again it shouldn't take a thorny tree to deter one's actions in doing something that will eventually lead to destruction of one's self, home and work life.

Proverbs 6:32 - But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. (NLT)

Location:Siem Reap, Cambodia

Surprise!

2011-08-30T21:03:00.001+08:00

(Sometime July 2011.) I celebrated my 39th birthday in Jakarta. I've always been in Manila for my birthday so this was a first for me. Thought the day would just be like any ordinary work day but my office mates had a surprise for me.

I do enjoy working with them even though work is really difficult and I get super stressed. But they make the load lighter since they are such a delight to work with.

Thank you for the cakes. I love it!

Dining at One of Bangkok's Street Corners

2011-08-29T21:45:00.006+08:00

(Sometime October 2010.) S and I decided to have something while waiting for two of our friends. Please take note that even if we ordered the cheapest items, S and I still had to share. This was the most expensive fried rice and shrimp balls I ever paid for. But you can see why, right? Presentation is beautiful and the surrounding view is amazing. (Sorry for the awful pictures.)

Meanwhile, our two other friends, M and E didn't have a bite and it was already almost midnight. So Em suggested dinner at the street corner across the Dome.

May I just say that the food here was a million times more delicious and a fraction of the price of what we paid for our shrimp balls and fried rice at Sirocco. But there's no ambiance and no view. However, food is yummy and CHEAP.

Porridge

Oyster cake

Tom Yum

I wasn't able to take pictures of everything we ate at this small food stall which is understandable. I was really hungry. Eat first, pictures later.

If ever you visit Sirocco, pass by this small food stall, eat a lot then you can spend more for the very expensive drinks at the sky bar.

How Do You Say Goodnight?

2011-08-17T21:48:00.001+08:00

(Sometime October 2010). This is how the Plaza Athenee says "goodnight". It's all in the details and the "sweet" stuff like this. I am not complaining and yes, it was good.

Bangkok at Night

2011-08-17T21:20:00.003+08:00

(Sometime October 2010.) After having some drinks at the Plaza Athenee, my officemates and I decided to take another view of Bangkok. Enough of the office and work, now it's time to relax. Someone suggested the skybar Sirocco at The Dome. You can see that the view is stunning to say the least. It's sixty-three stories high and there was quite a breeze. If you ever decide to go, it's best to bring a jacket or a shawl. Food and drinks are quite pricey. I think you pay for the view, that's why.

Don't Miss Cafe de la Paix in Siem Reap

2011-07-13T20:53:00.001+08:00

If there's a restaurant or cafe that I would love to keep revisiting in Siem Reap, Cafe de la Paix would be it. Situated on the ground floor of Hotel de la Paix, the cafe is a like a breath of fresh air from the dusty roads of the city. Its minimalist interiors and black and white color scheme exudes a relaxing atmosphere.

I can't remember how I discovered this place. I may have read it in the Lonely Planet book or some recommendation I saw over the web.

Upon entering the cafe, you instantly see the menu which is written on a chalkboard. They have sandwiches, pizza, salads, coffee and desserts to name a few.

I distinctly remember a a sign in the cafe saying that all their food is homemade and prepared by the staff. So all the bread and ice cream is not bought from other food suppliers. It sounds great because that means that they put a premium on food quality.

If you still don't know what you want to order check out their display counter where they have prepared salads and sandwiches.

Its quite a distance from my hotel- a $3 tuktuk ride but I was hoping that it would be worth the trip. It was 3 pm when I got to Cafe de la Paix. I decided to spend the morning at the hotel and sleep the entire time. So this was sort of lunch and merienda for me. After a few minutes of thinking what would suit a late lunch like this, I ordered the salad niscoise.

The salad came with a crusty bread. Truth to tell, this was the best bread I've ever tasted. Crusty on the outside but soft and a bit chewy- a perfect match for the salad.

I loved every bit of the salad and there were no leftovers whatsoever. And that's unusual for me.

Sivutha Boulevard
Siem Reap
Cambodia
+855 63 966 000
Fax: +855 63 966 001

Waiting for Mahleen

2011-06-17T05:21:00.005+08:00

(Sometime June 2011) Got off at Grand Central Station, exited at Vanderbilt and walked towards St. Patrick's. My cousin was a bit concerned that I would get lost. My sense of direction is not that good but I have miraculously found my way around the city that never sleeps.

While walking I chanced upon Daffy's. I remember wanting to go here during my last visit but didn't get the chance. I think I was meant to go to Daffy 's today. After a few minutes of looking around, nothing really caught my eye so I get out of the store and walk on Madisson towards 51st street. This is where I am meeting Mahleen who was an officemate of mine some years back in the now defunct AGILE. I see St. Patrick's from the backside and I walk towards the front on Park Avenue. The sweltering heat is terrible. Today's temp is at 97F. I call this Manila weather because it's too damned hot. Beads of sweat slowly trickle down my back as I crane my neck looking for my friend. She hasn't arrived yet. Meanwhile, there are a lot of people crowding in front of the church because it's graduation season. Pictures are being taken left and right. So many happy people, smiling people. I look at them and i think to myself that this is so boring. I remember not wanting to attend my own graduation when I finished my Masters degree. My parents cringed at the thought of skipping such a "momentous event"- to be read as "Thank God, our daughter can go back to working now." I stopped working for two years so I could study full-time. There was no skipping the graduation ceremony for me. End of story. I have pictures of this event.

Anyway, there is still no sign of my friend. I'm actually a bit early for our 4:30pm appointment. This heat is killing me. I turn and look around for the nearest coffee shop. A few meters away from the corner of Park Avenue and 51st street is "The Primeburger". Anything with air-conditioning would be great at this point. I'm on the verge of dehydration so I order a peach Snapple sit at one of those single seats with the movable tabletop. The brown interiors and bad lighting tells me that this joint probably started in the 60's. In front of me is a picture of SJP and Aidan from one of the scenes from Sex and the City. Meanwhile at the bar, a family of three are about to finish their meal. They seem to be tourists like me. The place doesn't look exceptionally clean but hey if SJP had a burger here then it must not be too bad. One of the waiters is sitting by the bar with his head leaning on his left arm. He's a sleepy and slow waiter. Maybe it's the heat. Maybe he's been doing this for years, who knows. I read through the menu and decide to order a vanilla sundae in case Mahleen is late. My sundae is served and it looks like a huge pile of messy white cream with chocolate sauce poured on top and spilling over the side of the bowl. Arrgh. I better eat it though or else it would be such a waste as I try to mentally compute how much this thing would cost in pesos. Ten minutes later, Mahleen arrives and the sundae is left unnoticed and melts into oblivion.

You'd Want to Hire a Tuktuk like this in Siem Reap

2011-03-14T22:01:00.003+08:00

Sometime November 2010. Are we spoiled or what? B and I decided to hire this "tuktuk" because it was only $17 USD more than hiring the "regular tuktuk". Hey we work hard and we deserve it. Plus we started the morning quite late and finished our breakfast at Blue Pumpkin around 10:30 a.m. If you add the very hot weather to the equation, then you would probably do the same thing.

This was indeed a nice way to start discovering the temples.

I never loved riding in a vehicle with A/C more than that first day at Siem Reap. Plus there's more...cold drinks and cold towels to wipe the sweat off our brows. Ahhh, such is life.

Thailand's World of Chili

2011-01-14T14:18:00.001+08:00

Sometime October 2010. Bangkok, Thailand. Happy to have time to go around Bangkok. My friend and I went around Bangkok's flower market and chanced upon a world of chili. Take your pick, guys!

What could this man be thinking? "Please don't disturb me, I lost count because of you".

Discovering Siem Reap's Blue Pumpkin

2011-01-12T20:36:00.070+08:00

Sometime November 2010 (Siem Reap, Cambodia). I was excited to go out and discover the beauty of the temples but not before a proper breakfast. B had just arrived from Kuala Lumpur and we were both ready for the busy day ahead of us. After making arrangements for our transportation, off we went to Blue Pumpkin located near the Old Market. It's like their local version of Starbucks because you can find it in many places around the city.

Blue pumpkin has two floors. On the ground floor you'll see the pastries on display. And there are a lot to choose from. I got overwhelmed with the variety of breads and cakes being sold.

Right opposite the pastry display is the coffee and juice bar. Nothing sets your morning right than a good cup of steaming coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.

You may opt to order items to-go but if you're in the zone for a more relaxed breakfast, check out the second floor. Think lounge seating, huge comfy, white pillows and free wifi. What else can you ask for, right?

Their food was just ok for me. Something that would take me through the day and satisfy my hunger pangs plus it's budget-friendly. Although I wasn't too happy with my Croque Monsieur and B wasn't impressed with their quiche, don't right off Blue Pumpkin just yet because the serve the yummiest ice cream in Siem Reap.

I don't have pictures of the ice cream but I remember buying all the time wherever it was available - whether it's at the night market, the silk farm or at the cafe across Angkor Wat. Plus, there's no better way to cool down after a long day's tour around the marvelous temples than having a scoop or two of their vanilla and strawberry delights. Oh and their chocolate ice cream is also good.

I found out that they just opened a branch in Phnom Penh which I yet have to visit. Didn't have much time to discover new places at the capital city that time around. Anyway, in case you're there, do check it out as well.

http://www.tbpumpkin.com

Chamkar's Tofu and the Energetic Vibe at Pub Street

2011-01-06T20:56:00.000+08:00

November 27, 2010. Siem Reap. In all honesty it was difficult deciding where to have dinner on my very first night in Siem Reap. There were so many online recommendations from TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, Frommer's, New York Times, etc. After much thought combined with half an hour of scanning various reviews plus taking into account my budget (most importantly!), I decided to try Chamkar, a vegetarian restaurant. One of the reviews said that they regretted not discovering this place earlier on during their trip because they would have gone back. Plus, food here was cheaper than the other restaurants in the area. Sounds promising- good yet affordable food. Yeah, so this was it for me.

I didn't have an easy time finding the place. The tuk-tuk driver didn't know where it was. All I knew was that it was in the vicinity of Pub street. Asking the locals standing around the corner of Pub street did not help at all. At that point, I was actually thinking maybe going out tonight was a bad idea since I could have ordered for room service while comfortably tucked away in bed. But well, I was already out and maybe it was time to implement "plan b". Oh but I didn't have any plan b. Hahaha. That's the type of traveler I am. Sigh.

Note that tuk-tuks are not allowed to ply Pub street at night. Pedestrians take over the road as dusk sets in. There's no sidewalk to speak of so having the road blocked off from vehicles at night was definitely a good idea. If you've been to Thailand's Khaosan Road you'll notice some similarity as Pub street exudes such an energetic vibe. After a few minutes of walking, I decided to take the small alley perpendicular to Pub street. A few steps further and I unexpectedly found Chakram. It's across Amok restaurant. Yay, this was definitely a good sign.

I ordered immediately and tried the specialty of the house- "rediscovering tofu". It was stuffed tofu with caramelized onions on the side.

I paired this with a bowl of steamed rice.

Service is just so-so. Don't expect five-star service. But food is affordable if you compare it with the other restaurants around the area. I think I spent less than $10 for the entire meal.

And so it can be said that I was generally satisfied with the meal and would definitely recommend Chakram to anyone who visits Siem Reap.

Poetry at Siem Reap

2011-01-06T00:01:00.000+08:00

November 27, 2010. Siem Reap, Cambodia. After a very satisfying dinner at Chamkar, I walked by this alley and discovered that Pub street does not only have a variety of restaurants to satisfy whatever gastronomic cravings one has but it also is home to a few but really cool shops. A nice way to walk off a heavy dinner.

More restaurants...

And here are the shops. I saw this store at Phnom Penh too. The building with the multi-colored windows are just too cute.

The Spicy Green Mango can also be found in Phnom Penh. They sell multicolored skirts, slippers, t-shirts and whatever is good to wear in warm weather.

But what really caught my eye was this shop called Poetry.

This shop had the most interesting pieces. I was told that the designer and shop owner is Filipino. I wanted the red dress but it was too big for me.

There's even a second floor. His shop was like a work of art.

Maybe next time I can find something in my size.

A Relaxing Place - Angkor Miracle Resort & Spa

2011-01-05T22:18:00.003+08:00

Sometime November 2010. Siem Reap, Cambodia. My friends (B & V) and I stayed at the Angkor Miracle Resort and Spa in Siem Reap courtesy of a colleague of mine from Phnom Penh. Well, we got a BIG discount. A very BIG discount. Were it not for my friend's help (his wife is a good friend of the owner), we couldn't simply afford staying here. We were only expecting to stay at B&Bs as there are many decent and nice ones. But we were not going to pass off this opportunity. Although it's 15 minutes away from Pub Street, we really didn't mind because the $3 USD tuktuk ride to town was really minimal compared to the discount we got for our rooms. I truly got shocked when I got the bill. Anyway, for those of you who are looking for a place to stay in Siem Reap, do consider this hotel. Here are some pictures to enjoy.

Front desk.

Lobby. Upon entering the hotel, guests will be greeted by soothing music played on something that looks like our local version of a kulintang (small, gong-like instruments) and a spa-like fragrance wafting in the air. It makes you forget all the dust outside. So relaxing.

Our room.

Sitting areas

Bathroom

View from our room.

Our stay was generally fine except that they forgot to fetch B on time at the airport. I saw a similar complaint on TripAdvisor and maybe they can improve in that area. Oh and try not to swim at night because there are a lot of bugs in the pool :-( Although we did go night swimming at least twice. Food is not that expensive and the rates at the spa and quite reasonable. Overall, it was a very nice place to call home for five days.

Contact Information
Hotel name	Angkor Miracle Resort & Spa
Address	National Road No. 6A. Khum Srornge, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Telephone	+855 (0) 63 969 900 / 2
Facsimile	+855 (0) 63 969 901
E-mail
Website	www.angkormiracle.com

Heading Off to Siem Reap

2011-01-04T21:05:00.000+08:00

(Sometime November 2010.) After working for two weeks in Phnom Penh, I was so ready to take a much needed break in Siem Reap. My officemate V was flying in from Vietnam while B who was celebrating her birthday flew in from Manila. Although I had visited Phnom Penh so many times before, this would be my first visit to Siem Reap. My friends at the office would actually wonder in amazement why I never visited Siem Reap earlier. I guess I'm really odd. It seems that I always want to rush home after a working trip. But here I am (finally!) at the Phnom Penh Airport waiting for my flight to Siem Reap.

Although there's an itinerary already, I haven't done much research on where to eat. While waiting to board the plane I decide to hang out at a coffee shop and search the web for suggestions. So happy that their airport has free wifi, our beloved NAIA doesn't.

I was hoping that that would be our plane but alas...

Our plane was the propeller driven aircraft that you see below. That's Cambodian Angkor Air (CAA). I think it cost me almost $100 for a one way ticket if I am not mistaken.

The flight was delayed for an hour and people were just anxious to get on board.

I think Vietnam Airlines (VA) used to ply that same route but not anymore. I get the impression that CAA could use some competition. They were late and the price they charge customers is way too expensive. The Philippines was in a similar predicament some years ago when domestic flights were "monopolized" by Philippine Airlines. Travel was expensive and flights were delayed. Thank God, things have changed and there are more choices.

While on board the plane, an Australian guy starts a conversation and I was too tired to be attentive. At that point I was sleep depraved and just wanted to have a nap. So after a few minutes of being polite, I lean my head on the window and close my eyes.

After 45 minutes or so, we finally land at Siem Reap's International Airport. I breathe a sigh of relief since I didn't feel too comfortable riding on the aircraft.

Ah, the adventure begins as I walk towards the holding area to pick up my bags.

Fireworks at Phnom Penh's Water Festival

2010-11-23T02:18:00.002+08:00

November 21, 2010. Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Fireworks to celebrate the water festival. I'm so happy that they booked me at the Himawari Apartments. I didn't have to go far to see this. Oh but the downside is that many, if not all restaurants don't deliver to the Himawari because the roads leading to the hotel are closed to vehicular traffic.

I would highly recommend staying at this place if you don't want to brave the crowds by the riverside. I actually walked over there yesterday. At some point it was hard to breathe because there were so many people. I thought I would faint at some point. Not a good thing if that happened.

From the back of the Himawari. Since my camera (Sony DSC-W30) takes ugly pictures at night, I decided to film it instead. (Yeah, I know my camera is so old.)

Dining at Siam Square's Somtam

2010-11-19T20:19:00.004+08:00

October 2010. Bangkok. On one of my last nights in Bangkok, Royce took me to Somtam for dinner. Although he doesn't really like Thai food, he obliged. Plus it's his wife's favorite place for Thai food. Take note that I too am not fond of spicy food. But what else is there to eat in Thailand, right? Besides, I wanted to take my last fill of authentic Thai food. Here in Manila, I avoid Thai restaurants especially the over-priced ones. There are many I tell you. It's like they are trying to con people with expensive papaya salad beautifully plated on a gold-rimmed oval platter with a banana leaf. Puhlease!

Back to my dinner. Somtam is a small narrow restaurant with two-floors of seating tucked away in one of those alleys at Siam Square. Funny that I never noticed Siam Square when I always frequent the Siam stop. If only I took the time to take a quick peek downwards then I wouldn't have missed it. It's right across Siam Paragon. I guess I didn't read about this in my Lonely Planet book.Hahaha. There's a line outside Somtam. Even if there are available chairs inside, they don't allow customers to enter right away. Royce and I think it's a strategy they employ to attract more customers. Somehow, when I see customers waiting in line it gives me confidence that food must be good. The wait wasn't that long and there were two long benches outside the restaurant for customers waiting to be seated. Waiters were quick to get our order so by the time we got a table, our food was ready. Royce did the ordering. All I did was order my pepsi and that was it. Below are a few pictures of what we had. Yummy but really spicy. What do you expect. It's Thai food.

Tom Yum Soup

Fried Chicken Legs

Papaya Salad

Sticky Rice

Ice with Pepsi

Learning about whiskey

2010-11-03T22:41:00.005+08:00

I have been out of Manila for sometime working abroad. Maybe working too hard. But after one of those late night meetings with colleagues, they decided to have some drinks at my hotel before heading home. My hotel is conveniently located in between the office and the BTS. No reason to rush home yet since it was happy hour. Plus we all needed a break.

First round of drinks consisted of a local Thai beer, a couple of mojitos, apple juice (for me) and red wine. I was the only one drinking juice which was ok since I, er, WE have not had dinner yet. When the second round came along, I decided to order a tequila. The rest ordered the same thing-beer, mojitos and red wine. The boss (not mine) was surprised that I drank tequila. Well, I really don't. Not recently though- maybe not in the past 10 years or so. Just so you know, I dislike mixed alcoholic drinks. I know they taste good but it's not me. No blended drinks of that sort. If ever I order anything blended then it might as well be a fruit shake.

The boss (not mine) said that I was too "classy" for tequilas and should try something else. Hmmm, I like that term"classy".

"Oh I hate mixed drinks. Please suggest something for me," I said.

"Why don't you try a good whiskey," he answered.

I remember trying it before, gulping it at once until the very last drop. Where did it get me? Well, my face was plastered to the table after that. I felt dizzy and couldn't lift my head for a time. I can remember how the wretched liquid stung my throat. Should I even dare?

Well I did. I told him that I didn't like the burning sensation in my throat. He said that I should not drink it in one gulp. A good whiskey should be enjoyed. That I should enjoy the lingering flavor in my mouth. Hhhm? It sounds interesting. So I did try it.

He ordered two types for me (with ice). Single malt, 10 year Macallan and a 15 year Macallan. I smelled both. Hhhmm, smelled good. I tasted both and they were both good. No burning sensation in the throat. I took it in sips and swirled the liquid in my mouth. Really good. The flavor lingered in my mouth for seconds after every sip. The flavor blossoming. This was good stuff. It totally changed my perception about whiskey. I used to think that whiskey should be left to old men and their cigars. But hey, classy young women can drink this too.

Note that we were not drinking to get drunk and get wasted. That's just too highschool. We were a bunch of professionals chilling out after a hard days work. I'm sure that I won't do this every night but my introduction or re-introduction to whiskey was a great experience. The timing just perfect when you're with co-workers who understand the demands of the job and want to have some down time especially on a Friday night.

Batticaloa's Lighthouse

2010-10-09T09:52:00.002+08:00

Sometime November 2009 and some eight hours away from Colombo. Built in 1913 by the British in a small fishing village called Batticaloa, this historical landmark was recently restored with the help of USAID funds. Also known as “Muttawaran” by the locals-as the lighthouse sits near a sandbar separating the lagoon and the Indian ocean. Set against the clear blue skies and the softly lapping waters of the Indian Ocean, Muttawaran has stood the test of time including the heart-wrenching tsunami. Hopefully this historical landmark continues to live on. A sign of light and hope.

Phnom Penh's Chocolate Shop

2010-10-06T22:13:00.003+08:00

Sometime October 2009. If you've been reading this blog for quite sometime, you may have already guessed that I love eating. Well, desserts in particular. Phnom Penh will not disappoint any chocolate-lover. During each visit (I think I've been to Phnom Penh 3 or 4 times), I would always pass by the Chocolate Shop. My friend Lisa brought introduced me to this place. Since then, it's been a permanent fixture in my To-Do list when in Cambodia.

Just look at the homemade chocolates you can buy. I don't remember how much these delectable goodies cost. It's been quite a while but I don't think they were exorbitantly expensive.

They also serve coffee, sandwiches, soup, smoothies, etc. You'll find many people working in development agencies hanging out at the Chocolate Shop, whether it's to have a bite, having a business meeting or just to chit chat. If you're in Phnom Penh, you shouldn't miss this.

Chocolate Shop
Nº. 35, Street 240

Phnom Penh,
Telephone: 012 872 840

My Room at Metropole's Opera Wing

2010-09-24T22:04:00.011+08:00

Sometime October 2007. In case you're wondering how the rooms at the Opera Wing looks, here are a few photos I can share. Take note that the Metropole has the Historical Wing which are the older rooms. This would be where Charlie Chaplin must have stayed. On the other hand, the Opera wing is the newer section of the hotel. I am very fortunate to have stayed at both wings due to unforseen events.

For starters, I was booked at the Opera Wing when I arrived.

See how nice the room is. I just love how the interiors were done. A mixture of French and Vietnamese. I like how they used black and white with a punch of red.

Look at the lovely wall paper.

At the foot of the bed was a flat screen TV. Nice Vietnamese cabinet.

A nice reading nook at the right of the bed.

Opposite the reading nook is the working desk.

The bathroom was in a lively red color which served as an inspiration to have have my kitchen done in red too.

I was transferred to the Historical Wing because construction at the Opera Wing was ongoing. Imagine hearing all that noise until midnight. Apparently they were rushing to finish the construction since it was going to be launched soon.

Sadly, I no longer have photos of the of the Historical Wing. But allow me to share what I remember. Note that it is more expensive at the Historical Wing.

The hotel kept the original architectural design of the rooms. Large french windows. The bathroonm had the claw-foot tub.The interiors were more Asian in my opinion. Dark heavy furniture. More subdued lighting. Well, that's all I can remember folks.

Rates are expensive here but you are staying in one of the top-rated hotels in the world. Service is ok. The Four Seasons is still the best for me when it comes to service. But the Metropole has this surprise factor to make the experience uniquely Sofitel.

If you have the money to burn, go and stay here.

Metropole's Chocolate Buffet and Afternoon Tea

2010-09-24T21:02:00.003+08:00

Sometime 2007. I am on a roll with my posts about Vietnam. I know this is way too late but I am hoping that it will help anyone who is on the look out for good places to try in Hanoi.

I've written about the Sunday buffet at the Metropole, specifically their dessert spread. You can also try the chocolate buffet or the afternoon tea or even both at the Le Club also at the Metropole.

The chocolate buffet is everyday from 3 pm to 5:30 pm. I paid around $12 for the chocolate buffet three years ago. I can't remember how much the afternoon tea cost. But it is all worth it.

I should have taken more photos but I was busy trying out each mouth-watering dessert.

Brownies

They also had ice cream and hot chocolate similar to our batirol. I remember asking them if I could buy the powdered chocolate to take back home to Manila. It was too bad they they only have limited stock of this so they couldn't sell me any.

I tried the chocolate orange slivers, truffles, macaroons, chocolate tart, brulee. They had the chocolate fountain too and a variety of fruits-starwberries, kiwi, etc. There was so much more. Don't expect to have dinner after this.

Before I continue further, let me just say that the Sofitel, Metropole should not be compared to the Sofitel here in Manila. It's close to sacriligious. The buffet at Spiral despite having the longest spread is not comparable to the limited albeit first-class food served at the Metropole. So many Filipinos are raving about Spiral. I went there for our Christmas dinner and it was a let down if you compare it to what is served at the Metropole. I bet you that it won't even pass the standards of the chefs at the Metropole. Sorry but it's true. I digressed. But I had to give you a comparison of what you can expect at the Metropole.

I also tried the afternoon tea and I really love the small chocolate that goes with the tea.

Along with it comes a variety of cakes , sandwiches and fruit. I obviously didn't finish all of this. But it made me happy despite a heavy workload. Ok, I agree this is one of the perks of my job.

If staying at the Metropole is too steep for your budget, at least try the chocolate buffet and afternoon tea. You won't regret it.

Spanish Film Festival 2010

2010-09-24T18:21:00.000+08:00

If you like watching foreign films like me, troop over to Greenbelt 3 for a slew of Spanish films. Check out the schedule here.

Salad Niscoise - Julia Child's Recipe

2010-09-24T17:51:00.003+08:00

I decided to skip the rice (which is a must have for Filipinos) and have a healthy lunch. Well, almost. I re-heated the left over callos and paired it with french bread. But, I did prepare Salad Niscoise. My officemate in Vietnam had this everyday such that when he would call and order lunch they already knew what he was having.

Note that this is a recipe from ochef.com. What made this interesting was that it's a recipe from Julia Child's book, "Julia's Kitchen Wisdom". Best to get the freshest ingredients that you can get your hands on.

Happy eating.

Ingredients:
1 large head Boston-lettuce leaves, washed and dried
1 pound green beans, cooked and refreshed
1-1/2 tablespoons minced shallots
1/2 to 2/3 cup basic vinaigrette
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 or 4 ripe red tomatoes, cut into wedges (or 10 to 12 cherry tomatoes, halved)
3 or 4 "boiling" potatoes, peeled, sliced, and cooked
Two 3-ounce cans chunk tuna, preferably oil-packed
6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved
1 freshly opened can of flat anchovy fillets
1/3 cup small black Niçoise-type olives
2 to 3 tablespoons capers
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Instructions:
Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large platter or in a shallow bowl. Shortly before serving, toss the beans with the shallots, spoonfuls of vinaigrette, and salt and pepper. Baste the tomatoes with a spoonful of vinaigrette. Place the potatoes in the center of the platter and arrange a mound of beans at either end, with tomatoes and small mounds of tuna at strategic intervals. Ring the platter with halves of hard-boiled eggs, sunny side up, and curl an anchovy on top of each. Spoon more vinaigrette over all; scatter on olives, capers, and parsley, and serve.

Yield: Serves 6

Basic Viniagrette Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 Tbsp finely minced shallot or scallion
1/2 Tbsp Dijon-type mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 Tbsp wine vinegar
1/3 to 1/2 cup excellent olive oil, or other fine, fresh oil
Freshly ground pepper

Instructions:
Either shake all the ingredients together in a screw-topped jar, or mix them individually as follows. Stir the shallots or scallions together with the mustard and salt. Whisk in the lemon juice and vinegar, and when well blended start whisking in the oil by droplets to form a smooth emulsion. Beat in freshly ground pepper. Taste (dip a piece of the salad greens into the sauce) and correct seasoning with salt, pepper, and/or drops of lemon juice.

Yield: For about 2/3 cup, serving 6 to 8