Enough Already!!!!

Mama Loves TWG!

Before anything else please try to read this with an English accent. This post has been inspired by my love for Downton Abbey and their love for all things fine. It just makes it more refined and classy. Thank you.

Dear Jody and Jacqueline, 

Did you know that TWG Tea, the world’s finest luxury tea brand, has created a multi-sensory experience with their array of divine creations to pique your mother’s taste buds and heart strings this Mother’s Day. Inspired by beauty and elegance, TWG Tea’s collection radiates a luxurious aura that is fit for a queen.

Should be perfect for me then, right girls?

A stellar collection of tea sets deserve an equally exquisite vessel. Perfect for when I entertain my friends. It provides a sanctuary for our family through lovingly-brewed tea sessions. These lacquer tea trays are perfect to display prized tea sets, hand-crafted by Russia’s most renowned porcelain masters and inspired by ancestral designs. Highlight the trend-setting taste maker in every mother with these fashionably stylish tea accessories.

If the tea set is too much for you, then perhaps these tea infused jellies is more to your liking. Your Mother’s senses will be enthralled by the perfume and flavour of every different tea notes present. These skillfully infused tea jellies will pique my taste buds and take me on a journey of gastronomical delights. Available in 4 different tea-infused flavours, 1837 Black Tea, Red of Africa, French Earl Grey and Geisha Blossom.

And lastly, a gift of divine relaxation comes in the form of TWG Tea Scented Candles. Inspired by the quiet sophistication of TWG Tea’s signature blend, 1837 Black is scented with an epicurean fantasy of vanilla, musk and sweet spices, a sparkling promise of enigmatic delights. A celebration of mysteries, Miraculous Mandarin wafts a panorama of rich spices, frankincense and notes of candied sweetness, an invitation to a sumptuous and lavish feast of the senses. You know how much I adore candles. 

So there, now I have given you ideas on what to buy me for Mother's Day. I do hope to find one, if not all of these things on my table when the day arrives. 

Thank you my dear children.

Lovingly yours,

Mama

AEROSMITH in Manila.

The story is, I really don't know much of their songs. I know I Don't Want to Miss A Thing by heart because of Liv and Ben in the movie Armageddon where I cried buckets. 

So when I heard they were coming to Manila, I wasn't really interested to watch. Lucille and Anne truly wanted to watch it because they love Aerosmith. I got curious. 

So when Robert told me that he had a ticket for me, I was only too happy to watch one of the most popular bands in the world. 

When we arrived, the arena was not even half full. 

Thank goodness, Rob was given really awesome seats because I didn't want to stand the whole night.

Opening act was RiverMaya. They sang mostly Tagalog sings which is quite alright but I only know 3 songs of theirs which I really like. 

And then it starts. 

I loved it. Everything about it was awesome. Their energy was on full blast. I love the fact that none of the songs were lip synced or if it they did lip sync, I didn't notice, which makes it good.

Steven Tyler was very accommodating to his fans. He would reach out and grab their hands, make the girls hug and kiss him even! One time, he even went down to the crowd and hugged a whole bunch of people. The security/bouncers probably didn't like that. 

My favorite thing?? At the end, all this white confetti and white smoke came out and lasted for about 1 minute!! I loved it! I want it for my birthday. Please Rob, make it happen. :)

Thank you to my concert fairy godfather, Robert. Love ya!

Samsonite Lite.

Seriously, I don't know how I am going to blog about this when I don't have one. I think it is best that Mr. Michael Corpuz send one over so I can test it and travel with it, throw it around, hit it with a car and see it all come out of it without major damage. Hehehe. 

Samsonite, created in 1910 by entrepreneurial Colorado native Jesse Shwayder, is the world’s leading luggage brand. Inspiring travel world-wide, Samsonite helps global travellers to cover miles and create memories with revolutionary travel solutions. Preserving the brands longstanding history of breakthroughs in research and development, Samsonite has embedded its place at the forefront of the travel world with a number of industry firsts. Showing commitment to innovation, the unique hard side collections made with the revolutionary Curv® material and the soft side ranges created with Advanced Hybrid Technology™ (AHT) join a wide spectrum of business, casual and personal accessory products in upholding Samsonite’s position as a market leader and trendsetter. Remembering past triumphs but always looking forward, Samsonite maintains a worldwide vision that continues to enable the traveler to travel further, with always lighter, stronger and innovative products at hisside. By identifying trends and interpreting the continuing evolution of world travellers’ needs, Samsonite plays a pivotal role in the multi-faceted lives of the global traveller. 

So anyway, I have added this to my wish list. 

The red one please because you know that's my favorite color. 

I know this photo doesn't show a Samsonite luggage but I thought I would share his cuteness with you guys. 

www.samsonite.com

Break It To Make It.

If you ask me, one of the favorite things that I love to do when it comes to my work is reworking old sets of jewelry and make it look new.

I got this from a client who's young, beautiful and very chic. I think that this design is too old for her so we both decided to make something out of it. 

I didn't want her to spend so much on this piece so what I did was deconstruct the parts instead of taking out the small diamonds from the mounting. 

The whole thing was made out of plenty of leaves with diamonds. I wanted to work with the existing leaves so I had the worker break it apart. 

The design is simple. Just put them all together but make it into dangling earrings.

The pearl can be attached/detached as she pleases. She can also use any other kind of drop. 

The outcome is this pair of earrings.

I am happy. I hope she loves it the way I do. 

Flavors of the Visayas!

This versatile and inimitable Ilonggo chef had her culinary trainings at the Culinary Institute of America, New School of New York, and at the Institute of Culinary Education (formerly Peter Kump’s New York). At present, she runs the various restaurants in Iloilo City, namely: Al Dente Ristorante Italiano, Steps of Rome, 101 Luna Steak Room and Rooftop Brewery. Today, she cooked lunch for us.

How lucky can we get?

When Mandarin Oriental launches some kind of food festival, I am always so blessed to be part of the guest list because I get to try the best food prepared by the featured chef and get to meet them too!

The Visayan region’s iconic seafood delicacies and other gastronomical delights take center stage at Mandarin Oriental, Manila’s Paseo Uno with a week-long festival, featuring chef Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing. Renowned for representing Iloilo’s famous culinary scene, the enterprising chef returns to the hotel for the “Flavors of the Visayas” food festival that will be held from May 6 to 12.

Chef Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing is no stranger to the kitchens of Mandarin Oriental, Manila. Back in May 2006 she had her debut as a featured chef at an Ilonggo food festival dubbed as “Manamit!” at what was then the Captain’s Bar (now the MO Lounge), where she delighted guests with a medley of her hometown’s signature cuisine. In a fitting encore the following year, she continued to bring the culinary treasures of the Panay Islands to the heart of Makati while reinventing classic dishes such as Steamed Talaba, Batchoy and Chicken Inasal for individuals with the most discerning taste.

The only Batchoy that I get to eat is from a styrofoam bowl that requires only hot water but today, I was able to try the best Batchoy I have ever had. 

Crabs with Shrimp Paste, coconut milk and lemongrass is something my family would love since they are crab eaters!! 

This is the most authentic Chicken Inasal I have ever tried. As you can see, I don't get to eat much of food from Visayas but apparently, I am in love with the cuisine. I just didn't know it until now. 

Who can say no to lechon? 

Lumpia is just a lumpia until you've tried Chef Pauline's lumpia. It's simple, delicious and fresh. 

More Visayan treats being passed around. 

Refreshing drinks! 

  

Kadios, baboy kag langka na may batuan

Ilonggo Pork Stew with Jackfruit and Black Peas

Lukon na may aligue kag paho

Prawns from Kalibo with sautéed crab fat and topped with green mango slices

An exquisite Mother’s Day lunch buffet wraps up the food festival on its last day on May 12. Moms can enjoy their favorite Ilonggo dishes, and, if in a group of four paying guests, she also gets to attend a complimentary flower-arranging class at the hotel, before or after lunch. All moms who dine on Mother’s Day receive a pretty fan memento, in keeping with this year’s celebratory theme. The Mother’s Day lunch buffet is priced at PHP 2,450+.

Mandarin Oriental

Paseo Uno

Reservations: 7508888