How important are the numbers 1521 to Filipinos?  Your high school and grade school Philippine History classes might come in handy –it was the year that the Philippines was discovered by the Spaniards.  1521 Restaurant is the tribute of the owners to their own heroes in the kitchen.  The restaurant showcases their families’ recipes and culinary heirlooms.

Open the door to a very clean, minimalist and retrospective ambience.  Beige table and chairs and art sketches on the white wall bring us back to the time when life was indeed simple and so were our taste. 

One look at the menu and any Filipino will be very intrigued. 

On the Table

No See Sisig PHP 215

Generous serving of fried crisp empanaditas filled with crunchy minced pork and liver pate.  Served with sinamak, cream cheese and sweet chili sauce.  It whets the appetite perfectly and readies your desire for more gastronomic experience.  It had just the right saltiness of the pork and I love how easy it was to eat the sisig filled empanada.  Enhance the flavor with the sweet chili sauce and it gives you a totally different essence on how to take your sisig. 

Swak na Swak Chicharon Bulaklak PHP 210

Deep-fried savory pork intestines that’s crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside.  The dark chicharon bulaklak wasn’t really looking appetizing and there wasn’t any “flower/fan” chicharon that one’s accustomed to seeing when ordering this dish.  It was mostly big pork intestines.  Trying their version left me to forget the fan-like crispy chicharon and take pleasure in its salty and savory goodness.  The dish comes with burong kamias and sinamak.  The sweet and sour play of sinamak and the kamias buro blends perfectly with the tad saltiness of the appetizer.  Smack your lips in a cholesterol delight!

Gata Get This Chick PHP 245

Deboned quarter leg in Adobo twice cooked in vinegar then in coconut milk.  I was surprised by how small this dish was when the front of the menu claims that servings portions are quite big.  It seemed to be a small piece of chicken leg with very little sauce too.  Adobo flavor on the chicken meat was barely tasted but the coconut milk base was yummy.  Reminds me a bit of chicken curry.  We liked it but the serving size could have been better.  It’s only good for one –and not even a “hungry” one.

Jasmine Rice (2) PHP 30

Longga-Kalabasa Carbonara PHP 215

Spaghetti topped with crispy Tagalog Garlic longganisa over a creamy squash sauce.  I find the taste of the cream pumpkin base including the combo a bit unusual for my taste in pasta.  The longganisa wasn’t crispy and was on the bright red side.  Bubba didn’t seem to mind and said that he enjoyed the pasta dish.

Bonggang Bonggang Binagoongan PHP 240

My mom followed shortly so I had to order an extra viand.  I perused on their “Anyhow Liempo,” their take on one of my favorite grilled dishes but decided to get the Binagoongan since my mom likes Bagoong.  Their version is deep-fried super crunchy pork sitting on top of local shrimp paste.  Garnished with strips of manibalang mango.  Alongside the appetizers, this was also a winner.  The pork had crunchy skin but very soft velvety meat.

Other entrées that are must try on the next visit:

Tom Yum Inasal PHP 230

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (deboned quarter leg) in reduced Tom Yum Soup

Satay Kang Bata Ka PHP 230

Young chicken in a lechon-Davao marinade and smothered with Satay sauce

Spritely Squid Adobo PHP 245

Tender cuttlefish or squid rings cooked in vinegar, soy sauce, peppercorns and Sprite.

The ambience and food warps you to a time where delicious cuisine can simply make this nation smile.  I’m glad to be living in the 21^st century tasting honest to goodness Filipino food at 1521 Restaurant. 

1521 Restaurant

547 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City

(Same strip as Pan de Pugon and Mr. Poon)

+632 794 0433

1521 Restaurant Album

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Guess who’s celebrating its 72^nd birthday this July 13?  Krispy Kreme!

Krispy Kreme is an international retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature hot Original Glazed^® doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Today, Krispy Kreme can be found in approximately 525 locations around the world.

To commemorate Krispy Kreme’s 72 years in the business, International Krispy Kreme Day will start on the week of July 13 at Krispy Kreme stores around the world.  For six dozen years Krispy Kreme has provided unique menu offerings that help create unforgettable experiences that not only warm hearts, but bring smiles to faces in different countries.  On Monday, July 13, in honor of its 72^nd birthday, participating Krispy Kreme stores worldwide will celebrate International Krispy Kreme Day with special offers for loyal customers. That same day, Krispy Kreme will also announce a special promotion to celebrate and thank international fans for their passion and support.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Philippines is one not to be left behind.

To celebrate International Krispy Kreme Day in the Philippines, Krispy Kreme fans are encouraged to:

Share this news with their friends and family so they can join in on this special offer.

Go to their local participating Krispy Kreme Philippines store on July 13 for a special offer – get a free Original Glazed doughnut with any purchase.

Try one of the Company’s great-tasting iced beverages and inquire about the special promotion that will be announced that day.

Take photos of friends and family enjoying a special Krispy Kreme moment and share those pictures with loved ones and favorite social networking sites.

Join the Philippines “Friends of Krispy Kreme” on www.krispykreme.com.ph and find out first about other exciting promotions.

For updates on special promotions, exclusive offers and local events, join the Philippines “Friends of Krispy Kreme” by visiting www.krispykreme.com.ph.

Krispy Kreme Website

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Manila will boom with the newest 7.8 hectare site called Resorts World rising in Pasay City.  Resorts World at Manila is a collaboration between Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. and Star Cruises Ltd.  This new complex will definitely boost Manila’s tourism.  Soon the first Marriott Hotel will rise in Manila and Maxims Hotel estimated at about P4 billion will stand as a luxury hotel.  Other than three hotels, an iconic mall and the country’s largest casino will complete the mix.

Some of the developments are yet to be finished but what stands at the centerpiece of it is its world-class casino.  30,000 square meters in area, the casino will have public and private (VIP) gaming areas that showcases 300 tables and 1,000 slot machines.   

Resorts World Manila

Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.

Star Cruises Centre

100 Andrews Avenue

New Port, Cybertourism Zone

1309 Pasay City

Directions:  Coming from The Fort, cross the bridge going to Villamor.  Just go straight until you reach the end of the road (all vehicles have to turn right – this is Andrews Avenue).  At Andrews Avenue, you can already see NAIA 3 (to your left) and the Star Cruises Centre (to your right).  This is the only glass (blue) building in the vicinity.  We have a Star Cruises signage at the upper side of the building.  The main entrance is at the back.  To get to the main entrance, just turn right and then right.  Note: You should not reach the Total Gas Station.  If you do, you have already missed our building.  

Resorts World Manila Website

Resorts World Manila Launch Album

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Michael Jackson’s body will return to Neverland for public viewing on Friday.  A private memorial will follow on Sunday.

Fans gathered for a public tribute to Jackson at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where the singer performed as a child.

Jackson died at age 50 June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest.

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Products from Estee Lauder, Clinique, Mac, Bobbi Brown, Origins abound at the Acacia Room of Mandarin Oriental Hotel from June 24-26.

50% off on the following items:

Mac Eye Shadow Suite                                       Regular Price PHP 880 Discounted PHP 440

Estee Lauder Eye Shadow  Rose                       Regular Price PHP 1,000 Discounted PHP 500

Estee Lauder Eye Shadow Cinnamon                Regular Price PHP 1,000 Discounted PHP 500

70% off on this item:

Mac Cream Eye Shadow                                  Regular Price PHP 1,100 Discounted PHP 330

Make-up Buys at Private Sale Album

Behind the newest restaurant of Café Ysabel are the kids of Chef Gene Gonzales: Gino and Gianinna.  Buenisimo menu reminds me of Café Ysabel’s offerings.

Bubba and I stuck to our usual favorite at Café Ysabel, Truffle Pizza.  I wasn’t too hungry that evening and was overly giddy talking about food with the other couple.  That reminds me, I have 3 pending entries on Café Ysabel that have been included in my backlog since last year.

On the Table

Bread and Café Ysabel’s Balsamic Vinegar

Amuse Bouche

(I forgot what it was but it was yummy!)

Wanton PHP 158

French Onion Soup PHP 168

Crustacean Bisque PHP 138

Prawns Thermidore PHP 488

The first four items were Ann and Andrew’s orders.  Ann let me try their French Onion Soup but I wasn’t a big fan of their version.  I remember the French Onion soups in Le Souffle were fantastic.

Truffle Pizza PHP 438

Three consecutive visits within 2 weeks at Café Ysabel and this was never amiss on the table.  Basic cheese pizza with flakes of flagrant truffle on top, I really love it. This pizza never fails to calm my senses.

Buenisimo Burger PHP 298

Bubba’s order and he liked the flavorful juicy beef patty that he left most of the conversation between us three.

Eastwood City is prettier nowadays.  This building reminds me of the building facades at the Venetian.

Buenisimo Café Ysabel

Level 2, Eastwood City Cyberpark

Quezon City

Buenisimo Café Ysabel Album

SM Cinema offers another breakthrough in movie watching experience. After opening the very first IMAX Theatre in the Philippines at SM Mall of Asia, SM Cinema is once again leading the race towards technological evolution by opening another IMAX Theatre at SM City North EDSA on July 16, 2009.

IMAX Theatre SM City North EDSA is uniquely equipped with IMAX’s digital projection system which will surely deliver The IMAX ultimate movie experience to all its moviegoers. 

IMAX Theatre’s digital theater system uses a comprehensive suite of proprietary IMAX technologies, that, when integrated together, creates an experience that consistently puts the audience IN the movie.

This is the world’s most advanced digital theatre system and is superior to all conventional digital systems, just as IMAX’s film-based system is superior to conventional film-based systems

An IMAX theatre equipped with IMAX’s digital projection system delivers the key elements that make up The IMAX Experience^®.

These elements include:

IMAX’s revolutionary projection technology, which delivers crystal-clear images

IMAX’s powerful audio system, which delivers laser-aligned digital sound

IMAX’s customized theatre geometry, which maximizes your field of view 

The IMAX Experience is created through a comprehensive suite of intellectual property and technology, and it is the unique combination of these features that impacts what moviegoers see, hear and feel at the movies.

Catch the following upcoming movies only at the new IMAX Theatre SM City North EDSA: 

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – July 16, 2009 with exclusive IMAX 3D scenes

As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.

Under The Sea 3D – August 2009

An underwater look at the diverse coastal regions of Southern Australia, New Guinea and the Indo-Pacific areas and the impact of global warming on the oceans

A Christmas Carol 3D – November 2009

An animated retelling of Charles Dickens classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions

Avatar 3D – December 2009

A band of humans are pitted in a battle against a distant planet’s indigenous population.

For inquiries and ticket reservations, please call 929- 5452 or 924-4274. For inquiries and screening schedule, log on to www.smcinema.com or you can email us at imaxnorthedsa@smsupermalls.com.

Lately, it’s noticeable that Cameron Diaz has been sporting anything in WHITE.  She was recently awarded a Star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Source Image: accesshollywood

She looks so young and fresh in this crisp white asymmetrical dress with the rouge lipstick during the premiere of her movie My Sister’s Keeper.

MUST. BUY. Mac lipstick in Russian Red. Soon!

Pizza Hut ventured to be daring and introduced their latest offering, Viva Lasagna.  It’s lasagna and pizza in one.  The billboards looked really enticing and reading Fran’s post on it, Bubba and I decided to order one at home.

Bubba liked it but said that he wouldn’t be excited for another go.  I was clearly disappointed because the pizza even with the idea of marrying two of the usual favorites tasted really plain.  One can taste the red sauce and then lasagna strips on top of Pizza Hut’s usual crust only seemingly thicker so the next taste is the tasteless crust.  What was evidently lacking is CHEESE.  I was expecting that it was oozing with cheese.  It wasn’t even as much as the usual Pizza Hut cheese.

I liked the concept of Lasagna and Pizza in one.  Reminded me of the Godfather Wrap of Nacho King before, delicious lasagna in a wrap.  But the execution in this case wasn’t that impressive.  We should have stuck to ordering Pizza Hut’s Super Supreme.

Carbo-loading should be tasty and savory to eat given that you are already splurging on your carbo mix in one meal.  The experience should be worth the carb intake and the pizza price.

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Right after our dinner at Sala, we decided to check out another restaurant in Makati.  Bubba has been yapping to try out Mana-ish, a Mediterranean restaurant situated at the ground floor of the same building where he trains jiu-jitsu.  And so I relented that same night.

Blanche (PHP 110), special Manai-sh white sauce topped with mushroom and bell pepper.

I have to say that the Blanche didn’t quite leave an impression on me.  I’m not sure if it’s the name but it was timid… bland.  Maybe I should try their wraps next time since this must be their specialty.

Mana-ish Album  

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