Last week, Estee Lauder launched its limited collection of solid perfume compact during the Estee Lauder Holiday Spectacular event held at The Gallerie, Rustan’s Makati.  Filipino designer Inno Sotto owns The Gallerie, a level dedicated to fashion, particularly his own personal collection.  The venue was laced with everything that is beautiful including a red carpet in the midst of the displays.

Estee Lauder first introduced its solid fragrance compact in 1963 with the release of the Youth-Dew Boutique Oval.  This year’s collection shows that their fragrance trinkets only get better one collection after the other.  Designs weaved vary from special holiday-themed items such as candy cane and striped lollipops to animal figures such as penguin, spider, dove –all fabricated in distinctiveness and glamour.  Some of the compacts were even designed by famous jewelry designer, Jay Strongwater.

The collection is touring different countries and will return to its home in New York once the circuit is completed. The roving exhibition is not only a showcase of the intricate solid perfume ornaments, but some are issued as auction items to benefit the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

The fragrances are speckled from the familiar Estee Lauder brands –my favorite of which, Pleasures.  Some of the elaborate compacts are available for as low as PHP7,000, that can stand as a perfect holiday gift. 

Celebrity spotting at the event includes Priscilla Meirelles, Cory Quirino, and Diether Ocampo.

Events Events Album

Yay!  I scored two (2) VIP passes to the Big Fish event, Chicane Live on Stage.  Thanks to SPOT!

Nokia Music, Big Fish presents a one of a kind dance concert :::Chicane LIVE on Stage::: Catch the event at World Trade Center, September 27, Sat,

Trivia from Martin: Chicane is not a one-man dj like tiesto.  Chicane is a full band composed of 7 members headed by Nick Bracegirdle.  They will be performing live on stage with keyboards, bass, drums guitar, percusiion and male/female vocals.

For tickets and VIP tables, please call 6348238/6327762. 

Website: http://bigfishmanila.com

At Mi Piace with a group of lovely ladies attending the Cancer Awareness event of Jayvee F.

Phoebe of Swipesomegloss/Pass the Sauce in black, Sophie of Beautynomics in red, Didi of Candisssh in yellow, Sasha of Style Manila in floral long sleeves.

Mi Piace

Peninsula Manila Hotel, Makati Ave. Cor. Ayala Ave.

887-2888 Ext. 6737

What better way to miss the Chris Daughtry Live in Manila concert happening in Libis?  Attend the Healthy Shabu Shabu event and engage your appetite to healthy and delicious food!  That is precisely what I did this evening.  Looking for something to warm me up for tomorrow and a good bowl (or more) of hot soup absolutely did the trick. 

When one hears Shabu Shabu, one thinks no frills cooking.  Dump everything in hot water without using an iota of brain cell.  One only needs a drop of brain juice to realize not to stick the searing beef from the hot pot straight to a salivating mouth… I ran out of brain juice.

Now my tongue is numb from scorching it with hot spicy yummy broth.  But before it went numbed and stricken with oversized dots, it was a very happy digestive organ.

Candy Hwang, the woman behind Healthy Shabu Shabu, developed the art of eating Shabu Shabu.  The process begins with choosing the items on your Shabu Shabu platter –veggies, seafood, beef, and lamb as the main options. 

Nutritious veggie platter is always a staple in most shabu shabu meal along with 2 different servings of fresh homemade noodles, the fat and thin of noodles, vermicelli and egg noodle.  This includes Taiwan and Baguio petchay, beancurd, yam, black mushrooms and carrots.  For meat options, chicken, thinly sliced lamb and Angus beef are available.  A healthier alternative is a seafood platter that includes shrimps, fish cutlets, abalone and oysters.

The second phase centers on the soup base.  A small gadget under the right side of the table shows temperature options.  Place the temperature to the boiling point of 150 degrees.  When the water starts producing big bubbles, it signifies the start of the cooking process.  It is vital to know which ingredients go in first.  The sweet corn, yam and fat noodles take the plunge first since it takes longer for them to cook.  For the sauce, Healthy Shabu Shabu provides a special barbecue sauce, chopped garlic, onion, chili, special sauce base and spices.  Simply mix the sauce, chili, garlic, and onion into the special sauce base.  Diners may opt to add egg yolk in the special sauce to make it richer.  You can opt to put half of the spices in the soup.

The key to the best shabu shabu experience is learning how to boil the ingredients without overcooking them.  It helps that you do not crowd the pot with so many items.  You also want to build up the flavor of the broth by knowing which ingredients to put first.  Crabs, shrimps, lobsters make the broth richer in flavor so that should be one of the first items.

Vermicelli noodles, leafy vegetables, carrots, beancurd, meatballs should not be left boiling for more than 30 seconds.  Candy Hwang advises that the vegetable ingredients of this savory meal are best served crunchy and not overcooked.

Phase 3 focuses on the meat part of the meal.  The meat of the fish may follow but make sure not to leave it boiling for 5-10 minutes.  Spreading beaten raw egg on top of the meat tenderizes the beef of your choice.  After doing so, add the meat in the pot during the boiling point.  After 20-40 seconds, let the meat cool down in the sauce and enjoy.  The lamb and Angus beef meat that was served were absolutely fantastic -tender and flavorful.  I could eat a dozen slices without the sauce.

Healthy Shabu Shabu is a fun, safe, healthy and interactive way of dining that utilizes state-of-the dining facilities and equipment. 

Healthy Shabu Shabu Branches: Powerplant Mall -898.3979/895.6300  The Podium -914.1028-29 SM Mall of Asia -556.0354-55 Robinsons Galleria -633.1979/632.1634 SM North The Block -442.0036-37 Alabang Town Center -850.6633/850.6976Robinsons Midtown -526.2981/529.3983Shangri La Plaza Mall 910.3272/632.7532 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/528/08_0729-_Healthy_Shabu_Shabu_Event

ICanServe in cooperation with ABS-CBN Publishing and the Lifestyle
Channel invite you to its benefit food and drink festival:

PINK KITCHEN
August 11 and 12 Saturday and Sunday
Rockwell Tent, Makati City
Entrance Donation: P200

Experience the country’s top private and gourmet chefs whip up their signature dishes!

All entrance donations go to ICanServe.
ICanServe conducts high impact information campaigns for breast cancer awareness,
and provides financial assistance for breast cancer patients in treatment

http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/199/07_0811-_Pink_Kitchen 

Bubba picked me up at my crib to accompany him to his 1230pm haircut appointment at Ark Salon, Makati. I was already famished since I didn’t eat anything for breakfast. After his haircut, we went to Rockwell Tent to attend the Pink Kitchen event and grab lunch there.

Inside the Tent, dozens of food and beverage booths surrounded the perimeter area. I have to comment that it was extremely difficult to go from one booth to another, not only because I want to try all the gastronomic dishes, but also the walkway was too narrow to accommodate fellow foodies. The ceiling was glazed with pink and white layers of silk draperies. The tables and chairs were clothed like it was one huge gala of a catered social gathering. A bouquet of flowers garnished with bell peppers and cauliflower further accessorized the table.

We had to exchange our money with chit/paper money by the entrance. The same idea was adopted during the 4th of July event (afternoon snacks) at Westin Philippine Plaza to probably avoid money’s contact with food. The chit/paper money that’s left can’t be reverted back to cash at Pink Kitchen’s event though.

Too bad we got there almost 2pm the food was almost out! We finally settled for the Chicken Tikka (Maza Masala), Beef Curry (the booth beside Gourmandise), Pollo Rancho Luna (corner booth next to the Dimsum booth) and Frozen Brazo Choco Banana (Dimpy Camara).

Chicken Tikka. 2 sticks (P120) - seasoned chicken cutlets with green bell peppers and onions in a skewer. Served with 2 sauces, zesty tomato chutney and herbed cream. The chicken meat had an exquisite grilled flavor and the accompanying sauces released just the right heat of Indian spices.

Beef Curry. 1 cup (P120) tasted more like Malaysian curry and I couldn’t get enough of the thick sauce, which I used to coat my hill of white rice (Everybody’s Café. P20. They were the only ones left that still had rice).

Roasted Chicken with tomato basted beans, banana chips and rice. 1 plate (120) -my LP wanted this. It looked yummy but I was skeptical about this order because I had a premo-dish-ion that the roast chicken will taste like an ordinary roast chicken. Omen revealed, it lacked flavor and the yellow rice was too little to compensate for the rest of the chicken. However, for only P120, it’s not that bad.

Frozen Brazo Choco Banana. 1 slice 100 -because my Bubba boo and me were so excited to dig in, I forgot to take a picture first so the photo were only 2 bites left before we totally emptied the plate. Bubba really liked this popular item by Dimpy Camara and wasn’t able to speak for 10minutes savoring the bouncing coolness, sweetness, choco-gooey in his mouth.

The Brazo was the perfect ending to our piquant lunch. It cooled down our palette and comforted it from the different spices that it espoused.

For a flat P500 for two heads, it was worth every cent.

If the booth wasn’t too populated and I wasn’t too eager to dive into our mouth-watering choices, I would have staked it out at Gourmandise for Sunshine Puey’s tarte tartins with foie gras. It is so sweet to note though that Robert Pengson, Puey’s better heart (better-half, love partner, etc.), was there fretting it out with her. It was so quixotic to see their teamwork.

The Pink Kitchen event was truly a smashing hit amongst gourmands in the metro. I’m looking forward to more events like this in the near future!

Pink Kitchen Album