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

(Image from Repertory Philippines website)

Catch a Christmas Carol on Onstage Greenbelt from November 14 – December 14, 2008. 

For more inquiries, visit Repertory Philippines website.

New presentor Colt 45 brought you URCC XII Supremacy at A-venue Events Hall, Makati Avenue, Makati City.  The event that was set on July 5, 2008 highlighted the match between Caloy Baduria and Eduard Folayang (Link: ).  I didn’t have to wait though for the main bout to see live and raw MMA action as all undercards gave a variety of quality combat sport.  I have to say that this was the best set of undercard match-up as almost all fights were finished in round 1.  Besides not hearing the Round 2 bell, fights were completed under 5 minutes except for one which is match number 9 between Justin Cruz and Lino Tagacay.  Justin Cruz remained to be the Bantamweight title holder as Lino finally gave in on Justin’s ankle lock midway in Round 2.

Match 1:                Winner Jerry Legaspi (Hybrid Yaw Yan) v. Anthony Dominic So (MMAX Combat)

Result:    Rear Naked Choke @ 2:27 

Match 2:                Winner Cary Bullos (Sel-Def MMA Team) v. Arnel Arancina (Gym Kata)

Result:    Rear Naked Choke @ 4:44 

Match 3:                Winner Lando Espinosa (Elorde MMA Team) v. John Naval (Team Silverstorm)

Result:    Arm Bar @ 1:24 

Match 4:                Winner Noble Ampoc (Yaw Yan Ardigma) v. Robert Serdone (Iron Gladiators Team)

Result:    Rear Naked Choke @ 3:56 

Match 5:                Winner Roldan Cartajena (Hybrid Yaw Yan) v. Marlon Abrigosa (SB Street Fighting)

Result:    Rear Naked Choke @ 4:21 

Match 6:                Winner Earl Uy (Hybird Yaw Yan) v. Dennis Valmores (Sb Street Fighting)

Result:    RSC (TKO) @ 0:52 

Match 7:                Winner Seyed Razi Jabbari (Freestyle) v. Panchito Estrada (Elorde MMA Team)

Result:    RSC (TKO) @ 4:47 

Match 8:                Winner Kevin Belingon (Lakay Wushu Team) v. Magellan Perez (Elorde MMA Team)

Result:    Kimura @ 4:01 

Match 9:                Winner Justin Cruz (Fokai Guam) v. Lino Tagacay (Gym Kata)

Result:    Ankle Lock @ 5:16 of Round 2 

Match 10: Winner Eduard Folayang (Lakay Wushu Team) v. Caloy Baduria (Elorde MMA Team)

Result:    RSC (TKO) @ 3:41 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/500/08_0705-_URCC_XII_Supremacy_Action_Stills

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It was a month of wait since I first started craving to eat at Elbert’s Steak Room.  I’d always have to take a rain check since my schedule has been pretty tight these past few months.  Last Thursday I wanted to treat Bubba to a lunch there.  I sent an SMS asking if they were fully booked that day.  They weren’t but I had a meeting at 2pm.  I figured that I could not go to Makati at 12nn and be back in Ortigas by 2pm, not even if I rid us of parking issues and take a cab.  I wanted to risk it (salivating over the thought of cheese steak) but the look at Bubba’s face said I shouldn’t. 

Warm bread shaped like a bloomed flower and a ramekin of butter are presented by the server who are professional and knowledgeable.  Butter as if on queue melts as it touches the bread.  Interestingly shaped like a flower, pick the petal piece by piece as one wants more of the warm slices.  House water has lemon fritz and Bubba didn’t like that there is a bitter aftertaste of the water so he asked for one without.

Sautéed slices of USDA Prime Grade ribeye on a soft baguette smothered with sautéed onions served on a white plate.  You can choose to get Provolone, Cheddar or Cheese Whiz.  It was served with Pommes Frittes that are slim cut fries.  I love nibbling on the crunchy and soft fries.

Sautéed and braised tenderloin tips with a brown sauce, mushrooms and sour cream.  It was served with an olio pasta on the side.  The brown peppery sauce was really flavorful and I didn’t fight the urge anymore to swipe my leftover baguette over the sauce.  The only complaint of Bubba was that the beef had a lot of litid more than the meat.  I shrugged it off since out of the 4 bites I took from his plate, I only had one chewy bite of litid which is so forgivable for me.

Owner Elbert Cuenca keeps a watchful eye on all the events at the Steak Room and I heard that his brother manages the kitchen.  As we made our way back to Ortigas and Bubba to ABS, my thoughts are “I can sleep better tonight.”

House Burger
Freshly ground 100% USDA beef mixed with bone marrow

With Gruyere or Provolone cheese served with pommes frittes

Disclaimer: Since I have recently been disappointed at the PHP 1700 steak I had at a joint in Serendra, it might take some time (after my trip to Macau perhaps?) for me to invest that much on a 14-ounce red meat.

Elbert’s Steak Room is located at 3/F Sagittarius Building III 111 H. V. de la Costa Street Salcedo Village, Makati City (near Kitaro).  Make your reservations at 3393363/09153151813. Check their menu @ www.steakroom.com  

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/487  

Oh goody!  My Lancome Hypnose mascara has almost dried out.  I have to get a new one.  But let me try some new products first before I get hypnotized to buying Lancome, which I absolutely love by the way!

While you are at it, there’s also free trial make-up from Yves Saint Laurent these Saturdays of June!

Old Swiss Inn was the first date place I invited Bubba to.  His was Salcedo Market, but that’s another story.  It was more like an after-dinner thing.  Since he loves cheese, as I do, I decided to order the Waatlander Fondue PHP 650.  This is their cheese version of fondue, which is served in a clay pot (seals in flavor) over fire.  Small slices of bread served in a basket accompanied the cheese fondue. 

We decided to pay another visit to the Inn.  Since we were waiting for Michelle Callanta of Gadgets Magazine, we decided to grab some late-night chow at the restaurant around 1030pm of May 28.  It was still very much the same as I remembered it.  Beautiful oak paneling with log timber accent the elegant setting of this warm and inviting restaurant.  Etched glass scenes of Switzerland have created an Alpine look while wait staff clad in Swiss costumes add a striking ambience.  Even if the wait staff had costumes on, their professionalism is enhanced by their pride and their enthusiasm. 

The number of tables taken at almost 11pm in the night rightfully proves its reputation.  Specialties include their in-house cured corned beef and several fondue selections.  Not only is the restaurant a traditional Swiss house, it also offers many other varied cuisines. 

On the Table:

Fondue Bourguignonne  PHP 1040

This time around we ordered the beef fondue, which I’ve been craving to try for months!  It’s prime beef tenderloin cubes dipped in hot oil with a carousel of sauces (love the peppercorn sauce!), served with slim French Fries.

Old Swiss Inn is one of the restaurants that will always be sentimental to me.  Old Swiss Inn is located at the ground floor of Olympia Towers, Makati Avenue cor. Sto. Tomas Makati City.  Contact them at 8180098. 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/460/08_0528-_Old_Swiss_Inn

I was excited about Saturday evening because it was going to be a dinner with Bubba’s DLSU friends, where they humorously call the group “berks”.  With all the college stories that Bubba has shared with me, I have come to learn their berks “talk” –a set of coded words that only their group understands.  I enjoy hanging with the group because they are a bunch of really pleasant people –sensible, light-hearted and laidback.  This dinner was a special one because of Alex’s homecoming.  Alex works in Singapore but she is in town at the moment.  Compared to the rest that I’ve hung out with last year, this was only the 2^nd time I’ve met her.  She was warm and friendly.  Her family is also going to Macau for a trip like Bubba and me in August (can’t August please come any sooner?)   

Fely J’s is a modern Filipino bistro in a family setting restaurant amidst the lavish surroundings of the fresh Greenbelt 5.  A big framed black and white photo of Fely J against a pink background greets the diners.  A pink lamp sits on the table below the photo and huge white tulips.  The white ceiling had big circle outlines and low lights.  A wall near the entrance door is decorated with slim bamboo sticks.  There is a Quiapo saloon enlarged newspaper clipping in one of the frames, the rest are paintings of aged women in pastel colors, which exudes aged elegance.  The dining area is surrounded with pink walls with white floral embellishment, chocolate wooden tables while some are round granite tables, and matching brown chairs with orange or cream seats.  The wait staff are all clad in black with pink apron.  

Since Bubba and I arrived late, everyone went ahead and ordered.  I would have wanted to try newer dishes like tilapia with sweet plum sauce or their butterfly butter prawns in curry but I guess the group ordered on the safe side with the more familiar dishes.  We had a late lunch at 5pm that I wasn’t able to eat much during dinner anyway.

On the Table: 

Pork Binagoongan

Dilis Rice

Fely J’s is modern in décor and refined in taste.  It is decorated with subtle artwork, plenty fresh white flowers and dramatic lighting that exude the same elegance in their concoction of Filipino food.

Celebrity Spotting:  Senator Chix Escudero at Fely J’s Fely J’s is located at the 2^nd level of Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Ayala Center.  Make a reservation at 7288858. 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/444/08_0517-_Fely_Js