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   

It’s back!  The Tasting Room returns (Link: http://www.janedchua.com/2007/12/19/enter-the-tasting-room/) to your favorite restaurants to give you a sampling of the best in foodie experience.  The Tasting Room offers a special degustation menu more affordably priced, ranging from PHP 350 – 1,200.  Participating restaurants include: Kai, Tropezzz, Bubba Gump, Solihiya, Max Brenner, Haiku, Italianni’s, Cyma, La Maison, Capricciosa, Mezze, Nuvo, Gaudi, Fish and Co., and Mr. Rockfeller.  The gastronomic tour starts on May 1 and ends on May 31, 2008.  Tasting Room Coupons are available in the April-May 2008 issue of Appetite Magazine.  For more information, click on the Appetite Magazine Link below.

Appetite Mag Link: http://www.appetitemag.com/events/tastingroom08.php?art=1

Brazil Brazil was a favorite of mine back in college days.  The first branch ever put up is located is Powerplant Mall and I would travel from DLSU Taft to Makati just to have lunch here.  I remember bringing Padi, a visiting friend from General Santos, at this Rotisserie and he really enjoyed the experience of getting your meat served to your table freshly grilled. 

Not only are Brazilian girls well liked in the country, Filipinos have also embraced Brazil Brazil, the popular Rotisserie restaurant, with so much gusto.  First, Pinoys absolutely love buffets.  2^nd, it gives a totally different dining experience.  The restaurant dropped its echo so now it’s known as simply Brazil.

Brazil serves different kinds of meat: porkloin, hanging tender, frankies, squid, spareribs, etc.  They even have grilled banana and pineapples –which is my favorite!  Grilled fruits are really delicious!

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/420/08_0425-_Brazil_Treat_for_Ma

Life has been busy the past two weeks! 

Upcoming articles: 

In Yo

Nokia Soul of the Night Race

Nokia N82 Review

ClawDaddy Crab

Market at the Hill – 1^st Visit

Ol for Luv Concert (If you can believe it)

Amazing Race Asia 2 Promo Event –Mall Race 

Allow me to post more photos from the Nokia Soul of the Night party (photo courtesy of Francis Yllana)

To some people, the name Apartment 1B doesn’t quite depict aristocracy.  In NYC, certain apartments are more expensive than actual houses.  Some Manhattan apartments are on the list of the World’s Most Expensive Homes.  Let not the name dupe you, because Apartment 1B restaurant is really sophisticated in many levels.

It is an elegant and yet casual and comfortable restaurant –more the atmosphere of a high-end deli/café.  Rightfully so, it is strategically located in the business district of Makati.  A beautiful mahogany type bar welcomes you as you enter the door.  Art deco styles the plain white wall while soft lighting and comfortable chairs add to the contemporary motif of this multi-level restaurant.  

On the Table:

Eggs Benedict with Canadian Ham and Spinach PHP 320 ++

It was an art on its own that I had a hard time touching it and fragmenting it with my fork.  How can you eat something as beautiful as that?  It was like a smiling plate with bright eyes.  It was served with seasoned potatoes (which was drizzled with some kind of cayenne oil) and green salad on the side.

Eggs Benedict is a breakfast dish that consists of two halves of an English muffin topped with ham or bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.  I wanted to go unconventional and try it with salmon but eventually opted to go traditional.  The Canadian ham is actually more of bacon than ham, which is great because I’m not a big fan of hams. 

As I started on my first bite, Bubba indistinctly heard me moan in delight.  It was as wonderful in taste as it was presented.  The bread was soft.   The spinach tasted fresh, the egg tender and velvety. The hollandaise sauce had the right consistency of lemon and butter.  The bacon gave just the right saltiness to the whole entourage.  As I get to the middle of the muffin, I was also drawing near to the fountain of yolk waiting to burst.  Gently and gracefully, it gushed out.  It made me want to abandon poise, grab the muffin with my hands and swipe the yellow glob on the plate with the bread. 

I have stopped eating anything with egg for almost a year now.  But Apartment 1B’s exquisite Eggs Benedict made me betray that pledge.  Bubba kept saying that he wanted my plate.  I shared the other half with him since half of it was already filling. 

3 Cheese and Vegetable Lasagna PHP 400 ++

It was served with two garlic breads.  It was also scrumptious.  It could use a little more tomato sauce for my taste but it was upright on its own.

Breakfast and lunch entrees can serve two.  They serve breakfast until 3pm.  Service is professional, attentive, and courteous.  The fine quality of the simply prepared dishes is consistent with outstanding tastes and presentations.

Apartment 1B -Gourmet Comfort Food is located in One Lafayette Square, Ground Floor, Unit 1-B, Leviste Corner Sedeño St.  Salcedo Village, Makati City.  Contact numbers: 8434075/09208554560.  Parking available in Jaime C. Velasquez Park, Paseo Center and along L.P. Leviste Street.

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/396/08_0405-_Apartment_1B 

Makati Shangri-la is the best hotel in the Metro!  I’ve stayed here on several occasions and I enjoyed my every stay.  Excellent service, international standards, all the time!  I absolutely love staying at Makati Shang.  There is simply no other in the Metro that comes close.

My Bubba was promoted to purple belt last Nov. 10 during the DEFTAC BJJ clinic in WAP. Too bad I was not able to witness it but I’m very proud of my Bubba for getting promoted. Since then, he’s been supporting his blue belt because he still didn’t have the actual purple belt… so I decided to order one and surprise him =)

After three weeks of not having a purple belt when you needed one, I planned out a small surprise at the Red Corner Gym, Intercontinental Hotel, Makati, where we always go for boxing and fitness.

When he went to change in the lockers, I immediately sneaked out of the girl’s lockers and hurried to the BJJ area. Atty. Erwin helped me place the sign and belt at the top of the speedball thingy since I was too small to reach it. I snuck back to the lockers to get the camera. When I came out, he already saw it and I totally missed his reaction. Good thing he was beaming when I saw him. He was supposed to do some chores first before getting the purple belt but he got too excited… well, he did the tasks on the task card which were 30 push-ups, 30 crunches nonstop, 3 cartwheels, 5 minutes in the treadmill with speed 10 (he didn’t do this!) 20 claps then shout “Yay! I have my grimace belt!”

This was sometime in 2005.  Photos are ugly –taken from phone camera.

 Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/35/Food_Quest