My favorite new toy –I bought it more than a year ago at Hobbes and Landes but only got to open the package last week.  I really have to rid off this habit of buying stuff and keeping them until they rot.

I’ve been playing with it all week, losing sleep over getting the highest score possible.  And finally I did it last Saturday night, $1,999,990…

Sector9 and Aloha Board Sports bring you Manila Bomb Push Don’t Pollute Skateboard Race.  From Manila to Rockwell, October 11, 2008, 6AM.

For more information, please visit: http://www.sector 9manilabomb.com 

Global Pinoy Bazaar

www.yabangpinoy.com

DIY concept of cooking your food (it’s half way cooked anyway) on their patented hot plate that keeps your food warm long after the sizzle is gone.  The hot plate was smartly decorated with a paper protection to avoid getting your hands or arms charred –this I appreciate a lot since I am so clumsy to a T.  I grazed my right arm several times over the paper shield and stopping mid-track to thank the paper shield from getting my skin scorched. 

I’ve been itching to go to Pepper Lunch since I’ve read Fran’s entry on Pepper Lunch.  With a busy schedule, I’ve been yearning day after day when I’m finally sinking my teeth into some flavorful and aromatic meat!  Thank God, I found time last Saturday in between the Dialogue event at Starbucks (5-630pm) and the TF Party at Ced’s (8pm onwards).  However, after trying to fit it in my schedule, the STILL long wait in line dampened the mood a bit.  I’m glad that as soon as we were seated, the food arrived within 5 minutes.

On the Table:

Cut Steak and Hamburger Combo Ala Carte PHP 280

Since Franny was raving about this order (http://frannywanny.blogspot.com/2008/06/hi-im-fran-and-im-pepper-lunch-fan.html), I’ve been dying to try it out.  On the hot plate were thinly sliced beef strips with bigger amount of fat and hamburger patty served with mung beans sprouts, carrots and string beans.  As Fran attested, the burger patty was really flavorful.  I’m such a sauce fan though that I cannot pass up the chance to try the sauces.  2 sauces are available on the table.  One is the honey brown sauce while the other is garlic soy sauce.  I like the former while CW like the latter.

Ooh yummy!  It is right exactly how I like my curry.  Japanese curry!!!  The reason I had my arm over my hot plate was because I kept getting food from CW’s plate.

Plain Rice PHP 40 

Pepper Lunch claims they particularly make this special ground black pepper by only using the peppercorn shells.  I can’t believe that there is an option to say “no pepper please.”  Pepper is pepper.  That’s why it’s always on the table whichever restaurant you go to.  Salt is only placed on the table because pepper needs company.  Who wants pepper to be lonely?  Pepper is not a gold fish.  Pepper cannot live alone.  Even if I don’t touch the salt, I’m glad salt is there for pepper’s companionship.  Salt makes you bloat.  Pepper is heavenly.  I love pepper.  Period. 

Pass the pepper please!

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/480/08_0614-_Pepper_Lunch

Soms was a favorite go-to-dinner of mine when I was still staying in Makati.  It’s so easy to just past by Alger Street (parallel to Rockwell Drive) and get a quick order.  Parking is not a problem and food is served fast.  The usual favorites are red curry chicken, bagoong rice, catfish mango salad and of course, my utmost favorite from this place is their Tom Yum.  I’ve tried their chicken pandan but I can cook a meaner chix pandan at home for lesser the price.  The fried spring rolls are ok.  But nothing beats their chicken curry and Tom Yum.  Soms is the really the home for quick and cheap Thai food. 

Soms Noodle House is located at 5921 Alger St. Poblacion, Makati (Near the Powerplant mall).  Contact them at 7578079 or 09179227648.

Rockwell’s Summer Series Presents SUNDAY SOUKA weekend market featuring food, plants and handicrafts from Rockwell residents, established favorites and up and coming player. 

We met Antz at the Rockwell Sunday Souk on April 20 for lunch.  It’s been a long time since I last saw Antz and now he’s even busier because he recently became part of the Lopez Group managing the Rockwell Club.  It was a timely meet since I also wanted to drop by the Lifestyle Bazaar happening at the Rockwell Tent dubbed as the Rockwell Urban Bazaar (April 18-20). Having only about 5 tables available for eating is what I didn’t like about the Sunday Souk.  I didn’t get to go around the market since I was so hungry by the time we met Antz… and my rule of thumb is, hunger first before anything else.  Antz had the beef burger while CW had the roasted calf, rice, and a slice of Brooklyn Pizza.  I had Korean Chicken Barbeque, Kimchi, Dumplings and Rice. 

Right after chowing, I strolled over to the Tent.  I bumped into my friend Mickey and Joyce who also have a space at the Rockwell Lifestyle Wing.  I found this cute paste ring worth PHP1,500 but decided against it since I just bought a ring last week (Gosh, I have been on a shopping binge for 1 month now.  The last time I was really into shopping was like –my whole college years AND my first two years of working.  I hope I have not developed the SHOPPING ITCH again.  Ugh, I so hated that and I’m not into it anymore.  There’s more love and fun in eating and cooking!  ANYHOO… going back)     Mickey and Joyce have a lot of good items and I mustered strength to get out of their stall before I start buying anything.  There were 4-5 stalls that had interesting items.  I am happy that local designers are increasing in number and their designs are really of quality.  I saw this blue green tube dress that was really pretty.  Damage is PHP1,200, but for the material used, I don’t think it was worth it.  But the cut was really nice.  And I have been looking for a new tube dress!  G-E-T A G-R-I-P J-A-N-E (and yes, I know how to spell my name. Bleh.)  I was really restraining myself to get anything since I bought 2 jackets from Backstage a few days ago.   

I stopped at Be and saw this purple polo dress that I couldn’t pass down.  And soon after I was buying something else -a wide black slimming belt.  I was on the brink of buying a blue tunic that had a hand painted design but good thing it didn’t fit me well.

The stores worth checking out! 

Be

1^st floor, 34 A Missouri Lane, Theater Mall, Greenhills Shopping Complex

3^rd floor, Club Fun Glorietta II, Ayala Makati

2^nd floor, Market Market Bonifacio Global City

Contact: Jojo 09178100574/ Rach 09209475280 

Lyn De Roca

Derocabags.multiply.com

derocabags@gmail.com

09175322252 

De Roca at My Pink Boudoir

146 VM Condominium Adelantado St. Legaspi Village, Makati

7528287

Luca, 2^nd floor Archaeology, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell 

Fuddy Duddy

Fuddyduddy123.multiply.com

09173288029 

Punto Bags

09178008108

puntobags@gmail.com

Puntobags.multiply.com  

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