212/365 photoblog: Australian Oranges

This is me with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Bill Twedell (middle) and the men from Citrus Australia Trade at the Ambassador's Residence in Forbes Park. It was such an honor to have been invited. 

Vikings SouthEast Asian Menu for August 2014

 

For the month of August 2014, Vikings will be offering South East Asian hawker type of food. As we all know, countries in South East Asia are famous for their street food and what better way to let the patrons of Vikings Luxury Buffet experience the finest these countries have to offer than by recreating these old favorites and giving it a more upscale look?

I loved this Laksa. It wasn't too spicy. It had the right kick to it.  The bean sprouts also added flavor to the entire thing.

As for these appetizers, I loved the Somosa the most. I actually had 4 of it. It was just so good. It tasted similar to our empanada but with curry on it.

The lamb shank rendang was definitely to die for. It was huge and it was soft, tender, and very very tasty. I almost forgot to try the Hainanese Chicken. Haha.

Lovers of squid will definitely go for the Kampot Squid. I, however, like my squid to be cooked a bit more and perhaps not with too much curry.
 

Now this one is something like a cross between a fondue and pancakes. The liquified coconut jam was a great pair with the pancakes on a stick. PERFECT!

Kudos to the team for an awesome South East Asian Delight. This is available all weekends of August 2014 so head over and visit them this weekend.

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/lifeiskulayful
Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/mskathykenny
Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/mskathykenny
Follow me on pinterest www.pinterest.com/mskathykenny
Like my personal page www.facebook.com/mskathykenny 

* I was invited to review the food. I did not pay for my meal. However, the free meal did not in any way sway my opinion and everything you read here is MY PERSONAL OPINION. 

211/365 photoblog: Jacuzzi

Spent time in this today. Happiness.

210/365 photoblog: Fringe Salon

Thank you so much Fringe Salon for taking care of all of us. We all felt so pampered.

209/365 photoblog: Rise and Shine

Monday mornings have become extra special since I have started spending it with these people. Here's the Monday group of Rise and Shine. Catch us every Monday Channel 37 at 8am to 9am.

Mad About Denim

Everyone loves denim. I don't think there is anyone on Earth who does not like denim. Denim is something that everyone has worn at one point or another of their life. It's so flexible that you can wear it to almost any event and accessorize it any way you want.

Thankfully, SM feels the exact same way and this is why they recently launched the Mad About Denim campaign. This is being held to support the denim festival in honor of the evolutions of jeans throughout the years.

Here are some of the key pieces that caught my attention during the show.

Forever 21

Levi's

Levi's

Noisy May

I just love how denim can look casual, funky, dressy, and even classy. Definitely I am mad about denim.

Abe

I was able to try Abe a couple of months ago when I went on the Mega Food Tour with Anton Diaz but it was only their Lamb Adobo that I tried. This time around, I went back to try their other dishes with my sister, son, and best friend.

Abe is the Kapampangan word for friend, brother, and getting together. 

We ordered the Ensaladang Mangga, Kinilaw na Tanigue, Lamb Adobo, Tidtad, Morcon, and Bamboo Rice.

I love how the bamboo rice was served. The servers do a little drumming and the other staff participates. It's actually quite a presentation. To be honest, it was the main reason why I ordered this dish and thankfully, it was very good. One serving is actually good enough for 5 people.

This Tidtad is probably the best thing that Abe serves. It's actually pork variety meat served Kapampangan style. It's sinfully delicious in the sense that this plate will make you eat 8 cups of rice.

The Kinilaw na Tanigue was also a delight. It was very fresh and the meat fish was very filling.

Lamb Adobo of Abe is as always really good. This is another dish that people who are on a diet should never order for you will break your diet. The meat is very soft and the smell is appetite inducing.

Abe is definitely a must try and a place I'd go back to again and again.

Gangnam Style Korean BBQ

A few days ago I found myself looking for a place to eat at in Harbor Square after watching La Revolucion Filipina. Thankfully, I saw this funny looking sign and voila, this is where my tummy led me.

The interiors of the place was very simple. I like that it wasn't too frilly or too KPop. It was Korean but in a classic way. 

B ordered the Bibimbob and I got the pork meat. Since I was hungry, I also paired it with rice.

I loved the pork. It was nothing special but it was exactly what I needed and paired with rice, it was absolutely what I needed which was comfort food.

Fridate was fun and filling. :)

Gangnam Style Korean BBQ
2/F Harbour Square 
Pedro Bukaneg St.
CCP Complex, Manila
Metro Manila

La Revolucion Filipina

 The story of our heroes has been told so many times that most of us can probably tell it to someone else without even thinking it. However, I have not seen this story told through dance and so when Ballet Philippines decided to produce La Revolucion Filipina, I grabbed the chance to watch the story of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Apolinario Mabini unfold.

The music was perfect and very heart wrenching. The choreography was very detailed and complex. It was such a sight to watch and it was such an honor to see the history of the Philippines unfold through movements.

Every lover of the art should watch this. Its definitely a must for every single theater lover.

208/365 photoblog: Shoes

These are all one inch high only. Whew. Finally. Comfy but nice shoes.

207/365 photoblog: Abe

Dinner last night with family and friend. :)

206/365 photoblog: La Revolucion Filipinas

B watched his first big ballet production at CCP. In fairness, he loved it. He didn't fall asleep and he was very fascinated with the show.

Kids in Love

Every parent dreads hearing the words, "Mom I'm in love" from a teenager but what happens if these words come out of the mouth of a tweener? Then what? What do you do save for scream in fear and start plotting the death of the apple of the eye of your child?

Thankfully, I was given the chance to discuss this on air with the TV program Rise and Shine and we had a pretty lively discussion. So to those who missed it, here are some tips that I have for you.

1. Communicate. I know its hard and you're tempted to just tell them what to do and how to feel but we must learn to respect how they are feeling and understand it.

2. Be open. Its going to take everything you have in you but you need to be more open because times have changed and if your kid does not feel they can tell you things and that they have to hide things from you, it may escalate to something worse.

3. Guide. Yes, the outside world is treacherous and there are way too many evil influences for comfort but as a parent, you can only do so much and with the little that you can do, GUIDE. Show them what is right and what is wrong, help them understand the repercussions and do not just dictate.

4. Pray. At the end of the day, all we can really do is pray.

New Starbucks Beverage and Food

Starbucks is going to be launching a new line of lunch sandwiches as well as pastries that will definitely become a hit as it always is with Starbucks items.

Luckily, we were part of the media group invited to try their newest creations and I'd just like to say ... uhm hhmmmm yummmmmm.

Here are some of my personal favorites.

The Tiramisu Frappucino Blend is something that will definitely wake you up. It has the sweetness of Tiramisu but the gentle kick as well. One sup and you will definitely be wide awake. 

The Mango Sannsrival with Coconut drizzle is also very interesting. It's sweet and the coconut gives the cake more flavor. Definitely one of a kind.

I also love the Chicken Tex Mex wrap, the Chicken Pesto, and the Tuna sandwich. I can definitely eat all 3 of them on a regular basis.

All these delicious treats will be available starting July 29. Whats the first thing that you'll try?

205/365 photoblog: Pesto Pasta

I made him pesto pasta for merienda. He said it was really good. This was definitely the highlight of my day. :)

BGC Eats 2014

And its back on its second year! 

The BGC group first launched BGC Eats last year and due to its resounding success as well as the demand to showcase the latest restaurants and places to visit in BGC, they are launching BGC Eats 2014 which will start this weekend, July 26, 2014. 

For this tour, we were in for the Science theme and so we had a Mind Mover from Mind Museum accompaning us to explain about why certain foods react the way they do which made this tour quite unique.

First stop of the tour was at Gustare which is right beside Goose Station. Gustare is actually not your typical restaurant but more of a venue you can book to hold private dinners or small functions. When I say small, its a maximum of 20 pax. 

I loved the Mango Sansrival of Gustare. It had a lemon twist to it which brought out the flavor and gave it an interesting touch. I also liked that the place was quite cozy and homey. 

Next on our stop was Prost and I have to admit that I initially had misgivings for it was just beer and sausages but I am thankful to have been proven wrong.

I super loved the Goulash that they served us. It was spicy and hot and it was just really tasty. The only downer was that it was a sample size only. 

As for the sausages, definitely Prost knows what its doing. It's meaty, tasty, and cooked just right. Paired with rice and this would have been absolutely divine but then its the Asian in me looking for the rice. 

The last stop of the tour was at Mind Museum where we got to experience their newest program, Future Feast. 

Future Feast is the culminating event for The Apocalypse Project: Imagined Futures, an exhibition about our environmental futures under climate change.  Future Feast celebrates human creativity and our hopes for a sustainable future, which needs the efforts of everyone on the planet. 

Invited chefs design dishes that we might eat in fifty years as humanity needs to rethink its food supply in a Convenience Store of the Future. A collaboration with Radio Republic presents its featured upcoming and established artists of the month as part of their Go! Experience event series. The event also holds a tinkering studio for children, spoken word performances, a Climate Change Couture closet, an environmental scavenger hunt, and other activities for people of all ages, highlighting the different pieces in The Apocalypse Project exhibition.

We had to eat some of the creations that were made. It was quite a challenge eating cubed locusts and banana bread made of earthworms. It was definitely an experience. 

Thank you BGC Eats for this opportunity. It really was quite an afternoon.

 
 

For further details: 

Four Experts.Four Restaurants.One tour.Tour 1 on July 26 focuses on the science behind food featuring Artha Ting, biologist and Mind Mover from the Mind Museum. She will explain the science behind all things tasty making both brain and tummy full by the end of the tour.  Tour 2 on August 2 focuses on the aesthetics of food featuring tips from food photographer Mylene Chung. Join her as she guides guests to shoot their way into being the envy of Instagram followers.  Participants of this tour must bring a camera, phone cameras are okay too.  Tour 3 on August 9 focuses on beverage pairings featuring Enderun’s assistant dean of hospitality management, Bel Castro. She will share some tricks in how to enhance one’s dining experience and drink your way to a better meal.  Participants of this tour must be 18 years old and above to enjoy the full experience.  Tour 4 on August 16 focuses on Healthy Eats featuring Edgy Veggie café owner Denise Celdran and she will help guests discover delicious and healthy food options.

There are various ways of joining BGC EATS 2014:

Shop and Claim – Two (2) Free tickets will be given for every single receipt purchase worth a minimum of P 2,000.00 from retail stores or restaurants from the following establishments: Bonifacio High Street, The Fort Entertainment Center, Crossroads, Bonifacio Stopover, One & Two Parkade, and The Mind Museum.  Purchase receipts should be from July 21 to August 16, 2014.  Claimants may redeem a maximum of two (2) tickets per day.

Hello BGCitizen—One (1) free ticket will be given to BGCitizens upon presentation of any proof of residence, employment or enrollment.  A maximum of one (1) ticket will be given per person. Interested parties may also purchase tickets 15 minutes before the tour at the meeting point.  Tickets are priced at P 1,500.00 each.  Slots are subject to availability.

Tickets can be claimed at the Bonifacio High Street Central Concierge inside the C1 building from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily starting July 21 to August 16, 2014.  Claimants can choose tour dates at the Bonifacio High Street Central Concierge on July 26, August 2, 9 and 16, 2014.  If the tour date selected is full, Claimant may choose the next available tour.  Once chosen and ticket is claimed, tour date is final and not subject to change. 

Tour starts exactly at 3PM and will last approximately for 2 and half hours to 3 hours.  Tours will begin at the Hop on Hop off Bus Stop located on 9^th Street between Nike and Bo Concept.  No ticket reservations will be entertained over the phone.  Tickets must be claimed in person on a first come, first served basis.Tours will start on time.  Latecomers will forfeit their tickets.Promo period is from July 21 to August 16, 2014.  Employees of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation and its subsidiaries including relatives up to the 2^nd degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promo.

For more details, please contact Martha Asuncion at martha.asuncion@artsatbgc.org or 8183601 loc. 3207.  Visit us at facebook.com/BonifacioGlobalCityPH or /ArtsAtBGC, for more details.