Dinner at Conti's Restaurant

Iv'e known Conti's few years back before it was known for it's Mango Bravo cake (which is a must try dessert ice cream cake in the metro) but for this night, my cousins and my parents decided to try to dine again at this resto. 

As usual, during holiday (especially Christmas season) restaurants and malls are always full.

We waited for our table which by the way, on the waiting list we are no. 6 meaning more time to look around. I love the landscape and the design of serendra and high street, very pleasant and full of lights very perky and nice. 

Lumpiang Ubod: This fresh vegetable dish is a like a spring roll but not cooked, it is topped with nuts and sweet sauce. This is good for appetizer and for vegetarian people. The Ubod (a local vegetable) is quite fresh and the wrapper is very soft and thin. Very easy to eat and very light.

Macaroni Salad: I love the way they cooked the macaroni! it's not soft, and not hard it was cooked Al Dente. I just don't like that the salad had too many dressing which i find it "Nakaka Umay" 

Garlic Rice

Lunch at Shakey's

 Shakey's is fantastic if your eating in a group. I love their group meals which is very sufficient for all members. Not only that it's price is within reach of your budget, their food is actually nice and good. It's nice to have a party at Shakey's or if your planning to treat your friends, or classmates, Shakey's is your place.

Carbonara: The spaghetti is okay, the sauce and ingredients is also nice. It's not too shabby, it's actually okay. You can eat the pasta without being sour on it.

Garlic bread: plain garlic bread

Endless agony flooding the river of sorrow, filling the cup of sadness (remembering: sandy hook tragedy)

I was in distress when I heard the very very heartbreaking news about the brutally killing of 20 young innocent beautiful kids, and very brave and protective 6 teachers. I can not help but to cry watching this Video, looking at those sweet angelic faces that brutally murdered by a 20 year old man.

Honestly, I was so scared for those kids not only in the US but also in the whole world, I was asking myself, what if it happened here in the Philippines? what if it happened to my little nephews?? I was really nervous and started tuning in to the news to get some latest updates on what is happening. I was so shocked and I also stated to realize the amount of sorrow and sadness that this will bring to the parents and relatives.


Then flashback occurred to me about the Virginia Tech Univ. tragedy, That too was heartbreaking but to me, Sandy Hook Tragedy is far worse. You don't go outside and kill innocent young beautiful kids, It's just sad and heartless (even if with disorder)

Day had passed, I was browsing the online portal of a local newspaper here in the Philippines, When I read an article about a similar incident in a province in China, with the same age target 6-7 years old.

The Chinese guy had stabbed 22 children and 1 adult, Thankfully no one died in the incident. I was hoping that gun permission would only be allowed to the police / army authorities and not in civilians as this may occur in the future - definitely (if we don't regulate the laws and we should not relax gun laws especially to civilians)

Pentax X-5

Highlights

26X zoom lens (22.3-580mm equivalent)

Close the distance between you and the perfect shot with the X-5’s super-telephoto 26X zoom lens (22.3-580mm equivalent). This zoom feature ensures extreme flexibility for any scene or subject, near or far.


Tiltable 3.0 inch, high definition LCD screen

Enjoy effortless image composition and image playback with the X-5’s large tiltable 3.0 inch, high definition LCD screen. This exceptional LCD screen offers sharp image viewing, even in bright sunlight, and allows users to shoot from high and low angles to keep the subject neatly framed in the image area.


Full 1080p30 HD video, h.264 compression

Capture full HD 1080p widescreen video at 30 FPS with high quality h.264 compression, and enjoy creative movie playback features, such as High-speed Movie mode for slow-motion playback and Time-lapse Movie mode for fast-forward playback.


HDMI port

Share your work with ease as the X-5’s micro-HDMI port (Type D) plays back beautiful high resolution images, video and sound to external devises such as HDTVs.


Super Macro Mode

Get closer to the flowers, capture the smallest details, and reveal super crisp expressions from your subject, from as near as 1cm, with the Super Macro Mode. The X-5 also comes with an Auto Macro function, which automatically switches the focus mode to Macro when it detects the subject is close to the lens.



16 megapixel CMOS sensor

Capture beautiful, high resolution, low noise imagery with a state-of-the-art image processing engine and back-illuminated, high performance, 16 megapixel CMOS sensor. Even while shooting up to ISO 6400, the PENTAX X-5 provides users with very high resolution images.


Triple Shake Reduction

The X-5’s triple shake reduction system couples the PENTAX developed mechanical sensor-shift-type Shake Reduction (SR) mechanism with a digital SR mode for stills or movie SR mode for video to more effectively compensate for camera shake. This hybrid system assures sharp, blur-free images and video, even in the most challenging camera-shake prone and low lighting conditions.


260,000 dot resolution electronic viewfinder

The 260,000 dot resolution electronic viewfinder provides effortless composition and DSLR-like handling. What you see is what you get as the X-5’s viewfinder diopter adjustment delivers a consistently clear view of the subject, even under bright sunshine.


Fast Face Detection technology

Create the perfect group shot or a gorgeous portrait.

Lifestyle list of Best Desserts 2012

By: Vangie Baga-Reyes

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Link: Lifestyle list of Best Desserts 2012

'Tis the season to be jolly and extra sweet! So, make your holidays doubly sweet with our 2012 list of Best Desserts. From refreshing gelato treats and homemade ganache chocolate cakes to brandy-infused prune cakes and super suman with a twist—all these are guaranteed to whet your sweet appetite. Enjoy!

Rouge

Come-on: An impressive dessert both to the eyes and palate, bursting with the fruity flavors of blueberry, strawberry and vanilla gelato on a crust of crushed graham. The beautifully crafted artisan gelato cake makes for great gifts, or simply for indulging yourself.

Cara Mia has a wide range of tempting gelato cakes, but if you must settle for two more sinful sweets, go for Di Lusso, a neat combo of pistachio, chocolate and strawberry gelato covered in a layer of rich chocolate ganache; and Mango Passion, mango chunks blended in gelato arranged in layers of rich shortbread pie crust and topped with strips of mango slices.

Cost: P134/slice; P1,280/whole

Creator: Cara Mia of Amici (Tessie Moran and Philip Moran)

Call: Don Bosco, Makati, tel. 8184444; Greenhills, San Juan, 7244804; Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati, 6216111; Tomas Morato, QC, 3766458; SM Megamall Atrium, Mandaluyong, 6361340; Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City, 4039373; Venice Piazza, Taguig City, 5551000; Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Pasig; Robinsons Place, Manila; and UP Ayala Technohub

Peach Walnut Torte

Come-on: Two layers of fluffy meringue embellished with walnuts and whipped cream. The sweetness comes from the peaches, which also add a comforting flavor base for the entire slab. It has creamy flavor you don’t want to miss.

Cost: P160/slice; P1,400/whole. Available daily. For bulk orders, call two days in advance. For pick up and delivery for a minimum fee.

Creator: Nic’s Gourmet Desserts (Rina Go)

Call: 5711818, 3549081 and 0999-9933231; 172 A. Mabini St. Addition Hills, San Juan City; visit www.facebook/nicsbakeshop

Cassava Cake

Come-on: Plain-sounding, but this Cassava Cake topped with grated cheese and coconut milk is simply divine. Dr. Boy Vazquez takes pride in the old family recipes which he has tweaked and further improved, such as this homey afternoon delight. Unlike the typical cassava that’s thick and too heavy on the tummy, this version is served warm, soft and made creamier with a butterscotch-like sauce.

Cost: P89/serving

Creator: Café Juanita (Dr. Boy Vazquez)

Call: 6320357 and 7101562;  19 West Capitol Drive, Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Louie XV

Come-on: Desserts at Restaurant 101 are simple but they hit the sweet spot. Like the Louie XV, dark silky smooth chocolate ganache over crispy luscious praline bar and adorned with edible gold leaves for that royal effect. This dessert can only be savored in two restaurants in the world: Enderun and Alain Ducasse’s three-star Michelin restaurant in Monaco.
Louie XV is made fresh every day, and we just heard that no student can graduate without knowing how to execute this heavenly dessert. It has a nice biscuit-like crunch, and the way the chocolate melts in your mouth is unforgettable.
Cost: P260/order. Dine-in only.
Creator: Restaurant 101, Enderun Colleges
Call: 8565000; 1100 Campus Avenue, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Ispahan

Come-on: A treat that pays homage to dessert god Pierre Herme. Ispahan showcases macaron shells crammed with fresh raspberries, lychee (in the middle) and rose essence, and further enhanced with a velvety Chantilly cream. It has just the right amount of fruity flavor. Great when paired with Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Cost: P280/order. For dine-in and take out.

Creator: The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel Manila.

Call: 6213176; Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Street, BGC, Taguig; Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati.

Organic Goat's Milk Soaps

If your looking for a fresh and organic soap around the country, better order these cool items!  What's so nice about these products is that they used fragrant ingredients that relieves stress after a long tiring day. Not only to relieve stress, it gives exfoliates your skin, and give you believable results after use. =)

to order, you may reach their Facebook Account below:

Organic Goat Soap

"Christmas Rush" (sweet mint green tea and eucalyptus essential oils)

"oh so cool" (spearmint, peppermint, eucalyptus, & coffee barako)

"Drama Princess" (rose essential oil, and cinnamon)

"Two-way bar" (coffee barako and honey oatmeal)

"Vanilla sky swirl" (vanilla)

"Get hypnotized" (Lavander)

"Blissful bergamont"

Christmas rush

Lunch at Figaro / McDonald's Big N' Tasty / Zero Visibility Afternoon

Figaro is known for it's exquisite coffee blends. They have that very nice and upscale environment that usually businessmen hang out or take their coffee.

During 10am-12pm Figaro offers buy 1 take 1 which means you pay for 1 dish and get another dish (naturally you pay which ever cost is higher).

Arabiata Pasta. The pasta sauce was plenty, it was a nice mixture of the olive oil and the tomatoes. The pasta was cooked right (not soft nor hard) but not al dente. It was an ok dish. P179

Five Cheese Pizza. The crust was hard! had like a peanut brittle, not really comfortable to eat. The cheese toppings was fine. but the bread itself was a bit hard since it was slightly overcooked. but I like the nice soft and little chewy texture of the cheeses. It could have been a pleasant dish if it's cooked right. P159

Creme Brulee. I was expecting very flavorful, creamy, and smooth frost but on the other hand, it was a little pale, it was nothing creamy at all and worst of all it was mostly crushed ice. P 135

Chocolate Cookie. This drink is much better than the creme brulle, it was indeed chocolate but then again with the Everest mountain like ice inside the drink. P145

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Twitter Account

Email: johngerardcontreras@gmail.com

Lunch at Ramen Cool

Ramen Cool with the Folks!! I still like this restaurant because it's cheap and it's a little close to authentic japanese food.

I bought my parents to this restaurant since they are unaware of the wonder of "Kapitolyo" restaurants. (it's street with a stretch of various restaurants). They got curios from all my stories that i told them during my food adventures. They are pretty happy with the serving. =)

Pork Shoyu Ramen. It's a bowl that will pass for 2 if you have someone to share with but not ideally for sharing (It's good for 2 if you have other dishes to order). The taste is nice and savory, the noodles is cooked well, pork is not so soft and not so hard, I love the egg and the savory pork ramen noodles. =)

Kani Salad. It's very fresh and mild in taste. The crabsticks and the strips of zucchini are so refreshing and very appetizing. I just don't like the too much mayonnaise it sort of taste "mayonnaise" rather than kani salad.

Chow Buzz: 5 Must Try Restaurant Desserts in Metro Manila

By Cyrene de la Rosa, InterAksyon.com · Friday, November 23,

Thanks to the booming Philippine restaurant scene and the Filipino’s genuine love for sweets. There are now scores of calorie-worthy dessert contenders in the metropolis. In no particular order, here are my top five favorites.

Chocolate Pots de Creme at Wildflour

G/F, Net Lima Bldg, 4th Ave. corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

The Pots de Creme dessert is a simple, rich custard baked in small cups. Wildflour’s  version made with premium Valrhona milk chocolate topped with a layer of sea salt caramel and chopped nuts is a must order for fellow chocolate lovers.

Cannoli at Nolita

Bonifacio High Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Cannolis are Italian desserts that were said to have been developed by Sicilians. These fried wafer tubes that are usually filled with a mixture of ricotta, candied fruit, and other ingredients is one dessert that is not easy to find. Nolita’s ricotta filled cannoli is topped with candied orange rind and chopped pistachios.

Kouign Amman at Brasserie Cicou

Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan

Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it.  All you have to do is to order a “KA” and the waitstaff would know what you’re talking about. It is after all the restaurant’s best seller. This super rich Breton pastry that is currently making waves Stateside is something like a croissant but with extra layers of salted French butter and sugar baked between the sheets, giving it a crispy ‘otap’- like outer coating of caramelized sugar.

Guinomis at Milky Way

Pasay Road, Makati City

This Filipino dessert alternative to halo-halo (Milky Way’s other perennial best seller), is usually composed of sago tapioca pearls, palm sugar syrup, gulaman agar gelatin, coconut milk, toasted pinipig rice, and lots of shaved ice. Milky Way’s version however is refreshingly topped with homemade panocha ice cream, for an extra yummy ending.

Chestnut Soufflé at Champetre

G/F Net One Center, 26th cor. 3rd Ave., Bonifacio Global City

This airy dessert is best enjoyed during the holiday season. The main reason for this is because it’s the only time this heavenly soufflé made of Chestnuts in Armagnac Syrup, that Champetre’s Chef Marc Aubry makes himself is usually available.

Dessert at Cab Cafe

I was craving for CAKE this past week, and it so happened that Cab Cafe was just across Thaidara were i ate my dinner last saturday. One thing for sure with Cab Cafe is it's cheaper than any other dessert restaurant / bar but it has great quality. 

After my dinner at Thaidara, I went to their cafe, and ordered from the counter were all the cakes are on display. I was hesitant to take a photo of the cake display since there were a lot of people eating inside. 

I ordered the most tasty looking cake there is so here they are:

Pistachio Dacquoise. It's a nice pistachio cake, very soft, and but it's a little too sweet for me which it's hard to finish because of the sweetness so i just ate 1/4 of the cake and took it home.

Pavolva. This mango-torte type of cake is nice and sweetness is just right. I love that the mangoes are not sour because it's not mango season rather it's sweet and soft. 

Strawberry Shortcake. I love the combination of the chiffon, cream and mouse layer of this cake. it's not so sweet, and not sour either. The strawberry was sweet and really hits the spot. 

 Bottom line, Cab Cafe is a nice dessert - italian - coffee restaurant but It's desserts are not that really blockbuster type or cakes that you will be craving for. It's ok but cakes at Almon Marina, Conti's, Caramia are far off better. =)

Dinner at Thaidara

Ever since my travel to Bangkok last summer, I've fallen in love with the culture, and especially the cuisine. I so love the combination of sweet and spicy of Thai food. I love everything about their food, culture, and most of all shopping! To appreciate thai food, you have to appreciate their culture, culture and food come hand in hand it's the output of their everyday life, the formation of their ancestors hardships. 

I love the richness of their culture, and their food. I happen to be at Kapitolyo for another round of food tasting, it's so happen that Thaidara is open and i was quite hungry so I pushed my luck and true enough what people said, Thaidara has the best pad thai and tom yum around.

Some article regarding the restaurant

Thai Iced Tea!! this is just pure heaven! I was craving for another glass but I'm saving space for the food that I ordered.

The waiter that i thought was a real thai.

Pomelo Salad! TO DIE FOR!!! Love the sweetness of the pomelo, the soft squid, the tomato, the  fresh shrimp, the leaves, and the salad sauce! it was a sweet, little salty, and tangy salad! winner!

Lunch at Cafe Breton / TWG Geisha Blossom Tea

I thought Cafe Breton is a british restauran (well because of "breton") I though breton rhymes with british! =) oh well, It's a french restauant that is very similar with La Creperie. But in this case I think La Creperie is better by food taste, and food quality. Cafe Breton's food is I think expensive for it's taste and serving. The food doesn't really had that impact on my taste bud and to my memory. I'm a little disappointed. Will I eat here again? hmm, maybe in the future but no for another few months.

I must say, their menu is really catchy and food is well presented so it looks very yummy. 

They have that French-Mediterranean type of ambiance

Baileys on the racks! =)

Breton Mozzarella Burger and Side Salad. The burger was just fine, not really savory and very tasty but in a way it's okay. I love the mushrooms on top and the thickness of the burger patty.

Excalibur 

Lunch at House of Minis / Baker's Fair's Dice Hopia (Monggo)

I only get to eat Baker's Fair's dice hopia monggo once a year! It's always Nov. 15 during the annual Development Bank of the Philippine's Bazaar. I'm telling you, this is just so soft, moist, and oh so good!!

for 20 pcs, it costs P100 for that soft, chewy, and tasteful hopia!! they have a lot of branches, so go buy one now!  :)

Lunch at House of Minis

I got a chance to eat at house of minis again alone since I'm at the greenhills area for a client meeting, and i opted to eat for steak rather than other, because i was craving for one. By the way, if you ordered a regular steak it comes with a soup, bread, side salad, and an ice cream. It's so worth it because it's so good and very classy. :)

very creamy soup! it has that velvet-y, creamy, mushroom-y quality that i find so invigorating and delectable.

Dinner roll w/ butter, I never got the chance to ask the waiter about the heavenly and creamy butter but oh well might as well buy queensland. :)

Porterhouse steak!!! I love it!! it's big!! you don't  need rice to partner with because it's heavy, but a mashed potato will do. I love the taste, the texture is soooooo nice! I mean top quality meat! although I admit they fell short on the softness of the meat! it's quite hard. this costs around P395 I think. But if you want a good steak and a complete course, then go to the House of Minis. :)

Nikon D3000 shots / Planespotting

I never thought that photography felt so relaxing and inspiring. I downloaded tons of magazines and self help photography lessons for myself. All shots are taken by Nikon D3000 which by the way is totally awesome SLR!!! sorry for the very amateur photos since it's my first time. :)

LCC Zest Air A320

Mandarin Airlines Embraer 190AR

Gulf Air A330-200

Hong Kong Day 3

Day 3 is Ocean Park Day!

It's been ages since the last time i visit this place. I was skeptical to go to OC again since I thought it's just like before, it's mostly for kids. But as yeas pass by, I was shocked by the developments and the overhaul of the place. I love the rides, the aquarium, and the new train that goes from the lower part of Ocean Park towards the higher part of the ocean park w/o riding the cable car.

here are the shots! :)