LJC Restaurant Group's 35th Year Anniversary Celebration at Cafe Adriatico in Malate

Last Thursday night, we were invited to celebrate with the LJC Group's 35th year in the restaurant industry. The event was held at the group's flagship restaurant Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila.

The restaurant has become a landmark location in Malate and now has branches in Gateway Mall and SM Mall of Asia. It serves a full menu of Filipino, Spanish, and Mediterranean inspired dishes.

Inside the Center for Culinary Arts USDA Theater: "Malabon's Best" Class

Disclosure: As part of my invite to the Manila Food and Wine Festival 2013, I got a free pass to one of the Center for Culinary Arts Manila's two hour-long cooking classes. Still, this review is going to be unsugarcoated: praise what needs to be praised, criticize what needs to be criticized.

 

The "Malabon's Best" class was a demonstration cooking class that focused on Filipino rice cakes. The class was headed by Ms. Annie Pascual Guerrero, a proud native of Malabon. It was held last February 23 at the USDA Theater of the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA)-Manila in Katipunan.

From what I know, the USDA Theater was the result of the partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture and CCA. The USDA provided the culinary school with equipment for a fully equipped training facility, complete with audio-visual capabilities.

It was my first time to enter the CCA grounds. I approached the guard, expecting to be asked for some identification or purpose of my visit. I asked him where the USDA Theater was located and he pointed me inside. I was not asked to present any ID or to sign in any logbook. Part of me was touched at manong guard's vote of confidence on me being a good guy but part of me wished he was stricter in letting visitors in.

Celebrity Chef Cook-off: Day 1 of the Manila Food and Wine Festival 2013

Disclosure: I got an invite to the Celebrity Chef Cook-off at the Manila Food and Wine Festival 2013. The invite entitled me to meals from 2 food trucks of my choice (I chose red and blue). Still, this review is going to be unsugarcoated: praise what needs to be praised, criticize what needs to be criticized.
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When the Center for Culinary Arts invited me to the Celebrity Chef Cook-off and asked me to choose two food trucks, it took me a long time to decide since everything sounded yummy. To summarize, here were the different food trucks:

celebrity chefs Robby Goco, Marvin Agustin, Sau del Rosario, Bruce Lim,
Florabel Co, and Tristan Encarnacion

Impressive line of celebrity chefs: Chef Robby Goco of Cyma, Chef Marvin Agustin of the Sumo Sam chain, Chef Sau Del Rosario of Food Garage and Villa Cafe, Chef Bruce Lim of the Asian Food Channel, Chef Florabel Co-Yatco of the Florabel chain of restaurants, and culinary endorser, Chef Tristan Encarnacion.

Food for Thought: A Celebration of Good Taste Exhibit @ DLSU Manila

I was at the De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila yesterday afternoon to view the Food for Thought: A Celebration of Good Taste exhibit honoring the late author Doreen G. Fernandez. I had not been able to visit DLSU since I graduated yearsss ago and it was nice to finally see the university again. A lot of things have remained the same but a lot of things have also changed. Back when I was still studying here, the Yuchengco Hall was still non-existent and there were no turnstiles yet at the entrance.

Who is Doreen Fernandez?

Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (born Alicia Dorothea Gamboa) was born in Manila but grew up in Silay, Negros Occidental. She graduated Cum Laude from St. Scholastica's College in 1954 with a degree in English and History. She earned her M.A. in Literature (English) in 1956 from the Ateneo de Manila University and got her Ph.D. in Literature (English) in 1976, also from Ateneo. Doreen married architect and interior designer Wili Fernandez, who shared her passion for art and good food. She wrote many books about Philippine art, culture, and food and received praises and awards for her work as a writer and as a teacher. She passed away last June 24, 2002, surrounded by family and friends.

Meet Manila's Tertulia Night for #ThoughtfulTourism at Adarna Food and Culture Restaurant

I remember when I was a kid, people back then mostly relied on TV and friends for information about tourist destinations. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet and social media, one can readily access a wealth of information about our local destinations. There are tons of awe-inspiring images of these places thanks to photographers and travel bloggers, and it's not just about Mount Mayon, Chocolate Hills, Banawe Rice Terraces or other "household names" anymore. You can go as near or as far as you want within the country and still find an amazing place. It is very encouraging that nowadays, our enthusiasm for our country's attractions is very much heartfelt. It's as if every travel photograph has a caption saying "This is paradise" and the seen/unseen photographer screaming "Ang ganda rito!!!" Pinoy pride indeed.

pic from Meet Manila FB page

Local tourism is certainly a cause I can get behind. So when I was invited to the launch party of Meet Manila, I was happy. Meet Manila is a new and comprehensive Philippine travel portal which aims to promote our provinces and top tourist destinations as well as the very catchy mindset called #ThoughtfulTourism. #ThoughtfulTourism is not just tourism for the sake of attracting tourists but also involves educating and helping people to uplift small communities, conserve and ethically use our wildlife and natural resources, and promote far-flung provinces.

The event gathered together online travel groups and companies, bloggers, government officials, and other groups and individuals passionate about Philippine tourism. The party's theme was Tertulia Night - a social gathering that focuses on art and literature and that has evolved from being a regularly scheduled public event in the Spanish tradition to a celebration through poetry, song, arts, and dances. Optional but recommended attire was modern Filipiniana.

Ambeth Ocampo's "Doble Kara: Rizal in Art and Monuments" Lecture at the Ayala Museum

Dr. Ambeth Ocampo's "Doble Kara: Rizal in Art and Monuments," lecture last December 3 was the last in his 2011 History Comes Alive! series. David Beckham was in the Philippines, playing with the Azkals, but Ambeth's loyal fans couldn't care less. (FYI: I mean no disrespect. For some reason, I feel more comfortable calling him Ambeth rather than Dr. Ocampo -- well, probably not to his face hehe). Anyway, the lecture was still well-attended and was as lively as the previous ones (see here and here).

Ambeth's slideshow included photos of several Rizal monuments. Before seeing those pictures, I did not know that there were so many Rizal monuments around and that some of them looked a bit goofy.

The history of the Rizal monument in Luneta was also discussed, from the time it was commissioned to the time it was modernized. It was my first time to see that towering steel pylon they erected in the 60s. Good thing they removed it a few years after, since it looked out of place and made the Rizal statue look like a footnote.

Noel Discovery Bazaar 2011

We dropped by the Noel Discovery Bazaar 2011 last November 19 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The atmosphere at WTC was very festive. Upon entrance, you would be greeted by a lot of colorful booths and displays.

Bookgasm in the 32nd Manila International Book Fair

Bf and I are both book hounds. One of our simple pleasures is raiding book sales. So when SMX held the 32nd Manila International Book Fair, of course we had to be there. I have a big box of still-unread books, but I can't stop buying books! T_T

Here are some pictures of the registration area and the lobby.

Bf was thrilled to see none other than his favorite author, Prof. Ambeth Ocampo. Ambeth (yeah we're close, first name basis baby...joke!) was chatting with some friends. It was already getting late and they were probably hungry. Bf and I were about to approach Ambeth to have a book signed when a girl arrived and handed them a box of donuts. I told bf that we should just come back after they've finished eating. Ambeth heard me as he was biting into a donut. He put the donut down and gestured for us to approach. That was really nice of him. Other authors would probably have been already (understandably) cranky by then.

I was supposed to take bf's picture with Ambeth but Ambeth's friend asked us if we had a camera and volunteered to take our picture, so I was included in the photo. What a sweet lady! But because we're camera shy, I've cropped the picture before posting it here. That thing above Ambeth's head (beside the denim jacket) is my neck. :)

Ambeth Ocampo's "Queridas ni Rizal" Lecture at the Ayala Musem

Bf, ever the fanboy, wanted to attend Ambeth Ocampo's new lecture. I was impressed with the famed historian's previous lecture so I readily agreed.

Ayala Museum was already bursting with people when we arrived. We had no choice but to stand at the back.

All of us Pinoys know who Jose Rizal is. We've been taught stuff about him since we were tiny snotty brats. Still, Ambeth had to clarify:

No, Rizal was NOT Hitler's dad.

(But he might have or might not have been Jack the Ripper.)

Rizal has always been put on a pedestal by most teachers and historians. He was the perfect son, the perfect student, yadda yadda. He was virtually untouchable. Anyone who disagreed would be struck down and taken to a private field trip, never to be heard from again. Sure, Jose got involved with several girls but those girls were more of admirers who our hero found impolite to turn down. Jose was always serious and pure. He wouldn't have become as great as he was if he wasted time with vices or clowning around.

In Ambeth's lecture, he took Rizal off his pedestal and put him in the same room as us. We realized that Rizal was not perfect. He was not a demigod, but a human being just like us. He joked around, ribbed his friends, engaged in activities his parents would not have approved of. He didn't walk majestically, living and breathing heroism every freaking day. He also had his share of doubts and regrets, as well as cowardice when it came to romantic matters, which led to a string of broken-hearted women.

In short, he was normal.

The audience appreciated this approach in tackling Rizal's private life. It was refreshing and inspirational to know that we flawed mortals could be awesome too. After all, Rizal is a hero, not a god. What good is a hero if his greatness can't be emulated, right?

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Aside from the lecture, we also got Ambeth's new book Chulalongkorn's Elephants.

You can find pictures of the Queridas ni Rizal lecture at the Ayala Museum's Facebook page.

Ambeth Ocampo's "Queridas ni Rizal" Lecture
Ayala Musem
Makati City, Metro Manila
September 10, 2011

SM and QC: Visions of a City Exhibit in SM North Edsa

Okay, this is not going to be pretty. I know the people behind this event are rich, important people, but I promised no sugarcoating: I hated this exhibit!

Bf, being his usual Filipiniana buff self, wanted to see this exhibit titled SM and QC: Visions of a City. It was held in SM City North Edsa and would later be moved to other SM malls in Quezon City.

What was the SM and QC: Visions of a City exhibit about?

The exhibit showed the development of Quezon City from the 1940s (when Quezon City was being planned to be the new capital of the Philippines) to the present time, with a special focus on SM City North Edsa. Our country's participation in World's Fairs during the pre-war era was also shown. The exhibit was a partnership between Bluprint magazine (a design and architecture magazine) and SM.

The good things first.

• The exhibit was free and open to the public
• The exhibit was held in SM North Edsa, so very accessible and convenient.

Now the bad things.

World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2011 in World Trade Center

Bf and I went to the World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2011 last August 6, 2011. It was a four-day affair held in two locations: in the World Trade Center and the SMX Convention Center, from August 3-6. Unfortunately, due to our busy schedule, we were only able to drop by the World Trade Center about two or three hours before closing. We had to rush in order to visit all the booths there and of course going to the SMX Convention Center was already out of the question.

We are not in the food business but we're gluttons, er, food lovers, so we were not on the look out for interesting business ideas or any equipment that day. We just wanted ready-to-eat or easy-to-cook food items. By closing time, we have bought the following:

• Supreme Foods luncheon meat
• Vitamin water
• nuts
• dalandan juice concentrate
• mushroom
• kropek
• King Sue processed meats
• siopao
• Tsingtao beer
• Chinese candies

We enjoyed the items that we bought and the food didn't last long (hence the lack of pictures). To be honest, though, I was a little disappointed with the event. Mostly because of the title.

You see, the word "World" in the event title gave me a different expectation. I was expecting more exotic items - those that are common in other countries but hard to find here or not very well known to ordinary Filipinos. I'm sure there are many specialty shops and restaurants here in the Philippines that can be tapped to showcase such products. Some exotic cheeses perhaps, or fancy spices and dips, gourmet chocolates, weird snacks from Japan. Even reindeer meat and wacky KitKat flavors! Things like that. Instead, a lot of the food items we saw were common and even sold in regular supermarkets. There were even two or three booths selling siomai and siopao. The closest thing to exotic that we found was the alligator meat, but we were too chicken to try it.

I acknowledge that we should have gone earlier and checked out the SMX Convention Center as well. I might have found some of what I was looking for there.

If the event was simply called Manila Food Expo, I wouldn't have been disappointed.

World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2011
World Trade Center
Pasay City, Metro Manila
August 6, 2011

Ambeth Ocampo's "Mukhang Pera" Lecture at the Ayala Museum

I've never been into Filipiniana stuff. I became conscious of that in college, when I was in the Filipiniana part of the campus library, looking at the books, and all of a sudden this thought flashed in my head: "These books don't interest me."

I've always been a book lover. I'm not a history buff but I could see myself poring over world history books, just not Filipiniana stuff. I guess I was one of those people who overlook things in their own backyard.

So when bf expressed his interest to attend Ambeth Ocampo's lecture (it was already expected that I would be coming along), I wasn't exactly jumping for joy. Ambeth Ocampo's name was familiar but that was it. The ticket was at P350. A complimentary book was included, which surprised me -- P350 was already more than affordable for a popular historian's lecture; a free book sounded too good to be true.

Bf was excited to go to the lecture so we ensured seats by paying in advance. Unfortunately, the lecture had to be rescheduled due to bad weather. So we went July 9 instead of June 25.

We were 20 minutes late. I was expecting the Mukhang Pera lecture to start a little late since the weather was bad, but I was mistaken. By the time we arrived at the Ayala Museum, the place was already jampacked with people. Since we were late, we had to stand even though we had prepaid tickets. It was understandable that our seats were given to others; however, when a group of guys arrived later and insisted to be seated, the ushers were somehow able to point them to vacant seats. This annoyed me so during the first few minutes, my attention was not completely on the lecture. A few minutes afterwards, the ushers, probably seeing my sour face, brought in some seats for us. That changed my mood and I was able to enjoy the lecture then.

A big part of the audience was composed of students and young professionals. A good thing, definitely. It was reassuring to know that kids nowadays still care about substantial and intellectual things.

The lecture was very informative and interesting. Ambeth Ocampo delivered some humorous quips every now and then. He had a good way of telling stories. You won't be tuning out or surreptitiously looking at your watch, waiting for the lecture to end.

What can I say, I'm a convert! Now I look forward to more of his lectures.

And yes, there really was a complimentary book, his recent one, Meaning and History - The Rizal Lectures. So let's see, for P350, you get to listen to an acclaimed historian's lively and intellectually stimulating lecture about currencies, you're free to roam around the Ayala Museum, and you get his latest book. Quite a deal, huh? And if you're a student, a teacher, a senior citizen or an Ayala Museum member, you only pay P200, so even more sulit!

Prof. Ocampo is also a columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He regularly posts interesting tidbits and pictures at his Facebook page. The poster pictures used above were copied from his page.



Ambeth Ocampo's "Mukhang Pera" Lecture
Ayala Museum
Makati City, Metro Manila
July 9, 2011

Shakespeare in Hollywood

Boyfie and I were looking for new things to do during weekends, aside from the usual pigging out. I came across news about Repertory Philippines' Shakespeare in Hollywood and bought tickets. Truth be told, I was feeling neutral. I am not much into theater and practically clueless about Shakespeare's plays. I can't even remember the last play I attended (a requirement during my student days more than a decade ago). I've always considered theater actors much more talented and dedicated than their on-screen counterparts though, and with that I decided to get out of my cave and get a little culture.

Synopsis: (synopsis and image from Repertory Philippines' site)

A no holds Bard Comedy!

It's 1934, and Shakespeare's most famous fairies, Oberon and Puck, have magically materialized on the Warner Bros. Hollywood set of Max Reinhardt's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Instantly smitten by the glitz and glamour of show biz, the two are ushered onto the silver screen to play (who else?) themselves. With a little help from a feisty flower, blonde bombshells, movie moguls, and arrogant "asses" are tossed into loopy love triangles, with raucous results. The mischievous magic of moviedom sparkles in this hilarious comic romp.

Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare in Hollywood had its world premier in 2003 at Arena Stage and won the Helen Hayes award for Best New Play of the Year.