Last Supper

If I'm to choose my last supper on earth, I'd probably go on a sumptuous buffet, HEAT, CIRCLES, SPIRALS, TIDES combine...

My Last Supper...

salad:

Watercrest salad with Chicken terrine and candied walnuts with Raspberry vinaigrette

soup:

French Onion soup with lots and lots of gruyere and swiss cheese

appetizer:

Shrimp Thermidore

main course(s):

Rack of Lamb with mint jelly and Truffle mushroom Risotto

Pancit Malabon (ahh, anti-climactic but a must have for my gastronomic delight)

Sushi Platter from Omakaze (Jurrasic, Spider and MI)

Pan-seared Sea Bass with truffle linguine pasta

Wagyu Rib Eye steak (medium well) with Corn on a cob and creamed garlicky potatoes

dessert(s):

Trio of creme brule, molten chocolate cake, and English Sticky Toffee pudding with caramel sauce

Cheese board with grapes and sesame seeeds crackers

Pure bliss.... 

Surprise Surprise

Lex and I have always had this little sisterly competition going on each year, on who can give a better surprise present on our birthday.

She probably outdid herself last Thursday, when she sprang Chef Rob in front of me and get this, my life long crush, Ian Veneracion.

I normally don't watch local TV so its a surprise and a secret that I have a big C (not cancer) on Ian V. And I mean big!

I probably made such a cow of myself when I started saying ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh the moment I saw Chef Rob holding flowers inside the room. And again when Ian went in with the cakes!

And it'd probably be as famous among my friends as soon as I've uttered these words: you and you, this is a dream.

I can't even remember saying anything else except Ohmygosh and thank you and I hate surprises, but not you guys. hahahahaha

So there, again A MEGATRILLION THANKS to LEX, Chef Rob, Ian and the whole staff who made it possible.

I COULD NEVER THINK OF A MUCH BETTER BIRTHDAY SURPRISE.

Al Gore and Nobel Peace Prize

I thought it would not take long before the world recognizes a great man such as Al Gore, and sure enough last Friday, he was chosen as one of the winners of the highly esteemed Nobel Peace Prize.

I have been an Al Gore supporter (fan is what my sister calls it) some 10 years ago, way back in high school. Which is totally weird because for 1. He may be world famous now but back then, Mr. Gore is not that popular in the Philippines. He may be Vice President to the most powerful (daw) country in the world, but here, I doubt if you ask an ordinary highschool freshmen back in 1997, they would actually know who Al Gore is. 2. Hate to admit it, but our country is not exactly the most environment friendly nation. (Just look at how we segregate our trash, despite government efforts, still its futile.)

What I love about Gore is even before becoming green became a fad, Al Gore already wrote books about global warming. As Vice President, despite toning his advocacy, he held seminars about climate change and helped negotiate the Kyoto Protocol. He forsaw what others choose to ignore.

And for that, I applaud him greatly and will remain his fan for his efforts and perseverance to make a difference in our world.

"Time is running out, and we still haven't done anything." - Al Gore

Booey

Nothing this adowable baby can do that won't make us smile.

CEBU

SHANGRILA MACTAN
PHILIPPINE TAOIST TEMPLE
LA GONDOLA at WATERFORNT HOTEL CEBU CITY
MAGELLAN'S CROSS

***text will follow when I'm in the mood to write... soon

Ratatouille

Would you eat something you know a RAT cooked?

The irony of the movie Ratatouille. Despite of my FEAR of those black (brown or white doesn't matter, its still a rat), hairy (icky, scary, creepy) monsters... i mean creatures, I went on and watch the movie with my sisters.

Ratatouille is about Remy, a rat, who has a(n) uber sensitive smell and tastebuds. Unlike his kind who are satisfied with human's left overs, Remy wanted to create food and be a chef (which is rather crazy (a rat cooking, are you nuts?). He was given this opportunity when he met Linguine, a boy who lack the talent of cooking. Together they try to save Gusteau's despite of Skinner who wants to commercialize the restaurant through microwavable foods, Ego whose critics cause Gusteau's death and the fact that Remy is a rat.

Although I found the movie cute and Remy o-kay (thats the nicest I can do, sorry even hamsters I REFUSE TO LOOK AT LET ALONE TOUCH.), I would still scream bloody murder and faint when faced with a real-living Remy cooking in my kitchen.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

After 10 years, Harry Potter finally came to an end. It was a bitter sweet ending. Part of me was sad because there were so many deaths and its like saying goodbye to an old friend, (that's why I didn't finish reading Lord of the Rings Return of the King, I get so emotional). Sweet coz Harry lived a good life and after a long anticipation, I finally get to read the final book.

Book 7 was different. No more muggle scene, fight with the Dursleys (I wonder if Dudley and Harry eventually became friends), then on to Hogwarts, Sorting Hat, Quiditch. It plainly revolves on Harry's quest for the Horcruxes and knowing more about the Deathly Hallows. I don't wanna divulge the whole story, so I might just drop some hint here and there.

References from the previous 6 books were quite nostalgic. Book 7 also tells more about Albus Dumbledore, who he was before he became Hogwarts headmaster. And my favorite part of the book was Severus Snape's story. I never really liked him, till now.

I cried when Fred Weasley died. Having a twin sister, that just plain breaks my heart. As well as Tonks and Lupin, Mad Eye Moony, Dobby and Hedwig.

I'm glad that JK Rowling decided to have an epilogue, although I would have loved to know more about the other characters, I'm just glad that everything worked out for the best.

A great book as this only comes once in a lifetime, I wonder if there will come another book that would be as great...

Our HARRY POTTER collection.