Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Genteel Massage and Spa Home Service in the South

Experience relaxation with quality service by the professional therapists of Genteel Massage and Spa Home Service.
(Available only to residents of Ayala Alabang Village, Alabang Hills, BF, Portofino, Verdana, Bellevue Hotel, Parque Espana, Vivant, Vivere, and other nearby residencies and condominiums within Alabang/Muntinlupa)

Genteel Massage Services

Grilled Pork Chops at Cyma

Cyma has been around Manila for quite sometime now. They are known for it's authentic Greek flavors that they cater to the public. Being a fan of Greek food (humus and their pasta), I decided to take a detour and try the flavors that they bring out in pork. 

Cyma Main Bar
My hubby and I decided to eat in Cyma. For starters, we ordered the Cyma Chopped Salad. It had Mixed greens with spinach, arugula, toasted walnuts. sliced pears, sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese and granted Parmesan, served with traditional Greek vinaigrette.  I am not quite a fan of nuts, especially in salads. Nonetheless I enjoyed the flavors and taste of this specific salad. It was light yet filling. 

Cyma Chopped Salad
We ordered the Grilled pork chop with siding of potato wedges for our main course. We requested to split the meal into two since it was too big for either one of us to finish. The pork chops are very tender and juicy. Flavorful and quite heavenly. The potato wedges though were quite oily. The pork, however, is a must try indeed. 
Cyma Grilled Pork Chops with Sidings of Potato Wedges

If you wanna try something new but something not so out of the ordinary, try the Cyma Grilled Pork Chops. It will definitely fill you up, and satisfy your taste. 

LOCATION:
Cyma, Alabang Town Center
Level 2, Corte De Las Palmas, Alabang Town Center
836-2432


Photos Taken by: Yours truly :)






Sunday, November 14, 2010

Zonta Bazaar, Ayala Alabang Village

Once again, as the Christmas season approaches, the all-famous Zonta Bazaar in the South is at it again! More than the purpose of splurging, it offers food, entertainment for kids and adults, and activities for the day.


Stage Shows for the Kiddos 

Car Show for Advertisement

Fortune Lobsters

Crabs


Christmas Decors

Antique Furnitures

Antique Furnitures

People Strolling

The Zonta Bazaar in Alabang, having a thematic setting of a carnival, just started last year. What does it offer the public?

1. Food and Drinks: lots of it! Lots of choices to choose from, including Bun on the Run, Sabrett, Yellow Cab, and many more! Something new as well is they now offer the public alcohol drinks such as wine, beer, pitchered drinks, etc.

Alcoholic Drinks
2. Clothings: of course, bazaars wouldn't be complete without it. From overuns to private small businesses, you will find a large variety of stalls to choose from.

My Hubby :)

3. Bags and other kikay things: frankly speaking, I got quite surprised when I saw a Sally selling pre-owned/second hand authentic designer bags. From Long Champ to Chanel to Louis Vuitons, they have it there. All in good condition that is.

Authentic Pre-owned Designer Bags
4. Live Band: performing every night o help the shoppers relax and unwind as they shop.

5. Extra Activities for the Kids: there are arcades and other active stuff for the kids as well.
Creative Kids Activities by the Playground

LOCATION: Covered Courts of Cuenca, Ayala Alabang Village
9AM-9PM, 13-14 November 2010

Photos Taken by: My hubby and Yours truly :)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Let's Get Ready to Rumble!!!!

MANNY PACQUIAO 
vs 
ANTONIO MARGARITO




GO TEAM PACQUIAO!!!

Can't Wait :p

Due Date

Need a laugh? Want to watch something comedic? Want to unwind? Want to be aloof? Have no fear! Due Date is the treat!


A good laugh for everyone. That's all I can say. I applaud Robert Downey Jr. for maintaining his looks and ability to act. He is indeed gifted. A flexible actor. Comedy, action, drama, horror.. You name it, he can do it. I also applaud Zach Galifianakis for his very comedic acting and sense of humor. Indeed a great comedian.

PLOT: Taken from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_Date
 Peter Highman (Robert Downey, Jr.) is on his way home to Los Angeles so that he can be there when his wife, Sarah, gives birth to their child, but another car rips the door off his ride at the airport. A man stares at him, and they accidentally switch bags when his are knocked over. After finding marijuana in the bag and having it confiscated, he boards the plane and notices that the same guy he switched bags with is in the seat behind him. When passengers are told to turn off cell phones, Peter tries to finish his text message to his wife. The man, Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis), an aspiring actor headed to Hollywood who went to Atlanta for his father's death, tells him to turn it off because attendants might assume he is a terrorist that will bomb the plane. Peter tell him to not say those words, but Ethan repeats them and Peter is asked to step to the front of the plane. After trying to explain, he is shot by the air marshal with a rubber bullet.

After being questioned by security, he is put on the no-fly list. While looking to see if any of the rental cars are unlocked, Ethan finds him while driving in a red Subaru Impreza. He offers him a ride and Peter is forced to accept. Ethan asks Peter many, many questions, but on the road trip, they stop at a Waffle House.
Ethan tells Peter he is going to see a woman named Heidi (Juliette Lewis) in a nearby town in Alabama to buy weed. While they are there, Peter is asked to babysit Heidi's kids for five minutes while Ethan goes to her 'pharmacy' to buy his 'medical' marijuana. After Ethan is done, they leave and go to a motel to get a room. When Peter tells Ethan he has no money on his credit card, they decide to pay in cash. However, he discovers that they only have $60, about $200 being spent on the marijuana. Peter instead decided that he would have his wife send them $500 dollars. The plan succeeds at first, but when ID is needed, they realize that they used Ethan's stage name, instead of his real name, Ethan Chase, the one on his driver's license. Peter accidentally insults the man (Danny McBride) at Western Union, who is handicapped, and is beat up. They go to a rest stop.
It rains, and we discover that Peter's father left him in 1977. They sleep in the car. The next morning, while Ethan is in the bathroom, Peter grabs all of Ethan's stuff, puts them on the sidewalk, and drives off. While in the interstate, he realizes that Ethan's father's ashes, which are in a coffee container, was still in the car. He thinks about leaving it on the side of the interstate, but instead drives back with donuts and coffee, claiming to Ethan that he just went to Dunkin Donuts for food. Ethan drives while Peter gets some rest. After a while of driving, Ethan starts to fall asleep. Peter wakes up as he feels the vibration since they are on the side of the interstate, and they crash and fall over to the interstate beneath them. They go to the hospital, and Peter had a broken arm and three cracked ribs. Ethan is not hurt, but his dog has to wear a cone. Peter's other friend, Darryl (Jamie Foxx), comes to pick him up, and he wants to leave Ethan after all the trouble he has caused. But he calms down and takes him along, although he has to ride in the back of Darryl's pick-up truck. They go to his house where Ethan gets the idea that, while Darryl and Peter's wife bumped into each other in San Diego back in February, nine months ago, they had an affair. While drinking coffee, Peter asks what the coffee was made of, and Darryl tells them it was their coffee they brought, which were the ashes. Darryl tells Ethan to get out, and they leave.
Ethan and Peter
Darryl has lent them his Range Rover and money, and after taking a wrong exit while Ethan is smoking marijuana, they end up at the border of Mexico. The security notices their glassy eyes, and while he goes inside the toll booth, Ethan manages to escape with Sonny, while Peter is still in the car. Peter is handcuffed to a table inside a trailer that is connected to a truck. He is left in there while two officers take his marijuana, and smoke it outside. Ethan comes back, and manages to steal the truck. During a cop chase on the interstate, the trailer flips over. Ethan helps Peter out, and they drive away in the truck. They go to Arizona, and stop at the Grand Canyon, where Ethan spreads his father's ashes. Peter confesses that he did try to leave Ethan back at the rest area, and he is forgiven. Ethan then decides to confess, his being that he has had Peter's wallet the whole time, and didn't want to give it back to him because he didn't want to travel cross country alone. Peter moves to attack Ethan, smacking his face off a door, but his phone rings and his wife tells him that her water broke, and that she is going into labor. They leave quickly. It is nighttime, and Ethan is trying to find tissues for his bleeding nose. He checks in the glove compartment, and finds a gun. Unintentionally, he fires it, and it hits Peter in the thigh. They are close to L.A. now, and they go to the hospital in which his wife is giving birth in. After finding the room which she's in, she gives birth to a baby girl, which Peter mistakens for a boy. She is named Rosie. Ethan departs for his meeting with the talent director and they say goodbye.


More Random Visits to the Grocery Stores

1. Pringles ROYGBIV
Location: Puregold Molito, Madrigal, Alabang
ROYGBIV? :))

Random Flavors
 2. Chef Hello Kitty Candies:
Location: Makati Supermarket, Commerce Ave., Alabang Town Center

Hello Kitty Candies
 3. Root Beers/ Cream Soda Thomas Pemper (Somewhat like IBC Root Beers)
Location: S&R Alabang

Rootbeers 

L-R: Ginger Ale, Root Beer, Cherry Soda, Cream Soda

Photos Taken by: Yours truly :)

Turkey Trial on the 1st Week of November

My family celebrates Thanksgiving every year. For the past 3 years though, we've been purchasing out turkey from the famous Casino Espanol. Their turkey, stuffings, sides, and gravy is really very delicious. However, this year, we wanted to try something new.

Encountering the handy dandy AAVA Ads, my mom spotted the Neil's Kitchen ads. We ordered the turkey.

Neil's Kitchen's Turkey
Taking a good look at the turkey, I could hardly wait to try it. When we carved the poultry, it was so juicy and tender. I was surprised how it didn't seem to be dry, even in the light meat areas. I anticipated this moment. I skipped the salad and sidings for dinner. I went directly to the turkey. I tell you, you need not add gravy on it. The turkey meat itself is so flavorful and tasty, and it was so juicy. Not at all dry. The sidings were delicious as well, including the stuffing and the gravy.


The turkey costs Php 750/kilo, but comes with the stuffings, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberries and buttered veggies. They even throw in the turkey platter for free to the customer. The sidings platter have to be returned though. Not bad at all. And so convenient for us compared to Casino Espanol.

Definitely worth trying. Can't wait for Thanksgiving :)


Gravy

Sidings: Buttered Veggies, Cranberries, Mashed Potatoes

CONTACT INFORMATION:

300 Makiling St., Ayala Alabang Village
809-5050, 710-8962
(0928) 524-7404
Website: http://www.wix.com/privatechef/neilskitchen

Photos Taken by: Yours truly :)

Ben To Yah

What's so great about the north? They have a wide range of food varieties to offer the public. So many delicious and authentic places to eat. So many hotels where one can simply relax and enjoy. So many places to visit. And, I guess I could say, it is convenient. Everyone lives up north.
Ben To Yah

What's great about the South? Almost everything in the South can be found in the North.. More in fact. What the South has that people from the north come to is the authentic and very reasonably-priced Japanese restaurant in BF, Ben To Yah. It is a small Japanese restaurant (home style) that cannot be easily located. If it didn't have a sign, you would think it is a residential home. Don't let the quitely ransacked foundation deceive you... They ahve a wide range of authentic Japanese food to offer the public.

Their Dining Area
Our personal favorite in Ben To Yah are the California Maki, Torikatsu, Sukiyaki, Grilled Tongue, Fried and Salted Chicken Skin, Ebi Tempura, and their sashimis. Although their presentation nor utensils can't compare to other Japanese restaurants, their food is something you will definitely crave for.



Their bar/dining

Family Style

Bar/Dining

Bar


Wall Covers

California Maki

California Make

Salmon Sashimi

Boiled Ox Tripe

Torikatsu

Ebi Tempura

Fried and Salted Chicken Skin

NO CONTACT INFORMATION
ADDRESS:
You can locate this small restaurant inside BF. Approaching Aguirre from Concha Cruz, turn left. Go straight until you spot Mercury. Take a right turn and go straight. You will pass Ann Arbor Montessori school. A few meters from there, on your right, you will locate Ben To Yah.

Restaurant Hours: Opens Daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Photos Take by: Yours truly :)

Bubba's Brew

As I mentioned in previous blogs, I am an avid fan of milk tea. Today, I still continue to search for the best milk tea in Manila.

As my hubby and I were walking by the food court of Alabang Town Center, I encountered this stall called "Bubba's Brew". They cater a wide range of flavors for your selection of milk tea. I tried the regular milk tea. Thinking it would be special, it wasn't at all. The taste wasn't quite appealing. It tasted as if a lipton tea bag had fresh milk on it. Nothing so special. I'll probably try another flavor to see and compare if it is something worth loving. But so far, I do not quite appreciate it.

Bubba's Brew Stand at the Food Court in Alabang Town Center

Bubba's Brew Menu

My Milk Tea from Bubba's Brew
Photos Taken by: Yours truly :)

Costa Brava Cakes

Costa Brava cakes, also known as the "Bel Air Cake" is quite famous now. Ever since 2005, my family has been ordering this brand of cake as gifts to other people, or simply during a birthday celebration or a family gathering. Today, they offer a wide range of selections from pastries to desserts to cakes. They currently have a kiosk as well during the weekends in PowerPlant Mall in Rockwell.

Caramel Cake

White Cake

Chocolate Cake


Chocolate Cake

White Cake
Ever since we discovered their cakes, it is something not only us, but our guests as well, would look forward to during events and gatherings. Their cakes aren't too sweet. It is simply delicious, unique, and exquisite. Definitely worth trying. Although kinda costlier than commercial cakes, it is worth it.

Your cake can be ordered according to your preferred size. Call at least 1-2 in advance.

COSTA BRAVA CONTACT INFORMATION:
896-1267, 896-6872
(0917) 8340851
12 Polaris Street, Bel Air, Makati City.

Photos Take By: Yours truly :)