I Do Nails Mc Kinley

I had a great time this weekend trying out new stuff in various proportions.

For lunch, I tried The Porch's (113 Anonas ext. Sikatuna,QC) Amazing Ton. They say it can satisfy up to 8 hungry people. I think it can satisfy up to 24 who aren't so hungry :p It's a great way to bond with your new blockmates/ classmates this AY. If you have a smaller study group, you may just opt for their affordable steak platters & cap it off with their tall milkshakes.

For merienda, I had my fill of kakikayan at I Do Nails' opening in Mc Kinley @BGC.  It was my first time to try putting tiny gold charms on my nails. It was quite fun :)  See the little star?:)

For dinner, I didn't have to walk too far. I got to know the Mama behind Bag O'Shrimps & decided to shake shake shake & partake in a modern boodle feast.

I'm usually too lazy to shell crabs; but honestly their crabs really make it worth the effort. So good, you'll forget about taking photos.

To see more burgers, nailaholics & shrimp bags, catch more of PAT Mon-Fri 7-8:30am on Solar Daybreak (channel 9 on free tv) :)

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PAT's Top 10 figure flattering outfits

      Contrary to what most people think, I am neither skinny nor proportional. Like most Filipinas, I'm petite & pear-shaped.  I have a protruding, ever expanding hip bone that bothers me. But my flaws just make dressing up all the more exciting & I'm happy I get to experiment on a daily basis. So here are some of my favorite outfits this season: 

1. Zip-up dress (Stella)

      Reminiscent of the 80's & early 90's (ala Dats Entertainment), I added a thick red belt to bind my waist & pop a bit of color. 

2. Dainty lace (Stella)

      Sometimes I feel lace is too much for me.  Too much of it makes me look & feel heavy. But positioning it in strategic areas helps one exude feminity & classic charm.

3. 7-way dress

      I just love its versatility

4. Polka dots

      The symmetry of the dots diverts one's attention so he/she can forget whatever is imperfect.

5. Body Contouring (Liberté)

      I love bright colors & I love it even more when it has lines to contour the figure.

6. Color blocking (Deseo)

      Hide flaws with dark colors & accentuate your assets with bright& bold ones. Solid black lines also give structure & an illusion of added height.

7. Sweetheart neckline

      This is my favorite cut because it makes me feel ultra-feminine.

8. Body hugging dress (Liberté)

      This dress just sings "Defying Gravity"

9. Curves

       "The hills are alive with the sound of music.." Curves just make life more alluring

10. A-line 

      There must be a reason why top performers in class are given A's.  For me this is the top performing silhouette. It works for almost all body types.

Catch PAT Mon-Fri 7-8:30am on Daybreak, 12-1pm on Newsday & 1-1:30pm for Cebuano Weather (channel 9 on freetv)

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PAT's 10 Desserts You Ought to Try

Bikini season is over; we can indulge again!:p Here are some desserts that would make this schoolyear a little more cheerful despite the El Niño heat:

1. Whole Pet Kitchen & Barkery (San Juan)

      Dog & cat lovers need not worry as they can enjoy yummy desserts with their beloved pets. Human & animal desserts are in store all year round.

2. Cafe Publico (San Juan)

      Here you can eat gelato in a different way each day of the month; their Balsamic Strawberry & Salted Caramel are the best.

3. Mind Museum (BGC)

      Who would think this is actually Tiramisu? Everything is edible; including the soil and flower. Just cute.

5. Prime 101 (Chino Roces)

      Chef Marco is amazing with desserts; each plate is a work of art. Too beautiful to eat, too yummy to resist.

6. Halo halo de Iloko (La Union)

       They also offer fried halohalo but I think the one served in a buko shell is the best!:) <Gel Cabotaje is my model here:p>

7. Batirol (WCC)

      I actually got this for Christmas (thanks Ed!:)) The sad face is actually yummy quezo! harhar

8. Guevarra's (San Juan)

       Chef Jackie Laudico is uber cool; here they allow you to try all of her sweet creations buffet style. Try coming in at 5pm for maagang salu-salo so you can be first in line!

9. Museum Cafe (Ayala Museum)

      Their guava cheesecake is ultimate nirvana!

10. Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

      I was able to try their strawberry cheesecake during Menchu's baby shower; tart (I <3!) The size is good for portion control:p

Catch PAT Monday-Friday 7-8:30am on Ch9's Daybreak, 12-1pm on Newsday, and 1-1:30pm on Cebuano Weather.

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PAT's Top 10 Most Memorable Steaks

This Fathers' Day, eat like a man & treat your dad to some nice steak. Here are some of the most memorable & affordable meats I've tried over the past year

1. Gaucho (Robinson's Magnolia) 

      As you lounge comfortably & buzz on wine, you can go for Argentinian pork, lamb, beef & chicken. Their modern glass encased "a la Cruz" roasting pit is a sight to behold.

2. Prime 101 (Chino Roces)

      Everything here is just a suggestion on a blackboard; you can freely customize your fave comfort food. You can have Chef Marco cook anything your heart desires (Japanese, Italian, French, Indian, Filipino, Thai, Spanish, etc). Plus you can order customized furniture afterwards 

3. Trattoria Poggio Antico (Mc Kinley Hill)

      Quaint & reminscent of Florence, their steaks are sumptuous! (try their mushroom crepe too:p)

4. Dulcelin Gourmet (UP Ayala Hub)

      This bright place offers more than just mango tort for Christmas.. their meats are made super tender the French way! 

5. 2nd's (BGC)

      Your ultimate go-to place for comfort food where second helpings are expected and appreciated.

6. Galileo Enotica (Mandaluyong/ Eastwood)

      Here everything is authentic (even the owner/founder is Italian!). If you're still craving for more at home, you can also shop for ham, wine & cheese in their deli.

7. Rub (Kapitolyo, Pasig)

      Everything here is good & gives you value for your money (even their house blend iced tea!)

8. Vask Modernist Kitchen (BGC)

      Come and be amazed at the culinary magic of a Michelin Star chef. The flavors of unlikely flowers and herbs will surprise you.

9. Krazy Garlic (BGC)

      Everything here is garlickin' good

10. Meat plus (Subic)

      After a day of adventure & fun outdoors, a hefty serving of US grade steak would cap it off nicely. Their potato gratin is the creamiest!

Catch PAT Monday-Friday 7-8:30 am, 12-1pm& 1-1:30pm on Channel 9:)

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Maleficent: Hope for the Wicked

It's nice that modern stories are written in such a way that we are able to play as psychologists for an hour or so & analyze the character flaws of the protagonists so we can understand or at least humanize the mean antagonists. So much so that we can actually relate to the latter's plight & pain. Somehow it's comforting that the sinner can actually be a saint. 

In a country troubled by so many problems, it feels good to somehow visualize a world that can be perfect in the end despite having flawed leaders; that the nation can be great again despite the prevalence of grey. Aided by fiction, we are slowly convinced that we just have to have faith in the omnipotent Creator that we are always where we should be. We just have to be patient. If we strive hard enough & love unselfishly, our sins would be forgotten by the people who do matter & eventually, we can live in blissful harmony.

I love Maleficent's world. It's where true love exists and world peace is just a shadow waiting to introduce itself to you as your fairy godmother.

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Ms Teen Earth & Little Ms Earth Philippines 2014

Great things start with small beginnings is my favorite Milo jingle. I longed so much to be a graceful gymnast because of that ad ( I adored Bea Lucero). But some people would argue that nature limits what can be nurtured. That theory somehow comforts me & I can say I've moved on.

Enough of my frustrations in life; there is much reason to celebrate:) 20 kids and 20 teens are participating in this year's Ms Teen and Little Ms Earth Philippines. Almost a thousand kids from all over the country auditioned so these bibo kids are ultimately the cream of the crop. Seeing these kids& teens so enthusiastic and proactive in taking part of the Climate Change Commission's projects makes me reminisce about my brief reign as Little Ms Basilan in Mandaluyong. That title somehow triggered me to plant a lot of monggo, kaimito & mango and dream of having my own junk shop to help save Mother Earth..much to the dismay of my mother who smirked at the general state of my bed filled w/ recycled paper,foil & other treasures I refused to throw. She abruptly stopped that dream when we moved out of my grandparents' house & decided that we'd all live in a condo :/

Back to Ms Teen Earth & Little Ms Earth Philippines, the earth champions seem to have boundless energy. So much so that I think the judges will have a hard time deciding who they would crown tomorrow at the MOA Arena.

Witness the grand spectacle & keep yourselves posted on Sash Factor. If you wouldn't be able to watch live tomorrow, you can catch GMA's exclusive telecast on June 8 (Sunday) for SNBO.

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Pet Chow Gourmet Style

As a child, we adopted askals & stray cats at home. They would comfortably mingle w/ my lolo's chickens & my grandmother's Siamese, Bronson (who had special priviliges the other cats were not able to enjoy i.e. imported cat food & warm milk). They were cute alright, but their reasons for living were to chase rodents & minimize our biodegradable waste. Their visits to the vet were limited to vaccination; most of them have normal births (unlike my tita's Siamese, Cheska who had several C-sections). We celebrated some of their birthdays but we never once thought of feeding them cake; we thought cake & chocolates are bad for them anyway. It was easy to have them in the dirty kitchen as they were trained to look for tools when they are missing & they only eat after we've all eaten. They are no fuss creatures; they inevitably brought us happiness as kids.

It's an entirely new concept for me to see a cafe in San Juan where pets are treated as first class citizens & they are even allowed cakes & other treats! In Whole Pet Kitchen in San Juan, Chef Giannina Gonzales carefully tested all her pet treats w/ the aid of her vet & her lovable companion, Jack. I was surprised the treats are safe for human consumption (just devoid of salt &sugar) & humans actually taste test it first before pets do. I've tried their milk biscuit; it actually tastes similar to (for human) galletas:p

Chef Giannina grew up to love baking &pets; she says it's only but natural for her to think of something that would combine her two interests. Her golden retriever, Jack had quite a number of dietary restrictions so at one point she decided to make nutritional meals for other sensitive pets as well.

Her Bark-ery in San Juan wouldn't make humans feel out of place. After watching your pet enjoy a sumptuous gourmet fare, you can actually opt to try their La La Lasagna (you can hum ala Shakira while you're at it). It's really gooey& cheesy..kids & kids at heart would love it.

Their drinks are truly refreshing too. I enjoyed their citrus cooler :) & for those who also want dessert, their choco chip waffle a la mode is the best

For more info, watch out for our Pet Kitchen feature on Solar Daybreak (channel 9 on free tv)

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