Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
It's getting Christmas-y in here!
Hand-me-down ornaments, fresh out of the storage box.
My mom brought these from Manila years ago.
Two hours later...
Merry Christmas!
(Briscoe is too excited about the tree.)
Merry Christmas!
(Briscoe is too excited about the tree.)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Chicken soup for the soul, Filipino style
During a recent trip to Las Vegas, I had occasion to calm my stomach (after a night of drinking) with a bowl of arroz caldo at the local Chowking. While their version was by no means special, even a little greasy to be honest, it had all the ingredients I needed to set me right again--a winning combination of comfort food, with a dose of nostaligia.
I love arroz caldo. Again, like champorado, it takes me back. Back to the Laguna of my youth. Back to Saturday trips to the wet market in Calamba, where my mom would drop us kids off at the arroz caldo counter so we can eat while she shops. Back to my grandma's house in Cabuyao, and the many afternoons when my siblings, cousin and I would have arroz caldo as our after school snack. It also takes me back to college, when my building-mates and I trekked to a new Goto King that opened at midnight, offering free food for the first few diners. We dug into our warm bowls of rice porridge alongside construction workers and tricycle drivers.
It is our version of the cure-all chicken noodle soup. Only heartier from the rice, spicier from the black pepper, and saltier from the fish sauce.
From Wikipedia:
Some provinces prefer the Spanish-influenced arroz caldo (literally hot rice), which is often mistaken for a European dish due to its name. Arroz caldo is actually a Chinese congee that was adapted to the tastes of the Spanish colonial settlers who patronized Chinese restaurants in the Philippines. As the Spanish could not pronounce Chinese, they gave it a Spanish name for easy reference.
A few weeks ago, Bayds, an old college friend (now a doctor in Florida), texted me about her misadventure in attempting to make her first pot of arroz caldo. Hers ended up looking like gooey fried rice. But it gave me the idea of attempting my own creation.
The recipe is easy enough that I wonder now why I never tried this before. Start with some garlic, onion and the all important ginger. Throw in some rice, some chicken broth and pieces of cooked chicken. Cook till rice is done and you have arroz caldo.
I love arroz caldo. Again, like champorado, it takes me back. Back to the Laguna of my youth. Back to Saturday trips to the wet market in Calamba, where my mom would drop us kids off at the arroz caldo counter so we can eat while she shops. Back to my grandma's house in Cabuyao, and the many afternoons when my siblings, cousin and I would have arroz caldo as our after school snack. It also takes me back to college, when my building-mates and I trekked to a new Goto King that opened at midnight, offering free food for the first few diners. We dug into our warm bowls of rice porridge alongside construction workers and tricycle drivers.
It is our version of the cure-all chicken noodle soup. Only heartier from the rice, spicier from the black pepper, and saltier from the fish sauce.
From Wikipedia:
Some provinces prefer the Spanish-influenced arroz caldo (literally hot rice), which is often mistaken for a European dish due to its name. Arroz caldo is actually a Chinese congee that was adapted to the tastes of the Spanish colonial settlers who patronized Chinese restaurants in the Philippines. As the Spanish could not pronounce Chinese, they gave it a Spanish name for easy reference.
A few weeks ago, Bayds, an old college friend (now a doctor in Florida), texted me about her misadventure in attempting to make her first pot of arroz caldo. Hers ended up looking like gooey fried rice. But it gave me the idea of attempting my own creation.
The recipe is easy enough that I wonder now why I never tried this before. Start with some garlic, onion and the all important ginger. Throw in some rice, some chicken broth and pieces of cooked chicken. Cook till rice is done and you have arroz caldo.
I cheated a little by using store bought chicken broth.
Threw in some hard-boiled eggs to make it a heartier meal.
The usual condiments include ground black pepper, fish sauce (not shown) and kalamansi (or in my case, lime). Add to suit your taste.
It wasn't that hard at all. One mistake though, I made too much and ended up eating arroz caldo for lunch three days in a row. It's safe to say that I've had my fill of the stuff for now.
There's hope for you yet, Bayds!
I loosely followed the instructions of Connie of Pinoy Cook, substituting regular eggs and omitting the kasubha. Her full recipe is here.
There's hope for you yet, Bayds!
I loosely followed the instructions of Connie of Pinoy Cook, substituting regular eggs and omitting the kasubha. Her full recipe is here.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
What not to give
If you're like me, you are still in the process of getting your Christmas gift shopping done. And at some point over the last few weeks, you've probably asked yourself what on earth else you can give your dad, or your co-worker, or the mailman, that he/she hasn't gotten yet.
I don't have any answers for that question (I'm resorting to getting underwear to family members, for crying out loud!) But this list tells you what to definitely avoid.
I've given magazine subscriptions, and I know for a fact that they were appreciated. I've received them too, and liked them (Thanks, Sonia!). It can work, if you are thoughtful enough about your selection.
Other things on the list seem obvious: don't give your old things; an I.O.U. is just tacky; and who would ever want a singing fish (wait, we had one!)?
But this caught my attention:
8. A dusty tin full of edible stuff
This is not a tin of just anything—everyone loves getting homemade cookies or candies or a favorite cake and holiday tins are great for storage. I'm talking about when you're in the dollar store and you see some extra-dusty tins on the bottom shelf filled with, say, those chocolate turtles. And you have no idea how long they've been there, or if what's inside is even edible. But you buy a couple anyway because you're desperate for a few last minute gifts. And the person you give it to opens it and the chocolate-whatever inside is stale and the candy breaks their tooth.
While at the local dollar store yesterday afternoon (where else can you score rolls of wrapping paper and bags of ribbons and bows for a buck each?!), I spotted a middle-age looking guy filling his basket with Christmas-y mugs stuffed with what looked like peppermint candy. He was pulling them from deep within the bottom shelf of the Christmas food aisle, just as entry no. 8 warned above! The man was in front of me at the check out counter, so I know that he paid all of seven dollars and change for what I imagine to be his gifts to his co-workers or maybe his employees (or his secret enemies?).
The kicker is that as I was about to get into my car and drive off, I see who else but the dusty Christmas mug guy climbing into a shiny Porsche Cayenne. I guess he has to make up for his car payments somehow.
Merry Christmas!
I don't have any answers for that question (I'm resorting to getting underwear to family members, for crying out loud!) But this list tells you what to definitely avoid.
I've given magazine subscriptions, and I know for a fact that they were appreciated. I've received them too, and liked them (Thanks, Sonia!). It can work, if you are thoughtful enough about your selection.
Other things on the list seem obvious: don't give your old things; an I.O.U. is just tacky; and who would ever want a singing fish (wait, we had one!)?
But this caught my attention:
8. A dusty tin full of edible stuff
This is not a tin of just anything—everyone loves getting homemade cookies or candies or a favorite cake and holiday tins are great for storage. I'm talking about when you're in the dollar store and you see some extra-dusty tins on the bottom shelf filled with, say, those chocolate turtles. And you have no idea how long they've been there, or if what's inside is even edible. But you buy a couple anyway because you're desperate for a few last minute gifts. And the person you give it to opens it and the chocolate-whatever inside is stale and the candy breaks their tooth.
While at the local dollar store yesterday afternoon (where else can you score rolls of wrapping paper and bags of ribbons and bows for a buck each?!), I spotted a middle-age looking guy filling his basket with Christmas-y mugs stuffed with what looked like peppermint candy. He was pulling them from deep within the bottom shelf of the Christmas food aisle, just as entry no. 8 warned above! The man was in front of me at the check out counter, so I know that he paid all of seven dollars and change for what I imagine to be his gifts to his co-workers or maybe his employees (or his secret enemies?).
The kicker is that as I was about to get into my car and drive off, I see who else but the dusty Christmas mug guy climbing into a shiny Porsche Cayenne. I guess he has to make up for his car payments somehow.
Merry Christmas!
Dreaming of a Manila Christmas
I'm dreaming of a Christmas spent in the Philippines. The last Christmas I spent *home* was in 1997. Going back now, I know that the experience won't be quite the same. Most of my family is here, scattered all over the US and Canada. Same with friends. But I'm looking forward to a new kind of Philippine Christmas, spent with the hubby, and maybe (just maybe) kids later (much, much later) on.
Christmas time is the prime season for balikbayans visiting the Philippines. For most of us who have not been there in a while, we yearn for the old, while searching for the new.
For me, the old means hanging out in Los Banos, visiting my lolo's grave in Loyola, driving along Katipunan perhaps, breakfast at Pancake House, a weekend in El Paradiso (the private beach of family friends), and so on.
The new, well, I would need help with that. Cecile of Chuvaness suggests, among other things, checking out the Salcedo Market on Saturdays, a meal at Antonio's Garden in Tagaytay, and shopping at a Team Manila lifestyle store. See her full Balikbayan Guide here.
What are your Manila/Philippines musts?
Christmas time is the prime season for balikbayans visiting the Philippines. For most of us who have not been there in a while, we yearn for the old, while searching for the new.
For me, the old means hanging out in Los Banos, visiting my lolo's grave in Loyola, driving along Katipunan perhaps, breakfast at Pancake House, a weekend in El Paradiso (the private beach of family friends), and so on.
The new, well, I would need help with that. Cecile of Chuvaness suggests, among other things, checking out the Salcedo Market on Saturdays, a meal at Antonio's Garden in Tagaytay, and shopping at a Team Manila lifestyle store. See her full Balikbayan Guide here.
What are your Manila/Philippines musts?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Spreading warmth, one cup of cocoa at a time...
Updated: 12/15/08
The finished product.
I must admit that I'm not always the best neighbor. I don't hang out in front of my house, having conversations with whoever might be passing by. I haven't attended a single homeowners' association meeting. I've never had coffee or tea with any of the other wives on my street. And I've never invited any of my neighbors into my house just to hang out.
That said, I wave when I see anyone on the street as I drive by. I say hi to anyone within earshot when I go to walk my dog. And if anyone ever knocks on my door asking to borrow some eggs or a cup of sugar, I'd be happy to help.
But since it is Christmas, it might be time to do a little something extra. Thus my Christmas neighborhood gift idea.
Initially, I thought a tin of baked goods should do it. After poring over recipes in cookbooks and online, after two trial runs (of a cookie and muffin recipe), I copped out and choose the easy route. For me, that means no baking at all.
I found this recipe for a hot cocoa mix on Food Network's web site, from one of my favorite FN stars, Alton Brown. It's super easy. Just mix all the dry ingredients, pack, and deliver. To make the mix a bit more special, I got good quality cocoa powder, organic too.
The recipe calls for a pinch of cayenne pepper. Don't be afraid though. It doesn't make the cocoa spicy, just adds a lingering heat to in your throat after a few gulps. Really nice actually.
It's very important to mix everything well, lest one gets a whole chunk of salt or cornstarch in one spoonful. Sifting helps too in working out the clumps.
To make the hot cocoa, just mix how at least two teaspoons (more if you like it rich) with hot water or warm milk.
Pack in jars.
Ready for delivery!
Full hot cocoa recipe here.
The finished product.
I must admit that I'm not always the best neighbor. I don't hang out in front of my house, having conversations with whoever might be passing by. I haven't attended a single homeowners' association meeting. I've never had coffee or tea with any of the other wives on my street. And I've never invited any of my neighbors into my house just to hang out.
That said, I wave when I see anyone on the street as I drive by. I say hi to anyone within earshot when I go to walk my dog. And if anyone ever knocks on my door asking to borrow some eggs or a cup of sugar, I'd be happy to help.
But since it is Christmas, it might be time to do a little something extra. Thus my Christmas neighborhood gift idea.
Initially, I thought a tin of baked goods should do it. After poring over recipes in cookbooks and online, after two trial runs (of a cookie and muffin recipe), I copped out and choose the easy route. For me, that means no baking at all.
I found this recipe for a hot cocoa mix on Food Network's web site, from one of my favorite FN stars, Alton Brown. It's super easy. Just mix all the dry ingredients, pack, and deliver. To make the mix a bit more special, I got good quality cocoa powder, organic too.
The recipe calls for a pinch of cayenne pepper. Don't be afraid though. It doesn't make the cocoa spicy, just adds a lingering heat to in your throat after a few gulps. Really nice actually.
It's very important to mix everything well, lest one gets a whole chunk of salt or cornstarch in one spoonful. Sifting helps too in working out the clumps.
To make the hot cocoa, just mix how at least two teaspoons (more if you like it rich) with hot water or warm milk.
Pack in jars.
Ready for delivery!
Full hot cocoa recipe here.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Christmas tree is up!
It took a while, but our Christmas tree is up.
Started shopping around by stopping at the Monterey County Fairgrounds where a seller has set up shop. They had trees of all varieties and sizes. But boy, were those trees pricey. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not about to shell out upwards of $60 for a tree.
Pretty trees. Also pretty expensive!
So I waited, looked around for a while, eventually spotting a great deal from one of the local supermarkets. A six-foot Douglas fir for only $19.99!
We picked up the tree Sunday night. Because our dinky electric saw couldn't cut through the trunk (to chop off about an inch of the end, as recommended), we couldn't put the tree in its stand yet. Tree had to sleep in the garage for a night.
Trimming the trunk with a saw that works.
The tree is standing now, drinking up as much water as it can, I bet. But we're giving it time to spread out and unfurl completely before decorating.
After a few hours, it's looking a LOT fuller than I expected.
Started shopping around by stopping at the Monterey County Fairgrounds where a seller has set up shop. They had trees of all varieties and sizes. But boy, were those trees pricey. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not about to shell out upwards of $60 for a tree.
Pretty trees. Also pretty expensive!We picked up the tree Sunday night. Because our dinky electric saw couldn't cut through the trunk (to chop off about an inch of the end, as recommended), we couldn't put the tree in its stand yet. Tree had to sleep in the garage for a night.
Trimming the trunk with a saw that works.
After a few hours, it's looking a LOT fuller than I expected. Trip Playback: Thanksgiving in Vegas (Part 1)
I really should have taken more pictures.
That said, the Vegas trip was a success. Good food with good friends, old and new. It was relaxing too, which is a surprise considering every other time I've been in Vegas has always been a whirlwind of activities.
Getting there was easy enough. V & I drove a little over 500 miles, in about 9 hours. Hit some traffic along the way, on cursed CA 58, but that was to be expected. The drive home, on the other hand, was another level of hell. More on that later.
Got to Bally's and checked in without problems. Bally's is an older hotel, but at $59 a night for a holiday weekend, I could not pass up the deal. It's connected to the Paris Hotel next door, providing easy access to better restaurants and such, and is centrally located on the Strip, at Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road. I knew from reviews on Tripadvisor (a valuable tool for travelers) that a renovated room is a must. We were given a renovated king room in the North Tower, sacrificing a view of the Bellagio fountains. But I'll take a nice clean room over a view any day. Quick review and more pictures here.
As soon as we unloaded our bags, the eating and drinking ensued. We met with V's old friend Adam, who is now a Vegas local. First meal of the trip was dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. V had excellent steak frites (fries were more like chips, and very yummy) while I had some grilled chicken breast served with green beans. Tried their Frangria, their signature French sangria, but was not a fan.
After dinner and a quick change of clothes, we met up again at New York New York's new club, Rok. The club itself was so-so, and if I wasn't with friends, I would've been in a sour mood about waiting in line. After about 45 minutes (ugh!), we were let in. It was crowded and filled with scantily-dressed young twenty-somethings--really not my scene any more. Things got interesting when after about a half hour, some performer took the stage. It was Mya, of "Ghetto Superstar" and "Lady Marmalade" fame! Soon after her set, we called it a night. Not bad for our first few hours in town.
One more thing, if you're in New York New York, check out Nine Fine Irishmen. The band is pretty cool, and most nights, Riverdancing ensues.
Where else did we eat and drink?
Trader Vic's in Planet Hollywood
First caught a show at the upstairs LA Comedy Club. Dinner was downstairs, in the main dining room. Food was okay. I had some stir-fry lobster and a mai tai. Trader Vic has a Polynesian theme, so be prepared for a tiki-overload. Prices were fair.
Red Square in Mandalay Bay
Looking for a quiet place to sit, drink and talk, we headed to Red Square in Mandalay Bay. The room has a cool, Cold War Russia theme. They have a vodka vault, where apparently, they've stashed the frozen head of Lenin. A headless Lenin statue greets you at the restaurant's door. The drinks menu was understandably heavy on vodka and martinis. The place is quiet enough for conversation, if you can get a table at the bar area. Only diners get so sit at the booths in the dining area. Martinis went for around $15.
Gallagher's Steakhouse in New York New York
Dinner and a show is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. With Zumanity tickets at hand, we headed to Gallagher's. The impressive display of aged meats is enough to get your mouth watering, if you are a steak fan. Which I am not. But the husband is, so off we went. I opted for a filet mignon because it was the smallest cut on the menu. It came charred and tough. Needed two glasses of wine to wash it down, and ended up eating some of V's aged NY strip. I would have complained and asked for a different steak but with only 20 minutes before curtain, there was no time for a do-over. Expensive, and in my opinion, not worth it.
AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel
One Thanksgiving, many moons ago, V and I suffered the indignity of a hotel buffet Thanksgiving dinner in Washington DC. Even in the land of buffets, I was not about to risk another disaster. We booked a five-course prex fixe dinner at AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel. Honestly, there was no rhyme or reason to my pick of this particular restaurant. I liked that it was Italian, I suppose, and I'd never seen the inside of the Hard Rock Hotel. I also liked that at $50 per person, the meal came with wine pairings. I'm a sucker for wine pairings!
Dinner started with a glass of bubbly, then salad and a generous antipasti plate. I can never pace myself at dinner so I ended up eating it all. That and most of the bread basket. Then came some butternut squash risotto. Then a plate of both roasted organic turkey and maple pork loin. At this point, I couldn't even touch any of the sides, I was so full. Finally, there was a plate of mini desserts, including pecan pie, and Grappa to wash it down. Overall a satisfying meal at a reasonable price.
On the way out, we perused some costumes on display that were worn by famous performers. The collection included Britney Spears' school girl outfit, and the chaps ensemble Christina Aguilera wore in the "Dirrty" video.
Pho Saigon 8
The most satisfying meal of any trip, for me, tends to be the most down-to-earth ones. In Vegas, it came a steaming bowl of pho at Pho Saigon 8. Way off strip, deep in the heart of Vegas' Chinatown, I found the pho chin nam to be particularly soothing after a night of drinking. Super cheap and super good.
Jollibee and Chowking
I couldn't pass up the chance to eat at these Filipino fast food staples. At Jollibee, I had the Chickenjoy with rice and gravy, the sweet spaghetti and a peach mango pie. V had a hamburger. He said, "Which is the regular hamburger?" Meaning no weird sauces and additions (like a slice of pineapple).
At Chowking, I had arroz caldo and a small bowl of beef noodles. Yes, I was hungry and I wanted to eat everything. V had a combo plate of chicken teriyaki (or teriyucky) and spaghetti. After, we shared a halo-halo :-)
That's the food part of the trip--overall, satisfying and enjoyable. I'll post about Zumanity and Red Rock Canyon later.
Going back to the horrendous drive home, we left Vegas at noon, anticipating the crush of holiday traffic. But we weren't prepared for what actually ensued. Almost as soon as we left the Strip, we were in stop-and-go traffic. After hours of driving, we finally reached the Nevada-California stateline in Primm, a mere 40 miles away from the Strip. We finally pulled up in front of our house at 3 AM! The 500-mile drive took 15 hours! I could have flown to Japan in that same amount of time. Lesson learned: On the last day of a long holiday weekend, leave at the crack of dawn. Better yet, leave a day early.
Tired and in disbelief that we survived the long drive from hell, V & I crawled into bed thinking still that we had a great Thanksgiving getaway. Thank God for that!
That said, the Vegas trip was a success. Good food with good friends, old and new. It was relaxing too, which is a surprise considering every other time I've been in Vegas has always been a whirlwind of activities.
Getting there was easy enough. V & I drove a little over 500 miles, in about 9 hours. Hit some traffic along the way, on cursed CA 58, but that was to be expected. The drive home, on the other hand, was another level of hell. More on that later.
Got to Bally's and checked in without problems. Bally's is an older hotel, but at $59 a night for a holiday weekend, I could not pass up the deal. It's connected to the Paris Hotel next door, providing easy access to better restaurants and such, and is centrally located on the Strip, at Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road. I knew from reviews on Tripadvisor (a valuable tool for travelers) that a renovated room is a must. We were given a renovated king room in the North Tower, sacrificing a view of the Bellagio fountains. But I'll take a nice clean room over a view any day. Quick review and more pictures here.
As soon as we unloaded our bags, the eating and drinking ensued. We met with V's old friend Adam, who is now a Vegas local. First meal of the trip was dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. V had excellent steak frites (fries were more like chips, and very yummy) while I had some grilled chicken breast served with green beans. Tried their Frangria, their signature French sangria, but was not a fan.
After dinner and a quick change of clothes, we met up again at New York New York's new club, Rok. The club itself was so-so, and if I wasn't with friends, I would've been in a sour mood about waiting in line. After about 45 minutes (ugh!), we were let in. It was crowded and filled with scantily-dressed young twenty-somethings--really not my scene any more. Things got interesting when after about a half hour, some performer took the stage. It was Mya, of "Ghetto Superstar" and "Lady Marmalade" fame! Soon after her set, we called it a night. Not bad for our first few hours in town.
One more thing, if you're in New York New York, check out Nine Fine Irishmen. The band is pretty cool, and most nights, Riverdancing ensues.
Where else did we eat and drink?
Trader Vic's in Planet Hollywood
First caught a show at the upstairs LA Comedy Club. Dinner was downstairs, in the main dining room. Food was okay. I had some stir-fry lobster and a mai tai. Trader Vic has a Polynesian theme, so be prepared for a tiki-overload. Prices were fair.
Red Square in Mandalay Bay
Looking for a quiet place to sit, drink and talk, we headed to Red Square in Mandalay Bay. The room has a cool, Cold War Russia theme. They have a vodka vault, where apparently, they've stashed the frozen head of Lenin. A headless Lenin statue greets you at the restaurant's door. The drinks menu was understandably heavy on vodka and martinis. The place is quiet enough for conversation, if you can get a table at the bar area. Only diners get so sit at the booths in the dining area. Martinis went for around $15.
Gallagher's Steakhouse in New York New York
Dinner and a show is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. With Zumanity tickets at hand, we headed to Gallagher's. The impressive display of aged meats is enough to get your mouth watering, if you are a steak fan. Which I am not. But the husband is, so off we went. I opted for a filet mignon because it was the smallest cut on the menu. It came charred and tough. Needed two glasses of wine to wash it down, and ended up eating some of V's aged NY strip. I would have complained and asked for a different steak but with only 20 minutes before curtain, there was no time for a do-over. Expensive, and in my opinion, not worth it.
AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel
One Thanksgiving, many moons ago, V and I suffered the indignity of a hotel buffet Thanksgiving dinner in Washington DC. Even in the land of buffets, I was not about to risk another disaster. We booked a five-course prex fixe dinner at AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel. Honestly, there was no rhyme or reason to my pick of this particular restaurant. I liked that it was Italian, I suppose, and I'd never seen the inside of the Hard Rock Hotel. I also liked that at $50 per person, the meal came with wine pairings. I'm a sucker for wine pairings!
Dinner started with a glass of bubbly, then salad and a generous antipasti plate. I can never pace myself at dinner so I ended up eating it all. That and most of the bread basket. Then came some butternut squash risotto. Then a plate of both roasted organic turkey and maple pork loin. At this point, I couldn't even touch any of the sides, I was so full. Finally, there was a plate of mini desserts, including pecan pie, and Grappa to wash it down. Overall a satisfying meal at a reasonable price.
On the way out, we perused some costumes on display that were worn by famous performers. The collection included Britney Spears' school girl outfit, and the chaps ensemble Christina Aguilera wore in the "Dirrty" video.
Pho Saigon 8
The most satisfying meal of any trip, for me, tends to be the most down-to-earth ones. In Vegas, it came a steaming bowl of pho at Pho Saigon 8. Way off strip, deep in the heart of Vegas' Chinatown, I found the pho chin nam to be particularly soothing after a night of drinking. Super cheap and super good.
Jollibee and Chowking
I couldn't pass up the chance to eat at these Filipino fast food staples. At Jollibee, I had the Chickenjoy with rice and gravy, the sweet spaghetti and a peach mango pie. V had a hamburger. He said, "Which is the regular hamburger?" Meaning no weird sauces and additions (like a slice of pineapple).
At Chowking, I had arroz caldo and a small bowl of beef noodles. Yes, I was hungry and I wanted to eat everything. V had a combo plate of chicken teriyaki (or teriyucky) and spaghetti. After, we shared a halo-halo :-)
That's the food part of the trip--overall, satisfying and enjoyable. I'll post about Zumanity and Red Rock Canyon later.
Going back to the horrendous drive home, we left Vegas at noon, anticipating the crush of holiday traffic. But we weren't prepared for what actually ensued. Almost as soon as we left the Strip, we were in stop-and-go traffic. After hours of driving, we finally reached the Nevada-California stateline in Primm, a mere 40 miles away from the Strip. We finally pulled up in front of our house at 3 AM! The 500-mile drive took 15 hours! I could have flown to Japan in that same amount of time. Lesson learned: On the last day of a long holiday weekend, leave at the crack of dawn. Better yet, leave a day early.
Tired and in disbelief that we survived the long drive from hell, V & I crawled into bed thinking still that we had a great Thanksgiving getaway. Thank God for that!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Manny! Manny!
I didn't watch the fight, as I was at dinner with some new friends who are moving to Monterey soon. But I had V checking his Blackberry for updates.
A solid win for Manny Pacquaio. Someone Filipinos every where can be proud of. (And easy money for my dad. Haha!)
HBO recaps the Pacman's amazing journey here.
I thought this was funny too, as an extra bonus: “Zero crime rate in NCR during the Pacquiao fight, except for a lost wallet in a crowd of watchers in Tondo (in Manila) at the public free viewing area due to excitement,” said Bataoil. Read here.
HBO also aired a series of episodes featuring the prep both Pacquiao and De La Hoya did leading up to the fight. It's funny to see Manny's giant entourage! "Eleven of them squeeze into a two-bedroom condo." Keeping it real, Pinoy-style! And talaga ba namang may Magic Mic pa?! Also, his dog is cute.
I found the little bit about his wife, Jinky, interesting. I sense a bit of tension there, at least as far as this episode goes. Did anyone else pick that up?
A solid win for Manny Pacquaio. Someone Filipinos every where can be proud of. (And easy money for my dad. Haha!)
HBO recaps the Pacman's amazing journey here.
I thought this was funny too, as an extra bonus: “Zero crime rate in NCR during the Pacquiao fight, except for a lost wallet in a crowd of watchers in Tondo (in Manila) at the public free viewing area due to excitement,” said Bataoil. Read here.
HBO also aired a series of episodes featuring the prep both Pacquiao and De La Hoya did leading up to the fight. It's funny to see Manny's giant entourage! "Eleven of them squeeze into a two-bedroom condo." Keeping it real, Pinoy-style! And talaga ba namang may Magic Mic pa?! Also, his dog is cute.
I found the little bit about his wife, Jinky, interesting. I sense a bit of tension there, at least as far as this episode goes. Did anyone else pick that up?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Christmas wishlist
V & I attempted to get some shopping done at midnight on Black Friday, at the outlet mall in Vegas. We lasted all of an hour before we gave up and went back to our hotel.
I like shopping but have very little patience for trying things on. I also have a low tolerance for crowds and long lines. So online shopping suits me perfectly.
While shopping for others though, one inevitably finds something for oneself. Here are some things that I'm *wishing* for. Might give you some ideas for what to get for the folks on your list.
Gorillapod
It's hard enough trying to get your digital point-and-shoot to consistently produced decent shots. But throw in low-lighting, a slower shutter speed and unsteady hands and you end up with bad night pictures almost every time. This funky and handy tripod will take care of that. No flat surface? Not a problem. The Gorillapod can wrap its arms/legs on poles, tree branches, and wine bottle necks, among others. Comes in cute colors, and you can opt for an unpackaged unit to cut down on plastic packaging waste. The unpackaged ones are cheaper too ($21.95), so it's good for your wallet and the environment. Comes in different sizes so it can handle anything from a small camera to those massive DSLRs.
Marimekko wall hanging
I'm always looking for ways to counter V's growing collection of military prints. Nothing against them, just not my style at all. And since there are not enough wall space in his office to accommodate all his nicely framed prints, they end up spilling into the rest of the house. Marimekko is an established Finnish textile and clothing design company that makes everything from dresses, to plates and mugs, to bedsheets and tea towels--all with really funky patterns. This Marimekko wall hanging is made of 100 percent cotton, machine washable, and super cool. And it's on sale!
Simply Vera Vera Wang Quilted Faux-Crocodile Flat Tote
I've tried on several pieces from Vera Wang's Simply Vera line, without much success. Her dresses would look cute on the rack, and then really not cute on me. Same with shoes. They look really good in pictures, then you see them in person and wonder if you were even looking at the same thing. But among her handbags are some real winners, at least in my estimation. This is one of them. Comes in black too, and is the perfect size for carrying my MacBook. At $89 though, I thought it was a bit much for something you would get at Kohl's. But now that it's on sale for $53.40, I think I like it even more.
What's on your Christmas wishlist?
I like shopping but have very little patience for trying things on. I also have a low tolerance for crowds and long lines. So online shopping suits me perfectly.
While shopping for others though, one inevitably finds something for oneself. Here are some things that I'm *wishing* for. Might give you some ideas for what to get for the folks on your list.
Gorillapod
It's hard enough trying to get your digital point-and-shoot to consistently produced decent shots. But throw in low-lighting, a slower shutter speed and unsteady hands and you end up with bad night pictures almost every time. This funky and handy tripod will take care of that. No flat surface? Not a problem. The Gorillapod can wrap its arms/legs on poles, tree branches, and wine bottle necks, among others. Comes in cute colors, and you can opt for an unpackaged unit to cut down on plastic packaging waste. The unpackaged ones are cheaper too ($21.95), so it's good for your wallet and the environment. Comes in different sizes so it can handle anything from a small camera to those massive DSLRs.Marimekko wall hanging
I'm always looking for ways to counter V's growing collection of military prints. Nothing against them, just not my style at all. And since there are not enough wall space in his office to accommodate all his nicely framed prints, they end up spilling into the rest of the house. Marimekko is an established Finnish textile and clothing design company that makes everything from dresses, to plates and mugs, to bedsheets and tea towels--all with really funky patterns. This Marimekko wall hanging is made of 100 percent cotton, machine washable, and super cool. And it's on sale!Simply Vera Vera Wang Quilted Faux-Crocodile Flat Tote
I've tried on several pieces from Vera Wang's Simply Vera line, without much success. Her dresses would look cute on the rack, and then really not cute on me. Same with shoes. They look really good in pictures, then you see them in person and wonder if you were even looking at the same thing. But among her handbags are some real winners, at least in my estimation. This is one of them. Comes in black too, and is the perfect size for carrying my MacBook. At $89 though, I thought it was a bit much for something you would get at Kohl's. But now that it's on sale for $53.40, I think I like it even more.
What's on your Christmas wishlist?
Happy birthday, Maan!
I was lucky enough to have lived with two very smart, very cool girls while in college. Joanne and I went to high school together, and braved our freshman year in the big city together. Maan, her younger sister, joined us a year later.
We had our fair share of drama, and while it all seems like a lifetime ago, I will never forget the friendship and the love they both shared with me.
Maan was the go-getter among us. She was always out there, charting a new path, trying newer and harder things. Now a mom of two and living in London, we are worlds apart in distance, but never in affection.
Thanks for everything, Maan. And may this year be the best one yet.
(Holy crap, did you just turn 30?!)
PS. I stole your Friendster picture. I hope you don't mind!
We had our fair share of drama, and while it all seems like a lifetime ago, I will never forget the friendship and the love they both shared with me.
Maan was the go-getter among us. She was always out there, charting a new path, trying newer and harder things. Now a mom of two and living in London, we are worlds apart in distance, but never in affection.
Thanks for everything, Maan. And may this year be the best one yet.
(Holy crap, did you just turn 30?!)
PS. I stole your Friendster picture. I hope you don't mind!
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