food trip buddy: Beraldi and how they make coffee

Another food trip, a coffee sojourn.

After a floppy lunch at a local food chain that offer pizza and pasta, food buddy (foobu)Aida Desalisa and me decided to have coffee at Beraldi, an open-air coffee shop located at the 2nd level of SM Southmall. Its open-air feature allows customers to smoke while drinking coffee and attending to multitude of stuff.

I prefer frappuccino than brewed coffee and other types of coffee drinks. I like milk and choco-based frappes. But this time, the latteccino (coffee and milk frappe) caught my attention.

I ordered a grande latteccino caramel while foobu Aida, who prefers brewed ordered...uhhm ahh-brewed coffee, again. We also tried their Blackout cake and a piece each of choco chip cookie and oatmeal cookie.

The Blackout cake is a stunner-from the icing to the dough and up to its toppings. It is thickly covered with moist black chocolate icing and notably less bitter than normal black chocolates. The cake's dough is packed (not like regular cakes that has sponge-like doughs-lot of air holes) and its moist and also chocolatey.

The latteccino caramel is served and topped with cream like any other frappes. But unlike the cake, its quite a disappointment. The flavor was too mild that you'll wonder where the caramel went, aside from the drizzle on the cream topping. The mildness of the flavor was close to being bland. I've had frappes and lattes before, and this never came close to comparison. Its a forgettable drink.

I wanted to compare it with other coffee blends from other coffee specialty stores, and I'm thinking, perhaps this is how Beraldi makes coffee. Foobu Aida said her brewed coffee is just 'ok', so I assume she didn't like it much either.

As for the choco-chip and oatmeal cookies, it tasted nothing really special. There are better and cheaper cookies in a grocery store.

Beraldi failed to impress but I want to try it again sometime. I want my other foobus to try it out. I believe on first impressions that last in as much as I also believe on giving second chances.

In memoriam: Loy Joseph a.k.a Joey

I'm still pondering. I just can't get off my mind. Can't remember the last time I saw him, but he's on my mind, now. Don't get me wrong...its not what you're thinking.

I see him sitting beside Dave, they were having a performance coaching session about work. He just came from an over-break, again, and he hasn't punched correctly to reflect proper status mode. Dave is all red with frustration but he's suppressing the emotion.

He was off work, went on leave of absence (LOA) because he needs to go on medication. When he came back, worked for a few days...and had to be absent again. Dave is considering many things for him. His no-call no-show for work, his over-lunches and his countless over-breaks.

He liked eating at Fastbytes. He used to join us when we smoked after lunch. And he would sometime joke..."yosi tayo". But he must not. And yes he did not. He also talked about his plan of settling down with his girlfriend. He was enjoying himself although he is sick, and he never voluntarily talked about his condition, unless he was asked about it.

I remember him with a tube on his neck and his persistent coughing that is uncomfortably irritating. I remember when he had to go home because he was bloated and we all notice his head was slightly larger than normal. He is sick.

That's how I remember Loy. I teased and joked about him. I laughed, shared stories and perhaps, categorically, enjoyed his company. He is my team mate, after all.

We all thought, he was pushing himself too hard for going to work. We all thought that him, working graveyard, trying to meet the demands of a fast-paced call center industry, is not doing him any good. But he was persistent, he wanted to work, he needed to work but his body can no longer cope up.

I only have maybes, perhaps and many other things that connote uncertainty about Loy. I never get to spent that much time with him. There are other people who truly knows the real him-his family. As for me, and maybe for 91M67, what we saw was what we got. And we settled for it and we respected it.

His name is Loy Joseph Rodriguez. He liked facebooking and played Farmville. He died today. I don't know how old he was...but he looked older than his age, I know.

To Loy, dude, wherever you are, I hope you are happier without the pains. And pasensiya, I didn't send you cows in Farmville, though I always visit 'Oscar' in Pet Society. Hope you lived your life...as you wanted it. You'll never have to say "Have I answered all your questions for today" anymore. Good job Joey.

food trip buddy: Tupig: a food from up north

Tupig (rice cake) is a delicacy mainly produced and sold in the northern Philippines like Pangasinan, Ilocos, Isabela and my hometown, Nueva Vizcaya. Although there are many variations to this recipe, the basic ingredients include glutinous flour, molasses (sugar), coconut milk and grated young coconut. The ingredients are mixed and rolled into banana leaves then grilled in live or burning charcoal.

This native food finds its market to travelers going in and out of Baguio City through Pangasinan and into Cagayan Valley via Bambang and Sta. Fe towns of Nueva Vizcaya. It is something you couldn’t miss when you travel up north because of the many vendors that swarm public and private transports on every pit stop. It is sold at very reasonable price, usually at a hundred pesos, that ranges from seven to ten packs (with each pack containing 5-7 pieces). However, travelers must also be cautious when choosing to buy from hawkers because you might end up buying more banana leaves than the tupig itself.

There are many blogs offering instructions on how to make tupig. But I’ll blog what my mother did.

Glutinous flour (5 cups

Brown sugar (3 cups

Coconut milk (2 cups

Grated young coconut

She just mixed all the ingredients in a pan then rolled and wrapped it with fresh banana leaves. The raw tupig (that looks like suman) is then grilled into live charcoal. And that’s another thing I like about this delicacy: I love the enchantingly flavorful aroma of burning banana leaves and raw tupig.

My mother made us some tupig yesterday and I brought some as baon at work. Its been quite a time since I savored this food. So next time you travel somewhere north. Take the time to try the native tupig, you’ll fill your stomachs and help out the vendors' livelihood as well.

food trip buddy: Vietnam and the city...

My insatiable cravings for food and my eagerness to try out something new is taking me places.

My food buddies planned to visit the newly opened specialty restaurant along Perea St. in Lagaspi Village, Makati City. Since we all work in a call center and have different schedules, it’s hard to work out a plan. Luckily, on the week of the trip, we had the same scheduled days off. After shift, we took a taxi ride from Northgate, Alabang to Greenbelt, Makati City. There wasn't enough traffic and the trip was quick. I was tired and having a slight headache from a toxic and ‘queuing’ workday. And I was thinking, I'll be very disappointed if the food is not satisfying.

When we arrived, we saw the simple yet elegantly designed signage of Ba noi’s. And as we entered, the sound of Vietnamese music was playing on the background. After all introductions were made, we settled on a black, wooden table for four. It’s a new restaurant that had its soft opening last February. The daily rush of customers had just subsided and only a couple of tables where occupied upon our entry. The place is relatively small that could house, as I estimated it, not more than 40 diners.

Enough about the place, time for the food. We're here on a food trip so we ordered just a few dishes of the menu list.

Goi cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls)-has shrimp, vegetables, herbs (basil), pasta (looks to me like sotanghon) rolled and wrapped in rice paper. Best eaten with a peanut butter-based dressing

Ga nuong (Grilled Lemongrass Chicken)-grilled chicken with the satisfying flavor of Lemongrass. Served with a dressing that tasted like oyster sauce and soy sauce but sweetenedho bo (Beef Noodle Soup)-has basil leaves and other vegetables, best tasting when made hot and spicy with chopped chili

Goi ga bap cai (Vietnamese Cabbage Salad)-served with chicken strips and Vietnamese dressing, nuoc mam. It is sweet with slight sour taste because of the dressing.

Goi buoi tom (Vietnamese Pomelo Salad with Shrimp)-good for people on diet or those who who's watching their oily food intake due to health reasons, has sweet pomelo with macapuno strips, shrimp and sesame seeds

Ca phe sua da (Vietnamese coffee)-authentic Vietnamese coffee beans, brewed and mixed with condensed, served with ice. This is very flavorful and could rival the taste of commercial coffee companies like Starbucks and Boston Cafe

Ba noi is Vietnamese for 'grandmother'. The restaurant serves fresh flavors from Vietnam with the feel and authentic experience for Vietnamese food. According to Chef Rob Desalisa, general manager, the restaurant was set-up as a way of “bridging the gap between Philippine and Vietnamese culture”. And true indeed, Vietnamese culture and food is not much publicized in the country, or very few Filipinos are aware that there is a market for Vietnamese food in the Philippines.

With the proliferation of specialty restaurants that serve authentic international cuisines, one does not have to travel outside the country to experience a taste of a different culture. And food is always a better basis to determine the identity of a certain culture and tradition.

Ba noi’s offers something new for food enthusiasts. Its a great dining experience suitable for intimate group dates. And yes, I may add, food is healthy and clean. There is Vietnam at the heart of urban Makati ready to be discovered and experienced. 

Plus, it didn't disappoint a hungry body and a craving soul.

wun manong: may be a case of "A Right love at the Wrong time"

A friend once paid us a visit and stayed overnight in Los Banos, Laguna. He was with a mistress. I know, because I've met his wife and his 3-year old son.

But I didn't mind. I was trying to justify things. Shit happens I said. It happens. Men are polygamous.

I have always wanted to ask why and how it happened. As far as I thought, he was happily married. I was hesitant, but quite frankly, I was dying to know.

The following day, they offered to prepare a special drink, which she learned in a Boracay bar. So we set-up an impromptu party of four-me, my wife, the friend and his mistress. It was a Sunday, a family day.

The drink (which I forgot what she called it and something that I don't want to put a name on) is a combination of a hard drink (preferably Matador, Emperador etc.), water and condensed milk. Just mix all the ingredients, stir solution until everything is dissolved in water, add ice if necessary. The drink should taste like milk with the kick of an alcohol: the sweetness of milk contrasting the power of the hard drink. Not as strong as the regular alcoholic drink but will certainly leave you tipsy with just a few glasses.

We drank and shared stories. Over a pitcher of that special concoction, on a family day-Sunday, they answered all my whys and hows. BOTTOM LINE: Boy meets girl. They dated. They fell in love. And they both knew it was forbidden. Girl is separated (though not legal) and has 2 kids. They have to keep the relationship a secret. And I respected their decision.

This happened more than a year past. And within a year, the relationship was revealed. They went through hell with his wife's wrath. But they stuck together and promised to keep the relationship. They battled the evil and had to digest all bad things that their "society" had indicted. They further earned my respect.

His name is Allan and he is married to Liezle. Her name is Sherilyn and she's now living-in with Allan. Liezle has since dated other guys and is rumored to have a new boyfriend. Allan and Sherilyn now co-manages a bar in Lucena City. A case closed, I think, and hopefully a happy ever-after for Allan and Sherilyn.

It happened on a Sunday, over a special drink, shared by special friends with extra-ordinary stories.

I am not tolerating adultery. My take is to keep the sanctity of relationships, especially marriages at all cost. Relationships fail because there is no strong building-block. Forget love and trust but keep the respect. But if its not working out, then don't push it. If physical and emotional torture takes its toll, then its time to say OFF and OUT.

foot prints: Los Banos Garden Show, Theme: Garden Wedding

Move over flowers and step aside garden plants like palms and philodendrons!

Summer brings out the blooms although the climate is drying up the green. June is just a few months away, a month for weddings. Thus, the Los Banos Garden Show last April 23-May 2, 2010 with the theme “Garden Weddings”.

I was married in 2008 and being an alumnus of UP Los Banos, we held our wedding reception at the Senior’s Social Garden, the same venue where the Los Banos garden shows are held twice each year (October and summer months). My wife and I initially planned a garden wedding but thrashed the idea and settled for the traditional set-up instead. When I saw the ad, somewhere in Lalakay, about the garden show, I know I have to be there. And I did. My wife, who is an alumna of UPLB, also had the same enthusiasm to see the show.

Unlike in the past editions, this year somewhat mellowed on its flora exhibits and no new varieties of plants were introduced. Even exhibitors seem far less than the last time (see previous article). But as an enthusiast, the show had its same flourish and greening. It is never short of surprise which literally leaves an audience in awe with the cool and enchanting garden wedding set-up booths.

I always look forward to the central design of the exhibit.  And I was partially dismayed on how simple it was. I was expecting more for some wedding glamor, color and festivity. However, looking into the details, I knew that it was well-planned, with the vanda orchids and other varieties neatly arranged to create an illusion of an orchid-filled garden gazebo.

As per the booths, the set-up technically speaks much for itself.

Booth # 1: This set-up’s main feature is a covered pathway that leads to an altar. Colorful curtains add character to the booth with a gravel tile foot path.  I like the way plants are set up along the way. It is simple, elegant and has the economical look.

Booth #2: A gazebo type set-up with torches along the pathway sides. This booth looks very well at night when the torch lights are on. The booth too is simple and I don’t find much elegance (probably because it not for a daytime garden wedding). The bamboo siding add an oriental look and what I like is the enchanting intimacy it offers.

Booth # 3: This is probably the most common set-up for a garden wedding. Gravel stones and tiled rocks will guide the couple to a central area. This booth would look best if there is a water-fountain and trellises clinging from the roof of the bamboo covers. Curtains add color while choices of plants are well too ordinary. With an outstanding choice of colorful flowers, this booth could have offered the best sight.

Booth # 4: The simplest and the most ordinary looking booth for me. But, simple and ordinary as it may look, the set-up is not short of creating that romantic thrill. It features an open path lined with bamboo torches. Not like booth #2 that has enclosed sides, this offers the element of space and the feature that will highlight the couple and not the garden itself.

Booth # 5: This was judged as the winner for the booth competition. It’s the most well-though off design and offers the most elements. Plants flourish in the garden with rocks, stones and wood creating a varied texture. It offers two pathways, one that is directly behind the couple and the other on a side that offers the view of the couple. My wife picked this design as her favorite. And I’m not going to disagree.

Booth # 6: This is my unanimous pick. When I saw it, I immediately saw myself being remarried in this set-up. I love the simplicity of the design and its use of space. The minimalist structure and the capis wall create an open air altar. Moreso, the design looked clean and has the feel of a zen-like/spa-like garden. Also, the elevated steps will certainly make a couple feel that they are at the center of the garden and eventually the wedding.

This edition of the garden show lived up to its theme. All the partial disappointments I had at the start of the show eventually became a one-of-a-kind experience. It was a simple garden show filled world-class landscaping pulled off expertly by the Los Banos Horticulture Society. The garden show has already made a name for itself. It has become a tradition that is now part of Los Banos identity.