Frostings

Food, is one of the greatest love of my life. Whether eating it or cooking it, food never gets out of style for me. Also, food has never been a source of my worries as a cause of weight gain and sickness. My travel and photography adventures would never be complete without any gastronomic explorations as well.

Last week, a close friend and I went to SM Mall of Asia. As I wasn't able to catch up on my dessert at Tempura (blog entry on that will be posted soon), I gave in to the temptation of trying a cupcake from 'Frostings'. I have this huge fixation over cupcakes; I think they are pretty to look at and scrumptious to eat. One of my wishes is to have an oven of my own so I could whip up and make my own creations.

Here's a wee bit sample of the cupcake I've had from Frostings. They are definitely delicious, I'll be back there for more!

You can visit Frostings at the following locations:


Market! Market!
2F,Bonifacio Global City,

Taguig City
Landmark Trinoma

Ground Floor, Supermarket
Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City

Trinoma Mall
3rd Floor Edsa cor. North Avenue,
Bagong Pag asa, Quezon City

Shangri-La, Rustans
3rd Floor, Children's Division
Mandaluyong City

Landmark Makati, Ayala Center
Lower G/F Food Center, Market Place
Makati City

Glorietta 4, Ayala Center
3rd Floor, Food Choices
Makati City

Mall of Asia Complex
Ground Floor near Ice Skating rink
Pasay City

Or visit them online at:


http://www.frostingscupcakes.com.ph
http://frostingscupcakes.multiply.com

Culinary Journal: My Very Own Fried Rice

I've been experimenting on recipes for fried rice every now and then. Last time I checked, I was inspired to create this one based on a cooking show I saw on TV. It's quite simple, easy to prepare and the ingredients are cheap. What I like about fried rice are the endless possibilities with making it. You can mixed and toss veggies, meat and spices and it will turn out fine, but of course if the cooking is done right it would turn out delicious.

I love creating and trying out new recipes for myself but I'm more excited when I have to prepare something for my friends and family. This one, I would give it a go when my best friend visits me one of these days. As I have successfully done this recipe thrice I am now confident to try to cook something more adventurous such as Paella and Gumbo in the near future.

Fried Rice Surprise


- Rice
- Spam Classic (luncheon meat)
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Canned Tuna (San Marino or Century Tuna)
- Spaghetti Sauce - Italian Style
- Butter
- Aji Ginisa
- Salt (to taste)

1. Sliced your Spam Classic, Carrot and Cucumber into small bits.

2. Fried your carrot using butter. Add luncheon meat, rice, Aji ginisa, cucumber and tuna. Mixed them all together, then add your spaghetti Sauce.
      Note: The original recipe was without cucumber, but I've added it on the ingredient list because I think it would remove the stench of the fish. Instead of tomato sauce I have used the spaghetti sauce for its playful flavor. 


3. Add some salt for finishing touches.

Saturday Stuff

Went on hauling at SM Sta Rosa, courtesy of a cousin who went here in the Philippines for a 4 day visit from Guam. With his treat, I've bought myself two new flip flops from Banana Peel and Toeberries, black comfy flats, gel pen, mini-notebook, camera pouch and 2 cute-tees (haven't posted them here, though). What a nice day to buy some things without breaking the budget

Hash Brown

Makati is a gastronomic metropolis. But being on a budget mode nowadays Mickey D's is the best quick fix. Though I no longer eat their beef burgers I'm still super crazy for their fried fries, hot fudge, chicken McNuggets, breakfast meals...and hash brown. After getting my pay last Friday I went to Mickey D's Ayala Avenue and bought myself a hash brown (Php 25). Usually, I like pairing this up with a cup of hot chocolate from 7/11, but since I need to  teach myself the act of frugality...this one will do. Hash brown is perfect dressed up with Heinz ketchup (cos I think it taste weird without one).

Premium Donut

Recently, Dunkin Donuts Philippines released a high-end line of donuts to their selected stores that could compete to the growing stalls and expanding fan based of Krispy Kreme.

Introducing: Premium Donut!

There are six varieties to choose from, Sansrival, Milky Bliss, Choco Nirvana, Dark Crunch, Chococcino, and Chunky Choconut , which I've picked up last Thursday from a Dunkin Donut branch in Makati. Each donut cost 45 pesos, not bad with its rich and thick filling and all. Mouthwatering and scrumptious I will be looking forward to try all the varieties in the next coming days to follow.

Sophisticated packaging. You get a box of this for a donut. 

My fave so far. I've had two already, for the record.

Film Roundup: September to early October 2011

Truly, I am excited to post this film roundup. Some titles were included on my list of 2011 must see films (that of course is not posted here, if you've chance to wonder where the hell it was). Films such as 'Drive' by Nicolas Winding Refn and Trier's "Melancholia" that in my definite opinion, has grabbed the top slot for this year's best film,while Soderbergh's "Contagion" did not live up exactly to my expectations. With that being said here are my ratings:

TRUST United States |2010 DIR David Schwimmer Rating: A-	A SINGLE MAN United States | 2009 DIR Tom Ford Rating: A
BRIDESMAIDS United States | 2011 DIR Paul Feig Rating: A	BARNEY'S VERSION Canada | 2010 DIR Richard J. Lewis Rating: A-
ME AND ORSON WELLES United Kingdom | 2008 DIR Richard Linklater Rating: A-	SERPICO United States | 1973 DIR Sidney Lumet Rating: B+
CONTAGION United States | 2011 DIR Steven Soderbergh Rating: B+	LA HAINE France | 1995 DIR Mathieu Kassovitz Rating: A+
DRIVE United States | 2011 DIR Nicolas Winding Refn Rating: A	HALF NELSON United States | 2006 DIR Ryan Fleck Rating: A-
BEAUTIFUL BOY United States | 2010 DIR Shawn Ku Rating: A-	MELANCHOLIA Denmark | 2011 DIR Lars von Trier Rating: A+
NETWORK United States | 1976 DIR Sidney Lumet Rating: A+	Bon Appétit Switzerland, Spain, Germany | 2010 DIR David Pinillos Rating: B+

Movie Marathon: British Films (1)

(Originally posted on September 21st, 14:48)


For quite some time I have been planning to do a movie marathon that only consists of present day British films. When I say present day that means from year 1990 onwards. With my growing collection of DVD and my special fondness for the English accent - the titles of Brit films in my very own cinema library seems to have increased in number this past year. I have become accustomed - like a family - to British actors, film directors and writers, that in some way, their works have become a constant inspiration in my life through and through.

Last Saturday, being my rest day and all, I've pushed through with my own Brit film fest in our living room and have selected these 6 fine films for the whole date. I have yet to include other titles, but with the luxury of time ain't on my side - I have come to the conclusion that I'll be making 'series 2' next time, as there are so many films to see, but so little time. 

	MADE IN DAGENHAM (2010) Directed by Nigel Cole Screenplay by William Ivory My Rating A-
	AN EDUCATION (2009) Directed by Lone Scherfig Screenplay by Nick Hornby My Rating A
	SUBMARINE (2010) Directed by Richard Ayoade Screenplay by Richard Ayoade My Rating A-
	BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001) Directed by Sharon Maguire Screenplay Andrew Davies & Richard Curtis Based on the novel by Helen Fielding My Rating A-
	ANOTHER YEAR (2010) Directed by Mike Leigh Screenplay by Mike Leigh My Rating A
	LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) Directed by Richard Curtis Written by Richard Curtis My Rating B+

Movie Marathon: Based on the Novels by Women Writers

(Originally posted on September 20th, 12:09) 


During one of my spur-of-the moment mood for a movie marathon, I have rummaged on my closet for some films that were adapted from the novels written by women writers from the pre-feminist period, such as as Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Edith Wharton and Frances Hodgson Burnett. These women - have struggled to have their books published. They fought hard for their equal space in a world - mainly dominated by men and they  paved the way for the future generation of women writers we know now. With all of my heart and gratitude - I salute them! 

	THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (1993) Rating: A- Based on the novel by Edith Wharton Directed by Martin Scorsese Screenplay by Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese
	LITTLE WOMEN (1994) Rating: A- Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott Directed by Gillian Armstrong Screenplay by Robin Swicord
	A LITTLE PRINCESS (1995) Rating: A Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett Directed by Alfonso Cuaron Screenplay by Richard LaGravenese and Elizabeth Chandler
	PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005) Rating: A+ Based on the novel by Jane Austen Directed by Joe Wright Screenplay by Deborah Moggach
	JANE EYRE (2011) Rating: A Based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë Directed by Cary Fukunaga Screenplay by Moira Buffini

Film Round Up for July - Sep 2011

(Originally posted on September 10th, 16:48)


Today, I was supposed to watch Soderbergh's latest film "Contagion", but due to the shortage of moolah in my pocket I have decided to be more practical and just go home and watch DVDs. Besides, I have a line up of British films to catch for my movie marathon and also there is the first season/episode of "The Killing" which I am pretty excited to watch for a few days now - especially that  Mad Men will not be back on the tube not until next year. So yes, I am home bound for my rest day. Plus, I have loads of assignments to do for my blog such as backlogs of film reviews and ratings I have failed to post. I am so behind schedule that if I don't do these task now I will board myself again on the express train of idleness without any accomplishments.

Moving on, these films have made it to my movie-watching days from July to early September of 2011 and I have graded them as follows:

	INSIDIOUS United States Director: James Wan, Leigh Whannell Year: 2011 B+ Genre: Horror Run Time: 102 minutes Writer: Leigh Whannell
	X-MEN: FIRST CLASS United States Director: Matthew Vaughn Year: 2011 B+ Genre: Action, Adventure and Drama Run Time: 132 minutes Writer: Matthew Vaughn, Zack Stentz, Ashley Miller, Jane Goldman
	HARRY POTTER AND DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 United Kingdom, United States Director: David Yates Year: 2011 A Genre: Family Run Time: 130 minutes Writer: Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling
	HESHER United States Director: Spencer Susser Year: 2010 B Genre: Drama Run Time: 100 minutes Writer: Brian Charles Frank, David Michôd, Spencer Susser
	RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES United States Director: Rupert Wyatt Year: 2011 B+ Genre: Science Fiction Writer: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
	MIDNIGHT IN PARIS United States, Spain Director: Woody Allen Year: 2011 A- Genre: Comedy Run Time: 94 minutes Writer: Woody Allen
	JOHN CARPENTER'S THE WARD United States Director: John Carpenter Year: 2010 C+ Genre: Horror Run Time: 88 minutes Writer: Michael Rasmussen, Shawn Rasmussen
	SCREAM 4 United States Director: Wes Craven Year: 2011 B Genre: Horror, Comedy Run Time: 103 minutes Writer: Kevin Williamson
	TEMPTATION ISLAND Philippines Director: Chris Martinez Year: 2011 C+ Genre: Comedy Writer: Chris Martinez
	FINAL DESTINATION 5 United States Director: Steven Quale Year: 2011 B Genre: Horror Run Time: 95 minutes Writer: Eric Heisserer, Jeffrey Reddick
	CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER United States Director: Joe Johnston Year: 2011 B+ Genre: Action and Adventure Run Time: 124 minutes Writer: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
	KUNG FU PANDA 2 United States Director: Jennifer Yuh Year: 2011 A- Genre: Family and Comedy Run Time: 90 minutes Writer: Jonathan Haagensen, Glenn Berger
	SUPER 8 United States Director: J.J. Abrams Year: 2011 C+ Genre: Action and Adventure Run Time: 112 minutes Writer: J.J. Abrams
	HORRIBLE BOSSES United States Director: Seth Gordon Year: 2011 B+ Genre: Comedy Run Time: 100 minutes Writer: Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
	BAD TEACHER United States Director: Jake Kasdan Year: 2011 B- Genre: Comedy Run Time: 92 minutes Writer: Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg
	FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS United States Director: Will Gluck Year: 2011 B Genre: Comedy Run Time: 108 minutes Writer: Keith Merryman, David A. Newman, Will Gluck, Harley Peyton
	THE CHANGE-UP United States Director: David Dobkin Year: 2011 C Genre: Comedy Run Time: 113 minutes Writer: Jon Lucas , Scott Moore
	BELLE DE JOUR France, Italy Director: Luis Buñuel Year: 2011 A+ Run Time: 101 minutes Writer: Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude Carrière, Joseph Kessel
	FRIGHT NIGHT United States, United Kingdom Director: Craig Gillespie Year: 2011 B Genre: Thriller Run Time: 101 minutes Writer: Marti Noxon, Tom Holland
	PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES United States Director: Rob Marshall Year: 2011 B Genre: Adventure Run Time: 141 minutes Writer: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio