tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73469649101366143112024-02-20T20:50:26.059-08:00Lazy Black Cat Always HungryLazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-35755906402567823872012-11-12T04:31:00.001-08:002012-11-12T04:38:27.118-08:00The Ice Cream Showdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfATyTRBvv9PJjSnc399aoO1ba6IGV8Ro9LH4LJQnOekfNgVOUuux0byCJZrj4wu5K4Wh0FYSqmEgWOm3fklqJLoIWbbRVpNQZ7EpXYrRhntRMByxOEMn-Qd78Z8smad_cT8VuMXWa68/s1600/ice-cream-showdown-header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lazy Black Cat Selecta Whoppers" border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfATyTRBvv9PJjSnc399aoO1ba6IGV8Ro9LH4LJQnOekfNgVOUuux0byCJZrj4wu5K4Wh0FYSqmEgWOm3fklqJLoIWbbRVpNQZ7EpXYrRhntRMByxOEMn-Qd78Z8smad_cT8VuMXWa68/s320/ice-cream-showdown-header.png" title="Selecta Whoppers Ice Cream" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The “ber” season resumed its reign roughly 2 months back,
but still Manila continues to get haunted by the ultraviolet rage. There is
something very unnerving about the weather, and that includes the possible
mistake of prepping the holiday coats and stockings, only to be outshone by the
dazzling rays.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have prayed for snow since El Nino has been referenced as
a climatic condition rather than for religious reasons, but to no avail.
Instead, all I ask for is a bit of breeze. You know, the type that would remind
me that Christmas is around the corner and not in the coming decade.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Still, the heat signifies no end, which make <b>hot chocolate
and chestnuts roasting on an open fire</b>,<i> not</i> my thing at the moment. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And so I find solace I what seemed to be the summer staple
and now, a round-the-year essential: ice cream. That velvety soft cream,
finessed by the cold, is the only item worth investing in this season. While
the variants are abound, I’ve decided to settle with three—<b>Fruity Comfort, Blissful
Chunks and Great Balls of Crunch</b>—and yes, give them code names while we’re at
it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj4Dz3rRWVvGg6YrTG9oexAOO0RbuP2LbwOE0bdwumkCTO6Qb8utx07EdjA0FskF1TOlGLR-cv7rB82z6k2ErIkeM5BkGjrqoNwxzNLJptL0kXtfamKTdT8Bk4sMqW5jBGfVvsrsW3cs/s1600/fic-raspberry-rapture-3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="FIC Raspberry ice cream" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj4Dz3rRWVvGg6YrTG9oexAOO0RbuP2LbwOE0bdwumkCTO6Qb8utx07EdjA0FskF1TOlGLR-cv7rB82z6k2ErIkeM5BkGjrqoNwxzNLJptL0kXtfamKTdT8Bk4sMqW5jBGfVvsrsW3cs/s320/fic-raspberry-rapture-3.JPG" title="FIC Raspberry Rapture" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fruity Comfort: Raspberry Rapture by Fruits in Ice Cream<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Why settle for the by-the-scoop FIC ice cream in the malls
when you can dig into the gallon right at home, in the car or wherever the
craving hits you? Raspberry rapture is a proven family favorite because it
combines that raspberry candy flavor with the smooth ice cream. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One taste of
this fruity comfort and a scoop is usually never enough – so why buy just a
scoop, right? It’s an all-in sweet fix which no longer calls for cones,
toppings or sprinkles!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJJFkPRhluRyBri4UqXHzreOuVfGDlXKUFuXWfPRRW0GWWmavu0a2a_C5BQEw2xGvlMUg40FNvKHXb1sMzhS_T8s8abR0MZVRieCzzj44R_89boeWwFC205jBKR5-zMOVVp1x8EFKk5s/s1600/btic-kahlua-brownie2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="BTIC Kahlua Brownie" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJJFkPRhluRyBri4UqXHzreOuVfGDlXKUFuXWfPRRW0GWWmavu0a2a_C5BQEw2xGvlMUg40FNvKHXb1sMzhS_T8s8abR0MZVRieCzzj44R_89boeWwFC205jBKR5-zMOVVp1x8EFKk5s/s320/btic-kahlua-brownie2.JPG" title="BTIC Kahlua Brownie" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Blissful Chunks: Kahlua Brownie by BTIC<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While not entirely classified as ice cream, BTIC’s yogurt
selections supposedly provide the healthier alternative to regular ice cream. A
bit on the icy texture, the lighter base makes it more refreshing to eat. The
brownie chunks are hefty so hoarders need not scoop out all the
brownies—there’s plenty for
everybody! With no sour hint whatsoever, this makes a healthy chocolate alternative
to calorie counting folks and children. Yes parents, no one got drunk while
eating this ice cream. Oh excuse me</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, better than</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> ice cream. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nA0Kh6phAXeBZ5plD2WNIzblL7vCL7g7eBYgUoqGz2H6khWcxZenl-1QLuxPsaSHW57_0Pkac2hknrpmwwBUR1qjcTuai-lzwt6SpeWKMDrCVA5LQ2iDTHF2z4hCEtEwAx_OFs1tc0A/s1600/selecta-whoppers-ice-cream-hersheys.jpG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nA0Kh6phAXeBZ5plD2WNIzblL7vCL7g7eBYgUoqGz2H6khWcxZenl-1QLuxPsaSHW57_0Pkac2hknrpmwwBUR1qjcTuai-lzwt6SpeWKMDrCVA5LQ2iDTHF2z4hCEtEwAx_OFs1tc0A/s320/selecta-whoppers-ice-cream-hersheys.jpG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrnAtrBOyOzE4bqU-BjfMRFU1wEC-E1JdRl4H_HCfzjNQTqgf4nJhjfdlLoYf5wD1scqe5qEwNBcwxHDfIXJo3JuK3iiWvXLtXB30qCG8mnoRXoq2SorKnIMgjsZcMgD2Uc8za-d9SYg/s1600/Selecta-whoppers-ice-cream.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Selecta Whoppers Hershey's Ice Cream" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrnAtrBOyOzE4bqU-BjfMRFU1wEC-E1JdRl4H_HCfzjNQTqgf4nJhjfdlLoYf5wD1scqe5qEwNBcwxHDfIXJo3JuK3iiWvXLtXB30qCG8mnoRXoq2SorKnIMgjsZcMgD2Uc8za-d9SYg/s320/Selecta-whoppers-ice-cream.JPG" title="Selecta Whoppers" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Great Balls of Crunch: Whoppers by Hershey’s/Selecta<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Who doesn’t love Whoppers? When I first saw the whopping poster
outside a 7-11, I nearly went for it—to bad I was in a speeding vehicle. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Still
the Whoppers Ice cream combines that popping chocolate candy with the smooth
caramel ice cream by Selecta—a pretty awesome combination for a locally
concocted flavor. With chocolate syrup to complete the sweet ensemble, it makes
every kid’s dream dessert come true. However, it’d be greatly whopping if there
were more and more Whoppers in every bite! Then again with the risk of
hyperactive nonstop ADD kids in progress, no parent might want that much
excitement level. (Guess I’ll just have to buy a pack then.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, November might be a drag for being a sweltering season
that is the anti-thesis of Santa’s sleigh sliding down the snowy chimney. Still
it gives me the very reason to indulge in ice cream, 24/7, all seasons of the
year, whenever, wherever. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you think I’ve gone all loony, well then, whatever!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKjmOMta7DMemEMx0CbwLRr7O5RjMUz7PIQn_mApNZzzwNi_3xVrogwOY6BLAMTCkJHbIzopUU6MQe5a8u8oGRZvi58rGiobq7KFu8I1xWOVN7I81-mrtIrv_1DB8xi4EoD1_-R1x3Co/s1600/btic-fic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKjmOMta7DMemEMx0CbwLRr7O5RjMUz7PIQn_mApNZzzwNi_3xVrogwOY6BLAMTCkJHbIzopUU6MQe5a8u8oGRZvi58rGiobq7KFu8I1xWOVN7I81-mrtIrv_1DB8xi4EoD1_-R1x3Co/s320/btic-fic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-84947469475477780702012-11-10T20:20:00.004-08:002012-11-10T20:20:57.318-08:00Moving In: The Lazy Black Cat<div style="text-align: justify;">
A recent resident of <a href="http://lazyblackcat.wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a>, Lazy Black Cat has decided to move in to the orange neighborhood otherwise known as <b>Blogger</b>!</div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.wordpress.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHonQ68TKP3i7VsEoPnBj3RzlNrKZfg5uazEDwIJu80LYJjkEPtRj8Yz4EHAzaxNLFr7RsYJ7SMbiBZQXnEIUs59_HkpK9YayKAQWYXiOFKkWCImkT4rA3hfFh9ewynkuyQPYziBuLOFs/s320/lazyblackcat-wordpress-screenshot.png" width="250" /></a></div>
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Please note that I am neither a Wordpress exile nor a cyber criminal, and that only a Saturday night whim led to this change in (URL) address.</div>
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Still, I shall continue blogging about <b>food</b>, with a dash of <b>health items </b>(I try) and <b>Philippine Football features</b> on the side - once I get the hang of the Blogger menus and jargon.</div>
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I have tried to the best of my layman ability to import posts from my wordpress blog to this site, but if you find the photos slightly larger than usual or captions improperly positioned, just read them in the original wordpress site. </div>
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You can also <b>comment</b> - I would appreciate the welcoming note of disdain, praise, just not a spam!</div>
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I guess I'm done. Well not really, it's just that it's lunch time and I hate missing my meals.</div>
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So here are some useful tidbits to incriminate me, in case you're curious or just plain stuck at this page:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbsFtZB_YrZYZTAMyjbwqhhg8LlCCXe8LnNdRG9Cg0hHfQoJTTNBz2izvQ5kTRBiophzFO2V04P1oH3ZzpF7K-izhfSFKXNrABBWo33T41e_ss69Ypt_StiNu1wDg9olS3Q2swEQD05Q/s1600/Lazyblackcat-data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbsFtZB_YrZYZTAMyjbwqhhg8LlCCXe8LnNdRG9Cg0hHfQoJTTNBz2izvQ5kTRBiophzFO2V04P1oH3ZzpF7K-izhfSFKXNrABBWo33T41e_ss69Ypt_StiNu1wDg9olS3Q2swEQD05Q/s400/Lazyblackcat-data.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-47469112359573200712012-10-29T09:45:00.000-07:002012-11-10T07:10:30.336-08:00Va Va Bene!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Situated on the second floor of a <b>Petron gas station (EDSA cor. Pasay Road), Va Bene Italian Deli</b> is far from the usual diesel delight that truck drivers fancy. If any, it’s all that fancy which makes it the pitstop for anyone who enjoys authentic Italian fares. Harboring an atmosphere that closely resembles an Italian joint—with oranges in plain sight, ciao Italia—Va Bene might as well serve dishes straight from the kitchens of Italy, with its handmade tagliatelle and gnocchi to freshly concocted pasta sauces.<br /><br />Fresh pasta is indeed for sale, like the <b>pappardelle, olive fettucine and cappellacci, </b>among others—a glorious catch for those who dabble in kitchen wizardry but as for yours truly, the menu holds the greater value.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The menu selection is not that vast, but contains enough to create indecision as the order of the day: a toss among <b>Ricotta Eggplant Tortellini, Potato Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce, Arugula; Wild Nuts and Organic Eggs Tagliolini with Portobello mushrooms, white wine cream sauce and truffle oil.</b> The last item won, on account of the mushrooms and yes, partly because of the truffle oil.<br /><br />Complimentary <b>bruschetta with olive-tomato salsa </b>was served—another feast for the hungry. Crisp and light, it was a great opener for a grandioso Italian lunch.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08645.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Va Bene J.Anne Gonzales" class=" wp-image-2485 " height="369" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08645.jpg?w=1024" title="Va Bene Italian Deli" width="491" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The <b>Organic Eggs Tagliolini </b>came with a gorgeous whiff of that truffle oil-mushroom combination that could compete with the aroma of espresso anytime. The truffle studded presentation came to a close when hunger finally struck us to reality. Forking through the tagliolini was quite the experience— the chewy and freshly made noodles provided a filling and comforting sensation that shattered any other craving.<br /><br />The sauce was exuding with the flavors of mushrooms and truffle oil, an organic eggs high was certainly inescapable. The exuberant flavor coupled with the satiating pasta made for a bellissisima meal, I could not ask for more—except maybe another visit to have a try of that ricotta eggplant tortellini which I heard was va va va bene!<br /><br />Dessert was not to be missed with this triple threat: <b>Prosecco & Raspberries Parfait with White Chocolate Mousse, Homemade Profiteroles with Caramelized Walnuts, Vanilla Ice Cream, &Chocolate, and Mango Pannacotta. </b><br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/jeninagonzales1.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-2483 " height="369" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08652.jpg?w=1024" title="Va Bene Italian Deli by Jenina Gonzales" width="491" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
5 miniature<b> profiteroles </b>decorated the flanks of the plate, delectable and light. A charitable nature may concede to sharing but for the many, elude the generosity, quite understandably.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08656.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Jenina Gonzales Va Bene" class=" wp-image-2482 " height="369" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08656.jpg?w=1024" title="Va Bene Italian Deli" width="491" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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Sweet Mango chunks top the <b>pannacotta </b>which holds a pudding like viscosity that many may enjoy. Fans of its local counterpart the leche flan will love this cooked cream, but others may turn to the more solid desserts for that much anticipated crunch.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08655.jpg" title="Prosecco and Raspberry Parfait by Jenina Gonzales"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-2484 " height="369" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08655.jpg?w=1024" title="Va Bene Italian Deli Jenina Gonzales" width="491" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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</span>The<b> Prosecco and Raspberries Parfait </b>promised a white chocolate aspect, but the sweet section was drowned by the tartness of the raspberry layer, not to mention that generous drizzle of the prosecco. Fruit and wine dictated the overall flavor of the dish, coupled with the frozen punch that can relieve any warm day. A berry comfort for the forlorn with a bit of liquor to cap off a fantastic meal.<br /><br />With this, Va Bene has become my next favorite Italian phrase, next to buon apetito! On warm days when a comforting meal is necessitated, Va Bene certainly pushes through with its gourmet Italian offerings. <b>Tagliatelle, squid ink pasta and cannelloni</b>—they’re all in attendance here. <b><i>Magnifico!</i></b><br /><br />I will never look at a gas station the same way again.<br /><br />Ciao!<br /><br />- J.Anne GonzalesLazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-62121363432059990892012-10-18T14:19:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.424-08:00Pinky Swear: Pinkerton Ice Cream<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08565.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2451 aligncenter" title="Pinkerton Ice Cream" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08565.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">A taste of <b>Pinkerton Ice Cream</b> can be quite a life changing and mood altering experience, there is now a more sensible alternative to alcohol, herbs and the occasional punching bag. A dollop can get you out of that suicidal disposition, and as an added bonus, will elevate your foodie ranking to ultimate gourmand. <i>Congratulations on this unexpected promotion.</i></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Because after a taste of Pinkerton, you can’t view ice cream in the same unbiased and innocent manner. The commercial produce will forever be reduced to proletarian treats, while gourmet ice cream like Pinkerton, elevated to majestic snacking—thus dismissing <b>Magnum</b> and its royalty-inspired ad as pure disconnect.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Pinkterton Ice cream is homemade and fresh, and offers an assortment of crafty flavors, we will never turn back to plain vanilla or just mocha. Mile-long names are the new cookies and cream, and chocolate is slammed to the mental abyss. If I hear another Rocky Road, you’re in for that endless road of tasteless oblivion.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">With <b>Banana Nutella, Cake Batter with Sprinkles</b> and <b>Blueberry Cheesecake</b> at the tip of the iceberg list, I lie not when I write that it took me a day to decide on my first buy. <i>And a sleepless night counting sprinkles.</i></span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2487" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08667.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2487 " title="Pinkerton Ice Cream" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08667.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> The Dynamic Duo for Depression[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Eventually, I settled for <b>Red Velvet</b> (pardon the cliché, having dissed this flavor in earlier posts) and <b>Carrot Cake with Honey Glazed Walnuts </b>(a no-brainer for the carrot lover). While both may have intertwined flavors and cake bases, this has been resolved for my cake fantasies will never be laid to rest without sampling the two.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">And so sweet and with an unmatched creaminess, the ice cream is superb. The cakes interspersed in the ice cream are just as divine and offer none of that inadequacy of the common chiffon. It makes me wonder which I like better, cake or ice cream—a conundrum best solved by just enjoying it collectively.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>carrot cake </b>especially is mixed in greater proportion, it’s like eating cake infused with ice cream. Mild hints of <b>cinnamon </b>and <b>honey</b> bring a sense of comfort for the forlorn and the chunkiness of the <b>walnut </b>introduces that much needed crunch.</span></p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Pinkterton is something you bring home and savor in moments of dire, hair raising frustration, on forgotten birthdays and Gossip Girl marathons.</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>It can spice up any dull day when nothingness fills your schedule, and on the other side of the planner spectrum, the best way to wind down a traumatic day.</em></span></p><br/></blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">With other interesting flavors to complete the Pinkterton spectrum—like <b>sorbet or organic honey</b>—a next time is certainly mandated.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08672.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2488" title="Pinkerton Ice Cream" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08672.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Friday night outs are off the list of stress busters since I like mine sweet, cold and best served at home. Nothing beats Pinkteron in this department, except maybe a rock concert.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>But wait, I have been continuously blabbing about Pinkerton Ice Cream, I have not even given a background on this fabulous find. It’s a homemade ice cream brand produced by Xandra Rocha, made to order and picked up after a day or two. They make the ice cream upon order, so customized is a better way to put it.</em></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>When you see the list of flavors, I bid you a sleepless night as well.</em></span></span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-55571238363724057482012-10-16T13:22:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.409-08:00All You Can 101<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08578.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2469" title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08578.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">For this selfish urge to finally set foot in <b>Robinson’s Magnolia</b>, I wantonly booked a table at <b>Buffet 101</b>—not the other way around which is quite contrary to my hungry nature.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Since I was beginning to lag behind the social sphere of geographical knowledge, this necessitated a visit to that much talked about mall. It was time to finally get a view of the high ceiling, the al fresco lounge and the once retro Magnolia ice cream parlor. And of course, finally dine at <b>Buffet 101</b>.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08568.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2479" title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08568.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">They say <b>Buffet 101</b> could be a doppelganger for <b>Viking</b>s, with its massive spread of internationally based cuisine. But let me quip that it fares more as a lesser sibling that focuses on select continents, with nothing exotic such as caviar, Indian or Mediterranean delights. Instead, Buffet 101’s prime selections hail from the Asian district, with Chinese cuisine topping the must-eat list while Japanese having the second most popular aisle.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2468" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08576.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2468 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="Jenina Gonzales Buffet 101" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08576.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Balsamic-Olive Salad with Kani on the side[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>salad bar</b> boasts of about 5 or 6 dressings (the common kind so I refuse to spend time here) that did not warrant a second take. A keen eye brought into sight a <b>balsamic vinegar</b> bottle at the side—and with its partner olive oil—finally a decent salad came into a reality. No cheese platters or parmesan to liven up my plate, so it was on to the sushi-sashimi boat.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2477" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08569.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2477 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08569.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Nori all you can![/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2470" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08580.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2470 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08580.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Itadakimasu![/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2472" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08591.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2472 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08591.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> East meets more East[/caption]<br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>sashimi</b> was all right, the lemon a bit on the hard size. Excited with the <b>soba noodles</b> I packed my bowl with nori strips and soup, which sadly, was a tad too sweet for my diabetic sense of taste.</span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2461" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08610.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2461 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="Buffet 101 Robinsons Magnolia" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08610.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Next destination: China![/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2458" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08593.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2458 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08593.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Nihao mantao![/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">While Chinatown was supposed to be the hotspot for <b>dimsum, fried rice, crabs </b>and <strong>Hainanese chicken</strong>, I let the boys take over this town. The <b>fried noodles</b> looked awesome, but the taste inspired no awe. The usual vegetables were of the standard variety and the sweet and sour pork boasted of more fat than meat (unless that’s how it is for carnivores).</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2460" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08589.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2460 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08589.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> In Crustaceans we Trust[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>crabs and butter-oat shrimps</b> were a splendid tag team, I broke my rule of <i>not</i> eating with my fingers. Of course a cracker was available but still, getting down, orange and dirty was the only way to claw into those crabs. They have a bathroom and liquid soap, in case you’re wondering about hygiene and grease.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">I barely visited the <b>Japanese and Filipino cuisine</b>, but I did see local favorites <b>bangus </b>and <b>crispy pata</b>. The tempura was okay but I enjoyed the <b>chicken teppanyaki</b>, which I scooped by accident. Soft and sweet, it fares much better than the usual Saisaki flavor.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2457" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08597.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2457 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08597.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Got Steak? Yes they do.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">A platter of <b>steak </b>found itself on our table—the necessary sustenance for the carnivores. Without it we cannot go home!</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2459" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08608.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2459 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="J.Anne Gonzales Buffet 101" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08608.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Eating the American Dream[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>American – Italian</b> section was a junk food fest with <b>fries, onion rings</b> and other fried wonders. The <b>American fish fillet</b> was 10x saltier than its Thai counterpart—yes, I had to compare—and so the point goes to the Asian catch! Here, I found my serving of vegetables with the <b>mozzarella topped broccoli and cauliflower</b>—not the healthiest portion but all that yellow was just alluring. </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2464" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08630.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2464 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="Jenina Gonzales Buffet 101" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08630.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Don't mind if I pass up the Pasta[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>stuffed tomatoes </b>were oddly addictive, while the <b>herb cream pasta</b> could be described as “not a penne more.”</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2474" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08618.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2474 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08618.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Make Pizza, not War[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>pizzas </b>had their own corner—<b>Italian (meat) and Thai Seafood</b>. I must have gorged on 6 slices of that seafood pizza. Mediocre on a very thick crust (read: carbs) it wasn’t the flavor that got me hooked, logistically speaking, sitting beside the pizza made proximity the pretext for this sudden gluttony.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2471" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08583.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2471 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08583.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Where Kids and ADD-ults Come to Play[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The dessert zone was rather diverse with a <b>crepe station, ice cream corner, frozen yogurt, chiller for cakes, candies, fruits and more little pastries and cakes. </b></span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2465" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08634.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2465 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08634.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Not all good things come in small packages[/caption]<br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Many may skip the <b>cheesecakes, mini cakes, mousse and pastries</b> sacredly kept in the chiller—detached from the public and require the waitress’ sanitation procedures before proper serving. By the supreme authority of the chiller lady, permission is required before proper serving. These cakes must be made of gold; on the contrary, the <b>cookies</b> are exposed, so dig away. </span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Unfortunately the <b>chocolate chip cookie</b> I dug was a hunky chunk that was neither inspiring nor chewy so I don’t suppose anyone will be stealing from that cookie jar.</span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2473" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08595.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2473 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08595.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> I've told you time and agan, don't crepe me out![/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The<b> cheesecakes </b>were fancy sounding but were more of cakes than an actual cheesecake, with sponge cake making up a faux graham crust.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2475" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08620.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2475 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08620.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Beats the tooth fairy anytime[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <b>candy corner</b> was a hub for children with ADHD and with impatient hands abound, picking on gummy candies and that gummy egg, we wonder when candy cholera will strike next.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2462" align="aligncenter" width="461"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08623.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2462 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08623.jpg?w=768" height="614" width="461" /></a> Raising the brown flag for the Anti-dentist Crusade[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The<b> brownie</b> was moist at the very least which made that <b>chocolate lava cake </b>pale in comparison in terms of sweet succulence. I spotted “revel bar” amongst the labels but just found what seemed to be a pale looking slice of cake—no oats, no revelry at all.</span></p><br/><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08631.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2456 aligncenter" title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08631.jpg?w=768" height="614" width="461" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Strategically placed above sea level, the yogurt machine was like divine intervention to ward off those crazy hyper children. They already have the candies and chocolate fountain as their ADD playground, so they ought to leave the frozen yogurt to the ADD-ults. The <b>frozen yogurt</b> was fine—on the light side—which made me rejoice for foregoing the crepe and ice cream.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2476" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08626.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2476 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08626.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> Fruits for the Gods[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Fruits</b> are not really worth reviewing but credits to Buffet 101 for serving grapes. My dad must have gotten giddy after enjoying loads of this fruit, he thought he was Zeus in his past life. Unfortunately, the cheese went AWOL. <i>Now where did I leave my lightning bolt?</i></span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2478" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08570.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2478 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08570.jpg?w=1024" height="369" width="491" /></a> More fruits for the gods[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Drinks </b>are unlimited as well, and since I’m more of a water girl there isn’t much to say. <b>Juice. Soda. Iced tea. Beer. Shakes</b>. I tried the <b>espresso machine</b> since being the daughter of Zeus, this mechanism does not exist in our household. I expected bitter, but this was bland. Still, cool. I mean, hot!</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Buffet 101</strong> is perhaps a <em>jack-of-all trades</em> in the world of buffet and you can probably see where I’m going—the master of none. Save for the espresso machine—which wasn’t even a dish—there was nothing too memorable or much of a sterling catch that would make me dream about it in the days to come. It’s just okay, all right, the average joe.</span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">However I give it points for trying to outdo <strong>Vikings</strong>. In this attempt, it surely beat <strong>Sambokojin and Dad’s</strong>. So you’re almost there, just bring out the curry and cheese!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2466" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08572.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2466 " title="Buffet 101 Robinson's Magnolia" alt="" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08572.jpg?w=1024" height="461" width="614" /></a> Grazie Mille. Arigatou. Burp.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-19594326335042548072012-10-12T13:18:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.404-08:00Untangling Messy Norte<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Apparently 9pm signals the clearing of the battlefield known as<strong> Mezza Norte</strong>—with tables finally floating into the line of sight and vendors finding the time to breathe in, and out. It’s amazing how much smorgasbord of gastronomic treasures these tents hold, amidst the smoky haze and a diversity of aroma depending on where you sit. Fine weather also permitted setting up more tables under the stars, <strong>UP Technohub</strong> lights and closer to the <strong>Commonwealth</strong> traffic.</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">We were stationed in <i>El Poco Mejico</i>—otherwise known as <b>Mexicanto</b>—and sat alongside simmering corn chips and cheese. However I was craving for another continent’s produce, so off I went and found the wraps place.</span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08561.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2444" title="Mezza Norte" alt="mezza norte jenina Gonzales" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08561.jpg?w=1024" height="461" width="614" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">As it turns out, the wraps place has a proper name: <b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Wrap Battle</span></b>. While deciding between <b>Tofu with Asian Dressing</b> <b>or Grilled Eggplant with Balsamic Vinaigrette</b>, the <b>Chicken Pesto </b>was being assembled. With a thick smear of <b>pesto, cabbage, cheese, onions and chicken strips</b>—that pesto’s grassy allure was salvation to the famished and in less than a minute it was mine to behold.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">At P100, it was a gigantic wrap, quite the steal and the ultimate hunger buster. A bit hefty on the cabbage side, this I did not mind (<i>okay, I loved it</i>). If given a next time, I’d like to try that <b>tawilis</b> (that’s fish) number or maybe the <b>grilled eggplant</b>. Or maybe both.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">As much as it shames me, I had a photo taken. Twice. <i>Were my pupils dilated?</i> Dying of curiosity, the stalker in me found <b>Wrap Battle’s Facebook page</b> and one heck of a hazy photo. <i>La fee verte from pesto.</i></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Bumble Tea</b> is always queued but I found one second of emptiness and went for the <b>Pulpy Aloe Juice (Mango</b>) at <b>25% sweetness</b>. At a quarter, 25% or just ¼ of the original sweetness, my drink seemed more like <b>125% syrup</b>. The opposite for my friend whose <b>dark chocolate-rock salt and cheese at 50% </b>was bland. I propose an assembly line for the vendors, or better yet, a shot of red bull. That should help with the math.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lastly, <b>Merry Moo</b> never fails to disappoint. This time, the <b>Strawberry Shortcake</b> unraveled fruity sweetness with awesome chunks of cake in between. A better form of ice cream cake, bathed in my favorite strawberry goodness, not even <b>Mochiko’s Oreo Bestseller</b> (I had that too) could offer such gourmet dessert delight.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This time, the cat bows to the cow.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#333333;">P.S.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#333333;">My earlier </span><a title="Mezza “Messy” Norte" href="http://lazyblackcat.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/mezza-messy-norte/"><span style="color:#333333;">Mezza "Messy" Norte </span></a><span style="color:#333333;">post was written during the horrible </span><em><span style="color:#333333;">Habagat</span></em><span style="color:#333333;"> season, which is why references to hair, tangles and anything disturbing are abound. You'd do the same thing too if caught in a hurricane on a bad hair day.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-58511733777929997312012-10-01T14:02:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.423-08:00A Peace of the Azkals<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/peace-header-monday2-small.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2422" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012 Azkals" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/peace-header-monday2-small.png" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a>From <strong>Long Teng Cup</strong> to <strong>Paulino Alcantara Peace Cup</strong> to what has become the official PFF-approved title <strong>Philippine Football Peace Cup</strong>, this football event has gone through quite a titular transition, most Filipinos are just glad host it ended up with something monosyllabic and catchy—September being our peace month, for those who do not know.<br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08361.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2395" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08361.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This year, the Philippines plays host to this four-nation international football competition with <strong>Macau, Guam and Chinese Taipei c</strong>ompleting the Friendly Four. Staged in <strong>Rizal Stadium</strong>, in a span of <strong>5 days (September 25 to 29)</strong> the Philippine Peace Cup was a rather a dramatic ensemble of highs, lows, new beginnings and Younghusband tackling.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2429" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08341.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2429" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08341.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a> The golden ticket I wouldn't swap for Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory[/caption]<br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Still, for the <strong>golden ticket</strong> holder, it was a magnificent 3-day experience, making all the sideline spectacles seem like halftime entertainment. Of course the main show goes to the Azkals.</span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="color:#000080;">PHI vs GUM (1-0)</span></strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08362.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2396" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08362.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The sparse audience was a premonition to the level of excitement of the game against Guam. While the Philippines managed to score a goal—care of <strong>Patrick Reichelt’s</strong> header on the 2<sup>nd</sup> half—the victory was not bursting with jump-for-joy revelry. It must be because Guam has been a rather refined and collected opponent to which most Filipinos have a soft spot for, bringing down the level of animosity to civilized hooting.</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">The first half was particularly boring, and only <strong>GK Eduard Sacapano</strong> had the opportunity to exercise his ability to soar and spring. Whatever they gave him before the game was rather effective as Sacapano successfully repelled all attempts—and truth be told, these Guamanians have been trained to forget the word “Stop”! </span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">On a positive note, the Guamanians have surely stepped up their game—having lost drastically to Global FC a few months back. With a 1-0 score in the Philippine Peace Cup, Guam deserves a pat on the back.</span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2398" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08378.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2398 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08378.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Wolf bangs head or headbangs[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">As for the Azkals’ perspective, much can be improved. <strong>Araneta</strong> and <strong>Wolf </strong>are in need of goal kicking instincts, and practice, on the whole. <strong>Reichelt, Christiaens, Moy</strong> and <strong>de Murga </strong>did their part, played fairly well, and saved the game when it needed redemption. Much can be expected from <strong>Marwin Angeles </strong>and it is our hope that <strong>Marvin </strong>be given ample exposure to match his twin’s skill level. It doesn’t matter if you cannot tell them apart since they have a gap in their playing time.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2400" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08358.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2400 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08358.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="389" /></a> Don't ask me, I never heard them.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Newcomer <strong>Matthey Uy</strong> was barely noticed by the crowd but deserves the much needed attention, while <strong>Demitrius Omphroy </strong>likewise shared the similar fate, having been clearly mistaken for Reichelt. Both US-based and performed rather exceptionally, expect to see both as starting players in future matches.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2401" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08365.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2401 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08365.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Guamanians, we sat on your side but cheered on the other. Thanks for your accommodation.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Easily missed by the inattentive audience, this match also signaled the debut of the <strong><em>Azkals theme song</em></strong> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">“Pilipinas” by Tribu Calamianen</span></strong>. For those wondering about the song on repeat, yes, that’s the song. Composed specially for the national team, the song speaks of national pride and culture—all of which the crowd missed from the badly assembled sound system.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="color:#003300;">PHI vs MAC (5-0)</span></strong></span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08477.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2414" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08477.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="430" height="323" /></a> </strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Fresh from the stupor caused by last Tuesday’s game, the 5-0 score in favor of the Azkals became quite a sterling moment for the melodic audience. With a sturdy defense and the high energy level displayed by majority of the players, Macau barely spent time near their side of the goal, giving <strong>GK Eduard Sacapano</strong> a breather for the evening.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08388.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2432" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08388.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="460" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">3 goals courtesy of <strong>Denis Wolf</strong>, 2 of which came during the first half, came as quite an amazement, but then again, he has much to prove after numerous failed attempts during the Guam game. Other goals by <strong>Carlie de Murga and Patrick Reichelt</strong> were well felt by the audience, being Global FC faces.</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">The atmosphere during the Macau game has been more competitive, and the players seemed better adjusted with this type of set-up.</span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;"> Out went <strong>Anto Gonzales</strong>, bringing in <strong>Reichelt</strong> as part of the starting 11. <strong>Ian Araneta and Denis Wolf</strong> resumed positions on the offense, the latter finally getting in the zone, leaving out Araneta as the stray dog. Kudos to the Coach for replacing him with <strong>OJ Porteria</strong> early on. Araneta needs to rest or eat, or both.</span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08390.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2431" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc08390.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Newcomer <strong>Matthew Uy</strong> has been harshly criticized by the frivolous audience for size issues, but his performance proved otherwise. Excellent ball handling and amazing stamina—the guy managed to show potential and finally gained the confidence of the crowd. </span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Reichelt </strong>has been likewise spectacular on the pitch, while <strong>Porteria and Christiaens</strong> may have confusing hair-dos but with their fancy footwork, are just as promising players. It is still our hope that either will score a goal in future games.</span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">With this recent victory, not only was the <strong>Younghusband</strong> issue buried, Phil and James themselves were forgotten, for now—which is a great step towards recognizing and introducing young talent. <strong>Christiaens, Porteria</strong>, and even <strong>Marwin Angeles </strong>would have smaller shadows in the spotlight had the Younghusbands taken center stage. With the Brits out frying their steaks, now’s the time to show Pilipinas what these kids are made of, and it’s not fish and chips.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">PHI vs TPE (3-1)</span></strong></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08437.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2419" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08437.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="355" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">After a 99-year wait, the Philippine Azkals finally clinched the title as <strong><em>champion</em></strong> to the Peace Cup—a well-deserved triumph for their struggle and a fitting tribute to our very own, Pilipinas.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08431.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2418" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08431.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="454" /></a></span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Amidst a backdrop of drama, a bit of rain and 3 goals, this was yet the most exciting match and the voluminously attended. Goal scorers were <strong>Wolf-Caligdong-Porteria</strong>, and credits to Porteria for his resilient attitude when his supposed first goal was ruled out.</span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08448.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2411" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08448.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="427" /></a></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;"> The Chinese Taipei side put up a combative spirit until the very last second of the game, but it was the Azkals’ persistent attempts that got them the lucky strikes (and goals). </span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">An off field commotion gave players and viewers an unexpected water break, but for once, the “peace” theme was put to proper use as the dispute was laid to rest, Mr. Orange escorted to a place to meditate.</span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2407" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08499.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2407 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08499.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="360" /></a> Agent Orange rocks the field with his wrathful fist.[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2416" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08498.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2416 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08498.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> They too think Agent Orange rocks.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">While the Philippines bagged the overall title, individual awards were dished out to the Azkals as well. Once unidentified on the pitch, <strong>Matthew Uy </strong>has gained prominence for his ball handling skills, as he was named <strong><em>Best Midfielder</em></strong>, while <strong>Jeffrey Christiaens</strong> has been prancing his way to the <strong><em>Best Defender Award </em></strong>with his magnificent legwork and formidable tactics.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2417" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08504.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2417 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08504.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Peace, brother! Wait, that's not Foster the People![/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2405" align="aligncenter" width="512"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08524.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2405 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08524.jpg?w=854" alt="" width="512" height="614" /></a> Prepping the field. PFF Rule #1: Bring out the multi-colored umbrella.[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2409" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08544.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2409 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08544.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="410" /></a> Who's the fairest? Caligdong, Wolf, Uy, Sacapano and Christiaens.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">I</span>ronically though, for an event that leans on the peace concept, with the exception of Mr. Orange’s “peaceful” departure, not much can be said about the <em>peace process</em>. The post game ceremony, in particular, was too centered on the Philippines—efforts that far surpass the average level of patriotism—that other countries who have equal rights to the event looked a bit shunned from the media spotlight.</p><br/><span style="color:#000000;"> Ah well, good thing I'm from <em><strong>Team Pilipinas</strong></em>.</span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2406" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08537.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2406" title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08537.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Best Defender Award goes to Jeffrey Christiaens, and no this is not a typo.[/caption]<br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>And so we won</strong></span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span>With the introduction of new faces and less dependence on the more “senior” team members, we should set higher hopes on the growing and diverse team. The team may consistently be on a <em>developmenta</em>l path, but we are seeing fragments of improvement—a call that must be reciprocated with support, not rebuke.</p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2415" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08485.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2415 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08485.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="506" /></a> With absentee Phil Younghusband, I wonder who signed that kid's jersey.[/caption]<br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">The Azkals team will continue to be shrouded with media spectacle and blown up controversies, but underneath all these, they are a team that represents the country with pride, as reflected by the song <em><strong>Pilipinas</strong></em> by Tribu Calaminanen. </span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">They work hard, they fight and struggle, and they <em>believe</em>—and so should we.</span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2410" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08551.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2410 " title="Philippine Peace Cup 2012" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08551.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="351" /></a> No red cards, fouls, lost teeth or broken fingers. Just a bandaged head and a bloody victory.[/caption]Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-54449560862031094032012-09-27T07:01:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.408-08:00Seeing Stars: Dakasi (Trinoma) <br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08425.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2392" title="Dakasi Trinoma" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08425.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="430" height="323" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Being a constant labyrinth, I don’t suppose I will ever memorize <strong>Trinoma’s</strong> tributaries and tenants—despite my infamous boast of being its daily patron. To prove my case, I never knew <strong>J.Co</strong> was open until I noticed hordes of orange boxes that clouded my peripheral vision with citrus sights. And, our dearly beloved <strong>Cibo</strong> unexpectedly disappeared, to be replaced by a ribs place. All these happened during my watch, so much for retail omniscience.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Getting lost may have its points too. I stumbled upon the soon-to-open sign of <strong>Army Navy</strong> (Trinoma Foodcourt—<em>who eats there?</em>), and mindlessly followed the brightly shining <strong><em>Super Mario star</em></strong> that led me to <strong>Dakasi</strong>. For those new to this strange-sounding store, it is not a cousin to <strong>Saizen</strong> but more of the striving youngest sibling of <strong>Gong Cha </strong>and<strong> Chatime</strong>. Enough with the clues, it’s a <strong>milk tea place</strong>—<em>more of a stall</em>—that has no other USP than having the <strong>Eiffel Tower</strong> on its cup. It does not hail from Paris though.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2086" align="aligncenter" width="553"]<a title="High and Guangzhou" href="http://lazyblackcat.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/high-and-guangzhou/" target="_blank"><img class=" wp-image-2086 " title="Milk tea Dakasi" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-9.png?w=1024" alt="" width="553" height="364" /></a> From High and Guangzhou Post[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The first time I had a cup of <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Dakasi</span></strong>, I was verbally struggling in the underground mall in <strong>China</strong>. This time, everything is in English, and so if I couldn’t get my order right, blame the Eiffel Tower. <em>Oui?</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">For comparison, it was a necessity that I order the <strong>Matcha Brown Rice Milk Tea</strong> (which I had in China). Another petty craving was the <strong>Yakult Green Tea,</strong> which I felt was fitting since all these were in conjunction with Trinoma’s “going green” campaign. <em>Show your love for Mother Earth, bring a big bag. </em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08329.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2359" title="Dakasi Trinoma" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08329.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">In the absence of the language barrier I was finally allowed to utter <strong>“25% sweetness”</strong> and expect <em>100% comprehension</em> from the cashier.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">It was almost perfect until, <strong>“Ma’am you should try that in 100%. You will not enjoy the full taste of the tea if it’s only 25%,” </strong>the sugar-loving cashier urged as if I wanted to get into her red bull mode.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">She did not know whom she was dealing with though. With my self-made allergy to sugar, if I could have it my way, I’d go for <strong>Zero %</strong> but of course couldn’t give them the shock treatment on their soft opening. I do have a soft spot for Super Mario.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">So I just gave her the <em>look</em>, and a “No.” That’s me being short and sweet, she’ll recover.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08327.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2360" title="Dakasi Trinoma" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08327.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">At 25% sweetness, the <strong>Matcha Brown Rice Milk Tea</strong> is fairly flavorful and maintains the strong <strong>matcha</strong> taste (and color). Compared to <strong>Chatime</strong> and <strong>Serenitea </strong>counterparts though, it has a creamier texture, but not as silky smooth as<strong> Moonleaf </strong>(sedimentation occurs to which I have no qualms though). Had I gone for that horrendous 100% sweetness, this would be like sipping melted matcha ice cream. Delicious but will require one hour of carrying groceries with my bare arms. This is Quezon City, no plastic bags allowed.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>Yakult Green Tea</strong> is another story—watery and derives the flavor from Yakult which is not exactly the best tasting yogurt on the planet. Going for the 100% sweetness level might not remedy the flavor, and Dakasi ought to incorporate more fruit into this drink. This drink falls below my yogurt-tea drink standards since counterparts from <strong>Chatime </strong>and <strong>Happy Lemon</strong> are much more enjoyable and cheaper, and they’ve become part of my honorary <em>to-crave</em> drinks list. The <strong>Chatime Yogurt Green Tea</strong>, in particular, has that subtle citrus flavor that even at 30% sweetness, can suffice as the perfect dessert. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Of course that’s just 2 drinks out of their vast menu, and with the <strong>Buy 1 Take 1 promo</strong> on their soft opening, I’m bound to make this a daily ritual until I become known as the “Lazy Black 25% Sweetness Cat” or more believably, that “annoying and demanding girl”.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Oh and they offer <strong>chocolate pudding</strong> as a sinker, so how about that for <em>super</em>?</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Dakasi is that middle stall near <strong>Marks and Spencer</strong> and <strong>Healthy Options</strong>, and if you get lost still, allow your humility to sink in and consult the concierge. Don’t expect mushrooms to guide you to the end of the level.</span>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-65606694381079904982012-09-25T03:28:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.425-08:00Death by Parvati Chocolate<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Deprived of chocolate for what seemed like eternity, it was time to wave the white flag of f<em>ake</em> fitness and resume the <em>choco-haulic</em> hoarders association.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">As always <strong>Parvati (Trinoma)</strong> was the prime choice, on account of its location and hypnotic freezers—which aren’t entirely chilled—especially the cookie section. I tried to hide there once, so yes, I make a valid witness.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08299.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2356" title="Death by Parvati Chocolate" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08299.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="498" height="374" /></span></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">In no mood for cheesecake or the timidity of carrot cake, the orders were down to <strong>The Dome</strong> and <strong>The Decadent Cocosugar Chocolate Cake (Sugar Free)</strong>. Competing in terms of cocoa intensity and swirly frosting, this mash-up should bash any depth of depression.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2355" align="aligncenter" width="498"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08308.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2355 " title="Parvati - The Dome" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08308.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="498" height="374" /></a> Guess the name: That Orbit, Mega Eclair or Choco Chow[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>The Dome</strong>, upon closer look, manages to bear strange similarities with a giant éclair and for the more imaginative, a bowl of dog food. The shimmering frosting and the chocolate chips that adorn the fringe can certainly torment the hungry, though in real life, I’d rather it be classified as a <strong><em>Baby Dome</em></strong>. Or how about <strong><em>The Orb</em></strong>?</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Chocolate all over and with that <strong>nutella </strong>cream at the center, <strong>The Dome</strong> is what you eat when you are depressed, anorexic or dying of low blood sugar. The first few bites can certainly bring that chocolate bliss that can kill any sweet urge for decades. After the return of the common sense though, there are points to ponder as well: the <strong>chocolate cake</strong> relies on the cream for that moist effect and without it, remains as a boring block of chiffon.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>chocolate frosting</strong> is all right but could do with a bit more cocoa surge, while the <strong>chocolate chips</strong> are not as value-adding in terms of the taste factor. Thanks to that creamy center, The Dome justifies its compelling name, and with a less appealing core, would just be reduced to <strong><em>That Orb</em></strong>.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2354" align="aligncenter" width="498"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08318.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2354 " title="Parvati - Decadent Cocosugar Chocolate Cake (Sugar Free)" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc08318.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="498" height="374" /></a> The Chocolate Cake that brings a new meaning to the word Decadent.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">With a name so long, you’d probably expect an equally lengthy ode to<strong> The Decadent Cocosugar Chocolate Cake (Sugar Free),</strong> but I’ll spare you the burden of reading and summarize my usually wordy thoughts.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>chocolate cake</strong> is stiff, devoid of any form of “moist” or softness, and lacks any form of acceptable flavor despite christening itself as a decadent cake. The swirly icing is a tad too sweet but nothing gratifying. Whether the cake was old or kept in a bin of rice grains, its dehydrated form was certainly thes death of my taste buds.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">While <strong>The Dome </strong>wasn’t exactly <em>Willy Wonka</em> variety, it at least had a shred of palatability to revive my pending death from the Sugar Free Chocolate Cake.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Still, I apologize to the <strong>cheesecake</strong>; I will never abandon <em>you</em> ever again</span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-89477844830871411322012-09-19T08:17:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.426-08:00More or Lex: Striking Home with Lexter Maravilla<p style="text-align:justify;"><em>A former spokesperson in Rio for the Filipino homeless and defender for the 2010 Homeless World Cup, Lexter Maravilla has gone global even before he joined Global FC. His globetrotting skills have earned him mastery of the Luzon terrain, but it was the Rio conquest that got him inside “Bahay ni Kuya.” Despite being a late bloomer in the football field, Lexter proves how sipag, tiyaga and his love for bananas got him to skillfully wield a drilling press, gain a spot on the pitch and earn himself a ticket to Brazil.</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/1-striking-home-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2294" title="1 Striking Home copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/1-striking-home-copy.png" alt="" width="500" height="400" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;">Looking Back at Lucban</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">With his near <em>makatang</em> (“poetic”) Tagalog, <strong>Global FC Defender</strong> <strong>Lexter Maravilla</strong> marveled us with his Balagtas-worthy sentence construction. Born and raised in Lucban, Quezon, center of Southern Luzon and Pahiyas, how could he not daunt us with his mastery of the local lingo? Speaking to us with words like <em>pakikitungo</em>, <em>nakaraan</em>, <em>nagtatag</em>, and <em>pananaw</em>, now we know what proper Tagalog is!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lexter earned his degree in <strong>welding</strong> from the <strong>Southern Luzon State University</strong>—finally rendering him a protégé blacksmith aside from the local linguist. Too bad we forgot ask him to translate “Metallurgy” to Filipino. That would really make life a lot easier for mankind.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/2-lucabn-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2305" title="2 Lucabn copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/2-lucabn-copy.png" alt="" width="500" height="230" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;" align="center"> <span style="color:#000000;">If you think Lucban is known only for its <em>Longganisa</em>, it is worth knowing that the province happens to be a center not only for gastronomic adventure but for football development as well.</span></p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">“Kami ang nagtatag ng Quezon United Football Club,” proudly narrates the local hero.</span></p><br/></blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>Quezon United Football Club</strong> was founded during Lexter’s time, his status of chairman has yet to be verified, but during the Annual Meeting we will attempt to nominate him as <em>Punong Tagapagsalita </em>("Official Spokesperson") if the voting majority will hear us. The club is comprised of young boys and girls from the locale who have the passion for football, making Quezon our next favorite province.</span></p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;"> Homeless yet Fear-lex</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">After college, Lexter worked at <strong>Concepcion-Carrier Air Conditioning Company</strong> in Cabuyao, Laguna for six months and later worked at <strong>Hoya Glass Disk Philippines Inc.</strong> in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for eleven months. He eventually cast aside the machinery for volunteer work at <strong>Ecoworks Philippines</strong> in Polillo Island, Quezon. The NGO covers various areas for development such as feeding and biochemicals but it was the football program that caught Lexter’s goggles-free attention. One thing led to another and with side stories involving Ultra and tubang balayan, the end result was worth the wait: being selected to be a part of the <strong>Homeless World Cup (HWC)</strong>.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/3-proudly-homeless.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2306" title="3 proudly homeless" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/3-proudly-homeless.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">It is rare to chance upon a member of the <strong>Homeless World Cup—Team Philippines</strong>, as the group is limited to a selection of only 8 players a year. With quite a tight screening process that involves numerous try-outs (Lex underwent 5 or 6) and unbelievably tough background criteria (if you are not at the very least vulnerably housed or an internally displaced refugee, take a hike) this makes every batch a formidable representation for Team Philippines.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/4-brazil-yo.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2307" title="4 Brazil yo" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/4-brazil-yo.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">HWC aims to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of the Filipino youth by providing a pedestal to boost their potential career in the area of football. It was through the arduous training programs in HWC that Lexter was exposed to the technicalities of football, where formations and strategies do exist, apart from the objective of just scoring a goal.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Here, Lexter didn’t only get the chance to finally know football, he also carved a path to his future.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/5-maravilla-bros.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2308" title="5 Maravilla Bros" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/5-maravilla-bros.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Lexter Maravilla (Defender)</strong>, along with his brother <strong>Mark (Goalkeeper)</strong>, was one of the chosen few to join Team Philippines in 2010, and that wasn’t the only amazing part of it. Their destination was <strong>Rio de Janeiro in Brazil,</strong> the venue of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ole!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/6-hwc-host-cup-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2309" title="6 HWC Host Cup copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/6-hwc-host-cup-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="327" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">A World Cup in Brazil signaled the rise of a challenge, but better yet, this symbolized the ascent from poverty, turning to the course to would be a bright future for Lexter. His team might have lost to Brazil, Chile, and Italy, but won against teams like Germany, South Korea, Norway, Argentina and Finland. The Philippines became the champions of their group, ended at 25<sup>th</sup> place out of 64 countries and won the <strong>Host Cup Trophy</strong> (4<sup>th</sup> trophy) after beating Norway.</span></p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;">Arriba, Brazil</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Of course, we still cannot help the fact that Lexter did get to visit Rio, so that ought to be crossed off his <em>tabo</em> list, next to Capoeira tryouts.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">While it is a given that visiting South America would be an exciting adventure, this experience was further enhanced by the company of his team, a smorgasbord of local talent. Bonding as a batch even before they set foot in Brazil, what was formed was not only a group of futboleros but a solid team and a newfound brotherhood. For the members, especially the orphans and less privileged—which are main criteria factors in joining HWC—this experience meant a lot, if not the “world” to them.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/7-lexter-rio-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2310" title="7 Lexter Rio 2" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/7-lexter-rio-2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Despite having met the team for three months only, the values they shared and the hardships they battled brought them closer and made them even stronger.</span></p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">“Natutunan ko talaga ang pakikitungo, kasi galing sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas yung mga kasama ko. may Bisaya, may Tagalog,” describes Lexter of his team.</span></p><br/></blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/8-1st-governor-cup.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2311" title="8 1st Governor Cup" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/8-1st-governor-cup.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="356" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Upon their return to Manila, the group was well received by the press—to the point of even invited as guest stars to local show <strong>Pinoy Big Brother (PBB).</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/9-pbb-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2312" title="9 PBB copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/9-pbb-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="165" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This global opportunity led Lexter’s <em>hermano</em>, <strong>Mark</strong>, to the path of becoming assistant coach to the HWC and later on Head Coach for this year’s Mexico game. Another “Ole!” for the older Maravilla.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/10-homeless-stuff.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2295" title="10 Homeless stuff" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/10-homeless-stuff.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">As for Lexter, it was time to move from being a housemate to a real ‘mate.</span></p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;">Una Kaya!</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">One of the founders of <strong>Kaya Football Club (Kaya FC)</strong>, <strong>Coach Rudy Del Rosario</strong>, invited Lexter to try out for Kaya FC. Four members of the HWC were recruited by Kaya in 2010, and Lexter was the lucky defender.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/11-lexter-at-kaya-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2296" title="11 Lexter at Kaya copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/11-lexter-at-kaya-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="193" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">In January 2012, he attended the try-out for <strong>Global FC</strong>, acting upon someone’s prudent suggestion. With his skill and meaningful purpose in life, Lexter was, of course, accepted as defender and to this day maintains the same position for the team.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/12-lex-and-els-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2297" title="12 Lex and Els copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/12-lex-and-els-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="366" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Global FC proves to be a welcoming environment to Lexter with the <em>Elhabibs</em> as his new bros, <em>Juani</em> being another kind <em>hermano</em>, and recently acquired <em>Jeffrey Christians</em> as a potential doppelganger. The team’s diverse yet family-like culture offers a quaint new home to Lexter—but whether it’s sweet, Lexter isn’t saying.</span></p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;">Global FC</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">From observing <strong>Kuya Bads</strong> and <strong>Izo</strong>’s sibling schemes to hitting it off with frequent roommate <strong>Valentine</strong>, Global FC’s hodgepodge of characters can certainly be a handful for someone who started out his football career with the homogenous homeless in Brazil. Lexter, though, loves every moment of it—the unity, crazy moments, the toughness of the training sessions—and considers all these nothing but a blessing, a sign of life’s upliftment.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/13-lexter-gfc-family1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2313" title="13 Lexter GFC family" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/13-lexter-gfc-family1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Each day brings Lexter closer to his dream of success and financial stability. He values the guidance and experiences gained from practice and continues to improve his skills by training with the HWC whenever he has free time.</span></p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">“Hindi naman ako mahilig mag-mall. Mas gusto ko pang maglinis ng bahay,” says Lexter when asked about how he spends his free time. </span></p><br/></blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Simple, hard working and a rarity for someone who doesn’t complain about household chores—this makes him the guy no one could ever complain about!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/14-lex-chores-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2299" title="14 Lex chores copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/14-lex-chores-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="325" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">When asked about his memorable experiences with Global FC, thoughts of slipping on banana peels or banana eating contests (the guy loves bananas, okay?) came to mind but his was the most enriching answer of all: <em><strong>when Global FC was hailed the champion last season.</strong></em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/15-champs-lex-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2300" title="15 Champs Lex copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/15-champs-lex-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="215" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">That, and how the “good quality training” has bettered his playing performance. Imagine Lexter starting out football at 17 years old, and now at 25 years old, Global FC Defender. This isn’t only a story of mere success and poverty alleviation; Lexter lives up to the Homeless World Cup solution, championing his cause and being a catalyst to change the course of his life.</span></p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;">Less is More </span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lexter’s life has not been the most comfortable and neither has his childhood been a walk in the park. During his high school days, he did some construction work and farming at the “bukid” with his grandfather. At a young age he already battled with life’s challenges and emerged as a victor. With his skill and perseverance, he learned football and learned to play it well.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/16-maravilla-kids.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2301" title="16 Maravilla kids" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/16-maravilla-kids.jpg" alt="" width="361" height="474" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Life gave him a chance to put this talent to good use, and this brought him from Pollilo Island to Brazil and today, with Global FC. Lexter doesn’t only exemplify the model of a good player or rags-to-riches story that everyday plagues the media. His past experiences led him to yearn for a better life and he never let every chance get by without trying. A go-getter and self-starter, he never stopped, never let the obstacles hinder his way to success. We have never met anyone with this desire to alleviate his family’s life from poverty, a character so persevering he’s done everything from welding to selling magazines and balut.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/17-parents.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2302" title="17 Parents" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/17-parents.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lexter serves as an inspiration to the Filipino youth, as he exemplifies the values of the ideal athlete, student and worker. He holds the voice of the underprivileged, and he is the rarity whose voice stands out and is heard all the way from Rio.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Perhaps Lexter can attribute his traditional yet pleasant qualities to his roots—namely parents <strong>Luz and Jimmy</strong>—who have set the perfect Filipino parental style. Their rural simplicity led to determined and responsible children. The Maravillas prove that despite financial deficiency, a supportive family is all it takes to make life matter. To have that solid foundation is what enabled Lexter, along with equally strong siblings <strong>Mark and Joy,</strong> to pursue whichever dream they have, anywhere in the globe.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;" align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/18-we-want-you.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2303" title="18 we want you" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/18-we-want-you.png" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Being the local <em>makata</em> that he is, it’s best we leave the conclusion to him. He has all the qualifications being the spokesperson for the homeless in Rio, and well this is his story after all:</span></p><br/><br/><blockquote><strong><em>Maituturing kong pamilya ang Global FC. Sa pagsali ko sa Global, lubos na nadagdagan ang kaalaman ko sa football. Bukod dito, natutunan ko ring makitungo sa mga manlalaro na nanggaling pa sa iba’t ibang lugar at bansa. </em></strong><br/><br/><strong><em>S</em></strong><strong><em>a kabuuan, napakarami kong natutunan mula noong naging bahagi ako ng Global, at iyon ang pinaka-importante sa lahat. Sana, champion uli kami sa susunod na taon! - <span style="color:#800000;">Lexter Maravilla</span></em></strong></blockquote><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#800000;">Lexterpedia</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">“Hey, Lex!” is not the best way to call out to Lexter unless you’re his bro or have been to Rio. Being the shy guy, it’s best to talk to him about life, football and all the simple things we’ve tried to extract from him. If geek is your middle name, then you might find it easier, if you start a conversation citing <em>friction stud</em> or <em>boring head</em>. If not, then don’t be a bore.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/19-lex-trivia-table.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2304" title="19 Lex Trivia Table" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/19-lex-trivia-table.png" alt="" width="496" height="366" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><em>Follow <strong>J.Anne Gonzales</strong> on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/LazyBlack_Cat">@LazyBlack_Cat</a></em><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><em>Follow <strong>Miji Gonzales</strong> on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/mijigonzales">@mijigonzales</a></em><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-22803831604909569072012-08-27T08:13:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.405-08:00Go Fish!<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08200.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2284" title="Fish Ice Cream" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08200.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This crunchy Dory goes by no English name, so we like to refer to it as the</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> Fish Ice Cream</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> or the </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Korean Fish</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">. The English Alphabet fails to grace the packaging as well, leaving us with so much imagination as to the ingredient listing or catchy write-up of the Fish Ice Cream. <em>Does it start with "Here fishy, fishy?" Or how about, "Tastes better than Kimchi."</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Ah, forget it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">nutrition facts</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> portion does provide a ray of hope, posting</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> 200 kcal</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> and what seem to be loads of fat percentages. However when compared vis-a-vis fellow grocery chiller item </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Magnum</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">, the Fish Ice Cream posts a better "health" return, in terms of calories and sugar. That much I can figure out. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08203.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2283" title="Fish Ice Cream" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08203.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">For 200 calories, this is quite a catch for those yearning for a suitable dessert while minimizing the excess load (i.e. sugar, ice cream, Magnum or even frozen yogurt). On top of that, the fish wafer is such a delightful thing to look at, it took me a while to realize that ice cream was melting, it had to be eaten. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This is one of those instances when keeping a photo proves to be handy, although there's also the risk that it would make me hungry.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08213.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2282" title="Fish Ice Cream" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08213.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Inside the fish wafer are </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">vanilla ice cream and adzuki beans</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> to warm that sweet tooth. Don't expect the fish to be that crisp crackling wafer that pops from the package. Science should explain that the moist level of the packaging coupled with its liquid interior will certainly seep into the wafer, creating a softer and chewy feel. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Still, there's that sweet vanilla fill that the Fish Ice Cream provides, sans the overbearing chocolate or nuts that can get stuck in your teeth. </span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">At <strong>P41 (</strong>Landmark Grocery) per fish, there's nothing fishy about this treat, other than being shaped like a fish. </span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Go fish!</em></span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-15877120776551859182012-08-26T04:10:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.403-08:00Mi Piace Trattoria Gourmet<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The word </span><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Trattoria </span></em></strong><span style="color:#000000;">can be one tricky fellow for those whose Italian vocabulary is limited to </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">panini</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> and </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">gelato</span></em><span style="color:#000000;">. The hypotheses of the weary and trying hard can range from “traitor” to an anagram of “Tori Amos”. Either answer is obviously more misleading than the previous, which leads to consulting the handy master, </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Google</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Turns out, Trattoria is simply translated as “little Italian restaurant”. No need for Boggle skills, which I fail miserably at in the first place.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08132.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2240" title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet " src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08132.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">In </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Manila</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">, there’s this </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Trattoria Gourmet</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> in </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Shangri-La Mall</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">, which reflects the proper translation. Only difference is that it engages more in commerce and less in village-people-get-together tavern behavior where take home is common. Sure, in the Philippines </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">take home</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> is just as acceptable when visiting villages, but in </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Trattoria Gourmet</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">—respectable restaurant and retail business that would like to make a proper living—no take home, containers or spilling alfredo inside well hidden lunch boxes. Let us do our part in preserving cleanliness of our surroundings and not screwing with its real income return.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Trattoria Gourmet serves </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">eat-all-you-can</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> dishes on a daily basis, and that</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> eat-all-you-can salad and soup</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> combo makes a pretty good target for vegetarians, South Beachers and prim old ladies. I would have to fall under the first category.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08147.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2245 aligncenter" title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08147.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Sunday buffet</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> includes that lush </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">salad bar</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> with </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">6</span></strong> <strong><span style="color:#000000;">types of dressings</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> (I remember <em><strong>herb vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, garlic something, low cal italian dressing</strong></em> and 2 more) with quite a spread of of toppings, one visit is never enough. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The ubiquitous <strong>Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot strips, mushrooms, cheese, egg, olives</strong> form the spread but there are also the strange visitors (</span><em><span style="color:#000000;">strange</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> since I do not make the habit of placing them on my plate): <strong>raisins, corn, green gulaman, turnips, and pineapples</strong> (which I had for dessert instead).</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08137.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2242" title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08137.jpg?w=768" alt="" width="461" height="614" /></a></p><p> </p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Ready-to-eat </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Potato and macaroni salad</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> are also served for the lazy, and there is also that </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Penne Pesto salad</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> which deserved a scoop every time I visited the salad bar. It was that magnificent that foregoing the actual pasta selection was of no regret to me.</span></p><p> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08155.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2246" title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08155.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><p> </p><p><span style="color:#000000;">The</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> soup section</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> offers 2 variants in steaming vessels, even soup haters would have to try at least a teaspoon of their luscious concoctions. The </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Creamy Asparagus</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> seemed all right, so I moved on to the more enticing catch: </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Mushroom Soup</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">! </span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">The mushroom soup was clear-brown with grand bits of </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">oyster mushrooms</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> swimming at the bottom. Scoop them out and find yourself in shroom heaven. I had two bowls, enough said.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08139.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2243" title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08139.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">The soup actually goes well with the </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">house appetizer</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">, which was lovingly prepared and presented, we jsut had to finish the entire display, as courtesy to the host.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08143.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2244" title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08143.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Pasta dishes available were the usual favorites for the local folks:</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> Alfredo and Bolognese</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Having passed up the pasta and pizza buffet, it seemed that the Bolognese was the better choice. Meaty and al dente, numerous diners did return for seconds (or thirds), while the alfredo seemed to be its buttery and bland companion.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08136.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2241" title="DSC08136" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08136.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><p> </p><p><span style="color:#000000;">The pizza served included </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Margherita and Pepperoni</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">. </span>Rather minimalist in toppings and size, the flavor made up for this seeming deficiency. Especially when freshly baked, the pizza still brings in much love from the Italian oven compared to other local counterparts.</p>[caption id="attachment_2247" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08159.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2247 " title="Trattoria Gourmet Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08159.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Note: Pizza embellished with pasta bar toppings[/caption]<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> Trattoria Gourmet Sunday Buffet</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> was a grand trip to Italian gourmet excellence. There was no need for 10 more dishes or a smorgasbord of items we could not pronounce or better yet, not have the chance to eat.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Minimalism was the key in getting us to enjoy the feast, and not really waste our time wandering and walking into areas of less interest. If all buffet set-ups were this friendly and well stocked up, then everyone would be happy and sipping wine on the side. <em>No tempura banters or fighting over fried rice.</em></span></p><p>Just wondering how they got to make their <strong>pesto</strong> <em>that bene</em>.</p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Other than that slight hitch, </span><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Non mi posso lamentare.</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> ("I can't complain.")</span></strong></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-14526091979966867102012-08-21T04:49:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:56.402-08:00Saved by the Bon Chon<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The fact remains that almost everyone has probably eaten at </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Bon Chon Chicken</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> in </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Manila</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">, so there's a possibility that any reader would hit the close button.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Or </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">try</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> to look at the photos, then close the window.</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">So, for the sake of novelty and aversion to </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">chicken cliche,</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> let's skip the ambience, service excellence, cleanliness and cluck-cluck chicken goodness and get on with the other menu items.</span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08107.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2230" title="Bon Chon Chicken UP Technohub" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08107.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Bon Chon</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> does serve fares other than chicken, and I'm not just talking about the rice. If rice is your main concern, you're probably better off knocking on Mang Inasal's door.</span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08109.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2231" title="Bon Chon Caesar Salad" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08109.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Caesar Salad</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> (with extra chicken) came as quite as a surprise with its pepper-studded and thick dressing. It wasn't the watered down, purely mayo magic kind, making this one of the better tasting Caesar Salads for its price range. With only Romaine lettuce and croutons to make up the salad, many will find this a tad too plain - which, on the contrary I found appealing since for the first time, I didn't have to say: </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">No bacon, please</span></em><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08113.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2232" title="Bon Chon Chap Chae" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08113.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">The </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Chap Chae's </span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">glass noodles were slippery perfection, and I couldn't get enough of this Korean creation. A bit too sweet, I'd prefer it to be more bland and with sesame seeds and chili. However the sweetness level can be waived as this dish is doused with chicken, green and carrots and loads of those lovely glass noodles. Enough as a meal, it still went perfectly with my salad. You'd probably find that combination as rather queer, but then again, I like to include </span><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">g</span><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">o</span></em></strong><span style="color:#000000;">, grow and glow foods</span></em></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> in one meal! </span><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08106.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2229" title="Bon Chon Chicken Sandwich" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08106.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Balancing </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">2 Chicken Chops</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> in between what seemed to be an oat bun, the </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Chicken Sandwich</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> makes one chunky feast, with</span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"> fries</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> on the side. Between chicken chops with rice or that sandwich bun, the latter seems to be the more attractive option. And there's that dip as well. Don't expect the bun to be French bakery goodness, but all right enough so as not to sidestep the chicken highlight.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08102.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2234" title="Bon Chon Chicken Chops" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08102.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/>Of course the<strong> Chicken Chops</strong> will always be a staple for the so-so diner.<br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08114.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2233" title="Bon Chon Frozen Yogurt" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08114.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Bon Chon's frozen yogur</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">t <strong><em>(Korean Yogurt)</em></strong> had to be the fitting finale for this grand meal, but I already had my advance dessert c/o <strong>Merry Moo </strong>from <strong>Mezza Norte</strong>. Next time though, that<strong> Blueberry Torte</strong> ought to be the next buy. Just looking at the poster was torture enough. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">How I ended up in Bon Chon can only be explained by </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Mezza Norte</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">'s seating scheme (which was close to nil) and properly explained in my previous post: </span><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Mezza "Messy" Norte</span></em></strong><span style="color:#000000;">. In the dim haze of UP Technohub, Bon Chon's cheery presence seemed to be the guiding light for diners who refused to eat on the floor or steps. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This is is really one of those rare instances when we can thank the chicken. <em>Saved by the Bon Chon Chicken.</em></span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-373497551570160312012-08-20T07:55:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.966-08:00Mezza "Messy" Norte<!-- Metadata generated by http://vancouver-webpages.com/META/mk-metas.html --><br/><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">If you have not heard of <strong>UP Technohub</strong>, chances are you belong to the lower side of the Metro where <strong>Greenhills</strong> and <strong>BGC</strong> are enough sources of entertainment and food splurge. Where words like Commonwealth, Balara or "Winter is coming" make no sense.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">There was a time when <strong>Mercato</strong> was once the distant gourmet-landia, requiring one heck of a road trip with a siding of patience.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Well thank you for finally noticing QC's rather hefty occupancy on the map. And yes, there are a lot of hungry people living in <strong>Quezon City</strong> with population I-don't-know, but certainly large enough to devour Makati, Mandaluyong and Pasig.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08091.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2224" title="Mezza "Messy" Norte" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08091.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Mezza Nor</strong><strong>te</strong>, the newly established "Mercato" for the northern dwellers, is located at this place called<em><strong> UP Technohub,</strong> </em>along Commonwealth. As for proper directions, you're better off with <strong>Google Maps</strong>, since I bear no tourist navigational perspective, living minutes away from this tent mania.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Pretend you're the persistent type and try to prod me for info, the best I could come up with is: <em>Quezon Circle, right at Commonwealth, U-Turn somewhere, then follow the cars moving slowly and making a right at this hazy joint. Oh yes, mind the weird barriers on the road, meant to trip swerving buses, they can be a pain to the disoriented driver.</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08131.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2255" title="Mezza Norte" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08131.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="292" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Before anyone can beat me to it, I would like to lovingly refer to<strong> Mezza Norte</strong> as <strong><em>Messy Norte</em></strong>. It's new, perhaps the talk of the nearest schools and villages, so everyone in the nearby vicinity decided to skip market day and have dinner at Messy Norte. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Flocks of cars and ID-wearing blokes came in violent throngs and forbade me from even sitting on a monoblock chair, not even to rest my tired toes. People looked at me as if I was trying to cut them in line (<em>for a roast beef sandwich? please!)</em> and those lucky enough to bag a table gave us <em>bite-me</em> looks - not that i even wanted a bite of any of them, just something sweet!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">For being unlucky or jut plain gracious, we failed to find a table in <strong>30 minutes</strong> (<em>this was 7pm on a Friday</em>). That rather long waiting period gave us roughly <strong>3 rounds</strong> of the place and thus I concluded: </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>1)</strong> No way are we finding a table in this sea of hawks, moms and ID flashing peeps, <strong>2)</strong> No way am I eating on the pavement, stairs of Mini Stop, and <strong>3)</strong> Time to scout for grub outside Messy Norte.<em> Boo-hoo.</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">This is how we ended up in<strong> Bon Chon</strong>, still in UP Technohub, which will be actually my next post, thanks to Messy Norte's seating scheme.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08090.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2223" title="Merry Moo Mezza Norte" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08090.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">However, I did get what I initially came for, a taste of <strong>Merry Moo Ice Cream</strong>! </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08088.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2222" title="Merry Moo Mezza Norte" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08088.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08094.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2226" title="DSC08094" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08094.jpg?w=768" alt="" width="461" height="614" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The only place that was free from grief stricken tasters and manned by gracious ladies who patiently waited on our orders. The <strong>Earl Grey</strong> was divine but put off in the meantime for fear of insomnia bouts. <strong>Milo</strong> was comfort food material, but I opted for <strong>Dark Chocolate,</strong> because it matched my already dark mood. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08092.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2225" title="Merry Moo Mezza Norte" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08092.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2218" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08099.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2218 " title="Merry Moo Mezza Nortw" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08099.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Sea Salt Caramel and Dark Chocolate[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>Sea Salt Caramel</strong> managed an "oohh" from my brother who was already blinded by the inihaw haze It was on the buttery-caramel smooth side. Next time I shall try that <strong>Berry Trifle</strong> or <strong>Strawberry Shortcake.</strong> </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Or why not <em>both?</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08086.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2214" title="3 for 100 Mezza Norte" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08086.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Getting stuck in a spot while walking, these <strong>3-for100 cakes</strong> finally got to me, and so to at least buy something to-go from Messy Norte, I decided to give in: <strong>Revel Bars, Turtle Cake and Oreo Cake</strong>.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08122.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2221" title="3 for 100 revel bars" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08122.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08118.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2220" title="3 for 100 turtle cake/pie" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08118.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08116.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2219" title="3 for 100 oreo cake" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08116.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">For <strong>P100</strong> these should be a steal, but if you're looking for Parvati-variety these won't make the cut. However again, for the price, they make quite an extravagant pasalubong.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The secret is not to tell the recipient the price of the cake/s. Just shove it in their face and watch the glow of gratitude.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>You're welcome!</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08084.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2213" title="Mezza Norte Tuguegarao pancit" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc08084.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Nearly giving in to this hyped up <strong>Tuguegarao pancit</strong>, that seems to be the <strong><em>Pad Thai of Northern Philippines</em></strong>, the queue was already long, not to mention the waiting period. Oh and we don't have a table.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Too bad.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">I spotted 2 <strong>Chap Chae</strong> Joints (unfortunately they both have pork),<strong> Manang's,</strong> <strong>Bumble Tea</strong>, the ever present <strong>Mochiko, Mio Gelati</strong>, the<strong> Roast Beef Lady,</strong> that <strong>Shabu-Shabu</strong> Place, <strong>Taclings, Takoyaki, Medchef</strong>, etc. Nowhere in sight were (from Mercato) that ravioli place, Panzarotti, Messy Bessy, Human Nature, Anita's cupcakes, Low Cal, dumplings and that place that sold kefir.<br/></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Should we return for a take 2, I do wish that Messy Norte would be more organized or would have more tables or just courteous diners.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">If not, I could always lend you a comb, er, a hand.<br/></span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-72858518521615097982012-08-16T03:02:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.979-08:00Piadina and Pariahs<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As a newly baptized <em>pariah</em> of Philippine society, it was fitting to dine in a place of childhood comfort where our wallet size was always welcome: <strong>Piadina</strong>. <strong>McDonald's</strong> and <strong>Coffee Experience</strong> nearly made it to the list but then again, cushioned seats were mandated that day. Last time I ate in Piadina was probably a decade ago, and last time I fully enjoyed <strong>Robinson’s Galleria</strong>, I was still sporting my Goldilocks high school uniform in a sleek bob. <em>So 90s.</em></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">With flare jeans memories flooding my vision, you might call it <strong><em>blast from the past</em></strong>, though I’d prefer <strong><em>pariah on a budget</em></strong>—and a bit lost on the side. That <strong>Robinson’s Galleria Veranda</strong> required crossing the street, while my old-time favorite <strong>apple pie</strong> and <strong>St. Cinnamon</strong> have succumbed to the decade 2000’s advancement to gelato and anything red velvet.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07948.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2199" title="Piadina Robinson's Galleria" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07948.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">And so, if there’s anything left from the quaint past, it’d be <strong>Piadina</strong>. Plus points for being empty on a Saturday. Lunch time. Sale day. <em>Come to think of it, where are the people? Is this the new after life? </em>Oh right, they’re looking for <strong>Mang Inasal.</strong></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><strong>Piadina</strong> used to be our destination of choice because of its <strong>piadina-pasta meals</strong> which were innovative back then, and cheap on the side. Having Italian food for such pocket-friendly price was quite the attraction, and the thought of eating at Piadina (<strong><em>back then</em></strong>, I repeat) sounded rather sophisticated, unfamiliar folks might as well thought we had lunch in the hills of Sicily. </span></span></p><br/><p>[caption id="attachment_2200" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07956.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2200 " title="Piadina Unidentified Appetizer" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07956.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a> Warning: These are not tofu orbs.[/caption]</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">Of course moving to the present these unabashed thoughts seem rather unfounded.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">A decade smarter and heavier, it seems that the <strong>Piadina r</strong>eferences to Italy were liberally granted and being a conservative, I would like to paraphrase my adolescent mumbling. Piadina is still that Italian restaurant that wishes you “<strong>God bless</strong>!” upon your exit. Why they do that, it must be a call for glad tidings or a possible return. I’m banking on the latter because based on my 2012 experience, Piadina can certainly improve on its dishes, to at least reflect its ambience and colorful menu. True, the place continues to offer meals at affordable prices, but as for taste, I suppose <strong>Michael Corleone </strong>would on a spontaneous shooting spree once he gets a bite of anything from here. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07954.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2198" title="Piadina Pasta Cabrese" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07954.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">The <strong>Pasta Cabrese</strong> lacks the flavor of anything under the bright Tuscan sun. While oil based, it could still benefit from the collective flavor of the <strong>garlic and anchovies</strong>, but I received nothing gastronomically satisfying, not even after shaking half the contents of the parmesan cheese. If it wasn’t for the broccoli, this pariah would’ve been a reincarnation of one angry and hungry <em>consigliere</em>. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07961.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2201" title="Piadina Margherita Pizza" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07961.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">The <strong>Margherita Pizza </strong>looked stunning upon delivery, with the waft of freshly baked ingredients and the promise of that delightful Piadina crust. While the flavor was excellent—after all it was just <strong>cheese and basil</strong>—the crust was on the tough side. Being tough is a good thing for a person, but for pizza crust/dough, it doesn’t go well, especially when there’s no <strong>olive oil-balsamic vinegar</strong> dip to dunk that chunk of rock. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">As a precaution to those with dentures or use Sensodyne, the pizza is not for you. If you insist on it though, do share it with someone. Don’t hog it all to yourself or you’ll find yourself drinking your Sensodyne the next time around. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2197" title="Piadina Chicken Meal" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07966.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The <strong>Baked Chicken meal</strong> came with rice and a wee scoop of vegetables that looked like cafeteria cooking. Mediocre was the order of the day, and it looked more like a <em>normal </em>rice meal than a serving of Italian-inspired pollo. It’s probably their way of saying, <strong><em>Piadina is our specialty so it’s the only food we got right</em></strong>. <strong><em>Live with it.</em></strong></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But wait, isn’t the pizza also Piadina-based?</span></span></em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">Ah well, it’s best that I end this harangue before I get banned from Galleria, my once second home and haven for the giggly Goldilocks girls.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Piadina doesn’t claim to be gourmet par excellence, just an Italian joint for the economically challenged. It is highly possible that my menu selection is flawed and their <strong>Pasta Vongole</strong> or <strong>actual Piadina</strong> do taste sublime. </span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">After all they’ve been in that same spot for years, so there must be a sensible reason for that longevity. Outliving <strong>Las Paellas</strong> and <strong>Chef d’ Angelo</strong>, Piadina’s secret recipe might remain a secret from me, but not for the people (<em>Who are you?)</em> who dine there. I may not have seen you, but you probably exist under the tables or belong to the next shift.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">My <strong>2012 Piadina experience</strong> may have been quite the letdown, but visiting Robinson’s Galleria will always be a reminiscent escapade. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">From yesteryear’s yellow uniform to today’s pariah, it has always turned a blind eye on our dirty deeds. And so I return the favor to Piadina: <strong><em>God bless!</em></strong></span></span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-17125380365914600012012-08-08T06:42:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.960-08:00Tea Pot Session<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/jjs-stash-teapot.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2187" title="JJ's Stash - Teapot" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/jjs-stash-teapot.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">My conduct towards the rainy season (<em>or shall I say <strong>Hagupit ng Habagat</strong> - sadly, I don't know how to properly translate this</em>) has been rather absurd. Rather than crave for ramen and curry, I’ve been going through a period of vast starvation and moments of just staring at my leaky ceiling.</span></span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">It's all this <em>not-a-typhoon-but-still-horrible-enough-to-qualify-as-Ondoy's-mistress </em>rain that has been pouring with a bladder with no end. Stranded at home with no intent of release, I shudder at the thought having nothing to write about except <strong>Skyflakes</strong> or <strong>Cookie Crisp</strong>.</span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">I don’t suppose people would like to read about the magnificent water of Quezon City or how Timmy’s homemade boiled egg is just perfectly powdery either.</span></span></span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2179" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07897.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2179" title="Celestial Seasonings Stash" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07897.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Perfect for the weather that's seasoning us with floodwater, flu and damp walls.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">So it's best to stay within the monsoon theme and get warm, cozy and that liquid high. Sadly, I wish I were talking about the <strong>Hot and Sour Soup</strong> which </span></span></span><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">has been discontinued by Knorr or Maggi (what a disappointment) but no, it's best to make do with the only thing dry at home.</span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">And so I’ll let you in on what I’ve been hoarding recently—aside from water and boiled egg—</span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Tea</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">. Well that must sound like old news, </span></span></span><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">I would admit</span></span></span></em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">, but since I’ve been dunking teabags here and there, throughout the day, I like to think that I have resuscitated the </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">tea connoisseur</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> that was once drowned </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">milk tea</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">And I haven’t been hoarding the cheap kind, like that </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Nature’s Pride</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> that claims to be green tea but tastes more like oolong, which isn’t that bad, just confusing. We also have the generic </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lipton (Clear and Green)</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> which I once adored for its wake-me-up power potential, but lately, has been dwindling in the caffeine aspect for no reason but economy. I’ve never come to appreciate that </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">“Hirameki” Yellow Label Tea</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> because I find its teeth-staining abilities rather off-putting. But enough with the bashing.</span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/jeninas-stash-tea-shrine.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2188" title="Jenina's Stash - Tea Shrine" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/jeninas-stash-tea-shrine.jpg?w=789" alt="" width="473" height="614" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">My stash has consisted of </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Celestial Seasonings</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> variants (top photo from old post), partly because I find their packaging lovely and partly because they have </span></span></span><strong><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Blueberry Breeze</span></span></span></em></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">. Yes, if any, blame the blueberry on this one. Of course, there are other companions: </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">White Tea, Detox A.M. and Sleepytime Herbal</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">. You can say that I’ve got all time periods covered.</span></span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">My motto: </span></span></span><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span style="color:#888888;text-decoration:underline;"><span style="color:#ff6600;text-decoration:underline;"><span style="color:#000000;text-decoration:underline;">Tea, all-day, everyday.</span></span></span></span></strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">However, rather than bring your to a complete bore with a review on tea, I’ve decided to just list down </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">10 amazing facts</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> (</span></span></span><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">okay, not that amazing, just good-to-know and nice-to-hear which you’ll probably forget once the sun starts to shine again</span></span></span></em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">) that I enjoyed with my stash.</span></span></span></span></p><br/><br/><ol style="text-align:justify;"><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Combining green tea with a fairly faint yet distinct flavor of blueberry, </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Blueberry Breeze</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> makes it to my favorite tea of all time. It surely beats </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lipton’s Green Tea Acai</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> which immediately fades after the first steep. Not a good value for a <em>well</em> drinker, despite packing in that Acai greatness.</span></span></span></span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2182" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07893.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2182 " title="Celestial Seasonings" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07893.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Blueberry Breeze Nutrition Info[/caption]</li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">White tea</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> is an essential tea variant for me, which is a component of many of Celestial Seasonings’ offerings. I have only seen</span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Twining’s </span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">as another brand offering such, but the packaging makes me think of my grandma’s kitchen, so forget it. I do not have time to bring out a ceramic kettle with matching cups just to commemorate tea time. By the time I do, I’d be half asleep, my hair catching on fire.</span></span></span></span></li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">White tea is sometimes combined with </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">green tea </span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">for that instant perk-me-up-because when meetings start to create a mental pillow in my head, either it’s that or I douse myself in ice cold water, which wouldn’t be too civilized in a corporate environment.</span></span></span></span></li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">The tea packs a </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">bitter punch</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> when steeped longer than usual, beating espresso and vodka, in the health department. Plus, no HR rules violated here and my palpitations will be kept within normal limits.</span></span></span></span></li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Flavored tea</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> helps on those days when the tolerance for bitter is just way down the scale (like when you’re about to get sick or are just feeling angsty about the traffic). Rather than reaching for juice or fruity teas, it’s best to dunk a teabag and drown it to your heart’s content. Beware the temperature though. I have been a victim far too many times from my enthusiasm and do not care if blowing furiously on my cup purports bad manners or blows germs in the air. Either way, it’s for my protection.</span></span></span></span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2183" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07890.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-2183 " title="Celestial Seasonings" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07890.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Ah yes, ingredients straight from Professor Snape's Potions class![/caption]</li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">The </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Detox A.M.</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> helps with the morning rush, in case there’s isn’t any.</span></span></span></span></li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Sleepytime</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> is the best boost for sleep for those who’ve had too much fun, too much food or just too much to think about before sleeping. When the sheep can’t help, the try counting tea leaves instead. That should put you out in a jiffy.</span></span></span></span></li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">The tea sleep enhancer works better than </span></span></span><strong><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">melatonin, sleeping pills, and cough syrup </span></span></span></em></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">because its sole component is tea. Herbal and organic, you’ll know that when you wake up, there won’t be a zombie facing you in the mirror.</span></span></span></span><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2181" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07883.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2181 " title="Celestial Seasonings" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07883.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Works better than a punch in the face. No black eye too![/caption]</li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Another perk of the tea is that it </span></span></span><strong><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">gets you to sleep, helps with the digestion process and relieves/relaxes the stomach</span></span></span></em></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">. That’s like the combination of 3 different pills and a glass of water. But with tea, you’re guaranteed </span></span></span><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">not</span></span></span></em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> to pee at 3am, unless you don’t care because you’re over 70.</span></span></span></span></li><br/> <li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lastly, there are other variants for </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">perk-me-up, dozing off, half-and-half chill and K.O.</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> that it’s best that you be your own judge. Tea isn’t that bad—bitter for many, digestion-altering for some—but on the whole, is a grand experience for anyone who just loves to drink. Just like water, but with benefits.</span></span></span></span></li><br/></ol><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Don’t get swept by </span></span></span><strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">bottles and sugary finds</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">, plain teabags are still the way to go, and you can squeeze them until the very last miniscule leaf and that’s economy for the Third World. Some may taste funny or curiously like flora and fauna, but waive these strange flavors for the ultimate benefit of health and wellness.</span></span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">And weird weather has been strangely bipolar, I don’t need to invest in ramen or force-palpitate myself with coffee, tea’s got that “warmth” covered.</span></span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">And best of all, being the </span></span></span><strong><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lazy</span></span></span></em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Black Cat</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"> that I am, a few steps to the water dispenser and everything’s in the bag.</span></span></span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><em><span style="color:#888888;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;">Kampai!</span></span></span></em></strong></span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-67048571951687577322012-08-04T08:40:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.976-08:00Green Dinner<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">With so many green jokes out there, the title does not pay tribute to any one of them.</span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">Instead here comes a tongue twister to best accompany the statement: </span><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">The Green dinner comes from dining on greens, not beans, at Greenbelt, a place that's rather clean and certainly far from mean.</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">Lucky are those blessed with knack for writing these tongue twisters, for I am not one of those. </span><br/><br/>Ah well at least my school was <em>green</em> and I love <em>edamame</em>, so that ought to settle the score. Now back to dinner.<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2168" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07868.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2168 " title="Mary Grace Fried Kesong Puti with Calamansi Vinaigrette" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07868.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> If I could get seconds on the cheese, why bother for a main dish?[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">First stop was </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Cafe Mary Grace</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> that seems revere all that's green and natural with its menu doused with herbs, pesto, salad and aglio olio, staring at the menu is a recommended activity for every customer. Failing to decide what to order for the first 10 minutes meant that the menu was just packed with likable fares - a rarity for me!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">However sticking with the green theme, the order was </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Fried Kesong Puti with Calamansi Vinaigrette</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">. The salad came in a jiffy, rather small yet the kesong puti squares were begging to be attacked. The vinaigrette was tinged with garlic, relieving us of that purely sour note. Best was the kesong puti square, lightly breaded, but very much the fancy of any cheese lover. </span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_2169" align="aligncenter" width="614"]<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07875.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-2169 " title="Cafe Breton Chix with Asparagus" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc07875.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a> Whoever named this dish must've been stoned during spelling class.[/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Next was </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Cafe Breton</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">. Trying to avoid a sugar rush so late in the evening, I had to settle for more greens: </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Chix with Asparagus.</span></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Why "chicken" is spelled as "chix" will be a spelling blunder I will never comprehend. It is neither cute nor proper for a restaurant that serves dishes with capers. However I am glad that the asparagus was not shortened to something hideous like "aspy" or "raguz". </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">If that were the case, I'd be charged with arson - setting fire to a menu. Now where's that <em>Grand Marnier</em>? Better make a spectacle out of this.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The </span><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Chix with Asparagus</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> lives up to its image of impropriety, as it fails to get a proper "oooh" from me. The chicken strips were hard, the cream was bland, the onions were a tad too thin and the asparagus undercooked. The cheese dip turned out to be grated cheese on the top, which reminded me of childhood spaghetti. </span></p><br/><span style="color:#000000;">All aspects turned to a "cheesy" misadventure, not even the crepe could salvage my distaste.</span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">On the bright side, the menu was gone so you'll be glad to know that no arson took place that evening.</span><br/><br/><span style="color:#000000;">The next time I see "CHIX" spelled anywhere though, hold on to your lighters.</span><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-87894407651326484592012-07-31T09:51:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.982-08:00Angels and Dominoes<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><strong>Angel’s Pizza</strong> is such a queer name for a pizza place, I had to convince myself that this was <strong>Domino’s</strong> in its past life. Having reinforced this myth in my obstinate right brain, I finally conceded to the fact that domino=angel. Very logical indeed.</span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07819.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2105" title="Supreme Being" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07819.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">As for the pizza, it tasted very much the same. The<strong> crust</strong> was its usual chewy self, somewhere in between light and fluffy yet still crisp and easily digestible and far from Pizza Hut doughy-the-carbs-can-kill-me-now. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">The<strong> flavors/variants,</strong> I must say, had an amazing roster it could be difficult to memorize them all in one sitting. Not that I tried to or would want to as this would serve no purpose, but Angel’s fanatics out there might get a kick out of this information overload. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc078221.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2108" title="Shrimp Pesto Pizza" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc078221.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">As for me though, scanning was the order of the day, amidst colorful menu layout and cherubs all over the place. I found what I wanted (<em>in short, what I can eat)</em>, that <strong>Shrimp Pesto Pizza</strong>. I had to order the supreme-like pizza for the meat eating companions, a compromise so as not to burden them with my fishy disposition.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">The shrimp pesto tasted the way it's supposed to, <em>pesto laden crust with bits of shrimp</em>. I didn’t grow a halo while eating the pizza, but neither did I form anything from the bad side, so I suppose this translates to a <em>neutral</em> pizza.</span> </p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><em>Neutral</em> is not the best way to describe pizza, as this may not be helpful to readers so let me be more specific, the pizza may do with 20% more of its existing toppings. I found it lacking in that aspect, and also found myself reaching for more condiments to address the seeming lack in substance. </span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Instead of reaching for more slices, I actually thought of my next meal. Not the best way to end a first date.</span></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07816.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2107" title="More on that Supreme Being" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07816.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;">As for that <strong>meat pizza,</strong> it seems that they liked it more than my shrimp pesto. That or people are becoming more compassionate to those who seemingly eat less. That must be why they call it Angel’s Pizza. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Nah, I don't buy that. Maybe they found my pizza neutral as well.</span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-16443080688061763782012-07-24T09:13:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.959-08:00High and Guangzhou<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2073" title="Lazy Black Cat goes to Guangzhou" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/edited-cover-3.png?w=1024" alt="" width="472" height="354" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">And just when I thought I was skilled in the art of communication, a trip to <strong>China</strong> brought this so-called proficiency to shame where my non verbal gestures deemed useless and my well enunciated English, inept.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-21.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2079" title="Guangzhou Bullies" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-21.png?w=1024" alt="" width="590" height="426" /></a> <span style="color:#000000;">Illiterate in the land of <em>international cuisine, Renminbi and hoisin</em>, it can be quite embarrassing to succumb to the global goods (in short, <strong>Mcdonald’s</strong> and <strong>Starbucks</strong>) and English speaking retailers, or what sounds like English. Hear me though; once the locals start serving you hot water to drink and almost send a vacuum to your hotel room (itwas just a voltage inquiry, for the love of Lao Tse), it’s best to stay safe, sound and IBS-free. ate</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Good thing <strong>Peko</strong> and <strong>Poko</strong> are spelled in English. And <strong>Glico</strong>. And <strong>Lotte</strong>. Saved by <strong>7-11!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc077661.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2090" title="Guangzhou Grocery Partial Haul" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc077661.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="517" height="387" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">In the territory where the Watson’s lady couldn’t tell <em><strong>Bi-o-re</strong> </em>from <em><strong>Ni-ve-a</strong> </em>and nearly tore my arm off trying to whiten my wrist, it’s best to stay silent. Keep quiet, look, click a bit and eat what was ordered in English.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">So don’t look for photos of snakes, chicken feet and rabbit heads. I <em>never</em> said I was the adventurous kind. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">For heaven’s sake, I couldn’t even order a decent milk tea without getting a line to form behind me. In real life, it's <em><strong>Lost in Translation</strong></em>, sans the enjoyment, Bill Murray and all the fun in between.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">But of course, a girl's gotta eat.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc077821.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2096" title="Starbucks Tuna Sandwich and Marble Slice" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc077821.jpg?w=768" alt="" width="461" height="614" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07662.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2064" title="Starbucks Smoked Chicken Salad" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07662.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Starbucks</strong> was an imperial haven for the foreigners with English speaking baristas who obligingly heated your food and perfectly understood the necessity of non fat and NO whipped cream. The <strong>Smoked Chicken Salad</strong> was Asian inspired and very filling, it was like dining near home. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">I never thought I'd call Starbucks a second home but I'm loving that green logo.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07637.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2062" title="Mcdo Guangzhou" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07637.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07634.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2063" title="Mcdo Chicken Wrap" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07634.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-7.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2084" title="McDo Guangzhou" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-7.png?w=1024" alt="" width="472" height="327" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>McDonald’s Guangzhou</strong> has subtitled menus beside the cashier (not the one in front). Bring a magnifying glass though as it can be a tough debacle with the photos, text and cashier. The <strong>Chicken Wrap</strong> is worth the wait despite attempts at failed gestures. Spicy, flavorful with cabbage and spinach wrap, I’d swap our local Mcdo for this Chinese counterpart anytime!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>Lamington Cakes</strong> were rather popular, and while I never got the chance to research their history, content and cultural significance, the McCafe version (chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavored) was rather endearing and for once, I found myself enjoying coconut. The coconut shavings provide the texture for the smooth cake within. <em>Hail Lamington!</em></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07768.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2067" title="Spaghetti House Lobster Angel Hair" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07768.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>Spaghetti House</strong> mayhem caused me to spend<strong> 80 Yuan</strong> for dinner. Turns out they had a menu for the middle class variety but no, they decided to feed me <strong>baked lobster pasta</strong> for dinner despite my pauper get-up. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Ah yes, it must’ve been my royal English, especially when I inquired, “Do you have OR?” </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Very queenly indeed.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-9.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2086" title="Milk tea Dakasi" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-9.png?w=1024" alt="" width="531" height="349" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>Dakasi milk tea fiasco</strong> caused a line so long I was glad I couldn’t understand swear words in Chinese. And I had the gall to order the longest and most peculiar drink in fine print. Now that’s taking my sweet time and sweet my green tea with brown rice milk was. Sweet yet utterly memorable. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">After all saying “50% sugar” would certainly take another 10 minutes and a line 10x long!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-8.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2085" title="Kung Fu Guangzhou" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-8.png?w=1024" alt="" width="597" height="238" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;color:#000000;font-size:medium;"><strong>Bruce Lee</strong> Logo-bearing <strong>Kung-Fu </strong>is a fastfood place frequented by local kids. Cheap, convenient and serves hefty meals, I understand why a lot of folks coop up in this joint. Congee, rice meals and noodles are common menu items but they do have that curious looking almond jelly that could make local giant <strong>Chow King</strong> shudder with its lack of Chinese authenticity. Boo-yah!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07771.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2092" title="Kung-Ful Almond Jelly" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07771.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Guangzhou Sheraton's Breakfast Buffet</strong> wasn't that bad either. With <em>fresh tomato juice, smoked salmon and fried noodles</em> as part of the morning roster, what's not to love about this place? Oh yeah, just that they forget what water is. H2o? Agua?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><em>Chaa</em> ("tea") then.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-5.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2082" title="Sheraton Guangzhou Breakfast BUffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-5.png?w=1024" alt="" width="478" height="348" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-4.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2081" title="Sheraton Guangzhou Breakfast Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-4.png?w=1024" alt="" width="472" height="344" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-3.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2080" title="Sheraton Guangzhou Breakfast Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-3.png?w=1024" alt="" width="531" height="279" /></a></p><br/>Delightful <strong>cheese selection</strong> and <strong>cereals, soy milk</strong>, the crunchiest <strong>melon</strong> I have tasted in the East - if I could live on breakfast alone, it would be here!<br/><br/>Of course nothing ever goes according to plan, there's lunch, dinner and that obligatory midnight snack. Too many to mention, here's a smorgasbord of stuff I may have eaten, sniffed or clicked by accident.<br/><br/>Don't ask for details, or all you'll just get is a "Meow!"<br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07793.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2069" title="Dimsum Dismay" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07793.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="553" height="373" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-6.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2083" title="Guangzhou Unidentified Lauriat Food items" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-6.png?w=1024" alt="" width="597" height="215" /></a></p><br/><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-10.png"><img class="wp-image-2087 alignnone" title="Dessert or main dish? I'll never know." src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-10.png?w=1024" alt="" width="478" height="223" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2089" title="tan's Residence guangzhou, china" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="371" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-11.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2078" title="Guangzhou tan' residence" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/new-picture-11.png?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="466" /></a></p><br/>Though I never got to say it back then, here's my chance, despite the opposite placement.<br/><br/><em>Nihao, Guangzhou</em>!<br/><br/>It was good while it lasted. Now I'm back to teabags and local ramen. Ah well, the price to hear decent English once again.Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-42044827536825354052012-07-17T05:46:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.967-08:00No Fuss, Nolita (BHS)<p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07865.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2121 aligncenter" title="Nolita BHS" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07865.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="426" height="354" /></a></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>New York style pizza</strong> is rather hard to come by in <strong>Manila,</strong> being the district for thick crust mayhem and cheddar cheese. Oh and there’s also this issue of <em>self-service</em>—the folks seem to hate it. Carrying trays is <em>so</em> blue collar, and so the New York mind of an independent eater barely works in the high and mighty Metro Manila.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07844.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2123" title="NOLITA BHS" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07844.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">For the self-sustaining and autonomous though, here’s one place that might cater to your lifestyle and preferences, gourmet-wise that is. <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Nolita</span> at Bonifacio High Street </strong>is the New York Pizza haven that summons Little Italy in this garage style nook that blasts Euro rock as if I was chilling in my own room.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07832.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2125" title="NOLITA BHS" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07832.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="553" height="415" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07853.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2124" title="Nolita Cheese Pizza" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07853.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07858.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2120" title="Nolita Pepperoni Pizza" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07858.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Handmade, freshly baked and topped with fresh and inventive toppings that can surely beckon any New York native, Nolita’s pizzas are worth the long drive from home. With flavors that range from <strong>cheese</strong>, <strong>pepperoni</strong> to <strong>spinach and artichoke</strong> there’s a slice for every gastronomic preference. Menu items are listed on the chalkboard and for certain, there were flavors I missed like the slice with the <strong>fried egg</strong> (<em>Breakfast?), </em><strong>tomatoes and feta cheese</strong> (<em>Greek?)</em> and <strong>Broccoli </strong><em>(I suppose cruciferous slice?).</em> Never mind the names, since point-and-heat is the way to go, no proper vocabulary necessary. <em>This is New York, man.</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07848.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2126" title="Nolita Onion Rings" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07848.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Starters are also available, and the <strong>onion rings</strong> (Beer battered with Sriracha dip) alone were enough to forego another slice of pizza. With <strong>pasta </strong>(gluten-free, cool huh) and burgers on the menu, not to mention a horde of desserts, there’s so much to taste and discover at Nolita, it warrants a number of visits in the future.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><em>But.</em></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The <strong>service was excessively slow</strong>, it took 50 minutes to get me a slice of cheese pizza. <em>New York traffic?</em> I don’t think so, just the case of the <em>I-forgot-you-because-all-you-got-was-a-cheese-pizza-you-simpleton</em>. Sheesh, I suppose discrimination exists even in Little Italy.</p><br/>Oh and no apologies or compensatory damages, just “I forgot!”<br/><br/>Next time I commit a crime, I ought to try that. “I forgot.” Might get me off life sentence.Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-42981676656009931182012-07-15T03:12:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.968-08:00Starbucks Hoji-what?<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The local plebeians have found their drinking pleasure in the conveniently sprinkled milk tea joints all around <strong>Metro Manila</strong>. I for one am guilty of this menace, and have adopted the milk tea jargon of <strong>“no pearls”</strong>, <strong>“less ice”</strong> and my favorite, <strong>“zero sugar.”</strong> </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The last spiel has earned me gawks and sneers that the cashier will certainly mark as the zaniest she has encountered in her front-office life, but if I had the time, I’d certainly have told her, better my decisive and time-saving action than the band of kids behind me dishing out statements that sound like “Ummm”, “Hmmm” and all other rhymes. It seems that it will take her forever to get them to order, unless they head for cover at the nearest McDonald’s. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07607.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2057" title="Starbucks Hojicha" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07607.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Yet again I digress from my feature photo. <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Starbucks Hojicha</span></strong>.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">I have not been to Starbucks for a while, and curious about this Hojicha drink which has been flooding my dreams and consciousness, I’ve decided to finally confront this poster drink. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Resuming an upper class stance, I’ve decided to drop the hoi polloi Moonleaf mindset, put on my best English and go for “<strong><em>One Grande non fat Hojicha Frap with Earl Grey Jelly for J.Anne</em></strong>!” and since it was lunch, that <strong>chicken pesto on panini </strong>which looked quite enticing in that flat presentation.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The Hojicha came sans the cream, <em>sugoi</em>! But that was the best part out of this <em>hoj-experience</em>. If I were to rename this gloriously presented drink, it would be: <strong><em>110% Sweet Earl Grey Frap, further sweetened by the Earl Grey Jelly</em></strong>. This is best partnered with something horribly bland and crisp, and I am glad I went for panini than the Oreo Cheesecake that was winking at me from the chiller. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">In terms of the tea flavor, the Hojicha is certainly the supreme being that perhaps contains 10 teabags worth of tea which would please the Queen of England. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Being used to mildly sweetened to bland drinks, the Hojicha certainly blasted my system to hyper-sugar mode—though I needed it at that time, reliving <strong>Tom Hank</strong>s in his <strong>The Terminal</strong> experience. Other than this outlier experience, I believe that should I have a tea fix, I would resume to my eternal favorite, the one drink that will never let me down, despite horrendous exams and long drives: <strong>Green Tea Frap without whipped cream.</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07614.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2058" title="Starbucks Chicken Pesto Panina" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc07614.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="614" height="461" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> As for that <strong>chicken pesto panini</strong>, the actual name escapes my mind. Perhaps my subconscious decided to bury it in my mental oblivion since it wasn’t that spectacular to begin with. I’ve had other better tasting and worth recalling Starbucks sandwiches and this surely isn’t one of them. Filled with chicken, pesto and cheese, it was hmmm-kay but not dream-worthy.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Especially when it’s something I can replicate at home. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"> But still, I am sure glad I didn’t go for that Oreo Cheesecake or the bathroom would’ve been my destination and not China. </span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-66195910680602866852012-07-04T12:49:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.973-08:00Hoshide's All That: Yu and the Rest of the Force<p style="text-align:justify;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">He’s fast, he’s skilled and though he’s outgrown reading manga we’ll still write one for him. Global FC midfielder and Healthway Agility Awardee of the United Football League (UFL) First Division Yu Hoshide’s story may not involve bionic powers or the Kamehameha but with adventures that hail from Tokyo to Trinidad and Tobago that involve short stunts with judo and a stolen freezer, this makes him a legit football hero with a hat. Ikuzo! (“Let’s go!”)</span></em></p><br/><img class="aligncenter" title="1 Hoshide Title" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/1-hoshide-title.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="524" height="350" /><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">A Word with Yu</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Yu Hoshide</strong> was born in<strong> Tokyo</strong>, was schooled in the traditional Japanese fashion and never really heard a Tagalog word until 2009. “Grabe!” as the present Yu would say.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Bringing bento for lunch, dabbling with the piano (“All my relatives from my dad’s side had to learn to play the piano” he tried to explain) and having kendo/judo classes as a kid, that’s pretty much how Yu-chan’s life passed by. The kendo classes were mandatory, and while Yu never got he chance to hit an actual person in real life, he made swooshing motions in the air to show us that, yes, he’s still got the flair. <em>All right, Yu, we won’t take your iPhone</em>.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Like most Japanese kids nowadays who want to be a professional athlete when they grow up, Yu decided to take that same path: “I’ve always wanted to be a professional football player!” He was five years old then and that ambition never faltered.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">He was also five years old when he started attending the <strong>Takashi Madaira Soccer Club.</strong> Tokyo boasts of about a hundred (or was it a thousand?) soccer clubs, so we can just imagine the volume of activity and fanbase in our neighboring country. And that’s not considering baseball which is another popular sport in Japan.</p><br/><br/><blockquote>“Why not baseball, Yu?”<br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“Noooo.. I really like football.”</p><br/> “Good to know. So do we.” And we couldn’t imagine you in that baseball outfit.</blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">In High School, Yu moved to the <strong>Mitsubishi Yowa Soccer Club</strong>, a much more prestigious organization for skilled players. We learned this because he “quantified” the application process. From a hundred to two hundred applicants they only select the chosen few for their team, and Yu was one of those. Sugoi!</p><br/><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2-meiji-college-uniform.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="2 meiji college uniform" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2-meiji-college-uniform.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">College at the <strong>Meiji University</strong> brought him much closer to the football dream. Passing the football exam he became a full-fledged scholar, taking up Political Science. While he claims that Math and Japanese History were his favorite subjects, it’s rather obvious that Yu would ditch his books just to don a jersey.</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Trinidad and Time-to-go</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yu’s been with quite a number of football clubs in various countries, it would be exhausting to go over each of them. With local highlights and exotic entertainment worth retelling, I’d say let’s run through this decade’s worth of stories in a jiffy.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>2000–07, YKK AP (Kataller Toyama of the J.League):</strong> Yu played for several years in Japan before his quest to play for different football clubs in different countries or as I’d like to call it, his “world tour.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/3-meiji-days-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="3 Meiji Days copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/3-meiji-days-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="419" height="156" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>2008, Harrisburg City Islanders (USA):</strong> Yu found the opportunity through the Internet and played for the club for one year.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/4-harrisburg-days-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="4 Harrisburg Days copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/4-harrisburg-days-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="183" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>2009, Northern Virginia Royals (USA):</strong> A friend of his introduced him to the club, but he only played for three months because Joe Public wanted to see him play and eventually signed him up.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>2009–11, Joe Public (Trinidad and Tobago):</strong> His friend Fabien Lewis, who’s Trinidadian, helped him get into the club, which is one of the biggest clubs in the Caribbean and was owned by the former VP of FIFA. He played for Joe Public for one and half years.</p><br/><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/5-trinidad.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="5 trinidad" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/5-trinidad.jpg" alt="" width="475" height="275" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> <strong>2011, Grecia Stone (Ecuador):</strong> His Japanese friend back in junior high used to play here and recruited Yu. Don’t bother asking him for Spanish expressions and foodie experiences. He only played for one month.</p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/6-newspaper-clipping.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="6 newspaper clipping" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/6-newspaper-clipping.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>2011, Sporting Club de Goa (India):</strong> The club was looking for a central midfielder, but Yu only played for one and a half months.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/7-india.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="7 India" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/7-india.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="183" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>2011–present </strong>Last but not the least <strong>Global FC (Philippines)</strong></p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/8-global-fc-family.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="8 global fc family" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/8-global-fc-family.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="331" /></a><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Asian Invasion</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Before Global FC, Yu has never been to the Philippines and knew nothing about the Philippine time, traffic, the wonders of Pasay road and the kindhearted street children—all of which introduced themselves to him one at a time. Still, he’s gotten used to the weather, the people and muttering “Hay nako” in the same Pinoy despairing tone seems so natural, it makes us wonder who was late for practice this time.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">One thing that was far from despairing though was how Yu ended up with Global FC. Yes, the internet was once again an ally in his movement, but this time, he’s got YouTube to thank.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“They watched my game on YouTube then asked me to go to the Philippines,” narrated Yu.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Next thing he knew, he was part of the team, commissioned as Captain and living in Magallanes.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><em>Why the Philippines?</em> Is it the beaches, the politics or just our warmhearted citizens that made Yu leave India and its blessed curry?</p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“I wanted to move to an Asian country so that I will be closer to my parents. When the tsunami hit Japan I was in T&T and never learned of it because there was no Internet. At least in Asia it would be easier to travel and visit them,” explained Yu.</p><br/></blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/9-miyagi-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="9 Miyagi copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/9-miyagi-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="183" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Oh and he admits that the curry in India doesn’t compare to Japan’s “ka-ri.”</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Rock and Gol.</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">For those who don’t follow Yu Hoshide on Twitter and are unfamiliar with his chill pill, his favorite hangout is Starbucks—which branch, we’re not telling. However, if someone hollers “Tall Caramel Machiatto for Yuuuuuu!” then expect the ever zen-like Yu to get that rate googly-eyed look. Perhaps this is the only moment in his life that he gets that manga expression, thanks to that green sun. Kampai!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/10-starbucks-hangout-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="10 Starbucks hangout copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/10-starbucks-hangout-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="325" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Trying to give an enterprising tip to our good friend Yu, here’s an excerpt of our conversation:</p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">J.Anne: Yu, you’re always at Starbucks, they should make you their endorser.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Miji: Yeah!! So you could get a free venti Caramel Machiatto all the time.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yu: What’s that word you used?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">J: Endorse?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Y: En-..?!?!?!</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">M: EN-DORSE!</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Y: What’s that mean?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">J: Looks at Miji mouthing “help him!”</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">M: Endorse. You know, endorse. Like promote.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">J: Like you tweet and tell people you’re at Starbucks so they give you free drinks in return.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Y: How do you spell that? (typing on his phone dictionary)</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">M: E-N-D-O-R-S-E</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Y: Reads…</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">J: Or we can just skip to the next topic.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Y: Ah. Ahhhhhhh! (Finding the translation, understanding the translation or just checking someone’s Tweet?)</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">M: Hay nakoooo, you did get it, right?</p><br/></blockquote><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hay nako, Yu</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Speaking of endorsements, Yu is a master in this field since he does promote a Japanese brand (or is it Brazilian, heeeelp) of clothing named <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Gol.</span></strong>, which is why we considered him the perfect ambassador of the Caramel Machiatto. Imagine Yu Hoshide, swift, sporty and savvy, the perfect guy to represent Gol. Even in his stint in the Philippines, Yu still carries the Gol image, which inspires that worldwide brand recognition from Global FC’s midfielder.</p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/11-young-gol.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="11 young gol" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/11-young-gol.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">When not in his customary Global FC jersey, Yu parades around in his Gol. Shirt and/or cap. Aside from being a football superstar, we’ve got a fashion icon as well.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">And now’s the time to say, “Ahhhh…” Grabe!</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Yu and What Army</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yu lost his iPhone recently to a band of street kids who blatantly took it from him and ran off before Yu could tweet about it. Using judo was not a top of mind reaction in a place like Manila, and he certainly hadn’t thought of giving them a bicycle kick—so this experience, he says, ought to be charged as a donation. How kind of Yu to let this Manila initiation pass by easily.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">But that’s not the highlight of his Manila stay.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“I’m renting this car and it’s brand new and color white. One day while I was driving, a girl just went in and told me her destination,” Yu narrated this hilarious story.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/12-taxi-story-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="12 taxi story copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/12-taxi-story-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="122" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“I said, ‘no taxi!’ and she was surprised and sorry and just left,” he said with so much amusement. At least now Yu can consider an alternative business, but, of course, he’d have to consult <strong>Misagh Transportation Company</strong> first. We wouldn’t want Misagh to think Yu’s getting all cute or the red cards might start pouring from the bleachers.</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">A Piece of Yu</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Despite this so-called Asian Invasion, Yu does miss home, particularly his family, friends and Japanese food.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">While Sushi remains to be his all-time favorite food, yakiniku and banana cue rank next in his list. At least banana cue, a local dish, albeit being street food (Manang’s Special), has found a special spot in his discriminating palate.</p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/13-banana-q.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="13 banana q" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/13-banana-q.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">What does not deserve special honors is the dreaded Filipino time, which Yu has the misfortune of coming across all the time.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“When people say training starts at 9 a.m., they should be there by 8 a.m. but here in the Philippines, people arrive at 9:30 a.m.!” Yu still in disbelief at how we Filipinos have a knack for delaying time.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">As for Yu, 8 a.m. it is. Maybe this would give him ample time to finish that grande caramel machiatto or find the opportunity to revive his judo skills so that he can deliver killer scissor kicks on the pitch.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yu names<strong> Jerry Barbaso</strong> and <strong>David Basa</strong> as his close friends. Befuddled by this choice, we asked the obvious (<em>Is it because Jerry looks Japanese or is it because David is quiet like you</em>?) but got no straight answer. Whatever it is, at least Yu’s found <em>oniichans</em> in the team to torment or tutor, whatever the case may be.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/14-gfc-friends-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="14 gfc friends copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/14-gfc-friends-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="184" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yu claims that he can cook a mean <em><strong>okonomiyaki</strong> </em>(Japanese pancake), complete with the animated flipping gestures that is so Cooking Master Boy. Of course, we never got to verify that as well. But so long as we’ve not heard of recent kitchen fires, then at least we can say that, well, Yu’s a responsible cook.</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Catch Yu Later</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Among the Global FC players, Yu is certainly one of the seasoned players, having participated in clubs outside Asia and played in games all over the world.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">“I’ve been in 10 or 20 countries, just to play football,” claims Yu.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">He’s lived in other continents, and while he hasn’t mastered the local lingo (which would’ve been a lot of help trying to translate Angel Guirado’s speedy Spanish that only de Murga can catch up with) his exposure and experience definitely elevate him to the level of Yu-San. The younger players look up to him for his on-field wisdom while training coaches can rely on him for support and guidance.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/15-yu-skills-copy.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="15 Yu Skills copy" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/15-yu-skills-copy.png?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="107" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Once could attest to Yu’s veteran playing skills with his graceful and well-thought-of touches and passes and, of course, his agility. In fact, during the awarding ceremony of this season’s UFL, Yu Hoshide was named the <strong>Healthway Agility Player of the season</strong>. Guess we’re not the only ones impressed by Yu’s on-site activity and swift and accurate delivery of beautiful passes.</p><br/><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/16-healthway.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="16 healthway" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/16-healthway.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="666" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">With the depth of his experience, his movements appear as second nature, creating a sense of instinctive action. Hopefully he can pass on this acumen to the younger ones, especially as they start training for the UFL Cup in October.</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">May the Force be with Yu</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yu is not the only one to brag of an award for the <strong>2011–2012 Season of the UFL</strong>. For those who have been living underground for the past few days or are just away from the football radar, Global FC has been hailed as the <strong>Champion for this season</strong>, besting other strong teams like first runner up Kaya FC and Loyola Meralco Sparks FC.</p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/17-campeones.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="17 Campeones" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/17-campeones.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="331" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">In the last match against Loyola Meralco Sparks FC last June 26 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the game ended with a draw and sealed the championship for Global FC—which already was leading in the points race. With fans energetic and the Global Force screaming their endless battle cheer, Global FC finally scored its year-long goal: <em><strong>To be the #1 team</strong></em>! Yu was named Healthway Agility Awardee, #14 Carlie de Murga was Most Valuable Player Awardee and Global FC also bagged the Fair Play Award.</p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/18-global-force.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="18 Global Force" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/18-global-force.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="331" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Like we said, if we could perhaps add another award, it would be the <strong>Best Cheering Squad/Group</strong>—and hands down, we’d bestow the prize to the Global Force. Enthusiastic, battle ready, spontaneous, interactive and witty, their cheers have more impact than an LSS (last song syndrome).</p><br/><br/><h3 style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Yu Bet!</span></h3><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">If you happen to see Yu gallivanting around the malls or coffee shops, don’t think of bowing just to get his attention. Chances are passers by might think that you’re falling asleep on your toes. A whiff of coffee might help, or the old reliable, “Konnichiwa!” But remember, Yu-san’s the quiet type so blurting out “Kawaiii!!” will be met with a run. Instead, engage in sensible conversation and don’t fret, he’s got a dictionary at hand.</p><br/> <a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/19-trivia-table.png"><img class="aligncenter" title="19 trivia table" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/19-trivia-table.png" alt="" width="500" height="411" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"> Follow Yu Hoshide on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/yuhoshide">@yuhoshide</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Follow J.Anne Gonzales on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/LazyBlack_Cat">@LazyBlack_Cat</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Follow Miji Gonzales on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/mijigonzales">@mijigonzales</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://mijigonzales.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/gfcbar-copy.png"><br/></a></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-90010775874112599732012-06-28T13:21:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.983-08:00Out for Brunch (@ Manila Polo Club)<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Growing up, the term “Sunday brunch” was rarely uttered, our bourgeois household bearing the practice of separately enjoyed meals sans the wine toasting and thematic white garb. Plus, I am normally one hungry beast when I wake up, so brunch comes to near non existence in my voracious vocabulary.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The closest I have come to this posh <strong>Sunday Brunch</strong> matter, well aside from Chuck Bass and the rest of the Upper East Side, was during our Sunday feast at the <strong>Manila Polo Club</strong>. Veering away from the sensational seafood-fest that was the <strong>Mongolian Grill</strong>, we opted for the all-encompassing, multi-course selections from the <strong>International Buffet.</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/img_20120603_121811.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1906" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/img_20120603_121811.jpg?w=768" alt="" width="430" height="573" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/img_20120603_121847.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1911" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/img_20120603_121847.jpg?w=768" alt="" width="430" height="573" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Spotting the <strong>Sushi, sashimi</strong> and <strong>Baked Salmon with the Caper-Dill</strong> sauce from afar, we had to abandon the call of the Mongolian buffet and opt for proper silverware, plates, soup bowls and hordes of protein.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <strong>salad station</strong> wasn’t all that elaborate, should the likes of arugula, feta cheese or even caviar be expescted to make an entrance on the glass throne. However with Italian dressing, Romaine lettuce, the usual vegetable sidings, egg (pardon me, I’ve been fancying boiled egg these past few days) and cheese (just cheddar but that’ll do), it was quite enough to fill my plate to shameful heights that I wanted to hide from the prim old lady by my side. But she didn’t seem to care, since all she wanted was the seafood salad. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">As for that <strong>seafood salad</strong>, do not get me started. Again it was no Poseidon serving, but somehow the light lemon-herb oil that graced the squid-shrimp-fish-olive salad was refreshingly satiating, it called for seconds! And seconds I shamelessly had.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07466.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1910" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07466.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">While the dishes were not overwhelmingly abundant in quantity, they were luxuriously presented and named, looking them brought enough stars in my eyes. The <strong>Baked Salmon</strong> occupied the main spotlight area, which was such a welcome sight compared to the cliché roast beef. Pasta was available in <strong>Marinara (with shrimps) and carbonara sauces</strong>, and proved to be the “carby” competition for that <strong>Seafood Paella</strong>. Lavish names like <strong>Fish Fillet Veronique and Pork Schnitzel</strong> introduced funky new food terms that I can put to good use, if any, to spice up the dreariness of everyday dishes.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07467.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1904" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07467.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07468.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1903" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07468.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Seafood </strong>was also made available for grilling, but we never got to that point. Stuck on the salad and seafood already served and aptly named, we found no need to indulge in those smoky treats.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/img_20120603_121727.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1907" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/img_20120603_121727.jpg?w=768" alt="" width="614" height="819" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Being the mammoth dessert eater, I nearly gave up on the sweet treats, but alas, I could not yield at the sight of the <strong>cakes and fruits</strong>. And they had bread pudding with chocolate sauce! </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The <em>shot glass serving</em> cakes were all right, a bit exposed to the poolside heat so the fruit selection provided the chilling finale to my meal. With orange and mango slices atop that fabulous headdress inspired display, it was a delightful meal, capped off by a tropical fruit fest. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07470.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1909" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07470.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07476.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1908" title="Polo Club Buffet" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07476.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="491" height="369" /></a></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Very Sunday Brunch, if I may say so.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">So this brunch thing isn’t too bad, not all that fancy and no dress code necessary. This is probably one of those rare moments when I can’t help but end with:</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">XOXO, Lazy Black Cat</span></strong></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-17163986058543040602012-06-24T04:58:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:24:24.962-08:00Konnichiwa, Green Tea and Blueberry Cheesecake<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Last time I took a walk in broad daylight, I was met with eerie-strangers-holding-fraps in every corner, which led me to think that this <strong>Starbucks Hojicha</strong> has come to haunt me.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">“Ho-ji-cha!” Ho-ji-chaaaa!” <em>Yamero!</em> (Stoooopp!!)</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">All right then! Alas, before the fear could drive me to get that hoji-cup, I heard strange stories about the<strong> Hojicha + Earl Grey Jelly</strong> (too sweet, tastes like the forest) that made me ditch the drink and go for something more solid, green and table-worthy.</span></p><br/><br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_1979" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-1979 " title="Starbucks Green Tea and Blueberry Cheesecake" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc07577.jpg?w=1024" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /> Itadakimasu![/caption]<br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Konnichiwa,</em><strong> Green Tea and Blueberry Cheesecake! </strong>For a cheesecake and green tea lover, this was something I could not run away from. Best of all, it doesn’t have those annoying <strong>adzuki beans</strong> that really leave bad teeth stains.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Top layer consists of that <strong>white chocolate</strong> (?) that more jelly-like than creamy. It had that very strange flavor I could not detect, but it would seem strange if I suddenly asked Starbucks for the ingredient listing of a slice of cheesecake. And so let’s just call it that <em>white viscous layer that needs a knife to cut through</em>.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">The “mantle” is the best part<strong>, green tea-infused cheesecake</strong>, to be followed by blueberry cheesecake. The green tea cheesecake was remarkable, but rather sweet in the Hojicha fashion—a valid “sweet” reference, I believe. Little bits of blueberry floated on the other layer, which would be a welcome for those looking for fruit, jelly or just the color purple.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">Lastly, the <strong>graham crust</strong> remains a staple (<strong><em>green tea-graham</em></strong> would be asking for too much but would be something I would love to taste), but I did spy nuts in some bites. Nuts and graham may <strong><em>not</em></strong> be the best combination for me, but I waived this slight transgression since the green tea cheesecake is something I’ve been waiting for a long time. Finally!</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;">On the side, Starbucks also has that <strong>Purple Yam Cake</strong> (ube) with layers of <strong>Macapuno and Adzuki Beans</strong>. It’s 100% purple (check) but with ube (no way), macapuno (what is this, halo halo?) and adzuki (stains, stains, stains) that make up the cake (what it’s not cheesecake?) I’ll pass. </span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Kekkou desu!</em> (No thanks!)</span></p>Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7346964910136614311.post-20695604351117499632012-06-21T13:32:00.000-07:002012-11-10T06:17:19.285-08:00Jerry’d Away: Going Global with Jerry Barbaso<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><em>First time football viewers will probably remember him for his hip ponytail, while old-time fans may refer to him as Global FC’s prized defender. Well, enough with the labels and vague name-calling. Our latest footballer feature goes by the name of Jerry Barbaso, Global FC defender #63, and if you’ve got qualms about that, talk to the hair.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Run, Jerry, Run</strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">Born in the Orchid City (that’s Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte for those who slept through Sibika class), twenty-four-year-old Jerry Barbaso grew up shooting hoops, belting Step Up-worthy dance moves and speaking perfect Cebuano. It was only at 13 years old that he first met the acquaintance of the soccer ball and decided, “Football it is!” Yes, he is that kind of guy, cheerily decisive. Kicking became the new dribbling, and he started out as a right winger.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-hs-copy.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1944" height="162" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-hs-copy.png?w=1024" title="jerry hs copy" width="491" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Of course, that didn’t stop him from his other activities, like track and field, basketball, and dancing. If you watch him closely on the pitch, or ask him real nice, he might give a spin or two. Oh, did we mention that he did gymnastics too as a kid? Makes us wonder what kind of fish diet they serve in Dipolog.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Going back to business; football only appeared in Jerry’s sporting radar at age 13, when this was introduced to him by Coach Reginald Jukes, father of former Laos FC teammate Reginald Jukes Jr. This was the moment in Jerry’s life when he was asked what position he plays, and with the Coach’s accent, Jerry immediately blurted out “Defender!” And so Jerry began his official role on the defense. Weekends meant practicing with the team and foregoing that basketball he’s gotten to love.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/school-stugg-copy.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1952" height="185" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/school-stugg-copy.png" title="school stugg copy" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Earning a scholarship from his football skills, Jerry was able to take up Management Accounting at Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation. Juggling balance sheets and balls couldn’t be that bad, especially when his school’s team received victories, giving Jerry the necessary field exposure and experience.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/college-team-copy.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1937" height="182" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/college-team-copy.png?w=1024" title="college team copy" width="491" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Jerry cites that despite starting late in the game, all it takes is practice and more practice to get into the zone. And running. If babies were born crying—Jerry must’ve been the exception—as he might have been born treading.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Win or Laos</strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">For those who are not quite familiar with Jerry’s football history, he made his debut as an official football figure at Laos FC in 2009.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">However, landing a spot in the said team was a combination of an accident, sheer luck and good ol’ friends. Jerry was only staying at his Aunt’s place in Cavite after a university-related game (he was still a senior), found friends playing for Laos FC, joined some training sessions and finally found himself defending for the team in one game. After this whirlwind pitch-crashing turned success story, Jerry finally joined the team, officially, in June.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/laos.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1947" height="375" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/laos.jpg" title="laos" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Now back track a little; let’s not forget about school. Before you start conjuring ideas of Jerry, the Hippie Dropout, don’t let the hair deceive you. This is a success story, and to continue, Jerry Boy also graduated from college that year, and if luck wasn’t with him, brought him to the employ of APT as an accounting assistant in August 2009.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">A job and a football career both on track, what more can this young man hope for? Well, a lot more, it seems.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Proud to be Global</strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">Still in 2009 Laos FC wanted to join the UFL, and to cut the long story short, Global FC was born with Jerry as one of the pioneer players in Division 2. Playing as a defender and aiding the team with his strengths in speed and tackling, Jerry was instrumental in Global FC’s growth and newfound prominence. In the 2009–2010 UFL Season, Global FC was crowned the champions and he was hailed as the MVP for Division 2, while his counterpart for Division 1 was Ian Araneta.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/gfc-early-days-copy.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1940" height="162" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/gfc-early-days-copy.png?w=1024" title="GFC early days copy" width="491" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Proving itself competent, capable and Above All, Global FC was eventually promoted to Division 1, and the rest is history.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/alaska-jerry.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1965" height="334" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/alaska-jerry.jpg" title="alaska jerry" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Jerry carries the number 63 in his jersey—not for mathematical or residential reasons—but somehow, being an accountant has something to do with it. Everyone who works ought to know that the accountant is the most important human being during payroll time. Well back then, the go-to money guy was interestingly named Sixto, and next to him was Jerry. Anyone old enough to count should know what comes after Sixto, that’s 63! Get it?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If you didn’t get that, well too bad. Maybe Misagh can explain it to you better.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-v-ian.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1945" height="333" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-v-ian.jpg" title="jerry v ian" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">He may not look as tough as his favorite player Carles Puyol—except for the hair, I guess—but he can surely take care of his opponents skillfully and carefully before they can even get to the goal area. Preventing strikers or any player for that matter to find a chance to shoot or attempt to score is his default area of expertise. While he can outrun anyone back and forth as well, it is worth revealing that stamina, alertness, resiliency, and marking all play crucial roles in making him an excellent defender. He isn't a pushover!</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-v-phil-copy1.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1960" height="224" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-v-phil-copy1.png?w=1024" title="jerry v phil copy" width="491" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">It would not come as a surprise that “speed” is Jerry’s strength on the pitch. When he was in college, he decided to join the Milo Marathon (10k) and next thing he knew, he was awarded 2<sup>nd</sup> place. His early inclination for track and field turned him into a super runner—and capitalizing on this attribute was largely instrumental to his success.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">What he did with all that Milo though, he didn’t say.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Defending the Dog Pound</strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">If you think going Global was Jerry’s biggest football stint, well, here’s more—getting to join the Philippine National Team or the Azkals. This was the time of the emergence of the team, the recruitment of players and the reign of Coach Des.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In 2010 was Jerry’s first International game, the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan. It wasn’t the fact that he was playing in a different country or feasting on authentic dimsum that excited him and inspired him to move forward.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">“I was there on the pitch, singing the National Anthem and representing the country!” exclaims Jerry with Pinoy pride.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/team-azkals.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1954" height="326" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/team-azkals.jpg" title="Team Azkals" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">To wear the Philippine logo loud and proud, that should be every young Filipino’s dream, and Jerry Barbaso has done that. That’s one item off his bucket list.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/national-team-again.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1950" height="333" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/national-team-again.jpg" title="national team again" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Of course, after Taiwan came other opportunities. Becoming quite the Asian tourist, he’s been in the historical 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, in the second leg of their 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match against Mongolia, and in the 2011 SEA games. Jerry was also in Japan with the Azkals to conduct their high-altitude training to acclimatize to the Mongolian temperature when it was hit by the earthquake and tsunami, so we forgive him for not bringing home some green tea mochi. Daijyoubu! (It’s okay!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/u21-team-copy.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1955" height="160" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/u21-team-copy.png?w=1024" title="U21 team copy" width="486" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">For the Junior Azkals fans, Jerry must seem like a familiar face as well, having participated in the 2012 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei, where he was one of the 2 seniors allowed to accompany the U-21 players. Bonding with the juniors was easy, since Jerry isn’t that much older than them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/u21-stint-copy.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1956" height="107" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/u21-stint-copy.png?w=1024" title="u21 stint copy" width="486" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">While the team’s experience in Brunei wasn’t the most exciting time of their football lives, the learnings were tremendous. Even as a “senior,” Jerry found exposure in a foreign-based game and also found potential among the young ones.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/learning.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1949" height="332" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/learning.jpg" title="learning" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>One, Two, Jerry </strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">Jerry was raised mainly by his Mom, since his father passed away when he was 4 years old. Curiously enough, his father was named Jerry Sr., while he has another older brother who goes by Jerry Jr., leaving him as Jerry 1<sup>st</sup>. There are still 2 other older brothers unaccounted for, but we are under the impression that Jerry isn’t their main name or this would certainly create confusion for their mom and mailman. Jerry (the Global FC player) is also lucky that Jerry Jr. doesn’t play football, or any coach is sure to get a mouthful of bewilderment with the Barbaso Bros. As if the Angeles Twins weren’t confounding enough!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Jerry was greatly inspired by his late father, a former military man, that he nearly took up Criminology in college. A crime fighting defender? Surely this would give him the authority to reprimand bad refereeing! And a red card in return!</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cardless-jerry.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1939" height="333" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cardless-jerry.jpg" title="cardless jerry" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Speaking of cards, Jerry proudly claims that hasn’t been given a yellow card for this UFL season. While prompted by others to get one, as if the elitist Yellow Card Gang recruits only the card carriers, Jerry insists that he could do his job just fine even without the slightest violation of human rights. A good reader of the game knows that you can actually play football in a safe and responsible manner (sometimes). You can anticipate your opponent's next move and position yourself well. And that’s Jerry the Crime Fighting Defender for you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Jerry Up</strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">Having been with the Laos and Global FC team for nearly 3 years now, Jerry has certainly found a second home. He has been through the transition and establishment of Global FC—only he remains from the original Laos FC—that if anyone would have the wealth of knowledge to write this piece of history, he’d be the best player resource.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Among the Global FC players, best buds from the team include Yu Hoshide, David Basa and former player William Gueridonn. Jerry looks up to Captain Hoshide not only as a friend but also as an advisor and confidante. Maybe Yu sees an <em>oniichan</em> in Jerry which is why he is fondly called “Jerry Boy.” On second thought most of the guys in the team call him that, so there’s no way of tracing who started that very original sounding moniker. However if you insist that it was Coach Graeme, I don’t think so.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-friends.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1943" height="178" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerry-friends.png?w=1024" title="Jerry friends" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Chieffy and Ian are some of Jerry’s Azkals mates, since they all stem back from the days of Coach Des. None of these folks could’ve coined Jerry-Boy as well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Jerry Bravo</strong></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black;">Of course, a feature on Jerry Barbaso could not be put to a proper close without any mention of his hair (by the way, this is J.Anne, Miji’s brother, doing all the hair talk!). While describing it further may sound like a shampoo ad (long and curly, bouncy in a pony) Jerry considers this his prized feature but not to the point of calling it his Achilles Hair. He’s maintained such a ‘do since he joined the team, and only cut it short for his first job interview.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/bouncy.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1936" height="332" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/bouncy.jpg" title="bouncy" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If we happen to cut it accidentally, he will not burn or wilt but might even thank us for saving him on shampoo costs. Because that’s the kind of guy Jerry Barbaso is, easygoing, cheerful, lighthearted and certainly light-footed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cool-shades.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1938" height="332" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cool-shades.jpg" title="cool shades" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Despite the seeming trials and challenges he’s been through in life, all he did was give a smile and look ahead. There were no problems that couldn’t be solved, no obstacles he couldn’t skip past. In fact the word problem doesn’t seem to exist in Jerry’s vocabulary, except to say, “No problem.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Atta (Jerry) Boy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Ready for a meet and greet with Jerry Bravo? Impress him with your Cebuano or ask him about tax recon. If both might seem difficult, do as Jerry would and never say never. Here’s a guide to get you to know Jerry Boy, no hair tips though.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/tabe.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1953" height="318" src="http://lazyblackcat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/tabe.png" title="la mesa de jerry" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em>Follow Jerry Barbaso on Twitter: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7346964910136614311#!/1yrrej"><span style="color: black;">@1yrrej</span></a></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em>Follow J.Anne Gonzales on Twitter: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7346964910136614311#!/LazyBlack_Cat"><span style="color: black;">@LazyBlack_Cat</span></a></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em>Follow Miji Gonzales on Twitter: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7346964910136614311#!/mijigonzales"><span style="color: black;">@mijigonzales</span></a></em></span></div>
Lazy Black Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341157269895724809noreply@blogger.com0