The Ice Cream Showdown

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.

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.

Still, the heat signifies no end, which make hot chocolate and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, not my thing at the moment.

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—Fruity Comfort, Blissful Chunks and Great Balls of Crunch—and yes, give them code names while we’re at it.

Fruity Comfort: Raspberry Rapture by Fruits in Ice Cream

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. 

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!

Blissful Chunks: Kahlua Brownie by BTIC

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, better than ice cream.

Great Balls of Crunch: Whoppers by Hershey’s/Selecta

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. 

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.)

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.

If you think I’ve gone all loony, well then, whatever!

Moving In: The Lazy Black Cat

A recent resident of Wordpress, Lazy Black Cat has decided to move in to the orange neighborhood otherwise known as Blogger!

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.

Still, I shall continue blogging about food, with a dash of health items (I try) and Philippine Football features on the side - once I get the hang of the Blogger menus and jargon.

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. 

You can also comment - I would appreciate the welcoming note of disdain, praise, just not a spam!

I guess I'm done. Well not really, it's just that it's lunch time and I hate missing my meals.

So here are some useful tidbits to incriminate me, in case you're curious or just plain stuck at this page:

Mr. Bright-Side: The Amazing Ace Bright

Finally got to use a song title (by The Killers) in an article, and aptly used, if I may say so. The Mr. Bright-Side we refer to is Ace Bright, otherwise known as the Azkals Coordinator, for those who are clueless with the state of Philippine football.

Ace also goes by many other names, addressed in the article Mr. Bright-Side: The Amazing Ace Bright which should be an interesting read with all those photos and stories that are so amazing, we'd think they happen only in the movies. But heck no, this is the Amazing Ace's real life.

Swamping us with stories that made me forget dinner (unbelievable, huh), Ace is certainly great as he is evil (in his own words). Makes me kinda glad that one of those Azkals Sports Bar sandwiches was named after him, since he definitely deserves such tribute in fine menu print.

Now that made me hungry.

Read and rave about Ace in Mr. Bright-Side: The Amazing Ace Bright. First posted in the Azkals website, of course.

J. Anne

Hungry for Football: The Azkals Sports Bar

 

Kick some balls, score a goal and get a taste of Misagh-lpicao with a Dan-dy Shandy! Now that’s something you can expect to say after a visit to the Azkals Sports Bar at The Fort Strip.

How about pairing a Chieffy Southwest Jalapeno Burger with an Alexander the Shake and Carlie-Mari on the side, while staring at a greater than life-sized Chieffy Caligdong striking a pose on the wall?

A haven for the hungry and home of the Azkals and football fans, aficionados or just families brooding in the area, the Azkals Sports Bar combines the vibrant bar atmosphere with fantastic food—topped with that football vibe that has been sweeping the country stronger than any Premier League move. No doubt the Philippine National Football Team has captured a goal in every Filipino’s heart, and the sports bar just provides a common venue for futboleros and families to dine, chill, shoot goals, and of course, watch the games on screen.

“It’s a place for families to bond. Dad can have a beer, while the kids can have an Azkals Sundae,” explains Mel Macasaquit, owner and CEO of the Azkals Sports Bar. Otherwise known as Melmac, proprietor of the famous Toyz Bar chain, we can certainly expect innovative and grand ideas to start pouring in this place faster than a referee can raise a red card.

The menu on its own is a smorgasbord of familiar names and appetizing dish monikers, from the Rafa-jita Roll-ups, Dan’s Mushroom Burger to the Phil-ly Cheese Steak Sandwich and that perfect sounding Cobb Gier Salad. With the latter named aptly, ordering salad has never been this exciting, Rob Gier-inspired! Having suggested Bana-Nate Split may be met with raised brows, but won’t fans have a kick out of this fabulous sounding dessert? I surely would.

Even the Azkaleros have found a big time portion in the menu: the Ultimate Azkalero Club Sandwich. Join the club, why not? It is, after all, a fantastic serving, guaranteed to help you perfect that bicycle kick.

Having recently raided a soccer field (or someone’s secret garden), the sports bar is adorned with nets, a ton of soccer balls that would make any striker cry with envy and bean bags (with soccer ball designs) that will make you wish you could move in the place. Don’t think that the goalkeepers have all the fun. Shoot goals on the net, while having a drinking spree with your buds, blokes or new acquaintances. This is the spirit of the Azkals Sports Bar—as we root for the same team, thus we have the right to kick some balls.

If you find the net in your nearest field missing, you know where it is. I must say though, it’s being put to good use, so please don’t take it back.

Instead, have some Classic Wingers and a Miji's (the drink, not my hermano) at the bar. Welcome home, mate!

 I certainly am.

- Jenina Gonzales

*The Azkals Sports Bar was officially launched last February 29, to celebrate Leap Year and coincide with the Azkals vs Malaysia game where we ended in a draw. Already in operation, the sports bar is in its soft opening phase and reservations are very much welcome, no corner kick required. You can check out their Twitter (@azkalsportsbar) and Facebook (Azkals Sports Bar) pages for more details. Time to start practicing your headers, blokes.

 

Honor Roll: Gaby Borja is on a Roll

If Gaby was rolling, then my brother Miji and I were probably rocking.

Gabriel Borja, defensive mid-fielder for the Under-21 Azkals Philippine National Football Team and currently playing in Brunei for the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy game, belongs to the new breed of Philippine players that we had the privilege of interviewing. It was exam week, after all, not to mention his nightly training sessions—and then he also had the Intel Science Fair to prepare for, and now he’s in Brunei. Busy kid.

Clueless about Gaby prior to our interview, I half expected a geek in glasses who never spoke words with less than 3 syllables. So naïve—I confess this disgraceful notion—but don’t blame me, it’s the school: Philippine Science High School. THE Philippine Science High School. I know, right?

There’s so much to learn about Gaby, I could probably write a term paper about him. But this should do for now. It’s long enough anyway: Honor Roll: Gaby Borja is on a Roll. First seen in the Azkals Official Website, properly maintained by my industrious interpreter and brother—among other folks behind the screen.

Who’s next? ¡a ver si adivinas! (Have a guess!)

Adios!

J. Anne

[caption id="attachment_1504" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Gaby Borja is on a Roll!"][/caption]

Double Take: Marvin and Marwin Angeles

While getting an interview with Manchester United's da Silva twins is close to having Wayne Rooney bring us fish and chips for dinner, at least we had the bravissimo chance of interviewing Philippine football's very own set of twins: Marvin and Marwin Angeles.

As a linguistic bonus, the twins speak Tagalog, English and Italian, so there was no need to get all "Buon giorno" and "Capisce?" with them. Grazie mille! As in!

While many may contest their nationality, the boys are Fil-Italian (because they were born in Italy), and upon closer look at their birth certificates (okay, just kidding, someone corrected us) Marwin is older than Marvin.  

Read more about them at Double Take: Marvin and Marwin Angeles. First seen at the Azkals website, powered by my ever resourceful brother who loves Chicken Joy.

Who's next? You tell us.

Ciao!

J. Anne / Jenina Gonzales

Carlie's Way: Break Time with Carlie de Murga

Proud of my high school Spanish, I brushed up on what I thought was muy excelente conversational Espanol in preparation for the interview with Fil-Spanish Azkals and Global FC player Carlie de Murga.

Unfortunately, my linguistic proficiency was reduced to turista level as rapid Spanish paragraphs from Angel Guirado caught me off-guard and Carlie greeted not with an “Hola!” but the strangely familiar “Kamusta ka?” With that, the Spanish came flying out of the window, as I settled with the universal language of consolation, English.

Funny and mind boggling at times, the Carlie interview was peppered with “invented” words and Espanol names I could never spell. I don’t recall any serious moments or glum expressions, since Carlie was beaming, a perfect “Magandang umaga!” fresh from siesta.

Find out more about Carlie, another sibling collaboration at Carlie’s Way: Break Time with Carlie Martínez de Murga. First seen at the Azkals official website, and here to stay.

Adios!

J. Anne

Lazy Black Cat: Year One

Lazy Black Cat

Nine lives aside, the Lazy Black Cat is about to reach her first year in blogging existence.  Always hungry I’ve always been, but idle moments have been spent dawdling on a hodge-podge of things that have entered my radar of interest: football, music and grammar. If there is perhaps an ambition I could cite, it would be to dilly-dally and to eat while I’m at it.

To celebrate Year One, don’t expect me to eat more, as I’ve been eating more than my share, and we cannot afford to contribute further to this country’s poor denizens. Instead, I’ve decided to unleash something uncharacteristic and less catty of me—the real me, like the person.

A paw and a name, why not?

After all, it has been decided that the Lazy Black Cat may always be hungry, but will have to well, dilly-dally. As much as it pains me, here goes.

Welcome to the Lazy Black Cat. On this planet, I am also known as J. Anne Gonzales: hungry, catty and stubborn girl, kitchen fire hazard, frugal diner, corporate beagle, pesky insomniac, part vegetarian, and future vegan.

Manila is my hometown, but I do have delusional hopes of living in Tokyo, dining in Greece and retiring in California. My ipod is my constant companion, which provides alternative-indie-rock sustenance. Whoever loves “pop” is banned from my mental list of acquaintances and reduced to a faceless forehead.

I repel red meat from my diet and hope to join PETA once I can finally get over this egg addiction, but while I am still attached to chicken nuggets and ice cream, being part vegetarian brings me closer to this vegan goal. I am willing to denounce my sanity in pursuit of blissful desserts and sweet creations. Those that serve shoddy meals ought to be thrown down the drain, and I will not be afraid to say so.

Football is a fascination that Mizu Luffy brought into existence and somehow piqued my sporting curiosity. To make this claim legit, I name Wayne Rooney of Manchester United as my player of preference and would not hear of any insults or disputes to this blunt choice. While I do not play football yet, it is another goal of mine to perfect the bicycle kick—no goal necessary.

I suppose this is enough to celebrate Year One. It may not be as grand as alleviating poverty or curing cancer, but it’s the thought that counts, and I have a lot of that.

So instead of meow, ciao!

J. Anne / Jenina Gonzales

P.S.

If there comes the need to contact me, ask further questions, inquire about things that Google cannot seem to find an answer for or perhaps treat me to an awesome meal (how can I say no to that?) then you may reach me at jenina_g@yahoo.com.

There's also my  Twitter account, if you find the e-mail a tad too corporate: @LazyBlack_Cat

 

Who let the cat out of the bag?

I did. Well, to be more specific: We will.

“Stop being so cryptic,” you might think, so let me go straight to the point. The Lazy Black Cat’s going to strip these snack-time favorites we call “junk foods” bare and spill the beans on their horrendous nutritional labels and chemical-infested chips and pieces.

We need to bring back justice in the junk food universe (which has been harshly contaminated by bad fats and excessive sugar and salt), or else everyone will be flabby and bald by the end of the decade. Calendar check—that’s right—2011 just started. On the off-chance this decade has been christened with an –ing nickname, it sure isn’t synonymous to nutrition.

Anyway, with the nutritional assessment and catty remarks of this self-proclaimed food savant, let’s all hope that we can survive the Terrible 10’s (plausible, right?) and welcome the Roaring 20’s with both legs and kidneys functional. If we do, then consider this blog as having succeeded in its gastronomic mission.

Stay tuned, as this blog will be brewing in no time.

P.S.

I counted 4 clichés—my bad. I confess to being a cliché-holic out of verbal enjoyment. However I will steer clear from these literary embarrassments as much as possible, not to mention suppress the temptation of dishing out cat-related idioms and expressions. In case I do fall for the truism trap, feel free to point them out, so that I can acknowledge your benevolence.