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The Farm @ San Benito, Temptation Island and Baby 4

Aidan's Ka Puso :)

It was the first time we got interviewed together as a couple in GMA 7 last Saturday. We got interviewed for the article I wrote last year,
The Farm @ San Benito --- Did it really create an impact on the way I live? Apparently, The Farm will be featured in Mel & Joey on April 1, Sunday and they wanted to get testimonials and stories about couples who experienced the Farm. In April or May 2004, Rache and I went there to experience the 5-day detoxification package which opened our eyes on the impact of eating dead food specially animal meat to your body. We were convinced that living a vegetarian life is the way to go and this carnivorous lifestyle will catch up on us in our senior years.

Also, one of our motivation for spending so much for this 5-days detox package is to conceive a baby. Yes, the Farm has a reputation of helping couples conceive a baby by detoxifying the body from toxins and creating a stress free environment. We actually read in a Woman's Today australian magazine that an australian actor (Ian) and actress (Rachelle) came to The Farm for their baby honeymoon. So, somehow we are thankful to the Farm because after 9 months, Aidan was born on January 19, 2005.

Aidan fooling around with the microphone. We are not sure if he will be a performer or a politician someday.

Bale Dutung Postcards

READ: Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung - The Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga

Awesome "Kayuran" Collection. This is used to grate coconut meat.

Technorati Tags: Claude Tayag, Pampanga

Saveur's Asia's Soul Food

(Click here for the Bigger Version - Saveur - Feb 2007: Asia's Soul Food )

Read First:
MarketMan's Scoop on Saveur & Cradle of Flavor

This is the first time I've subscribed to an international food magazine because they are starting to realize that Asian food is one of the best in the world. You gotta read Saveur's 100 list to realize what an honor it is for the Filipino Food to be #28 and it is entitled Asia's Soul Food. I've been to the US, London, and recently to Dubai and Egypt, still, nothing compares to the Asian food! Thanks Saveur for this great recognition and hopefully Filipino food is starting to get the international attention it deserves!

Here is an awesome tip for you: I subscribe most of my magazines digitally via Zinio.com and you can still get this Saveur Feb Issue for $5 and a 12 month Saveur subscription for $19.95. Zinio now has an extensive collection of digital magazines that you can read offline in your PC (but keep the site away from your kids). If you just want to try zinio out I'll give you a secret tip-- here are FREE subscriptions to some of my favorite ones and there is no catch :)

Business Week
PC Magazine
Computer Gaming World
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Computer Shopper
Science Digital Edition

You can also get FREE business magazines if you are comfortable in giving information about yourself. I got CIO Insight and Baseline magazines via this --> FREE business magazines.

Enjoy!!

World's 10 Largest Shopping Malls

Officially, we can now claim that 3 out of the 10 largest shopping malls in the world are located in the Island Paradise of the Philippines!! Woohoo! This is according to Forbes.com article World's Largest Malls based on leasable retail space. Remember this statistic-- our malls in the Philippines is bigger than any mall in the United States. No wonder, Filipino's national pastime is Malling. Maybe, this is one of the evidences that Philippines is now a Second World country according to President Arroyo.

Forbes.com World's 10 Largest Shopping Malls

1. South China Mall, Dongguan, China (2005, 7.1 million square feet)

2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall, Beijing, China (2004, 6 million square feet)

3. SM Mall of Asia!

Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung

READ: Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung - The Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga

Technorati Tags: Pampanga, Claude Tayag

Power Max Breakfast !

Triple Chocolate Champorado (P59) - A tasty chocolate flavored champorado.

By this time, you should see a lot of blog posts on Max Power Breakfast. It is great that Max which is the same owner as Krispy Kreme is now leveraging bloggers and the internet as part of their below the line activities. They gave out free breakfast coupons valid last Monday morning. I requested for 10 and it was granted (Thanks Max!) I decided to invite my team to have a Max's Power Breakfast.

The only unique meal in Max breakfast line up is the Triple Chocolate Champorado and the Gourmet Tuyo (take note, it is a gourmet tuyo and not an ordinary one). The tapsilog and bangsilog meal tasted ordinary and it was not able to justify its P150 expensive price tag. What I like about the breakfast meal is the cheesy love songs and bossa nova songs to perk up your day in the Max Glorietta branch. The acoustics of the Max restaurant is not conducive for a breakfast meeting when everybody is talking.

Still the most memorable power breakfast meal for me was the P250 Angus Beef Tafa at Country Waffles. We missed it now and not even Heaven and Eggs was able to address our craving. I would only go to Max if I was craving for a P75 meal of Triple Chocolate Champorado and Gourmet Tuyo -- what a combination!

Add P15 for two pieces of gourmet tuyo.

Ugu Bigyan's

Ugu Bigyan's Kulawo (Banana Heart)! -- The Best seller in the house! This is just with charcoal to bring out the smokey flavor and cooked in vinegar and spices. I swear, it taste like tuna meat!! ( email me for the recipe )

Read First:
Quezon Culinary Series 10: Ugu Bigyan's Secret Pottery Garden
[Viaje del Sol Series.7] Ugu Bigyan's Pottery Garden Postcards
[Viaje del Sol Series.6] Sumptuous Lunch @ Ugu Bigyan!
Viaje del Sol Review

After blogging this last Sept 2005, Ugu Bigyan continues to be one of the secret places in the Philippines. You cannot find this in the lonely planet and in fact, even the people who lives within the area was surprised that such beautiful garden place exist. I've been raving about it for years now, and if you have not eaten here, you should plan a viaje del sol trip this coming summer.

Here are some tips on making your Ugu Bigyan trip a memorable experience:

1. You need to reserve one day in advance for lunch (minimum of 5) or merienda. They are strict that you pay for the exact amount of headcount that you reserved since they buy the ingredients in the market based on the reservation.
2. The Best time to buy pottery items in Ugu are during the sale season. There are three sale sessions: first, is the pahiyas sale on May 15 (this would be too crowded); second, on his even birthdays August 14 discounted depending on his age (42% this year); and lastly during the first Sunday of October.
3. Lunch is now @ P400/ head. It is usually a fix set depends on what they can buy in the market. You can influence this a bit and try to change some of the items based on your preference.
4. Merienda is also a nice time to go here and get a taste of their Sago and Gulaman!!
5. You can learn pottery here and decide to stay for a night. I suggest you inquire when the classes are and schedule your visit during that time.

They make it look easy to create a perfect jar!

Check out the rest of the Ugu Bigyan meal...

Kubli Springs Night @ Viaje del Sol

Read this First:
[Viaje del Sol Series.3] "Starbucks" stop @ Jay's Kinabuhayan Cafe
[Viaje del Sol Series.4] Postcards from Kinabuhayan Cafe
[Viaje del Sol Series.5] The Charm of Kubli Springs

I'm still on a Kubli Springs High and I can't believe that I was able to pull this off with my office mates. It was also fortunate that I was in San Pablo, Laguna for work that I have to spend the night in that area. Finally, I had the chance to execute one of my wildest setup of having dinner at Kubli Springs in Dolores, Quezon -- Thanks to Jay and Ralph of Kinabuhayan Cafe! I've been to all the places in the Viaje del Sol area, this is one of the must try experiences that any foodie should go to.

Imagine eating inside a wild forest amidst huge rocks and bonfires, getting wet from the clear water flowing through your feet, and drinking from the cold natural spring water. The table is set on top of natural rocks with flowing water underneath it. The best part of the dinner is the excellent food prepared by Jay. I was caught off guard at how great the food taste that all my friends are raving about it long after the dinner. This is literally dining under the stars and it was a truly priceless dining experience.

I told my friends that day, that I have a surprise adventure dinner for them. I kept it as a surprise because I want to blow their minds off on one of the unique experiences in the Philippines. I just told them that they need to bring slippers because they might get wet. Most of us came from office and that is why we still have our jeans on :) Actually, the best way to enjoy this place is to wear swim shorts and you eat while submerged in cool clear water. Going to this place is scary since it is located near the foot of Mt. Banahaw and in the heart of Dolores, Quezon.

Kubli Springs Dinner is just AWESOME! Perfect setting and ambiance with great gourmet food for P500/ head only ! I'm going back to bring my wife and Aidan to enjoy this place :)

(L-R) Ginger, Reena, Vince, Murf/Edlyn, Wendy and our boss, Sonny

Check out the rest of the Kubli Springs Night story ...