[Viaje del Sol] Welcome to Tahanan ni Aling Meding

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Topics: Viaje del Sol

I was curious to check out this mansion cum hotel and restaurant which was described by the viaje del sol brochure as: ” Tahanan ni Aling Meding is a tribute to the Borja sibling’s parents, especially their mother, Meding, who kept hearth and warm, soothing and comfortable.” … I love eating in their main dining area where you are served with good food with a hospitable service Filipinos are known for, while the Sampaloc Lake winds kissed your face through out your dining experience.
…This area is just directly in front of Aling Meding’s where you can have a picnic under the shade of trees while reflecting on how life has been very good to you.

[Los Angeles vs. Manila #3] Porto’s Cheese Roll

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Travel, Food

I still can remember a couple of years ago when eating a carbo-loaded krispy kreme donut is a cool thing when you visit the US. … Porto’s Bakery is a cuban family-owned and operated business that has served Glendale and its surrounding areas for over 35 years and they recently opened a beautiful new store in Burbank. One could argue that Becky’s or Conti’s taste a lot better, but the I’ve never tasted a cheeseroll as delicious as porto’s.

[Los Angeles vs. Manila #2] Hollywood’s famous Pink’s Hot Dog

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Travel, Food

This is one of the famous must-eat destination in LA, and I was extremely curious why a chili dog can be this famous for 66 years! … In the Philippines, we don’t really have something equivalent to this and Ogie Doggie would be the closest but far from the heritage that Pink’s hotdog built over the years.
…There is normally a long line in front of this hotdog place and you really have to drive to this place because it is out-of-the-way.

[Los Angeles vs. Manila #1] Inn of the Seventh Ray! Creekside Dining

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Travel, Food

The Inn of the Seventh Ray is L.A.’s most romantic restaurant and in fact, when we were eating on a Saturday Lunch, there was an engagement proposal with the beautiful setting — 12 red roses bouquet, a carpet of petals and dining beside Mother’s flow ( in other words, creekside :). … ) Let me pause for a bit here before we go to the rest of the review, it just occurred to me how lucky the Philippines is with the kind of world-class nature inspired restaurants that we have and I can already count seven easily…
…If you haven’t figure out by now, the seventh ray is violet and the philosophy is embodied in this description: “We, at the Inn, believe in giving you the purest of Nature’s foods, energized as a gift from the sun with a dash of esoteric food knowledge and ancient mystery school wisdom tossed in for your seasoning and pleasure.

Romi Garduce’s Mt. Everest Quest — a symbolic conquest for the Filipino people.

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Topics: Awesome Filipinos

The fact of the matter is, Romi has a full time work in our company but he did not give up the dream and the vision of putting a Philippine Flag in all the seven summits of the world! … You’ll be amaze at how he used technology and the internet to connect with other world class mountain climbers and form a team going up to the summit. … I remember that in our college days, people are saying that our youth is the hope of the Philippines, but guess what that same youth is in his 30s right now and this is the generation that is breaking into greater heights for the Filipinos.

a Prayer for Romi Garduce’s First Pinoy Mt Everest Quest…

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Topics: Awesome Filipinos

This is a very dangerous climb that could mean life or death situation and I’m really worried at the same time proud that the dream is within reach in a month’s time. I know that you want to die on a mountain but this is not the one, you still have a few summits to go and conquer the rest of the 7 summits and make us Filipinos proud. We pray that you go home safely whether you are successful or not and we don’t want to lose the very unique Romi character that we have grown to love and appreciate.

Sunset Over LA :)

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Travel

I’ll surely miss updating this blog regularly and I’ll surely miss exploring the culinary delights of Manila. … This blog is very fulfilling for me in making connections with other people and in the process, I learn more secrets 🙂 I leave you with this beautiful sunset picture of LA taken during the landing of our PAL flight. My brother was teasing me about some insider secrets of Los Angeles and I might have some posts on our LA adventures.

[Dear Awesome Planet #3 ] My Favorite Blogs about the PhilippinesI

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Topics: Blogging

I am an expat living in Manila and would like to explore what more this city has to offer, outside of big malls and Greenbelts. … I love these blogs because of the personality of the people behind these blogs and they would truly give you an honest-to-goodness perspective about what Manila has to offer: desserts comes first blog by Lori ( http://dessertcomesfirst.blogspot.com/ ) rants and raves by wysgal ( http://wysgal.blogspot.com/ ) writings on the wall by aj ( http://www.annalyn.net/ ) marketmanila by marketman ( http://www.marketmanila.com/ ) celdran tours by carlos ( http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/ ) ironwulf by ferdz ( http://ironwulf.net/ ) old manila walks by ivan ( http://oldmanilawalks.blogspot.com/ ) my sari sari story by sydney ( http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/my_sarisari_store/ ) pinoy travel blog group led by abe ( http://www.pinoytravelblog.com/ ) awesome Pilipinas! by anton ( my compilation: https://awesome.blog/awesome/awesome_pilipinas/index.html ) Let me know if these helps!

The quest is ON for the First Filipino in Mt. Everest!

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Topics: Awesome Filipinos

Romi is an officemate and a good friend for some years now, and I’m glad that our company supported him in this quest. … He would be attempting to climb the summit and be back in Manila by May 15 (at the earliest) or May 29 (at the latest). … Everest in May 2007 and for sure will set other records including becoming the first all Filipino expedition team and the first Asian woman on top of Mt.

Chef Ed’s Spanish Cuisine + Chef Canoy’s Mediterranean Cuisine = Fig & Olives

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Topics: #Restaurants

I was surprised one day, when I say our favorite business lunch place Chef Ed’s was converted into Fig & Olives Mediterranean and Spanish Restaurant. … I’m a great fan of mediterranean food because of its unique taste, the availability of couscous in the menu and it has healthier food options than Filipino cuisine.
…It’s too bad that I was not able to talk to Chef Canoy personally, hopefully when I try it again for a power lunch.