Cutty

Once Sonja came up with the red velvet cupcake, it seemed to have sprung into every baker's repertoire.  Though Sonja's was very popular, I wasn't really impressed.  I kept on searching for the one that is really to die for.  I found one in Manay's kitchen.  She got the recipe from a famous person's favorite things. When I found Cukay's stall in Eastwood Mall's Weekend Gourmet, I just had to sample it.  This particular cake comes highly recommended by Lori Baltazar of DCF.  I can understand why.  It is very moist and flavorful.  I had to stop myself from finishing the whole 4x3 piece all by myself.  I finished it in two sittings instead.  It is very reminiscent of Manay's red velvet.  They may have same recipe. My only concern was I can feel the powdery texture of the sugar in the frosting. I was hoping for a thicker coating of the frosting.  Maybe I was expecting a more whipped texture I've tried elsewhere?  All in al...

... buying fresh meat and produce at the Farmers' Market. ... appreciation of what I prepared for dinner. ... receiving my O magazine subscription after 5 months of waiting (not to mention several correspondences with the publisher). ... finalizing a long-anticipated trip. ... obtaining a free night stay at a Hong Kong hotel, courtesy of my Accor hotel membership. ... a business opportunity waiting to push through.

... was how my friend describe this new pair of shoes I had on. It's so soft because even the insides of the shoe were made of the same leather. My mother said it was perfect for shopping. I told my husband that I'd like to get another one in another color. I know, abuso na. photo snagged from authentics100 of ebay.com I'd been meaning to get one for myself but since I am using a Philippine-issued credit card, I can't purchase it online. I requested my Tita to buy this for me during the Memorial Day Sale. Neiman Marcus offered free shipping for this. I told her that I'll pay for it when she gets here in Manila. I rarely ask people to buy me expensive stuff. Nakakahiya. I'd rather pay for it with my own (or my husband's) money. She arrived last weekend. She handed...

I've always found bags by Ferragamo and Dior too matronly. But, it seems that their designs are more feisty lately. Check these out by Ferragamo. This reminds me of Chanel. It is cheaper alternative because it is made of coated canvas, not leather. This one reminds me of my Gucci tote. I hope Dior releases a red version of this one. What do you like? *photos grabbed from Neiman Marcus

... we got our Macbook's LCD replaced. Vic found a site called iFixit that sells the LCD screen for a little over $150. That already includes shipping to a U.S. address. It was quite timely that Vic's dad had a scheduled trip to the U.S. So, he brought it home with him. A nearby Apple store said that they'd to the replacement for 1.5K. Go na! So, the Mac's been fixed since Monday. Not bad, eh? It sure beats the 20K the Apple store was charging.

The place is home to Breakfast at Antonio's from morning till 4PM. In the evening, it transforms into this dimly lit place, perfect for those who want to impress their dates. According to the chef, the menu changes from time to time. The greens are grown by the Chef's wife, Agnes, in her garden. On the way to the restaurant, you'd think that you'd gone out of the way because of the quiet, narrow streets. You'd never guess how vast the place is unless you've gone around to explore it. The restaurant can seat around two hundred people. It has the find-dining feel that even Manila's five star hotels can not live up to. After sampling the food and the service, I believe that they deserve being in Miele's top 20 restos in Asia. ------------------- I just want you to see how special Antonio's was. Photos are courtesy of Vic. The salad is much better with the Baked Brie and Cranberry in Puff Pastry. This the Bulalo on toast with caramelized onion. ...

One of the items in my wish list is to get a new pair of sunglasses. The one I currently use for driving is 4 years old. There are visible scratches on the lens and the plastic frame is bent abnormally. ------------------ I remember buying that pair in Rustan's . It was on sale. It was worth a little over P3000. I have never spent that much on a pair of sunglasses so I was a bit undecided. But, it was the only pair that looked good on me. It was extremely difficult to get a pair that would fit my face. After much thought, I bought it. The following weekend, I showed up in Tagaytay sporting my new sunnies. I didn't know that my SIL also bought herself a pair. We were wearing the same brand of sunnnies and the same brand (and style) of shirt. The only difference was the color and probably, the shirt size. ------------------ Anyway, I think it's about time I get a new pair. I've been searching for something I really like. It was on my to-buy list in HK ,...

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature History Science Art Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

After an uneventful Thursday, the succeeding days were jammed with places to visit and things to do. Mall-wide Sale at Megamall I was looking forward to this sale since I really wanted to jump start my Christmas Shopping. It may be not worth going if you are not going to buy a lot. Most items are marked at 10% below its original price. Very few are at 20%, 30% or even 50% off the original price. It took me two hours to finish the home section because of the crowd. The other floors were less crowded. I haven't even gone to the mall part. Raves: I was very thankful for the valet service. I didn't have to tire myself out and lose my patience over a parking space. The mall employed extra attendants to help people like me carry big items to the package counter or to the car. There were stools for people waiting in line at the cashier. It makes the wait more tolerable. Best purchase of the day was the Igloo ice chest at 50% off. It came with a smaller ice chest and a small wate...