Valentine’s Day at Chef Laudico’s Bistro Saturday, Feb 23 2008

Almost all occassions and celebrations such as Father’s and Mother’s Day, birthdays,  New Year and Christmas, my family would always troop down to either Circles Cafe in Makati Shangrila or in Spirals in Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza and be guilty of one of the seven deadly sins, “gluttony”.  This may sound a cliche but I want this Valentine’s day to be different (and also, I can’t go to a buffet restaurant because I have to watch my weight for my March 1 muay thai fight).  Knowing my family, any celebration is incomplete without good food.   I have a scheduled conference call with my boss that evening of February 14 but I mustered enough courage to ask my boss to cancel it.  Perhaps its a good thing that she’s Italian and so the romantic person in her prevailed and agreed to have it rescheduled.  So nothings stands in the way of a wonderful dinner at Chef Laudico.

The dinner isn’t really spectacular, in fact Beck and I are somehow disappointed.  It took a long time for us to be seated despite the reservation that I made.  When we were seated, it took a longer time for us to be given a menu.  When we were given a menu, only one copy was given.    Maybe because its Valentine’s day and its understandably a peak day,  which resulted to these lapses.   But I really have to give credit the very accomodating maitre d’.   But I just overlooked these things as this evening must be enjoyed with my loved ones.      

It’s a good thing that Chef Roland Laudico went out of the kitchen and greeted some of the guests.    And we even have a chance for a photo op with him.   When I told him that RP wanted to become a chef, he said that the best advice he can give is, “Don’t be afraid to experiment with the flavors.”

And being true to his words, his dishes gave a  fabulous twist to common Filipino cuisine.

Bistro Filipino is located at the ground floor of Net 2 Building, 3rd Avenue, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

RP with Chef Laudico

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The Bucket List Thursday, Feb 14 2008

 

Finally, a movie this year that is worth pondering and writing about.    After watching kid-flicks (when you’re a doting father, you have no choice but to watch movies with your kid) and big-disappointment movies such as I Am Legend and National Treasure,  a touching movie finally comes along.

Two great actors, Morgan Freeman (Carter Chambers) and Jack Nicholson (Edward Cole), joined forces in a movie about two terminally ill-cancer patients in a somewhat ironic twist of fate, shared one hospital room.  One is a billionare who owns the hospital they are both checked-in, the other is a humble mechanic.    One is a loving father who gave up his dreams of becoming a history professor because in his youth, he was “broke, black and with a baby on the way” and instead worked in an auto shop to support his family.  The other is a 4-time divorcee with an estranged daughter whose source of enjoyment is to torment his personal assistant. 

When both of them were given less than a year to live, they faced the reality of how little time remains for them to do what they ever wanted to do.  So they come up with a list of things they want to do before they “hit the bucket”.   They hit the road and criss-crossed the globe for the adventure of a lifetime and one by one, cross out the items written in the list.   In the process, they realized things about themselves and come to terms with the conflicts in their lives. 

The movie is not Academy Awards Best Picture material, but it can move you to laughter, to tears and to change some views in your life.     Perhaps the most powerful line in the movie is when Edward is reading the letter Carter gave him and the last line reads “Find the joy in your life”.

The movie clung in my heartstring for two reasons:  First, the hospital scenes reminded me of the ordeal my mother has to endure while undergoing chemotherapy for her leukemia.    Second, in two occasions, I’ve made my own bucket list, though my list has a less poetic title, I simply called it ”101 Things To Do Before I Die” . 

I first made this list way back in 1995 out of frustration and the feeling that I may just be a mere statistic in this world, though I lost this list two years later, literally because of the recklessness of my youth.   (Though in this two short years,  I was able to accomplish some seemingly impossible tasks such as represent the Philippines in an international competition,  receive an award from the President of the Philippines and profess my love to a lady in front of an audience of no less than 1,000 people).  I made another list in 2002 but I didn’t took it seriously and lost the list again.    I resolved to make another list this year and set out to do all of it before I kick the bucket.     Death need not be looming in the horizon before I set out and get my life in gear. 

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Legion Etranger Monday, Feb 11 2008

Perhaps I don’t have the makings of a good photographer.   Photographers are known to bring their cameras with them anywhere they go, so that when a moment that needs to be captured presents itself, they have their gadgets ready.

Last Saturday February 9, my high school chums and I met Jaz’s fiance for the first time and the meeting place was at CPK at Shangri-La.        No gathering of old classmates will be complete without taking pictures.   And I hate myself for forgetting to bring my DSLR along.  So I have to content myself with just using the camera of my “reliable” Dopod, hence the poor picture quality.   

Jaz’s fiance, Booker, is a member of the elite French Foreign Legion (Legion Etranger).  The legionnaires is currently composed of nine regiments and one sub-unit totaling around 8,000men.  Booker is one of only 4 Filipinos who are currently on active duty with the legion.     He is currently assigned in Djibouti in Africa. 

Had I met Booker 5 years ago, I would have spoken with him in French.  Now, all I can say is “Mon Francaise est alle de mauvais a plus mauvais a inexistant” (My French went from bad to worse to non-existent.   Any Francopones out there reading my blog, please feel free to lambast me over my broken French).  This aside of course from the usual, ”Ca va”, “Au Revoir” and “Bon Chance”.

Booker says that the maximum age of acceptance into the legion is 40 and after 3 years of service, a legionnaire can apply for French citizenship.    And a soldier who was injured in a battle for France can also apply for French citizenship under the provision called “Francais par le sangre verse” (French by spilled blood).   Hmmm, that made me think.    As a kid, I’ve watched movies about the French Foreign Legion and was fascinated by the enigmatic regiment, moreover, I’ve loved France and its culture and history since I was in Grade 2…  Naaah, I’m too old for that already, though I’m very physically fit.  And I still have that conviction that there’s nothing so bad about being a Filipino that will make me relinquish my citizenship and that nothing is so good about being French (or an American or any nationality for that matter) that will make me renounce my roots.    

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Disney Holiday on Ice Manila Friday, Feb 8 2008

Loooong overdue.  This is how to describe my article about this year’s Disney’s Holiday on Ice in Manila.  This year’s show, entitled “Mickey and Minnie’s Amazing Journey” had a series of show at the Big Dome starting January 18 until January 27.   Because I’m preparing for a muay thai fight, my family and I were only able to watch it on the last day.  And because I’m recovering from the fight…and recovering from a much bigger fight at the office (I have three opponents, work, work and work) posting in my blog have to take the backseat for a while. 

Beck, RP and I watched the show on January 27, the day after my muay thai match.  So you can imagine that my every strand of muscle in my body would ache at the slightest twitch.   But, I made a promise to my kid…and I have three non-refundable Patron tickets so off to Araneta Coliseum we go for the show.   

It’s a great show, though it would pale in comparison to the Disney Princess On Ice shown in 2004.    The most amazing and artistic segments for me are the 101 Dalamatians and The Little Mermaid.   

When it was announced that there will be a High School Musical on Ice show in Manila this July, RP was ecstatic and said that I am right.  Man, all this time my daughter didn’t believe me that there’s already an ice skating rink version of her favorite Disney movie.   I know because this show was already on tour when I was in Florida last year.   And I thought she believe everything I say, should I start to worry?

Arielle and Prince Eric

Peter Pan

Donald, Daisy and Goofy

All Cast

The latest Disney characters, Beck and RP

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Valentine’s Day Preparation Wednesday, Feb 6 2008

It’s still 8 days from the day when people suddenly turn into romantic zombies and already, most uppity restaurants are fully booked.  I want to prevent the mistake I had last year when I tried to make a reservation for a Valentine’s day dinner, 3 days before the date.    I called up almost every restaurant and hotel based restaurants I know and they are all fully booked.   Luckily, Chef Chris Romine, the Executive Chef of Shangrila-Hotel Manila is a good friend and he was able to reserve a table for me and my family at Circles Cafe under his name.  

So to avoid asking for another favor (and Chef Chris wouldn’t be able to help me this time as he was reassigned to Shangrila in Singapore) I decided to make an early reservation.    And it really pays to be early and so I was able to book for three persons (my wife, daughter and I) at Chef Laudico’s Bistro Filipino at The Fort.    Chef Laudico is one of the well-known chefs in the country and I’ve been reading a lot of favorable reviews about his cuisine, needless to say,  I’ve always wanted to sample it.  I was surprised that his Bistro Filipino is in existence since September 2006, how did it pass my radar is beyond me, specially that I frequent that area.   I wouldn’t have known about this restaurant if not for the banners they posted near Bonifacio High Street.    

Being a chef is one of my daughter’s dream, and I’ve been introducing her to almost every chefs (sous chefs and chef de partie included) that I know.   I hope to meet Chef Laudico on the 14th  and introduce him to my daughter.   Its my way of inspiring my daughter to work for her dream. 

I’ll be making a review about this restaurant after the St. Valentine’s day. 

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