Xintiandi, Shanghai

If you find yourself in Shanghai's Xintiandi, try the Fountain Bistro and Wine Bar. It is near the fountain (surprise!) and it serves beer, cocktails and wines. Food is great, too! Their Clam Chowder Soup is filling enough. For big eaters, add in an order of Fish and Chips or the Roasted Chicken.

It has a good selection of Tapas.

A mojito costs RMB60, affordable in the standards of Shanghai.

Fountain Bistro & Wine Bar
Lane 181, Taicang Road, North Block
Shanghai Xintiandi
Open until 2 am

How To Get Through A Really Long Day

(The original images of the following steps are not mine. I just found them in an old email and edited them. Enjoy!)









Cheers! (This could work with bottled cocktails as well, I think)

Remembering Summer

So, I was commissioned to contribute for this article on www.spot.ph. It was a tough task but someone had to do it :) Read the entire article here.

Grand Wine Experience: Super Late Post

It's sad I haven't been able to blog since my last visit in Thailand. But the good news is, I've been able to attend the 10th Grand Wine Experience last November 19 and was even asked to write a few lines about it for F&B World Magazine's February 2011 issue. Quoting what I submitted:

"A decade after it was first launched, the Grand Wine Experience marked the milestone with a legendary evening at the New World Hotel in Makati. The first and still the most prestigious annual wine event, this time with the theme “Evolution,” was the brainchild of Ralph Joseph and rest of the Joseph siblings Bobby, Ronnie and Raymond. The wine selection was superb as usual with a sizeable representation of the Old World regions from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and even Hungary. There were also champagnes, more spirits that debuted at the event and more food. The nightlong entertainment was provided by the Sabor Latino band.

From its humble beginnings, this event has been transformed into a not-to-be-missed with guests in a bigger number year after year. This year’s affair was again graced by Manila’s glitterati, celebrities, diplomats, VIPs from the hospitality and tourism industry, hotels and resorts general managers, restaurant owners, members of the different Chambers of Commerce & Industry, wine enthusiasts, food lovers, and culinary school owners. This wine spectacle’s success has proven its legacy in the young but fast growing Philippine wine industry."

This year's Grand Wine Experience is indeed something to look forward to.

P.S. This cheese was awesome!

Boat Ride and Sirocco

We boarded a Chinese junk (at Shangri-La, Silom) and sailed for a few hours along the Bangkok river. It would have been enjoyable had it not been for a headache I always seem to have in the afternoons when I am in Bangkok. The junk was specially rented. We had drinks and dinner on board.


Lucky we missed the rain!


It was a lovely ride!


Later, we went to Sirocco at Lebua Tower, said to be the "world's largest al fresco restaurant." Located on the 64th floor, the view was fantastic! I had a mojito for THB450. I would recommend one of the house specialties, however.



Sirocco
State Tower
1055/111 Silom Road
Bangkok, 10500, Thailand
02-6249555

Soju, So Good

This bottle of Soju, a JINRO CHAMISUL ORIGINAL SOJU, has been sitting on top of my fridge since last weekend. Finally opened it today, at lunch. And boy, it was good even if it was at room temperature! I got this bottle for Php75 at a newly opened Korean Grocery store along Pioneer, Mandaluyong City, Philippines, across Joey Pepperoni.

We have been wanting to redeem a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts since last weekend and finally did so last night. I think doughnuts are good with beer (and soju!) as these carbs balance the bitterness, and the oils line your stomach. However, while it makes drinking more enjoyable, it is most unhealthy.

I will stick with the soju.

Pulutan Explained

I just realized that there is no explanation on what "unconventional pulutan" is.

According to Wikipedia: "Pulutan (comes from the Filipino word pulutin which literally means "something that is picked up") is a term roughly analogous to the English term "finger food". It originally was a snack accompanied with liquor or beer but has found its way into Philippine cuisine as appetizers or, in some cases, main dishes, as in the case of sisig."

To this definition, I would say the opposite can also be true. There are those pulutan that were main dishes first, before they were discovered to be good with beer or the like. As for me, one of the unconventional pulutan I have ever tried and actually loved is a combination of crushed crackers and tuna in can.

In Dumaguete, Have Balut and Tanduay Ice

It was a long weekend in the Philippines so we went on a sort of spur of the moment trip to Dumaguete (we actually went to Siquijor and Apo islands, too)


Photo courtesy of Pauline Derige

Near the famed boulevard of Dumaguete City, we settled for a round of Tanduay Ice at this place called Blue Monkey Grill.

The next night, we had Julien, a French guy traveling with us experience balut! This delicacy is now part of the appetizers menu in restaurants and thus, make for unconventional pulutan.


UPDATE: Finally have a video of the balut-eating experience. Enjoy!

GPS

Gilbey's Premium Strength is currently my bottled drink of choice. A clear, light drink with a sweet, citrusy taste, it has the nice, smooth buzz from light beer without the bloated feeling.


Just saying.

John & Yoko

Last night, we went out for dinner and a drink at John & Yoko, Greenbelt 5. I have been there a couple of times but it's the first time that I tried their Vodka Lychee. For P118 a pop, it's quite good.

Note on the Dinner: The salmon sashimi was okay. The Seafood Shabu-Shabu was a feast if ordered just for two (I believe this can be split among four people). The place, as always, was busy although we arrived quite early for dinner and was able to talk without having to raise our voices, if only for a while.

TGIF's Mojitos

Went to TGIF at Trinoma, a convenient location for peope who think MRT is a gift from heaven (like I do!) I think their Ball Park Nachos is a version of unconventional pulutan because of the sheer volume as seen in the photo (okay, so that's my niece. And no, she did not finish that).

1 Mojito
1 Mojito Apple
1 Ball Park Nachos

Price: Php 736.61 (excluding service charge)

I liked the original mojito more than the apple one. But for Php 174.11 a glass, I just had to find out how to make one.

From Taste of Cuba:

1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint
White Rum (2 ounces)
2 ounces club soda


Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass (often called a "collins" glass) and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime. Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler (a long wooden device pictured below, though you can also use the back of a fork or spoon if one isn't available). Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda (you can also stir the club soda in as per your taste). Garnish with a mint sprig.

So in the end, I probably don't need a mint sprig.

Thinking in Thailand

The photo was taken at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. But the thoughts came while drinking a glass of wine in Thailand. See the photo of the bottle below. Not exactly came but more of found. They are not mine but these words describe exactly how I have been these past few weeks.

If you like a mid-range place for a decent Thai meal and some beer, head to Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 12. It's walking distance from the Sheraton Hotel that is near the Asoke BTS/MRT station. It has amusing decor and an interesting story. Read about it here.

Happy Thirstday!

SOCO. I am gonna learn how to make you. Where do you find SOCO? Check out the address in this previous post.

This is what you should say when someone's forcing you to tell who you like.

Happy Thirstday!

Beeramisu, Anyone?

Through Married to Chocolate (thank you, Kris), I found this recipe by Working Class Foodies. Awesome!


What you need:

Filling
1 pint heavy Cream
1 pound of Mascarpone
2 eggs
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Crust:
lady fingers
beer (mocha stout and pumpkin beer)
Cocoa powder

Cocktails All-You-Can

Went out with the girl behind this blog that aptly puts this entry under the tag "musings."

1029 Resto Bar & Grill

Sgt. Esguerra Ave.,

Quezon City

They only accept cash payments. Cocktails all you can until 8pm for P150!

We tried the tuna sisig and wouldn't recommend it but the pitcher each of Screwdriver and the Margarita (for P150 each) were good buys.

I Have Two Beers

Sure I went to Vegas but the only thing I drank there were Shirley Temples. That is something I just had to do. I mean, not drink in Vegas. You should try it once. It's funny how when I declared it over a round table that I am not going to drink in Vegas, everyone thought I won't be able not to drink but I did (yahoo!). The next time (well, if there is a next time), I will do the "standard" and that is to have an alcohol-infused nightout along the strip.

It's in Chicago where I finally got some bottles of beers and a couple of vodka tonics (I also had a glass of Yellow Tail Pinot Noir on one lazy evening). I loved the freshness of Corona with a slice of lime the first, the second, the third, ... well, until the last bottle. On Memorial Day Weekend, I crashed a children's party (yup, you read that right). And it was there that I got introduced to 312. And I so loved it!

That said...

Beer Hybrids

Found these recipes from Men's Health, Nov 2009 issue (US edition). Quite excited to try them out soon.

SPICY LADY
Rim glass with raw sugar. In a shaker, muddle the 2 tsp cayenne, lemon slices, 1/2 teaspoon raw sugar, and 1/2 tsp lemon juice. Pour mixture into the rimmed glass and add some ice. Top with light-bodied beer, say Corona. Stir a little.

CERVEZA PREPARADA
Rim a glass with salt. Add a dash of hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce and fill the glass with beer (lager). Top with 1/2 oz lime juice.

Sagada is Ganduyan

The Lenten holiday brought a dozen (and then one, Jeff) of us to Sagada, with the main man behind http://www.visitsagada.com/ , Benj. I had a very nice time and the trip was very memorable (spelunking, taking the long walk to our inn with just one flashlight that really shone in the darkness, and a birthday celebration).

To cap off the evenings (and warm ourselves a bit), we drank The Bar, gin and a bottle of red wine.

Hanging coffins at Echo Valley, Sagada

Big Falls

If we weren't on a hurry, it would have been nice to stay longer at the Big Falls and have a couple of beers. Don't you think?

On our last night, we stayed at Residential Lodge. I had a massage and was able to find out why it was called Sagada that I later shared when we were having a few drinks at the cozy living/kitchen/dining area.

Guess what was on the table?

Benj accidentally left the bottle of Vodka Hanoi on the bus on our way home so we never got to try it.

How do I love Gin? Let me count the bottles

This photo consists of a few bottles of gin and a vodka. Consumed through several months (from October 2009), shared by two to three people at a time. In any case, one of the simplest thing to do with gin (except drink it with water as your chaser) is to mix it with orange juice and ice. Apparently, this is called Abbey cocktail. How I mix mine is 1 part of orange juice (Del Monte) to half a part of gin. Serve in a glass half-filled with ice.

The bottle of Nutrilite Daily is how I try to keep myself healthy. Try being the operative word.

La Pampa!

A bad photo of a very good wine. This was taken at La Pampa, apparently the first Argentinian Steak House in Hong Kong. If you are not sure what to order, the manager can always recommend what is best with either your food or your wine. If a bottle of red is your bet, Trapiche Malbec is a very nice one.

It is located on Staunton St, Soho, Hong Kong.