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.

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

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.

R&J Bulalohan

Along Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City (across Mandaluyong City Hospital and Chow King), this is one place where we frequent to. Not for the beers, though. Not yet at least. It has a very provincial ambiance to it. Mixed crowd. Walls are peppered with photos and autographs of celebrities who have celebrated with or at R&J (they cater, too).

A bucket costs P192 only. Open 24 hours. Cheap food. With a karaoke machine.

I want to try the Tanduay Ice, soon.

The Distillery Jupiter

(Photo by Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap)

I would have never been introduced to this place had it been not to a going away party at Encore, formerly Embassy, Super Club that ended a bit early before everyone had their share of fun ( a beer at Embassy costs P120, entrance fee of P500 gets you three rounds of drinks from a pre-chosen selection). Coolers of imported beers etc line a long wall and the prices are okay, considering these are hard to find brews (with some names I can't pronounce properly because they are too foreign ;p). I loved the Sake Bomb, which was sake in a shot glass dropped in a bigger glass of beer. I suppose this has lesser alcohol content than beer-gin.

The bigger area has a bar with a well-stocked shelf (the photo above is just a portion of this floor-to-ceiling shelf) so you can definitely enjoy your favorite poison on the rocks or mixed.

The Distillery
20 Jupiter St., Brgy. Bel-Air
Makati City
Business Hours: 6 pm to 4 am

Quattro

Valentine's day fell on a Sunday so I took one of my single girl friends on a date. She was going through a tough time and needed to be listened to. See all the mixes available on "the day" as posted on the wall? But we had the usual. A Macho Mug of SanMig Light at Quattro located along Timog Avenue, Quezon City. From EDSA, it is on your left.

By the way, Xaymaca is gone. And Popoy's beside Nommu is now Pipey's.

24-Hour Tagaytay Hangout

After a dinner at Plato Platina, Blue Wave, my friend William suggested go to Tagaytay. And so we did (at 2 in the morning!). We took the Santa Rosa exit and turned right after the Tagaytay market. This place is past where Mushroom Burger is but is also on the left side of the road from Manila.

Beer, bulalo and breeze. Beat that.

Homer's

Last month, we were invited to a gig of Jeepney Joyride. The trumpeteer, Melvin, asked us to go to Homer's which was near ABS-CBN in Quezon City. Beer was dirt cheap! Local bands, not the show band kind of bands, played. And it is open 24/7. Limitado, a line of limited items designed by actor-comedian Tado is sold in a corner. The witty remarks on the shirts go very well with how Homer's is. Simple pero rock!

Coron, Palawan

It was a busy half day. I am just too tired to write about it but Palawan is one of the places one should go to once in your life. At least. Beer in a remote island. Lukewarm beer, maybe. But the beautiful scenery, cool breeze and blue waters make up for it.

7107 Islands Cruise

Beach. Sunrise. Sunset. Onboard party. Really. Check out http://www.7107islandscruise.net/

Lamma Island, Hong Kong

The pier


Fu Kee Seafood Restaurant (okay, don't laugh)



Our boat...

Last October 31, we sailed to Lamma Island, ate a feast and had a nice time.

Fu Kee has good food, cold beer, nice wine. All you need is company you like and you're set.

Boracay's Hobbit House

A cold Red Horse beer at Hobbit House quenches the thirst =) At Don Vito Pizzeria Ristorante of Boracay Mandarin Hotel, order Don Vito Sensation, a vodka-based cocktail.
A slice of Black Rainforest is optional specially if you are calorie-counting.

Manila by Night

I went to Socialista last Thursday/Friday. I'm glad it has a safe crowd, still. Beer is P45 still, too. I liked the Tanduay rum there.

A new bar/resto beside Shrimps Ahoy, Harbour Square

There are new developments in the Manila area that I haven't been to. Check out Harbour Square, beside CCP Theater near Star City. It's like Metrowalk in Ortigas Center. Beer is pretty affordable, too. P180 for a bucket of 6. A Red Horse is P45.

It was my first time to explore Pasay area. It was difficult to find a place where there is karaoke and al fresco (out of the ordinary Music 21). But we did find one. It's a small place across the EDSA International Entertainment Complex and is quite safe and decent in a sense that there are no almost naked girls serving you. Just plain videoke and beer place. It has the authentic Pasay feel to it. Vendors selling peanuts and fish crackers are allowed to sell inside. The way to put it is that, this is the opposite of posh and is one of those places where the masang masa go to. A song costs P5.00 but they have listening songs and songs you can sing along with so do choose your sing-along songs wisely.

Macau! Macau!

It may seem strange but I did enjoy Macau even if I didn't gamble. Walking tours and bar hops. I even bought a liter of Macau beer at a grocery (MOP7) but had to leave it at the airport because it wasn't worth checking it in.


Anyhow. Do check these places when in Macau.


San Lorenzo's

At the Fisherman's Wharf or "Yo Yan Ma Tao" look for San Lorenzo's at the New Orleans block. Beer is MOP30 whereas when you drink at a casino's bar/lounge, cheapest is MOP45. Heineken even comes in a lovely, slender glass (right photo). Seafood pizza (Pizza Frutti Di Mare) MOP98. Pizza and beer it is!


The View

At Sand's (walking distance from the Fisherman's Wharf), check out The View and be fascinated with pole dancers :P San Mig Light (in a clear pilsen bottle) MOP45++. Comes with free munchies (peanuts, chips, and dried meat).

MGM

MGM Lobby. Heineken draft MOP50++ comes with multi-grain munchies and live music. Good company just seals the deal.

Bellini Bar at Venetian

MOP40++ for beers. With house mixes like Bellinitini :)

Beer, Bands and Blogs

I wanted to see Beauty in Trouble, one of the featured films of the Cinema Europa this year but they ran out of tickets so I ended up going to Trinoma and then CubaoX. I was craving for Sole Fillet Pasta of Mogwai. I knew there was an event there, with colleague Nina Terol as one of the prime movers and so it made sense to actually give in to the craving.



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Check out R2V's website.

Bistro 110

Found along Carlos Palanca St., Makati City (near Union Church)
San Mig Light (P80) buy 1, take 1. Sells cocktails by the pitcher! (P550, if I remember it correctly)
With smoking area outside
Near an ATM machine so easy access to cash :P
Right across Gweilo's

Sarah's and Kyusinero

Sarah's is an ice cream shop, supposedly. But it's really more of an institution. You get off at Philcoa, Diliman, Quezon City, and ride a tricycle to Krus na Ligas. Just tell the driver to bring you to Sarah's (near the arch of Krus na Ligas or KNL)

Red Horse Stallion (P28).

Kyusinero is near Eunilaine. Same road as Treehouse. It's open 24 hours.

Island of Wet Rice (and beer for RM4)

In Langkawi, Malaysia last Friday.

I have friends whose idea of a perfect vacation is drinking ice-cold beer on the beach. I miss these guys and they would have made this quick island stop merrier. and noisier

Anyway, while here, I remember how beautiful Bora and Palawan islands are and I felt that the Philippines has much to learn of how Malaysia does its tourism promotion programs. And I made a resolution that if I were ever going to work for the government again, it would have to be with DOT.

Mogwai

Mogwai was it for Friday night last week. Good friend from China came home to do pamamanhikan to his fiancee's parents in the province.



Onigiri


Before going to Cubao Shoe Expo, went to Kozui, a green tea place along Tomas Morato where I collected a pack of shelled pumpkin seeds and cheese hopia from Sonya's Garden. I was made to try Onigiri, a snack made of Japanese rice (yes, I was forced to eat rice with my Roast Green Tea Latte with soya milk) shaped into a triangle. It had bits of tuna and some salty japanese sprinkles and had a nori strip at the bottom. It will be part of the pastry display of the store soon. I imagine this to be effective in lining one's stomach before drinking. It will actually go well with beer, I imagine, because it is rice and fish (which you can conveniently bite into like a piece of bread--not that i eat bread with beer).




(Mogwai images by pro photographer Nicky Sering)

Anyway, Mogwai is a place (restaurant-bar with a theater or screening room on the second floor) owned by Erik Matti and Lyle Sacris. It's a cozy place and we always choose to meet here now that everyone has outgrown (or simply find it not sulit to go to) Sarah's and Molo's. Beer is affordable here. But what I do like are the lava cakes, both dark and white (P90 a piece), the Alamid cofffee, and a plate of spaghetti with fish fillet smothered with achovies.

It was packed that night. While waiting to be seated, I asked my friend what he was going to bring for the parents and if it was lechon? His answer, as usually, was funny that I am actually "all for it" for its novelty. He said he was bringing boxes of Krispy Kreme. Hahaha