Monthly Archives: February 2011

La Piadina Part 2

By | Foodie | One Comment

Because I enjoyed La Piadina,

Tour Italy with La Piadina September 26, 2010 

I invited my brother, Quito and Pam to join and they invited my other brother, Jun Jun and Margs to join!  WHAT A GOOD IDEA!! 🙂 When is our next dinner??

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The place was really full and we were lucky to get a table.  The food was really good

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We liked most especially the risotto.  For around  P300 plus you can have good risotto at La Piadina.  We ordered three kinds and loved them all!! 

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and two kinds of pizza, also yummy! 

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Almond Chocolate Crisp

By | What's New at Rustan's, Yummy! | 2 Comments

What an interesting Almond snack!  Not only is it chocolate covered but it has a crisp in the chocolate! Another Japanese invention

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And also more chocolate balls snack covered with chocolate- one with nuts, strawberry flavored 

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and this is my type- the one with like a caramel filling, It’s addicting! 🙂 

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Previous entry:

Japanese Chocolates and Snacks Feb 18, 2011 

Available at:

Shopwise Alabang, Shopwise Sucat, Shopwise Libis, Rustans Shangrila, Rustans Makati, Rustans Rockwell, Rustans Cebu Ayala, Rustans Greenbelt, Rustans Katipunan, Rustans Tomas Morato, Rustans San Antonio, Rustans Magallanes, Rustans Ayala Alabang, Rustans Corinthian 

Rustan’s Flower Shop convenience stores:  St. Luke’s Hospital, Quezon City and Fort Bonifacio and Asian Hospital 

Saddlebrown – Manila Polo Club

Mpulse – Makati Medical Center

The Gift Shop – Rockwell Club Amorsolo Square  

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Run For The Dolphins Condura Skyway Marathon 2011

By | Animals and Pets, Giving Back, Health and Fitness | 3 Comments

Congratulations once again to Ton Concepcion on another successful marathon!  Heart2Heart will always be proud of people who do great things and make a difference in this world!

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I was not able to go this year to the race but thanks to Peachy, Rica, Marilen, Gerry, Ned and Ton for all the photos which I put together so i can make sure this great achievement is documented!   

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Swarovski Pays Homage to Endangered Species

By | Animals and Pets, What's New at Rustan's | No Comments

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In a continuing effort to give their support to endangered animal species, this year, Swarovski pays homage to the endearing Polar Bear “Siku”. Its beauty has been captured in a crystal sculpture with finely cut facets, enchanting sparkle and incomparable shine. 

This year, the Swarovksi Crystal Society (SCS) looks to the Arctic – and in the depths of the harshest and most uninhabitable lands, finds ‘Siku’, the magnificent Annual Edition 2011 Polar Bear. Translated from the word for ‘ice’ in Inuit, Siku glows majestic lines, evoking strong emotion. With this sparkling, expressive and sophisticated sculpture in cut crystal, Swarovski has distilled the very essence of this appealing and well-loved animal from the Arctic Ocean.

Accompanying Siku in 2011, and creating an endearing polar bear family, are two sets of lovable cubs – one set crafted in the same color as Siku, and the other in a more intense white.

Designed by Anton Hirzinger, the Annual Edition 2011 and the pair of cubs (available separately) are formed from faceted moonlight crystal with eyes and nose in Jet Crystal. The cubs are also available in White Opal. The Annual Edition 2011 comes with a Title Plaque in faceted crystal with AB coating. 

As a yearly commemoration, Rustan’s presented the Annual Edition 2011 through an intimate event last January 27, 2011 At Rustan’s Makati. Swarovski formally presented this year’s limited edition piece, ‘Siku’ the Polar Bear.

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The 2011 Annual Edition also Swarovski’s long-standing link with water. Not only is this precious resource essential to the polishing technique that gives Swarovski creations their eye-catching and unique finish, it is also at the heart of the Swarovski Water School program, dedicated to teaching the children of some of the world’s most challenged nations about the sustainable management of water.

Purchasing SCS Annual Editions makes a tremendous contribution to the implementation of this project.

About the Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS)

Founded by Swarovski in 1987, the SCS is now the world’s largest association of collectors. It boasts close to 325,000 members from 130 countries, brought together by a love of crystal, craftsmanship and creativity

An SCS membership opens up exclusive access to the world of Swarovski, bringing the wonder of crystal even closer to the most passionate of collectors and crystal enthusiasts. The SCS indeed organizes events, trips and a host of get-togethers for the members, who also receive a dedicated Swarovski magazine four times a year, and enjoy access to a special area on the Swarovski website.

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IMCKavino

By | Foodie | 4 Comments

The girls got together again.  We are trying to make this more often by doing it every other month!

Thanks to Des for choosing this restaurant!! I love it! It used to be the Chinese restaurant, Golden Pavilion,  in Heritage Hotel in Malate.  They are on soft opening and they are giving 20% discount now!!!  So hurry and try their yummy food at a discount

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Look for Leah who will definitely take care of you, she is great!  And of course the chef himself, International Master Chef Kavino( IMCKavino ) ! 🙂 

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Complimentary appetizer 

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Stir Fried Mixed Crunchy Vegetables 

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I love this Takoyaki dish!!!! You just hold it and fold it and eat it with your hands like a sandwich

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Pork ala Peking!  Its their version of peking duck but pork inside

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Aomori Hot Prawn Salad – YUMMY also!!!!!!!!!!!!!I always order this in chinese restaurants, this is a bit different with the crunchy green seaweed I think it is

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Cheesy Shrimp Bomb!!! YUMMY!!!!!!!! Shrimp balls with melted cheese inside!! It has also the crunchy seaweed on the sides 

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 I am looking forward to coming back and trying the other dishes!!!!!! I like it because it is fusion and not the usual chinese food. Love the twist! 

make sure to ask for their LOOK BOOK so you can see photos of the dishes 

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Previous entries:

Guava September 12, 2007 

Wine Depot December 5, 2007 

From the Kitchen of Lucille December 17, 2007 

Lucille’s Birthday Treat January 8, 2009 

The Best View in Makati August 6, 2009 

Dette and Brenda’s Birthday December 21, 2010

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Bella B

By | For kids, What's New at Rustan's | 3 Comments

Bella B began in the spring of 1999, when it’s founder became determined as a new mother to create stretch mark solutions that would really work, and ultimately help mother’s everywhere with the battle against pre and post pregnancy stretch marks.   After hearing from her OBGYN that she was likely to get stretch marks because of her genetics, she really started to worry!  Both her mother and grandmother had stretch marks.  Of course genetics have some bearing regarding tendencies to get stretch marks, but keeping the skin ultra moist and elastic does dramatically lower the chance of getting stretch marks.  This is both intuitive and technically feasible, as long as the inner and outer layers of the skin are kept ultra moist and elastic during the growth phase.  Based on these principles, the founder was able to avoid stretch marks altogether!  After years of research and collaboration with laboratories throughout this process, the ultimate formulation became Tummy Honey stretch mark prevention and fading products.  Yes, the founder is an actual mother of two beautiful boys and a lovely daughter.   The key was finding the right formulations, also free of parabens (artificial preservatives), petroleum, lanolin and animal by-products!    Results from third parties have also shown similar results, even though they were supposedly “genetically predisposed” to get stretch marks. 

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The line was expanded in 2006 to Bella B Natural Bodycare, which includes Tummy Honey and seven other wonderful products to keep mothers beautiful from head to tummy to toes!  Bella B includes products for the face, body, breastfeeding and of course the tummy.  And now, we have a full line of products for baby as well!  Bella B is a complete natural line for new and expecting mothers and their babies!

Visit www.learningcurve.com/bella for complete information about the product line, including online and local retailers.

Available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-la and Alabang

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Pretty in Pink by Tessa

By | Giving Back | 5 Comments

I am rushing this feature because you have till Sunday to go to Powerplant Mall at Rockwell to bid on the beautiful Barbie dolls being auctioned off by Tessa 

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Remember the Christmas tree in Dusit Thani Hotel where Tessa had a Barbie Christmas tree?  Then she won and gave P 100,000.00 to her favorite charity!  

Previous Entry:  Unity in Diversity December 22, 2010 

After that, she had an idea to further auction off the barbie dolls from the tree and still raise more money to give to charity….. AGAIN!! Isn’t she amazing?

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And here she is!  Queen Tessa! I was telling Malou that Tessa is so funny because she bidded on many of her Barbie dolls! And Malou said, ” Ya, she can’t just give it directly, she has to have an event!” 🙂  Just to show you how our friend, Tessa, is! Always so COLORFUL and always so GIVING!!! And WE LOVE HER!!  Heart2Heart truly admires the SEA QUEEN ( That’s Heart2Heart’s title for her)!   

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There were many Barbie dolls on display 

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And so nice to see so many people come to support Tessa’ project

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And so many who place their bids on the dolls.  I was not able to stay too long so I was able to catch only the first few bids 

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James Reyes and his barbie doll dressed in paper which he cut and made into a dress – one of the popular dolls 

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Girlie bidding for one of Rajo’s dolls 

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Czarina was there with her friend Sheila who bidded on Cecile Zamora’s ( Chuvaness )  doll  

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Tessa’s Mom, Tita Marixi, was there also to support her daughter.  So sweet!  and also bidded for some of the dolls 

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Susan Joven also bidding for her grandaughter, Chloe 🙂 

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Lovely sisters, Popsie and Malou bidding  

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There was a painting exhibit by Tessa Alindogan 

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and cute cakes by Red Ribbon

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And there were kids all dressed up- I heard there was going to be a mother -daughter fashion show which i was not able to see anymore.

Of course Tessa’s daughter, Athena,  looked so cute!!  

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Ernie Lopez  and his twins

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Super cute Chloe 

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And Tessa comes out of the giant cake!! 🙂 

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Thank you to all the sponsors who made all of this possible and also donated for a good cause!! 

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Tod’s Spring/Summer 2011 Women’s Collection

By | Fashion, Summer, What's New at Rustan's | No Comments

The new Spring Summer 2011 Tod’s collection for women focuses on the quality of the leathers, such as ultra supple calf leather and precious crocodile and python skins, which play with the color nuances found in nature. 

The mix of the surface textures with the underlying structure of the skins brings out the natural colour of the leather. When paired with a selection of color combinations, such as neutral with primary colors or a mix of only primary colors, the leather still reveals its core natural hue despite the applied touches of vibrant color. 

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or the new season, Tod’s presents the Shirt Bag, crafted in ultra soft leather with a drawstring closure that gives the silhouette of the bag an appearance of lightness.

The Shirt Bag is completely unstructured and is the new must-have for today’s woman; a chic woman who is constantly travelling and who can now fold her bag several times over without ruining it thanks to the exquisite quality of the leather it is made from. 

The most refined and skilled craftsmanship has been used to create this elegant and ultra versatile bag which is perfectly emblematic of the Tod’s DNA.

The new tote bag boasts an elegant and linear design and is crafted in either ultra soft calf leather or in precious crocodile skin. It is a timeless style that is both stylish and practical. Available in three sizes, the new tote is the perfect day-to-night design – large and roomy for the daylight hours and available in a smaller version with a shoulder strap for the evening. 

The D Bag is one of our iconic styles and is the ultimate embodiment of superior craftsmanship and the best of “Made in Italy”. Every season the style evolves while staying true to its original character. For spring summer 2011 it is presented in a new luxurious version in reversed sheepskin and is enriched with platinum-plated hardware.

The new clutch bag with buckle is crafted in colorful python skin; it is the perfect size for a cocktail bag, but is also suitable for the day thanks to its hidden shoulder strap.

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In footwear, the Gommino collection grows this season thanks to metallic leathers, colorful suedes and precious crocodile, available in a vast selection of colors. 

Our ballerina flats have also been updated thanks to colorful suede enriched with silver ties, giving this classic style real character.

The high heel segment of the collection features elegant heels that boast a clean design and offers detailing such as cut-outs, woven saddlery, crafted leather and visible hand stitching; the same details can be found in our flat styles.

Marlin Hyannisport, a style that has been a huge success in the men’s collection, is also available for women in classic browns as well as in delicate pink or light blue suede with a white sole. 

The clog, in dark hued wood with a streamlined silhouette is enriched with colorful or neutral toned bands of crocodile leather. A rubber sole makes it practical and the perfect style for the summer.

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In the Philippines, Tod’s shoes, bags, and accessories are exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and are available at the boutiques located in Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati and Rustan’s Tower, Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

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Desserts Take Center Stage in Restaurant 101 Special Dinner

By | Foodie | 4 Comments

 Great chefs traditionally save dessert for last. But for one night only, last February 18, Enderun’s executive pastry chef Andreas Gillar turns tradition on its head, by presenting a decadent seven course feast, inspired by the principles, techniques and ingredients of the dessert course. I enjoyed the meal tremendously!  The foie gras macaron was my favorite dish!!

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Guests were treated to a lavish seven-course dinner called Dessert Comes First:

Foie Gras Macaron, Parma Ham, Arugula-Mango Salad,

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White Chocolate Vinaigrette; Essence of Oxtail, Cep Mushrooms, Aged Sherry, Puff Pastry Dome;

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Quenelle of Deep Sea Scallops, Crustacean Broth, Saffron Espuma;

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Tamarind Champagne Sherbet;

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Roast Venison Loin, Pancetta and Spinach Spaetzle, Bone Marrow Glaze, Candied Chestnuts;

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Baked Camembert Cheese in Phyllo Pastry, Red Currant Chutney.

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The Pastry Chef’s Grand Dessert Buffet also draws attention to Chef Andreas Gillar’s culinary expertise.

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A native of Austria, executive pastry chef Andreas Gillar honed his expertise with close to twenty years of international experience. He acquired his education in the School for Pastry and Bakery in Baden, after which he graduated as Master Confectioner at the Master School for Pastry in Vienna. He worked as pastry chef consultant at Hotel Caravelle in Saigon, then as executive pastry chef for Café Wien in Jakarta. He was corporate pastry chef as well of Hashoo Group, which owns and operates two Marriott Hotels and seven Pearl Continental Hotels in Karachi, Pakistan. His most recent post prior to joining Enderun was as executive pastry chef of The Peninsula Manila.

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Restaurant 101 is the application restaurant of Enderun Colleges, which is home to Southeast Asia’s leading undergraduate culinary arts program. 101’s seasonal menus are conceived by Enderun’s world-renowned faculty to showcase the techniques of traditional French cuisine, the bold flavors of the Asian market and a commitment to innovating with fresh, sustainable local ingredients. The restaurant’s stylish interiors evoke the casual elegance of a contemporary Parisian bistro, while the student wait staff, working under the watchful eyes of the College’s food and beverage faculty, brings freshness and unique charm to the 101 experience. For reservations, call (632) 856 5000 local 101, or 403 7831.

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