Monthly Archives: April 2013

Pavlova by The Bandana Baker

By | Yummy! | 2 Comments

If you know Heart2Heart very well, you will know she loves Pavlova 🙂 Thanks to the Bandana Baker, you can now order pavlova!!!  She has three different kinds of Pavlova – Mango Strawberry and Nutella. I tried the Mango which was very very good.  The mangoes were very very sweet – so it was really good!! 

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Meet the Bandana Baker- Victoria Carlos 🙂  Do give her a call and order some yummy Pavlova!!  She has other pastries

Previous entry:  The Bandana Baker June 15, 2010 

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Vask Modern Tapas & Gastronomic Cuisine

By | Foodie | 6 Comments

 Heart2Heart received an invitation from Carlo Calma to come visit his new restaurant.  We immediately booked.  It’s located at the Clipp Center which is designed by Ed Calma, who is the cousin of Carlo.  You won’t miss this very modern and unique looking building in the Fort

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You enter the car park and go to the 4th level and take the elevator to the 5th level where you are greeted by these beautiful ladies

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Beautiful interiors of course by Carlo Calma

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Here is Carlo Calma beside his artwork which is inside the restaurant – make sure to look for it 

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Here is another artwork- a lightbox by Francesca Balaguer Mercado which will be the first show/exhibit in Carlo’s gallery.  She used to work for David La Chapelle

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Congratulations to the owners of Vask who were there that evening -Carlo Calma, Jean Salonga Fernando and Jerico Salonga.  Congratulations also to my friend, Tessa Prieto Valdes who is also a partner!  

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Chef Luis Gonzales -the man behind the very delicious food in Vask!  He is amazing!!! He apparently had worked in El Bulli.  He came to the Philippines and worked in Sofitel and now at Vask. I would say this is one of our most memorable meals 

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Vask has a Pintxos menu – the Basque equivalent of Tapas

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You will see them lined up in the bar 

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More pintxos photos which I got from their page.  I would love to go back and just have Pintxos and sangria 🙂 

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Javier had the Lychee iced tea

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James had Vask – their signature drink

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Everyone gets Gambas as a complimentary dish

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We ordered  two pintxos to start – both were really very good

Tortilla de patata – Jamon – even the bread was so good

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Salmon and Crab tartare

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The menu is one page back and forth – one side is the Traditional and the other side is Modern Basque -I suggested to James and Javs that we try the Modern since we aways have the traditional elsewhere

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Jamon salad – I ordered this since I was curious to see what foie chips were 🙂

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Huevos, Hongos Y Cebolla – Wow!  What an interesting dish!  This has some molecular gastronomy cooking here

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Foie Gras on Mango Toast!  This was my favorite dish of them all.  A must try!  I have never tasted a foie made this way!!  It’s one of their bestsellers 

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Crispy Shrimp – also very good though I wish Javier had ordered something more unique

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Kurobota Cheeks which Javier devoured!  

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Scallops and Black Ink risotto

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Pollo En Pepitorio

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This is the Traditional menu which we did not order from except for the desserts

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This is the Txuleton which we saw from the other table- hoping to try this next time- one of their bestsellers too

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We were already full from our food since we ordered so many dishes, but I am so glad James and Javier insisted on still trying the dessert.  I have not heard any raves about this dessert but I loved it.  It’s the Torija which is Brioche soaked in milk overnight then they fry it – It was so so good!

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Arroz con leche which was also very good

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The restaurant has an outside deck where you can enjoy your cocktails and tapas

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A beautiful view!  I also took note of the Miam Miam plate in the middle of the table

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 Beside the restaurant is another dining area which is still closed but this is where they will have their fine dining and where they will serve degustation meals!  We will definitely be back and awaiting this!

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 Click below to go to their facebook page

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Love James

By | Celebrations, Tributes | 19 Comments

Happy Birthday to Mr. Heart2Heart! 🙂 Though I mention him often in my blogs, I hardly feature him and give more attention to the man who brings so much love and happiness in my life 🙂  ( Now you know why I don’t feature him too much..it becomes too cheesy haha!)

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Whenever we go out, people always comment that he looks so young!  And many say he looks like either, an F4 band member because of his hairstyle?  I don’t know 🙂

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Aga Muhlach ( since we were in highschool til now ), or Sam Milby – Good thing they are good looking….to me at least 🙂

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though he thinks he is this guy – maybe because he says I look like Angelina Jolie haha!!

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And though he is associated with many people from show business, he is more proud to claim fame by telling everyone that he has a photo with this guy 🙂 who we bumped into in New York in one of his restaurants probably almost ten years ago  

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He also shares this special day with his twin brother John – Believe it or not but they talk to each other everyday maybe 10 to 20 times a day!  If you ask me, they are each other’s best friend 🙂

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!  

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Reasons why I love James:

He is kind to animals

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He has a great sense of humor – even in the most challenging times he always seems to make things light and so it’s so nice to always be with him.  It’s so hard to stay mad at him or be mad at him   

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He is always willing to help others and put other people’s needs before his even if he is very very busy….always busy on the phone! 🙂  Not to mention a very smart and hard working guy.  He will do everything he can to get what he wants

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He can cook!

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and he can make the best steaks in town!

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He loves his parents and takes care of them

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He loves my parents too, he is like assistant to Mom

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And he has a lot in common with my Dad!

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He loves his children and is a great father! You cannot imagine how lucky I am that he is very hands on because I cannot understand boys! 🙂  It’s very difficult to raise two sons and James takes care of them very well

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He loves me! 🙂  I could not possibly live without him which is why I always tell him to take care of himself.  Happy Birthday to my better half and the love of my life!!  

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L’Oréal Professionnel Gathers Manila’s Top Fashion and Hair Muses

By | Beauty, Fashion | One Comment

 Priding itself as the Parisian House of Hairdressing and the official partner Paris Fashion Week, L’Oréal Professionnel recently hosted a grand event celebrating the country’s hair professional and fashion muses. Held at the newly opened HYVE Club

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MUSE exhibited the powerful link between hair and fashion to Manila’s well-heeled elite.dsc_7846.JPG

L’Oréal Professionnel invited select trendsetters to take a cue from the brand’s signature Parisian flair.

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The fashion-forward fete also unveiled the latest Parisian collection from L’Oréal Professionnel designer muse Rhett Eala, who teamed up with celeb favorite Henri Calayag for the runway models’ fabulous tresses. 

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L-R:  Gino Cruz, L’Oreal Phils Marketing Manager;

Rhett Eala and Henri Calayag, L’Oreal Phils Ambassadors; David Kim, L’Oreal Phils National Sales Manager

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“L’Oréal Professionnel has created the world of beauty for over 100 years, and we continue to raise the bar when it comes to haircolor, haircare, form and styling,” shares L’Oréal Professionnel Product Division General Manager Yunus Koswara. “With this commitment, we are set to inspire loyal fans further with more exciting activities that only an industry leader like L’Oréal Professionnel can offer. Enriching activities like these set L’Oréal apart from the rest of the industry, as we always strive to go beyond hair discussions to include fashion as a whole.”

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Along with a preview of its roster of trainings and partnerships lined up for 2013, L’Oréal Professionnel also showcased its product innovations, such as limited editions of both brand new and bestselling products. L’Oréal is also the company that brought color innovations like Inoa, Majirel, DiaLight/Richesse, and straightening and perming solutions Xtenso and Dulcia, as well as hair care brands like Serie Expert, Hair Spa and Mythic Oil.

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Capping off the event was the awarding of the night’s ultimate muse, Salome Uy,  who also got to bring home one of Eala’s coveted sartorial masterpieces. 

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Sharing Leads to Success

Like any piece of clothing or accessory, hair care and styling is essential to creating the right image. Reflecting this very philosophy, L’Oréal Professionnel has been committed to helping hairdressers achieve the looks that their clients want.

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Rowel Vijandre, L’Oreal Phils Managing Director 

Recently, the company tapped global customer care consultant Julie Eldrett to head a two-day seminar focusing on the impact of customer service to businesses’ success, an event that was attended by top salon professionals and owners.

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L’Oréal Professionnel also held coloring training sessions, the first batch of which will be conducted from March to May for the spring/summer collection, followed by September to November for fall/winter.

“Seminars and workshops like these cater to the ever-evolving needs of Filipino salons and stylists. We want to continue to help hairdressers in developing their craft and excel in their passion as well as help businesses increase their profitability,” says L’Oréal Professionnel Education Manager Yam Palisoc-Barcena.

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L’Oréal Professionnel is a globally renowned leader in the professional industry, constantly working and collaborating with hair experts around the world to reinvent fashion and hairdressing under its Parisian House of Hairdressing. 

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