All posts by Heart2Heart

Chef Edward Esmero in 25 Mushrooms Kitchen

By | Recipes | One Comment

 So lucky to have witnessed one of Singapore’s ( but he’s proudly Pinoy 🙂 ) top chefs – Chef Edward Esmero.  He is the  Executive Chef and Director of My Little Spanish Place  and My Little Tapas Bar in Singapore )  He is so entertaining when he is giving the class, so down to earth and so funny!!  He was so kind to share his secret recipes!!

Thank you Sari for inviting me!Chef Edward Esmero (24)

 He told us that at age 12 he wanted to open a restaurant and he had 2 by the age of 32. Soon to open in Bali and next year he is opening one in the Philippines with my friend Happy Ongpauco Tiu.  It is going to be a Cochinillo restaurant and Happy told me it will be proudly Filipino – not Spanish but Filipino! 🙂  She’s the best! Always promoting our very own!  Looking forward to it !!!Chef Edward Esmero (23)About Chef Edward Esmero

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Only a few were able to witness the many secrets of Chef Edward 🙂Chef Edward Esmero (34)Chef Edward Esmero (1)

Welcome DrinChef Edward Esmero (6)Everything was delicious!!Chef Edward Esmero (5)

Special salt from Spain which Chef Edward shared with us and used in the dishesChef Edward Esmero (13)

Chef Edward Esmero (3)Hamburguesa de Chorizo y ManchegoChef Edward Esmero (7)

ChipironesChef Edward Esmero (4)

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Gambas Al Ajillo – I am so happy I learned how to make this!!! Thank you Chef Edward!!  I tried it at home and happy I can make it 🙂Chef Edward Esmero (9)

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 Tuetano de Ternera – Roasted Bone Marrow (soaked overnight in milk ) topped with Crispy Serrano Ham, parsley saladChef Edward Esmero (11)

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Gintoneria
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Coca- Spanish Flatbread
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Chuleton -Seared Tender 365 Days Grain Fed Rib Eye Steak, Potato purée with Mojo verde, Mojo Rojo, Sherry vinegar Steak sauceChef Edward Esmero (25)

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ChurrosChef Edward Esmero (30)

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Applebee’s Now in Manila

By | Foodie | No Comments

We tried out Applebee’s last Monday! I have never tried Applebee’s in the States so this was my first  time.  They say it is American Mexican cuisine so you will see some Mexican dishes as well

They open today, Sept 21, Monday,  for soft openingApplebee's Now in Manila (2)

Looks modern compared to the Applebee’s restaurants I see in the USAApplebee's Now in Manila (1)

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The Applebee’s gang 🙂  Thank you Lance for taking us.  Enjoyed our dinner with Edwin and Carolyn ChingApplebee's Now in Manila (12)

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Spinach and Artichoke DipApplebee's Now in Manila (14)

Chili Beef NachosApplebee's Now in Manila (15)

Pot StickersApplebee's Now in Manila (13)

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Applebee’s is known for their ribs- so that is what we ordered and loved 🙂

Pork RibsApplebee's Now in Manila (18)

RibeyeApplebee's Now in Manila (17)

4-Cheese Mac N Cheese with Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders.  I wish they had the Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders on its own!  It’s yummy!Applebee's Now in Manila (16)

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We realised that after looking at the menu again that everything we ate was over 600 calories! haha!!  But we shared all the dishes so it’s not so bad after all 🙂Applebee's Now in Manila (8)

The burgers look so good!! But we ordered too much already 😉Applebee's Now in Manila (9)

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Churros S’moresApplebee's Now in Manila (1)

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Click below to go to their Facebook page

Applebees Philippines Facebook page

In Search of the Best Brisket

By | Travel | One Comment

Heart2Heart’s hubby is in search for the best brisket.  So wherever we go, we look for a brisket place.  On the way to Pebble Beach we stopped here for lunch – Famous Dave’s In Search of Good Brisket (8)

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Burnt ends – we asked for tasting portion which is a good idea rather than ordering a whole order.  This was actually very good!   Better than the brisketIn Search of Good Brisket (4)

Love cornbread! 🙂In Search of Good Brisket (5)

Brisket was not their specialty but we still ordered it. It was okay according to the hubby.   No matter where we went, it was very hard to get brisket that was fatty.  Americans like their meat lean In Search of Good Brisket (6)

When we were in Salinas, we also went hereIn Search of Good Brisket (10)

Behind the restaurant is their grillerIn Search of Good Brisket (9)

Cute and cozy restoIn Search of Good Brisket (11)

Too bad they ran out of brisket which they are known for!  In Search of Good Brisket (12)

We went here too!  on the way back homeIn Search of Good Brisket (14)

GrillersIn Search of Good Brisket (13)

Nice place too 🙂  I like the different table covers on each tableIn Search of Good Brisket (23)

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 It was okay but still not what he was looking forIn Search of Good Brisket (19)

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In New York, he researched and went hereLooking for the best Brisket_ (2)

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Still not as fatty but hubby says it was the best among allLooking for the best Brisket_ (5)

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His dining partner, Andrew ( Lolo’s chauffeur 🙂 ) Looks like he was very happy 🙂Looking for the best Brisket_ (3)

Till we went to Costco and he said ” Dito lang pala” haha!!  It was the best among all but still not fatty.  costco breef brisket sandwich

Spotted in California

By | Travel | No Comments

 From the Hubby ” I got this for you”  Heart chicken nuggets! haha!! 🙂  Spotted in California (1)

Carmen’s Best ice cream in Philippine Airlines!!!!Spotted in California (2)

Artisan Haagen Dazs!Spotted in California (3)

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Oreo Thins!Spotted in California (5)

So tempted to have this!!!Spotted in California (6)

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No comment! haha
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Thanks to our friend Pepe for telling me about this!!  I love it!!  Spotted in California (9)

YUM also!!  Thinking of ice cream always because it was so hot ( justifying haha!! )Spotted in California (10)

Homes turned into stores!Spotted in California (11)

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Crabs! at CostcoSpotted in California (13)

Massage chairs in Costco!  Perfect for waiting husbands! haha!!Spotted in California (14)

I am always on the look out for new flavours!Spotted in California (15)

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Spotted at Target!  Gretchen Picache!Spotted in California (19)

Play Station office in Foster City Spotted in California (20)

Interesting products at Trader Joe’sSpotted in California (21)

Green things at Trader Joe’sSpotted in California (22)

Interesting snacks at StarbucksSpotted in California (23)

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Tita Tina

By | Tributes | No Comments

 So happy to see Pam Villanueva Pena and her family – Edwin, Rosanna, Eliana and Manoli.   They are here following the wishes of Pam’s Mom, Tita Tina, to be buried in Foster City where they used to live.  Pam was my roommate when we lived in Madrid. She now lives in Denver with her family

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Tita Tina was the pillar of the family and kept them all together

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 Assumption Batch mates reunited for Pam – Triccie Campos Lacson and Marichit Bantug Mendoza.   Marichit stayed in Assumption till 2nd year high school and left to continue high school in Foster City which is how she met Pam. She is now a pediatrician and is married also to a DoctorTita Tina (1)

Beautiful venue for the reception in Foster City – Hearts of San Francisco – for the benefit of the San Francisco General Hospital – Heartwebs by Jeanne Briggs Feb 2009Tita Tina (11)

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Beautiful sister of Pam, Val who lives in Hawaii

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Goodness Gang Super Foodz

By | What's New at Rustan's | No Comments

Rustan’s Supermarket‘s popular Goodness Gang is making a comeback with brand new members of the Superfoodz Edition, and they’re hitting the shelves as heroes of healthy eating and good nutrition.

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Following the success of the first Goodness Gang release, which included some favorite fruits and vegetables in the form of soft plush toys that remind you to love your body by adhering to the 5-a-day rule (5 pieces of fruits, vegetables, or a combination of both, to be consumed each day), the 8 new Superfoodz stars are powerhouses of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Known for fighting off chronic diseases, heart and bone problems, obesity, and simple illnesses, this year’s gang is out to lead you onto the path to eating well and right, and keeping you in tiptop shape.

Leading the Goodness Gang is Max the Mighty Mushroom, the only fruit and vegetable with the sunshine vitamin – Vitamin D – that grows bones and strengthens muscles, while Pippa the Playful Pepper packs in Vitamins C and B to fight diseases and keep skin and hair healthy. Fiber, meanwhile, is Alex the Action Apple’s specialty, which he uses to stop high levels of bad cholesterol while his B-Complex vitamins protect the red blood cells and nervous system.

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A mighty defender against infections and diseases, Billy the Brilliant Blueberry may be small, but he has more antioxidants than most other bigger fruits and vegetables. Patrick the Powerful Pea is another hero to watch out for as he saves the joints, lungs, heart, and bones from painful conditions. There’s also Thomas the Trusted Tomato, whose choice weapon is lycopene that nourishes cell membranes to remove the junk out of cells and keep the good nutrients in.

Vitamin C is Olivia the Outgoing Orange’s super strength, which repairs skin damage due to the sun and pollution while also defeating nasty colds and flu. Finally there’s Fiona the Fantastic Fig, who combats the negative effects of processed food, salt, and fat with potassium and fiber.

Rustan’s Supermarket customers can get their hands on the Goodness Gang beginning September 1 until November 30 with eight colorful, adorable plush toys that can be redeemed through stickers gained from shopping in Rustan’s and purchasing sponsors’ products.

Each plush toy is FREE with 50 stickers earned or may be purchased for only P299 with 25 stickers earned. Customers earn 1 sticker for every P300 spent while an extra sticker is earned for every P100 on sponsored items.

Get yourself, your family and friends in the bandwagon of health and good nutrition by bringing home the Goodness Gang from Rustan’s Supermarket.

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Rustan’s Supermarkets are located at Makati Area: Glorietta, Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Magallanes, Alphaland Makati Place, Paseo Center, Century City Mall, San Antonio Plaza. North Area: Shangri-La Plaza, Gateway Mall, Katipunan, Tomas Morato, P.Guevarra, Corinthian Hills, Village Center Antipolo. South Area: Ayala Alabang Village, Evia Lifestyle Center. Cebu: Oakridge Business Park, Ayala Center, Arcenas Estate. CDO: Ayala Centrio Mall. Also visit Marketplace by Rustan’s at Rockwell Powerplant Mall and Central Square Bonifacio High Street.

For more info, visit www.rustansfresh.com

Champagne

By | Foodie | No Comments

Yay!  Family visitors!!  Mia and Jenny!!
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We had Chinese food in our newly discovered resto in the area.  It’s also new in the neighbourhood – Champagne

Crispy Macau PorkChampagne (2)

Stir fried chickenChampagne (3)

Yummy!!  not in the menu but we requested for Crispy salt and pepper tofu and it was okay!

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Shredded Crab and EggChampagne (6)

Stir fried beefChampagne (7)

Salted egg prawnsChampagne (8)

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First time for us to go to a Chinese restaurant which comes with  complimentary dessert buffet 🙂  Instead of them bringing the complimentary dessert, you can go to the buffet and just help yourself 🙂  Champagne (1)Click below to go to their Facebook pageCHampagne facebook page

Banks in the USA

By | Travel | No Comments

I love the Bank buildings in the States!!  There are still a few that have kept their buildings since it is rare that you see banks these big especially with advanced technology in banking.  Some have already converted them into stores like the Restoration Hardware in Boston which used to be a bank building

 Here are some that I saw Banks in the USA (2)

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In San Mateo there is this new restaurant bar Vault 164, I heard that this was previously a bank Banks in the USA (1)

Il Fornaio and Osteria Coppa

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

We had a lot of Italian food this trip because since I was dieting I made the hubby choose all the restaurants and he was always looking for either brisket, calamari or pizza :-O  In San Mateo, we love these two Italian restaurants aside from Pizza Delfina (Previous entry:  Pizzeria Delfina Dec. 21, 2014 )

 Il FornaioIl Fornaio (2)

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Calamari!  We had around 12 calamaris this trip! :-O  They do calamari very well in the States so we always order itIl Fornaio (7)

Steak TartareIl Fornaio (8)

Cristina Pizza -fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, shaved grana padano, mushrooms and wild arugula drizzled with white truffle oil – YUM!Il Fornaio (9)

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Wefie 🙂  Happy Birthday Pepe!!Il Fornaio (1)

Click below to go to their website

Founded in Italy in 1972, Il Fornaio offers lunch and dinner guests the most authentic Italian dining experience available at 21 restaurants across the US.

Founded in Italy in 1972, Il Fornaio offers lunch and dinner guests the most authentic Italian dining experience available at 21 restaurants across the US.

We also love Osteria CoppaIl Fornaio_ (2)

I was shocked the hubby didn’t order calamari!  haha!! He had Burrata instead.  It looks beautiful and those tomatoes were so fresh and so sweet! YUM!Il Fornaio_ (3)

Housemade pork sausage, speck and crimini mushrooms!  YUM!!Il Fornaio_ (1)

 Click Below to go to their website

Artisan Italian restaurant in San Mateo, California, featuring handcrafted pasta, Neapolitan-style pizza, antipasti, house cured salumi and other Italian specialties using local, organic, seasonal ingredients.

Artisan Italian restaurant in San Mateo, California, featuring handcrafted pasta, Neapolitan-style pizza, antipasti, house cured salumi and other Italian specialties using local, organic, seasonal ingredients.

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