Quince

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

One of my favourite dining experiences this trip!!  I love the entrance of the restaurant!  I don’t remember if there was even a sign.  

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It was rated a One Star Michelin in the 2013 guide but last October it was awarded Two Michelin Stars!!

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On the left side of the entrance is the kitchen where you can take a peek at whats happening.  On the way out I peeped and later on realised that Chef Michael Tusk was right in front of me! I would have wanted to take a photo but I did not know it was him when I was peeking!  

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 Beautiful interiors

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 Private dining room

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 Main dining

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 Love the centrepiece and the crisps

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 Three menu choices though they ask that everyone in the table gets the same

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 So we got the tasting menu.  I loved every single dish that was served!  

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 Love the canapés!!!  

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I asked our server to list it down 🙂  

Cranberry and parsnip bavar, Farro cracker with red kuri,  squash truffle,

Ricotta tartlet, delicate squash chips, chiogga beet chip 

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Calamandine sorbet with black tea and honey liquid nitrogen dipping dots – what an invention! 

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 My birthday cake 🙂

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Love the tea service

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Aside from all the elements that make a restaurant a Michelin Star rated is the service.  To prove that point, James told us he was going to the restroom and to watch his napkin on the table.  There was no server around us in sight but as soon as James stood up, put down his napkin on his table, immediately our server came and folded it and placed it on the table!  Amazing! 🙂  Well earned Michelin Stars 🙂 

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Beautiful entrance to the restroom area. I love the Italian chandeliers all over

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Hot chocolate on your way out!!! I love it!!

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Click below to go to their website

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On the very left after the open kitchen is another restaurant by Chef Michael Tusk.  It’s a more casual dining place  I am definitely coming back to try this one!!

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Sightings in the Bay Area 2014

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We were in California in January and all the stores were on sale!!  In some stores, it was the entire store on sale!!  

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LOVE! Mac store in Stanford Mall
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Spotted near the Apple store – GP Rufino!!  I did not recognise him at first when he called my name!!!  So happy to see you GP!!!  Looking forward to our next visit! 
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OMG!  SUPER TARGET!
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Unique Pringles flavors
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James would like this 🙂
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WOW! 🙂
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Cupertino. Home of the mothership!  
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Pink bubble wrap in Staples 🙂
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Teuscher store in Stanford Mall! Love the valentine decor
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I can’t believe it!  A Doll Hair salon in American Girl store!
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Interesting!
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Everytime I go, there is always a new flavour! I love Lindt Truffles
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Cake mixes 🙂
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Silver House

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We discovered a Chinese restaurant from Tito Ato, Tita Ate and Clarissa!  We love it!!!!  

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We let Tito Ato do the ordering since this is one of his favourite places
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Deep Fried Flounder! YUM!
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Fresh lobster
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Juicers and Blenders

By | Household Tips, Shopping | 3 Comments

This has been my juicer for the past 5 years!  It was one of the first ones probably and my mom bought one in Bloomingdales and then she bought one for me 🙂  I forgot how much it cost during that time,  maybe around $ 75.00 to $ 100.00.  But I bought one in 2012 for $ 53.00 (amazon prime)  and now I recently saw it for $ 39.99 (amazon prime.)  It’s a good juicer.  I have had no complaints about it because probably it does the job and I am not the one cleaning it! 🙂

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 See video

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I bought the other one for the States for me to use while I am there so I could still have my green smoothie every morning – I wanted to cry! 🙂  I would spend almost an hour every morning to clean the vegetables, slice them, then juice them, then drink the smoothie then the cleaning is the nightmare!! I have to disassemble all the parts and clean it and the hardest is that strainer part where the pulp gets stuck.  I never realised it was this complicated 🙂  I never had to worry about it since my staff at home does it for me.  But don’t get me wrong, I love this machine, I still have it at home and this is what I use but I have to use a blender after to add ice or frozen yogurt or banana.  My staff does it all at home.  The price is good and it does the job if you don’t want to spend a lot for a juicer.

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 Then I went to Costco and they had this demo there for this blender called VITAMIX!  I wish I took a video of the demo because it was so amazing!! I just put a video here from youtube.  Take time to watch 🙂

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It’s my dream machine 🙂 It really blends the fruits and vegetables so well together with the ice, the bonus was it was so easy to clean!!!! 🙂 I remember the price being US$ 300 plus in costco – I guess it is higher online.  I am still hoping that one day I can own this but maybe only if I am the one doing the juicing 🙂  Worried the expensive gadget may break if mishandled 🙁 I have had maybe 7 to 10 blenders already in the house that have been damaged by the staff 🙁  

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You can buy it here in the Philippines

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This is a good blender too recommended by my friend, Lucille!  Because of her, all the girls ordered it too in 2012 at a price of around $70.00.  Now it’s around $100.00  

Previous entry: Lucille’s Homemade Cuchinillo January 8, 2012 

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 Another juicer introduced to me by my friend Bambee, Hurom,  was actually popular.  I know a few friends and family who bought it after I featured it.  Javier wants me to get him one too.  

Previous entry  Bambee’s Juicer March 5, 2013

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 Another one I heard about is from a demo in Rustan’s, called Matstone

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This is the most recent one I heard about from Patty! JUICEPRESSO which is made in Korea.  It costs P 16,999.00 and you get back a P 1,000 GC from S&R 🙂  Available in S & R only for now.  I love that it can make calamansi juice this way! LOOK!!! 

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Judging by that video – I asked Patty if it’s like a Hurom and she said yes except that this is the difference

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 Sharing here the difference between a blender and a juicer

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 I love smoothies!  Previous entries:  Shakes and Smoothies April 8, 2011  

Smoothies April 3, 2011  

Lucille’s Smoothie Recipe October 6, 2011

For the past five years I have been taking this green smoothie everyday which was taught to me by my Mom.  I sometimes add Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt simply tart and add a banana to complete it 🙂 The apple in this mixture adds the sweetness to the juice so you don’t really get to taste the bitterness of the ampalaya and green pepper.  To mask it some more, add the banana – and even more with the frozen yogurt 🙂

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My kids take it too but not as regular.  I made a menu for them and for the kitchen to use so they don’t have to think anymore and I make it easier for them to have their smoothies.  So they will just order from the kitchen through the menu and just give the number of the smoothie they want.  I got some recipes online and we are trying them now.  Our number one is still the Green smoothie but slowly trying out the others

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Other recipes 

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