chikka
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE PHILIPPINES THIS MONTH
SUCCUMB TO THE SUN IN CEBU AND REFRESH YOUR MEMORY OF VISAYAN HOSPITALITY
HOW TO GET THERE:
It’s only a one-hour 10-minute fl ight from Manila, with 10 daily fl ights to choose from. Cebu Pacifi c also fl ies daily from Clark, Bacolod, Davao and Iloilo, or four times weekly from Zamboanga, Singapore and Hong Kong, so there’s no excuse not to visit!
Many hotels and resorts have on-site greetings at the airport, and there are taxis readily available outside. Trips to Cebu City are approx PHP200, while Mactan Island is slightly less at PHP120-PHP150.
WHERE TO STAY:
Perched on Nivel Hills is the recently opened Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City. Previously the site of landmark Cebu Plaza Hotel, the Marco Polo group has done a major overhaul, adding their Middle Eastern air and continental chic. Splash out and try their new Continental Club facilities.
WHAT TO DO:
As the Philippines’ oldest city, there are plenty of sights, particularly from colonial times where you can trace the fi nal steps of Magellan.
For a bit of shopping, escape the malls and check out downtown’s Colon Street.
White sandy beaches are less than two hours away, or indulge at one of the many resorts on Mactan Island.
WHAT TO EAT:
Many famous Filipino dishes originate from Cebu. Try local faves such as Kinilaw (raw fi sh salad), Kanding Caldereta (goat stew), Inun Unan (fi sh) and Sinigang (pork in broth). Café Laguna at Ayala Center serves traditional fare.
For a more rustic feel, try seafood at Golden Cowrie (Salinas Drive Lahug, Cebu City).
HOW TO PAMPER:
Set on a private lagoon, Plantation Bay on Mactan Island offers a unique spa experience. See our feature about spas on page 54.
HOW TO PARTY:
Get your wallet ready at Casino Filipino@Waterfront Hotel Mactan. Or for a more mellow evening experience, make your way up to Tops, a spectacular vantage point 30 minutes from Cebu City, where you can watch the sunset transform into twinkling city lights.
Here, you will also fi nd the legendary iron bell. Ring it “once for fi rm partnership, twice for lasting friendship or three times for love that never ends”.
WHAT TO DRINK:
At the Hilton Cebu Hotel and Resort, Manny O’s Wine & Tapas is great for “boutique wines”. Try a signature Pink cocktail at the Pink Lobby Lounge or gaze out at the infi nity pool in the Sapphire Pool Bar with a refreshing ginger tea. For entertainment, the Shangri-La Cebu’s Lobby Lounge offers live entertainment in the evenings.
Beauty Box
| MAC Powder Blush Add a dash of color and highlights to the skin with MAC Powder Blush. Its subtle light refraction leaves skin with a soft, healthy-looking glow. Use the shimmering particles to highlight those cheekbones. Price: PHP1,200 (US$24) Where: MAC Store Glorietta and Marionnaud SM Mall of Asia |  |
| Ole Henriksen Skin Inhalation Therapy I Indulge your skin with the uplifting benefi ts of aromatic tangerine, peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils. Its precise blend of natural essences calms sensitive and irritated skin, while its antiseptic action fi ghts impurities and breakouts. Price: PHP1,275 (US$25.50) Where: Beauty Bar Glorietta, Greenbelt 3, Rockwell and Galleria |  |
| Lush Bob Soap Lush’s gently cleansing Christmas soap is made from clove bud oil, to stimulate positive thoughts; orange oil, to eliminate toxins; and cinnamon and black pepper, to stimulate body and mind. Price: PHP225 (US$4.50) for 100g Where: Lush Shangri-La Plaza, Greenbelt 3, Glorietta 4, SM Mall of Asia and The Power Plant Mall |  |
| Youngblood Natural Mineral Foundation This unique silky powder is a foundation, concealer and powder all rolled into one. Offering exceptional, high-performance coverage, this mineral-based foundation glides on all skin types beautifully, to provide natural coverage. Price: PHP1,850 (US$37) Where: Beauty Bar stores nationwide, Power Plant Mall, Gateway Mall, The Podium, Robinsons Galleria, Festival Supermall, Greenbelt 3, Eastwood Citywalk, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Mall and SM Baguio |  |
| Pout Plump Inflate your lips with Pout, the ultimate lip-plumping gloss for a full-on pout. The peppermint-infused, cooling gloss contains Maxi-LipTM — a unique ingredient that hydrates the lips and increases collagen. With repeated use, it has shown to plump up lips by up to 40 per cent. Price: PHP1,300 (US$26) Where: Beauty Bar Glorietta 2, Power Plant Mall and The Podium |  |
| Awake Shimmer Glow Eye Jelly Stardom This shimmering eye color has a soft, jelly-like texture to provide a long-lasting shade to the eyelids. Formulated with watercress extract, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, this water-based formula has hydrating benefits. Where: Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La |  |
| Chanel Sublimage Essential Regenerating Cream Made with vanilla from Madagascar, this polyfractioning technique pinpoints wrinkles, loss of fi rmness, dehydration, lack of radiance and inconsistency in pigmentation. Price: PHP16,000 (US$320) Where: Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La, Ayala Alabang, Gateway Mall, Cebu Ayala and Essenses Robinsons Place |  |
DID YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HOME TO AN UNFAIR AMOUNT OF WORLD FIRSTS?
FIRST: In 1613, the first Filipino-Spanish dictionary was printed. It is 25 years older than the first book that was printed in the United States.
FIRST: Built in the late 1970s, the Magapit Suspension Bridge was the fi rst in Asia, and was an icon of modernity stretching 0.76km between the fi rst and second districts of Cayagan.
FIRST: The yoyo was invented in the Philippines in the 16th century.
FIRST: The Basilica of San Sebastian was the fi rst all-steel building in Asia. It’s still the only steel church, and after the Eiffel Tower, the second building ever to be made out of steel.
FIRST: Philippines Herald war journalist Carlos P Romulo was the fi rst Asian to win a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in 1942.
concerts and events
CATCH CLAPTON IN CONCERT:
13 Jan 2007 – Indoor Stadium, Singapore (tickets from www.sistic.com) 15 Jan 2007 – Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand (tickets from www. thaiticketmaster.com) 17 Jan 2007 – Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld Arena (tickets from www.hkticketing.com)
CLAPTON’S COMBACK
Fast Facts on Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton last toured in Asia on 17 January 1990.
In the late 1960s, one of the most prominent pieces of graffi ti seen in London and New York was “Clapton is God”.
On 30 March 1945, Eric Patrick Clapton was born in his grandparents’ house at 1, The Green, Ripley, Surrey, England. Clapton was fi rst inspired to sing and compose when he saw Jerry Lee Lewis on British TV.
At 17 years old, he was expelled from school for playing the guitar in class.
He studied stained-glass design.
In the early days, Clapton’s nickname was “Slowhand” as he often broke guitar strings during his performances and had to replace them onstage.
Clapton formed his own band with the modest aims to: “start a revolution in musical thought… to change the world, to upset people, and to shock them.”
“Layla” was inspired by a love triangle between Clapton, Beatle George Harrison and Harrison’s wife Pattie. Clapton eventually married Pattie in 1979.
1990 was Clapton’s annus horribilis when he lost three close friends in a helicopter crash, followed by his four-year-old son, Conor, who fell to his death from a high-rise apartment.
The death of Clapton’s son inspired the award-winning song, “Tears In Heaven”.
He is the only artist to be added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times.
INTERNATIONAL DIVOS
Did you know:
Il Divo was formed by Simon Cowell, star judge of Pop and American Idols. Unusual for a manufactured band, but they really can sing. In fact, their credentials are impeccable:
• Swiss tenor Urs Buhler sung with the Netherlands Opera for seven years.
• Tenor David Miller was widely thought to be one of the best opera singers in America.
• Carlos Marin is a baritone who has sung in opera productions around the world.
• The pop contingent is Frenchman Sebastien Izambard, who has been called the “new prodigy of French pop”.
Classical music sensation, Il Divo comes to:
20 January 2007 – Manila’s PICC (tickets from Ticketworld.com) 27 January 2007 – Hong Kong (tickets from HKTicketing.com)
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
Matt Monroe was one of Britain’s greatest singers, with a 30-year career and hits that inspired musicians even today. After the success of his 2005 tour, his son, Matt Monroe Jr steps into his father’s shoes and performs at the Casino Filipino Paranaque on 6 December at 8pm. Tickets are available from Ticketworld.com.
PACK YOUR CAMPING GEAR
Apo Hiking Society are back! Their new show, The APO Experience takes place at the SM Megamall, Cinema 9, on 8 December 2006. Tickets are available from Ticketworld.com.
FLY WITH PETER PAN
The Boy Who Never Grew Up charms audiences again with the newest version of the perennial favorite, Peter Pan, showing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Main Theater from 12 January to 4 February 2007.
DANCE IDOL
The Ballet Philippines will be performing an American Idol-style show that’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. With an expert panel of “judges” (ballet dancers) offering their unique remarks on a series of well-loved and original performances, there will be something to tickle everyone’s fancy. Visit www.ballet.com.ph or call (2) 832-6011 for more information.
new openings
AVANA LAUGH Featuring a luxurious collection of casual and formal wear with delicious silk full-length dresses and funky accessories, the store is designed to be a walk-in wardrobe, where clients can pick out anything to try. #01/07 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, Singapore, www.avanastyle.com |  |
| VIVA LA CITY Singapore’s biggest “multi-experiential retail and lifestyle destination”, VivoCity celebrates its big launch on 1 December 2006. At the time of going to print, it has received 3.4 million visitors in less than a month – Singaporeans love to shop! Don’t miss out on their funky mix of retail, food and beverage and entertainment outlets, filling up 1.04 million square feet. |  |
WEDDINGS ARE A BALL Designed by EC Studio, it is the lap of luxury, illustrated by its private rooms, 10 chandeliers and the Travertine Sculpture, accessible by its own dedicated entrance. 1588 Pedro Gil corner of M.H. del Pilar, Malate, Manila 1004, tel (2) 245-1234, www.manila.casino.hyatt.com |  |
FABULOUS Entitled FAB, it is the concept of Executive Chef Cyrille Soenen, who explains: “It will have a rotisserie, dessert and salad buffets – and the rest will be plated in the more European style. You can choose all your vegetables, style of food, and it will be served to you, so you needn’t get in and out of your seat too much!” |  |
DUO
With original art, a cozy yet sophisticated feel, and a chic, intimate bar upstairs, this newly opened French steakhouse and bar resides in the über-trendy Serendra area near the Fort, and is the spot to enjoy a dinner with friends or a dinner à duo. Serendra Piazza, McKinley Parkway, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Celebrations
MALIGAYANG PASKO! WITH A WEALTH OF FESTIVITIES TO GET IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AND WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR, IT’S LIKELY THAT WE ENJOY THE “BER” MONTHS MORE THAN ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE COUNTRY
PAMPANGA
The “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” is Pampanga and the hub: San Fernando. As well as boasting Asia’s only Christmas theme park in Paskuhan Village, San Fernando celebrates Christmas with enormous lanterns. Each is 40ft in diameter and uses close to 16,000 bulbs. Barangays compete to pzut on the most spectacular show, with the lantern’s lights twirling and spinning like giant kaleidoscopes to music. It really is a sight to behold.
Smile talks to Ivan Anthony S Henares, former Chairman of the Giant Lantern Festival.
Why is the Lantern Festival so special?
The Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando is very different from the ones held in other places. Aside from the size, the lights dance together with the music that is played during the festival night. It is a barangay effort, with lantern-makers planning months in advance. It takes about two months to build the actual lantern.
Who makes the lanterns?
Craftsmen from each participating barangay do.
How many people does it attract?
About 100,000. It is held in an open-air amphitheatre at the back of SM City Pampanga.
What has helped the event grow into such a success?
The festival has become so popular because the display of lights is an awesome example of Filipino ingenuity. Watching the lanterns on festival night is nothing short of spectacular. Even an electrical engineer would be amazed with the manual control of the thousands of lights.
CAVITE
The town of Imus in Cavite, located just outside Manila, celebrates Christmas in full-blown style with a month-long festival. Christmas lights, lanterns, a food fair and nightly entertainment.
CHRISTMAS IN HONG KONG
This is a city where nothing is done by halves. Revel in the sheer kitsch of Central’s Winterfest, an amazing celebration of Santa, his elves and everything Christmassy. A giant Christmas tree overlooks it all.
There are musical boxes and a selection of Singing Santas. You can even visit the real Santa in his lodge. Hear carols in Snowy Chapel, post a letter at Santa’s Post Offi ce and steal a kiss in Mistletoe Corner. www.discoverhongkong.com
NEW YEAR IN BANGKOK
Ratchaprasong Square in Bangkok is the site of artistic expression when it comes to ushering in the New Year. Enjoy performers and fi reworks – after all, the Thais are known for throwing great parties!
NEW YEAR IN SINGAPORE
Singapore’s party island, Sentosa, hosts Siloso Beach Party – Asia’s Grooviest, the so-called biggest New Year’s celebration in the city. Expect Siloso Beach to transform into a huge dance fl oor, with DJs keeping the crowds happy.
There will be wet and dry zones, lasers and pyrotechnics, and a selection of entertainment, including fi re-eaters, dancers, stilt-walkers, temporary tattooists and palm-reading. Loads of fun on this tropical island!
Hot Stuff
THE AMAZING RACE
With two pairs of Filipino competitors, this edition looks set to be one of the best yet.
DUMAGUETE
Capital Building is elaborately decorated and lanterns lit in the trees in Freedom 
Park. Watch out for various evening performances in the month-long celebration.
PUERTA PRINCESA
A giant Christmas tree is lit in City Park, signaling the start of the holiday season.
BRITISH COOL
The name is Bond, James Bond. The world’s coolest spy returns to the big screen with a make-over in the form of Daniel Craig.
CEBU
Carols are sung from 1-23 December in SM City’s Entertainment Plaza. Students from different schools participate to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the city!
SANTA ROSA, LAGUNA
The ever-popular Enchanted Kingdom rises to the Christmas occasion with a daily pyrotechnic show and musical performances.
BOHOL-CHINA PARTNERSHIP
The governor of Bohol has signed a “sisterhood agreement” with the Chinese province of Jiangxi to encourage Chinese to experience the Chocolate Hills and, in turn, Filipinos can feel at home in Jiangxi’s beautiful Lushan mountain resort.
KYLIE MINOGUE
After battling breast cancer in the past year, the Aussie Princess of Pop bounces back with her new concert, “The Showgirl Homecoming Tour”.
BEACH CLEAN-UP
Thanks to the issuance of Executive Order No. 156 Series of 2006, Boracay beach must now be kept clear of illegal structures to protect nature’s beauty.
DINAGYANG
Fling on Ati warrior costumes and body paint at the fi esta of the year in Iloilo city from 25-26 January 2007.
CORRUPTION
Anti-corruption measures are being taken in the Philippines, with two leading development colleges offering a special course for public servants.
CHEMICAL PESTICIDES
Pests, look out! A new pest control using ethno-botanicals is in the making at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, West Visayas State University as well as Panay State Polytechnic University.
TYPHOON TROUBLES
Down but not out, as another typhoon Paeng hit the Philippines this year, crashing through Northern Luzon. Filipinos prove their resilience as cities briskly get back to business.
SAVING
With the holiday season coming up fast, it’s time to spend, spend, spend!
WIGS
They might fool us for a while, Paris and Madonna, but now we’ll never believe you when you really do get a funky new haircut.
You Know You’re Filipino if…
You keep your furniture wrapped in plastic.
You can’t build a house unless you first bury religious medals and money at the site.
You abide by your parents’ house rules even if you are over 18.
You think nothing about hosting a houseful of balikbayan relatives for weeks on end — and can still smile about it.
You demand that your children sing and dance to amuse your friends and relatives.
Your car chirps like a bird, plays a tune, or simply attracts attention when you put it in reverse.
Your ability to create your own parking space in a totally jam-packed parking lot puts Houdini to shame.
You know the rules of the road: in the event of an impasse, the driver to fi rst achieve eye contact with the other driver has lost his nerve and must give in.
Christmas isn’t Christmas without a parol and a belen.
There are at least 50 people on your Christmas gift list.
You insist that the customs officers who had opened your luggage repack everything “just the way it was”.
You’ve mastered the art of packing a suitcase to double capacity.
You drive a car which proudly bears foreign licence plates to publicize the last travel destination you had been to.
You use paper foot outlines when buying shoes for friends and relatives.
You smile all the time for no reason at all.
You refer to a person whose name escapes you as “Si ano”.
Adapted from the best-selling book You Know You’re Filipino If…. by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, with drawings by Dindo Llana. Published in the Philippines by Tahanan Press. Available at all major bookshops. www. tahananbooks.com
MAX-imus Respect-us
MTV ASIA’S NEXT BIG THING, MAX LOONG TELLS FERDZ ANCHETA WHY HE’S FALLEN IN LOVE WITH FILIPINOS
MAX SAID…
1. I love the Philippines, or rather, her people. Filipinos are great! Every time someone asks me what I like most about the Philippines, I always mention that it’s the people.
2. To be an MTV VJ, you have to be natural, spontaneous and fun — but with substance. It is obvious to viewers if you are trying too hard to be funny and lively.
3. MTV’s main market is young people, so we have to make sure we have a positive infl uence on the kids.
4. I like to do things with passion, always 100 per cent. If I’m working, I work very hard. When I party, I party hard. So when I relax, I like to be in bed the whole day! Bumming around, watching videos, that sort of thing.
5. “I love exotic, fi ery girls. Filipinos in general happen to be the kind of people I like. They’re very warm, and you can talk to them about almost everything”
6. As a teenager, I was very shy. Now, when I approach someone, it’s because I want to talk, not because I’m a VJ or anything.
follow our fab-fashion trend report chikka
SNEAK A PEAK AT SIX HOT-TO-TROT TRENDS TO TRY, GUARANTEED TO TAKE YOU FROM GEEK-TO-CHIC IN SECONDS!
HEAVY METAL
What do Ivanka Trump and Calista Flockhart have in common? They are both shining examples of fashion’s fascination with all things metallic.
You too can dazzle onlookers and radiate glamour by taking on this opulent trend that has splashed across the season’s catwalks.
Look for lame, brocade and other shiny fabrics, and pair them with black accessories for a classic take; denim, for an interesting contrast; or Lycra, to relive the golden days of disco and re-enact the wild nights at Studio 54!
SMALL PRINT
Take tips from patterns of the past and rock in some funky, printed threads.
Emerging as the to-die-for detail that the designers just can’t do without, prints — in all their riotous glory — have been seen festooned across the runways and upon the back of many a style-savvy celeb.
From fl oral to check, houndstooth to tartan, they’re a sure-fi re way to gussy up a solid-coloured separate and 
update your wardrobe instantly.
LAYER CAKE
Wrap up this season’s look, and dare to layer, layer, layer! As layering-mania takes the fashion stage by storm, this season’s options are hotter than ever. Think bag-lady chic meets collegiate-cool with a little of the swinging ’60s thrown in for good measure.
A fashion-fave amongst designers, layering is a fun way to play with your proportions. Pile it on and make it pretty with scarves, hats, and this season’s stockings. From left, Ensembles collection; Liz Claiborne at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Plaza Mall; winter layers at Burberry.
GRAPHITE GLAM
Fast emerging as the fashion-forward colour in which to be seen, gray is the steely hue taking center stage on the runway.
Spanning charcoal to shimmering steel, gray is the nifty neutral that works well on its own or as a backdrop to a splash of vivacious colour. Appear poised and austere in a shade of gun-metal gray, or vamp up the volume with a glam-slam of silvery sparkle.
Either way, gray is considered fab — not drab — this season.
SHORT STORY
Prepare your pins for a mini-revolution as super-small shorts and thigh-scraping micro-minis see hemlines (and male temperatures) soaring!
Showcase your legs and discover that a pair of never-ending legs is the ultimate fashion accessory.
Zip up your look by experimenting with accents of volume or layering. tip: the fashion faint-hearted can make this look more modest by creating a covered-up effect with black opaque stockings.
BLACK BEAUTY
Be the femme fatale in your very own film noir and get vamped up ala Catherine Zeta Jones and Victoria Beckham, both of whom are recently turned on to this pitch-dark fashion-frequency.
Morph yourself into something sultry and work black on black, keeping it interesting by introducing different textures. For example, check out Posh Spice’s high-shine shoes! Seen all over this season’s runway, black is bringing sexy back.
7 new restaurants to sample in 2007
When people fi nd out I am a food and travel writer, the fi rst question they ask is, “Where should we eat?”.
BY MAIDA C PINEDA
To satiate palates for the coming year, here are my top picks of newly opened restaurants or fresh concepts that have been recently introduced. These selections feature various cuisines and ambiences to suit every mood and budget.
So go ahead! Begin the year with a delicious food trip… there’s a place for every day of the week!
ROUND AND ROUND WE GO
Name: Circles Event Café
Address: Makati Shangri-La , Ayala Avenue corner of Makati Avenue, Makati
Tel: (2) 813-8888
Price Range: PHP980++ (lunch); PHP1,088++ (dinner)
Filipinos love buffets for the sheer quantity and variety of food. As hotels in Manila try to outdo each other with chic new interiors and trendy buffets, the one that gets my vote is Makati Shangri-La’s Circles Event Cafe.
Tuck into shellfi sh, sushi, Indian roti and Naan breads with dhal and lamb curry, dim sum, roast duck, leg of lamb, US prime rib, tempura, lechon (roast pig), shawarma, pizza and pasta.
While many succumb to gimmickry, this one pulls off a truly interactive dining experience. Only the freshest ingredients are used, and the salad station mimics an actual vegetable garden where you can pick your own greens.
The most recent innovation is the Cosmetic Candy Counter where a cosmetics lady offers free samples of strawberry lipsticks, chocolate mascara, butter-cream lip gloss and fruit syrups in lotion containers. I leave with a renewed interest in hotel buffets, smiling like a kid leaving a children’s party.
SOME LIKE IT HOT
Name: SOMS
Address: 1766 N. Garcia corner of Milagros Street Valenzuela Makati and 5921 A. Alger Street, Poblacion, Makati
Tel: (2) 0917-607-9071
Price Range: PHP65-150
Finding delicious food in hole-in-the-wall places is one of life’s sweetest joys. So I was all ears when friends 
raved about a cheap Thai restaurant in Makati.
SOMS opened its fi rst restaurant on the outskirts of Rockwell in 2005. Makati professionals embraced the restaurant which describes itself as serving “authentic Thai food at reasonable prices”.
In September 2006, it opened its second branch to cater for the high demand. Now, even famous basketball players and celebrities are counted among its clientele.
The interiors are not fancy. Orange walls and fl oral tiled tables make a cheerful ambience. But people are here for the food.
Owner Ryan Alimon serves food created by his father, Parinya Pattamadilok, a Thai cook, and his Ilongga mother. The fl avor is distinctly Thai with that sweetness Filipinos love.
The Tom Yam soup with chilli, lemongrass and shrimp is soothing, sour, spicy and sweet. Sweet Yellow Curry Crabs are mind-blowing: each dish of the sweet crabmeat laced with coconut curry serves four people for the ridiculous price of PHP150. The Spicy Fried Rice with Basil is a complete meal, pleasantly hot and cheap at only PHP110. With such prices, no wonder the budget-conscious connoisseurs love this place.
FRENCH BLISS
Name: Claude’s Le Café De Ville
Address: 29 Rizal Street, Paseo de Habana, Davao City
Tel: (82) 222-4287
Price Range: PHP160-940
This quaint restaurant has been in Davao for 10 years, but fi nding it tucked amidst the clutter of busy Rizal Street was one of my best discoveries this year. Retired hotelier, Claude, who has lived in 20 countries, bestows the restaurant with the same standards of excellence he has delivered to hotels.
The homemade liver pate, spread on Claude’s crusty bread and topped with onion marmalade, is simply sublime. The cured Tanguigue comes in delicate, paper-thin slices topped with chopped onion, olive oil, and a spoonful of sour cream.
Claude’s Pepper Steak hits all the spots: a generous serving of tender, juicy beef loaded with fl avor and nicely complimented by a brandy sauce. Leave room for Meringue Vacherin, an original creation of meringue and ice-cream, topped with slivers of almonds and chocolate sauce.
Claude’s is often the setting for romantic dinners and even marriage proposals. After a decadent French meal, it surely comes naturally to fall in love.
GIVE “OOMPA” TO THE PINOYS
Name: Cyma Greek Restaurant
Address: Shangri-La Plaza Mall EDSA, corner of Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Tel: (2) 637-3090
Price Range: PHP180-425 “Oompa” is a Greek expression of joy in their festivities. The Filipinos share their love for food and food-related family gatherings. Capitalizing on these cultural similarities is Cyma, a Greek restaurant in the Shangri-La Plaza Mall that puts a bit of “oompa” into the sixth fl oor.
Chef Robby Goco’s celebration begins with waiters cheering “oompa” as the Flaming Saganaki is served. The fl ambéed Kasseri cheese dish soaked in alcohol melts and leaves a lingering taste in your mouth.
Cyma’s signature pasta is the Pastisado, a Greek Osso Bucco served over spaghetti, often called Bulalo pasta. This beef shank braised in tomato sauce is similar to our favorite marrow and beef bone soup. My favorite dish was the Cyma Lamb Chops, charbroiled tender and well marinated, enabling a delicious marriage of fl avors between meat and herbs.
The restaurant’s name, “Cyma” means “to fl ourish” in Greek. After opening the fi rst Cyma in December 2005 in Boracay and the second branch in EDSA in May 2006, the third branch is slated to open in Greenbelt in December 2006.
THE SILICIAN DIET
Name: Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast
Address: Paseo Saturnino, Maria Luisa Road, Banilad, Cebu City
Tel: (32) 343-9901
Price Range: PHP320-420
Chef Giuseppe eschews the current no-carb phase and returns to traditions with a bigger, better Italian restaurant. In his brand-new pizza place, savor the aroma of the wood-fi red oven – built by Giuseppe’s own hand.
Enjoy a few glasses of Sicilian wine and load up on carbs with his homemade pasta and risotto. Giuseppe’s pizza crust is exceptionally thin and everyone’s favorite is the Gregorio, loaded with tomato, mozzarella, sausages, salami, smoked ham and parma ham.
He is not timid with his use of ingredients or cream, as evident in the Tortellacci Oliver and Ravioli Trina. Sample the specials listed on the blackboard such as Scallopinna with Mushroom and Risotto and Salmon fi llet.
Portions are huge. Even after a deliciously fi lling meal, most still have pizza and pasta to take home.
SARI-SARI STORE
Name: Abaseria
Address: 39 B. Pres. Roxas Street, Kasambangan, Villa Aurora, Mabolo, Cebu City
Tel: (32) 233-8339
Price Range: PHP110-295
Finding a hidden gem tucked in a residential area requires both luck and tips from discriminating Cebuanos. Abaseria is a house converted into a gift shop, featuring owner Lalay Jurado-Lava’s jewelry creations and Philippine handicrafts from her trips around the archipelago. But in the past three years, it has evolved from being “a store within a home” to “a homey restaurant within a store”.
Customers can contemplate their purchases while feasting on Lalay’s grandmother’s recipes. The Humba, sweet pork knuckles with black bean and Adobong Bangus Belly served with red rice, is reminiscent of Lutong Bahay (home-cooked food) without having to cook it in your own home.
In addition, its deli is blessed with Filipino specialties from all over the country, including Ilocano Basi (rice wine) from the north, Benedictine Monk’s coffee in the south – and everything that falls in between.
A SHOT OF MODERN FILIPINO FOOD
Name: Chef Laudico Bistro Filipino
Address: Ground Floor Net 2 Building, 3rd Avenue, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Tel: (2) 856-0634/0541
Price Range: PHP450-1,150
Western and Filipino cuisine can be an awkward combination, but Chef Laudico Bistro Filipino manages to fi nd a delicate and delicious union. After six years of catering and private functions in his Urdaneta home in Makati, the 32-year-old US-trained Lando Laudico fi nally opened his own restaurant in September 2006. His aim is to serve Filipino food in the stylish “plated” style of French and Italian bistros.
His most notable creation is the Ubod Spring Roll. The Lumpia is a crispy cone sitting on a shot glass, fi lled with ubod (heart of palm), chorizo and prawns. Instead of a vinegar 
dipping sauce, he tops it with a spicy sinamak sorbet.
The experience begins with a crunch oozing with goodness of the hot savory fi lling, followed by an unusual sensation of a cold yet spicy vinegar sorbet.
The humble Pinakbet is transformed into a sophisticated Pumpkin soup topped with Ilocano vegetables and a dollop of bagoong (fi sh paste) cream. Sinigang, another Filipino staple, is served as a boullabaise matched with crusty, black ink squid garlic bread.
With such creations, Chef Lando has succeeded in using traditional ingredients with an innovative twist.
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