Miranda Kerr: December 2012 Esquire Spread

Miranda Kerr---definitely one hot momma!

Breaking Dawn Part 2

After 5 years the Twilight movie installment draws to a close with Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Well, it has been a while since I read the book and I'm not really sure how it ended but how it was depicted in the movie had me at the edge of my seat!  

There were internet chatter about a different ending so as the fight scene between the Volturi and the Cullens got underway and saw some of the main characters get decapitated it got to the point where I was in a state of shock!  I hate it when main characters die!  I won't ruin your viewing pleasure but I must say that Breaking Dawn Part 2 is definitely a MAJOR MUST WATCH!

Walking Dead: Whatever Happened to Lori?

Two episodes ago, Lori apparently died giving birth.  Carl apparently shot her to make sure she does not re-animate to become the undead.  However, when Rick, in his misery, went back to the cell block where Lori apparently died---she was not there!  There is this notion that the bloated zombie slumped near the area where Lori apparently died made a meal out of her body---but is she really dead?  Well the chances of her surviving an unstiched up C-section is realistically unlikely, but the imagination of the series writers might just spin off a rather interesting twist.  Otherwise, why not just show the viewers what has become of Lori?  What do I know---I'm just a televiewer curiously wondering...and then I saw this picture...

Is this what has become of Lori?

Empanada Nation: Serving Authentic Ilocano Empanada

I first had a taste of the Ilocano Empanada early 2000 when I was still working as a line trainer for my company.  I handled the North Luzon area and it took me in the different parts of provinces of the area which includes the Ilocos region.  It was in Candon, Ilocos Sur where I got my very first taste of the Ilocano Empanada and I was instantly addicted!  Unfortunately, my new job does not require much travelling and it has been a while since I had a taste of this local delicacy.  

Then came Empanada Nation.

An officemate of mine told me about this new kiosk that serves authentic Ilocano Empanada.  The good news was that it was just at Pearl Drive in Pasig which was just a stone's throw away from our office.  Naturally, I was intrigued so off I went during my lunch break and rekindled my long lost gastronomical love affair with this Ilocano treat.  That was two years ago.

Flashback to last Friday.   My wife and I ate at a restaurant near our home to try their version of the Ilocano Empanada (which she had the privilege to have previously tried and liked).  However, the finished product did not look or taste authentic.  It was a copycat and a poor one at that (sorry sweety).  

When we went to SM Fairview this afternoon, I had the pleasant surprise of seeing an Empanada Nation kiosk at the food court and I told my wife that she needs to taste this to really know what an authentic Ilocano Empanada tastes like.

Unfortunately, it was a service nightmare!  The staff did not know how to manage their customers.  There were a lot of customer milling around and I was at a lost as to where the line is to place my order.  So I asked the crew to direct me where I need to line up.  I stood for a couple of minutes thinking that she will put the customers in order---I was mistaken!   I'm a patient man and I don't easily get mad, so just to be clear as to my number in the queue is, I asked the customers who was ordering.  Apparently, may were just UZIS (usiseros) and I found myself third in line.  Since my wife and I still needed to buy something at the grocery, I asked the cashier if I can just place my order and just fetch it later to which she said ok.  I even told her who I was following just to show her that I'm legitimately in line.

Twenty minutes after I come back to fetch my order but to my dismay, they forgot my order!  But since they told me that they would just prioritize me, I again switched to my patient mode.  Man!  Was I PATIENT!  I guess the crew and me did not match in terms of the meaning of PRIORITY since there were around four orders that they served before I got mine!   

I'm not sure how many turn away customers they had during this time but I was almost one of them.  Their product is good but if their service will continue to be the way I just experienced it  this afternoon, this business will lose many sales opportunities and receive many customer complains.

Cocktail Chronicles: Stocking up on Liquid Ingredients

Ever since the cocktail tutorial I had at the Cohiba Villas in Boracay I have been slowly building up on my basic cocktail ingredients.  So far I already have vodka, tequila, vermouth, and orange liqueur.  The thing is---I don't want to spend too much in my experimentation stage.  

The most expensive liquid mix I have is the Martini Dry Vermouth @ Php 500+.  My vodka is Tosca, the tequila is El Hombre, and the orange liqueur is Orchid---all of which are local brands and cost less than Php 200.  

When I first thought of making cocktail mixing as a hobby I started canvassing for the basic liquid mixes. Man, they can be expensive especially if you go with the popular brands!   Grand Marnier, Cointreau, Absolut, Stolichnaya, Patron, Jose Cuervo, these brands would be in the Php 900 and up category.  

Other garnishings would be lemon, lime, and mint leaves.  Lemon and lime is readily available in the fruit section of SM but the mint leaves is not.  So I'm thinking of raising my own mint plant so I can harvest leaves on a per need basis.  

Ritz Azul: FHM Philippines November 2012 Spread

Ritz Azul was TV5's celebrity search show---Star Search---2 years ago.  She has just turned 18 last January but judging by her FHM spread, she's one well endowed lady!

Walking Dead Episode 4

The writers of this series really got us by the nuts as to who's going to die next!  

All this while, I was under the impression that either Hershel, Beth, T-Dog, or Carol would become the next zombie menu.  This is mainly because of their character's significance in the whole scheme of things.  Hershel almost died two episodes ago but didn't.  T-Dog dies in this episode (not surprised).  But then Lori dies...?!  Well, or assumed to be dead (it was not shown if Carl really pulled the trigger on his mother).  If Carl did not put a bullet to his mother's head---can somebody who just had a caesarian section survive alone?  Does she come back as a good zombie and remains on the show?  Well, obviously I like Lori's character...why did the damn writers have to kill her?!