Solaire: The Gamechanger

I may have been there for business, but I was looking around like a tourist! Solaire Resort & Casino is definitely something else. In fact, it distinctly reminds me of the big hotels in Macau because of the unabashed luxury factor. I found myself taking plenty of pictures, and so did the other members of our team. If you haven't been to Solaire, let me give you a small tour through my photos. :)

The porte cochere is located at the far end of the hotel. It's the side right by the bay. From this angle, you could easily mistake this for a luxury resort in Singapore.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Porte Cochere[/caption]

Solaire Grand Ballroom is CAVERNOUS. No exaggeration.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Grand Ballroom[/caption]

Inside, the light control panel is touch screen, while crystal beads adorn portions of the walls.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Crystal beads[/caption]

Everywhere you look in this hotel, you'll see epic chandeliers. It's an interior designer's delight.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="396"] Drop chandeliers at every turn[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="389"] Chandelier 2[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="396"] Chandelier 3[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Food Court Light Fixture[/caption]

The restrooms are beautifully designed, with some very interesting details like faux white leather wallpaper and:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A Shoeshine Station[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="432"] A funny tampon machine that looks like a robot's face[/caption]

Main guest areas never run out of enormous floral arrangements. First time I was there, I saw colorful hydrangeas. Then it was lilies.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Towering Floral Arrangements[/caption]

The aptly named Bay Suites has a stunning view. Heck, the curtains are even automatic that they open and close at the touch of a button.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Bay Suite[/caption]

The pool area can only be accessed by guests. You have to pass through several hotel rooms to get to a walkway to get to a scenic elevator to, finally, ride down to the pool.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] I-shaped Pool[/caption]

The whole time I was there, there was always some random guy with a DSLR shooting away at anything and everything. Gotta admit that this property's visual aspect is enough to keep anyone entertained for hours on end.

 

Solaire Resort and Casino = 1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, Paranaque City, Philippines

Behind The Scenes: Issue 2

When work for the latest issue of Inspirations for Weddings begins, I get into full wedding mode. I write articles, conduct interviews, and assist at shoots, so I often find myself in places I've never been to, talking to very interesting people. It goes without saying that I learn a lot on the job and have a lot of fun as well. It definitely doesn't hurt that I'm a girly wedding enthusiast. (Such a thing exists.)

At times, there are some long hours spent on-location, but I honestly find the work engaging. Yes, I still think it's very cool. (Fan girl.) After all, back in high school, I had this dream of working in a magazine. I didn't really picture what sort of magazine I'd get involved in, though a food publication became the default choice when I started in culinary college. As with life, one thing leads to another, so an internship for a food magazine at a local publishing house led me to this current project that I'm very proud to be part of. This is the latest issue's cover:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Love This to Bits: Real-life couple, Bruna & Anderson, radiate chemistry on the cover and in our editorial feature[/caption]

I'm constantly snapping behind-the-scenes photos because it's so very meta (photographing a photographer who's photographing), and I have a great love for working in the background (seriously). To give you an idea of what I've been up to, I'm sharing some of my behind-the-scenes pictures here:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Photoshoot at Solaire; Our Prep Room TV: Talk about personalized service...[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] On-location[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Amazing Lobby: The chandeliers are a work of art[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Who doesn't love a good bouquet?[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Shooting Jewelry—Beautiful Bling[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Flowers![/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Styling one of the models[/caption]

If you're planning a wedding—for yourself or for others—do grab a copy of Inspirations. Without bias, I can tell you that we have great content. I spent a lot of time leafing through local wedding magazines during my stint as assistant to my cousin, the wedding cake maker. (It's what got me enthusiastic about weddings in the first place!) What we have is different, in a good way: It's a marriage of idea-sparking photos and meaty content that we think readers will find as much informative as it is inspiring. We had that as a priority when we started, and we still had that in mind as we closed this issue. We hope you have as much fun reading as we did creating. :)

Themes & Motifs’ INSPIRATIONS for Weddings Magazine is available in National Bookstore, Themes & Motifs, and SMX Convention Center during Wedding Expo Philippines (Sept. 21 & 22, 2013).

Pan De Amerikana, Marikina

Quirky places are the best. Every time you come to visit, it feels like there's always something new to see and experience. One such place is Pan De Amerikana, found all the way over in Marikina.  They also have a branch in Katipunan, but I think this is the original.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Exterior[/caption]

With the cute windmill and the Baguio cottage look, this wouldn't have been out of place in Solvang, California. When you enter, it's just as adorable inside as it is outside. The main counter and bakeshop opens up to a wide, non-airconditioned dining area with cafe chairs and somewhat mismatched wood-topped tables. Framed black-and-white photos of old (and not-so-old, but not-so-young either) Pinoy movie stars fill up one of the walls. A giant chessboard can be found deep inside the venue, so you can play your own version of Wizard Chess. There's a small pond and lots of plants inside, so you get the feeling you're eating at an indoor garden of sorts. Very hipster-friendly. Of course, flies are your main problem in a place like this.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Stars on the wall[/caption]

We sat down to a late lunch at around 1pm, so we were starving and in a hurry by then. The food is lutong-bahay and inexpensive, with most of the dishes below PHP100. Drinks are below PHP50. I ordered a plate of baked macaroni (PHP70 or PHP75), while Dad had spaghetti (PHP40). Mom, the exclusive rice-eater, had adobo with rice that she attacked immediately before I could snap a decent picture. Everyone had Kalabasa Soup (PHP40).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] The Kalabasa Soup, though now particularly creamy, maintained the natural sweetness of the squash. Yummy and safe for dieters.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] The battered adobo rice[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] The Baked Macaroni had a proper cheesy bechamel topping, while the spaghetti was simple and seemed to be meatless[/caption]

The meal was washed down with brewed coffee (PHP 30) and a dessert of halo halo.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Wasn't in the mood for steaming hot coffee, so I asked for a glass with ice and proceeded to make an iced cafe americano. At this point, the ice had already melted[/caption]

Before we went home, we picked up a bag of whole wheat pan de sal (PHP60 for 10 pcs.) and a plastic jar of peanut butter (PHP 60). Their pan de sal is huge, soft, and chewy which I prefer to crunchy-crusted ones, while the peanut butter was too sweet,oily, and runny for my taste. I like creamy peanut butter, but this one is downright runny.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] So big, you'll stop at one[/caption]

Their menu also includes Marikina favorites such as Waknatoy (described by the waiter as sort of a menudo with pickles) and Everlasting (a form of embutido).

Methinks it's best to drop by this restaurant for breakfast or mirienda (afternoon snack) because of the menu items they have. Those times are best for lounging around and enjoying the relaxed ambiance.

Pan De Amerikana = #92 General Ordoñez Corner Maroon St. Marikina Heights, 1800 Marikina City

Gluta-C Intense Whitening: Whitening Toner

I'm relatively new to using toner. Of all the bathroom beauty products there is, toner is something I've never gotten a great interest for because I've only needed it for the occasional breakout. I've always stuck to one or two brands that have worked okay, and that was that. (By the way, those brands are Eskinol and Clinique.)

In the last coupe of months, I've been having some late nights that have resulted in long-staying breakouts my usual moisturizers just can't fix. Yes, it was finally time to take this toner business a little more seriously, so here's what I got to fix my problem:



Gluta-C Intense Whitening Whitening Toner (paulit-ulit? paulit-ulit?) comes in a 100mL transparent bottle and costs PHP99.75. If you ask me, that's a really good price to pay. Eskinol is cheaper, but this is alcohol-free and has the fancy whitening ingredient (i.e. glutathione). Price justified.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Ingredients[/caption]

I only use this at night before going to bed because I use a hydrating mist in the daytime. It's been two weeks, and the results are... fairly nice. It has a refreshingly cool feeling, but doesn't sting. I wouldn't say this is the best for shrinking or drying out zits because that slot is reserved for Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 2. Instead, think of this as preventive maintenance. If you start off with clear-ish skin, at least it'll help it stay that way.

On the other hand, what I hate about this product is the formula's color. The bottle is clear, while the liquid inside is orange. I'm well-aware that it's supposed to be a visual cue emphasizing the vitamin C content and all, but it's completely unnecessary for the skin—just a colorant, after all. (Plus, some curious part of us would like to see how much of the impurities rub off onto the cotton ball. It's harder to examine if the cotton has turned orange.)

If I had to give Gluta-C toner a rating, I'd go for 4/5, with the 1 point reduction due to the color. I used to be wary of brands that specialize in glutathione, just because I thought beauty companies were cashing in on the trend in a fraudulent way and overcharging in the process. An affordable item like this is not so bad, but just reign in your expectations with the glutathione content. Anyway, it has good value-for-money.

Rustic Mornings by Isabelo

Marikina is home to some neat hole-in-the-wall dining locations—this I've known even before Kris Aquino decided to make everything mainstream on her TV show. (By the way, it's one of the most godawful things to see Kris drag some unappreciative celebrity guest to a beautifully prepared meal by a chef who has slaved to achieve something good, then have that guest say, "Nako, this is so fattening." It's disrespectful to the chef, and she should seriously refrain from bringing non-foodies to her food-related episodes. Perhaps Anthony Bourdain would be tempted to shoot those people in the head. But I digress.) In keeping up with the spirit of a hole-in-the-wall, some restaurants are a little tricky to physically get into. One such example is Rustic Mornings: Brunch, Pastries & Coffee by Isabelo, located in a very narrow alley that a standard sedan has to squeeze into.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sign along the very narrow alley[/caption]

The property has its own parking space inside the gates, with an additional small covered area that may fit about 3 cars—inside is pretty much the only parking option available, unless you want to park somewhere at the end of the block.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] View of the parking area from the lot's main gate[/caption]

To get into the dining area, you must go through a short stretch of forest-like garden that partially shields the inside. Don't think it's creepy because the garden actually lends to the overall intimate atmosphere. Imagine being ensconced in a cozy place, away from the outside world.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] A Garden Entrance[/caption]

When you get inside, you'll be surprised by the cleverly decorated... everything. It's apparent that the owner of this restaurant is quirky and creative.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] A Fine Nook[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Another nook[/caption]

The decor reminds me a lot of my friend, Eva's shop in Cubao X: Kind of mismatched, kind of imperfect, but beautiful.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Even the trees are decorated[/caption]

Recycled stuff takes on a whole new life when executed properly.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Recycled McCormick Spice Shakers[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The Counter/Kitchen Pass[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] I sat on this[/caption]

When it comes to food, Rustic Mornings offers all-day breakfast options as well as some lunch bowls. -silogs are part of their Filipino breakfast tray, and Mom had to have the Crispy Tawilis (PHP145). According to her, she's had Tawilis elsewhere, and this doesn't taste the same as the one she had before. She prefers the one she had elsewhere.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Tawilis-silog[/caption]

Dad had Pork Longganisa, the -silog variant he usually opts for. He said it was okay. (FYI: Personally, I'm more for tapa or tocino, depending on which one is more tender.)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Long-silog[/caption]

I would've ordered waffles because they're so much more fun than pancakes, but it was nearing lunch time already. Instead, I decided to try out the Cheesy Chicken Fricasse (PHP300), an order that's already good for 2. (Doesn't come with rice.) I've gotten into the habit of ordering wild-card menu items to see if they turn out to be gems, while my parents go with whatever the best-sellers are.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Chicken Fricasse[/caption]

Without having my breakfast beforehand, I was already famished by the time the food came. I was able to finish the entire thing, but was sick-full by the end. It didn't help that the sauce was rich and creamy. Tasty as it was, don't try to eat this by yourself. This is coming from a self-proclaimed cream sauce fan. Luckily, I ordered a refreshing lemon-flavored Frothy Iced Tea to wash it all down (PHP50).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Lemon Iced Tea[/caption]

After eating, you can just hang out for a little bit and enjoy the surroundings. This place is perfect for brunch.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Rocking Chair for Two[/caption]

If you decide to eat outside, do also have a look inside. The indoor dining is just as pretty. It reminds me of something straight out of Teacher's Village.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Like being in someone's vacation home[/caption]

The hand wash and restroom are decorated by rows upon neat rows of empty perfume bottles. Like I said, terrifically creative.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Hand Wash Area[/caption]

This place was made for people who enjoy a good muni-muni (pondering) session. It's also made for breakfast or brunch dates, so go and have one here.

 

 

Rustic Mornings = #11 Isabelo Mendoza St. San Roque, Marikina City

 

Taiwanese Beauty Mag

Between my obsession with e-books and my still-unread pile of actual books, I rarely browse or buy any other type of publication anymore—non-work-related magazines included. When I received a copy of this Taiwanese magazine, however, I was truly grateful.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A Beauty, indeed[/caption]

The best part, of course, is the free sample pack from Benefit. Minis are the best! Because of the sheer volume of products out in the market to try, sample sizes can easily become a girl's best friend in discovering the next favorite item. Travel-size is also essential for a non-bulky purse. I already have a mini Posie Tint, but have yet to try it out. (I'm swamped on the blush department!)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Dandelion brightening face powder and ultra plush lip gloss[/caption]

While I don't speak a word of Mandarin, the pictures are sufficient in explaining the step-by-step instructions. Plus the photos serve as pegs anyway.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Step-by-step[/caption]

Wonder if Korean beauty magazines have similar features. I haven't seen one yet that isn't somehow K-POP-related.

Silantro

I have moods. When I feel like eating hot and spicy, there's nothing that can stop me from rushing over to New Bombay in Glorietta for my Mutton Curry fix (with extra chili powder, please). Though I am scarcely in the mood for Mexican or Tex-Mex, I'd gladly make an exception for Silantro in Kapitolyo.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Twas a dark, rainy night the first time I was there[/caption]

A self-proclaimed "Fil-Mex Cantina," Silantro has indoor and outdoor seating in a small casual dining establishment. Eating is done in picnic bench-style tables and chairs. Upon entering, diners are greeted by the cashier's counter beside a display cabinet that gives an idea of what their Lucha Tacos contain.  Here's a peek at their menu.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Menu[/caption]

If you had to order only one appetizer, please make it Silantro's Quesadillas (PHP145). Gooey, salty melted cheese barely contained in a tortilla with french fries on top. Perfect for sharing between two people, it's a hot, cheesy mess—I mean that in a good way. See for yourself:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Tastes as good as it looks, seriously[/caption]

Once you've tried the quesadilla, you can go ahead and order first runner-up, the Beef Nachos (PHP160):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pulutan-esque[/caption]

When you're ready for entrees, get a load of Silantro's Burrito (PHP160). If you're by yourself, this is enough to stuff you. No appetizers. Just this. We had it "Samurai X-ed" into 3 slices for tasting. They have 2 sauces that come with the burrito: One is a garlic white sauce (kind of like Shawarma sauce), while the other is cilantro herb-flavored.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Silantro's Burrito[/caption]

If you're a hard-core carnivore much like myself, Mexican Rib-Eye (PHP560) is for you. It's tender and cooked to perfection, if you let them decide on the doneness. The gravy is delicious and it comes with rice. Again, ideal for two.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Mexican Rib-Eye[/caption]

Next up is Silantro's Paella Fajita Mix (PHP250). It has bits of squid and comes with tortilla wrappers. I like to add the burrito sauce to this in addition to the squirt of lemon because I just love sauce. Tee hee.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Silantro's Paella Fajita Mix[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Tortilla Wrappers[/caption]

If you're looking for a light and healthy snack, I'd recommend the Lucha Tacos (ranging from PHP65 to PHP100, depending on how many kinds of meat you want in there).The shredded greens were fresh and plenty. By default, it's a soft taco, but you can request for the hard shell. Personally, I dig the soft taco though.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lucha Taco: No matter what you do, it's going to be messy to eat, so don't order this on a date...[/caption]

I'd love to come back to Silantro again and again. It's comfort food made better with very attentive staff and reasonable prices. Bring people with you because the food is best shared, so that you can try out more items. I'd give this place a 5/5 rating. So worth the calories...

Silantro = 75 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, 1603 Pasig