Stella Wood Fired Bistro- Bringing More Thrill Your Way

As Raintree Restaurants grow new branches to provide its patrons with quality taste experiences, the group brings modish takes to wine-and-dine moments, with two of its recently opened restaurants at Bonifacio High Street Central—Stella and Rocket Room.

Taste the flavorsome distinction at the wood-fired bistro: Stella

Fusing pleasant spirits and inviting interiors with fine music and a rustic menu, Stella is a wood-fired bistro that offers a full array of delights peppered with tastes true to the West Coast, the Mediterranean and South America.

The bistro makes use of natural wood in its dishes, imparting the most flavorful aromas unlike any other cooking technique. Its menu boasts of wood-fired small plates and snacks, soups and salads, panini-pressed sandwiches, pasta bowls, and wood-fired pizzas—all magically roasted in Stella’s ovens. Continuously crafting relationships with organic farmers nationwide and being assured of the best ingredients and harvests available, Stella provides a sustainable handcrafted cuisine that can be enjoyed inside its inviting interiors along pleasant spirits and fine music—ideal for light brunches with friends or cheery family dinners.

Here are some of Stella's menu offerings:

Fire Roasted Truffled Mushroom

Lasagna 'Al Forno' (yum yum!!!) 

See you on Sunday, My Little Man!

My little man's first ever summer bonding with his grandma and cousins is nearly over. He'll be coming home on Sunday. I miss him so much. We need to catch up as soon as they arrive.

this photo was taken during one of our Nueva Ecija trips. 

See you soon baby. Be a good boy always! 

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Debuts Tom Epperson's Latest Works

Looking for that perfect inspiration to help you in your photographic pursuits?

From May 30 to June 5, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf gives photography and art aficionados a real treat as it lets everyone marvel at Tom Epperson’s latest works in a special art show that will be held in Greenbelt 5. Entitled “Brewfinder: Enthusiasm Over Coffee at the CBTL,” the weeklong exhibition highlights the artist’s photographic prowess with a set that revolves around the concept of finding beauty in just about everything.

“This event is part of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s commitment to enrich passions, especially passions that are related with the arts,” shares Walden Chu, President of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. “Needless to say, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has always supported causes we believe can help improve society, and art does that. Art teaches us that perseverance and patience, and not just skills, are important when it comes to creating beautiful things. And this is something that The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and its employees live by.”

The six-piece set draws inspiration from Tom’s interest in dealing with erratic objects. “Lately, I have been working with mediums that are basically uncontrollable—a lot is left up to serendipity,” Tom said. “I like the idea of surprise, it reminds me of going into the darkroom in the days of analog and watching a print develop for the first time, it was magic. This is the same feeling I get when working with smoke.”

“Brewfinder: Photography Enthusiasm Over Coffee at the CBTL” is the first of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Taste Series, a seven-part pocket event series that highlights the brand’s single-serve system—the CBTL. Borne out of a partnership with the Italian design and espresso-making expertise of Caffitaly, CBTL raises the bar for coffee and tea aficionados by bringing the distinct Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf café experience into your home.

The CBTL. One touch. One perfect cup.

DWDM FM 95.5 Pinas FM FUNBansang Selebrasyon

DWDM FM 95.5 Pinas FM is turning 1!!!

In line with this the radio station owned which is owned by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) is hosting a two-day anniversary festival dubbed as FUNBansang Selebrasyon on May 28-29, 2012 at the New Era University Open Field.

There will be various events highlighting food booth, fun games, raffle, and musical performances.

May 28 Artists:True Faith, Anthony Castelo, Claire dela Fuente, Renz Verano, Nina, Jessa Zaragoza, Dingdong Avanzado, Marco Sison, MYMP, The Bloomfields, & Christian Bautista

May 29 Artists: Down To Mars, Anna Melissa, Emmanuelle, Gracenote, Imago, 6Cyclemind, Callalily, 1:43, Myrus, Jovit Baldivino, Bugoy Drilon, & Zia Quizon

Trade Fair starts at 9AM while the concert starts at 6pm. Everyone is invited!

History 

From 1987 to 1992, it was branded Diamond 95.5. It played mainstream pop.

In 1992, it changed its brand to Pinoy Radio DM 955 (ninety-five-five). Its format was more Pinoy music or OPM.

In 2002, it changed its brand again to DWDM 95.5 and played automated oldies music with few commercials & program schedules. 


It has ceased transmission since the beginning of 2007 to upgrade its transmitter facilities.

In May 2007, it briefly returned in the airwaves on a lower bandwidth and limited broadcast hours (9am - 1pm), only on daytime. However, it only lasted until June 8, 2007.

In April 8, 2011, 95.5 returned to the airwaves initially as a test broadcast. It only plays a variety of music with a few stingers and branded as Pinas FM 95.5.

Source: DWDM FM 95.5 Pinas FM Official Facebook Page 

American Idol Season 11 Winner Announced

The American Idol Season 11 just came to an end. A total of 132 million votes from viewers and fans was generated.

The 2-hour special event was highlighted by the amazing performances of the Top 12 along with the biggest stars in the international music scene. Oh wait as I watch the live streaming, I can feel the love between the AI couple Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young when the latter slipped a ring on Diana's finger and proposed to her at the stage. 

Before the final announcement is made, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips sing " Up Where We Belong". Click the image to view via http://www.dailymotion.com

And the winner is none other than Phillip Phillips.  Congratulations!

To Jessica, congrats as well. You did a good job for making it far in the competition. When are you going visit the Philippines? 

American Idol Season 11: The Grand Finale

The American Idol 2012 Top 2 Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips performed three songs each last night. The two did equally excellent performances.

Jessica performed the following: 

1. I have Nothing (Whitney Houston) - Simon Fuller's Choice 

2. The Prayer (Andrea Bocceli and Celine Dion) - Favorite Performance

3. Change Nothing (Jessica Sanchez) - Coronation Song/Jimmy Lovine's Choice

Phillip's songs were:
1. Stand By Me (Ben E. King)  - Simon Fuller's Choice
2. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - Favorite Performance
3. Home (Phillip Phillips) -  Coronation Song/Jimmy Lovine's Choice

Is it Jessica or Phillip? Let's see tomorrow whose life will change forever when the winner is announced.

photos courtesy of americanidol.com

Bonsai Plants, Rock Garden and My Kids

We've been to Nueva Ecija three times this summer. First, during our summer outing last April 6. We went back on the following week for another round of joy ride. Then we attended a wedding last May 1 wherein my daughter was one of the flower girls. 

My kids had the opportunity to experience summer far away from the busy streets and crowded malls in the Metro. My little princess became familiar about what a bonsai plant looks like because her Uncle have lots of them in their backyard. On the other hand, playing on the rock garden kept my curious boy busy while the grown-ups are busy practicing their best jump shots. 

Papa and Thea and the bonsai Makopa. 

Trivia:

Bonsai  - a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. 

Makopa (Syzygium malaccense) - Malay Apple, Tersana Rose Apple. Makopa is a tree reaching a height of 10 meters. Leaves are pinkish when young. Older leaves are large, drooping, elliptic-oblong to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 15 to 30 centimeters long, 7 to 15 centimeters wide, narrowed and pointed at both ends. Flowers are large, showy, crimson, 5 to 6 centimeters in diameter, borne on the branches below the leaves, clustered on short, few-flowered racemes, 6 centimeters long or less. Fruit is shiny, oblong or pear-shaped, 5 to 7.5 centimeters long, either white splashed, striped with pink, or wholly crimson to purplish, and slightly shiny, seedless or one-seeded. Flesh is white, pithy, juicy. Although rather tasteless, some varieties have a pleasant flavor. (Source)

 Yohan happily playing at the rock garden

Trivia:

A rock garden is a type of garden that uses a wide variety of rocks or stones, along with plants native to rocky or alpine environments.

This is my entry to GREEN MONDAY! Thanks Ria for reminding me. 

On Getting Things Done

I listed six most important and urgent (office) task yesterday. I'm so glad that my To-Do List is getting shorter and shorter. Thanks to our staff temporarily hired through Government Internship Program (GIP) for assisting me in accomplishing some of my tasks. Here's my list:

1. Edit and FinalizeAnnual Outcome Evaluation Report 2011
2. Prepare of LGPMS Documents / DILG's Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Nomination
3. Edit and Finalize the GAD Plan 2012
4. Prepare GAD Council Minutes of the Meeting 
5. Prepare Highlights of the Training on Gender Responsive Governance
6. Prepare Itinerary of  Travel or Reimbursement of Transportation Expenses  

I am currently editing the document under Task No. 3. Bye for now!!! 

Three Days to go...

before my birthday! I'm turning 35, and I'm proud of it. There will be no grand celebration, all I wish is a simple family bonding with the 3 most important people in my life - my husband, my daughter and my son. I may not see my son on the 24th since he's still in the province but I will make it up to him once he arrive next week.




http://www.coolspacetricks.com

INC Unity Games 2012 Finals

The INC Unity Games 2012 quarter-final, semi-final and final games are set on May 19 and 26, 2012 in Rizal Memorial Stadium and sports facilities nearby. 

The conference games started last January which was participated by 16 ecclesiastical districts. Calling Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren of the following districts, wear your color and support your respective team in the final matches.

1. METRO MANILA CENTRAL
2. METRO MANILA SOUTH
3. METRO MANILA EAST
4. METRO MANILA NORTH
5.  METRO MANILA WEST
6. RIZAL
7. CAVITE
8. LAGUNA
9. BATANGAS
10. BULACAN NORTH
11. BULACAN SOUTH
12. PAMPANGA
13. NUEVA ECIJA NORTH
14. NUEVA ECIJA SOUTH
15. TARLAC NORTH
16. TARLAC SOUTH

You can view the game scoring at http://incunitygames.net/.