Slice of my heart, slice of my cheesecake

I do not exactly know when and how this addiction for cheesecake started but perhaps, it's because i love cheese.

Last night, Deb, Dax and I went to UNO in Tomas Morato to taste their famous cheesecake. It ranks 3rd in SPOT’s Top 10 Cheesecakes in Manila (along with Miss Desserts, Chelsea, Mamou, Opus, Robot, Lu, Starbucks, Burough, and Cake Club). Among the 10, I was pleased most with what UNO has to offer. No add-ons, no glaze, no whipped cream on top, no fruit bits, no shavings. I like my cheesecake plain and simple. Exactly what UNO has to offer. So when I learned that UNO was near my work area, I planned a visit. Last night, I have finally tasted it.

Simply said, UNO’s cheesecake was heavenly. The description was true: Deceptively simple but oh-so sinful. Although it was slightly dusted with powdered sugar it wasn’t too sweet so you’ll crave for more. A forkful of its feathery layers melts inside your mouth that you’ll want to savor and keep on eating and craving for more slice.

For P65 you’ll get this heavenly slice and P650 for the whole cake. I will come back for more. =)

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[Random Thoughts]

I do not understand why some people would not commit or if they do they could hardly sustain what they have promised.

I have always promised to be better but life has a way of testing me.

Sabi niya: “Miss ko na sila!” (meaning: hindi ako kasama)

My love affair with cheesecake

For a week, I have been craving for cheesecake. I asked some friends to recommend me a cake shop or a resto that I could go to. I have no time to survey places as I barely have time these days. I could not even afford to watch a movie. Tet and MB recommended the same store: Cheesecake Etc. I was told that they have it in Megamall so I rushed there with Miks last Friday hoping to finally end this craving. The guard said, “Mam, nag-close na po yung branch nila dito!” Sad. There’s another one at Podium but we have no time to go there as we have an appointment. So the craving had to be postponed.

Today, Sunday…I went to Podium and bought a slice for P150. The cheesecake was melting in my mouth. Heavenly!

Eating alone under the drumbeat of a Beatles song

While waiting for my order, I spotted this old guy eating alone. They were playing “For No One” (which to me, is the saddest Beatles song ever). He was just adjacent to my table so I took the liberty to gawk and shoot. I thought the idea of framing him is perfect. He seemed happy and preoccupied chewing his yellow rice and chicken and ice tea.

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Postscript: On Eating Alone

I had dinner with a friend from the office last night. I intended not to but he delivered to me a line that is simply impossible to pass over (even for someone as inane and unsympathetic as me). “I hate eating alone, Rayts. And for the last two days, I’ve been doing that you know. There is nothing sadder than eating alone.” He said this in the most distressing manner. But I could not agree with him.

Except on rare occasions, I like to eat alone. In the same manner that I genuinely enjoy watching movies alone or strolling in crowded places by myself. He worries when I confide these things to him. He thinks something is wrong with me. And goes on with the argument that such "habit is not healthy" (referring to the idea of "being alone"). And because he is not into a relationship for the last months and claims that he has all the time in the world, he always offers to accompany me. Just to put a little spite of scarcasm into my argument, I tell him, "I get more sadder having you around" and gave him a big laugh about it. But I guess he never sees my point.

There’s no romantic inkling whatsoever between us. He’s like a brother to me. A young child who needs constant guidance/advice. And like a brother, we fight innately and inertly. Secret wish: Ahh, sana magka-gf ka na para naman mabawasan ang drama mo sa buhay! hehe.

Table for two

The scene appeals to me: two men, one table amongst the many empty one, it was almost midnight.

We were at Dampa in Cubao two days ago...celebrating life. Oki, Deb, Dax are also August celebrators so we agreed to treat our friends on that one particular day, my actual birthday. We stayed there until almost midnight. From the corridor of our reserved room, I found this two men drinking the night away. The pitcher of Pale Pilsen gone and the ice cubes had already turned into water. Both of them looked intense. One of the guys at the restaurant was pointing at my direction, probably trying to get their attention because I was shooting at them. The two guys seemed unmindful.

Happiness is an overated word but that night, I was particularly "happy". It always feels good to celebrate life in the company of "friends"...people who (has the capability to) understand my eccentricities and would not require explanations for them.

Plus, the food was really delicious.

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[postscript:]

A cornball talking to a cornborer:

“Naisip ko lang, kung friends mo sila, malamang disordered din ang mga tables nila so naisip kong yun ang ibigay na gift!"

The cornball explained while spitefully looking at the cornborer's "chaotic" table with all the heap of books and papers, copious post-it, and loose papers dwelling all over. Then as if it was not enough, the cornball said:

"Wala naman sigurong ahas dyan!" (pointing at the heap of papers and books)

I gave him a hard laugh (which least to say, is the most unexpected reaction).

Sweet Treats

I got some sweet treats from one of the authors of the book that I am editing/layouting. It's a box of Carreon's Sweets & Pastries better known in Pampanga as the "Magalang Espesyal". A box contains an assorted of sweets and pastries including pastillas de leche, caramel, masapan de pili, empanaditas, and yemas. The bestseller among the products is the pastillas de leche which is made from 100% pure carabao’s milk. Yummy! Of course I didn't eat them all. Sharing them with friends is the best (or not). But really, I did share (a couple or more).

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HAPPY WEEKEND! :-)

Running away

When it comes to being on the limelight, I always feel like running away. I am not used to the attention. I’ve always felt like I belong in the background.

When I was in college, I joined a theater group. I’ve always welcomed the fact that I would be joining the group who makes the props for the actors. And I felt happy and contented about it. I’ve always felt that I belong there, not because I was limiting myself to what I could do and could not, but mainly because it felt right.

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Tinapay na walang palaman (Bread without the spread)

I wonder if the essence of a bread comes with the spread that goes with it?

Isn’t the taste of the bread enough?

I know of a person who cannot eat bread without cheese in it. In the same manner that I know someone who could eat a whole chunk of cheese without bread.

What am I?

I guess either way, I can be both.

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Moveover McDo...I want my Bigg's burjerr!

One of the Bigg's Diner located in the Centro. This branch is particularly located in front of Plaza Quince Martires and beside the newly-opened Red Ribbon (right) and McDonalds (left).

It was dinner time when we went to Bigg's diner. I enjoined my colleagues to join me and they all agreed. They love Bigg's already!

"We're GOOD food not FASTfood." - says one of the signages inside Bigg's @ SM Naga.

One thing I really look forward to when I go to Bicol is the Bigg’s Diner. I knew about it from Oki’s ex who swayed us into tasting Bigg’s burgers because he said and claimed they’re the best. And they are! I always come back for their burgers. :-D

When I was in Naga City last week, all I ever thought about was how to get my hand on their extreme bacon cheese burger. I found out that Naga City is the home of Bigg’s Diner which got me more excited. They have nine (9) branches in Naga City (4 in Centro, 1 in Ateneo, 1 in Bicol Medical Center, 1 in Panganiban Drive, 1 in CBD 2, and 1 in SM Naga). I visited one in Centro and another in SM Naga, which was newly-opened.

Bigg’s is not just about satisfying your gastronomical craving. Staying inside the diner is also a visual treat. I really like how this place was conceptualized. A diner with 1960s motif – imagine taking a bite on your cheeseburger while swooning over a framed photo of Elvis Presley on the wall and enjoying a whole round of Beatles album in the background.

Just a little trivia:

I learned later on that BIGG stands for Beautiful, Intelligent, Gorgeous and God-fearing. Also, I’ve read somewhere that the owners were inspired by the lean people in Naga City and made it an inside joke amongst them that they will make the people of Naga “big” because of BIGG’s. Now isn't that interesting?

I was told the word "kadusta!" while enjoying my a munchful of my Bigg's burger. It means "matakaw" in Filipino ("glutton"). I said, "Matakaw talaga 'ko!" ( I am really a glutton!) with conviction. hehe!

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Sai Ngam Park: Where the beautiful figs abound

One good thing about having to join a study tour is that even though we have an itinerary to follow and a series of events to cover, the host country will bring you to places where tourists would likely to go. But since they are “unscheduled” they tend to be “fillers” meaning, you’ll be given (a very little) amount of time to look around and for my case, to take (good) photos. Also, because our hosts do not talk a lot, they didn’t even tell us that they brought us to Sai Ngam Park. They’d probably thought we could understand Thai calligraphy.

The roots of a Banyan tree hang down from its branches.

Sai Ngam Park is located at Phimai District, about 59 kms from the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. Later I learned that “sai ngam” actually means “beautiful banyan trees” which pretty much tells a lot about the place having been known for its 350-year old banyan trees.

Sai Ngam passes through an irrigation project which has a dam built across Moon River.

The branches and roots of banyan have become so intertwined that it is impossible to identify where one tree ends and the next begins. The only way to be sure that there is more than one tree is by counting the trunks under the canopy providing shades and covering the island on which the grove is situated. The Thais believe that this may be the biggest banyan grove in Asia.

One of our Thai companions informed us that visitors could walk underneath these interwoven trees taking in the scenic views and the tranquility of the place. Since we had very little time for that, I didn’t even bother going inside.

Further along the road there are souvenir stalls.

Standing tall are lines of tamarind trees offering shades to visitors.

Tamarind and mango vendor. She selling fish powder too with chilli of course.

One thing I enjoyed though are the huge tamarind trees which I languidly stared at while we are having our lunch at the park. They are so huge and the fruits dangled from the branches as if they were teasing me.

Anyhow, there were vendors selling all sorts of processed tamarind food.