Manila's Signature Dishes 2010: Quattro Grill Bar Restaurant

When I have visitors from another country, choosing local restaurants is a bit stressful for me.  Don’t get me wrong, we have a lot of good Filipino restaurants out there but a lot of them serves fusion dishes!  Thanks to Unilever Food Solutions for creating Manila's Signature Dishes 2010 and I'm glad to be part of this as one Filipino restaurant, that I haven't tried, is included.

Quattro has been around 1999 but it's embarrassing to admit that I've never dined in this restaurant!   I actually never laid my eyes on this restaurant!  I guess I seldom go to the area or I wasn't looking closely enough!  The restaurant targets the people around Quezon City area who want to unwind in a very relaxed, comfortable place at the end of the day!

I was quite lucky to have a chat with owner Maan De Ocampo, would you believe this lady has been cooking as early as 3 years old?  From the simple hotdogs and fried eggs, she started cooking for home parties up to 200 guests!  She wanted to take up culinary course in college but decided to follow her dad's footsteps on taking up business.  

When her dad decided to come up with a restaurant, Maan was very hands on and opened up the restaurant on the year 1999 expanded twice by the year 2000 and 2006.  Another branch was opened at Dagupan and plans to open up more!

The restaurant has the feel of living in a province with a huge party celebrated for the whole barangay!  The place is packed with a lot of friends coming from schools or work chatting and laughing!  The restaurant is huge with an area for smoking and non-smoking!  Well ventilated with lots of beer and sizzling dishes!  Perfect to unwind!

Here's what we had for the night...

Fried Laing

"Laing" or Taro Leaves is a vegetable dish with coconut milk.  The twist of this appetizer is that it's wrapped and deep fried by Maan.  It was a first for both me and the hubby to give this dish a try.  It was actually 'newly invented' by Maan and I was quite lucky to have a taste of it before it gets to be included on the menu!  The coconut milk is not overwhelming to taste, everything was just right!  The perfect combination of this would be mayonnaise or you can just eat this as it is! 

One serving consists of 4 pieces.  Because of pictorial purposes (a.k.a forming a Christmas Tree), we just used 3 in this photo.

Japanese Chicken Adobo

According to Maan, Teriyaki is a crowd favorite, a lot of customers including herself wanted light meat for dinner that's why she chose Chicken Meat.  The dish has a nice punch to it, very flavorful yet guiltless! 

Looks can be deceiving, seeing a lot of red chili on the Japanese Teriyaki Dish is a bit scary at first glance but once I gave it a try, it's not too spicy at all!  The chicken is very flavorful as it was wrapped with a zing of Teriyaki sauce.  The outer crust has a bit of crunch to it and its best mixed with the fried rice that comes in this dish! 

Various Panna Cotas

Buko Pandan, Ube (Taro) and Langka (Jackfruit)

It is amazing how Panna Cota, an international dessert, can be made local with ingredients proud to be locally made!  With the same Panna Cota ingredients, adding up 3 different ingredients and topped with 3 different toppings gave a very distinct taste to each dessert!

My favorite among the tree is the Buko Pandan flavored Panna Cota.  Mr. AMW's favorite is the Langka (Jackfruit) flavored Panna Cota while our dining friend Arnel's favorite is the Ube (Taro) flavored Panna Cota.  This proves that each people have different taste buds but you can manage to please them all!

If you visit the restaurant, I suggest you try their other dishes like Baked Fish Fillet, Bibingka and Pititsan!  I will blog more about the dishes I've tried in this restaurant on a separate post soon!

More and more people arrive and I think the party starts as late as 10:00pm!  If you want a quiet ambiance, visit the restaurant before 10:00pm!

 

 

Quattro 

96 Timog Avenue,
Quezon City

Opens: 11:00am to 2:00pm/ 5:00pm to 2: 00am

Tel nos.: (632) 928-1681/ (632) 928-1692/ (632) 416-6079

Good service from the waiter and meals are served quite fast!  Well, except if you plan to order their special Bibingka, order as early as you can as most people have bulk orders which takes time for them to make your fresh Bibingka!  No service charge.  Restaurant accepts cash and credit card transactions.

Maan is yet to take up culinary course, but she is a living proof of how passion can take you a long way!  I want to thank Mr. Arnel Mercado, the Over all In-Charge, for accompanying us during dinner with great stories about food and restaurants!

Have you tried Quattro?
What's your favorite Filipino dish?

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Unilever Foodsolutions (UFS), being the preferred foodservice business partners among restaurateurs, felt the need to acknowledge notable restaurants who are developing Manila as a culinary city.  They have partnered with select restaurants within the metropolis in coming up with signature dishes.  UFS has synergized with these restaurants, both through dish development and promotion campaign for these signature dishes, in achieving one common goal: coming up with a different culinary experiences that provide value for money and culinary memories for diners.  

If you're a restaurateur (or an aspiring one) and in need of help in coming with your signature dish, call (632) 588-8855 or email at foodsolutions.philippines@unilever.com.

Tip for the Day: All About Eyes

One of the most difficult product to review (in my opinion) are eye products!  The effects, both positive and negative, can sometimes be seen at a prolong period of time!

"Do eye products really work?"

The answer, is variable, depending on who you talk to.  Some may use the most expensive creams in the market and still cannot see any effects at all while others can purchase the cheapest eye cream in the market and the product could work for them!  

If you ask for my opinion, after years of eye products usage, it does work!  I can vouch on that with photos at the latter part of this post!  I cannot type down the products that work for me and assure everyone that it's the best in the market, we have different genetics and we are different, all I can do at the moment is to list down the top 5 products I've tried from the most inexpensive to the most expensive that works!  Bear in mind that the products mentioned here are only the ones I've used!  There are far more eye cream brands out there that I haven't used!  Research and read a lot...

1. Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll (approx Php199.00/$4.00)

This is the most inexpensive eye product that works!  I've heard feedbacks from readers who told me that this product did nothing for them, but I got a chunk of readers who told me it worked for them.  In my own experience, this works for me especially on the first month, I can see the bags under the eye area decreased a bit but the reason why I stopped using this and gave it to my mom-in-law instead is because I am not seeing any results after the 2nd month!  My eyes probably got used to the product.  My mom-in-law on the other hand, finished 3 tubes of these and she loves this, she told me it works even better than her expensive eye creams!

If you are not allergic to anything with caffeine and you are on a very tight budget, you can give this a try, this is the best packaged eye product!  Quick tip: do not over "roll"!  It may cause stress around the eye area and cause more wrinkles or skin sagging!

2. GoodSkin Labs Eyliplex-2 (Php2,600/approx $56.50)

The most innovative packaging that separates day and night regimen!  The reason for this is that the day cream comes in lighter formulation and the night cream is more potent in texture.  I found myself using this more often because I don't want the day cream to finish faster than the other or vice versa that's why this gave me the push to use both day and night eye cream regularly!

The Eyliplex-2 works really well on dark circles base on my experience, puffiness did disappear but the  more obvious part would be the lightening up on the under eye area!  This is actually one of my favorite eye cream in which I recommend to a lot to my readers and friends!  Since I have the blessing of testing so many eye creams, I actually gave this up when my sister gave me a call and ask for good eye creams!  I did not think twice of letting this go immediately and so far, she told me she's liking this!

3. Tri-Aktiline Instant Deep Wrinkle Filler (Php2,600/approx $56.50)

For anyone with issues on wrinkles or obvious lines around the eye area, this is what I would recommend.  I have used this on both mature clients and myself!  You can click the name of the product to go to my review on the said product.  The lines are immediately blurred out, but the real effect of line reducing takes a bit longer time approximately 1 month to 2 months!  

This product is quite tricky to apply, it can form dried up "glue texture" and may make it quite difficult to apply makeup!  The huge trick I can share is to warm the product on your hand first, then quickly pat it on the area where lines are visible, leave it for a couple of minutes before you proceed to your next skincare or makeup routine!  If you get through the tricky part, this is a very good product a lot of beauty bloggers love!

4. Clinique Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream (sorry I don't have the price for this)

When I had the worst case of eye allergies a couple of years ago, I was scared to use anything near my eyes for almost a year, the first eye product I've used and trusted was the one from Clinique and it was a sample size of Clinique Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream in which I got from purchasing the 3-Step System.  

What I like about this eye cream is the fact that it's easy to apply on the eye area, it gets absorbed easily as well and even if I apply this on both the lids and the under eye area, I don't have any allergies or irritations. 

The thing about this eye cream though is because it is too intensive, there is a certain amount needed to be applied on each eye, applying too much will give me puffy eyes when I wake up in the morning.

How about the effect?  The immediate effect cannot be seen, what I noticed though is the skin around my eye area is moisturized and not as dry as before!  The lines around my eye area did not deepen but it wasn't obviously gone!  

5. La Mer Intense Eye Cream (Php6,000/approx $133.00)

I know, this is very pricey!  But trust me, I tried my best NOT to love this product because I am not into expensive products!  I have to surrender though, this product --- WORKS!  I have tried 2 sample sizes of the old version called La Mer The Eye Concentrate, it works in the moisturizing department but the consistency of the old version is quite runny!  The new La Mer The Eye Balm Intense is creamier in consistency and the effect is seen as soon as one week!

The puffiness on my eye area decreased a lot and even if I sleep only 3-4 hours at times, it wasn't shown when I woke up!  Even Mr. AMW noticed the puffiness around my eye area lessened drastically and take note, I am only using a sample size of this!  The sample size lasts me 3 weeks now and I still have enough!  Imagine how long the full size will take you!

I recommend this for people who have problems with puffiness and has the budget! 

A photo of my eye from early this year until recent

Last photo (R) was taken within the week

Whatever eye creams you choose, do not choose just because someone says so, or just because it works for other people.  Purchase eye creams base on your budget, base on trying out testers, base on research and always check on the ingredients to make sure you are not allergic to it!  If eye cream brands do not have testers available, the least you can do is ask from a friend who purchased a certain eye product you wanted to try and maybe, pay a small amount for a sample?  Give it a test.  I suggest taking photos as the difference cannot be seen at once but if you have a photo, you will feel better!  I do take a look at my photos every now and then and it gives me a nice push to consistently use my eye creams because it does work!  It takes months or even years, but the result is obvious...again, pictures do not lie!   (You can click photo above to enlarge, photoshop was used only to crop, watermark and brighten up photos)

Do you believe in the power of eye products?
What's your favorite eye product to date?
Have you seen a huge difference after consistently using your favorite eye cream?
Tell AMW your thoughts!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Caronia Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

I always tote an alcohol spray inside my bag!  I have 2 small spray bottles that I carry all the time!  I include them in my "Unsung Heroes" list!  Here are 2 mini spray bottles I own that you can find inside my bag organizer...

A random small spritzer bottle with commercial Isopropyl Alcohol, the right one has scent from Amu'in.

Here's the thing though, when I do makeup on clients,I can easily spritz alcohol with tools like the "mixing palette", the mirror, tweezers, scissors, etc...  Would you believe I steer away from spritzing regular alcohol on my hand prior to makeup application?  Most of you probably know why.

My hands are on clients' face at all times during make-up application, most of the time, my hands are near their nose area which is quite embarrassing to have a heavy scent of rubbing alcohol right under their noses!  That's why I invested for sweet smelling hand sanitizer which led me to purchasing a couple from Bath & Body Works because they smell so good.  

It wouldn't hurt if I can find a less expensive version right?  I actually did, I found one locally at Rustan's for approximately Php45.00 (approx $1.00) as seen on photo above right beside Bath & Body Works.  Huge bottle, nice and simple packaging, it must be a Eureka Moment right?  Hmm, I can't seem to put it on that list because the scent of Tenderly brand is too strong it lingers until I finish make-up application.  If clients do not complain, well, the make-up artist (me) is definitely complaining!  I have a dog's sniffer so this one does come out too strong and it hurts my head!  *laughs*  Why would make my clients and my own nose suffer just to save up right?

(Note from author:  The strong scent is my personal opinion, I have friends who are using the Tenderly brand and felt ok with it) 

So I went back to Bath & Body Works and thought my hunt for good smelling + inexpensive hand sanitizer is over.  Well, according to Justin Bieber: "Never Say Never!"

A local nail polish brand Caronia, came up with their Hand & Foot Care range of products which includes Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer!   Is it a good and inexpensive alternative for pricey hand sanitizers out there?

Caronia Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer says ---

Keep your hands clean and hygienic all the time with Caronia Hand Sanitizer’s alcohol-based formulation fortified with germ killing agent, triclosan. Infused with Vitamin E beads which act as moisturizers, it keeps your hands soft to the touch. With its green tea scent, it leaves you feeling relaxed taking away worries of being infected with bacteria. Caronia Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer comes in handy in a 50ml tube that you can easily slide inside your pouch and use when soap and water are not available. 

Ingredients: Ethyl Alcohol, Water, Fragrance, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Triclosan, Lactose, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl, Methycellulose, C.I. 77289, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).

AMW says ---
Pros

• Simple clear packaging which makes it easy to see how much product you have left.]

• A small amount is enough for both hands.
• No need to rinse with water and you can use this anytime, anywhere to disinfect.
• The hint of green tea scent is perfect!  I actually love it!
• The scent does not linger for more than 5 minutes!
• Hands do not feel rough or dry even after constant application.
• Contains Vitamin E which does not dry up your skin.
• Proudly Philippine Made!

Cons

• Not readily available worldwide.
• A bit watery or runny in texture which can be quite messy if you accidentally open up your cap when product are all accumulated near the opening.

Overall

I am quite impressed with this product!  Hand feels clean and there's no weird scent that lingers all throughout!  

Tips

• Please keep out of reach for children.
• If you plan to eat with your hands or lick your hands, it is better to wash off your hands with soap and running water!
• Stop usage when allergies or skin irritations occur.
• Not to use directly on open wounds or cuts.
• Try to tap the product prior to opening to cap to keep from messy overflow.

Will I repurchase?
Yes!


To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone who prefers Gel formulated alcohol.  Though I prefer Alcohol in liquid form, I love to use this prior to make-up application to keep my client's face free from dirt transferring from my hands to their faces!

Where to purchase and how much?
At Watson's, local drugstores and supermarkets for Php54.00/50ml (approx $1.20).  Exact price will be written after I double check. 

Here's a photo to show the 'runny' texture of the hand sanitizer.  Has tiny Vitamin E blue beads which is really a few compared to the Bath & Body Works one. 

Thanks Caronia for coming up with a good and inexpensive hand sanitizer!
And I am glad they are coming up with more products and the Hand & Foot Care line sounds promising!  Will try them and give a review in the future!


What's your choice of hand sanitizer? Regular alcohol or the alco-gel version?

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

(Product provided as gift, this post was written base on author's personal experiences, please purchase at your discretion)

AMW Reports: The Philippine Blog Awards 2010

The Philippine Blog Awards, has been around for the fourth year!  As I walked in the Carlos P. Romulo auditorium, I can't help but look around and just feel blessed and happy that the Philippine Blogging industry has gone a long way!  I can still remember the first post I've done and how tiny the photo I chose because I don't want people to recognize me! *duh* Why put a photo if you don't want people to recognize you?  Call me weird, but I was!  Still am!  *lol*

Look what I've become now!  LOL Years of practice, face turned thicker a couple of centimeters per year!

Back to the Philippine Blog Awards..I am glad to be invited to this event not only as a blogger but ...yours truly is a finalist for the Best Beauty and Fashion Blog division!  I did not bagged the award but let me tell you why I felt like a winner!

AskMeWhats came to be a blog that gives me the chance to speak out what I want to share to the world!  I may want to start this originally as an advise column but I didn't mind giving advises on Beauty and Fashion instead!  

I can still remember that fateful day when I got my first reader comment, "Liz" from Dublin, you were my first commenter and I won't forget that!  It was the best feeling in the world!  Then the reader comments started to pour in, and I found myself enjoying post after post sharing what I learn!  You guys where there for me all throughout, and I'm glad to say, I've found wonderful friends in blogging!  

Here are some highlights on who I met during The Philippine Blog Awards 2010...

Vaseline Girls Unite!

with Ada and Hannah

AMW with DJ Vince from When in Manila,

Hannah and found a new friend Kristel

AMW with the Food Bloggers

L-R John, Frances, Richard, Irene and Carlos

And let's not forget, my beauty blogging friend Shen 

was also there with me!
(*waves hi* to the rest of Team E)

Congratulations to all the winners on this year's Blog Awards!

And congratulations to Gabe Mercado for hosting this event, made my tummy ache from laughing the whole night!  Can I just say, I want to run to the stage and grab his bedroom slippers?

You can click this link to view the complete listing of winners for this year's Blog Awards.  Congratulations to all the winners!  And congratulations to Reluctant Stylista for winning this year's Beauty and Fashion category!  You deserve it!

I, on the other hand, is keeping this photo for the coming months, it's my bragging rights...right? :D  Thank you so much to the person who nominated me and to the Philippine Blog Awards for including me on this year's roster of finalist!  I'm glad to be part of this prestigious event! :)

Thank you to my dearest AMW readers for making this possible, without my readers, I am nothing, well, I could be someone though --- someone Crazy talking to myself over cyberspace (that's new!)

I am hoping to know some of you more!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

AMW Makeover: Wedding Day Make-Up

Dear AMW Readers:

Wow, would you believe I get so many wedding related make-up queries?  Does that mean, a lot of you are getting married soon??? *grins*  Probably, a lot of you are planning for your wedding soon?  That is so exciting!!!

Wedding make-up for me, is the most challenging make-up any make-up artists need to master.  These are the moments the bride gets to be photographed (at all angles), cameras zooming in for a close-up shots and that leaves no room messy eyeliners, unruly brows, chapped lips or pimple marks showing up!  There's always Photoshop right? 

Wrong!  

As a make-up artist, I don't depend on Photoshop because you cannot depend on photographers to always correct on your mistakes, imagine, hundreds and thousands of photos to be photoshopped?  Come on, wedding suppliers are there to complement and help each other, not make each others' lives miserable!

To cut the long conversation short (don't I always try to?) *lol*  I've recently done make-up for a wonderful wedding!  It was a referral from my previous Bride and let me show you the reason why I love weddings and why it helps me improve my craft...

The Bride: Brigette

Can I just say brides are seriously blooming on the day of her wedding?  Brigette told me she only had an hour of sleep (and she looked even better than Nikki with 12 hours of sleep!) because she was quite emotional and the neighboring hotel room is too noisy to relax!  *laughs*  But look at her!  I did her trial makeup a month ago and her skin improved drastically!  I remembered mixing 2 shades of foundation and primed her skin with 2 types of moisturizer!  On her special day, I did not use a lot of product and I can't help but admire her skin!

Skin type: combination of normal and oily

Skin Condition: redness, tiny pimple marks

Her request: To make sure her makeup lasts long

Products used:

Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer Light

Becca Moisture Primer on dry areas

MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC20 mixed with a tiny bit of NC40

Paul & Joe Dual Powder Foundation in 050

Graftobian Foundation Palette as concealer

Paul & Joe eyebrow pencil no. 3

Various MAC eyeshadow

Stila Cream Blush + Revlon Matte Blush Blushing Berry

Revlon Lipstick in Soft Rose

The Maid of Honor: Odette

Odette is like my long lost sister!  She looks quiet at first but oh man!  She's so funny and it was such a light wedding preparation with her around.

Skin type: very oily and acidic

Skin Condition: redness, pimple marks and open pores

Her request: To make sure her makeup lasts long and conceal her pores and spots

Main Products Used:

Smashbox Photofinish Primer Light

Graftobian Foundation Palette 2 shades lighter than her skin color

Conceal with Make-up Forever Concealer Palette

Tears Eyebrow Pencil 

Contoured with MAC Sculpt and Shape

Paul & Joe Blush

Clinique Lipstick in Blushing Nude

The Sister-In-Law: Khel

Khel, used to be my bride and I am so glad to see her face again!  She turned out to be a dear friend of mine after doing her Bridal Makeup.  Khel is used to safe make-up and this time, I changed her look and gave her a more dramatic eyes as the wedding is done outdoors and I want her make-up to stand out as well! 

Skin type: normal

Skin Condition: not much problems

Her request: No request from her

Main Products Used:

Moisturized with Paul & Joe Moisturizer

Primed with Becca Primer

Revlon PhotoFinish Primer in Nude

Tears Eyebrow Pencil

Dior Eyeshadow 

Nars Blush in Orgasm

Clinique Lipstick in Nude

Mother of the Bride: Mrs. Katipunan

A quiet lady who doesn't have any special requests on make-up and leaves the make-up artist her freedom to do whatever she wants!  I love doing her make-up again because she appreciates the effort done to her!

Skin type: dry

Skin Condition: Lines, spots

Her request: Just to prettify her :)

Products Used:

GoodSkin Labs Total Face Instant Line Reducer

Moisturized with Estee Lauder Moisturizer

Thevi Foundation

Paul & Joe Eyebrow Pencil no. 2

Various eyeshadow from Stila Quad

Nars Blush in Orgasm

Revlon Lipstick in Carnation mixed a bit with MAC Russian Red

I also did 2 guys makeup, the brother-in-law and the Groom.  I am lucky both guys have gorgeous skin to start with.  What I did was to conceal spots that needed to be conealed with a light foundation then dusk the face with MAC's Mineralized SkinFinish Light in Dark as contour powder and setting powder!

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom!

Thanks to the family for entrusting me to be their wedding supplier on such special event!

Weddings maybe stressful!  I've been there, I've done that!  But it all boils down to how you handle it and how you try to enjoy the moment no matter how stressful preparations could be!  Let the suppliers do the work for you! 

AMW, as a past bride, now a make-up artist can vouch on letting yourself enjoy the moment and feel the love around you on your wedding day and you'll be A-ok!

If you are married, how was your wedding makeup?
If you're soon to be married, what's your dream wedding make-up?
If you're not getting married anytime soon, what are you doing here? *hahaha*
You know I'm just joking!  Share me your thoughts on anything wedding make-up related!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!