Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Lifestyle Asia

If there is one thing aside from shopping that I indulge in, it is food. Traveling around the world has opened my senses to the vast expanse of the global food scene. Every country or city inspires a variety of cuisines, tastes, and flavors. Having lived in different countries and now based in Manila, my appetite for new restaurants and new dishes to try has been endless. Even before I travel, I already do my homework, looking at which restaurants to eat or what specialties to try from various trusted websites and fellow foodie friends. I suppose I can say that I’m also a foodie. One of the guides that I have is Asia’s Top 50 Restaurants. It is a reliable reference that has never failed me. Unfortunately for us,…

Josh Poe and Kat Sumayao first met when they were 7th graders through their common friends. “The peak of our adolescent years!” says Kat. “We got close by talking almost every day until the wee hours of the morning through YM! and Multiply until we both started having feelings for each other." Both of them were too shy to ever really admit their feelings until Kat's best friend Catz convinced Josh to tell Kat what he felt for her birthday party. "She convinced Josh to sing to me on stage in front of all of our friends, so he can give me this necklace which he had bought during one of his family trips abroad. The necklace has a beautiful quote written on it: "Dance like no ones watching, Sing…

Like food, makeup has a limited shelf life—especially when it is left out, or in the case of wearing makeup, applied on our faces. As much as we would love to maintain that fresh, glowing look we created several hours ago, unfortunately, there is a finite number of hours a makeup look will last without doing a retouch. Not that we would like our makeup to last for days on end (although how wonderful would it be to say woke up like this and mean it), but it would be nice for it to at least stay on until the end of the day, or okay, fine, even until the end of a meal. With that in mind, here is a list of the most hardworking and long-lasting makeup you…

“The best wine is the one you enjoy.“ A winery owner told me this while we were having dinner at Flower Drum Melbourne during Formula 1 weekend. I was very young back then and just starting to appreciate wines and initially felt intimidated with its vast offerings compared to my then drink of choice, scotch. The earliest traces of wine was seen in China around 7000 BC, but it is acknowledged that its birthplace was in Georgia in 6000 BC. Its westward spread is credited to the Phoenicians who created city-states on the Mediterranean coast, which you now know as Lebanon and Syria. The heavy association of wine with religious practices was one of the reasons that promoted its growth and survival. The art of winemaking which was once a…

MY NEW ROOTS BY SARAH BRITTON Written by the “Queen Bee of Health Blogs” Sarah Britton, this cookbook is perfect for vegans and vegetarians, and aspiring learners who are intimidated with cooking and preparing plant-based meals. With beautiful photos (and good-smelling pages too!) this book will be a favored choice for years to come. Recommended are the lentil dishes: the French Lentil Salad and the Four Corners Lentil Soup are always a hit at every dinner gathering. CHERRY BOMBE: THE COOKBOOK BY CLAUDIA WU AND KERRY DIAMOND Released in 2017, this collection of recipes from 100 inspiring and creative women in the food world remains a great choice, both for the breadth of its recipes and its aesthetically pleasing pages. If you can’t cook, it looks great on the coffee…

Like many people, there is a big difference in what I did before the global pandemic, and what I do now in the advent of this Covid19 crisis. For many years, I was best known in the industry as the "diet guru to the stars." I created magical solutions that helped our top celebrities get red carpet ready or look their absolute best in time for photoshoots and events. I created "got-to-look-great-fast fixes," which were healthier alternatives to starvation diets that people often resort to when faced with "emergencies." I innovated a combination of food and detox therapies to achieve dramatic results in just a few days without making them look tired or haggard. I made sure that the most photographed men and women in the country lose several pounds…

It is said that one’s roots are responsible for who they become. For Chef Josh Boutwood however, his roots are also his routes. Chef Josh spent his early childhood in the United Kingdom, before moving to Boracay, then proceeding to live a nomadic lifestyle in Spain. There, he traveled with his mum as she took over old restaurants, refurbishing them with concepts, before inevitably moving on to another project somewhere in the plains of Andalusia. Chef Josh would study classical French cuisine, discover his love for Italian food, and take on a Swedish partner before going back to the Philippines with a one-year-old daughter, to start a fine dining restaurant in Boracay - living a dream life of wearing board shorts and t-shirts, cooking and serving for tourists in the…

"My interest in food started when I was very young because my family and I enjoyed eating together. Sharing meals with them meant spending time to find out what went on during their day and good food really put us all in a good mood," shares Florabel Co-Yatco. Growing up as one of the oldest in her cohort of cousins meant that she was always in the kitchen, learning from her elders and helping cook up a storm for everyone. "I think bonding over delicious food brings people together, and I wanted to do that for other people," she says. Florabel's first foray into the food industry was when she was a teenager, selling cookies and cakes to her classmates. Her favored recipes were those by Martha Stewart, along with…

The Dees are undoubtedly A-listers in their respective industries, with Rikki and Beng Dee having passed on hard-earned lessons from their well of wisdom to their four children. With the next generation leaders experiencing much success in each of their chosen paths, these young scions are set to be movers and shakers in the foreseeable future. While the resemblance of names can be confusing, the similarities stop there. ERIC THOMAS DEE The current Chief Operating Officer of the Foodee Global Concepts brought in food concepts Todd English Food Hall (and its rebranding to The Food Hall last year), as well as Tim Ho Wan to Philippine shores. ERIC ENRICO DEE, JR. Rikki’s namesake is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of runaway success Sunnies Studios. The brand has since branched…

Aside from their aforementioned list of Filipino dishes and the Parisian delicacy of note, Rikki and Beng lets us in on what would comprise their catalog of international favorites. ASIAN STAPLES Steamed fish or any fresh live seafood, sashimi, buns, dim sum, roast meats (duck or goose!), Korean barbecue, pho, spicy Thai curries and barbecues, and a selection of Thai fruits. EUROPEAN FARE Bouillabaise from Nice, grilled French turbot, Indian food in London, seafood platter from Amalfi coast, from Amalfi Coast, fresh pasta from family-run restaurants, tapas and pintxos in San Sebastian, cochinillo, cocido, pata negra, and paella negra. ALL-AMERICAN “Los Angeles is our second home,” says Beng. “It has diverse, trendy, stylish, innovative, and dynamic cuisine from all over the world in one place!”…

Andrej Wisniewski of the Raintree Hospitality Group describes his role as a CEO, negotiator, taster, and occasional food packer. According to the Filipino-American businessman, the best part of the job has been to see the progressions his staff make, from their humble beginnings to their career growth. "Hospitality is often a stepping stone for bigger opportunities. We are happy to see them "graduate," often to overseas jobs, where they can apply all the skills they learned with us,” he says. The Raintree Hospitality Group's business focuses on hospitality, from managing boutique hotels and resorts as well as food service, including restaurants, corporate dining, food courts, and online meals in Manila, Cebu, and Boracay. Having a huge foothold in the industry means that there are multiple challenges, even before factoring in…

Jordy Navarra didn’t start out planning to be a chef. “I've always had an interest in food but I never really took myself seriously with regards to that interest until I sort of discovered it,” he says, “I thought people just ate to consume. That’s what Filipinos are like.” When Jordy saw the other side, of chefs making dishes and being creative with what they plated, he realized its viability. “When I saw that side to it, I thought ‘Oh, so I never knew that you could be doing that with food.’ I wanted to learn, and that got me into cooking and restaurants.” Jordy trained locally and abroad. “It's a hectic environment, especially in the beginning. Almost all things are hard,” he said. “You’re learning different styles.” He shares…

Vince Ang and Anika Martirez met during a high school soiree. Vince was a student at Southridge, while Anika went to Woodrose, so their social circle had been the same, intact one while growing up. Both attending Ateneo de Manila University, Vince stayed for a semester before moving to Los Angeles to study architecture, while Anika stayed in Ateneo. "It wasn’t until the last year of my college life in ADMU that our whirlwind romance took place back in 2010," says Anika. On a casual hangout at a friend's house during one of Vince's visits from LA, mutual flirting ensued while their friends witnessed the spark between both of them. After that, they realized they wanted their friendship to go beyond friendship. Getting to know each other before Vince flew…

MEN JEAN PAUL GAULTIER “LE MALE” LE PARFUM Always pushing the limits of perfume, Jean-Paul Gaultier “Le Male”, presents an oriental fragrance. The top note is cardamom, middle notes are lavender and iris, base notes are vanilla, oriental and woodsy. The fusion of these notes creates a sexier, spicier, and darker scent, perfect for the evening. LOUIS VUITTON MÉTÉORE A Citrus Aromatic fragrance for men that arouses fascination like the dazzlingly flamboyant clouds. Calabrian bergamot, mandarin orange, and Sicilian orange give it a fresh citrusy scent. Designed to emulate an "exhilarating journey, leaving behind the train of one's presence." It's a great permanent addition to its collection of men's fragrances. PACO RABANNE 1 MILLION PARFUM Defined by a warm deliberate scene of the extreme. This scent is textured by amber…

1 EXTREME-TEX LIGHT PUFFER JACKET Made of Extreme-Tex® Light, an innovative fabric created by Prada that combines modern textile technology with eco-sustainable manufacturing methods like post-consumer recycled polyester yarn, the multi-layer fabric is breathable and waterproof. The lining is made of fine, compact microfiber, with combined goose down and Graphene® to help regulate body temperature: in hot weather, heat is dispersed while in cold the heat is evenly distributed to help stabilize temperature. 2 EXTREME-TEX BLOUSON JACKET The combination of casual and minimalist style in this Extreme-Tex® jacket makes this piece a versatile one, for relaxed days or when a more stylish dress-codes are called for. Sporty details include hook-and-loop fastener straps, heat-sealed taped seams, and waxed zippers. 3 EXTREME-TEX TROUSERS Innovative technical performance trousers with an athleisure-inspired design made…

JP ANGLO JOSH BOUTWOOD TONY BOY ESCALANTE JESSIE SINCIOCO FLORABEL CO-YATCO…

Away from the city, beneath the distant, twinkling night skies of Tagaytay, exists Antonio’s. Its founder, Tony Boy Escalante, has accrued a myriad of awards in his almost two decades in the industry—yet the 54-year-old head chef of the Antonio’s Group of Restaurants speaks with the lithe ease of someone unburdened with celebrity. For Chef Tony Boy, accolades and honors speak to his esteem to the highest principles of cooking—the COVID crisis serves as his toughest challenge yet towards keeping his restaurants, and the finest of dining traditions, alive. CONTINUING TO DISH OUT THE GOOD STUFF “I’m that person who wants to compete with no one but himself,” begins Chef Tony, “Too much connectivity is distracting. I want to be unique. I know what I want but sometimes when you…

Establishing a food empire that has lasted more than three decades is not an easy feat. But with Rikki and Beng Dee’s incredible business acumen and pulse for the market’s cravings, FOODEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS has grown into a driving force in the Philippine food industry. HOMEGROWN HEROES Pioneering concepts that have been often replicated by competitors but never duplicated in experience, these brands have become gold standards in the distinct and discerning markets they excellently serve. Food Link | Mesa | Sunnies Cafe | Bench Café DARING DISCOVERIES True to their name, the business has delivered world-renowned brands to enrich the curious taste buds of the country. Let each bite take you to places—be it New York, Hong Kong, Spain, Tokyo, or Singapore. Flatterie | FOO’D | Hawker Chan |…

Charles Tiu and Sari Lazaro met through common friends, on a night out at Polilya. Together for a year and a half, they went on a vacation to El Nido where Chris set up a private dinner on a treetop area at a private resort facing the beach. "After dinner, and a few drinks, he proposed,” says Sari. Before the pandemic, the original wedding was supposed to take place in Rome, Italy. After, everything had to be simplified, and Charles and Sari decided to have an intimate celebration with just immediate family and a few friends present at Tagaytay Highlands, a place that Sari says was very efficient and accommodating. Sari says that while they were quite sad to not celebrate their wedding the way they wanted, they knew that…

1 Serpenti Forever crossbody bag in white agate leather with a varnished and pearled effect. Iconic snake head closure in light gold plated brass enriched with black and pearled white agate enamel, and black onyx eyes. 2 Serpenti Forever crossbody bag in mint calf leather. Iconic snake head closure in light gold plated brass enriched with black and white agate enamel, and green malachite eyes. 3 Serpenti Forever mini crossbody bag in white agate calf leather with woven chain décor. Brass light gold-plated snake head closure in black and white enamel, with black onyx eyes. 4 Serpenti Forever crossbody bag in daisy topaz calf leather. Iconic snakehead closure in light gold plated brass enriched with black and white agate enamel and green malachite eyes. 5 Serpenti Forever shoulder bag in…

OMEGA and the National Aeronautics and Space Aviation (NASA) have had a long and fruitful partnership, which reached its zenith during the Speedmaster’s vital support during the Apollo 13 rescue. In 1970, NASA conveyed the coveted “Silver Snoopy Award” from the astronauts to OMEGA, in recognition of the brand’s unique contributions to space exploration. Exactly 50 years later, a timepiece has been created commemorating that honor. An impeccable combination of animation with watchmaking art, OMEGA’s Snoopy tribute has introduced the OMEGA Speedmaster to a heightened realm of design. Snoopy plays a highlighted role within the watch. First appearing as an embossed silver medallion on the blue subdial at 9 o'clock, he is shown wearing his famous spacesuit, a replica of the silver pin given by NASA to OMEGA. The dial…

Probably one of the most missed dining establishments in the Metro during the lockdown, Blackbird welcomes patrons back to their art deco halls with new dishes and cleaner interiors. Speaking with Executive Chef Colin Mackay, he talks about their restaurant’s experience over quarantine, how they were able to continue serving their delectable fare while supporting their employees. “We opened for taking out and delivery from Blackbird a month into the lockdown.” Chef Colin says that Blackbird itself was the clear choice to keep in operations among their other restaurants. “We chose Blackbird over the other restaurants in the group as it has convenient public access that does not involve entering a mall and public car park.” Thus, easing logistics in maintaining take-out and delivery operations. An interesting detail on how…

At last year’s San Sebastian Gastronomika in Spain, the boodle fight—a classic Pinoy dining experience—made its debut at one of the world’s most prestigious culinary events. On stage, Visayan classics like binakol and inasal— presented with a twist—and other Filipino dishes came alive for top chefs and food savants to feast on. Ilonggo chef JP Anglo, along with his team, orchestrated this symphony of Pinoy flavors, presenting a master class in Filipino cuisine, culture, and values. Naturally, Chef JP’s dream banquet would also be a boodle fight with a few special guests. “I would invite Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, Kobe Bryant, and my grandfather. We’d have a boodle fight on an island, and we’ll use all local ingredients. Using a coconut, the meat can be made into salsa. The water will…

Life is a collection of deliberate choices, but the circumstances in which we find ourselves can be, more often than not, completely out of our control. In fact, there are pivotal moments in life that can be best described as serendipitous—requiring us to make decisions that can change the course of our personal journeys. For Chef Jessie Sincioco, the beginnings of her flavorful culinary career began as a Finance graduate suddenly being given an opportunity to join a baking competition. The deliberate choice to enter landed her on a path of international culinary exploration, allowing her to travel the world and develop an impeccable taste for international cuisines. And the rest, as they say, is history. AMIDST A MELTING POT OF INFLUENCES Jessie Sincioco’s instincts as a chef and a…

Rikki is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Foodee Global Concepts. From a simple dream of owning a restaurant that offers a delectable menu of mouth-watering dishes, he has since grown that dream to an empire which caters to all kinds of markets. Beng on the other hand, is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Foodlink Group, managing the Food Court Division for nearly two decades. The Foodlink Group operates 80 fast food stores strategically located in the country’s major malls, with three brands under its name: Chin’s Express, Inihaw Express, Handaan Express and recent editions being Seoul Good and Kain at SM Mall of Asia. Together, the formidable duo lives and breathes a remarkable brand ethos, by serving nothing but the best their kitchens have to…

Rikki and Beng agree that Asian food is central in family dinners as the cuisine equates to comfort food, plain and simple. But regardless of their preferences in the dinner table, they do experiment from time to time. A perfect example is a weekly family tradition they started a few months back—a hosting challenge of sorts. The rules of the challenge are listed below: 1 A budget limit is imposed on the menu for the feast. The host must work within the amount agreed upon. 2 The planned feast cannot be completely composed of takeout dishes. Testing every member’s culinary prowess. 3 Theme is important—you cannot mix different cuisines. If one is serving a Thai- themed menu, all dishes should accord with the theme. By starting a simple yet exciting…

“Over the pandemic, the most important thing I have learned is we are very vulnerable. We are not dealing with mother nature and with other animals in a coexisting way.” Never one to lack heart or energy in anything he says or does, we sat down with Chef Chele Gonzalez in his home turf at Gallery by Chele in BGC to chat on his perspectives on personal journeys, inspirations, and the greater responsibility that befalls all of us when it comes to surviving this pandemic. Ever the chatty man, Chele cuts no corners in admitting that the situation taken a great toll. On a personal capacity, being cooped up for a long time does not bode well for one’s mental state. “I remember during the pandemic, you know, I'm a…