Cupcake Tower

A tower of...

...moist and fluffy fine dark chocolate cupcakes crowned with light and silky white chocolate buttercream frosting.

Mmm, mmm, mmm...

Mahogany Market

Behind the Metropolitan Trial Court of Tagaytay City is the Maghogany Market. The specialty in the Mahagony Market, is meat, specifically Batangas Beef.

There are also carinderia's or a series of small canteens, located just across the market, where the specialty is Bulalo.

Bulalo a popular Filipino dish composed of beef shank and vegetables.

This trip was a work visit, so I will try to cover this place more next time I am there.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

The Reading Room

The Reading Room is a small shop owned by friends of mine. It is located at the Cubao Expo in Quezon City. The name "Reading Room" gives you the impression that it is a bookshop.

Actually, what is read there are not books, but palms.


Not those palms. If you want your fortune read, this is the place to go too.

Downstairs are a very interesting collection of clothing, bags and other trinkets. My wife is very fond of buying stuff at The Reading Room, especially because they charge really wholesale like prices.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Red Velvet and Chocolate

Red Velvet...
...and Chocolate
Positively sinful.

Camera: Canon Powershot G5

Time Fades

This photo was borrowed from Flair Candy's Imagination with permission of course. Loved the shot, so I had to have it here.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix TZ-5

"Happy Birthday Robert!!"

This came with our dinner yesterday at The French Corner (West Gate, Alabang, Muntinlupa):

Camera: Canon Powershot G5.

Tagaytay Highlands

On the eastern slope of the Tagaytay ridge is the exclusive Tagaytay Highlands community. Tagaytay Highlands is a recreational and residential complex access to which is limited to resident and shareholders. Thanks to Coffee Klatch we have been able to get a few pictures of the view of Taal Lake and Volcano from the Tagaytay Highlands.

You can find more picture of Tagaytay Highlands here.

Strange Coffee

UCC's Sumiyaki Coffee Jelly is not what you expect a cup of coffee to look like. I recently got to try this beverage and was surprised to find out I actually liked it. While it will not replace my favorite medium roast blends, it is a great alternative on hot day.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Vintage Rolex Watches

Rolex GMT Master Ref. 6542 (Production Years: 1956-1959)

Late Model Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513 (Production Years: 1962-1990)

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

UCC Coffee Cafe Terrace @ Trinoma

UCC Coffee has opened a new branch at Trinoma Mall last July 26, 2008.

The message on the front door says it all...

Unlike other coffee shops, UCC serves a wide variety of food, and the Terrace branches have the broadest selections.

Making coffee...

Drip coffee machine.

A nice serene environment.

While UCC focuses on the in-house experience, they also carry a wide variety of products to allow you to enjoy the UCC experience at home.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ-50

UCC's Blended Coffee

We love coffee. We keep a coffee maker running the whole day in the office, and have another one waiting for us when we get home, brewing our favorite Bag of Beans' Excelsa Blend, Maxwell House, Yuban, or Conlins' Million Dollar Brew. When we feel like a bit of a treat, we buy a bag of Starbucks Cafe Estima and have it brewed in a coffee press (if you buy a bag, they press it for free). For the ultimate coffee treat, it is a cup of coffee at UCC (Ueshima Coffee Co.).

UCC's Blended Coffee is expensive, but it is well worth the money. The manner of preparation of the coffee is special, each cup separately siphon-brewed per order.

Then there is the coffee itself. The beans produce a very rich brew, but not in the typical Barako or dark blend of other beans. The best I can describe it is that it is a very flavorful blend, which leaves a very pleasant resonating aftertaste in the mouth long after your last cup.

I am fond of brown sugar with my coffee. And even in this regard UCC offers you something a cut above the rest - BROWN SUGAR CRYSTALS!

There is no getting around the fact that at Php129 for per cup, UCC's blended coffee is not cheap, and this is not their most expensive blend. But the small premium paid, makes for a very special experience. The same goes for their food, too.

Pepper Steak Cow

Guess who I bumped into today in at Trinoma...


Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Monty, Magi, and Puppy

Magi and Puppy having a "running conversation"

Running Magi

Monty is one handsome Pekingese

"Nakakagigil!" Don't you just want to pinch those sweet cheeks?

Camera: Canon Powershot G5

More Pictures of the Puppy

Camera: Canon Powershot G5

Jack Russel Terrier

Here are a couple of pictures of our new dog.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ-50

Subic Roadtrip

The Road to Subic

Interesting "Walls"

Horizon

Iguana?

Camera: Canon Powershot G5