Munchkins are a vivid part of my recollection of potluck parties from kindergarten through college. There’s always that someone who mars the tablescape with these afterthoughts. Thoughtlessness, rather, I’ve always understood that to be. While most everyone brings their best, this person brings his own convenience. I brought these so we’d really be in the theme of the Pinoy potluck.
On one of their regular Monday dinners, food writer Michael Karlo Lim and his better half Vanessa East, foodtrepreneurs Cheanie and Kim Salacop, Ilaputi’s Jan and Karen Rodriguez, and BOCAS Modern Patisserie’s Jean Louis Leon join forces with Zee Lifestyle‘s managing editor Shari Quimbo and partner-in-crime Nath Ybanez for a potluck dinner to end all potluck dinners. Take inspiration from what these food creatives whipped up for your own gatherings this season.
We were graciously hosted by the Anzani’s, who regrettably were unable to join the affair, at the loft of their food hall concept, District on 53rd. As with regular dining guests, we were treated to the house appetizer trays, the Food Sungka. Banana Chips done more like nachos and fragrant Turmeric Bread came with an assortment of dips: Hummus, Tahini Mango, Harissa and Tomato Salsa.
Vanessa East and the author (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Vanessa East’s pork adobo, derived from a Mindanaonan recipe. (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Mine and Vanessa’s actual pledge paid homage to last year’s adobo cook off. I’d daresay I can cook but, really, I’d rather just eat. My princess stepped up to the plate and offered to prepare Pork Adobo of her mom’s recipe. The resulting dish had me offering her marriage. Pieces of pork rubbed with crushed garlic, then seasoned with salt and ground black pepper were slowly boiled in vinegar and water on low to a total reduction. A stir-fry in the rendered fat with soy sauce and bay leaves finished it. Simple and simply delicious.
Managing editor Shari Quimbo’s Saffron Orzo (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Shari and Nath brought in the main starch to start with her Saffron Orzo. Garlic was sautéed in butter and chicken broth was poured in with the saffron steeped on low heat. Uncooked orzo was brought to a boil in the mix and simmered to al dente until the stock has been absorbed. Oil, seasonings and fresh parsley were stirred in, making a dish reminiscent of risotto.
Cheanie and Kim Salacop’s tininolahang pinaupong manok (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Restaurant supply-allers Cheanie and Kim brought a Tininolahang Pinaupong Manok for our turkey. A whole dressed chicken was stuffed with herbs and spices, deep-fried and rested to drain oil before a slow simmering with lemongrass, ginger and sautéed onions. The final render gave the soup body and flavor intensity. The meat’s flavors were sealed in the fry while the bath gave it back moisture.
Ilaputi’s Karen and Jan Rodriguez (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
The Rodriguezes’ roasted buffalo cauliflower (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
There’s my favorite overachiever, another one of my kindred spirits in appetite and palate, Jan, with his wife Karen, bringing in two dishes plus a surprise number. Stems peeking out of what looked like deep-fried breaded chicken pieces betrayed the vegetal actuality of his Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower. Florets were dipped in a light herb and spice batter, oven-roasted for thirty minutes, rested ten and brushed with Louisiana-style hot sauce before another thirty-minute toast. A flash deep-fry finish freshened it up for service with fresh carrot and jicama sticks, and a blue cheese dip.
Jan’s “Faux Gras” is made up of chicken liver with bacon fat, topped with applewood and hickory smoked bacon marmalade (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Bacon fat and pureed bacon were emulsified into a chicken liver pate topped with Applewood and Hickory smoked bacon marmalade in his “Faux Gras.” Here the regular chicken liver burst with the richness of bacon fat, making it quite like the real LeCoy. The savory-sweetness in the marmalade helped cut through the fatty goodness albeit its bacon base.
Jean-Louis, my favorite and inarguably the best pâtissier on the island to date, brought in “Pumpkin”-Spice Eclairs for a seasonal twist. Local squash figured into custard with cinnamon and piped generously on split choux pieces with Chantilly cream. Some croquantine gave a chocolate-hazelnut crunch to the spongy textures with boudoir biscuits and chocolates for garnish.
Jean Louis Leon’s “Pumpkin”-Spice Eclairs made with local squash (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Jan’s surprise was his take on the Salted Egg Potato Chips trend. Hand-cut fried potato chips painstakingly brushed with salted egg butter and sprinkled with roasted pepper flakes for a rich and flavorful profile more “salted egg” than most commercial availabilities.
Order of progression has never been established in informal gatherings around these parts. Everyone dipped into the box of Munchkins randomly throughout dinner, each one making some declaration or a Munchkin anecdote with some bravado as if to ease some or share guilt. I gathered that my attempt at bringing humor to the table worked. I also hoped the juxtaposition allowed us to really appreciate all our food experiences. After all, this is thanksgiving.
photography Oliver Echevarria
]]>Since its launch earlier this year, February Lifestyle is seeing a solid following—and it’s not just because it has one of the country’s top bloggers at the helm. Kryz started her fashion blog in college, long before the rest of us understood the meaning of online presence, and her Thirsty Thought page sees thousands of readers who are constantly on the lookout for style, beauty and even life advice. It might have been easy to bask in that success, but Kryz isn’t one to rest on her laurels.
Kryz Uy’s latest passion project is a bag line that marries local resources and craftsmanship with the intoxicating appeal of running away from home. (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
“I wanted to start a brand because I wanted to have something that, even after this whole blogger thing blows over, will encapsulate what I keep preaching about on the blog—how you should always be yourself and just do you,” Kryz explains. “I thought I’d come up with the line that is able to say that, and also promotes what I’m all about—traveling, having fun, working hard but also giving yourself time to breath.”
The sentiment was easy to come up with, but the process was a different story. Kryz had to consider all the different products she could come up with before finally deciding on what to put out. “It had to be a fashion item, because I’m a fashion blogger,” she declared. After flirting with the idea of a shoe or clothing line, she decided to go with bags and accessories, and gave called it February Lifestyle.
“It’s something we take for granted—we never really think about the month February,” she laughs “I named it February because it’s the only month of the year with 28 days, but every fourth year it gives us a surprise leap day. For some, it’s the month of love, but the lonely ones are always saying they hate February, it’s depressing. To us, it’s such a hot month, but all the way around the world, it’s really cold. So I’m saying that with February, you never really know what to expect.”
The thought process that went into the line goes beyond its design, and might be a testament to why Kryz is such a formidable presence in her industry. “I started conceptualizing everything last summer, so it’s been a year,” she shares when I asked how long the line has been in the making. “I would not allow myself to come up with a product that I wasn’t happy with, so there were a million tweaks and changes, and a lot of bag designs that I completely scrapped because it wasn’t working.”
It turned out for the best—February Lifestyle’s first collection is a trio of bags that are perfect conversation pieces for your next brunch with the girls. The roomy Let’s Get Lost tote is made of woven pandan, while the sleeker Take Chances and Sweet Like Sugar slings are from local raffia. Everything is handmade, with the only machinery involved in production being a sewing machine. “Even the metal details are hand-molded,” she adds.
The Take Chances sling, the Let’s Get Lost tote, and the Sweet Like Sugar purse (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
“These things I’m doing—100% handmade, we’re giving local artisans livelihood, promoting local materials—they aren’t new things. We hear it a lot, but if you’re a fashion person, it can be, ‘that’s good, but I wouldn’t wear it,’” Kryz admits. She flips the limitation on its head, instead seeing it as a challenge to use these materials in a new light. “It’s like banig bags. People in the Philippines might find banig boring, or that they don’t think a banig bag would be something stylish. But when you design it in a certain way that promotes quirkiness or fashion or travel, you give it new life and new meaning. People start to look at it differently.”
Tropical elements dominate the designs, which Kryz says was a conscious way to pay tribute to her other passion. “I love traveling. I feel like there are so many people in the world, especially in Asia, who are so obsessed with work,” she shares. “And for me, when I think of vacations, I think of tropical places and island getaways. I want people to look at it and know it’s a vacation bag, and it makes them feel good. And it’s also using local materials, but putting ants on them. We made it weird. We made it a statement piece.”
With the amount of time that goes into a collection, Kryz sheepishly admits she doesn’t want to give an exact date for her holiday collection. “I’ll probably do two collections in a year,” she shares. As for the first one, she’ll soon be consigning at Cabana in Banilad Town Center and hopefully more locations soon.
If someone can get you to carry an ant-riddled purse around, it’d definitely be Kryz Uy. The fashionable and individualistic blogger is all about staying true to yourself—in fact, the bags are shipped with motivational saying slipped into the package and one of my favorites is one that says, “Love Your Madness.” Kryz Uy is creating pieces that certainly lean on the quirky, but it seems the secret to her success may be finding the method to the madness.
photography Ezekiel Sullano makeup Janice Barillo hair Gino Fonghe locale District on 53rd
Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016. For back issues, subscribe via Magzter
HALL OF FAME
District on 53rd (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
Already well-known for their inventive food concepts, Marco and Kate Anzani take Cebuano diners on a culinary journey at DISTRICT ON 53RD. A culmination of 53 dishes from different world cuisines, the restaurant brings together a variety of flavors from Asia to the Mediterranean.
Meant to be casual and industrial, District on 53rd is inspired by warehouse and fish markets in Europe—although Kate reminds us that the location in fact has some history, being the location of the old Cebu City jail. The space has a quirky personality that’s approachable but stylish. Rich wooden tables, expansive wine displays, chalkboard menus and chandeliers made from mason jars create an interesting feel.
The couple also adds something new to the dining experience when they set up District on 53rd as a food hall with a wine bar and demonstration studio. Diners can go up to the counter to make their choices among the freshly made dishes on display, or choose to go about the traditional restaurant set-up and order a la carte. If you’re curious about what’s happening behind the scenes, the kitchen is separated from the dining area with just a glass partition to allow a peek.
All District on 53rd wants to do is express creativity in food, embrace Cebu’s new vibe, and introduce new flavors into the local restaurant scene. (by Gab Arcenas)
Cyberzone by Filinvest
Cebu IT Park, Lahug
6332. 261 7212 | Facebook
BLANK SPACE
Canvas Bistro Bar Gallery (Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
Seven years after it first opened, CANVAS BISTRO BAR GALLERY reinvents itself with an intimate yet industrial setting that highlights modern Australian dishes served in signature artistic flair.
The modern Australian cuisine restaurant haS relocated to a quiet nook along the Maria Luisa Road in Banilad. Save for the huge sign announcing the restaurant’s name, the façade of the new Canvas is understated, with floor to ceiling picture windows allowing a full view of the interiors.
While interior designer Sheila Solon and owners Chef Steve and Eya Shrimski utilized the existing materials from the previous restaurant, the unfinished industrial look is stronger in this reincarnation. Warm lighting complements the minimalist décor, while the eclectic mix of light fixtures evoke the feel of a gallery, highlighting both the restaurant’s food and the paintings hanging on the walls. Just like its former outlet, the paintings are by featured artists and are for sale.
As for the food, Everything is, of course, served with flair, making for quite the Instagrammable food shots. With the ever-changing selection of interesting artpieces and stylish-looking yet delicious food, it’s clear to see that Canvas truly lives up to its name. (by Patty Taboada)
One Paseo, Maria Luisa Road, Banilad
6332. 416 0895 | Facebook | Instagram
A NEW VIEW
Scape Skydeck (Photography by Philip Lapinid/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
With the ever-growing opportunities for travel and leisure, the development of emerging trends is unstoppable. Thus, to meet the demand for exciting and new adventures, SCAPE SKYDECK shows a different angle of Cebu.
From Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island, Scape Skydeck towers at the topmost floor of Azon Residences Condominium near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. It offers the most beautiful view of Cebu’s skyline.
Surrounded by green and modernized rustic features, dining at Scape Skydeck is mostly al fresco, giving its visitors a clear view of the Mactan Channel and the city’s skyline. For private functions, Scape also has an indoor lounge with classic, saloon-like interiors. The best time to visit is right before the sun goes down—the evening crowd has yet to arrive, and the setting is perfect for a selfie.
Scape Skydeck promises a new side of the lovely Cebu, and a fresh take on flavors—the food is just as good as the view in front of you. This is the angle that Scape proudly gives locals and visitors, an angle that rekindles your appreciation for the Queen City of the South. (by Philip Lapinid)
Azon Residences
M.L. Quezon National Highway, Lapu-Lapu City
6332. 494 0898 | Facebook | Instagram
BRIGHT IDEAS
BRIGHT Academy (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
“You know how, back in our time at school, visiting the principal’s office used to be so scary?” Cheryl Pages-Alba asks. In all fairness, the statement is pretty accurate—back in the days at the academia, being called into the principal’s office had its share of anxiety that comes with thinking you’ve done something wrong. Cheryl laughs at the thought. “Yeah, well that’s exactly what we didn’t want to happen here.”
A relatively small school with a very tight-knit community, BRIGHT ACADEMY is dedicated to preparing students for the real world with a well-rounded curriculum—extra-curricular activities and values education is just as important as scholastic ability. The teachers and administrative staff are notably approachable, which makes it easier for the students to go up to them with concerns.
The BRIGHT offices are able to embody that outlook with its bold color schemes, playful furnishings and glass partitions. Cheryl worked with interior designer Gerald Monreal for the layout, but had a hand in picking out the items used in the space.
BRIGHT Academy encourages play as much as they do learning, and it’s that spirit that they were able to embody in their administrative offices. Students are constantly making their way into the office to talk to teachers or just hang out. That certainly says something about how much the space has contributed to its sense of creativity and community. (by Shari Quimbo)
Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad
TREASURE COVE
Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)
It was like stumbling into a treasure cove—a comparison perhaps befitting, considering it was the MANDAUE CITY TREASURER’S OFFICE. It’s definitely unlike any other local government institution you’ll find yourself in, although Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva is quick to point out that the place used to resemble the stereotypical office before he took over. “[It was] drab. It was devoid of color and style,” he recalls.
That was six years ago. Today, the City Treasurer’s Office inspires awe and amazement among visitors because of the interesting selection of classic and eclectic pieces and warm lighting complementing the wooden accents. The design is a collaboration between Regal, his interior designer sister Jul Oliva, and Marylou Ngo-Ang of Magna Crafts and Interiors, the latter of whom offered to make Regal’s office a showroom for her panel board products. The ceiling and three sides of the room are decked in polished dark wood, creating an old-world homey vibe when coupled with the warm recessed lights.
The office’s pièce de résistance is the pair of green Kenneth Cobonpue Yoda swivel chairs situated right in front of the desk. Used during last year’s APEC, the seats are Regal’s favorite items in the room. “The world leaders sat on these,” he shares. “I can see power emanating from them every time I look at them.”
With a distinct selection of furnishings, the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office reinvents the typical government office and stands as a reflection of the furniture and accessories capital of the Philippines. (by Patty Taboada)
Mandaue City Hall
Edited from the originally published articles in Zee Lifestyle‘s May 2016 Design issue.
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Zee Lifestyle‘s May 2016 Design Issue: The Filinvest Group (Photography: Oliver Echevarria | Styling: Vanessa East | Makeup: Arnauld | Hair: Gino Fonghe | Model: Victoria of Prestige Modeling Agency)
The Filinvest Group takes the spotlight as the cover story this month. As the developer of some of the country’s biggest commercial and real estate properties, the company introduces new lifestyle concepts with their master-planned projects, City Di Mare, Umi Garden Suites, and Serulyan Seascapes Mactan.
These up and coming developments join some of Cebu’s most stylish spaces, including the dining establishments District on 53rd in Cebu I.T. Park, Canvas Bistro Bar Gallery in Banilad, and Scape Skydeck in Mactan; as well as B.R.I.G.H.T. Academy, and the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office.
With Cebu being a creative city, its talented locales also take center stage. Detalia Aurora’s Vikki and Paula Rodriguez, and celebrated designer Kenneth Cobonpue share their design forecasts for the year; while florist Xerxes Bernadez, comic book artist Kathryn Layno, chef Izzy Sy, fashion blogger and handbag designer Kryz Uy, interior designer Holly Dychangco and fashion and home accessories designer Josie Natori showcase their work.
Rounding off the Design Issue are reports from this year’s Design Days Dubai, and Milan’s Salone del Mobile Internazionale; along with columnist Mayenne Carmona’s adventures on Philippine Airlines’ inaugural direct flight from Cebu to Los Angeles.
Zee Lifestyle’s May 2016 Design Issue is out on stands now! Grab your copies at National Bookstore and Fully Booked. For subscriptions, click here or download Magzter on your mobile device.
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