The Weekender

Here's a photo of BusinessWorld's Weekender from last weekend. It was Friday and a copy was free for everyone's perusal at the pool - best way to dream about the weekend before 5pm. Believe it or not, it was the first time I came across BusinessWorld's weekend edition. I've always read BW on weekdays and just never had the chance to appreciate the regular weekend escape in print.

While living abroad, I thrived on the lifestyle pages of weekend periodicals. Back in Leeds, it was the Guardian and back in Podebrady, it was just Financial Times and International Herald Tribute in between flights. It got me the habit of consulting the newspaper for events and shows, new restaurants and just anything under the sun.

If it weren't for last weekend's BW Weekender, I would not have been reminded to watch Julie & Julia last week (which I absolutely loved, I haven't finished watching the film for the first time and I wanted to watch it again already) or becoming aware that My Life in Ruins was showing as well (better worth waiting for HBO next year, in my opinion).

So, here's to a new habit! Reading BusinessWorld's Weekender that is.

Sweet Treat

My boss was away for a week and gave me some cookies for pasalubong. Pasalubong is the Filipino term for a gift that one brings when one comes home, often from a trip (local or abroad), or even after a day's work.

Here are some gooey chocolate chip cookies from Too Good Gourmet and makes for a perfect comfort food amidst Manila's rainy gloomy mood after the typhoon's tragedy. For a tropical third world country like the Philippines, our dessert preferences are arguably quite western. As normal as it is to go grab a Frapuccino at Starbucks after dinner out it is common to crave for chocolate cake, a cheesecake or even scones. Pretentiousness or not, chances are, it's even harder to find local desserts like rice cakes at restaurants than western treats.

One Fine Day

A day off and having the liberty to wake up naturally (often late) is always a good day in my book. Stumbling upon a series of blogs makes it even better.

Later in the day, a short walk brings me and my mom to watch "No me pidas que te bese porque te besare." It succeeds in taking me away from Manila and takes me to what truly matters to people - to persons, set in the suburbs of Barcelona. We're all special. "Dreams come from trauma" was reiterated in the movie. You got to get over it. Understand it and deal with it. Then move on. "Close your eyes, and say it." Trauma or not, I think dreams are born out of desire -- from lacking something in the present and wanting, hoping, yearning for something to happen -- to be.

Back home, more blog travel with "No Reservations" in the background. I've seen this movie before and never tire of watching it. Anything with food, I'm on it. Anything with successful single women, finding love, I'm on it.

And since we're on to love, I boiled a potato, mashed it with some butter and pepper, added some bacon strips and put it on high in the microwave. With mushy spuds drowning from crunchy bacon fat (I just thought about adding the bacon after I was done with the "mashed potato"), arugula greens somehow tamed the cholesterol. Boy, you must try this instant piece of heaven! Crispy bacon, creamy potato and bitter arugula all in one spoon!

Food Blogs

Here's a drawing from a new discovery: Lobstersquad. If only I can be back in Madrid savouring the joys of food!

On a typhoon-stricken weekend like this, it's best to stay home. The telly was on while I was preparing a quick lunch: sauteed Hungarian sausages with garlic, paprika and olive oil spaghetti. By the time I was done cooking, my surfing ended at the National Geographic Channel. Food Lovers Guide to the Planet featured how essential bread is in a variety of cultures like France, Italy and India. Aaaaah. The passion for bread. The show featured an American baking fresh baguettes daily in Paris, an American guest in a Tuscan kitchen learning how to prepare the traditional bread salad with unsalted bread, and a devoted American learning the art of French bread in mainland U.S.

But what caught my attention most was the next segment on food blogs. Four bloggers were featured: Sticky Rice from Vietnam, Chez Pim from San Franciso, Cha Xin Bao from Hong Kong, and David Lebovitz from Paris. One medium, different reasons, all about food from different corners of the world.

Visiting their pages, led from one blog to another, and one article to another. I eventually stumbled upon an article at the Times UK giving a glimpse of remarkable food bloggers from all over the world. Read more on Meet the Food Bloggers. Suffice to say, I am inspired and have heaps to read during my idle moments. I've also updated my food and travel links on the righthand side of the page for easy reference to blogs I find interesting.

Happy reading!