Obra Maestra 2020 At The Shang

This February, discover more of Philippine fashion as Shang celebrates the timeless appeal of the iconic Filipiniana dress. Nothing can better showcase the beautiful iterations of this quintessential Filipino look than a night of fashion history  with  some of  the  biggest  names  in  Philippine  design  and  fashion. 

#ObraMaestraAtTheShang   bringsSpectacular   Cultural   Fashion   Show   &   Exhibition:   The  Evolution   of   Filipiniana   Fashion  featuring   modern interpretations of the Filipiniana at the  Grand Atrium.   Participating designers include  Oskar Peralta,  ReneeSalud, Ditta Sandico, Richard Papa, Roland Lirio, Steve De Leon, Delby Bragais, Peri Diaz, Albert Figueras,Peter   Lim,  Ricci  Lizaso,  Glenn  Lopez,  Edgar   Madamba,  Jontie   Martinez,  Jerome   Navarro,  Joyce  Penas-Pilarsky, Lito Perez, Edgar San Diego, Gerry Sunga, Philip Torres, Edwin Uy, and the late Bad Boy of Philippine Fashion, Eddie Baddeo. 

This dazzling display is scored  by celebrated  kundiman  musicians, tenor Sherwin Sozon and soprano Tonton Pascual of the Lyric Opera of the Philippines, Mike Austria, Al Gatmaitan, Homer Mendoza, Vince Conrad, and Kathy Hipolito Mas. The fashion show complements the unveiling of the upcoming publications of fashion and arts impresario Zardo Ayangco-Austria, who conceptualized and directed Obra Maestra at the Shang. 

The first  one is  the  landmark  Obra Maestra:  A   Portrait  of  Excellence  in  Philippine Fashion  and  Culture,  a retrospective of vintage fashion photography, culled from bibliophile Mario Feir’s exclusive Filipiniana collection. The coffee table book will also feature narratives on Filipino arts, customs, and traditions from the pre-colonial and colonial periods to the post-war and contemporary times. 

The other publication is NOBLE IDEAS. To Aspire and Inspire, a full-color magazine with almost 200 pages of inspiring work and articles from some of the country’s talented and artistic designers from various fields. 

Obra Maestra has also put together a special exhibition of the evolution of the Filipiniana from pre-colonial times to the 1970s at the Luxury Lane, East Wing until February 29. Included in this showcase are pieces from Feir’s exclusive   Filipiniana   collection   and   the   masterworks   of  Ramon  Valera,  Pitoy  Moreno,  Aureo   Alonzo,  Ben Farrales, R.T. Paras, and Pacita Longos. Proceeds of the Obra Maestra benefit the construction of the Benedictine Sisters Reparatrices of the Sacred Heart’s new monastery and chapel in Mexico, Pampanga. These also raise funds for the Duyog Marawi Project, spearheaded by Bishop Edwin dela Peña, and the victims of the recent Taal Volcano eruption.

 #FeelTheShangVibe and pay #HomageToHeritage as Shangri-La Plaza turns into a mecca of arts and fashion, open to anyone who wants to appreciate the best in Filipino culture. For inquiries, call 8-370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaoffcial.

Solmux Advance

Unilab, the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, is once again in the limelight for making the first medicine in the world to combine carbocisteine with zinc, addressing one's cough while strengthening immunity.

Solmux Advance is a significant addition to Unilab’s impressive portfolio of products, which include trusted brands Enervon, Biogesic, Neozep, and Ceelin.

Solmux Advance is a medicine used for the relief of cough characterized by excessive or sticky sputum or phlegm to help treat respiratory tract disorders such as acute or chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are also used in the treatment of otitis media with effusion and glue ear.

About Unilab:

Unilab is the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, a position it has consistently maintained over six decades. Its portfolio includes some of the biggest prescription and over-the-counter brands in the country.

Established in 1945, Unilab is the realization of the vision of its founders, Jose Y. Campos and Mariano K. Tan. It is a strong industry leader distinguished by its corporate philosophy that places the people at the center of everything—Bayanihan. Work revolves around trust, reciprocity, and the sharing of fruits and burdens.

Unilab’s key management officers are Chairman Jocelyn Campos Hess, President and Chief Executive Officer Clinton Andrew Campos Hess, Vice Chairman Mariano John Tan and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Benjamin Yap.

Nina Daza Updated Nora Daza’s Iconic Cookbook Let’s Cook with Nora

When one mentions Nora Daza, great food comes to mind. A true champion of Filipino cuisine, Nora’s culinary contributions have made a huge impact in the local food culture. Now, the legacy continues in the Daza family as Nora’s youngest daughter and renowned food writer Nina Daza Puyat recently launched a new edition of the iconic Let’s Cook with Nora cookbook to fit today’s kitchens.  

(L-R) Eric Fajardo, Nina Daza-Puyat, Lourdes Fajardo

In honor of the launch of the cookbook’s new edition, The Maya Kitchen pays tribute to the culinary legend by hosting To Mom with Love: Nina Daza Puyat’s Loving Tribune to Nora Daza’s Iconic Cookbook, a special cooking demo with Nina who dishes out how she restyled her mom’s timeless recipes to make it more relatable to modern-day cooks and foodies.

At the demo, Nina features some Noche Buena-ready dishes such as Daza Chicken Relleno, the Daza family’s signature dish, Orange Tart, a must-try at Nora’s Au Bon Vivant restaurant, Kaleslaw, a healthier version of coleslaw, and Parmesan Fish Sticks, an updated version of her mom’s Fish Sticks Italian Style.

“It took me over a year to kitchen-test all the recipes in my mom’s cookbook Let’s Cook with Nora. The new edition remained true to the easy-to-follow recipes, but I tweaked some instructions, updated the ingredients list, and added variations, so it reflects how we cook today,” Nina explains. “My mom’s cookbook was launched over 50 years ago, so it was about time we upgrade the recipes.”

 Daza Chicken Relleno

Dubbed as the Philippines’ first culinary ambassador, Maya and Nora hosted the pioneering cooking and baking competition The Great Maya Cookfest with Nora Daza that ran from 1976 to 1990 and helped launch careers of a new generation of chefs and cooks. She also joined the show winners as they traveled to the United States, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, among others, to promote Filipino cuisine and learn about the host country’s food.

Kaleslaw

Nora and Maya’s connection goes beyond the cookfest, as the culinary legend actively promoted The Maya Kitchen, formerly known as Maya Bakeshop, and Maya products by holding cooking demos all over the country. Most of the episodes of her show, Cooking It Up with Nora, were also shot at The Maya Kitchen.

“Hosting Nina’s demo of recipes off the new edition of Let’s Cook with Nora brings Maya’s bond with her family full circle,” says Eric Fajardo, Business Development Manager of Liberty Commodities Corporation. “The Maya Kitchen has always been proud that we’ve been a part of the impact of the Daza family—from Nora to Nina—to the Filipino culinary scene.”

As Nina takes on the mantle to ensure her mom’s well-cherished dishes remain relevant in today’s homes, the legacy of Let’s Cook with Nora remains 50 years on to inspire and delight a new breed of culinary enthusiasts.

Daza Family

Like and follow The Maya Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @TheMayaKitchen1 and follow us on Twitter @TheMayaKitchen.

Learn great recipes at www.themayakitchen.com. If you want to take your baking and cooking skills up a notch check out Maya Kitchen’s course offerings at the website, e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.

Chef Yuki Onishi's Three New Tonkotsu Soba at Tsuta

Master Chef Yuki Onishi, founder and creator of Tsuta (The 1st Ramen Restaurant in the World to earn a Michelin Star) has always been bent on creating original flavour profiles, adhering to use only natural ingredients has once again curated something to look forward to beginning December 6, 2019 onwards.  

 

Months of research and experimentation, Chef Yuki conceptualized 3 NEW Tonkotsu Soba  Bowls, namely, Tonkotsu Soba,  Kurobishio Tonkotsu Soba and Spicy Tonkotsu Soba.  

In this sense, Chef Yuki’s vision has come to its full fruition with the launching of his all NEW Tonkotsu Soba Bowls where he has masterfully enhanced richness of the broth while still preserving the essence of his signature Dashi. Allow Tsuta to share with you these 3 NEW Tonkotsu Soba creations as well as Chef Yuki’s meticulous process of creating each one:  

These creations are priced starting at P390 and will be available at Tsuta located at the Upper Ground Floor C3 Bonifacio High Street 7th Avenue, BGC. 

All three will definitely a hit to ramen lovers out there! I personally like The Spicy Tonkotsu Soba. It is very delectable; the flavor hits you the moment you take that first sip, and there's no lingering oily after taste. 

Tonkotsu Soba

This creamy white collagen-rich broth consists of premium black pork bone and trotter boiled at a high temperature then diligently simmered for hours to extract the richest flavors possible. Hokkaido sea kelp and shiitake mushrooms are added to the broth towards the end to enrich the taste with natural umami flavors. Just before serving, a special Shoyu seasoning sauce is added to amplify the fragrant, savoury, and full-bodied broth.

Kurobishio Tonkotsu Soba

‘Ma You’ (burnt garlic oil) – a classic tonkotsu flavor in Japan – is painstakingly made from scratch using a combination of aromatics including black pepper for its woody flavor and fragrant burnt garlic. The noodles are topped with homemade black pepper minced pork, black fungus mushrooms and fried garlic chips for crunch. A drizzle of the piquant black Ma You gives the rich tonkotsu broth a unique garlicky and intensely earthy flavor.

Spicy Tonkotsu Soba

Inspired by the bold, spicy flavours of Sichuan cuisine, Tsuta has developed its own chili oil using Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon, star anise, and dried chili flakes to accompany its signature pork broth. Served with homemade Mala minced pork, crushed peanuts and goji berries, the subtly spicy-and-numbing flavors will meet its match pitted against the rich, full-bodied broth.

About Master Chef Yuki Onishi and Tsuta:

(Photo Source: Tsuta Website)

Master Chef Yuki Onishi first opened Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles in Sugamo, Tokyo in January 2012. Driven by his fervent desire to redefine ramen while staying true to his culinary philosophy of using premium, natural ingredients without any artificial flavor enhancers or MSH, Chef Yuki carefully selects the ingredients that constitute his signature Dashi or soup broth, oils, & sauces and controls the elements that make up the taste and quality of the noodles. As a result, you get a ramen dish that melds the firm texture & subtle flavours of his soba noodles with a delicate, multi-layered umami flavour burst.

In recognition of his dedication to his culinary craft that drew long lines of customers to his restaurant daily, Tsuta was granted One Michelin Star in 2015 ahead of any other ramen restaurant in the world. This distinction still fills Chef Yuki with pride as he earned his star because of his signature Shoyu Soba, which featured his signature full bodied & delicate dashi and a special blend of his custom brewed shoyu finished off with a piquant black truffle sauce for a multi-layered flavor experience.

Its first international branch was opened in Singapore by November 2015 and on December 2017 a restaurant branch was opened in the Philippines, at the heart of Bonifacio Global City.

The Tsuta Philosophy Uncompromisingly Applied in the Creation of New Tonkotsu Soba Bowls, Coming from a family of Ramen Chefs, Chef Yuki grew up around food. During his foreign travels, he discovered a shocking contrast between Japanese & foreign food culture where foreign dishes were often paired with sauces while in Japan, there was a strong culture of using dashi (soup stock) and a strong focus on umami. Inspired by this realization, he sought to develop ramen dishes that stayed true to his culinary philosophy of using premium, all natural ingredients while experimenting with different sauce pairings with the vision of having his unique ramen creations embraced around the world.

About FOODEE Global Concepts: FOODEE Global Concepts is one of Manila’s Largest multi-brand food groups, continuously dominating the culinary scene with over 30 years of experience under its belt, It is run by the power tandem of father and son, CEO Rikki Dee and COO Eric Dee. The FOODEE Group started with homegrown brand for the Philippine market like Mesa Filipino Moderne. They then moved on to bring brands from all over the world to cater to the food-obsessed Philippine market all while maintaining their mantra of Affordable Luxury whether they be for Fast Casual, Casual Dining, or Fine Dining Concepts. The famous brands under the FOODEE Global Concepts group include other Michelin-starred restaurants such as Tim Ho Wan, FOO’D, Kam’s Roast, and Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles. Other popular brands within the FOODEE Global Family are The Food Hall at SM Aura, Pound x Flatterie, Sunnies Café, Bench Café, Kai, Cerveseria, and IlaoIlao.

Pound Remixed

A night of the 90s' vibe, great-tasting burgers, pizza, fries and more welcomed us at Pound Remixed Party last night at Pound BGC. With 11 branches and further expansion on the horizon Pound has already managed to make an indelible mark in the local dining out scene, in the F and B Industry. 

In this REMIX, their Pound BGC and Pound SM Megamall branches will get a refresh by adding their Italian brand Flatterie to the mix. From Flatterie, guests can expect an assortment of pizza and pasta favorites along with their signature Indulgence Flatbread headlined by seared foiegras and truffle cream that just scream RICH. With the mashing of both their Pound and Flatterie brands, the NEW Remixed concept now boasts of an expanded menu from burgers, sliders, pizza, pasta, rice, and so much more that can satisfy more of your cravings at any time during the day. So again, welcome to the Pound Remix! 

 

Pound x Flatterie Branches: Ayala Malls Manila Bay SM North Edsa Bonifacio High Street, BGC Vertis North Ayala Center SM Megamall Fashion Hall Eastwood City Libis Greenbelt 3 Ayala Center Alabang Town Center SM Mall of Asia Robinsons Place Ermita The Food Hall SM Aura 

About FOODEE Global Concepts: FOODEE Global Concepts is one of Manila’s Largest multi-brand food groups, continuously dominating the culinary scene with over 30 years of experience under its belt, It is run by the power tandem of father and son, CEO Rikki Dee and COO Eric Dee. The FOODEE Group started with homegrown brand for the Philippine market like Mesa Filipino Moderne. They then moved on to bring brands from all over the world to cater to the food-obsessed Philippine market all while maintaining their mantra of Affordable Luxury whether they be for Fast Casual, Casual Dining, or Fine Dining Concepts. The famous brands under the FOODEE Global Concepts group include other Michelin-starred restaurants such as Tim Ho Wan, FOO’D, Kam’s Roast, and Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles. Other popular brands within the FOODEE Global Family are The Food Hall at SM Aura, Pound x Flatterie, Sunnies Café, Bench Café, Kai, Cerveseria, and IlaoIlao.

Marimekko x UNIQLO Fall Winter Collection

Joy and I had the first dibs on Marimekko x UNIQLO Fall Winter Collection at UNIQLO Glorietta 5 Branch for their collaboration and limited edition collection.

 

View the full collection here: https://s.uniqlo.com/2P1ciYx

(Spotted Lindsey Custodio at the event! I'm a fan! She's actually my crush)

The fun, cool and bold prints is a must have this merriest month of the year! Check out Occasions of Joy's vlog for the highlights  of the UNIQLO x Marimekko launch event! 

Stage Manager Sheryl: A Manilena in New York

From the streets of Manila to Broadway in New York where a lot of Filipino talents have thrived and succeeded in theater, one have dreamt of being in the scene and making things happen at the backstage. Unsung heroes as some people may call it but stage managers like Sheryl Polancos have proven that there is no mean feat when it comes to making magic happen on stage and off stage. It’s not only making sure that the audience gets to see the show perfectly as there are no take twos in theater. But what creates an adrenaline rush is what happens backstage to make sure that what they have painstakingly prepared for will run impeccably smooth. The pre-production phases are a different ball game altogether from material to casting to set design, among others. The stage manager gets to be involved in a lot of those things. There was even a time when one of her cast members fell ill and had to rehearse the replacement as quickly as they should.  

Now the resident stage manager for New Stages in New York’s longest running Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Jersey Boys., she says theater production in the Philippines has helped hone her craft. Having worked with the Lea Salonga, she takes professionalism to heart and has continued to be more passionate about her job. As the old adage says, find a job that makes you happy and would not make you feel like you are working every single day of your life. She says she is lucky to have been working with the best and brightest for the last ten years. Each person she has met left an indelible mark and words of wisdom that she lives up to. 

Growing up, she has always been involved with drama, dance and art. Her university days at the University of Santo Tomas has proven her mettle as she fell in love with theater through Faculty of Arts and Letters’ Artistang Artlets. After graduation, she realized theater is her life and moved on from production to stage management where there is more paperwork aside from being too involved in mounting a production. Now she sees the world at the Big Apple where she is like a sponge and gets to meet other stage managers like Cristina Sison from Juilliard, Rachel Gross of Soho Rep, Melanie Lisby and Annie Gilbert aside from having worked under the tutelage of Tanghalang Pilipino’s former Artistic Director Herbert Go. 

“As a stage manager, it has always been my goal to strive for perfection and to run the show smoothly and keep its integrity. Once a show opens, there’s always a sense of pride and fulfillment in knowing that I played a big part in making the show come to life.” Each theater production has a story to tell and with it goes a long Sheryl’s story as she expands her horizon in the city that never sleeps. 

Catch Jersey Boys, the 12th longest running show in Broadway history that won over 50 major awards worldwide including London’s Olivier Award and Australia’s Helpmann. The show features legendary hits such as “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “ Walk Like A Man” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.