My meal at Vask was like a ridiculously successful first date. How?
1) I can’t stop thinking about it.
2) I keep telling all my friends how great it was.
3) I’m trying to find ways to get together to go there again.
I haven’t had a meal this good in a while. It’s reminiscent of the meals I used to have in New York. When I found out that Chef Jose Luis Gonzalez (the Vask Magician) worked in the legendary El Bulli for a year, it all made sense. No wonder the food in Vask is unlike anything Manila has ever seen. I was blown away.
First, the space. Well-lit, modern, spacious and buzzing with energy. It’s casual so you don’t have to look the part to enjoy the food. Prepare to speak loudly as the noise level gets kinda high.
Amuse yourself with the Hidden Mickeys.
You can opt to sit near the kitchen so you can see them prep.
Don’t forget to check out the view deck. It has a beautiful view and perfect for the lovebirds.
Next: the Food!!!
I was lucky enough to be able to be one of the first to check out Vask. For their soft opening, Chef Gonzalez created a degustation comprised of Vask’s would-be signature dishes. Here is the menu:
Pintxo – Toasted Bread, Curried Prawn, Green Asparagus
Foie Gras on Mango Toast – Mango, Caramelized Foie Gras Mousse
The bread first – difficult to bite at first because it’s crunchy but this is a fun appetizer. The curry flavor distinct but not overpowering and complements the shrimp and asparagus quite well.
The light and airy Foie Gras Mousse is heaps of fun in one bite. The caramel and mango give the foie gras a nice sweetness.
Sea Urchin – Foie Gras Powder, Beer, Orange, Uni
Okay I don’t enjoy Uni (in general) so I’m not a good person to speak to this dish. My friends said it was yummy though. I don’t have any comments.
Huevos, Hongs y Cebolla – 62 Sous Vide Egg, Porcini Mushroom, Garlic, Breadcrumbs, Port Wine Sauce, Onion Foam
This is breakfast comfort food in a tiny bowl. At first I was confused because there seem to be a lot of components to this dish but you know, all of them work. Breadcrumbs for texture, mushrooms for earthiness, port wine for sweetness, garlic and onion of course to give it a nice bold flavor and of course the egg. Delicious. If cholesterol were a mythical thing, I would eat this dish daily for breakfast.
Tuna in Dashi Kombu – Calamansi Infusion, Quinoa Risotto, Algae
Not only is this delicious, it’s also quite healthy. A perfectly seared piece of tuna topped with yummy quinoa. I like the hint of calamansi. I love quinoa and pairing it with Tuna made me fall in love. My only complaint is that my tuna was a bit salty, I think the seasoning wasn’t spread evenly enough because some bites were really salty and some were not.
Wagyu – Mushroom Textures, Mashed Potato, Foam, Saute, Sauce
The description doesn’t give too much away. I guess it’s because few words can accurate express how amazing this dish was. The meat, cooked to medium (though the chef recommends it medium rare), was buttery soft and practically melted in my mouth. Seasoned perfectly, you don’t need to add much. It stands on its own, However, the mushrooms and mashed potato were the perfect complement to the steak. I wanted to lick my marble plate clean. When my friend wasn’t looking, I almost stole a chunk of her steak. That’s how good it is. It’s really is like having a celebration in your mouth.
Creamy Tapioca – Green Cardamom and coffee infusion, Ginger Confit, Crispy Violet, Green tea Ice Cream.
I must say, not my favorite dish. I’m not fan of ginger and while I can eat it (or dishes flavored with it), I prefer it to be subtle. This dish, to me, tasted like it was ginger, tapioca and nothing else. I didn’t even really get the green tea flavor. The violet powder is interesting, it’s not just there for decoration. Make sure you eat it too. I liked the concept of the dish however, I’m not sure it works as well in application. Maybe a different combination of flavors. Better yet, lighter on the ginger. Then again, who am I to tell a acclaimed chef how to design his desserts?
Vask also has an extensive drink menu. Make sure you try their cocktails which are really innovative. We opted for something more traditional.
48 hours later and I’m still daydreaming about Vask, that yummy tuna and that divine wagyu. I’m going to take my family there for my birthday just so they can try it too. Can’t wait to go back. This means it’ll be my second date with Vask in a week’s period. I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful new relationship.
Vask Modern Tapas & Gastronomic Cuisine
11th Ave cor. 39th Street, The Fort (Clipp Building which looks like this: Clipp)www.facebook.com/VaskManila 0917-5872400 // 0920-9185326
For Lent, I gave up shopping. I even wrote it down. “My official Lenten Sacrifice is no shopping – Zara, TopShop, Mango, Dorothy Perkins, Greenhills Tiangge or any bazaar, any department store, Warehouse, LaSenza or any other clothing store. No Group Buying.” I was pretty specific, no excuses, no loopholes. The only exceptions to this rule are 1) Deal Grocer 2) basics, essentials and toiletries and 3) exercise purchases. Even my exceptions have limits. I’m only allowed to spend P10,000 for each exception. So far I’ve been good. I haven’t set foot in any of the aforementioned stores nor purchased any articles of clothing. I swear. It’s been two weeks.
Unfortunately for me, once March rolls around, I’m more inclined to begin window shopping. It’s my birthday month and I become more self-indulgent than usual. My Lenten Sacrifice is about to become more difficult. Today, for example. I was walking by Lucerne (the premiere watch store) in Shangrila. Without realizing it, my brisk walk slowed to a leisurely stroll upon which, after pacing the storefront for a few minutes, I gave up fighting and walked right in. Nevermind that I have no money, nevermind that I looked ordinary, I walked in there like I owned the place. My mother would have been proud.
(Photo taken from : http://www.valoriemarie.com/?p=2761)
Okay — before anything, it doesn’t count as shopping because this word (to me) means that I can afford the items for sale. However, I can’t afford anything in Lucerne so even if I wanted to buy something, I would not be able to. Therefore, the action of shopping cannot and will not take place. (my loophole)
Now most people feel embarrassed to walk into a store where they can’t afford anything. Not me. My mother always said that looking is free, so what whether you can afford it or not. I guess that’s why I’m fearless when it comes to stuff I can’t buy. I’ll get it eventually. I like to call this window shopping process — “goal setting.” Others call it motivation. This is how I work —-
- I look at expensive things and mentally note the things I want.
- I Wait.
- Over the next couple of days/weeks/years (depending on how expensive it is), I work and save to get to the point where I can afford to purchase said item. My formula is “SRP x 2” – obviously my bank account can’t be empty so I need to have double. The higher the multiplier, the better.
- In reality, so much time will have passed that I actually don’t want the thing anymore. Simply the knowledge that I can finally afford it will be enough to tide me over until I find the next (more expensive) thing I want. Rarely does my desire for an item last longer than 3 months. If my longing survives the test of time, then I will probably end up buying it (assuming I can). In short, I don’t buy as many things as people think I do. I want a lot of things but I have better self control than most people give me credit for.
So back to Lucerne. There I was, walking around, taking my time admiring different watches. It’s nice to be underestimated because it allowed me to browse in peace. I started with TW Steel (the watch I purchased over Christmas) and made my way up to the expensive stuff.
I found a nice Hublot Big Bang 38mm watch with a ceramic bezel and a carbon fiber face. Php1,026,000. After discount, Php769,000. I really liked it, it was edgy and different. However, my mom didn’t like it because she finds it too industrial, masculine and “hard.” Dad said that I might as well check out Audemars Piguet since their styles are very similar with AP being a better brand.
![IMG_1772[1]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8520626325_a91667444a.jpg)
![IMG_1774[1]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8520627309_217762d7ab.jpg)
![IMG_1784[1]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8521735154_627256c566_n.jpg)
Saw this Patek Philippe. Not sure what it’s called but I was instantly drawn to it. It’s a stunning timepiece with the diamond encrusted bezel, white leather strap and baby-blue tinged mother of pearl face. It’s a beauty. My mom would like this one. She wouldn’t like the price tag. From the looks of this photo, around Php1.9M
![IMG_1786[1]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8521784810_ab91b2925b.jpg)
Also checked out this Jaeger-LeCoutre Rendez-Vous Night and Day. I like the night one but I would definitely change the strap.
![IMG_1770[1]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8520624839_44c75b5aa7.jpg)
After my stint at Lucerne, I went to Rustans to stock up on my cosmetics. Okay, the Creme de La Mer was a splurge on my part but Rustans let me pay lite so I kept within my Php10k budget.
![IMG_1778[1]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8521740168_13a60ca410.jpg)
All in all, it was a good window shopping, goal setting day. 🙂
Move aside BonChon, there’s a new Chicken place in Manila!
I must admit I’ve never heard of Holdak but I’m not one to say no to Korean Fried Chicken. On Sunday, I dragged my brother out of bed at an ungodly early hour (1pm) to go check out Holdak in Mezza Residences. We got there shortly after the lunch rush so it was pretty quiet. I think it gets busy, especially on weekdays.
We took our sweet time trying to figure out what to order.
I’m a fan of how simple this menu is. My mom always says a good restaurant doesn’t need an extensive menu. You just need one thing and make it really well. As an added bonus, everything is reasonably priced. Great value for money because the portions are more than plenty.
We settled on a solo meal each. The chicken is juicy, crunchy and doused with the right amount of sauce. It’s boneless so you don’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty, unless you really want to. This chicken really can’t be any more perfect than it already is. Brother and I were instant fans!
Yangnyam – It’s difficult to put in words how this exactly tastes like. To me, Yangnyam is sweet and mildly nutty.
Padak – our hands-down favorite. It is simultaneously sweet, spicy and tangy. You have to eat it with the spring onions which enhance the flavor. Perfect. Brother and I had a solo meal each and then split a third Padak (takaw). We were ready to nap afterwards.
We also ordered Pajeon which is a Korean pancake. This is okay. Not much to say about this because the chicken dominated our meal. This was just extra.
Overall, brother and I loved the food and wished that there was a Holdak closer to where we lived. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this place expands soon. But, I’d say the chicken is worth driving to and braving traffic for.
Holdak Chicken
Mezza Residences, Araneta Ave cor. Aurora Blvd (02) 354 2195 https://www.facebook.com/HoldakChickenI’ve never heard of a wait list for cookies but with Jettee’s Kitchen cookies, it’s possible. Their marshmallow clouds are beyond delicious. Chewy, fudgy, marshmallowey goodness in two bites. You’re gonna want more than two bites. My friends and I devoured an entire bag.
They also have these dark chocolate Callebaut (apparently pronounced Calle-boo) chip cookies with pink salt. They are also very very good. They have the salty-sweet thing going for them, with the salt providing contrast. However, for those who are sensitive to sweets, this may be a bit much for you. The four of us split one cookie and it was sufficient. (Then again, keep in mind, we just had all the marshmallow clouds and were already stuffed)
Call in advance.
Jettee’s Kitchen
0917 564 8683 – Jhon (Jettee’s Husband) will answer. He’s super nice.
http://www.jetteeskitchenpastries.com/
Somewhere out there, Filipinos are taught to have conversations like this:
Person: “How is a girl like you still single?”
Me: “I don’t know. I just haven’t found the right guy.”
Person: “Maybe your standards are too high.”
I think there’s a dozen other things that Person can say such as “it’s okay, I’m sure he’s around here somewhere” or “being single is fun” or “that’s okay, you’re young” instead of blaming me and my standards for being single. Filipinos need to seriously undo this bad habit.
Here’s how I see it: my standards ARE high and rightfully so. Of course they have to be high. I don’t intend on carrying on a relationship with just anyone. Modesty aside, finding a guy is easy. There are guys everywhere. Lowering standards to the barest minimum will mean that my boyfriend options will expand to: Mr. Weirdo I Met at the Bar, Mr. Creepy Customer, Mr. Dirty Old Man, Mr. Old Enough to be My Dad, Mr. 30 and unemployed, Mr. Engaged, Mr. Jejemon, and Mr. Might-be-Gay. I’m not very encouraged. HOWEVER, please don’t misunderstand me. These men might be perfectly nice for other girls however I know right away they’re not for me.
You see, I can afford to be picky. And, not just me. Most girls can. Lowering your standards is a fancy way of saying “settling” or in Tagalog, “sige na nga” / “pwede na.” Only the desperate settle, and I’m not desperate. I’m having the time of my life– I have a family whom I adore, amazing friends and a job that pushes me to be someone great. I’m blessed with a home, a full tummy and environment of love. A boyfriend would not complete my life, he would complement it. His presence would and should bring me joy and inspiration. He would be a companion who I could share new experiences with. While I can’t speak for all women, I want a boyfriend to enrich my life, not to fill a void.
A different perspective…
Last night, I went to a talk with Pastor Jonathan Felix and he spoke of the difference between Infatuation, Love and Lust. It was a great talk, one which I can’t recount here (as I won’t do it justice) however, he talked about lowering standards which I found interesting. He said that many people set unreasonably high standards and non-negotiables(deal breakers). Pastor Felix shared how he’s met so many women who set their non-negotiables at something really specific, like height. If the guy doesn’t meet their required height, no matter how great he is, they won’t say yes to him. Or.. guys who want to date women only rated a “10” so if the girl is only a “6 or 7” then, sorry, they won’t ask you to be their girlfriend. Pastor Felix said that God should be the one to double-check your non-negotiables.
I would like to think I’m not that shallow. But all the same, it got me thinking and second-guessing myself. Are my standards indeed too high? Well then, for the benefit of no one, except myself, I will list some of my standards below. Perhaps someone out there can tell me if they are indeed too high.
A partial list… (in no particular order)
- Height – taller than me (5’5) .. I like to wear heels so +3 inches is a bonus. Although I know Filipino men are genetically engineered to be short so.. if he’s taller than me I’m happy.
- Skin tone – no preference. Although, ideally, I don’t want a guy who is too fair. In a country that prides white, glutathione-infused skin, I don’t want to look like the negrita next to male-snow white (er..snowman?)
- Works hard and has a good job. (non-negotiable)
- Must own a car. (non-negotiable, because I sell cars for a living. How ironic would it be if I dated a car-less guy)
- Intelligent, street smart, witty, sharp and articulate (non-negotiable)
- Fun and funny.
- We have to be friends first. We must genuinely get along. Not just because we like each other. (non-negotiable)
- Must be great at conversation and sociable. (non negotiable)
- Honesty is a must. Must be open and willing to communicate.
- Must not cave in the face of adversity.
- Mature.
- Close to God and his family.
- Likes to travel and appreciate the finer things in life. Exposed, a plus.
- Must get along fabulously with my family (non negotiable)
- Must love dogs
- Immaculate hygiene. Dresses nice (can’t look like a slob or dressed by his mother, no white socks black shoes please)
- Someone who doesn’t do drugs, hasn’t committed a crime, doesn’t beat women
- Will. Not. Cheat. On. Me. (on that note, Will not cheat on someone to be with me)
- There has to be chemistry. I have to be attracted to him physically. (non-negotiable)
- Knows how to treat a girl right. The usual stuff – respectful, sweet, caring, protective (but not smothering), compliments (not criticizes), etc.
There. That’s a partial list. Share your thoughts. Personally, I think it’s a logical and reasonable list however, obviously others beg to differ. Clearly the “Standards Debate” rages on.
Tomorrow will be my 4th Valentine’s Day as a single lady. I almost forgot that it was Hearts Day tomorrow. It doesn’t bug me that I’m not celebrating it. Dear Single Friends, please don’t lower your standards/settle just so you can have a date on Valentine’s Day. If you do, mark my words, you’ll end up with Mr. Worst Valentines Day Date Ever. It makes a great story but not a great Valentine.
I told my parents the other day that they are obligated to take their single children out on a date. I made it up on the spot and they both laughed. As a result, I get two dates, one with my mom and one with my dad. I might get a bonus date with my brother. Family-dates are the best — I choose the restaurant, order whatever I want, all-expenses paid, eat as much as I can without fear of judgment and chismis to my heart’s content. Best of all, I am with people who I love and the feeling is mutual. There’s not much more a girl can ask for.
Happy Valentine’s day Everyone! May you be surrounded with true love on this day and every day of the year. <3
