Monthly Archives: January 2012

Living in a Bubble

We were asked to write a piece for the ANZA News on where we lived in Manila and why. It was a good excuse to consider and re-assess… When  we first flew into Manila, a realtor took us around Makati … Continue reading

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Setting Standards at Enderun Colleges

Restaurant 101 is the training restaurant for Enderun College’s food and beverage students. I have always been impressed with the meals served at 101, but this time I was more specifically interested in the food and beverage students who were … Continue reading

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Afternoon Tea with a Russian Flavour

I must confess, I had never heard of the Russian Tea Room until last December. My initial plan was to organize afternoon tea at the Plaza, but unfortunately for us, Eloise, the Plaza’s most significant resident, had got in first … Continue reading

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The Toastmaster’s Apprentice

‘Toastmasters’ is an international club that was first established in 1924, designed to create competent and confident communicators. It currently has over 270,000 members and 13,000 clubs worldwide. The Asian Development Bank in Manila has its own Toastmasters club which … Continue reading

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The Gold Line to Old Pasadena

I arrived in Los Angeles determined not to be entirely swamped by Disney, Universal Studios or any other Hollywood theme parks. I wanted just one day to absorb a little local culture, other than the virtual reality of the movie … Continue reading

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A Gateway to India in Santa Monica

Anthony Bourdain once wrote about a game he played with fellow chefs called the Death Row Game, where each player must choose what  would behis or her last meal on earth. Against all expectations they often chose their favourite home … Continue reading

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Nothing could be finer than to be in Ellen’s Diner…

A first visit to New York should always incorporate a meal at a themed restaurant. Our son’s best mate obliged us by choosing  Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square for his birthday dinner, and inviting us to the party. Despite … Continue reading

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Ahoy! All Aboard for a Food Tour in New York City

New York City: The Chrysler Building and Central Park; The Empire State and the Plaza Hotel; the Met and the New York Ballet; Fifth Avenue and Broadway; the Brooklyn Bridge and Ground Zero; Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty; … Continue reading

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