Martinis Turns Two!

This bar holds a very special place in my liver. If you can recall, Mandarin Oriental opened Martinis with a jewelry show that I produced AND directed. It was fun and exciting and something that I will never forget.



Last Saturday, Martinis celebrated its 2nd birthday with a party where the bars were open from 8 - 11 pm. The theme was Studio 54 so all the servers got rid of their wigs and wore full on Austin Powers costume. It was fun and a nice change. Seriously, I think they should ditch the wig and try another look.



The wigless waitresses would pass around martini infused cocktail foods in glasses. Some were good but some were total disasters (the salmon dipped in sake, margarita style almost made me puke!). We decided to order safe bar chows.


A live jazz band did their stuff but I would have preferred music to coincide with the theme. Would have been more fun I think.


My dates.



Thank you to Charisse Chuidian for the invitation and for taking time out to sit with us.


Since the crowd was totally new to me, I didn't see any of my friends, I decided to head on home before my 3rd glass of lychee martini hits me.

Think Pink!

What happens when after a few sips of martinis at Martini's Bar at Mandarin with 5 of your bestest friends?

Jenny gets obsessed with the wigs. As Mitzi becomes proud of her chicken cutlets (Cup AAA), Mary Anne wants to show off her puppies, Peter does his usual freaking funny spiel and your Bloggerina almost dies.

For those who know Peter, you all know that he is one of the funniest man on Earth. He is our own Jim Carrey but not as rich.


So when Peter started doing his comic monologue, us girls being intoxicated and way past our bedtime, our second wind easily hit us. And when it did hit us, it hit us HARD!

I have asthma, as some of you might know...and when I was laughing too hard, my breathing became very difficult and I had to beg Jim, I mean Peter to stop talking. To just close his mouth for a few minutes so I can catch my breath. It came to a point where I was crying uncontrollably and had to step outside for fresh air. The guard became worried and asked me if I was ok. Tears were running down my face. I felt I was going to die.

But obviously, I am alive.

Anyway, please leave a comment as whom you think wore it best. And I say, to die because of laughter is so much better when you do it while drunk and looking smashing baby!

Contestant #1

Contestant #2

Contestant #3

Contestant #4

Contestant#5

If You Haven't Tried it, You Are Missing Out.

Lunching at Martinis Bar, Mandarin Oriental was such a pleasant suprise last week for me and my sisters. To tell you honestly, I feel I need a break from Peninsula food because it is what I have almost every day of my life. But when I celebrated my birthday last July, Charisse Chuidian gave me a GC for Carvery Lunch at one of my favorite bars in Makati. It was only last week when I had the time to sneak away and use it with my sister, Janina and Lucille. The pleasant suprise was the fact that Charisse was able to join us. It was a change in pace and made my week go by a lot faster, after all, time flies when you are having fun. For that day, all our tummies were extremely happy.

Ok, seriously speaking, YOU MUST TRY IT OUT.

This was my favorite, duck that was so juicy and tender.
Salad prepared just the way you want it.

The side dishes that come with the main course.

Choice of Roast beef or Lamb. (YUM! Oh no, I can hear my tummy grumbling.)
And treated like a princesses, even if it was buffet style, our main course was prepared and sent to our table just the way we like it. And the desserts was just perfect in taste and presentation. Life is good.

Martinis Bar, Mandarin Oriental
Soup and Salad P480++
Whole course meal P650++
(632)7508888 local 2457, 2458

The Spa to the Rescue!

These past two weeks has been really hectic for me. The store in Peninsula is being renovated, we had no weekend to rest because of overtime, hardly any sleep because my air condition broke down and there are so many bills to pay. Add the fact that I am feeling extremely sad that I saw CW for only three minutes when he was in Manila. I needed some serious R and R but with the anniversary of Jul B. Dizon Jewellery and launching of Janina for Jul Dizon on July 19, how can I possibly have one?

I had no choice but to get whatever I can here in the busy city of Makati.

THANK GOD there's The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Manila. Once I got through the doors, I suddenly felt the color of my aura brighten up. The soothing music of nature, the pleasant voice of the spa concierge, May, the dim lights and oriental feel of the room lifted months' worth of stress from my shoulders.


As Steffie and I got on the second floor, the set was truly breathtaking as we seem to have been transported to Bali in a matter of a few steps. You would not think that you are actually on the 18th floor of a very busy hotel right smack in the center of the business district.

We were escorted to our very own couple's suite that has a private bathroom. I opted for the Swedish massage while Steffie got the Aromatherapy. We preferred to get this room so we could chat while our bodies got the treatment it deserves. Funny though because after 2 minutes, no one in the room was saying anything. Utmost peace and quiet was what we needed and that is exactly what we got. The scent of the oil, the warmth and expert hands felt too good that I dreaded the minute it had to end.

After one hour of bliss, I took a shower and I swear I could have stayed there for hours because even THAT was relaxing. It was a romantic shower stall for two and if I had a lovey in there, believe me, I probably would need another massage after just having had one. (wink wink)


Tea and/or juice was served out by the lounging area. I was feeling better about myself but the moment that I stepped out of Mandarin, I was dying to get back into my new happy place.

I say, you too, should make The Spa as your own haven of self-reflection and discovery.

Here are just a few of the many services that you may avail of:

ULTIMATE BODY TREATMENTS:
Therapeutic Hilot Massage (1 hour and 30 minutes) - P3,400+
Aromatherapy (1 hour and 20 minutes) - P3,388+
Swedish (1 hour and 20 minutes) - P3,388+
Deep Tissue (1 hour and 20 minutes) - P3,388+
Aroma Stone (1 hour and 20 minutes) -P3,688+
Thai Massage (1 hour and 20 minutes) - P3,688+
Dagdagay Foot Therapy (50 minutes) - P2,200+

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Manila has merged techniques and philosophies from around the world into a potent blend of treatments, ensuring an optimal wellness experience.

A heartful thanks to the Mandarin management for setting for me a peaceful passage to a remarkably unforgettble day. It made me remember what it feels like to be a Princess once again. (hihi)


The Spa
Mandarin Oriental Manila
May Luna, Spa Concierge
Tel: (63 2) 750 8888 ext 1901/02
Fax: (63 2) 817 2472
E-mail: momnl-spa@mohg.com

The Tivoli Experience

It was a lunch get-together that I sure won't forget for a long time. If you are hungry as you read this, I am warning you, it's only going to get worse.

It was the 3rd of May when Director of Communications of Mandarin Oriental, Charisse Chuidian invited Puey Q. and I to lunch at the Tivoli. It has been too long since I dined here and I was so excited about it. To tell you honestly, I even thought that it had closed down and when I had informed my friends that I was having lunch there, they were quite surprised as well because they had thought the same thing.


Thank goodness that it is still around though, because as soon as I sat down, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the place. The table set-up, the fresh flowers, the friendly waiters, the delectable buffet set up and the people who were dining there as well. The ambiance seemed something out of a movie and I was only too happy to notice that my lunch dates were late.


When we were complete and had settled down, assorted freshly baked breads were served and that alone was delightful. If I didn’t order the 3-course meal, I would have had the whole basket!

Our appetizers arrived shortly and with the hunger pang that needed to be satisfied, I failed to take a photo of my Wasabe and mayonnaise dressed crabmeat salad with vegetables carpaccio, lemongrass vinaigrettes. The presentation was perfect. The balance of the different vegetables and crabmeat was well thought of and the texture was a great combination.

I was still a bit high with the starters when a few moments, the main course was laid out and this is where you will to start envy me. I ordered Potato crusted halibut fillet with leek fondue, bittersweet chocolate sauce and keta caviar. Who would have thought that the mixture of fish and chocolate would make a wonderful dish.


Puey had the lemongrass infused lobster bisque with golden trout caviar and for his main course, Roasted center cut of sea bass with green peas purée, lobster tomato stew and potato gnocchi. The fish was fresh and moist and the sauce made the sweet flavor of the fish come out and made each bite feel like heaven.


For dessert, it was marinated strawberries, vanilla Anglaise and strawberry sorbet. It was not the kind that I am familiar with. To tell you frankly, I was hoping for the old fashion style with lots of fresh strawberries with whipped cream on cake but as I saw my empty plate, I realized that this version was equally delicious.


Warm chocolate fondant with ginger ice cream was what PQ had and just by looking at his dessert, I think I must have gained another 5 lbs.


To top it all off, resident manager, Mr. Knuth Kiefer, came by our table and handed me beautifully wrapped gifts welcoming us to Tivoli and bid us a great afternoon.


You would think that nothing could be better right? Well, besides the fact that our delicious meal was all a gift from Mandarin Oriental, that the company was fun and entertaining and that the food was out of this world, I learned that all our meals were prepared by a 27 year old Swiss chef, Steffan Trepp. Such talent at a young age is admireable.



Simply TIVOLICIOUS!!!!

Tivoli
Mandarin Oriental
Makati Avenue cor Paseo de Roxas
(632)7508888