Italian chef visits The Maya Kitchen

Chef Roberto

On May 5, Saturday, 9am-1pm, Chef Roberto Cimmino, Italian Chef de Cuisine at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel’s acclaimed Paparazzi Restaurant, visits The Maya Kitchen.

The young chef who is a native of Italy, will prepare a complete course of Zuppa Minestrone, Italian Vegetable Stew with Prosciutto and Parmesan; Insalata Rughetta, Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan, Toasted Pine Nuts and Balsamico Reduction; Fettucine, fresh homemade Pasta with Classical Tomato and Basil Sauce; Risotto alla Parmigiana, a basic recipe; Pan Seared Black Lapu-lapu with Broccoli Mash, Capers, Nuts and a touch of Anchovies and Tiramisu “As Roby Likes It.”

Prior to joining EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in October of 2011, the 25 year old chef was Chef de Cuisine of Italian restaurant Danieli’s at the St. Regis Hotel, Shanghai. Before that, he was the Chef de Cuisine at Italian restaurant Bene at the Suzhou Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

Other classes scheduled for the month of May at The Maya Kitchen are the following:

The Junior Culinary Workshop for 6-12 years olds is from May 8-11, 8:30am-12:30pm. Kids learn something different each day with the following themes: Breakfast Surprise, Fine Dining in Italy, Modern Mexican and Jazzed-Up Kiddie Food.

For teens 13 years old and up, classes are from May 15-18, 9am-1pm. Daily themes include: Party Fare, Pie Day, Italian Yummies and Decadent Fun Desserts and Food Truck.

International Breads is on May 19, 1:30-6pm. Certificate Courses with Hands-On include: Cake Decorating (Basic and Advanced), May 2-4,10am-3pm; Fundamentals of Bakery Production, May 2-5, 9am-2pm and May 15-17 and 19, 1:30-6pm; Basic Culinary, May 7-10, 1:30-6pm and May 22-25, 9am-3pm; and Catering May 25-26, 9am-5pm.

The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center is located on the 8F, Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City with telephone numbers 8921185 / 892-5011 local 108. For more information, log on to www.themayakitchen.com or e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com.

No such thing as strange bedfellows in politics

Who was it who said,” In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent interests?”

That is evident in the alliances that are being formed in preparation for the 2013 and 2016 elections.
The early bird is the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada, which includes Gloria Arroyo loyalists Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Candaba mayor in Pampanga Jerry Pelayo.

Reports said while Estrada is okay with Arroyo’s allies, he is not keen on an alliance with Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party.

It is understandable if one recalls that it was Villar who railroaded the impeachment complaint against Estrada in 2000 which eventually led to his ouster in January 2001 and the installation of Arroyo in as unelected president.

But then, if Estrada can embrace the loyalists of Arroyo, who put him in jail (although she eventually pardoned him) it’s intriguing why he remains antagonistic to the NP.

Anyway, reports said NP is talking with the administration party, the Liberal Party for a 2013 alliance.

This one really makes me laugh.

How are the proponents of “Villaroyo” and all the operators of the Aquino campaign who came up with those C-5 and Daang Hari extension expose now going to promote the senatorial lineup that would most probably include NP’s Alan Peter Cayetano and Cynthia Villar?

(By the way, the Daang Hari extension, of which Villar was accused of misusing public funds for the benefit of his real estate properties along the road, is the first Public-Private Partnership project of the Aquino administration.)

On the NP side, they will now be supporting a leader whose psychological state they tried to question. Remember the leaked psycho report?

Oh well, as one of the LP stalwarts, Quezon Rep (4th district) Erin Tanada, who will probably be in the LP senatorial list, said “That was 2010. We are looking beyond 2013.”

That’s politics and woe to those who take politicians seriously.

It’s not only in the 2013 elections that Malacañang is wooing Villar’s group, which in the Senate includes, aside from Alan Peter, another Cayetano, Pia, and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos. Those are four precious votes which Malacañang needs to convict Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

While most of the highly rated senatorial re-electionists like Chiz Escudero , Loren Legarda and Gregorio Honasan are expected to run under UNA, the administration has only re-electionist Antonio Trillanes IV in their line-up.

Those who have been mentioned to try their luck again, under LP, after losing in the 2010 elections are Akbayan’s Risa Hontiveros;Neric Acosta, presidential adviser for environmental concerns; Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon; and retired Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, deputy customs commissioner.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is a survey favorite for senator. We heard,however, that she would prefer to be appointed to the Supreme Court because the Iglesia ni Cristo, would not only NOT endorse her. The religious group, which is a voting force to reckon with in the local elections more than in the national level, is said to be thinking of making as a condition for endorsement of local candidates the non-inclusion of de Lima’s name in the senatorial lineup. It has something to do with the injustice done to former National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula, an INC member.

Mag-endorso na lang si Erap

Estrada during the 2010 campaign with running mate Jojo Binay

Mabuti naman kung hindi na nga itutuloy ni dating Pangulong Estrada ang kanyang balak na tumakbo sa pagka-mayor ng Manila.

Mas makakatulong si Estrada sa bayan kung gamitin niya ang kanyang popularity para mag-endorso at tumulong sa mga batang pulitiko na sa akala niya may kakayahan at may puso na magserbisyo sa bayan.

Sinabi sa newspaper report na balak daw niya i-endorso si Manila Vice mayor Isko Moreno para mayor . Dati kasi kinikuha niya si Moreno para magiging vice mayor niya.

Kahit daw ang kanyang mga anak, si Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at si San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito ay hindi masyadong boto sa pagtakbo ng tatay nila bilang mayor ng Manila.

Oo nga naman. Dati ka ng presidente, bakit ka pa mag-mayor ng lungsod na hindi ka naman doon nakatira. Kahit na ba doon siya ipinanganak sa Tondo at may bahay siya doon, alam naman ng lahat na taga-San Juan naman talaga siya.

Alam naman ng marami na ang balak ni Estrada na tatakbo bilang mayor ng Manila ay dahil sa kanyang sama ng loob kay Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Dating magka-ibigan si Erap at Lim. Inindorso pa ni Erap si Lim laban kay dating Manila Mayor Lito Atienza noong 2007 na eleksyun. Ngunit nag-away sila dahil sa kontrata ng basura.

Hindi naman yatang magandang rason para tumakbo sa pagka-mayor para lang makaganti sa akala niya pagkawalang utang na loob ni Lim. Madali manalo si Estrada dahil popular naman talaga siya, may pera at may organisasyun. Ngunit ibang bagay ang pagpatakbo ng lungsod ng pinakapangunahing lungsod sa buong bansa.

Itong si Lim, dapat magretiro na rin sa pulitika. Hindi na maganda ang kanyang liderato sa Manila. Lalong nabubulok na ang Manila. Ibigay na niya sa mga nakakabata. Kawawa naman ang mga taga-Manila.

Sinabi ni Erap na wala naman siyang papatunayan kay Lim. Totoo naman. Sa kanyang edad na 75, dapat “kingmaker” ang papel ni Erap sa pulitika. Magiging epektibo siya dito dahil mahal pa rin siya ng masa na kanyang pinatunayan nang naging pangalawa siya kay Pangulong Aquino noong 2010 na eleksyun.

Pagbutihin na lang ni Estrada ang pagbuo nila ni Vice President Estrada ng United Nationalist Alliance or UNA. Kailangan mas marami ang pagpipilian ng taumbayan maliban sa kandidato ng administrasyun at mga kandidato ni Gloria Arroyo.

May mga pulitiko na hindi naman kasama sa Liberal Party ni Aquino at Lakas-Kampi ni Arroyo. Pwede sila ngayon magsama-sama sa UNA.

Kaya lang, dapat dahan-dahan ang UNA sa pagtanggap ng mga pulitiko na dikit kay Gloria Arroyo. Kahit sabihin nilang iba ang kaalyado ni Arroyo kaysa kay Arroyo mismo, kapag kasama sila sa tiket para na ring tinutulungan mo si Arroyo madagdagan ang kakampi sa Senado.

Greenwich Pizza + rockeoke night

The invitation read: rockeoke night at Greenwich Katipunan. Katips (which is how some people refer to this campus area) is generally no man’s land for me because it’s at the end of the equator (the north to my south). But I just couldn’t say no to this girl: the new PR manager for Greenwich Pizza, Ms. Cookie Cabrera.

Cookie Cabrera

Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed the long drive to Katipunan because it made me see an area I don’t always venture into (yes I know right, this is ONLY Manila!) A change of scenery can be good sometimes (even if you see mostly smog in this city). Plus, there seemed to be interesting restaurants worth trying.

Anyway, the Greenwich Rockeoke Night was one event I enjoyed since it was a small crowd, had a simple objective (singing + eating + a little chatting). Not to mention, it was organized by the same publicity firm that made Magnum ice cream a public sensation.

Take a bow Adrian :D

Greenwich

I’d get Franco to star in a Greenwich commercial with the storyline: people on the Cohen diet can eat pizza too :D

Franco Santos

More pizza love: Mrs. Martinez

Michelle Martinez

I really loved Greenwich’s 7 Cheese Overload Pizza.It was oozing with good cheese but the price remains reasonable. In the background, Jonel and Marjorie.

Greenwich

Greenwich’s new Spaghetti Supreme is priced at an inflation-busting P49.The whole plate comes with tasty Garlic Stix, 25% more noodles, yummy sauce with ground beef and freshly-grated cheese. This one is highly recommended to ease your hunger pangs this summer.

Greenwich

The family (this mom plus kids) just ate in Greenwich last weekend and am glad to say it’s a no-fail palate pleaser for the young uns. Pizza + pasta + soda are things they can never say no to. I can’t believe you can have a royal feast in this fastfood chain for a less than 1000 pesos….and it’s all good. Thumbs up Greenwich!