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If the Philippines is a “third world country in first world drag,” then The Establishment at the Fort is the country’s gaudiest and most pretentious accessory. Some people may be relieved that the country finally has a fine dining establishment that rivals those found in Singapore and Shanghai, but considering how only a handful of people can afford to dine here, it seems almost indecent to put up a place like this.

The Establishment is actually a restaurant complex made up of four establishments: the Tulipan Spanish Bar, the Hall Spanish Tapas Restaurant, The Crystal Room French Fine Dining, and the Oriental Chinese Restaurant. I would normally not go to a place like this of my own choosing but an event I attended several days ago was held at the Tulipan Spanish bar, where the food was served in tiny, fine dining portions.

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Saturday mornings usually mean waking up late. No appointments, No events. Today was different. I already marked my calendar two weeks ago for today’s event. All I know is that I’d be feasting on brunch with Discovery Travel and Living’s World Cafe Asia star Bobby Chinn. Brunch is a practice I normally follow on weekends when I get to sleep in. I look forward to brunch as the best meal of the day. You don’t have to wake up early, you get to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. But who is Bobby Chinn? Honestly, I’ve just heard the name Bobby Chinn but never really followed the show.

As soon as he started talking of his journey from banker in Wall Street to waiter-slash-standup comic to celebrity chef in Vietnam, I got hooked. He is such an engaging speaker even made interesting because of the challenges that faced him as he set up his restaurants in Vietnam.

Bobby received a BA in Finance and Economics, moved to New York City and began working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street. Quickly disillusioned, he left in search of something/anything that he loved. He tried a bit of everything – from attempting to sell seafood to the mob, to stand up comedy – and along the way, he also discovered his love and talent for cooking. To make ends meet, Bobby worked as a runner, busboy, and server in various restaurants. His culinary education began in earnest when, while waiting tables, he began hanging out in the kitchen of Elka, a cutting-edge, Franco-Japanese restaurant in San Francisco. Later, renowned chef Hubert Keller of Fleur De Lys took Bobby in and enabled him to further develop his skills. He would later work with chefs Jeffery Inahara, Traci des Jardin, and Gary Danko. After reading Burgundy Stars, he went off to apprentice in Bordeaux and Paris. Chinn has run several highly acclaimed restaurants in Vietnam before opening Restaurant Bobby Chinn, including Camargue, Saigon Joe’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Miro, and the Red Onion Bistro in the Hanoi Towers (formerly the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison).

(Source : Squidoo)

He has been through a lot and admire him for venturing out of his comfort zone and giving up a huge income opportunity. I also believe money is not everything.

Bobby run several highly acclaimed restaurants in Vietnam before opening Restaurant Bobby Chinn, including Camargue, Saigon Joe’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Miro, and the Red Onion Bistro in the Hanoi Towers (formerly the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison). Now he owns his own Asian Fusion restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam.
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No kid can resist donuts, especially when they’re topped with peanut butter cream and Reese’s peanut butter, like the new Krispy Kreme Classic Peanut Butter and Stripes donut. This limited edition donut is selling from June 9 until June 30 only – just in time for Father’s Day festivities with the whole family!

In line with Father’s day, Pinoy Food Blog is holding a contest daily and giving away treats till June 30. Here is how to join.

Contest Mechanics

Share your sweetest gesture you gave your dad and greet him online to get a Special treat from Krispy Kreme. Just leave a comment and you might actually walk away with a dozen doughnut treats from Krispy Kreme.

There will be one (1) daily winner of One (1) Dozen worth of Krispy Kreme Gift Certificates till June 30. . That means Pinoy Food Blog will be giving away 12 boxes of 12 doughnuts/box to 12 lucky comment posters. Now how yummy can that be?

Make sure to leave a valid email address so that I can inform you in case you win a box of doughnuts. I will then ask you to email me your full name and address for the delivery of the gift check.

Hope you take advantage of this contest. I lost my dad six years ago and miss him very much. The sweetest gesture I ever gave my dad was when I call him “daddy old boy”. He was so touched, he gave me a tight hug as I walked with him.

List of Winners to be posted here daily
Note: You can only win once so others get a chance. I also reserve the right to remove you as a winner if you won in my other friends’ food blog holding the same contest.
Winners please contact me at noemidado@gmail.com if you didn’t receive my email

Send me your full name, postal address, cellphone number

June 19- Ria of http://yapatoots.blogspot.com/
June 20- Jocelyn Robosa of http://joyfulgiver.blogspot.com/
June 21- Churwyn of http://www.churwyn-mybloginvasion.blogspot.com/
June 22- ApplesH of http://kubiertos.com
June 23- Edelweiza of http://www.edelweiza.com/
June 24- AidiSan
June 25- Phaelun of http://www.phaelun.com/
June 26-Rechelle
June 27- Jologs Mommy- http://www.entrepremom.blogspot.com/
June 28- Pam
June 29- Grace de Leon http://sweetdreams-eighteen.blogspot.com/
June 30- Richard Mamuyac of http://astig316.blogspot.com/

Everybody loves donuts! Whether they’re the glazed variety or loaded with lots of sugar, nobody will turn down a donut for this reason, donuts are the most versatile desserts for parties and special occasions. Celebrate Father’s Day with new offerings from Krispy Kreme – Classic Peanut Butter and Stripes donuts. These sweet ring donuts are made with Resse’s Peanut Butter and peanut butter kreme, then topped with graham cracker chunks. As a finishing touch, the donuts are striped with rich chocolate or caramel or caramel sauce.

Krispy Kreme’s Classic Peanut Butter and Stripes donuts are available from June 9 to June 30 only! Head over to the nearest store and try them out hot and fresh while you still can.

For more details, visit visit www.chocolatekarnival.com or www.krispykreme.com.ph.

Since I work right from home and deal with clients directly, I’m never aware of any holidays nor am I given the day off when there is one. Perks of going freelance: any day can be treated like a holiday if you know how to manage your time! After a heavy brunch, I spent Independence Day working at my boyfriend’s place. It was a warm sunny afternoon, too pretty to be stuck indoors, and halfway through work I started getting stir-crazy. My boyfriend suggested that we head over to the Nestle Creamery for some ice cream cake, which turns out to be a five minute walk away from his place.

I’m not actually supposed to be patronizing or encouraging people to buy Nestle products because they overwork their cows and treat their farmers poorly, but my curiosity made me cave and try out the Eskimo Decadent Cake my boyfriend has been raving about. For an ice cream cake, it’s pretty reasonably priced – only P95 for a slice. You’d be hard-pressed to find a slice of ice cream cake selling for that cheap, but I suppose you can still make a profit out of low prices if your employees are underpaid.

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