Posts Tagged ‘food’
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
I have been busy working here in NYC and in my spare time I come to a couple of places that spark my interest.
Very cool interiors from the indoor Market
My friend Mike Ching enjoying the winter sun!
Most of the time these center around the food or the restaurant that I like to try of my friends recommend. You all know I love brunch and this for me works because I end up eating two meals a day instead of one! However I know this is not the healthiest way to live but I still love it! Will just work out more- in this case take less cabs and just walk more! LOL!
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Well my friends started working on the area where we would love to be in and then have brunch in that area. I always love the Meat packing district because the stores there are really nice and they are just really interesting. We walked through the Market are which was always cool and ended up in the old FLORENT…which was one of my favorite diners when I was a student! It is now called GANSEVOORT 69 named after the address it is at with Telephone number 212-6910069.
The Gansevoort interiors. Its a cleaned up version of florent but I miss the grit and I definitely miss the food!
More interior shots!
The bar!
Honestly, I would not bother making a reservation because it was not really that great! I mean the food was normal and nothing really to blog about! LOL! Although the staff were really nice but the food was a waste of time.
My Huevos-Rancheros! Pwede na! But I had much better versions in the city!
Our Brunch!
Good thing the shopping put us all in a better mood! LOL! Shopping does that all the time doesn’t it?
The Alexander McQueen store was near by! Naiyak ako!
I actually felt so bad when he died! I cried when I saw the video of Bjork at the Fashion Rocks! We really lost a GENIUS! Rest in Peace!!!
After that I had a drink at the St. Regis bar called The old king cole! I liked it there! They shot several movies in this bar and It is a great way to cool your heels after a long day of shopping! er....Working pala! LOL!
HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: florent, food, gansevoort 69, new york, rajo
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
My girls Leica, Kitty and Amanda decided to have a long Sunday brunch. I took this opportunity to finally try out LU at Rockwell! I was so excited because a couple of my readers (NAKS!) wrote me their suggestions on what to order.
When I walked in, I saw that the place was abuzz with customers and we were led to our table. The owner Luis Terry was there to greet us and gave us a big hug! I really appreciate it when the owners of restaurants are their because this really makes a huge difference. After Luis explained the menu, we decided to have a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the holidays! (As if we needed any other reason?! LOL!)
The menu was well conceived and very tempting! It's all like foreplay!
We started wit this yummy appetizer sampler plate which was really good! The hummus with the eggplant was divine!
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Tags: Amanda Carpo, bags, brunch, fashion insider. Rajo Laurel, food, friends, Hermes, Kitty, leica carpo, LU, Luis Terry, Prada, Rockwell, window shopping
Posted in Fashion Insider | 8 Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
What I love about Christmas is that so many friends from all over the world come home to celebrate Christmas. There is nothing like a Filipino Christmas! We just know how to celebrate this important holiday like no other race on the planet!
I recently had the pleasure to join a super chic homecoming dinner for one of our dearest friends Noel de la Rama! Noel has not been home for more than a decade. He resides in New York and is a personal chef for super famous people. Currently, he is the personal chef of Mr. Dustin Hoffman! Noel is like my own personal Zagat guide, giving me tips on the latest, hottest, best eats in New York City! Apart from that, Noel is really one great guy! We all love him!
He decided to surprise his best friend Junie Rodriquez with his home coming! Tita Fe (Junie’s Mom) was in cahoots with the whole surprise! The evening was an immense success! The meal was lovingly prepared amidst the most chic environment! Tita Fe & Junie are really my personal lifestyle heroes!
The Rodriguez's Christmas tree!
Junie was visually surprised with Noel's arrival.
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Tags: christmas, Christmas party, dinner, dinner party, Fashion Insider, Fe Rodriguez, food, friends, homecoming, Junie Rodriguez, Noel de la Rama, party, rajo laurel
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Friday, December 4th, 2009
I just had one of the most incredible dinner experiences last night! I was invited to an intimate dinner last night by Ms. Margie Moran Floirendo, otherwise known as Ms. Universe! LOL! I was very much intrigued as the invitation read “Ballet, Barbie, Bulli”. I mean…I HAD TO GO! Right!?
It had all my favorite things in this world! I love the ballet! I love as in I LOVE BARBIE!!! LOL! I think I am a fashion designer now because of the doll. As a young boy, I would steal my sisters’ Barbies and give them makeovers! I even saved my allowance just so that I could buy Christy! The first black barbie!
I also love Bulli; El Bulli is the super famous restaurant of Fernand Adria, the world famous chef who champions molecular gastronomy! His restaurant is located in Bilbao, Spain. Having a meal there is a once in a lifetime experience! Well…..When you get an invitation from Ms. Universe, you just have to go! LOL!
These were the invitations! I just had to go! I could not help myself!
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Tags: art, ballet, Ballet Philippines, barbie, Bulli, Cary Santiago, Fashion Insider, food, Gabby Barredo, James Reyes, Joey Samson, Louis Claparols, Margie Moran Floirendo, Patrice Ramos-Diaz, Philippine designers, rajo laurel, sculptures
Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
I don’t know about you guys, but I absolutely love long weekends! It just gives me the opportunity to do things that I have been meaning to do or do absolutely nothing and not feel guilty. Although I am the type of person who tries to fill my day with activities, this weekend I had some busy time and some down time.
The first thing I did was take my 90 year old Lola to watch Repertory Philippines Sweeney Todd. I promised my cousin Franco who plays the romantic lead Anthony that I would take our Lola Betty to the play. I was so thrilled to take her and we all had a super fantastic time.
Franco and our Lola Betty after the show!
Another shot with me in it! Isn't our Lola Beautiful?
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Tags: architecture, Escolta, family, Fashion Insider, food, Franco Laurel, Inspiration, Lola Betty, long weekend, peninsula manila, rajo laurel, Santino, Sweeney Todd
Posted in Fashion Insider | 15 Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
I celebrated a triple whammy of an evening recently celebrating Thanksgiving, the going away party of my darling Malu and the birthday of my friend Joey Carpo. We held it in our favorite restaurant, which doubles as our club house: CIRCULO! My extended family was there, as I am a proud member of the Carpo clan. You can call me a Carpo chick anytime.
The menu was absolutely wondeful, lovingly prepared by Chef J Gamboa. We had a Thanks giving feast which started with pumpkin soup, then we had some beautiful asparagus served with chopped eggs. Then we had the turkey, which was smoked to perfection. It was the juiciest turkey that I have ever tasted in like forever. The secret is in the basting, as you inject this with a super secret sauce. LOL! J outdid himself with the stuffing. I am a stuffing kind of guy and his version was heavenly, filled with wild mushrooms, panccetta and other herbs. I ate one bowl to myself! YIKES! The sidings were just as great, the gratin potatoes were so smooth they kill me!
The birthday cake!
My extended family!
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Tags: birthday dinner, Chef J Gamboa, Circulo, dinner, Fashion Insider, food, friends, Joey Carpo, Malu Gamboa, rajo laurel, thanksgiving
Posted in Fashion Insider | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
I recently had the pleasure of having dinner at a lovely french restaurant in the city! There is really very few good French restaurants in town and it was such a good thing to find this place courtesy of my dear friend Malu Gamboa. The restaurant is called La Cuisine Francaise. The whole operation started at the Salcedo Market, where a French couple would sell beautifully cooked Terrines, Casoulets and the like. A couple of years later, they decided to make the whole operation legit and create a restaurant.
Look for the sign!
Really homey interiors. It's like dining at your Tita's house.
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Tags: Fashion Insider, food, French food, friends, La Cuisine Francaise, rajo laurel
Posted in Fashion Insider | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
My firend and “co-blogger” (NAKS!) Rafe Totengco was in town a few days ago. He asked me to take him to dinner to a place that was “blog-worthy”. I immediately thought about my friend Suzette Montinola’s restaurant called La Cocina de Tita Moning. I think it is one of the most unique dining experiences available in the Philippines.
The whole experience is like stepping back in time. The restaurant is actually the Legarda house located in the heart of Manila just a few streets away from the Malacanang Palace. I was one of the very first people to experience the specialness of this place back in the late 90’s LOL! If you love history and if you love good food, make your way to La Cocina de Tita Moning.
Nix, Teresa and Rafe start the evening with some drinks and appetizers at the back of the house.
Teresa was so chic that evening, holding a Rafe clutch of course! The place reminded all of us of our Lola's houses. Every detail was in perfect form, from the outdoor furniture to the plumbing!
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Tags: Fashion Insider, food, La Cocino de Tita Moning, Nix Alanon, rafe totengco, rajo laurel, Teresa Herrera
Posted in Fashion Insider | 6 Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
I have had many wonderful meals in New York, all worthy of sharing and telling everyone home about it. However, every once in a while, a place just WOWS you and just takes your palette towards a new trajectory. This recently happened to me as I just probably had the one my best meals in the world. This happened at the Minetta Tavern. This small bistro-like restaurant has been making quite a buzz in the foodie world! It might be difficult to get a table, but do not be daunted. Just try and try because the wait is really worth it.
Look out for the sign.
What I liked about the place was it was so subtle, you could actually miss the place if you were not looking well.
We had an 8:15 seating on a Tuesday night and the whole place was busy with excitement. We were seated immediately in middle of the room and right behind us was Carly Simon! My 4 year old niece Alix would have squealed with delight as she loves Carly. I spotted Sting and he was on his way out. The interiors were again very dark and it had this very old world feel about it, with vintage photos lining up the wall and a cozy like atmosphere. My waitress was very good and quite perky as she explained the specials. The food was AMAZING! (as in nakakaiyak sa sarap!) Honest, pure and just beautiful! If I could only fill this blog with adjectives I would! All of our dishes were just exceptional.
My highlight was the lamb dish which was done 3 ways: grilled, braised and made into a sausage. This was like a dish I would ask for if it were my last meal on earth! It had all the right tones and it just spoke to me like…Hello there! I am here to make you feel good! LOL! I think everything on the menu is very good so you really can’t order wrong. The catch is it’s really hard to get a table. However, if you do, please share the experience because it’s really one of the most special experiences you can ever have. Minetta Tavern is located at 113 McDougal st between bleeker and W3rd st. If you love good food, this is the place for you!
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Tags: best dinner, Fashion Insider, food, friends, Minetta Tavern, new york city, rajo laurel
Posted in Fashion Insider | 2 Comments »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
If you must know, brunch is my most favorite meal of all time. I have a feeling that New Yorkers invented brunch since all my most memorable brunches were all here in the city. This time, I tried out Morandi, this lovely restaurant owned by the same people who own Pastis and Balthazar, has that same old world rustic feel; it’s like I was in the Tuscan region of Italy.
Morandi interiors. I am loving the brick walls!
The menu was very European and we had a really beautiful brunch. My highlight of the meal was bumping into the super star chef Mario Batalli! I was like so happy when I saw him. I asked if I could have a photo of him and thankfully he agreed! It was really one of the highlights of my trip. LOL! Morandi is in the West Village just off W10th and Perry st. Right after brunch, we walked around the West Village and enjoyed the good weather that finally dawned upon my trip, thank you GOD!
Mr. Mario Batalli and me!
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Tags: autumn, brunch, family, Fashion Insider, food, Morandi, new york city, rajo laurel
Posted in Fashion Insider | 1 Comment »
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