Recipe: Oven Roasted Pork Belly (Lechon Cebu-Style)

Posted on January 13, 2013 by admin

As requested by my good friend Cindy, I am posting this recipe. I made this for her when she came to visit me in Switzerland last year. This is a workaround recipe and caters to anyone out there who, like me, is far away from home and do not have ready access to lechon.

Ingredients:
- 1 kilo slab of pork belly with skin on
- 6 stalks lemon grass
- 1 medium size garlic, peeled and crushed
- salt and pepper to taste
- water
- 2 tbsp soya sauce

Materials:
- Foil
- Aluminum rack
- Metal-based baking pan

Procedure:
1. Preheat oven at 150 degrees C.
2. Wrap the baking pan with aluminum foil. This ensures that you do not have a lot of drippings sticking on your pan making it relatively difficult to clean up after, or if you have a teflon pan, it will not ruin the protective coating of your pan.
3. Cut up lemon grass stalks into 1-1.5 inches and spread it all around your pan.
4. Peel and crush garlic cloves and spread around your pan.
5. Wash the meat and rub salt and freshly crushed pepper on it. Also season the marinade of lemon grass and garlic with salt and pepper.
6. Put the aluminum rack on top of the pan and add water to the same level of the rack.
7. Place the meat over the rack, making sure that that the meat is tightly sealing all sides of the pan. Use a pan that is the same size of your meat to ensure that you lock up the moisture while baking the meat.
8. Bake meat for 2 hours in 150 degrees.
9. After 2 hours, check if the meat is tender and if necessary, add some more water (if it has already dried up).
10. Brush soya sauce on the skin and bake the meat at 180 degrees for another hour or so, brushing soya sauce on the skin every half an hour.
11. If the skin is not yet crispy, increase the baking temperature (adding air) to 220 degrees, checking every 15 minutes. The skin should be crispy and reddish.
12. Cut and serve as desired.

You may also make a gravy from the fat drippings, but this is very unhealthy, so I would not share the recipe here!
Enjoy!!!

Day 1: Barcelona in a Day

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

If there is one place teeming with culture and life in the whole of Europe, I would say Barcelona could easily top that list. Most people would argue that Catalans are totally snobbish, but I would disagree. Barcelona is probably Europe’s counterpart of Asia’s Philippines… people are nice, friendly(too friendly sometimes) and they truly know how to have fun!

When the whole of Europe succumbs to the numbing cold of winter time, Barcelona is one of those places that offer a glimpse of sunshine, which is so rare in this part of the world during this time. I could easily escape to Barca for some sunshine, shopping and great food (which I will tackle in a separate blog post).

One might ask, what does Barcelona have to offer? Gaudi. This is the place where you can really bask in the beauty of Gaudi’s masterpieces, both paid and free.

Let me start off with my favorite place in Barcelona (next to food and shopping) – Parc Guell. This is one of the biggest uphill parks that I’ve ever been to. Personally, the only reason that motivated me to visit Parc Guell was because I saw CariDee and Melrose of America’s Top Model Cycle 7 walk off this very same masterpiece with so much and drama, during the season’s finale! But being there just relaxes my whole being. The stillness and the serenity that the place offers is probably the reason why people go there, despite the distance and despite the steep uphill walk!

Parc Guell

I am also left with awe at how beautifully crafted these masterpieces are – so colorful and without corners… one thing I could never imagine possible.

Parc Guell

Back to the city, a must visit is the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, a funcitonal yet unfinished masterpiece of Gaudi, which solely relies on donations from everywhere around the world to build. The project was started on 19 March 1882, and up to the present, on going works can still be seen in and around the church premises. If you are seriously into the arts, it might be worth to wake up early on your second day and be there before 9am to avoid the crowd of people, locals and tourists alike, queueing up to get a glimpse of Gaudi’s work inside the church!

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia

From the Sagrada Familia, the shopping street is just a stone’s throw away. This is Barcelona’s answer to Paris’ Champs Elysees or London’s Oxford Street. But in between those huge flagship stores, pay attention to the beautifully designed facade… Gaudi’s hand comes alive yet again in three of the beautiful places along the Passeig de Gracia.

Casa Battlo

As soon as you come out of the Passeig de Gracia metro, it would be very hard to miss this one of a kind facade. This is Casa Battlo, which used to be a private home of a very wealthy family that was designed by Gaudi, now converted into a museum. Don’t be fooled by the facade, it may look a little bit unassuming, but trust me when I say this – the 15.00 EUR entrance fee is totally worth it. You can easily lose 2 hours inside the whole house without knowing. It may not be huge, but the intricacies of the walls and every curves inside this house is just so mesmerizing!

Cross the street and walk a few meters, you will see yet another Gaudi masterpiece. I have never been inside, but I have heard so much about La Pedrera!

La Pedrera

The good thing about Barcelona is that time just flies without you even noticing how much you’ve seen and how much you’ve feasted on tapas!

Tapas!!!

After having a bit of tapas and putting your feet up a little bit, it’s time to hit the streets of Las Ramblas for the real action! If you are dying to give your feet a treat, you can easily take a metro to Liceo(middle part of Las Ramblas) or Catalunya on the red line will take you to the start of this famous strip!

La Boqueria

An institution in La Ramblas, La Boqueria is an open market where you can enjoy freshly cooked tapas and Spanish dishes. You can also stuff yourself with Pinchos and Sangria or fresh fruit juices, whatever you fancy!

There is so much more to see in Barcelona. In my next post, I will talk about Port Vell and the Olympic Stadium, the Montjuc Magic Fountain. I have very fond memories of this place and I cannot wait to share them with you! Til tomorrow then!

Venice on my Mind

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

My experience in Venice is probably not the best one to have. From the moment we left Holland, it was already raining everywhere in Europe. We went on a road trip to Belgium and flew in to Venice from Charleroi.

I can barely recall most of the details of the trip but I do remember the gondola ride, which was fantastic.

Parked gondolas by San Marco

Fond memories at the Piazza San Marco brings to mind images of Italian films… This is the heart of Venice and where most tourists flock together to revel at this beautiful floating wonder.

Piazza San Marco

If you haven’t seen The Tourist, then you must have missed all the beautiful sights of Venice. One of my favorites is probably this bridge, The Rialto. It’s so full of character and vibe… even on a rainy day!

The Rialto Bridge

I cannot seem to get enough of how old, rustic and yet full of character these canals are. I am not a fan of boats, but this gondola ride was totally worth every penny (Note: It is not cheap at all!!!)

The Canals, as shot from the gondola

And who goes home from a weekend in Venice without taking handcrafated Venetian Masks… I wouldn’t!!!

Venetian Masks, up for grabs!

Just because I did not post any food in this blog does not mean I did not enjoy Italian food in Venice. In fact, I had the pleasure of dining well in Venice because there just wasn’t so much to do, especially when it rains! There are loads of nice, hidden restaurants by the Academia… One of the best Pizza i’ve ever had…and house wine that is to die for!

Eleven: Not Your Everyday Portuguese Foodfare

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

Modern. Subtle. Intriguing.

Kudos to Chef Joachim Koerper for putting together an excellent tasting menu for me and my friends!!! It was definitely a great gastronomic experience from start to finish. Before I give you a visual run-down of what took place on our tables that night, allow me to share with you a few things about the whole experience.

Eleven

The Setting

Modern-sophistication is the general impression I got as soon as we walked in to the restaurant. The wine wall boasts of a fine collection of Port and Douro wines, as well as other wines sourced from different parts of the world. Opposite to the wine wall is a characteristic yet elegantly appointed seating area where guests can wait for company to arrive, or simply lounge while waiting to be seated in the restaurant.

The Wine Wall

The Ambience

The dim lighting and candle-lit tables set the mood for an intimate dining experience. We were seated by the glass, with a partial view of the garden and the city at night. There wasn’t much citylights to see as the restaurant is not directly sitting on the cliff facing the city, but the serenity of the area gives way to a beautiful experience. It was probably the best seat I could imagine, offering a significant amount of light, yet private enough to accommodate intimate conversation across the table… until a boisterous party of 12 locals occupied the next table, of course that became a different story.

The Service

The service was superb. I wouldn’t say it is the best, but the staff made sure we were comfortable and attended to. They really entertained our questions as best they could, some even absurd questions where they ended up having to spell it out on paper for us. There is definitely an area to improve in terms of ability to communicate in English(for some of the staff), but as we were not in an English-speaking country anyway, I could easily let this pass and focus on the better part of the whole experience.

As we entered into the foyer/parlour, we were greeted by a certain sense of formality yet lacking the finesse that is expected of a Michelin-starred restaurant. I am not sure if it is just ignorance on my part but I slightly felt a sense of awkwardness as we entered the restaurant. I am not sure if it was the fact that we arrived slightly after another group of guests or that that they were not expecting us to arrive on time, but it did feel as though there was some tension in the air.

The Food

Fast forward to the degustation part, we decided to go for the tasting menu consisting of 9-courses, pre-selected by Chef Joachim Koerper himself. There was an option to choose between duck and lamb for the main course, but everything else is already pre-designed.

One thing to remember when you go to Eleven, this is not a typical Portuguese restaurant. If you are looking for a local traditional Portuguese dinner, this is definitely not the place to go. Eleven takes pride in its modern take on Portuguese dining, with more emphasis on sophistication rather than tradition.

Let me allow the photos to speak for themselves… 9 course of pure gastronomic delight to tickle your senses…coming right up!!! Note: this is a photo-heavy post… and please don’t scroll down if you are hungry… you have been warned!

Starting off with an Amuse Bouche to cleanse the palate.

And a starter compliments from the Chef

And finally the first course consist of Foie Gras Canneloni with figs and ginger chutney, with a side of chocolate financier. Those mini chocolate cakes drown out the strong liver taste in the foie gras, making it so delightfully edible for someone like me! They knew they were so good that they actually put a second helping on a separate dish for us to share – how generous!

First Course

On to the second course, I was actually torn between the cream soup and the consomme. As the waiter suggested, I went for the cream soup… and I did not regret a single bit!

Salsify Cream Soup with Truffles and Truffle Brioche

Our third course was a free-hand seafood dish, giving the chef some room for creativity. It is called the Chef’s Choice, which is grouper fried in special olive oil and served with a medley of stir-fried vegetables. It was heavenly!!!

Chef's Choice of Today's Catch: Grouper with a Medley of Vegetables to tease your palate

The fourth course is my favorite of all the dishes – hands down! It is a fusion of Italian, Japanese and Portuguese cuisine, myticulously blended together to create an amazing “risotto”!

Wasabi "risotto" with crawfish and mussels emulsion

On to the fifth, a palate cleanser made from mango sorbet, swimming in cava blanc! Awesome, experimental and it totally pulled off in preparing our taste buds for the main course!

Mango Sorbet in Cava Blanc

And finally the main course, a beautifully grilled lamb carre with chorizo from Alentejo crust, creamy polenta and stewed beans cassoulet. The lovely combination of lamb, cooked to perfection, infused with the characteristic taste of chorizo, totally altered my love-hate relationship with lamb.

The Entree: Lamb cooked with Chorizo Alentejo

Post entree, we were treated to a selection of cheeses from all over the world. Of course, we chose the Portuguese cheeses and I have to say this – they were amazing! The pumpkin jam that came with the cheese plate, however, stole the spotlight! That was some mean pumpkin jam – I’ve never had it in my whole life until then!

Selection of Cheeses from All over the World!

Pre-dessert, we were treated to an interesting plate of semi-sweet fruity treats in anticipation of the joy that will end our meal!

Pre-dessert of Madeleins, chocolate roulade and passion fruit mousse

And finally, my most awaited part of every meal – the exclusive Eleven Dessert Plate.

The Eleven Dessert Plate

Not too fast, it’s not only the Italians who end their meal with coffee or grappa, the Portuguese do too! Mignardises, or what the French call as Petit Fours, were served – the best way to end the night with my decaffinato espresso!

Mignardises

Oh, and did I mention they have quite an extensive wine list?

Overall Impression

I would definitely give this place 3 out of 5 stars for the whole experience. The food was fantastic. Every single bite takes you on a different high and the flavors were so subtle yet sat so well on the palate. Service was well-paced so that we were not rushing to finish each course, yet fast enough that we didn’t end up having to wait too long for the next one. However, I do feel that the tasting menu was a little bit too expensive for what it was. There were 9-courses so it does make a difference, but even that, I feel it is too much too eat for one person in one sitting. By the 7th course, we were already struggling to finish off our plates.

While the restaurant is fairly new, it is apparent that there is a need to refurbish or at least replace some of the chairs, as there were already scratches on some of them, especially the ones we were sitting on. This is typical of leather as time goes by, but for a Michelin-star restaurant, you would expect this minor details to be non-existent.

One another area, I have a thing for toilets in restaurants so this can be helpful to other people like me. The toilets were located on the 2nd floor so if you were on stilettos, it could be a struggle getting up there. Don’t get me wrong, they have proper staircase so it’s not so much a big deal. The toilets were definitely stylish, black matte tiles and marble walls, with enough lighting for a touch up. The sink made out of bronze vat cylinders sitting on a slab of marble totally added character, however, I felt that a slight improvement on the cleanliness part could come in handy.

Recommendations

Although it is not mentioned in the website, it is highly recommended to visit Eleven in Smart Casual clothes at the very least. The place is a class of its own, as compared to other restaurants in Lisbon. It is definitely a cut above the rest in terms of style and sophistication, although I would say there are definitely other better Portuguese restaurants that could give you a real Portuguese culinary experience. One thing I am certain of is that it is a very good place to go on a date or to celebrate special occasions.

Although I didn’t get to try it, but judging from what I noticed on the other table, the Black Truffle Menu is very special and offers you a generous helping of truffles in each of the courses. In fact, it is the one menu where Chef Joachim himself comes out to grate truffles on your plate! The tasting menu is not bad at all and could offer you a complexly diverse gastronomic experience. I especially liked how my lamb was cooked. Coming from someone who is not a fan of lamb, that really says how good it was.

Pay attention to the cost tagging above, so you will not be shocked at how much you will be spending. It is certainly a wide mile away from other fine dining restaurants in Lisbon, because how meticulously each course is prepared, is also how expensive they can get.

I would say, overall, the restaurant does deserve its star. For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed every course and the whole experience in general. I would definitely recommend it for the experience!

Chef Joachim Koerper
RESTAURANTE ELEVEN (CAMPOLIDE)‎
Av. Marquês da Fronteira Jardim Amália Rodrigues
1070 Lisboa
Phone Number: +351 213 862 211

A Culinary Adventure to the Land Where Pizza Was Born

Posted on November 2, 2011 by admin

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

Naples has made it to my top 20 must-see places after Liz Gilbert wrote about it in Eat, Pray, Love. Not that I have not been fascinated by the whole idea of Naples, but the book clearly made an influence in putting it a little bit higher on my must-see list. As soon as a friend of mine made an invite to go visit his hometown, I knew it was my chance at ticking off this big sign in my bucket list – Must Eat Pizza in Naples!

Pizza Diavola

I am not a pizza addict. In fact, it is one of those food that I would least likely devour and find satisfaction in. However, after my Napolitan experience at Sorbillo and Fellino, my whole perspective has changed quite radically, after having finished 2 pizzas in consecutive meals, all in one day!

Pasquale il Pizzaiolo - my hero!!!

Pizza is definitely something only Naples can be proud of. It is like an artwork handmade to perfection… the taste, the texture, the smell… everything about the experience is just amazing. Indeed, it cannot be the land where pizza was born…for nothing!

Where Pizza Was Born!

Contrary to popular belief, Naples is not only best-credited for its pizza. In fact, mozzarella da bufala is a product you have to try especially when you are in Naples. Some might argue that you can get equally tasty mozzarella anywhere else. However, after this experience, I will clearly disagree with this premise. I cannot describe what exactly is different, but you have to try it yourself to know what I am talking about.

Ricotta e Pera from the famous Sal de Riso

Sweets is next to normal in Naples. Everyone loves to take everything with sugar in it especially for breakfast, just like everywhere else in Italy! However, the extent to which Neapolitan sweets has truly rocked my world comes in the form of cakes and pastries!

Babbà

I had the pleasure of indulging my sweet tooth with a daily sampling of Babbà , a sweet Napolitan bread dipped in sweet Jamaican rhum, Sfogliatella – a finer version of the french croissants, more intricately made with thin, puff pastry, filled with a rich creamy filling. For three days, I have been binging on an assortment of sweet Neapolitan delights to keep me on sugar high all weekend long!!! Indeed, this is a journey not recommended for those suffering with diabetes. You will definitely struggle a lot from withdrawal symptoms! *wink*

Sfogliatella

If you think you’ve had enough, think again. But before you do, down a real deal Napolitan espresso and you know what I’m talking about. Being a self-confessed coffee aficcionado, my first sip of the Napolitan coffee made me realize what I have been missing out all this time. Coffee is definitely something one has to try in Naples. I cannot put a finger on what exactly is different, because coffee made out of the same italian mokka, using the same beans, doesn’t taste exactly as good as when you make it in Naples. It must be the water, but whatever it is, I am beyond amazed at how good coffee tastes in this city — and that’s not only the ones made at home, but also those that you buy off the tons of coffee shops lining the streets.

Caffe Nocciola

Aside from the normal coffee, Naples is best known in the italian coffee world to offer a slightly different twist to coffee making, by introducing a tinge of sweet blend of melted sugar in its coffee. The Nocciola is one of the highlights of my coffee adventure in Naples. The contrast of the bitterness of coffee against the sweetness of special sugars, melted in order to create this wonderful drink, left quite a sensation in my palate that just made me crave for more.

Secondo - A medley of Baked Chicken, Meatloaf and potatoes, with Parmigiana as Contorno

Like they always say, a trip to Italy is never complete without a real honest-to-goodness Italian homecooked meal. On Sunday, our host showed us how a real full course Italian lunch is done, complete with the primo, secondo, contorno, dolce, frutta, digestivo and caffè! We had the pleasure of having a hearty lunch starting off with pasta with homemade ragu made from scratch, a triple delight main course consisting of baked chicken, meatloaf and assorted vegetables, with Parmiggiana on the side… and finally a selection of dolci – from baba, lemon delight, ricotta and pear cake and every other sweet indulgence you can think of. True enough, this was the highlight of my culinary adventure in Naples. I have to say, this was truly something very endearing because it made the whole trip feel so much like home.

Dolce - Lemon Delights from Sal de Riso

More than the food, however, the people I met, most especially the locals who showed us around and who welcomed us into their home, and of course, the friends I had the privilege of sharing this experience with, will always leave a special place in my heart. This, for me, will hold a spot as one of my favorite trips to date.

This is how we roll, the Napolitan Invasion!

What’s in the Bag: A Practical Guide in Preparing for a Trip to Rome

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Rhea

When planning a trip to Rome, it pays to have a little bit of preparation before you get whisked off to a historical journey through the birth of civilization and christianity. It is an amazing walk through memory lane, that coming empty-handed will be such a pity. So here are some pre-immersion tips that will be handy for your journey!

Read. You never lose in learning about Rome, about the Catholic church’s beginnings, about Italian Cuisine, about wine culture, about Italian Fashion.
Book early. Rome is one of those cities in Italy that never runs out of tourists, no matter what season. It would be convenient to avoid the rush and save loads when you book your train/flights and hotels early. I personally prefer booking hotels listed in booking.com because the website is easier to navigate, but there are also other options such as its local counterpart venere.it or specific hotel websites, if you have a preference. Good hotel locations include Central and Trevi. Taxi in Rome is plentiful, but you can get ripped off if you are not knowlefgeable enough.
Have an end in mind. Rome is such a huge city that to endeavor to do all things in such a short time might leave you disappointed. If you are in town for only a coupke of days, make a shortlist of places you want to see or things you want to do. Group activities together by location so you don’t end up running back and forth different areas.
Eat well. When in Rome, or in any part of Italy for that matter, it would be a sin to skimp on food. Italy is undisputedly one of Europe’s culinary haven. You cannot just leave it without having a taste of authetic, fresh Italian foodfare.
Pre-pay museum tickets. If you are interested to see the Sistine Chapel or just about any of the museum, it will be a great deal of time savings if you visit the museum website to lookup schedules of tours and pre-pay your tickets.
Day passes. Although guidebooks and google maps will show you that the Roman tourist attractions are relatively positioned in a way that they seem to be walking distance, you will actually thank me later for recommending you to get a day pass. Day passes allow you to shuttle between trains, metro and buses, allowing your feet some breathing space between tourist areas.
Learn to read hand signals. Not everyone in Rome can speak Enligh. So when all else fails, being able to communicate by hand the Italian way will save you a lot of confusion. Italians, at least the majority of them, speak with their hands. So when the words fail you, body language will actually help ease the situation.

Keep this in mind and you are guaranteed to have a fantastic time in Rome! Arrivederci!

48 Hours in Rome

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Rhea

Whatever kind of weekend you’re in for, Rome definitely has something to heighten your senses. 48 hours is never enough to enjoy the city in its entirety but you can definitely get the highlights by simply walking around. As soon as you arrive in Rome Termini, everything else is just a stone’s throw away.

1st Hour: Vatican City
The Vatican is a very interesting city to experience. Indeed, it cannot be called a City within a City for nothing. For a small state with only .44 square kilometer area, the Vatican has more than enough history and culture within its walls to throw your head into a sensory overload.

Start your day early at the St. Peter’s Square. This handy map will give you a big picture of what to expect inside the square. Judging from what you see, it is a lot of walking so wearing comfortable shoes is highly recommended.

The Colonnades
One of the Bernini masterpieces that you can’t miss as soon as you set foot in St. Peter’s Square. It consists of 284 Doric Columns standing tall and proud. On top of the column are 140 Saints.

The Obelisk
This piece of monument comes from Egypt was erected in 37 AD and have served as witness to the martyrdom of St. Peter and other Christians.

St. Peter’s Basilica
The Basilica of St. Peter is the living heart of the Catholic Church. If you think the installations outside the square is too much, you have just seen the tip of the icerberg. As soon as you walk inside the Basilica, you are transported to another world. The beautiful colors played out as the sun hits the cathedral windows is just beyond beautiful.

Dome of St. Peter
If you are fit enough to climb up 323 steps and have enough time, this place is supposed to give you the best view of Rome.

The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
After spending a great morning sulking in artistic wonder and historical immersion at St. Peter’s Square, enjoy a hearty Italian lunch along the cafes outside the square before heading off to the next stop. The Sistine Chapel, made popular by Michelangelo’s ceiling frescos, also serves as the pope’s private chapel and the place where a new pope is elected.

After spending an adequate amount of time losing yourself in art heaven, a nice cold cone of gelato should transport you back into the real world. This would be a good time to either go shopping (if your feet are still not sore) or to head back to the hotel for a quick cat nap.

12th Hour: Rome at Night
If you want to get beautiful cityscapes of Rome’s historical masterpieces, I have to say visiting them at night is the best way to really capture their beauty, provided you have a tripod with you. I have prepared a small walking map that will take you to some of Rome’s best kept secrets (which are not secrets at all).

Colloseum
You can start with a nice walk to the Colosseum. Think: Jumper!

The Roman Forum
Head towards the Roman Forum from there.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Fontana di Trevi
Myth has it that if you throw a coin into the fountain, you will go back to Rome. True enough, I did this on my first visit to Rome and I have been back two times since. This is perhaps one of my most favorite places in Rome. Despite the fact that there are so many people who come out to see this fountain, I find that just gazing at the beautiful play of colors (especially at night) and listening to the water running is enough to give me a very relaxing feeling.

Piazza della Repubblica
You can end the night with a nice walk to the Piazza della Repubblica, which is a good 15 minute walk from the Termini Station.

And then it’s time to call it a night… or perhaps hit Rome’s hidden nightspots.

36th Hour: Spanish Steps and Shopping
The Spanish Steps, or what is popularly called in Italy as Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti is a very popular place if you would like to see massive crowds of people or go shopping. It is the central point where all the designer shops meet, as much as it is also a melting pot of tourists carrying their prized designer bag purchases.

As your legs feel weary from all the walking, you may also want to try stopping by the nice fancy Italian Restaurants in the area and allow your palate to soak up the flavors of Italy!

Art Attack: Basking in the Richness of Rome’s Cultural Masterpieces

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Rhea

Rome is by far one of the most picturesque places I have ever visited in Europe. It is like walking into a huge open-air museum, where you actually bask in the richness and magnificence of 500-year old architecture, yet enjoying the convenience of modern-day infrastructure.

The amount of cultural heritage that this Italian city can offer is so vast, that one can be easily left with wide-eyed wonder, as each beautiful masterpiece unfolds before your eyes, one after the other.

Click on the image below to take a glimpse of the beauty that is called Rome.

Colosseum in Rome, Italy

If you stumbled upon this site because you are planning a trip to Rome, chances are you would want to check out some of the recommended links below. I hope these links will make your preparation for a trip to Rome a breeze:

If you are low on vacation days and planning to visit Rome for just a weekend, you can check out a little bit of itinerary I put together to see Rome as a tourist with a mission. In 48 Hours in Rome, I am sharing a tried and tested walking plan, complete with restaurant recommendations and must do’s so you can enjoy your time in Rome while saving yourself the time and money on transport and queues.
Before jumping on that plane or train to Rome, make sure you have checked out some things that you might need to prepare before the trip. I have put together a few things in What’s in the Bag: A Practical Guide in Preparing for a Trip to Rome, which you might find useful in preparing for that Roman getaway.
Wether you are a cultural junkie, a shopaholic, a wine connoisseur, a photographer with an undying passion for all things beautiful or you simply have a chronic craving for that honest-to-goodness Italian food which can’t go unsatisfied, Rome is definitely one Italian city that has loads to offer. In Two Thumbs Up: Rome, I share my personal favorites.

Mabuhay!!!

Posted on November 23, 2010 by admin

As we say it in the Philippines, Mabuhay!!!

This will be the last chance for me to welcome you to my site, so please allow me to give you a quick run down on what you can expect from this blog…

- Pictures. I will try my best to post each entry with as many pictures as I can.
- Facts. I will provide facts and references, as necessary. However, I will not provide any pricing information, as they could change over time.
- Personal opinion. I will try to present everything as objectively as possible, however, I may inject my personal opinion about things which you may or may not agree with.

So please sit back, relax and join me as I conquer one adventure after the other. Please do not hesitate to share your comments and suggestions… I would be glad to take on any dare that doesn’t involve snakes, reptiles and tight spaces!

Never Here

…out to see the world, one city at a time!