Hemsley + Hemsley

I love reading cookbooks and  I collect them too.

One of my new cookbooks, which I have requested my brother to buy for me in Hong Kong is the Hemsley+ Hemsley  "The Art of Eating Well"cookbook. I tried looking for the cookbook in bookstores in Manila but unfortunately it is not available in bookstores here. 

Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley, the authors of this wonderful cookbook, are sisters who believe that food should be enjoyed everyday and that cooking healthy food is easy. They have a bespoke food service that looks after individuals and their families all over the world. Their clients include high-profile people within the music, media, fashion, beauty, health and wellness industries.

The Hemsley sisters are food lovers with a passion for wellness and delicious food. My first encounter about what they do is when I read an article before in Vogue UK since they contribute healthy eating tips and recipes in Vogue.co.uk.

Hemsley and Hemsley   The Art of Eating Well Cookbook
(source: Hemsley and Hemsley website)

The Hemsley sisters' philosophy is  simple : a healthy gut leads to a healthy body and mind, and a better, happier you.

Jasmine worked as a model for over 15 years, a profession which made her aware of her food choices and health while Melissa travelled the world as a fashion brand manager and also worked in marketing for gastropubs and bars. They both love to cook and have developed the H+H way of eating for almost ten years. Their recipes have helped make them and the people they help feel better. By providing people with healthy food and encouraging them to eat healthy, they have helped people increase their energy and boost their immune system too.

It is certainly nice to know that these talented and beautiful sisters are half Filipino and half British. Their Filipina mother has influenced them greatly since they even included their own version of Chicken Tinola and and a Chicken Adobo with Brocolli rice recipe in the cookbook.

The H+ H sisters reminds readers to think about the "better than" rule to eating which is simply choosing better and healthier alternatives when you eat out. One of which is that whole food is better than eating processed food.  They also encourage us to boil bones of beef or chicken since it gives nourishment and  it makes various dishes taste good too.

The cookbook is easy to follow and their success story is truly inspiring.

It is good to know that the Hemsley sisters are helping people to cook and eat healthy food. Plus, they are going to release their new cookbook next year too. Now that is something that I am looking forward to seeing. Cheers!

Sabel: A Musical Based on BenCab's Famous Sabel series

It is nice to watch a show that captures a country's history, art, music and culture in a nutshell.

I was able to watch the world-premiere of a musical entitled "Sabel: Love and Passion" at the Solaire Theatre in Manila last  30th of April 2015. The musical is based on BenCab's famous "Sabel" painting series.

A generous friend who also enjoys watching shows invited me and her friends to watch the show. It is a show that is certainly proudly Philippine made as the show was based on BenCab's long-running "Sabel" series which was an idea hatched by Rico Hizon, BBC presenter. The show was directed by Freddie Santos and the musical direction was by Louie Ocampo, one of the top pop songwriters in the Philippines.

The show was set during World War II and the lead character, Sabel, goes through the challenges of leaving her father in Manila to hide at a relative's place in the province, turned into a cabaret dancer in order to survive and make a living, fell in love with a man who was driven  by his political ambition and abandoned her when their relationship was deemed scandalous, got pregnant, gave birth in a shelter and lost her son through adoption due to her mental condition and reconnected to her past through dance.

Sabel was dubbed as the crazy dancing lady. She wanders out the streets and she exchanges a dance for a drink. It was through the work of an artist named Miguelin, that her images were captured and this led Miguelin to meeting an unknown patron. 

The story finished with a pleasant ending as Sabel's love and passion has come full circle when she discovers that the artist who depicted her images in his painting is her long lost son, Miguelin, and that the unknown patron is actually her own father whom she thought had died during the war.

The songs sang by talented performers such as Audie Gemora, Antoinette Taus, Bo Cerrudo and the rest of the cast conveyed the emotions felt by the characters. The energetic dance performance of the Philippine Ballet Theater team made the scenes lively.

Iza Calzado, the actress who played the role of the narrator and the lead character, performed well. 

Iza Calzado, was sketched by BenCab, Philippine national artist,
for the musical show's poster.

Sabel is a wonderful show. The visual effects on stage adds to the multi-sensory experience of the audience. There were scenes where the painting starts as puzzle like pieces that is transformed into a painting canvass on stage. Plus, the songs in the musical is filled with passion and emotion that it connects to the audience.

Sabel is definitely a show that truly gives tribute to BenCab's famous "Sabel" artwork series.

Sakura and Daikanyama

Visiting Japan during Spring time is a good time.

I can still recall the first time I visited Japan in 2010 and it was also during Spring and how I was so happy looking at all the cherry blossom trees or Sakura(as the Japanese calls it) in the parks in Tokyo.

During my recent Japan visit, I still enjoyed looking at the beautiful Sakura trees. I also got to visit a new area, Daikanyama, which really reminded me of Paris.

Sakura  trees viewed from Saturdays NYC Daikanyama, Tokyo

There are quite a lot of quaint shops there that are local Japanese brands but are greatly inspired by Paris.

A shop that sells second hand items for the home on the left
and a dog park on the right.

A bike shop located at Daikanyama's T site area

There's an Ivy Place restaurant that locals and tourists go to for some coffee and meals.

There are clothing stores that are mostly local brands but carry various items that appeal to young people.

A quirky cheese dress and pants sold in one of the stores  in Daikanyama

 You can even opt to learn cooking some French dishes at Le Cordon Bleu in Daikanyama.

Le Cordon Bleu culinary school branch in Daikanyama

It is also a nice  to just chillout at Saturdays NYC Surf store in Daikanyama. They have an open air deck area and a espresso bar where you can get a good cup of slow brew coffee.

Checkout Saturdays NYC via their website: Saturdays NYC Tokyo.

Coffee and a lovely view at Saturdays NYC Daikanyama

Daikayama is a nice place to visit when you are in Tokyo. The stores in the area are quite interesting and strolling around the area is just relaxing.