Balay Dako: Antonio's Nostalgic Restaurant in Tagaytay

Balay Dako by Antonio's restaurant façade

source: www.antoniosrestaurant.ph

My friend and I tried Balay Dako restaurant in Tagaytay one Saturday.

Balay Dako are Negrense words which in English means "Big House". The overall look and feel of the Filipino restaurant owned by Chef Tony Boy Escalante is that of a big family home that gives one a feeling that one is visiting an ancestral home of a relative in a province.

The ambience and setting is very much suited for family gatherings, celebrations with loved ones and reunions with friends. It is also a good place to bring relatives who are visiting from abroad since the menu selection includes Filipino, Negrense and Spanish inspired dishes and is quite extensive and can appeal to the taste of the young and the not so young ones. In addition, the restaurant is situated at a good spot as it provides a relaxing view of Taal lake.

View from Balay Dako

The restaurant is surrounded by greenery and
flowers

The restaurant is very cozy and has nice interiors. Chef Tony Boy Escalante, who is well known for favorite foodie places such as Antonio's fine dining restaurant and Antonio's Breakfast in Tagaytay has done another great job at bringing together a wonderful atmosphere that provides a unique and exceptional culinary experience.

The interiors include long tables with green tufted  and comfy
sofas


source: www.antoniosrestaurant.ph

The  bar area where drinks are prepared at the first floor
of Balay Dako

The second floor area has high chairs, a high ceiling, long tables
and has a different look compared to the first floor area

An al fresco dining space with a good view of Taal lake is  located
 on the second floor of the restaurant 

The bar area on the second floor of Balay Dako

source: www.antoniosrestaurant.ph

Table setting mixes white plates with the signature A logo
that is used by Antonio's for his restaurants and
celadon  bowls

The dishes are prepared fresh everyday at Balay Dako. Below are some of the food that you can try at Balay Dako.

Pasry chef preparing Piayaya

Freshly made piayaya  which one can try or buy from their
gourmet store

Lechon(roasted pig) is a classic Filipino favorite
for big family celebrations. Balay Dako's lechon
is stuffed with lemongrass and tamarind leaves.

A huge paella is placed in the station near the piayaya
station

Kansi, an Ilonggo favourite which is a cross between Bulalo and Sinigang.
It uses beef brisket, pork leg, lemongrass, finger chilies, fresh jackfuit
and batuan as its souring agent.

Mango shaved ice is a good dessert to end a good meal

Mais con hielo 

Dining at Balay Dako is quite a nice experience. The place is quite huge and can accommodate several guests. One must just be ready to see a lot of big groups unlike Antonio's other restaurants. The place is very busy and there are so much chatting going on especially on the first floor of the restaurant. Next time I go back to the restaurant I would request for a table on the second floor since it seems that it is a more quiet area, the interiors are visually pleasing and conducive to long conversations with friends and family.

For Good

In life, we always end up learning new things and learning from others too. Sometimes, we also encounter someone who will help us grow and become a better human being.

I always believe that things happen for a reason. The good and bad experiences we go through life are part of our own character building and one must always remember that whenever things do not happen the way we expect them to be it will be okay since in the end things will work out for good.

I am grateful that the challenges that I have encountered have strengthened me and I am thankful that God brought people into my life that have helped me become stronger, have given me good advise and helped me see things from a better perspective during challenging times.  

Everyday my prayer to God is simple. I just start thanking him for all the big and small blessings that I receive and about to receive in my life. I also ask for him to continue to bless me so that I may also continue to be a blessing to others.

Everything works out for good. One must simply keep on doing what is right no matter what the circumstances are. 

Below is one of my favorite songs from the musical Wicked called "For Good":

Today, I am taking time to say thank you to all those who encouraged me, influenced me in a positive way and made me better for good. Happy Easter!

Divine Providence and Entrepreneurship

This photo was taken from one of my most memorable beach trips in
the Philippines. The beauty of nature is truly a reflection of God's
presence and love.

It is Holy Week and I am glad that I opted to stay in Manila and join a retreat to reflect.

During the talk yesterday at the retreat, a priest mentioned that God supplies us with what we need and that we must just have faith. I  certainly agree with him.

The more that I am able to meet people and hear their stories I would say that the more I get to know that Divine Providence is truly part of our lives and sometimes God leads us to people who may become a blessing to  us.

I believe that I was able to reach where I am now in life because of Divine Providence. My mother passed on when I was a kid and my father never remarried. He opted to just take care of me and my siblings, worked to be able to provide for us and ensured that we all got a good education from top schools.  In addition, God blessed us with a kind, nurturing and loyal nanny who took care of us since we were born and treated us as if we were her own children.

As a kid, I was also entrepreneurial. I also believe that the God had provided me with opportunities and creativity as a kid that has helped me become what I am today.

During my grade school days, I already knew how to earn money through business and I also learned about the value of saving since I was encouraged to open my own bank account at a very young age. I still remember how our nanny helped me get the fruits from our macopa tree at home and I would sell macopa fruit to neighbors from our garage.

In school, there was a time when I sold posters and photos of famous foreign bands such as Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet to my classmates in school.  My dad supported me in my business endeavours as a kid. He would go with me to the shops where I would source and buy the posters and photos and I would use part of my savings as capital for my small business.

Our family had a movie rental business also and apart from working at our shop at night after school, I would also bring video tapes to rent out to classmates and teachers. I even offered a 5 +1 promo where they can get 1 free movie video if they rent 5 videos. I value the experience I had as kid helping out my dad with our business. It exposed me to talk to different people, learn about the types of films they like, recommend films and be able to upsell new releases too.  My experience in our family business was my early training on marketing, communications and customer service.

When I was in college, I also had a t-shirt selling business. My cousin is a flight attendant and she would buy a lot of Giordano classic type round neck shirts in different sizes and colours and I brought them to school and sold shirts to my classmates. I still remember that there were times when my dad wondered why I was not asking for money from him for the other things that I need to buy and I would tell him it is okay since I have some money saved up which I earned from my business.

Today, I mentor young kids from ages 10-13 years old from a public school about Entrepreneurship through a foundation. I feel that it as a good way to give back and help others to hone their entrepreneurial skills and encourage them to be creative too.

Below are some photos of the kids preparing chocolate truffles and selling the products at the Kiddopreneur event:

I noticed that the kids that we are mentoring have gained more confidence as they got exposed to learning more about entrepreneurship. 

I am happy that I am able to volunteer and provide service to others. The joy of being able to help others and see them grow to become better human beings with hope and dreams is simply fulfilling and priceless. I feel truly blessed that I am able to use my talents, skills and resources to help others and help make a difference. Cheers!

Nancy Silverton's Obsession with Dough and Mozzarella

I was able to watch a wonderful feature about Nancy Silverton from season 3 of Chef’s Table series on Netflix.  The first time I saw her was on a food and travel show called “I’ll have What Phil’s Having” which included a segment where host Phil Rosenthal and Nancy visited an authentic Italian restaurant where fresh handmade pasta is made. 

Nancy Silverton

source: pizzeriamozza.com

She worked with renowned chef Wolfgang Puck as pastry chef for Spago restaurant before. In the 90s Nancy was known for La Brea bakery and her delicious baked creations. She guested on Julia Child’s cooking show on TV and Julia Child cried after she tasted her Crème Fraiche Custard Brioche Tart.

She is a passionate chef, restaurant owner and cookbook author who honed her craft by traveling, eating at different restaurants and creating her own recipes. She loves Italy so much that she ended up buying a home there.

Nancy Silverton with Phil Rosenthal at a restaurant
in Italy that makes fresh and handmade pasta

source: I'll Have What Phil's Having TV show

.

Nancy admits that she has an obsession with baking and creating the perfect dough for her handcrafted breads. She believes that you have to be obsessed to be a baker. In the Chef’s Table episode she admits that she has an obsession with baking and creating the perfect dough for breads. She experimented with dough by trying different water temperatures for the baking process and continued tweaking the recipe before she was able to get her customized recipes.

Nancy Silverton perfecting her dough

source: Chef's Table episode from Netflix

Her friend and business partner, Chef Mario Batali, revealed in the Chef’s Table episode that renowned  chefs like Massimo Bottura all like going to her home for lunch or dinner since they love her simple yet exquisite meals.

Nancy has an excellent memory when it comes to food. She recalls that she was able to have the best pizza crust in Forno Campo Di Fiori in Rome before and that led her to have an obsession with making the perfect pizza crust. She also creates dishes that are based on flavors that she craves. This is something that I can relate to as a foodie. I also like cooking dishes that are based on flavors that I crave.

Some of the dishes she is known for is her Tomato Mozzarela di Buffala pizza and Nancy’s Chopped Salad.

A handcrafted pizza by Nancy Silverton

Source: Nancy Silverton's cookbook

Nancy is an inspiring woman. At 62 years old, she still likes getting her hands dirty and continues to create dishes. She also finds time to exercise amidst her busy schedule of running three restaurants and creating new dishes. She loves to brisk walk and sometimes she even holds dumbells when she goes for her brisk walk.

Nancy is very hands on and enjoys preparing dishes for her
customers at Osteria Mozza restaurant

source: Chef's Table Netflix episode

She is also a tough and resilient human being. She was able to bounce back after she got divorced in 2005 and had to leave Campanile, a restaurant that she built with her ex-husband, Chef Mark Peel. She shared in the Chef’s Table episode that more than getting divorced it was difficult for her to leave Campanile  since she got used to working ever since she was 21 years old.  In fact, when she gave birth to her first child before it took her less than a week to go back to work since the restaurant was so busy. She gave birth on a Thursday(which was her day off from work) and went back to work on Tuesday. Wow such dedication for the job!  First time for me to hear of a woman who gave birth and did not even take a one month leave from work.

Below is the official trailer of  season 3 of Chef's Table from Netflix:

She currently co-owns three successful restaurants with Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich. The restaurants reflect her love for Italian food since she is known for pizza, pasta and salad. Her restaurants are: Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza and Chi Spaca.

PIzzeria Mozza restaurant facade
in Singapore

source: pizzeriamozza.com

I was blessed to have tried Pizzeria Mozza restaurant in Singapore before. It is located in Marina Bay Sands mall and I consider it as one of my go to restaurants in Singapore whenever I am there apart from Cut by Wolfgang Puck which is located across Mozza. It serves one of the best pizzas that I have ever tried.

After being inspired by Nancy Silverton, I am certainly going to get a copy of her cookbook to try out her recipes and let my friends and family try the Nancy inspired dishes. Cheers!

A Peek at Art in the Park

I was able to go to the Art in the Park event at the Jaime Velasquez park in Salcedo Village, Makati City last  April 2 and was able to see various creative works done by established and young artists.

Art in the Park is an affordable art event that gathers a diverse group of galleries, art schools, independent art spaces, and collectives in one venue. It offers visitors paintings, photographs, sculpture and new media artwork that is priced at PHP50,000(around USD1,000) and below.

While I walked around, I saw a familiar face since the gallery owner where I used to buy paintings before was there. I talked with her and asked about the interesting paintings that I saw at their booth.

Below are some of the interesting  things I saw at the event:

"After the Storm" painting by Nelson Ricaaveria
 which was being sold at PHP27k

This quirky painting was being sold at
PHP46k

This is quite an interesting piece of art as the red apple
and red eye shadow tends to gain everyone's attention

A group  of paintings by the same artist shows a
consistent style and play on colors

This one is a  painting that communicates about
nationalism

This colorful painting mixed with wood looks like
the type of fun artwork that can be placed in a
casual restaurant

There were also pieces that was rendered using some upcycling.

This vintage 60's type chair has been changed to
become a groovy chair. It was being sold
at PHP8,500  by Resurrection  furniture

This one is entitled "Ano daw yan?" and is composed
of mixed wood pieces and a tape reel and was being
sold at PHP25k

The weather was quite hot and I was not able to ask the names of all the artwork that I spotted but I certainly enjoyed looking at the different styles of artists featured at the event.

These paintings have attitude and
easily captures one's attention

These musically inspired paintings are the types of artwork that can be placed
 on the wall of a home entertainment room or bar area

I also saw some work by an established Filipino artist named Emmanuel Nim who was self-taught. The gallery representative told me that the artist already had an exhibit in Singapore. 

His artwork displayed at the booth were more focused on women. The prices are good since these art pieces are bring sold at PHP8k each(less than USD200 each).

His painting of a joyful mother holding her child was interesting since the colors and texture of the painting makes it visually engaging.

Mother and Child painting by
Emmanuel Nim

It seems that the Art in the Park events are getting better every year. I also went to the event last year but this year I noticed that there are more interesting art pieces exhibited by the galleries. The event is also well attended as the traffic was quite heavy in the streets surrounding the park. 

I am happy that art events like this is becoming more popular and attracts a wider crowd composed of locals, creatives, students, people who come from different walks of life and foreigners who appreciate art. Looking forward to going to the next one. Cheers!

Ilse Crawford Uses Design to Make Things Better

Ilse Crawford is a well-known designer, academic and creative director with a simple mission to put human needs and desires at the center of all that she does.

Ilse Crawford

source: studioilse.com

She has a degree in History from Bedford College London University, worked in an architect’s firm and for the Architects Journal. She was also the launch editor for Elle Decoration magazine.

As the founder of Studio Ilse, her design studio in London which she established in 2001, she believes in the importance of creating environments where humans feel comfortable and at home. Thus, an important part of the design process for Ilse and her team is to emphasize on the human experience since her aim is to create spaces that make people feel good and make them feel alive.

Some of the commercial projects that Ilse has designed are as follows:

Duddell’s restaurant in Hong Kong

Ilse did the concept, interior architecture and design for Duddell’s restaurant in Hong Kong. It is one of the places where the bourgeoning art crowd go to. The well designed and artistic space has become flexible to accommodate the different functions held there.

Interiors of Duddell's restaurant in Hong Kong

source: studioilse.com

Relaxing and green outdoor garden area at Duddell's

source: studioilse.com

Cathay Pacific’s Airline Lounge in Haneda, Japan (2014) and in Hong Kong (2015)

One of the well-recognized works done by Ilse Crawford are the Cathay Pacific airline lounges in Haneda, Japan which was launched in 2014 and the First class lounge in Hong Kong which was launched in 2015. The focus were on health and well-being for the Cathay Pacific lounge design. Ilse created interiors that promotes well-being and gives a sense of relaxation and privacy to travelers.

Considering the high volume of travelers who use the lounge daily, Ilse made use of materials that are functional yet luxurious and robust.

Interiors of the Cathay Pacific lounge in Haneda

source: studioilse.com

To add a feeling of warmth and a comfortable atmosphere to the space, Ilse mixed something natural and created an environment that makes people feel better. Proper dimensions for the furniture were considered and plants were placed inside the lounge apart from modern style elements.

Below is the video featuring the Cathay Pacific lounge in Haneda designed by Ilse Crawford:

Ilse also designed the First Class lounge for Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. The lounge looks good and makes people feel great. It is a haven for passengers to get a stress-free environment where they can relax and feel good prior to taking a flight.

A Collection for IKEA's home products

Ilse has partnered with Ikea in 2015 and launched the “Sinnerlig collection”, a line of home items that are well-designed but affordable. She believes in making use of design to make things better. By the collaboration with Ikea, she was able to make her designs reach more people.

Stylish and useful home decor items designed by Ilse for IKEA

source: studioilse.com

Ilse has designed around 30 home items composed of furniture, lighting and table top collection for Ikea. The pieces were made from natural materials such as cork, ceramic, glass, seagrass and bamboo. Simple and useful forms were incorporated in the designs which makes them apt for everyday use. Also, the items appeals to a wider market since the items are practical, background pieces that are useful to everyone.

Chairs made of cork, a zero-waste material that fares well at any climate, are included in the collection for Ikea designed by Ilse Crawford.

IKEA home products designed by Ilse Crawford includes
cork tables, chairs and benches

source: studioilse.com

Aesop Store Design

Ilse also designed the Aesop store in Copenhagen. The store celebrates the rituals associated with well-being and Ilse has helped the Aesop brand communicate this to customers through the simple yet excellent designed retail space.

Interiors of the Aesop shop in Copenhagen

source: studioilse.com

Currently, Ilse continues to innovate and use design as a way to make things better. Her design surely enhances people's overall experience visually and makes people feel well.

To know more about Ilse Crawford’s works, you can visit her website: www.studioilse.com