Our friend Mykie highly recommended this place and said that it was like Colza ( Japanese restaurant in Japan ). There are around 6 private teppanyaki rooms good for around 6 to 7 people per room.  He told us to order the Japanese Wagyu Rib Eye Steak and to look for Chef Enan to cook for us.  We followed exactly what he told us and it was perfect.  We thought it was a great value for a meal with Wagyu beef - JAPANESE wagyu!  It came with soup, sashimi, salad, tempura, fried rice and vegetables.  The wagyu was really good!!! The kids enjoyed the exhibition by Chef Enan.  You can also order from their japanese restaurant menu ( located below the teppanyaki restaurant ) which is reasonably priced.

Nihonbashitei -Arnaiz Ave. corner Amorsolo, tel #:  482.6596 or 497.8437

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PINK PINK PINK!!  There was Pink Kitchen  just a few months ago and now Tickled Pink.  Back to Back! Both successful events by ICanServe foundation headed by Bettina Osmena.  Congratulations!!!  To Tita Bettina, Crisann, Via, Ton and the other organizers from ICanServe, thank you for inspiring many of us by dedicating your efforts and hard work in organizing events to help bring awareness for your cause and for helping many other women in their fight against breast cancer.  And to all the vendors who willingly joined Tickled Pink and donated part of their proceeds for the foundation, thank you for being so generous and for giving your time.  To all the shoppers who shopped and shopped, you not only enjoyed it and got a lot of goodies but you helped a lot of people by shopping.  Isn’t that great?  It’s amazing how so many are always willing to help others and give back to society. For inquiries:  ( 632) 6873942, icanserve@yahoo.com or visit their website:  www.icanserve.net 

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October 18, Thursday 

Mothers Club is preparing for the Christmas Season. Thank you to our wonderful guests!   Dina told me that Anton and Leah have been very gracious to come every year to Mothers Club to share their decorating tips.  And to Tita Ludette who always cooks for our family, it is always an honor to have you share your culinary talents with us:

Christmas Arrangements Using Real Flowers and Ornaments by Anton Barretto and Leah Puyat

Roasting for Flavor by Ludette Mossesgeld Moy- Glazed Roast Turkey (or Chicken) with Warm Apple Salsa

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From Melly………… 

Christmas is fast approaching! A tame baby cockatiel could be the perfect gift for your kids or for that special someone.  
 

Hand-fed cockatiels are tame and friendly. They will perch on your shoulder the whole day if you let them. They are very good companions while you use the computer, eat breakfast and even take a bath! (They love taking a shower so i guess you can say that they are very clean pets. :)) How do we get them so tame? They are separated from their mommies at about two weeks old and are hand-feed every four hours, 24 hours a day for six weeks. After a while, they believe people are their mommies so they become very tame around their owners! You can teach them to talk, play tricks, fly to you, etc. Lots of fun.

  

As a special offer on Auntie Rica’s blog, if you reserve one by November 15 they are only P3,500 each (includes a cage, a perch, some feeding dishes, and a “how-to” from me.)

If you have any questions or would like to reserve one for Christmas, please email me at mellywong007@yahoo.com. But hurry, I’m only going to sell a couple of babies this christmas

…but before anything else, i want you to meet pumpkin, my own baby cockatiel…

1) talking to feet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO8DGR-KIcA

2) taking baths no matter how shallow the bathtub is…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6UKIFKBLY

here is spice, pumpkin’s friend, also enjoying his bath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AffKDGVgr_I

3) they also love their massages…

(since pumpkin is too shy to come out on tape…here is spice)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDa0Ot17oVg

4) they love singing too…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHMaMPpW8A8
5) how we handfeed our babies before they are ready for seeds…:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YysEtJHWThA 

thanks! and hope to hear from you!
Melly Wong

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GAP INC. EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE WITH FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

Franchisee Plans to Open a Dozen Gap and Banana Republic Stores in the Philippines by 2012

SAN FRANCISCO – Oct. 9, 2007 – Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today announced a franchise agreement to introduce the Gap and Banana Republic brands to the Philippines. Over the next five years, Gap Inc.’s franchise partner – Rustan Group of Companies – plans to open a combined total of approximately eight Gap stores and four Banana Republic stores throughout the Philippines.

The first Gap store is expected to open by the end of this year, and the first Banana Republic stores by spring 2008. All stores are scheduled to be open by 2012. 

“The Philippines represents a natural market for Gap Inc. to expand its international presence,” said Ron Young, senior vice president of international strategic alliances for Gap Inc. “The country has a strong, steadily growing economy, and consumers in this market have a great interest in iconic apparel brands such as ours.”

Gap Inc. will leverage the Rustan Group’s local operational expertise, and will provide access to Gap and Banana Republic’s clothing and accessories. In addition, the Rustan Group of Companies will hold exclusive rights to operate Gap and Banana Republic stores in the Philippines, will purchase merchandise from Gap Inc. or suppliers designated by Gap Inc., and must adhere to Gap Inc.’s quality standards to preserve the reputation of the Gap and Banana Republic brands.

“We’re pleased to have forged a relationship with such an excellent local partner,” continued Mr. Young. “In addition to strong operational expertise and a deep understanding of their local customer base, the Rustan Group of Companies has a track record of successfully introducing well-known fashion and apparel brands to international markets.”

Gap Inc. directly operates Gap brand stores in six countries and Banana Republic stores in three countries. Today’s announcement follows previously-announced franchise agreements to open Gap and Banana Republic stores in Bahrain, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Associated Press  

 Gap to Open Stores in Philippines  10/9/07

Apparel retailer Gap Inc. on Tuesday said it agreed to open Gap and Banana Republic stores in the Philippines.
 
Financial terms were not disclosed
 
Over the next five years, Gap Inc. and its franchise partner Rustan Group of Cos. plan to open about eight Gap Stores and four Banana Republic Stores throughout the Pacific Rim country.
 
The first Gap store is expected to open by the end of the year and the first Banana Republic store is expected to open by the spring of 2008. All stores are expected to be open by 2012.
 
Shares rose 4 cents to $18.89 during midday trading.
Forbes.com

Money.aol.com
Biz.yahoo.com
Businessweek.com

Reuters
Gap to expand into Philippines 10/9/07
NEW YORK, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Clothing retailer Gap Inc <GPS.N> said on Tuesday that it had reached a deal with wholesaler Rustan Group of Cos to open stores in the Philippines.
 
The San Francisco-based company said it would open about eight Gap stores and four Banana Republic stores around the Philippines. The first Gap store is expected to open by year’s end, while Banana Republic will open next spring, the company said.
 
Gap said it would select suppliers for the stores, while Rustan Group will operate them and stock their shelves.
 
In all, the company plans to open eight Gap and four Banana Republic stores in the Philippines by 2012.
 
“The Philippines represents a natural market for Gap,” said Ron Young, the company’s vice president for international strategic alliances. “The country has a strong, steadily growing economy, and consumers in this market have a great interest in iconic apparel brands.”
 
Gap, which also runs Old Navy, has similar franchise agreements in 11 countries throughout the Middle East and Asia.
 


Bloomberg
Gap Will Add 12 Locations in the Philippines by 2012 (Update1)
By Stefanie Batcho-Lino
10/9/07
     Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) — Gap Inc., the largest U.S. clothing retailer, will open 12 stores in the Philippines by 2012 to expand in Asia as U.S. sales decline.
     Rustan Group of Cos. will help to add eight Gap and four Banana Republic locations in the country in the next five years, the San Francisco, California-based company said today in a statement.
     The company has signed franchise accords since 2006 and has partners in Bahrain, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Gap wants to reverse two years of profit declines after its namesake and Old Navy chains lost U.S. market share.
     Gap rose 3 cents to $18.88 at 12:27 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares declined 3.3 percent this year through yesterday.
     The company operates more than 3,100 locations, including Gap sites in six countries and Banana Republic stores in three nations.

*******************************

 

“I created Gap with a simple idea: to make it easier to find a pair of jeans. We remain committed to that basic principle.”

Don Fisher, Gap Inc. Founder and Chairman Emeritus

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Credits:   Photos taken from GAP Inc. website

Prepared to be enamored by the scrumptious dishes of East Creative Asia prepared by Chef Him Uy de Baron.  He has unveiled a wealth of  South East Asian Culinary Creations including a whole new afternoon tea line featuring Caffe Molinari. The menu has much more food finds that will surely have everyone enjoying the culinary tour to Asia! 

Discover the Orient at East Creative Cuisine and Caffe Molinari

2nd level, Rustan’s Makati  - Contact (632) 812.0233

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October 17, Tod’s Boutique, Ground Floor, Greenbeltl 4 Ayala Center 6:00 pm

Luxury  Italian leather goods brand Tod’s – distributed in the

Philippines by Stores Specialists, Inc. – is no stranger to charity work. Among their most noted projects recently is their team up with CAA and Men’s Vogue in an art auction that benefited Project Angel Food in 2006. Tod’s has also partnered with several celebrities such as actress Laura Linney and W Magazine for an event that helped Habitat for Humanity last October  2006; and Lucy Liu who designed a multi-colored Tod’s Marlene bag, the proceeds of which went to  UNICEF also last October 2006.
Here in the Philippines, this isn’t the first time that the brand is fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. This year Tod’s has teamed up with Metro Society Magazine for a charity event to benefit Bantay Bata 163. There was a silent auction of two gorgeous exotic-skin bags from the brand: a Marlene Pochette Micro Evening Bag and a T Bag Bauletto Mini. A portion of the proceeds from both sales of the two evenings and the auction pieces will be donated to Bantay Bata 163.
With its commitment to the high standard of quality, Tod’s is sure to craft nothing but the most beautiful products - and give back to the people while they’re at it. 

[Show as slideshow]

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I discovered another great tip from Tita Monique Villonco!  When i visited her last week, i saw a bunch of plastic organizers set aside in her house.  I asked the household staff what it was and she said that, in case of a fire, those are the first things they will bring out of the house.  Wow!!! I was amazed at how organized it was and how forward thinking Tita Monique is.  And her being a photographer, of course, most of the stuff in those containers are valuable memories which you cannot recreate anymore once they are lost or burned.  I am going to Make Room to buy matching plastic containers and copying her great idea!

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From now on, Mike will be one of my top sources for restaurants to go to…..We are always on the lookout for good Persian restaurants and so far there is our number one favorite, Hossein’s Persian Kebab and a recently discovered one, Sinbad’s ( http://heart-2-heart-online.com/2007/06/21/sinbads/), which was through Mike also.   And now there is Persia Grill to add to the list. 

Raphael (Raph), son of Gloria Diaz, works there and we got to meet him two weeks ago.  Thanks to my eating mate, Brenda, for always accompanying me.  Raph introduced his good friend to me, Kian, who owns the restaurant. I read somewhere that Kian was one of the housemates in Pinoy Big Brother Season 2. His father owns Kazemi carpets outside San Lorenzo Village. 
The restaurant was full during lunchtime with office people in big groups. Dinner time would probably be less crowded.

Mike specified to order GBX (ground beef express) and sure enough, it was really good. MAKE SURE YOU ORDER GBX.  We ordered several business meals ( you can’t see what is under the rice )  since it came with rice  already and came with butter on top which melts right when it reaches your table.  The lamb chop was really good too.  The fruit shakes looked really good but we did not get to try them instead we took photos of the shakes of our next door table :-)  You can have it with yogurt or without. For dessert, Raph recommended the leche flan which he says is homemade and really the BEST……IT IS TRUE!!!

The food is really very reasonable and yummy.  TRY IT!!!
 
Valero Car Park 2, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, in Makati City
telephone #:  818-9090
Open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day

My next Persian stop will be Arya Persian in Promenade which my friend Lilli Ann is recommending.

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