Lang Leav in Manila: Artist's Talk and Book Signing at the Ateneo

Lang Leav in Manila: 
Artist's Talk and Book Signing at the Ateneo

It was by accident that I attended Lang Leav's book signing. The real fan of Love and Misadventure and Lang Leav is my daughter, Marge. She was so excited to get a slot at the online pre-registration for the artist's talk at Ateneo. Then, her school scheduled a retreat so dismissal time went beyond the usual time. 

Hoping she will able to catch up after the retreat, I volunteered to hold her slot at the talk and book signing. But the retreat went overtime. So she missed it.

For the multitudes of fans who wanted to attend this talk and book signing but couldn't for some reason or another, I'm making this post to share with you the wonderful experience I had during this event.

At the entrance of the venue
At the 5th floor of the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University, Q,C.

Registration for the talk and the book signing
Fully booked personnel checks if your book has a Fully Booked sticker or receipt.
Then you are given a numbered stub for the book signing.

In case you don't have a Fully Booked sticker or receipt, 
or if you bought Love and Misadventures at a different bookstore, 
you can buy books at the venue.

HIGHLIGHT OF EVENTS DURING THE ARTIST'S TALK

FIRST PART: Lang Leav talks about her life and how she stumbled upon her talent writing poetry. Below is a partial video of her talking about her life.

SECOND PART: Question and Answer portion. The audience were allowed to request Lang Leav to read their favorite poems from Love and Misadventures. 

Below are videos of some of the poems she read:

Listen to Lang Leav read "The Wanderer", "Souls" and "All or Nothing"

Listen to Lang Leav read "Angels"

Listen to Lang Leav read her favorite poem "Sea of Strangers"

THIRD PART: Book Signing and Photo Opportunity

People are requested to line up  for the book signing based on their numbered stubs.

After book signing, you can have your photo taken with Lang Leav.
Fully Booked assigned someone to stand at the front of the line to take your photo using your camera or smartphone.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FULLY BOOKED STAFF FOR ALL THE CONSIDERATION THEY EXTENDED TO ME. THEY TRIED TO WAIT FOR MY DAUGHTER TO CATCH UP FROM THE RETREAT SO SHE CAN MEET HER FAVORITE AUTHOR, WHICH CAN BE A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT. THEY WERE SO CONSIDERATE AS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS TO BE A FAN OF AN AUTHOR WHOSE BOOK YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY FULLY BOOKED IS NOT JUST YOUR ORDINARY BOOKSTORE. IT IS MANAGED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOK LOVERS THEMSELVES AND COULD UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION THEIR CLIENTS CAN HAVE WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE BOOKS THEY READ.

Lang Leav gave this special message to my daughter, Marge, who would've been truly disappointed at not meeting her. 

This video definitely compensated for it.

Thank you, Ms. Lang Leav, for being so generous with your time!

Then she signed Marge's copy of the book "Love and Misadventure"

Lang Leav and I

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE FULL COVERAGE OF THE ARTIST'S TALK,

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW COURTESY OF FULLYBOOKEDVIDEO:

What You Can Expect from the Aubergine Degustation Menu

What You Can Expect from the Aubergine Degustation Menu

It is always a delight to dine at Aubergine. It's an expensive fine dining restaurant but the superb quality of food is something that is worth the price and is worth saving for in case you don't have enough money to splurge on one meal as expensive the degustation menu of Aubergine. I'ts hard to explain how delightful the food is until you've tasted it, especially since I'm not a gourmand or even a good cook. One thing I know is that my pleasurable lunch date with my husband was enhanced by the delightful food served by Aubergine. 

My tips to enhance your enjoyment Aubergine's degustation menu:

1. Go with someone who will not distract you from savoring your meal.

You need some peace and quiet to focus on savoring the many distinct flavors of each course. If you're on a business lunch, you will focus on closing your deal. If you dine with kids, you will be concentrate on dealing with their needs. If you're with a friend who chatters endlessly, you will focus on conversation. 

2. Have enough time to slowly savor the meal.

I noticed that the food gets better on my subsequent bites. This means the second bite is better than the first bite. The third bite is better than the second bite and so on and so forth. My husband and I spent 2 hours dining at this restaurant, savoring each bite and as we savor each other's company.

3. Go during lunchtime on a holiday or a Sunday.

At lunchtime on the Day of Valor holiday, we arrived with only another couple in the restaurant. Halfway through our meal, the other couple left. We had the whole restaurant all to ourselves. I presume there are more diners who prefer dinnertime and more diners during weekdays.

4. If you're not a large eater, don't order the meal with wine or juice.

In my case, I was already full half-way through my meal. I almost treated the mango-sorbet as my dessert. Imagine how it will be if I ordered the degustation menu with wine.  Each course has a wine to accompany it. I would not have been able to finish the meal. To be able to finish this meal, you need to accompany it with just 1 glass of water.

5. If you plan to dine here again and order the degustation menu, make sure to do it after a week or when they change the degustation menu.

I was informed by our server that they change the degustation menu weekly, on a Thursday or a Friday.

This is the degustation menu we tried today:

Amuse Bouche

Garden greens tossed in raspberry dressing (left side)
French duck foie gras cake with Calvados (middle)
Beetroot marinated salmon with creme fraiche and salmon roe (right)

Pumpkin cream soup with orange and champagne froth

Braised beef shortrib on potato mousseline

Mandarin Lemon Sorbet

My main course:
Grilled Chilean Sea bass
on Prawn Risotto and Mushroom and Zucchini, with Green Asparagus and Bouillabaisse nage

My husband's main course
Grilled US Black Angus Striploin Steak
served with Port Wine sauce and Bernaise,
Glazed Vegetables and Rosemary Potato Gratin
(Note: My husband ordered it medium rare but they overcooked the steak and it turned out medium well)

The optional cheese course (You add 200 pesos for this)
Brie de Meaux (left)
Chevre with sliced grapes and almonds (middle)
Roquefort
This is served with your choice of bread.

Tropic Grenadine Bar (top)
Mango Ice Cream with candied strawberries underneath (left)
Marinated berries (right)

Unlimited bread with butter and pimiento

Inside Aubergine restaurant

Location:
Aubergine Restaurant
5th ave, Bonifacio Global City
Website

Impressions Sunday Brunch Buffet: My Dining Guide

Impressions Sunday Brunch Buffet: My Dining Guide

These are my simple tips on the best way to enjoy this buffet. A lot has been said already about the gourmet food they serve. The price of Php 2100 net per head is definitely worth it. Every meal they serve is sourced from the freshest ingredients, cooked well and plated  beautifully. For those of you who frequent fine dining restaurants which serve degustation menus and priced the same, this will be value for money. For the same price, you get unlimited food with superior quality and the quality of service of a fine dining restaurant. You can expect the same quality of food as in the degustation menus of fine dining restaurants.

As in any buffet, you can only eat so much. Below are some of my tips on how to make the most out of your experience dining at this restaurant.

1. Make sure to make advance reservations.

The restaurant can seat only 70 people so I encourage you to make advanced reservations. Since I do not want to be disappointed at not being able to get a seat after going all the way to Resorts World, I made sure to make advanced reservations. Two days before the date of your reservation, an Impressions staff calls to confirm the reservation.

While we were dining, a lot of customers wanted to walk-in and dine at the restaurant but they were turned away because the restaurant is full. If you plan to walk-in and wait for a table to free up, prepare for a long wait. A lot of customers already in their tables prefer to leisurely enjoy their meal, especially since the price per head is very expensive. Considering the price, expect the turnover of customers to be almost nil. In our case, we arrived early at 11:30 AM for our 12:00 PM reservation. We ended our meal at 1:30 PM. The buffet runs from 11:00 AM till 3:00 PM. I don't think you can leisurely enjoy your meal and pace yourself if you arrive midway and after the first batch of customers have left already. There won't be enough time to taste all the must-taste food in the menu and make the most of your dining experience.

2. Limit your intake of liquids.

The buffet includes freshly made fruit juices and coffee. I personally don't do well in buffets because I can't take in a lot of food. But a technique I discovered is to drink your liquids after you've tasted everything you want to taste and ended your meal. If there's  soup, just have a small cup, only enough to be able to taste and enjoy it. If you need to drink water, limit it to one (1) glass all throughout the meal, making small sips just to wash away some of the taste of the previous meal. At the end of the meal, order your fresh fruit juice and coffee. I personally like the carrot juice because it cleanses the palate and removes all the taste of the food you've eaten. It refreshes you.

3. My recommendations of must-taste meals, their location, and how it's presented

Panoramic view of Impressions restaurant 
(Click the photo to zoom on the image)

 3 stations: Cold Station, Hot Station, Dessert Station
(Click the photo to zoom on the image)

The restaurant is divided into 3 stations: Cold Station, Hot Station, Dessert Station. Not all the items are already available and spread out in each station. Some of it are only cooked when ordered, unlike the usual buffet presentation where everything is laid out and ready to be taken by the customer. 

Take note: The list below is not everything they offered. There are so many more choices. These are the food I was able to taste. I loved all that I tasted.


Cold station:
Feta cheese (which you should dip in honey)
Baba ganoush and Hummus (order freshly made pita bread to go with it)
Melt-in-your mouth French oysters (order freshly baked and topped with cheese)
Large melt-in-your mouth imported scallops (order it freshly baked and topped with cheese)
Tuna and salmon sashimi (guaranteed fresh)
Foie gras (cooked only when you order)

Hot Station:
Onion soup 
Baked potato soup
Prime rib cooked according to your preference (medium rare, if you want), and served with vegetable sidings

Dessert station:

Salted chocolate cake
Coffee jelly
Carrot cake
Macaroons

Pistachio souffle (made when ordered)
Cinnamon churros (made when ordered)
Chocolate churros (made when ordered)

Pistachio gelato

• I can't remember the names of all the desserts I've tasted in the dessert station. What I remembered is that each one is of superior quality. Make sure to leave space for the dessert.

Drinks: carrot juice, coffee

4. FINALLY, MAKE SURE TO GO WITH SOMEONE WHO APPRECIATES FINE FOOD, WHO WILL GO FOR QUALITY RATHER THAN QUANTITY.

This buffet is more suited to couples who are on a date or adults who enjoy and appreciate great food and fine dining. This buffet is not kid-friendly, especially since the selection of food appeals to more adult taste. The manner of service and the fact that the best food in the buffet needs to be ordered (like the foie gras and the prime rib) and the manner of cooking be specified (like in the oysters and scallops) shows this is more suited to adults and less attractive and a bit intimidating to kids.




View Larger Map

Location: 3rd floor, Maxim's Tower, Resorts World Manila (across Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Terminal 3.

Tel. No. +632-9088883

Price: Php 2,100 net per person

Gateway Platinum Cinema (Cineplex 10): Is It Worth It?

  Gateway Platinum Cinema (Cineplex 10): Is It Worth It?

The Difference Between a Regular Cinema and Gateway Platinum Cinema

Ticket Price:

The regular cinema ticket price is P180-P200.

Gateway platinum cinema ticket price is P351, which includes a medium size plain popcorn and a 16 oz. drink.

Private Lounge

If you arrive early for the show, you can stay at this private lounge and read newspapers. 
The entrance of the cinema is the door at the left of this photo.

Popcorn and Drink included

When you enter the lounge, the usherette  will ask you  what drink you prefer and if you want flavored popcorn.  Medium size plain popcorn is included. But if you want flavored popcorn, you pay the usherette an additional 10 pesos

Your choice of drinks are regular Coke, Coke zero, Sprite, Iced tea or bottled mineral water.

Your medium size plain popcorn and 16 oz. drink is served when you take your seat.

The usher distributing popcorn and drinks after we took our seats

Seats

La-Z-Boy leather seats you can fully recline into a flat bed (well, almost). 

Seat Configuration: 5 rows, 8 seats per row, for a total of 40 seats 

Screen view from Row E, the best row

Screen view from my seat at Row C, Seat 7

Les Miserables

Anne Hathaway playing Fantine singing "I Dreamed a Dream"

Private Toilet

IS IT WORTH THE ADDITIONAL COST?

Yes, it is. 

A regular cinema ticket cost from 180-200 pesos. If you add 59 pesos for a medium size plain popcorn and 35 pesos for a 16 oz drink bought at the Snaxx counter (you can only bring in food and drinks bought from the Snaxx counter), your total cost will be around 294 pesos. 

Compare it with the 351 pesos price of a Gateway Platinum Cinema ticket. The difference is only around 57 pesos. In effect, you pay only an additional 57 pesos for the amenities I mentioned above. 

Of course, it will be a different matter if you don't buy popcorn and drinks when you go to the movies.

MORE TIPS:

Check my post: How to Get the Best Seats    

Where to find Gateway Platinum Cinema

At Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao

View Larger Map

At the 5th level of Gateway Mall

My tip: The nearest entrance to Gateway Platinum Cinema is through General Roxas Ave, side of Krispy Creme or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Use the escalator or elevator to get to the fifth level. 

Gateway Platinum Cinema (Cineplex 10): How to get the best seats

Gateway Platinum Cinema (Cineplex 10): 

How to get the best seats 

Gateway Platinum Cinema is one of the Top Ten Best Cinemas in Metro Manila. It's a bit expensive compared to regular cinemas in Metro Manila so it's important to get the best seat in the house with the best viewing experience. These are my tips on how to get the best seats.

There are two ways to make reservations: 

1. Online at Ticketnet.

You get the email below after reserving online:

Dear Ma’am, Good day! Here are the details of your reservation: 

Movie	Les Miserables
Cinema	Gateway Platinum Cinema
Screening Date & Time	JAN. 26 / 2:00 PM
Row/Seat Number	ROW C / SEATS 3-8
Number of Tickets	6
Booking Number	71849
Amount (additional P10 per ticket is included for the handling charge)	PHP 2106.00

 Reminders:
 1.      Please note your booking number.2.      You may claim your ticket/s at Counter 6 ,two (2) hours before the screening time.3.      Please mention your booking number to the Cinema’s Cashier.  Enjoy the movie!  Dimple CalicdanGateway Cineplex Customer Service Center911-5555

Advantage of booking online: You can make reservations even before the cinema ticketing counter opens at 10:00 AM.

Disadvantages:

1. The seats are chosen for you by the system.

2. You must be at the cinema ticketing counter, AT THE LATEST, two (2) hours before the screening time. Otherwise, your reservation will be cancelled.

2. By calling Ticketnet at 911-5555.

Advantage of calling Ticketnet: When you make a reservation through a Ticketnet's customer service agent, you can choose your seats.

Disadvantages:
1. You can make reservations only when the Ticketnet office opens at 10:00 AM.
2. You must be at the cinema ticketing counter, AT THE LATEST, two (2) hours before the screening time. Otherwise, your reservation will be cancelled.

What are the best cinema seats

The best cinema seats are in Row E, seats numbers 3-6
The next best seats are in Row D, 3-6

Row A is nearest the screen

How to get the best seats

1. Book online as early as early as you can. Why? The online booking system is open 24 hours unlike the Ticketnet call center, which opens only at 10:00 AM. You cannot book your ticket the day before the show so you need to wait until the Ticketnet site opens reservations for the current day's show. The Ticketnet online reservation opens earlier than the Ticketnet call center.

In my case, I booked my reservation online at 8:30 AM, and I got row C already. Apparently, 2 people were able to book earlier than I and they got the middle seats of row D and row E.

2. The online booking system assigns seats from the best to the worst. So if you're the first to book, the system will assign you row E. The system also considers row E the best seat.