Sunshine, Lollipop & Rainbow!

Happy Palm Sunday to all the Christians around the globe!

What a lovely day to begin with a good lunch preparation. I've been stuck at my house for a week now since I came out from the 4-day stay in the hospital. I had my surgery which I will elaborate on my future post. The good thing is, I am fine now and trying to recover as fast as I can. But I just have to deal with it slowly. So after eleven days of resting and moving little by little everyday, I just figured out that I can move in the kitchen. My maid is here so she can help me do the chores and in preparing this one heck of a dish!

I have this weird friend named Francis, a college folk who tremendously appreciates my cooking after tasting several dishes I prepared during my birthday last year. He's spreading the word that I have this good understanding on how to use spices. He just loved my Lemon Herb Chicken. I guess his true. I can define my cooking based on spices that makes each dish so bold. I continue to understand herbs and spices to continuously concoct exciting recipes. And this combination I have for lunch is another keeper on the menu!

RAINBOW CAPSICUM FRIED RICE

Ingredients:

• Red/Green/Yellow/Orange Capsicum
• Paprika & Cayenne Pepper
• Ground Black Pepper & Salt
• Ground Cumin / Garlic
• Butter / Lime
• Chopped Wansoy leaves
• Jasmine Rice

Procedure:

Heat wok with butter and saute minced garlic. Add the chopped rainbow capsicum and chopped wansoy leaves then squeeze one whole lime. Add all the spices and stir fried with a nicely cooked Jasmine Rice. Put in a plate then set aside as you wait for the drunken pork.

DRUNKEN NEGRA PORK

Ingredients:

• Pork ( loin part)
• Black Beer
• Pepper
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Salt/Black & Cayenne Pepper
• Ground Sage
• Butter

Procedure:

Get a bowl put the cube pork loins and add all the rest of the ingredients except butter. Mashed it all together and put it in a fridge for overnight. Marination for this dish requires more than 12 hours to see the effect of black beer & vanilla ice cream. Black beer will create this bitter but aromatic taste and on the other hand the vanilla ice cream will tenderize the pork more and will leave a creamy and sweet taste on the dish. So on the next day, ready your griller and wipe it with generous amount of butter. Place each cube pork and let it cook and sizzle. Do it in high heat and cook it quickly. Then add the excess sauce of the marinate pork on the dish. Top this on rice dish that we did previously. Awesome isn't it?

Are you guys looking forward for an Easter Lunch meal?

hugs,
joanie xxx

Earth Hour 2010

If you guys are wondering how did this global awareness campaign started, let me share you bits and pieces of what I know. In 2007 the first Earth Hour took place in Sydney, Australia. It was an idea developed by newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald and WWF. For that first ever Earth hour, 2.2 million homes and businesses in the Sydney area switched off their lights for the period of one hour. After one year Earth Hour grew from an event in one city to a global movement. Millions of people, businesses, governments and non-profit organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe turned out for Earth Hour. In 2009, Earth Hour took place in different time zones in over thousands of cities and towns, in nearly a hundred countries. Imagine how our fellow mates down under initiated one move that can change the world and make it a better place.

Augie March's "One Crowded Hour" became the song of last year Earth Hour. This Indie pop/rock band hails from Melbourne, Victoria. And apparently the bassist Edmondo Ammendola is the brother of my Aussie friend here in Saigon. All the while I thought he was his twin. But I have to laugh out loud and I realized that Edmondo is quite old to be my friend's twin. Then later on I met my dude's twin-Same same but different. I've listen to Augie March's music since July of last year. Among my favorite songs from them are: One crowded hour, Pennywhistle and There is no such place. Been following these dudes in my twitter and they've been following me as well. And that's the nice thing about twitter-- when someone you follow, follows you back!

The band Augie March

Back here on my bed at my Saigon house, I have my own little way to participate with this Earth Hour event. I just slept without the lights and aircon. I stopped using my laptop and imagined that I was in a crowded room for one hour. I can't help but remember that I was also here in Saigon during last year's Earth Hour. They also celebrate it here. How time flies, where will I be next Earth Hour? Saigon again? Or maybe in Sydney perhaps...

Thanks mates for the cool change you brought to our planet!

hugs,
joanie xxx

I am currently in ALASKA

This is something to push me forward. I should stop being apprehensive and too judgmental about men. My dear friend Patrick Miciano who's getting married to my friend Kate, told me that this is a significant quote on how men fall in love...

"I wanted so badly to lie next to her on the couch, to wrap my arms around her and sleep. Not fuck, like in those movies. Not even have sex. Just sleep together, in the most innocent sense of the phrase. But I lacked the courage and she had a boyfriend and I was gawky and she was gorgeous and I was hopelessly boring and she was endlessly fascinating. So I walked back to my room and collapsed to the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was hurricane."

-John Green, looking for Alaska

Is John Green for real? Did I miss one?

hugs,
joanie xxx

NYDC in Saigon

Hello friends from Manhattan!

I just want the share to my readers and the New Yorkers around Saigon that there's this cafe called NYDC right at the center of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. The newly renovated NYDC has its New York feel compared to their old interior. Now they really have the vibe of a Manhattan apartment. This place is my favorite cafe for breakkie, lunchie and for coffee or dessert. I have this spot in this cafe where I get a great view of Notre Dame de Saigon (named after Notre Dame de Paris). Nice to look at especially when you are drinking coffee or savoring your dessert. The spot is so perfect when I need moments to think especially about work and other things about life to ponder on.

They have this breakfast with bacon, sausage and egg which happened to be my favorite. And I love the bread because the dough is so fine and it tastes so good. I hardly find a nice or at least decent bread in Saigon, but the one in NYDC is unexpectedly above the average! The next thing I like about them that made me spend my lunch there over and over again is because of their set meal. They have pastas, baked rice and sandwich to choose from for your main course. And either soup or salad for the starter. Default dessert is Creme Brulee, which is my favorite! The set meal also includes drink which is a choice of coffee or tea. The serving is generous, no need to worry! Price is very very reasonable for 100,000 dong including tax. Not bad.

Coffee, Tea or me?

It's quite out of the topic but I have to mention that I am going to stop cooking for a month because I have to undergo surgery and I have to be in a complete bed rest. So I am going to hold my brushes and splatter some paint on my canvass again. Recently, I noticed receiving negative comments from anonymous people. I later found out the origin and the exact details of this person commenting here. I don't want to be rude to people. And I got tired replying the comments from this person so I stop posting the post from the same origin. I don't write for people who are not interested in the same interests and passion I have. Having been blessed with my cooking and artistic talent, I owe it to my creator-GOD! I don't claim to be expert of any of those two which I brand my self to be, but I definitely claim that I am passionate of both craft and happy to share my experiences in life. Success is given to those who are humble about themselves and to those who are not stepping on someone's foot. But I do believe detractors are everywhere, they are like mushrooms that pop. They will pull you down, but I will not allow anyone. See you guys in the next days as I post my painting saga.

Good afternoon New York!

hugs,
joanie xxx

My Melbourne in Saigon!

How are you doing bloody readers?

I am glad that things are going well for me lately. I had my Dance party last weekend and Sunday dinner with my friends. Both went well. But what's exciting last weekend was when I got some of my favorite things which I placed in one basket. They are capsicums, lemons, limes & onions! I was truly delighted to put them all together because the colors are very lovely. I hurriedly grabbed my camera and took a photo of these smiling friends I got in my basket. It reminded me of my one exciting market day in Melbourne. I visited Queen Victoria Market and saw my capsicum and aubergine friends all smiling at me along with the cherry tomatoes. They are lovely creatures and they all made my dishes wonderful and exciting. They are my little Melbourne on my table.

I want to go back to Melbourne very soon. Perhaps I miss Queen Victoria. There are little things in my life that constantly reminds me to keep on going and hold on for one more day. I'd like to believe that dreams do happen and if you continue to be positive about it, it will come... in due time. Looking forward embracing my Australian dream.

Someone from Queensland told me why I never say hi to them, well I am going to do it now...

Hi to all the Banana benders down under!!!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Women's Day in Vietnam!

Xin Chao to all Chi oi's and Em oi's in Vietnam, all the dudettes in Oz, in my home town and all the babes in the world! Today is Women's day here in Vietnam. This is a big event and very much celebrated by the entire nation. Today the men here in the office made me feel like I am a WOMAN! A woman that deserves to be appreciated and deserves to be complimented. They gave me a box of chocolate and a basket of flowers--that made wear a big smile on my face. They gave me my weakness--and I guess all the women in the world have the same weakness as mine.

All my female friends just texted me and greeted me on this day. But surprisingly someone has to make a silly comment first about this special event before greeting me. The day didn't end and my good Aussie friend didn't fail to greet me. Well "whatever" happens, I still owe him my big thanks!

Well to all women out there, we shouldn't forget to be confident about yourself, to make yourself beautiful and make others see how smart and brave you are despite adversity and failures. Because when we fall, the day will come that we will stand again and will face life in a better perspective...

hugs,
joanie xxx

2/3 The Artist Chef Manila

It's very funny that I have forgotten the name of this couple again. I think I also forgot the name of the couples of the last customers I posted. One more couple and I am done posting my Manila customers! I am so sorry for taking so long posting these photos. Too many activities going on here n Saigon. Maybe by April I can finally post my very first customers here in Saigon. My good friend Angel was the first to experience my intimate dinner Saigon style. I am also excited because Sunday next week I'll be in the heat of the kitchen cooking Italian set meal for my third couple customers. They are Belgian and can't wait to do it for them in my huge Saigon veranda this time!

Italian set meal is the most favorite set meal in Manila. Aside from Spanish, Thai, American, Mediterranean & Mexican. I look forward cooking sumptuous dishes for local & foreign customers here in Saigon!

Ciao everyone!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Vietnam Jungle Trekking

(With my trainers, FX Lealdela Torre & David Minetti)

Xin Chao Vietnam!

It's the first day of March and I am already in my 1oth month here in Saigon. I haven't really been around that much to maximize the beauty of Vietnam. But last January I decided to join some jungle adventure with the K1 Fitness - Minetti team. With us is the owner and trainers from my Muay Thai class. We headed at Tac Mai Rapid, Tran Phu Forest---about two and half hours away from Ho Chi Minh City. I also brought in some Filipino friends to share this fun adventure!

(Filipino Friends with Tom Meyer)

(The hammock at the base camp)

We started our first day with a 7km trekking at the jungle. That was a very easy level but some of my Filipino friends find it a bit hard. They told me that they do not exercise the way I do. My Muay training helped me to be agile and tenacious with whatever physical activities ahead of me. So my trainers were proud of me how I progress each day.

This adventure was really fun for several reasons. Aside from the 2 day trekking activities that we did, we also had time to swim on the river and played volleyball using a the ball of football. That caused me few bruises on my arms. But that was fun. The stone in the river was slippery and the rapids were very fast that somehow scared me but eventually I felt alright. During the night we had some barbecues, wine, beer & smoke. We slept at a duplex cottage and had our shower in a small wooden bathroom with tarpauline as the wall. It was very back to basic but indeed was very fun too. The rest of the K1 team slept in the tent and other cottages. It was also nice to have slept on a hammock once again.

(FX Lealdela Torre at the river)

(Alvaro Lealdela Torre at the river)

(The owner of K1 Fitness Center Saigon - David Minetti)

(The complete cast)

Everything that happened in the trekking was a brand new experience to me and to the Filipino friends I brought. I want to do it once more, maybe soon after I recovered from my surgery. I procrastinated a lot of weekends lately and made me realized that I missed a lot of exciting places I should visit while I am here in Vietnam.

Until next time, Anh oi, Chi oi and Em oi.. Tambiet!!!

hugs,
joanie xxx