Today is my BIRTHDAY!

Hello 30!

Today, I'm celebrating another birthday! Yeah! I love fresh starts and all the promise that comes with the first day of a new birthday year. Starting to have wrinkles? I can buy cream to smooth them out or go to Belo perhaps, but I wouldn't change my age or give back one minute of my life. Good days and bad, its been a tasty time so far! I like having birthdays because they humble me. They remind me to be grateful for my life, my family, my friends, my work, my artist chef thing and for my ever dearest boyfriend. Birthdays challenge me, too. Every year I get a little bit smarter about at least a few things, but the list of what I want to do and learn grows longer. Two years ago I wrote the same blog I'm writing now in a different journal. What I said then was "hello 28!" and wrote there that I wanted to enroll in a cooking class, go to Australia and have my intimate dinner business. All of them came true already. And today I have new wishes to write down but I'd rather keep them to my self and pray they will soon come true. Who knows next year or two years from now I'll write a blog again and tell you guys that my wishes came true. This is also my chance to thank all the people who visited my blog and to those who visit this site regularly. I am really overwhelmed by the statistic data showing all my visitors. Surprisingly, they come from all parts of the globe.

Thank You and Ciao!

---Joan

Love Del Rosario

Love is in the air during Valentine’s month. The couple that graced the lovers' seats in The Artist Chef intimate dinner were newly weds Love Del Rosario and her husband. Nicole Ardeña, boyfriend of Love's sister, arranged everything for the couple as her post-wedding gift.

The Gerbera flowers that Reggie gave me became the couple's centerpiece.

Boy Alnajes

A lot couples still try to find unique ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. Sweet guy Boy Alnajes and the lovely Jakki Blanco are among those people. Another addition to the roster of couples who have experienced the special Valentine's dinner at The Artist Chef's table.

I'm wearing my Sicily apron for the first time. From my dear friend Pedi who is now based in Europe. Shuffling from one country to another.

Kebabs & Watermelon

One of my favorite concoctions is my famous Chicken Kebab. I love all the strong flavors of the spices I mixed together for the marination. It goes well with grilled tomatoes and yoghurt garlic sauce. Yum, yum, yum! This dish really makes me to eat mountains of rice. Whether eaten with Thai Jasmine rice or Basmati rice, it makes my meal a carbo-overload. I know you guys can't wait to find out how this dish is done.

Chicken Kebabs

You will need diced chicken breast fillet, paprika, curry powder, salt, pepper, turmeric and yoghurt. Mix all the spices, yoghurt and the diced chicken. Marinate for at least 3-5 hours . For extreme flavor, marinate the chicken overnight. Then the next day, ready your barbecue sticks and place four diced chicken on each stick. Heat the grilling pan to medium temperature and grill chicken and tomatoes until tender. Everything is ready. Serve hot with your basmati rice with butter plus the yoghurt and garlic sauce.

Look at these yellow watermelons in my bowl. They look so mouth-watering. I stumbled upon them in a supermarket and brought home a few pieces. Did you guys know that "watermelon" refers to both fruit and plant of a vine-like herb originally from southern Africa? There is a subtle difference between the red and yellow watermelon. When I close my eyes and eat a yellow one, it tastes just like a sweet red water melon. So I therefore conclude that the yellow watermelon is sweeter than the red ones. I've read the same opinions on the internet.

I gained a few pounds after lunch.

There is a sweetness in every bite of the yellow watermelon.

US Girls - Cheska Garcia

This was last March when Reggie and I watched THE RAMP fashion show in Glorietta . Raya Mananquil is one of the known models who ramped during that night. The event was hosted by none other than Cheska Garcia. This picture was taken by Reggie at the backstage of the event.

Raya Mananquil in gray.

After the fashion show there were some pica-picas inside THE RAMP boutique located at the former Tower Records area.

Hunter Valley

My Sydney Painting Series #1

This is series one of the four series paintings I did when I was in Sydney last November. I painted this using gold poster paint on red vellum. I used a white square frame which I bought from my favorite store IKEA. The four series paintings is now under the custody of my Australia-based cousin Gary Lejarde and his wife Yonni.

Katrina Samaniego

When I first met my officemate Katrina, she was a chubby girl. A lot of people in the office told me she had an FHM-worthy figure before she got married. But because she was a workaholic whose only outlet was to eat and eat and eat, she gained some pounds.

But one day, she decided to get back into shape. After a few months of dieting, exercise and self-discipline, she's now skinnier than I am. She is no longer the chubby girl with a belly I can pinch. I'm proud of my dear friend Ena! (As most of her friends call her).

Up to now I still find myself smiling when I'm reminded of the day Ena became my friend. It was in 2006, during the last day of our office trip to HK, when I saw her in the lobby of the hotel and asked her if she waned to go to Ikea with me. She excitedly said yes. She was even proud of the fact that she's very familiar with the MTR so she'll be the one to guide me daw. Some funny things happened on our way there but that's just between me and her. I'm glad that up to now we are still good friends.

With Ena is her very charming husband Ariel.

I really got to know Ariel during their daughter's birthday. It was Alyssa's 2nd birthday when I went to Ena's house in Loyala Grand Villas to cook lunch food for their immediate family.

Trivia: Ariel used to have a Kodak developing outlet as his business. But due to the advent of digital technology, he sold the business. He is now an importer of unique photo albums for weddings. Different photographers order from Ariel's not-so-commercialized albums, and that's his edge compared to other photo album suppliers.

Since pictures are very much part of their lives, the couple didn't say NO when I brought out the camera. It was a success! I think both of them really enjoyed it.

This was the couple's pre-valentine's dinner. Ena reserved this last November for their anniversary but I was fully booked. December came and Ena tried to reserve for her birthday but I was again fully booked at that time. So when February came, I gave Ena the first Sunday slot.

Thanks Ena and Ariel! 'til next time :-)

Tonypet Gaba (The BEAT)

Last February 22, 2008, The Beat correspondent Tonypet Gaba, along with the crew of QTV11, visited my place. The program featured The Artist Chef in Tonypet's food segment. February was the ARTS month so they decided to feature chefs with talents in the arts. The other chefs featured were Chef Laudico who is also a songwriter and Chef Waya who is also a maker of bead accessories. The episode aired last February 25.

I served Tonypet my Chili con Karne with Black Beans (using Australian beef) and Sliced Baguette, Kani Salad, Mango Brulee, Thai Milk Tea, Bagoong Rice and Chicken Curry with Ginger & Tomatoes. The Chicken Ginger was the dish I cooked live in front of the camera and the host. I think Tonypet and his crew from QTV11 liked the food I prepared.

Did you know that Tonypet is not just a TV host but also an Acting Director in Advertising TV commercials? I haven't worked with him yet but I hope I get the chance one of these days.

With me here are the crew of THE BEAT which includes Tonypet the correspondent (right) and Jala the producer (left).

It's fun working with them because they are very down-to-earth.

The taping went well. We finished on time because the host and staff arrived on time. Thanks again to THE BEAT, Tonypet, Macoy, Jala and the rest of the QTV11 staff. Click on "The Artist Chef on QTV11" on the left side of the window under MY PALETTE to view the video.

Loriemin Apo

Young banker Loriemin Apo in her early 20's is engaged to be married with her boyfriend who is in his mid-30's. There's a big age gap but it didn't become a barrier for two people who are very much in love. They met more than a year ago in RCBC when Loriemin was still a trainee under the supervision of her fiancee. From then on, their relationship has gone a long way. I enjoyed talking with the couple and I found out that Loriemin's fiancee is the former officemate of my co-worker's husband. I encountered many instances like this before so I believe that in this world we are all connected.

My Italian set meal is the most popular set meal lately.

Good luck to both of you on your wedding next year!