Amgurls Christmas Get-Together

Met my favorite mommies in Chilis along Missouri in Greenhills two Fridays ago for some pre-Christmas fun.

Bottomless Nachos. These are our default order whenever we dine at Chilis. I mean, these nachos are the coolest when it comes to having endless "chikahan."

Bizu's Nutcracker Christmas

I've always love Nutcracker Suite Tchaikovsky  because it's associated with Christmas which happens to be my favorite time of the year. The music simply brings vivid, colorful and happy images to mind. And during my childhood days, it was such a treat to attend the gala performance in CCP during Christmas Season.

This Christmas Season, Bizu Pattiserie brings back this childhood memories with their array of Christmas goodies that takes you on a journey to Tchaikovsky's Land of the Sweets with its Christmas 2013 Collection. And my family loves Bizu so its like having the best of both world- literally.

Melchor Crouquembouche. This is a tower of profiteroles filled with pastry cream and dipped in white and dark chocolate. This makes non only a great centerpiece but a conversation piece as well. You can choose between and 18-inch with 130 cream puffs tower or a 12-inch tower with 60 cream puffs.

A Taste of Christmas

I had an Anton Ego moment when I had my first spoon of Fog City Creamery's Fruits & Nuts Deluxe Ice Cream and Christmas came to my mind. And I love Christmas, and have many happy memories of it especially during my childhood years. Like being surrounded by my whole family, opening presents and eating fruit cakes. I grew up with the notion that Christmas and fruitcakes are the perfect pair. My mother and aunts made the fruitcakes themselves. Alas, the fruit cake tradition ended when all sorts of chocolate cakes become popular and much more affordable. So I was really happy when I tasted the Fruits & Nuts Deluxe because it brings back memories of Christmas.

But what makes this ice-cream special is the fact that Fog City Creamery teamed up with Emperador Deluxe Spanish Edition to create this superb tasting ice-cream.

above photo courtesy of Fog City Creamery

RECIPE: Chef Fern Aracama's Malunggay & Cheese Dip

Last November 23, Chef Fernando "Fern" Aracama did a cooking demo at the Maya Kitchen entitled- Memories of Holidays Past. He graciously shared his recipes and I am in turn sharing it with my readers as an early Christmas treat. The recipes he shared are good for our Noche Buena table.

His Malunggay & Cheese Dip recipe is not only easy to make but is very healthy also. I'm sure even kids will love this.

photo courtesy of Maya Kitchen 

Christmas at Mariott Hotel Manila

As early as September 25, Mariott Manila already has a line-up of exciting Christmas goodies for everyone

and I had the chance to attend the preview and meet Executive Chef Meik and Chocolatier Chef Chris. It was a visual feast with lots of merriment and cheer included in each item.