Antipolo Rediscovered Part 1: Crescent Moon Cafe

I'm only speaking for myself, But Antipolo would be the last place on my mind for a weekend destination.  Maybe because of its close proximity to Manila that I feel I'm  not really leaving the city and that I'm not familiar with the City's attraction other than the Church and Hinulugang Taktak which doesn't really have a good review.

That's why I'm surprised to see pictures of Pinto Art Musuem from one of my FB friends and she recommended the itinerary to have lunch first at Crescent Moon Cafe in preparation for the walking tour of the Museum.

I was browsing for directions to go to Crescent Moon and found out its by reservation only, and that lunch is only served from 12PM-2PM.

Read about the directions and contact details here:
Crescent Moon Cafe

We left the house in Makati past 10AM to pick up other friends and was along Ortigas Avenue Extension by 11AM.  Traffic was starting to build up, and reached Tikling Road a few minutes past 12.  The signage pointing to the Cafe was small and its easy to miss the turn like we did.  Fortunately, people are helpful in giving directions.

Near the entrance is where they make pots, and the restaurant is just a few meters behind it after the large Koi pond.  The dining area itself is very basic with wooden chairs and tables.  What stood out are the colorful table cloth and their very own plates topped with woven checkered napkins.

There are only two consistent items on the Crescent Moon Lunch Menu, the appetizer and dessert.  We were made to interact with the appetizer by making a roll out of Alagaw leaves stuffing it with a variety of fillings that included chopped red onions, green mangoes, ginger, toasted coconut, green chili, basil leaves, dried shrimps and the sweet brown sauce.

Alagaw Appetizer

Topped the filling with the sauce instead of dipping the roll.

During our visit, the appetizer was followed by a pumpkin soup with young coconut shavings.  The viands came after.  We had Chicken Curry, Grilled Salmon, and Stir Fry Mixed Vegetables.  We ended the meal with the other specialty, Suman (wrapped and steamed sweetened sticky rice) with a slice of ripe mango.  The meal costs 350php per person.

Pumpkin Soup with Young Coconut Shavings

Rice and Chicken Curry

Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables

Grilled Salmon

Wrapped Sweetened Sticky Rice with Mango

After the meal, I looked around the displays of the pottery being sold at the Cafe and just before leaving, we visited the work area where they cast, mold, and paint their pottery products.

Items for Sale

Pottery for Sale

Work Area

Drying Area

Drying Area

Painting Area

Pots being dried on the ground

We left the cafe around 2PM.

Complete Antipolo Road Trip Itinerary:

10:00 AM Called 02-6583866 Crescent Moon Cafe contact number to make reservations
10:30 AM Pick up friends in Mandaluyong
11:00 AM Gas Up at Ortigas Extension (500php)
12:25 PM Arrived at the Cafe
1:30 PM Finished Lunch (350php/head) Toured the pottery production area, Depart for Pinto Art Museum
2:00 PM Arrived at Pinto Art Museum (150php/head Entrance Fee)
3:15 PM Depart for Cafe Lupe
3:45PM Arrived at Cafe Lupe (150php/head estimated budget for a pizza and drink)

Road trip budget per head: 775php/head



The Pinto Art Museum visit is going to be featured on my next blog entry.  Please make sure to follow.

Never Ran Out of Food Options in Kapitolyo, Pasig

Me and my office mates are celebrating Friday by having lunch out of the office.  We are given meal allowance that can be used to order food from our menu,  but having worked for the company for almost seven years, I've tried most of the item that the opportunity to eat out is welcomed by most of us.

We we're originally planning to eat at Shakeys, but I want them to experience something new.  I took them to Poco Deli.  As what the name suggests, they specializes in Deli' imported abroad.  The assorted cold cuts is the best way to start.  It gives you the opportunity to try a little bit of everything, from sausages to cured meat.

We then ordered the Quatro Carne Pizza (four-meat pizza), and 3 different types of Pasta.  The first pasta that arrived at our table was the Chili Seafood Pasta, followed by the Bolognese and the Seafood option of the Truffle Oil pasta.  We we're not disappointed with the taste and the service was commendable.

Assorted Cold Cuts Sampler

Chili Seafood Pasta

Quatro Carne Pizza

Seafood Truffle Oil Pasta

After the meal, we then transferred to Lia's Cake In Season, 2 establishments away to sample their cake selection.  The Avocado Cheesecake is definitely a must try, but we also ordered the Decadent Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet, Chocolate Avocado, and mango Cheesecake for variety.

Top from left, Avocado Cheesecake, Decadent Chocolate Cake, Bottom from Left, Mango Cheesecake, red Velvet and Chocolate Avocado

These two establishments are just two of my favorites along East Capitol St.  Please check out my other entries on Kapitolyo from my previous blogs.

http://moleinthefoot.blogspot.com/2012/04/foodie-finds-in-kapitolyo-pasig.html
http://moleinthefoot.blogspot.com/2012/06/cab-cafe-foodie-find-in-kapitolyo-pasig.html
http://moleinthefoot.blogspot.com/2012/04/foodie-finds-in-kapitolyo-pasig-part-2.html
http://moleinthefoot.blogspot.com/2013/06/kainan-au-gustu-best-turo-turo-eatery.html

Licao Licao Falls

The setback of not bringing your own camera, is to wait for those who took your shot to upload them.  But if your pics are like these, I would not mind waiting.  Thanks Ruth and Robb for the pic.

Experience the Power of Thor at Victoria Court's Asgard Room

Apart from 50 Shades, inspired by the trilogy of E. L. James, we also launched another thematic party room last June 21, Asgard.

Asgard is inspired by the planet where Thor came from. Our Chief Architect Marc Sia and Interior Designer Abe Patindol, did most of the planning and design for the room.  It was dominantly gold with celtic accents.  The anteroom is inspired by the Bifrost with wheels on walls.  Inside, you will find the imposing tub that is made to look like Oden's Throne.  The bed area is adorned with cut-out celtic accents.

This is actually the second Thor inspired room with the original located at our branch in Malate. What makes the Pasig version special is the Mjolnir or the hammer, that when striked at any surface will trigger Lightning and Thunder.

Visit www.victoriacourt.biz for more information.

Rock of Ages Manila, The Repeat Run

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Fans of Rock and Roll will have a great time watching this musical.  I for one cant help but sing along with 80's rock roll classics.

Set in L.A.'s infamous Sunset Strip in 1987, ROCK OF AGES tells the story of Drew, a boy from South Detroit and Sherrie, a small-town girl, both in L.A. to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. ROCK OF AGES takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! 

http://www.rockofagesmusical.com/about

We were invited to watch Atlantis Productions pilot performance for Sponsors last July 11, 2013. Under the direction of Chari Arespacochaga, Leading the local stellar cast is Nyoy Volante playing Drew and Vina Morales as Sherrie.  Rockstar Inxs Finalist, Mig Ayesa, is reprising his role as Stacee Jaxx.

Jet Pangan (former vocalist of The Dawn) provided comic relief as Lonny the narrator.  Aiza Siguerra played the hippie activist Regina, but it was her stripper role that steals the show. 

The other members of the cast included Rachel Alejandro, Calvin Milado, Jamie Wilson and Bibbo Reyes among many others.

Rock of Ages will run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City from July 12 -28, 2013.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200922347974352&set=a.1118392253409.19011.1635110831&type=1&theater

For more information visit www.atlantisproductionsinc.com.

The Moulin Rouge Suite at Victoria Court

If I were asked what's my favorite design for Victoria Court, It would have to be The Moulin Rouge Suite.

It was very timely that when I joined the company 7 years ago, they were just introducing thematic party rooms with Austin Powers and suites with Matrix.  That time, I was just familiarizing myself with the process and was focused more on improving the designs of the regular rooms, since X-men is under construction already.

It was only when we were designing the Oval Office that I fully grasped the responsibility of being the Chief Designer.  When it was completed, I felt that it catered more to the male market that it brought the need for a room that's more feminine.  My boss suggested the Moulin Rouge Concept.

That time, I'm not really sure if its just me or that there's a trend for Asian/Indian Eclectic Interiors, that I immediately thought of the Elephant Room in the movie. It was the lavish details that attracted me to the concept, the love story was just incidental.  I was so sold on the concept and was excited to come up with the design.

To have my design approved, I need to be able to let the guest experience the story the moment they enter the garage.  Fortunately, I was able to keep the original design pegs.  Helping me develop the concept that time was my Interior Designer Dara.

We designed the garage to look like a Theater.  We want it to be an introduction to the role-playing that guest experience when they enter the main room.  We added fabric-padded walls, antique looking wall lamps, and red velvet curtains revealing the name of the room.  A carpeted platform serves as the tire guard.  We changed the handrail and balusters to wood and added carpets.

The Double Main Door is leather padded to match the theater theme.


Since we're recreating the Elephant room, and its impossible to fit it an 80sqm room, we just focused on the important element.  The prominent feature is the continuous heart shaped arches that we achieved by tilting the entrance at a 45-degree angle so that it opens diagonally making it appear longer. 

We created the dome details with a gold painted plywood shell covered with iron scrolls.  The heart shaped arch is repeated at the bed entrance and ends at the heart shaped window with the view of a model of the Eiffel Tower.  The ceiling is painted black with fiber optic stars.  The flooring is also glazed black to reflect the ceiling.

Inside the dome, we changed the flooring to wood covered with area rugs.  The dining set is custom hand carved wood.  Curtains in purple and gold frames the entrance and tassels make it more elaborate.

The bed area has a real mattress compared to the typical motel mattress.  It also comes with bedding's, comforter and sheets.  The bed area is fully carpeted with a separate TV and dresser.

The balcony area features a swing with a panoramic view of Paris.  The balcony skyline has no corners to hide the termination of the walls to the ceiling.  We placed mirrors at the bottom of the balcony to create the illusion of height.  We took apart the same wall lamp from the garage as lighting to the balcony.  Lamp post are added as well a garden set for additional seating.  What makes it special is the swing inside a small gazebo that can carry two persons.

The Jacuzzi can fit 10 persons and fiber optics adorns the walls and ceiling.  Adjacent to it is the bar with mini ref. stocked with beverages.  It also comes with a smoking room for parties.  The room is party equipped with a Karaoke system, 2 televisions sets and a separate Toilet and Dresser.

 Check out www.victoriacourt.biz for more details.

Victoria Court's 50 Shades, and The Red Room of Pain

Being the Chief Designer, each thematic room is a challenge.  One work afternoon, I was called by my boss for another Design Challenge.  He asked me to read 50 shades of Grey, because for so long, he wanted  a room with a hint of S&M, that can be packaged with a story.

That time, I was not aware that it was a trilogy, so I went to the bookstore and got myself a copy.  I would have to admit, I myself got hooked with with the Christian Grey - Anastacia Steele love story that I had to continue with the second book.  When I went back to the bookstore, they don't sell it separately, and I ended up with a set and an extra copy of the first book.

Instantly, I was drawn to Christian Grey's character.  I want to focus on the two facet of his personality.  I draw inspiration from his bachelor businessman side and the naughty lover alter ego.  We designed the room so that guest will experience the transition with two major parts.

The main room was the Escala Penthouse.  We have kept it modern and the details minimal.  We've added a Grand Piano (a non working model) beside a curtain window with a panoramic view of Seattle.  We designed the entertainment area much like a bachelor pad, with the audio/video equipment built into a wall fronting an arched sofa.  We added a bar beside the jet pool, and designed the area to look like an outdoor balcony.

We are designing the bedroom as the red room of pain.  Originally, I wanted it to have a more classic feel as a contrast to the modern main room.  The original design calls for a wooden floor, and a four poster bed as described in the book.  My boss wants to take it further, and asked that we inject technology so that guests will have something to talk about.  That's how the idea of a tilting rotating bed came about.

Also, another challenge is to keep the red room a secret, much like how it is written in the book.  We experimented with electrically charged mirror that becomes clear with a push of a button.  It was too costly for us, so we settled on a tinted glass and relied on lighting for the reveal.  Even the original idea for the bed was downgraded to have a separate contraption that rotates.  We designed a wheel, that when a partner is strapped in, can rotate 360 degrees.

We then worked on the other details.  We made the anteroom look like an elevator car complete with an automated sliding door and floor buttons.  Even the floor moves with the weight of the passengers.  Since the Grand piano does not have any purpose, we used it as a performing platform with the addition of a pole in the center.  As additional naughty element, we added sexy costumes that can be purchased upon request and gadgets to improve love making.

In summary, the room has 2 toilet and Bath, a king size bed, a jet tub that accommodates up 6 persons, a videoke, dvd and 2 Flat Screen TV's.  It also has a bar with a mini ref stocked with beverages.  A smoking area was added for large groups.

The room can be rented for parties of 25-30 for only 12,000 php for 5 hours and choose from our food packages.

Check out www.victoriacourt.biz for more details.

_____________
Each Super Thematic Room is a collaborative effort on our part.
Thanks to Marc for taking over especially the construction....
To Abe for preparing the details and specs....
To Melai for taking over the other projects, hehe!
To Fred for supervising the construction
To Pol, for taking the almost impossible task with us....
To Kacy and Erson for their inputs and the successful launch....
To Procurement for helping us with the equipment...
To VCPA Management for putting up with the long construction...
To all the Managers and Top Management for the push...

Most importantly to my Boss, for continuously challenging us to be better and smarter.   Sometimes we underestimate ourselves that at the end of every project, we are surprised of what we are capable of doing.