Forever 21: Reloaded



Lighter on the left hand and fire extinguisher on the right..



FF added another candle to his already well lit birthday cake and could not get any more grateful. He refused to worry about getting another year older but simply rejoiced at  the  gift of being well and healthy. Although he wants to celebrate such  occasion, he  is not your all out, sociable, belle of the ball kind of person. He likes things quite, intimate with very little  limelight thrown at his direction. His birthday celebration is a reflection to that. He wants his birthday to be celebrated among close family members, joined over cozy lunch or dinner with home cooked meals  and still wants to keep it that way. This year was not different. The birthday lunch was attended by his family ( mine's across the sea) of 11 adults and 4 kids and although mood was non boisterous, it was a merry. Free flow of wine  has its effect. It lightens mood and makes people quick to laughter...among other things. At least that's how it was that day. I prepared a three course meal, all at the request of the birthday boy. He was excited and a bit stressed out by the mess after the party and said he's happy he only have to do it once a year. Hah men! ( Rolls eyeballs)




Starter: Sweet Potato and Fish Chowder

 Birthday lunch started off with this light bit wonderfully flavored soup. I got a lot of compliments after serving this. I know it is ethical to pay compliments to the host/cook but I did notice how our guests savored and enjoyed this starters so when they said it was good, I  believed  . A numerous request for  seconds vanquish whatever doubt I have in mind.


The main dish


The main dish although almost devoid of meat was nevertheless  filling. I cooked Risotto Ala Milanese with baked Salmon fillets, bacon wrapped green beans and served it with Saffron Bechamel sauce. Plates were returned to the kitchen, empty. No better compliment to a cook could top that.




Bacon wrapped green beans with balsamic-orange sauce.


What surprised me in this meal was this bacon wrapped beans and how it went wonderfully well with the fish and the risotto. Preparing it was a brisk. After cutting the tips off, beans were blanched uncovered for about 7 minutes and the plunged into a bowl of ice cold water. Then I  wrapped a bundle of it in bacon then sear it in a bit of butter, seams down until bacon softens. I then baked it in the oven until bacon crisps, about 15 mins  at 200°c and drizzle sauce over it. For the sauce, I heat a  tablespoon of butter in a saucepan, then sauteed finely chopped garlic ( 3 cloves), added 3 tablespoon of brown sugar. Stir until sugar dissolved, stir in 3 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and juice of 1 orange. Season with a bit of salt and pepper to taste.  Sauce was delicious, tangy and sweet.

Dessert was pretty straight forward but was  still a hit. Nothing beats  warm on cold sweets. Our guest was aaahing and ooohing between mouthfuls of homemade warm decadent brownie and vanilla ice cream. A drizzle of chocolate sauce and wedges of fresh strawberries just added a fruity note to this end of the meal delight. FF proudly claimed that even the vanilla ice cream was homemade and a series of compliment echoes at the  table. An uncle who obviously had enough wine blurts out, why all the hassle when there's enough ice cream for sale at the groceries?! Labors of love, that how I called such hassles and it was worth it, I replied smiling. He rest his case and asked for another scope. (^_^). Happy birthday FF can't wait for next year!

Sweet Potato and Fish Chowder

I was looking for a light, easy  but delicious soup recipe for FF's birthday lunch celebration. Yes,  FF had another year to be grateful about and he will  be celebrating , so little wifey took a day off from work to play cook and  waitress. No complains here, I love stepping into those shoes since we hardly have any celebrations at home. It would be a three course meal and birthday boy wants to have a soup for starters, so soup it is. A week before the celebration, I made some experiments and naturally, he became the instant Guinea pig taster. First, I made carrots and apple curry soup ( remembering how wonderful the subtle curry soup we had at Medici) but my own version failed to impress us both. The soup was ok but end up too bland, too simplistic and too so-so. A short trip to the grocery shop  and I made another choice. The sweet potato on the vegetable and fruit section looked all mighty, chunky , titillating and almost begging to be bought. I gave in, and gave it a try. It was just one of those , throw a bit of this and that to the pot that somehow yield a jackpot. The soup was delicious, so I was told. Here's how I did it. This recipe served 10 happy campers at FF's simple lunch celebration the following week.

Camote Soup ala Emily

 

Into the big heavy pot goes  3 tablespoons of butter and 200 g of smoked bacon ,finely chopped. Heat gently, stirring frequently until fat runs, meat starts to brown and a wisp of smokey goodness that spells blood clot undulates the air. Ignore that, it's worth it. Add in 1 big, finely chopped onion,  cook over a low heat until translucent but not brown.

Turn heat to medium high. Add in 5 medium size peeled and chopped carrots, stir well and let it slather in those delicious but not-so healthy butter-bacon fat amalgam. Beta carotin made better? Also peel and chop sweet potatoes and add into the pot. I used 1 ginormous sweet potato weighing close to 600 g, stir well and cover pot for 5 minutes.

Pour 1 Liter of fish stock to the pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes and carrots are tender. Take the pot out from the heat and leave to cool for few minutes.

Process soup using a hand held mixer or food processor until smooth. It will get thick, almost heavy . Loosen it all up by adding another liter of fish stock, bring to a boil, uncovered.

Gently stir in 500 g of cubed white fish fillets ( like haddock, cod , ocean perch or what ever is available to you) and a handful of finely chopped parsley. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until fish is just cooked. Season with salt and white pepper. If you want to have a smooth, velvety soup, you could puree the soup again once the fish is cooked. FF, however wants to have a chunkier version so I just skipped that.

Reduce the heat to low and add in 400 ml of cream, gently heat through without boiling,  stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot and garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

Enjoy it as we all did !

Crimson Resort and Spa, Mactan

Stepping into Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan , one would feel that people working there are genuinely happy to see you. ''Welcome to Crimson Resort, Ma'am, Sir!'', greets a beautiful welcoming attendant with a smile. Voice even, sweet but well modulated, somehow makimi and praise Wolverine, no Kris Aquino/ Pinoy Starbucks  twang.  A  hint of pride and anticipation lingered in their eyes as they slightly bow ( Yes, bow!) down to you in greetings with their right palm touching  over their heart . This unique  courtesy /salutation somehow conveys a silent message that it is their pleasure to serve you. At least that's how it was to me. And it was indeed a pleasure. Everybody was so friendly and helpful during our 4-nights stay. The staffs at reception, the housekeepers, drivers, the polite guards, bartenders, restaurant crew and even the resort's company nurse who checked on FF as he've gone down with abdominal flu making him eat nothing but banana for days, he could be Tarzan's new best friend. Hey! I was off duty and  that's a completely different story.  Anyway, the  placid  smiles made us  feel welcome and yes, home. Warm, engaging,  non exuberant . This is Filipino hospitality at it's best.

The Lobby




The Bridge leading to the Reception and to the Restaurants

 The  high ceiling and open aired lobby  welcomed  guest to its postcard like view of the infinity pool that reaches out to the calm sea.  Picture this: Clear blue skies, water that stretches out as far as the eyes could see, beautiful, lush gardens and endless promise of sand and sea. I haven't seen a single patron that did not stop , look and revel in the beauty of the surroundings . True to its name, Crimson entices and  seduces  . It's easy to fall in love with this place. It made me happy to be here and  considering others' delighted smiles, they too, share my sentiments. Philippines is beautiful and I'm proud to call it my home. 

The Reception

The lobby leads guests to two directions. To the right is the reception. To the left, the restaurants, leading  to the pool . We were then  whisked to the reception.The area was cozy and  not your typical  it's-so-wide-you-can-waltz- space  common in big  hotels. It was homey and the entire place was adorned with intricately detailed ornamentations. With a Mediterranean flair combining with our traditional Filipino influences, the place is your best example of east meets west  integration.

The Lobby although well ventilated,   could get pretty sultry and hot on some days .

I taught FF how to play  Sungka at the lobby. Reminds me of my childhood days. This was one of my favorite  board game as a kid, if we could not get ourselves a wooden board and cowrie shells, we simply dug some holes on the ground and use  pebbles. Yes, in those days kids don't need Wii, PlayStation's and Ipad  to enjoy themselves .


Some of the artistic woodcrafts using the country's own indigenous materials.

The Facade




Me in front of  the gate leading to our accommodation.

This  6 hectare secluded  sanctuary has  a village type setting, each  little village  has its own gate providing a sense of exclusivity and privacy to guest.  The resort takes security matters pretty seriously. One could not simply barge in  without showing some  identifications. The entire resort is enclosed  and has  a main entrance and exit area with security personals keener than a K9 dog  on guard. They checked, wrote the car's plate numbers down and asked for papers . They don't cut  some slack, not even to their own resort drivers .  Taxis, tour buses, private vehicle owners must leave their papers at the guard house ( sometimes handing over their driving licence! ) and could only retrieve those items when they leave the compound.

 



Bungalow type rooms

Crimson Resort and Spa has over 250 contemporary casitas, 40 luxury villas with private plunge pool to boot. The place looks a bit like a  residential subdivision  .

Guest are driven around the resort, sent and picked up  to and from their rooms by golf carts per request Strolling along the  well maintained walkways is still a nice alternative.

The Accommodations



The garden suite

The rooms are lavish  without compromising comfort. I swear, this was the  best bed I've ever slept on this entire trip. Soft but a bit springy, just the way I like it. Once your head touches those marshmallow soft pillows, you will drift off  to an eminent space  riding flying unicorns, leaving a trail of star dust, as you snore the night away. The dark wooden floor and furnitures give a nice contrast to the whitewashed walls and celling. Hues of orange and gold here and there pops out and brightens the place up.

The bathroom

Modern, marbled and  well kept bathrooms with a tub. You could even watch TV while taking a dip.

Like points:

• Modern and beautifully appointed rooms with a comfortable   day bed perfect for lazing out, cozy outdoor sitting area or veranda.
• 42 in'' LCD TV in the room and a smaller version in the bathroom  with access to trillions of TV programs.I was  quite with happy with cartoon network though.
• Free and F-A-S-T Wifi in the rooms and being in the Philippines, that's saying something .
• Clean bathroom and toilette with huge overhead shower . For once, I forget about global warming and took  looooong soothing  showers til  I was wrinkled as a prune.
• There's an umbrella in every room for guests to use. It did came in handy. I do appreciate little things like that.

The Dislike points:

• Some rooms ( like  the first one we've slept on during our first night) had  huge door gaps. We could practically hear everything from the inside. Bickering couples, wailing kids, giggling and everybody who passes by our room! Sleeping was a bit difficult on the first night due to the noise.
• Toiletries were not replaced daily. I have a haystack for hair and those minute shampoo bottles won't last 2 showers but the empty container wasn't refilled or replaced. Oh well, I simply bought my own stuff on our second night. No biggy.

The Beach

View of the beach from the resort's wharf.



The sand  wasn't as powdery white or as fine as Boracay. It was sun kissed,  close to ocker . The total area wasn't big and some parts of the beach were cliffy. The sea bed  was quite rocky so very few hotel guest swim . The beach front was however secluded and provides total  privacy so you can sunbathe in skimpy bikini  until you'll be as crispy as a  bacon. Crimson offers water sports just like most resorts.

The Amenities

Pool

View of the pool from the sea side

View of the pool from the clubhouse

This huge multi leveled infinity pool is the resorts biggest attraction. Guests were surprisingly scare on our first day so we have the pool almost to ourselves . I naturally took the opportunity to hone my  dog padding skills while FF laugh his ass out since I can't swim. LOL.

 

The pool was child friendly  and gives courage to vertically challenge people  ( here! hereeeee!) to waddle to its deepest point  which is only 5 ft . Hurrah!

Me doing everything to stay afloat. Read:  Hands and feet frantically kicking and splashing in all direction.  Nobody dared to join me on this side of the pool because of the riot I was making. LOL

Kids' Indoor/Outdoor Playground

For the kids and kids at heart.

The Gym

For those who are scared of piling those unwanted holiday pounds, there's enough things at the resort  that would help you burn calories out. Aside from the usual  fitness and exercise equipments,  the resort also has an indoor badminton/tennis court. Biliard table and board game are laid out at the Sport Bar to provide  a less arduous entertainment alternative.

• The Resort Shop

Sells mostly swimwear and gears just in case overnight guest or day tourist forget to bring appropriate bathing suits. Souvenir items could also be found here but you could naturally get cheaper and probably better options downtown. We bought 4 post cards here and payed 92 PhP each for it to be sent off to family and friends in Germany. Those postcards are probably floating at the Pacific by now or stashed among somebody's piling rubbish since it never reached its destination. Disappointing!

• The Spa

 Feel the sea breeze caress you, listen to  the gentle  waves as it embraces the shore while you indulge yourself in some serious pampering beside the pool facing the beach. If you want privacy , try out the more secluded Aum Spa aaaand tell me about it since I haven't tried it myself. Hek hek!

• Restaurants and Eats



Azure Pool Bar

With wide covered cabanas by the beach, this is a nice place to stay and laze out during the day and a cool place to chill out at night. Had dinner here on our first night.

Food was OK, nothing remarkable aside from the mango based flan which was delicately flavored and utterly delicious . Price rather steep but it did not surprise me.

Tempo Lounge

Located at the 2nd floor, this restaurant offers a magnificent view of the the resort's pool and shore. Loved the eye catching and beautiful artistic pieces that spruce up the entire the place.

Breakfast spread sample in Tempo Lounge

Had our breakfast here on the second day, choices were considerably less compared to the Saffron Cafe below but I prefer the atmosphere here. It was more lax , table setting considerably spacious that you don't have to worry about bumping  somebody's elbow as you grab a donut or two..

Saffron Cafe

The 250 seater restaurant is the resort's main dining venue , serving buffets and ala carte dishes from breakfast, lunch to dinner. It was  located near the swimming pool with an outdoor dinning option. Since more than 80% of the resorts patrons are Korean, Korean dishes are prominent at the buffet table. The choices were abundant but not overwhelming. I  personally am not a big fan of exceedingly extensive buffets where the entire place will be laden with so much food you that feel sated and full by simply looking at it.  

Breakfast spread

During breakfast, try to avoid peak hours ( round 9) since securing a table could be difficult if the resort is full.

Although the resort is quite far from Cebu city, about 45 mins drive and could be longer when there's a traffic jam ( which is pretty much always!), the resort has a free shuttle bus  that sends and picks up hotel guests to and from Ayala and SM City mall , downtown. A taxi ride to and from the city would cost you around 200 PhP or more.