Where I Go For Inspiration

Angelfire Studios is one place that I love to go for some inspiration. It's a lovely place, the people are nice and they listen to me ramble on as I talk through my ideas out loud! It was 90 + degrees out but it felt good to be at the shop for some knitting fun!

Bev just took over the store and has put her wonderful touch to the changes to add her flair and make it hers.

xo,
L

Sponsor Spotlight: Diani Boutique

Not only do my sponsors have great products but they also have great homes.  Caroline Diani of DIANI Boutique was born in Kenya, grew up in England and travels the globe, all of which has influenced the clothing and accessories she carries in her store and the decor of her Santa Barbara home.  The light and airy abode seemed like the perfect interior (and exterior) to post on the hottest day of the year.  Also seems like a great day to stay in the air conditioning and shop online!

Bon Weekend!

Caroline Diani

Photos by Shannon Jayne Miller

Black Canyon Coffee Experience at SM South Mall

Black Canyon Coffee or BCC for short was our food feast establishment for this particular day.   They're offering Thai dishes and specialty coffee. BCC originated from Thailand and this branch in SM South Mall was their first branch here in the Philippines.  Black Canyon Coffee is another store to be added in the list of must visit coffee and restaurant, especially to those who loves food adventures.   


Black Canyon Coffee is one of the most successful Thai names in the field of coffee and dining.  Today, Black Canyon Coffee has made its name from its concept of being a full-service casual dining coffee place that serves not only a wide variety of specialty coffee drinks and beverages but also provide a list of delicious, sumptuous and healthy Thai cuisines.  Your eyes will be in for a treat as you browse through the array of dishes that Black Canyon Coffee has to offer and I can assure that your taste buds will definitely in for something new.

It was great that me and my husband were blessed to be part of the bloggers who will feast in to this event.  It was really a great feast and date at the same time.  We were treated with specialty coffee drinks of our choice.  My choice was the Iced Chocolate because I'm not much of a coffee drinker.  The taste was really great and you can surely taste chocolate.   Aside from that, customers can also indulge in any of Black Canyon Coffee’s 24 specialty coffee drinks and 40 special beverages, especially their “Black Canyon Iced Coffee” - a special blend of pure Arabica coffee with two kinds of milk and plenty of ice.

The Black Canyon Frappe and the Mocha Glacier Frappe.

After a few minutes, plates of different viands was laid onto our table.  There were soups like the Tom Yum and Curry Soup , the Fried Prawns with Tamarind Sauce, the Fried Sesame Pork Strips, the Grilled Black Pepper Salmon Salad, and the desserts like the Tin Roof and Premium Mocha.  It was really a feast!

The TOM YUM.
Forgot to take a picture  when it was serve.
Too eager to taste .

The Tom Yum soup did really have a spicy kick in it.  They also said that customers can also ask upon ordering if they wanted it spicy, extra spicy or none at all but the distinct taste and flavor of Thai cuisine are still present.  This is how they pride with their dishes,  strict and consistent with the measurements of their ingredients.  Aside from the Tom Yum soup, the Pad Thai and the Fried Prawns with Tamarind Sauce are my favorite.  The Pad Thai has a sweet and tasty flavor that is addicting and kids can for sure love this as well.   Aside from these foods that I liked a lot, there are also other dishes to choose from and enjoy with whether it is with friends or family.

Fried Sesame Pork Strip

One of my favorite the PAD THAI.

The Curry Soup, which also have a sting.

Grilled Black Pepper Salmon Salad.
Just right for those people having their diet.

Great desserts the Tin Roof and Premium Mocha.

Black Canyon Coffee has over 220 branches in Thailand alone, not mention their other branches on various locations in Asia. The success of the brand has always been hinged on its unique formula of food quality, food variety, location, and concept. With this in mind, Mr. Pravit Chitnarapong (CEO of Black Canyon Thailand Co. Ltd.) and Mrs. Wilma Dy (President of Royal Thai Food Philippines Inc.) recognized an opportunity for bringing Black Canyon Coffee to the Philippines to cater to the very Filipino culture of food enjoyment. Black Canyon Coffee also features a rare mix of large portions yet very reasonable prices providing customers great value for their money.

Black Canyon Coffee is now open at SM Southmall, Las Piñas City at the Food Strip.

A Visit Inside the Medium Security, Iron Bar Chef Challenge

I love to feature different genre here in my blog, it helps discover new experiences, gain new friends, new learning and a lot more.  This time it is something really unusual and this is the first time for me.  It triggers different emotions and feelings at the moment that I received the invites until to the end of that activity.

At first I kept on asking my husband if should I go on this?  He convinced me that I shouldn't be afraid about that place.  So I decided to go.

As we enter the New Bilibid Prison, I felt that I am on the hot seat. Too many question lingering at the back of my mind.  I am so scared that time and I'm afraid to go inside but come to think of it, there was nothing to be afraid of.  So I let my self to be normal without the fears.

When we entered the Medium Security Camp I saw inmates looking at us, perhaps they were eyeing on who has entered their realm. The uneasiness wave off when we've entered the office of Mr. Gerlado Aro, the OIC of the of Prison and interviewed him.  He laid down all the upcoming activities for the medium security camp.

I'm really amazed that there are a lots of programs, activities coming up for the rehabilitation of the inmates. It is really a big help for all the inmates.  Being acknowledge and be given a second chance to live normally is all they've ever wanted that's why such programs are made to make them be more productive.  It was nice seeing those inmates that portrait big difference.  Though I was a bit scared at first but thanks to the explanation of the OIC it changes my thoughts about the inmates.  

One of the reason that we were there was to cover one of their major event, the Iron Bar Chef Challenge.  Lately there were lots of cooking shows that have already been aired into foreign and local channels that showcase the different styles and ways of how different chefs cook their signature dishes.  Some even goes to challenges to measure their extent and capabilities of being a Chef.  

The New Bilibid Prison created this program to inculcate the innate artistry of this inmates through cooking.  So different groups inside the prison participated and we, as bloggers, does our part as well in covering this event and also be the judge of their cooking talents.    


If it wasn't inside the prison you would thought that this people with aprons are Chefs.  They were all talented and skilled.  They sure did bring out what they have learned and experienced from cooking.  But of course in every competition there are those who wins and there are those who loses and for this matter the declared winner of the challenge was the Group No. 4, the YUM YUM group.  The taste of their food was really amazing, especially their dessert.  

So many learning, realization and overcoming.  It is indeed a different experience.   Now, my notion about them changed.  I really acknowledge and thank those companies who support the rehabilitation of the inmates.

Oh, is this really new? Yeah, this is also new to me. 'Till next unusual post...