A Tuscan afternoon

The invitation to lunch was irresistible--the hostess was going to prepare American roast ribs (the better to lick our fingers with) and was going to give my husband Rolly a bag of tulip bulbs for planting when the temperature drops lower in December or January next year.

When we got to Mother's Garden in Barangay Fairview, Quezon Hill, Baguio, our hearty appetites were there to flatter the cook and hostess, Therese Jison. The salad plates were brought out, followed by the star of the afternoon, the ribs. Words fail to describe the crisp top and juicy middle. I had two heaping servings and was rubbing my belly for the rest of the day.

Straight from the oven

Perfect pairing of salad and roast

Therese called ours a Tuscan lunch because in Tuscany, Sunday lunches go on and on until dusk. Which was what happened on this particular Sunday as talk ran the gamut of raising children, raising pets, the life of endurance that Baguio exacts of its residents, the culture of impunity that is keeping the country's progress at a standstill.

But then dessert came: peach melba and whatever negative pronouncements vanished in the clear air! Therese's partner, retired hotel executive Heiner Maulbecker, told of the dessert's history. How a restaurant owner paid tribute to a then famed opera singer, Nellie Melba. He named the dish after her. Heiner said, "Who remembers the opera singer? But we know peach melba." Forthwith, he dug into his bowl con gusto!

If this dessert could only sing, what would it say?

Photos by Kimi Fernandez

Three cheers and kisses for the cook

Weeks before today dawned, there was talk around the dining table on where we'll celebrate someone's turning a new leaf or another year older. No consensus was reached despite lobbying on one side for Japanese food, pizza and pasta on the other.

The impasse was broken when I declared, "Let's just stay home and enjoy a home-cooked meal by Tatay." I requested that we have grilled fish and a salad. If there was anymore leftover fish, let it be cooked into a sour paksiw. Kimi volunteered to prepare the long-life pasta dish.

Tatay Rolly was assigned marketing and cooking chores, and he rose to the challenge. At 5 a.m. today, just as my phone pinged to announce the first text of the day, Rolly bent over me to pinch my cheek by way of greeting me. It was still dark and my eyes were reluctant to open, but I could hear him getting dressed to leave for the market. Before he did, I managed to utter a word: "Champorado!"

So he cooked the family's favorite breakfast fare before heading out to catch a fish or two. Sweet!

Not steak, not lechon manok either. It's grilled yellowfin tuna. Comes with a dipping sauce of soy, vinegar and small red chilies.

Salad of pomelo (too much of it, in my opinion) and wansoy

He didn't forget the cake, walking from the Baguio public market to his office to put down the market basket, then another walk to Vizco's on Session Road for its famed strawberry shortcake before heading home.

Our food and family portrait photographer, Kimi, catches us right before we dig in.

Kai made me a rainbow necklace from her blocks, but I found it too heavy to wear so she did. By the way, it's also Pride Month so here's to our LGBT friends and relatives!

Canto y Carmen

You can't miss the new home of Canto on Kisad Road, Baguio City. The large windows look out to stands of pine trees that surround the city library. Since the restaurant reopened this month, the queues have been long, a lesson on patience that gets more than adequately rewarded when a table becomes available. Behind the structure is more parking space plus a couple of swings for the children who can't stand queuing up.

Speaking for myself, I love the refreshing aftertaste of the lychee and almond slush served in a Mason jar. I always begin my Canto meals with this. My daughter Kimi has taken a liking to it, too. Kai took a sip once and made a face. Maybe after a couple of visits, the Not So Little One will have adjusted her taste buds.

Kimi's fave are the tacos richly topped with grated cheese which Kai adores. If you have this for starters, it's hard to move on to a main course. But you must try the famed, fall-off-the-bones Lomo Ribs, Rolly's favorite paired with mashed potatoes.

The Carmen's Best line of ice cream is agreeably pure indulgence, but I cannot say "No" to Kai who loves it and can finish a cup. No sharing, please. Proudly Philippine made.

Kai can't finish the Marshmallow Fluff and needs our assisting appetite. If you dig and eat through the marshmallow and vanilla ice cream in the first two layers, you'll hit gold mine at the bottom of the glass--a chunk of brownie.

Photos by Kimi Fernandez

Ms. Butones of the tantalizing eyes

This space (this blog) is a good place to chillax while waiting for an interviewee to send in his replies to 14 questions, including follow-up ones. My eternal gratitude goes to the inventor of the World Wide Web and email for the convenience of interviewing subjects hundreds of miles away in geographical distance. This gap is easily bridged through email. Live interviews are always better because you can observe the facial reactions, even add small details like the get-up of the subject, follow-up questions can be asked immediately, but when one is out of town, this will have to do.

So while I am sitting and waiting and listening to my own YouTube shuffle, I've been looking and staring at some recent pics of The Apo (the grand-daughter Kai/Butones and my lakay, Grumpa/Tats Rolly). Butones is more aware when her picture is being taken and can choose to smile or not (her in-deep-thought pose). She's more confident about taking the stairs and uses it as a chance to practice counting.

Whether half-smile or full, hers can really mean a sunny day and lots of light inside of me despite the clouds outside. Have a good Sunday, Butones, and see you later after you come home from a school outing with your Mamay (not the lil one's school but the mother's).

Photos by Kimi Fernandez

Including the smallest person, dear Piglet

Photos by Kimi Fernandez

G'morning, Butones

When I saw this, I thought, "Oh my! She has learned my favorite position in bed (two pillows behind head) while reading or watching TV."

When her mother Kimi described this shot as Kai dancing, well, my next thought was she certainly got my own mom's love for the boogie.

By this time she should be able to count up to three or five and distinguish a few colors. When she was a baby, she always grabbed any purple toy and ignored the brighter red or yellow. What does that say about her?

If I'm posting one too many pictures of my grandchild, it must be because I am not with her--that is the painful truth.

But the Mamay of Butones has, when not too busy herself, captured the many moods of her daughter in Instagram. I tried opening an account there, but I couldn't figure out how the site works so daily I have to go to my Twitter to look for the latest pics of the cutest toddler in Green Valley Village, Baguio, bar none. 

In my last visit there, she had learned to greet the security guards, gardeners and other people she encounters on her morning walk with a gurgling "Good morning!" I guess that must really make those people's day. So g'morning, Butones, g'morning and my love to you.

Photos by Kimi Fernandez

Pensive Kai

In all her recent photos taken by her mother, Kai/Butones has this pensive expression. It makes me curious what is going on in a small child's mind or how the synapses of thought are clicking in there. 

I got a recent dispatch that when her elders in Baguio asked her, "What's your name?", her prompt answer was "Booboo." Booboo is how I want her to call me so when we're together, I point to myself and ask her, "What's MY name?" It's her cue to answer "Booboo." But when she just looks at me, I point to myself and say, "Booboo! I'm the Booboo!." 

Oh, I must reword things into "What's YOUR name?" while pointing at her. That way, she can identify herself as Kai. Now how to teach her to say her alias "Butones" without confusing it with "button", a word she can already say to mean her navel or belly button.

How deep do toddlers think? Or is she just a cucumber cool kid?

Does this expression fall under pensive or not too thrilled about pigtails?

The expression on cousin Machiko Susi's face shows what a strong opinion  or personality that kid has on certain matters. Passive Butones seems she's willing to go along to avoid any conflict. Photos by Kimi Fernandez

My eye candy

Before I post new flower power photos, let me share my favorite eye candy: a toddler named Butones. She seems to know her best angle and knows how to give her Mamay a truly funny face. I miss you, kiddo. One more sleep, and I'll be near you again!

Trying the bureau chief's (Grumpa Rolly's) chair for size--this means she's big enough to be brought to the office.

Very fashionably outfitted while taking her morning walk (her Tita Ida will be pleased that Butones is not dugyot-looking)

Back view out in her sunny balcony

Someone must be giving her raspberry kisses and caused this attack of giggles.

Photos by Kimi Fernandez