small talk...superb service, excellent food

[photos courtesy of google finds various artists]

 September 19, 2012

that Bicol Express pasta I just kept going back to again
and again

It’s so marvelous when people of the restaurants that you love going back to time and again really pay attention to you. Last night, we had a meeting with Mr. Eric Galura, art director of Bicolandia magazine, in Small Talk and had light pasta dinner over our coffee-table book-talk. We were brainstorming for we intend to have it published by October. Prior to that, as I ordered, the owner Ms.Didette had a chat with me and babyClyde, then I ordered my favorite Beef Stroganoff. Clyde has his Tuna Marinara as usual, then Sir Eric a vegetarian pasta…I think Pasta Mayon, ravioli with a Bicolano twist, as expected [he's a practicing Bhuddist].

sir Eric's preference..the vegetarian Pasta Mayon

We started to talk when the fair waitress who had been serving there for years brought me honey to go with my cold calamansi. Soon as I saw it, I stopped mid-speech and profusely thanked her because I was extremely happy for her very nice gesture. She genuinely knew my tastes and preferences. I have yet to ask Ms. Didette her name....forgive me!! But I'll publish it here.

Definitely it’s not only me that she’s taking detailed notes of when it comes to personalizing the service; but I am truly appreciative for I felt like queen that moment. Amazing that Ms. Didette has a treasure of staff that would make patrons like me all the more loyal; not just because of the delicious food but because of the superb service.

just so you'd know where they are..wonderful people,
wonderful food

Now hear ye all service establishments. Let us learn from businesses like them. Remember the Delica moment I had? When all they would ask me is “Yung dati uli na order, Mam Cope?” How touching it is that they really know and actually took note of your preferences. These are indispensable ways of keeping a customer devoted.

the facade and the charming countryish lobby

In our spa, Greenthumb, our clientele would try all the other spas that sprouted around the cities. They honestly tell me so. But I don’t mind at all. Why? The fact that they all tell me “We still go back here again and again, Ms Renz. Nothing beats your dedicated caring nurturing staff” is enough to make me float in joy. No one like them at all indeed!!! My gems, these people in the service industry are.

So never neglect the wonderful customer service superstars amongst your staff. They may have their bio-rhythms, but never let them wallow in down-times so long. As a business owner, it’s a must that we train and monitor them in keeping the clients taken cared of at all times.

Verdant, Lush Home lot

 Not every one of us is blessed or bestowed to be earth-angels; those keepers of the garden whose thumbs could sustain greens. I call them the hands that feed the many.

**here are my tita's pictures, each statement made by her. am so proud of her...for what she is, for everything about her...no matter what***

amongst my container plants: tomatoes, coriander,
celery, alugbati, garlic. behind me are my ginger, kalamansi, malunggay, and taro plants.

 In my household, my family is so blessed to have lived with a couple we simply call manoy and manay. They both have green thumbs; in fact the vacant lot that we utilize as a pocket vegetable garden is cultivated by manoy. It yields produce so healthy and vibrant that it is a feast both to the stomach and the eyes.

nagbabayubo...

In our clan, I have a loving aunt whose hale and hearty disposition in life inspires me so much that everything I see around her seems to be blanketed in genuine warmth and love. Not so many see as I see it. Part of it may be because my aunt and I have synchronizing brain-waves; our thoughts are aligned, our viewpoints and ideals are in so much harmony that many relatives would be amazed by how much we get along well together.

  ladang sambalas...

When we talk about dreams and goals, we have a common thread: that of building an organic farm filled with a green goodness planted by my aunt, nurtured by her staff, crops harvested and brought straight to the kitchen for her jams, preserves, pickles, dips and dressings. My wonderful aunt is also a celebrated baker and upcoming chef; she’s got the Midas touch when it comes to food. Everything she cooks turns to gold. Golden flavor, that is. So in this dream organic farm, she bakes healthy breads with perhaps malunggay, ampalaya and kalabasa in it and concocts splendid spreads and dips like hummus, pesto and eggplant-garlic duo.

camote, eggplants, peppers, alugbati, tanglad, and okra... 

In this dream organic farm, I do the mega-marketing for her: networking with companies, communities, families and individuals, overseas and local. This way I have promoted not only our beloved Bicolandia but our verdant Philippines in totality. My other participation is fusing environmental love with her lush ranch….reduce-reuse-recycle facility creation. In there, the organic wastes we collect are turned into fertilizers for her plants; the plastics and bottles are turned into works of art like potting medium for a container garden. This is another story I’d gladly share for the next read…..

my eggplants in containers...

I am the lucky taster of her creations so I could vouch for her talents. Where life hits her hard, I am there to comfort her. Where my tummy is so growling with hunger, she’s there to feed me. Not only do we nurture each other but we also encourage each others’ dreams.

this was a landscaped garden , i transformed it into a
vegetable organic garden... 

We are an omnivorous lot so to counteract the not-so-healthy effects of eating a lot of meat or any other animal food source; we make sure to incorporate a lot of greens into the family diet. Nutrition is all about a balance of the food pyramid, I believe so. There’s a reason why the fruits and vegetable area is wider than the rest: it’s for a purpose of providing the much needed nutrients and fiber our bodies need to sustain us healthily.

ampalaya, di naipakita yung mga pechay...

Blessings these people are to us. They came into our lives for a reason; the purpose is to sustain that glow of health within and without…to make us holistic persons so that in turn, we could be a blessing to others as well.

sitaw and pepino in containers... 

To inspire the greater many who are home-gardening enthusiasts like my aunt, I have attached herewith photos courtesy of her. These are taken in her lovely abode in Manila with her permission to be published in your magazine. In her web account, she entitled her photo entries as>>>>** The things I did this summer 2012

MALUNGGAY... and plenty of it!!!!

September 6, 2012

This morning I had a good cry over my eldest son, Austin. I learned from very kind classmates and those who are truly nice to him that he had been bullied by Bryan and even Alex, who used to be so nice to my son.

my AUSTIN upfront during Children's International
Day parade

Austin’s nature is so benevolent, peaceful and quiet that he never gets back at whoever offends him. I guess that’s why the rowdy boys pick on my son. Because he’s small, the youngest of the class [he’s in grade three now at age seven], and not retaliating, little fellows like him are often the target; the easy, poor target. Why I cried over this age-old school-kids-issue is because my heart went out to him.

happy days with precious Teacher Tina Diaz
[Austin crossed his face]

My own childhood was one that’s very far from being bullied; I wasn’t the bully either. I was one who was respected because mom was a doctor who had a hospital ran by dad; one who was looked up to because of being unbiased [I am friends with both the well-off and the less fortunate and everyone in between] and one who was often approached with because my eyes naturally twinkle like smiling eyes [that’s even when I’m irate]. The boisterous lot cannot bother me because I give them the sharp twinkle look. My eyes speak louder than my mouth. There was no need for me to defend myself or get back because one look at a bully’s attempt is enough to back-off. It works every time…up to this very moment. God gave me the spiky gaze I just love to use when it’s called for.

my lovable boy in the leftmost with friends and classmates

I never picked a fight at school and work and was never provoked. All the tormentors do not seem to come my way. Their presence was virtually non-existent. I guess at an early age I learned to dodge them on purpose. So today I cried because I wasn’t bullied before yet I know what it feels like because it’s pitiful to look at the face of a child who is dejected. Especially if that child is yours. Mommy instincts kick up.

Austin's face...a picture of kindness
taken from his extremely kind dad
[mind you! not me]

When I learned from the classmates about the ordeals my son was going through, I immediately reported the situation to the teachers and called Alex’s mom who happened to be my friend. I left the situation to the authorities but I stayed the whole day today at the school.

This morning my vulnerability was exposed. I drove to my favorite church, the Redemptorist. I did my ceremonial candle-lighting prior to praying at the PEA. There was a couple there so I prayed solemnly. As soon as they got out, my tears immediately poured. And I was crying like a beaten woman. I was telling God please don’t let my son’s self esteem be stepped upon!!! We don’t squash their egos at home. Don’t let them be in this place.

teachers' and kids' artworks in WIS...
beautiful!!

As I said, this is an old-age school issue. It’s a normal thing but normal as is it is, I don’t want it to happen to my kids...not to any kid. I pity the child who is a victim of squashed esteem…even that of the bully.

The day will end in a few minutes from now. Tomorrow is another day. Just like when I tackle daily operations in the spa, I need to tackle daily ordeals in school and at home. And I mean daily. My God! I don’t own my time but it has to be this way. To sacrifice something is the way to any achievement. For me it has to be my down-time. I no longer have the luxury of lengthy downtimes. I almost always have my up-and-about times. Alive and kicking I should always be…

SOLAVIENTO

How do you make a good blend of travel, food, wellness and spirituality? Well it’s easy to combine with another one or two, as they naturally mix together. But to have its hodgepodge is a tad challenging.

***

at the sun deck of the cruise ship with the wind blowing head-on  ...viento de frente...

SOLAVIENTO…what a beautiful name. Sun, wind…. I fervently pray no one steals the sun and wind of my mind!