Sweetest Afternoon of 2011

Okay, that’s one cheesy title, I know.

Well actually, it sounded very high school-ish (you know how your teacher made you write an essay about how did you spend your Christmas or summer vacation? And no matter how sucky it was, you're hard pressed to write about it because hey, who wanted those indelible red marks on their class cards anyway? No one. So, you write away, drawing inspiration from the most mundane title one could muster, “My Christmas / Summer Vacation”. Beat that. Most of my classmates hated it, but I love it to the core because I was an outcast-geek-nerd that way.) But that’s not my point.

Now let’s go back to the cheesy title sweetest afternoon of my 2011.

It happened during Lori Baltazar’s Dessert Comes First 6th Year Anniversary.

Dessert. Comes. First. 

Now you know why the title, eh?

It was last April 9, 2011.

April.  It was eons away, I know.  But let's calm down, okay?

Christmas Greetings From YedyLicious

Tatung’s Garden Café by Chef Myke "Tatung" Sarthou

At one corner of the 12-seater private room painted in deep crimson red silently sat a pile of books.  On top of it was a book about Dante Alighieri penned by Robert Royal.  A few steps away from where I was seated lay a novel by Umberto Eco among many other titles by different authors. Outside the beautiful garden, right beside one of the many tables was an open cabinet were more books silently sat beside each other. Staring at the lovely rainy afternoon where only beautiful things are bound to happen.

I was at Tatung’s Garden Café. 

There couldn’t be any other way to make me feel at home than the epiphany I have just witnessed.

What started out as a private kitchen, Chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou’s abode right in the heart of Sikatuna Village in Quezon City is now transformed into a restaurant open for public even without reservation aptly called Tatung’s Garden Café.  But despite the changes, the homey feel of the place wasn’t compromised.  People can still enjoy Chef Tatung’s interpretation of traditional dishes in an ambiance that exudes a bend from the usual commercialized dining scene.

SweetLeaf's Triple Chocolate Chip Mint Soft Batch Cookies

If you are into cookies, chocolates, mints, and all that sort of mind-blowing things and still have not tasted SweetLeaf’s Soft Batch Cookies yet, you are probably missing half of your life.

Trust me.  I’ve missed mine.

But I regained it quickly.

When Spanky Enriquez, one of my foodie friends posted a photo and raved about how good SweetLeaf’s Triple Chocolate Chip Mint Soft Batch Cookies are, the very first thing I did was grabbed my phone and placed an order at SweetLeaf. 

The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale 2011 and The Malibu Lifestyle Bazaar 2011

Hello friends! 

There are two shopping events this season of shopping for gift-giving that all of us should not miss.

The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale 2011!

The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale 2011!
Up to 90% off on NEW brands as well as favorite TBOS brands!
December 16-18. 2011 1
10am-9pm
SMX Convention Centre Hall 4
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Sponsored by BPI Express Credit Edge

Buffet at BEST WESTERN PREMIER F1 Hotel

Hotel buffets. Don’t we just love them?  

Amidst all the hotels offering their ever tempting buffets, a new player enters the league.  Best Western Premiere F1 Hotel, the first ever hotel to open at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig Metro Manila has now joined the buffet arena through their signature restaurant, F.  Located at the 5th Amenity level of the new building, diners can enjoy the view of BGC skyline while feasting on fusion of local and international cuisines buffet spread. 

Recently, together with some foodie friends, we visited F1 Hotel to try their dinner buffet.

Dinner buffet at Best Western Premier F1 Hotel's F Restaurant

Kaya Toast Set at Toast Box Philippines

It was a quick brunch, one among many where I am pressed for time to grab something quick otherwise; I’ll be late in a meeting or collapse while at it due to an empty stomach.  While I’ve always relied on Kopi Roti and Yakun Kaya Toast for my Kaya Toast fix as breakfast, I’ve decided to try Toast Box this time considering it was the most convenient restaurant to go to at that time.

I would have tried those interesting looking dishes on their menu if only I wasn’t in a hurry.  Instead, I grabbed their Traditional Toast Set just so I can have a prelude to a possible gastronomical affair.  With all the raves, I admit to set a high expectation for Toast Box.

The set includes two soft-boiled eggs, kaya toasts, and a choice of kopi or teh (milk tea).

Php 50 Ice Blended Drinks at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Avenue of the Arts Branch

Good news to my fellow CBTL lovers especially to those in Manila area.

True to their goal of providing Filipinos with the best coffee and tea available to as many people as they possibly can, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will open another branch tomorrow December 10, 2011.  The new location is at the Avenue of the Arts along Roxas Boulevard, right across the American Embassy.

Moreover, starting December 10, 2011 up to December 17, 2011 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, you can purchase the Regular Mocha, Vanilla and Caramel Ice Blended Drinks at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® branch in Avenue of the Arts for only Php 50!

[BORACAY] Mandarin Spa at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel

Some friends say that a visit at Boracay Island wouldn’t be complete without having a spa session.  After all, it is almost always the culmination of one relaxing getaway.  Good thing that our stay at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel includes a spa session at the Mandarin Spa.

I was torn choosing between Traditional Filipino Hilot, which the Mandarin Spa was known for, and the Aroma Stone Therapy but decided to go with the latter.  Traditional massage technique using volcanic basalt stone which promises to release muscular tension and balance the spirit sound mystically enticing to me, so I decided to give it a go.

Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Festivities at Pan Pacific Manila

I have to pause sharing with you my recent trip to Boracay for now not just because it is more thrilling that way but also because I am too excited to dish out some good news from our friends at Pan Pacific Hotel Manila. 

Related Posts:

     Breakfast Buffet at Pan Pacific Hotel Manila

     My Stellar Experience at Pan Pacific Manila

Last December 1, 2011 the first and finest Butler hotel in the Philippines welcomed the holiday season with its annual tree lighting ceremony held at the hotel’s lobby. In line with their “go green” initiative, beautiful ornaments inspired by the hotel’s 2012 theme: “Save Energy, Save Lives” decorates the lobby while the hotel’s singing ambassadors, the Butler Chorale, serenaded the guests during the event with their favorite Christmas carols.

Pan Pacific Manila’s Fire-Inspired Christmas Tree

[BORACAY] A Peek to the Other Rooms, Suites, and Penthouse of Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel

During our stay at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel we were given a chance to take a peek to other rooms, suites, and penthouse that the property boasts of. While I am more than happy with the hotel room where I am staying in, I cannot help but feel excited to plan yet another visit at the hotel and book the other rooms I find really impressive. 

Given the room rates at Boracay Madarin Island Hotel, I must say that the prices are indeed very reasonable considering the quality of rooms. What makes it all the more worth it is the view of the Boracay shore just right in front of the hotel.

[BORACAY] A Stay at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel

Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is one of the Beach Front View Hotels located at Station 2 of Boracay Island here in the Philippines. Known for its pristine beach, Boracay Island is one of those destination that a lot of locals and tourists have been visiting.

While there are a lot of hotel accommodations at Boracay, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is one of the few who have bagged numbers of awards due to its great service and high quality facilities. 

Together with some of my blogger friends, I was able to check out Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel during our visit to the island. And let me tell you, it was an amazing experience that I cannot wait to bring my loved ones here and have them experience the grand time I had at the hotel while in Boracay.

Bag of Beans Tagaytay City, Revisited

They say that in a perfect world broken heart, dampen spirit, and bruised ego can be healed by a sip of caramel macchiato or a bite or two of your favorite cheesecake.  We are not in a perfect world.  We are far from it.  But the wonder of life lies in the endless beautiful possibilities despite imperfections.  And who says that we cannot create our own perfect world amidst the chaos?  No matter how tough things that life can deal with us, there are ways to heal.  Always.

Most of the saddest moments in my life, Tagaytay City is probably one place I always find myself ending up at.  Far enough to leave whatever it is that must be forgotten, but near enough to have a strong grip in the reality that I have to go back to.  There are several places in this City that I find comforting, and one of them is Bag of Beans.

We are one of the Finalists for The Philippine Blog Awards 2011 Food and Beverage Category

Image from PBA website

There couldn’t be a better way to start this beautiful month of December by posting one of the many things I am grateful for.  Through God’s goodness and wonderful grace,  YedyLicious is one of the finalists for the Philippine Blog Awards 2011 Food and Beverage Category for both Luzon and National Level.  For that, I am sincerely grateful.

My friends and fellow foodies Mhel, Ken, Smarla, Jill, and some of my favorite food bloggers are also finalists for the Food and Beverage Category, and I am honored to be one of them.

Philippine Blog Awards 2011 Finalists for Food and Beverage Category – National Level

Philippine Blog Awards 2011 Finalists for Food and Beverage Category – Luzon Level

Nothing beats the feeling when people recognize the things that you work hard for out of sheer passion and love for the craft.  I salute The Philippine Blog Awards for recognizing our country’s outstanding blogs since 2007.  Thank you for being an inspiration to us bloggers, to be the best at what we do.

The Philippine Blog Awards will be held on the 3rd of December 6:00 pm at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City Metro Manila.

All glory to God.

My Top Picks at The Ultimate Taste Test 7.0 Mercato Centrale

Last November 17, 2011 Mercato Centrale at Bonifacio Global City, has once again proved that it is the mecca of anything good, delicious, and awesome when the seventh serving of Our Awesome Planet’s The Ultimate Taste Test 7.0 was held at the venue.

Having attended the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 at Rockwell, I thought that I’ll be ready to face yet another ultimate food tasting, but Ultimate Taste Test never fails to overwhelm me.  Yes, food were given on food taste portion, but if you sum up everything that the merchants fed the foodies, it was indeed hefty.  I was able to try all the food that the 50+ merchants served during the UTT 6, and I was able to do the same during the UTT 7.  I am hardcore that way.

According to Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet who’s the genius behind Ultimate Taste Test Events, the recent UTT was conducted especially for the Christmas season.  Food merchants offered their food which can be served during the holiday and/or can be purchased for gift giving purposes.  True enough, there are some food that I am keeping an eye on because I know it’ll be perfect for my Christmas gift list.

Geicks! brings Rodillas Yema Cake to Manila

The Rodillas Yema Cake which originates from Rodillas Restaurant in Tayabas Quezon used to be a distant gastronomical tease in my book, until GEICKS! Cakes bring it here in Manila together with Rodillas Caramel Cake.

Yema filling sandwiched in between soft and fluffy chiffon cake smothered with yema cream which stands as its icing, sprinkled with generous grated cheese.  A combination of two different tastes from each side of the pole.  Sweet and salty.  Matrimony of two flavors meant to oppose yet complement as it flirted with each other while seducing one’s palate.

The apparent mark of a beautiful mess indicating the yema custard’s will to slowly drip and hold on at the same time  as it cover the chiffon was very inviting that it would be impossible not to lick when you get your hands on it.  One may fear a death by sugar load but the salty component of the cheese is your saving grace.

Simply Pie by Gail Ang

When I first tasted Simply Pie’s mini quiches during the Best Food Forward Summer Food Fair early this year, I was smitten by it.  During Lori Baltazar’s Dessert Comes First 6th year anniversary, I yielded into the cute mini quiches that shyly beckon in one corner, yearning to be savored again.  By the time that I am already frequenting Mercato Centrale and other food fairs, I let myself be swayed by the wave of gastronomical urge to be captured by these little yet delectably enticing creations of home baker, Gail Ang.

Simply Pie may be cleverly named through play of words, but its pies and quiches are anything but simple.  Crafted through combination of passion, God-given talent, and the best ingredients available, Simply Pie is one of those that I can highly recommend for foodies and non-foodies alike who are in search of great tasting quiche and pies.

USPB and USDA Thanksgiving Dinner at Restaurant 9501 with Chef Myrna Segismundo

Of all the many things that I am thankful for this year, the opportunity to learn new things has always been on top of my list.  Recently, new found knowledge about the endless culinary possibilities of US Potatoes unfold right before my very eye.  The thanksgiving dinner hosted by the United States Potato Board (USPB) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at Restaurant 9501 was not just a gastronomical experience, but a learning opportunity as well.

With the use of US Frozen Potatoes, Restaurant 9501’s Chef Myrna Segismundo showcased original and off-the-menu recipes which everyone feasted on during the thanksgiving dinner.  It was amazing how Chef Myrna’s creativity and passion strengthen her exploration of versatility in creating wonderful dishes with US Frozen Potatoes as the integral ingredient. 

Breakfast Buffet at Pan Pacific Manila Hotel

I have mentioned in my previous post about our stay at Pan Pacific Hotel Manila that the wonders of our experience weren’t just confined within the corners of our room.  While I had the grandest time relaxing in our room, the best thing that really left a mark on me was our dining experiences.

The morning after the night I spent sleeping like a baby in our room, we were greeted with an awesome breakfast buffet waiting for us at the Pan Pacific Lounge 21st floor of the hotel.  Wide variety of food which wasn’t just limited to the usual breakfast dishes was spread at the buffet table while guests were busy loading up to face a great day ahead.

Pre-Dinner Cocktail at the Pacific Lounge of Pan Pacific Manila Hotel

Couple of days before staying at Pan Pacific Hotel Manila, my sister and I planned to visit several restaurants around the area. 

That didn’t materialize. 

But that’s perfectly fine with us because the decision to stick to the goal of enjoying Pan Pacific Hotel Manila, including their food offerings was probably the best decision we’ve ever made that time.

You’ll know what I mean as I progress dishing out in series of blog posts what we had feasted on during the stay.

So, I suggest my dear friends that you stick with me on this Pan Pacific Hotel Manila Dining series and read on.

YedyLicious for CCA Manila at Philippine Daily Inquirer

Before this day ends, I hope you could grab yourself a copy of today’s issue of Philippine Daily Inquirer.  My write up for Central For Culinary Arts, Manila in line with their 15th years in the culinary school industry can be found at the lifestyle section of the broadsheet, page c3. 

Congratulations CCA, Manila! Flame on!

Staycation at Pan Pacific Manila Hotel

Couple of months ago, Pan Pacific Manila, the first and finest butler hotel in the country launched their newly renovated rooms to further enhance the best five star hotel experiences that they can offer to their guests.  A week after my birthday, I was able to experience staying at one of Pan Pacific’s renovated rooms with my sister.

I am not going to bombard you with too many information and photos of my wonderful experience at Pan Pacific Manila so this is going to be series of posts that I’ll be dishing out in the coming days. 

Jollibee Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

While I’ve always been a fan of Jollibee Spaghetti, their new offering Jollibee Chicken and Mushroom Pasta just couldn’t quite satisfy my palate. I am not sure if it has something to do with my expectation that whenever I eat pasta from Jollibee, the child in me will be awaken with its sweet Pinoy taste, or I just find this new creation by Jollibee plain boring.

It is not that bad since some of my friends regard it as a welcome change from the usual sweet style spaghetti, but I find it too peppery for my taste.  Instead of the usual ground beef, they use chicken, ( oh yes kiddos, no strips nor chunks of chicken here) and then mushroom as a substitute for the well-loved hot dogs and sweet ham which can be found from the old time favorite Jollibee Spaghetti.

Ultimate Taste Test 7.0 at Mercato Centrale

It wasn’t long ago when 1000 foodies gathered and feasted on food offered by 50+ food merchants during the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 at Rockwell.  It was one awesome foodie event of this year, and now, Our Awesome Planet and San Miguel Lifestyle Brews are ready to rock our world again with…

The Ultimate Taste Test 7.0 

TeaTap Cafe

Ever since the milk tea craze started, a lot of milk tea cafes have sprouted like mushrooms on every corner.  I remember the time when it was only Serenitea here in San Juan that I always go to whenever I crave for milk teas.  Now, many has been added to the list and one of them is TeaTap Cafe.  Owned by the same group behind Kozui Green Tea in Tomas Morato

Located along P.Guevarra St. in San Juan, this spacious milk tea store evokes a cozy and modern ambiance with nice interior.  It can be intimidating at a glance, but the cute decors accentuate a welcoming feel to the place.  As compare to others, Tea Tap place is probably one of those I can spend the entire afternoon lounging and enjoying my milk tea.  They also offer free wifi which is definitely a big plus.

Mario's Restaurant at Tomas Morato, 40th Year Celebration

After 4 decades of serving scrumptious dishes in an ambiance that exudes classic comfort, Mario’s Restaurant continue to soar high and mighty in keeping the tradition to give their customers only the best in terms of food, service, and gastronomical experience.

Founded by the late Mr. Mario Benitez and his lovely wife, Ms. Nenuca Benitez together with their sons Mr. Jose Fil and Chef Anton Benitez, Mario’s Restaurant first branch was established way back 1971 in Baguio City. Years after, their branch at Tomas Morato in Quezon City was built which up to this day remains to be one of the most celebrated and distinguished restaurants in Manila.

As part of Mario’s celebration for its 40th year in the restaurant scene, some food bloggers and friends were invited to experience a delightful dinner, the Mario’s way.

Salon Culinaire 2011 at Center For Culinary Arts, Manila

Last October 28, 2011 Salon Culinaire 2011 was held at Center For Culinary Arts Manila’s main campus at Katipunan to celebrate our future chef’s ability to whip up creative and delectable dishes on different categories.

The Butler Cake at Pan Pacific Manila

It could pass for the usual chocolate cake you can get from the usual bake shops, yes.  But in terms of taste,  The Butler Cake from Pan Pacific Manila is one of the most decadent chocolate cakes here in Manila.

The Butler Cake is meant to serve one’s palate.  It conveys a delicious metaphor of the way a true butler caters to one’s needs.  A palatable representation of giving comfort summarized not just  into a mere combination of chocolate, butter, and flour, but of high caliber and meticulous preparation to create something beautiful, something that lingers in memory and palate. 

It screams high quality chocolate taste without the intention of killing you with excessive sweetness.  The dominant flavor of rich chocolate taste was made all the more palatable with a distinct undercurrent hint of liquor.  Two flavors flirting with each other, leaving traces of an affair meant to tease and crave for.

Kitchen Knight Evening Food Delivery Service

One of the most challenging things when it comes to writing about food is doing it on an empty stomach. Much like taking medicine, it should not be done when you have not eaten anything yet, otherwise you’ll be subjected to doom, well at least in my book. It is always wise to get loaded before plunging into the game of putting memories of food into words and drooling over its photos.

However, there are inevitable situation when you need to finish an article because you are way too late meeting a deadline or way too crowded with backlogs. Yes, amidst hunger, you need to finish at least one food article or food blog post for good or for ill. This happens to me often especially during night time when 24/7 food deliveries are limited, and my mother who’s a wonderful cook is already in dreamland.

Good thing that a new concept of delivery food service whose target markets are the nocturnal like me and those who are working on a graveyard shift is here. Kitchen Knight, an evening food delivery service which offers variety of home cooked meals delivered during night time is now up and ready to rescue those hungry tummies specifically in Makati, Taguig, and some nearby cities.

Gastronomy by Joy First Year Celebration

Last Saturday, I was invited by fellow blogger Joy of Gastronomy by Joy Blog to be part of her thanksgiving celebration as her blog turns one year old. Joy’s blog is one of those few blogs I get to visit whenever I have the time to blog hop. Aside from food and restaurant reviews that she writes about, it was the way she incorporate her family life to her posts that I find quite endearing.

The intimate celebration was held at Pages Deli at Shangri La Mall and Bistro Vignette at Ortigas Center. It was graced by the presence of fellow bloggers Peach of The Peach Kitchen with her adorable daughter Ikay, and Raymond of Food Health Reviews. Also with us was Chef Anna of My Pink Wasabi whose Kashi Makis never fail to make celebrations extra special.

Peach of The Peach Kitchen and Joy of Gastronomy by Joy

Plagiarism Not Tolerated

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery.  I am not sure about that, but what I am sure of is Plagiarism is a criminal act.  Stealing someone else’s properties is a criminal act.

Everything I have written here on my blog is very personal.  That is why I always say that I don’t just review, I tell stories.  My own stories based on my own personal experiences, based on my own life.  Everything on this blog I have worked hard for.  I pay my way through the restaurants I have reviewed unless of course, it’s an event coverage or a dining invite.  I am not a full time blogger, but I always make it a point to exert effort to maintain this blog. I juggle my time between work and blogging because MY BLOG IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

And then one day, I found out that someone stole 23 of my blog posts.  23 blog posts. Photos and text.  Some of the photos were deliberately edited to omit the watermarks, while the text were tweaked a little, but some paragraphs were copied verbatim.  No permission asked from me, no proper credits were given.

Annoying. Nauseatingly disgusting.

When I checked my email yesterday, I found a message from one of my readers informing me that a certain “GRACEELICIOUS”, member of OpenRice.ph website has been stealing photos and copying some texts on my blog.

She posted all the 23 posts as her own reviews, edited the photos so that no traces of my watermarks are visible.


Filthy.

One of my readers who emailed me regarding this discovery and gave me a link which led me to one of the posts that was stolen from my blog.  It was MY post dated way back 2009 and she copied it last June 24 2011. It was my “Breakfast at Café Adriatico” blog post.  It isn't the most beautiful  photos and not the most enticingly thought-provoking post here on my blog, but the thing is, it’s mine, and someone stole it.

The "Cafe Adriatico" post she copied from my blog last June 24 2011

 MY original post way back May 16, 2009

http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/07/breakfast-meal-at-cafe-adriatico.html

I sent OpenRice.ph an email reporting this person and I even posted my concern on their facebook wall ( without dropping the offender’s name).  They have replied through the wall post indicating the email address I could send my concern to and told me that they will try to resolve the issue after the holiday.  I completely understand that.  I respect OpenRice as a separate entity on this issue.  I know it is not their fault, but I firmly believe that they should do something about it.  If this thing will be tolerated, it’ll definitely stain their credibility.  For now, I will just wait for their feedback.

See these photos?

Notice the resemblance?

I have also left a message / comment on this member’s OpenRice profile so that she would know that I am aware of what's happening. 

Friends tried tracking this member down and found out that she has a blog too.  That broke my heart.  Majority of the bloggers I know are intelligent people.  If you are a blogger, you know for a fact that Plagiarism is a big no no in this community.  Respect is important.

It's not just all about the copyright issues, but principle and respect.  Doesn't she have respect for herself, claiming someone else's work as her own?  Doesn't she trust herself that she can also make food reviews without stealing people's ideas and photos?

One of my blogger friends told me to send a message to the person directly on her Facebook account, so I did.  After a couple of hours she replied telling me that her cousin has been using her account and she already asked OpenRice to deactivate it.  Clearly she is saying that she's not the one who stole all the blog posts. 
 

I was THIS close to taking a plunge on the proverbial benefit of the doubt, but then I found out that some of the blog posts stolen from me were also posted on her personal blog.  Now I wonder, is it still her cousin’s fault?

The same "Cafe Adriatico" she posted on her personal blog

It will be easier to let this go if only one post was stolen.  But we are talking numbers here. And 23 is a big number.  23 blog posts.  23 of the posts I have worked hard for. 

Here's the list of the posts that were stolen from me.

EVERYTHING AT STEAK
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/04/everything-at-steak-family-steakhouse.html

BREAD AND BEAN
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/05/bread-and-bean-cafe.html

SANDY'S PIZZA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/02/sandys-pizza.html

BANAPPLE:
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/06/of-new-beginnings-healings-and-sweet.html
  
KOWLOON
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2008/12/kowloon-house-west.html

PEN-PEN RESTAURANT
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/01/crispiest-liempo-and-more-at-penpen.html

SONYA'S GARDEN
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/01/healthy-dining-experience-at-sonyas.html

MISTER KABAB
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/mister-kabab.html

LITTLE ASIA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/little-asia-symphony-of-flavors.html

DAVID'S TEA HOUSE
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/shabu-shabu-at-davids-tea-house.html

CALIFORNIABERRY
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/healthy-summer-kick-off-treat-by.html

SWIRLS
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/all-year-round-summer-indulgence-with.html

CASITA XOCOLAT
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/casita-xocolat.html

TENDEROAST
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/09/99pesos-value-steaks-at-tenderoast.html

CHEF DONATELLO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/10/chef-donatello.html

HOUSE OF LASAGNA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html

CAFE ADRIATICO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/07/breakfast-meal-at-cafe-adriatico.html

BAR DOLCI
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/mushroom-bruschetta-at-bar-dolci.html

SACHI
my post: http://ph.openrice.com/manila/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=7025

CAFE AGO-GO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/caffe-ago-go.html

DOMINO'S PIZZA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/dominos-pizza-has-arrived-hot-and-fresh.html

RECIPES BY CAFE METRO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/06/recipes.html

GRAMS DINER
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/feel-good-comfort-food-at-grams-diner.html

Now the encircled comment I find rather misleading

I appreciate that the person involve replied to my message to explain. But the fact that some of the stolen posts were also posted on her personal blog is still unclear to me.

This is not a personal attack, rather a learning experience that I want to share to my fellow bloggers so that they may be warned and to my readers because I owe it to them. 

I will wait for this issue to be resolved in good faith and will update this post once necessary actions were taken.



May we all learn from this experience.

***UPDATE as of NOVEMBER 1, 2011***

I have not received any reply from "graceelicious" regarding the blog posts that were also posted on her personal blog.  Although she deleted the stolen posts, she did not bother to explain her side further.


OpenRice Philippines sent me an email and promised that they will deactivate the reviews in question after the holiday.


I am not sure if only the reviews will be deactivated and not the entire account, because if you check graceelicious OpenRice profile, there are other photos which were taken from other bloggers.


I am still waiting for the complete resolution of this incident.

Plagiarism should not be tolerated, because it can happen again.  It can happen to you.

Will post update hopefully soon.


***UPDATE as of DECEMBER 6, 2011***

It's been a little over a month since this incident happened.  Openrice.ph group were kind enough to take down SOME of the review posts which were stolen from me by their member Graceelicious.  "Some" is the operative word because there are still other posts left on their website.  I have sent them the complete lists of the reviews that were taken from me, but I cannot understand why they have not taken down everything yet.


The openrice.ph member, Graceelicious, the one who stole 23 of my blog posts and posted it on her Openrice.ph account and on her own personal blog has sent me an apology message through Facebook.

I am still looking forward that everything that were stolen from me will be taken down from Openrice.ph


For now, I may have to email them for yet another follow up.


It's been a while, I hope for this matter to be resolved soon.


*** update ***


Openrice already deleted 23 of the blog posts plagiarized by Graceelicious. 

Pacquiao-Marquez III at Pan Pacific Manila

Pan Pacific Manila, the first and finest Butler hotel in the Philippines is inviting everyone to come and watch live via satellite from MGM Grand Garden Arena the most anticipated fight of the season, the Pacquiao – Marquez III

**UPDATE as of November 8, 2011

Tickets now at Php 950 net. ONLY!!!

 

Pacquiao – Marquez III

Breaking The Hiatus

I am in a middle of hiatus.  I recently celebrated my birthday and I guess this is the proverbial time to make a life assessment as to where the life I have chosen has taken me, hence the vacation.  But I feel the need to dish out a quick update and a small peek for the shape of things to come.

I maybe on a hiatus but believe it or not, I always find myself setting up my cameras, tripods, and other things needed for a shoot in the middle of my so-called-vacation.  So, basically I’m still on a roll except that my online life is into a halt.  Well, except right now.