YesNoMeh.com

Myth confirmed: The Green Hornet is awesome + MythBusters DVD Box Set Giveaway!

2011-01-20T23:14:00.002+08:00

LIZZ: Okay, where do I begin? First of all, let me state that beyond knowing who the characters were and how it made Bruce Lee's career, I had little to no knowledge of the original Green Hornet. I heard it was like the old Adam West Batman series except less campy, so I went into the theater with an open mind and expected to be entertained. I think Seth Rogen is pretty damned brilliant, but suffice to say that I have mixed feelings about some of his movies. (Knocked Up > Pineapple Express). I do appreciate his sense of humor however, and I was wondering how he'd deal with playing Britt Reid- superhero extraordinaire. I guess I needn't have worried, because he played it like he played many of his more popular characters-- like a well-meaning dumbass.

This isn't to say that this is a bad thing, of course, as he plays the well-meaning dumbass stereotype incredibly well. The Green Hornet was a crazy fun flick with plenty of action and plenty of laughs, and I'm happy to admit that I laughed harder than I had in weeks (I'm looking at you, "Black Swan".) All in all, I found it a highly entertaining movie that makes for an interesting addition to the superhero movie genre. It's not as fantastic as, say, Kick-Ass, but it's definitely entertaining. I'd take this over Fantastic Four (1 AND 2), Wolverine, Spider-Man 3, and even X-Men 3 on any given day of the week. I recommend watching this if you're in a bad mood, as it will definitely cheer you up! :D

JOSH: The Green Hornet got mostly lukewarm reviews from critics (46% on Rotten Tomatoes), and it's not hard to guess why. The movie relies more on slapstick and juvenile jokes than wit and subtlety, which makes it the kind of movie many serious critics despise.

But I'm not a professional critic. I'm just an average moviegoer. Unlike film connoisseurs, I don't go to the cinema to admire artistic excellence or to have my soul touched. I only want to:

1) be entertained, and
2) stuff my face with popcorn.

I achieved both goals while watching The Green Hornet last night, so I'm happy.

The Green Hornet doesn't even follow the superhero movie formula of transforming an average Joe into an awesome hero who then performs amazingly heroic acts of courage and awesomeness. Seth Rogen's Green Hornet was a bumbling goofball from start to finish, and I loved that. Many fans are apparently not too pleased by the sharp departure from the more serious tone of the original 60s TV series. (Or so I've heard. I've never seen the show... I'm not THAT old.) But I'm glad that Seth Rogen played to his strength as a comedic actor instead of going the "I want to be a serious actor" route--I don't think that would have worked.

The Green Hornet's sidekick, Kato, played by a young Bruce Lee in the original series, is played here by ~~Harold from the Harold and Kumar movies~~ some dude named Jay Chou. He doesn't have Bruce Lee's magnetic screen presence and seemed to have trouble delivering some of his lines, but his performance was adequate for this light-hearted movie. And he did have good bromantic chemistry with Seth Rogen.

To sum things up, this movie isn't going to win any Oscars, but it's good silly fun. Just sit back with a big bag of popcorn and enjoy the show.

If you're a Mythbusters fan like I am, don't miss the Mythbusters Green Hornet Special on the Discovery Channel on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 at 8 PM. In this episode, Seth Rogen joins the Mythbusters to recreate some scenes from the movie, this time without the help of Hollywood movie magic.

Mythbusters airs every Friday at 8 PM on Discovery Channel South East Asia, with a replay at 1 AM.

One more thing before we go....

We're giving away this 2-disc Mythbusters Mega Movie Myths DVD set to one lucky reader. If you want it, just leave a comment with your name and email address on or before Feb. 1, 2011. We'll pick a winner at random.

Restaurant hopping at the Ayala Triangle Garden

2011-01-06T08:00:00.002+08:00

we had heard quite a lot about the new culinary hotspot that is the Ayala Triangle Garden (click here for map) in the past couple of months. In particular, friends and relatives have been telling us about big crowds lining up outside a new restaurant called Wee Nam Kee for some allegedly amazing Hainanese chicken.

So when we got invited to try some of the restaurants at the Ayala Triangle Garden on a Saturday afternoon last December, we jumped at the chance. And although Wee Nam Kee wasn't on our itinerary, we still had quite an enjoyable food trip.

Our first stop was Bonchon Chicken, which originated in South Korea.

Twice-fried (!) chicken wings (available in soy garlic and hot & spicy versions)

LIZZ: All in all, I thought this was a great little restaurant. I'm a huge fan of chicken wings, so it's no surprise that I loved the food. My only complaint is that the spicy chicken wings were tongue-scorchingly hot, and as a spicy food lover, that's saying a lot! I'd recommend the regular version for first-timers.

JOSH: To be honest, the regular soy garlic version tasted quite bland to me, but perhaps that was only because I made the mistake of trying the brutally spicy one first. Still, the quality was excellent, and I loved how the chicken skin was delightfully crunchy from being fried twice. I just wish that they had a mildly spicy version for people like me who want a little kick but not intense pain. But I guess Koreans really like their spices.

We also had this nice little bulgogi wrap, or as I call it, Korean shawarma.

Next up was Amici.

JOSH: I love Italian food, and Amici is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I've previously visited their branches in Greenhills, Tomas Morato, and Don Bosco Makati.

This is the Quattro Formaggi, which I think is Italian for "four cheese." It's my personal favorite.

This is the Tutta Carne, which I think is Italian for "very ordinary pizza" :-P Don't get me wrong--it wasn't not bad at all. But Amici offers a lot of exceptional pizzas and pastas, and most of them are more interesting than this one.

This is a slightly spicy seafood pasta that I forgot the name of. It was excellent.

And this is a delicious creamy mushroom pasta that I also forgot the name of. I promise to take notes next time.

LIZZ: Both the pizza and the pasta at this place were great, though the 4 cheese pizza stood out as a definite must try. I often order this type of pizza at various restos, and Amici's version managed to be both unique and comfortable at the same time. Comfort food at its finest!

Amici's famous gelato is now marketed under the Cara Mia brand name. They have a mouth-watering selection of gelato, cakes, and (gasp) gelato cakes.

Mango Symphony gelato cake

Peach Walnut Passion gelato cake

Pistachio gelato

Sans Rival gelato

LIZZ: Utter Heaven! I loved both the gelato cakes and the gelato itself. Do yourself a favor and don't leave without trying the pistachio gelato... absolute bliss!

JOSH: What she said.

Our final stop was Golden Spoon. We were both stuffed by the time we got here, but we couldn't resist sharing a pomegranate & blueberry yogurt cone. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a picture of the cone before inhaling it.

LIZZ: I've been a huge fan of this place since it opened, and for those of you who crave less calories but can't stand sour yogurt, this is the place to go. ;)

JOSH: Golden Spoon should call their yogurt I Can't Believe It's Not Ice Cream. Yum.

- - -

The Ayala Triangle Garden is definitely a happy place for food-lovers. We thoroughly enjoyed our short food trip, and we plan to go back sometime to check out the other restaurants. There are some familiar old names like Kanin Club, Banapple, MoMo Cafe, and Omakase, but we're most excited about the new restaurants: Chef Laudico's Bfast, C.B.D. (Cheesesteak, Burgers, and Drinks... hmm), and of course the much hyped Wee Nam Kee.

YesNoMeh gives gluttony a

Happy new year everyone!

Geek Shows Old and New

2010-10-02T18:28:00.006+08:00

After months of waiting, the new TV season has finally started. Hooray! Let's celebrate by taking a look at some geeky shows.

[Old] Smallville Season 10

LIZZ: It's Smallville's final season, and it looks like the show's pulling out all the stops. Finally casting off the silly “no tights, no flights” rule, Clark Kent finally flies (or jumps really high?) in time to save the Daily Planet globe falling onto rush hour traffic. This is probably Superman's most iconic imagery, as it's been repeated in the comics and movies dozens of times before. Superman holds the globe on his back as a not-so-subtle metaphor for his carrying the weight of the world. Whew.

Also, we finally get a full-on look at the actual red, blue, and yellow costume. No teaser glimpses or angled shots, this is a good long look at the costume Clark is going to end up wearing on the season finale. It's the same one Brandon Routh wore in Superman Returns so I'm not sure how the tiny S is going to look on barrel-chested Tom Welling, but I'm reserving judgment til I actually see him wearing the damned thing.

A million fanboys jizzed in their pants simultaneously when this came on screen.

Upcoming guest stars include Hawkman in episode two and none other than Supergirl Kara Zor-El for episode three, so this promises to be a must-watch season for all the fans. My only caveat is that it's still called “Smallville” despite the fact that Clark spends all his time in Metropolis. I guess no commute is too far for the Man of Steel.

I give this excellent season premiere a resounding

[New] No Ordinary Family

JOSH: No Ordinary Family is about a suburban family of four that suddenly gained superpowers after surviving a plane crash. In the weeks leading up to the premiere, I had heard it described as something like a live-action version of Pixar's The Incredibles. As a big fan of that movie, I was quite excited.

Well, after watching the first episode, I'm not so excited anymore. Sure, there were a few funny moments, and the special effects were okay for the small screen. But if I have to sum it up in one word, I'd go with "bland." I think the writers made a mistake by focusing too much on the back-story and not enough on the superhero stuff. And frankly, the back-story isn't very interesting. Let's see... the husband feels like a failure, the wife is too busy, the daughter has boy troubles, and the son has a hard time with schoolwork because he's not too bright. Realistic problems? Sure. Compelling drama? Not really.

Still, I would have given this a meh if not for the one TV cliche that I can't stand: the whiny emo teenager, e.g. Claire from Heroes and what's-his-face from V. This show has two of those! Kill me now.

[Old] Star Wars: Clone Wars Season 3

LIZZ: If any series has lost steam since its debut, it's Clone Wars. What
promised to be an interesting look into the war between Episodes 2 and
3 has steadily deteriorated to a mess of episodes dedicated to
fourth-tier characters and random Jedi knight number fourteen. Don't
get me wrong-- Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith were
hardly good movies, but there was quite a bit of backstory that needed
to be told between them. Anakin jumps from emo newlywed to puppet
assassin (who cheerfully lops off Count Dooku's head at the slightest
prodding) in the movies, and I was hoping to get a bit of explanation
for this character progression in the series.

When the first season introduced Asohka, I was quite expecting her
death (or maiming at the very least) to be one of Anakin's major
pushes to the darkside. There were some very interesting plot points
in season two were you can see bits of Darth in Anakin, and I thought
they were really spot-on. But season three kicks off with a story
about random clones in training (wow, you couldn't even kick off the
season with a relevant storyline?), and we don't even see any of the
major players until the second episode. Talk about dullsville!

I've been a retarded Star Wars fan since I was a grade school tot, so
believe me when I say that I've nursed my crush on this universe for
well over a decade. But after reading Tales of the Mos Eisley Cantina
and playing through KOTOR, I think I'm finally able to say that this
series veers too far away from the central characters. Clone Wars
should be about the war and it should focus on the characters we care
about-- George Lucas left plot holes you could drive the Millenium
Falcon through between episodes two and three, so it's up to Clone
Wars to fill the gaps. So far, they haven't really been doing a good
job this season. :P

I give this season a

[New] The Event

JOSH: The Event is supposed to fill the sci-fi drama void left on network TV by the end of Lost and the cancellation of FlashForward (Let's pretend that V doesn't exist).

The trailer above is long enough to give you a sense of what The Event is about, but I just want to add that the show is non-linear storytelling on crack--multiple plotlines, retelling of the story from different points of view, and shameless overuse of flashbacks. Depending on your tastes, that may or may not be a good thing. I personally find the gimmicks unnecessary and annoying, but I must admit that they did generate an artificial sense of excitement for what seems to be a fairly pedestrian plot.

While the first two episodes weren't exceptional, they did entertain me enough for me to want to find out what happens next. And I think that's the most basic criterion for measuring the competence of a serial drama. I give it a mild yes.

Next week, we'll review a bunch of other (less geeky) TV shows. Stay tuned!

Ramen Bar: come here for yummy pork ramen and more pork ramen!

2010-09-08T15:37:00.001+08:00

On a rainy Sunday evening a few weeks ago, we noticed a shiny new restaurant called Ramen Bar in Eastwood City. Because we're fans of both Japanese food and new restaurants, we decided to ignore the ominous "soft opening" sign posted on the door and give it a try. We ended up waiting almost an hour for our food. Oh well, we were warned.

Yakiniku Beef Rice Topping - Php165

JOSH: My favorite Ramen Bar dish has nothing to do with ramen. It's a simple but satisfying meal--rice topped with juicy beef strips and onions. The serving size is pretty good, and the price is reasonable.

LIZZ: This huge beef bowl was delicious and far better than the Teriyaki Boy Gyudon that's almost double the price. The beef was soft, the rice was excellent, and they didn't skimp on the spring onions. Delicious!

Shoyu Ramen - Php280

JOSH: It's a big bowl of ramen with shoyu (soy sauce) soup base and topped with slices of pork. The thing I liked the most about it was the rich and flavorful soup. It's on the expensive side, but it's worth a try.

LIZZ: I thought this was pretty overrated. It's good, but not that great, and it's certainly not worth almost 300 pesos. :P

We went back to Ramen Bar a few days later to try some other items. The "soft opening" sign was no longer there, and the service had thankfully gotten more efficient.

R.B.S. #1 (R.B.S. = Ramen Bar Special?) - Php380

JOSH: This is the most expensive item on their menu, and I was expecting the best bowl of ramen ever. Instead, what I got was, as far as I can remember, very similar to the shoyu ramen I had during our first visit. Sure, this one had more pork in it, but I'm not sure that's worth an additional 100 pesos.

LIZZ: If I didn't want to spend 300 on a bowl of ramen, I certainly don't want to spend 400. When I was living in Japan, ramen was what I ate when I was too broke to buy convenience store sushi. Totally not worth the price, IMHO.

Kakuni Buns - Php180

JOSH: I loved the tender pork and the delicious sauce (tasted a bit like Peking duck dipping sauce). The downside? You only get two pieces for 180 pesos. Faced with the steep price tag of 90 pesos per bun, the cheapskate in me has no choice but to give this a

LIZZ: I actually liked this a lot, and if they had been less stingy and given you 3 to 4 pieces for the same price, I'd have given it a yes. I'm not really cheap when it comes to food, but even I have to raise an eyebrow at 90 pesos per bun. :P

Yes, this is their whole menu.

JOSH: Overall, I think Ramen Bar serves excellent food. But I'm giving them a meh for now because I think their menu can use some improvement. They could have just called the place Tonkotsu Ramen Bar, because that's basically the only kind of ramen you can get there--all five items under the ramen section of the menu are just variants of the same thing. Maybe I would visit more often if they offer ramen topped with beef, chicken, or seafood... or anything other than pork.

LIZZ: I'm not a huge fan of ramen and I'm not gourmet enough to be able to really tell the difference between great ramen and just regular ramen. That said, go here once to try out the beef bowl but never again (unless you want another beef bowl, that is). Unless they add more stuff to their menu, I doubt I'd go back.

Ramen Bar is along Eastwood Ave. in Eastwood City, Q.C. (see map)

Philippine Travel Mart + Another Giveaway!

2010-07-24T19:54:00.003+08:00

We love to travel. Who doesn't? Travel is fun. We make it a point to get out of Metro Manila once every few months or so. If you're a long-time follower of our blog, you've probably heard about our Holy Week trip to Cebu, which we still haven't finished blogging about yet--oops, sorry. We also recently spent a week in South Korea. (We'll blog about that soon, we promise. Stay tuned.)

The downside of travel is of course the cost. And that's why we're quite excited about the upcoming 21st Philippine Travel Mart, which will be held on September 3-5, 2010 at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall, Ortigas. The event is organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), the largest association of registered tour operators in the country. We expect it to be a great venue for everyone to find good travel deals and tour packages. See you there!

And if you click on the "Sale ng Bayan" link on their website right now, you'll get a chance to bid on various tour packages.

---

Now, it's time for another YesNoMeh giveaway. To make things more exciting, let's have a real contest this time. But first, let us tell you about the prizes....

In keeping with the travel theme, we're giving away a handy foldable lightweight tote bag from Design Go and a nice blade-and-nailcutter set from Philippine Airlines. We're also throwing in various packs of delicious candies we got from Korea. Yum!

How to join:

1) Follow @YesNoMeh on Twitter.
2) Tweet, Plurk, or blog about this contest.
3) Leave a comment with your email address and Twitter/Plurk/blog URL. But don't submit your comment yet! You'll also have to guess the number of candies in the Blueberry Candy pack.

The person who gets the closest to the actual number wins. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by a random draw.

Join now! This contest is open to all Philippine residents. The deadline is August 15, 2010.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to thaMaldito for correctly guessing the number of candies: 20. Thanks to everyone for participating.

Ziplines in Manila: Flying Above the Concrete Jungle + Giveaways!

2010-07-05T23:10:00.004+08:00

Last Friday, YesNoMeh was invited to experience the Zoom Tree Top Adventure at Circulo Verde. The newly opened attraction was launched at 4:00pm to a throng of media and press. Featuring the first ever motorized zipline, it included the Superman Ride (where you fly face down through the air), and the Silver Surfer Ride (where you stand on a perch while you zoom back and forth on the zipline).

LIZZ: I chose to be the photographer so that we could document the event, and I (haha) promptly volunteered Josh to try both rides. The Silver Surfer Ride costs Php300 and the Superman Ride costs Php400, and both rides take you from one tower to the other twice.

You can find these attractions at Circulo Verde, #70 Calle Industria St. Brgy Bagumbayan Quezon City, open from 4:00pm to 12 midnight. For inquires, call (02)928-4595.

JOSH: I tried the Silver Surfer ride first. Here's me getting into the safety harness.

Ready....

GO!

Flying through the air felt great, and I found out that you can go pretty fast on a motorized zipline. The best part was when I passed so close over a patch of tall trees that I thought I was going to slam into them.

Halfway through the ride, my helmet came loose and dangled by the strap across my neck, which gave me a bit of unexpected additional excitement. (I blame my giant melon--the helmet was just sitting on my head like a jejeje cap.) Still, I felt pretty safe thanks to the two safety lines, neither of which broke. Yay!

Next up was the Superman ride. It's called that because you get to fly through the air stretched out and face-down just like the famous superhero. At 100 feet above the ground, it was too high up for Lizz to get a proper picture from below. I should have taken the camera up.

Everything about the ride was thrilling. The long slow climb up the tower in the small steel cage elevator was by itself about as nerve-wracking as the Silver Surfer ride. Stepping out onto the platform at the top wasn't any less scary--the whole structure swayed slightly, just enough to keep my heart rate up. The view of the cityscape from the top was spectacular though.

The ride itself was almost the most relaxing part of the whole experience. It's basically the same as the Silver Surfer ride but with a different body position, and I found it a lot less physically taxing. I just lay flat against the harness and enjoyed the flight.

I'm glad that the Tree Top Adventure people decided to bring their thing to Metro Manila. Now, I don't have to go all the way to Subic when I want the adrenaline rush of flying through the air. One warning though: because much of Circulo Verde is still under construction, there were lots of very aggressive mosquitoes around... so be sure to cover yourself with insect repellent if you go. Other than that, it's a very enjoyable experience.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: We're giving away two Zoom Tree Top Adventure tickets (one for each ride). One of our lucky readers will have the chance to experience the high-flying fun for free! To join the giveaway, you must be a resident of Metro Manila (so we can mail you the tickets) and fulfill the following:

1) Follow us on Twitter
2) Tweet, Plurk OR blog about the giveaway
3) Drop a comment below with the url of your tweet/plurk/blog and leave your email address so we can contact you if you win.

The winner will be drawn via random.org on July 31, 2010. Good luck, everyone.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to millette05. We'll contact you via email.

Melo's Wagyu Steak: the Father of All Steaks

2010-06-29T10:33:00.003+08:00

JOSH: About 10 days ago, on the night before we left for a fun 8-day trip to Korea, we got invited to a sumptuous Wagyu steak feast at Melo's, a high-end steak restaurant famous for being the first to serve certified Angus Beef in the Philippines.

Lizz and I both love Wagyu beef. We often celebrate special occasions at this place in Eastwood City where you cook your own Wagyu steaks on stone grills, which is fun but sometimes produces inconsistent results. It was nice to have a qualified professional handle the cooking for a change.

LIZZ: Wagyu apparently has different grades, and they range from 1 to 10 (10 being the best). Melo's serves Wagyu from grades 4 through 8, and they pointed out that other restaurants that don't share the grades of their beef may very well be serving the lowest grade. Very interesting!

The featured dish of the evening was Steak ala Dad (Php2,999), which is a thick juicy slab of grade 8 Wagyu Tenderloin wrapped in bacon, topped with Al Funghi Porcini sauce, and served with mashed potato.

JOSH: As the name implies, Steak ala Dad was Melo's Father's Day special. Yeah, yeah, I know... Father's Day was more than a week ago. We apologize for the late blog entry, but we barely had enough time to digest the beef before we had to leave for our trip. Anyway, the bad news is that the dish is available only until tomorrow (June 30). The good news is that you can always order one of these big juicy steak cuts we got to sample (the steaks are available in Angus and Wagyu variants).

LIZZ: This was as big as Josh's head (and just as delicious)! :D

JOSH: Hey! My head is not that big! :-(

LIZZ: The soup and salad were excellent starters, as they were light enough to not fill you up but tasty enough to make you anticipate the main course.

JOSH: Desserts by Sweet Bella capped off a glorious evening of gluttony. I don't think we needed to eat more after ingesting a ton of beef, but those cakes looked too tempting to pass up. And yes, they tasted as good as they looked.

LIZZ: This was my favourite dish! Absolutely delicious, and just light enough to end the filling meal.

If we look a bit dazed here, it's because we ate too much.

LIZZ: All in all, I really enjoyed Melo's. The restaurant had an excellent ambiance, the staff was very attentive, and the steaks were delicious. I was very impressed with the Wagyu, and I can honestly say it's one of the best I've ever had.

JOSH: Cheapskates like me might be put off by the high prices of Melo's Wagyu steaks, but remember this: there is no such thing as a cheap Wagyu steak--you can only choose between expensive and more expensive. And if you have already decided to spend a big amount of money on a chunk of Wagyu, it makes sense to spend a bit more to make sure that it's grilled to perfection. That's a better option than getting a mediocre experience just to save a few bucks.

From what I had seen and tasted on that Thursday evening, Melo's steaks are pretty close to perfection, and, like Lizz said, the ambiance is excellent. It's a great place for a romantic dinner. Your wallet may not love you afterwards, but your stomach will definitely be happy.

See Melo's website for more information. They have four branches, so go find the one nearest to you.

Sakae Sushi: The Happiest Place On Earth

2010-05-06T20:21:00.002+08:00

JOSH: Last Tuesday, we went to SM Mall of Asia to join a bloggers' dinner at Sakae Sushi. I had been wanting to check out the place for a long time because I had heard that they have sushi-making machines. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see how the machines work (and no, they're not knife-wielding humanoid robots). But we did get to sample various menu items.

LIZZ: Of course, we also got to see their sushi conveyor belt. It snakes across the restaurant, supplying all the tables with their favourite sushi. The plates are color-coded according to price (blue = P39, yellow = P59, green = P79, red = P99). If you're in the mood for Eat-All-You-Can, you can pay P399 (P199 if you're a kid) for a sushi buffet and get everything you want from the conveyor belt. Very affordable!

Yay! Endless stream of sushi!

JOSH: But first, let's look at the a la carte items. We got to chat a bit with Sakae Sushi owner Hubert Young, who also runs the popular UCC chain of cafes. Mr. Young is like a mad scientist of food. Instead of sticking to traditional Japanese cuisine all the time, he comes up with strange and creative menu items like this one....

Ebi Salad Roll (asparagus, shrimp salad, and some other veggies)

LIZZ: As someone who absolutely loves shrimp (but is also allergic), I have to say that I absolutely loved this roll. The shrimp was fresh and delicious and it quickly became a fast favourite. :D

JOSH: And this one....

Tropical Roll (ham, mango, kani, spring onion, red bell pepper)

JOSH: Ham and mango in a sushi? That's crazy. But somehow, it works.

Sashimi (Salmon, tuna, and... swordfish?)

LIZZ: The only way I like my fish.. raw! :D

Ebi Tempura

LIZZ: They say Japanese restos are judged on the merits of their tempura, and I have to say that Sakae tops my list. Their tempura is crunchy, the shrimp is fresh, and they don't stuff the dish with extenders. Yum!

Gindara Teriyaki

JOSH: I loved this one. It was grilled to perfection, and the sauce was just right.

LIZZ: I hate fish, but I actually enjoyed Gindara. Maybe it's because of the teriyaki sauce, but this was awesome and you have to try it.

Samurai Steak

LIZZ: The boy calls me a bit of a beef fiend, because I've never had a beef dish that I didn't like. Still, I have a LOT of experience with beef, and this was really yummy. :D

JOSH: And now, back to the conveyor belt....

Various items we grabbed off the conveyor belt because we're greedy gluttons

JOSH: In case you're wondering, the last item is fried chicken skin in sweet vinegar. I had no idea what it was doing in a sushi restaurant--it's more Filipino than Japanese--but it was possibly my favorite dish of the evening. Crispy and crunchy... yum.

Tempura Ice Cream

JOSH: This was the only item I didn't get to enjoy much, because my stomach was stuffed by the time we got to dessert.

JOSH: I loved pretty much everything I tried here, and seeing all kinds of sushi going around on the conveyor belt made me giddy. Sakae Sushi has another branch in SM North EDSA, and I can't wait to go there and stuff my face with sushi. And also, fried chicken skin.

LIZZ: I was so stuffed at the end of the meal that I could barely walk. Good thing we were at Mall of Asia, where the distance from the car was pretty much the quintessential after-meal walk. All in all, I had a wonderful time and I can't wait to head back to Sakae Sushi! Happy eating, kids!

YesNoMeh goes to Cebu! Stuffing our face at Casa Verde

2010-04-11T18:56:00.001+08:00

On our recent trip to Cebu city, we decided that we had to try our friend Bliss' family restaurant. She told us that it was closed during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, so we ate there on the last night of our trip and boy, was it a great way to end our vacation!

Casa Verde (69 Ranudo Extension near Ramos St.)

Watermelon juice (Php70) and Panama Orange iced tea (Php30)

Lizz: This watermelon juice was pretty good. The most you can hope for with fruit juice is that it's fresh and sweet, and this ticked off all the right boxes.

Josh: I got the Panama Orange iced tea, and I liked it. The orange flavor made it interesting and sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill iced tea. Best of all, it's not overpriced.

Fried Cheese (Php65)

Lizz: I think I may have been expecting something similar to mozzarella sticks when I ordered this, so I was a tiny bit disappointed with these. Still, it was an interesting start to our dinner, and they were extremely affordable.

Josh: It was just okay... not bad, not great.

Brian's Ribs (Php168)

Lizz: These were the biggest baby back ribs I've ever seen in my entire life. I'm used to the smallish ribs they give you at Racks, so I was really pleased when this 168 peso plate of ribs arrived. The pork tasted great and there was more than Josh and I could finish (we split this and another main course). I only wish it had more sauce on the side, because it was delicious. :D

Josh: Um... perhaps I got more than my fair share of the sauce before I passed the plate to you. Sorry? Before our trip, Bliss told us that this is a must-try dish. I'm glad we tried it. The pork was tender and flavorful--possibly the best baby back ribs I've ever had.

The Dax (Php220)

Lizz: This was, hands-down, the star of the night. You can't see it in the picture, but that is a seriously thick hunk of steak right there. And you know what? It was 220 pesos. Yowza! On the side you've got fresh veggies, white sauce dip, mashed potatoes (your choice between that, fries, or rice) and four huge pieces of fried shrimp.

Josh: I was already stuffed with ribs by the time this got to me, and I almost fainted when I saw how much meat there was. Lizz claimed to have eaten half; I didn't quite believe her. But I inhaled everything anyway. It was good.

Yum Yum!

Lizz: All in all, I give Casa Verde a big, fat

Josh: Big and fat is what I would be if I live in Cebu and eat here every day. The prices are amazingly cheap considering the huge serving sizes--we were so stuffed that we couldn't have any dessert. And that was too bad because they have quite a few interesting items on their menu. Maybe next year?

YesNoMeh Goes to Cebu! Reviews On Marco Polo Plaza Hotel and Zest Air

2010-04-01T07:47:00.015+08:00

Lizz: Josh and I decided to spend our Holy Week vacation on the sunny beaches of Cebu, and being the OC guy that Josh is, he's planned every day down to where we were going to eat at each meal and which attractions we would hit.

Josh: That's not true! I'm still not sure where we're going to have lunch on Friday. As we start this entry, we're sitting at the old domestic terminal in NAIA.

Lizz: It's horrible. The only airlines left here are Zest Air and SEAIR, and the food is overpriced crap. (I just had an P80 cheeseburger from Vin Vin's Cafe and I give it a big fat NO.) We'll be blogging during our trip (if we manage to find a decent internet connection), and will be updating this entry as we go. So tune in if you want to live vicariously through us (or are just bored and stuck at home). :D

Josh: As Lizz was typing that, a shouting match broke out outside the playroom behind us. From what we can overhear, one kid bit another in the face, and the dad of the victim was freaking out.

Lizz: No blood no foul, I always say! And on that note, we're off! :D

EDIT: April 4, 2010 (Sunday) 6:30pm

Josh: Okay, the live blogging didn't go so well. Globe Tattoo is a piece of shit. We couldn't get a proper signal from our hotel room even though we were on the 16th floor, and there's no way I was going to pay 800 pesos per day for WiFi.

Zest Air, the first airline named after a juice drink

Lizz: Before we get into that, I find it necessary to point out that our Zest Air flight actually wasn't so bad. We paid a little less than Php6,000 (approx $120) for two round-trip tickets to Cebu and hey, we didn't crash!

Josh: The last 20 minutes of the return flight was bumpy as hell though. I almost threw up. But yeah, it's cheap, so it's tolerable.

Marco Polo Plaza Hotel's gorgeous lobby

Lizz: We stayed at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. I really enjoyed everything it had to offer, as it had comfy beds, a great buffet, and some seriously nice staff.

Josh: And the rates are surprisingly affordable for a 5-star hotel. It was just Php3,500 a night, breakfast buffet for two included.

Dining at the Poolside

Lizz: It's too bad we didn't get the chance to take a dip in their pool (we'd had our fill of swimming at our day trip to Plantation Bay), but we had dinner and some drinks at the poolside restaurant and it looked great. The drinks were a bit strong for cocktails, but I guess if you want to get drunk really quickly, that's a good thing.

Josh: I'm still a bit buzzed. Whee!

Hella strong cocktails. (Yes, we are lightweights.)

Lizz: All in all, we spent three great nights at this lovely hotel and it was totally worth it. (It's a bit far from the other resorts, but close enough to the city and getting cabs isn't a problem.) I wholeheartedly give this a

Josh: If you want to stay in for a meal, go to the poolside restaurant. The prices there are cheaper than those in the other restaurants (Php100-200 per dish as opposed to Php400+), and the view is nice. I give it a

*Stay tuned to YesNoMeh this week as we post our reviews on Plantation Bay, Crown Regency Hotel and Towers (Edge Coaster ftw!), Ayala Center Cebu, and Casa Verde (yum yum!).

Alice in Wonderland / Johnny Depp in Burtonland

2010-03-11T10:30:00.002+08:00

JOSH: I was completely taken by surprise when the text "thirteen years later" appeared on-screen about three minutes into Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I hadn't seen the trailer, and all the promotional posters I had seen featured either Johnny Depp as the Hatter or Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, so I had no reason to suspect that Alice would be all grown-up and that the movie's plot would bear little resemblance to Lewis Carroll's classic tale.

Since this is basically a sequel to the original Alice in Wonderland, shouldn't the title be something like "Alice Returns to Wonderland"? Wait, that's a lame title. A more appropriate one would be "Johnny Depp in Burtonland"--yeah, that more or less tells you everything you have to know about the movie.

Johnny Depp is clearly the star of this one (and also every other Tim Burton movie), and his manic over-the-top performance as the Hatter didn't disappoint. Barely legal Alice (played by Mia ~~Wasi~~ ~~Wasikow~~ something) is pretty but somewhat bland, and she was constantly upstaged by Depp and the other veteran actors. Helena Bonham Carter was hilarious as the ill-tempered Red Queen, and Anne Hathaway turned in a delightfully weird performance as the White Queen. Even the CGI Cheshire Cat was quite good.

On the downside, the movie's plot is utterly predictable and lacks any sense of danger or surprise--the ending in particular is weak and unsatisfying. But Tim Burton's trademark quirky visual style keeps things interesting and true to the spirit of Lewis Carroll's acid trip. The running time (108 minutes) doesn't feel too long, and there are very few dull moments. Overall, even though it's not Tim Burton's best effort, I enjoyed it.

LIZZ: I was a huge fan of Disney's animated Alice in Wonderland when I was a kid, and I came into the theater expecting a spectacle as bright and out-of-this-world as the first. I wasn't at all disappointed, as the special effects were nothing short of spectacular... it was like watching cartoons on acid, where everything felt real in a distorted sort of way, and the CGI was seamlessly integrated with its RL cast.

Like the boy, I didn't really find Alice very interesting. She's always been the "straight man", but I found Mia's performance lackluster and a bit boring. Hathaway, Depp, and Bonham-Carter were awesome as usual, which probably didn't help with keeping the Alice character interesting.

I also found the ending quite weak, because (WARNING: SPOILERS!) her burning desire to be a career woman comes out of nowhere. Wouldn't it have been better to establish in the beginning that she wanted to follow in her dad's foot steps but was simply unable to because of the pressures of society? I mean, it would have made the ending much more poignant if she gathered her courage to defy society due to her romp in Underland. Of course, we're expected to *infer* all of this (um... what?), and the ending is presented in a way that we're supposed to cheer for some random act of happenstance that Burton pulled out of his crazy (albeit extremely talented) ass.

All in all, I'd give Alice in Wonderland a weak yes. Yes for all the fantastic effects and a solid 90% of the movie, but Meh for the resulting 10% which was, ironically, lacking in imagination.

Art Circle's TRIGO: it's like your mom's cooking

2010-03-01T23:08:00.002+08:00

LIZZ: The boy and I went to UP Diliman for the Filipino Freethinkers Film Fest last Saturday, and while there we decided to have lunch at Bahay ng Alumni. The popular choice when dining in that area is usually Chocolate Kiss Cafe, but I remembered a quaint, smaller restaurant around the back. I hadn't eaten there in years, but as luck would have it, there was still a cafe at the back of Bahay ng Alumni! It was still facing the Track Oval and it was still connected to largely unnoticed (and unpatronized, haha) art gallery.

I'm assuming the ownership had changed hands since my last visit, as the menu, ambiance, and decor were all different. It was now called Trigo, and gone were the off-beat couches and mats, and the tuna pita breads were nowhere to be found. Instead, what stood in its place was a cozy, air-conditioned mum's kitchen type of deal, with gourmet bread and pastries.

I had a set meal, which cost a grand total of P145. It had an iced tea and free soup, and both were remarkably mediocre. My main course was breaded pork with garlic mayo, a smidge of potato salad, and some rice.

The pork was crunchy and a bit on the oily side, but anything lying on a bed of garlic mayo is bound to taste good. I also liked the bacon bits on the potato salad, but the rice was a bit too hard for my taste. Still, everything was so affordable, so I can't help but give this a:

JOSH: I had the chicken schnitzel with pesto set meal (P155). I didn't even know what a schnitzel is, and apparently, it's a flat piece of fried breaded chicken breast. It went well with the pesto, although some parts of it was more tough than crunchy.

The coleslaw and the iced tea that came with the set meal were unremarkable. I liked the free chicken soup better than the girl did. There were little bits of parsley in it, and I love parsley.

Overall, it was a satisfying meal. We were too stuffed to try their desserts--the orange poppy cake in particular looked interesting. Well, maybe next time. For now, I'll give Trigo a yes because it's good value for my money.

You can find Trigo at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman. Click here for map.

NESTEA Fit Camp Hot: your guide to what sports are hot (and not)

2010-02-17T13:45:00.008+08:00

Last Saturday, we woke up early to attend the press launch of Nestea Fit Camp Hot. It's a series of sports clinics that will be held at the Fort Bonifacio Open Field every Saturday from Feb. 20 to Mar. 27, 2010. We got to observe the sports and even tried some of them out, though we each gravitated towards our own interests. (Hence, the somewhat uneven coverage, haha.)

Flag Football

JOSH: Flag football is basically American football for wimps. Instead of tackling you and breaking your bones, defenders try to grab flags that you wear on your goofy-looking belt. I played flag football several times two years ago, and I liked it. I would love to play regularly again.

LIZZ: I've never really liked team sports, and the prospect of breaking my fingers (and thus my livelihood) catching a football doesn't really excite me. I watched the boy run drills during the camp and didn't think it was particularly earth-shattering. I give this a

Touch Football

JOSH: I'm not sure what touch football is because I didn't get to try it, but I think it's like flag football without flags. So I guess it's American football for lazy wimps. Touch football wasn't very popular on this day. At one point, I saw the instructors sitting on the grass because no one wanted to play--everyone seemed to prefer flag football. I wouldn't mind giving it a try though. It seems like a fun and easy game.

LIZZ: It says a lot that I didn't even notice that there was touch football at the camp, and no one played or demonstrated it because everyone wanted to attach flags to their butts and run around (i.e. its more popular cousin Flag Football). I wouldn't want to pass judgment on something I've never seen (let alone tried) before, so I give this a

Yoga

Mandatory Breathing Exercises

JOSH: You think yoga is easy? It's pain, I'm telling you. I had trouble following the poses and breathing patterns, and the short session left me with sore arms, shoulders, thighs, and knees. I guess it's just not for me.

LIZZ: This is the first time I've ever done yoga, and I was surprised to discover that it was pretty peaceful. It was difficult, no doubt about it, but there's a certain peace one attains when forced to shut up and just breath for a minute. The picture above is Josh and I doing the "Downward Dog" position. I look forward to trying this out again in the future, since I'm always on the go and it's good to take an hour or two to clear your mind every now and then.

Zips

JOSH: I didn't get a chance to try zips, and I'm still not sure what it is. But from what I saw, it involves swinging socks with tennis balls in them--the weapon of choice for homeless ninjas. The girl tried it out, so maybe she can tell you more. As for me, I give zips a no for looking silly.

LIZZ: As someone who has done both arnis and nunchucks before, you'd think that a little tennis ball wrapped in a sock would be no problem for me. I brought along my girlfriend Bliss (who's also a martial arts practitioner) to this station, and we ended up smacking ourselves in the head none too often. The instructors were both gorgeous and very nice, and they explained that it was more a performance art than a sport. (On stage, these are set on fire and twirled.) Since I have no desire to be a dancer (or any sort of performer), I don't really see the point to this. I mean, if I were to regularly get smacked in the head by something, I'd rather stick to weapon arts. :P

Hip Hop

JOSH: While I was off doing yoga with Lizz, our friend Arthur was being taught a hip hop dance routine. As you can see in the picture above (he's the dude in the white shirt), it wasn't pretty. I have no plans to embarrass myself like he did.

LIZZ: I used to take Jazz classes when I was in grade school, and I have really fond memories of learning steps. The Hip Hop routine was pretty cool, and I wouldn't mind trying it out. I don't see myself doing it regularly, though adding to one's dance vocabulary is always a good idea-- clubbing isn't as fun if you only know how to sway. Lol. Until I actually try this out, I'll give it a

Beach Basketball

JOSH: It's basketball, but on a circular court. And the basket doesn't have a backboard. Also, no dribbling is allowed. Arthur and I attempted some shots and missed most of them. Still, it was fun, because basketball is the best thing ever.

LIZZ: The only shot I can make is when I bounce the ball off the backboard, so taking away my one strength pretty much pisses me off. Still, it looked fun enough when Josh tried it out, though I think I'd rather stick to a real court. I give this a

Beach Volleyball

JOSH: Everyone knows this one--it's volleyball on sand. It's a sport that I don't think I'll enjoy playing, but I guess I don't mind being a spectator if the players are hot girls in skimpy bikinis.

LIZZ: I have horror stories of getting hit in the face with a volleyball and breaking my glasses, so I pretty much try to avoid anything related to this sport. Blame UP for making learning this mandatory in high school. Ick.

Ultimate Frisbee

JOSH: I was quite interested in this. It's supposed to be like a cross between football and Frisbee, combining the fun of running and passing with the exciting possibility of getting your teeth knocked out by a plastic disc. I didn't get to try it though, so I'll reserve judgment until I do.

LIZZ: This is the only sport I'll say yes to without actually trying first, because I think catching a frisbee has less risk of breaking fingers than a football would. It's basically running around trying to catch a frisbee (like a puppy!), and it looked pretty fun. Hopefully we'll get to try it sooner rather than later (and if it sucks, I'll renege), but for now I'll give this a

If you're interested in any of the sports listed above, here are some more details for you:

Registration fee is a very reasonable Php150 for the six-week course and Php50 for a one-day pass. For more information, please see their website.

Our thanks to Arthur and Earth for the pictures in this entry.

Action TV capsule reviews featuring Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Human Target, Archer, Chuck, and 24

2010-02-03T13:27:00.008+08:00

With the new year comes new TV shows and the return of old ones. We're here with some capsule reviews. Enjoy.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

JOSH: In theory, I should be in love with this new gladiator drama set in ancient Rome--it contains sex and violence in heavy doses. But I'm not.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand (even the title is dumb) looks a lot like a low-budget version of 300. Like 300, this show takes itself way too seriously, and the ridiculous overuse of slow-motion effects bogs down what is an already slow-moving plot. More often than not, I find myself fast-forwarding to the good parts (i.e., gratuitous sex scenes), and I'm not even sure if that's worth the effort. I mean, if I just want to see boobies, I can download some porn. I give this a

LIZZ: I was a huge fan of 300 and appreciated what the movie was trying to do, but I found it pretty boring. Spartacus is basically a mash-up of 300, Gladiator, and Rome, and despite all the gore and gratuitous nudity, I found it very boring. Watch Gladiator if you like blood, and Rome if you like boobs (at least all the nudity there served a purpose). I give this a

Human Target

JOSH: It's a show about a bodyguard. Guns and explosions, hooray! The last bodyguard-themed show I watched was Pamela Anderson's V.I.P., and Human Target feels somewhat similar to that, but with less comedy and more action.

It's mindless entertainment, and that's okay. It's fun.

LIZZ: I'm not too familiar with the comic version of Christopher Chance, so I was watching this with a pretty open mind. The first episode was a bit boring, but the second and third episodes were done quite well. It's a funny body guard/spy thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously. Also, Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach for you Watchmen fans out there) steals every single scene he's in.

Archer

JOSH: This new animated spy spoof has been described by some as James Bond meets Arrested Development. I think that sounds about right.

The writing is good, and the voice acting is excellent--Jessica Walter (Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development) in particular shines as the head of the dysfunctional spy agency. The jokes are crude, tasteless, and very funny. I love this show.

LIZZ: I'm a huge fan of Robot Chicken so I'm not averse to crazy/stupid kiddy shows, but I just couldn't wrap my head around this one. I don't find it very funny, and the animation isn't that great. In episode 4, there's a scene where you spend minutes on end staring at a door whilst voice-overs go on and on. Hooray for lazy animating.

Chuck Season 3

JOSH: In its third season, Chuck has taken on a darker tone as the average guy with a supercomputer stuck in his head continues to evolve into a real spy... with a supercomputer stuck in his head. Yes, the premise still sounds as dumb as it did in season 1. Fortunately, the show is still funny, and I like funny.

LIZZ: This is the first time I've seen an episode of Chuck, and I don't mind jumping in at season 3. I don't have any pressing desire to watch past seasons, but I do find myself looking forward to every new episode. I guess the fact that Brandon Routh is in it doesn't hurt. ;) I give Superman, er Chuck, a

24 Day 8

JOSH: Jack Bauer is back!

I'm glad to see that, after the previous two seasons started with oh-my-god-apocalypse then ran out of steam by mid-season, Day 8 is off to a relatively subdued start. The Dana Walsh/Jenny Scott subplot is hopelessly stupid, but the return of Renee Walker more than makes up for it. I'm not sure if this season will turn out to be as good as some of the earlier ones, but the loyal 24 fan in me gives it a

LIZZ: So the last time I watched 24 was way back when season 1 ended. I liked it well enough, but I wasn't able to catch the second season and after that I just forgot about it. :P Season 8 started off really well though, and my interest in the series has been rekindled. I actually like the actress playing Dana Walsh, but that plot point was indeed... pointless. :D Anyway, I give this a

And here's a little something for those of you who have read this far.

Sherlock Holmes: Hero or Hack?

2010-01-14T19:45:00.006+08:00

Before we get on with the Sherlock Holmes review, we'd like to give a big shout out to Dementia of Mukhang Pera.com who's hosting a lovely giveaway for YesNoMeh! If you want an awesome leather journal, hop on over to her site and join the YSN/MP contest! :D

LIZZ: Now that the plugging's over with, it's time to get down to business. Sherlock Holmes was, to put it bluntly, a star-powered, bumbling, ridiculous mess. I fell in love with RDJ in Iron Man (who didn't?), and while he was imminently more talented than the movie he was in, he just could NOT save this from itself. Growing up with my nose buried in the complete adventures of Sherlock Holmes pretty much meant that I actually liked the original version, and while I could not help but giggle at the Holmes/Watson interaction, I really have to say that this. Was. Not. Sherlock Holmes. -_-

It should be noted, however, that if one expects a complete overhaul of the genre (i.e. Star Trek), one should endeavor to enter the theater with an open mind. After all, Jude Law is no paltry actor, and he had fairly good chemistry with Downey Jr. Unfortunately, while the beginning of Sherlock Holmes proved light, quirky, and practically enjoyable, the middle part dragged like all hells. By the time the ending rolls around, I was left wondering why they even bothered explaining anything-- god knows I didn't care anymore.

I'd like to give this a NO, but because the actors were entertaining and Guy Ritchie used to be my hero, I'll give it

JOSH: Guy Ritchie was never my hero, so it's a NO for me.

I agree with most of what the girl said. Although the movie had its entertaining moments (and, to be honest, I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would), there's no compelling reason for you to see it on the big screen if you haven't done so yet. Just wait for the DVD--and even that may not be the best idea because this probably isn't a movie that you'd want to see repeatedly, and you risk dying of boredom if you watch an extended version.

Frutti FroYo: The Haagen Daaz of Yogurt

2010-01-08T21:00:00.001+08:00

We spotted a shiny new yogurt place called Frutti FroYo in Petron Square (along Katipunan Ave., Q.C.; click here for map) last night, and we decided to give it a try.

Frutti FroYo's setup is basically a yogurt buffet. You take an empty cup, put whatever type of frozen yogurt (they have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and cantaloupe) and toppings (lots of choices) you want in it, have it weighed at the counter, and pay 18 pesos per ounce. We forgot to check how much an empty cup weighs.

JOSH: I decided to top some strawberry and cantaloupe yogurt with chunks of peach and lychee. The result was delightful, although it looked like a bit of a mess because I dumped all the ingredients into the cup carelessly.

The yogurt was sweet and creamy, which is the kind I prefer, but you might not like it if you're a purist who thinks that yogurt should be sour and tangy. The cantaloupe-flavored yogurt in particular was quite good. I'd never had cantaloupe yogurt before, and I even had to ask the girl "What's a cantaloupe?" because I wasn't sure. Just in case you don't know, it's just another name for melon. Well, I ask the dumb questions so you don't have to. You're welcome.

Anyway, as I was enjoying possibly the best yogurt I've ever had, I thought I'd definitely have to give Frutti FroYo a yes. But that was only because the girl paid for it, shielding me from the pain of the hefty price tag. My modest cup of yogurt weighed 7.3 ounces, which translated to a little over 130 pesos. As yummy as it was, that's a lot to pay for a cup of yogurt.

Josh's Mix

If you don't mind spending 50-100% more than usual for the freedom to fine-tune both the type and amount of yogurt and toppings, then it's a yes--the quality is excellent, and mixing stuff is fun. If you're a cheap bastard, then it's an obvious no. I'm somewhere in between, so I say meh... maybe only on special occasions.

LIZZ: And really, who wants to spend special occasions dining above a gas station? High price notwithstanding, I really loved the self-service concept of Frutti FroYo. It's pretty much like every sugary dream I had when I was a kid, except that the yogurt was ice cream and that the self service part was stuffed animals feeding me with a pink spoon. :P

Seriously, though, I loved it. I'm incredibly OC, so putting together my own BTIC Triple Chocolate treat was awesome. I had a lot of fun measuring out the white and dark chocolate drops, pumping syrup out, and making a delicious swirl of chocolate and vanilla yogurt.

And the best part was that the yogurt didn't taste at all sour-- it tasted a lot like BTIC in that they were able to eliminate the sour tang of the non-fruit flavored yogurts. It was absolutely yummy!

I guess the only thing I didn't like about this place was the price, since two cups of yogurt cost us about the same amount we spent for a Japanese dinner at the next door Kamirori.

Lizz's Mix

Still, I enjoy the occasional treat every now and then, and at least Frutti FroYo gives you a lot more than Haagen Daaz does. I give this a

Frutti FroYo has a website that's still empty (under construction). They also have a more informative Facebook page.

Avatar: good vs. evil, aliens vs. humans, and oh yes, yummy popcorn

2009-12-18T18:03:00.015+08:00

JOSH: Before anything else, allow me to rave about Eastwood Mall's Ultra 7 theater. The huge reclining chairs made me very comfy, and the unlimited popcorn was perfect for a popcorn movie like Avatar. Of course, all that didn't come cheap--the tickets were 400 pesos each. But the girl paid for them, so... hooray!

Speaking of not cheap (yay segue), I've heard that Avatar is the most expensive movie ever made. I'm guessing that most of the budget went to CGI. James Cameron supposedly invented a revolutionary camera system, which I don't really understand, but the results are spectacular. There's a very organic feel to the alien planet of Pandora, and for the most part, the live action and the CGI blend together flawlessly. I imagine that the whole thing would look even more amazing on IMAX 3D.

What stops Avatar from being the awesomest movie ever is the plot. The story isn't bad, but it's predictable and completely lacking in surprises (which I guess makes it kind of bad after all). Also, the movie's official trailer gave away 95% of the already thin plot. Why, damn it, why?

This is the trailer. DO NOT WATCH.

The verdict? The plot and the characters are meh, but the stunning visuals and Ultra 7's unlimited popcorn make it a borderline yes for me.

LIZZ: Few people know this about me, but Pocahontas is my favourite Disney princess movie of all time. I love everything about it-- Pocahontas' difficulty in choosing between love and leadership, John Smith being all heroic and swashbuckl-y, and, oh yes, the fact that it's about how two warring races can be healed by listening to mother-freaking-nature.

I swear to God, there were 3 or 4 scenes in Avatar where I got the distinct feeling that all the Na'vi were going to burst into song in order to educate John-- that is, Jake-- about the error of his ways. It's pretty textbook Disney, with a bunch of cliches from Cameron's old movies thrown in for good measure.

Don't get me wrong-- I enjoyed it immensely. I'm grounded enough to admit that I had fun, but realistic enough to point out that there was no greatly original thing (except for the effects) to be found in this movie. I believe that there are no original stories, but that there are still original ways to tell them. Cameron himself admitted that this was Dances with Wolves in space, and with that admission he pretty much lowered the bar enough all on his own.

Still, there have been worse movies made, and this incredibly expensive, visually stunning popcorn flick is definitely worth a watch. After all, not many movies can boast making a 2 hour and 40 minute movie pass by in an eyeblink. James Cameron is many things, but one can never say he makes boring movies. I give this a hearty

D'Original Maki Haus: it's not Japanese

2009-12-14T20:05:00.027+08:00

When we were invited to D'Original Maki Haus one friday evening, we thought we were going to a Japanese restaurant. It turned out that the "maki" in the name refers to something that Josh the Chinese boy is quite familiar with: a thick Chinese soup with chunks of tender pork.

Aside from maki, D'Orginal Maki Haus also serves other popular Fookien dishes. We got to sample several of them, and we've decided to give each one the YesNoMeh treatment.

Maki-mi (maki with noodles) -
Php100 for regular, Php120 for large

JOSH: This is their house specialty, and it's at least as good as the maki at more well known restaurants.

LIZZ: This was the first time I'd had Maki, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Is it a soup? Is it viand? I'm still not sure, but it was yummy. :D

Siomai (a type of dumpling) - Php20 per piece

JOSH: The taste was just average, but they were the biggest siomai I'd ever seen.

LIZZ: Unfortunately, the large size couldn't make up for the very bland taste.

Oyster Cake ("oyster cake" is a misnomer--

it's more of an oyster omelette) - Php155

JOSH: I love oyster cake, and this one was okay, but I've had better.

LIZZ: It tasted a bit fishy, and for some reason, I kept biting into shells. (One small slice = 4 shell bits. :P)

Fried Squid - Php185

Steamed Fish Fillet - Php195

Cha-mi (stir-fried noodles) - Php125

Kiampong (literally "salty rice"; a type of fried rice) - Php35

JOSH: I'm not a big fan of kiampong, but they were quite generous with the peanuts, and I like peanuts.

LIZZ: Sticky rice with peanuts. What more can you ask for?

WRAPPING UP:

JOSH: Nothing on D'Original Maki Haus's menu is really that original. To someone familiar with Fookien cuisine, there aren't any major surprises. Their taste is quite authentic though (maybe that's what they meant by "original"). The overall quality of the food is quite good, and the prices are reasonable, so I give it a

LIZZ: I love Chinese food, and the taste coupled with the price makes me give this resto a

D'Original Maki Haus is located at 683 Banawe St. Quezon City. They've also recently opened a new branch at 59 Sct. Tobias St. Quezon City.

WINNERS of the Bobson and HBC giveaways!

2009-12-10T12:09:00.008+08:00

TIME FOR PRESENTS, OH BOY!

Aaaand the winners are:

HBC Beauty Pack: ELLEN JOY CASTEL

HBC Grooming Kit: HEARTLOCKS

Bobson Jeans Pack: MAUUUUU
(NOTE: We picked a new winner for the Bobson Pack due to not being able to ship outside of the Philippines! Congratulations Mau!)

We will be emailing the winners to get their mailing addresses shortly. :D Thanks for joining, everyone! Be sure to follow this blog to keep track of more giveaways in the future. :D

-Lizz & Josh

ACE Water Spa: rest, relaxation, and rotund men getting their buttocks massaged

2009-12-08T16:23:00.007+08:00

LIZZ: Okay, so the thing about ACE is that you don't really expect much going in. Hearing about it from friends means that I checked out the website first, and the website is... not that great. You'd think that people who made such an awesome place would have the dough to get a professional web designer, but there you go. To those of you with an evolved aesthetic sense, I encourage you to ignore the visual affront that both website and printed matter provide.

The actual spa was very well-designed, with a lovely restaurant/cafe attached to it. The 9 pools coupled with the herbal baths (flavored and colored green, yellow, and purple), were on par with those coffee and green tea baths that Japan hot springs are so known for. The staff was also quite friendly, and during the Christmas season are prone to wearing ridiculous (but fun) light-up tree hats on their heads.

The warm water, hydromassage jets, and overall experience of the place was just divine, and for an affordable P550 per person (for 4 hours of soaking fun), you know you've got to come back! I know I will. :D

JOSH: I would go back more often if they offer something like 2 hours for P300--we were done after 1 1/2 hours. I guess my body just couldn't handle extreme temperatures. I lasted about 5 minutes in the hot herbal pools, 3 minutes in the sauna, and maybe 8.5 seconds in the steam room. Yeah, I'm a wimp.

I did feel quite sleepy afterwards, which I guess meant that I was properly relaxed. The place was clean and visually pleasing despite the presence of several half-naked overweight gentlemen. I had a good time, and I felt happy for the rest of the day, so it was money well spent.

You know what would make the place even better? Giant water slides! The girl said that water slides are more appropriate for water parks and not for spas. Hmph. Spas are no fun. Well, the kid's area looked like lots of fun with two big water guns and a mini basketball hoop. Unfortunately, that area was already packed with children when we got there. I wanted to play too! Unfair.

Also, maybe they should turn down the power of the water jets a bit. One of them punched me in the, um, groin area, and it hurt.

But overall, it was a good and relaxing experience, so I give it a

Visit ACE Water Spa's website for the location map, contact info, and prices.

Bobson Jeans: Series II (and also, a giveaway!)

2009-12-01T15:17:00.024+08:00

YesNoMeh was one of the lucky blogs selected to preview Bobson's Series II collection last Friday, and we were able to inspect, pose with, and try on some of their awesome new pieces. The series II collection is a far cry from Bobson's old look, as it is edgier, more detailed, and a smidgen more expensive.

Prices range from P499.75 – P599.75 for tops, while bottoms go for P849.75 – P929.75. Items and the store locator may be viewed at the Bobson website.

LIZZ: Okay, admittedly I'm not a *huge* fan of jeans. I wear skirts, tiny shorts, and dresses most of the time, and when I wear jeans I want them to be as fashionable as the rest of my outfits. That said, I was incredibly impressed with the women's line of Bobson's Series II.

Their tops are every bit as girly and flowery as I want them to be, and their jeans with the leather flaps and the detailed stitching were to DIE for. Hello, People Are People, we no longer need your services because oh-em-gee, Bobson is giving us the "look" for a third of the price. :O (Schyeah, I was surprised when I saw the tags, too.)

Lizz holding the pink top and SEXY red leather-pocket flap jeans.
This goes on her Christmas list.

When it comes to getting more bang for your buck, I urge the mums out there to head to the nearest Bobson. You can support Philippine products AND keep up with the latest trends. I give this a resounding

JOSH: Unlike the girl, I don't know much about fashion. I tend to choose comfort over style when left to my own devices. Bobson's jeans and shirts feel quite comfortable, and that's good enough for me.

Mmm... soft and tasty.

Lizz says they're stylish too, and I believe her because I trust her fashion sense--she picked out most of the stuff I've been wearing lately. So I give Bobson's new collection a

AND NOW, A CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY FROM BOBSON!

We're giving away the loot bag we got from the event. It contains a nice black Bobson shirt (size M), a belt, a cap, and a mug that says "Best Dad" (not sure what that's about). We'll have a raffle on December 9, 2009, and everyone who comments on this blog entry and has a Philippine address will have a chance to win. Just be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you.

HBC Annual Sale = Giveaways for YesNoMeh Readers!

2009-11-26T19:52:00.018+08:00

It's the Christmas season again, and HBC celebrates the end of 2009 by giving their customers a chance to partake of the HBC Tatak Exclusibo sale! As a proudly Philippine brand, HBC has been supplying Filipinos with health and beauty products year after bountiful year. Their annual sale will be running from November 30 to December 8, so hurry on to the nearest HBC outlet (they've got more than 200 branches!) and start shopping!

As an early Christmas gift (and opening bash for YesNoMeh), we've decided to give away some of these wonderful HBC Gift Packs!

Gift Pack A: ALLUE Beauty Products

Gift Pack A is comprised of the following HBC ALLUE beauty products:
1) ALLUE Beauty Book (contains Lip Creme, Pressed Powder and Cheek Blush-- all in shades of pink)
2) ALLUE Flower Lip Gloss Pen Set (contains 3 mouthwatering flavors!),
3) ALLUE Fruity Lip Balm Delight (in strawberry)
4) ALLUE Glam Rock Lip Performance Crayon (shade 04)
5) ALLUE shimmer blush gel (shade 01), and...
6) ALLUE Lip Conditioner (in berry).

*All of this also comes in a little transparent tote that you can use as a makeup kit! :D

Gift Pack B: OHM Men's Care Products

Gift Pack B is comprised of the following HBC OHM men's care products:
1) OHM Cologne Spray in 'Velocity' (50ml)
2) OHM Cologne Spray in 'Power' (50ml)
3) OHM Hair Gel-o in 'Inigo' (100g)
4) OHM Body Soap in 'Kinetic'
5) OHM Body Soap in 'Heat'

How to join:

Step 1: Write a blog entry answering one or both of these two easy questions:

1. What is your favorite beauty ritual? -- if you want to win Gift Pack A
2. Why is grooming important? -- if you want to win Gift Pack B

(Yes, you can have a chance to win both gift packs if you answer both questions.)

Step 2: Include a link to http://www.yesnomeh.com/ anywhere in your blog entry.

Step 3: Post the link to your blog entry in the comment section below.

The deadline for entries is December 9, 2009 and is open to anyone with a Philippine address (so we can ship your prize!). The winners will be chosen by public random draws on random.org.

The Sandwich Guy: affordable AND edible!

2009-11-24T17:12:00.015+08:00

The Sandwich Guy @ Eastwood City, Q.C.

JOSH: I have a confession to make: I'm a cheap bastard. Whenever I can get a meal for less than 100 pesos, I feel giddy, and the quality of the food becomes a secondary consideration for me. So the moment I saw the wide range of reasonably priced sandwiches on The Sandwich Guy's menu, many of them half the price of what you'd find in Subway, I had pretty much decided to give it a yes as long as the food doesn't taste like crap.

So how was the food? Well, the baked salmon sandwich I got wasn't great--it was a bit too salty. I had a bite of Lizz's roast beef sandwich, and I liked that one better.

But overall, everything was decent and didn't taste like crap. I know that it doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, and it isn't. Still, considering the affordable prices and the wide range of choices, I have to give The Sandwich Guy a YES.

LIZZ: While I love the fact that almost everything in this cafe is less than a hundred bucks, I felt that the sandwich could've used a little more work. The bread was a bit soggy when it got to me, and the roast beef tasted a bit processed. Still, I liked the ambiance of the place; it was clean, bright, and the staff were all very nice. Their black gulaman was also nice (not a lot of restos carry this particular brand; I wish more would because I love it), but they didn't really have any of their own drinks. (I think offering some fruit shakes would've been nice.)

Anyway, I give this a Meh.

That's the roast beef sandwich.

New Moon: a vampire, a werewolf, and a zombie

2009-11-23T14:08:00.005+08:00

*Bella is the zombie.

LIZZ: Ah, where do I begin with the Twilight phenomenon? There aren't any insults that can be hurled at this monstrosity that haven't already been said, no projectile vomit that hasn't yet been spewed. New Moon was peppered with twice as much cliched dialogue as its predecessor, and one can't help but wonder if the saga is so popular in spite of this or because of it.

The audience was mostly comprised of tweeners and love-struck twenty-somethings, with the occasional smattering of middle-aged couples who wanted to see what all the fuss was about. In retrospect, I wonder what the married adults thought about the values that Meyer was preaching to the avid teens.

I mean, the Bella/Edward relationship is clearly a good girl/bad boy dynamic, while Bella/Jacob is the good girl/boy-next-door stereotype. If stripped down to the bare plot, the lesson to be gleaned (for boys), is that no matter how nice you are or how much you care about a girl, she's going to end up with the boy who alternately stalked her, dumped her, and crushed her self-esteem into a million tiny pieces. For the girls, the lesson is this: No matter how badly he treats you or how physically dangerous being around his family is, you must never lose hope in your first boyfriend because hey, spending one whole semester together means it's True Love and that you must never, ever, let it go. Also, furry pale chests trump toned, tanned muscle-y ones any day of the week.

Verdict? Yeah, that'd be a resounding

JOSH: Robert Pattinson should have waxed his hairy chest.

Between Kristen Stewart's lifeless acting and Stephenie Meyer's thin source material, the movie never really had a chance. The thing that surprised me though is the slow pace. I have no idea how members of the ADHD generation managed to stay awake until the end.

And, for the record, I only agreed to watch the movie because Lizz paid for the tickets. So please, don't make fun of me.

Don't look at me! I'm so ashamed.