I've been waiting for the opening of Pepper Lunch ever since chuvaness posted about winning the franchise for the Philippines. Pepper Lunch is a Do-It-Yourself "fast steak" restaurant originally from Japan. Think yummy, juicy, yet affordable (read: not fine dining price) steaks served on a hot (iron) plate. And it's available here in Manila starting tomorrow, May 16 at the Power Plant Mall Food Court/Concourse. It's right in front of Rustan's Fresh supermarket, where Shakey's used to be.

I planned on going Saturday, but through the kindness of homaygess, I was able to preview Pepper Lunch with Fiona Wednesday night. We both had the Cut Steak and Hamburger Steak Combo with Coke Zero. The meal was so filling. The hamburger steak was so juicy!





Are you hungry now? XD Don't just take my word for it, go to Rockwell tomorrow and try it out yourselves. Go go go!

aznpoptart posted to order dessert, so Fiona and I got both the molten chocolate cake and the vanilla crepe cake. Pepper Lunch's steakauthority told us to cut the molten chocolate cake in the middle. Chocolate lava flowed out. So sinful! This will surely satisfy anyone's chocolate craving.



I made inroads on the vanilla crepe before taking a picture. Sorry, low EQ, especially when it comes to food! Heehee. This dessert is served cold, and is my favorite of the two. It has just the right amount of sweetness, and I think it's perfect when paired with coffee.



I admit, I was star struck at meeting chuvaness in the flesh. She and her husband Jeroen were so kind and gracious. We got invited to next day's lunch, but we had to decline because our office is in Eastwood pa. If only we worked in the Makati area!


See you again at Pepper Lunch!

I thought at first that it was Photoshopped. I was wrong.



I'm keen to read the entire article. I've been out of touch since Super Tuesday. Is he _that_ a sure thing for Time to actually print that title?

I admit, I was one of the skeptics - Robert Downey Jr. playing a comic book super hero? My last film memories of him were 1994's Only You with my cousin Vinnie's girlfriend, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Somehow I've associated him with a clumsy, bungling oaf. But he pulled of Iron Man wonderfully. Now I can't think of anyone who would fit the role better. Somehow, he managed to make the corny scenes (Tony + Pepper) less cringe-worthy.

There's something funny and endearing about RDJ playing Tony Stark that makes me long for a sequel soon. It probably helps that Iron Man is one of the lesser known superheroes, and the movie itself was less hyped up than say, The Dark Knight, or even Hulk.

I like watching comic book movies. There's really no need to analyze the story since they've been published for years. There's just this burning curiosity on how an actor takes on both roles - the superhero and his alter ego - and how technology interprets the superhero's powers and gadgets. And then you just sit there and absorb mind numbing CGI and the action.

If you haven't seen it yet, go now. I think this will be appreciated even by the non-comic book fans. But, if you're a fangirl/by don't forget to stay till after the credits for the coolness that is Samuel L. Jackson. And watch out for Stan Lee's cameo during a benefit. :D

Caffeine is my shepherd;
I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures:
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz:
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no Equal™: (or Splenda?)
For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks:
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the House of Mochas forever.
                                                                 ~Author Unknown

This was taken from The Coffee Hunter.

I got a small jar of Coffee Alamid from S.O.U.L. Cafe during the Holy Week vacation and only recently did I venture to brew some if it again. When we ordered 2 cups at the cafe itself, we didn't really get a full taste, as I felt they stinted the coffee to stretch to 2 cups. Lolo brewed some back at home and only then did I get a full taste of the coffee that a civet shiteth.



Truthfully, it was nothing spectacular. It tasted like barako mixed with a tablet of cacao; you know, those hard, bitter rounds you brew to make this thick chocolate drink that's yummy with suman. Anyway, I digress. It doesn't taste like crap, but it's not something world-changing either. And for those curious enough to buy a cup, have them use a French press to brew it. Brings out the taste better, imho.

If you're getting a cup from S.O.U.L. Cafe, a cup costs Php170-180 afaik. Here in Manila, it's around Php300 a cup. A bottle costs Php450 at S.O.U.L. Cafe.

Let's drink shit and be merry!