The first two parts of our series of Marathon Friend’s Running Tips highlighted the power of positivity, home-made gels and toilet strategies! Now we hear from our trail running pal Alvin from Pimco Sporting Events and Eugene.
Continue reading Marathon Friend’s Running Tips – Alvin Balderama and Eugene Yasay
The first part of our series of Marathon Friend’s Running Tips was thanks to our good friend Raul Concepcion aka the Running Shield where we learned about the power of positive thinking in terms of appreciating the challenges along the way so as to make the victory of finishing a marathon so much sweeter in the end.
Now it is time for some marathon tips brought to you by Filipina Berns Tan and Australian Karen Reimann.
Continue reading Marathon Friend’s Running Tips – Berns Tan and Karen Reimann
Wagyu simply means Japanese (Wa) cattle (gyu). The farmers rely on hormones and grains to bulk up their cattle with a resulting softness of the sub-cutaneous pure white fat. The average Wagyu steer carcass contains about 35% fat, in some cases fat can constitute more than 40% of the carcass. 
The cattle even get beer to stimulate their appetite whilst simultaneously deliberately restricting their exercise to prevent muscle toughness. http://www.luciesfarm.com/artman/publish/article_39.shtml
Eat Your Greens
Farmers who engage in the practice of raising their livestock on grass get more beef per pound compared with grain fed livestock since the grain fed livestock end up with significantly more fat than those which are able to eat grass.
How To Be Leaner – Eat Greens, not Grains
When you eat a lot of grains you are continuously spiking your blood sugar levels, which then stimulates your appetite so that you eat more. What’s worse is that you never feel as satiated compared to eating good fats, proteins and vegetables. As a result you then consume more throughout the day. To be leaner, like the grass fed cows, eat your greens, do some exercise and leave the grains for the Wagyu. 
The Final Word: “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” Hippocrates circa 400 BC
Kinilaw (also known as Kalawin) is my favorite Primed Filipino dish to prepare and eat. It is a dish loaded with Omega 3, vitamins and minerals and is delicious by itself or served on avocado chunks, kangkong leaves and even wrapped in cabbage leaves. My fondest memories of enjoying this dish was way back in 2002 whilst watching the Football World Cup with Chef Cyrille at the InterContinetal Manila.
It is quite a simple dish to prepare as all you need are fresh ingredients and a sharp knife.
Continue reading Primed Tanigue Kinilaw with Extra Vegetables and Avocado
Sala Restaurant has been a favorite of mine for many years (as well as People’s Palace) as Chef Colin Mackay really knows how to run a great restaurant. The success of The Blackbird Restaurant a few minutes walk away is testament to that.
Despite all the new and shiny restaurants opening it is always great to go to a local favorite like Sala where you know the ambience is relaxing, the service professional and the food top notch.
Relaxing Ambience
Sala is small, quaint and relaxing. The tables are not crowded together, the acoustics are good and there is a nice view onto the courtyard where you forget that Makati Avenue is but a few meters away.
A Great Start
There can be no better start to a meal than a refreshing glass of good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. We tried The Ned 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand P580 glass/ P1440 bottle and thoroughly enjoyed the crisp and vibrant flavors. It was a typical NZ Sauv Blanc that was to serve as a magnificent contrast to our next oak aged Spy Valley “Envoy” Sauvignon Blanc 2011.
My starter was a Moorish soup of chorizo, chestnuts and saffron P480 that was a delight of hearty tomato, spicy chorizo and a textured chestnut finish that lasted long on my palate.
The Spy Valley “Envoy” Sauvignon Blanc 2011 P1060 (special price from Lester of Zen Asia) was a perfect accompaniment to my soup as it was full bodied and in the earthy French style of a Bordeaux white. The color, bouquet and taste left you wanting to buy 6 to take home and enjoy with your home-made Primed dishes such as Squash Carbonara or Lamb Shoulder with daikon and squash “rice”.
Other Appealing Starters
Timbale of tiger prawn and crab remoulade with lemon and chive vinaigrette P480
Seared fresh Breton scallops, cauliflower puree, golden raisin and caper relish, bacon and rocket salad P720
Wonderfully Rich and Full-flavored Main
My main was a Slow braised veal cheek, Brussels sprout and bacon Colacannon, horseradish gremolata P1100. My dish was melt-in-your-mouth delicious with other appealing main courses being:
Juniper and thyme roast duck breast, roast pears and parsnips, carrot puree and cranberry jus P1480
Dry rubbed and grilled lamb cutlet and tenderloin, pumpkin pansotti, spinach and goat’s cheese P1480
Grilled Mulwarra beef tenderloin, guanciale roasted mushroom, horseradish potato galette and confited garlic jus P1880
Dessert
In keeping with my Primed Lifestyle my dessert was nothing sweet but a double espresso with no sugar or milk.
Great Wines from Zen Asia
Being an Aussie citizen who was born in New Zealand I am slightly biased towards their wines. Lester Harvey from Zen Asia has some wonderful wines from these countries,(as well as South Africa). For a look at their wine stock please email Lester at lester@zenasiainc.com.
Our red wine with the main course was an excellent South Australian red from Langhorne Creek called Heartland. The grapes were a combination of 51% Dolcetto and 49% Lagrein (typically northern Italian varietels but grown in South Australia). Their website accurately describes the wine as having a “smoothly textured palate of dark fruit, a bouquet garni of herbs and spices and a long savoury finish.”
The Final Words
I highly recommend Sala Restaurant for a Primed business lunch, a special occasion celebration or simply a group of friends like ours. Cheers Lester, Maureen, Dondi and Greg.
RESERVATIONS +632 750 1555 / +632 893 0242
email info@salarestaurant.com
6752 Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Pickled vegetables like kimchi, cucumbers and ginger are probiotics that can aid the health of your stomach. They make for delicious snacks or additions to salads and side dishes to your main meal. Here are two of my favorite pickled dishes.
Primed Danish Pickled Cucumbers
I was born in Auckland New Zealand and was adopted to a couple living in Hong Kong when I was 1-month old. My new Dad was an Aussie and my Mum Danish. This is where I learned to appreciate many Danish dishes such as Frickadella, Red Cabbage and Risalamande.
I will start with one of the simplest Danish dishes from my childhood that is also one of the tastiest. Danish Pickled Cucumbers are a great side dish to chicken, pork and beef, goes well in a salad and is a nice snack with julienne carrots. I prefer it on top of our Primed Tuna and Squash Patties.
Just as an aside, I only found out I was adopted when I was 28 years old!
Continue reading Danish Pickled Cucumber and Pickled Ginger Recipes – Good for Gut Health
RIP Joan Rivers, you will be sorely missed. You and Robin Williams were two of the funniest people in the world and you’re impact was profound.
Malunggay used to be known as the poor man’s vegetable in the Philippines. Maybe it is true with respect to material wealth, but those who eat a lot of malunggay are rich in health due to the myriad of health benefits derived from this abundant and wondrous small leaf.
The malunggay tree is known as the miracle tree for good reason. The leaves, stem and even roots have properties that have some of these benefits: anti-ageing, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, increase sperm count and beauty/skin treatment among others.
Who doesn’t love a good quality chocolate brownie? Our whole family does but we make ours with Prime ingredients to make it a treat that is good for you in the right quantities.
There are many health benefits to Dark Chocolate such as being high in antioxidants; high in minerals like magnesium and iron; is an anti-inflammatory; helps liver function, reduces blood pressure; and minimises the risk of cardio vascular disease and stroke.
Continue reading Primed Dark Chocolate Brownie
Like most people I love chocolate, and in particular Dark Chocolate (my definition is 70% cocoa and above). I don’t really need much encouragement to eat Dark Chocolate especially after discovering its many healthy benefits.
8 GOOD REASONS TO EAT DARK CHOCOLATE
(1) No cholesterol
(2) Very low in sodium
(3) High in dietary fiber
(4) Very high in iron
(5) Very high in magnesium
(6) Very high in phosphorus
(7) It tastes great
(8) High in saturated fats which is a great source of energy in a healthy, balanced diet. Saturated fats can help your lungs, bones and immune system among other benefits.
Dark chocolate improves blood pressure and improves blood flow.
Continue reading Dark Chocolate. Love it and have to eat it!
Primed for Your Life 