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\r\n 20th Grand Wine Experience: A Grand Reunion<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I struggled to write about this year\u2019s Grand Wine Experience (for personal reasons), but I wanted to start off the article writing one true sentence that captures what I felt about the event: It was like a massive reunion\u2026 A reunion of wine-minded individuals who haven\u2019t really hung out in three years over a multitude of great drinks. Grand Wine was put on hold because of the pandemic (obviously). I was told by Ronnie Joseph himself that it would have been half-baked if they pushed through last year, what with the restrictions imposed at the time\u2026 and I agreed. To…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n That Something About Japan<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Here\u2019s the thing: I\u2019d like to think I\u2019m pretty traveled. I mean, I\u2019m no Anthony Bourdain (hence \u201ctraveled\u201d versus \u201cwell-traveled\u201d), but I\u2019ve been to several places on the planet and have made lifelong friends each time. Here’s the big giant “but”: There\u2019s something about Japan that always makes me feel that whatever time I spend there is too short. When Chad and I talked about it, it hit us: Japan has such a range of culinary styles and drinks that vary per restaurant\/region\u2026 So much so that one could never run out of places to eat\/food to try\/drinks to \u2013…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n The 20th Grand Wine Experience \u2013 Bud Break<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cGrand Wine Experience is where relationships are made\u2026\u201d Ronnie Joseph partnered post \u2026and I\u2019ll leave the quote at that. \ud83d\ude09 Don\u2019t get me wrong, I love the theme of the 20th Grand Wine Experience, Bud Break. It appeals to the wine geek in me: Bud Break is the period in vinification where new buds start sprouting\u2026 a beautiful promise made by nature that this harvest will yield grapes for wine production. It is so fitting because it is the first GWE since the pandemic, and I feel that it really captures its spirit: \u201cIt is a celebration of life, a…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n If It All Goes South\u2026<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u2026it was a lot of fun Sammy Rae & The Friends partnered post Maybe it\u2019s fate, maybe it\u2019s coincidence\u2026 But the timing of writing an article about wines from the south of France in a restaurant that sated my French viennoisserie cravings in Alabang while celebrating 6 years of being a southie is nothing short of capturing lightning in a bottle. A bottle of Provence ros\u00e9 perhaps? Bien s\u00fbr. Let me dissect it like I would a perfectly made pain au chocolat. <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n A Wine Soir\u00e9e with Philippine Wine Merchants<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Partnered Post I have a confession to make: One of the reasons why I took an extra long hiatus from writing is the fact that I started to write to please people. Truthfully, right before the pandemic a lot of the dinners became so formulaic. My articles reflected it: Discuss dinner. Discuss wine. Discuss pairing. Avoid witty statements. Focus on making the tasting notes so accurate, it makes the hardest wine snob weep. But that\u2019s not who I am\u2026 and one of the few beauties that the pandemic brought was the time (and excuse) to refresh, rediscover my tone, and…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Negroni Adventures of a Passenger Princess<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Partnered post It\u2019s alcohol events season again\u2026 and what better way to (momentarily) come out of my writing hiatus than by sharing a classic cocktail (or five, with a twist) with like-minded GV people? I mean if the title wasn\u2019t a giveaway already\u2026 The night \u2013 and booze \u2013 in question was clearly a lot of fun. I must credit Melissa Ferrer, Director of Communications of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, for the term Passenger Princess and the yummy Negronis. Yes, Negronis. Plural. With an \u201cs\u201d. Let me backtrack. Negroni Adventures of a Passenger Princess was last modified: September 22nd, 2023…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Bringing It Back to What’s Important – An AMA Summer<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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In the interest of keeping it real, I would like to make this confession: I have been feeling discouraged after experiencing what I\u2019d like to call \u201ca few minor work setbacks.\u201d Just as I was starting to wallow in the pit of frustration, however… I received the best message ever: A request from our partners from Liwanag ng Masilaw to do a fundraiser benefitting families financially hit by cancer. I was so grateful because it allowed me to take stock of why I\u2019m still doing \u201cthe wine thing.\u201d It involves the promise I made to my father to help people…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Have a Japanese Holiday with Mitsukoshi and JETRO<\/strong><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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One of my favorite Christmases involved a 2019 trip to Japan… After all, there is something to be said about Japan having some of the best sights, people, transportation, shopping, food, and drinks on earth. It was the experience that cemented my love for sake, Japanese beer, and pairing them with scrumptious food from a nearby neighborhood izakaya. With travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, we had to make do with what we could find locally for a couple of Christmases. Much as we love Japanese mom and pop groceries in different parts of the metro, however\u2026 There is nothing…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Ask Us Anything \u2013 Christmas 2022<\/strong><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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As an adult, Christmas season means a flurry of activity \u2013 parties left right and center (especially since Metro Manila establishments are really opening up after years of pandemic misery), prepping for said parties, and tons of shopping. Personally, it makes me long for Christmas from a child\u2019s perspective: Forcing myself to stay up waiting for Santa (chimney optional), lots of our mamita\u2019s heart-attack\/diabetes\/sugar-rush inducing food, Alvin and The Chipmunks on vinyl, and of course\u2026 TOYS. Loads of them. As a bona fide #titaofmanila \u2013 complete with the seasonal exhaustion and capacity to make my own holiday feast (with wine,…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","max_pages":16}