BGC Eats Food Tour 2014: Food Photography with Mylene Chung and Healthy Eats with Denise Celdran

My friends and I had a great time with the BGC Eats Food Tour last year so we made spontaneous purchases to be able to join.

We were able to join two out of four food tour slots: Food Photography with Mylene Chung and Healthy Eats with Denise Celdran

Food Photography with Mylene Chung
We opted for this schedule because we have high regards for Mylene Chung of Pepper.ph.  We figured among the expert guests, she would be the one with the best picks.  Like all BGC Eats Food Tour, the main guide is still JJ Yulo.

1st Stop: Orale!
Orale! was undergoing renovation so we were just given packed tacos. 

2nd Stop: Sarsa
Most of our time was spent in Sarsa.  I've heard a lot of buzz around Sarsa so I'm glad this was chosen.  Each dish served is to be divided among 6 BGC Eats Food Tourist.
 

Crispy Panara Rolls

Crispy Dilis

Liempo-Q

Inasal Tofu

3rd Stop: Tipple & Slaw
We hardly rode the bus because the next 2 stops were also in Forum South Global where Sarsa is also located.  Tipple & Slaw looks like a bar.  For each 4-5 seater table, we shared one dish.  Everyone enjoyed all the dishes and drinks served. 

Salmon and Dill

Chicken Nuggets

Poutine

House Blend Iced Tea

4th Stop: Marmalade Kitchen
We all had high hopes and expectations from Marmalade Kitchen because of the great interiors of the place.  Sad to say, not one of the treats served was able to meet our expectations.

This is the first time I've seen so many cookies that tasted similarly sugar and flour.

I liked this the most although a bit sweet.

Healthy Eats with Denise Celdran
I enjoyed the Healthy Eats better than the first.  It's technically not healthy but they do give healthy or at least healthier tips along the way.  Plus, it had 5 stops instead of the normal 4.

1st Stop: Salo
Salo offers very affordable meals.  It is located where Shawarma Guy used to be.  One dish is shared by 4-5 persons.

Kamote Chips

Adobong Kangkong

Tokwa't Baboy

Tuyosilog

2nd Stop:Soy Yummy
Everyone enjoyed Soy Yummy.  We all had a cup of our chosen flavor.  It's my first time to try it.  It's so delicious!

3rd Stop: Suzhou
Our most fulfilling stop is Suzhou!  We were served so many delicious dishes that it was us who surrendered.

Sour and Hot Soup

Scallion Pancake

Fried Noodles

Kuchay Dumplings

Salt and Pepper Tofu

Fortune Cookie

4th Stop: Phat Pho
Phat Pho complied with the healthiness.  It was also delicious.  I'll be back for their phos and banh mi.

Chicken Satay and Rice Paper Rolls Chilled Shrimp

Calamansi

5th Stop: Crisp on the 28th
Crisp on the 28th is another restaurant from Erwann Heussaff...  This just opened a few weeks ago so we're really to have one of the first dibs on it.  Everything was so good albeit pricey-looking.  We were all so full at this point.  But, the food was irresistible so we all tried it but were no longer able to finish them all.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed BGC Eats Food Tour 2014!  I can't wait for next year.

5 Home-Based Business Ideas for Techies

Many people choose to work for an employer rather than for themselves because they believe that they need the security of a regular income. However, there are a few who have a burning desire to be in charge of their own destiny and it is these people who strive to start a business of their own instead of working for another company. If you are determined to strike out on your own and are a technology enthusiast, one of the following business ideas may be worth considering.

1.    Servicing laptops. This is ideal for home workers because the vast majority of clients will require a home visit, which means that there is no need to rent an impressive office in an expensive part of town. Online advertising would probably be the cheapest method of attracting new customers although there is no reason why you cannot distribute leaflets and brochures in your local area too. You will of course need to have the necessary skills to carry out repairs on notebook computers so it is not something that everybody can do.

2.    Designing websites. For creative people who also have a working knowledge of HTML and other technologies commonly employed on websites, this could be a very convenient way to start building a business from home. Because all the work can be delivered online, there is no need to restrict yourself to local customers when starting a business of this nature. As long as you are able to communicate with potential clients in their native language, you can provide a website design service that spans the globe.

3.    Installing home security systems. Now that many systems are built around IP cameras, which communicate with a centrally located server using standard computer network protocols, any techie with a working knowledge of how to put a small home network together could possibly install residential security systems. Many people are worried about protecting their home from burglars when they are out so there is a strong demand for such systems. If you like the idea of starting your own home security business, you will probably need to study the systems that are already available and adapt them to meet the needs of individual customers rather than designing your own systems from scratch.

4.    Troubleshooting software issues on desktop and laptop computers. Many people use a PC on a daily basis but as soon as something goes wrong with their machines, they have very little idea of how to fix the problem. If you are used to installing new programs, tinkering with the settings and finding solutions to any issues that arise with the operation of the applications you use, this potentially lucrative business idea could be worth considering. Advertising for customers would again mostly be carried out online, in order to keep your start-up costs to a minimum.

5.    Repairing mobile phones.  The growing number of people that use smartphones on a daily basis makes this business idea one that could provide you with a decent income for many years to come. There are various technical courses that you can attend to learn about the inner workings of smartphones if you are not already proficient at repairing them and if you promote your new venture efficiently, you could recoup the cost of these courses in no time.

Starting a new business is definitely not for everybody but for those who wish to build an income stream that allows them the freedom to stop working for other people, it is the only viable option and one that can be very rewarding in the long run.

---

Raiza Pepino is writing on a freelance basis for Regus in the Philippines. They are one of the top providers of video conferencing solutions along with serviced offices for rent. You can see some of her works via Google+ and Twitter.