Hype about Hyphy's

Checked out Hyphy's in Ortigas last night to see for myself what the buzz was all about. Besides, who wouldn't be intrigued when this restaurant is said to be the creation of Chef Bruce Lim himself, yes THE Bruce Lim you watch on the Asian Food Network. I guess I want to see for myself whether the food and ambience is really worth trying, and worth returning to. I guess when you're faced with so many restaurant choices in Metro Manila every weekend, it really pays to be discriminating.

First off the AMBIENCE. I would say the ambience was not too welcoming. It doesn't say immediately to you, please come in and be comfortable. Except for the cushioned seats on the side, the chairs are wooden and something I find too utilitarian. I guess the message of that kind of set-up is, just do your business and get out. Believe it or not, that's what we just did. If not for the free wi-fi access, we just couldn't bother staying for a bit longer.

Airconditioning was not too cold nor too hot, so it was really not an issue. Lighting also was not a problem either. Overall, the ambience wants to give the look of a warehouse--bright, airy, spacious, minimalist, industrial, not sure if patterned after the ones in San Francisco, but surely a warehouse--with the unadorned cement wall, partially covered metal scaffolding ceiling, brick wall facade, and utilitarian chairs and floor tiles--one that reminds me of the interiors of Yellow Cab Pizza. Would have preferred if the interiors were made to give the feel of San Francisco, with cable cars, San Francisco bridge, and photos of Fisherman's Wharf, streets of Lombardi, Victorian houses, or something that reminds you of that famous and beautiful city.

Second, the MENU. The menu folder looks ok. But that's superficial. The food selection is what's more important. Being the excited eaters that we were, went thru the entire list and couldn't pick the ones that seemed great to eat based on the photos. So we asked the waiter what the best seller is and he recommended the calamansi tuyo pasta. Since my daughter has allergies to really fishy food, we declined. So my daughter and I just opted for clam chowder on sourdough bread and the SF steak sandwich, after all, we were expecting to get into that San Francisco reminiscing mode. My son, who's not very adventurous, got chicken fingers, while Kiko got molo soup and fish burger sandwich.

Funny but with the varied (almost too many) choices from pancit molo, to spam masubi, to mom's meatloaf, we felt like we were in Via Mare + Reyes Barbecue + TGIFriday's + some fusion resto rolled into one. It was quite confusing.

Third and most importantly, the FOOD itself. Forget the ambience and menu, at the end of the eating experience, it's really the taste of the food that will give the lasting impression and will make us decide to come back. The chicken fingers were just okay, per my teenaged son, but he said it's a little bit salty. I did try it out for myself and it was, and worse, lacking in flavor. I'm very sensitive about the use and re-using of oil in frying and I must say, the chicken fingers and french fries were fried with re-used oil. It didn't taste fresh, sorry to say.

Was so excited to taste the clam chowder on sourdough but was disappointed it didn't measure up to my expectation. The clam chowder was just too thick, nearly pasty, salty, and lacking in flavor and probably used cheap cream fillers. I was looking for that garlicky, buttery, bacon-y taste you find in clam chowders in SF, plus, I'm just not used to carrots in my chowder, celery perhaps but not carrots. The sourdough bread isn't what I expected because not only was it not that fresh, it was not sourdough bread the way I know sourdough bread is supposed to be.

Okay, quite sad about the chowder but the redemption came with the SF Steak Sandwhich. Now this was quite nice and my daughter and I really enjoyed the special mustard sauce, tender beef and fresh greens--altho I guess it won't hurt if the beef was super tender and juicy :)

Drinks were just okay, altho I really liked the house blend iced tea--really one of a kind and quite refreshing.  The warm calamansi juice I requested was just right.

SF Steak Sandwich:

Pancit Molo Soup:

Chicken Fingers:

Clam Chowder on Sourdough:

Fish Burger:

 Drinks:

Overall, my verdict is, the ambience could improve a bit to make it more comfy and make people want to hang out with friends and family and not just to eat. I guess the longer people hang-out, the more they tend to get more food? The menu is definitely confusing. The food is so-so because for people like us who've been to San Francisco and tasted the real deal, we can't help but compare and the Hyphy SF experience just really fell short of that. I suggest they use really fresh stuff from the oil they use to fry food to the bread they use as shell for the chowder. It's really freshness and quality that create that value customers come back for.

Would be great if they expand the salads menu, put in more seafood fare (like crabs and shrimp dishes) and make it at least nearly representing SF Fisherman's Wharf fare. At the end of the day, the marketing hype + resto concept + food experience must all sort of converge for a unique and pleasant experience. Any incongruence in expectations just won't cut it.

I guess if I score this place, I would rate it at 2 stars out of 5, but then again, it's just our opinion. Believe it or not, me and my family are probably more picky and more discriminating than most people anyway, being well-traveled and more exposed to international cuisine and situations.

So, the final question is, would we go back? Well, given so many restaurant choices in Metro Manila nowadays and because we always want value for our weekend eating-out budget, probably not :(

Hyphy's is located at the G/F of Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas Center. Price range for this restaurant is from PHP150-450 per order. 

Gas Remote Control Cars: A Hobby Like No Other

Ever wondered what gas remote control cars are? These are remote control cars that are collectively referred to as those powered by nitro and gasoline engines. Since nitro remote control cars are powered by engines that use nitro methane, methanol and oil—which are by nature natural gases, they fall under the category of gas remote control cars.

Even though belonging to the larger umbrella of gas-powered remote control cars, with nitro and gasoline as two common ways to fuel remote control cars, technically, they are quite different from each other.

Remote control cars powered by nitro methane are said to be more common than gasoline remote control cars. However, gasoline remote control cars are gaining popularity among car enthusiasts, and for so many reasons.

In terms of speed, nitro remote control cars are said to be much faster than or nearly as fast as gasoline remote control cars. Nitro cars can go as fast as 50-60 mph, sometimes topping the speed of gasoline cars that run from 70-80 mph depending on size of engine and car type. Speed is fast becoming less of an issue now than before.

In general nitro cars are much slimmer and more portable than gasoline remote control cars. Nitro cars can be nearly half the size of gasoline powered cars, ranging between 1/8 to 1/5 scale. Because gasoline powered cars are relatively larger, they cost much more than their smaller nitro counterparts.

In terms of power, gasoline-powered cars have a clear advantage over nitro cars. Gasoline cars due to their sheer size allow them to generate more torque, thereby enabling them to handle more off-road obstacles.  The opposite is true for nitro remote control cars.

When it comes to maintenance, gasoline-powered cars are said to likewise have an edge over nitro cars. They are considered easier to keep up in comparison to nitro cars that require a lot of maintenance and regular parts replacement in order to achieve top performance in race competitions. However, changing fuel or refuelling of nitro cars are said to be easier compared to gasoline powered cars wherein you have to add the fuel carefully in proper proportions.

To sum, gas remote control cars are not the same as gasoline remote control cars in the sense that gasoline remote control cars falls under the larger category of gas remote control cars that include both nitro and gasoline powered cars. However, it should be pointed out while nitro and gasoline powered cars are both kinds of gas remote control cars, they posses some stark differences in terms of speed, portability, power, cost, and maintenance. There are also other considerations not discussed here why nitro cars are more economical over the long run over gasoline-powered cars, for example. Safety issues are likewise disregarded in this brief evaluation.

At the end of the day, it will be the hobbyist who will choose based on personal preferences and costs more than anything. His satisfaction and enjoyment over the features and capabilities of both cars should be the primary consideration for purchasing remote control cars and engaging in this unique hobby. 

The Pros and Cons to Consider When Starting a Nitro Remote Control Car Hobby

Among remote control car enthusiasts, gasoline remote control cars have been gaining popularity now, being a more advanced version of remote control cars compared to the simpler ones that work on batteries. More than just complexity considerations over basic remote control cars, gasoline remote control cars do have more advantages than initially thought. However, they also have disadvantages that enthusiasts and hobbyists need to pay attention to.  

THE PROS

Speed. One of the best things about gasoline remote control cars is its speed. Nitro remote control cars are said to operate like full-sized fuel vehicles, making use of a two stroke engine rather than an electric motor, allowing the cars to achieve higher top speeds than electric remote control cars. This is why nitro remote control cars are generally faster than electric remote control cars. Nitro remote control cars can go as fast as 50-60 mph, nearly as fast as 1/8 gasoline cars that can run between 70 and 80mph in race competitions. While gasoline remote control cars have more power, gasoline remote control cars achieve higher top end speeds than gasoline remote control cars and most electric remote control cars.

More Run Time. Because nitro remote control cars are powered by fuel that can run for hours depending on size, engine type and car model, nitro remote control cars do not need constant recharging as electric remote control cars do. This allows the cars to maintain top speeds for the most part of competitive races with minimal time only for refuelling.

Economy. Depending on complexity of models, nitro remote control cars are generally more expensive than electric cars. However, gasoline-powered remote control cars surely cost much more than both electric and nitro remote control cars, ranging from $800-$3,000. Further, while nitro, in comparison to gasoline, is said to be more expensive on a gallon-to-gallon basis, nitro is considered a more efficient fuel, allowing a nitro remote control car to run longer with the same amount of fuel.

THE CONS

Maintenance. If you think about getting a nitro remote control car, maintenance could be a primary consideration in your decision as it could be costly over the long run. Maintenance such cleaning of filters and chassis as well as replacement of parts and lubrication, even the nitro motors when necessary can both be frustrating and costly. In addition, nitro remote control cars are said to suffer more easily from mechanical wear and tear than either electric or gasoline remote control cars for the reason that they are most likely subject to be driven for long periods of time at relatively higher speed and greater weight than their counterparts.  All this makes nitro remote control cars by nature quite costly to maintain.

All in all, before starting a remote control car hobby, one needs to think about the advantages and disadvantages of the type of car engine that you will use for your remote control car. There are other considerations that go beyond the obsession for originality or winning racing competitions. There are one-time costs, maintenance costs that go on over periods of time, and other costs that may not be initially apparent at purchase such as insurance and other taxes. At the end of the day, a decision should really boil down to one’s personal preferences and budget.

Gasoline RC Cars 101

Being female, boy toys such as airsoft guns and gas remote control cars never interested me. The only time remote control cars came to my attention was through my brother, a remote control car enthusiast, whose hobby is to assemble model remote control cars from scratch. He would race them with my nephews and collects them for posterity. His eyes would light up whenever we pass by shops in the malls that sell remote control car kits of his favourite sports cars. He would scour through all nook and cranny there is in Quiapo and Hidalgo just to look for remote control car spare parts, components, and accessories. He seemed to be in heaven whenever he would visit shops loaded with remote control car models from Ford, Mustang, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari to police cars, race cars, and ordinary cars of every make, brand, and model including those from his favourite, Tamiya, displayed in the store. The variations and choices are endless.

So, here begins my interest about this hobby (and for some, a ‘passion’) called remote control cars. What is so interesting about them that make people get hooked? Remote control cars are model cars that are typically controlled from a distance using radio transmitters sending off radio frequency or signals. They are powered depending on the type of car’s engine. Electric cars, for example, are powered by electric motors and rechargeable battery cells. Nitro cars, on the other hand, are fuel-driven models that use small combustion engines fuelled by a special mixture of nitromethane, methanol, and oil. Gasoline remote control cars, as the name would suggest, are large car models that are powered by small gasoline engines that use a mix of oil and gasoline.

Remote control cars come also in different car grades based on complexity of make and design. The most common ones are ‘toy grade’ cars that are pre-assembled.  Most of them are electric-type cars powered by electric motors and rechargeable cells. The more complex types are called ‘hobby grade’, that come as either ‘ready-to-run’ cars requiring minimal set-up or as ‘almost ready-to run’ cars that come in disassembled kits that require more customized assembly depending on user preferences for competitive car performance.   

Remote control cars also come in different model types depending on suspension. The most common are on-road and off-road models. On-road models generally limited or non-existent suspension and are suitable for smooth surfaces. Off-road models, on the other hand, are built with fully-functional suspensions that can be used on various types of terrain or road conditions.

Indeed the complexity and variety of remote control cars today is the primary factor that makes it so interesting to both novice enthusiasts and veteran hobbyists alike. The wide range of possibilities for customization by model, parts, accessories, and components according to user preferences is enough to make it a creativity-inducing and time-consuming hobby like no other. It takes a lot of creativity, patience, attention to detail, and passion to enjoy this unique hobby. It is no wonder why my brother got so hooked into this. For him, this is the ultimate entertainment.

Learning How to Watermark Photos

Finally!!! Today I found a very useful software to watermark my photos. For more than two years now since I have taken interest in photography, I haven't found good, free download software that can protect my photos from poachers. Like everyone else, I felt too comfortable posting all my photographs in facebook, until one day, I realized a 'friend' of mine in facebook downloaded some of my photos and published in his own 'album' without my permission. Isn't this weird? I think if you respect your friends, you could at least ask permission, give a brief message about using another person's photographs for something. That should be easy. But then again, some people could choose to do otherwise and be insensitive.

So, I guess to prevent all that from happening, from now on, I will post pics in the internet, whether in facebook, twitter, blogsites, etc with my watermark on them. I think this is the right way to do it, considering it is easy to steal someone's photographs over the internet, publish them as your own, and not acknowledge people.

So here I'm posting sample photos with my watermark on them to signal my new and possibly the correct approach to publishing photos and images anywhere on the net. I realized it wasn't that complicated, a real breeze actually!

Learning how to blog

Blogging has always interested me, but never got the chance to do it until now. Have always been lazy, too preoccupied, too self-preoccupied, or maybe stuck-up. Not knowing what to blog about, that's also one. Fearing to reveal too much of oneself, that's another. But things have a way of working out, I suppose, for reasons I'm still trying to figure out.

So, here is my first blog, and it's about blogging, the irony. Quite short, quite nonsensical at this point until I get the hang of it. However, quite happy to have taken the first step, a step taken as some sort of leap of faith into an uncertain territory. The only thing I want to be certain about is, this has to be fun, and meaningful, and of course, should give me a chance to blog about things I feel inspired about, or inspired enough to write about. I hope to write about my interests outside of work. Being quite a traveler since my early 20s, I want to document my travels around the Philippines and the world. I want to talk about my hobbies like photography, food/eating-out, gadgets, technology, art, fashion, sports, and books. So, this is my first blog. Hope I enjoy it and hope other readers will enjoy it too! :)