A second Chihuahua to enjoy!

Photos by Pepper Teehankee on a Canon Digital Powershot and a Nokia Lumia 800

Mexican food has become a staple all over the US, particularly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Think burritos, nachos and margaritas and you’ll find them all in American dining fare.

In Manila, yummy Mexican food can be had at the Chihuahua restaurant. Its first branch opened on Makati Avenue in July last year. Since then, it has won the hearts of many Filipinos and foreigners in the country.

Just recently, Chihuahua’s second branch opened in Greenbelt 2. A spread of burritos, tacos and nachos were served, along with free-flowing Chihuaritas (the restaurant’s signature margarita) and cervezas. US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. and Mexican Ambassador Tomas Calvillo Unna cut the ribbon, along with Lebanese Consul Joseph Assad. Performances by Nyko Maca and SINYMA kept guests dancing into the night.

Chihuahua 1 is open on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m., and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Chihuahua 2 is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

(Chihuahua Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar is located at 7838 Makati Ave. across A-Venue (890-3192) and at Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center (625-0106). Check out chihuahuamexgrill.com.)

Timeless timepieces

Watch aficionados had a field day recently when Swiss watchmaker Breitling unveiled in Manila its exquisite pieces from its Baselworld 2012 collection.

Flying in from Singapore to grace the event was Breitling sales director for Asia Pacific and Middle East Tristan Boyer de Bouillane, who delivered a comprehensive presentation of the latest collection. Welcoming him were Emerson and Ivan Yao, managing directors of Lucerne, the exclusive distributor of Breitling in the Philippines.

Dingdong Dantes, who was wearing a Breitling Chronomat 44 GMT, was presented as the Breitling brand ambassador.

The brand was founded in 1884. It is one of the last remaining independent Swiss watch brands and the only major luxury watch brand to equip all its models with chronometer-certified movements. Breitling is also one of the few to produce its own in-house movement, entirely developed and manufactured in its own workshops. 

Breitling’s travel watches have also played an important role in the brand’s history with the winged “B” and is further extending its invitation to enjoy travel and performances by combining universal time and the chronograph function within a new model in the Transocean range.

The Transocean Chronograph Unitime features a “world time” chronograph that is distinguished by its modern, pure lines and a dial bearing a globe pattern. It features two mobile disks: a 24-hour disk and a disk bearing the names of 24 cities representing the world’s 24 time zones. The Transocean Chronograph Unitime comes in steel and red gold versions with the city bezel available in English, Chinese, Russian or Japanese.

Another highlight of the collection is the Chronomat 44 GMT. The 44-mm diameter watch has a rotating bezel that provides a 24-hour third time zone reading. The Breitling Caliber 04 lets its wearer to only pull out the crown and turn it forward or backward in order to juggle time zones without losing any precision in keeping track of the minutes.

Breitling still remains a brand closely associated with timeless quality watches.

‘Chilled is fresh and safe’

Boracay is now also home to safe chilled meat as Monterey Meatshop opened a branch at the paradise island.

A motorcade kicked off the grand opening with Alvin Patrimonio, team manager of B-Meg Llamados, gamely waving at the crowd that lined the streets. Abigail Yap, wife of Malay Mayor John Yap, did the honor of cutting the ribbon with San Miguel Foods Inc. president Rita Imelda “Tatish” Palabyab, Malay Vice Mayor Ceciron Cawaling and Albert Rosal, president of multi-awarded 357 Boracay Resort and owner of Boracay Monterey Meatshop. Fr. Magloire Placer officiated in the blessing of the meatshop.

“Filipinos love meat. Most of our favorite dishes like sinigang and bistek Tagalog contain pork or beef. Monterey’s mission is to provide the best meat products that meet the highest quality and standards. And these meat products are now available in Boracay,” Palabyab echoed in her welcome address. “And our very own world-class Boracay deserves nothing but the best meat in a first-class meatshop,” Rosal added.

The Monterey “Know Your Meat Caravan” was staged at the beachfront of 357 Boracay Resort as part of the grand opening. The caravan is part of the meat company’s mission to help educate Filipinos on proper meat selection.

 The caravan, which is a mobile school of sorts on what good meat is, opened with a much-applauded mini-musical. It complemented the “Chilled is Fresh… Chilled is Safe” campaign of the National Meat Inspection Service, an agency of the Department of Agriculture mandated to protect the public’s welfare.

“Our ‘Know Your Meat’ advocacy would like to ensure that no mother, father, househelp, cook or anyone is deprived of knowing how to choose and serve meat right,” Palabyab said.

(Boracay Monterey Meatshop is located at G/F, Boracay Isle Building, Sitio Ambulong, Station 3, Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island. Call (036) 288-2357.)

Tears for Fears back in Manila

Fans will have another opportunity to revisit the tunes of the ‘80s when Tears for Fears returns for a two-night performance on Aug. 10 and 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tears for Fears Live in Manila 2012! is mounted by Ovation Productions. Ovation will also take the group to Cebu City for a third show on Aug. 12 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

The Big Dome concerts will also feature the voice of Fra Lippo Lippi through its long-time vocalist Per Sorensen.

The return engagement of the popular English pop rock band will reunite the tandem of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith with millions of Filipino fans more than two years after its successful debut concert also at the Big Dome.

 Tears For Fears Live In Manila 2012! is presented by Globe Platinum with the special participation of Philippine Airlines, Manulife and Top40 T-shirts and in cooperation with Chase, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, History Channel, Mercedes Benz and Gerry’s Grill. It is also supported by The Philippine Star, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Inquirer.net, Mellow 94.7, 97.9 Home Radio, Radio High 105.9, Philstar.com, RJ 100.3 FM, ABS-CBN and OptimaSignsolutions.

(For inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-5555 (Manila) or 232-6888 or 0917-6228705 (Cebu).)