Celeb foodie: Venus Raj

MANILA, Philippines - Maria Venus Raj loves eating -- in a "major major" way.

The beauty with a 22-inch waistline admits that she doesn't watch her weight and eats almost everything -- from the usual fish and vegetables to the more exotic frogs and snakes -- citing her humble beginnings as a farm girl in Camarines Sur, Bicol.

She has, however, developed a soft spot for all things with coconut milk.

"Ako kakainin ko basta may gata (I'd eat anything with coconut milk)," she happily tells abs-cbnNEWS.com, adding, "I love Filipino food."

It could be noted that sweet, creamy coconut milk and spices figure prominently in the local cuisine of Bicol, her hometown.

The 2 most popular dishes in the region -- laing (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) and Bicol express (pork strips and finger chilies cooked in coconut milk) -- are among Raj's favorites.

She may not be a picky eater, but Raj swears she will never eat insects again, especially after trying to munch on crickets a few years back.

"Naramdaman ko yung legs tapos pagkagat mo lalabas yung juice. After no'n ayoko na talaga ng insects ever (I felt the cricket's legs as I placed it inside my mouth. Then when I started eating it, its juice came out. I freaked out, after that, I don't want to eat insects again)," she shares.

Here are Raj's answers to some of the questions posed by abs-cbnNEWS.com:

Describe yourself using food. If you were an ingredient, what would you be?

A sili (chili pepper). It's hot, spicy, and adds lots of flavor! (laughs). We use it every day at home.

What's your all-time favorite food?

Laing, Bicol express, ako kahit ano basta may gata (as long as it has coconut milk). I also like sinigang na baboy (sour soup with pork). I love Filipino food!

Give us 5 food items that you can eat every day for the rest of your life. Are these the same as your all-time favorites?

Actually, I can eat anything talaga. Of course, I want rice (laughs). Tapos 'yung iba kahit ano talaga. Kahit anong luto at klase ng isda, gulay, kahit ano talaga. (Then the rest can be anything, any kind of fish or vegetable cooked in any way)

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

Palaka (frog), bat, snake, and cricket!

What is one thing that you'll never, ever eat?

Insects! After ng cricket ayoko na ng kahit anong insects. (After eating a cricket I don't want to try eating other insects)

You say you love to eat, but do you also love to cook?

Yes! High school ako nag-start magluto. Magaling ako magluto! (I started cooking as early as high school. I can cook really well!)

Any specialties?

Filipino food pa rin, particularly 'yung mga dish sa amin sa Bicol. (Still Filipino food, particularly dishes from Bicol, my hometown.)

So if you love to eat, and you love to cook, how come you're still so skinny? What's your secret to maintaining a 22-inch waistline?

Hindi ko alam! (laughs) Siguro mabilis lang talaga metabolism ko. Tapos I exercise sa gym, so baka 'yun. (I don't know! Maybe I just have a really fast metabolism. Then I also make it a point to exercise at the gym regularly, so maybe that's the reason.)

Sashimi -- with a different bite

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese cuisine has always reflected beauty and balance in food, from the plating to the taste.

A good example is the sashimi, a Japanese delicacy that primarily consists of raw seafood sliced into very thin pieces.

It's a simple yet beautiful dish -- the fresh taste of the fish is complemented by a dipping sauce, either soy sauce with wasabi paste, fresh ginger, or shredded radish.

Executive Chef Godfrey Laforteza of The Establishment's Crystal Room, however, does things differently.

His dishes take influence from not only Japanese, but also various Asian cuisines -- Indonesia, India, Korea and Thailand.

"A lot of people say our food is fusion, but it's not. Fusion for me is Japanese to Italian or Chinese to French. A lot of the ingredients I use are Japanese because my background is Japanese cuisine," Laforteza said.

He added, "The method and the technique is Japanese -- the way we slice the food, the way we present it. A lot of the taste would be more of the Japanese side, but there's a hint of Thai, Korean."

Looking for a change after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Laforteza went to culinary school despite having no interest in food. After graduation, he found himself training at Nobu, a Japanese restaurant in New York co-owned by acclaimed Hollywood actor Robert de Niro.

"Robert de Niro hired me. After a year or so of training as an omagachi chef, I catered for Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bill Clinton and the wedding of de Niro," he shared.

Before going back home, Laforteza said he got to work for other restaurants in New York, Hong Kong and Jakarta.

"Anton San Diego, the President of the Crystal Room (of) The Establishment asked me (to work for them). After 6 months of considering, I decided to introduce my flavors to the Philippines," he narrated.

Asked about his current menu at the Crystal Room, Laforteza said, "My menu is very small. It changes every 6 to 8 months. I invent every day. I don't have limitations at all. I just have to make sure the food is presented well, tastes good, and makes my customers happy."

Sashimi with a twist

Aside from Asian flavors, Laforteza said he also infuses western flavors into his creations.

In this week's episode of Taste Buds on Mornings@ANC, he gave us a taste of his French-inspired sashimi dish -- the citron-cured salmon sashimi with seaweed salsa.

He began by curing the salmon with salt and 4 kinds of zest -- calamansi, orange, lime and lemon -- for 48 hours.

"We put the mixture of zest on top. Make sure you leave the skin on the bottom, flesh side up. This is enough for 48 hours or 2 days. The salt will help take liquid out of the salmon. All the liquid from the zest will give the salmon the citrus flavor," Laforteza said.

The chef then removed the juice and the zest from the cured salmon, and cut the meat into thin sashimi slices using a sharp knife.

The dish was topped with a salsa made of diced red bell pepper, fresh mango, red onion and fried Japanese seaweed. A drizzle of Japanese soy sauce, fresh lemon juice, Japanese wasabi mix, chopped chives and roasted sesame seeds were also added.

Laforteza said his dish is best enjoyed by eating the salmon with the seaweed salsa.

Asked to describe his creation, he said, "It's an explosion of flavors (and) textures. A mix of sweet, sour (and) spicy because of the wasabi. One bite of everything is like riding a motorcycle in 2 seconds."

It's packed with flavor, yes, but unlike sashimi soaked in soy sauce and wasabi, there's just enough heat to make the dish tolerable. The whole concoction is very light and satisfying, and is definitely worth seconds.

Here are the ingredients for Laforteza's citron-cured salmon sashimi:

MARINADE

240 grams fresh salmon fillet, deboned
10 grams mixed citrus zest (orange, lemon, lime and calamansi)
10 grams sea salt

SAUCE

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Japanese soy sauce
5 grams wasabi
1 gram black pepper

SALSA

2 grams kombu (Japanese seaweed), julienned (cut into long thin strips)
2 grams small red onion, diced
2 grams fresh ripe mango, diced
2 grams red bell pepper, diced
1 gram chives, diced
roasted sesame seeds for garnish

Charice parties with 'Glee' stars

MANILA, Philippines - Songstress Charice attended the red carpet premiere party of the second season of American television series “Glee” in California on Tuesday (US time).

The 18-year-old singer, who looked stunning in her black dress, is playing Sunshine Corazon, a Filipino exchange student at fictional William McKinley High School “whose killer vocals get Rachel (Berry) contemplating murder.”

The “Pyramid” singer admitted that she can relate to her character, saying that they are both “simple” and “shy.”

“I'm very, very happy that my character is Sunshine. Sunshine is very, very Charice, simple one, shy type,” she said.

An excited Charice is also looking forward to more showdowns between her character and Rachel Berry (Lea Michele).

“We're like frenemies, I think that's the word... and we're gonna sing a very, very big song, Lady Gaga and Beyonce. It's ‘Telephone.’ So, it's gonna be amazing,” she said.

She said she is learning so many things by being part of the popular TV series. She said she is happy that it allows her to both sing and dance.

“It's my first comedy acting. So, I'm learning a lot. And I’m really thankful that I’m part of ‘Glee.’ I’m learning so much things,” she added.

After the celebration, Charice tweeted that she had a blast at the party. “I really had fun @ the Glee party. :) t'was great. MsLeaMichele was amazing. goodnight everyone. :)”

Bachelor Aquino has no time for love

MANILA, Philippines – Does President Aquino still have time to date as he attends to the affairs of the state?

This question was posed to the 50-year-old bachelor President by GMA 7’s news anchor Mel Tiangco during Aquino’s televised no-holds-barred interview Thursday.

Aquino admitted that he can hardly find time for his personal life, noting that he even has to work on Sundays. He also lamented that if he does go out, there’s no privacy.

“Sa totoo lang ho kung saka-sakaling magkaroon ng oras, wala naman pong privacy maski anong puntahan natin - supermarket, restaurant, sinehan. Marami pong makikisama sa pagda-date [namin]. Picture taking, sasamang kwentuhan. Pati ho Linggo kinukuha na din sa atin. So, medyo talagang manipis na manipis ang free time,” he said.

On Thursday, Aquino faced a panel of TV news anchors, composed of Tiangco, ABS-CBN’s Ted Failon and TV 5’s Paolo Bediones, to answer all the issues involving the botched handling of the tragic hostage drama at the Quirino Grandstand.

The hostage crisis resulted in the deaths of 8 Hong Kong tourists and the hostage-taker, police officer Rolando Mendoza.

The question asked by Tiangco, a self-confessed hopeless romantic, provided a brief breather to the President as he tackled the tragedy that caused tension between the Philippines and Hong Kong.

In a follow up question, Tiangco asked if Aquino was ruling out the possibility of having a First Lady during his term and holding a grand wedding.

Aquino replied: “Sabi po sa akin ng mga Amerikano, hope springs eternal.”

Aquino’s girlfriend is 30-year-old Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad. The high-profile couple has been tightlipped whenever they are asked about their relationship.

In a previous interview, Soledad said she is willing to wait for Aquino.

Hair talk with Borge Aloba

He may have shaved his head, but Borge Aloba certainly knows a lot about hair.

The hair stylist extraordinaire was handpicked by Lifestyle Network to become one of the hosts of its first locally produced fashion program, FASH - Fashion and Style Hub.

His segment with model and make-up artist Bianca Valerio, Beauty Affair, provides a step-by-step guide on how to achieve a celeb look from hair to make-up.

"We made it as simple as possible so everyone can relate to it and use it in their everyday lives. It inspires them to look better, but it will still be practical and attainable," Aloba told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

He continued, "We'll also give them alternative (products) that can suit their budget. It will be for everyone."

Abs-cbnNEWS.com asked Aloba to give some basic facts and tips on hair care, styling and maintenance. Here are some of them:

In choosing a haircut, consider your face shape

A haircut may look good on one person, but may seem like a disaster on another.

It's not because one person is more beautiful than the other. Rather, Aloba said it's all about getting the cut that flatters your face shape.

"There's no one best haircut for everyone. It's a case to case basis. It depends on a person's face shape," Aloba said.

People with oval-shaped faces can usually pull off any style, while those with round faces are better off with pixie cuts and tousled styles.

On the other hand, bangs, curls and layers look better on heart-, long- and square-shaped faces.

Black hair is not everything

Abola is a fan of color, which he said "does wonders to your hair."

Black, for one, is a strong hue that can make a person's real age more obvious, he said.

Rich colors, on the other hand, soften a person's facial features.

"Let's stop obsessing about jet black, one-length hair. Let's just do away with that. There are many other colors and styles out there that will look good on you," he remarked, noting that Filipinos are usually bent on getting "shampoo commercial" hair.

In choosing a hair color, consider your complexion, Abola said. (Click here for a more detailed guide in choosing the right hair color.)

Yes, you can wash your hair every day

Some people have believed that washing your hair every day can make it dry, while others think it's a must. So which one of them is true?

According to Abola, it all depends on the climate and a person's skin type.

"In a tropical country such as ours, it's always good to wash our hair every day with shampoo that works best for you," he said.

He added, "Let's all remember that scalp is still skin, and we have to always keep it clean."

Conditioning is for the hair tips, not the scalp or roots

Applying conditioner is good for the hair and can be done every day, Abola said. He stressed, however, that it's not a must for everyone.

"It depends on the hair type. If you have oily hair, you don't have to (apply conditioner)," he said.

Abola also noted a common mistake in applying conditioner -- placing it all on the roots.

Unlike shampoo, he said the conditioner should be concentrated on the hair tips, the part that gets the least amount of oil or moisture.

"There's no need to condition the roots since that's where the oil and moisture come from. If you do that, you may end up with greasy hair. Just (conditioning) the tips will do," he said.

Wake up and think twice about smelling the coffee

Lovers of the world's most expensive coffee, found half-digested in the dung of the wild civet, fear that its unique taste may be spoiled by planned farming of the animals.

Collectors hunt for the coffee cherries in the droppings of civets in Indonesian plantations to make a brew enriched by the bushy-tailed, cat-like animal's stomach that sells for as much as $770 a kg in London.

But as demand rises, producers have spotted an opportunity to increase supply by breeding the civets in cages and feeding them the coffee cherries. Production has started on a small scale.

Experts say the flavor relies on the civet's finicky feeding habits and varied diet to create the enzymes that enrich fermentation of the beans, so caged animals would produce a different coffee.

"I think wild civets offer more variants to the taste," said specialty coffee expert Edi Sumadi. "Inside the cage, the civets' diet is regulated, they're not free to pick following their instincts, so the enzyme inside their digestive system is monotonous."

Perkebunan Nusantara XII sells the civet coffee for $130 a kg from factories or $250 a kg in cafes on Indonesia's main island of Java, though the price multiplies as exports reach countries such as Korea, Japan, Italy and the United States.

"It's far tastier than any other coffee," said the firm's Danu Rianto. "To maintain high standards we have a standard operating procedure."

The coffee does not appeal to everyone -- Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took some as a gift on a visit to former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, only to find local media dubb it "crappucino".

But now that Indonesia's highest Islamic authority has certified the brew as no longer "haram", or banned for Muslims, in the world's most populous Muslim nation -- so long as the beans are well washed -- producers, including Perkebunan Nusantara XII, are eyeing a bigger market.

In Jakarta's cafes, a cup of civet coffee, known as "kopi luwak", sells for around $9 to $11, and is attracting more interest.

"The taste is very smooth, the smell nice, and hey, it's not entirely haram after you wash it," said Andrea Guna, a first-time taster.

"The price is double that of Starbucks, but the taste is way more than double."

Let's make our homes green

Who doesn’t want to live more lightly on earth? Did you know that turning your homes “green” not only helps save the environment but prolongs lives as well?

Permeable pavers are made to prevent floods. Credit: ANC

Ever since the signs and threats of climate change have been revealed, ecology advocates are coming up with different alternatives to counter the degradation of the environment. Building a greener home today is not impossible anymore.

ManilaCon, an advocacy exhibit initiated by L.A. Ducut and Company to be held on September 2-5 at the SMX Convention Center, presents another social and economic related exhibit. The Green Expo showcases both local and international environment-friendly construction industries that provide materials which are responsive to the challenges of sustainability and durability.

The vision of the exhibit, as explained on Mornings@ANC this week, is to provide a variety of green ideas which will play important roles in the conservation of energies in constructing and maintaining homes.

Wood, still ideal?

Majority believe that wood is the most ideal construction material due to its strength and quality. But a series of tests were made and it was proven that wood can only last for a limited length of time.

Inspired by this, James Hardie Philippines came up with Hardie Flex, a material composed of fiber cement and silica, designed to be a better substitute for wood. The eco-friendly material, aside from being durable and sustainable, is fire-, termite-, and mold-resistant.

“The Philippines having a wet and humid climate needs homes built with premium raw materials to maintain the amount of temperature. Hardiflex, though created in Australia, is perfect for the Philippines,” said Danny De Guzman, general manager of James Hardie Philippines.

Odorless paints? Worry no more

Did you know that it takes four to five years before the toxins from a newly-painted wall can leave your homes? But worry no more because a non-toxic and organic paint is now available in the country.

Fredrik Ekberg, CEO of Pro Paint Distribution Philippines, shared the good news of Flugger Paints--they are odorless, non-toxic, lead-free, water-based, and with low Volta Organic Compounds (VOC).

Flugger Paints promises 10-15 years of vibrant and durable use. The longevity of the product will not only help save the environment but help consumers save money as well.

Recycling styro foams possible?

Styro foam stays forever. However, there are now ways to recycle this product.

Metro Gravel and Sand introduced the Precast Fence made from 20-25% recycled styro foam. This discovery shows how one can get rid of the waste product and at the same time, create a superior product which lasts long.

Eco- and budget friendly pavers for green homes. Credit: ANC

Aside from this, they also presented the permeable paver that could help in preventing floods through its natural pores. It also minimizes the use of other drainage systems and helps reduce other water pollutants flowing into the rivers.

These products show that turning homes "green" is now simple. An eco-friendly haven that's affordable is now possible.

Tiger Woods and wife divorce after sex scandal

Tiger Woods and Swedish model wife Elin Nordegren divorced Monday, their marriage succumbing to a blistering sex scandal that has left the world's top golfer struggling badly for form.

Woods, 34, and Elin Nordegren, 30, issued an amicable joint statement, saying they were sad to be ending their six-year marriage, wishing each other the best and promising to work together for their children's happiness.

"We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future," it said.

"While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us."

In Nordegren's petition for divorce, filed at the beginning of July, she claimed the marriage was "irretrievably broken" and asked for her maiden name to be restored.

Both Woods and Nordegren attended Monday's execution of the divorce at a court in Panama City, Florida, where they agreed to joint custody of their three-year-old girl Sam and one-year-old boy Charlie.

"Once we came to the decision that our marriage was at an end, the primary focus of our amicable discussions has been to ensure their future well-being," the joint statement said.

"The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern."

Nordegren's lawyer, contacted by AFP, could provide no information about the terms of the divorce settlement, valued in media reports at anywhere between 100 million and 500 million dollars.

Woods's spectacular fall from grace began on November 27 last year when he crashed his car near his Orlando home in bizarre circumstances.

The incident touched off revelations about a massive sex scandal, leading to his admission of adultery and subsequent decision to put his golf career on hold while he tried to rescue his marriage.

The string of affairs left Woods's picture-perfect image as the faithful husband in tatters and the billionaire golfer began to lose valuable marketing contracts.

"It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try," Woods wrote on his website. "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children."

Later he apologized publicly to Nordegren for igniting the tabloid frenzy in which more than a dozen women claimed affairs.

Woods, who said he had been "living a lie" and admitted to "doing some ugly things," received therapy at a sex addiction clinic before making a highly anticipated comeback at the US Masters in March.

Returning at the August National -- a comfortable setting where he has captured four titles, his first in 1997 being the first major crown won by a black golfer -- Woods finished a respectable fourth.

Since then, however, a string of performances ranging from mediocre to poor have seen many question whether the 14-time major winner is capable of recapturing the form that saw him dominate the game for a decade.

Woods enters this week's opening event of the US PGA Tour season-ending playoffs without a win this year.

Stripped of his invincible aura, Woods ranks only 108th in the points race and could at any moment lose his number one ranking.

Without a good finish at The Barclays, starting on Thursday, it could be his final outing of the season, as only the top 100 qualify for the next event.

Despite his woes, US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin says Woods is high on his list of captain's picks for the biennial match against the best European golfers -- to be contested this October at the Celtic Manor in Wales.

Oyo Boy Sotto, Kristine Hermosa mum on wedding plans

MANILA, Philippines – Couple Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Boy Sotto graced the “Us Girls August Awards 2010” at the Icon Bar, Intercontinental Hotel last Friday.

Hermosa, along with fellow Star Magic artist Kim Chiu, won the Face of the Year Award. “Us Girls” hosts Iya Villiania, Cheska Garcia and Angel Aquino described Hermosa’s beauty as mesmerizing when she accepted the award on stage.

Hermosa and Sotto were barraged with questions from the press about their 2011 wedding, which was revealed by the actor’s mom, actress Dina Bonnevie.

But the couple was elusive when it came to questions about the wedding.

"Di ko rin alam. Nagulat lang din ako. Basta kung ano ‘yong sinabi ni mommy, ‘yon lang muna. Then malalaman ninyo naman kung ano ‘yong mga mangyayari," Sotto told reporters.

We asked Hermosa if she is contended with her life now, the actress said: "Oo naman. Super happy. Super."

Venus Raj shares questions from Miss U prelims

MANILA, Philippines - Venus Raj, the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant, shares her experience during the preliminary competitions.

After walking the ramp in swimwear and evening gowns, Raj had 3-minute interviews with each of the pageant's 7 preliminary judges, which were not open to the media.

Raj, as well as most candidates, shared that they were nervous at first but eventually enjoyed the experience.

Among the questions asked during the preliminaries are about her hometown, her college course, and as to why she wanted to win the Miss Universe crown.

"(May tanong) kung kamusta naman ang lugar namin. May tanong din tungkol sa course ko noong college, (kung) bakit daw journalism, and then bakit gusto kong maging Miss Universe," Raj told ABS-CBN News.

She added, "'Yung mga tanong very light, parang nag-uusap lang kayo ng friend mo (The questions were very light, it's as if you're just talking to your friend)."

Raj continues to lead in the online popularity survey in the Miss Universe website with a rating of 3.57 out of 5. Following her are contestants from Bolivia, Venezuela, Jamaica, Thailand, Peru, Indonesia, Guatemala, Mexico and Colombia.

Organizers earlier said, however, that the online poll will have no bearing on the preliminaries and the finals.

The Miss Universe pageant is set to be held in Las Vegas on August 23 (August 24 in Manila) at 9 p.m.

It will be aired live via satellite on ABS-CBN on August 24 at 9:30 a.m. with a primetime telecast on the same day on Studio 23 at 7:10 p.m. and Velvet (SkyCable channel 53) at 6:30 p.m.