Thursday, December 22, 2011
Things to Watch Out for in 2012
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Holiday Cocktail Collection
Christmas is all about merry-making. We know that already. It is about attending and throwing a thousand and one parties that all feel the same, look the same, and oddly taste the same. And even though the thought of attending countless social events in a span of two weeks or so may seem enticing, the truth is, after the third party it gets kind of boring. So here is what you can do: instead of bringing food to the regular potluck party or serving beer for the next party you host, why not try sharing the experience of new cocktails with your friends and co-party attendees? Here are some Holiday-inspired cocktails that should do the trick.
1.) Merry Christmas: The Merry Christmas may sound the most Christmasy out of all the cocktails in this list, but it actually plays on one of the most iconic flavours of another holiday—Thanksgiving. This highball drink is a gorgeous melange of cranberry, citrus, and just the right amount of alcohol. Here is how you make it:
a. Grab a highball glass and fill it halfway with ice. Then, add an ounce of regular Gin, an ounce of Cranberry Juice, and a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Stir the liquids until it comes together and top it off with some canned club soda or soda water. Garnish the drink with fresh or dried Cranberries or a slice of lemon or lime and serve.
2.) Angel’s Delight: This festive cocktail makes the cut as a holiday cocktail thanks to its creamy texture and dreamy color. It tastes opulent, rich, and indulgent---perfect for the Season. Here’s how you make this velvety drink:
a. In a cocktail shaker, combine one ounce of cream, ¾ ounces of triple sec, ¾ ounces of gin, and a couple dashes of Grenadine syrup ( which is now readily available in supermarkets). Shake well and serve in a chilled cocktail glass. You may opt to serve it with a piece of strawberry for garnish.
3.) Apple Pie Martini: One of the most familiar holiday tastes is the taste of apple pie. The juicy freshness of apples combined with the kick of cinnamon is captured perfectly in easy-as-pie cocktail. Here is how you make it:
a. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine one shot of Goldschlager (cinnamon schnapps with 24karat gold flakes), one shot of vodka, and three shots of apple juice. Shake well and pour over a cocktail/martini glass. Remember not to strain the drink as this will leave the gold flakes inside the shaker instead of staying in your drink.
4.) The Christmas Cocktail: This cocktail is an exciting concoction of the flavours people associate with the Holidays: Coffee, Cinnamon, Cream, and Chocolate. Plus, it comes down smooth and ends with just the right amount of alcoholic kick. If you want to feel all warm and fuzzy while chugging down this glorious cocktail, follow these instructions:
a. In a shaker filled with ice, pour one once each of Vodka, Bailey’s Cream, and Cinnamon Schnapps and shake well. Strain the concoction over a cocktail glass and top it off with some powdered coffee. You may garnish it with a Cinnamon stick.
5.) Mimosa: The Mimosa is one of the more popular cocktails in history. Thus, you would find a gazillion and one recipes of it. However, I find that the simplest recipe is still the best. Make this simple cocktail for your next Yuletide event for some added fizz and flair. Here’s how:
a. Grab a champagne flute, fill it halfway with chilled orange juice (and please do not use powdered orange juice) and then top it off with cold champagne.
Catch Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 in the PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph or tweet the columnist at twitter.com/zhaun
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Three Party-Throwing Tips
For the common partyphile, throwing hot parties seems natural. We simply create a theme, stick to it, invite a handful, pour some alcohol click some glasses, and voila--- an epic party has been thrown. However, during this season, partyphiles always have to face their worst fear: throwing a Christmas party.
Here is the deal: when we talk about Christmas parties that we throw ourselves out of our own will, we actually enjoy it. Unfortunately, when we are forced into organizing a Christmas party, it seems like all hell breaks lose and stress just comes flooding through our lives as if flood gates of stress-triggers have just been opened. For the really pitiful partyphile pushed into organizing a Christmas party for his office, school org, school mates, class mates, church mates, seat mates, cheat mates, and all other social groups sine time immemorial, a comma is inevitable. Why? Because organizing a party that is supposed to be fun for everyone is hard to do. Why? Because when you take some random group of people, it is hard to get an idea of what they like doing and what they enjoy. Moreover, it seems impossible to please each and every single one of the party’s attendees. In fact, simply gathering all the attendees before the party happens to draw names that decide who shall exchange gifts with whom is a gargantuan task all in itself. The good news is, I felt really inspired today so I decided to give you three tips on how to make organizing a Christmas party a little easier for you instead of going on and on with my holiday rants. So here are my tips:
- Although it is really tempting hire a caterer to get rid of your food preparing problems, the truth is, for groups comprised of people who do not see each other often, asking for the payment for the caterer is very difficult. Moreover, caterers’ prices spike up during the season and since they are extra busy, you would need to book them way ahead. The solution: a potluck party. Again, the only problem with potluck parties is that people bring either similar food, or food that are so different they can not be eaten together. The solution is simple: throw a potluck party but set a theme. For example, you can require the party attendees to bring Pizza or Pasta ONLY. Or, you may ask them to bring some Chinese food. If you want a more diverse spread, assign each person to bring a specific kind of foodstuff. Assign some people to bring dessert, some to bring some alcohol, some to bring entrees…. You get the idea.
- When it comes to exchanging gifts, it becomes very difficult to see each other at one time just to draw names to decide who gives gifts to whom. I suggest you set a price range and simply exchange gifts on the day of the party. Of course, everyone would have to bring a gift that would be good for everyone, but all the effort that goes into scouring for the perfect gift that anyone would like is part of the fun.
- If you want to keep your party exciting for everyone, it is important that you follow a program. Leave all your hang-ups out the door and play silly games and give away prizes. You may also play drinking games or a trivia game involving bits of trivia about Christmas and the attendees of the party. Although eating and giving gifts is exciting, it should not be the only thing to transpire during the party. Remember, you are get together to bond with the other attendees of the party. Plan activities that will allow you to have fun while bonding and strengthening relationships with other people in the party.
Catch Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 in the PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph or tweet the columnist at twitter.com/zhaun
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Drink of the Week: Cuba Libre
Since it is my birthday week (i'm celebrating my 25th birthday tomorrow) I decided to give out a recipe for one of my all-time favorite cocktails-- the Cuba Libre. This cocktail is easy to make and is quite refreshing. Here is how you do it:
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Drink of the Week: Caribbean Bay
Our drink of the week is called the Caribbean Bay. It has cool tropical flavors and a strong kick. Try serving on your next house party. Here's how you make it:
- half a shot of dark rum
- half a shot of light rum
- half a shot of coconut rum
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Drink of the Week: Bad Trip
The Bad Trip is one of the fastest-rising stars in the local cocktail making ad drinking world because it is easy to make an easy to drink. Here's how to do it:Sunday, November 13, 2011
Pacquiao-MArquez Scorecard
I just woke up. It's 4PM. hahaha. Everybody's complaining about Pacquiao not putting up the best fight and still winning.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween Party Tips
Halloween is upon us again. For some people, it is all about dressing up and attending some parties. For others, it signals the beginning of “Holiday Season” and is kind of like the majorette of the band that is otherwise known as “spend-a-lot”. Obviously, the funnest part of Halloween is dressing up. Unfortunately, it may end up in a lot of personal drama.
The thing is, for most people, inspiration is easy—the creativity to pull off an inspired look is not. For some, it is quite embarrassing to dress up because, well, it hasn’t been imbedded in our culture as Halloween and dressing up for it is still considered “new territory” for the non-partyphile. Add to that the fact that everybody in every single Halloween-inspired event WILL check your costume out; and the pressure is on.
So here is the deal: if you truly want to live it up, Halloween-style this year, I suggest that you throw a Halloween House Party. All you have to do is invite some friends over, ask them to come in costumes and bring some food. Of course, if you plan to play host, you will have to get creative ad decorate your place. And since I know that creativity is not everybody’s strong point, I have gathered up some tips and suggestions from the internet and from the Google of my own noggin’ to give you what I think are the most practical, convenient, and easy-to-pull-off tips for a Halloween party.
First off, you have to decide on a costume. You can search the web for different costume ideas, or simply visit your friendly neighbourhood department store and get inspired from the selection available this year. You will be shocked how different Halloween costumes and masks are each year. In fact, I found it quite surprising that none of the department stores sell fake fangs anymore. I guess Edward Cullen made the fanged vampire look passé. So if you plan to purchase a costume from some store, do not go there with an idea in mind. I tell you, you will be disappointed and end up buying other stuff.
However, if you plan to scour your closet to look for things that are costume-worthy, here are some of my tips:
Costume: You can come as a hunchback. Obviously, it isn’t very politically correct, but this has never been a column that considered that before. If you want to dress up as a hunchback, all you have to do is grab a backpack, fill it with clothes, wear it on your back, and then wear a large jacket over it. Zip the jacket up and voila, your look is done.
Costume: If you want to dress up as something kitschy, you could go as a Cereal Killer (Serial Killer, get it?). Simply wear a white shirt, splatter fake blood or red paint all over it, put a cereal box in the middle of the shirt and stab it with a plastic knife. Done. Easy. Cute.
Costume: You could also dress up as the Octo-mom. You know, the woman who gave birth to eight babies at the same time? She became a US Tabloid favorite last year, so she actually counts as a pseudo-celeb costume inspiration. All you have to do is look very pregnant by stuffing clothes or a huge ball under loose clothes or a maternity dress, wear a black wavy wig or set your black hair to give it soft curls and wear some wax lips. If you can’t find wax lips you could simply wear very read lipstick and over-draw it around your lips (the woman has lips larger than Angelina’s).
Food is one of the things that can definitely set the mood when it comes to Halloween parties. Although people expect some sort of creep-fest on your table, it still has to be edible. If you are going potluck, here are some suggestions for you:
Food: Bloody Fingers: All you need to do is buy some lady fingers (although local Camachile cookies work better) and smear some strawberry jam on one end of each cookie. Carefully place white pumpkin seeds on each cookie tip, using the jam as your glue, and you will end up with cookies that look like bloody fingers.
Bat Wings: Buy or make some fried chicken wings and then download a recipe for Buffalo Wings glaze. If you can’t find one you like, you can use some pre-made Barbeque Sauce or a mixture of Ketchup and Liquid Seasoning. Then, add a generous amount of Green and Blue Food Coloring or Dye to the glaze and mix it well until the glaze looks Black. Then, put your fried chicken in a large plastic container, add the glaze and shake the container until all fried chicken pieces are coated evenly. These wings will taste like fried chicken with sauce but will look blackish-green if you make it right.
Food: Paella Negra is something that you can make yourself or purchase from a store. It has nothing scary in it except for the fact that it uses Squid Ink for its sauce. If you don’t feel like eating rice for Halloween, you could also use make some Squid Ink Pasta, or if you are going Pinoy, some Adobong Pusit.
Food: You can not go wrong with grilled Pinoy favorites like Isaw (intestines), Betamax (grilled pig’s blood), Adidas (grilled chicken feet), and Helmet (grilled chicken heads). You could also serve the trusty Dinuguan (stew made with pork blood and pork innards) and Puto (rice cakes) or some Bijod and Bagaybay (Tuna eggs. I don’t know which one is the tuna testicle and which one is the tuna caviar; and honestly, I don’t really want to know).
If you make them the right way, your drink will get you drunk and will put your friends in a party-mood. This is why it is really important that you serve good alcohol with your food. Of course, you can’t skip this element of the party. You must make your drinks Halloween-worthy as well.
Drinks: Jello shots are always fun and festive. Make some black and orange jelly as per the instruction on the box, but leave out some amount of water from the recipe. Before you place your jelly in olds, add some vodka. You must add as much as the water you left out and remember not to cook or boil the vodka with the jelly as it will cause it to lose its alcohol. Then, transfer your gelatine into condiment cups or any Halloween inspired mold.
Drinks: Okay, so this isn’t really a drink suggestion; but it is definitely a fun way to make your drink extra festive! If you want to add a little creep factor to your drink, you can make ice with little bugs in it. Simply purchase plastic bugs and then place them in ice cube trays. Fill the tray with water and freeze. Use these ice cubes for your Halloween party.
Drinks: If you want to make some “Slime Punch” all you need to do is prepare a drink with two parts lemonade (instant or fresh) with green food coloring, one part soda water or lemon-lime soda, and one part vodka. Then, crush some green jelly and drop it in your punch.
Drinks: If you want something creepy floating in your punch, you can make some floating hands. Simply purchase surgical gloves, wash them completely, and then fill them with water and tie the end. Freeze them until you are ready to use them. Before serving the punch, peel the surgical glove off and dip your icy floating hand in the punch.
To finish your party off, you must put extra effort in decorating. It sets the mood of the party and must therefore look really cool and kitschy.
Decors: You can go simple. Attach pieces of orange and black crepe paper on your ceiling, and you are done. If you want to dress it up a bit, you can also go ahead and attach some black bat-shaped pieces of cartolina.
Decors: Most people just decorate their tables and ceilings for Halloween, I suggest you also consider your floor. Spread orange and black balloons across the floor or fill it with water based splatters of red paint.
Decors: You can also put some black lights in your venue and draw some creepy stuff on a black cartolina or the black side of an illustration board using highlighters. These creepy messages will glow once you turn your black light on.
Catch Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 in the PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile you can log on to http://party.i.ph or tweet the columnist at twitter.com/zhaun.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Drink of the Week: Slime Punch
- grab some surgical gloves, wash them thoroughly and then fill them with water. Freeze them and peel the gloves off when you are ready to serve. This will give you hand-shaped pieces of ice
- you may also put some raisins in your ice cubes before freezing them to give your ice cubes an eerie feel
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Halloween Three's
1.) Swine flu: Simply attach a pig’s snout on a surgical mask and wear it with any regular outfit.
2.) Twitter timeline: Paint a piece of illustration board in baby blue, wear it around your neck, attach white pieces of blank paper, photos, and the twitter bird. Ask people in the Halloween party to write tweets on your “timeline”
3.) Octo-Mom: Dress up as a very pregnant woman with long wavy black hair ad very thick lips.
Top three Halloween Movies:
1.) Exorcist
2.) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
3.) Saw Series
Top three Halloween food:
1.) Paella Negra: just order or make paella with squid ink for the sauce
2.) Bloody Fingers: Buy lady fingers and add strawberry jam at the tip of each cookie and use the jam as glue to hold one pumpkin seed per cookie
3.) Buffalo wings: Simply add blue food colouring to your buffalo wing glaze before you coat your chicken wings with it
A Little Too Much, A Little Too Often ( A Poem About Aging Gracefully)
I know this is a departure from the things I usually write, because obviously, this is a party blog. However, as i was brushing my teeth tonight I thought about aging gracefully. I thought about what it really meant, and how a gracefully aged person should/must look like.
Aging gracefully without a scar, a wrinkle, or a flaw is akin to a clock that only tells time for it’s self.
Without a blemish or a fault, it is used by many as the measure of timeless beauty
A little too much, a little too often.
But to age with grace by the measure of the skin is not the same as to age with grace by the measure of the soul.
Although different like the sun and the moon, these two standards often merge indiscernibly in man’s psyche
A little too much, a little too often.
And I have stared in the mirror and realized that my body holds marks, not of battle scars, but of memories worth keeping.
Filled with beauty and pride, I have contemplated my life through these so-called flaws
A little too much, a little too often.
I look in the mirror and I find parallel marks on my forehead.
These folds on my skin remind me that I thought about you, studied you, focused on you
A little too much, a little too often.
I stare at myself staring back at me and I see wrinkles around my mouth.
They remind me that I spoke kind words to you, laughed with you, and smiled because of you
A little too much, a little too often.
I look down at my reflection and see my scarred and blemished hands.
They remind me that I held you, caressed you, and worked for you
A little too much, a little too often.
I look in the mirror and I see to my delight the corns and calluses on my feet.
They remind me that I walked with you, I was beside you, I was with you every step of the way.
A little too much, a little too often.
This image of me across a pane of glass reminds me about aging with grace and beauty.
It reminds me that I have achieved it because I have lived my life not for myself but for another, for the other, for you
A little too much, a little too often.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Things You Should Do During Oktoberfest
- Try using a beer bong
- Try at least three beer brands you have never tried before
- Try making beer ice cubes by putting some beer in ice trays and using that as ice for your beer, or create blended beer by blending those ice cubes. If you want something more exciting, try making beer popsicles.
- Try drinking beer by Depth Charge
- Throw beer pot luck. Require all your guests to bring different kinds of beer.
Drink of the Week: Baltimore Zoo
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Beer Facts
Drink of the Week: Danger and Cloudy Day
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Partyphiles Ask
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Hangover Remedies Explained
Hangovers. These are the bane of the partyphile’s existence. Every single alcohol-hungry partyphile has experienced the head aches, the nausea, the dizziness, the unsettling feeling in the tummy, and the lack of energy brought about by hangovers. It is one of the lowest down sides of partying, and it still continues to haunt many a partyphile. In fact, whenever I ask for topic suggestions for my radio show or newspaper column, hangovers are always the most popular answer; which is funny because I have discussed the topic on the air and on print at least five times since I started Confessions of a Partyphile. But due to insistent public demand, I bring you this article once again. Is it a rehash of an old article? Nope. In this article I am going to explain what a hangover is, and give you the low down on what you think are the best remedies or hangovers.
What is a hangover? Experts say it is a form of withdrawal; it the reaction of your body to the absence of alcohol that has been in your system for some hours. One of the most popular misconceptions in the Philippines is that a hangover means the same thing as drunkenness. If you think that, you are seriously gross.
For most people, a hangover is the collection of symptoms you experience the day after you go binge drinking. It is like a cocktail made with some or all of these symptoms:
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Lack of energy
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Pessimism
- Difficult in concentrating
- Lack of focus
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of balance
So now that we know what it feels like, we must know what causes it. You know that I don’t like getting too technical with my articles because then it would be obvious that I Googled all the facts I have here, so here is the simple low down: alcohol has a lot of different components and chemicals. These components and chemicals dehydrate you, strip off the minerals in your body, deplete your sugar levels, and make you feel all those symptoms. The sure fire way to avoid hangovers completely is to avoid alcohol completely. But of course we know that is not possible. Thus, we go to the most popular hangover remedies.
I asked my radio show listeners and my social networking friends about what they think is the most effective way to prevent or remedy a hangover. I have their answers here along with a little explanation of my own.
Koi Sevilla suggests: a glass of water before sleeping and milk or Gatorade in the morning.
Partyphile explains: a glass of water (or more) before sleeping is advisable because it helps rehydrate your body, putting in more liquid in your system will help minimize the effects of the hangover (granting of course that those liquids aren’t alcoholic). Milk is known to soothe an upset stomach; one of the causes of nausea. According to studies however, when it comes to hangovers, Gatorade or any other sports drink is equally as effective as water. Since water is cheaper, take that instead.
RJ Mercado suggests: chocolate in any form
Partyphile explains: if you can hold the chocolate down (which I find hard to do when suffering from a hangover), then you may do that. Chocolate has minerals and sugar; two things that are of a shortage when one suffers from a hangover. Is this the best source of minerals and sugar? Not really, studies suggest that honey is the best form of sugar as it is easier to break down. Also, if you insist on taking in some chocolate, try chocolate milk instead. It soothes the tummy as well as provides the necessary minerals you have lost.
Jeremy Yap suggests: raw eggs with Soy Sauce and Milo.
Partyphile explains: I don’t know what’s up with this Soy Sauce cocktail. I would find it hard to swallow this, but if you can, it just may become one of your best bets when it comes to hangover remedies. Salt helps you retain water in your body; one way to fight dehydration. However, since you are already dehydrated, it would be a big help to hold on to as much liquid as you can, so that is probably where the Soy Sauce helps. I don’t think it really helps that much though. Milo is also a good source of sugar and minerals and taking it with milk may help soothe your upset stomach. Raw eggs are the single best (ever) food product you ca ingest to take care of your hangover. Eggs contain a protein that is rich in a substance that is known to fight chemicals that cause hangovers. I could bombard you with the technical terms for these compounds ad elements but you would forget them away. Just keep in mind that eggs fight hangovers; however you have them…especially when you have them raw.
Carlo Violan suggests: ice cold beer.
Partyphile explains: as stated above, a hangover is actually a withdrawal. It is your body adjusting to the loss of alcohol that has inhabited your system for x number of hours. Thus, putting some alcohol back in may seem like a good idea, but it does not really treat the problems, it hastens the process though. So instead of treating the hangover, having some more beer may just lessen the degree of hangover-ness (I know there is no such word; I made it up. So sue me), but extends the time you experience it.
Francis Louie suggests: take a shower
Partyphile explains: this does not help at all. Although it might make you feel fresher, it does not reduce the effects of the hangover.
Marga Ray: take pain killers
Partyphile explains: if you are suffering from a headache, then go ahead and take some pain killers. However, it is all about timing with this one. Some people take pain killers or aspirins before they sleep after binge drinking. This just adds stress to your already stressed liver (thanks to the alcohol you just ingested). You must take the pain killers after you wake up with a hangover and a splitting headache. After taking the meds, go back to sleep. You should feel better when you wake up.
Catch Confessions of a Partyphile’s (The Radio Show) this Wednesday (August 31, 2011) from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Partyphile Clues You In: Hangovers
1.) While drinking, remember to choose the lighter colored alcoholic beverage. This will give you less of a hangover.
2.) Remember to eat before and during your drinking session. More food in your body will help delay the absorption of alcohol.
3.) Stay up late. After drinking, do not sleep straight away. Staying up late allows some alcohol to leave your system before going to sleep. You will feel better when you wake up.
4.) Right before you sleep, drink at least two glasses of water.
5.) Wake up at your normal waking time. This will help keep your body clock in check.
6.) After waking up drink some pain killers if you are suffering from a headache.
7.) Eat some protein because it is known to ease a hangover. Eggs are the easiest option.
8.) Avoid caffeine. This will dehydrate you some more and worsen your hangover.
9.) Drink some water to rehydrate your body. Sports drinks are known to be equally as effective so since water is cheaper, drink water instead.
10.) After eating, go back to sleep. When you wake up, your hangover should be gone.
Drink of the Week: Begola Cocktail
Since we are celebrating Anti-Hangover day today I'm giving out a recipe for a cocktail that is said to relieve hangovers by adding some more alcohol into your system, and keeping you hydrated. Here is how you make the morning-after-Begola cocktail:
- two shots of vodka
- two shots of blue Gatorade
- five shots of orange juice (use those that come in cartons in groceries, and not the powdered kind)
Partyphile Celebrates: Anti-Hangover Day
Today we are celebrating Anti-Hangover Day. Why? Because Hangovers are the banes of Partyphiles' existence. Hangovers prevent us from wanting to drink more and make us realize that we've overdone partying---something no partyphile should ever realize. Thus, I dedicate this day to fighting hangovers!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Partyphiles Confess: Puking vs. Passng Out
Partyphile Clues You In: Puking vs. Passing Out
When you vomit, you feel a lot better afterwards. You stay awake, and you embarrass yourself in public. However, when you puke, you can always choose where to do that. Hopefully, its inside the loo.
Drink of the Week: Pine-Lime Punch
Since we are celebrating Punch Day, I am giving out a recipe for one of the easiest punches in time. The Pine-Lime Punch is convenient, easy to make, and very delish. Here's how you make it.September 20 is Punch Day
I don't really know whether this actually refers to Punch (as in sticking your fist against someone's body) or Punch (as in the gorgeously alcoholic mixed drink you make during parties) but i'd like to think this was made to celebrate the alcoholic punch... just because its worth the festivity. So celebrate today with your favorite punch..and if you don't have one, I'll give you a recipe later on. :D Wait for it!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
You Asked, Partyphile Answers
Writing a weekly newspaper column may become quite tasking. Sometimes, I run out of things to talk about or share with my readers and find it extra difficult to wring out what’s left of my creative mind. You can’t blame me though; by now, most of my brain is filled with alcohol and it is not humanly possible to be on point all the time. The good news is, when I start to feel like I’m in a writing rut, I go online, ask my Social Network friends to ask me their questions, answer them the best I can, and compile them all in one article…just like this one. This works well for everybody because 1.) it saves me the time and effort to think about new party-related topics to help you with, and 2.) I actually answer questions that real people are curious about. So here goes another round of “You Asked, Partyphile Answers”
Question: When somebody comes up to you in a bar and asks for your number, how can you handle that situation without looking “easy”?
Answer: Alright, I am assuming that you are a girl, so my answer would probably work well only if you are female (but males are willing to try it then). When somebody asks for your number it means one thing: he is interested. That is a given. You have got him inside your bag. Now, all you have to prove is how interested he is, again, without looking easy. Here is what I think you should do:
Dare the guy to do something (like take four shots of Tequila without Lemons or Salt) in exchange for your number. If he declines, then he isn’t really that into you and isn’t worth giving your number to. If he accepts the challenge, then he’s really into you, and that is, of course, a good sign. So, when he accomplishes the task you gave him (of course, adjust the difficulty of the task to how much you like the guy as well) you will seem “forced” to give him your number as he earned it fair and square. You won’t seem easy, and you will get his number. Of course, if you don’t like him and he accomplishes the task, you could always give out a fake number.
Question: When do you think you’ve partied too much?
Answer: Now, this is one of the tougher questions to answer because it is a very relative topic. But here is the deal: no matter how much you love partying, there should be a point in time where you actually draw the line. For me, there are three things you should watch out for.
1.) When your health starts to suffer, you are partying too much
2.) When you forego all your other responsibilities, you are partying too much. Skipping school, skipping work, neglecting your children, or your loved ones are the worst tell-tale signs of too much partying
3.) When you put shame upon yourself, your family, the company you represent, and your group of friends in a way that you would definitely not if you were sober, then you are partying too much.
Partying is a celebration of life; it is supposed to inspire you... not to destroy all other aspects of it.
Qestion: Aside from socializing and drinking, why do partyphiles party?
Obviously, I can not speak for the rest of the partyphile populace, but I really think that partying or clubbing is just another past time. Much like watching a movie or grabbing some coffee, it is simply something some people enjoy doing. Nobody goes around and asks people why they watch moves or have coffee in posh cafes because we all know that it can be entertaining and satisfying. Partying is no different.
Obviously, in some instances in life, partying is more than just a form of entertainment. Some people party to get connected or expand their network. Some people party to be seen and heard; or to create a presence in society. Still others choose to party because being part of a crowd that is willing to let their hair down is comforting especially during those times when you have a lot on your mind. For me though, it serves as a perfect distraction to prevent me from thinking about work, problems, and other stress-triggers. Of course, partying means a different thing to different people at different times in their lives but the bottom line is partyphiles party because it serves them some other purpose that isn’t usually obvious at face value but definitely makes a difference in the involved person’s life.
Question: What exactly is a potluck party? What am I expected to bring?
A potluck party is a type of celebration wherein the guests all agree to bring some food for everyone to share during the party. Usually this happens when the occasion worth celebrating is shared by everybody else instead of a personal occasion like a Wedding or a Birthday.
The concept of the party seems simple, but there always seems to be a problem with variety when it comes to potlucks. As I see it, there are two major problems:
1.) Not enough variety: Most people do not cook or plan ahead for potluck parties. Thus, most people rely on purchasing the most convenient food stuff they can get their hands on. This is probably the reason why most potluck parties in middle-class Philippines feature a spread of donuts, cakes, lechon manok, and more lechon manok. Why is this a problem? Because everybody is getting tired of the same old food. And yes, that even goes for your own “secret” Spaghetti recipe. For potluck parties, bring something exciting and new to the table.
2.) Too much variety: I don’t know about you but I certainly do not enjoy eating Pancit with Pizza and Afritada. This is another example of a pot luck party gone bad. Here is the deal: if you want to be sure that all the foodstuff people will be bringing will taste good together, you may either assign different people to bring specific foodstuff or create a theme. For example, you can require everybody to bring Filipino dishes, or Japanese dishes. You can also require them to bring Pizzas, Pasta, and nothing else. This way, even if your guests would bring food from different restaurants, your food will go well with each other.
Catch Confessions of a Partyphile’s (The Radio Show) this Wednesday (August 31, 2011) from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun
Partyphiles Confess: Too Much Partying
I asked you to complete the sentence: You know you’ve partied too much when____?
Pier Lopez: You wake up outside your house and you realize you slept in the garage
Claire: You wake up on a Sunday morning…and you are still inside the club
Paolo Gutierrez: You’ve forgotten how you got home and where your cellphone is
QC Verano: You wake up in someone else’s bed
Tin Tine: You don’t know where all your money went
Martin Samson: You schedule your daily activities, like eating, sleeping, and the like, around parties
Doy Bijis: Staying home on a Friday or Saturday night is not an option
Joan Alquino: You have no idea how you got home and slept with your contacts on
Drink of the Week: Long Beach Iced Tea
Admittedly, the Long Island Iced Tea is one of the more popular cocktails in the bar menu because it is great-tasting but very potent. However, ordering the same thing over and over again may get quite boring. This is why i am giving out a recipe for the Long Beach Iced Tea: a drink that is as potent as the Long Island Iced Tea but with a fruitier edge. Here is how you make it:When is Partying Too Much Partying?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Drink of the Week: Baltimore Zoo
When talking about potent cocktails, most people mention the Long Island Iced because it contains about 5 different types of liquor. However, our drink of the week is a step up from that because instead of Coke, it uses Beer. Here is how you make the Baltimore Zoo:
Partyphiles Confess: Getting Drunk
I asked: what is the worse thing you have ever done while drunk?
Jinky: After drinking one Tanduay long neck alone, I rode a jeepney home. The travel was about two hours long and I felt like vomiting while still in the jeep so I swallowed my own blood-filled vomit.
EI: Got drunk, got inside my car which was parked outside Starr. Some stranger came up to me ad advised me to close the door.
Jaja: In a party, I called out a girl for cheating on her boyfriend who was one of my close friends
Claire: I woke up in a bar one Sunday morning not remembering what had happened the previous night
Daryl: I slept along the shoreline of some beach and got really embarrassed when I woke up as I was already surrounded by a lot of people.
Gene: Not being able to remember how I managed to drive myself home then puking by the gate
Ada: I woke up at some bar smelling like puke and then some doctor from Oroderm took me to my home. I was crying while he was giving me this speech about not giving up. Looking back, I really pity his SUV, it must have wreaked of puke.
Monette: I was in a jeepney and had to puke and was afraid to ask the driver to stop because opening my mouth would mean vomit would fly everywhere. So I puked down my tucked-in shirt.
Anonymous FA: I used to be a flight attendant for an International Airline. They housed us in this hotel while waiting for our next flight so we decided to go drinking at the hotel bar. I got so drunk, I took all my clothes off, ran around the pool and then ran around the hotel bar. I got fired the next day.
Anonymous FA: I went drinking with one of our airline Captains and ended up in his hotel room. I stood up to look for my towel, and started searching for it outside. All of a sudden, some hotel staff came up to me and covered me with a robe. I was completely naked. Oops!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Street Food Party
Your birthday is the only time of the year when you are allowed to party as heartily as you want to. It is the time of the year when everybody gives you a free pass and allows you to do anything just because it is YOUR day. Unfortunately, based on my observation, not many people throw parties to celebrate their birthdays anymore. Most people would rather buy their friends some alcohol, indulge in a drinking spree, and then call it a night. Usually this happens in the more popular watering holes in the city. And although hat is alright, it gets a little tired; it is definitely high time partyphiles switch it up and think of better ways to celebrate their birthdays.
Ok. Ok. I know what you are thinking. Throwing parties is just too much work and costs too much. That may be true, but to some extent, it is only as tasking as you let it be. And if you are wise, you would not allow the preparations for the party to get out of hand. All you need is a simple concept, a complete set of party elements, and you are good to go. So you can’t think of any new party concepts. That is where this article can help you. Here, I will teach you how to throw a party with a minimal budget, with minimal effort, and with maximum returns. Here is the theme: an inuman (drinking) party. Sounds blah? There are a couple of ways to make it exciting. Here’s how:
Remember, inuman (drinking) sessions are common in Filipino sari-sari stores (neighborhood stores) because they are very laid-back, convenient, and fun. Most Filipinos who enjoy drinking in little sari-sari stores do not even have music on when they drink. All these people need is conversation they enjoy, some alcohol, and some food that goes well with their alcohol of choice. Take your cues from this Filipino drinking habit and you are sure to throw a unique, fuss-free party. Now, here are the elements of the party:
Venue: All you need is an open space good for the number of guests you plan to invite (for this article, let’s say you are inviting 50 friends). You could throw the party in your house, or rent some place out. Remember, it does not have to be a glitzy or glamorous place. In fact, you can throw this party in a garage.
Décor: All you need is little banderitas (little fiesta flags/banners attached to a string) to string across the ceiling. It gives the venue a very Filipino feel as well as some festive flair. Most of all, it does not cost much and is easy to set up. Total cost for this step: 300 pesos.
Drinks: Here is where you can really save up. All you need is some hard liquor. You know your friends much more than I do so you are the best person to estimate the number of alcoholic beverages to serve. However, I think that a one liter bottle of local rum would suffice for every 4 people. And because Filipinos love chasers, I suggest that you buy soft drinks to go with the rum. If you are on a really tight budget, use a mineral water dispenser and prepare about 5 gallons of mineral water. Beside the dispenser, lay out some sachets of powdered juice or iced tea for your friends to prepare themselves. Of course, you must also provide some pitchers. Costs for this step (with an estimated 50 guests): about 1200 pesos for 15 bottles of local rum ; about 400 pesos for 50 sachets of powdered juice; about 350 pesos for 5 gallons of water. Total cost for this step: 1950 pesos.
Food: Now, here is where it gets exciting. Most Filipino drinking sessions involve street food as the pulutan of choice. To make the party exciting and interactive, you may hire kwek-kwek vendors and ask them to take their cart into the venue of the party. You may also do this for fish ball vendors, or any other street food you fancy. What you can do to cut costs is to tell the vendors to prepare enough food for only a certain amount. For example, you can tell the fish ball vendor to prepare 500 pesos worth of Fish Ball. And we all know that is TOO MUCH fish ball; which is always a good thing, as parties are supposed to keep people full while drinking. Also, it may be a good idea to buy about 300 pesos worth of peanuts just to have something on the table. Total cost for 1000 pesos worth of Kwek-kwek, 500 pesos worth of Fish Ball, and 300 pesos worth of peanuts: 1800 pesos.
Music: This party element is probably the last thing you would have to worry about. For this type of party, conversation is preferred rather than music, but it would also be nice to have sopemthing upbeat playing in the background. If you want to go really Pinoy, play some Parokya ni Edgar, Rivermaya, or Eraserheads tracks. You may also play some chillaxing songs like One Look by Kjwan and songs from 311. Just play some really chill music from your ipod to some sort of speaker.
Those are all the elements you would need for a fuss-free inuman-style party. The total cost for the elements mentioned above is 4050 pesos for 50 people; although it would be wise for you to set aside 6000 pesos for unexpected expenses like extra pitchers and tissue paper. Again, the concept here is a no frills party. Your guests may come in shorts and tanks and may help themselves with the drinks. Ask them to open their own bottles of rum and make their own juice. Also ask them to approach the vendors and order as much as they want. The relaxed atmosphere and no-frills concept will not only allow your guests to enjoy a fuss-free night of boozing up but will actually allow you to let loose and enjoy the company of the people closest to you (instead of running around trying to everything because you have a formal/complicated theme). Use this theme as a template for future parties or follow this one to a tee. All I hope is for you to have fun and realize that parties are not supposed to be about the decors or the program but about having fun, creating crazy memories, enjoying stupid conversations, and soaking in the presence of your favorite people.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
August 31 is Partyphile Pulutan Day!
Today is Pulutan Day! So grab some beer, make your favorite pulutan food, and party it up to celebrate this gluttonous day!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Semi-Instant Pulutan
Filipino drinking sessions are unlike those that are attended or initiated by our foreign Partyphile friends. The Filipino drinking sessions, more commonly referred to as "inuman" sessions, are less formal (although there aren't many formalities that go with foreign drinking sessions either) than those of our non-Pinoy counterparts. Our drinking sessions can take place anywhere, at virtually any time of the day, and may be attended by just about anybody dressed in just about any sort of garb. The Pinoy inuman session is definitely a no-brainer. All one needs to start is a bottle (or two...or more) of alcohol, a group of friends, some conversation (of varying degrees of sensibility), and some "pulutan".
"Pulutan" is the Pinoy term for anything that you eat with your alcohol. And in this country that isn't limited to nuts and crackers.
It is common to see Pinoy boozers enjoying a round of beer with that night's dinner-leftovers. Aside from the common sisig, fish crackers, and nuts, Filipinos enjoy eating anything-- from pizza, to sashimi, to lechon, to instant pancit canton, to Pinoy style barbecue, and so much more-- with their poison of choice.
And although these food items seem worlds apart it seems like the usual choices when it comes to pulutan choices have to be 1.) Savoury, and 2.) Convenient. Whatever may be in the pantry or fridge at the time of the inuman session is always a good pulutan. However, this may get a little tired. This is why I have gathered a few of my easy pulutan recipes and decided to share them with you. Here they are:
1.) Instant Tuna Sisig. All you need for this recipe is canned tuna in oil or leftover tuna meat, torn into bite-sized pieces (leftover grilled tuna belly works best for this), a white onion, butter, and liquid seasoning. All you need to do is mince the white onion and sauté it in butter. When it becomes translucent, add your tuna, and sprinkle with liquid seasoning. You may serve this on a hot plate with a piece of calamansi (Filipino lemon).
2.) Cored Beef Nachos are also a wonderful semi-instant idea. All you have to do is heat canned corned beef in a skillet, add frozen carrots, peas, and corn (which is available in most groceries), and then add some tomato sauce over it. Season the mixture to taste and then scoop some on top of a bed of Nachos or Potato Chips. Then, sprinkle everything with some quick-melting cheese and pop it in the microwave or oven until the cheese has melted.
3.) Meat Loaf Hash. Usually, people prepare meatloaf by simply slicing it and then frying it or by eating it straight from the can. This unique take on Meat Loaf is savoury and fried and makes for really good pulutan. All you have to do is slice the meat loaf into little cubes. Slice an onion and two potatoes the same way. Then, prepare a skillet and heat some oil in it. Pour the onion, potatoes, and then meat loaf and cook on high heat until the potatoes are cooked through. If you want to give it a little crunch, you may leave it in the skillet to brown a bit. It approximately takes 15 to 20 minutes. You may also dust it with cheese before serving.
4.) Leftover Adobo Flakes. This is the ultimate in Pinoy pulutans, although not may people know about. Seriously though, is there anything more Pinoy than fried adobo? Anyway, here is how you do it. Take your leftover Pork adobo and tear into small flake-like pieces (it should resemble larger pieces of Corned Beef). Then, let it sit in the sauce it previously came from for some minutes to help it absorb the flavour of the sauce. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot, cook the adobo flakes in it at medium high heat. Keep frying it until it looks golden brown and looks crisp. After this, remove the adobo flakes (at this point it will look like crunchy corned beef) and place on top of a paper towel. This will absorb the oil. As the adobo flakes cool down, it starts to get crunchy. Serve it in its crunchy state as the perfect Pinoy pulutan.
Catch Confessions of a Partyphile’s (The Radio Show) Pulutan Special this Wednesday (August 31, 2011) from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun