My Refrigerator Door

I used to have a Valentine's Day ritual, I stock up on chips and bring out my Breakfast At Tiffany's DVD. Always, I end up crying as Holly Golightly goes looking for Cat in the rain. The past decade has been different, I have stopped dating Audrey Hepburn . 14 February to me has become more special because it's my dear friend Kris Aquino 's birthday. Every year, she has celebrated it differently, from intimate dinners to a trip to Puroland. This year, she brought us, her sons  Joshua and James , her sister Pinky and husband  Manolo , her best friend Zsa Zsa , Darla , Jasmin , Pam,  and me to Dedon Island, a beautiful resort in Siargao Island on the southeastern tip of our archipelago. Siargao Island has been a well kept secret by Australian surfers who love the huge waves on its side facing the Pacific Ocean. Quite interestingly, they call the area Cloud 9, not because the waves look like clouds but after the chocolate bar the surfers love to eat. South of th...

Dennis, Kasia, Vic  and I were schoolmates at the University of Santo Tomas. I became really close to them after graduation, when Montana, Mugler and shoulder pads ruled the runway. Inspite of our different characters and design philosophies, we clicked and became best of friends in this rock and roll world of fashion. Kasia , now based in the US, recently came to visit, and we had a happy little reunion dinner. Vic Barba and I Kasia Francisco and Den Castillo Menudo John Dory Fish Fillet, Parmesan and Caesar Glaze I really enjoyed this one - Pinakbet Rice and Lechon Bagnet with Chocolate Sauce Rustic Apple Pie with Butterscotch Sauce Den, Vic, Kasia and I Ak Bistro, One Rockwell, Makati City