Gumbo: Discovering the Taste of New Orleans Here in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Your friendly neighborhood Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas got an invite to try out a restaurant called Gumbo with a sub-line of "A New Orleans Restaurant" at its branch located at SM Megamall. Their very first branch was at SM Mall of Asia but since the branch in the said Mandaluyong mall is conveniently located at the center of the metro, the organizers decided to have the bloggers' event there.

While having our lunch, Mr. Albert, the Managing Director of both Gumbo and its sister restaurant Burgoo, informed us of some of the trivial information about the Gumbo restaurant, including where it got its name. I was surprised to know that the word Gumbo was derived from the African word for "okra," a pod like vegetable that was introduced by African slaves to thicken the stew we now call Gumbo. It has an incomparably rich flavor and texture and was derived from the cooking of French, Spanish, Indian, and African residents of the area.

When asked for my preferred drink, I had the urge to order for the drink with most unusual and intriguing name - the Elephant Charger. I don't really know why they call it that way but there's definitely no elephant harmed in the preparation of this concoction. It was a refreshing blend of a few fruits that go smoothly well with the sumptuous dishes served.

Another very interesting fact about the restaurant is that whenever customers order for their Gumbo or their other specialty called the Jambalaya, the restaurant crew will shout the dishes name as soon as they come out of the kitchen.

WeChat on Your Desktop? We’ve Already Got You Covered – Including iOS Users

Wazzup Pilipinas!

WeChatters are busy – sometimes you need to multi-task, send a message at work, or use a keyboard to type quicker and longer messages. That’s why three years ago, WeChat launched the Web WeChat, a web-based client, and have been improving it ever since. So you can WeChat with your friends and family directly on your desktop.

Have you checked out Web WeChat?

· It’s available for all WeChat Users – iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows.

· And is supported on multiple browsers. For example, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.

To access:

1. Visit https://web.wechat.com/

2. With your WeChat QR code scanner, scan the QR code shown

· iOS users: Tap “+” in the upper right corner -> “Scan QR Code”

· Android users: Tap the three dots in the upper right corner -> “Scan QR Code”

3. On your phone, confirm your web log-in

Firgun: A Book Swap Event For A Cause

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In this digital age when e-books, social media and blogs are the "in" thing to read, it is quite surprising to know that there are still a significant few that collect and read the printed book versions that many would probably refer to as the old school style of reading.

I remember the earlier days when I used to roam around all the bookstores in search of bargain books and magazines. I was a collector of the sci-fi, detective and adventure literature and glossy magazines of the same genre. But when e-books started becoming popular and many blogs started posting a lot of interesting readings, that passion of collection diminished.

However, I still collect a few rare ones that usually pops out as sensational or controversial but unfortunately, not entirely for reading but more on collecting. I'm not sure if I can still be called a bookworm, but I have to admit that the feel of turning the pages of a real book is a lot different from swapping of pages on the tablet. There is something about the touch, and smell, of the printed form that excites the senses.

This coming February 21, The Dream Shirt, an online shop that sells book inspired t-shirts, will be having its first book swap event called “Firgun”. It will be held at Local Edition Coffee and Tea in Makati City from 1PM to 4PM.