NO ART TALK TODAY

We also do culinary Arts do we?

Below is a nightmarish experience I had eating food from R*****s this after noon. This place used to be good. Its on J. Abad Street, near Alex III.


Time was when I was so proud of R*****s opening in San Juan. Finally, I said, a decent above average Mexican restaurant.

Fast forward 8 months later, and it seems that earlier success has gotten into the heads of the owners and personnel of this once 'must try' destination.

I ordered a Steak Fajita, and a cheese Quesadilla. I looked at the prices. Fajita was P340, and no price for the simple cheese quesadilla. That was just the beginning of my nightmare.(They had a small sign saying their 'peach' quesadilla was P190)

When the bill came, the cheese quesadilla was P290! Pretty steep for something not even on the menu. I complained, but the counter girl blithely said that all quesadillas were that price (even if not stated on their menu) She was unapologetic.

The store manager was sitting nearby, listening to what I was saying, but doing nothing. He was busy with his cell phone.

Then, upon getting home, the horror started in earnest: The fajita I remembered that was so large two or more people could eat it, had shrunk.

 The steak was overcooked. In fact, I felt I was chewing on some hard gum while trying to swallow the once tender meat. This would have been good for my flat tire last week.

The cheese quesadilla? Three quarters of it had its crust burnt. I mean, not brown, but BLACK. I wanted to return it, but my kids persuaded me not to go make a scene.

So that's it. The END of my R*****s experience, and I know exactly what to say when friends ask me for a good Mexican place in the Wilson area - none.

Success has gone to the heads of these once conscious owners. There are many more Mexican  places open on Ortigas and nearby. I ate there a few days ago, debating whether R*****s was a better choice. Now I know better.

This message does not end here. I don't seek any form of consolation from these people who probably won't give it to me anyway.

Go ahead and ignore me R*****s. I don't expect you to react any differently. I hope you do well in your next restaurant.

I love my job blogging about restaurants. (If you need to pee, you need to find a Ristroom)

Post Glow

It's taken a full eleven days before any new post could be written after our exhibit launch - but with good reason. The reasons are many and valid.

XAG is now a force to be reckoned with, with projects coming up, and the grand vision of an Arts Centre in Xavier a reality just waiting to be taken by it's horns and run with. The task is daunting, given that the performing arts is as broad and diverse as the deep blue sea, but it can be done. With the blessings of the school and the powers at be, XAG getting a home is a dream closer to reality than originally thought.

The key here, of course, is the mural. It is XAG's "signature" project that will announce that Art has arrived at Xavier and will be there to stay. The old adage, "if you build it, they will come", rings true. Once the place and it's purpose is established, the artists will come, the sponsors will hopefully support, and Art will be alive and well where it once was just a pipe dream.

Heading this unwieldy Guild is not for those with little time to spare, for it's management is a full time job in and of itself, and it's incorporation into the school and stated goals of developing artists can only be accomplished with all the catalysts giving it their best.

There should be no rest until the fog of what was once a dream is lifted and XAG becomes a reality for all to enjoy and appreciate.