7 Smartphone Photography Tips & Tricks (Video)

We always want to 'go lite' when travelling. Carrying a heavy luggage is not only hassle in moving around but it also adds cost to your check-in baggage!

One significant item that adds weight to our luggage is a DSLR camera. The camera itself plus the lens, flash, tripod and other accessories can add up to 2 to 3 kilos of inconvenience. But of course, I will not recommend to you to leave your DSLR camera specially if you're a photographer or photo blogger and you want to capture amazing pictures from your journey.

However, for everyone else, there is an option in capturing great photos by using only your pocket friendly smartphone.

Photographer Lorenz Holder made a cool audio-video presentation that demonstrate some creative smartphone photography tips & tricks using an iPhone 5S!

This video was uploaded just 2 days ago (August 25) and it already amassed a whopping 492,332 views on YouTube!

Watch and learn:

Cross-published in www.starmometer.com

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Exquisite 9-Course Italian Dinner at Finestra's Chef's Table

If I get the chance to go to Europe, Italy would be the first country that I will visit. The arts and culture of this boot-shaped nation never cease to amaze me. And of course, the places that I want to see are the Canals of Venice, the Colosseum, the Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, among others.

Italy, by the way, is famous around the world not only for their UNESCO Heritage sites, the visual arts of Leonardo da Vinci and Michaelangelo, the music of Luciano Pavarotti, the fashion trends in Milan, but also for their food. And when I think about Italian food, the first four things that come to my mind are pizza, pasta, gelato and espresso, but of course, the assortment is wider and more diverse than what our stomach can imagine.

Last Wednesday, August 13, I was fortunate to have a taste of Italy. I may not be able to go to Italy for the distant future but at least I was able to taste the country via Finestra's Chef's Table.    

Finestra is one of Solaire's signature restaurants. It boasts of authentic Italian dishes under the strict supervision of its Executive Chef, Mr. Salvatore De Vincentis.

Chef Salvatore has more than 20 years of cooking experience with tenures at Grand Hyatt in Dubai and Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Bahamas. He arrived to the Philippines four years ago and worked at Edsa Shangri-La Manila and now at Finestra in Solaire Resort and Casino. The feathers in his cap include Best Executive Chef for Italian Cuisine at the WOFEX Worldwide Competition Awards, Best Italian Restaurant for Edsa Shangri-La Manila’s Paparazzi at the 2009 Nescafé Gold Spot Awards, and Best Italian Restaurant for Mezzo Mezzo, JW Marriott Hotel, Mumbai at the 2012 Times Food & Nightlife Awards.

Chef Salvatore and his team prepared a 9-course meal for me and fellow bloggers (Jeng Bauto of www.showbiznest.com and Mhel & Ken Ignacio of www.certifiedfoodies.com) at the Chef's table located right at the open kitchen of Finestra. Chef's Table, by the way, it an exquisite dining experience in Finestra where a group of up to four people get to sit and dine as the food is being prepared in front of you. You can also chat with Chef Salvatore and ask him about the story behind the food being prepared and what not. And that's what we did.

The thing Chef Salvatore said that I will never forget is that most of the ingredients in the food they are serving in Finestra are imported from Italy. From cherry tomatoes, from all kinds of cheeses and even the wine came all the way from his country making Finestra an authentic Italian restaurant.

Course #1: Burrata Pugliese 

The meal started with two flavorful appetizers. First, the Aragosta and Shrimp Soup with Olive Crostini.

Second, the aged Parma ham and rughetta salad. Skewed on a breadstick is a melon wrapped with Parma ham, a popular dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked. According to Chef Salvatore, it got its name from the Italian city which main product aside from cheese is the all-natural ham made from only four ingredients, pork, salt, air and time.

My favorite, by the way, is the cheese on the left side of the plate called Buffalo Mozarella. It's made from  the milk of the domestic Italian water buffalo which gives it a unique taste. Inside is a combination of mozarella and cream giving it an unusual, soft texture.

Course #2: Pizzeta

What's an Italian meal without pizza and Chef Salvatore served us a traditional kind that brings him closer to home. This pizza has Porcini mushrooms and Trentino Speck or smoked ham for toppings and lots of Bocconcini or the small mozzarella cheeses the size of an egg like the Buffalo Mozarella. Chef asked us if we want the pizza sliced and we nodded. Apparently in their hometown, they don't use a pizza cutter in slicing the pizzeta. They use their bare hands instead.

Course #3: Calamarata

Top right of the photo grid - Red Sicilian Pesto, Clams, and Mussels.

Course #4: Raviolone

Top left of the photo grid  - Diver Scallops with Saffron Cream and Salmon Caviar on top.

Course #5 - Risotto

Bottom left - Homemade Sausage, Rice in Barolo Wine Reduction Sauce. 

Bottom right - Bisol Cartizze wine that gives the taste buds a different take on Calamarata, Raviolone and Risotto.

Course #6 - Intermizzo

Chef Salvatorre said it's time to cleanse before the main course so he served us a Limoncello Sorbet. The lemon cocktail was served in a small glass separated from the ice ball so we can balance the strong lemon flavor according to our taste. This 'intermezzo' actually removed the 'umay' from our tongue so that we can continue to course #7 and #8 which are the main course. Yes, folks, finally the main course is up next! 

Course # 7 - Branzino

Branzino means "Seabass" and it's a seafood meal with Roasted Chilean Seabass in Datterini Cherry Tomato and Sorrente Olive Oil infusion.

Course # 8 - Agnello

Agnello means "Lamb" and I'm really delighted that the next entree is a Grilled Lamb Chop because I love lamb chops! Whenever we go to Go Greek, I always order grilled lamb chops because it's rich in protein and less in fat compared to pork and beef.

Anyway, Chef's Salvatore's Lamb Chop was cooked in medium rare which is perfect for the Schiopetto Collio, a wine that caresses the palate with expressive layers of sweet, perfumed fruit.

Course # 9 - Dessert

Finally, we're down to desserts! Chef Salvatore asked us what do we like and I said "surprise us" (chos). He served us three kinds of desserts actually.

On the left is the traditional Nutella Cake. On the middle is the Tiramisu, which I thought before was Japanese because of its sound and learned that it's actually Italian. On the right-most of the rectangular plate is the Wallnut Caramel Gelato which was the best-tasting gelato I've ever tasted (without exaggeration, really!). The taste of caramel ice cream embedded on powdered wallnuts was fantastic! It ended the 9-course meal with a bang.

You too, can embark on an exquisite dining experience with two to five of your friends and relatives at Finestra's "Chef's Table." It's fun, it's casual, educational, entertaining, and amusing. But most importantly, it offers a multisensory culinary adventure like no other. Experience Italy taste-wise at Finestra located in Solaire Resort and Casino at 1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Parañaque City. Just make a reservation 72 hours in advance for the Chef's Table.

Photo op with Chef Salvatore De Vincentis

Menu Options:

Six-course meal - P4,888+ /person
Nine-course meal - P5,888+ /person

Optional Beverage Pairing:

Additional P1,299+ /person (for a six-course meal)
or P1,699+ /person (for a nine-course meal)

For more information, visit www.solaireresort.com and like their Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/SolaireResort and follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SolaireResort.

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3rd Time in Boracay's a Charm Because of Zuzuni Hotel

They say third time's a charm and it's true, well at least for me. I've been to Boracay 3 times already and it's the latest trip to the island paradise that charmed me the most because of the hotel. 

While some travelers don't give much importance to where they stay when they're on a trip and they see hotels as somewhat just a place to sleep, I have a different opinion. For me, accommodations are part of your journey and these hotels can give as much memories as the attractions you are going to. Well, if the hotel can give you a pleasant experience, that is.        

My trip to Boracay last month was made even more wonderful because of the hotel we stayed in for 3 days and 2 nights: Zuzuni Boutique Hotel. It was a pleasant surprise when we arrived because it's my first time to a beachfront hotel, ever. In my previous trips, we stayed in a large hotel that is far from the beach. So aside from sharing the space with lots of other 'bakasyonistas,' it takes us about 5 to 10 minutes walk before we reach the beach. In Zuzuni, it was a different story.  

My room is located at the 3rd floor. These squeaky clean wooden stairs directed me to my room. 

 And when I opened the door, everything's so clean and nice and the whole room was well-lit. According to some staff-members, everything was Mediterranean-inspired.

Here's my bed which is kinda similar to the ones in 5-star hotels. The sheets smell really nice and the comfort level is definitely 10/10! 

My favorite part, and what enthralled me the most, was the balcony! Zuzuni is a beachfront hotel so the view from my room's balcony is mesmerizing. A perfect place to relax, I can see the ocean from here, some trees, the people walking by, the sailboats, and the powdery sands of Station 1. 

Here's the view from my room:

And here's the sliding glass window of my room which I like to keep open because I love breathing fresh air coming from the ocean.

Located at the ground floor is the Spanish-inspired restaurant called "Cuzina." They serve Filipino, Spanish and American breakfast here. If you're a guest at the hotel, you are entitled to a free breakfast. My choice was always Filipino breakfast, tocilog and tapsilog on the next day.

After eating breakfast, I work for an hour or two with my laptop and this amazing view:

Overall, my stay at Zuzuni Hotel was great. Everything was very clean from the comfort room to the balcony. They served delicious breakfast. The staff was friendly and eager to please. The location was very convenient, it's just a few hops away from the beach and near all the shops, bars, restaurants, water sports activities, that you need. Beside there was even a convenience store where you can buy the necessities that you forgot to bring. It's also 5-10 minutes away from D Mall.

If you're Boracay bound, I highly recommend Zuzuni Hotel simply because of my terrific 3 days 2 nights experience. Take note, it garnered a very high 8.4 score from Agoda.com with lots of positive feedbacks from 42 people who've been there so you can expect more good reviews about the this hotel.

For more details about their promos and corporate discounts, visit Zuzuni Hotel's Official Website at www.zuzuni.net. You can also like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/zuzuniboracay.

For reservations, call Zuzuni Hotel at (036) 288-4477, 09088620031 or 09088939841(8am-8pm) or email them at zuzuniboracay@gmail.com.

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