Dinner at Karlyn's Food Station

Last Monday, I had dinner with Lyle, Blogie, and Ria at Karlyn's Food Station. Frankly, I wasn't too enthusiastic because I already promised myself not to put even a single morsel of beef in my mouth (due to health reasons). I have been to Karlyn's before so I knew that I was going to pig out on at least one of their meat-based menu offerings.

Ignoring my already nagging conscience, I ordered Beef Stroganoff and Burger Steak (actually Karlyn's version of Salisbury Steak). For Lyle, I ordered Steak ala Pobre, the house specialty.



The Burger Steak was flavorful and was served with gravy and vegetables. And although I don't think it measures up to Red Ribbon's Salisbury Steak, it is better than Jollibee's impoverished-looking version of the dish.



I also liked the Beef Stroganoff, which was a dish of tender pieces of beef in creamy sauce served over pasta. It was tasty. Each serving, however, is snack-sized rather than meal-sized. So make sure you order something else or you'll end up with a still growling belly.



And then there was the Steak Ala Pobre. It was delicously tender and reminded me of Port Cafe's Bulalo Steak ( at Gaisano Mall) . I really enjoyed Karlyn's bestseller that before I knew it, I was eating off Lyle's plate. Literally!

Visit Karlyn's Food Station at Dona Luisa Village, Davao City. It is just a stone's throw away from SM City Davao but if you have trouble locating the place, you can call them at 299-0087.

Loving Educational Podcasts

I am into educational podcasts right now. I subscribe to two popular and well-produced podcasts: KoreanClass101 and Grammar Girl.


Since I started subscribing to KoreanClass101's language lessons a couple of months ago, I have learned a substantial amount of Korean words and phrases. Keith Kim, the host, never fails to give a lively audio show. KoreanClass101's podcasts, which last between five to 15 minutes, come with notes (if you are using an iPod Touch or an iPhone) so learning is reinforced. The discussions are comprehensive with valuable inputs on grammar and vocubulary points. KoreanClass101 also has a website for those who want to avail of the premium membership.

Just recently, I discovered Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tricks for Better Writing and I'm totally hooked. Launched in July 2006, Grammar Girl already has a huge fan following owing to Mignon Fogarty's very informative and lively audio shows. During the past few days that I have been listening to Grammar Girl's lessons, I have learned a lot of things that will help me in my writing. I usually struggle with grammar rules and her tips and tricks help me remember things easily. I also visit Grammar Girl's website to check out the transcipts and the archives section.

I thought of subscribing to another foreign language podcast but decided against it because I am still halfway through everything I have downloaded. There are video podcasts to watch and even more audio shows to listen to! Truly, with my iPod Touch and the countless podcasts I can get my hands on, I don't think I'll ever get bored again.

Image Sources: Grammar Girl and KoreanClass101

Jose Sarasola Booted Out of Pinoy Fear Factor

Pump Squad leader, Jose Sarasola, is the 4th participante to be eliminated from Pinoy Fear Factor. Jose, 22, was the worst performer in the Being Dragged on Concrete challenge.

LJ Moreno and Jommy Teotico competed with Jose in the third challenge of Pinoy Fear Factor Elimination Round 4. Remarkably, LJ Moreno bested the two Pump Squad members in the stunt resulting in Jose Sarasola's early departure from Pinoy Fear Factor.

My take on Pinoy Fear Factor's 4th Elimination Round:

The Pump Squad is clearly all talk. Sheesh.

Phoemela Barranda is Pinoy Fear Factor's 3rd Eliminado

TV host and model Phoemela Barranda is the third participante to be eliminated from Pinoy Fear Factor. A strong contender in the first and second elimination rounds, Phoemela Barranda failed to give her best performance during the third elimination round particularly in the second and third stunts.

In the 2nd stunt wherein the participantes had to plunge into a water tank filled with snakes to retrieve rubber rings, Phoemela failed to conquer her fear of snakes and decided to give up a few moments after she took the plunge. And in the last stunt requiring her to break into glass sheets while riding a bicycle, Phoemela lost her balance and fell off the bicycle causing her to be eliminated from Pinoy Fear Factor.

My take on Pinoy Fear Factor's 3rd Elimination Round:

Manuel is clearly Pinoy Fear Factor's stongest contender. Judging from his performance in the last two elimination rounds, the guy devises a plan before taking on a challenge. Proof to this is his outstanding performance in the Slippery Car stunt. Shucks, the guy set a new Fear Factor record by finishing the stunt in 44 seconds. If Manuel continues to be this good in the succeeding stunts, he may become the 1st Pinoy Fear Factor El Ultimo Participante.

I really feel sorry for Phoemela Barranda and wanted her to stay longer in the competition for a number of reasons. First, she was doing so well in the first two elimination rounds. Also, she looks really good in a bikini. And more importantly, I wanted Jommy to be eliminated from Pinoy Fear Factor altogether.

I hope Jommy gets to be the 4th Eliminado. Sheesh, the guy is all talk. And frankly, this Pump Squad thing is really, really irritating.