How To Watch The Euro Cup 2012

Quarterfinal match: Germany vs Greece

This is where you watch football:

In a massive beergarden

where 3 hours before the game, most of the tables are occupied

and fans come out wearing jerseys, face paint and carrying big-ass flags.

This is where you sit:

At a table 2 rows down from the huge screen

and right beside where the beers are sold. 

And this is how you celebrate:

Wave your arms like crazy, scream your lungs out and light up fireworks. 
Photo: Dan Z.

Congregate on the streets making it a b*tch for cars to pass.

Drive down to the city center while honking your car horns. More chanting, screaming and partying.
Video: Dan Z. 

This was just the quarterfinals. Imagine how crazy it would be if Germany actually wins the Euro Cup?!?

Project: Domesticated Goddess

***Simple Schnitzel Recipe below***

I think it's safe to say that ever since I moved to Germany, I have been more independent, less lazy and, much as I dislike admitting it, a lot more domesticated.

Where I came from, it is pretty inexpensive to go to a restaurant for meals if one feels too lazy to cook at home. I have friends back home whose diets consist mostly of McDonald's, KFC or some other restaurant. Here of course, we don't have the luxury of eating out often since it is darn costly.

In the four months that I've been here, I think I've cooked more than I have had in all the years that I lived in Asia. One gets pretty much used to it though after a while.

I make it a point to cook an Asian dish at least once every two weeks. The problem is,  Asian ingredients aren't really that cheap here. In my first month, I had a craving for the Filipino dish sinigang wherein one main ingredient is kangkong (water spinach). I went to the Asian store only to find out that they have it for 2,50 euros per 200 grams. Ack! Pretty steep but then I had little choice so I ended up buying it. Instead of throwing the stalks away as what we'd normally do in Asia, I searched in Google and found out that you can actually grow kangkong by planting the stalks.

Soon my kangkong plant will be ready for cooking!

I'm also fond of Thai cuisine since it's pretty easy to cook and yet really delicious. In most of the dishes I like, lemongrass is needed. As with what I did with the kangkong, instead of throwing away the stalks I cut off from the lemongrass, I decided to stick them in a bottle with a bit of water. After a few days, I noticed that the top part which I cut off started growing back and after a week, roots started to come out and leaves started growing.

Lemongrass stalks which I put in water.

Stalks transplanted in a pot.

Of course, I also had to learn some German recipes. One of my favorites is pork schnitzel since it is very easy to make. If paired with potato salad, it becomes an awesome hangover meal.

Homemade Pork Schnitzel and Potato Salad

My Simple Schnitzel Recipe:
schnitzel-cut meat from butcher
breading (old bread that's lying around the house which I run though the processor)
flour
egg
oil for frying
salt and pepper

Get tenderizer and pound on meat so it's not as thick. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Dip first in flour and shake off excess. Then on to the egg to coat it. Finally, dip it into the breading. Fry. Enjoy.

Come to think of it,  I don't mind the actual cooking so much.  It's actually planning the meals we'll have every day that bugs me. I have a newfound respect for housewives. It definitely is not easy.

I'm Shoe in Love 2012

Calling all shoe aficionados! It's that time of the year once again. The biggest shoe event in town is happening this weekend. Mark your calendars and head down to the NBC Tent this June 30 - July 1 to find your perfect pair!

For more info, visit the I'm Shoe In Love Facebook Page.

European GP 2012

So, guess who took pole position for the third straight time in Valencia? Why, Sebastian Vettel of course!

Photo from Formula1.com

Vettel will share the front row of the grid with Lewis Hamilton while Pastor Maldonado will be starting third. Seb edged out Hamilton and Maldonado by more than three-tenths of a second which is more than the gap covering the entire top ten in Q2. GO SEB!

Jimmy Fallon, Carly Rae Jepsen & The Roots Sing "Call Me Maybe"

I was never really fond of this song but strangely, I like this video. Maybe because this version seems so much fun with all the classroom instruments being used. Maybe also because I can clearly hear her singing voice as opposed to the auto-tuned version from the studio.

American Food in Stuttgart

I was craving for a big, fat, and juicy burger a few weeks ago and so I got excited when I saw this deal of TC Original American BBQ on DailyDeals Deutschland. For only 14 Euros, you already get 2 sets of burgers, fries, salad, and a drink.

Coming from a country which doesn't have strict laws regarding false advertising or consumer protection, I wasn't expecting for the meal to remotely resemble what was on the photo. Imagine my surprise when the food arrived on our table.

Burger, fries, salad, and a drink!

My photos don't do it justice but the servings were huge!

The place is not in a commercial area and people not from that part of town might have a not so easy time finding it.  I guess this is why they are doubling their efforts to advertise the place. They gave us a free plate of babyback ribs to sample since I believe that is what they really want to be known for and the burger deal is just a way to entice people to give them a try.  I must say, the ribs are delicious! Tender, juicy, and just the right amount of smokiness. Never got to take a photo since it was gone as soon as it arrived on our table.

Man vs Food. Man loses.

We are definitely planning on heading back there for more of their babyback ribs.

If you find yourself in or near Hallschlag (it is very near the army base), and have a craving for American food, do visit TC BBQ.

TC BBQ
Emil-Kiemlen-Weg 53
70376 Stuttgart

Telefon: +49 711 / 8829207
Telefax: +49 711 / 8829206
E-Mail: info@tims-barbecue.de
Internet: http://tims-barbecue.de

Old Fart Eye for the Ultimate Guy

A good friend of mine has just passed away this week. On the blogosphere, he was known as Unsubcultured. He was funny, creative, witty, loved life, an avid sponger, a retired Ultimate player, and an all-around nice guy.

I met him almost 10 years ago while I was just starting to play Ultimate. He was a big fixture in the Ulty scene in Manila and was also considered one of the founding fathers of Manila Ultimate. According to stories of several people, he would always stick around even if it meant multiple hot boxes or savage pickup games. I will forever be thankful to him and to the other expats because they never gave up trying to make people come out to Just Put It In. If not for Ulty, I wouldn't have known the friends I have today.

Like I mentioned, Unsubcultured was one talented bloke. In the earlier years of Philippine Ultimate, some old-timers, in the hopes of promoting the sport, were asked to contribute write-ups to be posted on the website. In honor of my dear friend, I am reposting an article he wrote many many years ago.

Words are not enough to express the sadness I feel. You will forever be remembered. Wherever you are, continue to Just Put It In! These were the last words you told me when I left Asia: "See you whenever, Chief!". Indeed, see you whenever, Chief.  

Raise Your Game
[2004, No. 11]

Old Fart Eye for the Ultimate Guy
(A guide on how to survive the game when you’re NOT young, fast or athletic...)

by Gabby "Old Fart" Gaskell

The sport/game/cult of Ultimate is continually evolving in Manila. “Back in the day” it was played by a small group of expats and a few Pinoy weekend warriors who wanted to sweat and have ultimate fun on Sunday afternoons. Today, whether you like it or not, disc is more competitive – with more athletic types ruling the field. So how does a 36-year old keep up with 20-something legs in every pick up, hat tourney and league game? Read on.   

ATTIRE
Of course we all know it’s wise to bring a light and dark shirt. This will keep you from going skins or shirtless - because no one wants to see a flabby tummy bouncing around when you run. It’s also wise to wear a bandana, a visor or a cap in case you are balding. And most important of all, never ever wear short shorts… unless your name is Danny and you play for Sunken Pleasure.

PREGAME
Come about 1-2 hours before start of pick up or a league game. That way you get a chance to throw, warm up, stretch and work up a bit of sweat. This is important because you may go for just 1 point and leave the rest of the afternoon to drinking beer and eating those damn cookies.

But if and when you play…

OFFENSE
Chances are, the person guarding you will be faster. So how do you outwit, outplay and outlast your defender? Simple, take him out of the play by taking yourself out. In other words, get out of the way. Let your faster teammates do the cutting and catching and just give everyone a high five when your team scores. 

DEFENSE
Most likely, the person you are assigned to will be quicker than you. So when you get beat, run after him or her like hell. Only two things can happen anyway: [1] you can earn the ire of your teammates [#$^##&$*#, WHO’S ON THAT GUY/GIRL?] or [2] get a cheesy cheer like NICE TRY [now sit your butt down on the sidelines]. 

Also, when choosing a person to guard, always pick a guy extremely better than you. At least you have an excuse when he when he burns you.

Lastly, never ever pick a woman to defend against because we all know how hard it is to chase women.  

POSTGAME
Two words. Ben Gay.

EPILOGUE
I’ve been burned by 20-somethings, 30-somethings and women a lot of times. I’ve lost count of how many times the person I am guarding has eluded me and scored. I’ve eaten so much pride while playing disc that I think I’m gaining weight. I have accepted the fact that there will always be someone faster, more talented than me. But that doesn’t stop me from putting on my cleats any chance I get and try to hold my own against 20-something athletic legs. Hey, I’ve scored, cut and made great plays a lot of times too. 

Now that we’re done with the basics of playing the game, here comes the harder part - HOW TO SURVIVE PARTIES AND NIGHTS OUT. But that’s another story.

---

A true living legend, Gabby Gaskell a.k.a. "Old Fart" is one of the few original Manila Vicers still around in the PUA today. He was around when disc was still being played on Tuesdays and Sundays only, and that was if they had enough players to form a game. At one point, his lengthy disc career made him a formidable captain, leading more than 1 hat team to victory during Vice/PUA's many, many hat tournaments. Gabby has played for various Manila Ultimate teams (he was on the original Askal squad in Boracay '03) before finally donning his pink skirt and coming home to the Breakfast Club.

Wine Walk at Uhlbach

Going to another wine walk this weekend since the first one I went to a couple of weeks ago was so much fun. This is one of the things I like in this city. There's a lot of outdoorsy stuff you can do instead of just the usual hanging out at malls and getting shit-faced in bars.

This wine walk is 10 minutes from our place, about 4 kilometers long and consists of  6 stations where you can taste different wines from the area. It actually is pretty cool since you drink and at the same time get some sort of a workout.

Hopefully, the weather cooperates.