STATUSPHERE
TURO-TURO AT ITS FINEST
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ubtract the usual angsty manangs, faint smell of insecticide, and indecent meal presentation from your college cafeteria or office building canteen, and you’ve got a place like Petra & Pilar. Leading the way in turo-turo dining, this high-style carinderia deceives us with its poshlooking edifice along Pasong Tamo. Katrina PonceEnrile, the visionary behind P&P, was inspired to unearth her grandmothers’ recipes and recreate them; a daily dish rotation that’s a mix of savory Ilocano cooking learned from the PonceEnrile matriarch, Petra, and the extravagantly rich flavors of proper Spanish grub from the Castaner matriarch, Pilar. “There are many places to eat that offer high-end food with a high-end price tag. I wanted a very affordable place, short of a turo-turo but three or four notches in the aspect of quality,” says Katrina. Other than their turo-turo corner, Petra
& Pilar also houses a delicatessen shop: Delimondo. From deli meats to marinades, and even bottled milk chocolate and fondue, it’s a line of cheaper-by-the-convenientserving-size gourmet food products. And while you’ll only need to drop P50-P190 over here, expect more than the common Pinakbet or Adobo. Each dish in this socalled carinderia is made with full-blown flavors and spice. At least now, you can enjoy that bottle of beer without worrying about the menopausal manang coming your way to confiscate it.
Petra & Pilar is open from 7am-10pm from Mondays to Fridays. Ground Floor, JAKA Center Building, Export Ave. corner Pasong Tamo, Makati City. - Beverly Dalton
CLAE BOY W e’ve seen enough sneaker collabs, colorways, and limited drops these past few years to fill the bloggers’ junkyard. So it’s about time that California-based
8 - www.statusmagonline.com
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE SALON!? D on’t know who Shunji Matsuo is? Listen up and listen good. This worldrenowned hairstylist has just opened up a salon right here in manic Manila with Dr. Boy Vasquez, owner of the elegant café Juanita. Shunji’s worked on the tresses of Cindy Crawford, Uma Thurman and Cher, to name a few. He has also created artistic and original styles for magazine covers like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Not to mention that his work has graced the runways of Yohji Yamamoto, Oscar de la Renta, Gaultier…yeah, you get the picture. So now you’re thinking: ‘Where does the Doc fit into all of this?’ Dr. Vasquez has decided to dip those hyperdexterous fingers into the salon industry. Describing himself as the “Imelda of the beauty business”, Dr. Vasquez’ more-is-more approach to the salon’s interior emulates his overthe-top approach to life and the beauty industry in general.
Clae entered the scene, and unlike the other independent footwear labels, its’ designs are here to stay. Clae is the brainchild of Sung Choi, who has done design time for Lakai footwear and DC shoes. Tired of seeing the sneaker trends come and go, he envisioned the next level of the lifestyle shoe—something timeless yet modern. You know, something we’d still want to wear after the hype has died down. With classic silhouettes, subtle details,
The salon’s interior is a shifting art installation that reflects the doctor’s mood and ideas. Brass cranes, Japanese and Thai umbrellas, colorful carpets and a smorgasbord of modern and vintage collectibles epitomize the ebb and flow of this grand and ostentatious hair space. Behind the experience of beauty and style is a science—the Shunji Matsuo technique. It’s a special system and method that stylists go through, spearheaded by William Wong, Shunji’s International Director. So now you know that whether you’re getting a perm, cut, or dye, you’re getting nothing but the best: the Shunji experience.
Shunji Matsuo Hair Studio is located at 17 West Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City with tel. 631-9424. - Anine Vermeulen
and a few bright colors that pop, Clae keeps its focus on both design and comfort. It’s a simple and versatile shoe to wear for any occasion (the country club to nightclub works), and it’s the best pick for the guy who has great taste but doesn’t feel like he’s got to flash it. No hype, just style done right.
- Hannah P.