NBS recommends leisure reads

The Tropical House

By Elizabeth V. Reyes

P1,950

MANILA, Philippines - The Tropical House celebrates a growing trend toward stylish globalization in interior design. More than 25 stunning houses and condos in and around Manila are showcased, each evoking a distinctive tropical-modern fusion style that is gaining popularity around the world. All these fine residences comprise a synthesis of East-West trends and contemporary furnishings — as international sleek modernist furniture merges with “soulful creations” by local designers in natural hardwoods and other tropical materials.

Over 250 full-color photographs of outstanding Filipino residences will inspire readers with their diverse, contemporary designs. From vintage glamour to classic modern with bold, artful accents and the clean, sophisticated look known as “contemporary chic,” this book showcases the myriad tastes of the Philippines. The selection covers modern designs referred to as minimalist or Zen and admires today’s global eclectics, those well-traveled collectors of beautiful objects from East and West. Furthermore, it celebrates the individualists who mix European furniture with acutely creative accents from local designers or who fame edgy artworks by Filipino artists with clean, contemporary architecture. Such are the globalized interiors of today’s tropical Asia.

Asian Resorts

By Akihiko Seki

P1,855

From a stilted villa above a blue lagoon in the Maldives and a remote yoga resort in the hills of Bhutan to serene enclaves in the bustling cities of Dubai and Bangkok, Asia offers an unmatched range of luxurious accommodations to satisfy those looking to escape or in search of a one-of-a-kind experience. Beach resorts, hill resorts, spa resorts, health resorts, golf resorts—there is something for every top-tier resort-goer. All the resorts showcased in this book, spread over a vast area between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, epitomize grandeur and opulence and inimitable Asian hospitability. All are renowned for their magnificent settings, distinctive local architecture, lavish spaces, contemporary styling with an Asian twist and impeccable service. And all fuse modern-day taken-for-granted amenities with rich cultural traditions and warm, friendly hospitality. With over 300 full-color photographs, Asian Resorts is a wonderful guide to many of the best luxury accommodations in Asia.

Ace Of Cakes

By Duff Goldman & Willie Goldman

P1,475

Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes is a celebration of the bakery that started it all. This colorful scrapbook is loaded with stories about Duff’s early days as a graffiti artist turned young chef, his successes and hilarious disasters, and the amazing team he built step-by-step. Through candid interviews and profiles and hundreds of photographs, illustration, collages, the book shows how energy, inspiration, collaboration, and a bit of luck can conspire to help anyone achieve their creative vision.

Of course, at the center of this stunning book are Charm City’s cakes. From the simple to the breathtakingly complex, Duff shows off some of the bakery’s more unusual techniques and tools that shape their famous creations. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at his Food Network show, shares his most incredible customer stories and request, the reveals some of the bakery’s favorite cake facts and tips-along with a comprehensive episode guide and a monster cake montage featuring seven years’ worth of the bakery’s astonishing cake creations.

The Great Christmas Cookie Swap Cookbook

By Good Housekeeping

P435

Good Housekeeping knows that there’s no better time than the holiday season to share sweet joy, so the editors have gathered 60 of their favorite recipes for Christmas cookies, each created to make batches of eight dozen cookies or more. Whether you’re a veteran of cooking swaps, or want to start a tradition of sharing with friends, family, and neighbors, you’ll love these classic confections and new taste treats. All the recipes are triple-tested for success in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, so you can bake with confidence. As an added bonus, we’ve included tips for hosting a swap and festive black cards for sharing recipes.