Beverages / Drinks Archives - Page 4 of 7

Top Picks at 2nd Ultimate Taste Test in Rockwell

If there’s one day we allow ourselves to completely indulge on good food, it’s at the Ultimate Taste Test. This time is no different. Upon seeing the lineup of food purveyors that will be presenting their new products for the coming holidays, we couldn’t wait to be there.

Sadly, Ken couldn’t come because he had to work, so I invited a long-time friend of mine to join me. He’s a food lover too and we both genuinely enjoyed the experience together. Thanks, Alex! 🙂

Since I came from work, I wanted to take a few winks before I went to Rockwell. We finally started our UTT food trip at around 3pm and we finished past 6pm. Take note that we didn’t get to taste everything. Some of the purveyors there are already familiar, so we chose to head on over to the new ones that piqued our interest the most. Plus, the fact that we were already too full at 30+ food items tasted, we just had to skip some.

Just like before, it was hard to pick our (mine and my friend’s) top favorites since there were many standouts, but the decision on who makes it here was all on me. 😉 In no particular order, here are our top favorites from the 2nd Ultimate Taste Test in Rockwell:

Bayani Brew Iced Teas

Since there’s only one beverage at the event that we absolutely loved (except for the beer, of course), I’m putting Bayani Brew on top of our list. Dubbed as Filipino iced tea, their line of products are made of nutritious, local ingredients from Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Bulacan. Their section at the UTT was mostly crowded because they were very enthusiastic in telling people about their products. And it’s good to see that many were genuinely interested, including us. 🙂

We were given a taste of 2 of their iced tea flavors. The original variant was a combination of calamansi, lemongrass and pandan. It has this refreshing aroma, and as soon as I took a sip, the exciting combination wanted me to drink some more.

The other flavor was Purple Leaf, brewed from sweet potato, purple leaf tops and lemongrass. What made this iced tea pink was the talbos ng kamote extract. It changes color after brewing, as we were told, thus, staying true to Bayani Brew’s promise of no artificial colors or flavors. If you like your iced tea with an extra dash of sweetness, you’d definitely love this one.

Ron Dizon, the Social Enterprise Head of Bayani Brew, said that they haven’t officially launched Bayani Brew yet, but the price is Php 35 per bottle when they become more readily available here in Metro Manila.

There’s one thing that Ron said that resonated in me – the fact that foreigners are more aware about the hard work of our very own Filipino farmers and the abundance of quality local ingredients that we have available. The beautiful lady pictured above is French, and she was very eager to tell us about the product and what they do, which is just amazing. That’s why we appreciate events like the Ultimate Taste Test where those businesses who can’t go on full-blast marketing are given a chance to let us know that they exist or what they have to offer.

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Twinings Diamond Jubilee Tea Blend : A Taste of Royalty

As one grow older, it’s expected that many aspects of ourselves – personality, outlook in life and even our palate – mature as we come of age. In my case, last year, when I decided to shift from drinking coffee everyday to enjoying tea instead, I found myself wanting to taste all sorts of tea out there aside from the tea bags I’m so used to. So, when Twinings sent over this Diamond Jubilee Loose Leaf Tea Blend in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign, I didn’t waste any time to have a taste of royalty at the comforts of our home.

Twinings has been the official tea of the British Royal Family since 1837. In fact, they were granted the Royal Warrant for tea by Queen Victoria 175 years ago and has been marking very important celebration in the royal family with new blends, tin cases, caddies, etc.

This Twinings Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Blend is as special as the significant event it’s celebrating. The limited edition tin case itself is already worth buying this.

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About Guilty Pleasures

Guilty pleasures – these can be food, activities or anything that gives you so much pleasure that you don’t mind the guilt you feel right after. Guilty pleasures are usually kept secret from others probably because you want to maintain a certain image, you simply don’t want anyone judging you for giving in to temptations or it’s just plain embarrassing to admit.

Though we enjoy discovering new restaurants or cooking up unique dishes, we have a list of food and drinks that we can’t simply get enough of. We always come back to them because nothing else can give us the same level of satisfaction. They’re our comfort food, so no matter what others may say about how unhealthy they can be, we felt that it’s about time we share with you our own guilty pleasures to hopefully entice you into admitting what you always crave for. 😉

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MHEL: I was one of the many people who were saddened upon learning that A&W stores stopped their operations here in the Philippines years ago. Imagine my joy when I found out that leading grocery stores still sell A&W rootbeer in cans. I blogged about that here. And every so often, I bring home at least 2 cans of A&W rootbeer to enjoy at home (I actually have a can currently chilling in our refrigerator). The intense rootbeer flavors and its frothiness can never be surpassed by any other rootbeer brands, and I know a lot of you would agree with me. 🙂

KEN: What’s not to love aboutÂ Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? Reese’s combines the two best things in the world – chocolate and peanut butter! I have tried countless times to make my own version at home, but nothing really beats the original. These peanut butter cups, covered in their bright orange wrappers, are, hands down, the best candy in the world!

MHEL: I LOVE cheesecakes, but since I had a taste of Ken’s version of Blueberry Cheesecake (New York style), I can’t get enough of it. I think we’ve had it numerous times over the past year. He doesn’t complain though ’cause I’m always the one buying the ingredients. 😀 Plus, he’s addicted to cheesecakes too. It’s the best Blueberry Cheesecake I’ve ever tasted, and I share this opinion with a lot of fellow foodies. 🙂

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Our New Yummy Favorites from Jollibee

Jollibee has been a part of our lives since we were really young kids. I know we’re not alone in this. Throughout the years, their menu has evolved and almost every year, we get to taste their new offerings that have proven to tickle the Pinoy’s fancy, young and adult alike. We love their Chickenjoy,Â Jolly Hotdog and spaghetti, but let us share with you the most recent additions to our Jollibee favorites:

The Jollibee Hash Brown Burger is the ultimate comfort food. Potatoes and the tasty beef patty Jollibee is known for – it’s like a complete meal rolled into one. 🙂

The Jolly Crispy Fries that come in Cheese and Sour Cream flavors. Ken prefers the latter, while I like the salty-sweetness of the cheesy fries.

Jollibee Chicken and Mushroom Pasta – I swear, when I found out about this new pasta offering from them, I couldn’t wait to try it. My nanay and I share a common liking for it. 🙂

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Nescafe Decaf Summer Picks Promo

Everyone in our family loves coffee. Okay, Ken used to, but he thinks he reached his caffeine limit while studying for the Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE). 😀 Even though I also switched to drinking tea more often, I still miss the kick coffee gives me whenever I needed it the most. Whenever I smell the aroma of coffee, I can’t help, but to longingly whiff and smile. It has that effect on me. 🙂 Well, with Nescafe Decaf now widely available to everyone who wants to enjoy coffee without the stimulation, there’s no stopping me from drinking coffee again. 🙂

I prefer making my Nescafe coffee with ice. I also like it a bit dark and nicely bitter to the taste. When I have work, I prepare it hot. Our nanay usually adds cream to it too. However way you want to enjoy this coffee, surely, it’ll still give you that comforting satisfaction in every cup.

Now, how about enjoying a cup of Nescafe Decaf while relaxing, say, in Hongkong, Malaysia or Singapore? You can and for FREE! Join Nescafe Decaf Summer Picks promo:

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Sariwon Korean Barbecue at Bonifacio High Street

Sariwon Korean Barbecue, a newly opened restaurant in Bonifacio High Street Central, proves that Koreans and Filipinos are not only similar with their love for music and cheeky telenovelas; they also share a discerning palate for good food.

Awarded “Best Korean Restaurant” by NBC Broadcasting Company in 2005 and by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2007, Sariwon had a rather humble beginning. Her husband suffering from diabetes pushed Mrs. Bun-Im Koo to create her own bulgogi sauce from a mixture of various fruits and vegetables without using a single speck of sugar. Urged by neighbours and friends, they established their first restaurant in 1938, which transformed from a small diner with 27 seats to a whopping sitting capacity of 350 at their main branch in South Korea.

Every table in Sariwon is equipped with imported ceramic smokeless grills that have exhausts on the sides that suck out smoke from grilling, so you don’t have to worry about your clothes smelling of smoke upon leaving.

After we’ve settled into our seats, we were warmly welcomed by our server, Joy, who was carrying a tray with six side dishes called Banchan. The first thing I recognized was Korea’s national dish â€“ Kimchi.

The names of the other side dishes, I asked our server to write down because there’s no way I could spell them myself. Shigumchi is blanched spinach leaves. Moosangchae, or seasoned Korean radish, reminded me of our very own achara. Kochu Meolchi Dokkeum is roasted anchovies with green chilli. They also have seasoned Korean bean sprouts or Kongnamul. Finally, there’s Tanhobak Sarada, which is mashed sweet pumpkin and potato, perhaps the Korean version of mashed potatoes. We forgot that these were side dishes, not appetizers, so when the other food arrived, there’s barely anything left on the plates.

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Saint’s Alp Teahouse : They’re More than Just Milk Teas

I admit, I was not a big fan of milk teas at first because I have always equated tea as a drink for the elderly. But, when tea places started sprouting in every corner of the Metro, I felt so compelled to give bubble tea drinks a try to find out why, all of a sudden, they have become so popular.

Since we started this food blog, my sister and I have already been to a number of milk tea places, but I have never completely jumped aboard the tea-drinking bandwagon until I met my classmates from culinary school who are crazy about milk teas. I mean, they really know their stuff. Give them a name of a store and they would know exactly what drinks one should try there. But, one store they were not quite familiar with yet was Saintâ€™s Alp Teahouse, who invited us to try their offerings, so we thought we should drop by and see what new drinks we could find.

Saintâ€™s Alp Teahouse can be found on the 2nd Floor of Regis Center along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City (check their branches at the bottom of this post). The storeâ€™s faÃ§ade looks simple and clean, providing a more spacious appeal. Theyâ€™re facing Ateneo, which gives them a nice view of a rich and green landscape.

The interior conforms to their simplistic design, the tables and chairs are efficiently spaced, providing guests more room for movement, and the clear glass door and windows allow natural light to brighten up the room.

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You’re Invited: Taste the Goodness of Jollibee MILO Sundae Mix-Ins this Saturday at Mercato Centrale

We recently featured the Jollibee Sundae Mix-Ins MILO Blast. We know a lot of you got excited to try this because of the yummy combination of their soft-serve, Milo powder and Milo breakfast cereal. My friends who have kids already were especially delighted about this news. Milo has been one of our favorite drinks when we were growing up so we are well aware of this energy drink’s health benefits. So, pairing it with Jollibee’s soft-serve sundae just makes it double the fun, double the goodness! 🙂

If you haven’t tasted this yet, here’s your chance to try it for FREE! This Saturday, Ken and I will be at Mercato Centrale where Jollibee will have a free sampling of this new dessert.

Come with your kids or friends, especially those active young to teen ones, and you might get a chance to win special prizes from Jollibee when you’re seen and photographed by us and other foodie bloggers who’ll be there. If your photo enjoying the Jollibee Sundae Mix-Ins MILO Blast is chosen as the winner, you will get gift certificates and possibly other surprise prizes.

Here are the details of the sampling event:

When: March 17, 2012 – Saturday – We’ll be there by 9am, but Jollibee’s sampling starts at 7am and ends at 2pm.

Where: Mercato Centrale at Bonifacio Global City

We hope to see you on Saturday! Watch out for me and Ken. 😀 Now, here’s a yummy teaser….

A Sweet, Sweet Ending at Parvati (Take 2)

After a VERY disappointing dinner at a diner somewhere, we quickly decided that we needed something to make up for the lousy meal we just had. Since my BFF Tina and our nanay havenâ€™t been to ParvatiÂ yet, there we went.

We posted about Parvati before. Itâ€™s indeed a one stop dessert shop and they help home-based bakers market their products without worrying about opening their own stores. When we went there the first time, the place only had a few tables. When we returned, more seats are available to diners.

They also had a few additional items on their menu, particularly their beverages. We were excited to try different goodies so we ended up with four (4) dessert variations.

Letâ€™s start off with what we had for drinks. Ken ordered the Hot White Chocolate (Php 100). Itâ€™s made of Belgian white chocolate buttons and is very rich. Not really suitable with desserts, but we still enjoyed this.

My nanay and I both ordered their Honey Apple Iced Tea (Php 90). Nothing really surprising. It was refreshing and subtly sweet nonetheless (I ended up with 2 photos to use up the full width of our content space â€“ nag-explain?! 😉 ).

Tina ordered the mouth-watering Cafe Mocha with Caramel Candied Cashews (Php 100). It had vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream and candied cashews â€“ a killer combination! Ken regretted not ordering this instead of his hot cup of white choco. 😀

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Straightforwardly Filipino : A Satisfying Lunch at Chef Tatung Garden Cafe

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.â€
-Harriet Van Horne

If you’re a regular follower of our blog, you may know now that I have exchanged a career in nursing for an unknown future in the culinary industry. I’ll be honest; there were times when I had doubts if I’ve made the right decision of switching careers, but I always find inspiration from people who have experienced the same things that I’ve been through and have become successful. One of them is Chef Myke “Tatungâ€ Sarthou of Tatung’s Garden Cafe, who decided to brush aside writing and production work to put on a chef’s garb and start a restaurant business.

Hidden along the residential community of Sikatuna Village in Quezon City, a home-turned-restaurant stands with a luscious menu offering a modern take on Filipino Cuisine.

It’s a rainy Saturday morning when we were invited for a lunch at Tatung’s Garden CafÃ©. The faÃ§ade gives little clue that there’s actually a restaurant inside.

Chef Tatung truly understands Filipino cuisine. He shared that Filipinos eat with flavors that are close to nature, and that our cooking is greatly influenced by our environment. That is the reason why in creating his dishes, he made sure that his food tastes like what they really are. A chicken dish should taste like it’s made of chicken. It’s as simple as that.

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