Entries Tagged 'Foodie Information' ↓

I had lived within the vicinity of Kapitolyo in Pasig for a year or two sometime between 2001 to 2004. It was already a foodie haven back then. Home-based food establishments can be found left and right and I used to have a simple dinner in a street corner restaurant called Cafe Juanita.

Spam Sandwich Waflle

Ten years later, surrounding towns have  developed such as the nearby community of Avida Towers Centera along Reliance Street. A stone’s throw away from the Kapitolyo food streets, Avida Towers Centera is a residential condominium located at the corner of EDSA, Reliance, and Mayflower Streets.

Kapitolyo Food Tour

Last weekend, a day before the recent typhoon Maring devastated parts of Metro Manila, we had a day of food tripping around Kapitolyo together with some guys from Avida Land. I immediately noticed that there were a lot of new food establishments, with some replacing even formerly non-food establishments.

Milky & Sunny

First stop was Milky & Sunny for our breakfast. With interiors in the theme of baby-blue and white, it really sets you in the mood for the morning sunshine. Milky & Sunny had just opened in October of 2011 and I’m loving their fluffy soft waffles and tasty-toasty french toast.

Milky & Sunny in Kapitolyo Pasig

I ordered the Choco Hazelnut French Toast (P150) and Spam Sandwich Specials (P150). The others ordered the famous Breakfast Platters which is a big plate consisting of a choice of three from bacon, hotdog, sausage, spam, and corned beef. Then add a choice of bagel, toast, waffle, or pancake. And finally, take a choice of scrambled egg or sunny side up. The big plate also includes hash potatoes.

Although I found the combination of their Spam and egg in the ‘Spam Sandwich‘ a bit too salty together, the Choco Hazelnut french toast was a good one and is worth coming back to.

Chocolate Hazelnut French Toast

Since it would be crazy to immediately jump to Poco Deli for lunch, we found it a perfect time to check out the model units of the nearby Avida Towers Centera. Check out my photos of Avida Centera here.

Poco Deli Kapitolyo

Poco Deli

Giant sausages, bacon rice, and bacon slabs were the celebrities for lunch.

It was raining different kinds of sausages in our table inside Poco Deli. It gave me flashbacks of the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” which I watched recently through ClickPlay app.

Anyhow, our group made sure we ordered different entrees so we can try out as much. I ordered Mom’s Pot Roast (P320) while the rest had a German Sausage Platter/sampler, Bacon Slab with Bacon Rice, and Beef Stew, among others.

Although my order didn’t came through, I told the waiter that it was ok since I had enough from tasting all the entrees around me and was satisfied.

Blackout Chocolate Cake (lower left); Italian Sausage with Cheese (right), White Mountain Cake (upper left), Citrus Delight (upper right)

The German sausage platter is a good idea to share in a group of 3 to have some guide on what to order next. Bacon lovers should try the Bacon Slab with Bacon Rice (P320) [TOP PHOTO]. For a change, have your bacon in chunks. I had high expectation from the bacon rice. But it turned out to be a simple cup of rice with generous sprinkles of bacon bits on top. I think it’s ok, I just expected a lot.

Although that was a  let down, you should not miss the Citrus Delight (120). A bit citrus-y and sweet, it was ultimately refreshing. Make sure to press on the orange slices and stir well so you get maximum pulp bits with every sip.  Pizza, pasta, cold cuts, cheeses, and gourmet sandwiches are the other options.

The desserts were also a killer. The Blackout Chocolate Cake(P155) is aptly named and will get all praises from chocolate lovers, most probabaly. If you are not, the other cake behind is tamer – the White Mountain Cake (P150).

Poco Deli has another branch in Ayala Triangle Gardens, or so their poster says. Checking that out is something I look forward to.

Charlie’s Grind & Grill

Charlie’s Grind and Grill

Natural-Cut French Fries

Straight from lunch, we headed to the next for merienda [snacks] (yes you read that right). That’s what we did all day – eat; this is a food tour after all.

Store design wise, don’t expect much from Charlie’s. It is beside a car wash station which I think also belongs to the owner. That says it all. But believe it or not, their menu board consists of Black Angus Burgers, Wagyu CheeseBurgers, natural-cut french fries, and related burger variants with a commanding price of P200 up for each burger.

But what caught my fancy most was something I saw for the first time in all the burger joints I’ve been to – the San Miguel Beer Burger. I knew at that moment that I’m not going to leave this place without trying that Beer Burger.

And so I did.

San Miguel Beer Burger

Wagyu Cheeseburger with Mushroom

10 minutes later, it came as served by a rowdy-looking but courteous waiter. Even before you take a bite, you can smell the hint of beer right from the aroma. I uncovered the top bun first and a slew of seemingly sauteed onion and mushroom greeted me. This was followed by the bacon, the meat patty resting on a huge fresh onion and the usual burger conspirators.

I had a bite, turned my tongue upside down and back. Aside from the burger patty, I can taste a hint of beer even with the onion and mushrooms. This was confirmed by the server. It had griddle mushrooms, bacon baked onions, cheddar cheese, mayo,  SMB BBQ Sauce , and the toasted beer bun.

At P350, it is not cheap but worth the experience and having the right to say “I have tried a San Miguel Beer Burger“. It tasted good too! 🙂

Needless to say, I didn’t have to eat dinner that night.

Avida Towers Center 2-Bedroom Model Unit

Avida Towers Centera

In a similar way, the lifestyle being offered by the Avida Towers Centera to its future residents are filled with dynamic activities and food scene such as the Core @ Centera for the fitness and sports buff, the Hub @ Centera for the techie, the Peak @ Centera for a magnificent views of the cityscape; the Serenity Park @ Centera for the peace seeker, and the Shops @ Centera for the city dweller. Know more about Avida condominiums via www.avidaland.com and www.facebook.com/AvidaLandCorp, or call (+632) 848 5200 (within Metro Manila) and 1-800-10 848 5200 (outside Metro Manila).

And that was my fattening Kapitolyo Food Trip last weekend. The following days of being stuck at home, care of typhoon Maring, didn’t help in burning all the calories I gained. 🙂

Milky & Sunny Pancakes

Kidding aside, it was great to discover these new foodie spots in nearby the residential area of Avida Towers Centera and the Kapitolyo food scene.

This. is. life.

Filipinos are generally forgiving. They can spare a celebrity with a scandal or even re-elect a toppled and convicted president. To put it simply, we are a race tolerant to those who oppress us. And this culture is carried over in our everyday life and in the simple things we do.

Wobbly Table

In particular, I believe most of us have experienced at least once in our life, a wobbly table while dining in a restaurant. Others call it a ‘shaky table’ or an ‘unsteady table’. By whatever name it goes, it causes an uncomfortable dining experience or a spilled coffee.

You say that’s easy, just step on the table base to balance it and viola! However, you just have to hold your position until everyone finishes their meal.

A more innovative approach involves folding a piece of paper and tuck it into one of the table legs. Problem solved. Well, that is so until the paper is pushed away, the next customer comes in, and the routine experience repeats all over. What do you know, the lucky you may encounter the same table in your next visit! 🙂

Step on the Table Base Solution

I say this has to stop.

As food bloggers, a dining customer’s experience nowadays goes beyond the good food. I would like to think that a bad wobbly table experience count in the ambiance category, to say the least, until the plate slides to the floor or the tea spills to your lap.

So what do we do?

As paying customers, you should at least raise the concern with the restaurant manager with regards to your issue. You may also respectfully ask for a replacement of your coffee or tea, if the restaurant would deem appropriate, which they would most likely do.

In the US, immediate replacement of  a spilled beverage caused by the restaurant’s wobbly table is necessary. Customers can even sue the restaurant for possible damages caused by the incident, say, important documents or gadgets that got wet on the table during the incident.

If these happened to you, how would you react?

Spilled Coffee care of an Unsteady Table?

I appreciate restaurants nowadays who offer alternative mediums for feedback from customers such as sending a text message to a certain mobile number like the one in Italianni’s and its sister restaurants within the Bistro Group. Indeed, you would taste the love, not only in the food, but also in the experience.

I hope other restaurants would also be as conscious of their customer’s experience, in particular with the wobbly tables, as the high-end ones. After all, they would want their customers to have a good dining experience in their restaurants, right?

Until when do we tolerate a primitive problem like wobbly tables? If the restaurant can forego a simple problem of shaking, how much effort do you think are they putting in preparing your food?

Medicard Clinic in Makati

Five weeks, 35 sachets of C-lium Fibre, and one Crossfit session after, I’m still alive; and healthier too! 🙂

September 7 came when we had to undergo the second blood test and stress test at the Medicard clinic in Makati  The activity intends to measure the results and difference from whence we started to include C-Lium Fibre in our diet as part of the ‘C-Lium  Lose More Live More Journey‘. To get accurate results, we had a light dinner the night before of the Laboratory examination ( 10–12  hours fasting ).

We had a weigh-in followed by a nutrition  assessment and counselling.

Weigh-In

Nutrition Assessment: Lost 2 lbs, lost 2 inches from waist, light diet @ 2200 kcal/day

Regular Exchanges of Food / Day

Treadmill Stress Test

All was going smooth but I was already in a hurry during my Treadmill Stress Test because I had an academic class to catch by noon somewhere in Quezon City. My students were waiting for me as I am also an IT instructor, aside from being a social media consultant and blogger.

The tests were the same as before where the treadmill started at a slow pace whose speed gradually increase in time. The incline also increased as the test progressed while a medical doctor observes on the side. (top photo)

Treadmill Stress Test

Blood Serum

Blood Test Results

A few days later, I got the blood test results.

In summary, the general outcome of my blood test were well within the normal ranges. The highlight of which was that I lost about 2 more pounds from the initial 63.4 kilos a month ago.

Little did they know that I have a belly problem (love handles). It’s getting some mass and I want my 6-packs back! 😛

With my slim built, the others were kidding that they were surprised I actually had something more to loose. 🙂

Blood Test Results (from 1st examination)

I myself was surprised. I thought I might have gained weight since even though I was taking C-Lium in the mornings. I was generally still carefree of what I eat during the day and just a bit conscientious of my carbohydrates intake at night.

To put it visually, here are some of my before and after photos.

‘Before‘  (in Singapore King Crab) and ‘After‘  (in Legoland Malaysia) Photos

As per the insights I have gained in participating in this activity, blood results aside, I can truly say that C-Lium has improved my digestion and daily bowel movement.

With regards to continuing the ‘Lose More, Live More‘ with C-lium, I suggest you continue on this daily morning breakfast routine:

• Take one sachet of Clium Fibre Husk daily (best time to take it is 30 minutes before breakfast)
• Hydrate! Drink at least 10 glasses of water throughout the day (we are a tropical country, the 6-8 glasses work for the colder countries)
• You may mix C-lium Fibre with your preferred beverage (water,juice, coffee etc.) and you should drink it immediately.
• 

  C-Lium Fibre Breakfast 

  Other drugs, medicines or vitamins are preferably taken in separate administration times from Clium Fibre.

• Check out more C-Lium Fibre information at  http://www.clium.com.ph/LM/faq/Faqs.html, Facebook facebook.com/Clium, and Twitter twitter.com/cliumfibre

Thank you to C-Lium Fibre for accompanying us in this journey and to Medicard for making sure everything was going well from the inside. I hope this series of Live More-Lose More Journey was able to inspire at the very least, some of you, in living the healthier life while enjoying it as well!

Magnolia Flavor House on Dry-Run (Augugst 2012)

Do you still remember the Magnolia Ice Cream House along Aurora Boulevard?

If it doesn’t ring a bell to you, you might have been too young or were not even born yet in Manila during the 1990’s when the Magnolia Ice Cream parlor was an iconic landmark for families and ice cream lovers. It was the place to be when you talk about banana splits, parfaits, and special ice cream concoctions such as the peach melba sundae.

With the opening of Robinsons’ newest mall – Robinsons Magnolia – in the very same spot where the old Magnolia Ice Cream House once stood, the new Magnolia Ice Cream House was born. The mall itself was named Robninsons Magnolia because of this nostalgic history. It’s now called the Magnolia Flavor House.

New Magnolia Ice Cream House beside Starbucks

The new Magnolia Ice Cream House – the Magnolia Flavor House -  is located in the garden area right beside a Starbucks coffee shop under construction and not within the mall premises.

They were in dry-run last month when we visited the ice cream parlor but I believe the menu selection now would have increased.

Here are some photos of the new Magnolia Ice Cream House in Robinsons Magnolia at night.

Magnolia Ice Cream House

Magnolia Ice Cream House Menu (they now have more selections)

Robinsons Magnolia Garden

This is a photo of the Magnolia Flavor House from the top during the day.

Magnolia Flavor House by day

Magnolia Flavor House (New Magnolia Ice Cream House)
Robinsons Magnolia Garden
Dona Hemady corner Aurora Boulevard, New Manila, Quezon City

We were busy that night with the Samsung Concept Store launch in Robinsons Magnolia so I was not able to dine in. But I’ll make sure to drop by Magnolia Flavor House again, the new Magnolia Ice Cream House, very soon. 🙂

Diet with Exercise

Onwards to the third week of my “Healthier Me” journey, the C-lium-based breakfast diet continues as I took it every morning with my drink. Now it’s time to focus and learn more things about fiber and its association in losing weight. Allow me to share some interesting facts about fiber from clium.com.ph.

Here are some fiber facts:

Fiber promotes healthy digestion

As I have mentioned in a previous article. One of the major and immediately visible effects of taking C-lium fiber is a regular and comfortable bowel movement. More than just making your visit to the toilet more regular and consistent, you would notice a softer stool (pardon the graphic description). 🙂

Moving on, the site also mentions that a high-fiber diet helps reduce the risk of digestive track related diseases.

Fiber for healthy digestion

Fiber helps reduce the risk of heart disease

The C-lium website indicates that fiber has the ability to bind with bile acids, which is effective in absorbing fats. These then demand more bad cholesterol to be converted to bile acids and are excreted.

The explanation is actually a bit technical for me, but somehow we do get the picture.:)

Sources of fiber include a cereal drink like the new Milo Overload, apples, oatmeal, brown rice, and of course, C-lium Fibre whose one sachet serving gives the most fiber! 🙂

C-Lium FIber Health Journal and Exercise Tips

Fiber Sources

Daily Fiber Requirements

We always hear about marketers and encouraging words from heath gurus about how good fiber is for our health.

But just how much fiber do we actually need or should have?

For good health, an average of 25-35 grams of fiber daily is the recommended dosage. However, a regular individual usually only consumes about 15 grams of fiber per day.

Here are some tips on how to increase your fiber intake:

1. For breakfast, having a slice of wheatbread is a good start!
2. Eat fruits
3. Include more clean raw vegetables, salads, and greens with your meals
4. Eat brown rice instead of white!
5. Add a sachet or tablespoon of C-lium in your daily fiber intake.

*Fiber facts and iformation  source: C-Lium Website

What’s Your Fiber Diet?

We’re midway in this C-lium Fiber “Healthier Me” journey. I’m excited for the upcoming check-up this September to discover some medical health findings on how much I have improved after a month. 🙂

C-Lium Fiber Box 30s

If you’ve read my article a few weeks ago on “Starting My Journey To A Healthier Me,” this is the second in the series.

And so I started taking C-Lium by mixing it with my morning drink which is either milk, coffee, or a chocolate drink. I tried a beverage mix with oats initially, but I found it in excess when mixed with C-Lium fiber so I settled only with the first three.

I belatedly learned that once C-Lium has been mixed with the beverage, it should be immediately consumed as the small fiber granules expand with time. Personally, I didn’t mind even if the granules has thickened already because they’re still soft; even chewy. 🙂

Reading the label is also a good practice to know the actual contents of whatever you take into your body. C-lium’s Nutritional facts label indicate that dietary fiber is C-lium’s main component being made 100% natural from premium Psyllium fiber husk.

C-Lium Fiber Labels

C-Lium Fiber Health Benefits

It doesn’t have any bad side effects, but on the other hand, can lower ones bad cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and remove excess weight.

Although 1 week of use (during the 1st week of August) may be too short a time to conclude on the above-mentioned effects, what I immediately felt was my softer bowel movement. I can’t say it became regular because I already have a regular bowel movement ever since. What I really noticed is the softer stools, which is good (pardon the visual imagination you are currently experiencing).

C-Lium Fiber Sachets

C-Lium Fiber for My Breakfast

C-Lium Benefits

I just take half to one-pack of the 5g sachet of C-Lium a day which is equivalent to one tablespoon. I heard others can take as much as 3 sachets, perhaps distributed to all the day’s meals. I say try it first with one sachet pack and see how your body responds to it and adjust accordingly when necessary.

How about you? Have you tried C-Lium Fiber on your breakfast as well? Feel free to share your personal stories in the comment section below.

I was excitedly anticipating the Food Styling 101 seminar for the media I attended 2 weekends ago at CCA Podium in Ortigas. It was my first to be in a food styling class.

Chef Gigi Angkaw of CCA

As a food blogger who often takes photos of what I eat, styling food and angling my shots has always been a challenge as the thought process involved in presenting a dish sets the first impression and somehow tease the readers into wanting them.

Our lecturer was no less than renowned chef and food stylist Chef Eugene Raymundo. He has worked with several big brands for print and TV including Red Ribbon, KFC, and Nestle Ice Cream, to name a few. He is also currently associated with Five Cows Resto and Ice Cream Bar in Trinoma and Kitch’ Cafe, among others.

He started with defining what food styling is and proceeded with the goals and what it takes to be a food stylist.

Introduction to Food Styling at CCA Podium

Chef Eugene Raymundo

Chef Raymundo shared that food styling is not just about making the food attractive in the way it is put together, it is an art that requires skill and knowledge.

He surmised that one should at least have some basic knowledge about cooking so you would understand more about the dynamics of food.

Dishes without Food Styling (top) ; dishes WITH Food Styling (bottom)

Food Styling Tools

Food Styling

In the latter part of the afternoon, we proceeded with the actual styling and the tools of the trade. We were exposed to propping, and using mock-up ice creams, syrups and flans.

Nonetheless, Chef Eugene Raymundo encouraged the use of actual products in foodstyling as much as possible. In the case of ice creams, it is highly understandable why using the real ones would be impractical. It would have already melted even before the cameras are rolling. 🙂

Food Styling Demo

Sample of Food Styled by Chef Eugene Raymundo

More about Food Styling at CCA

Artificial Ice Cream

Center for Culinary Arts Podium recognizes this increasing interest and delivers a project that focuses on teaching food styling as well as food photography. Through the Continuing Education Programs, they welcome individuals interested or passionate to learn about food styling and techniques in food photography. Taught by a top notch food stylist and noted food photographer, participants of the course will acquire skills in preparing food for editorial materials. The course aims to develop the participants’ style, creativity, and ingenuity particularly in food styling.

So if you want to learn how to creatively style food and photography, you may get in touch with CCA Podium Culinary School Market Café at the 5th floor of The Podium along ADB Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. You may also call CCA Podium at 696-9083. They still have 3 more Saturdays to go for the whole course for the month of July.

NomNom’s Baked Dory Lunch at CCA Podium (somewhat food-styled) 🙂

Thanks to Chef Gigi Angkaw for inviting us at CCA Podium’s Food Styling 101

Thanks to CCA Podium for the gracious invitation and Chef Eugene Raymundo for the insightful introduction to food styling 101 seminar.

A lot of people don’t realize that in the midst of the meat-eating restaurants, there are also vegetarian alternative places to go and eat. If you are a vegetarian, finding these restaurants can be difficult if you don’t know where to look.

They are around though and easy to locate. If you can look away from socializing on the internet or playing Foxy Bingo for a while, it is very easy to find vegetarian cuisine here online. If you aren’t a vegetarian, though what are the benefits of trying the food?

Sabah Vegetables (close to our 'Kangkong' but less leafy and more on trunks/stems)

Vegetarian Alternatives

The answer is simple: vegetarian food tastes better than what people expect. Whether you fancy Chinese, Italian, Indian or even Thai, there is always a tasty vegetarian option. For example, you could eat vegetable fried rice, vegetable curries, soups, potato samosas and vegetable sushi. All delicious alternatives.

Nurture Spa's Garden Salad

The choice of restaurants that serve vegetarian food in Metro Manila alone is vast. Places like Barbara’s at the Orchidarium, a Thai style restaurant that offers soups, tofu and vegetable dishes, or Green Wok Deli & Café in Quezon City which supplies all the flavor you would expect of a meat-based dish, only without the meat. Vegetarian Chinese food is also available in places like the café, Happy Veggie Health Food on Masangkay Street, Manila or Kong Tiak in Quezon City. You don’t know unless you look. 🙂

Vegetarian Menu

If you have problems with the menu in a restaurant, there are ways around the issue. Ask the chef if he can make you something vegetarian with the ingredients in the kitchen. Remember they want you to dine again so they will help if they can.

If you are dining around someone else’s house, make sure you let the host know your preference in advance. This will be less awkward if they supply a meat-only meal. Offer to buy vegetablesfor the cause or bring a dish over to share with fellow guests.

Starbucks Philippines' Roasted Vegetables on Flat Bread

Great vegetarian food is just around the corner from you, wherever you are in the country. You just need to keep an eye out.