Entries Tagged 'Davao' ↓

New Jollibee Chocolate and Coffee Floats: Get a Lift! *

Jollibee Coffe and Chocolate Floats

Jollibee Coffe and Chocolate Floats

With the scorching summer hitting as high as 35.9°C in the Metro and a staggering 38.4°C nationwide, Jollibee – one of the largest fast food chains in the country, fights the heat off with the newly-launched Jollibee Chocolate Float and Jollibee Coffee Float which are sure to give people their needed lift.

Jollibee Amang Rodriguez Branch

Jollibee Amang Rodriguez Branch

Held about a week ago at Jollibee Amang Rodriguez branch, media people and bloggers graced the unveiling of 2 latest additions – Chocolate and Coffee Floats, to join the roster of Jollibee’s Coke Float and University Floats.

Being a coffee lover, I felt excited when we were first served with Jollibee’s Coffee Float. Made with a delightfully smooth blend of iced coffee, this gloriously refreshing drink is topped with a rich vanilla soft serve and a beautiful swirl of chocolate syrup.

Enchong Dee

Enchong Dee

From a coffee lover’s point of view, Jollibee’s Coffee Float can easily compete with any cafe’s ice blended coffee or even coffee-infused frappuccino. With a slight hint of bitterness balanced by Jollibee’s sweet concoction of vanilla ice cream, this Coffee Float can definitely give you your needed dose of caffeine while leaving you revitalized and lifted.

Jollibee on a Hot Summer Day

Jollibee on a Hot Summer Day

With the majestic sun shining very brightly upon us, it was a relief to be served with Jollibee’s Chocolate Float next. Made with deliciously rich iced chocolate, this sweet treat is even topped with Jollibee’s signature creamy vanilla soft serve, and a dollop of chocolate syrup.

Jollibee Chocolate Float

Jollibee Chocolate Float

Although I am most certainly partial to coffee-based drinks, it was surprising that I preferred Jollibee’s Chocolate Float more. The iced chocolate drink was far from being overly sweet and made a perfect base for the creamy vanilla ice cream. Most of my companions also preferred this over the Coffee Float, so it definitely earned our stamp of approval.

Endorsed by the equally yummy and refreshing Enchong Dee, Jollibee’s Chocolate and Coffee Floats retail at only P45 per cup. Should you wish to have these refreshing floats with your favourite Jollibee Value Meals, you can opt to just add P25 to get your needed lift.

Jollibee Coffee Float

Jollibee Coffee Float

*Story and Photos by Blogger Apprentice Stephanie Go

Jollibee’s Chocolate and Coffee Floats are available in all Jollibee stores nationwide. So if you want a delicious drink to fight off the scorching heat of the summer, head to your nearest Jollibee branch and get a lift!

Starbucks Philippines: 12 New Things This April

Today is the day – April 24, 2012 – when a gamut of new beverages, food items, and promos start at Starbucks Philippines. Coffee and frappuccino addicts as you are, you ought not be behind the news. Worry not as NomNom Club is here to make sure you are. 🙂

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

1) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Coffee Based)

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino blended beverage is your favorite Starbucks Frappunccino roast coffee with chocolate cookie bits made richer with mocha sauce, and vanilla syrup. And as if that’s not enough, it is topped with chocolate drizzle on cookie crumble blended topping.

If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time Starbucks PH is offering  chocolate whip cream.

It’s like a java chip frap with vanilla syrup. It can remind you of Wendy’s frostee as well. 😛

A yummy treat for the chocolate-loving coffee drinker!

* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175

2) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Cream Based – Zero Coffee)

The same as number 1 above but is cream-based instead of coffee.

Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Something for the chocolate lover who wants a coffee alternative; maybe even for kids too. It’s just like your all-time favorite Magnolia Chocolaitwith cookie bits.

Did you know that you also have the option to ‘blend‘ your cream into the beverage (instead of ‘just on top’)?

* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175

3) Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage

Not really new, it’s more of a focus featured beverage highlighting the However-You-Want-It Frappuccino beverages.

It’s your favorite Strawberries and Cream frappuccino with the option for soy, non-fat milk, or your defualt whole milk.

* Tall P155, Grande P165, Venti P175

4) Sausage Pizza Roll (P95)

Replacing the current sausage roll, this flaky pastry is filled with a smoked frankfurter and cheese pizza sauce. A true comfort food that can easily satisfy that impulsive craving for a quick soft bite.

Don’t forget to have it warmed.

Sausage Pizza Roll

Sausage Pizza Roll

5) Fish and Chips Wrap (P150)

A filling wrap of fish fillet, herbed potato wedges, and dill mustard egg sauce. It’s big and enough to substitute for a full meal. If you’re wondering, the chips is inside. 😛

Fish and Chips Wrap

Fish and Chips Wrap

6) Chicken Grape Almond Salad on Classic Ciabatta Bread (P150)

Available in a Starbucks Philippines stores nationwide, this is a tangy sandwich of chicken, celery, roasted chopped almonds, sliced sundried tomatoes, and interestingly grapes, with lemon-mayo sauce and hints of tarragon and Emmenthal cheese sandwiched by crunchy Ciabatta bread.

My favorite made better with the twist of adding grape slices! It’s the anti-thesis of a boring food, there’s so much in every bite! 🙂

Chicken Grape Almond Salad Sandwich

Chicken Grape Almond Salad Sandwich

7) Cookie Crumble Cheesecake with Chips Ahoy (P130)

This is for the cheesecake and Chip Ahoy cookie lovers combined. The baked cheesecake is topped with chunky-chewy Chips Ahoy cookies + chocolate chips with a base / crust made of assorted crushed Chips Ahoy cookies.

However, it’s not type of cheesecake. I’m for the sinfully sweet, smooth, and soft ones.

Cookie Crumble Cheesecake

Cookie Crumble Cheesecake

8) Whoopie Pie (P75)

Whoops, it’s big! And the two bulging eyes seem to beg you not to eat them. 🙂

This redesigned returning favorite from last year is a sandwich of two fudgy dark chocolate cookie cakes filled with white roasted marshmallow cream icing and chocolate chips. At first, it looked like a really sweet treat that’s painful to the tooth but turned out just ok.

Whoopie Pie

Whoopie Pie

Although it’s a bit pricey at P75, the fun factor, specially for the kids and kids-at-heart, makes up for it; somehow. lol

It’s cuteness would also have been multiplied by ten if it was just a quarter of its current size. Who knows, Starbucks Philippines might just come across this blog and have the mini Whoopie Pies next season. 🙂

Starbucks Whoopie Pies (Sampler Size)

Cuteness Overflowing: Starbucks Whoopie Pies (Sampler Size)

9) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Cold Cup Tumbler (P550)

Twist and turn (step 1). Write (step 2). Erase (step 3). Those are the steps into ‘customizing‘ your ‘customizable(woah!) new Starbucks Tumblers!

After the twist-and-turn, you could remove the outer cup and ‘write‘ your favorite Starbucks beverage label on the surface of inner cup. Common sense also suggests to use a non-permanent white board marker. If you think your favorite Starbucks beverage will not change, like forever, then feel free to use a permanent marker. 🙂

Customizable Starbucks Tumblers (How To)

Customizable Starbucks Tumblers (How To)

So lets say that you’re as brilliant as I so you use a non-permanent marker, then you could easily erase it (step 3; pardon the watermark which blocked the ‘erasing’ action) with any tissue paper or cloth.

After which, you simply twist-back the outer cup and viola – give your labelled and customized Starbucks tumbler to your barista!

The Cold Cup tumbler is the one on Step 1 and Step 2A photos.

10) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Stainless Steel Tumbler (P1095)

Please see number 9, but you can have hot beverages in these! I want to have this one!

The Stainless steel tumbler is the one on Step 2B and Step 3 photos.

11) Scratch Card Promo (Buy 1 Take 1)

For the first time in Starbucks Philippines history, they’re having a scratch-card based promotion, just like in the lottery. 🙂

From April 24 to April 29 (or until supplies last), buy one Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage and get one scratch card to win an exciting treat that you can use for your next Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage purchase!

Scratch card redemption is until June 11, 2012.

Starbucks Scratch Card

Starbucks Scratch Card

Prizes in the scratch cards can be

  • one free add-on
  • double free add-ons
  • buy-one-free-one beverage!

12) Starbucks Happy Hour / Frappuccino Happy Hour (50% Off)

The Starbucks Happy Hour is back! Your favorite Starbucks However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage will be at half-price EVERY MONDAY from 2PM to 6PM from April 30 to May 28, 2012!

Starbucks Happy Hour

Starbucks Happy Hour

Starbuck's Love Fernandez

Starbuck's Love Fernandez

The long lines will surely be back, but this time, instead of the previous 2 hrs, you’ve got more time allotment of 4 hrs!

That’s a DOZEN of new things to remember at Starbucks Philippines starting today – April 24, 2012 (except for the Starbucks Happy Hour which starts April 30)! Hmmm…which one to try first? 🙂

New Figaro Dinner Meals, Milk Tea, & The Popping Bobas

After the introduction of Chicken Rice and Tofu Steak almost three months ago, Figaro has added anew two dinner meal variants – Crusty Dory Fillet in Creamy Pesto Sauce & Rice Pilaf and Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue with Java Rice.

Figaro Crusty Dory Fillet

Figaro Crusty Dory Fillet

The Crusty Dory Fillet was just ok. I liked the Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue more which had flavorful chicken strips. Add to that the special sauce, java rice, and string beans.

The sauce is more on the sweet side which may be loved by some, and disliked by those who want their barbecue sauce with more pepper. Nonetheless the Filipino taste would prefer the former.

Dinner meals are only available 6pm onwards.

Figaro Dinner Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue

Figaro Dinner Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue

More of Figaro Milk Teas (plus Popping Boba)

Wintermelpn Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

Wintermelon Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

From five milk tea flavors namely the Strawberry Lemon Iced Tea, Raspberry Milk Tea, Taro Pudding Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea and Taro Pudding Chiller Feast comes two new interesting flavors. I got to try the Wintermelon Frost with classic tea and Honeydew Frost with Figaro tea.

Honeydew Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

Honeydew Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

The Wintermelon Frost with classic tea (P100) reminds me of the sago’t gulaman. I love it but I find the sweetness overpowering the tea flavor. In addition, the toppings called popping boba and pearls adds enjoyment with every sip as the popping boba somewhat ‘explodes‘ in your mouth. 🙂 You have to experience it yourself!

For the Honeydew Frost (P100), it had a strong tea flavor which is what I usually look for in milk teas.

* Story and photos by Marjorie Pineda

Now, it will be very easy for me to choose which flavor of milk tea to order. So, what’s your favorite milk tea flavor and Figaro Dinner Meal? These two new milk tea variants are available starting today at all Figaro stores – April 11, 2012!

Max’s Restaurant: Heartwarming Flavors For Lent *

It’s the season of Lent once again. For Catholics like myself, it is the time of prayer and fasting. And by fasting, this means we should not indulge on meat. Max’s Restaurant, the House that Fried Chicken Built, recently brought its classic Filipino flavors into new and lighter dishes for the Lenten Season. Launched last February 29, I was lucky to be part of the first group to try these sumptuous healthy meals.

Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies

Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies

At Max’s we understand that Lent is a special time for Filipinos. This has inspired us to create our lightest and the most scrumptious fare for lent. These dishes are bursting with flavors, married with the homegrown classic taste that Filipinos love – its a certified gustatory experience for everyone,” says Mr. Bobby Simborio, Max’s Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies as he introduced their latest offering for the lenten season.

As we were the “certified” to first try out these dishes, I was already excited just seeing their posters. My taste buds were ready to check them out. I was intrigued and they didn’t fail me.

Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

They served the Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu (Php150) first. As a tofu lover, it is given that I would love this dish but its fresh Kangkong leaves did all the trick in making it a lot better. The shiitake and button mushrooms completed the fare while drizzled in sweet adobo sauce. This would be appreciated by both vegetable or non-vegetable eaters. It’s also a sweet alternative to the sizzling tofu in Max’s menu.

Max’s Cauliflower Puffs

The next one is quite deceiving for the picky young eaters and meat lovers. Max’s Cauliflower Puffs (Php160) may look like a simple puff with crispy stuff inside, but there is a cauliflower dipped in special batter. The vegetable is not immediately visible because it is deep fried and comes up with a special sauce.

The kids who were present during the event didn’t even notice the taste of the cauliflower. I enjoyed this dish because I absolutely love eating veggies. It’s crunchiness was also enjoyable.

Cauliflower Puffs

Cauliflower Puffs

Max’s Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

The last dish was so intriguing that it already got me thinking about its taste before they served it. Max’s Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce (Php265) is so delicious, I stuffed my plate just as much I could consume. It’s made of breaded cream dory, shrimp and deep fried squid rings served with a special sweet sauce, honey and piquant bagoong. It’s a must try for seafood aficionados. I was actually looking for the bagoong taste, but the honey overpowers its saltiness.

Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

Max's Fried Chicken

Max's Fried Chicken

And of course, we were served with the famous Max’s Chicken.

* Story and photos by Contributor Ria Hazel C. Lumandog of http://sugarsmile.blogspot.com

Try out these heartwarming dishes for lent that are truly divine. 🙂 You may also check out www.maxschicken.com. The Lenten Dishes are now available in all Max’s Restaurants nationwide since yesterday, March 1, 2012.

Max’s Fried Chicken P299 Promo Starts Today

Max's Fried Chicken P299

Max's Fried Chicken P299

Max’s Restaurant, the brand that has given you the ‘sarap-to-the-bonesfried chicken, is offering their biggest chicken takeout promo so far!

Starting today, February 20, 2012, customers can bring home their favorite regular Max’s Fried Chicken for a good take-out deal of PhP299, down from the original P375 price.

“Filipinos have an endearing habit of ‘taking out’ food after they dine at their favorite restaurant. It’s part of our generous and inherent family-oriented nature,” says Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies. “With Max’s Chicken Take-out Promo, we want our customers to bring home the most scrumptious surprise to their families – Max’s “sarap-to-the-bones” Fried Chicken,” Simborio added.

Max's Chicken Take Out Promo

Max's Chicken Take Out Promo

Max’s Restaurant “Chicken Take Out Treat P299” will be available in all 123 branches nationwide from February 20 up to March 31, 2012 only.

Flower Alternatives This Valentine’s: Max’s Corner Bakery Cakes and Pastries

Mom says that as much as girls like flowers, giving something edible as a gift on Valentine’s Day is more practical. I think this is what Max’s RestaurantMax’s Corner Bakery had in mind for this Valentine’s. 🙂

Max;s Cupcakes

Max;s Cupcakes

It start early this month and until February 29, 2012, Max’s Corner Bakery cakes and pastries offers the following to complement you Valentine gift ideas:

  • Valentine’s Pastry Bites  – it’s a box chocolate bites with choices of dark or milky chocolate,  some are covered with almond slivers and filled with caramels. (P199 – box of 15)
  • Valentine Cupcakes  – cupcakes of 3 in one gift box (P135 for a box of 3 or P50 a piece)

Black Forest Cupcake  – combination of rich and smooth chocolate flavors with ganache swirls without missing the cherry on top and a chocolate base.
Blueberry Cupcake – your favorite cupcake with real blueberries.
Choco Banana Cupcake  – a moist banana cupcake with choco cookies topped with cream and a big heart-shaped black and white chocolate flat.

  • Valentine Chocolate Moist Cake -  a medium-sized heart-shaped chocolate cake, coated with a layer of chocolate ganache and garnished with chocolate curls, topped with cherry and sprinkled with powdered sugar (Php 199).
  • Sugar Cookies – fancy sugar cookies with a choice of either the Valentine Heart or the Valentine Bear.  (P25 – pack of 2)
Max’s Pastry Bites

Max’s Pastry Bites

Max's Cupcakes for Valentine's Day: Blueberry Cupcake, Black Forest Cupcake, & Choco Banana Cupcake (left- right))

Max's Cupcakes for Valentine's Day: Blueberry Cupcake, Black Forest Cupcake, & Choco Banana Cupcake (left- right))

Sugar Cookies (Valentine Bear and the Valentine Heart)

Sugar Cookies (Valentine Bear and the Valentine Heart)

Highly Recommended

Among the above, It’s the Valentine Chocolate Moist Cake which NomNom recommends best. It lives up to its name and would surely be loved by most. It’s visually appealing and can easily be consumed by a couple because of it’s size.

Chocolate Moist Cake (P199 - medium size; one size)

Chocolate Moist Cake (P199 - medium size; one size)

Max's Restaurant Cake

Max's Restaurant Cake

Valentine’s Promo from Max’s Restaurant

Starting today, until February 14, 2012, a minimum purchase of Php 1,500 on your favorite meals in Max’s Restaurant such as Max’s sarap-to-the-bones Fried Chicken, Sinigang, Crispy Pata or Kare-Kare, entitles a customer a free box of Pastry Bites from Max’s Corner Bakery worth P199.

All Cakes in Heart Shape

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake

Highlighting the mood of the season even further, all Max’s Corner Bakery’s  cakes will be heart-shaped from February 10-14! Talk about Valentine cakes! 🙂

Check out more of Max’s Corner Bakery Cakes and Pastries at Max’s Corner Bakery’s FB Page, Max’s Restaurant FB Page, and http://www.maxschicken.com.

Valentine Cake

Valentine Cake

I already got three of the heart-shaped cakes from Max’s branch in Gateway Mall this morning for my love. How about you?

And do you know why I got THREE heart-shaped cakes as a gift for Valentine’s? You guessed it right. 🙂

Figaro’s Chicken Rice Bake and Tofu Steak Should Be Combined

Filipino coffee company Figaro taps into satisfying its market from breakfast ’til night with it’s newest offering for dinner – Figaro Dinner Meals.

I got two try the first two variants namely the Chicken Rice Bake and Tofu Steak Rice.

Chicken Rice Bake

The Chicken Rice Bake is a cup of flavorful chicken, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, rice in creamy white sauce baked and topped with mozzarella cheese baste.

Paired with a cold glass of lemonade it is priced at P150.

Figaro Dinner Meal - Chicken Rice Bake

Figaro Dinner Meal - Chicken Rice Bake

Tofu Steak Rice

Next is the Tofu Steak Rice. It’s a deep-fried Tofu glazed with a flavorful special sauce with hints of onions and topped with white sesame seeds on steamed rice garnished with parsley.

Tofu is known to be rich with health benefits such as being a good source of protein. Check out the health benefits of Tofu here. It would make a healthy vegan meal for those looking for one and is paired with a complimentary cold glass of lemonade (Price: P150).

Recommendation

Being familiar with the common Chinese dish Mapu Tofu, the Tofu Steak Rice was no stranger to my taste buds. The sauce tastes good, however, paring tofu alone with rice as “ulam“, falls short to my expectation for a filling meal. My thumbs-up goes to Chicken Rice Bake, instead.

On the other hand, I had a crazy idea/recommendation of combining the two – Chicken Rice Bake + Tofu Steak (without the extra rice). Chicken, Tofu, and baked cheese as a comfort food fills the complete meal set.

If you have a big appetite and welcomes the extra rice from the second meal, try ordering both and ‘taste‘ what I mean. 🙂 If ever Figaro would be reading about this and happen to combine the two and logically offer it at around P200, that would be great! 🙂

Figaro Milk Tea Craze

Figaro Milk Tea Craze

Taro Pudding Milk Tea

Taro Pudding Milk Tea

Figaro Milk Teas

In that visit, I was also surprised to see Figaro Milk Teas. They have cached-up with the milk tea fever. 🙂 Curiosity piqued and I tried the Raspberry Milk Tea. It turned out to be just average and  instead, I liked the Taro Pudding Chiller Frost Milk Tea my other friends ordered.

Try Figaro Healthy Dinner Meals of Chicken Rice Bake and Tofu Steak Rice. It started to be available at all Figaro stores and outlets nationwide since the start of the new year.

Starbucks Christmas Beverages 2011: Which Do You Like Best?

And the Starbucks Philippines  series is not yet over this Christmas season! After sharing with you the Starbucks 2012 Planners, and the Starbucks Holiday Foods, it’s the turn of the Starbucks Christmas beverages to be highlighted.

Starbucks Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha Beverage

Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha

The two new and one returning Starbucks Christmas Beverages flavors of the season are:

Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha

This is the new beverage available this season only. Starbucks signature espresso is combined with freshly steamed milk and luscious white chocolate, then topped with whipped cream, a tart cranberry drizzle and crystallized cranberry sugar.

Starbucks Toffee Nut Latte Beverage

Toffee Nut Latte

Toffee Nut Latte

Back by popular demand! The rich, buttery flavor of sweet toffee combined with toasted nuts, blended with Starbucks smooth espresso and velvety steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and toffee-flavored sprinkles.

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Beverage

Peppermint Mocha

Peppermint Mocha

Good news to all peppermint lovers, watch out for the return of Peppermint Mocha! Enjoy the warm combination of espresso, steamed milk, bittersweet chocolate and peppermint flavor in this seasonal favorite. It is topped with classic whipped cream and red sugar sprinkles.

Christmas Coffee Blend

This Christmas, as you gather your friends and family offer them the warmest of greetings by welcoming them with a delicious cup of Starbucks coffee. Choose from the spicy, full-bodied flavor of the Christmas Blend, the rich, caramelly flavor of Starbucks Christmas Blend Espresso Roast or the instant Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Christmas Blend.

Starbucks Christmas Blend

Starbucks Christmas Blend

Starbucks Christmas Blend

This full-bodied favourite combines the liveliness of superb Latin American coffees with the mellow smoothness of Asia-Pacific coffees, but is truly noteworthy for the spicy notes from aged Sumatra beans. This coffee is best paired with White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie – big and chunky, chewy and crunchy. Perfect for this season!

(Retail Price P500)

Starbucks Christmas Blend Espresso Roast

Christmas Blend - Espresso Roast

Starbucks Christmas Blend Espresso Roast

Made from Sumatra and aged Sumatra coffees, combined with beans from the Bella Vista F.W. Estate in Tres Rios, Costa Rica, and finally roasted in Starbucks signature Espresso Roast for an intense flavor and spicy finish.

(Retail Price P500)

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Christmas Blend

It is an instant and microground coffee that provides a comforting taste if the holidays wherever you go.

(Retail Price P495)

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Christmas Blend

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Christmas Blend

By now, most of you would have probably tasted the Starbucks Christmas beverages in some branches of Starbucks. Which one was your favourite? How about among the Christmas Coffee Blends?