Entries Tagged 'Manila' ↓

Sama-Sama Kahit Malayo

Likas sa pamilyang Pilipino ang palaging magkakasama – sa hapunan, sa pamamasyal, at sa iba’t-iba pang okasyon. “Isang malaki at masayang pamilya,” ika nga.

Max's Restaurant in Lipa City, Batangas

Max’s Restaurant in Lipa City, Batangas

Ang aking pamilya ay mula Lipa City sa probinsiya ng Batangas. Doon nagkatagpo ang aking mga magulang at doon sila nagsimula ng kanilang pamilya. Subalit ako’y ipinanganak sa Maynila, dito rin ako nag-aral at nagtapos. Sa makatuwid, dito na ako lumaki…malayo sa kanila. Ngunit tuwing may mga okasyon tulad ng kaarawan at Pasko, sinisigurado kong makakauwi ako.

Ngunit may mga panahon talagang mahirap maiwasan tulad ng nakaraang Disyembre kung saan ako’y nagbagong taon sa Bulacan kapiling ang aking kasintahan at ang kanyang pamilya. Ito ay aming napagkasunduan dahil sa Batangas naman kami nag-Pasko, kasama naman ang aking pamilya.

Max's Restaurant Website & Online Delivery

Max’s Restaurant Website & Online Delivery

Ngayong ako’y nagbabalik-tanaw, bigla kong naalala ang Max’s Restaurant at ang kakaibang paraan nila nang pag-order at pag-deliber. Sa pagsipat ng www.maxschicken.com gamit ang iyong kompyuter o telepono na konektdo sa Internet, makikita na isa sa paraan ng pag-order ‘online‘ ay ang ‘Delivery Now‘ o ‘Deliver Later‘ at pwede ko itong ipa-deliber sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas.

Naisip ko na kahit wala ako sa Batangas sa piling ng aking mga magulang, pwede ko itong gamitin na pang-sorpresa sa kanila. Pwede akong magpa-deliber ng ‘sarap-to-the-bones‘ fried chicken, Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, Pancit Canton, o kahit Sinigang! Kakaiba, hindi ba!  Para kaming ‘sama-sama kahit malayo!’ 🙂

Max's Chicken on facebook

Max’s Chicken on facebook

Magandang ideya rin ito para sa mga kababayan nating OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). Kahit nasaan man sila sa mundo, kahit wala sila dito sa Pilipinas, pwede silang umorder at magbayad gamit ang internet at surpresang darating ang Max’s Chicken sa kaarawan ng kanyang mahal sa buhay o sa pagtatapos ng kanyang anak na parang nandoon din siya sa kasiyahan.

Salo-salo kahit malayo!

Panoorin ninyo ang napakagandang video na ito:

At siyempre, nandiyan parin ang Max’s Delivery hotline 7-9000 para sa regular na pagpapadeliver. Nasasabik na akong subukan ang kakaibang pag-order na ito sa www.maxschicken.com. Sino ba ang may nalalapit na kaarawan? 🙂

 

KFC: Fully Loaded Breakfast Meal Surprise

Choco-Chip Pancakes

Choco-Chip Pancakes

I have to admit, I’m not a morning person; but I always try to be one for health purposes. So when KFC Philippines made a surprise delivery of their Fully Loaded Breakfast Meals at about 10 am this morning, they woke me up to my liking. 🙂

I’m a night person so I sleep late and expectedly get up late as well. But for office people on the go who have to go to the office from 8 am to 5 pm, they have to be morning people. Just the other day, I had to wake up at 330 am to catch the day 1 of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 in Clark.

And it’s good that KFC gives us additional options to power-up their day with their new KFC Fully Loaded Breakfast Meals. As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

KFC A.M. Breakfast /Fully Loaded Meals

First in line is the Filipino Breakfast FLM which includes chicken longganisa, chicken tocino slices, garlic rice, scrambled egg, and soft chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup and whipped butter. It also comes with free coffee.

Second is the Breakfast Steak FLM (top photo) which includes your favorite original recipe chicken fillet with steak sauce, garlic rice, scrambled egg, and chocolate chip pancakes like the one above plus free coffee.

These two new Fully Loaded Meals joins the Longganisa Burger and A.M.Snacker in the KFC A.M. Breakfast range which is served until 10 am (9 am for delivery).

KFC Filipino Breakfast Fully Loaded Meal

KFC Filipino Breakfast Fully Loaded Meal: Chicken Longganisa, Chicken Tocino slices, Garlic Rice, Scrambled Egg, and Chocolate Chip Pancakes with maple syrup and whipped butter, free Coffee

KFC A.M.: KFC Fully Loaded Breakfast Meals

KFC A.M.: KFC Fully Loaded Breakfast Meals

Verdict

As mentioned above, it immediately became my actual breakfast at home this morning. :) Both are tummy-filling and good-tasting but the Filipino Breakfast FLM gets my recommendation if I needed to choose only one. It satisfies my craving for a Filipino breakfast not just with one, but two iconic Filipino breakfast symbols – the longganisa and tocino! Add to that the aromatic garlic rice, scrambled egg, and the filling pancakes.

I love the pancakes as well, they’re not your ordinary regular pancakes, they have chocolate chips hidden at the back which can surprise yet again the unfamiliar. 🙂 Make sure you consume them hot just like any other pancakes or you’ll end up disappointed. I hold half of the maple syrup and whipped butter for health purposes though.

Price

Both the Filipino Breakfast and Breakfast Steak Fully Loaded Meals are priced at P105. Value-wise, it is a good deal, a street-wise deal perhaps since the set is really ‘loaded‘.

You may also have it delivered via 887-8888 KFC Delivery (Metro Manila) or through their website KFCdelivery.com.ph. Follow them at Twiiter @KFCPhilippines and Faceboook at /KFCPhilippines.

 

 

“Taste the Love” with The Bistro Group

Jalapenos and more!

Jalapenos and more!

No, this is not an advance Valentine’s Day post. It has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, actually. 🙂 The Bistro Group of restaurants, known for their international and casual dining brands, has just launched their latest campaign called “Taste the Love.”

Taste the Love is not a promo per se, it’s about inviting diners to taste the love behind their every restaurant concept launched. The campaign celebrates a series of milestones for The Bistro Group including:

  • the opening of 50 restaurants spread across the 12 resto concepts
  • the appointment of Corporate Chef Josh Boutwood
  • the launch of its Premiere Card.
BBQ Pork Slider from Village Tavern

BBQ Pork Slider from Village Tavern

The Bistro Group of Restaurants

The Bistro Group of Restaurants

12 Restaurant Concepts

Modern Shanghai is one of the four freshest name in the group which brings authentic recipes in a homey environment. Village Tavern, Watami, and Ma Maison, completes the group having come from the US and Japan ( for the latter two).

The Bistro Group of restaurants is composed of TGI Friday’s, Italianni’s, Fish & Co., Flapjacks, Pig Out!, Krazy Garlik, The Stock Market, Bulgogi Brothers , and the previously mentioned restaurants.

But within the 1st quarter if 2013, expect the US-based Chuck E. Cheese’s to be the 13th as it opens at the New Glorietta soon.

Village Tavern Bonifacio High Street Philippines

Village Tavern Bonifacio High Street, Philippines

Apple-Carrot Juice

Apple-Carrot Juice

Chef Josh Boutwood

Chef Josh Boutwood

Chef Josh Boutwood

Together with the arrival of Chef Boutwood is the launch of new dishes as well. Among the favorites in the list are Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings, the Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Skins (Village Tavern), and the a la carte Katsu Menu (Ma Maison). NomNom Club‘s favorite is the Black Pizza (black due to the squid ink mixed with the dough), also from Village Tavern.

Penne with Pesto from Italianni's

Penne with Pesto from Italianni’s

The Premiere Card

The Bistro Group Premiere Card will offer multiple discounts up to 40% off the total bill; complimentary appetizers, coffee, and tea; as well as birthday treats for the cardholder.

In addition, for February, The Bistro Group is offering an exclusive deal for Citibank cardholders. From February 4-7, cardholders will receive 50% off food and beverage orders worth at least P2,500, with a discount up to P5,000.

Ms. Lisa Ronquillo

Ms. Lisa Ronquillo

“Taste the Love is not just about food. It’s about the heart and the passion that goes into everything we do, from our concepts to our locations to our service to of course, our food… we allow our customers to taste the love from the moment they get hungry and think about our restaurants to the time they have polished off every bite,” says Lisa Ronquillo, AVP Marketing of The Bistro Group.

Taste the Love‘ from all the Bistro Group of Restaurants starting this 2013! I wonder what other upcoming deals, menu items, and treats they will dish out soon?

Starbucks Refreshers = Green Coffee Extract + Fruits

I think this is the first time I’m blogging about Starbucks while in a Starbucks coffee shop, and finishing the whole article, that is. As of this writing, the rain is  heavily pouring on a Tuesday afternoon just outside Starbucks 6750. It’s also the first day of Starbucks’ new beverage called Starbucks Refreshers offered in Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus.

I’ve tried it last week actually and I thought I’d know just what to order now – but I was wrong. I like them both and I don’t know which to choose so my girlfriend and I choose to order both of them, one for each of us. 🙂

Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers Beverage

Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers Beverage

The new innovative drink is a combionation of green coffee extract with either lime (for Cool Lime) or blackberries (for Very Berry Hibiscus).

Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers Beverage

The Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshersâ„¢ beverage is made from real fruit juice, green coffee extract and whole blackberries.

Cool Lime Starbucks Refreshers Beverage

Cool Lime Starbucks Refreshers Beverage

Cool Lime Starbucks Refreshers Beverage

The Cool Lime Starbucks Refreshers beverage contains real fruit juice as well, green coffee extract and a slice of lime.

Both are hand-shaken with ice for a moderate-calorie, thirst-quenching drink and priced as follows: Tall – ₱115, Grande- ₱125, Venti – ₱135.

What is Green Coffee Extract?

It is interesting to note that the Green coffee extract is an entirely new way to experience coffee – one that doesn’t taste like coffee but has about a quarter of caffeine from the regular roasted coffee.

First, the green coffee bean is picked from the coffee cherry from the coffee tree. Now, instead of roasting it after harvest which usually brings about the bold distinctive taste of coffee, the caffeine naturally found in coffee is extracted from the unroasted arabica coffee beans. This is then used as the liquid base for the Starbucks Refresher Beverages plus a right amount of water and ice for the refreshing taste.

Starbucks Refreshment Tumbler Offer / Promo

Starbucks Refreshment Tumbler Offer / Promo

Refreshment Tumbler Offer

From July 31 to September 10, 2012, get a complimentary Tall Starbucks Refreshers Beverage for every purchase of 16 oz. Customizable Cold Cup Tumblers (with flat lid and dome lid) .

Starbucks Refreshers

Starbucks Refreshers

It’s actually a ‘summery‘ drink for me. Ironically, it’s the rainy season here in the Philippines. 🙂 Anyhow, you’ve got to try the new Starbucks Refresher Beverages. I find the Cool Lime more refreshing being in the citrus-y side. The Very Berry Hibiscus has the same effect but has the sweeter aftertaste primarily due to the blackberries.

Greenwich Ultimate Greencard Gives Buy 1 Take 1 Pizza

Are you one of those who collects a lot of discount cards from different shops and brands? From the SM Advantage card to Jollibee’s Happy Plus Card, to Mercury’s Suki Card, down to the 0.1111% discount coupon of your favorite sari-sari store? Well, I’ve got good news for you to add to your collection of discount cards – the Greenwich Ultimate Greencard!

Greenwich Ultimate Greencard

Greenwich Ultimate Greencard

Benefits of Greenwich Ultimate Greencard

Benefits of Greenwich Ultimate Greencard

Further supporting its tagline of being “better than any other,” Greenwich recently launched its new Ultimate Greencard and they were kind enough to share one with us. I will surely try it soon!

How to Get Your Greenwich Ultimate Greencard:

You can avail one Greenwich Ultimate Greencard in any of the three ways:

In all three, simply add P199 for the Ultimate Green Card.

To check out the latest deals you may visit http://greenwichdelivery.com/greencard.

Benefits of the Greenwich Ultimate Greencard:

  • Buy 1 Take 1 Pizza** (delivery only)
  • 10% Discount (dine-in and take-out)
  • Save as much as P1000 (delivery only)

** When you order a 12″ Barkada size or 15″ Party size pizza with 1L Coke

The Greenwich Ultimate Greencard also comes with FREE discount coupons!

The Greenwich Ultimate Greencard also comes with FREE discount coupons!

This is the greencard you have always wanted to have; just don’t mistake it for  your US Green Card. Get your own Greenwich Ultimate Greencard soon!

Max’s Merienda Mix and Rainy Days

It was a rainy day in Manila last weekend when my girlfriend and I purposely went to Max’s Greenbelt 3 upon Max’s invitation for the online media launch of their Php 95 Max’s Merienda Mix. It was a challenge but we knew it would be worthwhile and fun-filled. We were not mistaken.

Max's Restaurant Team with WIlma Doesnt

Max’s Restaurant Team with WIlma Doesnt

Celebrity and program host Wilma Doesnt was already pumping-up the food blogger crowd when we arrived and the event just started. If you still remember, Lynn Ching alsoo guested for the Max’s Mother’s Day promo last May.

Blogger event niceties aside, Max’s Restaurant presented the main star of the rainy day – Max’s Merienda Mix at only Php 95 in three simple steps: Choose, Add, and Complete.

Choose

Start creating your set by selecting from any of the following Max’s Corner Bakery products: Cheese Roll, Ensaimada, or 1/4 Cake slice which can come in any of the following flavors: ube, mocha, mango, chocolate, and jelly.

Add

For the next step, choose a Filipino-inspired main Max’s Classic Merienda dish which would complement well with your Max’s Corner Bakery product. Go Filipino with a small serving of the traditional Max’s Pancit Canton or the rich taste of Pancit Luglog plain. But since it was a stormy day, I choose the third option – the petite champorado (chocolate porridge) with milk

Complete

Finally, add the beverage of your choice from regular Pepsi in glass , brewed coffee, or the Filipino-sweet-fancy drink Sago’t Gulaman. I had to pass-up all three however and opted for a glass of hot water because I was feeling a bit under the weather. :p

Max's Classic Merienda's Pancit Canton with 1/4 Sliced Ube Cake

Max’s Classic Merienda’s Pancit Canton with 1/4 Sliced Ube Cake

Fly to the US Promo

Max’s also announced their generous promo where they are giving away 5 pairs of US airfare tickets to 5 lucky raffle winners to all customers availing of the P95 Max’s Merienda Mix promotion.

Surprisingly, it includes accommodations for two and pocket money to go along with it; plus a surprise concert! What more can you ask for?

Lastly, if you’ll add up the bakery product, a main dish, and a beverage, it can sum up to as much as P194 which means the P95 Max’s Merienda Meal Mix promo can save you up as much as P99.

Max's Pancit Luglog with Cheese Roll

Max’s Pancit Luglog with Cheese Roll

Our Max’s Corner Bakery Reached Singapore

Max's Corner Bakery Goodies

Max’s Corner Bakery Goodies

Immediately the next day, my girlfriend and I were on board a plane bound for Singapore and decided to give Max’s Bakery Corner goodies as pasalubong (traveler’s gift) to the honorable Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Calaguian-Cruz whom we will visit at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore. We have been thinking about something Filipino to give her this past few days and something from a known reputable Filipino brand such as Max’s was a good choice.

By the time you are reading this, the Max’s Corner Bakery goods might have well been consumed. So anyway, back in the Philippines, try the new Max’s Merienda Mix every 2pm-4pm until September 16, 2012. :p

 

NaiCha Philippines Milk Tea Store Opens Banawe Branch

Ms. Josephine Chua & NaiCha Mascot in Grand Opening

Ms. Josephine Chua & NaiCha Mascot in Grand Opening

It’s actually redundant to call it “NaiCha Milk Tea” because ‘Nai Cha‘ is the literal translation of ‘milk tea‘ in Chinese. Hence, allow me to call it just ‘NaiCha‘ moving forward. 🙂

I, together with some food bloggers, were recently invited to the grand opening of NaiCha Philippines‘ 12th store in Metro Manila which is in Banawe, Quezon City.

Simple ceremonies, blessings, and the usual ribbon cutting was held, but it was the taste test which food bloggers await. I was able to try their best-selling Wintermelon Milk Tea and the Oolong Milk Tea.

Oolong Milk Tea for the Win

Taste-wise, the Wintermelon Milk Tea was similar to what others have to offer but I love their Oolong Milk Tea which had the authenticity of four season tea and goodness of milk tea combined.

And although I did not customize the sugar level of the Oolong Milk Tea, it still didn’t come off too sweet. However, in contrast, I suggest you adjust the sugar level of the Wintermelon Milk Tea to 50%75% since wintermelon is already sweet by itself. The same tip applies to all other brands of wintermelon milk tea.

NaiCha Oolong Milk Tea

NaiCha Oolong Milk Tea

Ms. Jospehine Chua (CEO of Grand Pillar International Development, Inc. – parent company of NaiCha Philippines), said that they import the tea  from Taiwan through her two Taiwanese nationals partners. Mrs. Chua has worked in Taiwan during her younger years where she developed her business network. So getting them to invest in the Philippines as her business partners was a logical consequence of events.

NaiChastarted in December 2010 from its main store located across Royal Duty Free Mall and has since grown to several branches in Subic. By October of last year, it ventured to Manila with it’s first branch in N. Domingo St., Quezon City. They now have branches in Fairview, Makati, Ortigas, and more.

NaiCha Philippines Milk Tea

NaiCha Philippines Milk Tea

Interesting Observations

NaiCha Philippines as a milk tea business is still in their growing stage and the simplicity of their menu is evident of it.

Some interesting observations I made was that their pearls are not as big as the pearls/tapioca of other milk tea shops. Did you know that they don’t call their pearl as ‘sago‘? Try ordering the “Sago Milk Tea” and you’ll not get pearl/tapioca in the drink but “nata(coconut gel). 🙂

The price range of the milk teas and juices are actually very affordable with their wintermelon tea (not milk tea) at P40 for the 16 oz.

But most noticeable of all is their gigantic 32 oz. serving of milk tea in what they call “Tabo” in their colloquial jargon equivalent to a small pail. At Php 120, tabo size pearl milk tea can be more than enough for two persons.

They also have novel teas such as the black tea, jasmin green tea, and matcha. NaiCha specials include Signature Taiwan Tea and Choco NaiCha. Another favorite of mine is from the ‘Jelly Delights‘ which is the Coffee Jelly Tea. They have juices as well while their add-on options are pearl, pudding, almond, sago (nata), and coffee jelly.

Hopefully they would also add food items and maybe variants of milk-lid or rock-salt milk teas in the menu very soon.

NaiCha Wintermelon Milk Tea "Tabo" (left);  Nai Cha Coffee Jelly Milk Tea (right)

NaiCha Wintermelon Milk Tea “Tabo” (left); Nai Cha Coffee Jelly Milk Tea (right)

Franchise Opportunities

I learned that they also offer franchising options to business hunters. You may contact them at the following

  • Subic Head Office: M6 Aguinaldo St., Central Business District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone
  • Manila Office: Unit 3D, Megalink Bldg, Banawe Ave. Brgy Sienna, QC
  • http://www.facebook.com/MilkTeaPinas

So if you’re from Quezon City or Manila, check out NaiCha Philippines in their Banawe branch soon.

 

KFC Launches Colonel Sanders’ So Good, So Real Recipes *

When it comes to fried chicken, there’s no doubt that one of the tastiest around is KFC’s Original Recipe chicken. For 45 so good years, Filipinos have been thoroughly enjoying a secret recipe that has been passed on from generations to generations which we owe to the iconic Colonel Sanders who is actually the original celebrity chef.

On May 30, 2012, bloggers and people from the media gathered at Diamond Hotel for an important announcement. In Louisville, Kentucky, a secret manuscript written by the Colonel himself was discovered. It contains not only pages of his life story, but also a collection of 35 of his most treasured recipes.

KFC Launches Colonel Sanders’ So Good, So Real Recipes at Diamond Hotel

KFC Launches Colonel Sanders’ So Good, So Real Recipes at Diamond Hotel

Secret Manuscript Revealed

Celebrity Chef Sharwin Tee’s Double-Cheese Hush Puppies with Peach and Basic Ketchup

Celebrity Chef Sharwin Tee’s Double-Cheese Hush Puppies with Peach and Basic Ketchup

To give back to its patrons, KFC earlier revealed the Colonel’s secret manuscript which became available last June 5, 2012 for everyone to enjoy by visiting KFC’s official Facebook Philippines pagewww.facebook.com/kfcphilippines.

With this wonderful announcement, KFC put up another surprise as they invited-in Filipino Celebrity Chef Sharwin Tee from the cooking show Curiosity Got the Chef, to create his rendition of the Colonel’s Hush Puppies – one of the never-before-seen recipes from the prized manuscript.

KFC Original Recipe Bites

KFC Original Recipe Bites

Before we got to enjoy a delectable feast of Hush Puppies and Hush Puppies, event hosts and radio DJs Chico and Delamar introduced another surprise. With the growing market for finger foods, KFC launches Original Recipe Bites – 5 bite-sized pieces of 100% real chicken which uses the same 11 secret herbs and spices that make up the world-famous KFC Original Recipe. With these handy babies, anyone can easily enjoy the all-time favorite Original Recipe anytime and anywhere.

Fully Loaded Meal Treat Promo Extension

And to make the 45th celebration of KFC’s so good food even better, loyal customers also get to enjoy a Fully Loaded Meal Treat promo extension. Feast on KFC’s Original Recipe chicken plus soup, mashed potato, brownie, and a drink for just Php 111 until June 25, 2012, and enjoy P72 discount from ala carte prices. And seriously, I kid you not when I say that this is one of the biggest discounts given by KFC so far.

Colonel Sanders Autobiography

Colonel Sanders Autobiography

*Story and photos by Sumi Go of The Purple Doll

So KFC fans, let’s all rejoice and take part as KFC Philippines celebrates its 45th year. Enjoy discounted meal dining with the Fully Loaded Meal Treat, munch on bite-sized but equally so good Original Recipe Bites, and visit KFC on Facebook to take a peek on Colonel Sanders’ So Good, So Real Recipes.