Entries Tagged 'Manila' ↓
March 2nd, 2012 — Alabang, Batangas, Casual, Cebu, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Filipino, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, New Brews, Ortigas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, places, Quezon City, Restaurants, Singapore, SouthEast Asia, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Vegetarian, Where To Eat
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
“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
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
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
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.
February 22nd, 2012 — Beverage, Casual, Cebu, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Fusion, Greenhills, Greenhills Town Center, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, New Brews, Ortigas, Pasig, Quezon City, Quick Service, Restaurants, Taguig, The Fort, Western, Where To Eat
No food blog needs to tell you that the milk tea craze has hit the Philippine’s capital and metropolis while slowly moving into the suburbs as you are reading this article. And Seattle’s Best Coffee is not turning a blind eye to this ongoing, and even phenomenal, trend.
SBC Milk Tea (Cold)
They’ve always had it, but it’s now being given a spotlight. Available for almost a month now, I was only able to try Seattle’s Best Milk Tea a week or two ago in their Greenhills Town Center branch.
Having recently come from the milk tea capital of the world that is Taiwan, my interest in milk teas has certainly grown. And sometimes, I can’t help but compare them to what we have here.
But I don’t even have to go far. Seattle’s Best Milk Tea is already unique by itself on how they positioned themselves in the market. Here are my observations:
- They only offer one variant/flavor of milk tea
- They offer their milk tea with a hot option (something not so common)
- They use red pearls
One and Only Milk Tea Variant
In contrast to the usual milk tea shops, Seattle’s Best is offering only one kind of milk tea – the SBC Milk Tea.
It’s a blend of black and green tea infused with caramel flavor to take care of the sweetness.
I told a friend that they are actually taking a big risk here. It’s a hit or miss thing. With only one option, you either get the customer’s nod or nay. It’s a bold move, I should say (or maybe they are still testing the market).
Hot Milk Tea
Although a hot milk tea is not a regular thing either in Taiwan, more so is the case in the Philippines. It’s good thing SBC offers this option for those who want it not chilled.
Red pearls
They want to be different, and it comes in style. As trivial as it is, having red pearls (or sago) in your milk tea adds that SBC touch, specially to someone like me who almost always have it with extra pearls. 🙂 It’s not unique though as I recently saw one in particular, the new ‘Drink Tea‘ shop having the same (there’s one in The Podium).
It’s only red tapioca/pearls and no other. You won’t find a nata or jelly option as add-ons. 🙂
Greenhills Town Center in San Juan area
The Verdict
Cold
After all has been said, what now? To shoot it straight to the point, the SBC Milk Tea was good, although I’ve had better. I’m not sure if my cup had much ice, but it was at the verge of being bland.
Hot
The hot SBC Milk Tea was also good but most of my friends dismissed it as too sweet. I think it deserves a second chance. I like it better than the cold one I had. It gets my thumbs up!
It’s also perfect with an order of the SBC Clubhouse.
SBC Clubhouse
Tip
With my experience with the cold one, I suggest you tell the counter to reduce the amount of ice by half. I’d try that myself the next time I go back. 🙂
Price
The cold SBC Milk Tea is available in sizes medium (PhP110) and large (PhP120), while the hot one is slightly cheaper at P100Â and P110, respectively. The price is fair enough considering the ambiance of a known coffee shop.
With Seattle’s Best Coffee is giving in to the milk tea craze, I suggest you give-in as well and find your cup of tea – hot or cold. The SBC Milk Tea is available only here in the Philippines and until March 31, 2012.
February 20th, 2012 — Affairs, Alabang, Batangas, Casual, Cebu, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Filipino, Fusion, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, Ortigas, Paranaque, Pasig, Promos / Events, Quezon City, Restaurants, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Where To Eat
Max's Fried Chicken P299
Max’s Restaurant, the brand that has given you the ‘sarap-to-the-bones‘ fried 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 Restaurant “Chicken Take Out Treat P299” will be available in all 123 branches nationwide from February 20 up to March 31, 2012 only.
February 11th, 2012 — Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Fusion, Makati, Manila, New Brews, Ortigas, Pizza / Pasta, Quick Service, Restaurants, Western, Where To Eat
Valentine's Pizza
It doesn’t get any cheesier than this! This is the ultimate gimmick a pizza chain could have – a ‘heart-shaped‘ pizza for the Valentine’s season! And this is what Angel’s Pizza just did. 🙂
I think your loved one whom you will give this too will surely burst out a big laugh, or at least a big smile upon seeing a heart-shaped pizza surprise.
Valentine's Day Option?
As the photos reveal, Marjorie and I indulged ourselves on the pizza a few days ago and had a fun photo shoot with it. a heart-shaped pizza does not come that often anyway. 🙂
Perfect for the season of love for a mushy-lovey set of people in the Philippines, Angel’s Heart Shaped Pizza is available in Big Family and Thin Crust Pizza only until February 29, 2012!
We were able to try the Extra Feast Pizza flavor and Pepperoni. However, the latter came out too salty. It”s the Extra Feast which gets our thumbs up! 🙂 Price is the same as the regular pizzas depending on the flavor you purchase.
You can also have Angel’s Heart-Shaped Pizza delivered by calling Angel’s Delivery number 922-2222.
Marj Trying on Angel's Pizza
Heart-Shaped Pizza
Watch out for an online contest we are organizing for Feb 13, & 14 related to Angel’s Heart-Shaped Pizza! Advance Happy Valentine’s!
February 10th, 2012 — Affairs, Alabang, Batangas, Casual, Cebu, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Dessert, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, New Brews, Ortigas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, places, Promos / Events, Quezon City, Restaurants, Singapore, SouthEast Asia, Sweet Shops, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Western, Where To Eat
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 Restaurant – Max’s Corner Bakery had in mind for this Valentine’s. 🙂
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 -Â 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 Cupcakes for Valentine's Day: Blueberry Cupcake, Black Forest Cupcake, & Choco Banana Cupcake (left- right))
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)
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
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
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. 🙂
January 31st, 2012 — Alabang, Batangas, Casual, Cebu, Chinese, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Fusion, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, New Brews, Ortigas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Restaurants, Taguig, The Fort, Vegetarian, Western, Where To Eat
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
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
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.
January 12th, 2012 — Affairs, Binondo, Casual, Chinese, Cravings, Cuisine, Foodie Information, Manila, Masangkay, Quezon City, Restaurants, Thai, Vegetarian, Where To Eat
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.
November 15th, 2011 — Alabang, Batangas, Beverage, Casual, Cebu, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, Ortigas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, places, Quezon City, Restaurants, Singapore, SouthEast Asia, Sweet Shops, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Western, Where To Eat
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.
Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha
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.
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.
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
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)
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
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?