Entries Tagged 'Cravings' ↓

Mini Stop's Ube Halaya Sundae

While walking along the streets of Makati the other night, I passed-by Mini-Stop along Pasong Tamo to satisfy my usual craving for cheap soft serve ice cream.

The last one I had was when it was still the Hershey’s Chocolate sundae flavor (which is yummy by the way).

To my surprise, I saw an ube colored poster and asked details about it. It turned out that it’s a new flavor which just started last Dec 28 in all of their branches – it’s Ube Halaya Sundae!

However, it’s on a Limited offer basis and most probably would only last for a week or two. So hurry up!

It seems that Mini-Stop is just testing the market for the flavor. It may come back later on if it does well.

Ube Halaya or Halaya Ube is a rich dark lavender purple color of sweet yam-jams usually stored in bottles found in local grocery shelves. It is  made from a variety of sweet potato called purple yam (ube)

almost done 🙂

more Ube Halaya Sundae

It almost tastes like its real ice cream counterpart.

At P15 (USD 0.33), Mini-Stop‘s Ube Halaya Sundae is love. 🙂

Just have it in moderation though; powder-based soft serve ice-cream/sundae are not exactly healthy food. One Ube Halaya Sundae per day would do. 🙂 (kidding!) Nomnomnom….

Ok, this post is quite late, but nonetheless still made it. 🙂

Red Ribbon introduces Santa's Wish Cake

Last month, almost at the same time as the launch of the Choco Walnut Fudge, Red Ribbon Cakes by Design introduced a cake made for your Christmas festivities, the Santa’s Wish cake. It really looks appealing and in season.

Santa Wish Cake

Inspired by the beloved icons of Christmas, Santa Claus, with his cherry-red hat, twinkling eyes and fluffy white beard, Red Ribbon’s Santa’s Wish cake enhances the joy of the Christmas spirit, not withstanding the true meaning of Christmas which is Christ Jesus. :).

It’s made with moist and dense rhumbutter cake and a layer of creamy caramel filling. The outermost layer is covered with icing and decorative green and red pine tree cuts.

Santa's Wish Cake Slices with the Green & Red Pine Trees

Merry Christmas!

Embarrassingly, I tried to take a bite off the green pine tree on the first time I tried it thinking it was made of sugar. It actually is, however, it was thick and not made with the purpose of being eaten. 🙂

What’s special about this cake is that the Santa’s Wish cake will be available on a pre-order basis only at any Red Ribbon store from November 27 – December 15.

But don”t worry, Red Ribbon’s Santa’s Wish cake will be available off-the-shelf in all Red Ribbon stores from December 22 – 24 at P550 – so you still have like…uhm… 2 days. :)  Merry Chirstmas to all! NomNom will be back after Christmas! 🙂

In this season of giving and sharing, it is most apt for Universal Robina Corp (URC) to introduce the bigger C2 Cool and Clean Green Tea 1.5L – fit for sharing!

With the familiar refreshing taste of C2, you can now share with family and friends the health-giving goodness of green tea. With the number of parties and dinner celebrations this Christmas, running out of C2 is not a problem anymore.  A single C2 Green Tea 1.5L can serve upto 7 glasses and is priced at  P31.50 (SRP) per bottle.

C2 is brewed from 100% natural green tea leaves and packed with health benefits. It’s also bottled on the same day to lock-in the freshness. C2 flavor variants are Apple, Lemon, Orange, Classic and Sugar-free Apple variants.

Together with three fellow food bloggers Az, Melo, & Arpee, we guested in a cooking show entitled “Secrets of the Masters.” It was an honor to be one of the food tasters for the dishes prepared personally by Chef Sau Del Rosario.

Chef Sau Del Rosario

Briefly, Chef Sau Del Rosario is one of the country’s young top chef who first came into light when he was with M Cafe back in 2004. He now has his own Thai restaurant in Angeles called “Kingdom“.

Secrets of the Masters audience

He prepared 4 dishes namely

• Century Tuna Thai Fish Cakes
• French Brie Cake with Candied Fruits and Nuts
• Roasted Duck with Creamy Orange Sauce
• Mixed Berry  Trifle with Mascarpone Cheeze

Century Tuna Thai Fish Cakes

However, we were only able to stay for the first two since we have another errand to attend to.

Nonetheless, the experience was something else as we sampled the Century Tuna Thai Fish Cakes fresh from the chef’s kitchen. The tuna was chunkier as expected from a premium red label century tuna (the one used by Chef Sau).

French Brie Cake with Candied Fruits and Nuts

The French Brie Cake with candied fruits and nuts was a real eye candy and fitting for the holiday season.

There was no cooking involved. Chef Sau simply placed the fruits and nuts at the bottom followed by the French Brie filling the whole container. he finally turned it upside down, removed the tin and taraan…the Feench Cake with candied fruits and nuts. 🙂 I loved how the French cheese was slightly sweet and not eccentric.

Above is a collection of short clips from the show.

Chef Sau Del Rosario at 'Secrets of the Masters' Cooking Show

So please do watch out for the airing of this show on December 20, 2009 at QTV 11, Sunday, 7:30pm. Secrets of the Masters air at this time every week. See us savor Chef Sau Del Rosario‘s Century Tuna Thai Fish Cakes and the French Brie Cake. 🙂

Lolo Dad’s has gained its gastronomical reputation long before among Malate‘s finest. And now in Makati, foodies such as NomNom just has no excuse of trying it out.

Now in the form of a brasserie, Lolo Dad brings the experience closer to busy metropolitans.

A brasserie in Makati

Aside for the price range, Lolo Dad’s Brasserie exudes the same trademark quality of food and service at Ayala 6750 for about a year now.

“We created a Brasserie in order to give a more affordable Lolo Dad’s dining experience to the people,” said Ding Ayuyao, general manager of the Brasserie.

A brasserie is an affordable restaurant that serves wine, fine meals and beer.

Lunch Special Menu

With the holiday season, Lolo Dad’s Brasserie reinvented its Lunch Special.

At just P495 per head(exclusive of service charge), the Lunch Special Menu includes Mussels or Beef Cheeks specially prepared by Ariel Manuel himself, owner of Lolo Dad’s and Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Best Chef awardee. This menu already includes three choices of appetizers, and for dessert, indulgent Vanilla Almond ice cream sitting on top of home-style banana bread.

For tapas aficionados, the Brasserie has prepared a tapas menu that won’t cost over P200*. Enjoy this delightful Spanish treat anytime of the day.

Lolo Dad’s Brasserie is open from Mondays to Saturdays at 11:00 am to 10:00 pm at Ayala 6750 in Makati City

Photo above (left to right):
1) Kebab of boneless Chicken Leg (with Garlic rice)
2) Mussels, Prawn and White Flesh pasta (in Chardonnay, Garlic and Anchovy pasta)
3) Stewed Beef Cheeks (baked with Puff pastry)

End your meal with a sweet note with the delectable Vanilla Almiond Banana Split consisting of Vanilla and Almond Selecta Ice cream with Banana bread.

Choco Walnut Fudge

I was ecstatic a few weeks ago upon knowing that Red Ribbon will be releasing their second ‘premium’ cake – the indulgent Choco Walnut Fudge.

The first one – Coffee Walnut Bavarian – became my instant favorite when it came out early this year.

Aside from the fact that it’s from Red Ribbon, the Choco Walnut Fudge was made more special since it used Hershey’s dark chocolate.

All these premium qualities earned this new cake from Red Ribbon the title “a 5-star  Indulgent Dessert.”

Red Ribbon's Choco Walnut Fudge

Slice of Choco Walnut Fudge

A creamy layer of chocolate mousse rests on the lower brownie cake both loaded with fudge and chopped walnuts all over.

Surrounding the cake is Hershey’s  dark chocolate ganache. Even the sprinkles on top and long chocolate curls around it are all made with Hersheys.

Yumm…

Aside from Hershey’s dark chocolate, I think it’s the chocolate mousse which caught my tastebuds. I’ve always loved the chocolate mousse cake.

Choco Walnut Fudge Cake with Hershey's Dark Chocolate

Hurry! Catch your own Choco Walnut Fudge soon since its only offered this holiday season! It retails at P680 in one size. Nomnomnom…

This Christmas season, Greenwich understands the Filipino’s penchant for celebrating the holidays with merriment and lots of food like the Christmas ham, roast beef, pasta, and fruit salad.

With these in mind, Greenwich introduces the new Triple Ham and Cheese Overload – its latest addition to the popular Greenwich Overloaded pizza line. It overflows with different hams and cheeses. The three hams are Chinese ham, pastrami ham and cooked ham while the cheeses include quezo de bola, parmesan and cheddar cheese.

For the pasta lovers, Greenwih ramps up the Meatball Spaghetti Supreme with overflowing parmesan cheese and thick marinara sauce served over premium-grade pasta.

Greenwich- Meatball Spaghetti Supreme

Moreover, other pizza and pasta products you may want to include in your Christmas get-togethers include the other Greenwich Overloaded pizzas—Extreme Cheese & Sausage Overload, Cheesy Blockbuster Overload, Special Overload and Meat & Cheese Overload, while the Lasagna Supreme and Beefy Baked Macaroni completes the cast.

So do get a slice of Greenwich Christmas with their Meatball Spaghetti Supreme and Triple Ham and Cheese Overload pizza.

Last night’s dinner was made of Yummy, figuratively and literally. Yummy foodie magazine invited a group of foodies, including Nomnom, for an intimate dinner at Tosco in Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Tosco, Dusit Thani Hotel

And who would say no to an intimate dinner invite by a food magazine? It’s almost sure, the food would be great. And I was not mistaken.

Potato Sour Creme Soup

Potato-Sour Creme Soup

For soup appetizer, we had potato-sour creme soup.

It was good and creamy. The lemon grilled shrimp slices even made it better.

I found the initally served bread complimentary to its rich taste and I cleaned up my bowl to the last drop.

I think the leaves on top is tarragon – an aromatic Eurasian herb for seasoning.

Tosco Bread

Stuffed Chicken Breast

Chicken Breast with a Surprise

The main entree looked like a simple chicken breast but I found a surprise marinated apricot and orange cinnamon couscous at its center. The serving of rice is also worth mentioning with its citrus-like aftertaste and scent. It was something new to my taste buds and I found it pleasing. Stems of green asparagus lined the plate.

Couscous is a north African dish usually characterized by steamed semolina and meat; in this case chicken meat.

Chicken breast with Orange Cinnamon and Apricot

Trilogie

Yes, you read it right – it ended with ‘gie.’ The dinner was concluded with a trilogie of vanilla, red wine creme, and caramelized mango. It was the goodness of dessert times three.

Tosco Trilogie: Vanilla, Red Wine Creme, & Caramelized Mango

The vanilla was prepared light and covered with shreds of crispy barquillos. Lovely.

It was my first time to taste a red wine creme and I loved its softness with hint of strawberry. Although I think I’m alone with this conclusion since the plates of those around me left the red wine creme half-consumed.

The caramelized mango was, well, caramelized mango.

Although a combination of three desserts sound overwhelming, I surprisingly found it wanting. The three were all sweet but it was not overdone. Simply said, I cleaned the plate.

Tosco's Caffe Latte

And just like after any sweets, a good cup of coffee is always appreciated after.

Yummy Planner 2010

Yummy Magazine - December Issue

It was a good way of celebrating the holidays and the blessed year of 2009 for Yummy Magazine as they release the Yummy 2010 Planner and 3 new cookbooks namely YUMMY Meals in Minutes, YUMMY So-easy Sweets, and YUMMY Weekend Cooking.

The Yummy Planner 2010 is now sold in major bookstores at P250 while the cookbooks are at an affordable price of P100 each.

Their December issue is also now out with cooking tips for Christmas like how to have a delicious and inexpensive Noche Buena. They are also adding new sections to the magazine and website Yummy.ph. Something to look forward to in 2010. Check it out here.

Tosco Wine Bar, Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City

More photos of Yummy Christmas Dinner.

We also shared a good chat over dinner with fellow foodies Fran, Az, and new friends Oggie & Ferdz of HappyFoodies.com, among others. It was also nice to see Anton of Our Awesome Planet again and Joey of Table for Three Please, for the first time. It was a Yummy dinner indeed!