November 1st, 2013 — Affairs, Beverage, Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Fusion, New Brews, Nomnom Loves, Promos / Events, Quick Service, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, Western, Where To Eat
Starbucks 2014 Planner
The new Starbucks Planner 2014 was unveiled to online media outfits last night at one of Starbucks Philippines’ landmark branches – Starbucks 6750. Last year, we gave you 13 reasons why you should get the Starbucks Planner 2013. A year later today, we’re giving you 14 interesting facts I know you’d be happy to know about the upcoming Starbucks 2014 Planner tomorrow – Nov 2.
14 Interesting Facts About the New 2014 Starbucks Planner:
- This year’s Starbucks Planners 2014 come in 4 symbolic colors: Black, Magenta (Red), Brown, and the surprising Yellow. The Yellow from the Blonde Roast, Brown from the Medium Roast, Magenta from the Dark Roast, and the Black for Starbucks Reserve which has yet to come to Philippine shores
Starbucks Planners 2014 Colors : Brown, Magenta, Yellow, Black (Top to Bottom)
- The symbols and figures on the cover of the Starbucks 2014 Planners are based on Starbucks coffee icons.
- The 4 metal bookmarks represent four Starbucks Coffee icons: The House Blend, Kape Vinta, Starbucks Cup, and the Coffee Bean. Sorry, you cannot exchange the bookmarks, which means you need to get all 4 planners. 😛
4 Metal Bookmarks: House Blend, Kape Vinta, Bean, and Cup (top to bottom)
- There are 4 QR Codes scattered on the inside pages of the planner. Scan this and get to view informational videos about Starbucks and their coffee.
- The side magnetic clip returns! This time, it has has a collage of the Starbucks Stars embossed.
4 QR Codes
Starbucks Stars-embossed Magnetic Clip
- The planner has a portrait layout for the calendar entries.
- The free stickers page has the same coffee icons found on the cover of your Starbucks Planner (see No. 2). This is the first time a Starbucks planner will contain a page of stickers.
Starbucks Planner StickersÂ
Starbucks Planner Coupons
- The 2014 Starbucks Planner has 14 promotional coupons this 2014 in contrast to last years’ 13 (2013). How many coupons do you think would the Starbucks 2015 Planner have? 🙂
Starbucks Promotions
- You need 18 stickers/stamps to get your free Starbucks Planner 2014 this year, in contrast to last year’s 17. I’m already guessing 19 stickers for Starbucks Planner 2015. 😛
- Collect stickers starting November 2 until January 8, 2014. With 8 weeks, this means purchasing the Starbucks beverages on the average of at least twice a week plus Christmas Day and the New Year. I’ll bet though the deadline will be extended come January 2014. 😛
- Don’t have the patience to collect 18 stickers? A classmate of mine back in high school who is now a doctor bought P5,000 worth of GCs which you can use to purchase anything in Starbucks. As a result, she got an instant Starbucks 2014 Planner! Plus you don’t need to consume all the GCs within the 2 months period.
- Load or Reload your Starbucks Card with P5000 worth of load from Nov 2- Jan 8 and get an instant 2014 Starbucks Planner. If you put it the other way around, it’s like buying or putting a P5,000 price on your Starbucks Planner and getting P5,000 worth of Starbucks beverages/items for free.
Starbucks Planner Inside Pages
Starbucks Planner Design
- Buy using the Starbucks Card, you get your Starbucks Stars with every purchase, and you also GET your Starbucks stickers for the planner! Double benefit!
- On November 2 only, the first 300 customers in all Starbucks Philippines branches nationwide get one free sticker! This means your first purchase gets 2 stickers by default!
2014 Starbucks Planner
So which among the 14 facts struck you best or you found most interesting? Which among the 4 Starbucks Planner 2014 colors are you getting? Which one do you think will sell most?
October 31st, 2013 — Beverage, Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Fusion, New Brews, Quick Service, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, Western, Where To Eat
It’s the coffee planner and journal season once again! As the Christmas season starts early in the Philippines, Seattle’s Best Coffee, revealed their Seattle’s Best Coffee Dream Journal 2014 as early as October sometime last week.
October 29th, 2013 — Appetizer, Beverage, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Filipino, Fusion, Greenbelt 3, New Brews, Restaurants
If you fell in love with the old ‘Smokin’ Hot BarBQ‘ restaurant in Greenbelt 3, then you would too with the new ‘Siklab‘. Bistro Group led ‘Siklab‘Â Pinoy Favorites basically just had a name change to better reflect the Filipino cuisine they serve. The menu and location of the new restaurant remains the same.
Basil Lemondae
Upon Siklab’s invitation, we got to try some Filipino favorites off their menu last week, including familiar desserts with a twist. 😛
Starters
For starters, we had the Crispy Bacon Belly (P255) and the Kuhol sa Gata (P225). The former is a sumptuous set of bacon-cut pork belly fried to a crisp with atsara on the side. Although it’s a bit pricey, it was a sumptuous crispy treat true to its name.
The latter was even better with golden snails simmered in coconut milk with green curry, chopped chillies, and lemongrass.
Crispy Bacon Belly (P255)
Kuhol sa Gata (P225)
Main Dishes
With starters setting the bar high, the main menu was at par.
Surprisingly, one of my favorites that night was the usual 2pc. BarBQ Chicken (P235) leg and thigh parts which were 6-hours marinated in their BarBQ sauce fhouse blend producing a sweet-tangy taste. Other sets of 4pcs costs P 455 ; 6pcs – P680; 8pcs – P895.
Another top favorite that night was the Pork BarBQ skeweres (top photo). These are pork bbq skewers marinated in their house BarBBQ sauce and grilled (about P120+ per skewer).
This was followed by the Binagoongang Liempo (P325) which was a chunkier version of the Crispy Bacon Belly above. The Binagoongang Liempo (crispy pork belly) rests on a bed of eggplant sauteed in homemade shrimp paste.
2pc. BarBQ Chicken (P235)
Binagoongang Liempo (P325)
Although I’m cutting down on rice-intake recently, who can resist the Sisig Rice (P245) which came albeit belatedly. It’s a  stir-fry of pork sisig and rice topped with scrambled egg and pork cracklings.
For the veggie-lovers, the Pinakbet (P175) is a must try combining squash, eggplant, string beans, and bittermelon sauteed in shrimp paste with some  pork skin crackling.
Pinakbet (P175)
Veggie Fruit Blast (P110)
Siklab Beverage
It’s worth noting how much I loved the Veggie Fruit Blast (P110) beverage I had. It’s a combination of celery, watermelon, apple, and orange. Classified under the ‘healthy drinks‘ category in the menu, this comes highly recommended by NomNom.
The Cucumber Breeze is also good which is a combination of  pineapple, cucumber and orange. The Basil Lemonade was ordinary though.
Filipino Desserts
Filipinos are known for their delightfully sweet desserts, almost deadly for the diabetic actually. Anyhow, we had the Biko and Turon 2.0; no it’s not Android’s latest OS.
The ‘Biko‘ (P155) is a chunk of visually appealing sticky rice served with chocolate soil and white latik on the side. it is meant to be poured on top and spread.
Biko (P155)
Turon 2.0 (P 235)
The Turon 2.0 looks like pinoy sorbetes on cone. Actually, underneath the ube ice cream is a surprise of Filipino flavors from the combination of banana, langka, and macapuno held together by caramelized cones. A serving consists of 5 cones. It’s a bit expensive at P 235 but worth a try before it becomes Turon 3.0 in the next incarnation.
I’ll surely be back in Siklab wanting to try more Filipino dishes such as Aligue Rice tossed with crab fat, Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw, Pinaputok na Tilapia, Pork Belly Adobo, Stuffed Laing with taro leaves stuffed with ground pork and dried alamang. For dessert, the Buco Lychee Sherbet shall not escape.
It was a great Filipino dinner at Siklab in Greenbelt. If you’re craving for some Filipino dishes in Makati, Siklab Pinoy Favorties will not disappoint you.
October 26th, 2013 — Affairs, Beverage, Cravings, Dessert, New Brews, Promos / Events
Figaro Yuletide Frost
Harping on the Filipino’s penchant of starting the Christmas season within the -ber months, Figaro Coffee made sure they’re first to meet that demand in the local cafe scene. Continue reading →
October 23rd, 2013 — Affairs, Promos / Events
Jollibee Trinoma
It’s was a ChickenJoy lunch that wifey and I had over the weekend in Jollibee Trinoma. In tune with the current craze of the Thor movie and a few days after trying the new Jollibee Bacon Mushroom Champ with the Thor Hammer USB, we ordered the Thor Jollibee Bucket Treats.
The good news is that by simply buying a Thor Jollibee Bucket Treat, you can join in the Best Jollibee Bonding Moments.
Best Jollibee Bonding Moments
Jollibee Bucket Treats Promo: Best Jollibee Bonding Moments
After purchasing a Jollibee Bucket Treats w/ ChickenJoy, make sure to join in the Best Jollibee Bonding Moments by simply uploading your photos showing you and your family eating a bucket of Jollibee Chickenjoy. With that, you get a chance to win 1 of 35 bucket treats every week until October 27, 2013!
Check out this video:
The THOR Jollibee Bucket Treat is also available as a 6-pc Chickenjoy Bucket Solo (P335) , 8-pc Chickenjoy Bucket Solo, 6-pc Chickenjoy Bucket w/ 3 Rice, 3 Regular drinks, and 3 Regular Criscut Fries (P469), and 8-pc Chickenjoy Bucket w/ 4 Rice, 4 Regular drinks, and 4 Regular Criscut Fries (P599). Since there were only two of us, we got the 6-pc Bucket with rice, fries, and drinks. Wifey had one serving, while I had two. 🙂
Although we’re not a family yet, wifey and I got out own photo with the Jollibee Bucket Treat. 🙂
NomNom Club, Wifey, and the THOR Jollibee Bucket Treats
Check the full mechanics at www.jollibee.com.ph/promo. Find out more about the Best Jollibee Bonding Moments here!
Hurry Jollibee Bucket Treats and ChickenJoy lovers, you still have a few days to go to dine at any Jollibee branch and submit that family-bonding picture!
October 20th, 2013 — Affairs, Promos / Events
Are you in the mood to create wonder and share the new found joy with Starbucks? Then it’s that season of the year when we know that the new Starbucks Planner is about to be released.
Starbucks Planner 2014 Philippine Teaser
No, we cannot wait for Halloween to pass to reveal this year’s Starbucks Planners for 2014! Join NomNom Club here, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as we reveal it online on the evening of October 30, 2013 to the theme of “Create Wonder and Share Joy!“
Check out last year’s planners here: Starbucks Planner 2013.
What can you say about Starbucks Philippines‘ Starbucks Planners 2014 teaser?
Something red, something pink? or something wonderful perhaps? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and perhaps win a small surprise from NomNom Club soon! 🙂
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for sharing your joys and wonders this Christmas season with Starbucks Philippines’ Starbucks Planner 2014!
October 16th, 2013 — Affairs, Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Filipino, Fusion, New Brews, Promos / Events, Quick Service, Restaurants, Where To Eat
What an extraordinary combination. I just found out that the new Jollibee Bacon Mushroom Champ being offered in all Jollibee branches around the country comes with Thor’s Hammer – Mjolnir – USB flashdrive!
Jollibee Thor Hammer USB (also known as “Mjolnir”)
Mjolnir: Thor’s Hammer
With Thor – The Dark World movie  coming up in theaters next week on October 30, this collaboration by Jollibee and Marvel’s Thor (and his hammer) comes just at the right time. Thor fans will surely buy this package even just for the hammer USB alone. 😛
New Jollibee Bacon Mushroom Champ
The new Jollibee Bacon Mushroom Champ Solo Meal (P129) with the Thor Hammer USB (P95)
On other hand, foodies will love this new offering by Jollibee, with or without the freebie toy. The Champ just got a level-up with a lot of bacon strips, a generous dose of cheese sauce, and a dash of mushroom that complements the 1/3 pounder 100% pure beef hamburger patty. I suddenly had a flashback of the Jollibee Ultimate Burger Steak Meal. 😛
Cross-section: Jollibee Bacon Mushroom Champ
With every purchase of the solo Jollibee Bacon Mushroom Champ (Â P 129 ) or the combo meal ( P165Â ), you can buy the extraordinary 1G Thor Hammer USBÂ for P95; This is already a good catch since an ordinary 1G USB already retails at about he same price in the market.
Catch this Jollibee Thor Hammer USB promotion now as it starts today and end on November 16, 2013. Of course, I will surely catch the Thor movie  ‘The Dark World’ as well! 🙂
October 13th, 2013 — Appetizer, Bacolod, Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Filipino, Negros, Restaurants, Vegetarain, Where To Eat
Not more than 2 months ago, wifey and I went to Bacolod in Negros Occidental for a farm tour around the province upon the invitation of the Department of Agriculture‘s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
Mango-topped Salad for appetizers
We stayed at May’s Organic Garden in Bacolod where we spent four days and three nights. It was the bloggers’ official accommodation this part of town. It is a mini organic farm in itself with some vegetation and a number of organic pigs. It is also like a mini resort complete with amenities for small functions and accommodations. It is in fact known for being one of the best wedding reception venue in Bacolod.
Whenever, we are not out in the filed for a farm tour, May’s Organic Garden was our home. Here is a series of  photos from one of our meals:
The healthy Red Rice!
Molo Soup for a hot start
Kilawin Salad
Kalabasa (Pumpkin) Soup alternative
Kaldereta for the main dish!
This! (whose name I forgot) 😛
Traditional Pansit with lots of veggies on top!
Mango and Biko for Dessert (panghimagas)Â
It’s my healthy plate! 😛
They know that we are going to be in a lot of organic farm tours so they melowed-down the “organic” theme from the dishes they served us. It was more of a homey-type of Filipino provincial dishes with a hint of organic food, just so to stay in theme. 😛
Although I was not able to try its famous nilasing na hipon and sweet “kamote” (sweet potato) dessert,  it was all good food and comfortable stay at May’s Organic Garden in Bacolod!