Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom

Kido Master Burger

The Japanese fastfood chain Karate Kid is now open at the 3rd Level of Farmer’s Plaza in Cubao. It is conveniently located near the walkway that connects to Gateway Mall. I have been passing by this area and wondered when the opening will be. Finally, there’s now a good alternative to the usual burger, fried chicken and pizza fare at the Araneta Center.

The fastfood chain, which had been in operation for over 10 years now, offers a fusion of Japanese and American cuisine. This is in keeping with its original concept taken from the American movie in the same title starring Ralph Macchio.

Karate Kid Farmer’s Plaza

Karate Kid Chicken

Naturally, there are the classic Japanese fare for those who love Japanese food — Katsudon, Ramen, California Maki, Teppanyaki, Takoyaki, Gyoza and Ebi Tempura. But their original creation combining Japanese and American elements are equally delectable. I had the Japanese Creme Chicken Pasta and I was very delighted. Generously served in extra creamy sauce, huge chicken chunks and mushroom, it’s really delicious and filling. I noticed that they also have burgers — Kido Master Burger and Eli Katsu Burgers. I thought they’d go well with the pasta; perfect if you’re really hungry.

*Story & Photos by Alwin Aguirre of The City Roamer

In addition to good food, the place also has good interiors. I’m happy that I now have an alternative dining spot to visit with Karate Kid Farmers Plaza. I’m sure this place will be filled with diners in no time, especially because the restaurant is very accessible from the MRT Cubao Station.

Karate Kid Desserts

NomNom stretching

People has been always telling us food bloggers how lucky we are to get invited by restaurants to try their food and get first dibs on the latest menu offerings. Then there’s food tasting all over the metro and trying on the newest flavors of ice cream released in the market (sometimes, even before they are out in the market).

But there’s also a downside – food blogging is fattening! We take on the sacrifice of accumulating all those calories just to review all those dishes for the readers’ benefit! 🙂

It’s good that genes gave me a naturally slim body to begin with, but age and frequent food escapades has been taking its toll on me and it has started to show on my belly and love-handles.

C-Lium Health Journal

C-Lium Lose More Live More Challenge

Although I have been regularly doing my personal exercises and stretching in the morning, it isn’t enough so I have long been wanting to have my jogging routine back for so long as I can remember. While that remains to be accomplished, I had resorted to doing something easier – joining the “Lose More Live More” challnege by C-Lium Fibre!

When C-Lium Fibre offered the opportunity to take on the challenge, I have resolved to act on my weight-problem-to-be before it’s way too late. I actually started a week ago and will be sharing some updates and developments on another blog post soon.

For now, let me share the free medical checkup care of C-Lium that I underwent at the Medicard Clinic in Makati a few days before I started taking C-Lium. I had the preliminary tests last July 26, 2012, to be exact.

Medical Tests @ Medicard Clinic in Makati

Treadmill Stress Test

I had my Body Mass Index (BMI), Cholesterol Screening, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), and Body Circumference Measurements. The more challenging part was the Treadmill Stress Test wherein the treadmill incline was increased every minute. I was able to last four minutes and a few seconds before I got exhausted and called on a halt.

MEDICard Philippines Test Results for NomNom

C-Lium Lose More Live More Promo

It’s a commitment to health!

A few days after, and the results were out. Everything’s in normal levels except for my HDL which is just a bit below normal range.

I encourage you to take on the “C-Lium Fibre Lose More Live More” Challenege at www.clium.com.ph/losemore just as I did! Simply create an account to enjoy the benefits of looking young and living young with C-Lium Fibre. Check out my Twitter and FB updates with #CLIUMlosemore soon!

We were invited to the launch of Segafredo Zanetti MyEspresso machine on a rainy Friday afternoon. I sensed that I might be going alone since my boyfriend has been sick for two days. With the unpredictable weather outside, I wouldn’t allow him so I decided to go on my own to the Net Plaza at The Fort, armed with an umbrella and cardigan.

Segafredo Zanetti Espresso – Net Plaza, The Fort

Segafredo Zanetti

I’ve been consuming coffee for almost half of my life and to spice up my coffee experience last year, I decided to buy a coffee maker. I wanted to wake up my senses with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. When I learned about espresso machines I dreamt of owning one someday, much more when I tried Segafredo’s espresso and cappuccino.

Every sip of espresso gives a brand new coffee experience. I’ve never really appreciated the true meaning of “perfect cup of coffee” until recently. It became more satisfying and more delicious with the sandwiches and pizzas they served us. Just before I left, I had a smooth, creamy and perfectly made cappuccino. I cannot be too descriptive, all I know is that cappuccino is delicious!

Segafredo Zanetti MyEspresso

Segafredo Zanetti MyEspresso

Segafredo Zanetti

Segafredo Zanetti brought the Italian espresso tradition in the country by introducing two world-renowned espresso masters from Italy and Japan to share their knowledge about authentic Italian Espresso.

Mr. Ilija Naumovski, the Grand Chef Barista & Supervisor of Segafredo Zanetti in Asia together with Mr. Andrea Borghesan, Export Manager of Segafredo Zanetti Coffee Systems Italy demonstrated how to concoct an excellent cup of espresso. Fashion icon and celebrity Ms. Tessa Prieto-Valdez arrived in her red long gown.

Lifestyle Icon Tessa Prieto-Valdez with Segfredo Top Honchos

Segafredo Cafe is located at the ground floor of Net One Plaza

The Company

Segafredo Zanetti is the leading espresso producer in Italy and throughout the whole world, with more than 100,000 clients and millions of espresso drunk each day. The company belongs to Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, a holding which unites 37 companies across the world.The company owns green beans plantations in Brazil and Costa Rica and has 11 roasting plants all over the world.

Ove the years, SZE developed four unique brands, Segafredo Zanetti a brand for wholesale market which incldes hotels, cafes and domestic users. Another is the Zegadredo Zanetti Espresso, a brand exclusive for espresso bars such as this place, the SZE Net Plaza, SZE Podium and SZE Greenhills.

Segafredo Pastries

The third is Segafredo Coffee System, a brand for retail market for home and office coffee machines. Last but not the least is the La San Marco handling large-scale espresso machines. With different offerings for different industries and uses, the Segafredo Complete Coffee Solutionsexcellently cater to specific production needs.

Segafredo Zanetti

Segafredo Zinatti has more than 500 outlets of Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Bar and 150,000 tons of coffee manufactured each year. Segafredo Zanetti continues to innovate the authentic Italian espresso experience with the new MyEspresso machine, we can now enjoy strong, creamy cup available in the comfort of our homes and work place.

* Story and photos by Marjorie Pineda of Living Marjorney

In Manila you may visit Segafredo Zanetti Espresso located at Net Plaza Bldg inThe Fort; The Podium Ortigas and Greenhills, San Juan.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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:

• Greenwich Delivery – calling 5-55-55 Greenwich delivery
• Over the Counter – starting August 2012
• Order Online – through www.greenwichdelivery.com

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!

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!

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

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

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

Our Max’s Corner Bakery Reached Singapore

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

After 2 weeks, 9480 entries, 70++ participants and 70++ comments, we have identified the 3 winners of the pair of Jamba Juice Beverage Vouchers through Rafflecopter online random raffle tool.

They are:

• Entry #7751 Almira P.
• Entry #6618 Kristine J.
• Entry #7068 Alston C.

Jamba Juice Winners

This is actually for announcement purposes only. The list of the Jamba Juice Beverages winners is also reflected in the Rafflecopter widget of the original contest post. Winners shall be contacted via their Facebook profiles on record today. The Jamba Juice  Beverage Vouchers will be shipped tomorrow July 18, 2012 and delivered within their Metro Manila address as per mechanics and term & conditions.

Jamba Juice Beverage Vouchers

Thank you to all who joined and sponsor Jamba Juice Philippines! If you want to join more contests, there’s another ongoing Auto-Gard Car Care Products giveaway here!

I was excitedly anticipating the Food Styling 101 seminar for the media I attended 2 weekends ago at CCA Podium in Ortigas. It was my first to be in a food styling class.

Chef Gigi Angkaw of CCA

As a food blogger who often takes photos of what I eat, styling food and angling my shots has always been a challenge as the thought process involved in presenting a dish sets the first impression and somehow tease the readers into wanting them.

Our lecturer was no less than renowned chef and food stylist Chef Eugene Raymundo. He has worked with several big brands for print and TV including Red Ribbon, KFC, and Nestle Ice Cream, to name a few. He is also currently associated with Five Cows Resto and Ice Cream Bar in Trinoma and Kitch’ Cafe, among others.

He started with defining what food styling is and proceeded with the goals and what it takes to be a food stylist.

Introduction to Food Styling at CCA Podium

Chef Eugene Raymundo

Chef Raymundo shared that food styling is not just about making the food attractive in the way it is put together, it is an art that requires skill and knowledge.

He surmised that one should at least have some basic knowledge about cooking so you would understand more about the dynamics of food.

Dishes without Food Styling (top) ; dishes WITH Food Styling (bottom)

Food Styling Tools

Food Styling

In the latter part of the afternoon, we proceeded with the actual styling and the tools of the trade. We were exposed to propping, and using mock-up ice creams, syrups and flans.

Nonetheless, Chef Eugene Raymundo encouraged the use of actual products in foodstyling as much as possible. In the case of ice creams, it is highly understandable why using the real ones would be impractical. It would have already melted even before the cameras are rolling. 🙂

Food Styling Demo

Sample of Food Styled by Chef Eugene Raymundo

More about Food Styling at CCA

Artificial Ice Cream

Center for Culinary Arts Podium recognizes this increasing interest and delivers a project that focuses on teaching food styling as well as food photography. Through the Continuing Education Programs, they welcome individuals interested or passionate to learn about food styling and techniques in food photography. Taught by a top notch food stylist and noted food photographer, participants of the course will acquire skills in preparing food for editorial materials. The course aims to develop the participants’ style, creativity, and ingenuity particularly in food styling.

So if you want to learn how to creatively style food and photography, you may get in touch with CCA Podium Culinary School Market Café at the 5th floor of The Podium along ADB Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. You may also call CCA Podium at 696-9083. They still have 3 more Saturdays to go for the whole course for the month of July.

NomNom’s Baked Dory Lunch at CCA Podium (somewhat food-styled) 🙂

Thanks to Chef Gigi Angkaw for inviting us at CCA Podium’s Food Styling 101

Thanks to CCA Podium for the gracious invitation and Chef Eugene Raymundo for the insightful introduction to food styling 101 seminar.