Snack Alert: Royal Caribbean Jamaican Patties

Apart from the pastries that I bake, my kids would munch on popcorn and chips, which I really don't advise them doing.  If at times we are caught hungry at the mall, they would always run to the nearest doughnut or cupcake stands around the area, which I am trying so hard to advise them not to make it a habit.  I guess kids today are lured by these sugar-loaded treats that they often neglect it's hazard to health specially if consumed to a normal level, which is half of the usual RDA level.  Okay, I'll confess, like them I am also into the habit, however, as much as I could get away from it, when hunger and cravings strike, tsk, tsk, 

Now, here is something worth sharing to you, my kids and I have discovered a snack kiosk at Market, Market.  It's the next best thing to my kids usual mall snacks.  It's also packed with flavor and nutrition and YEY less sugary.  

It's Royal Caribbean Jamaican Patties, located at the top floor of Market, Market next to the cinemas. It's actually a stone-throw away from where we attend Sunday Christian service for New Life the Fort.   

Vyne

Nothing can over exaggerate this dining madness that have embedded in my palate and in the nooks and cranny of my brain, hence the simple, unsought of title.  Oh also, be aware that this is not a garden or herb-related article but rather something you will never regret reading.

I didn't mean to beguile you, but I would try to be straight-forward in my judgement on this post.

But before that, I'm aching to give a major shout out to new-blood restaurateurs, who gained their rights to brag about their business, of which J.P. Enriquez belongs.  What's to brag about?  On his collar are dining, drinking and clubbing hot spots that are gaining raves, such as Hyve, Skye and my new esteemed restaurant -Vyne.

Lock&Lock Launches Latest Hello Kitty Collection

Were you bothered by the Hello-Kitty-Has-A-Cat-So-That-Makes-Her-Not-A-Cat issue when the news about the iconic character, Hello Kitty shocked the whole world and letting everyone know that she is in fact a cartoon character, not a cat but a girl?

Well whether she is a cat or a girl or what ever, she still has that look that bedazzles every little girl and that inner little girl in some of us.  The combination of pink and white hues

If you collect Hello Kitty items or love using stuff with its theme, then you'll love this news about Lock&Lock's new themed-collection.  Though I was not brought up to collect such things, just looking at the pink and white hues of all the items in their collection, makes me feel all-girly and dainty, just like my grade-school girls who also make it a point to have something pink in most of their items, especially their school stuff.

Hello Kitty, the world’s most iconic cat-like character, brings a new, cute experience every meal time as Lock&Lock launches its newest LockLock Hello Kitty Collection of food containers and tumblers in the Philippines.

Articles of Disagreements: Contemporary Arts Through a Mom's Eyes

This torrent of anecdotes began, maneuvering around the dimly-lit, cold pathways of The Lopez Museum, that alley where black walls were jazzed up with glossy black-and-white prints, which sink into the insulation.  

Though I was inspecting these two-toned photos, flashes of skinned and sharpened "krayolas" easily snatched my vision.

Kitchitora of Tokyo + Dojo Dairy Japanese Ice Cream

After attending our friends' spa opening and blessing at Legazpi St., Makati, Bhogs and I were able to find time to spend some tsukemen snack.  We found ourselves looking for a place to have some at Glorietta and we're glad we saw Kitchitora.  I didn't tell him I knew a ramen house next to Madmark's (shhh!), for it has been a long time we haven't explored the mall for some good grubs.  After checking out Android applications downloaded on our phones for the nearest Japanese place serving Tsukemen, I guided him towards Glorietta 5 and looked for it on the upper floor.  

We have Munchpunch and OpenSnap on our phones, so it was easy for us to find themed restos of our choice. 

From its moniker, “Kichi” means Lucky, while “Tora” means Tiger which are characters representing a symbol for each of the two families that collaborated to create Kichitora.  Glorietta is the second home for the Philippine flagship, the one in SM Megamall is said to be the first international branch for Kichitora Worldwide.

Hotel Review: Deep Forest Garden Inn

Our family adventure at the beautiful city of Puerto Princesa was nothing short of amazing, and it wouldn't be possible without a good three-day abode.  

Our stay there was short but entirely sweet and I'm dreaming to be back with my family.  My husband kept on muttering how we should have stayed longer and coming home with more pocketful of memories to share to our friends.

If you haven't read my posts on our Palawan family trip, do check these following links out:

For a quick DIY itinerary check, click on this: 

The Family's Great Palawan Escape: Puerto Princesa (Part One)

For our first day adventure/PP city tour, click here:

Travel: Surviving Red Eye Flights Bound to Puerto Princesa with our Kids

For our Honda Bay Adventure:

TRAVEL: Honda Bay, Palawan Tour

For the FOOD TOUR:

The Family's Great Palawan Escape: Puerto Princesa (Part two/Food Tour)

I Got All #CurriedAway at Eri Curry

Just last week, another Japanese-inspired restaurant had opened its doors to diners of SM Mega mall. This time they are focused on something we are not really familiar with, well, probably new to me, a new concept in Japanese dining which happens to be ubiquitous in Japanese home-cooking   As much as I love to learn more about Japanese cuisine, each time I give  a new dish for a try, make me love their culture more.  

Along with the much-publicized ramen and katsu places, Eri Curry will definitely hit the spot for the newest Japanese dish to be raved about.  Whenever we go to Japanese restaurants I never give much attention to their curry dishes.  But the fact is, karē raisu (カレーライス) or Japanese curry rice have been a menu mainstay in specialized restaurants even in U.S, cities such as California, Hawaii and New York.

Eri Curry finally brought the idea here in Manila, but warped it, making it more interesting.  

HoReCa Festival 2014

As Makati still emerges as the top business setting, more and more hotels, restaurants and cafes chose it to be their home.  To make these businesses gain more strength in terms of stability, profitability and to serve more clients with greater passion, the FIRST HORECA Makati Festival had been founded.  Yesterday, was its opening day held at the activity center of Glorietta 3, Makati.

Touted as the biggest tourism events to happen in Makati, The Makati Tpirism Foundation, Inc. or MTFI have opened the historical festivity which will forever be known as "HoReCa Makati Festival 2014: Finest Footprint at its First" which was attended by foreign diplomats, industry practitioners, academe, high profile business and government figures and their stakeholders.

Getting High with Thai tea at Jelly-G

 

Some years ago, a hype for bubble milk tea have hit our country by storm and  built an empire of tea merchants.   Even youngsters who never tasted true teas have become fanatics of milk tea shops that have popped up in every corner of neighborhoods.    I found it ironic really, from drinking ready to mix iced tea to having it with milk and pearl sinkers was absurd.  Well, what most us knew as tea, is practically made up mostly of sugar than the tea itself.   

The first time I had tea was when my parents made me try a freshly steeped tea, not sure what type, and way back then, we only knew one kind.  Boy, the experience was so traumatic.  I found my first sip awfully bitter and my tongue got burned.  I was a tweener then and I made up my mind to list it as the worst drink ever, and from then on I never had it.   Until I got older and learned that one of the reason why Chinese people have fair and really smooth skin is by drinking it regularly.  Darn!  There goes my chance of getting that flawless skin.

Acupuncture is the Next Big Thing to Free us from Pain

All people or some, suffer from some kind of pain, may be due to diagnosed sickness or accidents and even stress.  Many have succumbed to popping pain-reliever pills which gives ephemeral treatments but brutal damages or side effects are being shadowed.  

It's not that I'm against medicines but studies have shown serious effects on unprescribed meds, thinking it will relieve you of such pains.

Not many know that there is another side rather than continuously taking unnecessary medications-  Acupuncture.  Still skeptics turn their heads away from the known fact that acupuncture really helps.

The first time I heard a story of a friend who benefited from acupuncture was probably 8 years ago.  Angela endured long years of pain in the wrist until she had consulted an Ayurveda practitioner and treated her with acupuncture.  That was the first time, I ever knew someone who got well with acupuncture.   Prior to her treatments, she was endorsed for surgery, which was the doctors last recourse for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.  

Mid-autumn Festival with a Host of Nontraditional Mooncakes at Vikings

Observed in the middle of the autumn season, 2014 Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 8th.  The day is also known as the Moon Festival, when the moon is at its roundest and brightest.  So have you seen the moon last night?  Even though it was drizzling my daughter saw it and pointed at it so I can also see.  She saw it peeping out of some brightened clouds and thought it was magnificent enough for me to see it.  After all, we came from an afternoon tea and mooncake party at Vikings Luxury Buffet in Megamall.

The Shrimp Shack of Manila

If Japan have managed to bring in ramens, Mexican restaurants now serving tacos and burritos, while Spain introduced tapas with Sangria pairing, the French have their macarons and boulangeries, and many others to mention. This time, Hawaiians have their share of the hodge-podge culinary that we have in the metro.  That's good news right? A different take from many foodies' ravings about keeping uptrend to what's new and about.

When a tourist reach Hawaii, especially at the island of Oahu, you will see unusually designed trucks with queues of people.  This are famous shrimp trucks selling dishes with, well, what else, shrimps.  For the record, I haven't been to Hawaii nor is it in my bucket list, but in dreams maybe. I just searched for Oahu, Hawaii and apparently, that's what they are known for.

Ducati Superbikes at the Globe Slipstream

Last Aug. 30, Ducati Superbike riders seized the modified race track at the  Bonifacio Global City streets at the Globe Slipstream, which happened to be a homecoming event for Filipino-Swiss race car driver Marlon Stockinger.

The race teams of Ducati-Bacchus, Ducati-Access Plus, ATAT Racing Team, Samson College-Access Plus  - Ducati Desmo Owners Club of the Philippines and Kojie-San brought in  their top riders, among them 16-year-old TJ Alberto, superbike master rider and Ducati Philippines CEO Mr. Toti Alberto and General Manager Marc de Joya, John Defensor and Alvin Dee, Superbike Open riders Jussi Hoikka, Vince Mercado and Jordan Gaw, Lawrence Macalinao, Ralph Reyes Jay Carrion, Redge Burilla, Miguel Bichara, Gerald Aycardo,  Nikki Romero, Gelo Roa, Daniel Savino, Col. Benjie Ladra,Martin Rosario, Monti Mortimer and former superbike champion Raniel Resuello.

September Lunch Specials at 22 Prime

If you are looking for  quick get-away from all the hustle and bustle of the metro and needing a much anticipated lunch or dinner where it's unperturbed while taking pleasure to high-grade steak selections and a wide array of haute cuisine, then the 22nd floor of Discovery Suites is the suitable point in space.

Being known for it's "prime steaks" and even being listed together with the top five Philippine restaurants by the international Miele Guide* a few years back, 22 Prime still tops newly opened steak houses not only for how their menu fare but for not making your wallet cry, cause yes, their steaks are quite affordable.

Quick Noodling at Ramen Nagi

After reading about Roch's blog about SM MOA's Ramen Nagi branch, I've just sorted out everything in my calendar too quickly, to leave room for a ramen snack with my hubby.  Though we leave near the area, we don't really frequent it, we don't even go there to shop for the things the family needs at home.  But if given the chance to go there, we would always spend time looking for a new food joint to sample some grubs.

Then came Ramen Nagi, situated at the alley where I would usually pass by, spankly located near the taxi/jeepney terminal.  Since they have opened late 2013, diners would flock them, and consider that the restaurant is tightly spaced, getting a seat on lunch and dinner is hard.  Which means you need to spend at least 30 minutes lining up and no seat reservation is allowed.

Friggies + Juicing = Healing

After reading and researching after the good behind drinking freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, I myself became a convert. Aside from being a great way to add nutrients from the fruits or vegetables our body would normally get there are many health benefits of drinking freshly juiced fruits and vegetables.

Fruit and vegetable juices retain most of of the vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that would be found in the whole versions of those foods. These nutrients can help protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer and various inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. Valuable compounds called flavonoids and anthocyanins are abundant in a variety of fruits and vegetables and guard against oxidative cellular damage, which comes from everyday cellular maintenance and is exacerbated by exposure to chemicals and pollution.

Thus, juicing have been welcomed by foodies and health-advocates alike all over the metro. Friggies, a social enterprise hailing from the countryside is now ready to come out in the open to offer juicing with a new twist.