Stand Up for 'Beta' Days!

I had always prided myself on the fact that I had raised a wonderful teenage daughter (and a teenage son as well).  I try to go down to her needs as a girl coping up with many changes, making sure that in the process I can be the best resource person for her, including facing hormonal changes.  It is one of the main reason why I decided to be a stay-at-home mom, to be always present whenever something serious arises, like the first menstrual period.  I have three girls to raise my case.

A Joyful 40th Birthday!!!

Last Friday, that's July 12, my husband and I scrammed our way through C5's  traffi, to go to a party.   We know we might be the only one to arrive late.  Our car was on coding, we don't know who to leave the kids with, we can't find someone to inject insulin to our daughter and husband is suffering form migraine.   I think you know where I'm leading at and for sure you will definitely advise me not to come to the party anymore.

A Spark of Genuine, Sincere Blogging Inspired from Write On, Mom: Thinking Editorially

 Today was such an awakening and enlightening experience I had with fellow writer/blogger aspirants.  All of us are evidently mommies.  Some are professionals while others are stay-at-home moms who try their best to be everything a good mom should be.  From daily preparing an unusual bento (baon box) box to finding a niche in writing and setting up ones own blog, either for a business or just to have an online journal or sorts.

Not only was I able to discover a new foodie spot which is a bit tucked in from the normal food route, I also was able to meet (hopefully) new blogging sissies and moms of kindred spirits.  Oh, I was talking about La Creperie, which is a French-inspired cot-like place.  La Creperie is not actually new to me.  I love going to their Robinson's Galleria branch and when my mom last visited us, I brought her to the branch at Shangri La Mall.  I actually blogged about it here.

To be honest, blogging used to be my hobby, my excuse to do away with some chores, the only me time I can afford for some time.  It is an avenue where I can control my thoughts and bring it out to the open, not minding it becoming an internet litter that might just clog up the cyber highway.

Galli Village Cafe: A New Spanish Cuisine Destination at Maginhawa

   A cafe inspired by images of small village cafes found scattered in many European, Asian and American countries, now positioned in one of the go to foodie destinations in QC.  If you happen to look for a place, that's quaint and  where people who loves to travel and talk about these village cafes and share unerring gustatory passion hang out, search no more, for I will share you one of the top hidden gem in the foodie lists.

   Maginhawa’s recent development as a food hub had actually long been established.  I've read many accounts from blogs, social media networks and of course in the glossies, of the burgeoning haven that's located near one of the prestigious universities of our country - University of the Philippines.  

Sophie's Mom: My Girls' New Happy Place

   My girls like almost all girls love to bask in pink stuff.  It's their official color, don't you think?  In our house alone, in the kids room, where we also sleep (because it's bigger and saving up on air con costs), splashes of pink and purple are everywhere.  Oh yes even in the living room, where their toys, books and other art supplies are perched on some places.  They even planned to dye our puppy pink. LOL!
   Though that is the case, my husband didn't mind.
 
   So when I found out that Sophie's Mom have branched out at McKinley Hill, I made sure to have my kids check it out.  And boy, they were in for a treat!
   As expected, come Sunday, before we attended the church service at New Life the Fort, we passed by The Piazza, but as the guards advised me that the shop is located at Tuscany, we don't have an option but to walk towards it.
   But the walk towards the place was leisurely, my daughters even kept asking us, if the place really look like the ones in Italy.  Which we suggested yes, somehow, "but the buildings in Italy are vintage and more classic," Daddy explained, well for one, they are centuries old.   It was nice to bring back the memories of our trip years ago at Milan, seems like a piece of Italy in Manila was brought nearer to us.

   As soon as we reached the middle part of the Tuscany's facade, my two girls already saw the pink umbrellas, so I told  them that we are near and they already knew that the surprise would be a very pink one.

   PINK is how I would identify Sophie's Mom with!  Why not?  Pink is not only the color that girls, even my girls, love, it also denoted as a  delicate color that means sweet, nice, playful, cute, romantic, charming, feminine, and tenderness, and mostly associated with bubble gum, flowers, babies, little girls, cotton candy, and sweetness.

   Pink indeed is their color and character to say the least, and at Sophie's, we didn't just feel the girly vibe,  it's also the warm welcome of the people behind it, the sugary goodness that entices you to stay and that feel when you just want to live in a real-life dollhouse.

   Every simple touches of country, shabby-chic furniture, being a crafter by heart, you know that the new baby girl of Tonette Rosel and friends have been a showcase of unconditional love, of sharing and of nurturing.   See the picture above, where the cup board staples such as bread containers and bundth pans were made in to lamps, that is so clever and cute!

   The place is so homey, and it's a good venue to hold a girl's birthday party, well I think boys can have them too here, I know Ms. Tonette can toss in wonderful ideas for a themed party.  They have seating outside under those huge pink umbrellas, or on the sofa inside, or have your meeting and gatherings at the second floor area.

    With no further adoo, let me share you some of the cupcakes we had, making the afternoon, one that would make us all go back, again and again.  Above, is one of my favorite, Dulce De Leche, a super moist dark chocolate-flavored cake, with yema-like filling.

    My youngest girl, had Black and White Chocolate Cupcake (P 65).  I think it's a mix of white and dark chocolate.  What I like about their cakes is that they are not too sweet, so you can have have more than two without getting tired of it being cloying.

   This one - the Rainbow Burst,  made me really missed baking, for the family.  I remembered making dozens of these with my 15- year old daughter.   So I guess this is true about one of the calming and beautiful effects of the color pink, which  reminds one of earlier childhood memories or of precious past experiences, mostly associated with nurturing and comfort from a mother figure or a loved one.

 

   With my daughter's smile, don't you think this is just a cheat day for her?  It's more than that actually.  And as expected she said she wanted to celebrate her next birthday here!
One thing that's worth a mention is how these cupcakes sparked up her last birthday party.  Read about it HERE...

   It was an honor to have finally met, Sophie's mom herself, Tonette Rosel, the mom-baker who had been on top of all the customer's pastry and party needs, with my two belles, leaving a few messages for Sophie's Mom.
   The McKinley branch is actually the newest of the six pop up stores and bakeries and one she consider's another happy place.

    When you come by, don't forget to leave some love, by writing some message on their guest board. 

 Yey, my girls had their posts up on the middle! 

Address:  Tuscany, Upper Mckinley Road, Mckinley Hill, Taguig City

Facebook:  Sophie's Mom

The Sound of Color from Caronia

The correlation of sound and music is still in a petri dish till now.  But what is striking though is that music and color combined can bring outrageous and dramatic change, even in aiming to affect the world.

Music is not only able to affect your mood -- listening to a particularly happy or sad music can even change the way we perceive the world, according to researchers from the University of Groningen.  

Same goes with colors.   Sometimes the color of our outfits dictate our moods, characters and what we want the world to hear.  The color of your T-shirt may denote an allegiance to an alma mater, or a preconceived idea, for example, wearing green green because you support Greener Earth, or something close to that.

Music and color are both elements of art.  You can either express your-self though music or through print arts like painting a graffiti. 

But here is an exciting way of expressing oneself with both music and color.  

As Caronia drives nail care and nail polish fanatics with their campaign, dubbed as The Sound of Color, having your nails done and colored is now more than just making  a fashion statement, it's more about expressing who you are and what you dare to try. 

Having said that, Caronia pushes the ideal further by fusing the dazzling beauty of color with the intensity of sound to come up with a campaign that presents women with the infinite number of possibilities with which they can creatively express themselves.

In the event that I attended last June 26, 2013 at the Hexagon Lounge in RCBC, Makati, I was quite amazed on how one's inclination to a certain color matches to a type of music genre.

Caronia, a nail polish brand that caters to modern and savvy Filipinas, believes that color’s potential goes beyond personal identification. Color, given its imaginative and inspirational attributes, can actually move the world in a number of ways.
There are colors for every musically-acquainted girl.  Check out these light and glitzy, rainbow-y colors from the POP music Category.

“As a pioneering and time-tested nail care brand of the hip and trendy, we believe that color’s timeless and universal appeal can be a great way to empower women to be confident enough to share their passions, carve their own path, and eventually change the world, by channeling creativity in expressing their true self,” shares Olive Soria, Caronia Brand Manager

For the fiery, fearless and dark-inspired colors of the ROCK category!  Ready to take the world with candid and valor, then all-ready for a party after.

Or how about  contemporary, all-day wear but still with character?  Then, go ALTERNATIVE!

In the said campaign entitled The Sound of Color, Caronia highlights its nail polish collection, which has over 72 bright and trendy shades as tools that can allow women to embody the dynamism of the different genres of modern sound. From the funky to the classic, the energetic to the serene, the harmonic to the edgy and loud, Caronia believes that the blend of these two timeless facets of self-expression-color and sound-are instrumental in inspiring women to share their passion to the world.

"Care to guess what music category I was at?"

This was to kick off the campaign, as Caronia had launched the Caronia Jingle Contest, a search for the best and most talented local act who used their own sound to bring the artistry of the Caronia Jingle to brand new heights. This contest asks people to perform their own rendition of the Caronia jingle, with emphasis on how original and creative their entry is.

If you know anyone from a band or who loves singing and playing some instruments, have them join.

They need to create a unique version of the "I LOVE CARONIA" jingle using any music genre, Caronia will be giving out a whopping cash price of P70,000 cash!

The campaign culminates with The Sound of Color Music Festival, a 4-hour musical extravaganza to be held this November at the Sky Dome, SM North EDSA, featuring electrifying performances from an exciting line-up of some of the best acts from the local music scene today. Part of the set are finalists from the Caronia Jingle Contest, with the festival serving as the grand finals for the jingle contestants.

“A rhythmic revelry of dazzling proportions, the festival will serve as a testament to the ability of color and sound to bring people together in celebration of creativity and self-expression,” shares Olive Soria. 


Caronia’s new campaign is set to prove how important it is for an individual to have the confidence to make a difference in the world, starting with the freedom to express yourself with pride and show people who you really are. “That way, women will understand their true potential, making them understand that they really are born to make a difference, in whatever shade they want to shine,” ends Olive Soria.

After all, the essence of art is expressing oneself.


For the contest entries, go to their

 Facebook Page: CaroniaPhilippines

Mercato Centrale is Coming to MOA, It's Fiesta Bahia

         

       I've been blogging about food tourism for years already.   You see, aside from the country's well-known diverse natural and man-made attractions, the Philippine food remain one of the country's best -kept secret which is relatively unknown in many parts of the world.  However, the popularity had been slowly gained through Filipino bloggers situated all over the world, one example is the Kulinarya Cooking Club, which I happen to be a part of.  

     Talking about food tourism, many organizations have been promoting it and have been quite successful with their campaign.   Just last year, the Department of Tourism and the 114th Independence Day celebration Inter-agency Committee have partnered with the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) for the “Kulinarya Kalayaan Festival,” which high-lighted Filipino cuisine and those that our very own National hero, Jose Rizal's favorite.

       This time around, we will get to experience a different take on Food Tourism as Mercato Centrale group, the organizers of Metro Manila’s premier night food and lifestyle markets, brings a new ‘food destination’ experience to the SM Mall of Asia By the Bay with Fiesta Bahia!

       Dubbed as  ‘the food tourism’ market, Fiesta Bahia will be open to the public during weekends, that's – every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting July 12 (Friday) from 4pm to 3am.

      The Mercato group have pinned their night food markets at  Eastwood, Trinoma, The Fort and just recently at Pampanga (Cocina Centrale), so why at Mall of Asia this time?

      Did you know that one of top tourist destinations in Manila is the SM Mall of Asia (MOA)? And what’s one of the best ways to welcome foreign guests to one of Manila’s top tourist destinations?  By sharing with them a variety of great-tasting dishes from different parts of the Philippines!  
        
          “In an interview with Today Show food blog, Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmen predicted that Filipino will be the next big thing.  Chef and culinary expert Anthony Bourdain of “No Reservations” also shared in his blog on the Travel Channel website that he enjoyed sisig and Cebu lechon during his visit to the country.” said Anton Diaz, co-founder of Mercato Centrale and the popular food and travel blogger behind www.OurAwesomePlanet.com.

          “As our tourism industry continues to boom, I’m sure many foreigners, balikbayans and even locals would like to sample the richness of our Filipino cuisine. That’s what Fiesta Bahia is all about – a food market where you can enjoy popular dishes from the different regions all in one place!” Anton added.  “Aside from that, they can enjoy the popular gourmet and artisanal food from our suki Mercato Centrale vendors.”

          “Our location along SM By the Bay is also a great place to bring tourists, friends and family!” shared Vanessa Ledesma, co-organizer of Fiesta Bahia. “They can take in the beauty of the Manila Bay shoreline, enjoy the weekend fireworks, and listen to live acoustic music while enjoying a great salo-salo meal.”

          “We’re actively looking for food entrepreneurs who specialize in provincial cuisines from all around the Philippines.” Said Rache Diaz, co-organizer of Fiesta Bahia. “If you’ve got a great homemade dish from your hometown, we would love for you to share a taste of your own local culture with foodies from around Manila and the rest of the world!”

          For interested food vendors who want to join Fiesta Bahia, 

please contact (+63 917) 840-1152 or (+632) 812-0102 

or admin@mercatocentrale.ph. 

They are prioritizing vendors who specialize in 

regional/provincial food. 

The more unique, the better! 

Visit their FACEBOOK page HERE

In Tune for Education!

Red Ribbon, Apl.de.Ap Foundation and Franklin Baker launched the newest treat to help increase access to education in the Philippines

   It was such a glorious occasion seeing two of my favorites join hands to pull off some sweet harmony while aiming to help less privileged students in far-reached areas in our countries.   Like Apl.de.Ap, Red Ribbon and a strong name in the food industry in our country, Franklin Baker, I also have a soft spot for education specially it's primordial importance in building our nation.  

   It was inspiring hearing from Apl.de.Ap himself  his stories as a child going to school.  He sees to it that he gives back with what education did, bringing him to where he is right now, with a special mention on learning the English language.

   Allan Pineda, more popularly known as Apl.de.Ap of the world-famous, Grammy Award-winning pop group The Black Eyed Peas, is a Filipino-American rapper, record producer, and drummer, born at 

 Angeles City, Pampanga.  His mother is a Filipino and  his father is an African-American. 

   apl.de.ap moved to the United States at age 14 to start a new life, but he never forgot about the Philippines. After making it big with The Black Eyed Peas, he founded the Apl.de.Ap Foundation, a charitable organization committed to improving the quality of life of children in the Philippines through education, technology, and of course, music. 

   Last July 4, 2013, the three big names, in music and entertainment, food and baking formed a forge of strong and inspiring goal at Teatrino Music Hall at Greenhills, as they launched " Red Ribbon Macaroons for a Cause." 

   It was undeniable that more and more Filipino children are deprived of  a better life because access to good education is limited.  Though DepEd had marked developments when comes to answering every students' needs, one that is so distinct is lack of classrooms in public schools.

   MACAROONS FOR A CAUSE is Red Ribbon's newest offering that lets you create more sweet moments with your family and friends, just like what they have brought us through out the years.  According to Zinnia Rivera, GEn. Manager of REd Ribbon, "With each pack you buy, you'll be giving our youth a better future through the gift of education,."

   "As we celebrate 90 years in the Philippines, this is our way of thanking the country and sharing the natural goodness of Franklin Baker Company's ingredients.  The coconut taste and quality that will be experienced in Red Ribbon Macaroons for a Cause is the same gold standard that Franklin Baker delivers to it's food customers in the US," as Sharon Chandran, Chairperson of the Franklin Baker Company.

   To be a part of this campaign and plea, we only need to buy a pack or more of Red Ribbon Macarrons for a Cause for only P50.  Eack pack contains 10 pieces of coconut goodness in creamy perfection.  For each pack sold 14 % of it, that's P7 will go directlty to the Apl.de Ap  foundation to help build public high school classrooms.

   Zamboanga is one of the provinces chosen to benefit  from the project's pilot school with over 600 students.

Magnum Opus: Where Fine Coffees are Great Works

   Just last night, I said to myself, "I had to stop and smell the coffee!"  How long has it been since I last blogged about a coffee shop.   You know what I mean, not those places that serve bittersweet concoctions of imperialism.  Places like every coffeephiles would love to hang out at.  Where the pure joy of sniffing the invigorating and sensual aroma of some of the best coffee brews around the world  is not an addiction but a relishing of the soul.
   Finally, I got the coffee break I have long desired.
   Sure, "backlogs" is a passe in my world or let's reword it as procrastination, or is it?
   But not a care for now, for I am just as giddy as my husband to share an experience we both have loved.   It's been days that I happen to be seeing posts from FB friends about some new coffee shops or blends that had not been explored by many.   

   I was at the Advo Cafe just last week and I am adamant of telling the story behind that coffee shop yet.   I guess I needed to try more of their coffee choices.   But do check us once in awhile, I might blog about their advocacy though, yep, you heard it right.  Advo is short of advocacy.

   So let me begin with a late trip to the foodie capital of the South-Aguirre St, at B.F. Homes Paranaque.
   Bhogs and I left the kids furtively an hour after dinner to locate Magnum Opus Fine Coffee Gallery.  Coffee for us is like brandy, and instead of sneaking out to bars, we try and look for a cozy, away from the crowd non-commercialized  coffeehouses.

  Just like this saying...
    "Coffee falls into the stomach … ideas begin to move, things remembered arrive at full gallop … the shafts of wit start up like sharp-shooters, similies arise, the paper is covered with ink …" (by Honoré de Balzac)
  Coffee for many had served as an elixir, to kick start a good write up or a challenging project.   That's how I see also why coffee break is a must.
   For me, conversations are more appealing when there is coffee involved.  Depressing stories turn out to be positive somehow.   I'm not sure if the aroma of the coffee does the thing, but what I'm sure of, is the seeming comfort of drinking a good cup of hot coffee, fresh from the grind, just clouds away the troubles.

   And finding Magnum Opus Fine Coffee Gallery just elevated our inkling to distinctive coffee even more.

   The name suggests greatness, don't you think?  It actually is Latin for "great work."   I actually first saw it in Paulo Coelho's novel, The Alchemist.  Just as Paulo Coelho described it in novel, each one of us has a great work to accomplish in this lifetime.  That is why it did give a ring to my ear and just made me want to see what they are offering.
   So, let me just go on with what we had that evening.

   My long overdue dessert,  Belgian Heartbreaker.  The crowd-pleaser of Magnum Opus did apparently won me over.  A sweetheart in it's own right is a glass of smooth combined elements that is sweet, pleasantly-bitterish, tad milky and chocolatey.  First sip and I was instantaneously brought to drinkers paradiso.  It's Jonathan's version of cafe mocha only way better with Belgian chocolate mixed in it.  The consistency is like that of my lola's good ol' "tsokolate" from pure cacao beans.  But what made this more of a coffee concoction than a caffeine-spiked hot chocolate, is the double ristretto pulled into it.  
   "Duh! Ristretto?"  
   Ristretto is a shot of espresso, wherein the coffee beans are ground finer than usual but quiker.  With less water involved in the pull,  the resultant shot is bolder, fuller, with more body and less bitterness.

    Just look at this cup of cheerfulness.  This is my buddy's Cappuccino.  With the ratio of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, 1/3 foamed milk, and an ample part of coffee-making passion.  

   Also, I had to tell you how the barista slash owner of the joint explained to us some nitty-gritty of the preparation.  Jonathan speaks boldly of the Single Origin Ethiopian Sidamo, with its fruity complexity, and aroma that was just exhilarating.

   That's what I call a whole latte love, get it?

   Normally the shot of espresso is doubled (in Italy, like what my father would love having , they call it doppio) on their menu, but since it was late already I opted for them to lessen the shot.  Surprisingly, the coffee (taste-segregating the milk) is delicate with hints of toffee or butterscotch candy.  I had one sip of it from his cup, and I remembered biting a chocolate my aunt would bring us from Saudi Arabia, the taste resembled an orangy-chocolate hint on the side of a full-bodied premium coffee flavor.  Maybe that would suggest the flavor of an Ethiopian coffee.

   At first you would really get intimidated, as if you never chanced on pure coffee education.  So coming here is like being on a laboratory and gallery (of different coffees from different corners of the world) at the same time.

   The menu is very straight-forward, your choice of coffee and something scrumptious to pair it with.  You can have a cookie or two, an open faced sandwich or the Monte Cristo.  It's a French toast amped with Farmers Ham, Cheddar Barre, powdered sugar and topped with Cherry Jam.  I love the cross taste of the mild ham and cheese with the tart and sweet jam.  Something I never tried at home, which I will from now on.

   Just as we are about to end a night of pure coffee pleasure, Jonathan Choi invited us to have a taste test of another distinct coffee type, the exotic Sumatra coffee.  

   Sir was so gracious enough to let us observe how it was usually prepared.  You say it's just coffee, well, let me tell you, it's rather complex than that.  There is the issue of fresh grinding, temp control, good drip coffee materials, and timing.

Seems like a booze from a bar?  Nope, it's a shot of pour-over Sumatra coffee.

   Want something familiar but deliciously complex? The Sumatra coffee  is a full-bodied coffee with notes of blackberry, citrus, and a syrupy licorice sweet finish.  

   If you think we were just impressed, wait till we get back and tell you more of their concoctions.   They open up at 10:30 am  and conclude a work day at 11:00 pm.



Magnum Opus Coffee Gallery

Address:  115 Aguirre Avenue BF Homes, Parañaque
Contact Numbers:  0939 920 0701
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagnumOpusFineCoffees

Black Canyon Coffee Restaurant Opens at Tuscany, McKinley Hill

I'm just as excited as everyone else as we await to see the final glory of McKinley Hill for its jaw-dropping, rendition of Venice.  More and more villas have sprouted under the construction of Megaworld Inc.  I hope you had at least one experience from one of the most glamorous plaza in Taguig, in Manila even, The Piazza, Italian for plaza have been housing top-notched restaurants and cafes and have hosted exciting events through the years.  Now, just a few steps away form Piazza.  is Tuscany.
The villas and apartments in McKinley Hills is designed after the customary building of Italy, where the facade, ground floor area is dedicated for commercial spaces while the floors above it are for residential renters.
A few weeks ago, June 15 to be exact, I was one of those media person who got to witness the opening of one of the first shops in Tuscany, the Black Canyon Coffee Restaurant.

Black Canyon Coffee Restaurant (BCC), is Thailand’s largest chain of coffee houses, with Tuscany as their second branch.

The event was graced by, Mr. Pravit Chitnarapong, Founder and CEO of Black Canyon Thailand Co., Ltd.
Everyone, including me loved the signature product Black Canyon Iced Coffee which made the restaurant well known, and some other top main dishes such as  BCC Pad Thai, one of top ten dishes in Thailand and Tom Yum Goong.


Other drinks being offered were tea, smoothies, chocolate and fruit juices. Unique fusion dishes like Sesame-crusted fish, Ceasar salad, Chicken with cashew nut were also served.

The relaxing ambiance and casual but classy interior design of the restaurant caters to a wide range of customers. The Mediterranean atmosphere of Tuscany all the more compliments the rustic appeal of the place.

Black Canyon Coffee is of highest quality with the best aroma and taste made from 100% fresh Arabica coffee beans most of which are grown in the farms of the Royal Kingdom of Thailand.

The restaurant received various awards in Thailand such as:
- 2011/2010/2009  National Thailand Barista Championship
- 2011/ 2009/ 2007/ 2006 Thailand Latte Art Championship
-  2011/ 2010 Thailand TOM YUM Championship
-  2010 First Runner Up – Pasta Thailand Championship
-  2009 World PAD THAI Championship
-  2008 First Runner Up – Green Curry  Thailand  Championship

BCC successfully opened its first branch last year at SM Southmall, Las Pinas. It has more than 200 branches all around Thailand and has 40 international branches in Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China and Laos.

For more details about Black Canyon Coffee Restaurant visit their website http://www.blackcanyoncoffee.com.ph