On National Heroes Day, LG Honors the Injured Liberators of Marawi with a Donation to the AFP Health Service Command

On its 30th anniversary, LG donates air conditioners, washers, TVs and a refrigerator to benefit Marawi soldier casualties and other injured soldiers at the Victoriano Luna Medical Center.

In the spirit of National Heroes Day, LG Electronics reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to providing assistance to the community with a donation-in-kind to the Victoriano Luna Medical Center (VLMC), a government hospital that provides sanctuary and support to injured soldiers, including those who suffered casualties in the Marawi siege.

Taco Shack, A New Place in Tagaytay for Good Tacos and More

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I drove all the way to Tagaytay just to have a little "us time," away from all parenting despondency.  It was the start of the long weekend with a Monday holiday so as expected, there was the horrendous traffic.  With a long weekend on the rise, people seemed to run to Tagaytay for a quick getaway from Manila. 

And well, we were two of those who exactly did it.

We stayed in Kasa Luntian for one night without any plans at all. We left home at 2 Pm and and got there at 5 Pm.  With check in a breeze, we decided to go out and have dinner outside.  To our surprise, it was hard to get seats to the restaurants we visited and parking was worst.  

You may check out these links below, for must-try Tagaytay restaurants and cafes:

Charito by Bag of Beans

Bag of Beans

Buon Giorno

Lime and Basil

Restaurant Verbena

Adding to the list of our favorites is Taco Shack, which is fairly new to us, or maybe we have not visited Tagaytay for quite some time mow.

We decided to dine here as it was easy to locate, just a stone throw away from the rotunda.  It was the only restaurant that had no cars lined up in the parking just in front of the resto, so we just crossed our fingers that the food here is good enough.  From the outside, Taco Shack looks nothing special.  Just another Tex-Mex joint trying to put off a good impression.  What was off to me was the huge menu board placed unpleasantly above the order window.

I mean, they could do way better, like putting to use better photos and nicely printed fonts, it however helped us to order.  Let me also add to that, the menu was cheaply made.

Talking about the menu, it's a mix of Tex-Mex, Filipino and Asian dishes.

Ordered the Sizzling Sisig (photo above) over the Lengua for the husband and had Mexican Beef Taco.

Was so excited about this beautiful bowl of Mexican Beef Nacho.

I was impressed by the serving size as equated to it's super affordable price of P 72.00.  I mean, how can you go wrong with the perfectly cooked crispy nacho bowl, nesting huge servings of Mexican Chili with loads of lettuce and tortilla chips all blanketed with a velvety melted mild cheese.

I love the flavor of the chili, btw, fancy enough for my palate and serving can be good for two persons.

Another gorgeous item on their menu is their Pizzadilla, a portmanteau of pizza and quesadilla.  It's thin enough to be the thinnest pizza with a punch.  I mean, i't heavy on the stomach and full of cheesy and buttery flavor, with a hint of garlic. Perfect for beer (I guess) or wine!

You have to eat it hot as it's a bit chewy when gotten cold.

I mean, I'd  go for this any day over chips! 

If asked if  I'd still go back here, I'd say YES!

The service is ok, the food didn't take that long to serve, fall short on ambiance though. Would love to try some other stuff and their Shabu-Shabu.  I heard this place also has a commanding view of the famous Taal Lake and Volcano over at the rooftop.  

TACO SHACK
Address: 2 Unit E
                Tagaytay-Calamba Rd., 
                Tagaytay City

Kasa Luntian, A Tagaytay Respite

These days, the pleasure of family time is one of the most treasured aspects of my life. Unfortunately, for many, even those with close family bonds,  such intimate moments are becoming fewer and farther in between.  With two adult kids, two teens, I can't seem to plan out perfectly a vacation to bond with all of them without ruining each one's vibe.  I'm sure, if your a mom who have teens or adult kids might be able to relate.

Last summer vacation, I realized that I had a lot of blogging projects and I wasn't able to plan my kids' vacation well for them.  So, to compliment that I depended on Deal Grocer's budget friendly vacation promos, and to be more honest, I was actually lured by the website and it's been a while since we had to stay in Tagaytay.

Dine in Ultimate Sophistication as Newport Mall Launches PH’s 1st Truffle Festival at Resorts World Manila

During my visit to Milan and some towns in the Tuscany region, I made sure to stuff myself with all the truffle dishes I could get my hands with, and I also took home loads truffle infused butter and oil. In fact, I bought Italian foods more than any other things.

Read my Italian exploration at the link below.

Gastronomybyjoy in Italy

In keeping up with my new-found love for truffle, I'm sharing with you this news where you too can enjoy truffle without even buying an plane ticket to Italy.  Enjoy truffle heaven at Resorts World Manila.

AGREA Hosts Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Forum (LEAF) 2018

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings,” as said by Masanobu Fukuoka, a wise Japanese farmer and philosopher, who believed in and advocated natural farming and re-vegetation.

In the face of climate change and rising populations, most would consider agriculture a “one-way ticket to poverty.” Yet with new technologies and curious mindsets, professionals from all disciplines are stepping up to the challenge of food security in the 21st century. In Asia and the U.S., farmers are increasingly using drones for crop monitoring. Meanwhile, city residents from Bangkok to New York have developed urban gardens. Viewing agriculture as a field with abundant possibilities on and off the farm, these emerging leaders are expressing loud and clear: the future of farming is now.

Recipe: Parmesan Cheese Muffin

For those who know me or have been reading my blog, you may know how I do things with some recipes.  Of course, I stick to some of them, but more likely than not, I'll be altering some of the ingredients.  Just like how I played with my mother's baking ingredients when I was just a kid.

So, allow me to add another experiment, which was successfully yummy, btw. 

How Pizza Grigliata Emerged Like Other Unicorn Brands?

What I really love about a food business, not just their food of course, is the story that makes up the brand, something that can connect to the consumers, thereby meeting their needs. I'll try my best to state some marketing facts in this article without being too deliberate, as I myself is still beguiled by the current state of our food industry, even as a business owner myself.

Learning From Unicorns

Let me ask you something, have you heard of unicorn branding?

I'm sure you know unicorns. They are beloved mythical creatures that look like a horse but dazzlingly adorned with a single horn on his head.  With my recent chat with one of the owners of Pizza Grigliata, Chef Emman Galvez, I've learned that the seeming fantasy creature is now a metaphor in the business world.  It stands as a reference to highly successful start-ups as coined by a US venture capital investor Aileen Lee. 

Sample FREE Premium Wines and Spirits at The Tasting Corner of SM Markets

For a limited time only, you can sample some of the most iconic premium wines and spirits in the world at the Tasting Corner in selected SM Markets.  This innovative new concept is the first of its kind, and a rare experiential opportunity for those who are curious about premium brands to sample these drinks in their “perfect serve”.

Amp Up Your Hotcake-making Skills with #MAYAHotcakeArt and WIN P 20,000 Maya Products

Whether it be breakfast, lunch or meryenda, hotcakes do not fail to bring sheer joy to the family.  Now that making hotcakes is as easy as  1-2-3 with Maya Hotcake Mix, even kids can make it and preparing them can be as much fun as eating them. With a little imagination and a few additional ingredients which you usually have at home, you can quickly transform your typical breakfast staple into art.

Encima Roofdeck Bar

It's not like Mexican or Mexican fusion is all that hard to find in Makati, but Poblacion always make sure you have different places to visit every day.   But my favorite by far is Encima Roofdeck Bar, located atop City Garden Hotel Makati.