Cake Shots PH: Cupcakes Infused with Booze!

Cake Shots PH is a home based food business that specializes in alcohol-laced cupcakes. I cannot count how many cupcake businesses I have come across with here in Manila but I must say that Cake Shots is one of those that piqued my interest from the get go. Not just because  I am appreciative of alcoholic beverages (specifically cocktail drinks) but also because it is such a breath of fresh air to encounter something unique within the boundary of something familiar.

I think I may have mentioned before here on the blog that I am not really big on cupcakes. I guess it has something to do with the fact that we have bunch of people in the family that could bake pretty mean cupcakes that I've already exhausted enough happiness from it to last me a lifetime.

McRib at McDonalds Philippines #McRibCraving Satisfied! @McDo_PH

"So, you haven't tried McRib yet? I believe it's already available at all branches of McDonalds Philippines." Says my McRib-loving friend preceded by that kind of look as one would stare on a gloomy sky where a rainbow has recently been - with such pity and regret.

As a self-confessed pork-loving individual, I understand such frustration. But in fairness to my part, this famed sandwich from Mickey D's has always been elusive. Popping on the menu when I least expect it, then vanishing away in a heartbeat like a rockstar taking a break from the limelight much to the dismay of its cult following.

So yes, I have not tried McRib yet until recently when McDonalds Philippines announced McRib's availability here in our country, although for a limited time only. It's available at all McDo PH branches nationwide except in Cotabato (where majority of people I believe do not eat pork), so no reason to miss the chance to finally try it and enjoy its promised goodness while it last.

Indulgence by Irene's New Cheesecake Flavors

Orange Bourbon, Coffee and Baileys, Matcha, Corn, and Earl Grey are the new cheesecake flavors of Indulgence by Irene. You probably heard about these latest creative spin on Irene's cheesecakes through some of our favorite Manila Food Bloggers, and just like them, I am a fan.

And if it is not obvious enough, let's set the record here and say that I have always been a fan since day one. To this day, their Quezo de Bola Cheesecake still rocks my world, while all the other flavors still makes me giddy like a child in a candy store. Now that Indulgence by Irene released its new line of cheesecake flavors, I expect nothing less.

The previous cheesecake variants of Irene features flavors that are somewhat common but done with distinct flair known for Indulgence by Irene making it familiar yet, different in a good way at the same time. The new creations however features what I would like to think as more mature and sophisticated in a sense.

Green Dot Vegetarian Catering and Healthy Food Home Delivery Service in Manila

There are plenty of healthy food delivery services in Manila where people may order food online but I have seen nothing quite like Green Dot Vegetarian Catering and Healthy Food Delivery Service. Green Dot specializes in vegetarian cuisine, not just on food with low calorie count. Their specialty is Indian food but they also offer other varieties such as Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian Cuisine.

Green Dot started primarily as the only vegetarian catering service in the Philippines and then later on ventured into home food delivery service. Their mission is to provide vegetarian dishes that are both healthy and delicious.

With busy schedule and strong will to still eat freshly prepared healthy food, it is understandable that people resort to this kind of delivery services these days. I, myself, although am not confined in a full time 8-to-5 job still find it hard sometimes to prepare a meal or eat out especially when pressed for time due to some tasks at hand. Indeed, home food delivery is the way to go. 

KFC Philippines Double Down Dog #KFCDoubleDownDog

I was at KFC Antipolo branch the other day to grab some quick snack while doing some errands when I noticed from their menu that they are offering the KFC Double Down Dog. I have heard and seen advertisement of Double Down Dog from TV, Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram for weeks now but with the tag "Limited Offer."  I also heard that only select KFC branches carry this new product. Since I was out-of-town most of the time, I somehow ditched the idea to race against time just to try it. 

But curiosity got the better off me when several friends sent me SMS asking my opinion about the Double Down Dog - theirs are mixed reactions. So, I have checked few KFC provincial branches while on some trips to no avail. Little did I know, I could have this KFC Double Down Dog at the branch near my home.

Just like the KFC Original Double Down, the Double Down Dog variant boasts of KFC's famed fried chicken but in fillet form. Right smack in the middle of the taco-shaped fillet is a piece of regular size Tender Juicy Chick N' Cheese Hotdog topped sloppily with what I think was a sandwich spread. 

No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake by Pellegrino's

The email that proposed an introduction to No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake held an enthusiastic tone I could not ignore. The name Pellegrino's was not mentioned. Instead, the letter suggests the excitement of a home baker eager to hear opinion about her product. Recipes for no bake cheesecake usually call for gelatin which I am not a big fan of, hence the apprehension.

Yet, there was something about the sincerity of the letter that got me. After all, one cannot go wrong with an open mind, so I said yes. Days after, Pellegrino's No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake arrived in our doorstep, hand carried by a charming lady named Abbie, the one who wrote me the email.

Abbie is the better half of Erwin, owners of a food stall called Pellegrino's Roasted Chicken Station located at PhilamLife Tower in Makati. They have been in the business for four years now serving roasted chicken, pork bbq, liempo, best paired with side dishes they also mastered such as baked macaroni, eggplant salad, potato salad, coleslaw, among many others. In the hope of expanding their menu, they opened their door to cheesecake making business.

Jollibee Amazing Aloha Champ is Back! #AmazingAlohaChamp @jollibee

Few days ago I got a news from our friends at Jollibee, one of the leading fast food chains here in our country, about the big come back of Jollibee Amazing Aloha Champ. The word “big” is indeed an apt word since compared to its previous resurfacing in Jollibee’s menu, this time, the amazingness that is Amazing Aloha comes in big size, hence considered a champ burger.

I remember being quite sad when Jollibee Amazing Aloha was re-introduced to the market last year since it is just in a form of regular burger. It was delicious alright, but for something downright enjoyable, you would really want to have it in hefty servings. 

Today, Jolibee Amazing Aloha Champ boasts of a 1/3 pound 100% pure beef patty topped with a juicy pineapple slice, crispy bacon strips, honey mustard dressing, lettuce, and cheese.  As with the usual Jollibee Champ Burger, Amazing Aloha Champ is big enough to satisfy even those who has manly appetite.

Tablea Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene

I saw it coming. Playing the oldest albeit tried and tested trick on the book, chocolate cheesecake is after all a classic. But Indulgence by Irene knows better than to settle for the usual. Hence, Tsokolate Tablea Cheesecake was born and taken under her arsenal of well-loved line of cheesecakes. Opting for the local chocolate variant instead of hyped imported ones, Irene’s penchant for combining ingredients close to the hearts of many Filipino to her cheesecake made her products speak not only of talent but of passion and love.

Indulgence by Irene’s famous Queso de Bola Cheesecake that can rock anyone’s world, the Choc-Nut Cheesecake that tickles the kid in all of us, and the Ube Cheesecake that features a bond between two talented home bakers are all well worth celebrating for. Equally impressive is the Tablea Cheesecake, home baker Irene’s interpretation of the richest thing that resulted from marrying her preferred brand of cream cheese and the traditional Filipino cocoa.

In hindsight backed up with shameless honesty, excitement did not rear its head upon learning of this new variant. Jaded by encounters with various grades of mediocre tablea cheesecakes in the past, I knew I have had enough. So when I was handed this Tablea Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene, it was a shame to admit that I was struggling to fend off the usual impulse to turn away from it. 

Ube Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene

By the time that I am writing this, a lot of my favorite food bloggers in Manila have raved about the Ube Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene. Who could blame these food enthusiasts dubbing this awesome cheesecake as one of the best ube cheesecakes in Manila when in reality, it really is.  

This well-loved Ube Cheesecake is a product of Irene Co's collaboration with equally talented homebaker, Chona Ayson of Homemade Treasures known for delicious ensaymada. Chona is responsible for making the ube jam used for the cheesecake.

I could not count how many times have I raved to my friends how much I love Irene's Quezo de Bola Cheesecake. As a matter of fact, if heaven permits, I would have that for a wedding cake. I am not even kidding. Irene's ChocNut Cheesecake was also notably delightful especially for those who has an affinity for this peanut-chocolate bar of our childhood days. This Ube Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene, is no exception to the fact that Irene Co bakes the best homemade cheesecakes in Manila.

Toasted Pastillas by MAJ Sweet Shoppe

Of all the sweet native Filipino delicacies there is, I would have to say that Pastillas is definitely my favorite. I always admire it for its simplicity and delicately sweet taste. Pastillas recipe usually calls for sugar and milk, and that's it. While you cannot do much about it, you can have it toasted. Just like what MAJ Sweet Shoppe dishes out for their customers; Toasted Pastillas.

It was weeks back when I was given packs of Toasted Pastillas by MAJ Sweet Shoppe to try. Purist may say that pastillas should be delicately soft with just enough resistance to the bite for its sugar-laden outer covering. But then in Bulacan, one of the places I know that take their pastillas seriously, they do have this pastillas "tostado". This is pretty much the same thing.

Gustazo Gourmet: Tuyo Open-Faced Sandwich Recipe and Tinapa Soft Tacos Recipe

Gustazo Gourmet Tuyo Open-Faced Sandwich Recipe and Gustazo Pomodoro Tinapa Soft Tacos Recipe

One of the things that makes a kitchen distinctly Filipino is the unwavering presence of two most well-loved Pinoy delicacies ~ Tuyo and Tinapa. I for one grew up in a household which pantry never ran out of these two. Patriotic treats for some while stable stars on the table for others, Tuyo (Dried Herring) and Tinapa (Smoked Mackerel) are Filipino comfort food that can commensurate to a beautiful nostalgia when eaten.

Tuyo and tinapa are without a doubt always delicious. A poor man’s feast, these two are. And while both of these delicious treats are relatively easy to prepare, Gustazo has made enjoying tuyo and tinapa alongside some of their products all the more convenient through their bottled products.

Started five years ago, Gustazo, which means “pleasure in every bite” aims to provide affordable Filipino gourmet food of premium quality. Having bottled gourmet tuyo as their first product, Gustazo later on introduced other high quality bottled gourmet products. The convenience it proposes has made appreciating these Filipino food possible as it can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. Yes, no cooking required.

Lechon Degustacion at Pepita's Kitchen

If there is one time that I did not mind not having a car with me, it was definitely the night when I attended the Lechon Degustacion at Pepita’s Kitchen with some of my favorite foodies.  Not because of a heavy traffic, not because of oil price hike, and not because I’ve got plans of getting drunk.  Reason was that walking our way out of Magallanes Village paved way to sanity after downing 4 kinds of Pepita’s Stuffed Lechon de Leche plus 11 other dishes.   

Dedet Dela Fuente-Santos of Pepita’s Kitchen opened her home and invited us foodies to experience a wonderful night of great dining experience.  As Manila Boy Spanky Enriquez aptly put it, “one of the best dinners of the year”.  (Thank you so much Spanx, you’re the man!

I was thankful that I listened to Glenn's advice not to bring a car anymore for some reason.  Good thing also that B'ley did not bring hers too.  Little did I know, they already had an idea that after the dinner, we could really use some walking.  They were right.