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.

Pizza Hut's New Hand Stretched Pizza and Pizza Crust Glaze #StretchPa

Pizza Hut, one of the leading pizza fast food chain in the Philippines introduces its new spin on their well-loved pizza, the New Pizza Hut Hand Stretched Pizza alongside the new Pizza Crust Innovation. Pizza Hut lovers like myself can now enjoy a thinner and lighter pizza crust filled with flavors brought about by the crust glaze coating the edge.

In a nutshell, Pizza Hut Hand Stretched Pizza sits somewhere in between their usual pan pizza and thin crust pizza. Lighter but heftier at the same time. What makes it all the more delicious is the crust glaze that adds texture and flavor for full blown pizza enjoyment.

 

This Pizza Hut's New Hand Stretched Pizza can be had if you avail of Pizza Hut's Hot Deals Promo that entitles you to buy (2) family size pizza for only Php499. Should you avail it through Pizza Hut Delivery service, there is no delivery charge. 

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. 

Jollibee Glazed Chickenjoy #Extraordinarylicious

Have you tried Jollibee's new product Glazed Chickenjoy yet? I have, just this afternoon. And I tell you, I find it amazing. Maybe because it made use of the usual crispylicious and juicylicious Jollibee Chickenjoy and just generously glazed it with this amazing sauce akin to honey. Or maybe because I am a sucker for sweet and savory combination in my food.

Whatever the reason is, I am glad that Jollibee released their Glazed Chickenjoy just in time for the sweetest time of the year. 

I have always been a fan of Jollibee Chickenjoy. Ask me about my comfort food and this proudly Pinoy spin on the well-loved fried chicken is always on my list. I grew up loving it and I don't intend to outgrow my affinity for it. Now that they throw in an exciting twist to this classic, with flavor combination that I adore, it made me love it all the more.

The Good Juice PH: My Detox Experience

I have to admit, prior to deciding on writing about The Good Juice PH, I was under the notion that as a food blogger, I may not be the right fit to share my thoughts on it. What does a food blogger who spend most of her waking time trying different food – fatty or not – has to do with juicing healthy drinks meant for detoxification?

Then I figured, that is exactly the point.

Of all the people who should be doing detox from time to time, us food enthusiasts should be it.

We expose our system to varieties of edible things we could take – out of curiosity and sheer pleasure of eating. And admittedly, sometimes, we can get overboard. Hence, detoxifying every now and then make sense.  So what does a fatty food blogger like me has to say about the benefits of detox juice? Trust me on this, a lot.

RiCo Corn Rice: Healthy Alternative to Rice

I am not in a special kind of diet or something but healthy alternative to food I usually enjoy is always welcome to my pantry. When cool peeps from Nuffnang Philippines shared to me a package of RiCo Corn Rice, a product recently introduced to market as a healthy alternative to rice, I was elated.

In our household, corns are aplenty especially when it is in season. If you live somewhere far from the city like I do, chances are, you would understand the romantic notion of planting and growing your own food. Corn is one of those crops I grew up enjoying. Substituting rice in favor of corn is not really a problem for me although I am a big rice eater. So I figured, corn molded into a rice form is something I could enjoy.

RiCo Corn Rice, a product of La Filipina, holds the promise of health benefits compared to rice. It is said that corn rice is low in glycemic index which is good for diabetics and pre-diabetic people, it is also gluten free and trans fat free, and it has no cholesterol which makes it good for the heart. Aside from that, rice corn is also said to be packed with iron, lutein, vitamin a, b-vitamins, amino acids, beta-carotene, calcium, folate, and fiber.

McDonald's Coke Modern Glass Collection 2014: Classy, Stylish, and Fun

Recently, kind people from McDonald's Philippines and EON sent me this McDonald's Coca-Cola 2014 Modern Glass Collection coupled with some good news about it. I am one of those who collects the iconic McDonald's and Coke glasses memorabilia and I am guessing some of you are too. So, this news really got me excited most especially when I saw that this years' iconic glasses are sporting contemporary design in sophisticated hue of light gray.

The strong partnership between McDonald's and Coca-Cola has once again sealed through the introduction of the modern glass collection this year. This tradition between the two big brands has already spanned for seven wonderful years and still counting.

The package I got came in a big box that housed the six design variants of the glass collection. Although I believe that the box is for media promotional purposes only, diners can be assured that the glass/glasses they will be availing at McDonald's will be encased in its usual paper casing just like the previous collections made available commercially.

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.

Bhe'st Lasagna, It's Nice to Finally Meet You.

Lately I have been talking about Bhe'st Lasagna, one of the best lasagnas I have tried here in Manila. One reason is that with the Christmas season unfolding before us, I deem it can be the best option for an edible gift and potluck share during parties. 

Another reason is that Bhe'st Lasagna and I, we kinda have a history together. Well, sort of.

Before diving ahead on the story telling, let me just give credit where it is due. I was not in Manila when the awesome package from Bhe'st Lasagna arrived home, so I had my sister took these photos for me. Merci beaucoup!

Going back to the story, to the day I almost met Bhe'st Lasagna for the first time. Almost, being the operative word, we never crossed path the day we intended to. But as with all things in life, if it is destiny, ways will unfold itself no matter what. 

OKF Premium Coffee: Caffe Latte, Caffè Mocha, and Caramel Macchiato + a GIVEAWAY

Coffee in can is not something I would usually pass up simply because it is convenient to have anytime, anywhere. I am sure those who loves their coffee but are usually on the go could relate. So when I sampled OKF Premium Coffee Drinks ready-to-drink in can, I knew from the get go that it is something right up my alley.

OKF Premium Coffee Drinks is from the same maker of the Healthy Aloe Vera Juice, a product I have featured here at YedyLicious before. It is available in different variants but what I got to try were the Caramel Macchiato, Caffè Mocha, and the Caffe Latte.

Of course there are plenty other big players in the same league. I have tried quite a few myself and I have some favorites. After having tried OKF Premium Coffee, they immediately went on my list of favorites.Quality of flavor and affordability are some of the things I always take into consideration when dealing with ready-to-drink coffee, these premium coffee from OKF Philippines have that.

Best Food Forward 2014: Come and Join the Most Awaited Benefit Food Fair in Manila!

If you have been reading my blog, you know by now that one of the food fairs in Manila that I have always been supporting is Best Food Forward. Who could ever blame me? It's a benefit food fair, nothing beats the nice feeling of feasting on great food for a cause. That's always been Best Food Forward's goal from the get go, so, I am all for it. Now the good news is they are back this year, celebrating their 4th year in making food enthusiasts in Manila happy and helping our fellow countrymen in need while in the process.

This coming October 11 to 12, 2014, from 10am to 8pm, The Most Awaited Benefit Food Fair, Best Food Forward will be staging their two-day food fair event at The Rockwell Tent in Makati, City. Since there have been a lot of flood victims in the past year up to now, Best Food Forward beneficiaries will be the flood victims and survivors.

I remember the very first time I attended Best Food Forward way back in 2011 with some of my friends. It was one of those days when I have met the most talented home bakers and food business owners which up to now I still look up to. I also remember enjoying every minute of it since I was exposed to a lot of new food finds which ended up as my favorites up to this day. Now that Best Food Forward is on its fourth year, I know that there are a lot of great things to expect.

Make Life Sweeter with Villa del Conte Chocolates

So, I’ve got an exciting news from Villa del Conte Chocolates specifically for chocolate lovers out there who are about to tie the knot. I have written about Villa del Conte Cioccolato Subime of Padova Italy here on my blog before and I must say their chocolates are really impressive. That is why I am excited to share this good news with you.

Villa del Conte in partnership with A-Weddings is currently having a contest wherein participants can get a chance to win artisanal chocolate tokens for their wedding. It is a perfect way to welcome your married life with something sweet and downright delicious.

The contest runs from July 18, 2014 to August 18, 2014, and joining is fairly easy. Read on for the mechanics of the contest.  

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.