An invite to Selamat Menikmati, An Indonesian Buffet at Diamond Hotel

Diamond Hotel is inviting everyone to enjoy A Culinary Journey of Indonesia’s Best.

Selamat Menikmati

Corniche Lunch and Dinner Buffet

August 16 – 28, 2011

Php1588 nett per person

Enjoy the authentic Indonesian foodie festival and get a chance to win a trip for two to Jakarta, Indonesia via Cebu Pacific Air! For reservations,  call them at 528-3000.

Corniche at Diamond Hotel

Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos St. Manila
Contact No.: (632)528-3000 local 1121
Website: www.diamondhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/diamondhotelphilippines
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DiamondHotelPh

Yummy Magazine Cooking Demo

Last week I was invited by Summit Media to attend Yummy Magazine’s Cooking Demo which showcases Asian-inspired dishes sponsored by Knorr.  The cooking demo happened last Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Robinson’s Galleria Supermarket led by Knorr Chef Tristan Encarnacion and Yummy’s very own, Chef Angelo Comsti. 

Chef Tristan, DJ Ingrid, and Chef Angelo

The event which was hosted by DJ Ingrid Nieto of Mellow 94.7 was very interactive, as the participants were encouraged to throw in some questions while the chefs do the works.  Cooking equipments were provided by Fujidenzo and Masflex by Maxim.

Chef Angelo Comsti

Chef Tristan Encarnacion

Six dishes was showcased, two of which was prepared by Chef Angelo Comsti and can be found at Yummy Magazine’s August 2011 issue. The other four was done by Chef Tristan Encarnacion using Knorr products.

These are just some of the food the chefs presented.

Fresh Chicken Rolls

Crispy Laing Pockets

Chicharon Rice

Pork Adobo sa Gata

Clay Pot Chicken and Rice

All of the dishes presented were not just easy to make but savory as well.  I am one of those who use Knorr products whenever I am cooking, and I am happy to learn new recipes I could try.  Aside from sampling the dishes, registered participants were delighted when exciting prizes were raffled off such as Yummy Magazine’s tote bags and cute aprons, Knorr gift packs, and a frying pan from Masflex.  The fun doesn’t ends there as Yummy gave participants back issues of their Magazine at the end of the program.

It was an afternoon filled with fun, delicious food, surprises, and new recipes, all thanks to Summit Media, Yummy Magazine, and Knorr.

For more information and recipes, visit these websites:

Summit Media Website - www.summitmedia.com.ph

Yummy Magazine Online - www.yummy.ph

Knorr - www.knorr.com/ www.cooklet.ph

Hail Louis XV!!!

No, I am not talking about the Well Beloved King Louis XV of France, but the chocolate crisp, ganache, praline bar named after him, created by Chef Alain Ducasse.  There are only two restaurants in the entire world that serve this heavenly bar:  Alain Ducasse’s 3 star Michelin restaurant in Monte-Carlo, Le Louis XV, and Enderun’s Restaurant 101 here in the Philippines.

Made up of Hazelnut praline meringue, luscious chocolate mousse, and silky smooth chocolate ganache, this bar is one of the meanest chocolate desserts I’ve ever had.  And as if the lusciousness of the entire bar is not enough, three edible gold leaves nestled on top of it, exuding a royally dignified stance yet seductive.  Seducing one to consume the entire bar with such passion.

It reminds me of Ferrero Rocher Chocolate in terms of taste, only sexier, richer, and downright lovelier to the palate.  It is said to be sold at EUR 26 in Monte Carlo, but here, if you have 200+ on your wallet, then you’re on a roll. 

Restaurant 101 is located at Enderun Colleges, 1100 Campus Avenue McKinley Hill, For Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634 Philippines. For inquiries and reservation, you can contact them at (632) 8565000 local 101. You can also visit their website at http://101.enderuncolleges.com

An Invite To Yummy Magazine Cooking Demo

Well hello there foodie friends!  Yummy Magazine will be having a Cooking Demo at Robinsons Supermarket in Robinsons Galleria tomorrow, August 13, 2011 from 3:00pm onwards.

It's time to learn new cooking techniques and recipes from the experts such as Chefs Tristan Encarnacion and Angelo Comsti!

It is yet another delicious treat brought to us by Team Yummy.

See you all there!

Visit Yummy Magazine Website or like their Facebook Page and follow them on Twitter for more info.

Mercato Centrale Foodie Delivery Via City Delivery 87878

If you have been reading my blog, you would have an idea how I consider Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City as my foodie heaven.  Despite the distance, since I am from San Juan City, the driving time was always worth it.  But with the kind of jobs that I juggle at hand, there are some weekends when I still need to attend to my work, therefore missing out the chance to have a leisurely food tripping at Mercato.  Add to that, the rather cranky weather we are experiencing these days.

Good thing Mercato Centrale has partnered with City Delivery and launched Foodie Delivery, which now made it possible for anyone to enjoy the goodness of different foods offered in Mercato right at the comfort of your home. Food delivery indeed is the answer to my dilemma of missing out on my Mercato fix.

City Delivery is not all new to me, since it has saved me a lot of times not only during those days when I don’t have time to cook but also during those times when cravings hit me.  Since City Delivery is a premier multi-restaurant delivery service, whatever food I crave for, they got me covered.

There are two ways to get in touch with them for your food delivery.  You may dial their hotline 87878 or you can just visit their website at www.citydelivery.ph to place your order.  I have tried both but since I spent most of my time in front of my computer, I usually place my order online.  Their website is pretty easy to navigate and a minute or two after placing my orders, a friendly City Delivery contact center agent would call for confirmation of orders.  The flow of the whole process is always fuss free and the delivery time, efficient.

When it’s my first time to try their Foodie Delivery, I got the same superb satisfaction in terms of service and quality of food delivered.

The crispiness of the vegetable inside the Fresh Amoy Lumpia which was obviously newly wrapped and the soft fluffy Ka Pao! filled with Crispy Floss and Chinese Sausage made me wonder if they moved Mercato Centrale here in San Juan or if Spring by Ya Huan was located two blocks away from our home.  Everything was surprisingly fresh!  Not to mention the Hong-Kong Style Egg Tarts that glimmers with a look as if it was freshly baked.

Their delivery efficiency and the way they keep the food fresh until it reaches ones home are just some of the remarkable feat of Foodie Delivery.  That afternoon, I feel as if I’ve been to Mercato. Oh the wonders of Foodie Delivery!

I have a lot of favorites at Mercato Centrale, and I am very grateful that some of these favorites have already partnered with Foodie Delivery.  Now, I can enjoy them at home with just a dial or a click away!

Bale Dutung - Known for their Pan De Bagnet and Lechon Tortilla, Bale Dutung is a popular food destination by Chef Claude Tayag in Pampanga.  With Foodie Delivery, this Mercato Centrale regular can be delivered right at your doorstep.

BALE DUTUNG

Big Bob's Charcoal Grilled Burger - Enjoy charcoal grilled pattied stuffed with mozzarella in front of your television while doing movie marathon with your loved ones.

BIG BOB'S CHARCOAL GRILLED BURGERS

Chuck's Grubberie - Fish and Chips from Chuck's Grubberie never fails to satisfy me, but now, with Foodie Delivery, I can enjoy it at home and perhaps with a bottle of beer or two.

CHUCK'S GRUBBERIE

Homemade Ravioli - Pasta party at home will never be the same again! Wow your guest with Homemade Ravioli's Spinach Cream Ravioli with fresh tomato and salsa delivered fresh right at your doorstep.

HOMEMADE RAVIOLI

Manang's Chicken - tired with the same bucket chicken delivery? Manang's Chicken will give you a whole new chicken experience... at home!

MANANG'S CHICKEN

Merry Moo - Sea Salt Caramel and Earl Grey Tea while lounging at your couch on a lazy weekend, what could be more beautiful than that.

MERRY MOO

Mochiko - now I wouldn't have to go South just to experience the wonders of my favorite Mochiko!

MOCHIKO

Spring by Ha Yuan - Spring's light hearted Asian-inspired nibbles can now be enjoyed at home while having an afternoon tea with your loved ones.

SPRING BY HA YUAN

Smokehouse Sandwiches - I haven't tried this yet in Mercato, but thanks to Foodie Delivery, I can now try their gourmet sandwiches without leaving home.

Keep in mind though that orders during weekdays should be placed in advanced since they are freshly made and delivered from the home kitchen of the Mercato partners.  On the other hand, real time ordering is accommodated during weekends, Mercato Centrale operating hours (9am to 2pm). 

With Mercato Centrale + City Delivery's Foodie Delivery, life for foodies like us becomes more deliciously convenient. Indeed, it is food delivery at its finest!

Mercato Centrale

Address:     8th and 34th Streets

(beside MC Home Depot) Bonifacio Global City, 

1632 Taguig, Philippines

Email: admin@mercatocentrale.ph

Website: http://www.mercatocentrale.ph

Contact Number: +63917 5318949

Operating Hours:

Fri:    10:00 pm    -    3:00 am

Sat:    7:00 am    -    2:00 pm

        10:00 pm    -    3:00 am

Sun:    7:00 am    -    2:00 pm

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mercatocentrale 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mercatocentrale

City Delivery / Foodie Delivery

Website: http://www.citydelivery.ph

               http://FoodieDelivery.ph

Contact Number: 87878

Facebook Page: City Delivery

                        Foodie Delivery

Baker's Hat at The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt

Its flirtatious sweetness and tangy components in flavor is a marriage meant to caress the palate, leaving a ticklish sensation to the taste buds.  The cold, velvety smooth and creamy texture takes its own sweet time melting as it glides through the tongue, leaving remnants of the glorious toppings to chew on.

Chunks of homemade cheesecake, crunchy flakes of almond clusters, and pieces of berries bleeding of sweet syrup comprise its holy trinity of toppings.  The cheesecake’s flavor compliments the distinct taste of yogurt.  The crunchy flakes of almond clusters provide a break from the constant creamy texture of the yogurt and the cake as it combines.  Pieces of unadulterated berries with its syrup give a refreshing fruity taste to the treat.

That’s the Baker’s Hat Frozen Yogurt and 3 Toppings combination at The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt.

Visit their website at http://www.thewhitehat.com.ph/ to locate the store near you.

Asha Peri's Desserts Gone Raw Workshop at Sugarleaf

Ladies and gentlemen, the beautiful woman on the picture right there is Asha Peri. A Bali-certified raw vegan chef who trained under renowned raw food educator Elaina Love of Pure Joy Planet. She is 37 years old, in person she looks 21 and that makes me feel like I’m 54.

I was invited to cover her workshop “Desserts Gone Raw” held at Sugarleaf in Wilsons St. San Juan last Saturday, and it was a totally different experience compare to other events/workshops I usually cover.

First time I saw Asha, it was her illuminating aura that captures my attention. There’s a light in her that radiates. We learned that aside from her glowing young physique, good health is just few of the benefits she gets from eating raw. That afternoon, she demonstrated how to prepare healthy raw desserts, and everyone listened intently.

Participants, armed with curiosity and thirst for knowledge on raw foods preparation, gathered together as they witness Asha works her wonders in the kitchen. The workshop was very interactive as participants asked questions from time to time while Asha lovingly prepared the desserts. Some of the ingredients that are not familiar to the participants were passed around so that they could taste, smell, or feel the texture of it.

Assisted by the equally beautiful Chin Fernando, who is also into raw foods, they created healthy desserts using healthy ingredients such as fresh fruits, nuts, coconut meat, cacao butter, and more. Some of the desserts prepared were lemon berry cheesecake, fairy magic mango pudding, choco tartlets, fruit crepe and roll ups.

One thing I noticed about the desserts that was presented to us, most of them if not all has a touch of coconut flavor to it. Some say it’s a bit overwhelming, but other seems to like it. I love the Mango Pudding and the Chocolates, and while I appreciate the Lime Berry Cherry Cheesecake, it would not be something I would crave for. The desserts were all familiar to me but in terms of flavor, it’s a whole new dimension I was given a chance to explore that afternoon.

Asha’s talk at the latter part of the workshop was my favorite as she shared her some of her experiences and thoughts being an advocate of raw food. It’s like tapping into a new world, inspiring enough for me to explore this uncharted territory of learning experiences.

Asha has series of workshops for the entire year you might be interested to participate. Here are some of them:

August 20-21 - THE LIGHTER SIDE OF RAW: SAD BECOMES HAPPY (Standard American diet becoming light and happy food)

September 3-4 - THE LIGHTER SIDE OF RAW: QI AND CHI ENERGY FOOD (Japanese and Chinese-inspired)

These workshops will be held at Creative Space Bldg., A. Mabini corner Dr. Pilapil St., Kapasigan, Pasig City. To register please call 9160391 / 09178611212.

For more details and information about Asha Peri’s workshop, you can visit Asha’s Dahon Kusina Facebook Page here.

The workshop is in cooperation with Sugarleaf Food That Nourish. You can visit Sugarleaf at G/F Health Cube Bldg. 226 Wilson St., San Juan or you can check their website at www.sugarleafph.com

*photo credits to Eichel Alfonso

Nourishing Foods at Sugarleaf

Upon entering this quaint little restaurant called Sugarleaf along Wilsons Street in San Juan, its charming ambiance welcomes me in such a way that every corner silently echoes an embracing imaginary voice telling me “come, our foods here will nourish you.” 

True to those words, Sugarleaf is a one-stop shop of healthy food items that nourish.  I’ve met one of their owners, Angelo Songco during my visit at Greenhills Sunday Market and I was in a way introduced to what products do they carry.  But it was only the other night that I was able to visit and dine at Sugarleaf.

I was half expecting that it’ll be just a light dinner due to my pre-conceived notion about healthy food.  I even planned to drop by Everything At Steak after the supposedly light dinner at Sugarleaf but little did I know, I was up for one of the most satisfying dinner without the guilt.


Homemade Fettuccini with Organic Pesto and Mango

I love how the texture of the homemade fettuccini cradles my tongue while the lingering distinctive taste of pesto that blends perfectly with the sweetness of the mango flirtingly tickle my palate.  Every bite screams freshness which reminded me of comforting memories of summer. 




Free-Range Chicken Wraps

Free-range chicken with herbs and creamy Dijon mustard, organic lettuce and cucumber, Goody Kefir dressing wrapped in whole wheat tortilla.  The sound of the crunchy lettuce and cucumber as I bite into it was music to my ears and a treat to my palate.  The combination of chicken, herb, mustard, and the dressing was very flavorful but not overwhelming.




Potato and Cheese Soup

Chunks of potato lavishly swimming on a thick soup hinting of herbs and creamy cheese.  To say that it was a hearty soup is an understatement.  Every spoonful nourishes not just the body but the soul as well.





Non-Dairy Ice Cream

If you love fruits you can never go wrong with this treat.  Flavors of fruits will burst into your mouth in every spoonful, only to be tempered by the creamy component of it.  This is not for the faint hearted as the mixture of fruits is very flavorful as compare to the usual fruit flavored ice cream. 

The restaurant exudes homey ambiance.  It can only housed roughly 30 dinners because of limited space, but that is where the charm lies; the place is cute and charming.  Customers have full view of the mini kitchen where the healthy foods were lovingly prepared.  While waiting for your orders to arrive, you can check out some the healthy food products they sell displayed on every corners of the restaurant for easy access.






Aside from the healthy and delicious food, Sugarleaf which focus on a mission to provide “foods that nourish” also features a mini-mart of healthy picks that carries locally-sourced organic produce from LaTOP (La Trinidad Organic Practitioners) Multi-purpose farmers.  LaTop has the stamp of approval from OCCP (Organic Certification Council of the Philippines) which guarantees that the produce is all organic.

Sugarleaf conducts different seminars and workshops from time to time, and everyone is welcome to partake in those events.  You can check out the events schedules on their website, www.sugarleafph.com.



My experience at Sugarleaf was downright simple but unforgettable.  It reminds me of the fact that healthy food can be enjoyed and savored, of course, without the guilt.  





Sugarleaf Food That Nourish is located at the G/F Health Cube Building, 226 Wilson Street, West Greenhills in San Juan (between Kink Cakes and BDO).  Tel 385 0387.  Open Mondays to Saturdays 8am to 10pm and Sundays from 8am to 2pm. Email: angelo@sugarleafph.com, gina@sugarleafph.com Follow them on Twitter @sugarleafph and like them on Facebook Sugarleaf Food That Nourish.