October 2018 – Page 4 – Jellybeans in the City

Budget-friendly Rice Toppings at Hong Kong Roasting, Tomas Morato

My officemate and I were looking for somewhere to have a quick lunch so we could get on with the rest of our tasks for the day.

After scouring the lunch options at nearby M Place, we decided upon Hong Kong Roasting, attracted by the budget-friendly rice topping options and the assurance of the restaurant manager that the food will be served immediately.

We ordered:

Soy Chicken Rice Topping (Php155).

Cantonese Chicken Rice Topping (Php155).

Both are versions of the Chinese steamed chicken dish, one just features darker skin than the other due to addition of soy sauce. They were accompanied by chili and ginger sauces which we found a bit too mild.

Still, it was a quick, affordable and fuss-free lunch, and another item was added to our group’s lunch options.

This Hong Kong Roasting branch is located at M Place, Panay Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Other branches are located at:

Tower C, Sea Residences, Sunrise Corner Pearl Drive, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 8am to 12:30am)
SM Mezza Residences, Aurora Boulevard Corner Araneta Avenue, Santa Mesa, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 9pm)

Samgyeopsal Promo Offer in Jin Joo Korean Grill, Ortigas

I’ve been hearing a lot about Jin Joo Korean Grill and I’ve been hankering to try it out. When I saw a Metrodeal offer that would allow me to enjoy its Samgyeopsal Grill with unlimited side dishes, normally priced at Php470, at the discounted price of only Php149, I just grabbed it and scheduled my Korean food adventure.

This also gave me a reason to visit the newly renovated The Podium mall in Ortigas Center, wherein Jin Joo is one of the welcome additions to the mall’s gustatory offerings.

Located at the mall’s second floor, its facade first appeared cramped. However, I changed this opinion upon entering: it has a sprawling and well-appointed dining area, comprised mostly of wood elements. Here and there are spots of interest like colorful Asian-themed paintings on the wall, tasteful lighted signages and linesmof soju bottles along another wall.

Each table is equipped with a state-of-the-art grilling stove, allowing diners to cook their meats according to their preference.

Upon assisting me to my window seat, my server Macq immediately laid out side dishes for me to munch on while I wait. These include kimchi (of course!), strips of flat scrambled egg, soy potatoes, crushed dilis, banana slices and assorted veggies.

The pork belly was grilled in the kitchen since grilling at the table requires at least two meat orders. I didn’t mind since I didn’t have to worry about cooking the meat right. 🙂

When Macq finished serving and slicing the grilled pork belly, I dipped tender and juicy slices in the ssamjang and sesame oil provided, then wrapped them in lettuce leaves together with thin slices of garlic and some of the crushed dilis. This resulted to a very tasty mouthful of samgyeopsal.

I took advantage of the unlimited side dishes by asking for refills of the potatoes, egg, and banana slices.

The Metrodeal offer gave a me a fine preview of what to expect at Jin Joo. Some reminders if you’re also availing of the same promo:

Call the branch first to reserve. Walk-ins are usually not accommodated.
Arrive on time as your reservation will only be held for 20 minutes.
You can only use one Metrodeal voucher per visit.

On my next visit, I’m looking forward to trying Jin Joo’s 10 Flavors Unli K-BBQ set priced at Php499/person (add Php50 for dinner).

This Jin Joo Korean Grill branch is located at the Second Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm. For queries and reservations, call +63 917 2555508.

Other branches may be found at:

Fifth Floor, SM Aura Premier, C5 Road Corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel No: + 63 917 2481777)
Eastwood Citywalk 1, Libis, Quezon CIty (open daily from 11am to 12mn | Tel No: + 63 915 2091888)
Ground Floor, South Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel No: + 63 917 2555509)
Ground Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City (opening soon)

Upscale dinner at St. Marc Cafe, UP Town Center

St. Marc Cafe is a Japanese brand of cafe with presence in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, aside from here in the Philippines. The resto’s concept is centered on the promise of providing diners with friendly service and a vibrant environment with which to enjoy their delicious food.

When my daughter #ExhibitA spent a day with her UP friends, we met up for dinner at St. Marc Cafe’s UP Town Center branch.

The cafe has a hip vibe, with a cozy and upscale dining area accented by its avant-garde ceiling lights. The counter also serves as a showcase for the desserts and sweets available, so I found myself considering dessert while I was still looking at my options for our main viands.

To feed a group of four (myself and three young ‘uns), I ordered:

Carbonara (Php300). Pork stock flavored carbonara topped with bacon, parmesan and fresh egg yolk.

Sepia Nero (Php320). Squid ink infused pasta with fresh squid, cream and cherry tomatoes.

Menchi Katsu Burger (Php245). Deep-fried patty of ground beef and pork, with sliced cheddar cheese, fresh shredded cabbage and the resto’s secret sauce, and served with crispy fries.

Original Crotoast (Php180). Homemade French croissant toast served with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with maple syrup.

Who would have thought that these would be enough for me and the kids to dine on?

It was great meal spent getting to know and hanging out with my baby girl’s pals.

What’s even better is that the whole meal actually cost Php1,045 but I had a Php400 discount because of a Metrodeal offer gives Php500 worth of food in this cafe for only Php299 (I bought two vouchers).

This St. Marc Cafe outlet is located at Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 11am. For queries and reservations, call +63 2 6254065.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 5318062)
Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 7518456)
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 6254065)
Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 3721026)
Ground Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila (open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 2421483)
Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa City (open Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 10pm, Saturdays from 10am to 11pm and Sundays from 10am to 11.30pm | Tel No: +63 2 7768548)
One Parkade Building, 7th Avenue Corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 5050245)
Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Charmed reboot to premiere on October 16 on Blue Ant Entertainment

Fans of female-led supernatural TV series will be happy to know that the reboot of the 1990’s TV series “Charmed” will premiere on October 16.

It is a fierce, funny, feminist reboot of the original series that centres on three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches. Between vanquishing supernatural demons, tearing down the patriarchy, and maintaining familial bonds, the sisters discover that a witch’s work is never done.

The reboot stars Melonie Diaz (“Be Kind Rewind”), Madeleine Mantock (“Age Before Beauty”) and Sarah Jeffery (“Shades of Blue”) as the Vera sisters who started exhibiting their powers after the death of their mother. They ultimately accept their destiny as the “Charmed Ones” who protect the innocents by vanquishing demons.

Season One of the reboot premieres on October 16, Tuesday, 9.45pm on Blue Ant Entertainment (SKYcable ch 196 HD | 53 SD).

Show details and image provided by Blue Ant Entertainment.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Taylor Swift to open the 2018 American Music Awards

Taylor Swift is set to have a strong showing in the 2018 American Music Awards. According to Dick Clark Productions, the 19-time AMA winner will open the ceremony with a performance of “I Did Something Bad” from her Reputation album.

Swift is competing with Drake, Imagine Dragons, Post Malone and Ed Sheeran for Artist of the Year; Beyonce and JAY-Z, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran and U2 for Tour of the Year; Camilla Cabello and Cardi B for Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; and Drake and Ed Sheeran for Favorite Album – Pop Rock.

Every year, the American Music Awards celebrates the latest and greatest talents of the contemporary music scene. The award show pays tribute to today’s most influential and iconic artists, and is one of the biggest music shows in the world – seen in more than 160 countries.

American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected in Billboard Magazine and on Billboard.com, including album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, social activity and touring.

The 2018 American Music Awards will air on Blue Ant Entertainment (SKYcable ch 196 HD | ch 53 SD) on October 10, 8am LIVE from the US with an encore telecast at 6.45pm.

Show details and image provided by Blue Ant Entertainment.

HBO anthology series Room 104 returns for a second season on November 10

The anthology series ROOM 104 will return for its 12-episode second season, debuting two episodes back-to-back, same time as the U.S. on Saturday, November 10 at 12.30pm, exclusively on HBO GO and CINEMAX two new episodes will subsequent air every Saturday at the same time.

From creators and executive producers Mark and Jay Duplass, the show is set in a single room of a typical American chain motel and tells a different story of the assorted characters who pass through it in each episode, ranging from comedy to drama to horror.

https://youtu.be/TlR-H49fLw0

Season two actors include: Mahershala Ali, Joel Allen, Stephanie Allynne, Katie Aselton, Frank Birney, Josephine Decker, James Earl, Marlene Forte, Abby Ryder Fortson, Ginger Gonzaga, Judy Greer, Brian Tyree Henry, Anita Kalathara, Anita Kalathara, Tom Lenk, Phil Matarese, Sheaun McKinney, Natalie Morales, Kent Osborne, Zane Pais, Leonora Pitts, Mark Proksch, Pia Shah, Michael Shannon, Onur Tukel, Dolly Wells, Jud Williford, Rainn Wilson, Mary Wiseman, Charlyne Yi and Katya Zamolodchikova.

Season two directors include: Patrick Brice, Josephine Decker, Mark Duplass, Gaby Hoffmann, Liza Johnson, So Yong Kim, Jonah Markowitz, Natalie Morales, Lila Neugebauer, Ross Partridge and Julian Wass.

Season two writers include: Lauren Budd, Josephine Decker, Mark Duplass, Esti Giordani, Liza Johnson, Onur Tukel and Julian Wass.

Season two credits: ROOM 104 was created by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass; executive producers, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Sydney Fleischmann, Mel Eslyn, Xan Aranda; co-executive producer, Ross Partridge; producer, Tyler Romary.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO GO not available in your area? Watch the series on HBO on Amazon Prime. Sign up today for a 7-day free trial.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

A big Italian Family Lunch at New York Slice by Motorino, SM Pasig

Lately, I’ve had little time to spend with my extended family. My parents just moved in to their newly renovated house over the weekend and with all the general hustle and bustle, my mom was not up to cooking the usual Sunday lunch.

I ended up recommending New York Slice by Motorino in SM Hypermarket Pasig as it was very accessible to us and has a sweet Metrodeal offer (more on that later).

It is located along the row of restaurants near the SM Hypermarket’s main entrance facing Tiendesitas. The seating inside the store proper is quite limited but there are extra seats outside the store that can seat larger groups, particularly our party of seven.

I took advantage of a Metro deal offer that entitles me to Php500 worth of food orders at only Php299, with the option to buy and use more than one Metrodeal voucher. With this awesome deal, I admit we went a little crazy with the sheer volume of our orders, which included:

Pizzas

Motorino Special (Php135/slice). Pepperoni, Italian sausage, olives, bell pepper, onions and mushrooms. This was the preferred pizza of Hubby and my brother who wanted their pizzas to have meat and lots of toppings.

Honey & 3-Cheese (Php135/slice). Honey, cream cheese, mozzarella and parmesan. This pizza was for me and my little boy to satisfy our cravings for cheese and something sweet, all in one go.

Veggie Special (Php135/slice). Mushroom, onions, bell pepper, olives, oregano and olive oil. This was the preferred pizza for the older folks, a healthier option than the others.

Pasta

Spaghetti Bolognese (Php169). A classic choice for the party members who are not as adventurous, food-wise.

Alfredo with Bacon (Php169). A meatier take on carbonara but a little to sauce-y for me.

Alfredo with Shrimp (Php189). The preference of my dad who likes seafood.

Creamy Mushroom (Php159). A lighter and more vegetarian option than the other pastas we ordered.

Krunchy Krispy Wings

Garlic Parmesan (Php269/6pcs).

BBQ Glaze (Php439/10pcs).

Both wings are quite tasty and went well with our pizzas and pastas.

Thanks to the Metrodeal vouchers I availed of, I ended up paying only Php2,200+ for Php3,600+ worth of orders.

This New York Slice by Motorino branch is located inside SM Hypermarket, Frontera Verde Drive, Ugong, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, South Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
Rockwell Business Center, Ground Floor, Sheridan Corner United, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 8pm)
Eton Towers Makati, 128 Dela Rosa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City (open Mondays to Fridays 11am to 10pm and Saturdays to Sundays 11am to 9pm)
Ground Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
2A-2 Ground Floor, ATC Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City (open daily from 11am to 10pm)

HBO Original Documentary “Being Serena” to premiere October 29 on HBO and HBO Go

BEING SERENA is a five-part documentary series chronicling tennis icon Serena Williams at a pivotal moment in her personal and professional life. BEING SERENA debuts two episodes back-to-back Monday, 29 October at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time.

BEING SERENA will give viewers unprecedented access to Williams during her pregnancy, new motherhood and marriage, while documenting her journey back to supremacy on the court. Viewers will experience her life from every angle as the intimate first-person show delves into her landmark career, family life and expanding role as a businesswoman and investor in the worlds of tech, fashion, fitness and philanthropy.

https://youtu.be/I6H-EqirSMU

Episodic synopses:

Episode #1 (Premieres Monday, 29 October at 10pm)

Serena Williams discovers she is pregnant before capturing her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open. From there, her world takes a dramatic turn as she puts competitive tennis aside in the months leading up to the birth of her first child.

Episode #2 (Premieres Monday, 29 October at 10.25pm)

Serena Williams gives birth to her daughter after an emergency C-section and reveals in gripping detail the life-threatening complications that followed her delivery. Seven weeks later, she returns to the practice court and slowly begins her comeback

Episode #3 (Premieres Monday, 5 November at 10pm)

Serena Williams marries Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans. She subsequently returns to the tennis court to play an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi and joins the U.S. Fed Cup team in North Carolina.

Episode #4 (Premieres Monday, 5 November at 10.30pm)

Superstar Serena Williams plays in her first tournaments since giving birth to her daughter, continuing to adjust to life as a mother.

Episode #5 (series finale | Premieres Monday, 12 November at 10pm)

With the French Open approaching, Serena Williams’ training intensifies in Europe as she continues to navigate the challenge of balancing tennis and her new family.

Serena Williams, 36, is one of the most dominant forces tennis has ever seen, with 39 Grand Slam titles, four Olympic Gold Medals and the most women’s singles match victories in Grand Slam history. Her supremacy on the court earned her Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year honours in 2015 and made her a four-time winner of the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, first in 2002 and most recently in 2015.

In January 2017, Williams bested her sister Venus in the final match of the Australian Open, marking her seventh time winning that singles event. Four months after her historic victory, Williams revealed that she and her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian, were expecting their first child, confirming that she was eight weeks pregnant when she won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title. On September 1, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Williams and Ohanian wed soon after in a stunning ceremony before family and friends in New Orleans on November 16.

BEING SERENA is executive produced by Mark Shapiro, Michael Antinoro and Will Staeger. For HBO: executive producers Peter Nelson and Rick Bernstein. coordinating producer, Johnson McKelvy; supervising producers, David Chamberlin and Bentley Weiner (HBO); senior producer Peter Rogaris; senior producer/editor Matt O’Connor; producer, Aaron Cohen; director of photography, Peter Franchella; original score by Miles Hankins.

The first two episodes of BEING SERENA debuts back-to-back Monday, 29 October at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO GO not available in your area? Watch the series on HBO on Amazon Prime. Sign up today for a 7-day free trial.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

CinemaWorld brings two episodes of French TV series “Murder In” on SKY On Demand this October

This October, Cinemaworld presents two episodes of the “Murder In” (“Muertres a“) a French television series wherein each episode features a murder linked to a well-known legend within the famous location in France where the murder took place. Both titles will be in their original French language with English subtitles and will be accessible via SKY On Demand.

Murder in Aigues-Mortes (2015)

Assistant prosecutor Elisabeth Richard and police chief Paul Jansac teams up again to solve the murders of a young lawyer and a realtor in Aigues-Mortes, France. Evidence soon tie the cases to an old unsolved rape and lead the duo to more complications.

Murder in Sarlat (2017)

The son of a businessman in Sarlat is murdered in a ritual reminiscent of brutal deaths in the 17th century. Police captain Claire returns to her hometown to investigate and has to deal, not only with her family, but also with her ex-lover.

SKY On Demand is the video streaming service available to SKYcable subscribers that lets them watch their favorite channels live or on demand, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

To use SKY On Demand, register at skyondemand.com.ph. You can watch the movie and more using your computer’s browser or by downloading the SKY On Demand app from the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store.

CinemaWorld is a 24-hour, movie channel that premieres the world’s best and award-winning movies, box-office successes, critics’ favorites from all around the world. In the Philippines, SKYcable and One SKY subscribers can add it to their channel line-up for only Php150/month.

Header photo by Tom Parkes on Unsplash.

Happiness in a Cup at Elait, Tomas Morato

Sweet treats do have the power to lift my spirits. It may come from the sugar rush or the feeling of satisfaction from giving in to my sweet tooth.

Elait, having opened a branch near my workplace, is turning out to be one of my sources of happiness. After trying out its rolled ice cream offerings for the first time during a visit to the Ayala Museum, I’ve been obsessed about trying it again. Thankfully, all I have to do to get my artisanal rolled ice cream fix is hop over to M Place along Panay Avenue near Tomas Morato in Quezon City where its kiosk recently opened.

During one of my lunch breaks, immediately after dining in a nearby Chinese restaurant, I went over to the Elait kiosk to make my selection.

One thing you will note about Elait is that it employs servers who are deaf or hearing-impaired. Aside from providing employment to persons with disability, the company also helps us in reaching out and communicating to differently abled folks by encouraging patrons to make their orders through sign language or with the help of easy-to-use order forms.

Plus, Elait also gives back to the community by sourcing many of its ingredients from local farms.

For my dessert on this particular day, I decided to go for a solo cup of Chocolate Overload (Php140). My yoghurt ice cream base is poured onto a sub-zero metal sheet along with chocolate shards and flavorings. The mixture is then mixed, crushed and spread into a thin sheet across the plate. Afterwards, it is carefully scraped off to form firm rolls of ice cream which are then placed in a cup then topped with brownie bits, pocky sticks and chocolate sprinkles.

And just like that, my yummy, cool, chocolatey dessert is ready for me: my happiness in a cup. I absolutely love its smooth creamy texture and the contrast of flavors from the slight tanginess from the yoghurt and the sweetness of the chocolate.

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I am uncontrollably happy with the opening of @elaitph’s kiosk nearby. I lost no time in dropping by and getting a #ChocolateOverload #RolledIceCream (Php140 for solo serving) for dessert. . . . . . . #sweetdreamsaremadeofthis #alwaysroomfordessert #sweetstothesweet #justdesserts #sweetsph #dessertph #dessertsofinstagram #sugarcoma #sugaraddict #sweetcraving #sugarrush #sweetfix #IGersManila . . . . . . Follow me on IG/FB: @beingjellybeans. And do check out my blogs beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (for #foodiefinds, updates on #TVshows and #movies, and #fictionbook reviews) and thelearneratlarge.wordpress.com (for #businessbook reviews, #motivationalquotes and #trainingtips).

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Sep 19, 2018 at 9:55pm PDT

This Elait kiosk is located at M Place, Panay Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. Other Elait locations include:

The Caf Food Hall, Second Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Third Floor, Santolan Town Plaza, Col Bonny Serrano Avenue, Little Baguio, San Juan City
Second Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Third Floor, Ayala Malls The 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City
Second Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City