February 2019 – Jellybeans in the City

Refreshing lemon drinks at Jack’s Lemonade, UP Town Center

It’s actually an iconic image of summer: amidst the sweltering heat, you quench your thirst with an ice-cold glass of lemonade.

Aside from being a refreshing drink, lemonade is actually quite a good source of vitamin C. It aids in detoxification, skin care, hydration and weight loss, quite a lot of health benefits for such a basic drink.

But did you know that if you’re at Jack’s Lemonade, a lemonade is not just a lemonade?

With thirty lemonade variants available under an entire family of flavors, your refreshing cup becomes so much more than a basic lemon-flavored sweetened water. Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to a foodie meetup at the UP Town Center branch of Jack’s Lemonade where owner Jolly dela Pena assisted us in exploring various options of lemonade’s tastes and textures. This just confirmed that Jack’s Lemonade is anything but basic.

Take the Basil Rich Tamarind (Php95 | Php115) for example. Incorporating both fresh basil leaves tamarind puree into the drink resulted to an herby yet thirst-quenching drink. Tamarind also helps in digestion, boosting the immune system, managing diabetes, improving nerve function and blood circulation, as well as in relieving gout and joint pain.

The Strawberry Mint (Php95 | Php115), on the other hand, adds the cool and fresh mouthfeel of fresh mint leaves and the fruity sweetness of strawberry puree to the lemonade.

For dessert-lovers out there, the Lemon Cheesecake (Php95 | Ph115) which combines lemonade with powdered milk, condensed milk, grated cheddar cheese and plum salt has an interesting combination of sweet and salty that complements the lemonade’s citrusy taste.

The Lemon Square (Php95 | Php115) further ups the ante when it comes to dessert flavors. Adding crushed graham crackers to the lemonade and milk mixture makes this a decadent delight.

Lastly, the Creamy Purple (Php95 | Php115) offers is a purple-tinged drink resulting from the reaction of the blue butterfly pea infusion with the acidic lemonade. Add-on some yogurt poppers for additional bursts of tangy sweetness with every sip.

All the drinks here use freshly squeezed imported lemons combined with locally sourced fresh fruits and brown sugar, making them extra healthy.

This Jack’s Lemonade branch is located at Cinema Area, Third Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Other branches may be found at:

Ground Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Food Choices, Fourth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City
Level 6, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Fourth Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Second Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held here wherein in drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Online community aims to help moms achieve financial independence through freelancing

Gone are the days when moms are expected to just stay home to manage the household. Recognizing their own potential for so much more outside of domestic concerns, women have established themselves in the workforce whether as employees in corporate offices, or more and more lately, as freelancers.

Freelancing has long been an option for many women, including those seeking to leave their corporate jobs to be able to spend more time with their families, or stay-at-home moms who want to contribute to the family’s income.

However, for many who are new to this kind of employment, freelancing may seem quite daunting.

Fortunately, resources are available to them in the form of Richie Rebamuntan and the online community she founded #WEdothetalk.

The entrepreneur behind I Connect Marketing & Business Services has for years been recruiting and training women to do work as virtual staff for clients, including those based abroad. Seeing the potential to help more women achieve success similar to her own, and with the support and encouragement of her former students who are now the group’s pioneers, she established the #WEdothetalk online community.

Recently, the #WEdothetalk website – wedothetalk.com – went live, giving potential clients comprised of SMEs in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada a direct line to her pool of competent virtual staff, all of whom are members of her online community.

Richie’s goal is for #WEdothetalk to help moms achieve financial independence through three milestones:

One: Through a home-based job

Richie believes that a mom does not have to work far from home and away from her family. With a computer, a stable internet access and the skills she can develop through the resources available at the #WEdothetalk online community, she can successfully land a job and earn a living, while still being there for her family.

To this end, Richie conducts free webinars for her community members on online freelancing every Wednesday and Friday via Facebook Live. Dubbed An Hour with Richie, it offers viewers valuable know-how in navigating the freelancing world, from crafting a resume, submitting proposals at Upwork, to scouting for home-based jobs.

Two: Through a home-based business

While working on a home-based job can be financially rewarding, having an established home-based business can be even more so, as it can help generate passive income. This can fund the little luxuries to treat the family or form part of the family’s savings for a rainy day.

Aside from her company, Richie also packages and distributes her own brand of pure wild honey – Rich’s Pure Raw Honey from the Wild – and all-natural bath soaps – Lady’s Youthful Secrets.

She also exposes her community members to various business opportunities such as direct selling and cottage industries that can be established and operated in the home.

Three: Through financial literacy

Earning and making a living through freelancing or having a home-based business can be exhilarating for many moms. However, to sustain this lifestyle, moms must also learn the value of money, and how to strategically invest in their business and in themselves.

Integral to these milestones is the value of community. It is with the support and guidance of fellow women freelancers and entrepreneurs that moms can ably navigate the freelancing arena and succeed in their ventures.

The launch of the #WEdothetalk website was held at the Rizal Art House, supported by representatives of Digital Mom Academy, Social Media WAHM, and Digital Career Advocates of the Philippines. The event was sponsored by AXA Philippines, Skin Magical, Unilever Network Philippines, doTerra, Rizal Art House and Delicacita. Aside from myself, the event was also covered by Marj Liwag of LittleMsPrinter.com.

More information and resources are available for budding freelancers at the #Wedothetalk online community. To join, visit facebook.com/wedothetalk.

Many thanks to Richie for inviting me to the launch and for welcoming me into the community.

Watch this space for more insights gained during the event and from the group.

Former OFW pays tribute to family recipes at Las Pinas’ Cafe Tribu

When OFW, nurse and new mother Krishna Torres – Pagarugan returned home to the Philippines to raise her daughter, she decided to become a franchisee of Cafe Tribu, a coffee shop specializing in Philippine-grown coffee beans.

However, her coffee shop soon turned into a family affair.

Her sister and business partner Kathleen Torres-Bell turned their premises – formerly occupied by a beauty salon – into a bright and cheery haven for relaxing and conversing with friends. A colorful array of furniture and decor are mixed and matched into an eclectic yet tasteful combination: from the flowers and wire lamps hanging from the ceilings, her father’s paintings and mural taking pride of place on the walls, to the various chairs, tables and throw pillows that make one’s stay here quite comfy indeed.

The cafe’s sprawling premises can accommodate up to fifty people for a party or office function, but can also serve as a cozy venue for an informal art exhibit or crafting workshop.

A wide spectrum of diners comfortably pass their time in this space – from local businessmen taking a break from their morning walk, to students of nearby schools and colleges meeting up with friends.

Her mother, a cooking enthusiast, helped her expand the store’s menu to include classic Filipino dishes – affectionately dubbed Naty’s Specialties after her late grandmother – some of which I was able to sample, among others, when I visited this place for a much-awaited get-together with two of my closest college friends. These are dishes made-to-order at least two days prior, and are good for three to four persons, which include:

Kare Kare (Php420). To be honest, I’m still loyal to my mom’s Kare Kare in terms of flavor and mouthfeel but this does come close. The meat, slow-cooked for hours, is tender and can be easily pulled apart by my fork. Together with crisp, lightly cooked vegetables, it is submerged in a thick peanut sauce. When eaten together with rice and the cafe’s slightly spicy homemade bagoong (shrimp paste), each mouthfull is an explosion of flavor.

Laing (Php240). Bicol’s signature dish of shredded taro leaves and meat bits cooked in coconut milk – and accompanied by a hefty serving of sliced chilis – is one of my husband’s favorite dishes. I took some home for his dinner which he loved. (Ganda points for me, huh!)

Chicken Barbecue (Php350) and Liempo Barbecue. Another set of Pinoy classic dishes, these are comprised of large pieces of chicken and pork belly marinated in a sweet barbecue sauce and grilled to tender and juicy perfection.

Beef Tapa (Php130). Why, oh why, do strips of tender fried marinated beef become irresistible when accompanied by fried egg (sunny-side up, please!) and garlic fried rice?

Alas, too bad for my #dietgoals, Naty’s Specialties go so well with rice, lots and lots of it. (Our nanays and lolas seldom thought about carbs when these recipes are being developed, I guess.)

Meanwhile, to address the hunger pangs and limited budget of the students who frequent her cafe, Krishna also serves snacks that are easy on the tummy and on the students’ wallet such as:

New York Hotdog (Php115). A hefty Frankfurter rolled in oil, topped with caramelized onions, salsa, spicy mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup and bacon bits.

Club House Sandwich (Php100). This double-decked sandwich has layers of ham, tuna and veggies, served with crisp potato chips.

Want something hot to accompany those yummy snacks? You can’t go wrong with the drinks whipped up by the cafe’s Lebanon-trained barista such as the Hot Chocolate Velvet (Php90), White Chocolate Latte (Php105), Caramel Macchiato (Php105) and Oreo Latte (Php120).

How about something refreshing to cool yourself down when the hot summer days come along? Check out the cafe’s icy frappes such as the Matcha Green Tea (Php140), Strawberries and Cream (Php120) and White Mocha Frappe (Php120). But really, don’t leave the store without a taste of the cafe’s specialty, the Coffee Peanut Butter Avalanche (Php150), truly a heavenly concoction!

This day was memorable because three friends were able to come together for good conversation over good food and drinks, amidst beautiful surroundings. So make your own beautiful memories with family and friends here at Cafe Tribu!

This Cafe Tribu branch is located at 136 Gloria Diaz Street Corner CV Starr Avenue, BF Resort Village, Talon, Las Piñas City. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 3563971 or +63 995 2740204.

Disclosure: Together with my college friends, I was invited to a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by my companions nor myself.

New and exotic dishes at Essential Goodness for the Pilgrims in Poblacion

Along the busy and traffic-congested road that is Makati Avenue is a haven catering to the wanderers that venture into this bustling city.

Dubbed Essential goodness, for the pilgrims, it is a rooftop restaurant and bar of premium hostel Lub D Makati. The restaurant’s dining experience is the result of the hostel’s collaboration with notable local chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar of Hey Handsome and Your Local restaurants. With a menu that builds on familiar Pinoy favorites and international cuisines, the resto initially made a name for itself among Poblacion’s denizens with its All-Day brunch menu.

It also boasts of tastefully decorated interiors and an al fresco roofdeck with a breathtaking view of the Makati skyline.

Recently, along with fellow foodies, I got a sneak peek at its soon-to-be-launched menu items which were paired with drinks from the resto’s bar list. These include:

Tofu Salad. Made with marinated kino tofu tossed with spinach, cilantro, basil and lime. It is paired with Caipirinha, a Brazilian cocktail made with lime, sugar cubes and cachaca, a distilled spirit concocted from fermented sugar cane juice.

Salmon Ceviche. Raw marinated salmon served with green papaya, tomatoes, coconut cream, green and red eye chilis and cilantro. It is paired with Sauvignon Blanc.

Crab Curry. Crab meat stewed in curry, and served with cilantro and roti, flatbread originating from India made from stoneground wholemeal flour. It is paired with the exotic Sour Sup Black Tea, a drink made of guyabano juice, black tea and whisky.

Fried Chicken Poppers. Juicy fillets of breaded chicken served with spicy sambal cream cheese and edible flowers.

Vegan Curry Laksa. The Southeast Asian spicy rice noodle soup made even healthier with shitake mushrooms, zucchini, bean sprouts and banana hearts. It is paired with a refreshing glass of Essential Iced Tea made with black tea, lemongrass and calamansi.

Thai Fried Chicken. Cured chicken deep-fried to achieve a crisp and flavorful skin and tender juicy meat. It is served with pickled red bell pepper and green chili sambal on top of fragrant herbed rice.

Braised Beef. Local beef slow-cooked for four hours and served with guava sauce, green papaya salad and herbed and toasted rice. It is paired with Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the world’s best-known red wine varieties.

Earl Grey Chocolate. A thick layer of grey black tea infused chocolate smeared onto a bowl containing vanilla ice cream topped with citrusy yuzu syrup and brown butter crumbs.

Mango and Sticky Rice. Slices of sweet ripe mangoes topping a bed of coconut sticky rice with a side of caramelized peanuts.

The new dishes feature a distinct Southeast Asian taste profile, with some heat from the chilis and crisp freshness from the vegetables. One or two dishes do have a bit of a problem in balancing the flavors but this can be addressed prior to their official launch. Do watch out for these tasty offerings in the coming days.

The deliciously exotic food, chill vibe and beautiful surroundings made this food tasting a very memorable event for me and my fellow foodies. Kudos to the Essential goodness, for the pilgrims team for the masterfully prepared dishes and the lovely event.

Essential goodness, for the pilgrims is located at 13th Floor, Lub d Makati, 7820 Makati Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 6am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5416358 loc 2600 or +63 917 5340497.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a food tasting held in this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Seven Reasons why Bistro Charlemagne, Nuvali is your road trip foodie stopover

The Santa Rosa – Tagaytay Road is just teeming with strip malls with various dining options as well as standalone restaurants. Any foodie would be faced with the dilemma of where to eat with so many food choices available.

May I present the Bistro Charlemagne in Nuvali as a viable option? Here are seven reasons why which became even more apparent when my extended family made our way down here after our Tagaytay sojourn.

One: It’s where the cuisines of the East and West come together and have a ball

Being a third-generation restaurateur, owner Charlemagne Lim achieves the balance between tradition and novelty in cuisine. The offshoot of Little Asia, Bistro Charlemagne features a little bit of the well-loved dishes its mother-restaurant popularized and a whole lot of new or innovated-upon dishes developed specifically for this new concept resto.

Take the Ceasar Salad (Php295) for example: the crisp Romaine lettuce, classic dressing, shredded chicken breast and slivers of parmesan cheese are to be expected and quite yummy… but add delicate boiled quail eggs into the fray? Say what?!?

How about the Crispy Lumpiang Hubad (Php305)? The classic shredded and sautéed vegetables that make up the local fried vegetable rolls of our childhood are served on top of a crisp pastry while doused in garlic sauce and sweet soy dressing.

The much-raved about Beef Tenderloin Rolls with Cheese (Php405) did not disappoint either. Our group loved the finely rolled tenderloin slices stuffed with melting cheese on top of authentic teriyaki sauce that we ordered for another plate of these goodies.

Or consider, a new favorite of my daughter #ExhibitA and myself, the Drunken Lengua in Mushroom Brown Sauce (Php405). Those melt-in-your-mouth tender morsels of pan-seared ox tongue are served with mushrooms and asparagus spears on a bed of rich buttery brown sauce. If you had misgivings about eating the more exotic meat parts like ox tongue, this will change your mind.

The Japanese Beef Fried Rice (Php125) tasted the Kamameshi Rice of Japanese restos but had a lighter feel. It went so well with our viands that we consumed three bowls of it.

Two: Your favorites are here too!

Missing the taste of the familiar? No need to fret because old-time favorites are also available on the menu for those seeking more of the flavors they loved and less of the adventure into the unknown.

These include the Tuna Tataki (Php305), an appetizer made of lightly seared tuna loin lightly coated in a crust of sesame seeds and served with the traditional Japanese ponzu sauce. (And yes, we got two orders of these.)

The Chinese food staples Salt and Pepper Spareribs (Php345) and Salt and Pepper Squid (Php365) rounded up our mains.

And because we Pinoys, for some reason, can’t fathom a family meal without a vegetable dish, there’s the Brocolli with Prawns and Mushrooms (Php445). We had one of these as-is, while another was made without the prawns to suit the taste of one of the little ones in our party.

Too bad the Chicken Fingers (Php345) did not make it to our table on time so we just had that wrapped to go.

Three: There’s something for your sweet tooth

Knowing the kiddos’ predilection for peanut butter, I ordered a serving of Reese’s S’mores (Php245). It turned out that dipping crisp graham crackers into warm toasted marshmallows resting on a ganache of peanut butter chips is a decadent treat, not just for the young ones but also for the grown ups!

And wouldn’t you know it; we had another serving of this yummy dessert because…

Four: Birthday celebrants get a special treat!

As Hubby’s natal day was within seven days of our visit to this resto, we were given a free serving of the house special Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken, one of the recipes passed down from Charlemagne’s forebears. (We simply had to present a valid government-issued ID as well as reach a minimum single-receipt transaction of Php1,995.)

A candle was placed right smack in the middle of another Reese’s S’mores for Hubby to blow out while the restaurant staff sang a Chinese version “Happy Birthday to You.”

Five: Did you know Bistro Charlemagne catered to international stars?

When top musical acts such as Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Smashing Pumpkins and Paramore had their concerts in the country, Bistro Charlemagne was in charge of keeping the stars and their entourage well-fed.

Six: On a budget? No sweat!

When petsa de peligro comes along, you can still satisfy your craving for your favorite Bistro Charlemagne dish with a set meal at only Php215! This already comes with rice, soup and iced tea.

Seven: Check out its new Lenten Specials

Even if your road trip takes place in the days leading to the Holy Week, you can still keep your Lenten observance with Bistro Charlemagne’s new seafood offerings such as Crispy Fish Fingers, Octopus ala Pobre and Baked Salmon in Truffled Spinach Cream Sauce.

Thanks to Bistro Charlemagne for serving as the tasty final stop of our Tagaytay weekend sojourn!

This Bistro Charlemagne branch is located at GFF-6, Building B, Ayala Malls Solenad 3, Nuvali, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Another branch is found at Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz along Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City.

For reservations and inquiries, call +63 049 2580846 or +63 917 8334223.

Check out my review of its branch in Pasig here: East meets West at Bistro Charlemagne, Ayala Malls Feliz