March 2019 – Page 3 – Jellybeans in the City

Everyday’s a good day for ice cream at Sundays by Merry Moo, The Podium

What’s the simplest pleasure that you can picture yourself freely indulging in come the long hot summer?

For me, it’s ice cream, of course!

The icy yet velvety creamy feel of it on my tongue and the bursts of sweetness on my tastebuds combine to bring back memories of my childhood’s enjoyable summers, slurping this cool treat.

Well, with Sundays, Merry Moo’s first in-line ice cream store at the Corner Market Food Hall in the Podium, I won’t have to venture far to have a taste of my favorite ice cream flavors, and more.

Sundays by Merry Moo, The Corner Market Food Hall

Merry Moo made a name for itself with its artisanal and premium ice cream. Believing that happy cows make great dairy, it sources its milk from dairy farmers in Laguna whose herds are given expansive pastures to graze and roam freely. Since its dairy is non-UHT (Ultra Heat Treated), its milk and cream retain their flavors and nutritional content.

To guarantee freshness, Merry Moo’s ice cream is churned in small batches using fresh and locally sourced ingredients to produce yummy icy desserts that bring smiles to the faces of those who taste them.

Together with my fellow foodies, I was able to taste some of its new flavors which are:

Bananarama. Brown sugar is added to Cavendish bananas which are then oven-roasted. Afterwards, the mixture is blitzed, added to fresh milk and cream, then allowed to steep overnight to let the flavors intensify before being placed in the ice cream batch freezer. Chocolate cookie chunks are then added to the churned ice cream.

Spanish Bread and Doughnut. Curiously, these two flavors come from the baked products that inspired them. To infuse the ice cream base with these flavors, the breads are blitzed then added to the milk and cream base. The mixture is allowed to steep overnight then placed in the batch freezer. More chunks of Spanish bread or doughnuts are then added to the churned ice cream.

Yogurt. Hacienda Macalauan in Laguna, Merry Moo’s dairy supplier, also produces Greek yogurt. This is used to infuse Merry Moo’s milk and cream base, resulting in ice cream that is a little more tart but still yummy.

My scoops of these decadent treats were served on a crunchy waffle bowl, sprinkled with my chosen toppings: Horlicks, a sweetened malt-based powder, and buttered pecans.

The ice cream flavors sure are unusual, but call to mind tastes and textures that are near and dear to us. Who hasn’t whiled away a lazy afternoon munching on warm buttery Spanish bread, or added bananas to ice cream to for added fruity sweetness? Who hasn’t been caught in the recent frozen yogurt craze?

What I love most about Merry Moo’s ice cream is the thought and care that goes into the creation of each flavor. I plan to drop by one of its stalls soon to taste more of its flavors like Avocado and Salted Chocolate.

A scoop of Merry Moo’s premium ice cream flavors sells for Php115 while one of gourmet flavor sells at Php135. Add Php15 to drizzle your preferred sauce on it or add your favorite toppings for an additional Php20.

Want Merry Moo at your party? Have a scooping station for as low Php8,500, good for 100 servings.

For the mumshies out there: Did you know that through its partnership with Mommy Treats, Merry Moo produces the country’s first and only lactation ice cream? At only Php450/pint, enjoy flavors such as Dark Chocolate, Sea Salt Caramel and Match Green Tea packed with milk boosters to improve your milk supply.

Sundays by Merry Moo is located at the The Corner Market, Second Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at 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.

A walk on the wild side at Wyld Kitchen x Bar, Tomas Morato

Tomas Morato is home to a vibrant foodie scene: concept restaurants abound in the area, each offerings its own take at particular cuisines.

Along Mother Ignacia Avenue, for example, is Wyld Kitchen x Bar, a new haven for Quezon City denizens seeking to destress and enjoy a few drinks and eats in a hip yet intimate setting.

Inspired by the wilderness of Colorado in the US, the restobar has a rustic feel to it but tempered with modern sensibilities such as zero waste and sustainability. The wall hangings resembling tree branches and the heavy tables, for instance, are made of recycled wood and metals. All utensils are reusable, and even the metal straws.

During a recent meetup with fellow Zomato foodies, I was able to sample some of this restobar’s nature-infused offerings, which include:

Wyld Beef Burger (Php450). A perfectly blended and grilled beef patty with an earthy and smokey flavor and juicy texture, accompanied by a mulberry steak sauce, poached egg, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion in a warm brioche bun.

Grilled Herb Marinated Flank Steak (Php550). Medium-grilled slices of flank steak served with a compound herb butter, thick fried potato wedges, sauteed French beans and cherry tomatoes.

Fish and Chips (Php380). Beer-battered cream dory served with potato fries and a zesty egg dressing.

Pesto Pasta (Php350). House-made pesto sauce with pistachios, microgreens and parmesan. It gets an additional touch of nature with its garnish of edible butterfly pea flowers.

Our group was also able to sample Wyld’s imaginatively prepared signature cocktails such as:

Non-alcoholic drinks

Butterfly Fizz (Php95), made of soda water and fresh lemon juice accented by a butterfly pea flower.

Aloe & Coco (Php90), made with aloe vera juice, fresh basil and nata de coco.

Alcoholic drinks

Afterglow (Php250), made of gin, calamansi liqueur, housemade camote tops syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Radiculous (Php280), made of vodka infused with radish (of all things! :-)) elderflower liqueur, aloe vera juice and garnished with a slice of pickled radish on a spear.

In Love with Cacao (Php295), a mixture of cacao liqueur, coffee liqueur, amaretto, brandy and cinnamon powder. I chose this drink as I’m a coffee and chocolate lover. Sipping on this sweet and icy cocktail in between bites of the food served was refreshing, and it gave me a happy buzz for the rest of the evening.

With its rustic and laid-back atmosphere and its refreshingly unique take on its food and drink offerings, it sure seems like Wyld Kitchen x Bar is a welcome addition to Tomas Morato’s food scene!

Wyld Kitchen x Bar is located at Second Floor, The Grandia Place, 143 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open Sundays to Wednesdays from 5pm to 1am and Thursdays to Saturdays from 5pm to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 919 9908805.

Did you know you can buy two drinks and get the same two drinks for free at Wyld Kitchen x Bar through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

You can also book your table using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill. Sign up using my referral link to get additional perks.

Check out my reviews of other bars and watering holes in the Metro:

Metro Manila levels up the dining scene with Zomato Gold experiences

It was just November last year when the world’s fastest-growing dine-out program, Zomato Gold, launched in Metro Manila. Zomato Gold’s ambition is to elevate the city’s dining experience, hence only partnering with top-rated restaurants. The dine-out program has seen immense success in Metro Manila – with more than 60,000 subscribers and over 600 restaurant partners in less than four months of launch.

As a way to enhance and elevate dining in the city, members are invited to exclusive events called Zomato Gold Experiences. These invite-only events treat Gold members nothing short of VIPs and experience only the best of the top-rated restaurants.

Italian Masterclass: A Premier to the Zomato Gold Experiences in Metro Manila

The first Zomato Gold Experience in Metro Manila transported the invited Gold members straight to Italy with a masterclass in Italian cooking! The members in attendance not only created their own pasta by hand, but they also got to attend a pasta tasting session with Chef Ruther Sandico. This event happened in one of Makati’s most happening restaurants, Bar Centrale, famous for their daily-made fresh and authentic pasta.

The Zomato Gold members pulled up their sleeves, secured their aprons, and got their hands deliciously dirty making fresh pasta. The room was filled with laughter and excitement as they experienced kneading dough.

After the class, the members had a well-deserved Tasting Session where they were served Bar Centrale’s top-rated pasta. The story behind each dish was carefully explained by Chef Ruther Sandico, while the members enjoyed their delicious servings.

The Golden Masquerade: The Grandest Zomato Gold Experience At Okada Manila

Imagine extravagant dresses and tuxedos, glamorous masks, endless drinking, dancing, and overflowing five-star hors d’oeuvres… all happening at the best-integrated resort in the country. Now that’s a fantasy come true!

Just last month, the biggest Zomato Gold experience in Metro Manila called “The Golden Masquerade” was held in Okada Manila’s Grand Ballroom. This event was exclusively for members to celebrate Gold’s success in Metro Manila, and of course, as a part of the monthly Zomato Gold Experiences.

Zomato Gold Members were all decked out in their grandiose costumes to experience a world-class event at Okada Manila! Even celebrities and ambassadors such as Heart Evangelista Escudero, Xandra Rocha, Aryanna Epperson, and Vince Uy attended and enjoyed the event.

What’s more? The top two best-dressed pair were awarded with Vivo phones! The “best-dressed couple” won a Vivo X21 each, and the runners-up won a Vivo Y71 smartphone. A cocktail mixology show was also performed by members of the Philippine Flair Underground. Everyone was mesmerized as they watched and took videos of the entertaining performance. As a special treat, they created a special cocktail aptly called “The Golden Drink” that everyone enjoyed through the night.

Do you want to get invited to Zomato Gold Experiences too? Become a member! Not only do you get to be a part of these interesting culinary experiences, but you also get to enjoy 1+1 on food and 2+2 on drinks at over 600 restaurant partners in Metro Manila anytime, any day. Welcome to the future of dining out. Check out Zomato Philippines’ Instagram Page at @zomatoph to find out more about Zomato Gold in Metro Manila.

Lifted from a press release from Zomato.

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee. .

A vegan-friendly resto along Katipunan: Pantry by Rub Rack

Being a foodie, a sweet tooth and a certified carnivore, I had little inclination to try vegan or vegetarian cuisine. From my past experiences in diet deliveries, grazing on salads with vinaigrette sauces, and other eat-healthy schemes, I worried that I would eventually get tired of eating healthy food in a few days and be back where I started.

Well, it looks like the offerings of Pantry by Rub Rack can change my mind.

Together with my fellow foodies, I attended a Bloggers’ Dinner at this restaurant where the food is good, not just to my tastebuds, but to my body as well.

The restaurant is an offshoot of Rub Rack, the online specialty store for spicy and flavored food items. Co-owners and friends Chef Lui Madela, who is vegetarian, and Des Agcaoili, who is not, envisioned a place where a barkada can eat without having to split up because of a member’s diet restrictions.

Situated in a space converted from a photography studio with an industrial theme infused with bright spots of greenery and product displays, the resto has a relaxed and modern feel. I would imagine that groups of friends, or even families, will be quite comfortable having their meals here.

Great care was taken in conceptualizing and executing Pantry’s menu, from sourcing ingredients from vegan-certified suppliers, preparing all dishes from scratch in the restaurant’s open kitchen, procuring vegan bread to go with its vegan dishes, to using separate utensils for vegan and non-vegan items.

Aside from its non-vegan dishes such as the tuyo silog and tuyo pesto, Pantry’s imaginatively prepared vegan and vegetarian items are designed to also appeal to foodies, regardless of diet preferences.

Appetizers

VegetaBalls. If you’ve ever felt a hankering for street food, well here’s a healthier alternative for you! Vegetables take the place of squid in these skewers dipped in a sweet brown sauce, just like the real thing!

Vegan Nachos (Php190). Crisp corn nachos drizzled with dairy-free cheese and veggies. And, believe or not, those toppings are not meat!

Pasta

Vegan Mac N’ Cheese (Php200). Your favorite microwave dish is now made healthier, thanks to the resto’s own blend of dairy-free vegan cheese sauce liberally mixed into the macaroni, served with vegan bread.

Vegan Palabok. Your classic merienda given a vegan twist, this new addition to Pantry’s menu features noodles drenched in shrimp-like gravy, seaweed, vegan chicharon and vegan eggs. Vegan eggs?!? Yes, m’dears. Those are not real eggs, but they sure tasted like them!

Main Course

Vegan Shawarma Wrap (Php205). Vegetarian shawarma meat, as savory and flavorful as the real thing, served with crisp vegetables and wrapped in warm pita bread. Feeling a little adventurous? Sprinkle some of the resto’s own Latigo hot sauce on it and see how high your spice meter goes!

Vechon Belly Rice Meal (Php250). The Filipino guilty pleasure – the lechon – in this dish is not made of sinful roasted pork. Oh no! It’s made out of vegetables, painstakingly fashioned by Chef Lui to resemble slices of that decadent dish.

Drinks

Lemongrass Ice Tea (Php80). Brewed green tea infused with lemongrass, a light and not-so-sweet blend.

Calamansi Ice Tea. The classic black tea infused with mint and fresh calamansi.

Dessert

Coconut Ice Cream. We capped our meal with Pantry’s homemade, dairy-free and all-natural sorbetes, a sweet but healthy end to our vegan food adventure.

Throughout the meal, I keep forgetting that meat is not part of the menu, especially with the Nachos and Shawarma, thanks to Chef Lui’s skill in approximating the look, taste and texture of meat. Quite a revelation for me and my fellow foodies!

Thanks to Alex of BoyEatWorldPH for extending the invite!

Want to eat healthy at home? Order ahead by calling +63 2 7292993 or +63 929 4886734 and your meal will be ready for pick-up in fifteen minutes. You can also order via Food Panda.

Pantry by Rub Rack is located at the 2nd Floor, 225 Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Milagrosa, Queson City.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to join a Bloggers’ Dinner held at 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.

Bask in the country-style vibe of the Greenfield Weekend Market

Greenfield Development Corporation, one of the most experienced full-line real estate
developers in the country today, further ups the game for its popular Greenfield Weekend Market in Mandaluyong by recharging its country-style theme and enhancing its product offerings in anticipation of the summer season.

The Greenfield Weekend Market, with its home at the Central Park of Greenfield District, keeps a tradition of originality and variety when it comes to cheering habitues and newcomers every Saturday evening. For foodies, the dining adventure in the hangout goes beyond the conventional and traditional for a truly memorable gustatory experience.

The Market’s pioneer vendors like Emy and Ody Concepcion Fruits, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Raffy’s Belly Good Cebu Lechon Belly, Kfry and many others still prove to be a force to be reckoned with, capturing the hearts their wide and loyal fan base.

TC’s Food Stall offers Pinoy homestyle recipes that can only be indulged at the Greenfield Weekend Market. On the menu are homegrown favorites like bagnet, caldereta spareribs, lechon paksiw, pork sisig and more.

Greenfield Weekend Market has more eats to choose from to satisfy different preferences of foodies such as shawarma from Habib’s, smoked barbecue from Carnivore Cookery, Hungarian sausages from The Cut Premium Meat, chicken fingers from Fingers and Flavors, Mexican favorites from the Real Mexicanos and even Japanese favorites like takoyaki and ramen from Shumagorath Takoyaki.

A food stall serves fresh drinks such as buko juice, melon juice, cucumber, lemonade, dalandan and red iced tea. For native sweets and desserts, there are lechen flan, cheese cake, Taiwan milk tea, ice cream and even yoghurt. It’s a weekend market so there are fruits, culinary herbs, spices, organic vegetables, brown rice, and salted eggs, as well for urbanites’ kitchen.

Making Greenfield Weekend Market more interesting are the other stalls selling non-food items. For visitors looking for embroidered lockets, clay necklaces, key chains, vintage rings, necklaces, bracelets and artworks, the Market is your type of chill.

There are also bubble-blowing kits, colorful indoor and outdoor lanterns, hand-painted shirts, bags and dresses. Also, there are stalls selling books, vinyl records, shirts, artworks, toys, toiletry items, and many others.

The Weekend Market also promises a lot of fun activities for adults and children. There are live portrait artists willing to sketch you up, there’s a fortune-telling booth ready to give you advice, and even a photo print tent where you can take home photo souvenirs.

Enhancing the dining and leisure at the weekly affair are the jazz musicians. They start playing soft music at 6 p.m. until closing time.

The Greenfield Weekend Market is Greenfield Development Corporation’s innovative way of giving a unique urban living experience for professionals and urban dwellers. Of the few weekend markets in Metro Manila, only this one at Greenfield District promises to be a treasure trove for foodies, art enthusiasts, shopping addicts and country-style nature-lovers.

For those looking for a refreshing and wholesome bonding time with friends and loved ones, or wanting to enjoy the holiday vibe, the Greenfield Weekend Market is the best place to visit.

The Greenfield Weekend Market is located inside the Greenfield District, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. It is open Saturdays from 4pm to midnight.

Details provided by Greenfield Development Corporation in a recent press release.

How moms can nurture a love for reading among kids

With all content available in a myriad of forms and platforms, sometimes we parents wonder how we can instill a love of reading among our kids.

Wishing to do so is not being out of touch with the times. Studies have shown that avid readers have certain advantages over their peers. Since reading is a more complex activity than watching video content on television or other gadgets, it helps to exercise their brains, improving concentration and imagination, as well as their vocabulary and language skills. A well-read child may have a better and more expansive understanding of the world around him and may be able to develop empathy for others.

In a recent Mommy Mundo #MomSchool learning session “Raising Readers and Writers in the Digital Age,” mom and Keys School literacy coordinator Monica Lopez Javier shared some insights and tips on how parents can help foster a love of reading among their kids.

For Teacher Monica, talking to your kids starting from early childhood is very important.

“Talk is the foundation of learning,” she shares. “Through language, meaning is built.”

She encourages parents to develop oral language at home, to facilitate kids in communicating and interacting with them. Kids should learn how to tell stories to learn how to put the things and situations around them in perspective or context.

Some tips she shared include:

Respect their think time. Younger children take time respond to your conversation prompts. Allow them the time to process the conversation and respond to you.
Establish rituals of conversation. Make time when you’re available to converse with your kids. Set up long talks with the kids when you can communicate with them at length.
Talk about complex topics. As kids grow older, allow them to process more complex ideas as they communicate with you. When letting them talk about their day, ask them what they learned or what they plan to do.
Don’t shy away from trouble stories. Don’t raise your kids in a bubble. For example, tell them about the bad day you’re having and how you cope with it. They will be able to express to you their similar emotions as well as model their response to challenging situations after yours.
Teach them to listen. Kids should be encouraged to respond thoughtfully. Help them understand that when they listen, even to opposing views, their ideas can grow.
Support their language development through reading. Kids’ vocabularies are better developed by reading. It also through reading that they encounter fresh concepts and ideas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to younger kids so that children will develop a love for words and imagination that reading affords. For older children, parents are urged to discuss the books that the kids read; this will help them process what they learn from books and develop critical thinking.

Parents may be worried that buying more and more books may be a strain on the budget. Teacher Monica advises looking for libraries in your area where you or your kids can borrow books.

Growing up as a child of a reader, and becoming an avid reader myself, I can attest to the hours of enjoyment and the fun of discovery that I experienced since childhood. Being a reader has also informed my writing and my current work in marketing and in blogging.

I’m proud that I have helped to instill the same love for reading in my daughter.

This #MomSchool learning session held at the Ayala The 30th Activity Center was organized by Mommy Mundo, a community of moms dedicated to making motherhood easier, happier and more fulfilling for every mom through various avenues and activities.

Want to be on your way to developing future avid readers? Below is a list of the books that Teacher Monica recommends for reading aloud to kids.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

My World by Margaret Wise Brown

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola

Tom by Tomie dePaola

Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells

Freight Train by Donald Crews

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Matilda by Roald Dahl

This post contains affiliate links.

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Header photo by Kim Sergeev on Unsplash

A taste of adventure at Camp Curry, Ayala Malls Feliz

I’m not much of an outdoors girl… Who am I kidding? I’m not an outdoors girl. Period!

But sometimes, I do wonder about adventures that could be had if only I was willing to rough it. Say, camping for example. The fun of pitching tents, cooking food in an open fire and having fun in the great outdoors… all these were just daydreams.

Well, thanks to the newly opened branch of Camp Curry in Ayala Malls Feliz, I can have most of the fun of camping, especially the good food that can be enjoyed, and I don’t have to rough it!

Founded by Chef Takashi Sato in Yoyogi, Tokyo as a curry shop specializing in vegetables, Camp Curry soon grew to become a full-blown restaurant, even acquiring the honor of being dubbed “Tokyo’s best curry.” With the opening of its second store in the Philippines, right here in my hometown of Pasig, it has further secured its foothold in the country.

Camp Curry is notable for its camping theme, indicative of Chef Sato’s love for the outdoors. The store’s interiors have a lively and colorful theme with various camping gear such as bags, lamps, Thermos tumblers and more, all artfully scattered across the restaurant. Rows of little banners hang from the ceiling, adding to the place’s festive atmosphere. An open design lets the diners take a peek into the goings-on in the kitchen while wait staff, attired similar to camp counselors, are at the ready to take them on a spirited culinary adventure.

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Japanese curry, Camp Curry’s raison d’etre, have grown in popularity in recent years. Japanese curry is less spicy and a bit sweeter than Indian curry. Normally served as a gravy on top of rice, it is considered one of Japan’s national dishes.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of Camp Curry’s specialty dishes.

A flamin’ hot start to the meal is the Spicy Nachos (Php250), crisp nacho chips slathered with melted cheddar cheese, lean ground meat and topped with cherry tomatoes, cilantro and a Cajun spice mix.

Camp Curry serves combo rice plates with meat and veggies such as BBQ Pork Belly & Chunky Vegetables (Php330) and BBQ Prawns & Chunky Vegetables (Php420). The meat and prawns had the slight sweetness and yummy char from the grill, and quite tender to the bite! And note: those veggies really are chunky! Sauteed with a smattering of spices, they add to the variety in texture and taste of the dishes. Now is definitely a good time to start lovin’ some veggies!

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These were served with Camp Curry’s signature sauces on the side, such as Cheesy Curry (Japanese curry topped with mozzarella and parmesan) and Super Spicy (Japanese curry made extremely spicy – this one deserves a warning so beware!).

The BBQ Grills also feature some non-curry viands such as the BBQ Pork Belly & Mashed Potatoes (Php249) and BBQ Shrimp & Mashed Potatoes (Php330).

Appetizing new additions to the menu that we tried include the Gyoza Cheese (Php199), Potato Croquette (Php130), Curry Ebi Fry (Php330), and Yakisoba (Php220). The Kani Salad (Php60) and Japanese Potato Salad (Php60) also gave us an occasional respite from the abundance of spice in the other dishes.

We sweet peeps also deserve something sweet so we capped our meal with CAMP’s S’mores Special (Php180), graham crackers topped with roasted marshmallows, drizzled with chocolate syrup and a dollop of matcha ice cream with a smattering of candy sprinkles, and CAMP’s French Toast (Php190), French bread infused with milk and egg, toasted on a hot iron skillet, sprinkled with cinnamon powder and served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Lastly, have you ever heard of lassi? It is a spiced yogurt drink that originated in India. Add mango puree into the mix and you have Mango Lassi (Php150), a refreshing drink to soothe the palate after such rich and spicy fare.

This foray into Camp Curry was a fun adventure for me and my fellow foodies!

This Camp Curry branch is located at the Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. Another branch is located at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Salcedo Village, Makati City, also open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Four things I like about Captain Marvel

The first solo female-led film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (since Black Widow is part of an ensemble in Avengers and the Wasp co-headlined Ant-Man and the Wasp), Captain Marvel carries with it a lot of expectations.

The movie is centered on Carol Danvers (played by Oscar winner Brie Larson), a US Air Force pilot who was given superhuman powers when she absorbed the energy from an explosion.

Being an MCU geek, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see it on its first day of theatrical release. While I’ve been seeing mixed reactions about the movie on the web, let me share four reasons why I think it’s awesome.

I will try to minimize spoilers in this blog post but there will be some references to scenes in the movie or other MCU releases so be warned…

Here be spoilers.

One: It passes the Bechdel test.

Why would I start my review with the movie’s most academic aspect?

Well, much has been hyped about Captain Marvel being the first female-led MCU outing, and I’m glad to see, with its depiction of the abiding friendship between Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau (played by Lashana Lynch), that it passes the one of the most basic of standards for female representation in fiction.

The Bechdel Test asks whether there are at least two women in the movie who talk to each other about anything other than a man.

Danvers’ reunion with Maria after a long separation empowers and reaffirms her without needing to include a male in their conversations.

Two: The absence of a love interest.

Nope, Captain Marvel doesn’t need a love interest to inspire her or stir her to action. Her notable interactions were with her Kree mentor Yon-Rogg (played by Jude Law), her friend Maria Rambeau, and a young, quippy Nick Fury (played by CGI-de-aged Samuel L. Jackson), not with a potential boyfriend.

Oh, and the fact that the movie didn’t have the need to explain why there’s no father-figure in the Rambeau household is remarkable.

Three: Younger and work-in-progress Fury.

Since Iron Man 2 to Avengers: Infinity War, Nick Fury has always shown up as nothing less than the BAMF director of SHIELD.

Here, he is still a desk jockey, starting to navigate his way through the realization that a bigger universe exists other than the one he’s known. His banters and quips with Carol Danvers are light and breezy, an indication of the friendship and respect between them that will carry over to when Captain Marvel makes her appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Endgame.

Oh, and we see a young Phil Coulson (played by a similarly CGI-de-aged Clark Gregg) in the movie as well, just when I was despairing of ever seeing him again in an MCU movie after his demise in Avengers (and subsequent resurrection in the TV series Agents of SHIELD).

Four: The nods to the 90s

Being a child of the 90s myself, I found myself excited to see the various references to the decade, from Captain Marvel’s crash landing into a Blockbuster Video store, the boxy computers with the slow loading icon and the on-point musical accompaniment to key scenes (No Doubt’s “Just A Girl” for instance).

For me, Captain Marvel does an admirable job in introducing a new addition to MCU’s superhero roster, and tying her story to the rest of the films (guess where Fury got the idea to name his brainchild project the Avengers Initiative).

To some, it may be another cog in the machine that is the MCU, but really, what do cogs do? They keep the machine going.

What do you think of the movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Have a Festive Pinoy Fiesta every Sunday at City Garden Grand’s Spice Cafe

Fiestas are so deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. It is a time when family and friends can come together over good food to celebrate and spend time together. It is also a time that we city slickers anticipate, as these occasions are usually the only times we get to taste the much-vaunted heirloom recipes of our lolas and titas.

This is what my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH were treated to when we attended the food tasting event for Spice Cafe’s All-Filipino Breakfast Buffet.

Spice Cafe is one of the restaurants in City Garden Grand Hotel located along the busy Makati Avenue. With its scenic view of the surrounding streets and buildings and its festive atmosphere, it provides a happy venue to enjoy one’s favorite Pinoy delicacies.

For instance, who could say no to starting your day with either a silog (sinangag and itlog – garlic fried rice and fried egg)? Digging into this winning combo with either a longganisa (sausages), tocino (cured pork) or bangus (fried smoked milkfish), or all three is sure to bring back memories of lazy Sunday mornings when our nanays or lolas would prepare for us a sumptuous breakfast.

For those who want to indulge their inner carnivore for their first meal of the day, check out its carving station! For one thing, who would say no to bacon, lots and lots of it? Also, the crispy pork belly is absolutely delish!

Some people like to start their mornings with something light instead. How about some cereals and breads? Personally, I love Spice Cafe’s cheesy ensaimada. It had the light and fluffy texture, and the salty cheese had a nice contrast with the sweet bread. I also had trouble choosing between guinataang mais and champorado and I figured, why not both?

Did you know that according to the American Dairy Association’s random sampling survey, pizza is America’s fourth most craved food behind cheese, chocolate and ice cream? We Filipinos have grown to love it so much and made it our own.

Have a sweet tooth? Take your pick from so many dessert choices available: leche flan, biko, mango sago and turon.

My fellow foodies and I had our fill of these treats, and, of course, took full advantage of the resto’s posh interiors for our photo opps!

Good food in great surroundings plus great company equals a great time. If our laughter and banters are any indication, you could say that we foodies truly had a very great time!

Fiestas embody the Pinoys’ love for family, friends and food, so treat your nears-and-dears to a festive fiesta with Spice Cafe’s All-Filipino Breakfast Buffet! At only Php800, it’s available every Sunday from 6am to 11am.

Spice Cafe is located at 7th Floor, City Garden Grand Hotel, 8008 Makati corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8888181.

Check out my write-up of City Garden Grand Hotel’s Firefly Roofdeck here.

Need some tips to maximize your eat-all-you-can experience? Read my buffet survival guide.

Chill sounds and good eats at Pied Piper Gastrolounge, Ermita

Like the fabled children of Hamelin, the denizens and passersby of Ermita, Manila’s Arquiza Street as well as guests of the Red Planet Hotel Manila Bay, will find themselves drawn to the bright lights, good music and chill vibe of the Pied Piper… Well, the Pied Piper Gastrolounge, that is.

For people who love to enjoy their favorite brews along with their meals, gatrolounges (also known as gastropubs) are the place to be. In these places, they are assured of a steady supply high end beers to satisfy their discerning tastes while still indulging themselves in hot dishes know as “pub grub.”

In contrast to the usual pub grubs, however, Pied Piper Gastrolounge’s menu features a fusion of Japanese and other cuisines, thanks to the input of Chef Mikel Aguirre. It also has some classic Pinoy-style grilled items courtesy of managing partner Carlo Religioso, the man behind Daddings Kitchenette.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of its offerings during its pre-anniversary concert.

These include:

Bacon Sushi Roll (Php250). Smoked pork is wrapped in nori and sushi rice and topped with torched bacon. Dipped into soy sauce with wasabi, this is a sure winner!

Crispy Spareribs (Php320). Meaty pieces of pork ribs are braised for three hours, grilled for a smokey flavor and then deep fried to get a crispy exterior. Dipped into the house barbecue sauce, it’s a must for every carnevore.

Baked Tahong (Php280). A Japanese version of the bar staple, this baked mussels dish make use of a special Japanese cheese sauce.

To accompany our food, we had our fill of Rhum Cokes (Php150/glass) and Vodka Sprites (Php150/glass).

This shindig was also marked by musical performances by Viva Hotabes Maricar dela Fuente and EB Babe Molly Baylon.

With the resto’s chill surroundings, friendly staff, good eats and cool sounds, it was a spirited night for me and my friends at the Pied Piper Gastrolounge.

Pied Piper Gastrolounge is located at Ground Floor, Red Planet Hotel Manila Bay, Arquiza Corner Alhambra Street, Ermita, Manila. (Note: Parking may be a problem). It is open everyday from 10am to 1am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 927 2915211.