June 2019 – Page 2 – Jellybeans in the City

Tea Mama: Tea that’s good and good for you

We love our tea, whether infused with fruits or milk. We cannot seem to get away from our daily dose of sweet sugary tea goodness. It’s more than an addiction but also a part of our lifestyle and with that lifestyle comes the real question…

Is this good for me?

Now, you’re given a choice of what’s good for you without sacrificing the flavor and goodness of tea.

Tea Mama knows what’s good and good for you.

Like any mother, Tea Mama knows what’s good and what’s good for you just like our real moms. Our moms only want the best for us and so does Tea Mama. We make sure we preserve the freshness and bring out the natural flavors of each drink. Tea is warm and fulfilling and that’s our goal with each cup that we blend for you. Each of our tea blends are unique and carefully sourced from all over the world by the country’s First Certified Tea Master, Renee Sebastian.

#ChooseGood

Tea Mama encourages you to Choose Good by making sure we use only the freshest ingredients and expertly brewed tea to bring out the best in every drink. We want our tea to help nourish, soothe and uplift the body. Tea Mama is made for the health conscious you.

#DoGood

Tea Mama is a sustainable brand that encourages care for the planet by using only eco- friendly methods and biodegradable materials. We also source some of our ingredients locally and is proudly produced in the Philippines.

#FeelGood

Tea Mama wants you to enjoy the goodness of tea, just the way you prefer it. With various options, you can create you tea drink, just the way you like it. Tea Mama offers vegan, non-dairy and other options that fits your lifestyle. Treating yourself to a tea infused drink is now guilt-free.

Tea Mama offers fresh and fruity tea blends, healthy vegan & non-dairy milk tea
options and delicious matcha latte blends.

At Tea Mama, we let you get to know more about each tea blend that you are about to
consume. Go ahead and always feel free to ask us with what goes inside your cup. Let
us help you elevate your appreciation for tea. Tea Mama shares this warmth with
everyone who comes across our shops and beverages.

Time to #ChooseGood, #DoGood and #FeelGood with Tea Mama.

Tea Mama will open its first branch in the country at the SM Megamall Food Hall on July 10.

Product info and images provided by Tea Mama via a press release.

Horrific journey into madness at Asylum Manila

Opened in 1939, the Asylum was a premier psychiatric medical institution for the criminally insane. The worst and most violent of psychiatric patients were brought here for treatment and seclusion.

Dr. Vanicutt, a renowned psychiatrist from Pennysylvania, heads the asylum. When his wife died from a mysterious accident, the doctor sank into madness: tormenting and conducting grotesque experiments on the patients.

During the Japanese occupation, the Asylum was mistaken for an abandoned building and a garrison of soldiers was stationed there. They ended up going insane and slaughtering each other.

From then on, the Asylum has been abandoned. The poor souls who wandered there were never heard from again.

Now in 2019, the doors are open again, welcoming new patients while the many unthinkable events that took place in the Asylum are still waiting to be uncovered.

That’s the premise of Asylum Manila, the newest horror attraction in the metro. It is a massive walk-through of dark attractions with sinister live actors, jump scares straight out of horror movies and Hollywood-caliber special effects.

You and your gang (who will, hopefully, stand with you no matter what terrors you encounter inside) will enter the Asylum as its newest patients. Two creepy nurses will check your vitals (making sure that you have no pre-existing medical conditions that will make you unable to complete your journey), then they will reveal the Asylum’s sordid history before ushering you into the house of horrors.

Inside, you will be chased up, down and around by crazed orderlies, chainsaw murderers, cannibalistic undertakers and mutilated patients. You will even encounter characters straight from horror movies such as Annabelle and the Nun from The Conjuring series and Pennywise the Clown from It.

By the end of your 45-minute journey through winding pathways, moving floors and walls, flashing lights and creepy music, you will have experienced thrills and chills that will leave your adrenaline pumpin’ and your knees shakin’.

My friends from #SaanSaPH and I got a sneak peek of Asylum Manila’s attractions the day before it opened to the public and and let me say that the experience was one of the most fun, albeit scary, times we’ve all had together.

Tickets go on sale starting June 20, priced at Php699 Mondays to Thursdays, and at Php799 Fridays to Sundays. VIP tickets priced at Php1,200 are also available giving holders priority in queue. To buy online, visit AsylumManila.com.

Asylum Manila is located at 1148 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City (in front of Christ the King Mission), open from 4pm to 12 midnight. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 945 3007408, +63 945 3007404, +63 947 4612808 or +63 947 4612807.

Some reminders:

The attractions are not recommended for children under 12 years old or for persons with known and pre-existing medical conditions such as pregnancy, breathing/heart/psychological/joint/muscle conditions or any conditions made worse by physical exertion.
Wear comfortable clothes (no heels) and don’t bring backpacks or bags
No taking of photos or filming inside the attractions except in the assigned areas.

Thanks to Zarrah of TheBandWagonChic.com for extending the invitations!

Something new brewing at Caffe Freddo, BGC

For a coffee lover like me, that morning cuppa signals the start of a new day, and that mug in the afternoon is all I need to pick me up from the post-lunch slump.

I also look forward to trying out new brews and coffee concoctions. It’s actually amazing how coffee is versatile enough to be mixed and matched with new ingredients to come up with an exciting new beverage.

Last night, together with my fellow foodies, I trooped over to Caffe Freddo in Bonifacio High Street to find out what the cafe has been brewing as part of its Philippine Independence Day offering.

The new Ube Freddo (Php150) localizes Caffe Freddo’s coffee experience by adding the very Pinoy flavor of ube (purple yam) to the Freddo, the cafe’s signature iced coffee drink which contains a double shot of espresso and sweetened frothed milk. The resulting purple concoction makes for a pretty and Instagrammable drink. It joins the cafe’s roster of imaginative Freddo flavors which already include Mocha, Chai, Matcha and Coco starting June 12.

Along with the Ube Freddo, we also got a taste of the cafe’s carefully curated Modern European brunch menu which included:

Appetizers

Crunchy Calamari (Php240). Crispy battered squid rings served with basil and lime mayo.

Spring Rolls (Php260). Shrimp and corn-filled spring rolls served with coriander tomato dip.

Dried Figs Burrata Flat Bread (Php380). The dried figs add a sweet element that complements the savory flavors from burrata cheese, caramelized onions and the arugula in this flatbread.

Panzanella Salad (Php290). Fresh flavors abound in this mixture of kale, watermelon, cherry tomatoes and croutons tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette.

Mains.

Nasi Goreng (Php330). Chicken satay served with Indonesian spiced shrimp, vegetable fried rice and fried egg.

Beef Tagliatelle (Php350). Pasta tossed in beefy tomato ragu and basil.

Aglio Olio (Php350). Spaghetti tossed in virgin olive oil, garlic and spiced bacon.

Soy Grilled Salmon (Php480). Salmon topped with wabiko cream and served with wasabi mashed potato.

Fried Chicken Confit (Php320). Crispy fried chicken served with cole slaw.

Croque Madame (Php320). Smoked ham over a brioche toast and a layer of gruyere cheese, topped with a fried egg and mornay sauce.

Desserts.

Mango Granita (Php220). Succulent cubes of mango mixed in strips of fresh coconut, crumbled macaroons and coconut milk.

Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta (Php220). Light and tangy panna cotta served with blueberries in a pinot syrup.

Sans Rival (Php220). The classic Pinoy cake made of decadent layers of buttercream, meringue and chopped nuts.

Choco Paradise (Php190).This rich chocolatey confection is perfect for those craving for chocolate after a meal.

With its slew of dishes, coffee offerings and cozy atmosphere, it’s easy to see why Caffe Freddo has become a prime foodie destination.

Thanks to Pat of ThePatKidInside for extending the invitation!

About Caffe Freddo

Caffe Freddo prides itself in offering a very unique selection of coffee, not found anywhere else in the metro. The coffee selection is all specially brewed from premium coffee beans of Bluestone Lane from New York City. Strategically located in the busy commercial business district of Bonifacio High Street, Caffe Freddo has refreshingly inviting interiors, with its off-white distressed brick walls, ample seating good for 50 people, and columns with hand-painted coffee plants in vibrant hues of green and red. Caffe Freddo is cozy enough for group meet-ups and family dining.

Caffe Freddo is located at The Spa Building, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 7am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 7am to 12 midnight. For inquiries, call +63 9988479410.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow 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.

Check out my blog posts on breakfast joints around the metro:

Hearty and tasty comfort food at Chef Robert, Greenhills

So, what is comfort food?

It is a repast that triggers nostalgia or sentiment in someone: your mom’s signature chicken soup, crispy fried chicken that your family treats you too when you get good grades, or freshly baked pan de sal whose smell waft into your nostrils as you walk by the panaderia.

This is food ingrained with our personal memories, and aside from sating our hunger, it also soothes out soul.

This is the kind of food that Chef Robert serves. Hearty and tasty, his dishes remind us of the food that mom used to serve at home for Sunday brunch, or the ones your titas used to make for family gatherings while also introducing new ways to enjoy classic Filipino viands.

Together with my fellow foodies, I visited the newly opened Chef Robert branch in Greenhills, where the restaurant transfered after closing its branch in Banawe, Quezon City. Carlo, the restaurant’s marketing manager, and Chef Robert himself was there to welcome us and give us a taste of the restaurant’s signature offerings which included:

Mushroom Fritters (Php195). A light starter for the meal which has the crispy feel of chicharon (pork rind) but less of the guilt. It is well complemented by the restaurant’s house vinegar blend.

Salad Rolls in Kani Mango (Php145 solo | Php245 regular). A fresh way to enjoy salad rolls, this has Japanese element to it with an interesting interplay of salty flavor from the kani and sweetness from the mango.

Bicol Express Pasta (Php225). According to TV host and foodie Tonipet, this dish is “matapang, masarap saka malasa.” This is a pasta dish that you will definitely come back for.

Alamang Fried Rice (Php175). Good for up to four people, it goes well with many of Chef Robert’s viands.

Tofu Sisig on Eggplant Torta (Php265). The smokey flavor of the eggplant lends well to the savory tofu.

Bangus Sisig (Php205 regular | Php325 big). A bit sweeter than the usual sisig, it also makes for a healthy alternative to the classic pork sisig dish.

Crispy Kare-Kare (Php345). Crispy deep-fried pork belly slices accompanied by steamed veggies in a rich peanut-y Kare Kare sauce and accompanied by bagoong (fermented shrimp paste).

Crispy Embutido with Egg (Php205). The holiday staple embutido is given a makeover by coating slices in panko (Japanese bread crumbs) and deep frying them to a crispy golden brown. These are accompanied by garlic fried rice and sunny-side-up egg, making it a hearty breakfast meal.

Coffee Jelly (Php140). Cubes of coffee jelly in a sweet cream and topped with a scoop of ice cream, a perfect cap to the meal.

With these flavorful and hearty dishes, it is easy to see that Chef Robert brings his ten years of culinary experience to bear to serve mouth-watering fare to San Juan city denizens.

Thanks to Dom of Around the City by iDomne and Jen of Sand Under My Feet for extending the invitation.

Have an appetite for pasta? Check out Chef Robert’s Unli Pasta offer! For only Php299 get unlimited refills of your choice of pasta among Bicol Express Pasta, Linguini Alfredo and Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti. Your order already comes with refillable red iced tea and a single serving of coffee jelly. See if you can beat the current record of eight refills!

Chef Robert is located at Os2 Providence Building, 55 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan City, open Tuesdays to Fridays from 11.30am to 9pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 11am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 2556309, +63 917 8654780 or +63 933 8664503.

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.

Feel free to get cheesy at Tori Chizu, UP Town Center

Did you know that while the doria, or the Japanese version of the baked rice casserole, did originate in Japan, it was actually invented by a Swiss chef who worked in a hotel restaurant in Japan in the 1930s?

It is considered an example of yoshoku – Western food in Nihonggo – which take the form of Japanized Western dishes.

Today, Tori Chizu, a new restaurant brand under the same company that manages Korean fastfood chain Bon Chon, brings this Japanese dish and more to foodies the metro, with most of its dishes served with its signature cheesy chizu sauce.

(This got me all excited because, as most of my friends know, I’m an avid cheese lover. Yeah, cheesy talaga!)

Together with my fellow foodies from #SaanSaPH, I visited its UP Town Center branch to get a taste of its offerings.

Our meal included:

Chicken Katsu Curry Chizu Bowl (Php139). I never developed a liking for curry but, at least, the Japanese versions leans more towards sweet rather than spicy. Still, when taken together with chizu sauce, I found the combination to be quite overwhelming. The chicken katsu, however, is well-seasoned with a crisp batter covering and tender meat.

Chicken Karaage Chizu Bowl (Php129). Karaage is a way of lightly coating meats – most often chicken pieces – in seasoned flour or potato starch then deep-frying them in oil. Today, it is one of the most popular Japanese chicken dishes, no doubt due to its versatility and near-universal appeal. The addition of the chizu sauce to the rice bowl adds a layer of decadence to the dish.

Beef Chizu Bowl (Php149). This is another dish with wide appeal which feature strips of sauteed sukiyaki-cut beef, whose relatively mild flavor is complemented by the chizu sauce.

Baked Pasta with Egg (Php135). The tomato-based sauce does not conform to the expectations of the Pinoy palette. If you don’t like pasta sauce that tends towards the sour rather than the spicy-sweet we’ve grown used to, this pasta dish might not be for you.

Chicken Racks (Php554 for 8-piece combination of Umami and Spicy). I got intimidated by the color and presentation of the spicy chicken pieces so I just took a bite of the umami chicken. Thankfully, it was juicy and tender: just well-seasoned enough to go well with rice.

Desserts: Double Cheese (Php55) and Ube Macapuno Soft (Php62). We capped our meal with soft-serve ice cream: one was topped with lots of cheese powder resulting in an appetizing mixture of sweet and salty flavors while the other features the local flavors of ube (purple yam) and macapuno (soft and chewy coconut flesh), adding a very Pinoy spin to this dessert.

I found Tori Chizu’s menu to have quite a lot of variety so you can definitely come back several times to have a taste of something new while you’re deciding on which dish is your favorite. Its offerings are also quite affordably priced, making its dishes accessible to more people.

Tori Chizu is well worth a visit for cheese lovers and those on the lookout a new take on Japanese cuisine.

(And also those who are feeling a bit cheesy…)

Thanks to Shishi of Shi’s A Mom for extending the invitation!

This Tori Chizu branch is located at the Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Diliman, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Other branches may be found at:

Upper Ground Floor, Outside Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Security Land Center, VA Rufino corner Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati

Disclosure: Together with other #SaanSaPH foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup 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.

Padi’s Point and San Miguel Beer Partner for Happy Hour Barkada Treat 2019

For the second straight year, the country’s widest bar chain, Padi’s Point Restaurant and Bar and the largest beer producer of the country—San Miguel Brewery Inc., have partnered for one amazing treat for all “barkadas.”

Happy Hour Barkada Treat have made San Miguel Beer products available at 3 bottles for only P150 in all Padi’s Point branches during their respective Happy Hour schedules this April 1 to May 31, 2019. But as an added treat, all customers who availed this offer during the promo period were given raffle coupons wherein their names plus two of their friends were indicated and will have a chance to win in the grand raffle held on June 7, 2019 at Padi’s Point-Metro East wherein 3 Game Consuls were given away.

In the previous year’s raffle, 3 Pocket Drones were won by MicroSourcing employee Karl Devoe Guidaya and his friends/team mates Rommel Longatang and Rodel Carulasan.

Guidaya, Longatang and Carulasan are occasional visitors of different Padi’s Point branches particularly in the South Manila/Cavite area where they work and live such as Padi’s Point- Bacoor, The Pad-MOA and where their winning entry came from—Padi’s Point-Las Piñas.

“We work from 6am to 3pm, so coming in after work or during Happy Hour is perfect for us. Mas mura ang Cocktails, Beers ang dami pang ibang promo na sakto sa budget”, confirms Guidaya.

Being on the techie-side and working in a BPO, specifically a gaming account, all 3 guaranteed that they will be using the drones during travels, barkada adventures and even on team- building activities.

Definitely all three will be visiting Padi’s Point branches even more as there is no better place to gimmick, party and win.

Header photo shows Happy Hour Barkada Treat 2018 winners Rodel Cadulasan, Karl Devoe Guidaya and Romel Longatang receiving their prizes from Padi’s Point assistant marketing manager Julie Ann Gatchalian.

In Metro Manila, Padi’s Point branches are located at:

Robinsons Metro East, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City (see review here see review here)
Ground Floor Century Imperial Suites, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (see review here)
Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal (see review here)
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal (see review here)
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Lovely feast at Dong Juan, Marikina

Nestled in the Marikina suburbs is a new and happenin’ food park called Lamp Quarters. With its beautifully designed exteriors – lots of relaxing green spaces where you can enjoy either the sunshine or the night breeze – and its wonderful curation of food merchants, Lamp Quarters is sure to appeal to the young ‘uns as well as #TitasOfManila-type folks like me.

One of the restaurants situated in Lamp Quarters is Dong Juan, one of the Metro Manila branches of the popular Cebu-based restaurant. It features airy interiors, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of natural light and bric-a-bracs that give the place a warm and homey feel.

I’m actually a frequent visitor of Dong Juan’s branch along Mother Ignacia Avenue in Quezon City as it’s located just a short ride from my office. There, I’ve developed a preference for its Sizzling Pochero.

During a foodie meetup at Dong Juan Marikina together with other #MarikinaFoodies, however, I was treated to a lovely feast which included:

1. Humongous All-Beef Burgers.

Made with quarter pounds of USDA beef patties, these burgers are great for huge appetites.

Dong Juan Burger (Php189.00)

Ultimate Bacon Burger (Php309.00)

2. Appetizers.

Whet your appetite with these savory dishes!

Beef Tips (Php349)

Chili Wings (Php219)

Popeye Shrimps (Php259)

Calamares (Php209)

Popeye Shrimps (Php259)

3. Pastas

These filling pasta dishes can be split among friends.

Gambas Al Ajillo Pasta (Php279)

Native Cebu Chorizo Pasta (Php229)

Linquine Meatballs in Marinara Sauce (Php209)

4. Main Dishes

These hearty entrees are also good for sharing!

Asian Style Pork Knuckles “Crispy Pata” (Php529)

Spicy Shrimp in Crab Roe (Php299)

5. Pizzas

These tasty pizzas are best eaten fresh and hot from the oven!

Hawaiian (Php389 – 10-inch | 8 slices)

Pepperoni (Php389 – 10-inch | 8 slices)

Bacon & Mushroom (Php389 – 10-inch | 8 slices)

6. Desserts

These decadent sweets already include a cup of freshly-brewed coffee.

New York Cheesecake (Php199)

Belgian Chocolate Cake (Php169)

7. Wines

Savor these dishes with spirits that Dong Juan keeps in stock and serves per glass.

I recently discovered the fine taste of Carlo Rossi’s Pink Moscato. It’s perfect for a night out with wines and titas, hehehe!

Together with my fellow #MarikinaFoodies, I thoroughly enjoyed the fusion of flavors of Dong Juan’s signature dishes.

Thanks to Danes of MarikinaFoodies for extending the invitation!

Celebrating your birthday anytime soon? Why not spend it at Dong Juan and enjoy a free meal! Just bring two full-paying adults and choose from any of these sets:

Burger Steak, Plain Rice, Dong Juan Iced Tea and a scoop of Ice Cream
Dong Juan Burger, Dong Juan Iced Tea and a scoop of Ice Cream
Linguini Meat Balls in Marinara Sauce, Dong Juan Iced Tea and a scoop of Ice Cream

This Dong Juan branch is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Niño, Marikina City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 12 midnight. For queries, call +63 917 7095969.

Dong Juan’s other branch in Metro Manila is located at 72 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3740265. Check out my full resto review.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #MarikinaFoodies, 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.

Since Dong Juan is a Zomato Gold partner restaurant, you can get some of these dishes free when you unlock your Zomato Gold privilege at Dong Juan. 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.

Lovin’ the night life at Padi’s Point, Metro East

The sun went down and it’s the end of another work week.

Why not celebrate the start of the weekend by letting your hair down, letting loose and letting the good times roll with your friends at your nearest Padi’s Point?

That’s what my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I did last night at the Padi’s Point branch at Robinsons Metro East.

This resto is ideally situated for the residents of Metro Manila’s eastern areas who don’t want to make the trek to Padi’s Point branches further up in Antipolo.

Here, you and your buds can enjoy Padi’s Point’s signature bar chows and drinks along with some live music that you and the gang can groove to.

Check out the goodies that fueled our Friday night party:

Kulot (Php89). Cheesy crisp strings great for mindless eating, hehehe!

Cheese Sticks (Php155). Yummy cheese wraps great for snackin’.

Chicken Lollipops (Php290). Bite-sized crispy fried chicken pieces.

Crunchy Calamares (Php250). Crispy battered squid rings.

Kropek (Php135). Crunchy and savory shrimp crackers.

Shot Decker (Php199). Prettily presented shots of Zombie, GotchaAftershock, Mindoro Sling, Blue Moon and Emperor Tower cocktails.

Rainbow Cocktail Tower (Php199). Refreshing multi-colored and multi-flavored cocktails served in a 3-liter tower.

Baileys (Php80/shot). My favorite drink of all time!

With these yummy munchies and this awesome group of foodies, a great rockin’ time was guaranteed!

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Robinsons Metro East, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 4pm to 4am, and Fridays to Saturdays from 4pm to 5am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 919 5856068 or +63 9195438490.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, 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.

Friday night hang out at Padi’s Point, Tomas Morato

For decades now, Padi’s Point has remained the after-hours drinking and gimik place for the barkada. Padi’s Point’s branch here in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area provides local residents and office workers a place to hang loose and relax with their buddies while enjoying their favorite drinks and pulutan.

This particular Friday night, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I all trooped to Padi’s Point Tomas Morato for some early evening food and drinks.

By early evening, this Padi’s Point is ready for people who want to eat, drink and have a good time. Its extensive menu Filipino dishes and bar chow, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will have something for everyone in the gang. And if some in your group would like to get down on the dance floor, who’s to judge?

Our group’s Friday evening chow included:

Padi’s Original Sisig (Php280). The house special sisig that seem to find it’s way to every inuman session.

Mexican Pizza (Php360). Who would have thought you can top a pizza with sausage, onion rings, bell peppers and nacho chips?

Barkada Supreme (Php730). Finger-foods to go with the barkada’s drinks: onion rings, cheese sticks, french fries, chicken nuggets and mushroom poppers.

Barrio Feast (Php705). Everyone’s favorite fried and grilled dishes: fried chicken, fried tilapia, inihaw na liempo and pusit, accompanied by tokwa’t baboy and ensalada.

Garlic Mushrooms (Php170). Plump and succulent champignon mushroom halves that go well with your favorite drink.

What a great start to the weekend! Thanks to EJ of ILoveToEatPH for extending the invite!

In the mood for a longer hang out sesh with the gang? Take advantage of the Padi’s Point’s Summer Tower treat! Get a cocktail tower, that’s 3 liters of your choice of cocktails to fuel laughter and some good-natured ribbing from the gang.

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Ground Floor Century Imperial Suites, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 4pm to 6am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 9207864 or +63 2 9278001.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

HBO Films’ SHARE premieres July 28 exclusively on HBO and HBO Go

The HBO Films presentation SHARE, which screened in official selection at Cannes Film Festival this year, debuts same time as the U.S. on Sunday, 28 July at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The film encores the same day on HBO at 10pm.

Based on Pippa Bianco’s Cannes Film Festival award-winning short of the same name, this feature-length drama stars Rhianne Barreto as 16-year-old Mandy, who discovers a disturbing video from a night she doesn’t remember and must try to figure out what happened and how to navigate the escalating fallout. SHARE also stars Charlie Plummer, Poorna Jagannathan, J.C. MacKenzie, Nicholas Galitzine, Lovie Simone and Danny Mastrogiorgio.

At the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Pippa Bianco received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and Rhianne Barreto won the Special Jury Award for Achievement in Acting, both in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. The film was also featured this year as the closing night screening of MoMA and Film Society of Lincoln Center’s New Directors/New Films Festival, and most recently screened in official selection at Cannes Film Festival.

SHARE is an HBO Films presentation of an A24 and Loveless production; written and directed by Pippa Bianco; produced by Carly Hugo, Tyler Byrne and Matt Parker.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

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.

Series details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Header image from IMDB.com.

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