August 2019 – Jellybeans in the City

Vaya Tyffyn: The first and last lunchbox you will ever need

Get ready to change the way you eat lunch each and every day with the Vaya Tyffyn lunchboxes! Now available in the Philippines, the Vaya Tyffyn was designed by a team of highly seasoned professionals all across the globe. Vaya seeks to improve the way people take food on the go with a product that is stylish, durable, and travel-friendly.

Lunchboxes as a Way of Life for All Generations

In the Philippines, the lunchbox brings up memories of childhood and meals that end up cold and runny; edible, but not quite as satisfying as it could be. At its worst, the food inside can spoil before consumption.

The practice of carrying a lunchbox often continues into adulthood, with many taking a packed lunch to work in order to enjoy a healthier and fresher meal. Yet, despite the efforts at re-heating food, lunches never taste as fresh as it should be.

A Lunchbox Full of Innovation

Enter: the Vaya Tyffyn. The design defies the conventional approach to pre-packed meals by providing consumers with the option to pack a multi-course meal every day instead of the typical combination of
rice and a main dish.

Vaya Tyffyn is a truly unique lunchbox with key features such as:

A collapsible handle
Vaya’s proprietary Vacutherm Insulation technology that keeps your food hot or cold for 6 hours
A sleek, stainless steel body that easily fits in your bag
Leak-resistant lids with integrated gaskets
Partitions that can carry more than one dish in each container
Heat-protective finger grips
Replaceable copper-finished, polished-stainless steel containers
Stainless steel pressurizing latches

The Vaya Tyffyn comes in three different sizes for all appetites; 600ml (two containers), 1,000ml (three containers), 1,300ml (four containers).

A New Approach to Meal Prep

Whether it’s a quick lunch at the office or a day-trip with your friends, the Vaya Tyffyn is sure to become a staple in your life. Safe, sleek, and sustainable, the Tyffyn ensures your food stays fresh and warm; ready to enjoy at your own convenience. Experience a new and exciting world of freshness with Vaya.

The Vaya Tyffyn is now available online at vayalife.com.

About Vaya

Vaya is the coming together of seasoned professionals from across the globe, driven by a visionary zeal to significantly improve people’s lives. The company intends to bring an emotional component in everyday life through the concept of total user experience: a combination of innovative, carefully designed, high-quality products, and smart, useful, friendly services. Vaya actively markets and sells its products in the Philippines and 15 other countries.

A lovely breakfast at W Cafe, Cainta

With the frequent bouts of rain and various roadworks contributing to the infuriating traffic jams in our part of the metro, it’s a wonder we Easterners can even manage to drag ourselves to any place in our pursuit of work, recreation or good eats.

Fortunately, we don’t have to travel far just to have a tasty breakfast in a comfy setting.

W Cafe, located near the Cainta Church along Bonifacio Avenue, is the place to be for dining out, hanging out with friends or simply passing the time while reading a good book.

From the outside, you would think the cafe is nondescript but, upon entering, you will be pleasantly surprised at its airy yet cozy interiors. A colorful mural adorns one wall while vintage items such as a dial radio, light fixtures, art deco prints and coffee table books scattered around add personality to the space. Oddly enough, the LCD screens touting menu items do not detract from the welcoming and relaxing atmosphere of the place; instead, they provide some dashes of color and light.

The cafe is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Joseph and Wilda Galvez, an outlet for Wilda to pursue her love of food while managing her medical practice. The cafe is also where Joseph applies his business know-how which developed from his years in the banking industry. Together, they conceptualized the menu and the store’s theme, and set about making their vision a reality.

(And if you’re wondering why this resto is called W Cafe, the name was actually taken from Wilda’s initial.)

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I visited W Cafe to try some of its breakfast treats which include:

Best-Sellers

Clubhouse Sandwich (Php160). Thick slices of wheat bread encase generous servings of grilled bacon, ham, scrambled egg, cheese, lettuce and cucumber.

Tomato Sardines Pasta (Php110). Fresh tomatoes and garlic cloves sauteed in olive oil then tossed together with freshly cooked pasta and topped with spicy Spanish-style sardines.

Fish Fillet Pomodoro (Php160). Italian-style tomato sauce and sliced black olives tossed into freshly cooked pasta and topped with pieces of breaded fish fillet.

Chicken Pesto (Php130). Made-from-scratch pesto sauce tossed into freshly cooked pasta along with tender and juicy slices of grilled chicken.

Breaded Porkchop Rice Meal (Php140). Breaded porkchop deep-fried to a golden brown and served with garlic rice, a sunny side up egg and some atchara.

Latte (Php70) and Chocolate Chip Cookies (Php40). The latte was made from strong Batangas coffee with steamed milk and topped with a cute latte art. It goes perfectly with the chocolate chip cookies. (Chocolate lovers, take a look at those huge chocolate chips!)

White Chocolate Creme Frappe (Php95) and Java Chip Frappe (Php125). W Cafe blends its own signature frappes that add sweetness to our day or perk us up for the day ahead.

Not-yet-on-the-menu.

Our group was also given an exclusive taste of some of the new dishes that will be launched soon.

Executive Breakfast. Go big or go home! Well, definitely go big for me! Who can say no to hearty servings of waffles, bacon, sausage and fried eggs?

Lechon Kawali. This dish’ secret weapon is the pesto-based dip that accompanies it. Smear that dip onto the deep-fried pork pieces or anything fried. It will make you come back for more! (How I wish the owners would bottle this stuff so I could buy some by the jar!)

Beef and Chicken Shawarma. Slices of marinated and grilled beef and chicken wrapped in pita bread along with cucumber strips and lettuce.

Banana Walnut Bread. A fluffy banana loaf with topped with walnut halves. This also goes well with the coffee.

Okinawa and Chocolate Milk Teas. W Cafe brews its own creamy milk teas with tapioca pearls and grass jelly sinkers.

A lot of care has been applied to the interplay of flavors within each dish, the appetizing plating and the generous servings of food. I’m looking forward to my next visit here so I could check out more of W Cafe’s all-day breakfast meals and sweet frappes.

Thanks to Erickson and Wilda Galvez, as well as the staff of W Cafe for the warm welcome and the great eats!

So Easterners, avoid the traffic jams and just check out W Cafe, our local cafe in Cainta.

W Cafe is located at Second Floor, Euros Commercial Building, 242 A. Bonifacio Avenue, Bgy. Sto. Domingo, Cainta, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 4045015.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held here. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Hard Rock Cafe rocks Makati again, harder this time!

After its successful opening at S Maison in Conrad Manila late last year, Hard Rock Café is back in Makati so guests can relive those rockin’ good times. Yes, watch out for its opening in Glorietta 3 on the 2nd week of September.

This new branch welcomes you with the same rockin’ vibe via its Rock Shop on the ground floor. Then up on the 2nd floor is the café and restaurant where good food and the best entertainment await.

Expect the same delicious comfort food worth ‘moshing the pit for’. Bestsellers are Original Legendary Burger, Hickory Smoked Ribs, and even an Asian-inspired menu. The extensive drinks selection is perfect for a night out! Wet you whistle its best-selling margaritas, to signature favorites and Alternative Rock (alcohol-free) beverages that can all be served in a collectible glassware you can bring home!

Take an exciting trip and get lost in its rock-and-roll memorabilia collection that adorn the walls—from famous rock music icons, such as autographed guitars, world tour costumes, and rare photos—that are purchased from auctions all over the world.

Face the music and groove to rock and roll, jazz, rhythm and blues, plus an anthology of pop, alternative, and classic rock tunes you love via the line-up of live musical performances of featured live bands every night.

And to cap a hearty and dynamic experience, bring home some merchandise to use, or mount on your own walls. Visit the Rock Shop on the ground floor and grab some of the merchandise which have gained quite a cult-like status with an extensive collection of timeless Hard Rock tees, hoodies, caps to commemorative pins and everything else in between, so you can strike a chord with your inner rock star!

It will be a September to remember as Hard Rock Café Manila does an encore in Makati. So get ready to rock… harder!

Hard Rock Café Makati will be located at the ground floor of Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. For inquiries, call +639162524119/(02) 990-9809. Like us on our social networking sites for updates: @hardrockcafemanila and visit our website: http://hardrock.com.

Hard Rock International

With venues in 75 countries, including 185 cafes, 27 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s most valuable collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise available in Rock Shops and online at https://shop.hardrock.com. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands including Hard Rock Live performance venues. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Atlantic City, Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Desaru Coast, Ibiza, Orlando, Shenzhen and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street in the United Kingdom, Kathmandu, Nepal, Kyoto, Japan and Chandigarh, India. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel & Casino projects include Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, London, Los Cabos, Madrid, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Sacramento, Dalian and Haikou in China. In 2018, Hard Rock International was recognized as a Forbes Magazine Top Employer for Women and Land Operator of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards. For more information on Hard Rock International visit http://www.hardrock.com.

Restaurant details and images provided by Hard Rock Cafe in a recent press release.

Frozen treats at Fiorgelato, Sta Lucia East

Just when we Easterners thought gelato treats are way above our budget or inaccessible to us, a Fiorgelato scooping station sets up shop right in our turf.

Gelato is a type of frozen dessert that originated in Italy. Made with a base of milk, gelato uses a lot less cream than ice cream, resulting in a denser and creamier dessert.

Fiorgelato produces several gelato flavors that make use of the finest ingredients such as chocolates, fresh fruits and imported Italian flavorings.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I visited the newly opened Fiorgelato scooping station at Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall.

The store stocks gelato variants that include: pistachio, pragola (strawberry), salted caramel, choco nut fudge, biscotti (cookies ‘n cream), ube (yam), menta (mint) and fior de panna (vanilla).

These flavors are mixed and matched, topped with goodies and made into yummy gelato-based treats, which, thanks to an ongoing rainy season promo, are currently available at discounted rates.

Check them out:

Regular Cup (Php60 from Php70).

Banana Split (Php110 from Php120).

Ice Cream Blend (Php110 from Php140).

And the soon-to-be-launched Revel Bar ala Mode (no price yet).

Just imagine what other gelato treats await us! Personally, I would really love it if Fiorgelato adds chocolate chips and chopped nuts among its toppings.

Many thanks to Oliver and the staff of Fiorgelato Sta. Lucia for having us!

This Fiorgelato kiosk is located at Second Floor, Building 3 (in front of the department store), Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Felix Avenue corner Marcos Highway, San Isidro, Cainta.

Other kiosks are located at:

Medical City, Ugong, Pasig
Rustan’s Makati, Glorietta Complex, Makati
Ayala Malls Circuit, Olympia, Makati
Salcedo Village, Makati
Sampaloc, Manila
Fairview, Quezon City
Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Fisher Mall Malabon, Longos, Malabon City

The Jelly List: Healthy Eats in QC

Healthy eating helps promote overall health and wellness by ensuring that we get the necessary nutrients our bodies need.

Well within Quezon City, there is an abundance of wholesome and nourishing, yet also tasty eats.

Check them out:

Salmon Sriracha Poke Bowl (Php230 for regular bowl| Php150 for junior bowl) at Poke Shack

Poke (pronounced as POKE-KAY) bowls originate from Hawaii, where pieces of fresh fish are chopped into small pieces, marinated in flavorful sauces and served on top of freshly steamed rice along with chopped fresh vegetables, nuts and other toppings that add flavor and texture to the dish. This Salmon Sriracha Poke Bowl, for instance, is made with tempura flour mix, ebiko, furikake, sesame seed with sriracha mayo.

Poke Shack is located at Ground Floor, Tera Tower, Bridgetowne Business Center, Ortigas Avenue Extension corner E. Rodriguez Jr Avenue, Libis, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm, Fridays from 10am to 11pm and Saturdays from 11am to 8pm. For inquiries, call +63 926 0718992 or +63 929 3173857.

Fun poke bowl lunch at Poke Shack, Libis

Everyday, we are presented with so many choices for our midday meals that deciding on which resto to have a #happylunch can be mind-blowing.

But what if we’re trying to eat healthy?

Whether we’re watching our weight or trying to ensure we get more essential nutrients into our system, we would really appreciate having multiple and viable options for a healthy meal.

Fortunately, another restaurant offering wholesome and nourishing meal choices has set up shop near my neck of the woods.

Poke Shack is located in the newly built Bridgetowne Business Center complex, giving the workers of nearby offices and the residents of nearby villages a tasty way to enjoy a nourishing meal: in a poke bowl.

Poke (pronounced as POKE-KAY) bowls originate from Hawaii, where pieces of fresh fish are chopped into small pieces, marinated in flavorful sauces and served on top of freshly steamed rice along with chopped fresh vegetables, nuts and other toppings that add flavor and texture to the dish. Sometimes, cooked meat is used as substitute for the raw fish.

Over the years, the poke bowl has adopted various culinary influences, making it a very versatile dish.

Recently, my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH and I visited Poke Shack to sample its some of its wide array of poke bowls which included:

The Shack Standard (Php210 for regular bowl | Php130 for junior bowl). Made with tuna, celery, ebiko (shrimp roe), furikake (dry Japanese seasoning), sesame seed with classic poke sauce.

Juan-der Bowl (Php190 for regular bowl | Php110 for junior bowl). Made with tuna, red egg, red raddish, celery, black sesame seed, spring onion and aioli sauce.

Salmon Sriracha (Php230 for regular bowl| Php150 for junior bowl). Made with salmon, celery, onion, crispy showa tempura flour mix, ebiko, furikake, sesame seed with sriracha mayo.

Jeju Chicken (Php190 for regular bowl | Php110 for junior bowl). Made with Korean-style chicken, black and white sesame seed, brocolli, cauliflower, leeks with Bonchon sauce.

Chicharrones Zing (Php210 for regular bowl | Php130 for junior bowl). Made with crispy pork liempo, salsa, pineapple, salted egg with chimichurri and sriracha.

Beefy Cheese Machine (Php230 for regular bowl| Php150 for junior bowl). Made with beef, cheese, corn, pickled cucumber, cherry tomato, spring onion with aioli sriracha.

In the mood for something else aside from your poke bowl? Try it with Chicken Skin (Php50) or Crocutes (Php100), potato and cheese croquettes with crab sticks or spam cubes.

Add iced tea or lemonade to your poke bowl for only Php20 or make it a meal with iced tea or lemonade and salad chips for only Php40.

Plus, every Wednesday, get your poke bowl for only Php100!

Thanks to the varied tastes and textures of Poke Shack’s poke bowls, eating healthy has never been easier or more fun!

Thanks to Michael Alegre of Poke Shack and his crew for the warm welcome and the yummy food!

No time to visit the store? Have your poke bowl from Poke Shack delivered to you via Food Panda.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held here. 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 other healthy eats in the metro:

Nomi Cafe, BGC

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Jack’s Lemonade, UP Town Center

UltraKappu, Old Balara

Pantry by Rub Rack, Katipunan

Ca Phe Saigon. Marikina

Wabi Sabi, Tomas Morato

Saigon Corner, Tomas Morato

Comfort food elevated at ALTA by Relik, San Juan

Weekend brunches have grown popular lately, with many establishments offering hearty comfort dishes that can be leisurely enjoyed by diners.

At ALTA by Relik at Santolan Town Plaza, families can enjoy the flavorful comfort food amidst vibrant and colorful surroundings.

The restaurant is an offshoot of the popular BGC restaurant Relik. Restaurant owner Gen Mortel and Chef Jam Laboriente collaborated on a Filipino-Spanish menu to provide an elevated dining experience to San Juan’s foodies.

Last weekend I had brunch together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH at ALTA by Relik where we had a taste of its comfort food elevated with fresh twists such as:

Relik’s Nachos (Php350). Homemade tortilla chips topped with meat sauce, crisp lettuce, tomato and cucumber relish, cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Chilean Mussels Croquettes (Php495). Chilean mussels topped with thick bechamel sauce and bread crumbs and served a with a lemon slice.

Pulled Pork Quesadilla (Php235). Tender pulled pork, cheddar, mozzarella, corn kernels, lettuce and source cream encased in homemade flour tortillas.

Watermelon and Kesong Puti Salad (Php265). Mixed greens, arugula, watermelon cubes, bits of kesong puti and candied walnuts tossed with balsamic reduction.

Longanisa Flatbread with Salted Egg Cream (Php375). Crisp flatbread topped with sweet pork longganisa, tomato salsa and salted egg dressing.

Seafood Chowder (Php295). Shrimp, squid and herbs incorporated in a flavorful cream soup and garnished with croutons and parsley.

Bagnet Sinigang (Php395). The classic sinigang dish deconstructed into pieces of bagnet and vegetables served with a broth made of fresh sampaloc dialed up to its asim-est level.

Lamb Pares (Php355). Slow-cooked shoulders of grass-fed New Zealand lambs in garlic soy sauce served with garlic rice.

Sizzling Bulalo Steak (Php489). Tender beef shank with its decadent bone marrow served sizzling in a garlic bulalo gravy together with fried potatoes, green beans and garlic bits.

Seafood Paella (Php995). Rich saffron-infused medium-grain rice with white shrimp, squid, Chilean mussels and roasted bell peppers served in a special paellera pan that helps it develop a nice toasty crust at the bottom. (Fun fact: that flavorful toasty crust is called socarrat in Catalan. Paella connoisseurs consider this the key to paella’s fabulous flavor).

Mango Tapioca Trifle (Php215). Fresh sliced mangoes, caramel,sauce and tapioca pearls top a layer of lady fingers.

Milo Dinosaur Cheesecake (Php195). A chocolatey frozen cheesecake flavored with Milo and garnished with sprinkled with Milo powder.

So if you feel like enjoying an elevated brunch experience or dine on an excellent selection of Filipino-Spanish fusion dishes, drop by at Santolan Town Plaza to experience ALTA by Relik!

Many thanks to Gen, Jam and the staff of ALTA by Relik for the warm welcome and the fabulous food!

ALTA by Relik is located at Santolan Town Plaza, Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue, Little Baguio, San Juan City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 8am to 12 midnight and Fridays to Saturdays from 8am to 2am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 3172582.

Here are more reasons to head to ALTA by Relik:

DJ Nights every Thursday night at 8pm.
Live music every Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
All-You-Can-Eat buffet breakfast every Sunday from 8am to 11.30am.

Five ways Saltitude, Anilao will make your next beach vacay your best ever

Urban life is not a piece of cake for us city slickers, is it? Hectic schedules and those infernal traffic jams do take a toll on our dispositions, and sometimes, even on our physical health.

Sometimes, don’t you just wish you could hie off somewhere, hibernate for a while and luxuriate in peace and quiet? Or how about taking a break from being a desk warrior and be out in the sun, getting your muscles in motion doing something fun? How about spending time with the people you love away from the stresses of city life and luxuriate in a seafront haven?

Well, guess what: you can do all these and more at Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort, one of the trendiest vacay spots to enter the Anilao beach scene.

Spend your beach vacation at Saltitude and you’ll be bringing home not just a great tan but also a lot of great memories. How? Well, let me count the ways:

One: Whimsically decorated rooms get you in your vacay groove.

Each of Saltitude’s fully air-conditioned rooms is named, furnished and decorated according to the things you can do at the beach in or out of the water. The beddings, curtains and unique DIY tchotchkes are all in keeping with the room’s theme. Each door and some of the wall art are also hand-painted by the owners.

Check them out:

Twin-sharing rooms perfect for intimate trips of couples or BFFs.

Dive.

Snorkle.

Kayak.

Fall in Love.

Talk.

Triple-sharing rooms or huts well-suited for a small family or group.

Sail.

Chill.

Sun-bathe.

And a family room that can accommodate a larger number of guests.

Party.

Two: A whole gamut of outdoor activities lets you make the most of the sun and waves

Co-owners Malou Esparrago and Jake Calangi are both dive enthusiasts and they let their guest take full advantage of their diving expertise and the resort’s proximity to some of Anilao’s best dive sites.

In fact, newbie divers can get their PADI, RAID or SSI diving certification at the resort through Saltitude’s experienced diving instructors.

Other activities that can be enjoyed while staying at Saltitude include swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing and even trekking to nearby Mount Gulugod Baboy.

Read more details on the outdoor adventures you can have at Saltitude here.

Three: Tasty dishes and delish dining events are sure to satisfy your food cravings

Who would have thought that going to the beach will also present you an opportunity to indulge your inner foodie?

Saltitude’s restaurant aptly named bar and restaurant Mingle serves up appetizing meals using fresh and local ingredients, bar chows and even Saltitude’s very own signature cocktails.

The resort recently launched Brunchin’ at the Beach, a brunch buffet held every Saturday from 6am to 12.30pm where diners can enjoy a sumptuous and well-curated spread of dishes in line with a weekly theme cuisine, all while enjoying the cool and relaxing vibe of the Saltitude’s beach and premises.

Read more about Brunchin’ at the Beach here.

During summer, Saltitude holds beach barbecues every Saturday night so guest can all come together to enjoy freshly grilled meats and seafood, as well as the cool sea breezes.

Guests with special diets have no need to worry. Just indicate your dietary restrictions when you book your room and the resort will find ways to accommodate you.

Four: It gives you lots of opportunities to rest, relax and re-charge

Who says you have to have a jam-packed itinerary while at the beach?

Make the most of this escape from the stresses of city life by enjoying the scenic views or reading your favorite book while relaxing Saltitude’s beachfront loungechairs, cabanas or hammocks.

Take this time to pamper yourself by booking a session with the resort’s accredited massage therapists.

Consider your stay here your “me time,” and return to your city life fully refreshed, recharged and raring to face the challenges ahead.

Five: It takes its environmental footprint seriously.

Environmentally conscious guests can rest easy as Saltitude also champions environmental causes. It avoids the use of disposable plastic in its operations while also incorporating reclaimed wood and recycled items in its decor.

On September 21, it will host a beach cleanup activity where participants can help in cleaning up a portion the local coastline and divesites while also taking part in environmental lectures and mingling with like-minded guests.

At Saltitude, your beach vacation can be so much more than just some time spent away from the city. It can also be an adventure that stirs your spirit or a balm that soothes your soul.

Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort is located along Manini Road in Mabini, Batangas. To book your stay or reserve a table at the restaurant, call +63 43 4101857, +63 927 4220428 or +63 939 9088843, or email info@saltitude-anilao.com. For more details, check out its website.

Unli Korean BBQ at YumEaTeh!, Marikina

Korean barbecue fans, you definitely have something new to be happy about.

Marikina, already home to a vibrant and varied food scene, now has another place that offers all the meats, seafood and side dishes you can eat at super affordable prices.

Located at the Wood Park Food Hub along E. Santos Street, YumEaTeh! has been serving up exciting Korean barbecue packages (named after Japanese icons, of all things!) to Marikina denizens since it began operations early this year.

As explained by the co-owners, Eric Tan and JM Alcantara, “YumEaTeh” has the same sound as the Japanese word for “stop.” They conceptualized their offers to be so filling that diners will eat their fill until they just want to stop.

Well, let’s take a look at its much-vaunted unli meal sets, shall we?

All of these already come with soup, plain rice, chao fan (Chinese fried rice), an assortment of banchan (side dishes) like tahong (steamed mussels), lettuce, quail egg bombs, potato salad, cheesy corn, apple slaw and kimchi, not to mention an array of sauces for the meats that include cheese, gravy, chili oil, wasabi mayo, gochujang (Korean red chili paste), ponzu (Japanese sauce) and honey mustard as well as Aice ice cream treats to cap the meal.

Ninja (Php198) gives you four delicious pork flavors such as salt and pepper barbecue, gochujang marinated pork slices, tonkatsu and sisig.

With Sempai (regularly priced at Php299 | available to YumEaTeh! Loyalty Card Holders for Php249), you can enjoy four different meat flavors that include the pork flavors included in Ninja, as well as chicken, which include salt and pepper, teriyaki and yangyeom (sweet, sour and spicy); squid, which include salt and pepper and yangyeom: and beef, which include salt and pepper, bulgogi and sukiyaki.

Hokage (Php399), on the other hand, gives you twelve different meat flavors that include the pork, beef, chicken and squid flavors included in Sempai, as well as five-spiced boiled crab, salt and pepper shrimp and ginger garlic mussels.

Lastly, with Hokage Supreme (Php499), you can enjoy twelve different meat flavors that include the pork, beef, chicken and squid, crab, shrimp and mussels flavors included in Hokage as well as deep-fried and butter garlic crab, butter garlic shrimp and tempura, hotpots of laksa, tantanmen and tomyum/sinigang, deep-fried squid and chicken poppers. This set also comes with a free liter of iced tea for every four people.

All these sets are guaranteed to satisfy your K-BBQ cravings!

Celebrating your birthday soon? Take advantage of YumEaTeh!’s Bigger, Better Birthday Promo which give you discounts on your Sempai (Php249) and Hokage Supreme (Php499) meals within ten days of your birthday depending on the number of companions you bring to YumEaTeh!:

One full paying adult: 20%
Two full paying adults: 30%
Three full paying adults: 50%
Four full paying adults: 80%
Five full paying adults: FREE

Thank you to Hungry Byaheros for extending the invitation, and to Eric Tan, JM Alcantara and the staff of YumEaTeh! for having us.

YumEatEh! Is located at The Wood Park, E. Santos Street, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11.30am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11.30am to 11.30pm. For inquiries, call +63 966 4664907.

HBO hit comedy series BALLERS returns for its fifth and final season on 26 August exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

Exploring the glamorous, often cutthroat, world of pro football through a group of past and present players striving to stay in the game, BALLERS stars Dwayne Johnson as ex-superstar Spencer Strasmore, who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for today’s players. Created by Stephen Levinson (HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”) who also serves as showrunner, the hit comedy series returns for its eight-episode fifth and final season same time as the U.S. on Monday, 26 August at 10.30am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode encores on the same day at 10pm on HBO.

This season finds Spencer (Johnson) settling into retirement and reflecting on his past, when an offer that’s too good to refuse comes his way and sends him back into the lion’s den, this time as a team owner. In the wake of his split with Spencer, an ambitious Joe (Rob Corddry) gambles aggressively to make Sports X greater than ever with the help of his new partner, Lance (Russell Brand). Meanwhile, Ricky (John David Washington) has a startling setback that forces him to consider a new kind of future and tests his physical, mental and emotional resolve; Charles (Omar Miller) learns that being a general manager means getting your hands dirty; Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) shifts his focus to his love of professional gaming despite Reggie’s (London Brown) wariness; and Jason (Troy Garity) decides to take his career to the next level.

Other returning cast regulars include John David Washington, Rob Corddry, Omar Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, London Brown and Brittany S. Hall.

Returning guest stars include Russell Brand, Carl McDowell, Jazmyn Simon, Jay Glazer, Mark Schlereth, Robert Wisdom, Richard Schiff, Steven Weber and Emayatzy Corinealdi.

New guest stars for season five include Catherine Haena Kim, Odell Beckham Jr., Melvin Gordon, Rick Fox, Mikey Alfred, Randy Couture, DeAndre Hopkins, Derwin James, Von Miller, Malcolm Jenkins and Dante Fowler, Jr.

Upcoming episodes:

Episode #501 (season 5, episode 1): “Protocol is for Losers”
Debut date: Monday, 29 August at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
While peacefully enjoying retirement and reflecting on his past, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) gets a tantalising offer. A year after splitting with Spencer, Joe (Rob Corddry) eyes a big swing at Sports X with his new partner, Lance (Russell Brand). Ricky (John David Washington) finds himself in hot water with Charles (Omar Miller), and Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) considers a life change, much to Reggie’s (London Brown) chagrin. Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Chloe Domont.

Episode #502 (season 5, episode 2): “Must Be the Shoes”
Debut date: Monday, 2 September at 10.35am on HBO GO and HBO.
After learning of competing owner offers, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) engages with past allies. Joe (Rob Corddry) is tasked with apologising for creating a hostile work environment with the help of Kate (Catherine Haena Kim), a sharp Sports X exec. Ricky (John David Washington) and Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) each consider different kinds of futures, while Charles (Omar Miller) tries to hide some unwelcome news. Written by Rob Weiss & Stephen Levinson; directed by Chloe Domont.

Episode #503 (season 5, episode 3): “Copernicursed”
Debut date: Monday, 9 September at 10.35am on HBO GO and HBO.
Just as Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) reaches out to him with the job of a lifetime, Jason (Troy Garity) gets an interesting counteroffer from Joe (Rob Corddry). Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) has a tryout at an e-sports company and Reggie (London Brown) bemoans his position at Sports X. Ricky (John David Washington) turns to old ways to deal with his new situation. Charles (Omar Miller) considers a solution to another headache. Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Chloe Domont.

Episode #504 (season 5, episode 4): “Municipal”
Debut date: Monday, 16 September at 10.40am on HBO GO and HBO.
Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) settles into his new position and makes a potentially unpopular decision. With Sports X teetering on the edge financially, Joe (Rob Corddry) gets sidetracked with his personal life. Ricky (John David Washington) tries his hand in the media and voices his true feelings about an ally. Reggie (London Brown) comes to Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) with a proposal that will make them both happy. Written by Rob Weiss & Stephen Levinson; directed by Rob Weiss.

Episode #505 (season 5, episode 5): “Crumbs”
Debut date: Monday, 23 September at 10.35am on HBO GO and HBO.
Spencer faces pressure from all sides as he fights for Kisan. Ricky (John David Washington) gets mixed feedback about his radio show. Reggie (London Brown), Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) and Lance (Russell Brand) struggle to convince Joe (Rob Corddry) to invest in a new business. Charles (Omar Miller) works hard to land a big player. Jason (Troy Garity) goes through tough negotiations with the Anderson brothers. Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Rob Weiss.

Episode #506 (season 5, episode 6): “Entertainment”
Debut date: Monday, 30 September at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
In the wake of an unexpected tragedy, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) prepares for his first owners meeting. While trying to balance work and his relationship with Kate (Catherine Haena Kim), Joe (Rob Corddry) decides to go on Ricky’s (John David Washington) radio show. Charles (Omar Miller) deals with an unexpected health crisis in the middle of his busiest time at work. Vernon (Donovan W. Carter), Reggie (London Brown) and Lance (Russell Brand) try to recruit a trio of gaming siblings for their new league. Jason (Troy Garity) celebrates his anniversary. Written by Jason Lew; directed by Simon Cellan Jones.

Episode #507 (season 5, episode 7): “Who Wants a Lollipop”
Debut date: Monday, 7 October at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
When Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) returns to the Sports X offices to work out a major player deal, he and Joe (Rob Corddry) air past grievances and later, Spencer makes a big public statement that’s sure to have consequences. Charles (Omar Miller) mulls over a new deal from Werner after getting a wakeup call about his health. Ricky (John David Washington) gets defensive in a meeting with a Hollywood bigwig who has ambitious plans for his future. Vernon (Donovan W. Carter), Reggie (London Brown) and Lance (Russell Brand) arrive at their first Esports tournament as underdogs. Written by Rob Weiss & Stephen Levinson; directed by Simon Cellan Jones.

Episode #508 (season 5, episode 8): “Players Only”
Debut date: Monday, 14 October at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
Despite having a bullseye on his back, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) refuses to back down in his fight for the league’s players. Joe (Rob Corddry) embraces a new state of mind as he finds peace with himself. Julie (Jazmyn Simon) encourages Charles (Omar Miller) to take care of unfinished business. Ricky (John David Washington) decides to strike out on his own with his latest project. Reggie (London Brown) takes the next step in his career, with some encouragement from Vernon (Donovan W. Carter). Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Chloe Domont.

Season five credits: BALLERS was created by Stephen Levinson; executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Peter Berg, Rob Weiss, Karyn McCarthy and Julian Farino; supervising producers; Janace Tashjian, Rashard Mendenhall and Steve Baker; producers Julie Camino, David Levinson, Denis Biggs, Colby Parker Jr., Don J. Hug, Tommy Armour IV; co-producers, Sarah Potts, Natalie Lindeman and Olivier Arnesen. Stephen Levinson serves as showrunner.

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

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