Following her well-received debut single ‘Tonight’ in July, Filipina-Singaporean singer-songwriter Gail Belmonte chronicles her struggles of reclaiming happiness on her new single “You Don’t”– released today on all digital platforms worldwide via indie label Umami Records.
“You Don’t” tackles the importance of not taking anything for granted, but at the same time knowing one’s worth. “In the relationships I got involved in, romantic or platonic, I always gave so much of myself,” the R&B artist says. “Sometimes I would give so much of myself that when these relationships break down, I would feel so lost, like I lost a part of myself. I looked for happiness in other people and it was not until I wrote this song, that I decided to reclaim that happiness by finding it within myself.”
A rallying cry for self-discovery, “You Don’t” endears listeners with its compelling, soulful delivery and radio-ready pop hooks. It’s the second of a trio of singles Gail Belmonte is debuting in late 2020. The last of the series, ‘Restart’, is scheduled for release on 13 November.
About Gail Belmonte
R&B/soul singer-songwriter Gail Belmonte makes music full of heart, with a voice that radiates beauty and effortless delivery.
Born and raised in Singapore, of Filipino descent, Gail Belmonte loved singing and performing from an early age and has been practising professionally from the age of 18. Gail was champion in the vocal solo category of Singapore talent competition Impresario 2016, a finalist of China Super Vocal 2016, a finalist in Mediacorp Singapore’s The Final 1 (2013), and also appeared in Season 4 of ABS-CBN’s Pilipinas Got Talent (2016). Gail made her theatre debut in Pangdemonium’s staging of the Tony award-winning musical, Fun Home, in 2017.
Gail Belmonte has featured on tracks by artists like fulses, thecolorfractal, Fingerfunk and Tim De Cotta, and is finally ready to put out her own music with 3 singles planned for release in 2020 via indie label Umami Records, in which she explores the effects of love, heartache, falling apart and putting yourself back together again.
About Umami Records
Umami Records is a Singapore-based indie record label founded in 2013. Much like the “5th taste” reputation of its namesake, the label strongly believes in discovering new, interesting sounds that run underground and away from the mainstream. The label’s tight-knit, curated roster includes releases from Linying, The Steve McQueens, brb., Evanturetime, CampFire, Martin Baltser, Phoria, Oriental Cravings, and more.
Image and details provided by Umami Records in a recent press release.
Bruce Springsteen is slated to drop his highly anticipated studio album with E Street Band, Letter To You on October 23, 2020 (Friday) via Columbia Records.
A rock album fueled by the band’s heart-stopping, house-rocking signature sound, the 12-track Letter To You is Springsteen’s 20th studio album, and was recorded at his home studio in New Jersey.
“I love the emotional nature of Letter To You,” says Springsteen. “And I love the sound of the E Street Band playing completely live in the studio, in a way we’ve never done before, and with no overdubs. We made the album in only five days, and it turned out to be one of the greatest recording experiences I’ve ever had.”
Letter to You includes nine recently written Springsteen songs, as well as new recordings of three of his legendary, but previously unreleased compositions from the 1970s: “Janey Needs a Shooter,” “If I Was the Priest,” and “Song for Orphans.”
Springsteen is joined on Letter To You by Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa, Garry Tallent, Stevie Van Zandt, Max Weinberg, Charlie Giordano and Jake Clemons. The album was produced by Ron Aniello with Bruce Springsteen, mixed by Bob Clearmountain and mastered by Bob Ludwig. Letter To You is Springsteen’s first time performing with the E Street Band since The River 2016 tour, which was named the year’s top global tour by both Billboard and Pollstar.
Bruce Springsteen’s recording career spans over 40 years, beginning with 1973’s ‘Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ’ (Columbia Records). He has garnered 20 Grammys, won an Oscar and a Tony, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received a Kennedy Center Honor and was MusiCares’ 2013 Person of the Year. Springsteen’s memoir ‘Born to Run’ (Simon & Schuster) and its companion album ‘Chapter and Verse’ were released in September 2016, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2016. His historic 236-show run of ‘Springsteen on Broadway’ at Jujamcyn’s Walter Kerr Theatre from October 2017 to December 2018 also yielded an accompanying soundtrack album and Netflix special. In 2019, Springsteen released ‘Western Stars,’ his first studio album in five years, and together with longtime collaborator Thom Zimny he co-directed ‘Western Stars,’ a feature film released through Warner Bros.
Tracklist:
1. One Minute You’re Here 2. Letter To You 3. Burnin’ Train 4. Janey Needs A Shooter 5. Last Man Standing 6. The Power Of Prayer 7. House Of A Thousand Guitars 8. Rainmaker 9. If I Was The Priest 10. Ghosts 11. Song For Orphans 12. I’ll See You In My Dreams
Image and details provided by Columbia Records in a recent press release.
Orange & Lemons have proven time and again, that they’re capable of writing infinitely hummable, indie-pop classics that maintain a distinct sensibility and effortlessness amidst shifting trends.
Their new single, “You Bring Out My Best” is among their most delightful work to date: a song that finds Clem waxing poetic on the intimate moments that he once shared with a fictional ex-lover.
According to Orange & Lemons’ chief songwriter and producer, Clem Castro, the song was intended as a pitch for a commercial project, but the band decided to release it as a stand-alone single. “We just love how the song turned out,” Clem reveals in a statement. “It’s the first time we sat down together working on a concept material, with no relevant inspiration for it. Just a play with words and melodic lines.”
The production packs a punch in a way that is seamlessly understated but compelling—never overdoing the process to gain attention or impress music fans. But it’s the songwriting that remains front and center to this massive release, a distinct mold whose appeal transcends generations of any kind. “You Bring Out My Best” was written, arranged, and demo-recorded last February 2020 at O&L’s drummer studio from 4pm to 3am. The members of the band had to maximize their time together because they live far from one another, with Clem already having an approximate idea of a verse and chorus lines for the session. After jamming with the band, they brainstormed on adding sections and parts to complete the demo. “The resulting production has that trademark O&L sound, and much, much more because of the contribution of our keyboard player, who after more than a year of being an official member has immersed himself in indie-pop stylings,” the Orange & Lemons frontman adds.
Four months after the demo was shelved, Orange & Lemons finally braved the studio to resume recording of their new single “You Bring Out My Best.” Armed with disinfectants and face masks, the award-winning band carefully observed health and safety protocols to finish the material. Clem says, “We had to remove our shoes when tracking, and only one person is allowed at a time to record. The rest had to wait outside at the receiving area of Sonic State Audio in Mandaluyong City.”
Image and details provided in a recent press release.
The drama series Warrior begins its ten-episode second season same time as the U.S. on Saturday 3 October at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and CINEMAX. The episode encores the same day at 10pm on CINEMAX with new episodes premiering weekly. Stream or download the entire first season of Warrior on HBO GO. Based on the writings of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Warrior was created by and is executive produced by Jonathan Tropper (CINEMAX’s “Banshee”) under Tropper Ink Productions, executive produced by Justin Lin (director of “Star Trek Beyond” and “Fast & Furious 9”) for Perfect Storm Entertainment and executive produced by Shannon Lee for Bruce Lee Entertainment.
Starring Andrew Koji (“Snake Eyes”), the second season of Warrior also features returning series regulars Kieran Bew (“The Street”), Olivia Cheng (“Marco Polo”), Dianne Doan (“Vikings”), Dean Jagger (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Langley Kirkwood (CINEMAX’s “Banshee”), Hoon Lee (CINEMAX’s “Banshee”), Christian McKay (“Me and Orson Welles”), Joe Taslim (“A Night Comes For Us”), Jason Tobin (“Fast & Furious 9”), Joanna Vanderham (“Eddie & Sunny”), Tom Weston-Jones (“Dickensian”) and Perry Yung (CINEMAX’s “The Knick”). New season two series regulars include Celine Buckens (“War Horse”), Dustin Nguyen (also directing episode 6; “21 Jump Street”), Chen Tang (“Mulan”), Miranda Raison (“Artemis Fowl”) and recurring series regular Maria Elena Laas (“Vida”).
Warrior is a gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century. The series follows Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances. After proving his worth as a fighter, Ah Sahm becomes a hatchet man for the Hop Wei, one of Chinatown’s most powerful tongs (Chinese organized crime family).
Season two follows rival Chinatown tongs, the Hop Wei and the Long Zii, as they fight for dominance amidst the growing anti-Chinese racism that threatens to destroy them all. After barely surviving last season’s disastrous showdown, Ah Sahm is back with the Hop Wei and determined to wreak vengeance on Long Zii’s new leader, Mai Ling (Dianne Doan), who also happens to be his sister. Spending his nights honing his martial arts skills at a notorious Barbary Coast fight pit run by a savvy, opportunistic woman named Rosalita Vega (Maria Elena Laas), Ah Sahm harbors ambitions to topple Hop Wei head Father Jun (Perry Yung). To accomplish this, he pushes tong heir Young Jun (Jason Tobin) into a new opium deal and welcomes the arrival of an enthusiastic new recruit and fighter, Hong (Chen Tang).
As the two tongs fight for dominance over the course of the season, both face numerous outside threats, including from the brutal Fung Hai tong and its nihilistic leader Zing (Dustin Nyugen), the embittered Irish labor movement led by tough-as-nails bar owner Dylan Leary (Dean Jagger), and the hostile local government under the politically spineless Mayor Blake (Christian McKay) and his scheming deputy, Walter Buckley (Langley Kirkwood). With the stakes mounting and tensions with her brother growing, Mai Ling struggles to control her new-partner Zing, and lover and tong lieutenant, Li Yong (Joe Taslim).
Meanwhile, brothel madame Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng) continues to pursue her secret and violent agenda and slowly becomes intrigued by Nellie Davenport (Miranda Raison), a wealthy widow using her fortune to rescue young Chinese sex workers. Struggling to get out from the Fung Hai’s grip, debt-ridden police sergeant Bill O’Hara (Kieran Bew) faces growing suspicion from his subordinate (Tom Weston-Jones) while fixer and profiteer Wang Chao (Hoon Lee) continues to play both sides. Socialite-turned-businesswoman Penny Blake (Joanna Vanderham) works to keep her father’s factory open using Chinese labor and must adjust to the arrival of her young, rebellious sister Sophie (Celine Buckens) who begins to cross family lines in favor of the Irish labor movement. Between the local political turmoil and the escalating gang violence, tensions in Chinatown threaten to boil over into a full-scale war that will raise the stakes and its survival of the fittest for those left standing.
Episodes include:
Episode 1: “Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard”
Debut date: Saturday, 3 October at 10am
Back with the Hop Wei, Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) spends his nights at the Barbary Coast fight pit, confronting a new anti-Chinese group, Teddy’s Boys. While Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng) accuses him of just looking for another fight, an empowered Mai Ling (Dianne Doan) worries about her brother’s next steps. Meanwhile, Bill (Kieran Bew) finds it hard to break out of his role as enforcer for Zing; Penny (Joanna Vanderham) is determined to continue running Mercer Steel, much to Blake’s (Christian McKay) dismay; and Chao (Hoon Lee) offers Ah Sahm some advice for his future with Young Jun (Jason Tobin).
Written and Directed by Jonathan Tropper
Episode 2: “The Chinese Connection”
Debut date: Saturday, 10 October at 10am
Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) and Young Jun (Jason Tobin) search for a discreet place to hide their product after striking a deal with a new opium supplier. As Lee (Tom Weston-Jones) becomes increasingly dependent on laudanum, he and Bill (Kieran Bew) continue to investigate the swordsman murders. Mai Ling (Dianne Doan) sends Li Yong (Joe Taslim) and Zing (Dustin Nguyen) to deliver a message to a rival tong. Penny (Joanna Vanderham) asks for Ah Sahm’s help in protecting her factory. Sophie (Celine Buckens) continues to pique Leary’s (Dean Jagger) interest. Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng) receives a visit from Nellie Davenport (Miranda Raison), a wealthy widow committed to ending the exploitation of Chinese women.
Written by Brad Kane; Directed by David Petrarca
Episode 3: “Not How We Do Business”
Debut date: Saturday, 17 October at 10am
With their new enterprise going well, Young Jun (Jason Tobin) shares his worries with Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) about the new men Father Jun (Perry Yung) has brought over from China, and later, the partners are impressed by Hong (Chen Tang), an enthusiastic recruit with a secret. Meanwhile, Chao (Hoon Lee) goes to Mai Ling (Dianne Doan) for help keeping Zing (Dustin Nguyen) away from his business, Sophie (Celine Buckens) grows closer to Leary (Dean Jagger), Nellie’s (Miranda Raison) politics raise questions from her peers, and things take a deadly turn at Bill’s (Kieran Bew) home.
Written by Brad Kane; Directed by David Petrarca
Episode 4: “If You Don’t See Blood, You Didn’t Come to Play”
Debut date: Saturday, 24 October at 10am
As the police prepare for retribution, Chao (Hoon Lee) comes to Bill (Kieran Bew) with a mutually beneficial proposal. A sympathetic Sophie (Celine Buckens) offers Leary (Dean Jagger) a new plan. Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) and Penny (Joanna Vanderham) have a moment when he confides his plans for the future. Buckley (Langley Kirkwood) urges Blake (Christian McKay) to take a stand against the Chinese, Lee (Tom Weston-Jones) seeks to ease his pain, Mai Ling (Dianne Doan) invests in a legitimate business, and Nellie (Miranda Raison) urges Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng) to imagine a different kind of life for her sex workers.
Written by Evan Endicott & Josh Stoddard; Directed by Loni Peristere
Episode 5: “Not for a Drink, a F*ck, or a G**damn Prayer”
Debut date: Saturday, 31 October at 10am
A guilty Mai Ling (Dianne Doan) tries to make things right with Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), who’s more intent than ever on seeking revenge. Penny (Joanna Vanderham) finds her business in trouble and learns that Ah Sahm has been using her. Leary (Dean Jagger) gets a warning and offers one of his own. Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng) pays an emotional visit to Nellie’s (Miranda Raison) Sonoma winery. Bill (Kieran Bew) and Chao (Hoon Lee) put their plot against the Fung Hai into action.
Written by Evan Endicott & Josh Stoddard; Directed by Loni Peristere
Episode 6: “To a Man with a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail”
Debut date: Saturday, 7 November at 10am
Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), Young Jun (Jason Tobin), and Hong (Hoon Lee) travel with Vega (Maria Elena Laas) to Rooker’s Mill, a U.S.-Mexico border town owned by Elijah Rooker (Conor Mullen), the wealthy host of a lucrative fight tournament that Ah Sahm is determined to win. As he learns more about Vega, Ah Sahm draws the attention of another fighter, Dolph (Mike Bisping), and later, Rooker himself.
Written by Jonathan Tropper & Brad Kane; Directed by Dustin Nguyen
Warrior is produced for CINEMAX by Perfect Storm Entertainment, Tropper Ink Productions and Bruce Lee Entertainment; created and executive produced by Jonathan Tropper. Justin Lin and Andrew Schneider executive produce on behalf of Perfect Storm Entertainment. Shannon Lee executive produces for Bruce Lee Entertainment. Executive produced by Brad Kane and Richard Sharkey. Co-executive produced by Kenneth Lin, Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard.
HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month. To subscribe, call your local SKY office or fill up this form.
Subscribe to SKY Fiber and get your first three months’ access to HBO GO courtesy of SKY Fiber. More details on this promo here.
Show details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.
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.
Momshies, how are you and your kids adjusting to learning in the New Normal?
As families try to navigate school amid a deadly pandemic, “Sesame Street” and CNN are teaming up for the “The ABCs of Back to School, A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families.”
From staying safe in classrooms to making the most of virtual learning, the 60-minute special will provide tools and information for families dealing with unique circumstances of school in the era of coronavirus.
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and anchor Erica Hill will moderate the hour. They will be joined by Sesame Street Muppets and school-aged children in a variety of learning environments, with Elmo going to preschool during the week, Big Bird in hybrid learning and Rosita fully remote.
The trio will be joined by Abby Cadabby and her brother Rudy, Super Grover and other friends from Sesame Street, along with Sesame Workshop’s Vice President and Education Publisher for Sesame Learning Akimi Gibson.
This special airs Saturday, September 12 at 10pm on CNN (SKYcable ch 27SD | 181HD in Metro Manila and ch 503SD | 705HD in regional areas).
“It’s a song to let people who struggle with anxiety issues like me to know that they are not alone, and that I too struggle with it on a day to day basis and I’m still here.”
Singapore pop artist Dominic Chin has released ALONE, the 6th single from his upcoming debut EP License To Cry, via Singapore indie label Umami Records.
In this deeply personal song, the singer-songwriter lays bare his struggles with anxiety disorder.
“Dear don’t let me go, let me go tonight,” he whispers desperately in the chorus, accompanied by a minimalist, gentle electro-pop beat that gives the track its melancholic, intimate vibe. ALONE takes a step back from the dance floor and finds a way to get through life’s darkest tunnels one step at a time.
“The song is about my anxiety order and how it affects all the relationships in my life,” Dominic Chin shares in a statement. “Finding love and peace with good healthy relationships but feeling tremendously undeserving of it, resulting in me wanting to sabotage the relationship. The song talks about feeling conflicted about my relationships, being totally defeated and yearning for some help while I fight my battles with feeling disorientated by all that is going on in my mind.”
The acclaimed Singapore-based artist also clarifies that ALONE is not a song meant to uplift anybody. “It’s a song to let people who struggle with anxiety issues like me to know that they are not alone, and that I too struggle with it on a day to day basis and I’m still here.”
Dominic Chin’s debut EP License To Cry is scheduled for release on 9 October 2020, followed by his debut show at the Esplanade Singapore on 26 December 2020.
Singapore based pop artist Dominic Chin creates music with his distinct voice and a blend of electro-pop, soul and r&b. Fuelled by life and all its awkward contradictions, Dominic writes songs from the heart that resonate deeply with his audience.
The 24 year old singer-songwriter from Singapore started covering songs on YouTube in 2010, and his channel has more than 9200 subscribers and 1.3M views. After the viral success of You First Believed, a tribute song he wrote for Singapore founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew in 2014, he was compelled to start writing more originals. He released his first single CLSE2U in 2018, followed by SHY, HERE, AWARE and BETTER, and his songs have been featured on major Spotify editorial playlists including ‘Electro Mix’ and ‘Singapore’s Top Acts’.
About Umami Records
Umami Records is a Singapore-based indie record label founded in 2013. Much like the “5th taste” reputation of its namesake, the label strongly believes in discovering new, interesting sounds that run underground and away from the mainstream. The label’s tight-knit, curated roster includes releases from Linying, The Steve McQueens, brb., Evanturetime, CampFire, Martin Baltser, Phoria, Oriental Cravings, and more.
Image and details provided by Umami Records in a recent press release.
Rain or shine, it’s always a good time for a boba tea.
These delish concoctions can give us a much-needed sugar boost to get us going, or refresh us after a hot or grueling day.
Boba (“bubble”) gets its name from the chewy pearls made of tapioca soaked in sugar syrup that look like dark bubbles which add texture to your drink.
Boba teas originated from Taiwan in the 1980s when the smaller pearls were used for milk teas. An enterprising shop owner then decided to use larger pearls in a bid to make his offerings stand out.
Boba teas then made their way across the globe and soon established a foothold in the Philippines with new shops offering all sorts of bubble tea variants opening every month.
The newest of these boba tea shops is Boba Unibers, managed by twenty-seven-year-old Jacques Michael Buenviaje together with his partner, twenty-six-year-old Katrina Mikaela Laygo.
Both were working in a five-star hotel in BGC when the pandemic struck the metro. They decided to leave their hotel jobs and forge new paths for themselves, which, luckily for us boba tea lovers, includes launching Boba Unibers.
As you can discern from their business’ moniker, #PinoyPride infuses their business and product concept.
By incorporating local flavors and ingredients to their boba tea offerings, they bring milk tea fans like us fresh ways to enjoy our favorite drink while tapping into our sense of nostalgia (plus they also help local farmers by sourcing their coffee beans and muscovado from them).
Being good to the environment is also high on their list of priorities. Not only do they eschew the use of single-use plastics, they also made use of reusable glass jars and edible straws (made with rice and tapioca) which scored major points with my environmentally-aware daughter, #ExhibitA.
Now let’s talk about Boba Unibers’ drinks, shall we?
Wintermelon (Php75). Made with BU’s special tea blend, caramel-y wintermelon syrup, milk, house syrup and boba. #ExhibitA reserved this boba as soon as she saw it.
Taro (Php75). Made with BU’s special tea blend, taro, milk, house syrup and boba. A creamy masterpiece of a drink! (And cutely light purple too!)
Champorado (Php85). Made with BU’s special tea blend, tablea rice milk, house syrup, powdered milk and boba. Who would have thought that our favorite chocolatey breakfast item would taste so good in boba tea form? My son #ExhibitB snatched this up as soon as I was done taking photos.
Pandan Yema (Php85). Made with BU’s special tea blend, milk, pandan yema syrup and boba. A mix of the mild taste of pandan and the milky salted caramel-like taste of yema made for a candy-like sweet drink.
Salted Pistachio (Php110). Made with pistachio syrup, caramel sauce, caramel syrup, Kievit and Lipton Tea. This milky and slightly nutty drink will satisfy pistachio lovers.
Cold Brew Milk Tea (Php85). Made with BU’s special tea blend, milk, cold brew coffee and boba. This woke me right up from my mid-afternoon stupor.
These are just a sampling of the many possibili-teas that Boba Unibers has launched into the milk tea stratosphere, with more flavors to come as Jacques and Katrina continue to experiment with new flavors and ingredients.
So #quarantitas (or #quaranTEAtas?), let’s help these young entrepreneurs raise our flag and bring the spotlight to the unique flavors we Pinoys love by supporting Boba Unibers.
To order, call +63 906 3485071 or message Boba Uniberse on Facebook or Instagram. Cashless payments via GCash, Metrobank and BDO, as well as cash on delivery, are accepted. The jars of milk tea can be delivered from Cainta to Rizal and Metro Manila areas via GrabExpress, Lalamove, Mr. Speedy, Angkas and Joyride (to be shouldered by the buyer).
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.
Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:
In the Philippines, small and micro enterprises form 98% of businesses. Out of 1 million SMEs, only ten percent are online, and out of this pool – only one percent have a website.
However, the average Filipino spends almost 10 hours a day online and ninety-seven percent of these internet users are on chat apps such as Facebook Messenger.
This is a wide gap – and gives a big opportunity for these small businesses to reach this wide audience of consumers. However, small businesses think that automation is too expensive.
This is why the Aiah Commerce platform was built.
With Aiah, a small business can build a fully functioning commerce platform on chat in just thirty minutes. The digital store can automatically speak to customers so it frees up time and effort for the business owner.
It can also easily track orders, payments and deliveries in real time. Business owners can also update product and service information in a few clicks. They can even send rewards to loyal customers.
As small businesses have the potential to help uplift the economy at this difficult time, they need to all the help they can get. Therefore, automation should be easy and accessible for small business owners in the Philippines.
Aiah believes in using tech for good. To help more small businesses grow today, it is currently offering its services for free.
With the holidays just around the corner, we #quarantitas are already on the lookout for tasty dishes we can serve the fam for the bevy of celebrations this time of year.
While most of us can whip up a pasta dish or two with ease, lasagna is a bit harder to produce.
Lasagna originated from Italy (as many yummy things do!) and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is made with stacked alternating layers of flat pasta, ragu (ground meat in tomato sauce) and cheese. The dish is usually assembled in a deep baking dish and cooked in an oven like a casserole. The name lasagna is said to be taken from the Ancient Roman word lasanum or “cooking pot,” the cookware in which the dish is made.
I attempted to make my own lasagna a couple of years ago and I got rewarded for my efforts with hard noodles that the fam wouldn’t touch. Needless to say, I stayed away from my culinary kryptonite.
That doesn’t mean, however, that my family’s craving for this dish has abated.
This is why I’m so glad that I can just have a tray of delicious lasagna delivered to me – no effort required in the kitchen – thanks to Kuki’s Fudtrip.
The woman behind this new online seller has actually been in the food business since 2007. Forty-six-year-old Maria Victoria Buenviaje started by selling ihaw-ihaw, managing a carinderia and catering to small gatherings.
When the quarantine started, she began selling merienda items such as pancit, turon and halo-halo.
At her daughter’s suggestion, she offered food trays of lasagna and other specialties online which were met with high demand and lots of orders.
From single orders of merienda items, she has transitioned to selling food trays, of which, the lasagna is the best-seller… and rightly so!
The aroma of the rich beef sauce and cheese greeted me as I peeled off the tray’s aluminum foil cover. Upon slicing into the lasagna, I saw the appetizing sight of layers of al dente noodles, meaty beef sauce and thick béchamel. A bite of this dish resulted to an explosion of flavor in my mouth.
The fam and I polished off most of the half-tray during our merienda. (My baby boy requested for a portion to be set aside for him for dinner – and I couldn’t say no to my baby!)
This Lasagna Special Tray (good for four to five people) sells for Php400 while a regular tray sells for Php700.
Other food trays available include:
Pancit: Bihon (Php400), Canton (Php400), Malabon (Php500) and Sotanghon Canton (Php500).
Pasta: Baked Macaroni (Php500), Carbonara (Php500), Tuna and Mushroom (Php500)
Call in your orders to +63 906 4330991 or message Kuki’s Fudtrip on Facebook two days before delivery date. Cashless payments via GCash, BPI and BDO are accepted. Delivery is free within Village East, Cainta; for other parts of Metro Manila, delivery can be booked at Grab or Lalamove, to be shouldered by the buyer.
So #quarantitas, why don’t you treat the fam to a tasty meal and order a tray?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.
Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:
Fresh off the success of their BBTV episodes, Ben&Ben have launched their official fan club “Liwanag” as an initiative to help spread the band’s message of faith, hope and love. The initiative also celebrates the community’s unwavering bayanihan spirit and optimism to advocate for meaningful change and unity through music, despite the challenges that the nation is currently facing.
Presented with the opportunity to instill a deeper purpose in building a community that inspires people and connecting with fans on a more meaningful and intimate level, and after considering the suggestions of their music fans and conducting a careful deliberation process with their management team, the award-winning band decided to rename their fan base “Liwanag.”
“”Liwanag” is the new, official fandom name of Ben&Ben! We have heard your suggestions. We want to honor our Filipino heritage, at higit sa lahat, kayo ang Liwanag namin. #BenAndBenLiwanagFandom,” says Ben&Ben in an official statement.
Ben&Ben recently broke the Internet with their second batch of K-Pop covers featuring songs by BTS, GOT7, EXO and more.
#BBTVkpoptwo trended on Twitter Philippines at #1 again, similar to the previous BBTV episodes.
Jellybeans in the City 