March 2021 – Jellybeans in the City

Welcome the cherry blossom season with Starbucks’ Sakura series

In Japan, the advent of spring season is welcomed by the blossoming of sakura – more commonly known to us as cherry blossoms – from the last week of March to mid-April.

Widely considered as Japan’s national flower, these beautiful and delicate, pale pink blooms figure prominently in Japanese culture.

When the blossoming peaks, usually in the first week of April, it is a wondrous sight, prompting locals and visitors alike to hold tea ceremonies called hanami and other festivities to coincide with cherry blossom viewings.

We may not be able to travel to Japan to see these lovely blooms for ourselves but we can recreate the experience at home by having these Starbucks limited-edition Strawberry Sakura drinks delivered via GrabFood.

The Sakura Blossom Strawberry Frappuccino (Php205). Fresh strawberries are blended with whole milk and ice with sweet strawberry sauce at the bottom of the glass. Petal-shaped pink chocolate sprinkles garnish the whipped cream that top this drink.

Iced Sakura Blossom Tea (Php200). Starbucks’ Teavana Hibiscus Tea is combined with strawberry sauce and topped with cold foam sprinkled with petal-shaped pink chocolate sprinkles.

A perfect partner for these drinks is Starbucks’ Cherry Blossom Cake (Php215), a light yet moist and sweet cherry cake layered with creamy filling made with crushed cherries and finished with cherry cream.

Who says we can’t celebrate sakura season in the comforts of home?

This Starbucks branch is located at Mercedes Residences, Mercedes Avenue, San Miguel, Pasig City. For inquiries, call +63 2 82450773.

Photo Credit: Sakura blossoms by kazuend on Unsplash

Check out my other posts about Starbucks:

Want to win a Home Appliance and Gadgets bundle from Shopee?

One lucky Pinoy’s dream will come true as Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, along with its newest brand ambassador, Willie Revillame, bring the newest exciting online contest, #MyShopeeWish.

Shopee users can submit video entries – the more heartfelt, the better – for a chance to win a Mega Package from Shopee and Willie Revillame. The Mega Package includes an exciting selection of gadgets and home appliances from top brands such as a La Germania Gas Stove, LG Refrigerator, Sharp Washing Machine, Union Electric Fan, Ballarini Frying Pan, Samsung Galaxy A12, and Sharp 32-Inch Television.

#MyShopeeWish is just one of the many activities shoppers can look forward to at the 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale. This is part of Shopee’s efforts to make online shopping more entertaining and rewarding for Filipinos.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to join #MyShopeeWish:

Create a 30-60 second video explaining why you deserve to win the Mega Package. The video should have a maximum size of 50 MB.
From March 18 to April 4, upload your video entry to http://bit.ly/44MyShopeeWish. Provide personal information such as your full name, mobile phone number, home address, email address, and Shopee username as well.

You can only upload one official entry. However, you can also post your video on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or TikTok accounts with the hashtags #MyShopeeWish #MEGAnonSaShopee.
Shopee’s social media team will screen each entry based on the following criteria: authenticity, 10%; adherence to the mechanics, 20%; Shopee branding, 15%; memorability, 35%; and video presentation, 20%.
Shopee will select 20 finalists during the preliminary judging on April 7. Shortlisted finalists will make it to the final judging on April 8. Look out for the winner announcement on April 11 via Shopee’s official Facebook page.
Shopee will also notify the winner through their registered mobile number, email address, and mailing address.

Submit your #MyShopeeWish entries now and let Shopee know why you deserve to have your wish granted!

For more information on how to join #MyShopeeWish, visit http://bit.ly/44MyShopeeWish.

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB – 115769 series of 2021

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Sun Life rallies millennials to reach for their dreams

If you feel like you’re headed towards a dead end, that you’re not where you feel you’re supposed to be, well, chin up, young person.

With its newest campaign, Sun Life Philippines is encouraging you to hit that reset button and claim a fresh new start in your journey towards the future you’ve always dreamed of.

Entitled “Ito ang Araw Mo,” the campaign launched on March 8 with a digital video highlighting the unique experiences of today’s generation, such as graduating in a virtual ceremony, exploring gaming as a career, pursuing online entrepreneurship, and starting a new family in extraordinary times.

The “Ito ang Araw Mo” campaign takes inspiration from the pursuits of the Millennials who are keen on building their career, growing their wealth, and finding self-enrichment amid the pandemic.

“The times we are in may have pushed Millennials to put their goals on hold, but it also brought out their creativity, resourcefulness, and undeniable spirit. They are well equipped to fulfill all their dreams, even as they navigate their way in a new environment,” Sun Life Chief Marketing and Client Experience Officer Gilbert Simpao said. “It all begins with recognizing the start of this new chapter in their lives, taking control of what they can accomplish today, while working on their bigger goals in the future with Sun Life as their partner.”

To inspire and enable them with specific actionable to-dos, Sun Life will hold an interactive workshop entitled “Build Bright Habits to Reach Your Goals” on March 20, 10am, featuring international author, speaker, and life coach Dr. Christine Carter and AHA! Behavioral Design Managing Director TJ Agulto.

These bright habits on self-improvement, relationships, and personal finance will be reinforced through a Facebook community where they can avail mini mentorship programs, weekly challenges, and exclusive promos in the company of their fellow goal-achievers.

Those ready to craft their financial plans and be experts in handling their money are encouraged to seek the help of a Sun Life advisor, who can help them create a financial roadmap that matches their needs and will put them in a better position to make their plans a reality.

“Ito Ang Araw Mo” updates and other relevant information will be posted on Sun Life’s various online platforms for those who wish to take part in the activities and for those looking for added inspiration.

“There may have been a tremendous shift in our lives, but Millennials have the power to realize their goals and aspirations. It can start today,” Simpao said. “Ito ang araw nila, and it would be Sun Life’s honor to be their partner for life in this journey.”

So equip yourself with the right attitude and the right habits that will help you as you forge your way through life. And, make sure to enjoy the journey as well.

The Bistro Group launches Bistro Delivers, its on-demand delivery app

With the shift to instant commerce brought by the pandemic, The Bistro Group launched the Bistro Delivers app to help customers get their favorite food on their terms.

The Bistro Delivers app, which houses all 17 Bistro Group restaurant brands, aims to make life for urban dwellers just a little bit easier. Offering on-demand delivery and take-out options, the app bridges decades of the company’s food and operational expertise with the convenience of today’s technology.

For those who want to order in—whether it be to binge while watching the latest Netflix show or partake in an intimate dinner with family and friends, the Bistro Delivers app is the perfect way to get food anytime, anywhere. From pasta and wings to sushi and paella, the app allows customers to order their favorite food safely and conveniently from any of The Bistro Group’s wide roster international and homegrown brands.

To give customers even more options, customers can order from multiple brands in the same vicinity, so they no longer have to choose between two good things. With a delivery radius of 8-km, customers can also enjoy access to restaurants that have typically been out of reach.

For those craving savings, discounts and offers will be exclusively available for redemption within the app. “BFFs,” members of The Bistro Group’s loyalty program, can also expect to enjoy special privileges and perks.

Through the launch of Bistro Delivers, The Bistro Group hopes to elevate its high standards of customer satisfaction even further—giving customers a hassle-free way to get the food they love from the convenience of their phones.

Bistro Delivers can be downloaded in the Play Store/Google Play and App Store.

Chicken Galantina by Fira’s Kitchen

If you haven’t encountered the dish called Chicken Galantina yet, you’re missing on quite a lot!

This delectable dish is made with a deboned chicken stuffed with ground pork, hard-boiled egg and sausages with some pickle relish and spices which is then baked until cooked.

Its origins go all the way back to France with a dish called galantine which employs basically the same method and similar ingredients. Its name may have been derived from its elaborate preparation and presentation: deboning a chicken, after all, is pretty difficult and time-consuming, and the finished dish is lavishly decorated before serving. This leads to a spread of food on the table that is urbane and sophisticated – therefore gallant.

Given the effort that goes into making this dish, it usually makes an appearance during special occasions or holiday feasts.

I remember my mom trying her hand at making this dish back when I was young and I could attest to the difficulty and care needed in making it. No wonder then, that despite the appeal of the dish among our family members, Mom rarely ventured into making this dish since then.

To my reckoning, it’s been years since the last time I had a taste of Chicken Galantina, while my kiddos have yet to acquaint themselves with it.

As luck would have it, the family of my honorary daughter – my real daughter #ExhibitA’s BFF – sent a whole Chicken Galantina from Fira’s Kitchen to us.

Established in the early 2000s, Fira’s Kitchen specializes in Chicken Galantina, making use of a family recipe that had been passed down through generations.

Honorary Daughter and her mom swear by it, and I have to say that I agree.

From its flavorful browned skin to the succulent chicken meat and delicious stuffing – thankfully not overflowing with raisins! – it is a welcome highlight at our dinner table.

It came with its special gravy which my kiddos consumed quite liberally but I quite prefer my Chicken Galantina portion without it.

The remarkable thing about this dish is that it can be enjoyed hot or cold, so what few leftovers we had conveniently became sandwich fillings for our midnight snack.

Fira’s Kitchen sells its Whole Chicken Galantina with Gravy for Php850. Galantina Rolls (a version of the Chicken Galantina rolled in chicken breast) and Chicken Embutina (the same Chicken Galantina recipe but in embotido-style) are also available for Php150 and Php180, respectively.

To order, call +63 927 5192810 or send a message via Facebook or Instagram.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Filling Japanese lunch at Yoshinoya, SM Megamall

Back when my office was located in the Ortigas area, a lunchtime sojourn to SM Megamall was a frequent occurrence.

For one thing, it’s just a short cab (or FX) ride away; my officemates and I can easily grab a quick meal, enjoy the change of scenery, and be back at our desk usually before our bosses came back from their own lunch outs.

Another reason is the sheer number of affordable and delicious dining options available, which, sadly, far outnumbers those housed in our office building’s cafeteria.

One of our favorite SM Megamall haunts is Yoshinoya, the second-largest chain of gyudon restaurants in the world. It makes Japanese rice bowls and more easily accessible to Pinoys through its affordable menu items that don’t scrimp on fresh ingredients.

Sadly, our office moved locations and a lunchtime trip to Yoshinoya is no longer as convenient.

Plus, with the quarantine restrictions still in place, I really haven’t been going out much.

That is, until my daughter #ExhibitA and I went shopping for supplies at SM Megamall.

Giving in to #ExhibitA’s request for us to eat somewhere which offers gyoza, I decided to treat her to lunch at Yoshinoya. There, we refueled after a round of shopping with these dishes:

Gyoza (Php79). Pork and vegetable-filled dumplings steamed then pan-grilled for a satisfying mix of chewy and crunchy textures and served with a dipping sauce.

California Maki (Php79). A sushi roll containing cucumber, kani and mango bits.

Pork Tonkatsu Bento (Php189). Deep fried breaded pork served in a bento box with macaroni salad, tiramisu and served with Tonkatsu sauce.

Regular Gyudon Beef (Php159 ala carte | Php189 solo meal with with red iced tea and coffee jelly). Tender beef slices are simmered in a special herb and spice broth together with sliced onions and then served on top of a bowl of steaming rice.

Green Tea Ice Cream (Php50).

Well, with these flavorful Japanese dishes that don’t burn a whole through my wallet, I am quite satisfied with my return to Yoshinoya!

This Yoshinoya branch is located at Upper Ground Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. For delivery, call +63 2 2882888.

Other branches are located at:

Food Court, Level 1, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, Quezon City
Second Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Second Floor, Annex Building, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Valero Carpark 2, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Second Floor, Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Fourth Floor, SM City Manila, Ermita, Manila
Ground Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City

To know more about Yoshinoya, visit its website or follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

Affordable Lumina Homes House and Lot, nasa Lazada ‘yan!

Are you planning to buy an affordable house and lot for your family? Then check out Lumina Homes, available in Lazada!

Lumina Homes is the affordable house and lot segment of Vista Land and has over 50 projects in key cities and municipalities nationwide, such as in Bulacan, Rizal, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, Cebu, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and South Cotabato.

In line with the times, Lumina Homes has been all-digital with future-ready innovations like an engaging website, 360-degree virtual home tours, online payment facilities, and stores in top online shopping platforms like Lazada where shoppers can pay reservation fees for their dream house by purchasing e-vouchers.

Here is a step by step guide on how to avail Lumina Homes e-voucher in Lazada:

Go to Lumina’s official Lazada Store.
Check Lumina’s available e-vouchers. Read the e-voucher description. You may also click the Chat Seller button for more information before purchasing any questions about the e-voucher. You can expect an immediate response since a certified Lumina Marketing Representative is always on standby to attend to inquiries.
Choose your preferred e-voucher, then click Add to Cart or Buy Now.
Fill-out required Payment Details and Buyer’s Information.
Review details, then Check Out to pay for the transaction.

Payment is also hassle-free as shoppers can conveniently use their debit or credit card or digital wallets like GCash and Lazada Wallet.

After buying an e-voucher of Lumina Homes through Lazada, the shopper can secure their Lumina Unit after purchasing an e-voucher:

After receiving your Lazada purchase confirmation, go back to Lumina’s official Lazada Store and click the “Chat Now” button.
You will be attended by a seller (certified Lumina Marketing Representative) who will provide you with available blocks and lots on your chosen Lumina Homes’ project.
Once you have selected a specific unit, the Seller will give you reservation documents via email to complete the reservation process.

Lumina Homes are built with high-quality materials and cost from Php 500,000 to Php 1,700,000. If Pag-IBIG Fund qualified as a “low-income earner,” a buyer can pay as low as Php 1,898 a month at 3% interest for a brand new house and lot in a safe and secure Lumina community.

Sparing no expense, developments of Lumina Homes are part of master-planned communities that come complete with amenities like a basketball court, community hall, mini gardens and playground, and commercial areas. By building communities with accessible locations that are close to major thoroughfares, schools, hospitals, transport hubs, and business and leisure centers, Lumina builds a self-sustaining community and provides every Juan the pride of homeownership.

For more details on Lumina Homes, visit its website or follow it on Facebook.

Disclosure: Images provided by Lumina Homes.

Dr. Wine presents a sneak peek into new menu by Chef Alain Raye

There’s a place hidden in the Poblacion suburbs where discriminating foodies can savor delicious French cuisine paired with the finest of vin.

Dr. Wine Manila – also known as Le Bistro du Dr. Wine – situated in Algiers Street just off Kalayaan Avenue and a few minutes walk away from Rockwell in Makati, is known for its cozy and rustic yet vibrant upscale premises, its extensive and well-curated collection of wines as well as the gastronomically delightful French dishes that emerge from its kitchen.

For weekend brunch, for example, diners may enjoy plateau de fruits de mer – platters of local mussels, clams and shrimps, as well as escargot of bulots and bigorneux snails, oysters and razor clams imported from France, all served on a bed of ice. These platters are accompanied by freshly baked artisanal bread from the restaurant’s sister bakery, Dr. Bread, salted butter and assorted sauces (of which, I think the Red Wine Vinaigrette with Shallots brings out all the fresh goodness of the seafood). These platters come in different serving sizes: Couple (Php2,899 | good for two), The Queen’s Platter (Php4,899 | good for four) and The Dr. King’s Platter (Php8,599 | good for six).

Michelin-starred Chef Alain Raye recently joined Dr. Wine’s team, bringing his considerable talents to bear as he takes the helm in Dr. Wine’s kitchen. He takes the bistro’s French cuisine offerings up several notches by adding his signature creations to menu.

Fish Quenelle. Lapu Lapu shaped into quenelles accompanied by plump prawns in a Gratinee Lyonnaise preparation. Its texture is creamy and delicate but is full of flavor.

Beef Short Ribs. Beef ribs slow cooked until fork-tender in classic French pepper sauce with sauteed carrots, and accompanied by a side of creamy potato gratin.

These dishes are best enjoyed with a glass (or two!) of French wines such as this fruity Chateau Cap de Fer.

Excited to taste these delectable oeuvres from Chef Alain? Well, you won’t have to wait for long because these are launching today, March 15!

Chef Alain also has a special treat to cap special wine dinners: the Nougat de Montelimar. It’s a decadent dessert made with nuts embedded in the nougat which is drenched in mixed berry puree and cream sauce.

So take a break from your usual food haunts and get ready to indulge your tastebuds with French food and wine at Dr. Wine Manila!

You can also book your intimate gatherings at Dr. Wine’s elegant and spacious private function room which can accommodate up to twenty people (while practicing safety protocols and physical distancing).

Dr. Wine Manila is located at Ground Floor, 5921 Algier Street, Poblacion, Makati City, open for dine-in and takeout Mondays to Wednesdays from 5pm to 10pm, Thursdays to Fridays from 12 noon to 10pm and Saturdays to Sundays at 12 noon to 11.30pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 5638811.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodie EJ of ILoveToEatPH, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to elicit our honest feedback and as basis for this feature article.

Tsinoy food feast at Lido Cocina Tsina, New Manila

More often than not, a dish with Chinese origins would make its way into a Filipino’s hapag-kainan.

This is hardly surprising as the Pinoys and the Chinese have been trading since even before the Spanish colonization.

Through the centuries, various waves of Chinese migration occurred, each bringing their own cultures, especially their culinary traditions, into the country.

In the 1930s, a Cantonese chef known as Mr, Lido established a modest eatery in Binondo called Panciteria Lido. In the next eighty years, this eatery has grown into a chain of restaurants – now under the Lido Cocina Tsina brand – that are renowned for serving tasty Chinese dishes that also appeal to the Filipino palate.

Before the pandemic hit the metro last year, I was able to sample some of Lido’s signature dishes. These left quite an impression on me that when restrictions on dining out were recently loosened in the metro, I quickly grabbed the opportunity to bring my fellow foodie unnis – Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com and Nix of IEatAndIWander.com – to the resto so they can taste for themselves what I had beem raving about for the past year.

That day, the unnis feasted on delectable Tsinoy food which included:

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php132). I couldn’t fathom a Chinese meal without this egg fried rice made heartier and more flavorful with shrimp, pork, carrots and spring onions.

Pugon Roasted Asado (Php436). Mr. Lido’s claim to fame from his eighty-year-old recipe of pork loin basted in precise proportions of Chinese herbs and spices, and then cooked in the a wood-fired brick oven which infuses the meat with a rich and smokey flavor. It’s great as a viand for the Yang Chow Fried Rice but it’s wonderful when used as a filling for hot pan de sal.

Sweet and Sour Pork (Php374). A dish that appeals to the Pinoy penchant for the sweet and sour combination. It’s made with fried pork pieces sauteed with pineapple chunks, bell peppers and onions and served in a sweet and sour sauce.

Shrimp Foo Yong (Php468). Ever since I had my first taste of this egg omelette with shrimp, mushroom and veggies served in light oyster sauce, I’ve been obsessed with it. Taste it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

Buchi (Php138). Deep-fried sesame balls with lotus cream filling make for a satisfying cap for a hearty Chinese meal.

This visit to Lido Cocina Tsina has sated my year-long cravings and made believers out of my fellow unnis.

We sure are looking forward to our next Lido Cocina Tsina adventure!

This Lido Cocina Tsina branch is located at 1014-1020 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Barangay Mariana, Quezon City, open daily from 8.30am to 6.30pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8885436, +63 2 84145436 or +63 947 4925752.

Other branches are located at:

16 Visayas Avenue, Barangay Vasra, Quezon City
Unit 6 and 7, La Fuerza Bldg., 2241 Don Chino Roces Avenue Corner Sabio Street, Barangay Bangkal, Makati City
Block 8, Lot 9 Commonwealth Avenue, Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City
43 Mindanao Avenue (beside Phoenix Gasoline Station), Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, Z Square Mall, Banawe Street Corner Del Monte Avenue, Barangay Manresa, Quezon City
532 United Nations Avenue cor. Jorge Bocobo St., Barangay Malate, Manila
35 Dona Soledad Avenue, Barangay Don Bosco, Paranaque City
Ground Floor, Puregold Building, Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Barangay San Isidro, Paranaque City
262 Alabang-Zapote Road, Talon Dos, Las Pinas City

To have your Chinoy food feast delivered right where you are, order online.

Check out my reviews of other Asian restaurants: