September 2022 – Page 3 – Jellybeans in the City

The best gift ideas for heat-addicted chili heads

We all know one person who absolutely adores spicy foods, constantly pushing themselves to see how they can challenge their spice tolerance. For these people, you likely can get them a gift related to food or spiciness and they will be overjoyed. So what can you give a chili-head that is both unique and useful at the same time? Here are some of the best gift ideas for heat-addicted chili-heads.

Hot Sauce

The most obvious gift to give to a chili-head is a bottle of high-quality hot sauce. Hot sauce is a mainstay in the diets of chili-heads, as they use it to add spice to just about every dish. Obviously, since they’re chili-heads they’re going to have a high spice tolerance, so you’ll likely want to get them something extremely spicy. Thankfully, there are plenty of high-quality spicy hot sauces to choose from. Be sure to blow them away with something they’ve never tried before and challenge their spice tolerance. If they like it a lot, they can incorporate your gift into just about any dish.

Pepper Jelly

Another great condiment to get a chili-head is pepper jelly. Pepper jelly is similar to everyday jelly you would use, but it has a little bit of spice to it. With pepper jelly, spice lovers can add some heat to a variety of dishes you usually can’t. For example, pepper jelly gives your morning toast a little bit of a kick as well as spices up the peanut butter and jelly sandwich you have for lunch. If you want a really unique and creative gift to a spice-lover, buy pepper jelly online and gift your friend an amazing gift.

Aerogarden

A very unique gift idea for a chili-head is an aerogarden. An aerogarden is used to grow plants indoors, allowing the recipient to easily grow fruits and vegetables. Additionally, an aerogarden allows for year-round plant growth. With the aerogarden you give them, your favorite chili-head should be able to plant their own peppers, meaning they can use fresh ingredients in their recipes. Fresh ingredients are spicier than the packaged and frozen variety, meaning spice lovers will surely love and appreciate the fresh food.

Cookbook

A cookbook is a perfect gift for a spice-lover. Many cookbooks are themed around spicy food, catering to those that are fond of spicy foods. These cookbooks cover an array of different spicy dishes, allowing your chili-head to expand their horizons and try new spicy foods. Additionally, learning how to cook the dishes and successfully following the recipe is a satisfying experience that only enhances the enjoyment of the amazing cooked food. If you want a safe yet versatile gift option, this is a great choice.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Friendly get-together at Sundays, Marikina

While I’m happy as a clam with my current work-from-home setup, there are days when I do miss my work buddies. These are the peeps that I can relax with, as well as exchange jokes and all the hot gossip with.

During pre-pandemic times, we would venture out of our office during our lunch break to check out the nearby dining spots. Due to the fun we have while checking out new restaurants and amusing ourselves during our breaks from the daily grind, these lunchtime food adventures came to be dubbed as our #HappyLunch times.

Well, COVID-19 came and some of us transitioned to other companies or decided to take a break from the rat race, so some of us were only able to get together at Sundays Cafe & Restaurant in Marikina at the tail-end of last year.

Imagine my delight when I received a message to join another get-together with the gang at the same restaurant, this time on a Monday night!

So off I went to hang out with my pals (a bigger group this time) and return to the cozy neighborhood cafe in Marikina.

There was a marked difference between this outing and my last visit, which took place on a Sunday morning at the time when quarantine restrictions were just beginning to loosen. During my dinner date with my friends, Sundays Marikina was lit with a warm light which also seem to illuminate the surrounding area. Also, it seemed like the restaurant had a sizeable Monday dinner crowd which gave the place a busy and lively feel.

In between back-and-forth banters and gossip exchanges, my friends and I discovered new menu items to enjoy at Sundays:

Pizza Margherita (Php330). Always a safe bet, this hand-tossed pizza made with marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and basil appeals to everyone in the group.

Salted Fish Fried Rice (Php195). A novel take on the sinangag given additional saltiness and umami with the addition of tuyo flakes.

Sundays Crispy Sisig (Php260). A favorite appetizer that also doubles as an entree consisting of crispy pork cheeks sauteed in house-made sisig sauce and topped with crispy onions and chilis.

Crispy Spicy Squid (Php260). Lightly battered pieces of squid served with chili sauce. (TBH, I prefer pairing this with the tangy ranch dressing).

Buffalo Wings (Php285). Crispy fried chicken wings coated in spicy and tangy buffalo sauce.

Salted Egg Wings (Php315). Crispy fried chicken wings coated in a rich salted egg sauce.

Crispy Kare Kare (Php405). An indulgent viand which combines crispy liempo with house-made special kare-kare sauce and veggies.

Sans Rival (Php145). A classic Pinoy dessert made with layers of nutty meringue, French buttercream and chopped cashews.

Mango Creme Brulee (Php145). A fruity take on the creme brulee, thanks to bottom layers of chiffon and mango cream covered by custard and topped with torched sugar.

While regular #HappyLunch adventures with my friends may not be feasible right now, I’m glad we were able to carve out time to do two of the things we enjoy doing together: eating delicious food and spilling the proverbial tea!

Sundays Cafe and Restaurant is located at J.P. Rizal corner V. Gomez Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 10pm, Fridays from 8am to 11pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 7am to 11pm. For reservations, call +63 917 1572634.

To know more about its latest updates, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Decadent French pastries from PAUL Philippines

France is widely acclaimed for its pastries, their buttery richness, golden brown flakiness and sheer wondrous variety of flavors and textures cementing their place among global favorites.

After many centuries spent crafting these baked creations, the French has elevated baking to an artform, making its patisseries – the stores where such pastries are sold – part of many a tourist’s itinerary.

Fortunately, we won’t have to go all the way to France to feast on its famous pastries, thanks to PAUL Philippines.

Thanks to this chain of French-style bakery-slash-cafes, scrumptious baked treats are quite easily accessible for foodies to enjoy right in the comfort of their homes such as:

Strawberry Tartlet (Php375). Sweet shortcrust pastry filled with vanilla custard cream and topped with luscious fresh strawberries.

Chocolate Eclair (Php220). Light choux pastry filled with chocolate pastry cream and glazed with chocolate fondant.

Pain au Chocolat (Php150). Also known as the chocolatine, this pastry is made with croissant dough wrapped around a heart of dark chocolate.

Croissants. Whether it be the Plain Croissant (Php140) or one of the variations of this classic viennoiserie such as the Almond Croissant (Php170) which is filled with frangipane and topped with flaked almonds, these are buttery pastries perfect when paired with coffee.

Strawberry Cheesecake (Php200/slice). Cream cheese filling with a layer of strawberry jelly on a sugar biscuit base and topped with strawberries.

So if you’re craving for an elevated experience for your post-meal dessert or coffee break, you should definitely say “Bonjour” to PAUL’s French pastries.

To enjoy these tasty French pastries at home, order them for takeout at any of PAUL Philippines’ outlets:

Ground Floor, SM Aura, 26th Street corner McKinley Parkway, Taguig City (Tel: +63 2 88085324 / +63 927 2978893)
G/F, Bench Tower, 30th St. cor. Rizal Drive, Crescent Park West 5, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (Tel: +63 2 88872057 / +63 915 9712946)
Ground Floor, Al Fresco 1, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, EDSA, corner Doña Julia Vargas Ave, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong (Tel: +63 995 2525279)
G/F, Unit 164, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati (Tel: +63 2 77598655 / +63 927 2881646)

You can also course your orders through GrabFood.

Check out my previous posts about PAUL Philippines:

A French cafe experience at PAUL le cafe

PAUL Boulangerie et Pattiserie, SM Mega Fashion Hall

Fresh and grown-up takes on childhood faves from Pufft Doughnuts

Who can possibly not love doughnuts? I mean, what’s not to love?

Those puffy tufts of sweetness are sure to appeal to any sweet tooth, regardless of age, right?

Well, there’s a specialty shop for doughnut lovers who’re all grown up: Pufft Doughnuts!

I first knew about this doughnut brand as an online shop when I got a taste of its swetly explosive Snickers Bomb last year, but I was delighted to recently discover its popup store in Powerplant Mall.

Pufft Doughnuts prides itself on soft and fluffy doughnut creations, all made fresh from scratch using premium ingredients and stuffed to capacity with homemade filling or generously topped with frosting.

Well, I lost no time in getting a box of these goodies to bring home to the fam!

Inside this Stronut Box (Php775) is a winning combo of irresistible and decadent doughnut flavors such as:

2 Pcs of Strawberry Monst. Puffy doughnuts glazed and loaded with fresh strawberries and homemade strawberry jelly.

3 Pcs Filled Doughnuts. Decadent desserts such as Cinco Leches (made with five types of milk and topped with a dollop of dulce de leche), Tiramisu (stuffed with coffee and cream cheese) and Yema y Pastillas (stuffed with milky fave snacks).

The best part is that I can easily give in to my adult-level craving for donuts by simply ordering online. Pufft accepts pre-orders for or same-day delivery on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

So level up to adulting when it comes to your doughnut indulgences, why don’t you?

To stay updated on Pufft’s ever-growing gallery of doughnut flavors, follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

Get your #HonestlyGoodFriedChicken from Jackson’s Fried Chicken, exclusively available on FoodPanda

For being such a universally favorite dish, fried chicken has been steeped in so much mystery.

The allure of some well-known fried chicken brands has been attributed to secret herbs and spices, the use of various flours, brines, starches and rubs, as well as meticulously guarded heritage recipes.

However, as hungry fried chicken lovers, all we’re really looking for is no-fuss and no-frills fried chicken goodness: crispy skin with flavorful breading that gives way to tender and juicy meat.

In essence, what we want is honestly good fried chicken.

Fortunately, we can have it delivered right to our doorstep after just a few phone taps, thanks to the fried chicken industry’s newest player, Jackson’s Fried Chicken!

Just open up your FoodPanda app to order its tasty offerings such as:

2pc Original Fried Chicken with Rice (Php249). Bite into Jackson’s original golden crispy fried chicken served with fluffy white rice and gravy.

Original Fried Chicken Cheese Burger (Php169). Have a filling meal with this sandwich made with crispy coated chicken served in a bun with a cheese slice, galic aioli and lettuce.

Sides. Enjoy your fried chicken orders with these appetizing side orders.

Other options for honestly good fried chicken (with original recipe and spicy variants) and sides available include:

Popcorn Chicken (Php149). Crispy and juicy fried chicken bites.
Chicken Tenders (Php149). Juicy chicken fingers served with garlic mayo dip.
Chicken Fillet with Rice (Php125/1pc | Php195/2pc). Crispy chicken fillets served with rice and gravy.

So whether you want to snack on some crispy chicken or have it as a meal with the entire fam, you can always go tap-tap-tapping on your FoodPanda app to get your hands on some Jackson’s Fried Chicken!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Red Ribbon brings a taste of the divine with its new Chocolate Heaven Cake

Belinda Carlisle once sang that “heaven is a place on earth.”

I can certainly believe it after getting a bite of Red Ribbon’s newest premium cake: Chocolate Heaven!

Dubbed as Red Ribbon’s best chocolate cake yet, Chocolate Heaven is a divine confection that can serve as the highlight of any celebration or as a sweet treat for yourself or your special someone.

Premium ingredients as well as Red Ribbon’s mastery of chocolate confectionery come together to produce this masterpiece:

a moist and densely fudgy chocolate cake layers that brings a decadent richness with every bite
creamy chocolate icing that separate the chocolate fudge cake layers, giving it an extra helping of indulgent sweetness
a shiny covering of rich and gooey chocolate ganache, making this cake a treat for the eyes as well
a generous topping of decadent chocolate drizzle, because who says you can’t have too much of a good thing?

Each mouthful is an explosion of rich, chocolatey bliss on your tastebuds, making you crave for yet another bite!

Now, imagine sharing such pleasures with your loved ones!

If love can be expressed through sweetness and indulgence, then this celestial chocolate creation is the best gift for the people you hold dear.

What better way to give love today than to treat your nears-and-dears than to give them a taste of Paradise in the form of Red Ribbon’s Chocolate Heaven?

Chocolate Heaven is available at selected Red Ribbon stores in Metro Manila and South Luzon at Php1,195 for regular size and Php895 for junior size.

Order now via the Red Ribbon app, the Red Ribbon delivery website, Red Ribbon on Facebook Messenger, or by calling the #87777 hotline. You may also place your order via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

Disclosure: Product sample was provided to facilitate this feature.

Check out my previous posts about Red Ribbon:

Red Ribbon, Lucky Gold Plaza — Sweet snacktimes with Red Ribbon Bakeshop

Red Ribbon Coffee Caramel Crunch — #SweetDelight: Red Ribbon’s Caramel Crunch Cake is back!

Sweet dads deserve sweet chocolatey treats from Red Ribbon this Father’s Day

#HomeForTheHolidays: 5 reasons home-buying during the holidays might work best for you

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness with family and friends. It is also a time when many people dream of having their own home to host holiday gatherings and create lasting memories. If you are currently renting or living with family or friends, now is the perfect time to consider the benefits of owning your own home in time for the holidays.

Here are some reasons why it’s best to have your own home in time for the holidays:

Host the perfect holiday gathering. When you own your own home, you have the freedom to host holiday gatherings and create the perfect atmosphere for your loved ones. Whether you want to decorate your own space, cook your favorite holiday meals, or simply enjoy the warmth of your own fireplace, having your own home provides the perfect backdrop for creating holiday memories.

Enjoy your own traditions. When you own your own home, you can start your own holiday traditions and create special memories with your family and friends. Whether it’s hanging stockings by the fireplace, baking holiday cookies, or singing carols around the piano, owning your own home provides the perfect opportunity to create new traditions that can last a lifetime.
A sense of pride and accomplishment. Owning your own home is a major accomplishment that provides a sense of pride and accomplishment that can be especially meaningful during the holiday season. Knowing that you have a place of your own to call home can bring a sense of comfort and stability that is essential during the often-stressful holiday season.

A perfect gift for your family. If you have a family, owning your own home can be the perfect holiday gift for them. Having a place to call home provides a sense of security and stability that can be especially important during the holiday season. Additionally, owning your own home can be a smart investment that can provide long-term financial benefits for your family.
Freedom and flexibility. When you own your own home, you have the freedom to decorate and personalize your space however you want. This can be especially meaningful during the holidays when you want to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your family and friends. Additionally, owning your own home provides flexibility in terms of scheduling and planning holiday events. You don’t have to worry about rental restrictions or the availability of a space because you have your own home to host events. This can make it easier to plan events on your own schedule and ensure that your holiday plans are not disrupted by external factors.

Owning your own home can provide a number of benefits that are especially valuable during the holiday season. From hosting the perfect holiday gathering to enjoying your own traditions, owning your own home can provide a sense of pride, accomplishment, and stability that can be especially meaningful during this special time of year. If you are considering purchasing a home, now is the perfect time to start the process so you can enjoy the benefits of homeownership in time for the holidays.

So why not make the move to acquire your dream home in a Lumina Homes community?

Whether you’re in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao, there’s a Lumina Homes community waiting for you. The projects are available in over 50 key cities and municipalities in the Philippines, such as Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, La Union, Cagayan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Albay, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Davao del Norte.

Getting your own Lumina dream home is made even easier, thanks to various financing options, such as:

Pag-Ibig Financing which offers the lowest possible interest rate with a 14-month downpayment term and a 30-year maximum loan term
Bank Financing which has faster loan processing with a 16-month downpayment term and a 20-year maximum loan term
Deferred Financing which involves straight payment of total contract price over 24 month at 0% interest
Spot Cash which involves full payment of total contract price applying a 6% discount if made within 30 days from payment of reservation fee, 8% if made within the reservation month, and 10% if made within 10 days of reservation date

Here’s how to get Php500 off when reserve your own Lumina home online:

Visit Lumina Homes’ website.
Click “E-Services” and “Reserve Online” then fill out your details.
Fill out the project name, phase, block and lot of your preferred Lumina project.
Proceed to payment and use my code JLBLMN500. Payments via GCash or debit/credit cards are accepted.

Prima Casa Land & Houses, Inc., known through its “LUMINA” brand, has evolved to be the practical choice of everyone in realizing their dream of home ownership. Lumina is the leading mass housing developer in the country with its roster of value-priced homes in affordable and self-sustaining communities.

For more information and announcements, follow @luminahomesofficial on Facebook or visit Lumina Homes’ official website at www.lumina.com.ph.

Images provided by Lumina Homes.

Indulgent weekend brunch at Rustic Mornings by Isabelo

Weekend brunches are always something to look forward to, wouldn’t you agree?

They give us the opportunity to leisurely enjoy a sumptuous meal with our family and friends, time well spent catching up on each other’s news and making plans for the next get-together.

That’s what we #OfficeMaritesses were up to one rainy weekend: we embarked on a foodie adventure at one of Marikina’s top brunch destinations, Rustic Mornings.

In this quaint eatery, we were able to surround ourselves with gorgeous greenery, eclectic artworks as well as other points of visual interest made from scrap and recycled materials while enjoying a delicious meal which consisted of:

Spinach Dip (Php400). Isabelo’s famous rich and creamy spinach dip accompanied by pieces of toasted ciabattaa. A tasty start to our lovely brunch!

Berry Cream Cheese and Bacon-Stuffed French Toast (Php500). Thick pieces of French toast generously stuffed with berry cream cheese and crispy bacon.

Waffle Churros (Php290). Sweetly spiced crisp waffle tossed in sugar and cinnamon powder.

Brunch Platter (Php990). Group platter good for two-to three persons that includes breakfast favorites: pancakes, waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs and hash browns.

Filipino Platter (Php990). Group platter good for two to three persons that has a delicious sampling of the classic Pinoy almusal: beef tapa, tocino, crispy bangus, fried rice and sunny-side-up egg.

Drinks. Brunch wouldn’t be complete without hot drinks to perk us up or iced drinks to cool and refresh us.

We loved the fresh and airy feel of dining al fresco in such a beautifully reinvigorating setting, which is quite conducive towards sharing all the hot goss on various office and barkada topics.

We found the group platters to be well-curated as they combine various breakfast favorites in reasonably priced packages.

So if you want to enjoy your own a setting for spilling the proverbial tea with your fellow Maritesses or to enjoy a lovely morning meal with family and friends, it’s high time you indulge yourself at Rustic Mornings.

Rustic Mornings is located at 11 Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina City, open from 8am to 4pm.

While walk-ins are welcome, the place can get full pretty quickly so it’s best to call ahead of your visit to reserve your table via +63 2 8425 8610.

You may also course your takeout or delivery orders via Viber at +63 995 2493732.

@beingjellybeans
Enjoy wholesome breakfast faves and al fresco dining surrounded by eclectic art and nature at @Rustic Mornings by Isabelo. Deets at beingjellybeans.com! #beingjellybeans
♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

Know more about Rustic Mornings via its website or follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

Great finds to #TreatYourself with at SM Markets

And just like that, we’re already in the BER months…

Can you already feel the difference?

In contrast to the general mood for the past two-and-a-half years wherein temperance and abstinence were the order of the day, we are now entering a period where we can feel right in rewarding ourselves for having pulled through.

Now is a time for a little bit of self-love, wouldn’t you agree?

That’s what SM Markets, specifically SM Supermarket and Savemore, brings to you through its Treat Yourself activations. There are different ways to treat yourself – such as indulging in delicious food, engaging in calming or creative hobbies such as cooking or baking or pampering yourself with bath and body products to nourish your body and build confidence.

These are embodied by SM Markets Ambassadors who graced SM’s Treat Yourself Day held last August 20 at SM Megamall with their presence, raffled off some items from their own collections, as well as shared their stories on how they treat themselves:

Travel vlogger Angel Dei splurges on hair care products
Food influencer Hazel Cheffy likes grocery shopping, even when she has already restocked her pantry
Star volleyball athlete Rachel Daquis makes sure to nourish her body with recovery food, especially after a hard day of games and practices

The event also showcased practical and budget-friendly food items from Australian supermarket brand Coles. (More deets on Coles products here.)

The event also featured exciting bundles that bring freebies or savings from participating brands that visitors could avail of using their SM Advantage Card. These included:

You can look forward to similar fun activities and awesome bundles in upcoming mall activations and road shows:

Sep 3-4: SM Fairview mall activation
Sep 9-23: roadshow stores in SM Supermarket Sta. Mesa, Manila, Southmall, Novaliches, & Savemore Angono2
Sep 17-18: SM San Lazaro mall activation

So go ahead and #TreatYourselfInSM to enjoy all these awesome deals and reward yourself for all you’ve been through and accomplished for the past years.

Check out my previous posts about SM Markets:

Why not, ChocNut? Check out the limited edition #SMChocNutTuron

Australian brand Coles now available exclusively at SM Markets

Timberland Highlands Resort’s Ridge Cafe introduces Arabic Dinner Buffet

Would you like to give in to your flights of fancy and embark on an exciting journey?

A journey among extraordinary flavors, that is. 🙂

Well, head on then to Ridge Cafe at Timberland Highlands Resort up in the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the fresh mountain air as you dine in style, thanks to its opulent interiors and al fresco area overlooking the metro.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Resort — Ridge Cafe from outside

Here, your tastebuds can certainly go on a flavor tour, thanks to its recently unveiled Arabic Dinner Buffet.

Expanding gastronomic possibilities in the Rizal area

Every Saturday, from 6m to 9pm, you can eat your fill of flavorful and nutritious viands that boast of having Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian origins, as well as free-flowing iced tea, all for just Php980++.

This exciting culinary curation is the brainchild of Timberland Highlands Resort’s new Executive Chef, Ranuka Hettiarachchi, who sought to include healthy Mediterranean dishes in Ridge Cafe’s buffet, as well as providing guests with vegan and vegetarian diets with suitable options.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Buffet — A preview to the Arabic Dinner

Also, given that restaurants offering Arabic food are not that common in the Rizal area, local residents now have a new convenient destination if they want to expand their food horizons.

Representing exotic flavors from the Mediterranean and Arabic regions

Ridge Cafe’s Arabic Dinner Buffet presents travel-hungry foodies with the opportunity to enjoy signature dishes of regions such as Greece, the Middle East, Egypt and South Asia, all cohesively curated and mouthwateringly presented in their respective stations.

Carnivores will be (quite understandably!) drawn to the carving station where beautifully roasted beef striploin and leg of lamb take pride of place, accompanied by roasted veggies and a variety of sauces to choose from.

Those seeking healthier fare can always go to the cold section and check out the fresh salads comprised of crisp greens and veggies as well as filling proteins.

Then diners can hop from station to station to sample distinct tastes from various countries in a virtual food trip across the Mediterranean, Gulf and Indian subcontinent with these flavorful offerings:

Dessert lovers can also look forward to sampling the popular desserts from these regions as well as their favorite sweets in the dessert station.

While you can always take this journey by yourself, it’s best to experience it with family and friends!

Ridge Cafe also offers other buffet meals including:

Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal favorites at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)

To reserve a table, email timberlandfbm@timberlandresort.com or message 0999-889-2659 | 0995-840-3206 | 8891-8288 local 1030 and 1032.

Ridge Cafe is located at Timberland Highlands Resort, inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

To know more about Timberland Highlands Resorts latest updates and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Timberland Highlands Resort: