Gel Jose

San Juan’s newest food and nightlife destination – Varra Restobar

The workday is through and you’ve earned yourself a little bit of a respite, wouldn’t you say?

If you’re looking for a place to meet with friends, enjoy good food and perhaps have a drink or two, then this newly opened and somewhat hidden restobar in San Juan would be just the thing.

A namesake of P. Guevarra Street where it is situated, Varra Restobar offers food lovers new reasons to make Little Baguio in San Juan their next foodie destination.

Together with my foodie friends, I ventured to Little Baguio in San Juan to check this resto out.

Getting to the resto is quite easy (it’s already on Waze, peeps!), but finding the entrance may be a challenge. Here’s a tip: go straight to the back of the building (where the car wash is) and climb up the stairs straight to the third floor. And then, you’re there!

Here’s what you can look forward to:

One: A chill place to hang out

The place has a relaxed vibe that is conducive for friendly get-togethers or chillin’ out with your favorite drink and bar chow.

It has a sprawling dining area with an abundance of power outlets. If ever your gadgets are low on battery, you can easily juice up again without having to leave your table.

Want to party in style? Reserve the stately Lounge and hold your celebrations for up to 40 pax for Php35,000 (fully consumable).

Or you can let loose with the gang in privacy and comfort in the VIP Room for just Php20,000 (fully consumable). Aside from the well-appointed interiors, you and your friends can enjoy your own private comfort room and a buzzer to summon the service team for your requests and orders.

Two: Mouthwatering comfort food

Whether you’re after a feast or a snack, Varra offers you a well-curated array of sure-win familiar dishes or fresh twists on the classics.

These include:

Crispy Shrooms (Php130). Deep-fried and crispy oyster and enoki mushrooms that you will want to pop into your mouth again and again.

Spam Chips (Php210). Thin slices of spam deep-fried to crisps accompanied by garlic aioli.

Messy Fries (Php150). Fries served with beef, lots of cheese and garlic aioli. It’s the kind of mess I certainly wouldn’t mind!

Varra’s Nacho Overload (Php350). Crunchy nacho chips doused in cheese sauce and overloaded with beef, tomatoes, onions, peppers and olives. Perfect for munching while chatting with friends.

Soy Garlic Chicken Poppers (Php240). Fried chicken balls served with coleslaw, rice and fried egg.

Beef Tapa (Php240). A classic breakfast staple, this consist of garlicky marinated beef served with salted egg, salsa, rice and fried egg.

Chicken Pesto Marinara (Php380). A tomato-based pasta topped with grilled chicken flavored with pesto sauce.

Classic Carbonara (Php290). A creamy iteration of the carbonara loaded with ham pieces and served with poached egg.

Wings Basket (Php230). Six pieces of juicy and flavorful fried chicken wings flavored with your choice of sauce – Buffalo, Sou Garlic, Garlic Parmesan, Hickory BBQ, Chili Cheese and Honey Sriracha – that go so well with rice. We got two baskets each of Soy Garlic and Garlic Parmesan.

Varra’s Steak Salpicao (Php380). Ooh, this is definitely the star of the show! Tender and flavorful slices of steak sauteed in garlic and oil and served on a sizzling plate.

Three: Refreshing drinks

As you enjoy the tasty viands and bar chow, quench your thirst with Varra’s Signature Cocktails (Php200 each) which include: Blue Cruise (white rum, lemon and triple sec), Rosee el Varra (tequila, sour mix and Hoegaarden Rosee), Varra Mountain (gin, gin de cacao, sour mix and triple sec) and Basil Slush (blended basil leaves, rum, lemonade and sugar).

If you don’t feel like imbibing alcohol ot if you’re the group’s designated driver, you can also opt for non-alcholic drinks such as Varra Iced Tea (Php80), Frozen Peach Iced Tea (Php100) and the cranberry and citrus-y Sunset Spritzer (Php130).

Well, it sure looks like San Juan just got itself a new go-to place for munchies, drinks and chillin’ out!

Many thanks to Ms. Lovely Tan and the crew of Varra Restobar for the invitation!

If you and your gang can’t get enough of wings, take advantage of Varra’s Unli Wings & Rice Promo for only Php359 per person, available from Sundays to Thursdays.

Varra Restobar is located at 333 P. Guevarra Street, Little Baguio, San Juan, open from Sundays to Thursdays from 6pm to 2am, and Fridays to Saturdays from 6pm to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 916 5870345.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Bench Cafe opens newest branch in Trinoma

The clothing brand Bench has been around for as long as I can remember. One of the “proudly Filipino” enterprise success stories, it has been a major player in local fashion and has even expanded its sphere of influence to that of a lifestyle brand with its personal care producrs, skin care services and hair salons.

It even ventured into the food business, notably with the opening of the first branch of its eponymous restaurant Bench Cafe last year.

Fast forward to today and Bench Cafe has already opened its fifth branch at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. Such speedy growth is proof that its concept of combining traditional and modern takes on Filipino food works and has found its place in Metro Manila’s highly competitive food scene.

The cafe held a special preview for bloggers the day before its Grand Opening. Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I got a taste of how Bench Cafe’s Chef Carlo Miguel melds local flavors together and updates classic Pinoy favorites such as:

Binagoongan Ceasar (Php149). Romaine lettuce with dilis and croutons tossed in a creamy dressing made with bagoong (shrimp paste) and queso de bola.

Tinapa Cones (Php129). Homemade lumpia wrappers formed into crispy cones and filled with tinapa (smoked fish) mousse and salsa.

Gising Gising (Php195). A spicy dish of chopped beans cooked in coconut milk and chilis.

Sisig Skillet (Php249). Pork cheeks and belly cooked in two ways and served topped with calamansi foam.

Fried Chicken (Php480). Whole spring chicken fried to a golden brown with crispy flavorful skin and juicy meat served with a honey patis sauce.

Dancing Fish (Php400). Crispy butterfly tilapia doused in escabeche sauce.

Pancit Guisado (Php239). Stir-fried noodles with shrimp, meat and chopped vegetables.

Silogs (from sinangag or “garlic rice” and itlog “egg”) are breakfast staples for many Filipinos. Bench Cafe serves these with garlic rice, fried egg and homemade atsara. The silog variation we’ve tasted here is the Tendon Silog (Php199) made with melt-in-your-mouth beef tendon in pares sauce.

Bongalmusal (Php349). If you’re ever at a loss on what to have for brekkie, this hyped-up silog meal serves up everything you could want! Spam, US beef tapa, tocino, daing (dried fish) and corned beef. Best of all, this dish is good for two so do share it with someone special.

Bench Cafe also introduced Bench-Tos which are glamourized takes on the fare available at a Pinoy turo-turo. This small roadside eatery is where diners point out the food they want and a serving is placed on their plates. Bench Cafe updates this concept by merging it with the Japanese bento – the chosen viand is served on a tray along with vegetables, homemade salsa and atsara as well as steamed Ifugao rice. Variations of this offering that we tasted include the Bagnet Kare Kare (Php339) which has a rich peanutty sauce that has no need for bagoong to have flavor, and the Inasal Liempo (Php299) which is Bench Cafe’s take on the Visayan grilled pork belly.

To cap out meal, Bench Cafe serves up its own takes on dessert classics with the smooth and creamy leche flan it dubbed Flan B (Php185) topped with macapuno and Classic Turon ala Mode (Php49).

Bench also applied its own twists on the popular dessert called Halo-Halo, which consists of sweetened fruits and other fixings topped with shaved ice and served with milk. Its variations include White (Php85 for 12oz | Php129 for 16oz) made with coconut shaved ice with garbanzos, caramelized banana, leche flan, nata de coco and coconut ice cream; Mango Otap (Php90 for 12oz | Php109 for 16oz), mango shaved ice with crushed otap, mango puree, cream and fresh mango cubes; Ube (Php95 for 12oz | Php149 for 16oz), ube halaya and palm beans added to the White Halo Halo; and Mais con Hielo (Php60 for 12oz | Php100 for 16oz), corn- flavored shaved ice with milk and kernels of sweetcorn.

I had a great time discovering fresh ways to enjoy the food that I grew up with at Bench Cafe.

Many thanks to the management and staff of Bench Cafe for having us and to EJ of #ILoveToEatPH for extending the invitation.

This Bench Cafe branch is located at Ground Floor, MRT Wing, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pagasa, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Bench Flagship Store, Bonifacio High Street, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Level 2, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ground Floor, Padre Faura Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Clutter-free Christmas with Keepr Storage PH

After months of hearing all the popular holiday songs in the malls, Christmas is finally upon us. From securing the best gifts for our loved ones to digging up décor from storage, it can take a lot of work just to bring a touch of Christmas into the home. Luckily, Keepr Storage PH is here to declutter and make more space in your home!

The Hard Work Behind Christmas

There is no denying that a lot of hard work goes into each Christmas celebration. With so much to do on the days leading up to Noche Buena and Christmas Day, the only time to relax is usually at the end of the holiday itself. And this is something very familiar for the family-team behind Keepr Storage PH.

“Christmas is something we look forward to as a family,” shares Jay Buensuceso. “Anna decks out our home with lights and décor, and we’ll have Christmas Jazz and Classics playing through the entire house. We’re building fond memories for our children.”

“I really look at every detail when it comes to the holiday season- from how the house looks on the outside, to every garland we have inside, down to having that pine and mistletoe scent!” adds Keepr Founder, Anna Moncupa. “There are numerous challenges: from clearing out space to make room for decorations, then pulling stuff out of storage, and of course, putting it all together nicely and making it ‘Pinterest-worthy’. Some things stay and some things go, and I used to just stuff everything in a closet or our garage, which of course is basically kalat when not in use.”

Keepr: An Easy Solution to All Our Holiday Storage Needs

Keepr Storage PH is a full-service, storage solution that combines high-level security and strategic logistics into an easy-to-use mobile app. Simply download the Keepr Storage PH app, then schedule the pick-up and delivery of your items from the comfort of your own couch! This Christmas, allow Keepr to help you with all your storage needs. With Keepr’s multiple solutions, you have a safe space to keep time-honored Christmas décor before and after the holidays!

“We want families to have a clutter-free space and really enjoy their homes while making wonderful memories together,” adds Anna Moncupa. “Keepr allows them to safely store their items to create that warm Christmas environment. Even after the holidays, seasonal décor can be safely kept in our warehouse without worrying about deterioration, dust, and of course taking up unnecessary space at home.”

Why let something you use for a month or two take up space in your home all year long? Download Keepr Storage PH now on the App Store and Google Play! Keepr Storage PH provides you with a host of storage solutions combined with real-time and customizable storage management. Prices start at just ₱399.00 a month! Learn more here or call +63-917-KEEPRPH (0917-533-7774)!

Service images and details provided in a recent press release.

Jack’s Lemonade, Ayala Malls Feliz

I’ve been a been a believer in the health benefits of fresh lemonade for quite some time now.

However, I also used to think that it’s a one-dimensional drink: just lemon juice plus water and sugar… the end. It may be healthy but it’s, well, meh.

My eyes were opened to the drink’s myriad of possibilities when I was introduced to Jack’s Fresh Lemonade earlier this year.

During a foodie meetup at its kiosk in UP Town Center, my fellow foodie friends and I discovered many ways to enjoy lemonade. In fact, Jack’s Fresh Lemonade has thirty lemonade variants to choose from! Whether mixed with teas, herbs or fruits or made into a dessert, Jack’s Lemonade proved to be quite a versatile drink.

Aside from its homecooked sugar syrup, what sets Jack’s Lemonade apart from other lemonade iterations is the use of plum salt or kiamoy. It’s a salty dried plum in powdered form which adds another dimension of taste to the lemonade drinks. It’s readily available at the counter and can be sprinkled on any Jack’s Lemonade drink for free.

Recently, I attended another Jack’s Fresh Lemonade foodie meetup, this time at Food Choices in Ayala Malls Feliz.

There, along with my fellow foodies, I again had a taste of Jack’s Lemonade’s refreshingly tasty and zesty variants which included:

Basil Rich Tamarind (Php95 for regular | Php115 for large or hot). This lemonade incorporates a healthy blend of fresh tamarind puree and basil seeds.

Strawberry Mint (Php95 for regular | Php115 for large or hot). This lemonade combines the fruity sweetness of pureed strawberries and the cool freshness of mint leaves.

Lemon Cheesecake (Php95 for regular | Php115 for large or hot). If you ever wondered if lemonade can be turned into a dessert, well this drink is for you! This drink combines lemonade with powdered milk, condensed milk and grated cheddar cheese and a generous sprinkling of plum salt.

Strawberry Cheesecake with Poppers and Yogurt (Php150). One of the store’s newest drinks, it adds fresh strawberry puree and yogurt to the Lemon Cheesecake drink.

So if you want to experience lemonade in a variety of fresh ways, all you have to do is drop by your nearest Jack’s Fresh Lemonade kiosk!

Many thanks to Abby of Jack’s Fresh Lemonade for the drinks and to Apol of SaanSaPH for extending the invitation!

Wanna know how fresh lemonade is good for you? Well, this beverage helps in controlling blood pressure; detoxifying and cleansing the body; facilitating digestion, throat care, heart health and skin care; relieving heartburn; whitening teeth and treating arthritis and rheumatism.

This Jack’s Fresh Lemonade kiosk is located at Food Choices, Fourth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City.

Other kiosks in Metro Manila are located at:

Fifth Floor, Bridgeway, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Lower Ground Level, Shangri-la Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Market! Market! Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Cinema Area, Third Floor, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, Trinoma Mall, Barangay Bagong Pagasa, Quezon City
Third Floor, Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Makati City

Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I attended a foodie meetup held here. The drinks mentioned here were served to enable us to sample the fare and to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my previous blog posts on other lemonade kiosks:

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, Ayala Malls Feliz

While Taiwan-style milk tea joints are popping up all over the metro, the Thailand-style milk tea is quietly building its base of aficionados.

Thai Milk Tea is easily recognizable due to its bright orange hue and distinct flavor brought about by the use of assam black tea, star anise and tamarind.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea has been around since 2010, making it one of the pioneers in the country’s Thai Milk Tea category.

Serving authentic Thai milk tea steeped in small batches everyday from all-imported ingredients, Jelly G adds many fresh twists to the drink and introducing Pinoy milk tea drinkers to fresh and novel ways to enjoy their favorite beverage.

Thai milk tea also helps in delaying aging, improving digestion and fighting infection. So by treating your taste buds to these delish milky drinks, you’re also treating the rest of your body to some much-needed nutrients.

Together with my fellow foodies, I recently visited its Ayala Malls Feliz branch where I was able to sample some of its best-selling drinks, which include:

Cheesy Thai Milk Tea with Grass Jelly (Php125 regular | Php155 medium). A creamy foam tops a basic Thai milk tea with some grated cheese added to introduce some saltiness to the sweet drink. Instead of tapioca pearls, grass jelly, an antioxidant that aids in is added to the drink for some texture.

Pink Sala with Cream Cheese, Poppers and Pearls (Php160 regular | Php205 large). A fruity drink made from sala (a type of palm native to Thailand), black tea and brown sugar with strawberry poppers and pearls added in.

Oreo Coffee with Grass Jelly (Php135 regular | Php165 large). Made with strong freshly brewed arabica coffee mixed with condensed milk and topped with crushed Oreos. This is sure to appeal to both coffee and dessert-drink lovers.

Matcha with Grass Jelly. Made from powdered tea leaves, this has a rich herby taste and creamy texture that is well complemented by the grass jelly.

Now we know where to get a taste of authentic Thai milk teas!

Many thanks to Abby of Jelly G for the drinks and to Apol of SaanSaPH for extending the invitation!

This Jelly G Thai Milk Tea kiosk is located at Cinema Level, Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City.

Other kiosks may be found at:

Food Choices, Second Floor, Main Mall, Ayala Malls Circuit, Carmona, Makati City
Third Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

No time to drop by a Jelly G kiosk? Have your Thai milk tea delivered to you via Grab delivery! Get a discount on your first GrabFood order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Holiday sets at Medley Modern Mediterranean, BGC

Being a self-confessed bookworm, the Fully Booked building in Bonifacio High Street used to be one of my favorite places. I loved its rows upon rows of books and how it seemed to warmly welcome book lovers into its premises.

Sadly, the worsening traffic situation curtail many of my trips to the area and it has been some time since I last visited this building.

Well, last night, I discovered a new motivation to brave the traffic to spend time at this happy place. The Fully Booked building also houses a new concept restaurant called Medley Modern Mediterranean.

The restaurant had its beginnings as a small kiosk at the Legaspi Sunday Market. There, the father-and-son team of Michael and David Tweg (both hailing from Israel), offered Mediterranean snacks to the market goers. The demand for his offerings grew and soon, David decided to set up Medley, a Mediterranean restaurant with home-style dishes that harken back to his childhood but also caters to the on-the-go lifestyle of Metro Manila’s denizens.

At Medley, each dish is designed for taste and nourishment. All ingredients are freshly prepared daily and sourced local farms and suppliers, with no artificial flavorings or preservatives. Each dish is made to-order and can be customized according to the the diner’s preferences, with options for meat lovers, vegetarian or vegans.

Together with my fellow bloggers, I attended the Medley Community Christmas Party where it launched its new and exciting dishes:

Holiday Sets. These are meal sets that combine solo-sized rice or hummus bowls with Cardamon Tea and a Dates and Walnuts Bar, giving the diner a complete meal bursting with fresh flavors.

These include:

Beef Kofte Meal (Php269). Juicy grilled beef kofte kebab with sides of tabbouleh, corn salad , sumac onion salad and a dash of mamba sauce.

Levantine Chicken Meal (Php259). Broiled and shredded chicken flavored with a mix of Middle Eastern spices with sides of Moroccan carrot salad, Israeli salad, fried eggplant, matbukha and flavored with garlic sauce.

Falafel Crunch Meal (Php249). Crunchy deep-fried patties made from ground chickpeas flavored with herbs and spices with sides of Mediterranean rice, tabbouleh, corn salad, fried eggplant and tahini sauce.

By the way, diners can also opt to get the Cardamon Tea (Php80 for 16oz | Php99 for 22oz) and Dates and Walnuts Bar (Php49 per piece) ala carte.

New on the Menu.

Smoked Paprika Shrimp Power Bowl (Php399). Freshly smoked shrimp flavored with paprika in a bowl with hummus, pita bread, tabbouleh, bulgur what, Israeli salad, fried eggplant and lemon and garlic sauce.

Za’atar Fries (Php79). Sweet potato fries tossed in various seasonings.

Baklava (Php39). Rich and decadent dessert made from chopped nuts and syrup in between layers of flaky phyllo dough.

Bourekas (Php49). Savory pastries made from different fillings such as spinach, feta cheese and mushroom sandwiched inside phyllo dough.

Hummus Shake (Php169 for 16oz). I didn’t know that hummus can be made into a drink! In this exotic yet healthy beverage, the chickpea mixture is sweetened by the addition of bananas, cardamon and dates.

So whether you’re looking for a light snack or a healthy meal, do give Medley a try.

By the way, during the Medley Community Christmas Party, my fellow bloggers and I were tasked to create our own rice or hummus bowls. In this enjoyable activity, we started out by choosing between hummus or Mediterranean rice as our base, selecting our proteins among beef kofte, falafel crunch, Levantine chicken and smoked paprika shrimp, then adding up to three sides before finishing off with our chosen sauce. The best looking one won a prize.

Here’s my attempt: what do you think. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t win.) 😜😜😜

Even in the midst of such crushing defeat, I still had a lot of fun together with my fellow bloggers and ate my fill of Medley’s tasty Mediterranean dishes.

Many thanks to the management and staff of Medley Modern Mediterranean for the fun time and fabulous meal, and to Bella Javier for extending the invitation!

This Medley Modern Mediterranean branch is located at the Ground Floor, Fully Booked Building, B6 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 10am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8206402 or +63 949 7209914.

Another branch is set to open soon at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Entertainment City, Paranaque.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the 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 reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean dishes:

Liloan’s Pride Liempo, Greenhills

Much has been said of Cebu’s take on the lechon: its crunchy golden skin, its tender, juicy and flavorful meat, its independence from sauces and condiments that usually accompany the country’s national dish.

Liloan’s Pride Liempo, the brainchild of a family based in the municipality of Liloan in Cebu, is borne out of the recipes and practices that make the family’s lechon a local treasure.

The secret lies in choosing the freshest and juiciest meat, marinating it in garden-fresh herbs, spices and seasonings, then slow-roasting the flavor-infused meat to tender and flavorful perfection.

The Cebu lechon chain recently opened its newest store in Greenhills Shopping Center where it serves up, not just its celebrated Cebu lechon-style liempo, but also other classic Pinoy dishes that brings a taste of home away from home, all affordably priced to suit the Pinoy everyman’s budget.

Together with my fellow foodies, I was able to sample some of its offerings which included:

Cebu Liempo (Php360). The star of the show, this roasted pork belly is infused with herbs, with juicy meat highlighted by its crispy skin. A spicy version is available for Php380.

Roasted Chicken (Php380). A whole chicken prepared in the Cebu lechon manner.

Crispy Garlic Bangus (Php200). Marinated and lightly battered milkfish pan-fried to a holden brown and topped with toasted minced garlic.

Classic Sisig (Php160). Minced pig cheeks seasoned with calamansi, onions and chili peppers, topped with egg and served on a sizzling plate.

Bulalo Sisig (Php199). The store’s new take on the classic sisig which combines the classic dish with beef bulalo.

Beef Pares (Php99). Braised beef stew served with clear soup and garlic rice.

Pochero (Php149). Pork belly slices stewed in a tomato-based sauce along with potatoes, garbanzos. green beans and shredded cabbage, and served with sliced plantains.

While food choices – many of which are from foreign cuisines – abound in Metro Manila, it is heartening to know that our local delicacies are also represented.

Many thanks to the management and staff of Liloan’s Pride for the tasty meal and to EJ of #WeLoveToEatPH for extending the invitation!

This Liloan’s Pride Liempo branch is located at Ground Floor, Connecticut Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan.

Other branches may be found at

SM Hypermarket, Upper Ground Floor, Building B, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
California Garden Square, Domingo M. Guevarra Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
Lower Ground Floor, SM Cubao, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati City
The Block, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
SM Hypermarket, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, MOA Complex, Pasay City
Food Court, Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a food tasting event held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

dōTERRA® Opens Corporate Office and Celebrates Grand Opening in The Philippines

dōTERRA®, the world leader in essential oils, is celebrating its global expansion with the grand opening of a new corporate office and locally registered product in the Philippines. The office provides a convenient location where thousands of local Wellness Advocates, together with a growing customer base, can come to learn about and purchase dōTERRA’s pure, potent, and sustainable essential oils.

“This is a great day for dōTERRA and the growing number of dōTERRA Wellness Advocates and customers whose demand for our products were critical in our expansion into the Philippines,” said Greg Cook, Founding Executive. “We are excited about the potential of our Southeast Asia business, and the opportunity to share our pure essential oils with more consumers and increase awareness of our sustainable sourcing with another global community. Our presence in the Philippines further solidifies our position as the largest essential oil company in the world.”

“Opening an office and building a support team in the Philippines is a small, yet significant way for us to support our Filipino Wellness Advocates and customers, and demonstrate our commitment to building a successful business in the region,” said Johnathan Kunz, dōTERRA Vice President of Asia Pacific Markets. “Serving the thousands of loyal dōTERRA customers just got easier, and we appreciate everyone that has had a hand in making this office possible.”

dōTERRA previously announced that Micheal Carson will serve as General Manager for the Philippines. Carson is an experienced industry leader who also helped open China for dōTERRA in 2014.

About dōTERRA®

dōTERRA® is an integrative health and wellness company and the world leader in the Global Aromatherapy and Essential Oils market. dōTERRA sources, tests, manufactures and distributes CPTG® essential oils and essential oil products to over eight million dōTERRA Wellness Advocates and customers. Through industry leading responsible sourcing practices, dōTERRA maintains the highest levels of quality, purity and sustainability in partnership with local growers around the world through Cō-Impact Sourcing. The dōTERRA Healing Hands™ offers resources and tools to global sourcing communities and charitable organizations for self-reliance, healthcare, education, sanitation, and the fight against human trafficking. Through the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils, dōTERRA is changing the world one drop, one person, one community at a time.

To learn more, visit its website.

Affordable taste of Singapore at Hainanese Delights, Robinsons Galleria

A few years ago, back when I was at the early stage of my career, the company I worked for held offices at the basement of Robinsons Galleria Mall in Ortigas Center.

There are many advantages to having one’s office inside a mall, not the least of which is the sheer variety of dining options for me and my officemates come lunchtime; the only limit, apparently, is our budget.

Fortunately, the mall then has a lot to offer when it comes to pocket-friendly eats. One of them is Hainanese Delights.

Aside from its affordable offers, this resto is also memorable for introducing me to Hainanese Chicken Rice.

This dish, though rooted in China’s Wenchang Chicken, has been well and truly adopted by Singapore such that it is considered the country’s national dish. The dish is traditionally prepared by poaching a whole chicken at sub-boiling temperatures, with some of the resulting stock combined with ginger, garlic and other aromatics used to cook the accompanying rice, producing a yellowish, flavorful and oily rice. It is usually served with three dipping sauces: a spicy red chili sauce, a dark soy sauce, and freshly ground ginger.

At just a little over Php100 with unli rice, Hainanese Delights’ Hainanese Chicken Rice was a tasty, filling and affordable lunch treat for me and my officemates back then.

Fast-forward to today: Hainanese Delights’ Robinsons Galleria branch has moved from its previous spot to a more spacious location in the mall’s foodie mecca, Eat Street. Aside from more tables and chairs to cater to its still-growing clientele, the place has more stylish interiors and even a window to the kitchen where guests can take peek into how their favorite dishes are prepared.

Recently, my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I visited this reataurant for a taste of old faves and new flavors, which included:

Rice Dishes

Hainanese Delights (Php169). The resto’s best-selling white chicken dish

Hainan Fried Chicken (Php169). Prepared similar to the white chicken but fried to have that flavorful and crispy skin.

Chicken Heaven (Php169). The resto’s version of Barbecue Chicken.

Hot Chick (Php169). Barbecue Chicken made spicy.

Pork Passionate (Php169). Breaded porkchop fried to a crispy golden brown.

Hainan Fish Fillet (Php169). Steamed fillets of cream dory topped with minced garlic.

All rice dishes come with unlimited Hainan rice.

Php99 Meals.

Fish and Eggplant. Rice meal that comes with free soup.

Char Beehoon. Served with Mantao bread.

Entrees.

Surf and Turf Bits (Php169). Steamed shrimp and pork dumplings.

Noodles.

Singapore Staple (Php169). Hearty noodle dish served with broth on the side and Hainanese White Chicken.

Drinks.

Coffee with Mantao Bread (Php45). Add Php20 for unli coffee refill.

Houseblend Drinks (Php65 each). Comes in Peach Tea and Ginger Lemon Tea flavors.

Milo Godzilla (Php90). A chocolatey dessert drink.

It was a fun and filling experience to rediscover one of old favorite haunts in Robinsons Galleria. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

Thanks to the management and staff of Hainanese Delights for the feast and to Harvard of Always Hungry PH for extending the invitation.

This Hainanese Delights branch is located at Food Court, Level 1 Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City, open from Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 10pm.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Adriatico Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Ground Floor, Robinsons Otis, Mercedes Guazon Street, Paco, Manila
Lower Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Lower Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City Fairview, Buayang Bato, Mandaluyong City
Lower Ground Floor, Walter Mart North EDSA, Project 7, Quezon City

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. The food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants offering Singaporean dishes:

Sate your Japanese food cravings at Hanako, Regis Katipunan

Japanese food remains to be among the most popular cuisines in the metro. With its focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients, simple yet meticulous food preparation that brings out the ingredients’ natural flavors, as well as the artistry involved in presentation and styling of its dishes, Japanese cuisine, has won the hearts (and tummies) of many Pinoys.

Hanako, for example, is a Japanese restaurant chain that’s geared to be among the metro’s go-to destinations with its focus on authentic yet affordable Japanese food.

“Hanako” is actually a popular girl’s name in Japan which translates to “flower girl.” As the name implies, Hanako’s dishes exemplify the simplicity and beauty of Japanese cuisine.

Recently, my gal pals from #SaanSaPH and I trooped to Hanako’s branch in Regis Center Katipunan for a late lunch. We were treated to a wondrous array of dishes which included some of my old Japanese food faves as well as new discoveries:

Miso Soup (Php54). The staple soup of many Japanese restaurants wherein miso paste is incorporated into a dashi stock with some tofu cubes. Did you know that this soup can be filling despite being low in calories because of the high protein content?

Kani Salad (Php174). A light and refreshing salad made with matchstick-sliced cucumber and carrots, shredded lettuce, strings of kani (crab) meat, tossed in Japanese mayonnaise.

Gyoza (Php89 for 2 pieces | Php159 for 4 pieces). Ground pork mixed with aromatics and spices and wrapped into dumplings which are first steamed then lightly pan-fried on one side for an interesting contrast in texture.

Sushi Rolls. One of the most popular dishes in Japanese cuisines, sushi rolls are made of specially prepared sticky vinegared Japanese rice served with other ingredients. These include the California Gunkan (Php219) – made with kani, fried salmon skin, tamago (seasoned hardboiled egg), mango, cucumber and ebiko (shrimp roe), Spicy Tuna Crunch (Php229) – made with tuna, togarashi (seven-flavor chili pepper) and tempura flakes, Philadelphia Roll (Php209) – made with salmon, kani, cream cheese, tamago and cucumber, and Five Star Roll (Php149) – made with fried salmon skin, salmon, kani, mango, teriyaki sauce, sesame and cucumber.

Salmon Tartare (Php224). Chunks of salmon mixed with Japanese mayo, togarashi, tempura flakes and chopped scallion.

Katsu Curry (Php229). Deep-fried, panko-covered pork cutlets covered in a slightly sweet curry sauce and served with rice.

Ebi Tempura (Php169 for 3 pieces | Php279 for 5 pieces). Battered and deep-fried shrimp served with a special sauce.

Fish Katsu (Php189). Fillets of fish covered in panko and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown.

Beef Omurice (Php184). Classic Japanese omelette stuffed with savory beef fried rice and drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise and homemade sweet umami sauce.

Grilled Salmon Head (Php149). Lightly seasoned salmon head served with homemade sweet citrus-sou dipping sauce.

Yakitori (Php149). Chicken pieces in skewers seasoned with salt, pepper,l and teriyaki sauce, which are then grilled and served on top of a bowl of steamed rice.

Donburi. Traditional rice bowl meals consisting of meat simmered or doused in a sauce made of dashi, soy sauce and mirin (rice wine) and served on top of steamed rice. These include Gyudon (Php219) – made with beef and onions, and Katsudon (Php199) – breaded and deep-fried pork cutlets simmered with onions and egg. Diners can upgrade their donburi orders to meal sets by adding Php35 for a drink, Php75 for miso soup plus drink, Php105 for a 2-piece gyoza plus drink, or Php145 for miso soup, 2-piece gyoza plus drink.

Chahan (Php79). Japanese stir-fried rice with meat bits and chopped vegetables.

Meiji Madness (Php129). Moist and chewy lava cake topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Drop by Hanako for a taste of #HandsDownGoodFood and sate your cravings for Japanese dishes!

Many thanks to the management and staff of Hanako for the warm welcome and lovely food.

This Hanako branch is located at Second Floor, Regis Center, 327 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 907 4879346.

Other branches are located at:

131-C Armstrong Avenue, Moonwalk Village Phase 1, Paranaque City
30-C Dona Soledad Avenue, Bgy. Don Bosco, Paranaque City
SM Supercenter, Fontera Verde, E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Bgy. Ugong, Pasig
2nd Floor, The Rock, Holy Spirit Drive corner Marcelino Street, Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City