Gel Jose

Fantasies brought to life with Victoria Court Suites’ themed rooms

Motels came out of the need among motorists for places to stopover and rest. A portmanteau of the words “motor” and “hotel,” motels are usually located along higways with no-frills – almost spartan – rooms immediately facing the parking area to give motorists immediate access to their vehicles after their stopover.

Over the years, however, the concept of motels has deteriorated to one mostly related to illicit activity.

Victoria Court, one of the more premium motel brands, has taken steps to go beyond the seedy impressions of its business. It began by transitioning its service concept from a motel to a drive-in hotel with bigger rooms, luxurious amenities and a classier atmosphere that guarantees privacy, courtesy, prompt service,and world-class facilities and housekeeping.

A few years ago, Victoria Court began to offer themed rooms – large quarters decorated and laid out with outlandish concepts in mind – thereby expanding its potential clientele to include those looking to have themed parties, engagement revelries and bachelorette bashes. With this innovation, Victoria Court has cemented its appeal beyond the usual market among motels, while retaining the hint of naughty mischief. (I organized a very memorable bachelorette party for a friend here a few years ago precisely for this reason.)

Victoria Court continues to innovate of this concept, regularly introducing new themed rooms inspired by pop culture.

In its recent event held at its Panorama property in Pasig, #VCTwistedFiction, it showcased some of its popular themed rooms by inviting bloggers and cosplayers to bring their fantasies to life. Bloggers collaborated with the cosplayers in setting up and photographing the rooms in dramatic or playful scenes in the featured rooms.

Curious yet? Check these out:

Bachelor’s Pad. Ladies, invade your men’s space by having your girls’ night out here, playing pool or pretending that the the boys are in the kitchen, making you a sandwich.

Cirque. If you ever dreamed about running away to join the circus, here’s your chance. In this room, you can be the ringmaster of your own show.

Venice. Here you can picture yourself as the muse of a Renaissance artist and daydream among the romantic canals surrounded by works of the masters.

Moulin Rouge. Step into Satine’s opulent budoir and relive the heyday of Paris’ colorful demimonde.

Oval Office. See what it’s like to be the most powerful person in the Free World for a night.

Princess Jasmine. In this Arabian Nights-inspired room, you can get on a magic carpet ride and explore a whole new world.

Victoria Court has certainly come a long way from the original motel concept into a venue for outlandish and fantastic revelries.

Victoria Court’s Panorama property is located at #1 Canley Road, Oranbo, Pasig City. For inquiries and bookings, call +63 2 6719782 to 84 or +63 917 VCSERVE (8273783). For more details, visit http://www.victoriacourt.biz.

Five-hour stays in the themed rooms are priced at:

Php12,000 (Cirque, Princess Jasmine, Venice, Oval Office, Moulin Rouge, Space Wars and Fifty Shades); Php1,200/hr in excess of 5 hours
Php8,000 (Bachelor Pad, Hive (Big), Asgard and Chips); Php900/hr in excess of 5 hours
Php5,000 Divine and Hive (Small)); Php900/hr in excess of 5 hours

Corkage Fees:

Food: Php2,000
Drinks: P2,000 (bringing of beer is not allowed)

Upscale Burger and Fries at Pound by Todd English, SM Megamall

Burgers-and-fries have become a quick kind of meal to many, something to grab at a fast-food outlet to-go and gobble down at your office desk or while on your way to work.

Burgers at Pound by Todd English are not that kind of burgers. They are meant to be enjoyed at leisure, while relaxed amidst swanky surroundings.

Having been introduced to this restaurant by Hubby when we dined at its outlet in Eastwood City, I grabbed at the chance to get a taste of another of its burgers at its branch at SM Mega Fashion Hall.

We each ordered an Amsterdam Burger (Php280). Pound’s house ground beef patty is flame-grilled then served in soft , lightly toasted buns along with fried onions, a generous slice of pastrami, gruyere cheese, sauerkraut, mustard relish and Todd English’ signature sauce. With so many unusual ingredients, I took my time to relish the different flavors that each bite of my burger brings.

We also got some Good Ole’ Fries (Php90) to accompany our burgers. These are made from real potatoes and seasoned well to go well with Pound’s burger offerings.

If you want an upscale take on the staple burger and fries, Pound by Todd English is a good bet.

Hearty Pre-Holiday Lunch Mom & Tina’s, Tomas Morato

On our last day at work prior to the long weekend, a friend and I decided to treat ourselves to Mom & Tina’s for lunch.

This resto started as a pastime for a mother and daughter team. It has since grown into a bakery cafe business with four branches in the metro, all aiming to cater to their diners’ cravings for the comforting flavors of home-cooked meals and freshly baked goodies made from heirloom recipes.

In keeping with its theme of providing the comforts of home, its premises have a homey country-style decor with comfy furniture and seats with rustic table toppers. Floor-to-ceiling windows with roman shades provide lots of muted natural light that’s comfortable on the eyes and also great for foodie shots.

For our pre-holiday meal, we split orders of:

Soup of the Day (Php140). This creamy and hearty starter is made fresh and served with two freshly baked rolls.

Meat Lasagna (Php265). Alternating layers of beef, Bechamel and tomato sauce, baked then served piping hot.

Shepherd’s Pie (Php295). This is one of my favorites among Mom & Tina’s offerings: ground beef and mushrooms sauteed in a delicious sauce, then covered with mashed potatoes.

For dessert, we indulged in a Beehive Cupcake (Php80) and a Carrot Cupcake (Php70).

Yeah, we basically loaded up on carbs but at we went back from lunch with full tummies and happy moods.

Mom & Tina’s food are prettily presented and served with a warm smile by the wait staff. I guess my only complaint is the relatively expensive charge for extra butter.

This Mom & Tina’s branch is located at 58 Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 11pm. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 3323080 or +63 2 3323579.

Other branches are located at:

O Square Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City (open daily from 7am to 11pm; Tel: +63 2 7500976) – check out my review of this branch

FRDC Building, 106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., (C-5), Pasig City (open daily from 7am to 10pm; Tel: + 63 2 9140833 or +63 2 5711541)
G/F Unit 14 Tropical Palms Condominium, Dela Rosa St. cor. Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City (open daily from 7am to 10pm; Tel: +63 2 8404299 or + 63 2 8943598)

Returned to the dark side at BLK 513, SM Megamall

What is it about BLK 513 that got me so hooked? Ever since I had my first taste of it during the grand opening of its Glorietta branch, I’ve been craving for it.

Is it the tart sweetness and rich creamy texture of the Greek yogurt enriched with activated charcoal?

Is it the melding of flavors and the contrast of textures from the inclusions in each Dark Skim Cup (Php189) or Dark Skim Cone (Php155 for chocolate cone and Php170 for Japanese Matcha Cone or Real Strawberry Cone)?

Is it the meticulous care that goes into the preparation of this treat, the careful layering of the crunchy element (yummy butter bars), two fruits (peaches and mango bits) and a rich sauce (Spice Cookie Caramel)?

Whatever it is, once I was done with my frozen treat, I was already counting the days until I can taste it again. I guess you could say I wouldn’t mind stepping into the dark side again and again if this heavenly dessert is waiting for me.

This BLK 513 branch is located at the Second Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm).

Other branches are found at:

Second Floor, Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City (open daily from 9am to 10pm)

Second Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Level 2, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Second Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Bonifacio High Street, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10.30am to 10.30pm)

Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm)

Food Street, Upper Ground Floor, SM Southmall, Almanza, Las Piñas City (open daily from 10am to 9pm)

Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm)

Ground Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City (open daily 10am to 10pm)

Don’t miss the season-ender of HBO’s horror anthology “Folklore” on November 11

In “Mongdal,” Chae-Yeon plays Ok-Bin, a loving mother and a strict school principal to her son, Dong-Joo, who has anger management issues. Knowing her son’s situation, she tries to understand his moods and gives in to his demands.

All is well for the two until her son falls deeply in love with the new girl in school. He is determined to get the girl—even if it is against her will.

Up to what extent will Ok-Bin do in order to make her son happy? What is the significance of the bachelor ghost or popularly known as a Mongdal in the story?

Lee Chae-Yeon was the episode’s director Lee Sang-Woo’s only choice for the leading role because he saw in her the star quality that set her apart from the other actresses in their initial choices.

Episodes are helmed by different directors from various Asian countries, and are filmed in the local language of the country that the episode is based in.

Watch “Mongdal” on November 10, 10PM on HBO Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch on Ch. 22 HD. It is also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

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.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

CinemaWorld film fest features 4 award-winning films this November

CinemaWorld continues to bring quality movies to SKYcable viewers, this time putting the spotlight on four award-winning international films as it launches “Cinemaworld Film Festival: Crossroads” Sundays at 9pm this November showcasing youths prevailing over life’s adversities.

SKYcable subscribers can tune-in to the story of star-crossed lovers Rafael and Cristine in Romanian’s “Box“. Find out how far the 19-year old aspiring Gypsy boxer and the 34-year old married actress can prove that age and different worlds don’t matter when it comes to love. It premiered last November 4 but will re-air on November 9, 8.20pm.

Awarded Best Screenplay Award at Sundance Film Festival 2013, “Wajma, An Afghan Love Story“, tells the tale of a young couple who kept their relationship in secret. After Wajma discovers her pregnancy and their relationship is exposed, her father will be tested as he tries to uphold their family’s honor and protect his daughter. The movie premieres November 11.

The Israeli film, “Fill The Void“, which won Best Actress Award at Venice Film Festival 2012, and seven Ophir Awards, also known as the Israeli Oscars, revolves around Shira (Hadas Yaron), an 18-year old woman, who is urged to marry her brother-in-law after her sister unexpectedly dies and leaves behind her new-born baby. Catch its premiere on November 18.

Last on the line-up is Britain’s “Bypass“, a film nominated for Best Film for the Venice Horizons Award in Venice Film Festival back in 2014. A young man named Tim, played by George MacKay, is left with no choice but to look out for his younger sister Helen after the tragic death of their mother.

As he finds a job for their needs, he resorts to reselling stolen goods for profit. In the middle of his dilemmas, he finds support in his girlfriend Lily. See it as it premieres on November 27.

Last month, CinemaWorld treated film buffs to an exclusive screening of “Wajma, An Afghan Love Story” at the UP Town Center. The film festival was graced by the Sales and Marketing Director of CinemaWorld, Pearlyn Lee. “CinemaWorld aims to increase visibility of international films in communities where we operate and give local audiences a taste of a foreign country’s diversity, culture and creativity through an annual film festival,” said Lee.

CinemaWorld is available on SKYcable Plans HD1799 and HD1999 channel 184 in Metro Manila, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna, and on HD channel 716 in Cebu and Davao. Subscribers can choose to add CinemaWorld on top of their basic plan via SKY Select, for only P150 per month. To activate the channel, visit www.mysky.com.ph/getcinemaworld or call +63 2 418-0000.

HBO Films’ “Deadwood” movie begins production

Production has begun in Los Angeles on HBO Films’ “Deadwood” movie, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming. Continuing the story begun in David Milch’s critically acclaimed, Emmy®-winning HBO series, the feature-length presentation is written by Milch, directed by Daniel Minahan and features original cast members from the series.

In the “Deadwood” film, the indelible characters of the series are reunited after ten years to celebrate South Dakota’s statehood. Former rivalries are reignited, alliances are tested and old wounds are reopened, as all are left to navigate the inevitable changes that modernity and time have wrought.

Returning cast members for the “Deadwood” movie include: Ian McShane (Al Swearengen), Timothy Olyphant (Seth Bullock), Molly Parker (Alma Ellsworth), Paula Malcomson (Trixie), John Hawkes (Sol Star), Anna Gunn (Martha Bullock), Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter), Brad Dourif (Doc Cochran), Robin Weigert (“Calamity” Jane Canary), William Sanderson (E.B. Farnum), Kim Dickens (Joanie Stubbs) and Gerald McRaney (George Hearst). The film will also feature new cast member Jade Pettyjohn (Caroline).

During its three-season, 36-episode run on HBO from 2004 to 2006, the “Deadwood” series was nominated for 28 Primetime Emmy® Awards, winning eight, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Walter Hill), and also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Performer by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Ian McShane).

The “Deadwood” film is executive produced by David Milch, Carolyn Strauss, Daniel Minahan, Gregg Fienberg, Scott Stephens, Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant; directed by Daniel Minahan; written by David Milch.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Movie details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

Haven for coffee and comfort food lovers: Little Owl Cafe, New Manila

Hidden away in New Manila is a haven for lovers of coffee and comfort food.

Renovated from one of the previously worn-down houses along Broadway Avenue, Little Owl Cafe is nestled among lush greenery. Started as a coffee shop but now a full service cafe, it serves food that features a fusion of Italian and Asian cuisines that professionals working in the area or families residing nearby can enjoy.

I was recently invited to a Blogger’s Dinner at this restaurant where I was able to sample some of its delectable offerings:

Omelette Chorizo Rice (Php270). Part of the resto’s All-Day Breakfast Menu, it consists of homemade longganisa rice, delicately wrapped in a thin omelette and topped with onion gravy and aioli.

Sisig Tacos (Php210). Three pieces of soft-shell tacos topped with crispy sisig and a savory liver aioli sauce. A great start to the meal!

Glazed Cauliflower (Php210). Cauliflower covered in a sweet and spicy soy glaze then deep-fried to crispiness. A great way to get the kids to eat their veggies!

Truffle Mushroom Pasta (Php350). Al dente noodles tossed in a rich homemade mushroom sauce made with three different kinds of mushrooms – shiitake, enoki and shimeji – topped with fried enoki and drizzled with truffle oil.

Shrimp & Aligue Pasta (Php330). Pasta noodles tossed in a creamy tomato sauce incorporating shrimp aligue and served with plump grilled shrimps.

Beef Tapa & Cheese Sandwich (Php295). A Pinoy take on the Philly Cheesesteak which showcases savory slivers of beef tapa, it is accompanied by a hefty serving of crisp shoestring fries.

Chicken & Waffle (Php270). Chicken thighs covered in batter then fried to a crisp then served with sriracha coleslaw over cheddar waffles.

Lechon Kawali Bibimbap (Php320). The classic sweet-spicy Korean fried rice served with sauteed mushrooms and spinach accompanied by deep fried pork belly and fried egg. A great combination of Pinoy and Korean flavors!

Chicken Satay (Php280). A bowl of Indonesian- inspired fried rice served with grilled chicken thigh and its trademark peanut sauce.

Beef Rendang (Php420). Tenderchuck slow-cooked in aromatic spices and coconut cream. A little too spicy for me but a sure winner for those who like their food with lots of kick!

Kimchi Salmon Sinigang (Php420). Salmon belly and loin seared then served in a spicy and sour soup.

Iced Mocha (Php170). A rich yet refreshing blend of chocolate and coffee flavors, it is among the Toby’s Estate beverages served in this restaurant.

https://flic.kr/p/QyJGPJ

Pink Owl (Php180). A fruity cocktail of vodka, lychee, watermelon and mint. A suitable drink to chase away the workday stress.

Little Owl Cafe’s food offerings provide its diners with an adventurous break from the everyday meals but with enough familiar flavors to make them appealing to those with more conservative tastebuds.

Its premises are well-appointed, tastefully furnished and prettily lit, great backgrounds for foodie shots and group photos.

Since this resto is conveniently located a short distance from my workplace, I definitely can drop by again for dinner with friends after office hours.

Little Owl Cafe is located at 65 Broadway Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 10pm and Sundays from 8am to 9pm. For inquiries, call + 63 917 8181468 or +63 2 5012036.

Little Owl also accepts bookings for special events such as weddings, birthdays, holiday parties, press conferences and more, with function rooms that can be reserved for a minimum consumable amount.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend 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.

Quick snacking at Auntie Anne’s, SM Manila

For years, I’ve been a fan of Auntie Anne’s freshly baked pretzels. I find its goodies quite irresistible, from the yummy smell of baking that wafts from its oven to the sweet yet salty bread that seems to melt in my mouth.

Finding myself famished when I arrived for an event at SM Manila with my daughter #ExhibitA, I scouted the area for a quick snack.

And wouldn’t you know it, situated not far from the event area is an Auntie Anne’s kiosk.

My favorite among Auntie Anne’s offerings has always been the Almond Pretzel (Php85), especially when coupled with Caramel Dip (Php25). I love how the crunch of the toasted crushed almonds contrasts with the soft, freshly baked pretzel, and the caramel dip just adds to the decadence of this treat.

#ExhibitA, on the other hand, prefers the Original Pretzel (Php65) with Chocolate Dip (Php25).

We would have been content with our usual orders but for this particular visit, my attention was caught by one of Auntie Anne’s new offerings, the Blueberry Cream Cheese Stix (Php95). The rich tartness of the melted cream cheese and the sweet fruitiness of blueberries also played well with the soft chewy pretzel.

If you want to have a taste of this new creation, better hurry off to your nearest Auntie Anne’s store. It’s available only until January 14, 2019.

On the other hand, if you have no time to drop by the store for your pretzel fix, you’ll be happy to know that Auntie Anne’s delivers via Honestbee.

This Auntie Anne’s store is located at the Upper Ground Floor of SM City Manila in Ermita.

Check out my review of another Auntie Anne’s outlet here.

Milk tea break at Macao Imperial Tea, Timog

After lunch at nearby Cafe I’m Here, my friend and I hied ourselves over to the Macao Imperial Tea outlet along Timog Avenue. Occupying a narrow area in the second floor of RTT Building, it is one of eleven outlets in Metro Manila of this new entrant to the milk tea business.

When we arrived as the lunch hour was nearing its end, there was an impressive line to the counter of people waiting to order their drinks, a testament to the popularity of this milk tea brand. Despite the narrow space, there were quite a few seating spaces.

Having been named one of the top ten milk tea places in Metro Manila, Macao Imperial Tea serves an extensive menu that includes coffee, milk tea and cream cheese-based drinks.

For this visit, we each ordered a Black Pearl Milk Tea. At only Php100, each drink comes in a premium-looking reusable plastic cup. The milk tea was creamy and not-too-sweet with pearls serving as nice accents to the drink.

We took our drinks back to the office to enjoy at our leisure.

This Macao Imperial Milk Tea branch is located at RTT Building, Tomas MoratoCorner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. Other branches are located at:

780 Banawe Street, Banawe, Quezon City
Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Del Monte, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Circuit Makati, Olympia, Makati City
308 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City
Third Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Fourth Floor, SM City Manila, Ermita, Manila
Calle Bistro, Ground Floor, Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth, Old Balara, Quezon City
Second Floor, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila
Ground Floor, Unimart Supermarket, Oranbo, Pasig City
SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City

Check out my reviews of other milk tea outlets: