Gel Jose

Long wait is worth it at Coco Fresh Tea & Juice, Ugong

Considering I’ve been such a milk tea fan for several years now, it’s wonder that I’ve only discovered this relatively new milk tea brand just now, and quite by accident at that.

I was scouting the restos and cafes in the Rockwell Business Center area for something new to try when I overheard someone ask the security guard where “Coco” is. When I espied the outlet (situated at the back of Tower 2 so it’s understandable that people would have trouble finding it), and saw the surprisingly long line of customers waiting to order or claim their drinks, my curiosity was picqued. What about Coco Fresh Tea & Juice would engender such a following? I must find out.

It seems that aside from the foot traffic coming in from the workers in the compound, as well as the patients and medical personnel from The Medical City nearby that comprise Coco’s clientele, quite a number of the people lining up and waiting are actually Grab riders who will deliver the drinks to their clients. Kuya Gary, one of the riders, advised me to book my order via GrabFood next time to avoid the lines and waiting. (Yep, will take note of that.)

The store has a small area, probably able to fit twenty or so diners inside at the most. With all the people there, there was hardly space for everyone to sit comfortably while waiting.

Given the amount of transactions within the store, it seems that Coco is a bit undermanned, with just to service crew and a store manager present to facilitate orders.

Storage space seems to be an issue as well, since boxes of supplies are placed in the store area.

After waiting in line for quite a while, I was informed at the cashier that waiting time for my order is 40 minutes.

Say what?!?

Well, since I’ve waited for quite some time already, and I was envisioning bringing some of these drink treats to my kiddies at home, I decided to stick it out and ordered the following which I immediately took home to enjoy with my kids:

A Salty Cream Milk Tea (Php90 for regular size) for me. Himalayan Sea Salt is added to heavy cream and whipped together to a frothy texture then added on top of the milk tea concoction. I would have wanted to taste the difference of the salty cream against the milk tea but I guess the sea salt was used quite sparingly.

A Pearl Milk Tea (Php80 for regular size) for my daughter, #ExhibitA. Being the most basic flavor among milk teas, this drink had to be just right. I agree with #ExhibitA that the balance of sweetness, creaminess and the tea flavor is just right, and the texture of the pearls is on point.

A Coco Chocolate (Php85 for regular) for my little boy. When I tasted this concoction, I found it similar in flavor to regular chocolate drinks and I couldn’t discern the tea flavor. But, hey, my son likes it well enough and that’s what’s important, amirite?

So the answer the mystery earlier on why a relatively new milk tea brand would have such a loyal following seems anchored on two factors:

Commitment to quality. The long wait could have been eliminated if the store was not discriminating in using the freshest fruit and tea ingredients which was actually a company directive since its founding by it chairman Tommy Hung in 1997.
Reasonable pricing. Given the quality of ingredients and the attention given to each drink, the pricing within Php75 to Php110 per drink is just right.

This Coco Fresh Tea & Juice branch is located at Ground Floor, Tower 2, Rockwell Business Centre, Ugong, Pasig City. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm.

It also accepts orders for a minimum of ten drinks via SMS to +63 927 5254788 from customers within the vicinity for pick-up. To order, just text your name, company, company address, specific orders (number of drinks per variant, exact sixe, sugar level, amount of ice and extra toppings, if preferred), and change for what amount to be prepared by the store crew. Remember though:

Orders for pick-up will be accepted from 9am to 9pm.
The store will send a confirmation SMS to acknowledge your order.
Confirmed orders can no longer be changed to avoid confusion and delay. (Have some compassion for the barista and the other people waiting for their drinks.) 🙂
The quality of the drinks will decrease the longer you wait to pick them up.
If you fail to pick up your orders, orders from you will no longer be accommodated in the future.

Other Coco Fresh Tea & Juice outlets where you can satisfy your milk tea cravings are located in the following:

Makati: Century City Mall in Poblacion
Mandaluyong: Rockwell Business Center in Highway Hills, SM Megamall in Ortigas
Manila: SM City Manila in Ermita, Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, SM City Sta Mesa
Muntinlupa: Festival Mall in Filinvest City
Pasay: SMX Covention Center in MOA Complex
Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk 2 in Libis, Fisher Mall along Quezon Avenue, UP Town Center in Diliman, Cyber Park Tower 1 Building in Cubao, Trinoma Mall in Bagong Pag-asa, Regis Center in Loyola Heights, Gateway Mall in Cubao, SM City Fairview in Novaliches, SM City North EDSA in Bago Bantay, Ayala Fairview Terraces in Novaliches
San Juan: O Square in Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Place Mall in BGC, Venice Grand Canal Mall in BGC

Or you can just have your milk teas delivered via GrabFood. 🙂

If you’re in the store waiting for your drink, you might want to listen to a podcast to while away the minutes. One of the podcasts I like to listen to is the Read to Lead Podcast with Jeff Brown, available on Spotify. He espouses the idea that intentional and consistent reading is essential to personal and professional success, best summed up in his mantra: “Leaders read and readers lead.” With this theme, he invites authors of books on business, marketing, personal development and entrepreneurship to guest in his show to share their insights to his listeners.

Among the books featured in my favorite episodes in this show include:

Freelance to Freedom: The Roadmap for Creating a Side Business to Achieve Financial, Time and Life Freedom. In the episode, author Vincent Pugliese relates how he and his wife built their side business into a full-time one to be able to devote time to their growing family and to eventually live debt-free.

Friend of a Friend . . .: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career . In the episode, David Burkus introduces the idea that the best way to grow your professional network is to understand and serve the existing network you belong to.

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do. In the episode, writer Jeff Goins answers questions submitted by listeners.

Love books and reading? Try Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. Get your first month FREE.

No Kindle device? Download the Kindle App for FREE to read your favorite books anytime and anywhere using your mobile device.

No time to read? Listen to your favorite books instead while you drive, run, shop, and more. Try Audible for free for 30 days and get two free audiobooks.

Sumptuous Chinese Lunch at Lugang Cafe, Greenhills

Lugang Cafe is the offshoot of Bellagio, a Taiwanese restaurant chain which first opened in Shanghai in 2001, bringing with it a combination of authentic Taiwanese cuisine with a modern and vibrant restaurant design. Since then, it has grown its China operations to include outlets in key cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Najing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Galaxy Macau.

Outside China, it is known as Lugang Cafe, currently with 7 branches in the Philippines, and recognition as a recipient of Philippine Tatler’s 100 Best Restaurant Awards.

Walking in to Lugang Cafe’s O Square branch in Greenhills Shopping Center, I can’t help but be impressed by its sleek, contemporary yet decidedly Asian decor. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of natural light (great for food photography!) and even allows passersby to peek at the chefs at work in the kitchen. It has distinctive wall art, fixtures and furnishings that give the place a luxurious and premium look and feel, quite a departure from the usual down-home (and sometimes shabby-looking) Chinese restaurants.

Even though the place was packed with the Sunday lunch crowd, we were lucky to find ourselves a table with the help of a very accommodating hostess. There was a frenetic kind of energy to the place, what with the servers rushing here and there and the din of clanging utensils from the diners.

For my Sunday lunch together with Hubby and my daughter #ExhibitA, we ordered an array of dishes that showcase Lugang’s penchant for carefully selected ingredients imported from China, cooked fresh (with no chemical additives), and developed by the 14 world-class chefs it employs.

Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao (Php268 – 8 pieces). Did you know that in China, making Xiao Long Bao, also known as the soup dumpling for the flavorful pork skin broth that accompanies the pork leg meat inside the fine, delicate hand-rolled skin, is considered an art form? Lugang’s take on this challenging dish results in a very light and delicious dumpling that whets the appetite for more.

Steamed Vegetable and Pork Dumplings (Php268 – 8 pieces). A lighter take on the usual pork dumplings as the meat has to share the limelight with some greens.

Steamed Pan Fried Siopao (Php268). Another departure from the run-of-the-mill cuisine, this version of the steamed siopao has bottom which has been seared to a crisp texture, adding an interesting contrast in texture to the light fluffy bun that envelopes the meaty filling.

Spicy Beef and Tendon Noodles Soup (Php320). Tender choice cut beef sirloin slices and melt-in-your-mouth tendons are accompanied by a savory and spicy broth and firm handmade noodles (that I had trouble cutting with my soup spoon, hahaha!) and topped with aromatics. This is definitely something I would want to sip on during cold rainy days.

Pineapple Fried Rice (Php320). A twist on the regular fried rice, with cashew nuts adding texture and pineapple bits lending some sweetness to the dish. Although it went well with the viands we ordered, I think this rice is a bit too oily for my taste.

Beef Tenderloin with Crispy Garlic (Php680). A new dish offered by Lugang first introduced in this very branch last year, it features tender cuts of beef braised in a flavorful garlic sauce, quite a flavor grenade!

Fried Prawns with Oats (Php580). Humongous prawns covered in an oat-filled batter and deep-fried to a golden brown. While it has an interesting texture, I think that the oats do not do much to enhance the prawns’ taste.

All in all, our Sunday lunch at Lugang Cafe introduced us to a host of absorbing new tastes and textures, as well as wowed us with the luxurious restaurant interiors. We definitely wouldn’t mind returning and revisiting our favorites or trying out the other dishes being offered.

Which brings us to…

Lugang Cafe’s UlTEAmate Feast

From August 28 to September 28, weekdays at 2.30 to 5.30pm, diners can eat all the Steamed Pork Xiao Long Baos their hearts desire, together with other unlimited dumplings, for only Php298 per person at all Lugang Cafe branches. For more details, visit Lugang’s Facebook Page.

I might have some difficulty availing of this offer – what with work schedules and all – but take heart, I vow to find a way!

Lugang Cafe’s Lauriat Feast

Did you know Lugang can deliver platters and packed meals with your favorite Taiwanese dishes right at your doorstep?

This Lugang Cafe branch is located at Ground Floor, O’Square, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 906 2176217. Other branches are located at:

Level 1, Main Mall, South Arcade, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City (Tel: +63 906 2176216)
2/F The Block SM North Edsa, Pag-asa 1, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 3328725 or +63 915 7469693)
Skypark, Level 5, SM Aura Premier, 26th Street corner Mckinley Parkway, Taguig City (Tel: +63 2 5195663 or +63 906 4555873)
Glorietta 2, G/F, The New Ayala Center, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 4033303 or +63 906 4555879)
F Fashion Hall, Bldg D, SM Megamall Edsa cor. J. Vargas, Brgy Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City (Tel: +63 2 6316436 or +63 915 1742243)
Level 1, Pedro Gil Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila (Tel: +63 995 7564734)

HBO’s “The Deuce” Season 2 Premieres Exclusively on HBO GO on September 10

Chronicling the rise of pornography and the multibillion-dollar industry’s transformation of American culture, the critically acclaimed drama series THE DEUCE, created by George Pelecanos and David Simon, returns for its nine-episode second season on Monday, September 10 at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers.

Resuming five years after the culmination of the first season, THE DEUCE returns to the world of 1977, capturing the Times Square area of midtown New York at its most garish and volatile.

Amid a city that is as culturally dynamic as it is dystopic, the show finds its protagonists living at the apex of the Golden Age of Porn, when the dream of a mainstream X-rated film business is suddenly a credible reality, and the culture of pornography and its blatant commodification of sex is finding increasing traction among more and more Americans.

Disco and punk are in full swing, and police corruption and political tolerance for New York’s midtown demimonde is at its height. And the Mafia, the early backer of pornography at the moment when courts declared for its legality, is now seemingly poised to reap great profits. A comparable – and, in some ways, more professional – porn industry is rising on the West Coast as well. But for now, New York is holding its own in a city flush with movies, music and art, as the drug-fueled party rages around the clock.

“This is the moment when it genuinely seemed for the first time that hardcore pornography was going to become mainstreamed into American culture and pysche,” says David Simon. “And in a very real sense that would happen to a profound degree, though not in the ways that our protagonists once imagined.”

Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon, both veterans of the HBO series “The Wire” and “Treme,” THE DEUCE is executive produced by Pelecanos, Simon, Nina K. Noble and James Franco. The drama series stars James Franco (Golden Globe winner for “The Disaster Artist”) as both Vincent Martino, a successful manager of several mob-backed nightspots, and his twin brother, Frankie Martino, whose own business ventures are more fraught, and Maggie Gyllenhaal (Oscar® nominee for “Crazy Heart,” Golden Globe nominee for season one of THE DEUCE) as Candy, now a rising director of ambitious porn films.

The returning cast also includes: Gary Carr (“Downton Abbey”) as C.C. and Gbenga Akinnagbe (HBO’s “The Wire”) as Larry Brown, both Eighth Avenue pimps coping with the changing realities of the sex trade; Margarita Levieva (“Revenge”) as Abigail “Abby” Parker, who brings her artistic and political sensibilities to the Hi-Hat bar while navigating life with Vincent; Dominique Fishback (HBO’s “Show Me a Hero”) as Darlene and Emily Meade (HBO’s “The Leftovers”) as Lori, prostitutes who gain a measure of independence as their film careers rise; Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. (HBO’s “The Wire”) as NYPD detective Chris Alston; Chris Bauer (HBO’s “The Wire”) as massage parlor manager and Martino brother-in-law Bobby Dwyer; Michael Rispoli (HBO’s “The Sopranos”) as Mafia capo Rudy Pipilo; and Chris Coy (CINEMAX’s “Banshee”) as nightclub proprietor Paul Hendrickson.

Season two finds Luke Kirby (“Rectify”) joining the cast as a series regular as Gene Goldman, an incoming Koch administration official bent on reform, and Jamie Neumann (“The Looming Tower”) joining as a series regular as Ashley, a former sex worker turned activist. Guests include Zoe Kazan (“The Big Sick”), Ralph Macchio (“The Karate Kid”), Mustafa Shakir (“Marvel’s Luke Cage”), David Krumholtz (“Living Biblically”), Don Harvey (HBO’s “The Night Of”), Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“8 Mile”), Daniel Sauli (“House of Cards”) and Sepidah Moafi (“Falling Water”).

Season two writers include: David Simon (HBO’s “The Wire” and “Treme”), George Pelecanos (HBO’s “The Wire” and “The Pacific”), Richard Price (HBO’s “The Night Of”), Anya Epstein (“The Affair,” HBO’s “In Treatment”), Carl Capotorto (HBO’s “Vinyl”), Megan Abbott (“Give Me Your Hand”), Stephani DeLuca, Will Ralston (HBO’s “Treme”) and Chris Yakaitis (HBO’s “Treme”).

Season two directors include: Alex Hall (HBO’s “Treme”), Steph Green (“The Americans”), Uta Briesewitz (“Orange Is the New Black,” HBO’s “Westworld”), Zetna Fuentes (“Jane the Virgin”), Susanna White (HBO’s “Generation Kill”), Tricia Brock (“Mozart in the Jungle,” “Younger”), Tanya Hamilton (“The Chi”) and Minkie Spiro (“Call the Midwife,” “Downton Abbey”).

Episodic synopses:

Episode #9 (Season 2, Episode 1): “Our Raison d’Être”

Premieres: Monday, September 10 at 9am

Times Square, 1977. After his early successes managing the Hi-Hat and French Parlor, Vincent (James Franco) is now proprietor of a new mob-backed disco, Club 366, while his girlfriend Abby (Margarita Levieva) has brought the nascent punk-rock culture into the Hi-Hat. Vincent’s twin brother, Frankie (James Franco), remains a problem, “borrowing” money from Show Land, the sex emporium he manages, to pay off his debts. Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), now a “triple threat” as a porn actress, producer and director, is looking to make more artful, ambitious adult films, over the objections of her collaborator, Harvey (David Krumholtz). C.C. (Gary Carr) pulls a con on Bernie Wolf (Stephen Gevedon), the director of a porn film starring Lori (Emily Meade), to get her more money. Hoping to launch a more upscale gay nightclub, Paul (Chris Coy) looks to sever mob ties from his current bar. Alston (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.), now a homicide detective, is approached by Gene Goldman (Luke Kirby), a civil servant appointed by Mayor Koch to clean up Times Square. Written by David Simon & George Pelecanos; directed by Alex Hall.

Episode #10 (Season 2, Episode 2): “There’s an Art to This”

Premieres: Monday, September 17 at 9am

Confronted with the changing realities of prostitution and porn, C.C. (Gary Carr) doubles down on his assets, while fellow pimp Larry Brown (Gbenga Akinnagbe) eyes a new opportunity. Growing creatively frustrated, Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) turns to Genevieve Furie (Dagmara Dominczyk), a onetime porn director who’s graduated to slasher films, for filmmaking advice. After a customer is mugged outside his bar, Paul (Chris Coy) is approached by Matty the Horse (Garry Pastore), a rival of Rudy’s (Michael Rispoli), who promises Paul the mob protection he deserves. Following a nostalgic road trip to Coney Island with Vincent (James Franco), Abby (Margarita Levieva) attends a meeting of activists, and recognises a familiar face from Times Square. Written by Richard Price; directed by Alex Hall.

Episode #11 (Season 2, Episode 3): “Seven-Fifty”

Premieres: Monday, September 24 at 9am

Lori (Emily Meade) envisions a sunny future in LA after attending the AFFA Erotica Awards with Harvey (David Krumholtz) and Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who’s looking to connect with west-coast producers who are willing to turn her fairy tale into reality. Paul (Chris Coy) and Kenneth (Michael Stahl-David) approach Vincent (James Franco) about a loan for a new nightclub, free from mob ties. Goldman (Luke Kirby) visits Alston’s (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.) precinct to share the mayor’s vision for cleaning up the Deuce. Frankie (James Franco) wins a hand of poker, but risks losing his job. Back in NYC, Ashley (Jamie Neumann) pushes her reform agenda on Abby (Margarita Levieva), while trying to avoid C.C. (Gary Carr). Larry Brown (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and Darlene (Dominique Fishback) learn a bitter lesson about supply and demand. Rudy (Michael Rispoli) sends a message to his rivals, but invites retaliation. Written by Chris Yakaitis; directed by Steph Green.

Episode #12 (Season 2, Episode 4): “What Big Ideas”

Premieres: Monday, October 1 at 9am

Ashley (Jamie Neumann) and Abby (Margarita Levieva) resolve to track down the identity of a 16-year-old sex worker killed in a recent fire. Vincent (James Franco) is shaken after witnessing the brutal side of Rudy’s (Michael Rispoli) operation. Frustrated by the progress on her new film, Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) recruits new faces to help with the production. Frankie (James Franco) finds his dry-cleaning business a less-than-perfect fit. Larry Brown (Gbenga Akinnagbe) shows off his improvisational skills. Lori (Emily Meade) looks to forge a deal with Kiki (Alysia Reiner) while keeping C.C. (Gary Carr) in the loop. Written by Anya Epstein; directed by Uta Briesewitz.

In addition to “The Wire,” creators David Simon and George Pelecanos collaborated on HBO’s New Orleans drama “Treme.” Simon is an author, journalist and producer whose other works for HBO include “The Corner,” “Generation Kill” and “Show Me a Hero.” Pelecanos is the author of 20 critically acclaimed novels, including “The Double” and “The Turnaround,” as well as a screenwriter and film producer, and served as a writer and co-producer on HBO’s “The Pacific.”

THE DEUCE was created by George Pelecanos and David Simon; executive producers, George Pelecanos, David Simon, Nina K. Noble and James Franco; co-executive producer, Richard Price.

Series details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO Go not available in your area? Watch on HBO on Amazon Prime. Start your 7-day free trial today.

HBO Asia’s new original documentary “The World Behind the Teenage Psychic” begins production

Following the success of HBO Asia’s award-winning Mandarin original drama series that premiered in 2017, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, the network announced today that production has begun for a new original documentary, THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC. The documentary is scheduled to premiere later this year on HBO Asia’s on-air, online and on-demand platforms.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is an HBO Asia original documentary that seeks to delve deeper into the traditions and culture that the coming-of-age series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, is based on. Filmed entirely in Taiwan, the hour-long Mandarin documentary explores some of the unique shamanistic practices that call Taiwan home – taking the audience on a journey through the rituals and beliefs surrounding the Ghost Month.

The Ghost Month is the pinnacle of the annual spiritual calendar in Taiwan – when the gates of hell are said to open, and spirits enter the world of the living. Weaving through the festivities, THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC follows different characters to explore how a distinct blend of Taoist, Buddhist, Chinese Folklore and indigenous belief systems continue to flourish in modern Taiwan.

One of the characters in the documentary is award-winning Taiwanese actress and singer, Nana Lee (“Youth Power”, “One Million Star”) – who also starred in THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC. Lee grew up surrounded by temple culture and beliefs during her childhood. With her family having suffered the loss of a loved one, Lee visits her hometown of Nantou and reconnects with her past. Spanning worlds old and new, and having a direct link to the original THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC series, Lee’s unique perspective offers a personal account of how traditions of life and death survive in Taiwan today.

Throughout the documentary, followers and devotees share thoughts on why these practices are still relevant and a part of everyday life, while leading academics explain how and why spiritual belief remains so deeply-rooted into the modern fabric of the island.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is developed and produced by HBO Asia and is scheduled to premiere later this year on the network’s on-air, online and on-demand platforms. This marks the second original documentary for the network, following their first documentary THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS that premiered in 2017. HBO Asia started producing its Original productions in 2012 and have since expanded their range of Asian Original productions to include series, movies and documentaries. To date, HBO Asia has produced eleven Asian Originals with more slated to premiere in the coming years.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

Stream Season 1 of The Teenage Psychic on HBO Go.

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO Go not available in your area? Watch on HBO on Amazon Prime. Start your 7-day free trial today.

HBO partners with Viu in bringing the Viu Original “The Bridge” to HBO subscribers in PH

HBO Asia and Viu, a leading OTT Video service by PCCW and Vuclip, recently announced that the Viu Original “The Bridge” licensed by Endemol Shine Group, will be available on HBO Asia’s channels and services throughout Asia. From November 26th, 2018, the show will be on Viu in all available markets and on HBO, HBO GO and HBO ON DEMAND in the Philippines, among other Asian countries, enabling fans of Viu Originals to view this latest adaptation of global phenomenon, “The Bridge,” on multiple platforms.

HBO Go, HBO’s online streaming service, is exclusively available in the Philippines to SKYcable subscribers.

“HBO Asia is committed to quality original local programming and working with Viu on ‘The Bridge’ is another step towards that,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO, HBO Asia. “This adaptation of ‘The Bridge’ will add to our ever-growing line up of Asian Original content that will resonate with audiences in the region and around the world.”

“Our approach is not just to produce great content, but also continue investing in the local ecosystem by providing a platform for sustained growth. It is great to partner with HBO Asia on the Bridge, because they share our vision and passion when it comes to Original content,” said Kingsley Warner, Country Manager Malaysia and Executive Producer of The Bridge, Malaysia and Singapore.

Viu is working with longtime partner, Double Vision, to produce a Malaysia-Singapore localised, ten-episode adaptation of global phenomenon, The Bridge, starring Bront Palarae, Rebecca Lim, Cheryl Samad and Tony Eusoff. The Bridge will be directed by Lee Thean-jeen and Jason Chong. A body is found on the border of two countries, Malaysia and Singapore, forcing an investigator from each country to work together to solve the case. This is a licensed format from international production and distribution house, Endemol Shine Group and is a compelling storyline which lends itself to great localization.

The Bridge (Bron/Broen) was originally created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt as a joint production of Sweden’s Filmlance International, part of Endemol Shine Group and Denmark’s Nimbus Film. The Bridge (Bron/Broen) was produced in co-production with Sveriges Television, DR, ZDF German Television network, ZDF Enterprises Gmbh, Film i Skåne, NRK, Copenhagen Film Fund, Lumiere Group, Stiftelsen Ystad Österlen Filmfond, with from Norvision and in co-operation with Malmö Stad.

Series details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Andok’s, the Fast and Fuss-Free Dinner for Weary Travelers to Tagaytay

After braving the traffic jams from Metro Manila to Tagaytay, the last thing the fam wants is to worry about dinner.

Not wanting to go through the hassle of deciding (and debating!) where to eat and waiting the requisite 15 to 20 minutes for the food to be served, we decided to just go to Andok’s for takeout.

Andok’s started way back in 1985 when Leonardo “Sandy” Javier, Jr. established a “litson manok” (roasted chicken) stall along West Avenue in Quezon City. Today, the Andok’s franchise has stores all over the country, some being fully-fledged dine-in restaurants with menus that include Chicken Barbecue, Barbecue Liempo (Pork Belly), Litson Kawali (Pan Fried Pork Belly), Crispy Pata (Pork Knuckles), and more.

We headed on to the nearest Andok’s stall and procured three orders of Liempo (Php179 each) and two orders of Lechon Manok (Php239 each).

The orders were wrapped and turned over to us quickly. We were supposed to also order steamed rice from this outlet but it was not readily available. (We were able to order it from another resto, though.)

Thanks to Andok’s, our dinner on the first night of our Tagaytay sojourn was quite affordable and fuss-free.

This Andok’s outlet is located at the corner of the Sta Rosa – Tagaytay Road and Calamba Road, near Museo Orlina and the Tagaytay City Market.

CinemaWorld brings South African rom-com “For the Birds” for free on SKY On Demand

Simone Nortmann (“Stroomop,” “Wonderlus”) and Francois Jacobs (“Canary,” “Wonderlus”) headline the cast of the 2016 film, For the Birds. Nortmann stars as Irma Humpell, an independent and stubborn tomboy who finds herself in front of the alter next to Sampie de Klerk, played by Jacobs, an extremely charming rugby player, but not before she teaches him a thing or two.

CinemaWorld brings this 2016 South African romantic comedy for free on SKY On Demand this September, allowing registered users of the video streaming service to view the movie online for one month at no additional cost. The title is available in its original Afrikaans but with English subtitles.

To use SKY On Demand, register at skyondemand.com.ph (service currently available to SKYcable subscribers). You can watch the movie and more using your computer’s browser or by downloading the SKY On Demand app on the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store.

CinemaWorld is a 24-hour, movie channel that premieres the world’s best and award-winning movies, box-office successes, critics’ favorites from all around the world. In the Philippines, SKYcable and One SKY subscribers can add it to their channel line-up for only Php150/month.

This post contains affiliate links.

SKY On Demand not available where you are? Watch For the Birds on Amazon Prime. Start your free trial today.

Happy Korean Lunch at Neul Bolm, Tagaytay

Ever since the extended family discovered the wonders of Korean cuisine that Tagaytay has to offer several years ago, a sojourn here is hardly complete without a meal at a Korean restaurant.

One such eatery is Neul Bolm Korean Restaurant which has moved to a new location since our last visit. (Incidentally, it is tagged on Zomato as “Permanently Closed” but as confirmed by the wait staff and this review, it is still very much in operation.)

The new location is just as spacious as their previous one with a cleaner and more modern aesthetic. It has long wooden tables with built-in grills for the Korean barbecue; two tables side-by-side was able to comfortably accommodate our party of ten.

We ordered Ssambap, meats to be grilled right on our tabletop and served with green leafy vegetables, a few slices of garlic, sesame oil and some ssamjang or red bean paste sauce. These include:

Cha Dul Begi (Php500), thinly spiced beef and Samgyubsal (Php400), grilled pork belly.

Jeyuk Bukum (Php400), spicy stir-fried pork with vegetables

These were accompanied by generous and refillable servings of banchan, side dishes such as sliced fish cakes, rolled omelettes, kimchi and more. Many of these have some acid or vinegar elements which help cut through the richness of the grilled meats.

We also ordered Kimchi Jeon (Php280), a kimchi and seafood pancake with egg; Budea Jjigye (Php970 for a Large serving), a soup of kimchi, ham, sausage, pork and veggies; Bulgogi Junggol (Php650), tender slices of savory-sweet marinated beef served in sauce; Dolsot Bibimbab (Php280), rice and vegetables mixed with a spicy paste and served in a heated clay pot; and Steamed Egg.

After the meal, the kids were also able to enjoy several assortments of Korean ice cream which are also offered by the restaurant

Neul Bolm Korean Restaurant is located along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway near Sky Ranch. For queries and reservations, call +63 46 413 1536.

Affordable Asian flavors Hainanese Delights, Eastwood

Hainan cuisine is derived from the cooking styles of the people of the Hainan Province in China which is lighter, less oily and more mildly seasoned than those of mainland China.

Hainanese Chicken Rice, in particular, is based on the well-known Hainan dish Wenchang Chicken, but has been adopted and considered the national dish in Singapore. It 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.

While out shopping with Hubby in Eastwood Citywalk, we decided to have lunch at Hainanese Delights.

We eschewed the more traditional preparation of Hainanese Chicken and instead opted to each get a Hainan Fried Chicken (Php149) since we favor its crisper and more flavorful skin which we think goes better with the refillable Hainanese rice. We also shared an order of Eat the Heat (Php190), the spicy fried squid adding some kick to our meal.

It was pretty much a no-frills and no-fuss meal, with servers just prompt to serve the orders and nothing else. The restaurant itself is quite plain and bare, not a place you would think to linger in after finishing your meal.

Still, if all you’re after is an affordable taste of Asian flavors, then drop by this store and satisfy your craving.

This Hainanese Delights branch is located at the 2nd Floor, Eastwood Citywalk 2, Libis, Quezon City. Other branches may be found at:

Manila: Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita, Robinsons Otis in Paco
Quezon City: Robinsons Magnolia in New Manila, SM City Fairview in Novaliches, Waltermat North EDSA in Project 7, Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas, Robinsons Nova Market in Novaliches
Mandaluyong: Robinsons Forum along Pioneer, Starmall Asia along Shaw Boulevard
Las Pinas: Robinsons Las Pinas in Talon Uno

This post contains affiliate links.

Want to whip up Asian dishes at home? Check out these recipe books on Amazon.com.

101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die: Discover a New World of Flavors in Authentic Recipes

The Everything Easy Asian Cookbook: Includes Crab Rangoon, Pad Thai Shrimp, Quick and Easy Hot and Sour Soup, Beef with Broccoli, Coconut Rice…and Hundreds More!

Asian Kitchen

Want to try some recipes today? There’s no need to leave home to shop for ingredients. With Honestbee, just order your groceries online and you’ll get them delivered right at your doorstep at your preferred time. Use this referral link and get Php500 off for a minimum spend of Php2,500. You can download the Honestbee app on iTunes or Google Play.

If you’re in the US and an Amazon Prime member, sign up for a free trial of Amazon Fresh to get your groceries delivered to you.

A get-together that’s delightfully ours at Conti’s, Greenbelt

Since Conti’s opened its doors in 1997, it has grown into one of the most established names in the Filipino food scene with multiple branches all over Metro Manila. Its claims to fame include its Baked Salmon dish and its Mango Bravo cake, and it continues to evolve in terms of product offerings and service innovations (which now include baked goods and reheatable take-outs).

https://flic.kr/p/29mFihU

Together with a good friend of mine, I have made Conti’s Greenbelt our go-to meetup place whenever she comes home to the Philippines on vacation from Singapore. It seems that the restaurant’s homey yet flavorful fare and bright airy interiors provide both of us a comforting feeling of home as we share the happenings in our lives during the few months we were in different countries.

Recently, we worked a minor miracle by shiffling our schedules around so we can meet up again in our favorite place to catch up and chat.

As always, I ordered my favorite dish, Conti’s Baked Salmon (Php425), a slab of Norwegian pink salmon, baked with Conti’s special topping and served with a salad of seasonal greens and a tomato-ey paella rice. I also got a Mango Banana Yoghurt Shake (Php145) as a fresh and fruity refreshment.

My friend, on the other hand, ordered a Homemade Beef Tapa (Php240) and a Yellow Mango Shake (Php135), to get a flavorful taste of home.

Since Conti’s tagline is “delightfully yours,” my friend and I have, in effect, made this resto delightfully ours. It is our place to meet and come back to our favorite flavors.

This Conti’s branch is located at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati. For queries and reservations, call +63 2 7560327.

Other branches are located at:

Alabang: Westgate Center, Alabang Town Center
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Paranaque: BF Homes
Pasay: South Wing of SM Mall of Asia, Blue Bay Walk
Manila: Robinsons Place Ermita
Taguig: Serendra BGC
Pasig: Ayala Malls the 30th
Mandaluyong: Shaw Boulevard cor Laurel Street
San Juan: Northeast Square Greenhills
Quezon City: Robinsons Magnolia, Katipunan Avenue in Blue Ridge, Trinoma Mall, SM North EDSA The Block, Ayala Fairview Terraces

You can also have your Conti’s favorites delivered where you are by calling +63 2 5808888 or ordering through the Conti’s online store.