Do you want to explore fresh ways to enjoy your classic faves? Do you look forward to broadening your food horizons? Do you long to be in on exciting foodie adventures?
Well, along Sgt. Esguerra Street in Quezon City’s Tomas Morato area, there’s a thrilling secret that’s soon to be revealed that will surely enliven the metro’s foodies.
A Super Secret Supper Club!
This secret society will meet at KitchenGarten, a multi-functional space that houses two professional integrated cloud kitchens and a spacious event hall. The area can serve as a venue for various types of personal and commercial events and functions.
Located in a loft overlooking the main kitchen is KG Hall, an open space that can accommodate up to sixty seated guests. It’s ideal for large social gatherings such as parties and seminars.
Sometime soon, once or twice a month, KG Hall will serve as the venue for the Super Secret Supper Club, a gathering for foodies to savor the wondrous creations from KitchenGarten’s talented chefs.
Among these creations are four exciting food brands that will soon find their way into the hearts of the metro’s foodies.
Betwixt
Getting its name from the sandwich’s main characteristic – being between two pieces of bread – Betwixt serves up delightful twists through fresh takes on sandwich filling, all made from scratch, generously portioned into freshly baked, house-made bread served with root-crop chips.
(Note: The sandwiches in the pictures below are bite-sized versions for tasting). The actual sandwiches would be bigger, sized for a solo serving or might be large enough to share.)
Tuna Confit Melt (Php450). House-made tuna confit, lettuce, olives, gherkins, mozzarella and provolone with Betwixt mayo-mustard in honey whole wheat bread.
Kickass Cubano (Php450). House-made mojo pork and ham, gherkins and Swiss cheese pressed in Cubano bread.
Pulled from Nosh (Php295 for two sandwiches). Pulled pork, lettuce, guava slaw, provolone in toasted brioche buns.
Betwixt Pastrami (Php495). Homemade pastrami and sauerkraut, gruyere cheese, Betwixt mayo-mustard in house-made dark rye.
The Lechon Baka (Php525). Beef lechon short plate, kesong puti, atchara, tomato, lettuce, Betwixt soymansi au jus and mayo on Cubao bread.
Root Crop Chips (Php60). Sweet potato, cassava and taro chips lightly seasoned with salt and pepper then deep-fried to deliciousness crispiness.
Nosh Market
For meat lovers out there, Nosh Market serves up appetizing twists on ribs that will get you reaching for piece after delicious piece. Solo servings include your choice of Nosh’ tasty Side Kick while full portions come with your choice of two Side Kicks. Pair these viands with a the house-made iced tea – Nosh Slosh – or the various craft beers and sparkling seltzers available.
Nosh Rack of Ribs (Php395 solo | Php1450 full). Pork ribs slow-smoked for sixteen hours with Nosh’ signature barbecue sauce.
Ultimate RIBosado (Php345 solo | Php1250). Ultra-soft and tender pork ribs with a light crunchy covering.
Pork Ribs and Beans (Php355 solo | Php1300 full). Pork ribs slow-cooked with cannellini beans, pork cheese, fresh herbs and spices.
General Tso’s Ribs (Php315 solo | Php1150 full). Pork ribs cooked sous vide then deep-fried and served glazed in a sweet and spicy sauce.
NY Buffalo Ribs (Php315 solo | Php1150 full). Super tender pork ribs glazed in New York-style buffalo sauce.
Buttered Corn (Php75).
Guava Slaw (Php120).
Picnic Rice (Php180).
Nosh Slosh
Beers and Sparkling Seltzers
The Bakery and Estheritas
Wondering where Betwixt’s freshly baked breads come from? Not far, apparently.
Within the same kitchen is The Bakery by Nosh Market which supplies breads and loaves such as honey whole wheat, rye, Cubano, banana bread and banana muffin.
Also available are whole cakes such as Nosh Tablea Cake, Mixed Berries Shortcake and Nosh Mini Cakes.
Estheritas MNL, on the other hand, is the prime source for glammed up cakes, pies and pastries such as the La Trinidad Shortcake, Classic Pistachio Sans Rival and Classic Ensaymada.
Mixed Berries Shortcake (Php1150 for 6” square | Php1150 for 8” square).
Nosh Mini Cakes (Php650). Four pieces of tasting slices of Mixed Berries Shortcake, Nosh Tablea Cake, Tablea Opera Cake and Pistachio Sans Rival)
Nosh Tablea Cake (Php1050 for 6” square | Php2400 for 8” round).
La Trinidad Shortcake (Php1600).
Pistachio Sans Rival (Php850 medium | Php1200 whole).
Classic Ensaymada (Php390).
With such delectable items on offer, KG Hall’s Super Secret Supper Club is certainly something we shouldn’t keep to ourselves, is it?
I don’t mind spreading the word about it, so do check it out!
KG Hall is located at 36 Sgt. Esguerra Street, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9am to 6pm. For event bookings, delivery orders and other inquiries, call +63 2 87406550, +63 2 77536903 or +63 917 1163693. You may also send an email to kgecorporders@gmail.com.
To stay updated on the latest promos and offers of KG Hall brands, follow them on social media:
Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended a food tasting held at this venue. Food and beverage items mentioned here were served at no cost to the attendees.
Even more Filipino communities will now experience the convenience of online grocery shopping, as MetroMart – the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines – expands its services to Davao and Bicol.
Starting on March 28, 2022, MetroMart will provide its grocery delivery service in Davao with Robinsons Supermarket and S&R. Launching on the same day, Robinsons Supermarket will also be available on MetroMart for the Bicol area. Users in Davao and Bicol will now be able to order their complete range of groceries from fresh, frozen and dry goods from Robinsons Supermarket and S&R. And to top it off, you do not need an S&R membership to shop from S&R!
New Users of MetroMart in these locations can also get additional discounts. Use the code HELLODAVAO or HELLOBICOL to get FREE Delivery for a minimum spend of ₱1,000. Promos are applicable in their respective serviceable areas only, valid from March 28 to April 30, 2022.
“We’re excited to announce our nationwide expansion to more cities in the Philippines and to share the convenience of online grocery shopping from the MetroMart website and mobile app to more Filipino families. We are grateful for the opportunity to empower and provide income to our hardworking Personal Shoppers and Riders who are joining the MetroMart family, as well.” Stefano Fazzini, CEO and co-founder of MetroMart, said. “Stay tuned for more updates on new locations, new merchants, and more discount deals from MetroMart this 2022.”
MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include Robinsons Supermarket, S&R (no membership required), Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys R Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in less than 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/MetroMartPH. Order groceries online or download the app via http://metromart.app.link/.
Details and images provided in a recent press release.
With our very busy lives, we deserve our restful sleep as well.
After all, getting enough sleep has a myriad of health benefits that we simply can’t ignore. These include heightened immunity, prevention of weight gain, as well as improved mood, memory, productivity and heart health.
As a place to rest and restore ourselves, our bedroom needs to be set up and decorated accordingly.
So scan through your bedroom and take note of what you can improve to give yourself a well-deserved blissful slumber.
Bed.
The primary furniture in the room determines much of your comfort as you slumber. The quality of your mattress, pillows and beddings will greatly factor into your sleeping conditions.
Gadgets.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the use of electronic devices at night tend to delay the time that we fall asleep, reducing the total sleep duration. These devices also affect our brains, stimulating our minds and making it harder for us to doze off. The blue light they emit also disrupts our body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.
Now, it would be highly unlikely for us to ban all our technology from the bedroom but we can pare down our use of them once we enter our sanctuary. We can avoid using them an hour before we go to sleep, place them in drawers to keep them out of sight and resist the urge to reach for them when we wake up at night.
Lighting.
Light is the key player when it comes to regulating our circadian rhythm, with the darkest possible room cited as the most conducive to sleep. Darkness also reduces potential visual distractions and disruptions to sleep.
To help make your bedroom as dark as possible, consider equipping the room with blackout curtains and a small, low-power lamp. If you still have considerable light in the space which disrupts your sleep, you may want to purchase a comfy yet close-fitting eye mask.
Ventilation and Temperature.
As we enter the hot summer months, proper ventilation and room temperature become even more crucial to catching our Zzzs. Aside from air-conditioning, you can also help cool your room down by using electric fans to circulate air, and creating cross-ventilation within the home by opening or closing doors and windows.
Scents.
Don’t underestimate the power of your nose. Some fragrances can help promote relaxation which, in turn, makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up the following morning feeling well-rested.
Clean-smelling sheets have been observed to help in promoting comfortable sleep, as well as the use of aromatherapy in the form of essential oils applied to pillows or placed in diffusers. Lavender, rose, roman chamomile, jasmine and ylang-ylang are among those that have been seen to contribute to restful slumber.
Clutter.
In the same way that messy surroundings impede your ability to work at optimum levels, clutter in your bedroom could also prevent you from getting the sleep you need.
Clear out items that do not help you relax by regularly tidying up your bedroom and storing your electronic gadgets and small items in your drawers. Vacuum your bedroom rugs and mattress regularly to get rid of dustmites that trigger allergies.
Ready to set up your room to give you the best kind of sleep?
Shop for bedroom essentials that will help you get to Sleep Town at AllHome.
AllHome is the Pinoy’s one-stop shop for all home needs. It offers an extensive range of top-quality home-improvement products such as construction supplies, hardware, appliances, indoor and outdoor furniture, homeware, décor, and even electronic gadgets all under one roof.
Its Metro Manila branches include:
Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas
You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.
In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and Libis. Used with permission.
Everytime I watch the antics of Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal on the Youtube channel Korean Englishman, I get absolutely green with envy at the sight of those two and their friends enjoying those scrumptious Korean food.
At some point, I would get so envious that I simply have to get those delicious dishes for myself.
Fortunately, yummy and affordable Korean dishes is just a phone call away, thanks to Aegyo Korean Chicken.
It started out as a Korean mini-mart located a few blocks from my home. Thanks to this establishment, I acquired a readily accessible source for ingredients for my #SamgyupAtHome and my #HotPotAtHome adventures, including pork, beef, fish balls and lobster balls.
Recently, it started offering classic Korean dishes, so I was able treat my fam to a Korean lunch with viands such as:
Bone-in Korean Chicken (Php269 for 5 pcs | Php488 for 10 pcs). I ordered both Spicy Yangneom and Lemon Pepper flavors so that my family members who prefer spicy and non-spicy Korean Chicken would be able to have something to enjoy.
Bibimbap (Php198). A solo-sized meal all by itself consisting of steamed rice with, beef strips and veggies topped with a fried egg, all of which are meant to be mixed together for a wonderful layering of flavors.
Fishcake (Php75) and Tteokbokki (Php88). These popular Korean street food items also serve great side dishes for this Korean lunch.
Well, now I don’t have to go all #FOMO whenever Josh and Ollie feeds their guest with Korean dishes, simply because I can readily have them here at my neck of the woods.
What’s your K-food craving today?
Aegyo Korean Chicken and Coffee is located at the corner of Countryside Avenue and 4th Street, Countryside Village, Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, open daily from 9am to 9pm. For inquiries, call +63 915 064 2961 or order for delivery via FoodPanda.
To stay updated on its products and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.
If you constantly find your kid drawing in a corner or creating visual designs on their iPad, you know it’s time to take it to the next level. Premier Apple partner Power Mac Center (PMC) is opening this year’s summer art camp to welcome kids to a whole world of digital wilderness where they can develop their talent and pursue what they like through Apple technology.
From April 19 to August 30, 2022, PMC’s official training arm – PMC Business Systems, Inc. (PBSI) – will be offering “Design Trail for Kids” with six special courses covering comics creation, 2D animation, game design using various software, and building trendy filters and 3D effects. Sessions will be conducted online for kids aged 7 to 15 years old.
“Children have an active imagination, and it’s important to provide them creative outlets while also prioritizing their safety and well-being amid the pandemic. This summer, Power Mac Center goes all out in creating opportunities for kids to explore ideas and enhance their digital creative and coding skills. Should they decide to pursue graphic design, visual communication, or even coding in the future, parents are assured they have a good foundation,” said Maleng Raysag, Training Head, PMC Business Systems Inc.
Let your kids design the future with their imagination today! The available courses are as follows:
The Art of Comics (7 to 10 years old). Showcase your child’s ideas. Let them create their own comics with doodles, basic lines, shapes, and colors. This course will teach your kids how to maximize their iPad for art.
2D Animation using iPad (7 to 10 years old). Improve your child’s visual communication and digital drawing skills. With this course, your kids will surely learn how to turn their ideas into a motion picture.
Roblox Game Design (8 to 12 years old). Let your child build and publish their own Roblox game through the Roblox Studio.
Web Game Creation using Scratch (8 to 12 years old). Develop your child’s logical thinking skills through coding. This course will also teach your kids how to create interactive games using Scratch—the world’s largest programming language and online community.
2D Game Design with Stencyl (12 to 15 years old). Allow your kids to dive deeper into 2D game development and coding. This course will also teach your kids how to create computer games with HTML5 and build games for iOS and Android using the Stencyl software.
Building AR Face Filters and 3D effects (12 to 15 years old). Let your kids experience an interesting way of combining the real world with technology and art. This course will also teach young minds how to create customized social media face filters and 3D Portal.
Each online session lasts for 1.5 hours, conducted over four days (Tuesday-Friday). Classes can be availed at PHP 2,500 per student per course, which can be paid via Power Mac Center’s Web Store https://powermaccenter.com/product/pbsi-dtl001. Limited slots are available to maintain instruction efficiency, and reservation is on a first come, first served basis.
PBSI offers a wide range of creative and technical courses conducted by Apple Certified Trainers to help groups and individuals leverage Apple technology for productivity and skills enhancement. For inquiries, contact PBSI at (632) 8553 6399 and +63 908 885 6277.
About Power Mac Center
Power Mac Center is a recognized Apple Premium Reseller, Apple Authorized Education Reseller, Apple Authorized Training Provider, and Apple Authorized Service Provider in the Philippines. Power Mac Center has become a reliable retail shop and service provider of Apple products to the Filipino consumer.
Tech-voc professionals should be regarded as graduates with equal opportunity, job security, professional status, and recognition in our society that professionals of four-year higher education programs currently enjoy.
It’s around that time of the year again when a fresh batch of new college graduates join the workforce.
For many of these graduates, after studying and struggling for years to earn their degree, a tough road lies ahead before they land their first job. If they’re lucky, they will be able to find work that aligns with their interests and the degree they worked so hard to attain. If they are not so lucky, they may find themselves in jobs that are not related to their degree, are underpaid for the jobs that they do have, or worse, have no job at all.
In a recent report on in-demand jobs in the country, IT/Computer Software, Clerical/Administrative Support, IT/Network/System/Database and General Work are among the top specializations that are being hired. In a separate salary survey, on the other hand, Computer/IT, Services, Manufacturing and Building/Construction are among those with the highest salaries for entry-level positions.
These are jobs that the new members of the workforce could have been prepared for by a technical-vocational education.
An unpopular choice
Unfortunately, tech-voc education has rarely been a first choice among high school graduates in the country. This may be due to the perceived lack of glamor or prestige of pursuing further education in the tech-voc sphere compared to a university degree, or the erroneous impression that workers in this field lack of job security or professional status compared to their peers who took university courses. Also coming into play may be the existing bias that only the ‘bobo’ enroll in these courses.
Whatever the reason, many members of our workforce are being denied employment opportunities and productive careers simply because they did not opt to pursue education in the tech-voc field.
This is such as shame because our technical-vocational institutes (TVI), if managed and monitored well, are fully capable of producing world-class and skilled graduates at par with those of our neighboring countries. Tech-voc graduates perform key roles in various industries both local and abroad. A job-ready and globally competitive batch of tech-voc graduates joining the workforce can also greatly contribute to the national income and economy.
To get to this stage, we as a country need to place importance in the possibilities offered by the technical field in providing a decent and productive life to our citizens.
Existing Philippine Qualification Framework and Ladderized Program Law
A need to revise our framework
You will notice that our highly-industrialized Asian neighbors like Japan, Singapore, and Korea have made necessary adjustments in their educational system, with particular focus on academic excellence and technology innovation. By placing emphasis on citizens becoming productive and contributing members to their national economy, these heavily invested in technical training.
A local proponent for tech-voc education is Ayala Corporation CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. According to him, a vocational or technical degree should be given a prominent position in our country’s educational framework. Expanding its curriculum and significantly improving its accreditation status will help produce young graduates equipped with the specific skills that match the requirements of the job market.
The TVET PQF NC’s is in need of a specific title for learners’ perspective to the industry or employers for clear and better recognition.
The Philippines has two main government agencies tasked in providing basic education in the country: DepEd (Department of Education) for the academics and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) which is in charge facilitating quality technical education and skills development. Ideally, these two should complement each other, with no overlapping of roles that could result in conflicts during the implementation of their programs.
However, with the implementation of the K-12 curriculum, some of TESDA’s resources have been acquired by DepEd due to the need for technical experts to handle the tech-voc curriculum.
Both esteemed educators such as University of the Philippines professor, Clarita Carlos and government administrators like Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia have cited the sorry state of tech-voc education in the Philippines and made appeals to DepEd and TESDA to focus on their respective mandates, namely basic education and in the students’ academic performances for DEPED and technical skills formation for TESDA.
An expanded role for TESDA
TESDA needs to take on the complete responsibility for technical and vocational training as a distinct and separate agency from DOLE, DTI and DepEd, with a scope beyond merely providing technical instructions and training. Its purview should include thorough skills assessment to meet globally-competitive criteria, and granting professional license to successful graduates to elevate their status to professional practitioners of their chosen skill.
As the final “quality control” check before graduation and the practice of their profession, passing the licensure exam becomes a mark of pride and achievement for the graduates, a basis for demanding a higher salary and compensation for their services and an undeniable proof of their parity with the technical graduates of progressive countries.
Licensure examination is but one wheel in the big cog of Philippine Qualifications Framework which supposedly sets multiple criteria to measure the quality assurance principles and standards of the Filipino professional, technician and craftsman.
Trifocal education system with the implementation of K-12 has totally diminished the quality skills training for TVET.
Performing this mandate would require TESDA to review and rescan its current services and offers in order to attract enrollees and be an effective government agency for manpower development.
To do this, it is proposed that TESDA curriculum be organized in two tracks that serve different purposes and will be monitored accordingly:
Product-Oriented Track
Service-Oriented Track
No pre-requisite
Pre-requisite: HS graduate
Only product quality control
Customer and Practitioner’s Protection Service
Do not require higher academic achievement
Service-Oriented professions are measured by quality of service thru customer satisfaction
This is measured only through quality control
It promotes respect, prestige and protection to the client and also the practitioner
Product-oriented tracks may be in the form of cottage industries and are designed to provide livelihood opportunities at the barangay level to folks such as stay-at-home moms, out-of-school youths, drug dependents, seniors/retirees, jobless folks, and surrenderees, with TESDA providing the necessary tools and materials as well as equipment for this skill training. Some of these are:
Livelihood tracks aims to provide skills training to its target beneficiaries, to engage them in livelihood projects that are income generating
The Service Oriented Sector/Industry, on the other hand, are professional tracks that go beyond a simple trade, and are identified by specific specialization based on the industry qualification. These will require a high school diploma as a basic requirement. These include the following:
Only by professionalizing all Service Oriented Tech-Voc Courses will uplift the image of techvoc students, graduates and practitioners in the country.
Giving TESDA a free rein as well as an expanded role will help it perform its main mandate faster and more efficiently to address current joblessness and lack of experts in vocational and technical skills and to uplift the status of tech-voc in the Philippines.
Now that the country is entering the COVID-19 recovery phase, opportunities abound for smart investment in tech-voc education and training to “build back better” programs and systems. These may also cater to students who dropped out during school closures and reskill or upskill those who have become unemployed.
To greatly improve employability and professional development of tech-voc students, focus must be given to developing their foundational cognitive and socioemotional skills, such as empathy and resilience, while investing in learning technology and digital skills of tech-voc instructors.
In conclusion, if TVETs are compliant with global standards and are at par with similar institutions of our Asian neighbors, the “Filipino Diaspora” will be minimized because tech-voc graduates are capable of getting better-paying jobs locally or establish their own enterprises without leaving the country.
The state of tech-voc in the Philippines must be reshaped in such a way that the skills and training competencies are given priorities to attain job-readiness of workers as well as uplift our skilled workers as licensed professionals.
To this end, while TESDA should be independent from other government agencies in providing technical-vocational training and education, it can be greatly helped by agencies like DepEd with its focus on the basic education of children, as well as DOLE and DTI in providing employment assistance and livelihood programs to tech-voc graduates.
Young Filipinos who wish to lead productive lives can look forward to brighter and more productive futures with the tech-voc track, provided they are given the proper incentives, multisectoral support and a supportive policy environment.
With the government, industry and the academe working together in strengthening the country’s tech-voc ecosystem and reinforcing the knowledge that the “Pinoy tech-voc ay hindi bobo,” a career in this field will become a promising path for our future graduates.
Personally, I can’t get started on my day without my cuppa joe first thing in the morning. I’ve found that, in order to be physically energized and mentally alert, I need to have a cup of hot coffee waiting for me as soon as I get up from bed.
At various points of the day, such as the unholy hour after lunch when I feel a wee bit drowsy or late in the afternoon when my energy levels start to dip, I would find myself reaching for another cup of coffee to get that energy boost.
However, this consumption is actually driven by the demand for soluble coffee, also known as instant coffee. While so easily accessible and, for many, very affordable, instant coffee does not fully showcase the possibilities of the beverage, and that experience of enjoying an outstanding cup of coffee will remain beyond reach for a lot of people.
Introducing specialty coffee
Fortunately, there’s a coffee shop in Silang, Cavite that advocates for the highest quality of coffee, prepared according to exacting standards, so that Filipinos can discover the experience of enjoying a really good cup of this amazing beverage.
Himawari Specialty Coffee is a coffee bean roasting shop located along the Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay Road. It sells single-origin roasted beans sustainably sourced from various countries. It differentiates itself from other coffee shops by offering specialty coffee – those which come from green coffee beans of exceptional quality which are farmed, roasted and brewed to a significantly higher than average standard.
The shop is helmed by its Master Roaster, Mr. Yutaka Shinozaki, whose pursuit of knowledge and skills in specialty coffee has earned him 100 points in the Coffee Skills Program and a diploma from the Specialty Coffee Association.
“I want to introduce specialty coffee here in the Philippines,” he said.
To this end, he established the Himawari Coffee Shop in 2019 and regularly holds coffee brewing workshops at the store on Saturday afternoons.
During my recent visit to his shop, Mr. Shinozaki provided a crash course on what goes into specialty coffee which he summarized into three elements: the bean, the roasting process and the brewing method.
The bean.
Specialty coffee begins with single origin beans grown in select altitudes, climates and soil, and nursed for years before harvesting. These beans are free from defects and picked at their peak of ripeness.
“There are two main types or species of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta,” shared Mr. Shinozaki. “Robusta is mainly for instant coffee. Arabica is for coffee shop practice.”
He further explained that there may be differences in levels of quality among Arabica beans. “The lowest grade of Arabica are normally used by some commercial coffee shops. They say that they are using Arabica, yes, that is correct. But it is the lowest grade, meaning low-quality and cheap. So they are using cheap beans but selling at high price.”
Specialty coffee, on the other hand, is made from the highest quality of Arabica beans, as certified by the Specialty Coffee Association.
The roasting process.
Mr. Shirataki personally roasts the green coffee beans for up to twelve minutes in a 180-deg C roaster, taking careful note of the measurements and resulting flavor profiles.
The beans are lightly roasted, going from a light green color to beige to medium brown, throughout the process. A light roast ensures that the distinct tastes of the coffee depending on the region where it was sourced are discernible.
Common lore is that coffee is best when its freshly roasted, but Mr. Shirataki shares that immediately after roasting, the beans are still emitting some gases so it is best to wait for up to three days before brewing.
To maintain the freshness of the roasted beans, they are stored in air-tight containers at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
The brewing method.
The final element to creating the delicious cup according to Mr. Shirataki is the brewing method.
“To make a good cup of coffee, of course, you need good beans. But you also need to know how to make good coffee. Even with the same bean, if you don’t know, your cup is different from our cup.”
Brewing specialty coffee to bring out all its natural goodness requires a very specific method and measurements. The process begins with grinding the fresh-roasted beans only when you’re ready to brew and pre-heating the equipment that you will use.
The ground coffee is placed onto the filter, then 20ml of freshly boiled water is poured over the grounds to let them expand or “bloom.” After thirty seconds, 140ml of water is slowly poured over the bloomed coffee for a minute, making sure that the white foam – which has a bitter taste – that appeared on top of the grounds does not touch the filter so as not to transfer the bitter taste to the coffee.
Whew! All that effort just to get a cup coffee. However, for true coffee lovers, that perfect cup of coffee is well worth all that effort.
Visitors of Himawari Specialty Coffee can enjoy hand-drip hot coffee by the cup for:
Specialty Coffee (Yirgacheff from Ethiopia, El Jagar from Costa Rica, Fazenda and Ipanema from Brazil, Mandheling from Indonesia): Php250/cup (roasted beans also available in 100g pouch for Php1,000)
Local Beans (Mt. Apo and Bukidnon): Php150/cup (roasted beans also available in 150g pouch for Php400)
Mimawari Premium Blend: Php200 (roasted beans also available in 100g packs for Php200)
Those who want to munch on something as they sip their coffee can also enjoy Japanese cream-filled pastries such as the Chocolate Eclair (Php120)and the Cream Puff (Php120) or the Japanese-style Cheescake (Php200) which has a smooth and silky cheesecake layer.
Whether you’re a true-blue coffee fan or a casual coffee drinker, Himawari Specialty Coffee is definitely worth a visit. Here, you can enjoy your favorite beverage or expand your coffee horizons. Doing so will also support the continued growth and richness of our own coffee culture.
Himawari Specialty Coffee is located at CVI Building along the Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay Road, Sitio Muson, Silang, Cavite. To order its specialty coffee beans, visit its online store.
To stay updated on its offers, follow Himawari Specialty Coffee on Facebook and Instagram.
Disclosure: I attended a workshop and coffee tasting held here. Food and beverage items mentioned here were served in exchange for this feature at no cost to me.
If you love decadent desserts as much as I do, then I’m sure Cinnabon cinnamon buns ranks highly among your go-to baked goods.
After all, what’s not to love? From their creamy and gooey frosting to the soft and fluffy buns rolled between layers of sweet cinnamon, you’d be hard-pressed to resist this kind of temptation.
Thank heavens that back in 1985, father-and-son duo Rich and Greg Komen of Seattle, together with master baker Jerilyn Brusseau, took it upon themselves to craft the most delectable cinnamon bun. Their efforts resulted in the recipe that drove the Cinnabon brand from its Seattle mall roots to global cinnamon bun domination.
Cinnabon made its way to Asia by way of the Philippines in 1999 when it opened its first bakery at Robinsons Place Manila. Today, the country has twenty Cinnabon bakeries, all committed to churning out these dreamy sweets using the finest quality ingredients and serving them, hot, irresistibly fragrant and fresh from the oven.
From the one that started it all, the Classic Cinnabon Roll, to variants such as the Caramel Pecanbon and Chocobon, Cinnabon’s mouth-watering desserts have carved their place in the local foodie scene, giving dessert lovers a dose of indulgent comfort that can only come from a decadently gooey and sticky baked good.
Enter a newest variant that’s all set to become a new favorite: the Cranberry Biscoff Minibon. It combines the crunch and sweet spice of Lotus Biscoff Crunchy Spread and the fruity tanginess of cranberry bits integrated into a compact minibon.
You can grab a sweetness-packed Cranberry Biscoff Minibon for just Php100 per piece or you can get a box of four for Php300.
Don’t hesitate to get a box or two to bring home some delicious and indulging comfort for the fam.
And don’t worry about finishing the entire box all at once. Store your buns at room temperature for up to two days and then re-heat in the microwave oven for 15-20 seconds (add 5 seconds per additional bun).
This scrumptious variant is available only for a limited time so be sure to drop by your nearest Cinnabon outlet stat!
Cinnabon stores are located at:
SM Aura Premiere, SM Baguio, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA and SM North EDSA North Towers, SM City Clark, SM Cagayan de Oro, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Fairview, SM Mindpro
Estancia Mall
Trinoma Mall
Festival Mall
Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Galleria
Alabang Town Center
SLEX Shell Travel Plaza – Main, SLEX Shell Travel Plaza – Deli2Go, SLEX Shell Mamplasan
Petron Travel Plaza
Caltex San Pedro Travel Plaza
NLEX Shell Travel Plaza – Deli2Go, NLEX Drive & Dine
NAIA Terminal 3, NAIA Terminal 4
Can’t go to a Cinnabon bakery? Order your Cinnabons for delivery right to your doorstep via GrabFood, FoodPanda and G-Life.
For the latest news on its products and offers, follow Cinnabon on Facebook and Instagram.
With the sweltering heat of the summer permeating the drab and grey streets of metro, it would be nice to go somewhere cool, fresh and green.
Well, wouldn’t you know it! Right in the heart of Quezon City is a place where you can escape to enjoy a bit of nature: the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.
This 22.7 hectare area located in Diliman, Quezon City is a zoological and botanical garden, named after Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. It is one of the ninety-four legislated Protected Areas in the Philippines under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018.
It is also dubbed as the “Nature Park in the City’s Heart” being the home of various species of flora and fauna while still situated in a busy metropolis.
Here, park visitors can go exploring on pathways that weave through the park’s trees and open grassy areas, perfect places to jog or stroll while enjoying the peace and quiet.
With over 3,000 species of trees, some of which are endemic to the country, the park is also one of Metro Manila’s last remaining green spaces, which serve to mitigate urban air pollution and help counter the emergence of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), metropolitan areas that are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the daily activities of urban populations concentrated in a small area.
Aside from enjoying the lush greenery, park visitors can view animals as well. As a wildlife rescue and research center, it serves as a quarantine area and rehabilitation center for wild animals captured while lingering in residential areas, or undomesticated animals confiscated from people involved in the illegal wildlife trade or exotic pet owners who are abusive to their animals.
The center also serves as a training ground for practitioners and students or veterinary medicine, zoology, botany, biology and natural science.
For park visitors who want to do a bit of sight-seeing or picture-taking, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center also contains a manmade lagoon which houses various fishes. Within its vicinity is a picturesque Fishing Village which consist of five houses on stilts along the edge of the lagoon. These structures are patterned after fishing villages in Mindanao.
The park also houses other attractions which may be rented out:
A Tea House that may serve as a venue for workshops, meetings and other small parties
A 250-seater Amphitheater for larger gatherings
Picnic sheds to shelter people during their visit
For plantitos and plantitas, the Bernie Dizon Botanic Fruit and Techno-Demo Center is also located within the park. Owned and managed by the country’s leading pomologist the garden offers high-quality cuttings and seedlings that will grow into fruit trees for home gardens or farmlands.
So if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, you won’t have to travel far. Simply visit the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center to enjoy that precious bit of nature.
The Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is located along Elliptical Road and North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 5pm.
The following entrance fees apply:
Adults: Php30
Students: Php15
Foreigners: Php100
Senior citizens, PWDs and children below seven years old: FREE
For inquiries, call +63 2 89246031 local 236. For more details, visit its website or follow Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center on Facebook.
What was your favorite time of day back when you were young?
Mine was the late afternoon when I get home from school, I can finally watch cartoons for a while and my meryenda is waiting for me at the table.
One of the highlights of meryenda time is when I have hot freshly fried turon laid out before me. This classic Pinoy sweet snack is made with slices of local sweet plantain bananas – more commonly called saging na saba bananas – and slivers of jackfruit flesh – also known as nangka – encased in lumpia wrappers with brown sugar that crystalizes upon frying.
With these simple ingredients, our genius forebears were able to create an irresistible dessert that has not lost its appeal to generations of Pinoys.
No wonder, then, that its version of the Turon is among the best-selling products at SM stores. Shoppers wanting to munch on something after a bout of retail therapy, or on their way to restock their pantry at the supermarket can easily purchase one or two of these freshly made desserts for just Php25 apiece.
Well, guess what! A new variant of the famed SM Turon is now available and is making some buzz among the metro’s foodies: the limited edition ChocNut Turon.
With each bite, you get the same crunch from the fried lumpia wrapper, sweetness from the banana and the smokey caramelization from the brown sugar, but this time, these flavors are accentuated by the nutty milk chocolate goodness from another childhood favorite, the ChocNut.
Who says you can’t get the best of both worlds, eh?
You can even opt to bring this new meryenda home to enjoy it with your loved ones. Buy one (or two pieces, who’s judgin’?) for each family member, pop them in your oven toaster two to three minutes in medium heat, and voila! You’ve got a delicious treat for the entire family!
You can even pair them with vanilla ice cream for a decadent ChocNut Turon Ala Mode!
Well, nuttin‘ should stop you and your fam from enjoying your SM ChocNut Turon. Grab them at over 100 SM Supermarket, Savemore and Hypermarket outlets nationwide.
