Jellybeans in the City

New shows for little kids to enjoy on Baby TV this June

June is when the school year usually starts in the Philippines. Kids of all ages get themselves ready for another year of fun and learning.

Toddlers and preschool kids, however, can also learn new concepts and family values through these shows coming on BabyTV this June.

MOMENTO THE GREAT CHEF

Momento the Great Chef has a restaurant, three pickled friends and a loyal diner named Perfecto who arrives at the restaurant each day with a surprise in his basket. Momento always manages to make something delicious with what Perfecto has brought, even if he sometimes seems a bit clueless.

CHARLIE AND THE SHAPES

BabyTV’s successful format of learning new concepts is back with a third series –Charlie and the Shapes. Charlie continues to help his shapely friends with their problems and quests by creating new real life objects from his shape friends.

BIG BUGS BAND

A spectacularly animated program in which a group of bugs puts on a unique musical performance for an audienceof fellow animals in the woods. Each bug plays a different instrument -improvising, dancing and singing along while introducing viewers to a variety of musical styles including samba, jazz, hip-hop and more.

So mommies, take advantage of these shows to teach and entertain your little ones and get them ready for more learning adventures.

BabyTV is the world’s leading baby and toddler network for children ages four and under and their parents, airing 24 hours a day and completely commercial-free. It features top quality, original and exclusive shows, created by child development experts and designed for for children and parents to enjoy together. Each hour on BabyTV is an enriching journey full of stories, songs, rhymes and lovable characters.

If you’re a SKYcable subscriber, you can add BabyTV to your cable TV subscription plan for only Php20/month. To subscribe to BabyTV and other kids channels, click here.

Show details and images provided by BabyTV.

Header image by Vidmir Raic from Pixabay.

Barkada-oke at Padi’s Point, Antipolo

Have you ever had the urge to take a break from your busy work schedule and just break out into song? (Well, I have. Lots of times, in fact.)

Well, at Padi’s Point, Upper Antipolo, you can do just that and more with your closest buddies (who hopefully won’t judge you) in comfort (and more importantly, in privacy), thanks to the BKDA-OKE Room at this branch.

As the name implies, this room is best enjoyed by a group of friends singing to their favorite karaoke numbers.

One of Japan’s greatest contributions to the world, in my opinion at least, karaoke has surprising health benefits. Singing for recreation makes you feel lighter and less anxious, thanks to endorphins (the “happy” hormones) released when you participate in a fun activity.

Karaoke also helps you express your emotions. Those with pent-up frustrations can belt out Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” or Disney’s “Let It Go” to get that feeling of empowerment. If you want to pay tribute to your Significant Other, go right ahead with Stephen Bishop’s Classic “It Might Be You,” or grieve over a lost love with Adelle’s “Hello.” (But whatever you do, don’t sing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” at least not in the Philippines, ok?)

Singing karaoke also gives you the opportunity to improve your breathing. You hold yourself a little straighter (improving your posture), exercise the muscles in your diaphragm and abdominals as well as utilize more of your lungs.

In between renditions of your favored ditties, why not chow down some of Padi’s Point’s signature dishes such as the onesincluded in the Videoke Package 1 (Php1,599) which were served to our group? Check them out:

Fried Shrimp Crackers and Nacho Chips and Cheese. My favorite chows for mindless eating: kropek and nachos!

Sizzling Sisig and Sizzling Tofu. Enjoy them separately, or as Chef Jocen of BoodlebearPH suggests, mix ’em together for a new take on the Pinoy classic tokwa’t baboy.

Building up the courage to bust out your tunes and moves? Work up your confidence with two of Padi’s Points Cocktail Towers that also come with the package.

So the next chance you get, grab your gang and head off to Padi’s Point for a great rockin’ time.

This Padi’s Point branch is located at L Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal, open daily from 6am to 4am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 6953207.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Ground Floor, Century Imperial Suites, South Triangle, Quezon City
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Enjoy a sunset feast at Padi’s Point, Antipolo

“Sunsets are proof that, no matter what happens, everyday can end beautifully.”

– Kristen Butler

The original Padi’s Point along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo is known for its magnificent sunset views. It has long been considered a landmark in the area, with families, barkadas or even couples, making the trek up from all over the city to this restaurant to enjoy the chill ambiance, the homegrown food served here and, of course, the amazing scenery.

Recently, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH visited this restaurant to sate our hunger after a rousing game at Lazer Maxx. After shedding our battle mode, we were in the mood to chill and eat our fill.

So how did we chill?

We amused ourselves by taking in the amazing view. Lit by bright sunlight, the greens and colors from nearby vegetation were made more intense against the wide vista of the metro. Lit by a softer light at the golden hour, however, the same view became gorgeous silhouettes of trees against a gorgeous sunset.

And with what did we eat our fill?

Well, Padi’s Point offers a wide array of homegrown dishes that are best enjoyed family style. These include appetizers like Cheesy Cheese Sticks (Php190) and Nacho Grande (Php399), merienda staples such as Pancit Canton (Php160) and Mexican Pizza (Php310), and classic main dishes such as Padi’s Original Sisig (Php299) , Sinigang na Baboy (Php270) and Crispy Pata (Php699).

And since we’re a big group with jumbo-sized appetites after our adventures earlier in the day, you better believe we went for jumbo-sized bundle meals such as the Barkada Supreme (Php850) – classic finger-foods such as onion rings, cheese sticks, french fries, chicken nuggets and mushroom poppers – and the Barrio Feast (Php1,150) – fried and grilled dishes that include tilapia, chicken, pork, bangus, liempo and squid.

Also taking center stage are the Tropical Threesome: Boracay Chill, Palawan Chill and Miami Chill, cocktail drinks at Php150 each that combine icy fruitiness with a slight kick of alcohol. As their names imply, these drinks are great for chilling and relaxing.

Want to have a chill sesh with the fam or your buddies? Do chase the sunset at Padi’s Point and feast on great Pinoy food. It will surely be worth the trip.

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal, open daily for 24 hours. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3443028.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Century Imperial Suites, South Triangle, Quezon City

Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City

Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City

Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City

375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City

Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City

Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong

Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City

Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay

463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila

A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila

Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City

The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

SKY treats subscribers to exclusive Game of Thrones events

SKY subscribers who are die-hard Game of Thrones fans were recently given one-of-a-kind experiences: an ice skating spectacle inspired by HBO’s phenomenal hit TV series and an exclusive live screening of the final season premiere in one of the trendiest establishments in Poblacion, Makati.

On April 12 and 13, they witnessed Fire or Ice: A Musical Spectacle at SM Megamall’s Skating Rink.

There, they were treated to the outstanding performances by the country’s top figure skaters Joel Minas and Sofia Guidote. Minas, who has bagged over 30 gold medals in various local and international skating competitions, masterfully brought King in the North Jon Snow to life on the ice. Guidote, on the other hand, in her role as Mother of Dragons Danaerys Targaryen, displayed the grace and athleticism that helped her bag the gold medal for the third year in a row at the Philippine National Competition. Together, they gave absolutely stunning performances.

This remarkable event was made possible by SKY’s partnership with SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.

On April 15, selected SKY subscribers were invited to an exclusive live viewing party at the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion. SKY partnered with Diageo, the company behind the Johnnie Walker brand, in hosting the event. Guests were treated to a sumptuous breakfast with food items that whimsically reference Game of Thrones characters and locations. Ten bottles of White Walker, Johnnie Walker’s limited edition Scotch whiskey inspired by the show’s most chillingly enigmatic of characters, were also raffled off to lucky winners.

Of course, the real highlight of the event was the live screening of the Season 8’s premiere episode in full high definition on HBO HD (SKYcable ch 168), all the better for attendees to see (and obsess over) every detail as they happen onscreen.

During both events, attendees were asked to choose their side: vote for their choice on who will sit on the Iron Throne and rule over the seven kingdoms by the series’ end.

They were also serenaded by 4G String Quartet who performed their own haunting renditions of the show’s theme songs and musical scoring.

Cosplayers from Westeros Cosplay PH also graced the events, bringing the show’s lead characters to life, and gamely posed with the show’s fans for selfies and photo opps.

With these two events, it is certainly a great time for a GOT fan to be a SKY subscriber!

Game of Thrones fans can look forward to more immersions into Westeros with the upcoming SKY Alive event at the SM Mall of Asia on April 27 and 28. Here, they can participate in games and contests, interact with their favorite Game of Thrones characters through the attending cosplayers, be entertained by more performances by 4G String Quartet, and experience what it’s like to sit on the Iron Throne!

New episodes of the eighth and final season of GAME OF THRONES will air in Asia same time as the U.S. every Monday at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD | 168 HD in Metro Manila).

Based on the popular book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin, this hit Emmy®-winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. Members of the ensemble cast for the seventh season included Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Aidan Gillen, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. Season seven credits: executive producers, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers, Bryan Cogman, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin.

HBO GO is HBO’s online streaming service that gives subscribers a chance to watch and enjoy the world’s best movies, HBO Originals and more through the website or the mobile app. Subscription to the app also gives SKY subscribers free access to cable channels – HBO Hits, HBO Family, and HBO Signature. To register your SKY account and subscribe to HBO GO, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo.

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.

Video Credits: SKYcable on Youtube

All other images are mine.

Check out my other recent posts on Game of Thrones:

The Tita’s Guide to having a blast at Walrus, Katipunan

Admit it: we women past a certain age do have some limitations on what we can subject our body and our consciousness to on a typical night out.

Gone are the days when we can party until dawn, dance to reverberating music, drink until we’re wasted or whatever the young ‘uns are doing nowadays.

Nope, we #TitasOfManila are happy to sit in comfort in well-lit, well-ventilated restos, sipping our favorite teas or even wines, animatedly chatting with our girls.

You wouldn’t think that us titas will be caught dead hanging out at Walrus, would you?

Walrus Fil-Mex Cantina, that mecca where young college girls and boys can congregate and enjoy affordably priced and imaginatively prepared Mexican-Filipino dishes, is something outside the tita‘s comfort zone.

Or is it?

Read on, dearies. Here’s how you can survive, nay, own a night out at Walrus:

One: Dress light and stay cool.

Leave the blazers at the office and the wool scarves at home. There’s no air-conditioning here so it would be best to dress as light as possible and order a cool drink as soon as you arrive.

Two: Leave the car at home.

Parking is at a premium so save yourself the stress of driving and looking for parking space. Just book yourself a Grab Car going to and from the place. This way, you can indulge in some beers or cocktails with no worries.

Three: Let them hear the song of our people.

Don’t be afraid to request for your favorite songs from the DJ. Whether it be the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe,” Los Lobos’ “Macarena,” or Next’s “Too Close,” feel free to sing or dance along.

Who knows? You might catch some of the young ‘uns singing and dancing along, too. (A testament to remarkable taste in music, if so.)

Four: Forget counting calories.

Both Mexican and Filipino food are heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine, and are known for heartiness and flavor. It would be a shame if your diet will make you miss out on these affordable and tasty treats:

Sisig Nachos Locos (Php130). Heated tortilla chips smothered in melted cheese and spicy sisig.

Walrus Famous Chicken Skin (Php80). Crunchy and savory deep-fried chicken skin. You’ll keep reaching for more.

Chicken and Sisig Thrilla in Quesadilla (Php130 and Php120, respectively). Craving for cheese? Satisfy that hunger with these quesadillas.

Beef and Chicken Tacos of the Town (Php140 and Php130, respectively). Warm tortilla folded over cheese and sauteed beef or chicken.

Kare-Kare Fab-burrito (Php170). This hearty Mexican roll with that meaty and peanut-ty rice filling is all you need to satisfy your hunger.

Five: Quench your thirst.

With these sultry summer nights, you’ll need ice-cold drinks to cool you down. Check out Walrus’ beverage options:

Mad Amigo (Php80). Fruity apple plus rum. How could you go wrong with that?

Strawberry Fields Forever (Php250). A tall pitcher of strawberry and basil with a slight kick.

Horchata (Php60). Not feeling like imbibing alcohol? Try this intriguing concoction made of rice milk and flavored by vanilla and cinnamon.

Six: Have fun with your friends.

Aside from good food, a great time is assured by great company. So make Walrus the venue of your next #TitaConference. Show them young ‘uns how titas get down!

Walrus Fil-Mex Cantina is located at 3rd Floor, 318-A Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 5931630.

Did you know you can buy two drinks and get the same two drinks for free at Walrus through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Ramsbury Single Estate holds cocktail competition at Brewery at the Palace

Eight bespoke cocktails, four mixologists from the metro’s top bars, two signature spirits.

Last Wednesday, April 3, it all came down to this as Ramsbury Single Estate held a cocktail competition among four finalists, the winner of which will become the next Ramsbury Filipino Ambassador.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I joined in on the fun and sampled the featured drinks.

Ramsbury Single Estate spirits hail from the open country and expansive rolling fields of the Northeast Wilshire, West Berkshire and North Hampshire in England. It is a land blessed with fertile wheat fields and chalk-filtered stream waters which are essential to distilling Ramsbury’s gin and vodka, an offshoot of its expertise in brewing beer and ale. Ramsbury also boasts of sustainable practices which include using a biomass boiler fed its own forest to produce heat for its distillery, filtering its waste water through a reed bed system that protect wildlife habitats and feeding its livestock with bi-products from its distillery.

Aside from showcasing the talent and artistry of the participating mixologists, the competition also displayed the flavors and versatility of Ramsbury Single Estate spirits. Each mixologist was tasked to create two drinks: one that incorporates Ramsbury Gin and another that incorporates Ramsbury Vodka.

Ramsbury Single Estate Cocktail Competition, Brewery at the Palace

These resulted to wondrous combinations of flavors and surprising ingredients as the mixologists presented their cocktail ouvres:

Ralph Allen Santos of Nokal

Martina, made with Ramsbury Vodka, pineapple vermouth, chocolate bitters and smoke with sun-dried pineapple leaves

Pharmaceutical Gimlet, made with Ramsbury Gin, Moringa pineapple cordial, fresh lime juice and malunggay leaves

Ian James Osillo of Mandalay

Julieta, made with Ramsbury Gin, white wine, freh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, agave syrup, olive brine and (would you believe!) CO2.

Romeo, made with Ramsbury Vodka, cold brew syrup, Kahlua, cynar, orange-infused whipped cream float and grated dark peppermint chocolate

Claude Ansell Delima of The Gilarmi Lounge

Paraiso, made with Ramsbury Gin, dill syrup, red bell pepper infused vodka, sonic water and rose aromatic air

Ayala Martini, made with Ramsbury Vodka, Chamboro, roast pork pan drippings dry vermouth fat wash and chocolate bitters

Ruwi Buenaventura of Versus Barcade

Sip and Tell, made with Ramsbury Gin, juices of lemon and passionfruit, mango puree, Bianco Ambrato and mango tinture, garnished with a dehydrated lemon and with the glass rimmed with green mango peel and bagoong salt

Natsu, made with Ramsbury Vodka, lime juice, pipe syrup, pineapple reduction, Aperol and chocolate bitters and garnished with a dehydrated pineapple peanut

Among the vodka-based drinks, my favorite was Ian James Osillo’s Romeo. It is the closest to a dessert cocktail among the drinks and incorporates cream, chocolates and coffee flavors.

Among the gin-based drinks, I was leaning towards Ruwi Buenaventura’s Sip and Tell: I found the fruity drink flavors’ contrast with the Bagoong Salt garnish surprising and memorable.

However, the public has spoken that night and Nokal’s Ralph Allen Santos emerged the winner and the new Ramsbury Filipino Ambassador.

Congratulations to Ralph and other other participating mixologists for their display of creativity and fun while preparing the drinks.

Before I forget: you do know you shouldn’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach, right? Fortunately, we were served with yummy and filling finger-foods – pizza slices, sausages and meat skewers – catered by The Brewery at the Palace prior to the start of the competition.

The event was fun and exciting, a great way for lovers of food and drink to come together.

Thanks to Ms. Alma Cala of BC Marketing Concepts, Boozy.PH and #WeLoveToEatPH for the invite.

The Brewery at the Palace is located at 9th Avenue corner 36th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open Mondays to Thursdays from 3pm to 2am and Fridays to Saturdays from 3pm to 4am. For inquiries, call +63 917 5073442.

Did You Know: When you dine in at The Brewery at the Palace, you can actually get some of the dishes for free because it is a Zomato Gold partner restaurant.

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

Francine Rivers’ Lineage of Grace: five novellas of women-centered Biblical stories

The Bible is littered with the stories of men: pioneering patriarchs, brave warriors, noble kings, visionary prophets and more. These characters, with their virtues and flaws, have shaped Biblical history and provided anchors for the Christian faith.

But what about the women?

Most women in the Bible play supporting roles in the Bible narratives – as the wife, mother or sister of great men, the source of support or the catalyst for great acts.

In Lineage of Grace: Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity by Francine Rivers, however, Biblical women took active roles in shaping their destinies. In doing so, they also helped mold the story of God and His people.

The book consists of five novellas which narrates the life and struggles of five women in the Bible.

These are:

Tamar, a woman of hope, who married into Judah’s family and was left a childless widow by two of his sons. She secures her future and place in his family through underhanded but ultimately justifiable means.

Rahab, a woman of faith, who was forced into harlotry and espionage but saw her opportunity to turn her life around when Israelite spies sought refuge in her inn in Jericho.

Ruth, a woman of love, who, though a Moabite woman, bravely accompanied her widowed mother-in-law Naomi back to Israel to forge a new life for themselves.

Bathsheba, a woman who received unlimited grace, who had to contend with the consequences of spending a night in King David’s bed, managed to secure not just her legacy but the future of the kingdom.

Mary, a woman of obedience, who, despite her youth and uncertainty, accepted the enormous task set upon her by God and thus, secured the salvation of mankind.

The stories of these women are familiar, but are told in new perspectives and with fresh insights. Despite acting with or espousing Old World values, their characters and situations are still relatable.

My favorite among the stories is that of Tamar. The biblical story is not that well-known and the two lead characters – Tamar and Judah – are not held in a good light based on the biblical narrative. However, by providing context to their thoughts and action – Tamar’s need to belong and Judah’s guilt over his betrayal of his brother Joseph – the characters are made sympathetic, redeemable and worth rooting for.

Francine Rivers, the author of Lineage of Grace, is a renowned author of Christian Fiction. Her other works include:

Redeeming Love. A retelling of the love story between the prostitute Gomer and the prophet Hosea set amidst the California Gold Rush.

Sons of Encouragement. The stories of the lesser-known men behind the celebrated heroes of the Bible who served as guides and support, and quietly helped to shape the faith.

The Mark of the Lion. A trilogy set in ancient Rome that explores the travails of Hadassah, a young Christian slave girl, and Marcus, the Roman aristocrat who falls in love with her.

For more details or to buy any of these books on Amazon.com, simply click on the titles.

Check out my other blog posts on my favorite books:

This post contains affiliate links.

Photo credit: Sidny Ritters on Unsplash

Breakfast treats 24/7 at Cafe Tribu, Kamuning

We keep hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The wholesome meals and that morning cup of coffee that our moms prepare every morning fills us with energy and good vibes for the rest of the day.

Now, imagine that you can enjoy your favorite breakfast food any day, any time you want to.

At Cafe Tribu in Tomas Morato, that’s exactly what you can do.

In this recently opened 24-hour cafe (well, it’s a cafe during daytime and a resto-bar at night), you can enjoy affordably priced All-Day breakfast and coffee drinks (like its Unli Macchiato which can be served hot or iced at only Php200 and its Unli Brewed Coffee at only Php90) any time of the day while enjoying the store’s chill and relaxing vibe.

One Saturday afternoon, I visited this cafe together with my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH to check it out.

While the cafe’s interiors are designed for comfort, it still has a lot of personality. Artworks by local artist @mayanneaise adorn the walls, depicting iconic local scenes such as a tribal woman from Benguet holding a cup of the region’s famous coffee and a relaxing tropical beach landscape. There’s a child-proofed play area under the stairs where the little ones can amuse themselves while the adults take a break and dine with ease.

Our meal consisted of freshly made All-Day breakfast items (served with rice and fried egg) and a selection of pasta dishes developed specifically for the store, which include:

Adobo Flakes (Php145).

Home-made Tapa (Php150).

Tocilog (Php135).

Creamy Seafood (Php230).

Chicken Pesto (Php230).

House Special Pizza (Php55 for slice | Php180 for solo | Php420 for whole).

The real stars of the show here are the drinks which were developed by the house barista and co-owner. These include:

Iced Caramel Macchiato (Php200 unli). Made with the barista’s own macchiato recipe.

Sea Salt Caramel Chip Blend (Php160). A java-based caramel frappe with salted caramel chips and caramel milk sauce.

Mango Graham (Php120). Mango slices worked into a creamy drink with crushed grahams and your choice between chocolate or caramel sauce.

Barista Blend Iced Coffee (Php130). An energizing shot of espresso blended into creamy sweetened milk.

Green Tea Matcha Freezee Blend (Php130). A cream-based blended iced drink incorporating green tea matcha powder.

Peach Lychee Tea Cooler (Php100). A refreshing blend of fruity lychee flavors in an ice-cold tea drink.

For diners seeking a little bit of alcohol to unwind after a hard day’s work, Cafe Tribu has developed refreshing or energizing cocktails just for you, such as:

Flaming Lamborghini.

Mojito.

With its delectable menu of comfort food and energizing drinks available at all hours, Cafe Tribu is sure to be a hot destination in Quezon City.

This Cafe Tribu outlet is located at E. Rodriguez corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Kamuning, Quezon City, open 24/7.

Grilled meats from all over the world at Skewered, Festival Mall Alabang

Grilling has long been associated with breezy summer nights and friends gathered to feast on good food while making new memories together.

That’s how I found myself spending a sultry Sunday afternoon down South in Alabang together with my fellow foodies.

The host of this lively gathering is Skewered, the nautical-inspired eatery that brings together grilling traditions from many parts of the world.

These traditions were exemplified in the feast they laid out for us, which include:

Shrimp Tacos (Php229). Marinated and grilled shrimp served in soft taco shells.

Oyster Gratin (Php229). Three large fresh oysters, grilled and topped with house-made aioli gratin.

Garlic Enoki Mushroom (Php149). Baked enoki mushroom served with house-made garlic sauce.

Grilled Talong (Php129). A whole eggplant, grilled then coated with house-made garlic sauce.

Singaporean Shrimp Satay (Php199). Skewered shrimps, marinated and grilled, then served with the traditional peanut sauce.

Torched Beef Salpicao (Php349). Beef salpicao served hanging, torched at the table and drizzled with butter sauce.

Veggies Skewer (Php169). Two sticks of mixed marinated and roasted vegetables.

Skewers: Chinese Beef (Php41), Chinese Lamb Php45), Chinese Pork (Php36), Chinese Chicken (Php36), Meat Balls (Php36).

Meat Platter (Php1,299). A carnivore’s dream come true: 200g Wagyu beef brisket, half of a roasted chicken, 150g Lechon Pork Belly, 3 pcs of Taiwanese sausages, and choice of 2 sides from among coleslaw, buttered corn, house salad, fries, mac n’ cheese and steak rice.

Skewered also laid out home-grown dishes served with international flair, such as:

Tapa Rice (Php299). Savory rice flavored by beef tapa topped with fried eggs and tomatoes.

Seafood Paella (Php439). The offshoot of the Spanish rice dish made with a creamy tomato base, fresh shrimp and clams, drizzled with aioli and served in a traditional shallow pan.

Sizzling Lechon Sisig (Php279). Classic Pinoy roasted pork cooked and served as a crunchy and spicy sisig.

Gambas al Ajillo (Php239). Plump shrimps sauteed in garlic and served sizzling.

Sinigang na Hipon (Php319). The sour soup dish of shrimp in a tamarind-flavored broth.

Beef Brisket Nilaga (Php329). Smoked wagyu brisket cubes served in a flavorful nilaga broth.

Kare-Kareng Lechon (Php399). Roasted pork served in a rich peanut sauce together with crisp vegetables.

Wagyu Corned Beef Kaldereta (Php409). The house-made wagyu corned beef prepared as flavorful caldereta with veggies.

Beef Hofan (Php239). Stir-fried and flambeed rice noodles mixed with beef bits and chopped vegetables.

Pad Thai (Php349). The classic stir-fried rice noodle dish served wrapped in a delicate egg omelette.

Spaghetti Aligue (Php319). Spaghetti noodles tossed in a rich crab fat sauce and served with a freshly grilled shrimp.

To cap our meal, cater to our craving for sweets and to quench our thirst, prettily designed dessert drinks were served (with reusable metal straws at that!).

Frappes (Php159 each): Caramel, Cookies and Cream Frappe and Chocolate

Strawberry Shake Special (Php189). Strawberry milkshake overloaded with a strawberry Pocky stick, marshmallows, strawberry pretzels and a scoop of strawberry ice cream.

Choko Shake Special (Php199). Chocolate milkshake overloaded with a chocolate Pocky stick, M&Ms, mini marshmallows, KitKat stick and a scoop of chocolate ice cream.

Halo-Halo Frappe (Php199). The all-time Pinoy favorite shaved ice dessert given a fresh twist.

Skewered does a good job in curating and putting its fresh takes in various dishes. While the pork dishes tend to be salty, the beef dishes are marked by juiciness and flavorfully tender texture.

Despite the plethora of food it served during this foodie meetup, there are more waiting to be discovered and tasted. I won’t mind coming back here for more foodie adventures with my friends.

Skewered is located at Ground Floor, Water Garden, Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa, open daily from 10am to 4am with Happy Hours at 3pm to 7pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8216745, +63 928 1796025 or +63 945 2476249.

And guess what? Since this is a Zomato Gold partner establishment, you can get some of your food orders for free!

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

How to get your battle mode on at Lazer Maxx, Greenhills

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me but beneath this food-lovin’, book-readin’ and seemingly sedentary exterior lies the heart and gumption of a warrior princess.

(I’m ignoring the snickers in the background. Hah!)

Last weekend, my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and I were treated to a rousing game of laser tag at Lazer Maxxx in Greenhills, the first stop of our Launch Pad Crawl.

Laser tag is a tag game played with guns which fire infrared beams at infrared-sensitive targets worn by players. The game involves a lot of hiding, running and chasing which, to be honest, left me huffin’ and puffin’ after the game.

Well, if there is anything this experience has demonstrated is that this warrior princess does not (yet!) have the body for battle. However, I would like to think that I do have the brains for it.

So here are some strategies I employed to survive my first game of laser tag.

One: Gear up for battle.

Expect to do a bit of physical exertion so it would be best to dress light and comfortably. I had on my Nike LunarEpic running shoes, my trusty leggings and jacket from Uniqlo, and my dri-fit Nike running shirt (a souvenir from my #RunningForFitness days). This outfit is light and comfy, and something I can easily move around and sweat in. The black leggings and jacket also add a bit camouflage against the dark surroundings.

Two: Get yourself on high ground.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was right: it’s better to be on high ground. Strategically, it is easier to defend, observe and attack from an elevated position. I noticed this when I kept getting hit but I don’t see my attacker. It turns out that some of my team’s opponents (like Mico – @thechinoyfoodie – and Alex – @boyeatsworldph) have taken positions in perches above the activity area and are just picking us out one by one. So I hied myself over up there to do battle and even things out a bit. (Well, hopefully…)

Three: Be a moving target.

There’s an old adage about being a sitting duck (it will soon be a dead duck come hunting season) and it did hold true. It was a lot better to let my team’s opponents work a bit harder for their hits by always being on the move, ducking, hiding and running around.

Chef Jocen – @boodlebearph – thought he had a great spot behind some props but little did he know, I snuck up behind him and was gunning him down every few seconds or so at my leisure. It took him a while to find me out, hahaha!

At the end of the game, we foodies were exhausted but exhilarated. I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed this physically demanding activity and I would recommend it to friends who want to have a different kind of get-together.

And wouldn’t you know it: my team (Pink – together with Jen – @sandundermyfeet – and Bunny – @alwaysthefunnygirl) placed second among the players, with myself (Diggle)racking up one of the highest percentage of accuracy in hits (although, to be honest, that may be when I was just shooting at Chef Jocen behind his back, hahahaha!).

Not bad, eh? (Thanks to Glenn – @jogpen – for sharing this scoreboard pic!)

With Lazer Maxx’ specially designed laser tag arena and newly renovated function room where we recovered from our “battle” and bantered with each other, the experience grew from a simple game into a fun bonding experience.

Imagine spending a similar Saturday with your own barkada.

Many thanks to Lazer Maxx and #WeLoveToEatPH for this extraordinary experience!

This Lazer Maxx branch is located at the Roofdeck, Greenlanes, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open Mondays to Thursdays from 12nn to 9pm (at Php190/player) and Fridays to Sundays and holidays from 10am to 10pm (at Php220/player). For inquiries, call +63 2 5845958.

Another branch in Metro Manila is located at Centris Walk, Eton Centris, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. For inquiries, call +63 2 4411958.

Want to celebrate your birthday at Lazer Maxx? Avail of its party packages for a maximum of 24 players which come with the exclusive use of the arena.

Package A (Php4,500 on weekdays| Php5,500 on weekends): 1 game, free birthday banner, email/softcopy of Lazer Maxx invitations and 24 balloons

Package B (Php8,500 on weekdays | Php10,500 on weekends): 2 games, free birthday banner, 24 pieces of printed invitations, email/softcopy of Lazer Maxx invitations, 24 balloons, and 1 hour free use of function room

Package C (Php13,500 on weekdays | Php15,500 on weekends): 3 games, free birthday banner, email/softcopy of Lazer Maxx invitations, 24 balloons, 2 hours free use of function room, and 30 pc of Bumper Ride tickets