Jellybeans in the City

Authentic taste of Japan at Ramen Daisho, Mandaluyong

Ramen Daisho, a quaint Japanese restaurant located in Sunshine Center, Shaw Boulevard, offers delicious dishes with ingredients imported from Japan to give you the most authentic taste and experience possible.

This Lenten season, they’ll be offering specials to satisfy your Japanese cravings.

Seafood Tempuramen (Php399). Firm Ramen noodles in seafood broth, topped with Tempura and a side of Nori. Although I’m not a fan of anything seafood, this dish was a pleasant surprise as the dish offered a fresh taste of the sea.

Other than Ramen, Ramen Daisho also offers bentos in their Lenten Special.

Mixed Tempura Bento (Php305). This Bento includes Ebi Tempura, Kani Tempura, and Mixed Veggie Tempura with a side of potato salad, rice, and almond jelly for dessert.

Seafood Curry Bento (Php305). Seafood curry with mixed veggie salad, rice, and almond jelly. Shrimp, clam, and squid come together with the savory curry sauce in this dish, rich in flavor. The flavors in this bento taste great together and is definitely filling.

Other than the Lenten Special, Ramen Daisho offers more mouthwatering dishes.

I started with appetizers such as Gyoza and California Maki (Php255). Gyoza is a customer favorite as it is soft, juicy, and full of flavor.

Tonkotsu Ramen (Php380 regular | Php670 large). Ramen noodles in rich and creamy Tonkotsu broth, with topped with slices of pork, bamboo shoots, scallions, and a soft boiled egg. Ramen Daisho’s Tonkotsu Ramen is full of flavor and delicious down to the last spoonful of broth.

Miso Ramen (Php380 regular | Php670 large). Ramen noodles in Miso broth, with pork slices, nori, bamboo shoots, and a soft boiled egg. This dish is rich and fragrant, and is Ramen Daisho’s specialty.

Dipping Ramen. Firm Noodles with a semi-poached egg, scallions and Zaru Tare sauce. This light and refreshing ramen is a summer must-try, as this ramen is cold rather than your normal steaming hot ramen. This is something I would order again.

For authentic Japanese food, you can eat at Ramen Daisho, located at Unit 2, Sunshine Square, Shaw Blvd, Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong City. It is open daily from 10am to 10p. For reservations and inquiries, contact them at (02) 7740036 and (02) 6332280.

Ramen Daisho was founded in the country in 2013 by Mr. Katsuyuki Nakata. Daisho Global, Inc. is the holding company that oversees the franchise of Ukokkei Ramen in terms of cooking methods and supplies from Fukuoka, Japan.

The restaurant prides itself on the authentic taste of its dishes and experience of dining within its walls. Guided by Mr. Yasuhiko Funatsu, the Ramen Master of Ukokkei Ramen, it served authentic ramen with an ukokkei soup base.

Since 2017, it has been under the management of Ureshi Fudo Corporation.

Winter is here with Johnnie Walker’s limited-edition GOT-inspired label

The Game of Thrones fever is in full swing with the last season set to premiere less than a month away.

Johnnie Walker, the world’s No. 1 whiskey, recently pulled out all the stops with its Game of Thrones-inspired Winter is Here event held at White Space Manila. Here, we die-hard GOT fans, togetger with whiskey enthusiasts, influencers and media guests were treated to an experiential journey through the different GOT-themed houses celebrating by Johnnie Walker whiskey labels.

Together with my coworkers from SKY, I was honored to take part in this exciting event as well.

Prior to entering the venue, we were treated to fingerfoods, fruits, cheeses, breads and meats, as well as sparkling pomegranate juice. This medieval-inspired dining experience was catered by Italian restaurant Cibo.

At the SKY booth, guests peered into a magic mirror to discover which denizen of Westeros is their spirit Game of Thrones character. (Apparently, mine was the Night King, brrr!)

At the stroke of eight, we were escorted inside the venue to make our way through the different houses of Johnnie Walker Whiskey labels.

House Red.

Driven by spice and fire, House Red was vibrant with heat and flame, especially the fiery scenery depicting Oldtown’s Citadel, punctuated by the exciting LED fire performances.

Here was celebrated the Johnnie Walker Red Label, the fruity, spicy and smokey blend that introduced the brand to the world. Today, it is one of the world’s best selling Scotch whiskey.

House Black.

Rising from the ashes from its test of fire was House Black. Cosplayer Alodia gracing the path through the Dark Forest of Ravens also set the mood for magic and mystery.

The iconic Johnnie Walker Black Label, with its bold and complex flavors of dark fruits, sweet vanilla and signature smokyness, was embodied by this house.

House Gold.

With the sun-kissed city of Dorne as a backdrop, House Gold was the seat of decadent luxury, where guests can touch the flavors of gold then show off their fabulousness at the glam photo booth hosted by Sam YG.

The luxuriously smooth Johnnie Walker Gold Label, with its delicate sweetness and rich flavor, was the drink given tribute to here.

House Blue.

Calling to mind the throne room in King’s Landing, guests were treated to the royal treatment by Tim Yap in House Blue where they can lord over everyone while seated on the throne.

Marked by the velvety combination of vanilla, honey, orange, hazelnut and dark chocolate, Johnnie Walker Blue Label was royally paid homage to here.

We gathered in front of the wall where warrior-dancers representing the various houses mock-battled culminating to the Breaking of the Wall.

House White.

With the fall of The Wall, we guests entered the Winter’s territory where took our drinks at the Ice Lounge and where we awaited the arrival of the Night King.

Inspired by the frosty and enigmatic inhabitants North of The Wall, the White Walker is Johnnie Walker’s limited edition variant launched late last year. It was served to guests directly from the freezer to bring out its best tastes and features along with other mixed drinks to further liven up the revelry. (And here’s a tip, when you freeze the bottle, the hidden message “Winter is here” appears in frosty lettering.)

The night’s revelries were hosted by Nico Bolzico (who gamely posed with us SKY folks), bolstered by the party music provided by Patty Tiu while scenes from the past and upcoming Game of Thrones seasons were flashed on the screen.

Winter is definitely here. And the fun has just begun.

The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones will premiere on April 15, 9am on HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD and 168 HD in Metro Manila).

Want to binge-watch the previous seasons? You’ll be happy to know that access to HBO GO is free until April 15. Here, you can watch all past episodes of HBO Original series on-demand as well as watch live telecasts of HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Hits and HBO Family wherever you are using your mobile device! HBO GO is available exclusively to SKYcable subscribers whose subscriptions include HBO. Click here for more details.

Photo Credit for group shots: Jay Redondo of SKY

Game of Thrones: The Last Watch feature documentary premieres May 27 on HBO and HBO GO

For a year, acclaimed British filmmaker Jeanie Finlay was embedded on the set of the hit HBO series GAME OF THRONES, chronicling the creation of the show’s most ambitious and complicated season.

The feature documentary, GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH will debut in Asia same time as the U.S. on Monday, 27 May, one week after the series finale, at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The documentary delves deep into the mud and blood to reveal the tears and triumphs involved in the challenge of bringing the fantasy world of Westeros to life in the very real studios, fields and car-parks of Northern Ireland. GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH will also have a same day encore at 10pm.

Made with unprecedented access, GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is an up-close and personal report from the trenches of production, following the crew and the cast as they contend with extreme weather, punishing deadlines and an ever-excited fandom hungry for spoilers.

Much more than a “making of” documentary, this is a funny, heart-breaking story, told with wit and intimacy, about the bittersweet pleasures of what it means to create a world – and then have to say goodbye to it.

Jeanie Finlay’s previous credits include the documentaries “Seahorse,” “Orion: The Man Who Would Be King,” “Pantomime,” “The Great Hip Hop Hoax,” “Sound It Out” and “Goth Cruise”. GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is her eighth feature film.

GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is a Glimmer Films production for HBO; director, Jeanie Finlay; executive producers, David Benioff. D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield; producers, Jeanie Finlay, Rachel Hooper, Martin Mahon; editor, Alice Powell; filmed by Jeanie Finlay, Mark Bushnell, Louise Liddy, Aaron Black, Richard Jephcote; composer, Hannah Peel.

The eighth and final season of GAME OF THRONES will debut in Asia same time as the U.S. on Monday, 15 April at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes will premiere every Monday at the same time.

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

Until April 15, SKYcable subscribers can watch all episodes of Game of Thrones Seasons 1 to 7 on demand via HBO GO for free. Simply download the app and register your SKYcable account. For more details, click here.

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.

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

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

Hoegaarden BGC Food Crawl: i Darts DASH

#ThirstyThursday continued for me and my fellow foodies when we hied ourselves off to i Darts DASH, the third stop of the Hoegaarden x Zomato Food Crawl (the second for li’l ole’ latecomer me).

i Darts DASH is the first electronic darts bar in the country using DARTSLIVE2 machines developed by SEGA Sammy in Japan. It uses soft tip darts thrown at electronic dart boards which automatically tallies scores of players. Not confident with your darts skills? No worries because there are also friendly and helpful darts instructors on standby, ready to help you up your game.

Here, you can challenge your friends to a fun (and safer) game of darts over cool drinks and yummy eats.

And speaking of cool drinks, bottles of Hoegaarden were waiting for us as soon as we entered the bar.

Hoegaarden is a Belgian beer brand. Would you believe it has been around for six centuries? In the mid-1500s, Belgian monks have been brewing witbier (white beer) flavored with orange peel and coriander. These brews are referred to as white beer because, being unfiltered, they appear white or hazy.

Personally, I discovered that I like Hoegaarden for its crisp and refreshing mouthfeel and lack of a bitter aftertaste despite having only a mild sweetness. I found that it goes superbly with a wide variety of bar chow such as:

Corn Tempura (Php180). Corn kernels rolled in cheese seasoning (because everything is better with cheese!)

Vietnamese Rice Roll (Php200). Served with both peanut and hoisin sauce (but I love it with just the peanut sauce!)

Enoki Nest (Php240). Enoki mushrooms dusted with Japanese spice togarashi and lemon zest, served with curry mayo.

Chicken Karaage (Php260). Juicy bite-size chicken tenders served with barbecue sauce, honey mustard sauce and Japanese mayo.

Naked Nachos with add-on Chili Beef (Php255). Crispy corn tortillas served with nacho cheese sauce, pico de gallo with ground beef simmered in tomatoes and spices.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza (Php340). Features strong spicy and zesty flavors from the blue cheese, chicken breasts, mozzarella and buffalo sauce.

Great eats, cool drinks, a rousing game of darts. What more can I ask for in a night out with friends?

i Darts DASH is located at the Fourth Floor, C3 Annex Building, 7th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 8190787 or +63 917 3173926.

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.

Hoegaarden BGC Food Crawl: Versus Barcade

It was a #ThirstyThursday Night for me and my fellow foodies as we met up in the second stop of the Zomato x Hoegaarden Food Crawl (the first for li’l old latecomer me): Versus Barcade.

What is a “barcade,” anyway?

As embodied by Versus Barcade, it is the crossover between a bar and an arcade: a place where you can enjoy you favorite drinks while playing old-school video games.

And here, you can also get a glass of Hoegaarden available on tap or draft.

Hoegaarden is named after the Flemish village recognized as the birthplace of the Belgian white beer, or witbier, if you will. This beer is unfiltered and flavored with coriander and orange peel, creating a crisp sweet and sour taste.

Now, I’m not much of a beer drinker, but with a sip of Hoegaarden Rosee, a sweeter and fruitier variant, beer drinkers have got themselves a new convert.

With my new favorite drink and my boisterous group of friends, I munched on the gamely named bar chow that Versus Barcade set out for us which include:

Legend of Nachos (Php345). Nacho chips topped with a combination of cheese sauce, tomato salsa and chili con carne. It’s got quite a spicy kick to it, so better have your beer handy as you take a bite into this.

Isaw the Sign (Php275). Crispy, deep-fried intestines. Another street food that will take you back to your childhood.

Q’Wek Q’Wek (Php300). That guilty pleasure street food: bright orange deep-fried battered quail eggs served with a sweet chili sauce.

Galagambas (Php440). Sauteed prawns in garlic and olive oil. The prawns were fresh and plump.

Winner 2x Chicken Skin Dinner (Php275). Marinated and deep-fried chicken skin best munched on while gaming.

Vega’s Beef Salpicao (Php400). Juicy tenderloin cubes sauteed in garlic and olive oil. This so flavorful; I found a piece of bread and scraped the oil from the bottom of the bowl to savor that garlicky goodness.

Rigatoni ala Luigi (Php320). Rigatoni pasta tossed in a creamy mushroom sauce together with shrimp and Italian sausage.

With my glass of Hoegaarden Rosee on-hand, these bar chows and my lovely foodie friends, my first Hoegaarden Food Crawl stop was a blast!

Versus Barcade is located at Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8390302 or +63 995 5541412.

Wine pairing class explores tasty combinations of wine and pizza

In vino, veritas.

In wine, there is truth.

Well, the truth is, I didn’t have much appreciation for wines. Similar to most Filipinos who reached adulthood without any exposure to wine culture, I have decided that wine just isn’t for me. What few sips I’ve had of the stuff were, for some reason, not pleasurable for me.

However, after joining a Food and Wine Pairing class organized by Wine Story Academy, I realized that maybe, similar to many things in life, I just haven’t found the right wine for me. Also, by partnering wine with one of my favorite kinds of food – pizza, supplied by Pasto Cafe and Bar – I was able to explore how the right combination of food and wine brings out the best in each other.

The class was held at the Wine Story outlet in EDSA Shangri-la Mall, an upscale retailer of fine and rare wines. Wine Story Academy’s Wine Education Manager Carla Santos guided our group through a set of five different wines to be tasted together with five different pizza flavors.

Basic Principles in Food and Wine Pairing

The conventional wisdom in food and wine pairing is to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with white meat. However, according to Carla, there are more factors to consider, not the least of which is your own preference.

To find the perfect food and wine pairing, we need to strike a balance among the following characteristics of the food served:

Weight. How heavy (or filling) does the food feel in your mouth? It is a good idea to pair a filling kind of food with a fuller-bodied kind of wine.

Intensity. How strong does are the food’s flavors? You would want to taste both the food and the wine’s flavors so take care that one does not overpower the other.

Flavor. The ingredients and method of cooking, as well as dips and sauces incorporated to the dish also contribute to the flavor of the food which needs to be considered.

In choosing the perfect wine for the dishes, one must consider the following wine profiles:

Sweetness. It is the first sensation – it may not necessarily be a sugary kind of sweetness but more of a fruity kind – as the wine hits the tip of your tongue. All but the very driest of wines will have some sensation of sweetness.

Acidity. This is what makes the wine crisp and refreshing. You will feel it as it makes your mouth water. A wine with too much acidity will be unpleasantly tart while one with too little will feel flabby or flat.

Tannin. This is the mouth-drying substance found in wine. Too much tannin will make the wine taste hard and bitter while too little will make it seem soft and innocuous as fruit juice.

The Tasting

The evening’s featured wines, curated by Wine Story Academy, include:

Tenuta Sant’Anna Goccia Pinot Grigio 2017 (Veneto, Italy; Php1,000). It smells of acacia flowers and exotic fruits. The taste is marked by a total absence of tannin, resulting to a fresh and floral flavor.

Sand Point Chardonnay 2015 (California, USA; Php1,300). Possesses an aroma with peach and pear notes. It is a soft wine with low acidity and fruity flavor.

Urban Riesling 2015 (Mosel, Germany; Php1,350). It has a clean, fresh and flinty bouquet and smells of tangerines. It is off-dry, with a crisp and semi-sweet taste.

The Winery of Good Hope Bush Vine Pinotage 2018 (Stellenbosch, South Africa; Php1,050). Its aroma is one of blackberry and plums accented by hints of oak and mocha. It tastes ripe and juicy.

Cardinalices Rouge Grande Reserve 2015 (Rhone Valley, France; Php1,000). It has a fruity aroma with some spicy notes and marked by a strong and complex flavor.

Pizzas paired with the featured wines were provided by Pasto’s EDSA Shangri-la Mall branch and presented interesting flavors that we mixed and matched with the wine.

Vegetariano. This pizza is marked by the earthy smokey flavor of assorted roasted vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers and garlic. I find that the light and fresh Pinot Grigio works well with this pizza.

Napolitana. Sliced button mushrooms and savory achovies make this a strongly flavored pizza. For me, the Pinotage’s acidity stands up well to its saltiness.

Di Carne. This is an all-meat extravaganza with Italian sausage, smoked ham and pepperoni. The Cardinalices’ bold and strong flavors complement the meats in this pizza.

Gamberi Fritti. A crispy battered shrimp tops the artichoke salsa and lemon aioli in this pizza, with spicy chili flakes. The low alcohol and the refreshing acidity of the Riesling manages the heat from this spicy pizza.

Prosciutto Cotto. Caramelized onions added some sweetness to the pizza along with the earthy smoked ham, asparagus and mozzarella. The soft and fruity Chardonnay complements the pizza’s flavors.

Wine tasting tips

This food and wine pairing class is an eye-opener for me. Not only did it show me the versatility and variety of wines but it also helped grow my appreciation for how they can enrich the dining experience. For those who are planning to go to a similar wine tasting affair, here are some things to remember:

No brushing of teeth or smoking right before class. Tobacco and mint will affect your sense of taste.

Avoid wearing heavy scents such as perfume, cologne or scented hair spray. These will affect your sense of smell.

Hold the wine glass by the stem. This keeps fingerprints off the bowl (so you can see and appreciate the liquid in all its splendor) and prevents your hand from heating the wine.

Prior to tasting, take a sniff to get an initial impression of the wine’s aroma, then swirl for a bit to bring out some more of its scent. This will contribute to your fuller appreciation of the wine’s flavor.

Many thanks to Mike Lord Raymundo of the Pasto Group and Bar Craft Concepts for extending the invitation!

For more details about the wines and pizzas featured in this wine class, visit their respective social media sites:

Pasto Cafe and Bar on Facebook and Instagram

Wine Story Academy on Facebook and Instagram

To help develop the Filipino palate for wine, the Wine Story Academy offers the following classes next month:

April 6: Intro to Bordeaux (Php3,000 per person)
April 13: Wine 101 (Php2,000 per person) and Sushi and Wine Pairing (Php2,500 per person)

Say hello to a great summer with Ombu Kusina’s Flavored Ice Halo-Halo

Summers are for great times with great food, and spent with great friends.

Together with my fellow foodies, I experienced what certainly seems to be the start of a great summer.

In a recent Foodie Event hosted by Ombu Kusina, it launched its newest and coolest offerings: three new scrumptious halo-halo flavors!

The halo-halo is a favorite Pinoy dessert made of crushed ice, evaporated milk and other sweet ingredients such as nata de coco, beans and coconut strips, served layered on top of each other, but then mixed together so that each spoonful is a mixture of sweet ingredients and the crushed ice. Ombu does its own take on this classic icy treat, with three flavors, available only during the summer, at only Php160 each. These include:

Milk Tea. The milk tea craze has surely hit the country and how! Now this exotic drink which originated from Taiwan flavors the Pinoy halo-halo through the use of brewed Earl Grey black tea.

Mango. Fresh ripe mango are pureed, mixed with milk then frozen to create mango-flavored crushed ice, served with the usual halo-halo ingredients and toppped with succulent mango cubes.

Tres Leches. As the name implies, the crushed ice is flavored with three kinds of milk and topped with creamy leche flan. This is my favorite among the new halo-halo variants.

Ombu’s Chef Griffin Oraiz explained that what sets Ombu’s halo-halo treats apart from similar offerings from other restaurants is the use of flavored ice: the flavors are infused into the ice, resulting to a more intense taste and creamier mouthfeel.

Ombu also showcased some its signature dishes which are well-suited for the summer, such as:

Suzi Wong Sandwich (Php270). A three-layered sandwich made of ham, cheese and pickles between four slices of butter-toasted crusted bread and served with house-made deep-fried purple camote chips.

Tinapa Croquettes (Php240). Tinapa (smoked milkfish) is combined with a creamy bechamel sauce and sauteed onions, then coated with breadcrumbs, deep-fried to a crisp golden brown and served with a house-blend special garlic mayo dip.

Three-Cheese Pizza (Php420). Mozzarella and cheddar cheeses are combined with the local kesong puti, a home-grown cheese made of carabao’s milk, on top of a crisp oven-baked pizza crust.

Tokwa’t Baboy (Php260). Tokwa (tofu) are cut into cubes, fried and served with hearty pork chunks in a house-blended spicy soy vinegar sauce. This is actually a great complement and a traditional companion to the next dish which is the…

Arroz Caldo (Php130). The traditional Pinoy version of rice porridge with chicken pieces, it is highlighted by the use of cured, soft-boiled “ramen-style” eggs that adds a different dimension of flavor to the Pinoy merienda staple.

These dishes and the seasonal halo-halo flavors all adhere to Ombu Kusina’s modern take on Filipino cuisine: infusing classic Pinoy dishes with new and exciting cooking styles and influences. These help to make Pinoy cuisine fresher and more relevant to a growing number of foodies, who are looking for their next food adventure.

And if that isn’t reason enough for you to hie on over to Ombu for a taste of its innovative and flavorful dishes, how about this: use my code – VIPBeingJellybeans – when you dine in and get 10% off your food bill!

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Say hello to a gastronomically fantastic summer with @ombu_resto’s refreshing halo-halo blends (milk tea, tres leches and mango) and their new merienda menu. Plus!!! Use my code VIPBeingJellybeans when you dine in until May 11 and get 10% off your food bill! Thanks for this summer treat, Ombu! . . . . . #foodieph #foodph #pinoyfoodie #yummyph #foodiegram #foodgasm #whattoeatph #saansaph #welovetoeatph #foodbloggerph #manilaeatup #beingjellybeans

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Mar 16, 2019 at 6:39am PDT

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Ombu Kusina is located at the Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 6.30am to 10.30am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 441179.

Read my review of a previous visit to Ombu Kusina here.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf launches summer flavors with its coconut ice-blended drinks

Feeling the summer heat yet?

As the temperatures rise, so does the need for refreshing icy drinks to cool down the body and soothe the spirit.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf recently launched a series of drinks for local denizens like you to have a taste of #SummerInYourHands.

These three ice-blended drinks feature that staple flavor of summer: the coconut.

This tropical fruit has long been associated with cool drinks enjoyed at the seaside or while relaxing in the shade, a tasty escape for the body and tastebuds amidst the scorching heat of the sun. It is also known for its resilience, with fruits traversing oceans, setting roots and growing in new shores where their land.

Thanks to GiftAway e-gift coupons from CBTL, facilitated and shared by Marj Liwag of LittleMsPrinter.com, my officemates and I were able to sample the three new seasonal coconut-based drinks at a nearby CBTL outlet. These include:

White Chocolate Coconut Dream. This is the most subtly flavored of the three drinks, with the coconut and the white chocolate flavors blending together well. Among the three drinks, this is actually my favorite.

Dark Chocolate Coconut. More strongly flavored than its white chocolate counterpart, this drink has the coconut flavor taking a backseat to the richer and more complex dark chocolate.

Matcha Coconut Ice Blended. Who would have thought that matcha, essentially powdered green tea leaves, and coconut would go so well together? In this drink, the matcha serves as an earthy frame for the light coconut flavor.

My coworkers and I ordered the drinks to-go: these served as our lunchtime reward, refreshments that fueled us with energy and positivity for the rest of the work day.

These ice-blended coconut drinks are available At Php185 (regular) or Php285 (large) at all CBTL branches in the metro, ready to quench the thirsts and soothe the souls of us office workers this summer.

Check them out and tell me what you think!

Trivia: Did you know that The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf invented ice-blended drinks over twenty years ago?

In the summer of 1987, an employee brought a blender to one of the original Southern California stores and started whizzing together ice, coffee extract and chocolate powder. This started the blended coffee craze which continues until today. Imagine what our summers will be without these refreshing icy drinks!

Check out my other posts on The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf:

Charles & Keith partners with local brand Woven to benefit local women weavers

Did you know that international fashion brand CHARLES & KEITH recently released a capsule collection of Pinoy-made hand-woven products? Through its collaboration with Woven, a Philippine-based social enterprise, it produced a special capsule collection inspired by the theme “Empowering Women of Tomorrow.” This collection consists of four unique products – a tote bag, a circle top handle bag, a clutch and a pouch – all made of banig, dried grass and dyed palm leaves that are handwoven by skilled artisans based in Basey, Samar. For every product sold from the collection, 20% of the net sales would be donated to the weavers of Woven.

This partnership is part of a movement to provide women with vital skills to better their lives and give them a voice in their communities. Through this partnership, CHARLES & KEITH is continuing its efforts to achieve the vision of a world that is free from gender discrimination, inequality and violence. Woven, on the other hand, will be able to continue providing skills and leadership training to the women in the hopes of inspiring the next generation of young women to continue the craft.

Trish Lim, co-founder and CEO of Woven, sees the partnership as a way for local women to be able to carry on the tradition of weaving in their communities.

“It’s wonderful to see women use their talents, skills and knowledge to create opportunities for other women and make their lives better.” she shares.

The partnership also enables Woven’s weavers to feel empowered from having a sustainable source of livelihood that allows them provide three meals a day and education for their children.

The CHARLES & KEITH capsule collection for International Women’s Day 2019 has been available on CHARLESKEITH.COM—excluding the UK, EU and Japan markets since March 7.

About CHARLES & KEITH
Fashion entrepreneurs, Charles & Keith Wong founded CHARLES & KEITH in 1996 upon identifying the potential of footwear designs catered for eastern women. CHARLES & KEITH is the go-to fashion destination for stylish urbanites, recognized for its desirable fashion and curated collections of relevant designs. With women as the central focus, the brand has developed a full-fledged line of footwear, bags, eyewear, accessories and costume jewelry. Pushing forward four brand values: Experimental, Desirable, Curated and Modernity, the brand aims to celebrate women and inspire fashion and beauty every day. CHARLES & KEITH extends beyond brick-and-mortar with online shopping CHARLESKEITH.COM, making the brand available through the United States of America, Asia Pacific and Europe.

About WOVEN
As a social enterprise that aims to uplift the lives of artisans in the Philippines, Woven strives to work directly with crafts communities to create products that bring value to their work, their lives, and cultural traditions. It started in the town of Basey, Samar after it was devastated by super typhoon Yolanda. While doing research and area development plans there, the founders came upon the banig weavers who created beautiful mats made from tikog and buri. With the help of various NGOs, the enterprise organized the artisans into community craft associations, maneuvered an increase in the industry price of banigs, and raised individual incomes by more than double. Ultimately, Woven aims to craft better opportunities for empowered craftsmen and women, for their families, and for the next weaving generations. www.wovenph.com.

Details and images provided by Woven in a recent press release.

New HBO drama series Gentleman Jack debuts April 23 exclusively on HBO GO

Starring BAFTA Award Winner Suranne Jones, The Series Tells The Story Of A Woman Who Had A Passion For Life And A Mind For Business, And Bucked Society’s Expectations At Every Turn.

The HBO drama series GENTLEMAN JACK begins its eight-episode season, same time as the U.S. on Tuesday 23 April at 10am exclusively on HBO GO. Created, written and co-directed by Sally Wainwright (“Happy Valley,” “Last Tango in Halifax”), and starring BAFTA Award winner Suranne Jones (“Doctor Foster,” “Save Me”), GENTLEMAN JACK tells the story of a woman who had a passion for life and a mind for business, and bucked society’s expectations at every turn.

Set in the complex, changing world of 1832 Halifax, West Yorkshire – the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution – GENTLEMAN JACK focuses on landowner Anne Lister, who is determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall, by reopening the coal mines and marrying well. The charismatic, single-minded, swashbuckling Lister – who dresses head-to-toe in black and charms her way into high society – has no intention of marrying a man.

The story examines Lister’s relationships with her family, servants, tenants and industrial rivals and, most importantly, would-be wife. Based in historical fact, the real-life Anne Lister’s story was recorded in the four million words of her diaries, and the most intimate details of her life, once hidden in a secret code, have been decoded and revealed for the series.

GENTLEMAN JACK co-stars: Sophie Rundle (“Bodyguard,” “Peaky Blinders”) as Ann Walker, the wealthy heiress on whom Anne Lister sets her sights as a prospective wife; Gemma Whelan (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”; “The Moorside”) as Anne Lister’s sister, Marian; Timothy West (“Last Tango in Halifax,” “Bleak House”) as Jeremy Lister, the sisters’ father; and Gemma Jones (“God’s Own Country,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary”) as Aunt Anne Lister.

The additional cast includes: Katherine Kelly (“Happy Valley,” CINEMAX’s “Strike Back”) as Elizabeth Sutherland, Ann Walker’s sister; Sofie Gråbøl (“The Killing,” “Fortitude”) as Queen Marie of Denmark; Stephanie Cole (“Waiting for God,” “Still Open All Hours”) as Ann Walker’s aunt; Peter Davison (“Liar,” “Doctor Who”) as William Priestley, Ann Walker’s cousin; Amelia Bullmore (“Happy Valley,” “Scott & Bailey”) as Eliza Priestley, William Priestley’s wife; Vincent Franklin (“Cucumber,” “Happy Valley”) as Christopher Rawson, a businessman and fierce rival to Anne Lister; Shaun Dooley (“Gunpowder,” “Broadchurch”) as Jeremiah, Christopher’s brother and business partner; Joe Armstrong (“Darkest Hour,” “Happy Valley”) as Samuel Washington; Jodhi May (“Genius,” “The Amazing Mrs Pritchard”) as Vere Hobart; Rosie Cavaliero (“Hold the Sunset,” “Unforgotten”) as Elizabeth Cordingley; Thomas Howes (“Downton Abbey,” “United”) as John Booth; Jessica Baglow (“Waterloo Road”) as Rachael Hemingway; and newcomers Albane Courtois as Eugénie Pierre and Ben Hunter as Joseph Booth.

GENTLEMAN JACK is directed by Sally Wainwright, Sarah Harding (“Vikings,” “Queer as Folk”) and Jennifer Perrott (“Doctor Who”); produced by Lookout Point for HBO and BBC One; executive producers, Sally Wainwright, Faith Penhale and Laura Lankester for Lookout Point and Ben Irving for BBC One; producer, Phil Collinson.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers in the Philippines. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

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

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