Raintree Teaspresso Blends @ Katipunan Avenue

My all-time favorite milk-tea spot is in Raintree Katipunan (near Pan de Manila). My office was then located a few meters away from Raintree so my colleagues and I would sneak out during busy hours to get a cup of this yummy stress buster. Now that I work in Makati, I rarely pass thru the area and I really miss the cozy and homy, perfect tambay spot (with free fast wi-fi!!!!).

I don't have photos of the place or even their milk teas. Last night I was decided to do only one thing:

Taste their French Macarons.

And *gasps* sooooo yummyyyy!

It was soft and chewy, not so sweet, and relatively cheaper than French Baker (P40) and Bizu (P45). They sell each Macaron for P30 and they have lots of flavors to choose from like Irish Early Grey, Red Velvet, Mint Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Passion Fruit, Chocolate, Espresso, Nutella, Raintree, Pistachio, Cashew, etc.

I bought a box of 6 for P180. My two favorites are the Red Velvet and Salted Caramel. Perfect!

For the milk tea, I really love their Raintree Special Tea (it's color orange!) and Creme Brulee :) These two won't go wrong plus you get large just for P100.

Check out more photos of Raintree from Saab Magalona here.Apparently, her college best friend owns the place. :) Lucky her!

Russian Cookie House @ The Podium

Last, last week, my good friend Fei invited me to have dinner at The Podium (Ortigas Center). It was so nice of her to treat me. We ate at UCC (which was super expensive but really, really yummy) then had dessert at the Russian Cookie House which she was an Online Marketing Consultant of.

Fei said that the cookies are oh-so-perfect with tea so we bought cold teas for P95 each. There were a lot of flavors to choose from-- all unique and healthy. I got the "Diet Green Tea with Ginseng" and if Diet tasted that good always then it should never be a problem.

Then for the cookies, we just bought a whole box that already had varied flavors. Our box contained:

Linzer Schnitte or Torte (Austrian pastry flavored with cinnamon and clove, topped with sour cherry jam)

White and Black Almond Cookies (Coated with chocolate and topped with almonds)

Black Russians (Chocolate cookie covered with bittersweet chocolate with walnut center and choco sprinkles outside)

Pistachio Cookies (Butter cookies topped with bittersweet chocolate and chopped pistachios)

The whole box (with 12 pieces) cost around P220, which is worth the price because the presentation of the cookies and the packaging were already nice and sosyal. The following day I bought another box to give as a gift. Well for the taste, I didn't like them at first but it became really delightful when I ate it while sipping tea. Fei said that the cookies went also great with coffee. There's something about the cookie texture that makes it go well with both beverages. Plus, I love the fact that it doesn't make me guilty after munching them all. :)

Great tea + Cookies = Perfect tea party/ tea bonding :))

Check out their full list of cookies here.

Easy Brazo de Mercedes

We have this family friend who makes the best Brazo de Mercedes. I only tasted it once as a kid and I never forgot it. During the recent monsoon rains, we evacuated at their house and so we made one for fun. :) I never thought that it would be so easy!

INGREDIENTS:(Makes 2)
8 small eggs or 7 medium eggs
1 teaspoon of Cream of Tartar
1 can of Condensed Milk
1/4 of the biggest butter (we used Dari Creme Classic)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon of Vanilla (optional) -- we didn't add vanilla but I bet it'll be yummier with this
2 Parchment Paper/Wax Paper

STEPS:
-Separate egg white from yolk

-Mix the egg yolks, condensed milk, and butter using a double boiler (i.e., there's boiling water beneath the pot since you can't cook the mixture directly on fire)
-Don't stop stirring until the mixture becomes thick (you'll know it's ready when you scoop the mixture and it slowly falls from the spoon)

-After cooking the yellow filling, whip your egg whites and cream of tartar
-Add sugar gradually
-Add vanilla

-Prepare the cookie sheet by spreading small amounts of butter and then lining it with wax or parchment paper
-Spread the white mixture (meringue) on your cookie sheet
-Use oven or toaster to heat the top until it becomes golden brown (it's better to just hold it because if you leave the meringue inside the oven, the whole thing might get burned)

-When you get the desired "cook" of the meringue, flip it over so that you can spread the yellow filling next
-Spread the yellow filling (don't put it on the middle or too much on the side)
-Roll the meringue carefully
-Sprinkle sugar (granulated or confectioners sugar) on top
-Place inside ref first to cool before eating

P.S. We didn't use all the eggs so this little one right here got all angry at us :)) (Egg drawing by Angela)

Thanks again to the Robles family! :) This is such an easy dessert to make!

Marks and Spencer's Free Ice Cream Tasting

We're so lucky that our office is near Greenbelt 5, so when Marks and Spencer (M&S) and Nuffnang Philippines announced that they were having free ice cream tasting there, Sandra and I rushed immediately. :)) We're talking about free ice cream! Who passes that off? So anyway, when we arrived we tasted 6 of their 16 flavors (by the way, they recently launched their ice cream line last July 12, 2012).

Flavors we tasted include:
1) Blueberry Cheesecake Bliss - my favorite! flavorful and has big chunks of cheesecake in it
2) Triple Chocolate Decadent - has cute little cheese stars on top; chocolatey yet not too sweet
3) Rum and Raisin - unexpectedly yummy-- who knew rum could become such a sweet treat! You could really taste the rum plus the taste stays for a time in your mouth (AND throat!)
4) Strawberry Cheesecake Indulgent
5) Caramel Pecan Crunch - their best seller though I find it too sweet plus has a different texture-- I like my ice cream super smooth :))
6) Mint Chocolate

Craving for that unique, satisfying cold dessert? Prices range from P350 to P475, relatively similar to Ben and Jerry's, Blue Bunny, and Haagen-Dazs. But M&S does have an edge against these brands since the former brands are hard to find, while the latter, Haagen-Dazs, is set to close down this September.

Lookie, M&S even gave Nuffnang bloggers these cute giveaways and so I went home and lived happily after........ just how a "Perfect Princess" should. :) #FreeIceCream

Attempt to Design a Cake

It was Ayessa's birthday and we got her cake at Red Ribbon. Their new one: Ultimate Chocolate Cake (Large- P495) which was super chocolatey, not too sweet, melt-in-you-mouth type of yummy. <3

Photo from Red Ribbon Facebook Page

When Ayessa's sister and I got the cake, I asked the counter girl if I could personally write on the cake with icing. She wrote the "Happy birthday Ayessa!" part:

And I designed the most beautiful part of all:

The two separate ends of the message part. It's FLAWLESS! :))

Starbucks' Asian Twist

Last June 14 (Tuesday), Starbucks Philippines launched its new set of pastries, drinks, and desserts that aims to infuse Asian flavor into its known niche of Western flavors.

For the pastries, they have:

I'm much excited for this trio since I love Starbucks' line of bread and sandwiches. They're healthy, tasty, and filled with awesome goodness. I haven't tried the new ones yet but I'd taste the Beef and Mushroom Pie first then the Bacon and Cheese second. Not so much of a Parmigiana fan.

Then they also have new drinks: (Ah, now this is Asian)

Hojicha Tea Jelly Frappuccino is inspired by the Japanese Hojicha tea that's different from other teas since this type is roasted instead of steamed, giving off a "toasty" flavor. Then the Red Bean Green Tea that pretty reminds me of the Red Beans we so love in our Halo-Halos!

They have a promo on-going right now to entice the public to try out their new line.We got to hurry! Promo is only from June 12 (Tuesday) to 17 (Sunday). Oh, don't forget to greet your dad a Happy father's day on the 17th!

Then of course, the caaaaakes:

Okay, so here's the story: KC invited me to a "sudden lunch out" when, afterwards, we craved for dessert. We were originally planning to buy ice cream, but we ended up in Starbucks instead. Then we saw the new cakes *wide eyes here*

The Green Tea and Berry Cheesecake is exquisite! It's creamy and light and has the right amount of sweetness to satisfy a dessert craving. Well, the green tea flavor isn't that dominant, but having that tiny hint is perfect. It's a must try! The Purple Yam Cake, meanwhile, is very Filipino and I love how Starbucks now embraces Filipino traditional sweets.

Got this picture from KC. Thanks for the 20-peso treat! HAHA. Sorry, I forgot to pay you! Let's try the other new ones as well next time? :) I heard they're on sale only for a limited time.

For more details, visit the Starbucks Philippines site. They have enticing descriptions for each item if you still need some push to try these out. :)))))

STARBUCKS COOKIE!

For the past week, I've been craving for cookies-- EVERYDAY.
I reach office, I want a cookie. I go to the mall, I look for a cookie.
I overspend because of overpriced cookies! Save me!!!!!
I'm especially crazy about Starbucks' Chocolate and Macadamia cookie (P55/ cookie). You have the option to have it heated so the chocolate melts and drips away from the crispy outside and soft inside cookie dough.

I could eat 5.

Happily Addicted,
Sam :)

Addi's 1st Birthday

Random post. Last mothers day we celebrated the birthday of my pretty (mana-sa-mommy and ninang) godchild Addi! Which I fondly call Addi Waddi. <3

We had a blast celebrating her birthday with great catering and lots of sweets! And of course the place was just extravagant. I stole the pics, by the way, from the party's official photographer.

It was a heaven for all the sweet tooths. We had unlimited sorbetes (dirty ice cream), candies, cakes and cupcakes, and chocolates. Hooray for dessert wonderland!

Pretty cupcakes, right? It's not just pretty, it's delicious too! (since I hate pretty cakes and cupcakes that "don't taste good as it looks")

Here I had a picture with my "tablemates" which are mostly my friends from high school (and at the extreme left is the mom of Addi) <3

 Spending first birthdays has never been this fun and yummy! :) Happy first birthday Addi!

Your ninang,
Sam :)

Banapple @ Ayala Triangle

Banapple is ultimately one of my favorite pasta houses in town. Not only does it serve good pasta, but also great rice meals, heavenly pies, AND CAKES at really affordable prices. Check out their complete menu and prices here.You can already eat a satisfying meal with below P200. Promise, both your stomachs and taste buds will be happy. <3

Anyway, it's my first time to eat at Banapple Ayala Triangle although I've been to the Katipunan branch a couple of times. Great scenery by the way before reaching Banapple. I remember that we watched the dancing Christmas lights here last year which was superb.

I went along with my office mates who just wanted to eat out today. :)) Talk about spontaneity. 

When we arrived, I recognized their famous "country style" that's both homey, friendly, and sweet. Although I must say that the ambiance is better in Katipunan because it's bigger and actually built to look like a house.

They also have these great "marble"-tables used in all their stores. Can you spot the sunflower?

 

 Here's what we ate... I chose:

The Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne (P185) that comes with this soft pesto bread that has a melt-in-your mouth cheese inside it! This is what I always order-- always.

Ms. Bless bought:

Breaded fillet of cream dory with honey thyme mustard sauce (P185), that according to their site has "fresh fillets of velvety dory fish, blanketed in herb crust (Oh I see the herbs in this picture), and drizzled with warm honey thyme mustard sauce". Ain't that a treat?

Lastly, Sandra and Chriss picked this "guilty pleasure": (lol)

Bacon fried chicken steaks with milk'shroom gravy (P175). Bacon is love, gravy is creamy, milk is sweet, and mushroom is... well, mushroom! You can't go wrong with mushroom. :) Mix it all up together and you get this platter of goodness. 

We weren't able to eat cakes because we were soooo fuuullllll. I even had takeout. But cakes are wonderful especially their Banoffee pie. It's a Banapple must-try. Plus everyone should also try their pies because their big and super stuffed. :) SULIT! 

Super na-sulitan,
Sam :)

Secret Recipe @ SM Megamall

Secret Recipe-- their cakes will entice you to eat here (Click on the links to check full menu + prices)

They have fresh cream cakes like almond coffee, chocolate chip walnut, white chocolate macadamia, pecan butterscotch, fruity special, green tea, etc. Now where can you find amazing flavors for only P95 a slice? Though okay, their fresh cream cakes are a bit bland as compared to cakes of Red Ribbon. But I bet this one's healthier because of less sugar content.

Aaron* and I tasted the Mango Delight. Behold! Fresh cream and mangoes with a twist of gelatin on top.

Aside from their fresh cream cakes, they have a wide choice of cheesecake flavors (like cappuccino, dark chocolate, espresso, and lemon) for only 150 per slice. Their cheesecakes are waaaay better-- like a crowning glory. lol. For our cheesecake choice, we got the caramel cheese:

The cheese part is super duper yummy since it's thick, creamy, and flavorful-- plus it had randomly placed nuts which was exciting. :)) I also loved the base since it already had a sweet taste of its own. Texture wise it stays intact when you eat it and doesn't crumble too much. Perfect!

Aside from the cakes, we decided to also taste their meals. I had a hard time choosing what to eat because I was torn with Pad Thai or something western. They have so many and diverse categories-- you can choose from Asian, Western, Pasta, Salad, etc.

In the end, I got the Grilled Black Pepper Chicken (P245)-- which was great! The chicken was tender and I loved the sauce-- you can very well taste the pepper but not too much that it overpowers the chicken.

Then Aaron got his mozzarella baked fish (P315). He thought it was ordinary but since I'm biased for juicy white fish meat AND cheese, I loved the combination!

See how they always divide their dishes into three? They always have something green and red to put. At last, a restaurant that cares for your health! :))

Secret Recipe is very ideal if you want something fresh and a variety of cakes for that after meal dessert. So thanks Aaron for the treat!!!!!!:) Two years was a loooooong time. I'm glad we got to see each other again! Until next time! P.S. You still owe me orchids. HAHA.

Thanks again,
Sam :) 
*Aaron and I became friends when we both joined the same campus organization. He graduated Civil Engineering and passed the Board with only a 0.1 to make it to the Top 10. But even with his license, he's working for a... uhm... water specializing company? HAHA. And aims to be a Marine Biologist someday. :))

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar @ Westgate, Alabang

Once upon a time, I saw this deal for Max Brenner and immediately got one because food there was expensive (so I thought it was a great buy) AND because it was a restaurant specializing in CHOCOLATES! Chocolates!!!!!!!!!!

Unluckily, I thought the Max Brenner was still open in Greenbelt but eventually found out that it was closed so we had to go to their far, far away branch in Alabang.

When Sandra and I reached the well-hid place, we were just excited to taste EVERYTHING. We arrived hungry, tired, and sun-scorched, so imagine how easily it would be to please us (PS. Sorry for the bit grainy photos, we had to use our cellphone cameras).

But, sadly, Max Brenner did not reach our expectations. :( We ordered their pasta and..... nothing special about it. It tasted something that we could order anywhere that's even less their price. Well okay, I did like their chicken topped with cheese and tomatoes.

Chicken Parmigiana (P298)

White Chocolate Carbonara (P268)

Don't let the name fool you, you can't taste it. It just made the pasta a bit sweeter.

Then we also tasted their chocolate shakes which, by the way, tasted so much like those we can buy at Starbucks. Like what Sandra said, "a good restaurant should not taste like any other restaurant".... or something like that. But it's true! It tasted just like Starbucks!

Chococcino (P188)

Rocky Road (P188)

Then we also tasted their legitimate chocolates and, agaaaaiiiin, nothing special... especially their fondue. You know what's funny about our fondue? They didn't have the strawberries that were in the menu's picture.We asked the waitress if our order really did have strawberries, and surprisingly said "YES... wala po ba kayo nun?" and did not do anything about it. *straight face*

Single Serve Chocolate Fondue (P288)

One bowl had fruits (apple, banana, and pear slices-- NO STRAWBERRIES) while the other bowl had pieces of brownies, biscuits, and marshmallows

Chocolate Souffle and Shake (P298)

So.... okay. So-so meal, but what really made this more memorable was that our bill reached around P1600. It was also our fault for pointing and pointing and not looking at the prices.... But I don't think it was "super" worth it. Plus, they had amazing service charge around P140, which was funny because Sandra commented on how the waitress kept dropping utensils on the floor. I bet she even counted the times. Haha. :) 

To end, yeah, I don't know how to end this. O wait. Remember how I said the place was well-hidden? The whole place actually looked like a ghost town. Which is cool.

Thanks Sandra for accompanying me to this very expensive adventure! :)) And for most of the pics!

Until next adventure,
Sam :)