Making great sound and great food in Mayi's Kitchen

Three dishes came this afternoon as my good friend Ms Judy recommended a new place which cooks great food. I am so thankful to taste its best offerings, in time for a festive celebration today, Chinese New Year.  A box of Pork Belly and Chicken BBQ Cuapao, a tub of famous pancit and leche flan, all coming from Mayi's Kitchen to indulge during merienda.

I started with the Pork Belly Cuapao, a steamed bun with a warm and juicy pork belly that melts in my mouth. It has crushed peanuts that add earthy flavor and texture that makes it more exciting and some fresh leaves for a clean taste. With the Chicken BBQ Cuapao, they are definitely a good comfort snack.

 

Mayi's famous pancit is not just some stir-fried sotanghon that your titas and lolas make. The less greasy noodles are made even more special sauteed with crunchy snow peas (sitsaro), bagnet and black fungus create an exciting medley in the mouth with their different taste and texture profiles.

 

Of course we should end with a good dessert and Mayi's leche flan is a must-try. The soft and well-beaten flan drenched in caramel sauce is irresistible.

Mayi's Kitchen started 2 years ago by Marielle "Mayi" Mamaclay, a professional singer from Vega Entertainment Productions. Since it's almost 2 years in the pandemic, she's one of the many people have discovered new passions and skills to be able to survive while locked down in our homes. With her Manager, Charie Vega and her other Tita, they decided to try out doing a home based food delivery service within the village where they live. They started out with Mayi’s decadent chocolate cake and chicken bbq and, when they were getting more customers within and outside the village, they started adding more home cooked meals to the menu like the best-selling Cuapaos and the Mayi’s Kitchen Special Pancit, which made them where they are to this date.

Mayi is the 2010 Grand Champion Performer of the World and Grand Vocalist of the world at the World Championships of Performing Arts held in Hollywood, California, USA. She is also part of the vocal group 5thGen and has been mentoring delegates for the Euro Talent Festival, a talent competition held in 5 different European countries. Pre-pandemic, Mayi was one of the lead singers of the shows “Iconic 80’s” and “Motown” at the Grand Bar of Resorts World Manila.

I'm glad to find out that Mayi's Kitchen also cater to virtual events, provide corporate meal packages, arrange meals of those who are sick and can’t take care of their daily meals and feed families in Manila of our OFWs from all over the world. I immediately followed them on their Instagram @mayiskitchen_.

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Peri-Peri MCU Caloocan opens today!

 Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar unveils its 45th store located in MCU Caloocan. Standing at 183sqm area along EDSA, the branch invites all craving guests with its satisfying charcoal chicken and dishes.

The branch can easily be spotted if you're driving along EDSA or making a visit North of Manila. Its festive Portuguese themed exteriors sets the vibe for a feast. The interiors also enhance the fiesta with amazing murals painted by local artists - Peri-Peri's way to showcase their works and talents.

As a new normal feature, the store has a Park & Order spot where motorists can park outside and order their favorite Peri-Peri dishes and enjoy it in the comfort of their vehicles.

Head on today to Peri-Peri MCU Caloocan branch and be one of the first 45 guests who are lucky to get a whole chicken for FREE! And if you'll visit from September 9 to 12, be one of the first 20 guests who will get this amazing freebie.

Peri-Peri MCU Caloocan also delivers! Call 7374-7374 (PERI-PERI) within Metro Manila or 0917-7747374 for Provincial locations. Customers are also encouraged to order via Facebook messenger at m.me/pericharcoalchicken or through the website www.periperichicken.ph For exclusive offers and promos, join the Viber community https://tinyurl.com/PeriPeriViberCommunity.

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G&G Taiwan Famous Chicken opens two new branches

Craving for some munch and great flavor to your usual chicken recipe? The newest brand G&G Taiwan Famous Chicken formally opens its two branches in Amoranto and Quiapo JUST THIS WEEK! The first branch is located at 161 Kanlaon St. corner NS Amoranto in Retiro, Quezon City (beside the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes), and the newest branch that just opened today, June 30, is located at 121 Carlos Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila.

Owner Naville Lim was present in both opening events to happily introduce G&G in Metro Manila and invites everyone to try its Taiwan-famous fried chicken recipe.

Naville Lim (center) at the opening of G&G Amoranto

As a special treat to lucky customers, they get a special discount for their second order when they get chicken chops on their visit to the branch. They were openly welcomed by the community who availed this limited-time deal.

For me who already tasted G&G, I recommend that you try their savory Chicken Chops, available in Original and Spicy, that's good for snacks or even for your regular meals with its tender chicken filet coated with a seasoned breading deep-fried to achieve that crunchy texture in every bite. They also have Chicken Pops, cute and bite-sized chicken balls that carry the same rich flavoring and ideal for your chitchat or movie pick-ups. Don't miss the Chicken Wings for your long drive snack and to keep you up while on the road.

Chicken Pops, Chicken Chops (Original & Spicy), Twisted Fries

There are more to order from G&G that delights the palate: Their String and Twisted Fries is a familiar taste that I will surely come back. Equally crunchy and saporous and just the right size to munch into.

Twisted Fries

String Fries

These wonderful and satisfying items go well with Goodgood drinks. Actually, Goodgood has been offering G&G items before they officially open as a stand-alone store. 

It's #AlwaysGforGnG with these yummy and satisfying chicken fares for me. You can also order G&G Taiwan Famous Chicken in foodpanda and GrabFood. Also, follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

*images from G&G Facebook page

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8 Seas Food Park Adventure

There's a new food park that's got the flavor of eight great seas. 8 Seas Food Park Adventure opened in November 2018 and now has 16 tenants that serve fares and beverages that will transport your taste buds across the seas and your tummies in the waves.

Conceived by 5 partners who have a passion for culinary, a boat welcomes you at the center of the entrance with interiors complete with life savers and cleats like you're really inside a huge ship.
  For music lovers, 8 Seas also has live band performing every night. For rock tito's, Alamid band were previously seen performing every Tuesdays. Sing your heart out with favorite hits playing in the background while enjoying the food around.

For example, if you're into bite-sized delicacies, try ChickaPig that offers deep fried bagnet or chicken balls, etc that matches perfectly for pulutan.

There's a wide variety of choices inside 8 Seas Food Park Adventure but the highlight for me is trying out Samgyeop sa Timog at the second floor that offers Korean BBQ. For only 299 (Pork only) or 399 (Chicken, Pork, Beef) per head, get unlimited servings of galbi, bulgogi and more. It also has 9 different side dishes: kimchi, fish cake, pickled cucumber, atchara, raddish and carrots, peanuts, vegetable curry, lettuce, japchae to dip in Ssamjan, Yangnyum and sesame oil with salt and pepper, PLUS melted cheese and kimchi soup. A serving of dessert like coffee jelly to cap for a sweet ending. A great group meal for a payday night out or just enjoying a weekend.

On February 14 Valentine's Day, bring someone at Samgyup sa Timog for a special surprise.

If you're in for some fun beverage, try these inexpensive but yummy refreshments from Kocco Tea Kitchen. They have pearl shakes, fruit shakes, teas, etc. depending on your desire.

8 Seas Food Park Adventure is located across GMA Network in Timog Ave. cor 11th Jamboree in Quezon City and opens from 4pm to 12mn or extending until 2am.

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Chef Francesco's life story in a kitchen

Take a fun talk with Chef Francesco Rizzo over sumptuous entrees and amazing cocktails with a few friends at his young restaurant Francesco's Kitchen in San Juan City. The comfortable Italian restaurant gives that cozy and ambient feeling where you can unwind and forget the busy life and time while tasting great food that you will surely come back for more.

Chef Francesco Rizzo (Owner)

Enjoy a spacious but inviting welcome at Francesco's Kitchen and be delighted to the remarkable interiors, including a brick foyer that looks like a stylish fireplace that is also gives a great display of equipment and the kitchen for your eye's feast.

It is a perfect place to take your friends and family and enjoy the great tasting authentic Italian food, wine or cocktails. Large group or small, Chef Francesco along with Francesco's Kitchen's staff will give you a time that you will never forget.

Try his Le polpette di mamma which is so special to Chef Francesco Rizzo because the recipe has been transferred from two generations of his family and very much different from the usual meatball sauce that we are used to taste.

Le polpette di mamma

But my favorite is Filleto di cernia that is tastes so fresh and tasty, and perfect with wine. The flavorful grouper with its umami sauce and seafood on the side makes it a perfect dinner.

Filleto di cernia

Chef Francesco has fallen in love with the Philippines since 1998 and would love everyone to try his creations in his humble restaurant. Come to Francesco's Kitchen and taste more than what's just featured here like salads, pizza and pasta.

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Manila's hidden treasure: Sinigang con Lechon Kawali

My officemates were talking about this a lot and finally I got to try this last Wednesday. A 15-minute drive from our office in Sta Mesa and we're able to get to Alas Pares -- Manila's hidden gem that serve a very delicious and interesting dish made with a twist from our home made sinigang.

The dish costs P 95 per order and can serve two people with 1 cup of rice. But I just had it for me for total experience. The familiar sour sinigang broth was just right with okra, watercress, the works. But instead of the usual soft meat in sinigang, they put in crispy Lechon Kawali. So you'll have a crispy treat in every soup bowl of sinigang that is an amazing surprise.

Check out Alas Pares and their highly-recommended Sinigang con Lechon Kawali any time, any day. Below is the map of their location in Manila. Landmarks are Egoy's Ihaw-ihaw and Iglesia Lokal ng Washington. Enjoy!

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Heart-crafted chocolates from Red Hat Cacao

What makes a great chocolate? While I am a fan myself, my favorite will always be dark chocolate. It was a luxury before in Europe and was a currency in Central Americas in ancient times. But with all the different kinds of chocolate that we see in stores, hotels, and more, it is always a privilege to know more wonders about our favorite dessert, especially if we discover that we can make a variety, locally.

Gladys Hernando, a head writer for a TV network, happens to own a cacao farm in Quezon and also a chocolate enthusiast. Learned to make chocolate from scratch as a passion also opened doors to venture into business. A heart-crafted chocolates has gained the attention of celebrities like Janno Gibbs, Phillip Lazaro and her colleagues while bringing samples on set just for enjoyment. She wasn't prepared for the attention but an endeavor that she wouldn't complain, she says.

Red Hat Cacao, a trademark by accident just by wearing a red hat while harvesting her cacao. Now she's exploring different kinds of products she can make. One of which is her slab of dark chocolate topped with nuts and dried fruits. Bittersweet combination that you can't stop eating when you start at first bite. Almost a kilo of chocolate costs around Php 2,950 but it is very good for those in diet because there's not much chocolate fat. Of course, we know that dark chocolate is better than milk chocolates.

She does everything on her own and a whole chocolate bark is almost 12 hours to make. The hardest part is tempering, Gladys says, as chocolate requires a very specific temperature to achieve such consistency. Soon, she will be flying to the US to study more about chocolate properties that she can bring back home and try on her products as well.

Red Hat Cacao is also an ideal Christmas gift. You can get packs from the slab and give it to your loved ones. It is perfect to pair with coffee or wine and you can eat fruits on the side too for a healthier snack.

Did you know that she also makes ginger chocolate? She loves putting chocolate to whatever and ginger chocolate is one amazing product also made by accident. A cure for cough and colds with the lovely taste of chocolate.

For more information about Red Hat Cacao, you may check out redhatcacao.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram (@redhatcacao_ph). You may buy their products every weekends of October at the Chocolate Fest in Eastwood City.

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An afternoon at Watami

Enjoying my job in PR is what we call immersions. And one of the perks of immersions is you got to eat what was served during photo shoots. Lately, we had our immersion in a Japanese restaurant named Watami in SM Mall of Asia - one of the four branches that offer Japanese casual dining experience.

We had our serving of Sumo Wrestler Hotpot. It includes pork strips, clams, mussels, shrimps, tofu and vegetables that are cooking in boiling broth. The flavors combined is a comforting taste that can accommodate 3-4 persons in one order.

Sumo Wrestler Hotpot

The Assorted Sashimi Salad is a refreshing experience to the palate. Fresh sashimi and Romaine lettuces with cherry tomatoes tossed in vinaigrette can be consumed in one sitting and its completely satisfying.

Watami also offer skewers for bite-sized goodness. Below is an assortment of salmon, bacon and asparagus and beef yakitori that are tender and again, flavorful from the grill.

Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant is located at the following: SM Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 2, Uptown Mall Bonifacio and Shangri-La Plaza.

Instagram: @watamiph

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Drinks and desserts in UP Town Center

Drinks and desserts in UP Town Center that you can enjoy any time of the day.

Baker & Cook
Baker & Cook is new to the Bistro Group and they focus on bread and pastries that can give you a comforting afternoon and great menu to match with coffee. They also have amazing desserts that play with our taste buds to cap off a satisfying meal. Chocolates, custard, jams and more can contribute to a tea party and fun conversations.

Instagram: @BakerandCookPH

Shakeaway
The biggest milkshake store that I've been because it can create many of your desired milkshake flavors in one place! And they named their milkshake very unusually: think of any boy's or girl's name and they will have it crafted for you -- complete with chocolate or candy sprinkles over a tall cloud of whipped cream! They also have healthy options like granola and oats too. Just find the huge white place near Gringo's.

Instagram: @ShakeawayPhilippines

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Probably where I can be spotted when I'm at UP Town Center, sipping coffee, chatting or making myself busy with the reliable internet, thank to my Swirl card perks. CBTL is a comfortable meeting place for people of all sorts. Whether it's coffee, frappe or tea, it is always a must-try. Lifehack: refillable hot water when you order tea.

Instagram: @cbtlph

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