NESTLE TEMPTATIONS: FLAVORS OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL EVENT

 

It's summer time and what better way to beat the debilitating summer heat by watching a European musical show with FREE Nestle Ice Cream on hand at the al fresco area of Bonifacio High Street? Don't worry though if you missed it, you can still find Nestle Ice Cream's latest specialty ice creams called Nestle Temptations Flavors of the Worls in your favorite grocery stores and you might still catch their mall shows and avail of the FREE Nestle Ice Cream by checking their Facebook fan page and check out their upcoming schedules.

If you ask me, the launch of these yummy delectable rich creamy ice cream are just in the nick of time as it is still summer and there's definitely more time to enjoy it. With specialty ice creams from Nestle Temptations, Flavors of the World!  Imagine French Salted Caramel is smooth and creamy. Salt and caramel combination is becoming a popular choice among ice creams, gelatos, and even cupcakes. Now this complementing taste can be found in Nestle Temptations and is really worth a try!

Italian Coffee Affogato (199Php/800mL)

Reminisce the taste of Italy and experience NESTLÉ TEMPTATIONS’ version of affogato in ice cream flavor – a swirl of espresso-flavored ice cream and vanilla-flavored ice cream, blended with cashew nuts and chocolate chips.

Coffee aficionado would certainly be happy to know that there's Italian Coffee Affogato flavor for them. With a kick of espresso flavor and bits of generous cashew and chocolate, one will never go wrong.

Belgian Chocolate Praline (199Php/800mL)

Find yourself transported to a chocolate shop and experience NESTLÉ TEMPTATIONS’ version of Chocolate Praline made with ice cream.

 The Belgian Chocolate Praline had chocoholics in mind. One scoop of this ice cream and you're sure to instantly fall for it. There's something to bite and chew with blended Belgian chocolate chips and praline pieces made from chocolate coated toffee bits.

Last, but definitely not the least and actually my favorite among the selections, is Belgian Chocolate Praline. There's a lot going on in this ice cream that it gave me an experience even with just a scoop. There's crunch, there's toffee, there's something to bite and chew. And yes, the Belgian chocolate is a huge factor! 

All these awesome ice cream flavors from Nestle are now available. So would you guys give in to these temptations?  I bet, Nestle will be launching more flavors soon because once tasted and discovered, these Nestle Ice Cream Temptations will certainly be a blast!

Max’s Offers a Luxurious Twist to Celebrations serves 4Sharing Meals Featuring Kare-kare for only PhP 899

Awesome Crispy Pata from Max's

Max’s Restaurant had always sought way to delight their loyal patrons by bringing in exciting new ways to bring Filipino cuisine closer to the hearts of both the young and old food enthusiasts. Hence, Max’s Restaurant has recently launched the latest wave of its 4Sharing Meals featuring a perennial favorite among Filipinos, the Kare-kare.

Max’s 4Sharing Meals is an exciting dining trend that offers classic Filipino dishes to customers in small group or family of 3 to 4. Priced very affordably at PhP 899, diners get value-for-money with a delectable feast of Max’s mouth-watering Kare-kare, 4 servings of steaming white rice, refreshing iced tea or any Pepsi softdrink for 4, and Max’s world-famous, sarap-to-the-bones Fried Chicken that is always cooked to crispy perfection.  It is the perfect food adventure for gregarious diners and get-together bundle meal to be shared with friends, family and other fellow Max’s aficionados.  Just thinking about the delicious spread that will be served every time customers enter Max’s Restaurant for the new Max’s 4Sharing Meals is enough to whet the appetite.

“Kare-kare is known for its painstaking and tedious preparation.  With Max’s latest 4Sharing Meals, Max’s highlights the fun memories associated with this classic dish and its true main ingredients:  patience and love,” shared Ms. Ghena Austero, Max’s Marketing Manager for Dine-in, Functions and Events.

Indulge in Max’s 4Sharing Meals Featuring the Kare-kare at any Max’s Restaurant nationwide from May 1 to June 23, 2013.  To learn more about the most “sarap to the bones” news from the most loved Filipino brand, visit www.maxschicken.com, the official website of Max’s Restaurant.  Also check out www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant and be a member of Max’s Facebook Fan Page.

GLOBE LUMPIA HOUSE: A MUST-TRY FRESH SPRING ROLL IN MANILA

A small place indeed but very popular. Globe Lumpia house started from way back.

 I’ve heard so much about a certain hole-in-the-wall lumpia house in Quiapo, but I have never been lucky to find it.  I guess, I never had the patience to go around the place and actually scoured for it. Until that day came I needed to use my Mapdroyd on my Samsung phone because I was locating something else. Voila! There it was: GLOBE LUMPIA HOUSE—the map says it’s near DEECO, right on Raon street corner Evangelista!  So the next time I’d go to Quiapo with my boss, I vow to visit Globe Lumpia House.

With two fresh lumpia from Globe, one could get full right away.

Diners at Globe Lumpia House puts hot sauce on their lumpia for that extra kick.

Here a staff makes fresh lumpia upon order through a glass.

 The scorching heat of the summer sun did not dampen my spirit to finally set foot on that hole-in-the-wall fresh spring roll house in Quiapo. And when we got there, it’s totally jampacked! There were diners inside while there was a reserved bench for customers waiting for their takeout. The smell of fresh lumpia and ground nuts with some sweet syrupy sauce wafts in the air, making our mouths water just the whiff of it. The lumpia are made right before you upon order through a glass window. I wonder, “what is it about Globe Lumpia that makes it popular since the time of my grandparents?” I don’t now how long it had been, but old folks can attest that Globe Lumpia House had been there since time immemorial—perhaps the early 1900’s will do. Come to think of it, apart from their best-selling lumpia (fresh spring roll), the two other things they sell are chicken empanada and sodas. But how come people would flock to their store every day? Some would even travel that far just so they could eat such mouthwatering lumpia goodness that only Globe Lumpia House serves. “If I pass by the Quaipo area, I always see to it to drop by Globe Lumpia House and eat there,” Jona Alforque writes on my Facebook wall upon posting a picture and status about my visit to the Globe Lumpia House.

My boss and good friend Ai enjoys Globe Lumpia.

 Do not underestimate the power of this small but terrible lumpia house. Popular celebrities and personalities adorn the walls of the said eatery. Proofs that even with high-ranking government officials or A-list personalities are fans of Globe Lumpia House.

Here's a Globe Lumpia...

My verdict: I would have to say that the Globe Lumpia is by far the freshest and cheapest I’ve ever tasted. For only Php16.00 per lumpia piece, it’s really good value for money. It tastes good even without the sweet blended sauce although I’ve noticed that customers and loyal patrons would love to pair the Globe lumpia with their special hot sauce, perhaps for a more extra kick. The veggies especially the lettuce is still crisp, and very tasty.

 I’d like to think that this dish should be a must-try for all our folks who hail from Manila. The Abuy’s lumpia found at SM malls is way too expensive for this counterpart from Quiapo. What’s more? Globe Lumpia had no artificial ingredients, sans no fanfare and is certainly more affordable! I’ve instantly become a convert! Eat here if you’re within that Quiapo area and you’ll be sure to thank yourself for such heartwarming simple yet filling meal from Globe Lumpia House. You’ll never look at fresh lumpia the same way again!

* Globe Lumpia House is in Raon Street corner Evangelista Street, Quiapo, Manila. It is near the Raon Bridge. Just ask around, don’t be shy, you’ll definitely bump into foodies searching their way to fresh spring roll heaven that is Globe Lumpia House.

Security Blanket thanks Ai for that wonderful Globe Lumpia House experience.  

MARRIOTT CAFÉ: OCEAN’S HARVEST MARKET STYLE BUFFET

Local scallops galore from Capiz.

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I hardly have time to eat out as much as I want to because of my erratic schedule. But when I choose to eat out, I like to go to a place where I can sit among my friends, and enjoy food that is genuinely good without any frills. We recently discovered Marriott Café’s Ocean’s harvest—a delightful dining experience with fresh bounties from the sea cooked just the way you want it. The Ocean’s harvest dampa-and-paluto market style of dining at this restaurant allows diners to choose from the outlet’s fresh seafood or better known as “Catch of the Day” section, and request the chefs to have it cooked the way they want it and simply indulge in the glorious taste of the bounty of the sea.

Blue crabs transformed into yummy meals!

Marriott Café takes its dining delights to greater heights by including seafood paluto style buffet, giving diners an even more satisfying meal. Presenting an exciting mix of innovative dishes, classic cuisine, comfort foods and personalized a la minute cooking, the buffet spread brings delectable gustatory possibilities to anticipate the craving of any foodie. Still evoking the Marriott Café signature style of degustation-like choices that seek to entice and gratify.

Tiger prawns and squids

Fresh Catch station

Selected bloggers were recently invited to bask in this sumptuous seafood buffet. Marriott Manila’s executive Sous Chef Elmer Fabella happily guided the bloggers on how it works: “Just choose anything you want from the “catch of the Day” station and tell the chef how you want it to be prepared. No recipes required. You’ll then be given a number, placed it on your table and wait for the food to be served.” To ensure that all seafood we buy is always fresh, we source our hotel’s fresh seafood from Navotas fish port daily,” adds Chef Fabella.

The noodle atelier with the chefs.

So if you love eating seafood at buffets, but you also want the freedom to order off the menu, this is the perfect place to go. Trust me, take a look at their wide variety of seafood’s, it will really leave you with all the choices. And don’t forget to look at other meals on their buffet spread; it’s also very enjoyable. 

Our first bite into what I now declare as seafood buffet heaven came in the form of freshly baked scallops. The scallop literally melts in your mouth.  Among their selection of seafood, the Seafood Lasagna is really a must-try. Its creamy cheese is really good!

My baked scallops order

The buttered garlic prawns is such a simple dish bursting with flavor. No need to use your hands to peel off the shells and enjoy the tiny bits of garlic and herbs into the dish.  Same thing goes for the Singaporean Chili Crab—perfectly made with its tangy sweet and spicy sauce with the texture of pungent onion leeks for a contrast. 

Tiger prawns in garlic buttered sauce.

Chili crabs with onion leeks

The Laksa Soup was impeccable. In the steaming, fragrant coconut cream based soup lies a balanced mix of fish and veggies incorporated with spices, all contributing varying degrees of bite and flavors. Such an opulent take, it makes my mouth water just thinking of it.

Grilled dory is a visual delight with the fillet grilled to beautiful golden brown color without the slightest bit of charring, and drizzled with some creamy lemony garlic sauce. The fillet is very tender and moist with a pronounced citrus taste from the lemon.

These are some of the delectable cakes at the buffet.

Marriott Café is also a good place to chow down fresh sashimi, a good spread of sushi rolls and a healthy serving of other Japanese fare. The thing I most love about it, is the speedy service, cordial and cool staff—the kind that always make you feel comfortable even if you’ve order enough for an army. Oh, by the way, the greens and fruits at the salad bar as well as the gelato and dessert station are also worth checking out for. The greens that came with my herbed based arugula salad was so good that I didn’t feel bad at all for having eaten so much. 

Fish in sinigang (stew)

Lemony buttered crabs.

Sorbet and homemade gelato ice cream to choose from

Finally, the sweetest of endings, Marriott Café, for all its entree’s’ worth, had the Chocolate Soufflé cake, and Chantilly cream—it will render you speechless the entire time you’re eating, if only to savor every single bite. The Chocolate Marquise, on the other hand, chocolate terrine drizzled with vanilla custard sauce—is pure indulgence! And did I mention the various panna cotta creations and tiramisu cakes? OMG! There are simply no words. 

The giant chocolate fountain with marshmallows and candies to drive the child in you.

Executive Sous Chef Elmer Fabella

A chef sautes my order infront of me.

Guests will love the ambiance at the cafe.

Well lighted and comfy seats will make one feel right at home.

The dining experience in Marriott café is likewise and unhurried just as it should be. It’s also unusual to spot this age’s version of royalty—high-powered politicians or A-list celebrity dining at the café. But you’ll probably be enjoying your food too much to even care. One thing’s certain though; tummies will surely come out of the Ocean’s Harvest Marriott Café experience happy and full.  

Ocean’s Harvest is held every Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00PM-10: 30PM at Php2, 300/paxFor inquiries and reservations, call 988-9999.

Marriott Café is located at the Marriott Hotel Manila, 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City

Security Blanket thanks Marriott Café, the lovely women of Marriott Hotel Manila Ms. Michelle Garcia, Marketing Communications Director, and Ms. April Gonzales, Marketing Communications Assistant.