A Fun Tea Time at Presotea SM North EDSA

My family and I love milk tea. We love it so much that family bonding time almost always involve milk tea. So when my sister asked me to tag along with her to check out the newly opened Presotea at SM North EDSA, we happily joined in.

Presotea is a well-known tea-based chain from Taiwan that has almost 400 shops internationally. They have an extensive range of tea choices which are proven to be of high quality. I guess the number of the shops they have all around the world only shows that Presotea must be doing something great. And based on the tea drinks selections we have tried, I could say that they are indeed worthy of fame.

Aside from the fact that Presotea produces high quality tea leaves, they also invented a new tea brewing technology called Teaspresso.

To ensure freshness, Presotea practices a brew-to-order method that guarantees each and every customers that they are getting the best tea that they can have.

During this visit, we tried Presotea's Brown Sugar Latte with Black Pearl, Apple Passion Yakult, and Japanese Genmaicha Milk Tea with Red Beans. All of which were delicious especially the Brown Sugar Latte.

There are still a lot of Presotea's tea selections that we would love to try and we would definitely visit very soon. It's a good thing that they have numbers of branches already here in Manila located at SM Marikina, Robinsons Magnoilia, SM Cherry Shaw, and The Annex SM North EDSA.

For more information about Presotea, you may follow and check them out on their website and social media pages.
Website: presotea.ph
Facebook: Presotea.ph
Twitter: PresoteaPH

Indulgent Chinese Set Menu and Dim Sum Buffet, Heart-Shaped Cakes and Valentine Cocktails Highlight Love Month Celebrations at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria

Indulgent Chinese Set Menu and Dim Sum Buffet, Heart-Shaped Cakes and Valentine Cocktails Highlight Love Month Celebrations at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.

February 11, 2019, Pasig City – Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria’s premium Chinese restaurant, Xin Tian Di, presents a choice of dim sum buffet or a set menu, in hues of red and pink promotions will be available on February 14 only. For the entire month’s promotions, these include Valentine’s-inspired cocktails at Bar One and heart-shaped cakes at Agenda. 

Set Menu and Dim Sum Buffet at Xin Tian Di
Xin Tian Di restaurant celebrates Valentine’s Day with a set menu that starts with Steamed Nobashi Shrimp Dumpling Topped with Black Caviar followed by King Scallop with Dragon Fruit in Honey Calamansi Dressing. What follows is the Double Boiled Baby Pork Rib with Abalone & Wolfberry Soup and the evening’s entrée - Stewed US Boneless Beef Rib in Barbeque Sauce and the Pan Fried Seabass in Japanese Sesame Soya Sauce served with Wok Fried Hand Made Polonchoy Noodle with Garlic & Olive Oil. The Oven Baked Egg Tart Topped with Birds Nest for dessert is complemented by the dinner’s traditional tea, Rose Honey Ginger Tea.

The Xin Tian Di Valentine’s Day set menu is offered at Php 2,860 nett per person.

The premium Chinese dining destination is known for its great selection of dim sum, and will offer a dim sum buffet with the theme “Color of Love”. The dim sum selections will be served in palettes of pink and red which comprise Hakaw Dumpling, Heart-shaped Strawberry Pudding in Sweet Cream, Sio Long Pao, Wok Fried Boneless Chicken with Raspberry Sauce, Bird’s-eye Dumpling, Deep-fried Heart-shaped Chinese Bread with Strawberry Condensed Milk, Vegetable & Mushroom Dumpling, Oven-baked Mini Egg Tart, Fried Rice with Scallop & Kernel Corn, Hand Made Noodle Soup with Wanton Dumpling & Sliced Sea Abalone, Strawberry Jelly with Fruit Cocktail, Scallop Dumpling, and Doubled-boiled Baby Pork Rib & Conpoy with Sweet Date & Sweet Ham Melon Soup.

Cocktails at Bar One
Bar One introduces two cocktails for February, Aperol Kiss and Watermelon Mojito. The Aperol Kiss has a mandarin orange flavor with a delicate balance of bitter and sweet notes while the Watermelon Mojito has a refreshingly tart composition, ideal for post-dinner drinks this Valentine’s season paired with the venue’s nightly live entertainment.

Heart-Shaped Cakes at Agenda
The Strawberry Surprise Cake and Whiteberry Sinful Cake are available at Agenda until the end of the month. These sweet treats, ideal for gifts to loved ones or for sharing with friends and family, are a sweet and memorable way to show affection and appreciation in the season of love.

For Xin Tian Di restaurant, call 633-7222 local 7296/7298. For Agenda and Bar One, call 633-7222 or email fandb.reservations@ihg.com.

California Pizza Kitchen Philippines 20th Anniversary and Its New Menu

We attended the 20th Anniversary celebration of California Pizza Kitchen recently and since it is one of my family's favorite pizza restaurants all these years, we really enjoyed every minute of it. Aside from celebrating it's anniversary here in the Philippines, CPK also launched their new menu which will be available by the end of November or early December. 

The nice thing about CPK's new menu is that it will feature some old pizza favorites from the past alongside the new dishes that are set to satisfy California Pizza Kitchen patrons. My hubby and I have a lot beautiful memories dining at CPK and I am so happy knowing that once the new menu was rolled out, we can get to enjoy our favorite pizzas from way back when we were just dating at CPK. 

The classic pizzas that were the best sellers from the year 1998 to around year 2000 which will be re-introduced in CPK's new menu are Rustica Crispy Thin Crust Pizza, Mango Tandoori Pizza, Roast Duck Pizza, Tuna Melt Pizza, Cheese Burger Pizza, and Wild Mushroom Pizza.

I remember loving the Rustica Pizza and the Cheese Burger Pizza from way back. My hubby and I are really excited to try them once more.
 

The new pizza selections and other new dishes which will be included in the new menu are Spicy Chorizo Pizza, White Clam Pizza, Chicken Fajita Pizza, Tricolore crispy thin crust pizza, and the Tropicale Quorn Regular Hand-Tossed Pizza, Chicken Tequila Fettucine, Cajun-spiced Jambalaya pasta. California Harvest Salad, Golden Pear Salad, Thai Calamari Rice, Salisbury Steak Rice, the Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp Rice, Banoffee Pie and the Nutella Cheesecake.   

All of which are very exciting so remember to visit California Pizza Kitchen and enjoy some old favorites and new adventures.

California Pizza Kitchen
Branches: Alabang Town Center, W Global Center BGC
Century City Mall, Shangri-La Mall
Website: www.cpk.com.ph
Facebook @cpkphilippines

#BrighterCravings2018: A Merry and Bright Christmas

The Cravings Group celebrates 30 years of creating exceptional Holiday memories

As the Christmas season fast approaches, party planning also begins. Whether it’s an intimate dinner at home with family or a feast at the workplace with friends, any celebration only becomes memorable with a plateful of sumptuous food, a well-thought off present and the right party details in place.

Celebrate the Season of Giving at any location of your choice with The Cravings Group’s array of catering and gift offers. A brand known over the last three decades for its delectable classics and a creative passion for great food, The Cravings Group this year introduces a variety of cakes, desserts, party trays, catering themes and gift options as part of A Merry and Bright Christmas.

 

“At the center of our catering spread this year is refresh. While we have perfected the taste of our food over the last 30 years, now we want to master the party experience with new themes that can't be found anywhere else,” says Bea G. Trinidad, The Cravings Group Operations Head.

“This year, we have two exciting additions: the modern and chic catering setups and the delicious tapas-style cocktail food. We not only deliver proven Christmas party recipes, but most importantly our team works closely with organizers and companies to create memorable events,” adds Pia G. Trinidad, the group’s Business Development and Strategy Officer.

Choose any of The Cravings Group’s premium and unique themes Cider, Tangerine, Rust and Ochre to transform your party into an event worth remembering. Food and drinks will be concocted no less than by chefs from top culinary school CCA, Manila to ensure the exceptional product quality for which The Cravings Group is known.

For smaller and more intimate events, The Cravings Group’s Christmas classics and latest spread are still available through take-home party trays, such as Roast Turkey with Chestnut Raisin Stuffing, Salt-Crusted Fresh Salmon.

 

Gourmet Gifts

From cakes to gourmet boxes, a wide range of gift options are curated by The Cravings Group’s brands.

On top of the list are its Christmas-only special edition cakes such as Strawberry Shortcake, Avocado Mousse Cake and Naked Devil’s Food Cake that give a special sweet flavor to the holiday bash.

Satisfy any sweet tooth with Cravings’ bakeshop items such as Ensaymada and Holiday Bars or Wicked’s desserts such as Cookie Shards, S’mores and Chocolate Barks. A constant on the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s best desserts list, Wicked also offers PDI’s Dessert Sampler featuring its best line-up of best deserts yet.

For the food aficionado, Epicurious has selected prime products of wine, truffles, cheese, artisanal chocolates, cold cuts and salad dressings from its shelves into a gift box that will excite the sophisticated palate.

Celebrating 30 Years

A Merry and Bright Christmas coincides with The Cravings Group’s 30th anniversary.

Founded by mother-and-daughter tandem Annie Pascual-Guerrero and Badjie Guerrero-Trinidad as an intimate dining outlet along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, The Cravings Group today has grown into an unrivaled collection of F&B brands, educational institutions, hotels and event venues, comprised of Cravings, CCA Manila, Wicked, Epicurious, B&P, Casa Roces, C3 Events Place, The Coffee Beanery, Where’s Marcel?, The Lib, The Orange Place and Seven Suites Hotel Observatory.

The third-generation led by siblings Bea and Pia have joined the team to continue The Cravings Group’s family legacy and bring the business to new heights.

“Christmas is not just about great food, but it is a holistic experience that should be enjoyed by and shared with family, friends and loved ones. We’re extremely happy that all three generations of our family are working the extra mile to provide the exceptional Christmas experience to our customers this year. Bea and Pia are at the forefront of infusing new ideas into The Cravings Group and enable our much-loved brands to remain the top choice of our customers in the next generations to come,” says Badjie Guerrero-Trinidad, CEO of The Cravings Group.

For inquiries about A Merry and Bright Christmas and catering, call (02) 726-2712, reach their Viber at 0977-0645453 or email salesexec@cravingsgroup.com. Follow their Instagram and Facebook @thecravingsgroup.

Lunch at Paradise Dynasty Philippines at The Podium Mall

I've always wanted to visit Paradise Dynasty, a Chinese restaurant known for their Xiao Long Bao after learning from my sister Yedy that it has opened a branch at the new Podium Mall. I am not really into xiao long bao but I love Chinese cuisine. We went to Podium for an errand recently and we decided to finally check out Paradise Dynasty for lunch. 

I was really surprised that the price range of the food at Paradise Dynasty is really affordable and the quality is of course excellent. I love everything we ordered and I love that everything is only a little over 2k only.

We needed something warm soup to prepare our tummy for the feast. The waiter suggested Vegetable and Pork Wanton in Signature Pork Bone Soup (P188) so we went for it. Paradise Dynasty takes pride in their pork bone soup and I can see why. It was very flavorful and heart warming. Added bonus was the delicious wanton it comes with. 

We also had the Steamed Vegetable Bun (P139 for 3pcs) which I believe is perfect for those who loves vegetables. I am a meat-eater but I didn't have a problem finishing my share of this delicious healthy buns. 

I have heard a lot of good things about Radish Pastry (P139 for 3pcs) at Paradise Dynasty and now I know why. It was the best radish pastry I have ever had here in Manila. It's crisp and flavorful that I couldn't believe that it's actually just a simple radish pastry made in such a way that elevates its simplicity into something unforgettable. 

The Crispy Vegetable Springroll (P139 for 3pcs) is also a good choice. Just like the radish pastry, this dish is very simple yet flavorful. I love that what was served on us was not too oily the way a fried spring roll normally would. It's an enjoyable dish perfect for whether you are a vegetable lover or not.

The Shanghai Fried Rice (P238) is simply the bomb. I love fried rice and Paradise Dynasty's Shanghai Fried Rice was one of the best. It was a runaway winner among my dining companion. It is one of those dishes that I would love to have again when I revisit Paradise Dynasty. 

The Dynasty Crispy Chicken (P298) was also good. Its crisp batter and juicy meat inside was amazingly flavorful. It is something that can be enjoyed and well-loved by both kids and kids at heart in my opinion. 

The Braised Tofu and Sliced Pork with Mushroom (P238) was also delicious. This is one of my sister's favorite so she told me that I should order it. True enough it was one of those dishes that I really enjoy. 

Another amazing dish was the Stir Fried Lamian with Shredded Pork and Black Fungus (P238). At first I thought that it looks way too simple to be delicious. But it appears that we really should judge the book by its cover because this noodle dish was very flavorful and satisfying too.

I am already happy with the stir fried la mian but I was also gad that we ordered the La Mian with Vegetable Pork Wanton (Php280) because it was also good. The serving portion was really big that it was able to feed the three of us and there's still some left. 

Just like other Chinese restaurant, I appreciate that Paradise Dynasty offers house tea. I believe it was corn tea during our visit which I really enjoyed. But the most impressive part was the golden kettle of course. I love to have one in our home!

 

I'm really glad that I was finally able to try Paradise Dynasty at the new Podium Mall. I love everything we have ordered. I know that they are famous for their xiao long bao but I find everything we have eaten to be very delicious as well. There are still a lot of other dishes on their menu that I want to try to for sure, we will be back next time. 

 

Paradise Dynasty PH

2L Podium Mall

Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Facebook and Instagram: @ParadyseDynastyPH

The Super Bowl of China Unli Yang Chow 7! Unlimited Yang Chow Fried Rice for Only 70 Pesos!

Super Bowl of China is one of the famous Chinese restaurants here in the Philippines and definitely one of my family's favorite. They are currently having their Unli Yang Chow promo for only 70 pesos and is valid from Mondays through Fridays, 11am to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm until March 30, 2018. 

I went with my sister to check out the promo recently. Since we both love yang chow fried rice, particularly the one at Super Bowl, we enjoyed every minute of it. We even challenged each other and whoever finished the most number of servings of yang chow fried rice will be declared the winner. The loser will buy ice cream for dessert. She ended up buying because she just cannot defeat me!

The yang chow fried rice was as always, superb. But of course, we also enjoyed several delicious Super Bowl dishes to go along with our Super Bowl Yang Chow. 

I must mention the delicious complimentary prawn chips that was served to us. My son love it to pieces! The waitress was so kind to refill our bowl when she saw that my child was really enjoying it. we also had our favorite Dimsum Combination Platter which we enjoyed while waiting for the viands. 

Almost all of what we had was my favorite which made me enjoy the lunch even more. We had the Lemon Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Beef Slice with Broccoli, and my ultimate favorite, the Lechon Macau. Everything was so good it made me enjoy the unlimited servings of yang chow even more. 

Super Bowl Unli Yang Chow is only until March 30, 2018. I suggest that you visit them soon and enjoy the Unli Yang Chow promo. 

Super Bowl of China

4th level Atrium

SM Megamall

Website: superbowl.com.ph

Facebook: /SuperBowlofChina

Instagram: @SuperBowlPH

Twittter: @SBChinaResto

NEW Delectable Dishes from Morganfield's Home of Sticky Bones

Morganfield's is an American style restaurant that originated from Malaysia and then they opened in Singapore and China. It was November 2015 when they opened their very first branch here in the Philippines, located at the second floor of the Uptown Place Mall in Bonifacio Global City.

In a span of less than three years, they managed to open three branches. The second store is in SM Mall of Asia and their newest branch is in Ayala Malls The 30th in Pasig City. And they are still planning to open another branch.

 
Morganfield's ribs came all the way from Spain and their sizes is really huge. It brings us the old-fashioned southern style pork ribs, slowly smoked with hickory wood to give the meat the best BBQ flavor. Their ribs are really tender and off-the-bone pork that made me crave for more after I visited their branch in Ayala Malls The 30th a few days ago. Up until now, I can still remember how I savored their mouth-watering ribs as well as their new meals.

Although Morganfield's looks like one of the exorbitant resto-bar in the metro, their price are indubitably reasonable - not to mention the quantity and quality of their food.

You can find wide selection in their menu from appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, mains and desserts. Their bar section serves chilled and blended coolers, beers, cocktails a lot more which is perfect for Happy Fridays! I love how visual their menu is. It gives us diners a clear picture of some of their offered dishes.

Their place is perfect for all diners, be it couple or group and even solo, since they have these Porky-licious Value Set Meal from as low as Php245 with sixteen (16) different meals to choose from with FREE Soup of the Day or House Salad plus Bottomless Soft Drink or Iced Tea! Yes, their Porky-licious Value Meal Set has a big WOW factor and deserves a slow(-cooked) clap! ;)

The following pork meals are the newest addition to their Porky-licious Set for just Php245 with FREE soup of the day or house salad plus bottomless drink.

Grilled Pork BBQ
Savory and sweet pork shoulder grilled to perfection. Served with buttered mixed vegetables and steamed rice.

Pulled Pork Sisig
Crispy fried rib flakes tossed with sesame soy mayo dressing, green chilis and onions. Served with buttered corn & carrots and steamed rice.

Pork Loco Moco
Juicy pork patty topped with creamy mushroom sauce & caramelized onions. Served with sunny side up egg, buttered corn & carrots and steamed rice.

One of their Porky-licious meal that we tried is from their Combos. The Hickory BBQ Spare Ribs & Crispy Fish (Ph445). This meal includes coleslaw and fries and of course, with free soup or salad and bottomless drink.

Morganfield's Sticky Bones or spare ribs is tender and flavorful. They made a perfect combo with the fish fillet coated with their very own special beer batter which I love the taste and the crunchiness of it. Their fries is also appetizing and I enjoyed the subtle flavor of the dressing in their coleslaw, definitely perfect with the savory ribs. This combo is a sure win to all diners.   

For our drinks, they served us one of their new coolers, the Banana Split (Ph125) which I really love since I am a fan of creamy fruit shakes. A combination of fresh strawberries and bananas blended with ice cream which made it so filling and you will enjoy every single sip of it.

Morganfield's Waikiki (Ph125) on the other hand was refreshing. It's a pineapple juice with passion fruit syrup topped with pineapple chunks with a hint of milk. This, I think is perfect with the ribs and sticky bones since it is not too rich and heavy.

You can also find other interesting blended coolers in their menu like the Banana Cuban Chocolate, S'mores Blended Chocolate, and a dessert drink like the Mango Float. For group diners, they can enjoy the Morganfield's Fruit Teas served in a carafe with floating fresh fruits on it.


For the salad, we had their new Smokehouse Club Salad (Ph395), it's a hefty servings of fresh garden greens with grilled long strands of chicken breasts, crispy pork bacon bits, mixed cheese, croutons, carrots, bell peppers, red onions, and boiled egg. I love how generous they are with their BBQ ranch dressing. This salad is really good and its really filling, perfect for those peeps on a diet ;)

In Morganfield's, you can really see the difference of the size of their ribs especially their sticky bone or spare ribs compared to other restaurants serving ribs. When it comes to baby back ribs, the Jack Daniels flavor is always all time favorite but, in Morganfield's, they now have two new interesting flavors, the Sticky Apple Sauce Iberico Baby Back and the Lemon Cola Iberico Baby Back.

The Lemon Cola Iberico Baby Back (Ph1,050) is a hearty & juicy baby back ribs smothered with freshly squeezed zesty lime juice, simmered with cola & Morganfield's homemade BBQ sauce topped with fruity salsa. This meal is served with crispy corn tortilla chips & coleslaw. I could say that this is a MUST try. Something different and definitely a sure hit.

The tenderness and succulent taste of the ribs combined with the fruity salsa toppings made it more palatable. I enjoyed the combination of ribs, tortilla and the fresh and yummy slaw. You won't need to use a knife since it is so juicy and tender. The fruity salsa made the ribs more juicy and flavorful. This one is my definition of finger-lickin' good!

Chicken Roulade (Ph445) is also one of the new dishes in their menu. It's a boneless chicken thigh stuffed with meatball filling wrapped with bacon. This meal is served with mashed potato, mixed veggies and homemade creamy mustard grain sauce. Meat lovers will sure enjoy this hearty dish.

Torched Salmon (Ph575) is juicy and delectable Norwegian Salmon on a bed of shitake pilaf rice. The price is a sure win with the size of their salmon and the taste of it. It also has a delectable dressing on top sprinkled with the crunchy bits of salmon skin. 

I had a really great dining experience that time and it's really Porkin' Good in Morganfield's!

Does it seems like I found a new fave resto in the metro? ;)

Check out their stores near you and see for yourself how good Morganfield's is and you will surely come back for more.

For more updates, check their website at www.morganfields.com.ph or you may follow them in Facebook and Instagram @morganfieldsph

Morganfield's BGC
2nd Floor Uptown Mall
#552-3714 / 0977-8036374

Morganfield's SM Mall of Asia
Ground Floor, North Wing, Entertainment Mall
#978-2460 / 0917-6529706

Morganfield's Ayala Malls The 30th
2nd Floor Corte
#721-3502 / 975-0589 / 0917-6333979