For the love of food of the foodie mommy's food shots plus recipes! :)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Open House | Espresso Cream Ice Blended & Espresso Cream Iced Latte

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has sent an invite to their upcoming OPEN HOUSE in their stores nationwaide on August 18, 2013 Sunday.
This foodie mommy and my foodie hubby and kid usually take our time to visit our barista friends at CBTL when they have an open house to try their new offering but as for this time it is said to be a returning favorite.
NOTE: This is open to everyone so bring your family, relatives, friends, officemates, neighbors and enjoy a free taste of their Espresso Cream. No need to print this invite. Just come to their participating stores at the given time next Sunday, August 18.
Check out their poster image and details below from the CBTL invite I got in my email. See you there at the CBTL store we will be going to next Sunday!
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Espresso Cream invite August 18,2013
Treating Our Customers Is One Of Our Favorite Things To Do.
Join us as we bring back two Returning Favorites: The Espresso Cream Ice Blended® and The Espresso Cream Iced Latte!
Come for a visit on Sunday, August 18, 2013 from 10:00am to 11:30am at all The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® stores in Manila, Batangas, Olongapo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Davao (except University Mall and CBTL™ Coffee Bars) for some Espresso Cream goodness like no other.
See you there! #tastematters
Source: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Monday, August 5, 2013

Fresh Durian Arancillo Variety

Arancillo variety of Durian
Fresh Durian Arancillo Variety
August is the Kadayawan Festival month in Davao City. During this time, I seem like many people have an excuse of not a reason to forget doctor's orders and eat DURIAN, the king of fruits considered by many people in southeast Asia as the "King of Fruits" given its delicious taste (that's a yes for us who love eating Durian) with yet a strong smell that we like while some people who don't eat it simply don't like. The famous description for Durian is that "It smells like hell yet taste like heaven!" The smell is so enticing for us who love to eat the king of fruits.
Last Friday on our way home from attending the afternoon First Friday Mass at the nearest church, we passed by a durian vendor that parked his mobile stall or whatever more apt term there is for it. It is the first time we saw him there in front of the sari-sari store.
He was selling Fresh Durian Arancillo Variety that sells for P40 per kilo. Arancillo is said to be named after former BPI-PhilFruits Director Vicente Arancillo according to an article I found through Google.
While my first love among the durian varieties was the native which is more bitter and strong in taste yet creamy that is usually easily distinguished among people who are durian lovers, I have come to like the taste of the other durian varieties. I like the more sweet, delicious type which are creamy in taste and nice texture and I find that in the Arancillo Durian variety. How about you? What's your favorite durian variety?
Going back, the durian that manong durian vendor has last Friday were not that big and I just requested for one that is as close to a kilo. He easily found one and in as much as I try to avoid eating durian now for the effects it has on us, hubby and I just could not resist especially when you have the durian and Coca-Cola Coke softdrink combo.
Fresh Durian Arancillo Variety combo with Coca Cola Coke softdrink
The durian vendor let me taste it upon opening it. Most of the vendors here allow you to taste the durian which is nice so you would have an option of which taste of each variety you like to indulge yourself in.
Etcetera...
I am not a durian expert buy we have a suki durian vendor along F. Torres Street in Davao City. His name sounds like Lito (sorry I tend to confuse it with Tito) and he used to park his multicab full of durian along F. Torres Street corner Panganiban Street across Bistro Rosario or Cups and Lowercase or at that corner going to Ponce Suites. Sometimes it would cause a little traffic at that corner since some cars and taxis would stop by to buy durian expecially at night. NOW they moved a bit and they park their multicab nearer the entrance of Holiday Gym and Spa still along F. Torres Street. They have been our suki durian vendor there since we moved downtown and found them there. They have many suki. One group of guys selling near Victoria also in a multicab even said they belong to the same supplier. That's how known Lito is to his suki durian customers here in the city.
We used to have Nong Willy as our suki durian vendor in front of Magsaysay Park along the corner of Leon Garcia Street and R. Magsaysay Avenue (more known by its old name as Uyanguren). Near Magsaysay Park in Davao you will find the stalls of Magsaysay Fruit Vendors Association and many of them are Durian vendors of Davao City. We love Nong Willy in the office then because he would sometimes give us free extra durian when we buy many of it for our office boss to be brought to Manila. I actually learned to indulge in durian in that office because our big boss from Manila simply loves durian. Every time he would come here then or even if not, we would buy and send plenty of durian to Manila.
The price can vary also when it is peak season or not. The lean season when there is less supply of durian, expect the price to be higher. I remember those days when it used to even price as low as P20-P25 per kilo and those were the days when I could eat at least five serving/seed in one durian eating session. These days I had to control. In as much as many claim the  benefits of durian, it does have some effect to the not so healthy and young anymore. It is okay to indulge but just know how to control depending on one's appetite and tolerance.
Otherwise for the young and healthy foodies who can truly indulge in durian, enjoy! Hope this Kadayawan Festival 2013, we have an abundant and lower priced supply of delicious durian may it be the Arancillo Durian variety of others.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Nutella Ferrero Hazel Cocoa Spread

Nutella Ferrero Hazel Cocoa Spread bottles
Photo by TheFoodieMommy
These Nutella Ferrero Hazel Cocoa Spread bottles seems to be calling to me... "Buy! Buy! Buy!" While I on the other hand is saying deep inside my foodie sweet tooth thoughts, "I want, I want, I want!" *wink*
My elder sister now living somewhere in Europe used to send us a big bottle of this when she used to send balikbayan box during Christmas season before. These Nutella though can now be found in almost any supermarket and even in the 24-hour convenience stores here in the city.
When I do my grocery time, I have this thing for looking into the imported goods section of the supermarket of GMall. Everytime we do get to do our grocery there, I would take some time to go around and look into products that I like, crave, interested in as a foodie or simply look at products that are not usually found in other supermarkets in the city. By the way, just a tip if you are in the city and looking for imported food items and stuff that you don't find in other supermarkets or stores in the city, try the GMall supermarket.
I have been thinking of buying Nutella again out of my own saved money since this is out of our weekly grocery budget already. So everytime I would pass by the peanut butter displayed on the shelf in any grocery, I would stop and think if I should give it a go for yes that Nutella craving craze we sometimes randomly have! *wink*

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Nutella Bar from Coffee at Yellow Hauz

Nutella Bar from Coffee at Yellow Hauz Davao
Nutella Bar from Coffee at Yellow Hauz is a must try for nutella lovers out there. I instantly liked it and I honestly enjoyed eating it while it was served warm. There are some sweets and pastries that I love to eat while they are still freshly baked and warm.
Trivia: Did you know that there is such a day as World Nutella Day? Yes it was last February 5, 2013 when Nutella lovers worldwide unite for a day. Nutella is more than just a “chocolaty hazelnut spread” they say...it is a way of life for some people.
With the homey feel of the local coffee shop where this is available that is one of our fave hangouts in the city when we wait to fetch our little kid at school. Or when we feel like having milk tea with good free WIFI and cozy hangout, we go to CYH.
This nutella bar is not too sweet yet it is delicious. I wish I could eat two more slices of this! I like Nutella. I can say this is Nutella-licious!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Porky's Best Special Spicy Pork Skin Crackling or Chicharon

Porky's Best Special Spicy Pork Skin Crackling or Chicharon
Photo by The Foodie Mommy
Porky's Best Special Spicy Pork Skin Crackling or Chicharon as it is locally called was our afternoon snacks after we came back home at my parent's place which we visited after we had done voting for the 2013 Mid Term Elections. My family shared the small two packs we bought. We should have bought more. I'll take note of that next time.
We bought this at NCCC Mall where we had our lunch since we missed breakfast before heading to my parent's place. I wanted to buy a cake that's why we went to NCCC but we ended up buying this instead since the Beloy's stall beside it had no stock of the boneless lechon belly.
Porky's Best cooks your order of chicharon fresh and right there while the customer waits for 2 to 3 minutes and it's done. Chicharon lovers delight in eating hot and freshly made pork chicharon that is really delicious. It is among their most popular products more than their processed meats which are among their first products that they make and sell.  It was a "hit" that they opened one store after another with frying stations in all the major malls in the  Davao City.
It has been awhile since we have eaten their chicharon. A few years ago, we would frequent the stall they have nearest our office and we would drop by often to buy freshly cooked chicharon. I even remember I craved for it for awhile when I was pregnant. I had to control of course. I promised myself then I'll give in back to that craving after I give birth. That was years ago.
They have many branches around the city and they even have one now near our parents' home making it more accessible to cater to their customers in that area.
Six years ago in 2007 they launched the Microwavable Chicharon which is to cater the world market since they had expanded outside Davao then to Kidapawan, Makilala, General Santos, Marbel, Tagum, Mati, Iloilo and Zamboanga even to Visayas and Luzon starting with Metro Manila. Goes to show how many of us Filipinos love their pork chicharon. Did you know that Porky's Best was among the first to be recognized as DAVAO QUALITY -  THE BEST NO LESS? Yes to this all time fave chicharon from Davao. 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Canton Noodles

Canton noodles or pancit canton is a popular noodle dish that is a favorite of many of us. It is usually part of the food prepared for parties or family gatherings.
Did you know that the word pansit came from the Hokkien 'pian i sit' that means 'something conveniently cooked fast'? Pancit is what they say as the Filipino version of chow mein. I have seen packs of Lucky Me pancit canton packs with the chow mein written on it. 
Well this instant canton noodles in a pack is indeed something we love to cook conveniently and fast. It is cheap as well especially when you are in a tight budget you could survive a meal with this. But I suggest we find a cheaper yet healthier alternative to cook and eat mommies right?
So we decided to have something new that's quick to cook for dinner. We opted to go for pancit canton or canton noodles and the store a few houses away has Lucky Me in calamansi flavor. It is the only flavor they have at the store.
The little boy liked this really yet I am cautious on how often he eat this as rarely as possible that is since we moms know what this has in terms of nutritional value for young and growing kids.
When it comes to pancit canton, I always hear Lucky Me as a preferred brand among people I know who eat the ones in pack. It's what they recommend when you look for good tasting instant canton noodle in a pack. But when it comes to instant noodles, I grew up knowing Payless more than Lucky Me hence I prefer the former but I prefer the latter when it comes to pancit canton.
Once it was cooked, this was gone in a few minutes. There is a flavor they have that I liked better but the store did not have it. The foodie hubby said when he bought these there, the next two customers who came were also looking for the same canton noodles for their dinner.
Our dinner is solved for the night. Got to find something healthier to cook next time. That means we have to head out to the grocery tomorrow morning before the foodie hubby goes to work in the afternoon. Till our next canton noodle meal.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Thank You For 50! Anniversary Celebration of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Philippines

I got this invite from The Coffee Bean & Teal Leaf invite to their 50th anniversary celebration.
Thank You For 50! Anniversary Celebration of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf PhilippinesThank You For 50! Anniversary Celebration of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Philippines
Know more about this month-long event this April 2013 from the Facebook page of CBTL:
We're about to become your Monday habit.
Thank You For 50! The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®'s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
We're treating you to 50% off on our most famous beverages every Monday, from 3pm to 5pm, beginning April 1!
Next week's featured beverages are the Mocha & Vanilla Ice Blended®. These rich and creamy drinks were born & blended back in 1989, and have been loved by all ever since!
#thankyoufor50
See you there!
*You do not need to print out this invite or present anything during the event. Just drop by with your family and friends and enjoy!
*This promotion is valid at all The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® stores in The Philippines except CBTL™ Coffee Bars and is only valid for the stated featured beverage of the day.

All The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® stores in the Philippines, except CBTL™ Coffee Bars. (CBTL Philippines)
Bought the mocha and vanilla ice blended large both for P185 at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in The Peak, Gaisano Mall branch. Since we bought two drinks one for me and one for hubby, it is like buy one, take one of their featured ice blended beverage from CBTL. our little boy can't share with our drink though because it has coffee in it.
I am looking forward to next Monday's CBTL #thankyoufor50 treat which is the Caramel Macchiato! I miss this CBTL drink. My boys and I will be back to one of the three CBTL branches here in D. City.
Here is the schedule of the featured beverages that will be part of the Thank You for 50 Monday treats.
I just learned that they also have a photo contest along with this promo.
Winners will get the following prizes:
1st Prize: 365 days of free coffee or tea from CBTL.
2nd Prize: Dinner for 5 at the CBTL 26th Street Bistro.
3rd Prize: P5,000 worth of CBTL gift certificates.
So see you next Monday! Don't forget to post photos of your drink at CBTL. See poster above for details and mechanics. (This site is not connected to CBTL.)