🍩 How We Got the Blingkins + All 6 Designs

Dunkin’ was at it again with super cute collectibles that people go gaga about. These Blingkins are so aligned with Pinoys’ growing love for anik-aniks (thanks, BINI Maloi for inspiring us! 🥰). And as a Dunkin’ donut lover, we just had to get them too!

Back when the promo was still available, you could get a Dunkin’ Blingkin by ordering any of Dunkin’s special combos:

Each purchase came with one Dunkin’ Blingkin, and there were six (6) designs in total, all inspired by Dunkin’s most iconic treats. We didn’t get all of them, but only picked the ones we really loved or looked really fun to use as anik-aniks. Here’s what we got.

The most sought-after one was definitely the Boston Kreme Blingkin, which was always the first to sell out. I was supposed to get 2 the first time, but they only had one left. We had to go back to get another one for my bro Ken. 😅 It’s my favorite donut so I can’t miss having this cute Blingkin.

We got the Choco BTN donut and munchkin Blingkins. I thought the munchkin was gonna be smaller, but it looked like a giant kwek-kwek or tokneneng. 😅 Nonetheless, they’re both cute so we’re keeping them.

We also got the pink Strawberry Candy Sprinkle Blingkin – bagay sa mga mahilig sa pink or kikay, like our nanay. The BF Chris also likes it so we had to buy 2.

The other 2 designs were the Mango Cereal and Nuts, and Bavarian-filled munchkin Blingkins. They’re cute, but they’re just not my vibe.

Sadly, the promo has ended, and they’re no longer available. But honestly, we’re really hoping Dunkin’ brings the Blingkins back. They were too cute to be a one-time thing. Or we can just wait for the next collectible. 😎

🍩 Our Recent Dunkin’ Donut Discoveries

When we go on quick drives to check out what’s new at 7-Eleven, we also make sure to drop by the closest Dunkin’ here in Bulacan to check if they have new donuts we’d wanna try. Like this limited edition Dunkin’ Pistachio Chocolat donuts — their take on the viral Dubai Pistachio Knafeh Chocolate bar.

We actually really enjoyed this donut. It’s doesn’t taste close to the Dubai chocolate bar, but it’s still a yummy treat. The Pistachio Chocolat donut is topped with dark chocolate glaze and pistachio bits, then filled with pistachio-flavored cream. It’s a little sweet to my taste, and we think it would’ve been better if they added kataifi to maybe counter the sweetness and add more texture. Best when warmed so mas lasang-lasa mo yung pistachio cream. 💚

We posted our review on our Tiktok page if you’d like to watch our full review. We also featured their Speculoos donuts.

In our Tiktok video review, we also tried the Dunkin’ Speculoos Donuts with 2 variants: Cookie Crumble & Cookie Crumble Swirl. They didn’t use Lotus Biscoff, so it’s more spiced cookie flavor than the sweet Biscoff taste. So it’s light lang, despite the generous cream and toppings on these donuts. The Cookie Crumble though might be too simple, so if you prefer something that’s not too sweet, you might like it.

We also got to try Dunkin’s Donigiri donut. It’s definitely one of the most unique donuts we’ve ever tried from Dunkin’, but I get why they thought it’ll work. It’s a savory, artisan donut with tuna, creamy cheese, and nori. It’s an umami bomb in terms of flavors. It’s too hard to get them when they were still around, but it’s definitely something we’ll order again (if they bring them back). 😆

We also got to taste other Dunkin’ donuts we haven’t tried yet: Blueberry Cheese, Big Bang Chocolate, Black Forest, Boston Coffee Kreme, and Choco Nirvana.

But if I had to pick just one favorite, it will always be Dunkin’ Boston Kreme — a timeless classic I can never get enough of. 😍

Whether it’s collecting cute collectibles like Dunkin’ Blingkins or trying every new donut on the menu, Dunkin’ always finds a way to make us excited to come back. We can’t wait to see what new collectible or toy they’ll come up with next! 😍

The post Dunkin’ Blingkins and LIMITED EDITION DONUTS! appeared first on Certified Foodies.

Lotus Biscoff Cream

Founders signature soft donut filled with this silky, custard-like Biscoff cream filling. It’s rich without being heavy, and the Lotus Biscoff flavor shines through with every bite. The sweetness is just right, letting you savor both the cream and the donut itself.

Lotus Biscoff Frosted

This ring donut is coated with a luscious Biscoff glaze. Though you can taste the Biscoff flavor, I wish they slathered more on top but that might cost more. 😅 I really liked the crushed Lotus Biscoff cookie bits on top that adds a welcome crunch, making every bite texturally good as well as flavorful.

Biscoff Tiramisu Donut

A creative twist on a classic dessert, this donut blends the flavors of tiramisu with Biscoff’s signature profile. A hint of bitterness from the tiramisu with light Biscoff flavor – it’s an enjoyable donut, definitely.

Final Take

What makes this Founders Donuts x Lotus Biscoff collab shine is balance. Founders Donuts and Lotus Biscoff managed to create donuts that are full of flavor yet not overly sweet, making them easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. Each donut offers something a little different — creamy, crunchy, or layered with depth — so there’s truly one for every kind of sweet tooth.

Since they’re not too sweet, you can enjoy them with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Whether you’re a diehard Biscoff lover or just someone looking for a fresh donut experience, you’ll surely enjoy these Founders Donuts x Lotus Biscoff collab donuts.

Watch our quick review on our Tiktok or Youtube page:

The post Founders Donuts × Lotus Biscoff: A Match Made in Donut Heaven appeared first on Certified Foodies.

This special collection includes 3 flavors: Biscoff Cloud Bombom, Chocolate Cloud Bombom, and Strawberry Cloud Bombom. However, you can’t buy them individually; they’re only available as a trio. Since we love trying new treats, we had to grab a box and see if they’re as yummy as they’re advertised. Here’s our quick review.

Biscoff Cloud – Our Absolute Favorite!

Among the three, the Biscoff Cloud Bombom stole our hearts (and taste buds). It’s coated in a Lotus Biscoff sugar mix and filled with a smooth, creamy Biscoff Kreme. Each bite delivers that distinct caramelized cookie flavor of Biscoff Creamy spread that we all love. Honestly, we wish Krispy Kreme would sell this flavor separately because we’d buy a dozen of this donut!

Chocolate Cloud Bombom – Rich and Satisfying

Next up is the Chocolate Cloud Bombom 🍫. This one is dusted with cocoa powder sugar mix and generously filled with chocolate kreme. Surprisingly, it’s not overly sweet, making it a great pick for chocolate lovers who prefer a balanced flavor. The richness of the chocolate filling pairs perfectly with the soft, fluffy dough.

Strawberry Cloud Bombom – Fruity and Refreshing

Finally, we have the Strawberry Cloud Bombom. 🍓 This donut is coated with a strawberry sugar mix, adding a fruity tang that complements the light strawberry cream filling. It’s not too sweet, and the slight tartness makes it refreshing. If you love fruity flavors, this one’s for you!

Final Verdict: Krispy Kreme’s Cloud Bomboms are a Must-Try!

Overall, Krispy Kreme’s Cloud Bomboms are a delightful treat—soft, fluffy, and generously filled. Each flavor brings something unique to the table, making the trio a fun and delicious experience.

If you want to try them, hurry! These limited edition Krispy Kreme’s Cloud Bomboms are only available until March 31.

Have you tried them yet? Which flavor is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The post Krispy Kreme’s Cloud Bomboms : Limited Edition Donuts Review appeared first on Certified Foodies.

After getting tons of recommendations, we finally gave their ice cream flavors a try—and we were not disappointed. From classic flavors to unique combinations, Dan Eric’s offers a wide selection that caters to every sweet tooth. Here’s our full review of Dan Eric’s ice cream flavors!

You can also watch our full video reviews on Tiktok or Youtube – or just continue reading!

Dan Eric’s Ice Cream First Impressions & Flavor Breakdown

One of the best things about Dan Eric’s Ice Cream is their variety. They offer different tub sizes, making it convenient whether you just want a quick treat or need a bigger serving for family and friends, or for your parties. Plus, their affordability makes them great for both personal enjoyment and business opportunities! Just check Dan Eric’s website for more details.

Here’s the first batch of flavors we tried:

🍫 CHOCOFI – A perfect blend of chocolate and coffee ice cream. The combination’s spot on, and it was so good that we devoured this small cup in just a few minutes! #sorrynotsorry 😅

🥥 FRUIT SALAD – This one surprised us! The coconut-based ice cream is incredibly creamy, with bits of glazed fruits reminiscent of a real fruit salad.

☕ COFFEE MOCHA FUDGE – We love the mix of coffee-flavored ice cream, choco cookie bits, and dark chocolate swirls. We just wished the coffee flavor was a bit stronger.

🍫 MALLOWS ‘N CHOCOLATE – A simple yet satisfying mix of chocolate ice cream with tiny marshmallows. Perfect for kids and those who prefer a lighter chocolate treat.

🍦CHOCO VANILLA – Since they don’t have plain vanilla, this was our best alternative. The vanilla was rich and flavorful, pairing beautifully with the chocolate.

🥭 MANGO ICE CREAM – As soon as we opened the tub, the mango aroma hit us! Made with real mango puree, this flavor is intensely fruity and satisfying.

🍫 CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM – One of the creamiest chocolates we’ve tried! Thanks to alkalized cocoa, it had a distinct dark chocolate taste that chocolate lovers will appreciate.

Here’s the Tiktok video of our part 1 review:

Part 2: The Most Recommended Flavors

After our first batch of Dan Eric’s ice cream flavors, many people were recommending we try their Cheese and Ube ice cream flavors. So we had to order again. We also decided to give their other flavors a try.

🍫 ROCKY ROAD – We love the semi-sweet chocolate base with chopped nuts and just the right amount of sweetness. A solid pick!

🍓 SUPER STRAWBERRY – This one has real strawberry bits and syrup, creating a deliciously fruity and creamy balance. We wish we got a bigger tub!

🍧 HALO-HALO – If you love traditional halo-halo, you’ll love this! It’s like eating a melted halo-halo dessert, complete with all the ingredients. We’re excited to try this as an actual halo-halo topping next time. I think it’ll give it a li’l more creamy yumminess!

🟣🧀 UBE WITH CHEESE – The crispy ube-cheese bits on top were a nice touch! The ube flavor was just right—sweet and salty in perfect harmony.

🟣 UBE ICE CREAM – The moment we opened the tub, the strong ube aroma filled the air! It had a light, natural ube flavor that wasn’t too overpowering, making it easy to enjoy.

🧀 CHEESE ICE CREAM – The most recommended flavor! We had high expectations, and while it was creamy and packed with cheese bits, we were hoping for a saltier, more pronounced cheese flavor. Still, we get why many love and highly recommend this ice cream flavor.

🍪 COOKIES N’ CREAM – Generous cookie chunks made this one a winner! The vanilla and cookie flavors blended well without being too sweet.

🥭 MANGO FIESTA – The most flavorful among all the Dan Eric’s ice cream flavors we’ve tried! The mango taste was so pronounced, it felt like a fruit explosion in every bite, especially with the bits of raisins, pineapple, coconut gel, cherries and papaya. The caramel swirl added extra depth to the flavor. Highly recommended!

If you want to watch our part 2 review, here’s the Tiktok video:

Dan Eric’s also have other ice cream products that we got to try.

🍫 SPECIAL STICK MILK – A milk ice cream bar coated with dark chocolate and rice crispies. It was good but could have been creamier for our liking.

🍏 APPLE ICE LOLLY – Refreshing and fruity, this is the perfect summer cooler!

🍦 iCONE ROCKY ROAD – Generous toppings of nuts and a chocolate coating made this a delightful treat. We were just hoping for a surprise chocolate at the bottom, but sadly, there was none.

Final Verdict

After trying all these flavors, we totally understand why many people are highly recommending Dan Eric’s Ice Cream. Their ice cream flavors are creamy, rich, and affordable—making them a great alternative to bigger. more popular brands. The variety is also impressive, giving you options if you prefer classic or a mix of flavors.

Hopefully, Dan Eric’s Ice Cream becomes even more widely available so more people can enjoy it.

Have you tried Dan Eric’s Ice Cream? What’s your favorite flavor? Let us know in the comments! 😍

The post Dan Eric’s Ice Cream : Must-Try for Ice Cream Lovers appeared first on Certified Foodies.

A DIY Cake Experience

One of the best things about this cake is that Conti’s lets you do the final touches yourself. When you order, you’ll receive:

• A bottle of Pistachio Sauce – with a QR code leading you to video instructions on how to assemble the cake
• A pack of dried roses

The Perfect Finishing Touches

First, you drizzle the pistachio sauce over the cake. The sauce is a rich blend of custard, white chocolate, and ground pistachios—absolutely delicious! Honestly, we’d love to order just the sauce on its own (Conti’s, please make this happen!). You can pour as much as you like, but we saved some to add extra goodness to each slice.

Next, you sprinkle the dried roses on top. It’s totally optional, but it does add a nice aesthetic and a subtle floral note. You can be as creative as you’d like with it. I saw some people making a heart with the dried rose petals.

Once you’re satisfied with the toppings, gently remove the plastic sheet around the Conti’s Pistachio Crunch Cake and watch as the pistachio sauce cascades down — mouthwatering!

Layers of Decadence

Taking inspiration from the viral Dubai Pistachio Knafeh Chocolate Bar, this Pistachio Crunch Cake is made up of 4 irresistible layers: a luscious chocolate mousse on top with pistachio bits, followed by a layer of creamy pistachio mousse, then the crunchy kataifi layer that adds a yummy texture, then another layer of chocolate mousse before, finally, at the bottom is this moist chocolate sponge cake as base.

Taste Test – Is It Worth It?

Surprisingly, this Conti’s Pistachio Crunch Cake isn’t overly sweet. Even with the extra pistachio sauce, the flavors are well-balanced, making each bite indulgent, but not overwhelmingly sweet. The combination of smooth chocolate and pistachio mousse layers, crunchy kataifi, and soft sponge cake creates an addictive experience — you’ll want more after every slice! 😍

While this Conti’s cake is on the smaller side, we think it’s absolutely worth it. The unique textures and flavors make it one of the best pastries we’ve tried that’s inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar.

YUM OR NAH? FINAL VERDICT

If you’re a pistachio lover, this is a must-try! Conti’s Pistachio Crunch Cake has won us over, and we’ll definitely be ordering it again. I just wish it’ll be a permanent cake on their menu. 🤞

Can’t wait to try the other cakes inspired by the Dubai Pistachio Knafeh Chocolate bar, like Czaczacza Cafe’s, Caramia’s, Mama Lou’s, etc.

Want to see our full review and drool-worthy Conti’s Pistachio Crunch Cake reveal? Check out our TikTok video below and let us know what you think in the comments!

The post Dubai-Inspired Pistachio Crunch Cake from Conti’s – Worth the Hype? appeared first on Certified Foodies.

Donuts and Limited Edition Flavors

Aside from their wide variety of donut flavors, Founders Donuts became popular because of their exclusive collaborations with other food brands.

The first time we visited, we were lucky enough to try the Ovaltine Crunch donut. It wasn’t too sweet, sakto lang, even with the combination of Ovaltine crunchy syrup, crunchy pop, and a chocolate malt cookie on top. Sadly, this flavor is no longer available. Sayang!

The second time we went, we got to try their Philadelphia Cream Cheese donuts, which are currently still on the menu!

Philadelphia Cream Cheese Donuts – Our Favorites!

Eto ‘yung 2 donuts nila na super favorite namin. These donuts were in partnership with our ultimate favorite: Philadelphia Cream Cheese, so, of course, we had to try them.

Their Cream Cheese Glazed Donut is a soft donut topped with light cream cheese frosting and caramel crumble. If you prefer light lang sweetness, magugustuhan mo ‘to.

Next is ‘yung Cream Cheese Cream Donut. This one’s an absolute winner for us! It’s filled with rich cream made with Philadelphia cream cheese, then dipped with white chocolate, and then topped with caramel crumble for a satisfying crunch. Plus, the filling is generously packed, ensuring every bite is creamy and flavorful. Sarap! 🥰

Unfortunately, these Philadelphia Cream Cheese Donuts from Founders Donuts might be gone in a few weeks. We’re really hoping Founders Donuts makes them a permanent part of their menu because they are just too good to miss!

More Must-Try Donuts at Founders Donuts

Aside from the Philadelphia Cream Cheese donuts, we also enjoyed these flavors:

Boston Creme donut – Their take on this classic donut did not disappoint. Generous creamy custard filling, thick chocolate frosting on top. However, if you’re going to compare it with the Dunkin’ Donut original, it lacks that dark chocolate-sweet taste.

Biscoff Tiramisu donut – A must-try for Biscoff lovers! Sakto lang ‘yung tamis, pero lasa pa rin naman yung Lotus Biscoff. It’ll still satisfy your Biscoff craving.

Here are some of the other flavors we’ve tried:

The Oreo Dream donut is generously covered with Oreo cookie crumbs, and has this subtle vanilla cream flavor.

Then the Nutty Nutella donut looks like it fell on a bowl of crushed nuts. It lives up to its name “nutty”. Light Nutella flavor, not too sweet.

As soon as you bite into their Mango Pie donut, the mango jelly will come bursting out of the donut. Pretty hefty donut, with the sweet-sour taste of mangoes. ‘Yung lasa nya, parang ‘yung ripe mango pero minalas ka na medyo maasim ‘yung nabili mo, ganern. Pero nag-enjoy naman kami dito.

Their Strawberry Cream donut also is stuffed with their strawberry creamy goodness. The cream feels like a cloud of strawberries when you bite into it. Masarap ‘to!

Their Cereal Donut is also one of our recommended donuts. Fruity cereals on top + their creamy frosting. It’s like eating a bowl of fruit cereals with milk. Ganern! May pagka-nostalgic ang lasa.

Then the Butter Cookies donut is as it’s described. If you like your donut with that added buttery crunch, you might wanna try this.

The Toasted Coconut donut surprised us. Imagine the toasted niyog or latik on top of a donut, the one that you usually put on top of kakanin. Sarap nya with their creamy frosting.

The Avo Donut naman, it has this bitter aftertaste of avocadoes but super light lang. We still enjoyed it though, and it worked with the chocolate sprinkles on the side.

Their Classic Glazed donut is subtly flavored lang. Medyo it pales in comparison to Krispy Kreme’s glazed donuts, so this is something we might not order again.

The Matcha Green Tea donut has this distinct earthy taste of matcha. Not too sweet, but you can taste the green tea flavors.

The White Chocolate Sprinkles donut is coated with a thick layer of white chocolate, and it tastes as you’d imagine it. There’s something with their thick frosting that kinda feels a li’l oily to the mouth. Not sure why. So this is better eaten as soon as possible!

Their Triple Chocolate Crunch donut naman, medyo same ng flavor sa ibang chocolate donuts nila, but with that added chocolate crunch. It’s semisweet chocolatey, so tama lang yung sweetness.

Final Thoughts

Though medyo light lang for us ‘yung flavors ng donuts nila and we feel like it needs a little more kick, we loved Founders Donuts pa rin naman because they’re soft and yummy enough, perfect for people who don’t like donuts that are too sweet.

We’ll definitely be coming back for their Philadelphia Cream Cheese donuts. We’re crossing our fingers that they become a permanent menu item!

Have you tried Founders Donuts? Let us know your favorites in the comments!

Founders Donuts

• Branches: Makati, Bacoor, SM Sucat, SM Bicutan
• You can order in advance here: https://foundersdonuts.pickup.ph/
• Contact them here: Facebook & Instagram

You can watch our Founders Donuts review on Tiktok:

The post Founders Donuts: A MUST-TRY DONUT SHOP! Plus their Philadelphia Cream Cheese Donuts! appeared first on Certified Foodies.

Tradisyon Pinoy Comfort Food Restaurant

If you’re looking for good eats in Baguio, you don’t really have to go far, really. One elevator ride from your hotel room in Azalea Baguio is Tradisyon Pinoy Comfort Food Restaurant, where they offer their guests a good mix of all-time Filipino favorites, local Baguio fare, and a few international dishes.

Tradisyon delivers a homey feel with colors and textures similar to that of a bahay kubo. The plush chairs, bright yellow lighting, and intricate wall decor all contribute to that appeal. The restaurant has a seating capacity of 70 persons, which can easily handle the influx of diners during their operating hours.

Breakfast Buffet at Tradisyon Restaurant

Guests staying at Azalea Baguio can fuel up and jump-start their day at the hotel’s daily breakfast buffet that starts from 06:00 to 10:30 in the morning.

They have all kinds of breakfast food you can think of – from breads and pastries to fresh salads or from piping hot arroz caldo to delicious Pinoy delicacies.

And if you prefer enjoying your breakfast with rice, then they have a number of delicious viands like the Baguio longganisa, pork adobo, and my favorite, their chicken tocino, which was so good that I ended up getting another clean plate and filling it up with the tocino. I’m pretty sure I was able to consume about half a kilo of it in just one sitting. Haha.

Tradisyon Restaurant also has an egg station, where you can ask the chef to cook you up your favorite egg dish, may it be an omelet, sunny side up, over easy, or just any way you want it. Me? I always go for a ham and cheese omelet.

A La Carte Menu at Tradisyon Restaurant

If you think Azalea Baguio’s breakfast buffet is already amazing, wait until you’ve tried their a la carte menu, which is perfect for lunch, dinner, or for some light snacks after going all around Baguio.

My family and I are not what you can consider as morning people, so we usually prefer doing our tours after lunch. Before heading out, we would get a heavy lunch first. Some lunch dishes you can try at Tradisyon are some local dishes like grilled squid and pinakbet. They also have Spanish callos that have good quality tripe, which I absolutely loved!

I really enjoyed eating their lengua. It was very good and the tongue was cooked nicely that they were soft and flavorful.

And we highly suggest that you try their kare-kare, too. This is the dish that truly made us feel right at home because Tradisyon’s kare-kare came very close to our Nanay’s version.

Another favorite was their Lechon Kawali. It’s a plate of pork belly, deep-fried to a crisp. They’re so addicting, especially if you dip them into some vinegar and ate it with some pickle relish.

For light snacks, you can order their pasta dishes like the spaghetti and carbonara. Their spaghetti is done Filipino-style so it’s sweet and meaty, just like Jollibee’s.

Mexican Buffet at Tradisyon Restaurant

For fans of Mexican food, I bet you’ll be thrilled to find out that Tradisyon Restaurant is currently hosting a Mexican Buffet every Wednesday night from 06:00 to 10:00 PM.

Travel to Mexico with your palate at Tradisyon, where they will be serving authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex food that you will surely enjoy. Mexican food are known to be flavorful and full of spices, and that’s exactly what you will get.

They also have a taco station, where you can customize and assemble your own tacos. You even have the choice to use soft tortilla or taco shells.

They charge PHP 400+ per adult. Kids 6 years old and below eat for FREE, while kids 7 to 11 years old will get 50% off from the original price. It’s that cheap. So go ahead, put your sombreros on and head straight to Tradisyon Restaurant for some amazingly good Mexican food!

Tradisyon Restaurant at Azalea Residences Baguio

No. 7 Leonard Wood Loop, Brgy. Manuel Roxas, Baguio City 2600

• Reservation Numbers: Baguio – (+6374) 424 8710  |  Manila – (+632) 4501151
• Hours of Operation: 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM Daily
• Website: http://www.azaleabaguio.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AzaleaResidencesBaguioCity
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azaleabaguio/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/azalearesidence

The post Tradisyon Restaurant: Pinoy Comfort Food at Azalea Baguio appeared first on Certified Foodies.

Highway Ribbery Grille

Highway Ribbery Grille first opened its doors May of 2015 and has become one of the newest and hippest hangout place to hit La Loma, Quezon City. Its industrial-themed interior design, together with the wooden tables and chairs, delivered a rustic yet modern appeal. The restaurant is not air-conditioned, but don’t worry; they have enough cooling fans to keep the area at a tolerable and comfortable temperature. They also have more tables on the second floor, including a rentable function room that can accommodate up to 35 people.

For our refreshments, my Nanay and I ordered two glasses of their House Blend Iced Tea (PHP 125), which arrived ice-cold and had this super refreshing citrusy flavor. Mhel, on the other hand, asked for a bottle of the Belgian craft beer, Brew Kettle (PHP 55), that turned out to be incredibly light and tasty. Highway Ribbery Grille has a limited line-up of alcoholic beverages, since they want the restaurant to become more of a dining joint than an inuman spot. Aside from Brew Kettle, the other beer they offer is San Miguel Light for PHP 50 a bottle.

We started our meal with a serving of their Taco Salad (PHP 175). It’s a salad made with nacho chips, pulled pork, salsa, and cheese sauce. Initially, we ate it like how one would usually eat nachos. You know, like, you get a piece of nacho and you scoop up some toppings before popping it into your mouth. And then we realized that it’s a salad, so we decided to crush the nacho chips and toss the ingredients together to distribute the dressing evenly. Well, it turned out amazing. The crushed nacho chips delivered a crunch that truly complemented the texture and flavors of the pulled pork and the salsa.

We also tried their Fish and Chips (PHP 250), which was a bucket of deep-fried beer-battered fish, served with fries and tartar sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and was not oily at all.

One of our favorites was definitely their Poutine (PHP 195) that was French fries, topped with pulled pork, bacon bits, cheese sauce, and gravy. It’s the perfect “pulutan” dish because it goes well with a glass of ice-cold beer and it can be enjoyed by a group of 3-4 people.

If you like your burgers packing a punch of spiciness, then Highway Ribbery Grille’s Texas Bomb Burger (PHP 265) would surely please your palate. A sirloin burger patty with a soft-boiled egg inside is cooked perfectly medium and topped with bacon, jalapenos, cheese sauce, and sandwiched between toasted bun.

We had no idea that there was an egg inside, so imagine our surprise and delight when we sliced the burger in half and saw the moist and gooey yolk. They were not joking when they named their burger “Texas Bomb” for it was undeniably a delicious explosion of spiciness and flavor.

And then they presented us their pride and glory—Highway Ribbery’s Pork Ribs (Full Rack PHP 500 | Half Rack PHP 255). It’s a beautiful rack of soft, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, slathered in classic barbecue sauce and served with rice, corn and coleslaw. You may request to upgrade your plain rice with their dirty rice for only PHP 50.

I’m already warning you. A single serving of their Dirty Rice would not be enough. Good thing you can order another for PHP 65. It’s actually a classic Louisiana Cajun dish made by cooking rice with liver, cayenne and black pepper, giving it its iconic “dirty” color.

And last but definitely not the least from the savory items that we’ve tried was Highway Ribbery’s Chicken Wings (Half Dozen PHP 250 | Dozen PHP 475). These are juicy, deep-fried chicken wings, tossed in the sauce of your choice. We asked half of our wings to be slathered in Red Devil sauce, which was super spicy but the wings turned out so good that I can’t get enough of it. The other half we requested to be covered with their new Parmesan Butter sauce. Of course, they were scrumptious. How can you go wrong with Parmesan cheese and butter, right?

UNLIMITED Buffalo Wings Promo

Highway Ribbery Grille has an ongoing promo every Monday through Wednesday from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, where diners can enjoy UNLIMITED Buffalo wings for only PHP 350, and that already includes unlimited servings of rice and iced tea. This promo will until December 21, 2015. Are you up for the challenge?

Now it’s time for some dessert! Upon checking their menu, the first thing that really caught our eyes was their Ice Cream Sandwich (PHP 125)—a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream in between two cookies with addictively crunchy crusts and chewy cores. It was surely the best way to end our incredibly satisfying dinner at Highway Ribbery Grille.

Highway Ribbery Grille

Unit 105 R Place Building 225 N. S. Amoranto Street, Quezon City

• Hours of Operation: Open daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Contact No.: (02) 4161074
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Highway-Ribbery-Grille-1442497736042210/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thenextribthing
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highwayribberygrille #TheNextRibThing

The post Highway Ribbery Grille: Haven of Criminally Delicious Comfort Food appeared first on Certified Foodies.

Contadina came from the same makers of Del Monte, one of the most trusted brands for high-quality culinary products. Contadina is an Italian word which means “woman of the fields.” It symbolizes the care and compassion that these women pour into making flavorful and authentic dishes. They adopt the Mediterranean philosophy of cooking meals with passion by using only the finest and freshest ingredients which are harvested from the world’s most abundant regions.

The new Contadina product line consists of basic Mediterranean cuisine essentials:

Olive Oil

Sourced from Andalucia, Spain, Contadina’s Olive Oils are extracted from freshly-pressed Hojiblanca olives, hand-picked from 100-year old trees cultivated under the Mediterranean sun.

Pasta

Their beautiful pastas are made from premium-grade 100% Durum Wheat Semolina, straight from the Western Prairie provinces of Canada. Firm and bouncy, each piece is a delectable bite worth savoring for a truly authentic Mediterranean pasta experience.

Pasta Sauces

Made in Italy, Contadina’s pasta sauces use fresh tomatoes, herbs, and authentic cheeses. Each pasta sauce is thoughtfully prepared, following a traditional recipe to reward you with authentic flavors that are undeniably Italian.

Tomatoes

Grown in California, their Roma Tomatoes are made with love and an abundant supply of sun and nutrient-rich soil resulting in firm cuts that aren’t lost after cooking and a delectable, fresh tomato flavor that enriches your recipes.

Contadina Spaghetti with Meatballs Recipe

Today, I’m sharing with you my easy recipe for Spaghetti with Meatballs. For the sauce base, I used the Contadina Napoletana Pasta Sauce, made from authentic Italian tomatoes and basil. The only adjustments I did were to season the sauce with salt and pepper, and add some grated cheese. That’s it! My pasta sauce was ready in just a few minutes. I also included a can of Contadina Diced Tomatoes to give the pasta sauce more texture and tartness. You can use the Contadina Pesto alla Genovese as a pasta sauce but I chose to slather it on a piece of toast to accompany my pasta dish.

INGREDIENTS:

Meatballs

• 1/2 kilo Ground Beef
• 30 grams Garlic Powder (around 3 tbsp)
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1 tbsp Cornstarch
• 1 piece Medium Egg

Pasta Sauce

• 1 bottle Contadina Napoletana Pasta Sauce (420 grams)
• 1 can Contadina Diced Tomatoes (include the liquid)
• 1 tbsp Chopped Garlic
• 1/2 bar Cheese

Pasta

• 500 grams Contadina Spaghetti

Pesto Toast

• 2 slices Bread
• 2 tbsp Contadina Pesto alla Genovese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. To make the meatballs, combine all meatball ingredients in one bowl.
2. Shape meatballs to your desired size.
3. Fry meatballs on a frying pan until well cooked. Set aside.
4. Cook spaghetti according to packaging instructions. (Around 7 minutes)
5. Drain the water and drizzle spaghetti with oil to prevent them from sticking together. Set aside.
6. To make the pasta sauce, start by sauteing the chopped garlic.
7. Stir in the diced tomatoes and the Napoletana pasta sauce. Mix well and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
8. Drop the cooked meatballs in and add the grated cheese to the pasta sauce. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Mix the sauce with the cooked spaghetti then serve with pesto bread slices.
9. For the pesto bread, trim off the edges of the bread slices. Cut into two rectangular pieces and toast them until crisp.
10. Slather each toast with a generous amount of the pesto sauce. Serve with the spaghetti. Enjoy!

!!! GIVEAWAY ALERT: CONTADINA HOLIDAY PACKAGE !!!

We’re giving away one (1) Contadina Holiday Package to one of our lucky blog readers that they can use for their Christmas feast at home. The mechanics of the contest are as follows:

• Share this blog post on your Facebook account. Don’t forget to tag the Certified Foodies and Contadina Philippines Facebook pages in your caption.
• Tag the person or people you want to cook the holiday dish with/for. Note:  Set your Facebook post to public so we can see it.
• Post your Facebook post’s link on our Contadina Facebook post.
• Winner will be chosen at random.
• Giveaway is open to all Metro Manila residents only.
• This giveaway will run from December 18 to 23, 2016 (11:59pm).

Contadina Philippines

• Official Website: http://www.contadina.com.ph/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/contadinaphilippines

The post Contadina Easy Spaghetti with Meatballs Recipe appeared first on Certified Foodies.

Lady’s Choice #ThankUTogether For A Cause

Sitio Naubo, a small town in the outskirts of Dumaguete, has lived without electricity for years, but despite this, they have maintained a positive outlook on life that is truly inspiring. Their small community always celebrates their togetherness with an annual Christmas feast. Little do they know that Lady’s Choice has prepared a special surprise that will make their Christmas unforgettable.

Find out how Lady’s Choice made Christmas at Sitio Naubo more special by watching the video below.

Help light up a barangay without electricity by simply posting your family photo with this caption:

I invite @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3 to post a family photo that best shows a moment of togetherness. By doing so, we all help out Lady’s Choice #ThankUTogether For A Cause. Remember to tag @LadysChoice. Every post helps light up Sitio Casile this Christmas.

Japanese-Style Macaroni Salad with Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise Recipe

When celebrating Christmas, every Filipino family prepares their own version of the classic macaroni salad, but one thing remains the same: they’re made extra creamy with the help of Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise.

Lady’s Choice has sent us a Christmas basket last week, containing ingredients to make a basic macaroni salad. They asked us to share our family’s recipe, but I realized our nanay’s version is the traditional macaroni salad we all Filipinos love and serve during this season. Every year, our family usually comes up with a different theme for our Noche Buena, so I decided to put a little Japanese twist on the classic macaroni salad recipe I found on the Lady’s Choice website. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

INGREDIENTS:

• 500 grams Lady’s Choice Mayonnaise
• 200 grams macaroni
• 1 tbsp onions, minced
• 1/2 cup carrots, thinly sliced (julienne)
• 1 piece cucumber, chopped
• 1 bar cheese, cut into small cubes
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds, roasted and ground
• 2 sheets nori / seaweed, thinly sliced (julienne)
• 10 – 12 pieces crab sticks
• 3 tbsp sugar
• as desired bonito flakes
• 1/2 kilo chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes
• 4 Tbsp cornstarch (for chicken only)
• 1 piece egg (for chicken only)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook macaroni according to packaging instructions (about 10 minutes). Drain water then set aside.
2. Mince onions, julienne carrots, chop cucumber, and cut cheese into cubes.
3. Roast sesame seeds until light brown, then grind into a powder.
4. Cut seaweed sheets into thin slices (julienne).
5. Roll crab sticks between your palms to separate each strand.
6. Cut chicken breast into bite-size cubes.
7. Mix with slightly beaten eggs. Drain then coat with cornstarch. Deep fry until golden brown. Allow to cool.
8. Combine all ingredients in one bowl, except mayonnaise and bonito flakes.
9. Stir in Lady’s Choice Mayonnaise until well mixed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Transfer into serving tray then top with bonito flakes. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas! 🙂

The post Lady’s Choice is Lighting Up the Christmas with #ThankUTogether Project appeared first on Certified Foodies.