Who says cereals are only for breakfast?

I have always loved cereals for breakfast.  I also love eating cereals on their own as a “healthy” snack.  Back when I used to own a fridge, I used to eat cereals with just about anything:  chocolate milk, milk, melon milk, Milo, fruits, and apple juice.  What I didn’t think of was ice cream! Now that I don’t own a fridge (I need the fridge for the milk), I just resort to eating cereals dry. The end of my fridge signaled the end of my cereal life. Or so I thought.

Then comes Cerealicious.  Cerealicious is a trendy cafe that offers a twist to your early morning crunchies with a new look and new mixes and matches with fruits, nuts, candy abrs, chocolates, sprinkles, and syrups. All these are splashed with a super special milk slush which brings out all the different flavors and keeps the cereals crunchier.

At Cerealicious, cereals have evolved from plain cornflakes-milk combos to heavenly concoctions that can be enjoyed for breakfast, snack or dessert. The interesting bit about cerealicious is the names of their cereals, which are based on blockbuster hits (ex: Jelly Maguire, NUtting Hill, Nerd of the Rings).

Currently, there are 23 yummy variants to choose from and two sizes (Trailer and Blockbuster). You can also make your order a lot more flavorful by adding an extra scoop of ice cream.  Cerealicious also offers to-die-for Milkshakes which are drink adaptations of their famous Blockbuster flavors.

Not so long ago, we were invited by Cerealicious to try out their products and also to create our own Blockbuster hits.  We were given a list of all their cereals, topppings, and syrups and the challenge was for us to come up with our own variant and name it after a blockbuster hit.

The boyfriend and I came up with Pulp Peachtion, Almondgeddon, Lost in Crunchlation, and Sweet Home Almondnana.  We didn’t win the top prize, but we sure had fun! Cerealicious, so delicious!

We are giving away 2 sets 1 set of Cerealicious Gift Certificates (each set is worth P300.00) to the first 2 to post comments stating what their favorite cereal brand is and what they pair it with!

Cerealicious outlets are located at University of Sto. Tomas, Taft Avenue, Robinsons Place Ermita, First Strip Mendiola, Theatre Mall, notre Dame, St. Scholastica’s College, Far Eastern University, De La Salle University, St. Paul pasig, Poveda, La Salle Greenhills, De La Salle Zobel, San Beda Alabang, Woodrose, Southville International School, Alabang Town center, Robinsons Galleria, Ateneo de Davao, SM Cebu, SM Bagui.

For Inquiries, email them at cerealiciouscafe@yahoo.com or call them at 413-8320 or 09177954481.

A few months ago, we were invited to a Tea Appreciation night at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. We got to sample different kinds of teas and the food that goes best with each tea. One tea that left my taste buds wanting was African Sunrise. The hot brewed teas tasted and smelled so good! I savored each sip for I knew that African Sunrise would not be sold in Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Stores in the Philippines until sometime in June or July (that was what we were told).

African Sunrise is a full-bodied, red herbal infusion that uses African honeybush exclusively grown on a farm betwen the mountains of Riversdal in the Western Cape of Souoth Africa. Its exceptional fusion of flavor and aroma comes from the sharp tangy taste of orange peel (you can smell this too, if your nose is good), the characteristic sweet honey scent of honeybush flowers and beautiful mallow flowers. If you have a lot of money, you can open up the teabags and use the tea leaves as potpourri (right, Jayvee?)!

So when June came, everytime I went to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (with friends or the boyfriend), I never failed to ask if the African Sunrise Tea was already available. I kid you not, I really did ask for it everytime. Whenever I order their Spicy Tuna Linguine, I always pair it with an Iced Tea (usually Apricot Ceylon) and I longed for that day when I would be able to try it with African Sunrise.

And that day has come. Well not yet, really. On July 28, 2008, African Sunrise will be available in all The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Outlets in the Philippines!

The African Sunrise tea will be available in three different variants: hot, iced, and latte. I got to sample all three variants and I must say that my favorite is the African Sunrise Tea Latte.

African Sunrise Hot Brewed Tea

African Sunrise Iced Tea

African Sunrise Tea Latte

Want to be one of the first few to try out Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s African Sunrise Tea?  Details after the cut

Bakla is giving away coupons for FREE AFRICAN SUNRISE TEA LATTE!  Just leave a comment here saying you want the coupons and we’ll send the coupons at your doorstep! (We will be giving only THREE TWO sets of coupons - each set has 3 coupons valid from July 28, 2008 to October 28, 2008).

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at A-Venue (Makati Ave.)

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is located at TriNoMa, SM The Block, Gateway, Ortigas Park, Paseo Center, Bonifacio High Street, Mall of Asia, Convergys Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Alabang Town Center, Rockwell, Robinson’s Ermita, Grreenhills Promenade, Robinson’s Galleria, Eastwood, Tomas Morato and 2 more branches in Cebu. Visit their website at http://www.coffeebean.com.ph for more information.

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Let me just state it here formally that my ONLY YouTube account is http://youtube.com/ajkenji and I do not have any other accounts with YouTube aside from that.

http://youtube.com/ajmatela is not owned by AJ Matela.

Someone apparently is mad at me, or wants to make fun of me, or I don’t know what,  and signed up with youtube on May 29. 2008 using my name ajmatela. The video shows the transcript I created for the audio file “I Kell You” and a screencap from one of my videoblogs.  To add insult to this injury, the person used “I Kell You! (With Transcript/the agent” as the title, implying that I am the agent in the call.

The greatest insult of them all is that the person had the audacity to put the caption/title on the video that says: “Do You Know Who Am I?”

Come on!  I do not write English like that!  I will never ask a question with incorrect sentence construction.  It’s “Do You Know Who I AM?” and not “AM I” Please!

So friends, I implore you to help me report his user by flagging the video for copyright infringement and/or inappropriate content. If you can, please also report the user to YouTube Authorities.

“Let them eat cake!” so said Marie Antoinette.

“And so they did, and so you will too.” This seems to be the message that Diamond Hotel would like to send to the metro’s dessert lovers.  Recently, Diamond Hotel opened The Cake Club at the second level (Arcaheology area, near national Bookstore) of Powerplant Mall in Rockwell Center, Makati.

The Cake Club is a pastry and coffee shop established to fulfill those spontaneous dessert longings. It is actually more than that for seeing their line of desserts would make you scream with delight and drool till you run out of it. It is a mini-paradise.  It is a refuge where you can relive life in all its sweetness through crumbly sugar crusts, creamy custard in layers of chiffon, thick cascades if icing and morsels of chocolate!

From the Italian classic Pana Cotta, the French favorite Gateau Chocolat, a posh version of the Pinoy delicacy Buko Pie, its much talked-about ensaymada and many more, Diamond Hotel expects to satisfy the sugar craving of even the most discerning palate. They plan to achieve this not only through The Cake Club but also through their Dessert Buffet.

Yes, you read that right! A Dessert Buffet!

Inspired by the words “buffet” and “dessert”, Diamond Hotel Philippines’ Dessert Buffet is set to become the country’s Dessert Mecca, where sweet excess and wild abandon are forgiven. Those with sweet tongues will definitely love this offering from Diamond Hotel.

“We look at desserts differently. Desserts for us evoke thoughts of the keenest of life’s pleasures and reminds us of the happy things this world has to offer,” says Cecile Ang, President of Diamond Hotel Philippines.

Compared to other dining destinations that extend this service as an add-on, Diamond Hotel offers one of the most extensive, if not the most extensive, stand-alone dessert catering service in the metro by putting together an array of treats concocted with skill and expertise borne out of its five-star heritage. From the Italian classic Pana Cotta, the French favorite Gateau Chocolat, a posh version of the Pinoy delicacy Buko Pie, its much talked-about ensaymada and many more, Diamond Hotel offers a variety of packages to satisfy the sugar craving of even the most discerning palate. These well thought of packages can cater to different kinds of occasions be it a bridal shower, a despedida party or even a casual get together with friends or family.

For Diamond Hotel Philippines, there is no such thing as too much dessert. The Cake Club and Dessert Buffet represent what life should be – sweet and without boundaries.

The typhoons may be here and they may signal the end of the summer season, but fret not, it still is summer, wherever you are! Thanks to Chowking and their halo-halo specials!I’m a big fan of halo-halo and I know that one of the best (if not the best) places to grab one is Chowking.

Chowking’s Halo-halo is available anytime of the day, and anywhere in the world where they have a branch.  Yes, if you didn’t know, Chowking has more than 400 stores all over the world.

I learned at one event that Chowking’s ingredients actually come from one source, and it’s not their commissary.  Even if Chowking has their own commissary, they have stayed true to the taste of the original halo-halo that they released in the early years of their operations.  This source is a lady who used to sell halo-halo somewhere along the streets of Manila.  Chowking’s owner tried the halo-halo, loved it, and asked the lady if she was willing to supply the ingredients for Chowking.  The lady agreed and the rest as they say is history.  To this day, that lady is still Chowking’s supplier for their Halo-Halo Ingredients.

Chowking Halo-Halo Menu:

P29.00 Half Dozen (Store Price)
P39.00 Petite (Store Price)
P43.00 Petite (Delivery Price)
P59.00 Fiesta (Store Price)
P65.00 Fiesta (Delivery Price)
P74.00 Fiesta with 1 Scoop Ice Cream (Store Price)
P81.00 Fiesta with 1 Scoop Ice Cream (Delivery Price)
P84.00 Fiesta with 2 scoops Ice Cream (Store Price)
P92.00 Fiesta with 2 scoops Ice Cream (Delivery Price)

Chowking also delivers halo-halo so wherever you are and whatever time of day it is, you can still enjoy your summer with Chowking’s Halo-halo!

Chowking delivery hotline numbers:
Metro Manila: 702-8888
Butuan City: 344-8888
General Santos City: 301-8888
Baguio City: 619-8888
Palawan: 434-8888
Caagayan de Oro: 859-8888

I’m a chocolate addict. Whatever chocolate you give me, I will surely eat it. Sometimes I complain, sometimes I don’t.

We all know that local chocolates made here in the Philippines used to be sub-standard compared to those which we get as pasalubongs from our titos and titas from the United States, Switzerland, other parts of Europe, or well, Duty-Free shops!

However, I chanced upon this local chocolate, manufactured and packed in the Philippines by the local chocolate company named Goya. Yes, you read that right!

The local chocolate factory now produces semi-high-end and world-class chocolates in the name of Goya Dark Mint. (I know there are other variants of these boxed goodies, but I can’t remember what they’re called). I have been raving on Twitter in the last month or so about how good Goya Dark Mint is that some people ask me where I buy them. Some people will find it in supermarkets, but I always get my stash from Mini-Stop outlets. I don’t know why, but 7-11 does not carry them.

Goya Dark Mint (Dark Chocolate With Mint) is a good value-for-money chocolates. They retail for P34.00 at mini-stop outlets (mahalia mendez, ever!) and P25.00 (I think) at local supermarkets.

Goya Dark Mint is a chocolate brand that I can eat everyday! Yum!

Goya Dark Mint is also sold in other countries! This Product of the Philippines is something we can truly be proud of!

Goya Dark Mint Dark Chocolate With Mint Nutrition Information:

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Spot.ph is the country’s newest online city guide with content provided by its very own users. City-living need not be a drag (even during the summer). In fact, it could be more interesting. Find the coolest places to eat, chill, dine, and play all in one website. Sound off, share with friends and spread the word on places you know and go to- all by just posting a review.

Bloggers were treated to exclusive tours of restaurants and other establishments in Trinoma, Bonifacio High Street, and Serendra.

Participating establishments include the following:

Trinoma

• Bubba Gump
• Cafe Breton
• Cyma
• Cold Rock
• Fish & Co.
• Five Cows
• Holy Cow
• Italianni’s
• Jack’s Loft
• Krispy kreme
• La Maison
• Recipes
• Red Box
• Ruby Tuesday
• Starbucks
• Haiku
• Madison Grill
• TGI Friday’s

Bonifacio High Street:

• Italianni’s
• Krispy Kreme
• Kabisera ng Dencio’s
• New Orleans
• Starbucks
• Texas Roadhouse Grill
• TGI Friday’s

Serendra:

• Chelsea
• Choco-late de Batirol
• Cuillere
• Cupcakes by Sonja
• Fu by Hei Shin Lou
• Kape Isla
• Mamou
• Miss Desserts
• Polu Kai
• Portico 1771
• Mezzaluna
• Xocolat
• Abbey ROad
• Carnevale
• E Galerie
• Zao Vietnamese Bistro
• Gymboree
• Luna
• Bark & Wag

Since there were so many restaurants and establishments to review, we will do it one by one (or at least we’ll try to) here on Eat Your Hearts Out. So watch out for that!

Last week, I got invited to Appetite Magazine’s grand launch of The Tasting Room at Greenbelt 3. Foodies, the who’s who society, and those simply with an appetite for good food and the good life enjoyed the first bite of the flavors of summer!

The Tasting Room is a seasonal offering of restaurants in Greenbelt and is the locally celebrated counterpart of the degustation offerings famed in the world’s culinary hotspots. The Tasting Room gives gourmands a chance to enjoy full courses and more dishes at their favorite restaurants at a fraction of the usual price.

I got the chance to taste some of the best food offerings from the wide menu range of the participating restauarants: Mr. Rockefeller (oysters galore!), Tropezz, La Maison (my favorite), Capriciossa, Haiku, Gaudi,Cyma, Mezze, Fish & Co., Bubba Gump, Kai, Nuvo, Italianni’s, max Brenner and Solihiya!

The Tasting Room specialized menus will be available at the participating restaurants (Greenbelt Branches) from May 1 to May 31. Enjoy.

From Appetite Mag:

Welcome to the Eat Your Hearts Out! - A Food Blog for Non-Foodies.

Photo by Benj Espina of Athiesta.net and VisitSagada.com

This is the food blog of Baklang AJ of Bakla Ako, May Reklamo?

This is my attempt at blogging about food. This is kind of weird because although I am a food lover, I am quite choosy and picky when it comes to food!

I do not eat vegetables. Well not all of them, but I only eat a select few. I am not so much into the high-end fine dining stuff, but try them every once in a while.

I do not know a lot about the technical terms in food critique, that’s why this blog is a food blog for non-foodies. We’ll see what happens.

Let’s Eat, Drink, and be Merry for tomorrow is another day to eat, drink and be merry!