My sister Dianne and I were able to meet Forrest Gump (portrayed by Steve Weber) during an event for bloggers at the TriNoma branch of Bubba Gump last October 21, 2008. Alongside with the meet and greet with Forrest Gump, Bubba Gump introduced their new and exciting dishes!

One of their new appetizers is the Dynamite Shrimp; an appetizer composed of shrimp poppers with a spicy Asian glaze. Dianne and I really enjoyed this appetizer. In fact, we could eat this one everyday!

Spicy Jambalaya Pasta is one of the great additions in Bubba Gump’s menu. A dish composed of shrimps and spicy Andouille Sausage over Linguini with Bourbon Street Tomato Sauce.

“That Chocalate Thing” is a special jar of warm flourless Chocalate cake, topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Whipped Cream, and drizzled with Raspberry Sauce. This is a dessert that you could share with your friends or family.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. has branches in Trinoma (916-9314 or 916-9315) and Greenbelt 3 (757-5154 or 757-5104). You could also visit their website at http://www.bubbagump.com.ph/ for more information.

California Pizza Kitchen uses only fresh, premium ingredients sourced locally and from around the world. CPK is the pioneer in hearth-baked California-style pizzas. Cooked quickly in 3-7 minutes in approximately 500-degree heat, hearth-baked pizzas offer a different pizza experience. Aside from pizzas, California Pizza Kitchen also offers salads and appetizers, soups, pastas, focaccia sandwiches, desserts, smoothies, beverages and blended beverages.

Here are some pizzas you want to try on your next California Pizza Kitchen visit:

BBQ Chicken Pizza. The global pizza chain also carries classic bestsellers. Its most popular pizza, the Original BBQ Chicken, is one of the original recipes used by Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, the founders of California Pizza Kitchen.

Greek Pizza. Diners can also experience a slice of adventure in the Mediterranean with the Greek Pizza. Made from Mediterranean spiced grilled chicken and Mozzarella cheese, this pizza is topped with a chilled Greek salad of cucumbers, red onions, fresh tomatoes, Greek olives, Feta cheese and lemon-herb vinaigrette; and served with homemade Tzatziki sauce and chopped Italian parsley.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Guests of the Make Your Own Pizza event were given the chance to savor their creations, which were served fresh from the hearth oven. One of these was the smoky sweet Jamaican Jerk Chicken, a pizza that offers a taste of the world. It is made from grilled Jamaican Jerk spiced chicken breast with our spicy sweet Caribbean sauce, Mozzarella cheese, applewood smoked bacon, mild onions, roasted red & yellow peppers and green onions.

Cajun Pizza. One of the newest offerings of California Pizza Kitchen, the Cajun Pizza is made blackened from the chicken and spicy Andouille sausage with a Creole sauce, roasted red and yellow peppers, mild onions and Mozzarella cheese.

The Philippine franchise of California Pizza Kitchen is owned by Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc. and currently operates 6 branches located in Glorietta 3 (867-2115 to 16), Alabang Town Center (850-5771), Shangri-la Plaza Mall (687-7841 to 42), Trinoma Mall (901-3881 to 82), Greenhills Shopping Center (725-7377) and Powerplant Mall (895-3447).

Finally, the first ever lifestyle weekend market has come to Manila! Beginning September 7 to September 28 (Sundays only), Alveo Land’s Celadon Manila will open its doors to discerning urbanites across the metro as it ushers in PICK Manila – the first ever lifestyle weekend market in the city. Held every Sunday from 7AM to 2PM within Manila’s first integrated leisure community, shopaholics and foodies can explore the unique retail possibilities that the most culturally diverse city in the country can offer.

“Not only does PICK Manila let avid shoppers from all over experience the leisurely lifestyle which is the core of Celadon Manila, but more importantly it allows for our residents to come together as a community,” says Gutz Gutierrez, Project Division Manager for Celadon Park and Celadon Residences.

Well, what to expect when going to PICK Manila?

Celadon Manila’s PICK Manila offers bargain hunters a chance to indulge in a showcase of a diverse collection of eclectic home décor, unique clothing and jewelry as well as an array of organic food choices that’s sure to satisfy the metro’s most discerning palate. It is in Celadon Manila where I was able to buy the juiciest rambutan I’ve ever eaten.

Celadon Manila, the leisure community from Alveo Land, offers the opportunity for people to live, work, shop, meet and relax in one integrated neighborhood—underscoring a vibrant lifestyle experience.

Celadon Residences provides its residents with fully completed village park facilities like adult and kiddie pools, open playfield, kids’ playground, multi-purpose court and function rooms that encourage community interaction and fellowship, completing the uptown living experience.

Alveo Land Corp., formerly Community Innovations, sets the benchmark for innovation in Ayala Land. Armed with sharper foresight, unparalleled excellence and total commitment, Alveo Land Corp. is a real estate company that doesn’t just find the means to provide the most innovative homes, it looks for ways to make you live the life you deserve. For more information visit http://wwww.alveoland.com.ph or http://www.celadonmanila.com.ph email info@alveosales.com.ph or call (632) 848-5100 (Metro Manila) and 1-800-10-8485100 (Outside Metro Manila).

Because Coke has too much Coke Zero, they decided to treat bloggers of all ages and sizes last Friday, June 27, 2008 at Taste Asia in Mall of Asia. Am I making any sense here? Nevermind, I know you know what I mean! Whew! That sentence was full of Asia, Coke, and commas! The event isn’t formal at all. It’s like an eyeball event for me because I was able to meet some of my Plurk and Twitter buddies in person. I can’t name them all because they’re so many! The great food that night was provided by Taste Asia. And of course, the overflowing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were there too.

Anyway, who would think that just by having an active Plurk account, you’d get to win a Coke collectible dining set? Because of JayDJ, I won a Coke collectible dining set! That was easy! Those who remained loyal to Twitter got prizes too.

Some bloggers present during the Coke Zero Event (from L-R – Poyt, Lauren, Jehz, Cai, Coy, and Mica)

Who would forget the Plurk Banana Dance and The Banana Dancer? NO ONE! The Banana Dance is actually the highlight of the event. Wait, I thought it’s Coke Zero? Just take a look Jason dancing the Banana Dance.

I saw some ladies from 26K of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal too. Actually, Charmel was the only one I know from the girls. At the end of the event, each one of us were able to bring home one (1) case of Coke Zero in cans – a total of 24 Coke Zero in cans. Up to this point, we haven’t consumed all the Coke Zero from the event. The Coke Zero we got would be expiring on July 14, 2008 so we should dispose or consume them quick. And I forgot to mention that there was a magic show that night too!

Magic Show by Marcelle

I guess that’s all I can say! Thank you to Coke, Taste Asia and SM Mall of Asia. To all the bloggers I met that night, hello!

You can try four different variations of the Chowking Chao Fan – pork (P39), beef (P49), spicy (P79) and yang chow (P79). My personal favorites are the spicy chao fan and the yang chow chao fan.

The Pork Chao Fan (P39)

Tasty, flavorful, steaming hot, and moist stir-fried rice mixed with pork slices in a specially blended sauce of thick shrimp-paste and sacha sauce; and kangkong leaves, sprinkled with spring onions. Can be topped with choices of fried or steamed dumplings.

The Beef Chao Fan (P49)

Tasty, flavorful, steaming hot, and moist stir-fried rice mixed with beef chunks in a special beef sauce, cabbage and carrot bits; sprinkled with spring onions. Can be topped with choices of fried or steamed dimsum.

The Spicy Chao Fan (P79) – My personal favorite

Tasty, flavorful, steaming hot, and moist stir-fried rice mixed with tender beef cuts, and succulent chewy chicken balls, seasoned with hot chili-garlic spices and think, sweet soya sauce. Can be topped with choices of fried or steamed dimsum.

The Yang Chow Chao Fan (P79) – My personal favorite

Tasty, flavorful, light yellow and moist stir-fried rice, sautéed with chorizo bits, roasted pork asado bits, beaten egg and fresh and crisp vegetables, topped with sautéed shrimps.

The Chao Fan Toppings

Alongside with a serving of the Chowking Chao Fan, one can choose to add some toppings like egg (P13), siomai (P22), lumpiang shanghai (P26), and friend dumplings (P26).

The Chao Fan goes with the Chow To-Go Box and a spork (spoon and fork combined) for those who are on the go.

Truly, sarap starts at P39! Iba talaga ang kain kapag kanin! Call 702-8888 for Chowking Delivery anywhere in Metro Manila. Just take note that the price indicated here are applicable to dine-in orders only. There is a special price list for delivery orders.

The Chowking Halo-halo is a best seller. In fact, 25% of Chowking’s sales came from the famous halo-halo. The halo-halo from Chowking may be quite pricey if compared to the ones bought in your “suking tindahan” but with Chowking’s Halo-halo you are assured that the ingredients used are clean and fresh. Chowking’s Halo-Halo is composed of 12 ingredients, which I won’t list anymore but the distinguishable ones are Jackfruit, Sweetened Banana, Ube and Leche Flan. In preparing the Halo-Halo, Chowking uses their very special “blended milk”, which complements the halo-halo very much. The Halo-halo was presented in a very creative way with powder-like ice. The vibrant colors of the ingredients and its taste makes you wanna crave for more. Just to add, I consumed the Fiesta Halo-halo (with two scoops of ice cream) in a flash!

The marketing people from Chowking are very much hands-on. They entertained questions coming from the bloggers present. They also did some table-hopping to check on the bloggers which I took advantage to complain about the Chowking branch nearby (as in a stone throw away from our house, literally). They also shared about the story behind their Halo-halo and how Halo-halo finds it way to Chowking’s regular menu.

You can enjoy Chowking’s Halo-halo anytime (rain or shine)! You could choose from three sizes which are Half Dozen, Petite and Fiesta. If you want to add a little more sweetness to your Halo-halo, then add a scoop or two of ice cream.

Please do watch out for the video blog I would be posting on Jeric On The Tube about the event.

Other blog post/s:

Dianne – Chowking’s Halo-Halo Experience

SPOT.ph is the newest website about dining, drinking and going out in Manila with reviews posted by the users themselves. SPOT.ph is very generous enough to organize an exclusive food tour at TriNoma for bloggers. Jenny, Roxanne and I took part on the said food tour at TriNoma visiting and eating at a total of 21 restaurants for free. We were treated to the classiest restaurants around the Metro, which we can’t afford on our own.

During the registration, I was rubbing elbows with Ms. Dine Racoma and her family but I never got the guts to introduce myself. Anyway, I belonged to Group 2 (the Green group) with Karl Bustamante, Community Editor of SPOT.ph as the group tour marshal. It is in Group 2 that I met Camille, Dak, Dexter and his wife, Maki, and others whom I didn’t talk with really but I recognized them. Let me borrow Janina San Miguel’s word. I am sorry. This is my first bloggers event ever! Hahahahaha!

More photos at my Multiply

I will not elaborate more on each and every restaurant that we visited but instead I’ll blog on the ones whom I liked and hated (kidding).

Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday is known for simple and fresh American dining. They served us Cheddar Fries, Tortilla Chips and Baby Back Ribs (if I’m not mistaken). Sorry but I don’t pay much attention to the names of the dishes. Anyway, who doesn’t love cheese? The Cheddar Fries is perfect for those who love fries and cheese. The Tortilla Chips is actually fine with their special dip, which I don’t know how they called. I love their Baby Back Ribs though I heard some who didn’t like it.

Ruby Tuesday is located at 4001, Level 4, TriNoma, EDSA corner North Avenue, Quezon City with telephone numbers 909-4005 and fax number 909-4006.

CYMA
I’ve never been to any Greek restaurants nor did I eat any Greek food. In fact, I didn’t know that Cyma is actually a Greek restaurant until Robby Goco the ever-accommodating Executive Chef introduced us to their restaurant. Robby explained to us how Filipinos and Greeks were similar in terms of food. In fact, Cyma is the MOST generous of all the restaurants that we’ve been to. They offered us more or less five dishes. I asked for their menu and I was surprised to see how affordable their dishes are. I love the some sort of salad that they served us. I would be really glad to return to Cyma.

CYMA is located at 4002A, Level 4, TriNoma, Quezon City with telefax number at 915-2859.

Bubba Gump
Bubba Gump got really nice interiors and of course great food. Their Strawberry Lemonade is really refreshing. They were nice to give bloggers ID Lace and Notepad.

Bubba Gump is located at Level 4, TriNoma, Quezon City with telephone numbers 916-9314 and 916-9319.

Fish & Co.
If you are a seafood lover then Fish & Co. is the place to go. You should try their gigantic mussels with a very creamy sauce and their fish nuggets.

Cold Rock Ice Creamy
Ice creams are best for this summer season and Cold Rock Ice Creamy is the best place to get them. In Cold Rock Ice Creamy, you are free to select what toppings you want on your ice cream. I tried the Bubblegum flavored ice cream with Nerds and Gummy Bears as toppings. It’s really a great experience!

Cold Rock Ice Creamy can be found at the Cinema area of TriNoma.

Anyway, major shoutout and link love to all the restaurants that we’ve been to! La Maison, Recipes by Café Metro, The Madison Grill, Bubba Gump, Cyma, Café Breton, Fish & Co., Italianni’s, Holy Cow Chop House, Jack’s Loft, Ruby Tuesday, Red Box, Starbucks, TGIF, Cold Rock Ice Creamy, Five Cows, Abe, Haiku and Krispy Kreme!

Thanks to SPOT.ph Team for the very nice and fun food tour. I nearly vomited (kidding)! Looking forward to more bloggers event.

For this episode of Starbucks Trivia, we would be talking about the “lost” Rhumba drink by Starbucks.

One night during our regular Starbucks hangout with my siblings Dianne and Roxanne at Serendra, I asked the barista what happened to the Rhumba drink. There are two reasons why I asked the said question. First, I’m really curious about what happened to the drink for it is my favorite drink. Second, I want to test the barista’s knowledge (forgive me).

So, yeah, the barista knows the answer!

The barista told me something like this:

The Rhumba Drink got replaced by a new drink called Java Chip (which I’ve tried a lot of times). The ingredients are still the same except for one – the added “treat” on the drink. Rhumba has coffee bits on it while Java Chip got chocolate chips on it. The barista didn’t disclose the real reason behind why it was replaced by this Java Chip. Although I like the taste of Java Chip (almost the same with Rhumba) it would be nice seeing the Rhumba on their menu again.

GOOD NEWS to everyone! For those who failed to claim their Starbucks 2008 Planner because of insufficient stickers, Starbucks has extended the Starbucks 2008 Promo until February 15, 2008. Hurry now and complete those planner stickers!

*Thanks to Liangcai of flickr for the Rhumba picture

Last April 29, 2007 our family tried out eating desserts at SugarNot, SM The Block which I’ve read about at http://pinoyfood.nimrodel.net/. Sugarnot sells sugar-free, low-carb and low-fat desserts. My family has a history of diabetes so we should be more cautious on what we eat especially the sweets. Therefore, SugarNot was worth trying although the desserts are quite pricey. Well, if you’re used on eating pastries on coffee shops like Starbucks the price range of SugarNot’s desserts are almost the same. I’ve taken photos so check them out after the jump.

My older sister, Dianne while she waits for her order anxiously.

Cafe Mauro’s Hot Chocolate ordered by Roxanne

And now, the dessert! We ordered, The Last Temptation, The Ultimate Temptation, Silvanas together with our iced coffee. The desserts are served on an a super super super big plates.

The Last Temptation (Sometimes, I could taste the olive oil on this. )

The Ultimate Temptation (I really like this one!)

I failed to take pictures of the rest of our order. So that’s it for now Enjoy the mouth-watering pictures! By the way, this is not a sponsored post.

Here’s Roxanne spreading some butter on her toasted bread. I might start a food blog as well? maybe… I want a Flickr PRO account. I hope someone would sponsor me (Mom, are you reading my blog? – JUST KIDDING!).