Dimsum, Savory Meals and Afternoon Tea at MODERN SHANG

It's like clockwork to go to MODERN SHANG after church or just strolling around the mall for the love of dimsum and savory meals. You know you're going to a legit one when much of the diners are actual Chinese and see them enjoy the meals in store. Recently, they're given us much more reason to go there as they launch their "Afternoon Tea" that only costs Php 400- Php 600 and is already good for 2-4 people. With dimsum, noodles, even pudgy dessert items, it can surely fill you up without breaking the bank.

These were what we tried at the MODERN SHANG branch in Greenbelt 5 a few days ago. They spruced up the place and I must say, the modern Chinese French look felt quite bougie, I liked it a lot. You won't be disappointed bringing in friends and family because by any standards, they'll find it cool. The food too is pretty solid, as they've been doing these for several years, I think they've had the hang of things early on and made sure their dimsum choices are above grade. I actually had seconds on some of them and contemplated to have a few more because it was that good.

Vegetable Dumplings

Meat Buns

Har Gow

Chicken Feet

Shrimp and Pork Siu Mai

Salted Egg Custard Bun

Xiao Long Bao

My personal favorite, the Hot and Sour Soup

Salted Egg Shrimp (ordered a la carte)

They've got good drinks too, this was Citrus and Mint.

The Afternoon Tea sets cost almost Php 600 and can save you almost Php 300

There's really more on the menu but I think they'll make a hit with the "Afternoon Tea" meals they have listed on it. It's got the right amount of protein and carbs, dimsum items that anyone would find filling at that price.This is only served from 3-6PM on weekdays, totally worth it.

MODERN SHANG is at the Greenbelt 5's 2nd Floor, They also have branches around Metro Manila which serve the same menu, but I would strongly suggest you give this branch a visit. It looks fresh and modern, and your family will love it too!

New BEEF CARNITAS Offers at TACO BELL Philippines

I've always loved my weekly Burrito fix at TACO BELL in Gateway Mall Araneta City. I don't usually eat alone, but when I do, I make sure it's going to be with real comfort food. But of course, the pandemic happened. I am so thankful that they remained in operation and deliver well loved Taco Bell items to my own home via their 8911-11-11 and delivery apps where available. Now I've been a beef lover all my life, and as a treat for people like me, Taco Bell is now putting Beef Carnitas in Burritos and Quesadillas on a limited time til October 18, 2021. 

 

 

Imagine Beef that's slow cooked, mixed in with spices, garlic sauce and a hint of sweetness. They got that all wrapped up with your rice, veggies and made Taco Bell Beef Carnitas Burrito. If you prefer something that's enveloped in melted cheese and flour tortilla, go for the Taco Bell Beef Carnitas Quesadilla. It's available in meals, add Php 70 for Nacho Sprinkles and 16oz soda too. If you want the Beef Carnitas Burrito Big Bell Box that only costs Php 299, it's got a Beef Carnitas Burrito,  Crunchy Taco, Nacho Sprinkles, Cinnamon Twists and 16-oz soda. If you prefer an even bigger meal, go for the Php 369 Beef Carnitas Quesadilla Big Bell Box that comes with a Beef Carnitas Quesadilla, a serving each of Fiesta Potatoes, Nacho Sprinkles, Cinnamon Twists and 16-oz soda.

If you're a fan of intense beef flavor, this definitely hits the spot. The sides you see have always been a staple in Taco Bell meals so that's a given. You'll save a lot when you get them on these Big Bell packages so might as well order them like that. Take a bite of it today and say Live Mas!

BTS Meal, Spotify and VIU, Better Deals with PayMaya

I forgot one thing during the BTS meal launch a couple days ago, that things are better with Paymaya. If you are into KPOP, K-Drama or anything Korean, you would have made your spending smarter if you were doing K-Maya.Using your Paymaya credits to pay for the BTS Meal, subscription for your Spotify Premium and VIU would have been beneficial for you instead of just paying cash.

For BTS Meals, go take your 50% cashback reward of up to P135 when you pay for it using your tied up mobile number if you have a minimum spend of P270 (so buy more than just the meal to qualify). Log in on your Paymaya App, then proceed to the "Maya Mall" section. Choose Food then McDonald’s from the stores listed, then order the BTS meal. Click on the option to pay for it via Paymaya. You should get a voucher right after the transaction. You have to claim it via the Voucher section. Make sure you do these transactions from July 5-8 and 12-15, 2021.

Aside from that, paying for your Spotify subscription can now be done online at spotify.com/premium. Just choose the plan you prefer and make sure you choose Paymaya as payment option and you can be done in a few clicks. No need to go out and be in the midst of danger. If you fancy the streaming platform of VIU, just go to the Paymaya app and choose "Treats" on the interface. Search for the word VIU and select the package you would want to avail for your subscription. Use the VIU app to watch countless titles of Korean drama and enjoy binge watching the whole day without going out and paying for it in a physical store.

Those cash backs are no joke. You save money, it's convenient and you're safe at home. Download the Paymaya app today and see why tons of people are enjoying the life with Paymaya!

Figaro Releases "Blissful Holiday" Drinks and Meals

Had the chance to visit Figaro in Tomas Morato a few days ago together with some other bloggers as they introduced new holiday meals and drinks this season, they call it Blissful Holiday. I tried them all so don't be surprised why I'm fat for crying out loud LOL. Anyway, here's what we had :)

The Chicken Galantine Canneloni is much like our favorite chicken dish but it's stuffed inside Canneloni pasta and laid in with a chunky tomato based sauce with basil and parmesan cheese. It's hearty and filling, but more on the tangy side. This costs 189 and would be perfect with any cold drink I presume.

The Chicken Mushroom Cannelloni on the other hand is more creamy. For those who prefer a not to acidic kind of dinner, then this would be it. The mushroom bits are mixed into the chicken and stuffed inside the cannelloni pasta too. I think they sauteed that before pouring a little cream on top. This is my favorite. They make it al dente so you can still feel the pasta  when you bite into it.

For those who want a more filling plate, this is their Chicken Roulade Plate. It's got fried chicken breast rolled and breaded with meaty filling inside. It is served with a side of Arrabbiata, Pesto, Al Tonno or Carbonara. It's good for 2 actually, but if you're like me that can actually have a big meal... go ahead and make my day! This costs 249, a bit good for how big of a meal this is. Then, here's the drinks!

This is Hazelnut Cinnamon done three ways. One is a Jelly Float, the other is a latte, and my favorite is the Frost! It's all good, very affordable too and you kinda get the spice in the drinks so in a nutshell, it's christmasy if there's a term for that.

Premium Salted Caramel - my personal favorite among the cakes and pastries served that evening. It's deceiving because you think it's going to be chocolatey but no, it's more on the caramel side of things and it's really good.

For those who don't like it sweet, the Light Ginger Bread Loaf may be your best option. It's fluffy, like a soft gingerbread man and would be perfect with black coffee. I like that they stayed with the taste that would probably be more English if that makes sense. 

For those who love those sweet fruit bits on fruit cakes, this Fruit Loaf Mini is something that you would also like. It's like a lighter version of fruit cake but you get those intense bits of fruit you love in fruit cakes. I know that sounded a bit redundant but that's what it actually really tastes like. Yes this also has rum on it, but not going to make you buzzed after a piece or two. It's nice for those Frost drinks they have in the store. Order more!

 For those who want a combination of sweet and tangy, they've got this Fruit Forest Cheese Cake. It's baked cheesecake topped with whipped cream and layers of fruit cream and 5 kinds of berries. I think it was strawberries, raspberries, blue berries, black berries, red currant. I liked this one too. Have hot coffee with this one instead so it'll contrast with the cold cheesecake. Trust me on hot Hazelnut Cinnamon coffee.

Here's what happened during the small event at Figaro in Tomas Morato:


Figaro Blissful Holiday by kumagcow

For those who love merchandise, Figaro can give you the Figaro Notebook, Ribbed Tumbler, Vacuum Flask, Yellow Stainless Tumbler, Magic Mug, Coffee Belt mugs, Bean Map Mug and Mask Mug available all year and you don't have to collect stickers anymore to get it. Cool right? Aside from that, they've got Gift Certificates. It's the best thing to give if you're near a Figaro Branch and your office mates would just use it for their everyday coffee dose. It's available in 100 and 500 denominations, so no need to worry if you're out of ideas. They can decide themselves and get the best coffee at Figaro.

It'll only be available this holiday season so if you've got spare time, visit a store or branch near you!

For more information about their products:

Figaro Coffee Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.figarocoffee.com/

Saved in Traffic with Meals and Shopping by #SmartLife

Last night was a little stressful for me. I got trapped right in the middle of Ortigas because of Fake Friday aka second coming of carmageddon in Edsa. There were tons of commuters on the street and I couldn't even get a cab at that hour. I couldn't call people at home and force them to fetch me in the middle of all that crazy traffic. I was able to go home later on using UBER, had a fancy ride as well. When I was in the mall I didn't have that much cash with me and I don't really carry much on purpose for safety reasons. Good thing I had my phone around, it made things very easy.

UBER got me home in minutes, but when I was waiting in Shangrila, Megamall and Robinsons Galleria, I had time to shop and have dinner first so I wouldn't lose my mind. My phone is my life, just what the rest of you secretly declare when no one's around LOL. So when the need came to use my card, I was glad that I just had to wave my phone at any McDonalds branch in Megmall. It felt like some entity was taking care of me, and I got dinner by just tapping my phone in their Visa PayWave machine. Isn't that just convenient?

If you haven't heard of Charge 2 Phone, you're living under a rock. The technology seemed to have been in the Philippines since January. Smart and Sun Cellular just made it very convenient for us to live life by partnering with Citi Philippines and Voyager Solutions. You can apply for the Citi Rewards Card at www.citibank.com.ph or any Smart and Sun Business Center. It's EXCLUSIVE for us who are in these awesome networks. If you're already an existing postpaid subscriber, apply for a Freedom Plan with Smart so you can get this on stickered on your phone. Yes, it's NFC Technology!

There are also a lot of other things you can do with Charge2Phone if you're shopping. You can watch movies in Megaworld Lifestyle Malls plus a lot of other merchants that are in the pipeline real soon. Promising? That's not even the word to describe this, as it could totally change the purchasing and shopping landscape real soon.

You can restrict payments on your phone for a lower amount so if it gets lost, you won't have those unscrupulous people use it. You can also have it easily blocked when you need to by calling Citi's 24 hour hotline and Smart/Sun. You can still use the Citi Rewards Card though if you're planning to purchase more than that, now that's very convenient for online shopping too. For more details, please check out their website https://charge2phone.com or http://www.smart.com.ph/smartlife. This is Convenience Everywhere that you won't probably get from other networks. Don't say I didn't tell you about it!

For more information about their services:

Smart Communications

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Visit their official website

http://www.smart.com.ph/smartlife

Minions Take Over McDonalds Stores Today!

Ooohhh.. It looks like the Minions are taking over Mc Donald's stores in the Philippines for real. I was one of the few who got minionized when they launched Minions Banana Festival. Not only have they released 10 new Minions Collectibles for Happy Meal toys, they're also releasing on June 26th new Minion themed desserts in all McDonalds stores nationwide! 

Check out their newest offerings!

After the Minions drum roll, you've just seen the new Minions Honey Banana Mc Float, you can get it for Php 65 in the Minions Medium Fries 'N McFlpat Combo. Aside from that, they've got the Minions Medium Fries and McFlurry Combo where you can choose the Banana McFlurry with Oreo or the Banana Crumble McFlurry flavors too! Of you're not done yet, you should try the Minions Banana McDip which only costs Php 15 for every serving. If you're bringing the whole barkada, you should get the Minions BFF Fries and McFloat Combo for Php165 or the Minions BFF Fries and McFlurry Combo which costs Php225 only! I tasted everything last week and I must say, it's not just cute, it's super good especially the float! :) 

If you're not doing anything today, head on to McDonalds stores and get your Minions drink and dessert fix today!

For more information about their products:

Mc Donalds Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://McDonalds.com.ph/

QC Food Crawl: Figaro

Social media does do wonders. As I was reading through my timeline, I found out my friend and co blogger Azrael Coladilla was in Quezon City. He was in the Tomas Morato are in fact. I live nearby so when he wanted to have an impromptu food crawl in this area, I went in and showed them around. Kamuning is such a small town but I've got small joints here that I know would be of some interest to writers and bloggers. There's not much content, so we went to Figaro Tomas Morato to meet first. 

Unknown to many, Figaro is my office. I don't want to tell people about it that much because I'll lose the charm it has for me. The low foot traffic, the strong wifi and the available outlet on my favorite seat. I can charge stuff or stick my laptop if it runs out of battery. Other than that, the coffee choices are enormous and the food, you can choose rice meals, pastries or cakes and they all have it. You just have to make up your mind. Although I'm regretting you about this place in Tomas Morato, I guess if you're around the area you might as well pay a visit. After all, it's not like the other popular coffee chain on the other street that's so crowded and have pricey wifi. Let's start with the food shall we?

We had refreshments first. Figaro's Iced Tea was first on the list. It's very tangy than the usual Iced Tea and pretty affordable. If you're not into coffees, then I suggest you have this. If you don't like iced teas and went here for coffee, take this other drink below.

It's Figaro's Freshly Brewed Coffee. Of course it's one of their best sellers, they're a coffee shop for cryin out loud LOL. They serve this with the usual cream and sugar. We weren't there for this though, we had to have what they call the Favourite Meals.

This is Figaro's Beef Broccoli Stir Fry. It was good, although I would have loved to only have green broccoli with it. This one came with broccoli that's a little old so the flowerettes were a little yellow in the photo above. As for the taste, it was okay, the beef, the young corn and quail eggs on this dish had kept us happy because it was soft and perfect with the white rice. It's not too salty so if you're just in a hurry coming from your office and wanted to have lunch, Figaro can make you these dishes in a few minutes. Then there's another choice!

This one is Figaro's Salisbury Steak Burger. It's a burger patty smothered with Mushroom sauce on top. It's served with corn, carrots and peas on the side plus a cup of garlic rice. If you want something filling, this would be your best bet. Although some may find the mushroom a little salty, make sure you don't individually eat it and only have it with rice. It was made for that purpose I guess. All of these meals will be served with a glass of iced tea so you can grab em and go. If you don't like lunch this way, they serve breakfast meals too!

My personal favorite is this, Figaro's Gourmet Tuyo in Olive Oil. If some may find this salty, Tuyo is in the first place salted fish. It's soft and briny, mix it with the runny egg yolk and a spoonful of garlic fried rice, you'll have a great meal right there. You don't have to have this on a date, but if you're looking for something homey, something that would be comforting, this Gourmet Tuyo would be your choice. Trust me on this one because even those of my friends who were complaining it was salty suddenly found themselves finishing all the plate! It is good.

For what it's worth, Figaro has some of the best sandwiches and pastas too. If you're looking for something new than the ordinary sandwiches and cakes the other more popular coffee shops offer, then make your next lunch or breakfast be at Figaro in Tomas Morato. If you're there to occupy my table in front of the counter, please do it some place else LOL, don't disturb me too while I'm working! Ha!

For more information about their products:

Figaro Coffee Company

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://www.figarocoffee.com/