MARUGAME UDON Opens in the Philippines

The Japanese culture and food invasion continues with this new restaurant that just opened in BGC's B7 Section. Say hi to MARUGAME UDON.

A small private event happened a few weeks ago as Suyen Corporation adds another one to their throng of number 1 brands from Japan. Marugame Udon is the same namesake as with Marugame Seimen, and the ambiance alone could take you there without paying a single Yen or a 4 hour flight. You'll love the smell even from the outside of the establishment as they're probably preparing the fresh Udon and Tempura in their open kitchen.

What's mind boggling is the price of the food in this joint because it's not as pricey as I thought it would be. Japanese Udon and Ramen in the Philippines usually costs Php 400+, but they haven't even broken the 300 mark on their best sellers. 

To order, one has to line up and choose their Udon bowl. The open kitchen concept would let you get to know the person preparing your meal, either hot or cold, those udon noodles stay absolutely firm and springy.

The place can accomodate about 80 people in one go and the decor stayed absolutely genuine, much like a noodle shop on Tokyo or nearby prefectures. This would be instagrammable in every corner if it weren't for low light. I bet they did that because it's conducive for eating, rather than talk, you'll love your Udon bowls more.

If it weren't too busy that day I'd have this table right beside the kitchen, so I could do my favorite past time in the world, people watching.

There were about a hundred guests that evening including beauty queens, artists from ABSCBN and GMA, Instagrammers, influencers and bloggers. Of course the main man himself Ben Chan was there together with the executives, CEO of Marugame Seimen from Japan. They flew all the way here just for this!

Curry Rice - My heart skipped a beat after they served this on my table. I am so much of a fan of Japanese curry and this was hot, super thick just the way I liked it. The beef strips were soft, it was subtle, not overly spicy, laid over a heaping bowl of hot white rice. I loved this but they had other hits on the menu.

Tempura - They had tons of choices for the tempura. I had one, okay two of the Ebi (even if I was allergic I had to give in!), a few sticks of Chicken Karaage, the Vegetable Tempura plus Sweet Potatoes. They serve this freshly cooked, so don't forget to have this with your Udon Bowl. 

Gyudon Rice - You don't have to go far to get a bowl of full Umami goodness. I could taste a hint of sweet sake, dark soy  and smell it too. If you are finding comfort food with strips of beef, a little fat, this bowl of rice would be a good place to start. Make sure you have this as soon as they put it on your tray because it's best when it's piping hot. You don't even have to add anything but I tried this with Japanese chili oil that day and it was even better. I think I just like everything that's hot LOL.

Teriyaki Chickendon - This would be a great treat for kids who love anything sweet and savory on their food. Make sure you order this for them because it's tender and would make you full in a jiffy. This would also be best for take out since it won't get overcooked on your lunchboxes, and it's a pretty good deal for the price.  

Beef Ontama Bukkake Udon - You won't find anything fresher as these hand made noodles on their joint. They have researched and looked for the perfect flour available in the Philippines so they can recreate what they legitimately serve in Japan. Think of thick udon noodles served in a hot broth with soft strips of beef gyudon, caramelized onions with all the umami goodness in it plus soft cooked tamago which you can just poke as it envelopes each strand of udon on your bowl. It's super good, you'll instantly be a fan and know why it's number 1 in Japan. 

Now I don't want to just make you drool with these photos, I suggest you go to BGC's B7 section and look for Marugame Udon for the best Udon and Tempura in Manila. You get it for less than the price of other Japanese restaurants in Manila but get the legit taste of what's served in Japan, wouldn't that be a nice idea to have it during this long weekend? To know more about the restaurant, follow them on their social media accounts https://www.facebook.com/marugameph/ and http://instagram.com/marugameph on IG. I loved it, you will too!

Your Coffee Habit Is About to Change: Try MASKAPE

As a coffee drinking country, we've been more attuned to what's available. Some of which are just things that our parents got used to, or consume because of name recall, or things that are imported, thinking they are superior because they're well advertised using different famous personalities. There's nothing wrong with that, but I think there's good ones out there that doesn't have to cost that much. I couldn't put my finger on why they sometimes have to be priced high for instant coffees. I'm glad they're opening up the market for local companies and this one's nice. Have you heard of Maskape?

It's a new instant coffee brand from Mighty And Strong Foods Corporation, so this is manufactured locally. They use imported robusta beans, ground them up and get them blended with the right amount of sugar and cream to fit the taste of Filipino coffee drinkers. I like the fact that they have different variants to fit the different moods I had all week and yes, I like what I had even for less. I saved me a bit of money because it kept me from going out of coffee shops that serve good coffee for a hefty price. Yes you pay for the ambiance and all, but for practicality this is a good thing especially when it's raining like cats and dogs outside!

The Brown and Creamy variant had that light caramel taste you get when using brown sugar in coffee. This is what I'd like to have during breakfast, even just with bread alone. I am like most of you, I dip it into the hot coffee and eat it like a treat. This is pretty good but only costs Php 5 would you believe? 

For a little more strong caffeine kick, try the Maskape Strong and Rich variety. This would help those who need a little boost during long meetings, to at least keep you awake while everyone else is reporting. I know some who sleep when other people talk too much so I'm suggesting this to him!

Mom and Dad likes this White and Creamy one. I guess they want a more roasted smell and something that's extra creamy. I was already getting a bit nervous from tasting it all in one breakfast so I skipped this on this day and tried it the next day haha.. I guess that's how addicted I am to coffee.

For those who want it a little less creamy, the Maskape Original would be best. I think this is closer to the taste of that popular brand. I think it would be nice if you try this out in lieu of that because this costs less without disappointing you on flavor and aroma.

For purists like me, sometimes I don't want a lot of things in my coffee. For a more local flair, they've got this Maskape Barako Gold variety. Sure to wake you up in the morning and keep you awake during those crucial times, this has less sugar and no cream content. Perfect for those who want to keep it simple in the morning or night.

Now here's a brand that can get you all the coffee you need without breaking the bank. If you plan to stay at home and just make a cup or two while at work, try Maskape for a change because honestly, it doesn't need to be super expensive. Right?

Cooking with Gold Seas Tuna

I just received a care package a couple of weeks ago and I was so glad about it. What's inside you ask? It's my new favorite brand of tuna, it's called GOLD SEAS. I was there when they launched the product and even made Bento boxes on stage. I knew it was going to be easy to prepare meals with it because trust me, I've spent several days just eating canned stuff because Mom went on a vacation... I really had to device a way to make meals with just what's inside the pantry. Not because I don't have a choice, but I don't really have time to go to the market or grocery sometimes and we have to be resourceful you know.

I love that Gold Seas has different flavors. This is probably one of the things that could differentiate them from the other brands. I personally like the one with lemon, plus the spicy one. Plus the fact that they are responsibly fished, out in the South Pacific. They are canned fresh and fast just like this blog LOL. I also like the fact that their kind of tuna is a little more dense, like really meaty, even if you are obviously eating fish.

Tuna has been known to be a very good source of protein and Omega 3. You can also do a lot of recipes with it. It's like a blank canvas, add ingredients of your favorite dishes to this one and use Tuna instead of meat or poultry. It's already a healthy dish after that. Well for me, I believe in convenience... and I actually adore just having it plainly. I don't even have to cook and find ingredients anymore because it's already cooked that way on some of the cans. Curry? They have it. Want it spicy? They have some with Pepper and Chili. I thought it was sold about the same price but I found it a little pricier at SM when I bought it, but really, even if it is, I'd still have it because it's more compact than the other brand.

For breakfast I didn't even have to heat it up. I just open the can, put it on top of toasted bread and I'm good. It made me full in just a few minutes, no rice, I could even have it in the microwave and heat it up for 2 minutes and voila!

I had the Herb and Garlic, Indian Curry and Lemon and Pepper variants for lunch, you should too! You can purchase this now in leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide!

How To Prepare Effectively For Exams

Some treat summer as a time for holidays and the sun. As we all know, this is also the time for graduation. Exams also come and it's when everything else becomes a little more stressful. In every student's life, it's such a crucial moment when any writing essay service could not help. It becomes a time where you must learn to handle tons of tickets on your own.

An exam is always accompanied by considerable excitement. You just have to learn how not to be disturbed. Every student wants a good final score and bad ones need to cope with the teachers criticism and at least achieve a satisfactory assessment. Knowledge is not always enough for you to get the right kind of essay writing.


Here are some tips we would like to share with you, we hope this helps!
 

• Be optimistic. Exams are neither an enemy nor an instrument of torture, but a means of self-improvement and an opportunity to demonstrate their mental abilities. For such a complex and important work, proper conditions need to be created. Get rid of everything that you don't need. Get in touch with people home and ask nicely, so that you wouldn't be disturbed.

• View your materials and categorize them in terms of complexity. Choose topics that are most difficult for you and focus on them first. Preparation is effective only when you have enough energy. If you notice that you have read the sentences twice and have not understood anything, it's time to take a break. Relax for about 15-20 minutes.

Here's how you can do it step by step:

1. Set up a work place.
2. Hold near something bright and pleasant (images, souvenirs, etc.) that will raise your mood.
3. Thoroughly plan the preparation. Organize your work so that it coincides with your activity periods - in the morning or in the evening.
4. First, take the hardest material and work on it until it's mastered.
5. Do not forget to rest - take a ten-minute break every forty minutes of work.
6. Practice as often as possible using a variety of sample tasks and if you need find any writing tips, for  example at essaysreviewer.com  for your work.
7. In order not to lose your inspiration, encourage yourself to think that you are capable of getting an excellent score on the exams if you prepare accordingly.
8. Do not allow laziness, anxiety or secondary interests to divert you from training.
9. Explore different memorization methods and use the ones that suit you best.
10. Be sure to repeat reading the material you have made. We wouldn't want to forget it  when the exams happen. Prepare in advanced, without delay before the test or any writing exam. 

11. Do not work on the last night before the exam. You might get tired and come to the exams not in the best form. Devote your evening to your favorite affairs and do not stay up late.

It's clear that preparing for the exam is not that fun. This is a serious test, which may make or break your future. Sometimes, it is inevitably frightening. You don't want to be distracted by anything. Do not get tempted going out with friends and know your priorities. The task ahead needs to be completed and the longer you drag on, the less time will remain for your quality work. You should arrange training reasonably, in order to accomplish it all while less exhausted.

Follow the schedule and do not stop until you learned about the amount of material you have for a specific day. Prepare yourself well and test if you are apt for group studies. There are times that studying with friends help but most often than not, more time is usually spent on conversations than on studying. Choose your battles and make sure you are equipped well before you head on to war. Hope this helps!