Lauren surprised us last sunday with a box of cupcakes from Gonuts Donuts. It got me thinking that they were trying to grab a chunk of the market share from Cupcakes by Sonja. I opened the box and found six neatly arranged cupcakes with very attractive colors. I wondered if their cupcakes taste as good as it looks.
I am sure a lot of bloggers appreciate the the largest bloggers party to date. It’s no joke organizing a party event for the 400 bloggers and guests who made it yesterday. Our gracious host, Taste Asia made sure that cocktails, softdrinks and beer flowed freely just before the awards ceremonies started at 8:30 P. M. I was a bit surprised by the Green Tea though. I thought it was the usual green tea cold drink. To my horror, it contained 5% alcohol. Too late, I felt warm and dizzy after gulping the Green tea. The waiters shouldn’t have assumed that it was alright for some of us (allergic to alcohol people) to drink the Green Tea. Other than that, everyone seemed to be bubbly and in high spirits. After all, it’s not often we meet up with our fellow bloggers.
I first encounted Mrs. Fields Cookies because my sister, Lorna worked there shortly after her arrival in San Francisco. Then when Mrs. Fields arrived in the Philippines, I often bought the moist Chocolate Chip cookies from a small stall inside a mall. So when Jayvee announced the Second Coming and Formal Launch of Mrs. Fields, I was excited to learn that the concept is now a coffee shop. This year, Mrs. Fields reinvented herself to attract the coffee shop crowd into their new branches. Young couple Gerwyn and Sheryl See are the new master franchise owners of Mrs. Fields, having bought the old Mrs. Fields from the Arrietas. The first branch opened at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. The formal launch of the second branch was held yesterday at the corner of Manila Pavilion (the Old Starbucks) along UN Avenue, Manila. This branch isn’t open to the public until September 1. So watch out for it.
written by Butch Dado
Stalked by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado
I am considering undertaking a personal experiment which, if successful, would simplify my existence considerably.
It’s nothing earthshaking or revolutionary, but will make for a very interesting year of my life. For one entire year, I will source all my material needs for goods from one, and only one, place. Obviously, my spiritual and emotional sustenance will be provided for by family and church. But for the nourishment of my earthly body and other creature comforts, I will rely on a single source. And that would be the SM Hypermarket, a Philippines Supermarket located in Pasig City.
Would it be possible to spend an entire year without buying anything except what can be found in SM Hypermarket ? I believe so. It has everything I could conceivably need, from electronic gadgets to underwear.
The rules of the experiment will be simple. Nothing can be bought outside the hypermarket, except necessary goods or services (like specific medicines) which are not on the shelves. Even those must be within easy walking distance of the hypermarket. I want a one-stop shopping experience every week for one whole year and not feel deprived or bored.
Technorati Tags: Philippines Supermarket, SM Hypermarket
I didn’t know what to expect from a Champagne Breakfast as I am not too fond of anything with alcohol content. I often get allergies whenever I take more than 1/4 cup of any wine. But I was eager to learn as much as I needed to know about Champagne and wines if I plan to travel to Europe with my family. Dragging Lauren with me to the Press Launch of the Sommelier Selection at the Prince Albert Rotisserie in Manila Intercon , I checked the menu of the Champagne Breakfast.
Poached Eggs Benedictine with Hollandaise sauce Asparagus and Smoked Salmom
Crepes Filled with wood mushroons and mild goat cheese gratinated with Nutmeg Milk sauce
Baguio Strawberry Sorbert
Champagne Rose
Coffee or Tea
Mignardises
I wasn’t expecting much of the launch. I expected Jerome Philippon , the speaker to drone on and on about the product. I was in for a pleasant surprise. To look at Jerome Philippon one might see a cliché; the Frenchman selling wines. Then he opens his mouth: “I am a 21st century hunter gatherer.” And the illusion falls away.
“While French winemaking is still the best in the world, I cannot say the same for our marketing prowess.” Says Mr. Philippon,
“As a result, many Filipino wine drinkers believe that the good French wines are all quite expensive and that inexpensive French wines taste terrible.”
“The truth is that you can find exquisite French wines that are very reasonable if you know where to look. Of course there is always the opportunity for indulging in a very exclusive label but most of France only drinks those on special occasions. The rest of the time they enjoy the small locally made wines.”
Technorati Tags: Champagne, wines, Champagne Breakfast
It is said that Champagne breakfasts were invented by Russian Nobles visiting France, who would party all night with the bubbly and wake up in the morning still wanting more.
Around the world, Champagne is the drink of celebration; to be splashed about in glitzy events or popped on behalf of life’s headiest victories. For the French, though, Champagne represents something else entirely. Champagne is the ultimate aperitif to excite the taste buds served by the wealthy and the middle class alike before guests sit down at the table. “There is a caste system in France.” says Jerome Philippon of Sommelier Selection, “It is tolerated because it helps preserve parts of our culture” he continued “obviously the more elite champagnes only really grace the glasses of the society’s upper crust, but serving Champagne or sparkling wine as a pre-meal libation cuts across all social classes, whether you are in weekending in a country house or in a small apartment in Paris.” “The good news is that many of France’s more reasonable Champagnes are truly excellent. You just need to know where to look” said Mr. Philippon.
Origin Unknown
The origin of the Champagne method is under debate between Russia and France, there is little argument that France perfected the art. The unique process introduces double fermentation: one to make wine, the other to make bubbles.
Read our SM Hypermarket Writing Contest Entry entitled, A Shopping Adventure at the SM Hypermarket
SM Hypermarket is hosting another party for bloggers for August 23, 2007, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at the Taste Asia, SM Mall of Asia (beside SM Hypermarket)
Each blogger may bring one friend with them.
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