Mega Food Tour 2.0: Nine Stops of Megamalls Finest Eats

I've raved about the greatness of the first Mega Food Tour, well, now its even better with the Mega Food Tour 2.0.  Experience Megamall's nine finest, newest and hottest eats. 

Be part of the Mega Food Tour 2.0 with the Mercato Centrale Food Group and Our Awesome Planet on Septermber 29 and 30, 2014 by once again just taking food pics from any SM Megamall restaurant.  Follow, tag @sm megamall #MegaFoodTour2.0 and post your best photo on instagram from Sept. 19 to 27, 2014.

So here's a sneak peak of what's in store for you.

1st Stop: Linguini Fini

Straccetti di Manzo

Linguini Fini is a Hong Kong-based international franchise serving authentic Italian fare by using organic ingredients and applying its nose-to-tail philosophy as their distinct edge. Thus, you are assured of a bold, fresh, and clean flavors from the best ingredients prepared the traditional way.

Porchetta

Nose to Tail Bolo

This is definitely the best stop!

2nd Stop: Rosanjin

Rosanjin is named after Japanese artist particularly a potter and calligrapher, Rosanjin Kitaoji.
He is also a well-know gourmet whose quest for good food made of quality ingredients was extraordinary that he opened a high-end restaurant for members only in Tokyo.  He makes use of his artistically-made ceramic potter.

3rd Stop: Ippudo

Ippudo having earned rave reviews from Zagat and received the acclaimed Yelp 2010 Best Restaurant in the USA, is now here in Manila to raise the standards of Philippine ramen culture.  Ippudo lets you in to the secret of finding that perfect bowl with its broth, noodles, chashu and ajikukage.

4th Stop: Cupcakes by Sonja

Cupcakes by Sonja and its famous Red Velvet Cupcakes needs no further introduction as its one of the pioneer cupcakes store here in the Philippines.

5th Stop: Tim Ho Wan

A repeat inclusion in the tour is Tim Ho Wan.  It's so good you'd want to try their buns as much as you can!

6th Stop: Triple O's by White Spot

Canada’s very first drive-in restaurant, Triple O's by White Spot and claims to have the “sauciest, juiciest, tastiest, bestest burgers around” is now in Manila!  Aside from its Megamall Atrium branch, it will also open on October 23 at SM Aura Premier. 

7th Stop: Eri Curry

Eri Curry is a curry shop customized for the Filipino taste buds.  It also allows customization in its meals by choosing your spiciness level and toppings.

8th Stop: Kool Kids Ice Cream

Kool Kids Ice Cream is no ordinary ice cream as it is made from Nitrogen.  This is their second branch.  The pioneer branch being in Kapitolyo.

9th Stop: Mochicreme Cafe:

Mochicreme Cafe offers delicious matcha sweet treats and drinks with a nice and comfy ambiance.

So what are you waiting for?  Keep on taking your photos and join now!

Tous Les Jours Opens at Trinoma

Tous Les Jours opens at the lobby level of Trinoma in Quezon City.  The store marks the opening of its 14th store in the Philippines.

I'm glad we were invited to witness the opening celebration.

As opening guests, we were given the chance to have a bread buffet.  While the first 100 customers were given a free heart-shaped cookies without any minimum purchase requirement.

If course, we picked our usual favorites and tried new ones too.

We also watched a decorating demo by the Zombettes' Ornusa Cadness and Sanya Smith together with TLJ's esteemed cake decorating specialist, Kelly Mambong.  They successfully decorated the Tous les Jours Rose Inspiration Fresh Cream Cake with ease.

Like the Jazz Mall branch, this also has a cafe-style dining area.  This is very convenient since it's near the Trinoma drop off point so you can chill there while waiting.

With more branches, Tous Les Jours freshly baked breads are more accessible to its growing number of loyal customers.

Tous Les Jours
Email: feedback@tlj.ph  
Website

Using Sparklers for Wedding Ceremonies

Pyrotechnics vendors may ask event planners to "contact us" for the sparklers that add a bit of magic to a wedding ceremony. They are a step above the tossing of rose petals or the releasing of butterflies. As handheld treats, sparklers are a way for everyone in the audience to participate in the ceremony. There are other applications, however, where they seem to make their biggest light.

Some brides and grooms choose to put their sparklers on the wedding cake. This moment is one of the highlights of the reception. It is the time for iconic photographs and the bride and groom to have some playful interaction with one another. What better way to signal the arrival of this moment than with sparklers fizzing from the cake. It heightens the excitement of the guests.

Another way to use sparklers for a wedding ceremony is to signal the send-off of the bride and groom after the reception is over. Whether there is a limousine waiting or the couple has a car of its own, sparklers can light the path the leads away from the festivities. This is an installation that should probably be completed by a professional who understands local fireworks laws and who is trained in pyrotechnics safety. Sparklers should be kept away from high grass and flammable materials, and they should never be left unattended.

One other way sparklers have been used by wedding attendees is on the dance floor. It is romantic to see couples moving lights across the floor as music plays gently in the background. This can make the guests feel like they are having their first dance along with the bride and groom.

BGC Eats Food Tour 2014: Food Photography with Mylene Chung and Healthy Eats with Denise Celdran

My friends and I had a great time with the BGC Eats Food Tour last year so we made spontaneous purchases to be able to join.

We were able to join two out of four food tour slots: Food Photography with Mylene Chung and Healthy Eats with Denise Celdran

Food Photography with Mylene Chung
We opted for this schedule because we have high regards for Mylene Chung of Pepper.ph.  We figured among the expert guests, she would be the one with the best picks.  Like all BGC Eats Food Tour, the main guide is still JJ Yulo.

1st Stop: Orale!
Orale! was undergoing renovation so we were just given packed tacos. 

2nd Stop: Sarsa
Most of our time was spent in Sarsa.  I've heard a lot of buzz around Sarsa so I'm glad this was chosen.  Each dish served is to be divided among 6 BGC Eats Food Tourist.
 

Crispy Panara Rolls

Crispy Dilis

Liempo-Q

Inasal Tofu

3rd Stop: Tipple & Slaw
We hardly rode the bus because the next 2 stops were also in Forum South Global where Sarsa is also located.  Tipple & Slaw looks like a bar.  For each 4-5 seater table, we shared one dish.  Everyone enjoyed all the dishes and drinks served. 

Salmon and Dill

Chicken Nuggets

Poutine

House Blend Iced Tea

4th Stop: Marmalade Kitchen
We all had high hopes and expectations from Marmalade Kitchen because of the great interiors of the place.  Sad to say, not one of the treats served was able to meet our expectations.

This is the first time I've seen so many cookies that tasted similarly sugar and flour.

I liked this the most although a bit sweet.

Healthy Eats with Denise Celdran
I enjoyed the Healthy Eats better than the first.  It's technically not healthy but they do give healthy or at least healthier tips along the way.  Plus, it had 5 stops instead of the normal 4.

1st Stop: Salo
Salo offers very affordable meals.  It is located where Shawarma Guy used to be.  One dish is shared by 4-5 persons.

Kamote Chips

Adobong Kangkong

Tokwa't Baboy

Tuyosilog

2nd Stop:Soy Yummy
Everyone enjoyed Soy Yummy.  We all had a cup of our chosen flavor.  It's my first time to try it.  It's so delicious!

3rd Stop: Suzhou
Our most fulfilling stop is Suzhou!  We were served so many delicious dishes that it was us who surrendered.

Sour and Hot Soup

Scallion Pancake

Fried Noodles

Kuchay Dumplings

Salt and Pepper Tofu

Fortune Cookie

4th Stop: Phat Pho
Phat Pho complied with the healthiness.  It was also delicious.  I'll be back for their phos and banh mi.

Chicken Satay and Rice Paper Rolls Chilled Shrimp

Calamansi

5th Stop: Crisp on the 28th
Crisp on the 28th is another restaurant from Erwann Heussaff...  This just opened a few weeks ago so we're really to have one of the first dibs on it.  Everything was so good albeit pricey-looking.  We were all so full at this point.  But, the food was irresistible so we all tried it but were no longer able to finish them all.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed BGC Eats Food Tour 2014!  I can't wait for next year.

5 Home-Based Business Ideas for Techies

Many people choose to work for an employer rather than for themselves because they believe that they need the security of a regular income. However, there are a few who have a burning desire to be in charge of their own destiny and it is these people who strive to start a business of their own instead of working for another company. If you are determined to strike out on your own and are a technology enthusiast, one of the following business ideas may be worth considering.

1.    Servicing laptops. This is ideal for home workers because the vast majority of clients will require a home visit, which means that there is no need to rent an impressive office in an expensive part of town. Online advertising would probably be the cheapest method of attracting new customers although there is no reason why you cannot distribute leaflets and brochures in your local area too. You will of course need to have the necessary skills to carry out repairs on notebook computers so it is not something that everybody can do.

2.    Designing websites. For creative people who also have a working knowledge of HTML and other technologies commonly employed on websites, this could be a very convenient way to start building a business from home. Because all the work can be delivered online, there is no need to restrict yourself to local customers when starting a business of this nature. As long as you are able to communicate with potential clients in their native language, you can provide a website design service that spans the globe.

3.    Installing home security systems. Now that many systems are built around IP cameras, which communicate with a centrally located server using standard computer network protocols, any techie with a working knowledge of how to put a small home network together could possibly install residential security systems. Many people are worried about protecting their home from burglars when they are out so there is a strong demand for such systems. If you like the idea of starting your own home security business, you will probably need to study the systems that are already available and adapt them to meet the needs of individual customers rather than designing your own systems from scratch.

4.    Troubleshooting software issues on desktop and laptop computers. Many people use a PC on a daily basis but as soon as something goes wrong with their machines, they have very little idea of how to fix the problem. If you are used to installing new programs, tinkering with the settings and finding solutions to any issues that arise with the operation of the applications you use, this potentially lucrative business idea could be worth considering. Advertising for customers would again mostly be carried out online, in order to keep your start-up costs to a minimum.

5.    Repairing mobile phones.  The growing number of people that use smartphones on a daily basis makes this business idea one that could provide you with a decent income for many years to come. There are various technical courses that you can attend to learn about the inner workings of smartphones if you are not already proficient at repairing them and if you promote your new venture efficiently, you could recoup the cost of these courses in no time.

Starting a new business is definitely not for everybody but for those who wish to build an income stream that allows them the freedom to stop working for other people, it is the only viable option and one that can be very rewarding in the long run.

---

Raiza Pepino is writing on a freelance basis for Regus in the Philippines. They are one of the top providers of video conferencing solutions along with serviced offices for rent. You can see some of her works via Google+ and Twitter.