Savor the authentic cantonese cuisine at Choi Garden SM Megamall

I grew up eating cantonese/chinese food with the family every Sunday after hearing a mass along Sta.Cruz, Manila.  We used to dine in at this undisclosed Chinese restaurant along Raon/Binondo Manila.  They served the best dimsum, pancit canton, mami, maki,  congee with chicken flakes and lemon chicken in the Chinese neighborhood. I always visit the place when Im craving for those that I have mentioned above.

I guess, my comfort food began with the chinese/cantonese food. Now, that Im older and work location covers  Makati, QC, and EDSA proper only. I have to say goodbye to my favorite Manila restaurants on weekdays. Im glad that Choi Garden offers the best of  comfort food and its located along SM Megamall.

I had the privilege of dining in at Choi Garden last week (Sept. 5) with the bloggers,and I got to make my own noodles and discovered the Best Asado Bun, it has the same taste and crunchiness the restaurant competitor offers but cheaper, so you dont have to pay more, and eat all the buns you want for the day or take it out.

 The best part is the Create your own shabu2 Noodles. Its fun because you have to create and mix-match what you like. Since Im experimental and like anything spicy I chose Szechuan Spicy Soup as my soup base. I picked gindara tofu, Hong Kong curry fishball and cheese fish bun and Hong Kong Noodle to complete my shabu2 noodles! Its the best mami I have just concocted.

Guests get to choose their type of Noodles (Hong Kong Noodle, Hong Kong Bihon, Ramen or Sotanghon), decide on their preferred Soup Base (Double Boiled Pork Bone or Szechuan Spicy Soup) and select their own 3 Toppings from the wide selection (Hong Kong Curry Fish Ball, Hong Kong Beef Ball, Gindara Tofu, Cheese Fish Bun, Sea Urchin Bun, Braised Pig Knuckle, Beef Brisket Tendon, BBQ Pork Asado and others) which comes with a Soy Egg, the Best Asado Bun and Choi Garden’s very own House Blend Iced Tea. Majority of the ingredients were imported from Hong Kong to maintain the quality and taste.

The humble beginnings of Choi Garden started with the unwavering passion of Mr. Choi Tak Pui, a Hong Kong based culinary expert, who yearned to bring the taste of Authentic Cantonese Cuisine into the Philippines. He has established his first restaurant in Annapolis, Greenhills; where the current Choi Garden main branch resides. Undeniably, Choi Garden Greenhills is a huge success to both the Chinese and Filipino Communities. This passion of Mr. Choi has spread out throughout the country as the branches of Choi Garden continue to expand.

Choi Garden SM Megamall was launched to indulge a bigger audience, as it introduced their casual dining style while still embodying the quality and exquisite taste of Authentic Cantonese Cuisine that is being carried by Choi Garden them self.

The Cantonese Culinary Team behind Choi Garden is composed of Hong Kong Chefs who possess numerous years of knowledge, skills and experience in perfecting their crafts. Their team is proud to offer their finest dishes that will surely bring delight to your taste buds and satisfaction to your stomachs.

Starting from their widely known Roasting Selection such as the tastefully prepared BBQ Pork Asado with Honey Sauce, to the flavourful and crispy skin of their Roasted Peking Duck and to their mouth-watering take to the Roasted Chicken, Live Seafood Selections such as the Steamed Live Grouper and Steamed Live Suahe, to their fulfilling serving of Chinese Baked Rice Meals and their Best Selling Dimsum Selection composed of their Best Asado Bun, Steamed Siomai, Steamed Hakaw, Pan Fried Radish Cake and Old Fashioned Steamed Machang among others.

Choi Garden SM Megamall also offers dishes that are good for sharing such as the Szechuan Hot and Sour Soup, Sweet and Sour Pork, Beef Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce and a whole lot more.

Aside from serving Authentic Cantonese Dishes, Choi Garden SM Megamall also came up with a fascinating and atypical new way of enjoying your usual noodles. This is by allowing their customers to create their own Shabu Shabu Noodle Bowl.

Choi Garden SM Megamall aims to be a place where customers get to feel and taste the Authentic Cantonese Cuisine at an affordable price.

Watch out for more exciting surprises and promos from Choi Garden SM Megamall.
Choi Garden SM Megamall is located at the Second Floor of Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. It is open daily from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/choigardenmegamall.
Follow us on Instagram @CHOIGARDENMEGAMALL.

Bento boxes and charaben tools are now available at Daiso Japan

(Daiso Japan has the tools you need for these fun hobbies)

Kyaraben or charaben  is an abbreviation for character bento, which is a character-shaped/designed bento or  a japanese artsy lunch boxes.

Charaben has been very famous and popular among Japanese moms and children for the last decade It has come out of mother’s love for their kids, to those who dont want to eat vegetables or fish, this is their fun and healthy way to make the kids eat nutritious food. Japanese kids love opening their lunch boxes and seeing cutesies charabens.

Ever wondered how the Japanese make those elaborate charaben (character bento) or those fancy cookies that are too cute to eat? Stop wondering and get cooking because Daiso Japan is having a “3 for P188” crazy combo on most baking and bento tools so you can get started with your new hobby.

Make your own cute  bento boxes with accessories and items from Daiso Japan 

Cute molds for baking and bento boxes from Daiso Japan

The popular price point store, home of all things kawaii, offers a complete array of colorful, cute and unique implements to help you bake like a pro and make your own beautiful bento. Also, every item in the store is very affordable which only means more reasons to engage in these stress-busting pastimes.

Cute molds for baking and bento boxes from Daiso Japan

You don’t need a lot of equipment to create a variety of baked products. Some basic tools such as cookie cutters, silicone cups and baking molds – plus a good splash of creativity – could go a long way in the kitchen. If you’re making cupcakes, don’t forget to put pastry bags in your cart for the icing on your cupcake!


  With Daiso Japan’s “3 for P188” crazy combo, you can save P25 per item as you build your collection of bento and baking tools. That’s a great deal, even lower than P88 per item for which Daiso Japan is known for!

Egg Mold:  You can create just about anything cute and kawaii with bento and baking items from Daiso Japan.  

Charaben, those cute bento meals that feature elaborate themes, were originally conceived to perk up the eating habits of preschool children in Japan. Today, it’s turned into a craze that goes beyond simple food preparation.

Sausage Mold Set  from Daiso Japan 

Kawaii items for baking and bento boxes enthusiasts at Daiso Japan

If you want to impress officemates or delight your kids with a visually appetizing lunch box, follow this simple step-by-step guide on how to put together a bento, Japanese style.

• Look for a container or a bento box where you will assemble your food in. Elongated ones are highly recommended as these can be divided into small sections for more variety in your meal.

Daiso Japan carries a wide selection of bento boxes in adorable designs for both young and old. Some even come with a two-piece cutlery like a spoon & fork or a fork& knife to keep the cute theme going.

• Pick up some food dividers and silicone cups that you will need to separate items, keeping wet food items from mixing with the dry ones.

Daiso Japan sells food dividers and lunch box sheets in an array of shapes, colors, and sizes that you can mix and match. Pick ones that are colorful for added visual impact.  Colorful sticks with cute fruit or animal “heads”, are a great way to keep small foods together and can also be bought at the store for 3 for P188. Aside from these, there are other adorable choices as well!

• Plan your meal. For a bento box that’s filling, it’s important to plan a balanced and well-portioned meal. Include veggies, fruits, some kind of protein, and carbs like rice or bread in your bento.

Rice wraps from Daiso Japann

• If you want to inject a theme, use cookie cutters and baking molds to create different characters out of eggs, bread, veggies, and fruits.

• Assemble your bento box. Carefully lay each item on the box, using dividers when necessary and making sure that everything is tightly packed.

Sounds like fun? Head over to Daiso Japan for more ideas on how you can take your hobby to the next level.

GrabCar PH Press Statement

As per Ms. Natasha Dawn S. Bautista, Head of GrabCar Philippines

GrabTaxi has always been committed to providing a better option for public transportation. We would like to apologize to commuters as not everyone was able to get a ride home via our service during the downpour last Tuesday, 8 September 2015.

Heavy rains resulted in traffic congestion and flooded areas all over Metro Manila. Many of our drivers were affected and got stranded, like the rest of Metro Manila, and were not able to  accept bookings as they were caught in the gridlock. The flooded road conditions also meant that they would have risked passenger safety and their cars breaking down.

We acknowledge, however, that we can still improve our passengers’ experience and are taking active steps to increase the number of bookings accepted, including:

• Release of a few app updates already lined up in the coming weeks to improve the algorithm of matching demand and supply, particularly during peak hours. Currently, availability of drivers can be more accurate and we are further developing the app to address that.

• Enforce stricter process of reprimanding drivers for the improper use of the app (i.e. not switching off app if unable to accept bookings) and remind them on the high service levels expected. We will not hesitate to investigate and deregister errant drivers. We urge passengers to rate our drivers and give proper feedback in our app so that we may be able to take corrective actions, if any.

• Review pricing model and effectiveness of the optional tip feature, while maintaining simplified fixed pricing for GrabCar passengers. The fixed pricing model was designed so that passengers don’t have to worry about unreasonable fares because of unforeseen circumstances like different route, traffic, or surge in demand. In the event that these happen, the tip function allows us to balance out high demand during low supply situations without forcing passengers to pay a surge. There have been varying viewpoints on the value of this feature, and we commit to reviewing it to better suit the market.

We will be meeting with the LTFRB to discuss in detail consumer needs and feedback around GrabTaxi/GrabCar and we will continuously improve our service to provide a safe and reliable service for passengers in Manila.



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Hotline number: 883-7100

Enfant PH celebrates 20th anniversary

The country’s leading baby brand, Enfant, kicked off its 20th anniversary by holding a one-day exposition recently held at the Glorietta Activity Center. The event, which featured the brand’s high quality products, was aimed at stressing the brand’s lead in the industry.

The free-for-all expo was packed with exciting surprises for the attendees, including big discounts on Enfant products, raffle draws of Enfant Gift Sets, and fun games for mommies and daddies.

“Parents want nothing but the best for their babies. We designed this event for the parents because we want to let them know the best quality products for their babies that are available in the market. Enfant offers a wide array of products perfect for their babies, especiallyfor newborns,” said Raina Lim, chief operating officer of Enfant Philippines.

Enfant highlighted in a fashion show its four clothing lines, namely, Basic Apparels, Debon by Enfant, Organic Line, and Gold. These apparels are 100% cotton and organic and are also certified NON-AZO, which guarantees that they are free from any harmful chemicals suspected by the World Health Organization to be cancer-causing.



Another take away from the event is learning from an expert and celebrity moms. Dr. Ivy B. Sevilla, an OB-GYN specialist, shared her expertise about having a baby by giving tips before, during, and after pregnancy, while celebrity moms Giselle Sanchez, LJ Moreno, Gladys Reyes, and Melissa Ricks shared tips on parenting, child development, and work-life balance. Enfant also introduced its newest mascots, Enzo and Ena, to the delight of the audience.

Apart from baby apparels, Enfant also offers FDA-approved pure and natural toiletries healthy for the babies.

It was in 1995 when the first Enfant branch was opened in the country. Entrepreneurs Richard and Grace Lim discovered the brand in one of their trips to Thailand, where it was originally established in 1984. They saw the potential of Enfant, which, during that time, was one of the leading brands in Thailand that offered best quality products for babies.

Since then, Enfant has become the trusted name for baby apparels and toiletries in the country, following the footsteps of Enfant Thailand which twice won the Trusted Brand Award by the readers of the Readers Digest Magazine in 2009 and 2011. After 20 successful years, it has nearly a hundred branches in all leading malls and supermarkets nationwide.


To know more about Enfant, visit www.enfant.com.ph and like its Facebook page ENFANT STORE or follow @ENFANTPHILIPPINES on Instagram to learn about its new products and promos.

A MIND ERASED, A BODY OF CLUES ‘Blindspot’ premieres on September 22

MANILA, September 10, 2015 – Do you know Jane Doe? Blindspot tells the story of a mysterious woman discovered inside a duffel bag in Times Square, New York City, completely naked except for hundreds of intricate tattoos – but she has no memory of who she is or how she got there.

However, there is one tattoo that is impossible to miss: The name of FBI agent Kurt Weller written across her back. Jane Doe (Jaimie Alexander, Thor), with the help of the FBI, then realizes that each creation on her body reveals a crime and a clue to her true identity. Weller (Sullivan Stapleton, Strike Back, 300: Rise of an Empire), with his FBI team and Assistant Director Mayfair (Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Without a Trace), then helps Jane piece together her past and solve a larger crime conspiracy one tattoo at a time.

Like missing puzzle pieces, Jane unveils a new skill or a hidden talent every day, without understanding how she got it. Meanwhile, Weller is drawn deeper, striving to make a connection and figuring out why they were brought together.

With this intriguing premise, Blindspot, Warner TV’s latest crime drama, premieres in the Philippines on September 22, 2015 at 9:50 pm, the same day as the US and global premiere.

“Blindspot is a great addition to Tuesday nights on Warner TV. Airing after the second season of Gotham and on the same day as the US, this crime drama is sure to captivate Filipino audiences. It’s an intriguing, compelling and dynamic TV, with plenty of twists and turns along the way,” said Marianne Lee, Channel Head of Warner TV and Turner International’s Vice President of General Entertainment Content.

Blindspot is the brainchild of executive producer Martin Gero who loved thrillers and treasure maps as a kid. “Her tattoos are a treasure map – but with all treasure maps, there needs to be an end point and there needs to be somebody who made it. As we go through the first season, we’re trying to figure out who did this and why. That is the central drive of the season,” he explained.

Warner TV is available on SKYcable Channel 77, SKYcable HD Channel 197, Cignal HD Channel 119, Destiny Cable (Digital) Channel 77, Destiny Cable (Analog) Channel 80, and Cable Link Channel 30. For more updates on the best in action, comedy and drama, follow on Facebook.com/WarnerTVAsia.

Teenweek PH 2015 focuses on teen-relevant themes addressing self-esteem, talent and confidence

I should say that the teenage years is the happiest in one's stage of life. You have the freedom to do anything nowadays, but you have to weigh the consequence, the advantages and disadvantages of your action. Thus, the Teenweek Ph celebrates its 3rd year and created to empower teens to be the best that they can be through edutainment programs.

Teenweek Ph 2015 recently tackled teen issues through a teacher-student set up last Sept 2, 2015 at Yardstick Cafe, Makati. The event was hosted by Ms. Nicole Andersson (acting as teacher)  and graced by Ms. Claudia Barretto, and sisters Vern and Verniece Enciso.

Teens today need all the help they can get, as they face changes and challenges, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Self-esteem and personal care are vital for the current generation to overcome these changes, while forging the road to future success.And with them every step of the way is #TeenWeekPH, to empower them to start shaping their future.

Now on its third year, #TeenWeekPH is back and bigger than ever! As part of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan, #TeenWeekPH aims to power up future-ready teens by giving them the confidence to shape their future.

Launched in 2013, #TeenWeekPH was created to empower teens to be the best they can be through workshops that focused on good personal hygiene and personal development, both of which lead to confidence. Over the past two years, #TeenWeekPH successfully improved teens’ personal care and hygiene habits. In fact, sixty percent of teens who joined the program started taking better care of themselves by using personal care products. And those who were already using products, started using the products more regularly, as part of their hygiene routine.

Beyond improving the hygiene habits of teens, #TeenweekPH is proven to give a positive impact on the outlook of teens. Results from the survey conducted after #TeenweekPH show that the teens have become more confident and have clearer ambitions through the program.

Students’ intent on pursuing higher education increased by 18% after their participation in #TeenweekPH. Students also said that they now think they have clearer dreams and ambitions because #TeenweekPH made them believe in themselves. Lastly, after #TeenweekPH, 28% more teens now believe that they are ready for the future. A simple tweet from Raneal (username: @iamrein22143) best captures the kind of impact #TeenweekPH has had on teens: “@TeenweekPH, thanks for coming up with something that all the teens can relate to, I appreciate that you’re there for all the teens.”

Because of its contribution to the welfare of Filipino teens, the program has been recognized by national and international award winning bodies such as the Anvil Awards, Tambuli Awards and the Asian Marketing Effectiveness and Strategy Awards (AMES) in Singapore.

Recognizing the positive impact #TeenWeekPH has had on the youth, in 2015, it is expanding to more areas in Visayas and Mindanao, and a total of 125 public and private schools nationally for a week of edutainment programs. Tailored to teen-relevant themes per day, #MoveUpMonday tackles teen life and goal setting, with a poster making activity while #TransformTuesday teaches teens to care for their skin with Pond’s and Master. #WorkItWednesday encourages teens to build their talents and confidence, with challenges from Rexona. #ThinkBigThursdayfocuses on dreams and ambitions, with untangling limitless possibilities and nothing to hide workshops fromCream Silk and CLEAR. And on #FutureFriday, students will learn the importance of building lasting friendships and relationships in their teenage years.

Along with the daily edutainment modules, a series of videos that tackle different aspects of teen life, #TeenWeekPH also introduces the Teen Talks, speeches given by informed and successful young men and women on topics such as self-esteem, talent and confidence, dreams and ambitions. Dubbed the Teen Council, speakers include basketball player and entrepreneur Chris Tiu, multi-awarded Filipina volleyball player Alyssa Valdez, and actor and dancer Enrique Gil, among others.

The week-long workshops will culminate in #TeenWeekPH Fairs that will be held in key cities nationwide. Co-created by teens and for teens, the #TeenWeekPH Fairs are an opportunity for teens to showcase and test their confidence, as they experience a whole day offun activities, booths and performances by special guests.

#TeenWeekPH ultimately aims to teach teens the importance of proper hygiene and personal development, so they gain the confidence they need to take charge of their own future.

For more information visit TeenWeekPH.com.

Meet Asia's Chocolate Prince; Chef Lawrence Cheong Jun Bo

I got an invite to chocolate truffle-making demonstration at the Academy of Pastry and Bakery Arts in Makati last Sept. 4. I said yes right away for I would like to witness how to make chocolate from scratch and a truffle at that.

Chef Lawrence Cheong Jun Bo, the 27-year old chocolate master from Malaysia, a winner of Coupe de la du Monde de Patisserie 2015 held in France, dubbed as the Asia's Chocolate Prince.

Chef Lawrence demonstrate before us the proper tempering, preparing, mixing  (how to make chocolate pieces glossy),

He teached us the proper way to chocolate crystallization, tempering and never ever use a wooden spoon to stir chocolate, because it retains odor and moisture, which will destroy the chocolate.

Chef Lawrence requires the use of thermometer to avoid over heating and keep track of temperature. and its a must to keep a clean kitchen when making chocolate,  do not let it come in contact with water while melting. Water droplets will cause it to turn hard or lumpy.

The other trivia is that I never knew that chocolate making would require the use of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol and dextrose, what I know is that  Sorbitol are present is some fruits.

The good thing is sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and dextrose are a popular choice for weight loss due to their reduced calorie content, and for diabetics due to their low glycemic index.

Chef Lawrence Cheong Jun Bo started his career from a humble bakery in Malaysia. With more than 10 years of experience in pastry and baking for various prominent hotels under the mentorship of the industry’s Master Chefs, he catapulted his career as Asia’s Chocolate Prince.

Chef Lawrence will be teaching Filipinos the techniques of a chocolate master. He is one of the many master chefs who come to teach at the Academy, which recently opened at the 4th floor of the Metro House Building in Gil Puyat, Makati.

If you want to enroll  in chocolate and pastry making and would like to meet Chef Lawrence Cheong Jun Bo in person go check the Academy of Pastry and Bakery Arts in Makati.

Chef Lawrence is one of the many Master Chefs from across the world, who are teaching at The Academy of Pastry and Bakery Arts Philippines. For the schedule of short and full-time courses, visit their website academyofpastryartsphilippines.com or contact the Academy at 0917-2039089 or 0947-7558979.

Seeds of happiness

Chocolate, he shares, is derived from the humble cacao beans of the Theobroma cacao tree that grows in places near the Equator. These seeds of happiness are covered with white pulp and grow inside a pod-like fruit.

Before the Europeans knew of its existence when the Spanish conquered Mexico in the 16th Century, chocolate was a cold bitter beverage mixed of roasted, ground and foamed cocoa called by South American Aztecs as xocolatlor bitter water.

In the middle of the 19th century, English Joseph Fry produced the first solid chocolate that we know today. In 1875, Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter gave the world milk chocolate by adding condensed milk to it.

So how is chocolate made? According to him, chocolate undergoes a complex process before it turns into the heavenly food we are all familiar with. It all begins with cocoa farmers cracking open the pods, scooping out the seeds, and eventually fermenting and drying them.

These beans are shipped to factories, where they undergo cleaning, roasting and grounding into a paste called chocolate liquor.  Through manufacturers chocolate-making pass a lengthy process that include pressing, rolling, mixing with sugar and other ingredients, and heating and cooling to yield a delicious chocolate we’ve come to love.

Selecting a chocolate

There are two categories of chocolate: real and compound. Real chocolate contains cocoa butter, an expensive substance extracted from cocoa or cacao beans. Its distinct nature requires it to undergo a special procedure during the melting process called tempering. Compound chocolate, on the other hand, contains vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter and tempering is not required. It’s affordable and easier to use than real chocolate.

According to Chef Lawrence, there are three main types of chocolates:dark chocolate, which mainly contains cocoa bean mass, cocoa butter, sugar, lecithin and vanillin to enhance the flavor; milk chocolate, wherein a part of the dry components of the cocoa are substituted with milk components; and white chocolate, which undergoes the same process as dark and milk chocolate but does not make use of cocoa bean mass or powder.

Among the three, he prefers to use dark chocolate, especially during competitions because it has the “taste of real chocolate”. He also prefers to use Belgian chocolate such as the Callebaut. “In choosing a chocolate, what’s important are the taste and the texture,” he explains.Chocolate's taste and texture though are products of a variety of cacao trees, where it was grown, and how it was processed (fermented, dried, roasted, and tempered).

Chef Lawrence is a graduate of Food Science and Technology and Bakery in Taiwan. He has worked in various prominent hotels in Malaysia such as One World Hotel, Renaissance Hotel, Hotel Maya and Impiana KLCC Hotel.

He has an impressive credential that includes gold medals in chocolate showpiece categories in the Culinaire Singapore Food and Hospitality Asia 2012 and Culinaire Singapore Food and Hospitality Asia 2013.

Ryan Reynolds stars in the provocative sci-fi thriller "Selfless"

“God created man. Man created immortality.” This is the bold tagline of the teaser posters of Focus Features' provocative psychological sci-fi thriller “Self/less,” from director Tarsem Singh.
“Self/less” stars Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode, Victor Garber, Derek Luke, Michelle Dockery, and Ben Kingsley.

In the film, billionaire industrialist Damian Hale (Kingsley) has long been a master of his universe, excelling at power plays from his NYC base of operations. Estranged from his activist daughter Claire (Dockery), Damian’s only real connection is with his lifelong friend and right-hand man Martin O’Neil (Garber). But a dire cancer diagnosis makes Damian determined to access a radical medical procedure, “shedding,” that will turn back the clock for him.

The process is offered to Damian by Albright (Goode), the brilliant head of a secret organization that caters to the wealthy. Damian seizes the opportunity, and his death is staged. The world now thinks he is gone, but he is in fact “shedding:” his consciousness is being transferred into the body of a healthy man (Reynolds) decades younger than he. The operation is deemed a success.

Adapting to his new physical form and beginning a second life in New Orleans, Damian is befriended by a local man, Anton (Luke). Both preserving his newfound health and indulging himself, Damian becomes comfortable in his new identity as “Edward.” But the disturbing images flooding his consciousness are not easily explained away by Albright’s contention that “immortality has some side effects.”

When he finds himself drawn to single mother Madeline (Martinez), Damian starts to uncover the mystery of “Edward’s” origin – and those who will kill to protect the organization. Summoning two lifetimes’ worth of strength and resourcefulness, Damian fights for his life and for the lives that he has impacted.

Opening across the Philippines on Oct. 28, 2015, “Self/Less” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.