Welcome 2017 with mouth-watering Espresso and food pairings from Starbucks PH

Nowadays, I pay much attention to the food that goes around with my favorite cup of coffee or frappe. Im glad that Starbucks partners my hot caramel macchiato with delicious sandwiches, pies, and or pastas. Starbucks comes up with savory dishes perfect for your favorite frappe or hot drinks.

Chestnut White Chocolate Truffle

Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble

Starbucks start the year on a positive note by indulging in the heavenly treats and whips up some favorite nibbles to your favorite espresso.  Check out the latest wave of frappe concoctions and savory dishes for your next Starbucks visit,

From its newest Espresso Confections, delectable food and returning favorites, your go-to coffeehouse has got your cravings satisfied.

Excite your taste buds with the newest Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble which combines all the goodness of espresso, milk, mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup. Topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, Starbucks Sea Salt and brownie bits, this espresso confection is truly perfect for those who love to indulge.

You may also delight your senses with the Chestnut White Chocolate Truffle, a combination of Starbucks signature espresso, chestnut flavor and white chocolate sauce. It is topped with whipped cream and chestnut drizzle.

Both espresso confections are available in hot, iced and blended formats.

Great coffee calls for great food. Pair the returning Starbucks Guatemala Casi Cielo, a bright and elegant coffee with a smooth cocoa finish, with new featured food items which include desserts like the Mango Cake, Vanilla Crepe Cake, Purple Yam Cookie, Chocolate Doughnut Éclair and Vanilla Doughnut Éclair.

Vanilla Crepe Cake

Vanilla Doughnut eclair

Purple Yam Cookie

Starbucks has also released new food items perfect for any time of the day, like the Chicken Pot Pie, a buttery and flaky crust filled with delicious creamy chicken topped with mashed potato, the new Sausage Roll and the Longganisa Pandesal, a soft and buttery bun with sautéed garlic Longganisa filling.

Chicken Pot Pie

Longganisa Pandesal

If you’re craving for more savory dishes and hearty food items for lunch, try your favorite espresso beverage with Farmer’s Ham & Emmental Cheese on French Baguette or Pork Carnitas Wrap.

Farmer’s Ham & Emmental Cheese on French Baguette

Pork Carnitas wrap

Chicken Pot Pie

Mango Cake

What’s more, Starbucks Coffee Rolls are back in a special tin can packaging perfect for welcoming the Lunar New Year. It’s a new take on the crispy wafer rolls, infused with Starbucks Espresso Roast.

Starbucks Coffee Rolls

Sausage Roll

Welcome the New Year with these newest product offerings by visiting any Starbucks store nationwide. For more information, go to www.starbucks.ph

Welcome the New Year with the New Starbucks Reserve Card!

To all Starbucks card lovers! Welcome the new year with the new Starbucks card!

The Starbucks Reserve Card which features the Starbucks Reserve Logo and wordmark in a sleek black background will be available with an initial consumable load of ₱300 and is only available in Starbucks Reserve stores starting January 9.

Visit this link to see the list of stores:
http://www.starbucks.ph/promo/reserve-store 

Welcome the New Year with these newest product offerings by visiting any Starbucks store nationwide. For more information, go to www.starbucks.ph 

Treat yourself to these 5 Body Pampering Skin Care Korean Products from Althea PH

I have been reviewing Althea Christmas Box since last year because the brands they have been carrying at their site are some of my hard to find Korean Beauty Products like Laneige, Innisfree, Clio and my ever reliable Missha Time Revolution.  So far, I have reviewed products from the two boxes that I have ordered from them, links are here:

http://lemongreenteaph.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-top-5-k-beauty-products-to-watch.html,  http://lemongreenteaph.blogspot.com/2016/09/i-discovered-korean-skincare-and-beauty.html.

It was always a breeze shopping at Althea online. If you are looking for some hard to find Korean Beauty Products that are not available at any physical store in Manila. chances are you can find it at http://ph.althea.kr/ at an affordable or at a discounted price.

My  Althea Holiday Box,  arrived Dec. 30 of this year. I got my Althea Holiday Body Box #4 delivered just in time with some of my favorite Korean brands inside!

It contains Body pampering skin care from head to toe wih the lovely Etti Shower ball!

Wonder Shiny Body Scrub

The Wonder Shiny Scrub smells like grapefruit and has walnut bark grains to wash away the impurities, dead skin cells off  your body to give you soft smooth skin after each use. The product itself is also good enough for your feet.  To slouch off dead skin cells from your soles to give you soft baby feet feel after each wash.

Innisfree My Body Cotton Flower Body Cleanser

This Innisfree My Body Cotton Flower Body Cleanser is a body wash that smells divine with Jeju Island inspired scent from Korea. Lavish yourself with this body wash, to keep the fragrance linger for hours, you can layer it with Innisfree Cotton Flower lotion right after your shower.

Innisfree Cotton Flower Body Lotion

After using the Cotton Flower Body Wash from Innisfree, seal the deal with  Innisfree My Body Cotton Flower Body Lotion. If you like to keep the fragrance lasts, you could layer with this body lotion. It smells fruity, almost like peaches.  It has shea butter and hyaluronic acid to keep your body smooth and moisturized.

Demeter Juicy Oil White Musk

If you are a fan of Demeter Fragrance Library, chances are you have encountered their White Musk in version of #7 , #9 or #15. Their fragrance line smells like CLEAN perfume.  Demeter Juicy Oil White Musk on the other hand has that powdery smell. It has a fresh scent ,  like a baby fresh from the shower kind of smell.  The scent is buildable.  So you can spray as long as you want.  This is good for everyday use.

Wonder Bikiny Body Patch

The Wonder Bikiny Body patch is a hydro gel fat burner patch, It is made with capsaicin, caffeine and orange extract.  Remove the film off the gel patch and attach to your desired body parts. Such as thigh, under arms, sides, hips and or stomach belly.  It lasts for 8 hours. You can put the patch into fridge before using for that cooling effect.  I used one patch over my beer belly and you could feel that it works because the gel heated up in that area.

Etude's Etti Shower Ball

Make shower fun time with this pink cute scrub from Etude House!

For that one foot spa addict.  You can now do it at the comfort of your house.  With these Korean Foot Pamper Kit.

Every month Althea will be curating 3 boxes called the “Althea Beauty Box.” Each box contain a bunch of goodies according to a specific theme for the month.

There is no subscription needed, so its up to you to order if you like what you see. But you have to decide quickly as this limited edition set is offered in very limited quantity.

The prices are also a steal because you get to try out these great KBeauty Products based on a theme without having to search and buy each item individually.

The beauty boxes can be found here http://ph.althea.kr/althea-box.

Grab a limited Edition Althea Box Today. 

HOOQ supports the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 Awards Night

Prior to HOOQ's MMFF 2016 Awards Night, we have managed to watch one entry which is Die Beautiful at Gateway Cinema. I love the movie, it was entertaining and never boring and swear that Paolo Ballesteros' side kick, Christian Bables should bag an award for his role as the ever loyal BFF/Make Up Artist, Beaucon partner.

After the movie, I roamed around Araneta Center's Gateway and window shopped for an hour.  At exactly, 6:00 pm, I proceeded to Kia Theatre and got my media pass from Ed Uy and had the nicest seat of the night together with the Entertainment bloggers and HOOQ officers. We were seated in front of  the Vince & Kath & James lead stars.  So I had an opportunity to get a selfie from Ronnie Alonte who was as always cute and dapper in his suit.

We finished the awards night and was surprised that Erik Matti’s Seklusyon proved to be the big winner at the 42ND METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL GABI NG PARANGAL held December 29, 2016 at the Kia Theater, Araneta Center Cubao Quezon City.

The movie brought home eight awards including Best Director for Erik Matti; Best Supporting Actress  Phoebe Walker; Special Jury Prize Rhed Bustamante;  Best Screenplay; Best Sound; Best Production Design; Best Cinematography and Best Theme Song for Dominus Miserere.

Best Supporting Actress  Phoebe Walker;

Special Jury Prize Rhed Bustamante

I was just aiming for the Best in Cinematography and Best in Production Design in Seklusyon.. It was their night indeed.

Here is the complete list of winners of the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night co-presented by HOOQ.


Best Picture - Sunday Beauty Queen
Best Director - Erik Matti (Seklusyon)
Best Actress - Irma Adlawan (Oro)
Best Actor - Paolo Ballesteros (Die Beautiful)
Best Supporting Actress - Phoebe Walker (Seklusyon)
Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bables (Die Beautiful)
Children's Choice - Saving Sally, Sunday Beauty Queen and Vince & Kath & James
People's Choice - (voted online) Die Beautiful
Best Cast Ensemble - Oro
Special Jury Prize - Rhed Bustamante (Seklusyon)
Best Screenplay - Seklusyon
Best Sound - Seklusyon
Best Musical Score - Saving Sally
Best Theme Song – Dominus Miserere (Francis De Veyra) Seklusyon
Best Production Design - Seklusyon
Best Editing - Sunday Beauty Queen
Best Cinematography - Seklusyon
FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence - Oro
Gatpuno Antonio J Villegas Cultural Award - Sunday Beauty Queen
Best Float - Die Beautiful 


HOOQ, Asia’s largest video-on-demand service, furthers its commitment in uplifting the quality of Filipino movies as it remained the exclusive presenter of the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival and its New Wave category.

“In a year marked by big changes in the MMFF, we are proud to say that our full support for the biggest movie festival in the country has remained the same" says Jane Cruz-Walker, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager.

 “We welcome another year of partnership with the Metro Manila Film Festival, and we are proud to be part of the festival as it takes brave new steps in focusing on quality films, fresh casting choices and new approaches to filmmaking,” she added.

“With HOOQ and the MMFF working together, we’ve answered the call of movie fans who want to enjoy watching their favorite films and TV shows wherever and whenever they want; through streaming and downloading of award-winning and quality locally-produced films.”

  In his speech Metro Manila Development Authority Tim Orbos said, “We are gathered here together not only to seek change but also to look back to the original theme of the MMFF which is to be a festival that celebrates Filipino artistic excellence.”

Change is never easy, it is a difficult path, but thanks to the MMFF Executive Committee we are here today amidst change. We believe that what we did with the MMFF this year may not be recognized now, but it will be appreciated by future generations. It is not about the money, it is about what we can give to our children later on by promoting quality films in the Philippines.”

WINNERS AND STARS OF THE NIGHT

Sunday Beauty Queen, the very first documentary to be included in the annual festival was chosen as Best Picture.

Irma Adlawan won the coveted Best Actress category for the movie Oro, while Paolo Ballesteros  was chosen as Best Actor for his performance in ­Die Beautiful. Newcomer Christian Bables got the most cheers after being named Best Supporting Actor for his role as Barbs in Die Beautiful.

Christian Bables, Best Supporting Actor for Die Beautiful

HOOQ likewise gave out its own set of awards for the Short Films category including Best Screenplay: Mitatang; Best Director: Jarell Serencio Mga Bituin sa Siyudad; Special Jury Prize for Manila Scream; and Best Picture for EJK.

Ronnie Alonte and Rhiann Ramos meanwhile, were recognized as the HOOQ Male and Female Celebrities of the Night for their stunning looks at the red carpet.

HOME OF THE MMFF WINNERS
HOOQ is the home of the largest collection of Pinoy movies and TV series spanning almost five decades, including close to a hundred winners and finalists of the Metro Manila Film Festival such as “Baler”, “Tanging Yaman”, “Muro Ami”, “Imortal”, the beloved franchises such as “Mano Po”, “Tanging Ina” “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and many more. New additions on HOOQ from the MMFF past entries include 2013’s “Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay”, “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” as well as the 2015 finalist “Haunted Mansion”.

According to Jeffrey Remigio, Content and Programming Head of HOOQ Philippines, they are also working on adding more past MMFF winners to HOOQ’s carefully curated library of Filipino titles.

NEW PLATFORM FOR THE NEXT GEN FILMMAKERS
The partnership with the MMFF led to the creation of a new category called “HOOQ Short Films”. With HOOQ the MMFF has found the perfect platform to showcase the films of these new breed of movie makers and at the same time address the growing needs of the digital natives through streaming and download of the finalists’ short film entries and watch them at their own time.

Each HOOQ Short Film was partnered with a long-form finalist and were screened during the MMFF regular theater run from December 25 to January 3.  Each short film runs under 5 minutes and will be available on HOOQ shortly after conclusion of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Last year, we saw a lot of very interesting entries that surprised us with their quick narratives and creative storytelling techniques,” said Remigio, HOOQ Philippines Director of Content. “HOOQ believes in nurturing these next generation of film makers by providing them a platform where more audiences can view their movies.”

“The world has began to take notice of the best content Philippine cinema can offer, by supporting these young filmmakers, HOOQ is also investing in the future of entertainment,” he adds Remigio.

PARADE OF STARS
The festival kicked off with the annual Parade of Stars on December 23 which began at the Manila City Hall at Nicanor Lopez Street and ended at Plaza Miranda—the original route used in the very first MMFF Float Parade.

Among the stars that participated in the Grand Parade of Stars  were Nora Aunor, Eugene Domingo, Paolo Ballesteros, Kean Cipriano, Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Ronnie Alonte, Dominic Roque, Mercedes Cabral and many others.

Bela Padilla also joined the parade aboard HOOQ’s OTJ float. Padilla is one of the lead stars of the upcoming series OTJ: The Missing 8, the very first original local content produced exclusively for the video on demand service.

HOOQ, a start-up venture between Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros., is an award-winning service that empowers customers with unlimited online streaming access and an offline viewing option to top Hollywood and Filipino movies and television content, on any device including computers, smartphones tablets, smart TVs via Google Chromecast and now also on Airplay and mobile web.

How to get HOOQ
It’s easy to get HOOQ!  Sign up today for a 7-day trial on www.HOOQ.tv.  Globe mobile customers can get up to 90 days HOOQ subscription selected GoSURF plans.  Broadband customers also get HOOQ on Globe Home Broadband.  Once the trial period expires, Globe customers can continue enjoying HOOQ at P149 subscription fee monthly charged to their Globe bill.  Simply text HOOQ149 to 8888.

How to Accept Credit Cards Online

When it comes to running a business, one of the most important parts of the entire process is getting paid. After all, aren’t we all just trying to live successfully with the money that we earn? And if we can earn that money doing something we love, then all the better! Sometimes understanding how to accept that money, however, can be a bit confusing. That’s why we’ve taken the time to write out some information about how you can accept credit card payments online! Let’s look at why you need a great merchant account service provider that potentially even offers a free online merchant account.

Free online merchant account
A good merchant account processor will understand that new business owners are already spread thin when it comes to both money and time. They will work hard to lighten your load and help your business reach new profit levels. Some of them even offer things like a free online merchant account, which means that you won’t have to pay extra for this particular essential.

Lowest credit card processing fees
Something else to look at when finding a great merchant account processor to help you accept credit card payments online is their processing fees. Every credit card transaction you make as the potential to cost you a fee. Some providers charge a surprising amount, which is why it is important to take the time and find a provider that has the lowest credit card processing fees around. This helps keep your money in your pocket, not someone else’s.

When you find yourself in need of a merchant account processing service, consider Merchant Account Solutions! They offer the very best in terms of service and technology, and even offer a free online merchant account! Take a look at their website and their offerings today.

For more information, please visit this link to get started visit their site HERE

Things to consider when opening an Italian Gelateria

While the word gelato is the Italian translation for ice cream, there’s a big difference between the two and that’s the first thing to keep in mind before opening a gelato business.

Making this possible for businesses is the Italian company Comprital, a market leader in gelato-making which has introduced innovations to the much-revered Italian tradition. One of only a handful Italian companies to obtain an EU certification for the processing of products containing a high level of dairy and milk by-products, Comprital offers gelaterias and food establishments a full range of top quality ingredients, mixes and supplies for making real Italian gelato. 

The products are now available in the Philippines through  Culinary Best Source Inc.,  a division of Technolux which is  the country’s largest importer and supplier of a complete line of foodservice, small wares and laundry equipment for the past 41 years.

Individuals thinking of opening a gelateria or restaurants considering including gelato on their menu may inquire with Technolux on how to use Comprital ingredients in making gelato and other frozen desserts. Technolux may also conduct a product demo for clients at the Mall of Kitchens, a division of the company which houses live set-ups for various business formats including a gelato station. 

Fresh and simple

Always investing in research, Comprital offers a complete product line driven by consumer feedback to satisfy the real needs of the market. Some of the products it makes are different kinds of gelato bases including milk (with or without vegetable fat,) chocolate (with varying levels of cocoa content), fruit and vegan bases.

Its classic and fruit pastes, meanwhile, are added to intensify the natural flavors in making gelato. These contain real ingredients and pure concentrate and are free from artificial coloring. Flavors include classic ones such as hazelnut, pistachio, chocolate, vanilla and tiramisu for a taste of Italy as well as fruity options like wild berries, banana, peach, kiwi, raspberry and passion fruit to name just a few.

Ideal for gelato businesses especially those inside malls and busy location is the Speedy gelato line of mixes. The recipe is an original idea of Comprital and designed for simple and hassle-free preparation. The product comes in practical single dose bags for an artisanal product requiring quicker preparation time without comprising quality. It is available in 70 flavors and can work in several applications for maximum returns including soft serve machines, blenders, slush machines and cake mixers.

Ready to invest in a gelato business? Know more about Comprital and inquire at Technolux: www.technolux.net, call 8964941and 8994531 or visit its corporate office at 2176 Primo Rivera Street, Barangay La Paz Makati City.