Celebrate Mother's Day with Lemon Square Bakery Treats' Berry Blossom Bouquet!

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show your love and appreciation than with a beautifully crafted cake? This year, Lemon Square Bakery Treats introduces its latest masterpiece: the Berry Blossom Bouquet Cake—a delightful fusion of elegance, freshness, and flavor that perfectly captures the essence of spring and the warmth of a mother's love.

Blooming with Love in Every Slice

The Berry Blossom Bouquet Cake is a true celebration of a mother's love. Delicately layered with moist vanilla and strawberry chiffon with mixed berries filling in between, this cake is also adorned with blooms of buttercream rosebuds guaranteed to melt any mom's heart. The Berry Blossom Bouquet Cake is not just a dessert, but a centerpiece worthy of any Mother's Day celebration.

Perfect for Your Mother's Day Celebration

Whether it's a small Sunday brunch with the family or a grand celebration with guests and all, the Berry Blossom Bouquet Cake is the perfect addition to your table. Its dainty design and delicate taste are sure to impress not only your mom but everyone around. Pair it with a cup of coffee or maybe a glass of wine to elevate your Mother's Day experience.

The Berry Blossom Bouquet is available at all Lemon Square Bakery Treats branches for just Php 495. Also available for Mother's Day are the Special Brownies (Php 109 per box of 6), Special Cake Pops (Php 199 per box of 12), and Rose Chocolate Bouquet (Php 125). These blooming treats are also available for delivery via FoodPanda and Grab.

Happy Mother's Day! Cheers to us moms! 

After Tree Dessert Cafe Opens at SM City San Pablo.

A good cuppa, some flatlay-friendly food, and an Instagrammable ambience to boot - these are just some of the qualities that I look out for whenever I go cafe hopping or visit a coffee place. After Tree Dessert Cafe, with its newly opened branch at SM City San Pablo, has all these bases covered. 

After Tree Dessert Cafe is now open at SM City San Pablo!

Located at the mall's ground floor - you can't miss it!

Coffee? Meet me at After Tree. :)

Originating from Malaysia, After Tree has found its roots in the Philippines when they opened their first branch last year at SM City Santa Rosa. With the opening of their sixth branch in SM City San Pablo, After Tree continues to gain popularity with their eye-catching desserts, exceptional service, and excellent coffee.

A wide selection of cakes and pastries.

The Strawberry Basque Cheesecake is a must-try!

After Tree's menu includes a wide selection of cakes and pastries, frappes, and tea, even toast and kakigori (Japanese shaved ice). 

Milo Dinosaur Kakigori.

The highlight, of course, is the Signature Egg Tart made with 128 layers of preservative-free homemade crust. This beloved egg tart is also available in two new flavors Ube Taro and Salted Egg. (Best served chilled, take my word for it!)  

Taro and Signature Egg Tart plus my all-time favorite Spanish Latte.

Cappuccino paired with Tiramisu and Chocolate Macadamia Indulgence.

If you're in San Pablo City, don't forget to swing by After Tree located at the Ground Floor of SM City San Pablo. It's smack dab in the middle of the mall, you can't miss it! Don't forget to follow After Tree on Facebook and Instagram for promos and updates.

Yogorino Italy Opens at SM City San Pablo.

Yogorino, World's Loved Frozen Yogurt and Gelato from Italy opens its doors to customers in SM City San Pablo on September 7, 2023. In celebration of opening its 14th yogurteria, Yogorino offers an irresistible treat - its famed frozen yogurt in bambino size for Php 75 only, plus non-stop raining of Free Choco Torrone topping. Residents can also enjoy designing their own Yogorino together with Yogorista of the day and VIVA artist Marco Gallo, and other fun and exciting promo and activities.

Yogorino at SM City San Pablo.

Yogorino has captivated its customers throughout the world with presence in 30 countries and growing. Since opening its flagship branch in Makati City, it has been offering a positive and happy lifestyle with its array of healthy and guiltless sweet menu, winning the taste buds of Filipinos across all age groups. Yogorino was brought to the Philippines by Viva International Food & Restaurants, Inc. under the leadership of Vicente "Boss Vic' del Rosario, Jr. and the company behind Botejyu, Greyhound Cafe, Papermoon, and Wing Zone, among others.

The refreshing vibe of store design eases you into a comfortable seating, making it a perfect chill spot. Locals can enjoy a fast casual service with colorful premium ingredients displayed on the counter where they can place their orders and enjoy the theatrics of having their food made before their eyes.

"We have customers who tells us that Yogorino is the best-tasting frozen yogurt and gelato they ever had. It is this strong reception and patronage of our customers that drove us to constantly innovate and evolve. And with the brands positioning as a dessert cafe, we have aggressive plans in place to grow Yogorino across the country," says Vicente Raphael del Rosario IV, President and COO of Viva International Food & Restaurants, Inc.

Why is Yogorino the best tasting frozen yogurt? It is made only with all-natural, low-calorie, and best quality ingredients. It's naturally white, velvety creamy, with a balanced sweetness and light sour flavor. You can Design-Your-Own Yogorino with combinations of fresh fruits, crunchy toppings, and sauces, or choose from the best-tasting concoctions. A 100-gram Yogorino contains only 131 calories, 1.18 gram fat, and probiotic enzymes - a little indulgence you can have any time of the day.

On the other hand, their authentic Italian Gelato has a natural, creamy, and delicate flavor. Made fresh daily, they use only the freshest and healthiest ingredients for this guilt-free dessert. Crowd-favorite flavors include Rocher, Matcha, Tiramisu, and the classic Italian Milk.

Other specialties include the Parfait with layers of YOgoodness in a cup, the cooling yogurt-based Smoothies perfect for our tropical climate, and the sweet and handy Cone Crepe with 48 selections.

Follow the Yogorino social media pages for promos and updates! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogorinoPH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogorino_ph

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yogorinoph

5 Pick-Me-Up Tips to Lift Up Your Spirits.

In an ideal world, things will always go your way. There will be no traffic jam, the train will never be late nor packed, you can always buy whatever you want, and you will never gain a pound or two despite indulging your sweet tooth. But alas, an ideal world doesn’t truly exist and our daily reality can sometimes be tougher to navigate than how we hope it to be.

The thing is, experiencing these little bumps doesn’t exactly make life bad. Instead, you can think of them as little bursts of flavor that make your adventure a little bit more interesting! The way that we take pitfalls in stride is what makes the world of difference in how we manage them and so is giving in sometimes to situations instead of fighting them off.

If you need a little refresher that feeling BAD is not really all that BAD, then here are a few daily reminders that will surely turn that frown into a smile.

1. The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude. – Dennis S. Brown

Could this be any more true? It may sound cliche or even too idealistic, but it is how we take and give in to things that change the way we view and feel them.

2. Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. -Robert Louis Stevenson

This is the perfect reminder to all of us who can be a little tough on ourselves when we fall short of our expectations. Sometimes you win. Other times you just get to be a step closer to your goal. Both are okay.

3. Sometimes you need those bad days, to help you appreciate the good ones. – Unknown

Read that again. If every day is perfect, then what makes a good day… good? Appreciating your wins is so much sweeter when you’ve experienced losses, too.

4. I am learning to trust the journey even when I do not understand it. – Mila Bron

Not ultimately knowing where you are going or what’s coming next may be one of the most terrifying things in life. But it’s the element of surprise and the way that we enjoy the ride that makes life all the more special.

5. If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Yes, flavor. All the limitations we put on ourselves to make sure everything goes our way are the roadblocks that can make life black and white. Live truly and honestly by going through flavors. Bitter, sweet, or both, all are important in the great recipe of life.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to just ‘give in?' When you feel like the day is tougher than usual, tap on your inner child and remember how you used to handle your big emotions. For a lot of us, it is simply allowing ourselves to FEEL. That, or a bite or two of simply good ice cream.

The next time you are feeling down, get yourself your favorite Nestlé Ice Cream cold treat. The leading ice cream brand has never failed to make anyone smile with its quality flavors, one bite of which can turn a bad day into a good one.

Being the true champ that it is, Nestlé Ice Cream is making everyone’s summer extra special with its Great Ice Cream Sale. The promo, which will run until June 30 gives big discounts to cult favorites like Nestlé Temptations (Strawberries & Cream, Almond Brownie Fudge, Double Dutch, Cookies & Cream, Rocky Road, Mocha & Cashew), Nestlé Drumstick (Double Choco Vanilla and Ube Cheesecake), and Nobrelli (Choco-Keso-Ube, Choco-Manga-Ube, Choco-Pandan-Ube). This special treat is available when you buy in all leading supermarkets and Nestlé Ice Cream’s official Lazada store: Ice Cream Party PH.

If that is not a good sign that it is time for you to give yourself a break, then we don’t know what is. After all, ice cream makes everything so much better—though should you really wait for a bad day to have some? Go ahead. Indulge.

To stay updated on other promos, follow Nestlé Ice Cream Philippines and Nestlé Temptations on Facebook. You can also follow Nestlé Temptations on Instagram to add a little sweetness to your feed.

Folcon Cakery | The Return of the OG.

Foodwise, if there's one thing I've been really looking forward to this summer, it's the reopening of Folcon Cakery. You see, Folcon (formerly known as Folcon Baker and Coffee Shop) is a household name here in San Pablo City when it comes to cakes and coffee. It's one of the OG coffeeshops here in my hometown, and one of our favorite places to dine and hang out back when the husband and I were still dating. 

Even after getting married, we remained loyal customers of Folcon. In fact, during the first trimester of my pregnancy, I would often crave for Folcon's Chicken Cordon Bleu and Pasta Alfredo. My husband would buy them for me of course, because he had to satisfy his pregnant wife's food cravings no matter what, haha.

Fast forward to April 2023, Folcon finally reopened their physical store after almost three years of limited operations (i.e. taking orders online, doing meet-ups and deliveries) because of the pandemic. The best part? Their new location is just a few blocks away from our place!

Folcon Cakery - the return of the OG.

 

The new Folcon Cakery now has a kissaten (Japanese coffee shop) concept, a far cry from the old coffee shop's industrial look with brick walls and eclectic interiors. This new look is fresh, trendy, and very appealing, especially to the Gen Z crowd (aka my son's age group). Truth be told, I'm totally smitten by the new look because the store's facade reminds me a lot of Deux Copains, one of my favorite neighborhood bakeries in Hongdae. 

Look who's now hanging out at Folcon with me. :)

Similarly, Folcon Cakery's revamped menu is quite interesting because it's a fusion of old and new. Most of the food items are Folcon classics like the cakes and pasta. Their Baked Zitti, one of Folcon's all-time bestsellers, tastes exactly the way I remembered it from more than a decade ago. It's as meaty, cheesy, and delectable as it was, and that's because they still have the same cook. How awesome is that?

Baked Zitti, Php 230.

Salted Karameru (Hot), Php 119.

Even their cakes and pastries are just as yummy, because they're baked by the same patissier. 

Choco Caramel Tin Can Cakes, Php 199 (mini) and Php 399 (regular). 

Walnut Brownies, Php 20 per piece.

More cake options - Mocha Ganache and Double Chocolate.

The beverages, on the other hand, have quirky Japanese names like Salted Karameru (Salted Caramel) and Pichimangu Soda (Peach Mango Soda), to name a few. If you're a fan of anime or Jdrama, you'd have no trouble interpreting these Japanese names. If anything, you'd give yourself a pat on the back because you understand what they mean and what ingredients they're using. 

The Folcon Cakery menu.

While I enjoyed the Folcon classics, Yue preferred the new items on the menu. He's especially fond of the Kukki Dough (Cookie Dough) with its decadent chocolate base and generous cookie bits, and the Chicken Sando (Chicken Katsu Sandwich) - crunchy chicken fillet wedged between flavorful coleslaw and fluffy slices of bread. He recommended these to his friends, and they loved them as well.

Chicken Sando, Php 149.

Kukki Dough, Php 149.

Folcon Cakery's food options might be a little limited for now, but that's okay since they're still on their soft opening. They're planning to add more items in time for their grand opening this month. As a matter of fact, they've started serving Fettucine Carbonara and Ebi Sando (Shrimp Katsu Sandwich) just recently. Hopefully, they'll bring back my all-time favorite Chicken Cordon Bleu and add more coffee flavors as well.

Fettucine Carbonara.

The new location is also a bit small compared to the old coffee shop, but the last time I dropped by (which was yesterday), they're adding a few more touches to the store's facade and interiors and working on seats for al fresco dining. I can't wait to see the final look on my next coffee run!

Early dinner at Folcon Cakery.

Folcon Cakery at night.

Folcon Cakery

Osmena St. cor Laurel St., 

City Subdivision,

San Pablo City
0917 132 9272

6 Reasons Why Snacking on Peanuts Can Be Beneficial to Your Health

Peanuts have been declared a superfood for good reason. They’re full of vitamins and minerals contained in a tidy little package that’s easy to pop when you’re feeling the urge for a quick snack between meals. But did you know that snacking on them also comes with some added benefits? Below are some of the major benefits of regularly consuming peanuts and peanut-derived products:

Peanuts are good for you!

Peanuts Can Help You Lose Weight 
They’re chock-full of fiber and protein, which keeps you feeling full and sated for longer. As such, they’re an excellent way to manage the hunger pangs that have you reaching for chips or sweets. They also increase your metabolic rate as well as help stabilize your blood sugar. If snacking on peanuts whole doesn’t happen to be your thing, you can get all the benefits without any of the chewing by drinking a glass of milked peanuts or getting them from another source, such as peanut flour or peanut butter.

Peanuts Are a Great Source of Biotin
Biotin is a water soluble vitamin which can help convert certain nutrients you absorb through food into energy. It also helps keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy and strong. Research also suggests that getting enough biotin is vital for pregnant women, in order to reduce the risk of congenital birth defects in the fetus.

Peanut-derived products are heart-healthy, too.

Peanuts Are a Heart-Healthy Food
Peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, which have been known to lower your risk towards cardiovascular ailments. These monounsaturated fats help clear the arteries and keep your blood flowing strong and healthy. In a study conducted in 2017, it was found that regular consumption of peanuts led to a 15% reduction in the risk for coronary heart disease in a sample size of 200,000 participants.

Peanuts Are Rich in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that combat free radicals, which cause cellular damage. Excessive free radicals have been linked to cancer, which means that getting your antioxidants in is essential to reducing your risk towards certain cancers. Peanuts contain many of the same powerful antioxidants present in red wine, notably resveratrol. You don’t have to pop peanuts on the daily to boost your resveratrol intake, either—you can drink peanuts in the form of all-natural milked nuts, just as you would with wine.

Peanut Bars, anyone?
Photo credit: Betty Crocker.

Peanuts Are Nutrient-Rich Powerhouses
Niacin, folate, thiamin, and riboflavin are only a few of the nutrients you can get from a serving of peanuts. They’re also rich in vitamins B6 and E, pantothenic acid and choline, as well as essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium, among others. Niacin and vitamin E in particular are nutrients that help protect you from Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline due to advanced age.

Peanuts Can Lower Your Risk of Developing Gallstones
Gallstones are small, hard, crystalline masses that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts as abnormalities. Certain individuals are at a higher risk for it: women, those who are obese or overweight, people aged 40 and up. An unhealthy diet composed mainly of refined carbohydrates and calories can also increase your risk of developing gallstones. Consuming at least one serving of peanuts per day can lower your risk of them forming by up to 25%.

So the next time you have an urge to snack on chips or other types of junk food, you might want to consider eating a handful of peanuts instead. Aside from being a tasty treat that can stave off those hunger pangs, the health benefits that they bring are a much appreciated bonus that no one can deny.

Foodie Goodie | Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese.

Japanese bakery Kumori has been making waves in the Philippines for almost four years now, but it wasn't until this weekend when I finally got to try their pastries and realize why people rave about them. Blame it on my geographical location (I live in the province), and the fact that I hardly go to Metro Manila these days because I hate traffic.

Thankfully, my sister now goes to Manila every so often, and she remembered me while passing by the Cafe Kumori at Festival Mall. She got me a box their Signature Hanjuku Cheese, one of Kumori's best-selling and well-loved products.

Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese - best with coffee. :)

Palm-sized and individually-wrapped, the Signature Hanjuku Cheese is a half-baked Japanese-style cheesecake with a rich and moist cream cheese center. It has a mousse-like texture with just the right sweetness.

Also comes in chocolate flavor.

No wonder Kumori's tagline is 'Bite Into Clouds' - you'll really feel like biting into one with this soft and fluffy cheesecake and its melt-in-your mouth goodness.

Melt-in-your mouth cheesecake.

I did my best not to finish the entire box in one sitting, haha. Each box contains six pieces and sells for Php 294. My sister got me the assorted box, which contains three chocolate flavored cheesecakes and three original Hanjuku cheesecakes. You can also buy them individually for Php 49 each.

Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese box, Php 294.

Cafe Kumori is located at the following malls: Festival Mall, Robinson's Galleria, Robinson's Manila, UP Town Center, Gateway Mall, Ayala Malls Makati, and SM Mall of Asia. Kumori kiosks can be found at Landmark Makati, SM Makati, and SM North Edsa.

Foodie Goodie | Ginataang Bilo-Bilo (Sticky Rice Balls in Coconut Milk).

Whenever my Mom Squad (aka my mommy friends at my son's school) and I are not busy doing house chores or working on our kids' academic requirements, we're either shopping at the nearest mall or eating at some restaurant or coffee shop. And since we love to eat, we also love to cook!

Yesterday, while waiting for the kids' afternoon classes to finish, we made Ginataang Bilo-bilo (otherwise known as Sticky Rice Balls in Coconut Milk), because we've been craving for it for the longest time. Sure, we could have just saved by time and effort by buying cooked bilo-bilo at the food stalls in the public market, but that takes the fun out of rolling your own rice balls! It's a fun activity, apparently, especially when you're doing it with friends. It's like being a kid and playing with Play-Doh all over again, haha!

Ginataang Bilo-bilo

Ingredients:
2 cups glutinous rice flour
2 tablespoons rice flour
3/4 cup warm water
6 cups coconut milk (gata)
1 cup sugar
1 cup ripe jackfruit (langka), shredded
3 cups sweet potato (kamote), cubed
1 cup taro root (gabi), cubed
1 1/2 cup plantain (saba), sliced
2 cups mini tapioca (sago), cooked
1 1/2 cup coconut cream
1 pandan leaf (optional)

Procedure:
1. Make the glutinous rice balls: Combine glutinous rice flour and rice flour. Add warm water and knead to form a dough. Take ½ tablespoon dough and roll in your palms to form a ball. Place on a plate. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Set aside.

Bilo-bilo (sticky rice balls).

2. Boil 3 cups water, coconut milk, sugar, pandan leaf, and jackfruit in a pot over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Jackfruit (langka).

3. Add sweet potatoes, taro, purple yam, and saba. Simmer until tender. Add glutinous rice balls and tapioca pearls. Simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.

Sweet potatoes (kamote) and taro root (gabi).

Plantain (saba).

4. Add coconut cream and simmer for 5 more minutes. Serve hot.

Project Bilo-bilo is complete!

This snack is actually quite versatile as you can also serve it cold, straight from the fridge. :)