Yuletide Season Treats from Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea!

One of the things I do like about the Christmas season is seeing different cafe launching their seasonal drinks and Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea has recently launched theirs! 

If you guys don't know, Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea is the first that came with the nitrogen-infused coffee and tea drinks here in the Philippines, and as the Christmas season comes in, they have also readied up amazing drinks for everyone this Yuletide season. 

First in the line up is their Chocolate Berry Snow (P175), a non-coffee based beverage with a chocolate and milky flavor that is great for the kiddos without the caffeine overload. 

Next is the Magical Cherry Mocha (P155) This is my personal favorite because its a coffee-based drink with hints of cherry that actually brings a different twist to the drink and gives it a twist to the traditional taste from the mocha. If you want a pick me up from working - THIS IS IT. 

The third is the Orange Joy Milk Tea (P120) To be honest, this drink has an acquired taste to it. You might not like it at first like me but weird enough I actually drank this more. The orange taste combined with the milk tea gives it a refreshing citrus taste from the regular creamy milk tea taste. 

Visit any Nitro 7 branch near you, and grab a cup of their Christmas drinks. Be the first one to know their latest promos and updates. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram NOW!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nitro7.coffee/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nitro7.coffee

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

The Appraisery: My kind of coffee shop.

I like love coffee. Next to tea, soda or other beverages I really love drinking coffee. There is just that something nice to drinking some coffee. I could drink it hot or cold but it would really depend on the coffee shop that I go to if they serve great coffee.

I stumbled upon this coffee shop a couple of weeks back on my way home..which technically I was not feeling going home yet because I felt bored..so I stopped by Cubao expo and found this coffee shop.

According to one of their employees they have been in cubao expo for about half a year but they had their store at greenhills before. I was actually interested in the store because of its interiors. They have these black boards that has writings regarding supporting local brands, pictures from local artists and also about games.

I am not a gamer but the games that they feature here were the ones that only see on big bang theory..sort of.

Then off I go and bought myself a cold Americano and just chilled outside. I was really hoping to end my not so eventful day with a cold americano and just let time fly by. Then one of their patrons approached me which actually threw me back because I was not really hoping to talk to anyone. He invited me for a game of 7 Wonders.

I was not a gamer but I guess playing with random strangers wouldn't be a bad thing right? 

I was actually able to play with the owner of the Appraisery and he is really nice and he taught me how to play the game. If you ask me how I would rather crawl underground and cry because the game is simple in context but still complicated. Still a great game nonetheless. 

According to one of the patrons, the store has weekly featured games in which you could come n and play with other gamers just for the heck of it - of course you need to purchase something from the store. 

The food that they offer are pretty cheap which ranges from 70php to 150php. They also have great deserts which are still within the budget of college students. 

Over all, I think hanging out here would be a great thing to do. The Appraisery has a very chilled vibe to it that most college students and yuppies alike that will like. 

Make sure to visit them next time you are in Cubao Expo! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Drinkin' It: Arizona Peach Iced Tea

Hello everyone! I'm back with a new segment in this blog and it is called Drinkin' It. Basically I will be reviewing some drinks that I am really curious to try out.

On this edition I will be reviewing Arizona Iced Tea in Peach. I have actually seen this at Yellow Cab when I bought spaghetti for my dinner. Quite honestly I was curious what it would taste like and also the size of the can. Its pretty tall so it contains a lot of iced tea.

Besides from coffee, I actually like iced tea as well so I'm game to try this out. I think this is available in SM groceries and also Yellow Cab. I was able to see this at Bread Talk, Starbucks and Krispy Creme but I'm not sure if this is available anywhere else. Prices may also vary with this one since I bought this at Yellow Cab for 75 php so expect that this product could be a bit expensive for some but this is great for sharing.

I was a bit surprised with the taste of this since it tastes like C2 but the only difference is this has more of the iced tea taste than the peach taste. The peach actually comes as an after taste which is quite surprising.

Over all I like this iced tea, I just hope they really incorporate the peach taste into it. I give this 4 out of 5 stars in my rate chart. I will be trying out the other variants of this iced tea next time so watch out for it! ^_^

Have you tried this drink? What do you think about it?

Let me know on the comments section below!

Much Love!

xx Alice

Afternoon Thirst Quenchers

On afternoons such as this one I really feel the urge to drink something cold even if I'm having a cold. Don't get me wrong, I know its bad to drink cold stuff when your sick but based on my experience its more of an indulgence since you can't have these everyday. 

First on my afternoon thirst quencher is Buko Shake (see picture above) 

Buko or coconut water has become a popular drink because its sweet even without sugar. I have been a coconut water drinker ever since I was a kid since my dad loves them. Buko is also known to keep the body cool and raises your metabolism to promote weight loss. 

But ever since the hype about this drink, there had been variations like buko shake. I like my buko shake with milk only - no added sugar since milk also has its sweeteners added to the coconut water and coconut bits. 

You can actually buy buko shake anywhere at affordable prices. I suggest you buy one from Buko Express or Buko Republic. But if there is none in your area you can also go for Fruitas. 

If you are not a coconut water person, you can go for tea! Iced tea for the least. Ever since my call center days I have been loving Lipton's Green Tea Japanese Tea and Lemon drink which is really nice and mild.

Trust me on this - This drink is a lifesaver if you are on the verge of screaming your guts out, drink this instead and you will feel much better. This is also really cheap since its around 20 - 25php on Ministop and other stores.

If you are out and about and you need to cool down, try this two drinks so your day will be okay.

That rhymed didn't it? haha! but I hope you got what I was talking about.

What is your hot afternoon thirst quenching drink? I would love to know your favorites.

Much Love!

xx Alice

Night out with my friends at Penpen's

Having a night out with my friends is a bit of a luxury if you ask me since I don't go out a lot. I may look like I party a lot but in reality I don't go out a lot since I was raised that way. 

I was really glad I was able to have a night out with my friends a week ago and we tried to check out PenPen's in Cubao Expo. I remember the last time I was in Cubao Expo PenPen's was not there yet. I think that was around a year ago if my memory serves me right. 

Penpen's is a restaurant owned by actor Pen Medina. I haven't met the guy personally, but from the stories I heard from my friends who are in the film and theater they said he is a nice guy. 

Penpen specializes in Filipino cuisines which is really cool since there are not a lot of Filipino restaurants in the market. They had a pasta all you can promo a couple of months back, unfortunately I wasn't able to try them. 

Their interior is very simple but you'll notice that their pillar has posters of old Filipino movies. Some of the posters were actually produced around 70's and 80's. I didn't spot any 90's film unfortunately. 

I felt a bit nostalgic looking at them because I was able to watch some of them, especially Oro, Plata, Mata which I watched 5 times when I was in Highschool. I'm a movie junkie so old film are one of my weaknesses.

When we got there at around 8pm or 9pm the place was packed with people in red shirts. There was I think a basketball game that day so most of their customers then came from Araneta Coliseum. Most of their regulars are college students since the prices of their food are cheap. You can say around 70php up till 300 php which is definitely a great score for college students that frequently go out.

But we weren't able to eat there since it was almost closing, we only tried their alcoholic drink called Malanding Margarita. I was quite curious with the name actually because why would you call a margarita malandi in the first place. Malandi in English is a flirt so meaning this margarita is a flirty one?

napaisip lang 

Malanding margarita consists of Triple Sec, Rhum, Gin, Tequila, and some fruit juices. Its a definite ladies drink although it does contain high proof alcohol the taste of the juice over empowers it. There are also other drinks such as the Asiong Salonga and other drinks.

We also ordered their Gabi chips which is around 70 php. We didn't order any other pulutan since I think the place was closing already when we got there. The chips were cut like the ones from Piatos but the taste is quite different. I like the taste but for some reason its not that crunchy as I like my chips to me.

Over all I liked our little night cap at Penpen's. I think I will definitely be back for more of their dishes instead so watch out for that.

Have you tried Penpen's before? What is your favorite dish from them?

Let me know on the comment box below!

Much Love!

Alice

Yakult: Another Definite Reminder of my younger days

When I was younger, Yakult is actually the drink that I have whenever I want something for my tummy. 

I have been drinking Yakult for a very long time and I think this has that nostalgic feel to it because it brings back lots of memories of my childhood. 

One such memory I have of it is when me and my family would go to Uniwide which was in Libis back then, and we would buy not one but 3 packs of these and drink it on our way home. As being the youngest, My older brothers would snatch my stash of Yakult on the way home and they would drink mine. I would eventually cry and whine but then they would give me two from their stash as a 'I'm sorry'. My brothers do that as a form of love - I know its weird.

The taste is quite sweet but not something that will overwhelm your taste buds. It is  mild and great when you put it in the freezer to refresh yourself on a hot day.

It is recommended to drink Yakult only once a day since it has live microorganisms. And too much of something is definitely bad for you.

I definitely love drinking Yakult during lunch time since its so hot and usually I drink it on my way to work to ward off the bad vibes that will come in the day. Trust me even if how much I love my work, there are still times I will have the urgency to smash... HULK mode lang teh? LOL

But anyway I really recommend Yakult for everyone for a great tummy.

Yakult is retailed at around 40 PHP per pack and around 8php to 11php for only 1 bottle.You can buy this at any supermarket and stores nationwide.

What is your fondest memory with Yakult?

Let me know on the comment box.

Much Love!

xx Alice

Indulgence Item of the week: KFC Krushers Coffee Jelly

Hello ladies! I am back with another indulgent item of the week! 

I like to indulge with little stuff because I believe taking advantage of little simple joys is like wasting your life. That is why I do enjoy everything even food and drinks! 

Drink Find: Roots Ginger Brew

Hey Everyone! Sorry again for not updating this blog but I have just been quite busy with everything and didn't really had much time to blog about food finds and all. But expect a lot of food-related posts soon since I have been out and about so I will let you know what is the latest finds in the market. 

On today's blog it would be about Roots Ginger Brew. I have been seeing this drink in Mini stop in our office for the longest time that I didn't really give enough thought of trying it. But because of sheer curiosity I was able to buy and try one of these.

Retails for about 19.50 - 20++. I forgot the exact price though. This is a carbonated drink so expect a lot of fizz when you open this. According to the packaging this is 100% ginger. We will just have to see it. 

Ingredients:

Carbonated water, sugar, brewed ginger, citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate.

The taste is actually new to me. Its zesty but mild. The flavor is quite smooth that you can actually have a second serving of this. 

In terms of the taste, it is good but if you are not used to ginger you might want to go with the regular kind of soda. Personally this is a great drink since its not the ordinary carbonated drink. 

Will I repurchase it? 

Sure, maybe when I am going out with my niece and my nephew so they can try this out. 

Will you try this drink for yourself? 

Let me know on the comments box! 

Happy Sunday! 

Much Love! 

-- Alice

Moonleaf is Love! ^_^

Last Friday, Me and my officemates went out to eat after work and we decided to go to Il Mercanti. 

Il Mercanti actually serves food that is just delicious and also fit for our budget.
And when we were there, I was able to get my Moonleaf fix.

Moonleaf is a tea shop that I actually discovered when I got bored one afternoon and started strolling in our neighborhood and to Teacher's Village.

Moonleaf according to their website is a tea shop offering freshly-brewed tea mixed into a variety of delicious and refreshing concoctions in which milk tea being their popular offer.  If you are a certified foodie that lives in QC, you would know that Maginhawa St. in Teacher's Village is a way to go if you want to eat good food without burning thousands of pesos. And I am serious with that :D 


And I remembered I first tasted it I was a bit not sure if this will taste good since most milk tea out there usually taste just like tea and doesn't have a hint of tea in it - confusing I know. So when I first bought it I tried their best seller which is wintermelon tea to know if it really taste great. And I was quite shocked that IT IS GOOD.

The drinks actually range from 45 PHP to 75 PHP which is really nice. If you want add ons like pearls or aloe vera you can just add 10 PHP.

If you want to know more about Moonleaf tea and their drinks visit their Facebook Page here.

Have you tried Moonleaf tea? What is your favorite flavor? let me know on the comment box below and I'll talk to you soon!

Much Love!

Cheap Thrills: Great Taste White Coffee

As much as I want to go to Starbucks everyday my wallet is not allowing me. I know I may sound cheap but its true! And also the calories you get in one tall frap is equivalent to two chocolate cakes! I nearly fainted when my friend told me that. But getting my fix once in a while is not bad right?

Going back to the topic, Since I've stopped craving Starbucks that much I found another alternative for it. As I was checking the coffee section I saw this and was a bit curious. I can say that I had doubts about this since it says smoother and creamier can a 3 in 1 coffee do that on its own? hmmmmm....

I personally prefer my coffee with lots of creamer or milk since I don't need to add sugar that much.
One sachet of this is for one serving since if you put half only it would be bland >.<
I like this since I don't have to add sugar to it. But if you like sweet coffee you can add more sugar. 

I was just disappointed when there is no bigger size for this at the store I frequently go to. In comparison to the 3 in 1 coffees that I've tried I think this is the one I will buy again since I can just make it without sugar!

Are you a coffee addict and/or Starbucks addict? What's your favorite coffee?

Let me know on the comment box!

Much Love!

-- Alice

Kopiccino - A Cheap but Great Tasting Capuccino

I am an avid coffee drinker, I even had a so-called affair with it! haha and besides from the espresso and frap that I normally order I would sometimes order cappuccino since I like the creamy and frothy.

I actually found this when I was in ministop and just liked to try it out. Its pretty cheap its around 9-12 pesos which is less than a dollar. I must warn you that this will not be like the one that you see on the packet.

In terms of sweetness its okay since I prefer accompanying this with something sweet like a cake or doughnut.

As far as I can say this product is good since its not too sweet nor too bitter. I actually prefer my instant coffee that way since I would accompany this with a sweet treat ^^,

Try this out for sure if you are having a slow afternoon. This will give you that sweet caffeine boost!

Much Love!

-- Alice 

Drinkin' at Gilligans in MOA by the Bay

I rarely go to Mall of Asia since its too far from my house and usually most of the items there are really expensive. Call be a cheapskate but its true. 

But a couple of days ago me and my office mates went there to have dinner. I was a little hyped up since its most of a bonding experience with two of my new officemates and we didn't have work that night. 

Me and my office mate Katie went to Gilligan's to check out their night scene. I was quite surprised that even though it was a Wednesday there were a lot of people enjoying good food and also good drinks. But I was not in Gilligan's for their food, I'll do that next time. But for now I'll be showing you one of their drinks which is the original margarita. 

This drink may look harmless but the more ice it has on the more intense the alcohol will be. I have tried this drink a couple of times and it never fails to make me want to say why did I order this?!? haha! joking aside this drink is a good drink on a hot summer night. Ever though its not summer anymore here in Manila the hot weather makes this drink a good one to have with your girlfriends. 

The drink we had was in a pitcher  which costs around 270PHP (approx 6.26USD) 

It can only be good for two serving which was a big bummer since a single serve of this is only 95 PHP (Approx 2.20USD) 

Lesson to remember: Not all things in a pitcher will save you! 

I still like Gilligan's but I wish their cocktails will be a bit bigger. I just hope. 

#Ohwell

Much Love! 

-- Alice  

Food (Drink) Finds: One Plus Green Apple Iced Tea for only 10 pesos

Ola ladies! 

There are times that when I am really thirsty that I just grab anything that can quench my thirst. 

That actually happened to me a week ago when I was in Makati. Luckily I was able to see a Mini stop nearby so I was able to get a drink. 

I have that manner that when I'm thirsty I don't really care if its expensive or not I just need it to help me not get dehydrated. 

I got the One Plus Green Apple Iced tea and I was surprised that at the check out the cashier told me its only 10 pesos. 

Taste wise its good. It has green tea with a dash of apple that is quite refreshing especially on a hot summer afternoon. 

I'm not really sure if all mini stop sell these or this is only available at that branch only. But be sure to check this one out. 

Much Love! 

Alice

Food Review: Jollibee's Coffee Float

Ola ladies! 

With the summer heating up a better way to cool down is to sip a cool drink right? I always find it hard to drink floats although I like them, maybe its because after I drink them I feel more thirsty. 

I was able to find a new drink that can cool me down without making me more thirsty and it is from Jollibee! 

Look what I got in the mail!

Look what I got in the mail? yeehee!