by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 18, 2019 | Yummy Reviews
Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea is not new to me. I have been to Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea at Robinsons Magnolia at the Foodcourt before and I have tasted their cold brew coffee and I liked it but this was the first time I was able to go to the branch at Robinsons Manila and let me tell you, it is not easy to find.
Finding Nitro
- The layout of Robinsons is already confusing, everything just kind of moves around in a circle (or series of circles) so you could be in one wing and then suddenly find yourself in another wing without realizing how you got to that wing.
- Nitro 7 Coffee is not even in the mall directory.
- Google maps do not say what floor it is on so relying on Google Maps will just make you go around and around unless you do a Google search (and not use the map) and you will then see that it is not on the ground floor.
Eventually, I just had to rely on my navigation skills and just crossed my fingers that I would not get lost. On the upside, my fitness app was happy! I got a lot of steps in, lol! Here’s a tip if you want to know where it is, look for Toys R Us on the mall map, Nitro 7 is in front of it. Right now I cannot even tell you what floor it is but it is most certainly not on the ground floor.
Nitro 7 Coffees
We got to try the bestsellers, Irish Creme Breve, Black Nitro, Hazelnut Caramel Mocha, and Chocolate Macadamia. Because we didn’t want any of the coffee to go to waste we asked the barista to just give us dixie cups (which they called sample cups) so that we could just pour out a little of each flavor and taste it all.
The Chocolate Macadamia and Hazelnut Caramel Mocha are very similar in flavor, with the Hazelnut Caramel Mocha being slightly sweeter. The Chocolate Macadamia had that distinct macadamia flavor that instantly made it my favorite of the four. Have you ever tried Hawaiian Toast chocolates? That is what it tasted like. 🙂
The Irish Creme Breve was quite creamy and had that slight alcohol taste we tend to associate with anything Irish.
The Black Nitro, which is their base drink, was just way too strong for me, so no. I like my creams and sweeteners. 😀
Sandwiches
The highlight for me would probably be the grilled sandwiches. Here’s a spoiler … they all have cheese in them. 😀
None of these sandwiches are difficult to make as I’ve made my versions of them at home. But not everyone likes to cook so for those who like to eat out or eat and run, these sandwiches are good options. While we were there we were able to taste the following in the order they were served to us:
Ham and Cheese
This ham and cheese sandwich is easily a favorite. There were no surprises when it came to the taste but the ham slices were thicker than can usually be found in ham sandwiches sold in cafes and the cheese is ooey-gooey. This made us feel that the customer would be getting good value for their money.
Three Cheese
The three-cheese sandwich combines three different kinds of cheese … they didn’t tell us what they were but my tastebuds and eyes say they are cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack. It was delicious! It has the right balance of saltiness that we look for in cheese without being overpowering. The combination of cheeses was just perfect.
Just like the next normal person, I like cheese, but if you are lactose intolerant or on a diet then this might not be the sandwich for you.
Corned Beef
Yes, the corned beef sandwich still had cheese there was more corned beef than cheese. The cheese acted as more of a binder. Tastewise, it was good. Probably nothing to write home about but ok.
Tuna and Cheese
The tuna and cheese sandwich was the most disappointing of them all for me, probably because I know I can make it better. It was bland. I think they could have improved it by using spicy tuna instead.
With the addition of the cheese, the spice would have been negligible but enough to give this sandwich a little kick which I felt that it needed especially as tuna is the obvious choice for those who are trying to avoid red meat.
The Holiday Offerings
We had the opportunity to try their holiday offerings, namely:
- Black Cherry Mocha
- Chocolate Berry Snow
- Orange Joy Milk Tea
The Black Cherry Mocha tasted like a black forest cake in a cup.
The Chocolate Berry Snow had a similar flavor but in frap form. To me, it tasted like a high-end version of Scramble, that shaved-ice concoction we used to eat after class that was sold from a cart from the vendor outside school. 🙂
The Orange Joy Milk Tea is probably not their best seller because it is hard to explain how it tastes. It tastes good, don’t get me wrong, but describing how it tastes is quite challenging.
I don’t know that I would get any of these drinks in the future as I am not a fan of berries, but I can see that there would be an audience for it.
We don’t know what happened, there was probably a miscommunication but for some reason, we were not served as much food and drink as we were promised. In a nutshell, we were cut off! Lol! But we decided not to take offense and just give our honest review.
We were able to taste everything we were served after all, even if we had to share everything. Meaning, everything was split 5 ways. 1 sandwich divided by 5, 1 drink divided by 5. We all got a bite or a sip of everything we were served and that was enough for us to have an opinion.
But because we were cut-off just like that I find it difficult to rave. Nonetheless, do consider Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea when looking for a new place to enjoy cold brew coffee.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 11, 2019 | Lifestyle
TVS Motor, one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycles in Asia, stuns Filipino riders with the release of the new TVS Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium motorcycle units and decals in a recent launch and workshop in Batangas Racing Circuit.
Guests were able to try out the new Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium units first-hand and experience TVS’ innovative design of the new motorcycle units.
Ride in this street stunner, TVS Dazz Prime in black and red.
The Dazz Prime units boast a sleeker look with a new embossed-type emblem, sharks fin design, and color variations in stylish white and red, daring black and red, or attractive gray and red. Dazz was the first to incorporate a mobile charging port in its scooter and has maintained it to allow the rider to charge a mobile phone on the road.
The new Dazz Prime also comes in a powerful engine with 8.34 horsepower at its maximum and can store 5.3 liters of fuel, giving the rider a powerful and stylish ride. In addition, tubeless tires are now in every Dazz Prime. No more worries about flat tires. The new upgrades give it a more expensive look that every smart rider would want.
Dazz comes with a best-in-class engine warranty of 3 years / 30,000kms adding assurance to its customers.
Ride with style on the new TVS XL100 Premium in army green.
XL100 Premium is a single-speed automatic that comes with a new mobile charging port, sync brake that allows the rider to stop faster when carrying heavy loads, and now an ES with an i-Touch technology that gives it a noiseless starting. XL100 Premium is available in army green, metallic black, and Vulcan red colors. XL100 Premium comes with a warranty of 1 year / 12000kms.
All TVS customers are always backed up with after-sales support through its wide network of over 300 service outlets in the Philippines. With innovative solutions like Lazada Online parts with free shipping and dedicated iCare helpline, customers are assured with the trouble-free ownership experience.
New decal sets were also introduced in a fun workshop where guests competed by styling Dazz units with TVS decals within the given time limit, and by personalizing a Dazz motorcycle with the bare decal sets showcasing creativity and style.
TVS Philippines is currently one of the largest manufacturers of two and three-wheeled vehicles in Asia which entered the Philippine market in 2016. Aside from excellent customer service, the company also boasts of its innovative designs, easy-to-handle, and environment-friendly products.
To know more about TVS and its products, visit https://www.tvsmotor.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 9, 2019 | Bon Appetit
Coffee aficionados were treated to an exclusive Coffee Exploration session with renowned Coffee Man and 2015 World Barista Champion, Sasa Sestic. The curated event was hosted by homegrown coffee company Henry and Sons and the luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Manila.
The Coffee Man experience brings to the Philippines Sestic’s amazing journey to becoming a champion barista and the lengths he went to in search of the perfect cup of coffee. More than a barista, Sestic is also a passionate and knowledgeable coffee-grower who constantly experiments with techniques and methods.
Among his experiments is the post-harvest method called Carbonic Maceration. One of the specialty coffees processed under this method is the Jasper Coffee from the Masina Village in Ethiopia, which is now available at Florentine, Grand Hyatt Manila.
More importantly, Sestic also believes in putting the welfare of coffee farmers first while growing sustainable, world-class beans.
“Showcasing Sasa’s talent to the Philippines allows our local baristas to draw inspiration from his experience and story. He has infinite knowledge and learning that baristas, farmers, and even us – coffee distributors – can learn from,” says Michael Harris Conlin, President & CEO of Henry and Sons and 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion.
To say that Sasa Sestic is “driven” is like describing Mt. Everest as “high.” Sasa (pronounced “Sasha”) has been pursuing the perfect cup of coffee for more than 15 years. He started pushing the envelope on coffee tastes when he became a barista in 2003. His drive took him to study where a region or country yields their best coffee.
His passion is insatiable. Not only is he interested in coffee knowledge, but he also intends to teach what he knows, as well as help coffee farmers improve their lives and communities.
The Coffee Man
According to Sasa, helping coffee farmers ensures the quality of produce is elevated. Understanding a region’s climate and planting cycle led him to know when a region’s coffee would be best. A book about his journey is a forward intention especially considering that he was halfway into the book when he won the 2015 Barista Championship.
The best-selling book “The Coffee Man” narrates his journey to becoming a barista, how he went to the coffee farmers in search of the best coffee beans, and the new methods to bring out the flavors of coffee. The “Coffee Man” has also been created into a movie.
It took him 7 attempts before he won the Australian Barista Championship in 2015. That same year, he won the World Barista Championship (WBC) held in Seattle. In the dozen years prior to winning the WBC, his career has expanded from a barista to becoming the head of ONA Coffee Wholesale, and a couple of cafes which include The Cupping Room, ONA Coffee House, and ONA Manuka.
He has also been helping farmers with Project Origin, an ethical green bean trading company which has so far created long-term mutually rewarding relationships with more than 100 growers in coffee-producing countries.
Project Origin has helped pave the way for farmers to earn more and improve their crops, livelihood and their financial status. The organization has also raised funds for livelihood, health, education and community projects which benefit the coffee farmers.
It is no wonder that Michael Harris Conlin found him to be a kindred, coffee-loving spirit. The Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE) which Conlin began, aims to help local farmers produce sustainable and world-class coffee for Filipinos to enjoy. In achieving this goal, he helps the farmers by buying their coffee and then giving back proceeds from the sale to train farmers and give them the right tools to become better coffee producers.
Besides their efforts to reach out to farmers in Benguet and other coffee-growing areas in the Philippines, the FSCE also wants to hone the skills of current and future baristas. Conlin founded the Institute of Coffee Excellence, right across the popular The Giving Café (TGC) which was opened earlier.
The two-story Institute is a laboratory and creative playground for Conlin and his team. It houses classes for baristas, brokers farmer-trader deals and discussions while finding innovative ways to make Philippine coffee beans more accessible to an international audience.
Earlier this year, Henry and Sons brought coffee expert Mokhtar Alkhanshali and his high-rating coffee from Yemen, Port of Mokha, to the Philippines for a similar event.
To know more about Henry and Sons, visit henryandsons.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 5, 2019 | Events
The biggest celebration that aims to nurture the gift of every child happened in this year’s National Gifted Week spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. (PCGE) in partnership with PROMIL® FOUR and support from the Kite Association of the Philippines.
From November 24 to 30, the National Gifted Week featured a whole-day kite flying event and a two-day conference to be attended by giftedness experts.
Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho
“This event aims to celebrate the gift that every child possesses. It is a great way for parents to encourage the creativity of their children, have fun and spend some time together. We will also be gathering the most notable experts who will discuss and share their knowledge on how to nurture a child’s gift,” said Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, president of PCGE.
On November 24, the celebration kicked off with the biggest kite making and flying event in Manila. Children and their parents created colorful kites and watched them rise in the air during the activity held at Burnham Green Park across Luneta from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Arts director of Masterpiece Movement, Kara Escay, facilitated the said activity. Attendees enjoyed exciting games, entertainment, a parade, and other surprises.
To promote discussion and share learnings on giftedness, the PCGE also held a gathering of experts for a two-day conference on November 29-30 at Hive Hotel & Convention Place in Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days. The conference focused on revisiting the Multiple Intelligences.
Sharing their expertise are experts that included Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Ms. Shaira Luna, Ms. Kara David, Ms. Roselle Ambubuyog, Dr. Carlos Arcilla, Mr. Ryan Tumbocon, and Mr. Kim Atienza. They discussed how to nurture a child’s gift based on their dominant intelligence which can be among Musical-Rhythmic, Visual/Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, or Body-Kinesthetic.
For more information, visit https://www.promilnurturethegift.com.ph/promil-four-nutrissentials or https://www.facebook.com/promilfour/.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 27, 2019 | Events
Filipinos love sardines, and for good reason. Not only is it delicious and affordable, but it’s also packed with health benefits that make it an excellent addition to our everyday meals. In fact, sardines are available almost anywhere. In supermarkets, sari-sari stores and even convenience stores, sardines are loved all throughout the country. That’s why Mega Global, the leading sardines manufacturer in the Philippines, launched Mega SardiNation, the first-ever National Sardines Day celebration last November 24, 2019, at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall headlined by no less than Mega Sardines ambassador Mr. Piolo Pascual with special guests Dimples Romana and Mike Enriquez.
As a sardine eating nation, Mega SardiNation highlights sardines as a well-loved Filipino staple and is also an avenue for Mega Global to further their commitment to improving the lives of Filipino communities, particularly in the health and nutrition sector. With its signature 12-hour Catching-to-Canning process, Mega Global ensures that its sardines are of the highest quality to give consumers the needed health benefits in each can.
Panel discussion on health and nutrition
The National Sardines Day brought families and friends together in a fun-packed and interactive event with free health and nutrition consultations, taste tests, a fun claw grabber game, and other activities for the guests to enjoy. With a push for Filipinos to make healthier choices through proper meal planning, the event also featured a discussion on health and nutrition facilitated by Mike Enriquez together with the Nutrition Center of the Philippines. The panelists highlighted how sardines are a nutritious addition to any meal and the different factors that affect the health and nutrition of Filipino families.
National Sardines Day activities
Adding some high-tech fun to the event, guests enjoyed a virtual reality experience of Mega Global’s trademark 12-hour Catching-to-Canning process onboard its Mega Barko. Using VR, guests experienced the renowned process that Mega Global observes to ensure that the fish they catch using sustainable methods are kept fresh and canned within 12 hours to bring consumers only the freshest and tastiest sardines.
Marvin Tiu Lim, Piolo Pascual, William Tiu Lim, Dimples Romana, Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan
Attendees were also delighted and entertained by the presence of Mega Sardines’ brand ambassador Piolo Pascual as he talked about the meticulous 12-hour catching to the canning process and his personal experiences with Mega Sardines making it his brand of choice. Special guest Dimples Romana shared personal insights on how she appreciates the nutritional benefits and quality found in each can of Mega Sardines making it an ideal meal for the whole family.
Mr. William Tiu Lim, Mega CEO and President
The event was capped off with a speech from the man behind Mega Global Corporation, Mr. William Tiu Lim, President & CEO, thanking the attendees and special guests for making the first-ever National Sardines Day a success.
To further highlight their commitment to improving Filipino lives and communities, Mega Global partnered with the Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP) and the local government of Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City for a community health and nutrition program. A 40-day feeding program for undernourished children aged 3 to 6 years old received 2 full well-curated meals from NCP, with one meal using sardines. This initiative will conclude on November 30, 2019
“Filipinos love sardines. As the top sardines brand in the country, we decided to hold the first National Sardines Day celebrations to showcase not only Mega Global’s various initiatives but to also make everyone aware of the myriad health benefits of sardines,” said Mr. Marvin Tiu Lim, VP for Sales and Marketing of Mega Global.
“Our CSR program with the NCP also helped us push for increased awareness of the importance of nutrition in every Filipino’s diet. We believe that with initiatives like this, we can truly make an impact and create sustainable change in the health and nutrition sector” he added.
The National Sardines Day truly showed how this well-loved Filipino staple can improve the lives of families and communities through each can. Through this event, Mega Global hopes that each family can make better choices in meal planning and continue to provide their family with the right nutrients they need through Mega Sardines.
This ham and cheese sandwich is easily a favorite. There were no surprises when it came to the taste but the ham slices were thicker than can usually be found in ham sandwiches sold in cafes and the cheese is ooey-gooey. This made us feel that the customer would be getting good value for their money.
The three-cheese sandwich combines three different kinds of cheese … they didn’t tell us what they were but my tastebuds and eyes say they are cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack. It was delicious! It has the right balance of saltiness that we look for in cheese without being overpowering. The combination of cheeses was just perfect.
Yes, the corned beef sandwich still had cheese there was more corned beef than cheese. The cheese acted as more of a binder. Tastewise, it was good. Probably nothing to write home about but ok.
The tuna and cheese sandwich was the most disappointing of them all for me, probably because I know I can make it better. It was bland. I think they could have improved it by using spicy tuna instead.
We had the opportunity to try their holiday offerings, namely:
More importantly, Sestic also believes in putting the welfare of coffee farmers first while growing sustainable, world-class beans.
According to Sasa, helping coffee farmers ensures the quality of produce is elevated. Understanding a region’s climate and planting cycle led him to know when a region’s coffee would be best. A book about his journey is a forward intention especially considering that he was halfway into the book when he won the 2015 Barista Championship.
Project Origin has helped pave the way for farmers to earn more and improve their crops, livelihood and their financial status. The organization has also raised funds for livelihood, health, education and community projects which benefit the coffee farmers.
Besides their efforts to reach out to farmers in Benguet and other coffee-growing areas in the Philippines, the FSCE also wants to hone the skills of current and future baristas. Conlin founded the 
Earlier this year, Henry and Sons brought coffee expert Mokhtar Alkhanshali and his high-rating coffee from Yemen, Port of Mokha, to the Philippines for a similar event.
To promote discussion and share learnings on giftedness, the PCGE also held a gathering of experts for a two-day conference on November 29-30 at Hive Hotel & Convention Place in Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days. The conference focused on revisiting the Multiple Intelligences.
The National Sardines Day truly showed how this well-loved Filipino staple can improve the lives of families and communities through each can. Through this event, Mega Global hopes that each family can make better choices in meal planning and continue to provide their family with the right nutrients they need through Mega Sardines.
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