Tag: food enthusiast

For refreshments and good taste at Mahane Yehuda market, visit Etrog Man!

For refreshments and good taste at Mahane Yehuda market, visit Etrog Man!

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined. Additional information from the official website and social media channels of the subject business is also used. This is not a sponsored article. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, readers! This is the 5th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by its strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here and here.

In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you my observations and captured images about my two visits to the popular Mahane Yehuda market in the modern section of Jerusalem. While I recently wrote about my delicious lunch at a Shakshuka joint in that market, this time I want to talk about the joint that is rich with refreshing drinks – Etrog Man – which I actually visited twice.

To put things in perspective, our group spent the final days – including the day-off – in the holy city of Jerusalem. On February 12, our tour ended in the afternoon and there was enough free time and sunlight left for me to visit the local foreign exchange joint (because I ran out of Shekels) and then make my first-ever visit to Mahane Yehuda market on foot.

Several minutes after exchanging currency at a local FOREX joint and further hiking, I finally arrived at Mahane Yehuda market which was bustling with many locals and tourists. It was a lot of fun walking around seeing the many food, drinks, souvenirs and other assorted products offered by countless sellers to customers. Watch my YouTube walk video of the market below covering the open air and roofed sections. See if you can spot Etrog Man.

My two experiences with Etrog Man

As mentioned earlier, I visited Mahane Yehuda market twice. The first time on February 12 and the second time on February 15. On each visit, I stopped by Etrog Man with the intention of buying a drink with the largest serving. I really prepared for the moment.

To be clear, I researched Mahane Yehuda market by watching lots of exploratory walk videos on YouTube and in a few of those videos, I noticed Etrog Man standing out among the many sellers as it attracted customers wanting something fresh, fruity and delicious.

This is the Etrog Man branch I visited twice in Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.
The four notable flavors of drinks on display with English descriptions to help customers make their choices.

Going back to February 12, 2023, it was my moment at last to be at Etrog Man’s space in the shuk and I came all the way from my native Philippines. I talked with the store handler (male, with facial hair) looking at the displayed juices with four notable flavors or variants – EtroGat, Coconut Passiofruit, Natural Berry Heaven and The Rambam’s Drink.

For my first-ever Etrog Man purchase, I chose EtroGat. In support for their business, I bought the largest serving of EtroGat at 24 Shekels and gave the store a tip. Then I finally took my first sip and instantly, I liked it! For transparency, the EtroGat’s taste was like citrus-based drinks but with a unique texture in my mouth. EtroGat, after all, was described by the business as Jerusalem’s flavor as it was composed of Etrog (a yellow citron which Israel is very blessed with and has long been part of the culture of the Jewish people especially during the Sukkot holiday), Gat and Grapefruit. This explains its taste.

My first-ever drink with Etrog Man is Etrogat! This large serving cost 24 Shekels. A really good and satisfying drink!

Etrog is a citrus fruit among the Four Species used on Sukkot and the Holy Bible contains a possible reference about it (note: Etrog itself is not mentioned but it is believed to be the mentioned fruit of pleasing/splendid trees) in Leviticus 23:40 which reads as follows in the translations below…

And on the first day you shall take the fruit of pleasing trees [and make booths of them], branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick (leafy) trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.

Leviticus 23:40 (AMPC)

And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.

Leviticus 23:40 (ESV)

Etrog citrons are an excellent source of Vitamin C and helps in strengthening the immune system, protects the body from free radical damage and also reduces inflammation. There is a lot more to the health benefits with Etrog that I encourage you to research.

Going back to my EtroGat drink, I happily sipped more and enjoyed the taste. Taste aside, I chose EtroGat as it was formulated by Etrog Man to ease my body’s tension (note: me and my pilgrimage tour group companions had been hiking a lot for days around Israel before arriving in Jerusalem) and strengthen my digestive system. That being said, I consumed all of the content of my EtroGat drink feeling happy and got very satisfied. Back then, I knew I had to come back to Etrog Man on my planned 2nd Mahane Yehuda market visit. By the morning of February 13, the accumulated soreness on my feet was almost entirely gone and I felt reinvigorated which I believe were benefits from my EtroGat drink.

Eventually our day-off from tour came on February 15, 2023. In the morning, I hiked first to the old city of Jerusalem to visit the Temple Mount, revisit the Western Wall and went on to a few more sites before taking the long hike to Mahane Yehuda market via Jaffa Street. I even managed to stop by Tmol Shilsom where I enjoyed their special beverage – the Halva Drink. As the weather suddenly turned cold in Jerusalem as I finally returned to Mahane Yehuda, the first thing I did there was enjoying a much-needed hot meal at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda.

After my Shakshuka lunch, I walked around the market which was a bit more challenging as there were ever more people around. Eventually, I returned to Etrog Man and told the lady in-charge that I wanted their largest serving of the Rambam’s Drink.

The enjoyable Rambam’s Drink!

After paying 24 Shekels and giving a tip, I started drinking it and I experienced this mild sweetness in my mouth. Rambam’s Drink also had this really unique texture and flavor which is I find delightful as I kept consuming it. Of all the juices or fruit-based drinks I had in my entire life, this beverage from Etrog Man was really a standout. As it turns out, the Rambam’s Drink was formulated to help the digestive system, boost the immune system and stabilize blood pressure. By the time I drank all of the Rambam’s Drink content, I was happily satisfied and felt really good.

I should also mention that Etrog Man also offers smoothies which are beverages sourced from fresh fruits that were expertly mixed and blended together to create a rich liquid for consumption. They also offer Super Bowls for those who want to eat something fresh and fruity with ingredients mixed in.

Look at all those fruits, vegetables and other fresh ingredients displayed!

More than just refreshments – special focus on consumers’ wellness

In addition to the very delicious and healthy beverages and desserts, Etrog Man also sells other products online such as medicinal drinks and varied products of nature – Concoctions from Nature – as well. More on health, Etrog Man offers customers a Detox Program complete with specially formulated products that can be used. Going back to their store in the Mahane Yehuda market, I spotted an enclosed container with fresh fruits and some vegetables displayed. Next time I revisit Etrog Man, I will go for one of their smoothies.

Who is Etrog Man?

The late Etrog Man founder Uzi-Eli. (photograph used with permission from Etrog Man).

Based on the translated information sourced from the official website, the business was founded by the late Uzi-Eli (note: He passed away on June 2022). He was described as a medicine man and was the third generation of a family that deals in healing drinks, pharmacies and herbs. His family practiced Torah-based spiritual medicine. For decades, Uzi-Eli was reputed as a bringer of good news, remedies and recipes based on the teachings of Rambam (a Sephardic Jewish philosopher who was also a prolific Torah scholar) and ancient Yemeni medicine. Etrog Man clearly refers to Uzi-Eli and this is displayed in the business joint’s official artwork of a smiling bearded man carrying fruits.

Early in his life, Uzi-Eli realized that his vocation was in distilling the beneficial properties of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables and spices – and distributing them to the masses. It was his intention to offer the best of nature and serve it with a lot of love. You can see more about Uzi-Eli in the YouTube video below.

Uzi-Eli was very knowledgeable about the many aspects of health which is reflected not only on the refreshing drinks of Etrog Man but also on their cosmetic products. He was a visionary and his expertise on wellness and nutrition is reflected through his business.

Conclusion

I can say that Etrog Man left a big and positive effect on me not only as a consumer but also as a person of faith who came to Israel to seek God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3) while on pilgrimage. That being said, I would love to see Etrog Man prosper not only by selling more to customers the refreshing products they are already known for but also to help more people over their specific health-related needs. The legacy of the late founder of the business remains strong and will be felt in the years to come. As such, I would not hesitate to return to Etrog Man at Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem the next time I visit Israel in the future. To those of you who are about to visit Jerusalem and the popular market place, I highly recommend you visit Etrog Man and try out their refreshing products and special items.

Visit Etrog Man’s website at https://www.etrogman.com/  and follow them on Instagram and on Facebook.

When it comes to receiving blessings from the Lord while you are in Israel, always remember that He clearly designated the land for the Jewish people. God will bless those who bless the Jewish people. That being said, always praise, honor and give thanks to the Almighty Lord. Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit so you can receive God’s plan for you with Jesus as your Lord and Savior. May the holy scriptures below enlighten you and empower your faith in the Lord.

Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (TPT)

The Lord has been mindful of us, He will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, He will bless the house of Aaron [the priesthood],

Psalm 115:12 (AMPC)

And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.”

Genesis 35:10-12 (ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you.

I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)

For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.

1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)

Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A great Shakshuka lunch at Mahane Yehuda market

A great Shakshuka lunch at Mahane Yehuda market

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined. Additional information from the official social media account of the subject business is also used. Take note that this is not a sponsored article at all. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

During the free day I had on February 15, 2023 – the day-off from the Israel pilgrimage tour I was part of – I used the additional time to not only go to key sites in the old city of Jerusalem (the Temple Mount, revisiting the Western Wall, revisiting the Jewish Quarter, King David’s Tomb, revisiting the Upper Room plus Oskar Schindler’s grave in a cemetery outside the city wall) but also explore what Jerusalem has to offer in terms of food and beverages.

The popular Mahane Yehuda market was my destination of choice to have lunch at and explore other joints within. This was actually my return to Mahane Yehuda as I had my first visit to the place a few days prior. On my way to the market marching along Jaffa Street all the way from the old city, I managed to find time to have a much-needed break at Tmol Shilshom. It was an elegant place that was worth the challenge finding.

After the short-but-sweet stay at Tmol Shilshom, I proceeded to Mahane Yehuda but I noticed something…the weather suddenly got colder as a light rain took place. This is Israel winter season I am talking about here and a little rain is enough to make the air colder.

Eventually, I returned to Mahane Yehuda market. The difference compared to my first visit is that the air was colder and the pavement was slightly wet due to the weather. As I was desiring to have Shakshuka for lunch, I went into the roofed part of the market and eventually made my way to the one food joint that specialized with what I wanted to eat – Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda.

The view from my seat at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda. This was taken while waiting for my lunch special.

For the newcomers reading this, Shakshuka (also spelled as Shakshouka) is a dish composed of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, oliver oil, pepper, onion and garlic topped with green vegetables and some spices.

Going back to my arrival at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda, I was fortunate enough to find a vacant seat (located near the small restroom). The pretty lady behind the counter handed me their menu in English which I carefully viewed. For my meal, I eagerly ordered their lunch special composed of Shakshuka with bread, pickles, colored tahini and a soft drink. The type of Shakshuka I specifically chose was the Classic/Fire (48 Shekels).

The pretty lady behind the counter proceeded with my Classic/Fire Shakshuka order. She prepared the ingredients for the Shakshuka and had it cooked within her workspace. The bread, meanwhile, was cooked in a toaster oven.

This is my Classic/Fire Shakshuka lunch special served to me hot and with a nice aroma.

When my meal was served really hot, there was this nice aroma that greeted me. There was also this instant relief from the cold air. While I was already hungry considering how far I walked from the hotel to the sites in the old city, to Tmol Shilshom and the Mahane Yehuda market, I paused for a while to admire the my Classic/Fire Shakshuka meal. It was, after all, my first-ever Shakshuka meal and the end of our Israel pilgrimage tour was near.

A close look at my Shakshuka. The sauce is rich and you can see parts of the two eggs within.

Finally, I decided to take my first bite of the Classic/Fire by eating like a local. I cut off a piece of the hot bread and moved it through the Shakshuka to catch a portion of it, and then ate it. Instantly, I really enjoyed the unique taste of the Shakshuka and this includes the freshness of the tomatoes and ingredients cooked together. Consuming it with a piece of bread (note: which I learned from consuming bread with Humus) along with the green vegetables added this nice texture into what I consumed. Then I went on to cut off another piece of hot bread, moved it through the Shakshuka (note: I got more of the egg this time) and ate. It was a really joyful eating experience.

With a piece of bread, I managed to get a portion of the Shakshuka and consumed it.

After running out of bread, I started using the provided spoon to slowly consume the Shakshuka. The heat was really nice and I really felt it inside me after consuming portions. I ended up being fully satisfied and really happy to have my lunch there at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda. I paid my bill and, in support of the business, I gave a tip.

Conclusion

I really had a great lunch at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda inside the popular Mahane Yehuda market. Their lunch special was very delicious, nicely cooked and fulfilled what was promised. The Classic/Fire variant of their lunch special is just one of several types of Shakshuka offered. Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda also offers Eggplant Shakshuka, Spinach Shakshuka, Yellow Pepper Shakshuka, Alfredo Shakshuka, Eggplant Parmesan Shakshuka, Cream-Spinach and Feta Shakshuka, and even Pizza Shakshuka. The food joint has so much to offer customers looking for not only freshly cooked Shakshuka but also sandwiches, French Fries, Israeli Salad and coffee.

The next time I visit Jerusalem and the Mahane Yehuda market, I would not hesitate to come back to Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda and try their other Shakshuka variants. I am deeply thankful to our Lord for the great Shaksuka lunch I had. Never forget to thank the Lord and glorify Him in return for the good food and drinks you enjoy. In fact, always thank and glorify the Lord for the blessings you receive from Him and for His plans for you. Also, learn to stand united with Israel and love and bless the Jewish people. Learn from the holy scriptures below…

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (AMPC)

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

Psalm 9:1 (NLT)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].

And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;

The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.

Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)

God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.

I’ll make you a great nation
    and bless you.
I’ll make you famous;
    you’ll be a blessing.
I’ll bless those who bless you;
    those who curse you I’ll curse.
All the families of the Earth
    will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:1-3 (MSG)

Looking for Shakshuka, sandwiches and other nice food within Mahane Yehuda market? I highly recommend visiting Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda.

If ever you will be visiting Israel and you will be spending time in Jerusalem, then I highly recommend visiting Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda for meals as part of your visit in the Mahane Yehuda market.

Follow the food joint’s Instagram account by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shakshuka.machaneyehuda/

Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel pieces here.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

The new normal for bread from the local bakeries?

The new normal for bread from the local bakeries?

carlocarrasco

Have you been paying more for pandesal at your local bakery? In my experience, I love the pandesal of Mang Pandesal located along Tropical Avenue, BF International in Las Piñas City.  When I first visited them in 2019, they sold pieces of pandesal at P2 each. That is no longer the case anymore. Two days ago, I visited Mang Pandesal ang bought 20 pieces of pandesal at P2.50 each. That’s a total of P50.

Do the math, P2.50 is a notable increase of 25% over the previous price of P2 per pandesal which lasted for years at Mang Pandesal. While I still will buy pandesal from Mang Pandesal (note: they’re still the best in the BF Homes community), I am more conscious about how many pieces to buy each time I visit them.

Even as our country continues to struggle to recover from the COVID-19 crisis socially and economically, we have no choice but to face the new normal of bread from the local bakeries…a new normal of higher prices and/or smaller sizes of bread. There are both internal and external economic forces that have been affecting the many local bakeries around the Philippines. High fuel prices are just the tip of the iceberg, literally.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from a recent Manila Bulletin article. Some parts in boldface…

Expect local bread to get smaller but become more expensive at the same time.

Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda made this rather depressing prediction as wheat, eggs, and sugar–all vital ingredients to breadmaking–have all shot up in price.

Salceda even has a clever word for it: “shrinkflation”.

“Bread will probably be the hardest hit by shrinkflation. Wheat prices have increased by 165 percent. At that point, breadmakers will probably both increase prices and shrink sizes,” the economist-solon said in a statement Sunday night, July 17.

Last March, Salceda warned of higher bread prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which affected the trade of wheat.

“Egg prices are also threatening to go out of control. Sugar supply is already problematic, noted the Bicolano.

“What we are likely to see us shrinkflation. Goods getting smaller instead of higher prices,” he noted.

Salceda said that while the government continues to try to control price hikes and resolve supply issues, manufacturers and millers can “fortify their products with vitamins and minerals”.

“Nutrition should be part of Science for Change, which is the DOST’s (Department of Science and Technology) flagship program. This should be one of the most relevant and immediate applications.

“Secretary [Fortunato] dela Pena also asked millers and breadmakers to consider other alternatives and additives to maintain nutritional value without increasing prices or reducing sizes significantly…So, in the meantime, while we solve the structural issues affecting price and supply, we can adapt,” the lawmaker said.

Pieces of pandesal.

Meanwhile, the Malaya Business Insight recently published an article about the struggle of community bakers. Posted below is an excerpt of their article with some parts in boldface…

Community bakers have lost 20 percent of their members due to the twin effects of the pandemic and rising raw material prices.

Princess Lunar, director of the Asosasyon ng Panaderong Pilipino, told the Balitaan sa Maynila yesterday, the fair price of pandesal should be P4 per piece to maintain its quality but bakers continue to sell at P2 to P2.50  but the size has considerably shrank to 18 grams.

Lunar said at P4, pandesal size can be restored to 30 g.

While pandesal is not a regulated commodity, community bakers cannot increase their prices because of competition among themselves as well as with commercial and industrial bakers which have economies of scale.

She said the group plans to come up with variants of pandesal at a much  bigger size  enhanced with more nutritious ingredients from agricultural crops like potato, cassava and other starches. The group plans to sell this at P8 to P10 per piece.

The value-added product can help elevate the stature of the pandesal which Lunar has termed as the “pambansang tinapay.”

She appealed to government to assist the group in conducting trainings to improve further the quality of their breads especially pandesal and ensure its sustainability.

Lunar said prior to the pandemic, about 40 percent of the flour requirements for bread go to community bakers. This has since shrank to 19 percent.

Lunar said from P785 per bag, the price of flour has gone up to P1,000. Since January when the Russia-Ukraine crisis started, the price of flour has gone up by P100 to P150 per bag.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Have you been paying more for pandesal at your local bakery? Does each pandesal piece look smaller in terms of size and content in relation to what you paid for? Are you willing to pay P4 per piece of pandesal? Are there any bakeries in your local community that shut down recently? Apart from pandesal, what other types of bread do you buy from your local community bakery?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others as well as making a donation to support my publishing.. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

My return to Xtremely Xpresso Café in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone

My return to Xtremely Xpresso Café in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone

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During my most recent visit at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, I took the opportunity to revisit key places around as it has been more than two years since my previous visit. On the afternoon of April 30 (just a day before the 2022 Subic Bay International Triathlon happened), I took time out to revisit Xtremely Xpresso Café (social media here, here and here) located at Dewey Street corner Sta. Rita Road.

Xtremely Xpresso Café is more than just a place to enjoy good coffee. It is also a restaurant that sells to its customers a good variety of tasty meals from pizza to pasta, rice meals and others. The very first time I visited the food joint was in the early 2000s. Through the years I had coffee there during my solo visits and there were also times that I was with the family enjoying pizza and their meals. Xtremely Xpresso’s pizzas were always delicious and filling to enjoy with friends or family.

Xtremely Xpresso Subic Bay Freeport branch on the day I returned.

Going back to my April 30 afternoon visit, I easily recognized Xtremely Xpresso upon arrival. What I found interesting was that the place was bustling with customers both indoors (where it is air conditioned) and outdoors as if life was back to normal (note: Alert Level 1 status was in effect on the Subic Bay Freeport Zone back then). I saw some groups of people, couples and individual customers enjoying their meals and drinks on the outdoor area (note: lots of seats and tables with shade) and the simmering heat of the day did not seem to bother them at all.

Then I entered and saw the ever familiar-looking interior. Almost all the seats and tables were filled up by customers who mostly came in groups or pairs. Everywhere I looked, I saw people really enjoying their food and drinks, and having quality time together. As such, I decided to order a drink and dessert and have the waiter serve them to me at a seat outdoors.

I took sat at a place where there was enough shade to protect me from the sun. While the heat was obvious, there were moments I felt some relief in the form of coolness from the occasional wind coming from the sea water several meters away. After about ten minutes waiting, the waiter served to me the cheesecake slice and the Shockwave Xtreme Frappe’ that I ordered.

The cheesecake I ordered at Xtremely Xpresso.
A close look at a portion of the cheesecake.

As I was seated outdoors, I did not want to let the sun and the summer heat ruin the cheesecake so I started consuming it portion by portion. Each bite of it was smooth and in terms of taste, it had a mild sweetness to it. More notably, it tasted like any cheesecake. In terms of content, it is thick and long enough for me. As such, Xtremely Xpresso’s cheesecake slice is good enough.

Xtremely Xpresso’s Shockwave frappe was cold coffee with some chocolate to its taste with a creamy aesthetic. In my experience sipping it moderately, the Shockwave had a moderate sweetness to it and I felt a creamy coffee and chocolate taste. It was during the remaining small amount I sipped when I suddenly felt a sweetened taste. Then the drink ran out. Xtremely Xpresso’s Shockwave is a frappe that is completely different from what other coffee shops here in the Philippines offered. I can say it is a good drink to have at Xtremely Xpresso.

The Shockwave frappe was mildly sweet and had a coffee and chocolate taste.

So my recent visit at Xtremely Xpresso in Subic Bay was good one. I would not hesitate to return there and next time, I would definitely order a meal, a different drink and something else. In my previous dining experiences there with my family, I enjoyed the taste of their Big Ben pizza, the Seafood Pesto pizza, the Creamy Cheese Penne and their Spinach Omelette. All of those and a lot more are still being offered to customers.

While securing an indoor seat and table is challenging, be assured that there are a lot more tables and seats outside. In fact, having breakfast and coffee outdoors is a fresh and comfortable experience as the sun is not too intense in the morning.

For those of you reading this, if you are planning to visit Subic Bay and you want good food and drinks to enjoy, I encourage you to visit Xtremely Xpresso.

Let me end this piece with the following holy scripture…

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (AMPC)

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Gold Delight’s Coco Halo-Halo ice cream

Gold Delight’s Coco Halo-Halo ice cream

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Here in the Philippines, what is considered by many to be the most popular local dessert reflecting the Filipino culture is the Halo-halo. For the foreigners and newcomers reading this, the Halo-halo is the cold dessert composed of crushed ice, milk (condensed or evaporated) and a variety of ingredients such as purple yam (ube), nata de coco, leche flan slices, sweet beans, coconut strips, jelly orbs, gelatin portions, fruit slices and a scoop of ice cream.

In Tagalog (the major language here in the Philippines), halo means mix. Halo-halo then means mixture (rough translation – mix-mix) which is realized when a consumer mixes all the ingredients together. In this form, the consumer will experience a unique, sweetened taste with each serving by the spoon complete with different ingredients entering his or her mouth.

Now in line with this article’s topic, try to imagine halo-halo in the form of an ice cream! That’s right! There is such a thing and in certain points during my lifetime, I consumed ice cream designed to have the taste and ingredients of halo-halo! Such halo-halo flavored ice cream were temporarily offered by the different ice cream makers.

Here, I want to show you Gold Delight’s Coco Halo-halo ice cream which is now available in pints and half-gallons!

Gold Delight’s Coco Halo-Halo ice cream in half-gallon.
This is what the Coco Halo-halo ice cream looks like up close.
Coco Halo-halo in pint and in half-gallon. These were sold in Las Piñas City for P90 and P275 respectively.

So what can I say about the Coco Halo-halo ice cream? It is made with water, coconut milk, sugar, milk solids, red mongo beans, white beans, kaong, nata de coco, and jackfruit strips to name some. The ice cream itself is mildly sweet. Its taste is enhanced when you eat the ice cream with the frozen (but not hard) ingredients. While it is not as sweet as the standalone halo-halo dessert (note: which can be served sometimes with condensed milk by certain sellers), it still is delicious in my taste. It is also ideal during this hot summer season. As such, Gold Delight’s Coco Halo-halo ice cream is recommended.  

For more content about Gold Delight and Ice Cream House, check out my Coffee Crumble-Cocoflan article as well as my DIY Sundae Box article and the Pastilla de Langka article. If you are interested in ordering Gold Delight ice cream products and have them delivered to your household, call their mobile number 09190091543 or visit them at their official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/icecreamhouseph

The details regarding ordering such as how to pay, what form to fill up and how long it will take for orders to be delivered are available for viewing at the FB page.

For those of you living in or near Las Piñas City, there is a local seller of Gold Delight ice cream products and you can call them at mobile phone numbers 0915-4606505 or 0917-3646363.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

House of Lasagna to open new branch in BF Homes this March!

House of Lasagna to open new branch in BF Homes this March!

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Are you fond of delicious lasagna and dining along Aguirre Avenue inside BF Homes Subdivision, Parañaque City with your friends or family members? Well, you will be happy to learn that popular lasagna maker and restaurant chain House of Lasagana announced recently via social media that it will open a brand new branch in BF Homes this coming March!

The big announcement from the Facebook page of House of Lasagna.

Their Facebook announcement goes as follows: To our House of Lasagna family in the south, we heard you!!! We are finally opening a branch near you all to serve you better! We are beyond excited to bring fresher and hotter lasagnas into every home in the south! Delivery is way faster too! We can’t wait for opening day when we can all welcome you into our HOUSE in the SOUTH. We are located along Aguirre Ave. BF Homes Paranaque. See you all very soon!

For the newcomers reading this, House of Lasagna is an Italian inspired restaurant chain that first started in 2009 in the City of San Juan, established by Chef Erick Congmon. Since then, House of Lasagana expanded around Metro Manila and I personally enjoyed a delicious meal at their SM MOA branch back in 2018.

Back to the south, opening a restaurant in BF Homes brings House of Lasagna closer to the residents and food enthusiasts of South Metro Manila given the fact that the subdivision itself is connected with not only Parañaque but also with the cities of Muntinlupa and Las Piñas. Imagine how many people living in the varied villages of Alabang, BF Resort, Barangay BF Homes and other nearby populated zones would come into BF Homes for House of Lasagna which has already established its credibility of serving very delicious food that are well cooked.

In line with its business name, House of Lasagna has a fine selection of lasagnas that customers can choose from based on their taste such as beef lasagna, chicken lasagna, three-cheese lasagna, vegetable lasagna, pesto lasagna and others.

I personally recommend their beef lasagna which is of top-notch quality! Last Christmas, a friend of mine gifted me and my family with one whole beef lasagna of House of Lasagna delivered by motorcycle. I can share to you all reading this that each bite I had of the beef lasagna really tasted good and the pasta used is smooth yet firm to chew on. It was so tasty, condiments were not necessary anymore.

This is the beef lasagna of House of Lasagna that was delivered to our home last Christmas thanks to a very generous friend of mine.
A close look at my first serving of House of Lasagna’s beef lasagna.

Other than lasagna, they also sell southern-style fried chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, creamy pesto and chicken wings to name some. As if that was not enough, House of Lasagna also offers cakes and pastries!

Now that you know the news about House of Lasagna BF Homes branch, I encourage you to share this article and details to other food enthusiasts you know. On my end, once House of Lasagna announces the exact date as to when their BF Homes branch will open, I will update you all.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Gold Delight’s Pastillas de Langka

Gold Delight’s Pastillas de Langka

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You guys and gals enjoy the taste and coolness of gelato? For the newcomers reading this, gelato is a frozen dessert of Italian origin and what makes it different from ice cream is that it is composed with more milk and less cream than ice cream, and is also usually made without egg yolks.

For us living in Metro Manila here in the Philippines, there is a certain gelato that consumers can avail of locally thanks to the Ice Cream House company and it is called Pastillas de Langka.

The Pastillas de Langka from Gold Delight.

Called a coconut gelato, Pastillas de Langka is pastillas ice cream with bits of jack fruit. It is composed of coconut milk, jackfruit, milk powder and extract, sugar, water, stabilizer and emulsifier. Served in 1-liter plastic containers, the Pastillas de Langka I bought in nearby Las Piñas City (note: vendor of Gold Delight ice cream there can be contacted for orders and inquiries 09154606505) cost me P135.

For the newcomers and foreigners reading this, pastillas (AKA Pastillas de Leche) is a popular Philippine delicacy made with milk as its core ingredient with refined sugar and calamansi juice as additional ingredients. I remember way back in my high school days when we were taught at school to make pastillas with powdered milk, refined sugar and condensed milk (liquid).

Going back to the Pastillas de Langka, I noticed how smooth, creamy and yet firm it is even when exposed to room temperature minutes after being brought out of the freezer. In short, it takes longer to melt compared to ice cream. If you want to know specific differences between gelato and ice cream, check this out.

How does it taste? Really good! Each serving of Pastillas de Langka I had was mildly sweet (with light flavors of pastillas and coconut milk). The bits of jackfruit (langka) added variety to the flavor.

A close look at Pastilla de Langka after a few servings scooped up. See the jackfruit bits?

If you are fond of cold dessert and want something tasty and mild with the sweetness, not to mention having lower fat content, then Ice Cream House’s Pastilla de Langka is recommended.   

For more content about Gold Delight and Ice Cream House, check out my Coffee Crumble-Cocoflan article as well as my DIY Sundae Box article. If you are interested in ordering Gold Delight ice cream products and have them delivered to your household, call mobile number 09190091543 or visit them on their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/icecreamhouseph

The details regarding ordering such as how to pay, what form to fill up and how long it will take for orders to be delivered are available for viewing at the FB page.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

Gold Delight’s DIY Sundae Box

Gold Delight’s DIY Sundae Box

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Previously, I discussed the Coffee Crumble and Cocoflan ice cream of the Gold Delight brand made by the Ice Cream House company and both were really great. There are other many flavors of Gold Delight ice cream that are just waiting to be discovered like Brownie ala Mode, Triple Choco, Mango Overload, Avocado Frost and Double Dutch to name a few.

What I want to share to you here are my observations about another interesting thing from the Ice Cream House company that has been released to customers in light of the Christmas season. It is something meant to delight families, bring the parents/guardians and the children together in connection to their enjoyment of ice cream. That thing is the DIY Sundae Box which, as of this writing, is offered for P395 to customers (P295 if three Gold Delight half-gallon tubs were purchased).

The DIY Sundae Box has a nice exterior with a top label that says “Just add ice cream” and has the Gold Delight logo on a corner.

What does the DIY Sundae Box look like and what does it have? Check the pictures below.

This is what it looks like upon opening. Nice cards included.
Six party cups and six sugar cones.
Clockwise from the upper-left: roasted nuts, caramel syrup, choco fudge, chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles and mini-marshmallows. Partially seen above is the ice cream scooper.
One nice pack of Fornaio de Fran Brownie Brittle! This one alone makes a nice snack.

With all the nice stuff in place, I decided to do some experimenting with the Gold Delight ice cream available (specifically Triple Chocolate, Avocado Frost and Mango Overload) using two party cups and one sugar cone. Check out the pics below…

I had Triple Choco ice cream scoops with mini-marshmallows and rainbow sprinkles. A great tasting delight!

My first experiment was a party cup filled with portions of Triple Chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and mini marshmallows on top. The result is a great taste! The Triple Choco ice cream has the expected strong chocolate flavor and the taste is enhanced with the rainbow sprinkles. The mini marshmallows made each bite delightful. I highly recommend this combination.

Scoops of Mango Overload plus Avocado Frost plus mini marshmallows plus rainbow sprinkles equal a nice fruity taste!

The next experiment was another party cup with portions of Avocado Frost and Mango Overload. I used mini marshmallows and rainbow sprinkles. The result is a really delightful taste that is fruity and has a candy taste. I personally recommend this combination.

I used one sugar cone with Mango Overload ice cream.

Out of curiosity, I used a cone with a rough scoop of Mango Overload. Good enough.  

Conclusion

The DIY Sundae Kit is a nice package designed to delight families, provide consumers (especially children) the opportunities to customize their ice cream, and even serve something nice to guests at parties. At its current price, it is worth getting and it spares the consumer from having to go all the way out to the stores to buy the ingredients to customize ice cream at home.

If you are curious for more or if you want to order a DIY Sundae Kit from Ice Cream House, contact them directly at mobile phone number 09190091543 or visit them on their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/icecreamhouseph

The details regarding ordering such as how to pay, what form to fill up and how long it will take for orders to be delivered are available for viewing at the FB page.

If there is anyone among you who already availed of the DIY Sundae Kit of Ice Cream House, please tell me what you think of it. Did your kids enjoy it? Let me know in the comments below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

My Observations: Mang Pandesal with SPAM

My Observations: Mang Pandesal with SPAM

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Let me start by making clear to you all that I love eating the pandesal (a roll of bread common in the Philippines) sold by Mang Pandesal located at El Grande Avenue corner Tropical Avenue in BF International, Las Piñas City. Every day they sell freshly baked pandesal that is both affordable (at P2 each as of this writing) and very delicious. Mang Pandesal is so good, many times lines of customers are formed just outside of their store, as well as vehicles suddenly parking nearby with a driver or a passenger coming out to line up and buy pandesal. If you are not familiar with Mang Pandesal, check out my opinion piece.

This past weekend, I passed by Mang Pandesal to take home freshly baked bread. Look at the pic below…

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Freshly baked pandesal at Mang Pandesal! Highly recommended!

Normally, I ate Mang Pandesal’s bread standalone because each and every pandesal tastes great. There never was a time I had any bad bread from the BF International baker. This time around, I decided it was high time to experiment something that could be very enjoyable. As such, upon arriving home, I placed the Mang Pandesal bread on the table and pulled out a can of the worldwide favorite meat SPAM.

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The world-famous SPAM canned meat, just with less sodium.

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Some of the Mang Pandesal bread arranged on the small plate for SPAM.

So step by the step, I pulled out some pandesal and carefully cut out slices of SPAM and divided each slice of the meat into three. Each pandesal from Mang Pandesal were cut into half to resemble clamshells. Then carefully I placed each SPAM portion into each pandesal.

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Mang Pandesal’s bread with SPAM meat inserted.

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A shot from above.

With the best tasting pandesal and the best tasting canned meat combined, the result was, unsurprisingly, a very delicious experience and totally enjoyable eat! This is an experience that food enthusiasts should have whenever they have Mang Pandesal bread and SPAM available!

And then out of curiosity, I decided to try another experiment…I decided to try pandesal with SPAM with a thin layer of white cheese added.

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Thin layers of cheese added.

The result? A very creamy taste that’s also very nice for consumption!

Depending how you like your Mang Pandesal bread and SPAM together, you will definitely get a great taste of the two. If you want the cheesy or creamy taste, that is what you will get with pandesal and SPAM with white cheese added.

As such, having Mang Pandesal’s pandesal and SPAM’s meat together is highly recommended! That being said, whether you like meat with your pandesal or you simply want the best pandesal around, I recommend you to go to Mang Pandesal in BF International now and buy.

Let me end this piece with a scripture from the Holy Bible, the Passion Translation to be precise.

Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.

1 Corinthians 10: 31 (TPT)

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com