Weekend Blog Follower Caravan # 20

Thank God Im in time for this weeks WBFC#20 and this time we will follow and support each others Google Plus 1. See the right upper corner of my page with "+1" sign on it? that's it participants and if you wanna be one of us and wanna join the fun all week searching from different blog sites? you are all welcome just do what I did and head over hear and Momy Rubz will take care of you for sure.

Weekend Blog Follower Caravan is a simple online blogger-helping-blogger weekly meme. It was designed for bloggers to help each other in terms of blog followers either through Google Friend Connect and email subscribers.

Lunch Date at Banapple Greenhills

I've been to Banapple Northeast Square,Greenhills last friday and as we walked into the place I felt so relax because the ambience at Banapple is welcoming, comforting and, most of all, accepting.  Its like,  in Banapple you are encouraged to let it all go especially your diet, unleashed distressed and feel like you’ve wandered into a fairy tale. I've been to Banapple Katipunan branch before and I felt the same way when I got a chance to visit their branch at Greenhills. I read into their Facebook fanpage HERE that the name came from their two best sellers Banoffee Pie which I personally love also and Apple Caramel Crumble. Established in  2007 by GJ and Maricel Jimenez, a hard working married couple with two children, who consider Banapple a labor of love.

Since we were five on the group we decided to order different dishes for us to taste the Banapple Northeast Square can offer. But it ended up overfed us because they have a very generous serving. Its a perfect lunch date for us girls so we ordered immediately because we can see the people are lining up but minutes later our food was served.

For our starters we had an enticing salads which includes Asian Sunshine (130Php) and Super Ceasar Salad (120Php)salad which we immersed into the goodness of every bite.  

Asian Sunshine Salad - a taste bursting with flavors, color and textures. Made up of refreshing greens, cucumber sticks and crabstick shreds. Topped with sweet juicy mandarin oranges, crisp wonton skins and added to the juiciness is the honey-sesame oil dressing. The taste it quite filling as well, especially the crispness of the wonton skins.

Super Caesar Salad - A healthy treat that has a mixed greens, romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese, eggs,bacon and anchovies.I like the how the dressing mix with the greens its very refreshing.

They also offer the amazing savory dishes for the hungry humans out there, like us that time we obviously had it all because we individually ordered rice meals like the Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew (195Php), my personal favorite the Bacon and Fried Chicken Steak with Milk's Mushroom Gravy (175Php), Breaded fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce (185Php), Lasagna Roll-Ups (170Php) and Trio of Sausages Fettucine (170Php).

Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew -  the tender beef tapa and succulent cuts of sausages smoothered in a thick stew served with glazed carrots. The like the tenderness of tapa, it coincide with taste of sausages and the stew that serves as its sauce also added the flavor.

Bacon and Fried Chicken Steak with Milk's Mushroom Gravy - tender fillet of chicken breast which is fried together with bacon with warm  milk's mushroom gravy.Served it with buttered sweet corn. This dish is my favorite because its a chicken dish though its very simple but it has a taste that my mom does.

Breaded fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce - fresh fillets of velvety dory fish, blanketed in herd crust, drizzled with warm honey thyme mustard sauce and served with glazed carrots. I like how they cooked the fish, exact amount of cooking it brings out the juiciness juice of fish.

Lasagna Roll-Ups - it has a herbed cream and parmesan cheeses fill aldente lasagna wide strips, are rolled up ans smothered with Banapple's classic tomato meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. I made a lasagna last week but I never failed to have another round of it at our circle heheh..

Trio of Sausages Fettucine - this is a protein-packed pasta of crumbled chorizo, garlic longganisa, and hungarian sausages, tossed in garlic, parmesan cheese and a very light cream sauce. The like the fettucine because it is  perfectly cooked and it has a sauce that gives ample amount to taste.

Any visit to Banapple wouldn’t be complete without sampling their amazing Banoffee Pie or any of their other sweet tooth treats.Like we do, but this time we only ordered 3 because we're so loaded and were afraid that we will not make it to our next event that for that day. So we had  a slice of the Honeylovin Crunch Cake (110Php), White Chocolate Truffle Berry Cheesecake (110Php) and the Cadbury Old Gold Oreo 

Cheesecake. Since I have a sweet tooth I love them all so much.

Banapple is the ultimate escape into a world that is somehow familiar, but not completely explored yet. Banapple smells like childhood. So if have a busy stretch of road , the honks and beeps that irritates you, and the little restaurant in front of you is reminiscent of old Granny’s gingerbread house just come-in and make it like your own home.Like we had last Friday at Banapple Greenhills. The exact address is Northeast Square, Connecticut St. Northeast Greenhills, San Juan with telephone number 477 2675.

DELL CONNECTED CLASSROOM

Last Thursday July 28, I attended an event that will change the traditional way of teaching. We all know that school has their own computer laboratories and equipment but last Thursday its another technology that will further enhance the learning environment of the students as well as the teachers for more effective way of imparting knowledge.  Dell announces the 'Connected Classroom' which provides the school for a more advanced that engage the the digital generation  differentiate instruction, teach critical 21^st century skills and improve students’ learning experience.

The presentation started by the Dell Global B.V. Country Manager Ricky Benipayo Lopez, he illustrated the difference of technology as goes by and great innovations that will give as a chance to grow and be competitive globally. 

Then the Head of Education Practice for Dell, Ms Rani Burchmore shared the statistics and studies brought by technology in the societies improvement through the power of their fingertips. She said that putting technology in every hands of the students maintains the connection to a wider world.

Before the demonstration of how this new technology works, they introduces the essential parts and the set-up of such equipment.

Dell Latitude 2120 – the next evolution of Dell’s popular netbook offers several enhancements that support the rapid adoption and use of digital content in the classroom. A high definition anti-glare LED-backlit display (1366x768) and optional Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator make the most of rich new content and on-line assessments. Built with an optional multi-touchscreen interface enabling touch applications to be brought to life, and optional webcam for easy collaboration in your connected classroom. It is scalable with connectivity options like integrated WiMAX support, embedded mobile broadband card and Bluetooth. The netbook also boasts an optional 128 GB solid-state drive (SSD) for low power consumption, quiet performance and fast access to data and optional 6-cell battery. It comes in Red, Black and Blue.

Dell™ Latitude™ XT2 Tablet PC – the XT2 provides an outstanding tablet experience. A high-performance system designed with intuitive input capabilities including a capacitive multi-touchscreen and pen, the Latitude XT2 can work the way you want letting you use natural gestures like pinch or tap. With just a stroke of your fingertips, you can scroll through large web pages, zoom in on graphics, photos or maps, enlarge emails to aid reading, close your screen, collaborate in real-time, and more. At just an inch thin with an ultra-small power supply, the XT2 can comfortably go almost anywhere with its great features and plenty of flexible options -- optional slim high-capacity battery slice, work in laptop or tablet mode, media base for docking, optical drive.

 Ergotron TeachWell Mobile Digital Platform - a mobile workstation which allows teachers or students to conveniently accommodate all their devices and accessories on a single portable unit. The unit includes a cart, laptop/tablet pivot, document camera tray and bracket, integrated worksurface, wrist rest, keyboard tray with left/right mouse tray, mouse holder, open-front compartment, rear handle, document bin and four dual caster rollers (two locking). Ergonomically designed with negative-tilt keyboard tray ensures wrists remain in a neutral position during data entry.

 Dell S300wi Interactive, Short Throw Projector– combining the capabilities of an interactive pen with this multi-purpose, short throw projector, teachers can make virtually any smooth surface an interactive learning space. In addition, 3D capable* DLP technology allows for an experience that is not possible with traditional 2D content.  While the new S300wi gives schools the flexibility to use any compatible interactive software platform and toolbar, it ships with eInstruction Interwrite Workspace (at no additional cost to customers), providing interactivity in no time.

After which the demonstrations follows as we all listen attentively because we cant imagine that this kind of technology is already here and the Dell Officers also explained that they are collaborating with the Department of Education about this matter. You can do all the things that you want for the students to be more focus and study well. The heart of the system can manipulate anything in the process of learning. You can draw, play music and even record lecture itself for the students who cant attend school for a particular day and can learn simultaneously with the help of the internet.

Dell’s Connected Classroom has been welcomed by schools around the world as a means to connect students and teachers through technology and promote collaboration both inside and away from the classroom and now we are making this possible within our reach.

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.com.ph.

Filipino Brands Reinterpreted in a Culinary Degustacion

Recently, I attended an event at Blue Leaf located at Mckinley Hill Taguig City for the TastePro's 'Filipino Brands Reinterpreted in a Culinary Degustacion'. The said event was participated by groups of media, bloggers and food enthusiast.TastePro, the corporate arm of Josiah’s Catering, makes it their mission to reinterpret the country’s leading brands in a one-of-a-kind culinary event. Leading brands such as Smart Communications, Mitsubishi Motors, Nestle Philippines and Universal Robina Corporation among others. The leading specialists for corporate parties and events demonstrates culinary prowess and a deep understanding of Filipino brands with its 1^st Brand Degustacion.

TastePro is giving attention to their corporate clients by showing them how much we know about their brand through our culinary creations. Since the Josiah's Catering as we all know, is for wedding events they prioritized corporate clients at TastePro. To launched this, degustation cocktails gave guests the opportunity to get to know their trusted companies by taste. By promoting this sense of familiarity through the creative food interpretations, clients will remember the essence of service that the brand embodies.

To start with, the opening remarks was initiated by Jet Versoza, CEO of Josiah's Catering. He said that TastePro will address the needs of companies for their corporate functions like business conferences, luncheon meetings, parties, team building activities and other group activities. After which he offers the table for everybody to enjoy the night especially the food. That's all we did...

Smart Communications -  the Pate Station with Assortments of Breads and Spreads reflecting the limitless possibilities and enjoy an assortment of choices. Pates such as herb and cheese, chicken liver, ham, and smoked salmon cream, or choose from a different of spreads from artichoke and cheese fondue, eggplant and feta, hummus, and wild mushroom. 

Mitsubishi - Guests can also enjoy the Japanese-inspired Grilled Shiitake Mushrooms with Cucumber and Crab Stick Salad, Teriyaki Sauce, and Wasabi Dressing.

Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc’s Fried Oyster with Lemon and Balsamic Vinegar made with superior quality ingredients: the freshest oysters with premium balsamic vinegar and lemon; or satisfy your cream cravings with a taste of Cauliflower Panna Cotta with Salmon Roe, Nestlé’s Italian custard topped with cauliflower and served with preserved salmon roe.

Ateneo De Manila's Inadobong Paton a Lumpia presents a contemporary adobo ensemble by using native duck meat, shredded, then mixed with vegetables, and wrapped in rice paper served with tangy mango and pepper chutney.

PS Bank’s quality services is seen in the careful presentation of the Tripes en Croute, ox tripe simmered in white wine until tender and sautéed in butter with assorted vegetables, kesong puti, and cream, and baked with puff pastry crust on top.

US Embassy’s US Angus Beef Mini Burger in Sesame Buns,  version of the all-American comfort burgers served with a wide assortment of condiments. 

SGV & Co’s interpretation of teamwork, Grilled Sirloin Strips with Onion Jam in Saffron Rolls, has never been this delectable with premium US sirloin steaks topped with sweet red onion and served in warm saffron butter rolls.

Nestle Cornflakes Crusted Laguna Cheese with Honey Dew and Watermelon Salsa served with a shot of Almond Milk.

Universal Robina Corporation’s fun and colorful Blend 45 Crème Brûlée with Smashed Nips Chocolate Candies and Walnuts.

And of course, TastePRO presents Sautéed Andouille Sausage with Red Onion and Lychee Chutney. The premium French Andouille sausage grilled and served on top of the French baguette slice, and served with unique glazes. Next, the Crisp Baby Back Riblettes with Tamarind and Honey Pepper Glaze mirrors TastePRO’s drive to achieve perfection and ultimately exceed its client expectations. Finally, using superior ingredients, the Shredded Braised Pork Belly in Maple and Cherry Sauce represents TastePRO’s mission to give only the best quality of food and services to its clients.

TastePro represents its tradition in delivering quality food and services that exceeds its client’s expectations by leading innovations that set the standard in the Philippine catering industry. With TastePro’s latest corporate food expo, the country’s leading businesses can now have a taste of the culinary chef’s interpretation of their quality of services through its second year. Thank you and see you next year for another set of amazing cocktail meal.

Josiah's Catering TastePro is located at 34 East Drive St. Marikina Heights Marikina City with telephone numbers 934-5134/941-7032/942-5738/934-5134/934-9252/997-0991 local 116 telefax 934-6734 and you can also contact them through email at info@josiahcatering.com and visit their website here www.josiahcatering.com

FOOD Magazine's New Editor In Chief and "Delightfully Fresh' at THE STOCK MARKET

I am glad to joined the welcoming of FOOD Magazine's new editor-in-chief, Ms Anna Marie 'Nana' Ozaeta. As of the country's largest selling culinary magazine, readers and subscribers will definitely have more time to leaf the magazine and learn more from a great food magazine. To start the welcoming event Chef Boom Jota of the Bistro Group prepared a welcoming menu for the visitors and expectants. Likewise Stock Market introduces their 'Delightfully Fresh' set of dishes, was re-opened early this year under The Bistro Group of Restaurants. They introduces new menu, homey place, freshness of colors, and over-all ambiance that invites you and confident enough to try all the delightful fresh taste. From various choices of appetizers, salads, soups, pastas,entrees, gourmet sandwiches, burgers and desserts don't you wonder why if you'll be asking and ordering for more specially the ones with a 'House Specialty' marked on it.

Before the event started we had a Sassy Spring Roll served as our enticing starter, it is a crispy egg roll stuffed with tuna, spinach, onions, and cream cheese it is serve with vegetable crudities, sour cream and chives. The combination of stuffed inside is so delicious try it with sour cream and the taste really last into your mouth.

We also had an Southern Chicken Burger which has a herbed flavor chicken fillet, smoked turkey, provolone cheese. The chicken is so tender and this burger is so healthy.

Then the pasta we had is the the Stock Market's Penne Pesto, served with basil cream sauce, parmesan flakes, chicken stripes,  broccoli and fresh arugula. 

We tried the two of the long line of beverages that Stock Market had both came from a freshly squeezed juice and fruit shake to finished the launched of Stock Market's 'Delightfully Fresh' menu that are good for our body and mind as well.

Then for the FOOD Magazine's formal launched was started that welcomes the new editor in chief and the people behind the successful food magazine on news stands today.

Get your our own copy now at your favorite bookstores and news stands. The August issue will give you exciting news and updates about food, restaurants, recipes  and culinary. Featuring 'The Chicken Issue' cooking in the heart of the home, that has the 32 kitchen-tested recipes,  3 chef's kitchen that works for you and many more...

Stock Market is located at Quadrant 3 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City. Open daily from 11:00AM to 10PM. For inquiries, call telephone numbers 856 6300/856 2888 loc 1898 or email: thestockmarket@bistro.com.ph

Buffet Lunch at Bayview Park Hotel Manila Featuring All Regions

On its last week of celebrating Kulinarya Festival, Bayview Park Hotel prepared delectable cuisines from all regions of our country. It was been a month of delicious food that hotel has feature for a buffet lunch like Bicol, Iloilo, Mindanao and this week, all foods from different regions will be catered for you. Filipino cuisine is one of the world's tasteful set of foods, influence by different countries which is mastered by the Filipinos through decades and was passed to generations and generations. Like any other country in Asia, Philippines put various herbs and spices on their foods until flavor made out only of its own.

Bistek Tagalog - the usual bistek that i have tasted is beef but this one is pork and its more delicious for me. Chief said that cooking pork for a bistek dish saves a little time than beef and the sauce that it produces is more delicoius than the usual, no doubt why I like it. Just small tip for everyone, marinate the pork about an hour with soy sauce and calamansi (lemon) for the pork to be more tender. Then fry it perfectly and pour the sauce you used to marinate then topped it with stir fry onions.

Igado - I believe that Igado is an Ilocano dish, because I have a friend in college that loves to cooked it and they are Ilocanos. Pork meat that is used and they also put some liver pork on it that added a distinct taste on it. It is cooked a little saltier, with vinegar and nearly dry for the reason that it has to have a longer shelf life.

Pinakbet - We grow up loving vegetable and until now I learned to eat almost every veggies I've known. Cooking Pinakbet would basically boiled all the vegetables and shimmer it instantly to maintain the crunchiness  and freshness of veggies. The more crunchier the vegetables the better.

Sinigang na Panga ng Isda - this soured fish in slow fire to avoid the fish to crash. The head part of the fish consist of all the taste itself, no wonder why it produces the most delicious soup I've had. It deserves a second round, that's why I gave it another try hehe..

Pancit Hubhub - this pancit originally came from Region 4, specifically in Qeuzon. The noodles was homemade and sauteed perfectly with other healthy vegetables. I will personally recommended it to you and I am sure you will love it.

Kinilaw na Tanigue - tanigue is a type of fish that can be associated with tuna, its a southern dish which the fish is only cooked with vinegar and served it with fresh onions,ginger and garlic.I never thought that you can cooked precisely with only vinegar, but this dish open my eyes and my appetite to try it over and over again. And I would try to cooked one at home also after.Thanks Chief..

Of course they also have delicacies like Banana chips, Otap, and dried mango all from Visayas Region. You should also try the Palitaw, Kutsinta, Pichi-pichi and the Biko all made out of rice perfect to have your lunch a  great finale.

All of that for the final week of Bayview Park Hotel's Kulinarya Festival, you must try their buffet lunch and visit all the regions of the Philippines through the means of food. Happy eating...

You can also contact them for reservation and inquiry Bayview Park Hotel Manila 2479000 or 526-15555. 1118 Roxas Boulevard cor. United Nation Avenue, Manila, Philippines.

WIN 1,000Php Worth of Ponds Products

Pond's is giving away 1,000Php worth of Pond's products. just post a photograph of you looking at the sky and you might have a chance to win instanly. Sort your picture files and look for the one and post it at the Pond's Facebook fanpage HERE.

Click HERE to join and post this week and winners will be announced on Sunday.

Government's Media Launched for Puerto Princesa Underground River for The New 7 Wonders of Nature

The New 7 Wonders of Nature was launched immediately after the Official Declaration Event of the New 7 Wonders of the World ( Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, Brazil’s Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Peru’s Machu Picchu, Mexico’s Chichen Itza Pyramid, the Colosseum in Rome and India’s Taj Mahal) at Lisbon. Portugal on July 7, 2007. From  440 nominees down to 28, The Underground River located at Puerto Princesa Palawan, the Philippines bet for the New 7 Wonders of Nature is still included in the finalists. That’s why the government urges all the Filipino to vote and campaign for the sure inclusion and a chance to be one of The New 7 Wonders of Nature. Filipinos should continue voting for  Puerto Princesa destination to move it to a higher and less vulnerable ranking than seventh place.

Department of Education intends to ask the public and private sectors of our society to cooperate and support for the campaign and vote the Puerto Princesa Underground River online (www.new7wonders.com)  and text ( PPUR to 2861) everyday.  “Encourage your relatives, friends and every concerned Filipino to vote and campaign for this”  says Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali  during the media launched that was  sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The said launched was attended by different leaders of our government like Secretary Alberto A. Lim of Department of Tourist(DOT), Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje of Department of Environnment and Natural Resources (DENR), Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali of Department of Education (DepEd) and of course the city mayor of Puerto Princesa Palawan Mayor  Edward S. Hagedorn. It is followed by the issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 182 declaring a national and international promotion campaign for the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

The task force for this campaign was formed with the DILG secretary as chair and Tourism secretary as vice-chair to strongly promote the mentioning of the Puerto Princesa Underground River among the New 7 Wonders of Nature. On the other hand, as the DepEd’s member of the task force, Asec Umali said that as they could deliver more that 22 million votes if mobilized for the campaign since estimated 30 million students enrolled this year in public and private schools and considering also the school employees to have another 500,000 probable voters. To do this, different projects are to be launch to support this like having posters, brochures, information booths and also the most powerful of all is the word of mouth from schools to family, friends and relatives. Moreover this continuous effort should be maintained until the Puerto Princesa Underground River reached its goal that is to be one of The New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Let us all vote and support for the Puerto Princesa Underground River, by simply sending PPUR(single vote), PPUR7(vote 7 times) or PPUR15(vote 15 times) to 2861 (Globe, Smart or Sun subscribers). Each vote cast is worth P2.50. Voting via SMS is allowed until the midnight of August 8, 2011. From Aug. 8 to Nov. 8, 2011, each mobile phone number will then be allowed one vote each. For online voting, register at www.new7wonders.com. Only one vote is allowed for each registered e-mail address. Online voting is allowed until the midnight of November 10, 2011.

For more photos about the event click HERE.