Food: CIBO

Our table for two.

Whenever I want never-fails-everytime-oh-so-good food, one restaurant will always come to my mind. What else...but only Cibo does. Correct me if I'm wrong but everyone that I know who had tasted a dish here is always hands down to it.

Just a little background about Cibo

Cibo, owned by Margarita Fores, started 12 years ago. Literally, it means food and Cibo had defined what good food means. Coming from a well-known chef, undoubtedly, it nurtured my love for Italian cuisine. Margarita Fores is also known for Cafe Bola and Pepato restaurant. And because they love kids, they came with Cibo Bimbi.

Here comes the edible art.

FARFALLE ALLA GENOVESE PhP 263

mushroom. basil. pesto. cream

Long touted as one of the bestsellers in Cibo, I instantly fell in love the first time I tried it. Bow-tie pasta drowned in a very generous wild mushroom cream sauce, fresh basil pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese. And on its center another dollop of the good pesto.

LOMBATINE DI MIALE PhP 320

pork chop. mango mamalleta sauce. parsley rice pilaf

A new addition to their menu. The mango sauce is a perfect combination to this roast pork chop. I wonder how they made the sauce so yummm-oh. Hubby even asked for another order of their parsley rice pilaf and extra dripping of the sauce.

FRAGOLA PhP 122

Fresh strawberry fruit shake

When they say fresh, you will got what's fresh.

POMPELMO PhP 119

Fresh pomelo fruit shake

I ordered their white grape shake but it wasn't available that time. The waiter humbly suggested their Pomelo shake for its one of their bestsellers and I obliged. It's next to perfect too but there's something on it that makes my throat itchy. I'm not sure if it's because of the pomelo pulp or it still has undissolved sugar. My first sip was so sweet.

And the best thing...

TIRAMISU CROCCANTE PHP 215

It's not the traditional tiramisu everybody is familiar of. It’s made of crusty base and cream topped with dark chocolate shavings. I was quite disappointed for the one we had came from the side and the curve edge made it smaller. But I didn't complain for its taste and texture made me forget it.  Next time, I'll remember to request for a better part. Can you notice how it was loaded with dark chocolate shavings?

The all-stainless steel structure, quirky restaurant design, excellent service and the cute paper mill adds up to their magic. I ain't wrong, I'm sure.

CIBO

Level 2, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati

729-5309 (Fax)

758-2426 (Phone)

CONTEST: The Beauty Junkee's 1st Birthday

Hello my friends! How are you? I'm so early today knowing that it's a rest day.. but still it's good! Maybe I can catch this giveaway, ayt? Lol.

Ms. Martha, the Beauty Junkee, is having its 1st Birthday on April 27 and what better way to celebrate it is by having a giveaway! Yay! If you don't own a Shu Uemara eyelash curler yet, this could be a good chance for you.

 

Here's the deal:

1. Anyone can join as long as you can provide me a valid website link. It can be a blog, your own domain, your own hosted site, etc.
2. This is open to Philippine- based bloggers only.
3. You don't have to be a follower to join. Anyone can join! Just follow rule #1
4. Repost this in your blog, Facebook, multiply site, send via e-mail, etc. So you could share this contest to everyone!
5. You have to answer one question and reply with your answer in this entry:

Is character a reflection of beauty?

And here's my answer to her:

Absolutely! For you can have the perfect face, own what every girl dream of or even have fame for as long as you want, but character, it is something so valuable that everyone should learn it, love it and live with it! And that's the beauty glowing inside of you. So better let it shine! 

Let me leave you with one of my favorite quote I heard from a mentor long, long before.

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

The giveaway will end on April 27 so you better hurry up and join too!

April 22 is Earth Day

Yeah, today is Earth Day and I am participating! Lots of companies now are well aware of this cause and supporting it too!

By using your own tumbler on April 22 and 23, Starbucks will take PhP 40 off the price of your beverage. This way you can help reduce the use of disposable cups even for a day. Fortunately, I'll be meeting someone there today so that's a good start.

Here are some pointers:

• We recommend customers participating on this campaign to bring tumblers that have the proper insulation for either warm or cold drinks.
• Bottled water and pre-packed juices are not included in this campaign.
• Cannot be combined with other offers or Marketing promotions, complimentary vouchers and other discounts (ex. Rustan's discounts and partner discounts).

And if you don't have any of their tumblers yet, you can grab this promo to avail any of their Latte, Mocha, Chai Tea Latte, Cappuccino or Caramel Macchiato tumbler at a price of only PhP 195. Well, another Earth Day treat from the Green Siren! This runs from April 15 to 30 so better hurry up! One reminder though that you can't use it with the discount coupon for April that comes with your Starbucks planner. Just as what is stated on the back of the coupon.

Cellnique, a beauty product company also supports this cause with its "No Paper, No Bag" campaign. You can even get free samples just by using the picture below as your profile pic on your Facebook account. Check their Fan page for more info.

Package from Earth and Latest Summer Offerings from The Green Siren

No, it's not from Mother Earth! Though I must say Earth Day is just few days to go. :) This package came from Ms. Earth Rullan as a prize for her side contest on her blog's anniversary! Wonder what's inside?

Premium Movie Item + 2 Movie Tickets

See it's really good. I got a cool Wolverine notebook and the best thing, I can watch a movie again for FREE! Tickets are valid until April 30 and can only be use on G4. It's far from where I live but who cares it's still free baby!

Thank you very much Earth.. cheers to another year to your blog! :)

------------------------------------------
So, I got it right. Presenting the latest summer offering from Starbucks, Espresso Java Chip Frappe, which will truly soothe our body from the scorching heat. I'll probably try this on Thursday because I'll be meeting an old friend that day.

 

[Source]

I'm excited. :)

I'm having a great week, wish you do too!

Starbucks Summer Drinks

On April 20, Starbucks will reveal their cool offerings for summer. I still don't have an idea what it is really but I guess it has something to do with espresso and java chip ;) Just a wild guess.

So for those Starbucks fanatics out there, head on to your fave branch and let's discover another better way to beat this heat! Just minutes away til 12. :)

Shen's Addiction 2nd Year Anniversary Giveaway

Hello, how is your weekend going?

I don't know why I just made a post about this but hey better late than never. Everyone please give a round of applause to my good online friend, Shen, for her blog's 2-year existence! Yey! And because she values Shen's Addiction and us, her blog readers, she's having a giveaway with prizes you badly dream of winning! Well, me too. Here's what she's got for us:

The Body Shop
Maybelline Products
Ellana Minerals
Sun Life It's Time
Pureglow Minerals
Beauty and Minerals
Dollface Cosmetics
Pureology
L'oreal Proffesionel
The Spa Gift Certificate
Ipanema GB collection Certificate
L'oreal Men Expert

and hopefully a lot more.

There will be three winners, two from our country and one international reader. Isn't that another good news? This will run until April 30, 2010. Visit her blog now for the full mechanics while I'm leaving her my message. Know this sounds "sipsip" but please allow me too. :)

Thanks for constantly reminding us that everyone is a beauty by herself. You know you're so dear to me because you're the very first beauty blogger I've met...remember? You're very kind as always. Congrats dearie! :)

iBlog6: The 6th Philippine Blogging Summit

For all bloggers, inspiring to be one and just blog readers, the 6th Philippine Blogging Summit or iBlog6 will again held a seminar on April 16 and 17 so that's starts tomorrow, and will be held at the Malcolm Theater of the UP College of Law, University of the Philippines Diliman Campus.

The first day (April 16) is targeted for businesses and entrepreneurs wanting to market their products or services through blog. The second day (April 17) is all about basic concepts of blogging.

Let me remind you it is for FREE! So better be there and start registering now. They also accept walk-ins by the way. For the first 250 registered participants who came in as early-birds, they will be given food stub and participant kit. After that, any remaining stubs will be for the walk-ins.

Me and my hubby, who just also started his Food and Tech blog, will attend Day 2. Hope to meet you all there online friends! Let me know if you're coming too, okay?

The summit event includes:

Day 1 (April 16, 2010)

9:00 – 9:20 Opening Ceremonies (National Anthem, Welcome)
9:20 – 9:40 Blogging for Business (Janette Toral)
9:50 – 10:10 Tapping Bloggers to Generate Buzz (Jayvee Fernandez)
10:20 – 10:35 BREAK
10:35 – 11:05 Advertising in Blogs (Abe Olandres and Carlos Palma)
11:20 – 11:40 SPONSOR talk
12:00 – 1:15 LUNCH / NETWORKING
1:15 – 1:35 SEO & Blogging to Promote Your Business (Francis Gary Viray)
1:50 – 2:10 Measuring Blog Buzz (Carlo Ople)
2:25 – 2:45 Legal Concerns in Blogging for Business (JJ Disini)
3:00 – 3:20 BREAK
3:20 – 3:40 Blogger and Advertiser: What is the Win-Win Relationship? (Diana Paterno)
3:50 – 4:10 Online Attraction Marketing (Manuel Viloria)
4:20 RAFFLE and GROUP PICTURE

 Day 2 (April 17, 2010)

8:45 Opening Ceremonies (National Anthem & Welcome)
9:00 – 9:20 Blogging 101 (Hannah Villasis)
9:30 – 10:00 Video Blogging 101 (Vince Golangco)
10:15 – 10:35 Photo Blogging 101 (Juned Sonido)
10:50 – 11:05 BREAK
11:05 – 11:40 Political, Online Commentary, Social Media, & Election Blogging 2010 (Marck Ronald Rimorin and Noemi Dado)
12:00 – 1:15 LUNCH & NETWORKING
1:15 – 1:35 (SPONSOR TALK)
1:50 – 2:10 Launching Successful Blog Contests (Jinoe Gavan)
2:25 – 2:45 Blog Policies (UP-ISP)
3:00 – 3:15 BREAK
3:15 – 3:35 Impact of Blogging to the Community (Joseph Gonzales)
3:50 – 4:10 SEO: A Must for Making Money Online (Marhgil Macuha)
4:30 RAFFLE, iBlog Video Contest Winner Announcement, and GROUP PHOTO

Weekend Loot - 04.11.10

I burn again some of my cash. Though this may not be expensive at all but yeah, I still have many products on my room for me to finish. Aaaahh! But I'm in love with beauty stuff. Especially hair care prods. I'm so into them and I love taking care of my hair. Errr, I'm frustrated in taking care of my frizzy-so-far-from-perfect hair! I have my HG shampoo and conditioner already (HG as of now haha) but it's summer and my fave prods can't fight the heat that makes my hair smells...nasty! Sorry but it's true :) I know I don't have to tell you how growse it is. So I'd like to try other shampoo readily available in our market.

You take a peek...

I never realize that one side is blue and the other side is green

until I uploaded it here..haha cute!

J&J Baby Cologne Regular PhP 63

My scent since birth! I like this very much specially when it's summer because it gives you the fresh after bath feeling and "amoy baby."

Creamsilk Conditioner Damage Control PhP 103

This is my exchange conditioner when I feel that my hair's tired with L'oreal.

Sunsilk Strong & Long PhP 94

New version of Sunsilk green. They replace all variants of their shampoo and made their bottles colorful and captivating. Also Sunsilk's shampoos are now co-created with top hair stylists around the world. For me, it's still the same :)

Eskinol Calamansi Facial Cleanser PhP 31.75

For my elbows and knees.

'Til next weekend loot ladies!

FOOD: Mooon Cafe

We are at Cyberzone, SM North Edsa Annex again last Sunday still looking for the perfect laptop that will suit our needs and budget. We wanted a laptop that can pass the requirements of the software we're using but at the same time budget-friendly. Acer would be a good choice for us. Mac will forever be the top choice but that is something overboard right now...maybe someday. *wishes*

After scouring two floors of tech gadgets stores, we're itching to have our dinner and rest our tired feet. Do you also get annoyed with how SM Annex escalators were placed? I mean you have to turn around again just to get to the next one. Aaaargh! Good thing there are now many good food choices there. We're torn between President's Tea House and Mooon Cafe. I know the former is better but we are not feeling Chinese that time. And the latter has a very inviting ambience.

Description from their Facebook Fan Page

"Mooon Cafe is a mexican inspired eating place. The menu is typically international cuisine but with more focus on Mexican fare and the interior is reminiscent of Mexican cantina. Mooon Cafe has certainly earned a reputation for serving great food."

I got curious with big paper fans hanging on their ceiling and their mini-waterfalls too. It really has that Mexican vibe inside.

Take a peek at their kitchen..if you could!

And their cute salt and pepper.

We just want to have our dinner done so we head directly to their main entrees.

Pork Belly PhP 149

Grilled marinated Pork belly with buttered vegetables and rice. Served with native sauce.

A close-up look

Nothing extraordinary. That's it. Just grilled pork belly. Vegetables obviously are the frozen ones. Their rice isn't good. I mean our rice is way, way better than this! And may I ask if this is their native sauce, soy sauce???

Fish Mozarella Melt PhP 189

Deep fried fish fillet topped with melted mozzarella cheese, sauteed chopped tomatoes and served with garlic rice.

This is my order and the waitress said it would took 20 minutes to cook and I agreed but it took 30 minutes or more and Hubby is half-way his meal. I'm disappointed so it better be good! But again another so-so. Fish is bland for me and there's more batter than the fish itself. I hate when restaurants do that so as to make the dish look bigger! Tomatoes aren't sauteed as opposed to their description.

Watermelon Shake PhP 59

There's more ice and sugar rather than the fruit juice. Nonetheless, it's refreshing.

Coke Zero in Can PhP 35

Extra Garlic Rice PhP 25

OVERALL

Taste	☺☺
Price	☺☺☺
Interior	☺☺☺☺
Service	☺☺

As you can see, we were disappointed on how our orders taste. Not sure if we didn't order the right stuff or maybe it is just the branch in particular. Their staffs aren't attentive too knowing that the restau isn't full that time. Wanna know why? Because they're having their dinner too together with the customers and they're so noisy chitchatting with each other. Oh my! This is opposed to good raves they're getting in their Cebu branches. Maybe we should explore other items in their menu next time. If we'll decide to try it out again.. :( Anyhoo, do you have suggestions?

MOOON CAFE

2/F SM Annex, SM City North EDSA

North Ave. cor. EDSA

Quezon City, Metro Manila

(02) 332-5171

Who's on Top 1?

April 29 was my sister's Recognition Day and I'm proud to say she's the Top 1 on her class and among the Grade 1 sections. Yay! :) I know she is just on her First Grade but hey, it's Top 1! She's better than me when I was at her age. I'm also on honor roll before... always *ehem* but she can dance -- more of the leader type while I was the shy type.

With Mom and her Gold medal :)

She was given the Gold medal for topping the Division exam given only to the best three students on all Grade 1 sections.

The next day was for recognizing students in their respective class. Here she is together with the Top 10. Btw, she's on Star section.

Two medals: First Honor and Most Industrious

What can I say more...I'm a hella proud sister! I love you! :)

Congrats Dominique!

We end it with Ice Cream party!

Selecta Coffee Crumble -- one of our fave flavor!

Yours Truly @ TV5's Talentadong Pinoy

Yeah, you read it right. But not as a contestant, okay? Haha. Fortunately, I was given a chance to become a Talentado Jury last Monday held on SM North Edsa Sky Dome. My taping's scheduled at 3PM. Brought my Mom, Sis and Hubby with me. Too bad, I only got to take some pics 'coz cameras aren't allowed to be used inside. But hubby get to sneaked some. Haha.

I came early, tell me I'm excited. :) Audience are entertained by Voyz Avenue, an all-boys group who dance and sings serving as front act for that night. Think of them as those Korean boy band whose maporma but hey, they got talent uh. And me, I am at the backstage prepping up by the MUA with my seven other Jury. We're eight btw.

Here are the pics that night.

The audience

Can you spot my Hubby? They've got a good view of the stage.

Voyz Avenue

My mom and sis...

With hubby...

Tuesday Vargas is so funny and pretty in person. She has a lot of tattoo on her back though, not sure if it's just Henna. That's Wilma Doesn't and Ruffa G. on her back. Ruffa G looks like a mannequin, I envy her legs. oh la la la. Wilma is pretty too!

Audie Gemora

Hubby and sis as Jury too haha.

And yours truly...

I'm a celebrity..for a night (Don't you dare say no! Haha)

Hope you didn't get bored. I don't have a picture of Ryan A. :( He's so gwapo and ang kulit!!! Honestly, it isn't my first time to get on TV. I was once a contestant of Kris Aquino's Pinoy Bingo Night. Now I'm shy *wink*

Thanks to TV5 and Ms. Rachel. This will be aired on Easter Sunday, April 4, around 7-8 PM. Please watch me, okay?