Passion for Greatness: The Bench "Benchingko Films" Red Carpet Premier

From its humble beginnings, BENCH is now a global brand the Philippines is so proud of! With it's gorgeous roster of local and international endorsers to representations in shows like America's Next Top Model, to collaborations with great world class designers like Randy Ortiz and Rajo Laurel, you can't stop something that is so good!

In celebration of their 25th year in the industry and after a great series of shows in Philippine Fashion Week, this awesome brand global brand just made their silver anniversary extra special via BENCHINGKO FILMS and short films you'll absolutely go crazy about! I got some great photos I'd like to share with you guys from the red carpet premier! Are you ready? =)

Just look at the back draft on the red carpet, the gorgeous Lucy Torres Gomez, the alluring Lovi Poe, Piolo Pascual, Bella Flores and Coco Martin... I'm sure the stars alone would make anyone think what great short films we'll be watching that evening!

I missed to shoot one of the movie posters for Coco Martin's Horsepower. There were more stars who came and supported the short films. They were part of the cast too. It was my first time to see Benjamin Alvez.

 

Even the sons of the Comedy King was there. Epi Quizon was part of one of the films. He was interviewed quite a lot because this is the first time he came out after his Father's passing.

It was also so nice to see Mr. Ben Chan. He really made it a point to be there and supervise everything. Do you remember the comment I made about his work ethic during the Joe Jonas launch?

He personally did things instead of asking his staff for it, now that probably is his secret for the success of Bench!

Also there were gorgeous models from Philippine Fashion Week, I apologize I couldn't recognize them.

Some good looking bloggers, my friend Paul of PaulthePRGuy with Vern Enciso and Verniece Enciso. Ain't they gorgeous? :)

The place was packed! It was so nice to see BENCH celebrate the whole year and I'm so glad to be part of it!

Then I was floored when they came in!

This isn't the first time I saw Ms. Lucy Torres Gomez but everytime I do, I'm just mesmerized by her beauty. Imagine if your Congresswoman looked like this, the world would be so peaceful! :))

Of course one of the stars on the short film "KAMA" is the gorgeous Lovi Poe. Her dress that evening was deadly! Backless redefined!

Equally good looking guy Piolo Pascual was so nice. He agreed when I politely asked for a photo. What do you think? =)

Star of KONTRABIDA 101 Ms. Bella Flores looking so regal in her violet dress. I'm a fan of this great actress, super fan actually. Kontrabida wouldn't be coined without mentioning her name in Philippine history!

Check out this trailer and just take a look at what we watched that evening!

See why I'm not surprised why BENCH is the number 1 clothing brand in the Philippines? =)

Thank you so much and happy happy birthday BENCH! Thank you also to Sir Ben Chan and everyone behind the success of the brand! Let's all sit down and relax, there are more things coming up this last quarter. Watch out for that! :)

Bench really has a passion for greatness!

G-STAR RAW: Jeans Above the Norm

It was a great night, it was pouring but a little bit of rain won't dampen my spirit. It was my first time to see what G-STAR RAW Jeans was all about so I really knew when I got invited to this launch that I won't miss this!

G-STAR is one great internationally renowned lifestyle brand and looking at their repertoire you can easily spot that their specialty is on denim. They have a couple already out but the new line boasts of straight cut and low straight cut styles men would absolutely dig. I've seen quite a couple of weathered tattered pieces which would be perfect for those who prefer a better fit, unique look and an ass that rises like a million dollars. 

From its roots dating back to 1989, G-STAR's captivating, innovating, cutting edge style has taken the world by storm. They push the limit and continously experiment different looks making each piece ultra original and makes behemoth responses worldwide. It's rough, and raw characteristics make G-STAR's jeans line one of the most sought after brands in the world. They believe in making pieces that maintain authenticity. They never follow the norm. They let the product speak for itself.

Looking at their store in Bonifacio High Street alone gives you a glimpse of what they have aside from their formidable jeans line. They've got jackets, pants, shorts, shirts and footwear that mainly concentrates on a more classic urban - upscale chic look. The faux leathers, the tan colored pants, the blues and blacks often tell a story. I love the palette they worked on for the jeans too. Best of all they also got celebrities and models to show them off!

They also got gorgeous ladies spinning for them that evening.

Without sacrificing their sense of style G-STAR Raw Jeans takes denim work to another level. For those who appreciate worksmanship, originality and comfort you should visit their store at Unit 201 Upper Ground Floor C1, BHS Central, Taguig City. Their spot is on the 2nd floor and you won't miss it! Make sure you get the staples though and those which you can use the whole year round. The jackets and the jeans alone should tell you that you need it. You can't resist good ones and these are no different.

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http://www.g-star.com

McCormick Bread Spread: The End To Bland!

I cook. I have been for the past few years and one of the staples in the kitchen are spices. I can't live without them because it tells who I am through food. Taste is defined by the choices you make and since we are in a tropical country, we don't have that much available locally. Good thing there's McCormick!

Imagine, this is their 150th year of providing the highest quality ingredients to flavor every dish in our table. Just last weekend we were given a treat at Bonifacio High Street's Fully Booked where they showed some remarkable additions to their arsenal. Have you seen them on your local groceries already?

If you have been tiring yourself endlessly putting butter over rye and crushing garlic before spreading over it, then this is your best friend. McCormick has launched their Bread Spreads line. Now all you need to do is pop up the lid and put it on your favorite crusted bread. Nothing fancy, just plain easy. I had this for starters and I loved how it was priced. This only costs 75 Philippine Pesos in the retail market. The Garlic flavor was awesome, but there was actually more...

Oh just mention pesto and I'm there. This is actually my favorite pasta condiment but now that it's easy to spread on bread, it'll be a good comfort food other than preparing the whole dish instead. I should probably try this on pasta and see what it'll taste like.

Sorry the sun kinda had this shot too shiny haha. But this is the Herb Parmesan Bread Spread. This is my favorite out of the three they have released. I thought it was just for bread though, I didn't know it had other surprises in store.

They actually used it to cook. Yes you heard that right, they used these bread spreads to flavor those dishes you usually have to use a lot of ingredients to prepare. Imagine your pasta, with garlic and pesto from these tubes. It was surprisingly yummy! I had a couple of servings of the Chicken with prepared with the pesto spread too.

 See what you can do with the new McCormick Bread Spreads? From mains, pastas to salads they can always be your buddy. It's time they put an end to bland and make flavor a number one priority on your kitchen! Best of all it's ZERO TRANS FAT!

So make sure if you are looking for Herbs and Spices, Seasoning Mixes, Blends, Extracts and Food Colors, Grill Mates Seasonings, Gourmet Collection, Seafood Seasonings and Sauces you must buy McCormick. It's the only thing on my pantry, it should be the same on yours!

Cozy, Fun, Dining and Partying at Izumi Sake Bar and Lounge!

One quaint evening at the posh Burgos Circle, we were invited for dinner and a few rounds of drinks. The place was called Izumi Sake Bar and Lounge. It was all we need to have a great time. 

The 2 floor bar had this distinct upscale club feel. The dark interior and exterior was a welcome sight to crowds especially on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays where it usually gets packed! It's not my first time in the area but realizing how good the place looks like and the things I heard happening here, I realized that I was missing a lot!

The bar was nice. It was a mix of wood, bamboo, painted planks, stainless steel and glass. It was like a neo Japanese approach and they said they have changed quite a number of times since the place called for it. They also got DJ's on event nights and they take pride making this the place to be in BGC.

They've got a wide array of liquor and spirits on hand. I even saw sake bottles on the wall and in the rest of the palisades inside Izumi.

Starting off, we had a couple of glasses of Merlot. I loved it! This was the time for chilling and having this one right off the bat was perfect.

The bar's menu had a lot of pica pica style servings. It's perfect for groups and barkadas. This one is called Spicy Edamame. Snow peas slowly flipped around a hot griddle sprinkled with chili powder, salt, pepper and spices. It'll get you started and make you a little thirsty for more booze.

Their menu was special because it involves fusion dishes. This in particular is the Maguro Izumiyaki, a bestseller since they opened a couple of years ago. Even though they have changed menus this was always asked by the crowd. It was so nice to see a bar that also gives so much detail and attention to food than just their beverages. This seared tuna rolled in sesame seeds dipped in soy sauce and wasabe was sweet and a bit chewy. It tasted so fresh and filling. No wonder people love this dish! 

This is Salmon Poke, a concoction of coconut cream and fresh salmon sashimi seasoned and mixed together. It was a sweet savory treat more on the coconutty side. The leaves kinda give you something to wrap it on, it was cold and fresh. Yummy!

One of my favorites on their menu is this Soy Chicken and Mushroom Gyoza. It was so good and I love it dipped in dark Soy Sauce. It was sweet and savory. These pan stickers are a must try. If you had a choice of starters make this one part of it.

Chef Him Uy Debaron came out and explained to us the concept of his menu and how each dish was carefully prepared. He studied in the famous Le Cordon Bleu in Austrailia and I know how painstakingly hard it is to train there. I know a couple of chefs who came from that school and am quite impressed with their standards. This is no different. I congratulated him for preparing everything for us that evening.

Tori Karrage prepared with 3 sauces, tamarind with ginger, mandarin and barbecue. You get to change whenever you get tired of the sauce. It makes you play with your food a little. I had lots of this haha!

If you are up for something fresh, they've got this awesome Softshell Crab Harumaki. You'll feel that crunchy veggie goodness and a spark of crabby taste inside. If you don't like anything oily this is perfect.

We proceeded to the second floor for mains and they had this gigantic shelves that contain Sake bottles. Which reminds me, I haven't had sake yet (which I'm gonna tell you about later).

The second floor had more seating. It was wider and probably where most of the action is. We kinda got a clue why...

 Yes, it is what you want to see gentlemen. If you've got a date who wants to party and have fun, a stripper pole ain't that bad eh? :) No wonder ladies frequent this joint! Men would love to see this for sure!

 Feast your eyes on this! It's Salmon Steak marinated in Sake, Soy Sauce and Mirin. It's done over the grill so you've got that smokey flavor with it. I love the large bean sprouts that came with it since it's a bit chewy and more on the earthy side. It's a large serving so you should share this with someone.

 Butabara or Pork Belly on Skewers was a hit! It had that awesome Japanese flavor and the juicy meat just takes you to heaven and back. It's something filling and you can cut the fat with the side dishes that come with it.

 Aside from that, this made me really happy. I talked a lot after this. LOL! It's so good they have the obvious Sake in the menu. It completes the whole neo Japanese experience. It's like everything came full circle and I was in for more!

Another favorite was this Portabello Mushroom Steak. It was roasted to perfection. I could tell it was even meatier than real meat. It just satisfied me a lot. I wanted to go vegetarian after this one. But really, I'm kidding haha!

 After a long night of binging and drinking, Izumi Sake Bar had this on their menu. This is Curry Tonkatsu Ramen. You can either put the pork tonkatsu on it or have it eaten separately. It was something different and oh boy I love it! Maybe if we can have bread/dinner roll or something to break its thickness it'll be perfect. Not too spicy.

My ultimate favorite, (and I'll go back for more of this in Izumi Sake Bar soon) is the Mapo Tofu Ramen. I uber love spicy food and with this to eat after a long night of drinking or hangovers it'll be the perfect way to get you back into shape. In Japan, they go for Ramen in the evening so they won't have any problems the morning after (the hangover I mean!). I wanted more of this and for sure it'll be great comfort food for anyone, anytime, anywhere!

The owner Ms. Sarah Figueroa said they are open for events and parties. Most have actually rented out the top floor. Their food might look Japanese but it gets fusion inspiration from other dishes. It was authentic and bang for the buck. They are open from 6AM -1AM Mondays and Tuesdays,   6AM - 3AM on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturday and sometimes Sundays. You can also get 30 percent off on all items if u go to pwede.ph and print out their vouchers there. They've got wine, liquor, sake, awesome food plus a stripper pole :) Why in the world shouldn't you go and experience IZUMI Sake Bar and Lounge. It's something that you deserve after work! Make sure you also avail of their bottle promos; on drinks like tequila, vodka, jager etc, it wouldn't hurt if you ask! As for me, I'll be back there soon!

For table reservations and queries, call them at (02)8564090 | 09273489105

Keep checking their FACEBOOK PAGE/TWITTER Account for CONTESTS and PROMOS!

Izumi Sake Bar and Restaurant

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