Shakey's Opens Biggest Branch in Cebu City

They've been making great pizza since 1954, and with almost 40 years of existence they bring good news to our brothers and sisters in the Queen City of the South, Cebu City as Shakey's opens their BIGGEST branch in Visayas! Yes! It's Shakey's Cabahug, it's the 6th and largest store in the region. How big you say? It's got 52 tables, 21 vehicle parking, and about 140 person capacity. Now, there's a perfect place to do those parties and events you were thinking about since this branch has function rooms that could fit that!

If you're thinking of a kiddie party, Shakey's has new birthday party themes you can choose from like Looney Tunes, Hot Wheels and Barbie. It's the best place to take your family and friends if they prefer the awesome world famous Thin Crust Pizza, tasty Fried Chicken and of course the legendary Mojo's which I personally LOVE! They now also have drinks for those who want a bottle or two, cocktails, wines, and frozen drinks which my folks adore!

So if you're in Cebu, have everyone impressed by dining in Cebu City's newest and biggest Shakey's branch ever! Or if you're at home dial 254-7777 and order the best pizza in town. That's Shakey's for you!

For more information about their stores:

Shakeys PH

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Visit their official website

http://www.shakeyspizza.ph/

Jeric Gonzales, Abel Estanislao and Jak Roberto Now Sings as 3logy

There's this boy group, not necessarily a boy band, which I find so unfair because just look at them! It's Jeric Gonzales, Abel Estanislao and Jak Roberto, three guys who have really good individual careers, are joining together to form a group called 3logy. I did say unfair right?

Jeric's been doing a lot of Magpakailanman and Karelasyon episodes. Aside from that, he's in the Dingdong Dantes starrer called Pari 'Koy where he plays Eli Marasigan's character. Aside from a very successful acting career, he's a very spirited singer and they've managed to work out this group when people from GMA Artist Center noticed that they actually look good together when they had workshops a couple of months ago. Abel Estanislao on the other hand has two shows on his helm. He's in the Kristoffer Martin -  Joyce Ching show Healing Hearts and plays Earl while he also is in the Ruru Madrid - Gabbi Garcia prime time show Let the Love Begin (of which I happily saw him again yesterday!). Jak Roberto on the other hand is still in Half Sisters and and the same show as Abel in Pari 'Koy. Evidently, they're all successful in their own right, but why form 3logy?

 

Jak Roberto says "GMA Artist Center saw us first and decided that we sing most of the theme songs of the recent Koreanovelas shown on our station. The first one we ever did was the revived version of "Maybe It's You" that was used for Kim Sam Soon. We all enjoy singing, Jeric can play instruments, so does Abel, and I on the other hand already had a group before so it wasn't really hard to do this. We know our voices. Their initial plan was more of be like the APO Hiking Society where we'd do mostly revival songs, and do it in a more acoustic way. We all played the guitar initially, but we transitioned doing the Koreanovela's theme later on. It's a bit hard to convince people because there are a lot of other artists who probably are better than us but we prepare very hard before a performance just so people would like our music. We're not here to impress, our intention is so that people would enjoy, get entertained when we sing.We have small problems in scheduling because we work in different times. It's a challenge because it's difficult to form a song when one of the members isn't there, including syncing, rehearsals too. We also had to beg off with some of our mall shows because of that, but it's all good. Zeb Zuniga helps us in vocals and Mikoy too, even in blending. I get inspired with singers like Duncan Ramos, I do falsetto's and it's difficult. Maybe we can do a few originals and a few Koreanovela songs as well."

Abel adds "It's in the workshop, that's where they started it all. Mikoy Morales made us our very first original song and that's what we've been singing lately which is called "Pwede Ba!". We sang this first single in Sunday All Stars. Hopefully there will be plans to have an album too, but we prioritized to release something digital first and that's what we have now in OPM2GO.com. Mikoy is currently making more music for us as he says. We're really excited for that. We're also trying to compose, but it hasn't materialized yet. Mikoy is a genius, he mastered that part. He makes good songs, I like it as our voices are not into those dance tracks. I think we'll fit love songs better. That's where you'll hear more blending, as what we're gunning for. As for relationships, mine's a bit complicated. We're not a boyband, I started as a musician before I did showbiz. I was doing jazz and playing in Stonehouse, I did sessions there, music is in my heart, it's my passion. Right now, we're doing this together with our individual shows. We don't have a lead singer, it just depends on the song so we usually alternate. In Pwede Ba, I suggested a few things so when we recorded it he liked it and that landed in the song, we do have small creative inputs. We have covers, we have originals, (then they sang Gusto Kita by Gino Padilla during this bit). I like Rannie Raymundo's music, he sings differently when live. We do work hard in Artist Center, in the next few months I hope the group gets more well known and perhaps get more following too."

Jeric also says "There was one workshop where we were spotted and they knew right then and there that we looked very good together, we have chemistry, so they thought of bringing us together. Then we said "why not?!, why don't we try that!". We're all single, so the song "Pwede Ba" was really perfect for us. We like love songs because we're sweet guys really! LOL. We've been working hard as a group, we bond, we rehearse a lot. We practice our song over and over again so we'd sound good when we perform, and also improve even more. We have challenges because my schedule is different working in Pari 'Koy but we're doing good. We've rehearsed a few songs now so we can do something more if needed be, but we're also concentrating on the Koreanovela songs we can do in our repertoire. I personally like artists that are more in the RnB side, so I get inspired with JayR and Gary V. I do high notes but it depends on the song. Hopefully, we can get an album, that's our goal."

These good looking guys, their songs, all but have nowhere to go but up. Aside from their very promising songs, you can look forward to see them promote not just their shows... but their group as well. You should definitely watch out for 3logy as they come out with more songs, be in more shows in malls, and TV very soon. I can't wait to see their first album, hopefully they could release one before the year ends. They hold a lot of promise, it's just a matter of time when you'll love them all over again when they sing their way into your hearts very soon. Congratulations Jeric, Abel and Jak! This is just the beginning!

Here's a preview of their latest single Pwede Ba

For more information about their artists:

Official GMA Artist Center

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Visit their official website

http://gmanetwork.com/artistcenter

Rustic and Neo Spanish Feasts at ALQUERIA Tapas, Paellas y Bistecas

I had lunch with a few friends from the blogging industry a week ago. This place is called "ALQUERIA Tapas, Paellas y Bistecas". It's a mouthful for a restaurant's name but what ALQUERIA means is a small rural community. People from the city find refuge in places like these places to unwind, have tapas (appetizers or snacks in Spain), paellas (a popular rice dish), and bistekas (salted or peppered sirloin). No wonder they named it like that! Anyway, I so love Spanish cuisine because of my lineage, and this was all but a welcome sight!

The Interiors

The placed is tiled from the ground up. The patterns would make you think you're in a pub in Madrid or places for tapas in the city. They've also got an open kitchen with several chorizos hanging to dry, plus bread, blocks of chocolate, cases upon cases of produce much like an open pantry. The shelving also contains cutlery, wine glasses, beer and wine. They cook when you order so don't hesitate to watch them prepare your meal while you walk around. I highly suggest you do that, else, just sit and watch.

It also reminds me of a Spanish Chalet, well no, like a room in one of those chalets. The place can sit around 50-60 people, good sized with available seating outside (mall lobby area). The food is simple, rustic, non complicated. You'll see this next!

The Food

Let's start from my favorite on their menu, this is their Chorizo Frito with Manchego Cheese on top. The paprika filled meat was fried crisp on the outside then topped with real good Manchego cheese, then served with the side of Garlic Aioli (I think) and a few crusty toasted baguette on the side. I like the intense smoky and peppery flavor that permeates all throughout the meat and the slightly melted cheese on top. Did I say I loved this?

This is their Champignon al Ajillo, as with the terms used, these are champignon mushrooms with garlic, paprika in olive oil, then finished with white wine. It was good and light as an appetizer but I was really hungry for the next one.

This is called Coca, a Spanish pizza. It's got caramelized onions, green and black olives, tomato confit and slivers of salty anchovies. It's not overpoweringly salty, so it was something I could take. You must however, eat this while it gets served on the table. You can't wait for the crust to get soft, it must be crispy otherwise, it won't be as good. The slight hint of saltiness is good because of the anchovies, it's a good addition to just the usual pizza you get in other places.

This is their Huevos en Marinera. It's like salsa with runny egg and a side serving of spiced paprika chips that tastes like fried filo dough. It's good and perfect for those who love something egg based.

I've always loved Paella, this is their version of the Paella Negra a la Alqueria. There's no other way to showcase hearty fresh seafood but in a platter like this. Squeeze a bit of lemon on top and you'll enjoy the sea, the rice (which I recommend you overcook a bit so you can get stuff stick on the bottom) and everything else on it. It's going to be your Mom's favorite so make sure you order one for her when she's around. If you're on a date, you should get this other one.

For those who love something fresh and hearty, this is their Fisherman's Paella. Aside from the gorgeous seafood on top, the rice has been infused with saffron so you get that earthy, fragrant flavor in the whole pan. My favorite part is the rice that sticks to the bottom so I let everybody dig on the plate then scrape it off, this one is my favorite among the paellas served that afternoon.

For meat lovers like me, this is like a breath of fresh air. This is their Rib Eye, a 300 gram Black Angus Prime USDA Grade Steak. They have it portioned like this just like in Spain, though I do really prefer it not sliced, it's convenient. You may ask them if you prefer, and yes, it was good. If you're here to order one, make sure you eat it while it's hot, no time for Instagram posts as you can't really re-heat meat.

I love the actual Cochinillo served in Spanish dinners but this ones like a twist to the ordinary Crispy Pata that we're used to. This is the Pata Cochinillo. You get a piece of heavenly, crunchy pork leg, with the right amount of fat and meat inside. They serve this with a side of mashed potatoes and a spiced vinegar sauce. It was lovely, we could live here.

Last but not the least, it's desserts! The first one on top is called Canonigo. It's like a hybrid Brazo de Mercedes without the lemon curd filling. It's put on top of caramelized bananas and more caramel syrup plus cherry on top. It's light and airy but is pretty good to share. The other one is called Pudin. It's like brownie ala mode but the chocolate is more intense and probably dark. The consistency is also a bit on the soft side and the vanilla ice cream presents a contrast between hot and cold. It's good and a little fluffy, so if you're on a date, this would be perfect for your chocolate lovin lady!

If you plan to order this, make sure it's hot. This is their legendary Classic Churros. The good part of this is of course, the Chocolate syrup. Alqueria also packaged this very well so you can go out and carry it around conveniently, quite ingenious. The churros are also dusted with granulated sugar, and cinnamon, all available in 3, 5 or 10 pieces. If you're just up for a snack, stop by the 3rd floor of SM Megamall's Fashion Hall and get it. You'll get addicted in no time!

ALQUERIA Tapas, Paellas y Bistecas presents a very good choice for diners in the SM Megamall, Ortigas and Shaw area. If you're up for some good Spanish food, please don't hesitate to visit them at the SM Mega Fashion Hall and try these dishes I recommended. Remember to order the Chorizo for starters, the Fisherman's Paella and Cochinillo Pata for main course, then have the Pudin and tons of Churros for dessert. Remember to make room for that!

For more information about their restaurant:

ALQUERIA Tapas, Paellas y Bistecas

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

https://instagram.com/alqueriaph/