Gloomy Weather: Try MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup

You've been lazy, you've been doing nothing since this morning because it's so gloomy outside and it's about to rain. I know how that feels because today is EXACTLY like that weather. Now what to actually prepare if YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T COOK. Well, might I suggest a cup of hot, steamy soup? You don't even have to chop things, you don't have to go to the market, you just take out a sachet or two of these lovely MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup and boil some water. Put the powder in your cup and pour the boiling hot water in it, stir and enjoy!

That's just the start. Now do you have those days when you don't have anything prepared for lunch and dinner, just FRIED things? I don't mind fried chicken, fried fish, fried anything, but we often get gagged with it and rice because most of our dishes are dry. You're perfect solution is soup and with the ones out there in the market, it's going to be pretty expensive sometimes, but this one is affordable and you could get one packet for one person. Put it in a bowl and stir with boiling water, et voila! You've got the perfect thing to start the meal, you've got something to accompany it too because you could put it on white rice and enjoy lunch or dinner even more!

Mom's favorite is the MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup Seafood Flavor. She loves the bits of shrimp and mushrooms that are in it. It definitely is rich and creamy, but without losing that fresh seafood flavor. I would compare it to that popular brand of noodle, but thicker and less the price. Now why didn't people thought (ghetto) about this? 

My personal favorite is the Mas Soup Sarap Instant Soup Chicken and Corn Flavor. I often cook this manually and get grated corn with chicken or crab and that takes me an hour to finish. This one could very well replace that whole process. Now there may be a little aftertaste but make sure you mix it well so you don't have lumps on you soup. Don't also just go for warm water, make sure it's boiling hot so the powder completely dissolves in it. This Chicken and Corn soup is comforting, I could imagine myself sitting beside the window while it's raining outside and I could just curl up with a book or write a novel or two.

Your whole family would love something like this. It doesn't come in a can, it's not expensive either. It's creamy, earthy and has got mushroom bits on it. You can mix it with white rice and have it as a viand without any worries. I like it. It's super good!

Now don't take my word for it. Go to your nearest groceries, leading supermarkets and convenience stores to get your hands on these lovely MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup varieties. Now those gloomy or rainy afternoons won't feel bad at all because you have this to look forward to. Make it a hot habit and mix it with veggies, pasta, and you could actually still enjoy this. Now wait a minute, did you know this only costs Php 8.00? UNBELIEVABLE! Now head on to http://www.masfoods.com.ph/ to get to know more about this and their other products. I've enjoyed their coffee too!

A Romantic Trip: Where to Go Together

Photo from Paris sourced here and not mine.

Do you plan a trip for two but you run out of ideas? Our list of vacation destinations for couples will make your heart beat even faster.

1. Greece

Greece is one of the top destinations in Europe for couples. It's no secret that Greece is much more similar to the abode of the Gods than other places. You will spend a truly unforgettable vacation in this beautiful corner of the world. And you will not be prevented from enjoying each other's company on the sea coast.

Here you can forget about the stiffness of ordinary hotel rooms. You will be offered cozy houses, united by a labyrinth of stairs, and unique dishes of national Greek cuisine. Numerous excursions to interesting places in Greece will dive you into the amazing atmosphere of this country. We are sure you will like it here!

2. Argentina

Argentina is known for football and the famous tango. However, you can not only kick the ball and dance in this country. All the charm of Argentina is in its unique location. Here subtropical forests, mountains, and the sea. Unique nature of Latin American strikes at the heart. Every vacationer will find entertainment to own taste in the bosom of this beautiful nature. Your romantic journey will be full of adventures and unforgettable emotions.

3. Ibiza

The word “Ibiza” is associated with endless parties and irrepressible fun. So, this is right because Ibiza is among fun destinations for couples. Parties don’t stop day and night on this amazing island in Spain. Hundreds of restaurants and boutiques beckon in the morning. And in the dark time, there are parties and dancing people everywhere. In addition, there is a great opportunity to soak up the sun and swim in the waters of the Mediterranean. If you are energetic and young, then you have a direct road to this island of eternal fun!

Photo credits to owner, sourced here.

4. France

There are some places in which even a stiff skeptic begins to read poetry and talk about eternal love because they are the best holiday destinations in the world for couples. France is one of the most romantic places on the planet. All its cafes and streets are created for making a declaration of love. Walk around Montmartre, go to antique shops, take photos on the background of the Eiffel Tower, feed each other with croissants. In a word, do all the same things that thousands of couples in love in the capital of France do.

5. England

In order to feel Royal spirit, you should go in England because the country is just full of hotels-castles. The atmosphere of antiquity, mystery and luxury, colorful music in restaurants, fine wines, wondrous parks and garden labyrinths and, of course, traditional English ghosts — such a holiday together will become a real fairy tale.

6. Czech Republic

Another popular destination for romantic tours is the capital of the Czech Republic. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, where couples often come and on a honeymoon. Their favorite place is the Charles Bridge, where often interesting events take place. Here you can meet lovers at dawn when they confess love to each other, and there is a delightful panorama around the castles and city houses.

Photo from AristaPhoto.com

7. Germany

Medieval castles and palaces, many parks, ancient churches, a unique Bavarian charm — this is Munich where you can arrange a great holiday together. This city is one of the most popular vacation destinations for couples. During a trip to Munich, it is worth taking a stroll along the island of Prater. There you will find a bridge that is built along a river from which a picturesque view of the island with a park and the Museum of the Alps opens.

These tips were kindly provided to the best dating sites in Europe romancecompass.com

MONSTER Milkshake Opens at Ayala Malls Vertis North

I have been here yesterday and a couple of weeks ago. Ayala Malls Vertis North is really making the shopping district in Quezon City a grand one because they're opening shops left and right, including brands that I really love. Now the last millkshake I really loved was back when McDonalds had one on their menu but that has been a LOOOOONG time ago. So if a specialty shop from Porac, Pampanga opened a branch in Ayala Malls Vertis North, I was super excited to see what they had to offer. They are called MONSTER Milkshake and we found out why they're called such because of their monstrous servings. We caught a lot of people lining up for their products that afternoon.

The process is easy, you just have to line up and tell them the size of milkshake you want to have. They already have a variety of MONSTER Milkshakes available and all you have to do is tell them, then they'll prepare it as you order. 

What I'm mostly surprised about is the price. They have monstrous milkshakes but didn't make it too pricey unlike those imported brands that came in Manila. They also have Monster Ice Cream sold in scoops, prices differ for Classic Flavors and Premium Ice Cream Flavors.

We interviewed the owner and this is what he has to say about this new branch in Ayala Malls Vertis North

The Mango Graham Surprise was one of the best sellers, I loved it too!

They also have frequent customer cards, save those stamps and get a product again for FREE!

This is the Hazelnut Fudge. It's got creamy ice cream, dark chocolate, Nutela and wafers on top.

This is their Bubble Gum Pop. It's one of my favorites too. It's not too common to have Bubblegum flavors on treats these days and this one was a welcome thing. It's got fruit loops, marshmallows, strawberry pretzels on top. It's so colorful, kids would love this!

The Speculoos Extreme is just about your cookie dough butter lovers dream. Topped with lady fingers, chocolate cookie crumbs, it's sweet and lovely!

For Matcha lovers, this is their Gotcha Matcha Crunch. It's healthy, not too sweet, full of that matcha goodness you find in the tea drinks and cakes you often see in the market. It's a lot more fancy than that one you get from Starbucks, you really get a lot for the money you spend so go!

My personal favorite is the Strawberry Cheesecake. It's a whole cup of Strawberry Ice Cream, Cream Cheese, Graham Crackers, topped with Strawberry Wafers, Strawberry Syrup and a Strawberry Cookie. How can you not love this?

So if you're looking for something to cool down the weather, something comforting, something sweet, please don't hesitate to go to the third floor of Ayala Malls Vertis North... almost at the end of the mall, same level as the Cinema. Their store has seating outside, probably can sit around 16 people in one go. You'll love their milkshakes, they have some healthy options (especially the matcha) and it's okay to have sweets every now and then. You don't have to go all the way to Porac, Pampanga now that they've set up shop in Quezon City. Visit them today please!

Roadster Roasters Opens at Launchpad

This is officially my second time going to Launchpad. It's that tall building that houses different startups and TV5 in Reliance street, Mandaluyong. Judging from the tenants, this looks like a mixed use space. The restaurants and kiosks in this area are starting to open and with the location quite near the Shaw-Pasig Kapitolyo district, I feel they must put up a great challenge to woo people from this side of town to stay there. The choices are humongous, but this one would surely interest you more if you're cup of tea (or the lack thereof literally) is meat, glorious meat. I guess this is their calling, to serve via Roadster Roasters things that are FUELED BY MEAT. How can you not love something like that?

The Interiors

The inside was a mix of raw concrete walls, some faux wooden posts, bricks, a little western modern barn and street club. With that mouthful of elements, I thought it wouldn't work but it's actually cozy.

The place can seat about 50-60 people half of which are the ones outside. The bunk seats are actually comfortable, good for groups and families.

Yes darling, it's all fueled by meat. They do make good barbecues which we'll show later, so this sign in a nutshell makes total sense.

You've got a little privacy in these seats, the others are all open and acoustics are all out there so you're going to hear the next table if they don't have music playing. They will most of the time.

The theme matched much of a trucking joint in the US, where travelers on the road take a break and have all the protein goodness they deserve before or after a long drive. It was a bit warm inside the restaurant that evening, but probably just because of the amount of people who wanted to have their share of meat.

The Food

The owners (4 guys) were pretty fond of having their protein fix after working out. I get what they are trying to get here, to have those favorite protein dishes in one place. Their dishes channeled a little southern, that good, intense smoky flavor. Their roasted meat spend around 12 hours in the smoker/oven much until each piece falls off the bone (for the ribs), and soft until it's just fork tender. I didn't get any piece that was over seasoned and I think they kept it that way so people would have a hand in what to mix or prepare with the meats.  Their menu is still expanding, to fit what meat lovers would adore they probably need to have it that way. They're raring to even experiment a little in their kitchens and come out with new items every now and then. That's good news for those usually get tired and bored on menus, especially if you are regulars. People would appreciate that.

This is like church, but most of the things in the spotlight includes all the essential beers, drinks and desserts.

They serve cocktails and craft beers, so if you're looking for local or international brewers, they have these bottles on the menu.

Try not to be scared because these are called Mozza Bombs. It's meatballs with mozzarella inside. It's a little tangy because of the tomato sauce, doused with parmesan cheese outside. Make sure you eat this while it's hot so you could see that cheese ooze out of this appetizer, a great way to start a meal. Pretty good for kids too!

If you would like to pair something with the beers, take a look at this Roadster Nachos. Crunchy corn nachose with cheese sauce, strips of pulled pork, and a little salsa. Again, this would be a good beer match. Order this for yourself and your kids too.

One of my favorite things that evening was the Pork Rind. Crunchy and freshly cooked, a little backfat doesn't hurt anyone right? Again, I advise you to have this while it's hot. It won't be as good if you leave it out in the air for a few minutes, but that's just me.

For a more healthy alternative, have this Butter Roasted Chicken. It tastes good as it's smothered by roasted garlic, spices, and roasted well in the oven. The gravy was not too salty, a good thing to have on it's own or with rice. I prefer it as is because you'll enjoy every mouthwatering part of the chicken with your family and friends without worrying if it's too spicy or not. It's just simple, perfectly roasted poultry. Doesn't cost much either.

If you are fond of spicy stuff, then get the Roadster Sriracha Chicken Wings. Dip in sour cream, ughh... you'll love it!

People suddenly got out of their seats to see the Chef  cut the slab of meat, the Texas Style Beef Brisket. Still moist, smoky, so good with gravy. You don't even have to have rice with it because this is a full meal. Fills you up in no time at all. This is one of their specialties. I'll let you see it sliced nicely on a platter with home made coleslaw and sausages.

If your goal is to gain weight and feed your muscles, this would be a good place to start! They also have Roadster Pork Ribs, and Roadster Pork Belly. I don't know about you but this just made my day!

Oh don't even think of leaving the table yet, because as far as I know one of these three desserts would actually tickle your fancy. Just choose between Hazelnut Nutella, Cookies and Cream, and Mango Caramel. Let's just say everybody freaked out when this landed on our table. With good reason right?

So if you're raring to have something comforting, meaty and good, take a trip to LAUNCHPAD off Reliance corner Sheridan streets in Mandaluyong City. Roadster Roasters is the first restaurant on the leftmost part of the building, you won't miss it. Tons of celebrities, bloggers enjoyed the night of food and drinks, I guess it's time for you to experience the same things we did.

Let's go get those chompers working double time.