Almera Talks | Sharing life's little moments

New Starbucks Espresso Layer Collection: Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato and Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino

2/22/2017 05:08:00 AM

STARBUCKS' new espresso beverages will surely satiate every espresso lover's experience to the next level. These beautifully layered espresso beverages are set to introduce an extraordinary coffee experience that will surely excite even those who are only starting their coffee exploration. These new espresso beverages are already available in every Starbucks store nationwide. Start your day right and grab any of these new espresso beverages. Also available in iced and blended formats.

These layered espresso beverages are handcrafted by Starbucks Baristas, reflecting their true artistry and sharing their passion for coffee to the customers with every sip.

“We are delighted to introduce Starbucks latest take on espresso, with Baristas offering unique and sophisticated treats for coffee lovers. They vary in flavor, texture and experience but espresso is always at the core. Starbucks Baristas craft carefully selected ingredients with espresso to produce stunning combinations of flavors and layers. These beverages invite customers to experience new and different ways to enjoy coffee,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, Starbucks Philippines.

Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato

Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato offers a twist on the classic pairing of vanilla and coffee – a marriage made in heaven. Tahitian Vanilla has a unique floral aroma and mild sweetness which pairs the roasty coffee, complemented by a layer of velvety steamed milk, then topped with Starbucks signature espresso and finished with vanilla bean specks and vanilla drizzle in our classic double crosshatch pattern.

Short ₱ 155 | Tall ₱ 165 | Grande ₱ 180 | Venti ₱ 195

Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino

Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino is perfectly blended to suit the taste of those who need the reinvigorating sweet flavor. In this beverage, Valencia Orange Mocha Sauce is combined with milk, topped with dense and creamy foam and then layered with affogato-style signature espresso shots, sweet cocoa powder and tartly-sweet bits of orange peel to add even more flavors.

Short ₱ 145 | Tall ₱ 155 | Grande ₱ 170 | Venti– ₱ 185

Starbucks Tribute Blend

Starbucks Tribute Blend is also available for a limited time. It combines the all-time favorite coffees: Ethiopian sun-dried beans with an exotic flourish of dark cherry; Aged Sumatra, loved for its syrupy body and cedary spice notes; juicy, herbal and complex coffees from Papua New Guinea; and our Colombia coffee, bright, balanced and nutty.

You can also enjoy this coffee anytime, anywhere with the Starbucks VIA® Tribute BlendTM so you won’t miss out its layers of flavors even on the go.

Visit their page to know more about their featured beverages.

Website: www.starbucks.com

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All pictures used are from Starbucks' official PR.

2/22/2017 05:08:00 AM

2017 Starbucks Planner | I'm switching back to an old school planner

10/28/2016 07:47:00 PM

Many planners are now going digital, leaving some people to question why you still keep an old school paper planner at your side.

"Would you still keep an old school planner even if an app planner is now becoming a thing?" I've asked myself once or twice about this before. I've never really been the type of person to write down things or record to-dos in a paper planner. I usually just go with the flow and record the things I remember or notice in my smartphone's built-in 'To-do' app. I've tried buying generic planners before, did well for about a week or so, but lost my motivation and stopped. It's really sad because I know how paper planners and journals can be something awesome and valuable when used. I tried to check my old school planner before and spent the next few minutes re-reading what I've written, completely immersing myself in those nostalgic memories of my college days. Then I realized something, I found more depth and meaning to my words written on the paper planner compared to the digital one. It's inspiring! And so today, I am pushing myself again and switch back to using an old school planner, because why not?

2017 Starbucks Philippines Planner

This news really excites me! The 2017 Starbucks Planners are here and they come in some colors and prints. And this year, Starbucks is giving us two designs to choose from: one designed with coffee stains and the other with the blue siren, both with hardbound cloth covers. These planners will be available starting Nov. 2 through sticker collection. Which design would you choose?

2017 Starbucks Planner in Coffee Stain Design

Magdagdag ng caption2017 Starbucks Planner in Blue Siren Design

Terms and Conditions:

A customer can avail of a Starbucks^® Christmas Traditions Promo card from November 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017 with no purchase required.

One sticker is awarded for each Starbucks^® handcrafted beverage purchase. Holder must accumulate a total of eighteen (18) stickers, to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner.

Beverage	Required Number of Stickers
Holiday Featured Beverages choice of any of the following: Toffee Nut Latte* Peppermint Mocha* Santa Hat Dark Mocha* *(hot, iced or Frappuccino^® blended beverage)	9 stickers

Any Starbucks Core Handcrafted Beverage of your choice EXCEPT bottled beverages	9 stickers
TOTAL	18 stickers

Customer must present the Starbucks^® Christmas Traditions card to the barista upon purchase to get the corresponding number of stickers.

In case any of the Holiday featured beverages are not available (ex. Toffee Nut Latte), customers can substitute it with any of the remaining holiday featured beverages (ex. Santa Hat Dark Mocha or Peppermint Mocha). Should all three (3) not be available, only then can customers substitute with any espresso-based or Frappuccino^® blended beverage of their choice.

A customer must complete the required number of stickers to qualify for the redemption of one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner. A combination of up to two (2) promo cards will be allowed, provided that the 9 featured plus 9 core beverages have been purchased. Excess stickers for combined cards will be forfeited.

Once all stickers are completed, customer must submit the Starbucks^® Christmas Traditions Card/s to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner from any Starb ucks Coffee store in the Philippines.

Tampering with and/or transferring of stickers to obtain the required number of stickers will render all promo cards null and void.

Every purchase of a handcrafted beverage (including Starbucks Signature Pairings bundled beverage) using a Starbucks Card will be awarded one (1) sticker and one (1) Beverage Star. Terms and conditions that apply to the Starbucks Card are available on www.starbucks.ph/card.

Single receipt bulk purchase of food and other retail items (merchandise, whole bean and Starbucks VIA^®) worth at least ₱7,000 will entitle the customer to one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner. Combination of receipts is not allowed.

Bulk purchase of gift certificates and Starbucks Card load/reload of at least ₱7,000 will not entitle the customer to a planner.

The following transactions and discounts are qualified for this promotion.

· Senior Citizen discount

· PWD discount

· VAT Exempt

· Personal Cup/Tumbler ₱5 discount

The following coupons and discounts are disqualified for this promotion.

· Service Recovery Coupon

· Free Tall Beverage Coupon

· Customer Voice Redemption

· Starbucks Card Registration Treat

· Starbucks Card Beverage Treat Redemption

Promotion starts on November 2, 2016. Stickers may be obtained from November 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

Redemption of the Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner starts November 2, 2016 up to March 9, 2017, at Starbucks stores in the Philippines only.

10/28/2016 07:47:00 PM

Food

Starbucks Refreshments, Re-imagined with Teavana

9/13/2016 08:16:00 AM

Hello, Starbucks Lovers! Another refreshing news for you.
Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the launch of Starbucks® Teavana™ Handcrafted Beverages and Full Leaf Tea Sachets as a core offering in more than 6,200 Starbucks stores across the China / Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines. This modern tea experience gives customers the opportunity to enjoy a range of unique iced and hot tea beverages with bold, layered flavors, handcrafted the way only Starbucks can, for the first time.

Newest Starbucks Teavana Handcrafted Beverages

Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls

This refreshing beverage combines our hibiscus Starbucks® Teavana™ tea and bursting pearls of real pomegranate juice for a tart kick of flavor. Pomegranate juice is a good source of antioxidants.

Tall (354 ml): ₱ 130

Grande (473 ml): ₱ 145

Venti® (591 ml): ₱ 160

Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey

Combines a traditional western black tea experience with a creative twist that is delicious iced with bits of pomelo fruit, grapefruit and honey for a touch of added sweetness.

The beverage contains star ruby grapefruit, which is a good source of vitamins A and C and is rich in bioflavonoids and antioxidants.

Tall (354 ml): ₱ 130

Grande (473 ml): ₱ 145

Venti® (591 ml): ₱ 160

Matcha & Espresso Fusion

Our fine Matcha powder layered with milk and our Espresso Roast creates a beautiful layered beverage and is an inventive combination of coffee and tea, to be enjoyed hot or iced.

Matcha is full of catechins, which are some of the most potent and beneficial antioxidants.

Tall (354 ml): ₱ 155

Grande (473 ml): ₱ 170

Venti® (591 ml): ₱ 185

Starbucks is also introducing Starbucks® Teavana™ Full Leaf Tea Sachets. Here are some of them:

ENGLISH BREAKFAST

A handcrafted blend of Indian Assam, Sri Lankan Ceylon, and Chinese black tea. This tastes great with or without milk.

(In-Store)

Tall (354 ml): ₱ 110 | Grande (473 ml): ₱ 110

Venti® (591 ml): ₱ 125

(At-Home)

Packaged Full Leaf Tea - Sachet (12 sachets) ₱ 525

YOUTHBERRY™

Inspired by super fruits, acai fruit is blended with tropical pineapple and mango flavors with high-quality white tea, balanced by rosehips and tart green apple.

(In-Store)

Tall (354 ml): ₱ 110 | Grande (473 ml): ₱ 110

Venti® (591 ml): ₱ 125

(At-Home)

Packaged Full Leaf Tea - Sachet (12 sachets) ₱ 525

EMPEROR’S CLOUDS & MIST™

Exclusively harvested during the month of April and grown on the steep, windy slopes of Huangshan Mountain at 3,500 feet above sea level, this tea has a rich body and a naturally sweet flavor.

(In-Store)

Tall (354 ml): ₱ 110 | Grande (473 ml): ₱ 110

Venti® (591 ml): ₱ 125

(At-Home)

Packaged Full Leaf Tea - Sachet (12 sachets) ₱ 525

STARBUCKS CARD EARLY ACCESS PROMO

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Customers may purchase the featured Starbucks Teavana™ handcrafted beverages before its public launch from September 11 to 13, 2016.

2. Featured Starbucks Teavana™ handcrafted beverages are the following:

· Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls

· Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey

· Matcha and Espresso Fusion (hot/iced)

3. Customers must pay the full amount using their Starbucks Card to avail of the offer.

4. If the store is offline, customers must present a Starbucks Card and settle in cash, credit card or debit card.

5. There is no limit to the number of times a customer can participate in this promo.

6. This offer is strictly for Starbucks Card customers only. Customers may choose to activate a Starbucks card prior to purchase to avail of the offer.

7. Offer cannot be exchanged for cash or combined with other promotions.

STARBUCKS® TEAVANA™ PACKAGED TEA PROMO

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. From September 14 to 20, customers who will purchase any two (2) Starbucks^® Teavana™ Packaged Teas will receive a complimentary Starbucks^® Teavana™ Packaged Tea of their choice.

Starbucks^® Teavana™ Packaged Tea:

- Youthberry™

- Emperor’s Clouds and Mist™

- Hibiscus

- English Breakfast

2. For the complimentary Starbucks^® Teavana^™ packaged tea, customers can choose from any of the available Starbucks^®Teavana^™ packaged teas on display.

3. There is no limit to the number of purchased Teavana™ packaged teas per customer during the promo period.

4. Whole Bean and Tea Star will be given for the purchased Teavana^™ packaged tea for customers who purchase using their Starbucks Card.

5. Offer cannot be exchanged for cash/credit or combined with other promotions.

6. Offer is valid in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines.

Visit their page to know more about their featured foods and beverages.

Website: www.starbucks.com

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All pictures used are from Starbucks' official PR.

9/13/2016 08:16:00 AM

Cebu

Top Silog District's Wine and Beer Section

9/09/2016 03:06:00 PM

There’s a lot of truth in the statement ‘90% of a relationship is figuring out where to eat’. Haha. I think most of us can attest to that. Even my friends and I usually spend most of our time deciding where to eat during our weekend hang-outs and get together. Over the past few years, a lot of new restaurants have opened in the city – each featuring their own innovative ways of luring foodies to try and taste their special menus. And.. Adding up to the unending choices of must-visit food spots in the city, Top Silog District just opened their ‘Wine and Beer’ section in Lapu-Lapu City, offering delish, exotic dishes and affordable beers, wines and other beverages to the public. Check out and see why you definitely have to visit this place!

The Place:

Frederick’s great liking to superheroes influenced him to set-up a superhero-inspired wine and beer section for his Top Silog restaurant. The interior of the place features some of Marvel’s superheroes such as Captain America, Hulk, and Thor painted on its wall. Upon seeing the place, I couldn’t help but take pictures here and there. Seeing those paintings definitely brings out the child in me, not to mention that I am also a fan of some Marvel comic films. Yay!

The ambiance of the place is perfect for barkadas searching for a place to hang-out and chill. The place is well air-conditioned and they also have free, stable wi-fi available for the guests. Since the place is an extension of its main tapsilogan restaurant, anyone who wanted to have something to munch on with their beer or wine can either order from the main restaurant or order an exotic dish from their wine and beer section.

Jace of Laagpamore.net, Me, and Mark Monta of Facecebu.net

CBS Members together with Top Silog District's owner, Frederick Rizon

The area at the back is Top Silog District's main tapsilogan restaurant.

The Food:

Their Wine and Beer section features some exotic dishes, as well as native Filipino and Japanese food. They serve exotic foods such as Crocodile Fillet, Crocodile Sisig, and Ostrich Burger, as well as other Filipino and Japanese dishes like sizzling pata, sausage, batchoy, chicken and beef teriyaki, and a lot more.

As with their drinks, they have a wide selection of beverages like Iced Tea/Juices, soft drinks, cocktails, wines, and beers for an affordable price. Their juices' names are superhero-inspired as well, like their Captain America's Purple Brew and Iron Man's Four Seasons.

Iron Man's Four Seasons and Captain America's Purple Brew

Ostrich Burger with bacon (Php. 110.00)

Crocodile Fillet in Mushroom Gravy (Php. 195.00)

Their dish, Crocodile Fillet in mushroom gravy, was my top favorite from their exotic menu. It was my first time to eat crocodile meat and I liked it! Its texture is somehow closer to chicken like what most people describe it. I don't know if it's with the crocodile meat or just with how the dish was prepared but most of their crocodile dishes has this distinct, mildly sweet taste.

Crocodile Sisig (Php. 200.00)

Everyone loved their crocodile sisig and I must say it's a must-try! Their sisig has this unique taste - somehow a combination of an original pork sisig flavor with a distinctive, sweet taste - but not overly sweet. Just enough to tingle your taste buds. :)

Fried Chicken Strips (Php. 95.00)

Fried Kambing (Php. 125)

Top Silog District's Wine and Beer section opens from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Mondays to Sundays. The place is a medium-sized room but the owner is planning to set-up chairs and tables outside the resto as well. You may visit their Official Facebook page or give them a quick phone call if you have questions or inquiries.

Top Silog District - Wine and Beer Section

Facebook Page: Top Silog District

Contact Number: (032) 494 1471

Email: topsilogdistrict@gmail.com

Address: Ground Floor, Sebastien Hotel, ML Quezon, Highway, Lapu-Lapu City

9/09/2016 03:06:00 PM

featured

A Taste of Japanese Cuisine: Fave and Top Picks from Sumo Sam

6/18/2016 08:52:00 AM

Sumo Sam Restaurant, Cebu
Opening Hours: Mondays-Sundays (11:00 am - 11:00 pm)

Location: The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City

Sumo Sam is one of the leading Japanese chain restaurants in the Philippines serving excellent and authentic Japanese food in the city. SumoSam takes great pride in the transformation of the freshest ingredients into works of Japanese food art. Now, it has flourished into one of the largest Japanese chain Restaurants in the Philippines with close to 30 restaurants nationwide.

The Place:
I enjoyed the laidback atmosphere of the place. The ambiance is relaxing and the interior design is well-thought of - although it shows more of an American style and not more on the Japanese side. The place is spacious enough, which can cater large gatherings and events. I also appreciate the wide and welcoming outdoor seating at SumoSam, where the guests can engage for a light afternoon break after malling. I had a pleasant dining experience at SumoSam and the service was superb! I'd be delighted to pay a visit again soon.

Top Picks and Fave Foods from SumoSam's Menu

SumoSam's Ebi Tempura

Tempura will always be on top of my fave Japanese food list, and I think so does everyone. Japanese experience wouldn't be complete without this. A serving of SumoSam's Ebi Tempura consists of 5pcs of deeply fried tiger prawns with a size large enough to satisfy your cravings. One serving size can be shared by 1-2 persons.

SumoSam's Sukiyaki

Ah, this! I so love their sukiyaki. It has this distinct taste - a combination of sweet and salty flavor - that I really love and enjoy, although others find the soup just too sweet for their liking. It was my first time to try out their Sukiyaki and I must say it was flavorful and good enough to be included on my top list.

SumoSam's Steamed Gyoza

What I love with SumoSam's steamed gyoza is its sensational taste when paired with its special dipping sauce. One of SumoSam's delish and best-selling starters. They also have fried Gyoza available on their menu (Chicken or Pork). Serving size is good for 1-2 persons.

SumoSam's Squid Head Karaage

Another SumoSam's starter. SumoSam's Karaage was ok and the serving is big, which I think could be shared by 1-2 persons. I love its crisp crunch flavor - although I think it would be best if it's paired with its own special spicy sauce.

Desserts

- Mouthwatering and heavenly desserts from SumoSam. I've tasted SumoSam's Mango Jubilee and it was pretty good. Sure, I'm an ice cream lover but Mango Jubilee's creamy texture made it unique from the other desserts laid on the table. The creative presentation of Mango Jubilee was picture perfect and the taste was perfect too! It's definitely a must-try if you plan to visit SumoSam one of these days.

[Top to Bottom: SumoSam's Crepe and Ice Cream and SumoSam's Mango Jubilee]

Cebu Bloggers Society Members together with SumoSam and Zomato management

SumoSam Restaurant, Cebu City
Ground Floor, The Terraces Ayala Center Cebu
for inquiries and reservations call: (32) 401-0643

6/18/2016 08:52:00 AM

New Starbucks Espresso Layer Collection: Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato and Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino

Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato

Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino

Starbucks Tribute Blend

2017 Starbucks Planner | I'm switching back to an old school planner

2017 Starbucks Philippines Planner

Terms and Conditions:

Starbucks Refreshments, Re-imagined with Teavana

Newest Starbucks Teavana Handcrafted Beverages

STARBUCKS CARD EARLY ACCESS PROMO

STARBUCKS CARD EARLY ACCESS PROMO

Top Silog District's Wine and Beer Section

The Place:

The Food:

Top Silog District - Wine and Beer Section

A Taste of Japanese Cuisine: Fave and Top Picks from Sumo Sam

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