Cole Vintage 2014

My friend Chico is back at Cole Vintage, after a hiatus from fashion, and I'm thrilled to see her back, coming up with chic new styles with her partner Lor, that girls, whatever age, would want to wear!

I've already gone shopping for their printed tunics...

and wrap dresses in jersey...

While I know my sisters will love their take on the Celine Trio...

...and their new sandals, that would look great for Holiday 2014 dressing!

Cole Vintage has truly come a long way from when they first started in 2004 selling locally manufactured bags in bazaars. They're now one of my trusted go to's for easy, effortless dressing that won't put a dent in my pocket.

Today, Cole Vintage has over 10 retail outlets in Metro Manila - at SM Aura Premier/SM Makati/SM City Mall of Asia/SM City BF Paranaque/SM City North Edsa, The Ramp Crossings TriNoma/Shangri-la/Glorietta, Podium Markati Palazzo, Wellworth Department Store and Rockwell Power Plant Mall, consistently churning out new designs that practically demand repeated and consistent visits so you won't miss out on their best sellers!

For more on Cole Vintage, Like them on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ColeVintage and follow @colevintageph on Instagram.

Boon Tong Kee in Manila

Prawn Toast with Mayo

I actually had a taste of Singapore the week before Dada & I went to Singapore. My friend and fellow SoMom, Jenny Reyes, invited the SoMoms to Boon Tong Kee, her cousin Moya Aranaz's restaurant, a Singapore franchise co-owned with family/partners and one of three (going on 4) branches here in Manila.

I have been to the original Boon Tong Kee on River Valley Road several times, whenever we had visitors in town, and I know how popular it is that people would wait in line out on the street, in the heat, just to get a table. 

I was expecting loads and loads of their delicious chicken rice, with the rice served in their signature pyramid shape, but to our surprise, a lauriat was expecting us!

Poached Spinach with different kinds of egg

Crispy Bean Curd with Green Tea Mayo

I only made it so far as to take photos of the appetizers until my phone up and died, but let me tell you, Boon Tong Kee in Manila is like a huge step up from the original, I am sure their Singapore principals are pretty impressed with what they've done.

For one, the space is a lot more nicer and polished, with a nice restaurant rather than a side street eatery feel (although that is part of the charm of Boon Tong Kee on River Valley Road) . Plus the food choices are amazing! Experimental but delicious, different yet still familiar. You must try the Stir Fried Lotus and the Braised Yimian Prawn Noodle. Delish!

To make the lunch a lot more fun, we hashtagged #BoonTongKeePH while Instagramming, so we could get these Printster prints, aka souvenir Instagram pics/discount cards that Moya and his sister Rosanna (I still remember her as one of the Little Miss Dress Up girls!) gave out during our lunch.

I got the SoMoms' extra prints so I could use these discount pics for our next visit, heehee

I will definitely be going back for the coffee roasted pork, the chicken rice of course, and the cereal prawn. The cereal prawn! OMG.

Boon Tong Kee Mall of Asia
2/F, Entertainment Mall, North Wing (by Seaside Blvd)
SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Mon-Thu, Sun 10am to 10pm/ Fri-Sat 10am to 11pm
Tel: +632 804 2862

Boon Tong Kee Power Plant
3/F, Power Plant Mall (near cinemas)
Makati City
Mon-Thu 11am to 9pm/ Fri 11am to 10pm/ Sat 10am to 10pm/ Sun 10am to 9pm
Tel: +632 890 0160

Boon Tong Kee Tomas Morato
310 Tomas Morato Avenue (near ABS-CBN)
Quezon City
Mon-Thu 11am to 9pm/ Fri 11am to 10pm/ Sat 10am to 10pm/ Sun 10am to 9pm

OPENING SOON: Boon Tong Kee U.P. Town Center in Katipunan

Follow Boon Tong Kee on Facebook: Boon Tong Kee Philippines, and on Twitter and Instagram: @BoonTongKeePH. 

Follow #Printster on Instagram @SocialSavvyPH and on Facebook: Social Savvy

Made in Candy

It was a few weeks before Christmas and all through the house, a little creature was stirring,  saying "Let's open this Mommy!" 

"Not until I take a picture, honey", I told Berry. And as soon as I took a photo, she took the lid off, got the littlest bottle and said, "I am taking this to school, I will share with my friends." How sweet.

When she got home, she would hand me a piece to eat. "But I don't like candy, Berry", I would say every time she offered. Every time, she would go, "No, you eat, its yummy!" Until she got exasperated and forced a piece into my pursed lips. I reluctantly opened my mouth, sucked at the candy, and then.."Hmmm, oh hey, yes, this is yummy!" Not too sweet, and with delicate flavors that do not overpower the mouth, I found myself asking for more. And more. And more.

I am so not a candy person, but seriously, Made in Candy changed all that. I loved it so much, I ended up scrapping my original souvenirs for Xavi's christening and bought bottles of Made in Candy to give our guests. They all enjoyed their candies, of course.

Incidentally, my souvenir tag was made by Pat/101 Grams of Eye Candy of The Candy Shop

Another convincing factor is the fact that Made in Candy is made fresh daily. Darlene, who brought in Made in Candy to the Philippines (along with her cousin Arthur), invited me and Berry to see how candymaking is done, the Made in Candy way. So we headed off to Power Plant mall, where we had fun watching slabs of melted sugar turn into the cutest confections ever!

Darlene of Made in Candy Philippines. I love her style, heehee.

Let me take you on a virtual candymaking session:

It all starts with the design, in this case, a Nuclear symbol

A slab of warm melted sugar waiting on the wings, waiting to be shaped and pulled. As more air is incorporated into the pulled sugar, the shinier it becomes.

The "nuclear" parts, starting to get assembled

Shape, shape, shape...

Roll, roll, roll. I can see it now! Almost there!

Six kilos of candy, shaped into what looks like a humongous baseball bat. The bottle neck makes it easy to hold on to this huge chunk of warm love, while pulling.

Pull and cut, pull and cut, 50x (this is just an approximation heehee)

Inspect! Does it look like the sketch? Yes! Then continue!

Cut, cut, cut, cut, 50000x

Now taste, taste, taste...

Gimme some more of that sour-sweet nuclear lovin'

In essence, this kind of candy is the sort that looks as good as it tastes. Plus, I love the packaging too!

Oh! Did I mention that they also make these candies in such a way that it crumbles gently towards the end? Well, they do! So you don't get "sugat" on the roof of your mouth from sucking on candy that's too hard. Because trust me, you'll eat candy upon candy once you've tasted this. Berry and I managed to finish a small jar, just us two, in one sitting. True story.

P.S.
Made in Candy accepts custom orders as party and corporate giveaways. If I remember correctly, the minimum quantity will come out to just about Php8000 per order. I'll expound on the details as soon as I get them!

Made in Candy 
Level 2, Rockwell Power Plant
Makati

Facebook: Made in Candy Philippines
Instagram and Twitter: @madeincandyph

Trois

Oh hey, since we are on the subject of Cole Vintage, you might want to know they opened a new store at the 2/F Adriatico Wing of Robinson's Ermita. Also! Check out their new label called Trois. If Cole Vintage is fun and girly with a hint of an edge, Trois is the elegant sister. Check this out:

Here's the store, located at Level 2, Archaeology, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell

I'm loving these drapey skirts and dresses!

There are loads of pretty tops to choose from as well. I spy that ruffled confection (2nd from right) that I'd like to pair with leather shorts, or high waist bell bottom denims for an updated '70s vibe :

Prices are wonderfully cheap and chic! According to Eileen Ng of Trois, bags are from  Php 899-1599, shoes at Php 899-999 and clothes at Php 1199-1699. When you happen to be in Rockwell this weekend, you know where to go!