Win a Trip to Boracay--Join the McDonalds McFloat Happiness Promo!

We're down to the final month of the summer but it doesn't mean that the fun has to stop! Before the summer ends, you might just be able to enjoy one more trip to Boracay courtesy of McDonalds, through the McFloat Happiness Promo!

From April 22 to May 11, share your fun summer moments on the app on the McDonalds Philippines Facebook Page and you might just get picked as one of three winners of an all-expense paid trip for four to the world-famous vacation hotspot! 

Want to know more? Click (this link) for the complete promo mechanics.

Good luck!

Film Review: Iron Man 3 (Warning: Spoiler Alert)

Iron Man 3 is a superhero film starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark (otherwise known as Iron Man), Gwyneth Paltrow as his girlfriend Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, and Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's loyal personal assistant. The film, set sometime after the events that occurred in the 2012 film The Avengers, is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

As mentioned, the events in the film take place after what transpired in last year's movie The Avengers. Following the harrowing experience in New York, Tony Stark ends up suffering from insomnia and anxiety attacks. In order to keep himself distracted, he ends up building several (defective) Iron Man suits in his mansion. This puts a strain on his relationship with girlfriend Pepper Potts, who is now the CEO of Stark Industries. When a series of terrorist attacks masterminded by a villain named "The Mandarin" hit the United States (one of which nearly kills Tony Stark's loyal personal assistant Happy Hogan), he is forced to take action. Things become more complicated when scientist Aldrich Killian enters the picture, whom Tony Stark arrogantly snubbed at a party in Switzerland in 1999 when Killian approaches him to seek his support in his Extremis endeavor.

As with a lot of superhero and science fiction movies we see nowadays, the special effects are unquestionably amazing, all thanks to the technology that is now within reach of filmmakers of today. The film's numerous explosions, chase scenes, and acrobatic stunts are certainly more than enough to leave you hanging on to your seat. 

The filmmakers have also done a pretty good job of letting the audience see more of Tony Stark other than being just Iron Man the "save-the-world superhero" kind of guy; with that, Robert Downey Jr.'s acting really stands out. The film lets us see more of the "genius" side of the "genius billionaire playboy philanthropist", where he is able to build his own weapons out of items that he buys at a local hardware store, as well as with his tactics to keep the innocent out of danger (the skydiving "barrel of monkeys" scene comes to mind, which is amazing to watch, by the way). We get to see his vulnerable side as well, especially whenever his girlfriend's safety is concerned and when he has to deal with his persistent anxiety attacks. 

Unfortunately though, while the writers have spent a lot of time developing and adding depth to Tony Stark's character throughout the film, they seem to have paid less attention to the other characters who I felt could have been "fleshed out" more--Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen, for one. Her character was quite underrepresented in the film, therefore leaving gaps in the plot which may seem a bit confusing (for me, at least). The same thing goes for Aldrich Killian, whose role as a villain wasn't expounded on as much as I expected it to be. The transformation, too, of Aldrich Killian as the neglected geek at the start of the film to the powerful, vengeful villain seems all too familiar (*coughs* The Incredibles *coughs*).

Overall, though, this movie is still very much worth watching. The film does its best to match up to the success of The Avengers last year and definitely tops the previous Iron Man films, with its mind-blowing action scenes and comedy, which a lot of moviegoers came to see anyway. While the movie for some may seem like an extended commercial for Fred Perry, Audi, and Budweiser (trust me, those brands make several appearances throughout the film), we just have to accept the fact that product placements in movies are now becoming very common (coming from a marketer's perspective). I would definitely like to see how they could possibly top this one next time--if there is a next time.

Curiosity Satisfied: Yabu, The House of Katsu

Ever since Yabu: The House of Katsu first opened its doors to customers at SM Megamall back in late 2011, I have always been curious to try out this place. Reviews by both people I know and by other bloggers have always been generally positive, and the lines at all Yabu branches I've seen are usually long.  However, our attempts to dine here have been thwarted by the crazy lines, and we would usually end up eating at other restaurants instead. This has left me wondering: "Is the food at Yabu really that good that so many people are willing to line up and wait so long to get a table?".

Fortunately, this question would eventually be answered as I finally had the chance to dine here with my family, at the SM Megamall branch. Read on and see my verdict.

The restaurant's facade

As expected, we had to wait quite a while to get a table at their SM Megamall branch. People would just keep coming in and the waiting list would just keep getting longer and longer. I'm amazed at how the staff was able to handle things quite well. The restaurant never really seems to be devoid of hungry customers, and yet the staff would still be able to carry out their tasks efficiently.

The Yabu menu cover

While we were waiting to get a table, we were able to browse through their menu. True to their name, their dishes consist mainly of Tonkatsu, (which consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork or chicken cutlet) served in a variety of ways. Priced normally between P300-P600, each order would be good for one person. 

The Yabu difference

The anatomy of Yabu Katsu explained on their menu.

After several minutes of waiting, we were finally escorted to our table. The restaurant was indeed quite crowded, given that it was a Saturday and it was dinner time, too. Yabu's SM Megamall branch was actually smaller when it first opened in late-2011. However, not too long after they opened, they had to close down  again for a few days to expand into the empty space right next to them as there were just simply too many customers coming in (I guess they never really expected their restaurant to be so popular). This expansion doubled the restaurant's seating capacity, and the "division" between the original section and the new section is quite obvious. 

Aesthetics-wise, the restaurant maintains a typical Japanese restaurant feel to it with wooden tables and panels on the walls and ceiling. The walls were also adorned with manga (comic) strips telling the story of Yabu and explaining the very precise way of preparing their food, like how the meat is cut in an exact way (with specific measurements and all) and when the meat should be lifted from the bubbling oil when it is being cooked. Hmm...interesting.

One half of the restaurant

Japanese-style comic strip explaining the precise way their food is prepared

Anyway, as we were settling down, around two or three waiters came to help us, either to arrange the chairs or replenish the condiments at our table. Throughout our stay at the restaurant, the waiters would always be around, ready to assist us or other customers. Their waiters also seemed more cheerful, unlike in some other restaurants where their waiters would give you the impression that they'd rather be somewhere else than at work. 

Not too long after ordering, our food arrived. At Yabu, if your food is not served within 20 minutes, then it would be free of charge. Considering how large the servings are (which I will explain more in a bit), it's great how they are able to bring the food to the customers' tables in such a short period. 

Moving on to our orders, my uncle and I decided to go for the Yabu Special Katusdon Set, which, as described in their website, is "Yabu katsu, drizzled with a light and sweet miso-based sauce, accompanied by nori, bonito flakes and a fried egg on top. A hint of shiso, or Japanese basil, is also found in the dish adding an unexpected freshness." At P330, it comes with a serving of miso soup, as well as some pickled vegetables, cabbage salad (which is unlimited, by the way), and a small bowl of pineapples and watermelon for dessert. I guess it's best to come to Yabu when you're really, really hungry--the servings are HUGE!

My Yabu Special Katsudon Set (Php330). This photo does not give justice to the humongous servings

My cabbage salad with Goma dressing

Miso soup

A small bowl of pineapples and watermelon to cap off the meal

My parents, as well as the other members of the family, meanwhile, went for the Rosu & Hire Set served with premium Japanese kohishikari white rice as well as the other side dishes I mentioned earlier. Again, the servings were huge, and the rice was unlimited. You can never be bitin while you're at Yabu!

Rosu & Hire Set (around Php500-Php575--I don't remember)

My Verdict

Overwhelming--that would definitely be the best word to describe my first Yabu experience. The servings are just so huge that I wasn't even able to finish everything on my tray, not even the cabbage salad considering how much of a veggie lover I am and how good the Goma dressing was. I now definitely consider myself a fan of their Tonkatsu, as it is very soft, unlike in some other restaurants I've tried where the Tonkatsu can be a bit tough and difficult to chew. Their Tonkatsu even has that "melts in your mouth" feel to it, unlike any other that I've tried. Also, who would've thought that shredding the cabbage very thinly for the cabbage salad would make it much more appetizing? When you add their special Goma (sesame) dressing, it just becomes even more delicious. The fruit platter, too, consisted of very fresh fruit. The pineapple wasn't really sour, and the watermelon's seeds were conveniently removed. 

One thing I didn't like, however, was the bonito flakes (also known as katsuobushi or okaka), which I honestly felt the Katsudon Set could have done well without. It just tasted a bit...weird for me. My uncle didn't really like the flakes either. Oh well, maybe they put the flakes to make the dish more Japanese than it already is? I don't know.

Overall, though, I was very pleased with my first Yabu experience. It definitely lives up to the hype, and their food was really worth the wait. I wouldn't hesitate to wait in line again--but maybe with an even emptier stomach the next time around.

Yabu: The House of Katsu

2/F Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City (631-1192)
Other branches: Robinsons Magnolia, SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall
feedback@yabu.ph
Website
Facebook Page
Twitter account

A Great Social Experiment for Dove's Real Beauty Campaign

Dove, a personal care brand manufactured by Unilever and sold globally, has in the past several years been known for their "Real Beauty" campaign, which aims to help women around the world become more comfortable with themselves and embrace their physical characteristics. This has resulted in the creation of heartwarming TV commercials, print ads, and viral videos (among others) which has reached millions of audiences worldwide.

On April 14, another video was uploaded on YouTube. Since it was uploaded two days ago, the video has earned over 655,000 views, and has been shared numerous times on social media. The video, which is three minutes long, shows how a sketch artist was able to show how women see themselves as opposed to how other people see them, by letting the women describe themselves to the artist and by letting other people describe the women featured. The sketches are then shown to the women to let them realize how poor their perceptions of themselves are. 

This is indeed another great inspirational campaign from Dove. Congratulations to the marketing team who came up with this brilliant idea!

After "Gangnam Style", Here Comes Psy's "Gentleman"

The song "Gangnam Style" by South Korean rapper Psy is undeniably one of the most popular songs in recent history. Released in mid-2012, the song's music video with its catchy tune and horse riding-inspired crazy dance moves has since had around 1.5 billion views on YouTube, making it the first YouTube video to ever hit the 1 billion views mark and thus making it the most watched YouTube video of all time.

Following the song's phenomenal success, many are now wondering whether Psy's follow-up single, Gentleman, and its music video (released today) would be able to reach the same amount of success as the 2012 hit, or if Psy would just end up another one-hit wonder. 

The music video of "Gentleman" quite obviously tries to match up to that of "Gangnam Style" with its own share of crazy characters and dance moves. I was instantly reminded of the Gangnam Style music video as I was watching the new song's music video, as they both actually seem to share a similar pattern. The costumes, the formations, the sequence of events (beginning with the bit where he walks along a hallway at the start of the music video up until the big dance finale featuring dozens of back-up dancers), and even the locations (elevator, anyone?)--almost everything, basically, contains hints or references to the 2012 hit.

Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is what we can't really be sure of just yet--it may take a while for us to see whether Gentleman would be able to match up to Gangnam Style's success. It took Gangnam Style quite a while before it's popularity globally actually took off, after all. It only hit the 1-billion mark last December, five months after the music video was uploaded. 

For now, we will have to see whether Gangnam Style's success would actually rub off on this one.

The Piaggio Ape--Making Business Easier for Filipinos

Here's a piece of good news to Philippine-based entrepreneurs out there: the Piaggio Ape (pronounced as ah-peh, which is the Italian word for "bee"), a popular commercial vehicle by the Italian motor vehicle manufacturer Piaggio, is now available in the country.

The arrival of the brand was made possible by Autoitalia Philippines Enterprises Inc., a member of the Autohub Group. Four variants of the Ape are available in the country, each designed to suit different types of businesses:

The Delivery Van variant (priced at P240,000), ideal for small deliveries

The Drive-Away Chassis variant (P190,000) ideal for mobile businesses like  mobile ice cream carts or roaming sari-sari stores

The Passenger Cab variant (P190,000), for transporting passengers 

The Pick-Up variant (P210,000), also ideal for deliveries

Business owners will be happy to know that the Piaggio Ape is very fuel efficient, with a consumption of around 30-36 km/l. It is also classified internationally as a non-polluting vehicle. It has a maximum load capacity of around 500 kilograms and can travel up to a maximum of 55 kph. Also, the Piaggio Ape is exempted from the number-coding scheme and is permitted to travel on both primary and secondary roads, allowing entrepreneurs to make the most out of these vehicles for their businesses. 

Currently, the Piaggio Ape is sold in its three dealerships in Greenhills, Otis, and Quezon Avenue. For more information, you may visit the Autoitalia Philippines Enterprises Inc. website at www.autoitaliaphil.com.

Andiamo a Mangiare (Let's Eat!): Caffe Puccini at The Fort Strip

Those craving for Italian food in Manila will find their craving easily satisfied as we are never far from an Italian restaurant anywhere in the city. From the more casual American fastfood chains serving pizzas and pasta on-the-go to the more sophisticated sit-down restaurants, there seems to be so many places that serve Italian food in the Philippines that choosing among them may seem quite daunting. 

For those craving for a more authentic (read: non-Americanized) Italian experience, Caffe Puccini located at The Fort Strip at Bonifacio Global City might interest you. Quietly situated

in what was once the prime hangout spot in the area (but sadly now overshadowed by the nearby Bonifacio High Street and Serendra), Caffe Puccini is an excellent spot for you to enjoy the company of your friends and family over wine, pizzas, steak, and pasta.

The entrance to the restaurant

The restaurant has only been around for about four years but has already done a pretty good job of building its credibility. Caffe Puccini has already been named one of the "Philippines' Best Restaurants" by Asia Tatler Dining, which rates and reviews the best restaurants in the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Macau. 

Design on the glass window

The atmosphere in the restaurant is very cozy and laid-back, despite it being a Sunday (Easter Sunday, at that). I really appreciated the "rustic" Italian trattoria look and feel of the place, as it only adds to the restaurant's "authenticity". The large crystal chandeliers look classy and somewhat homely, but the presence of a wood-fired oven which is standard in many authentic Italian dining places just seals the deal and just screams "authentic Italian". Kudos to the management for paying a lot of attention to detail.

A friendly waitress guided us to our table. Aside from our group of 7, the only other group in the restaurant was this large family of about 10-15 seated nearby. Having less customers at the time allowed the waitresses to immediately attend to our needs, and somehow makes the service more personalized. 

The restaurant wasn't really so busy, even on a Sunday

Front cover of the menu

For starters, we ordered Insalata di Mare, a salad which consists of assorted seafood in lemon-olive oil. We also ordered Insalata Greca, which consists of "lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, kalamata, olives, oregano, feta cheese and olive oil". Two complimentary bread baskets which consists of a selection of bread and an assortment of dips such as Foie gras and butter were also laid out in front of us. 

A part of their menu. For the complete menu, please do visit their website.

Basic table setting

Complimentary bread basket

Butter and tomatoes

Now here come the main dishes: 

Pizza Quattro Formaggio

I think this is Pizza Milano? I'm not too sure.

Puttanesca

We also ordered Fettuccine Carbonara (which I failed to take a photo of), which I pretty much loved. Come to think of it, I absolutely loved EVERYTHING we ordered. The salads weren't bland, the Puttanesca wasn't lacking in ingredients and flavor, and the Pizza Milano was just right. My favorites (and the ones I highly recommend), however, would have to be the Fettuccine Carbonara and the Pizza Quattro Formaggio. Simple as they may look, they certainly made up for it in terms of taste and flavor. Cheese lovers out there will surely love how the four different cheeses on the Pizza Quattro Formaggio go well together, without one overpowering the other. Every bite has a guaranteed burst of cheesiness that have you clamoring for more. The Carbonara, meanwhile, was creamier than the other one's I've had before, which can both be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you like it. For me, though, their Carbonara seemed to have that look and taste of "authenticity". It was most certainly not your generic cafeteria Carbonara. 

As much as I had wanted to eat some more, I had to restrain myself, so that everyone in our group would have a chance to sample everything. Oh, well; there's always a next time--there will definitely be a next time. 

Caffe Puccini
Unit 12, The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
www.caffepuccini.com
816-3055/09279173489
caffepuccini@gmail.com

Restaurant hours:
Sunday-Thursday 11am-12 midnight
Friday and Saturday 11am-2:30am