Mother’s Day dessert boxes and more by pastry-chef-mom
PASTRY chef-mom Lovely Jiao, the innovator behind Sugarplum Pastries’ head-turning eight-foot dessert towers, lighted anti-gravity cakes and twirly whirly rotating toppers, introduces a series of flamboyant sweets in time for Mother’s Day. She housed her bestselling treats in dainty containers. The Veronica and Sonia Gift Boxes come with truffles, chocolate macarons, meringue kisses and bite-sized marshmallows, a special Mom sugar cookie and two Hearty Surprise smash chocolates. Veronica, named after her grandmother, contains cheesecake shortcrusts, choquares and mini donuts. Sonia, dedicated to her mother, features delicate heart chocolates. A complimentary wooden mallet is included for an equally sweet yet fun activity. Other Mothers Day specials are the simple, yet elegant Beatifloral Cheesecake, the snow globe look-alike Cheesecake To Remember that comes with macarons, meringues, donuts, truffles, and chocolate bars, and the extravagant foot-tall caramelized Cream Puff Tower Story. There is also a Do With Mom DIY cookie set with sugar cookies, colored piping bags, a variety of sprinkles and décors such as ribbons and flowers. Armed with her culinary degree from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, backed up by experience at the Makati Shangri-La and F1 Hotel Taguig, the baker launched Sugarplum Pastries in 2011. For inquiries, contact sugarplum_pastries@yahoo.com or +63917 516 1411 via Viber or visit www.sugarplumpastries.com. They are also available on Facebook (@sugarplumpastriesph) and Instagram (@sugarplumpastries).
Fortnum & Mason launches new book: Time for Tea
FORTNUM & Mason has released Time for Tea, an entertaining and authoritative guide filled with everything from recipes and pairings to history and hacks, all about the most widely consumed drink, after water, in the world. The result of extensive collaboration between a host of Fortnum’s experts, including tea buyers, chefs, tearistas, mixologists and its own archivist, this new guide is anchored by food writer Tom Parker Bowles. The new book takes readers on a journey of discovery behind the history of tea, with an in-depth look into how to make the perfect brew and identify a wide range of teas to suit different tastes, occasions and times of day. Readers will discover 50 sweet and savory recipes curated by Roger Pizey the Executive Pastry Chef, each one paired with a different tea. Tea cocktail recipes have been provided by Mustafa Tumuri — Fortnum’s chief mixologist. Elsewhere, the book guides readers through seasonality, terroir, grading, the benefits of drinking loose leaf and even a history timeline. Featuring exclusive illustrations by BAFTA-nominated cartoonist Zebedee Helm and photography by the award-winning David Loftus, Time for Tea is more than a book. It is a distillation of Fortnum’s passion, knowledge and love of all things tea — and will be the ultimate gift for a tea lover for years to come.
Rustan’s hosts Zoom cooking classes
RUSTAN’S Home Department collaborates with resident restaurant consultant of Rustan’s East Café Him Uy de Baron for Zoom-instructed sessions of tested and family approved recipes in the HIMpossible Recipes Class which will run until the end of this year. Each class will have a unique theme that will require specific kitchen tools and equipment, which can be found at Rustan’s. The recipes of dishes and an e-catalog of cooking tools and equipment will be sent to the participants prior to each session. Classes and their corresponding equipment can be ordered through Rustan’s Summer on Call program, which allows one-on-one service with Rustan’s Personal Shoppers through call or messaging apps. All the ingredients for each session will be sourced, portioned, and delivered right to the student’s doorstep by Rustan’s. As a bonus, the luxury department store will also give out special prizes to students during a Q&A portion of select Himpossible Recipes classes. To join, send a message to the HIMpossible Recipes Facebook or Instagram pages at @himpossible.recipes with the following details: name, preferred class, delivery address, and contact number. A Viber message from an administrator of Himpossible Recipes will be sent regarding confirmation and payment details. Once validated, you will be updated with the delivery schedule, while the Zoom link for your class will be sent two hours before the session. To know more about the program, check the Highlights on HIMpossible Recipes’ Instagram Page under “How To Join.”
Summer dishes on Casa Daza
CHEF Sandy Daza’s cooking show Casa Daza returns to Metro Channel with all-new episodes airing Sundays at 8 p.m. starting May 2 featuring must-try recipes to spice up the summer. Now on its 5th season, Casa Daza is known for easy-to-follow recipes inspired by Mr. Daza’s own family favorites. From food preparation to plating, the renowned chef shares a systematic guide to cooking while talking about the stories behind each featured dish. Among the dishes to be tackled in the new season are his versions of staple noodle dishes like birthday noodles or Cha Misua, pancit puti, and bam-I (May 2); his original recipes for carbonara, Caesar salad, and croquet monsieur (May 9); Asian fare like Hainanese chicken with adlai sauce, soy chicken, and Indian chicken curry dishes (May 16); more Asian cooking with his recipes for crispy fish fillet with garlic sauce, coconut chili shrimps, and tuna tataki nicoise (May 23); and pork dishes like crispy pata, pata humba, and Daza’s recipe for creamy pork with oyster sauce (May 30). The new season of Casa Daza wil air every Sunday starting May 2 on Metro Channel with a simulcast on Metro.Style’s YouTube channel at 8 p.m. Metro Channel is available on SKYcable channel 52 (SD) and channel 174 (HD), Cignal channel 69, and GSAT channel 70.
English Tea Shop’s new packaging highlights Virtuous Circle of Support
TO HIGHLIGHT the positive properties of organic tea, English Tea Shop introduces a serene mandala on its new packaging. Coming from the previously more playful and light-hearted teapot emblem, the brand is now introducing a mandala-inspired brand element. A geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism also means “circle” in ancient Sanskrit language. To English Tea Shop, the mandala represents the virtuous support system the brand aims to build between small businesses, society and the environment at large. Additionally, to make it even more appealing to the wellness-conscious audience, the word “organic” is now front and center to emphasize English Tea Shop’s commitment to being 100% free from synthetic chemicals. Tea has properties to help relieve the effects of stress, with flavonoids that act as antioxidants, protecting the body from free radicals. Drinking tea regularly also boosts the immune system, which is very important, especially in times like these. The flavonoids found in tea also serve as a beauty aid, helping skin stay supple and fresh for that all-important healthy glow. Tea’s relaxing properties also help bring a healthier state of mind, as its consumption lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisone. The English Tea Shop carries all-organic teas, from everyday teas such as Chamomile, Perfect Peppermint and English Breakfast to the super-tea combinations such as Turmeric Ginger Lemongrass. It also has the Wellness Me range. The English Tea Shop is represented in the Philippines by Clever Cats International Co., with their teas exclusively available at Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace and Shopwise stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.etsteas.co.uk.
New Jollibee app for ordering ease
FAST food giant Jollibee has now come out with the Jollibee App. The new delivery app has a number of features and upgrades: customers can now order Jollibee favorites on their smartphones via seamless and easy-to-use interactive menus that allow users to navigate between the latest food options. Ordering is made more convenient with cashless payments, a quick checkout process, and the option between pick-up or delivery. Customers can also avail of exclusive deals and discounts. Those who have already registered to the Jollibee App can get P50 off for minimum orders of P500 and P100 off for orders of P1,000 and up until June 30. First time users get a special welcome gift: coupons that can be redeemed for a free Jolly Spaghetti with Coke or free Tuna Pie with Coke on their first transaction. The promo is valid until June 30. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple Store.
Grab rewards users with Summer Steals: Bahaycation
GRAB brings summer vacation right to your doorstep with Grab Summer Steals: Bahaycation. From April 26 to May 2, Grab users have the chance to win big prizes through the Bahaycation Deals Wheel and week-long deals and daily flash sales across Grab’s different services. Winners of the Bahaycation Deals Wheel can take home a Dyson Airwrap, KitchenAid Mixer, Philips Air Fryer, Samsung Air Conditioner, Nespresso Lattissima machine, iPad Pro, or even a 50” Samsung TV. Meanwhile, in Grab’s Bahaycation Challenge, make some purchases on GrabMart, and stand the chance to win a P120 off voucher for GrabMart’s Mega Sale from April 29 to May 4. Finally, there are thousands of deals from GrabFood, GrabMart, and GrabPay to summer-at-home. Have summer staples delivered from restaurants like Yellow Cab, Taco Bell, Botejyu, and Coco with “unli free delivery,” while select merchants are offering 50% off when ordering from GrabMart stores like Assi Fresh Plaza, Zagana, Lawson, and Candy Corner. And earn over P1,000 in cashback when shopping at Zalora, Shein, BeautyMNL, ShopSM, and more using GrabPay. The deals and prizes are available on the Grab app from April 26 to May 2. For details, check out the Grab app or visit www.grab.com to learn more about Grab Summer Steals: Bahaycation.