Massive Munchies, From Dumaguete to Manila - With Love!

Pocket pies have come to rule your food moments!  From Dumaguete, this food wonder is now here in the metropolis to win your hearts and tummies over.  Welcome MASSIVE MUNCHIES – the King of pocket pies, both savory and sweet!

Massive Munchies is a pocket pie creation that started with just a small table space to fry and sell, fronting St. Paul.  What started with a dream, slowly showed form and developed to what it is now.  From Dumaguete it is now here in the metropolis with their initial spot in the historic business area of Quiapo.  From there, they will set up various kiosk and store space to reach-out more people and satisfy their food cravings.

This promo was when they had their soft-launch

This pocket pie creation is worth your time and peso.  One regular size is a treat, two regular size (various flavor) is already a tummy huger, three is more than a meal; that is for the regular size, wait till you try the king size which is priced at 59Php only.  This is so affordable that students and working class people can enjoy this food delight.  As of now, they are only offering 4 of their pocket pie savory flavors; they are:  Cheesy Pepperoni,   Beef and Mushroom, Cheesy Taco and Tuna Lasagna.  With regular price at 39Php and 49Php, this is one winning food offering that is now in the market.  It is handy, tasty and affordable, what more can you ask for?

King size and Regular size (Raw Form)

Why am I singing in a high tone regarding this product?  It is because I enjoyed munching on it!  I like the pastry dough for it has its own flavor.  The filling is rich in its flavor and true to the name it was given.  If they say it is cheesy, then it is truly cheesy in every bite; may it be fresh from the fryer or cold already.  Unlike other products, with MASSIVE MUNCHIES, you get to enjoy the flavor of the pie may it be warm or not; that is how true to their flavoring this product is.   Well I love their Cheesy Taco and Tuna Lasagna.  The Taco is bold in flavor!  You smell the taco flavor goodness as soon as you tear it in half.  With the Tuna Lasagna, I love the amount of cheese and the tuna – tomato flavor without the fishy taste.  The Cheesy Pepperoni is like pizza while the Beef and Mushroom is a light savory offering.

Tuna Lasagna

Cheesy Taco

Cheesy Pepperoni

Based on their first day opening, the people welcomed them and the clamor was high.  People, left and right, were buying in bags.  Customers who simply wanted to try it out were smiling as they take their 2^nd bite.  It was a successful soft-opening I would say.

Honestly, I can’t wait to try out all their flavor offerings once it became available here in the metropolis.  They have some interesting flavors that would truly catch your fancy.  For food lovers, you would love to have this in your bag and tag it as your life saver during hunger moments.  MASSIVE MUCHIES is not only a brand, it is a food creation that you would like to eat and share with people around your life.

Swan Lake, A Classic Given New Life Once Again By Ballet Philippines

Ballet Philippines is truly making a strong close of their 47^th season with their re-staging of a timeless classic Swan Lake.  It opened last February 24 and will run until the first weekend of March; staged at the Nicanor Abelardo Hall (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

This classic piece was restaged by premier danseur Nonoy Froilan and with him is a strong production team giving support to his vision of how it this production should look and be delivered.  The company also showed their best by executing all the required choreography to the best of their ability.  This is one production wherein the role of Odile/Odette is shared by three noteworthy ballerinas and danseurs.  Playing Odile/Odette are Jemima Reyes, Denise Parungao and Candice Adea. Pairing them are Victor Maguad, Garry Corpuz and Joseph Phillips, respectively.

Watching the gala show last February 24, was an experience of the senses.  The stage design, made by Ohm David, was truly breathtaking!  The way the staged transformed throughout the 4 Acts was a marvel to behold.  The music was supplied by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of principal conductor and music director Yoshikazu Fukumura was also a delight!  That night was indeed a union of senses!

Despite the small slips of some dancers that night, they were still able to pull it off and deliver things with aplomb. Those slips were not that visible that viewer’s get to be concerned or distracted in watching the production.  Jemima was a darling that night. Her movements were down pat and her transformations were smooth.  She as a woman and a swan were on-the-spot that you see clearly her shifts.  Her lines were straight and truly artistically coached that she was like an angel on stage as Odette.  As Odile, she was a wonder also for she played the temptress, the swan in perfect union. Even her facial expressions were clear for all to see.  She gave justice to this much coveted role in the ballet industry.  The danseurs playing Rothbart, as human and monster, were captivating and danced to the hilt of their character.

Ballet Philippines is truly making big with this season close.  Wings has truly took flight that night and shall end beautifully as people gets to be captivated by this tragic love story without feeling down -  a story that is all about good, evil and love eternal.

Photos:

Candice Ang

Denise Parungao

Jemima Reyes

Jemima and Victor Maguad

Candice and Joseph Phillips

Lester Reguindin as Rothbart (Monster)

Ballet de Corps

Good Taste, Healthy Food, All At Live Life Vegetarian Restaurant

If you are looking for a place to have a good meal, alone or with your love one, then look no further for somewhere in Makati City is a dining place that offers healthy and tasty dishes; healthy because vegetables are the main star in all its dishes. 

Live Life Vegetarian Food Restaurant is located just a block away from Don Bosco Makati and just across a BPI branch along Chino Roces Avenue and before CW Home Depot if you are coming from the direction of the fore mentioned school.  This restaurant has been there for three years and is doing good within its niche in the food industry.

Despite the years of service, I find it strange that they still have some slight misses in some of their offered dishes in terms of sauce level; such was my observation when they served Chili con Tofu during the time that I was there.  It was watery compared to the usual chili con dish that I am familiar with.  Same can be said with their Lumpiang Sariwa.  This is a classic vegetarian dish but somehow there was a flavor missing.  I just cannot put a pin on the missing flavor but there is.

Vegetable Paella

Misses they may have but they also have great hits in some of their dishes, such as:  Vegetarian Paella, Vegetable Samosa, Eggplant with Misu, Vegetarian Curry and their offered dessert then – Turon.  Of all the dishes I have mentioned, what I enjoyed best were the Eggplant with Misu and Turon. 

Eggplant with Misu

The Eggplant with Misu was a delight in both texture and flavor.  This Japanese inspired dish is a delight due to the way they have prepped the vegetable and infused the misu into it.  There was a light sweetness and saltiness that balances off one and the texture was quite notable because there was smoothness with it countered by the normal skin texture of a cooked eggplant.

The Turon was a winner!  You see the banana slice but what you get to taste is the jackfruit in it.  This is a turon that has a strong jackfruit flavor hiding the ripe banana.  It is a novelty for me because when you get a commercial turon, what you see and taste is the banana and the jackfruit is a hit and miss at times.  For them, the jackfruit took precedence.

What is commendable with the place is the way they were able to recreate dishes that are meat and cream based (with cheese) without losing the usual flavor that one is familiar with.  Who would have thought that a certain nut can recreate the milky goodness of cheese when pureed properly.

Enjoy a buffet lunch or dinner every weekend at Live Life Vegetarian Food Restaurant for only Php 350 + per head.  Not only will you have good tasty dishes to choose from but also have a healthy dining experience that you can share with the one you love.