The Cafe Ella at Los Baños Centtro

For quite some time now, we've been looking forward to the opening of Cafe Ella at Los Banos Centtro, the nearest, mall-like (for its size) building, walking distance from UPLB.

Finally last Monday, it finally opened.

Starbucks' Secret Menu

The last time I had my Starbucks coffee was last... June 2011. I have not had any strong coffee since I discovered that I have started palpitating. Call it stress, call it too much coffee in the past, but I call it - Thesis season!


I tend to order the safest things at the restaurant unless highly recommended by a friend (read: Faye Sta.Maria's food/coffee/pastry/beverage/cocktail reliable review).  So when I go to Starbucks, I usually order their selection of fraps (sometimes with mint, especially during Christmas season, oh I love the red cups!) or get a hot coffee when situation calls for it. 


I came across this article and I find this interesting. Below are some of Starbucks' Secret Menu.

Green Eye

A Red Eye or Black Eye, sure — that's one and two extra shots of espresso in a regular drip, respectively. But those that go for green get a sure-to-jack-you-up three shots of espresso boost to their cup of coffee.

Photo by: Credit: © Flickr/Marco Arment

 More coffee brewing after the jump! 

[Late Post] Coffee Blends Blending well

Coffee Blends is probably the oldest surviving coffee shop within the vicinity of UPLB that I know, that serves  good coffee. Before the majority of the Coffee Shops were established, this little nook serves as the usual hang out of those in Graduate School for their sessions of intellectual Sparring.A Professor of mine actually recommended this place for they serve good coffee and good food so we decided to try it out.

They call it "White Pasta"

(Sorry I forgot what this is called but this tastes good)

Oreo Cheesecake

Tips:

• Opens late in the afternoon, say, around three.
• Unfortunately No Wifi
• Good Service
• Good Food
• They have smoking and non-smoking areas
• Cannot bring food bought from outside or you have to pay corkage fee.
• Coffee Price: It depends but approx 100+

Despite all the options for coffee shops around UPLB, Coffee Blends seems to have secured itself with the number of loyal customers still patronizing their good food. Therefore, they're still blending well. 

Must Try! :D

Review: Boston Cafe

There are three Boston Cafe coffee shops from Robinson's Townmall to UP Gate along  (Via Lopez Avenue). During my first week in elbi, I thought this was the "local Starbucks" of the community.

Java Chip, 85 - Laude Size (Medium), 95 - Magna (Large)

Good Customer Service + Pretty Good Wifi

I always order the safest coffee flavor in coffee shops so that I won't get too disappointed. I ordered Java Chip and to describe the taste, it was more like: " Getting there, but not quite. " And it's not just one flavor. The Choco Mint misses the mint and sometimes they just put Vanilla ice cream on top of the coffee for whatever purpose.


Someone I know shared that all coffee types tastes the same.

Tips/s:

• They don't call out your name for you to get your coffee, they bring your coffee to you.
• Free Wifi Access to all three branches.
• Boston Cafes are strategically placed in: 1) Robinson's Town Mall,  catering to those outside vicinity/proximity of UPLB. 2) Grove, this caters to students, faculty and the likes. 3) One Caldi Place, at the back of Vega Center, inside UPLB Campus for those wanting a little bit more privacy/space.
• Grove Branch operates 24/7.

Cafe Altria's Peppermint Mocha

We were waiting for another resto to open up ( most good establishments in elbi and elbi square opens at 12:00nn ) so when we have time to kill and start the must needed girlfriend catch up, the nearest coffee shop within the area (of elbi square)  is the way to go.

When there's a new coffee shop, I always order the safest flavor so that the potential regret is bearable. I love frappes and cold coffee, and when all the other good coffee shops in elbi are still closed at 10:30 in the morning, this Cafe Altria, was already welcoming potential customers with their "Eat All You Can" offer. It's a good thing that they offer hot and cold coffee, smoking area (for smokers) and refreshing capiz curtains while sitting on their wooden furniture. 

This time, something finally caught my fancy: They have Peppermint Mocha on the Menu.

Peppermint Mocha, for only Php 70 (Cigarettes not included. Lol)

This is pretty good for Php70.00, if you have Starbucks as benchmark, then forget it. But if you want to be realistic and very much in need of caffeine, Cafe Altria's Peppermint Mocha is a good way to go. :)

Spa and Catch Up

I'm sticking to my promise to post things this month about the things that I love. And this post goes to... spa and catch up!


For as long as I can remember, my cousin Jihan and I has been doing this usual catch up by going to the spa or salon together. Either to get a massage, a mani-padi then head out to the nearest cafe or resto to eat. Funny, we both lived in the city but we hardly have time to really see each other there. 


So when I retired from the BPO world and moved back to elbi, I always look forward to her coming home at least once a month. I feel like she's my connection to my old world. Plus, she's just super fun to talk to that's why I'm super glad she's my cousin.


Today, she filed for a VL (Vacation Leave) just for her to attend UP fair and at the same time get mani-pedi at our regular spa destination. I remember the last time I went with her to have our mani-pedi session. She wanted to try the "paraffin package" where they apply/dip your feet to a melted candle-like substance (wax) that's super hot and she went nuts! Her feet has thinner skin so her tolerance for the substance is quite low.


Paraffin wax, according to wisegeek, are treatments are luxurious spa treatments that are intended to moisturize and soften the skin. Paraffin wax treatments are most often applied to the hands and feet as components of manicures and pedicures respectively.


But this time, she can tolerate the wax more compared before, that's why I just to have it documented. :)

My cousin's hand paraffin wax

The orange liquid is the melted wax

I don't recommend getting a "kwik dry" after getting your toe nails painted

 The "Quick Dry" polish makes your pedi dry faster; but it just leaves the surface dry but still wet on the inside of the coat. 

Poor Over-walked feet

It's best to have a pedi every two weeks

 Then we went to Cafe Antonio in elbi square to grab something to eat before Jihan goes to Feb fair to meet her college friends. She said that she wanted to try their coffee because she heard that its good. 


Cafe Antonio in elbi is one of the pretty good coffee shops in elbi.  You can check their site here. 

Panini

Tuna on top of a biscuit

Tuna Panini

Trying the cam upclose

The spaghetti is good

Can you believe that this costs P290.00 all in?