Tag Archives: Food

These affordable, flavored chicken wings will definitely satisfy your food craving

NOTE: This is a personal review of the product and not a paid, branded post. This means the author does not receive any money from the publication and clicks made on this article. 

I don’t know about you but one food item that I often crave for is chicken wings. Whether it’s mixed in a sweet, soy garlic glaze or coated with a spicy buffalo flavor, it’s one dish that always seems to get my mouth watering when I see it.

So, when the Mandaluyong-based shop My Food Grabs PH let me sample their newest chicken wing variants, I was definitely excited to dive in and eat their newest creation. And here’s what I thought about it: 

The chicken wings were full of flavor

The chicken wings were carefully packed into two food containers and they came in three variants–namely, sweet soy, sweet chili, and buttered buffalo. 

The sweet soy variant and the buttered buffalo chicken wings were placed in the rectangular plastic container, while the sweet chili-flavored wings were placed inside the circular one. 

A photo of the My Food Grab PH’s food packaging.

The sweet chili wings were coated in a thick layer of sauce that dripped down when picked up. And it wasn’t necessarily spicy, but it did have a delicious sweet and tangy flavor that paired quite well with rice. 

A photo of the My Food Grabs PH’s sweet chili chicken wings.

The sweet soy variant, on the other hand, was not as “saucy” as the sweet chili one, but it was glazed evenly and topped with sesame seeds. It wasn’t too sweet either–which was good (since not everyone likes their food to be overly sweet)–and the soy flavoring gave it a nice, savory taste. 

A photo of My Food Grabs PH’s sweet soy chicken wings.

The last set of flavored wings–which is, perhaps, my favorite of the three–was the buttered buffalo wings. 

These chicken wings were such a delight to munch on as the butter gave it a sort of creamy texture that complemented the ‘buffalo wing’ flavor. And out of the three variants, this is definitely one I’d come back to order!

A photo of My Food Grabs PH’s buttered buffalo chicken wings.

Although these flavored wings don’t come with dip, I think they are flavorful enough and could stand on their own. Plus, they make for a scrumptious ulam (viand) come lunch or dinner time. 

The chicken wings come at an affordable price 

Personally, I think these chicken wings are well worth their price. Because for only 160 Philippine Pesos (PHP), you can enjoy six (6) pieces of these delectable, flavored wings. 

You can also expect more exciting things from the shop in the near future 

I caught up with store owner Sabrina Mata to get more insight on why she decided to add these flavored wings to My Food Grabs PH’s menu. To this, she said that she was inspired to create and offer new food items due to the dining restrictions brought about by the quarantine. 

“I think this is a perfect opportunity to innovate my products. So, I’ve decided to add flavored chicken [wings to the store’s existing menu] which is [made] accessible to anyone across Metro Manila through online [orders and food delivery],” she explained. 

Recently, the online store shared its newest variant, Korean spicy chicken wings. And this new addition is just the beginning of what the 25-year-old envisions for her food shop in the near future. 

“I’m planning to further innovate the products by adding more flavor options and dips to my chicken wings,” she shared. “Also, I’m planning to partner my chicken wings with french fries and bring back [customer] favorites on the menu–which are the dynamite and cheesy lumpia [dishes]. So, stay tuned!” 

You can now order and stay up-to-date with My Food Grabs PH by liking and following their Facebook and Instagram pages. Happy eating, everyone! 

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If you want to stay updated on my latest articles and stories, you can follow me on social media at Facebook.com/CMilitarWrites

My family and I just can’t get enough of this shop’s sushi bake trays

NOTE: This is a personal review of the product and not a paid, branded post. This means the author does not receive any money from the publication and clicks made on this article. 

Sometime around June of this year, I started noticing the sushi bake craze making its rounds online. At first, I didn’t necessarily understand what the dish was–I wondered, does it taste just like a maki roll? What’s in it? And is it really worth the hype?

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It wasn’t until October, when me and my siblings decided to try the dish out for ourselves. And upon the recommendation of my friend Mark D., we decided to order the Gyudon sushi bake tray from La Mesa Cravings.

Photo of the Gyudon sushi bake dish sent to me via Facebook by La Mesa Cravings

Initially, my whole family and I didn’t know what to expect when it arrived. But after taking the first few bites, we knew that this was a dish we would happily order again from the shop.

Here are a few reasons why I said this:

They have good customer service and the dish is complete and securely packaged

When it comes to service-oriented businesses, good customer service is key in maintaining loyalty with your target market. And La Mesa Cravings accomplishes this by not only being very responsive to inquiries on their page, but also in keeping their customers up-to-date on their orders.

Because once you have ordered and paid for the dish, the team schedules delivery based on your preference. And before the item is even sent out, they send you photos to confirm your order. So, from the get-go, you are aware of its appearance and the items that come with the dish.

Photo of the Gyudon sushi bake dish sent to me via Facebook by La Mesa Cravings

Moreover, the team places it in an aluminum foil tray and secures it with plastic cover to make sure it doesn’t move around while it’s in transit.

The sushi bake is full of flavor and very savory

The Gyudon sushi bake tray we ordered was packed with beef and sushi rice and topped off with layer of creamy cheddar cheese. The combination of these ingredients made the dish flavourful and absolutely filling. And when it’s eaten with seaweed–which comes with the order–the dish becomes almost heavenly!

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Even Filipino actor Paolo Ballesteros can’t seem to get enough of their sushi bake trays, sharing a review of it on his personal social media accounts.

Now, I do admit their menu items can be a bit pricey ranging from 300 to 1,500 PHP (depending on the size and variant and excluding shipping fee), but it’s well worth the price for its savoury taste and overall delicious flavour.

There are more flavors to choose from, not just Gyudon

After devouring the Gyudon sushi bake tray, my family and I are definitely eager to try out the shop’s other flavors. This includes the following variants: Green, Yellow, Red, Pink, Dragon, and Spam.

And fortunately for us (and other sushi bake fans), shop owners Joezel and Ivy Malang-Cruz are now offering the La Colección gift box. This is a set order that allows you to choose four out of their seven sushi bake variants to try and feast on this holiday season.

  Here’s a sample photo of their La Colección gift box. Photo Credit: Facebook.com/lamesacravingsyt

If you’re interested in knowing more about this San Juan City-based shop, you can visit their Facebook page or subscribe to their YouTube channel for more details. 

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If you want to stay updated on my latest articles and stories, you can follow me on social media at Facebook.com/CMilitarWrites 

‘Subtle Asian Baking’–the online haven for bakers obsessed with Asian-inspired treats

As many of us already know, Asia is home to many amazing baked creations. From Vietnam’s Bánh Chuối Nướng (baked banana bread) to Japan’s Daifuku (mochi) treats, we have seen and may have even tasted some of these delectable desserts during our trips there. 

However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, traveling is highly discouraged as it could lead to the further spread of the virus. 

Given this, a lot of people have taken to baking their own versions of these desserts at home. Some have even mastered its baking techniques, while others still have a long way to go before mastering their craft. And whether you’re the former or the latter, there’s one place online that you can connect with and converse with other bakers about your love for Asian-inspired treats–and that’s through Subtle Asian Baking. 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/subtleasianbaking

Subtle Asian Baking is an online community on Facebook that allows bakers from all over the world to share, discuss, and even recommend their favorite Asian-inspired creations and recipes.  

And in this article, I got the chance to talk to the founder Kat Lieu and the rest of the Subtle Asian Baking team on what makes the Facebook group special, the inspiration behind its creation, and what message can they share to aspiring bakers about their online community. 

Here’s what I learned from the interview: 

It’s a community of like-minded bakers who support and encourage each other  

In the Subtle Asian Baking Facebook group, members are encouraged to share their latest Asian-inspired creations without fear or judgment.

“What makes the group special is when people can show off their amazing desserts and bakes, and feel appreciated. [And] when people ask a question, they receive a flood of helpful answers [from other members],” Subtle Asian Baking founder Kat Lieu explained. 

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It is an avenue where bakers can freely express themselves and even help inspire a sense of creativity in other members who see the posts.

Lieu herself admits to exploring other baking ideas after seeing other people’s creations in the group–“[In terms of] creativity, I find myself becoming more and more creative and innovative with my own baking.” 

More than just a platform for sharing one’s creations, it is also a community that engages with its members through virtual bake-offs and online contests. In fact, just last month, they held a charity mukbang for the benefit of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. And as of December 2, 2020, they were able to raise 4,002.50 CAD (approximately 150,611.93 PHP) for the non-profit organization. They were also able to surprise members of the group and participants with a number of special guest appearances.  

“Our mukbang fundraiser was very special. Three CEOs from the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario joined us in [the] eating [contest]. We [also] had a special guest eating with us, Fred Chang, a contestant from MasterChef US Season 10. A rising mukbang duo made a special appearance during the Zoom livestream [as well],” Lieu shared.  

These online events were created to both give back to the community and entertain its members.  

“We want to be different. We also want to give back to the community. [Since] many people are stuck at home now, the Internet has become our world. [There,] we can build a community with virtual bake-offs and we can give back through fun fundraising activities.”  

At the moment, the team has prepared two bake-offs for December. The first of which is in partnership with Suncore Foods and is a competition for junior bakers between the ages of 4 to 15 years old. While the second one is a holiday bake-off that features guest judges Catherine Zhang, the Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2 champion, and Fred Chang, season 10 finalist of the hit show MasterChef US.

Members can stay tuned for more announcements on this through their Facebook page and group, or through their Instagram account.

A recent trip to Japan inspired Kat Lieu to create the group 

The group was created back in May of this year by Kat Lieu. She was inspired to form Subtle Asian Baking after reminiscing about the baked creations she got to try during her recent trip to Japan. 

“COVID-19 was spreading fast and things were closing down. I was thinking about my trip to Japan back in February 2020, and I couldn’t find a group I liked dedicated to Asian sweets, particularly subtle Asian sweets. So, I created the group in [the] hopes [that] I can bring together a large baking community and curate recipes and beautiful pictures of Asian-inspired desserts,”  Lieu expounded.  

“Many of us can’t travel [now], but we can reflect fondly about desserts we love, desserts from our culture, and the baked goodies we had while traveling across Asia and so forth.”

To her surprise though, the group quickly grew since its creation, now amassing over 66,000 members from all over the world. 

Screengrab from Facebook.com/groups/subtleasianbaking

Today, the group is handled by Lieu and the Subtle Asian Baking team, which comprises the following: Owen Li, an IT professional and the team’s very own “air-frying ninja”; Will Leung, a bakery owner in New Zealand; George Lee, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained cook and rising star in the vegan culinary world; and Nichole Tan, a Singapore-based sweets expert.

A message to aspiring bakers: ‘Just start baking!’  

Starting a new hobby can be hard but the Subtle Asian Baking team believes that practice makes perfect. And they continue to encourage aspiring bakers to express themselves and try new things, with a little help and inspiration from their Facebook group.  

“Just start baking! It doesn’t matter if you use cake mix or bake from scratch, just make it and bake it! And please join our group! We are inclusive and [we] welcome all bakers, dessert makers, or dessert enthusiasts of all skill levels. We also welcome savory baking recipes and pictures!” the team said.

To join Subtle Asian Baking, click their Facebook group here and request to be a member. Once approved, you can start posting your creations, joining their online contests, and start conversing with like-minded bakers.

You can also follow them on their Facebook page or on Instagram to stay up-to-date with their latest posts and announcements. 

Happy baking, everyone! 

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Inside the art of making hand-painted cookies

Back in May of this year, I got the opportunity to feature the pop culture-themed treats of Korean-American baker Judy Kim in a POP! article. Since that time, Kim has continued to hone her skill in baking, making more jaw-droppingly beautiful works of art in the form of cookies.

Just take a look at her recent baked goods featuring US President-elect Joe Biden and US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

She even made one in honor of the late Ruth Bader-Ginsburg.

View this post on Instagram

If you are a woman, regardless of your political views, you have gained something from RBG’s legacy. As a working mom of two girls, I am even more grateful that she paved the way. Case by case, she forever changed the legal landscape for women, attaining equal protection by the law and did so with intellect and grace. She allowed women to sign a mortgage without a man and to have a credit card and bank account without a male co-signer. She fought gender pay gaps and pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and made it okay to be a working mom (and stay-at-home dad). She upheld the notion that women hold God-given moral agency by advocating to keep the government out of a woman’s body and allow her to make her own personal health and reproductive decisions. Finally, she showed us by example how to remain kind and civil despite fierce disagreement (shown by her close friendship with Justice Scalia) — something that is rare today. Her fight is ours to continue. Thank you @thecookiestache for hosting the #BeRuthlessBakes collab to honor RBG and her incredible legacy. Check out the hashtag for some amazing bakes. ❤️and VOTE.

A post shared by Judy (@judyscookies) on

Because of this, I caught up with Kim regarding her process for making the cookies, the inspiration behind some of her designs, and her advice for aspiring bakers worldwide. Here’s what she had to say about it. 

Making custom-designed cookies can be tedious but it’s an activity she enjoys

Just by looking at the detail put into each cookie, you would know that Kim devotes a lot of time and effort into making each one look perfect. And working full-time in the medical field, it can definitely be very time-consuming and tiring–but it’s one activity she seems to enjoy. 

“The hardest part about creating cookies is probably all the time-involved. Custom cookies are very labor-intensive! Personally, I am a full-time practicing physician, so I make cookies on the side, and I can definitely lose some sleep over them!” she explained. 

She also shared how many of her hand-painted cookies can take two or more hours to make, depending on the level of detail. And among her most tedious creations would have to be her Mandalorian-inspired cookies. 

“The Mandalorian was probably 4 hours or more in total: [this includes] baking, creating multiple layers, piping royal icing, and hand-painting.”

View this post on Instagram

Resurrecting my Mandalorian cookie as I think about what is happening to us. We are covered by our armor and masks, hiding behind our screens and social media accounts. This makes us appear indifferent and less human. When Mando’s helmet was removed for the first time, we realize this was just some regular guy who wanted to do the right thing, but his affiliations and duties sometimes conflicted with that. We see his conscience awakens. He is complex. He is human. He is growing. We are all him. Let’s give each other that space. Let’s take off our masks. Let’s SEE each other again. “We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break the bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as sure they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” – Abraham Lincoln (Royal icing, painted with @americolor food gels and @thesugarart elite dusts)

A post shared by Judy (@judyscookies) on

But through it all, she seems to find fulfillment in baking and continues to put out great designs, as evidenced by her Instagram posts. 

She was very inspired when she made her Parasite-themed cookies

Kim admits that many of her pop culture-themed cookies were made upon the requests of family members and friends. But the Parasite cookies were something special for her as it was made to celebrate the film’s momentous win in the 2020 Academy Awards (also known as The Oscars). 

Moreover, she was very happy to know that her friends also appreciated her movie-themed baked goods. 

“I definitely found the Parasite cookies really resonated with my Korean friends, and it’s great to celebrate special moments like this!” she exclaimed.

View this post on Instagram

Woooooo @parasitemovie !!!

A post shared by Judy (@judyscookies) on

Indeed, her Parasite-inspired cookies seem to be the perfect treat to celebrate the special occasion. And I’m pretty sure even Director Bong Joon Ho would be proud of this specially-designed creation.

Her advice to aspiring bakers: “Be as creative as possible!” 

Kim surprised many of her loved ones when she started making these custom-designed cookies. 

“I think many of them were surprised because I started making cookies only about a year ago as a hobby and most of them do not [even] know that I have an artistic background,” she recalled.  

Despite their initial response to her baking, Kim continued to hone her skills and now, she has made a countless number of beautifully-designed cookies. 

Through her experience in making these hand-painted baked goods, she shares this piece of advice for aspiring bakers worldwide: 

“My advice for people who would like to make custom cookies is to start with the basics (such as finding a good sugar cookie and royal icing recipe) and feel free to be as creative as possible! The cookie-making community on social media is incredibly gracious and that is how I learned myself, by asking questions and practicing.” 


You can see Judy Kim’s full set of creations on her Instagram.