Last December, Between Bites, together with Minute Maid, hosted a contest on the site: Opening a Minute Maid: Experience the Natural Goodness.  There were two parts to that contest.  One would win the Blog section, while the other would win the Comment section.

Last February, right before Valentines weekend, Minute Maid has announced the Blog winner.  It was the entry of Kate who won.

http://meowbykate.blogspot.com/2010/01/time-for-orange-break.html

I requested Kate to share with us a few photos of her “prize” experience. 

“I am actually quite embarrassed because there are no pictures of me.  I took pics of the room, the food we ate and the complimentary wine service.  I also took a thank you shot for Minute Maid.  Btw, we didn’t get to avail of the massage yet because it was scheduled the next day, meaning we would have checked out na.  We decided that we’d just save it for our 7th Anniversary this April

Anyway, thank you so much for hosting this contest   It was a really tiring week for us, since we came all the way from Clark and then drove to Makati to get the voucher.  The hotel stay plus wonderful breakfast buffet was a perfect way to end our Valentine’s weekend.”   ~Kate

Sharing Kate’s photos from her EDSA Shangri-la stay.  No photos though of Kate herself but she did take a “thank you” shot for Minute Maid.

Thank You Minute Maid!

Thanks Kate for joining the contest!   I hope you enjoyed your EDSA Shangri-la Chi Spa Holiday Package.

Related Post:

Opening a Minute Maid: Experience Natural Goodness

Last Call for Entries: Minute Maid

Minute Maid Refreshment Time Contest Blog Winner

Minute Maid Refreshment Time Contest Comment Winner

Minute Maid Comment Winner Soon

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Finally, they’ve picked a Comment winner!!!

Congratulations…

Comment:

Christian Homeschooler

A regular day for me starts with me fixing up breakfast for my boys and getting ready for homeschool. While I won’t have it any other way, it can still be tiring at times. Because the truth of the matter is, my day do not stop at homeschooling. I then have to prepare lunch and zero in on my online job thereafter. It can be crazy, I kid you not. Especially now that I have ventured into yet another online job, as a virtual assistant. This requires me to be glued to my office until the wee hours of the morning.

I’ll have to admit that it’s not always bright and shiny everyday. But I cannot be more thankful that I have discovered a partner that melts away my stress. Even during my “walang tulugan moments,” I’d find myself grabbing a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy Orange. It somehow perks me up, switching me back to the timezone that I needed to be at a given moment. (Boss’ time zone is UTC-7 hours)

Minute Maid Pulpy Orange refreshes me at random parts of my ever packed days (and nights) — yes, even way after the hubby has gone to dreamland. =)

You just won The Spa package worth Php5,000. 

Congratulations in winning the Comments category of the ‘Minute Maid Get Closer to Nature’ contest. 

An acknowledgment email will be sent to you shortly on how to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone who joined the Minute Maid contest.

Watch out for more exciting contests soon!!!

For the meantime, the Ovi contest is ongoing.  Check that out! 

You might be the lucky weekly winner!

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*Kindly requesting both winners, if it ain’t such an inconvenience, to send me a photo of their “prize” experience so I can share it with the other readers.  Much appreciated!  Congrats!

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I know, I know.  Waiting is an agony.  It’s been a while and the Blog winner has been announced weeks ago.  So what’s taking the delay?  Well, there are more Comment entries than the Blog entries for one –which the client has to evaluate thoroughly because there are just too many good entries that it’s really difficult to pick a winner.  I’m glad the decision is not in my shoulders since it’s really a tough call.

This is a short clip to update you that the client definitely hasn’t forgotten, but they are taking a bit more time in deciding.  Winners will be announced SOON.  Hold on to your seats!

Cheers!

And Good Luck Mates!

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I got another email today that really got me floating a few inches off the ground (step back David Blaine).  She seriously touched a gratifying part of my heart and I choked back a tear while reading her email.

Not that I’m stroking my ego (but yes, maybe I am, a bit.  I’m pretty down this week so I need to feed on the gushing positive vibe from this), but I’m going to share with you folks her email and I surely hope she doesn’t mind. 

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Between Bites Email (betweenbites@gmail.com)

February 17, 2010

Hi Jane,

I’ve been an avid follower of your blog ever since I bumped into it when I was researching about Yaw-yan. I was mostly interested in knowing about women who go into kickboxing or mma here in the Philippines. I wanted to encourage women who feel helpless in tough situations especially one that needs self-defense to try out kickboxing. Sadly though I had to stop yaw-yan because of my schedule. I work in a contact center as a trainer and most of the time, my schedule changes. I could be in the morning shift this week and graveyard the next week.

I always enjoy reading your blog and recommend it to people who want to read interesting stuff online. They in turn have become your followers too. What I love most about your blog is that it’s very personal and you allow us to experience what you experience in a whole new level. Before your blog, I always log on to www.clickthecity.com for what’s in and out. The difference is that I feel so detached and I don’t feel the writer’s personality in articles. I still check out their site but I always check your blog first now.

I want to start a blog just like yours but injected with my own personality. I’m currently in Cebu and there are so many places and experiences that I want to try out here and in Bohol that I just want to share them. You are so creative, smart and witty Jane and I don’t think I can be at par. I would like to know how you started, what motivated you and what keeps you doing it. If you were to ask me, I’ve started several blogs but never had the heart to keep doing it cause I felt lost most of the time. Not knowing on what to write and how to write. I needed something to motivate me and your blog has done just that. If you can create and touch lives just by writing in your blog I am definite that I can do the same. You see Jane, when I feel down or I need something to cheer me up, I sometimes go to your blog. Makes me feel that I can still be hopeful and that there are so many things to celebrate in life.

I kinda hesitated to write this email cause you might not have the time to read it but then I read your post on “Dear John” so I am sure that you would take the time to read your readers email. Well, I’m just dropping you a note to say Hi and thanks a lot!

Nadine

 
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Between Bites’ Response

February 19, 2010 

Nadine, it’s the third paragraph that blew me away.  Thank you for sharing a part of you particularly the long lost love of writing.  It’s not always easy to write and most of the time, I feel that I’m short-changing my readers when I write about some mundane or insignificant stuff that only I can actually relate to or find significance in.  I actually think I was a better writer back in high school or college because there were less distractions and for some reason, I had better writing technique.  Now, it’s just writing on top of my head or drawing inspiration from elsewhere.  Most of the time, a strand of happy vibe can already keep the writing fluid flowing.  And yes, YOU can definitely touch lives as well –just put your heart in it.

Most definitely, there are many things to celebrate about Life.  One just has to have the appetite to find the good in life.

Thanks for your heartwarming email, Nadine. 

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Saying she reads Between Bites before Click the City has got to be the best feedback I’ve ever received (with love to CTC, of course!).  *Blush*  I also like the fact that she shared a lot about herself to me too.  I know it’s not always easy to put yourself out there. 

I have the urge to fly to Cebu and give you a TIGHT SQUEEZE!

Your email really brought a ray of sunshine in my week –and emails I receive from readers like YOU inspire me to keep finding a bite of happiness from the food I eat, places I go to, weird scenarios I get into and people I meet. 

Big LOVE,

Jane

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I’m not a big fan of flowers (maybe once in 2 years –and it has to be my favorite ones).  Flowers wither and die, like seeing money shrivel.  Yesterday after lunch though, somebody delivered “flowers in a pot” in the office.  I love dark chocolate and if it grows in pots looking like flowers, I’ll put on the gloves and become a farmer.

I know what chocolates I’d be snacking on in the weeks to come  

HUGE.

*Thanks GM and Toblerone!

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February 1, 2010.  It’s a slow Monday for Greenbelt 5, quiet and unrushed, just how I wanted the day to be.  Tapella was the choice restaurant for lunch that afternoon.  The restaurant has two dining areas, one outdoor perfect on a cool evening or a not-so-hot summer day, while the interior has a soft beige and red color scheme.   

As the name suggests, the restaurant highlights tapas and paellas as their strong dishes.

On the Table

Seafood Chowder PHP 110

Serrano Ham and Cheese Bites in Phyllo Pastry PHP 110

Moroccan Chicken Skewers PHP 130

Tender and moist chicken meat skewered and spunked with spices.

Manchego Cheese, Chicken, Asparagus, Shrimp Paella PHP 500

Paella with chicken chunks, baby asparagus and shrimps served on a small paellera with Manchego cheese on top.  The Manchego cheese gives a hint of beefy and creamy taste on the rice.  As usual, Bubba and I jockey for the burnt crispy rice at the bottom of the paellera, which is the best part of any paella.

Service was less inclined -was so-so.  We were the only ones in the restaurant but the wait staff was nowhere within eyesight so it took a while to order additional dishes, request for fresh ground pepper for the soup and get the bill.  Get your fix of modern Spanish dishes in Tapella.  There are a lot more from the menu that I’m raring to try -my eyes are on the Alaskan King Crab Paella  

Tapella

Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5,

Ayala Center, Makati City

(632) 757 2710

Tapaella Album

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Red Ribbon recently launched its Roses and Kisses cake –that puts two Valentine iconic items in one delicious chocolate pound cake.  This chocolate fudge and chip filled pound cake is decorated with beautiful sugar roses on top and creamy Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (PHP 330, Junior size) –what other Valentine gift can say “you’re special and sweet” at the same time?  And it’s edible too!

Wait, there’s more!!!  You can also personalize your cake with your name and the name of your loved one.  Simply place your order before February 9, 2010.

I love chocolates.  I used to be so addicted to dark chocolates.  I’m so glad that MS Word now reads chocoholic like it’s been included in the language since Wordstar.

I used to love Royce chocolates back in 2005, when it was still not that popular in Manila, but when friends started giving me this continually (particularly Pebbles from AFC), my Royce chocolate collection started building up in the fridge and I began looking for something else. 

My favorite chocolate for 2 years now -Lindt Swiss Thins in Dark Chocolate.

Red Ribbon’s latest offering raises the bar high when it comes to delivering the best chocolate cake.  Chocolate Heaven (PHP 500 – regular, PHP 335 – junior size) is everything the name promises to be –it’s all the favorite chocolate components rolled into one.  Brownie, mousse, icing, and curls, is there room for more?  It’s the most chocolate-y ever!

The chocolate is not overly sugary sweet, which I really like because too much sweetness just doesn’t cut it out for me.  Taste the lip-smacking chocolate flavor in different levels.  4 kinds of chocolate goodness in one cake!  Pair your Chocolate Heaven with Red Ribbon’s choices for hot brews –and get the right bitter and semi-sweet combination. 

Ooh, sweet dreams are made of this!  Let’s just see if Bubba gets me one, he knows how high I can get with chocolates – the uncontrollable giddy-ness starts!!! …and he gulps ;)

Both cakes are available in selected Red Ribbon stores beginning February 7, 2010 and nationwide beginning February 9.

Red Ribbon Album

*Big thanks to Jonel of NomNom Club and Let’s Go Sago for the invite to the launch!  

X-tras:

Photo Contest

Check the Red Ribbon photo contest at NomNomClub site

http://nomnomclub.com/red-ribbon-chocolate-heaven-photo-contest/

Submit your entries here =>

http://nomnomclub.com/red-ribbon-chocolate-heaven-photo-contest/submit/

Please read full mechanics here =>

http://nomnomclub.com/red-ribbon-chocolate-heaven-photo-contest/mechanics/

Fan Page

Join Chocolate heaven’s Facebook Fan Page   =>

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Ribbon-Chocolate-Heaven-Cake/290916372887

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Hola Minute Maid Drinkers!!! 

I’ve received quite a number of entries.  It’s not too late to send in yours.  You have until TOMORROW to blog or comment and grab a chance to WIN the prizes below:

Prizes: 

BEST BLOG – 1 winner of a Shangri-La Chi Spa overnight holiday package worth Php20,000 (Good for 2:  Yin Yang Harmonising Massage at Chi Spa, overnight stay at Tower Wing Superior Room, Buffet breakfast at HEAT)

BEST COMMENT – 1 winner of The Spa package worth Php5,000 (Good for 2:  Executive Herbal body massage at The Spa Fort and dinner at CAV Wine Shop-Café Fort)

YOU may be indulging in your private retreat in the heart of the city.

To be fair to all who joined, I will round up a panel that consists of 5 judges (Jane not included) who will determine the winner based on the scores they will give on the criteria below.  GOODLUCK mates!!!

***UPDATE (Feb 3, 2010)*** Minute Maid will choose the Blog and Comment winners.

Contest Link

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Short Recap

“When do you refresh with Minute Maid Pulpy Orange?” CONTEST ALERT

Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!  Between Bites readers and fellow bloggers in the community!  Share your refreshing stories with Minute Maid and stand to win amazing prizes!   Awesome, huh?  Simple, too.

Blog Entry:

The contest is open to all Philippine resident bloggers.

Blog about, “When do you refresh with Minute Maid Pulpy Orange?”

You may include photos and/or videos.

Publish your blog post and e-mail the blog entry URL with your name, address, mobile number, and e-mail address to betweenbites@gmail.com

Comment Entry:

The contest is open to all Philippine resident readers of ‘Between Bites’.

Post your suggestion on when to refresh with Minute Maid Pulpy Orange.

Leave your real name (first name will do) and register a valid e-mail address on the Comments section of ‘Between Bites,’ particularly under this entry.

Judging Criteria:

                Creativity (50%)

                Relevance to the theme – “Refreshment time” (50%)

Contest Duration: December 28, 2009 – January 29, 2010

For more details:  CLICK HERE

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It was quite unusual that Bubba and I found the energy to drive to Makati during weekday for dinner.  It was one of those evenings we decided to wing it.  Bubba has read about Trilogy and wanted to try it out.

We arrive at the location near closing time but we were still accommodated.  We walk into the space where 2 beautiful Fs intertwine -food and fashion.  Trilogy Boutique and Canteen is a lifestyle boutique and canteen that offers unique mix of fashion merchandise for Manila’s fashion forward folks (that’s a lotta F’s!) and an in-store café that presents scrumptious eats from the kitchen of chef Fern Aracama. 

Some of the brand they carry… Dim Mak, Junk Food, Christys Crown Series Hats, Obey, WeSC, Incase Bags, Generic Surplus, Gourmet Footwear, Pointer Footwear, Gravis, Dolce Vita, Matiko, Report Shoes, Alternative Apparel, Adidas Originals by Originals, Tretorn, Kangol, C.Luce, Brigada Eyewear, Lego Watches, Andy Warhol Watches

On the Table

Seafood Chowder PHP

Warm starter with seafood bits

Meatball Mozzarella Melt PHP

Both Bubba and I are TRYING very hard to start a lighter diet so we can be fit for our Singapore – Bali trip mid-march.  We decided to get sandwiches instead of a full meal that included rice.

The meatball mozzarella was as delicious as it looked.  Meaty and tasty meatballs smothered with luscious marinara sauce and topped with gooey cheese.  Served with lightly salted sweet potato chips. 

Tuna Melt + Whole Wheat + Cheese + Tomato PHP 175

Open faced tuna sandwich with a base of tomato and cheese slice on top.  Served also with sweet potato chips.

Find a lot of fresh, independent brands that represent quality and individuality in the Trilogy Boutique, and get a meal or two immediately right after shopping!  Simple + Good Food!

Trilogy Boutique and Canteen

110 Alvion Center, Rada Street,

Legaspi Village, Makati City

328-1071
http://trilogyboutique.multiply.com

Trilogy Album

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Hannah and Vince invited friends from the online community in the recent launch of the hottest upcoming restaurant bar in San Juan.  Luna Resto-Bar is located right smack in the busy street of Wilson –which is now becoming a booming foodie town as well.

(Photo source: www.flaircandy.com and http://cushee.multiply.com)

On the Table

Luna Nachos PHP 220

Fried tortilla chips loaded with scrumptious chorizo, chili con carne, cheese and Luna’s pimiento mayo.  This was a great appetizer and gathered a lot of raves from the big group.

Paella de Carne PHP 200

My favorite part of the paella is the toasted crunchy crust at the bottom of the pan.  I love scraping it off and munching on the toasty flavorful rice!  Toppings were generous.

Luna Sisig PHP 195

Size is good to share –really good bar chow for a drinking group!

Flaming Chicken Wings PHP 240

This was also a surefire hit on the table.

More Photos from the Luna Scene:

(Photo source: Hannah, Carlos, Mica, Jane)

Thanks for the invite, Hannah and Vince!

Luna Bar

220 Wilson St.

Greenhills, San Juan

Luna Bar Album

Related Post

Flaircandy’s

Tanggera’s

Carlo’s

Frannywanny’s 

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