JIPANGYI : soft served ice cream in....... CORN!

By all means, when I get asked where I wanna go, still one of the last places I would choose to go to is SM SAN LAZARO. But I was there last night and it was crazy, I think I am starting to love the place. OMG, the transformation is really something. First Terranova, Red Table, now they are about to have UNIQLO, SCARSDALE and then this!!

Now what is Jipangyi? 

Okay, so they weren't facing the right way for them to be a "?". FAIL!

But according to their website it is :

The only soft serve ice cream store offering freshly made cones out of corn, which are a healthy alternative against sugar-loaded cones. With the various cone shapes of Jipangyi, ice cream can be enjoyed without any spills and mess. Jipangyi Seoul Ice Cream comes in various flavors and can also be eaten with different toppings.

I have tried the thing and I am actually quite confused if I like it or not. I think the corn was a little too thick and too little ice cream inside. Not that there is something wrong with it, IT IS ME. I love to have more ice cream and less corn please. Haha 

Btw, you gotta love how "LINES" attract people. That was what made me notice it really. I was like what the heck is that because they had this CANE like thingies hanging on the side and people are touching it and playing with it.

So we/I must obey the bandwagon and FOLLOW THAT LINE! So I did. OMGE, I just followed a line (not normal Kat, not normal).

It really wasn't a new concept to me because we already have the ice cream inside the barquillos, Which I was a fan of in UST, so everytime I pass by I made sure to grab one since it was I think P15 or P10. Super affordable. And this is also similar to that. Although the barquillos does go floppy after a few minutes.

And here comes Jipangyi offering something similar yet not so. They don't use the sugar encrusted cones that are available commercially, instead they use CORN. Corn is definitely an alternative to people who "like their cake and eat it too". I think my mom would dislike the idea of "NO CONES".

You can enjoy it with less (take note : LESS) guilt. It is still ice cream, that you have no escape. 

Call me maybe? NAHH!!

It is cool really. Loads of people walking around with J's on their hand. And trust me, the J was hard to melt. It wasn't like barquillos. It's just like sugar cones, very sturdy. Although I think I wouldn't recommend it to people with full on false teeth, haha I think it would be hard to eat it. Literally. And for people with braces. Coz I remember when I had mine, it keeps snapping off because of all the junkie food I eat. Hehe (sorry doc for giving you a hard time). But feel free still to give it a try.

I actually joked around with my best friend saying that the thing lacked just one more thing : CHEESE. It does remind me of cheetos and cheezy. My favorite corn snacks!

They have been open less than a week and the line is still there. They offer dessert for just P35.00 which is relatively cheap and affordable for all.

For an additional P5.00 you can also add toppings like M&M's, Almond coated with chocolate, Hershey's Kisses or gummy bears.

Which was fun! But word of advise. EAT THOSE TOPPINGS FIRST. Lol.

Why?!! Coz I was crazy excited and baffled as to how I was suppose to eat the thing. I ate from the bottom thinking that this was where the liquids would go to and forgot that I had my kisses on top. That thing fell down like it was on fire. Jeeesh. The 5 peso coin I will never get back. Story of my life. Haha but it was fun and it is something new to the Philippines.

Try it before all the J's run out. I wonder if they will have a K next time. Haha

Jipangyi is from HAPPY RECIPE FOOD ENTERPRISE and Co. who also owns buko maxx, waffle and co., flayvers. They take simple food to a whole new level. Awesome aren't they?

I saw in their facebook page that :

Jipangyi is actually what Koreans call a “walking stick” and how apt a name too for the corn stick snack many have traditionally enjoyed. 

Do you mean like this???

Ok so here is me goofing around like it is a "walking stick". I swear I didn't know until now that I am writing this post while doing some research. #LunaticOnTheLoose is the perfect hashtag for this. But hey! It is a different walking stick, walking ice cream stick. Oh please let it have its own legs!

It is perfect for kiddie parties! Imagine the clean up crews happiness to hear that there's no ice cream spills and mess to clean up! I think it would be cool for them to do children parties right?! Do I get an amen to the Mommies?! :)

Sorry for the redundant face. I just had so much fun with it! You should too! :)

Visit them in the ff branches : 

• SM SAN LAZARO, ground floor, near the supermarket
• Mall of Asia
• Alabang Town Center
• SM Manila
• SM Bicutan
• SM Davao
• SM Clark
• SM Pamapnga
• ......................expanding still!

WEBSITE : JIPANGYI

FACEBOOK : Jipanyi Seoul Cane Ice Cream Manila

Heaven in San Juan : Brasserie Cicou

I have been working for a month now, and I have noticed the biggest change in my life. I sleep early, I eat early and most of all I tire easily. Tire easily was never a word to me before. I have no idea what the word rest mean because I would just go on and on. I would watch movies til wee hours of the day. Sweeping at 3 in the morning because I had nothing better to do.

Even going out on a Sunday, the one rest day I have, seemed like too much work to me now. But my coupon from DEAL GROCER was about to expire, I had to get off my butt and use it.

DEAL GROCER is the "IT" coupon place. They would always have the best deals for the best price. But best of all. IT IS LEGIT. But I'll save it for another post..

Now, my family would frequent Greenhills like clock work and we would always park on the building parking right across the old Gloria Maris. And whenever it is time to go home, I would always love looking out the ledge (not to jump) but to breathe in what's left of the fresh air there, and I would always see this place :

BRASSERIE CICOU

But we never had time nor chance on our side to try this place out. No, that's an excuse. We would never bother to walk out of the perimeters of Greenhills Shopping Center, because it is just way too hot outside and no place is worth the sweat we were gonna produce. (I was so wrong.)

Good thing I bought a coupon from DG. Best purchase ever! Better feeling than buying a bag, getting a massage or even SLEEPING IN.

At this point in my life I would trade food for sleep. I never thought it can happen, but it did. You have no idea how much I wanted to sleep in and just forfeit the coupon! But if I did.

ICE CREAM + MACARON = Chez Karine

If there is one thing I love more than myself in this world (besides family of course!) it would be ice cream. Nothing makes me feel happier and more contented than a good ice cream on my spoon be it Haagen-Dazs or a mamang sorbetero's dirty ice cream.

I feel like I have been eating ice cream all my life, not sure if my mom craved ice cream when I was in her tummy, but this is what we have in common.

We/I find ice creams hard to resist, but I found it harder to resist this.

ICE CREAM + MACARON

SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM MACARON
P70

For starters I have never eaten a macaron (macaron macaron not this ice cream macaron) before this, so I had no idea what it tasted like. I've always thought that macaron and macaroons were one and the same (and I thought it both was made with coconut, apparently not!).

After a few articles on the internet, I wished that I knew this way back when. When my little eyes were closed back then and I hear the word macaron a few things go rushing through my head like :

• "Why the h are they so expensive!?"
• "Is it made of gold!?"
• "What's the fuzz all about??"

I cannot see myself paying that much for these little things. (Even if I like to spend my money on the most non sense thing I see)

Hey hey hey!! Look what I've got
If you think this photo looked silly, it was actually sillier in person
Looked and felt like I was high but the not jail-able kind of high.

Apparently, the only thing that would make me jump the barrier was the word ICE CREAM. If this is what they have started with, I would have been into it long before!

At first bite, I loved it. I wanted to take a lot home and being the "usisyosa" kid that I am, I did ask if I can but sadly there was no way (for now).

(Please let it be temporary!-avftl)

I think it is because the ice cream would met into the softie macaron shell that I cannot take this home and also of course after melting in, the quality won't be the same anymore.

I was curious how long they have been operating and I was told that they have a branch in Serendra long before this one. Since I don't spend much time in Serendra, I didn't know of Chez Karine back then because the only thing in my mind when I go there is to go to Sonja's (when it was not everywhere). Too bad I've never noticed it before and thank God they opened up their 2nd branch in Sm Megamall's Mega Fashion Hall.

See all these pretty little monsters! Who knew they are packed with love and mushiness!

Since I loved their ice cream macaron, I decided to take a leap of faith and buy a box of their most eye catching flavors.

They had a ton of flavor to choose from but my favorite was their

RED VELVET MACARON!!

(Stay tuned for the post about it)

I have no idea when this red velvet madness will stop, but I am still totally into it.

CARAMEL FLEUR DE SEL
P130

I think it was a wrong move that I ordered this drink together with my ice cream macaron. Don't get me wrong it was great! But the flavor was understated because of the sweetness of the ice cream and macaron.
Or I should have drank this first before my ice cream.

Aside from their lovely macarons, they had other little baked goods like

• Strawberry Jammies for P85
• Salted Toffee for P85
• Chocolate Sable P95 or P315
• Blueberry Cream Cheese Pudding P110
• Hokkaido Cupcakes for P70

You might think that the ice cream macaron stops at the SALTED CARAMEL, but no. THERE IS MORE!

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM MACARON
P70

I seriously wasn't contented with one. It was tiny for my standards.

Chez Karine, please make me a giant ICE CREAM MACARON. I'ld even pay sa much as P300 for just one! Lol (I am serious).

It was awkward- a short and fat moment. The ice cream was fat, but the macaron was short. So when I bit into it, the guts moved to the other end. It was as if it was telling me not to eat it. Too bad brotha!

There were actually 4 flavors. Another one is this STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM MACARON! It was a little sour for my buds, but it was good. How can ice cream ever be bad?!

Goodies on the go, can you guess what's inside?

Newly opened Chez Karine branch in the ground floor of Sm Megamall's Mega Fashion Hall. I totally love their interior design. Macarons with umbrella!? How cute is that!

I love the window seats they had. It's a great place to sit and relax while watching other people stroll by. Kind of therapeutic in a way. You won't even notice how fast the time flies by.

It can end here but NO, there is another flavor you must hear of.

I had 2 flavors (some would be contented with one, but I am not them), I had to have more! I had to try their DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM MACARON. I cannot let the moment pass. I cannot leave the place hungry for more (but I did because I cannot bring them home. aww ). The dark chocolate was the Michael Jordan of macarons! Whoever came up with this. You are brilliant!

DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM MACARON
P70

SAY CHEESE FOR TAKE 3

There would have been a take 4 photo, but I wasn't so sure about the VANILLA BEAN. I love vanilla ice cream, but not so sure about the beans. There is something about beans. That I leave up to bean lovers to try.

I am not so sure if people would be spending P70 for a piece of this in this economy, but still I'ld say it is a must try!! Especially the SALTED CARAMEL.

It is perfect for the summer's hot weather. Just make sure you CONSUME IT IMMEDIATELY, I don't think it can tolerate the deteriorating weather outside or if I happen to see you I just might snag it out of your hands. Haha!

If you get to try any of it, tell me how you feel about it, was it good or not? :)

CHEZ KARINE PASTRIES MENU
*photo taken from their facebook page

CHEZ KARINE - DRINKS MENU
*photo taken from their facebook page

Branches :

• Serendra (near Sonja's)
• Sm Megamall Mega Fashion Hall : Ground floor

Don't forget to check out their :

• Website : www.chezkarine.com/
• Facebook page : Chez Karine Bakery
• Instagram : @chezkarine
• Twitter : @chezkarine

MACARON NG MASAYANG BAKASYON!

Bono Gelato : The gelato made with nothing but pure love and passion

If I figure out how to use Blogger's Pages properly. I will be creating a tab labeled "Crazy Ice Cream Lady" for easy access to ICE CREAM related posts. Well not just ice cream, but all its family and friends like yogurts, gelato, ice cream cookies, etc.. Just because I love them so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love a good ice cream. I love anything cold and shivering feeling it gives me. Just like how much I would love to see snow someday and just lie in it 'til I turn blue violet. Haha.

I don't know if what they say is true. That people who love sweets are either sad or depressed. I think the one who said that was the one who is depressed! Haha defensive much!! I am kidding.

But seriously?! I think a lot of people love sweets! Just see the alarming number of people who have type 2 diabetes. Although there are lots of different factors. But come on. We all love sweets.

I think sweets are the sweetest part of life, aside from our gift of life.

Sweets just brings people closer. It is one way to kill time. Chat over a good cup of ice cream, crepe, yogurt, cake, etc..

When Richie posted a drooling photo of BONO GELATO, I was like man, where is that!? 

Blue Bell Ice Cream : NEW FLAVORS!

Last month, the love month, I was invited by Ms. Ebe Puno of Blue Bell Ice Cream Philippines to the Pinoy Romantic Eats at The Podium. I for one, I was totally psyched and excited!

I was glad to meet her in person, but I was even happier to hear about her story about Blue Bell. Apparently their love of ice cream is what brought Blue Bell to us (Philippines).

She and her cousin felt like Blue Bell was one of the best ice creams they've had that they took a chance and asked permission for a franchise to bring Blue Bell to the Philippines. Of course they got it! Because Blue Bell is here!

Did you know that the Philippines, is one of the first in South East Asia to get a franchise from Blue Bell?!

Thank you Ms. Ebe for a wonderful time!

OREO COOKIE ICE CREAM by Dairy Queen

As a child I have always loved eating sweets. If ADHD was a big thing back then, I think I would have been probably diagnosed with it. I wouldn't sleep 'til I am so exhausted that I just literally "fall asleep". Now that is how you do it brother! So my behavior now has totally nothing to do with outside influence, social media, peer pressure or what so ever.

I have always been who I was. Just like how I have never out grown the things I love to eat like chocolates, ice cream, junk foods, etc.. I totally have no idea how my brain kept up with me (O my gee! Is it even working?!). I have always wondered, "where am I getting all my nutrition from?". No wonder I am so short. HAHA!

Well now that I am older, a few years of Chemistry subjects later, and I am still no better. I still eat the same old junk. Food corporation are my pusher and I am their loyal junkie.

My thesis was about Diabetes, and you would think I should know better. No. Just like any other person who loves sweets, I cannot resist it. I've had my fair share of Diabetes paranoia. With everything I read on the internet, I can't help but self diagnose and seriously, it is driving me crazy. I feel like I had all the symptoms.

So I had my blood sugar checked out last 2 months or so, and thankfully, it is still normal. I can't blame the internet, I should actually be thankful. It is a good reminder that I should eat with moderation. Bah, who am I kidding?! With all the things we are pressured to eat now, it would be wise to see the doctor at least once a year for a full check up.

I am human. And to be human is to err. We all have our weak spots and this is mine. My love for ice cream stems from my mother. Yes it is in the core of my DNA. Heck, I think my DNA is made out of ice cream. Yummy! 

So I have heard that DAIRY QUEEN launched a new ice cream sandwich. It is no ordinary ice cream sandwich. It is made of :

OREO + ICE CREAM = HEAVEN

If you haven't heard, here is a photo :

*photo taken from their Facebook page

PINKBERRY : My 5 Star Yogurt Bar!

Nobody likes an ogre, well except for Shrek and Fiona of course!

To be honest, a bad attitude from a restaurant employee can turn me off way more than their worst tasting food. No matter how much I liked the food, I wouldn't go back for the world. Especially when I am all excited and what greets me is a frownie face.

Baah, I understand that we all have our bad days but it is really just - bad for business.

When it was about closing time at Rockwell the other day, I suddenly remembered that I haven't had dessert yet.

The only dairy I touch is ice cream and Nestle Magnolia's chocolate milk. My tummy gets all weird and fuzzy whenever my tongue touches a dairy product that I don't like. Don't we all?! I used to never eat yogurt, especially the ones sold in supermarkets. I tried that once and it was a total waste of money. I have no idea how other people eat that thing (sorry!).

But ever since I tried Red Mango, I started to appreciate yogurts for what they are. I started out with their green tea, I didn't even bother with the original/plain one because I know I wouldn't like it (and I was right).

Well Red Mango was not an option in Rockwell because they didn't have one. So I settled for what I thought was the next best thing : PINKBERRY.

Mad Mark's Creamery Entree Menu : Personal favorite "Signature Steak"

I am not much of a steak person. Although I would love to find even at least one steak I like. Now that I am yey old, I'ld say that I am pretty frustrated that I still haven’t found the "steak of my dreams".

I haven't even enjoyed a proper steak. Can you imagine that?! Not once nor even half (tragic really!). Wasting good money trying to find the steak that is "just right" (wait) or were they good, but to me it wasn't. I don't know (I don't mean to offend any steak lovers out there, it is just a personal feeling that I have). Like most people do I like my steak medium-well done, so it is not suppose to be rubbery and dry.

We were at Glorietta the other day and suddenly I had the extra energy to walk the extra mile just to get to Glorietta 5. I was eager to see what new stores they have there since the previous tenants have already moved towards the greener pastures of Glorietta 1 and 2. 

We barely walked around the ground floor and then suddenly hunger decided to act like a baby. We walked around and saw Mad Mark's. I really wasn't even aware that it was located there but I've just heard about how everybody LOVES their ice cream. Being the crazy ice cream lady that I am. I was eager to go there and give it a try.

I was at an ice cream parlor, but I didn't feel like eating ice cream. Weird (felt like I wasn't myself), steak at an ice cream place? Normally that would be a bad decision, but it has been the best one yet (I can't even stop yapping about Mad Mark's).

If you wanted steak, Mad Mark's wouldn't be at the top of the list. I don't think it would even be in the list. But truth be told! The prices of their steak are no where near the prices of the steaks that I've tried, but it's the best one for me!

So how do you go about ordering at Mad Mark's?

1.Choose your Entree

1A.) Signature Steak

Like all other steak places it goes by the gram/oz. They have 3 serving sizes you can choose from, depending on how much you can eat.

• Healthy (150 grams) P225.00
• Regular (200 grams) P285.00
• Feast (300 grams) P395.00

To be really honest, I wasn't expecting that I would like, let along love their steak. For a P285.00? Felt like a scam. But I was soooooooo far from it.

On the menu, it says that their steak is *USDA Angus Strip loin which is selected and cut by Mad Mark’s himself for balance of tenderness and flavour. Well all I can say is that, he certainly knows his meat! 

Signature Steak with Bootstrap Steak Sauce
Regular (200 grams) P285.00 

Stickhouse : Gelato and Sorbet on a Stick!

Have you seen or tried Stickhouse? If not you might just not have paid any attention to it, thinking that it's just ordinary but expensive ice cream. I haven't for some reason. It is weird because anything that screams ice cream-ish or ice cream like, I pay attention to. 

So stickhouse isn't your ordinary Popsicle. Well it is gelato. Some would say "You say tomato, I say tomato". But there is a difference between the gelato and ice cream.

Country Cookie by Blue Bell

I love ice cream. Even if I am dying because of the freezing cold weather, I still can't help but grab myself an ice cream stick or tub or cup every time I go the supermarket (doesn't really matter which, as long as it looks good). Ice creams are always depicted as comfort food in movies. Specially when there are break-up scenes! Bring out the bucket!! Whooo.. But does it really ease the pain away? Or it just adds more pain!? Imagine all the pounds they would gain and the pain they will have to go through to take that away. haha!

I can remember when I was a kid. I never ate veggies or basically any decent food. Junk foods were most of where my nutritional needs come from (if they had one). I remember eating a lot of chocolate cookies at an early age. I loved going to the grocery with my brother since we both love cookies, and we always get "Chips Ahoy Sprinkles". The one that used to come in a white packaging. I know I wasn't dreaming when I was eating those. But it seemed to have vanish overnight. Did they really exist? Or was I really dreaming? Every time I go back to Unimart, where we used to do groceries, I would always HOPE that I would get to see it again someday..

Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream by Blue Bell

If I could go on a diet.

• I can let go of my junk food stash. 
• I can let go of meat (maybe). 
• I can let go of rice. 
• I can let go of soft drinks.

I can let go of everything EXCEPT ICE CREAM. That is literally my soft spot, that's what my soft spot is made of.

If there would be a thing that would let me know that I am my mother's child. It is that we love ice cream. Ice cream's don't stand a chance in our house. It will be gone before you even notice it.

If there is one thing we agree on, it is definitely good ice cream. My mother alone can finish a half gallon in a day's time. I am not kidding! Give her whipped cream and waffle cone. You will be wishing you ate some before you even showed the container to her.

One thing I love about Robinson's Magnolia is that, it is the mall that keeps on giving! I have found so many treats there that it feel like I have been exploring another planet. From great ramen places, to new boutiques, to top it off it has A LOT of good ice cream parlors.

I have been freezing these past few days because of the unusually cold weather here in Manila. Thank God! Even if it sounds like I am complaining(because I am) I am still enjoying the cold weather at the same time. But even if I feel cold, I can never complain that an ice cream is too cold! There is no such thing. I love ice cream. Just not melted ice cream ok? :)

If I would be left on an island and asked what food I can take. I would ask for an ice cream, not just an ice cream but a complete factory that can make ice creams. Can I ask for that? If I could. I am not so sure about what ice cream flavors I can make. I bet it would only be coconut ice creams. Not unless there would be miracle trees growing, I would not be able to make the best of my wish.

We got there a little later than usual, so we decided to just do the groceries. Whenever entering the magical boarders of supermarkets. The first thing I look for are the ice cream freezers. I know it would be silly for some, what could I be expecting? It would always just be the usual ice creams. But surprise surprise!!!! Robinson's Magnolia's supermarket has a different ice cream freezer! All those ice cream freezer stalking paid off!

KOORI : the dessert that is good for you!

I don't like milk, but for some reason I grown to love yogurts. But not just any yogurt. Only Red Mango. But the only flavors that I like are Green Tea, and their special flavors like pomegranate and blueberry. I don't like the taste of plain yogurt. Reminds me of milk, bad milk to be exact. Red Mango has the only yogurt taste I can tolerate. Other yogurts just feel icky to me.

I was at Robinson's Magnolia checking out SAC people but suddenly had a craving for something sweet and cold. But I wasn't in the mood for plain old Green Tea yogurt plus their seasonal flavors are out. Add the fact that the store was another floor up and my feet are killing me since I've been walking around Rob Mag since lunch.