Posted on: 5th of November 2008 | Under: Palate Pleaser
My all-time favorite drink at Starbucks is Toffee Nut Latte, and I find that it’s such a bummer that it’s only available during the Christmas season. The rest of the year, I always order a cup of caramel machiatto and ask for hazelnut syrup instead of the usual vanilla. I learned it from a nice barrista who shared the tip with me several years ago. It almost tastes like Toffee Nut Latte, and I love it.
Either way, I am still one of those who perk up when I know that the Red Cup Season is near. Yesterday officially started the season, so I rushed out to finally have my favorite fix. Seeing the red menu board and the barristas in their red polo shirts was as much of a treat than having coffee itself.
Toffee Nut Latte, I missed you! I enjoyed an hour in my comfy seat reading my book, munching on my Floss from Bread Talk and sipping my cup of goodness. <3
Unfortunately, Singapore doesn’t have the Starbucks Planner gimmick like in Manila, so I guess I’ll have to break my yearly tradition of collecting stickers to get one or two (I collected three back in 2006!) planners. But I’m not too concerned about it, because from the photos Venice shared in her blog, it’s not as inviting as I hoped. I’ll probably just get another Moleskine planner for 2009.
On other news, my brother and his partner are going country hopping (no Outer Banks rentals though) for two and a half weeks, and they’re flying into Singapore tomorrow for three days. =) I’m excited to see them, and excited to get my goodies too! Haha! I’ll share what I made him bring me in my next post. =)
Posted on: 21st of October 2008 | Under: Palate Pleaser
I’m always in search for quiet little coffee shops in Singapore where I can relax and read a book. I love my Starbucks, but sometimes it’s good to have something different. I’ve also been looking for something similar to the wonderful BoNa Coffee back in Manila (I blogged about my wonderful experience here last month), and finally I have: Pacific Coffee Company. They have stores all over China, Hong Kong, and quite a few in Singapore too.
Okay, so it’s not as small and intimate as BoNa Coffee shops, but it still has the coziness that I’ve been searching for. The lovely interior (they have comfy couches and cute decors of over sized books and lamps) is so inviting, that one cannot just simply pass by without wanting to go in. Equipped with their espresso machines and other coffee paraphernalia, they have a wide variety of treats on their menu.
Posted on: 12th of September 2008 | Under: Palate Pleaser
BoNa Coffee, located in BF Parañaque, is one place that a lot of bloggers (including Venice) have been raving about recently. Since I myself am a sucker for good coffee, and because it’s just a quick drive from my house, I vowed to try it out while in Manila.
On my second day back, I found some time to spare, so I headed straight to BoNa to spend some quality time with myself. As soon as I entered the door, I was greeted by a group of extra friendly baristas behind the counter. I’m quite used to baristas greeting customers upon entering, but somehow the ones at BoNa were different. They were sincere with their greetings, speaking softly with genuine smiles on their faces; totally different from the “hello” and “good days” baristas usually just shout out to entering customers in more commercialized coffee shops (eg. Starbucks).
The place itself was slightly different from other coffee shops. It was dimly-lit and was embellished with eclectic furniture pieces and accessories. Contemporary chairs and sofas were paired with antique coffee tables and display cabinets. I loved it’s small and cozy ambiance, and how it made me feel so much at home.
The coffee and food didn’t disappoint me either. My order of skinny latte and chocolate orange muffin were a perfect combination. And they (everything that they serve, actually) were also low in fat and calories! My palate was overwhelmingly pleased for something quite healthy!
Another perk that made me stay longer than planned was their free Wi-Fi! Before leaving for Singapore I was always in a constant search for coffee shops around the metro with free internet services. For a geek like me, nothing gets better than being able to surf while having my cup of coffee. I’ve tried many other coffee shops with free internet, but have always been disappointed with their slow connections. BoNa’s Wi-Fi was F-A-S-T! No Page Timeouts! I was on cyber heaven! My MacBook was just as happy as I was! Maybe next time I should bring a Bluetooth headset, so I can watch one or two videos too. =P
I enjoyed my BoNa experience so much that I’m sure I would probably become a regular there if I still lived in Manila. I should drop by again before we head back to Singapore on Sunday. There are a lot more drinks on their menu that I want to try out. =)
Posted on: 13th of November 2006 | Under: Palate Pleaser
I enjoy sitting alone in a coffee shop, with a cup of coffee, a pen and paper in hand. It’s at times like those when I can reflect on so many things. Armed with only my thoughts, it’s always a treat to be able to seclude myself from the world and let myself flow on paper.
The Christmas Season is also the perfect excuse for me to head out to Starbucks every so often, because it’s the only time of the year when I can get a dose of my favorite Toffee Nut Latte. It’s quite an expensive love, because I actually get a craving for a cup or two every single day! At least I get to collect stickers for my 2007 Starbucks Planner in exchange for those pricey coffee. Seven stickers down, and only fourteen more to go!
Posted on: 11th of May 2006 | Under: Life & Love
Waking up early in the morning has become somewhat of a chore for me lately. Why burden myself with less sleep if I have the luxury to lounge in bed the whole day, right? Right. My new motto is “sleep all day while I still can.” I believe it’s the wisest thing at the moment because we all know I’m going to miss it and will probably end up eating the words in my previous post about being tired of doing nothing. Just wait ’til I start work for my mom on Monday.
But anyway, today was different. I mustered enough effort and energy to actually drag myself out of bed to run some errands.
Having the car for the day was probably why I didn’t have to think twice about going out so early. I love driving around alone. Whether its at the mall I’m heading or just running short errands for my mom. Being alone in the car helps get my mind running. Every step on the gas and every turn I took was actually a moment spent daydreaming about random things.
I dropped by my orthodontist, sat in the chair and had my braces adjusted. The whole procedure didn’t take long and I was already back on the road after 15 minutes.
My next stop was the BIR. Waking up early does pay off, because unlike my previous visit, I wasn’t greeted by a long line of tax payers at the counter. It was such a hassle-free time and I was overjoyed that I got my TIN confirmed in only 10 minutes! The whole drive even took longer. Hah! Luck must’ve been with me when I woke up today. :)
Right after, it was off to the supermarket for me. I went down the aisles, grabbed what I needed to buy and ticked them off my list. Grocery shopping is definitely love!
Before heading home, I ran off to Starbucks to treat myself. I did wake up early and I did finish running a couple of errands, it was time to reward myself. It was perfect, because I really enjoy sitting on my own in a corner of a coffee shop. Nothing beats spending a whole hour with yourself, armed with only a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
The whole morning was definitely a great “me time.” I’m a very outgoing person. I enjoy going out and spending time with friends (and making new ones too). But, as much as I like socializing, I also love spending quality time with myself. And today I’m glad I did one of the things I love doing.
Posted on: 25th of August 2005 | Under: Life & Love
I love coffee and I love coffee shops.
Since it’s my final exam week, and I have four exams coming up (one everyday until Monday), I decided to study at Starbucks this afternoon. The perfect place, really. The whole ambiance was just perfect. Not too crowded and not as noisy as I thought it would be. In fact there were actually about 10 other people studying there too–for the bar exam, I presume (since they had big books on law and stacks of photocopies too).
Anyway, I sat myself down in one corner and did my studying. Over cups of coffee and a plate of ham and cheese croissant, I studied.
But, after downing two and a half cups of hazelnut caramel macchiato, I started feeling a little weird. Caffeine overdose, perhaps? Maybe.
I found myself blankly staring out of the window, for what must have been like 10 minutes or so. I was obviously spacing out. My blood was racing before me and I started feeling a little restless. My heart was beating faster than normal. I realized that I was no longer used to drinking more than one cup of coffee at one sitting.
Back when I was still studying Interior Design, I could gulp down over three cups in one night. I was used to the caffeine rush. In fact, I survived on coffee. Without coffee, I would’ve probably fallen asleep on my plates.
I guess I’m not used to it anymore.
But, despite the caffeine rush that I was no longer used to, I still got a lot of studying done. Thirteen whole pages on the church, the sacraments and Mary - all for my Dynarel exam tomorrow (more like later, actually). :) Sitting down for a good five and a half hours was definitely worth it.
After studying, I washed down the caffeine with an overdose of water, several trips to the bathroom, a 30-minute walk around Ruins and a long shower when I got home. It worked. ^^;;
Anyway, before I turn this post into endless babbling, I will go now. Wish me luck for my exams! :)
Anna. 25. 
