Tips To Get Pregnant

I have a few couple friends who have been wanting to have children of their own. For some, it took only a few months of waiting while the others are still on fertility work-up for years already. 

Many of them who are trying to conceive often wonder when is the best time to seek help from a fertility specialist. Couples are often eager to visit a fertility specialist before they have taken matters into their own hands and tried their best to boost their own fertility. 

Taking charge of your health and your body is key to fertility and all couples should try to do what they can to boost their fertility on their own. 

There are many simple things that you can do to improve fertility in a natural way say the experts at www.pregnancytips.org. For example, women who are overweight can see their fertility improve by losing as little as five to ten pounds. Men who have fertility issues can see improvements if they stop smoking and drinking. Reducing stress and getting enough sleep are both key to fertility, along with eating healthy and exercising. 

J.CO is Finally Here in Davao!

The wait is finally over as J.CO Donuts and Coffee opened its first store here in Davao City last November 6. Located at the ground floor, park dining of the Ayala Abreeza Mall, J.Co gave a warm welcome to its eager customers on their first day: the first 50 customers got free donuts!!

With J.CO around, we don't have to travel or ask our friends coming from Manila, General Santos City or Cagayan de Oro to bring us these donuts as pasalubongs (gift/present). Until now, the lines are still queuing with J.Co lovers grabbing their favorite donut variants. My favorite and apparently their bestseller is Alcapone. It is a soft-bite signature J.CO donut topped with white Belgian chocolate with sliced roasted Californian almonds. It is best paired with J.CO's signature cappuccino, Jcoccino. 

Bestseller: Alcapone 

My J.CO box <3

J.CO's signature cappuccino, Jcoccino

J.CO is known for its innovative varieties of donuts which taste just right, sans the overpowering sweetness. It is the brainchild of Indonesian entrepreneur Johnny Andrean. It first opened in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2005. Branches in Singapore and Malaysia has opened up since then, while the first Philippine J.CO store opened in 2012.

Basti's Brew Turns 15

There are very few coffee shops which serve good food to go with their delicious cup of coffee.  Here in Davao City, Basti's Brew proudly boasts of these two. As one of the first coffee shops to open in the city, it still holds its charm of being a cozy place for those who love to enjoy their Cappuccino and dine as well. It is also a favorite hangout and meet-up place for businessmen, young professionals and students. And here's a trivia, Basti's Brew was the first ever establishment in the city to offer free wifi connection. (And yes, I remember years ago, they had table design especially made for laptop bringers.)

This year marks Basti's Brew's 15 years of operations, and to celebrate, we were invited to a food feast as owners Randall and Vanessa Ong re-introduced the hearty recipes people have grown to love over the years. Here they are:

Pork Chop/ Chicken Cordon Bleu

Fish Fillet/ Beef Stew

3 Ways To Enjoy Korean Shabu-Shabu at Bulgogi Brothers

Last Friday was my first time to witness how an authentic Korean Shabu-Shabu is prepared and served. And yes, it was my first to eat it too! We went to a food tasting and launching of Bulgogi Brothers' latest offering: the 3-way Korean Shabu Shabu.

For many, Shabu Shabu is a mixture of thinly sliced meats and vegetables in bubbling broth. But there’s more to this Asian culinary tradition than blanching ingredients in hot soup.

Bulgogi Brothers, a Korean BBQ restaurant that has successfully brought the authentic flavors of Seoul in the country with its soulful Korean dishes, introduces 3 ways to enjoy the popular hotpot with the launch of its Korean-Style Shabu-Shabu.

Going Bananas at Saging Republik

Saging Repablik is a newly-opened restaurant along Tionko Avenue. It serves mostly Filipino dishes with a special banana twist in them. This is the newest venture of Mr. Gatchi Gatchalian, the same person who introduced Blugre, the first ever coffee shop in Davao in 1999.

As someone who lives in a city where bananas are abundant, we almost take the good old potassium-rich bananas for granted. But not in this place. Almost of  Saging Repablik's recipes have bananas in them, cooked and prepared in a uniquely sumptuous way.

They also have become famous for their Create-Your-Own-Banana-Cue. You have the option to choose their own dips and toppings. The choices are caramel, chocolate and white chocolate for dips. For toppings, they can choose white chocolate, rice crisps, mini candies, choco chips, sprinkles, choconut, almonds, chopped nuts and chopped chocolate.

They have a big, high ceiling design which makes its ambiance so relaxing and a perfect place to bond with family and good friends.

classy interior design and great lighting

they have a second floor (perfect for functions and parties)

you can create your own banana cue! 

A view from the outside (photo credits : Jazper Jay)