#TheKTG

[thelastdonph]

chahan + Kirin @kessakualabang #kessakualabang #thektg #thelastdonPH #ourawesomeplanet #zomatoPH #globemybusiness

[thehungrykat1]

The KTG Celebrates New Year’s Party at OZ Bar in Holiday Inn Makati

Our fun and exciting group of bloggers and media personalities called the Kain Tulog Gang (KTG) celebrated its annual New Year’s Party last January 16, 2019 at the OZ Bar in Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. December is usually too busy and hectic so we always have our get-together after all the Christmas parties and activities are finished. This year, we had our party at a more vibrant and energetic venue filled with savoury treats and overflowing beverages.

Oz Bar is the trendy roof deck pool bar of Holiday Inn & Suites Makati located on the 24th floor where you can indulge in your favorite drinks and their specially crafted cocktail selection. These can be paired with their sumptuous bar snacks while enjoying the magnificent view and listening to chill out music. Holiday Inn Makati is just adjacent to the Glorietta 1 shopping mall so you don’t even have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy this cool hangout spot.

Aside from being a great place for a nightcap, OZ Bar can also function as an events and party venue since it also has an indoor area where the buffet or cocktails can be set up just beside the bar.

I was so happy to see the girls of The KTG once again, the first time we all met this year. It had been quite a long Christmas break so it’s nice to be with my friends once again who have been like family over the past few years.

The bar was open the entire evening so we all got our favorite drinks and cocktails like the Singapore Sling (left) and the Tequila Sunrise (right). One of my favorites that night was the Amaretto Sour and I do remember ordering a number of glasses for myself. Other standout cocktails include the Piña Colada, Mojito, Old Fashioned, and a lot more.

Beers and Sparkling Wines were also laid out at the bar so we can just indulge in our favorite bubblies while catching up with our friends. Oz Bar comes with its own sound system so you can play music or set up a small stage for hosting programs and activities.

They also have a Happy Hour Gin Promotion which offers Buy 1 Take 1 deals on their gin cocktails from 5:00pm to 8:00pm daily for only P450 nett. Choose from their featured gins of the month like the Bombay Sapphire, Martin Millers, Four Pillars, and Hendricks Gin.

Those who want friendlier drinks can also choose from their wide selection of juices, teas, sodas, and fruit shakes like the Chocolate Banana Milkshake topeed with chocolate syrup and lots of whipped cream. 

Hosting our party was the lovely and always gracious Lady Bess Howe, Director of Public Relations at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. Ms. Bess is one of my favorite PR persons and I am grateful to count her as one of my personal friends, so this was truly a special night.

Our buffet dinner was set up with a selection of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts courtesy of Holiday Inn & Suites culinary team.

We started with some canapes like the Smoked Farmer’s Ham and pickled pomery mustard on bread. I particularly liked the Smoked Salmon on Rye Bread which came with fresh and sweet slices of salmon.

Bar chows and some finger food were also on the table including the Quiche Lorraine, Spice Chili con Carne Empanaditas, and the Breaded Chicken Wings with Honey Wasabi Mayo. The chicken lollipops were a nice addition to the lineup since I usually only see this at children’s parties.

The Baked Creamy Chicken and Spinach Cannelloni with Parmesan Cheese was a creamy and cheesy pasta dish to go along with the Seafood Paella as part of the main dishes. The paella was filled with delectable seafood.

The highlight of the buffet table was definitely the Cooked U.S. Beef Chuck Roll marinated with herb and mustard gravy sauce. These were sliced and served to the guests at the carving station and I just had to go back for seconds, and thirds.

There were more items waiting for us outside as the grill was fired up for the Tuna and Vegetable Kebabs marinated in lemon garlic herbs olive oil. These delicious skewers were also joined by the juicy Hawaiian Pork Baby Ribs marinated in barbecue pineapple sauce and a couple of Assorted German Sausages as well.

We still had room for desserts so Holiday Inn & Suites specially made this giant Cake Pop Tree filled with gold and silver cake pops for The KTG. We really love the personalized effort the hotel gives every time we visit and that is what guests of the hotel can also expect when they stay here. 

The dessert section was filled with delightful treats from their pastry chefs like the signature Ube Cheesecake which I always enjoy from Flavors Restaurant. The Crepe Samurai is another familiar dessert item here, and they also introduced their new Mini Crockies.

To complete our evening, a raffle contest was also held offering great prizes for lucky guests which included food items, buffet certificates at Flavors Restaurant, and an overnight stay for two at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati! Richie Zamora from The Pickiest Eater in the World, who was celebrating his birthday that week, ended up with the grand staycation prize!

Congratulations to the raffle winners and thank you so much to Ms. Bess Howe and Holiday Inn & Suites Makati for hosting our KTG New Year’s Party (photos from Jane Chua). There were a lot of other KTG members missing that night, but I really enjoyed the great company and the fabulous party venue, especially with all the cocktails we ended up drinking. Cheers and Happy New Year!

OZ Bar at Holiday Inn Makati

24/F Roof Deck, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati

909-0888 ext 72001

www.holidayinn.com/makati

www.facebook.com/HolidayInnMakati

[jagx83]

More Chew & Brew variants (from left to right) - Wintermelon with Oreo Cream Cheese, Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese, and NYC Graham Cream Cheese. Get into it! . . . . #jagxeats #whattoeatph #thefoodiestation #spotmyfood #pepperph #yummyph #trylocalph #wimyummy #zomatoph #bookyapp #dmfoodseries #thektg #eatsplorations #thefoodiestation #forkspoonmanila #foodgrammerph #eaterph #manilaeatup #eatsasmallworld #thefoodadvenchers #masarapba #foodinfluencerph #pampangafoodies #pampangafoodtrip #pampangafoodcrawl #jagxpampanga #teampdi #pampangadigitalinfluencers #teampdifoodies (at Fil-Am Friendship Hi-Way, Angeles City) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs5WhEilnXl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8n6zwwc89p4e

[slickrick899]

Oh my! Look what I missed out on!!! Ahhhh #Repost @thekaintuloggang ・・・ Here at @backyard_ph Uptown Mall BGC for the launching of their NEW DISHES by @chefedward! 😋👌🏼 #thektg #backyarding #flatlay #pizza #friedchicken #pasta #locomoco #steak

[sandundermyfeet16]

Don't go bacon my heart... 😜🙊🤭⁣ ⁣ Create Your Own Platter - this is the all-day breakfast series of Stories wherein you can choose amongst the wide selection of breads, spreads, mains and eggs depending on your mood or cravings.⁣ ⁣ Our Create Your Own Platter combination included: crispy bacon, frankfurter sausage & veggies omelette, plain pancake and Nutella Pancake⁣ ⁣ #stories #storiesbylilypad #yummy #thektg#wimyummy #tasty #blogger #bloggersph#certifiedfoodie #foodiesofIG #instafoodie#foodporn #instafood #BuzzFeast#iheartfood #buzzfeedfood#certifiedfoodie #foodblog #foodblogger#foodbloggerph #foodgasm#foodgrammer #foodie#foodiesofinstagram #zomato #zomatoph#spotmyfood (at Stories by LilyPad)

[foodflingsph-blog]

Baby, this is what you came for, 'marshmallow' lightning strikes every time she moves. S'mores-Tag-Alongs @scoutshonorph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #foodflingsPH #modyowz #foodislife #foodbeast #foodshare #foodporn #food #foodie #foodbloggers #foodblogger #comfortfood #pinoyfood #pinoyfoodie #filipino #filipinofood #filipino #foodtography #foodstagram #ilovefood #foodphotography #foodlover #foodphoto #foodshare #foodtrip #cookies #dessert #smores #sweet #marshmallow #theKTG (at Scout's Honor)

[blogthektg]

ATM @ hill station with @ourawesomeplanet team #thelastdon #hillstation #baguio #ourawesomeplanet #thektg

[thelastdonph]

can't wait to hit @ombukusina #ombukusina #thelastdonPH #thektg #spotph #esquireph ##globemybusiness (at Ombu Kusina)

[thehungrykat1]

Vote For Your Favorite Restaurants at The Choice 2019

Our Awesome Planet and The KTG presents The Choice Year V! We’re now in a Golden Age of Philippine Restaurants and Hotels that we’ve never experienced before. In the first six months of this year alone, over 500 new restaurants opened … and that’s only all over Metro Manila! The construction boom in hotels and resorts all over the country is likewise accelerating at a rapid pace. Every month, every week, and almost every day it seems, there's a new restaurant opening its doors. There are a lot of great new dining choices, side by side with the perennials, the classics that we grew up with. As food bloggers, writers, and members of the F&B industry, we're always very curious about the crowd favorites. The popular vote, if you will. What are the beloved favorites? Let the voice of the people be heard!

Our Awesome Planet, the country’s #1 food blog and one of the Top 50 travel blogs in the world;  and the Food Writer and Blogger Collective known as the The KTG (Kain Tulog Gang); together with the prestigious World Food Expo (WOFEX), The Ultimate Food Show Experience, have partnered to conduct the People's Choice for the Favorite Food, Restaurants, Hotels, and Chefs …. Or simply, “The Choice.”  Since our first ceremony in 2015, The Choice Awards have become more influential every year, and are now considered to be the most prestigious People’s Choice Honors in the F&B Industry. Through the first four years, we have celebrated the Best of the Best, and have elevated the most beloved restaurants to the Hall of Fame after winning their category three times. This year, we celebrate our landmark Year V!

(Click this link to cast your votes: https://awesm.pl/TheChoiceV)

We conducted an intense first round of voting among ourselves, and our resulting Finalist Lists have made us very pleased:  we feel it's a very diverse and fair representation of all our favorites from many diverse categories. Last year’s awards saw several new winners as many previous winners were already elevated to the Hall of Fame. So how will you let your voices be heard? Simply click on this link to cast your votes: https://awesm.pl/TheChoiceV

The Survey Parameters

1. For the Favorite New Restaurant category, our coverage period includes restaurants that opened between July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. 

2. There are 45 questions in this survey, and answering this survey should take only around 10-15 minutes. It is best to give a definitive answer to each question, but feel free to skip if you can't decide.

3. All answers are considered final once you click on the submit button.

4. Strictly one completed survey will be counted for each person voting.

5. Please provide us your name and email address for our random validation of the survey responses; rest assure that all information submitted will be kept confidential.

Make sure to cast your votes before July 31, 2019. The grand winners will be announced on August 31, 2019 at the SMX in SM Aura Premier. Keep following The Hungry Kat, The KTG, and Our Awesome Planet for more exciting news.

[sandundermyfeet16]

Stories by Lilypad serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, desserts and coffee. Each comfort dish is delivered with a backstory which without a doubt is inextricably linked with memory and emotion. It is perhaps the most literal example of the current enthusiasm for appreciating the narrative powers of food.⁣ ⁣ #stories #storiesbylilypad #yummy #thektg#wimyummy #tasty #blogger #bloggersph#certifiedfoodie #foodiesofIG #instafoodie#foodporn #instafood #BuzzFeast#iheartfood #buzzfeedfood#certifiedfoodie #foodblog #foodblogger#foodbloggerph #foodgasm#foodgrammer #foodie#foodiesofinstagram #zomato #zomatoph#spotmyfood (at Stories by LilyPad)

[thelastdonph]

baguio + @ilpadrinocoffeeph #ilpadrinocoffeeph #thelastdonPH #zomatoph #thektg #globemybusiness

[thelastdonph]

this one @backyard_ph #backyardphBGC #backyarding #thektg #thelastdonPH #ourawesomeplanet #zomatoPH #globemybusiness

[thelastdonph]

awesome burgers @bbkphilippines #boutiquburgerPH #thektg #thelastdonPH #ourawesomeplanet #zomatoPH #globemybusiness

[thelastdonph]

best lechon ever! @leonardoslechon #leonardoslechon #lechon #zomatoph #spotph #thelastdonPH #globemybusiness #thektg

[thehungrykat1]

La Maja Rica Hotel Offers Modern Convenience in Tarlac

Our memorable visit to Isdaan Floating Restaurant last June brought us two days of food and adventures while visiting their branches in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. Our home base during the Isdaan road trip was the La Maja Rica Hotel in Tarlac which provided a very comfortable and restful place to recharge our energies and appetites in between the long rides.

The hotel is already an established name in Tarlac and offers a charming ambiance with its bright colors and newly renovated tower and sections. It is a favorite hotel destination for corporate clients and those attending business conferences in the nearby areas.

For guests with a bit more time to spare, the outdoor swimming pool provides a cool and relaxing break. This is also a popular place for family staycations for those living near the city.

The roofdeck on the 10th floor also offers a good vantage point to view Tarlac city. This is also where the function area is located which can hold special events and activities.

I stayed at the Premiere Standard Room located at their newly-opened tower wing. For just around P2,200 a night, the 20-square meter room is quite stylish with a very comfortable Queen-sized bed. Wifi access is complimentary and it provides all the basic necessities for a good night’s sleep.

Plated breakfast is served at their pool-side restaurant called Cafe Maja Rica and this is also where we had our quick first lunch before we went on to our second lunch at Isdaan Floating Restaurant. Yes, that is how much The KTG eats.

La Maja Rica Hotel featured a few of their specialties like the Sisig Kapampangan, Barbecue Beef Fajitas, Lechon Kawali, and Seafood Pomodoro. I greatly enjoyed the sisig especially with its sizzling pork bits.

We also had a short tour of their Presidential Suite and this is where you should celebrate a special occasion. It comes with a separate living area and a small kitchen.

For only P6,500 per night, this suite also comes with a few modern luxuries like a jacuzzi and two televisions. Room service and in-house massage are also available 24 hours a day. 

So if you are traveling through Tarlac and want a comfortable and convenient place to spend the night, then La Maja Rica Hotel is definitely the best option for you. 

La Maja Rica Hotel

MacArthur Highway Corner Ligtasan Street, Tarlac City

(045) 491-3914

www.facebook.com/pg/lamajaricahotel

[thehungrykat1]

The Choice 2017: The People’s Choice Restaurant Awards

Every month, every week, and almost every day it seems, there's a new restaurant opening in Metro Manila. There are a lot of great new dining choices, side by side with the perennials, the classics that we grew up with. As food bloggers, writers, and members of the F&B industry, we're always very curious about the crowd favorites. The popular vote, if you will. So, Our Awesome Planet, the Blogger Collective known as the KTG (Kain Tulog Gang) and World Food Expo (WOFEX) have partnered to conduct the People's Choice for their Favorite Food, Restaurants, Bars, and more …. or simply, "The Choice".

You can participate and answer the survey here --> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TheChoice2017

We conducted an intense first round of voting among ourselves, and our resulting Finalists have made us very pleased:  we feel it's a very diverse and fair representation of all our favorites from all over the Philippines. The categories are very broad, as they should be in a democratic vote. However, we'd like to emphasize that this is NOT a "Best of..." list. Taste, after all, is subjective. This is a vote for YOUR FAVORITES. These are not the Oscars of our ever-growing foodie community. Instead, we'd like "The Choice" to be the Golden Globes: a bit more irreverent, surely less formal, and yes, it ought to be greatly biased. After all, YOU will be voting for your favorites, this is YOUR CHOICE!!!

The Choice 2017 Voting is open for 3 weeks starting on July 3, Monday and ends on July 23, 2017, Sunday. The Choice Restaurant Awards will be on August 5, Saturday at the SMX Convention Center at the MoA during the World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2017!

The Survey Parameters:

1. For the Favorite New Restaurant category, our coverage period includes restaurants that opened between June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017.

2. There are 60 questions in this survey and answering this survey should take only around 10-15 minutes. It is best to give a definitive answer on each question and feel free to skip if you can't decide.

3. All answers are treated confidential and final once you click on the submit button. One survey response for one person only.

4. Please give us your name and email address for our random validation of the survey responses.

5. We've added your Favorite Hotel categories as part of this year's The Choice 2017 survey!

The KTG is a group of friends who all just happen to be some of the top food bloggers in the Philippines; every one of their individual blogs ranks among the highest ranking and most influential online publications dedicated to food, entertainment, and travel. It is composed of some of the more senior food bloggers in the country, including Richie Zamora of "The Pickiest Eater in the World', and Jill Tan of 'The Food Scout.” Representing the younger generation are "Food in the Bag", "The Hungry Kat", and "Nines vs. Food." And from the world of showbiz, Mr. Chuckie Dreyfus, a foodie who's also a respected tech blogger. The KTG's objectives are not limited to discovering the best restaurants, however. While it's affectionately called the "Kain Tulog Gang", it's officially participated in relief efforts in Tacloban and Iloilo after Yolanda; and in Metro Manila, this "Kapatiran sa Tulong at Ginhawa" is on a constant mission to contribute in providing joy and comfort to the less fortunate."

The Choice 2017 is brought to you by The KTG; Philippine Star's "Let's Eat" magazine and television show; our partners from World Food Expo: (www.wofex.com); and last but certainly not the least, the #1 Food Blog in the Philippines, and one of the Top 10 Travel Blogs in the World - Our Awesome Planet (www.ourawesomeplanet.com).