Last month, (November) I got the chance to experience wine again but this time its South African Wine. Since I mentioned last month, yes I am writing this December, sorry for that, I was too busy for my entertainment blog www.My-Juicy.net. But I promise that being active here on my personal blog will be one of my New Year's Resolution.
Back to the wine tasting, we tasted the african wines at Planet Grapes Shangri-La. We are so lucky that time because Alex Dale, special guest-wine maker who founded The Winery of Good Hope, led the Planet Grapes wine and food pairing event. He is instrumental in the company’s ascent to the internationally recognized label it is today.
I really liked the wine label "The Winery of Good Hope," yeah it makes me like the wine even more, because I thought of when I drink that wine I will have a better hope of things lol, really such a good label and name.
I got to taste the following African wines: The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2012, a wine that combines freshness, minerality, and pear & apple fruit flavors; The Winery of Good Hope Unoaked Chardonnay 2013, an easy-to-drink yet classy wine with nice citrus zest and mineral tang; The Winery of Good Hope Bush Vine Pinotage 2012, with red cherries, violets and juicy palate, that finishes with balance, length, minerality and some funky spice; The Winery of Good Hope Mountainside Shiraz 2012, which has bold flavor, varietal spiciness, balance, individuality, and freshness; and Vinum Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, with deep and dark aromas, earthy tones and spicy notes.
These wines vary from strong to mild, but of course since I am not a hard drinker, I loved the white wine The Winery of Good Hope Unoaked Chardonnay 2013.
To even enjoy these African wines more, we are served with complementing dishes to wines like Squid balls, Siu Mai, Tenderloin Salpicao, Barbeque Pork Spare Ribs and Adobo Rice.
I'm really excited for my next visit and experience at Planet Grapes!
A month ago already, I think, I have been invited by Yellow Cab Pizza UP Techno Hub branch in their relaunching to let me experience to create and cook my own pizza! Cool right? Yes!
We bloggers were first given the Apron of Yellow Cab, which I find it really cute, you know I'm not wearing an Apron everyday, so it really feels so nice trying something new. Then we proceed to the kitchen, it was my first time actually in the kitchen of a fast-food-chain.
We started putting toppings and stuff on the pizza crust, then I knew that cooking pizza is fun and not that easy at the same time, I felt guilty then remembering how I rant sometimes waiting for my pizza order. Its not easy at all especially for Yellow Cab Pizza because their pizza are full of flavors and toppings so the crew will of course take some time putting those on your pizza and then cook it for like 10-15 minutes. Every customer must really wait patiently, but for sure every minute you waited will be worth it for the delicious Yellow Cab Pizza.
After cooking our pizzas, when we tasted it, we felt it was really special because we exerted effort to cook it and it really was delicious because Yellow Cab Pizzas are full of flavors and toppings as I said, you really get what you pay for, its sulit!
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I have given up when it comes to cooking, but look, even I surprised my self baking my own mini cupcakes! This was my first time trying to bake, I got this mini-cupcake cooker that you can buy today at every online store, I think. The cupcake cooker was really a big help for me baking these cupcakes. All I needed to do was to mix the baking flour and all the other ingredients and then just fill the cupcake holes in the cooker, and there it goes, I finally baked! I know some of you might laughing at my low happiness but I am really happy I have done this, my cupcakes tasted well according to my family, (of course they will said that lol) or maybe I should offer it next time to other people to find out if it was really ok, but for myself I really find it good, since I followed the instructions in the baking flour box of how to bake it. As you can see all is good except for the icing, I'll do it better next time, promise!

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A Wine-tastic experience at Planet Grapes River Park Alabang
Food and Beverages Monday, June 29, 2015
Etienne Hugel is the 12th generation co-proprietor for Hugel & Fils, the wine producer established in Riquewihr, Alsace. The Hugels have been making wine in that place since 1639. That length of time has given them a huge reservoir of institutional knowledge.
Hugel wines from Alsace are a shining example of what true winemaking craftsmanship is. They offer lots of excellent pairing opportunities, from salad greens, to fish, to meat entrรฉes, and dimsum, or even Pinoy street foods.
Mr Etienne Hugel personally explained how his family started making wines, and he did explained different Hugel wines we did taste:
Gentil “Hugel” - A refreshingly light wine with attractive, flattering bouquet; it is quite aromatic, scented, floral and fruit-driven: cardamom, lemon balm, rose, lime blossom, cherry blossom and sweet almond.2011 Hugel Pinot Gris Tradition
- Engagingly fresh, crisp open bouquet of flowers and fruit, slightly mineral and distinctly Riesling. Notes of white peach, green apple, lemon balm, lime blossom, wild hop flower and fresh moss.
2012 Hugel Riesling - Thirst-quenching, dry, lively, fresh and easy to enjoy, with great elegance and drive. Flavors of green apple, gooseberry, citrus, grapefruit, lime, with spring blossom, elderflower and primrose.
2008 Hugel Riesling Jubilee – Aromas of yellow peach and apricot with a mineral touch that leaves no doubt that this is a Riesling from a fine terroir. Hugel Riesling Jubilee is an agreeable dry white wine that possesses remarkable finesse and elegance. • 2012 Hugel Gewurztraminer – Harmonious flavors and aromas of flowers and fruit such as rose, mignonette, jasmine, mango, litchi and passion fruit. This refreshing dry wine also has some spice characteristics, such as cardamom, saffron and licorice.
My personal choice from the wine is the 2012 Riesling, for me it just suits my taste, it has this strong taste that I can resist and enjoy. One thing I learnt from this tasting experience is that wine can be a reflection of ones personality like for people we have our own characteristics like for me I can say the wine I want is like me who is not that weak, not that strong but can make an impact and leave something unforgettable.
Of course wine is more enjoyable with the food options prepared by Executive Chef Jonathan Bautista included fresh mixed salad, quail eggs, squid balls, danggit, Thai spiced crab cakes, and Planet Grapes’ turon trilogy. I didn't just like these foods, I loved them, these foods really are a perfect combination for wine, good job chef and Planet Grapes.
Planet Grapes at River park Alabang is really such a nice place to stay while drinking wine and dining, it really has a nice view of the River Park of Festival Mall.
Planet Grapes is where the intimidating walls of fine dining and complicated wine pairings come down, and you can discover just how well wine goes with the food you already know and love.
To have a fun experience and enjoy `wine without the drama,’ visit Planet Grapes. The modern wine retail store and restaurant-bar first opened at Tuscany at Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Other stores are located at Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City; and now at the recently opened branches in Shangri-La Plaza Mall North Wing, EDSA, Mandaluyong City; and at the River Park, Festival Supermall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For more information, log on to planetgrapes.com.ph
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Hugel Wines - Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Etienne Hugel - Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Hugel Wines - Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Hugel Wines - Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Hugel Wines - Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Hugel Wines - Planet Grapes River Park Alabang |
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| Jerhwin Hernandez with Etienne Hugel |
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