Figaro Lenten Specials and Summer Fusion 2015

Breaded Dory Sandwich

In time for the Lenten Season, Figaro offers a new set of meatless meals that we can still enjoy while fasting for the season. Try Figaro's new Breaded Dory Sandwich (P135), breaded dory fish fillet in ciabatta bread seasoned with freshly made tartar sauce with a matching tartar green salad on the side. I usually order and enjoy cream dory fish fillet in our school cafeterias in UP Diliman for lunch but when I tasted Figaro's breaded dory with tartar sauce I was able to appreciate eating the fish fillet better with that tangy-sweet sauce. I also enjoyed the tartar green salad and it tasted so much better when freshly squeezed with lemon. 

Basil Gamberetti Pizza

Still craving for pizza even during Lenten? Figaro's new Basil Gamberetti Pizza (P189) is your saving grace. This meatless pizza is a combination of fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, shrimp, mozzarella and pizza cheese. You will never go wrong with indulging in those tangy fruity tomatoes and healthy and fragrant basil leaves combined with shrimps dipped in two types of cheeses.

Summer is also just around the corner, and Figaro offers just the right refreshments for the coming hot and humid summer season. Refreshing, healthy, fruity and coffee-based--these are the new signatures of Figaro's Summer Fusion, which consists of Four Seasons (P125), Peach Cappuccino Fusion (P125), Lychee Cucumber (P125) and Passion Fruit Cucumber (P125). I never thought I could enjoy vegetable shakes until I tried the Lychee Cucumber and Passion Fruit Cucumber, which came from freshly squeezed fruits with tidbits. Both are sweet and tangy in flavor and are very refreshing for a hot summer day. I have always enjoyed the Four Seasons because it is sweet and bursts with different fruity flavors. I most especially enjoyed the syrup-based Peach Cappuccino because I am a coffee-person. It has just the right amount of peach zest that surprisingly matches with the light flavor of cappuccino.

 Now you will not only enjoy these new summer drinks but also promote a healthy lifestyle, with fruits like lychee, peach and passion fruit and vegetables like cucumber having health benefits. Passion fruit is a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fiber, as well as Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Lychee, being a citrus fruit, is also a good source of Vitamin C and B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin and folates. Often referred to as a superfood, cucumber on the other hand is rich is Vitamin B, and rehydrates the body and replenishes daily vitamins. What's more, it helps fight cancer, cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure. Peaches are also antioxidants and are good sources of beta carotine and Vitamin A.

You may visit www.figaro.com and like their official page https://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany for more info.

Figaro's New Christmas Treats perfect for the Holidays!

Christmas is truly a season of family celebration and bonding with gift-giving, unlimited candies and Christmas tree-decorating. A million thanks to my dear mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol for an early Yuletide treat with Figaro's new Christmas Delights, I was able to take a break from last minute papers and to forget the butterflies in my stomach waiting for my final grades as I bonded with my nanay and kuya Mark Fortaleza at Figaro Tomas Morato last week.

It's chocolate overload with Figaro's Triple Chocolate Toffee Bar (Php95), a heavenly slice of layered chocolate that is every kid's dream come true: chocolate fudge, nutty toffee filled nuts and chocolate ganache with chocolate balls on top. It was our favorite as I remembered getting amused at the chocolate balls wrapped in different Christmas-colored foils our titas would always give us during Yuletide season.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

You will surely fall in love with Figaro's Red Velvet Cake (Php110), a slice of delightful red soft and moist cake with layers of sweet frosting to compliment the chocolatey red taste of the cake. It's perfect not just for the Christmas season but also for birthdays as I remembered my friend giving a two-thumbs-up to the delectable moist cake perfect for dessert after a satisfying lunch of Figaro's Spoon Meals.

Fruit cakes always complete the Christmas celebration made even more special with Figaro's Taisan Fruit Cake (Php70), soft foam cake filled with a burst of Christmas flavors of fruit glaze and nuts. 

photo from www.jobonsol.net

Add Figaro's Christmas Cupcake (Php80) and your sweet Christmas is complete: a chocolate moist cupcake topped with butter frosting and colorful Christmas candy sprinkles that reminded me of the vibrant decorations on our Christmas tree.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

Figaro's Cheese Bacon Scone (Php85) was new to me, but I enjoyed the cheese and bacon-flavored quick bread best dipped with Figaro latte as I listened to nanay Josephine's amusing stories I'll always cherish.

Enjoy your hot Figaro latte and cold drinks with Figaro's new Chistmas Merchandise--artisan mug, frosted tumbler or premium mug.

Christmas is in the air best celebrated with Figaro's new Christmas treats now available at all Figaro branches nationwide. You may visit www.figarocoffee.com and like their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany.

Thank you very much to nanay Josephine Bonsol and Ms. Annesy Del Mundo!

Satisfy your cravings and feel the magic at Figaro!

Spending time with friends is always made even more special at Figaro.

It was my friend Cedric's birthday last December and together with my twin sister Jillian, we celebrated and sang our belated Happy Birthday at Figaro EDSA Shangri-la Mall complete with Figaro's mouth-watering Red Velvet Cake (P129), a heavenly red moist cake with rich chocolate and creamy frosting that would satisfy your sweet tooth beyond expectations.

Chicken a la King

We also ordered their Spoonful Meals: Chicken a la King(P215), an irresistible dish of diced chicken in rich creamy sauce you would never forget, and Chicken Thyme (P215), a plateful of deep fried chicken fillet with creamy cheese sauce and buttered corn and carrots on the side. We also ordered Tuna Macaroni Salad (P139) and I was really surprised with the big helping of creamy macaroni and tuna with boiled egg on top.

Chicken Thyme

Tuna Macaroni Salad

My friend really loved the Spoonful Meal and the Red Velvet Cake, and said eating at Figaro is truly an experience he would never forget. Make birthdays and foodtrip with friends more memorable at Figaro!

Feel the Magic at Figaro with its Figaro Magic Mug!

I've always loved coffee and nothing can make it more special than drinking it using Figaro's Magic Mug (P209). The magic begins whenever you pour in hot water and its black thermal covering will slowly reveal a unique Figaro design promoting the benefits of coffee and how it can help Filipino coffee farmers whenever you indulge in a hot brew from Figaro.

They also have Smoke Design Mugs (P199) available in three exquisite colors: yellow, maroon and green, and Ceramic Tumbler (P330) available in two colors: red and brown.

You know what's more magical? Premium roasted arabica coffee beans in your Magic Mug! Figaro's Coffee Blend Cafe Maharlika (P270) gives you pure and rich coffee beans roasted to perfection to bring out that unique coffee flavor and aroma. They also have Monte Alto (P260), Barako Gold (P280) and Cafe Vigoroso (P260) Coffee Blends.

The best about Figaro coffee beans is that once roasted with Figaro's very own roasters, they are delivered to the shops right away without traveling great distances. And these only assure you of one thing: fresh roasted coffee beans in your cup.


Make your coffee more magical at Figaro! You can visit their website at www.figarocoffee.com or like their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany

A Gift to Nature: Figaro Tree Planting and Eco Tour

3 cups of coffee= 9 coffee trees. That hit me hard and had proven me guilty as I remembered the times when I drank more than three cups of coffee a day and I didn't even know it cost more than a dozen trees. And I'm truly glad and honored that I could repay nature after I participated in Figaro's Tree Planting and Eco Tour, organized by Figaro Coffee Company in collaboration with the Figaro Foundation Corporation, last November 5 at Brgy. Esperanza, Alfonso, Cavite with famous bloggers, Figaro Club members, franchisees and business partners.

I truly learned a lot about coffee as Mr. Emil Cuaresma of the Figaro Foundation gave trivias and a lecture about the origin of coffee in the Philippines and its four main varieties, namely Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa and Robusta.

It felt like an educational field trip as we first visited the Gourmet Farms, one of Figaro's partners proudly unveiling their rich diversity of herbs and coffee and their bigger plantations which use organic fertilizers and the traditional carabao for tilling the land. I was overwhelmed to see firsthand and even smell the fresh rosemary herbs that Jamie Oliver of TLC always uses in his mouth-watering dishes. We also spotted Sharon Cuneta's Herb Collection of peppermint, rosemary and lemongrass.

I equally enjoyed their refreshing Banaba drink after the long but rejuvenating walk around the farm.

"From crop to cup." The aromatic scent of coffee and herbs wafting through the air and greeting us the moment we stepped foot on the entrance of the farm simply proved how fresh and organic coffee are produced at Gourmet Farms. We also toured the factory where they manufacture coffee and I learned that roasting coffee beans to catch that desired flavor sure isn't an easy job, as their taste instantly changes in a matter of seconds if the time limit for roasting was not followed.

After a hearty lunch prepared by the host family of the coffee farm that felt very provincial to me for the very first time, Mr. Crismel Verano, CEO of Figaro acknowledged the family and imparted the concept of giving back to nature and the project's significant contributions to help the coffee farmers and of course, the economy of the Philippines. The project also attempts to make the country one of the top exporters of coffee in the world, as it once had been.

The tree planting experience was something I would never forget and I'm proud of as I was able to repay nature even though I'm still a student. These kinds of activities I'd proudly say as the "real" projects that truly contribute something productive for the community and the country even in its little ways. Most of all, it made me discover the true meaning of responsibility as shared by Mr. Verano.

It was truly an unforgettable experience, especially that I could not  fully enjoy what nature could offer anymore as I was born in the city, and not to mention with famous bloggers and with my mentor and food blogger Ms. Josephine Bonsol. Thank you very much to Ms. Annesy Del Mundo for letting me experience this wonderful trip with a great cause and gave me the opportunity to give back to and mingle with nature.

Santa's coming to town with Figaro's Christmas Pastries!

Ready your socks and watch out for your mom and dad's Santa Clause costumes! The countdown is on and Christmas is even made more special with Figaro's new Christmas Pastries!

I was surprised at myself not even realizing (for the first time) that the -Ber months were already dominating the year, with the tons of school work and deadlines that's driving me crazy as usual. I got my sweet break when I attended Figaro's launching of its Christmas Pastries at Edsa Shangri-la Mall with bloggers last Wednesday and I was truly thankful because it brought me back the good old days when my siblings and I would always watch out under the Christmas tree if we received any sweets from the ever-mysterious Santa Claus.

I was overwhelmed at the sight of Figaro's elegant Red Velvet Cake, and it tasted like heaven with its moist chocolate and rich creamy frosting, plus a hidden layer of caramel and showered with nuts on the side.

The Figaro Fruit Cake made me remember my mom's own fruit cake with its generous heap of fruits and nuts on the  inside and outside. To complete that Yuletide color, the chocolate-based cake is laced with alcohol (brandy) covered with white chocolate royal icing and glazed fruit bits.

I got the mint fever with the Peppermint Brownie glazed with oozing white chocolate and peppered with candy confetti sprinkles. This chewy, fudgy and refreshing mint flavored brownie will definitely make you feel the chill air of the Yuletide season.

I'll always be the kid with the sweet tooth, as I especially loved the Butterscotch Bar, with the brownie caramelized to perfection, coated with rich chocolate and topped with yummy nuts.

It was actually my first time to taste a Gingerbread Cookie, and I mused at my childhood memories of my mom telling us the fairy tale story over and over again. Figaro's Gingerbread cookie is made of soft dough, butter and sugar. There was definitely a tang of ginger with its special royal icing and colorful candy confetti sprinkles.

Christmas is definitely in the chill air with Figaro's sweet Christmas Tree Cookie glazed with special royal icing and showered with candy confetti sprinkles.

The Pistachio Biscotti was new to me and I loved munching on the crisp and crunchy double baked cookie dipped in sweet white chocolate on both ends and sprinkled with green pistachio. I also enjoyed dipping it to Figaro's hot brewed coffee that definitely relieved me from all the stress on such a rainy season.

Make your holidays more special with that Christmas spirit with Figaro's new Christmas Pastries! You can visit their website at www.figarocoffee.com. 

Thank you very much to Ms. Annesy Del Mundo!

Go Berry Crazy with Figaro's new Berry Fruity Delights!

A dose of fruity madness was just what I needed with all the academic pressure that's driving me crazy these days. And when it comes to such truly refreshing drinks and coffee to drive those toxic stress away, Figaro Coffee Company is the perfect place to go, especially with its new Banana Berry Delight Frost and Raspberry Mint Latte!

It felt like floating in seventh heaven with Figaro's innovative creations of healthy fruity experience that definitely completed my day, and finally meeting the bloggers I idolize and of course, my mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol at the Figaro event last Monday.

It's been a while since I felt that sugar rush I also longed for to keep me from being "sabaw" at school, and the new Banana Berry Delight Frost (P145) did more than that. Showered with crunchy bits of banana chips and dripped with strawberry syrup all sitting on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it brought me back the days when my twin sister and I used to munch loads of banana chips while watching A Bug's Life in VHS at home.

The delightful vanilla ice cream drizzled with thick strawberry syrup tickled my stressed nerves and made me feel like a kid crazy for berry fruits again, while I also enjoyed munching the banana chips bits that were generously spread in the perfect fruity treat.

The Raspberry Mint Latte (P110) just made me fall in love with coffee all the more, with its refreshing mint tang infused in that aromatic espresso-based coffee and perfectly complemented by the surprising fruit burst of raspberry you would taste in every sip. 

I loved the unique Latte Art crafted on top of the coffee and tried not to ruin it, while I enjoyed listening to my mentor's hilarious stories just like the good old days.

You know coffee. Figaro's new Banana Berry Delight Frost and Raspberry Mint Latte will truly give you that refreshing berry fruity rush you'll never forget! Experience the berry madness at Figaro starting September 15 at selected branches and nationwide on October 1. You can also visit www.figaro.com.

Thank you very much to Ms. Annesy Del Mundo!