Thumbs Up: McSpicy Chicken Burger

Today, Twitter helped me decide what to eat for lunch. I saw that #McSpicy is trending on Twitter locally, and being a self-confessed spicy hot chick that I am (LOL), I gave it a try. Apparently, the McSpicy Chicken Burger just arrived today, and I'm guessing I'm one of the first 100 people who will write a review about it.

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger

How much is it?

I bought the McSpicy Chicken Burger a la carte for only Php 80. I decided to just cook my own fries at home. Btw, a regular McSpicy Chicken Burger value meal costs Php 115, while a large one will cost you Php 135. It's definitely expensive for a burger, but is it worth it?

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger with homemade fries

Is it big?

The size of McSpicy Chicken Burger is just like your regular Burger McDo, but the chicken patty is relatively bigger. As you can see, it's not the typical round shape patty but more like a medium-sized chicken fillet.

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger beside a Nikon lens cap for size comparison

What's in it?

The McSpicy Chicken Burger is composed of a medium-sized chicken fillet, McDonald's special mayo dressing, lettuce, and some chopped onions. I think it would taste better with a slice of tomato.

Inside the New McSpicy Chicken Burger 

Is it spicy?

Well, the box of the McSpicy Chicken Burger has a disclaimer that says "Chicken spiced right" and "With just the right amount of spice." If you are expecting a Tabasco hot sauce-level of spicy, then you'll be disappointed with it.  As a spicy-food enthusiast (WOW), I can say that the McSpicy Chicken Burger just tickled my taste buds a little. But it didn't make me long for a drink because the "spiciness" is barely there. So if you're not that into spicy food, you can definitely enjoy this McSpicy Chicken Burger. But for "extremists" like me, it's kinda boring and tasteless, so to speak.

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger disclaimer

Is it worth buying again?

Yeah, sure, somehow the McSpicy Chicken Burger satisfied my hunger, but its taste isn't something that you would really crave for. In a nutshell, it's your ordinary chicken burger with a hint of spice.

I didn't really find McSpicy Chicken Burger as something unforgettable or exceptional, though I still recommend that you try the McSpicy Chicken Burger for the sake of trying it. :)

Still, thumbs up, McSpicy Chicken Burger. Burp!


McDonalds

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Dial 8-MCDO (6236)
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Thumbs Up: Tealeaf Manila

I hate the taste of milk tea, and I don't understand why people would drink something that has "rock salt and cheese" for chrissakes. Sadly, my friends and even my sisters are hooked to the milk tea craze that started in the country last year. That's why whenever they want to drink milk tea, I always find myself looking for a plain chocolate drink in the menu of milk tea shops. Sometimes I'm lucky to find a chocolate drink that has no traces of the yucky milk tea taste, but most of the time I had to endure the milk-tea aftertaste because the shop only offers drinks that has milk tea as base (why, they're milk tea specialty shops).

But just last Wednesday, I felt like I've become converted to a milk tea lover by a single drink.

My sister and her hubby brought us to Tealeaf Manila in BF Homes, Parañaque. My brother-in-law's cousin owns the shop. When we arrived at the place, it was just a small milk tea shop just like the others I've gone to. But what makes it different from all the other tea shops I've ever seen, is its cute and homey interior. 

Tealeaf Manila 

Tealeaf Manila (Exterior)

Tealeaf Manila (Interior)

The place was really cute, and the details of the interior made it even cuter. I love handwritten things, and so I took a photo of these cute stuff I found at the counter:

Tealeaf Manila Social Media Board

Tealeaf Manila Top 10 Picks

Tealeaf Manila's Premium Blends

And so as I was telling you, I think I've become a milk tea lover because of the drink that I ordered in this milk tea shop. My sisters ordered Tealeaf Manila's number 1 bestseller, the famed Nutella Milk Tea. I wanted that too, because who doesn't want Nutella, right? But because I always strive to be different and adventurous (LOL), I opted for the second best--the Kitkat Milk Tea.

Tealeaf Manila's two-man team working on our drinks!

I already told you that I hate milk teas, but I haven't told you how much I love Kitkat chocolates. I remember asking my mom to buy Kitkat whenever she goes home from work. And she'll spoil us by buying a 4-part Kitkat bar, which me and my three sisters will share. We'll get one bar each, and we'll be so happy and contented for the rest of the night. Craving satisfied.

Tealeaf Manila's Kitkat Milk Tea

When my order came, I was hesitant that my first sip would be terrible, because you know, I hate the milk tea aftertaste so much. I first tasted my sister's Nutella Milk Tea, and it was indeed the best thing you could ever do to the Nutella chocolate spread.

And so I sipped my Kitkat Milk Tea. And that sip put a smile on my face, and all I could say was, "Mas masarap 'to." (This is more delicious (than the Nutella Milk Tea)). Lo and behold, the succeeding photos will explain the happiness and satisfaction that me and my sisters felt after we had our doses of Tealeaf Manila's milk teas. :)

Peacocking at Tealeaf Manila!

Tealeaf Manila is number one!

XOXO, Tealeaf Manila!

Tealeaf Manila's Models

Burp!!! Tealeaf Manila 

Gwiyomi-ing at Tealeaf Manila!

Feeling high at Tealeaf Manila!

In every sip of that Kitkat Premium Milk Tea, there were bits and pieces of my favorite chocolate bar. And there was no trace of the milk tea aftertaste that I hate. Bravo to Tealeaf Manila for the superb mixing of the milk tea. Bravo.

Tealeaf Manila CEO and President with the author

Tealeaf Manila CEO and President peacocking with my sister

Tealeaf Manila is the brainchild of this guy over here. Kudos to you for doing a really great job of putting up your own business and making it work. My brother-in-law says he's single, so ladies, you may want to visit his shop so you can get to know him--I mean, his special-teas. LOL. :))

Tealeaf Manila offers free WiFi!

Tealeaf Manila's cute tables and chairs

Tealeaf Manila has a clean restroom!

We really had a great time at the Tealeaf Manila. I swear. You can drop by the store from 12:30PM-10:30PM. It is located at 262 A. Aguirre Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City. It's just beside Razzo Bistro (formerly Cedar's Bar). Thumbs up and high five for Tealeaf Manila! Indeed, there was love in every sip! <3

Milk teas down the drain at Tealeaf Manila

Disclaimer: The owner of Tealeaf Manila didn't pay me to write this post. Nor he didn't, in any way, influence what I should write or not write. He also didn't give our drinks for free; the milk teas were my younger sister's treat on her first-ever pay day. So don't you think I'm advertising the shop. This blog is, indeed, an honest and a no-holds-barred review blog. Thanks! :)

Tealeaf Manila, BF Homes, Parañaque City
Follow Tealeaf Manila on Twitter: @TealeafManila
Like Tealeaf Manila on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TealeafPhilippines

Thumbs Down: SM Aura Premier

DISCLAIMER: The author acknowledges her accountability and responsibility for this post. 

I am writing this post for those people who have never set foot inside the infamous, newly-opened SM Aura Premier at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. As for me, I have visited the place once, and that was yesterday, so everything about SM's so-called "high-end" mall is still fresh in my memory. Here's my one time, big time experience at SM Aura:

Here's what it looks like from the outside:

SM Aura Premier (Exterior)

As you can see, it's shape is not like the usual SM malls that we know of. The building behind it is connected to the mall. It's still under construction, though. I think it will serve as an office space or a hotel of some sort in the future; I'm just not quite sure.

Now here's what you'll see when you come inside:

SM Aura Premier (Interior)

SM Aura Premier (Interior)

The interior of the mall is indeed very spacious. Maybe because some stores are not yet opened, or simply because there's no crowd. One thing I noticed with Aura is the absence of kiosks or stalls on the center aisles of the mall. So if you're craving for a Zagu drink or a waffle, then you better forget about Aura. 

Forever 21 at SM Aura Premier 

This Forever 21 store is the first thing that you will see as you enter the Aura. As you can see, it has two floors, and the store has its own escalator. The first level, however, is not that big. I wasn't able to check the second level but I think it's just of the same size. I think SM Makati and SM North EDSA's Forever 21 stores are bigger than Aura's two levels of combined. A two-level Uniqlo store is just beside Forever 21, btw.

Chatime at SM Aura Premier

For milk-tea lovers or just thirsty people, Chatime is open to serve you. A Happy Lemon store will soon be opened in the 5th level, I think.

But if you are hungry, don't you dare go to Aura. Its version of the typical SM Foodcourt is called Food on Four. However, there are only three to five food concessionaires that are already open. My sisters and I actually came to Aura to have dinner, but we ended up eating somewhere else. Not because we cannot afford the food in Aura, but because there is just no place to eat to begin with.

Jollibee at SM Aura Premier

This particular store somehow breaks the high-end feel of the mall. But it's one of the most visited stores in the mall since, I'm guessing, SM failed to bring the right crowd to Aura. This Jollibee right here is the refuge of those who wanted to see the mall, went around, and got hungry. 

SM Supermarket at SM Aura Premier

Here are just some SM affiliate stores that are staple to the SM malls that we know. The Supermarket is basically the same; just note that standee on the far right is a virtual customer service assistant attempting to be high-end.

Cinema at SM Aura Premier

Nothing quite interesting about Aura's Cinema, except from the fact that it sells movie tickets for a higher price than those at regular SM malls. I haven't been inside the cinema so I can't judge. Btw, Aura has a Director's Club cinema if you can afford it.

SM Business Services at SM Aura Premier

But good news to those who hate long lines when paying their bills or transacting government services like NSO, PAG-IBIG, SSS, and the like. SM Aura's Business Services booth is not that crowded.

If you think you have no place inside the Aura because the stores look alien to you, you can always go to the 5th level of the mall--the Skypark. Here, you can sit on one of those plant boxes and just appreciate the beautiful sunset.. if you can see it behind the condominiums, that is.

Aside from the stores that are yet to open in the near future, that sums up the entirety of the famed SM Aura. I don't think SM did a great job by opening a store that is not even half-finished. Another thing is, I don't think SM was able to cascade the right message that the Aura mall is exclusive for the high-end crowd. Which is why wrong people troop to the wrong mall with the wrong expectations. I was also surprised to know that an SM Aura was being built right in the Ayala-owned BGC. Everyone was just surprised why Sarah Jessica Parker is here (and who is she, really). 

Just some notes on SM Aura:

1) The exterior of the building is not really impressive. It screams, "Hey, I'm still a work in progress, but SM needs to make money right now so here you go. Take it, or leave it."

2) It seems out of place in the BGC.

3) I don't think the real high-end people the mall was built for will really dig it. It seems like a mall for not-so-rich people to feel rich even just for a short while--a place where they can stroll, but they will leave the mall empty-handed.

4) It's a waste of time and space. My sister and I were looking for a simple Toy Story lunch box for my nephew, but to our dismay, the Department store offered few selections and too much spaces. 

5) It's just not worth traveling for.
6) So long as the two letters S and M are part of the mall's name, it will never achieve the Greenbelt 5-level of being "high-end." SM has been a brand of comfort to all Filipinos, so as long as its SM, it will never be exclusive to a certain crowd only. It will always be for everyone.

For now, thumbs down for SM Aura Premier.