Out of This World Foodie Pics from Jupiter (Street)!
Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and apparently… good-lookin’ food is from Jupiter. Jupiter Street, anyway.
From old school dining places to trendy new restaurants, Jupiter St. in Makati has evolved into a favorite destination for lunchbreak binges and after-work foodtrips. If these photos from looloo users are any indication of the grub in the area, then well, Houston… we clearly do NOT have a problem.
Char-grilled Prawn Tempura – Jam C. in her review for Mangetsu
Double Cheese Tsukumen – Nikki D. in her review for Mitsuyado Sei-Men
Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna – Len B. in her review for Corner Tree Cafe
Fresh From the Oven: looloo Version 1.3!
This app update is like a pandesal. Aside from being freshly-made, it was also warmly (pun intended) created in a pugon-like environment! Fun fact: We actually had to buy extra fans for the office since our AC couldn’t take this summer heat!
While you can’t really eat our finished product, we think version 1.3’s new features are rather tasty anyway!
Mention, tag, and summon your looloo friends!
Tried a dish or maybe even a hairstylist based on a looloo friend’s review? Now you can be extra thoughtful and thank (or blame?) them by using the mention feature! Just type the symbol “@”, add in their name, pick from the drop down, and voila! Their name will appear on your review and they will get notified of it, too!
You can also do this for looloo comments! Try it out and see if you can effectively summon your friends. Or you can just type @EJ, pick EJ D. from the drop down, and mention our random hot girl / in-house sock model. Once summoned on looloo, he appears pretty quickly… like a genie. Only prettier.
New Suggest, Bug Report, and Feedback Forms!
If you’ve ever sent looloo an email, whether to suggest a place or share your ideas, please know that we really really appreciate it and would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts! That, and we’ve made sending us emails a little easier and nicer-looking by turning them into forms you can easily fill out!
Check it out and say hello! One of our support team members will say hello back for sure! (There’s a write-up about them on the looloo blog that you can read here!)
Robots Answer looloo Support Emails?
If you’ve ever requested for a place to be added on looloo via our handy-dandy support or suggest email addresses, then you’ve probably met either Pam, Jacy, or Roegan. To answer the title’s question, no, they’re not robots (though on days they get tons of emails, they do end up sounding like Alpha from the original Power Rangers). Spending countless hours hunched over maps and computers screens, these three amigos are the fantabulous folks behind looloo’s support desk!
Being some of the hardest-working members of The looloo Crew, we thought it’d be pretty cool to do a quick Q&A feature on the unsung heroes who manage to keep looloo’s database in tip-top shape.
Nothin’ like an office NERF War to let off some steam
Q: What’s the best part about handling support tickets?
Roegan: I think the best part is whenever our users reply to thank us for helping them out. It’s really nice to see that our users appreciate what we’re doing for them.
Jacy: Aside from helping users out, it’s also fun talking to them. I like making new looloo friends!
Q: Do you guys have a process for handling tickets? How soon do you usually respond to tickets sent in?
Pam: We have shifts on Zendesk for answering the tickets. As much as possible, we respond to tickets as soon as we receive them.
Roegan: It would be total chaos without Zendesk! The system helps us organize the tickets really well. Also, it helps avoid bottlenecks like having 2 agents working on the same ticket. No user wants to receive 2 response emails from 2 different agents.
Q: What’s the weirdest support ticket you’ve ever received?
Jacy: People suggesting their own house address!
Pam: Drunk support emails!
Q: What type of tickets do you usually get? Do they come in at a specific time? More on weekdays or weekends?
Pam: We usually get place suggestions. There’s really no pattern regarding the specific time when they come in, it’s usually spread out during the day.
Roegan: We get a lot of place suggestions. Like a LOT.
Jacy: Weird, I usually get the bug report tickets. Huhu.
Q: Any special message/shoutout to looloo members?
Pam: Hello to Kristella D for a record-setting 59 places suggested in one day!(!!!)
Roegan: Hello to Tricia G, Min K, and Steph H! You guys make looloo a better app to live in. Heehee. :)
Jacy: Hello looloo peeps! *wink*
Guts and Gutterballs: The looloo Bowling Rendezvoos!
All we told our invitees was that the rendezvoos was going to involve some sort of physical activity and that they should wear clothes they’d be comfortable enough to run around in. Nothing more.
It could have been antigravity yoga. Or crossfit. Or maybe even a marathon… around Eastwood… at 12 noon. It could have been anything. Yet they still trusted the weirdos who sent them the invite and showed up anyway! This could either mean they’re brave… Or crazy. Either way, we love them for it!
The four brave looloo ladies (Clarissa P., Lea A., Theresa L., and Mei O.) who went and destroyed The looloo Crew with their bowling skillz at Paeng’s Billiard and Bowling.
When they realized we were going bowling, that’s when things got interesting. We heard things like “I hate bowling.” or “Wow. I haven’t played in a loooong time!” This boosted our confidence level. Oh yeah. The looloo Crew will easily win this one.
Boy were we wrong.
Tambak was our team’s word for that day! *Shudders* But hey, even though we got beat by looloo rendezvooers, whenever I think about it, I just smile and convince myself that we intentionally did that to make them happy. #BitterOcampo
Top left: Our bowling pose (although I’m not sure what Odell, Mei and Theresa are doing). Top right: Mei vs. Peanut. Lower left: Bowling balls. Lower right: Bowling lanes.
At the end of the day, who cares about winning or losing. As long as you’re having fun, losing doesn’t feel so bad. Maybe. Ha. But seriously, it felt like we just met up with our high school friends! Except for the part where we weren’t quite sure how they looked like in real life (“Is that… Mei O.?” “You must be… Clarissa P!”), we felt really comfortable around them.
We talked non-stop, burned about 500 calories bowling and then gained it all back at Cookbook Kitchen. It was definitely another Saturday afternoon well-spent.
Random hot girl popularity level: Artista. Naks.
Bonus scene! In the above photo, you’ll see how our rendezvooers tried to have their photo taken with our famous random hot girl! I swear one was even about to ask for an autograph!
For those who haven’t seen it yet, here’s the famous Sh*t looloo Reviewers Say video:
Thank you so much, ladies, for spending your Saturday afternoon with us! We all had so much fun! Although I personally think we need a rematch. HA!
Foodie Pics of the Week feat. Kapitolyo!
This week we pay tribute once again to the infamous foodie strip of Kapitolyo!
We’re not quite sure what it is about the place, but looloo reviewers love Kapitolyo. Some of the most-reviewed places on the app are found along the busy strip of hole-in-the-wall foodie gems and well-known favorites.
In case you haven’t seen it, our Fearless Foodie Guide to Kapitolyo is our most-shared infographic so far, and was a humongonormous hit among food-lovers! We thought we’d take it a step further by showing you photos taken by the adventurous looloo users who managed to voyage there and return with documentation of the gastronomic treasures they found.
Prosciutto with Mozzarella Cheese Sandwich – Mel D. in her review for Poco Deli
Pad Thai – Maluz V. in her review for Nav Modern Thai Cuisine
Muffins – Joey G. in his review for Cab Cafe
Better for Your #BoraBody: Ice Cream, Gelato, or Froyo?
If your Instagram and Facebook feeds are anything like mine, you’re either one of two things:
- Extremely excited for that beach trip you’ve been looking forward to for months or…
- Sourgraping because you aren’t. Le sigh.
If you fall under the latter choice, then you’ve probably found more creative ways to beat the heat. When mooching off the mall’s free aircon window-shopping gets boring, summer heat in the Philippines has been known to make us do crazy things. One of them? Succumbing to the temptation of that nearby ice cream/gelato/froyo joint you found on looloo. Now this is probably no big deal for us stuck in the city this summer (#LaBoreDay) but for those beach-bound, which icy treat is the lesser evil??
Ice Cream
“A moment on the lips, forever on the hips” seems to be an appropriate description for this frozen favorite. Ice cream has the biggest percentage of milk fat with at least 10%. What’s weird is, for premium ice cream labels, the percentage rises to as much as 18% (that’s right, you actually pay MORE to consume more calories).
For those able to resist the allure of a cup of cookie dough, I salute you. Everyone else? See you at the gym!
Gelato
Gelato, unlike its close cousin ice cream, is made almost solely with milk, sans the egg yolks and heavy cream. This brings down its fat content to about 3-10%, which in turn, brings up its #BoraBody rating!
Weight-watching concerns aside, the methods used in preparing gelato involve incorporating less air into the mix, making the creamy treat denser and its flavors more intense!
Frozen Yogurt
The slight +1 star edge froyo has over gelato on the #BoraBody ratings comes from the lower fat content percentage and the fact that frozen yogurt (when made with live cultures) has the added benefit of encouraging the growth of “friendly bacteria” in your digestive system. I’m no doctor, but it sure sounds healthier!
The OK-ka-na-tiyan factor plus going with healthier alternatives like nuts or berries (vs. chocolate sprinkles) for toppings will probably pay-off come bikini season. Mmmmm… b’kinis.
Foodie Pics of the Week #13: Cookies!
Who says 13 is unlucky? 13 weeks in and the drool-worthy food photos from looloo users are still pouring in!
As this is our baker’s-dozen-sary for the foodie pics segment of our blog, I thought it’d be fun (or extremely corny, you be the judge) to feature everyone’s favorite bite-sized baked goodies: COOKIES!
Prevention.com has cookies as #5 on its list of 10 Most Addictive Foods
Nearly every culture around the world has some form of cookie-like snack and the universally-loved treats have been around since before the Roman Empire. Of course there’s good ol’ chocolate chip, but throughout the course of history, people have gotten bored/more adventurous with flavors and toppings. And yes, someone was bound to try it eventually… the bacon cookie.
Here are this week’s picks for some of the most beautimous cookie photos on looloo!
Milk and Cookies – Tricia G. in her review for Borough
Almond Cookies – Mark C. in his review for Cookies ‘N Crumbs Cafe and Restaurant
Milk and Cookies – Jacy L in her review for Lunchbox
5 #MedyoUseless Things I’ve Learned from Reading looloo Reviews
Just because you’re a looloo reviewer doesn’t mean you’re all takaw. I’ve actually learned a bunch of interesting things (aside from newly opened restaurants) thanks to looloo reviews! Some of them maybe #medyouseless but it’s still something you can share with your friends… on a boring night out.
1. There is such a thing as a 450-peso cup of rice.
Sources: http://looloo.com/r/qiv and http://looloo.com/r/r60
If you think paying 450 pesos for a CUP (read: not sack) of rice is ridiculous, wait until I tell you about their Beluga caviar that costs Php 56,000. It’s no surprise that when a looloo reviewer asked, the waiter admitted to never having served a single order of it… so far, anyway.
Has anyone ever tried this Beluga caviar? Is it really worth a 13-inch Macbook Air?
2. You can order “secret” Jamba Juice drinks.
Source: http://looloo.com/r/n7k
It’s not much of a secret when there exists an entire web page dedicated to it but a lot of people are still surprised to find out that Jamba Juice has a list of “secret” drinks you can order.
Out of curiosity, I tried their Red Gummi Bear Drink and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it does taste like the red Gummi bears – only in liquid form! If you’re the type to have color preferences when it comes to Gummi bears, this is the perfect drink for you.
For my calorie counting friends however, you won’t be very happy to find out that the 24oz drink contains about 500 calories.
3. Army Navy’s Freedom Fries actually started out as a political euphemism for French Fries in the US.
Source: http://looloo.com/r/ogd
All this time I thought it was Army Navy that came up with the “Freedom Fries” name! D’oh!
Apparently, it all began in 2003 when the US Congress officially renamed “French Fries” and “French Toast” to “Freedom Fries” and well, “Freedom Toast.” This was their response to France’s opposition to the proposed invasion of Iraq. Several other restaurants followed suit, at least until the committee chairman behind the renaming resigned. Only then did they bring “French Fries” back.
Ah, the things you discover because of Wikipedia. Thanks to Jairus L. for sharing this with us! I also found out that it’s not just Army Navy that offers Freedom Fries, Clawdaddy Crab also has it!
4. You can get your Starbucks drink “upside down.”
Source: http://looloo.com/r/rel
I originally found out about this fancy way of ordering your drink from Ariane L. I was complaining about how bitter their Asian Dolce Latte was in my looloo review. Here’s Ariane’s explanation:
“‘Upside down’ actually means… the espresso shots go in first (like lattes, mochas, etc.). Kasi with this drink and the caramel macchiato, the espresso shots are on top hence the bitter taste.”
To this day, I still call the “upside down” method… “shaking.” This probably makes Ariane cringe (bahaha) but it’s just so much easier to think of it that way!
Note though, that we’ve had a couple of looloo reviewers get the weird look from Starbucks baristas after saying “upside down.” I suppose not all baristas know about that trick yet. Try to explain what you’ve learned to them and if all else fails, just say “paki-shake na lang.” Problem solved.
5. The Kitayama beef comes from part Japanese, part native cattle that are bred and reared in Northern Mindanao.
Source: http://looloo.com/r/h5a
Photo Credit: www.mrdelicious.ph/philippine-wagyu-corned-beef/
If you’ve ever seen “Kitayama beef” when ordering tapa, corned beef, or steak, know that you’re supporting local farming! Sourced from the Umalag and Sumilao farms in Bukidnon, the cattle here are fed with pure pineapple pulp and are not given any hormones or antibiotics. 100% natural! What you get is marbled, organic meat that melts in your mouth. Delicious.
How about you? Have you learned something that’s #medyouseless from reading looloo reviews? Comment plz!
Foodie Pics of the Week #12: Latte Art!
Not that I’d consider myself a Mr. Fancy Pants coffee connoisseur, but I’d like to think I’m cultured enough to know that to some, making coffee is an art!
The temperature of the milk, where the beans were grown, even the precise timing required when combining each ingredient, supposedly all contribute to brewing the perfect cup of coffee. In this week’s foodie pics post though, the “art” we’re talking about something a bit more… literal. *Drumroll please* We’re featuring latte art!
Michael Breach, coffee artist, has taken latte art to a whole new level. He’s drawn Batman, city skylines, and people, all on coffee. Check out Kurt Co-bean.
Latte art began in the late 1980s to the early 90’s and has since then, become common practice in coffee shops across the globe. The Italian phenomenon has even made its way to Philippine coffee joints and looloo users have wasted no time documenting the experience of receiving a cup of Joe too damn pretty to drink!
Cafe Mocha – Em D. in her review for Craft Coffee Workshop
Green Tea Latte – Carlo S. in his review for Afters
Vanilla Latte – Stephen C. in his review for Starbucks Coffee
The First-Ever looloo Eatup!
We just had our first-ever looloo Eatup last Saturday, April 6 at Nolita!
An Eatup is really just a play on the word “meetup.” We changed the “meet” to “eat” since all we’re really going to do aside from getting together is to stuff our faces with food!
If you’re wondering how a looloo Eatup is different from a looloo Rendezvoos, here’s a quick list of differences:
- A looloo Eatup is KKB while a Rendezvoos is free (it’s on looloo)!
- More people can join an Eatup but only 6-8 active looloo users are invited to a Rendezvoos
- Eatup attendees know where the event will be but Rendezvoos attendees don’t (we usually meet up somewhere near the actual Rendezvoos spot)
For our first Eatup, we decided Nolita would be a good place. Not only is it self-service over there which means it’s KKB-friendly, a good number of attendees also haven’t been to Nolita yet.
At 11 AM (the meeting time), we had about 5-6 people. People started trickling in after 11 (with one early bird coming in a full hour early!) and by 1230 PM there were all of a sudden about 20 of us! Cray. By about 1-130PM, some people had left but only to be replaced by latecomers. Ha. (Hi Tracy M., Karl S., Pichuuur L.)
It was so much fun meeting the people behind the looloo profiles and knowing they’re just as crazy about food as we are. It didn’t seem like we were meeting strangers at all! If you looked at our table, it was just like a bunch of loud friends were there, eating lunch.
My story doesn’t end there.
At around 2PM, there were only about 7 of us left.
“Dessert?”, someone asks. 2 minutes later, we found ourselves at Slice munching on cakes and ice cream. And as if that wasn’t enough, an hour and a half later, we were at Wildflour Cafe + Bakery… eating steak. All before 7 PM.
It was an Eatup that turned into an all day pig out fest!
As we parted ways that day, we swore to each other that we’ll never hang out more than once a month! It’s ridiculous how much we ate that Saturday!
This is probably a more accurate photo of ourselves:
Thank you so much to everyone who came and spent their Saturday afternoon with a bunch of masisibas and matatakaws. We had so much fun and also gained about 5 pounds each. Ha. Until next time!
If you want to come with us when we do our next fun and fattening event, join the looloo Eatup Crew! Make sure to use your name on the looloo app when you join!