Beautiful Maria | Jude Bautista Gallery

Soothing Latté Scrumptious Pastries with Jazz

Marie Puyat jams with The Executive Band. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

Coffee can mean a lot more than just your regular pick me up. The perfect blend of bitterness, creaminess and slightly sweet drink is certainly pleasurable by itself. Drinking coffee has a host of health benefits such as improving energy levels, makes you smarter and even helps burn fat. A lot of serious people into the coffee mania have indulged themselves in buying the best possible machines out there.

from left: D&K Kitchen Essentials Mktg Events Coordinator Angela Imperial, Espressamente Illy Sales Exec Joel Javate, Figaro Barista John Edison Villanueva, ASHA Grp Brand Mgr Kristina C. Mauricio, ASHA Grp PR Marie M. Dizon, RUSTANS Shang Branch Mgr Steven Mawdsley, Shang Rila Plaza EVP & Gen Mgr Lala Fojas, National Bookstore Shang Branch Mgr Sally Penilla, TRUE VALUE Branch Mgr Milani Castañeda, ASTROVISION Head Operating Mgr Yets Almario, Breville Phil VP & Gen Mgr Cris Llamo and Powerbooks Shang Jr Asst Branch Mgr Keith De Jesus. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

No event has brought together everything that makes a coffee experience enjoyable than COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Even if you’re not in the market to purchase any of these machines it is a great way to sample the special lattés and espressos they can produce. Some brands will even allow you to taste them for free. D&K Kitchen Essentials will also be having celebrity Chef Mitchie Sison on March 28 to transform coffee into deserts.

BUGATTI Diva studded with 14,000 Swarovski crystals available at Rustan’s. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Espresso Anyone?

There are quite a few brands of machines out there ranging from the sparkling Italian made Bugatti to the efficient Breville. Just hearing the name Bugatti harkens to supercars in Italy. But this brand name that has distinguished itself in utensils and appliances has actually made a more consistent and enduring legacy in quality and design. More than just a utilitarian piece they showcase a special Bugatti model studded with 14,000 SWAROVSKI crystals. The Diva model is designed by Andreas Seegatz and also has a luxurious price to boot. Bugatti, Bosch, Jura and Saeco can all be purchased at Rustan’s.

You can buy Breville & La Mill Coffee machines at TRUE VALUE- level 6 Main mall. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Breville’s Barista Express distributed by TRUE VALUE was Winner of Best New Product from the Specialty Coffee Association of America in 2013. Espressamente Illy has both coffee shops and coffee machines. Their outlet at the Level 2 Main mall overlooks the entrance and has a spectacular view of the expansive interior. Apart from serving amazing coffee they have unique seating that shields overhead light and provides a little more privacy. Brands such as Delonghi, Krups and Bosch are actually rated by the UK Publication Independent as among the 10 best machines.

Espressamente Illy Café is at the 2nd level Shang Plaza Main mall. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Figaro can be found at 3rd level Shang Plaza Main mall. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Figaro allows you to customize your own flavors and blends for the reasonable price tag of P100 per cup. It’s every coffee lover’s dream to taste blends from Starbucks, Crabtree & Evelyn, 26th Bistro and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in one place. We also got a taste for Di Bella Coffee imported from Melbourne Australia. You can get a fantastic cup of Di Bella in any of the ASHA Group of companies such as CRAVINGS, EPICURIOUS and WICKED.

Di Bella Coffee is served in CRAVINGS, EPICURIOUS and WICKED. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Choco Dipped Croissant topped with Almonds from EPICURIOUS lower ground level East wing. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Delectable Pastries & More

An eye-catching array of pastries was served during the opening, almost like a best of hits: Choco Dipped Croissant topped with Almonds, Fruit & Nut Cookies from EPICURIOUS, m&m cookies, Banana loaf, choco chip cookies from CRAVINGS. There’s Brookies, Apple Pie, Red Velvet Reeses Cupcake and Salted Caramel Macaroon from WICKED. All these shops along with Rustan’s and True Value can be found in Shang Plaza Mall.

Reese’s Cupcake & Red velvet Cupcake from WICKED 5th level East wing. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Apart from the pastries is the special bite sized appetizers from SPATZLE located at the East Wing of Shang Mall. I ate them so quickly I was not able to photograph them. Arancini Balls is perfect for the Pinoy palate: risotto rice balls stuffed with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Their Carbonara was also bite sized; you can have their garlic breadsticks in Moutabal dip. SPATZLE gives a great taste of accessible European cuisine along with pastries such as Banana Bread Florentina, Red Velvet Cake and Toffee Pudding.

Spatzle at level 5 East wing Shang Mall. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Powerbooks is at 6th level Shang Plaza Main mall. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Café Literature

Long before the age of laptops and tablets, cafés were gathering places for the most notable writers, artists and thinkers. Hemingway wrote, “big principal cafes where people were lost in them, and no one noticed them, and they could be alone and in them and be together.” In the 1920s Ernest Hemingway met Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound as a young correspondent in Paris. The City of Lights’ cafes have inspired this event as well. What better accompaniment to coffee than reading their work or books in general? National Bookstore, Powerbooks have a selection of good reads on coffee. Astrovision displays its own collection of Jazz titles as well.

ASTROVISION is at the ground level main wing. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Cara Manglapus will perform on March 28 at COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall which will run from March 20-29, 2015.

Soulful Jazz

Perhaps what makes this event special is the combination of exceptional Jazz artists that are on hand to soothe you as you partake in the best java available. Cool voices like Cara Manglapus can be heard on March 28, rounded off by Vince Lahora on March 29. Bands like THE BRASS MUNKEYS, THE EXECUTIVE BAND and Moira Dela Torre have already crooned to audiences at the East Atrium the previous week.

The Executive Band from left: Francis Manglapus (Guitars), Martin Macalintal (Keyboards) & Julius Sanvictores (Drums). Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

The Brass Munkeys; Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

THE BRASS MUNKEYS featured their new vocalist Christopher Villanueva originally from Rockabilly/punk band HILERA. Villanueva along with former members of HILERA are also working on a project with Ely Buendia & PUPIL. During the opening THE BRASS MUNKEYS had a wonderful up-tempo mix of Beautiful Maria, Stray Cats Strut, In the Mood, Tequila, Mambo no.5 and King of Swing.

The Executive Band’s Ricky Quiogue. Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Last Sunday Listening to vocalist Ricky Quiogue of THE EXECUTIVE BAND is always a pleasure. Ricky has his own unique voice, which can be described as a cross between the raspy style of Louis Armstrong and subtle voice of Tony Bennett. They also have a new female vocalist in Marie Puyat.

What comes across with THE EXECUTIVE BAND is their passion and enjoyment in playing the standards and classics, which translates very well in their sound. Quiogue did wonderfully in C’est Si Bon, Birth of the Blues and Just the Way You Are. Marie Puyat had that silky, sultry touch in Smooth Operator and Wind Beneath My Wings. This weekend promises to be an even bigger draw with Cara Manglapus and Vince Lahora as performers.

The Executive Band top level from left: Francis Manglapus (Guitars), Bob Brillante (Alto Sax), Butch Silverio (Trumpet), Hector Sanvictores (Tenor Sax), Mike Tan (Baritone Sax) 2nd level from left: Martin Macalintal (Keyboards), Marie Puyat (Vocalist), Ricky Quiogue (Vocalist), Rene Mamaril (Bass) foreground: Julius Sanvictores (Drums) . Try out designer coffee and listen to great jazz in COFFEE TEA AND ALL THAT JAZZ AT THE SHANG, East Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall from March 20-29, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

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Soothing Latté Scrumptious Pastries with Jazz