Entries Tagged 'Appetizer' ↓

16 student chefs, 16 delicious dishes and desserts, 5 celebrity chef judges, and 1 brand to remember that is Moulinex – that is how you would describe the afternoon of January 14 last Saturday – having been the Moulinex You Cook Video Recipe Challenge semi-finals!

Cream Pie with Malunggay

16 student chefs and HRM students from 9 reputable cooking schools cooked-out each other as they competed for the coveted nods of 5 celebrity chef judges in the recent Moulinex You Cook contest.

Held at Hotel Intercon in Makati, the 1.5 hour cooking challenge decided the top 8 finalists from among the contestants who submitted their video recipes. The Top 8  moves on to the final round on January 28, 2012 (venue TBA).

Kitchen Ingredients

Batch 1 Moulinex You Cook Challenge Participants

Batch 2 Moulinex You Cook Challenge Participatns

They were judges on the following criteria:

• Taste 30%
• Ease of Preparation 20%
• Creativity/Originality 15%
• Visual Appeal 15%
• Optimization of Moulinex Products 15%
• Personality 5%

Moulinex YouCook Judges

The celebrity chef judges were: Chef Bruce Lim, Chef Niño Laus, Nina Daza-Puyat, Rory Subida, and Laurent Casteret.

Celebrity Chefs in Action

Chef Masters

Almost all the dishes looked great, while a few was challenged by the limited time. Nonetheless the judges were encouraging enough giving a pat-in-the-back advise that they can still do better the next time.

Food Photos:

Budding Chefs

Participant Photos:

Tempting Dishes

The Top 8 Finalists

After the scores were tallied and counted with a DTI representative, the Top 8 Finalists were named. They are (in no particular order):

• Halson Lapuz (First Gourmet Academy)
• Romeo Apostol Jr.
• Juno Pocholo Sedigo (First Gourmet Academy)
• James Andrian Bacaldo (Center for Culinary Arts Manila)
• Nino Carlo Rosali (Asian Institute of Culinary Arts)
• Rosana Ramel (Maligaya Institute for Culinary Arts and Residential Services)
• Karen Grace Santiago (La Consolacion College – Manila)
• Leonelia De Castro (MOST Institute)

Moulinex Products

Moulinex is exclusively distributed by Collins International Trading Corporation. Moulinex appliances are available at all leading department stores and appliance stores nationwide. Their kitchen appliances include a Food Preparation Line such as food processors, meat mincer, chopper, electric knife, immersion blender, hand mixer, and stand mixer. They also have a Beverage, Cooking, Breakfast, and Home Care Line.

Moulinex Products

Grand Finals Prizes

Grand Prize Winner:
Contestant: P40, 000 cash, Stay and Learn Program inclusive of an overnight stay of Intercontinental Hotel, Moulinex Master Chef Tour, gift packs from sponsors and a Certificate of Recognition.
Mentor: P5, 000 cash, P5, 000 worth of Moulinex products and gift packs from sponsors.
School: P25, 000 worth of Moulinex products and an F & B/Cooking Seminar for selected students courtesy of Intercontinental Hotel.

Second Prize:
Contestant: P20, 000 cash, gift vouchers from Intercontinental Hotel, gift packs from sponsors and a Certificate of Recognition.
Mentor: P4, 000 cash, P3, 000 worth of Moulinex products and gift packs from sponsors.
School: P15, 000 worth of Moulinex products.

Consolation Prizes:
6 Consolation prizes of P5,000 cash each for the other 6 finalists and Certificate of Participation.

For more details and information, visit their website www.moulinexyoucook.com or email moulinexyoucook@gmail.com Contact Mr. Marvin Mancera, Brand Marketing Assistant-Moulinex at 681-6161 or 681-6163.

In the grand finals 8 days from now, the student chefs will go head to head in their last showdown to know whose dishes will rise above the rest. Certainly, there’s no place for mediocrity and we will anticipate on that day whose creation will emerge as the 2011 Moulinex You Cook Video Recipe Challenge Grand Winner!

The Food Adventure at Venice Piazza is back. It’s where you can taste the flavors of 12 restaurants for P600.

We have tried something similar to this mid of last year and another one about three months ago called Platter for 8 also in Venice Piazza where 14 participating restaurants offered big servings of dishes fit for eight people only for Php800.

This time, the Food Adventure if from 12 restaurants and only for P600! I have yet to try this one but they will start this weekend January 7 and every Saturday and Sunday following that until March 31, 2012. It is also offered only during 4pm to 9pm. Let’s see how this compares soon.

The Participating restaurants are :

• Blackwood Bistro
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
• Empire Deli
• Figaro
• KBOP
• KUSE
• Little Asia
• Old Vine Grille
• Pho Hoa
• Pinchos
• Red Crab Alimango House
• Ramen Bar
• Sol Gelato
• Yo Swirls

Food Adventure at Venice Piazza

It’s nice to see Figaro joined the promo this time as they were not in the list of previous promos (or maybe it’s a new branch, I don’t know). 🙂

Check out the details of the promo mechanics at Taste of Manila blog (click on link).

12 Restaurants - Php 600

So if you’re not doing anything this weekend, you might want to drop by McKinley Hill and check out the Food Adventure at Venice Piazza. Personally, I suggest you try it starting January 8 onwards, you wouldn’t want the inconsistencies of first day blues that goes with new activities. On the other hand, I’ll be at Market Market on Saturday, hopefully I can pass by. Bring your family to enjoy!

“Potato potato Tomato tomato”. That was the tune playing in my head when I entered Restaurant 9501 found at the 14th Floor ELJ Communication Center, Eugenio Lopez St., Quezon City for the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the United States Potato Board (USPB) last November 14, 2011, 6:30 PM. I know I will be loading on carbs that night and somehow a scene in the movie “When Harry Met Sally” keeps popping in my head.

This would be my first time to be invited by the U.S. Potato Board through NomNomClub.com and I am curious what interesting potato dishes will be served to satisfy the guests’ cravings for this most-loved tuber.

Tomato Jam for the Potato Bread

As blessings literally poured outside (heavy rain after a very hot day) and inside (celebrating a cozy USPB Thanksgiving dinner) together with the distinguished guests of the US Potato Board, I fumbled on my seat for my camera. I wanted to capture the appetizer spread generously on our table. The most appealing to me is the abundant fresh fruits found on every table. All that is missing is a cornucopia and it would have been indeed a symbol of good harvest.

USPB Thanksgiving Dinner & US Frozen Potatoes

Attending the USPB Thanksgiving Dinner made me discover something new about myself. My love for tomatoes will reach a new level after tasting the tomato jam on a potato bread. So there is a reason for the tune in my head!  The tomato jam spread thinly on the homemade potato bread was delightful. I hope they can make potato crackers next time. That would be lovely with tea.

I was disciplined enough to just limit myself with one slice of potato bread because I know there is more potato dishes to come for the USPB Thanksgiving Dinner. Before indulging to our gluttonous desire for more USPB potatoes, we were graced with the presence of Chef Myrna Segissmundo who gave us a short introduction about her off-the-menu recipes using US Frozen Potatoes for the U.S. Potato Board Thanksgiving Dinner.

Truffled Mashed Potatoes Soup with Porcini Mushroom

All that talk of turkey, potato and gravy is making the crowd hungrier, so without further ado, the second USPB potato creation arrived shortly. By this time, short introductions were made between the guests on my table which turned out to be a great conversation by the end of the meal.

I missed the potato in the Seared Scallops with Straight Cut Potatoes, Apple Waldorf Salad Basic oil but the Truffled Mashed Potatoes soup with Porcini Mushroom Froth was delectable. You have the truffle before and after, and all potatoes in between.  I was actually tempted to ask for a second serving and just enjoy it with the homemade potato bread.

The fruits were a nice way to wash the taste of the previous dishes and prepare my palate for the next one. I’m not much of a wine-drinker but I indulged myself with a glass for the USPB Thanksgiving dinner because I know it will be compliment my dining experience while eating turkey. The wine was semi-sweet not too dry and I did enjoy it a lot with almost all of my food.

The main dish is of course a turkey dish specifically Roast U.S. Tom Turkey with bread and nut stuffling, minted orange-cranberry relish, creamed spinach, candied crinkle-cut potatoes and giblet gravy. It was not my first time to eat turkey but so far this is one of the best I’ve tried. I miss having to cut the turkey though. That is half of the fun.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Roast US Tom Turkey

So what makes Chef Myrna’s turkey dish enjoyable for me?

It was the combination of the creamy spinach, the candied potatoes, and the turkey that did the trick. The main USPB turkey dish worked for me when I eat these three elements in that specific order.

Do you remember in the movie Ratatouille when Remy described the sweetness of the grape combined with the salinity of the cheese? Well that is how the main dish played inside my mouth. Alone the mashed spinach was creamy with a slight “earthiness” (because it’s a vegetable) then comes the sweet potato which is smooth and silky to taste. The two combined gives you a hint of earth and clouds then finally the turkey follows which is different from the texture of the greens and the potato. It gives you a little bit of something to bite but it will not distract you from the interplay of these three items in your dish. I must have enjoyed that main dish because I finished it, which is rare for me.

Among the five USPB creations of Chef Myrna Segismundo, I really enjoyed the soup and the main dish. There are so many things to be thankful for that day. But what made that meal truly satisfying were the new friends I met that day and the wonderful conversations we had. The food can be great but with no one to share it with it will seem bland. However, when you are amidst friends any meal, even boiled potato, will taste the best. Now combine the two and you have a dining experience of a king.

Apple Waldorf Salad

Know more about US Frozen Potatoes and USPB programs at http://www.potatoesusa.com or call Ms. Reji Retugal-Onal at 534.8534 / 534.8223.

*Contributed by Blogger Apprentice: Ia Adam-Lim.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all and thank you to the US Potato Board! How about you, what’s your potato story? And what are you thankful for? Please share it with us.

The cafe name says it all, F for Fabulous! This cafe is housed at the newly opened F1 Hotel at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The hotel is a franchise from world renowned hotelier, Best Western International.

Best Western hotels are known for modern and edgy interiors and at the same time tasteful. F1 Hotel did quite well on this.

F, located at the hotel’s 5th level is also a sight to see. It will certainly not fall short in your expectations as it has almost 300 courses and desserts in a spread to satisfy your palate. F restaurant sports a light and relaxed atmosphere with tables positioned with the glorious view of the pool deck.

The cafe serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner and like any other buffet, the courses change daily.

Gorgeous Furniture pieces at F1 Hotel

Dining in a buffet could be tricky because you easily get overwhelmed with all the food you see and end up full at your 2nd course.

With F, the concept is simple and well sectioned, most of the dishes are separated per type and helpful chefs are stationed to serve you.

My best tip on buffet dining is to eat less rice or pasta and go though each dish section by section, that way you make sure you tried everything the cafe offers.

Continue reading →

It’s Christmas season once again! Christmas decors all over, we hear our favourite Christmas songs, and start planning gifts for our family and love ones. Christmas without food is not-so-complete, so this year, Starbucks brings more reasons to be merry -  15 of the Starbucks Christmas Food items.

Are you ready for the treat?

Starbucks Hazelnut Stollen Bread

Christmas Food Items (New)

1.    Pecan Butterscotch Twirl (Top Photo)
A delicious, light and flaky spiral roll stuffed with aromatic cinnamon and creamy vanilla pastry filling topped with roasted pecans drizzled with butterscotch sauce and white chocolate.

Retail Price P85

2.    Hazelnut Stollen Bread
A German festival bread that is popular during Christmas season not only in Germany but all over Europe. A sweet yeast bread packed with scents of toasted hazelnut paste perfectly balanced with raisins.

Retail Price P65 slice/ P595 whole

Starbucks S'mores Cake

3.    S’mores
With its buttery graham crust filled with gooey melted marshmallow cream and intense dark chocolate then topped with chocolate ganache.

Retail Price P70

Starbucks Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers

4.    Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers
Love peanuts, chocolate and caramel? This one is for you! A scrumptious three (3) layer cheesecake loaded with chunks of Snickers candy bar in a chocolate cookie crust topped with a chocolate fudge icing and topped with roasted chopped peanuts.

Retail Price P130 slice/P1250 whole

Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

5.    Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Serve your loved one with this giant chocolate chip cookie made into a cake then topped with thick and chocolaty dark chocolate mousse filled with mini chocolate chip cookies. Best served warm from the oven topped with whipped cream and drizzled with Starbucks caramel drizzle.

Retail Price: P110 slice/P950 whole

6.    Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Roll (served with butter and jam)
A crispy, crunchy crust with a slightly chewy and soft center made more flavorful with sundried tomatoes and basil. Best served with jam and butter but you can eat on its own.

Retail Price P50

Starbucks Sundried Tomato & Basil Roll

7.    Chicken Alfredo Turnover
A light, buttery and flaky crust filled with moist and juicy chicken breast cubes marinated in Italian seasoning then sautéed in a rich and creamy exhilarating Alfredo sauce.

Retail Price P90

Texas Chicken BBQ Wrap

8.    Texas Chicken BBQwrap
You’ll love the sweet, spicy, smoky flavour of strips of chicken breast fillet fried to perfection tossed in barbeque sauce with Texas style salsa, grated cheese and drizzled with sour cream wrapped in a soft chewy flour tortilla.

Retails at P140

9.    Glazed Ham with Apricot Spread on Multi-grain Bread
Juicy slices of glazed ham and creamy mozzarella cheese with tangy and sweet apricot dressing on a hearty crisp, crunchy and soft center multi-grain bread.

Retail Price P140

Glazed Ham with Apricot Spread on Multi grain Bread

Turkey & Chicken with Apple Stuffing on Whole Wheat Walnut Bread

10.    Turkey & Chicken with Apple Stuffing on Whole Wheat Wallnut Bread
This spells Christmas! With slices of moist and tender turkey and chicken breast served with delectable apple stuffing and cranberry spread on a crusty whole wheat walnut bread.

Retail Price P140

Returning Favorites

11.    Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf
Christmas will never be the same without the intense rich, moist and dense chocolate loaf frosted with smooth chocolate icing and topped with chewy, crunchy toffee. A great Christmas treat for all chocolate lovers.

Retail Price P55/P495 whole

Starbucks Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf

12.    White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie
This cookie has it all – chunky white chocolate, fresh roasted walnuts and chopped dried cranberries. Big and chunky, chewy and crunchy.

Retail Price P55

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie

13.    Peppermint Brownie
Fudgy, chewy chocolate brownie and creamy, smooth peppermint cream cheese filling topped with chocolate ganache, finished with white, red and green chocolate drizzle and small golden beads for a festive look.

Retail Price P75

Starbucks Gingerbread Cookie

14.    Gingerbread Cookie
Ginger, allspice and cinnamon makes a cookie that is as fragrant as it is delicious. This is a wonderful gift this Christmas and children will surely love the snowman Gingerbread cookie!

It reminded me of the ginger bread from Shrek, only dipped in snow. 😛

15.    Molten Chocolate Cake
Intensely chocolatey, filled with dark chocolate and caramel truffle ernrobed in moist chocolate sponge cake topped with whipped cream and drizzled with Starbucks caramel sauce.

Starbucks Molten Chocolate Cake

*Text & Photos by Marjorie Pineda for NomNomClub.com

Sundried Tomato & Basil Roll

All these Starbucks Christmas Food started to be available since November 3. Aside from those delightful treat, in case you haven’t started, you can  start collecting stickers for the Limited Edition Starbucks Planner 2012.

Have a very Merry Christmas from NomNom Club! 😛

Old Vine Restaurant

Venice Piazza once again becomes a perfect place for friends and family to get-together with mouth-watering line-up of great food, good booze with the “Platter for 8“.

Ramen Bar

Venice Piazza recently launched the Party Platter Promo. All your food favourites in just one plate! Platter for 8 is available on  all weekends from October 15 – November 2011

The Food

For only P800 satisfy your taste buds with scrumptious pasta dish from Empire Deli or Blackwood Bistro.

How about a food trip from Japan, Korea and China – all these restaurants are participating the Platter for 8 too!

Yoshi’s Platter from Ramen Bar

The Restaurants:  choose from 14 participating establishments.

• Pasta Trio Platter from Blackwood Bistro
• Fantastic Four Platter from Carlo’s Pizza

Stackers Burger cafe

• Empire Italian’s Platter from Empire Deli
• Korean Group Meals Platter from KBOP
• Salo-salo set from Kuse
• Little Asia Symphony of Flavors from the Little Asia
• Fish and Steak Platter from the Old Vine Grille
• Nachos and Wings Platter from Pinchos Bar & Restaurant
• Yoshi’s Platter from Ramen Bar
• Arianne’s Platter from The Red Crab Alimango’s House
• Cheaper by the Dozen by Sol Gelato
• Auss’m Party Platter from Stackers Burger Café
• James Dean Platter from The Sweet Pea
• Nakayoshi Platter from  Tokyo Café

Nachos Platter from Pinchos Bar & Restaurant

Wings Platter from Pinchos Bar & Restaurant

Blackwood Bistro

Aside from the Platter 8, here are other things you can do at the Fort:

• Enjoy Everyday Happy Hour with colleagues and a bottle of beer for only P30 on weekdays. But if that’s not enough, enjoy buy 1 take 1 cocktails for only P40.
• Rockeoke  from Wednesdays at 8pm with 88.8 band. Listen to the music of The Beatles, The Ramones, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, Gin Blossoms.
• Draybers every Saturdays at 7pm. With classic rock bands inspired by the likes of Lep Zeppelin, The Easgles, and Samantha.
• Spirit of ’67 every Sundays at 7pm. Enjoy good music from the 70s and good repertoire for the classics.

Yoshi's Platter from Ramen Bar has of course, Ramen! 🙂

12 Scoops of Ice Cream Dessert called 'Cheaper by the Dozen' from Sol Gelato - Yum!

So bring a healthy appetite when you come to the Venice Piazza Platter for 8!

Red Crab Alimango House

The Verdict

With the myriad of choices, NomNom’s Top 3 Picks of Recommend platters from among those we were able to try are the following:

• Korean Group Meals Platter from KBOP

• Salo-salo set from Kuse

• Yoshi’s Platter from Ramen Bar

Kuse

Ironically, only one of those three have photos in this article. I think we were too overwhelmed and busy eating hence the absence of their photos. lols 🙂

*Written by Marjorie Pineda and Jonel Uy for NomNomClub.com
There’s always room for more fun at Venice Piazza so bring your family and friends of 8 and celebrate good times. For more inquiries, call the concierge at 709-0888, 709-9888, and +63917817655.

So when are you visiting Venice Piazza for the Platter for 8? 🙂

We Filipinos are very familiar of festivals. With more than 7000 islands here in the Philippines, just imagine the number of festivals we celebrate in a year. Do we think that’s enough? Apparently, one cannot have too many festivals. On the 13th of October 2011, Appetite, together with Shangri-la Mall presented the Appetite Restaurant Festival to food writers, food photographers, food bloggers, and every kind of food enthusiasts.

Pages' Deli Meat Platter

Before going to the Appetite Restaurant Festival, I have prepared myself for a night of feasting so I did some chores which required walking from one mall to another. Finally, hungry from all that walking I headed to Shangri-la Mall for the upcoming festivities at the Appetite Restaurant Festival. Oh boy, did I have plenty to feast my eyes and mouth!

Cravings' Chicken A La Pobre

By now you might be thinking “what kind of festival is cooking at Shangri-la Mall”?

That was also my question when I arrived at Shangri-la Mall so I first stopped by at C2 Cuisine which I later learned is also one of the participating restaurants in the Appetite Restaurant Festival. The friendly C2 Cuisine staff instructed me to go to the ground floor where the Appetite Restaurant Festival will be held. I was thirty minutes early which is a good thing because I had all the pleasure of taking pictures of the different food selections at my pace.

I also had time to think about what to eat and try. There are lots (and I mean lots to choose from) and one can easily feel prey to gluttonous indulgences. After reaching the end of the station for pictures, the beginning of the festivities started.

Appetite Restaurant Festival Passport

Airplane Flight Theme

Apparently the theme is an airplane flight and that the guests are the passengers. Each passenger is given a passport which they have to show to each restaurant station for them to partake what the restaurant is offering. After the passenger receives his or her food, the passport is stamped which means that you have visited that station already. Apparently return visits were discouraged that time to accommodate other passengers.

Appetite Restaurant Festival filled the Shangri-La Mall Activity Area

By the way, the head flight crew is Sam O who donned a sexy flight attendant outfit. She introduced the representatives from Appetite Magazine and Shangri-la Mall who welcomed all the guests to try this one stop shop at the Appetite Restaurant Festival. The idea for the Appetite Restaurant Festival is to enjoy different cuisines coming from different locations: Asian, Mediterranean, American and European in just one stop which is Shangri-la Mall.

The Best from Classic Cuisine - C2

Lemongrass

What do I think of the concept? I love the idea! This is simply because it gives me choices on what to eat. I have a few favorite restaurants from the participating restaurants like Cravings and C2 Cuisine but I can’t go there every time. At the Appetite Restaurant Festivals I can still get something from the restaurants I frequent to and at the same time try also something new from other restaurants in just one stop. You have the elements of convenience and variety going on in just one location. I can imagine Sunday lunches with family or birthday celebrations being spent in the Appetite Restaurant Festivals.

Dessert Time!

It gives you that Sunday feeling of a laid-back eat-all-you can one-stop shop like the one in San Lorenzo’s place or the Sunday Market at the Lung Center (now moved somewhere!) but inside the mall. So for people who want to enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned room with the feel of Sunday market menu, I highly recommend trying the Appetite Festival Restaurant.

Other participating restaurants include Lemongrass Asian Bistro, Cafe Provencal, Crustasia, Cyma, Pages, Pepper Lunch, Clawdaddy, Green Tomato, Secret Recipe, Pho Hoa, and Sing Hainanese Chicken House.

Appetite Magazine Dinner Event

Good food from Clawdaddy

I haven’t been back to the Appetite Restaurant Festival but I told the boys we ought to try it out after we get back from our diving trips. So far I want to know who has tried it too. Have you?

What was your experience during the Appetite Restaurant Festival? Drop me a link, a comment, or anything! I am really interested to know what you think of the Appetite Restaurant Festival.

For the whole second anniversary month of Marriott Hotel Manila this October 2011, Marriott Cafe is promoting their Lunch Buffet at 50% off until October 31!

Grilled Prawns

Feast on Marriott Café’s stuffed turkey, butter fried prawn on a bed of asparagus, blue marlin with tomato coulis, and Arabic chicken. All that even from appetizer, soup, salad, and dessert!

Together with some foodies, we got to try once more Marriott Cafe‘s international dishes last weekend.

I usually go around the buffet and pick only those that I liked. But this time around, I tried them by areas. 🙂

My first plate was Chinese-inspired with oriental dishes.

Oriental Dishes: (Japanese - left; Chinese - right)

The second plate was a Japanese special with maki, sushi, and one of my favorites – tempura, among others.

My third plate was from the Middle-East with beef skewers and grilled meat. 🙂

Middel Eastern & Western Plates (L-R)

The fourth plate has a western theme filled with steaks and some seafood.

Here are the other luscious photos I got during our lunch buffet at Marriott Cafe.

Salads

Steak

Marriott Cafe Dimsum

Chicken Dishes in various preparations

Roast Duck

Prawns prepared in a different away and served in singles

Desserts!

Marriot Cafe Desserts: Sweets, Cream Puffs, and Ice Cream!

Tiramisu Cream and Tarts!

Marriott Hotel's Marriott Cafe Buffet Lunch Promo

Visit Marriott Hotel and avail of this opportunity from October 1 to October 31, 2011 (Mondays-Saturdays) at the Marriott Cafe Lunch Buffet promo and get to enjoy a 5-star hotel dining experience with flowing ice tea at only half the price – P875 . 🙂