My girlfriend and I had lunch at Chowking Megamall yesterday and a big advertisement at the entrance greeted us with the new ChowKing Chow Pao. At a an affordable price of Php25, I was curious how it tasted.
She ordered the Chinese-style one piece chicken while I had the Fish Tausi bowlwith rice. And of course, each of us had the Chowking Chow Pao as well.
Marj had the Chinese Sausage Chow Pao (P25) while I had the Chinese Sausage Special (P35).
Its only difference with the Chinese Sausage Chow Pao (P25) are the vegetables. This made me think that the Chinese Sausage Special Chow Pao should have been priced at Php 30, not Php 35. Anyhow, it’s still ok since it tasted good.
CHow Pao Chinese Sausage Special
Chow Pao Chinese Sausage Special
You can also just add Php 10 and you get a glass of soda together with the Chowking Chow Pao
Braised Chicken and Oriental Beef
As of this writing, I have actually tried the Braised Chicken Chao Pao and Chunky Beef Chao Pao variants which are both priced at Php 49. And I can say that if you liked the Sausage Special Chow Pao, you will love these two more!
The complete four Chow Pao variants are the Chinese Sausage, Chinese Sausage Special, Braised Chicken and Chunky Beef.
Chowking Chow Pao Braised Chicken & Oriental Beef
Verdict
NomNom Club on Chowking Chow Pao
I think the Chowking Chow Pao will be successful moving forward because of the value-for-money the Php 25 chinese sausage offers. It’s actually like a version of a fastfood hamburger in some sense; having the better Mantao bun instead of the regular bread buns and a chinese sausage filling instead of the regular burger.
It also offered a healthier alternative with the vegetables of the special Chinese sausage Chow Pao.
On the other hand, I think that the braised chicken and oriental beef would have been more acceptable at Php 39-44 price range, not Php49. The good news is that Chowking Chow Pao did not scrimp on the fillings and the taste made up for the P49 price tag. Merienda time!
It was interesting to have met BonChon Philippines head honcho Scott Tan last week where he shared a technique on how to eat BonChon chicken wings. As trivial as it may sound, I was amazed that one can eat about half of a crispy fried chicken wing in one bite. 🙂
As inspired as I was, I had to go back to BonChon two days after and try it myself. So, together with my gf and another friend, we found ourselves back at the BonChon BGC branch which opened just a month ago.
BonChon BGC
Generally, my favorite chicken part is the meaty breasts and thighs, the wings come last. However, with BonChon’s original Korean crispy fried chicken secret recipe, the wings (in soy garlic) are my favorite!
BonChon Chicken came to the Philippines back in November 2010 and has since grown to 19 branches today including Alabang Town Center, Ayala Triangle Garden (ATG), Shangri-la Plaza, SM Mall of Asia, and One Parkade in BGC. Check out more about the contemporary Korean brand BonChon Chicken at www.bonchon.com.ph.
BonChon Crispy Chicken
Korean Yogurt
I also found a new item in the BonChon menu board – the Korean Yogurt called BonChon “Ko-Yo“. They are available in Banofee Pie and Blueberry Torte variants for P70. The plain one is P35.
I found the plain one too small and I think the P70 variant is more cost efficient in terms of size (a.k.a. worth it). I also asked what was the difference between a Korean Yogurt and regular yogurt. I learned that Korean yogurts are less sweet and tastes more tangy.
BonChon Korean Yogurt "Ko-Yo"
How Do You BonChon Video
And of course, I am not ending this article without my personal video of the “How Do I BonChon?”
As I was heading to Diamond Hotel last night, I got a message on my mobile phone saying “mequeni, mangan na tamu manyaman!” which when translated means “welcome, let’s eat flavorful dishes!” It was the teasing SMS from a friend who invited me to a special dinner buffet inspired from Kapampangan cuisine with Chef Sau Del Rosario. It was an intimate gathering for Diamond Hotel Philippines’ Filipino Food Festival featuring ‘Culinaria Capampangan‘ at Corniche Cafe.
Chef Sau Del Rosario
Hailing from the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines“, Chef Sau of Villa Cafe brings to Diamond Hotel the genuine flavors of Pampanga at the buffet from May 10 to 19, 2012. As featured chef, he creatively infused local dishes from Pampanga in the Corniche lunch and dinner buffet.
Main Dishes
Some of the dishes include Aligue Fried Rice, Lamb Shanks, Pinakbet with Shrimp & Crispy Pata, Fresh Lumpia Ubod, Steamed Lapu-Lapu, Adobo-Quesong Puti & Salted Egg Pizza, and Ceviche with Pomelo, among others.
Of particular interest to me were the Camaru Spring Rolls, Crispy Pata Kare-Kare, Young Lechon with ‘Bringhe‘ and Pork Sisig Foie Gras with Organic Egg.
Camaru is actually a cricket delicacy in Pampanga but had a twist this time where it was put inside a spring roll with some vegetables; perhaps to mitigate the thought of eating insects for the uninitiated. 🙂
The Crispy Pata Kare-Kare was already a visual feast by itself; and the taste did not disappoint (TOP PHOTO).
Pork Sisig with Foie Gras
As if having a young crispy lechon was not awesome enough, they made it more interesting with ‘Bringhe‘Â or the rich Capampangan paella. To describe it as moist curry rice is an understatement. (no photo)
With all that said, I think the highlight of the night is the Pork Sisig Foie Gras with Organic Egg. You don’t come across authentic pork sisig quite often outside of Pampanga, and adding foie gras just placed an exclamation point to the dish.
Don’t miss this one when you visit the Culinaria Capampangan feast. It somehow constitutes 50% of your Capampangan culinarya experience. 🙂
Other almost similarly good dishes include Bistik with Shitali Confits, Ox Tongue Cream of Mushroom & Corn, Fried Catfish Fillet with Buru Fermented Rice and Vegetables, and Chicken Galantina Roulade.
Bistik with Shitali Confits
Pinakbet with Shrimp & Crispy Pata
Ceviche with Pomelo
Chicken Galantina Roulade
Fried Catfish Fillet with Buru Fermented Rice and Vegetables
Ox Tongue Cream of Mushroom & Corn
Dessert
Culinaria Capampangan Desserts
It doesn’t end there. Dinner buffets are not complete without desserts and since this should be Pampanga-inspired, we also have our line up of Kapampangan desserts in the form of Ube Halaya, Brazo De Maiz, and Tibok Tibok (which is from Fresh Cows MIlk) to name a few. Check them out at Taste of Manila blog.
Guests availing of the buffet also get a chance to win roundtrip airline tickets for two to Bohol with accommodations. The Culinaria Capampangan food festival is in partnership with Philippine Airlines, Crossover 105.1 and Avis Rent-A-Car.
Visit Corniche at Diamond Hotel and get a taste of Capampangan cuisine for Php 1,600 nett per person. (Php 1,888 nett with unlimited tropical juices). For reservations check the contact info below.
Diamond Hotel Philippines Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila
Tel no: (632) 528-3000 local 1121
Email: bizcenter@diamondhotel.com
Website: www.diamondhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/diamondhotelphilippines
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DiamondHotelPh
Culinaria Capampangan @ Diamond Hotel's Corniche
If you are not the traveling kind of person, this is your chance to have a taste of the culinary capital of the Philippines that is Pampanga. Please do not miss this opportunity and catch Diamond Hotel Philippines‘ Culinaria Capampangan at Corniche Cafe.
Partnering with global cosmetics and beauty brand Body Shop, Max’s Restaurant is making Mother’s Day more special for Filipino moms this coming weekend!
Family members who will be celebrating Mother’s Day at Max’s Restaurant with a minimum spend of PhP 1,300 will be receiving a luxurious bottle of Body Shop’s Shower Gel – soap-free, lather-rich and fruit-infused as a gift to pamper MOM on her special day.
Max's Fried Chicken
Think of the iconic dishes sinigang, kare-kare, and crispy pata, and you’ll definitely think of Max’s “sarap to the bones†fried chicken, Add to that the bottle of Body Shop Shower Gel special treat and that complete’s you family celebration this Mother’s Day!
“In the Philippines where mothers are respected for being the “light of the household,†people take the time to dine together as a family on Mother’s Day. One of the most nostalgic places to re-unite and celebrate with family has always been Max’s Restaurant,†said Edgar Allan Caper, Marketing Director for Max’s Restaurant.
Catch Max’s lush treat starting today – May 7, until May 13 at any Max’s branch nationwide. Treat Mom at Max’s Restaurant this Mother’s Day!
Lulu De Castro, Greenwich Marketing Director, gives the welcome remarks
Anne Curtis has been a long time endorser of Greenwich Pasta, and together with Solenn Heuseff and Kelly Misa, they form the Greenwich Pasta Girls group!
Yesterday, in a media gathering, they proved Greenwich’s newest Spaghetti Supreme‘s catch-phrase “More is Better” by performing more-than-expected dares with the media and male host-DJs Chico Garcia and Gino of RX 93.1.
Solenn Heuseff exhibited her skills in make-up by giving an audience participant a make-over under 3 minutes. She also did a Solenn Heuseff signature catwalk (…and crawl). 🙂
Solenn Heuseff
Solenn Heuseff Make-Up Skills
Kelly Misa, on the other hand, showed her prowess in yoga in different poses and positions.
Kelly Misa
Kelly Misa Doing Yoga
And finally, in Anne Curtis’ turn, almost everyone would have already guessed what was her dare of proving ‘more is better‘ through nothing less than – singing (in a capella at that)!
Anne Curtis Smith
Anne Curtis sang “I Will Always Love You,” as shes said, ‘in her own version.’ 🙂
And since ‘more is better,’ one song cannot suffice. The crowd asked for ‘more.’
To which Anne surprisingly sang Adelle‘s “Rolling in the Deep.” Listen to the YouTube upload of our recorded video and roll deeply in your chair at home while listening! 🙂
Not letting her go, the crowd demanded ‘more.’ This time, Anne Curtis Smith proved her acting prowess by delivering the “I Want More” phrase in a multitude of different emotions.
More Anne Curtis...since 'More is Better' 🙂
Cookie Cabrera, PR & Corporate Affairs Manager, with the Greenwich Pasta Girls
The Greenwich Team led by Mr. Luis Velasco
Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme
Now if you’re wondering what this “More is Better” is all about, blame it on the new and improved Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme! The event highlighted the Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme with added 25% serving of noodles, more premium beef, and more sweet tomato sauce plus 1 stick of garlic bread. I’ve tried it and it was indeed more meaty and cheesier at only Php 49 and Php 59 with drink!
Brand Manager of Pasta Joanne Ingalia in Hot Seat with the Girls
Greenwich Pasta Girls: Solenn Heuseff, Anne Curtis, and Kelly Misa
Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme
Truly, it was one enjoyable afternoon with Anne Curtis, Solenn Heuseff, Kelly Misa, and the rest of Greenwich’s team showcasing why “More is Better” with their kabarkadas and Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme.
With the scorching summer hitting as high as 35.9°C in the Metro and a staggering 38.4°C nationwide, Jollibee – one of the largest fast food chains in the country, fights the heat off with the newly-launched Jollibee Chocolate Float and Jollibee Coffee Float which are sure to give people their needed lift.
Jollibee Amang Rodriguez Branch
Held about a week ago at Jollibee Amang Rodriguez branch, media people and bloggers graced the unveiling of 2 latest additions – Chocolate and Coffee Floats, to join the roster of Jollibee’s Coke Float and University Floats.
Being a coffee lover, I felt excited when we were first served with Jollibee’s Coffee Float. Made with a delightfully smooth blend of iced coffee, this gloriously refreshing drink is topped with a rich vanilla soft serve and a beautiful swirl of chocolate syrup.
Enchong Dee
From a coffee lover’s point of view, Jollibee’s Coffee Float can easily compete with any cafe’s ice blended coffee or even coffee-infused frappuccino. With a slight hint of bitterness balanced by Jollibee’s sweet concoction of vanilla ice cream, this Coffee Float can definitely give you your needed dose of caffeine while leaving you revitalized and lifted.
Jollibee on a Hot Summer Day
With the majestic sun shining very brightly upon us, it was a relief to be served with Jollibee’s Chocolate Float next. Made with deliciously rich iced chocolate, this sweet treat is even topped with Jollibee’s signature creamy vanilla soft serve, and a dollop of chocolate syrup.
Jollibee Chocolate Float
Although I am most certainly partial to coffee-based drinks, it was surprising that I preferred Jollibee’s Chocolate Float more. The iced chocolate drink was far from being overly sweet and made a perfect base for the creamy vanilla ice cream. Most of my companions also preferred this over the Coffee Float, so it definitely earned our stamp of approval.
Endorsed by the equally yummy and refreshing Enchong Dee, Jollibee’s Chocolate and Coffee Floats retail at only P45 per cup. Should you wish to have these refreshing floats with your favourite Jollibee Value Meals, you can opt to just add P25 to get your needed lift.
Jollibee Coffee Float
*Story and Photos by Blogger Apprentice Stephanie Go
Jollibee’s Chocolate and Coffee Floats are available in all Jollibee stores nationwide. So if you want a delicious drink to fight off the scorching heat of the summer, head to your nearest Jollibee branch and get a lift!
Today is the day – April 24, 2012 – when a gamut of new beverages, food items, and promos start at Starbucks Philippines. Coffee and frappuccino addicts as you are, you ought not be behind the news. Worry not as NomNom Club is here to make sure you are. 🙂
The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino blended beverage is your favorite Starbucks Frappunccino roast coffee with chocolate cookie bits made richer with mocha sauce, and vanilla syrup. And as if that’s not enough, it is topped with chocolate drizzle on cookie crumble blended topping.
If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time Starbucks PH is offering chocolate whip cream.
It’s like a java chip frap with vanilla syrup. It can remind you of Wendy’s frostee as well. 😛
A yummy treat for the chocolate-loving coffee drinker!
* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175
2) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage(Cream Based – Zero Coffee)
The same as number 1 above but is cream-based instead of coffee.
Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino
Something for the chocolate lover who wants a coffee alternative; maybe even for kids too. It’s just like your all-time favorite Magnolia Chocolaitwith cookie bits.
Did you know that you also have the option to ‘blend‘ your cream into the beverage (instead of ‘just on top’)?
* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175
3) Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage
It’s your favorite Strawberries and Cream frappuccino with the option for soy, non-fat milk, or your defualt whole milk.
* Tall P155, Grande P165, Venti P175
4) Sausage Pizza Roll(P95)
Replacing the current sausage roll, this flaky pastry is filled with a smoked frankfurter and cheese pizza sauce. A true comfort food that can easily satisfy that impulsive craving for a quick soft bite.
Don’t forget to have it warmed.
Sausage Pizza Roll
5) Fish and Chips Wrap(P150)
A filling wrap of fish fillet, herbed potato wedges, and dill mustard egg sauce. It’s big and enough to substitute for a full meal. If you’re wondering, the chips is inside. 😛
Fish and Chips Wrap
6) Chicken Grape Almond Salad on Classic Ciabatta Bread(P150)
Available in a Starbucks Philippines stores nationwide, this is a tangy sandwich of chicken, celery, roasted chopped almonds, sliced sundried tomatoes, and interestingly grapes, with lemon-mayo sauce and hints of tarragon and Emmenthal cheese sandwiched by crunchy Ciabatta bread.
My favorite made better with the twist of adding grape slices! It’s the anti-thesis of a boring food, there’s so much in every bite! 🙂
Chicken Grape Almond Salad Sandwich
7) Cookie Crumble Cheesecake with Chips Ahoy(P130)
This is for the cheesecake and Chip Ahoy cookie lovers combined. The baked cheesecake is topped with chunky-chewy Chips Ahoy cookies + chocolate chips with a base / crust made of assorted crushed Chips Ahoy cookies.
However, it’s not type of cheesecake. I’m for the sinfully sweet, smooth, and soft ones.
Cookie Crumble Cheesecake
8) Whoopie Pie(P75)
Whoops, it’s big! And the two bulging eyes seem to beg you not to eat them. 🙂
This redesigned returning favorite from last year is a sandwich of two fudgy dark chocolate cookie cakes filled with white roasted marshmallow cream icing and chocolate chips. At first, it looked like a really sweet treat that’s painful to the tooth but turned out just ok.
Whoopie Pie
Although it’s a bit pricey at P75, the fun factor, specially for the kids and kids-at-heart, makes up for it; somehow. lol
It’s cuteness would also have been multiplied by ten if it was just a quarter of its current size. Who knows, Starbucks Philippines might just come across this blog and have the mini Whoopie Pies next season. 🙂
9) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Cold Cup Tumbler(P550)
Twist and turn (step 1). Write (step 2). Erase (step 3). Those are the steps into ‘customizing‘ your ‘customizable‘ (woah!) new Starbucks Tumblers!
After the twist-and-turn, you could remove the outer cup and ‘write‘ your favorite Starbucks beverage label on the surface of inner cup. Common sense also suggests to use a non-permanent white board marker. If you think your favorite Starbucks beverage will not change, like forever, then feel free to use a permanent marker. 🙂
Customizable Starbucks Tumblers (How To)
So lets say that you’re as brilliant as I so you use a non-permanent marker, then you could easily erase it (step 3; pardon the watermark which blocked the ‘erasing’ action) with any tissue paper or cloth.
After which, you simply twist-back the outer cup and viola – give your labelled and customized Starbucks tumbler to your barista!
The Cold Cup tumbler is the one on Step 1 and Step 2A photos.
10) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Stainless Steel Tumbler(P1095)
Please see number 9, but you can have hot beverages in these! I want to have this one!
The Stainless steel tumbler is the one on Step 2B and Step 3 photos.
11) Scratch Card Promo (Buy 1 Take 1)
For the first time in Starbucks Philippines history, they’re having a scratch-card based promotion, just like in the lottery. 🙂
From April 24 to April 29 (or until supplies last), buy one Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage and get one scratch card to win an exciting treat that you can use for your next Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage purchase!
The Starbucks Happy Hour is back! Your favorite Starbucks However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage will be at half-priceEVERY MONDAY from 2PM to 6PM from April 30 to May 28, 2012!
Starbucks Happy Hour
Starbuck's Love Fernandez
The long lines will surely be back, but this time, instead of the previous 2 hrs, you’ve got more time allotment of 4 hrs!
That’s a DOZEN of new things to remember at Starbucks Philippines starting today – April 24, 2012(except for theStarbucks Happy Hour which starts April 30)! Hmmm…which one to try first? 🙂
After the introduction of Chicken Rice and Tofu Steak almost three months ago, Figaro has added anew two dinner meal variants – Crusty Dory Fillet in Creamy Pesto Sauce & Rice Pilaf and Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue with Java Rice.
Figaro Crusty Dory Fillet
The Crusty Dory Fillet was just ok. I liked the Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue more which had flavorful chicken strips. Add to that the special sauce, java rice, and string beans.
The sauce is more on the sweet side which may be loved by some, and disliked by those who want their barbecue sauce with more pepper. Nonetheless the Filipino taste would prefer the former.
Dinner meals are only available 6pm onwards.
Figaro Dinner Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue
More of Figaro Milk Teas (plus Popping Boba)
Wintermelon Frost: Figaro Milk Tea
From five milk tea flavors namely the Strawberry Lemon Iced Tea, Raspberry Milk Tea, Taro Pudding Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea and Taro Pudding Chiller Feast comes two new interesting flavors. I got to try the Wintermelon Frost with classic tea and Honeydew Frost with Figaro tea.
Honeydew Frost: Figaro Milk Tea
The Wintermelon Frost with classic tea (P100) reminds me of the sago’t gulaman. I love it but I find the sweetness overpowering the tea flavor. In addition, the toppings called popping boba and pearls adds enjoyment with every sip as the popping boba somewhat ‘explodes‘ in your mouth. 🙂 You have to experience it yourself!
For the Honeydew Frost(P100), it had a strong tea flavor which is what I usually look for in milk teas.
* Story and photos by Marjorie Pineda
Now, it will be very easy for me to choose which flavor of milk tea to order. So, what’s your favorite milk tea flavor and Figaro Dinner Meal? These two new milk tea variants are available starting today at all Figaro stores – April 11, 2012!
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