Entries Tagged 'Sweet Shops' ↓

Marriott Hotel Manila brings your Halloween fantasy to life with the hippest spooky party season whether you are in for a day of dining or trick or treating with the kids.

Velocity Bar

Halloween at Marriott Hotel Manila

A Halloween surprise awaits at Marriott‘s Velocity Bar on October 30, 2:00PM, where the little ones are in to experience a  delightfully creepy wizard and witches party for only P500 nett.

An afternoon filled with spectacular party activity traditions such as a magic show, artsy face painting, and flashy glimmer tattoo. Dress them up with their dream character for a truly enchanting moment while they get a chance to win a thrilling gift for their cutest and most unique costume. The kids are also put in the spotlight at the interactive pizza making corner where they will have a great time embellishing their own pizza creations with premium toppings.

Lusciously prepared candy apple, choco banana, scary cup cake, marsh mellow, and pumpkin pie, among others, are toothsome savories of the day. These also include mini burgers, mini hotdogs, fried chicken, lasagna, bolognese, and mash potato. To partner with these delicious Halloween food line up, Californiaberry Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt and Fruit Magic ends the meal with their signature Halloween dessert contenders.

Plus Trick or Treat

Halloween Trick or Treat!

Of course the traditional “trick or treat” will always be there. Up for grabs are dainty and decadent take home goodies courtesy of Nestle Chuckie, Yakult, Universal Robina Corporation, Grand Alpatech Corporation, Leslie’s Corporation, and Liwayway Marketing Corporation. While Enchanted Kingdom, the country’s premiere amusement park brings a truly fascinating experience to all kids and to those truly child at heart with their take home souvenirs to all participants. Moreover, take home a photo souvenir courtesy of Baicapture.

Java+ Halloween Delicacies

When it comes to Halloween delicacies, the best cookies and cakes are those that reflect the chilling traditions of this spooky holiday. That’s why at Java+, the hotel’s grab and go outlet astounds everyone with these thoughtful gift  selections, available for sale from October 30 to November 1, 2010.

Chef Meik Brammer

Halloween Costumes & Parties

Join a culinary adventure with Executive Chef Meik Brammer’s specially selected Halloween brunch menu at Marriott Café on October 30. For only P1,850 net, let the dining episode begin with the succulent nuggets of the sea– lobster, king prawns, green mussel, red crab, fresh shrimp, poached clam, and oyster. At the hot station, look forward loading your plate with classic and international dishes such as roulade of sole fish with green asparagus, pork tenderloin medallions with thyme juice, grilled sea bream on saffron sauce, or chicken sweet and sour.

Tempting grilled meats are also the star of the buffet with its delectable choices of salmon steaks, chicken sate, beef tenderloin steaks, shi-I-taki /shrimp skewer, and lamb chops. Carving, pizza, Asian, barbeque, and other heaps of delectable delights will surely keep anyone blissfully satisfied. End the fiercely, flavorsome feast with heavenly homemade ice cream concoctions and creamy, velvety soft chocolate fondue with pineapple, strawberry, watermelon, and scary cookies to dip away.  The 1 person buffet also entitles the guest to one entrance ticket to the Wizards and Witches party.

Indeed, Halloween becomes truly bewitching with these treats and Halloween costume parties.

Red Ribbon came up with another new cake going to the end of the third quarter – the Choco Fudge Cake!

Choco Fudge Cake

I got to taste it for the first time a week or two ago at a colleague’s birthday celebration. Being familiar with Red Ribbon cakes, I knew it was a new cake. 🙂 I tried it with anticipation and I was not disappointed. It was so chocolaty from top to bottom and from side to side being smothered and literally covered with chocolate icing!

I say it’s a chocolate cake for the real chocolate lover. It’s a leveled-up classic chocolate cake with layers of moist chocolate pound cake and chocolate fudge filling inside. Be cautious though that the more conservative cake consumer might find it too chocolaty or too sweet.

Priced a little lower than its predecessor – the Chocolate Heaven, the Choco Fudge Cake is a perfect gift for your chocolate-loving friend or those with a sweet tooth; but might not be so for those on the ‘sugar guard‘. The regular size costs P460 and junior size is only P275.

Moreover, you could have the Choco Fudge Cake served warm or cold. Try it warm for a change! 🙂 It comes perfect with a hot cup of brewed coffee as well.

Crispy Chicken by Red Ribbon

Interestingly that same night, I came across one of Red Ribbon’s newest meal – the Crispy Chicken. To say it plain and straight – I loved it! I’m not really a fan of chicken skin, but if it is this good and crispy, I’ll take it. 🙂

It was good mix of chicken meat and crispy skin with new twist to barbecue sauce – the mango barbecue sauce. A full order is P150 and P90 ala carte.

Red Ribbon Fort Bonifacio Branch

I finished the chicken before I remembered I haven’t taken a photo of it. 🙂 So make do with my small photo of the menu board at Red Ribbon’s new and spacious branch at Fort Bonifacio in between Jollibee and Chowking along Rizal Street.

Choco Fudge Cake by Red Ribbon

Partnering the Choco Fudge Cake and the Crispy Chicken might be a little odd, but hey, it was all good. 🙂

If you are looking into the opportunity of starting a food business, starting with a franchise business is an option specially if it would be your first time to explore the entrepreneurship world.

Filipino Franchise Show 2010

Yesterday, I got to visit the 9th Filipino Franchise Show 2010 at the World Trade Center in Pasay where more than half of the exhibitors are from the food franchise businesses.

Regular entrance ticket costs P100 per person while students can get in for P50 and senior citizen at P80. I got my free ticket care of the organizer – Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI). Check their website at http://www.affi.com.ph/ and event website http://www.franchiseshowphilippines.com/

Franchise Finds

Attention grabbing structures are the usual big booths from big brands like Mang Inasal, Julie’s Bakeshop, Binalot, and Eng Bee Tin whose mooncakes would be a hit in the next few days due to the upcoming Chinese Mooncake Festival.

Mang Inasal, Julie's Bakeshop, Binalot, and Eng Bee Tin

However, you would observe new brands as well such as Buko House, Mozarella Stick, Sankalan, Wrap A Lumpia, Sisig in the City, and food carts by JC Franchising. (See first photo).

On Ice Scrambles

Ice Scrambles Food Carts

As expected, the ice scrambles craze proliferated in the franchise show as I found at least four ice scramble franchise offerings including Ice Cramble “The Original Ice Crumble“, Scramboi Ice Scrambles, Scramble King, and Chillax Ice Scramble.

I like the hip sound of Chillax the most. 🙂 However, Scramble King rides on the name recall of the monosyllabic “king.” I think Scramboi could have settled with “Scramboy” instead, investing on the common Filipino street name.

I didn’t find the Manila Scrambles cart I see in most malls, however.

The Ice Scrambles food cart idea is currently taking the low-cost food franchise by storm primarily because of its low cost and comparatively simple operations involved in preparing the product. Time would say if this would only be a fad or if the ice scrambles industry would stay for good.

Innovative Names

RBX (Rice in a Box) and Taxi Cab

Moving on, there are also food businesses with innovative names like RBX or Rice in a Box and Tapsi Cab. The former seem to be moving from the usual cart type to kiosk with their dine-in showcase at the franchise fair. The latter reminds us of a similar sounding pizza chain. 🙂

Potato Loops

AFFI Seminars

Lastly, I found this interesting-looking potato product that looks peculiar from our regular French fries. It’s fried but swirled in a stick and called “Potato Loops.” I wasn’t able to taste one but the aesthetics is enough to possibly pique a passers-by’s interest giving it the ‘curious-purchase’ advantage. I think it’s innovative and have a high-market potential in the near future given that it tastes good enough for a snack.

Philippines Franchisees and Franchisors

You still have today and tomorrow to visit the 9th Filipino Franchise Show 2010 at the World Trade Center in Pasay. Tel:(02) 506-8883, 0917-518-AFFI, 347-0153, 534-1134. Email info@tradenetevents@gmail.com or affi.secretariat_raffy@yahoo.com. A ride away from SM Mall of Asia, it opens 11am and closes 7pm.

I celebrated my personal birthday a few weeks ago and a Jollibee cake made by Red Ribbon found its way into our home.:)

It was a big fondant chocolate cake with a big and cheerful printed Jollibee mascot on top. A fitting cake for a day of merriment.

Jollibee Birthday Cake by Red Ribbon

Chef Laudico

However, I was further surprised when I came home to our QC house last Sunday (two days ago) and found a Chef Laudico brownies box in our refrigerator. It was accompanied by a birthday greeting card saying:

“Happy Birthday. Hope you’ll enjoy this box of brownies especially and exclusively prepared by Chef Jackie Laudico…“

Wow, that sounds special, albeit belatedly.:)

I opened the box and found a set of ten elongated brownies. Something different from the usual square ones we see. And indeed, the taste was exquisitely premium. More than just the average brownie, it was a luscious mixture of the brownie; plus the roasted nuts caramelized cashew on top. I can’t exactly distinguish what kind of nut but it’s most probably cashew.

Chef Laudico Brownies - the Best!

It was so good. This is one of the best brownies I’ve had. I think this due to the good chocolate mixture highlighted by the crunchy and premium-tasting roasted walnuts caramelized cashew on top. Yum!

Birthday Card

I searched the Net including Chef Laudico website (http://www.cheflaudico.com.ph/) but didn’t find the brownies, not even its name.

And lastly, the card indicated:

“We have made a donation under your name to the Virlanie Foundation and the Autism Society of the Philippines.”

NomNom Club

What a warm feeling of goodwill done in your behalf for your birthday. Thank you GeiserMaclang, Stratworks, and Jollibee, you have made my birthday this year more special.

Ok, actually, it was an afternoon snack with some friends. But I really do hope it was breakfast then at Kopi Roti because French toasts are so my morning favorite. 🙂

Kopi Bun with Kaya Spread Filling

At the Greenbelt 3 branch, we tried their Hainanese style ‘Kopi‘ (coffee) with sweet milk at P50 and signature Kopi Bun (P40) which is a soft bread with coffee flavored crust and sweet buttery filling.

Kaya Toast

We also had 2 “Roti” French toast (P55), “Roti” Kaya toast (P45), some Kaya puffs, soft boiled eggs (P30), and a Milo Dinosaur beverage. The first two were served with the ‘secret‘ Kaya spread and butter while the third is filled with the former.

For that day however, my kaya toast was so ordinary, and I don’t know why; so I’m raving only about the roti French toasts and my Milo Dinosaur.

As long as it’s slightly toasted and fresh hot, my French toasts never fail me. It’s one of those soft-and-chewy inside but slightly-toasty on the outside comfort food. Just remember to consume them immediately upon serving so it’s still fresh hot.

Kopi Roti French Toast with Kaya spread and butter

Milo Dinosaur

The Milo Dinosaur is a cold concoction with the Milo branded chocolate malt powdered drink. If you love Milo from your childhood years, you’ll be getting flashbacks with its large serving. 🙂

Soft Boiled Eggs

From the menu board, I recommend Set A which is composed of 2 “Roti” French toast (for your egg and carbohydrates), soft boiled eggs (for your protein needs), and Kopi for your caffeine kick (almost perfect if it could be changed to a Milo Dinosaur). It’s a complete breakfast at P125 which saves you P10 from ordering them separately.

Kaya Puffs with Special Kaya Spread Filling

Non-incidentally, today is also Kopi Roti’s 5th year anniversary in the Philippines! Being a Singaporean franchise, the raw ingredients supplying their 18 branches here are sourced directly from Singapore.

In light of this, avail of their special treat from Aug 4-8, 2010 : Kopi Roti offers you the “5 + 1 anniversary promo“. …Buy 5 Kopi Roti products, Get 1, free.*

Congratulations Kopi Roti! More Kopi Buns and French toasts for breakfast! Woot! 🙂

First, I’m currently not in Singapore; but I would like to consider yesterday’s lunch as a symbolic one in appreciation of this year’s Singapore Food Festival (SFF). 🙂

Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board invited a group of bloggers including food blog NomNomClub.com for a feast of Singaporean signature dishes at the Heritage Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

In order, we had Singapore Slaw, Nyonya Meatball Soup (Bawan Kepeting), Singpore Laksa and Mee Goreng,  Hainanese Chicken Rice, and Sago Gula Melaka with Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert.

Singapore Slaw

The Singapore Slaw served as the meal appetizer and was constituted by layers of green cabbage, julienned jicama, and strips of onion, carrot and cucumber, among others. The dressing gave hints of sesame oil and vinegar topped by sesame seeds.

It was crunchy and rich in texture with a sauce made just right well-fitting for a starter.

Nyonya Meatball Soup / Bawan Kepeting / Bawan Kepiting

The Nyonya Meatball Soup, also referred to as Bawan Kepeting/Kepiting, was a simple traditional meatball soup mixed with shredded bamboo shoots.

Allow me defer my spicy adventure with the Singpore Laksa and Mee Goreng in a next week’s post. 🙂

And of course, the star of Singaporean Chinese Food – the Hainanese Chicken Rice. Your trip to Singapore is never complete without having at least one serving of Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Singapore Original: Hainanese Chicken Rice

The chicken meat was tender and good as expected although I found the rice quite different from the ones I usually have in Singapore. While variants in rice preparation can include “oily rice,” or with coconut milk, or with pandan leaves,  the one we had was like the local ‘sinangag‘ (re-cooked rice). It was ok though. 🙂

It was accompanied by three side sauces of which I can’t remember the second (I’m thinking if it’s chili but it’s not!). The other two were soy sauce and pounded ginger.

Sago Gula Melaka with Vanilla Ice Cream

To cap our Singaporean lunch, we had the Sago Gula Melaka with vanilla ice cream for dessert. “Gula Melaka” means ‘palm sugar’. This dessert is basically sweetened small tapioca with ice cream on top.

And since I love almost anything with ice cream (although I hoped for an Ice Kachang), needless to say, this one’s good as well. 🙂

Singapore Food Festival 2010

So if you’re on your way to Singapore or is planning to be there anytime soon, prepare for a mouth-watering experience of culinary cultures as you get immersed in a myriad of Singapore Chinese dishes in this year’s Singapore Food Festival 2010.

Tracing its roots as far back as 1994, the Singapore Food Festiva focuses on local food culture and heritage which is a diverse mix of oriental, Indian, and Middle Eastern dishes to the gastronomic delight of participants, foreigners, and visitors alike.

The annual event is not only about ‘nomnoming‘ (eating), there are also culinary workshops, themed celebrations, and competitions.

Schedule Highlights of Singapore Food Festival for your guidance:

• July 16-24 – Clarke Quay Food Street (Clarke Quay Rear Bridge)
• July 25 – Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Feast (Clarke Quay Rear Bridge)
• July 16-25 – Singapore Chinese Dialect Tingkat Cruise (Merlion Park)
• July 16-25 – Singapore Chinese Dialect Street Snacks (Central River Promenade, Merlion Park, Clifford Square)
• plus Makansutra SFF Culinary Master Classes

Singapore Food Festival

Missing Something?

I know, I know, you might be wondering where Bak Kut Teh, Chili Crab, and Satay are…maybe we’ll have a Singapore Food Festival 2010 ‘closing‘ lunch a few weeks from now, who knows? (*wink). 🙂

Don’t have a gift for Dad yet for this weekend’s upcoming Father’s Day?

Red Ribbon Father's Day Cake

Does daddy have a sweet tooth? Even if not, Father’s Day might just be the best excuse for you to get you cake fix! Red Ribbon releases their Father’s Day Cake starting tomorrow!

From June 18 to June 20, delight your Dad with a specially designed Father’s Day cake from Red Ribbon at P550. Decorated like Dad’s polo shirt, the 8″ chocolate cake is wrapped in fondant icing made extra special. 🙂

The Philippine national weather agency recently announced that the Philippines will experience a lengthened summer extending from May to end of June.

Figaro Summer Frost Peach Lychee Sunrise

This means that the 38 or so degrees Celsius temperature everyday would most likely to be experienced up to next month.

Thank goodness that in this country, drink coolers abound. One such to be sought for is Figaro‘s Summer Frost line of icy cool drinks to quench that heat-drenched throat.

Figaro Summer Frost Summer Beverages

Figaro‘s Summer Frost is a mix of finely blended ice for that smooth refreshing gulp that comes in three varieties namely Watermelon Grape Breeze, Green Apple Cucumber Whirl, and Peach Lychee Sunrise.

Having tried all those three, my favorite is the sweet Watermelon Grape Breeze with grape skin fiber. Peach Lychee comes next with the strong lychee flavor and finally the Green Apple Cucumber.

Try one now as Figaro‘s summer quencher Summer Frost is available only until June 22, 2010 at P125 each.