All is set for the big day tomorrow as Manila’s benefit summer food fair – Best Food Forward – comes back to town from its success last year!

Sumang Malagkit with Tsokolate

Bigger and better, BEST FOOD FORWARD 2012 returns with more surprises and enjoyable activities on March 24 and 25, 2012 at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It promises to be an affair where everyone can savor the best food from food entrepreneurs and exhibitors all in one roof.

Best Food Forward likewise aims to encourage group of friends, families and industry people to appreciate our local delicacies, entrepreneurial talent and creativity/

Photo Teasers:

Not too long ago, NomNom Club, together with a select group of foodies, were able to try about ten of the food exhibitors in the upcoming Best Food Forward that served like sort of a teaser. 🙂

They are

• The Fruit Garden – Luxury Jam
• Casa San Luis
• Manang’s Chicken
• Pint Homemade Ice Cream
• Skew U
• Butter-Beer
• Simply Pie
• Quantum Cafe
• Carlo’s Kitchen – Crunchy Belly
• and the Chocolate food concessionaire which served different chocolate by-products including brownies, and chocolate dips for the suman. The taste  is so rich and authentic…I forgot their name! 🙂

The Fruit Garden (by Pierre Marmonier Marmonier) - I got to try their new flavors

Casa San Luis

Mannang's Chicken

Simply Pie

Quantum Cafe

Chocolate Food Concessionaire (whose name/brand I forgot) 🙂

All the above-mentioned ten concessionaires served fantastic treats but four among them deserves the ‘NomNom” seal! 🙂 You should not miss the following in tomorrow’s Best Food Forward:

• 

  Skew U

  Crunchy Belly of Carlo’s Kitchen – awesome crunchy liempo bits will make you ask for more

• Skew U – pronounced as just “Skew”, you’ll be surprised with the tender meat of their chicken and pork skewers.
• Pint Homemade Ice Cream – My readers know how much I love ice cream, ‘nough said.
• ButterBeer – Harry Potter fan or not, you’ll love this wizardy beverage. Make sure to have it really cold for best results

Crunchy Belly of Carlo's Kitchen

Butter Beer with its Child Creator

Panghimagas: Pint Homemade Ice Cream

Here are some more of the food concessionaires (including):

• Chicken Delish
• 3 Angels
• AZChia-ChiaBia
• Bacolod Chicken Inasal
• Bliss
• Bonanza Roasted Calf
• Casa San Luis
• Chewy Junior
• Choclery Artisan Chocolates
• Cinq Dessert Boutique
• Cuisiniers
• Culinary Institute of Aristocrat
• Cupcake Boutique
• DEC
• Downtown Philly
• Duckie’s Cupcakes
• Eat my GF (Garlic Fries)
• Enzo’s Shawarma
• The Fruit Garden – Luxury Jam
• Gold Leaf Tea
• Ineng’s
• Jam Foods & Co. – Angus Beef Tapa
• Justine’s Baked Goods
• Kate Baked
• Kate Bakes
• Khao Shong Coffee
• Little Louie’s Cupcakes
• Lu Chi Authentic Dimsum House
• Mama Lou’s
• Manang’s Chicken
• Megabites Chocolates
• Monster Cookies
• Our Cookie Jar
• Our Kitchen by Manila Catering
• Perfect Home Living
• Picket Fence Milk & Ice Cream Bar
• Pint Homemade Ice Cream
• Rice Pots
• SaWrap and Roll
• Smoochies Basil Seed Drink
• Skew U
• Snow Joe Cream Coolers
• The Souq Organics
• Sugar Cakes by Ana’s Kitchen
• Sweet Vanilla
• Teys’ Cakes and Pastries
• Think Wink Cookies
• Tokyo Bubble Tea
• Unit 16 Sweets
• Yemashita

Food Cencessionaires who explained their delicacies led by Ms. Gwen Carino

Best Food Forward 2 is also for the benefit of the Unang Hakbang Foundation and is supported by Gastro Chef, M Café, Chelsea Market & Restaurant, Mr. Jones, Momo, Melba’s Farm, Café Lupe, Flavors on Fire Catering, Modern Culinaire Academy, Gourmet Farms, Pinoy Organics, Baicapture, and Make Believe.  With special thanks to media partners Flavors, Yummy, Entrepreneur, Appetite, BC Media, BusinessWorld, Click the City, 88db, Openrice, MacGraphics Carranz, Media Magnet, Nuffnang, Myweb.ph, AllTravelSpots.com, IEMAS, and Crossover 105.1.

Best Food Forward 2012

NomNom Club and BFF

For more information on Best Food Forward, you may contact 0917 8871933, 2119644 or bestfoodforward2@gmail.com. Check out  www.bestfoodforward.com.ph as well. Ticket prices for entrance is at P50.

The rainy season really hampers the mood specially for a travel and food blogger like me. With the Philippines’ incessant rain and typhoons from the middle part of the year onwards, my traveling is restrained and food escapades limited.

Visiting Mercato Centrale

The last time I went to Mercato Centrale in July, I was soaked in a heavy rain shower going back home. But these are the sacrifices you make for good food and indulging experiences. Night or day, I love Mercato. With the unique and varied choices of delicacies offerred by the foodie stalls, each visit can be as unique as your pallate can take.

On the other hand, the rainy season can really spoil a Mercato Centrale experience.

Heaven Sent City Delivery

We all know that the concept of food delivery is nothing new. But I never thought a group of small foodie businesses could actually come together and get themselves a food delivery partner.

It’s a simple but bright idea. Lightbulb!

City Delivery Delivery Boy

I don’t have to drag my sleepy head on a cold bed weather weekend morning. I’d just have to call on City Delivery’s hotline number 87878. Or if you want to experience Mercato Centrale delivery online, check their website at  http://CityDelivery.ph or their Facebook page where it says City Delivery is a “multi-restaurant delivery service…we let our customers experience the world on their plates with an impressive array of cuisines from the city’s prime restaurants and other food establishments.”

Currently, for a minimum order of Php500 and a delivery fee and 10% Delivery charge,they deliver to the residents of the following areas: Alabang, Greenhills, Las Pinas City, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Manila City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Ortigas, Paranaque City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and The Fort.

The cap is a little high for an individual delivery but I guess it fits more for group or family order so the P500 minimum delivery is not a problem. I owe all these realization from Mel who asked me if I could feature them here at NomNom Club. And so, now, here it is! I never knew beforehand that I could have stuff from Mercato delivered at the comfort of my home. 🙂

Please keep in mind the advance and real-time ordering scheme:

• Weekdays: Advanced ordering (2 days in advance depending on the merchant)
• Weekends: Real time ordering (9AM-­‐2PM)

Moreover, I was told that current participating establishments are the following:

• 

  Manang's Chicken

  Bale Dutung

• Big Bob’s
• Chuck’s Grubberie
• Homemade Ravioli
• Manang’s Chicken
• Merry Moo
• Mochiko
• Spring by Ha Yuan

I hope more will join in the near future so that consumers can have more choices.

Although my top pick is the ever-famous Bale Dutung, I haven’t tried Manang’s Chicken either. With a recommendation form Mel, I decided to give their signature chicken a try.

Manang's Chicken from Mercato Centrale through City Delivery

Rice almost gone but there are still 2 chicken!

Mel didn’t fail me as Manang’s Chicken was good as well. The white meat was tender and I cannot let go of the sinful chicken skin made tastier by the SAUCE.

I just had to put it in all caps; you would know why after trying Manang’s Chicken yourself.

🙂

In my next City Delivery order, no one can stop me from having one of Pampanga’s best – Bale Dutung by by Chef Claude Tayag!

🙂

Mercato Centrale at the Comfort of your Homes with City Delivery

Thank you City Delivery, it’s Mercato goodness, rain or shine!