Entries Tagged 'Affairs' ↓

Likas sa pamilyang Pilipino ang palaging magkakasama – sa hapunan, sa pamamasyal, at sa iba’t-iba pang okasyon. “Isang malaki at masayang pamilya,” ika nga.

Max’s Restaurant in Lipa City, Batangas

Ang aking pamilya ay mula Lipa City sa probinsiya ng Batangas. Doon nagkatagpo ang aking mga magulang at doon sila nagsimula ng kanilang pamilya. Subalit ako’y ipinanganak sa Maynila, dito rin ako nag-aral at nagtapos. Sa makatuwid, dito na ako lumaki…malayo sa kanila. Ngunit tuwing may mga okasyon tulad ng kaarawan at Pasko, sinisigurado kong makakauwi ako.

Ngunit may mga panahon talagang mahirap maiwasan tulad ng nakaraang Disyembre kung saan ako’y nagbagong taon sa Bulacan kapiling ang aking kasintahan at ang kanyang pamilya. Ito ay aming napagkasunduan dahil sa Batangas naman kami nag-Pasko, kasama naman ang aking pamilya.

Max’s Restaurant Website & Online Delivery

Ngayong ako’y nagbabalik-tanaw, bigla kong naalala ang Max’s Restaurant at ang kakaibang paraan nila nang pag-order at pag-deliber. Sa pagsipat ng www.maxschicken.com gamit ang iyong kompyuter o telepono na konektdo sa Internet, makikita na isa sa paraan ng pag-order ‘online‘ ay ang ‘Delivery Now‘ o ‘Deliver Later‘ at pwede ko itong ipa-deliber sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas.

Naisip ko na kahit wala ako sa Batangas sa piling ng aking mga magulang, pwede ko itong gamitin na pang-sorpresa sa kanila. Pwede akong magpa-deliber ng ‘sarap-to-the-bones‘ fried chicken, Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, Pancit Canton, o kahit Sinigang! Kakaiba, hindi ba!  Para kaming ‘sama-sama kahit malayo!’ 🙂

Max’s Chicken on facebook

Magandang ideya rin ito para sa mga kababayan nating OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). Kahit nasaan man sila sa mundo, kahit wala sila dito sa Pilipinas, pwede silang umorder at magbayad gamit ang internet at surpresang darating ang Max’s Chicken sa kaarawan ng kanyang mahal sa buhay o sa pagtatapos ng kanyang anak na parang nandoon din siya sa kasiyahan.

Salo-salo kahit malayo!

Panoorin ninyo ang napakagandang video na ito:

At siyempre, nandiyan parin ang Max’s Delivery hotline 7-9000 para sa regular na pagpapadeliver. Nasasabik na akong subukan ang kakaibang pag-order na ito sa www.maxschicken.com. Sino ba ang may nalalapit na kaarawan? 🙂

Filipinos are generally forgiving. They can spare a celebrity with a scandal or even re-elect a toppled and convicted president. To put it simply, we are a race tolerant to those who oppress us. And this culture is carried over in our everyday life and in the simple things we do.

Wobbly Table

In particular, I believe most of us have experienced at least once in our life, a wobbly table while dining in a restaurant. Others call it a ‘shaky table’ or an ‘unsteady table’. By whatever name it goes, it causes an uncomfortable dining experience or a spilled coffee.

You say that’s easy, just step on the table base to balance it and viola! However, you just have to hold your position until everyone finishes their meal.

A more innovative approach involves folding a piece of paper and tuck it into one of the table legs. Problem solved. Well, that is so until the paper is pushed away, the next customer comes in, and the routine experience repeats all over. What do you know, the lucky you may encounter the same table in your next visit! 🙂

Step on the Table Base Solution

I say this has to stop.

As food bloggers, a dining customer’s experience nowadays goes beyond the good food. I would like to think that a bad wobbly table experience count in the ambiance category, to say the least, until the plate slides to the floor or the tea spills to your lap.

So what do we do?

As paying customers, you should at least raise the concern with the restaurant manager with regards to your issue. You may also respectfully ask for a replacement of your coffee or tea, if the restaurant would deem appropriate, which they would most likely do.

In the US, immediate replacement of  a spilled beverage caused by the restaurant’s wobbly table is necessary. Customers can even sue the restaurant for possible damages caused by the incident, say, important documents or gadgets that got wet on the table during the incident.

If these happened to you, how would you react?

Spilled Coffee care of an Unsteady Table?

I appreciate restaurants nowadays who offer alternative mediums for feedback from customers such as sending a text message to a certain mobile number like the one in Italianni’s and its sister restaurants within the Bistro Group. Indeed, you would taste the love, not only in the food, but also in the experience.

I hope other restaurants would also be as conscious of their customer’s experience, in particular with the wobbly tables, as the high-end ones. After all, they would want their customers to have a good dining experience in their restaurants, right?

Until when do we tolerate a primitive problem like wobbly tables? If the restaurant can forego a simple problem of shaking, how much effort do you think are they putting in preparing your food?

Jalapenos and more!

No, this is not an advance Valentine’s Day post. It has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, actually. 🙂 The Bistro Group of restaurants, known for their international and casual dining brands, has just launched their latest campaign called “Taste the Love.”

Taste the Love

Taste the Love is not a promo per se, it’s about inviting diners to taste the love behind their every restaurant concept launched. The campaign celebrates a series of milestones for The Bistro Group including:

• the opening of 50 restaurants spread across the 12 resto concepts
• the appointment of Corporate Chef Josh Boutwood
• the launch of its Premiere Card.

BBQ Pork Slider from Village Tavern

The Bistro Group of Restaurants

12 Restaurant Concepts

Modern Shanghai is one of the four freshest name in the group which brings authentic recipes in a homey environment. Village Tavern, Watami, and Ma Maison, completes the group having come from the US and Japan ( for the latter two).

The Bistro Group of restaurants is composed of TGI Friday’s, Italianni’s, Fish & Co., Flapjacks, Pig Out!, Krazy Garlik, The Stock Market, Bulgogi Brothers , and the previously mentioned restaurants.

But within the 1st quarter if 2013, expect the US-based Chuck E. Cheese’s to be the 13th as it opens at the New Glorietta soon.

Village Tavern Bonifacio High Street, Philippines

Apple-Carrot Juice

Chef Josh Boutwood

Chef Josh Boutwood

Together with the arrival of Chef Boutwood is the launch of new dishes as well. Among the favorites in the list are Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings, the Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Skins (Village Tavern), and the a la carte Katsu Menu (Ma Maison). NomNom Club‘s favorite is the Black Pizza (black due to the squid ink mixed with the dough), also from Village Tavern.

Penne with Pesto from Italianni’s

The Premiere Card

The Bistro Group Premiere Card will offer multiple discounts up to 40% off the total bill; complimentary appetizers, coffee, and tea; as well as birthday treats for the cardholder.

In addition, for February, The Bistro Group is offering an exclusive deal for Citibank cardholders. From February 4-7, cardholders will receive 50% off food and beverage orders worth at least P2,500, with a discount up to P5,000.

Ms. Lisa Ronquillo

“Taste the Love is not just about food. It’s about the heart and the passion that goes into everything we do, from our concepts to our locations to our service to of course, our food… we allow our customers to taste the love from the moment they get hungry and think about our restaurants to the time they have polished off every bite,” says Lisa Ronquillo, AVP Marketing of The Bistro Group.

‘Taste the Love‘ from all the Bistro Group of Restaurants starting this 2013! I wonder what other upcoming deals, menu items, and treats they will dish out soon?

He’s back home. Coco Martin, although busy taping for his latest and upcoming teleserye at ABS-CBN called “Juan Dela Cruz“, found his way back to a family where he was once a part of – Max’s Restaurant.

Max’s Restaurant Presscon with “Juan Dela Cruz”

Not known to many, Coco Martin once served Max’s Fried Chicken dishes to customers in one of Max’s Restaurant branches, specifically at SM Fairview, back in 2001.

Even before his big break in showbiz, he has been getting cameo roles and modeling stints. While still making ends meet, it all started when he was offered to audition in ABS-CBN with Johnny Manahan through a talent-scout whom he met at Max’s Restaurant. 12 years after, he now serves as the celebrity endorser of the well-loved brand – Max’s Restaurant.

Philippine Celebrity Coco Martin

Since late last year, you would have seen several ‘Coco Martin‘ standees in all Max’s Restaurant branches.

Coco accepting Max’s memorabillas

In a recent press con, it was asked what happens to Piolo Pascual then? After 7 years of being Max’s main celebrity endorser, Piolo remains to be part of the Max’s family. As a Max’s officer mentioned, their endorsers don’t just come and go after a contract, they just “grow their family.” Celebrating their 70th year in two years, who knows, a reunion among Max’s celebrity endorsers might even be possible.

Start of Something New

This is only the start. You might have seen his introductory Max’s TV commercial back in November 2012. This will be followed by a series, the first of which will come out by the end of February or early March of this year. The series focuses on Coco’s relationship with the brand slowly unfolding the ‘connection.’

“Pag dumating ang pinaka-love mo, ang sarap!“, exclaims Coco Martin.

Max’s Chicken – Coco Martin Ad

But more than the ‘yummy‘ smile girls giggle over, you would see through Coco’s words and actions. You can see his sincerity and support for the brand that he knows very well by heart and you will feel his humble spirit in joining back a family he once was with  that is Max’s.

Knorr Sinigang na Tilapia for Noche Buena

In a recent interview with the contestants of the MasterChef Pinoy edition, most of the participants agree that spaghetti is the number 1 food choice of Filipinos for Christmas. and I think it is true to my observation.

However, it doesn’t mean we will just settle with comfort food. We can always up the ante of our meals specially during Noche Buena (Christmas Eve feast) which is a special occasion for us Filipinos. One suggestion is the well-loved Filipino dish called Sinigang (Tamarind Soup).

Sinigang

In fact, we just had Sinigang na Tilapia for lunch earlier which my mom prepared using Knorr Sinigang sa Sampalok Mix. She prepared a lot so I know we’ll be seeing it again later for Noche Buena. 🙂

A steaming serving of the tamarind-base soup is enough to warm the heart and tummy especially during the cool evenings. Mom put in the traditional mix of tomatoes, kangkong, onion, pepper, and radish. The play of flavors found in a warm pot of Sinigang brings back fond memories with the family.

Knorr Sinigang sa Sampalok Mix

And to make the preparation less taxing, Knorr Sinigang is on hand to bring out the rich sinigang flavor in a convenient way. It is made from real sampalok and available in convenient sachet packs. It can also be mixed with pork or seafood together with gabi and other vegetables.

Holiday Season with Chef Marvin Agustin

Chef Marvin Agustin

Similarly, Chef Marvin Agustin makes sure that he goes the extra mile to offer something different yet definitely familiar to the Filipino palate. He uses leftover lechon as the main ingredient in making his classic sinigang.

“Everyone loves sinigang. We all grew up with it, and with a little creativity and a little help from Knorr Sinigang, you can have a winning dish for the holiday season,” Marvin concludes.

Knorr Sinigang Mix

So don’t hesitate to have some Sinigang in your Noche Buena! 🙂

Top Food Blogger Anton Diaz at the Cucina Andare Opening

We often visualize trucks as big nasty vehicles on the road. The nearest I could associate it with food are the fruit-delivery trucks from the provinces or the ones used by caterers and big restaurants.

But the Philippine foodie scene just got better as the group behind Mercato Centrale night market, led by Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and author/celebrity RJ Ledsema, brings the US concept of food trucks to the Philippines. Hence, Cucina Andare was born two nights ago.

Cucina Andare Food Truck Finds: (L-R, T-B) Brother’s Burger, Bundaberg Apple Ale, Chicken Waffle, Beef Shawarma Plare

Mexicombi (Van)

Just in time for the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, the Cucina Andare food truck market is located at the Glorietta Park in front of Greenbelt 3, Landmark, and Makati Shangri-La Hotel. It will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4pm– 3am for the whole of December which started Last December 14, 2012.

It brings together specialty and gourmet food trucks, new and innovative food, drink and pastry vendors from home-based food businesses from around Makati plus some live acoustic performances.

“The food truck is a staple in the American foodie scene…There are now popular gourmet food trucks in San Francisco, New York and Australia, and people follow them wherever they go. We believe it’s about time that food trucks make their debut in the Philippine foodie scene,” shares top food blogger Anton Diaz.

Upper Left: Hungry Rover’s UD Beef Kofta Sliders (Mini Burgers) made of grilled patties, veggies, choice of sauce, and cheese in baked buns with chips on the side. P110

They also launched the Food Truck Association of the Philippines during the opening of the market to encourage more food trucks vendors and related innovative ideas. I think this is the start of a new niche in the Philippine food retail industry.

And what did NomNom Club do there? What else but to eat! And here are our TOP FINDS from the first Philippine food truck market :

1. Gab Sobrepena’s Shawarma Bros Shawarma Truck
   

   Shawarma Bros

2. Hungry Rover truck by Romeo, Joseph, and Voltaire
   

   Hungry Rover: Check out their US Beef Tapa Grilled Wraps for P120

3. QKebab Shawarma Truck by Chef RJ Ungco
   

   QKebab Shawarma Truck by Chef RJ Ungco

4. Brothers Burger Gourmet Burger Truck
   

   Brothers Burger Gourmet Burger Truck

5. Bundaberg Ginger Beer
   

   Bundaberg Ginger Beer & Other Variants

6. GuacTruck Taco Truck – a partnership with the Big Chill
   

   GuacTruck Taco Truck – a partnership with the Big Chill (lower right)

7. MioGelati Gelato Truck
   

   MioGelati Gelato Truck

Best Food Truck

Since the new food truck market is so eye-catching, we can’t help but compare and judge them.  The best-tasting food for the night came from Shawarma Bros courtesy of the Beef Shawarma plate while the Best Food Truck Design goes to QKebab Shawarma & Shawarma  Bros.

QKebab Shawarma Truck

Beef Shawarma Plate by Shawarma Bros

On the other hand, the Best Food Truck Experience belongs to the Hungry Rover truck which even have a dining area inside the truck (good for about 8 people.) for the complete food truck experience.

Hungry Rover Truck

Other food establishments who participated in the food truck market include Mexicombi, Chicken Waffle Haus, Taclings,  Top Dog  Best Hotdogs on the World, Cakes by K, Carlo’s Kitchen, Petra & Pilar, the Spanish Club, and Chef Resty’s Roast Beef Carving Station, among others.

B. Wings creates a unique mix of buffalo wing variants

Taclings’ small malunggay tacos for about P120 a dozen

Cucina Andare Food Truck Market

Know more about Cucina Andare Food Truck Market via www.facebook.com /CucinaAndare and @CucinaAndare on Twitter. Contact them at admin@CucinaAndare.com or 09178401152. See you there again next Friday!

Kusina ni Kambal caterer also served us lunch

We have recently visited the Pinoy MasterChef house which serves as the temporary home of the Top 14 Cooks of the first ABS-CBN kusinaserye.

Myra – Chef Accountant of Muntinlupa

We also got to know the Top 14 cooks in a personal level in the same visit. But NomNom Club got extra close to some of them and even tasted their dishes. Here are six of them up close.

The Ladies

Ivory – the Bubbly Cook

We first met Myra. She is an employee by day and wife & mom by night. The Chef Accountant of Muntinlupafirst worked her way around the kitchen when she was still little. Her forte are home-cooked meals as she now cooks for her family of two.

With her in the room is Ivory. As a nurse, her parents initially wanted her to become a doctor bur her love for cooking made her pursue her culinary passion. Aside from that, she loves to eat, as she herself claims.

In contrast to other cooks and chef who prefers not to fully consume what they have cooked and leave it to guests, she likes eating what she has prepared. Her bubbly character will also help you enjoy your meal.

Myra has prepared a black and white chocolate crepe which served as a complementary dessert to the Italian-inspired potato-based masterpiece by Ivory. As much as Myra’s crepe was ok, Ivory’s dish was outstanding.

Myra’s Crepe & Ivory’s Potato Entree

Mac – the Kitchen Mac-Kulit of Tarlac

The Gentlemen

A former seaman, the Kitchen Mac-Kulit of Tarlac seem to be the jolliest of them all. I wasn’t initially sure if this is to compensate for his broken marriage, but I think Mac is naturally a happy person.

Ronnel – Boy Labong of Pampanga

Our second male cook is Ronnel. He is your typical husband from the province of Pampanga who is not surprisingly good in cooking and cooks over an open fire using twigs.

Known as the Boy Labong of Pampanga, he is the reserved type but have the looks for showbiz.

Tolits – Chief Cook of Police

Sorsogon’s Chief Cook of Police, Tolits, wanted to take up Fine Arts in college but was not able to because his family couldn’t afford it, and it was only in cooking where he was able express his passion for art.

He eventually joined the police force while being in charge of cooking tasks at home for his family as it was not the forte of his wife.

Ronnel prepared a very good tasting sisig which he claims to have prepared in the traditional way, Kapampangan style. Tolits served us a simple but also good-tasting shredded meat on bread. Mac, surprisingly and out-of-character, crafted a leche flan.

Ronnel’s Sisig (left) & Mac’s Leche Flan (right); Tolit’s Dish is Top Photo

Cons – Kitchen Siren of San Juan

The light-hearted conversation led us to Mac’s love-interest among the Pinoy MasterChef Top 14. He confessed his childish attraction to Cons. This led our group of media to interview Cons on our way downstairs.

Known as the Kitchen Siren of San Juan, Cons once auditioned in Pinoy Dream Academy to become a recording artist. A disease, however, temporarily damaged her voice and deterred her from reaching her dreams. This set off her love affair with cooking and has since then vowed to master cooking.

However, she cleared that Mac is just a friend.

Who do you think will be crowned as the first Pinoy MasterChef and will win the P1 million grand prize? Who will stand out?

ABS-CBN MasterChef Pinoy Edition

Pinoy MasterChef Top 14 Cooks

Catch MasterChef Pinoy Edition and the Top 14 cooks as they cook their way to their dreams, Mondays to Fridays, 10:30 a.m. before Be Careful with My Heart on ABS-CBN’s Umaganda block. Follow them at Twitter @MasterChefPHL, www.masterchefph.tv, and www.facebook.com/MasterChefPH.

Greenwich Better Than Any Other Christmas Party

Filipinos continue to be innovative in their Christmas celebrations with or without a big budget as long a they have fun during the Christmas party. Just like Greenwich, the country’s leading pizza chain, they recently threw a fun-filled bash for those who contributed to the brand’s success.

Anne Curtis & Kelly Misa

The Greenwich Barkada, composed of officers from Greenwich and celebrity endorsers filled up the stage of a Makati Shangri-La ballroom in front of the media and their friends. Joining in the fun were the Pizza Gang composed of Vince Canizares, Mika Lagdameo, and Lloyd Zaragoza. The Greenwich pasta girls Anne Curtis, Solenn Heussaff and Kelly Misa also brought Christmas cheers through a song.

Cookie Cabrera of Greenwich (right)

The Greenwich Barkada entertained the guests with their rendition of popular Christmas tunes. They also shared their fun moments with their Greenwich family and gamely answered questions from the members of the media. Rockeoke session with the guests kept the night alive.

“This Christmas get-together is our way of showing our heartfelt gratitude to our friends from the press. They play an important role in helping us get our messages and stories across our market and in making the Filipinos aware of our latest offerings,” said Cookie Cabrera, Greenwich PR and Corporate Affairs Manager.

The Greenwich Barkada & The Pasta Girls

@ Makati Shang-ri La

Greenwich Special Overload Pizza – 15in Party Pizza

The star of the night though is Greenwich’s latest Christmas offering- Greenwich Special Overload Pizza 15in Party Pizza fit for Christmas parties. The highlighted flavour Greenwich Special Overload Pizza has 13 premium toppings. The party pizza has 16 square cut slices and more of the overloaded toppings making Greenwich truly the Favorite ng barkada.

Greenwich 15-inch Party Pizza (Greenwich Special Overload Pizza)

I think the new Greenwich 15-inch Party Pizza is a good additional idea for our upcoming Christmas parties. Of course, I’m ordering my favorite Greenwich Special Overload Pizza flavor.