Entries Tagged 'Affairs' ↓

Yoyo Cafe

Whew, it has already been a week since my last food blog. This is mainly caused by my preparations even before my leave of absence which started Friday – I went to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia.

Yes, I just got back to the Philippines and is still fresh from the airport.

Ice Cream 'Potong'

Before I proceed with the day, I would just like to let you know that I’m still alive and eating. 🙂 And due to my recent trip to Kota Kinabalu, expect a number of Malaysian cuisine features for the upcoming months of November and December.

It would be as varied as the Malaysian spices. From the traditional Nasi Lemak (top right photo) to the local Potong Ice Cream.

You’ll also be seeing the Kota Kinabalu versions of common place commercial food establishments like McDo and KFC; and from their local favorite Chicken Curry to Itik Instant noodles (top left photos).

Gulp.

Malaysian Menu : Laksa, et al.

McDonald's Spicy McShaker

Malaysian Merienda by Klias Riverside, Kota Kinabalu: Rice Crispies, et al

Above are some more of the teaser photos from our Kota Kinabalu food escapades and upcoming Malaysian Cuisines this November and December.

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.

Wendy’s Greenbelt was the 4th Wendy’s branch that opened in the Philippines in 1986. It got renovated in 1991, and then again in 2004.

If you do dine at this branch near the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) like I do, you would indeed realize that it was time for a renovation.

Wendy's Greenbelt Renovated New Look

So when the construction was finished last July, it was a refreshing change; a neater look. A necessary one that has been calling out from the four corners of the old branch.

It is indeed a good news to Wendy’s patrons. Last September 30, Wendy’s held a grand launch which involved treats for the customers,games and festive activities including pintados, photo booths, Wendy’ Girl mascot, children activities, and the Buganda percussion band that usually performs for Gary Valenciano’s concerts.

Wendy's Salad

A blessing of the store was also officiated by Rev. Fr. Boogie from Greenbelt Chapel.

Wendy's Baconator Mexican Melt

Of course, the event would not be without food and I had my favorites Wendy’s salad and Frosty. I also had their new Baconator Mexican Melt which boasts of “two 2 ¼ lb. beef patties, 6 strips of bacon, a slice of American cheese topped with cheese sauce and jalapeño pepper and served on a warm kaiser buns.”

I got an instant flashback of my hamburger eating contest about a year ago. 🙂

Surprisingly, Wendy’s Philippines operations manager also mentioned that there is a considerable number of women who order the Baconator! We also had a peek at their kitchen where he showed us their fresh never-frozen 100% pure beef square patties.

Wendy's Square Beef Patties

As a quick-service restaurant, Wendy’s sees a bright year ahead and beyond and as they convert more stores with this new look and open up more branches.

Last September 15, the results for the Emerging Influential Blogs for 2010 were released and NomNomClub.com emerged as Top 2!

We won! This is a heartwarming recognition as the votes came straight from the vast blogger community itself. Thank you all for giving your votes of confidence to NomNomClub.com. This has given us more inspiration to continue to write quality food blogs and grow our NomNom Foodie Club even more.

With 12 weeks of nerve-wracking nominations and tallying, you have continually supported NomNom Club placing consistently in the top 10 every week.

Please do check this short video of my acceptance speech narrating NomNom Club’s humble beginnings during the announcement and awarding ceremony at Le Bistro Vert in Makati City:

Jonel Uy of NomNom Club from Janette Toral on Vimeo.

Again, thank you for all your support. As a way of giving back to those who nominated NomNom Club, allow me to invite you (you know who you are) to the Pizza Pizza Thanksgiving Party to be held on October 8, 2010, 7pm at Angel’s Pizza near the corner of Makati Avenue and Jupiter St, in Makati City. Come as you are. It will be simple gathering with free pizza and lots of raffle items such as original Starbucks items and restaurant gift certificates. Kindly send an email to admin AT NomNomClub.com if you will come for head count purposes. 🙂

Congratulations as well to the rest of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2010.

Bloggers behind the 2010 Emerging Inflential Blogs (photo from influentialblogger.net)

1. When in Manila
2. NomNom Club
3. Facebuko
   Ganda Ever So Much!
4. Kusina Maria
   Project 52 Weeks
5. Fat Girl No More
   Music Vlog
   The Creative Dork
6. The Thirsty Blogger
7. Foodie Manila
8. Jay.eLx
9. Paolodome Edge HD
10. Get Prettified!

and a special recognition – Blogging for a Cause, was given to Surviving Autism.

It would be interesting to note as well, that 8 out of my 10 nominees got into the Top Ten Winners! 🙂

Thank you to the sponsors and Ms. Janette Toral for organizing this activity.

Coming from a Chinese family myself, the traditional mid-autumn celebration of Chinese Mooncake Festival is celebrated in at least some way or the other. In previous years, we did play the traditional Mooncake dice game with prizes among family members.

Chinese Mooncake Festival

Although, we won’t be having one this year, it is comforting to know that the Mooncake tradition is still alive in most Chinese communities.

“With a delicious tradition rich in history, the festival is strongly associated with the Moon Goddess of Immortality. It also represents the time of the year when the moon is at its fullest and marks the end of the harvest. It is traditionally celebrated with dances, moon viewing parties, and of course, partaking of mooncakes.“

Like in Resorts World Manila (RWM) in Newport (Pasay City), the next three days’ celebrations focuse on the Chinese culture surrounding the Mooncake Festival. They have actually started these since last month with the Mooncake redemption promo. Casino slot machine players may use points earned from August 22 to September 24 to take home up to three mooncakes a day. 200 Mooncakes are available for redemption throughout the promo period.

Moncake Festival at the Resorts World Manila - Maxims Hotel

Mooncake Promo Mechanics (Clikc to Enlarge)

From September 22 to 24, Resorts World Manila will also be rewarding cakes and tea at its Mooncake and High Tea mini-buffet for only 18 points. There would also be a daily Mooncake Raffle with 12 electronic raffle draws will be held each day from 3:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. at certain intervals. With four varieties of moon cake in each box, Mooncakes will also available for sale at Resorts World Manila’s Passion Restaurant.

Enjoy the Mooncake Festival with the Chinese and non-Chinese communities alike at the Resorts World Manila from Sept 22-24. For inquiries, you may call (632) 836-6333 or visit www.rwmanila.com.

Yummy Food Editor Rachelle Santos

It was the latest Yummy Magazine Cooking Demo, and this time, it was held at Landmark in Trinoma Mall a few weeks ago.

Yummy shared some of their secret recipes through Yummy Food Editor Rachelle Santos who was the head chef for that day.

Rachelle focused on easy-to-prepare everyday meals that involved the use of bangus (milk fish) in the dishes particularly using Sarangani Bay Prime Bangus.

Inspired from the Yummy Magazine September issue, the cooking demo by-products were:

Crispy Bangus Belly Strips

Tinapa with Eggplant and Sun-dried Tomato Pasta, Crispy Bangus Belly Strips with Caper Mayo, Bangus Belly with Tausi, and Spice-Marinated Sarangani Bangus Belly Fillets.

Spice Marinated Sarangani Bangus Belly Fillets

Tinapa with Eggplant and Sun-dried Tomato Pasta

Smoked Bangus-based

Cooking Demo at Landmark Trinoma

The event was brief as preparation of the dishes was quite fast since these were easy-to-prepare dishes. And of course, guests and the audience including NomNom were able to have a tasting feast of the prepared dishes.

Sarangani Bay Prime Bangus

Check out Yummy‘s September issue on different preparations, ideas, ingredients, techniques and styling for a fresh take on well-loved classic and modern Pinoy cuisines like Adobo De Campesino. Enjoy your favorite Filipino dishes in new ways!

Yummy September 2010 Cover

For P125, Yummy’s September issue also features 10 merienda snack ideas, soups, sides, and mains dishes cooked with Buko (coconut).

Until the next Yummy Magazine Cooking Demo!

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.

365 days and 121 foodie articles after, NomNom Club turns 1 today! From its first article in Sept 9, 2009, this food blog has evolved in leaps and bounds.

NomNom Foodie Club Members

Based from the internet slang “nomnomnom” which refers to “eating,” NomNom Club has featured a number of restaurants, new dishes, recipes, food events, and other food related matters.

We have also started a NomNom Foodie Club open to all enthusiast of anything related to food. We have foodies who simply love to eat, mommy chefs, recipe-seeking housewives, food bloggers, and food industry players such as restaurant owners. Membership count is now at a little more than a hundred.

It was a fruitful year and I am thankful to all who supported NomNom Club through email subscription, joining the NomNom Foodie Club, or even simply commenting in the articles. My heart also goes out to those who nominated NomNom Club as one of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2010. Your votes of confidence meant a lot.

NomNom Club 1st Annoversary Celebration

Greenwich Pasta Feast

Lastly, the Foodie Club also celebrated the anniversary in advance last September 4, 2010 at Greenwich SM North Edsa with about 30 members and guests.

It was extreme fun and food fiesta supported by Greenwich and SolidHosting.ph.

Pizza, pasta, and prizes were overflowing – almost everyone won in the raffle :). SolidHosting.ph gave away 15 webhosting packages worth more than P10K.

Greenwich and SolidHosting.ph supports NomNom Club

From here on, this food blog of 200 email subscribers will slowly turn into a group blog by having memeber-guest bloggers write for us at least once a month. Moreover, we will make it more interactive by having top commenters of the month join us in monthly food activities. We alsoo hope to have other foodie activities such as contests, coffee 101 seminars, and food article writing seminars for foodie club members.

Games and Raffles Winners

Get free foodie updates in your inbox by being an email subscriber. Follow us on Twitter @NomNomFoodie, Facebook and join the NomNom Foodie Club! Cheers to another year of more NomNom Club nomnoms and fun!