Entries Tagged 'Promos / Events' ↓

If I’m not mistaken, this would be the first time Starbucks Philippines is offering breakfast tapa in their menu. Probably a come-on for those looking for a local taste, the new Starbucks sandwiches for breakfast are available starting today which also includes the Spam Black Pepper, Forest Ham, Breakfast Tapa & Egg, and Ratatouille & Mozzarella Cheese.

Released on a significantly historical day of September 11, the all-day breakfast sandwiches are made available in all Starbucks stores around the Philippines. I hope you are trying one now as you are reading this food blog so you can relate to my feedback.

The new Starbucks breakfast sandwiches has somehow made my breakfast more sophisticated as I’m simply used to either the usual Filipino breakfast of rice with egg and tapa or corned beef, or the more western style of milk and sandwich combo.

Starbucks Forest Ham Sandwich

For example, the Forest Ham is made with slices of forest ham, scrambled egg white and smoked Gouda cheese which makes it more flavorful as a sandwich but with less fat and on healthy toasty oat bread.

The second one is a vegetarian sandwich – the Ratatouille And Mozzarella Cheese (TOP PHOTO). It’s a healthy blend of cheese, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, portobello and shiitake mushrooms, garlic and onions – all packed in-between a multi-grain bread. The usual perception on vegetarian sandwiches is being bland, but this one isn’t. In fact, I love it and wouldn’t have known it was vegetarian.

Starbucks SPAM Black Pepper Sandwich

Beef Tapa with Egg Sandwich

I’d predict the third would be a blockbuster – the Spam Black Pepper. Everyone’s favorite SPAM® is spiced up with black pepper, creamy scrambled egg and layered with melted American Cheddar cheese on cornmeal bread

And finally, Starbucks puts a twist to the traditional favorite Filipino breakfast – the ‘Breakfast Tapa & Egg‘.

Starbucks Philippines added garlic mayonnaise and put it in a whole wheat bread, instead of the staple rice (of course, we’re talking about sandwiches). It was an interesting approach for someone used to having their beef tapa in the morning with rice. 🙂

New Starbucks Breakfast Sandwiches (Starting Sept 11, 2012)

I’ve got the chance to try all the new Starbucks breakfast sandwiches which are all priced similarly at Php 115 (US$2.78), Generally all four are good but my recommendations are the Ratatouille & Mozzarella cheese on multigrain bread and Spam Black Pepper w/ egg & Cheddar cheese on cornmeal bread.

NomNom with Anton Diaz (right) in UTT

In Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test 2011, NomNom was able to conquer 51 food stalls. How many would this year’s count be? On September 15 and 16, test your appetite and set your own records at Rockwell’s 2nd Ultimate Taste Test happening at Rockwell Tent as brought to us by Anton Diaz‘ Our Awesome Planet together with San Miguel Lifestyle Brews and more.

This two-day food tasting event happens from 11 in the morning up until 9 in the evening of both days. Get to taste samplings from over 40 home-based food businesses, concessionaires, and Power Plant mall establishments as they set up shop to have food lovers, connoisseurs, and foodies, become ” food critics for a day.“

Food Rating Activity

Rockwell’s ltimate Taste Test traditional ratings of the food by the visitors within the scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, will be one of the event’s highlights. The top performing food stalls with the average rating of 3.8 and above, will be specially features in Anton Daiz’s Our Awesome Planet blog in October 2012.

Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test 2011 Score Sheet

Purchase Tickets

The ticket rates for the tenth (10th) edition of the Ultimate Taste Test  (UTT) is at P585/person/day or P1,000/person for 2 days. This covers the food taste portions and a bottle of San Miguel Super Dry, Premium All-Malt or Cerveza Negra (age 18 and above).

Buy the tickets from Creative Juice Office (Tel. # 5707827) during office hours or Rockwell Customer Care (Tel. # 8981702) during mall hours . You may also email admin@ultimatetastetest.com for questions and inquiries.

Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test 2012

For Interested Food Suppliers

Interested in becoming one of the food suppliers? Email the organizers at admin@ultimatetastetest.com. 

Buy your tickets now as only 1,000 tickets to be sold are allocated per day. See you at Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test 2 in 10 days! 🙂

Diet with Exercise

Onwards to the third week of my “Healthier Me” journey, the C-lium-based breakfast diet continues as I took it every morning with my drink. Now it’s time to focus and learn more things about fiber and its association in losing weight. Allow me to share some interesting facts about fiber from clium.com.ph.

Here are some fiber facts:

Fiber promotes healthy digestion

As I have mentioned in a previous article. One of the major and immediately visible effects of taking C-lium fiber is a regular and comfortable bowel movement. More than just making your visit to the toilet more regular and consistent, you would notice a softer stool (pardon the graphic description). 🙂

Moving on, the site also mentions that a high-fiber diet helps reduce the risk of digestive track related diseases.

Fiber for healthy digestion

Fiber helps reduce the risk of heart disease

The C-lium website indicates that fiber has the ability to bind with bile acids, which is effective in absorbing fats. These then demand more bad cholesterol to be converted to bile acids and are excreted.

The explanation is actually a bit technical for me, but somehow we do get the picture.:)

Sources of fiber include a cereal drink like the new Milo Overload, apples, oatmeal, brown rice, and of course, C-lium Fibre whose one sachet serving gives the most fiber! 🙂

C-Lium FIber Health Journal and Exercise Tips

Fiber Sources

Daily Fiber Requirements

We always hear about marketers and encouraging words from heath gurus about how good fiber is for our health.

But just how much fiber do we actually need or should have?

For good health, an average of 25-35 grams of fiber daily is the recommended dosage. However, a regular individual usually only consumes about 15 grams of fiber per day.

Here are some tips on how to increase your fiber intake:

1. For breakfast, having a slice of wheatbread is a good start!
2. Eat fruits
3. Include more clean raw vegetables, salads, and greens with your meals
4. Eat brown rice instead of white!
5. Add a sachet or tablespoon of C-lium in your daily fiber intake.

*Fiber facts and iformation  source: C-Lium Website

What’s Your Fiber Diet?

We’re midway in this C-lium Fiber “Healthier Me” journey. I’m excited for the upcoming check-up this September to discover some medical health findings on how much I have improved after a month. 🙂

SM Master Chefs @ SM Hypermarket

From the success of last year’s SM Master Chefs, SM Hypermarket launches SM Master Chefs 2012 in a festive gathering of top brands, media, and bloggers at SM Hypermarket Cubao last August 16, 2012.

The grand launch in SM Hypermarket was participated in by SM Master Chefs brands namely Unilever, San Miguel, Nestle, Bounty Fresh, and CDO.

Of course, there were cooking demonstrations as well by the aforementioned brands led by their top chefs namely:

• Chef RJ Garcia (San Miguel)
• Chef Pau Sia (Unilever Food Solutions)
• Chef Arnold Bernardo (Bounty Fresh)
• Chef Tess Sulito (Nestle)
• Chef Menoy Gimenez (CDO)

Chef RJ Garcia of San Miguel

Chef Pau Sia of Unilever – Knorr

Chef Arnold Bernardo of Bounty Fresh

Chef Menoy Gimenez of CDO

Chef Tess Sulito of Nestle

SM Master Chefs 2012

This year’s SM Master Chefs has three (3) main components: the Recipe Contest, the Cooking Marathon, and the Carinderia Makeover.

SM Master Chefs 2012

Recipe Contest

SM Master Chefs recipe contest was conceptualized with the SM Hypermarket customer in mind and it is easy to participate in.

Just buy your ingredients at SM Hypermarket and whip up a great tasting and, if possible, a unique recipe using any of the SM Master brands. You are then now eligible to join and get the chance to win and be hailed as one of the thirty three SM Master Chefs for 2012. Just bring your finished product to any SM Hypermarket store on judging day.

Cooking Marathon

A big hit from last year’s SM Master Chefs was the cooking marathon, it is included again in this year’s program to the delight of the grocery shoppers who witness these beneficial and knowledge-enriching cooking demonstrations by the master brand chefs.

It is brought back this year with new recipes from master brands Bounty Fresh, CDO, Nestle, Purefoods, Magnolia and Unilever Food Solutions – Knorr. Each will have a featured chef who will go around the 34 branches of SM Hypermarket every week in three months (which started August 21) for cooking demonstrations. The best thing about this is that they are for free!

Please see the Cooking Marathon schedule below:

SM Master Chefs Cooking Marathon Schedule

Carinderia Makeover

Small businesses and entrepreneurs in the food service business are in for a treat from SM Hypermakret!

If you run a karinderia, catering, or small restaurant business, then you can own a brand new kitchen and dining area furnished by SM Hypermarket with SM Master Chefs Free Carinderia Makeover!

SM Hypermarket is giving away a free makeover of their kitchen and dining area to five lucky and deserving food business operators in order to help them sustain their operations. With a minimum P500 worth of groceries inclusive of two sponsor brands or a fully stamped loyalty card, food business owners get a chance to win a makeover.

SM Master Chefs Master Brand Booths @ the Launch

What can you say about the SM Master Chefs program? I’m surely sharing all these great news from SM Hypermarket and about the SM Master Chefs 2012 with my mom.

Angel’s Pizza ETON Cyberpod

In a bold move to cater to the mall-going crowd, Angel’s Pizza opened its newest branch at ETON Cyberpod in Ortigas. This is the call-center-dominated mall across Robinsons Galleria crossing Ortigas Avenue.

Simply a pedestrian crossing away from Robinsons, the new Angel’s Pizza ETON Cyberpod still focuses on delivery to nearby customers in offices and condominiums. This is evident through the 6 customer-seat capacity of the pizza store mainly due to the big kitchen space necessary for a pizza chain where the dough and pizza are created.

Angel’s Pizza First Customer

The opening ceremony started with a blessing of the store. Passers-by were also treated to some free pizza slices through out the day in conjunction with the 30% Off whole-day first-day promo.

NomNom got to try some of the pizza flavors and even take home a box of pizza courtesy of Angel’s.

Angel’s Pepperoni PIzza

You may consider this new branch as a transfer from their former branch in the Pasig area (near Julia Vargas corner Meralco Avenue) which has now closed.

Angel’s Pizza ETON Cyberpod
UP/G ETON Cyberpod, Corinthian, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue.
Angel’s Pizza Delivery: 922-2222

Their “Double Deal”  all-day promo is still ongoing where you can get 2 pizzas for the price of 1 on selected flavors. Kudos to Angle’s Pizza ETON Cyberpod for this bold move of having a mall-based branch.

SM Hypermarket Cainta Now Open!

SM Hypermarket brought life to a gloomy, rainy day last August 14, 2012 as the 34th branch of SM Hypermaket opened along Felix Avenue (former Imelda Ave.) in Cainta, Rizal.

The new store brought some festive mood to Cainta recovering from the recent calamity as it opened with exciting promos and discounts. There were also celebrity meet and greet segments which included Georgina Wilson, Jake Vargas and Tippy dos Santos.

Papa Dan of 97.1 Barangay LS also entertained first day shoppers, plus trivia games for extra fun before the store opened at 3pm..

SM Hypermarket Cainta Ribbon Cutting

SM Hypermarket Cainta, Rizal

Some media personnel were given a brief tour of the supermarket showcasing its different sections and areas catering to different needs of the mass market from consumer goods to apparels, appliances, and electronics.

SM Hypermarket Sections

SM Hypermarket Areas

SM Hypermarket Fresh

SM Hypermarket Hydro Spray

SM Hypermarket Cainta in the same way upheld SM Hypermarket‘s focus of being a one-stop shop of almost everything a consumer needs from food to non-food items; plus services such as bills payment and money transfer.

SM Hypermarket Outreach

In related relief efforts, SM Hypermarket reached out to its new community and donated food relief packs for victims of monsoon floods in the municipality. Over 2,000 packs of food relief items were donated.

SM Hypermarket Cainta Relief Donations for Rizal

Photo shows SM Hypermarket president Robert Kwee handing over the packs to (L-R) Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan, Rizal Vice Governor Ross Glenn Gongora, Bgy. Sto. Domingo chairman Boy Sulit and Ms. Veron Ilagan.

Opening promos and discounts

• Bonus with SM Hypermarket’s Value Packs – save as much as 80% in bundled items that come with free SM Bonus products.
• Buy One Get One – free on breads, eggs, meat and other grocery items
• Price Markdowns – on your favorite brands and home essentials to make the opening truly rewarding for Cainta shoppers.
• SM Advantage Card, BDO Rewards and Prestige card holders can enjoy member exclusive promos when they swipe their card into the SWIPE machine located at the store entrance.

SM Hypermarket Cainta Grand Opening Programme

SM Hypermarket Tagline: “Happy To Serve”

It was a rainy opening day indeed, but it did not prevent the people from flocking to SM Hypermaket Cainta. Congratulations to SM Hypermarket and may you continue to “serve happily.”

Kido Master Burger

The Japanese fastfood chain Karate Kid is now open at the 3rd Level of Farmer’s Plaza in Cubao. It is conveniently located near the walkway that connects to Gateway Mall. I have been passing by this area and wondered when the opening will be. Finally, there’s now a good alternative to the usual burger, fried chicken and pizza fare at the Araneta Center.

The fastfood chain, which had been in operation for over 10 years now, offers a fusion of Japanese and American cuisine. This is in keeping with its original concept taken from the American movie in the same title starring Ralph Macchio.

Karate Kid Farmer’s Plaza

Karate Kid Chicken

Naturally, there are the classic Japanese fare for those who love Japanese food — Katsudon, Ramen, California Maki, Teppanyaki, Takoyaki, Gyoza and Ebi Tempura. But their original creation combining Japanese and American elements are equally delectable. I had the Japanese Creme Chicken Pasta and I was very delighted. Generously served in extra creamy sauce, huge chicken chunks and mushroom, it’s really delicious and filling. I noticed that they also have burgers — Kido Master Burger and Eli Katsu Burgers. I thought they’d go well with the pasta; perfect if you’re really hungry.

*Story & Photos by Alwin Aguirre of The City Roamer

In addition to good food, the place also has good interiors. I’m happy that I now have an alternative dining spot to visit with Karate Kid Farmers Plaza. I’m sure this place will be filled with diners in no time, especially because the restaurant is very accessible from the MRT Cubao Station.

Karate Kid Desserts

NomNom stretching

People has been always telling us food bloggers how lucky we are to get invited by restaurants to try their food and get first dibs on the latest menu offerings. Then there’s food tasting all over the metro and trying on the newest flavors of ice cream released in the market (sometimes, even before they are out in the market).

But there’s also a downside – food blogging is fattening! We take on the sacrifice of accumulating all those calories just to review all those dishes for the readers’ benefit! 🙂

It’s good that genes gave me a naturally slim body to begin with, but age and frequent food escapades has been taking its toll on me and it has started to show on my belly and love-handles.

C-Lium Health Journal

C-Lium Lose More Live More Challenge

Although I have been regularly doing my personal exercises and stretching in the morning, it isn’t enough so I have long been wanting to have my jogging routine back for so long as I can remember. While that remains to be accomplished, I had resorted to doing something easier – joining the “Lose More Live More” challnege by C-Lium Fibre!

When C-Lium Fibre offered the opportunity to take on the challenge, I have resolved to act on my weight-problem-to-be before it’s way too late. I actually started a week ago and will be sharing some updates and developments on another blog post soon.

For now, let me share the free medical checkup care of C-Lium that I underwent at the Medicard Clinic in Makati a few days before I started taking C-Lium. I had the preliminary tests last July 26, 2012, to be exact.

Medical Tests @ Medicard Clinic in Makati

Treadmill Stress Test

I had my Body Mass Index (BMI), Cholesterol Screening, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), and Body Circumference Measurements. The more challenging part was the Treadmill Stress Test wherein the treadmill incline was increased every minute. I was able to last four minutes and a few seconds before I got exhausted and called on a halt.

MEDICard Philippines Test Results for NomNom

C-Lium Lose More Live More Promo

It’s a commitment to health!

A few days after, and the results were out. Everything’s in normal levels except for my HDL which is just a bit below normal range.

I encourage you to take on the “C-Lium Fibre Lose More Live More” Challenege at www.clium.com.ph/losemore just as I did! Simply create an account to enjoy the benefits of looking young and living young with C-Lium Fibre. Check out my Twitter and FB updates with #CLIUMlosemore soon!