Entries Tagged 'Fusion' ↓

Happy New Year everyone! We’re starting the year with a bang and a fight! A Boodle fight that is!

Panlasang Pinoy Boodle Feast

Honestly, the idea of a Boodle Feast was foreign to me. So when Blackbeard’s Seafood Island invited NomNom Club for their Robinsons Magnolia Mall opening launch weeks ago, the curious cat in me immediately said ‘yes‘.

On it’s 8th year in the restaurant industry, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island (BSI) is staying true and strong to what they are known for – the Boodle Feast. It was a first for me to try on a Boodle Feast. It is characterized by eating directly from one big banana leaf with boodle trays where the food is served with minimal utensils because you are expected to eat with your bare hands. Although I was a bit late for the gathering, I took on the Boodle food gracefully and ate slowly while trying on the different kinds of seafood in the Boodle set. Although I have yet to be acquainted more with the practice, the food was satisfactory.

Blackbeard’s Seafood Island

Boodle Feasts Sets

I also came to know that there are actually 15 boodle feasts sets to choose from. The servings can either be for a SMALL group of 3-4 persons or the BIG one for a family of 5 to 6 hungry individuals. The 15 Boodle Feast sets are:

• Magellan’s Landing (P965/P1250) – with danggit chips, kinilaw na tanigue, grilled tilapia, grilled squid, grilled shrimp, steamed crabs, chicken inasal, grilled talong and bagoong rice.
• Panlasang Pinoy (P875/P1365) – Hipon sa aligue, Sinuglaw, Ginataang Alimango, Adobong Manok, Kare-kareng gulay, ensalatang lato with crispy dilis and plain rice.
  

  Boodle Feast Set

• Fiesta Bicolandia (P765/P1150) – Halaan sa buco, pork BBQ, Ensaladang talong, Bicol express, Ginataang Alimango, Laing, Grilled Tilapia with Bagoong Rice.
• Tali Beach (P965/P1299) – grilled chicken, inasal, BBQ, steamed white shrimps, grilled tilapia, grilled tahong, crabs, grilled squid, grilled tomatoes, lato, mangoes, watermelon with steamed rice.
  

  Tali Beach Boodle Set

• Palawan Shores (P785/P1150) – grilled shrimps, tahong, halaan, squid, tilapia, steamed crabs, grilled corn, lato, sauteed Kangkong sa bagoong with clams and rice.
  

  Magellan’s Landing

Other boodle feasts are Dagupan’s Pride, Dapitan’s Pride (I am Ninoy), Boracay’s Feast, Mt. Apo, Davao Gulf, Chang’s China Chow, Vigan, Kanyaman, Shabu Shabu (Grand Binalot) and Luau.

15 Boodle Feast Sets

Fried Ice Cream Dessert!

If you haven’t tried a Boodle Feast yet, try one soon at Blackbeard’s Seafood Island and eat to your heart’s content without the fuss of your usual dining wares and utensils. And of course, it is best consumed with your whole family or group of friends.

Wendy’s Greenbelt 1

Wendy’s recently introduced the new BBQnator exclusively to the Philippine market. To be exact, it was just last November 30, 2013 when it came up into the menu boards of their branches.

Wendy’s BBQnator

Wendy’s BBQnator is composed of two 2-quarter pound imported beef patties, 6 strips of tasty smoked bacon, 2 slices of American cheese, and a dash of hickory barbeque sauce to give it the BBQ taste. Finally, it is topped with Wendy’s own real onion rings. It doesn’t come cheap at the price of P255 per sandwich, but this mouthful two-handful meal will certainly leave you full. The Combo meal version with drinks and fries costs P315. Upgrade to onion rings for an additional P8.

Wendy’s Son of BBQnator Combo with Drinks + Frostee

Baconator versus BBQnator

Son of BBQnator

We are all familiar with Wendy’s Baconator. So how is the BBQnator different from the Baconator?

They share a lot of similarities, actually; so much so you may say the BBQnator is a variant of the Baconator. They both have 2-quarter pound beef patties, strips of bacon, and cheese. But the BBQnator has an added hickory barbeque sauce for the distinction that I believe would appeal more to Filipino’s love for anything sweet. Moreover, the BBQnator has onion rings on top just below the buns.

Wendy’s onion rings are served as slices of yellow Spanish onions with mild, sweet flavor, lightly battered & breaded making it crispy on the outside.

Wendy’s BBQnator

Wendy’s BBQnator Combo

Son of BBQnator (top photo)

And just like the Baconator who has a Son of Baconator, the BBQnator also has a Son of BBQnator. The more manageable size is priced at P156 only for ala carte and P198 for the combo.

So who’s the winner?

The Baconator is a hit with bacon-lovers and those with a big-appetite. It has been a long-time favorite for Wendy’s aficionados, but I think Wendy’s BBQnator would be able to exceed the Baconator’s success. As mentioned above, the sweet hickory barbeque sauce will appeal more to the Filipino taste. And who knows, Wendy’s international franchise might even adopt this innovation in its international branches. 🙂

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.

KFC is challenging its customers in the Philippines to MAN UP and eat big with its newest product – the KFC Double Decker.

KFC Market!Market!

I myself  just had a spa session over the long weekend at Neo Day Spa in BGC, Taguig. After which I headed straight to KFC MarketMarket branch and enjoyed an order of KFC Double Decker Man-Sized sandwich and an original singles meal with rice.

With two big Original Recipe Chicken fillets, bacon strips, sliced cheese, fresh lettuce & creamy mayo, sandwiched in between Kaiser buns, having a 10th of a bite of the KFC Double Decker is already a mouthful.

KFC Double Decker

It is the newest addition to KFC’s Man-Sized Meals – BIG meals for men with BIG appetites, and ladies too, if you want! It is now available in all KFC branches nationwide for P 145 for ala carte and P 175 as a combo meal with fries and drink. The rest of the Man-Sized Meals are also available as follows:

• Double Decker Fully Loaded Meal = P 215
• Classic Fully Loaded Meal = P 146
• Supreme Bowl Combo Meal = P 100
• Original Recipe Sandwich Combo Meal = P 136
• Zinger Combo Meal = P 136

Man-Sized Meals & Sandwiches

Man Up Mondays Challenge

Double Decker: Man-Sized Sandwich

In line with the launch of the Double Decker and the rest of the Man-Sized Meals, KFC now challenges everyone to dress up and ‘Man Up‘ for a series of ‘Man Up Mondays‘!

Go to any KFC branch wearing white pants today – December 3, 2012 – and get P 25 off from any one of the Man-Sized Meals!

If you missed this today and last week with floral shirts, you still have a chance for the next two weeks through the following:
• December 10, 2012: Pink Shirt
• December 17, 2012: Wildcard

Man Up Mondays!

Follow KFC Philippines on Twitter @KFCPhilippines and like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kfcphilippines.

Man up with the KFC Double Decker Man-Sized Meals!

XinWang Hong Kong Cafe

XinWang Hong Kong Cafe in SM Mall of Asia is turning a year old in the Philippines next month. I’ve always seen and passed by this restaurant beside IMAX but it was only last week when I first dined-in.

It was upon the prodding of Marj and her friend from XinWang that I was finally able to try the place. We’ve seen this as well in Singapore last July.

It was a late lunch for us on a week day so we almost had the whole XinWang restaurant to ourselves. The interior was cozy and well-lighted, it was easy to the eyes.

New Menu (same as in SIngapore)

It also came to our knowledge that the restaurant refreshed its menu last October while retaining most of its best sellers. This development was in-sync with it’s international franchise from Singapore. Yes, I thought about that too – a Hong Kong cafe from Singapore which we are trying in the Philippines. To make it more trivially interesting, there’s not one branch in Hong Kong, but they have several in Singapore. 🙂

Iced HongKong Milk Tea (P75)

Back to the menu. For the unfamiliar with Hong Kong cuisine, one would find the new menu a bit overwhelming as it was a combination of Chinese specialties, pasta, western food including burgers, a number of sweet desserts, and a gamut of beverages including milk teas, as expected.

But giving it a second thought, this is how Hong Kong food is – a mixed bowl of different culture dominated by Chinese tastebuds with a huge influence from the West. XinWang Hong Kong Cafe‘s new menu certainly reflects that.

So instead of getting overwhelmed, just enjoy the variety and take it one step at a time. You don’t have to try everything in one sitting.

Mango & Prawns Roll (P100)

And this is what we did. We tried a bit from the different pages of the menu.

Chicken Chop Cream Sauce Spaghetti (P245)

For the appetizers, we dared the oriental combination of prawn and mango in a soft roll. At P100, we got three – not bad considering the prawn content. The taste was ok but it could be enhanced. It has great potential, nonetheless.

This was followed by the Chicken Chop Cream Sauce Spaghetti. Basically, your good Carbonara pasta with a quarter of a chicken on the side. The cream sauce spaghetti was good but the chicken tastes better, I would order it again because of the chicken. At P245, you’re getting a fair deal.

With an effort to go healthy, we ordered the stir fried minced Kai-Lan with Silver Fish. At P220, it was a good try as the dish was not a common fare in regular restaurants and it tasted fine as well.

Stir Fried Minced Kai-Lan with Silver Fish (P220)

XinWang Stir Fried Noodle (P235)

Recommended Dishes

The stars of the day came in at the latter part. The XinWang Stir Fried Noodle is recommended at P235 for its ‘sahog‘ which consisted of seafood and veggies.

HK Braised Beef Brisket with Bamboo Rice (P215)

The HK Braised Beef Brisket with Bamboo Rice comes highly recommended. This was the best fare for the day for it’s authentic-tasting beef brisket. At P215, it was a good deal.

The desserts were also not a disappointment. I think we were lucky enough to get the good ones in such a series. 🙂

The Mango Pudding with ice cream on top is a treat for the sweet lovers. Highly similar to ice kachang, the price of P85 is at par and competitive with Lugang‘s. I’d suggest though that you order this for a group of 3 or 4.

Mango Pudding with ice cream (P85)

The French toast should be relabeled as ‘Big French Toast‘. The huge serving was like a three/four slices loaf packed into one. Covered with beaten egg yolk and fried, the butter melt atop was a sinful delight; best shared in a group.

French Toast (P95)

Coconut Cream with Sago  (P145)

Finally, you should not miss the Coconut Cream with Sago. The price tag of P145 might seem a bit steep but the tastes makes up for it. It is also good for two servings.

It’s a hot serving of rich and thick coconut cream with small tapiocas to merit. It may be too sweet for some but this is just how coconut creams are. Best paired with your favorite buchi covered with toasted sesame seeds. 🙂

It was a good and filling lunch at XinWang Hong Kong Cafe. Check it out beside SM Mall of Asia IMAX. You’ll surely not miss its banner lights and brightly-lit advertisements.

XinWang Hong Kong Restaurant

One day to go and Starbucks is officially releasing their Starbucks Planners 2013 in the Philippines; something much anticipated by coffee lovers and planner aficionados every Christmas season at about this time of the year.

Starbucks Planners 2013

But together with this announcement, it has been Starbucks Philippines‘ custom to launch festive parties in their coffee shops as well. They used to call it ‘Cheer Party‘ in the previous years. This year, they’re calling it the “Christmas 2012 Kick Off Party.“

Happening on November 3, 2012 in the open area fronting Starbucks Bonifacio High Street, you are all invited to this festive celebration from 5pm to 8pm and be ready for treats, activities, and freebies such as the following:

• Buy 1 Christmas beverage, get a second one FREE!
• 30% discount of selected merchandise.
• Food tasting and samples of new Christmas beverages
• Photo Booth
• Live Music Performance
• Partners Cup Design Contest
• More

NomNom Club Joins Partners Cup Design Contest as Judge

As mentioned above, one of the activities in the Christmas 2012 Kick Off Party is the Partners Cup Design Contest where 23 baristas will turn the Starbucks white cup into a Christmas cup by artistically drawing on it.

NomNom Club is honored to participate in this activity as one of the judges joining Nelz Mali of WeeWillDoodle and Starbucks’ Learning and Development Manager.

Starbucks Christmas 2012 Kick Off Party

Let us enjoy an early holiday season and see the new 2013 Starbucks Planners at the Starbucks Christmas Kick Off Party on November 3, Saturday, from 5-8 pm at the open area in front of Starbucks Bonifacio High Street. Cheers!

Rockeoke Dinner with the Greenwich Barkada and Crispy Chicken

Greenwich Barkada

It was a fun night of music, good food, and bonding. It was my second Rockeoke Night with the Greenwich Barkada a few weeks ago at the Greenwich Katipunan branch in celebration of the successful campaign of the Greenwich Crispy Chicken.

As expected, the program started with hesitant singers who just need some prodding before they gave in. I’m always game for these things but not that night because I think I was about to get the flu. But just  like in high school, we sometimes give in to peer pressure. 🙂 I was actually with my fellow blogger and fiance Marjorie so we gave a duet just like what we did the first time a few months ago, but with a more daring song this time around.

The Greenwich team was also very game as they joined us in taking turns with the microphone. Thanks to “Ang Banda Ngayon” who supported us all through the fun night. The lady DJs also  joined us in the rockeoke.

Greenwich Rockeoke Night @ Katipunan Branch

Congratulations again to Greenwich for their successful Greenwich Crispy Chicken campaign. May Greenwich continue bringing about innovative a great-tasting products for its customers. Check them out at http://www.greenwich.com.ph/ ; Greenwich delivery is 5-5555.

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School Spirit Boost with new Jollibee University Floats Flavors

When it comes to displaying school pride, students will go the extra mile to stand out and be creative. This is how Jollibee adds fun to its refreshing twist of the all-new refreshing flavors of Jollibee University Floats.

Jollibee University Floats

DJ Gino Boi

Upon invitation, we had a sort of fun ‘braniac’ trivia game with other blogger teams last week. I was assigned to the green team representing the Green Honeydew Float. The other teams are Blue Berries Float, Yellow Pine-Orange, and Red Apple Float. Unfortunately, we lost; nonetheless we had a fun afternoon.

Jollibee Float

The Jollibee University Floats are available for only P28 (regular) or P38 for a giant size. You can also upgrade any regular value meal to Go Float just by adding P21.

For delivery, call Jollibee Express Delivery Service hotline at 8-7000 or log on to www.jollibeedelivery.com. Also available are Jollibee Coke, Sarsi, and my favorite Jollibee Coffee and Chocolate Floats.

Figaro Enterprise Building

As part of its continuous expansion of branches and franchise, Figaro opens yet another branch this time at the Enterprise Building in the Makati Central Business District – Figaro Enterprise.

The launch started with the traditional Catholic blessing  in the morning followed by, of course, a brief food tasting while it’s already open to the public.

Figaro Enterprise Branch Blessing

Figaro Coffee Shop Counter

Figaro Enterprise also serves as the pioneer branch for its updated store interior design incorporating a bar counter and a function table to maximize the space. For the regular Figaro customer, you would also observe that the branch is more lit in contrast to the usual dim setup.

Bar Counter

Figaro Meals

Figaro Pastries & Cakes

Figaro & Starbucks Neighbor

I love the new cushion pillows complimenting the sofa chairs which serves as a good laptop support. I am actually using it while typing this article while inside Figaro Enterprise sipping on a Cappuccino Frost and Smoked Salmon Sandwich.

I asked the franchisee how he considered the competitors literally surrounding the new branch – Starbucks in front, Coffee Republic at the back, Oliver’s Sandwiches across, and Ministop on the side – and he gamely answered that they are all friends.

He was also banking on Figaro’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals which differentiates Figaro from the pack.

Figaro Enterprise Crew

Congratulations to the franchisers and new owners of Figaro Enterprise who are a very young group of friends in their 30s. Kudos on your new business!