Entries Tagged 'Makati' ↓

If you have seen my physical stature or know me personally, you wouldn’t guess that I do join food eating contests.

Burger Avenue Hamburgers

With my average body built, you would be surprised that I have joined a Hamburger-eating challenge and a Hotdog-Eating contest before.

Yoshinoya SM Megamall

I was off by 30 seconds from Burger Avenue‘s 5-minute Hamburger-eating challenge. It was a big 3-patty 1 pounder burger of pure beef. I also had the eating dare on video.

On the other hand, I somehow fared painstakingly well enough with 7-Eleven’s Hotdog-Eating contest. Although it was not good enough for the semi-finals, I was able to finish 5 jumbo hotdogs with 5 big buns and a large cup of iced tea in 5 minutes and 33 seconds..

And now, we’re upto a new challenge – Yoshinoya‘s Blogger’s Beef Gyudon Eating Contest.

The mechanics for registered participants from Boy-Kuripot blog states that…..

Yoshinoya Beef Gyudon

The bloggers should be at Yoshinoya Megamall on May 5, 2010 6PM to participate in The Beef Gyudon Eating Contest (Late comers will not be allowed to participate)

At the event, bloggers will be asked to eat as much Beef Gyudon Bowls they can within two (2) minutes

Bloggers will race to finish the most number of Beef Gyudon Bowls in two (2) minutes using a pair of chopsticks

Each time a bowl is finished, the blogger has to turn the bowl upside down. After two (2) minutes has elapsed, all bloggers will stop eating and stick out their tongue.

The blogger who ate the most number of Beef Gyudon Bowls will be declared the winner

In case of a tie, there will be tie breaking round. Bloggers will race to finish one regular beef bowl and the fastest will be declared as the winner

Yoshinoya Beef Bowl (Gyudon)

So if you happen to be in SM Megamall building A tomorrow, do pass by Yoshinoya at around 6pm and take a peek on NomNom‘s quest to be the king of Yoshinoya Beef Gyudon Bowls. And yes, I’d be starving myself off lunch in preparation for the Yoshinoya Blogger’s Beef Bowl Eating Contest tomorrow night 🙂

After the two weeks of guessing game among NomNom Club subscribers, NomNom’s favorite is finally revelaed – the Starbucks Apple Fritter Doughnut! 🙂

Thank you to all the 87 subscribers who participated. They had a 33% chance of getting the right answer having to choose from among the 3 doughnuts.

Starbucks Doughnuts

I loved the apple fritters because of the apple bits and flavor and the hint of cinnamon combined. The old fashioned glaze was fine but I fancied the apple fritter more. The chocolate old fashion glaze was really just the chocolate version of the former. 🙂 It tastes ok too, nonetheless.

If the sugar coating is too much for you, I have a tip – take some off literally, to feel less guilty. 🙂

The Starbucks Top Pot Doughnuts will be available in all Starbucks Philippines Coffee shops starting May 3, 2010.

The Winners

From among the 87 entries, there were a number which had missing wall posts so they had to be validated. About 10% had to be disqualified. And From among the 70++ remaining, 23 guessed the Aple Fritters choice.

That’s about 30%! More than half of the answers were the original Glazed Old Fashioned Doughnut and the chocolate version came in last with the least number of guesses.

Starbucks Doughnuts Finalists A

Starbucks Contest Finalists B

So the 23 entries were subjected to the random list generator in Random.org where three winners were selected from those coming out on top of the list (click images above for larger image).

Congratulations to:

1 Michelle – hushbaby**@yahoo.com
2 Myla Naig – mylasue**@yahoo.com
3 Roy Kabiling – troy_machinto**@yahoo.com

Guess My Fave Starbucks Doughnut Contest

You will be notified by email based on your email subscription next week where your Philippine-based addresses will be requested. Starbucks Philippines will then courier the Starbucks Gift Certificates each of you will receive.

Starbucks Top Pot Doughnuts

Thank you once again for participating in our NomNom Club contest. If you haven’t subscribed in our email list, please do so HERE. You would get updated on our latest foodie news and contests. You may also want to join our Facebook Page and join the NomNom Club.

The Starbucks Doughnuts will be available in all Starbucks Philippines coffee shops starting May 3, 2010. Try the Apple Fritters! 🙂

Another adventure in Legazpi Sunday Market is set as they organize the first “Grilla In Manila” grilling contest and festival on April 25, 2010.

Although registration for the contest is already closed, you can still join us as we witness the actual contest this weekend from 8am to 11am. Teams just had their debriefing last Sunday. Aspiring cooks, chefs and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend.

Here is a backgrounder on the contest:

The contest is open to non-professionals, foodies, student chefs, starting out entrepreneurs, etc. (amateurs).  Teams with a maximum of 3 members will be allowed.

a. The teams will submit a total of 3 dishes prepared in its entirety at the market (preparation and cooking time is a total of 3 hours).

1. Grilled Beef Dish – 2.5 kilos of Angus  beef will be provided by the LSM courtesy of sponsor Tenderbites.
2. Specialty Grilled Dish (choice of team)
3. Side Dish (produce to be purchased at the LSM by the team). Produce (vegetables, fruits, protein etc.) must be purchased at the LSM by the team on the day of the event  for only P200 (to be sponsored by the market). It must also be prepared in its entirety at the market (preparation and cooking time is a total of 3 hours)

b. Preparation and cooking time is a total of 3 hours. All 3 dishes should be ready for tasting at 11am.

c.  All grilling and cooking equipment, unless specified, will be provided by the team. No electricity will be provided.

Legazpi Sunday Market's Grilla In Manila

d.  All ingredients will be provided by the teams except where specified.

e.  5 gallons of water will be provided for each team’s use.

f.  Teams should be at the venue by  8:00 am.

g.  Teams must provide all cutlery, dish towels, utensil , grillers and any appliances or Ingredients not specified.

h.  Cleanliness and safe food handling is of at utmost importance.

i.  The amount of food prepared must be enough for:
– 40 small tasting portions
-  5  full portions for judges (plated)

Judging Criteria
Presentation/Visual Appeal        15%
Palatability/Flavor            50%
Tendreness                15%
Originality/Creativity            20%

Awards
The Market Griller (people’s choice)
The Grill King (overall winner)

For inquiries on Legazpi Sunday Market‘s “Grilla In Manila“, you may call Maan at (632)425.0851 or email Legazpi_SundayMarket@yahoo.com

Starbucks will be offering Top Pot Doughnuts in select Starbucks Coffee outlets in the Philippines come April 12, 2010, Monday.

What's inside the box? 🙂

Background

Top Pot is a family owned business started by two brothers Mark and Michael Klebeck. With its unique, old style signature “hand-forged” doughnuts, Starbucks hand selected Top Pot back in 2005 to carry their doughnuts in western Washington.

The Top Pot doughnuts are made using little automation giving each doughnut a hand crafted taste and look that fits Starbucks® hand crafted beverages and coffee.

The Doughnuts

With zero grams trans fat, the three doughnuts are the Glazed Old Fashioned Doughnut, Chocolate Old Fashioned Doughnut, and Top Pot Apple Fritter.

Starbucks Glazed Old Fashioned Doughnut

The ‘Glazed Old Fashioned Doughnut‘ is considered a “classic” inspired through a recipe from the 1930’s. Inside the golden exterior is a moist, cake with hints of vanilla and some nutmeg. It’s covered with Top Pot’s own proprietary “Air Sped” glaze while it’s hot .

Starbucks Chocolate Old Fashioned Doughnut

While the ‘Chocolate Old Fashioned Doughnut‘ is the chocolate version of the classic Glazed Old Fashioned doughnut.

Starbucks Top Pot Apple Fritter Doughnut

The ‘Top Pot Apple Fritter‘ is made of hand chopped apples mixed with cinnamon and spices and cooked golden brown and covered with “Air Sped” glaze.

The Contest

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April 19, 2010 Update: the Contest is UPGRADED & EXTENDED!

The prizes just leveled up from 1 GC to 3 GCs! And because of this, NomNom is also extending the contest another week from April 19 to April 24! The three raffle winners from those with the correct answer will be announced on April 25. Thank you to Starbucks Philippines for the prizes.

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If you noticed, the article’s direction is more descriptive than a recommendation. That is because I’m gonna let you guess which among the three Starbucks Top Pot doughnuts caught my fancy best.

Top Pot Doughnuts

Mechanics

Simply create a Facebook wall post (shared with ‘everyone‘) indicating which Starbucks doughnut you think NomNom liked best. Include this link (https://nomnomclub.com/restaurants/2010/starbucks-top-pot-doughnuts/) in your message as well.

Finally, place the URL of your facebook wallpost on the comment section below and you’re done!

Rules

One comment per person only. Multiple entry cheaters will be turned to stone by Medusa then swallowed by the Kraken.

Contest will start from now until April 17 24, 2010.

All valid and correct answers will be included in the electronic raffle using Random.org. Winner will be announced on April 18 25, 2010 on this blog.

For any inquiries or clarification, please don’t put in the comment section (it’s for the answers and URL links), instead you may email admin<at>NomNomClub.com.

Top Pot Doughnuts

Prize

A Three (3) Starbucks gift certificates for a free drink of your choice at any size.

It All three will be couriered to your choice of address anywhere in the Philippines.

Qualification

Starbucks Top Pot Doughnutd

The contest is open only to anyone with a valid Philippine address where the prize will be couriered. It is also open only to NomNomClub.com Email Subscribers. If you are not yet an email subscriber, you may do so by clicking here.

So, which could be my favorite Starbucks Top Pot doughnut? Is it the old fashioned glaze? The chocolate version? or the Apple Fritter? 🙂

Ok, this is actually not the freshest news, but I just had to point it out. 🙂 In the past few months, you may have noticed a lot of changes in Greenwich‘s food line and store make up.

Greenwich Levels Up!

And hence the commercial phrase: “dahil ang favorite pizza chain ninyo, nag-level up na!”

They ‘leveled up‘ a lot of things.

From the regular Hawaiian Pizzas, they leveled it up into a new premium pizza offering called the Ultimate Hawaiian Overload with 2x more Hawaiian toppings of ham, glazed pineapple, smoked bacon and 100% Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese.

Team Manila Designed Pizza Box

And it comes in a stylish generally-black-and-white pizza box designed by Team Manila.

More on food, Greenwich also introduced two new American Lunch Specials: the Quarter Slab Ribs and Thick ‘N Tender Chops. The Tender Chops comes at P179 with java rice, mixed veggies and a regular drink

I have tried the quarter slab ribs and it was good. Surprisingly, it’s only priced at P199 already with java rice, mixed veggies and regular drink. You wouldn’t find that price range for a slab ribs even in non fast casual stores.

Greenwich Quarter Slab Ribs

Greenwich Pizza Fries

The new Greenwich Pizza Fries also serves as a good partner to their pasta and meals. It comes in pepperoni and cheese & garlic flavors plus a special pizza sauce dip.

Wait, there’s more! 🙂

Greenwich Thick n' Tender Chops

The crew also had a ‘level up’ with the stylish and colorful new store team uniforms designed by renowned Randy Ortiz. And finally, to complete the package is their presence on the web with the new Greenwich website www.greenwich.com.ph.

Greenwich Ultimate Hawaiian Overload Pizza

Greenwich started 2010’s first quarter with a bang! Expect to see more from your favorite pizza chain as they continue to ‘Level Up!’

Tapella Restaurant will celebrate Easter with kids and family this Sunday – April 4, 2010.

Jump for joy and have a blast from 4pm-7pm with magics, mimes and clowns! Games and tricks, egg painting contests, balloon twisting, fun filled activities and loads of prizes await kids in the much awaited Easter Egg Hunt.

Tapella Restaurant Easter Sunday

Gather the most number of eggs and get prizes from Star Paper. Kids will be delighted with Dunkin Donuts upon registration. Spaghetti and other kiddie snacks will also be available during the event. For only Php500 nett, kids and family will have a holistic Easter Sunday.

Kids at heart will also enjoy a sumptuous Easter special starting from Php300 and delight in the comforts of Tapella’s serene ambiance.

Tapella is a Spanish dining creation by Gaudi located at Greenbelt 5. Headed by executive Chef Alexandra Cacho, the restaurant specializes in tapas and paellas with a wide range of salads, pasta ,dessert and wines. For inquiries and reservations you may call 7572710.

From a list of almost 500 restaurants endorsed and nominated by Spot.ph readers last year, the judges thereafter shortlisted the nominees. This lead to the announcement  of 13 admired restaurants in each of their categories recently concluded at the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards 2009.

Encore (previous Embassy Superclub) was filled with food industry players, food enthusiasts and the media for an afternoon of foodie glamor and tasty anticipation for the would-be winners of Nescafe Gold Spot Awards 2009.

Nominees, Foodie Enthusiasts and Guests

This year’s judges include Chef Aileen Anastacio, Yummy editor-in-chief Becky Kho, Chef Him Uy de Baron, award-winning blogger Franco of Table for Three Please, food writer and blogger JJ Yulo and actress Cherie Gil.

Ms. Myrza Sison, Editr-in-Chief of Spot.ph with Jonel Uy of NomNomClub.com Food Blog

Mr. Logan O’Brien, Consumer Marketing Manager, Coffee Business Unit, Nestle Philippines

Sponsored by Nescafe, online voting via Spot.ph ended last January 31, 2010. With more than 250,000 votes cast for 55 restaurants in 11 categories (2 categories were purely by the judges), without further adieu,

Manila’s Best Restaurants for 2009 are:

Best Japanese Restaurant – Inagiku
Best Filipino Restaurant – Abe
Best Steakhouse – 22 Prime
Best Delicatessen – Santi’s Delicatessen
Best Bar – Cav Wine Bar and Bistro
Best Chinese Restaurant – Shang Palace
Best Italian Restaurant – Paparazzi
Best Buffet – Spiral
Best Dessert Place – Cupcakes by Sonja

*Best Restaurant Chain – Cibo
*Best Service – Cibo

*New Restaurant of the Year – Lusso
*Restaurant of the Year – Lolo Dad’s

*Best Restaurant Chain and Best Service was solely determined by readers through mobile and online votes while New Restaurant of the Year and Restaurant of the Year were purely from the panel of judges.

22 Prime - Best Steakhouse

Inagiku - Best Japanese Restaurant

Cav Wine Bar And Bistro - Best Bar

Santi's Delicatessen - Best Deli

Abe - Best Filipino Restaurant

Cupcakes By Sonja - Best Dessert Place

Best Buffet - Spiral

Best Chinese Restaurant - Shang Palace

Paparazzi - Best Italian Restaurant

Cibo is the only one which brought home the bacon for two categories while Lolo Dad’s got the most coveted title of Restaurant of the Year.

I have tried Lolo Dad’s Brasserie in Makati where I met Chef Ariel Manuel but I haven’t been to their main branch in Malate. I hope to do so soon.

I shared these information earlier online on-the-spot during the event through my twitter, plurk, and facebook network accounts. Among my networks, Shang Palace got the most cheers which tinkled my fancy about the restaurant.

I want to visit Shang Palace very soon! Congratulations to this year’s Nescafe Gold Spot Awardees!

Lead by president Erwin Elechicon, Chowking recently celebrated its 25th year in the foodservice industry with a familiar vibrant color.

Jericho Rosales for Orange Chicken

Chowking President Mr. Erwin Elechicon

Last week, the Fort Bonifacio branch was immediately filled with bloggers, cosplayers, celebrities, and Chowking’s own Managing Director Edward Arandia and Brand Group Manager Chris Monteron.

Chowking Managing Director Edward Arandia

The event’s highlight was famous local actor Jericho Rosales who is also their latest endorser for Chowking’s newest product – the  OH!some OH!range Chicken.

As expected, the presence of Jericho brought the house down with cheers and jeers especially from the female admirers. Also known as “Echo“, Jericho is game with almost everything and readily interacted with the crowd without any of the negative superstar complex. Something rare in the entertainment industry. Hats off to Jericho.:)

Now, for the OH!some OH!range Chicken, Chef Rosebud Benitez introduced it as Chowking’s newest serving of crispy chicken with the orange twist.

OH!some OH!range Chicken

The OH!some OH!range Chicken rice topping meal was served with chunks of the crispy chicken, rice on the side, an orangy and tangy amber-colored glaze syrup, and some real mandarin orange bits.

The Orange Chicken rice chow meal is priced at P69 while the lauriat with crispy noodles, chicharap, and buchi is P99. The Salo-Salo set for sharing is P125.

Orange Chicken Rice Chow Meal

The deal looked enticing and Oh!some with its color and real orange bits. It smelled good too. However, the product can still be improved with lesser breadings on the chicken meat and some more orange syrup just like in the product photos.

They also need to work on the consistency of the ‘tenderness’ of the chicken meat. I’m not too sure though if this was just an effect of the cold dishes served that night.

I would  have to say though that the program was fantastic. The party’s level of energy was always high led by Jericho’s oh!some chicken dance. Crowd participation was more than satisfactory. Surely, the videos of the varied chicken dances are now all over the internet and YouTube. 🙂 If the info I got was correct, it was not surprising that I discovered later on that Robbie Carmona, who was also present at the party, organized the oh!some event.

With over 400 branches, Cheers to Chowking‘s 25th year in the food industry! I’m a lauriat suki and the Chowking halo-halo is always a great heat quencher for me especially now that it’s summer.