Entries Tagged 'Mandaluyong' ↓

Touted as the “Best Chicken in America” by New York Times, GQ, and Esquire, BonChon seems to be on it’s way to the same status here in the Philippines.

BonChon Chicken Menu

With presence in Ayala Triangle Gardens Restaurants row, Greenbelt 1, SM Megamall, Libis, Robinsons Galleria, Greenhills Promenade, and Makati, US-based Korean brand BonChon has been known for its fried chicken’s super crispy, light, and non-greasy outer layer that comes in soy garlic or spicy glaze. I belong to the soy garlic cult. 😛

But this blog is not about what you already know. It’s not about what you are used to. 🙂

The MORE

If, just in case, you are already tired of the spicy glazed BonChon chicken wings you have been ordering twice a day, everyday, for the past few weeks, I’d just like to tell you that there’s more to BonChon Chicken than just ‘chicken‘. 🙂

BonChon Calamari

BonChon Calamari

First in my list of recommendation is the BonChon Calamari. You may dismiss it as your ordinary fried calamari with breading but I love it’s ultimate crunchiness. Make sure to have it with the spicy mayo dip.

A serving is priced at P125. Not cheap for the size, but worth the taste.

BonChon Fish Tacos

BonChon Fish Tacos

Next comes their Lenten  favorite introduced last April 2011 which now became a menu mainstay – the Fish Taco. Fried and glazed just like the BonChon chicken, it also comes in either soy garlic or spicy glazed (with toothpick insert). Placed in the center like a taco and topped with Kimchi coleslaw (shredded cabbage, tomatoes, et.al.), the Fish Taco is priced at P75. They use soft taco, by the way, and the fish is Cream Dory.

Foodie Tip: Buy the Fish Tacos Meal that comes in two plus a drink for only P150.

BonChon Ginger Tofu Salad

BonChon Ginger Tofu Salad

On a diet and protein-conscious? This is for you. It’s basically a green salad with tofu cubes and ginger dressing. You might also chance upon some crispy wanton strips. I found it wanting though; so they could actually put more of that. P125.

BonChon Bulgogi Ricebox

BonChon Bulgogi Ricebox

The Bulgogi Ricebox is basically a rice meal with a generous serving of bulgogi (sirloin beef) on top. Reducing my rice intake, I am more interested with the Bulgogi wrap which has lettuce and kimchi coleslaw instead of rice. Both is priced at P125

Did you know that the BonChon Calamari, Fish Taco, and Ginger Tofu Salad are unique to the Philippine franchise? Interestingly, BonChon international is open to their local franchisers’ ideas on localizing the menu.

Owner Mr. Scott Tan also mentioned that they are looking into further expansion with an Alabang Town Center branch opening soon, among others.

BonChon Chicken Ayala Triangle Gardens

Check them out http://www.bonchon.com.ph/, https://www.facebook.com/Bonchon.Chicken.Philippines,

So the next time you visit BonChon and want to take a break from your BonChon Chicken frenzy, you know your options. 🙂

I’m not a vegetarian but I do chow on vegetables for health reasons. I include it in my meal whenever possible. Last night, it was a pleasure to discover that one of the new seven Starbucks Lunch Sandwiches – the Roasted Vegetables on Flat Bread -  is positioned as a healthy vegetarian sandwich for the ‘veggy‘ lovers.

Roasted Vegetables in Flat Bread

I wasn’t really expecting much from the vegetable sandwich but it was surprisingly good! The Roasted Vegetables Sandwich will replace the vegetable artisan roll you might have been used to. It consists of Mediterranean vegetables marinated in Italian spices with mild chili dressing on grilled flat bread.  The chili is interestingly mild just enough to put a twist to the fare.

To complete your healthy meal, pair it with the Green Tea Latte (no whip, of course) and go for soy.

6 Other New Lunch Sandwiches

Starting August 9, Starbucks will introduce these new hot lunch sandwiches catering to those looking for filling meals during lunch time. Prepared in less than 5 minutes, it is best suitable for  people on-the-go.

Aside from the Roasted Vegetables sandwich above, the first three which will be available in all Starbucks Philippines branches are the following:

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

It’s a grilled cheese sandwich made with six types of cheeses such as Gruyere, Emmenthal, Feta, Provolone, Mozarella, and cheddar.

Although half of those cheeses sounds alien to me, it ended up good to the taste. On the other hand, the premium cheeses might cater only to the more mature taste buds who can appreciate high quality cheeses. It also comes with slices of Hungarian sausages in between and seasoned with roasted garlic and Italian herb-ed butter on bread.

Roasted Chicken Pesto

The roasted chicken breast fillet comes with Shitake mushrooms and pesto mayo sauce topped with Emmenthal and cheddar cheese in between grilled flat breads. The breast fillet are juicy and the pesto mayo is really aromatic.

This is actually the only one retained from the previous lunch sandwiches menu. And there’s a great reason why this is so. 🙂

Roasted Chicken Pesto Sandwich (left) Beef Brisket Sandwich (right)

Beef Brisket

Emmenthal cheese covering slices of beef brisket with caramelized onions and Dijon mustard constitute this sandwich. The beef brisket itself was fairly ‘ok’ last night but I think I need to try this again before I give it a final verdict.

— o —

The last three new sandwiches are available in select Starbucks branches in the Philippines:

The Clubhouse

The Clubhouse Sandwich

It’s the usual chicken clubhouse you know…with ham, cheese, pickle relish, mayo mustard dressing, tomato and greens, among others, on flat cranberry bread.

It’s available in all Starbucks branches except Baguio, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, CDO, Davao, Iloilo and Naga.

Tuna Waldorf

Tuan Waldorf

Tuna Waldorf is a classic tuna salad with red and green apples, walnuts, and celery in yogurt mayo dressing topped with hard-boiled eggs served in raisin walnut bread.

This one’s a filler and will surely be loved by those with good appetite and good taste.

It’s available in all Starbucks branches except Baguio, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, CDO, Davao, Iloilo and Naga.

Tuna Melt

Tuna Melt

It’s a tuna salad with melted cheese on roasted Rye bread topped with mozzarella and seasoned wtih Spanish paprika.

This is the rarest among them all available only in selected provincial branches and the only one reachable by land from Metro Manila – is Starbucks Baguio. The other branches that carry this is Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, CDO, Davao, Iloilo, and Naga only.

Starbucks Lunch Sandwiches

NomNom Recommends

After perseveringly trying all of the seven sandwiches last night for the benefit of my readers 🙂 , I recommend these top three in no particular order (parang beauty pageant lng) :

• Roasted Vegetables on Flat Bread
• Roasted Chicken Pesto on Flat Bread (there’s a strong reason why this one was retained)
• Tuna Waldorf in Raisin Walnut Bread

 So, a day after my birthday on August 8, you can immediately try these new Starbucks Lunch Sandwiches. But if you are the scrimpy-type like me, you can wait for August 15 and 16 where all Starbucks branches will have a P50 off promo on all these lunch sandwiches I have mentioned upon purchase of any Starbucks beverage except service water. 😛

Remember the “However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage” article two months ago which showed ways to create blended beverages with a variety of syrups, toppings and intensities? Well, here’s some newer flavors Starbucks came up with which will be offered starting tomorrow, June 28!

Black Sesame Green Tea Cream Frappuccino

Introducing the new Black Sesame Green Tea Cream Frappuccino and Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino blended beverages!

The Black Sesame Green Tea Cream Frappuccino blended beverage is a mix of  “matcha powder and black sesame powder, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream and black sesame seeds” while Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappucino is made with “soy milk blended with ice, infused with strawberry sauce and topped with whipped cream.”

Want to create something uniquely yours? Here’s how to create your however you want it Frappuccino blended beverages:

Request any milk:

• Nonfat, whole or soy

Choose the coffee intensity:

• Regular, double, triple, decaf

Or choose “cream” for a coffee-free beverage:

• Strawberries & Cream
• Vanilla Cream
• Caramel Cream
• Chocolate Cream
• Chai Cream
• Green Tea Cream
• Chocolate Chip Cream

Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Select your syrup or blend of syrups:

• Mocha
• White Mocha
• Mint
• Raspberry
• Vanilla
• Caramel
• Hazelnut
• Classic
• Sugar-free Vanilla

Choose whipped cream, light on the whip or no whip

• Add a topping:
• Mocha drizzle
• Caramel drizzle

I’ve tried and I’ve discovered that I’m lousy at experimenting with my Starbucks concoctions so I guess I’ll settle with trying out the new Starbucks Black Sesame Green Tea Cream Frappuccino and Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino blended beverages first! 😛

It’s Dad’s turn! After Mother’s Day last month, wives, children, and families are thinking of places this weekend where to spend time with their Dads on Father’s Day!

Aside from home, you may choose to catch the special offers by these restaurants specially for Father’s Day:

Corniche (in Diamond Hotel)

Corniche in Diamond Hotel will serve a Father’s Day special buffet called “Celebration of Filipino Flavors” by Chefs Roland and Jackie Laudico of Bistro Filipino at P1,588 net per person or P1,888 with unlimited beer, house wine or any standard drink of your choice.

22 Prime

Father’s Day brunch at 22 Prime will be a feast on cold appetizers, salads and soups, entrees, and Prime Rib Carving at P1,295+ per person, available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dads get special souvenir items like men’s fragrances from Hayden Paris Fragrances, gifts, products from Belo For Men, and selected men’s wear from Gold Toe.

Café d’Asie (The Bellevue Hotel)

Marriott Café (Marriott Hotel Manila)

Brunch or dinner seafood buffet with Asian and Western favorites, fresh seafood, carving station, and desserts at P2,000 net per person.

Dine at Marriott Café, Cru Steakhouse or The Lounge on Father’s Day and get a chance to take home a mini cooper and drive it to anywhere for three days.

 

Bizu Chocolate Cigars

Astralis (by Diamond Hotel)

Astralis in Power Plant Mall offers brunch buffet for P758 net per person featuring one signature dish plus salad and dessert buffets.

Dine in a group of 5 and Dad dines for free plus a surprise giveaway!

Bizu Chess Cake

Bizu Patisserie

Get free items upon purchase of Sugar-free Chocolate Cigars and Checkmate Cake in Bizu. The former is a premium handmade gourmet chocolate cigars made with sugar-free milk chocolate and croquantine wafers in a piano finished cigar box. The latter are made of layers of Almond Dacquoise, Italian Gianduja Ganache, Feulletine Wafer and Lime White Chocolate Mousseline.

Serye’s Cafe

Free gift for Dad when you dine in. You can also get a special Serye mug & Barako Coffee with P2,500 purchase

CAV

Free set menu for dads with a reservation for 6 or more persons in CAV.

Father's Day at CAV

Agave Mexican Cantina

Get a chance to win a free dinner for two or a bottle of wine in Agave Mexican Cantina. Father’s Day coloring pages for kids will also be given away.

Café d’Asie (The Bellevue Hotel)

Fathers get special gifts (Men’s Health and Top Gear magazines) from The Bellevue Hotel and Summit Media

What a huge set of choices, and there are more as restaurants take the opportunity in this family affair. Happy Father’s Day to your Dad wherever he may be!

Figaro has always strike me as the coffee shop where you can have something more than coffee – a full meal, in fact. A place where one can more than just hang out and actually fill a hungry stomach.

Filipino coffee shop Figaro unveils a new concept in its line of meals – the ‘Spoon Meals.’ In particular, the first two meals they introduced are the Chicken A La King and Chicken Thyme.

The Chicken Ala King is the Chicken Ala King we are used to. Diced marinated chicken is spread in special creamy sauce with vegetables and buttered corn and carrots. It’s the classic creamy combination of chicken, peppers and mushrooms served with steamed rice and your choice of iced or brewed coffee or iced tea to complete the meal.

Figaro Coffee's Chicken Thyme

Figaro Spoon Meals

The Chicken Thyme is a 4-piece deep fried coated chicken fillet poured with creamy cheese sauce all-over.

It is served with buttered corn and carrots as side dish and steamed rice, plus your choice of beverage (iced or brewed coffee or iced tea).

I got to try both a few weeks ago and it was satisfactory. Both set meal priced at P215, I just think the price point should be pegged at not more than P200.

Check out Figaro‘s official website at http://www.figarocoffee.com/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany. It’s your turn to try Figaro’s Chicken ‘Spoon Meals.’

Yes, it’s back! Max’s Restaurant Chicken All You Can will again fulfill its clients’ long-time wish to have the unlimited Chicken Offering “Chicken All You Can” promo again in all of its Max’s restaurant branches nationwide.

Max's Fried Chicken

Duration

Starting June 10, 2011, an unlimited home-cooked style Max’s fried chicken will be served from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily until July 10, 2011.

Max’s Chicken lovers should work up their biggest appetite starting today.

Package and Price

Packaged with a glass of Pepsi soda this time, Max’s Restaurant customers can bite into their favorite Max’s fried chicken for P199. You can also upgrade to a bottomless drink for an additional P28.

More to Expect

As part of drumming up its marketing, diners can also watch out for a performance by Max’s employees every 6:00 pm daily to signal the start of the promo.

Max's Chicken All You Can

Bonus Coupons

Max’s is also giving away free P 20 money coupons for every P200 spent during the Chicken-All-You-Can promotion. A maximum of three accumulated coupons per transaction may be used to “purchase” any Max’s products within a year after issuance. You can use this coupons after July 10, 2011.

First Dibs

Food bloggers were invited last night in the Max’s Restaurant Chicken All You Can launch. I was able to consume 4 quarter chicken, or basically a whole chicken. Gulp, that’s out little secret, ok. Here’s the proof from my three other tablemates. 😛

Max's Restaurant Chicken All You Can bone leftovers

Check out more details at their website http://www.maxschicken.com/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant .

Currently holding the record for the biggest eat-all-you-can promotion ever launched by a single fast-casual dining restaurant in the Philippines, you can expect a beeline at all Max’s Restaurant for this Max’s Chicken All You Can promo this coming Friday.

SM Supermarket Invitation

I was surprised when I got the SM Supermarket Megamall-A grand opening invitation a few days ago.

SM Supermarket in Megamall A first opened last year replacing the huge Powerbooks store, but closed down for reasons I was not aware of…until yesterday, May 26, when it re-opened. I came to know that they temporarily closed for renovation to make it bigger and better. Now with a floor area of 4,900 square meters, it’s now as wide and long as our neighborhood street (lol).

SM Supermarket Megamall A Opened May 26

Although public access was slated at 4pm, some suppliers, partners, media, and guests were able to take a first look at the store as early as 11am preceded by a 10am mass.

The program started with the traditional ribbon cutting and coin-toss by SM and SM Supermarket executives.

Upon entry, all the guests immediately spread around like new homeowners eagerly surveying a household. I did the same checking out the different products and brands on shelf.

Isabel Daza with SM Executives

SM executives, and celebrity guests including Gloria Diaz’s daughter – Isabel Daza – went straight to the Fresh Seafood section.

Cashiers & Crews Getting Ready

Believe it or not, there was a few years not too long ago, when I took care of our household monthly grocery and SM Megamall and SM North Edsa were my two favorite grocery spots for its wide variety  of products and options available. Here are some shots of our well-loved products and brands I found in my quick tour:

Cheeses and Fresh Fruits

SM Value Packs with FREE SM Bonus item and Procter & Gamble’s Pampers

Oishi Snacks and Tang Powdered Juice

Magnolia Ice Cream in SM Supermarket (they gave away Pinipig Crunch sweet corn flavor)

Fresh Meats

Cold Cuts and the new Century Tuna Hotdog

Bounty Fresh (right) and canned goods such as Hunt’s (left)

Unilab medicines conveniently located inside the grocery

And there’s also Watsons (left photo) !

Home of Your Favorite Brands

Here are photos of some SM executives, guests, partners, and suppliers in the celebration :

Ms. Annie Garcia (2nd from right) – SM Supermalls President; Ms. Mitch So (in red dress)

(Left photo) Chef Tristan  who did a cooking demo. (Right photo) From left: Ms. Ana May Jamet; Ms. Christy Schneck, SM Advantage-Marketing Convergence, Inc.;  Mr. Hendrik Sy; Ms. Isabel Daza.

Center: Ms. Millie Dizon (VP for Marketing-SM Retail); Left: Ms. Leah Lee – AVP Fresh Merchandising – SM Supermarket; Ms. Louie Roque, VP Marketing – SM Supermarket.

SM Officers and Partners with Mr. Herbert T. Sy, president of SM Food Group (third from right).

So Why another SM Supermarket in Addition to the one in Megamall B?

I had the same question which the brand manager readily answered: “Ortigas is a good market and we saw the opportunity to serve more people in the area.”

SM Supermarket Team ( + Ms. Leia Lee – not in photo)

Being a regular customer in Megamall B, I would estimate the place to be almost of the same size. Almost all that can be found from Megamall B can also be found here. I observed however that SM Supermarket Megamall A has a prominent positioning for fresh products which are located at the central isle including fruits, salads, and vegetables.

SM Supermarket Megamall A presents a new gourmet concept offering a wide selection of fresh gourmet products and deli such as cheese, sausages. mushrooms, greens, and wine. This is in addition to the usual fruits, vegetables , and steaks we regularly find in groceries and supermarkets. So I guess its a ‘fresh‘ haven for the health buffs, deli lovers, and chefs / cooks who are always on a sprawl for hard- to-find recipe ingredients.

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Some interesting sections of SM Megamall A grocery include:

SM Supermarket International Products

Giant Shopping Cart with Unilever’s Clear Shampoo (I think this was in preparation for Piolo Pascual’s arrival 4pm that day)

Giant Fish Catch (Tanigue Steak P440/kg)

A New Cleaner Look for SM Supermarket Food Stalls

Maki and Sushi Section (Mariano Cua on left, owner of Cold Storage Seafood)

Appliance Section in SM Supermarket (Hypermarket, is that you?) 🙂

There’s also a Lotto outlet beside the Package Counter. 🙂 I also chanced upon for the first time on a mist supply system set up for the vegetables.

Mist for Vegetables (Do you see the blurry lights? It’s not smoke, it’s mist being sprayed from atop)

Proximity For All: Three Entrances

As mentioned above, the new supermarket space was extended further. It now spans up to the old spot of Toy Kingdom in front of Gonuts Donuts.  This is also its main entrance which serves the customers coming from the Ortigas-Pasig business district side. Having worked along ADB Avenue in the early 2000s, I know that this is a great convenience. One does not have to cross Julia Vargas Rd and walk all the way to SM Supermarket at the other end of Megamall B.

Main Entrance (Old Toy Kingdom Entrance fronting Gonuts Donuts)

The second entrance is from the old Powerbooks store beside Yoshinoya. This serves in-mall customer access into the supermarket.

Mall Entrance (Yoshinoya-Powerbooks)

The third entrance would be from outside of the mall – Edsa. This is another convenience, this time for those coming from the MRT train system.

From MRT Side Entrance

Looking around further, I just hoped there would be more CR (comfort rooms/toilet) in their future developments as I only found one unisex comfort room (at the opposite end, far from the Powerbooks-Yoshinoya entrance). Alternative  CRs would be the one on the second floor right above Yoshinoya or at the lower ground floor inside the bowling station,

SM Mini Cupcakes 🙂

In my personal view, the Megamall A corner has a good business vantage point for SM Supermarket specially for the after-office working class who’s on their way home from the Ortigas business center going to the MRT. Moreover, a transport terminal connecting various Metro Manila cities is located right behind Building A as well.

Congratulations SM Supermarket on your SM Megamall-A branch opening!

Have you seen the recent Jollibee commercial? It showed today’s busy and hardworking moms finding it a challenge to get home in time and prepare for a special family dinner. So the father and the kids tried to take on the chore of cooking and the kitchen ended up in a mess, and still without dinner.

When the mother came home, she comforted the family that they could always order through the 8-7000 Jollibee Express Delivery hotline. 🙂 The advertisement highlighted that serving delicious  meals can be enjoyed by the whole family with just a phone call.

“Whether daddy wants a piece of crispylicious Chickenjoy, kuya craves for a bite of Champ, ate loves the tasty and meaty Jollibee Spaghetti or bunso wants  a delightful  cup of Chocolate sundae, busy moms can have all these delivered right at their doorsteps in time for dinner.“

Jollibee treats can be easily made available at home allowing moms to have quality time with the family.  So when  you are caught in the same situation, just dial 8-7000 (Jollibee Delivery) or log on to www.jollibeedelivery.com (Metro Manila only) . For the complete list of delivery numbers, check out www.jollibee.com.ph.