Entries Tagged 'Casual' ↓
September 10th, 2011 — Alabang, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Eastwood, Greenhills, Korean, Makati, Mandaluyong, New Brews, Ortigas, Quezon City, Quick Service, Restaurants, Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall, Where To Eat
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. 🙂
September 5th, 2011 — Alabang, Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, Western, Where To Eat
After years of waiting, Krispy Kreme lovers from the south of Metro Manila do not have to travel north just to get their fix of Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts and coffee. They now have their own located near the Bridgeway of Filinvest Festival Mall in Alabang (south of Metro Manila).
Krispy Kreme Opens Filinvest Festival Mall in Alabang South
Krispy Kreme Alabang
NomNom Club was invited for its grand launch last September 2, 2011, a day before its public store opening.
The night started with good food and good friends just right outside the store. With minimal lights pending the scheduled launch, a short program led by host Patty Laurel brightened up the night.
One of the KK winner of one-year supply of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is a baby! 🙂
After a brief speech, Krispy Kreme executives pressed the symbolic green button altogether to signal the grand opening of its 24th branch in the Philippines. This triggered the opening of the lights, the store, and the Krispy Kreme HotLight!
Guests were also given half-dozen original glazed doughnuts to enjoy or take home.
“Krispy Kreme is a brand that Filipinos love…we are very happy to finally open our first store in the South with the intent of sharing the delectable Krispy Kreme experience across the nation,“says Mark Gamboa, Krispy Kreme Philippines Marketing Manager.
Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut
My Favorite: Krispy Kreme Baked Creations
New Concept Store
Krispy Kreme Customer Feedback
More than just being the first branch south of Manila, Krispy Kreme Filinvest Alabang is also the first in the world to incorporate the new Krispy Kreme store design moving forward.
A Krispy Kreme loyal customer would notice that the “Krispy Kreme” logo can now be found along the ceiling of the counter.
The Krispy Kreme Festival Mall Alabang branch also creates the doughnuts instore and has an alfreso dining area that is common among malls in this area.
Cebu Next, Then Davao
Krispy Kreme is further expanding with the next one in Cebu. Well, actually, not one, but two! Also in the queue for provincial branches is Davao.
Back to Metro Manila, they do have plans to open another branch in Alabang. They are just waiting for the right and perfect spot.
Krispy Kreme Alabang Staff
July 26th, 2011 — Batangas, Casual, Cebu, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, New Brews, Ortigas, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Restaurants, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Western, Where To Eat
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. 😛
July 24th, 2011 — Affairs, Beverage, Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Fusion, Promos / Events, Restaurants, Western, Where To Eat
Latte Art fun on a Sunday! Figaro is currently hosting their company-wide Figaro Latte Art Competition 2011 and we’re live blogging ’em from Figaro Emerald branch.
On it’s third year, the Figaro Latte Art Competition is participated by 28 branches this year, both from company-owned branches and franchisees. It aims to enhance the barista’s latte art design skills and to foster camaraderie among the different barista representatives.
Below are some of NomNom’s favorite among the 28 entries in the elimination round. For the complete set of 28 entries, check out NomNomClub’s Facebook Fanpage here.
Figaro Latte Art Competition 2011 (Eliminations Round Participant)
Figaro Latte Art 2011 Contestants
Figaro Latte Art Competition 2011 (Eliminations Round Participant)
Figaro Latte Art Competition 2011 (Eliminations Round Participant)
Who’s your bet for the Top 10 that’s going to qualify for the final round? Watch out for the results of the Figaro Latte Art Competition 2011 tomorrow!
July 13th, 2011 — Affairs, Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Fusion, Greenbelt 5, Makati, Promos / Events, Restaurants, Steakhouse, Western, Where To Eat
This is my first OpenRicers‘ Meet gathering and it was great meeting fellow OpenRicers and food bloggers. It was held at Tender Bob’s in Greenbelt a few weeks ago.
We had a good time and Tender Bob’s dinner was filling. Here are some of my photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S2.
Tender Bob's Salsds and Appetizers
Oriental Chicken Salad
Tender Bob's Steaks and Lagarde Wines
Ice Cream and Sizzling Bread & Butter Pudding for Desserts!
Until the next OpenRice meet! Thanks OpenRice.com and Tender Bob’s.
July 8th, 2011 — Bar/Grills, Beverage, Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Greenbelt 5, Makati, New Brews, Restaurants, Thai, Where To Eat
Simply Thai Restaurant
Indulge your Thai cravings at the new restaurant at Greenbelt 5 called Simply Thai. Owned by the same group of the successful Thai at Silk in Serendra, Executive Chef Cecile Chang-Ysmael yet again left no stone unturned for this newest endeavor, giving the classic Thai cuisine a modern-contemporary approach.
Her passion for Thai dishes is infallible, constantly in search for the best ingredients and supplies in her second home, Bangkok, to bring authenticity to Filipino diners and weary travelers who craves for a hearty Thai meal that only she can serve best.
Your Thai cravings will surely be satisfied with wide ranges of soup, salad, stir-fried dishes and many more. To name some of their bestsellers are the appetizing Yam Som O or the Pomelo Salad, North Thai Steak in jim-jaew sauce, Lamb Shank Mussaman Curry, Pork Stew in Coconut Juice, Choo chee Roti, Sriracha buffalo wings, and the famous air-flown Dungeness Crab in three sauces. The spiciness level can be adjusted to your liking.
Bar, Simply Thai
Complete the flavors of Thai with a brewed Thai Green Milk Tea, Thai Milk Tea, Lemongrass and Pandan Juices. Relax and take a sip of some cocktails which are the first in Manila such as Lemongrass Martinis, Thai Choco Dream and Melodious Mangorita! The quaint restaurant comes with a circular bar for diners who prefer to lounge outdoors.
Let Simply Thai give you the whole Bangkok experience in one amazing night with your family and friends.
Simply Thai accepts booking for events, private parties and the like, with a choice of main or garden al fresco dining in Greenbelt 5. Call 7290860 or 7296860 for reservations.
*Written by resident NomNomClub writer Renz Alcantara.
June 17th, 2011 — Affairs, Bar/Grills, Buffet, Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Filipino, Fine Dining, Fusion, Greenhills, Hotels, Italian, Japanese, Makati, Malaysian, Mandaluyong, Manila, Ortigas, Promos / Events, Restaurants, Steakhouse, Sweet Shops, Western, Where To Eat
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.
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)
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.
Free gift for Dad when you dine in. You can also get a special Serye mug & Barako Coffee with P2,500 purchase
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!
June 15th, 2011 — Batangas, Casual, Cebu, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Filipino, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, Ortigas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Restaurants, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Where To Eat
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.