Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom

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. 🙂

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

Congratulations once again to Krispy Kreme for their store opening in Krispy Kreme Filinvest Festival Mall Alabang!

They say that Filipinos are good adopters. When they see something they can attune to their own taste, they create their own version. One new upcoming example that would please cooking show and TV buffs‘ eyes and palettes at the same time would be the Filipino version of the internationally successful Junior Masterchef – Pinoy Junior MasterChef – with host Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo.

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo Hosts Pinoy Junior Masterchef

Meet the 60 young kitchen stars on the premier show of this much-awaited kiddie cooking reality show “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition” on August 27, at Saturday’s primetime. Find out as well who will eventually advance to the Top 20 on ABS-CBN. The first Pinoy Junior MasterChef will win a culinary scholarship and P1 million.

Hosted by famous celebrity Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, Juday returns to television through this new show. For the very first time in her career, the Philippine’s Queen of Soap Opera will dabble in hosting as she leads the search for the finest young amateur chef in the country.

Joining Judy Ann are world-renowned Filipino chefs Fernando “Ferns” Aracama, Rolando “Lau” Laudico, and JP “Jayps” Anglo in the newest reality franchise from the group that brought you phenomenal hits “Pinoy Big Brother,” “Pinoy Dream Academy,” and “The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition.”

They will be the ones to guide the kiddie chefs and judge the dishes the kids will cook up as the Philippines will be the third country in the world to produce its own Junior MasterChef.

Idiomatically, Chef Lau is The Rebel, Chef Ferns is The Maestro, and Chef Jayps is The Traveler.

“This show is all heart. The kids are really cute and smart so it’s hard not to have a connection with them. But as a host and their mom in the program, I’m the one to balance their emotions. We don’t want to hurt their feelings but we also need to be honest when it comes to the taste of their dishes. When they’re about to cry, I have to be strong and raise their spirits. You have to be ready with words of encouragement for them,” shared Juday.

With the help of Chef Ferns, Chef Lau, and Chef Jayps, all accomplished chefs and restauranteurs, Juday said kids will surely learn from every challenge or task they face in the program.

Check out the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jrmasterchef or follow @jrmasterchef_ph.

Don’t miss the first taste on the reality show that will make you hungry, smile, cry, and be inspired to cook, whether you are young or old, an aspiring chef or simply a food lover in “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition” on August 27, Saturday at ABS-CBN.

Food lovers, connoisseurs, and foodies, hear ye, hear ye! One of the most exciting food event of the year is back – the sixth edition of the Ultimate Taste Test!

Brought to you by Our Awesome Planet, in cooperation with San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 is happening on September 3 at the Rockwell Tent from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. as food blogger Anton Diaz  embarks on this first partnership with Rockwell.

Be a food-critic-for-a-day by sampling mouth-watering food preparations and concoctions from over 50+ home-based food businesses and some of Power Plant Mall’s own restaurants. Participants also get to rate the food samples and exhibiting food concessionaires on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest. The hihgest scorers get to be featured in Anton’s site.

Each ticket costs P585/person and covers the ff:

• Food Taste Portions from 50+ Home-Based Food Vendors & Power Plant Mall Restaurants (new) for the entire Saturday
• A bottle of San Miguel Super Dry, Premium All-Malt or Cerveza Negra (18 years old and above only)
• Exclusive to 1,000 foodies

Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 2011

For ticket inquiries, call Power Plant Mall Office (Tel. # 8981702) during mall hours or Creative Juice Office (Tel. # 5707827) during office hours.

Here is a list of Food Exhibitors you might expect:

If you want to be a food supplier, contact Rockwell UTT Application Form and submit  via email to admin@ultimatetastetest.com.

See related Posts:

• Ultimate taste Test 4.0
• Ultimate taste Test 4.0 Photos

Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test Event
September 3, 2011, Saturday, 11.00 am – 9.00 pm.
Rockwell Tent
Email admin@ultimatetastetest.com.
P585/head. Tickets available at Power Plant Mall Office (Tel. # 8981702) during mall hours or Creative Juice Office (Tel. # 5707827) during office hours.

See you fellow foodies at the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 on Saturday! 🙂

This one’s way overdue…by more than two months 🙂 I may not be able to let you taste the good finds through this article but I can at least let you see how delicious they looked like at the Yummy Eats event held last May 2011.

Starbucks at Yummy Eats

In celebration of Filipinos’ love for good food, YUMMY magazine held its first-ever cooking and eating fair, YUMMY Eats at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City.

“For years, YUMMY magazine has been featuring amazing food finds in the metro. Now that we’re on our fourth year, we feel it’s high time to bring the magazine closer to our readers by having 31 food brands under one roof,” says Frances Ang, associate publisher of YUMMY Magazine.

The event gathered 31 concessionaires specially handpicked by YUMMY magazine.

I think it’s been almost a year since my last Food Foto Fiestaso a photo feature on Yummy Eats is begging.

Here are some which caught our attention:

Plants and Zombies Cupcakes

Hunts and McCormick Rosemary Iced Tea

Wha Pao Siopao

Low Cal Cafe

Fruits In Ice Cream

Lechon

Longaniza

Angry Birds Cupcakes

Participants were also treated to cooking demos from McCormick, Hunt’s, and Saranggani Bay Prime Bangus. It was also an afternoon of learning, as Francis Bautista and Constancio Arabejo from Petron Gasul talked about kitchen safety, while Nowie Potenciano of Mochiko, Pamelo Cinco of Risa Chocolates, and JJ Yulo of Pinoy Eats World discussed new food business ideas.

Hosted by three self-confessed foodies –TV personality Issa Litton, Magic 89.9 deejay CJ Rivera of The Big Meal, and YUMMY magazine’s resident contributor, Chef Aileen Anastacio—YUMMY Eats proved to be one big gathering of food lovers.

And of course, this Yummy Eats article ain’t ending without our NomNom recommendations: The top three spots goes to Divine Desserts, Risa Chocolates, and Tina’s Pie Outlet.

Divine Desserts

Divine Desserts
Home-style dessert shop featuring specialty cakes and desserts made with all natural ingredients baked fresh everyday. The desserts are luscious! I got to try the Wasabe Kitkat Mousse and Double Fudge Cake.

Risa Chocolates

Risa Chocolates
Risa Chocolates is known for delicious handmade chocolates. Their delectable line up includes melt in the mouth truffles, chewy choco chip dough, satisfying chocolate bars, and healthy and tasty cacao nibs.risa’s Chocolate Truffles are simply unforgettable. 🙂

Frozen Merengue Pies

Tina’s Pie Outlet
Although they are famous for  savory pies, it’s the Frozen Merengue Pies which I liked at the event.

Completing my Top 10 Finds are:

Also commendable according to my notes are Chef’s Table, Balamban Liempo Cebu, Goodies N’ Sweets, Gourmet Dips and Dressings, and Mochiko.

Chef's Table Dishes

Balamban Liempo Cebu

Gourmet Dips and Dressings

Goodies N' Sweets

Mochiko

Check out the rest of the photos and concessionaires are here:

• Amaya Frozen Caramel
• Big Daddy’s Chicken
• Carmela’s Best Ice Cream
• Cebu Balamban Liempo
• Chef’s Table By Chef Bruce Lim
• Classic Confections
• Divine Desserts
• Farm N Deli Enterprises
• Fruits In Ice Cream
• General’s Lechon
• Gold Leaf Teas
• Goodies N’ Sweets
• Gourmet Dips And Dressings
• Honest JuiceJaq’s Kitchen
• Kusina Ni Maria Catering
• Kusina Teatro
• Little Miss Oc Kitchen
• Lowcal Café Co
• Merry Moo
• Mochiko
• Oriental Basket
• Pinoy Eats World
• Pipino Vegetarian
• Risa Chocolates
• Simply Pie!
• Starbucks
• The Fruit Garden
• Three Instia Road Kitchen
• Tina’s Pie Outlet
• whaPao!

I hope there wil be another Yummy Eats next year ! 🙂 For more of YUMMY online, visit www.YUMMY.ph, become a fan on Facebook via Facebook.com/yummymagazine, and follow them on Twitter via Twitter.com/yummyph.

The rainy season really hampers the mood specially for a travel and food blogger like me. With the Philippines’ incessant rain and typhoons from the middle part of the year onwards, my traveling is restrained and food escapades limited.

Visiting Mercato Centrale

The last time I went to Mercato Centrale in July, I was soaked in a heavy rain shower going back home. But these are the sacrifices you make for good food and indulging experiences. Night or day, I love Mercato. With the unique and varied choices of delicacies offerred by the foodie stalls, each visit can be as unique as your pallate can take.

On the other hand, the rainy season can really spoil a Mercato Centrale experience.

Heaven Sent City Delivery

We all know that the concept of food delivery is nothing new. But I never thought a group of small foodie businesses could actually come together and get themselves a food delivery partner.

It’s a simple but bright idea. Lightbulb!

City Delivery Delivery Boy

I don’t have to drag my sleepy head on a cold bed weather weekend morning. I’d just have to call on City Delivery’s hotline number 87878. Or if you want to experience Mercato Centrale delivery online, check their website at  http://CityDelivery.ph or their Facebook page where it says City Delivery is a “multi-restaurant delivery service…we let our customers experience the world on their plates with an impressive array of cuisines from the city’s prime restaurants and other food establishments.”

Currently, for a minimum order of Php500 and a delivery fee and 10% Delivery charge,they deliver to the residents of the following areas: Alabang, Greenhills, Las Pinas City, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Manila City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Ortigas, Paranaque City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and The Fort.

The cap is a little high for an individual delivery but I guess it fits more for group or family order so the P500 minimum delivery is not a problem. I owe all these realization from Mel who asked me if I could feature them here at NomNom Club. And so, now, here it is! I never knew beforehand that I could have stuff from Mercato delivered at the comfort of my home. 🙂

Please keep in mind the advance and real-time ordering scheme:

• Weekdays: Advanced ordering (2 days in advance depending on the merchant)
• Weekends: Real time ordering (9AM-­‐2PM)

Moreover, I was told that current participating establishments are the following:

• 

  Manang's Chicken

  Bale Dutung

• Big Bob’s
• Chuck’s Grubberie
• Homemade Ravioli
• Manang’s Chicken
• Merry Moo
• Mochiko
• Spring by Ha Yuan

I hope more will join in the near future so that consumers can have more choices.

Although my top pick is the ever-famous Bale Dutung, I haven’t tried Manang’s Chicken either. With a recommendation form Mel, I decided to give their signature chicken a try.

Manang's Chicken from Mercato Centrale through City Delivery

Rice almost gone but there are still 2 chicken!

Mel didn’t fail me as Manang’s Chicken was good as well. The white meat was tender and I cannot let go of the sinful chicken skin made tastier by the SAUCE.

I just had to put it in all caps; you would know why after trying Manang’s Chicken yourself.

🙂

In my next City Delivery order, no one can stop me from having one of Pampanga’s best – Bale Dutung by by Chef Claude Tayag!

🙂

Mercato Centrale at the Comfort of your Homes with City Delivery

Thank you City Delivery, it’s Mercato goodness, rain or shine!

I was excited to have the privilege of visiting Gardenia’s bread factory yesterday. The Philippines’ top brand in delicious and healthy breads conducted a bloggers’ plant tour for food and lifestyle bloggers. Interestingly, their plant is located along Star Avenue, LIIP Mamplasan, Biñan, Laguna, which is also from the south and near my place in Batangas.

Mr. Nestor Constancia

In the first part of the program, Mr. Nestor Constancia (Marketing and Sales Manager), shared Gardenia’s history and distribution system. We also watched a short AVP about the company’s processes and fully-automated machines. QAF Limited through Gardenia International Pte. Ltd. established Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. In 1997 and started construction of its bakery plant in Laguna Industrial Park (LIIP), Biñan, Laguna. Operation started in 1998 with the state-of-art bread factory rated as one of the most modern large scale bread manufacturing facility in the country. Its highly-automated and major equipments come from bakery suppliers from Germany, Holland, UK and USA.

Gardenia Bread

Moreover, it now has the largest distribution network in the baking industry covering the whole Luzon archipelago; eastern and some western parts of Visayas including Mindoro, Panay, the Negros islands, and Samar; and even as far away as Mindanao. Their efficient distribution system utilizes a fleet of company-owned feeder and delivery vans, as well as the public Roll-On-Roll-Off (RORO) nautical highway system.

Afterwards, we began our plant tour. Once you enter the plant area, you’ll hear a recorded voice-over explaining the processes of each machine in each station. Here is the step-by-step procedures:

1.    Ingredient Preparation

Ingredient Preparation

2.    Sponge Mixing

Sponge Mixing

3.    Fermentation

Fermentation

4.    Dough Mixing

Dough Mixing

5.    Dividing

Dividing

6.    Rounding

Bread Rounding

7.    Intermediate proofing

Intermediate Proofing

8.    Moulding

Moulding

9.    Final Proofing

Final Proofing

10.    Baking

Baking of the Breads

11.    Depanning

Depanning

12.    Cooling (Top Photo)

13.    Slicing

Gardenia Bread Slicing

14.    Automatic Bagging

Automatic Bagging

15.    G-lock

G-lok / G-lock System

16.    Metal Detectors

Metal Detectors (staples) 😛

17.    Distribution

Gardenia Bread Distribution

It was an awesome sight to see the actual breads being made before you eyes, way beyond what the AVP can share.  However, we had to view it from a higher angle in an enclosed and air-conditioned viewing section intended for visitors. This is to maintain the quality standards of the factory.

A bread making demo using Gardenia breads, of course, and an open forum with Gardenia officers including Mr. Simplicio P. Umali Jr. (President & General Manager), Mr. Nestor E. Constancia (Marketing & Sales Manager), Ms. Cristina P. Domondon (Manufacturing Manager), Ms. Thea Tan (Marketing Manager), Ms. Merlie Barcelos (QA Manager), and Ms. Aine De Guzman (Nutritionist) followed the interesting plant tour.

Gardenia Plant Tour with the Bloggers

Let me give you some interesting points I learned from the open forum with the officers and this Gardenia Plant Tour experience:

• Gardenia delivers round-the-clock (24-hours) to ensure all convenience stores (or mini-stores) receive freshly baked breads everyday.
•  Gardenia uses a “G-lock’/’G-lok’ system that is distinguished with a color-coded scheme so that it will be easy to locate, open, and re-seal. The plastic clip also indicates the best before date as well as its retail price.
• Upon suggestion of the a guest, Gardenia may consider having a no-crust (edges) bread product in the future. But this merits a prior careful study and a lot of considerations including maintaining the quality of the bread.
•  Gardenia exerts efforts to be the environment-friendly by collecting old/left-over stocks of bread and gives them to fisheries for feeding.
• Gardenia incorporates big advertising banners and  posters on each company owned-feeder and delivery vans as a way of effective advertising in the field.
• It was also interesting to know that Gardenia is open to beneficiaries and discussions with charitable event/institutions in need of bread products.

Open Forum with Gardenia Officers

As their tagline “OH I LOVE GARDENIA! So good… You can even eat it on its own!” (masarap kahit walang palaman) suggests, Gardenia maintain its promise of providing the best quality breads to Filipinos in all possible aspects – freshly baked at all times, smells good, tastes even better, feels soft, and of course, nutritious.

It was an educational Gardenia Plant Tour experience indeed! For more info, you may visit the Gardenia website at http://www.gardenia.com.ph, ‘like’ their page on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and watch their videos on YouTube.

*Contributed by Shekinah Armenta

It’s not the ususal SM Savemore grocery opening you know. With a number of SM Savemore stores opening stores around the Philippines, what makes this particular launch in Sta. Ana Manila unique is its first-of-a-kind facade and environment-conscious efforts.

SM Savemore Sta. Ana Grand Opening: (from left) Jojo Tagbo, VP for operations of Savemore; Manila City Councilor Honey Lacuna – Pangan; celebrity guest Bayani Agbayani; 2010 Ms. Earth winners Miss Earth Air Victoria Shchukina of Russia; Miss Earth Water 2011 Wattsaporn Wattanakon of Thailand; and reigning Miss Earth Nicole Faria of India; celebrity guest Sunshine Cruz; Felicidad Sy; Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim; Sta. Ana Heritage Board chairman Vilma Labrador; Parish Priest Andrew Litigio of Our Lady of Abandoned; and SM Supermarket president Herbert T. Sy.

Out-of-the-Box Facade

You might be used to the usual box-type yellow SM Savemore shops, SM Savemore Sta.Ana is the first to incorporate a cultural aspect to the design and architecture. It now looks more Asian in design and blends with the local community.

Environment-Conscious

The original lot has as longstanding Dita Tree which is more than 200 years old. SM Savemore decided to preserve and take care of the tree as a local community heritage. In fact, almost a third of the total land area was alotted for an open courtyard area with the Dita Tree at its center.

Different Facade Design from other SM Savemore Stores

International Miss Earth 2011 Winners Posed with the Dita Tree in Background

Young Narra Trees (lower left of previous photo) were also symbolically planted by International Miss Earth winners Nicole Faria of India, Miss Earth Air Victoria Shchukina of Russia and Miss Earth Water 2011 Wattsaporn Wattanakon of Thailand at the back part of the building facing the river. It also serves as customer parking lot.

P50 WHole Chicken Pormo

A ground structure (left of 4th photo) was also preserved and made into a showcase area. It is said to be an old relic (various structure) of an old wine cellar usually referred to as ‘bahay na bato‘ which has been there for hundreds of years. These are the commitment made by Savemore to the Sta. Ana community towards the preservation of its heritage.

These are all in addition to Savemore’s ongoing commitment to the environment where trademark SM Food Retail Group’s reusable Greenbag are used. The Greenbags now comes in green, blue and black, with various designs that shoppers can choose from starting at P10 each (aside from the points gained by SM Advantage cardholders).

The Program

The celebration was started by the ceremonial ribbon cutting with guests led by Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim (rightmost) with SM Executives and Guests

Miss Earth winners also graced the event and went on an actual grocery shopping of their own.

Miss Earth 2011 Winners Grocery Shopping

Celebrities Sunshine Cruz and Bayani Agbayani were also present at the event. They are Sta.Ana residents themselves.

Sunshine Cruz & Bayani Agbayani (left); SM Savemore Staff Dancing in the Opening

Here are some photos of the actual grocery inside embodied with the concept of neighborhood convenient shopping at affordable prices.:

SM Savemore Grocery Items

Magnolia Ice Cream and Fresh Fruits / Goods Section

This is actually just the first of SM Savemore Markets with a unique facade as they approach different provinces where the community’s history and culture will also be highlighted.