Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom

The Holy Week has traditionally started in the Philippines with Palm Sunday being yesterday. Here are Figaro‘s lenten special offerings for their customers to keep them satisfied without the guilt. 🙂

Kani Sandwich

Figaro’s Kani Sandwich is filled with yummy crab sticks and garnished with lettuce and tomatoes in potato bread. Although the bread quality could still be improved, I love the generous serving of crabsticks in between. More than that, it tastes really good and satisfying with the light mayo dressing packing ’em all together.

At P179, it is served with a salad  of lettuce and ripe tomatoes on the side (again) which is different from the one with the crab sticks to further compliment the filling.

Figaro Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta

Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta

The chili is actually light, which is good for me. Figaro’s Angel Hair Pasta is mixed with Spanish sardines sauteed in garlic, olive oil, dried chili flakes, onions and black olives. Tossed in angel hair pasta., it is further garnished with finely-chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese. All the  ingredients and its flavors make the whole serving a little complicated to the taste but they all blend well together for that sophisticated taste.

“The saltiness of the fish melts with the sour and salty taste of the black olives exploding in flavors of the spices, onions, garlic and chili flakes,” says an article I read. At P180, it is served with 2 toast bread on the side and a choice of beverage from Figaro coffee or the new Figaro’s Summer Frosts.

Figaro Kani Sandwich

However, in the end, I’m not really a fan of Sardines so  I still prefer the Kani Sandwich. 🙂 Both are shareable enough with the Kani sandwich being served as a pair of triangular slices.

Figaro is going “Light for Life” with their Lenten special snacks that is Kani Sandwich and Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta.

Hear ye pizza lovers! NomNom Club and Pizza Hut is giving away three (3) P1000 Pizza Hut GCs to three of NomNomClub.com readers!

Contest Duration:

April 15,2011 – April 29, 2011

Qualifications:

You just have to be a NomNomClub.com subscriber.

If you are not yet a NomNomClub.com reader, fill in the simple “Enter your email address:
” form below:

How To Join:

1. Post the link of this blogpost in YOUR Facebook wall ‘link’ section. “https://nomnomclub.com/affairs/2011/pizza-hut-promo/“
2. Add a message answering the question “Who is Pizza Hut’s newest Stuffed Crust pizza endorser?“
3. Don’t forget to tag @NomNomClub, @PizzaHutPhilippines, and @YummyManila (tag by writing “@” first).
4. Register here http://bit.ly/pizzahut-nomnomclub for official raffle entry.

Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza

Winners:

3 Winners of P1000 GC will be chosen via online raffle using Random.org. Winners will be announced in NomNom Club Facebook on May 1,2011.

Join this Major Major Pizza Hut Philippines Promo GC giveaway with NomNomClub.com!

"Better Pizza starts in the Kitchen"

Pizza stores are on a roll in the Philippines, I think. In the last six months, I was invited to press launches and gatherings in relation to almost all the following developments:

• Pizza Hut added Venus Raj in the list of its celebrity endorsers.
• Pizza Palace opened in Makati Avenue.
• Domino’s Pizza came back in the Philippines and the 2nd branch just opened in Pasig.
• Greenwich has combined it’s two top endorsers John Lloyd Cruz and Anne Curtis into one commercial.
• Angel’s Pizza is beefing up its marketing

Dining at Papa John's

Moreover, I also heard about Papa John’s Pizza having also entered the Philippine market. However, it was only last March when I got to try the pizza brand in their Robinsons Galleria Veranda branch.

The Veranda is one of the newest foodie hangout in the Ortigas area as part of Robinsons Galleria‘s answer to the market’s increasing demand. It was also my first time in the Veranda and they have an intresting mix of restaurants and food spots. More about the Veranda restaurants this month of April.

Back to Papa John’s, I was able to try a bite of their Chicken BBQ and Fisherman’s Catch flavors in both large, hand-tossed, and thin crust servings.

The Chicken BBQ pizza consists of grilled chicken, bacon bits, and onions. I love the sweet and tangy BBQ sauce lining the top layer.

Large 14" Chicken BBQ Pizza by Papa John's

The Fisherman’s Catch is a combination of shrimps, calamari, green peppers, onions, and signature garlic sauce. Ideal for the upcoming lent, the Fisherman’s Catch is a good one. Other lenten specials options include Garden Special, Simply Cheese, and Margherita Special).

Large 14" Fisherman's Catch Pizza by Papa John's

Papa John's Pizza Box

After tasting them, I knew then that founder “Papa” John Schnatter got it right. I believe they will be able to capture the Filipino palate and go a long way.

Both 14″ large pizzas are priced P530 ( 12″Medium – P430 ; 9″Small – P300 ; Jr. Papa – P150 ).

But the star of our meal was the Super Papa.

As its name suggests, Super Papa seem to have it all with the combination of pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, green peppers & black olives.

At P550, this is NomNom’s recommendation among the three (although all three were superb, promise).

Large 14" Super Papa Pizza by Papa John's

Papa John's @ the Veranda, Robinson's Galleria

Although their pricing levels are a little above the average ones we have in the market, the taste and quailty of their hand-tossed pizzas seem to match it. Better ingredients, better pizza, indeed.

Check out Papa John’s at the Veranda in Robinson’s Galleria. I sure am going back, Mama!

😛

A yummy cool surprise greeted me last week when I flew back from Singapore – I found a set of Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection for sampling and review in our freezer. The flavors included Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey’s Kisses. Awesome!

Hershey's Chocolate Shop in Universal Studios Singapore

It quickly gave me flashbacks of the Hershey’s chocolate store I just visited at the Universal Studios in Singapore right beside Resorts World Sentosa. It was a chocoholic’s dream come true going into a shop full of Hershey’s chocolates in all forms and variants.

(Flashback ends) Ok, back to the ‘now.’ All my friends know I’m an ice cream lover, in what ever brand or form it may come. Although of course, I do prefer some flavors over another.

Needless to say, I had to try all four flavors in four different sittings. And after trying out the Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream flavors one by one, I tried them again all at the same time just to be sure in the ‘taste analysis’ I conducted myself. 🙂

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Ice Cream

And the verdicts are…..

Milk Chocolate

It’s Hershey’s classic milk chocolate transformed into ice cream. This is for the Hershey’s Milk Chocolate loyalists who wants it as it is and in no other way.

Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Ice Cream

Milk Chocolate with Almonds

This is my better version of the Milk Chocolate variant because of the chewy chocolate chips, thicker chocolate ripples, and nutty texture care of the almonds.

However, I do believe there’s still some room for more chocolate chips and roasted almonds. 😛

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Ice Cream

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

This is the odd one among the four. But that’s just me. I’m not a fan of Reese’s chocolates which explains everything.

But if you love Reese’s Chocolates or the peanut butter flavor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t like this one as chunks of Reese’s peanut butter cups are spread all over.

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream

Hershey’s Kisses

This one’s a twin swirl of milk chocolate and white chocolate ice cream sprinkled with cookie crumbles, chocolate ripples, and of course, bits of Hershey’s Kisses. I love how the whites gave my palette some rest from the slew of chocolate ice creams. 🙂

It was a hard choice for me in deciding between this and the Milk Chocolate with Almonds. In the end, I had to choose one.

There you go! Ice cream manufacturers understandably continue to try creating interesting ice cream flavors to satisfy the modern market’s ever demanding taste. But combining Unilever’s ice cream with one of the most loved chocolate brand on the world, how can it go wrong, right? 🙂

And the winner is…

All four variants has the same Hershey’s chocolate base that is undeniably creamy. But I like the mixture and added texture provided by the chocolate chips, almonds, and chocolate swirls of the Milk Chocolate with Almonds. It’s my winner with the Hershey’s Kisses coming in close second.

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream (right) is my 2nd best choice

Pulling from their tagline “sarap ng weekend ‘pag may pure Hershey’s happiness,” I say weekend or no weekend, it’s an ice cream holiday for me, anytime, everytime.

Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection

The new Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection comes in 800mL (P135) and 1.5L (P240) packs and are now available in supermarkets, groceries or convenience stores nationwide. The Milk Chocolate variant is a priced a little lower at P125 and P225 for the 800mL and 1.5L, respectively.

Pizza Hut just got a new major major endorser for their new Stuffed Crust Pizza in the person of the charming and world class beauty titlist Maria Venus Raj.

You should be seeing the new TV commercials today introducing Venus Raj as Pizza Hut’s newest celebrity endorser in addition to Diether Ocampo.

Last night, in an intimate dinner with bloggers, we were introduced to Pizza Hut’s new TVC which exuded class and sophistication with Venus Raj clad in the evening gown she actually wore during the Miss Universe pageant where she won 4th Runner-Up.

Venus Raj & Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza

You would see more of this TVC tonight at the Bb. Pilipinas Beauty Pageant Grand Coronation Night on ABS-CBN.

Pizza Hut’s Stuffed Crust pizza

A product of creativity preferred to be eaten backwards by some, Pizza Hut has long introduced the Stuffed Crust Pizza – cheese baked right into the crust. This time around, Pizza Hut is treating its customers with 25% more cheese as a thanksgiving of sorts.

“We noted the Filipinos love for cheese, and this is evident in every dish we do at home thus, we made our New Stuffed Crust Pizza even cheesier with 25% more major, major cheese; for Filipinos to enjoy. As we are the only Pizza Restaurant that serves Stuffed Crust, we made sure that this re-launch will hit it big to our consumers by adding more cheese as a way of thanking them in loving our Stuffed Crust Pizza through the years” says Edgar Allan L. Caper, Advertising and Promotions Manager of Pizza Hut Philippines.

Interestingly, the 25% more cheese is not stuffed to the crust, but as a layer topping.

For the budget conscious, take advantage of their P499 promo which already includes 2 family stuffed crust pizza or the P699 promo which includes more.

Major Major Stuffed Crust Feast - Valid for take out and delivery from April 8 to May 23,2011

Pizza Hut
Website www.pizzahut.com.ph
Facebook facebook.com/pizzahutphilippines
Pizza Hut Delivery 911-11-11

But wait, there’s more! How about some free Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza for you and your family from NomNom Club, Venus Raj, and Pizza Hut? Then watch out for that special announcement on April 15, 2011 here at NomNomClub.com

In a recent trip to Singapore, we checked out the Lantern atop Fullerton Bay Hotel. The stylish rooftop bar definitely provided an awesome panoramic view of Singapore’s Marina Bay including the majestic structure of the new Marina Bay Sands.

Lantern Bar

Located alongside Marine Bay and having opened only last year, “Lantern derives its name from Clifford Pier’s historical Chinese name – ‘Red Lantern Pier‘…a landing point for Singapore’s first immigrants and red lanterns used to hang from the pier as a guide to seafarers,” its website indicate.

Merlion Cocktail

Lantern houses signature vintage and modern cocktails including concoctions of mojito, vodka, tequila, , and of course – wines. Most are inspired from the Caribbean Islands and Latin America.

Being a light drinker, I just had a glass of the ‘Merlion.’ At S$24, it is one of their signature cocktails and not a surprising choice from a tourist like me. 🙂 The Merlion is a Don Julio tequila with young ginger, honey water, lime and soda. It came out good with the other ingredients making the tequila seem light, which I think fits my drinking level, in that sense. 🙂

Fullerton Bay Hotel's Lantern

Lantern with the panoramic view of Marina Bay Sands

Other options include the Imperial Berry Mojito (S$28), Caipirinha (Cachaca, Lime, Refined Sugar – S$19), and Air Mail (S$22) which is basically a mixture of Pampero dark rum, lime, honey, and champagne.

Lantern's Live Band / DJ

They also offer a short list of tapas and grills for a light dinner or something to nibble on. The live band and acoustic beats further adds to the bar’s chic ambiance.

Lantern Rooftop Bar
Fullerton Bay Hotel
Singapore
12 pm – 2 am
Phone: (65) 6597 5299
Website: www.fullertonbayhotel.com

Lantern's Swimming Pool glass cross-section visible from the bar

As if that’s not enough, a picturesque infinity pool at the center, with a visible cross section, further accentuates Lantern‘s sophistication.

iParty maybe new to your ears but truth is, you’ve been throwing iParties for ages! iParty is a term coined by the Ginebra San Miguel peeps which pertains to the gathering you shared with your friends and relatives – be it a celebration of life, a graduation party or just a Friday night jamming at your favourite tambayan.

A few nights ago, I joined fellow party-ready bloggers in an iParty, celebrating the creation of new Ginebra  Flavors.

Ginebra Apple Flavors

The Ginebra Flavor Mixes are sinfully sweet and surprisingly light. But mind your intake because the gin could jump right at you after a few drinks.  I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t savor the initial taste as I thought it would be similar to many of the less-premium gin brands out there. Boy, was I wrong!

The burn going down was minimal or none at all and there was no need to chase the shot with a lime or a chaser. I caught the hint of green apple and lychee too!

Ginebra Lychee Flavors

There are 2 main flavours- Ginebra Apple Flavor and Ginebra Lychee Flavor.  We have tried the following Ginebra Flavors mixes and went home happy!

Ginebra Lychee Kiss and Applerita

Ginebra San Miguel Flavors

Ginebra Flavors is affordable, a  700mL bottle will only cost you P60! It’s currently available at Puregold, Ministop, 7-11, Andoks , South Supermarket and some areas on Ortigas. However, Ginebra Flavors will not be sold on bars. It’s supposed to be enjoyed on the comforts of your own tambayan with family and friends.

Being an inexpensive drink,  Ginebra Flavor is also one of the most refreshing, vibrant, and enjoyable drink I have ever come across. I bet it goes well with many different pulutans as it helps to clean the palate. I am getting all of my friends ‘hooked‘ on it and you  and your friends could try it too!

*Author: Renz Alcantara

** Drink Moderately

It was my first time at Rai Rai Ken weeks ago. And one doesn’t go there without trying their ramen. 🙂

Rai Rai Ken

It was dinner time and I ordered Rai Rai’s Ramen Chasyu (Roast Pork). it was neatly served (photo above) in a big bowl.

It is a soy sauce based soup with slices of well, roast pork, a hard-boiled egg, and some vegetables. It was a good one. You’d know in the taste that it was an authentically prepared Japanese ramen. I came to know that authentic ramen is not easy to create as the soup alone takes hours to prepare. At P180, it is a filling and satisfactory meal.

Mixed Seafood Ramen

On the other hand, my friends had the Gomoku or the ‘mixed seafood‘ ramen which is composed of mixed seafood and also topped with egg and mixed vegetables.

My friend said it was also good and had generous servings of seafoods like shrimp, kani, and squid. Perhaps I will try that next time.

Rai Rai Ken Gyoza

To complement our meals, we had some sumptuous Gyoza and Jurassic Maki. The Jurassic Maki (P195) is like an inside-out roll with Ebi Tempura, salmon skin, kani stick, and ebikko, molded with mayonaisee and topped with an eel slice.

It tasted as good as it looked. 🙂

Jurassic Maki

Mango Shake

Rai Rai Ken Makati

I also had a cold mango shake to contrast my hot soup at the latter part. It’s highly recommended as well for its smooth-creamy texture.

We dined at their two-floor branch in Makati near our place (SM Hypermarket near  South Super Highway-Buendia corner). Rai Rai Ken is definitely worth going to for authentic Japanese ramen.