Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom

Today, Starbucks marks its 13th year of presence in the Philippines. Its first branch of Starbucks in the Philippines opened December 4, 1997 at 6750 Ayala Building in Makati City.

The 1997 opening of Starbucks in the Philippines was significant as it became the third market to open outside of  North America.

The Starbucks experience has since spread throughout the Philippines. In fact, it’s first branch in Mindanao has opened just last month in the province of Cagayan De Oro (CDO).  Starbucks continues to innovate with new concoctions and products such as their latest introduction of the Starbucks VIA Brew instant coffee. They have also released their Starbucks Planner 2011. They are also having the rounds for their Christmas Starbucks Cheers Party around the Philippines.

And as a Starbucks treat to it’s loyal customers, all branches of Starbucks in the Philippines are giving away complimentary cupcakes to it’s first 50 customers in each branch today. Happy Anniversary Starbucks!

It’s NomNom Foodie Club‘s first Christmas together and what most fitting activity to celebrate the holiday but with the traditional Filipino culture of a Christmas Party!

To be held at the first day of the last month of the year, this Christmas foodie party will indeed start the Christmas month symbolically.

Geiser Maclang

The theme of our NomNom Foodie Club Christmas Party is “Sarap ng Pasko,” in recognition of our food and venue sponsor Kraft Eden Cheese‘s Christmas campaign “Sarap ng Pasko.” This was also made possible with the support of GeiserMaclang.

It will be held at the Kraft Eden Cheese Keso de Gallo Christmas Tree area and platform installation in front of Gerry’s Grill and IMAX theater entrance on the first floor of SM Mall of Asia.

In support of this campaign, we would like to encourage you to promote “Sarap ng Pasko” by simply posting in your Facebook walls any and at least one of the following links from November 27– November 30 (specifying that the deadline of voting is Dec 1, 2010):

• http://www.SarapNgPasko.com/
• http://www.SarapNgPasko.com/mechanics
• http://NomNomClub.com/affairs/2010/sarap-ng-pasko-christmas-food/
• http://YummyManila.blogspot.com/2010/09/world-longest-christmas-food.html
• http://www.LetsGoSago.net/2010/09/bauan-batangas-vegeden/
• http://www.SarapNgPasko.com/about

Kraft Eden Cheese's "Sarap Ng Pasko"

In your Faceboook wall, make sure to tag ‘@’ ‘NomNomClub’ or ‘@’ ‘Yummy Manila.’

If you are a blogger, you also have the option to blog about Kraft Eden Cheese’s “Sarap ng Pasko” campaign. Best blog gets a special prize from Kraft Eden during the party.

Soo what are you waiting for NomNom Foodie Club members? Simply email your link/s to admin AT NomNomClub.com with the link of your Facebook wall post and you are automatically registered to the Christmas party. Due to the limited space of the venue, we can only accept the first 50 (out of 100+) NomNom Foodie Club members to submit. You will receive a confirmation email a day after your submission if you are part of the first 50.

Please bring a monito-monita gift worth NOT MORE than P50 for your mystery monito-monita. 🙂

Here is the program flow for the Christmas Party:
0600 p – Registration and Dinner
0630 p – Short Introdution & Game
0700 p – Raffle Set 1 + Word from Kraft Eden Cheese
0730 p – NomNom Club 2010 and Plans for 2011 + Monito- Monita
0800 p – Raffle Set 2 & Closing Ceremonies

Some NomNom Foodie Club members during the 1st Anniversary Celebration at Greenwich SM North

Raffle Prizes would include Christmas Packs and other items
Special Prizes:

• Best Monito-Monita Gift under P51
• Best Christmassy attire/costume that best embodies the theme of “Sarap ng Pasko”
• Best Blog post on Kraft Eden’s “Sarap ng Pasko” campaign.

Summary:
What: “Sarap ng Pasko” NomNom Foodie Club Christmas Party
When: Decemeber 01, 2010 (Wednesday)
Where: SM mall of Asia – Kraft Eden Cheese Christmas Tree area & platform (near Gerry’s Grill & Starbucks MOA)

Requirements:

• FB wall post for “Sarap ng Pasko” campaign AND P50 Monito-Monita Gift.
• Email your links to admin@NomNomClub.com. This serves as your official registration for the party llimited to first 50 members.

Sarap Ng Pasko

Merry Christmas indeed! See you soon at the NomNom Foodie Club Christmas Party with Kraft Eden Cheese‘s “Sarap Ng Pasko.”

I would like to share a ‘cheesy‘ experience last month. Literally, there was an overload of cheese at the California Butter and Cheese Training Seminar with Chef Robert Jorin (CMB) from the Culinary Institute of America‘s Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate Program.

Monterey Jack and Jalapeno Jack

In line of promoting California Milk Advisory Board‘s marks “Real California Cheese” and “Real Califonia Milk,” we had a crash-course in butter and cheese appreciation at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Makati together with other lifestyle and food-related media personnel.

Chef Robert Jorin (CMB) of Culinary Institute of America

Explained one by one, we had mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Jalapeno Jack, sour cream, mascarpone, ricotta cheese, and unsalted butter, among others.

Following the ingredients in their bare form are its by-products sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, buttermilk, manufacturing cream, homogenized milk and the sinfully-sweet milk caramel dulce leche. I realized that I never knew how Dulce de leche are made, until that day, and how simple but delicately complicated it can be. 🙂

Unsalted Butter

Participating California brands include Mozzarella Fresca, Crystal unsalted butter, California Farms, Berkeley Farms, and California Sunshine. All “Real California Milk” certified.

Of course, we had to try out some creations by Chef Robert Jorin whom he himself prepared. These include Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Raspberry mirror glaze, Pepper Jack & Olive Rolls, Cream Scones with Cheddar Cheese & Green Onions, Mascarpone Chocolate Swirl Cheese cake and Cheese cake with sour cream topping and strawberry on top.

California Butter and Cheese Training Seminar

I had to refrain from eating any food or dish with any form of cheese for two days after this event. (lol)! It was a great and educational experience nonetheless.

Cheesecake with Sour Cream Topping and Mascarpone Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

Tiramisu on Glass w/ cream on top

Hats-off to the California Milk Advisory Board and cheese & milk expert Chef Robert Jorin of the Culinary Institute of America. Check their recipes at http://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/. For more information, you may contact Ms. Reji Retugal-Onal at 534-8534 or email rronal@synergyasia.biz.

Goodles Noodles & Mercato Centrale

Goodles Anniversary Promo

Goodles is celebrating its 1st anniversary on November 24, 2010 and they are sharing an anniversary promotion. From 11am to 9pm, three (3) of Goodles’ best selling pasta tubs will be sold for P100 only during various times. (see photo below for details).

Goodles Anniversary Promo - P100 Noodles

Check their online pages as well at facebook.com/ilovegoodles and ilovegoodles.com .

Mercato Centrale

We have the market-style foodie destinations Salcedo Market (Saturdays) and Legaspi Market (Sundays) both in Makati City. While on the other prime business district of Ortigas in Pasig, is Banchetto.

And then there will be Mercato Centrale – Bonifacio Global City’s answer to the weekend’s demand for great meals and food adventures. nomnomnom…

“Inspired by the outdoor markets of Mercato Centrale in Florence and the Boroughs Market in London, Mercato Centrale at Bonifacio Global City is an innovative weekend lifestyle market with unique, great tasting food finds that you won’t find anywhere around the metro! Mercato also has an extensive selection of healthy and organic fruits, vegetables and livestock, all located in a clean, comfortable, well-ventilated and organized setting.” – http://www.mercatocentrale.ph/

Mercato Centrale BGC

They start tomorrow – November 21 – at the corner of 30th st. and 9th avenue in Bonifacio Global City from 6am to 12nn. See you at Mercato Centrale at about 9am! 🙂

It’s 40 days before Christmas, and the nights are getting longer and colder here in the Philippines. The Starbucks Planner 2011 was introduced about two weeks ago at the Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party with the theme Stories are Gifts, Share,” held at 6750 in Makati City.

As the 8th of the Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee Planner in the Philippines, it was an instant hit as the customers started to fill their cards with stickers to avail of the free Starbucks Coffee Planner 2011 soon.

Cool Clean Stainless Steel

This Year’s Theme

This year, they are available in three (3) cover variants with each cover representing elements found in Starbucks stores; from Maroon Velvet Fabric, Cool Clean Stainless Steel and Stained Dark Wood Panels.

What’s Inside

Every month features a Philippine Starbucks store for their uniqueness and relevance to their community. The 14-month planner which extends from December 2010 to January 2012 highlights fourteen (14) Starbucks stores, giving customers a further feel of Starbucks as their third place.

How To Get One

Starbucks customers can get the Starbucks Christmas traditions planner promo card at the beginning of the Starbucks Christmas last November 3. One sticker will be given for each Starbucks beverage purchased. It only takes seventeen (17) stickers to bring home the coolest Starbucks planner ever. Customers need to accumulate nine (9) stickers from the Christmas beverage returning favorites; Peppermint Mocha, Praline Mocha and Toffee Nut Latte plus eight (8) stickers for core handcrafted beverages. Purchase of the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew 3-pack booklet can also earn customers one (1) sticker while the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew box of 12 will earn customers two (3) stickers.

Maroon Velvet Fabric

Moreover, every redemption comes with a donation to SparkHope – Starbucks flagship program for early childhood care and development in partnership with UNICEF.

Hovw To Get One from NomNom Club

It’s easy! You have two chances of winning by joining either the “Share Your Christmas Story Write-Up Contest” or the “Share Your Christmas Photo”.

Stained Dark Wood Panels

Share Your Christmas Story Write-Up Contest Mechanics (For the Writer In You)

1. Write and share a story in your blog with the theme of “Sharing this Christmas Season”
   — Your story should be within the length of 150 words to 350 words only.
   — Either in the first or last paragraph, your story should mention the set of words “pinoy food recipes” which links to  “http://NomNomClub.com”.
2. Post about this contest in your Facebook wall with
   — A link of this blogpost ( https://nomnomclub.com/others/2010/starbucks-planner-2011-contest-win/)  and
   —  A tag of ‘@NomNom Club‘ Facebook Fanpage. Type “@” so your wall post will appear on NomNomClub FB page ( http://www.facebook.com/NomNomClub ).
   —  Make sure your FB share setting is for “Everyone“
3. One entry per person only.
4. Post the link of your blogpost on the comment section below.
5. Criteria
   * Creativity of Story – 25%
   * Awesomeness / Impact – 20%
   * Originality – 20%
   * Relevance to  Theme – 20%
   * Grammar and Technicalities – 15%

Share Your Christmas Photo Mechanics (for the social media celebrity in you) 🙂

1. Post any of your Christmas photo at Share Your Christmas Photo with NomNomClub.com (NomNom Club album) in Facebook.
2. Post about this contest in your Facebook wall with
   — a link of this blog post ( https://nomnomclub.com/others/2010/starbucks-planner-2011-contest-win/ )  and
   — Make sure your FB share setting is for “Everyone“
3. Photo should be captioned with “Two Starbucks Planner 2011 Contest – Join & Win! Click https://nomnomclub.com/others/2010/starbucks-planner-2011-contest-win/” Check this example.
4. The FB Photo entry with the most number of comments by December 15, 2010 wins.
5. One entry per person only. Fictitious FB accounts will be disqualified.
6. This last one is not required, but if you do this, you get an automatic +5 comment points: participants should place a relevant comment  in this article – http://DigitalManila.blogspot.com/2010/11/samsung-nf-sf-qx-notebook-series.html. Place the link of your comment (of the Digital Manila article ) as the first comment of your photo entry in FB. To get the URL link of your Digital Manila comment, simply click on the ‘time link‘ beside your name.

How to get the URL link of your Digital Manila comment

Other Notes:

• Contest Duration will start November 15 and end December 15, 2010. Winners will be announced December 19, 2010 in this blog as a blogpost.
• Winners in both contests can choose which of the three Starbucks Planner variants they want from the Maroon Velvet Fabric,  Cool Clean Stainless Steel, and Stained Stained Dark Wood Panels.
• Prizes will be couriered to anywhere in the Philippines with a valid address.
• Participants can join both contests and win independently.
• Winners will be contacted in their blog (for the story contest) and sent a personal message in their FB account (for the photo contest) and have until Dec 31, 2010 to acknowledge and respond. Otherwise, the prize will be given to the winning entry next in line.

Starbucks Planner 2011

Get ahead of the game and start joining now! Get the chance to win one, or two, Starbucks Planner 2011! Have a NomNom Starbucks Christmas!

It’s all about a dessert expo called “Sweet Surrender” and Brothers Burger at 50% off!

Organized by Goodfellas Productions, an upcoming dessert expo for desserts enthusiasts this November 13, 2010 (6pm) will be held at Sitio Elena along Ortigas Extension, Metro Manila

Sweet Surrender Desserts Expo

For tickets and other inquiries, text /call Stephanie So at 09175185188 or email thesweetsurrender@gfp@gmail.com. Free invites for bloggers, media and photographers. Dinner and cockail will be served. After party starts 12mn.

Nomnomnom…

Brothers Burger

Brothers Burger 50% Off

Ok, this is past the weekend already. On November 15, 2010, Brothers Burger are on 50% off!

Brothers Burger branches at Convergys, Magallanes, Tomas Morato, Megamall, Malate, Ortigas, Capitol Hills, and Pasong Tamo will be cutting their Big Brothers Burger prices in half from 11am to 10pm as a Thanskgiving Gift. maximum of 20 burgers per guests only.

It’s a weekend of desserts and Brothers Burgers!

Last September 4, 2010, during the advanced celebration of NomNomClub’s first anniversary at Greenwich in SM North, we announced the regular  monthly contest for the top commenter in this blog.

For this first two months of September and October, I have decided to award it to two for each month, instead of the regular one (1).

A ‘Top Commenter of the Month‘ is someone who is able to place the most number of sensible (related to article and not spam) comments in NomNom Club food blog within the respective month.

For September, the top commenters are JayL Santiago and UP6Only, respectively. They commented on NomNom Club First Anniversary and Kopi Roti Breakfast, among other articles.

September Top Commenters of the Month

For October, the top commenters are Rey Jr. and Iya Santos, respectively. Rey Jr., commented on the list of NomNom’s Emerging Influential Blogs while Iya raved about Gino’s Eats and Beats, among other articles.

October Top Commenters of the Month

As your prize I would like to invite all four of you to a pizza and pasta lunch at Angel’s Pizza Makati Avenue on November 13, 2010 care of NomNom Club. You can order anything from the menu (but no take-outs) 🙂 . Please email admin AT NomNomClub.com for any inquiries or concerns.

Thank you for your continued support and interaction with NomNom Club food blog. Be the next Top Commenter of the Month for November and December (winners announcement on January 2011)!

It’s Christmas! And NomNom Club starts it with Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party!

Starbucks Cheers Party

The Starbucks Christmas-themed beverages and Starbucks Christmas-themed food items are back! Last November 3, 2010, the 6750 branch in Makati held the first Starbucks Cheers Party this year for their loyal customers and patrons from 6-8pm.

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

Starbucks Christmas Beverages

We enjoyed sample servings of Toffee Nut Latte, Praline Mocha, and Peppermint Mocha.

If you miss the Christmassy feeling, try the Peppermint Mocha. The minty aftertaste, rich chocolate, smooth espresso and velvety steamed milk would reassure you of the season’s atmosphere. It is topped with whipped cream and red sugar sprinkles.

Starbucks Toffee Nut Latte

The Toffee Nut Latte on the other hand has the buttery flavor of sweet toffee combined with toasted nuts.

Also blended with smooth espresso and steamed milk, it is topped with whipped cream and toffee-flavored  sprinkles.

Praline Mocha is similarly prepared but accented by hazelnut syrup and topped with mocha sauce drizzle.

My favorites though are Toffee Nut Latte and Praline Mocha; in that order.

Starbucks Christmas Red Cups

Starbucks Coupons

Similar to last year, guests were given Cheer Party cards with coupons. It has a raffle stub, planner promo card, photo booth pic, 10%off on Starbucks merchandise / Starbucks VIA ReadyBrew, and a complimentary tall beverage.

Acapella Manila

Although I did not win in the raffle draws, I got to taste a wide array of the Starbucks Christmas-themed food items while the Acapella Manila choir serenaded us with popular Christmas songs.

Here are photos of Starbucks guests and friends in the recent Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party:

Starbucks Cheers Party

Starbucks Barkada

Starbucks Merchandise

Starbucks 6750

Starbucks Philippines Family

Starbucks Friends

Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party

More Starbucks Philippines Cheers Party might be coming your way over the next few weeks!:

• Nov 12 – Starbucks Silver City (7-9pm)
• Nov 17 – Starbucks Aguirre BF Homes (8-10pm)
• Nov 18 – Starbucks Northeast Greenhills (6-8pm)
• Nov 19 – Starbucks Katipunan (6-8pm)
• Nov 26 – Starbucks Marquinton (6-8pm)
• Nov 29 – Starbucks #10 Congressional (5-7pm)

It was indeed an awesome Starbucks Cheers Party 2010! I’m already excited for next year; hahaha! 🙂