Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom, Eat, Nomnomnom

If you are looking into the opportunity of starting a food business, starting with a franchise business is an option specially if it would be your first time to explore the entrepreneurship world.

Filipino Franchise Show 2010

Yesterday, I got to visit the 9th Filipino Franchise Show 2010 at the World Trade Center in Pasay where more than half of the exhibitors are from the food franchise businesses.

Regular entrance ticket costs P100 per person while students can get in for P50 and senior citizen at P80. I got my free ticket care of the organizer – Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI). Check their website at http://www.affi.com.ph/ and event website http://www.franchiseshowphilippines.com/

Franchise Finds

Attention grabbing structures are the usual big booths from big brands like Mang Inasal, Julie’s Bakeshop, Binalot, and Eng Bee Tin whose mooncakes would be a hit in the next few days due to the upcoming Chinese Mooncake Festival.

Mang Inasal, Julie's Bakeshop, Binalot, and Eng Bee Tin

However, you would observe new brands as well such as Buko House, Mozarella Stick, Sankalan, Wrap A Lumpia, Sisig in the City, and food carts by JC Franchising. (See first photo).

On Ice Scrambles

Ice Scrambles Food Carts

As expected, the ice scrambles craze proliferated in the franchise show as I found at least four ice scramble franchise offerings including Ice Cramble “The Original Ice Crumble“, Scramboi Ice Scrambles, Scramble King, and Chillax Ice Scramble.

I like the hip sound of Chillax the most. 🙂 However, Scramble King rides on the name recall of the monosyllabic “king.” I think Scramboi could have settled with “Scramboy” instead, investing on the common Filipino street name.

I didn’t find the Manila Scrambles cart I see in most malls, however.

The Ice Scrambles food cart idea is currently taking the low-cost food franchise by storm primarily because of its low cost and comparatively simple operations involved in preparing the product. Time would say if this would only be a fad or if the ice scrambles industry would stay for good.

Innovative Names

RBX (Rice in a Box) and Taxi Cab

Moving on, there are also food businesses with innovative names like RBX or Rice in a Box and Tapsi Cab. The former seem to be moving from the usual cart type to kiosk with their dine-in showcase at the franchise fair. The latter reminds us of a similar sounding pizza chain. 🙂

Potato Loops

AFFI Seminars

Lastly, I found this interesting-looking potato product that looks peculiar from our regular French fries. It’s fried but swirled in a stick and called “Potato Loops.” I wasn’t able to taste one but the aesthetics is enough to possibly pique a passers-by’s interest giving it the ‘curious-purchase’ advantage. I think it’s innovative and have a high-market potential in the near future given that it tastes good enough for a snack.

Philippines Franchisees and Franchisors

You still have today and tomorrow to visit the 9th Filipino Franchise Show 2010 at the World Trade Center in Pasay. Tel:(02) 506-8883, 0917-518-AFFI, 347-0153, 534-1134. Email info@tradenetevents@gmail.com or affi.secretariat_raffy@yahoo.com. A ride away from SM Mall of Asia, it opens 11am and closes 7pm.

I gave in to Spanky’s prodding for some comfort food at a newly opened foodie spot in Jupiter street in Makati – Gino’s Eats and Beats – and pulled along 5 more friends.

Gino’s is conveniently located a stone’s throw away from Fiamma and immediately beside The Distillery. The place is not that big but cozy and has a modern feel. It was no surprise that the interiors of this concept restaurant was designed by Team Manila.

Mushroom & Artichoke Spread

And so we grabbed the green and stylish menu and placed some orders. 15 minutes later, the dishes started to come one by one. I think we ordered a little too much, even for a group of 7. It’s good we were still awaiting for a couple of more friends – Jane and her Bubba. 🙂

The resto-bar-type restaurant has a TV monitor which showcased the menu food photos. This certainly was a big factor in our ordering pattern. 🙂

Gino's Dumplings

But looks can be tricky, the taste buds should decide.

First on the spotlight is the Greatest Cheese Quesadillas (P305 – Top Photo). Beef Quesadillas are one of my favorite pica-picas, adding loads of cheese on top just gives it more umph!

Eggs Benedict

This was followed by more appetizers namely Mushroom and Artichoke Spread (P160), Gino’s Dumplings (P195), a pair of Eggs Benedict (P185), and Grilled Sausage with Cheese Sauce (P220). This one’s on cheese overload, nomnomnom!

Then here comes a fiesta of platters initiated by the Fried Platter (P430) with more cheesy combinations of cheese logs, baby squid poppers, and Risotto mashed potato balls served with roasted bell pepper sauce and aioli.

Grilled Sausage with Cheese Ssauce

Fried Platter: Cheese Logs, Baby Squid Poppers, Risotto Mashed Potato Balls served with roasted bell pepper sauce and aioli

Grilled Sticks Platter: 12 sticks of Pork Asian BBQ, Chicken Barbeque in peanut sauce, Pork Pinoy BBQ, and Curry Pork BBQ

The Grilled Sticks Platter (P430) followed consisting of 12 sticks of Pork Asian BBQ, Chicken Barbeque in peanut sauce, Pork Pinoy BBQ, and Curry Pork BBQ

The spicy-lovers dared for a Wings Platter (P405) with 9 pcs of Buffalo wings, Hoisin Honeys and Honey Mustard and carrot sticks.I’m not too sure if it should be spicy…because it’s not. 🙂

Wings Platter: 9 pcs of Buffalo wings, Hoisin Honeys and Honey Mustard and Carrot Sticks

By this time, we were feeling loaded but temptation keeps coming in.

A luscious-looking burger comes into the scene called Greatest Longganisa Burger (P185). It’s actually named Greatest Longga Burger. Sans 100% pure beef, a longganisa burger is almost always better because the Filipino longgnisa is juicier in nature than regular beef. It’s as juicy and flavorful as it is oily and sinful; again with cheese on top. Woah!

Greatest Longga Burger

Jane and Chris finally arrives to the rescue. They didn’t have to order anything as the Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce (P245), the scrumptious Grilled Shrimp Scampi (P270), Angus Belly Salpicao (P270), and Stir Fried Pork and Tofu (P220) also came after them. 🙂

Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce, Angus Belly Salpicao, and Stir Fried Pork and Tofu

Grilled Shrimp Scampi

I had to surrender to the last three dishes and passed on Marsala Pork Chop (P210), Greatest Adobo Flakes (P185), and Beef Garlic Tender Tips.

Marsala Pork Chop, Greatest Adobo Flakes, and Beef Garlic Tender Tips

Nonetheless for NomNom, there’s always room for desserts! 🙂

Gino’s Desserts: Greatest Panna Cotta (P150), Greatest French Toast (P150), Greatest Mango Jubilee(P150), and Gino’s Greatest Vanilla Sundae(P125).

They were all good, creamy, sweet, and sinfully delicious!

Gino's Desserts: Greatests - Panna Cotta, French Toast, & Mango Jubilee

Gino's Greatest Vanilla Sundae

While only Gino’s Dumplings need improvement for my taste, my top three highly recommend ones are the Greatest Cheese Quesadillas, Grilled Sausage with Cheese Sauce, Eggs-Benedict, and Greatest Longganisa Burger. Ok man, they’re four! – so what? 🙂

Interestingly, dinner service ‘eats‘ time is from 6 to 10pm as Gino’s turn into ‘beats‘ with house and hiphop music 10pm onwards. Moreover, you can cross order wines and liquores from The Distillery vis-a-vis order Gino’s from The Distillery. 🙂

By the way, Gino’s is also open for lunch with set meals at only P100 for the Makati office crowd. It opens Mondays-Fridays 11am–3pm. They open again at 6pm for dinner onwards. And of course, a blogger’s best friend – free Wi-Fi! 🙂 Take note however, that their menu is still in the adoption phase and some dishes might change from the menu.

They’re located at Unit A, Ground Level, Valdelcon Building, 20 Jupiter Street, Makati. (632) 519 1272 / (63) 917 885 6969 .

Gino's Eats & Beats

I will end this article with something for you to think about: why do you think most of the menu items have the “Greatest” before ’em? 🙂

Just look at the pictures and tell me you will not try Gino’s Eats and Beats in Jupiter for at least once in your life. Tell me!

The Philippines will join Japan as the second country in Asia to offer Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew starting September 15, 2010.  Starbucks Japan launched Starbucks VIA last April and has sold more than 10 million sticks since then.

So What Is Starbucks VIA Ready Brew?

Is it just another instant coffee, perhaps a little more classier?

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew - Columbia Variety

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is said to be made from high-quality 100% natural roasted arabica beans in instant and microground form.

Since it is yet to be available, we can only guess the actual taste. But based on the description, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew sets a high expectation of the product being made with “100 percent natural roasted arabica coffee.” We know for a fact that arabica coffee holds much flavor than most other specie of coffee beans.

The Starbucks VIA Ready Brew varieties that will be available in all Starbucks Philippines coffee shops are Colombia, Italian Roast and Decaffeinated Italian Roast.

“Other instant coffees taste flat and lifeless. Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew is different – it’s full-bodied and flavorful, just like the Starbucks® coffee you know and love… We microgrind the coffee in a way that preserves all of their essential oils and flavor.” – starbucks.com

How To Prepare Your Starbucks Instant Coffee (Photo from Starbucks.com)

On Market Opportunities

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew - Italian Roast Variety

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced that the Philippines will be the fourth market to offer Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew.

“We know there is a significant opportunity in the Philippines marketplace for Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew since nearly 100 percent of retail coffee sales come from instant coffee*,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company.  “We know rapid innovation for Starbucks VIA® and creating opportunities to further increase awareness and trial of Starbucks VIA® broadens our overall customer base both in the U.S. and in international markets.”

Just like a fresh-brewed cup of Starbucks® coffee, Starbucks VIA® is made with a proprietary, U.S. patent-pending technology to preserve the coffee’s flavor. We can expect more varieties in the future as Starbucks pursue innovation around the Starbucks VIA® platform.

Judgement

Surely, Starbucks Coffee fans and patrons in the Philippines will flock Starbucks coffee stores on September 15 in anticipation of the arrival of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. What do you think? Will Colombia, Italian Roast or the Decaffeinated Italian Roast variety capture the Filipino Starbucks lover’s taste? 🙂

365 days and 121 foodie articles after, NomNom Club turns 1 today! From its first article in Sept 9, 2009, this food blog has evolved in leaps and bounds.

NomNom Foodie Club Members

Based from the internet slang “nomnomnom” which refers to “eating,” NomNom Club has featured a number of restaurants, new dishes, recipes, food events, and other food related matters.

We have also started a NomNom Foodie Club open to all enthusiast of anything related to food. We have foodies who simply love to eat, mommy chefs, recipe-seeking housewives, food bloggers, and food industry players such as restaurant owners. Membership count is now at a little more than a hundred.

It was a fruitful year and I am thankful to all who supported NomNom Club through email subscription, joining the NomNom Foodie Club, or even simply commenting in the articles. My heart also goes out to those who nominated NomNom Club as one of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2010. Your votes of confidence meant a lot.

NomNom Club 1st Annoversary Celebration

Greenwich Pasta Feast

Lastly, the Foodie Club also celebrated the anniversary in advance last September 4, 2010 at Greenwich SM North Edsa with about 30 members and guests.

It was extreme fun and food fiesta supported by Greenwich and SolidHosting.ph.

Pizza, pasta, and prizes were overflowing – almost everyone won in the raffle :). SolidHosting.ph gave away 15 webhosting packages worth more than P10K.

Greenwich and SolidHosting.ph supports NomNom Club

From here on, this food blog of 200 email subscribers will slowly turn into a group blog by having memeber-guest bloggers write for us at least once a month. Moreover, we will make it more interactive by having top commenters of the month join us in monthly food activities. We alsoo hope to have other foodie activities such as contests, coffee 101 seminars, and food article writing seminars for foodie club members.

Games and Raffles Winners

Get free foodie updates in your inbox by being an email subscriber. Follow us on Twitter @NomNomFoodie, Facebook and join the NomNom Foodie Club! Cheers to another year of more NomNom Club nomnoms and fun!

Cheese-inspired Christmas desserts flowed from the recent launch of the World’s Longest Christmas Celebration by Kraft Eden Cheese last September 4, 2010. The project features 100 unique cheese-based specialties of 100 towns nationwide to celebrate 100 Days of Christmas.

Here are 5 towns and their dishes among the list of 100:

Bacolod: Bakareta with Fried Potato and Kraft Eden Cheese and the Masskara Festival

Considered as one of the best places to live in the Philippines, Bacolod has already made a name for itself. Bacolod is also one of the top sugar producers of the country. Famous for is its magnificent Masskara Festival, it is a colorful, festive and widely-acclaimed annual festival that attracts a huge number of tourists. Get a taste of the rich and blossoming Bacolod through their native specialty Bakareta with Fried Potato and Kraft Eden Cheese.

Bacolod: Bakareta with Fried Potato and Kraft Eden Cheese and the Masskara Festival

Iloilo: Creamy Macaroni Soup with Eden Cheese and Dinagyang Festival (Top Photo)

Known as the “Textile Capital of the Philippines”, I have been to Iloilo twice and is looking forward for the third this coming November for the Visayas Blogging Summit.

Marked for its Dinagayang Festival, Iloilo’s specialties include La Paz Bachoy, Molo Soup, and biscocho. You may also try the famed Creamy Macaroni Soup with Eden Cheese.

Bauan, Batangas: Vegeden and Kampon ni Pakakak

Bot to far away from Manila, the town houses the 2.5m tall Anubing cross that is said to be miraculous and has since become a major attraction to devotees. But for beach lovers, it is hailed as a “Diver’s Sanctuary”.

It is also the home of their special wrap and roll called Vegeden.

San Carlos, Pangasinan: Sushi Catfish with Crabmeat con cheese and Veggie and the City Plaza of San Carlos

Known for their mango trees and mung beans, this side of Pangasinan also engages in livestock raising, crop production, inland fishing, pottery, food processing, tourism, and commerce. Formerly known as Binalotangan, San Carlos is rich in its agro industry.

Get a taste of the promising and aspiring San Carlos by enjoying their rich and creamy Sushi Catfish with Crabmeat con Cheese and Veggie.

San Carlos, Pangasinan: Sushi Catfish with Crabmeat con Cheese and Veggie and the City Plaza of San Carlos

Abucay, Bataan: Cheesy Eggplant Layers and the Sibul Spring

Abucay is home to the Sto. Domingo Abucay Church – one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is also where Pasukulan Falls – a natural wonder in the unexplored and unspoiled valley of Mt. Natib can be found.

It is reputably where the first printing press in the Philippines can be found, and claimed to be even older than that of the United States. So have a nature trip in Abucay while enjoying their Cheesy Eggplant Layers.

Abucay, Bataan: Cheesy Eggplant Layers and the Sibul Spring

Do you think one of these is the best dish to have this Christmas season?

Support your choice dish or your province by having 1 empty pack of Eden Sulit Pack, Eden 180g or Eden 500g, and a piece of paper with  your name, contact details, the name of the town you want to vote for and your signature. Drop your entries at the nearest Eden’s Sarap ng Pasko stations at the Prime Cast office, SM Mall of Asia or any ABS-CBN Main and Regional offices.

Sarap Ng Pasko

Check out more details about Kraft Eden‘s  Sarap ng Pasko by going to www.sarapngpasko.com and view the other unique cheese-based dishes that you think deserve to win.

For about two weeks now, you might have noticed ongoing online contests in some of the Philippines’ top blogs named “Real Leaf Word Master Challenge.”

In case you haven’t, try checking the follwing sites

Tech: www.yugatech.com/blog
Lifestyle: www.flaircandy.com
Gaming: www.gmtristan.com
Travel: www.pinoytravelblog.com
Entertainment: www.starmometer.com
Food: www.kubiertos.com

and use their search box to look for their “Real Leaf Word Master Challenge” blogpost.

Real Leaf Word Master Challenge

To go directly to the contest page, go to the following address: http://apps.facebook.com/real_leaf/ .

Mechanics of the 4-week contest is found onupper righ the upper section of the FB App. If you are having a hard time answering the questions, try this link if it may help.

Enchong Dee & Erich Gonzales

Prizes for this Real Leaf contest include 2 Sony Bloggie HD digicam and a date with Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee.

Michelle Pador of Greenwich

Bigatin returns! Fresh from celebrating, International Friendship Day last month, Greenwich introduces their 2 newest Overloaded Bigatin Pizzas—the Hungarian Sausage & Bacon Overload and Shrimp & Garlic Overload.

And of course, it was celebrated with the Greenwich barkada — Mika Lagdameo, Tim Yap and, John Lloyd Cruz. Smart Gilas players and Greenwich barkada Chris Tiu, Dylan Ababou, JR Cawaling and JV Casio were out of the country then.

Greenwich Bigatin Barkada: Mika Lagdameo, Tim Yap, and John Lloyd Cruz

Of the two, it’s the Hungarian Sausage & Bacon Overload which caught my fancy. The bigatin overload pizza has piled on twice the usual amount of Hungarian sausage and crispy bacon strips topped with 100% mozzarella cheese. Haungarian sausage and bacon – there’s no further explanation needed. 🙂

Hungarian Sausage & Bacon Overload Pizza

For the shrimp lover, the Shrimp & Garlic Overload is for you. It has a generous servings 1/3 pound of grilled shrimp, roasted garlic, onions and green bell peppers — atop a bed of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.  Everyone enjoyed the delicious new pizza flavors in 18-inch bigatin size.

Shrimp & Garlic Overload Pizza

“Greenwich has always been about friends and good food. We continue to offer them delicious new ways to bond with their bigatin friends with our 2 new equally bigatin pizzas” shared Luis Velasco, Greenwich marketing director. “We are also very happy to have bigatin friends in the media, John Lloyd Cruz, Tim Yap and the Greenwich barkada, who made time to attend our exclusive bigatin party today.”

Greenwich Bigatin Crew / Staff

No! I'm the one on the right!

Nomnomnom…can’t wait to have another round of Hungarian Sausage & Bacon Overload pizza! Enjoy Greenwich’s bigatin pizzas with your bigatin friends! Visit the nearest Greenwich Pizza store or call 5-55-55 for delivery.

This is it! NomNom Club will turn 1 on September 9, 2010!

And we will celebrate our 1st year anniversary with our community of readers/email subscribers – the NomNom Foodie Club!

Updated Aug 31, 2010

Since it will be on a Thursday,  we will celebrate it in advance on September 4, 2010, Saturday 1pm to 3pm at the Greenwich branch of SM North Edsa.

We are thankful to our venue and food sponsor Greenwich.We will be having their new offerings including Shrimp Aglio Olio, Lasagna Supreme, Beefy Baked Macaroni, Bacon Chicken Carbonara, Ultimate Hawaiian Pizza 18”, G4 Pizza 18”, Shrimp & Garlic Pizza 18″, Hungarian Sausage Pizza 18”, and my personal favorite Philly Cheesesteak Pizza 18”. 🙂

Greenwich Pasta Fiesta - NomNom Foodie Club Choices

Check out their website and choose among the first four as I will be taking participant’s personal orders by Friday(Sept 3) through email. 🙂

We will also be giving away raffle prizes and giveaways including branded items! SolidHosting.ph will also be raffling a number of webhosting packages worth thousands of pesos! Even the early birds on event day gets some early worms. 🙂

Due to venue space limitations, we might be able to only accommodate the first 40 50 NomNom Foodie Club registrants as of now. If you have registered in the NomNom Foodie Club before August 27, 2010, then you are entitled to join.

Sign Up for the 1st NomNom Foodie Club Meet Up by leaving a comment below. In filling up the comment form, be sure to use your email that is subscribed to NomNom Club so I can check it in the list.

I will also update you guys if there will be any changes such as if we can accommodate more with a bigger venue. For now it’s only 40 50 slots. Let’s see first if it even gets filled up. 🙂

Lastly, I would just like to clarify some terms to avoid confusion. NomNom Club is the food blog. NomNom Foodie Club is our community of email subscribers who have also signed up through this form.

Sign up through the comment form below and see you next week in the NomNom Club 1st Anniversary AND 1st NomNom Foodie Club Meet Up.