Celebrate Paskong Pilipino with Mang Inasal

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A Paskong Pilipino salu-salo awaits families and friends at the noche buena table with Mang Inasal’s most-loved dishes.

Filipinos are passionate about the Christmas season – it is the best time for gift-giving, merry-making, and dining in the company of loved ones. One thing that Pinoys look forward to in celebrating Paskong Pilipino is the noche buena and media noche where households get together to indulge over a grand feast of traditional and well-loved Filipino dishes.

For most families, it is a wonderful opportunity to bond in the kitchen, with each member contributing their favorite dishes to the noche buena and media noche spread. But not all households have the luxury of time to prepare the meals. So they resort to the next best thing: either to dine out or to buy cooked food. Luckily, Mang Inasal offers families a delightful menu of great-tasting local comfort food to make their noche buena feast truly special.


Mang Inasal embraces the well-known Pinoy Christmas tradition as it offers customers a memorable dining experience this season.

Those who are rushing home from work on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve can still provide a dinner for the family by visiting Mang Inasal and taking home servings of its juicy Chicken Inasal meal. They can also grab an additional Palabok Party Pan filled with its flavorful sauce combined with seasonings of shrimp, egg slices, chicharon bits, pork chunks, and spring onions.

Organizers of small gatherings with relatives or school buddies, especially those with balikbayans who have missed Filipino food, can hold them in any Mang Inasal store for the kaing Pinoy experience. The nuot sa ihaw sarap of the grilled chicken inasal, eaten with their choice condiments and unlimited rice, will surely bring back fond memories.

People who need to work through Christmas or New Year holidays can delight in Mang Inasal fiesta meals to celebrate with their officemates. Take a break and enjoy an order of Fiesta Inasal Meal that is packed with one-piece chicken inasal with rice, one-piece lumpiang togue, and a hearty serving of delicious palabok to experience home-cooked meal even while staying in the office.



Celebrate Paskong Pilipino and dig into the creamy halo-halo at Mang Inasal.

Another Christmas tradition is watching movies in the local film festival that forms part of the itinerary of barkadas as they catch up with each other. Dissecting the film and sharing hugot moments are best done while enjoying Mang Inasal paborito meals and unlimited rice. Everyone can pick their choice of ulam from the tasty pork barbecue, sizzling pork or bangus sisig, and specially-marinated chicken inasal – pecho or paa. They can even indulge in a Christmas merienda with the cool, creamy Pinoy Halo-Halo and sweet leche flan.

With its savory food offerings that capture the distinct Filipino taste, Mang Inasal gives families an authentic eating experience, making the Paskong Pilipino salu-salo more memorable.

About Mang Inasal

Mang Inasal is the number one Pinoy barbecue brand that is known for its authentic fusion of traditional Pinoy cuisine with a fast-food concept.

Today, Mang Inasal leads the market with its strong portfolio of Chicken Inasal, Pork BBQ, Halo-Halo, and Palabok. Currently, the company has over 450 stores nationwide to cater to the growing love of Filipinos for the brand.

The brand has also received numerous awards including the Most Outstanding Quick Service Restaurant and Most Outstanding Chicken Inasal restaurant from the 2010 Dangal ng Bayan Awards, and the Outstanding Filipino Franchise Award from the 2015 Franchise Excellence Awards.

Japanese European Bistro - Epilogue - opens at S Maison, Conrad Manila

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Epilogue Fine Bistro now open at S Maison. Filipino diners can now experience the best of global travel cuisine as Epilogue, a Japanese  European Fine Bistro officially opens at S Maison, Conrad Manila. Rooted in the concept of the Japanese concept of kodawari (passion), the relentless devotion in mastering a craft, Epilogue collaborated with seasoned Japanese chefs who combine Western flair with Eastern discipline. The fine bistro offers well-curated dishes such as pizza, rissoto, and steaks, among others, and a wide range of flavorful pastries that will take diners on an exceptional gastronomic adventure.


Chef Tomohide Ono offers a wide variety of breads using local ingredients that bring out the flavor of each item in his selection. 


Chef Minoru Sorimachi's specialties are meats and steaks teppanyaki-style: Maestro and King's Cut.



Sumptuous offerings by Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi, who has spent years mastering European cuisine and likes to combine Italian ingredients with Japanese flavors.



 Head Chef Hiroyuki Meno.

Epilogue is a homegrown brand under the Food Revolution Group. Gracing the very special inauguration were (from left) Epilogue Fine Bistro architect Kazumasa Wakabayshi, Senator Cynthia Villar, Epilogue Fine Bistro president Alyanna Uy, Ambassador to the United Nations Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr., and Emily Uy.


Epilogue Japanese European Fine Bistro is open from 10:00 AM up to 10:00 PM and is located at S Maison, Conrad Manila,Seaside Boulevard Cor., Coral Way, Pasay City  (02) 816-7088 or email contact@epilogue.ph

What Makes a Restaurant Kid-Friendly

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One need not be a very keen observer to note that the choice on where to eat out for families with younger kids tends to be highly influenced by the preference of the kids. Restaurant owners quickly caught up with this trend and many have taken steps to make their places  as kid-friendly as possible.  For me, a kid-friendly restaurant can be summed up in three words: EAT, PLAY and ENTERTAIN.


Eat

Kids  know exactly what they want to eat. A restaurant is hardly the perfect place to start forcing a child to eat something. Thus, it is best for restaurants looking to capture this market to offer food choices that will quickly get the resounding yes of kids while getting the nod of approval of parents.

Simply having a kids' menu will not guarantee that families with kids will become customers. Food presentation makes a whole lot of difference. Studies have shown just how effective seemingly small details like attractively colored beverage cups and straws or rainbow sprinkles on food are drastically increasing sales. Of course, parents would be more than happy if it came as well with food that provides nutrients that kids need.


Play

The attraction of seeing a play area in a restaurant cannot be denied. The sight is like a magnet to a child's eye. A play area in a restaurant is synonymous to fun eating in a young mind's dictionary. 

It is very important however that play areas, whether located inside or outside the restaurant, are safe. Aside from sturdy play equipment, it is critical that the play area flooring is able to prevent slips and accidents. Restaurant owners would do well to consult reliable paving contractors. This makes it possible to have exciting play areas that assure safety of the kids while having fun.



Entertain

Parents know how advantageous it is to dine in a restaurant that provides entertainment to children. Waiting for the food to be served or allowing parents to eat after the children are done, can happen without a lot of whining going on. Having everyone happy and contented makes for a very pleasurable dining experience, not only for the kids but the whole family.

Entertainment may come in the form of educational activities or other recreational activities. It doesn't really take much to get the attention and cooperation of children. Restaurant owners can take a cue from popular kid-friendly restaurants that are offering their own brand of fun eating.



S&R Pizza is now listed in foodpanda

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No cover ups. No frills. Just a bigger and better promise of the good old, cheesy and giant S&R Pizza delivering to most parts of Metro Manila. Yes, we’ve heard it before, the long lines are making you drool over your favorite S&R New York Style Pizza even more. And though it is definitely worth the wait, some of us may not just have the time and especially the patience to do it. Fret no more because S&R recently joined the long list of foodpanda’s restaurant partners making their in demand, enormous pizzas available even in the farthest corners of the Metro. 

You definitely need no membership card to get a hold of the most coveted comfort food in town, just download the app or visit foodpanda Philippines’ website and click away! You can choose from four different flavors: Pizza Combo Whole which has pepperoni, beef, green bell pepper, onions, olives, and a whole lot of cheese!, Pizza Garlic Shrimp ​with generous sprinkles of shrimps over loads and loads of cheese, enticing polka-dotted pizza dough called Pizza Pepperoni, and if you are a die hard cheese fan, you can indulge with their Pizza Cheese Whole. 




Complementing their pizza line are other comfort food items like S&R Fried Chicken, Cheeseburger, Pure Beef Hotdog Sandwich, Chicken Caesar Salad, and French Fries. ​S&R may be the Holy Grail for bulk-buying grocery items but it’s slowly proving to be more than just that. The membership-shopping club’s food court is the favorite aspect of the warehouse for many shoppers. In addition to the great low price, S&R New York Style Pizza’s also known for their enormous servings. From their tasty FS Pure Beef Hotdog to their cheesy 18” Combo Pizza, it’s definitely a great deal. Thank heavens they’r now in foodpanda. 



foodpanda, #YourFoodDeliveryApp, is one of the world’s leading online food ordering and delivery platform that enables restaurants to become visible to mobile app and web users. It is headquartered in Berlin (Germany) and powered by tech giant Delivery Hero. The foodpanda app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Its interface offer convenience and extensive food options to busy and hungry customers. foodpanda entered the Philippine market in 2014 and now partnered with nearly 2000 restaurants to provide unprecedented access to great food options in key cities and urban centers. Visit www.foodpanda.ph or download the app to order!

Father's Day Treats from Royce Hotel and Casino

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June is a special month for fathers. It is the perfect time to reward the hardworking man of the house with a special treat in the form of relaxation, food, and entertainment. All these are possible in a luxurious place like Royce Hotel and Casino.



Accommodation Deal



One of the simplest ways to give back to your Dad is to just let him do his “thing”. Give him the freedom to unwind and enjoy a vacation at his own pace. Does he like wild adventures? Take him on Royce’s Daddy Safari to Zoocobia. The package includes deeply comforting accommodations so he can just relax. And if you book the It’s Dad’s Time package for Father’s Day, you can even avail of great room rates, passes to the swimming pool, buffet perks, and an exclusive gift for our beloved fathers.


Junior Suite
Deluxe King
Deluxe Triple
Dining Deal


All Dads love a good feast. At Royce, all your Dad’s cravings will surely be sated. Royce’s gastronomic hubs have great treats for every guest. If your Dad has a sweet tooth, dine with a group of four at The Lounge and get free Almond Nut Caramel Lattes each if your bill is at least P1,500. 



Those who visit Café Majestic will get free Kimbap when you buy food worth at least P1,000. Or if modern comfort food is more of your Dad’s tastes, then dine at the Empire Bar and Lounge to enjoy his favourite pizza and 10 bottles of beer for just P998! And just for Father’s Day, Dads get a buffet meal for free for every festive lunch or dinner for two.


The Lounge Restaurant
Empire Bar and Lounge
Amare by Chef Chris Restaurant
Fun and Games Deal

Royce Hotel and Casino Facade
Another way to give your Dad a Father’s Day he’ll never forget is to give him winning moments #OnlyAtRoyce. Take him for a day of great games at the casino and get a chance to win fantastic prizes just by playing. 


Casino Entrance
Casino Lobby
As long as you avail of a carded Royce Rewards membership, you can be one of the lucky 100 members who’ll win P500 worth of slot non-cashable promotional tickets. 


Being a certified foodie that my husband is, he would really love to sample the dining deal as described above. I'm sure other dads would have every reason to visit the hotel, whether it be to experience the food, accommodation, or games. 

Check out the hotel's Father's Day perks and promos and offer a one-of-a-kind experience to the best Dad in the world. 

New Look for Coke in Cans

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Have you noticed anything new about the look  of Coke in Cans? Seems to me there is an attempt to have the variants attain a unified look judging from the predominance of the color red. So instead of seeing the usual black Coke Zero and  the familiar silver Coke Light, we now see them sporting just a sliver of their original can colors to make way for the iconic Coke red disc. Standing side by side with Coke Original, they actually look like one family.



The Coca Cola Red Disc

The Coca Cola Red Disc is a sight so familiar, no one can mistake it for anything else. Essentially a flat red circle with the brand name at the center, it has become part of Coca Cola products since its introduction during the 1930's. The use of the Red Disc was systematized in 1947 for retail signage. As new products rolled out in varying colors and themes, this red disc remained a constant for branding purposes.


Image Credit
Now it has been chosen by the company as the unifying factor for branding all its products. By doing so, the company hopes to unite all its variants under the Coca Cola Trademark through its so-called One Brand Strategy. Since packaging is the most visible way of achieving this, such marketing move is easily understood.

One Brand

We are expecting therefore to see related changes in other Coca Cola Products, not just in Coke in Cans. The company admittedly has an asset in the Red Disc. It simply makes sense to use it to present its line of products under one distinctive brand. 

El Real Recipes for Mother's Day

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Mothers deserve to be treated with a special dish on their special day. For this reason, El Real Pasta, one of the brands of Universal Robina Corporation, came up with two exciting sumptuous pasta recipes. Try these recipes and let these women in our lives feel the “yumayakap ang sarap” goodness of El Real Elbow Macaroni and El Real Flat Spaghetti.


Elbow Macaroni with Chicken & Wild Mushrooms


Ingredients:
250 g. El Real Elbow Macaroni
1/4 cup salted butter or margarine
1/2 cup thinly sliced white onions
1 tbsp. crushed garlic
250 g. chicken breast fillet – cut into 1-inch-long thin strips
4 pcs. fresh or canned oyster mushroom, thinly sliced
8 pcs. shitake mushrooms –  soak in 3/4 cup water (15 minutes). Save mushroom water. 
Remove stems. Slice thinly.
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh or canned button mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas – thawed
1 cup all-purpose cream
1 tbsp. rock salt or 1 tsp. fine salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers

Procedure:
First, cook the El Real Elbow Macaroni according to package directions, drain under faucet water and set aside. In a 12-inch skillet, melt the butter and sauté onions and garlic. Add chicken and cook until it changes color. Add mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Add peas, salt and pepper. Stir until boiling. Add cream and simmer. Top with bell peppers. Turn off fire and toss in the macaroni. Serves 4-6.



Flat Spaghetti with Creamy Sausage and Chicken


Ingredients:
250 g. El Real Flat Spaghetti
1/4 cup salted butter or margarine
1/4 cup minced white onion
1 cup Italian sausage
1/2 cup chopped chicken breast fillet
1 tsp. fine salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
3 tbsp. Continental All-Purpose Flour
2 cups fresh or full cream milk
10 fresh or frozen broccoli flowerettes

Procedure:

Cook the El Real Flat Spaghetti according to package directions, drain under faucet water and set aside. Cook 10 fresh or frozen broccoli flowerettes in boiling pasta water for 10 minutes, drain and set aside. In a 12-inch skillet, put butter and sauté onions until soft. Add sausage, chicken, salt and pepper. Stir until half cooked. Then add Continental All-Purpose Flour and mix well. Lastly, add milk, stir and simmer. Place pasta on a serving platter, top with sauce and garnish with broccoli flowerettes. Serves 4-6.


SHARP AND ORVILLE REDENBACHER’S® PARTNERSHIP HEATS UP THE ULTIMATE POPCORN EXPERIENCE

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Eating popcorn has just been made perfect with the partnership of Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA) and Orville Redenbacher’s® Gourmet® Popping Corn. This is via the launch of three all-new Countertop Microwave Ovens (SMC1443CM, SMC1442CS and SMC1132CS) with Orville Redenbacher’s certified popcorn preset button. A simple touch on the specially-tuned “Popcorn” button plus either the Orville Redenbacher’s Microwave Popcorn Classic Size (3.3 oz.) or Single Serve Mini Bag (1.16 oz.), produces a perfectly popped, buttery flavor within minutes.



Exclusive, tuned popcorn preset option delivers convenient cooking to complete the perfect pop

Perfect Partnership

Sharp has been a pioneer in the microwave business since mass producing the first microwave oven in 1962 while Orville Redenbacher’s brand has been America’s #1 freshly popped popcorn choice for years. Their partnership is exciting and natural as it produces the highest quality popcorn experience with just the touch of a button. Popping the perfect movie night bowl just got even easier.







The mid-sized 1.1 cubic feet and family-sized 1.4 cubic feet Sharp microwaves are equipped with One-Touch key presets that capture the most popular cooking times, from thirty seconds to up to six minutes, making it ready for even more than just a perfect bag of popcorn. Auto Defrost and Sharp’s innovative Carousel® turntable system further enable quick and seamless microwaving. Sharp’s Countertop Microwave Ovens come in an easy-to-clean, stainless steel finish that complements any kitchen. 


Features and Benefits

- Orville Redenbacher’s certified popcorn preset is specially engineered for optimal popping results

- Full 1,000 watts of power provide rapid reheating and fast cooking
- Convenient One-Touch controls and Auto Defrost allow for quick and accurate      cooking
- Premium stainless steel finish make it easy-to-clean
- Sharp’s Carousel® turntable allows for even cooking 

SMC1443CM: $139.99
SMC1442CS: $139.99
SMC1132CS: $119.99

The Sharp Countertop Microwave Oven tuned for Orville Redenbacher’s® popcorn is available at kitchen retailers nationwide. For more information about the newest Sharp Microwaves (SMC1443CM, SMC1442CS and SMC1132CS) and retail availability, please visit www.SharpUSA.com.

About Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA)

SHCA is the U.S. Consumer Products Group of Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. sales subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer and manufacturer of one-of-a-kind premium technology products.  SHCA includes the manufacturing of Home Appliances in Memphis, TN together with the sales & marketing and servicing of Home Electronics in the United States. Leading products include Sharp Carousel®, Microwave Drawer™, SuperSteam+™ ovens, and Plasmacluster® Ion air purifiers. Sharp was named one of the Most Admired Brands in America and Sharp Corporation was named one of the 20 Most Loved Companies globally*.  Learn more at http://www.sharpusa.com/.


*Sources: Buyology Inc., 2012; APCO Worldwide, 2013

Sharp, Carousel, Plasmacluster, Microwave Drawer, Supersteam+ and all related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation and/or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

ABOUT ORVILLE REDENBACHER’S® GOURMET®POPPING CORN

Orville Redenbacher dedicated his life to creating the highest quality popcorn. In 1952, Orville hand selected a small group of family farmers to grow his exclusive kernel that pops up light and fluffy. Today, our family farmers continue to uphold Orville’s commitment to quality, growing only the best popcorn. And, Orville Redenbacher’s® is the only leading brand who uses real butter in many of its products. Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn offerings include buttery, sweet and savory, 94% fat free SmartPop!®, and Naturals microwave popcorn, as well as jarred popcorn kernels. For more information, visit www.orville.com.


ABOUT CONAGRA BRANDS


Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America’s leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company’s portfolio is evolving to satisfy people’s changing food preferences. Conagra’s iconic brands, such as Marie Callender’s®, Reddi-wip®, Hunt’s®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim® and Orville Redenbacher's®, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia®, Blake’s® and Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. With an ongoing commitment to corporate citizenship, Conagra Brands has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability™ North America Index for six consecutive years. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

Cable Car Bar and Restaurant Combines Food with Fun

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Food and fun is a much desired mix. At Cable Car Bar and Restaurant, this combination has been its secret formula in ensuring its niche in the industry. Proof of this is its recent celebration of its 25th anniversary via new branch openings and a menu revamp.


Appearing on page 132 of the 164 page magazine's March 2017 issue of Philippines Airline's much-loved inflight magazine, Mabuhay, is the advertorial of Cable Car, one of the Philippines' well-loved bar and restaurant.


It first opened its doors to the public with its Makati branch in 1992. Cable Car now has a total of five (5) branches: 4 in the metro area located at San Lorenzo in Makati, the Fort Strip in BGC, Tomas Morato in Quezon City and Ortigas in Pasig and one branch in Mandurriao in Iloilo. Franchises in Pampanga and Alabang are expected to open soon. 





Cooking with Ajinomoto's Sarsaya Oyster Sauce

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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation recently launched its newest product Sarsaya Oyster Sauce and this got me very interested. For a person who loves to cook, any food product introduced will always be a subject of interest. Why not when it can allow me to come up with meals that excite the palate of my family, making me more fulfilled in what I do. 




Celebrity Endorser

No less than the Primetime King Coco Martin was chosen to be the product endorser of Sarsaya Oyster Sauce. I heard that he is also very much into cooking, being a big fan of his lola's cooking and a with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management to boot. I'm certainly glad to know that men are really very much into cooking and proud of it, just like Chef Mcrhyan Rodrigo who facilitated the cooking demo and cook-off.



Taste Test for Sarsaya Oyster Sauce

With Sarsaya Oyster Sauce now in our kitchen, I lost no time in trying it. Here are two recipes I got from Ajinomoto using their newest product. 

Pancit Canton


My Version:



Ginisarsayang Kangkong with Tokwa


My Version:


The Verdict

Using the Sarsaya Oyster Sauce in these seemingly ordinary dishes indeed provided a new dimension to flavor. It lent its blend of savory, sweet, and salty taste perfectly to the dish, providing just the perfect touch to a satisfying meal without incurring extraordinary cost. I would certainly be experimenting more with my cooking using the Sarsaya Oyster Sauce in the days to come. I'm also checking out the other spices and seasonings available from Ajinomoto.