A Real Treat for Popcorn Lovers

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Popcorn has always been my favorite snack. I like all kinds and will try any, given the chance. Recently, I discovered popcorn from Chicago Popcorn Shops and I love it.



What has gotten me really excited is that I got to know while searching online that their popcorn comes in different flavors and packaging sizes. I saw in their Facebook page that they offer plain, caramel, chocolate, butter, and cheddar cheese flavors. 

I have only tasted one variant in the red tin can so far and it came with a delicious assortment of nuts. It seems that this popcorn has been available for quite a while already and I didn't know it.


This popcorn is only available in their shops usually located at malls. That probably explains it as our family rarely go to malls. The next time we have the chance, I'll ask my mommy if we can try the other flavors. 


She thinks that the popcorn in cans would make very nice gifts to family and friends especially this coming holidays.


This is a real treat for certified popcorn lovers like me.


Krispy Kreme Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Donuts

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The Krispy Kreme Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Donuts are now available just in time for the showing of the latest TMNT movie. Last night, my daughter and I were in Greenhills Cinema 7 for the movie's special block screening. What could be better than watching a good movie and eating delicious donuts? 



Limited Offer

These special donuts of course feature the four main characters of the movie: Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo. They are available from August 4 to September 7 although the movie itself premiered last August 13 only. A box of Krispy Kreme Teeange Mutant Ninja Turtles donuts costs PhP 395.00 or PhP 45.00 each.


Movies and Donuts

While popcorn remains that hands-down favorite movie theater snack food, a lot of other choices have emerged. Moviegoers of today usually have limited time to spare. Thus, it is very common to see people buying more filling snacks like sandwiches, pizza, and donuts, before entering the movies. 

It is interesting to note that luxury theaters in other countries are leaning towards a more gourmet level of theater dining where cooked food such as sliders and flatbreads are being offered. Here in our country, a lot of food items being sold in the movie theater vicinity appeal to children. Food vendors know just how powerful children are in making decisions about what food to buy. The most successful are those that use popular characters in their design on food that by itself can sell based on taste. This is why these Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles donuts from Krispy Kreme are sure to be a hit not only with children but with adults as well.


About the Movie 

This 2014 TMNT movie reboots the film franchise after it was bought by Viacom in 2013. It stars Megan Fox as April O'Neil and is produced by Michael Bay. It is definitely a fun movie and I particularly like the fact that it offers an explanation to the origins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I have been wondering about that for so long.

Food Ingredients Without Nutritional Value

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One of the most important reasons why we take in food is to get properly nourished. That is precisely the reason why we give special attention to the nutritional value of ingredients we use in preparing food we eat. Nutritional value can be defined as the component of an ingredient and the impact it will have inside the human body. 



The ingredients we put in determine what our food will be made of. Do you know that there are at least 10 food ingredients which do not have nutritional value? Here they are:

1. Color Additives (Food Color)

Color additives or food color is added to food for several reasons. One is to offset color loss. Another is to enhance colors that occur naturally. The main reason why there are so many colors used in food is to make them attractive especially for "fun" food targeting children. 

2. Flavor Enhancers 

Flavor enhancers are intended to bring out flavor from meat and vegetables. They are chemical substances used to improve quality and taste of processed food. Monosodium Glutamate or MSG is an example.

3. Emulsifiers

Emulsifiers are chemical additives that work to suspend one liquid in another. These are used to make food more appealing. Without emulsifiers, the oil and water in mayonnaise will separate before it is used rendering it unappealing to eat. 

4. Stabilizers

Stabilizers are likewise chemical additives that work similar to emulsifiers. They help maintain consistent texture in food like margarine, ice cream, and mayonnaise. Pectin and calcium chloride are examples of these.

5. Thickeners

Thickeners make food thicker in consistency. They are mostly based on starches, vegetable gums, and pectin. They are also sometimes referred to as gelling agents.

6. Sweeteners

Sweeteners work to enhance the flavor and texture of food. Non-nutritive sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar. These are the zero or low-calorie alternative to natural sweeteners.


7. Antioxidant

Antioxidants are added to food that contain unsaturated fat to prevent them from turning rancid. 

8. Preservatives

Preservatives are added to food to prevent growth of mold, fungi, and yeast. They are commonly used in cheeses, bakery products, and dried fruit preparations.

9. Curing Salt

Curing salt is used in food preparation to prevent or slow down spoilage. Pink Prague powder is commonly used as it blends well with the color of meat.

10. Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid, more commonly known as Vitamin C, is added to processed food as an antioxidant stabilizer.  

These ingredients which are all chemical additives are included in food preparation primarily for 3 reasons:

1. To improve the appearance of the food
2. To preserve the prepared appearance of the food
3. To prevent or delay spoilage

The inclusion of food additives in manufactured food is closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration.


The Four Restaurant Types Offered to the Dining Public

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The dining public has at least four general restaurant types to choose from - Fine Dining, Casual Dining, Fast-Casual, and Quick Service. Each is actually self-explanatory merely by the terms used. It would useful though to take note of the differences between them so you will know exactly what type to look for the next time you decide to dine out.



Fine Dining

Fine Dining restaurants are full-service establishments usually identified with the upscale market. It is true that dining in these establishments usually costs more. This is probably the biggest challenge for fine dining restaurants especially in the face of tight economic conditions. This higher cost though can be attributed to the service style and ambiance provided. 

Personnel working in fine dining restaurants are very well-trained and experienced. The atmosphere denotes elegance and prestige which add to the perceived value of the restaurant and its services. Excellent food presentation, service efficiency, and impressive cleanliness are just some of the elements expected to be seen in  a fine dining restaurant. Anything less will not be deemed worthy of the price.



Casual Dining

Casual dining restaurants present a lower-priced version of a full-service food establishment. The demeanor of restaurant personnel is less formal than in fine dining restaurants but without sacrificing efficiency and professionalism. Because of the less formal atmosphere, families who are still looking for unique food choices find this a preferable restaurant type.

Servers take the order of customers after they are seated by a host. Restaurants belonging to this category usually seek to differentiate themselves from the others through unique themes and food offerings. Competition among restaurants can be very stiff thus the tendency towards specialization.


Fast-Casual Dining  

Fast-casual dining restaurants are considered the mid-range between casual dining and quick-service restaurant in terms of service style and price range. Although almost similar to quick service restaurants in ordering food from a service counter, the quality of food offered by fast-casual dining establishments are often perceived as better. It is the same thing with the offered service.

This type of restaurant attracts a wide base of customers because of the flexibility and relative affordability. Customers generally want to enjoy good food minus the somewhat slow pace of service that characterizes more formal restaurants. They prefer to have the convenience of speedy service.


Quick-Service

Quick-service is the equivalent of fast service and maximized convenience. People know this as fast-food restaurants. Customers expect to be served freshly-cooked food sometimes at an instant. Thus, quick-service restaurants typically have made prior preparations for fast cooking.

Some display their complete range of viands in food equipment that continually warms them, ready to be plated upon order. Assembly-line food service also falls under this category which is typical of hamburger chains. This type of restaurant appears to be the most popular choice because of the very hurried pace of living of most people.