Book and Borders Cafe Opens at Eastwood City

Book and Borders Cafe in Eastwood City Opens Officially

I’ve always been a fan of cozy coffee shops such as Book and Borders Café. Imagine a place where you can have two of the things that excites you, books + awesome food and coffee? After having opened two branches of Book and Borders Café in Tomas Morato and Tuscany on McKinley Hill, they had recently opened their third and latest café in Eastwood City—giving residents from that area as well as BPO employees, students and shoppers a chance to experience what Book and Borders has to offer. 

Formally opened their doors to the public last November 26, 2016, Book & Borders Café promises great food, awesome drinks and a fun place where bookworms and booklovers will surely appreciate. Guests can spend hours and hours of reading while munching on sweets and patisseries or as they sip a warm cup of hot chocolate or Book & Borders’ signature blended coffee

Coffee are made with love!

With cute stuff that adorns the cafe, you wouldn't miss it!

Cabalen Eat-All-You-Can Buffet Food Review & Contest Giveaway

Cabalen welcomes guests with a smile.

Whenever one thinks of going on a food rampage, Pampanga food always tops the list. Capampangans are known for not scrimping on ingredients. Known for being skilled cooks who spend a great deal of their time preparing dishes and sharing sumptuous meals with relatives and friends, it’s no longer a surprise when their province was hailed as the culinary capital of the Philippines. So I was thrilled when I got an invite to try dining at Cabalen—an Eat-All-You-Can Buffet restaurant noted for serving authentic Capampangan dishes and other Filipino specialties, originating from Pampanga.

As I stepped inside Cabalen, it reminded me of a childhood memory set in my grandma’s  Bahay na Bato in Taal, Batangas. Dining at Cabalen feels like coming home to your grandma’s ancestral home in the province where you get to taste a plethora of food choices (some specialties can only be found and enjoyed here). The interior itself seemed to breathe a new life into old stuff with some modern twists especially the chairs being used as well as the chandelier gives off a vintage vibe. The result is an eat-all-you-can Capampangan restaurant that feels intimate and personal, a quality that’s not usually present in large buffet resto in the metro.

Johann Coffee & Beverages Lets You Taste the Filipino Christmas With Their New Blendpresso Delights: Puto Bumbong and Queso de Bola

Press release:

Christmas in the Philippines is the longest and the brightest amongst nations. Filipinos hospitality shines bright and what better way to welcome our friends and relatives than staple delectable dishes and desserts such as Puto Bumbong and Queso de Bola. This Christmas, Johann Coffee & Beverages curated coffee drinks that are especially made for the Yuletide season: Blendpresso Puto Bumbong and Queso de Bola.

It’s still your masterpiece in a cup but with a twist. Each cup has one espresso shot, no artificial flavoring, carefully and specially roasted for Johann Coffee & Beverages.

Rustan’s Supermarket celebrates holiday traditions with new offerings that guarantee the joy of feasting

Founded on passion for great food and a strong desire to serve, Rustan’s Supermarket brings you thoughtfully selected gifts from around the world and tastefully prepared platters to spread the holiday cheer.

The country’s go-to for fresh food items and premium products is making holiday preparations easier, without sacrificing quality, and its newest offerings take care of your home entertaining needs this festive season. Whether playing host or bringing for a posh potluck, you can choose from a selection of delicious platters that everyone’s sure to enjoy.

East Coast meets West Coast in new collaboration store from Yellow Cab and Jamba Juice

 Press release:

Max’s Group, Inc. (MGI) consistently offers unique dining experiences to Filipinos with their loved brands. The innovative group has hatched another new concept, showcasing two of their top brands to complement each other, and drive customers’ experiences to higher satisfaction levels.  

Shangri-La Plaza is now home to Yellow Cab and Jamba Juice’s collaboration store. The two brands are sharing a space to create a seamless system that allows customers to easily enjoy the tasty offerings of both brands.

 “We’re excited to be pushing forward the collaboration of Yellow Cab and Jamba Juice,” shares Yellow Cab and Jamba Juice COO Roy Quejada. “This is our first collaboration store where customers get to experience the full menu lineup from both brands.  We’re happy to Blend in the Good Stuff as we bring this unique dining experience to Shang, and hopefully to other parts of the country too.”

“The idea spurred out of an East Coast meets West Coast concept,” explains MGI President and Yellow Cab Coach Robert Trota. Yellow Cab, representing the East Coast, is rooted in its New York identity—from the style of pizza to the aesthetic of the stores. Jamba Juice, which was conceptualized and first opened in California, very much embodies the healthy, fun, laidback attitude of the West Coast. “With this collaboration store, diners can get the best of both worlds,” Robert continues. “There’s the option to dig into a satisfying meal from Yellow Cab or sip on a healthy smoothie from Jamba Juice. Or you can balance it out by having both.”

Delicious and satisfying Donburi rice meals only at FamilyMart

Beef Kaldereta

Press release:

Enjoy fresh and high quality products and delicious meals whenever you visit FamilyMart. The popular Japanese convenience store chain treats you like family by serving up its latest offering that will make your daily lunch rush or quick after-work dinners more filling and satisfying, the Donburi Bowls.

Mushroom Soup

There’s always something new to look forward to every time you visit FamilyMart because they keep introducing awesome food products to offer every discerning Filipino. Try out FamilyMart’s Donburi Bowls… deliciously satisfying rice meals that could be your new go-to dishes every day of the week.

Sweet and Sour Pork

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chef Laudico’s Feasts Opens at SM City Clark Pampanga

It’s no secret that I’m such a foodie. But ever since I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, I’ve learned to decline food invitations with a few exceptions of course. I’ve been asked by my friend and fellow food blogger, Edel if I wanted to represent her to experience Chef Laudico’s Feasts at SM City Clark Pampanga. Since I’m not that busy, I jumped at the chance to visit the said restaurant which I later learned turned out to be another food paradise. 

 To be perfectly honest, I’m one of those people who wonder what made celebrity couple chefs Rolando “Chef Lau” Laudico and wife Chef Jackie Laudico to open a buffet type of restaurant in Pampanga. In an interview we’ve had with them, Chef Lau and Chef Jackie openly admitted that they were discouraged by well-meaning friends to do so. It is common knowledge that Kapampangans are the best cooks in the country since Pampanga is the food capital of the Philippines. However, these chefs take pride on the fact that it is a challenge on their profession as chefs to prove that they have something new to offer even to the most discriminating palate.

Herbalife Nutrition At Work Survey Reveals Filipino Millennials Desire Healthy, Active Workplace Environment

Filipinos love to eat. Unfortunately, nowadays everything is pretty fast and instant, even the food that we eat. In the process, we tend to lose focus on what is really important--our health. It's just good news to hear through a recent survey conducted reveals that more Filipino millennials are engaging in regular physical activities outside work, they find it difficult to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle in the modern workplace.

Herbalife Nutrition, a global nutrition company, has released the findings from its Asia Pacific Millennials At Work Survey¹, which revealed that Filipino millennials are adapting a healthy, active lifestyle, however, most believe their current workplace environment prevents them from doing so.

Millennials, or people born in between 1980 and 2000, are opting for a workplace that will encourage them to stay active, if only this will be embedded in every company culture.  About 83 percent or eight (8) in 10 millennials have agreed that they would like their company workplace to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle.

With the millennial generation expected to make up 50 percent of the global workforce by 2020, ensuring the wellbeing of millennials will be important to improving workplace productivity. “There are about 35 million millennials now in the Philippines, which is about one-third of the country’s entire population. Five years from now, millennials will be dominating the labor force. While most millennials want to lead healthy lives, they face real obstacles at work in doing so,” said Rosalio Valenzuela, Herbalife Philippines General Manager. “At Herbalife Nutrition, we provide our employees with nutrition products at work, subsidize gym memberships, hold regular wellness programs related to nutrition and well-being, and encourage participation in outdoor activities and sports competitions.”

Additionally, the survey findings revealed the following:

·         Seven (7) out of 10 millennials strive to live healthy, active lives

·         However, the majority of millennials find it challenging to maintain an active lifestyle at work – eight (8) out of 10 millennials spend 6 to 13 hours at their work desk each day, and 64% of millennials get less than 30 minutes of physical activity - including standing, stretching and walking at work on an average work day.

·         Additionally, 64% of millennials cited the “lack of time” as the key obstacle to engaging in physical activity at work.

Herbalife Philippines General Manager Mr. Bong Valenzuela with Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board Member Julián Alvarez García, M.D., Ph.D.

 To provide tips on how millennials and their employers can integrate positive nutrition and life style habits at their workplaces, Herbalife Nutrition has organized a sixth Asia Pacific Wellness Tour, which builds upon the successes of the past five tours that welcomed over 100, 000  participants. Five experts from the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) are scheduled to tour 21 Asian cities from October 7 to 30, to hold a series of talks, workshops and medical symposia across the region.

Julián Alvarez García, M.D., Ph.D., member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board

giving a talk during the Manila leg of the 5th Asia Pacific Wellness Tour.

“Through these efforts, we hope to equip organizations and employees with the right tools to collectively build a healthier work environment across Asia Pacific,” said Valenzuela.

 

Julian Alvarez Garcia, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board, will be visiting Manila for the Asia Pacific Wellness Tour this October. Julian Alvarez Garcia, M.D., Ph.D. will also be sharing expert advice on how millennials can adopt simple positive nutrition and lifestyle habits at work to improve their overall well-being in the long run.

Some of the tips to help foster a healthier millennial workforce include:

·         Nutrition

o   Dedicate a healthy eating day each week and get colleagues involved in making healthy choices for lunch on this day.

o   Boost water intake to help the body digest food, rid the body of toxins, and help deliver nutrients to the cells. Drink at least eight (8) glasses or two (2) liters of water a day.

o   Have a protein shake combined with non-fat milk and healthy fruit for breakfast. With 20-30 grams of protein and low-fat contents, it can provide the body with all the nutrition it needs to power through the day.

·         Active Living

o   Create a playlist that incorporates upbeat music and play with hourly intervals.

o   Use Running Apps to keep energized and on-pace during regular runs.

o   Set a goal to join running competitions to motivate self to sustain an active lifestyle.

¹Herbalife’s Millennials At Work Survey was conducted in 2016, with 5,500 respondents aged 18 and above, from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Batangas Food Festival in Matabungkay Beach Hotel by Filipino Culinary Masters

What happens when you put together two extremely passionate, creative and talented master chefs, both successful in their respective fields, a managing director of a popular resort and her culinary team all together? That’s what Security Blanket had witnessed when I was invited to the media launch of Batangas Food Festival 2016 at Matabungkay Beach Hotel. It was a gorgeous lunch that could be called a symphony of flavours, tastes, aromas and textures that make up the Batangas Food Festival menu. 

Ms. Charley Leviste-Antonio, managing director of Matabungkay Beach Hotel in Lian, Batangas put together top chefs Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen, the “Adobo Queen” herself and Chef Jaja Andal to collaborate on the menu for this year’s Batangas Food Festival, which will run from October to December 31^st, 2016. 

Power of Pen: A Food Writing Conference (Visayas Leg)

Press release: 

Life experiences and travel create a well-rounded food lover.

As food critiquing, and food writing in general has become a more recognized ‘career’, seminars, workshops, food and heritage tours are sprouting up geared specifically to food writing.

STRAM, INCORPORATED, an events company based in Manila has been creating and organizing the POWER OF PEN – a Food Writing conference and forum since 2009. Since then, the Power of Pen which happens every two years has now evolved and developed regional food writing workshops to cater to the growing demands of the food writer’s community.

This November 19, the Power of Pen will be touring the Visayas region with the University of San Carlos as its  co-presentor and official venue for POP Visayas. The one day forum will gather distinguished personalities from the writing industry composed of editors, authors, culinary and heritage workers and news writers.

The POWER OF PEN is something which one can seek out if you do not have an educational background in writing or to simply boost your writing skills. The topics handled by our specially chosen speakers will help you think in new ways to make your writing come alive.

 POWER OF PEN VISAYAS will have experienced and seasoned writers, among them – Michaela Fenix (cook book author and writer for Phil Daily Inquirer), Myrna Segismundo ( Doreen Gamboa Food Writing Competition Founder), Anne Marie Ozaeta ( Editor in Chief, FOOD by ABSCBN Publishing), Louella Alix (Author of Hikay : The Culinary Heritage of Cebu for the  University of San Carlos Press), and  Jobers Bersales Ph.D. (Publications Manager , the University of San Carlos Press) .The POWER OF PEN Visayas will have the following topics for the day : General Over-view of Food Writing, Importance of Research for food stories & ideas,  Techniques & Tips for Recipe Writing,  Writing & Editing for Publications, and Regional Food writing and the Importance of  Culinary Heritage.

Registration fee of Php1,200.00/head will include the refreshments and the Certificate of Attendance signed by all the speakers. Special rate for students currently enrolled is also being offered at Php 600.00/head. (Valid school ID for the current school year required before anyone can avail of this).

To register, please call STRAM,INCORPORATED, (02) 352.31.87 & (02) 927.72.08 or you may also email them at : info@strameventsinc.com.