ORGANIC FOODS NOW AVAILABLE AT HEALTHY OPTIONS

Healthy Options, the country’s leading natural products chain store recently launched organic produce and meat farmed locally, as part of its mission to provide the most nutritious and best tasting top quality products to health-conscious Filipinos. 

Healthy Options launches Organika—dubbed as “Good food grown the good way”, it hits Healthy Options stores this 2013 for locally sourced organic vegetables, herbs, pork, chicken, and farm fresh eggs.

“By introducing these products from our very own farm, we renew our commitment to give our customers better choices for a better life. We also show our support to small organic farmers, to healthy, humane, and sustainable farming,” says Healthy Options managing director Romy Sia.

Mr. Romy Sia, Managing Director of Healthy Options

Nestled at the foot of the scenic Mt. Banahaw and near the two-storey high Majyjay Falls, the five-hectare organic farm is a promising local source of nutritious, flavorful and top-quality products Healthy Options has been known for. 

Their free range chickens can roam around freely and forage for food, and are fed only with wholesome grains, organic vegetable trimmings, and wild bugs and insects. The pigs eat all-natural diet of rice bran, duckweed, copra meal, fruits and vegetables, and are raised in odor-free pens, with soft beddings made of soil, sawdust and carbonized rice hull. 

Vegetables are pesticide-free; they do not use synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on crops and steroids or growth hormones for animals.

Aside from top vegetable and meat produce, Healthy Options also advocates farming that does not produce excessive waste or pollution, resulting in healthier ecosystem.  “We deliver products that have the Healthy Options guarantee of freshness and quality, just as what we have been doing for more than a decade,” promises Mr. Sia.

During the launch held recently at the E’s bar of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, guests were treated to a hefty of healthy organic meals such as organic lechon (roasted pig), veggie-based sandwiches, whole wheat breads, organic eggs, fruits and vegetable-based drinks.

Brazilian Japanese commercial model/TV personality Daniel Matsunaga

TV Host/endorser Amanda Griffin-Jacob

E’s Bar had been transformed into a farm and guests were told to wear checkered tops paired with jeans to fit the farm-themed launching. Ramp models also sashayed in farm clothes including Brazilian-Japanese commercial and ramp model Daniel Matsunaga. Also seen as guests were columnist/TV host/teacher Patty Laurel, endorser and “it” girls Georgina Wilson and Isabelle Daza. Amanda Griffin-Jacob hosted the said launch. 

Socialite/Commercial models Georgina Wilson and Isabelle Daza

Teacher/TV personality Patty Laurel-Filart and friends.

Organically grown corn on a cob.

Organic produce power bars of multi-grains, wheat breads with alfalfa sprouts and free-range chicken

Organically grown lechon (roasted pigs)

Security Blanket thanks Ms. Angeline Rodriguez of www.wonderwomanrises.blogspot.com

YOSHINOYA’S BEEF GYUDON EATING CONTEST NOW ON IT’S 4TH YEAR

Calling all gourmands, food aficionados and loyal fans of Yoshinoya! Yoshinoya, home of the popular beef gyudon huge bowls announces their Yoshinoya Beef Gyudon Eating Contest, which is now on its 4^th year. This is one exciting gastronomic challenge that foodies out there should not afford to miss.

Bloggers had their own Yoshinoya Beef Gyudon eating contest. I thought I’m quite glutton enough, but since I am on a no-rice diet since the turn of the year (And I do hope to be able to stick with it. J), I realized I could not eat more than one bowl. It was difficult to eat when under pressure. I saw how my fellow bloggers were in near teary-eyed and red faced because it was hard to breathe as you try to swallow everything on the bowl in five minutes. That was indeed tough! And to think women competed equally with men! I thought that was quite unfair. But it was really fun and worth the experience. In the end, Florencio Jusay Jr., better known in the blogosphere as FPJ, won the challenge (Hey, but he was 2^nd placer last time!) Well, what can I say? So much for that, let’s get on to the real challenge. 

Bloggers gamely joined.

The favorite Beef Gyudon Bowl from Yoshinoya.

 Yoshinoya, the country’s most popular fast-food chain that specializes in all-time favorite Japanses fare, had their very first eating contest way back in 2008, held at the SM Megamall branch. This year, as more participants are expected to sign up, more beef gyudon lovers are expected to accept the challenge.

Bloggers understands the mechanics of the contest.

 The contest will be composed of two challenges, open to all male and female participants 18 years old and above. There will be Qualifying Rounds in different Yoshinoya branches to be held from Monday through Friday at 10:30AM and 11:30AM, and then 6PM and 7PM from January 21 up to February 15, 2013.

Blogger Florencio Jusay Jr. wins!

Here’s how to join: 

 Pay the necessary purchase fee of P199 at the counter, fill out the registration form, and sign a health and release waiver. Customer must also present a valid ID (School ID, Company ID, Driver’s License, SSS ID, GSIS, NBI Clearance, Postal ID, Voters ID, or Passport) to the store manager.

For the qualifying round the beef bowls must be consumed within the store. The customer who finishes the most number of bowls or who has the least amount of leftover food in 5 minutes wins the challenge of the day. The names of the four fastest challengers will be on display at each store’s Leader Board and will be updated every time a new record is set. 

Some of the bloggers who joined the eating contest. The author is the one on the center wearing white. 

Richard Mamuyac prepares for the contest proper.

Once the weekly qualifying rounds are done, all qualified participants will be notified via phone call or email and are automatically entered in the grand finals, which will be held on February 23, 2013, 1PM at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. 

During the final match, finalists will compete by eating the most number of bowls in 15 minutes. The top three finalists with the most number of bowls consumed and the least weight left after 15 minutes will be declared winners of the Yoshinoya Beef Gyudon eating challenge.

First placer will receive a whopping P100, 000, second placer will bring home P50, 000, and third placer get to have P25, 000. Non-winners will each be given consolation prizes of P2, 000 worth of Yoshinoya gift certificates.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and signup now! Hurry, big prizes are in store for the grand champion! Who knows, it could just be YOU! J

Security Blanket thanks Mr. Richard Mamuyac, Yoshinoya and AMPR for the invite. 

MAX’S RESTAURANT INTRODUCES COCO MARTIN AS ITS NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

We have been seeing Max’s Restaurant’s latest advertisement via its television commercial featuring its newest brand ambassador, Coco Martin. But it was only recently when we were invited to attend a press conference where Max’s formally introduces Coco as their new brand ambassador that we got to know the interesting story behind it. “Coco captured our attention because of his life story. In a lot of ways, he shares values that are inherent to Max’s—passion for what you do and love for Filipino family. This is how Max’s story unravels everyday,” shared Edgar Allan Caper, Marketing Director for Max’s Restaurant.

Great things start from small beginnings. This was exactly the case with Coco Martin. Life wasn’t exactly a bed of roses for someone like Coco who was raised by his Grandma. Before Coco became an actor, he was a working student. Unknown to many, Coco worked as young server at Max’s Fairview branch in 2001. And it was his experience at Max’s that has actually paved the way for this humble thespian to be discovered. One of Coco’s customers saw his potential while he’s busy serving Max’s mouthwatering home-cooked dishes to diners. The said customer who happens to be a talent scout asked Coco for an audition for one of the leading television networks in the country.

 “I was supposed to be launched at the same time as Heart Evangelista in Star Circle way back then. Heart was among my batch mates. But then I decided to heed my grandma’s advice to finish my studies first even if show business beckons me. After tucking in a degree in hotel and restaurant management, I could no longer ignore the lure of the limelight—I guess I had been at the right place and time,” shares Coco during the press conference.

Max's Marketing Director, Edgar Allan Caper.

 Coco consistently strived to make a mark in the showbiz industry. It’s no surprise though that Coco has now become a household name for everyone. In fact, his fame has crossed over to countries in Europe, Asia and North America—thanks to The Filipino Channel.

“We saw in Coco a great Filipino story of perseverance and hope with which Max’s was also built on. We see a great connection between Max’s and Coco and that’s why we believe we have found the perfect partner for Max’s. That is, apart from the survey we’ve done with TNS. The response had been phenomenal—across all demographics and territories,” added Caper. 

 “I had long wanted to endorse anything that’s related to food. But there have been no offers. I felt that maybe because I’m jologs (read: too ordinary looking) and not tisoy (read: mestizo looking),” relates Coco. “I had long waited for this endorsement. So when my manager told me that Max’s seemed interested with me, I had never been this happy—knowing fully well that I’ve once worked for Max’s. This endorsement and my becoming Max’s new brand ambassador felt like coming home,” enthuses Coco. “Plus, I am so familiar with Max’s menu having previously worked with them. When people would ask me Max’s specialty, I always tell them it’s their spring chicken!” adds Coco.

Apart from Max’s famous fried chicken, Coco says he loves Max’s kare-kare, caramel bar and ube decadence but his ultimate favorite remains to be crispy tadyang he had tasted in the States. Unfortunately it is only available in selected Max’s branches in the US.  “I wish the crispy tadyang would be available here in the Philippines soon,” says Coco. 

Max’s TV commercial was helmed with no less than the man who made Coco Martin an award-winning Indie actor, himself an award-winning director, Brilliante Mendoza. “We prepared for this project by really understanding the message of Max’s. We want to translate this through a stimulating story that tells the parallelism of Max’s heartwarming story with Coco’s own journey towards success and fame, as well as his struggles. I feel honored to be part of this project,” said Mendoza in an interview.

The parallelism between Coco Martin and Max’s echoes that hard work reaps its benefits. And we say, there couldn’t be a better brand endorser for Max’s than Coco Martin. J

Purple Plum Fairy thanks Max’s Restaurant, Bright Ideas, Mr. Bobby Simborio, and Ms. Kim Sanchez.