Pamora Farm: Abra’s Pride on World-Class Free Range Chicken

 

If there’s one habit we all must acquire to improve our health, I can’t think of anything more important the way we think of, choose and buy our food. Okay, I know I may not be the best resource person to tell you this considering how I think of (or obsess about) food, but I am still in the learning and developing process though.  After much thorough reading and learning about how our food is grown, processed and cooked before it arrives on our plate through documentaries and online research, I’d certainly prefer old-fashioned real food as against the instant and fast ones that is quite prevalent or sort of a fad these days. I recently met some real, honest and passionate farmers growing, producing and promoting organic foods. I am so happy to have met the wonderful Papillon couple of Pamora Farm. Ms. Arestina (who even shared with us a trivia on how she got her unique name) Morados-Papillon and her French husband, Mr. Gerard Papillon. 

The different variety of chicken pate from Pamora farm.

Healthy free range chicken eggs from Pamora Farm.

 

For those who are not yet familiar with Pamora Farm, they started out in March 2000 as a small-scale farm raising free-range chicken. Pamora Farm stemmed from the first initial surnames of its owners, Papillon (Gerard) and Morados (Tina). Pamora Farm promotes their farming method among the people of Abra, providing livelihood opportunities for the community. Pamora Farm is a true hidden treasure. As it stands today, not too many people know about it, and those that do are already slowly spreading the word about its splendor. In fact, Pamora Farm is one of the best reasons you can have for driving all the way up to Abra. Although I haven’t actually been to their farm, I have seen the photos and with Ms. Tina around talking about it, the more I wanted to see the farm myself.  Today, Pamora Farm has a world-class free-range chicken farm. In fact, Pamora Farm products are certified by the National Meat Inspection Service and Bureau of Food and Drugs.

Pamora Farm's Pate is good afternoon snack paired with crostini.

 

So what makes a free-range chicken different from commercialized ones? Free-range chickens are allowed to roam in the barnyard or field (range) to forage with a minimum of eight hours daylight. They take milled yellow corn, and eat whatever organic food they could find on the ground from grass, insects etc. Pamora’s free-range chickens are grown at a minimum of 70 days as opposed to the 26 days of commercial chickens. True, commercial chickens are grown faster what with a lot of growth hormones or chemical booster used, in turn, it’s like eating chickens infused with chemicals. Would you rather have a huge chunk of chicken with loads of growth hormones or booster medications or a juicy and tasty regular grown free-range chicken (with all the nutrients intact) on your plate? If you ask me, I’d certainly choose the latter, hands down. Having the chickens ranging for longer period gives optimum natural chicken taste, firmer meat quality, and much healthier poultry meat with less fat content. Where you get your ingredients really makes a difference. With careful attention to detail and emphasis on real, natural, organic, and freshness, one can get an intense flavor that only come from fresh and quality products such as Pamora’s free range chicken.

The gracious owner of Pamora Farm, Ms. Arestina Morados-Papillon of Pamora Farm

Ms. Tina Papillon gives a thumbs up sign with Brasserie CiCou chef and her husband, Mr. Gerard Papillon

 

I also had a taste of Pamora Farms’ meat and eggs products. If you’re fond of Pate—you know, that rich, savory paste made from finely minced ingredients, typically seasoned meat. You’d be glad to know that Pamora Farm has six varieties of their homemade pates made from free-range chicken. Mr. Gerard Papillon, made them using the family loved recipes of his grandmother. They’ve got Chicken Liver Pate, Chicken Breast and Liver Pate, Chicken Gizzard Pate, Chicken Liver and Gizzard Pate, Chicken Breast Pate and Chicken and Gizzard Pate. Pamora’s Chicken Breast Pate tops my list. It actually tastes like mackerel sans any ‘fishy’ aftertaste. For Filipinos, pate is like our brand of potted meat or liver spread. But pate is actually a traditional practice in France of preserving meat of any kind. Pamora Farm’s pate is exquisite. It is rich and dense, yet subtle. Together with crostinis, it is perfect for an afternoon snack.  Their chicken burger is awesome too! 

Pamora Farm's frozen chicken burger and spring chicken.

Pamora Farm's spring chicken is tender and flavorful.

 

As consumers, we have the power to change our life. Each time you go to the grocery store, you are voting with your shopping carts. I encourage you to buy food that’s healthier. Know what’s in your food. Read the labels. Buy only from companies like Pamora Farm that treat workers, animals and the environment with respect. 

Chicken liver pate from Pamora Farm

Pate from Pamora Farm  has six variants

The good news is you don’t have to go far or to Abra to taste the goodness of Pamora Farm products. Pamora Chickens, eggs and pate products are available at Santis Delicatessen, Terry Selections, Rustan’s Supermarket, Shopwise, Market! Market!, RFI Farm Outlet (Holy Spirit, QC) Joji Berry (Crossroad 77 Mother Ignacia QC), NCCC-Davao, Champetre Restaurant (BGC), Brasserie CiCou (Greenhills), Resorts World Manila, Ilustrado Restaurant (Intramuros), El Nido Resorts, Amanpulo, Saturday Market, Ayala Alabang Village and Golden Acres Farm, Inc. (distributor).

 

For more information, log on to www.pamorafarm.com or call (02) 759-2678/ (02) 506-1082/ (0917) 537-5639/(0917) 5917391.

Security Blanket thanks Ms. Nana Nadal, Mr. Gerard Papillon and Ms. Tina Morados-Papillon of Pamora Farm.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are my own.

NESTLE TEMPTATIONS: FLAVORS OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL EVENT

 

It's summer time and what better way to beat the debilitating summer heat by watching a European musical show with FREE Nestle Ice Cream on hand at the al fresco area of Bonifacio High Street? Don't worry though if you missed it, you can still find Nestle Ice Cream's latest specialty ice creams called Nestle Temptations Flavors of the Worls in your favorite grocery stores and you might still catch their mall shows and avail of the FREE Nestle Ice Cream by checking their Facebook fan page and check out their upcoming schedules.

If you ask me, the launch of these yummy delectable rich creamy ice cream are just in the nick of time as it is still summer and there's definitely more time to enjoy it. With specialty ice creams from Nestle Temptations, Flavors of the World!  Imagine French Salted Caramel is smooth and creamy. Salt and caramel combination is becoming a popular choice among ice creams, gelatos, and even cupcakes. Now this complementing taste can be found in Nestle Temptations and is really worth a try!

Italian Coffee Affogato (199Php/800mL)

Reminisce the taste of Italy and experience NESTLÉ TEMPTATIONS’ version of affogato in ice cream flavor – a swirl of espresso-flavored ice cream and vanilla-flavored ice cream, blended with cashew nuts and chocolate chips.

Coffee aficionado would certainly be happy to know that there's Italian Coffee Affogato flavor for them. With a kick of espresso flavor and bits of generous cashew and chocolate, one will never go wrong.

Belgian Chocolate Praline (199Php/800mL)

Find yourself transported to a chocolate shop and experience NESTLÉ TEMPTATIONS’ version of Chocolate Praline made with ice cream.

 The Belgian Chocolate Praline had chocoholics in mind. One scoop of this ice cream and you're sure to instantly fall for it. There's something to bite and chew with blended Belgian chocolate chips and praline pieces made from chocolate coated toffee bits.

Last, but definitely not the least and actually my favorite among the selections, is Belgian Chocolate Praline. There's a lot going on in this ice cream that it gave me an experience even with just a scoop. There's crunch, there's toffee, there's something to bite and chew. And yes, the Belgian chocolate is a huge factor! 

All these awesome ice cream flavors from Nestle are now available. So would you guys give in to these temptations?  I bet, Nestle will be launching more flavors soon because once tasted and discovered, these Nestle Ice Cream Temptations will certainly be a blast!

Max’s Offers a Luxurious Twist to Celebrations serves 4Sharing Meals Featuring Kare-kare for only PhP 899

Awesome Crispy Pata from Max's

Max’s Restaurant had always sought way to delight their loyal patrons by bringing in exciting new ways to bring Filipino cuisine closer to the hearts of both the young and old food enthusiasts. Hence, Max’s Restaurant has recently launched the latest wave of its 4Sharing Meals featuring a perennial favorite among Filipinos, the Kare-kare.

Max’s 4Sharing Meals is an exciting dining trend that offers classic Filipino dishes to customers in small group or family of 3 to 4. Priced very affordably at PhP 899, diners get value-for-money with a delectable feast of Max’s mouth-watering Kare-kare, 4 servings of steaming white rice, refreshing iced tea or any Pepsi softdrink for 4, and Max’s world-famous, sarap-to-the-bones Fried Chicken that is always cooked to crispy perfection.  It is the perfect food adventure for gregarious diners and get-together bundle meal to be shared with friends, family and other fellow Max’s aficionados.  Just thinking about the delicious spread that will be served every time customers enter Max’s Restaurant for the new Max’s 4Sharing Meals is enough to whet the appetite.

“Kare-kare is known for its painstaking and tedious preparation.  With Max’s latest 4Sharing Meals, Max’s highlights the fun memories associated with this classic dish and its true main ingredients:  patience and love,” shared Ms. Ghena Austero, Max’s Marketing Manager for Dine-in, Functions and Events.

Indulge in Max’s 4Sharing Meals Featuring the Kare-kare at any Max’s Restaurant nationwide from May 1 to June 23, 2013.  To learn more about the most “sarap to the bones” news from the most loved Filipino brand, visit www.maxschicken.com, the official website of Max’s Restaurant.  Also check out www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant and be a member of Max’s Facebook Fan Page.

GLOBE LUMPIA HOUSE: A MUST-TRY FRESH SPRING ROLL IN MANILA

A small place indeed but very popular. Globe Lumpia house started from way back.

 I’ve heard so much about a certain hole-in-the-wall lumpia house in Quiapo, but I have never been lucky to find it.  I guess, I never had the patience to go around the place and actually scoured for it. Until that day came I needed to use my Mapdroyd on my Samsung phone because I was locating something else. Voila! There it was: GLOBE LUMPIA HOUSE—the map says it’s near DEECO, right on Raon street corner Evangelista!  So the next time I’d go to Quiapo with my boss, I vow to visit Globe Lumpia House.

With two fresh lumpia from Globe, one could get full right away.

Diners at Globe Lumpia House puts hot sauce on their lumpia for that extra kick.

Here a staff makes fresh lumpia upon order through a glass.

 The scorching heat of the summer sun did not dampen my spirit to finally set foot on that hole-in-the-wall fresh spring roll house in Quiapo. And when we got there, it’s totally jampacked! There were diners inside while there was a reserved bench for customers waiting for their takeout. The smell of fresh lumpia and ground nuts with some sweet syrupy sauce wafts in the air, making our mouths water just the whiff of it. The lumpia are made right before you upon order through a glass window. I wonder, “what is it about Globe Lumpia that makes it popular since the time of my grandparents?” I don’t now how long it had been, but old folks can attest that Globe Lumpia House had been there since time immemorial—perhaps the early 1900’s will do. Come to think of it, apart from their best-selling lumpia (fresh spring roll), the two other things they sell are chicken empanada and sodas. But how come people would flock to their store every day? Some would even travel that far just so they could eat such mouthwatering lumpia goodness that only Globe Lumpia House serves. “If I pass by the Quaipo area, I always see to it to drop by Globe Lumpia House and eat there,” Jona Alforque writes on my Facebook wall upon posting a picture and status about my visit to the Globe Lumpia House.

My boss and good friend Ai enjoys Globe Lumpia.

 Do not underestimate the power of this small but terrible lumpia house. Popular celebrities and personalities adorn the walls of the said eatery. Proofs that even with high-ranking government officials or A-list personalities are fans of Globe Lumpia House.

Here's a Globe Lumpia...

My verdict: I would have to say that the Globe Lumpia is by far the freshest and cheapest I’ve ever tasted. For only Php16.00 per lumpia piece, it’s really good value for money. It tastes good even without the sweet blended sauce although I’ve noticed that customers and loyal patrons would love to pair the Globe lumpia with their special hot sauce, perhaps for a more extra kick. The veggies especially the lettuce is still crisp, and very tasty.

 I’d like to think that this dish should be a must-try for all our folks who hail from Manila. The Abuy’s lumpia found at SM malls is way too expensive for this counterpart from Quiapo. What’s more? Globe Lumpia had no artificial ingredients, sans no fanfare and is certainly more affordable! I’ve instantly become a convert! Eat here if you’re within that Quiapo area and you’ll be sure to thank yourself for such heartwarming simple yet filling meal from Globe Lumpia House. You’ll never look at fresh lumpia the same way again!

* Globe Lumpia House is in Raon Street corner Evangelista Street, Quiapo, Manila. It is near the Raon Bridge. Just ask around, don’t be shy, you’ll definitely bump into foodies searching their way to fresh spring roll heaven that is Globe Lumpia House.

Security Blanket thanks Ai for that wonderful Globe Lumpia House experience.