‘Bun’ Appetit!

Three years ago, Lawrence and Iya Cua were just making lobster rolls in their home kitchen. They posted about it on Instagram, as anyone would have done, and some of their friends started placing their orders.

That’s how Bun Appetit started, with just home and office deliveries before finally landing a permanent space at the Salcedo Saturday Market.  I, for one, cannot wake up on a Saturday morning and the few rare times I do, I head to their stall and get those delicious rolls (lobster, shrimp or crab).

A serendipitous invitation from one of their market co-tenants, Brian Hagedorn, led them to The Pantree located at the JCSO Building along Dela Rosa corner Castro Streets in Legaspi Village in Makati City.

The Pantree, a new food hall managed by the mother-and- daughter tandem of Pin and Ina Guingona, aims to provide more dining options while helping start-ups like Bun Appetit be present in very prime Makati real estate.

Bun Appetit is open at The Pantree, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Customers can expect the same Saturday market menu made up of lobster roll, crab roll, shrimp roll, lobster grilled cheese, crab grilled cheese, shrimp grilled cheese, Mexican grilled corn and garlic noodles plus some new items that will be offered for a limited time.

Now, I can have these rolls anytime of the week. Head over to their stall and savor these delicious treats from Bun Appetit!

High fashion every day

The Balmain Hair Couture Salon Tour Series kicked off at its home base, Head Zone Salon at Shangri-La Plaza Mall East Wing in Mandaluyong City.

Guests were treated to a perfect combination of treatments and full make-overs. The event was emceed by radio DJ Katz Salao and capped off by the pulsating beats of DJ Jessica Milner.

The Balmain Paris fashion house created Hair Couture to achieve high fashion every day. Two ingredients stand out in all its hair products: silk protein to strengthen, reconstruct and protect the hair; and organic argan oil to moisturize and protect every strand. All products are hypoallergenic, paraben- and sulfate-free, non-greasy, lightweight and water-based with UV protection.

The brand’s three collections are  Moisturizing (shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioning spray); Styling (Silk Perfume, Argan Moisturizing Elixir, Styling Gel Strong, Shine Wax, Matt Clay Strong and Pre-styling cream); and Volume Care (shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioning spray). All products have one signature scent.

In the Philippines, Balmain Hair Couture is exclusively distributed by iBloom Corp., brought in by founder and CEO Mirasol Salao. It is available in select salons and barbershops. 

 ‘Live healthy & stay happy’

Mealtime is more than just a few quick minutes for rushed eating. It is also an opportunity to enjoy real moments together.

Tefal, the partner of every cook, foodie and homemaker, aims to equip every individual with the right tools and appliances to create memorable meals as it launched its newest campaign called “Live healthy & stay happy” at Abenson in Taguig City.

The campaign, which focuses on healthy, clean living, was launched with brand ambassador for domestic appliances and  Chef Next Door’s chef Jonas Ng. The brand also kicked off its healthy initiative with its newest cookbook titled Tefal: Bringing Joy in Cooking.

“Even for pros, cooking at home can be a chore since we usually face the same limitations in our home kitchens such as lack of space, time and budget,” shares Chef Jonas. “I wanted to put together simple and quick recipes that are made for busy mothers and professionals who would rather spend their time enjoying, than preparing food. With the unique leverage that Tefal appliances offer, you’re assured that you’ll be able to whip up amazing meals in half the time.”

Tefal corporate chef Maria Sonia Astudillo, an advocate of clean eating and the author of Tefal’s 2017 summer recipe book  Fruity Summer Fest (a collection of fruit smoothies, juices, skewers and dips recipes), shared, “Just like in life, there are super, ordinary and awful fruit combinations. Some fruits click so well that aside from tasting good, they become easier to digest and friendlier to the stomach.”

Helping individuals in their daily chores, Tefal has developed appliances that are innovative, efficient and practical. From electrical cooking, food and drink preparation, to linen care and home care, the brand’s innovations have made life incredibly easy, making daily tasks less of a chore.

When it comes to preparing a feast for the family, cook your rice to perfection with the Tefal Microcomputer Rice Cooker. The innovative four-layer ceramic coated pot has a unique diamond-shaped pattern that contributes to even heat diffusion and better cooking, resulting in tasty and fluffy rice. It is very durable, resistant to scratches and cleans easily (no need to soak!). Enjoy its versatility with 10 automatic cooking programs like a fun Cake function to make mealtimes more enjoyable.

For the health-conscious, the brand offers various blenders and juicers. Tefal Blenders’ innovative Tripl’Ax Technology maximizes the action of six blades with three combined actions — Cyclone Booster, Extreme Mixing and Chunks Killer — to make a perfectly smooth blend. The Infiny Press Slow Juicer, on the other hand, offers 35 percent more juice, 30 percent more Vitamin C and 75 percent more antioxidants than using traditional juice extractors to provide naturally genuine vitamin-packed and nutrient-filled juices.

When one can’t get enough of those french fries, sausages or fried chicken, Tefal Fry Delight serves up the same fried taste and texture but with less oil. This low-fat fryer with Air Pulse Technology keeps food crisp on the outside and cooked tender on the inside, all while making usage and post-cooking cleanup fast and easy.

In addition to kitchen wonders, the brand extends its expertise to the rest of the household. For the hardworking executives and yuppies, Tefal irons and garment steamers help you look polished and put together with crease-free clothes. The brand’s innovations like its Durilium Soleplate Technology make ironing less of a chore, thanks to its smooth glide. Now, clothes can be ironed in half the time compared to other irons without it.

As a proud domestic appliance brand, Tefal places emphasis on leading a healthy and happy lifestyle, not just with cooking but in your everyday home tasks. Whether you’re independently single,  or part of a growing brood, the brand offers ingenious solutions to help lead a better and more balanced life. Discover confidence, convenience and a pleasurable life experience with Tefal. *

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)