A moveable fete

Dining at Cravings restaurant is a pleasure. It is also good for one’s spirit, because orders from the new food selection at its classic section and hot meal orders from Carvings Café makes one an instant contributor to Moving Fete, a project that helps raise funds for the Kythe Foundation, an organization that helps young victims of cancer.

These new food selections, introduced on the occasion of Cravings Group’s 13th anniversary, include Filipino favorites like chicken barbecue, grilled pork spareribs, chicken inasal, beef tapa, pancit palabok, bibingka and puto bumbong, a new Asian corner offering skewered delights like chicken, beef and mixed seafood, sweet and sour pork, Thai chicken stir fry, mixed seafood in garlic sauce, Korean sesame beef and honey-glazed orange chicken,

There are also panini combinations such as tuna salad and grilled vegetables, pesto and porkloin, and grilled vegetables, pork ham, cheese and pickles. Talk of fusion pasta and there’s tangy longaniza with spiced cream sauce pasta and pasta paella.

Cravings’ latest offerings taste extra special because herbs that are used to flavor them come from a garden lovingly tended by Cravings matriarch Annie Guerrero. "Mom’s inspiration was the Culinary Institute of America’s garden, which she saw when she studied at the CIA in Hyde Park," says daughter Badgie Trinidad who oversees Cravings’ operations. "As you know, we also run the Center for Culinary Arts Manila which is patterned after the CIA, and it has always been her dream for the school to have its own herb and spice garden. For the moment, students grow their herbs in pots at the Cravings Center in Katipunan Ave.," adds Trinidad.

Planted to Chinese kangkong, red cabbage, arugula, sweet basil and many other flavorful herbs, the garden’s produce are now staples of Cravings’ salads and specialties.

Mrs. Guerrero’s garden also dovetails perfectly with Cravings’ waste management program. Unknown to most, Cravings has been doing its bit for the environment by practicing waste segregation and recycling. Biodegradable waste from various Cravings outlets is used to make compost to fertilize the garden.

Lately, Mrs. Guerrero’s neighbors often visit the garden for their needs and have been suggesting that she open some sort of nook where early morning joggers could have breakfast and coffee or snacks and salads. Sounds like a boutique version of Cravings in the making.

While prospects indeed look green for the garden, orange is the color of the moment at Cravings restaurants. Capitalizing on the company’s corporate color, Cravings is having a "How Orange Can You Get" promo until Oct. 20. Guests are encouraged to come in anything orange to any Cravings outlet and win special prizes. Cravings restaurant and bakeries are located at Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Robinsons Place Manila and Wilson St., Greenhills, while Cravings Cafes are at Robinsons Galleria, Greenbelt Mall, Festival Mall and Asturias.

On Oct. 26, a big bash at Cravings Katipunan will mark the Cravings Group’s 13th anniversary. Dubbed "Moving Fete and Feet," guests will be treated to a wine fest, a special paella cooking demo from the Center for Culinary Arts Manila, jamming with popular bands. Artworks produced by the children of Kythe Foundation who underwent a painting workshop as part of the Moving Fete project, will also be auctioned.

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Moving Fete and Feet is also sponsored by ESRQ, Caltex, Mandom, Q&H, Killion, MAOB, Family Reader Magazine, Mega Magazine, Nestle, Joey 92.3, 99.5 RT, KCFM, Bankee Trading and Remo Pasta. Cosmopolitan magazine livens up the affair with free issues and gift packs. Cravings also offers catering services. Call 426-48-28, 426-48-38, 426-48-29 for details.