Christmas in our taste buds: ‘Paskong Pinoy’ recipes, flavors to try
MANILA, Philippines — Following more relaxed quarantine measures like increased dine-in capacity and kids now allowed outdoors, the food business is starting to get back on its feet just in time for Christmas.
Whether going out or staying at home, here are some food options to try to fully feel the warmth of the Filipino Christmas spirit:
Satisfy your holiday cravings
The most wonderful time of the year is here, and of course, with the season comes gatherings and reunions with our favorite people. To make these occasions sweeter and more joyful, we are always looking for good food to share with our loved ones, as we create lasting memories of these fun celebrations.
This holiday, OPPO has exciting limited-time only food treats exclusive for its users. In partnership with one of the biggest food communities in the Philippines, Let’s Eat Pare, OPPO offers its loyal users exclusive discounts to the best treats around the metro from ten food merchants curated by Let’s Eat Pare. Offers can be redeemed through the MyOPPO App!
Satisfy your holiday cravings, give a sweet treat to someone special or complete your Christmas spread with any of these exclusive offers:
- Enjoy a family favorite and save Php20 on a delicious whole spring chicken and two dips from Chicken Stop.
- In the mood for burgers? Buy any flavor of two chicken sliders from Manok PH for only Php250!
- Stay warm during the ‘Ber months with Ala Eh!’s Special Lomi promo: buy 1 Special Lomi and get the second at 50% off!
- Nothing says “home for Christmas,” like a Pinoy-style breakfast. Buy two packs of Brunchmate Beef Tapa and get a free 150mL bottle of Casa Lontoc Spiced Vinegar - the perfect combo for a classic meal!
- For an extra kick, top your meals with homemade sarsa, atchara and best-selling taba ng talangka from Puro. Buy P1,000 worth of goods and get a free bottle of Puro Sarsang Kamatis.
- Add color to your celebrations with a selection of juices, teas, cocktails and more from Prism Cafe. Get 10% off on your total bill, and a free order of Croissant Taiyaki with any flavor of your choice.
- Perfect for online celebrations, spoil your loved ones with snacks galore. Buy 1, get 1 free on frozen or ready to eat Disney Style Mozzarella Corn Dogs from Starr’s.
- Send extra sweetness to your loved ones! Bake On offers 5% off on your total bill, so you can avail of their best-selling revel bars, cookies, banana bread and more.
- Celebrate Christmas in style with Aby’s Homemade and enjoy 5% off on their best-selling Baby Burnt Basque Cheesecakes.
- For only Php530, you can avail of Lulu’s 6” apple pie and a box of 2-pc mango ensaymada, perfect for breakfast and dessert!
You can enjoy all of these special Let’s Eat Pare offers, discounts and more this festive season with the MyOPPO App, OPPO’s exclusive rewards program community, starting on November 19 to December 31, 2021. Register now to avail of endless perks for Christmas and beyond!
To know more about MyOPPO App, visit the App Market, OPPO’s official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.
Joyeux Noël 2021: Give love with Bizu
Let Bizu be your love language this holiday season, as you send out Christmas cards, spend quality time with loved ones and share thoughtful presents. Now is the time to express your love to family and friends and remind everyone how sweet and wonderful life can be during this time of year.
Bizu specialty cakes will surely liven up your holiday table. Apart from popular classics featuring fresh strawberry, blueberry, mango, orange and dark chocolate, this year Bizu introduces the Noelle— a white chocolate ganache and pistachio mousse cake featuring a creme bruleè and strawberry jelly center with an almond shortbread crust topped with a delicate white chocolate ribbon.
Bizu also offers stunning, intricately assembled Towers of Joy made with glazed cream puffs or French macarons rising to a height of 12 inches. You can opt to send a chocolate surprise with a box of Truffle Pyramids, candy colored and bursting with distinctive flavors in every bite—including guilt-free varieties such as the sugarless Macadamia Honey (Macadamia nuts, dark chocolate ganache, acacia honey) and Dominique (dark chocolate ganache, dark chocolate couverture).
Treat yourself to Bizu’s latest holiday macaron flavors - Pumpkin Spice, Orange Grand Marnier, and Chocolate Mint Macaron de Paris. Bizu’s Christmas cakesicles, holiday-covered pretzel, French truffles, chocolate bars, bonbons, breads and cakes will surely spark joy.
Christmastime is about savoring the sweet and the succulent. Splurge on popular savory dishes such as the crispy-skinned and tender Cochinillo, Prime Ribeye Roast Beef, Whole Roast Turkey, or 10-hour Roast Beef. Indulge in the rich, smoky, and salty layers of the Smoked Salmon and Black Caviar Pie and Baked Salmon Rockefeller, a tradition in many households.
Time to kiss your cares away and give love on Christmas Day! To place your orders, contact or visit any Bizu branch, with last orders for December 24 to be made by December 21 and last orders for December 31 to be made by December 28. For roasted items, please allow three (3) days prior to ordering. All items in the 2021 Christmas Catalogue are available in-store or visit www.bizu.ph. You may also order thru text/call/viber at +639176273970.
Merry holidays at F1 Hotel Manila
The most wonderful season of all is just a few moments ahead and we are excited to celebrate it this year! F1 Hotel Manila’s holiday cheers will fill up your merry plans as we lift your spirits wherever you want to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve! Be it here at F1 Hotel Manila or your home, this holiday season will be one to enjoy!
Delight your celebration with friends or family with the Festive Flavors dinner buffet at The Canary! Enjoy your appetite's desire with a live grilling station as you have an option to ask our chefs to cook your cravings on the spot. The buffet is available on December 24, 25, and 31, from 8 to 11 p.m. for only PhP 1,300 net per person.
The Festive Flavors dinner buffet is special on December 31, as an acoustic band will be serenading you while you feast your dinner before the New Year Countdown to 2022.
For those who wish to celebrate at home, F1 Hotel Manila will be offering Holiday Platters exclusively available for purchase on the Hot Deals website (https://hotdeals.f1hotelmanila.com) for only PhP 6,999 net per set. The set comes in four platters where you can choose from Main Course of Tender Osso Buco, Cajun Seafood or Barbeque Pork Ribs; Carving of Smoked Beef Brisket, Crusted Rack of Lamb or Crispy Bagnet; Pasta of Spaghetti Bolognese, Seafood Marinara, Aglio Olio; and available cakes are Carrot Cake, Chocolate Cake, and Red Velvet. Make your celebrations at home grand and flavorsome with these Party Platters available for pick up until January 5.
Make the holiday season memorable with F1 Hotel Manila. To know more about our promotions, please call 8928-9888 or 0919-9124802 or visit our website at www.f1hotelmanila.com.
Highland Park launches 15-year-old whisky
Orkney-based distillery Highland Park launches a new permanent 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Highland Park Viking Heart will be available in the Philippines by mid-November 2021.
Presented in a heavily embossed ceramic bottle, created in partnership with renowned specialists UK based Wade Ceramics; the inspiration of which came from ancient earthenware vessels which the whisky would have been stored a century or two ago at the distillery.
Created from casks hand-selected by Highland Park Masker Whisky Maker Gordon Motion, the 15 Year Old contains a high percentage of first-fill European oak sherry seasoned casks which delivers a warm, dry spicy note whilst first-fill American oak sherry seasoned casks back this up with notes of vanilla and crème brûlée. A small proportion of refill casks allow the DNA of Highland Park whisky to shine through, namely its gentle heather peat and lightly fruity character.
Gordon Motion, Highland Park, Master Whisky Maker, said: “Our insistence on specially constructed sherry casks delivers a richness of flavour. Vanilla and citrus notes lead and combine with the unique fragrant peat and creamy mouthfeel synonymous with Highland Park. The hand selection of quality first-fill and refill casks for Highland Park 15 Year Old delivers a rich colour which is 100% natural. Bottled at 44% ABV, this retains more of the compounds which deliver a whisky with extra body and enhanced mouthfeel.”
The Highland Park Viking Heart will be available for purchase from whisky retailers, specialty liquor shops and online retailers in Metro Manila as well as Boozy.ph, Clink.ph, Liquor.ph, Thirst.ph and Singlemalt.ph.
Give your kids a happy and healthy Christmas
It’s close to Christmastime once more, which means you are probably thinking of the best Christmas presents to get for the kiddos on Christmas Eve. This gift-giving is a tradition among Filipino families and is one of the highlights of Christmas — one that both children and even the young at heart most look forward to (aside from attending the Christmas Mass and the Noche Buena).
Most of the time, those gifts end up being toys, gadgets, and clothes, plus a serving or three of sweet treats, like chocolates and candies. But for this Christmas, and the next... and the next... and the next, you might want to switch things up and give the young ones healthy snacks instead — aside from the toys and the gadgets and the clothes you had planned, of course. After all, if there is anything this pandemic has taught us, it’s that good health is above all, alongside the love and care of family and friends.
It’s worth keeping in mind that healthy doesn’t necessarily mean bland and boring, because healthy can be amazing and tasty just the same. That is, of course, if you buy the right treats for the kids. A great start in this case would be Dibus Sharkies and Mini Crackers by Gullón, Kokoo Chocolate Drink by ChekHup, and Fruit Me Up by Andros.
Gullón’s Mini Crackers are, as the name suggests, bite-sized biscuits—only tastier and more nutritious than their other brand counterparts. Made with a sprinkling of milk and soya, these Mini Crackers are made with high oleic sunflower oil, making them good for heart health. They also contain healthy servings of fiber for a healthier digestive tract and protein for enhanced cell health and repair.
Dibus Sharkies, also from Gullón, are chocolate-flavored cereals that happen to be gluten- egg-, and lactose-free. Like Gullón’s Mini Crackers, Dibus Sharkies also contain just the right amounts of fiber and protein, along with a nice serving of carbs for that will add more to your kids’ energy reserve.
Fruit Me Up by Andros, meanwhile, is fruit in a pouch, a jelly-like treat made from real, fully ripe fruits to ensure natural sweetness with every serving. It comes in four flavors, each packed with vitamins and minerals: Apple Banana, Mango Banana Passion, Soursop Apple, and Strawberry Pink Guava. Among other things, a pouch of Fruit Me Up contains lots of vitamin C and antioxidants that are sure to enhance your kids’ immune system, thus helping them better fight off illnesses and stay healthier.
Finally, Kokoo Chocolate Drink by ChekHup is the healthy, cholate-y beverage that kids are sure to love. Made from the finest quality cocoa plus a hint of hazelnut, Kokoo is equal parts sweet and creamy, with an unmistakable aroma guaranteed to get the kids all excited for their next cup. It is sweetened by ChekHup’s premium rock sugar, making Kokoo’s sugar content considerably lower than other chocolate drinks. Even so, it is just as yummy, or even yummier, but with the right serving of energy and protein.
At the end of the day, kids are a hard-to-please bunch, especially when it comes to healthy eating. But give them the right kinds of yummy snacks and you will eventually win them over—so much that they will be asking for more. And what better way to start than by giving your kids healthy snacks like Dibus Sharkies and Mini Crackers by Gullón, Kokoo Chocolate Drink by ChekHup, and Fruit Me Up by Andros.
But again, this is the season of giving, so it wouldn’t hurt to give the kids the other things they deserve. Visit The Goodwill Market (https://goodwill.market/) to get your hands on these healthy and yummy treats and more.
Food gifts that you want to eat and send as gifts
There’s a time and place for heating up leftovers. That time is not Christmas. A holiday or any special occasion calls for indulgence and delights that will make family and friends feel loved. But if you opt to stay safe at home but still celebrate the most wonderful time of the year merry and bright, here are some of the exclusive foodpanda restaurants where you can order your heart desires this Holiday Season:
Fish and chips cooked the right way? Featuring fish and taco meals and Limited Time Only Christmas Menu that is perfect for 3 to 4, golden brown fish sandwiches, fish paired with chicken and fries, Hooked and Cooked packs a serious crunch for your upcoming get-together at home.
Everyone loves a good ‘ol fried chicken that’s freshly cooked, crispy, and juicy. With Jackson’s Fried Chicken, you will also enjoy chicken cooked in a variety of ways from wraps, sandwiches, noodles, or rice. Filling and satisfying, Jackson’s is the ultimate fried chicken experience that you’re waiting for.
A potluck meal doesn’t have to look last-minute. Pasteria’s menu includes limited-time offer party trays with wholesome options like Aglio Olio, Shrimp Alla Spicy Marinara, Garlic Butter Shitake, and Shitake Ala King! Aside from they’re beyond flavorful, these party trays are currently on discount, which means you can take advantage of sending an effortless yet tasty meal in minutes!
Relish the Holiday Season with Urbanica’s limited-edition drinks, Chocolate Matcha Milk Coffee, and Chocolate Strawberry Milk Coffee. With these luscious seasonal flavors, this unique take on iced coffee is a cozy and comforting surprise gift to all the coffee lovers on your list.
Give in to your milk tea cravings and treat yourself with the rich and creamy goodness of Wantea’s special blended drinks: Ghirardelli Strawberry Mousse and Ghirardelli Salted Caramel. These luscious pick-me-uppers are also guaranteed to put the receiver into a holiday spirit at first sip.
Enjoy ice cream in a whole new light with Puro’s artisanal flavors like honeycomb and funky malty. And whether you’re in the team smooth or chunky, there’s a pick in here for you, or your someone special!
With foodpanda, you can also take advantage of ordering healthy, hearty, and thoughtful food gifts from other exclusive brands like Noah’s Kitchen, K-Bite’s, Simot, Faasos, IHOP, and Applebees. Much more, for every order throughout December, you can include a Christmas card for free so you can send food gifts with a personal touch and send the same delicious experience to your loved ones.
"In this season of giving, foodpanda welcomes all of you to share your joy & blessings with those near and dear, we have a line up of curated brands with offerings that specially cater to the palate of the Philippines. Send a treat, a gift or a feast by way of one of our foodpanda exclusive brands on the foodpanda app," said Karan Bhaskar, Director of New Verticals, foodpanda Philippines. Simply tap the Christmas Card add-on button when you check out and you’ve got something warm and personal to the giftee. Check out as well other restaurant partners as there’s surely something for all appetites and budgets!
"Give love on Christmas Day! But why wait for Christmas day when we can give love everyday this season. Food is like a hug in a box that we can easily and so conveniently share though various options in the foodpanda platform, we have special menu items prepared for gifting! We will attach the gift tag for you too! So send some love away and order now," said Namee J. Sunico, Head of Kitchens and Concepts, foodpanda Philippines.
No need to panic about the Holiday rush as foodpanda riders will take care of all the work from last-minute gifts, your family feast at home, or simply surprising someone who’s far from you, foodpanda has got you covered. Kaya tap mo na yan because we Gotchu, Santa! For more information, check out foodpanda exclusives carousel on foodpanda.
New premium cake for special holiday celebrations
Max’s Corner Bakery, the bakeshop brand of Filipino restaurant chain, Max’s Restaurant is introducing a new premium cake for the Christmas season. Starting December 1, it will be offering Choco Dulce Delight for a limited time.
Because special holiday celebrations call for a special dessert, it’s more than just a regular cake. Choco Dulce Delight is a decadent moist chocolate cake with rich dulce filling, frosted with luscious chocolate fudge icing. Every bite gives pure choco bliss that’s hard to resist. With all yuletide festivities lined up, this will make moments with loved ones even sweeter. Better to pre-order now to avoid the holiday rush.
It’s priced at P999 for dine-in and take-out orders. It can also be purchased for delivery at P1149 via delivery.maxschicken.com and 888-79000. Choco Dulce Delight is available in Luzon stores only.
New holiday bundles, cheesecake flavors
Max’s Restaurant, the iconic restaurant chain famous for its Sarap-to-the-Bones Fried Chicken, is welcoming the Christmas season with its new Pinoy Holiday offers. As the most wonderful time of the year draws near, Max’s is all set to give exciting new deals and treats for any upcoming festivities. May it be a face-to-face or virtual gathering there’s something that friends and families can indulge in.
The new Max’s All-In-One Tray is a merry mix of dishes in one bountiful spread. It is composed of Max’s Fried Chicken Cut-ups topped on flavored rice. Customers can pick from 3 flavors to complement with the chicken – Tinola, Adobo, and Java. Tinola Rice has bits of garlic, onion, ginger, and diced sayote, giving it the taste of the signature Pinoy dish. Adobo Rice is mixed with adobo flakes, diced potatoes and spring onions. And the classic Java Rice is sautéed with corn kernels, carrots, and Baguio beans.
Guests can also choose two viands to partner with the chicken and rice combo. Choices are Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet or Tofu Fries and Lumpiang Shanghai or Tinapa Roll. Each order can be served with 1 liter beverage at P1,199.
A holiday meal wouldn’t be complete without sweets. This season, Max’s Corner Bakery is bringing back its well-loved Pinoy Cheesecakes for a limited time. It’s also introducing a new one to add to all the hearty meals.
- Malagos Champorado Cheesecake – Here’s something new on the menu! The country’s favorite merienda is now in delectable cheesecake form best shared with loved ones. It’s made with chocolate pastry crust, luscious Malagos Champorado and Classic cheesecake filling, topped with white chocolate swirl and candied dilis.
- Bibingka Cheesecake – The Christmas dessert that many customers have been craving for is making a comeback. It is made with soft and fluffy vanilla chiffon and smooth and silky cheesecake, generously topped with salted egg slices.
- Puto Bumbong Cheesecake – Puto Bumbong always brings out the Christmas cheer to any holiday feast. So this cheesecake version is also back to be enjoyed by many. It is made with glutinous rice flour with ube flavor and smooth and silky cheesecake, generously topped with ube crumbs, desiccated coconut, and muscovado sugar.
It’s really the season to be jolly because Christmas means an abundance of food during celebrations. Max’s Holiday Bundles are just right for parties of three or four. Customers can choose from 2 Holiday Bundles that consist of different Max’s favorites great for any feast: Classic Holiday Bundle (P 2,199 only. Save as much as P 510) - Regular Whole Fried Chicken, Beef Kulma (spicy Mindanaoan curry dish), Lumpiang Shanghai, Chicken Sisig Salad, Buko Pandan tub for 5, Large Plain Rice or 1 Liter Sago’t Gulaman; Deluxe Holiday Bundle (P 2,099 only. Save as much as P 495) - Regular Whole Fried Chicken, Beef Kulma (spicy Mindanaoan curry dish), Regular Pancit (Choice of Canton, Bam-I, Chami, or Seafood), Chicken Lumpiang Shanghai, Chicken Sisig Salad, Buko Pandan tub for 5, Large Plain Rice or 1 Liter Sago’t Gulaman. For more information, visit the official Facebook page at @MaxsRestaurant.
Holiday traditions made more special with El Real
In the Philippines, the Christmas season starts as early as the ‘ber’ months hit and that means that come September, the countdown begins. Normally, Christmas carols can be heard from just about anywhere. Holiday decorations start to be seen in every city and barangay - from the usual lampposts and center islands, all the way to houses fully-decked with blinking colorful lights. Christmas is one of the seasons that Filipinos always look forward to, year after year.
Even though going outdoors for long periods of time or flying out for vacations are not advisable just yet, enjoying the coming holidays with family and loved ones at home continues. Our Christmas traditions remain and, in fact, can still be made more enjoyable and memorable for everyone.
Noche Buena is easily everyone’s favorite tradition. Having that “salu-salo” of the family’s favorite dishes has always been an integral part of Filipino Christmas celebration. Bonding over good food and delicious desserts, surrounded by the most important people in one’s life, is what makes for a truly memorable holiday celebration.
And what better way to celebrate the season than with El Real, the pasta that’s packed with iron, protein, fiber, and vitamin-A. While families have their go-to recipes for Noche Buena, they can make this year’s feast extra special by exploring unique dishes from El Real’s Real Pastabilities website. They can discover recipes like Pork Belly Pasta, Pasta Valenciana, and many other pasta dishes that the family will surely love.
Of course, the highlight of every Christmas celebration are the gifts. The fun starts during the shopping period as people think of the most thoughtful items to give their loved ones. Sometimes they opt to send over home-made food gifts, like a Pizza Pasta or Sushi Bake, to show their appreciation, especially those who can’t celebrate with friends or family in person.
On Christmas day, the joy continues as kids and kids-at-heart excitedly open their gifts. Their smiles and thank-you messages make gift giving all the more worth it.
Just seeing the joy, love, and excitement in everyone’s faces, make the celebration all the more worthwhile, memorable, and priceless. Capping off the Christmas eve surrounded by the comfort and warmth of family and loved ones is truly what everyone could ever ask and hope for.
Whether one is going to small home gatherings with family and friends or celebrating virtually, the holiday spirit can still be felt in a lot of ways. It’s all about finding fun ways to show love and appreciation to family and friends this season -- from thoughtful gifts to inventive meals made with El Real pasta.
There are still a few days left to finalize Christmas plans. Make it more special by visiting Real Pastabilities by El Real for recipes that everyone at home will love. For more information, visit www.realpastabilities.com.
El Real Pasta is a product of Universal Robina Corporation (URC), makers of popular food and beverage brands such as Jack ‘n Jill Pitattos, Nips, Magic Flakes, C2 Cool and Clean and Great Taste Coffee.
Cool down with this yummy chocolate drink
There’s no better time to whip up your favorite choco treats today. Beat the heat with this easy-peasy chocolate banana smoothie. It’s made more special with the rich chocolate goodness of Swiss Miss.
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 pack Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate
Ice cubes
¾ cup evaporated milk
Whipped cream/sprinkles (optional)
Instructions:
1. Using a blender, mix in banana, Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate, ice cubes and evaporated milk.
2. Blend until all the ingredients are smooth.
3. Pour into a glass and top it off with whipped cream and/or sprinkle with toppings or drizzles like caramel or chocolate syrup.
You can enjoy the rich chocolate goodness of Swiss Miss as it is, or you can put a twist to it like this smoothie recipe. You’re free to experiment and share your own Swiss Miss creations by posting them online. If you want to discover more recipe ideas like this, follow @SwissMissPH on Facebook.
Discounts on holiday munchies
Welcome good times and good vibes
After almost two years of staying home to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, we look forward to re-engaging with friends and family we haven’t seen face-to-face in a long time – preferably over good food in a safe and relaxing space outside our home or computer screen.
With this in mind, seasoned restaurateurs Annabella and Martin Wisniewski of the Raintree Hospitality Group – together with corporate chef Kalel Chan- recently launched Jones All Day.
Jones All Day is more than just a restaurant. It’s an all-day dining space serving scrumptious breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, and dinner options. It’s the perfect place to reunite with loved ones because Jones All Day has something to offer for every kind of diner – whether you’re looking forward to family get-togethers with a hearty meal, catching up with friends over wine and tapas, having an intimate night out with your special someone, unwinding with colleagues after a long day at work, or celebrating the weekend with amigas over brunch and mimosas. It even has a raw bar with the freshest oysters and seafood this side of BGC available every day, a bakery constantly stocked with mouthwatering items straight out of the oven, and an artisan retail store.
It features some of Chef Kalel’s best work as its signature dishes, including starters like Jones Burrata (locally made burrata with roasted pumpkin yogurt hummus, kale basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, pickled pimentos, and rocket), Pacific Oysters (Aklan oysters served on ice, Rock-a-fella with spinach and hollandaise, or Katsu Dynamite-style, which means oysters topped with Sriracha mayo, unagi sauce, and ikura), and the Jones Seafood Tower (a seafood behemoth made of shrimp cocktail, pacific oysters, blue mussels, salmon and tuna sashimi, Coctel de Mariscos, spicy tuna dynamite, pickles, horseradish, aguacate, marinated seaweed, fresh lemon and lime, chips, wonton crackers, and nori sheets).
For those who are looking for something light yet satisfying, try the Jones Vegan Bowl (a totally vegan dish made of plant-based kofta, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, basil, cilantro, cabbage, carrots, onions, crispy garbanzos, plant-based Caesar dressing, and passion fruit & herb vinaigrette) or Smoked Pepper Turkey Reuben (with house-made purple kraut, remoulade, and pickles, topped with Emmental cheese, mozzarella all between sesame rye and served with whole-grain mustard on the side).
If you’re in the mood for classics with a Jones twist, make sure to get the Jones Beef Tapa (char-grilled US top blade beef with tapa sauce topped with crispy garlic chili; served with garlic rice, two cage-free eggs the way you want them, and cucumber atchara, grilled tomatoes, and vinegar dip on the side), House-Made Handkerchief Pasta (with guanciale, butter, organic egg yolks, and finished with malagos pecorino), or Chef Kalel’s Truffled Mushroom Roast Chicken(half-chicken stuffed with mushroom tapenade served with light chicken jus and creamy mashed potatoes, haricots verts, and shiitake on the side).
Just like their latest venture in Tagaytay City, The Farmer’s Table, Raintree Hospitality Group’s new all-day bistro and bakery will feature a retail space called the Jonesery to sell locally made and sourced artisanal goods from talented and hardworking small and medium Filipino enterprises. With Jones All Day, the Raintree Hospitality Group is once again poised to redefine dining during the “new normal” and address the need for safe spaces within the metro where responsible diners can have a sense of normalcy, dine with peace of mind, and savor well-prepared food while nourishing their bodies.
Jones All Day Bistro & Bakery is located at the ground floor of Serendra Piazza, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. It is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. For updates, like and follow @JonesAllDayPH on Facebook and Instagram.
Chowking now offering Taiwan’s ‘best milk tea’ in the Philippines
Taiwan’s “best milk tea” brand is coming to the Philippines. Chowking, Chinese restaurant chain, is now offering Milksha milk tea. Also known by the brand name Milkshop in Taiwan, Milksha is one of the world’s best milk tea brands. It was voted as the “No.1 Milk Tea Brand” by university students in Taiwan and recognized as “The Best Reviewed” milk tea brand by Daily View, a known online media platform in Taiwan.
Founded by Peter Huang, Milksha is driven by its mission to offer “Fresh, Natural, and Handmade Beverages”. It achieves this by using natural and fresh ingredients, without any preservatives or chemical additives. Milksha prides itself in using fresh, high quality milk as a base for its beverages.
From its founding in Tainan City in Taiwan in 2008, this milk tea brand has continued to grow and establish its presence locally and overseas. Milksha now has over 250 outlets, in Taiwan, Hongkong, Melbourne, Vancouver, and Singapore.
Now, these same fresh, all-natural Milksha beverages will be exclusively available over the counter and for delivery in select Chowking stores around Metro Manila.
Last November 6, Chowking opened its first Milksha counter in Betterliving in Paranaque and saw strong reception for the brand. Milksha will soon be made available in Chowking stores in SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, Unciano Center and Marcos Highway in Antipolo City, Fairview Regalado and Roces in Quezon City, Annapolis Albany in San Juan, Bonifacio Stop Over and Petron C5 Diego Silang in Taguig City, and Valenzuela City Hall in Valenzuela City.
“Our goal is to give Filipinos a taste of what gold standard milk tea should be. We want to offer a unique and satisfying milk tea experience to our customers. With the use of premium ingredients, meticulous preparation process, and the delicious and indulgent taste of Milksha flavors, this new Chowking offering is expected to be a hit with foodies and milk tea lovers alike,” said Chowking Milksha Brand Director, Ariane Valinton.
Chowking is offering five flavors of Milksha drinks, including Honey Pearl Black Tea Latte, Black Tea Latte with Pudding, Valrhona Cocoa Milk, Signature Taro Milk, and Wintermelon Lemon. The honey pearls are Milksha’s signature toppers. Milksha’s pearls are soaked in honey for that unique and natural burst of honeyed sweetness in every chew. Delivered fresh from Taiwan, these pearls are free from preservatives. They are prepared meticulously daily to ensure each pearl is perfectly translucent and bouncy.
Like the honey pearls, the black tea used in creating Milksha’s Honey Pearl Black Tea Latte are always freshly prepared on-site. This premium black tea blend, which has an invigorating floral aroma, is finished off with the smoothness of fresh milk. Milksha Black Tea Latte can be topped off with its very own pudding, which is also fused with fresh milk for that soft, smooth, and creamy mouth feel.
For its indulgent Valrhona Cocoa Milk, Milksha uses Valrhona cocoa from France. Valrhona is a known high-grade luxury chocolate brand established by French pastry chef Albéric Guironnet. Every cup feels like a rich, and addictive chocolate experience. Far from your regular chocolate drink, Valrhona Cocoa Milk delivers a strong cocoa taste, yet perfectly balanced with sweet and creamy milk.
Signature Taro Milk is one of Milksha’s top sellers in Taiwan—for good reason! It uses high quality taro from selected regions in Taiwan. With each sip, customers will taste the earthy all-natural flavor of taro blended with rich and creamy milk.
Milksha’s Wintermelon Lemon boasts of the right blend of sweet and sour. It is made with sweet, fruity wintermelon syrup brewed from fresh wintermelons and is mixed with the tangy, citrusy flavor of Taiwanese lemon juice.
On November 4, Jollibee Group disclosed that it will purchase, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Jollibee Worldwide, Pte. Ltd. (JWPL), a majority stake in the firm that owns Milksha. Jollibee Group will purchase shares equivalent to 51% ownership in Milkshop International Co. Ltd. (Milkshop) for approximately USD12.8 million. One of the co-founders of Milkshop will continue to retain the 49% ownership of Milkshop. Chowking is part of the Jollibee Group, one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world.
Make holidays sweeter with Oreo collection teas
If you like your milk tea sweet and decadent, a cup of Oreo milk tea will never disappoint. This thick and creamy vanilla drink mixed with tea and topped with crushed cookies is the perfect drink to sweeten up your days.
This holiday season, Frotea invites everyone to ring in this time of celebration with its Oreo Collection Series, showcasing the diversity of this famous cookie in three unique drinks. Check out these three delicious drinks from Frotea’s Oreo Collection Series with something everyone in the family can enjoy.
For all the milk tea lovers who prefer their drink sweet and straightforward, the Oreo Milk Tea is the perfect way to introduce the world-famous cookie into your lineup of go-to drinks. The drink features the classic flavors of Taiwanese milk tea blended with the sweet cream-filled sweetness of Oreo and topped with crushed cookies.
Meanwhile, milk tea lovers who can’t get enough of pastries are in for a treat, as they can experience the best of both worlds this season with Frotea’s Oreo Cheesecake and Oreo Creampuff milk tea.
Satisfy your cravings for the rich and luscious taste of cheesecake accompanied with the unmistakable flavor of Oreo with the Oreo Cheesecake milk tea. This decadent treat offers an irresistible melt-in your-mouth experience.
But if there’s one drink that will really get you into the holiday spirit, it’s the Oreo Creampuff milk tea. With its decadent and smooth flavor, combining the texture of cream puffs with cookies and cream, this irresistible treat is perfect when paired with your favorite Frotea sinkers.
Make the Frotea Oreo Collection a must-have at every event worth celebrating this holiday season and experience a sweet blend of flavors with each sip!
Get with the holiday festivities and satisfy your milk tea fix this holiday season with Frotea’s Oreo series. Frotea has over 23 branches nationwide in Luzon and Visayas with deliveries available via FoodPanda or through the official Frotea website. Follow Frotea on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
With milk tea drinks and fruit juices made with authentic ingredients from Taiwan, Frotea offers beverages to fit every unique lifestyle. Founded in 2012 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Frotea is rapidly expanding now with 23 branches in Luzon and Visayas.
Booze with benefits
Let’s admit it. Even if restaurants and bars are gradually reopening their doors to the public, there are still people who are not yet completely comfortable with the idea of socializing in crowded places again.
After almost two years of contenting ourselves with socially distanced events with lean guest lists, celebratory drive-bys, and virtual reunions, people have simply grown accustomed to the “new normal” way of entertaining and celebrating, In the post-pandemic world, you’re more likely to get invited to someone’s house (or backyard) than to an indoor events venue.
There’s no doubt that the pandemic upended our way of life and our way of thinking, but this should not stop us from rediscovering the things that the global health crisis forced us to forget, like celebrating the special occasions and milestones in our life, with a delightful drink in hand, of course.
And what better way to celebrate our “better normal” than to chug an ice-cold Heineken, which undoubtedly has been the star of celebrations everywhere for years!
For the upcoming holiday season, the trusted beer brand has partnered with Drinkies.Ph to help you pull off a super chill, hassle-free drinking party at home.
For the uninitiated, Drinkies.Ph is an e-commerce website that strives to be a hassle-free, reliable, and prompt delivery service for consumers looking to have their favorite alcoholic beverages and distilled spirits delivered right at their doorstep.
Whether you’re a party of two or a party of 10, Drinkies.Ph has something for you: beer, wine, rum, bourbon, scotch, brandy, cognac, vodka, soju too and even mixers.
And here’s a factoid that may seal the deal for you: Drinkies.Ph users can expect their favorite beers to arrive fast and cold. And for your other orders to be delivered quickly too.
Aside from the usual Heineken beers in bottles or in cans, you can also opt for your own Heineken 5-liter Keg, or if you’re feeling a little extra, you can rent The Draught Kit featuring an 8-liter Keg with Blade
Machine, a fancy, shiny toy that will allow you to play bartender for the day (or night).
Here’s a bunch of other deals that Heineken has prepared for its loyal patrons ordering through Drinkies.Ph: If you buy one (1) 5-liter Keg during the 12.12