Weekend food trip: 8 adventures for taste buds

MANILA, Philippines — Looking for something new to try for the weekend?

Check out these new offerings for foodies and #foodporn.

Sample award-winning Filipino food

Sagada coffee, produced from a province in Northern Philippines, has recently won an award in France, while Malagos chocolate from Southern Philippines has been invited to the prestigious Salon du Chocolat in France, says Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

To celebrate these feats and the 70th anniversary of Philippines-France diplomatic ties and interchange, DA, the French Embassy in Manila, and Stores Specialists Inc. launches the 6th Philippine Harvest at Central Square, Bonifacio High Street Central in Taguig City.

Running from September 22 to 24, the gastronomic market and festival aims to offer the best of both Filipino and French food.

According to Puyat, if the French has “Bon Apetit!,” Filipinos have an equal expression, “Kain na!” If the French is known for wines and cheeses, the Filipinos, too, have their own homegrown wines and cheeses and these can be sampled at the fair.

“It will be a showcase of quality fresh and processed agricultural products from the Philippines, side by side with the best of France,” says DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol. “We invite the support of the public to events such as this because they play an important role in the development of export-oriented agribusiness, which is a key requirement in the Philippine government’s bid to modernize the Filipino agriculture sector.”

In partnership with SSI, Philippine Harvest is part of the DA’s regular marketing activities that promote locally-grown farm and fishery products in the domestic market. It continues to be a venue for the DA to assist small- and medium-scale agri-entrepreneurs nationwide in terms of market linkage through the five editions that were successfully held at Central Square in BGC and Rustan’s Cubao in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Bon Appétit is a weekend food market being organized by the French Embassy in Manila in line with its “PhilFrance: Feel French!” campaign to celebrate the 70th year of strong bilateral partnership shared by the two nations.

For Philippine Harvest Meets Bon Appétit, DA has assembled 24 exhibitors from across the country to highlight the richness and diversity of the country’s organic, artisanal, natural, and indigenous agricultural products, including heirloom and organic colored rice from the Cordilleras; artisanal chocolates from Davao; cheese from Negros Occidental and Davao; fresh vegetables and fruits from Mindanao (Bukidnon and Davao) and Rizal; and coffee produced by the Tausug farmers from Sulu.

The French side, for its part, will sell their world-renowned cheese, wines, dairy and meat products, pastries, and other foodstuff to highlight their proud gastronomic and culinary tradition, which incidentally belongs to UNESCO's World Heritage List as an embodiment of "intangible" cultural heritage.

If the French have their cheese, Filipinos also have their own cheese produced mainly in Bacolod and in Davao.

Celebrate 20 years of Chinoy food

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Filipino-Chinese restaurant chain Hap Chan recently treated its first 100 diners to a free siopao. This, according to the chain, is to mark the business’ 20 years of good food and great memories.

Known for its Chinese delicacies, Hap Chan celebrates its 20th anniversary in the Philippines by treating customers to free siopao. Philstar.com/Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV

Asian food with twists

Two years has passed and Buku Buku Kafe, or “many books” in Bahasa, remains a top choice for foodies down south.  Founded back in October 2015 by mother-daughter-son trio (Lyn, Jessica, and Nicholas Santiago) as a reading space that doubles up as a coffee shop and a full-range dining hub, from its humble beginning as a neighborhood café in The District Mall in Cavite, the Kafe quickly expanded its horizon with its second branch at SM Southmall in Las Piñas City.

Now, more than just a traditional café, the Kafe is also a social platform for budding artists and musicians who are constantly looking for avenues where they can showcase their craft and at the same time, fuels the south community with inspiration and creativity.

As a testament to create convergence between culinary and art, the cafe introduces five new dishes inspired by Asian cuisine.

Brighten up days with smile cookies

For the first time this September, Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons will be sharing smiles with guests across the Philippines with the launch of its Smile Cookie Campaign. Starting on September 28 and until October 1, guests can purchase a delicious chocolate chunk Smile Cookie and the full amount will be donated to Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc., an organization that seeks to uplift the lives of orthopedically handicapped persons.

Established in 1996, the Smile Cookie Campaign began as an effort to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital in Ontario, Canada. Today, the Smile Cookie Campaign spreads joy across the globe as it continues to support local charities and community initiatives where Tim Hortons operates.

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization that seeks to uplift the lives of orthopedically handicapped persons. Founded by Sr. Valeriana Baerts, ICM, it offers rehabilitation and skills training to help people with disabilities become more self-reliant. Tahanang Walang Hagdanan’s core services include Mobility Aid Assistance training, Medical Assistance training and Livelihood Seminars.

All proceeds from these cookies will go to Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. Philstar.com/Jonathan Asuncion

Filipina bartender to represent Philippines in Asian bartending championship

“Winning is just a consolation; experience is the ultimate prize!” says Jolan Penafiel, the female bartender who bagged this year’s title as the 2017 TGI Fridays 22nd Shake, Rattle, And Pour Champion.

Penafiel brought home a plaque, a cash prize, the much-coveted propeller trophy and the privilege of representing the Philippines at the Asia-Pacific Barchamps to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia this October.

The winner of the regional tilt will then move on to compete at the World Bartending Competition to be held in Dallas, Texas next year. Penafiel is hoping that she will duplicate what Rizza Umlas accomplished in 2015. Umlas was adjudged World Bartending Champion, the first female and the youngest to be bestowed this title in the competition’s 26-year history of holding this exciting battle of the bartenders worldwide.

A 24-year old bartender from Fridays Greenbelt, Penafiel’s impressive bottle-spinning, drink-tossing techniques, precision, accuracy and speed in mixing drinks plus her captivating personality and charm under pressure made her stand out in this year’s competition.  She bested 18 other bartenders from all over the country in a relentless “battle of the bottles.”

TGI Fridays Philippines celebrates a heritage of champions as it is known to produce top bartenders who have won accolades in international competitions.

Jolan Penafiel, the female bartender who bagged this year’s title as the 2017 TGI Fridays 22nd Shake, Rattle, And Pour Champion.

Soy milk: A good source of amino acids

Cholesterol-free, lactose-free, and low in saturated fat, Vitasoy makes for an ideal drink for wellness seekers and fitness enthusiasts, complementing a healthy diet.

Snack and beverage manufacturing giant Universal Robina Corporation has partnered with Hong Kong-based Vitasoy Group to locally distribute the soy milk which is specially-formulated for the Filipino taste. It comes in original, chocolate and coffee flavors, which are available in easy-to-carry bottles. It also has soy protein, which is a rich source of all the essential amino acids needed for optimum nourishment.

Cholesterol-free, lactose-free, and low in saturated fat, Vitasoy makes for an ideal drink for wellness seekers and fitness enthusiasts, complementing a healthy diet.

Cookies as thin as chips

As we grow older, our taste palette matures too. It shows in the food we prefer. We explore for new tastes and sensations. Oreo Thins is a testament to the innovative experience of its local marketer, Mondelez Philippines Inc., which is celebrating its 54th year of catering to the snacking preferences of Filipinos. Mondelez Philippines saw an opportunity to propose an Oreo that has more crunch, same flavor, and a new young adult target audience.

The new Thins puts a modern and refreshing spin on your classic chocolate cookie. This grown-up version is a more sophisticated sandwich cookie, made of delicate, thinner cookies with a layer of signature cream. Being extra-light and ultra-sleek weighing only 5.9g and measuring only 7.2mm thin, it delivers a new eating experience available in vanilla and tiramisu flavors.

The new Thins puts a modern and refreshing spin on your classic chocolate cookie. 

Ramen from Osaka to Manila

Hanamaruken is a time-honored ramen chain that hails from the streets of Osaka, Japan. It is one of Tasteless Group’s “imports” and is famous for its Happiness Ramen, created by the family of butchers that owns the chain. The chain uses a specific cut of the soft bone meat in its signature ramen varieties, while also serving rice bowls and other Japanese food favorites unmatched in quality and flavor.

Found in TriNoma, The Grove by Rockwell, and Alabang Town Center, the ramen house offers new dishes that showcase fresh flavors that aim to highlight the quality of the ingredients, as well as emphasize bold, innovative combinations and flavor profiles.

A case in point is the Bacon, Tomato and Egg Soba, bouncy noodles are served sans the broth but tossed in a savory tomato oil, house tare, and seasonings, accompanied by thick-cut smoky bacon, tomato confit, and a gloriously runny poached egg.

For a light and refreshing take on noodles, try the Hiyashi Ebi with Soy Sesame Dressing, chilled noodles are dressed with a soy yuzu sauce with a hint of spice, speckled with cool cucumber for an added crunch and topped with succulent, blanched tiger prawns.

Also, there is Ebi Ramen, ramen noodles soaked in a rich and creamy prawn broth, briny and full of shellfish flavor, and are crowned with sweet, juicy pan-seared tiger prawns and aji tamago. This meat-less option is great for those who want to cozy up to a warm, steamy bowl of noodles but want to cut down on calories.

Hiyashi Ebi

— Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo