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July 26, 2013
1:40 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Delicious Donuts’ 12th Store Opens at Glorietta 2

Mr. Green Tea, one of the top-selling donuts of J.CO Donuts & Coffee

DOUGHNUT lovers, rejoice! J.CO Donuts & Coffee has just opened its 12th store in the Philippines at Glorietta 2 in Ayala Center, Makati City, last Wednesday (June 24, 2013). It’s conveniently located on the ground floor of the newly renovated mall, occupying a strategic corner fronting SM Makati and Fairmont Hotel and enjoying the high foot traffic of its location.

Now the fastest growing donut and coffee chain not only in the Philippines but throughout Southeast Asia, the Indonesian-based J.CO Donuts & Coffee was established in 2005 and has through the years expanded into a network of 125 branches in Indonesia, 12 branches in Malaysia, four branches in Singapore and two branches in China. Its success in the region made it inevitable for J.CO Donuts to reach Philippine shores, and it did so in 2012, when the first J.CO Donuts shop in the Philippines opened at SM Megamall. There was no turning back since then, with donut lovers shifting allegiance to the new Asian brand and really queueing up for its delicious donuts with quirky names. It became so popular that more branches had to be opened in SM Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 3, TriNoma, SM City Fairview, Alabang Town Center, Eastwood City, SM City North EDSA, The District-Cavite, Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City and SM City Pampanga.

Alcapone

Green Tease

Oreology

Avocado Dicaprio

Blueberry More

This week, when J.CO Donuts’ 12th store opened in Glorietta 2, queues quickly formed, affirming the Filipinos’ love affair with its soft and freshly cooked donuts, with its signature Alcapone donut, which is a simple donut glazed with white Belgian chocolate and topped with crunchy almond slices from California, as the top-selling variant. Personally, this is my favorite donut flavor because I like my donut simple and classic and I love almonds. When I want flavor in my donut, I go for Green Tease (white chocolate web with green tea cream topping), Mr. Green Tea (matcha green tea with toasted almond bits), Oreology (white chocolate topping fully covered with ground bits of dark Oreo), Avocado Dicaprio (avocado delight with a rich chocolate garnish) or Blueberry More (cream cheese filling, blueberry sauce and white chocolate topping).

Jacky Chunk

Creme La Fame

Choco Caviar Strawberry

Berry Spears

Forest Glam

Don Mochino

Other donut flavors that are available at J.CO Donuts include Glazzy (honey-glazed soft-bite donut), Jacky Chunk (peanut-dark chocolate combo topping on a Glazzy donut), Jcoccino (cappuccino-chocolate combination studded with nuts on the outer edge), Sesame Stripes (matcha chocolate topping drizzled with sesame), Hi Lychee (topped with luscious lychee-white chocolate mint and filled with delicate cream), Don Mochino (luscious cappuccino cream filling and dark Belgian chocolate), Tiramisu (tiramisu-flavored filling and topped capped off with a light sprinkling of cocoa powder), Berry Spears (cream cheese filling, strawberry sauce and white chocolate topping), Forest Glam (lush Black Forest toppings of cherries, dark chocolate and confectioners’ sugar), Crunchy Crunchy (chocolate topping with crunchy chocolate rice crispies), Crème La Fame (crème brûlée wrapped in toasted caramel), Choconutzzy (twisty blend of choco-nut filling and topping) and Choco Caviar Strawberry (strawberry-chocolate topping with crisp chocolate bits).

Hi Lychee

Choconutzzy

Chunky Chunky

Tiramisu

These donuts sell at Php42 per piece, Php230 for Half a Dozen donuts, Php350 for One Dozen donuts and Php550 for Two Dozens donuts.

J.CO Donuts is also popular for its savory J.Club Cheezy Rich donut sandwich, which is like an ensaymada generously topped with grated cheese, whose price is Php45 per piece; as well as its J.Pops Baby Donuts packaged in boxes of two dozen pieces at Php250 per box.

The donuts are best enjoyed with J.CO Donuts’ signature drink, Jcoccino, a hot drink, or its ice-cold version, Jcoccino Frappe. There are quite a number of other hot and cold coffee, chocolate and tea-based drinks that go very well with the donuts.

Gita Herdi, marketing director of the Johnny Andrean Group, planed in from Indonesia to grace the Glorietta 2 store opening

All these are available at the new Glorietta 2 store, which occupies a spacious 236 square meters of floor space, and features new interior seating concepts that create cozy nooks for J.CO habitués as well as wrap-around al fresco dining spots on both of its store fronts where customers can enjoy the buzz of Makati from a laid-back point of view.

Gretchen Ho, Sam YG and Robi Domingo during the opening day of J.CO Donuts & Coffee’s Glorietta 2 store

On opening day, a short program was hosted by Sam YG, radio jock of Magic 89.9, with celebrity couple and J.CO lovers Gretchen Ho and Robi Domingo as special guests. Gita Herdi, marketing director of the Johnny Andrean Group, also graced the opening, jetting in all the way from Indonesia for the event.

More branches of J.CO will soon open at Araneta Center, UPIS Katipunan Ave., U.N. Ave., SM Southmall, Greenhills and General Santos City.

Posted in Restos Tagged Gita Herdi, Gretchen Ho, J.CO Donuts & Coffee, J.CO Donuts' 12th store at Glorietta 2, Johnny Andrean Group, Robi Domingo, Sam YG

July 25, 2013
4:33 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Widus Resort and Casino:
De Luxe Staycation Destination in Clark

The whole range of colorful Prism Cocktail Madness drinks with glow-in-the-dark ice cubes available at Widus Resort and Casino’s Prism Lounge

EVERY now and then, we need to break away from the routine of our everyday lives to relax and recharge and not fall into the trap of feeling burned-out. Just recently, I did just that – take a break from work and go out-of-town for some much-needed R&R. My husband Raff and I hied off to Clark, Pampanga, with good friends Lualhati Fausto, Fernan Nebres and Lester Hallig of Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin’s Joseph Gonzales, Maan Pamaran and Noel Pabalate for an overnight staycation at Widus Resort and Casino. Well, it was still work-related, since we were doing a hotel and food feature on Widus (*pronounced “with us”), but it also afforded us some hours of leisure and relaxation away from the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila.

Widus Resort and Casino is a top business and leisure destination in Clark, Pampanga

A quiet part of the Widus lobby leading to the rooms

Cozy and comfy bed in a well-appointed guest room of Widus

The entertainment and lounging area of the room is right in front of the bed

The kitchen area

Widus is a de luxe class hotel accredited by the Department of Tourism, and it has earned the distinction of being named as one of the Top 13 Luxury Hotels and Top 25 Hotels in the Philippines by the prestigious travel website Tripadvisor.com. With a façade and interiors that reflect a refreshing ambiance inspired by the simple yet elegant characters of modern Asian design, Widus is a good place to go because of its proximity and accessibility from Manila. It’s just a two-hour drive from Manila, which means it’s very near, and yet it’s far enough to put you in a relaxed vacation mode. The resort hotel houses 119 rooms, 80% of which are suites and 20% are de luxe rooms designed to cater to the international market “required” by its strategic location, being just five minutes away from the Clark International Airport, where there are direct flights to and from Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and other key cities in Southeast Asia.

SUMPTUOUS MEALS

No, we didn’t go to the casino and gamble. We spent our time enjoying ourselves within the confines of the hotel because. Arriving in time for lunch, Widus general manager Alfred Reyes treated the group to a delightful sitdown lunch at Salt Resto, which is the main dining outlet of the hotel located at the lobby level. It has just been renovated and with its contemporary look, spacious dining room and live-kitchen concept and a wide selection of local and international dishes on its menu, Salt treats guests to a whole new dining experience.

Mussels Kilpatrick

Seafood Chowder

Salad Nicosia

Grilled Rosemary Chicken with Red Wine Gravy

Banana Shake

Our awesome lunch consisted of five courses: Mussels Kilpatrick (four pieces of baked mussels with bacon and cheese on half shells); Seafood Chowder (a rich and creamy seafood chowder soup that in itself is already filling); Salad Nicosia (salad greens with green beans, cherry tomatoes and black olives with balsamic vinaigrette and a generous chunk of pink tuna that has been seared on the outside); Grilled Rosemary Chicken with Red Wine Gravy Served with Cucumber, Mashed Potato and Sticks of Baguio Veggies for the main course; and a big Fruit Tart for dessert.

After lunch, we took a tour around the rooms of the hotel, visiting a De Luxe Room, a Family Junior Suite, a One-Bedroom Suite and the Presidential Suite. The rooms total 119 for now, but by the end of the year, it will shoot up to 233 rooms with the addition of 114 rooms from the new wing of the hotel, Tower 2, that is already under construction.

The additional rooms are necessary, not just to support the number of casino players that visit Clark, specifically the Widus Casino housed in the building right across the hotel, but also in anticipation of the higher traffic of travelers coming in via Clark International Airport, which is slowly but surely turning out to be the gateway to the North. Clark Freeport Zone itself is steadily gaining popularity with more duty-free shops opening and the presence of golf courses, wakeboarding facilities and Nayong Pilipino in the area. The additional rooms in the new wing of Widus will also come in handy once Widus’ new convention center is fully operational. The convention center is also being built at the moment and will be formally opened to the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market. The convention center should also be perfect as a venue for weddings, birthdays and other big celebrations.

The casino itself is always abuzz with activity, so that a restaurant, Malt Bar and Coffee Shop, can be found right inside the casino and it is open 24 hours daily to serve snacks, lunch , dinner, coffee and cocktails. To cater to the mid and upscale market of the casino, Widus is likewise putting up a steakhouse on top of the casino, and it will not just serve exquisite steaks but also offer a picturesque view of the golf course nearby.

Treatment room at Aisia Spa

Well-equipped Gym

A dip in the pool…

Towards the end of the room tour, we got to take a peek at Aisia Spa, where highly trained therapists massage guests’ stresses away using elite natural skincare products. Guests can either book a massage in the spa or opt for room service for the ultimate in comfort. We also paid a visit to the Gym, which occupied the room next to the spa. It was fully equipped with state-of-the-art gym equipment.

After a short rest in the room, where I got to check my email, write a blog post and finish two articles for FLAVORS Magazine while Raff went for a swim in the Pool with Noel and Maan, it was dinner time.

Tenderloin Steak

We headed back to Salt Resto, where Alfred had his chefs prepare another sumptuous meal for us. We had Caesar Salad for starters, followed by a delightfully light but flavorful Egg Drop Soup that set the tone for a Tenderloin Steak for the main course, with the waiter asking each of us how we wanted our steaks done. With an apologetic look at Alfred and a heartfelt “Sorry,” I said “Well done.” I know steaks are best enjoyed medium rare, but I can’t quite acquire the taste for it. If I must eat steak, I still prefer it fully cooked. We capped the meal with a platter of Fresh Fruits, with pineapple, melon and watermelon slices artistically arranged together on the plate.

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK COCKTAILS

What’s a night out of town without a cool night out? Well, we decided to proceed to Widus Resort and Casino’s Prism Lounge that stood next door to Salt at the lobby level. It’s a sophisticated and upscale bar and a perfect chill-out spot for guests who want to share a drink or two with family or friends, chill out and relax over good music and good company before retiring for the night.

Prism Lounge is the place to go for live entertainment and some drinks with family or friends in the evening

Inside Prism Lounge…

A duo providing live entertainment at Prism Lounge

There’s live entertainment, and we enjoyed the songs performed by the duo on stage on that day. We sang along to some of the songs while taking a sip of Prism Cocktail Madness. It’s a whole range of colorful and delightful cocktail drinks that had glow-in-the-dark ice cubes in them. We had the whole range – red, blue, green, yellow, orange and violet – and after having a feast taking pictures of them against a backdrop of darkness, we each reached for a cocktail, took a sip and compared notes of their taste profiles. By the time we were done with the drinks, we fished out the glow-in-the-dark ice cube in each glass and got to keep it. Alfred said we could. Guests who order these cocktail drinks do get to keep the ice cube.

A bit tipsy and gay, we called it a night and slipped into our own rooms to retire for the night.

RISE AND SHINE, BREAKFAST IS SERVED

The next morning, members of the media group trickled into Salt Restaurant for breakfast in twos or threes. It was an easy morning, and breakfast was at everyone’s leisure. Salt served buffet breakfast until 10:00 a.m., laying out a buffet spread of salads, cold cuts and appetizers, fresh fruits, eggs cooked any way you liked at the Egg Station, hot dishes off the chafing dishes, steamed dumplings and siopao from the Dimsum Corner, and hot and savory noodle soups from the Noodle Station. Because Koreans formed a huge percentage of Widus’ clientele, the breakfast buffet selections also included a number of Korean dishes, such as Kimchi, Kimbap and Jeyuk Bokum.

The breakfast buffet setup of Salt Resto

The dining area of Salt Resto

Kimbap

Hard Rolls

Seafood Noodle Soup

Sausage Cassoulet

Widus’ signature pastry, Ube Ensaymada

The bread and pastry section also laid out a generous spread of Hard Rolls, Wheat Rolls, Ensaymada, Pan de Coco, Chocolate Chip Muffins and Widus’ specialty, Ube Ensaymada.

With a full and satisfied tummy and renewed energy, we hit the road and headed back to Manila after a much enjoyed out-of-town staycation in Clark. We all need to take a much-needed break every now and then, and I’m glad I had one well-spent break in Widus, a de luxe staycation destination in Clark, Pampanga.

I shall be back.

(Widus Resort and Casino is located at Bldg. 5400 M.A. Roxas Highway, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, with telephone number (+63 45) 499-1000. The Makati Sales Office can be found at Unit 2311, Cityland Herrera Tower, 98 V.A. Rufino cor. Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City, with contact number 840-1430.)

Posted in Travel Tagged Aisia Spa, Alfred Reyes, breakfast buffets, Prism Cocktail Madness, Prism Lounge, Salt Resto, staycation destination in Clark Pampanga, Widus Resort and Casino, Widus Resort in Clark Pampanga

July 23, 2013
11:30 AM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

The Best Pistachio Gelato in Town!

Awesome Pistachio Gelato from Morelli’s Gelato Caffè at Shangri-La Plaza’s new East Wing

YES, you’ve tried a lot of pistachio gelatos in the metro, and quite a number of them have turned out to be good. But good isn’t good enough, and you’ve never had the best pistachio gelato in town until you’ve tried the pistachio gelato of Morelli’s Gelato, whose first caffè is opening at the newly opened East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza tomorrow (July 24, 2013).

Morelli’s Gelato Caffè

Morelli’s Italian master gelatiere Gino Soldan flanked by Global Restaurant Concepts Inc.’s Manuel Zubiri, Griffith Go and Archie Rodriguez

Morelli’s Gelato actually opened its first Philippine outlet at the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati, late last year. It was just a kiosk, but it was Morelli’s first outlet in Southeast Asia, and it quickly became a hit. Brought to Manila by the Global Restaurant Concepts Inc. (GRCI) led by its president and CEO Archie Rodriguez, it’s a U.K.-born brand whose gelato-making traditions date back to 1907 and has been called by Conde Nast as the “Best Gelato in London.” Italian immigrant to the United Kingdom Giuseppe Morelli started by selling his homemade gelato from the back of his bicycle in 1907 and, today, it has transformed into a major player in the ice cream industry, with fifth-generation Bibi Morelli now serving as the continuing family enterprise’s business leader and with the brand making a strong presence not only in the U.K. but also in Monaco, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Rodriguez himself ‘discovered’ Morelli’s Gelato in one of his trips to London, where he craved for gelato and, before heading back for Manila, visited London’s famous Harrods to have a scoop of gelato. People were queueing up, and he waited patiently for his turn. It turned out to be so good that his initial plan to have just one scoop became two, three, four and, finally, five. Pistachio and Nocciola (Hazelnut), two of Morelli’s most popular flavors, were among those he tried, and he fell in love with the them. So, upon his return to Manila, he talked to his partners at GRCI, Manuel Zubiri and Griffith Go, about bringing in the brand, and they did.

Pistachio Gelato

Hazelnut Gelato

Strawberry Gelato

Banana Gelato

Caramel Dulce de Leche Gelato

Morelli’s Gelato Caffè comes up with unique Monthly Special gelato flavors on a regular basis

“I tried over a hundred scoops of just Pistachio and Hazelnut gelato in Rome, Tuscany and other places, and Morelli’s had the best, especially the Pistachio. It’s really different,” explains Zubiri, who sat down with members of the local food media over a light lunch of Parma Ham with French Brie Cheese with Mixed Leaves and a Basil Pesto Crostini, Fresh Mozzarella with Sweet Cherry Tomatoes and Fresh Basil, and Smoked Salmon Panini with Crème Fraiche and Fresh Rocket today (July 23, 2013).

Gorgonzola and Honey Gelato

Chunky Peanut Butter Gelato

The first gelato that was served today was a new ‘invention’ by Rodriguez and Morelli’s Italian master gelatiere Gino Soldan, who’s in town to help train the staff of Morelli’s Gelato Caffè at Shangri-La Plaza. It’s Gorgonzola and Honey Gelato, and it was delectably gourmet. Today was the first time that Soldan made a batch of this flavor, but since it turned out to be good, it would now make it to the official roster of gelato flavors of Morelli’s Gelato Caffè.

But when we finally got our own scoops of Pistachio Gelato, it instantly became everyone’s favorite. True to Rodriguez and Zubiri’s promise, it’s the best Pistachio Gelato I’ve ever tasted. While other Pistachio gelatos I’ve tried in the past turned out to be big disappointments, as they were either too creamy or milky and the pistachio taste was just a hint or so, Morelli’s Pistachio Gelato was awesomely delicious. Pure, smooth, flavorful! A spoonful in your mouth is like liquefied roasted pistachio nuts that have been pounded into a puree and churned in a gelato machine. There are no pistachio bits, but the full-bodied flavor of pistachio is in the gelato itself. You must try it!

Other flavors that we got to try in single scoops were Hazelnut and Peanut Butter.

Celestina gelato sundae

Vesuvio gelato sundae

Manila Special gelato sundae

Members of media also got to try Morelli’s gelato sundaes, including Celestina, Vesuvio and Manila Special.

Celestina (Php250) is chocolate, strawberry and soft vanilla gelato covered with chocolate sauce, fresh banana slices and strawberries, and served with fresh whipped cream and an ethereal mist.

Vesuvio (Php495) is soft vanilla gelato served with chocolate cake, topped with chocolate sauce, caramelized almond and an ethereal mist.

Manila Special (Php450) is soft vanilla, banana and coconut gelato, served with caramel dulce de leche sauce, condensed milk, Piemonte hazelnuts and coconut flakes.

Gelato sundaes are served in exquisite Murano glasses imported from Italy

There are a lot of other gelato sundaes to try, all served in exquisite Murano glasses from Italy. Diners can also just take a look at the gelato flavors available in the refrigerated display and order their gelatos by scoops – one scoop in cone or cup for Php120, two scoops for Php170 and three scoops for Php210. Toppings can also be added for Php20. Considering the fact that Morelli’s gelatos are natural, with only the best ingredients available going into the making of each batch of gelato, contain approximately 11% fat and only 120 calories per scoop, have no hydrogenated fats nor artificial flavors, and are made fresh daily, the prices are surprisingly reasonable. At Harrods in London, one scoop of Morelli’s Gelato costs £4, which is equivalent to roughly Php265.

Dark Chocolate Bonbons

Morelli’s cakes from its Pasticceria

Delizie with strawberry topping

Delizie with hazelnut topping

Morelli’s Gelato also serves Bonbons (soft serve vanilla balls covered with Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or White Chocolate), Piccolinis (small cones with a scoop of gelato covered in chocolate ) and Choc’Amore (chocolate-coated gelato bars on stick), Frozen Yogurt, Sorbetto Cocktails (Morelli’s sorbets blended with spirits such as vodka and rum), Extra Thick Milkshakes, Italian Wines, Coffee and Tea, and Delizie (light gelato mousses served in chocolate cups).

(Morelli’s Gelato Caffè is located at Level 2 of Shangri-La Plaza’s new East Wing.)

Posted in Restos Tagged Archie Rodriguez, Bibi Morelli, Celestina, Gino Soldan, Giuseppe Morelli, Global Restaurant Concepts Inc., Griffith Go, hazelnut or nocciola gelato, Manila Special, Manuel Zubiri, Morelli's Gelato, Morelli's Gelato Caffè at Shangri-La Plaza's East Wing, pistachio gelato, Vesuvio

July 22, 2013
12:40 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

The Journey to Wellness Begins
with Good Nutrition and Regular Exercise

At the presscon for the 2013 nestlé Choose Wellness Expo, from left: Sandra Puno, communications director, and Leslie Go-Alcantara, corporate wellness unit head, Nestlé Philippines Inc.; Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales; and fitness expert Coach Jim Saret

DID you know that when you walk at a speed of 2kph, you are able to burn 63 calories in 30 minutes? If you step it up a bit and go biking at 8kph, you burn a total of 78 calories in 30 minutes. But if you run at the same 8kph speed, you burn a whopping 246 calories. Different activities burn different amounts of calories, and the more active you are, the more calories you burn and the fitter you become.

To achieve optimal health and fitness, however, you cannot just be focusing on physical activity. You’ve got to have a good and well-balanced nutrition, too, and that means eating right. Achieving wellness can be done through a combination of nutrition and physical activity.

This was exactly the theme of the 2013 Nestlé Choose Wellness Expo which took place at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City last July 13 and 14, 2013. The major health and wellness expo, now on its sixth year, revolved its activities around the theme How to Achieve Wellness through a Balance of Nutrition and Physical Activity. It’s a seemingly simple theme that actually poses a real challenge to everyone.

“In 2005, our research showed that consumers equated wellness with more physical activity. However, consumer outlook changes over time. Now, when talking about wellness, consumers recognize the importance of food intake,” explains Leslie Go-Alcantara, corporate wellness unit head of Nestlé Philippines Inc., which organized the major annual health and wellness expo in observance of Nutrition Month this July.

Nestlé Philippines has nurtured generations of Filipino families with products that promote Nutrition, Health and Wellness, and these brands include Nescafé Classic (coffee that has only 6 calories), Milo (chocolate drink with protomalt that gives kids more energy), Bear Brand (milk that contains iron to help kids perform better in school), Nido (with protein, calcium and zinc to help kids grow taller), Coffee-Mate (has zero transfat), Maggi (contains 40% less sodium than table salt), and Chuckie (with Calci-N, a proprietary ingredient of Nestlé for better calcium absorption).

“With a heritage of good nutrition and its unmatched global scientific R&D network, Nestlé is committed to partnering with you on your journey to wellness. In our long-term advocacy of Nutrition, Health and Wellness, we want to reach out to different sectors of society, guided by the evolving attitudes and needs of consumers,” says Sandra Puno, director of communications of Nestlé Philippines Inc., in the press conference that immediately preceded the Nestlé Choose Wellness Expo.

Nestlé started this advocacy internally with its employees in 2004, helping them gain a deeper understanding of wellness and identify their personal wellness goals. The next step was to establish linkages with networks of nutritionists, dieticians and healthcare professionals through congresses in key cities in which wellness concerns and issues were discussed and addressed. The company has also worked with selected schools to improve nutrition for their students in school canteens as well as help other companies set up wellness programs for their employees to help improve their health status, quality of life and productivity.

The advocacy grew bigger when Nestlé started organizing outdoor wellness activities offering fitness exercises on a continuing basis. It also began offering sampling and promotions in supermarkets and other stores nationwide to provide free nutritional consultations for more than 6 million shoppers. Just recently it has partnered with FITFIL, the Fit Filipino Movement led by fitness expert Coach Jim Saret, via FITFIL Boot Camps. It has also tapped Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales to help Nestlé spread the word about health and nutrition through TV info-mercials.

Nutrition counseling given by professional nutritionist-dieticians during the 2013 Nestlé Choose Wellness Expo

One of the challenges during the wellness expo — whoever can hold the position shown by the mime the longest wins a prize

Wellness Quiz Bee

Limbo Rock at the Nestlé Bear Brand Katibayan ng Tibay booth

Nestlé Acti-V Gogo Game “electrifying” its participants with prizes and surprises

Maggi Magic Sarap Word Game

Nesfruta Wave Wave Wave on-screen game

The annual Nestlé Choose Wellness Expo, though, remains to be one of the company biggest and most ambitious efforts to put its nutrition and wellness message across, and this year’s event was no exception. People from all walks of life attended the two-day affair, which had nutritionist-dieticians doing nutrition counseling, lots of quizzes and Q&As to impart more nutrition knowledge with them, lots of product samplings and giveaways, and even more games, prizes and surprises that encouraged physical activity and at the same time subtly imparted more nutrition information to the participants. There was dancing, circus games, Limbo Rock, Wave Wave Wave, even mimes and photo booths to keep everyone actively busy. Quite a number of the participants got to bring home freebies, such as umbrellas, 2-liter pitchers, and Nestlé products.

The Nestlé Choose Wellness Expo also served as a venue for Nestlé Philippines to share its My Wellness Plate chart to help the general public determine what to eat to achieve good nutrition. Half of the plate consists of Glow Foods (that keep you healthy), and these include fruits and vegetables; while one-fourth of the plate must be made up of Go Foods (that give you energy), including rice, pasta, corn, root crops, bread, noodles and cereals; and the remaining one-fourth being the portion for Grow Foods (that build your body), such as fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, egg, beans and nuts.

CALORIES BURNED

Good nutrition must be balanced with physical exercise, and here’s how many calories you actually burn when engaged in everyday activities for 30 minutes:

• Lying quietly – 42 calories
• Sitting and writing – 51 calories
• Walking at 2kph – 63 calories
• Biking at 8kph – 78 calories
• Standing with light work, cleaning – 111 calories
• Swimming at 20 strokes per minute – 129 calories
• Recreational badminton – 147 calories
• Dancing – 183 calories
• Hiking at 5kph – 183 calories
• Playing basketball – 201 calories
• Running at 8kph – 246 calories

MYTHS DEBUNKED

Go-Alcantara also used the Nestle Choose Wellness Expo as a venue to debunk five common food myths that can interfere with a sound diet:

Myth #1: Rice that is bahaw or has stood for some time is fattening.
Fact: This is not true. All food, when eaten in excess, is fattening because of the intake of unnecessary calories.

Myth #2: Drinking cold water can make fat congeal and cause a blockage in the heart.
Fact: In reality, water cannot cause fat to solidify when you drink it, because it takes on the same temperature as the body. Actually, cold water is easier for the body to absorb than warm or hot water.

Myth #3: Sugar causes diabetes.
Fact: The three major factors that cause diabetes are being overweight or obese, family history, and lack of physical activity.

Myth #4: It is bad to eat sugar and sweet food every day.
Fact: This is a misconception. According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the recommended daily intake of sugar is the equivalent of 5 to 8 teaspoons. There are no good foods and bad foods. Moderation, variety and balance are key to a healthy diet.

Myth #5: If you want to lose weight, you should skip meals.
Fact: This is not a good practice. The proper way to lose weight is through moderation, variety and balance. Specifically, you need to make adjustments in your diet, so that you are not eating unwanted calories and your body is burning stored calories. Exercise should go hand in hand with your diet to make your body more fit and healthy.

THE PERFECT EXERCISE

Lastly, Coach Jim Saret also took the opportunity to teach everyone a good exercise regimen to follow every day. It’s something that even the busiest persons can follow because all it takes is 4 to 5 minutes daily to burn calories and keep the body fit and healthy.

The exercise regimen, in the exact order:

10 Jumping Jacks

10 Squats
10 Push-ups (*can be done against the wall instead of on the floor)
10 Lunges

As Go-Alcantara puts it, “We are on a journey of wellness together.” Nothing can be more true.

Posted in Health Tagged 2013 Nestle Choose Wellness Expo, burning calories through physical activity, Coach Jim Saret's exercise routine, fitness expert Coach Jim Saret, health myths and facts, Leslie Go-Alcantara, My Wellness Plate, Nestle Philippines Inc., proper nutrition and physical exercise, Sandra Puno, Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales, Wellness expo at SM Megamall's Megatrade Hall

July 21, 2013
3:37 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Shangri-La Plaza’s East Wing Opens Doors
to New and Exciting Dining Destinations

Paella Valenciana (Corazon)

SHANGRI-LA Plaza’s new wing, the East Wing, is now open, and with it comes a wide selection of new and exciting dining destinations. The East Wing, which stands right in front of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel where the open parking area used to be, is seamlessly connected to the Main Wing of the Shangri-La mall on all floors and is slowly but surely becoming known as the new gastronomic destination in the metro.

“As an established upscale lifestyle destination for the discriminating market, we recognize the need to constantly bring in new concepts that are in keeping with our mall guests’ evolving needs. Part of this is introducing distinct dining experiences that will excite our market,” explains Lala Fojas, executive vice president and general manager of Shangri-La Plaza, who recently toured members of media around the East Wing and organized a small food tour of four restaurants that can be found at the new upscale wing of the mall.

The F&B offerings have been aligned with the tenant mix of the new East Wing, as each floor is themed to organize the mix of shops and restaurants – the Lower Ground floor is themed Everyday Basics, and here is where Bread Talk, Gelatissimo, Jamba Juice, Krispy Kreme, Maple and Wee Nam Kee can be found to complement such stores as D&K Kitchen Essentials, Kitchen Works and Scribe Writing Essentials; Level 1 is Classic Luxury, with a combination of fashion boutiques, electronics, jewelry and watch stores and no F&B outlets here; Mid-Level 2/3 (as it is connected to both the second and third floors of the main mall) is themed Timeless Indulgences, so here is where you’ll find Gyukaku, Morelli’s Gelato and TWG Tea; Level 4 adheres to the Urban Sophisticate theme, and the restaurants on this level comprise of Balboa, Corazon by Chef Florabel Co, Greenpastures and Lombardi’s; Level 5 is the Hip & Chic floor, with 26th St. Bistro by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Akira, Ganso-Shabuway, Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen, Kettle, Spatzle, The Strip Hollywood Steakhouse, Wicked and Zao sharing the limelight in F&B offerings; and lastly, Level 6 is themed Leisure Haven, and its restaurant mix includes Arya Persian Restaurant, Johnny Rockets, Serenitea, Texas Roadhouse Grill, Woo Galbi and Zarzuela.

During the food tour led by Fojas and division manager for marketing Marline Dualan two weeks ago (specifically on July 9, 2013), the media group got to sample some of the specialties of Akira, Balboa, Corazon and Lombardi’s. Akira can be found on Level 5, while the three others make up the Chefs’ Area on Level 4.

AKIRA, THE ART OF SUSHI AND TEPPANYAKI

Akira is the brainchild of young but veteran restaurateurs Ricky Laudico and celebrity chef Marvin Agustin, who also own a host of other restaurants, such as Sumo Sam and Mr. Kurosawa. It is unique from most Japanese restaurants existing in the metro today in the sense that it focuses on teppanyaki to give diners a true teppanyaki grill experience featuring premium U.S. Wagyu, Japanese Wagyu, Kobe and Matsuzaka beef.

“We also serve U.S. scallops, salmon, and gindara, and, soon, Pacific baby lobsters,” says Laudico, who sat with members of media for short business chats.

Akira Roll

Ebi Nori Tempura

Steamed Gyoza

Akira also serves an extensive selection of salads, soups, noodles, a la carte dishes, sushi and sashimi, rolls, fried rice variations, bento and desserts. Its sushi and maki rolls are particularly creative and adventurous. I loved the Akira Roll (Php 32, which is kani (crabstick) and ebi tempura inside sushi rice, rolled in tobiko and topped with tempura bits, spicy Japanese mayo and mozzarella cheese. But my favorite was really the Ebi Nori Tempura (Php39, whose deep-fried batter turned out to be truly crisp and crunchy, perfectly cooked to a golden finish, and the nori bits that was whisked into the batter really left a refreshing nori taste on the palate.

Gyoza (Php228 for the Pork variant and Php328 for the premium Wagyu version), the classic Japanese dumpling, was also served during the food tasting session.

BALBOA PIZZA, PASTA AND STEAKS

From the same owners of Akira comes Balboa, which is named after Rocky Balboa, the character played by Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky film series.

As its name suggests, Balboa specializes in pizza, pasta and steaks. The menu is 80% Italian, while the remaining 20% is a mixture of European dishes, such as French and Spanish specialties, served in a very homey and cozy ambiance. For its pizza, Balboa makes its own dough, and it also ages its own steaks. Like Akira, it boasts of an extensive menu of starters, soups, salads, all-day breakfast selections,risotto, burgers, main courses and desserts to go with its pizza, pasta and steaks.

Spinach Artichokes

Monroe Salad

Parmesan Crusted Halibut with Wild Mushroom Risotto

Osso Bucco Milanese with Gremolata and Saffron Risotto

Lychee Pineapple / Carrot Pineapple

For the food tasting, Balboa laid out a spread comprised of Spinach Artichokes (Php269), a dip served with toasts for appetizer; Monroe Salad (Php309 for a solo serving and Php499 for a famiglia size), which had a good mix of Parma ham, gorgonzola cheese, pine nuts and arugula; Parmesan Crusted Halibut with Wild Mushroom Risotto (Php47, a perfect combination of light fish with crunchy Parmesan crust and risotto; and Osso Bucco Milanese (Php44, served with gremolata and saffron risotto.

CORAZON FILIPINO-HISPANO CUISINE

Corazon is the newest baby of celebrity chef Florabel Co, who also owns a number of other restaurants such as Florabel’s and Felix. It features a smorgasbord of sumptuous Filipino-Hispanic dishes. On the menu, therefore, diners will find such classic and popular Filipino dishes as Laing, Kare-Kare, Sinigang, Tinola, Sisig, Crispy Pata, Guinataang Kuhol and Balut, and Spanish dishes that Filipinos have come to love as their own, including Paella and Callos, but given contemporary twists and names.

Magellan or Baked Scallops with Garlic and Cheese

Castellano or Crispy Pata

Suman Latik with Batangas Tsokolate

The media group got to taste Magellan (Php395), baked scallops with garlic and cheese; Paella Valenciana (Php595), which hd prawns, squid, mussels, fish fillet, chicken, pork, chorizo, egg and vegetables; Castellano (Php685), which is actually Crispy Pata served in classic and spicy variants; and Suman Latik with Batangas Tsokolate, which are segments of suman on stick served in shot glasses of melted Batangas chocolate dip.

Corazon has colorful interiors and a spacious al fresco dining area outside for a truly delightful casual dining experience.

LOMBARDI’S AUTHENTIC ITALIAN

If you like delicious Italian style pizzas cooked in a brick oven, fresh pasta, homemade gelato and a good cup of Italian coffee, then Lombardi’s by Chef Davide Lombardi is a must-try. It serves authentic and sumptuous Italian classic dishes using only the freshest and finest ingredients possible. Aside from its whole range of brick-oven pizzas, the restaurant serves delicious pasta dishes using either Pasta Secca (dry pasta) or Pasta Fresca (fresh pasta). Yes, Lombardi’s offers fresh pasta – something that you don’t usually find in most pasta places in the metro.

Carpaccio di Manzo

Mozzarella in Carrozza with Arrabbiata Sauce

Pizza Aisalumi

Fettuccine alla Norma

Lombardi’s also serves an interesting array of Italian antipasti, including Carpaccio di Manzo (Php460), beef carpaccio marinated with lemon and olive oil and fresh Parmesan cheese; and Mozzarella in Carrozza with Arrabbiata Sauce (Php230), mozzarella loaf bread served with Arrabbiata sauce and salad.

Both were served during the recent media food tasting event, as well as Pizza Aisalumi (Php500), tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese with Italian ham: Prosciutto, Mortadella, Salame Milano and Coppa; , as well as Fettuccine alla Norma (Php480), tomato, ricotta cheese and eggplant, with spiral pasta.

And when the truly hearty and satisfying meal was over, cups of homemade Gelato (Italian ice cream) were served to everyone, who got all excited choosing the flavors that they liked.

MORE DINING CHOICES

Aside from Akira, Balboa, Corazon and Lombardi’s, Shangri-La Plaza’s new East Wing offers a whole lot more dining options for diners who are constantly on the lookout for new places to try. And more restaurant concepts, most of them unique to the East Wing, are coming.

Posted in Restos Tagged Akira, Balboa, Chef Florabel Co, Chfef Davide Lombardi, Corazon, Lala Fojas, Lombardi's, Marline Dualan, Marvin Agustin, Ricky Laudico, Shangri-La Plaza's dining destinations, Shangri-La Plaza's East Wing

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Delicious Donuts’ 12th Store Opens at Glorietta 2

Widus Resort and Casino: De Luxe Staycation Destination in Clark

The Best Pistachio Gelato in Town!

The Journey to Wellness Begins with Good Nutrition and Regular Exercise

Shangri-La Plaza’s East Wing Opens Doors to New and Exciting Dining Destinations

Pages

Archives

Log in / Log out

Widus Resort and Casino:
De Luxe Staycation Destination in Clark

The Journey to Wellness Begins
with Good Nutrition and Regular Exercise

Shangri-La Plaza’s East Wing Opens Doors
to New and Exciting Dining Destinations