June 1, 2018
2:48 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Foodpanda Goes Green:
No Cutlery Unless You Need It

Foodpanda is revolutionizing the food delivery service industry by launching the "opt-in and opt-out" plasticcutlery option

Foodpanda is revolutionizing the food delivery service industry by launching the “opt-in and opt-out” plastic cutlery option

WHEN you order takeout or delivery, your food usually comes with a few sets of disposable cutlery. Sometimes, the cutlery included is one too many or, worse, not used at all. What’s worst is that disposable cutlery is made of plastic, and too much plastic is bad.

This is going to change now that foodpanda—an online food delivery service with over 27,000 partner restaurants in more than 190 cities across 12 Asian and Central Europe countries—has waged war against plastics by launching an opt-in and opt-out function for plastic cutlery. Starting this June (201Smilie: 8), customers of the food delivery service’s partner restaurants will have the option to say “no” to disposable cutlery. Since regular cutlery is readily available in most offices and homes, foodpanda is hoping this initiative will significantly reduce the use of plastic cutlery. The “no cutlery” option is being supported by more than 50 participating restaurant partners of foodpanda, such as S&R New York Style Pizza, Yabu, Tim Ho Wan and Frankie’s across its three key cities in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao.

foodpanda - Cutlery PR (20180525-2)The opt-in a opt-out cutlery function is the first step in the food delivery company’s efforts to reduce its impact on the environment. Other initiatives in the pipeline for the coming months include replacing plastic bags with brown paper bags and increasing the number of cyclists and walkers in the delivery fleet, with hopes that less motorized vehicles will be used in delivering food to customers.

These combined initiatives shall hopefully encourage customers to do away with plastic cutlery when they order food and therefore reduce the overall environmental impact of food and plastic wastage in the country.

“We hope that this campaign would encourage customers to opt out of disposable  cutlery since many of them are ordering food from their homes or offices. We estimate that this option can help reduce usage of plastic utensils by 30% in 2018,” says Iacopo Rovere, CEO of foodpanda Philippines.

Posted in FoodBiz, Restos Tagged , , ,

May 25, 2018
3:11 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Grape Salsa with Goat Cheese Crostini
(Welch’s)

Grape Salsa with Goat Cheese Crostini using Welch's 100% Grape Juice

Grape Salsa with Goat Cheese Crostini using Welch’s 100% Grape Juice

WHAT else can you do with Welch’s 100% Grape Juice besides drink it or make Grape Berry Crunch Muffins with it? You can also make Grape Salsa with Goat Cheese Crostini, which is sure to be a hit for cocktails hosted for family and/or friends.

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup Welch’s 100% Grape Juice
8 oz. goat cheese
225 grams cream cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup seedless grapes, quartered (red, green or a mix)
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 Tbsp. Jalapeño, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup red onion
1 Tbsp. lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 pc. baguette
cilantro for garnish

1. In a sauce pan, pour in balsamic vinegar and Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, and reduce in half or until mixture coats the back of a spoon. Cool down and set aside.
2. In a mixer with paddle attachment or in a bowl, mix together goat cheese, cream cheese, heavy cream together until light and fluffy. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in refrigerator.
3. In a bowl, add the quartered grapes, tomatoes, Jalapeño, cilantro, red onion, lime juice and the reduced grape juice. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in refrigerator.
4. Slice the baguette by 1/4-inch and arrange on a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Flip and repeat the process. Bake in a 350˚F oven until golden, about 5 to 8 minutes.
5. To assemble, spread the goat cheese on the crostini. Add a spoon of grape salsa and garnish with cilantro.

Yields 20 crostinis.

Posted in Appetizers, Recipes Tagged , , ,

May 24, 2018
11:12 AM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Grape Berry Crunch Muffins
(Welch’s)

Grape Berry Crunch Muffins using Welch's 100% Grape Juice

Grape Berry Crunch Muffins using Welch’s 100% Grape Juice

WHAT can you do with Welch’s 100% Grape Juice besides drinking it as it is? Well, you can make a shake or smoothie with it. Or, better yet, bake Grape Berry Crunch Muffins with the delicious juice! Here’s how:

1/2 cup low-fat granola
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup Welch’s 100% Grape Juice
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
1-1/2 cups Welch’s Frozen Blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or line with paper cups.
2. Place the granola in a heavy-duty plastic bag and crush it lightly with a rolling pin or other heavy object to break up any large clumps. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until blended.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together grape juice, egg, oil, sugar and lemon zest until incorporated. Add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients, blend and stir with a rubber spatula until homogenized. Fold in blueberries.
5. Fill prepared muffin cups about two-thirds full with batter. Sprinkle with the granola and pat it in lightly so that it adheres to the batter.
6. Cool muffins on wire rack. Serve warm or when cooled to room temperature.

Posted in Cakes/Pastries, Recipes Tagged , , ,

May 20, 2018
4:33 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Enjoy Savory Dim Sum
at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Assorted Steamed Dumplings

Assorted Steamed Dumplings

WHAT’S Chinese food without servings of delicious savory dim sum? The truth is that dim sum, when done properly, can be so good that you can build a whole meal solely around these savory treats.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Lung Hin may be best known for its authentic Cantonese cuisine, but it also takes pride in its dim sum offerings, as prepared by dim sum master chef Wong Chiu Lung. Hailing from Hong Kong, where the best dim sum is believed to come from, Chef Wong has mastered the art of making steamed, pan-fried and deep-fried dim sum.

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Garlic

Steamed Shrimp with Gold Leaf Dumplings

Steamed Pork Siomai with Truffle Sauce

Steamed Pork Siomai with Truffle Sauce

So dim sum lovers can now enjoy assorted dim sum treats, including steamed dumplings such as Scallop Dumplings, Spinach Dumplings, Shrimp Dumplings, Chui Chow, and simple but tasty Har Kou, which is also known as Shrimps with Gold Leaf Dumpling. Also on the menu are Filipino favorite Chicken Feet with XO Sauce, Pork Siu Mai with Truffle Sauce from the Yuan Dynasty, and Abalone Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Lotus Leaf associated very closely with the Dragon Boat Festival.

Steamed Pork Spare Ribs with Garlic

Steamed Pork Spare Ribs with Garlic

Baked Barbecued Pork Buns

Baked Barbecued Pork Buns

As for pan-fried and deep-fried dim sum, must-tries include Pan-fried Sesame Radish Cake with XO Sauce, Fried Taro Puff, and crowd favorite Baked Barbecued Pork Buns with their sweet and crisp but melt-in-the-mouth goodness.

Experience authentic Chinese dim sum dining at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Lung HIn Cantonese Restaurant

Experience authentic Chinese dim sum dining at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Lung HIn Cantonese Restaurant

Experience authentic Cantonese dim sum dining at the award-winning Lung Hin located at Level 44 of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila. The hotel can be found at Meralco Ave. corner Sapphire St., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, with telephone number (632) 720-7777.

Posted in FoodBiz Tagged , , ,

May 10, 2018
2:20 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

100% Grape Juice Keeps You Healthy

Welch's 100% Grape Juice

Welch’s 100% Grape Juice

IN today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it has become difficult to stay healthy. Long working hours, relentless traffic, unhealthy food, even beverage choices now lean more towards conveniently available but sugar-laden softdrinks.

According to research, the percentage of Filipino households who do not fulfill their dietary energy requirements continues to increase. The Food Consumption Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology in 2013, for example, reveals that 69.3% of Filipinos failed to fulfill their dietary energy requirements. This figure is higher by 2.4% from the result of the previous survey conducted in 2018 by the same agency.

Research also shows that Filipinos are able to meet only 39% of the daily 400 grams² of their fruit and vegetable requirements as recommended by the World Health Organization, thus raising their risk of developing lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disorders.

Welch's 100% Grape Juice, made from dark purple Concord grapes, comes in 1.89L and 295ml. bottles

Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, made from dark purple Concord grapes, comes in 1.89L and 295ml. bottles

The good news is that there are now alternatives to eating fruits and vegetables to augment one’s intake of such—100% fruit juices, such as Welch’s 100% grape juice. An 8 oz. serving of Welch’s 100% grape juice is equivalent to a whole cup of fruit and contains essential vitamins and minerals needed by the body to function well and prevent many chronic diseases. A total of 40 Concord grapes go into each 8oz.  glass of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice.

Drinking grape juice particularly provides more plant nutrients called polyphenols than eating grapes because making pure grape juice involves crushing grapes, including the seeds and dark purple skin, a process that releases more polyphenols. Polyphenols, which can be found in dark purple fruits, help promote good overall health and support a healthy heart in particular. Each 8oz. glass of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice contains 250mg. of polyphenols and is high in Vitamin C.

Pure fruit juice also only uses naturally occurring fruit sugars and contains no added sugar.

Welch’s advocates better nutritional choices for Filipino families by providing more than just 100% grape juice but also other healthy juice options that are refreshing to the palate and good for the body.

Erika Evaristo Rodriguez, VP-Marketing of Welch's Philippines

Erika Evaristo Rodriguez, VP-Marketing of Welch’s Philippines

“At Welch’s, we value what’s real, we value family, we value health and wellness. For over 140 years, Welch’s has been providing families around the world with products that bring a happy balance of goodness and deliciousness,” says Erika Rodriguez, vice president for marketing of Welch’s Philippines.

Welch’s juice drinks are available in retail outlets nationwide.

Posted in FoodBiz Tagged , , ,