It has been four years since PizzaExpress first opened its doors in Manila with their first branch at Uptown Bonifacio. Now with two branches under their belt, PizzaExpress Philippines continues their expansion with their third branch at Power Plant Mall, now open for dine-in, takeaway, and delivery. The newest Power Plant Mall branch joins the over 500 restaurants PizzaExpress currently has all over the world, which are located in 13 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Even with PizzaExpress’s numerous branches, the quality of their signature pizza and pasta remains consistent—after all, they’ve been serving hand-crafted pizzas made with the freshest ingredients and by skilled pizzaiolos since 1965. At the newest Power Plant Mall branch, you can expect the same excellent handcrafted pizza and delicious Italian fare. PizzaExpress signatures like the Le Rose and Truffle Pizza will be available, as well as The Good Green, their menu of plant-based pizza and pasta like the Beyond Teriyaki and the OmniPork Spaghetti Bolognese. Make sure to leave room for dessert: The Dough Balls With Nutella is a must-try.
PizzaExpress is really proud of its pizzas, its love for music, and supporting meaningful causes in the community. Each pizza is made to order by skilled Pizzaiolos (pizza chefs). Beautiful pizza served in a socially-responsible and creative environment; this truly is ‘Pizza in Style’.
PizzaExpress Power Plant Mall is located in 2F Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati and is available for delivery via GrabFood, Foodpanda, Pick-a-roo, bit.ly/pizzaexpressph-order, and thegridfoodmarket.com.
Established in 1975, Kashmir is the first-ever Indian restaurant in Manila and the longest-running one at that. The 47-year-old family-run restaurant which first opened in Ermita has now opened in BGC under the new stewardship of Leon Araneta. What started as a means to pass the three sisters’ time has become a well-loved institution in the F&B industry.
Since then and over a long and colorful past, Kashmir has held on to the idea of “Introducing Indian Hospitality to Filipinos by turning Mystique into Magic.” For 47 years, they’ve been serving traditional North Indian dishes using high quality ingredients including curries, dried nuts and fruits, yogurt, ghee, paneer, fresh vegetables, and premium cuts of meats.
What to order at Kashmir?
One of the original founders, Sita Advani, created the recipes in Kashmir. “Having inherited such a wealth of decades-tested recipes from Sita were the greatest gift,” shares Leon Araneta, Kashmir’s new owner. “These recipes are the heart of the restaurant. Her food continues to charm our guests to this very day.”
At the new Kashmir, classic favorites like the Chicken Tikka Masala, Mutton Seekh Kebab, Palak Paneer, and Rogan Josh are still on the menu. But innovative dishes like Mutton Seekh Burger or the vegetarian-friendly Paneer Burger are also available.
In keeping with its North Indian roots, Kashmir is bringing its vegetarian and vegan offerings to the forefront. “After my own travels to India, I realized that we haven’t even scratched the surface of the wealth of plant- based dishes,” shares Leon. Vegan and vegetarian dishes like the Organic Mushroom Tandoori, Dhal Chana, Okra Curry, and Kashmir Organic Green Salad will make any meat-loving guest happily reconsider their opinions on meatless eating.
Their delectable food and drink offerings are just a few things that you will swoon over when you visit. At the new Kashmir, design is what will complete your dining experience. They’ve commissioned a Bangalore and Delhi-based graphic designer, Smruthi Gargi Eswar, to share her India. Her art honors her culture’s historical and artistic past but is portrayed from a more contemporary perspective.
While most of the furnishings are new, Kashmir remains grounded, honoring its past. They have kept wall molding from the original restaurant, forty-year-old chairs from the founders’ homes, and have reused them at the new Kashmir. “These are small details. But they are part of our history that we should care for,” Leon adds.
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Kashmir is located at Level 3, One Bonifacio High Street, 5th Avenue corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For reservations or inquiries, visit kashmir.ph or call +639175316023. Follow Kashmir on Facebook and Instagram.
Crises like this pandemic may have turned the world upside down but it can also strengthen ties and bolster the importance of business collaborations.
Such is the case with The Bistro Group and Ayala Malls. Tracing its first partnership over 25 years ago when the first TGIFridays opened at Glorietta 3, The Bistro Group’s President Jean Paul Manuud, spoke of the planned expansion in Ayala Malls. “We have a successful relationship, notwithstanding the challenges brought about by this pandemic. In fact, now that the economy is on a rebound, we are ready to expand in different Ayala Malls with the opening of more stores in different locations.”
Of Bistro’s 30 target openings this year, 17 will be located at Ayala Malls, Manuud disclosed. (To date, the company has 18 local and foreign restaurant brands with over 100 branches nationwide tucked under its belt.)
The new Ayala Triangle, for instance, will be home to their high-end concepts like Rumba (a local Mediterranean Spanish restaurant whose menu was created by Chef Alfredo Rodriguez); Helm (the group’s exclusive, fine dining, degustation restaurant by Chef Josh Boutwood) as well as the widely-popular, Italianni’s.
Another international brand that is in the offing is Olive Garden, a popular restaurant chain in the US serving Italian-inspired dishes. It will be have a branch at Glorietta 3.
The Bistro Group also proudly supports its corporate executive chef, Josh Boutwood. This April, his new concept called Ember, will open at Greenbelt 3. A sophisticated and chic restaurant with high emphasis on amazing ingredients and a more delicate cooking method, Ember cooks with what is left glowing from the flame. Hence, the name Ember. This is Boutwood’s first foray into a mainstream, high-traffic mall and he is very excited over this prospect.
Manuud likewise shared that plans are afoot for the expansion of Bistro’s existing brands, including Modern Shanghai at UPTC, Greenbelt and Glorietta 3; TGIFridays at UPTC; Fish & Co. at UPTC and Glorietta 3; Watami at Glorietta 3; and El Pollo Loco at Greenbelt, ATC, UPTC, Ayala 30th and Trinoma.
Enduring business relationship
“One of the biggest lessons we learned when the pandemic hit the world was that we had to be nimble in adapting to ensuing challenges. We reinforced our commitment to resiliency, pivoting to new strategies like solidifying our delivery scheme with our own Bistro Deliversapp and website. We also implemented stricter guidelines for a safe dine-in experience,” Manuud explained.
“The world does not stop revolving when businesses are threatened by a crisis like Covid19. The takeaway in such a situation is to soldier on and seize opportunities to bounce back, recover and re-strengthen strategic partnerships and collaboration,” Manuud shared. “The success of any business depends, to a large extent, on relationships, trust, and synergy. We value our history with Ayala Malls and remain optimistic that we will be working alongside them for many more years.” “The situation now is significantly different from last year’s when we felt the gloom of the pandemic hovering over us,” Manuud said. “We have not totally changed our expansion plans to bring in more concepts, we just postponed them. We are hopeful that the present scenario of optimism will prevail.”
Mondays Made Better is back at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf! You can now experience a new flavor every Monday and find your new favorite drink for only P100 starting April 4 until May 16, 2022.
Already drooling at that idea? Here’s a sneak peek of some of their featured drinks. Take note, these aren’t the only drinks you can get for P100 every Monday!
Catch The Original Vanilla Ice Blended®, a classic version made from CBTL’s delicious coffee and their French DeluxeTM vanilla powder and skimmed milk, blended with ice, topped with whipped cream.
Looking for the taste of summer? Try their Mango Ice Blended®. A perfect summer treat made from ripened mango juice combined with CBTL’s French Deluxe™ vanilla powder blended with ice, topped with whipped cream.
Their beloved OG, The Original Mocha Ice Blended®. Period. The frozen sensation that started it all contains CBTL’s delicious coffee and their Special Dutch™ chocolate powder and skimmed milk, blended with ice, topped with whipped cream.
The crowd favorite, that wants to be your favorite – the Matcha Ice Blended®. Earthy-flavored matcha powder blended with ice and skimmed milk for a refreshingly sweet finish of green tea topped with whipped cream.
Win a Special Unlimited Pass!
The fun doesn’t end there! Aside from this awesome deal, get a chance to win the best prize of all – a Special Unlimited Pass to avail of any Ice Blended® drink for ONLY P100 for 3 months. Catch their full mechanics on Instagram at @CBTLph or on TikTok at @thecoffeebeanph. Quick tip, always include the hashtag #MondaysMadeBetter and #CBTLph on your posts to join.
So, are you ready to find your new favorite #CBTLph drink this #MondaysMadeBetter? Head to your nearest CBTL store every Monday starting April 4!
Terms and conditions:
Php 100 beverage is applicable to select regular-sized drinks only.
Customers can purchase more than 1 featured beverage per day.
Add-ons must be paid on top of the promo price. Regular price of add-ons (NSA, Soy, etc.) applies.
Swirl Rewards Cardholders may earn points from purchasing the featured beverage, but may not use their points to pay for the featured beverage.
Marketing Gift Certificates and beverage coupons may not be used to avail of the promo.
Promo is not valid in conjunction with other promos. But in compliance to, Section 4 of R.A 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, “In the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the senior citizen can avail of the promotional discount of the discount provided under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, whichever is higher.”
Promo is valid for dine-in or take-out orders only.
Promo is valid in all The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® & 26th St. Bistro stores nationwide. Promo period: April 4 – May 16, 2022.
A green light for the world-famous The Original Orange Chicken® as it travels southbound. Panda Express®—the world’s largest American Chinese dining concept— opens its newest branch today, April 1, 2022, at the SM Southmall in Las Piñas City.
Located at the Lower Ground Level, the latest store will be the seventh Panda Express in the whole Metro Manila area, since opening its first location at SM Megamall in Ortigas, Pasig City in late 2019.
“We are thrilled to announce that we continue to expand our stores here. We have received so much love from our fans in the Philippines and what better way to reciprocate this kind of brand love than to bring Panda Express closer to them. We can’t wait for more people to try our American Chinese favorites, as well as the new dishes in the pipeline,” said Ned Bandojo, Business Development Head, Foreign Franchises Brands of the Jollibee Group.
The latest store opening forms part of the plans of JBPX Foods, Inc.—the joint venture of Jollibee Foods Corporation with Panda Express operator, Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.—to open more branches in the country in response to the guest cravings of savory Panda Express dishes.
Mouth-Watering American Chinese Entrées
The Panda Express menu includes a variety of entrées with Chinese and Sichuan influences—from its bestselling The Original Orange Chicken®, a wok-tossed crispy chicken coated in sweet tangy sauce, to Panda’s award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, a mouth-watering entrée made with premium crispy shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.
The newest dish on Panda’s serving table is Kung Pao Fish, a limited time offer product inspired by the classic Panda entrée, Kung Pao Chicken. In time for the Lenten season, Panda puts its own unique spin on the dish by using lightly breaded boneless fish, a wide variety of freshly cut vegetables along with crunchy peanuts, all tossed in a flavorful sauce with a kick.
Panda also offers Honey Sesame Chicken, available for a limited time only. Made with thin, crispy strips of all-white meat chicken raised without antibiotics and tossed with fresh-cut string beans and crisp red bell peppers, Honey Sesame Chicken is coated in a delicious honey sauce and topped off with sesame seeds.
Dine-in and Takeout Promo
Apart from enjoying delicious American Chinese cuisine, guests of the new Panda Express SM Southmall branch can also win special prizes through an exciting game when they dine in or order takeout from April 1-3, 2022, while supplies last.
Foodies can also enjoy their Panda Express favorites in the comfort of their own homes by ordering for delivery through order.pandaexpress.com.ph, GrabFood, or foodpanda. The new SM Southmall restaurant is offering an exclusive free delivery promotion from April 1-3, 2022, with a minimum order value of P800.
With the sun screaming summer, our favorite frozen treats are thrust back into the spotlight!
When trying to cool down under this climate through food, Filipinos have a lot to choose from. There’s the iconic halo-halo, mais con yelo, saba con yelo, ice cream, and even gelato just to name a few. But for people feeling a bit daring this season, there are also coolers out there that add a quirky spin to typical flavors, capturing the curiosity of the sweaty sweet-toothed crowd.
If you’re part of this populace, this list is for you! Below are some unusual and quirky frozen desserts you might want to give a try this summer!
When one thinks of halo-halo, we imagine a milky dessert with delectable mix-ins and luscious leche flanand ubetoppings. But Ben’s Halo-Halo turns the beloved dessert into quite a curious treat, topping it with red hot chili to blend sweet with spicy!
Location: 159 Kanlaon Street, Brgy. Maharlika, Quezon City. They also have stores in Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas.
We want our frozen desserts sweet, so the idea of kamias— notorious for its sharp, sour taste– being turned into an ice pop would seem preposterous. But for Sebastian’s Ice Cream, it is no different from infusing calamansi into desserts. This ice cream flavor strikes the right balance between sweetness and citrus taste, delivering a refreshing treat for everyone.
Location: 5/F The Podium, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
Through the years, Sebastian’s Ice Cream seemed unstoppable in making quirky but delectable iced desserts. Another interesting flavor that is currently being offered at their store is the Green Mango and Bagoong sorbet, which is exactly what the name claims: a green mango sorbet topped with warm sweet bagoong.
Location: 5/F The Podium, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
Taho is a delicious morning treat especially when it’s warm. But taho has also taken different forms as a cold snack, and one of them is the Taho Gelato from Gelato Manila. This vegan-friendly dessert is made from non-GMO soy milk, bubble pearls, and grand muscovado sugar.
Another must-try flavor from Gelato Manila is their Polvorones, inspired by the popular pasalubong. Made with a special milk base, this gelato is layered with the crumbly polvoron, making it a proper fusion between two sweet snacks.
Nobody probably thought that tinutong na kanin (burnt rice) and gelato would ever be used in the same sentence, let alone be actually fused together as a treat! Alongside their very local flavors, such as the Mangga’t Suman, Tablea Lava Cake, Davao Chocolate, and Chocnut Crumble, Manila Creamery also offers this gelato that really captures one’s curious palate.
Yes, you can take your love for beer and its pulutan partner, chicharon, to the next level by consuming the two as ice cream! Carousel Creamery offers this quirky flavor that brings you the right blend of sweetened beer and its chewy chicharon mix-ins.
Intramuros has a lot to offer whenever one wants to revisit and reflect on their identity as a Filipino. As for the dessert-seeking strollers, one might find satisfaction at Ilustrado Restaurant. Aside from their must-try dishes, their Sampaguita Ice Cream also draws attention, turning the fragrant flower into a delectable dessert!
Strawberry may be one of the most common flavors for ice cream, but what makes Kurimu’s take on the beloved flavor stand out is that it is a collagen ice cream! The Strawberry Glow is a collaboration between Kurimu and beauty brand Shiseido, with its flavor infused with hibiscus and inspired by Shiseido’s Ultimune. Now you can treat your ice cream snacking as a part of your skincare routine!
Another interesting ice cream to check out from Kurimu is the Shoyu Caramel ice cream. As the name denotes, this dessert combines the rich caramel flavor with the umami of shoyu! If you’re a fan of Japanese-style soy sauce, then this should really be on your must-try ice cream list.
Brothers Burger keeps up the standard of what burgers should be for, the everyday burger that offers different flavors for any Filipino. For 2022, there is no change for this at all, as Brothers Burger continues to add new and exciting flavors that can keep the people excited as they can decide on so many variations of Brothers Burger favorites. With great favorites like the Smash Brothers or the Jack-O-Burger, Brothers continues to keep up with the various flavors that can really please the Filipino People. But now, Brothers Burger will start changing the game a bit more, maybe turning a little more green?
Introducing the Brothers Veggie Burgers, redefined plant-based burgers that have the flavors you want in a usual Brothers Burger special without the meat of course. Once you take a bite of these meatless specials, you’ll only remember Brothers Veggie Burgers as the best vegan line up around. The burger meat is 100% plant based, made up of soy protein, vegetable oil, fresh and onion and natural flavors. Even with a new patty, don’t expect a huge difference in taste as the Brothers Burger style is still put with each one cooked.
Brothers Veggie BurgerBrothers Ranchero Veggie Burger and Brothers Mushroom MeltBrothers Double Veggie BurgerBrothers Blue Veggie Burger
Breaking down each flavor, first we have the standard Original Brothers Veggie Burger, which is made to really represent the Original Brothers Burger with just a healthier and lighter taste with each bite. If you’re craving for an upsize, don’t worry, the Double Veggie Burger will fill you up good with a double patty combo. Next is the Blues Veggie Burger, a double down of umami with some danish blue cheese, sauteed mushrooms and the house special dijonaise that really bumps up that sharp taste. The Veggie Ranchero Burger is basted with some tangy Barbeque sauce, topped with some melted cheese, crispy onion rings sandwiched in between some toasted oatmeal buns. Last but not the least, the Onion Mushroom melt, is an extra juicy patty topped with some sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions and a layer of that oh’ so glorious melted American cheese, also sandwiched with a toasted oatmeal bun. Different flavors, but all to fill up your meatless cravings.
These new veggie mainstays are here permanently, and are available for delivery through www.brothersburger.com.ph. You can also check out your favorite delivery couriers GrabFood, Foodpanda, and Pick-A-Roo. It’s time to join with the green trend as Brothers new veggie burgers will be grilling in all main and express stores on April 1 2022.
Watch out for an exciting surprise toy and a #SonicRingRun AR filter to be revealed soon!
With the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film arriving in cinemas starting today, fans of the series will be speeding to see Sonic back on the big screen with his friends and rivals. To make the most out of the thrills of life with Sonic— even outside of the movie— McDonald’s is releasing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Happy Meal!
In its newest Happy Meal collection, McDonald’s gives customers 10 toys to collect, including fan-favorite characters Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, Knuckles, and even a surprise toy that movie-watchers will be excited to uncover. Little ones can anticipate the reveal and release of the surprise toy on April 9 as this will surely make them feel the Sonic fever even more! With each toy delivering more force power than conventional gearboxes, kids will get to experience Sonic’s lightning-fast speed with its awesome collectibles!
But, the fun doesn’t end with the Happy Meal collection! Share adventure-filled bonding time with kids through the #SonicRingRun AR filter that will be available on McDonald’s Philippines’ Instagram and Facebook pages soon. This fun AR filter will enable kids and parents to race with their favorite Sonic characters and experience fun family bonding moments.
Experience the thrill of a lightning-fast adventure with McDonald’s NEW Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Happy Meal Toy Collectibles and catch the movie release only in cinemas starting March 30. Go fast and get them at the nearest McDonald’s store for Dine-In, Drive-Thru, Take Out, or order via McDelivery.
For more information and updates on this offering, visit McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Bord Bia – the Irish Government Food Board, with co-funding from the European Union, organized this event for a select group of professional chefs and media on March 17th.
In 2019, the European Union selected Ireland to implement a co-funded campaign promoting European Pork & Beef in the Philippines. Ireland, being the largest net exporter of beef in the European Union, exports exceptional pork and beef around the world. Dedicated producers are fully invested in producing the highest quality food in harmony with nature, producing natural and sustainable food is their passion. Ireland is a small island on the edge of Europe, with a population of just 5 million people, yet it produces enough food to feed 40 million. The Irish people are passionate about the food they produce and they want to share them with the world. As such, it is widely endorsed by over 90 Michelin-starred chefs across the globe primarily because of the meat’s tenderness and rich flavor, making it the top choice for chefs looking to satisfy the healthier and environmentally-conscious consumers while maintaining great taste and texture.
Mr. Jack Hogan, Bord Bia Market Specialist, said, “We are very pleased with this year’s Chef Masterclass, which is the latest activity under our European Pork & Beef campaign in the Philippines. This activity, working with the renowned and respected Chef Tatung, demonstrates the compatibility and versatility of our high quality meat to the Philippine cuisine.” He also added that “Ireland’s trading relationship with the Philippines can be traced back many decades ago. In fact, Ireland is one of the largest suppliers of beef to the Philippines. We have developed a strong long-lasting relationship with our local partners and are fully focused on growing our exports of quality meats to the market. The Philippines is Ireland’s number one destination for our beef exports outside of Europe and is our pork exports to the Philippines grew by 60% last year, making it an increasingly important market. We look forward to continued growth and providing opportunities for the public to try our quality meat from Ireland.”
This year, Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou, best known for his revolutionary “Simpol” on-line cooking series, teams up with Bord Bia and the European Union. His books, Philippine Cookery: From Heart to Platter (2017) and Simpol: The Cookbook (2021), both won the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. He was also one of the highlights in the Asian Madrid Fusion, Spain 2017, where he introduced the Mindanao cuisine. For this masterclass, he took consideration of the Filipinos’ love for their meats and developed two (2) recipes using European beef from Ireland, Herb-Crusted Beef Striploin Steak and Beef Short Ribs Piyanggang. The Herb-Crusted Beef Striploin Steak was cooked rare and looks like an appetizer that any international guest would be excited to try. While the Beef Short Ribs Piyanggang is a regional saucy curry that anyone could imagine to be flavorful with its curry and smoky features with fall-off-the bone meatiness from the European beef from Ireland. Surely, one can’t help but salivate while watching them on a zoom webinar.
Beef Short Ribs Piyanggang
Herb-Crusted Beef Striploin
The online Chef Masterclass was sure to excite and inspire the professional chefs and media to get their hands on cooking the recipes while developing their knowledge on taste, texture, and quality of the beef from Europe which they received in a cooking kit a few days prior to the event. European beef from Ireland is currently available at several high-end restaurants and hotels in Metro Manila. It is also becoming more prevalent in premium stores and supermarkets such as Landers. Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, will continue to work in partnership with Filipino traders and importers to help deliver high quality meat to the Philippines.
For more details of the European Pork and Beef Campaign in the Philippines: Visit the website www.europeanporkbeef.com/ph
What do you remember most about your childhood? As you grow older, the fun and exciting memories are usually the ones you can easily look back to. Reminiscing the days spent playing games with your childhood friends while enjoying goodies can instantly put a smile on your face. And with Jack ‘n Jill Nips’ NEWEST flavor, Strawberry Delight, you can reawaken that inner child in you and fall in love again with one of your favorite childhood treats.
Enjoy the new Nips Strawberry Delight as you reminisce fun childhood memories with your buddies such as playing games on the streets or using your console games.
The NEW Nips Strawberry Delight is a yummy and affordable treat that is made with creamy Ruby Cocoa, balanced with a luscious strawberry flavor—all lovingly embraced by a crunchy candy coating that we all grew to love.
There’s no doubt that Nips played a huge role in our childhood. Its irresistible, creamy, and delicious chocolate flavor makes reminiscing about the good old days the best. But the good days don’t have to stay in the past. You can relive and experience these moments with your friends – both old and new. Nips will surely give you a blast from the past with a twist of new and exciting flavor with Nips Strawberry Delight.
Don’t miss out on this new flavor because it will surely bring you back to the first time you tasted Nips! Plus, Nips is still that affordable treat you’ve always known. For only Php 16 SRP, it comes in a 40g pouch that makes it easy to bring and eat anywhere and anytime. Just head on down to your favorite supermarket or local stores to grab a bag or two for you and your buddies.
Falling in love again never tasted this good! Follow Jack ‘n Jill Nips on Facebook page for more updates.
Nips is a product of Universal Robina Corporation (URC), makers of well-loved Pinoy snacks and drinks such as C2, Great Taste, Jack ‘n Jill Piattos, Cream-O and Maxx. to know more about URC and its brands, visit www.urc.com.ph.
