New in the Metro: giant turon, showy pizza, and smoothies

IF YOU’VE ever had a turon (a fruit-filled fried spring roll) from SM, which people apparently line up for, then you’re bound to be excited over a giant version of it.

SM Hypermarket will hold its fourth Street Food Festival on Aug. 9, 11 a.m., at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. There, there will be a variety of food stalls, suppliers booths, promos and discounts on groceries, cooking demos, exciting games, raffle prizes and celebrity meet and greets.

Plus, you get to see the unveiling of the giant turon, prepared by TV chef Boy Logro.

PIZZA ACROBATICS
Interested in dinner and a show? Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is bring the two-time world champion of pizza acrobatics, Pasqualino Barbasso, over to the hotel from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5.

Pizza acrobatics is a newfangled technique for pizza dough manipulation, and one of Mr. Barbasso’s tricks is spinning the dough over his head, the pizza base measuring up to a meter in diameter.

Mr. Barbasso hails from Palermo in Sicily, where he developed his skills as a pizzaiolo as part of his family’s tradition. He started out as a normal pizza maker at his family’s pizzeria, but figured he needed more zing to his recipes.

He recently completed tours showcasing his talent at the Marco Polo

Hongkong, Niccolo Chongqing, and Niccolo Changsha hotels. With over 25 years of pizza-making experience, Mr. Barbasso heads a pizza school in Italy.

He has showcased his acrobatic talents in restaurants across the world, including Brazil, the United States of America, India, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Argentina, to name a few.

Mr. Barbasso will perform his dough-wielding prowess at the hotel’s Cucina restaurant.

1771 TACKLES JUICE
The 1771 group, known for its traditional European fare at Chateau 1771 and upmarket Filipino dishes at Sentro 1771, takes a younger and healthier turn with its new concept, Juicery by 1771.

Salads and smoothies are front and center here, but still with the quality touch afforded by 1771. Examples include “The Big Vibe” which contains apple, beet, orange, carrot, and lemon. “Strawberry Fields” combines strawberry with fruits like apple, watermelon, and orange, while “On Your Feet” combines the health benefits of celery, ginger, and kale.

As for the dishes, there’s the signature Kale Caesar, but for something heavier, Asian Steak Tips and Romaine Caesar with Shredded Chicken or Quinoa are options.

There are also takeaway options with fruit cups or Soups To Go.

Juices are blended without ice, water, milk, or cream to get their full benefits, while smoothies are made with sugar-free, all-natural yogurt that makes them a good source of probiotics.

Sugar-free smoothies and shakes can also be had thanks to nipa sweetener, a low-glycemic index, natural flavoring sourced from the nipa palm.

All juices, shakes, and smoothies are made to order.

Juicery by 1771 is at the second floor of One Bonifacio High Street, 5^th Ave. corner 28^th St, BGC, Taguig.