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Food and nostalgia are Araneta City’s draws for the holidays

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FOR THE holidays, the Araneta Group is pulling out all the stops with food and a fair.

During a short tour around the Araneta City complex on Dec. 3, guests tasted the Ultimate Cheesy 7 pizza (beginning at P549) from Pizza Hut (franchised by Araneta Group’s PPI Holdings, Inc.). This pizza is made with mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, cream cheese, Hokkaido milk cheese, Gouda, and Emmental, with a melty cheese fondue-filled crust.

Blizzards were had at Dairy Queen (another PPI Holdings Inc. franchise), while at Araneta City’s Gateway Mall, guests got to taste Japanese treats from Sachi, served at the mall’s Oasis garden, where one can dine. Also at Gateway, we had a taste of Cibo’s (Cibo was founded by Araneta scion, chef Margarita Fores) Christmas ham (P899), hitting all the right smoky and sweet notes.

The real highlight of the tour was the C.O.D (Christmas on Display) presentation, which showed the Christmas story with automaton figures of the Holy Family and the other characters of the Jesus Christ birth story. It introduces to new generations the spectacle, first seen at the Araneta Center in the 1960s at the C.O.D department store. This time, the mechanical play is shown at the Times Square Park at Araneta City, with shows in the evening until Jan. 8, beginning at 6 p.m. A fireworks display at 7 p.m. comes after the show.

And what’s Christmas without playing? We were given free passes to go wild at the Mini Fiesta Carnival (based on an Araneta Center staple of the 1970s, since closed). Passes cost P50, with individual rides charging different rates, ranging from P50 to P150, though one can get an all-ride pass for P500. Most of the fair is strictly for kids: we only got to ride at the Carousel (the only ride that could support an adult’s weight), but we did win some prizes at the fairground games (tip: go to the one with rubber ducks, one can win a toy every time). The Fiesta Carnival revival is open daily from 2 to 11 p.m., and the P50 pass gets you some free food at the food stalls. — JLG

Meralco, DoE to companies: Enroll in interruptible load program

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) and the Department of Energy (DoE) have called on more companies to enroll in the interruptible load program (ILP) in preparation for the summer months when power demand usually surges.

“We aim to recruit more ILP participants and increase the available de-loading capacity under ILP,” said Ma. Cecilia M. Domingo, Meralco’s vice-president and head for enterprise and national government, in a statement on Wednesday.

ILP participants are large power users that have their own generating facilities. These entities stop drawing power from the grid for a time by tapping their own generators, reducing the overall demand from the grid. Meralco taps its ILP participants when a red alert is declared by the grid operator, reducing electricity drawn from the system.

The power distributor said that it is counting on big power consumers to help ensure sufficient power supply in the summer months.

Irma C. Exconde, DoE director for the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, said that for 2023, the power situation would include a two-week maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas field from Feb. 4 to 18, and delays in the completion of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities.

“We are already preparing for the contingencies for next year because of the challenges faced by the power sector,” Ms. Exconde said.

This month, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) declared several yellow alerts after four power plants experienced forced outages.

A yellow alert is declared when the supply available to the grid falls below a designated safety threshold. If the supply-demand balance deteriorates further, a red alert is declared, warning consumers of rolling brownouts. When a red alert is declared, NGCP can instruct Meralco to implement manual load dropping (MLD) or rotating power interruptions to distribute the limited power supply.

The DoE in a previous statement said at least two LNG projects are on track to start operations next year. It said that the availability of LNG is vital as it is considered an important source for fuel diversification.

“Big companies, malls, hotels, buildings either have their own gensets (power generation sets) that can run, or reduce their operations, so we can avoid brownouts. This is so that small businesses and residential users can still continue with their day-to-day activities without any power interruptions,” Ms. Domingo said.

Meralco Lead Specialist for Generation and Transmission Economics Ma. Leticia Sapina said that since 2014, the ILP in its franchise area has been tapped about 26 times, preventing power interruptions for as many as 1.8 million households.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Dining In/Out (12/22/22)

HALIYA’s Morcon Wellington

City of Dreams celebrates Christmas, New Year’s Eve

A TOWERING 32-feet Christmas tree welcomes guests at the City of Dreams Manila’s main casino entrance, setting the mood for convivial gatherings the signature restaurants of the resort’s luxury hotels Nuwa Manila, Nobu Hotel, and Hyatt Regency Manila City of Dreams Manila:  Crystal Dragon, Nobu Manila, and Haliya. At Crystal Dreams, a finely curated Cantonese menu makes an impressive spread for the holiday season. Available until Jan. 1 for P5,800++ per person, the seven-course menu features lavish dishes including Stuffed seafood in crab shell with La Tzi sauce, Steamed cod fish with tofu in teochew pickled green mustard, and Wok-fried Ohmi Wagyu beef with black garlic. Nobu Manila makes celebrations merrier with its Christmas six-course dinner tasting menu available on Dec. 24 and 25. For P5, 600++, the menu highlights include Pan-seared seabass with lobster miso cappuccino broth, seasonal mushrooms and baby corn, and Braised beef cheeks with seasonal mushrooms, daikon, roasted garlic and nobu cabernet demi sauce. Haliya offers a hearty four-course meal of reimagined Filipino dishes for Christmas Eve, available at P6,000 net for two to three persons. The menu includes Morcon (beef roulade) Wellington, a unique take on the favorite steak dish wrapped in pastry, and Noche Bilao, consisting of favorite Christmas desserts of kakanin (native delicacies). Café Society becomes a Christmas wonderland of chocolate sculptures and large gingerbread houses. For sale are Christmas Chocolate Houses (P2,000 net), Santa Bear in milk and white chocolate in varying sizes (starts at P450 net), and the colorful Gingerbread Houses in small or large sizes (starts at P1, 200 net), among many other treats. Meanwhile, the year ends and the New Year enters with celebrations at Nobu Manila, Haliya, and CenterPlay. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, Nobu Manila’s New Year six-course dinner tasting menu at P5,600++ per person, includes a Surf and Turf Truffle duo of lobster and shitake dumpling with truffle kuzu dashi, and sous vide beef tenderloin, truffle SMR (soy-mirin reduction) and smoked cauliflower purée. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, Haliya has a four-course menu good for two to three persons at P6,000 net that features a delicious take on Kansi (Bacolod’s beef soup), comprising a reverse-seared Black Tyde Ribeye steak, garlic confit, asparagus, king mushroom, hand-crushed marble potatoes, cherry tomatoes and Kansi gravy. City of Dreams Manila’s entertainment destination CenterPlay will host a countdown party which begins at 8 p.m. Revelers can groove to the song covers of the MUB band and to the rock and roll songs of Part 3 band. Bar seats are at P2,000 net, per person, which comes with a glass of prosecco and food and beverage consumables. Table seating starts at P4,000 net per person inclusive of two glasses of prosecco and consumables. For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com. 

Panda Express adds wok-seared steak and shrimp to menu

PANDA Express is bringing a surf & turf limited time offer entrée to the Philippines — wok-seared steak and shrimp, which is a juicy steak and large succulent shrimp, wok-tossed with potatoes, seasonal hand-cut yellow and red bell peppers, yellow onions, and green beans. These fresh ingredients are finished with a savory Chinese-inspired steak sauce. This holiday season, Panda Express favorites The Original Orange Chicken and the Honey walnut shrimp are available in family or party trays. Operated by the Jollibee Group in the Philippines, Panda Express has 13 stores in Metro Manila that are open for dine-in, take-out, and delivery through order.pandaexpress.com.ph, GrabFood, and foodpanda. Delivery locations include select areas in Manila, Pasay, Makati, and Quezon City.

Laudicos’ holiday recipes on Eats by Robina Farms

THE ONLINE cooking show Eats by Robina Farms’ year-ender episode is all about holiday recipes. Hosted by chefs Rolando “Lau” and Jacqueline “Jac” Laudico, its year-ender episode is all about Noche Buena cooking. The two will teach viewers how to whip up Christmas Paella, Belly Lechon, and Special Egg Salad. They will also offer invaluable cooking tips that will be helpful for viewers’ own Noche Buena preparations. Join The Breakfast Lovers Club Facebook group to catch the yearender of Eats Robina Farms, as well as previous episodes.

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas celebrates Christmas

RICHMONDE Hotel Ortigas is celebrating the holidays with room accommodations, buffet feasts, and a year-end party. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, celebrate with a convenient city staycation complete with buffets and activities. A stay on Dec. 24 can come with breakfast buffet for two at P4,500 net, or breakfast plus Christmas Eve Dinner Buffer for two at P6,500 net. On Dec. 31, rates start at P4,800 net with breakfast buffet for two; and P6,600 net with breakfast for two and two tickets to the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party; P7,500 net with breakfast and New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet for two; and P8,800 net to get the full New Year’s Eve package — breakfast buffet, New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet, and Countdown Party tickets for two. All in-house guests during the Yuletide season also get a 15% discount on food and beverage orders from Room Service, and complimentary access to the Christmas Choco Corner and Chill at the Pool. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Masses will also be held in the hotel’s 3/F function room on Dec. 25 and 31 at 10:30 a.m. Richmonde Café will have Noche Buena and Media Noche feasts on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve featuring traditional holiday fare like porchetta, paella Valenciana, churros con tsokolate, braised beef brisket, seafood kebab, crème brulee, and many more. The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet is priced at P1,595 net and will be served from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Buffet at the café while glitzy cocktails will be served at the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at the hotel lobby. The dinner buffet is priced at P1,880 net per person while tickets to the countdown bash are priced at P1,280 net each, inclusive of three drinks, a cocktail buffet, party favors, a glass of sparkling wine at the countdown, and live band performance. To make it a total celebration to remember, a New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet and Countdown Bundle is available at a special discounted rate of P2,550 net. Recover from a night of partying with the hearty New Year’s Day Breakfast Buffet at Richmonde Café on Jan. 1 from 6 to 10 a.m. for P980 net. Children six to 12 years old get 50% off on all buffets while toddlers five years old and below eat for free. Richmonde offers value-for-money holiday room rates for bookings until Jan. 14, 2023 (except Dec. 24 and 31), starting at P3,600 net (room only) and P4,200 net (with breakfast for two) for stays from Sunday to Thursday; and P3,800 net (room only) and P4,400 net (with breakfast for two) for Friday and Saturday stays. For inquiries, table reservations, and countdown ticket purchases, call (632) 8638-7777, SMS or Viber (63) 917-534-4352, e-mail fbsup@richmondeortigas.com, or message @Richmonde Hotel Ortigas on Facebook and Instagram.

Holiday homecomings at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

CELEBRATE in Iloilo City by spending an epic holiday break with loved ones at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. Book from Dec. 16 to Jan. 26 at rates starting at P5,700 net (room only) and P6,200 net (room with breakfast buffet for two). These include Wi-Fi access, use of the swimming pool and Fitness Center, discount privileges in participating establishments at the Festive Walk Mall, and tours to the Brandy Museum and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art. On Dec. 24 and 31, stays can be had for P6,000 net (room only) and P6,500 net (room with breakfast buffet for two) with all the above-mentioned perks. Room package options are also available from P8,580 net that include two seats to the Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve Luxe Dinner Buffet and the Christmas Day/New Year’s Day breakfast buffet, in addition to the Festive Walk Mall store discounts, museum tours, Wi-Fi access, and use of the gym and pool. Book the New Year’s Day Champagne Brunch Buffet Package, available only on Dec. 31 for P7,350 net, which comes complete with perks good for two. The Granary will offer Holiday Luxe Dinner Buffets on Dec. 24, 25, and 31, and Jan. 1, with dishes like cochinillo, braised short plate, roast lamb leg, roast turkey, smoked ham leg, roast beef, paella, and more. The all-you-can-eat holiday buffets will be open from 6-10 p.m., for P1,500 net. Children six to 12 years old get a 50% discount and children five years old and below eat for free. The Granary as it serves its first Champagne Brunch Buffet on Jan. 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., priced at P1,350 net inclusive of a glass of champagne. Richmonde also has Holiday Banquet Packages with rates starting at P59,000 net for 30 persons, and include a lunch or dinner buffet with a round of drinks; coffee and tea; five bottles of wine; four pool passes each good for two persons; a gift certificate for an overnight stay for two persons in a Deluxe room with breakfast buffet; plus discount vouchers for room accommodations and food and beverage orders. The Granary also has an assortment of signature pastries and limited-edition Holiday Goodies. For at-home celebrations and potluck parties, The Granary also has Holiday Hotbox Specials with choices ranging from a single serving to platters good for four to five persons. The Holiday Goodies and Hotbox Specials are available for takeaway and delivery until Jan. 31. For inquiries, reservations, bookings and orders, call +63 33-328-7888 or contact stay@richmondeiloilo.com for room accommodations; +63 917-563-3973 / sales@richmondeiloilo.com for banquet bookings; and +63 917-563-3558 to order holiday goodies. Bookings and order of goodies may also be made online at Richmonde’s official website, www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph.

Chowking’s Chicken Feast Friday to Sunday deals

CHOWKING is now offering its “Chicken Feast: Great Chicken Deals from Friday to Sunday” on its new Chowking Chinese-Style Fried Chicken. Chowking offers an additional free chicken for every box of Chowking Chicken Sarap every Friday to Sunday, until Dec. 31. With every four-piece Chicken order, customers can enjoy one additional free chicken; they get two free pieces for every six-piece Chicken order; and three free pieces for every eight piece Chicken order. Chowking Chinese-Style Fried Chicken is made with tender choice cuts of chicken marinated in unique Chinese spice, then fried with a crunchy coating. It is served with gravy. The deal is available via dine-in, take-out, drive-through, and delivery.

McDonald’s and Super Mario

THE NEW Happy Meal selection for McDonald’s takes on the video game plumber Super Mario and all his friends besides: there’s Luigi, Toad, Lumalee, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and Princess Peach. There are eight toys in total, with Mario in two poses: sliding and sitting in his rollerball-powered Kart. The Happy Meals that come with a toy include the one-piece chicken meal, the four-piece Chicken McNuggets Meal, the McSpaghetti Meal, the Cheesey Burger McDo Meal, and the Burger McDo Meal, all ranging in price from P134 to P180.

Healthy Christmas gifts from Santé

PEOPLE are now interested in giving healthier gift sets, which can include nutritious snacks, vitamins, health kits, medicines, and more. To make a gift set fancier and more natural, one can add Santé Barley Pure Powder 3g in a Box of 30 sachets. It is made with certified organic barley grass by BioGro, New Zealand’s largest and best-known certifier for organic produce and products that promote the highest levels of organic quality. An Immune system booster gift set can include daily vitamins and supplements, facemasks, alcohol, and even an air purifier, plus the Santé Barley Pure Powder. One sachet can provide a daily dose of Vitamin A, Vitamins B3 and B9, and Vitamin C. A New year diet gift set can include healthy snacks that are low in calories like mixed nuts, granola bars, vegetable chips, fruits, and local snacks like cassava chips and dried mangoes, and the Santé Barley Pure Powder. Its fiber content can delay gastric emptying, generate a sensation of fullness, and increase bowel motility. To learn more about this and other Santé products, visit its website at mysante.com.

Have a Conti’s Christmas

CONTI’S Bakeshop and Restaurant has many dishes that can be the star of the noche buena and media noche table — its Baked Salmon, served with fresh side salad of greens in season, its classic Chicken Ala Kiev, Garlic Sotanghon, Roast Beef in Mushroom Sauce, and the Christmas specials: Porchetta, Chicken Relleno, and Ham Roll. To know more visit http://www.contis.ph/ or check out the Facebook (@contisph), Instagram (@contis_ph), and tiktok (@contisph) pages.

Emirates serves top champagnes

EMIRATES is currently the only commercial airline in the world officially serving Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon onboard. Global airline exclusive agreements are in place until 2024, meaning that Emirates is the only international airline offering a “taste of the stars” to passengers at 40,000 feet. On Emirates, Dom Pérignon is served in First Class across all global routes, Veuve Clicquot is served in Business Class on routes to the Americas, the UK, and Europe, and Moët & Chandon is served in Business Class on routes to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific including Australasia. Economy Class passengers can also purchase Moët & Chandon onboard. Economy passengers can also bring an extra sparkle to special occasions onboard by pre-booking a cake and champagne package. For $43, cabin crew will surprise a passenger onboard with a mini celebration — including a vanilla or chocolate cake paired with Moët & Chandon Brut 20cl. Passengers can also enjoy champagne in Emirates Lounges in Dubai and across the globe before they board their flight. In Dubai, the Emirates Business Class Lounge in Concourse B even has a unique Moët & Chandon Champagne Lounge, where each iconic cuvée is matched with canapés created by Michelin-starred chefs. Passengers can learn more about the process of making champagne and Emirates collection on the Emirates Wine Channel, or speak to Emirates cabin crew who are provided with food pairing and technical notes for each champagne.

Addressable TV advertising launched in the Philippines

NEW YORK-BASED media company GroupM announced on Wednesday the launch of Finecast, an addressable television (TV) company, in the Philippines.

Finecast allows advertisers to target households with relevant TV ads across multiple TV channels, pay-TV platforms, set-top boxes, a variety of video-on-demand services, over-the-top providers, and game consoles, GroupM said in an e-mailed statement.

GroupM is under WPP plc, a British multinational communications holding company.

“As the world’s largest media advertising company, GroupM is able to forge the sizeable partnerships necessary to identify relevant audiences in the fragmented TV landscape,” GroupM Philippines and Singapore Chief Executive Officer Puneet Arora said.

In the Philippines, GroupM, through Finecast, has partnered with various content providers, broadcasters, platforms, and data providers, he added.

The company noted that the Philippines is Southeast Asia’s third-largest TV market, with 22 million TV households.

“This has an impact on the country’s evolving consumer behavior in tandem with the diversification of devices, content, and channels, making it increasingly challenging for brands to plan and target audiences on TV,” it said.

GroupM Philippines Chief Investment Officer Yasmin Mallari said the country is expected to reach $ 23.9 million on ad spend in connected TV by 2027.

“Finecast aims to solve this problem for Filipino clients by providing a single point of access to the entire addressable TV ecosystem, managing distribution and frequency holistically across broadcasters and screens in order to deliver relevant audiences wherever they are watching,” she added. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Foie gras or ‘faux gras’? Paris chef offers festive vegan alternative

A DISH of ‘Faux-gras,’ a vegan alternative to foie gras cooked by Fabien Borgel, is seen in the restaurant 42 Degres in Paris, France, Dec. 15. — REUTERS/SARAH MEYSSONNIER

PARIS — Vegan and animal-friendly alternatives to foie gras are taking off in France just as a severe bird flu outbreak has ravaged duck flocks and cut short supplies of the traditional Christmas delicacy.

French chef Fabien Borgel, who manages the 42 Degres vegan restaurant in Paris, created what he calls a “faux gras” two years ago as a substitute to the foie gras traditionally made from fattened duck and goose livers.

Foie gras is considered part of France’s culinary heritage, but the practice of force-feeding ducks or geese to enlarge their livers is condemned by animal activists.

“You have people that have never tasted foie gras and will never taste it and they want something festive for the year-end parties. Others want to change the way they eat and are heading towards alternatives,” Mr. Borgel said in his restaurant.

Mr. Borgel’s veggy foie gras, containing cashew nuts, sunflower and coconut oil, looks like the traditional foie gras but is creamier.

In France, by far the largest foie gras producer, output is expected to fall between 30% and 35% from last year after bird flu devastated duck flocks in most of Europe while prices would rise about 20% due to the drop in supply combined with soaring costs, producers group CIFOG said earlier this year.

“It could make some people want to try something else,” Mr. Borgel said. “It could be an opportunity.”

42 Degres is putting its “faux gras” on the menu from December through February.

Foie gras was officially classified as part of the “cultural and gastronomic heritage” of France but some countries and US states such as California and New York have considered banning it because of on animal welfare concerns.

A poll released by French foie gras producers on Wednesday showed 77% of domestic consumers were not ready to switch from the original to one made from plant-based products.

“There is room for everyone,” Mr. Borgel said. — Reuters

Eagle Cement files petition for its voluntary delisting from PSE

EAGLE Cement Corp. said on Wednesday that it had filed a petition for the voluntary delisting of its shares from the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

According to its disclosure, the company’s proposed date of delisting is on Feb. 28 next year.

The delisting follows the completion of the transaction and the cross-sale of the minority shares that were sold to a San Miguel Corp. unit during a tender offer.

San Miguel Equity Investments, Inc. (SMEII) now holds a total of 4.998 billion common shares in Eagle Cement which comprise 99.96% of the latter’s total shares.

The cross-sale for the shares and the minority shares that were tendered was completed on Dec. 14.

In October, SMEII, Far East Holdings, Inc., Ramon S. Ang, John Paul L. Ang, and Monica L. Ang-Mercado entered into a share purchase agreement. The agreement covered the purchase and sale of a total of 4.43 billion common shares in Eagle Cement at P22.02 apiece.

The sale shares constituted approximately 88.5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the cement firm.

The acquisition will consolidate the two companies led by Ramon S. Ang and will increase SMEII’s total cement production capacity by 8.6 million metric tons per annum.

On the stock exchange on Wednesday, shares in SMC added P1.40 or 1.51% to 94.40 each, while shares in Eagle Cement closed unchanged at P17 apiece. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

HONOR set to launch foldable flagship phone in the country

SMART devices brand HONOR this week launched its foldable flagship phone, which it said will be available in the Philippines soon.

The HONOR Magic Vs is the brand’s latest foldable phone that “pushes industry benchmarks in design, display, performance and user experience‚ making it the perfect companion for business and entertainment.”

“We are thrilled to introduce our next-generation foldable flagship, the HONOR Magic Vs, which packs groundbreaking innovations and exceptional user experience into an elegant and stylish design,” Stephen Cheng, HONOR vice-president for marketing, was quoted as saying in a statement.

“The HONOR Magic Vs will be our very first foldable flagship to debut in overseas markets and we are confident that it will deliver huge advancements, transforming how people all around the world use their smartphones,” Mr. Cheng added.

The HONOR Magic Vs is 12.9-millimeter thin when folded and weighs 261 grams, which the brand said makes it one of the lightest foldable phones in the market.

The phone also has a gearless hinge made through single-piece casting processing technology.

“The HONOR Magic Vs is able to withstand over 400,000 folds, equivalent to more than 10 years of use with 100 folds per day, creating a new first in foldable smartphone design,” the brand said.

The foldable phone has a 6.45-inch external display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 90% screen-to-body ratio.

Meanwhile, its main screen is an extra-wide 7.9-inch display for ease of multitasking and better viewing.

The HONOR Magic Vs has an AI-enabled HONOR Image Engine and triple-camera system made up of a 54-megapixel (MP) IMX800 main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide and macro main lens, and an 8MP 3X optical zoom camera.

It is powered by a  Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform with enhanced GPU and CPU performance. It also supports the 66-watt wired HONOR SuperCharge fast charging.

The phone comes in three colors: orange, cyan and black.

Complete the Christmas spread with Beef Morcon

DELICIOUS Beef Morcon by Chef Jester Arellano

AMONG the many noche buena staples, Beef Morcon is deemed as an all-time favorite. A special meat roll, this roulade is stuffed with sausage or hotdogs, carrots, pickles, cheese and egg.

Chef Jester G. Arellano, a full-time professional faculty member of the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, has shared his recipe.

INGREDIENTS
(Serves 3 to 4 portions)

Marinade:

55 ml soy sauce

55 ml calamansi juice

10 gm McCormick Paprika Salt

5 gm McCormick Crushed Black Pepper

3 gm McCormick Sea Salt

200 gm beef brisket or top round (2 pieces, cut thinly about 1/3 inch)

Filling:

40 gm cheddar cheese (batonnet/sticks)

25 gm pickled cucumber (batonnet/sticks)

30 gm hotdog (cut into half, lengthwise)

20 gm carrots (battonet/sticks)

20 gm pork ham

Braising liquid:

50 gm onions, finely chopped

15 gm garlic, finely chopped

75 gm tomato, finely chopped

75 gm chorizo, sliced

50 gm tomato paste

110 ml red wine

500 ml water

½ pc bouillon beef cubes

PROCEDURE:
Flattening and Marinating the Beef

1. Pound each of the beef with a mallet to flatten and tenderize.

2. Marinate the beef with soy sauce, calamansi juice, paprika, salt and pepper. Cover and let it set for 30 minutes to an hour.

3. Remove the beef from the marinade and reserve the liquid for the sauce or braising liquid.

Filling and Rolling the Beef

4. Place a piece of beef flat on a plate or chopping board.

5. Arrange each of the filling on top of the meat on the end near you.

6. Roll the meat to the other end, enclosing the filling inside.

7. Using a butcher’s twine, secure the roll at around one-inch intervals.

8. Repeat the filling, rolling and tying with the remaining of the beef.

Braising the Beef

9. In a large pot, heat oil over high heat. Sear the beef rolls until brown on all sides.

10. Remove the beef then add the onions and garlic in the same pot. Sauté until fragrant and soft.

11. Add the chorizo, diced tomato, and tomato paste. Sauté for two to three minutes.

12. Deglaze it with red wine. Let it simmer for two to three minutes or until the alcohol smell is gone.

13. Add the reserved marinade and the beef stock.

14. Bring to a boil and add the beef rolls. Turn the heat low and cover the pot with a lid.

15. Braise for two to three hours or until the beef is tender. Make sure to turn and stir the roll and braising liquid from time to time to avoid any bottom scorching.

FINISHING THE SAUCE AND SERVING
16. Transfer and reserve the beef rolls on a plate or container. Remove the twine and cut into round slices.

17. Simmer and reduce the sauce until thick and flavorful. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

18. Pour the reduced sauce with the sliced beef rolls.

19. Serve while hot.

In the holy land, a Christmas spirit is reborn

Arak — PREACHER LAD/ EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/

BEIT JALA, West Bank — In a small distillery just outside Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a clear liquid drips out of a copper pot still into a stainless steel barrel, ringing like church bells.

Every year with the start of Advent, which arrives shortly after the end of the grape harvest, Nader Muaddi prepares a new batch of arak, an anise-flavored spirit.

The drink, which turns milky white when mixed with water and ice, pairs perfectly with Levantine cuisine, particularly mezze and grilled meats.

“Arak is used to bring people together around a meal, to share conversation, to strengthen relationships, and that’s what we do around the holiday season,” Mr. Muaddi said. “So, it’s not only the spirit of Palestine, it’s our Christmas spirit.”

Arak was first produced in Iraq more than a thousand years ago and is considered the oldest distilled spirit. Historically, families across the Levant produced their own wine and arak, which they would share with guests visiting during Christmas.

Christians make up a small fraction of the Palestinian population in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Many live in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, and its immediate surroundings.

Making arak was a way to repurpose leftover wine before it turned into vinegar, said Mr. Muaddi. While that tradition has largely continued in neighboring countries like Lebanon and Syria, he said, it ended for Palestinians when home distilling became prohibited under British and then Jordanian rule.

According to Muaddi, licensed arak factories eventually gave up on the distillation process entirely in an effort to reduce costs and increase profits, compromising its quality.

“When the quality of arak went down, people deserted it,” he said. Among Palestinians, it developed a bad reputation as “a drink for drunkards.”

But for Mr. Muaddi, who grew up in the United States among Arab diaspora communities, arak was at the center of every feast and fete. “It’s the drink of companionship,” he said.

When he returned to the West Bank in 2007, he was spending so much on purchasing high-quality arak from Syria and Lebanon, a friend quipped that he should consider making his own — a challenge he took on in 2010.

HOBBY BECOMES A BUSINESS
He read books, joined online forums, watched YouTube tutorials, and kept experimenting until perfecting the recipe. When friends and neighbors voiced interest in buying his arak, Mr. Muaddi, who works full time at an international humanitarian organization, decided to turn his hobby into a side business.

Mr. Muaddi’s award-winning arak is made of indigenous species of grapes and anise grown in the West Bank. He said he hopes working with Palestinian farmers will incentivize them to keep cultivating their land in the face of Israeli threats of displacement, movement restrictions, and Jewish settler violence.

Mr. Muaddi said he buys between five and 15 tons of grapes a year depending on demand, which make up to 3,000 bottles a year.

In late September and early October, Mr. Muaddi picks grapes that are high in sugar levels and undergo a natural wild yeast fermentation when crushed. It takes about a month for them to turn into wine, which is then triple distilled in a copper Arabian pot still. The aniseed is added in the third round.

To monitor the process, which can take up to 26 hours at a time, he sometimes sleeps on a styrofoam mattress at the Beit Jala distillery and sets an alarm for every 15 minutes.

“Making arak the traditional way needs time, it’s tiring and expensive,” Mr. Muaddi said. As a small producer, “it’s hard for us to compete with imported goods from Turkey or China and everywhere else, even when it comes to alcohol.”

But since people are willing to spend more lavishly during the holidays, it’s an optimal time for sales, he said.

More than 95% of registered Palestinian businesses are small or medium in size, said Adel Hodali, treasurer of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce.

Craft distilleries, wineries and breweries are cropping up across the West Bank. But Mr. Hodali said that since the Palestinian alcohol market is small — given that most Palestinians are Muslim — arak makers are encouraged to export their products.

For Mr. Muaddi, reviving that tradition locally is a source of pride, no matter the cost.

“In Palestine, we’re not only losing land to the occupation, but we’re also losing elements of our culture and culinary heritage. I want to make arak popular again. I want to create an arak renaissance.” — Reuters

Cebuana Lhuillier extends digital access through BPI

CEBUANALHUILLIER.COM

CEBUANA LHUILLIER clients can now send money directly to any account in Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the financial service provider said on Wednesday, in a move that further strengthened the two companies’ partnership.

“This partnership with BPI, no doubt the country’s most trusted bank, will provide clients from both our businesses much-needed convenience and accessibility in sending money to friends and family members, especially those living in communities,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and Chief Executive Officer Jean Henri D. Lhuillier said in a press release.

Falling under BPI’s “remit to account” facility, clients of Cebuana Lhuillier can send money via any of its 3,000-plus branches. The service will make sending and receiving money quicker and more convenient.

Mr. Lhuillier said that even before the pandemic, Cebuana Lhuillier has looked into digital channels through strategic partnerships to improve its money transfers business.

On its website, Cebuana Lhuillier describes itself as a micro financial services provider specializing in pawning, remittance, microinsurance, and micro-savings.

Mr. Lhuillier said the latest offering “Is in line with our commitment of further innovating our products and services, providing millions of Filipinos Cebuana Lhuillier options that go towards achieving financial inclusion.”

The press release stated that the partnership allows BPI access to unbanked and underbanked consumers through Cebuana Lhuillier’s wide reach.

Emirosco R. Sena, head of Cebuana Lhuillier integrated marketing and communications group, told BusinessWorld in August that the company was set to open 500 branches before the year ends to bring financial services to the underbanked and unbanked.

The press release quoted BPI Executive Vice-President and Head of Institutional Banking Juan Carlos L. Syquia as saying: “We are happy to collaborate with Cebuana Lhuillier on making this aspiration a reality, and we look forward to forging many more of these joint efforts in the future to reinforce BPI’s commitment of helping our country grow through the provision of relevant, innovative, and accessible financial solutions for all Filipinos.” — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Power Mac Center opens first Apple Premium Partner store in PHL

POWER Mac Center (PMC) last week opened the country’s first Apple Premium Partner store in Makati City.

The store located in Power Plant Mall has a one-stop concept and offers retail, service, and training to customers in its selling area.

“The brand-new PMC Apple Premium Partner store offers 275 square meters of shopping space that carries a comprehensive lineup of Apple products on offer, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and accessories including AirPods and AirTag,” PMC said in a statement.

“It also offers a Mobile Care Service Center helmed by expert technicians that can provide repair services and offer product knowledge, as well as dedicated space for product and feature demos conducted by Apple Certified Trainers,” it added.

The PMC Apple Premium Partner store also offers exclusive deals to corporate and education clients.

“The opening of our first Apple Premium Partner store is undoubtedly the culminating highlight of all of the store openings we’ve celebrated this 2022. As we expand our footprint in the different regions, we also always aim to elevate the overall customer experience with our brand. Power Mac Center is truly honored to be one of the first in Southeast Asia to offer this ultra-premium experience,” PMC Director of Product Management and Marketing Joey Alvarez was quoted as saying.

PMC is offering deals on Apple devices, accessories and services to those who will visit the concept store from Dec. 16 onwards. Details on the promos are available on PMC’s official social media pages.

The PMC Apple Premium Partner store will also host free workshops open to the public until Dec. 30.

“Topics include getting personal with iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, productivity with iPad, switching to Mac, project management with Mac, and portrait photography with iPhone. Conducted by Apple-certified PMC trainers, similar special sessions will be scheduled occasionally at the new store for anyone to join,” PMC added.

Justin Bieber slams H&M ‘trash’ merchandise featuring his image

PHOTO FROM JUSTINBIEBERMUSIC.COM

COPENHAGEN — Pop singer Justin Bieber lashed out at H&M over clothes featuring the Canadian artist’s image and lyrics, saying the Swedish fashion retailer had not obtained his approval.

“The H&M merch they made of me is trash and I didn’t approve it,” Mr. Bieber wrote in an Instagram story on Monday, encouraging his 270 million followers not to buy it.

H&M said separately that it had removed the Bieber-related products from sale and they no longer appeared available in its online stores.

“We have followed all approval stages, but while we are still checking this with all concerned parties, items have been removed from selling,” an H&M spokesperson said in a written comment to Reuters.

The online store of the world’s second biggest fashion retailer is offering hoodies, T-shirts and sweatshirts with pictures of Mr. Bieber or quotes from his lyrics such as “I miss you more than life” from the song “Ghost” for prices between 79.99 and 349 Danish crowns ($49.80-$114). — Reuters

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