‘Flavors of Pampanga’ opens at Clark
THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) presents the food festival Flavors of Pampanga: Manyaman!, a showcase of the diverse culinary heritage and rich food history of the region, particularly in Pampanga, often called the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. It will be held on May 28 in Clark, Pampanga and will feature cooking demonstrations by culinary experts, including chef de cuisines from hotels in Clark. The event will be broadcasted live and streamed online through the DOT-Region III official Facebook page, and the public is invited to be part of it. The DoT, through its Central Luzon Regional Office, is also organizing ¡SABROSO! — A Filipino and Spanish Food Fair, which will highlight and showcase Filipino dishes that were influenced by the Spanish people. Such dishes will be prepared and demonstrated by celebrity chefs from Central Luzon. This event is expected to be held in November. The DoT is also developing a Farm, Food and Pilgrimage Tour covering the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. The DoT-Region III will also launch the “Slow Food, Slow Travel Caravan” featuring Slow Food of Bacolor, Lubao, and Sasmuan heirloom recipes in Pampanga. Leisure travel is now allowed in the Province of Pampanga, following the health protocols. Pampanga and Clark are open to all. However, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, known as NCR Plus, is under general community quarantine “with heightened restrictions” until May 31. Only essential travel is allowed in and out of NCR Plus.
Locally Sourced trade fair returns to Robinsons Malls
AFTER a brief hiatus, Locally Sourced, a homegrown trade fair organized by Robinsons Malls and the Department of Agriculture, is back in several Robinsons Malls till May 30 — and this time it’s on wheels. Fresh produce from farmers will now be sold “on wheels” allowing the caravan to hop from one Robinsons Mall to another. The next stops will be Robinsons Place Manila on May 27-28, and Forum Robinsons on May 29-30. There will be vegetables, fruits, seafood, and more sold at pocket-friendly prices.
TWG celebrates International Tea Day
WHILE International Tea Day falls on May 21, that does not mean the celebration can’t continue by exploring TWG Tea’s collection of exclusive tea blends for different times of the day. Start your morning with a stimulating cup of English Breakfast Tea (P1,895 for Loose-Leaf Haute Couture Tea and P1,255 for Cotton Teabags), which was originally blended as an accompaniment to the traditional English breakfast. Strong and full-bodied with light floral undertones, this TWG Tea broken-leaf black tea is perfect with morning toast and marmalade. In the afternoon, take a pause with a cup of Sweet France Tea (Sweet France Tea, P1,255 for Cotton Teabags), a graceful TWG Tea blend combining green tea with exotic flowers that is reminiscent of the elegance and refinement of France. Unwind in the evening with a soothing cup of White Sky Tea (White Sky Tea, P1,355 for Cotton Teabags). Yin Zhen white tea leaves lend their crystalline flavor to this blend, while Ylang Ylang flowers impart their exquisite and fragrant oil to this fruity blend. An ideal tea that calms the body before bedtime, white tea is known to have the highest concentration of polyphenols and anti-oxidants which lower your body temperature and stimulate the immune system. The blends are available in all TWG Tea Boutiques in the Philippines and on the TWG Tea LazMall Flagship Store. TWG Tea Boutiques are in Greenbelt 5, Central Square, Alabang Town Center, and Ayala Center Cebu.
Supporting the F&B industry amidst the pandemic
MORE than a year since quarantine restrictions were imposed across the country due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many of the bars and restaurants continue to face challenges because of the stringent measures on capacity, social distancing, liquor bans, curfews, or outright restriction on operations. Conscious of the pandemic’s impact on the F&B sector across the country, the Alcoholic Beverages Alliance of the Philippines (ABAPI) reached out to its bar partners to provide subsidies for affected employees. ABAPI is comprised of the leading international alcohol beverage producers, as well as importers and distributors in the country such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Moët Hennessy and Brown-Forman — owners of alcohol brands such as Johnnie Walker, Absolut Vodka, Hennessy and Jack Daniels. Over 700 employees of 45 bars such as The Spirits Library, The Belle and Dragon, Oto, Polilya, Futurist, Kondwi, Ms. Gee, LIT, Versus Barcade, Nokal, Kampai, Bank Bar, Rue Bourbon, Sage Bar, Yes Please, Dillinger, Tipsy Pig and Reserve Fort received a subsidy from ABAPI in the form of vouchers from Grab worth over P2,000 each. From being an economic driver pre-pandemic with revenues hitting an estimated P1 million in 2019, the F&B sector faces an unprecedented situation. To revive the sector, ABAPI members support measures that will enable the sale re-opening of bars and restaurants with adherence to social distancing and safety guidelines.
Grab offers P1 Deals for new users in select cities
THE GRAB app is offering P1 deals — from P1 delivery to P1 meal flash sales — for the whole month of May in select cities nationwide. Running until June 30, new Grab users can avail of a P1 delivery fee promotion. They can order from in-demand restaurants and have the food delivered for only a peso, with no minimum fee. This promo is open to all new Grab users from Cebu, Pampanga, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Lipa, Dumaguete, Tarlac, Olongapo, and Zamboanga. Meanwhile, regular GrabFood user can avail of GrabFood’s Piso Weekends with P1 delivery fees every weekend in May. Then there is Grab’s Piso Festival with McDonald’s and Chatime. For a minimum order of P400 from May 27 to 30, customers at McDonald’s in Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cebu, Pampanga, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Lipa, Zamboanga, and Olongapo will get a burger for free. Meanwhile, Chatime customers in Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo, Lipa, Olongapo, Pampanga, and Tarlac will get a large pearl milk tea for free for a minimum order of P350 from May 24-27. Watch out for more Grab Piso Deals by following Grab Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
McDonald’s offers Minions-inspired shake and fries
MCDONALD’S has introduced a new Minions-approved limited-edition Banana Caramel Shake and Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries. The new Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries gives a quirky twist with a balanced blend of creamy cheese relish and garlic aioli dressing. Meanwhile, the Banana Caramel Shake is made with creamy soft serve, combined with milk and topped with Banana Caramel syrup. Pair the Banana Caramel Shake with the Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries in the Minions Combo which starts at P145. Available in all McDonald’s stores nationwide via dine-in, take out, drive-through, pick-up, McDelivery, and via GrabFood and foodpanda.