New-tritious pasta recipes to start the year right

Every year, we always wish for the good health of our loved ones. One great way to do this is to try out new recipes that are more nutritious and share it with them.

You can offer nutritious meals to your family without compromising on taste. You can also shop for affordable ingredients at your nearby grocery. For more variety, pasta is a quick and easy ingredient you can turn into a filling meal. There are also endless possibilities with pasta or “pastabilities” that you can whip up every day.

Kick off 2023 right with masarap, masustansya, and sulit dishes using a good quality ingredient like El Real Pasta. Here are some recipes that the whole family will enjoy:

Bet na bet na Pinakbet Pasta

Pinakbet is a Filipino ulam with pork and vegetables like squash, ampalaya, and tomatoes, which are all good sources of vitamins and minerals. You can change it up and make Pinakbet Pasta with El Real Healthy Pasta. The combination of crispy pork belly, hearty vegetables, and flavorful bagoong will give you a burst of flavors.

See the full Pinakbet Pasta recipe here.

Spicy and creamy Healthy Laing Pasta

Add a spicy kick to your El Real Healthy Spaghetti by adding laing and chilis to it. The taro leaves used to make laing are known to be rich in vitamins A and C. For the sauce, it’s made with coconut cream to make it thicker and creamier.

See the full Healthy Laing Pasta recipe here.

Go green with Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni

For a nutritious and filling macaroni dish, you can try making Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni. Made from basil, pesto is said to be a good source of vitamins, calcium, and iron, which makes it a great pasta sauce. Give your dish more flavor with some lemon juice and sour cream in the sauce, and top off your El Real Elbow Macaroni with chili flakes and parmesan cheese.

See the full Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni recipe here.

Healthy Sardine Spaghetti for your dose of seafood

Fish like sardines are an excellent source of vitamins B-12 and D, and other nutrients. Sardines can make a great pasta dish when mixed with oil, garlic, and a little lemon juice on top of El Real Healthy Pasta.

See the full Healthy Sardine Spaghetti recipe here.

Creamy Spinach Pasta for all ages

If you want a dose of iron and vitamins, you can try adding spinach to your meals. A delicious way of incorporating this into a pasta dish is by mixing it with cream and ricotta cheese. You’ll get a nice creamy sauce with hints of spinach with every bite of El Real Healthy Spaghetti or any type of El Real pasta.

See the full Creamy Spinach Pasta recipe here.

Start the year right with sarap, sulit, at sustansya meals courtesy of El Real Pasta. You can now share nutritious pasta dishes that are also delicious with your loved ones, be it daily or on special occasions.

For more recipes, visit the www.realpastabilities.com/. For more information, follow www.facebook.com/iloveelreal/.

Hotel Sogo shines at Asian Business Excellence Awards

Congratulations, Hotel Sogo!

The country’s largest Filipino-owned hotel chain company has been awarded as Asia’s Most Outstanding Hotel Chain of the Year and Philippines Most Leading Hotel Chain of the Year.

Meanwhile, Hotel Sogo’s CEO, Mr. Reynaldo M. Malaca was recognized as the Philippines Most Outstanding CEO of The Year at the recent Asian Business Excellence Awards 2022 held in Quezon City.

Hotel Sogo Marketing Director, Ms. Sue Geminiano shares her gratitude to the award-winning organization for recognizing the hotel’s goal in providing a clean, safe, and top-notch service to its patrons and guests.

“On behalf of Hotel Sogo, thank you Asian Business Excellence Awards 2022 for giving us these recognitions. These awards are nothing if not because of the management and the hardworking staff of our operations. We will continue to give our all in providing our guests a safe and clean stay. Hotel Sogo will not be here without your love and support” she shared.

The Asian Business Excellence Awards (ABEA) is a prestigious International Citation in recognizing Asian excellence in corporate, products, services features and trademarks and/or brands founded by Young Asian Consumers Welfare Advocate.

Currently, Hotel Sogo has 46 branches nationwide located in key areas around the metro and provinces. The hotel anticipates expanding in more areas of the country and looks forward to many more recognition in the future.

For more details, visit www.hotelsogo.com or like and follow Hotel Sogo on Facebook (facebook.com/hotelsogo), Twitter (@hotelsogo), and Instagram (@hotelsogo).

Hotel Sogo lands two accolades at 10th Netizens Best Choice Awards

Hotel Sogo, the country’s largest Filipino-owned hotel chain company with over 45 branches nationwide, has been crowned as the “Best Choice Philippines Leading Hotel Chain” and won the “Philippines Guest Choice Awards” by the acclaimed Netizens Best Choice Awards 2022. 

The Netizens Best Choice Awards for Business Excellence play a vital role in promoting responsible use of the internet since it conducts online research and surveys for promoting the best brands, products and services that distinguished itself among its competitors by earning the Netizen’s Trust Seal. 

Awardees are chosen through an online nomination and multi-criteria evaluation in a variety of category such as Product/Brand/Service Quality & Innovativeness, Image/Value Proposition & Pricing, Strong Brand Online Market Influence, and Proper & Responsible means of using the internet. 

Remarking on the impressive win, Ms. Sue Geminiano, Marketing Director of Hotel Sogo, says, “This award is for the management, (as well as) the operations people [who are also considered as frontliners]. They worked so hard for this in a good and very respectful way. If not for them, Hotel Sogo will not be this big, well known, and will have many branches nationwide”. 

As of writing, Hotel Sogo has 46 branches nationwide located in key cities in the metro and provinces. Further plans for expansion in other areas are still expected and the hotel looks forward to many more wins in the future. 

For more details, visit www.hotelsogo.com or like and follow Hotel Sogo on Facebook (facebook.com/hotelsogo), Twitter (@hotelsogo), and Instagram (@hotelsogo).

The Smart and Easy Way of Cooking Your Noche Buena This Christmas

The holidays are always such a big eating season for everyone. It’s that one time of the year when we feel extra carefree about what we eat because seriously, have you really enjoyed Christmas without jumping from one banquet to another? 

But what if we tell you that you do not need to sacrifice healthy eating to enjoy the season? Even more, what if you find out that you can whip up your flavorful recipe in minutes in your own kitchen? 

Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer should be on every Christmas wishlist of all home cooks out there. Versatile, easy to use, and very durable, this oven from the premium home brand can give you the best of both worlds in terms of flavor and ease of cooking as you cruise through the holidays. 

One of the beauties of the Smart Oven Air Fryer is its ten cooking functions that can let you make to-die-for crispy treats and scrumptious slow-cooked meals. Toast, bake, roast, grill, and of course air fry without any fuss while shortening your cooking time. Equipped with Dual Speed Convection, this kitchen partner speeds up the cooking process by raising hotter air while sinking colder one. The result: 30 percent reduced cooking time as compared to regular ovens and air fryers! 

Richie Zamora, the vlogger behind The Pickiest Eater in the World makes a perfect case for this when he prepared a full spread of TV chow snacks for his family to enjoy in minutes. He shares, "All these amazing snacks were cooked in the air fryer with absolutely no oil. Everything was cooked to a beautiful crisp, but you don't even realize that they aren't deep fried." 

Let’s Eat Pare also showed how fast and easy it is to make restaurant-level fried crispy wings with Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer. In just 20 minutes, they were able to make a big batch of chicken wings in sour cream flavor! You can check out their recipe here if you want to try their version.

Of course, preparing healthier versions of dishes is another thing that makes this kitchen must-have from Breville essential. Air frying significantly reduces—if not totally removes—the use of oil in cooking, which means that you consume fewer calories and prevent weight gain and obesity when you air-fried food. Fortunately, for the Smart Oven Air Fryer, you don’t need to worry about sacrificing flavors just to go the healthier route. Chef Beng proves this when she made a Pinoy-style whole fried chicken using it. 

“Normally, I will have this deep fried, but using an air fryer is apparently so much better as the chicken is amazingly crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. Not to mention, this is a way healthier process than deep frying.”

She also shares that she loves the precision with time and temperature that this Air Fryer provides. “Just press a function and it automatically shows how long and high the cooking process will be.” This is made possible by Breville’s patented Element IQ System which is a smart algorithm that decides the ideal cooking environment for a range of different cooking techniques. 

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is definitely the kitchen partner to have this holiday season if you want to enjoy healthy, delicious meals minus the fuss. As Richie, Chef Beng, and Let’s Eat Pare say, respectively: 

"The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer proves that cooking doesn't need to be greasy to be delicious, and preparing food with less guilt doesn't mean less flavors either." 

“It has 10 cooking functions which makes it a value-for-money purchase. I totally love it and I highly recommend this smart kitchen appliance.”

“It’s the ultimate kitchen tool you need to put on your Christmas shopping list, pare!” 

What are you waiting for? Add the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer to your holiday wishlist now. To know more about the product, visit the Breville website and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Roasters for all: Magnolia Chicken Timplados Roasters

Special salu-salo and need mo ba ng easy to whip up dish? Ihain na ang timplang bongga with Magnolia Chicken Timplados Ready-to-Cook Roasters Lemon Herb or Smoked Pepper Roast! Kahit anong occasion, swak na swak sya kasi no need to marinate. #Madalicious ihain each time na may craving for roast chicken ang pamilya. Plus, it’s a great food offering too sa mga upcoming get togethers and handa this holiday season.

Other than eating it as is, ang Magnolia Chicken Timplados Roasters ay perfect din for rice and pasta-based dishes, mga casseroles, filling ng pot pies, pang soups, salads and sandwiches. Daming recipe ideas!

Magnolia Chicken Timplados Roasters is juicy #PambansangManok infused with herbs and fresh flavors, para sa homestyle celebrations ng buong family. Each Magnolia Chicken Timplados Roasters is made from fresh chicken, raised in stress-free environments and packed at its peak of freshness in Selyado Sigurado packs. 'Yan ang Alagang Magnolia!

Kaya ano pa hinihintay niyo? I-level up na ang roast chicken handa with Magnolia Chicken Timplados Roasters. Make it a special salu-salo.

Cooking Instructions:

Thaw chicken overnight. Preheat oven or turbo broiler at 220◦C for 15 minutes. Place chicken breast-side up in a baking tray and cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Available in Magnolia Chicken Stations or shop online via San Miguel Mart.

World winning Laguna Liberica Coffee soon to be available at The Giving Café: UPLB!

Residents of Laguna along with tourists will soon get to taste Sta. Maria town’s Liberica Coffee that recently won the Silver award in Signature Coffee Award: Latte at the Global Coffee Championship in Korea. The global winning coffee of farmers from Santa Maria, Laguna will be available at The Giving Café (TGC) in UPLB that opened yesterday. The store is located at the UPLB’s Student Union’s Soda Fountain.

“The Giving Cafe, a Social Enterprise by Henry & Sons, aims to build a beautiful coffee future by helping coffee farmers through its advocacy arm, The Foundation for sustainable coffee excellence (FSCE),” shares Michael Harris Conlin, 2019 PH Barista Champion and President and CEO of Henry and Sons.

Proceeds of TGC: UPLB will support its adopted coffee community, Barangay Juan Santiago, Santa Maria in Laguna. Barangay Juan Santiago coffee farming community is home to 38 families with 85,000 Liberica and Excelsa trees, the largest concentration of Liberica and Excelsa in Laguna and possibly in the entire Calabarzon. The funds raised by TGC: UPLB will be used towards bio-dynamic farming practices, improving harvesting, processing, and the communities much needed coffee drying solutions.

Henry & Sons, in partnership with UPLB leadership, makes what's old new again by bringing back the Student Union's Soda Fountain cafeteria to life with mouthwatering home-cooked meals, ice cream, and coffee. Flank by TGC's iconic cozy antique furniture, lighting, and books, the space is designed to encourage students, faculty, and visitors to strengthen the community around them and encourage to indulge in giving.

The Giving Café, with over 80 food and beverage offerings, is a hybrid restaurant and coffee shop that aims to contribute to the betterment of the local coffee industry and be part of something beyond the business. A place for comfort, The Giving Café is designed to be a safe haven for people looking to indulge in coffee experiences served with both excellence and compassion. The Giving Cafe focuses on bridging the community around it with the farming communities it adopts.

Beyond the advocacy, The Giving Café also offers guests multi-sensory experiences highlighting Henry& Sons' F&B expertise. “We want to everyone to enjoy, eat well and indulge in giving by supporting laguna coffee farmers with every cup of coffee you purchase,” Conlin, adds.

TGC will also be featuring its popular Bloom Coffee collection, which is a unique line of coffees created by Henry & Sons to generate funds that will support the following purposes:

BEANS FOR THE LITTLE ONES – access to basic health necessities

BEANS WITHIN REACH – access to programs promoting traceability and accessibility

COFFEE FOR GREAT MINDS – access to education

CUP TO SEED – access to livelihood and harvest implements

THE GIVING WELL – access to clean and potable water.

For more information, visit www.henryandsons and www.thevault.ph

Greenfield District holds Celebrity ‘Car Boot Sale’

Since Christmas is just around the corner, Greenfield Development Corp. (GDC) will hold a “Car Boot Sale” featuring celebrities and influencers from November 18 to 20 at the Mayflower Parking Area of Greenfield District.

Atty. Duane A.X. Santos, GDC executive vice president, said the event is in celebration of the Food Truck Fest’s first anniversary. It is the biggest gathering of food trucks parked regularly in one venue in Metro Manila.

“We added the Car Boot Sale to complement the Food Truck Fest, which offers a unique and safe al fresco dining experience to the public with 18 food trucks set up at the heart of Mandaluyong’s Greenfield District,” he said, adding strict health protocols are in place to ensure the safety of the public.

This year, Santos said GDC invited celebrities and influencers, including Maxine Medina, Kim Baranda, Jome Silayan, Louise delos Reyes, Chris Tan, Karel Marquez and Kevin Ty, to sell pre-loved items, plants, food, and other products.

“We wanted to have a shopping component that would go well with the Food Truck Fest, especially during the ‘Ber months’ so we came up with the concept where vehicles will serve as merchants’ stores,” he explained.

Santos also encouraged entrepreneurs, including startups, to sell their products and test the market.

He said the event also aims to raise awareness among the public on supporting local sellers and protecting the environment by using reusable bags.

“Soon, we intend to come up with more interesting and fun activities and offer a possible venue for outdoor corporate events like product launches, especially since it already has a captured market,” Santos added.

The Car Boot Sale: Celebrity Edition will operate from 4 pm until 12 midnight, while the Food Truck Fest runs daily from Monday to Thursday, 12 noon until 10 pm, and Friday to Sunday, from 12 noon until 12 midnight.

Greenfield District is a cutting-edge development that redefines the future of Mandaluyong. Its green spaces and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are just some features worth mentioning about this innovative cityscape.

GDC’s 15-hectare urban development has become an emerging destination in Metro Manila for outdoor activities that promote holistic health. It is home to future-ready condominiums, Twin Oaks Place and Zitan, which showcase GDC’s commitment towards providing quality living spaces while promoting wellness among its residents.

With GDC’s food park, condominium residents of Greenfield District can enjoy a fun night out with their friends and family. With the Food Truck Fest situated conveniently near them, this area is accessible from major business districts around Metro Manila.

For more information, visit www.greenfield.com.ph, www.facebook.com/greenfielddistrict, www.instagram.com/greenfielddistrictretail

Discover Malabon’s Best of the Best

With Christmas just around the corner, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Malabon (PCCI Malabon) is opening the city’s doors and inviting everyone to discover Malabon’s best of the best as it holds the first ever Malabon Food and Gift Expo 2022. The event is in partnership with the Local Government of Malabon with the support from Honorable Mayor Jeannie Sandoval. 

Event starts Friday, November 18 until Saturday November 19 at the Malabon Sports Complex. Explore the homegrown treasures of the city. You will be surprised to see how Malabon’s food business landscape is thriving from local delicacies to food products as well as the value chain in the food industry from equipment, tools, packaging, and distribution network in the city. 

Through this expo, PCCI Malabon is creating a platform to help push Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to grow and thrive. In line with the organization vision to be the voice of business owners and entrepreneurs and its mission to provide technical assistance through job matching, credit access and financial planning, and digital transformation in marketing. 

The expo is the testament to PCCI Malabon’s goal of fostering and position Malabon as the Philippines primary food industry hub and leading supply chain through warehouse and distribution facilities, according to PCCI Malabon President Elsie Chua. 

“The Malabon Food and Gift Expo 2022 provides a platform for our Malabon MSMEs to showcase our products and services that are proudly ‘Made in Malabon.’ Being a businesswoman who slowly built Melawares 45 years ago, I firmly believe in the power of mentoring and the right support. Through projects like this expo, we are giving them the chance to grow so they too can thrive together with the homegrown Malabon business big brothers and sisters like Liwanag Candle, Rufina's Patis, Master Sardines, Dolor's Kakanin, Melawares or Remilly's Yema Cake,” Chua said. 

The event is free admission to the public --- just present your government issued ID to register. 

The two-day expo is filled with fun activities with learning and inspirational sessions. If you are online, you can join the event through the live and interactive online selling on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PCCIMalabonInc. 

To maximize the experience, join the expo onsite. Learn from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) food safety program on how to keep shelf life of food and BIST/ financing support program. From the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) / Small Business Corporation is about credit access financing program. Also, KMME Program and BMBE Program. Learn from Francorp Philippines on how to grow their business through franchising. 

To further ignite the passion from our MSMEs, Philippines esteemed entrepreneurs will share some inspiring talks to be led by Vice President of FFCCCII Cecilio Pedro of Founder and CEO, Lamoiyan Corporation and Mrs Natividad Cheng, Founder and CEO, Uratex and Ms. Tess Ngantian, Owner of Lotsa Pizza and AVP, PCCI National. 

Guests can also watch out for the live cooking demonstration by celebrity Chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou and learn how to create brand marketing from Mr. Ian John White Hyndman, Manager Partner of Dagaz Consultancy from Dubai, UAE. 

Plan your itinerary this Friday and on Saturday and head on to Malabon Food and Gift Expo 2022. Tara na, Masarap sa Malabon! 

The expo was made possible by Platinum Sponsors Melawares / Max Ideas and Spring Oil; Gold Sponsors include CDO, Dolores Kakanin, Remilly Cake, Ni Hao Express, Jamicos, Eagle Food, and Fudsource, and; Silver sponsors Pares Ave, Universal Canning, Manila Cocktails, Longlife, and Ideal Spaghetti.

Balai Palmera pursues passion by helping other businesses

In 2019, during the height of the restriction caused by the pandemic, Chef Ryan Dimapilis, President of Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center, keeps himself busy by thinking of ways to keep his business afloat as well as his employees employed. “I’m a firm believer that we, Pinoys, are very resilient and at the same time supportive and loyal in many ways. This was strongly proven during the pandemic when many businesses turn online to sell their products. Most of our clients at first were mostly family and friends, which branched out and reached many more people who find our products worth a try,” he shared.

For the locals, by the locals

A Eureka Moment!

Along with his partners and staff, Balai Palmera concocted their version of Calabarzon’s beloved Buko Pie, which has led to a new triumph for the company. Gathering supplies from local suppliers from Laguna and Quezon, Balai Palmera uses all-fresh and no-preservative Buko Pie that instantly gained patrons in Silang and nearby municipalities in Cavite. As soon as restrictions were eased out and news spread out, Balai Palmera’s kitchen became so busy with hundreds of orders of this Buko Pie day after day.

“As much as we want to concentrate on this success, as a businessman, I know that there other smaller businesses that need help to bounce back from the pandemic. So, as soon as we were able to reopen some of our other businesses, we started reaching out to local manufacturers to promote and even sell their products in our Pasalubong Centers,” he added.

From one Pasalubong Center, Balai Palmera recently expanded its footprint by opening one more Pasalubong Center in Silang providing more choices and convenience to its customers. This extensive and expasive center carries other local brands that made their way to the palette of domestic and international guests of the region.

One-Stop Pinoy Favorite Shop

Balai Palmera takes pride in its merchandise for only being 100% Pinoy-made but also being DTI-approved.

“This goes to show that how dedicated we are in making our customers’ visit to our Pasalubong Centers an experience they would love to do again and again. By having DTI-approved products in shops, we are bringing the best of the region within their arms reach,” Dimapilis happily shared.

Aside from Buko Pie, Balai Palmera guests can also enjoy locally produced Pedro’s Kangkong Chips, J. Fernandez’s Chichapop, Nikimat’s Tahong Chips, Binan’s Okoy, Pastillas De Leche, Banana Chips, Mushroom Cracklings, Calamansito, Basimatsi, Coco Jam, Jacobina, Biscocho, Piaya Ube, and R&l Chicharon.

From healthy snacks to filling and heartwarming pastries and bread, one can also find comfort and enjoyment in Balai Palmera’s version of Chocolate Almond Babka, Raisin Bread as well as Ensyamada which use local ingredients from local manufacturers.

“While we continue to pray for the day to come where we are all safe and free to move around again, we will keep working with various industry leaders to create a collaborative effort that transcends Pinoy pride,” he concluded.

Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center have two branches, first at Tagaytay-Sta. Road Brgy. Pasong Langka, Silang, Cavite, and second at Aguinaldo Highway, Bypass Road, San Vicente 2, Silang, Cavite.

For more information, updates, and other news, you may follow them on their official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

You may watch this video: https://fb.watch/gBUTvJuNBi/

Reliving Philippine History in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar’s Freedom Land

Many people believe that in order to understand the present and possibly the future, it is important to understand what happened in the past. This is what Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar will attempt to do as it brings to life iconic Filipino characters that played pivotal roles in significant historical events through what it is called now Freedom Land. Its revival aims to relive some of the Philippines’ greatest battles to achieve freedom and sovereignty.

Reliving pivotal stories through re-enactment will help us understand the challenges and successes of the past. Rediscover the importance of every event in the Philippine history through Las Casas’ Freedom Land. Travel back in time and witness The Execution of Rizal, The Cry of Balintawak and The Act of the Declaration of Independence.

From Rizal’s most loved novel NOLI ME TANGERE characters, Sisa, Maria Clara and the infamous Padre Damaso to the iconic face of Philippine patriotism, Heneral Luna, these characters complete the Hispanic era and feel through monologues which will make every guest’s experience picture perfect and social media worthy. They can be seen daily at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 4pm and 5pm.

Aside from the iconic characters mentioned, story teller, Lola Basyang will delight children and the child at heart with an anthology of short stories from Mondays to Thursdays.

Freedom Land theatrical play happens on all weekends of the month until December 2022, from Thursdays to Sundays. One show in the morning at 10:00am and at 4:00pm in the afternoon.

Located in Bagac, Bataan, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is the only Philippine destination that showcases the best of Filipino heritage and culture through the colorful stories as retold by Jose “Jerry” Acuzar’s collection of restored Spanish-Filipino houses.

From the majestic architectural design to heart-warming revival of traditions, Las Casas is a complete package to a one-of-a-kind travel to the past.

All these unique initiations are in line with Las Casas’ mission to bring Filipino heritage to greater heights and has been awarded as the Best Historic Hotel in Asia Pacific in the year 2021.

To visit Las Casas on commute, take the Bataan bus from Cubao or take the ferry from SM MOA esplanade. If you are taking your own car, take the SCTEX road to Dinalupihan exit or San Fernando exit. It takes approximately 3 hours to get to the only heritage hotel and resort in Bagac. For more inquiries, email reservations@lascasasfilipinas.com or call reservations at +63917.8729361, +63915.8519098, +64933.8224523, or visit our website at www.lascasasfilipinas.com.