Food News: Brand Degustation at TastEX 2012

Just how does a top corporate Brand taste? Josiah's Catering, one of the country's leading corporate caterers, flexes their culinary muscles and expertise in defining the taste of the most successful brands in the country. Drawing inspiration from their top corporate clients, Josiah's Catering presents a culinary showcase translating these top brands into savory delights.

In TastEX 2012, held last June 27 at The Blue Leaf Pavilion in McKinley Hill, Josiah's Catering presented these interpretations reflecting a wide range of tastes and flavors as diverse as their Client base.

Quick Bites: Latte Art

A sudden flash of inspiration, and it becomes more than just a cup of coffee...

Figaro's Cappuccino (P 95, small). Full bodied flavor, perfect to start or end the day.

Food News: Tous les Jours Opens in Alabang Town Center

Tous les Jours recently opened a new store at the Alabang Town Center, offering a variety of fresh baked products from bread, pastries to cakes, all in one place. Meaning "everyday" in French, Tous les Jours is a Korean-based brand with a simple corporate philosophy: providing consumers with the best quality and freshest products every day.

Tous les Jours positions itself as a nature-friendly, homemade bakery, and one immediately feels this vibe when entering the store. The overall look is rustic with a slight vintage yet contemporary feel, and the use of brick and wood gives the store a warm, homey and casual atmosphere. It's a perfect look that best showcases Tous les Jours' range of quality baked products.

Pasta and Gelato at Amici

If you find yourself craving for pasta and gelato, there's one place where you can have both. Amici has one of the best pastas in the metro, and with its Cara Mia Gelateria, you can't go wrong.

Linguine al Prosciutto e Tartufo, an olive oil based pasta with mushrooms and prosciutto (P 298), simple, homey and comforting. The richness of the olive oil and prosciutto plays well with the earthiness of the mushrooms and herbs. Add some parmesan and chili flakes and you're good to go.

Food News: Discounts and Freebies from Manang's Chicken

And it just keeps getting better...enjoy great discounts and freebies from Manang's Chicken by simply printing out the coupons and redeem on your next visit. Very cool.

Promotion runs until July 15 only, so start printing and treat yourself to some real good deals!

Check out Manang's Chicken's website at www.manang's chicken.com for details on branch locations.

Quick Bites: Magnum Chocolate Truffle

1:15pm, Tuesday afternoon, Independence Day. Magnum Chocolate Truffle.

Just can't get any better than that...

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, check out the FB Page for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB "Like" widget on the right sidebar.

What's in the Fridge...Jamon Iberico de Bellota

My niece recently came back from a vacation, and brought back a little taste of Spain.  100 grams of pure heaven...

Jamon Iberico de Bellota, the iconic cured ham made from free range, acorn-fed Iberian pigs. The black-hoofed Iberian pig comes mostly from the south and southwest regions of Spain, which includes the province of Salamanca, home to Hermanos Hoyos, producers of traditional Iberian hams and meat products.

Quick Bites: Moist Chocolate Cake

9:15 am, Saturday morning. Moist Chocolate Cake drizzled with caramel on a bed of thick chocolate syrup from Piper's Pan Homebaked Goodies, Distrito at Makati Night Market.

Just can't get better than that...

The Distrito at Makati is located at the Makati Medical Center Parking Lot along the corners of Ayala Avenue and Salcedo Street, and open from 9pm to 3am every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/distritomakati or Twitter at www.twitter.com/distritomakati for more details.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, check out the FB Page for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB "Like" widget on the right sidebar.

Food News: Sights and Flavors at the Distrito at Makati Night Market

Rediscover familiar names and flavors, and discover new ones. And there's a whole lot of flavors to discover at the Distrito at Makati Night Market.  

The Distrito at Makati is a unique mid-week food and lifestyle festival in the heart of the metro's commercial and business district, perfect for a late night meal after work.

A Light Lunch on a Rainy Afternoon at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Grey skies and a light shower that turned into a full blown downpour, a sure sign that summer's definitely over. What was supposed to be a leisurely walk one Saturday afternoon at the Promenade turned into a late lunch special, not a bad idea. Something light, something healthy...a salad and pasta lunch and a good cup of coffee to sit out the rain. Cool.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's White Chocolate Dream, great way to start and end any meal at CBTL. Frothy, sweet, and robust coffee flavor, perfect with the afternoon rain.

Food News: Manang's Chicken Opens in Visayas Avenue

And the amazing story of Manang's Chicken continues, as it opens its ninth branch in the metro. Located at Wilcon City Center along Visayas Avenue, the new location is part of an expansion program providing more access to its trademark dishes.

Formally opened last June 5,  the branch is now fully operational, ready to serve a hungry public. 

Food News: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Now Brewing in Adriatico

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf recently opened it's newest store in Adriatico, the metro's celebrated Bohemian quarter. Legendary for its free wheeling, forward thinking, non-traditional, non-conformist and artsy vibe, Adriatico has been a favorite haunt for artists, writers and cultural rebels. Seems like a perfect place for some real good coffee.

And when you have a coffee shop serving masterfully crafted beverages in a dynamic, artsy neighborhood, you get a truly inspired pairing. Very cool.

The Dude's Top Twelve List: Burgers

Did you know that May was National Burger Month? Well, now you know, and what better way to recap National Burger Month with a personal hit list of favorites, the Dude's Top Twelve. Why twelve? Why not. So here goes, in no particular order, my top burger picks...

The Lusso Demi Pound Burger. Premium quality US beef stuffed with rich and indulgent foie gras, then topped with prosecco onions and cambozola cheese, only at Lusso. Find out more at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2011/03/lusso-burger-period.html.