Five Dishes. Five Winners. Bord Bia Announces Winners of the East Meets West Culinary Competition

Young upcoming chefs recreate their best dishes inspired by local flavors using world class Irish beef and pork and soon on their way to a memorable culinary tour of the Emerald Isle...

From hundreds of aspiring chefs and home cooks, the East Meets West Culinary Competition by The Irish Food Board or BordBia and the EU Pork and Beef PH culminated in the awarding of five talented young chefs last October 27, 2020 at the Grand Hyatt Manila and are now set for a memorable culinary tour of Ireland. The final five dished out their best with a creative and sumptuous array of dishes infused with local flavors and showcased how premium Irish beef and pork elevates any savory dish (for more on the competition, see my previous posts, Food News: East Meets West in a Culinary Competition by the Irish Food Board on the competition's launch back in August and Food News: Top Ten Semi-Finalists for Bord Bia's East Meets West Culinary Competition Revealed  on the semi-finalists leading to the final five). Read on for a tasty peek of the competitions...

Dining in the Next Normal: Serve Up the Pambansang Seafood For All at Home with the Seafood Bilaos of Dampa Express

Local seafood restaurants have always been popular with large groups and families serving the day's freshest catch. But the new normal changed all that, as it continues to transform every aspect of our daily routine. In very rare cases, seafood seems to be pandemic-proof as food deliveries and take-out continue to grow and compensate for lost dine-in revenues for one seafood restaurant chain. For this trailblazing seafood restaurant, it's all about affordability, accessibility and accelerated service...

Dampa Express, the country's largest seafood restaurant chain and the biggest end-user of fresh local crabs, remains top-of-mind when it comes to affordable, fast and convenient seafood a la carte specialties even during the pandemic. Owner Simon Lim, Jr., also known as the "Dampa King," successfully expanded and built on the "dampa" or seafood market-style concept by simplifying it. "Customers do not have to spend too much money on live seafood, worry about picking the right shellfish or getting the weight of crabs for your family and wait a long time for your orders to be cooked," said the Dampa King. You'll find none of that at Dampa Express. Instead, groups and families can opt for a tempting variety of family-sized seafood sets, a trademark of Dampa Express, like the sumptuous Seafood Bilao offering both fresh and rich flavors and value for money without busting your wallet.

To stay relevant in the new normal, keeping it simple works. "Our strength is that we've tried to do away with all the inconveniences and complications of most seafood restaurants and dared to go against the trend of posh high-brow exclusivity." It's a formula that's worked so well for Dampa Express as it continues to rack up its daily sales. And you can bring home the Dampa Express experience too... 

Dining in the Next Normal: Seize Your Slice of Life with Firehouse Pizza on its First Anniversary

Even in the new normal, we all need to seize a bigger slice out of life. Firehouse Pizza lets you have it as it celebrates its first anniversary with a cool value-packed offer.

Crimson Hotel Filinvest City Manila is soon becoming the dining destination of the south with its specialty outlets like Baker J (more on the French-inspired boulangerie and patisserie on my previous post, Dining in the Next Normal: Baker J Brings Classic Pastries and Artisan Bread with a French Flair to Your Home and Office), Cafe 8 (more on Cafe 8 from their earlier themed offering on my earlier post from 2017, Fresh: A Taste of Vietnam at Crimson Hotel's Cafe 8) and Firehouse Pizza, now celebrating its milestone first anniversary. 

Since it opened last year, Firehouse Pizza has established a reputation as the go-to pizza joint in southern Metro Manila. With its specialty pizza masterfully created from oven to plate, enjoy a bigger slice out of life as Firehouse Pizza celebrates its first year of pizza perfection with a value-loaded offer. Hungry? Read on...

Dining in the Next Normal: Celebrate Oktoberfest with a Local Vibe at Home with Resorts World Manila's TASTE October Fiesta Package

Good food and refreshing rounds of beer, it's Oktoberfest. Celebrate Oktoberfest in the new normal while staying at home with the value-packed offerings of Resorts World Manila... 

Starting October 9 to 31, Resorts World Manila celebrates Octoberfest with its TASTE October Fiesta featuring sumptuous Oktoberfest inspired dining packages for pick-up, take-out or conveniently delivered to your home. As the new normal changes and transforms the way we go about our daily routine, Resorts World Manila adapts and evolves with the times with themed offerings available for home dining. Raise a toast and roll out the barrels and celebrate Oktoberfest at home with cold brews and hearty bites in the new normal with Resorts World Manila's Taste October Fiesta...

Dining in the Next Normal: Bring Home the 22 Prime Experience from Discovery Suites Manila

As restrictions gradually ease, the grills are once again fired up and the steaks are back from one of the country's finest steakhouses...

22 Prime at Discovery Suites Manila reopens for dine-in and reservations serving their specialty steaks, seafood and other savory dishes. But if you prefer to bring home the 22 Prime experience and enjoy a sumptuous feast in the safety and comfort of your home, that can be arranged as well with just one quick call. Executive Chef Gerwin Bailon and 22 Prime will gladly prepare your favorite dishes and pack it in a box for take-out, pick-up or delivery. In the new normal, 22 Prime now comes to you...

Dining in the Next Normal: Bigger. Juicier. Tastier. That's How They Do It at Tito Paolo's Inasal...

How can you improve on a traditional local specialty? Pull all the stops and make it bigger, juicier and tastier...

That's exactly what they did, transforming the popular dish adding flavor, value and more bang for the buck with their specialty chicken inasal. Tito Paolo's Inasal elevates the chicken inasal game with bigger, juicier and tastier offerings for a refreshingly new home dining experience. Fresh off the grill and delivered to your doorstep, rediscover a local traditional staple fired up with a lavish spin from Tito Paolo's Inasal and you'll agree that bigger, juicier and tastier makes this probably the best inasal in the metro. 

Dining in the Next Normal: CCYG Il Terrazo Adds Chicken to Their Unlimited Pork and Beef Korean BBQ Samgyup Sets

A sumptuous beef and pork Korean BBQ feast gets even better with the addition of tender and juicy chicken for even more flavor and value... 

That's right. Chung Choon Yeon Ga at Il Terrazo in Quezon City, or simply CCYG QC, levels up the Korean BBQ dining experience with juicy chicken along with their specialty beef and pork offerings. Available for dine-in where you can enjoy unlimited servings or for take-out, pick-up and delivery as part of their Samgyup Set, CCYG levels up their Korean BBQ game with the addition of Galbi Chicken, Salt-Grilled Chicken and Gochujang Chicken to their line-up of savory pork and beef offerings. CCYG is a Korean brand, and authenticity sets it apart from the clutter of Korean BBQ joints in the metro (for more on CCYG Il Terrazo, see my earlier post, Dining in the Next Normal: Enjoy a Sumptuous Korean BBQ Feast at Home with Korea's Number One BBQ, Chung Choon Yeon Ga Unlimited Unlimited Korean BBQ). Now you can enjoy juicy chicken Korean BBQ at home too...

Dining in the Next Normal: Matteo's Kitchen by OCMommaPH Brings Comforting Favorites to Your Table

Cheesy Baked Macaroni, Baked Mashed Potato and Banana Crunch Loaf, comforting staples on everyone's list of favorites. One more home kitchen is fired up serving these tasty classics so you can enjoy it fresh from the ovens in the safety and comfort of your home...

Matteo's Kitchen by OCMommaPh joins the growing ranks of home-based food businesses in the new normal with its own take on all all-time favorites like the Cheesy Baked Macaroni, Baked Mashed Potato and Banana Crunch Loaf. As the quarantine experience continues to transform and change consumer habits, home kitchens like Matteo's Kitchen and the rise of the food delivery culture adds even more options to your home dining experience. 

Dining in the Next Normal: Build Your Own Pizza with The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar's Latest Offering

Following the successful introduction of their lavish Signature Pancit, The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar offers yet another tasty innovation conveniently delivered to your doorstep... 

The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar of Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila introduces another tempting and innovative offering with the Build Your Own Pizza, baked fresh to your specs and delivered straight to you. Choose your preferred savory toppings, cheese and flavor boosters for your customized artisan pizza, fired up fresh from the ovens of The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar. The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar is constantly creating new dishes while adding its own creative spin to dining at home, like their Signature Pancit loaded with premium scallops, prawns, mahi-mahi, tuna, salmon and barbecued pork (for more on The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar's indulgent take on the local noodle dish, see my post, Dining in the Next Normal: The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar Elevates Your Favorite Local Noodles with the Lavish Signature Pancit). Ready to build your own pizza? Read on...

Dining in the Next Normal: The Pork Project Presents The Pupor and Kambing Na May K, Now Available for Delivery

Chef Redd Agustin's been busy at The Pork Project, picking up the pace in the new normal with new dishes...

A hearty crunch with a solid and flavorful punch and a comforting local classic, two more tasty options to add to your list of favorite food deliveries in the new normal. Chef Redd Agustin and The Pork Project introduces sumptuous new offerings available for delivery, packed and sealed and ready-to-heat and eat at home. With regular delivery dates posted on The Pork Project's Facebook Page, mark your calendars for the next round of schedules as Chef Redd Agustin brings his comforting offerings to the metro (for more on Chef Redd Agustin and The Pork Project, see my previous post, Dining in the Next Normal: Chef Redd Agustin's The Pork Project Rolls Out Savory New Offerings). 

Dining in the Next Normal: Sending Out a Tasty Message in a Bottle with Ulam in a Bottle PH

The rise of home-based food businesses and the food delivery culture continues to flourish in the new normal, and one family sends out flavorful messages in a bottle... 

Laing, Guinataang Langka and Binagoongang Bagnet. Fresh, home-cooked meals packed and sealed in a bottle is just one of many innovations spotted during the quarantine experience. Ulam in a Bottle PH is exactly that, savory local dishes bottled and delivered to your doorstep. Think of it as a tasty and flavorful message in a bottle, just open it up for a satisfying meal. How? Simply send a message on FB and IG and your sumptuous Ulam in a Bottle is on its way to you... 

Dining in the Next Normal: A Healthy Diet is Your First Line of Defense in the New Normal with Quaker Oats and #QuakerStrongRecipes

The quarantine experience allowed many of us to once again revisit our home kitchen, preparing comforting meals as dining at home became the new normal. It also pushed many of us to be more creative in the kitchen with healthier recipes...

We've seen quite a number of creative food trends and innovations during the past few months as consumer habits continue to change, evolve and adapt to the new normal. But as the threat of the viral pandemic lingers, preparing hearty and comforting dishes with health benefits becomes even more important. After all, your first line of defense is a healthy diet. Quaker, the world's number one oatmeal brand, steps in to transform your quarantine kitchen experience with delicious and healthy recipes that's not only tasty but easy to prepare as well. Read on and spark up some fun in your kitchen with this indulgent yet easy and healthy Quaker Oats Cream Pie recipe... 

Dining in the Next Normal: A Healthy Boost in a Jar of White Fungus Dessert from The Ordinary Sip

As more tempting offerings become available for dining at home and food delivery, we need to take a serious look at healthy options in the new normal. The Ordinary Sip does exactly that as it brings a refreshingly sweet and healthy boost in a jar...

In the new normal, we need to balance and supplement our diet with healthier options but who knew you could do this with a refreshing dessert? The Ordinary Sip brings a traditional delicacy packed and sealed in a jar loaded with countless health benefits such as immunity booster and anti-aging qualities. All these in a jar. And in a lingering viral pandemic, you need all the help you can get to strengthen your first line of defense. A healthy boost that tastes good too, add a few jars of the White Fungus Dessert by The Ordinary Sip to your pantry with a quick call or message via Facebook or Instagram. 

Dining in the Next Normal: When A Serious Case of Munchies Strikes, Bring Out the Nacho Bake by Nacho Macho MNL

An epic movie marathon, the NBA Bubble Finals, or just another quarantine day in the new normal, when a serious craving of munchies hits, just give in and go with the flow with Nacho Macho MNL... 

The quarantine experience forced many of us to stay home as dining at home and the rise of the food delivery culture continue to shape and define the new normal. Another day at home in the quarantine usually results in occasional bouts of the munchies. Crisp nachos and a savory dip with juicy beef, cheese, refried beans and jalapeños comes top-of-mind when a case of the munchies strikes. And when it does strike, no worries. Just give Nacho Macho MNL a call or simply send a message via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nachomachomnl and IG at https://www.instagram.com/nachomacho.mnl/. and your sumptuous Nacho Bake is on its way to you...

Dining in the Next Normal: Baker J Brings Classic Pastries and Artisan Bread with a French Flair to Your Home and Office

The metro's newest patisserie + boulangerie opens at Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila offering artisan bread, indulgent pastries and other delicacies with an elegant French spin...

The current quarantine experience may have limited the dine-in operations of all food establishments but for newly opened Baker J at Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila, that simply means going online to reach their target market. The new normal continues to change the way we go about our daily routine with online access and transactions along with the emerging food delivery culture shaping consumer habits. Baker J is a patisserie + boulangerie redefined, infusing healthy and organic concepts with French flair with their wide selection of artisan breads, rustic sourdough, decadent cakes and pastries, intricate croissants, tartes and sandwiches freshly prepared by Baker J's passionate team of creative chefs. Take a closer peek at how a new establishment goes online in the new normal...  

Dining in the Next Normal: Tidtad, Kilayin, Sampelut and Other Nostalgic Flavors Delivered by Culinarya Pampanga

For some months now, our world as we know it seems to have stopped amidst the viral pandemic. It's a time to pause and appreciate the things that truly matter as fond memories of childhood favorites from simpler times keep popping up as a response to the new normal. Culinarya Pampanga lets you rediscover these comforting dishes conveniently delivered to your home...

Culinarya Pampanga takes you on a flavorful and nostalgic trip back in time with their wide array of traditional Capampangan dishes available for pick-up and delivery. The chefs behind Culinarya Pampanga are some of the country's finest led by Chef Sau del Rosario as they take Pampanga to your home dining table with classic savory Capampangan dishes and desserts. Dining at home is now the new normal and along with the rise of the food delivery culture defining new consumer habits, Culinarya Pampanga lets you revisit some of your childhood favorites for a memorable feast in the safety and comfort of your home (for more on Culinarya Pampanga and their authentic Capampangan offerings, see my previous post, Dining in the Next Normal: Nostalgic and Authentic Capampangan Flavors Comes to Your Home Dining Table with Culinarya Pampanga). Does Tidtad, Kilayin, Sampelut and Leche Flan trigger some food memories? Then, read on... 

Dining in the Next Normal: Showcasing the Diverse Stories of the Filipino Coffee Heritage with Yugto Cold Brew

An artisan product with unique packaging and distinctive branding come together in a seamless weave tied by a single-minded mission of preserving the Filipino coffee heritage...  

Hand-picked by local farmers and perfected by master roasters, there are so many rich and flavorful stories behind each bottle of cold brew by YugtoOfficialPH. Each soothing sip reveals a layer from this colorful tapestry of the continuing Filipino coffee story, as the local artisan coffee movement continues to flourish in the new normal. Here's a peek at the bold and robust flavors of Supremo and the indulgent notes of Las Filipinas by YugtoOfficialPH...