In Photo: Oliver English, Chef Todd English, Bea Soriano, and Eric and Kidd Dee
LET’S face it: If you’ve traveled around the world, food halls are quite the same from one country to another. What they offer you is a variety of cuisines and meals with the convenience of a restaurant. To put it simply, you no longer have to move from one restaurant to another just to satisfy the varying whims within a group. What happens when you marry the food-hall concept with a talented celebrity chef? Then, you have a unique gastronomic experience that would surely keep diners wanting more.
This is what the country’s leisure set is discovering with the recent opening of Todd English Food Hall at SM Aura Premier Skypark.
The brainchild of multiawarded celebrity chef Todd English, Metro diners can now enjoy the feel of New York City and its authentic international flavors in just one venue. This collaboration between English and restaurateur Rikki Dee will definitely set the standard in the Metro culinary scene.
New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Sen. Loren Legarda, Rikki Dee and Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno
The Todd English Food Hall is a European-inspired specialty food hall that offers nine diverse culinary stations to satisfy the most discerning palettes. Offering the finest food with freshest ingredients matched with impeccable service, it definitely gives a delectable dining experience set in a stylish and convenient atmosphere.
Guests seen at the opening of this high-class food mecca included New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, Gracita Tolentino-Sieber, wife of Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Hans Sy and Carol Sy, among others.
‘Market Australia’ highlights quality Australian products
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Category: Envoys & Expats
15Mar2014
Written by Suzette Jessica
In Photo: Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony for ‘Market Australia’ in Metro Supermarket, Alabang Town Center, are (from left) Metro Retail Stores Group Food Retail General Manager Christian Nervegno, Metro Retail Stores Group President and Chief Operating Officer Eduardo Ponce, Metro Retail Stores Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Frank Gaisano, Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell and Australian Trade Commission Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth. Photo by Lorna Llanes
In its bid to develop the taste and preference of discriminating Filipino consumers, the Australian Embassy partnered with Metro Retail Stores Group to launch “Market Australia,” a three-week food and beverage festival highlighting the quality, range and diversity of Australian products that are available in the Philippines.
Australian ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Bill Tweddell. Photo by Lorna Llanes
“We are happy to partner with Metro Retail Stores Group in showcasing Australian food and beverage to let Filipino consumers know that Australian products are ‘Clean, Green and Safe,’” said Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell during the Market Australia launch on March 13 at the new Metro Supermarket in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City.
Metro Retail Stores Group President and Chief Operating Officer Eduardo Ponce expressed appreciation for the partnership. “One of the core values of Metro Retail Stores Group is forging and strengthening alliances with its business partners,” he said. “We are, therefore, gratified to have forged this partnership with the Australian Embassy Manila, and we look forward to a continued relationship in promoting and exploring new product opportunities from Australia.”
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) senior trade commissioner Anthony Weymouth. Photo by Lorna Llanes
Metro Retail Stores Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank Gaisano and Australian Trade Commission Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth joined Tweddell and Ponce in welcoming guests to an afternoon of Australian wine, cheese, beef, lamb and fresh fruits.
Tweddell explained that Australian products are subject to high quality standards to be clean, green and safe.
“Australian food and beverages are ‘clean’ because, in Australia, we have a pristine growing environment for our livestock and produce. A clean environment ensures that only the freshest and best-quality products are produced; ‘Green’ because Australian companies utilize growing and production processes that are environmentally friendly and sustainable; and ‘Safe’ because Australia’s food-production processes have high levels of regulatory supervision and strict quality standards. We have food-safety management and traceability systems in place,” Tweddell said.
Market Australia runs from March 13 to April 6 in six Metro Supermarket branches, namely, Market! Market! in Taguig City, Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City, Marquee Mall in Pampanga, Ayala Center in Cebu, Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo and Super Metro at The District Northpoint in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
Tanglad Bistro: Tagaytay’s Soul Satisfying Breeze Found in Surprising Dishes
Tucked away in the idyllic landscape of Tagaytay City lies Tanglad Bistro, a luxury dining venue with doors that open to a complete soulful respite: where a symphony of flavors entices the discriminating palates; where the soothing aroma of fresh herbs, fruit-bearing plants swathe in the air; where the sonata of humming trees and chirping birds come into play.
Tanglad Bistro has an extensive ever-growing carefully etched menu, a fusion of European and Asian flavors. It isn’t a secret that in this bistro the humbly tanglad stalk (or lemongrass), cultivated mainly for the calming effect of its scent and for the therapeutic value of its leaves, is given a twist and taken as a prime ingredient to a wealth of healthy gustatory concoctions.
Extremely popular among Tanglad Bistro’s signature succulent dishes is the refreshing twist of Tanglad Seafood Pasta, a symphony of crab, scallops and shrimps highlighted with notes of light, citrusy tanglad; the Grandma’s Chicken Pork Adobo, a quintessentialFilipino dish with a unique flair; the irresistible stripped-to-the-bone Special Baby Back Ribs oozing with rich flavors; the Lemongrass Skewer, ahealthy array of grilled fresh meat and veggies, among many others.
Tanglad’s versatility is also whipped into guilt-free yet soul-satisfying desserts that slip down delightfully at the end of a meal like the luscious, softly set and creamy Lemongrass Pana Cotta with Berries Confetti and ever-tempting scrumptious caramelized crisp Suman Fritters with Tsokolate.
Passion for Good Food
The menu admits strong leaning to the tradition of sublime culinary quality and taste developed by the Versoza family of the renowned Josiah Catering where Chef Jasper Versoza, the man behind the discovery of Tanglad Bistro, comes from. The passion to concoct irresistibly good treat for the palate was acquired by Chef Jasper over the years of catering topnotch menu for practically all occasions.
With the opening of Tanglad Bistro in October 2009 Chef Jasper quipped: “We wanted to come up with something not merely new, but fresh, light and at the same time, something that makes a lasting impression to the palate”. At this bistro, he maintains a garden of fresh herbs and greens and meticulously prepares and serves freshly cooked healthy and hearty vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals for lunch and dinner that perfectly complements the invigorating spa treatments of the Nurture Spa.
The idea to celebrate tanglad as the main ingredient in the bistro’s plethora of mouth-watering dishes is as healthy as it is heartwarming. This humble stalk is not only an enticement to a whole new fine dining experience but it provides livelihood to the grassroots in western Visayas where the tanglad is widely cultivated. What’s more the lemongrass is said to have cancer-fighting and cleansing properties which makes it a good option to detoxify the body that results to better blood circulation and digestion.
Weddings in Paradise
More than its diverse repertoire of flavors, Tanglad Bistro was established as venue for truly captivating and pleasant memories. The perfect marriage of sweet serenity that abounds the whole place plus the distinct array of savory entrees and sublime desserts makes Tanglad Bistro an ideal scene and setting for garden weddings and intimate affairs. Its warm interiors and al fresco dining set up can be transformed into a paradise teeming with fresh blooms in harmony with the preferred embellishments of couples-to-be. This magical metamorphosis translates a breathtaking blend of simplicity, peace and positivity making your exclusive occasion truly an affair to be remember.
When you take your turn to experience what this little dining secret is all about, prepare to be blissfully surprised and rewarded. This is a place where the body, soul and appetite are given a refreshing dining experience.
Tanglad Bistro is located at Nurture Spa Village, Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II West, Tagaytay City; serves breakfast, lunch and dinner which opens at 7AM and ends at 9PM.
