Sam Concepcion for Chef's Noodle

Hey Coffeeholics! Yes I'm baaaaaaack! After a month long break, I'm back to blogging.  I've taken a hiatus last March coz I had to prioritize end of school teacher-ish work. So here I am with my first summer blogger event -- attending the media launch of Chef Noodle's newest endorser Sam Concepcion at Robinson's Magnolia last April 10.

When I arrived at Chef's Noodle, the place was quite jam packed already with our media friends and bloggers. The restaurant itself is a bit small but cozy in its original setting. But with this media launch, they had to rearrange the place to try to accommodate all of us. We were so many! Its a good thing though that you can still eat at the area they have at the front of the store.

What it looked like before Sam Concepcion arrived at Chef's Noodle.

We were all eager to see Sam Concepcion after all he will be the newest addition to the roster of celebrity endorsers of Chef's Noodle and he is currently a hot topic (yeah will get into that later.. hehe) and one of the most in-demand teen actors today. Sam exudes a fresh and youthful vibe that is characteristic of Chef's Noodle. The first international master franchise of the Chef's Noodle brand from South Korea, the restaurant is fast becoming a diner's haven for those who want a taste of the land of K-Pop and kimchi and more.

 

Offering a wide array of mouth-watering food choices, Chef’s Noodle boasts of dishes especially crafted by no less than award-winning Korean celebrity chef Choi In Sun.

Chef's Noodle Leek Shrimp Twigim

Chef's Noodle - Kas Basket

Chef's Noodle Kimari Twigim

Chef's Noodle Shrimp Twigim

Among the must-try menu items when one visits the restaurant are Chef’s Noodles, Starking Fire Sushi, Bibimbap, Japchae, Haemul Seafood Pajun (Korean pancake with shrimp and squid, spring onions and bell pepper), Leek Shrimp Twigim, Chicken Kas (breaded chicken fillet with white creamy sauce), Spicy Dukbokki, and well-loved desserts such as ice cream and gelato.

When Sam Concepcion arrived, the place sure filled up fast. Some of us were still in the midst of eating and trying out the Chef's Noodle fare so I wasn't able to get a prime spot to take photos. But Sam was very accommodating in answering all the media questions. With him was Nancy Go, Chef's Noodle operations manager.

“Sam’s cool and casual personality as well as his vibrant energy perfectly capture the brand. As a fairly new player in the food industry here in the Philippines, Chef’s Noodle is indeed a rising star—just like our new endorser Sam,” says Nancy Go, Chef’s Noodle operations manager. “We promise to always delight our customers with our signature dishes and new offerings. Chef’s Noodle will always remain to be the Korean fast food restaurant that Filipinos learned to love.”

Sam Concepcion as the latest endorser of Chef's Noodle.

“I am truly honored to be part of the Chef’s Noodle team,” says Sam. “The restaurant has been known for its delectable dishes and high culinary quality.  Who would not want to be associated with that?” One of the other things he shared that he really loved Korean Food. When asked what his favorite Korean dish, it was no surprise that he chose noodles as his top favorite. :)

“My friends and I love to hang out and try different kinds of food. I especially love Chef’s Noodle because you get to enjoy a delicious meal at an affordable price. It’s a cool combination of a fast food meal and a fine dine setting. The interiors of the restaurant are as inviting as the appetizing menu. I can’t wait to invite my friends to try Chef’s Noodle and love it the same way I did.”

When asked if he would invite Jasmine to eat at Chef's Noodle with him, he said yes. When asked if he would invite Anne to go and eat there as well, he said why not... Oh diba! Pang friends, family, and loved ones sa Chef's Noodle. Oh and if you are wondering about all talk about his encounter with Anne, he was gracious about it. I'm pretty much sure you've probably read it by now. What I couldn't forget were his words, "I understand where she's coming from.." Now that's one gracious and understanding endorser that I'm sure Chef's Noodle will be proud to have on their list.

Chef's Noodle menu perfect for the holy week!

So coffeeholics, if you are craving for Korean cuisine -- well here are the branches that you may visit:  University Mall (4050129), Atlanta Center (5765054), Robinsons Magnolia (6567033), SM North EDSA The Block (3765367) and Robinsons Place Malolos (0917-5486187).  Soon to open: SM Megamall.

Check out Chef’s Noodle’s website, www.chefsnoodlephils.com and its Facebook account www.facebook.com/chefsnoodlephils for more details. 

A Day of Smiles for Gawad Kalinga Kids

Hey Coffeeholics! Christmas is nearly here!  I remember when I was a kid, my parents would bring us to the carnival every Christmas! It was super fun because I was able to spend time with my family in fun and games and a lot of activities. Christmas is meant to be memorable. Make meaningful memories with your loved ones and at the same time make other kids happy too! Join the GKQC CARENIVAL! Its happening TOMORROW. 

If you once loved carnivals as a kid (or still do until now), share this delight to other children as Gawad Kalinga Quezon City (GKQC), in cooperation with The Expressions Company, brings Carenival, a day for the children of GKQC villages.

This will be on December 15, 2013 (Sunday) at the Ateneo de Manila University MVP – Roof Deck from 10 am to 5pm.

Fun booths and a variety show will be setup to entertain more than 200 kids. Here are ways on how you can take part in this celebration of caring and sharing: Be a volunteer ate and kuya for a day! Everyone is welcome to meet and mingle with the kids. Bring your family and friends too!
Donate in kind or in cash. Feeling like you need to outgrow your fascination over your precious Care Bear set, Voltes V action figures, or Barbie doll collection already? Donate them and bring joy to the beneficiaries’ faces. Excess toy donations will also be sent to the kids in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Bring your toy donations on the event itself or leave them at UP Circle of Administrator’s designated drop-off points at UP Diliman NCPAG Lobby or UP Circa Tambayan, until December 13.

Cash donations are also welcome and will be used to provide more materials for the children. Be a volunteer performer. Are you a puppeteer, magician, balloon twister or any kind of kiddie party performer? Share your talent to the kids and be their heroes!

For more information, contact Pao Inting at 0917-3679789. Like GKQC on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/teamGKQC) or follow them on Twitter (@TeamGKQC) to know more about the event and future bayanihan opportunities.

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Gawad Kalinga (GK) is an organization geared towards building a nation empowered by people with faith and patriotism; a nation made up of caring and sharing communities, dedicated to eradicating poverty and restoring human dignity. Gawad Kalinga espouses volunteerism and relies on able and willing nation- builders in carrying out its mandate. In line with the mission of ending poverty for 5 million families by 2024, GK Youth Quezon City (the youth development arm of GK QC) takes care of 87 communities in the city. The team contributes to community development and youth empowerment through organizing monthly builds, holding of workshops for developing the youth, and undertaking various community-building events. 

The ZAPtag ZAPCrawl Experience at BGC

Hey Coffeeholics! Its been a while. Yep, time truly flies by so fast and its December already. Unfortunately I've been sick for more than 3 weeks already with this horrible cough and my voice has yet to return to normal. However, that's not gonna stop me from blogging to the best of my abilities! So here's one of the fun fun events I've been to last month which was the ZAP CRAWL at BGC.

Now I know you are probably asking ZAP whaaat? Yeah me too at first. But then I found out what ZAPtag is all about. And well after finding out and experiencing myself the benefits of a ZAPtag holder (do we call ourselves a Zapper now? hihi), I've decided to call the attention of all coffeeholic shopaholic foodaholic peeps out there. Guys, YOU MUST GET A ZAPTAG. Yep. This is the mother of all loyalty/rewards card. ZAPtag is the Philippines’ first-ever rewards smart sticker that you can stick to your phone and have it with you at all times. It’s accepted at over 200 establishments in the metro.

“Who needs a stack of unused loyalty cards when you can be rewarded with just one ZAPtag?” Angelique Uy, ZAP Marketing Manager quipped. “You don’t even have to own a smartphone or subscribe to a data plan to enjoy all the perks of the ZAP platform.”

With a ZAPtag, one could splurge at favorite stores like Adidas, Digital Walker, Titania Wine Cellar, Office Warehouse and The Spa. Stuff your belly at Happy Lemon, Draft Gastropub, Burgoo, Mesa or Red Mango. Every time, you get 2% to 15% Cashback Points credited when you tap your ZAPtag at our terminals—one point = one peso. The more you spend, the more points you earn. Tap your ZAPtag again to use your points to pay for any item across the ZAP network. Easy peasy right? So simply put its your all in one rewards card generally for all food and lifestyle merchants at the Bonifacio Global City grounds but don't worry -- they do have plans of expanding the area not only at BGC but the whole metro. Yay!

So to fully experience what it is to be a ZAPper (Yes, I'm sticking with this nickname. :) we visited several participating merchants to have a "feel" of the benefits a ZAPtag holder has around BGC. Hence dubbed as the ZAP Crawl Experience.

The afternoon began at Sunshine Kitchen where bloggers were greeted by the ZAP team and event host Spike Acosta. I was kinda late but super glad that I caught up with the group while eating at Sunshine Kitchen. We were treated with a sample of the new dishes recommended by owner Tanya Chua. 

Our Lunch Menu at Sunshine Kitchen

Crabcake Benedict
Looks super yummy! Couldn't taste it though coz I'm allergic to crab.
But according to Rache from fashionistarchitect.blogspot.com it tasted really good!

Truffled Four Cheese Pasta
Ok this dish here is a WINNER! Super love loved it! Its yummy cheesy and the bits of bacon was mouth-watering. If you are a cheese fan yes you'd be ecstatic as I was while eating it.  

Huevos Rancheros
A vegetarian's delight! Health-conscious peeps are gonna love this!

6 Hour Slow Roast Porchetta
If you're a meatlover, then this is definite must order dish for you.
The meat is not only delicious but super tender!
I love the contrast of the crunchy balat on the top then get the soft tender meat under the crispy skin. Not only that you get to choose which dipping sauce to use. I used the Herb Salsa. Yum yum yum. This was my favorite. I don't know if the normal serving of this dish is the same as it was served to us (kasi parang family size ang serving! grabe!) but definitely this deserved a two thumbs up from me! :)

For Dessert - Peach French Toast with Chocolate Caramel Sauce with Creme Anglaise
What is comfort food? This is it. This dish is the perfect thing to eat when you're hanging out with your BFFs and making chika, sharing your heart ache, or laughing heartily to the stories being told by your barkada. Yes its that kind of "dessert". Personally, I love the presentation as it is given to you straight from the skillet. Nice touch!

With Spike who was kind enough to answer a lot of our questions.
Yep get your ZAPtag NOW! Nope it won't be as big this hehe. 

Group photo at Sunshine Kitchen

After having our lunch, we did the ZAPcrawl and walked several streets to our next destination - Urban Ashram Manila which is located at the Active Fun building. Yes feeling mga donya tuloy kami because of the payong service pa. hehe. It was good to walk a bit coz we did eat quite a lot and so it was only fitting that we warmed up ourselves a bit with this brisk walk before going to Urban Ashram Manila. 

We arrived at Urban Ashram Manila and was greeted with studio manager Lexi Payumo. We toured the place a bit to see the facilities.

If I may recall the place had two studios.

So while we were there, we had fun as she gave a rundown of the benefits of yoga, stretching, and exercises that can be done while sitting down. Yup, Miss Lexi demonstrated some simple techniques that even us bloggers can do (or for the rest of you surfing the net as much as I do everyday hehe) while in front of the computer.

 It was just basically a lot of seated stretching poses that felt really really good. I didn't know that just sitting down properly with breathing exercises can help you feel relaxed and less stiff! 

If you are interested in this, you should definitely try it out as they have this 15 Day Unlimited Yoga Promo for only Php1,500. I'm not quite sure if you the ZAPtag is applicable on promos (you can call them up and ask if you want to be certain). But generally, ZAPtag holders get 10%-15% Cashback on yoga classes. :) Yes ZAPpers get benefits not only at restaurants but in fitness services as well! Awesome diba?

Then we went off and walked to our next stop (which wasn't that far) - Wink Laser and Wax Studio. Owner Holly Chang shared the studio’s philosophy on providing a hygienic, painless solution to hairy woes.

One thing I liked about Wink's facilities is how clean, clinical, and sterile the whole environment was set up. The staff from Wink assured us that even the wax used is very sterile. The items or devices they use to dip in the wax are disposable and are only dipped once in the mixture to make sure that quality control and sterility is observed.

So of course one of us had to try out a FREE eyebrow wax and my bff blogger and cousin Jen volunteered to do so. She was a bit apprehensive at first coz it has been years since she had her eyebrows shaped. Hehehe. Of course this was a Kodak moment, so I didn't pass the chance to take a photo of her "before" look. 

I really like how professional the service was performed.
Ate Jen (shopgirljen.blogspot.com) said that it didn't hurt and it was just a slight sting.
The whole procedure was very fast and over in a few minutes.

Yay clean brows for Jen! Read more of her side of the story on her blog shopgirljen.blogspot.com.

Well Coffeeholics, the good news for you ZAPtag holders is that you get a regular 5% Cashback on laser and waxing services (except for packages). Yay! So that means we can use our ZAPtags for Food, Fitness Services, and even for Beauty services. Oh diba all around talaga ang ZAPtag.

And for our very last stop, we walked to SLICE for some dessert! Yum! Slice is ZAP's newest partner merchant. We sampled some of their delicious looking cupcakes. I couldn't help taking photos coz they all looked too pretty to eat!

Pink Lemonaede Cupcake

Banana Blueberry (I think.. :P I forgot) but this was my favorite! 

Sugar Rush? Try this pretty Choco Yema! 

So happy that we ended with a sweet note. ZAPtag holders can avail a 5% Cashback reward when they dine at Slice. Yay! Before we all parted ways we were able to chat for a bit with the two guys behind ZAPtag. Kudos to you guys for this awesome idea. I personally hope that ZAPtag would expand not only in the BGC area but for the whole Metro Manila!

Last photo with the whole group. Yay for a successful ZAPtag ZAPCrawl Experience! Thank you so much ZAP for inviting me and letting me try this first hand. I've got a lot of loyalty/rewards cards already so having to need only just one ZAPtag for a lot of merchants and brands is super! 

Time to go ZAPping! I already have MY ZAPtag. Though getting Photobombed in the process wasn't my idea. hehehe. But my dear Coffeholics, isn't it about time you get your very own ZAPtag? Shopping, dining, and doing a whole lot other stuff in stores all over will be more rewarding than ever with your own ZAPtag! 
Enjoy a lifetime of rewards by signing up for a FREE account online
by clicking here. Get your own ZAPtag NOW!

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