Big Bite! the Northern Food Festival 2015

Celebrate Northern Cuisine at MarQuee Mall’s Big Bite!

Food fans gear up for MarQuee Mall’s Big Bite! The Northern Food Festival on October 16, 17 and 18. 

In partnership with Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, Angeles City Tourism Office, North Luzon Expressway and Lifestyle Network, Big Bite delights festival goers with food markets, "Sisig Festival", cooking demos, culinary cook-offs and live entertainment.

Now on its third year, the gastronomic feast will feature over 100 food merchants from Region I,II, III and the Cordillera Administrative Region with regional delights from condiments, spices to coffee and jams to local favorites such as the Ilocos empanada, bagnet, pastillas and longganisa.

Big Bite's main event highlight is the “Sisig Festival”. Sisig is the quintessential Kapampangan dish, traditionally made of pork parts, mixed with spices, served on a sizzling plate with a side of calamansi and chili peppers. Northern regions take part in the celebration by cooking their own version of sisig such as the bangus sisig from Pangasinan and dinakdakan from Ilocos. The “Sisig Festival” is a culinary spectacle of regional cuisine at its best. 

Boosting tourism in the North, Big Bite reinforces the city’s growing reputation as the culinary capital of the Philippines and is part of Angeles City’s Fiestang Kuliat, a month-long fiesta celebration in the city. 

Visitors will also see culinary masters Chef Sau del Rosario, Lifestyle Network’s “Chef Next Door” Jonas Ng and Center for Asian Culinary Studies founder Chef Gene Gonzales whip up northern favorites in the live cooking demonstrations. 

Competition heats up in the three-day cook-off among top culinary schools from the region. 

So come and celebrate the biggest gastronomical festival in MarQuee Mall’s Big Bite: The Northern Food Festival on October 16-18,2015. 

For more information, contact (045) 304-0110 to 11. Like and follow MarQuee Mall’s social networking sites, Facebook: facebook.com/MarQueeMall, Twitter: @MarQueetweets and instagram: @iloveMarQueemall.

Chocolate & Wine Festival now on-going in Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila

PRESS RELEASE

Newport City celebrates chocolate & wine with a decadent month-long festival

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Newport Mall is celebrating the decadent duo of chocolate & wine with delicious pairings, chocolate carvings and more at its Chocolate & Wine Festival this October.

Bar 180's limited time offer for the Chocolate Creations is a trio of delicious desserts, each with their own special wine pairing.

Chocolate Creations, paired with wine

Newport Mall’s Chocolate Creations are even more delectable when paired with wine! Available from October 1 to 31, 2015 this collection of chocolate desserts can be enjoyed with a glass of vino at participating establishments. The list is posted at the Chocolate & Wine Gallery at the ground floor of Newport Mall from Oct. 1 – 12

Deconstructed Peanut Butter Praline, paired with a Montes Late Harvest Riesling.

Among the not to be missed pairings this year is a trio of chocolate desserts and wines from Bar 180 – there’s a Deconstructed Peanut Butter Praline, paired with a Montes Late Harvest Riesling, the Mary Jane Cake, which has Raspberry Jelly and a Dark Chocolate Ganache, to be enjoyed with a glass of Montes Alpha Syrah and the interesting Chocolate Soup (a rich combination of dark and milk chocolate) topped with walnuts and pistachios, which is paired with a Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mary Jane Cake with Raspberry Jelly and Dark Chocolate Ganache, paired with a Montes Alpha Syrah.

Other chocolate desserts one can try at the festival is Crisostomo’s Madrid, a ChocoMani cake garnished with chocnut candy, drizzled with fondue and topped with mint leaves and their GatoNegro Cabernet Sauvignon. Johnny Kahuku’s Hawaiian Volcano Lava Cake is a luscious spiced dark chocolate cake with raspberry that one can have with a glass of their Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc White Wine.

Chocolate Soup with Walnut Croquant and Pistachio Nuts, paired with Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon.

For a twist on the typical buchi, Johnny Chow is offering an orange marmalade infused dark chocolate buchi and their Alexis Lichine & Co Cabernet Souvignon or Merlot.

Peanut butter and chocolate fans should definitely stop by The Italian Market for their Humble Pie, a peanut butter and dark chocolate pie made even yummier with vanilla ice cream and a glass of Fantini Farnese Montepulciano D'abruzzo.

Chocolate ice cream is also represented through Mr. Kurosawa’s Chocolate Jelly with Cream, chocolate ice cream mixed with anglaise and chocolate coffee jelly topped with whipped cream, chocolate powder and syrup. Mr. Kurosawa also offers a Yellow Tail Australian Wine Merlot.
 

Other delish chocolate dishes include TWG’s Chocolate Macaron, Villa Del Conte’s Praline Balls (choose from nine delectable flavors!), FIC’s Tsokolate, a rich full-flavored ice cream inspired by the tsokolate eh and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s cakes.

Chocoholics can also enjoy an indulgent chocolate buffet and Chocolate & Wine Pairing Night on Oct. 22, 6PM at Impressions in Resorts World Manila. Guests can purchase tickets for P1,500 and enjoy a wide selection of chocolate desserts, cakes, dark and white chocolate fountains and more.

 

Chocolate & Wine Market

From Oct. 1 – 4 and 15-18, chocolate and wine lovers should get their wallets ready as Newport Mall’s Plaza at the second floor transforms into a Chocolate & Wine Market.

Guests can check out chocolate treats from Nestle Kitkat and enjoy eating them at the Kitkat benches scattered all over Newport City. Chocoholics can also satisfy their sweet tooth with chocolate desserts and wine from Café Maxims, indulge in pralines from Villa Del Conte and try chocolatey caramel apples at American Caramel Apples.

More chocolates will also be available from Food Bin, Pipers Pan, Yellow Sprinkles, Picole, Unit 16 Sweets, MedChef, Mio Gelati, Choco Atbp., Coldstone, Kimbee, Snack Box, Hattendo, Frost & Fill, Barris Chocolate and Momilo Mio.

Chocolate & Wine Gallery

This year’s Chocolate & Wine Festival also allows guests to enjoy the fusion of food and art. At the Chocolate & Wine Gallery open from Oct. 1 -12, guests can check out beautiful chocolate paintings and sculptures from Marriot Hotel and Resorts World Manila Food & Beverage, see wine selections from the Philippine Wine Merchants and learn all about wine & chocolate pairing from the pairing guide.

Guests can also enjoy their chocolate and wine with wonderful performances at the Chocolate, Wine and the Arts showcase, happening 6:00 PM on October 2 to 3, 2015 and on October 16 to 17, 2015.

The Chocolate & Wine Festival was created by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Resorts World Manila, and sponsored by Nestle Kitkat, the Philippine Wine Merchants, Villa Del Conte and Gallo Wines.

For more information on Newport Mall’s Chocolate Festival, please call the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Concierge at 709-0888, 709-9888 or 09178380111 or Resorts World Manila at 836-6333 and 908-8833 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com

Giant pork sisig featured in the opening of the second BIG BITE

In Pampanga, the Marquee Mall of Angeles City hosted again the BIG BITE!, a three-day Northern Food Festival.

The giant pork sisig being cooked in the Marquee Park by a team of chefs and CHM students from Systems Plus College Foundation.

On its opening last October 17, 2014, a big mass of minced pork sisig was cooked on a giant stainless steel pan at the Marquee Park by a team of chefs headed by a Capampangan celebrity chef, Sau Del Rosario. With him cooking the giant sisig are  chef Jam Melchor and chef Bong Sagmit with the help of  HRM students of Systems Plus College Foundation headed by Dean Rennier Perez.

The giant pork sisig was made possible by cooking up 225 kilograms of pisngi and tenga ng baboy (cheeks and ears of pig) in 11-feet-in-diameter pan with 60 kilograms of atay ng manok (chicken liver), 5 sacks of onion, 2 sacks of fresh calamansi fruits, 5 gallons of soy sauce, and 10 kilos of red ripe siling Taiwan - not siling labuyo (Philippine bird’s eye chili) as told earlier by the organizers. Siling Taiwan is a species of chili that is bigger but less pungent compared to the real siling labuyo.

RJ Ledesma of Mercato Centrale hosting the event.

The food festival lasted for three-days on the grounds of MarQuee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga, from October 17 to October 19, 2014.

Mr. Mark Sablan, the Senior Division Manager and General Manager of Marquee Mall, formally welcomes everyone who attends the kick-off of the second Big Bite.

Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintua recalls how sisig originated in Angeles City, Pampanga as his way of formally capping off the opening of the 3-day BIG BITE! northern food festival.

(For the same story on how sisig originated, see my other related post) 

College of Hospitality Management (CHM) students of Systems Plus College Foundation (SPCF) who helped prepare the ingredients and cook the giant pork sisig are now holding plates of calamansi and sili (hot chili) as final garnishment to the sisig.

The Capampangan pisngi at balugbug babi (cheek and ear of pig) are parboiled then grilled  before they are minced into pieces.

The minced pork parts and sliced red chilies (siling Taiwan, not siling labuyo as inadvertently identified by the  organizers and host of the event), are manually readied for cooking.

The CHM students of SPCF chopping the pork into tiny bits and pieces.

The organizers, chefs, and guests of the BIG BITE perform the symbolic strewing of sliced chilies and calamansi fruits as the final missing piece to the giant pork sisig  

The pork sisig is now ready for sharing

Chef Sau del Rosario serving a helping of sisig to Mayor Ed Pamintuan and wife, Mrs. Herminia Pamintuan 

The cooked pork sisig being served on wooden plates appeared to be  tenderized  well and browned due to overcooking. But still yummy.

Related posts:

• Wonderful foods and culinary treasures I found in the sneak preview of the second Big Bite!
• PAG installed artworks to Marquee Mall's Big Bite! The Northern Food Festival
• BIG BITE! is back this 2014 in Marquee Mall, Angeles City
• How can you tell an authentic Siling Labuyo

There are so much beer to taste and know about in McKinley Hill Beer Festival

For the whole stretch this month of October 2014, the Venice Piazza of McKinley Hill in BGC is the place for Beer Festival where grand revelry is overflowing with fun and excitement for beer connoisseurs and enthusiasts. 

Over 100 craft and imported beers, beer-infused dishes and non-stop entertainment will surely gratify the thirst and food desire of partygoers. 

October 1 to 25, 2014 - Experience and enjoy the McKinley Hill Beer Festival with more fun and exciting beer promos.  From 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., beer-lovers can enjoy unlimited beers for only PHP299.00 for local beers and PHP499 for imported beers at participating establishments. 

Take advantage and enjoy the month long limited-edition mouthwatering beer-infused dishes prepared by Wursty Wursty Beer Garden, Tratorria Poggio Antico, Marciano's, Main Street and Little Asia.

The kick-off of McKinley Hill Beer Festival formally commenced with a cheer and gulping  down pitchers of beer.  Karen Bordador (center), who serves as master of the ceremony, joins the initiation rite of unlimited beer drinking.

October 10 & 11, 2014 - you can regale in the German Octoberfest by Wursty Wursty Beer Garden, where you can enjoy great selection of imported German beers and popular German cuisine, along with live performance from KSM Jean and Joey, Kilda, and Xpresso.

Among the beers I've tried, I find this Pivo Praha excellent in taste. This microbrewed beer is crisp and getting more manly when chilled.

October 17, 2014 - Watch the best indie musicians and artists in town performing at the Indie Supreme. Performers would include Angelo, Mom's Cake, Engkanto Reggae, Megan Aguilar, Yosha, Lougee Basabas, and Wolfgang.

October 24, 2014 - Imago and Chicosci will perform on stage.

October 25, 2014 - The rock band, Urbandub, will close the Beer Tent with rock music.

Small players in beer industry, the craft breweries, like the Xavierbier, the  Pivo Praha (above), the Hand Craft (below) and the Great Island Craft Brewery (also below) are gaining exposure by participating in the Beer Festival.

Beer products now being manufactured in a local brewery in Bakekang, Baguio City.

Soon-to-be marketed are bottled versions of Xavierbier beer products. These four bottled craft beers represent Ifugao legendary complicated belief of the universe and system of deities. Their flat universe is composed of six worlds: Kabunyan (Skyworld), Pugaw (Earthworld), Dalom (Underworld), Lagud (Eastern World), Daya (Western World), and Kadungayan (Spiritual world).

Master brewer, Rose (with bull cap), bartending a tap in Venice Piazza on the kick-off of McKinley Hill Beer Festival  

Those who will avail of the promos will have the chance to win McKinley's giveaways of round-trip tickets for two courtesy of Air Asia to Seoul, South Korea and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.  

To get the chance of winning the raffle, guests can presents their receipts at the designated redemtion booth at the Venice Piazza.   Raffle draw is on October 25, during the McKinley Hill Beer Festival's closing revelry.

Mr. Earl Palma's Sauceria offers not only good beers but also mouth-watering beer-infused dishes. Even if the beer festival is over, you can always have the best of Sauceria at the Tuscany, McKinley Hill.

For more information on McKinley Hill Beer Festival, you can call the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Concierge at 709-9888, 709-088, and 0917-838-0111. The area code for landline phones in Metro Manila is 02  for national calls and +63 for international calls.

A bunch of stand-up comedians from Comedy Manila with Karen Bordador (2nd left). The funny guys won the beer quiz and Cesar Cruz of the Daily Tribune holds a plane ticket he just won for a trip to Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan.

The Bicol Express Wild Chili Ale is a chili-flavored craft beer, while the (+63) Single Hop IPA represents Philippines using the international telephone country code +63 of the country, and the Poto Pale Ale, are the craft beer manufactured by the Great Island Craft Brewery in aranaque City, Metro Manila.    

Filipino version of chili-flavored beer. It is manufactured in a  mini brewery in Paranaque City, Metro Manila by Allan Baldis Agala (I think, he is the guy peeping in the 10th photo, above) .

This can be your real tear jerker. Now, you cannot just pretend crying when you are broke.

A FRIENDLY REMINDER :  Be aware of RA 10586, or the  "Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013," a new law that took effect recently. It penalizes drunk driving in the Philippines. Don't drink and drive, otherwise you will loss lots of things in your life. Your license to drive might be cancelled and banned you to drive for life. Isn't it worse when its too late to realize that your life insurance and car insurance will not cover you and your losses due to alcohol. If drinking is socially unavoidable, just drink moderately and responsibly. (Check this for your reference: The Official Gazette)