Cool and Class Meet at Sidebar

Sure, Manila definitely has all the chic bars where friends can just raise the glass to fun and party but Sidebar has never been of these. Sidebar, which has been churning good music and good food in a great quaint ambience for 23 years, has not lost its charm. In fact, it has even scaled up in comfort with its newly-renovated facilities where the seemingly grandiose can be casual and pop at the same time.

Offering a fanciful look of what a ladies’ bar should be, the vibe of Sidebar is classic yet unpretentious and it’s filled with “beautiful things”, such as original paintings, bric-a-brac from the owner’s travels, glistening cocktail glasses, and a list of music streamlined with mix of classic, indie contemporary rock, and everything in between.

Quaint and sophisticated but not missing out on comfort, the newly-renovated Sidebar possesses the feel of something dainty: cozy sofas, sleek arm chairs, tall wooden beam ceiling, red brick walls, wide framed mirrors and hot red chandeliers as charming centerpieces. Adding a touch of culture and historic element are the antique banisters from Malate Church which complete Sidebar’s unique look, personally designed by no less than the owner, Ricky Gutierrez.

If on the lookout for a place to have those secret conversations or exchange unstoppable stories with friends and colleagues, where safety and security are part of the package, Sidebar is definitely the ideal venue. Located at El Pueblo Ortigas and just few blocks from malls and villages, the Sidebar evokes a different fantasy of bygone cocktail culture where cool and class meet. Attracting artists, writers, professionals, and entrepreneurs, it’s also a favorite hangout of accomplished women decision-makers for its delicious drinks and bar chows.

Speaking of delicious, Sidebar cocktails and its menu represent the best of the bunch. Since it’s from the family of the 1771 Group of Restaurants which is known for its high standard on food quality and service, anyone is assured that the same delightful touches are found in this intimate spot.  Whether it’s for a simple gathering or just feeling adventurous for yummy food and cocktails, Sidebar provides a primer for a wholesome night out experience that never goes out of style. 

WEEKDAY BUFFET BONANZA AT MARKET CAFE

Treat your family and friends with a spectacular spread of epicurean delights as Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila’s interactive restaurant, the Market Cafe offers its most exciting buffet price offer until June 30, 2013.

From Monday to Thursday, feast on a wide selection of freshly cooked Western, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Filipino cuisines and enjoy a special price of PHP990 net per person for lunch and P1099 net per person for dinner inclusive of free-flowing soft drinks and local beer.

Featured dishes include an abundant choice of appetizers, hearty salads, premium cuts of lamb and beef, fresh or baked oysters, salmon, oven-baked pizzas, pastas, sushi and sashimi, freshly made tempura and a sinful selection of homemade ice cream and desserts. 

Take advantage availing this offer and satisfy your family and friends cravings with this buffet extravaganza that assures a memorable indulgence.

For more information, please call the Food and Beverage Reservations Centre on +63 2 247 8666 or make your booking online by visiting manila.casino.hyatt.com.  Alternatively, e-mail cath.mn@hyatt.com.

Consumer satisfaction, certified

How do you satisfy consumers in a highly discriminating industry such as food?

Just ensure safety and quality, which also includes taste, at all times from the sourcing of raw materials to testing, processing, packaging and transport until it reaches consumers’ dining table.

And this is what Mekeni Food Corporation assures consumers through its popular line of Mekeni products—ham, bacon, corned beef, their top-quality cured meat products such as tapa, tocino, longganisa, and of course its flagship brand, the Mekeni Picnic Hotdog. This particular product is slowly gaining ground in terms of awareness and preference among households today because of its taste that is already comparable to premium-priced brands in the market.

For the safety aspect, Mekeni Food Corporation made sure that its food manufacturing processes adhere to the strictest and most stringent standards acceptable around the world when it comes to food processing. Food safety programs such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) are already in place for Mekeni to gain acceptance among local consumers.

Mekeni Food Corporation is also doubly proud of these standards because it shows that the company is doubly serious in its efforts to make safety a top priority and part of the mindset of the company’s production team at their 20-plus hectare meat processing plant in Balubad, Porac, Pampanga. This same plant is accredited by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and boasts of a “AAA” rating conferred by the same agency.

And in a project of the NMIS together with other partner-agencies when it comes to choosing the best among AAA-grade meat processing plants in the country in terms of food safety, Mekeni showed them all how to make safety part of their manufacturing veins when it won as “Best Meat Processing Plant” in not just one but three years straight years, from 2004 to 2006. For this reason, Mekeni Food Corporation was bestowed with a “Grand Slam Award” back in 2007.

But Mekeni Food Corporation is still adamant in pushing their safety processing benchmark to even greater heights not just in the local scene but international as well. In 2006, after Mekeni Food Corporation won its third straight “Best Meat Processing Plant” award, the company even made history and made the country proud by becoming the first meat processing plant  in the Philippines, the first in asia  and  the 2^nd in the world to be presented with the prestigious ISO 22000 or Food Safety Management System certification.  The award cited Mekeni Food Corporation for its continued investments in modernizing its processing equipment and thorough and meticulous research and development efforts to make their products truly world class and safe.

And Mekeni Food Corporation pushed the envelope even further when 6 years after that groundbreaking award, the company was awarded as the first Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000-certified hotdog processing plant in the country. This is no easy feat to achieve, especially for a company that started only as a backyard business. The FSSC requires that a company’s food safety standards should conform to the rigorous demands of global retailers or major branded food companies regarding food safety management in order for their product to gain entry into a specific market.

“Safety and quality is at the lifeblood of Mekeni Food Corporation, from the management down to the employees. Our consumers are our priority for the business so we make sure that safety and quality is always observed so as not to lose their trust and confidence, which is vital for us to survive. We thank God for giving us the wisdom and the courage to always be on our toes so that we can continue to give Filipinos safe and high-quality world-class products,” Prudencio “Pruds” Garcia, President of Mekeni Food Corporation, emphasizes.

The world-class quality Mekeni food products are available at all major groceries and supermarkets nationwide. To know more about Mekeni Food Corporation, contact (+63) 45-458-0000 or visit www.mekeni.com.

There’s Plenty of Fish in the Sea at Sentro 177

Sentro 1771 presents seafood dishes that will surely find a home to your family’s repertoire of top picks whether you’re aiming to be healthy or simply finding comfort from your all-time favorite seafood choices. Guaranteed low in saturated fat, these dishes are not only irresistible, they’re also good for the heart.  

At Sentro 1771, tasty definitely means healthy too especially if you’re having smoked milkfish spring rolls (P270) which could serve as a filling and satisfying appetizer or entree. A festive combination of smoked milkfish, salted egg, mustard greens, onions and tomato that are rolled like spring rolls, it’s served with slightly tangy vinaigrette for some zing. An explosion of color, texture, and balance of flavors, it’s a lip smacking dish minus the guilt. 

Fresh Smoked Fish Spring

Equally-appealing and filled nothing but goodness of the sea, seafood sinigang sa miso (P250) is a classic favorite minus the meat but never lacking with mouthwatering elements such as gindara, milkfish, and shrimps seasoned with miso for more depth and flavor. Good food begets fresh and all-natural ingredients, and that’s the promise of this dish. It’s spirited, chunky, and heartwarming especially that the broth is made from scratch. Plus, it has chockfull of colorful diced veggies from tomatoes, okra, taro corms, daikon, water spinach, and eggpplant stewed in tamarind. And as a charming signature tradition, you get the chance to adjust the level of sourness of the soup by sipping and tasting it before serving. 

Seafood Sinigang Sa Miso

Fried usually gets a bad rap as something calorie-laden, but not Sentro 1771’s Rated GG or galunggong (grilled mackerel scad, P230 and P445). Yes, fried healthy food does exist at Sentro 1771 as this dish is fried in olive oil, filleted and generously sprinkled with toasted bits of garlic. Executive Chef Vicky Rose Pacheco not only takes pride in creating another certified Sentro 1771 original, the lowly fish was a given a rightful and impressive reputation considering galunggong is a rich source of protein and zinc.  

Rated GG

If your family is in for smart eating, count on Sentro 1771 in satisfying you with something healthy and tasty too.  There’s nothing quite anything else like a brown rice that can make a marvelous pair with these amazing, healthy choices, so it’s a good thing that Sentro 1771 has this in the menu.  So whether you’re a healthy eater or seekers of all-natural whole foods, find these Sentro 1771 dishes indulgent, never leaving behind the taste and joy of eating while bringing a new appreciation for something deliciously low-calorie.  

Sentro 1771 in Greenbelt 3 is open from 11am to 11pm (Monday to Sunday) while Serendra is from 7am to 10:00 pm (Sunday to Thursday) / 7am to 11:00pm (Friday to Saturday). For inquiries and reservations, call Sentro Greenbelt 3 (02) 757 3941 or Sentro Serendra (02) 856 0581.