(Updated 6:40 p.m.) Turon on pizza, ube in soft serve and chicken on a barbecue stick, the week’s food news is full of familiar flavors showing up in unexpected places.
Here are some of the food stories to check out this week.
Sweet flavors land on pizza
Pizza Hut has introduced its limited-time Sweet Golden Collection, featuring two dessert-inspired pizzas: Mango Cheesecake Bliss and Golden Turon Pizza.
Mango Cheesecake Bliss combines mangoes, cream cheese, sour cream, marshmallows and cheesecake cubes, while Golden Turon Pizza brings together caramelized banana, langka, marshmallows and mozzarella.
Both are served on Pizza Hut’s Mega Crunch Pizza crust and priced at P299 each.
DQ gives Filipino flavors a frozen twist
Dairy Queen is marking Buwan ng Wika with its limited-edition Sorbetes Fiesta collection, which draws from familiar Filipino flavors.
The lineup includes Ube-st Graham, made with ube halaya and graham pieces; Klasik Quezo, featuring cheese sauce and shredded cheese and Avocashew, which combines avocado puree and cashew nuts with soft serve.
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Baler strengthens PET collection efforts
Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines and the Municipality of Baler are expanding their environmental partnership through the Tapon to Ipon program.
The initiative includes collection bins and a baling machine for clear PET bottles, with the goal of strengthening collection, segregation and recovery efforts across Baler’s 13 barangays.
The latest project builds on their previous collaboration, including the provision of a surf rake in 2019 for beach-cleaning operations.
“We are grateful for Coca-Cola’s continued contribution to our environmental initiatives. At the end of the day, we recognize that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility,” Baler Mayor Rhett Ronan Angara said.
Seafood takes the spotlight in Araneta City
Araneta City is holding its first Seafood Festival this August, bringing together restaurants, food businesses and other destinations for a month-long focus on seafood and Filipino culinary culture.
One of the main events is the Farmers Market Culinary Showdown: Seafood Edition on August 22, where chefs and culinary students will prepare seafood dishes while highlighting responsible and sustainable sourcing.
Other activities include seafood-themed dishes, a special film screening at Gateway Cineplex 18, an omakase wine dinner and dining events featuring responsibly sourced seafood.
“Araneta City has always been a place where people come together to discover new experiences,” said Marjorie Go, vice president for marketing of Araneta City.
A new seafood spot opens in Gateway Mall 2
Adding to Araneta City’s seafood offerings is Seafood 8 by Olio’s, which opened on August 8 at Gateway Mall 2.
The restaurant is the first Philippine venture of Filipino chef Oliver “Oli” Buenviaje, whose career has included work in restaurants in Paris, Dubai, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
The restaurant reimagines the Filipino dampa experience in a contemporary setting, with live seafood aquariums, displays of fresh seafood and an open kitchen. Its menu features eight signature sauces, including Miso Butter, Inasal Citrus Ginger & Soy, Oriental Chili Caramel and Bagoong Béarnaise.
“Filipinos love seafood, and we love sharing meals,” Buenviaje said. “Seafood 8 by Olio’s is about giving guests the freedom to create their own dining experience while enjoying the quality, care, and excitement that comes with every dish.”
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A new chicken option joins Andok’s BBQ lineup
Andok’s has added Dokitori, an 80-gram chicken barbecue skewer, to its existing Pork Kasim and Liempo BBQ offerings.
Priced at P65 per stick, the new item is also available as a boxed rice meal. Andok’s said the launch responds to demand for convenient, single-portion meal options.
“Filipinos are always looking for quick, affordable meals that fit their daily rush,” said Andok’s Litson Corporation president Maverick Leonardo Javier.
The chain will hold a one-day Buy 1, Take 1 promotion for Dokitori on August 15.
Ribshack opens 61st branch in Malolos
Homegrown grill chain Ribshack has opened its first flagship store in Tikay, Malolos City, bringing its branch count to 61 nationwide.
Located along McArthur Highway, the new restaurant also features an in-store Primaroma café serving coffee, blended drinks and desserts.
The Ribshack menu includes pork spareribs, pork back ribs, pork BBQ and Bacolod chicken inasal, with unlimited rice. The branch is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.
“Great experiences today are gated by price, by geography, and by class. Ribshack exists to remove those gates,” Ana May Alagao Melendez, chief financial officer of Ribshack Food Group, said.
Six Marriott chefs come together for a nine-course dinner
Clark Marriott Hotel is bringing together six chefs from Marriott International Philippines’ restaurants, along with Pampanga-based chef Bong Sangmit, for EPICURIOUS, a one-night culinary event on August 21.
The nine-course dinner will feature Spanish, Peruvian-Japanese, Korean, Cantonese and Filipino influences, with chefs representing restaurants including The Westin Manila, Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, Clark Marriott Hotel and Manila Marriott Hotel.
The event is priced at P8,540 net per person, including a welcome cocktail, nine-course tasting menu, selected wine pairings and live performances by Kammerchor Manila.
CHAGEE brings back its friendship-themed plushies
CHAGEE has launched six new Bes-Tea Brew Crew plushies as part of its International Friendship Day campaign.
The blind-box collection features Tea Pot, Tea Cup, Tea Bag, BO•YA, Peach Oolong and Tea Whisk, with each character representing a different personality in a friend group.
The plushies are designed to hold hands when paired, allowing collectors to match or share them with friends.
“We designed the Brew Crew to hold hands because that is what friendship really looks like — small, everyday ways of holding on to each other,” Christopher Tiong, country general manager of CHAGEE Philippines, said.
Jollibee takes home 11 marketing awards
Jollibee received 11 awards at the 2026 Marketing Excellence Awards, including Gold for Marketing Team of the Year.
Its recognitions covered digital commerce, customer engagement, content marketing, influencer marketing, advertising and mobile marketing. Among the winning campaigns were the Jollibee App, National Day of Joy, Jollibee Joy Run, Jolly Takam Shots, JolliCreators and GameJoy Combos.
The brand also received recognition at the YouTube Works Awards Philippines for its 2025 Christmas campaign, Buo ang Saya ng Pasko, which won the Multiformat Storytelling category and was named second runner-up for Best of Philippines.
READ: Who’s who: Meet the winners of YouTube Works Awards Philippines 2026
