New eats: Food offerings, deals, other F&B updates this August

August 13, 2024 - 12:15 PM
2029
Photo shows Mang Inasal's Solo Fiesta, Marian Rivera and Ziggy Dantes, Taco Bell's Triple Cheese. (Mang Insal/Facebook; Century Tuna/Released; Taco Bell/Released)

(Updated Aug. 16, 2024; 11 p.m.) Good news, foodies! 

Several brands are offering various food offerings and deals this August to satisfy your cravings.

Check out the list of deals and offerings you can enjoy this month:

‘JoyZone’

With its famous motto, “Sa Jollibee, Bida Ang Saya,” the world-famous Pinoy fast food chain is guaranteeing happiness in its limited-time installation called “JoyZone” at Glorietta, Makati City.

Jollibee Glorietta started hosting JoyZone that provides patrons an innovative and interactive experience last August 10 and 11. It will also be open to the public from Aug. 14 to 18 between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the same branch.

Upon entrance to the fast food chain branch, you will be welcomed with the Joy Mirror filter, where an LED screen with the friendly Jollibee mascot is displayed to give you a glimpse of what you can expect inside. 

You can also experience the first-ever Joy Meter Filter, a mini-game that will analyze your joy level, giving you an equivalent Peso discount. 

With a minimum spend of P249, patrons can redeem this discount on your next purchase at the Jollibee Glorietta store. 

“Jollibee has always been committed to spreading joy, and the JoyZone is our latest way of showing that. With the help of modern technology, we aim to provide our customers with a fun and unique experience where they can enjoy their favorite Jollibee meals at discounted prices,” Luis Berba, director of Masterbrand and Chickenjoy, said.

‘Chicken Joyest’

The fast food chain this week also promoted the “Chicken Joy-est” experience because it  is now offering its biggest, juiciest and best-tasting ultimate fried chicken still at a starting price of P82. 

“The best-tasting Chickenjoy is now at its biggest, crafted to deliver even more joy with every bite…Ito ang Chickenjoyest!” Luis Berba, Jollibee Philippines’ Marketing director, said.

Triple cheese

If you’re a cheese lover, a fast food chain got you covered.

Taco Bell, a fast food offering Mexican-inspired dishes, is set to satisfy all your August cheese cravings, this month.

It introduced the Triple Cheese collection, with food items that unite three cheeses: cream cheese, cheddar and mozzarella Cheese. 

Dive into a world of gooey, irresistible, cheesy extravaganza — an experience you won’t want to miss — by ordering these from the menu:

  • Triple Cheese Quesadilla – P159
  • Triple Cheese Core Burrito – P199
  • Triple Cheese Crunchwrap – P199

These were made available to the public last August 6 but you can still enjoy the ultimate cheese-fest until September 2024.

Solo Fiesta

The Philippines’ grill expert, Mang Inasal, introduced Solo Fiesta, an ultimate all-in-one meal that comes in five different bundles. It is available nationwide this month.

“Our Solo Fiesta has captured the hearts of our dine-in, takeout, and delivery customers with its delicious assortment of chicken inasal, pork bbq, palabok, lumpiang Togue and Java rice,” Mang Inasal president Mike Castro said. 

Patrons can enjoy Solo Fiesta with Pinoy favorites starting at a dine-in price of P189. 

In Mindanao, this promotion will not be available in areas with pork restrictions due to the African Swine Flu.

Pork BBQ blowout

On August 20, Mang Inasal will also offer a special Pork BBQ Blowout.

The Pork BBQ Buddy size will be sold for only P149 where patrons can save P67, while the Chicken Inasal and Pork BBQ Buddy Size combo will be available for only P299 and patrons can save P69.

Tuna nuggets

A new nugget has been launched, and it’s not made of chicken. Introducing Century Tuna’s Crispy Tuna Nuggets — a healthier and yummier twist of the classic nugget.

This reimagined nugget ensures lunchtime is fun, nutritious, and guilt-free for kids while helping moms prepare quick, easy and healthy meals that satisfy their children’s taste buds. 

Packed with Omega 3 DHA, these crunchy nuggets are good for both the heart and mind and are sure to become your new favorite snack. 

The new offering from Century Tuna is available at leading supermarkets for P99 suggested retail price for a 12-piece pack.

Other food and beverage updates

World’s Best Beer for 2024

Golden tidings, beer enthusiasts! The Philippines’ local brewery has made a historic first for the country after bagging the World’s Best Beer at the World Beer Wards 2024 (WBA) held in the United Kingdom.

Engkanto Brewery’s High Hive Honey Ale has risen to the top of its category, leading the brewery to an unprecedented six-for-six medal haul.

Under the Flavored Honey and Maple Syrup beer category, Engkanto Brewery bested entries from over 70 countries, marking the highest achievement for the company.

“It’s unprecedented, it’s historic, and we’re all ecstatic!” Ian Parides, founder of Engkanto, said.

This is also the first time a local craft beer from the Philippines has been named World’s Best Beer on the international stage.

Parides also highlighted the use of high-quality local ingredients, such as pure local honey, which contributes to the award-winning beer’s distinctiveness.

Engkanto also won two other gold medals, two silver medals, and a Flavored Beer award.
Under the Classic Pilsner category, Live It Up Lager won as the country winner and claimed a Gold medal. Green Lava Double IPA also achieved the same honors in the Imperial/Double IPA category.

Meanwhile, Mango Nation Hazy IPA and Dew Drop Dalandan Wheat Ale both secured silver medals in the IPA session category and Belgian-style wheat beer category.
Paint Me Purple Ube Lager won in the Flavored Beer, Fruit, and Vegetable category.

The WBA is an annual competition that began in 2007 and is joined by over 30 countries.

New Era x Starbucks Collection

Calling all coffee and fashion lovers, a new Starbucks collection is finally here!

Launched last August 13, international street and lifestyle brand New Era, in collaboration with Starbucks, has blended individuality with authenticity. This sophisticated yet spontaneous designer collection includes monogram headwear, bags, classic drinkware, and lifestyle merchandise.

With their sleek neutral earth tones, customers can choose from seven various drinkware items and eight lifestyle accessories, as this collection focuses on boosting self-confidence and positivity.

“We’re thrilled to partner with New Era to celebrate individuality, style, and coffee. Combining their dynamic streetwear with Starbucks’ focus on genuine human connections, we’re transforming every cup into a statement of bold fashion, delivering a distinct and stylish experience for our customers in the Philippines with every sip,” Jamie Silva, Starbucks Philippines’ Marketing senior manager, said.

This promotion will run for a limited time only or until supplies last and will be available at select Starbucks stores in the country.

‘Hard Mountain Dew’

After two years of its initial launch in the United States, PepsiCo has finally introduced its first ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage, “Hard Mountain Dew,” to the Philippines on August 15.


Hard Mountain Dew contains zero caffeine, no added sugar, 5% alcohol by volume and 100 calories per serving.

“Our alcoholic beverages are thoughtfully crafted for adults of legal drinking age who enjoy responsible consumption,” Nitin Bhandari, PepsiCo’s senior director and general manager, said.

The new product is now available in 330ml single-serve cans and 4-pack bundles in Original and Beach Blast flavors at major supermarkets, convenience stores, pubs, and bars in select key cities.

Future Menus 2024

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) introduced the future of Filipino food during their highly immersive Future Menus 2024 event last August 12, held at the Blue Leaf Pavilion in Bonifacio Global City.

The 2024 menu presented eight new culinary trends designed to help food businesses stay ahead of the industry.

The curated menu also identified four trends: Local Abundance, which celebrates local ingredients and strengthens community bonds, and Irresistible Vegetables and Plant-Based Proteins, which focus on the value of plant-based options. The report also touched on the Flavor Shock trend, which embraces creativity and a touch of chaos in Filipino food businesses.

“Our overarching intent for today’s event and the Future Menus report is to provide guidance as we work together to get a full grasp of the food business and sink our teeth into the future of food readily, excitedly, together,” BJ Carreon, managing director of UFS Philippines, said.

The event featured a blend of educational talk and interactive trend rooms that invited chefs, business owners, and marketing and procurement representatives from full-service restaurants to share their insights.

In the “Trends Meet the Future” plenary session, UFS Philippines head of country marketing Monica Reyes contextualized timely trends about consumer influence and business impact, as well as how to upgrade any menu based on such.

“The Future at Present” panel discussion also included restaurateurs such as content creator Ninong Ry, chef Ariel Castañeda of The Granary, chef Jeramie Go of The Pilgrim Restaurant and Grateful Bread Bakery, and UFS executive chef Joanne Limoanco-Gendrano.

Limoanco-Gendrano described trends as a “point of differentiation,” highlighting their role in keeping menus both timely and unique while ensuring each serving has its signature touch.

Ninong Ry viewed his social media presence as a “plated presentation,” while Go saw trends as a source of inspiration.

Meanwhile, Castañeda emphasized the need to invest in the right tools and people to successfully provide innovations for their businesses.

Following the insightful discussions, attendees explored interactive rooms reflecting selected trends from the Future Menus report.

These included:

  • New Sharing: Highlighting the Pinoy salu-salo mindset while serving canapes made Chorizo de Cebu and pandesal, brought to life by chefs Anna Santella and Paulo Sia.
  • Modernized Comfort Food: Showcasing nostalgic flavors with bibingka waffles and sinigang fried chicken, prepared by chef Brando Santos.
  • Low Waste Food: Demonstrating sustainability with dinakdakan, led by chef Pipo Aluning.
  • Feel Good Food: Presenting hi-protein salad bowls by Chef Kenneth Cacho.

To explore the taste of these futuristic food menus today, the public can download a free copy of the Future Menus 2024 report and immerse themselves in the flavorful Filipino cuisine.