September treat: Food deals, indulgences for all occasions

September 13, 2024 - 2:06 PM
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(Updated Sept. 22, 2:37 p.m.) Good news, foodies!

Several food establishments and restaurants are offering deals and new products that you would not want to miss out this September.

Here are some of the new treats and offers you may want to try:

Celebrates beloved lolos and lolas

As a special treat this September, Philippines’ grill expert Mang Inasal is offering three fantastic combos that our grandparents will surely love, letting you save up to ₱17 and ₱29 on its meals.

“This Grandparents’ Day, we’re excited to offer these special treats to bring smiles to our beloved Lolos and Lolas. We want to create more memorable moments for families and ensure that grandparents feel deeply appreciated and honored,” Mike Castro, the company’s president, said.

  • 2 Palabok Solos for only ₱129
  • 2 Extra Creamy Halo-Halos or Crèma de Leche Small for just ₱119
  • 1 Palabok Solo and 1 Extra Creamy Halo-Halo or Crèma de Leche Small for ₱129.

Grandparents’ Day or National Grandparents’ Day is an annual celebration aimed to honor their efforts as our second parents. It was celebrated in the country last September 8.

Available for dine-in and takeout in all Mang Inasal stores nationwide, customers can pamper and celebrate their grandparents with their favorite dishes until September 15 only. The promo started last September 1.

Matcha series

Calling all matcha lovers, Dairy Queen’s (DQ) Blizzard is here to satisfy your cravings! Get ready to indulge in seven new flavors featuring the rich and complex of ceremonial grade matcha powder from Uji, Kyoto Prefecture.

These new offerings blends matcha powder with a unique twist per flavor, all made with DQ’s signature soft serve topped with Uji matcha powder, each having their signature taste.

P99 above

  • The Matcha Cheesecake Blizzard is perfect for cheesecake lovers, featuring bite-sized pieces of cheesecake.
  • The Matcha Almond Blizzard caters to almond crunchers.
  • Dirty Matcha Blizzard is ideal for coffee addicts.

Priced between P169 to P179:

  • The Matcha Brownie Parfait features layers of soft serve, matcha sauce, and chewy brownies.
    The Matcha Classic Milkshake blends soft serve, milk, and matcha sauce—a perfect thirst-quencher

DQ’s signature Soft-Serve Cakes:

For those on the go, the new Matcha Mallows Tin Cake (P439) is a perfect pick. It features chewy mini marshmallows topped with cake frosting and matcha powder, all packaged in a reusable tin can.

Finally, the new Strawberry Matcha Blizzard Cake (starting at P749) is a 100% ice cream cake with a crunchy center, luscious strawberry purée, and matcha cream, finished with frosting, strawberry cream pipings, and a dusting of matcha powder.

What’s interesting about these new offerings is that DQ lets you adjust the matcha ratio, so you can enjoy your matcha just the way you like it. For only P19, you can add as much matcha as you please—your matcha, your way.

All new flavors are available at any DQ branch, both online and in-store.

Happy hour

Subway is bringing the happy hour vibe to your taste buds with the new Smoky Malt BBQ Pulled Pork sub.

This sub features tender pulled pork topped with rich, smoky malt BBQ sauce, mouthwatering cheddar cheese, and fresh, crisp vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, green peppers and white onions.

Available until November 19, this limited-time offer is inspired by the flavors of a well-loved beverage, adding a touch of cheer to every bite.

On Mondays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., customers who purchase a the new product’s regular meal (6-inch, footlong, or wrap) can enjoy an exclusive free Subway x A&W coaster.

On weekends, enjoy a bundle deal: two Smoky Malt BBQ Pulled Pork subs or wraps, paired with two A&W Root Beers and two exclusive coasters. This offer is available for takeout only at participating locations on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Perfect for sharing with friends and family, this happy hour deal combines rich flavors, refreshing beverages, and a unique keepsake. Don’t miss out on this limited-time delight and head to your nearest Subway to make happy hour even more delicious today!

Cakes galore

Make your birthday special with Goldilocks’ premium cake selection. With their variety, you get to choose from five unique selections that can perfectly reflect you or the celebrant’s personality, leaving a lasting impression on both the heart and taste buds.

A cake especially suited for our moms: Mango and Ube Dream

For our moms and grandparents, the cakeshop launched Mango Dream with three layers of chiffon cake filled with mango whipped cream and bits, topped with a refreshing mango coulis. Ube Dream is also a special treat with layers of ube chiffon infused with real halaya and ube mousse topped with smooth ube cream icing and macapuno jelly strings.

A cake for the youthful and sweet lovers: Coffee Layered Crunch and Choco Cherry Torte

For coffee and chocolate lovers, Goldilocks offers Coffee Layered Crunch, a layered brownie cake with whipped cream, mocha chiffon, and coffee mousse, crowned with cashew praline for a delightful crunch. Choco Cherry Torte, on the other hand, combines moist chocolate cake, strawberry cream, and maraschino cherries, a blend of rich chocolate and tart cherry flavors, something truly irresistible.

A cake for playful and adventurous kids: Rainbow Magic Cake

For those who like sweet treats, the bakeshop chain’s Rainbow Magic Cake is a colorful adventure with soft, moist layers of vanilla and strawberry chiffon filled with creamy ube and strawberry butter creme. Topped with vanilla icing, this cake makes any celebration into a magical one!

With Goldilocks, you can celebrate your birthday with cakes that reflect your own taste, personality, and preference. Each cake infused with love ensures it looks spectacular and tastes unforgettable.

Moon Festival

Authentic regional Chinese and premium Cantonese restaurant Crystal Dragon is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with a menu steeped in tradition and symbolism of unity, gratitude, and harvest.

Also known as the Lantern or Moon Festival, this cultural celebration has a rich history spanning over 3,000 years. The festival invites everyone to enjoy the season’s flavors and share moments with family, friends, and associates with a special à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner until September 17.

The special menu features:

  • Steamed Hokkaido scallops with vermicelli in ginger scallion sauce
  • Double-boiled pork rib soup with abalone lotus seed and lion’s mane mushroom
  • Jasmine tea smoked crispy roasted duck
  • Tiger prawns tossed in spiced pumpkin curry sauce
  • Wok-fried fragrant taro rice with slow-braised 13-spiced pork belly

In addition to these offerings, Crystal Dragon is highlighting its signature Snow Skin Mooncake, available in a trio of flavors: lotus paste with salted yolk, purple ube with salted yolk, and red bean.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, considered the second grandest holiday in China and other parts of Asia after Chinese New Year, is a time for family gatherings and feasting on traditional dishes such as duck, taro, pumpkin, and mooncakes—symbols of family reunions and harmony.

Favorite flavors

Known for its flavored fries, Potato Corner has relaunched its Loopys curly fries and Harvest thin chips with a playful, tongue-in-cheek film. On August 31, the brand debuted “BBIG Center,” a fun film announcing the return of these special-cut fries.

In the film, taste buds put on a live report on the latest merienda break-ing news in town. With the delight of their Fluffy loopys and crispy Harvest Chips, the audience will surely want to join in these mouth-watering offerings.

Visit your nearest Potato Corner branch to treat your taste buds with the return of these items. Indulge in fried potato goodness, available in Solo size or Tera Mix, featuring a combo of flavored fries, Crunchy Chicken Pops, and your choice of special cuts.

Imperial Big Meal

Just in time for the rainy season, 7-Eleven is offering something warm, tasty and comforting with authentic Taiwanese flavors —Imperial Big Meal noodles.

Touted as Taiwan’s leading noodles, the new instant noodles offerings come in two flavors, the beef and hot beef.

For your cravings, you can relish on the noodles’ rich broth and real beef chunks. These are priced at P125 each.

Channel your inner trainer

Gear up, Pokémon fans! An exciting collaboration with convenience store giant 7-Eleven is here to make your month filled with adventure and surprises.

For gamers taking a break from the digital world, enjoy your favorite convenience store products in fun Pokémon-themed packaging. Look out for your go-to Crunch Time snacks wrapped in Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander, or Bulbasaur designs.

For snacks on-the-go, savor a fresh Siopao with Pikachu or Snorlax packaging and grab a Big Bite featuring Meowth.

For refreshments, patrons can enjoy Jigglypuff-themed Fundae, Gyarados for Gulp, and Eevee, Flareon, and Jolteon for the small, medium, and large City Cafe cups, respectively. For Prima, sip in style with Umbreon packaging.

This special partnership was launched last September 13 and has since been available in Luzon stores. This will be available nationwide this October.

Meanwhile, fans who enjoy trading cards also have a chance to win a limited-edition Pokémon 7-Eleven Promo Card with every purchase of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Booster Pack, starting at ₱259. At least 1,500 packs are available.

To fully celebrate this partnership, 7-Eleven’s Centris 1 branch in Quezon City was also donned a festive Pokémon decor. This branch, along with others nationwide, is now a PokéStop in Pokémon GO, offering fans the chance to channel their inner trainer while visiting their local convenience stores.

Honoring the Filipino culture

Offering a fine drinking menu at the heart of Makati’s nightlife center, Bizarre Bar in Poblacion is here to elevate your cocktail experience while being closer to Filipino roots.

As a tribute to the country’s culture, the bar has presented the “Ampaw” cocktail, which flawlessly infuses traditional Filipino flavors with modern mixology.

Bizarre (Released)

This cocktail blends clarified wild turkey bourbon with toasted rice sorbet for a distinctive tasting experience. A sip reveals the smoothness of classic bourbon, followed by an unexpected punch of burnt rice and tangy notes from the cold sorbet, creating a delightful contrast with the warm, clarified spirit.

Beyond its unique mix of flavors, beverage director Ian Libang said that this drink holds personal significance. It honors his mother’s recipe for toasted rice treats made from the burnt rice at the bottom of the rice cooker, a cherished childhood memory.

“Every summer, when rice would spoil quicker, my mom would collect the burnt rice at the bottom to preserve it. She deep fried it, sprinkled it with sugar, and served it on a newspaper cone. This practice was actually passed down from her father, as she grew up on a farm,” he said.

As the bar is well-known for delivering culturally rich and unforgettable dining experiences, Libang added that “Ampaw” was meant to surprise guests, creating an unforgettable experience with Bizzare Bar.

“People come in expecting that the dessert is the final course of the night. With the unexpected Ampaw, the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, along with textures and temperatures cleanses the palate and etches Filipino heritage flavors in the memory of guests even after they leave Bizarre.”

Meanwhile, the new cocktail drink received praise from guest and advocate of Filipino culture Dale De Vera, who is also the assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Office.

“We are always grateful for businesses that spotlight Filipino culture and traditions. Bizarre Bar’s cocktail degustation, with its unique offerings and compelling storytelling, truly elevates the Filipino brand. The ‘Ampaw’ toast was a remarkable end to an unforgettable evening,” he said.

Cookies for besties

Celebrating friendship or “bestie-ship,” cookie brand Oreo and soft drink company Coca-Cola are here to make your September extra special with a delicious limited-time product.

With the perfect combination of the drink’s distinct taste, this “Besties for a Limited Time” campaign is all about creating new friendships and cherishing special bonds as it is infused into the sandwich filling

Each cookie features two signature chocolate cookies with a soft-drink-inspired taste. Embossed with iconic Oreo and Coca-Cola designs, the smooth white creme is studded with red edible glitter.

The limited-edition cookies is available nationwide this month. They come in two packs: a multipack for P89 and a full slug pack for P53.

Alongside the product launch, the two brands are also hosting fun activities for besties, both online and offline. Exclusive items, such as the bestie shirts, tote bags, hats and stickers, will also be available at select retailers.

The limited-edition partnership offers a great way to share delightful moments with friends. Grab your besties and enjoy this fusion before it’s gone. Remember, these cookies are only available for a limited time—“taste it while it lasts!”

In for a fruity twist?

Do you love the refreshing taste of lemonades? Drink mix brand Tang is now offering two limited-edition flavors for those who want a fruity twist on their lemonades.

With Tang’s Strawberry and Mixed Berries Lemonade, the exciting citrusy taste of lemons offers a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors in every sip.

Featuring characters from the beloved Disney and Pixar film “Toy Story,” the packaging comes in cute and colorful designs.

The strawberry lemonade features fan-favorite Jessie the Cowgirl, while the mixed berries lemonade features the adorable multi-eyed Alien.

These limited-edition flavors now available in all leading groceries and supermarkets nationwide.