Pumpkin spice has arrived, late-night diners have new drink deals to check out, along with more food lineup this week.
This week also brought news of a restaurant opening, an award-winning anniversary campaign, a café expansion overseas and an initiative provide veterinary care for community cats.
Here are the updates on the dining scene this week.
Pumpkin spice returns for the season
Filipinos can get a taste of autumn without leaving the country after Krispy Kreme Philippines rolled out its Pumpkin Spice Collection, starting last September 7.
Available until November 3, the collection includes the Pumpkin Spice Cruller Cheesecake, Ring-filled Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake, Ring-filled Spiced Apple Caramel with Almonds, and Sea Salt Kreme Pumpkin Spice Latte.
The doughnuts combine pumpkin spice with flavors such as cheesecake, spiced apple, caramel and almonds, while the latte combines espresso, milk, vanilla syrup, pumpkin spice and sea salt kreme.
The collection is available nationwide,.
Late-night drinks
Night owls will have another reason to linger at Denny’s starting September 30, when its 2+1 Drinks offer becomes available daily from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The offer covers a selection of beverages, including coffee, mocktails, cocktails, juices and other drinks. Guests will pay for the higher-priced items.
Participating branches include locations in Metro Manila, Cebu, Clark, Bacolod, Sta. Rosa, and Mactan, among others.
The chain is also kicking off the campaign with a Creatives Late Nite Hangout at Denny’s One Maridien, featuring food, drinks, music, and a pop trivia night, with partnerships with Spotify and Fujifilm.
Mix & Munch
Pizza Hut has introduced a new upgrade for its Mix & Munch pizza offering. This allows customers to turn the pizza combo into a full meal for an additional price.
The “Make It a Meal” upgrade comes with two glasses of Pepsi and two sides. Customers can choose from pasta dishes such as Bolognese and Carbonara or pairings such as Tater Tots and KitKat Pops.
The upgrade can be added to either a regular Mix & Munch pizza or a large version. Customers can also opt for cheese-stuffed or sausage-stuffed crust for an additional fee.
The offer is available for dine-in and takeout at Pizza Hut stores nationwide, as well as through its delivery channels.
CDO celebrates 50 years with Quill Awards
CDO Foodsphere earned three Philippine Quill Awards for campaigns tied to its 50th anniversary and CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino.
Its “One Story. Three Experiences. Fifty Years of CDO Foodsphere” campaign received an Excellence Award for Special and Experiential Events, while its 50th Anniversary Media Relations Program also received an Excellence Award under the Communication Management Division.
The company’s CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino campaign, “Battle of the Best: The Real #1,” received a Merit Award for Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communication.
“For 50 years, CDO has had the privilege of being part of the lives and tables of Filipino families. But reaching this milestone also reminded us that our story has never been ours alone. It was built with our employees, our partners, our communities, and the consumers who have trusted our brands through the years,” Jerome Ong, President and CEO of CDO Foodsphere, said.
Jollibee welcomes UK trade minister
Jollibee’s BGC Triangle Drive branch welcomed UK Minister for Trade Anas Sarwar and British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton, OBE, during Sarwar’s visit to the Philippines.
Sarwar toured the store and sampled Jollibee favorites including Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti, Champ Burger, Chicken Nuggets and Peach Mango Pie.
He also interacted with customers and crew members, took selfies, and received a Jollibee Funko Pop figure wearing a Barong Tagalog.
The visit marked the first ministerial visit by a UK Trade Minister to the Philippines in nine years, according to the company.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf reaches 130 cafés in Kuwait
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. marked the opening of the brand’s 130th café in Kuwait, more than two decades after the partnership began.
Al-Ghunaim opened its first Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf café in Salmiya in December 2004. The Kuwait business now has more than 1,135 employees across its cafés, operations, and support functions.
“Reaching this milestone is a meaningful achievement for Al-Ghunaim Trading Co., but more importantly, it represents the trust our customers have placed in us and the dedication of the people who have built this business over more than two decades. We are proud of what we have achieved together with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and grateful to everyone who has contributed to this journey,” Mishary Al-Ghunaim, CEO of Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. said.
“We look forward to building on this strong foundation and continuing to serve our customers and communities across Kuwait,” the exec added.
“Our partnership with Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. reflects a shared commitment to our customers, the brand and sustainable growth. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to continuing our journey together,” Ken Lingan, CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, said.
Care for community cats
The Bistro Group highlighted its #BistroCares initiative, which provides food, water, shelter, and veterinary support to stray cats and dogs around its restaurants.
At TGI Fridays Mall of Asia, a stray cat named Oreo has become part of the restaurant community. Oreo recently gave birth to four kittens and also took in two other stray kittens, bringing her unofficial foster family to six.
Regular guest and veterinarian Gibran Karl Alonzo, DVM, known as “Doc GK,” offered to deworm and vaccinate Oreo and the kittens against rabies. The resto group coordinated with him to organize the vaccination activity.
“I would also like to commend The Bistro Group for initiating and supporting this vaccination activity. Programs like this help make essential veterinary care more accessible while promoting responsible pet ownership,” Alonzo said.
The Bistro Group president Jean Paul Manuud said the company’s efforts extend beyond the dining table to the communities and animals around its restaurants.
“We may not be able to save them all, but we can help the ones we encounter. And sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can mean the entire world to a creature who has never known what it feels like to be cared for.”
Seafood 8 by Olio’s opens
Seafood 8 by Olio’s officially opened at The Lagoon in Gateway Mall 2 on September 18. The resto brings its seafood-focused concept to Araneta City.
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Led by Australia-based Chef Oliver “Oli” Buenviaje, the restaurant features fresh seafood paired with eight signature and exclusive sauces.
Its opening menu included dishes such as baby pusit with garlic confit and aged soy, tanigue ceviche, Pacific oysters, halaan tinola soup, fresh tiger lobster with calamansi hollandaise and chili supreme XO sauce and coconut panna cotta with calamansi leaves granita and mango gel.
