The Fashmagslag, who is in my favorite city – New York – raved before about how good Dunkin’ Donuts hazelnut-flavored coffee is. Darn, I was excited when I found out they have it in Manila too. Needless to say, I’ve been drinking cupfuls of them and it’s my favorite coffee at the moment. Anong panalo ng overpriced Seattle’s and Starbucks? A cup with a swig of hazelnut liqueur (or whatever they call it) costs only P33 bucks and is enough to send me to caffeine heaven. Other flavors available are French Vanilla, Irish Cream and Macadamia but I haven’t tasted them yet. Warning: not all outlets offer these flavored coffees. I get mine at the cramped Dunkin’ shop in Robinson’s Place-Manila (near the theaters).
I am basically not a doughnuts person but I just happen to love Dunkin’s Bunwich too and its fluffy texture. I think Bunwich has been around since the 80’s when Dunkin’ arrived in the country but it was only recently when I rediscovered my liking for this luscious piece of sandwich. Again, too cheap not to try.
Don’t you get a heart attack when you visit the supermarket these days? That’s because prices of most goods have increased by 20% and there’s not much to go around in terms of salary savings.However, I can’t resist a good buy from time to time such as the Purefoods Luncheon Meat which tastes exactly like the good ol’ classic American Spam. Now, why would I have my once-favorite Spam when I could have the Filipino version at a much cheaper price (P40 bucks or so). I think Purefoods’ Chicken Chunks is mediocre but the Luncheon Meat is definitely out there with the Purefoods Corned Beef and Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs as one comfort dish I wouldn’t mind eating, even if you warn me I am overindulging in deadly sodium nitrite. One thing to be proud about: Purefoods is one great brand and it’s 100% Pinoy!
Other news from the grocery shelves: Toni has written about Close-Up’s new limited edition Flavored Toothpaste which comes in three variants: Choco-Loco, Tangerine Burst and Lychee. I bought the chocolate version hoping that my son, who has a sweet tooth, will like it (but then again, are we supposed to eat flouride??) Unfortunately, he still has to try it but it sure is a novel way to brush your teeth!
Century Tuna has come out with new flavors: Lemon Butter, Flakes in Olive Oil, Spanish-Style, Chinese Asado and the Meat Loaf. I bought the asado thing and the meat loaf but I still have to try them. Check it out! (Btw, Century is another great Filipino brand. I remember when I was in the UK ferries and we would open Century Tuna when there was nothing to eat in the pantry dominated by Yorkshire pudding, stewed liver and other yucky English stuff. This different-flavored Filipino-made tuna always saved the day.)
WOFEX Madness!
Caught the last day of the annual World Food Expo today which was so full of all those HRM students and other peeps that they had to refuse entrance for a few minutes at the cavernous World Trade Center in Pasay City. Being the veritable foodie, I was one of those who dutifully lined up. Maybe because this was the second time I was going so I wasn’t too excited anymore. The booths were still full of hardworking enterpreneurs selling sausages, juices, coffee and all those stuff. Count in as well those who trade all those pricey baking and coffee machinery. I noted the addition of more Korean stalls (well… aren’t they everywhere on this traffic-laden planet??) plus G Toengi’s Asian Bartending Academy. I also observed that the most generous in giving out samples were the Chinatown bakers who laid out plates upon plates of their hopia in different flavors, notably Eng Bee Tin which has their Combi Hopia. There were also other food rarities like the veggie ham, malunggay risotto and taro tea offered in some stalls.One seller was offering silicone bakeware from China and Ersao’s spicy squid/spicy chicken was really yummy.
Now if you’re wondering about the lady in the picture, that’s Lani Castillo, a Vietnamese woman married to a Filipino who owns one of my fave restaurants in Malate, the Cha Gio Vietnamese Resto near Diamond Hotel. I just looove their fresh noodles with beef and home-cooked Vietnamese sardines paired with French bread. Cha Gio participated in the Wofex and Lani just told me they’re now franchising and distributing their Vietnamese coffee as well, which is a must try!
Disclaimer: Ajay is not being paid to endorse the abovementioned products and event. Don’t blame me if those consumer products did not turn out to be to your liking. For best results, read the title and comprende.
I just had a cup a few minutes ago! It’s so good, isn’t it? I’m not much of a fan of french vanilla, whether it’s Dunkin’ Donuts or any other brand, for that matter. Do you put milk and sugar in it, or do you drink it black?
that dunkin donut coffee and Century Tuna in Olive Oil just went to my list of “TO-DOs and TO-HAVEs” when I get home next week. Thanks for the tip!
Im sure I will love them!
JR, I take mine with creamer and sugar coz I can’t stand black,hehe
Owen, have a nice time. Stock up on the Century Tuna (that’s what most OFWs do,anyways)
Hahahahaha ang galing ng qualifier mo!!! 🙂
Thanks for all these product updates! Nagulat ako sa Lemon Butter variant ng Century Tuna. Masubukan nga!!! And my gaz, that Luncheon Meat is one of Dennis’ favorites. And hmmmm you just made me want to try that Hazelnut coffee of Dunkin’s. I gotta go check that out soon! Sana meron sa mapuntahan ko. 🙂
hmm.. yung outlet ng dunkin na malapit sa opis di pa yan available. 🙁
panalo yung disclaimer mo.! hehehe!
Hi Ajay, thanks for dropping by my blog.
Your kids look so adorable and I couldn’t resist looking at your flickr album.
Ciao!
Hi Toni & Apol…belated bday to you both:) have to put the disclaimer, mahirap nang mapagkamalan,hehehe
Thanks Atinna..glad you liked the pics
hi, Ajay, i also love french vanilla flavor coffee, hazelnut, and french toast. i buy my coffee at pete’s
coffee in san francisco not in starbucks. starbucks is too over commercialized. but then too much coffee is bad :).
My dad likes Dunkin Donuts coffee and always makes it a point to say how cheap it is when he sees me with a cup of the more expensive Starbucks variety.
Ingat lang with the tuna though because of what I earlier read about its high mercury content.
I didn’t know they have French Toast flavor, Calipinoy. And I agree with you that Starbucks is too commercial..the independent coffee chains deserve to be noticed too. Cheers!
Hi Paul! That’s because noong generation ng parents natin, hindi naman uso ang Starbucks at iba pang kaek-ekan,hehehe. The coffee of Dunkin, Mr. Donuts and Country Style is definitely cheaper. Surprised to hear about the tuna findings..maybe it’s because of the can??
I’m drooling on my keyboard. You’re a foodie like me!
annalyn,
hi.
i agree with you sa bunwich and purefoods luncheon meat.
sarap!
more power to your blog!
here in sing, there is NO donut shop – they say there is no market for it. i miss dunkin, country style and mister donut! boo-hoo.
Hi Tintin..so you’re back in Cowboy Country,hehe:)
Thanks for dropping by Jove..glad to know we’re fellow bunwich and PFLM fans
I am certainly surprised that there is no donut shop in Singa Tin…how do the kids there survive at all?;)
I’ve linked to the article about canned tuna’s high mercury content in my site, Annalyn – it’s the latest entry.
saw your blog at the newspaper 😛
Thanks for the newspaper link, Paul…
And for dropping by, Jaja:)
whoa, WOFEX??? inggit!!! would have given anything to be a fly on the wall there… the food buzz must have been tremendous.
Yes Stef, Wofex is a major foodie event over here..it would be a sin to miss it:)
i love the hazelnut coffee in dunkin donuts u.s. however its not the same hazelnut coffee being sold here. 🙁 here they flavor it wuth hazelnut syrup, in the u.s. its the beans that’s flavored when roasted
so it’s not the same bambi. i bet there’s a big difference in the taste, so it must be much better in the US. Thanks for the heads up:smile: