Taste Setters: SYSU International's Food and Beverage Workshop

We are at the Taste Setters: Creativity That Shapes Food and Beverage Trends workshop sponsored by SYSU International in cooperation with their partners Lee Kum Kee, Clara Ole, Tabasco, Tulip, Treetop and Smuckers here at CCA Makati. It's a series of workshops that the company and the brands are sponsoring with their partner and non partner restaurants, caterers and establishments to hone their skills using the very best products in the market. The morning sessions had them start with food trends and how Filipino restaurants and casual dining places have improved over the years, to learn how they would be successful.

Chef Louise Mabulo, a finalist in Junior Masterchef also paid a visit. Her credentials would gladly beat any seasoned Chef as she also has international ones at a very young age. She's very eloquent and has been doing workshops and seminars in the past. During the session, she shared her views on our affinity to food. She mentions it stemmed from doing feasts, and our fiesta spirit and the happiness we get from it is immeasurable. I get that we do thank the saints and God in general with these celebrations, but what gets us together is the concept of family, community and love, that's a fact. She also shared how successful blogs and social media has been just by sharing genuine food recipes that remind them of home, the Philippines.

During the activity, we were also split into groups and I got together with some food researchers, specialists and chefs from Max's Restaurant, Goldilocks, Peri Peri Corporation and a lot more. We needed to conceptualize a stir fry dish that would be innovative using products from Sysu International's brands. In the end, they worked as a team and in this manner it's not much of the company they work for but the innovation we do with these recipes that could help the food industry grow, be practiced among Chefs, R&D people and restaurateurs who choose to not only make the best Filipino representation of food, but create new ones as the word "innovate" suggests. 

I can't wait to join them in more Taste Setters Workshops that they have in store this year. For those who want to join, make sure you follow the social media accounts of the brands they carry. That's Tabasco, Lee Kum Kee, Clara Ole, Tulip Chocolates, Treetop Juice and Smuckers or their website www.sysuinc.com.ph/.

KUMAGCOW
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Eu'Genia Shea: More Than Butter, A Way To Empower Women

We all have our own way of taking care of ourselves, but there's always some really good regimen we can do for skin, hair and just about any part of our extremities that can make it all better. I've been reflecting on it all day while in the bath tub. Men and women have seen the remarkable benefits of using skin care butters as it alleviates the problem of dry skin, hair, wrinkles, cracked lips, stretch marks, cracked heels and nails. I'm taking There is certainly nothing wrong with skin care butters like cocoa, but when you're looking for the ultimate nourishing and natural cream, shea butter is one of the finest products known to man. Packed with numerous antioxidants and vitamins like A and E, shea butter is very beneficial to the hair and skin. It takes care of everything from head to toe which would be beneficial for the entire family.

Unfortunately, not all shea butters are created equal. From source to methods, it really is different especially on how they extract the precious shea oil from shea nuts.

Luckily, the world has the Eu'Genia Shea company. It's a family run business with roots in Ghana and America. Mother and daughter embrace the generations and a long tradition of shea butter knowledge. They have long seen the superiority of raw, unrefined Ghanaian shea butter.

Harvard graduate Naa-Sakle Akuete launched the Eu'Genia brand in 2014, naming the shea butter line after her mother. In fact, Ms. Eu'Genia is the former president of the Global Shea Alliance, which includes some 400 members from 31 countries. In addition, Akuete's grandmother was a well-known mid-wife who used rich shea butter in her practice for years. Shea is healing, very nourishing and known for reducing stretch marks.

Eu'Genia Shea is a wonderful business filled with pride, self-empowerment and exceptional Ghanaian shea butter imported to America. The company's headquarters are based in Brooklyn, New York, and the gorgeous variety of shea butter products can be purchased through e-commerce at their website https://www.eugeniashea.com/. The luxurious shea butters are sold in three strengths, including Everyday Shea Butter, Pregnancy Strength Shea Butter and Dermatological Strength Shea Butter. Each butter comes filled in colorful tin containers and can also be purchased through a monthly subscription if desired.

Eu'Genia Shea butters are also in a quality class of their own. The brand uses at least 95% shea content, while their competitors use less than 25% shea. Another aspect that allows the Eu'Genia Shea company to stand out is the mission behind the brand and the compassion that goes with it. Akuete and her loved ones are strong on family values and social responsibility and have labored hard to ensure that rural Ghanaian women workers receive benefits and proper job security and employment opportunities.

Eu'Genia Shea has since established a co-op of female pickers in northern Ghana that provides sustainable wages and training to their employees. The family run enterprise also donates 15% of their profits back to the co-op in the form of an education fund.

It's an amazing way for Akuete to give back to her country, she says and to introduce people in America to the magical, natural goodness that shea butter has to offer.

That's just remarkable.

Stephen Curry and VIVO V5 Lite

It's always a good thing to find worthy endorsers for a phone brand like VIVO. You all know NBA Player Steph Curry right? Well he's got all the stats on the wall, impressed people from the industry since the very beginning and even brought championship together with his team because of his undoubted talent beyond the arc which works like clockwork when he needs to, when he wants to do it,like all the time. These elements are much like why he loves the latest in the V5 line called the VIVO V5 Lite. 

The phone carries a 16 MP Front camera which is special as there might be no competitor as far as specs go in this price range. You'll never have that selfie concerns because as far as the camera goes, you've got one of the best there is. VIVO feels that much like Curry, they've worked so hard to put their phones in the frontline to be one of the leading brands among a multitude of them out there. As a matter of fact, they've managed to land at the 5th spot worldwide according to the latest IDC pronouncements due to their expansion in East and Southeast Asian Region who enjoys a selfie centric culture, perfect for their aptly powered phones... at a great price too.

The V5 Lite also has a 13 MP Back Camera so you're not shortchanged to make those food or landscape shots because it still packs a punch. The Octacore processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB storage all make this a viable phone for thoe who are in a budget but utilize a ton of storage and tons of gaming. 

The VIVO V5 Lite is available in major tech stores, shops and malls nationwide! Take it from Stephen Curry, he doesn't become great overnight and worked hard to be where he is. That's also the same principle that VIVO is taking, so while there are great ones out there that cost an arm and a leg, they made a great phone that cost less because they think of YOU. That at least deserves a place in the Top 5 right!?

KUMAGCOW

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A Magical Day at Enchanted Kingdom

What do you normally do when you've got 5 Enchanted Kingdom tickets in your hand and nowhere to go? I've asked that questions so many times the last month and I think I've got it all figured out. What else?! But invite your friends over to the most magical place in the Philippines called Enchanted Kingdom!

I'm so glad these guys are game for an afternoon of fun and joyful rides in Laguna. Thanks to Gus for letting us ride in his car too! You see, I'm not much of a fan of amusement parks but I always go here with my friends just to be with them. Don't be sad for me because I find watching my family and friends therapeutic, like people watching. Seeing them enjoy the rides was enough for me, I did one rid for the record and it was super fun. Best of all, there are tons of food and treats that you can only find in this place, especially now that Enchanted Kingdom has been spruced up a little. There are also new buildings in the property and I wouldn't be letting this pass. They call this AGILA: The EKsperience!

It's a super huge venue that's capable of entertaining hundreds of people at a time. This ride is more adept for foreigners, balikbayans, or people who don't have the resources to roam around the Philippines' best spots. The ride is actually a virtual one, much like a 4D movie in Rialto but way huge. It'll take you and your kids to a magical quest to find the lovely gems that make Enchanted Kingdom what it is today. Ever dreamed how to fly? Well this ride would be for you too and if you're feeling a little sleepy because of the hot weather, this will make you feel cool for a couple of minutes, it was the best decision we've ever had that scorching afternoon. It takes you as far as Banaue Rice Terraces in the North, to Palawan's Caves, the beautiful beaches of the Visayas, and the rest of the Philippines. You should never go out of Sta. Rosa without doing this! Plus if you want to remember the EKsperience, make sure you shop at PUGAD at the ground floor of the same building for souvenirs so you could take something home.

That, and of course Space Shuttle, The Swans, Rio Grande, Wheel of Fate, Anchors Away, Flying Fiesta and my favorite the Orbits Mini Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar. There's always a reason to go back to Enchanted Kingdom and be a kid again. If you haven't been there for quite some time, make sure you go back and check their schedules at www.enchantedkingdom.ph or call (02) 5843535 or (02) 8303535 to book tickets to AGILA and the other rides!

The supposed afternoon thing went on until the park closed. I couldn't stop them from enjoying the rides because they went back for another round after some light snacks in the food stalls inside the amusement park. I was so okay with just eating my mini donuts LOL

We had dinner at Crisostomo in Nuvali before we went home and parted ways. I love the grilled stuff and this bowl of Munggo with Chicharon on it.

Thank you so much Rodel Flordeliz of Nognoginthecity.com and Ruth Dela Cruz of RuthDelaCruz.com, Gus of ohmyGus.com and Joel of a PR firm for tagging along and for being crazy for a day. We got that sun kissed skin we were gunning for in the end!!

Until our next trip yes?!

YES!

For more information about their park:

enchanted kingdom

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Visit their official website

http://www.enchantedkingdom.ph/