Martin, Ogie, Regine and Erik for #paMORE Concert on February 10th

The country’s best singers who can make you laugh, make you fall in love and do a concert like no other. This February 10th, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez and Erik Santos will take you to a fun evening at the Mall of Asia Arena. #paMORE will battle it out with several international artists but banks on those who would like OPM flavor this Valentines season. Their goal is to celebrate LOVE through tons of great music!

Erik finds this as a good way to start the year and says “Although Angeline isn’t here, I am so glad to be with my idols. This is a dream come true. Just thinking of the icons and I on stage I am already speechless. I don’t really plan things, but as a performer and artists I wish I could last in the business for a long time. That’s what I wish for. I am so honored to finally be in the stage with my idols, I even asked our producers if this is real. I hope to be not intimidated as I shut down when I feel that.”

Ogie says “Regine and I came from a very successful concert in the US but was so sad we didn’t sell much tickets in Vegas but only 98% (then laughs). I don’t wish for anything but wish evrything my wife would wish for. I also hope we have more artists who have concerts. I’ll be having a major concert this year because it’s my 30th year in the industry, that’s all I ask for.”

Ms. Regine Velasquez Alcasid says “This is so millenial, it’s going to be fun. Honestly I am contented with my family, very happy, I just wish good health and more blessings for them. My career? I cannot really ask for anything else.”

Martin Nievera was his own comic self and says “I wish I had more things happening this 2018. I am already old in the business but I am glad to be with these stars, I wish there were more like this and bring it out of the country as much as I can. I also want my children to be successful, not just share mine. PaMORE pa!”

#paMORE is under the stage direction if Paolo Valenciano and musical direction of Mr. Louie Ocampo and Raul Mitra. This is also produced by Ms. Anna Puno of Starmedia Entertainment and Cacai Mitra of I Music Entertainment. It is also sponsored by People’s Journal and Seda Hotel Vertis North. You may purchase tickets at SM TICKETS branches and via www.smtickets.com or call 470-2222.

KUMAGCOW

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Aiai Delas Alas Celebrates 3 Years with Hobe

I had the opporunity to talk again to Ms. Aiai Delas Alas a few days ago at her AI SARAP business venture over at 62 Sgt. Esguerra in Quezon City. It's a restaurant serving Filipino favorites and consequently, she's also celebrating her partnership with famed noodle brand HOBE on her third year. Now 3 years may be a short amount of time but if you think about it, most endorsements and commercials only last for months in the Philippines, so we asked her what's the secret of staying with brands?

Ms. Aiai Delas Alas says "I have been in the business for a long time but at this time people know how much I value my family, that trait of being family centric is actually one of the reasons why they got me as their endorser. Aside from that, I also use the things I endorse in my own businesses, Ai Sarap for example ises HOBE noodles in some of our recipes because it's so useful. It's not just for canton or bihon which we usually see at home, you can whip up dishes and sauces with different ingredients and you would still have a great meal. You have already tried some of them a while ago because we serve them here. We also plan to do this in the other branches that we plan to put up this year."

She also mentioned how her kids are going to be involved in the business because Ai Foods will be incorporated and headed by Sancho. The way she sees it she'll give the opportunity to her sons because they will better take care of it and benefit from the shops they intend to put up this year (about 4 she says) and more soon.

If you haven't tasted HOBE yet, I suggest you to go to leading supermarkets and stores nationwide. I personally didn't know how it tasted but with the samples they got me a couple months ago I already have them on my regular grocery list and not just buy the usual pancit canton and instant spaghettie which I grew tired of recently. 

I'm sure she wouldn't be endorsing something she doesn't believe in, and she's looking forward to more years with them too!

KUMAGCOW

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Wine Love with Casillero del Diablo

I have always loved chilling a good ol bottle of wine and downing it with friends and family. Filipinos often love the sweet fruity type whilst I prefer the mildly stronger reds with notes and whites that have really good spice content on them. Now this was gifted to me a couple days ago and probably the first time I’m having Casillero del Diablo. I have had it during a post New Years Eve dinner and enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc much that when there were a few leftover wines, I thought of probably cooking with it.

If you’ve got good wine, cooking with it intensifies the flavors so I’ve decided to do a Coq Au Vin. Coq Au Vin simply means Chicken in Wine (it’s just a french fancy way of calling it) I have learned to cook this in a workshop I attended years ago and was surprised how relatively easy it was to do it.

In a pan simply put olive oil and about 3 table spoons of butter. Be careful not to burn the butter because it will taste weird in the dish. You put in a whole chicken or chop it in quarters, then brown all the sides until it turns golden. Don’t worry if you don’t cook it all the way because you’ll do it later. Take it off the pan and set it aside.

Put the chopped onions, carrots and celery in the same pan and saute it. If you’ve seen it cooked a bit and caramelized the onions, then pour the whole bottle of Casillero del Diablo and deglaze that pan. Make sure you take those brown things and scrape it because that’s where the flavor lies. Add a sprig of thyme and parsley then wait for the wine to reduce. A good Chef told me you should only use wine that YOU love to drink because what you will get in the end is a stronger version of it. When reduction occurs, put in the Chicken. If you see the chicken is not simmering, add chicken stock if you have some, else, just pour more water until it’s completely covered. Add potatoes and pearl onions (I have some bottled ones from France) then add the can of Tomato paste. Boil it again until the liquid reduces.

In a separate pot, blanch vegetables like carrots, brocolli, cauliflower. In a separate pan, put about half a stick of butter and melt it. Put fresh garlic, brown it a little then put in the veggies. Stir fry the vegetables and then place it on one side of the plate. Go back to your other pan and taste the sauce, adjust with salt and pepper if you see the need to do so. Arrange the chicken on the other side of the plate and season well (freshly cracked pepper will do wonders!) then pour the wine reduction on top of the chicken. This is your Coq Au Vin! Serve and enjoy!

For those who would have more Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc, Chef Sharwin Tee has his Spicy Mussel and Clam Binakol. Saute ginger, lemon grass in a pot with Olive Oil then add in Gochujang (chili paste). After a minute add in the mussels and clams plus a cup of Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc. Cover the pot until it cooks, it usually takes 2 minutes. Add enough coconut water and young coconut meat, when it boils turn off the heat. Garnish with basil and serve.

Red or White you’ll have to make sure your wine is good for drinking or cooking. Casillero del Diablo proves our point, it’s one of the wines distributed by http://www.flyacecorp.com so if you need some, you know where to go.

Cheers!

KUMAGCOW

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Don’t Go Hungry! Grab-A-Fitbar!

I know it’s going to be hell once again as work and school opens this week. Pretty sure you’ll be caught in EDSA drowning in reasons why you shouldn’t have gone out because TRAFFIC happens. Then you go absolutely hungry right in the middle of the road, but you still choose to drive home because you think THAT can wait. Well I’ve got GOOD news for all those who choose to ride TNVS provider Grab Philippines because they just partnered with Fitbar Philippines so you can snack away this 2018!

Selected specially marked GRAB A FITBAR vehicles will be roaming around Metro Manila and selected major Philippine cities so you can enjoy Crispy Rice Bars mixed with fiber rich stuff like fruits so you won’t be hungry while you go about your daily commute. Now you don’t have to be so worried when you get stuck in traffic because they’ll be taking care of you just in case you get caught in one. Make sure you also share your Fitbars with the friendly and corteous Grab Drivers so you both get to your destinations, safe, fast, efficient, and NOT HUNGRY!

They will be giving away 100,000 passengers these lovely Fitbar pieces so if you would love them even more, go check out their page at www.Facebook.com/FitbarPH and follow their twitter account at www.twitter.com/fitbar_ph so you could choose and take them anywhere, any day you’re hungry!

P.S. I love the one with raisins, it smells and tastes like dried grapes just off the vine!

KUMAGCOW

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