AsiaFood Expo (AFEX) 2007 is the 16th International Exposition on Food, Processing, Packaging and Handling Machinery, Equipment and Technology. It's considered a major annual event by most food manufacturers in the Philippines. Primarily because it's where you will also find the latest trends on food and ingredients. The opening ceremony was graced by no less than Senator Ping Lacson and Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Unfortunately, the event started with some appaling procedures. The entrance gate was opened quite late. The organizers did not follow the declared 11:00 am opening time thus, visitors became impatient while waiting outside the World Trade Center. When finally the door was opened, the misadventure continued at the registration area. Having your name registered turned out to be equally time consuming as the long wait outside. Therefore, it was not surprising that people started throwing real awful comments - "Why is it taking so long? Didn't you see we already waited too long outside? Why is it only now that you're testing your system? Can you replace the guy over that PC? It seemed like it's just now that you're conducting the training with your people! Hey, can you do it a little faster? I still have a flight to catch up this afternoon? etc. etc." Lucky Us! My colleagues and I didn't have that heightened emotion perhaps, we have chosen the right queue.

In spite of these "not so welcoming" episodes, as usual we have to get into the business. Maybe there's much more, better things inside. So, off we go and these were the highlights of the Expo.

Generally, it's the usual show as the past years have offered. There's really not much new things to see. More and more, AFEX is losing its industry appeal and interesting quality. Exhibitors have become fewer; the likes of Nestle and Unilever who used to be "big" participants are nowhere to be found. The product highlights of the expo will include wines, juice and tea drinks, meat products (sausages, ham, bacon etc.), noodles, coffee, ionized water, soy milk products, savoury snacks, chocolate goodies, ice cream, dips and sauces. Food trends seen very visible are fried ice cream, slimming herbs (especially those with L-Carnitine), low sugar food and beverages, food products with all natural claim and energy drink and fruit juice blend with herbal extracts for colon cleansing (e.g. Red Juice featured in Korina Sanchez's Rated K program).

Worth noting from the expo is the presence of 100% PINOY innovative products such as tahong (mussel) chips (but I think I've seen this already some years back), bottled oyster and tahong, crispy shrimps and crablets, crispy dilis (anchovies) and pusit (squid), bangus (milkfish) tocino, sardines in vegetable oil and many more.


In addition, there are booths that featured familiar supermarket items like WhiteKing "instant goodies", Pocky Pretzels, Fontana Juice Concentrates, Dole Drinks etc. What are these products doing here when in fact they have their own share of market shelves already? Well, possibly to gain more product exposure. Is there anything else? What do you think?

Like in the previous years, more franchising booths have surfaced. Master Siomai, Coffee (Concept Specialist Inc.) and Meat products stands are the favorites in the show as exemplified by the long queue in the product sampling. Hence, for the up coming entrepreneurs these might be interesting. There's also this company - Teazers, that strives to be the brand (TeaFuzions) of choice for premium iced tea. The interesting flavors are tamarind and calamansi. However, we just find them plain acceptable. The calamansi did not deliver much in taste as it did in its aroma. Actually, Teazers is more popular in the catering industry. They usually offer a party package of 150 8 oz. glasses (4 flavored iced teas) for Php9000. Another well observed product is chocolate available in many different forms. From blocks, to chocolate fountain to something ready to eat or cook.



To sum it all up, if AFEX wants to live with its tagline of being "The Country's Leader in Food Industry Event", major improvements have to be taken seriously. It goes with being specific from the simplest matter of organizing a smooth flow of the event to providing better, more valuable content. I would like to see it transform from being just mere socialization in the Food Industry, or connecting with fellow food servants even from plain product selling to something more edifying, innovative food expo. Otherwise, Philippine Food Show will stay underrated alongside other International Trade Fairs.

People frequent shopping malls these days not only to shop but likewise to look for some real good finds of food. Here are my top 10 pick for the Best Food Kiosks at the mall:

1. Connie’s Kitchen – This will be well loved by dips and pinoy gourmet foods aficionados. My favourites are pesto, kesong puti, feta cheese in olive oil, pesto and sun dried tomato, gourmet dulong, and so on and so forth. Believe me, there’s just more to my preferred list. If you don’t have the luxury of time preparing all these delectable range or you plainly don’t have any recipe of any of these, Connie’s Kitchen provides the solution.

2. Bravo Dips and Sauces – Compared to Connie’s, this kiosk pride itself on red based sauces and dips as well as salad dressings. It has another extensive range of sauces that will harmonize your pasta, bread, crackers or biscuits. Also, their salad dressings and vinaigrette are must try! In fact, some are already party favourites.

3. Mary Grace Homemade Ensaymadas – Their ensaymada and cheese rolls are simply superb! With the right softness, melt in the mouth texture; you’ll keep craving for more. They’ve got great selection of all natural, baked goodies. From cakes to classic squares and chiffon, there are really so much to choose from. This is so far the best pick under this category and perhaps a fitting example of “quality for money” kind of product.
A fine proof that it’s getting a good following is the birth of its cafe-restaurant business under the name Cafe Mary Grace. We’ve seen two branches already, one in Serendra and another in Trinoma.

4. Hoops Doughnuts – Even with the presence of the much hyped Krispy Creme and Go Nuts Donuts, I would still prefer to have Hoops doughnuts from time to time. Yes, undoubtedly Krispy Creme has that “to sin for” texture and bite while Go Nuts Donuts has that “to watch out for” newbies now and again. But still, I feel that Hoops has the ”less guilt” attributes which are of prime importance these days. It’s less sweet and the texture is also soft, very kid friendly. It might not have that very sophisticated flavour profiles but sometimes, it’s just what you needed.

5. Tita Lynn’s Flavored Suman – Who would have thought that Filipino’s favourite “kakanin” (native rice delicacy) - suman, can be flavoured now? There’s Ube, Langka, Mais-macapuno, Chocolate, Mango, Macapuno, Tsoko Twirl and Cocomas-latik. There’s even a sugar free for those on the look out for their blood sugar level. It only shows that there’s actually no room for a food to become boring! A piece of this novelty will cost you P25 and P240 for a dozen.

7. Big Chill – This is my pick for a refreshing, luscious, fruit shakes! Best anytime of day, any kind of weather.

8. FIC – Fruits in Ice Cream – I come by at this food kiosk whenever I crave for a better mouth feel ice cream. The distinguishing characteristic of this ice cream from the commercial ones and supermarket types is its smoother, finer, richer texture. Probably it can be attributed to the higher fat content and less of that “over run” / “airy” character that most commercial brands hold. Apart from that, innovative and more exciting flavours await ice cream lovers in this stall. I’m a big fan of their green tea.


10. Mr. Taho (in Alabang Town Center) – The kiosk that carries an increasingly popular healthy fare – Tofu and Taho (soft soy bean curd)! Pick your finest option from fried, stuffed and steamed consumed with plain syrup or flavoured. Just another “good for you” to eat!

Hosting for this week's Weekend Herb Blogging is no less than Kalyn herself from Kalyn's Kitchen. For my entry this week, I am featuring another increasingly popular spice - Chili Flakes. Asia Pacific's big suppliers of Chili flakes are China and India. But in the Philippines, we have our own share of real hot and spicy pepper in the form of "siling labuyo" or bird's beak chili. It's believed to be hotter than world renowned Tabasko. Chili adds a different zest to any dish. It's so versatile that it's use is really unbounded. You can add it in sweets, savoury and even in drinks. Have you tasted the latest trend chili-choco drink? How about chili-chocolate ice cream? Don't they sound so intriguing? For now, I won't be attempting to create any of them but I have an equally interesting recipe that'll go with any of your favorite food, Sweet Chili Sauce.

Preparation time: 2 mins

Cooking time: 7 mins

Serves 3 or more

Ingredients:

Procedure:

1. Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan and allow to boil. Continue cooking for 5 mins with constant stirring.

2. Serve immediately as sauce on fried foods (best in spring rolls), as dip for your favorite crackers or gourmet biscuits, or anything you think it will go well with. Just be adventurous and creative.

I missed the big 6 month celebration of Presto Pasta Night of OnceUponAFeast (sigh...) Thus, I made sure this time my entry came in early. I thought of something that will go as a complete meal. This means having carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals in it. So, here's an all original recipe of our Beef & Vegetables Hofan that satisfied this criteria. This noodle dish is actually a spin-off of Beef Broccoli in Oyster Sauce which, is a favorite family viand. Hence, you may also opt to serve the beef recipe with rice if you're not in the mood for pasta. I just love the flexibility of it!

Preparation time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

I do heart coffee. If you get interested to read this post, perhaps you are too! The mushrooming of café and coffee shops and the birth of enormous coffee products are living proofs of its growing market. It is now one of the most wanted drinks in all age segments. Yes, young and adults alike. Today, drinking coffee at a very young age is no longer taboo. In fact, scenes of bonding parents and kids frequent cafés. Other than that, isn't it interesting how coffee is personified in many different ways and positioned in most inviting views? Think of a warm conversation between husband and wife over a cup of coffee. Think of connecting with friends, meeting new people or doing business. All things important to us, we frequently do with coffee around. Thus far, it's no longer just a drink made more readily available, it's already a lifestyle. So, here are some of the bits and pieces behind that delightful cup of coffee...

Is there really something good in coffee? Yes, definitely! It keeps you awake, perk up your mood and boost that much needed energy. But what is well noted in many researches is it's being a major source of disease fighting antioxidants. In fact, it's known to be better than black tea.

How is coffee consumed nowadays? From plain and simple black coffee to the most complex flavor profiles, the choices are simply amazing. There's an INSTANT which, is usually in powdered form positioned as something easy to prepare. Grab a mug or cup, just add hot water, stir and it's ready to be sipped. Ready to drink (RTD) coffee, normally in liquid form packed in tin cans. Japan recently made it available also in bottles. As the product name implies, it's something ready to drink anytime, anywhere. Simply the right choice for people on the go. Brewed or machine pressed coffee is prepared at home or in coffee shops by filtering the ground coffee with hot water in coffee machines. It can also be infused by steeping in boiling water which, is the traditional way of preparing coffee. In brewed coffee you get to enjoy the coffee's fresh aroma and taste. This café kind of coffee commonly offers a lot of flavors and mostly appeals to the more adventurous market.

What are the different types of coffee beans? There are generally 4 kinds of coffee beans. Arabica, is believed to be the superior grade coffee bean that boasts of more subtle, delicate flavor and aroma. It is produced in the highlands thus, the most expensive variety as well. Robusta, is bolder than Arabica. It's caffeine content is twice as the former and the flavor is also stronger. In contrast to Arabica, it is grown in the lowlands. This kind of bean provides higher yield in farming that's why it's the preferred raw material for most instant and commercial blends. Liberica, is the most popular variety in the Philippines known by many as "Kapeng Barako". It's called as such due to the large size of berry fruit produced by the tree. It has a very strong taste and aroma especially when consumed "black" that is, no milk nor creamer added. Excelsa, is another favorite by commercial manufacturers. It exhibits similar properties with that of Robusta only it has the ditinguishing characters of smoky and earthly notes. Most coffee manufacturers blend these different types of beans to come up with more varied flavors and taste.

How is the coffee bean processed? The way coffee bean is handled greatly affects its quality. Whether the coffee will deliver better taste, sweet, caramelic and more lasting aroma, it will depend on all these. Generally, it starts with harvesting. Essentially, when this is done the fruit should be of the right maturity. Then followed by sorting where good quality ones are preferred. Afterwards the berry fruit will undergo pulping to remove the pulp and other parchment. This process can be done in two ways either wet (water washing) or dry (sun or machine drying). Water washing is believed to be better because it causes less damage to the bean than the later. For a more detailed comparison, read here. Subsequently, grading will determine the value of the bean. Last but certainly not the least, roasting. This is the most important process for this will determine the degree of taste from mildest (light roast) to strongest (dark roast). The lower the time and temperature parameters used in roasting, the milder it will be and vice versa. Most flavor oils and extracts are likewise incorporated in this stage to produce the flavored coffee bean.

Who are the world's biggest coffee producer? There's an article that says coffee growers are far more important than coffee makers. Wouldn't you agree? Although coffee originated from Ethiopia, countries that topped the list of coffee growers are Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia and Mexico. In Asia, Vietnam is an emerging big producer too. Don't you wish the Philippines be included in this list? I don't believe our most treasured "Barako" brand will fail in comparison alongside other world brands. What's more with the up and coming of Coffee Alamid? There's no better time to reinvent and develop our coffee industry than now!

TRINOMA - the youngest Ayala Mall recently opened in Quezon City, generally shows nothing new. It basically has the same mall offering as those we already frequented anywhere in the Metro. Some things worth noting are probably, the proliferation of "new", imported stuffs like this beauty and skin care shop from Australia (the name just didn't register so well so I can't remember), nice landscape outside the mall, being the birthplace of some new restaurants and cafe such as Five Cows and Mrs. Fields Cookie Cafe, spacious cinema lobby and game zone, convenient location and for in-housing another shoppers' haven, the Landmark. Unfortunately, it's still one of the many unopened stores in the mall. One thing that needs significant improvement though is the availability of better signages to and from the carpark area. We find the existing quite confusing and hardly recognizable. On a lighter note, below are some of our good finds that'll give enough reasons for a second visit.

Just the right size carousel. Check it out while there's still a promo. There's an additional P10 plus 1 free ride when you reload your Timezone PowerCard.

Cold Rock, your new kind of ice cream!

Max Brenner, for that rich coffee drink!

This Resto and Ice Cream Bar really caught our attention when we're roaming around at the 4th level. The resto's name, the menu card, the resto-look and that inviting service won't just let you pass by. When I started to peruse their menu, mouth watering assortment glittered right before my eyes. So, tell me how can we resist?! Minutes after that, we're already savouring these...

Kids seemed so lucky nowadays. Their needs are simplified, tailored fit, made more fun and even better. From more comfortable nappies to power packed milks and vitamins, to more educational toys and techie gadgets even to fun hair grooming! Moms and dads fret no more! Gone are the days for this frightening, so hard to do hair cutting activity. Kiddie Salons made it all easier for us. It simply makes the hair comb - scissors encounter more enjoyable and less traumatic. So what's in a kiddie salon experience? Apart from that refreshing new hair cut, inviting and familiar toys with some favorite kiddie programs await young customers in this establishment. This provides a comforting ambiance to the kid that'll help make the job easier to do. Let's just call it a needed conditioning process. It should be emphasized however, that the skills and the patience of the hair stylist is of prime importance as in making the place more entertaining as possible. Valuing kids' safety all the time, is a mission to work for. Entrepreneurs behind this business concept deserved real commendation. They made a good job in addressing their PTM's (primary target market) needs. Now, getting a hair cut is something that kids will look forward to. However, there are still parents who would rather do the thing than entrust their kids to the hands of someone else. For some, maybe because they are just too careful to be trusting especially for their real young tots, or maybe for the practical ones, they don't find much value for money for the cost of the hair cut. For a price range of P200 - P250, wouldn't you really expect something from it? Whatever the reason is, I believe all parents are one in the purpose of providing what's vital for their kids.

In May-June 2007 issue of MomsToday (a parenting magazine in the Philippines), they featured the "10 tips to raise young readers". This article caught my attention because we certainly are raising a "book lover". According to Michelle Gan, "reading is the first skill required to understand and apply concepts, both at work and in life". We are glad that we did not have any difficulty instilling this skill with our son even at a very young age. He’s still a tot but he's someone who would rather trade toys for books. I’ve already proven this a number of times. We don’t have to drag him to go to a bookstore instead of a toyshop. Hence, it was such a treat for him when we went to the newly opened Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street. As expected, he did not go out of the store empty handed. Some friends are asking me how we honed him as such. I think primarily because we started as early as possible. From the moment I felt him growing inside my tummy, we are already journeying together through books. I read something to him as often as I can and it’s not limited to story books and rhymes alone. Even books that I’m reading for work, I communicate my learnings with him. There’s this mother's instinct that told me he would understand in some way. Probably, this is why sometimes we heard people saying nobody is too young to understand. For me what mattered more is that we’re already communicating, establishing our connections even before I helped him see the real world.

Apart from that, leading a good example greatly helps. Apparently, book is one of the many things that connected me and my husband together. We share the same passion for it. Also, we make sure that we visit a bookstore whenever we go to the mall. It’s but an indispensable part of our weekend itinerary. Likewise, books topped the list of our rewards to our kids. It’s a gift waiting at the end of a good behaviour or any milestone. There are actually many ways of molding a lifelong book lover. What's fundamental is to find that, which will rightly fit the parents' objectives as well as the kid's needs and interests. It's but essential to tailor fit.