Chowking welcomes Kris Aquino as newest franchisee

Endorsements have always been a huge part of Kris Aquino's career. We've all known her as one of the most popular and sought after endorser of numerous brands and products here in the Philippines, one of which is Chowking. With various television commercials and billboards nationwide for Chowking, it is undeniable that it is one of the brands that Kris truly trusts. As a brand that seemed to harmonize well with Kris’ taste and beliefs, she decided to take her partnership with it to a whole new level.

As a part of this huge celebration of success and awaited announcement, bloggers and members of the press were treated to various attractions. Among the attractions that were prepared for us were the lucky tree, fortune telling, charms making, and Chinese calligraphy. Likewise, we were offered the newest addition to Chowking's menu - the super cute Panda and Piggy pao. 

My fave part! Charms making based on our Chinese zodiac sign. :D

As I have previously said, this partnership is no longer limited to a simple endorsement which commenced when Kris endorsed some of the fast food’s Chinese favorites earlier this year, Chinese-Style Fried Chicken and Chunky Asado Siopao. . Today, the Philippines’ Queen of All Media will open her first Chowking franchise this November 2014, located at Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

During this Royal Banquet, everyone was treated to a (what I called) make-your-own-lauriat. Their bestsellers - Chinese-Style Fried Chicken, Siomai, Pansit Platter, Buchi - just go well with one another.

The hardworking career mom kept on telling everyone why she decided to become Chowking's franchisee. “I feel that if you’re going to endorse a brand, it should be something that’s both aspirational and reachable,” says Kris. “But it’s different if it’s about being a franchisee. One should invest on something they really trust and love.

“That’s what I felt when I chose to partner with Chowking. Not only do I really love their food, it’s a brand I’ve found that’s comforting and one I trust that can bring me more success.” And this success, she aspires not only for herself but also for her children who are her greatest inspiration.

Ferns Yu, President of Chowking, was likewise very excited with this new partnership. “2014 has been yet another positive year for Chowking. We are aggressively renovating and opening new stores and this move with Kris is one of the best highlights of this endeavor,” says Yu. “It’s a rare opportunity to have your endorser as a franchisee. Perhaps, there’s really harmony between Kris and the brand.”

Yu adds that they knew how Kris favors home-cooked meals, as she mentioned it during the interviews they had during the shoots for the ads. “But it’s really heartwarming to know that she wouldn’t mind having a Chowking take-out to share with her family during the days that it’s really impossible for her to cook. 

“That’s why this partnership says a lot about Chowking—it complements her taste and her appreciation towards good food; and given that we are a brand that continues to grow because of hard work, we find her as the best embodiment of our success.” 

Kris recounts how making stops at Chowking during long road trips for KrisTV tapings has been a ritual for her crew. “I really love their menu! Believe me, I’ve had countless takes in the shoots and the food is just irresistibly good,” she shares. She furthermore shared that the Chinese Style Fried Chicken has become her favorite that she took 72 bites from the it without having to spit any during her commercial shooting. 

Indeed, when you see a celebrity shopping from the store of the brand he or she endorses, you could probably say that it’s an expected commendation. But when that endorser becomes a franchisee, it becomes a totally different story—a bond forged in trust and harmony.

At present, Chowking currently boasts of over 400 branches in the Philippines. Some of the leading delicious Chinese favorites in their roster are the Chinese-Style Fried Chicken, Chunky Asado Siopao, Pork Chao Fan, and the Meaty Wanton Mami.

Visit their social media accounts here:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/chowkingph

Twitter - https://twitter.com/chowking_ph

Instagram - http://instagram.com/chowkingph

XO, Mish

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Discover the #BeautifulScience behind World’s No. 1 Conditioner Brand, Pantene

I am not very particular with salon-offered hair care such as hot oil, etc. since I was naturally born with fine, straight hair. However, I still make sure that my hair is maintained well by using conditioner every single day, especially now that I regularly color my hair. It was actually very late when I have discovered Pantene, probably when I was already in college. Nevertheless, it is never too late to start on a healthy hair care routine. With continuous use, your hair can definitely improve. Pantene tells us the science behind it in their latest campaign.

For over 60 years, Pantene has been committed to give women healthy, beautiful hair that empowers them to shine. Pantene’s Pro-V science and continuous innovation enables Pantene to deliver this promise. Its new Beautiful Science campaign takes innovation further by daring to go without camera tricks, without retouching and by letting the science behind its products shine.

The Beautiful Science campaign endeavours to further strengthen Filipinas’ trust in Pantene. The first video in the series features the Static Generator to prove the importance of intensive conditioning. Without camera tricks or retouching, Pantene demonstrates that hair treated with Pantene Daily Intensive Conditioner stays down, resisting static electricity and staying virtually frizz-free, while more hair not treated with Pantene stands up.

Pantene not only gives women frizz-free, beautiful hair, but it also offers the right conditioner for every woman’s needs. A conditioner does so much more than making your hair soft and scented. It is an important step to keep hair protected from damage. Filipinas should choose their conditioners based on their hair type, hair condition and lifestyle:

Pantene Color and Perm Daily Intensive Conditioner helps keep colors vibrant and curls intact. Chemical treatments like coloring and perming make hair very damaged, and the Pantene Color and Perm system helps restore the health of hair. Its unique conditioning actives prevent water from entering and exiting hair cuticles so that color pigments don’t run and curls don’t loosen.

Pantene Aqua Pure Daily Intensive Conditioner gives hair the nourishment it needs without the excess weight, making it perfect for women with fine hair. The Pantene Aqua Pure system’s Clean Rinse Technology delivers conditioning but washes clean and fast. With no added silicone, dye or paraben, it leaves hair with virtually zero weight for a feeling of lightness.

Pantene Total Damage Care Daily Intensive Conditioner is designed to address ten signs of hair damage: tangles, dullness, brittle strands, split ends, hair fall, dry hair, rough feel, weakness, frizz and unmanageable hair. This is the conditioner for women who already have damaged hair or whose lifestyle and habits expose their hair to damage.

Shean Lim, Senior Technologist for P&G Hair Care, explains the science, “When hair is not damaged, the cuticle or the outer layer of the hair is in place, effectively protecting the inner structure or cortex. However, due to mechanical, environmental, thermal and chemical factors, our hair becomes damaged, which means that the cuticles are lifted and the cortex becomes exposed.”

Lim shares, “Damaged hair has a higher negative charge density than healthy hair. When the cuticle is lifted, the exposed cortex becomes more and more negatively charged.”  In the first Beautiful Science experiment, the Static Generator, which creates negative charges, is used to measure the level of damage in hair. When a person touches the metallic ball of the Static Generator, the negative charges from the generator transfers to that person. Damaged hair becomes even more negatively charged and hair strands begin to repel each other, causing damaged hair to stand up. 

Pantene Daily Intensive Conditioner gives women healthy, beautiful hair that resists static electricity. It deposits a protective layer on hair strands and contains 80% more conditioning ingredient versus Pantene’s regular conditioners. The conditioning ingredients are positively charged to neutralise the negative charges of damaged hair. Pantene Daily Intensive Conditioner with Pro-V makes hair strong on the inside, soft and shiny on the outside.

Personally, I swear by the Total Damage Care Intensive Conditioner. It keeps my hair really healthy despite being colored regularly. However, I can't wait to try out the Color and Lasting Perm variant as well. Can't wait to test them all. Thanks, Pantene! :)

Discover the #BeautifulScience behind the World’s No. 1 Conditioner Brand*, Pantene!

*P&G Calculation based on Nielsen sales information from July 2012 to June 2013

XO, Mish

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RYU Ramen and Curry, SM Jazz Makati - Tantanmen Five Review

At first, ramen and curry do not seem to be a combination that would make me say "Wow! I'd like to eat that!" Luckily, my trip to RYU Ramen and Curry made me realize how smart this combination is. Ramen, which is considered as a part of the Japanese culinary art, paired with Curry, an ingredient that will surely spice up your palate, is one of the greatest way to enjoy Japanese cuisine. 

RYU Ramen and Curry considers their dishes as an art and their restaurants as a gastronomical gallery for such. Thus, they are known for creating The Art of Tantanmen and Curry. RYU (pronounced as ri-yu) actually means "dragon" in Japanese. And just like the legendary creature, RYU captures the imagination and gastronomical experience of those who gets to enjoy its dishes. By the way, RYU is actually part-owned by celebrity Ogie Alcasid.

RYU currently has three branches - one at UP Town Center in Katipunan and another in Tomas Morato. The one which I visited was at SM Jazz in Makati. I haven't been to their other branches but the one in SM Jazz seem to be their largest branch. It is indeed very spacious! It has its own (clean) bathroom, comfortable seats, and nice lighting and interior.

Before trying out their new dishes, we were treated to some of their bestsellers - Katsucheese Curry and RYU Ramen Curry. I was very eager to try out the Katsucheese Curry because the combination of cheese and katsu sounds amazing!

Katsucheese Curry - P360

RYU Ramen Curry - P380 

The Katsucheese Curry is definitely a must try! The outer part of the katsu is very crispy and the meat itself is very tender. Surprisingly, the curry goes well with the cheese, katsu, and rice. Every bite seem to be a treat with all those cheese! On the other hand, their signature dish - RYU Ramen Curry - is equally as good. I actually didn't know what to expect at first. My first sip though surprised me with its spiciness and curry flavor. You'll find it strong if you're not used to it. The spiciness lingers in my mouth but just right to boost my appetite.

As part of their new menu, RYU launches the Tantanmen Five. It consists of five Tantanmen dishes which were prepared by their culinary artists. Unfortunately, my blogger friends and I were able to try only four out of five. Nevertheless, we were still full right right after the review. It was also very timely to have their Tantanmen then because the weather was quite gloomy when we dropped by.

Yaki Buta Tantanmen - P380

Rich flavor of tender pork ribs that strips off the bone with a mix of fresh vegetables, and noodles in a bowl of miso based soup.

Karaage Tantanmen - P380

Hefty chicken pieces topped with shiitake mushroom, vegetables, and noodles in a bowlful of miso based broth.

Ebi Tantanmen - P430

Shrimp bits packed goodness in a bowl of flavorful miso based stock with fresh green vegetables, and noodles.

Classic Tantanmen - P360

Rich miso based broth with delectable chashu slices, spicy ground pork, soft boiled egg, and tasty noodles.

Everything seem new to my taste but they didn't put me off. You'll know from how they were presented that they are not your ordinary ramen dishes. These Tantanmen dishes have thick broth, firm noodles, and rich taste. I can't seem to decide though which one is my favorite. There is something to love in each of them. I love how the crispy chicken goes well with the broth in the Karaage Tantanmen. The pork ribs of the Yaki Buta Tantanmen literally melts in your mouth and adds more flavor to the ramen itself. Of course, the Ebi Tantanmen is not hard to fall in love with. The shrimp bits together with the vegetables seem to be the perfect ingredients to a ramen dish. Lastly, the Classic Tantanmen, which spiciness can be altered depending on your preference, proves that simple is better.

As regards the price of the Tantanmen Five, it ranges from P360 to P430. However, I consider it worth every peso because one serving is good for two persons. Honestly, I do not think I could finish one serving. Moreover, the way their dishes were thought of, made, and presented shows how exceptional they are. So if you want Ramen with a flavor of ingenuity, experience it only at RYU Ramen & Curry, The Art of Tantanmen and Curry.

RYU Ramen & Curry is conveniently located at Tomas Morato Quezon City +632 709 8789, U.P. Town Center Katipunan Ave. Quezon City +632 294 3574, and SM Jazz Makati +632 874 1022

Visit their social media accounts as well:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Ryu.Ramen.Curry

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ryuramencurry

Instagram - http://instagram.com/ryuramenandcurry

Thank you Ryu Ramen and Curry and Open Rice for inviting me!

XO, Mish

PS, follow me on OpenSnap application - @mishrendon :D

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