WATCH: Lawson tries Pinoy food in Pasig carinderia

It's not every day that we get approached by a record label and asked to bring one of their talents to eat, Pinoy-style, in a carinderia. So when we got a call from MCA Music a few days ago, we grabbed the chance to give Andy Brown, Adam Pitts, Joel Peat and Ryan Fletcher — from British pop rock band Lawson — something to write home about.

It's the band's second time in Metro Manila and since they liked it so much the first time around, they've been begging the label to bring them back here. This time around, they were willing to go out of their comfort zones and experience a most authentic Filipino culture first-hand.

"Last time we played, the crowd in the Philippines was one of the best crowd and still remain as the best crowd we've ever played to," said Joel, the guitarist. "We were gonna go straight to Australia... we really wanted to go back here so we made it happen," Ryan, the bassist, echoed.

We took them to Caruz Eatery in Pasig, a not-so easy on the eyes eatery along Pasig Boulevard (something the Brits might call "charming") that's known for its beef caldereta and papaitan. We ordered those and threw in sinaing na tulingan and nilagang baka for good measure. We also showed the guys how to order Pinoy style, by pointing at the dish they want to eat (they chose ginataang puso ng saging).




“Where are the knives," vocalist Andy asked as he tucked into the caldereta — which turned out to be the band’s favorite ("like a very nice beef stew"). The tulingan reminded one member of mackerel, but it was the puso ng saging that got the most hilarious reaction ("I expected it to be banana!" "It tastes like vodka!" "My problem with it is that it's got an unexpected taste." )

The four-meal lunch, plus rice and soda, cost less than P800. “That’s like a tenner,” said Ryan, clearly impressed.

Caruz Eatery, 220 Hillcrest Drive, Bgy Oranbo, Pasig City; +63 2 6715277. Daily 24/7.

This story first appeared on Coconuts Manila.

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source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

1st Lawson store in Philippines to open next week

MANILA, Philippines - Competition among convenience stores is expected to heat up further as the first Lawson store in the Philippines opens next week.

PG Lawson, a joint venture between Lucio Co's Puregold Price Club and Japanese convenience store giant Lawson, said the first Lawson store will open on March 30 in Sta. Ana, Manila.

The company is planning to open 50 stores in the Philippines this year. It has set a target of opening 500 convenience stores in the Philippines by 2020.

"Under the partnership, Lawson will provide its expertise in convenient stores know-how and product development while Puregold will provide its expertise in product procurement and localized knowledge of the retail consumers," the company said.

Lawson will face stiff competition in the country, where 7-Eleven, Ministop and FamilyMart have established their presence. Japan's FamilyMart Co had expanded in the Philippines in 2012 via a joint venture with Ayala Land.

Earlier, Puregold said it will contribute 70 percent of the investment in the joint venture company, while Lawson will provide 30 percent.

In May 2014, Lawson chairman Takeshi Niinami was in Manila to attend the World Economic Forum for East Asia. He bared plans for the company's expansion in the Philippines, saying they are targeting to put up as much as 2,000 convenience stores in the long term.

“The Philippines is very strong in consumption. I am very interested in entering it,” he said in a 2014 interview with The Philippine Star.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How your excess calories can help people in need

MANILA – On a diet? Imagine your excess calories being given to people who need it most.

The Young Global Leaders' Table for Two launched on Thursday the "Calorie Offset" initiative, which aims to “transfer excess calories” from products to people in need, in the Philippines.

In a press conference at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on East Asia, Table for Two executive director Masa Kogure said the excess calories from products will be monetized into donations for agriculture training, development of school gardens, and other sustainable activities.

“[With] excess calories [being] transferred to people in need, particularly other children… [it will be] monetized into donation for agriculture training, school gardens, and other sustainable initiatives," Kogure said.

The group will be partnering with different brands, sporting events, and manufacturers that will be able to promote the benefits of having a healthier lifestyle.

“[We will] partner with exercise [initiatives], brands, and sporting events that promote burning of calories," Kogure said.

The Calorie Offset program was initially launched in Tokyo, Japan last May 2014 with the participation of companies such as LAWSON, Oisix, Ezaki Glico, Nagatanien, and FiNC.

Among these, LAWSON and Oisix has already begun promoting and selling products supported by the program.

Takeshi Niinami, chairman of Lawson Inc., said the government of Japan supports the initiative.

Although they are still in talks whether the products will cost more than the regularly produced commodities in the market today, Niinami said that they will have to consider the value added function of making the product still top quality.

“This much be a very good tasteful product. We can allow [it to be as it is] but [it will] taste really bad. [We will make sure that] they are very tasteful," Niinami said.

Kogure noted that consumers now pay more to become healthy, and as a branded product, they are looking on providing the worth that they will be offering.

“These days, consumers will actually pay more to become healthy. We are hoping to charge extra on those branded products…but really still in negotiation.”

Kogure said that the products will be produced with local manufacturers, using available ingredients in the area.

“Depends on the location, available local ingredients, [and we will] evaluate the nutrient level of children and examine the micro-nutrients they are lacking," he said.

He said that they are already working on partnerships with different local institutions and chains, including fast food giant Jollibee.

When asked if how long the program will run, Kogure said it will be a long-term project.

“[It] needs to be sustainable, [so we’ll] stay in the Philippines as long as needed.”

Niinami said that this initiative was started to address the problem of obesity evident not only in Japan, but in the world.

He said that they hope the program will be able to provide a solution to the social problem, and at the same time, also help children in need.

“Social problem is that intake of calorie is too much. I hope this initiative will penetrate to other bigger [problems] in Japan, even here in ASEAN… [and provide a] big solution for people in need," he said.

Table for Two is an official affiliate of the Forum of Young Global Leaders. They have launched previous projects which promoted healthy eating while providing for school meals of children in developing countries.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com