Cook and Brew.

Even though our country was massively devastated by a series of calamities recently, I believe that the whole nation will still celebrate the Christmas season with a gleeful and positive spirit. After all, we’ve always been known as a pliant kindred and we always try to stand up as a nation no matter how tough the obstacle is that comes our way.

Jollibee’s mission of spreading Christmas cheer to needy children through their Maaga Ang Pasko program has always been commendable. It is the longest yearly Christmas donation drive where kids are encouraged to donate toys and books to kids who are less fortunate. It doesn’t have to be brand new or those latest gadgets like PS3, Xbox or netbooks. In fact, they are encouraged to donate their old toys or their current ones which actually teach and instill in them the true spirit of giving.

Kudos to Jollibee for this admirable cause.

*Photo snagged from philstar.com

For a limited time only…

Coffee addicts out there, be sure to drop by at Greenbelt 3 and 5 on October 13-26, 2009 and join as the Philippine Coffee Board celebrates the annual coffee festival, entitled “Coffee Origins, Discovering The Philippines’ Best.”

Familiarize yourself with different coffee types grown from the small towns and private farms of the region. Overflowing coffee for FREE from different roasters and processors all throughout the event so get ready for a one of a kind caffeine-high experience.

For more information about this event as well as other events of the Philippine Coffee Board, check out what’s brewing on their website.

In celebration of Yummy.ph’s Hong Kong Food and Wine Festival 2009, the site is running a Food and Travel Article Writing Contest from October 5, 2009 at 12 noon to October 16, 2009 at 12 p.m., Philippine standard time.

What’s at stake are the following:
Grand Prize: Free trip for 2 to Hong Kong for 3 days and 2 nights inclusive of airfare and hotel accommodations. Plus a one-day pass to the Hong Kong Food and Wine Festival and be invited to write about his or her experience to be posted on Yummy.ph.
1st Runner-Up: An all-expense paid dinner at Fish and Co. restaurant.
Five (5) Runners-Up: Two will each receive a three-month subscription of YUMMY magazine and three will win a set of YUMMY books.

To join, be a member of Yummy.ph and should be 18 years old and above. Must carry a passport valid at least six months prior to date of travel.

All you have to do is submit a food and travel (local or international) article that is 800 to 1000 words long, accompanied by at least three (3) good photographs in high resolution. Participants may submit a maximum of two (2) entries. Each entry should also contain the participant’s full name, address, and contact numbers. Send your entries to yummy.ph@gmail.com on or before October 16, 2009, 12 p.m.

Criteria:
50% content and style
30% photography
20% overall impact

Announcement of winners will be on Friday, October 16, 2009, 6 p.m.

For more information and queries, check out Yummy.ph.

Rene Barbier and the Maya Kitchen present
WINE APPRECIATION + FOOD PAIRING BASICS
A talk on how to make simple appetizers for your parties and how to pair them with the right wines.
This week- Pizza! How to make 3 types of easy to make bite size pizzas to be followed by a short talk on wine appreciation.

When: October 9, 2009
Where: The Forum, Fullybooked Bonifacio High Street
Time: 6pm-9pm
Fee: Php1000.00 (comes with a loot bag)
Registration: Fullybooked Customer Service desk at Bonifacio High Street or email at francis_oliva01@yahoo.com or call (0917) 537-5171 and (02) 2157222.

For more information, check out Fully Booked Online.