Healthy Options from the Backyard.

Many Filipino households have malunggay growing in their backyards. However, not every one may be aware of the health benefits this miracle vegetable can bring. However, cooking malunggay leaves tends to lessen it's potency. A solution: CHRIMI Malunggay Products.

I may not be the most healthy eater, but given my fervent desire (but admittedly lack of effort) to lose weight, I didn't hesitate to sign up for a health and wellness event featuring the health benefits of the moringa or malunggay plant. I initially thought products like this would be limited to nutritional supplements but I was amazed at how many products the company has been able to create with malunggay. Products now available include the following: coffee, hot choco, dalandan orange juice, and malunggay health soup.

To be honest, I was skeptical about how something like this would taste but I was surprised that the coffee and choco drinks were quite yummy. I didn't really like the soup much, but I think if used as a base for a pasta sauce, it would make a tasty sauce.

Aside from food items, CHRIMI also offers malunggay supplements, whitening soap and body lotion. Amazing!

Other health benefits of malunggay include the following:
7 times the vitamin C in oranges
4 times the calcium in milk
4 times the vitamin A in carrots
3 times the potassium in Bananas
2 times the protein in Yogurt
Anti-aging
Lowers cholesterol
Balances metabolism
Memory enhancer
Anti-oxidant
Strengthens the body's immune system
Improves mental alertness
Enhances nerve tissues

During the launch, the founder of the product explained to us that CHRIMI malunggay products are more than just a business venture, but a mission. I am impressed at how thier operations go beyond providing a means for personal wealth, but that they aim to provide jobs and opportunities for people and industries around them. As their advocacy goes, we have a bountiful nation, why leave the Philippines?



Read more about CHRIMI and their products at Malunggay Republic

*photo from Rochelle Sy Chua of rochellesychua.com

Sicilian Express Disappointment.

I don't always blog about complaints with my orders in restaurants because I figured, if I am not happy with a dish, that's not always the restaurants fault. For example, if a dish is a little too salty for my taste, that's on me, not them, right? However, when you find something that's not supposed to be there, that's another story.


Last Thursday, July 23, 2009, my friend and I went to McKinley Hill to grab a sandwich from The Sandwich Guy (it was good...watch out for my post on that soon!) However, as we walked towards the stall, I chanced upon Sicilian Express. Being the pizza lover that I am, I couldn't resist but get one for take out, especially since McKinley Hill isn't so easy to go to. I also checked out the list of other branches and since there was none in the Paranaque area, I figured reheating it the next day, albeit not as great as fresh, would be good enough to give me a taste.

The next morning I heated myself two slices of the pizza, stuck it in a ziplock and got in my car to go to work. After taking two bites, I was shocked to feel a sharp pain suddenly in my mouth. I had bitten into something sharp and hard in the pizza. After spitting out what was in my mouth, I was appalled to find a chicken bone in my pizza. My white cheese pizza. I emphasized the white cheese pizza because there's supposed to be no toppings at all, what more a frigging chicken bone!!!I was disgusted by it and couldn't eat the rest of the pizza. I don't know if that bone had come from another guests' dish or what, but regardless of whether it was "clean" or not, it is unacceptable to have food waste on your order, right?

So at the end of the day, I can't say if the pizza was yummy or not. All I remember is that I was sorely disappointed by a pizza place I was so excited to try.

To be fair, however, I did receive good service from the waitresses and when I called the resto to inform them of my complaint, the manager Bhel was attentive to my complaint.