Wednesday, March 24, 2010

First Retails Store of the Asian Food Channel

Where to eat in the Philippines... or in Singapore?

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The Asian Food Channel (AFC) launches its first retail store, AFC Kitchen Studio at Orchard Central, offering viewers from around the region a culinary wonderland they can touch and feel.

The new store will provide the ideal platform to further engage viewers, giving them a place to purchase the most up-to-date culinary products, gadgets and books; check out the latest in built-in kitchen appliances; as well as somewhere to relax, unwind and sample the delicacies from the café, which when opened will serve a variety of teas and coffee, together with pastries and cakes.

Kitchen products for sale in the store will comprise AFC merchandise (T-shirts, aprons, stationery, kitchen equipment), GreenPan, the eco friendly non-stick cookware, Microplane, essential kitchen gadgets for every serious chef, as well as an extensive range of cookery books from AFC featured chefs, such as Nigella Lawson, Laura Calder, Jamie Oliver, Anthony Bourdain, and more – a range of products that will appeal to everyone whatever level their culinary skills.

AFC will also use the store as the location for a variety of hands-on cookery classes and demonstrations to inspire the budding chef in everyone. The classes will be hosted by a range of professional chefs from Singapore and around the region, as well as special guest appearances by selected celebrity chefs featured on AFC.

Commenting on the launch of the new AFC retail store, Maria Brown, Co-Founder and Managing Director of AFC said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new store at Orchard Central, at the heart of Singapore’s shopping hub. We are very proud to be able to offer our viewers a place where they can come to learn more about food and health issues, be inspired to cook a variety of mouth-watering delicacies, and have the opportunity to be taught by some of the world’s most gifted and talented chefs, all in our fantastic state-of-the-art kitchen.”

Since the launch of AFC, more than four years ago, the channel has built a strong following of foodie fans, with more than 20 million viewers throughout Asia. From this ever-growing platform, and with its continued appreciation of viewer interests, AFC has evolved, providing not only an excellent range of great programming, which includes a selection of original self-made productions, but now a retail store where fans can touch and feel the Channel.

Ms Brown continued: “The AFC retail store is a place for everyone, whether you’re a foodie and you want to come and learn more about food, or you just enjoy watching the Channel and want a place to hang out with friends, it will appeal to everyone.”

The store will feature a fully equipped built-in kitchen, fitted out with the latest kitchen appliances never before seen in Singapore, including an induction hob, a hood, a gas hob, ovens, a dishwasher and a fully integrated fridge, all proudly

sponsored by LG Built-in Appliance Asia, a part of LG Electronics Home Appliance Company.

“In collaboration with AFC, the AFC Kitchen Studio at Orchard Central is the first LG built-in concept showroom in Southeast Asia,” said Mr. Arthur Huang, Corporate Marketing Director, LG Electronics Asia. “As consumers increasingly embrace built-in appliances, integrating them into stylish and modern kitchen design, it’s a great platform for showcasing our premium built-in kitchen appliances, which are not usually displayed in retail outlets.”

SignatureKitchen, Malaysia’s leading player for creating quality kitchens across the globe has outfitted the AFC Kitchen Studio, showcasing their innovative kitchen design. Mr KC Tan, Managing Director of Signature International Berhad commented, “We are excited about our collaboration with AFC because it enables us to showcase and share our passion in creating a great culinary experience together”.

As well as being used for cookery classes and demonstrations, the kitchen will also act as a studio, for filming of AFC original self-made documentaries and productions.

The AFC store is located at 181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central #07-02, and is open from 11am to 11pm daily.

About Asian Food Channel
The Asian Food Channel (AFC) is the region’s only 24-hour food channel dedicated to airing the best food and lifestyle programming from around the region and around the world. Based in Singapore, AFC’s wide Asian distribution footprint covers seven territories and 20 million viewers, on basic tiers of all the major pay TV platforms across Southeast Asia.

The channel leads the ratings in its territories, regularly achieving the #1 lifestyle channel in terms of popularity and loyalty. It has achieved a broad following from young teenage food lovers and empty nesters to trendy urban females and aspiring male chefs. Its online presence supports the channel with program information, recipes, content and an e-commerce store. As such AFC regularly executes 360 degree advertising and marketing campaigns and solutions for leading FMCG, Financial and Travel brands.

AFC broadcasts on:

• StarHub Channel 69 (Singapore)
• Astro Channel 703 (Malaysia)
• First Media Digital 1 Channel 76 (Indonesia)
• Prime Indovision Channel 22 (Indonesia)
• now TV Channel 527 (Hong Kong)
• Skycable Channel 58 (Philippines)



Please visit www.asianfoodchannel.com for more information

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Orchard Road SM Megamall - Review and Feedback

Where to eat in the Philippines... or where NOT TO EAT.

I've been to Singapore several times already. Even went to Malaysia and other Asian countries. What I love most is the unique cuisine of Malaysia and Singapore. This is why when I saw Orchard Road in SM Megamall, I couldn't wait to try it out.

I first saw it several weeks back and it was still closed. Earlier, we went to SM Megamall and decided to give it a try. Ambiance was great! Looks can be deceiving though.

We ordered:
1 sweet and sour pork
1 black pepper pork
1 beef noodle soup
1 Kopi Tarik
1 iced lychee
1 Milo Dinosaur
and a pita with dip (forgot the name)

Our bill was around Php 750.00 pesos. With such a small serving, it's not that cheap, in my opinion.

It was already near 12:30 and without eating breakfast, we were very hungry.
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Sweet and Sour Pork with Kopi Tarik
The order arrive 5 minutes after. My order arrived first, the sweet and sour pork. Upon biting my first bite, it was utter disappointment! The pork was old! It was rubber-like with hard parts. The taste was also terrible. I can say that this was the worst sweet and sour pork I've tasted in my entire life! Yes, it was that bad.

Servings were small. Imagine, I wasn't able to finish my food despite of my hunger and the small serving size. Put in the factor that my dad and brother even tried a piece each of sweet and sour pork. They should rename it to, tasteless pork.

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Black Pepper Beef with Dinosaur Milo

I tried my brother's viand, the black pepper beef. It was the same, no taste at all. The only taste my tongue can sense is the pepper taste. Other than that, it was just like you were chewing a tasteless gum.

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Beef noodle soup with Iced Lychee

My dad ordered the beef noodle soup. The taste of the soup is OK. Just like the free soup given in some of the foodcourts around the metro.

Kopi Tarik? Just order hot water and you know what this tastes like.

I didn't mind tasting the Iced Lychee and Milo Dinosaur because my appetite already went away.

Orchard Road is located in... never mind, I wouldn't recommend it to ANYONE. I felt rip offed. If they don't improve their food taste, that restaurant wouldn't last more than a year!

Don't tell me I didn't warn you.