Food Trip 4: Manang's Chicken Bloggers' Event @ Katipunan

October 15, 2011

After my work last Saturday, I immediately went to Manang's Chicken Katipunan. Honestly, after disembarking at the LRT Katipunan Station, I'm thinking if I will take a jeep or walk to the restaurant. I decided to take the latter, but it's a long walk! (walking is good for the health, haha! I'm a practical person as well)

I arrived there a few minutes before 3PM, so I waited for minutes before some of my fellow bloggers arrive at Manang's.

The Press Kit

Inside The Press Kit

Shortly before 4PM, the program started. The president and CEO of Manang's Chicken, Jill Gerodias- Borja speaks about the history of Manang's Chicken. 

In case you didn't know the beginnings of this successful story, they started selling their old family recipe at Mercato Centrale last December 2010. When people going at Mercato Centrale were very satisfied with the taste of Manang's Chicken, more people are flocking at their stall, and the rest, is history.

President and CEO of Manang's Chicken, Jill Gerodias- Borja

The Highlight of the event was the “Wings Challenge” eating contest. I was one of the three contestants of this challenge, and the other two were girls.Originally, five contestants were invited to join this challenge, but some did not make it to the event. But the contest must go on as planned.

After three minutes, I ate the most number of chicken wings, besting 2 other challengers. So I won a 12-piece chicken wings gift certificate and a Polo shirt (with embroidered logo of Manang's Chicken).

Chicken Wings! Yum Yum!

But the eating was done for me, haha! Manang's Chicken treated us bloggers their food. It includes their signature chicken, double deep fried chicken dipped in secret soy garlic sauce. They also served us their coleslaw, macaroni salad, and their new product, Manang's Chips and Dips, made from potatoes, which is delicious and crispy. You may select either garlic mayo or creamy cheese as dips for the chips.

Manang's Chips and Dips

Manang's Chicken

Coleslaw and Macaroni Salad

While eating, I was able to talk with a couple of bloggers, namely Yna Amores of The Girly Diaries and Jill Bantang of The Food Scout. Jill was also a contestant of the Wings Challenge as well.

As what I had written about Manang's Chicken (see my blog archive), I highly recommend their specialty chicken and you may also try their other products as well.

They're opening some branches before the year ends. They will open one at Taft Ave. Manila, near De La Salle Unversity. They will also open in SM Megamall and SM North Edsa in the coming months as well.

Food Trip 3: JT's Manukan Grille

It's been a while since I ate at JT's Manukan Grille. Usually I ate there along with my friends after our long and addicting game of badminton. Since we're playing badminton in San Juan (near N. Domingo), and the resto is just along Granada St. corner Valencia St., Quezon City (just between Gilmore Ave., QC and Ortigas Ave., San Juan). It's an open restaurant, so expect to smell air from the outside.

JT's Manukan Grille

In case you didn't know, the owner of the restaurant is none other than Joel Torre, the respectable actor in the country, who hails from Bacolod.

Joel Torre, the owner of JT's Manukan Grille

The restaurant is very much different to its popular food chain as far as the "inasal chicken" (or grilled chicken) is concerned. 

Me, while waiting for the chicken inasal.

Their menu

Their chicken breast "inasal" costs P88. It's affordable and I tell you, it's more delicious compared to the popular "inasal" chain. But you will order a separate rice (whether plain or garlic) which is only a single serve one. 

Yum Yum!

Although it may be a bit expensive compared to the popular one, I did not disappoint with the food here. That is why I ate at JT's Manukan Grille thrice already.