Enjoy new ways to enjoy rice and discover healthy rice options at Eastwood City’s Rice Festival
Eastwood City Saturday, July 27, 2013
2013 was proclaimed the National Year of Rice and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls is celebrating the Philippines’ staple food in a fun and informative way at Eastwood City’s Rice Festival, to be held on July 26 – 28, 2013 at the Eastwood Mall Atrium.
Guests at the opening ceremony located at the Eastwood Mall Atrium were treated to the rice rope cutting and talks on health & nutrition from rice experts.
Different varieties of rice and their and their health benefits were discussed by Eastwood’s program partner, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Meanwhile, the Philippine Rice Research Institute spoke about the country’s goal of rice self-sufficiency while OxFam talked about the benefits of brown rice.
Guests also enjoyed exciting cultural performances and a fun cooking demo from Eastwood Richmonde Hotel.
This was only the beginning for the three-day Rice Festival at Eastwood Mall, which includes a full line-up of activities designed to help Filipinos develop better rice eating habits. In partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the Rice Festival aims for shoppers to discover healthy rice options and to help them experience new ways to enjoy rice through exhibits, bazaars, cooking demos and more!
A recent National Nutrition Survey showed an unhealthy Filipino population. Among the other findings, the survey revealed that 7 in every 10 Filipinos do not meet the required energy intake. The unhealthy status of Filipinos could be traced partly to the lack of diversification in our diet as we also generally restrict energy source to rice; servings also usually comprise more than half of our plate, even if one-fourth is enough.
To stay healthy, nutritionists advise that it is important to eat rice in the better form and in the right amount, and to also include alternative food staples.
Looking through the Rice Exhibit is a great way for guests to begin this transformation, as it features advice on the right ways to eat rice and some delectable rice recipes. On July 28, the symposium presented by IRRI representatives at 6:00PM can also help shoppers learn about the potential benefits of high nutrient rice, while their children enjoy story telling on rice fables by Ms. Norma Chikiamco, author of The Rice Book.
Guests looking for new ways to serve up rice can watch a variety of cooking demonstrations – a session from PhilRice will be held on July 26, 5:00-6:00PM. There will be two cooking demonstrations on July 27 - one from Galileo Enoteca at 5:00PM – 6:00PM and CCA at 6:00-7:00PM. On July 28, Stephanie Zubiri of Atelier 317 will reveal two of her delicious brown rice recipes at 4:00-6:00PM.
More mouth-watering rice products await at the Rice Bazaar. Shopper can try rice at the IRRI rice tasting booth, and try other delicious rice products.
Delicious Filipino rice-based desserts like suman and sapin-sapin are being offered at Dolor’s Kakanin while rice wine is available from PhilRice. Shoppers can also buy rice at the booths of OxFam and Robinson’s Supermarket, and purchase creamy Arborio rice, wines and sourdough bread at Galileo Enoteca’s booth.
For rice with a Chinese twist, try machang (usually made with glutinous rice, stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo and reed leaves) from DEC. Homemakers can also check out a variety of cookbooks from National Bookstore.
At Eastwood City’s Rice Festival, learn healthy rice recipes from acclaimed chef Stephanie Zubiri during her cooking demonstration, to be held on July 28, 4:00-6:00PM at the Eastwood Mall Atrium.
This is just a sample of the culinary rice delights that await guests at the Rice Festival.
“Rice has always been a staple of the Philippine dining table and at Eastwood City’s Rice Festival, shoppers are set to discover healthy rice options. From different rice varieties and products at the bazaar, to talks from rice experts and cooking demos with renowned chefs, this 3-day Festival is a great way for guests to spice up their rice dishes and learn healthy rice eating habit,” said Tefel Pesigan-Valentino, SAVP for Marketing and Business Development of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.
To learn more about Eastwood’s Rice Festival, guests can call the Concierge at 709-9888, 709-0888, 0917-8380111 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com.
