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Make Your Raya Healthier and Stress-free with the Right Home Appliances from Cooking to Cleaning

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is approaching soon and normally, the month before Hari Raya is usually the busiest time for many households preparing for the coming festive season, which includes shopping for the latest Raya collections, new kitchen appliances and the family’s favourite ‘Kuih Raya’.

However, this year, Malaysians will be celebrating their Hari Raya with a difference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Aligned with the challenges for social distancing and the movement control order, we will celebrate from the safety and comfort of our homes. For instance, the much anticipated Ramadan bazaars are going virtual, while visiting relatives and open houses may go online as well.

However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot continue with the festivities. To keep the Raya spirit alive, why not try making your favourite traditional meals in your own kitchen? Philips has just the right tools to help you get started.

Feast your heart out this Raya with home cooked traditional Raya meals

Philips Premium All-in-One Multi-Cooker

Keep your pressure down when cooking under pressure! Traditional Malay festive foods can be challenging and time-consuming for many people due to the lengthy preparation procedures and cooking processes. With Philips Premium All-in-One Multi-Cooker, your favourite Hari Raya meals are made easier and faster with its Dual Temperature Control System. You only need 40 minutes to cook Rendang, compared to 4 hours with a gas cooker.   

Philips Airfryer XXL

Children (and most Malaysian adults) love their food fried. But they also love cakes and cookies too. Did you know that beside the everyday meats and vegetables, you can prepare cakes, tarts, muffins as well as bread and many pastries with Philips Airfryer XXL. It is easier and healthier. This innovative air fryer features an innovative Twin TurboStar technology that removes excess fat and makes your frying even healthier!

Philips Blender Core

With 5 speed settings, the Philips Blender Core is designed to provide you with the perfect texture from smoothies to soups and sauce. A wide range of locally relevant accessories are available for more convenience and ease of preparation for the perfect Kuah Kacang (peanut sauce)! Serve your family and guests the finest smoothies with the ProBlend Crush technology. Its unique 4-star blade and energy efficient 700W motor transforms hard ice into smooth drinks twice as fast.

Philips coffee machines

For decades, coffee has been a staple in almost every Malaysian household. Especially during Hari Raya, family and friends have been brought together by their shared love of this aromatic and tasty beverages,  If your family and you are coffee connoisseurs, we have coffee machines that can whip up the essential espresso to a delicate latte macchiato; allowing you to savor your favorite coffee at the press of a button. Coffee lovers will be spoilt for choice as the Philips range varies from a simple drip filter coffee unit to the Saeco automatic espresso machine or the 3200 LatteGo series.

Keeping your house spick-and-span and breathe easy

SpeedPro Max Aqua

Keeping your house sparkling clean during Raya can be such a chore. However, cleaning is convenient with the evolution of connected and smart appliances fueled by digitization and technology. Take for instance our SpeedPro Max Aqua range of cordless vacuum cleaners that are built for speed, power cleaning and good reach on hard floors and carpets alike are great buys to help you clean up your home, with the aqua model boasting a mop like function too.  The unique 360° suction nozzle design with LED lights captures dirt and dust from all sides, not only forwards, but also backwards. The Speed Pro Max Aqua’s vacuum and mop function helps you clean even more dirt and stains. 

Philips 2-in1 Air Dehumidifier

The Philips 2-in1 Air Dehumidifier offers dual function and dual protection.  It provides premium purification and dehumidification performance, keeps air pollution or common allergens away so your family and guest can breathe a little easier and healthier. The purifier function removes 99.97% or ultrafine particles as small as 0.003um. The appliance operates under the highest fan speed in dry laundry mode for drying clothes with ease. The laundry mode reduces the time it takes to dry laundry indoors with the help of the dehumidifier.

Lastly, check out our range of personal care products. We have the right tool for every look for men and women to look presentable on Hari Raya despite the lockdown. For instance, explore our men’s grooming kits for the sharpest styles and for the ladies, styling your hair has never been easy with our range of curlers, dryers and straighteners. 

Now, it is time to upgrade your home appliances and create precious Raya moments with your loved ones while keeping them healthy and safe. You may shop all the appliances listed above online at Lazada, Shopee, Senheng Online, and Harvey Norman. For more info on our products, please visit https://www.philips.com.my/

Indomie does the unthinkable, removing mouth-watering image of its noodles from pack for Ramadan

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from Indomie

Indomie, Indonesia top instant noodle brand, has taken its Ramadan marketing campaign to a whole new level with the launch of Indomie Special Pack 5-in-1 Edisi Ramadan.

Surprisingly, the limited-edition Indomie has a missing image of the delicious noodles that often graces the pack of Indomie instant noodle. In place of the image of the mouth-watering Indomie noodles comes a black plate and the words “Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa” or “happy fasting.”

The removal of the noodle image is seen as a conscious move to address religious sensitivity during the fasting month. The depiction of food during the fasting period may not be a respectful thing to do especially when Muslims are working hard to resist the temptation of food.

Another interesting aspect of the Indomie Ramadan pack is the commercial, which comes in two parts. The first part shows an empty plate as Muslims are still fasting, while the second video aired later in the day marks the break of fast. The narrative of the commercials are the typical do good messages found in Ramadan commercials. However, there is an added layer to the meaning of do good during the current pandemic season and that is to stay safe at home.

More mobile shops-on-wheels now roam the streets in Southeast Asia

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from FamilyMart Philippines

As consumers stay more at home, grocery retailers in Southeast Asia are bringing their shops literally to their doorstep to help consumers practice safe social distancing.

Hypermart

Image from Jakarta Globe

In Indonesia, the country’s largest hypermarket chain Hypermart has deployed its mobile grocery trucks to residential areas to help people do their shopping saving them the need to travel to the shop. To avoid crowds near the vehicle, a police officer is deployed to each truck to control the human traffic. Shoppers just need to complete an order form, which includes a price list, and note down the desired quantity.

FamilyMart Philippines

Image from FamilyMart Philippines

In the Philippines, FamilyMart has deployed “FAM on Wheels,” a mobile convenience store, to offer daily essentials and bill payment services so that shoppers can skip the long queues. Each truck carries around 100 SKUs including snacks, spreads, instant noodles and household care products. On the first day of operation on 22 April 2020, they stopped by at two Phoenix gas station in Muntinlupa and Quezon City. FamilyMart is owned by Phoenix Petroleum.

Farm-to-market Kadiwa stores

In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have rolled out Kadiwa on Wheels Mobile Market to sell fresh agricultural products. The project is aimed at giving people access to food amid restricted public mobility.

NTUC FairPrice

In Singapore, NTUC FairPrice has initiated FairPrice On Wheels on 23 April 2020 to bring the store closer to shoppers. FairPrice On Wheels operates from 9am to 2pm daily and will sell essentials like rice, oil, fruits, veggies, canned food and toiletries in selected neighbourhoods. Payment is by cash only.

Grocery truck vendor (Thailand)

In Thailand, grocery truck vendors have enjoyed a new lease of life as consumers are staying more at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commerce Ministry has stepped in by introducing a fleet of Thong Fah low-priced mobile fruit stores in pickup trucks to sell fruits during the harvest season. The program was launched with Talaad Thai market starting with 350 participating mobile stores serving the Greater Bangkok area, reported The Bangkok Post on 18 April 2020. China’s demand for Thai fruits is expected to fall sharply forcing the government to find new distribution channel to sell locally-grown fruits.

Applications who are interested need to fork out between THB 8,000 abd THB 15,000 to buy fresh food, vegetables and grocery items at Talaad Thai and they also need to have their own truck.

The Commerce Ministry mentioned on 23 March 2020 that it was looking at relaunching 200 mobile grocery stores on 26 March 2020 to sell essential goods in the Greater Bangkok area. The objectives were to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to lower people’s cost of living. These mobile stores will complement the Thong Fah Pracha Rat low-priced shops.

KFC ready for fryin’

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from KFC Philippines

Lo and behold, KFC Philippines has become the latest fast food joints to offer ready-to-cook frozen meals. For those who crave for the finger lickin’ good KFC fried chicken, they will surely be disappointed as KFC only offers Crispy Fries (PHP 300/2.2 kilograms) and Original Recipe Nuggets (P400/40 pieces per pack).

The two easy-cook frozen snacks can be easily cooked by tossing them in a pan of oil to achieve that crunch on the outside.

Visit kfc.com.ph or call 88-87-88-88. Check out the list of open stores here: http://bit.ly/KFCStores2020.

*Orders limited to total of 4 packs through online and hotline delivery.
*Not available for reselling

KFC is encouraging consumers to buy its fried chicken in bulk to save money but there is a risk of the fried chicken losing the crispiness over time. To help consumers get back the crispiness in their KFC fried chicken, the fast food chain has come up with instructions on how to do just that. Click here for the instructions.

Storage & Reheating Suggestions: Store in refrigerator at 41°F (5°C) or lower

  • Arrange chicken in oven-safe container, allowing space between pieces
  • Cover with aluminum foil
  • Bake @ 350°F (177°C) for 20 minutes – check temperature and adjust cooking time as needed*

*Ensure all food reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature before enjoying!

If you are heating Hot & Crispy Chicken or a crispier Original Recipe Chicken, do not cover with aluminum foil for that crunchy texture!

Order San Miguel Foods online and pick up at Treats

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Treats, the convenience store business of San Miguel Foods located at Petron petrol stations in the Philippines now serves as a pick-up point for consumers who order San Miguel Foods online.

Below are products available for online purchase and pick up at Treats Commonwealth.

More San Miguel Foods products will be made available for online ordering in the coming weeks.

Enjoy famed Ministop Uncle John’s Fried Chicken at home

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

It is the turn of Ministop Philippines, famous for its famed Uncle John’s Fried Chicken, to introduce its own range of cook-from-home pack. The marinated Uncle John’s Fried Chicken (8 pieces) is priced at PHP 380 per pack. The frozen foods are available for purchase at Ministop outlets.

Ministop range of frozen foods include hotdogs and heat and eat merienda classics such as kariman, siomai and chicken empanada.

There is a caveat, the frozen foods are “for everyone interested to purchase, please remember that our frozen products are not for reselling. Also, the availability of these products may vary depending on the Ministop branch. Thank you for understanding.”

The Coffee Club Thailand Joins Hands with The Pizza Company to Launch World’s First Ready to Drink Cold Brew Coffee and Tea ‘In-A-Bag’

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Coffee Club Lychee Rose Cold Brew Tea

Bangkok 23 April 2020 – World’s First! The Coffee Club Thailand together with its sister company, The Pizza Company launches The Coffee Club’s first ‘COLD BREW IN-A-BAG’ series in Thailand for the first time focusing on delivery market. The Cold Brew In-a-Bag series include top 5 best-selling drinks; Cold Brew Coffee Original, Yuzu Cold Brew Coffee, Lychee Rose Tea, Yuzu Tea and Peach Tea and will be sold exclusively through 1112 Delivery application, www.1112.com, 1112 hotline and at 75 branches of The Pizza Company throughout Bangkok and metropolitan area starting April 22 onwards.

Miss Nayada Vanvichai, Marketing Director – The Coffee Club Thailand reveals that during the past year, specialist coffee and tea shops in Thailand posted the highest value growth, with a 7% sales rise, reaching THB 23.7 billion. Chained outlets contributed THB 21,579.2 million or 90.9% of the total market value while Independent outlets contributed THB 2,148 million or 9.1%. The compound annual growth rate for specialist coffee and tea shops industry in Thailand is expected to grow highest at 9.5%, reaching THB 32,280.9 million by 2023.

During normal times, The Coffee Club Thailand’s coffee and tea beverage sales (from dine in, take away and delivery channels) takes 40% of the total company sales while during COVID-19, the sales channels are only take away 80% and delivery 20%. We see potential market growth and customer expansion for delivery services even in difficult times. Adapting business direction and proactive sales strategy is crucial and must be put in place as soon as possible.

This is how we came up with the idea of implementing new packaging for our Cold Brew Coffee and Tea series to be in a food grade nylon bag especially for delivery orders. This package can be stored in the refrigerator up to 14 days or in the freezer up to 3 months without losing its original taste.

Thailand is The Coffee Club’s first market to use this bag and soon it will be rolled out in other countries respectively. The new packaging will available on April 22 onwards through online and take awayorders. We expect that this new approach will help double up our sales by end this year.

In 2019, The Coffee Club Thailand achieved THB 1 billion in sales, a 21% increase from the previous year while beverage sales took 43% of the total sales reaching THB 432 million.

We believe that the new packaging will provide our customers more convenience and generate a smoother, faster, farther and better delivery services. We will also be holding a special promotion; Buy 1 Get 1 Free for orders through 1112 Delivery and The Pizza Company application and other privileges for Grab users.

The Coffee Club Thailand has 58 branches nationwide; 33 in Bangkok and 25 in other provinces. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/thecoffeeclubthailand.

Carlsberg Provides a Safer Learning Environment for 1 Million Students Amid Covid-19

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

All applications for Carlsberg Malaysia’s Safer Schools campaign to receive
thermometers, with disinfection services for all schools within Covid-19 “red
zones”

SHAH ALAM, 22 April 2020 – When the Movement Control Order (MCO) is finally lifted, parents and teachers of an estimated 1 million schoolchildren can breathe a sigh of relief as Carlsberg Malaysia has expanded its Safer Schools contribution to cover all applications, providing safer and worry-free learning environments when classes resume.

As of the final submission date on 15 April, Carlsberg Malaysia received approximately 1,660 applications from both Chinese and Tamil schools. To accommodate all requests, the brewer has increased its donation of handheld thermometers to 3,600 units covering every eligible school with two or more thermometers each.

From this number, 680 Chinese and Tamil schools falling within designated Covid-19 “red zones” have been prioritised for additional disinfection services in high-risk areas within their school compounds – currently totalling 8.4 million square feet – when these schools reopen their gates.

The beneficiaries of the Carlsberg Safer Schools campaign cover every state in Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak, with the most applications from Johor, Selangor and Perak where Covid-19 cases are some of the highest on record.

Stefano Clini, Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia, said, “Since we announced our Safer Schools campaign on 2 April, the responses from principals, school boards and parents of both Chinese and Tamil schools have been nothing short of overwhelming. After receiving plenty of heartfelt applications while the number of Covid-19 red zones continued to grow, we believe our initiative for safer school environments was a timely and invaluable contribution to local
communities during this trying time.”

Clini added, “True to our Purpose of Brewing for a Better Today & Tomorrow, we are glad to share that we have extended our contribution to all applications which will receive thermometers to monitor students’ and teaching staff’s body temperatures, with priority given to schools located in red zones for the disinfection of school facilities that pose the highest infection risks.”

Beneficiary schools will be contacted by 29 April with details on the delivery of thermometers, with arrangements for additional disinfection services for eligible schools to be completed in May.

Rendang : The Taste of Home!

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Shah Alam, April 21, 2020 :  It will be Syawal 1 soon, and rendang will be the leading dish on every festive table be it with rice, ketupat, lemang, or even with bread!  Rendang is a rich, highly spiced, slow-cooked coconut milk and meat dish with either thick gravy, or reduced to dry.  For many of us, it is the taste of home.

The Many Tastes and Textures of Rendang

Each state in Malaysia has its specialty rendang from Perak’s Rendang Tok, Kelantan’s Kerutuk, Pahang’s Opor, to the deliciousness that is Rendang Ayam Johor. Every family has their secret rendang recipe.

Rendang For The Beginner

How can you tackle the intricacies of rendang if you are a beginner but still need to impress family and friends?

There are four components to a great rendang : spices, paste, meat and the creamy coconut milk base.

To help you recreate the taste of home, and to start your own rendang tradition, Ayam Brand™ has developed a rendang recipe for the beginner that can be added to as your rendang-making magic increases. Make this recipe your own by playing with the spices, the paste mixture, your preferred meat (beef, chicken, duck, mutton) and always use the best coconut milk.

Naturally, we used Ayam Brand’s Coconut Milk for its fuss-free authenticity and creaminess.  It comes in three variants of Coconut Milk, Coconut Milk Trim (45% reduced in fat) and Coconut Milk Super Light (75% less fat than Ayam Brand Coconut Milk). You can find more Ramadan and Raya recipes from Ayam Brand™ at  http://www.ayambrand.com.my/raya2020 . 

Rendang Daging
Cooking time: 2 hours
Serving: 8

Ingredients

Spices

3 cloves

3 star anise

3 cardamom pods

2 tamarind paste

5 kaffir lime leaves, very finely sliced

8 tablespoons kerisik (dry fried coconut flakes)

1 stick cinnamon

1 tablespoon palm sugar to taste

salt to taste

Paste (blend well) 

2.5cm galangal, sliced

3 lemongrass stalks, white parts only, sliced

7 cloves garlic, sliced

6 shallots, sliced

2.5cm ginger, sliced

12 dried chilies, seeded and sliced

Meat

1kg beef, diced into cubes

Coconut Milk

1 litre Ayam Brand Coconut Milk of your choice

Oil for frying

1 cup water

  1. Blend the paste ingredients
  2. In a large wok or pot, heat some oil. Fry the spice paste, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and the cardamoms until fragrant.
  3. Add the beef, coating well with the paste and spice mixture until browned to seal in juices. 
  4. Pour in the coconut milk and stir gently allowing it to come almost to a boil.
  5. Reduce to medium heat. Add in the tamarind juice and water, stirring well so the meat doesn’t stick to the pan.
  6. When the meat is halfway cooked, add in the kaffir lime leaves and palm sugar.
  7. Pour in the kerisik, and season with salt. Stir well until meat is fully coated and covered with gravy.
  8. Reduce heat to low. Cover with lid. Simmer for about an hour until the meat is tender or gravy has reduced to the desired consistency/dried up.
  9. Serve immediately or let it cool before storing it.

What’s Your Rendang Secret

Be in the running for exciting prizes.  Make rendang using any Ayam Brand product. Post to your Instagram or Facebook account, tag @ayambrandmy on Instagram or @ayambrandmalaysia on Facebook while using the hashtag #beRAYAmbrand and let them know ‘What’s Your Rendang Secret’. Contest begins  April 5th and ends on June 14th with 16 weekly prizes and two grand prizes to be won!  

Find all these recipes and more at  http://www.ayambrand.com.my/raya2020 

Apple Cider Vinegar, the Secret Of Superwomen

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

SHAH ALAM, April 21, 2020- You meet Superwomen like her every day, strong healthy, confident, knowledgeable, capable, energetic; she manages a full schedule at work, home and at play, effortlessly.

What is her secret?

One of them is  Apple Cider Vinegar that has been used as a home remedy to treat numerous health ailments.  Families closely guard these ‘recipes’ for women’s vitality and well-being.

For your ease of mind, choose a certified organic offering such as Alce Nero Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. The key component is acetic acid, with other substances such as lactic, citric, and malic acids, and good bacteria. Remember to always dilute your Apple Cider Vinegar before drinking at approximately 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of water as it is a strong acid, and a little really does go a long way.

Here are some of the secret ways Superwomen stay on top of their game using Apple Cider Vinegar.

1.     Boost The Immune System

Superwomen never seem to fall ill with the coughs, colds and sore throats that plagus the rest of us. Her intake of apple cider vinegar contains amino acids, potassium and enzymes that may help to boost immunity and relieve tiredness.[1] Try these recipes that are a pick-me-up for low energy days:

Fire Tonic

Fire Tonic!  Blend equal portions of ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, habanero peppers, lemon, turmeric, and lemongrass, top with 100ml of Apple Cider Vinegar. Place all ingredients in an airtight jar, let it ferment for 14 to 60 days. Strain to discard plant matter. Add one tablespoon of this concentrated tonic to a glass of hot water or hot black tea for an immune boosting drink.

Orange Cider Vinegar! Simmer 100ml of Alce Nero Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 cinnamon sticks, an orange sliced into rings, a sliced orange, 4cm of ginger and two tablespoons of organic honey over a low flame for 20 minutes, strain into an air tight jar. Add a tablespoon of the infused syrup to 125ml of water and serve.

2.     Assisting in weight loss and better nutrition absorption

Being fit and at a healthy weight is a challenge even for Superwomen but they know how to add Apple Cider Vinegar to their diet to manage and maintain their weight. Science backs up this remedy as a 2018 study in the Journal of Functional Foods, showed that including a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the diet could be an effective strategy to reduce visceral fat and helping with other health issues as well.[2]

3.     Dental Hygiene

Despite her packed scheduled Superwoman always has fresh breath, and great oral health. Again her secret is her morning tonic as apple cider vinegar has been proven to have antifungal properties which helps fight against mucous membrane inflammation according to the Journal of Prosthodontics, 2015.[3]

4.     Managing Menstrual Cramps

Superwomen learn to manage menstrual cramps by drinking Apple Cider Vinegar from the first day to the last day of menstruation, as it is believed to regulate clotting and reduces the duration of periods. The calcium and potassium can ease the muscles to reduce menstrual cramps[4].

Be an innovative Superwoman and try these recipes that can help reduce menstrual cramps:

Apple Cider Lemon

Warming apple cider vinegar tea : Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a slice of lemon and half a teaspoon of fresh ginger to a cup of fresh brewed black tea. A few drops of honey can be added if desired.

Calming apple cider vinegar green tea: Brew a mug of green tea. While it is hot, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and some mint.

Turmeric tonic with apple cider vinegar: Turmeric is a superfood that has been traditionally used as a tonic for wellness. Turmeric tonic can be found at organic stores. Add a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to the turmeric tonic to make a refreshing and healing drink.

Uncover your Superwoman capabilities by incorporating these Apple Cider Vinegar remedies and tonics as part of your wellness journey.

We used Alce Nero Organic Apple Cider Vinegar as it is made from organic apples that are grown exclusively in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, free from pesticides and chemical fertilisers or GMO strains. This apple cider vinegar is rich in flavour with has lower acidity to make it suitable for salads and other dishes. Give your body the secret boost to be a superwoman, every day.

You can find out more about Alce Nero at https://alcenero.asia/recipes.html and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AlceNeroMalaysia/

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