Savoring Sah'vo-ree

"Savoring Sah'voh-ree"

Sun.Star Davao, May 14, 2011

Starting from its humble beginnings as an Escolta-based panciteria in the 1950s, Savory (uniquely pronounced as "sah'voh-ree") Restaurant was named as such because its Filipino-Chinese owners wanted to serve food that was “appetizing to the taste or smell” to their loyal customers.

However, it was only after the Savory Chicken dish came out that the brand began to have a strong following from its growing clientele.

Who wouldn’t fall in love with their lip-smacking chicken which is marinated in a special secret sauce with spices, and then fried to its crispy and juicy perfection?

I remember during summer vacations in Manila, as a child, I would eat Savory’s famous chicken with our relatives at home and it was such a treat! That was way before the ubiquitous lechon manok became common take home food and our favorite fastfood chicken dishes still did not exist. Now, I’m giving away my age. Tee-hee!

We decided to rebrand to Classic Savory in order to refresh the brand and re-establish it with the current times”, says the restaurant’s marketing supervisor Niño Uy Cardenas.

Niño shares that the owners always knew that Classic Savory will be able to maintain its hold on their family-oriented market but when they opened their first branch in 2007, they did not expect the response to be that overwhelming.

“The food served in Classic Savory are comfort food dishes that make people feel better just by eating. The food is prepared fresh everyday by our cooks and we use only the best quality ingredients for our dishes. We also make sure our people in our restaurants know what customers need to have a satisfying dining experience”, describes Niño.

Aside from their well-loved Savory Chicken dish, their other mouth-watering specialties and bestsellers include classic dishes such as Lomi, Pancit Canton, Sweet and Sour Pork, to name a few.

“Classic Savory has recently been awarded by SOOO PINOY of Philippine Daily Inquirer, Department of Tourism and Unilever Food Solutions as having one of the best tasting pancit canton dishes”, Niño proudly adds.

With 41 branches nationwide and still counting, the third generation owners are aggressively expanding all over the country in order for more customers to experience what generations have been craving for in their restaurant.

“Davao being a premiere city in the Philippines has always been our priority and we’re happy that we were able to finally open a branch in SM Davao and soon in Abreeza Mall”, enthuses Niño.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.

Hats off to the White Hat

“Hats off to The White Hat!”

Sun.Star Davao, Oct. 16, 2010

What’s 98% fat-free, good for the body and “sooooper” delicious?

It’s The White Hat Italian frozen yogurt which recently opened at the Gaisano Mall of Davao’s third floor level.

Franchised from Manila by young entrepreneurial couples Jason and Hilde Ang and Manuel Te Jr. and wife Vannesa, The White Hat uses “authentic yogurt from Italy, the country known worldwide for producing the best-tasting ice cream and frozen desserts”.

“We, then mix in a special combination of low-fat milk and live active yogurt cultures to make our frozen yogurt even healthier”, explains Jason.

Health benefits

Jason shares that although “yogurt has been made and enjoyed for more than 4,000 years, it is fairly new to the Filipino diet”. It is only lately that yogurt has been marketed in a form that can be best appreciated by the Filipino palate--as a frozen dessert.

According to the official website of The White Hat, “yogurt is believed to have the following six health benefits:

Better Digestion. Real yogurt contains live, active cultures (lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus) sometimes known as "probiotics". These help people with gastrointestinal conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, H. Pylori infection, colon cancer and those who are lactose intolerant.

Stronger Bones. Real yogurt contains calcium, which is essential for building strong bones and helps to prevent osteoporosis.

Reduces the risk of High Blood Pressure. A study made with 5,000 students in Spain showed that eating 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy a day led to lower blood pressure.

Boosts the Immune System. Real yogurt with live, active cultures boosts the immune system by increasing white blood cells which fight infection.

Bigger Muscles. Real yogurt contains protein which is needed in muscle building.

Weight Loss. Eating low-fat yogurt in place of other high-fat desserts helps in losing weight without the feeling of being deprived”.

To top it off

The White Hat Italian frozen yogurt is described to have the “natural tanginess of soft, unfrozen yogurt, yet with a bit of a sweet taste to it”.

To make the yogurt even yummier, Jason suggests that customers pair it with a selection of premium healthy toppings. Choices include fresh fruits, nutritious premium cereals, nuts and crunchies, fun toppings, and the occasional homemade surprise toppings.

“Since we believe in giving customers value for money, our toppings are quite generous”, assures Jason.

Bestselling combos include Baker’s Hat, Camper’s Hat, Choco Loco Hat, Cobbler’s Hat, Cooky Hat, and many more.

For the whole month of October, in partnership with the Italian Embassy, The White Hat will be joining the Italian Festival by concocting their very own Italian Hat combo composed of kiwi, strawberry in syrup and white choco drops with biscotti.

“I would like to invite fellow Dabawenyos to try The White Hat. Our yogurt has numerous benefits that eating it regularly can contribute to a longer life of health and happiness. Indulge in a healthy and 98% fat-free “sooooper” delicious dessert without the guilt!”, enthuses Jason.

Our hats off to The White Hat!

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.