Don’t you just love the title? I would like to thank the young couple Gerwyn and Sheryl See for the great food and venue. I wish them the very best in their relaunch of the Mrs. Fields franchise. Anton Diaz has some fast facts about the rebranding of the 30 year old franchise that I grew up with. Small world too - Gerwyn and Sheryl come from UA&P, which is the same university I graduated from. They are two batches ahead of me.

There are many more people I would like to thank:

Nikki Dy-Liacco for sharing with us her experiences as a writer and how she launched her childrens’ book - and her blog, which she uses to complement her publication. The Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots is currently on its second print run. It has won various literary awards

Other posts about the event:

Two launches
A Cookie. A Movement. And a Paperclip.
Whee! The way the cookie crumbles.
Sommelier Selection, Wikipilipinas, and cookies
If you blog it, they will come
Mrs. Fields hosts Blog and Soul
Oh sweetness!
More blogging news
Mrs. Field’s Cookie Cafe
What I learned from the Mrs. Field’s brand relaunch
Ang sarap ng cookies!!!

Please send me more links to your posts

I’m the branch’s very first customer! Bought a 14-inch choco chip cookie cake for P1,100.00

Again, thank you all for coming. As for Blog and Soul, I’m sure you will agree that success isn’t determined by how many people came to the launch, but on the quality of people who want to push for this movement for the next three years. Good times ahead. Blog on!

You can view the photos I took of the event on my Multiply site. I used a Cokin filter to create a dreamy effect throughout the night.

What: Blog and Soul Launch and the Second Coming of Mrs. Fields
When: August 21 (Tuesday), 7:00 PM
Where: Mrs. Fields, Manila Pavilion

Everybody knows Mrs. Fields. The cookie stall was a main staple back in the age when life was a lot simpler. I’m quite happy to announce that Mrs. Fields is sponsoring a blogger meet up and reinventing themselves for the new generation of sweet tooths.

One of the more brazened decisions Mrs. Fields has made in the past several years is the fact that they do not compromise their menu. With the way non-fat and low calorie cookies are being mass marketed, Mrs. Fields chooses to stick to the good ‘ol chewey dough that I have come to love throughout the years.

This year, Mrs. Fields is reinventing herself to attract the coffee shop crowd into their new branches. I have slots for sixty (60) guests including bloggers, authors for Internet based publications, as well as food writers for traditional media. This will be the first time that Mrs. Fields will be opening its own store (complete with kitchen tour!) cum coffee shop to the public and you will be the first to witness it!

This blogger meet up will also serve as the “formal” launch of The Blog and Soul Movement. If you wish to join in on the cookie fest and meet new bloggers in the flesh, sign up in the comments or send an email to movement at blogandsoul dot net.

Click MORE for the list of signups.
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Christine talks about how the NY Times food critics could make or break a restaurant

Markku explains how food photography is about choosing where to sit down once you enter a restaurant

I would like to thank all those who came and participated in the first blogger food critique class conducted by Christine Nunag and Markku Seguerra.

In a country where its people just love to eat, it becomes exceptionally difficult to let go of the “makikain” mentality, especially when we get invited to try out new restaurants. As bloggers who have a privilege of an honest voice, we are bestowed with a duty to critique, albeit subjectively, what’s out there. We therefore earn that duty to become responsible to our readers, to publicists, the restaurant staff from the cleanliness of the kitchen down to the meal served in front of us.

This particular workshop taught us to use the power of our senses to remove any preconceived notions of the food we usually eat and take a more objective sniff at what’s served.

I would like to thank Serye and the Reyes family for sponsoring the venue and tons of food to make discerning our gustatory practice.

Here are what some of the participants are saying:

Juned’s afterthoughts on the food critique class
Noemi’s sensual experience
The Kitchen Cow’s discernings
One delicious TeleSERYE
Snaps from Serye
Arpee Lazaro’s food adventure at Serye
The Serye Series Part 1 and Part II
More afterthoughts on the workshop
Behind the scenes with Teacher Christine, the Hundred Pound Foodie

A friendly reminder that the food critique and photography class has been moved to Serye at the Quezon City Circle branch. To get there, you can enter the QC Circle park and the restaurant is right beside Max’s. Participants have also been emailed for the change in venue.

Please don’t forget to bring the following:

1. a blindfold (any handkerchief will do)
2. pen / paper / laptop

Please don’t be late. The class starts at 10:00 AM. We’ve prepared something different and fun

WHAT: The first blogger food writing and photography class!
WHEN: July 14 10:00 AM
WHERE: Serye Restaurant at Eastwood City, Libis

photography and styling by Jayvee Fernandez

I’m truly excited to announce the very first food writing workshop for fearless Philippine food bloggers! This event will be held during the better part of the day on July 14 2007 at Serye in Eastwood. The HANDS ON food critique class will be given by Christine Nunag, columnist of leading local industry magazine, F&B World. She is also a graduate of Creative Writing from the Writer’s Bureau in England. You can read more of Christine at her blog, The Hundred Pound Foodie.

The photography portion will be given by Markku Segguera of RebelPixel.com as well as myself, who will be assisting Markku throughout the day. Whether you use a DSLR or a point and shoot camera to capture your food, you will come home equipped with more knowledge

We have slots for FIFTEEN (15) foodies. Since there are limited slots, I would like to empathize that this seminar is open to bloggers who are passionate about food Please leave a comment with your name and blog address as Christine and Markku would like to have a look at the participants’ blogs so they can familiarize themselves with everybody even before the start of the seminar! (Aren’t blogs just great!)

I wold like to thank Serye for helping make this possible. This is a FREE event for serious and aspiring food bloggers.

PARTICIPANTS:
1. Betty Tianco
2. Denise Mallabo
3. Juned of Dalanghita.com
4. Noemi Dado of pinoyfood.nimrodel.net/
5. Lori Baltazar
6. Dine Racoma
7. Kitchen Cow
8. Chris Haravata
9. Apples H
10. Gold Quetulio
11. Lennie Reyes
12. Wyatt Belmonte
13. Iron Chef Jabes
14. Jennifer Baradas
15. Arpee

NOTE: Because of the limited slots, we would like to reiterate that this seminar is open to active food bloggers who feel the need to improve their food critique and photography skills.

THINGS TO BRING:
1. A blindfold (I told you this would be fun!)
2. your camera
3. a laptop, if you have one since there will be WiFi access for the participants

The Blog and Soul Movement is a social media movement that helps promote blogging as a relevant part of mainstream media. It also seeks to help bloggers improve their skills to become credible publishers and critics.