Three years of precious brew and connections

MANDAUE CITY-- Precious Brew Cafe (PBC) marks three years of brewing coffee that creates joy, comfort and connections within the community since the Café opened on May 17, 2022 at A.S. Fortuna in Mandaue City, and now celebrating its anniversary with the theme, “A Toast to 3 Years of Coffee and Connections.” 

“Our third anniversary is more than just a celebration of time—it’s a celebration of people, stories, and the connections made possible by coffee. We are incredibly grateful to our customers and community for the continued love and support,” Ferro Lao, Owner of Precious Brew Café said.

Lao shared that since they opened the Café three years ago, PBC has been more than just a coffee shop—it has become a favorite neighborhood hub for casual conversations, shared precious moments, and creative sparks over delicious food and perfectly crafted drinks.

In celebration of this milestone, PBC is giving a special discount during its Anniversary Week, beginning May 17—offering coffee lovers and loyal patrons a chance to enjoy their favorites for less, Lao bared.

Reinforcing PBC’s advocacy of creating a space that nurtures both creativity and community, it strengthens its customizable Event Packages for those looking for cozy spaces to hold their special events and immersive activities, such as birthdays, bridal showers, workshops or any event that brings together enthusiasts, hobbyists and creatives to bond over cups of precious coffee.

In addition to the dine-in experiences, PBC is happy to bring its coffee closer to their patrons through its all-new ‘Precious Coffee Cart’ packages—a mobile coffee experience, the perfect addition, for your corporate gatherings, weddings, and birthdays.

As PBC enters another exciting year, it remains committed to delivering warm experiences and inspired moments—one cup, one connection at a time.  “It is important to maintain a stable and appealing menu for our customer base,” Lao particularly noting the success of its Korean menu.

PBC is proud in its current state of menu and services which have been well-received by its customers.  The Café offers a complete meal, unlike other cafes which only serve drinks and pastries. 

Lao added that its focus on individual customers with the regular menu could change, indicating a possible shift towards a more diverse customer base, hinting the possibility of expanding its services and offerings to new locations, reflecting a strategic growth plan.

Follow @preciousbrewcafe on Facebook for updates, event schedules, and promos throughout the anniversary month. You may also contact PBC for inquiries via 09178783168. (Photos: MBCNewman & PBC)

 

 

 

 

Shawarma Gourmet brand partner of CONPC for 25% discount to active members

CEBU CITY – Shawarma Gourmet Restaurant at Escario Central, Cebu City is now a brand partner of the Cebu Online News Press Corps (CONPC) for a 25% discount to active members promoting the brand.

“Shawarma Gourmet is an authentic Lebanese Restaurant founded in 20213 with my Filipina-Cebuano wife in Dubai that offers authentic Lebanese and Turkish cuisine.  The first branch opened at Park Mall, Cebu in 2015 with a second branch following in 2017. During COVID-19, we focused on delivery, operating from 10 am to 1 am daily,” Chef Mansour Houran and owner of Shawarma Gourmet told this writer.

Ched Mansour bared that concerns of accessibility led them to depart the Industrial zone to relocate to the residentially populous, Cebu City at Escario Central Mall, redefining Shawarma Gourmet as a destination restaurant in Q3 of 2017.

Its decision to relocate gave Shawarma Gourmet brand a boon to be known and favored both by locals and tourists. Fast forward in the years 2019-2023, for five consecutive years, Shawarma Gourmet has consistently gained the Traveler's Choice Awardee with TRIPADVISOR and number four out of 757 restaurants in Cebu that made the restaurant part of the top 10% of the Restaurants in the world.  “It defies the threats of both Covid19 and Super Typhoon Odette,” Chef Mansour added.

In 2022, Shawarma Gourmet landed the local BEST SHAWARMA Award with SunStar Cebu and RECOMMENDED by Restaurant Guru a global online restaurant aggregator that helps find the best restaurants in many places around the globe, Chef Mansour bared.

 “We take pride in the quality of food that we serve and we value customer privacy as we cater to a mix of locals and expats. We have been serving Fresh Wholesome Goodness since 2015,” Chef Mansour smiled.

The Shawarma concepts and customer traffic

The concept of Shawarma Gourmet is a mix of Lebanese and Turkish cuisines, with a focus on authenticity.  The term "shawarma" comes from the Turkish word "döner," which means a vertical skewer of minced meat.

Shawarma’s cultural and regional variations is known by different names in various countries, such as "doner" in Germany and "gyros" in Greece while in the Philippines, it is sometimes called "kebab barbecue" by Filipinos.

Chef Mansour said, the products used in Shawarma Gourmet are mostly sourced locally, with some spices and ingredients imported.  Its menu is 99% original, with some minor adaptations to suit local tastes.

“There are challenges of introducing shawarma to the Filipino market, such as the strong garlic sauce and the inclusion of onions, parsley, and tomatoes.  To cater to local preferences, Shawarma Gourmet introduced a rice meal option and we also offer a salad with mango and cheese to blend Lebanese and Filipino flavors,” Chef Mansour said.

The restaurant has a mix of customers, including Arabs and Filipinos, with a significant number of regular customers, Chef Mansour added that during the COVID-19 lockdown, the restaurant focused on delivery services, partnering with Grab and offering in-house delivery options.

Shawarma Gourmet Restaurant is open from 10 am to 1 am daily, with a peak delivery time from 10 am to 1 pm and the restaurant maintains a culture of privacy, ensuring that customers, including celebrities, can enjoy their food without interruptions. 

                    Let’s dig in at Shawarma Gourmet’s food/meals

Chef Mansour told this writer that currently Shawarma Gourmet has two outlets—the restaurant at Escario Central and a kiosk at the food hall at the Nustar Mall.  The restaurant is a fine dining establishment while the kiosk offers a more casual dining experience.

A hotelier by profession, Chef Mansour developed a passion for food and has made small twists to the menu to appeal to local tastes. Here are a few descriptions from the food Shawarma Gourmet serves:

1.Vegetarian Platter—is a complete Vegetarian Meal, with hummus, Tabbouleh, java rice, Falafel.  Tabbouleh, a salad of Lebanese origin consisting chiefly of cracked wheat, tomatoes, parsley, mint, onions, lemon juice, and olive oil.

2.    Fattoush Salad -- is a Middle Eastern salad, often considered a "bread salad," that's popular in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. It features crispy pita bread, fresh vegetables (like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce), herbs, and a tangy dressing, typically lemon juice and sumac.

3.  Chicken Shawarma Rice, served on white plate and Beef Shawarma Rice, served in take-out bowl.

4.   Manakish Pizza-- Chicken Shawarma Pizza. Pizza with Chicken, Fries and drizzled with   garlic sauce and Chef's Style Pizza; Half Labneh and Half Zatar.  Zatar is a Middle Eastern spice blend typically made with dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and marjoram, along with sumac, toasted sesame seeds, and salt while Labneh is Yoghurt cheese.

5.  Cheese Sambousek-- Empanada like stuffed with cheese and Chicken Musakhan--Spring rolls like, roasted chicken, caramelized onions seasoned with sumac.  Sumac is a versatile spice derived from the dried, ground berries of the sumac shrub. It's known for its tangy, lemony, and slightly tart flavor, making it a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Sumac can be used as a seasoning, marinade, or garnish, adding a unique flavor and vibrant red-purple color to dishes.

6. Beef Sambousek - empanada like with darker color, light colored is cheese sambousek Kibbeh - empanada like with no design, almost shaped like camote, filled with beef and lamb, Dark brown colored pastry.

7.  Shawarma Bites Platter-- Beef Shawarma, Chicken Shawarma, Falafel, sliced into bite sized bits with Spiced Fries in the middle.

8.    Chicken Khabsa Tray-- a popular Arabian mixed rice dish, traditionally from Saudi Arabia or Yemen, often featuring meat and aromatic spices cooked together. It's known for its hearty, flavorful combination of rice and meat, and is considered a national dish of Saudi Arabia.

Julienne Eva Guanzon of New Star Phils describes the ambiance of Shawarma Gourmet as not just a food experience. Shawarma Gourmet gives you something deeper--connection. With every dish, you’re invited to slow down, to savor, to remember. It’s the kind of place where you stay longer than planned because the vibes are that good and the people treat you like family.  

"I left with a full stomach and a heart stretched across continents. The Middle East may be miles away, but that familiar warmth? I found it here,” Julienne added. (Photos: MBCNewman)