The New Chowking: Leading the Filipino to success

Being a fresh graduate raring to make a mark on the world, I have come to realize the significance of what the new Chowking is all about. As a continuation of its 25th year anniversary celebration, Chowking goes beyond serving good Chinese food as it takes on the pivotal role of “enlivening the spirit, fueling the passion, and nourishing the dreams of millions of success-driven Filipinos.”

“ Year 2010 is the rebirth of Chowking,” says Edward Arandia, marketing director for Chowking. He shares that other than all the new changes happening with the Philippines’ #1 Chinese Fast Food brand, what the company really wants is to make Chowking a venue to experience fulfillment, where young working adults can share their success with their loved ones.

Being the leading Chinese quick-service restaurant in the country today, Chowking goes all out in launching a refreshed image, a new generation of brand advocates, a new logo, an array of new menu offerings and its new brand mantra, “Tikman ang Tagumpay”.

Feeding success

Chowking aims to “feed success” by fueling the working adults’ hard work and at the same time, inspiring success. 

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“These working adults are the ‘balanced success seekers’ who are the responsible sons and daughters, motivated to provide a better life for their family,” explains Francis Flores marketing head for Chowking. “Chowking wants to serve as an inspiration for these individuals to succeed as they are fueled by great value Chinese rice meals, dimsums, desserts and beverages.”

In line with this, Chowking introduces their latest offering, the Tender Beef Broccoli. Chowking’s brand manager Chris Monteron, says that Beef Broccoli is the most popular Chinese dish in the market. With Chowking serving their version of choice beef slices, rich oyster sauce, and freshly-cooked broccoli, this is definitely one delightful meal na may kumpletong sarap at kumpletong sangkap. You are sure to get your money’s worth because at just P99 with a drink, or P125 as a lauriat with pancit canton, chicharap, fried dumpling, buchi, plain rice and drink –well, that’s enough reason to celebrate.

With more than 400 stores globally, and 25 years of expert knowledge and experience in the food service industry, Tikman ang Tagumpay with Chowking –as the brand hopes to be there to feed success and to refuel every individual who work hard for themselves and for their families, and still be there in the end to serve as a venue to celebrate and share one’s success.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2011/january/26/lifestyle4.isx&d=2011/january/26

A legendary food trip at Lola Maria

Most of us will say that our lola’s cooking is one of the best. Using only natural ingredients and cooked in her own unique way, you just know your grandmother put her whole heart in every bite of that scrumptious meal you have fallen in love with when you were a child, and have always called your very own comfort food. 

Just like your grandma’s cooking, at Lola Maria restaurant you’re sure to find familiar recipes revived and perked up to meet your expectations on some of the best Filipino home-style dishes that you’ve always known and enjoyed eating like kare-kare, lechon kawali, beef steak, chicken gallantina and halo-halo.

This year, a lot of good news roots from The Legend Villas as their very own restaurant Lola Maria welcomes eight new dishes and soon-to-be favorites of old and new people alike.

Fish Pinipig

Featuring the celebrated favorites

Taking inspiration from eight different celebrities and their own home-cooked favorites, these new offerings include dishes like fashion designer Randy Ortiz’s Vegetable Quiche, which will be served in small sizes so you can have a balance of the filling made up of fresh vegetables like asparagus, mushroom, bell pepper, and onion as well as the pie crust in every bite. Actress Iza Calzado’s Fish Pinipig is like a Filipino version of fish and chips, but only with a lighter taste and texture that’s perfect for dipping in garlic mayo sauce. Successful local car show maker Atoy Llave’s Prawn Cakes made from real shrimp with ground pork, spring onions and Japanese breadcrumbs seem to be a perfect beer match because of its familiarity. Dip it in Hoisin sauce and let its oriental taste linger in your mouth for a delightful sensation.

The purer version of Pochero, Our Awesome Planet blogger Anton Diaz’s Cocido is made up of beef ribs stewed in rich tomato sauce with chorizo and fresh vegetables served with a flavorful eggplant dip. This makes the dish so much more of a treat, especially with rice. Actress Ara Mina’s Rosemary and Garlic Rib-eye Steak is a 200 gram, USDA prime cut beef marinated in perfect harmony with the little bit of fat on the beef for more emphasized flavor. 

Cocido with Eggplant dip

Garlic and Rosemary Rib-Eye Steak

 Ford Supermodel grand winner Danica Magpantay shares her family’s Christmas tradition through the Ensaymada Pudding topped with queso de bola. Actress Sherilyn Reyes-Tan gave her Ube and Langka Panna Cotta recipe that lets you have that halo-halo aftertaste in your mouth, without all the fuss in a fancy bowl of halo-halo. Wilma Doesnt’s Fried Suman at Tsokolate is one heavy dessert that will really make you feel like there’s no tomorrow when it comes to all things sticky, sweet and oh-so delectable. 

Ensaymada pudding

Fried Suman at Tsokolate

 I was lucky enough to be able to taste all of these new dishes in one sitting and I can honestly say that right there and then I’ve already found my own personal favorites. It was love at first bite with the Prawn Cakes for my appetizer, the Cocido as my main dish and to end, the Ube and Langka Panna Cotta for dessert.

Long way to go!

February is all about love –for food

Other than all its new dishes, Lola Maria has other good news to share. Romantic dinner packages for two will be offered from February 12 to 14 with a set menu starting at P750 per person. This set menu is complete with soup, salad, dessert, beverage and your own choice of any of their three delicious entrees.

A special Chocolate Buffet will also be launched this coming love month and will be held every Saturday and Sunday for the whole month of February. For only P250 (adults) and P180 (children), choose from a wide variety of chocolate concoctions from truffles, cakes, pastries, to chocolate fountain. Savor the chocolate in every slice of chocolate pie and rocky road cake, and in every bite of chocolate éclair, hazelnut panna cotta and black inggo.

Celebrate exceptional love, scrumptious food –or your exceptional love for scrumptious food with your friends or loved ones and have a legendary food trip this February at The Legend Villas’ Lola Maria restaurant, all for a reasonable price and experience home-style cooking at its finest with Lola Maria’s breakfast and lunch buffets every day.

Lola Maria restaurant is located inside The Legend Villas hotel near EDSA, along Pioneer cor. Madison Streets, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries call 702-2793 or visit www.legendvillas.com.ph.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htmf=2011/february/2/lifestyle3.isx&d=2011/february/2

The Boracay Regency experience: Only the Finest

Honestly, I think that almost everyone my age has gone to Boracay. I’m turning 22 next month and I’m glad to say that at last, I am a Boracay virgin no more! 

Unfortunately unlike a lot of people I know who have gone there, I’ve never had the chance to go with my friends and have a crazy wild time of party and play in Boracay. So when the opportunity came to visit the famous and well-sought after summer destination and stay at one of its most premiere beach resorts Boracay Regency, I just couldn’t say no even if I had to.

Solo flight through air, land and sea

I’ve travelled to foreign places like the U.S. and England before –but never alone. Neither have I ever tried to travel and ride an airplane by myself to visit one of our very own islands here in the Philippines, so flying to Caticlan to get to Boracay was a fairly new and quite a daunting experience for me.

 

I took a 45-minute flight to Caticlan via the South East Asian Airlines or SEAIR, and it was strictly a 45-minute flight indeed, with no fuss and no worries. I thought I had the luxury to have a little quiet time inside the plane to let the reality of this whole trip sink in but with how fast SEAIR flies, I didn’t even notice that my plane was already landing.

SEAIR is telling the truth when they say they have the fastest flights to get you to Boracay, because from checking in to getting your bags at the arrival area, it was all a surprisingly efficient process.

Boracay Regency’s services boasted off efficiency as well –which I think they really had the right to boast about –because as soon as I stepped out of the Caticlan airport, they managed to bring me to the hotel without making me have to think about how to get there. They provided the private van to bring me to the port area from the airport and to the hotel, and the speedboat to Boracay island itself. Take note, they’ll take you there on a speedboat. That’s cutting half the time getting there compared to the ‘old school’ boat ride that takes around 30 minutes. All in all, my commute from Makati during rush hour takes a longer time because surprisingly, I found myself staring at the sea shores of Boracay in less than 2 hours!

The best thing about my first trip to “Bora”

From the very start, I knew that the best thing about this Boracay trip is the chance to experience it all at the Boracay Regency beach resort. It’s not often for anyone to get the chance to spend a weekend at the largest and the first triple-A rated resort located at the center of the famous White Beach that I just knew I was going to have only the best memories to bring with me by the end of this trip. 

Out of the 285 luxurious guestrooms & suites, I got to stay in the Premier room that was good enough for 3 or 4 people, with a single and queen-sized bed. From the small details in the room to the architectural design of the entire resort, you’ll notice that overall it’s a combination of contemporary Asian and Mediterranean themes, giving the hotel a classically comforting yet refreshing feel.

In my bathroom I had a glass-enclosed shower and a bath tub all to myself. A wall with a huge glass window separates the bedroom from the bathroom. This glass window is covered by dark brown venetian blinds which I found quite interesting because you can pull it up to watch your favorite T.V. show even when you’re enjoying a bubble bath. 

I also had my own private veranda which overlooked one of the three crystalline pools Boracay Regency has, which was a square-shaped pool with an elevated jacuzzi in the middle, and a sunken pool bar on the side. 

Even with just these amenities, you know that you’re not in for some simple quiet time

 at Boracay Regency because inevitably you’ll find out it’s where luxury and comfort meets your need for a well-deserved rest and relaxation more than halfway.

The next best thing: Wining and Dining

Comfort is nothing without convenience, and Boracay Regency truly understands this thought. That is why the resort has a wide array of restaurants and food selections to choose from whether you prefer dining al fresco or indoor style.

Indulge in a buffet feast and literally feel the sea breeze while taking pleasure in the delightful dishes that Sea Breeze Café has to offer. The restaurant serves a wide variety of food every day and for every meal, so you’re sure to find a something new to try every time. If you suddenly miss air-conditioning and would like to take a break from the sun’s heat, try Boracay Regency’s take on Japanese food at Zhu Asian Cuisine with family or friends.

For a relaxed dining experience with a dash of entertainment there’s Gazebo Grill and Mo2 Wave Disco bar to meet your wants and needs –day or night. But if fine dining is what you prefer, Christina’s café is very well recommended for an intimate dinner with your special someone. Romantic set dinners and other wonderful Valentine’s day promos will be introduced this coming February, so make sure to make reservations if you’re going to celebrate love month in Boracay.

Much more to explore

Amazingly, there is still more than just the breathtaking beachfront, grand guestrooms, extravagant fresh water swimming pools and only the best selection of restaurants to get excited about at Boracay Regency because other than all these, the resort also has a gym with the most modern fitness facilities, a VIP lounge, WIFI internet access, a convention center, and the famous Kai Regency Spa. 

Kai Regency Spa is the largest spa in the island, with 22 Asian-inspired suites to accommodate guests of Boracay Regency as well as other visitors. Invest in your well-being through any of the spa’s world-class treatments from massages, body scrubs, facials, hand and foot spa. Bless your rejuvenated soul and end your “me time” with some ginger tea and cookies. 

All good things come to an end

With the help of all the wonderful people and amenities at Boracay Regency beach resort, I’m thankful to be introduced to the more tranquil side of Boracay.

I may not have partied till the break of dawn like regular Boracay visitors have, but the least I can say is that if you haven’t stayed at Boracay Regency, I don’t think you’ve ever really experienced Boracay for the utmost rest and relaxation it has offer as one of the best holiday destinations it has become famous for.

That’s why next time, try to slow down and experience the bliss of being in Boracay from a different point of view, while getting the right value for your well-saved vacation funds and treat yourself to only the finest –you deserve it. 

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2011/february/25/lifestyle1.isx&d=2011/february/25

A Veggie Good Job!

Vegetables never go out of vogue when talks on healthier lifestyles and alternative living arise. In the midst of fast food junkies everywhere, the continuous shift of people’s mindset on being health-conscious rather than being weight-conscious has done a lot of good in the reputation of vegetables, and it’s high time for us to rediscover the goodness that comes out of creating a really good veggie-friendly dish.

PIPINO Vegetarian Food by Pino

Most of us Filipinos consider many of our local dishes to be comfort food. At Pipino restaurant, Chef Ed Buguia redefines our classic idea of Filipino comfort food and creates his own version –vegetarian style.

“There’s a huge demand for healthier options nowadays, and we want to be that option,” Chef Ed says.

Located in the middle of the thriving Malingap street inside Teachers Village, Pipino restaurant recently opened during October of last year and proudly boasts off a fusion of cuisines with a common denominator: vegetables, and vegetarian cooking. The kinds of food you’ll be able to find at Pipino truly represent the restaurant’s conscious effort to promote a more vegan habit when it comes to our eating lifestyle, without having to sacrifice the goodness in every dish.

Creamy Eggplant and Tofu Miso served with brown rice

Low-fat and Cheese-less Vegan Lasagna

Surprise yourself with the uncompromised flavor, texture and appeal of Pipino’s vegetarian offerings such as the creamy Eggplant and Tofu Miso served with brown rice (P80), Veggie Sisig (P80), Tofu tempura (P80), and two of their bestsellers: Low fat and Cheese-less Vegan Lasagna (P135) made out of silken tofu, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and malunggay, and the Portabello Mushroom Inasal (P265).

Other interestingly healthy desserts you can also try include the Vegan Choco Chip cookie (P40) topped with Dairy-free Coconut Ice Cream (P35), or the Egg and Dairy-free Green Tea Cupcakes (P50). Enjoy all these in a cozy, inviting and café-like venue, perfect for a fuss-free dining experience.

Vegan Choco Chip cookie topped with Dairy-free Coconut Ice Cream

 Pipino Vegetarian Restaurant is located at 2^nd Flr. #39 Malingap St. Teachers Village, Quezon City. Tel. #: 441-1773.

Corner Tree Café

Somewhere in Jupiter you’ll find a little café which serves vegan-friendly food you might want to explore. I’m not talking about the planet Jupiter, but Corner Tree Café in Jupiter street, Makati!

Greek Spinach Filo Triangles

 Corner Tree Cafe has a lot in store for vegetarians, pesco-vegetarians and meat eaters alike, and you can have your meal with any of their fresh fruit drinks, wine or beer. Feel like Popeye with some of their starters like the Greek Spinach Filo Triangles (3 pcs./P160 and 6 pcs./P275) or the Spinach Feta Croquettes (3 pcs./P160 and 6 pcs./P285).

Spaghettini w/ Broccoli & Toasted Almonds: go for no chees

e

Indian "Koftas" (in this case, veggie balls!) in tomato sauce with red rice

For your main dish you may want to try the Spaghettini with Broccoli and Toasted Almonds (P325) for a crunchy meal without the meat (you could opt to add a bit of parmesan cheese if you really can’t resist) or the Indian “Koftas” or meatballs in Tomato sauce and Red rice (P220). But mind you these aren’t really meat balls, the koftas are made out of cabbage and cauliflower so it’s still a very vegetarian dish. End your meal with a Vegan, Sugar-free Chocolate Cake (P120) or a slice of Sugar-free Carrot Cake (P120) and you’re good to go!

Corner Tree Café may be a little place in Jupiter but many people flock here to try something healthy and new, so make sure to book first before coming to eat. But if you’re at work or you just feel like staying home, you can have your Corner Tree favorite delivered wherever you are in the metro by calling 212-1212.

Corner Tree Café is located at 150 Jupiter St. Bel-Air, Makati City. Tel. #: 897-0295 or 0906-558-6177. Closed on Mondays.

Quantum Café

Quantum generally means ‘infinite possibilities’. This is definitely the case at Quantum Café because in spite of their internet shop-sounding name, the restaurant is more than what it seems to be. 

Teriyaki Tofu with Asparagus

“We’re not a diet restaurant, but you can tell the difference that we serve healthier food prepared in healthier ways,” Quantum Café owner Maryjo Ferraren shares. 

Arroz ala Cubana ---VEGETARIAN style (you can do without the egg)

Though Quantum Café does not entirely limit itself to only serving vegan dishes, it is still definitely a place to visit for a taste of their veggie-friendly buffet food –most especially during their Vegan Happy Hour every Monday and Tuesday from 11-1pm for lunch and 6-8pm for dinner. At P250 you can have an unlimited amount of vegetables cooked fresh every time, using only ceramic pots and pans to ensure that the dish is never overcooked and drained of its natural nutrients.

Take care of your appetite as well as your eating habits and indulge in Quantum Café’s Veggie Meat Adobo Flakes with salad and rice or Kare-kare with Malunggay. They also have a wide array of dishes using gata or coconut milk such as Laing and Ginataang Langka (Jackfruit in Coconut Milk), or their Malunggay Pancit Bihon or Canton all cooked the Quantum way. Sometimes you’ll be able to find Spanish and Mediterranean style vegetarian dishes as well, for Quantum’s buffet menu changes from time to time for more variety in every visit you make.

At Quantum Café, food is where the heart and the mind are. With all the better options that it has to offer, you can’t go wrong with whatever dish you choose. Just like the choice that the Maryjo’s family has made to pursue and promote this kind of alternative eating habit through their restaurant.

Malunggay Pasta: Malunggay is good for you! (in case you still don't know)

“It’s a long shot and it’s hard. It’s pioneering, and it’s something we believe in. We don’t want to convert other people, but we just want to share this with them,” Maryjo says.

From ala carte to buffet dining, Quantum Café also caters at events and delivers in the Makati and Mandaluyong area. Quantum Café is located at Feron Bldg. 9590 Kamagong cor. Bagtikan st. Makati City. Tel. #: 5190757

Nobody said that going vegetarian was easy –but no one ever said it was going to be a bland experience either. Don’t hesitate and don’t think twice, because with vegetarian food as good as what these food hubs have, you wouldn’t have to hold back the unrelenting foodie in you. Feel free to indulge!

*Quantum and Corner Tree food shots are from their Facebook accounts :) Thank you!

Raffles redefines luxury living

The brand of an item a person chooses to buy says a lot about that person as a consumer. What you purchase says a lot about your lifestyle, and the things that you value.

When you’re the type of person who likes to buy branded items, it is usually because you value quality—and as an up and coming premiere address in the metro, Raffles Manila simply presents its classic brand of quality and luxury with the rise of Raffles Residences Makati.

In less than a year, the 279-room Fairmont Hotel, 30-suite Raffles Hotel and all 236 Raffles branded private residential units will fully rise at the corner of Makati and Arnaiz avenues. With the on-going construction already reaching up to the 19th floor and only a few more to go, the definition of good can only get better once this celebrated structure is completed.

The 2D look of the hotel and residences

This leading luxury estate project developed by Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) and Ayala Land aims to create an iconic building that will characterize the redevelopment of the Ayala Center, complimenting the other projects transpiring in Makati’s Central Business District.

“This building will become one of the focal points in the redevelopment of Ayala Center,” stated Anna Ma. Margarita Dy, head of Strategic Land Bank Management Group at Ayala Land. “The engineering and construction works are progressing towards the delivery of Raffles Residences and Fairmont Hotel to clients.”

The strategic location combined with the recognized brand of service that Raffles is internationally known for is what made a lot of bona fide real estate buyers interested in this project. 

Residents will not only enjoy their excellently designed and furnished units bordering on the premium activity centers for the ultimate urbanite, but they will also have the privilege of having full access to all hotel amenities and services at the Fairmont and Raffles Hotels. 

Sample of a fully-furnished living room

From having professional chauffeurs to drive you wherever you need to go, a concierge to help you with your luggage your own personal butler to help you settle in, it’s all just a sure treat. Add in some top-notch entertainment systems and high-speed internet and you’re on the verge of experiencing luxury living at its finest. 

According to Robert Davis, Raffles Residences Makati sales manager, the lifestyle that the Raffles brand wants to promote through all their hotels and residences is the kind that every resident and hotel guest will remember, and will want to return to every time and any time that they can. 

The rise of the first Raffles Residences in the country will surely be a redefining experience for every sophisticated traveler, corporate leader and influential individual.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2011/january/27/lifestyle1.isx&d=2011/january/27

Shopwise Pharmacy: The missing puzzle piece

Each year, better health is always on our New Year’s Resolution. We all want to look better and feel better and this is a goal that we all want to work on and achieve. But with everyone doing so many things all at the same time, convenience is really a must to help us achieve this goal.

Shopwise, one of the leaders in shopping innovation, understands this need that is why the first ever Shopwise Pharmacy was put up and launched last January 13 at Shopwise Festival Supermall in Alabang. 

“We’ve been planning this for a long time already because we know that this can be a successful concept in grocery shopping,” says Frances Yu, VP for Marketing of Shopwise.

The first ever full serviced pharmacy is conveniently located within the confines of the supermarket and functions like a regular pharmacy with a pharmacist to assist you with your prescription medicines and more –minus waiting in line. Because the great difference about this pharmacy is that you can simply drop off your medicine prescription over the pharmacy counter, do your grocery, and then pick up your medicines after.

Another great difference of the Shopwise Pharmacy is that it offers more than just the regular assistance. Shopwise Pharmacy has unique services such as free consultations and counseling for its customers. Shoppers can avail of free services such as blood pressure check-up, scheduled bone-density screening and blood-sugar screening. You can also consult with an occasional season-specific specialist doctor. 

Not only this, but a visit to the pharmacy can become a highlight to your Shopwise experience for you can also avail of free Nutrition Counseling and get health and wellness advice from a Nutritionist on standby. Get your own customized special daily meal plan if you’re planning on going on a diet, or have one created for a loved with health problems.

There’s no need to go out of your way to get everything in your shopping list. Make the wiser decision and enjoy the convenience that Shopwise has to offer to you whether you’re a busy mother, a hard-working individual, or simply and everyday shopper.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2011/january/21/lifestyle3.isx&d=2011/january/21

Making more hearts greener

By: BZ

It is always a whiff of fresh air to find companies that have the heart to help out. And The Ascott Limited is no less but a gush of fresh air when it comes to such good initiatives.

Ascott serviced residences in Makati (photo from manilagateway.com)

In all four Ascott Limited properties in the country, employees and residents alike are taking advantage of the chance to help out as a variety of ‘going green’ initiatives are being promoted and carried out. And with the launch of their latest program, the world’s largest international serviced residences company stays consistent in their pursuit towards new ideas.

According to Ascott Makati’s General Manager Lew Yen Ping, they are doing their part in creating a better living environment through their various programs to promote public awareness with sheer sensibility because they believe that people need to understand what’s going on first, before they can start caring –and improving the state of education and the environment is really on top of the list of the things that The Ascott Limited is working on. “It is our company’s passion,” Yen adds.

 

With the advent of seemingly never-ending environmental issues happening in our planet right now, The Ascott Limited still has good news to share because with the Greenheart Project, they are definitely hitting two birds with one stone.

In partnership with Gawad Kalinga, the Greenheart Project aims to raise funds through green initiatives for the benefit of the children from 2 GK communities. The proceeds will be used to renovate the schools that are still experiencing the effects of last year’s typhoon Ondoy, and to educate the children about the importance of taking care of the environment.  

Their other green initiatives include waste segregation, reducing the use of plastic in all their properties, providing a venue for residents to plant their own herb garden, and giving out bi-monthly ‘going green’ tips via email to the residents and employees.  They have also just begun their Monthly Earth Hour program last August wherein they will try to reduce the use of energy by turning off the lights in all four Ascott properties for 2 hours, once a month.

Truly, the company’s aim to be a positive influence is one endeavor that takes a lot of heart –and The Ascott Limited is ready to take on the work as they lead their employees and residents towards living green and being more giving.

The guests at all the Ascott properties have been very supportive of the programs being carried out, and all their employee volunteers pay for their own expenses whenever they join any of the CSR programs that The Ascott Limited involves itself in.That just goes to show that the heart to help out is really being cultivated in the work environment and atmosphere in all the Ascott Limited properties.

“In every way, we just really want to be able to educate our guests and our employees,” Ascott’s Director for Sales and Marketing Ms. Joanne Gomez said.

Other than the advocacy of ‘going green’ in every possible way, The Ascott Limited also started other projects for the children of GK as their program of distributing school supplies and hygiene kits to children from 10 selected GK communities is still on-going. To date, they have already completed 4 communities in Quezon City and Pateros.

When you talk about reviving Mother Earth in hopes of bringing it back and making it greener, or indulging in opportunities to make other people’s future a little better, most people can be very cynical about what one person can do to make a difference. But if everyone else is already doing their share, do you still have a reason not to do yours?

As Ascott General Manager said, “There really is no need for cash, just use less, and you’re already saving not only money, but also the environment.”