Big Chill Juicebar
I simply love fruit shakes, fruit smoothies, or simply fruit juice. These cool creations are a great way to help quench a person’s thirst especially during very hot and humid summer days in the Philippines.
During my college days, I would often go to this fruit shake stall that was just inside our campus and get their refreshing mango shake. I watch as the stall’s “manang” sliced one cheek of a very ripe mango into the blender, put in some sugar, and then follow it by crushed ice. A few punches of the blender’s buttons and ta-da! a small plastic cup is placed into my hand for a measly P10 (ten Philippine pesos).
That was *** years ago (hehe). Now a small cup of fruit shake will set you back about 4 to 5 times that amount. And today, many fruit shake stalls and specialty juice bars have sprung up all over the metro. Many of them also use artificial flavoring instead of fresh fruits that I have gotten used to. I guess that is what commercialization has done.
Which is why I trek over to Greenbelt 1, despite the heat and despite the fact that I would have to do the million steps in 2.5 inch heels. Greenbelt 1 is where the nearest (to my office) Big Chill stall is. I really feel its worth all the hassle and most importantly the cost just to get the chance to savor really fresh fruit shakes. Big Chill uses fresh cut fruits like ripe mango, watermelon, grape, even strawberry. The strawberry stands out as this costs P35 more than the other fruit selections.
A few years back, Big Chill opened its first Juice Bar. I am not sure where the first branch opened but I am assuming the one at the mezzanine floor of the Ayala Tower 1 is the first. And with everyone turning health conscious, the idea was instantly a hit. The Juice Bar served salads and sandwiches. They have ready made variations but their specialty really is the choose-your-own. You get to decide what to place in your salad or sandwich. My favorite ready made salad/sandwich is the Rosa Mexicana. It includes the usual salad veggies combined with nachos and mixed with a salsa dressing. Think healthy taco.
The most recent one I tried is their Tuna Nicoise. It was made with balsamic vinegar and that made me love it. I’m a fan of all kinds of salads (except those that use wasabi dressing) and I love how this one combined tuna, lettuce, egg, and wheat bread. Eat that with a jumbo watermelon cooler and your lunch is all set. Yummy!
Big Chill Juicebar
Mezzanine floor Ayala Triangle Tower 1
Ayala Avenue, Makati City
Greenbelt 3 3rd Level, Bar Ciao, Food Choices
Ayala Center, Makati City
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i love fruit shakes from Big Chill compare to Fruitas, even if it is costly rather than Fruitas But you can justify it to the taste itself… specially the starberry flavor.. Wow… its so creamy…
Joyce - I agree Big Chill is still worth it. Although sometimes I have no other option but to buy from Fruitas. Its just that they use frozen fruits rather than fresh ones.
To: The Purchasing Manager
The Big Chill
We are the supplier of nata de coco cyrstals to Zagu. We wish to inquire if you are considering putting nata de coco cyrstals in your menu servings as an add-on ingredient. Our nata de coco is packed in one (1) kilo laminated plastic bag, 24 bags per case.
If you are interested, you may get in touch with us through our contact details below.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Warm Regards,
FRANCISCO S. PASCUA
MARYAMELSA ENTERPRISE
Food Development Center
FTI Complex, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Mobile #: +639189265905
Fax #: (02) 5341154
Email: maryamelsa@yahoo.com
Im going to have to say that Big Chill doesnt even come close to a real smoothie. If you want real smoothies try Jugo Juice, They use way more fruit than Big Chill, and their smoothies taste like the fruits not syrup like the “smoothies” of Big Chill. Their way better, they even have strawberries all the time unlike Big Chill, they import them from America pa.
Big chill in Robinsons Galleria has a REALLY BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I’m not sure if they just want to sleaze off money from customers. I ordered something that I was not aware that it has higher price than normal and instead of apologizing that they did not reminded me before serving it they shouted at me like uncouth and uneducated people. Really bad… hope Big Chill would choose better people to work as their staff. It gives bad name to the company.
A Big Chill kiosk recently opened in Enterprise Center, which first made me and my colleagues really happy because we now had a healthy breakfast alternative. Unfortunately, like the post above, the staff is really unprofessional. One time, my friend ordered a strawberry - kiwi shake and the drink had hard plastic bits in them. When my friend went to complain, the staff was rude and at first did not want to apologize until my friend got very upset and asked for the phone number and name of their supervisor. They could not even give the name of their manager and handed us a straw instead as the contact details for their manager.
What kind of service is that? For a company that is supposedly targeting health - conscious people, they should make sure that all their ingredients are of the highest quality. And this does not include plastic bits. I hope that someone from Big Chill will have the decency to step up and accept responsibility.
Windi - Yea - it does sound as if Big Chill has a problem with service, at least with those branches mentioned in the comments. I hope though that the owners of the franchise read about this so they can provide feedback as well.