Lock & Lock CookPlus and Glassware line is the best way to cook, serve and store

From the kitchen to the table: Lock and Lock introduces its newest cookware and glassware line

Who will ever forget that cute Lock & Lock airtight plastic containers, I used to carry that airtight leakproof plastic see thru "baunan" everyday when I worked the night shift at a BPO Company. It stand the test of time, and it has been my favorite container ever since I owned one. I use it to store my favorite dried fruits, fresh fruits, rice and longganisa meal, dessert, spaghetti, etc.. It always has a place in our kitchen for food storage.

 Lock & Lock recently launched its own cookware and glassware lines last August 29, 2014 at Museum Cafe, Greenbelt Makati. “Lock & Lock has been known as a brand that offers high-quality food containers that the Filipino family can use. Now, we introduce the CookPlus line and the Lock & Lock Glass line that offers Filipinos a safe, convenient, and healthy way to prepare and  present their food,” shared Rafael Chua, President of Lock & Lock Philippines.

The CookPlus and Glass line offers a wide variety of products suited to different cooking and presentation needs. Aside from this, all the products are made of top class materials that promise durability, corrosion-resistance, constant brilliance, and long lasting non-stick coating for its cookware.

 Chef Kalel Chan, the boyish looking Corporate chef of Raintree Restaurants,  the one responsible for the scrumptious delicacies behind M Cafe and Chelsea,  made a live demo of cooking Pad Thai using the Lock & Lock cookware line which is made of high quality ceramic that makes it easier for the product to conduct heat. This allows food to cook at a shorter amount of time and requires less oil needed for cooking.

Chef Kalel Chan's delicious meal "Pad Thai"  cooked and prepared in half a time using the Lock & Lock non-stick cookware.

Chef Kalel Chan gamely posed for a picture after the cooking demo

The CookPlus line is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) free, which is a man-made chemical not naturally present in the environment. Most non-stick cookware have this chemical for better cooking quality. However, PFOA is transferred from the cookware to food, which puts people’s health at risk. Lock & Lock’s CookPlus line has found an innovative way to remove this chemical from its products while still providing its users quality cooking experience.

I was a part of the "Lock & Lock cooking challenge" wherein we prepared a breakfast meal of pancake, eggs and bacon, complete with plate presentation.  I cooked beside Ruth dela Cruz, also a blogger, who emerged as the lucky winner. I was surprised that the cookware non-stick fry pan that I used was heat-resistant. I know I have to buy one, its one fry pan that each and one of us should own, if you are a working mother. or is always in a hurry, its time to get the CookPlus line.  Ruth and I went home with the newly launch Lock & Lock Boroseal airtight glass container.

My pancake with eggs and bacon

Aside from being PFOA free, the cookware line is made of high quality ceramic which makes it easier for the product to conduct heat. This allows food to cook at a shorter amount of time and requiring less oil needed for cooking.

The Lock & Lock Glass line on the other hand is made from borosilicate glass. This makes the product durable and able to withstand varying temperatures, allowing us the convenience to easily transfer food from the freezer to the oven and straight on the dining table, without having to transfer containers.

“Lock & Lock’s movement to go beyond containers and offering quality cookware and glassware is our response in recognizing the other food-related needs of Filipinos. Through our products, we not just offer products that are of high quality, but products that can make the cooking and eating experience a more convenient, healthy, and safe event for the Filipino family,” shared Chua.

Skyscanner Your Way to EasyTravel.

Now searching for the cheapest flights, the best schedule, and avoiding the peak season is made more easier with the help of Skyscanner.

All you have to do is install the app, select your destination and choose the flight you like and Skyscanner will redirect you to the airline of your choice.

Less stress and less worry and best of all the app is free!

“Think Google but for searching flights,” was how Janet Ranola, Skyscanner Philippines Manager, simply described it during the first Skyscanner Bloggers Kapihan held January 23 at the M Café.

Skyscanner, Ranola said, is a leading global travel search site providing instant online comparisons for millions of flights plus hotels and car hire. It offers price alerts on all routes to enable flights to be monitored by email.

The Skyscanner app offers widgets for Android, Live Tiles for Windows Phone and “watch” functionality for iOS, all of which allow customers to track the latest price changes on a chosen route.

Founded in 2003 by three IT professionals, Gareth Williams, Barry Smith and Bonamy Grimes, Skyscanner is the no.1 travel search website in Europe and no.3 worldwide, receiving over 50 million visits per month. The travel search site is available in 40 countries and in 30 languages.

Skyscanner also shared a few tips on choosing the best time to book your flight

The study shows that on average, 3-4 weeks in advance is the optimal time to book flights. This suggestion, however, depends on the type of flight you book or the airlines you book with. When traveling with a budget airline, prices are likely to go up as the day of the flight approaches. If traveling on long haul flights or for more than 5 hours, prices are likely to fluctuate as the flight day grows near, and this does not guarantee the best seats.

In the Philippines, we have always loved the idea of discounts and because of this, booking early has always been a trend. Below are the top outbound destinations in the Philippines alongside the number of weeks you need to book in advance for maximum saving:


• China. If you book 28 weeks in advance, you can save as much as PHP 7 000 per flight which means more money for shopping and buying souvenirs.
• Malaysia. Because Malaysia is relatively near, it can be a go-to destination for last minute getaways and short vacations, but booking close to your departure date can be quite expensive. Consider booking 31 weeks in advance so you will only have to pay 46% of the actual flight cost.
• Japan. Book a flight to the land of cherry blossoms 14 weeks in advance and you can save as much as PHP 6300. Like with Thailand, booking four tickets will make way for another friend or relative to tag along in your trip.
• Thailand. Save as much as PHP 2990 if you book 16 weeks ahead. The discount you will get from booking four tickets is enough to get you another flight for free!
• Singapore. This country is the most visited by Filipinos in 2013 according to a recent study by

Skyscanner. The best time to book flights going to Singapore is 25 weeks in advance. By booking this early, you can save as much as PHP 1600. This is almost 24% less than the average flight cost.
According to the Best Time to Book study, on average, it is best to book 20 weeks in advance regardless of where you want to go. The study also suggests that the cheapest month to travel is in February and it is most expensive in April. This is for the reason that less people travel on February because they are making way for their summer travels which usually happens in April.

Booking flights during these suggested time frames enables you access to loads of discounts and the best seats possible. If you book early, you can save almost 18% less than what you will have to pay for the average ticket price. Moreover, you can skip the stress of looking for available flights at the last minute which are most likely to be overpriced. Booking your flights early will not just give you these perks but it will also help you focus on the other aspects of your vacation such as relaxation and educating yourself, which is ultimately the point of traveling.

Skyscanner also shared four simple rules to bear in mind to get the best price:
1. Book smart: Avoiding peak season travel and flying at less popular hours of the day, can really help to lower costs.
2. Be flexible:  Costs to different destinations can vary significantly depending on the airlines operating that route and the Thai airports offering these flights. If you are planning your next trip but are open to destinations, running a search to ‘everywhere’ can help find the countries that offer the best value flights at any time.
3. Compare and contrast: Using a travel comparison site like Skyscanner allows you to compare the widest range of airlines and online travel agents, so you’ll be able to see where you can get the best deal.
4. Track prices Skyscanner’s analysis has found that keeping an eye on the flight prices a few months in advance of travel, is the best way to find a good value flight. Using a flight tracker price alert service, either by email or via the app can help monitor when prices drop on a chosen route.

Some of the top bloggers attended the first Skyscanner Bloggers Kapihan at Museum Cafe Greenbelt, Makati.