Thursday, February 7, 2013

Meet the man behind Eng Bee Tin, Mr. Ube







Yey!  Finally,   I  visited  Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House!  It  wasn't actually my first time to visit  Binondo because virtually, I visited a lot through blog posts.   I only got to visit  Sta Cruz  branch when  we crave for Chinese Deli. I only know two flavors  of   Hopia before,   Hopia Baboy and Mongo  but now,  it  has  evolved  into different  flavors  like Pandan, Ube,  Langka, Pastillas and more.

Chinatown  is a place I  always wanted to explore.  I've read  in other bloggers'  story about their awesome experience during their Binondo walk and their amazing food trips.  When you say Binondo, you would definitely think about  Chinese delicacies and authentic Chinatown dishes.   When I was  invited for a date with  Mr. Ube  together with other bloggers,  I  was really curious and excited at the same time  because I wanted to see and discover  their top secrets and why Binondo has been a favorite place  for  food trip. Also,  I wanted to meet   behind our  Hopia  cravings,   the owner,   Mr.  Gerry  Chua  a.k.a.  Mr. Ube  whom  I  frequently  see on TV  during Chinese New Year  and other holidays  being  interviewed by different TV  personalities.  He's  also featured in  magazine  and  TV networks for their famous   Eng Bee Tin  products.  During  bloggers date,  Mr. Chua shared us stories about how  he became  the Hopia Man.  Interestingly,  Mr Chua  is  also a  dedicated fire volunteer and   founded  TextFire  by which I will blog in a separate post later.


How  Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli started. 


Since Chua is also the visionary behind Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli, some of its varied product ranges can also be ordered at Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House. Its most famous Ube Hopia and all-time favorite Tikoy are available  when you visit any branch.

With a rich history that can be traced from humble beginnings in Ongpin, Eng Bee Tin has mastered the art of producing world-class Oriental delicacies.


Because Chua knows his way around business, he found a way to reinvent a rather usual hopia by blending it with ube, the most popular ice cream flavor at the time. The rest is history as Eng Bee Tin’s ubehopia became a household name.

Eng Bee Tin products are locally available in various supermarkets, groceries, restaurants, office, and school canteens. The company is also one of the biggest international exporters of hopia, delivering in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the USA.

Chua also ensures that quality is key. The company uses automated hopia manufacturing processes and implements a strict hygienic standards of quality control by running the final product through metal detectors, and packaging it in a hygienic pillow pack.

Though a businessman, Chua knows his responsibility to the community where his businesses operate from. In Ongpin where Eng Bee Tin is located, the company donated to the local volunteer fire brigade as evidenced by the purple fire engines that make their way through fire incidents and situations in the vicinity. His other business, Cafe Mezzanine, is also making an impact to the community as its revenues are completely donated to Binondo Paco Fire Volunteer. Recognizing the efforts and through the  hard work fire volunteers put into their job, they get a 20-percent discount when they dine at Cafe Mezzanine, located at the heart of Chinatown. That is if their free coffee is not yet enough.

“Our commitment to our society should be never-ending,” said Chua. “Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House aims to acquire five units of ambulance to serve the indigents who can’t afford to pay for ambulance service to hospitals.”

Indeed, Chua’s entrepreneurial vision is deliciously complemented by his life mission to touch lives. No wonder he is one accomplished man and his businesses are successful without a doubt.

Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House

Although Chinese cuisine constitutes majority of Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House’s menu, there are an array of food offerings that will surely tickle your taste buds. Take your pick: noodle soup, rice toppings, stir fry noodles, dimsum, and a lot more.

“We take pride in the restaurant's specialty: our noodles. Our noodles are made fresh every day. We use state-of-the-art Japanese technology in making them,” said Chua. “Our ingredients are natural and they have no preservatives. I am proud to say that the food we serve at Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House are MSG-free and they are non-grease.”

From the very basic chicken noodle soup to wanton noodle, Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House also feature a variety of international noodle soups. Want to try Thai? Order Thai Tom Yam. Hungry like a lion? The Singaporean Laksa is for you. Craving for Japanese? Sip some Japanese Shoyu. If Chinese is your choice, then Gokong Noodle should be on your plate. These and more will let you experience a gastronomic adventure in this noodle house.



Thai Tom Yan for Thai food lovers

Japanese Shoyu for those craving for Japanese soup.


Pig out on lechon macau

Snack on pork kikiam

Stay simple with a beef wanton noodle



Delight your taste buds with Sweet and Sour Pork

Cafe Mezzanine's Camaron Relleno

Cafe Mezzanine's Gokong Soup

Cafe Mezzanine's Kiampong

Cafe Mezzanine's Pork  Maki Mi


Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli




Mochi Kreme

Different flavors of  Tikoy

Hopia of  different flavors.  I like Ube Macapuno the best. I tasted them all and my younger daughter agreed  with me.  She  is a hopia lover  and could eat two packs in one seating. Imagine her big smile when I arrived  home with these goodies!


So here's what we actually savored during  the said date  that  satisfied our stomach  til  the next day.  Yes,   because we ate a lot  that I can't afford to miss any of the dishes.





Thumbs up and this is my second round!  :)


You have to try their authentic meals because they prepared the food only with the safe ingredients. There is no MSG  added  but it was flavorful and tasty.  Oh yummy!  I like wanton Soup the best.  For noodle lovers like me,  one  order of wanton  noodle serving is too big, good enough for two at a very affordable price.


Tour at Text Fire Office

After sharing some stories, we toured around Text Fire office and gave us a brief info about  Fire volunteer.  It's just so amazing how these people aim to help other people without thinking of anything in return.  It's all for good deeds.
 


I took this shot inside Mr. Ube Rice  and Noodle house.  He was featured in a magazine for his being Hopiaman and being the firefighter man.





 The souperstar of the House



The saying “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen” is indeed true for most food entrepreneurs. But  for  Mr. Chua,  the heat in the kitchen even more fires up his passion to offer the best dining experience. Only the toughest survive in the competitive space of the culinary business.

Try visiting his restaurant  (I provided the links and address below),   Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House and you'll find out for yourself why this food mecca is already making noise among culinary connoisseurs.


Website:      www.engbeetin.com.
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/iloveengbeetin




MR. UBE RICE & NOODLE HOUSE BRANCHES:

Binondo
707 Ongpin St. Binondo St.
Binondo Manila
Tel:  288-8888  Loc. 131


Quezon City
284 E.Rodriguez Sr. Ave.
Quezon City
Tel:  722-4505


Pasig City
Ground Floor
GU-16 Lucky Gold Plaza
Ortigas Ext.
Pasig
Tel. 791-7389



ENG BEE TIN CHINESE DELI BRANCHES


628 Ongpin St. Binondo St.
Binondo Manila
288-8888 ; 241-9999

650 Ongpin cor. E.T. Yunchengco St.
Binondo Manila
288-8888 ; 232-1223  Loc. 219

518 Quintin Paredes St.
Binondo Manila
Tel: 522-2289

Ongpin Commercial Center
Ongpin cor. G. Puyat St.
Sta. Cruz Manila
Tel:  735-4658

Unit  G-84 Odeon Terminal Mall
C.M. Recto cor. Rizal Ave.
Manila
Tel:  735-0755

GL 8 Welcome Plaza Taft Ave.
Pasay City
8836-2670

Level -2 Waltermart Center
Chino Roces cor. Arnaiz
Makati
Tel: 843-7256

G-41 Victory Central Mall
Monumento Caloocan City
Tel: 332-1579

B-16 LG Victory Park & Shop Mall
Antipolo Rizal
Tel:  661-7615

Ground Floor Cash and Carry Mall
South Super Hi-way
Makati
Tel:  401-6229

Level  1 Padre Faura Wing
Robinson's Place
Ermita Manila
Tel:  401-3063

Cafe Mezzanine Branch

Mezzanine Floor
650 Ongpin  cor. E.T. Yunchengco
Binondo Manila
Tel  288-8888  /  241-9999 Loc  230

5 comments:

  1. Te, napadami kain natin dito. Grabe, ang sarap!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I visited Mr. Ube a lot of times whenever we visit Binondo. I also learned that their earnings are used to help the fire volunteers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i love the hopia from eng bee tin. i would always look forward to this pasalubong whenever someone goes on a business trip to manila. i didn't know that they have ventured into noodle specialties too.. my mouth was watering just by looking at the photos! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love Eng Bee Tin products! You're lucky to have met the man behind the success of this company and to have tasted some of their best food offerings.

    ReplyDelete
  5. we love Eng Bee Tin products! lalo na their pastillas haha

    there was a time din na we frequent Mr Ube

    ReplyDelete

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