Friday, July 17, 2009

Blenz – Solaris Opens in Makati, Philippines

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 16, 2009 – Makati, Philippines – June 26, 2009. Blenz – Solaris opened yesterday in Makati’s Solaris tower, located in the centre of a large and vibrant business community. Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd. is sharing space in the Solaris office building with, among other businesses, two of the largest call centres in the world, and a large hospital and nursing school are very close neighbours.
Alfred Lim, Master Franchisee for the Philippines, says "I am happy to open my third location in Makati City, which is the Philippines premier financial district." Lim made a big splash with yesterday’s grand opening party – among his invited guests were media personalities were Miguel Gil of NBN TV, Zen Hernandez of ABC TV Manila,  Janine Cuenca-Dario, Editor-in-Chief, 24/7 Nocturnal Magazine, and Lori Baltazar, a food writer from Dessert Comes First (www.dessertcomesfirst.com), who saw first-hand how Blenz has earned its international reputation as a coffee shop offering excellent handcrafted café lattes with beautifully poured latte art as proof of both perfection of execution and perfection in balance of the espresso and steamed milk. The day’s events included a Latte Art demonstration by Layla Osberg, Blenz Coffee’s director of training and two-time Millrock International Latte Art champion, who, along with colleague Zoe Wethersett, had made the trip from Blenz Head Office in Vancouver, Canada, to provide expert support for the Blenz - Solaris store opening.  Osberg and Wethersett were available to answer questions from the media, however store managers Joel and Anqui were so busy they were not able to stop for a moment to offer a quote, as invited guests and neighbours who were curious to see their newest coffee shop, mingled and sampled Blenz brewed coffee, which was given away for free, or Blenz specialty beverages and café lattes which were offered at 50% discount.
As is typical with Blenz stores worldwide, Blenz - Solaris has been carefully designed to provide a warm and contemporary ambiance where customers are encouraged to gather and relax, enjoy their beautifully handcrafted beverages and treats, and where they can also enjoy use of the free wireless internet and share in a conversation and a smile.
Lim was joined by friends and family as he celebrated the opening of the beautiful new store. Many well-wishers sent gifts of huge floral displays which were used to decorate the store for the grand opening party that lasted from early morning until well after midnight.
About Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd™

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd is a premium retailer of handcrafted coffee, tea and other innovative and delicious specialty beverages. All of Blenz' beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. Blenz’ commitment to serving a great cup of coffee, providing an excellent customer experience, and providing world-class staff training, has fuelled Blenz' growth from its inception. Blenz operates a network of over 100 franchise locations in British Columbia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and the Philippines.
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For more information about Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd., please contact:

Linda Olsen, Communications Manager

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd.

Suite 300 – 535 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3L2

Telephone: (604) 682-2995

Email: press2@blenz.com

Website: www.blenz.com

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blenzcoffee

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Dominick Tringali Architects Announces Designs The Newest “Hot Spot” In Northern Macomb County

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 16, 2009 – Santino's Italian Restaurant, Sports Bar & Martini Lounge is uniquely composed of three separate areas, each with entirely different functions - a casual, urban sports bar, a sleek and contemporary martini lounge, and a high-end Italian Restaurant which is expected to be open by late Summer. The architectural design and building materials throughout the space are attracting people from all over Southeast Michigan, and play an important role in the success of this venue since its Grand Opening on Thursday, July 9.
Imagine sitting at a table on a second-floor sports bar, watching your favorite teams play on state-of-the-art television equipment that surrounds the entire space. The walls around you are made of roll-up garage doors which will remain open for the majority of the year. The garage doors enable fresh air to circulate through the building as well as provide a unique way to transition the interior of the space with the outdoor patio. The interior is designed to be trendy yet comfortable, with brick walls and archways, colorful and contemporary lighting fixtures, and other unique materials that are not common in restaurants and bars around this area.
The martini lounge features a crisp, clean, plush elegance. Guests entering the lounge can immediately sense an organic, fluid motion with curved walls and ceilings that help move people through the space. The lounge offers the option to relax and enjoy a drink on the leather couches or to dance to a variety of music on the dance floor. The lighting fixtures are state of the art and the highlights of the lounge are the glowing walls and the countertop, which is composed of thousands of tiny light bulbs that flash in rhythm with the music.
The third area inside Santinos is the Italian Restaurant, which is nearly complete. This space features a simple, comfortable elegance, with clean, rigid lines and furnishings that welcome guests inside. The menu consists of a authentic, gourmet Italian Cuisine.
The architectural challenge presented during this project was designing three separate spaces inside an existing building, each with its own identity while still seamlessly transitioning into the others. The overall goal as the project architect was to implement design ideas and features that would create a buzz and draw people inside, in an economy where so many people are cutting back. Good design is playing an increasingly critical role in enabling entrepreneurs and owners of new businesses such as Santino's, to achieve the success and results they are looking for.
Santino's is located at 59259 Van Dyke Washington Township MI 48094, on the West Side of Van Dyke, just North of 27 Mile.

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Lifestyle by Design - Dominick Tringali Architects specializes in a wide range of architectural design services customized to fit the needs of any client and any budget. Our award-winning projects span nationwide.

New Website Launched to Help Manage your Approved Supplier Program and Search for Suppliers

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 16, 2009 – A new website, www.approvedsuppliernetwork.com, was launched on 1 July. It has been designed to help you keep track of your own Approved Supplier Program files as well as being able to search for a supplier of a product or service.
Download your own Approved Supplier Program files and the system will automatically advise you when your files need to be updated or if your suppliers’ files change or have expired. The search function enables you to find a supplier across a broad range of industries and the world. As more people discover this site and join up, the wider the range of suppliers and industries that will be available on the database.
This website will eliminate the need for your suppliers and customers to send you copies of their current certifications, specifications and other documents to keep your Approved Supplier Program up-to-date. To celebrate the launch, www.approvedsuppliernetwork.com is promoting a free, no obligation trial period.
Some other benefits of signing up to this website are:
· 24/7 access to the business details and approved supplier documents of potential and/or existing suppliers and customers, no more sending requests and awaiting response

· 24/7 access to the business details of your potential and/or existing suppliers and customers - current business and contact details maintained from their source

· 24/7 downloadable up-to-date supplier and customer listings. No more time and effort wasted updating the business, contact and document details for your potential and/or existing suppliers and customers

· 24/7 notifications of changes to the details of your suppliers and customers. You will receive automatic notifications whenever any business, contact and document details change for any of your suppliers and customers

· creating and sustaining ‘mutually beneficial supplier relationships’, which are the cornerstone of International Quality Management Systems; and Supplier Approval Transparency. Be aware if your potential and/or current suppliers and customers have something to hide!  
After you have set up and logged in to your approvedsuppliernetwork.com profile, you will be able to give your existing and potential customers access to your Approved Supplier Documents. You upload Approved Supplier Documents to approvedsuppliernetwork.com and your existing or potential suppliers and customers (whom you have granted access) can view and download these documents as required. This convenience is much more efficient than current methods, which usually involve sending copies of relevant documentation to your existing or potential customers.  
For more information, go to www.approvedsuppliernetwork.com and sign up for a free, no obligation trial.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

It’s the perfect time to dine out in France!

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 14, 2009 – The French government  lowered VAT on restaurant food from 19.6% to 5.5% on the 1st July 2009. The government hopes that this move will help boost the restaurant industry (one of the country’s biggest industries) which has suffered quite badly during the economic downturn. The price cuts should hopefully entice people to eat out more thus improving the state of the economy. Finance Minister Christine Lagarde says “As restaurants lower their prices, they can invest. Employees will feel the benefit, and consumers will feel the benefit. Everyone wins”.
Nine professional organisations within the catering industry have signed a contract called the ‘Contract of the future’ comprising of four parts:
Prices

In return for the reduction in tax, restaurant owners are recommended to reduce their prices by 11,8% on seven different items out of a list of ten. These include the dish of the day, set menu with entrée and main course, set menu with main course and dessert, children’s menu, desserts, mineral water, fizzy drinks, soft drinks, tea and coffee.  However, alcoholic beverages are exempt from the tax reduction. Coffee priced at 1,60€ will now cost 1.40€ and for a fixed menu at 20€ you will save yourself 2.40€. The restaurants choosing to take part in this VAT reduction will let their customers know by putting up a small poster stating clearly which items of food and drink are reduced.  
Employment

Catering unions are to create 40,000 jobs over the next two years of which 20,000 will be permanent or temporary and 20,000 will be apprenticeships or professional contracts.
Wages

Negotiations are taking place on the subjects of pay, training and welfare of employees.
Modernisation

Restaurant owners will be encouraged to make improvements such as making their restaurant more accessible for people with reduced mobility, improving comfort for customers, computerisation and recycling.  The industry will benefit from subsidised loans of 15,000€ which will be awarded through a specially created modernisation fund. The aim is to provide the catering industry with one billion Euros over three years.
This reduction in restaurant food tax, which is anticipated to cost the French state more than 2 billion Euros was an original electoral pledge made by President Nicolas Sarkozy. It had been repeatedly pushed back by previous President Jacques Chirac. After severe campaigning by the French, it was authorised by EU authorities earlier this year. And instead of being introduced on 1st January 2010 as originally planned it was brought forward to 1st July 2009. Restaurant owners had wanted the cut in tax for over a decade as they hoped it would take people away from fast-food restaurants where they already had lower taxes and prices and would instead bring them back to sit-down restaurants. The reduction in tax should hopefully reassure restaurant owners that their number of customers will increase. Recently, restaurants have lost many customers due to France’s worst recession in 30 years and the ban on smoking in cafés and restaurants.
These reductions in prices could not have come at a better time: the start of the holiday season! Hopefully this will encourage French citizens and tourists to make the most of this reduction and will start eating out in restaurants more.
With cheap air fares and train tickets (Eurostar are currently offering £59 return to Paris, Brussels or Lille) you can easily afford a day trip or weekend away to France to enjoy some delicious French cuisine at a lower price.
(But be careful, because restaurants are not under any obligation to reduce their overall prices. The effect of the reduction in tax on overall consumption could be limited in certain restaurants. Be sure to look out for the small posters advertising the reduction in the window).

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Sextant Properties is a network of 160 offices in France.

We offer more than 7000 old stone houses and villa for sale, we also offer 200 new build and Leaseback properties in France.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Isle Biloxi features free summer outdoor concerts in August

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 13, 2009 – Biloxi, Mississippi  — Be at the Isle® Biloxi to hear live performances by Four Unplugged on August 2, Bag of Donuts on August 16, and Georgia Satellites on August 30. Four Unplugged is a variety band from the North Shore / New Orleans area. Bag of Donuts is a New Orleans based band who are known for their wild stage antics, outlandish costumes and strange renditions of popular songs. Georgia Satellites is a chart-topping Southern rock band.
The outdoor shows will be held by the big tent at the Isle’s main entrance, starting at 5 p.m. on the respective dates. Admission is FREE.
Must be 21.
Stay up-to-date on Isle Casino Hotel Biloxi’s live entertainment line-up and other casino promotions by visiting www.theislebiloxi.com

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Isle Casino Hotel in Biloxi, Miss. is one of 15 casinos owned and operated by Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Dedicated to providing guests with an exceptional gaming and entertainment experience, the Isle includes over 1,300 slots; 31 table games; three restaurants and 711 hotel rooms including 200 suites.

Friday, July 10, 2009

TheGiftCardCafe.com Introduces New Multi-Store Service for Retail Businesses

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 10, 2009 – (San Diego, CA) – TheGiftCardCafe.com, the leading provider of online gift certificates, today announced a new service that enables businesses with more than one location to offer instant gift certificates online with full tracking, redemption, and reporting capabilities.  This new service is the next generation of the company’s plug-and-play technology that can be integrated seamlessly into any business website with limited time or investment.
“We’ve been working with small salons, spas, restaurants, and boutiques since we started, helping them add a new revenue stream to their business,” said Gregg Gottschling, co-founder of TheGiftCardCafe.com.  “As those companies expanded their physical presence and as bigger retailers turned to us looking for new ways to generate income, we realized that a fully functional, fully automated instant gift certificate solution was absolutely necessary. That’s why we made the decision to be the first in this market to develop the technology to support it…and it’s already highly in demand.”  
This technology enables retailers with more than one physical location to track when, where, and by whom the gift certificates are redeemed.  This feature will also provide a greater understanding of which stores are performing better and help to identify which could benefit from additional marketing initiatives or promotions.  
TheGiftCardCafe.com offers regional and national businesses a new revenue stream with limited time and money investment, which is particularly important during tough economic times.  Retailers across the country have seen exponential increases in their gift certificate sales since implementing the service.

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TheGiftCardCafe.com was built on the idea that online commerce should be easy. By developing cutting edge automated e-commerce technology that can be used by independent retailers such as day spas, salons, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and boutiques, the company has been able to offer revenue generating solutions with no upfront investment. For more information, visit http://www.TheGiftCardCafe.com

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Buca di Beppo Celebrates National Lasagna Day July 29 with FREE Lasagna

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 09, 2009 – Valid at any of the 87 Buca locations throughout the country, guests who purchase any Buca Small or Buca Large sized pasta or entrée will receive a free lunch-sized portion of lasagna.
Buca di Beppo lasagna is famous for its towering layers of lasagna noodles stuffed with homemade meat sauce and a combination of ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan cheeses; a favorite among Buca guests.  The casual Italian eatery also offers a variety of budget friendly pastas and entrées including spaghetti with meatballs, fettuccine alfredo and chicken parmigiana.  In addition, Buca recently introduced 10 new menu items that include Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken, Chianti Braised Short Ribs, Penne San Remo, Baked Rigatoni and many more delectable dishes.
The origins of lasagna date back to the 1st century B.C. where a food called “lagana” was a common meal consisting of fine sheets of fried dough. In the 2nd century Athenaeus of Naucratis, a Greek scholar, provided a recipe for lagana that was made with sheets of wheat-flour dough and the juice of crushed lettuce, then flavored with spices and deep-fried in oil. An early 5th century cookbook describes a dish called lagana that consisted of layers of dough with meat stuffing, a possible ancestor of modern-day Lasagna, though the first concrete information concerning pasta products in Italy dates from the thirteenth or fourteenth century. The word “lagána” survives today in modern-day Greece to denote an unleavened, flat bread eaten during the Great Lent. *
Terms of the Free Lasagna program:

The Buca di Beppo free lasagna offer is valid for dine-in only customers on July 29, 2009.  To receive a free lunch-size portion of the lasagna, guests must also purchase a Buca Small or Buca Large size pasta or entrée.  The free lasagna is not valid on Buca To Go orders, but may be boxed and taken home by dine-in guests.  Not to be combined with any other offer or coupon.  For more information, please visit www.bucadibeppo.com.
*Source: Wikipedia.com
Media Contacts:

BRAINtrust Marketing + Communications

Michael Coldwell, 702.862.4242 or 702.429.9656

michael@braintrustlv.com

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About Buca di Beppo

Recently acquired by Planet Hollywood International, Inc., with eighty seven locations from Albany to Honolulu, Buca di Beppo restaurants embody the Italian traditions of food, friendship and hospitality. Dishes enjoyed for generations in villages throughout Italy inspire the menu, which features Northern and Southern Italian favorites. While the food has pleased millions of palates coast-to-coast, Buca di Beppo is equally famous for its quirky décor and upbeat atmosphere. Most Buca di Beppo locations are open daily for lunch and dinner. Catering is also available at numerous locations nationwide. Visit www.bucadibeppo.com for locations, hours of operation, menus, reservations, or to place an order for Buca To Go.