The Real Food Founders Share Their Healthy Grocery Favorites
Real Food has become the city’s premier health food emporium for fresh produce and grocery items. This modern-day green-grocer is the brainchild of Nicole Fandiño, whose constant search for an easier way to shop for healthier food options for her family led her into partnership with three like-minded friends, Yvette Almendral, Bea Lhuillier, and Katrina Mañosa.
Since opening three years ago in Alabang, the selection at Real Food has grown tremendously and has proven itself to be a vital resource to those in search of locally-sourced, wholesome, and nutritious food. The emporium now has a second branch in Bonifacio Global City.
We asked the owners to share their favorite picks with other individuals who are determined to eat and live better.
Bea Lhuiller
“I have a lot of favorites from our roster of products in Real Food, but if I am to just to name three, I would say my top three would be our buko juice, organic eggs, and the multi-grain bread. The buko juice we carry is organic, sugar-free, and preservative-free, while our organic eggs are sourced from pasture-raised chickens. Our multi-grain and sourdough bread goes through an overnight fermentation process which makes it more easily digestible.”
Shop Bea's picks here:
SHOP NOW: Multigrain Country Loaf, P190
Katrina Mañosa
“More than any other meat, our organic chicken is such a staple in my home. It makes me feel safe knowing that I am feeding my family chicken that is clean and clear of harmful antibiotics and hormones. Commercially grown chickens are given growth hormones to get them to market sooner and antibiotics are included in their feed so it's great to know my family is eating clean, pasture-raised poultry at home. I also recommend the kombucha. I drink eight ounces of this a day and I feel it really helps in my overall health, gut health, and well-being.”
Shop Katrina's picks here:
SHOP NOW: The Original Kombucha, P100
Honey Almedral
“For snacking and munching, our Real Food mixed root chips are everybody’s favorite. We also love the Just Fruit freeze-dried fruit chips. They are like merengue but are 100 percent fruit with nothing else added. Personally, I love the Bicol crunch chips because they taste like laing, one of my favorite dishes. I would recommend the Real Food lime cilantro dressing because it goes really well with our romaine, kale, wild cucumbers, and gooseberries. People should also try our cooked tempeh, a delicious vegan high source of protein.”
Shop Honey's picks here:
SHOP NOW: Tempeh Fermented Soy, P235
Nicole Fandiño
“The hands-down favorite at my house is the Real Food Tuna Tapenade, which pairs perfectly with our unsweetened banana chips. Trust me, the kids will love it as a sandwich spread. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't love this. We also love the New Zealand sashimi-grade salmon fillets we carry. These are pretty incredible and are sold chilled. They have never been frozen—the fish is swimming on Wednesday and in our store by Friday. The fillets are perfect for sashimi, poke bowls, or kilawin. I no longer order salmon sashimi at Japanese restaurants because this is actually better. The Feel Well's 3C fermented juices & yogurts are also favorites because they have helped improve the gut health of not just my family but several friends and customers, too.”
Shop Nicole's picks here:
SHOP NOW: 3C Celery Cucumber Carrots Fermented Juice, P575
Real Food, ICON Showroom, 25th St., Taguig, 0917.170.5573; Molito Lifestyle Mall, Muntinlupa, 772.0131
