The D Spot

Wrigley–stirring memories of old

When I got the invite from Misty Belardo for a “Journey of Taste” in behalf of their client Wrigley, I did not have second thoughts about attending, even if it meant traveling from Quezon City to the Fort in Taguig on a Tuesday trafficky evening. The word “Wrigley” sparked memories of old–dating back to 32 years when I first met my soon-to-be hubby, now the father of my 7 children. He used to work with Wrigley at that time, and it must have been the 2 boxes of Wrigley’s Spearmint and Doublemint gums that he gave me to have made me agree to exclusively date him only after 4 days of having met him. Dinner in a Wrigley sponsored event, I thought, could be a reason to relive the days of my young marriage with hubby’s employment in Wrigley for 5 years.

Orbit with Xylitol

But this time around time, it was not Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit, Spearmint and Doublemint gums that were the event’s highlight. It was Orbit with Xylitol. Still, it was all right, as my kids are Orbit kids. I have seen them too often to carry Orbit in different packaging in their bags and in their pockets. Daughter Monica is the Orbit addict. Depending on her budget, she would carry with her the one in a plastic cannister or the smaller packets. One of her OC-ness is carrying a bottle of alcohol or alcogel to keep her hands clean all the time and a pack of Orbit to keep her teeth clean all the time. With the other kids, they buy Orbit every now and then, though it is not priority for them, as they have their gimmicks to save money for.

Here are interesting facts about Orbit:

• Orbit helps prevent tooth decay and strengthen teeth. Xylitol helps stimulate saliva production to wash away plaque-causing food residue, reducing the risk of tooth decay.
• Orbit is natural and healthy. Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables. It does not form acid in your mouth, keeping your teeth healthy while you enjoy that great Orbit taste.
• Orbit has been proven to have dental health benefits according to the FDI, the world’s leading healt organization.

Orbit with Xylitol comes in 3 flavors: peppermint, melon, red watermelon

My personal experience

Based on personal experience, among all the other breath fresheners I have used so far, Orbit is still the best. During my 15 years of traveling, I never left home without breath fresheners in my bag. I have tried almost all brands, from the hard candies to the soft candies, gums, and tiny tablets, and they worked well to serve their purpose, though with certain effects, like some were too sweet, some clang to the teeth, others gave an acidic effect, while others just spread mint to the mouth and the effect gone to soon. Orbit helps clean the mouth and take away the residues after every meal or snack, good to the next brushing of teeth.

Seeds, breath fresheners from the Subcontinent

During my regular visits to the Subcontinent, I have developed a taste for those seeds (can be aniseed, fennel seed, coriander seed, sesame seed, dried mint leaves or a combination, spiced up with ginger, licorice, chamomile, parsley seed, and sunflower seed) that are served traditionally after eating spicy meals and curries. They are used both to freshen the breath and to aid digestion. A small amount is taken in the palm of the hand, chewed to release the flavors, and can be safely swallowed. I have offered my gums, mints and soft candies to the locals, most of the time Orbit, and they agreed that they are indeed the counterparts to their seeds.

In fine dining restaurants, I have seen the Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Indians, serve candies, mints and gums side by side with the seeds to give patrons a choice.

Journey of Taste, a pampering experience

The 7-course dinner was a bonus, more than what hubby and I expected. It was a pampering culinary experience, “7,100 Tastes”–a myriad of flavors of the country’s 7,100 islands, whipped up by three of the country’s best chefs:

• Chef Rolando Laudico, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, NY, and owner of Bistro Filipino, where he serves modern Filipino dishes, elevating the Filipino cuisine notches higher.
• Chef Myrna Segismundo, host of the Foodie Cooking Show on Lifestyle Network, a part of the Philippine Kulinarya Team, a founding member of the Manila Ladies Branch of the International Wine and Food Society, Managing Director of ABS CBN’s exclusive 9501 Restaurant, and editor-in-chief of the Foodie Magazine.
• Pastry Chef Jill Sandique, who has earned the highest grade in Peter Kumps New York Cooking School, garnering near-perfect scores in the Career French pastry and baking programs and was awarded a Blue Ribbon. She is also an apprentice under Nick Malgeri, executive pastry chef at Windows of the World.

Bistro Filipino is located in the ground floor of Net 2 Ericsson Building, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, (tel no: (632) 856-0634, (632) 856 -0541, Website: cheflaudico.com.ph, Email: cheflaudico@yahoo.com).

Watch out for pictures and more of the pampering experience at my food blog, Dine-a-Bite.

Note: Sans for dinner and samples of Orbit with Xylitol, this is not a sponsored post.

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• Wrigley's Orbit with Xylitol--stirring memories of old, Journey of Taste--a pampering culinary experience