1st JaPinoy dessert shop opens at MarQuee Mall
ANGELES CITY – The City of Angels is in for a delightful treat as the newest dessert shop that will satisfy Kapampangans’ cravings of Japanese and Filipino sweets at the same time has opened at MarQuee Mall.
Kionchan, which opened its three kiosks at the first and second floors of MarQuee this July, offers a fusion of Japanese and Filipino desserts through the wide variety of flavors of crepes and puchi parfaits and kakigori (Japanese flavored shavings).
Kionchan’s JaPinoy menu has 21 affordable and tangy crepes, five fruity Puchi Parfaits and 10 wintry Kakigori which includes a combination of the famous desserts from Japan and Philippines such as Matcha Ube, Matcha Mango sa Mangga on crepes and Kinako Saba, Ube Matcha and Premium Halo-Go-Ri or Philippines’ famous halo-halo on Japanese’s version of shaved ice.
The grand opening, which coincided with Japanese-Filipino Friendship Month (July), was led by young Japanese entrepreneurs Akiko Okamoto, chief executive officer; Kanako Takizawa, general manager; and founder Hiroki Honma; and their Filipino counterparts President John Cornelius Coson and Vice President Consuelo Osorio-Coson.
Osorio-Coson said that Kionchan management chose Angeles City as its second home in the country due to its fast-paced development and promising future, as well as to overcome the challenge of satisfying the meticulous tongues of Kapampangans.
She added that the decision of the young Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in the Philippines, as well as the choice of flavors in the menu, mirrors the sweet but strong relationship of Japanese and Filipinos.
“We really want to innovate and combine the two country’s flare for food. Just like our halo-halo kakigori which is a perfect symbol of the long friendship of Japan and Philippines,” she said.
Asked about the future plans of Kionchan, OsorioCoson said that the management targets to reach some 30 more branches in Metro Manila, specifically in Ortigas, Quezon City and San Juan in the next two years.
“We envision Kionchan to be an iconic dessert chain that serves Japanese-Filipino comfort food and to make it as one of the symbols of Japanese and Filipino friendship,” she said.
After establishing Kionchan in the country, Osorio-Coson also expressed her hopes that they will be able to bring the famous Philippine flavors to Japan.