True to its slogan “healthy choices, healthy pleasures”, Impressca’s casual dining restaurant is a place of solace as it makes you feel re-energized each time you sink your teeth into their offerings which you can choose from in their “all healthy menu”.
Even its light green and white interior made from reclaimed wood along with its soothing, relaxing music complement their healthy fares because it gives you a feeling of a home away from home. A burst of colors from images of salads, drinks and its other healthy dishes add up to making one feel good while enjoying your meal experience.
Beth Echano – Alfane, business proprietor and conceptualizer of Impressca shared, “What you are is what you eat but you don’t have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy.”
At Impressca, serving up dishes that are healthy but also bursting with bags of flavor is something that its owner takes to heart. Salads go beyond the boring and are customized with different shades of flavor. Diners can even opt to create their own mix of greens through the Load-All-You-Can Salad at only P99! Paninis are also available in a variety of flavors — grilled of course, to make it heart-friendly. A variety of pasta dishes are available as well, from the classic Chicken Alfredo to Impressca’s own take on Spaghetti Bolognese. Of course they also have rice meals topped with different savory meat dishes like Honey Chicken Adobo or Beef Stew. Whatever it is that you order up, it’s bound to be good for you. It doesn’t have to be a salad — even their brown rice dishes are made of all-natural ingredients.
And these cost less than you expect!
Alfane continues to be inspired by the late Odette Alcantara, a staunch environmentalist who was at the forefront of environmental causes. Alcantara taught her that “LAHAT, magkakaugnay”(everything is interconnected) – L-A-H-A-T being an acronym for LUPA (land), ARAW(sun), HANGIN(air), AKO (me), TUBIG (water).
Alfane adds, “Purchases from Impressca is also food for the soul because when you dine here, you support the livelihood of local farmers.” Under Impressca’s Green Card program, for example, with a mimimum purchase of P200, a customer already contributes to the planting of one tree in their behalf.
Meantime, Impressca as a business certainly gives off a peaceful vibe that echoes its save-the-earth spirit. “We began as a humble food stall in SM San Lazaro, an answer to all the greasy, oily, downright toxic food that’s saturated the local cuisine,” said Alfane. It is rare to come across a business that puts their advocacy at the heart of what they do. Way too often, social responsibility takes a backseat to turning a quick buck, but that’s not the case at Impressca, where they’ve certainly placed their focus not only on making a profit, but promoting a healthier lifestyle and, more importantly, protecting our environment.
Impressca’s track record has been nothing but impressive, gaining more patrons and opening more outlets. It has three existing branches and will open three more plus a healthy cart in PGH within the year. The company has done so well in fact, that it’s even received several distinctions from the Presidential Youth Achiever’s Awards in 1999, including a Plaque of Commendation, and a Trophy of Excellence. This in itself stands as a testament that businesses do not need to be cutthroat and money-centered — brands can center on advocacies, and still be recognized.
By the very nature of the brand, Impressca already plays its part in helping to save the environment.
Aside from using all-natural ingredients in their dishes and providing fresher dining alternatives at affordable prices, they also strictly adhere to the guidelines set in the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, thereby minimizing their contribution to Manila’s garbage problem. They also provide incentives for customers through a promo card that lets patrons contribute to tree-planting projects with their purchases. Even more than that, Impressca also contributes to the rehabilitation of the smoky mountain area in Daet, Camarines Norte – her province where she started her environmental initiatives and has organized various symposia for schools, LGU’s and NGO’s for eco-education.
Indeed, people gather where there is good food. But what exactly does “good” mean anyway? To most everyone, “good” refers to the taste of food and the ability of a dish to straddle the very thin line between having too much flavor and not having enough. Not that they’re wrong, but if that’s the only thing that “good” means to them, they’re missing out on the fact that “good food” also means food that is good for you.
Learn more about and from Impressca. Log on to Facebook.com/Impressca-Salad2Go and like it!
Its branches are located in Mo. Ignacia right in front of ABS-CBN, SM San Lazaro, SM Araneta Center, Medical Arts Bldg. Food Plaza, UP-PGH, Taft Ave., Manila and soon to open at the 4th flr., SM City North Edsa-The Block. For more information or franchise inquiries, call executive communications (02) 504 8114 or (0927) 328 5345 or email us at executiveprmanila@gmail.com
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