Visum Ventures is out to lead us on a new food journey. John Michael Hilton, president and CEO, is a firebrand food entrepreneur who saw the ongoing pandemic as an opportunity to establish his company’s footprint on our culinary landscape, and he’s not looking back, as he and the company establish new stores so that when the community quarantines come to close, they’ll be firmly established in all our favorite malls and food locations.

It started off with Koomi, an international brand from Australia, which rode on the craze for yoghurt drinks and beverages, but had the foresight to add local Filipino flavors to the mix. It was a popular move that endeared the brand to its growing roster of patrons.

The OMG Pork Gyros

Visum followed this up with OMG, which stands for Oh My Greek, comfort food restaurant. The ever-popular gyros are a staple of this food outlet, and it’s a mouthful of pork slices, French fries, tomato, cucumber, and onions, all wrapped and smothered with their special tzatziki sauce. This is a meal unto itself, given the serving portions. And you’ve got to try their pie version of the spinach and cheese-filled Spanakopita.

The OMG Spanakopita and Lokoumades

Leave room for their Loukoumades. This Greek dessert is best described as the Greek version of churros. Think of balled doughnuts sprinkled with nuts and steaming chocolate (or honey and cinnamon), and if you’re not in dessert heaven, check your pulse. And try their Pitt coffee to make the OMG experience complete.

The Zig Taco Salad Bowl with Chili con Carne

As if the two food concepts weren’t enough to stand on, Visum now introduces Zig, with the slogan of "Healthy Made Happy." It’s healthy made yummy and affordable, with an exciting range of salad bowls and wraps, poke bowls (try their deconstructed shrimp variant), pizza salads, and exciting health drinks (the Red Wave is powered by beetroot).

The Zig Tomato Salad Pizza

I’ve found that Zig can foster healthier eating habits without always pushing for an exclusive plant-based diet. Their Thai salad has roast beef, their Mexican taco salad has chili con carne, and their poke bowls include a salmon, and a tuna option. What is consistent is how the salad bowls are then packed with power foods like edamame, arugula, and alfalfa sprouts.

The Zig Tuna Poke Bowl with Edamame

For John Michael, it’s his vision of turning the Filipino diet into something healthier, especially during these challenging times. More than 95 percent of the Visum food staff have been vaccinated, as their challenge is keeping their outlets viable while dependent on food deliveries and take-out. And fortunately for all of us, when we do turn that immunity corner, the Visum food brands are all poised to be our new favorite dining places.