September 2018 – Jellybeans in the City

Dimsum Treats at Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine, New Manila

Together with a bunch of officemates, I ventured farther than our usual haunts for our #HappyLunch. I actually recommended Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine after seeing pic after pic of scrumptious dimsum and rice toppings posted by fellow foodies on Instagram. Also, I wanted to take advantage of the promo by which diners can get the resto’s dimsum offerings, normally priced at Php120 or higher, for only Php95.

So off we went to Hemady Square along E. Rodriguez Avenue. (There is ample parking in the building’s basement but for a minute there I was worried that my officemate’s Ford Everest won’t fit the entrance nor the parking slot.) The building is fairly new but is already home to several business establishments.

Upon entering Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine’s premises, you will notice the spacious, well-lit and well-appointed dining area which contrasts with other run-off-the-mill Chinese eateries which might seem a bit dingy to almost everyone except their most loyal patrons. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows let in a lot of natural light. The furniture and design elements have muted colors that contribute to a relaxed dining atmosphere.

Taking advantage of the Php95/order for their dimsum, our group ordered:

Xiao Long Bao (normally priced at Php130)

Crab Roe Siomai (normally priced at Php120)

Shrimp Rice Roll (normally priced at Php160)

Taro Puffs (normally priced at Php130)

The famous Piggy Salted Egg Yolk Bao (normally priced at Php130)

Steamed Chicken Feet with Taosi (normally priced at Php130)

And since we brought our considerably big appetites with us, we also ordered:

Pork Giblets Congee (Php180)

Lechon Macau Rice Topping (Php280)

BBQ Pork Rice Topping (Php280)

Beef Brisket Noodle Soup (Php260)

The Lechon Macau was quite good: the flavorful skin has a nice crackle when you bite into it and the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The serving was quite small, though.

The Xiao Long Bao is quite tasty as well; it was served steaming hot so I can slurp the soup from the bao and savor its meaty and herby flavor.

The Piggy Salted Egg Yolk Bao, on the other hand, was a bit of a let-down. Yes, it’s cute and Instagrammable, but I would have preferred a more pronounced taste of the salted egg yolk.

The dishes were served relatively promptly considering the size of our group and the number of orders. The servers were also attentive and accommodating, although there was some delay with a few of our requests.

I was thankful for the dimsum promo as it helped in convincing my officemates to accompany me in this foodie adventure.

By the way, if you have yet to try out Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine’s dimsum offerings, you will be glad to know that the dimsum promo has been extended to October 31, 2018. With this promo, you can get all dimsum at only Php95/order, Mondays to Fridays, from 11am to 5pm and 9pm to 11pm.

Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine is located at the Third Floor, Hemady Square, Dona Hemady Street corner E. Rodriguez Sr Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City. For reservations, call +63 2 9750070.

Dessert stopover at Gelato Lab, Tomas Morato

Gelato is ice cream made in the Italian style.

Some trace its origins to Bernardo Buontalenti, an inventor in the service of the Medicis in Florence during the Renaissance era, as a by-product of his innovations in ice conservation.

Today, gelato has spread to the most parts of the world. In the Philippines, for example, it offers people some cool respite from the heat and humidity. It also has a slightly warmer serving temperature than regular ice cream which enables it to hold well in the country’s tropical weather and allows it to have a softer yet denser texture.

Tucked inside the Picnic Grounds of Elements Hall along Scout Rallos Street in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area is Gelato Lab. It offers all-natural hand-crafted gelato made with high quality ingredients. To maintain the freshness of its gelato, each flavor is churned in small batches.

My daughter #ExhibitA and I decided to stopover this dessert station on our way home from a nearby bar. The call of the sweet gelato treats was just too strong!

I got myself a cup of the Dark Chocolate gelato (a regular flavor hence priced at Php100/cup | Php360/pint | Php740/tub). #ExhibitA, on the other hand got a cup of Cookie Dough gelato (a premium flavor hence priced at Php120/cup | Php400/pint | Php840/tub).

Both flavors are sinfully yummy and well worth the short side trip. 🙂

Gelato Lab is located at the Picnic Grounds, 2nd Floor Elements Hall, 27 Scout Rallos Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City. For queries, call +63 2 4138008 or email gelatolabph@gmail.com.

Did you know you can serve Gelato Lab’s treats in your next party? For Php9,000, you can have a Gelato Lab scooping station that will give out 120 cups of gelato. This package already includes the freezer, cups, spoons and paper napkins, and one server. Your guests will be able to choose from 3 regular flavors (or you can upgrade to premium flavors for an additional Php400/flavor). For additional 20 cups of regular flavor gelato, pay Php1,300 while for additional 20 cups premium flavor gelato, pay Php1,500.

Gelato Lab’s regular flavors include: Banoffee, Black Sesame, Caramel Popcorn, Cashew, Coffee Straciatella, Custaroon, Dark Chocolate, Earl Grey, Latter Macchiato, Leche Flan, Mango Pudding, Milo Dinosaur, Oreo Cheesecake, Sea Salt Caramel, Snickers, Thai Milk Tea, Ube and Vanilla Bean.

Its premium flavors, on the other hand, include: Baileys Irish Cream, Cookie Dough, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Maltesers, Macha Choco Chip, Mochacchino, Pina Colada Sorbet, Pistachio, Rum Raisin, Strawberry and Tiramisu.

Spanish-style Callos from Mr. Cochinillo

Filipino cuisine is full of Spanish influences, no doubt owing to the more than 300 years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

One of its legacies is Callos, a hearty stew made with ox tripe, ox feet, Spanish sausage chorizo de bilbao, chick peas and peppers, slow-cooked in an herb- and spice-infused tomato sauce.

Callos’ roots go all the way back to Callos ala Madrilena, which, similar to many stews of this style, actually had humble origins. In fifteenth century Europe, tripe was quite inexpensive, making it quite accessible to the more common folk. It does require intensive cleaning and a long cooking time, making it quite impractical for today’s home cooks and working moms to make.

Fortunately, Mr. Cochinillo, the man and the establishment behind the succulent roasted baby pigs known as cochinillos del cielo, offers Callos among other items in his for-pick-up menu. The callos is vacuum-packed prior to freezing: by removing air from its storage bag preserves the color, texture and flavor of the dish.

Mr. Cochinillo does have strict instructions on reheating his callos so you can enjoy it at home:

Defrost the package but don’t use the microwave to thaw it.
In a pot, put one or two tablespoons of pure olive oil.
Saute the defrosted content of the package over low heat until it boils.

This small package of Callos priced at Php700 is good for two people. A larger pack good for six to eight people is priced at Php2,500.

Other frozen, vaccum-packed items available from Mr. Cochinillo include:

Mr. Cochinillo’s Fabada (infused with cochinillo): Php600 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,000 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Rabo del Toro: 2,500 (good for 6 to 8 people)
Cochinillo del Cielo: Php800 (good or 2 people)

To order your Callos from Mr. Cochinillo:

Step 1: Fill out the online order form or call +63 2 6330043, +63 2 9524102 or +63 917 545 4888.

Step 2: After receiving a confirmation message via email or phone, deposit payment to Carlos V De Guzman | BPI | Account Number # 2900-0063-84. Afterwards, email a copy of your deposit slip to orders@mrcochinillo.com.

Step 3: Go to the pick-up location – No 5 Parakeet Street corner Swallow Drive, Green Meadows Subdivision, Quezon City – at the specified time to ensure the crispiness of the skin and tenderness of the meat of your cochinillo. Be sure to bring the deposit slip when you claim your order.

Disclosure: I received the package of frozen Callos as a giveaway when I attended the Bloggers’ Night hosted by Mr. Cochinillo.

Ground Zero Esports Lounge in Antipolo is now open!

Gamers in the East of Manila now have a new haven to come together and enjoy their favorite e-games in comfort. Even better, they also have a place where they and their families can enjoy great food, with gaming-themed dishes and drinks at that.

The opening of Ground Zero Esports Lounge in Xentro Mall, Antipolo raises the game for the local cybercafe industry by responding to evolving needs of the gaming community. With gaming and e-sports gaining ground in the mainstream, with some players having grown up and starting families of their own, having a place where they can hang out and dine while enjoying their passion becomes paramount.

At Ground Zero, patrons can take advantage of the impressive hardware with cutting-edge specs, fast internet connectivity (up to 300mbps) and upscale interiors to play to their heart’s content, hold a LAN party or do their office work remotely.

Families can also enjoy the spacious and well-appointed dining area, expansive food choices and an breath-taking view of the Antipolo skyline.

Together with fellow foodies, I attended the Grand Opening and was able to sample some of the resto’s gaming-themed dishes served buffet-style to guests. (Note: Serving sizes and presentation from the party buffet will differ from the actual ala carte menu.)

Chicken Hex (Php320 for Hex Duo | Php550 for Hex Squad). Crispy and spicy buffalo chicken wings served with ranch dressing.

Mirana Pasta (Php320). Pasta in marinara sauce served with fresh seafood.

4 Cheese Pizza (Php435). A homemade pizza dough topped with bechamel sauce made with parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella and bleu cheese.

Sisig Pizza (Php435). A Pinoy take on the pizza with pork sisig, peppercorn sauce, quail eggs and green chilis topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

Rum BBQ Pudge Ribs (Php490). Grilled ribs marinated in rum barbecue sauce. (Note: In the ala carte menu, this is served with diner’s choice of Java rice, plain rice, mashed potatoes or House Special Fries).

Beef Salpicao.

For dessert (the highlight of my meal), we had Pistachio Sans Rival (Php160), Blueberry Cheesecake (Php130) and Red Velvet Crinkles (Php80).

Ground Zero is a promising restaurant and gaming cafe concept as it brings together a spectrum of gamers, foodies, families and everything in between.

Ground Zero Esports Lounge is located at the 2nd Floor of Xentro Mall, Mambugan, Lower Antipolo, Rizal.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended the grand opening of this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Have an Instant Party at Alex III, Tomas Morato

With the approaching holidays comes the much-awaited season of parties and get-togethers. Pinoys, in particular, love to celebrate with food, lots and lots of it. I recall my mom and titas slaving away in the kitchen, preparing their signature dishes for our family gatherings.

While I’m passionate about food, I’m not too keen on stressing myself out in the kitchen. Fortunately, thanks to a Foodie Meet-up held at Alex III’s Tomas Morato branch, I, together with my fellow foodies, discovered that I can treat my loved ones out to a feast of classic Filipino favorites, thanks to its Instant Party Menu.

Alex III’s Instant Party Menu consist of two sets of dishes. Both priced at Php2995, these feature home-grown Filipino party food enough for a group of five. These are all prepared and cooked with the same love and tradition that goes all the way back to Aling Asiang (or Mrs. Engracia Reyes), the matriarch of the family behind the Aristrocrat restaurant of which Alex III is an offshoot, being a business started by one of Aling Asiang’s grandsons.

Set One

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Special Pancit Canton
Fresh Lumpiang Ubod or Lumpiang Shanghai
Kare-Kare
Crispy Pata
Steamed Rice

Set Two

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Crispy Lapu-Lapu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Camaron Rebosado
Special Pancit Canton
Shanghai Rice

Each set is served with garlic peanuts, a sushi sampler, your choice of soup (of which we sampled the Hototay and Sinigang na Salmon), bottomless iced tea and your choice of dessert (of which we sampled the Leche Flan and the Pandan Jellied Tapioca).

Both sets present diners with a combination of flavors that are dearly familiar, being dishes that were served during family reunions and fiestas when we were growing up. They also serve as a way for working moms like me to reconnect our present-day celebrations with the warmth and traditions of our childhood: that despite the hectic schedules and fast-paced lifestyles, we have a way to get together with our loved ones to exchange old memories and make new ones, while enjoying good food and good company.

With Alex III’s Instant Party Menu, the tradition of fun family celebrations with good food is made even better.

This branch of Alex III is located at Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Bayoran, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and queries, call +63 2 3711414 or +63 2 3711415. Its spacious, tastefully appointed and well-lit interiors make it a great venue for large family gatherings or office parties.

Other branches are located at:

201 Wilson Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City (open daily from 11am to 11pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 7240882 or +63 2 7264444)
29 Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 9261266 or +63 2 9268942)
53 Pontiac Corner Chevelle Street, Fairview, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 3766286 or +63 2 3765179)

By the way, did you know that for your parties at home, you can have your favorite dishes from Alex III delivered right to your doorstep? Minimum order for delivery is Php500. For more details, contact the Alex III branch nearest you.

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Day held at this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Get the best cochinillo in town from Mr. Cochinillo

While the lechon (roast pig) is a staple in many Filipino gatherings, few might know that there is a version of this delicacy that originated from Segovia, Spain. The Cochinillo del Cielo, characterized by crispy light golden-brown skin and buttery, falling-off-the-bone meat, is a piglet that is roasted after feeding on sow’s milk from two to six weeks. The true test to a good cochinillo is that it is so tender, it can easily sliced by a delicate porcelain plate.

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Have you ever had #roastedsucklingpig so perfectly cooked you can cut it with a saucer? Well, I have at Mr. Cochinillo, definitely the best #cochinillo in town! . . . . . . #foodieph #foodph #discovermnl #pinoyfoodie #yummyph #foodiegram #foodgasm #zomatoph #spotph #sarap #bookymanila #foodgrammerph #delishph #happytummy #letseatph #foodcentralph #wheretoeatph #IGersManila . . . . . . Follow me on IG/FB: @beingjellybeans. And do check out my blogs beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (for #foodiefinds, updates on #TVshows and #movies, and #fictionbook reviews) and thelearneratlarge.wordpress.com (for #businessbook reviews, #motivationalquotes and #trainingtips).

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Mr. Cochinillo is the brand created by former DJ-turned-photographer-turned-business owner Tinee de Guzman for his roasted suckling pigs and other Spanish-influenced items on the menu. The pigs are roasted in brick ovens located right in his home.

It all started when a friend of his was considering renting a venue he owns for a party and he volunteered to cater it as well. Among the dishes he claimed to be able to prepare, but actually hasn’t done so by then, is the cochinillo. His friend ended up just ordering this dish. Fortunately, he had a month leading to the party to learn and perfect his cochinillo recipe.

Tinee’s style of preparing cochinillo is no mean feat. As he relayed to the chef his friend hired for the party: “To be able to prepare this, you have to have time, you have to do everything properly. You have to clean it; you have to defrost it properly; you have to have it marinated before and after. Your oven has to be at a perfect temperature.”

That amusing start to his cochinillo business was in October 2012.

Since then, his cochinillo has been garnering praise from publications and food pundits and the orders just kept coming in.

In a party he recently held for bloggers, he relayed how he expanded his repertoire with other Spanish-themed dishes, which we were also able to sample. These included:

Seafood Fiduea/Fideo. A dish akin to paella but uses short noodles instead of rice, then cooked over a wood fire.

Fabada. Beans cooked over firewood and infused with his signature boneless Cochinillo del Cielo, which we enjoyed together with garlic bread.

Rabo de Toro. A rich stew made with bull’s tail, slow-cooked to absolute tenderness and rich earthy flavor.

During this event, Tinee also unveiled his newest offering, the Cochinillo rubbed with Goose Oil which further enriches the flavor of the pig’s skin and meat.

The dishes served gave a taste of the richness of Spanish cuisine which also called to mind many of the flavors we Filipinos grew up with and loved.

The following menu items are all available for order at his online store – mrcochinillo.com.

Cochinillo del Cielo: Php6,500 for regular (good for 8 to 12 people) | Php7,500 for large (good for 14 to 18 people)
Mr. Cochinillo’s Black Pig (Baboy Ramo): Php12,500 (good for 24 to 26 people)
Seafood Paella | Paella Negra: Php5,500 for regular (good for 16 to 20 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 30 people)
Seafood Fideua | Fideua Negra: Php5,500 for regular (good for 14 to 18 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 30 people)
Mr. Cochinillo Paella: Php6,000 for regular (good for 16 to 20 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 28 people)

Frozen Items (vacuum-packed to ensure freshness):

Mr. Cochinillo’s Fabada (infused with cochinillo): Php600 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,000 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Rabo del Toro: 2,500 (good for 6 to 8 people)
Callos: Php700 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,500 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Cochinillo del Cielo: Php800 (good for 2 people)

(Note: Mr. Cochinillo has specific instructions on reheating these items, and does not recommend microwaving them.)

Ordering is as easy as 1-2-3:

Step 1: Fill out the online order form or call +63 2 6330043, +63 2 9524102 or +63 917 545 4888.

If you want to serve succulent cochinillos or any of the tasty dishes offered by Mr. Cochinillo at your family gathering this Christmas, it would be best to order as soon as possible. Note as well that cochinillo orders for pick-up from December 1, 2018 to January 3, 2019 will have a surcharge of 10% (but it will be so worth it!).

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Night hosted by Mr. Cochinillo. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Affordable Japanese Meals To Go at Izakaya Flame, BGC

Personally, I consider my weekday lunch hour sacred. It cuts right at the half of my work day, giving me a few precious minutes of respite from daily grind, so I can escape into my next foodie adventure before I get back to work in the afternoon, refreshed and energized.

It also serves as time for bonding with work colleagues who also happen to be good friends. Our brief #HappyLunch outings give us an opportunity to catch up and relate with each other, not as coworkers, but as friends, fellow parents or just fellow nerds. 🙂

Central to our #HappyLunch experience is the discovery of good food – discoveries that become our new favorite places. Sometimes, during weekends, we find ourselves taking our families and friends to the places we discovered during our lunchtime jaunts.

Sometimes though, morning meetings spill over to lunch time, or a report needs to be submitted at precisely 1.30pm. During times like these, when we can’t go out, can #HappyLunch adventures still be possible?

Fortunately for corporate denizens of Bonifacio Global City (commonly referred to as BGC :-)), Izakaya Flame recently launched a line of affordable rice meals exclusively for takeout. Dubbed as Power Meals to Go, the line is comprised of five tasty yet fuss-free Japanese viands packed with premium Japanese rice. They are served in microwaveable (and reusable!) plastic containers for easy reheating.

These include:

Gyoza (Php109)

Dory (Php119)

Tori Karaage (Php129)

Pork (Php139)

Katsudon (Php149)

Izayaki Flames’ Power Meals to Go are an excellent option for those who are craving for their Japanese food favorites but are not able to dine at the restaurant. That’s such as shame as the restaurant’s swanky premises sure are easy on the eyes. For those who can, I do recommend to visit the resto to take in the novel experience that it has to offer.

Building on the concept of izakaya – a type of informal Japanese pub where people can enjoy small-sized meals together with a drink – it has a modern Asian-inspired decor and both table, bar, and outdoor seating to cater to the diners’ preference. The bar, in particular, is where the teppan is masterfully prepared right in front of dinners by a trained cook.

Among the tasty representatives of Japanese izakaya cuisine you can sink your teeth into are:

Spicy Beef Roll (Php245)

Takoyaki (Php95)

Beef Teppanyaki (Php305)

Ice Cream Tempura (Php125)

Plus, watch out for a fusion of Japanese and Pinoy flavors: the Dulong Maki.

Izakaya Flame innovates on classic Japanese flavors and brings them to lovers of Japanese food to be enjoyed whether inside or outside the restaurant. Well, I know what I’m going for the next time I’m in a meeting that spills over to lunch at BGC. I know I can still have a #HappyLunch with Izakaya’s Power Meals to Go. 🙂

Izakaya Flame is located at the Fourth Floor of the Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm. For queries and reservations, call +63 916 2519922.

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Day held at Izakaya Flame. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

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New Cheesy Doughnut at Krispy Kreme, Rockwell Business Center

There’s something about the combo of sweet and salty: these flavors tend to provide a god counterbalance to each other, giving the taste buds an interesting sense of contrasts. A great salty element to add to most sweets is cheese as can be seen in one of Krispy Kreme’s newest offerings: the Cheese Ring Filled Doughnut.

Imagine Krispy Kreme’s signature Original Glazed Doughnut but with a melted cheese filling that oozes out whenever you bit into it. The sweetness of the fluffy doughnut and the richness of the gooey melted Cheddar cheese, especially with the Hot Chocolate I ordered with it. just gave me a warm happy buzz.

I bought a Half-Dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts to bring home to Hubby and the kiddies, but this cheesy sweet treat is just for me (#SorryNotSorry).

This delightful doughnut break took place at the Krispy Kreme branch located at the Ground Floor, Tower 1, Rockwell Business Centre, Ugong, Pasig City. As it is just a few steps away from the Medical City, I was able to drop by and enjoy some quiet time after running some errands. The store is open to serve the office workers in the Rockwell Business Center as well as the visitors of Medical City 24 hours from Mondays to Fridays, and 7am to 12mn on Saturdays. The seating area inside is quite limited but people can opt to sit outside and enjoy the park-like view.

Do try this new sweet treat from Krispy Kreme!

A Matcha Treat at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Tomas Morato

The last among The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s limited-edition matcha line that I tried is the Matcha Affogato.

On one of my lunchbreaks, I headed on to the CBTL branch in nearby M Place along Mother Ignacia Avenue to try it out. This branch offers coffee and tea addicts like me a place where they can relax and just hang out while getting our caffeine fix. Its open concept layout and floor-to-ceiling glass windows give the place a bright and airy feel that provides an interesting contrast to the vibe provided by dark wood furniture and colorful accents.

Did you know that CBTL invented Ice Blended drinks over 20 years ago? In 1987, an employee brought a blender to the Westwood, LA store and mixed together ice, coffee extract and chocolate powder. This paved the way for countless coffee lovers to enjoy their favorite drink cold.

This new addition to CBTL’s Ice Blended drinks, the Matcha Affogato (price starts at Php185), basically brings a caffeine, dessert and matcha fix in one delicious concoction. With the addition of frothy cream and a shot of espresso to its Matcha Green Tea Ice Blended drink, CBTL serves up an energy boost from the caffeine and the sugar rush. The icy drink also provides a welcome refreshment during the hot midday.

While my favorite among the three new drinks in the matcha line is the Matcha Raspberry Latte, the Matcha Affogato Ice Blended still is a welcome addition to the arsenal of icy drinks that I can beat the heat with.

This Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branch is located at M Place, Panay Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City and is open daily from 6.30am to 1am. For queries, call +63 2 7539372.

For more details on Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s limited edition matcha line, visit CBTL’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

Disclosure: I was provided promo codes that I can present to CBTL branches so I can sample the featured drinks for free.

Luxurious Buffet Lunch at HEAT, EDSA Shangri-La

HEAT (Healthy Eating, Amazing Tastes) serves a showcase of the hotel’s Asian and continental culinary specialties. It long had the cachet of having delicious and beautifully presented dishes amidst an elegant dining environment.

As a special treat for my mom on her birthday, I decided to take her to a buffet lunch at HEAT. Fortunately, I was able to book our table via Eatigo weeks ago, which gave us a 50% discount on the food bill. Our booking was scheduled at 2pm but the buffet closes at 2.30pm. Fortunately, we arrived at 1.45pm and the hostesses allowed us to come into the restaurant and dine earlier, thereby giving us more time to select our food and eat our fill.

The trick we try to follow when eating at buffets is to make a beeline for our favorites as well as the dishes we don’t get to eat frequently. We also do not linger on carbs that will make us feel full. Thus, among the kitchen stations we headed straight to were:

The Cheese, Bread and Cold Cuts Station. This station showcased a range of cheeses from mildly- to strong-flavored, savory spreads, as well as wraps and handmade breads from the pastry kitchen.

The Japanese Station. A showcase of sushis, sashimis and tempuras. Unfortunately, my favorite salmon sashimi was not available.

The Carving Station. We were able to get generous slices of prime beef rib, cooked to medium doneness, made even more flavorful by its well-marbled fat. We also sampled the Salmon en Croute, delicious salmon wrapped in flaky puff pastry.

The Western Station. This features an array of Mediterranean and continental main courses, of which the Greek Lamb Moussaka offered the most exotic taste.

The Filipino Station. This showcases traditional favorites, of which we selected the lechon. Sadly though, the lechon skin was not as crispy as we preferred.

The Dessert Station. Being a sugarholic, the highlight of my dining experience is no doubt the dessert station. Here, all manner of treats from cakes, tarts, creams and more from EDSA Shangri-La’s pastry kitchen to satisfy one’s sweet tooth abound. Standouts include the nutty chocolate bark, the tiramisu, the pecan tarts, the raspberry panna cotta, the flourless charcoal truffles (which stained our teeth black, hehehe), and the Orange Cardamon Gateux.

We also washed our meal down with a Passionata and Dalandan Lemonades.

Considering the sheer quantity and variety of food, the elegant and well-appointed surroundings, the warm service of the wait staff, and the sizeable discount of the buffet bill, my birthday treat for my mom was happy indeed.

She is already planning to ask my dad to take her here for Lobster Night, hehehe!

Heat is located at lobby level of the EDSA Shangri-La Manila, 1 Garden Way, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City and is open daily from 6am to 12mn. For reservations, call +63 2 6338888.

Regular Buffet Rates:

Breakfast (6am to 10.30am | Mondays to Saturdays): Php1,985
Lunch (12nn to 2.30pm | Mondays to Saturdays): Php1,985
Lunch (12nn to 2.30pm | Sundays): Php2,400
Lunch (12nn to 2.30pm | Sundays with overflowing beer and soda): Php3,275
Dinner (6pm to 10.30pm | Mondays to Thursdays, Sundays): Php2.425
Dinner (6pm to 10.30pm | Fridays to Saturdays): Php2,715 (Mad for Lobster Night on Fridays and Wagyu Night on Saturdays)