September 2018 – Page 3 – Jellybeans in the City

Solo lunch adventure at BTW Fil-Mex Kitchen, Tomas Morato

I availed of a Metrodeal offer that gave me a substantial discount on the dine-in food offerings of BTW Fil-Mex Kitchen. Thus, I found myself walking the short distance from my office to this relatively newly opened resto along Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City.

BTW stands for Burritos, Tacos and Wraps which sum up the resto’s menu. It Fil-Mex offerings include Burritos in bowls and wraps, Nachos, Quesadillas and Tacos, with some desserts and beverages thrown in.

It has a hole-in-the-wall kind of feel that would appeal to the younger crowd: an inviting facade, bright colorful interiors (with lots of natural light, perfect for photo opps and foodie shots) and relatively affordable fare. Older fogies like me would have some issue with the restaurant’s entrance which is a bit too high off the ground (and is definitely not wheelchair-friendly).

The lone server (whose name is Jonathan) gamely set about helping me with my order. The challenge is to fit an entire meal into the Php200 purchase amount covered by the Metrodeal voucher. We ended up with:

Beef Taco (Php170). Ground beef mixed with crisp vegetables and mexican sauces topped with cheese served over two soft taco shells (Note: hard taco shells were not available when I was there). It was served with a side of cheese-topped marble potatoes and some piccadillo. The serving was quite large, and since piccadillo helped provide some zesty counter to the strong flavors of the Mexican sauces in the taco.

Lechelatin (Php40). It’s a milk drink that even Jonathan had trouble describing to me. It has some clumps of small sago pearls at the bottom and is topped by what appears to be Rocky Road Ice Cream.

The tacos are ok – there is a fine blend of flavors among the beef, the veggies and the Mexican sauce.

Lechalatin, however, is problematic for me. It does not support the Fil-Mex proposition of the resto despite its name and execution may have been a bit hard for a lone server-slash-cook to achieve well.

I would prefer a more traditional Mexican-style chocolate beverage using the Filipino batirol to stay in keeping with the Fil-Mex theme than a confused amalgamation of disparate influences such as the Lechalatin.

Just my 2 cents. 🙂

Oh, and kudos to Jonathan for the great service!

BTW Fil-Mex Kitchen is located at 113 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City. It accepts delivery requests via SMS to nearby offices and residence through the numbers +63 966 6880494 or +63 999 9092008. Queries may also be sent to the email happyburrito.btw@gmail.com.

Filipino food you can take comfort in at 13 Ubay Street, Banawe

It was a wet and rainy evening when I made a long hop over from my workplace to Quezon City’s Banawe area to attend a Zomato Foodie Meetup at 13 Ubay Street Comfort Dining.

As I made way through Banawe’s narrow streets in the rain, I grew apprehensive thinking on where to park when I got there. Fortunately, the restaurant’s ground floor mostly serves as it parking space, giving diners somewhere convenient and secure to park their cars. According to the restaurant’s owner, Chef Zaza Sarmiento, parking space was one of her non-negotiables when it came to her resto’s layout: a boon, I’m sure, to many motorists who just want to feast on her brand of Filipino food.

Upon entering, diners are treated to a feast for the eyes with a tasteful display of various eclectic artwork which were taken from the chef’s own family collection and travels. From the array of masks reminiscent of Bacolod’s Masskara Festival and the huge colorful mural at the staircase to the photos depicting local life on the walls (taken by her grandfather), the restaurant’s interiors are unique and indicative of the personal and family memories close to the owner’s heart.

The dining area, which takes over most of the restaurant’s second floor, is quite spacious, able to accommodate an entire family reunion or an office Christmas party.

Together with other Zomato foodies, I partook of another feast: this time of dishes that Chef Zaza deemed as among her favorites yet are underrated. These were classic Filipino flavors and recipes that she gave her personal touch to and made from scratch, in line with her vision to bring families and friends together over good food.

We started with some Spanakopita (Php170). These are triangular deep-friend pockets filled homemade laing, tinapa and kesong puti (white cheese made from carabao milk), and served with a dipping sauce of braised tomatoes.

Among the chef’s number ones is the Sinigang sa Lechon Kawali (Php410). This dish made of deep-fried pork belly boiled in tamarind-sour broth with red raddish, kangkong (water spinach), sitaw (string beans) and okra has a sweet aftertaste that sets it apart from other versions of sinigang.

Its version of Beef Pares (Php390) on the other hand, brings slices of beef brisket stewed until tender in the restaurant’s pares sauce. It is best enjoyed with the restaurant’s homemade chili garlic sauce.

Vegetarians have something healthy yet hearty to enjoy as well: the Mushroom and Tofu Salpicao (Php180) brings a mix of button and shimeji mushrooms sauteed with deep-fried tofu cubes in a garlicky sauce.

Our meal was capped with a delectable scoop of homemade Langka Ice Cream (Php70). Jackfruit is a staple in many Filipino desserts but is seldom an ice cream flavor so this serving is a rare treat.

Plus, if you like your Filipino food with with some refreshing craft beers and ciders, you’re in for a treat: 13 Ubay Street is also the home of Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits.

There’s much to like at 13 Ubay Street, all centered around the resto’s desire to give comfort to its diners.

As can be gleaned from its name, this restaurant is located at No 13 Ubay Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Banawe, Quezon City. For inquiries and reservations, call + 63 2 5796484 or +63 917 8762692. It is open daily at 11am to 2pm and at 5pm to 11pm.

Trivia: Did you know that 13 Ubay Street also served as one of the locations of the teleserye “Pangako Sa ‘Yo”?

Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meet-up held in 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.

HBO renews comedy series Insecure for a fourth season

HBO has renewed the comedy series INSECURE for a fourth season, it was announced today by Amy Gravitt, executive vice president, HBO Programming.

The series follows the friendship of two African American women as they deal with their own real-life flaws while attempting to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Lisa Joyce, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales and Y’lan Noel star in the hit comedy series. New episodes of the latest season is currently airing same time as the U.S. every Monday at 10.30am, with a same day encore at 11.30pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. Catch up on all past seasons on HBO GO.

In the Philippines, access to HBO GO is exclusive to SKYcable subscribers.

INSECURE was created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore; executive produced by Issa Rae, Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Jim Kleverweis and Dayna Lynne North.

Series details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

This post contains affiliate links.

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HBO Asia premieres horror anthology “Folklore” on October 7

In recent years, Asian horror has emerged as major player in the horror movie genre. With stories based on deeply-rooted myths and folklore passed down across generations in various Asian cultures, these movies have entranced and terrified global audiences.

On October 7, HBO Asia will premiere its very first horror anthology original series entitled FOLKLORE (#FolkloreHBO). It is comprised of 6 hour-long episodes that takes place in six Asian countries – Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand – featuring supernatural beings and occult beliefs in their respective regions. The episodes are also helmed by local directors and filmed in the local language.

FOLKLORE is produced and created by Singaporean filmmaker Eric Khoo, with the aim of modernising Asian horror by showcasing the brand of horror that each country is known for while exploring societal dysfunctions in a manner that is specific to the country but possessing themes that will resonate to a global audience.

FOLKLORE premieres on Sunday, October 7 at 10pm exclusively on HBO (ch 54SD | 168HD on SKYcable). New episodes will debut at the same time every Sunday. The series will also be streaming on HBO GO, HBO’s video-streaming service exclusively available in the Philippines to SKYcable subscribers.

Episode Guide:

Episode #1: “Folklore: A Mother’s Love”
Premieres: Sunday, October 7 at 10pm on HBO
Directed by: Joko Anwar (Indonesia)
Cast: Marissa Anita, Muzakki Ramdhan

A single mother and her young son discover a group of dirty and underfed children living in a mansion’s attic. Upon saving them and returning them to their families, she has unknowingly snatched these children from their adopted mother – Wewe Gombel – and must now beware her vengeful wrath.

Episode #2: “Folklore: Tatami”
Premieres: Sunday, October 14 at 10pm on HBO
Directed by: Takumi Saitoh (Japan)
Cast: Kazuki Kitamura, Misuzu Kanno, Daisuke Kuroda, Shima Onishi

A murder scene writer returns home to attend his father’s funeral and begins to experience constant flashbacks of his childhood. He then discovers a secret door in the house that leads to a room that hides a horrifying secret from his family’s past.

Episode #3: “Folklore: Nobody”
Premieres: Sunday, October 21 at 10pm on HBO
Directed by: Eric Khoo (Singapore)
Cast: Li Wen Qiang, Maguire Jian, Sivakumar Palakrishnan, Aric Hidir, Louis Wu, Dayang Nurbalqis

A Pontianak is awaked when a foreman and a construction worker attempt to bury the body of a dead girl instead of burning her. A series of unfortunate events begin to occur at the construction site.

Episode #4: “Folklore: Pob”
Premieres: Sunday, October 28 at 10pm on HBO
Directed by: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (Thailand)
Cast: Nuttapon Sawasdee, Parama Wutthikornditsakul, Thomas Burton Van Blarcom

A journalist meets with Pob, a Thai ghost, who confesses to a murder. Finally finding an outlet for complaint, Pob explains how the murder happened and requests for his story to be published. However, the journalist declines and the two make a deal of a lifetime.

Episode #5: “Folklore: Toyol”
Premieres: Sunday, November 4 at 10pm on HBO
Directed by: Ho Yuhang (Malaysia)
Cast: Bront Palarae, Nabila Huda, Redza Minhat

A Member of Parliament (MP) of a fishing town turns to a mysterious woman who possesses shamanistic powers in order to salvage his town’s dire economic situation. She fixes all his problems and the two soon become lovers. However, the woman has a dark secret that threatens to destroy his life.

Episode #6: “Folklore: Mongdal”
Premieres: Sunday, November 11 at 10pm on HBO
Directed by: Lee Sang Woo (Korea)
Cast: Lee Chae-Yeon, Jeong Yun Seok

https://flic.kr/p/M2uo6D

A mother tries to appease the moods and demands of her borderline psychopathic son. When a new girl comes to town, her son falls quickly and deeply for the new girl and is determined to win her over possibly even against her will. When things take a tragic turn, his mother will stop at nothing to make her son happy even if it means finding a bride to join him in the afterlife.

“Folklore: A Mother’s Love” from Indonesian director Joko Anwar and “Folklore: Pob”, directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang from Thailand have recently been selected for the prestigious 43rd Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF). This is the first time an Asian TV series has been officially selected since the inception of Primetime programme at TIFF since 2015. The Primetime programme channels the best international television fit for the silver screen, focusing on powerful, small-screen storytelling that pushes the boundaries of original scripted series and episodic programming.

HBO Asia started producing its Original productions in 2012 and has since expanded their range of Asian Original productions to include series, movies and documentaries. FOLKLORE marks the network’s twelfth Asian Original to date, with more slated to premiere in the coming years. Other upcoming Asian Original productions by HBO Asia include GRISSE – an eight-part hour-long period drama series set in the mid 1800’s within the colonial period of the Dutch East Indies and THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC – an hour-long Mandarin documentary that seeks to delve deeper into the unique shamanistic practices during the Ghost Month in Taiwan.

Show details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Steak lunch with the kiddos at Mad Mark’s, Kapitolyo

I took my kids to Mad Mark’s in Pioneer Center, Kapitolyo last Monday for lunch before we run our errands for the day.

I remember that we used to have our weekend dinners at its former branch in East Capitol Drive several years ago. That was when Kapitolyo was the only foodie area in our radar. We stopped going around the time when we discovered other food communities as well as other Mad Mark’s that were more conveniently situated in malls.

This new branch in Kapitolyo is definitely an improvement over their old one. For one thing, it has twice the floor area and can accommodate more people. Secondly, being located in the Pioneer Center compound, there are a lot more parking space.

This branch is definitely more spacious, allowing the resto to play around with a few minimalist decor and furnishings that give homage to its artisanal beginnings.

I guess my major beef with this Mad Mark’s branch is how undermanned it is. At 11.30am, the time when most restaurants expect an influx of customers, it only has one person manning the store and most probably one cook in the kitchen. This resulted to long waits for our orders and requests, as well as the unavailability of some items in the menu.

When we were getting ready to order, we were informed that only the “Grill Works” – the steaks, ribs and grilled chickens – were the only viands available. Furthermore, of the seven side dishes on the menu, only plain rice, Garden Grains (Mad Mark’s version of fried rice), corn and carrots and smashed potatoes can be ordered.

We didn’t mind given that we just wanted to order the Signature Steaks (Php330), 150g premium USDA flat-iron steaks served medium-well accompanied by our choice of cream sauce. We were lucky enough that our favorite side dishes were also available. The steaks and sides served to us did not disappoint: the meat was cooked as per our requested doneness and the sides and our chosen sauce complemented the steaks very well.

We also ordered Mad Mark’s own Home-Brewed Iced Tea (Php49) – which I found a bit too sweet – to wash the steaks down.

And, of course, a visit to Mad Mark’s will not be complete without ordering dessert. Today, we decided to try the Liquid Cheesecake (Php160): it consisted of two pie pockets filled with a gooey custard topped by a scoop of Mad Mark’s Half-Baked Madagascar Ice Cream and drizzled over with thick chocolate fudge. I don’t get why this dessert is named Liquid Cheesecake (and I really don’t care; my kids and I liked it!).

This Mad Mark’s Creamery and Good Eats is located at Pioneer Center Supermart, 8006 Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Check out my review of other Mad Mark’s outlets:

Family Dinner Hack with Honestbee and Buffalo Swing Cafe, Maybunga

As a working mom, one of the regular challenges I face is trying to fit in all my errands and tasks during the weekend. Last Saturday was particularly hectic: I had errands elsewhere and I didn’t know if I will be able to finish them in time to come home and prepare an appetizing dinner for me and the kids.

Fortunately, Honestbee has recently expanded its services to food delivery and among its partner merchants is Buffalo Swing Cafe.

This resto is situated in the Maybunga area, quite some distance from my home. I never heard of it before as I don’t usually explore the area for dining options.

Already anticipating how busy my day was going to be, I already booked my orders the night before using the Honestbee app. I ordered the following:

1 order of American BBQ wings (Php175 – 5 pieces)

2 orders of Butter Parmesan Wings (Php175 – 5 pieces)

1 order of Macaroni and Cheese (Php170)

1 All-Cheese Pizza (Php345)

I chose 2 flavors of wings so that the kiddos and I will have some choice in our viands. The Mac ‘n Cheese is a special request from my daughter #ExhibitA, while the pizza is a treat for my little boy who is, by the way, is a self-confessed pizza monster, so I’m hopeful that the pizza order will be a hit with him.

The entire bill amounted to a little over Php1,000 but since I applied the Php500 reward I received for referring a friend of mine to Honestbee, my actual payable amount is Php569.

I was still stuck in traffic by the time my orders arrived. Fortunately, #ExhibitA paid for the delivery while I was gone.

By the time I got home, dinner was already laid out at the table, ready to be eaten.

Not surprisingly, the little boy loved the All Cheese Pizza. It arrived still warm with the brick oven baked crust still crisp and the cheese toppings rich and creamy. My little pizza monster was able to polish off 3 slices.

The Mac ‘N Cheese, on the hand, was a hit with #ExhibitA. We found the noodles firm and the sauce really cheesy, with bits of bacon to add a meatier flavor to the dish.

We actually loved the Butter Parmesan Wings. It had a new kind of flavor that is a departure from the usual spicy buffalo wings. The American BBQ Wings wasn’t bad either. It was quite close to the barbecue sauce flavoring we’ve come to expect and had some zesty aftertaste which counters some of the umay factor.

Both sets of buffalo wings arrived still warm and had tender and juicy meat, which was very much appreciated by the kids and myself who all made short work of the meal.

I’m glad that with Honestbee there’s now a convenient way for me to have food delivered at home, with various options other than the big fast food chains. It’s become a life hack for busy working moms like me who want to give their kids a dining treat without having to spend all day in the kitchen, nor having to forego other important activities.

If you’re in an area where Buffalo Swing Cafe delivers via Honestbee, I would recommend ordering from it. Sign up for Honestbee using this referral link and get Php500 off for a minimum spend of Php2,500. You can download the Honestbee app on iTunes or Google Play.

This post contains affiliate links.

I’m glad I discovered this hack for a great family dinner. Want to explore other life hacks that make parenting life easier and more enjoyable for you and your family? Check out these books on Amazon.com.

Parenting Hacks: 10 Smart Solutions for Raising Amazing Kids.

Weird Parenting Wins: Bathtub Dining, Family Screams, and Other Hacks from the Parenting Trenches

Busy Mom’s Cheat Sheet: Raising Happy Healthy Kids

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Long wait is worth it at Coco Fresh Tea & Juice, Ugong

Considering I’ve been such a milk tea fan for several years now, it’s wonder that I’ve only discovered this relatively new milk tea brand just now, and quite by accident at that.

I was scouting the restos and cafes in the Rockwell Business Center area for something new to try when I overheard someone ask the security guard where “Coco” is. When I espied the outlet (situated at the back of Tower 2 so it’s understandable that people would have trouble finding it), and saw the surprisingly long line of customers waiting to order or claim their drinks, my curiosity was picqued. What about Coco Fresh Tea & Juice would engender such a following? I must find out.

It seems that aside from the foot traffic coming in from the workers in the compound, as well as the patients and medical personnel from The Medical City nearby that comprise Coco’s clientele, quite a number of the people lining up and waiting are actually Grab riders who will deliver the drinks to their clients. Kuya Gary, one of the riders, advised me to book my order via GrabFood next time to avoid the lines and waiting. (Yep, will take note of that.)

The store has a small area, probably able to fit twenty or so diners inside at the most. With all the people there, there was hardly space for everyone to sit comfortably while waiting.

Given the amount of transactions within the store, it seems that Coco is a bit undermanned, with just to service crew and a store manager present to facilitate orders.

Storage space seems to be an issue as well, since boxes of supplies are placed in the store area.

After waiting in line for quite a while, I was informed at the cashier that waiting time for my order is 40 minutes.

Say what?!?

Well, since I’ve waited for quite some time already, and I was envisioning bringing some of these drink treats to my kiddies at home, I decided to stick it out and ordered the following which I immediately took home to enjoy with my kids:

A Salty Cream Milk Tea (Php90 for regular size) for me. Himalayan Sea Salt is added to heavy cream and whipped together to a frothy texture then added on top of the milk tea concoction. I would have wanted to taste the difference of the salty cream against the milk tea but I guess the sea salt was used quite sparingly.

A Pearl Milk Tea (Php80 for regular size) for my daughter, #ExhibitA. Being the most basic flavor among milk teas, this drink had to be just right. I agree with #ExhibitA that the balance of sweetness, creaminess and the tea flavor is just right, and the texture of the pearls is on point.

A Coco Chocolate (Php85 for regular) for my little boy. When I tasted this concoction, I found it similar in flavor to regular chocolate drinks and I couldn’t discern the tea flavor. But, hey, my son likes it well enough and that’s what’s important, amirite?

So the answer the mystery earlier on why a relatively new milk tea brand would have such a loyal following seems anchored on two factors:

Commitment to quality. The long wait could have been eliminated if the store was not discriminating in using the freshest fruit and tea ingredients which was actually a company directive since its founding by it chairman Tommy Hung in 1997.
Reasonable pricing. Given the quality of ingredients and the attention given to each drink, the pricing within Php75 to Php110 per drink is just right.

This Coco Fresh Tea & Juice branch is located at Ground Floor, Tower 2, Rockwell Business Centre, Ugong, Pasig City. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm.

It also accepts orders for a minimum of ten drinks via SMS to +63 927 5254788 from customers within the vicinity for pick-up. To order, just text your name, company, company address, specific orders (number of drinks per variant, exact sixe, sugar level, amount of ice and extra toppings, if preferred), and change for what amount to be prepared by the store crew. Remember though:

Orders for pick-up will be accepted from 9am to 9pm.
The store will send a confirmation SMS to acknowledge your order.
Confirmed orders can no longer be changed to avoid confusion and delay. (Have some compassion for the barista and the other people waiting for their drinks.) 🙂
The quality of the drinks will decrease the longer you wait to pick them up.
If you fail to pick up your orders, orders from you will no longer be accommodated in the future.

Other Coco Fresh Tea & Juice outlets where you can satisfy your milk tea cravings are located in the following:

Makati: Century City Mall in Poblacion
Mandaluyong: Rockwell Business Center in Highway Hills, SM Megamall in Ortigas
Manila: SM City Manila in Ermita, Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, SM City Sta Mesa
Muntinlupa: Festival Mall in Filinvest City
Pasay: SMX Covention Center in MOA Complex
Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk 2 in Libis, Fisher Mall along Quezon Avenue, UP Town Center in Diliman, Cyber Park Tower 1 Building in Cubao, Trinoma Mall in Bagong Pag-asa, Regis Center in Loyola Heights, Gateway Mall in Cubao, SM City Fairview in Novaliches, SM City North EDSA in Bago Bantay, Ayala Fairview Terraces in Novaliches
San Juan: O Square in Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Place Mall in BGC, Venice Grand Canal Mall in BGC

Or you can just have your milk teas delivered via GrabFood. 🙂

If you’re in the store waiting for your drink, you might want to listen to a podcast to while away the minutes. One of the podcasts I like to listen to is the Read to Lead Podcast with Jeff Brown, available on Spotify. He espouses the idea that intentional and consistent reading is essential to personal and professional success, best summed up in his mantra: “Leaders read and readers lead.” With this theme, he invites authors of books on business, marketing, personal development and entrepreneurship to guest in his show to share their insights to his listeners.

Among the books featured in my favorite episodes in this show include:

Freelance to Freedom: The Roadmap for Creating a Side Business to Achieve Financial, Time and Life Freedom. In the episode, author Vincent Pugliese relates how he and his wife built their side business into a full-time one to be able to devote time to their growing family and to eventually live debt-free.

Friend of a Friend . . .: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career . In the episode, David Burkus introduces the idea that the best way to grow your professional network is to understand and serve the existing network you belong to.

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do. In the episode, writer Jeff Goins answers questions submitted by listeners.

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Sumptuous Chinese Lunch at Lugang Cafe, Greenhills

Lugang Cafe is the offshoot of Bellagio, a Taiwanese restaurant chain which first opened in Shanghai in 2001, bringing with it a combination of authentic Taiwanese cuisine with a modern and vibrant restaurant design. Since then, it has grown its China operations to include outlets in key cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Najing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Galaxy Macau.

Outside China, it is known as Lugang Cafe, currently with 7 branches in the Philippines, and recognition as a recipient of Philippine Tatler’s 100 Best Restaurant Awards.

Walking in to Lugang Cafe’s O Square branch in Greenhills Shopping Center, I can’t help but be impressed by its sleek, contemporary yet decidedly Asian decor. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of natural light (great for food photography!) and even allows passersby to peek at the chefs at work in the kitchen. It has distinctive wall art, fixtures and furnishings that give the place a luxurious and premium look and feel, quite a departure from the usual down-home (and sometimes shabby-looking) Chinese restaurants.

Even though the place was packed with the Sunday lunch crowd, we were lucky to find ourselves a table with the help of a very accommodating hostess. There was a frenetic kind of energy to the place, what with the servers rushing here and there and the din of clanging utensils from the diners.

For my Sunday lunch together with Hubby and my daughter #ExhibitA, we ordered an array of dishes that showcase Lugang’s penchant for carefully selected ingredients imported from China, cooked fresh (with no chemical additives), and developed by the 14 world-class chefs it employs.

Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao (Php268 – 8 pieces). Did you know that in China, making Xiao Long Bao, also known as the soup dumpling for the flavorful pork skin broth that accompanies the pork leg meat inside the fine, delicate hand-rolled skin, is considered an art form? Lugang’s take on this challenging dish results in a very light and delicious dumpling that whets the appetite for more.

Steamed Vegetable and Pork Dumplings (Php268 – 8 pieces). A lighter take on the usual pork dumplings as the meat has to share the limelight with some greens.

Steamed Pan Fried Siopao (Php268). Another departure from the run-of-the-mill cuisine, this version of the steamed siopao has bottom which has been seared to a crisp texture, adding an interesting contrast in texture to the light fluffy bun that envelopes the meaty filling.

Spicy Beef and Tendon Noodles Soup (Php320). Tender choice cut beef sirloin slices and melt-in-your-mouth tendons are accompanied by a savory and spicy broth and firm handmade noodles (that I had trouble cutting with my soup spoon, hahaha!) and topped with aromatics. This is definitely something I would want to sip on during cold rainy days.

Pineapple Fried Rice (Php320). A twist on the regular fried rice, with cashew nuts adding texture and pineapple bits lending some sweetness to the dish. Although it went well with the viands we ordered, I think this rice is a bit too oily for my taste.

Beef Tenderloin with Crispy Garlic (Php680). A new dish offered by Lugang first introduced in this very branch last year, it features tender cuts of beef braised in a flavorful garlic sauce, quite a flavor grenade!

Fried Prawns with Oats (Php580). Humongous prawns covered in an oat-filled batter and deep-fried to a golden brown. While it has an interesting texture, I think that the oats do not do much to enhance the prawns’ taste.

All in all, our Sunday lunch at Lugang Cafe introduced us to a host of absorbing new tastes and textures, as well as wowed us with the luxurious restaurant interiors. We definitely wouldn’t mind returning and revisiting our favorites or trying out the other dishes being offered.

Which brings us to…

Lugang Cafe’s UlTEAmate Feast

From August 28 to September 28, weekdays at 2.30 to 5.30pm, diners can eat all the Steamed Pork Xiao Long Baos their hearts desire, together with other unlimited dumplings, for only Php298 per person at all Lugang Cafe branches. For more details, visit Lugang’s Facebook Page.

I might have some difficulty availing of this offer – what with work schedules and all – but take heart, I vow to find a way!

Lugang Cafe’s Lauriat Feast

Did you know Lugang can deliver platters and packed meals with your favorite Taiwanese dishes right at your doorstep?

This Lugang Cafe branch is located at Ground Floor, O’Square, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 906 2176217. Other branches are located at:

Level 1, Main Mall, South Arcade, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City (Tel: +63 906 2176216)
2/F The Block SM North Edsa, Pag-asa 1, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 3328725 or +63 915 7469693)
Skypark, Level 5, SM Aura Premier, 26th Street corner Mckinley Parkway, Taguig City (Tel: +63 2 5195663 or +63 906 4555873)
Glorietta 2, G/F, The New Ayala Center, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 4033303 or +63 906 4555879)
F Fashion Hall, Bldg D, SM Megamall Edsa cor. J. Vargas, Brgy Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City (Tel: +63 2 6316436 or +63 915 1742243)
Level 1, Pedro Gil Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila (Tel: +63 995 7564734)