August 2019 – The Jellybeans Edit

Vaya Tyffyn: The first and last lunchbox you will ever need

Get ready to change the way you eat lunch each and every day with the Vaya Tyffyn lunchboxes! Now available in the Philippines, the Vaya Tyffyn was designed by a team of highly seasoned professionals all across the globe. Vaya seeks to improve the way people take food on the go with a product that is stylish, durable, and travel-friendly.

Lunchboxes as a Way of Life for All Generations

In the Philippines, the lunchbox brings up memories of childhood and meals that end up cold and runny; edible, but not quite as satisfying as it could be. At its worst, the food inside can spoil before consumption.

The practice of carrying a lunchbox often continues into adulthood, with many taking a packed lunch to work in order to enjoy a healthier and fresher meal. Yet, despite the efforts at re-heating food, lunches never taste as fresh as it should be.

A Lunchbox Full of Innovation

Enter: the Vaya Tyffyn. The design defies the conventional approach to pre-packed meals by providing consumers with the option to pack a multi-course meal every day instead of the typical combination of
rice and a main dish.

Vaya Tyffyn is a truly unique lunchbox with key features such as:

A collapsible handle
Vaya’s proprietary Vacutherm Insulation technology that keeps your food hot or cold for 6 hours
A sleek, stainless steel body that easily fits in your bag
Leak-resistant lids with integrated gaskets
Partitions that can carry more than one dish in each container
Heat-protective finger grips
Replaceable copper-finished, polished-stainless steel containers
Stainless steel pressurizing latches

The Vaya Tyffyn comes in three different sizes for all appetites; 600ml (two containers), 1,000ml (three containers), 1,300ml (four containers).

A New Approach to Meal Prep

Whether it’s a quick lunch at the office or a day-trip with your friends, the Vaya Tyffyn is sure to become a staple in your life. Safe, sleek, and sustainable, the Tyffyn ensures your food stays fresh and warm; ready to enjoy at your own convenience. Experience a new and exciting world of freshness with Vaya.

The Vaya Tyffyn is now available online at vayalife.com.

About Vaya

Vaya is the coming together of seasoned professionals from across the globe, driven by a visionary zeal to significantly improve people’s lives. The company intends to bring an emotional component in everyday life through the concept of total user experience: a combination of innovative, carefully designed, high-quality products, and smart, useful, friendly services. Vaya actively markets and sells its products in the Philippines and 15 other countries.

The Jelly List: Healthy Eats in QC

Healthy eating helps promote overall health and wellness by ensuring that we get the necessary nutrients our bodies need.

Well within Quezon City, there is an abundance of wholesome and nourishing, yet also tasty eats.

Check them out:

Salmon Sriracha Poke Bowl (Php230 for regular bowl| Php150 for junior bowl) at Poke Shack

Poke (pronounced as POKE-KAY) bowls originate from Hawaii, where pieces of fresh fish are chopped into small pieces, marinated in flavorful sauces and served on top of freshly steamed rice along with chopped fresh vegetables, nuts and other toppings that add flavor and texture to the dish. This Salmon Sriracha Poke Bowl, for instance, is made with tempura flour mix, ebiko, furikake, sesame seed with sriracha mayo.

Poke Shack is located at Ground Floor, Tera Tower, Bridgetowne Business Center, Ortigas Avenue Extension corner E. Rodriguez Jr Avenue, Libis, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm, Fridays from 10am to 11pm and Saturdays from 11am to 8pm. For inquiries, call +63 926 0718992 or +63 929 3173857.

Five ways Saltitude, Anilao will make your next beach vacay your best ever

Urban life is not a piece of cake for us city slickers, is it? Hectic schedules and those infernal traffic jams do take a toll on our dispositions, and sometimes, even on our physical health.

Sometimes, don’t you just wish you could hie off somewhere, hibernate for a while and luxuriate in peace and quiet? Or how about taking a break from being a desk warrior and be out in the sun, getting your muscles in motion doing something fun? How about spending time with the people you love away from the stresses of city life and luxuriate in a seafront haven?

Well, guess what: you can do all these and more at Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort, one of the trendiest vacay spots to enter the Anilao beach scene.

Spend your beach vacation at Saltitude and you’ll be bringing home not just a great tan but also a lot of great memories. How? Well, let me count the ways:

One: Whimsically decorated rooms get you in your vacay groove.

Each of Saltitude’s fully air-conditioned rooms is named, furnished and decorated according to the things you can do at the beach in or out of the water. The beddings, curtains and unique DIY tchotchkes are all in keeping with the room’s theme. Each door and some of the wall art are also hand-painted by the owners.

Check them out:

Twin-sharing rooms perfect for intimate trips of couples or BFFs.

Dive.

Snorkle.

Kayak.

Fall in Love.

Talk.

Triple-sharing rooms or huts well-suited for a small family or group.

Sail.

Chill.

Sun-bathe.

And a family room that can accommodate a larger number of guests.

Party.

Two: A whole gamut of outdoor activities lets you make the most of the sun and waves

Co-owners Malou Esparrago and Jake Calangi are both dive enthusiasts and they let their guest take full advantage of their diving expertise and the resort’s proximity to some of Anilao’s best dive sites.

In fact, newbie divers can get their PADI, RAID or SSI diving certification at the resort through Saltitude’s experienced diving instructors.

Other activities that can be enjoyed while staying at Saltitude include swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing and even trekking to nearby Mount Gulugod Baboy.

Read more details on the outdoor adventures you can have at Saltitude here.

Three: Tasty dishes and delish dining events are sure to satisfy your food cravings

Who would have thought that going to the beach will also present you an opportunity to indulge your inner foodie?

Saltitude’s restaurant aptly named bar and restaurant Mingle serves up appetizing meals using fresh and local ingredients, bar chows and even Saltitude’s very own signature cocktails.

The resort recently launched Brunchin’ at the Beach, a brunch buffet held every Saturday from 6am to 12.30pm where diners can enjoy a sumptuous and well-curated spread of dishes in line with a weekly theme cuisine, all while enjoying the cool and relaxing vibe of the Saltitude’s beach and premises.

Read more about Brunchin’ at the Beach here.

During summer, Saltitude holds beach barbecues every Saturday night so guest can all come together to enjoy freshly grilled meats and seafood, as well as the cool sea breezes.

Guests with special diets have no need to worry. Just indicate your dietary restrictions when you book your room and the resort will find ways to accommodate you.

Four: It gives you lots of opportunities to rest, relax and re-charge

Who says you have to have a jam-packed itinerary while at the beach?

Make the most of this escape from the stresses of city life by enjoying the scenic views or reading your favorite book while relaxing Saltitude’s beachfront loungechairs, cabanas or hammocks.

Take this time to pamper yourself by booking a session with the resort’s accredited massage therapists.

Consider your stay here your “me time,” and return to your city life fully refreshed, recharged and raring to face the challenges ahead.

Five: It takes its environmental footprint seriously.

Environmentally conscious guests can rest easy as Saltitude also champions environmental causes. It avoids the use of disposable plastic in its operations while also incorporating reclaimed wood and recycled items in its decor.

On September 21, it will host a beach cleanup activity where participants can help in cleaning up a portion the local coastline and divesites while also taking part in environmental lectures and mingling with like-minded guests.

At Saltitude, your beach vacation can be so much more than just some time spent away from the city. It can also be an adventure that stirs your spirit or a balm that soothes your soul.

Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort is located along Manini Road in Mabini, Batangas. To book your stay or reserve a table at the restaurant, call +63 43 4101857, +63 927 4220428 or +63 939 9088843, or email info@saltitude-anilao.com. For more details, check out its website.

Rediscovering Pinoy Street Food at Mang Ding’s, Marikina

The Filipino street food scene is quite storied and vibrant, a showcase of the Pinoy’s creativity and resourcefulness.

Similar to the street food of other countries, many of its dishes came about as a matter of necessity. During the Spanish occupation, most of the prime cuts of meat were reserved for the colonizers, leaving the innards for the natives. And somehow, they made these “undesirable” ingredients palatable through creative preparation and cooking techniques.

At Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ, diners can rediscover these delicacies in a pleasant al fresco setting. Located in one of Marikina’s suburban areas, Mang Ding’s was named after owner Dindo Cleofas’ father. Together with his wife and co-owner Dotie, he has been operating this restaurant for over a year now, providing a cleaner and more comfortable way to satisfy the cravings of Pinoy street food fans.

My foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH and I recently visited Mang Ding’s and feasted on its tasty offerings, which include:

BBQ Platter (Php499). Platters of assorted barbecue such as Pork BBQ, BBQ Chicken, Tenga ng Baboy, Gizzard, Chicken Tail, Isaw Manok and Isaw Baboy.

BBQ Liempo (Php155). Slices of pork belly marinated in salt and pepper, then grilled and chopped before serving.

BBQ Boneless Bangus Overload (Php200). Grilled deboned milkfish topped with tomatoes and onions.

Dinakdakan (Php160). An Ilokano dish similar to sisig which uses grilled liempo tossed in a mayo sauce with onions and green chilis.

Ensaladang Mangga (Php75). The local salad of chopped tomatoes and onions served with slices of greem mango and house-made bagoong (shrimp paste).

Ensaladang Dulong (Php100). Crispy dulong fish mixed into ensalada.

Sizzling Corn (Php145). Buttered corn kernels topped with melted cheese served on a sizzling plate.

And we enjoyed all these with a Beer Bucket (Php300), six bottles of our preferred drink, apple-flavored San Miguel Beer.

The MASARAP, MALINIS and MURA dishes, the comfortable surroundings and the warm welcome from Dindo, Dotie and their team made our meal very enjoyable indeed.

Fun fact: Part of the fun of eating street food is deciphering how they got their names. For example, Isaw (grilled pork and chicken intestines looped in skewers) got their name from the dip (“sawsawan”) that accompanies them, while Tenga ng Baboy (Grilled Pig’s Ear) is also called “Walkman” after the portable cassette players that were the rage in the 1980s.

Which story behind a street food name do you find amusing? Do share in the comments.

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13, C. Buenviaje Street, Santo Nino, Marikina City, open Mondays to Wednesdays from 4pm to 11pm and Thursdays to Sundays from 4pm to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 1659872.

No time to hie off to Marikina for a taste of Mang Ding’s street food? Order via Grab Food today!

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a food tasting event held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Brunchin’ at the Beach at Saltitude, Anilao

Anilao in Batangas is home to all sorts of fun beach activities: swimming, diving, snorkeling and windsurfing, just to name a few.

Aside from their proximity to the clear sparkling sea, those activities have another thing in common: they do work up quite an appetite.

Fortunately, Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort recently launched “Brunchin’ at the Beach,” a brunch buffet experience that takes place every Saturday, from 6am to 12.30pm at its Mingle restaurant.

For only Php699/person, diners can enjoy a sumptuous and well-curated spread of dishes in line with a weekly theme cuisine, all while enjoying the cool and relaxing vibe of the Saltitude’s beach and premises.

Together with my fellow bloggers, I was able to experience Saltitude’s first brunch buffet available to resort guests and walk-in diners.

Inside, diners and guests can relax in the resto’s sprawling and well-appointed dining area furnished with custom-made pieces. And yes, should they be so inclined, they can take advantage of these Instagrammable surroundings to snap a photo or two.

The menu theme for the launch is intercontinental which features samplings from Pinoy, Asian, American and Mediterranean cuisines, all personally chosen by the resort’s co-owner Malou Esparrago, and whipped up in the kitchen using local ingredients by Saltitude’s in-house chef.

These dishes are beautifully presented in a lavish buffet spread with a few touches of coastal chic bric-a-bracs, also conceptualized by Malou.

The tasty items in the sumptuous buffet spread include:

Filipino. Steamed freshly caught fish, pork adobo, clam soup, pancit canton, champorado with crispy dilis, puto and kutsinta.

Mixed Asian. Sushi rolls, steamed potstickers and Chinese fried rice.

Mediterranean. Lasagna, Pasta Aglio Olio, Tomato Basil Bruscheta and Salmon Bruscheta.

American. Bacon, hotdogs, scrambled eggs, pancakes and bread with various cheeses and jams.

Dessert. Buko pandan and leche flan.

My faves among these are pancit canton, lasagna, salmon bruscheta and the leche flan. I found the varied selection of dishes quite appetizing. I would also imagine the kids would love the hotdogs, bacon and pancakes.

I look forward to Brunchin’ at the Beach’s the next themed menu. Which one’s your bet: Spanish, Mexican or Indonesian?

Plus, I’d also love to join one of Saltitude’s Beach Barbecues held Saturday nights during the summer.

View this post on Instagram

Picture perfect beach BBQ destination here in Anilao, Batangas 💙 #anilao #dive&chill #beachBBQ

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on May 30, 2019 at 7:19am PDT

So the next time you’re in Anilao, drop by Saltitude for some brunch. Or better yet, book your stay in one of its quirkily themed rooms (read more about them here) for the weekend, and then head straight to brunch on Saturday morning.

Want to know what activities you can enjoy at Saltitude? Check out my previous post.

Late dinner at Santiago’s Cafe, Mandaluyong

One rainy Wednesday night, I had to pick up my daughter #ExhibitA from school. Feeling a little adventurous, we decided to have dinner at restaurant some small distance away called Santiago’s Cafe.

The cafe is attached to the indie cinema theater Black Maria. I would imagine theater goers would frequent the place before or after movie screenings.

Parking may be an issue, though, as I had to park my car along a driveway of a seemingly abandoned warehouse across the street. There was simply no other parking space nearer to the cafe, even though it was quite late and the cafe was almost empty.

Santiago’s Cafe (named after the first grandson of the family that owns it) is known by its signature flamingo wall and overall playfully pink-colored interiors, seemingly taking its inspiration from hip and Instagrammable coffee joints.

The cafe has a small menu that features rice meals, paninis, pasta, coffees and milkshakes.

For our late-night meal, #ExhibitA had:

Bacon Express Panini (Php165). Slices of thick bacon, arugula, egg, cheddar and mozarella cheese in a toated panini sandwich and served with honey butter chips. I’m not a fan of the chips that accompany the sandwich as I found them too sweet. I prefer my chips to be on the saltier side. My daughter liked them just fine, though.

Binagoongan ni Milagros (Php200). Cubes of pork sauteed in tomato and stewed in shrimp paste, served with on a bed of steamed rice along with strips of fried eggplant, sliced tomato and salted egg. I appreciate the interplay of the tomato and shrimp paste flavors in this dish but the portioning is a little off. There was too much rice and too little pork that I ended up leaving half the rice on the plate.

Bacon Mushroom Truffle Pasta (Php220). This, in my opinion, is the highlight of the meal. Penne pasta is tossed in truffle white sauce along with bacon bits, and parmesan cheese. It is served with two extra (and much-appreciated) slices of bacon along with garlic bread on the side.

Chicken Parmigiana (Php180). Deep-fried and lightly battered chicken breast fillet on top of penne pasta tossed in homemade red sauce with parmesan, mozarella and cheddar. I found the red sauce a little too sweet for my taste.

Sarah’s Milkshake (Php165). This blueberry cheesecake blend of milkshake was my baby girl’s drink of choice.

Strawberry Milkshake (Php150). This was my choice for my milkshake.

My daughter and I appreciated the freshly-made quality of the milkshakes and the fact that the restaurant made use of bamboo straws.

New York Cheesecake. This dessert was a bit of a let-down. The texture and portioning was fine but the taste was lacking the rich, cheesy quality of other cheesecakes we’ve tried.

Still, I wouldn’t mind coming back to this cafe to try out its latte offerings, considering it is a third-wave coffee shop that prides itself on its artisanal coffee selections.

I just wouldn’t bring a car when I return.

Santiago’s Cafe is located at 779 San Rafael Street, Plainview, Mandaluyong City, open Mondays from 3pm to 11pm and Tuesdays to Saturdays from 12 noon to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5320540.

Did you know that if you and a friend dined at Santiago’s Cafe, you can get some dishes free via Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks.

Tsokolate Ah and more at Tsoko.Nut Batirol, Tomas Morato

Dessert cafes abound in the metro, but how many of them do you see touting our very own tsokolate – the Pinoy version of hot chocolate?

Would you believe I first heard of this delicacy back in high school while studying Noli Me Tangere? Jose Rizal’s literary masterpiece features a scene wherein the characters assign social status to the thickness of the hot chocolate served.

During a social gathering, Padre Salvi (one of the more nefarious characters in the novel), serves tsokolate eh (from espresso, meaning thick, due to the richness of the hot chocolate served) for Spanish visitors and dignitaries, while tsokolate ah (from aguado, meaning watered down) was served to the locals, which is probably why this is sometimes referred to as the native hot chocolate.

(Aside: being a racist and a snob are the least of Padre Salvi’s character flaws.)

The latter variant is available at Tsoko.Nut Batirol, a small cafe located in Quezon City’s Tomas Morato Area. The batirol in the cafe’s name refers to the implement used in mixing the hot chocolate to make sure that the tablea (chocolate tablets) are dissolved and well-incorporated into the drink.

The cafe has an Old World feel to it, with furniture and interiors that harken back to ancestral homes in the provinces. It also makes use of its own signature mug for its hot beverages which adds to its quaint appeal.

Together with my office buddies, I went here for some dessert which included:

Tsokolate Ah Batirol (Php88 regular | Php98 large). The aforementioned native hot chocolate is no longer a comment on one’s station. Instead, this is an indulgent treat for any chocolate lover. Made in the traditional way: using chocolate tablea, milk and ground peanuts, this drink will take you back in time.

Mini Chocolate Cake (Php110). A rich and chocolatey confection of moist cake and thick chocolate icing.

Mango Torte (Php99). A frozen cheesecake topped with artfully arranged mango slices on on a crust of graham cracker crumbs. It’s so pretty, we almost didn’t want to eat it. Well, almost. 🤪

I’d love to spend a more leisurely afternoon here, just enjoying my sweets and my cup of native hot choco. I wonder when that would be…

This Tsoko.Nut Batirol branch is located near the corner of Scout Reyes Street and Mother Ignacia Avenue, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3979939.

Other branches are located at:

Food Court, Third Floor, Eastwood Cybermall, Libis, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
Ground Floor, Telus Building, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa

Morning sweets at Cupcakes by Sonja, BGC

A friend and I suddenly found ourselves with some time on our hands while in Serendra yesterday morning, so we decided to break our fast at Cupcakes by Sonja.

This store was Manila’s first ever cupcake store, opened by Sonja Ocampo to bring the cupcake experiences she had in New York to our shores.

The store has the charm of a corner bakery: from its colorful storefront, the quaint bric-a-bracs inside to the lovely display of goodies available.

Cupcakes by Sonja features whimsical pastries baked fresh daily, using premium ingredients and no preservatives. Expanding its repertoire beyond the classic cupcakes flavors, its menu now includes hybrid cupcakes, full-sized cakes and pies.

Today, the shop offers these goodies paired with house-made hot beverages such as in Hey Hot Stuff Combo 1 which gives the diners a slice of cake and a choice among latte, cappuccino and hot chocolate for only Php179.

I got myself a Reverse Salted Caramel + Latte. The Valrhona chocolate cake base is richly flavored and moist, wrapped in layers of salted caramel buttercream. The latte I had with it is not too sweet, a good complement to such a decadent dessert.

My friend got the Rainbow Fiesta + Hot Chocolate. The cake is made of six layers of fluffy vanilla chiffon cake in different rainbow colors finished with marahmallow frosting and garnished candy sprinkles.

I also got myself a Red Velvet Vixen Cupcake (Php95). Did you know that Cupcakes by Sonja was the first store to offer this classic Southern American cupcake flavor in the Philippines? I remember having my first taste of this confection in this very store more thab a decade ago, and this cupcake still holds its appeal to me. With a decadent Belgian chocolate cupcake base, colored with that deep red hue, and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, it has become quite a local favorite.

I had a lovely return to this wonderful store for my morning sweets.

This Cupcakes by Sonja branch is located at Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 8am to 11am and Fridays to Saturdays from 8am to 12 midnight.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Mega Mall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Makati

The Jelly List: Instagram-worthy restos East of Manila

As a foodie, it’s second nature to me to bring out my phone to snap pics when I go out to eat. As soon as I find a shot worth sharing, up it goes on my Instagram.

This scene has become more common in many restaurants in the metro. While some eateries seek to counter this trending behavior among their diners by adopting a no-cellphone policy, others have decided to embrace it. They design their premises with Instagram in mind, adding design elements that serve as points of interest or as lovely backdrops for awra shots. Menu items are also carefully crafted and curated, prioritizing those that are photogenic as well as tasty.

Right in my neck of the woods, the area East of Manila, foodies have a select number of dining places where they are guaranteed great shots of their surroundings and food which also translate to great dining experiences.

Wanna check ’em out? Read on.

Artesa Coffee + Deli in Pasig

Artesa’s menu is still small but well-crafted such that each item is a masterpiece, it’s taste and quality assured. These are perfect for a leisurely brunch, a quick snack in the afternoon, or any time of the day you want a tasty treat.

It’s store design is minimalist, with plain white walls serving as a backdrop for pinewood furniture accented by potted plants.

Artesa Deli + Coffee is located at Unit 2, D Strip, Building 20, United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 10pm.

#TasteMagic at Salamangka, Eastwood City

Salamangka translates to “sleight of hand” in Tagalog. It is a word wrapped in magic and mystery, calling to mind enchantment and wonder.

The restaurant and bar in Eastwood Citywalk that bears that name lives up to it by offering coffee, cocktails and craft beer, as well as its own reimagining of Filipino food, against a welcoming backdrop laden with a hefty dose of mystical appeal.

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I stepped inside Salamangka’s doors for a taste of magic.

In the late morning, Salamangka is awash with light, the black murals of mythical creatures and the balete tree on the wall wonderfully offset by the clean white background. Furniture made with native materials and a huge table and bench set made from solid pieces of wood provide ample seating for the diners.

Salamangka’s menu consists of its own take of classic Filipino dishes, such as:

Kamote Chips (Php199). Crispy deep-fried slices of of sweet potatoes that go so well with its dip of condensed milk reduction.

Piknik (Php199). Crispy hand-cut potato slivers served with three different sauces (but they’re ok without the sauce as evidenced by the way I keep popping them into my mouth, hehehe!)

Coca Cola Wings (Php259). Fried chicken wings simmered in a Coca Cola reduction and served with piknik.

Itlog na Maalat Wings (Php349). Fried chicken wings covered in a sauce of salted eggs and served with piknik.

Vegan Nachos (Php199). Toasted pita chips topped with ground tofu and drizzled with a mixture of Yummza pesto hummus, lemon and oil. Live a little and add Php20 for additional topping of grated cheese.

Tinapa (Php189). A bowl of smokey tinapa flakes on top of garlic rice and paired with salted egg, a side of tomatoes and burong mangga.

Bawang na Bangus (Php189). Fried bangus marinated in garlic served on top of garlic rice with salted egg and atsara.

Sinigang sa Manggang Hilaw (Php279). Beef sinigang with a sour sauce instead of broth on top of steamed rice and served with sour mango and bagoong.

Once you’ve eaten your fill, how about lettin’ loose and sampling Salamangka’s much celebrated alcholic concoctions? Impress your friends with your knowledge of native folklore when you identify the entities that give their name to these intense spirits.

Wakwak (Php99 per glass | Php349 per pitcher). Named after a vampiric bird-like creature that makes the noise “wak-wak” as it flaps its wings, this cocktail is mixture of rum, lime juice, mango puree and mint leaves.

Mambabarang (Php99 per glass | Php349 per pitcher). Made with gin, lime juice, cucumber slices and mint leaves, this cocktail got its name from the warlock or sorceress that cast malevolent hexes on people

Ibong Adarna (Php99 per glass | Php349 per pitcher). Named after the mythical bird whose song has healing qualities, this drink is made with tequila, pineapple, calamansi and chili placed in a salt-rimmed glass. A sip of this drink is multi-layered: you get the citrus flavor from the calamansi, the spiciness from the chili, the saltiness from the rimmed glass and the fire of the tequila as it travels down your throat.

What really got me excited was Pitong Elemento (Php350). A flight of seven intense native infusions inspired by legendary elementals, this consists of seven shot glasses of flavored spirits that pack quite a punch.

Duwende (dried mango rhum – named after the mischievous house spirit)
Sigbin (orange vodka – named after the mythical creature that suck its victims’ blood from the shadows)
Kibaan (raisin gin – named after the mythical creature that lead travelers astray with its backward feet)
Tiyanak (Thai chili tequila – named after the creature that takes the form of a crying baby to attack folks who pick it up)
Undin (roasted bell pepper vodka – named after the water sprite that drown people who disturb it)
Santelmo (lemon vodka – named after St. Elmo’s Fire, balls of fire that appear as portents of doom)
Nuno sa Punso (spearmint chocolate vodka – named after the dwarf-like creature that dwell in mounds of earth).

You can also opt to get these infusions individually by the shot glass at Php50 each, except for Nuno sa Punso which is at Php99.

(Note: I only attempted to try Nuno sa Punso and, really, a few sips were more than enough for a lightweight like me.)

Fans of the local craft beer Engkanto would really go for a Beer Flight (Php249) a four variant sampler consisting of lager, pale ale, IPA and double IPA.

Salamangka also prides itself on its Single Origin local coffees at Php99/cup such as those from Bukidnon and Batangas. These are freshly ground upon order and then brewed using pour over cups. Until August 31, get a Buy 1 Get 1 deal on these local coffees from 7am to 10am, thanks to Salamangka’s ongoing Hiwaga ng Umaga promo.

Salamangka’s Bulletproof Coffee (Php190), which is made with brewed coffee, coconut oil and unsalted butter, would probably be great for chasing away a hangover given the coffee’s touted properties for enhancing alertness. I would just prefer the residual flavor from the coconut oil to be tempered down a little bit more so that the creaminess and the slight sweetness from the butter would be more pronounced.

So if you want a great time with your friends tinged with magic and mystery, head on to Salamangka.

Thanks to Darryl, Issa, Veni and Kevin of Salamangka for having us!

Join Salamangka’s Hocus Focus Facebook contest by posting a picture of you posing in one of Salamanka’s Kreature Kutouts. Make sure your post is public, tag @salamangkamnl, use the hashtags #IsangTaongHiwaga and #TasteMagic, for a chance to get a freebie.

Feel like pitting your knowledge against other Salamangka guests? Join the Gabi ng Pagsusulit, a quiz night held at Salamangka every second and fourth Thursday of the month.

Salamangka is located at Eastwood Citywalk 1, Libis, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5518557.

Did you know you can buy two drinks and get the same two drinks for free at Salamangka through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.