October 2019 – Page 2 – Jellybeans in the City

An authentic taste of Japanese cuisine in Cainta: Fukurou Nihonryori

I have lived in the East for most of my life… in the Far East, it sometimes feels like, because of all these horrendous traffic jams! Sometimes, the hassle of going to places far north to Quezon City or down south to Muntinlupa, for instance, can be quite daunting.

Well, it’s a good thing then that the East is starting to become even more interesting with all the food destinations it offers. That way, Eastern foodies like me won’t have to travel far for gastronomic adventures.

One such destination is Fukurou Nihonryori, located along Marcos Highway in Barangay San Isidro, Cainta. I admit: I have often overlooked this area when I go looking for new food places. I usually gravitate towards the places nearer my home in Pasig, or skip on to Marikina or Antipolo.

This just makes my first dining experience here even more special. Imagine: a treasure trove of Japanese dishes available all this time, right under my nose!

Together with fellow food bloggers from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended a foodie meetup here and quickly got myself acquainted to a new favorite place for Japanese cuisine in my neck of the woods.

In Japanese, “fukurou” translates to “owl,” while “nihonryori” translates to “from Japan.” The Japanese regard the owl symbol as a lucky charm; in the restaurant, the owl emblem can be seen in the menus and paper placemats.

Inside, the place is simple and welcoming yet elegantly designed, perfect for gatherings of small groups or intimate dinners for two. Pinewood furniture complement the beige interiors highlighted with Japanese watercolors of nature. Light installations add some warm illumination to the room for a relaxing atmosphere and to showcase the meticulously prepared and beautifully presented food. The resto also has a well-stocked bar for those who also want to indulge in some spirits along with their meal.

Our meal of tasty and authentic Japanese dishes consisted of:

Vegetable Fried Rice (Php110). A type of yakimeshi (Japanese fried rice) that complements the other Japanese dishes.

Saba Shioyaki (Php325). Grilled mackerel with a crispy skin and tender meat that’s just so flavorful.

Tebasaki (Php125). A yakitori (skewered meat dish) made of bone-in chicken wings (“tebasaki” translates to “wing tips”) which is seasoned after frying.

Sashimi Moriawase (Php695). A sampler of various sashimi (fresh and thinly sliced fish) which include yummy morsels of salmon, tuna, mackerel and squid.

Tempura Moriawase (Php398). A basket of shrimp and vegetables all coated in light batter and deep-fried, accompanied by a tempura dipping sauce.

Yaki Samon Mayo (Php135). Two hefty slices of salmon draped over balls of Japanese rice and complemented with Japanese mayo and fish roe.

Fried Maki (Php265). Rolled sushi of mango, kani (crabstick) and ebi (shrimp) which is also deep-fried before slicing which gives each piece a crispy texture unlike other maki.

Sukiyaki (Php350 for half | Php650 for full). One of the resto’s nabemono (hot pot dishes), it is made of beef slices, tofu, noodles and veggies cooked in shoyu and Japanese wine giving the broth a sweet-savory taste.

Miso Ramen (Php328). Chashu pork slices, tamago (soft-boiled egg), carrots, wakame (seaweed), leeks and nori in a bowl of slightly spicy miso-based broth.

Zaru Soba (Php220). Chilled buckwheat noodles served with mentsuyu (sauce made from sake, mirin, soy sauce, kombi and dried bonito flakes) for dipping.

Japanese Cheesecake (Php198). Fluffy cheesecake made in the traditional Japanese way drizzled with dulce de leche.

Kinako Korumitsu Mochi Ice Cream (Php158). Vanilla-flavored mochi ice cream topped with soybean powder and syrup.

We also chased our thirst away with some house-brewed iced tea.

These dishes – some already familiar to me and my companions, some not – served as a sampling of the sheer breadth and variety inherent in Japanese cuisine.

I’d love to come back and discover more of it. But that’s an adventure for anothef day.

Thanks to Chelsea Tuazon and the staff of Fukurou Nihonryori for the warm welcome and the fabulous Japanese food feast, and to Alfred Pineda for extending the invitation.

Fukurou Nihonryori is located at Ground Floor, The Pinnacle Plaza, Marikina-Infanta Highway, Bgy. San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 1336302.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I attended 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.

1 Peso Flash Sale at Seascape Village

Among the things we love so much about going to coastal provinces is the calming and welcoming presence of the sea: the relaxing sound of the waves and wind, the laid-back atmosphere and, of course, the abundance of fresh and flavorful seafood.

There is a place right here in the metro where we can enjoy all three and we don’t even have to travel outside the city to get there. We Metro Manila denizens can have our own seaside escape at Seascape Village.

This sprawling complex combines top restaurants of varying concepts and origins with stalls of fresh seafood and an amazing view of Manila Bay. Here, foodies can converge with their friends and families to enjoy an exciting blend of cuisine, culture and community. Food can be ordered from the restaurants’ ala carte menus or can be cooked according to the diner’s choice using the fresh seafood from the clean and modern wet market conveniently located within the complex.

And guess what: it won’t stop here. This is just the first of four phases in an impressive bay side development that will soon include lifestyle and wellness, events and entertainment, hotel and commercial complex set to be completed within the next two years.

For the meantime, though, we can already enjoy the delicious offerings of the restaurants located here. In fact, on weekdays from November to January, Seascape Village visitors can enjoy a bountiful meal for only Php1, thanks to its monthly 1 Peso Flash Sale.

Here’s how:

Step One: Accomplish any one of the following to claim the Php1 deal.

Like Seascape Village’s Facebook Page and share the promo post of the month.
Follow it on Instagram and repost the promo post of the month
Share the promo post on Viber, WeChat, WhatsApp or any chat group with a minimum of 200 members

Step Two: Form a group of five and visit any of the participating restaurants on a weekday, from 12 noon to 2pm or 6pm to 8pm. You just need to show proof that Step One has been accomplished.

Participating restaurants include Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant, GoGo Kitchen, Golden China, Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant, Lola Ina’s Seafood Paluto Restaurant, Mazu Seaside Diner, The Country Crab and Yatai Asian Cuisine.

Want to know what’s in store for you? Well, check out the viands my foodie friends and I feasted on when we visited Seascape Village.

November: Chicken

3 Cups Chicken at Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant.. Also called sanbeiji, this Taiwanese braised poultry dish got its name from the traditional use of 1 cup each of soy sauce, sesame oil and rice wine. Basil, ginger, garlic and spring onions are added to flavor the dish. Legend has it that a sympathetic prison warden prepared this dish (using these limited number of ingredients) for the Chinese poet and patriot Wen Tianxiang prior to his execution ordered by Kublai Khan.

GoGo Fried Chicken at GoGo Kitchen. Tender and juicy chicken pieces coated with GoGo Kitchen’s housemade breading.

December: Pampano

Pompano in Tausi at Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant. This mildly-flavored fish is fried instead of steamed, giving its skin a slight crispy texture which contrasts well with the black bean sauce.

Fried Pampano in Black Bean Chili at GoGo Kitchen. The mildly flavored pampano fish is enhanced by the tausi chili sauce.

What about the offers for January? I guess you’ll have to watch this space to find out, huh! 😉

Seascape Village is located at Atang dela Rama, CCP Complex (near Sofitel), Pasay City. For inquiries, call +63 2 88697452.

Check out my full reviews of the restaurants I visited here:

“Allergy in Love” premieres on KBO on SKY

Fans who have been waiting to catch Jodi Sta. Maria, Pocholo, KathNiel and Ai-Ai de Las Alas can rejoice as KBO on SKY brings their movies this month of October.

In Joross Gamboa’s first directorial debut, “Allergy In Love,” Pocholo Barretto portrays a guy who has a condition of being allergic to sexual arousal as it may lead to his death. This condition has inspired him to write a book about self-love. Little did he know that the book would also lead him to meeting Ayama (Chie Filomeno), the girl who will try to bug his loveless life. catch this movie starting from October 11 to 16.

SKY subscribers can also catch “And Ai, Thank You” this October 18 to 23. In the film, Ai-ai plays Aileen, an award-winning actress who finds out that she is dying from cancer. In her last months, she plans to give back to the people who have helped her throughout her career. But even with her plan to help people, she finds out that her loved ones think she is being sincere.

Jodi’s horror movie “Clarita” will also have its TV premiere this October 31 to November 6. The Black Sheep film is about the case of Clarita, a young Filipina who was assumed to be a victim of demonic possession. See how Father Salvador (Ricky Davao) and Father Benedicto (Arron Villaflor) try to solve her case and help her.

KathNiel returns to TV with the screening of their hit movie “Barcelona: A Love Untold.” Relive the story of Ely (Daniel Padilla) and Mia (Kathryn Bernardo) who meet in Barcelona to start anew—he wants to move on from a past love, while she leaves the Philippines after past life mistakes. Together, they go on a journey to find the answers to their lifelong questions.

For only P30 per movie bundle, all SKY subscribers can catch each of these highlights along with seven other movies.

To avail of these KBO weekly offers, SKYcable subscribers can text PPV <ACCOUNT NO.> to 23662 or call 3418-0000 or your local SKY office while SKYdirect subscribers can text PPV (AIRING DATE) (BOX ID) to 23667 using Globe/TM. For more details, visit mysky.com.ph/kbo30.

To subscribe to any SKY service, fill up this form.

Show details and images provided by SKYcable 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.

Great eats at Peach Boy, Mandaluyong

I sometimes envy the residents of Mandaluyong: they often seem to be right smack in the middle of things. Almost every foodie destination is accessible, whether you go east, west, north or south in the metro.

And as if these people don’t have enough advantages when it comes to foodie destinations, a new and exciting one opened right in their turf.

Located at the corner of Calbayog and D.M. Guevarra Streets is Peach Boy, a delightful and Instagrammable resto serving up a fusion of Asian-American dishes everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

You might be wondering how the restaurant got its name. Well, one of first-time restaurateur and avid foodie Paolo Q. Rama’s favorite desserts is the peach cobbler, a confection made of peach slices and syrup poured into a pan then covered with batter or crumble before baking. You would be right in assuming that the peach cobbler takes pride of place in his restaurant’s menu.

Paolo also drew inspiration from the popular Japanese folk hero Momotarō or Peach Boy, a young boy found inside a large peach who eventually grew up to seek for and fight ogres terrorizing his village with the help of some animals he befriended on his journey.

The restaurant does take you on an interesting culinary journey with dishes ranging from favorite Filipino breakfast items to Hawaiian-Japanese fusion dishes and classic American sandwiches and pastries.

With the help of award-winning chef and consultant Sonny Mariano, Paolo came up with an exciting menu influenced by some of his favorite cuisines from different cultures, as well as demonstrates the versatility of the peach as an ingredient. Together with fellow foodies, I was able to taste a wonderful curation of these dishes during Peach Boy’s recent media event.

These included:

Appetizer and Salad

Crispy Crab and Cheese Pockets (Php195). Fried wontons filled with a mixture of crab meat, cream cheese, melted cheese and herbs. It goes well with some sweet chili sauce and is an excellent start to our meal.

Peach Salad (Php175). Mixed greens tossed in a peach and honey vinaigrette along with peach slices, cherry tomatoes and cashew nuts.

All-Day Breakfast

Adobo Fried Rice Omelette (Php125). Chicken adobo mixed with fried rice, stuffed inside a two-egg omelette and served with adobo sauce and peach salsa.

Sisig Fried Rice Omelette (Php215). Crisy pork sisig mixed with fried rice, stuffed inside a two-egg omelette and served with sisig mayo.

Sandwiches

Choriburger (Php175). Burger patty made of homemade longanisa, a sunny-side up egg, barbecue mayo and atsara, served in a fluffy and lightly toasted brioche bun.

Peach BBQ Pork Belly (Php158). Pork belly glazed in a peach barbecue sauce and served on a banh mi bread along with barbecue mayo and peach salsa.

Pasta

Laing with Tinapa (Php143). Spaghetti noodles tossed in a pesto sauce made with laing, the Bicolano staple made of taro leaves cooked in coconut milk, and topped with flakes of smokey tinapang bangus (smoked milkfish).

Mains

Chicken Teriyaki (Php195). Tender boneless quarter of chicken glazed in teriyaki sauce and accompanied by cabbage slaw.

BBQ Platter (Php925). The meal for a group of carnivores with big appetites: Baby Back Ribs, Peach Barbecue Pork Belly, Peach Barbecue Chicken Leg Quarter and Boneless Chicken Teriyaki served with sauces on the side, sauteed veggies and cabbage slaw. This platter also comes with four glasses of peach iced tea.

Desserts

Ube Lava Pancakes (Php195). One of the iconic and Instagrammable Hawaiian-inspired dishes that Peach Boy takes pride in: five layers of ube pancakes doused in a fountain of ube halaya sauce.

Peach Cobbler (Php150). Butter streusels layered with peach compote and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Drinks

Choco Mint (Php145), Mango Float (Php145), Ube (Php115) and Matcha (Php145).

With its cozy ambiance and playfully delicious food, Peach Boy is sure to give its diners a dining experience that’s just peachy! So drop by Peach Boy today and experience it for yourself.

Many thanks to Paolo, Pheng, Chef Sonny and the staff of Peach Boy for the warm welcome and the great eats.

Peach Boy Restaurant is located at the Ground Floor, NORKIS Building, 11 Calbayog Street corner D.M. Guevara Street, Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm, Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 11pm, and Sundays from 7am to 4pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 75336846.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I attended a Media Night held a Peach Boy. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for honest review and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

Seafood Feast at Dampa Seafood Grill, Tomas Morato

There’s something about feasting on the ocean’s bounty that seems so special, especially to us Pinoys. Living in an archipelago, we are surrounded by water teeming with fish, crustaceans and all other seafood that we have found numerous ways to cook and enjoy.

A recently opened restaurant in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area is poised to answer the cravings of the QC denizens for fresh, tasty and beautifully prepared seafood.

Dampa Seafood Grill originally opened in Dubai and later expanded to Abu Dhabi, soon gaining popularity among the Filipinos and foreigners working in the Middle East due to its happy and laid-back atmosphere, that signature warm Filipino hospitality, and, of course, great-tasting food.

With the opening of its first store in the country, we can say that the brand has finally come home.

The place boasts of sprawling premises where a large number of people can dine comfortably, both indoors and al fresco. The ambiance is casual and fun, with neon signs and artwork that serve as points of interest or backdrops for the photo opps. While it already has quite a sizeable parking space, it apparently was not enough given the number of people who dine here. Fortunately, two people are assigned to help car owners park or bring out their vehicles.

However, the main draw here is the food. Together with my fellow food bloggers, I feasted on the sea’s bounty and more during a recent Blogger Event held here. These included:

Crispy Salt and Pepper Squid (Php275). Crunchy and crispy, and with a bit of heat, this version of calamari is a great meal starter.

Grilled Squid (Php329). Marinated squid grilled to tasty perfection.

Baked Mussel (Php230). Melted cheese and garlic top these mussels which disappeared as soon as we started eating. Go figure.

Kinilaw na Isda (Php219). The Pinoy version of the ceviche, this is a staple in many gatherings and drinking sessions.

Crispy Tilapia (Php199). Battered slices of tilapia fillet fried to a crispy golden brown. Goes well with the aoili dip. Yum!

Liempo Two-Way (Php348). There’s more than one way to enjoy pork belly: with this dish, you can have grilled or deep-fried. The best of both worlds, IMHO.

Grilled Panga ng Tuna (Php499). One of my childhood favorites: a portion of the giant tuna’s jaw is marinated and grilled. I love digging into the bones for the flavorful meat!

Ultimate Crispy Pata (Php498). Falling-off-the-bone tender (I broke of pieces using just one hand!) and juicy pata (pig knuckles), deep-fried for that flavorfully crispy skin. Something I’m willing to risk “putok-batok” for!

The piece de resistance of any dining experience at Dampa Seafood Grill is the Dump @ Seafest. For only Php1,599, your group of up to 3 people can feast on the days freshest catch – shrimps, clams, crabs, mussels and corn – as these are dumped along with all the rice you can eat onto your table for a messy but happy boodle fight meal. Choose from among 6 flavors for your feast which you can dial up or down in spiciness levels: Mardi Gras (lemon and herb), El Mexico (Mexican spiciness), Salted Eggsperience (salted egg in white sauce), Thai Curry or Cajun (a mix of salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic and chili, just the way the Louisiana Cajuns like their food).

When we sat down to eat, it was perfectly understandable that we would be “galit-galit muna;” we definitely wouldn’t be focusing on social niceties while we’re wolfing down the food. #SorryNotSorry

I especially enjoyed dousing my rice in the salted egg white sauce. Mmmm, yummy!

Each Dump @ Seafest also comes with free two liters of non-alcoholic Fishbowl Mocktails (also available ala carte for Php198/liter). Take your pick among six refreshing flavors: Sex Appeal (brewed iced tea with lemon and grenadine), Green Minded (green apple with lemon), Blue Jobs (pineapple juice with blue curacao), Lindsay Lohan (passion fruit, pineapple and soda), Amaretto Sunset (amaretto flavor, mango, four seasons and fresh lemon), and Incredible Hulk (mojito flavor with cucumber).

Feeling adventurous? Get a colorful cocktail to go with your meal. Ask the friendly bartender for his recommendation.

Needless to say, my fellow foodies and I ate our fill of fresh and yummy seafood and more at Dampa Seafood Grill!

Many thanks to Kristine and the staff of Dampa Seafood Grill for the warm welcome and the wonderful seafood feast and to Aileen of AileenL Loves to Eat for extending the invitation!

Experience Oktoberfest at Dampa Seafood Grill with Buy 1 Get 1 deals on local beers everyday, from opening to closing, this October. This promo is available on Red Horse (Php80), San Miguel Pale Pilsen (Php70) and San Mig Light (Php70).

Dampa Seafood Grill is located at 71 Scout Limbaga Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 12 noon to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 916 105 2421.

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

Get your appetites fired up with Tex-Mex eats at Fiery Style, The Rise

Tex-Mex cuisine is the fusion of American and Mexican food which grew from the culinary traditions of the Tejanos, Texans of Mexican descent. The most popular cuisine in the American Southwest, it is easily identifiable by the heavy use of cheese (more so than mainstream Mexican cuisine), meat, beans, flour tortillas, as well as peppers and spices that give it that signature heat.

Today, Tex-Mex cuisine has spread across the globe. In Metro Manila, for example, a fairly new entrant called Fiery Style Southwestern Flaming Grill is steadily establishing a foothold in local food scene by recently opening its twelfth branch at the Assembly Grounds at The Rise by Shangri-la in Makati.

Located some short distance from Makati’s commercial district, this new restaurant is poised to provide the area’s office workers and local residents with tasty and affordably priced Tex-Mex fare.

Together with fellow food bloggers, I attended Fiery Style’s grand opening where we were treated to a sumptuous repast:

Fiery Nachos (Php388). Multi-colored corn chips topped with nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, tomato salsa, refried beans, black olives and barbecue-flavored pull pork. The dish is served still inside its mold and when the mold is pulled off with great fanfare (and an exclamation of “Sorpresa!” from the server), you get a tower of nacho goodness. Note, however, that it is prone to toppling down (due to the weight so many toppings) so it’s best to dig in to this as soon as possible.

Steak Ala Familia (Php998 promo price | Php1,198 regular price). One of Fiery Style’s Mucho Octoberfest offers, this consists of 1 kilo of flame-grilled rump steak cooked to tender and flavorful medium doneness and served on a hot skillet. Great for a family of carnivores!

Lord of the Wings (Php998 promo price | Php1,198 regular price). Eight pieces of chicken wings topped with Hot Hot Sauce and Jalapenos, eight pieces topped with Nacho Cheese Sauce and Bacon, and eight pieces topped with Texan-style BBQ. All together, these are twenty-four pieces of chicken wings with flavors that should appeal to everyone in the barkada.

Galleon of Bones (Php928 for supremo | Php1,578 for ultimo). BBQ pork ribs, chicken wings, pork hammers and beef ribs served with multi-colored nacho chips, coleslaw, Texan-style BBQ sauce and chorizo rice.

Baja Supromo (Php928 for supremo | Php1,578 for ultimo). A platter for seafood lovers with spicy butter garlic shrimps, fried cream dory fingers, grilled salmon loin and salted egg calamari.

Mexican Cheese Quesadilla (Php378). Flour tortillas stuffed with Mexican cheese, ranchero sauce and shredded lettuce, served with guacamole, sour cream and salsa.

Chili Chocolate Fudge (Php278). A decadent piece of chocolate fudge cake topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce.

Southwest Churros (Php238). Fat fingers of fried pastry dough, best enjoyed with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and dipped in thick chocolate sauce.

New York Frozen Cheesecake (Php228). A pleasant surprise as its rich and slightly tangy taste departs from the previous iterations of New York Cheesecake that I’ve tried. The crust is just thin enough to add some sweetness and texture to the cheesecake filling. I ended up finishing off the dessert served to our table. #SorryNotSorry

Mexican Coffee (Php280). A hot beverage of kahlua, tequila, coffee and whipped cream with a few spicy dashes of chili. This can either perk you up or give you a buzz. Or both.

Daiquiri (Php148). A cocktail made of white rhum and fresh lime juice.

Lychee Paloma (Php178). Tequila shaken with lime and lychee and served in a salted rim glass.

Strawberry Southwest Margarita (Php188). Fresh strawberries mixed with lemon, lime and tequila and served in a sugared wide-rim glass.

Minty Mojito (Php158) and Strawberry Minty Mojito (Php178). Fresh lime and mint leaves mixed with white rum for a refreshing drink. You can have one flavored with fruits like strawberries for more variety.

Did you know you can get unli refills of the Paloma, Margarita and Mojito for only Php278 for classic and Php378 for flavored variants? Now you can really toast to the good times!

On a tight lunch budget? Get one of the eight combinaciones – combo meals for less that Php300 – which already comes with a viand, a side dish and your choice of rice such as this Grilled Fiery Porkchop (Php238) with sauteed tomatoes and garlic in mango puree. An affordable fired up meal!

So if you find yourself in Makati and in the mood for a fired up Tex-Mex meal, hie on over to Fiery Style!

Many thanks to Mon Bautista, Vanni Sanchez and the crew of Fiery Style for the warm welcome and the fabulous food, and to Miguel dela Rosa of Mplify for inviting us.

This Fiery Style Southwestern Grill branch is located at Ground Floor, Assembly Grounds at The Rise, Malugay Corner Tindalo Street, San Antonio, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, North Wing, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
El Calle Food & Music Hall, Second Floor, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City
Upper Ground Floor, Expansion Wing, Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City
Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Third Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Level, Estancia Mall, Oranbo, Pasig City
Eton Centris Walk, Quezon Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended the restaurant’s grand opening wherein the food items mentioned above were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for honest reviews.

Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke star in four-part HBO limited series, CATHERINE THE GREAT, premiering 22 October

HBO presents, in association with Sky, the four-part limited series CATHERINE THE GREAT, premieres same time as the U.S. on Tuesday 22 October at 10am (11am from 5 November) exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode encores on the same day at 10pm (11pm from 5 November) on HBO.

https://youtu.be/W4lANAoA1UY

Oscar®-winner Helen Mirren stars in HBO’s latest historical drama, CATHERINE THE GREAT, as the tumultuous monarch and politician who ruled the Russian empire and transformed its place in the world in the 18th century. Over the course of four one-hour parts, the enthralling limited series charts Catherine’s reign as the intelligent, resourceful and utterly determined Empress who fights off threats to her crown, wages war with the Ottoman Empire and expands Russia’s borders as far as the Black Sea and Crimea, turning the nation into a great global power. But more than a political success story against all odds, CATHERINE THE GREAT is a sweeping epic that follows the love affair between Catherine and Russian military leader Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke), the most extraordinary woman and man of their age, who formed a singular and powerful relationship that helped shape the future of Russian politics.

Upcoming episodes:
“Episode 1” – TUESDAY, 22 OCT 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Russian Empress Catherine the Great (Helen Mirren) faces challenges to her throne on all sides, as she meets the forthright and bold Lieutenant Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke).
Written by Nigel Williams; directed by Philip Martin.

“Episode 2” – TUESDAY, 29 OCT 10:00-11:00 a.m.
A victorious Potemkin (Jason Clarke) returns from war to find Catherine (Helen Mirren) preoccupied, leading the two to speak candidly about their pasts and future, while a Cossack stirs discontent among peasants in the countryside.
Written by Nigel Williams; directed by Philip Martin.

“Episode 3” – TUESDAY, 5 NOV 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Catherine (Helen Mirren) and Potemkin (Jason Clarke) experience growing pains in their relationship, as Potemkin’s push for expansion puts him at odds with Panin (Rory Kinnear).
Written by Nigel Williams; directed by Philip Martin.

“Episode 4” (Series finale) – TUESDAY, 12 NOV 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Pressure from foreign powers leads to a bitter argument between Catherine (Helen Mirren) and an ailing Potemkin (Jason Clarke). Catherine works to change the line of succession as her reign draws to an end.
Written by Nigel Williams; directed by Philip Martin.

CATHERINE THE GREAT IS directed by Philip Martin; written by Nigel Williams; executive producers, Helen Mirren, Philip Martin, David Thompson for Origin Pictures and Charlie Pattinson and Christine Healy for New Pictures.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (for Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (for Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call your local SKY office or fill up this form.

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

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

#HeyStranger, get yourself to Hey Brew, Greenhills

Metro Manila denizens are probably not strangers to Greenhills Shopping Center. A veritable shopping mecca, it is where you go for clothes, accessories and gadgets.

However, it is also a food mecca with many fast-food chains and concept restaurants establishing their presence within the complex and the surrounding areas.

One new entrant to Greenhills’ foodie scene is Hey Brew Eatery + Bar, which offers a playfully creative selection of bar chow, mains and drinks for the discerning yet fun-loving foodie.

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended Hey Brew’s media event prior to its soft opening where we were treated to sneak peeks (and tastes!) of Hey Brew’s would-be signature dishes, masterfully prepared by Chef Nino Laus.

Baked Smoked Mussel (Php180/3 pieces). Delectable New Zealand mussels flavored with garlic and cheddar on an edible shell made of potato starch and squid ink.

Granita Oysters (Php120/piece). Watermelon, konbu (a type of edible kelp) and cucumber granita, pickled konbu and craft hot sauce.

Foie Gras Chawanmushi (Php350). A savory egg custard topped with uni (sea urchin) and ebiko (shrimp roe).

Ox Tongue Skewers (Php190). Grilled ox tongue drizzled with citrusy ponzu sauce.

Beef Tongue Sandwich (Php380). Ox tongue that’s been braised for 72 hours and drizzled with salted egg sauce and topped with pickled red cabbage in a fluffy toasted brioche.

Duck Leg Confit (Php450). Roasted duck leg served with roasted marinated carrots and orange, along with French beans and drizzled with cranberry duck jus.

Braised Lamb Shank (Php830). Falling-off-the-bone tender hoisin-braised lamb shank served with pumpkin seeds, roasted baby squash and and fried pumpkin blossom.

Desserts. Thankfully, sugar addicts like me can cap off the meal with sweet treats such as Strawberry Shortcake, Carrot Cake and Pistachio Sans Rival.

Aside from such gorgeously presented food, we were also treated to concoctions from master mixologist Kalel Demetrio:

Gin and Tonic. A highball cocktail made with gin, which changes color during preparation with the addition tonic water. Herbs and spices add flavor and flair to the drink.

Hari ng Kanto. A blend of Kanto rum, salted caramel, soda water and lemon juice.

Beautiful Mistake. Watermelon, red bell pepper, carrot juice, lemon juice and rosemary spritz make for a pretty and fruity drink.

Brown Sodium Milkshake. Hey Brew’s hyped up version of a salted caramel milkshake.

Engkanto Lager. Made by local craft brewery Engkanto, it is a subtle and lightly bitter beer with low alcohol content.

House Iced Tea. A refreshing take on the ubiquitous iced tea that goes well with practically all the viands here, one of the choices available for people who don’t want to imbibe alcohol.

So, hey, don’t be a stranger. Get to know more of the food and drinks that you can enjoy with your friends at Hey Brew.

Many thanks to Chef Nino Laus, mixologist Kalel Demetrio and the crew of Hey Brew for that thrillingly tasty repast and to EJ Bunag of I Love To Eat PH for extending the invitation!

Hey Brew Eatery + Bar is located at Ground Floor, Theater Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 12 midnight, and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 2am.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended a media event hosted by this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare for an honest review and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Great eats at GoGo Kitchen, Seascape Village

Out with friends or family?

How about treating yourself and your companions to a meal at GoGo Kitchen at Seascape Village in Pasay City?

GoGo Kitchen boasts of a modern black-white-green decor that still exudes a homey vibe. Here, small groups to entire families can enjoy its own versions of Chinese and Filipino dishes ala carte or have fresh seafood and other items purchased at Seascape Village’s wet market cooked by the resto’s chefs.

Together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I attended a food crawl organized by Seascape Village, the second stop of which was at this restaurant. Here, we tasted some of its signature dishes which included:

GoGo Fried Chicken (Php280 for small | Php380 for medium | Php480 for large). Tender and juicy chicken pieces coated with GoGo Kitchen’s housemade breading.

Fried Pampano in Black Bean Chili (Php350 for small | Php450 for medium | Php550 for large). The mildly flavored pampano fish is enhanced by the tausi chili sauce.

Grilled Liempo (Php320 for small | Php420 for medium | Php520 for large). Thick slabs of marinated pork belly, grilled for that wonderfully smokey taste and juicy texture.

Black Pepper Beef (Php450 for small | Php550 for medium | Php650 for large). Beef slices braised in a spicy black pepper sauce.

Salted Egg Shrimp (Php480 for small | Php580 for medium | Php680 for large). Succulent fresh shrimp cooked Singaporean-style in salted egg yolk, milk and spices.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php280 for small | Php380 for medium | Php480 for large). A staple in any Asian restaurant, this special kind of fried rice made of cooked rice, bits of pork and aromatics serve as a perfect complement to the dishes served.

Buchi. Known in China as jian dui and more commonly as sesame balls, this is a favorite dessert after a Chinese meal made of glutinous rice studded with sesame seeds and filled with a lotus paste.

My friends and I had our fill of yummy food and laughter which just goes to show: good food and good company make for a great time!

Thanks to Mica and the crew of GoGo Kitchen for the warm welcome and the fantastic eats, and to Jen and Louie of Seascape Village for inviting us!

Enjoy free dishes at GoGo Kitchen when you unlock your Zomato Gold privilege. Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership at here. Use my code JELLYB to get 10% off the membership fee.

Get up to 50% off the buffet rates when you book your table via Eatigo, restaurant reservation app that offers time-based discounts everyday in its 2,000 partner restaurants. Use this link when you register and get rewards points that you can redeem for gift vouchers and restaurant freebies.

GoGo Kitchen is located at Seascape Village, Atang dela Rama Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City (beside Sofitel Philippine Plaza), open daily from 11am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 915 5401181.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for an honest review and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

HBO to premiere drama anthology inspired by Asian cuisines, FOOD LORE, on Nov 3

A brand new HBO Asia Original anthology drama series, FOOD LORE, will premiere Sunday, 3 November 2019 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO. The eight-episode hour-long series explores human conditions with narratives inspired by Asian cuisines.

https://youtu.be/WvaLbECIP70

Helmed by award-winning Singaporean filmmaker Eric Khoo (“Ramen Teh”, “12 Storeys”), the series is shot in eight countries across Asia – India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and directed by some of Asia’s most talented storytellers including Erik Matti (“BuyBust”, “Honor Thy Father”) from the Philippines, Phan Dang Di (“Bi, Don’t Be Afraid”, “Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories”) from Vietnam, Billy Christian (“Tuyul: Part 1”, “The Sacred Riana: Beginning”) from Indonesia, Don Aravind (“Angel”, “Drive”) from Singapore, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (“Headshot”, “Last Life in the Universe”) from Thailand, Takumi Saitoh (“Blank 13”, “Hannbun no Sekai”) from Japan and Ho Yuhang (“Trespassed”, “Mrs. K”) from Malaysia.

Like a favourite dish from home, each story is a flavour of love and set to tease the senses. Viewers will be taken on an emotional journey filled with passion, treasured memories and a little spice of Asia. Each episode possesses a distinct voice, tone, and narrative.

The first two episodes, the Vietnam episode, FOOD LORE: He Serves Fish, She Eats Flower, and the Philippines episode, FOOD LORE: Island of Dreams, will make its world debut at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on 30 October and 31 October respectively. TIFF started in 1985 as Japan’s ﬁrst major ﬁlm festival and since has grown to become one of the leading ﬁlm festivals in Asia.

Premiering at Singapore International Film Festival later on 24 November, the India episode, FOOD LORE: A Plate of Moon, will also be making a world debut. This is the first time an HBO Asia Original will be presented at either festival.

Episode 1 – FOOD LORE: Island of Dreams
Premiere: Sunday, 3 November at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
Dreaming of a brighter future for her family, Nieves leaves her husband and children to work as a domestic helper in Manila. Returning home for the annual fiesta, Nieves soon realises that she may have grown estranged from her beloved family as her jubilant homecoming takes an unexpected turn.
Cast: Angeli Bayani, John Marvin C. Nieto, Irina Guillen Feleo
Directed by: Erik Matti
Set and filmed in the Philippines.

Episode 2 – FOOD LORE: He Serves Fish, She Eats Flower
Premiere: Sunday, 10 November at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
Set in Ho Chi Minh City, a charismatic Japanese chef, Thang, woos a beautiful stewardess with a special tofu dessert and wins her heart. They begin a whirlwind romance but soon discover their irreconcilable differences about food and love. In his desperation, Thang attempts one last culinary experiment to keep her in his life.
Cast: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, Lanh Thanh
Directed by: Phan Dang Di
Set and filmed in Vietnam.

Episode 3 – FOOD LORE: Maria’s Secret Recipe
Premiere: Sunday, 17 November at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
When a mysterious woman, Maria, arrives on the shores of a small traditional Indonesian village to set up her food stall, the men are mesmerised by her sumptuous cooking and sensuality – much to their wives’ dismay. In a desperate attempt to satisfy her husband, a lonely wife, Ratih, approaches Maria for her secret recipe. What can Maria teach her about her exquisite creations and importantly, who is Maria?
Cast: Putri Ayudya, Alexandra Gottardo, Dian Sidik
Directed by: Billy Christian
Set and filmed in Indonesia.

Episode 4 – FOOD LORE: A Plate of Moon
Premiere: Sunday, 24 November at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
Anbu, a reluctant young domestic helper from India, has been hired to care for Raja, an elderly man in Singapore suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Amidst their struggles and differences, they bond over food, love, and memories. Just when all seems to be going well, an unexpected piece of news sends Anbu’s world unravelling again.
Cast: Magalakshmi D/O Sudarsanan, Jaivant Viknesh N, A. Panneeirchelvam
Directed by: Don Aravind
Set and filmed in India and Singapore.

Episode 5 – FOOD LORE: The Caterer
Premiere: Sunday, 1 December at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
An arrogant American actor arrives in Thailand for the first time to star in a horror film. Disgusted by the exotic Thai cuisine served, he sticks to what he knows best: burgers and donuts. Everything changes when he tastes the soup cooked by the production caterer.
Cast: Thanyarat Praditthaen, Thomas Burton van Blarcom, Marisa Kittelberger
Directed by: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Set and filmed in Thailand.
Note: This episode shares the same main cast as the HBO Asia Original “FOLKLORE: POB”, and tells the story of what goes on behind the scenes.

Episode 6 – FOOD LORE: Tamarind
Debut: Sunday, 8 December at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
French chef, Julie, who is new in Singapore, seeks the help of Irfan, a struggling Malay hawker to create a new fusion dish. As their worlds collide, a friendship brews between them as they work together on an exploration of food, flavour and feelings.
Cast: Firdaus Bin Abdul Rahman, Valentine Payen, Dayang Nurbalqis
Directed by: Eric Khoo
Set and filmed in Singapore.

Episode 7 – FOOD LORE: Life in a Box
Debut: Sunday, 15 December at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
An uninspired picture book author. A recent widower and his teenage daughter. An elderly retired wrestler. Their lonely paths intersect during a quiet train ride away from busy Tokyo as the group revisits memories long forgotten and rediscovers hope on their journey of nostalgia, memory and love.
Cast: Ken Yasuda, Asuka Kawatoko, Akihisa Mera, Yuko Ando, Chieko Matsubara
Directed by: Takumi Saitoh
Set and filmed in Japan.

Episode 8 – FOOD LORE: Stray Dogs
Debut: Sunday, 22 December at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO
An ambitious young businessman, Tim, hopes to start a restaurant franchise with the bad-tempered, yet genius chef, Maki, in Kuala Lumpur. The grouchy chef rejects Tim, but they gradually form an unlikely friendship. When Tim discovers Maki’s secret sambal recipe, he is torn between his desire to sell the recipe and his loyalty to his friend.
Cast: Wilson Tin, Fabian Loo
Directed by: Ho Yuhang
Set and filmed in Malaysia.

FOOD LORE, is produced by Singapore-based company Bert Pictures and part of a two-year partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore. Through a series of workshops and collaborations with local companies and talent on HBO Asia Original productions, the partnership aims to develop the content production capabilities of Singapore’s media industry.

HBO Asia started producing Original productions in 2012 and has produced a range of Asian Original productions including series, movies and documentaries. To date, HBO Asia has produced and aired 18 Asian Original productions with more in the pipeline.

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

Check out my posts on HBO shows: