February 2020 – Page 4 – Jellybeans in the City

Took a ride on Seoul Train Korean BBQ, Tomas Morato

Don’t worry: this ain’t the train to Busan.

This is Seoul Train Korean BBQ, oppas and unnis, the resto with the back of a green train for its facade along Sgt. Esguerra Street in Quezon City.

Last Thursday, I took a ride with my fellow foodies on a gastronomic adventure during Seoul Train’s #ChewChewThursday Media Event to mark its reopening after it was temporarily closed for renovations at the end of last year.

There, I seemingly took a quick trip in SoKor as I explored the resto’s unique interiors, from its train station-like hallway, its cabin-type dining area and the downtown Gangnam feel of its upper floor which houses a mini-mall selling K-Pop items.

Seoul Train was the brainchild of renowned concert producers Happy Sy-Go and Vernon Go. The resto’s design concept and menu is a fusion of their love for great food and traveling.

During the event, Seoul Train launched several things that Korean food lovers are sure to love:

The upgrade to smokeless charcoal grills which takes away much of the “amoy usok” we associate with Korean BBQ joints. During grilling, the smoke is sucked away by the built-in vents, greatly reducing the smoke.

The inclusion of new dishes in the menu such as Jajamyeong (black bean noodles), Tteokbokki (rice cakes in spicy sauce), Dakbal (spicy chicken feet), Tangerine Chicken, Naejantang (beef tripe and intestines in broth) and Kimchi Godeungo-Tongjorim Jigae (spicy fish stew).

The introduction of the Dosirak, Korean bento meals available for take out. K-food lovers can choose from nine different dishes – Dry Beef Bulgogi, Beef Bulgogi, Yangnyeom Galbi, LA Galbi, Samgyeopsal, Ssamjang Samgyeopsal, Dak Gui and Bul Dak Gui – and enjoy their choice of viand along with rice, kimchi and fishcake.

With such exciting new additions to its facilities and menu, Seoul Train is the destination for Korean food lovers.

Many thanks to Jillian Subido of Pulp Media for the invitation and the management and crew of Seoul Train for the fun event!

Seoul Train Korean BBQ is located at 28 Sgt. Esguerra Street, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 2.30pm and from 5.30pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82872446 or +63 917 7722203.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a media event held in this restaurant. The food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

A home of gastronomic delights at Tahanan Bistro, Antipolo

As a foodie, I live for those food adventures that just take my breath away.

And my visit to Tahanan Bistro did just that.

Having earned the distinction of being one of Zomato’s Top Foodies Choice in Antipolo in 2019, Tahanan Bistro hosted a food tasting event attended by East-based foodies.

Tahanan Bistro opened in July 2016, the brainchild of Keesha Reyes and husband Kevin Tuason. They turned part of her family’s ancestral home made entirely from reclaimed wood from old houses and bridges into a casual fine dining 45-seat bistro.

The restaurant showcases creative takes on local ingredients, the masterpieces of her father, sculptor Benji Reyes, and a stunning view of Laguna de Bay beyond the surrounding verdant forest to provide diners with a relaxing and inviting haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

This place, though impressive in style, is still a home. In fact, guests are asked to remove their shoes upon entering, partly as a form of respect to the homeowners, and partly to help preserve the beautiful wood floors.

The kitchen is helmed by Kevin who brings his considerable culinary training gained during his stay in Melbourne, Australia. Tahanan Bistro offers set meals at Php1,350 (+10% service charge) per person. Named after famous mountains in the Philippines (Halcon in Mindoro, Iraya in Batanes and Mayon in Albay), each set consists of five courses with dishes hinged on the produce and flavors found in country, some of which my fellow foodies and I were able to sample.

Gising Gising (included in the Iraya set). An appetizer of prawns and winged bean dumplings, leeks, coconut cream, herb oil, chili oil and house-made crispy pork floss.

Danggit (included in all three sets). A light and refreshing salad made with quinoa, cherry tomatoes, mixed greens and roasted zucchini in lime vinaigrette.

Pininyahang Manok (included in the Halcon set). Smoked pan-seared chicken thighs, grilled pineapple, coconut, hasselback potatoes, carrot puree and capsicum.

Bistek Tagalog (included in the Iraya set). Braised beef shank, adlai, onion puree, charred white onions, parsley oil and fried enoki.

Binagoongan (included in the Mayon set). Crispy pork belly in a sauce made with tomato and shrimp paste puree, Greek yoghurt and Baba Ghanoush in a house-made flat bread.

Fruit Salad (included in the Iraya set). A dessert made chia pudding, bits of seasonal fruits in a campange sabayon topped with a cashew biscuit.

Ube (included in the Halcon set). Purple yam and white chocolate lava cake with cheese ice cream topped with an Edam crisp.

The dishes served combine the familiar and the new: the ingredients are home-grown but made novel with the addition of a few elements and foreign influences. They are also well-complemented by a refreshing glass of Lemongrass Iced Tea (Php95).

Given that access to this awesome place (and these delectable dishes) are possible only during weekends, and only by reservation, there is a definitely an air of exclusivity and specialness in the dining experience.

If you’re planning an cozy dinner for two or an intimate gathering for close family and friends where you can enjoy a well-curated and crafted menu as well as breathtaking views, Tahanan Bistro is your best bet.

Tahanan Bistro also offers ready-made products you can bring home to enjoy with your family such as ground coffee beans and butter spreads, among others.

Many thanks to Kim and the staff of Tahanan Bistro for the warm welcome and the delicious meal, and to Trisha and Donna of Zomato for extending the invitation!

Tahanan Bistro is located at 22 Loresville Drive, Lores Farm Subdivision, San Roque, Upper Antipolo, Rizal, open Saturdays to Sundays from 11am to 4pm and 6pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 925 8801487. Walk-ins are not entertained.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a food tasting held in 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.

Check out my posts on other places for your romantic date in the metro:

Back-to-basics coffee at Little Farmers Coffee Brim, Ayala Malls the 30th

Coffee is big business in the metro, with coffee shops and cafes sprouting all over, offering coffee aficionados all kinds of roasts, blends and what-not.

But if you’re a coffee lover wandering around Ayala Malls the 30th, you just might find a no-frills alternative for your caffeine fix.

A few steps away from the grocery store is a Little Farmers Coffee Brim kiosk which offers a wondrous array of coffee beans, roasted and blended, some infused with flavors, to cater to coffee fans who really care about what goes into their cuppa.

Little Farmers Coffee Brim started in Bacolod then branched off to Manila with its first outlet in SM Megamall where budding entrepreneur Warren Yao got hooked after his first taste of the coffee and decided to become a franchisee. Hence, the opening of a Little Farmers Coffee Brim at Ayala Malls the 30th which I visited together with fellow coffee-loving foodies.

The coffee beans are all sourced locally, from the coffee-producing mountains of the Cordillera region – Benguet, Sagada and Kalinga – supporting the region’s small coffee farmers through a fair trade arrangement.

These local beans are roasted and blended to produce the variety on offer at all Little Farmers Coffee Brim outlets, where they are freshly ground and brewed upon order.

Of particular interest to me were the flavored beans. How could that be possible?

Simple: during the roasting process, food grade oil extracts of the desired flavors are added to the beans, producing coffee with subtle notes of desired flavors without the need for too much dairy or flavored syrups.

During my visit to this Little Farmers Coffee Brim kiosk, I was able to taste iced versions of two of these variants: Mocha and Baileys. The coffee flavor is the most dominant with infused flavor adding dimensions to the aroma and overall taste of the brew.

Here, I also learned that sweetening coffee with condensed milk or muscovado sugar brings out their best flavor. (Duly noted!)

Little Farmers Coffee Brim also offers the famed Kape Alamid – the civet coffee (I won’t go into how that is made, hehehe!). This aromatic and full-flavored brew will really wake you up! (Like my foodie friends say, “ang kapeng matapang na kaya kang ipaglaban!”).

You can get a hot freshly brewed cup of your choice of coffee blend for just Php55, enjoy it iced for Php65 or have it decaf for Php80. Alamid Coffee is Php200 per cup.

Little Farmers Coffee Brim is definitely a welcome addition to metro’s coffee options. Do give it a try!

Many thanks to Warren Yao of Little Farmers Coffee Brim for the drinks and to Bunny of Always the Funny Girl for extending the invitation!

This Little Farmers Coffee Brim branch is located Lower Ground Floor, Ayala Malls the 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 10pm.

Other Metro Manila branches may be found at:

SM Hypermarket, Upper Ground Floor, SM Megamall Building B, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Lower Ground Floor, SM Makati, Glorietta Complex, Makati City

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to attend a coffee tasting held at this kiosk. Drinks mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Get the romance burnin’ this February at 390 Degrees, Entertainment City

At last January is over and done with. Now, let’s get ourselves in gear for the month of hearts – February!

And what better way to celebrate this month than to spend time with our Significant Other in a special place, one that can provide not only a venue for a romantic outing but also good food that can make the experience truly memorable?

Well, venture into the still seemingly uncharted Aseana City Business Park in Paranaque and there you will find the newly opened 390 Degrees.

Operated by the same team that brought about Ombu Kusina in Quezon City, 390 Degrees brings the same hearty servings and imaginative takes on comfort food in an elegantly well-appointed setting that Ombu Kusina does.

Here, though, the restaurant’s concept centers around its charcoal brick oven which influences all of its dishes. In fact, the resto’s name 390 Degrees refers to the temperature that restaurant’s oven must maintain to produce its delectable dishes.

In a special foodie meetup hosted by 390 Degrees’ head chef Mark Griffin Oraiz and marketing head Tammy Lim, my fellow food bloggers and I were treated to a sneak peek into the resto’s exciting Valentine’s offering.

Curious yet? Imagine dining with your special someone on a special meal for two which consist of:

Tomato Soup with Ravioli. Thick soup of pureed tomatoes topped with spinach-cheese ravioli to warm your tummies and your hearts.

Chicken Ceasar Salad. Get your taste buds ready with this hearty salad made with lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers and sliced hard-boiled egg tossed in a creamy Ceasar salad dressing topped with a dash of paprika and topped with sliced charcoal-grilled chicken.

Pepper Crusted Steak. Juicy steak with peppery seasoning charcoal grilled to a medium doneness. You can choose two side dishes to go with this dish (and the chef recommends Sweet Potato Mash and Cauliflower and Cheese.

Two Mini Salted Caramel Cream Puffs. Finish off the meal with these cute and not-too-sweet pastries.

Two Glasses of Shiraz Red Wine. All the better to drink to more wonderful times ahead!

This special Valentine’s meal is available from February 3 to 29 for only Php2000! So what are you waiting for? Book your Valentine’s date today!

The tasty eats don’t stop at Valentine’s, though. Check out the other yummy viands you can enjoy with your family and friends:

Vegetable Chowder (Php200). A cream-based soup with mixed vegetables served inside a charcoal-baked bread bowl.

Seafood Marinara (Php270). Mixed seafood tossed with fusili pasta in a savory tomato sauce.

Margherita Pizza (Php290). Tomato, basil and mozarella top a hand-stretched charcoal-baked pizza.

The Black Burger (Php530). A hefty and juicy charcoal-grilled burger patty sandwiched in charcoal activated burger bun with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions and cheese.

Blackened Salmon (Php880). A charcoal-baked salmon fillet with creamy dill sauce which go so well with Rice Pilaf as a side dish. I usually look for a cream cheese topping for baked salmon but this dish has no need for it.

Tiramisu. 390 Degrees’ take on the coffee-based Italian dessert.

All those good food will work up quite a thirst. Fortunately, 390 Degrees has a bevy of refreshing drinks to quench your thirst:

390 Signature Iced Tea (Php120). House-brewed black tea given some zest by the addition of lemon and pineapple.

Tropical Lagoon Soda (Php120). A fun and citrusy fizzy drink made with blue curacao, orange juice and soda water.

Mountain Mojito (Php130). A herb-flavored drink made with lime, mint leaves and soda water.

With such delish dishes and drinks, 390 Degrees is slated to be one of the hottest foodie destinations this side of the metro!

Many thanks to Tammy, Chef Griffin and the staff of 390 Degrees for the warm and fun welcome and the delightful food and to Kaycee of Date For Two for extending the invitation!

390 Degrees is located at Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel Manila, Aseana City Business Park, Entertainment City, Paranaque, open daily from 6.30am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 921 2446502 or +63 945 639 0724.

For the meantime, the restaurant accepts payments in cash only.

Check out my posts on other places for your romantic date in the metro: