January 2021 – Page 2 – Jellybeans in the City

Brotzeit’s Wonder Platter

German cuisine is not so represented among the metro’s restaurants, which is a shame.

German cuisine presents rich flavors and hearty servings that would appeal to the largely carnivorous Filipino palate.

Meat figures prominently in German food, with pork making up most of the meat dishes from wursts to roasts.

Take Brotzeit’s Wunderplatte/Wonder Platter (Php3,700) for example. I was able to sample this filling curation of signature German dishes and new items when I visited Brotzeit before thee quarantine.

With its tasty collection of meats in large servings, this platter is the perfect meal for people to come together to enjoy.

This jam-packed platter, which is good for up to six people, included:

Oven-Roasted Chicken.

Berner Sausages. Savory pork links stuffed with emmenthal cheese and wrapped in bacon.

Honey Bavarian Ribs. Fall-of-the-bone tender pork ribs coated with a unique garlic, beer and barbecue-infused sauce.

Signature Crispy Oven-Roasted Pork Knuckle. Hind shank of grain-fed pork roasted in the oven to achieve a crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat.

If all those can not make any carnivore’s mouth water, I don’t know what can!

As with most German food, the Wunderplatte was best enjoyed with another German staple: a glass of good German beer.

Brotzeit has already re-opened with protocols in place for safe and fun dining.

This Brotzeit branch is located at Ground Level, High Street Park, Shangri-La at the Fort, 30th Street Corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 88159338.

Another branch is located at 112 G/F Shangri La Plaza Mall, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 86311489.

You can also have your German food feast delivered right to your home through Brotzeit’s website. The good news is that until January 22, you can enjoy 20% off your online delivery order by using the promo code BZ20OFF.

#TheBistroGroup Trinoma Food Crawl: Modern Shanghai

Who can say no to delicious Chinese food?

Not me, definitely!

Chinese food lovers north of the metro sure are lucky to have a place to go to for a delectable feast: Modern Shanghai at Trinoma Mall.

Modern Shanghai, managed by The Bistro Group, brings the rich flavors and authenticity of home cooking from Sichuan, Beijing and Shanghai in a casual, family-style restaurant setting.

In response to the need of the times, The Bistro Group has instituted safety protocols for safe dining-in at its restaurants. These include: regular health checks for all its personnel, compliance of all outdoor and indoor seating to physical distancing guidelines, hand sanitizers available at the entrance and on every table, as well as contactless menu ordering and payment.

These protocols require diners to submit to temperature checks, provide contact tracing details and using the hand sanitizers and sanitation mats prior to entering the restaurant premises, as well as wearing their personal protective equipment (PPEs) while inside. Would-be diners who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to people who do, have underlying health conditions or have concerns about contracting the disease when dining out are advised to stay home and avail of the restaurant’s contactless delivery options.

Together with my foodie friends, I was able to have a safe dining experience at Modern Shanghai, third stop of our epic food crawl at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. The mood was light and celebratory, as we sampled mouthwatering dishes such as:

Premium Steamed Shrimp and Pork Siomai (Php338/6 pieces). Traditional pork and shrimp dumpling best enjoyed dipped in toyo-mansi (soy sauce with calamansi juice) with just a bit of chili paste.

Signature Xiao Long Bao (Php258/6 pieces). The classic dumpling made from a savory meat filling and a fragrant soup wrapped together in a delicate bao wrapper.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php388, good for sharing among three to four people). Always present in my Chinese meals, this wok-fried rice is a delicious mixture of flavors and textures that go so well with other Chinese dishes.

Birthday Noodles (Php498, good for sharing among three to four people). Noodles are generally eaten on someone’s birthday as a way wishing them long life. Noodles, chopped meat, hard-boiled quail eggs and veggies are tossed together in a wok to make a flavorful noodle dish.

Wok-Fried Sliced Beef with Broccoli (Php648). Tender slices of beef sauteed with ginger and broccoli.

Deep-Fried Pork Ribs with Spicy Salt and Pepper (Php498). Tender pork ribs seasoned with salt, pepper and spices, deep-fried and topped with sauteed garlic.

These rich flavors and hearty servings are best enjoyed with family and friends.

Dine in at Modern Shanghai and enjoy more of these sumptuous Chinese food plus great savings with Modern Shanghai’s irresistible offers:

BFF Bundle (Php1,298, good for three to four persons): Signature Shanghai Mien, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Yang Chow Fried Rice and Braised Fish Fillet in Black Bean Sauce
Buy One Take One Everyday: Wok-Fried Sliced Beef with Brocolli + Signature Xiao Long Bao (Php648), Sauteed Tenderloin Beef with Scallions + Steamed Hakaw Shrimp Dumplings (Php648), Birthday Noodles + Steamed Buns with Preserved Egg Yolk (Php498), Signature Shanghai Mien + Pan-Fried Shanghai Pork Buns

You can also get great savings with the BFF Card, The Bistro Group’s loyalty program that gives members exclusive perks across 15 restaurant brands such as:

30% off on Mondays
20% off on Tuesdays
Complimentary coffee or hot tea single-serve with entree purchase
Online seats reservation
Six Php250 e-vouchers with minimum purchase of Php1,000 per voucher

This Modern Shanghai is located at Fourth Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 8pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79162028 or +63 977 2414903.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Second Floor, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Las Piñas City
Ground Floor, AllHome, C-5 Road Extension, Manuyo, Las Piñas City

Modern Shanghai also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Check out my posts about other restos of The Bistro Group:

Guilt-free recipes made with Mega Tuna

One of the more benign, even beneficial, effects of the quarantine is the renewed interest in home cooking.

In the earlier days of the lockdown, with dining out prohibited and food delivery options quite limited, the metro’s denizens took stock of their pantry and set about creating their culinary masterpieces with ingredients they have on hand.

Guess what’s invariably present in Pinoy kitchen cabinets. Canned tuna!

Tuna is one of the most eaten fish in the world. It can be eaten fresh – either raw or cooked – as well as canned, which involves pre-cooking. In the Philippines, canned tune may be available in several variants such as in oil, in water, in flakes, hot and spicy, Spanish-style or corned, among others.

Canned tuna lends itself well to home cooking. It is flavorful enough to appeal to the palate (it can even be eaten straight out of the can) yet flexible to be applied to many dishes from canapes and salads to pastas. Canned tuna is also healthier than meat, generally having lower levels of saturated and trans fats as well as higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids compared to beef.

In a Zoom event hosted by Mega Tuna last December, brand ambassador Chef JP Anglo of Sarsa Kitchen shared some new recipes made with Mega Tuna that can form part of the holiday spread.

Check them out:

Tuna Arroz Caldo

Ingredients:

Mega Tuna Spanish Style
350g white or brown rice
150g chicharon
20g fresh garlic
50g ginger
30g fried garlic
30g spring onion
5g black pepper
20ml patis
4pcs calamansi

Procedure:

In a pot, pour the oil from the can of Mega Tuna Flakes in Spanish Style, then saute the ginger and garlic.

Add a liter of water and cooked rice, and cook for twenty to thirty minutes.

Pour the arroz caldo in a bowl, add the Mega Tuna and top with spring onions, fried garlic, chicharon and black pepper.

Season with patis.

Tuna Soba Noodles

Ingredients:

Mega Tuna Sweet and Spicy
500g soba noodles
30ml sesame oil
20g sesame seeds
60ml oyster sauce
5g salt
3pc fried eggs
Chili garlic (optional)

Procedure:

Cook soba noodles in hot water (make sure not to overcook them).

Toss all ingredients with the noodles and add half of the tuna and half of the oil from the can to flavor the noodles.

Pour the mixture into a bowl and top with the remaining tuna, fried garlic, spring onions and fried egg.

I was able to try these delicious dishes since I received a box containing these dishes as well as Mega Tuna’s four variants: in Oil, Spanish Style, Sweet and Spicy and Hot and Spicy.

Hubby found the Mega Tuna variants well-suited to his midnight snacking.

The holidays may be over but we can carry over these recipes into the new year as we continue to create delectable viands from our kitchen staples such as Mega Tuna.

Mega Tuna is available in leading supermarkets and grocery stores as well as in Shopee and Lazada.

Tell your tales with Stories and Blossoms’ preserved flower arrangements

Have you ever heard the phrase “say it with flowers?”

This saying is attributed to Boston adman Major Patrick O’Keefe who came up with the slogan during a discussion with former President of the Society of American Florists. While brainstorming on possible slogans for the organization, Penn was said to have remarked “There is nothing you can’t say with flowers – when you send flowers, it says everything,” to which O’Keefe exclaimed “That’s it!”

For ages, meaning have been attributed to flowers. From the Ottoman Empire’s obsession with tulips to the Victorian era’s interest in floriography, up to the present day’s penchant for using blossoms in home decor, flowers have been used to send messages to their recipients.

Imagine what you can say with preserved flowers instead. If you haven’t yet considered preserved flowers to beautify your home or to give as gifts, here are ways they trump fresh-cut flowers.

1. They last longer.

The thing with flowers is they tend not to last that long. While fresh-cut flowers can generally last for a week or two, preserved flowers can stay around for up to three years. You won’t have to worry about your home accent or present wilting away too soon.

2. They cost less.

Fresh cut flower arrangements for delivery usually start at Php700 but preserved flower arrangements can cost as low as half this amount.

3. They require little maintenance.

Since the preserved flowers are dried, they do not require water to maintain them. Given our climate, you would just need to keep them from dust and moisture so you can enjoy them for a long time.

4. They don’t trigger pollen-based allergies.

If you’ve always loved the beauty of floral arrangements but get a case of the sniffles every time you’re near them, preserved flowers is the solution to your problem. Preserved flowers no longer have pollen so those who suffer from allergies to this substance can enjoy them safely.

More and more, it seems that preserved flowers are well-suited to today’s minimalist trends in gift-giving and home decor.

Online flower shop Stories & Blossoms captures not just the needs of times but also the stories behind every emotion, celebration and milestone that call for its tasteful preserved flower arrangements.

Through the artful combinations of colors, textures and sizes of different blooms, it helps evoke feelings, memories and thoughts.

Take this Stories & Blossoms creation – called “Little Black Dress” – a 26-inch tall arrangement that incorporates the Pantone colors of 2021 – Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Grey – as well as my favorite color, Black. This imbued a combined sense of brightness, serenity and hope to my home. It also became an eye-catching and elegant centerpiece for my dining table.

You too can capture and tell your tales with preserved flowers. Just shop online at Stories & Blossoms’ website. Arrangements are priced starting at Php299. To know more about its newest arrangement creations and offers, like and follow Stories & Blossoms on Facebook or call +63 967 5099050.

Disclosure: A product sample was provided to facilitate this feature article.

#TheBistroGroup Trinoma Food Crawl: Fish & Co.

Truth be told: Fish & Co. was not among my go-to restaurants. Being a carnivore, I gravitated to restaurants centered on steaks, ribs and meat. And boy, have I been missing out on quite a lot!

This I discovered when my foodie friends and I went on an epic food trip at Trinoma Mall of which Fish & Co. was the second stop.

Fish & Co. is a casual dining restaurant that serve fresh seafood in a pan. Drawing inspiration from the practices of Mediterranean fishermen who cooked their freshly caught seafood on board their boats and ate directly off the pans where they cooked their food to ease their hunger pangs while they’re at sea.

The restaurant prides itself on offering the freshest seafood, prepared with natural and wholesome ingredients and served in generous portions.

Fish & Co. is one of the restaurants managed by The Bistro Group, a collection of international and local hospitality brands.

With safety concerns adequately addressed, diners can fully get down to getting hooked by Fish & Co.’s sumptuous dishes such as:

Ceasar Salad with Ramen Egg (Php295/Php495). Romaine lettuce tossed with croutons and parmesan cheese in house Caesar dressing and topped with marinated egg.

Crispy Fish Skin (Php195). Deep-fried salmon skin served with cocktail vinegar and spicy mango vinaigrette.

Singaporean Fried Chicken (Php795). Deep-fried marinated chicken served with house gravy.

Seafood Spaghetti Marinara (Php355/Php595). Clams, prawn and fish cubes, tossed in our homemade tomato-basil sauce.

The Best Fish in Town (Php395/Php525). A slab of lightly battered fish deep-fried to a beautiful and crispy golden brown and served with tartar sauce.

At Fish & Co., you get a delicious taste of the sea’s bounty and more!

You can also get great savings with the BFF Card, The Bistro Group’s loyalty program that gives members exclusive perks across 15 restaurant brands such as:

30% off on Mondays
20% off on Tueadays
Complimentary coffee or hot tea single-serve with entree purchase
Online seats reservation
Six Php250 e-vouchers with minimum purchase of Php1,000 per voucher

This Fish & Co. branch is located at Fourth Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 8pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79162028, +63 2 7916 0105 or +63 977 2414903.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, Upper Mckinley Road, Taguig City
4th Floor, The Deck, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
G/F Entertainment Mall, MOA Complex, Pasay City

Fish & Co. delivers via FoodPanda.

Check out my posts about other restos of The Bistro Group:

#TheBistroGroup Trinoma Food Crawl: Denny’s

Renowned writer Robert A. Heinlein once said “One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.”

I can definitely agree: breakfast fuels you at the start of the day, readying you for all the challenges you will face from then on.

And where do we go to get a tasty and nourishing breakfast, in the morning or any time of the day?

Denny’s, of course!

The first stop of an epic food crawl that my foodie friends and I undertook at the Trinoma Mall, Denny’s whetted our appetites for a satisfying day of eating.

Denny’s is known as America’s diner. It started in the 1950s as a donut stand called Danny’s Donuts. Since then, it has evolved into a global restaurant chain with 1700 locations, as well as adopted a slightly changed name.

In the Philippines, it is one of the restaurants managed by The Bistro Group, a collection of international and local hospitality brands.

With these measures in place, diners can just focus their attention to the hearty and flavorful dishes that Denny’s offers, such as:

Denny’s Share for All (Php695). A filling collection of appetizers such as pancake puppies, quesadilla, chicken fingers and fries served with ranch dressing, honey mustard and caramel sauce.

Lumberjack Slam (Php675). Two buttermilk pancakes, a slice of grilled ham, two bacon strips and two sausages. Thanks to Denny’s BOGO (Buy One Get One) Everyday deal, you get a free Garlic Smoked Bangus with your order of the Lumberjack Slam.

Filipino Breakfast Platter (Php1,395). Good for sharing by up to three persons, this is a smorgasboard of home-grown flavors which include bangus belly, crispy pork, sausage, eggplant, saba and side veggies accompanied by three pieces of pancakes.

Fill up on your brekkie faves and enjoy great savings with these great offers:

Buy One Get One Everyday: 15pc Wing Basket + All-Time Breakfast (Php395), Lumberjack Slam + Garlic Smoked Bangus (Php675), Any Ribs Dish + Fried Chicken & Waffle (Php395)
Bundles: 4 pcs pancakes + 4 pcs waffles + 6 pcs wings (Php795), 2 pcs pork belly + 2 pcs Denny’s Fried Chicken + Rice (Php795)

If you’ve got a monster-sized appetite or a major craving for breakfast food, head on to Denny’s!

You can also get great savings with the BFF Card, The Bistro Group’s loyalty program that gives members exclusive perks across 15 restaurant brands such as:

30% off on Mondays
20% off on Tueadays
Complimentary coffee or hot tea single-serve with entree purchase
Online seats reservation
Six Php250 e-vouchers with minimum purchase of Php1,000 per voucher

This Denny’s branch is located at Fourth Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 8pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 77723371 or +63 905 3713998.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, 9th Avenue Corner 38th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Second Floor, Ayala North Exchange, Ayala Avenue Corner Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Ground Floor, Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Ground Floor, AllHome, C-5 Road Extension, Manuyo, Las Piñas City

Denny’s delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Check out my posts about other restos of The Bistro Group:

Quick pain relief with White Flower

I’m no snowflake.

In fact, I pride myself on being a low-maintenance kind of girl, a koboy, in fact.

But sometimes, there are those aches and pains that stop me from having a happy and productive day.

Blame it on today’s busy and overwhelming pace of living, or, yes, my age, but lately, I can succumb to those twinges and sniffles that get in the way of what I have set out to do.

I guess I’m not as tough as I thought I was.

Well, some wise ladies have clued me in on their tried-and-tested home remedy: White Flower Embrocation.

A nifty bottle of this liniment provides a quick dose of much-needed relief for those who get knocked-down by life’s little discomforts.

Yes, being a legacy brand, White Flower has been around for quite a while. That’s just a testament to its efficacy.

Just by performing three basic steps – ipatak (apply a few drops to the palms and rub together), langhapin (breathe in the soothing vapor) and ihagod (massage onto the aching area) – generations have benefited from its pain-fighting qualities against ailments such as:

Headaches. Don’t you just hate it when your head begins to throb when you get tired or stressed? There are times that call for you powering through your headache to deliver your work task or fulfill responsibilities at home. To give yourself some quick relief from these kinds of headaches, apply two to three drops onto your palm and gently rub your palms together, deeply inhale the vapor and massage the oil onto your temples in a circular motion. Be sure to avoid contact with your eyes!

Muscle Pain. My good intentions of having a more active lifestyle are being curtailed by those muscle aches from overexertion or tension. With the anti-inflammatory qualities of its lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, White Flower is the solution to pain caused by muscle swelling. To get your quick relief from muscle pain, apply two to three drops onto your palms or directly on the skin, then massage the oil into the sore area.

Colds. When my Vitamin C intake was not enough to stop the onset of the sniffles, I have no choice but to just ride it out. Fortunately, White Flower’s soothing and refreshing vapors can help ease the discomforts caused by sinusitis and nasal congestion. Place two to three drops on a handkerchief, then inhale the soothing vapors. My mom taught me to do suob (steam inhalation) for even faster relief: drop a bit of the oil into a basin of hot water, drape a towel over your head and inhale the steam. For a more comfortable sleep, apply a few drops on your pillow at bedtime. Not only will you have a more pleasant slumber, your pillow will also smell fresh and minty!

White Flower also provides relief from travel sickness and insect bites. Just remember the three-step action: ipatak, langhapin and ihagod!

With a bottle of White Flower Embrocation in my bag, I can go back to being my usual tough and koboy self. After all, pain relief is just a few drops away.

What’s your home remedy for pain relief?

To get your own stash of White Flower Embrocation, order now from Shopee or Lazada.

White Flower Embrocation is a blend of six essential oils – peppermint, wintergreen, camphor, eucalyptus, menthol and lavender, all known for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is manufactured by Hoe Hin Pak Fah Yeow Mfg., Ltd. in Hong kong, and imported, packed and distributed by Jelma Philippines.

For more information on White Flower Embrocation, visit its website.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.

Hassle-free party food from Kitchen City Frozen Meals

Restrictions from the quarantine that’s still in place in the metro precludes many of the celebrations and gatherings we used to enjoy.

Before the pandemic, people would get together to toast to birthdays, promotions and almost any reason under the sun.

Nowadays, many of us have to make do with Zoom parties or virtual meetups.

But unless you’re all partaking of the same delicious meal during your party, it just doesn’t feel the same, does it?

Well, a solution to this problem is actually just a few phone taps away!

Kitchen City is under one of the country’s biggest food concessionnaires servicing schools, hospitals and corporate offices for more than twenty years. To ease the kitchen woes of busy homemakers or virtual party organizers, it also offers cooked viands for delivery that are ready to heat, just in time to be enjoyed for any occasion.

During my mother-in-law’s birthday, she treated her kids and their families to hearty meals from Kitchen City which included:

Laing with Crispy Pork Toppings (Php250/600g). The much-loved Bicolano dish made with shredded gabi leaves cooked in rich coconut milk spiced with siling labuyo, garlic, bagoong alamang and ginger, topped with crispy pork pieces.

Gising-gising (Php250/600g). A classic Kapampangan dish also known as ginataang sigarilyas wherein winged beans are chopped then cooked in coconut milk spiced with siling labuyo, onions, shrimp paste and garlic.

KC Signature Hawaiian Baby Back Ribs (Php550/600g). A tangy and savory dish made with pork ribs, ketchup, pineapple juice and brown sugar.

Beef Morcon (Php425/600g). Filipino-style beef roll made with cheese, hotdogs, eggs and celery all rolled up in a thin slice of beef then braised in a rich tomato sauce.

All three households celebrated MIL’s special day with these tasty dishes. All we had to do was heat up the dishes, serve and dig in!

Now you know, there’s no need to sweat it out in the kitchen to whip up tasty party fare. Just order from Kitchen City and let it take care of the rest.

Kitchen City Frozen Meals is located at Lot 86 Bagsakan Road corner Avocado Street, FTI Complex, Taguig City, Philippines. For orders, call +63 2 6924601, +63 977 4774990, +63 927 758764, +63 917 5150873, +63 923 7295767, +63 956 7811517 or +63 909 0917437. You may also course your order through its website or at goodfinds.ph.

Best Asian fusion dishes from Bistro Charlemagne

Ever since I had my first taste of Bistro Charlemagne‘s celebrated dishes during a foodie meetup held at its Ayala Feliz branch two years ago, the restaurant has occupied a special place in my heart.

Then, the flavors my fellow foodies and I tasted were at once familiar and novel to our palates. This is because this high-end restaurant offers to its clientele a fusion of Asian and European cuisines.

I was also able to introduce this resto to Hubby and the kids, and a family favorite came to be. Bistro Charlemagne became our go-to restaurant for family celebrations, including birthdays and get-togethers with visiting relatives.

It was forced to pause its operations during the enhanced community quarantine but re-opened in the second half of the year for delivery. It was just in time for my daughter #ExhibitA’s birthday, who has declared Bistro Charlemagne as her favorite restaurant so I had some her favorite dishes delivered to our home for her birthday lunch.

As community quarantine restrictions have lessened, Bistro Charlemagne has also re-opened for dine-in service but with safety protocols in place.

I’m looking forward to dining in at Bistro Charlemagne soon. However, since my son #ExhibitB is below 18 years old and can’t enter malls, I decided to have our holiday lunch from Bistro Charlemagne delivered to our home for the whole family to enjoy.

Our family feast included:

Pares Rice (Php365). Slow-braised shredded beef shank with anise-sweet soy in fried rice topped with fried beef.

Japanese Beef Fried Rice (Php145). The fam’s favorite fried rice made with Japanese rice, ground beef, vegetables and egg.

Scallop Gratin (Php445). Baked bay scallops with garlic-chorizo cream sauce topped with cheese.

Golden 17 Chicken (Php375). Traditionally prepared soy chicken perfumed with an intricate blend of seventeen herbs and spices and served with yummy ginger sauce. Hubby discovered that its mild flavor is a perfect match with the Pares Rice.

Drunken Lengua in Brown Mushroom Sauce (Php445). Pan-seared ox tongue with mushrooms, asparagus and white wine. I’ve been raving about this dish for years now. It goes so well with the Japanese Fried Rice that these two dishes are my automatic orders.

Lengua in White Sauce (Php445). I decided to also introduce Bistro Charlemagne’s other lengua dish to the fam. Made with braised ox tongue with rich cream sauce and sautéed mushrooms. While this is an exceptional dish, the fam’s loyalty is still with our favorite Drunken Lengua.

The fam’s holiday lunch was so special because we were able to taste our old favorites and discover new ones as well.

Hoping that things normalize soon so we can all dine in at Bistro Charlemagne soon.

This Bistro Charlemagne branch is located at Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 8pm. Orders may also be called in via +63 956 4507704. Digital payments via BDO and GCash are accepted.

Other branches are located at:

Paranaque: Third Floor, Cinema Building, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Parañaque City
Laguna: Solenad 3, Ayala Malls Solenad, Nuvali, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna

Bistro Charlemagne also delivers via FoodPanda, GrabFood and Mangan.

New to being a plantita? Keep these tips in mind

Are you a plantita yet?

During quarantine, it seems that people all started cultivating houseplants. This is hardly surprising because plants do contribute to beautifying a space by providing spots of color or unique touches to the area. Since most of us are spending practically all our time at home, we are seized with the urge to improve the visual appeal of our abode with the use of houseplants.

Aside from their aesthetic contributions to our homes, houseplants also help in maintaining our health.

Some houseplants have known medicinal benefits. Aloe vera, for example, has been used to treat burns and skin, while the root of the ginger plant is used to help with digestion and nausea.

Aside from these, houseplants also help in maintaining our mental well-being. They give off a calming vibe that eases our stresses. Plants help to bring the outdoors into the home by reminding us of nature and wide open spaces. Also, since plants give off oxygen while taking in carbon dioxide, they help in improving air quality in our home.

If you’re a newbie plantita (or plant-parent), you might want to keep these tips in mind to make sure you get to enjoy your plant-babies, and their health benefits, for a long time.

1) Have the basics on-hand.

Plants basically need three things to grow and thrive: soil, sunlight and water. The availability of these requirements in your home should determine which plants you will choose and what gardening method you will employ.

If you have a large outdoor space for a garden, for example, you have the leeway to opt for larger plants that need lots of sunlight and soil. If you live in a condo, on the other hand, a smaller potted plant that does not require constant sunlight might be more appropriate.

2. Check your lifestyle.

Some people may have lots of time to devote to gardening and can take on plants with exacting care requirements.

Other may not have time in abundance, plants that are low maintenance may be the order of the day.

Luckily, there are products now available that help make plant care a lot easier such as self-watering systems and misters.

You might also want to consider if you have family members or pets that you may not always be able to control around houseplants. Pets may dig the soil from potted plants or chew on leaves, making themselves sick. Meanwhile, small children might pull off flowers or knock down potted plants.

Bearing in mind how much time and effort you can devote to the care of your houseplants, as well as the other living things that share the space with them, choose the ones that suit your lifestyle best.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The plantita/plantito community in the country is growing and many of its members are more than happy to share best practices and useful advice to newbie plant owners. Search Facebook for groups on plants and gardening where you can post questions and ask for advice.

Your local plant nurseries are also good sources of information and equipment for plant care. Just ask the gardener about plant care tips.

You can also brush up on your plant care know-how by reading books or browsing plant care websites.

Being a plantita has its own unique rewards. Seeing your plant-baby grow and flourish will surely feel akin to a big accomplishment.

So with these tips in your plantita arsenal, you can face your plant ownership journey head on and enjoy the happiness it brings.

This post contains affiliate links.

Photos of plant nursery taken at D’Flora’s Garden along Katipunan Road, White Plains Subdivision, Quezon City.