June 2022 – Page 4 – Jellybeans in the City

Pinoy comfort food at Goodah, Timog Avenue

Whenever I feel stressed or harassed, I always get a strong craving for comfort food. These are dishes that I usually associate with delicious home cooking, the kind that my mom would serve me whenever I was sick or sad.

For over thirty years, Goodah has been the has been the go-to place for people seeking fuss-free comfort food that appeals to down-home Pinoy palate. These include the traditional hot and quickly-served Filipino snacks like goto and lugaw, as well as the hugely popular silogs. Being so popular among all sorts of people, it soon adopted the monicker “ang pagkaing for every all!”

During the height of the lockdown due to the pandemic, I was able to enjoy Goodah’s comforting dishes with my fam while stuck at home through its Salo-Salo Set Meals (thanks to Rowena of TravelEatPinas for thoughtfully sending me this meal set!)

However, as the lockdowns gradually eased (but my work and life stresses did not) I wanted to experience Goodah’s down-home Pinoy dishes in a dine-in setting.

So off I went with my fellow unnies to the Goodah branch along Timog Avenue.

Here, we were able to sit down and take a break from our daily grind as we gossiped about our Hollywood idols and K-pop stans while we feast on Pinoy comfort food.

These include:

Batangas Lomi with Tokwa’t Baboy (Php134). A noodle dish made with thick yellow noodles in a thick and starchy soup topped with bits of pork meat, pork offal, pork rind and kikiam. It’s best enjoyed with a side dish made with tofu and pork bits in vinegar sauce.

Arroz Caldo Special (Php179). A porridge made with glutinous rice and accompanied by chicken pieces, hard-boiled egg and topped with crunchy fried garlic and chopped scallions.

Pork Bingoongan (Php319). A classic Pinoy dish wherein pork belly is stewed in shrimp paste (bagoong).

Kare Kare (Php345). A Filipino stew wherein ox and pork meat and offal are served in a thick and rich peanut sauce along with vegetables.

Supermeal A (Php150). A budget-friendly rice meal that includes tocino, lumpiang shanghai, pancit canton, kropek (prawn cracker) and leche flan.

Supermeal B (Php160). Another rice meal that’s light on the budget which includes tapa flakes, lumpiang shanghai, pancit canton, kropek (prawn cracker) and leche flan.

Ribsilog (Php195). Crispy fried pork ribs served with garlic fried rice, fried egg and atchara.

Leche Flan (Php39). The Pinoy version of creme caramel which is made of egg-and-milk custard with a soft caramel layer on top.

With such comforting dishes to be enjoyed, should there still be room in my psyche for stress and negativity? I guess not!

Dispel your own blues with Pinoy comfort food by dropping by a Goodah branch near you today!

This Goodah outlet is located at 57 Timog Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in and takeout from 8am to 8pm, and for delivery from 7am to 9pm via Pick*A*Roo, and 25-hours via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Other Gooodah outlets are located in Alabang, Valenzuela, Pasig, Granada and Fairview in Quezon City, as well as in Sucat and Bicutan in Paranaque.

Know more about this much-loved Filipino food brand through its website. Stay updated on Goodah’s latest offers and promos by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

#UnniesTimeOut at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club

It’s been quite some time since I enjoyed a sojourn at the posh Rockwell area in Makati. With all the upheaval in the metro caused by the pandemic and the recent elections, I have not been able to re-explore a lot of my favorite haunts.

That’s such a shame as one of benchmarks for a fine-dining experience remains to be Chef Jessie Rockwell Club.

Having re-opened after pausing its operations due to the lockdown measures in the city, Chef Jessie Rockwell Club is all set to provide the metro’s foodies with well-crafted gourmet dishes and a luxurious environment in which to enjoy their meal.

Chef Jessie Rockwell Club is helmed by Chef Jessie Sincioco, a pioneer in the locak culinary scene. Having won the baking category grand prize winner in The Great Maya Cookfest in 1983 and becoming the very first Filipina Pastry Chef in 1990, she furthered her illustrious career by managing upscale restaurants through her own company JCS Gastronomie, Inc. In 2015, she received the distinction of being hand-picked to cook for His Holiness Pope Francis during the Pontiff’s visit to the Philippines.

I was happy that during our recent trip to the Rockwell area, my fellow unnies Jen of Sand Under My Feet and Nix of IEatAndIWander, were able have a sit-down meal at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club to enjoy Chef Jessie’s celebrated culinary creations.

We started with Chef Jessie’s Ciabatta, a long, flat and rustic-looking loaf that’s sets the tone for a great meal, especially since it’s accompanied by Chef Jessie’s Special Dip made with finely chopped red and green bell peppers, pimiento and grated parmesan in herbed olive oil, along with bread rolls and butter.

We had our taste of fresh produce thanks to the Salad ala Judy Ann, composed mixed greens tossed with bits of fruits in season along with slivers of brie and bleu-cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

To further whet our appetites, we had our serving of Cream of Carrot and Pumpkin Soup, a thick and creamy bisque made with wholesome ingredients with a final seasoning of freshly ground black pepper upon serving.

One of our main dishes was a serving of US Beef Tenderloin Tips Salpicao, made with the nicely trimmed and flavorful ends of US beef tenderloin, stir-fried in Worcestershire sauce, butter, garlic, and other spices, and served with creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables in season.

We also enjoyed another tasty viand: the Pan-Fried Salmon in Mariner Sauce, a succulent fillet of Norwegian Salmon on a bed of creamy, herb-infused sauce, garnished with chopped parsley, and served along with creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables in season.

To cap off our sumptuous meal, we enjoyed a decadent serving of fluffy Chocolate Souffle drenched in vanilla sauce.

We also accompanied our meal with both cold drinks – Freshly Brewed Iced Tea and Fresh Lemongrass Tea – and hot beverages – Freshly Brewed Coffee and Basilur Tea from Sri Lanka.

For this group of unnies, our sit-down dinner at Chef Jessie Rockwell remains one for the books!

Chef Jessie Rockwell Club is located at Ground Floor, Rockwell Club, Amorsolo Square, Rockwell Center, Makati, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 88906543 or +63 2 98907630.

Know more about Chef Jessie through her website or follow Chef Jessie on Facebook and Instagram for more details about her restaurants’ latest offerings.

Check out my previous posts about Chef Jessie.

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati — Chef Jessie’s Place in Makati soon to open

Chef Jessie’s Place for delivery — Chef Jessie’s creations are now available for delivery and pickup!

Chef Jessie Light Summer Berry Cake — Chef Jessie unveils newest creation: the Summer Berries Light Cheesecake!05

#FruitTeaParty at Colobaba Cafe

In these last few days of summer, don’t you sometimes feel the need for ways to relax and refresh yourself as well as a break from the monotony of responsibilities at work and at home?

How about getting together with your pals for a refreshing Fruit Tea Party at Colobaba Cafe?

This fruit tea brand originated from Taiwan and has now spread to over 500 branches worldwide. One of its outlets in the Philippines is located along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

Here, you and your buddies can relax in the laid back atmosphere as you feast your eyes and sate your tummy on wondrously colorful and refreshing drinks and snacks on offer.

With the reinvigorating blend of fresh fruits and premium Taiwanese tea, Colobaba Cafe’s drinks are high on both taste and nutritional content.

Taking center-stage, of course, is Colobaba Cafe’s Fruit Tea Party (Php298). This is the 1.5-liter version of the Superfruit Tea which is made of Taiwanese tea infused with apple, pineapple, watermelon and calamansi.

If you want to make your fruity drink even healthier, you can always go for a Yogurt Baba (Php188), which is made by blending fresh fruit juice and yogurt. To enjoy this drink, simply shake then gulp it down!

Of course, what would a party be without some delicious food? Colobaba Cafe’s got this covered, thanks to delectable snack offerings.

Snack Pack (Php268). A filling combination of potato fries, chicken chops, chicken popcorn and sausage.

Orange Chicken + Veggies (Php198). A satisfying rice bowl topped with chicken glazed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce, a sunny-side-up egg and vegetables.

Nothing caps a meal quite like some sweet delight, so Colobaba Cafe’s got some treats to give you and your friends your just desserts!

Chocolate Souffle (Php188). Fluffy Japanese style pancakes topped with cheesy cream foam, drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with crushed Oreos.

Egg Tarts (Php150/pcs | Php200/6pcs). Portuguese-style pastries composed of a flaky and buttery shell housing creamy egg custard.

So take heart, you harried urbanite. Some welcome rest, respite and refreshment await you and your buddies at Colobaba Cafe. Drop by any of its outlets in the metro:

Quezon City: Unit 9 ITC Commercial Complex, Timog Avenue corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City

Manila: Unit 104 The Manila Residence Tower II, Taft Avenue, Manila

Pasay: Magdalena Jalandoni Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Don’t have the time to drop by a Colobaba Cafe branch? Have your reinvigorating drinks and re-energizing snacks delivered to you via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

To keep updated on its latest offers and promos, follow Colobaba Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Explosively delish buns from Burger Bomb Pasig!

Hungry and looking for a quick yet delish snack?

Well, you better start looking around for a Burger Bomb outlet near you then!

Fortunately, we Pasiguenos have one right in our neck of the woods.

Burger Bomb is known for producing perfectly baked savory buns filled with 100% beef, creamy melted cheese and freshly sliced vegetables. Each bun is hearty and very satisfying, and gives an explosion of flavor with every bite.

These buns have no artificial flavors, preservatives nor added colors from artificial sources.

Check them out:

Original Series

Get these classic Burger Bombs for just Php35 per piece, Php200 for a box of 6 or Php390 for a box of 12.

Cheeseburger Bomb. Made with 100% pure beef, tomato, onion, pickles, mustard, ketchup and cheese encased in a sesame seed bun.

Hickory BBQ Bomb. Made with 100% beef, bacon bits, Burger Bomb’s Signature Hickory Sauce and cheese encased in a plain bun.

Pizza Bomb. Made with 100% pure beef, Burger Bomb’s Signature Pizza Sauce, pepperoni, cheese and Italian seasoning encased in a bun brushed with butter and garlic.

Special Series

Level up your Burger Bomb experience with these special buns for just Php40 per piece, Php230 for a box of 6 or Php450 for a box of 12.

Creamy Pork Floss Bomb. Soft buns filled with special cream cheese and topped with pork floss.

Creamy Spinach Bomb. Soft buns filled with a mixture of fresh spinach, cream and Burger Bomb’s secret ingredients.

Fruity Series

Give your sweet tooth a treat with these fruity beignet buns for just Php27 per piece, Php155 for a box of 6 or Php310 for a box of 12.

Mango Bomb. Yummy mango filling in a soft bun sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Pineapple Bomb. A combination of pineapple and chocolate in a soft bun sprinkled with powdered sugar.

With Burger Bomb’s takeout counter nearby, these yummy buns are so easily accessible to us Pasiguenos.

Whether we need a quick nibble in between meals, something hassle-free to eat during our working lunch, or midnight snack while on a late-night binge of our favorite TV shows, we can now count on Burger Bomb.

Burger Bomb is best when shared so order a box or two of your favorite variants and enjoy these buns with your loved ones!

Enjoy them hot and fresh from the store or reheat them in the oven for five to seven minutes or in the microwave for thirty to sixty seconds.

This Burger Bomb outlet is located at the parking lot of Divimart along A. Sandoval Avenue (near Greenwoods Subdivision), Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 8pm for takeout or pickup. To order, call or text +63 917 8964089. For more details on its products and offers, follow Burger Bomb Pasig on Facebook.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Things to Do in Burlington This Summer

Burlington is a city of about 42,000 people in Vermont that is known as the “City of Lakes” and “City of Parks.” It’s also known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities.

It is the perfect place for people to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.

The city offers an abundance of things to do that are both relaxing and exciting. There are lots of natural beauty spots, such as Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. The city also has a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops that will make any visitor feel like they want to start looking at Burlington houses for sale.

In Burlington, you can find everything you need to enjoy your time off from work or school-and it’s all within walking distance!

Here are some enjoyable things to do in Burlington, Vermont, this summer.

Visit the Vermont State House

Lake Champlain is the largest lake in New England and a popular tourist destination.

The lakefront is one of the most beautiful places to walk in Burlington. It is a short walk from the waterfront to the State Street Bridge and back again.

Lake Champlain has clear water, a sandy beach, and a wide variety of wildlife. The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the lakeshore for fishing, boating, swimming, and other recreational activities, all of which you’ll love in summer.

This walk will take you along Lake Champlain with its clear water, sand beach, and wide variety of wildlife. You can enjoy fishing or swimming on the sandy beach or simply just walking along the waterfront as you see some beautiful views.

Get Some Good Food and Drinks

Burlington has many great places to eat, but these are some of the best restaurants worth checking out:

1) The Friendly Toast – Breakfast, lunch and dinner. This restaurant offers great food with friendly service. They have a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options like omelets, muffins, sandwiches and bagels.

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A post shared by The Friendly Toast (@_thefriendlytoast)

2) The Burlington Farmers Market – This market is open every day from 9 to 2 and offers fresh produce, meat, cheese, breads, and more.

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3) Cosmic Grind Coffee Shop – Cosmic Grind Coffee Shop is a small coffee shop in Burlington. The success of Cosmic Grind is highly due to its welcoming atmosphere and great customer service. Cosmic Grind is a great place to stop by for an iced coffee or a warm drink on a cold day. They also have delicious pastries that are baked fresh in-house every morning.

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Ride the Burlington Greenway

The Burlington Greenway is an eight-mile-long bike and pedestrian path that runs through the heart of the city.

The Burlington Greenway stretches from the South End to Burlington’s waterfront, and it connects to other bike paths along the Lake Champlain shore.

The greenway has a few small bridges and footbridges over the tracks. It is also home to a large number of trees and plants, which provide shade for walkers and cyclists, as well as a natural habitat for all the wildlife.

Photo Credit: Header photo by Stephen Mease on Unsplash

#SweetDelight: Red Ribbon’s Caramel Crunch Cake is back!

One of my most treasured early foodie memories is discovering Red Ribbon’s Caramel Crunch Cake.

During my summer break from grade school, my mom and I dropped by a Red Ribbon branch along Shaw Boulevard where beautifully crafted cakes were on display.

I remember us taking home this exquisite confection which was a far cry from the usual cakes we bought for family celebrations.

It is quite a visual wonder: a round cake made of layers of delicate chiffon, cream and caramel jelly, topped with cubes of honeycomb crunch. Each bite leads to a complex explosion of creamy, crunchy, and caramel-y delight in my mouth.

So that’s my first encounter with Red Ribbon’s Caramel Crunch Cake.

Over the years, it has joined various celebrations of my family, from birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries to graduations, always enjoying pride of place on our banquet table.

Years passed, and I expanded my repertoire of confectioneries, but I always remember that my first love was this Caramel Crunch Cake.

Imagine my dismay when I tried to have one delivered for a home celebration during lockdown and I couldn’t find it in any branch!

I thought then that I might not be able to taste my first favorite cake again but lo and behold: it’s back!

Red Ribbon is now re-offering the Caramel Crunch Cake at Php690 for a regular-sized cake. Now, my family’s celebrations will be complete and my kiddos can discover why I love this cake so much.

So go ahead and enjoy an old favorite or rediscover a sweet delight with Red Ribbon’s Caramel Crunch Cake!

Order today at your nearest Red Ribbon store, or through the Red Ribbon app, the Red Ribbon delivery website, Red Ribbon on Facebook Messenger, or by calling the #87777 hotline. You may also place your order via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

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

The Prince returns… and rolls out the red carpet for guests

The Manila Prince Hotel by The Manila Hotel is delighted to officially announce its highly anticipated reopening on June 1, 2022. This heralds an exciting new chapter in the property’s history as it establishes itself as a perfect staycation place in the heart of the city.

The newly reopened Manila Prince Hotel offers guest affordable luxury with a reopening rate of only P1,999 nett for an overnight stay in a Deluxe room. This royal treatment can be enjoyed by two (2) adults and two (2) kids 12 years old and below, along with set breakfast for two.

Staycation seekers, weary urban warriors, working folk, and even guests from outside Metro Manila can expect unrivalled comfort and inimitable service while enjoying the hotel’s facilities and spaces. The hotel boasts of a pool where you can take your kids to enjoy an afternoon of fun, while the rest of the day can be spent having a hearty meal at the hotel’s Marcelino Street Café, which serves a la carte dishes for now. Eventually, Manila Prince Hotel’s amazingly decorated Chinese restaurant, Dragon Court, will reopen at a later date.

Guests are also within walking distance to malls and commercial establishments—the closest being UN Square, which has an array of fast-food choices on the ground floor like Tim Horton’s, Café France, Karate Kid, and many others. The hotel is in the center of everything, and convenient enough to be near banks, hospitals, schools, and convenience stores, churches, and many others.

But Manila Prince Hotel is not just welcoming stay-in guests but also those who are looking for the perfect venue for events that have been postponed or re-scheduled because of the pandemic. With the return of social events and gatherings, Manila Prince Hotel gives guests an option of an affordable but grand venue for conferences, meetings, and even gatherings like wedding receptions, anniversaries, and more.

Manila Prince Hotel is a multi-use establishment that welcomes both staycation/leisure guests, and even guests who need mandatory stay bookings for a few days. Strict safety guidelines will be implemented.

With the reinforcement of cleaning and disinfection procedures implemented in rooms, common areas, function halls, dining outlets, and kitchen and employee areas, Manila Prince Hotel has adapted to current guidelines from the government to ensure guest safety and comfort.

Reservation for staycations as well as function rooms for meetings/conventions, launches and other occasions are now accepted. For enquiries and reservations, guests may call 0998-591-1912; visit https://www.manilaprince.com; or email info@themanilaprince.com.

You may also book your stay at Manila Prince Hotel via Klook.

Details and images provided in a recent press release.

#ChinoyComfortFood at White Flower Tea House

The mark of a good Chinese restaurant is a is a widely varied menu. This recognizes the myriad of gustatory possibilities in Chinese cuisine.

Personally, I love its localized variant, Chinese food that has been adapted to suit the Pinoy palate. Called Chinoy cuisine, its dishes are both flavorful and filling.

Foodies can get a taste of Chinoy comfort food crafted and curated by Chef Decker Gokioco at White Flower Tea House, one of the eclectic culinary stalls in Powerplant Mall’s The Grid Food Market.

Here, Chef Gokioco showcases his unique Chinoy heritage, and also calls back to his treasured childhood memories of going on Sunday visits with his family to the celebrated home of Chinese cuisine in Manila: the Binondo. By combining both traditional and modern approaches, the chef produced a menu that features both favorite flavors and fresh forays into Asian cuisine.

Recently, White Flower Tea House unveiled its new appetizers which include:

Mapo Tofu Dip (Php220). A new spin on the famous Mapo Tofu dish which has been turned into a dip made with braised ground pork and silken tofu, served with crispy fried wanton chips.

Prawn Toast (Php350). A snackable treat made with deep-fried prawn paste served on top of dense savory bread along sweet mayonnaise and a serving of sweet-and-sour sauce.

Egg Floss Shrimp (Php550). A Singaporean-inspired dish made with deep-fried battered shrimp tossed in curry leaves, chilies and egg floss.

With such delicious appetizers, we can definitely look forward to tasty meals from White Flower Tea House.

Dine in at The Grid Food Market to taste these Chinoy comfort food creations hot and fresh, or order them for delivery to enjoy them wherever you are.

White Flower Tea House is open for pickup and delivery at thegridfoodmarket.com. It is also available for dine-in at Stall 9 at The Grid Food Market, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. It also delivers via GrabFood, FoodPanda, RiderKo and Pick-A-Roo.

For more details on its menu items and offers, follow White Flower Tea House on Facebook and Instagram.

The Grid Food Market is the resident food hall of Powerplant Mall which offers a wide range of flavors to cater to various cravings.

Check out my previous posts on other cuisines available at The Grid Food Market:

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this establishment. Food items mentioned here were served at no cost to the attendees.