Gel Jose

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:

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:

My top 6 faves at Six Doors BBQ Buffet

It has been a year since Six Doors BBQ Buffet opened its doors at Uptown Mall in BGC. Since then, it has won the hearts of foodies (including my parents when they treated one of my mom’s amigas here!) with its expansive showcase of European, Asian and Brazilian dishes, its 3D VIP dining rooms and now, a teppanyaki station!

I recently dined here together with Pat of ThePatKidInside and we spent an enjoyable time catching up as we ate our fill.

If you haven’t been to Six Doors BBQ Buffet, let me share with you the top six things I enjoy the most during my dining experiences there.

One: The well-appointed and sprawling dining area

Depending on their concept and design aesthetics, some buffet restaurants tend to feel crowded and cramped. Some tables are located too close to each other and diners would sometime jostle each other when they get up to get food or when they come back to their respective tables.

Well, that’s not the case here at Six Doors BBQ Buffet.

You and your companions can dine in comfort and style with its spacious open dining area with tastefully laid out tables and couches.

Parents with young (and energetic!) kids can also rest easy because there’s a playroom where the little ones can play and enjoy themselves after eating.

If you feel like splurging and got yourselves one of the country-themed VIP dining rooms, you won’t just enjoy a 3D projection of the sights of the country you’ve chosen to transport you as you enjoy a top of the line menu selection, you can also enjoy the services of a butler so you won’t have to leave your table during your meal.

Two: The carving stations

One of my rules of thumb when dining at a buffet restaurant is to head straight for the food you don’t usually get to enjoy at home or in other restaurants, or those that would cost a lot elsewhere.

That’s why I make a beeline for the carving station where I can get generous slices of roast beef, grilled pork and other meats again and again to satisfy my inner carnivore.

Three: The unli sushi

I so love Japanese food and I just can’t get enough of my faves: salmon sashimi, Tuna Maki and California Maki. Plus, there’s a huge array of sushi rolls for some variety.

Four: The new teppanyaki station

Did you know that teppanyaki came about after World War II?

Cooking steak, chopped vegetables and rice on a flat metal plate called teppan became popular among tourists in post-war Japan who found the skillful maneuvers of the chefs preparing the teppanyaki entertaining.

Six Doors BBQ Buffet launched its own teppanyaki station last December so I was able to witness a fiery display as the chef fired up the teppan with my chosen ingredients.

And the buttery, garlicky teppanyaki beef and rice are just so delish!

Five: The Korean BBQ Grill

Unli samgyeopsal restos abound in the Metro but at Six Doors, there’s a wide array of plain and marinated meats and seafood to choose from that Pat and I grilled at our table.

Six: The dessert station

Given that I have a sweet tooth, I can definitely appreciate the array of cakes, sweets and creams that Six Doors’ pastry chef have whipped up.

Plus, I get to have all the avocado ice cream I want at the ice cream bar. Yummy!

So there you have it, my six faves at Six Doors BBQ Buffet. Check it out and let me know what your faves are!

Six Doors BBQ Buffet rates are:

Weekday Lunch Buffet: Php699 (Php299 for kids 3 to 4 feet tall)
Weekday Dinner, Weekend Lunch and Dinner and Holiday Lunch and Dinner: Php999 (Php599 for kids 3 to 4 feet tall)
Kids below 3 feet: FREE

Book your table at Six Doors BBQ Buffet using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill. Sign up using my referral link to get additional perks.

Six Doors BBQ Buffet is located at 2nd Floor, Uptown Mall, 36th Street corner 9th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, open daily from 11am to 2.30pm and from 5.30pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79559905 or +63 967 2819403.

Keepr Storage PH’s 30-Day Declutter Challenge

The New Year is an exciting time, filled with seemingly endless possibilities for a better and brighter future. For many families in Metro Manila, this often begins with decluttering the home to determine what to keep and what to give away. Keepr Storage PH understands how hard starting can be for many households. And because of this, Keepr has developed an engaging 30 Day Declutter challenge to get you started!

“January is the perfect time to declutter,” shares Keepr Storage PH founder, Anna Moncupa. “Starting the new year free of clutter sets a very good tone for the rest of the year. I spread it out in 30 days so it’s not overwhelming and very attainable despite one’s busy schedule.”

Keepr Storage PH’s 30-Day Declutter Challenge

• Day 1 – Fridge & Freezer
• Day 2 – Pantry
• Day 3 – Kitchen I
• Day 4 – Holiday Decor
• Day 5 – Dresser
• Day 6 – Master’s Bedroom
• Day 7 – Bags
• Day 8 – Closets Part 1
• Day 9 – Closets Part 2
• Day 10 – Stock Room
• Day 11 – Medicine Cabinet
• Day 12 – Books & Magazines
• Day 13 – Mail & Receipts
• Day 14 – Home Office
• Day 15 – Garage
• Day 16 – Laundry Area
• Day 17 – Linens
• Day 18 – Living Area
• Day 19 – Junk Drawer
• Day 20 – TV Area
• Day 21 – Other Bedrooms 1
• Day 22 – Other Bedrooms 2
• Day 23 – Toys
• Day 24 – Kitchen II
• Day 25 – Cars
• Day 26 – Personal Files 1
• Day 27 – Personal Files 2
• Day 28 – Household Files
• Day 29 – Email/Computer
• Day 30 – Mobile Phone

“Keepr’s challenge is a manageable and realistic guide to decluttering,” adds Moncupa. “When developing the challenge, I took into account how we live in our homes as Filipinos. The whole challenge was developed to ensure the home is always ready for frequent family gatherings. We can keep what we want, with the allowance to have space for more. But most importantly, it allows us to donate and discard what we can, instead of putting everything in storage.”

Store Your Items with Keepr Storage PH

This year, keep the things you love most while clearing space in your home with Keepr. Keepr Storage PH services families in Metro Manila by providing them with a host of storage solutions available on their mobile devices. Available on both Android and IOS, Keepr offers 24-hour services 7 days a week, customizable inventory management, and round-the-clock security to ensure that your things are secure and constantly within reach. And when you need something back from storage, simply schedule a pick-up at your convenience.

2020 Special: Store Your Christmas Tree for Free

Subscribe to any of Keepr’s closet or bedroom plans and get an additional storage space for your Christmas tree for free! For new and ongoing subscriptions, simply schedule a pick-up appointment and Keepr Storage Specialists will be on their way to your home. Limited spots available.

Sign-up For Keepr Storage PH Today

Follow Keepr Storage on Instagram and begin your year with the 30 Day Declutter Challenge! Keepr has everything you need to make space in the home, without giving away the things that matter the most.
Download Keepr Storage PH now on the App Store and Google Play and find a fully customizable storage solution that fits your needs. Prices start at just ₱399.00 a month! Learn more at https://www.keeprstorage.ph or call +63-917-533-7774 (KEEPR-PH)!

About Keepr Storage PH

Have you ever looked around your home and wished it was more organized so you had more space? Keepr Storage PH is a mobile app that answers all your storage needs! By combining high-level security, strategic logistics, and modern-day technology, Keepr’s storage solutions are an extension of your home that is easily maintained with their mobile app. Download Keepr Storage PH today on the App Store and Google Play!

Product details and photos provided in a recent press release.

Become a coffee expert at UCC Coffee Academy

Fancy yourself a coffee connoisseur?

Well, you will be amazed at what more you can discover and learn about your favorite brews at the UCC Coffee Academy.

Located at Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City, the academy culls eighty-five years of UCC Japan’s coffee expertise, from crop cultivation, procurement, research and development to roasting and processing, creating a coffee culture and serving the precious cuppas to coffee lovers.

Key to imparting these coffee knowledge is its use of an interactive Japanese method. Aside from lectures and presentations from knowledgeable instructors on various areas of coffee production, preparation and appreciation, students also benefit from hands-on learning experience. Here, students can expect to learn to learn to value the quality of a good coffee bean, from where, by whom and how it is sourced, how it is prepared and served to bring out its best qualities, and how those qualities are evaluated and ranked by coffee experts worldwide.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I went through an extremely condensed crash course on Coffeeology: Coffee Fundamentals from Farm to Cup at the academy.

UCC Coffee Academy Head Instructor Robert Francisco took our group on a journey of coffee discovery. Having authored the book A Coffee Journal as an effort to support local farmers, he holds the local coffee industry very close to his heart.

Assisted by another UCC Coffee Academy instructor Joems Lichangco, Instructor Francisco gave our group a customized coffee preparation and appreciation workshop which includes brewing at home, tasting and – my favorite – latte art.

Here are some tips I picked up along the way:

Coffee Brewing.

The ratio of coffee to water is important for product consistency: use 20 grams of coffee to 300 grams of 92 to 93 deg C water.

Always pre-heat your equipment – drippers, filters and catchers – by slowly pouring a bit of hot water on them. Washing the paper filter, in particular, removes any papery or bleachy taste that can mar the flavor of the coffee.

Pour the first 40 grams of water on the ground coffee to let it “bloom.” The hot water allows the gas from inside the ground coffee beans to escape and the flavor to be extracted. This process is called blooming because the ground coffee seems to bloom or expand with the water it absorbs. After twenty seconds, you can already pour the rest of the water.

Coffee Tasting.

Freshly brewed unsweetened coffee may taste sour because coffee actually is acidic but not strong enough to curdle milk nor bring about acid reflux. What triggers acid reflux is the caffeine. Here’s a tip: eat something buttery like cake to line the stomach walls before drinking coffee to weaken the acid reflux.

Coffee has various aspects for consideration during coffee tasting. These include aroma (how it smells), flavor (how it tastes), body (how it feels in your mouth), finish (its aftertaste) and roast (whether the beans are lightly or darkly toasted). To draw out these aspects, here’s how to taste your coffee:

Step 1: Smell your coffee.

Breathe in your coffee’s fragrance. Much of the nuances of coffee’s flavor are contributed by its aroma.

Step 2: Slurp your coffee. Slurping allows more of the coffee to cover different areas of your tongue letting you identify more flavors.

Latte Art.

Latte art is made with steamed milk poured into coffee with variations in the speed and height of pouring.

It is important not to heat the milk to the point of being frothy. Otherwise, you will lose the silkiness of the milk that makes good latte art.

Whether you’re a foodie who wants to explore more about coffee, a barista-in-the-making or an entrepreneur looking to enter the coffee business, you can discover everything you need to learn at UCC Coffee Academy.

UCC Coffee Academy is located at 3rd Floor, Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more details or to get a listing of the courses available, visit its webpage or call +63 966 531 1843.

Wine with the titos: Bevvy at Don Revy, Magallanes

Ladies, what do you do when you find out where you Hubby and the boys hang out whenever he’s late going home from work?

Join them for a round of drinks, of course!

Well, that’s what I did the other day when I had myself dropped off at Hubby’s workplace along Chino Roces Avenue Extension after doing some field work in the South.

Rather than facing the Carmageddon going home, Hubby suggested we hang out for a while at his gang’s go-to watering hole: Bevvy at Don Revy.

Don Revy is a supplier of beers, wines and spirits committed to bringing what’s new and what’s next in the world of beverages.

It’s name was chosen because it rhymes with “always on the bevvy” – Scottish slang for “always drinking.”

It operates the wine bar – Bevvy at Don Revy – as a venue for drink connoisseurs to unwind, relax, celebrate and imbibe the cultures and tastes of the world of beverages.

At the Bevvy, every bottle can be bought at retain price to be enjoyed either at the premises or brought home. It is akin to a hidden library where you can choose your preferred drink to enjoy by yourself or to fuel a fun evening with your buddies, just like our chosen drinks for this night:

Glenalmond Everyday Highland Pure Malt (Php90 per glass | Php1500 per bottle). The boys drank this vintage blended malt whisky which is said to be so dangerously easy to drink.

Chateau Rotas Rose 2016 (Php150 per glass | Php730 per bottle). A French pink wine that’s a bit dry and acidic yet also easy to drink. It gave li’l ole lightweight me a bit of a buzz.

We also munched on these bar chow while enjoying our drinks:

Cold Cuts and Cheeses (Php700). A board containing three kinds of cold cuts (Fuet, Salamanca and Prosciutto) and three kinds of cheeses (Gorgonzola, Manchego and Gouda).

Pork Cracklings (Php150 per pack). Plain chicharon that gives a satisfying crrrrunch with every bite.

Well, wine night with these Titos of Manila sure was fun!

The next time Hubby tells me he’ll be late coming home from work, I’ll probably tell him to bring home a bottle for me. Hehehe!

Planning a spirited night out with the gang? Here are some Bevvy deals you might like:

Have a Bevvy (Php550). Unlimited servings of drinks for three hours for one category (gin & tonic, draft beer and wine)
All the Bevvies (Php750). Unlimited servings of drinks for three hours for all categories (gin & tonic, draft beer and wine)

Bevvy at Don Revy is located at UPRC III Building, 2289 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City, open Mondays to Fridays from 2pm to 11pm and Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm (closed on Sundays and holidays). For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82528703, email bevvy@donrevy.com or visit its website.

Japanese seafood dinner at Omakase, Greenhills

In our bid to eat a bit healthier after a bout of errands in Greenhills, Hubby and I opted to have an early sushi dinner at Omakase.

This Japanese resto started out as a takeout counter in Quezon City. The term omakase actually translates to “I leave it up to you.” In Japan, diners can sometimes leave it up to the chef to serve his recommended selection of seasonal specialties instead of ordering their preferences.

While that is not the system set in place in this restaurant, it does boast of an excellent selection of maki and sushi.

Hubby and I dined on a sampling of this selection with our orders:

Sashimi: Salmon (Php300) and Tuna (Php300). Raw fish sliced into thin pieces and served with soy sauce and a little wasabi.

Spicy Maguro Roll (Php310). Deep-fried spicy tuna topped with ebiko and scallions.

Chirashi Don (Php385). Assorted raw seafood over sushi rice served with miso soup.

Ebi Tempura (Php370). Five pieces of lightly battered and deep fried shrimp served with tempura sauce.

These classic seafood dishes (our go-to fare whenever we’re at a Japanese restaurant) were promptly served by the wait staff. The raw fish in the sashimi and chirashi don were fresh and flavorful.

This Omakase branch is located at Ground Floor, Connecticut Carpark Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 84709807 or +63 930 2523575.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz
Marikina: ESJ Building Gil Fernando Avenue
Quezon City: Il Terrazzo Mall Tomas Morato, Holy Spirit Drive Isidora Hills Subdivision
Muntinlupa: Molito Commercial Complex Alabang
Makati: Grab Kitchen Glorietta 2

Unli Japanese Hot Pot at Soru Izakaya, Tomas Morato

Nabemono (from the Japanese words nabe or “cooking pot” and mono or “thing”) is a variety of Japanese hotpot dishes. This is usually cooked on the table starting a flavored stock with diners adding pre-cooked and uncooked ingredients to the pot.

I seldom get a chance to eat at hotpot places so I got all excited when I heard that the newly opened branch of Soru Izakaya in Tomas Morato offers a hotpot dish. Dubbed the Soru Nabe Special (Php599 per person), it provides diners unlimited refills of:

Broth: choice of two among Tonkotsu, Spicy Tonkotsu, Sukiyaki, Curry, Chicken, Miso and Spicy Miso
Meat: beef, chicken and pork
Seafood: shrimp, clams, mussels, squid and fish fillet
Balls: assorted balls and kani
Noodles: vermicelli, glass noodles and egg
Entrees: gyoza, yakisoba, tempura, beef bowl, pork bowl, smoked pork bowl, chicken wings, vegetable tempura, takoyaki
Vegetables: napa cabbage, carrots, squash, white onions, enoki, bokchoy, corn, taro, kangkong and black fungus
Sides: kimchi, potato marble, kakiage, cucumber, steamed rice and chahan

You know what got me more excited? The fact that from December 11 to 18, the Soru Nabe Special is at 50% off!

So off my office friends and I went to Soru Izakaya to enjoy this offer.

This resto boasts of the same colorful and visually appealing decor which takes its cues from bishoujo (pretty girl) manga, traditional Japanese art, the colorful Tokyo night life and the emergence of speakeasies.

There’s a separate section for hotpot diners wherein two rows of four tables (total of eight tables) are equipped with table-top stoves which can accommodate the hot pots.

Each pot is divided in the middle to allow diners to cook using two different broths simultaneously.

We found the Soru Nabe Special very filling and satisfying due the variety of its inclusions.

What can be improved, though, is the spacing of the tables in the hotpot area. They were placed too close together that we had to stand to allow other diners to pass thru to their seats.

Also, the staff took some time to fulfill our refill requests.

Still, this ain’t bad for lunchtime adventure.

And here’s some good news: the unli hotpot is back from January 9 to February 9 with options for Php299 and Php399 packages, minimum of two people per table.

So what are you waiting for? Drop by with your friends and eat your fill!

This Soru Izakaya branch is located at Scout Torillo corner Scout Hernandez, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 12 midnight.

Other branches are located at:

Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
140 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Ramen Cool, Kapitolyo

Back when I worked in the Ortigas area, my officemates and I used to venture to the foodie-friendly Kapitolyo for our happy lunches.

One of our favorite haunts is Ramen Cool which was established in the area before the ongoing ramen craze.

It offers Japanese food lovers their favorite dishes, some with a few twists.

This branch now offers lunch sets which allow diners to enjoy a well-curated set of dishes which include solo servings of a main viand, soup, salad, drink and more all for under Php400. In this way, diners can have a flavorful variety of Japanese dishes while still staying on budget.

While out on field work in the area, my coworkers and I took advantage of these offers by ordering:

Karaage Lunch (Php219). Chicken karaage served with iced coffee, plain rice, pulled pork ramen, two pieces of California Maki and Kani Salad.

Tuna Ahi Poke Lunch (Php269). A yellowfin tuna poke bowl served with iced coffee, miso soup, yakisoba and kani salad.

Chirashi Lunch (Php379). A bowl of chirashi (sushi rice topped with various sliced and chopped sushi flavored with Japanese mayo, wasabi and spring onions) served with iced coffee, miso soup, yakisoba and kani salad.

Aside from these lunch sets, our group’s orders also included:

Seared Tuna Salad (Php315) and Spicy Tuna Salad (Php295). Both prettily served on a specialized bowl which kept the salads cool and the greens crisp.

Karaage Wasabi Mayo (Php195). Japanese-style fried chicken doused with wasabi mayo.

It was a delicious return to an old haunt and I’d love to revisit the place and its specialties again soon!

This Ramen Cool branch is located at 25 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open Sundays to Wednesdays from 11am to 10.30pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquries and reservations, call +63 2 86360972 or +63 2 89984168.

Other branches are located at:

San Lorenzo Village Condominium, San Lorenzo, Makati
Westlife Building, West Avenue, Quezon City

Manam Comfort Filipino, Trinoma

Comfort food are fare that provide the diner with a feeling of consolation or well-being and are oftentimes associated with the food enjoyed at home or during childhood.

While these evoke nostalgia and sentimentality, they also excite the taste buds and stir anticipation.

After a typical morning at the office, my officemates and I opted to get some comfort and good eats at the newly opened branch of Manam in Trinoma.

We were welcomed by Manam’s friendly and accommodating wait staff as well as its well-appointed yet cozy interiors.

Manam was formerly known as NamNam, and it boasts of a menu that offers both the classic renditions as well as fresh twists on Pinoy cuisine.

That day, we feasted on these dishes:

Adobong Kangkong (Php98). Kangkong (water spinach) shoots sauteed in garlic and soy-vinegar.

Gising Gising (Php125). Sigarilyas and kangkong sauteed with pork and chilis in coconut cream and bagoong (shrimp paste).

Pinakbet (Php130). Okra, string beans, eggplant, squash and tomatoes sauteed in with pork bits and shrimp in bagoong.

Mangga at Bagoong (Php140). Sliced green mango and shrimp paste, this combo is famous for that sour-salty dynamic.

Caramelized Patis Wings (Php170). A twist on fried chicken, patis (fish sauce) flavors the zesty wings.

Crunchy Salt and Pepper Squid (Php280). Lightly battered squid pieces tossed in a crunchy mixture of stir-fried garlic and chilis.

House Crispy Sisig (Php398). Ranked as the No. 1 Sisig in Manila for two consecutive years, this dish features chopped pork jowl and cheek served sizzling.

Sinigang na Beef Short Rib and Watermelon (Php775 for family size). The sour broth of the beef sinigang is given a slightly sweet twist with the addition of watermelon.

Bibingka de Leche (Php125). A layer of leche flan (caramel egg custard) tops a pancake-like rice cake.

Kape, Sago at Gulaman (Php105). The samalamig (Filipino version of slushy drink) given a twist with the addition of coffee flavors.

Puto Bumbong with Muscovado Butter (Php80). The classic purple rice cake traditionally steamed in bamboo tubes accompanied by grated cheese, grated coconut and a bar of muscovado-enriched butter.

What a delicious way to get some comfort on a work day!

This branch of Manam Comfort Filipino is located at Ground Floor, Trinoma Mall Garden Wing, Bagong Pag Asa, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79005750.

Other branches are located at:

Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati
Net Park, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
O Square, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan
South Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay
Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Entertainment City, Paranaque
SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Ayala Fairview Terraces, Novaliches, Quezon City