Gel Jose

Feasts with a vintage feel at 1950 Restaurant, Valencia

The 1950s were a simpler time, a peaceful and prosperous decade wherein family, friendship and food were intertwined. During this time, tasty home-cooked meals were the paramount expression of love, with heirloom dishes taking center-stage at the family’s hapag-kainan during special dinners, get-togethers and holiday feasts.

It was during this time when the two-storey American contemporary-style home in Valencia, Quezon City was built by the Santaromana family, fruit of their matriarch’s ingenuous enterprise selling garments in the local market and the eldest son’s generous contribution.

Today, that Big House has been transformed into 1950 Restaurant which makes full use of the house’s vintage homey and welcoming ambiance while upgrading home-cooked meals into modern interpretations of classic and international dishes by the restaurant’s celebrated chefs headlined by Chef Robby Goco and Chef Chester Velas.

Together with fellow Zomato foodies and food bloggers from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended 1950 Restaurant’s Media Event wherein we were treated to a sampling of its signature dishes, which include:

Soups

Lobster Bisque (Php600). Maine lobster and crab meat cooked into a soup flavored with terragon cream and brandy.

Seafood Chowder (Php240). Thick and creamy chowder served with double smoked bacon inside a sourdough bread bowl.

Sinigang na Lechon (Php375). Pork belly roulade and tomato sofrito in a caramelized pineapple and tamarind broth.

Salads.

Ceasar Salad (Php400). Grilled romaine lettuce, Ceasar dressing with cured egg yolk and crispy bacon bits.

Fennel Confit (Php340). Burrata cheese, aburi orange, watercress and torn bread.

Appetizers.

Roasted Bone Marrow (Php380). Onion jam, portobello and sourdough toast.

Roasted Cauliflower (Php260). Cauliflower heads coated with whipped cheese, honey butter emulsion and black olives.

Gambas na Hipon (Php375). White leg shrimp in garlic confit flavored with smoked paprika.

Foie Gras Brulee (Php430). Pieces of tuile wafer to be dipped into goose liver in blackberry compote and candied beets.

Grilled Octopus (Php320). Tender grilled octopus served with purple potato confit, pomegranates, foam and squid ink tuile wafers.

Mains.

Angus Prime Ribeye Burnt Ends (Php400). Rice bowl topped with sauteed pieces of Angus prime ribeye in housemade barbecue sauce accompanied by seasonal pickles and a sunny-side-up egg.

Roasted Duck Breast (Php600). Slices of roasted duck breast in a berry reduction served with squash and kale, drizzled with Bordelaise sauce.

Adobo Classics (Php350). Four interpretations of adobo – adobo strips, bangus belly adobo sa gata, chicken adobo Tagalog and we pork belly adobo sa dilaw

Shellfish Curry (Php650). Clams, mussels, scallops and crispy egg in burnt coconut cream flavored with curry.

Tori Kuwayaki (Php250). Rice bowl topped with Japanese-style fried chicken in kansai sauce.

Prime Rib Au Jus (Php1,500 for 200g | Php2,300 for 300g | Php3,500 for 500g). Prime rib served in light gravy made from its own drippings along with creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Kale Soba Noodles (Php400). Green tea soba, cashew cream alfredo sauce and wild mushroom.

Baked Hipon and Laing (Php280). Garlic roasted shrimp in taro and toasted coconut cream.

Sablefish Aburi (Php725). Soft-textured and mildly flavored flame-seared white fish served with roasted cauliflower puree, fennel confit and crispy bacon.

Desserts.

Molten Chocolate Cake (Php280). Chocolate soil with molten chocolate lava topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel popcorn on the side.

Toasted Ensaymada (Php280). The Pinoy version of the Mallorcan ensaimada, lightly toasted and served with hot chocolate and candied bacon.

Baked Alaska (Php280). Cream and cake topped with browned meringue and served with strawberry ice cream and chocolate crumble.

Bavarian Cake (Php280). Chiffon cake covered in icing made of thickened milk and accompanied by milk crumbs, peanut brittle and strawberry ice cream.

White Chocolate Blondie (Php280). Freshly baked chocolate chip cookie topped with a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream and creamy milk sauce.

Cocktails.

Aperol Spritz (Php350). Made with cava, vodka and orange.

Classico Mojito (Php200). Made with white rhum, sugar, lime, mint and soda water.

Mocktails.

Red Carpet (Php150). Made with apple juice, sour mix, honey, muddled fresh strawberries and topped with thin apple slices.

Dreaming Apple (Php150). Made with apple juice lime and cinnamon, topped with thin apple slices.

Pina Colada (Php150). Made with pineapple juice and coconut cream, garnished with pineapple chunks.

With such novel and imaginative takes on familiar dishes, dining here feels like both an adventure and a homecoming. I can imagine families and friends coming together at 1950 Restaurant for grand celebrations or intimate gatherings.

Many thanks to Chef Robby, Chef Chester and the crew of 1950 Restaurant for the warm welcome and the tasty dishes, and to EJ Bunag of I Love to Eat PH for extending the invitation!

1950 Restaurant is located at 14 Castilla Street, Bgy. Valencia, Quezon City.

Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I attended this restaurant’s media event. Food items mentioned here were served to enable us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Crema & Cream Bistro + Coffee Lab, Tomas Morato

Coffee culture is steadily gaining ground in the metro, with cafes and coffee shops offering high quality and specialty brews. Coffee has evolved from being just another beverage to a social lubricant.

In the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area in QC, for instance, a new coffee establishment has sprung up, ready to elevate the coffee experience of local foodies while paving the way for friends and family to get together over their favorite coffee blends.

Crema & Cream Bistro + Coffee Lab started as a specialty coffee roaster not just supplying aficionados with coffee beans especially roasted to highlight their unique flavors, but also providing training and consultations to budding coffee experts.

Early this year, it opened its flagship store along Timog Avenue where it not only serves its quality brews but also a well-curated menu of dishes that will appeal to the metro’s epicures. It also features an inviting space for coffee lovers to work or hang out in solitude or dine together with like-minded companions.

Together with my officemates, I ventured out to Crema and Cream to experience it first-hand. Our lunch repast included:

Asian Chicken Salad (Php325). Honey-soy-and-garlic glazed fried chicken cutlets tossed into seasonal greens doused with wasabi mayo dressing and topped with fried wonton, mango, toasted almonds, corn, red radish, pickled red onion, edamame, nori, bonito flakes and toasted sesame seeds.

Mushroom Trio Toast (Php225). Mushroom jam served over arugula, tomato, feta cheese and topped with a poached egg over a slice of sourdough toast.

Chicken Waffle (Php325). Fried chicken cutlet served with a rosemary and cheese waffle topped with a fried egg and drizzled with a honey brown butter sauce.

Sausage and Egg Toast (Php255). Diced sausage and scrambled eggs served with caramelized onions, tomatoes and cheese on sourdough toast.

Pan-seared Salmon (Php565). Pan-seared salmon fillet served with French beans, cherry tomatoes, diced vegetables, herb pesto mashed potato with lemon butter cream sauce.

We also enjoyed some of Crema & Cream’s signature brews together with our meal. This included:

Hot Chocolate (Php140).

Mango and Peach Black Tea (Php120).

Flat White (Php150).

Cappuccino (Php140).

While the viands are not as hearty as we would like our lunch meal to be, the flavors presented are new and exciting. I wouldn’t mind returning to taste more of Crema & Cream’s offerings.

Crema and Cream Cafe Bistro + Coffee Lab is located at 116-B Timog Avenue corner 11th Jamboree Street, Bgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open Tuesdays to Thursdays and Sundays from 8am to 11pm, and Fridays to Saturdays from 8am to 12 midnight. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 7130662.

New HBO Drama Series THE OUTSIDER premieres 13 January 2020

Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel of the same name, THE OUTSIDER is a new drama series that explores the investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy and the mysterious force surrounding the case.

The HBO Original series will debut same time as the U.S. on HBO GO and HBO on Monday 13 January at 10am with two back-to-back episodes. Subsequent episodes will premiere weekly. The 10-episode series follows police detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn), as he sets out to investigate the mutilated body of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson found in the Georgia woods. The mysterious circumstances surrounding this horrifying crime leads Ralph, still grieving the recent death of his own son, to bring in unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), whose uncanny abilities he hopes will help explain the unexplainable.

The cast includes Emmy®- and Golden Globe-nominee Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline, Ready Player One) as Ralph Anderson; Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo (“The Color Purple”) as Holly Gibney; Bill Camp (Emmy®-nominee, The Night Of) as Howie Salomon; Mare Winningham (Oscar®-nominee, Georgia) as Ralph’s wife Jeannie Anderson; Paddy Considine (HBO’s upcoming The Third Day) as Claude Bolton, manager of a local strip club; Julianne Nicholson (HBO’s upcoming Mare of Easttown) as Glory Maitland; Yul Vázquez (Divorce) as Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Yunis Sablo; Jeremy Bobb (The Knick) as Alec Pelley, a private investigator hired by Howie; and Marc Menchaca (The Sinner) as detective Jack Hoskins; with Emmy®- and Golden Globe winner Jason Bateman (Ozark, Arrested Development) as Terry Maitland.

THE OUTSIDER is produced by Mendelsohn and executive producer Bateman (who also directs the first two episodes). The series is written for television by Richard Price (The Wire, The Night Of), who also serves as Executive Producer. Executive producers include Andrew Bernstein, Marty Bowen for Temple Hill Entertainment, Jack Bender, Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, and Dennis Lehane (episodes 105-110). The series is produced by Bateman’s Aggregate Films and Temple Hill Entertainment in association with Civic Center Media.

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

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

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Venderbilt & Anderson Cooper

Zomato Philippines held the biggest summit for resto owners in Metro Manila

Game-changing insights, mind-boggling questions, and heart-wrenching realities in the restaurant industry were all tackled last August 19 at the Future of Food 2019. Attended by more than 1000 restaurant owners, industry leaders, restaurant operators, and senior marketing professionals, the Future of Food is dubbed as the biggest restaurant summit for restaurant owners in Metro Manila yet.
Zomato Philippines, the leading food app in the country, organized the Future of Food with the country’s most prestigious companies, Arla Foods and Globe myBusiness, in partnership with, McCormick Philippines, Century Pacific Food Inc. – Food Service, and Avida Land.
Future of Food 2019 was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Philippines’ most luxurious Resort, Hotel & Casino – City of Dreams. The summit tackled topics on the Modern Consumer, Sustainability, Innovative Food Solutions, The Future of Marketing, and Goals in the Philippine Restaurant Industry. The event was a huge success due to its all-star keynote speakers and panelists.
Some of the nation’s most reputable key opinion leaders who shared their insights at the event were Chris Evans (Business Head, Zomato Philippines), Amor Maclang (Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer, GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications Inc.), Leigh Reyes (President & Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe Philippines), Pamela Pacete-Garcia (Executive Strategic Planning Director, Wunderman Thompson Philippines), Enzo Pinga (Chief Farmer, Earthbeat Farms), Melody Melo-Rijk (Project Manager of The Sustainable Diner Project World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, WWF -Philippines), Jens Christian Krog Nielsen (Senior General Manager, Arla Foods Philippines), Johan Movido (Innovations Manager – Flavor Solutions, McCormick Philippines Inc.), Tenten Casasola (Innovations Manager – Culinary Team Manager, McCormick Philippines Inc.), Jason Cruz (Executive Strategy Director), Karen May Garcia (Head for Business – Technical Solutions Partner of Broadband and WIFI, Globe myBusiness), Eric Dee (President and Chief Operating Officer, Foodee Global Concepts), Sam Christopher Lim (Chief Marketing Officer, Francorp Philippines), and Donald Lim (Chief Executive Officer, Dentsu Aegis Network Philippines).
Because of these outstanding speakers, the night ended with an immediate demand for the next conference!

HBO Asia Original INVISIBLE STORIES To Premiere at 2019 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and 30th Singapore International Film Festival

INVISIBLE STORIES, a six-episode half-hour drama series which shines light into dark corners and tells untold stories from the heartlands and a fictional neighbourhood housing estate in multi-cultural Singapore, is HBO Asia’s first entry at the 2019 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and the first production to be screened at the 30th Singapore International Film Festival’s (SGIFF) Singapore Panorama section.

Scheduled to premiere early 2020 on HBO Asia’s on-air, online and on-demand platforms, INVISIBLE STORIES brings to life stories of everyday people – their joy, their struggles, their sacrifice, with each episode following one neighbour as he or she navigates through everyday life and its challenges.

The first episode, which revolves around the lives of a single mother and her autistic son played by Golden Horse Award winner Yeo Yann Yann (‘ILO ILO’, ‘881’ and ‘Singapore Dreaming’) and Taiwanese newcomer Devin Pan respectively, will make its global debut at the 2019 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival – “Shorts: Beyond the Edge” section on 16 November.

The first two episodes of INVISIBLE STORIES will be presented in the Singapore Panorama section at SGIFF, which spotlights Singapore’s dynamic filmmakers and their stories that reflect the realities of contemporary society. An iconic event in the Singapore arts calendar, SGIFF, which takes place from 21 November to 1 December 2019, is also recognised internationally as both the discovery ground of Southeast Asian independent cinema, and an enabler in nurturing the next generation of storytellers. The second episode, which will make its worldwide debut at SGIFF, stars veteran Singapore actor Wang Yu Qing (‘Hello From The Other Side’ and ‘Reach For The Skies’) who plays a taxi driver by day and a spiritual medium by night.

The series is created by Singaporean Ler Jiyuan with a team of local writers, produced by Singapore-based production house Birdmandog, and features a regional cast from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore.

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

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

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

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Venderbilt & Anderson Cooper

Introducing Keepr: the first app-based full-service storage solution in the Philippines

Keepr Storage PH is the first full-service, highly-secure, app-based storage
provider in Metro Manila! Available now on the App Store and Google Play, Keepr’s mobile app allows you to securely store and monitor your most valuable possessions without having to leave the house! Prices start at just PHP 449.00 a month.

Keepr: An Extension of Your Home

Metro Manila is one of the most crowded cities in the world, with a population density of 20,785 persons per square kilometer. Combined with the rising costs of living, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find spacious housing in Metro Manila alone. Personal and storage space is fast becoming a valuable resource. Because of this, people regularly look for ways to free up space and bring out the beauty in their homes that are otherwise covered by too many objects.

Enter Keepr: a full-service solution to all your storage needs! Available on Apple and Android, Keepr allows you to clean up without having to give anything away. Keepr adapts to your personal needs by combining high-level security, strategic logistics, and modern technology into an easy-to-use app.

“Vertical living has been growing over the past few years – with an estimated 7,000 new units churned out by developers annually. This has mostly been due to rising real estate prices and scarcity of land within proximity of business districts. Office spaces and residential condo units have been getting smaller and smaller and prices get steeper as household consumption has been steadily increasing,” shares Keepr founder, Anna Moncupa. “We’ve been buying and putting stuff into our homes, and we’re running out of space. We’re basically consuming more but living smaller. Keepr was born out of this fundamental need for space within the city.”

How Does Keepr Work?

Create an Account. After downloading Keepr Storage PH, simply follow the format to create your account through e-mail, Facebook, or Google.
Schedule Your Free Assessment. Enter your mobile number and Keepr’s Storage Expert will get in touch with you right away. This initial assessment will provide our team with the necessary information to determine which monthly plan best suits your storage needs.
Schedule Your Pick-Up. Once you’ve subscribed to a plan, you can now schedule a pick-up by booking an appointment. A Storage Specialist will be on hand to guide you through the process, while Keepr’s team will expertly wrap and pack your valuables in the most efficient and space-saving way possible. Packing services start at just PHP 150.00 per hour, per personnel.
Manage Your Inventory. Keepr’s warehouse is equipped with 24-hour security and CCTV. The constant attention to your personal belongings extends to the access you have right from the app itself. Every item stored with Keeper is photographed, tagged with a QR code, and uploaded to your account. This provides you with constant access and a host of features that allows you to manage and
customize your storage.
Schedule Your Delivery. Want something back? Just select the item you need, set a location, and simply schedule the delivery date for a flat rate of just PHP 500.00! When you’re done, our team will return and pick-up the empty Keepr bins for free.

Keepr: The Only Storage Solution You Will Ever Need

“Most storage options cater to bigger corporations with the means and resources to manage their own inventory and logistics, whereas Keepr was really made for SMEs, growing families, and busy individuals,” adds Moncupa. “We’ve combined cutting edge technology and customer-centered ideologies to provide hassle-free storage to the everyday city dweller. Everything can be done online through our website or via app – convenience was one of our main goals when creating our system. It’s really about having a full life and creating more room for the things that truly matter.”

Download Keepr Storage PH now on the App Store and Google Play. Keepr provides you with a host of storage solutions combined with real-time and customizable storage management. Prices start at just PHP 449.00 a month! Learn more at https://keeprstorage.ph!

Product details and images provided in a recent press release.

An authentic taste of Japanese cuisine in Cainta: Fukurou Nihonryori

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our meal of tasty and authentic Japanese dishes consisted of:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

1 Peso Flash Sale at Seascape Village

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s how:

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

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

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

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

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

November: Chicken

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

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

December: Pampano

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

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

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

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

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

“Allergy in Love” premieres on KBO on SKY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Show details and images provided by SKYcable in a recent press release.

Great eats at Peach Boy, Mandaluyong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These included:

Appetizer and Salad

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

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

All-Day Breakfast

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

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

Sandwiches

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

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

Pasta

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

Mains

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

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

Desserts

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

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

Drinks

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

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

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

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

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