Delicious Holiday Food Finds at Ilustrado

Make your holiday gatherings and gift giving more special with unique and delicious finds from Ilustrado Restaurant.

Ilustrado’s Holiday Tienda offers something for everyone. The cheese lover will surely love homemade cheese wheels in Boursin, Pimiento (a sure kids’ favourite!), Spicy Cheese – Edam with garlic and spices, varieties. You cannot go wrong with bottled Atsara, Bagoong, Moringga Pesto, Gourmet Tuyo and Chimichurri.

Ilustrado Holiday

Ilustrado Holiday

Ilustrado Holiday

Tea Cookies come in boxes of 12 cookies in flavors of Double Chocolate, Coconut, Matcha Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Snickerdoodles. Brownies come in boxes of 4 bars with Cashew, S’mores, Salted Caramel, Pretzel and Cream Cheese flavors. Ready to serve for a party are Cake Squares in a box with these delectable selections – Baked Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge and Sans Rival. Cheese Pimiento Wreath and Quezo de Bola Ensaimada Tree are both unique, festive and appetizing.

Ilustrado Holiday

Ilustrado Holiday

A new addition to their lineup are fun Artisan Holiday Boxes dubbed “Christmas Morning” – a selection of cookies, brownies, loose leaf tea and tablea chocolate while “Holiday Cheer” is a Graze Box with Jamon Serrano, Chorizo, Stuffed Lychee with Roquefort and Pistachio, Chorizo Puffs, Spicy Cheeseball, Boursin Cheeseball, Chocolate Dipped Dried Mangoes, Crostini and Pretzels, Mandarin Oranges, Marinated Tomatoes and Olives. These are the perfect hostess gifts to bring to a party or as gifts in themselves to those you hold dear.

Ilustrado Holiday

To spruce up your Noche Buena table, choose from a long list of mouthwatering selections: the stellar Twice Cooked Angus Beef Short Plate is a must order along with Adobong Bagnet with Taba ng Talangka, Callos Madrilena, Kalderetang Kambing, Lengua con Setas, Hamon de Hacienda, Stuffed Chicken Ilustrado (ala Relleno), Pineapple Glazed Leg of Ham and U.S. Prime Rib.

Ilustrado Holiday

Your meal will not be complete without Ilustrado’s Signature Paella. Choose from Paella Ilustrado (Meat and Seafood), Paella Marinara (All Seafood), Paella Negra (Squid Ink)or Paella Bacalao.

Ilustrado Holiday

Those who like pasta and noodles can pick from Classic Carbonara, Espanyola (Spanish Sardines, sun-dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil) Filipino Spaghetti, Ilustrado (Shrimp, olive oil, Paprika) Machito (Tenderloin Bits and Mushroom) Palabok with Bagnet and Pata Pancit.

Ilustrado Holiday

To know more offerings and other details visit Ilustrado at ‪744 General Luna Road‬, Intramuros, Manila (‪527-3674‬, ‪527-2345‬); Café Ilustrado, 4th Level SM Makati (‪818-6760‬) or Pasteleria Ilustrado, 2nd level, Alabang Town Center (‪0919-845-9503‬) or email caterings@ilustradorestaurant.com.ph or log on to www.facebook.com/ilustradorestaurant/.

Disclosure: Menu details and images provided by Ilustrado Restaurant in a recent press release.

Check out my previous post about Ilustrado Restaurant’s Degustation Menu here.

Holiday Froyo at Llaollao, Glorietta Mall

Frozen yoghurt lovers will have something to cheer about this Christmas: Llaollao’s Holiday Sanum Collection!

Recently, I was able to try one of the sanums in this collection: the Mango Brava (Php199). Cubes of succulent mango fruit and mango sauce interspersed with layers of black chocolate sauce, muesli lotus crunch and graham crunch balls, and Llaollao’s frozen yoghurt.

Llaollao, Glorietta

Llaollao, Glorietta

Llaollao, Glorietta

It was a decadent and delectable dessert snack that got me energized for the journey home from Makati amidst the holiday rush.

Llaollao, Glorietta

Llaollao, Glorietta

Llaollao, Glorietta

Other variants in the holiday sanum collection that I’m looking forward to trying are:

  • Toffeenut (Php199). Frozen yoghurt with muesli lascasitos, almond crunch, biscoff crunch, milk candy sauce and nocilla sauce.
  • Banoffee Pie (Php199). Frozen yoghurt with crushed oreo almond brittle, slices of banana, black chocolate sauce, milk candy and lotus biscuits.

Pronounced “yao yao,” Llaollao is a Spanish yoghurt brand recently introduced in the Philippines by Foodee Global Concepts. Dedicated to serving all-natural and healthy frozen yoghurt to froyo-hungry Pinoys, it offers several dessert and beverage options that incorporate this delectably creamy and tangy ingredient:

  • Petitllao (Php49). A cup of frozen yoghurt
  • Granillao (Php89 for small | Php109 for medium). Frozen yoghurt with orange, lemon or watermelon
  • Sensations (Php189). Frozen yoghurt with sauce and fresh fruit
  • Sanum (Php199). A combo of frozen yoghurt, three fresh fruit, two crunches and one sauce
  • Smoothies (Php179) and Smoothies with Frozen Yoghurt (Php199).

This Llaollao branch is located at the Ground Floor, Glorietta 2, Glorietta Complex, Makati City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.  Other branches can be found at:

  • Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City, open daily from 10am to 10pm
  • Upper Ground Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 10pm
  • Second Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm
  • Food Court, Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, open daily from 11am to 10pm
  • Level 2, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 9pm

Llaollao Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Check out my reviews of other frozen dessert shops:

SKYlife treats families to a Play Day at Kidzania

SKY’S LOYAL SUBSCRIBERS HAVE A FAMILY BONDING DAY

SKY gave its loyal subscribers a chance to bond with their families through an enjoyable evening of fun at the SKYlife Kids Play Day held at Kidzania Manila last Tuesday, December 18.

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

The Kids Play Day aimed to nourish children’s passions and help them develop life skills while inspiring them to become the best versions of themselves, and having fun with their families.

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

Kidzania is an educational family entertainment facility which is a replica of a real city scaled down to kids’ size—with its own history, culture, language, and currency—and teaches kids the value of having jobs in the real world and giving back to the community.

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

Kids got to experience the park’s activities that offer realistic role-play in various set ups that include a wall for climbing, a construction site, a burger restaurant, a fire department, a courier service, an acting academy, and a vet clinic.

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

This SKYlife Kids Play Day is just one of the many perks enjoyed by loyal SKY subscribers. They can take advantage of more exclusive benefits and gifts through the Kapamilya Thank You Program. Until January 31, 2019, registering their SKY account to thankyou.abs-cbn.com will afford them with bonus rewards points that they can redeem to get free access to cable TV shows and more! More details on this are available at mysky.com.ph/thankyou.

Families also got the chance to check out the new SKY On Demand Box at the Parent’s Lounge which showed how families can continue their bonding experiences at home. SKY’s new set-top box greatly enhances the subscribers’ viewing experience: SKYcable TV shows as well as video streaming from Netflix, YouTube, ABS-CBN’s video streaming service iWant and SKY’s very own online streaming service for subscribers, SKY On Demand – all from the same box.

SKYlife Kids Play Day, Kidzania

SKY Cable Corporation is the first to introduce cable television to Filipinos in 1990. Since then, it has been a frontrunner in technology and cable TV content by being the first to design a highly customized viewing experience among subscribers, and offering the most number of HD channels.

For more information on the new SKY On Demand Box, call your local SKY office or visit mysky.com.ph/sodbox.

Event details provided by SKY in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content and perks it provides to its subscribers like this SKYlife Kids Play Day. I consider being able to share about SKY experiences like this with like-minded people one of the biggest perks of my job.

Theo & Philo brings new flavors to local chocolates

Filipinos have long had a love affair with chocolates.  Those richly dark treats were first brought to this country over four centuries ago by Spanish colonizers who introduced the growing of cacao to the locals.  Today, the Philippine cocoa industry has grown to become the primary producer of cocoa beans in Southeast Asia and has brought about innovative local chocolate brands.

One such brand is Theo & Philo.  Curious about the name? “Theo” is short for “theobroma cacao,” the scientific name for chocolate, while “Philo” comes from the Greek word for “love.”  Theo & Philo therefore means “chocolate and love.”

With products made from natural ingredients sourced from around the Philippines, Theo & Philo built its advocacy for organic and fair trade practices that support scholarships and farming communities. It has also pioneered in the production of new chocolate flavors that feature tastes that are embedded in Filipino culinary traditions and pop culture.

Its bold-flavored chocolates have garnered international awards and recognition, most recently at the International Chocolate Awards – 2018 Asia Pacific Competition.  

Theo & Philo

Theo & Philo

Theo & Philo

During the recent Crafts for a Cause exhibit at SM Mega Fashion Hall, I was able to buy some bars which include:

70% Dark Chocolate (Php119.75). With its use of high quality cacao for rich depth with notes of earthiness and cherries.  Its great for a no-nonsense chocolate experience.

Theo & Philo

Theo & Philo

Net Weight: 45 grams

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter

60% Dark Chocolate with Ginger and Mint (Php119.75).  With this combination of rich dark chocolate, warm ginger and refreshing mint, you can enjoy a sweet treat with a bit of a surprising feel in your mouth.

Theo & Philo

Theo & Philo

Net Weight: 45 grams

Ingredients:  Cacao Beans, Sugar, Ginger, Cocoa Butter, Peppermint Oil

Milk Chocolate Adobo (Php119.75).  This novelty bar is among the three flavors that won Theo & Philo the Bronze award in the International Chocolate Awards – 2018 Asia Pacific Competition.  With a unique flavor from the soy sauce toffee and black pepper adobo infusion, this milk chocolate will let you see two Filipino favorites – adobo and chocolates – in a whole new light.

Theo & Philo

Theo & Philo

Net Weight: 45 grams

Ingredients: Sugar, Cacao Beans, Cocoa Butter, Milk Powder, Butter, Soy Sauce, Black Pepper

Theo & Philo and its penchant for fearless chocolate flavors will make for great post-meal indulgences, dessert adventures or memorable novelty gifts.

Theo & Philo chocolates are available in the following retailers:

  • Human Nature: Alabang, Makati, Manila, Marikina, Pasig and its flagship store in Quezon City
  • Gourdo’s: Alabang, SM Megamall, Trinoma Mall and Greenhills
  • Echo Store: Makati, The Podium, Eton Centris
  • SM Kultura: SM Makati, SM Megamall, Mall of Asia, SM Aura

and more.  For more details, visit the Theo & Philo website.

Chef Jessie’s Place in Makati soon to open

Chef Jessie Sincioco, Hotel Intercontinental Manila’s very first Filipina pastry chef and recipient of multiple international awards and recognitions in her field, never dreamed of having her own building.

The renowned restaurateur behind culinary brands such as Top of the Citi by Chef Jessie and Chef Jessie Rockwell Club, now has another feather in her cap (or toque blanche, to be consistent with her profession): a newly constructed building set within one of the Makati suburbs surrounding the Central Business District.

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

The structure is designed to house, not just Chef Jessie’s corporate offices, but various dining choices that showcase the chef’s culinary creations as well.

At the ground floor, which will house a bakeshop and a coffee shop, diners can relax and unwind with their favorite brew and Chef Jessie’s signature pastries.

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

The mezzanine will be the home of a restaurant that features intercontinal fare, while the third floor will be made available for rentals and events as a function hall that can cater to small groups or large gatherings (or the oft-maligned tita conferences :-)).

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

The upper floors will house the corporate offices of JCS Gastronomie, Inc., the company that manages her culinary establishments.

Given Chef Jessie’s religious bent, a small but beautiful chapel which will hold masses every Friday is also given pride of place in the building.

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Anticipating that ample parking space will be a major consideration for her diners, she acquired another lot near the building to serve as a parking lot.

The new building, Chef’s Jessie’s Place is something that the chef can consider all her own, a significant portion of her solo ventures. She credits the acquisition and construction of the building to a special blessing, along with the honor of being tasked to prepare all of His Holiness Pope Francis’ meals during his celebrated visit to the country in 2015. This same year was coincidentally the year when the lot on which the building was erected became available.

Chef Jessie has definitely come a long way. From joining and winning the Great Maya Cookfest in 1983 with her now iconic mango cake recipe, to getting hired immediately after the competition by a top honcho of Intercon, to launching Le Souffle with expat partners, to now being the name behind top restaurants, she has proven, time and again, her strength, culinary genius and her mettle.

And with all that’s in store with the highly anticipated grand opening of Chef Jessie’s Place, slated to be in early 2019, we can look forward to more exciting things from Chef Jessie.

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati

Chef Jessie’s Place is located at the corner of Pililia and Obrero Streets in Tanay, Makati City.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to an exclusive sneak peek of Chef Jessie’s Place prior to its official opening.

Flavorful and familiar dishes at Banapple, Tomas Morato

Eating out with coworkers who are not among your usual lunch companions presents quite a quandary: trying to find a restaurant that will appeal to the varied tastes and preferences of such a diverse group.

Banapple

Banapple

We solved this dilemma by going to the nearby branch of Banapple and took advantage of its various home-cooked style comfort food such as:

Soup of the Day (Php105). A freshly made, hearty and creamy mushroom soup to fill the tummy and warm the soul.

Banapple

Sirloin Garlic Beef Tapa (Php280). Tender beef slices marinated in a sweet yet garlicky marinade and served with seasoned garlic rice and creamed parsley eggs.

Banapple

Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce (Php255). Crispy herb-crusted fresh fish fillets drizzled with warm honey thyme mustard sauce and served with butter carrots and served with seasoned garlic rice.

Banapple

Bacon Fried Chicken Steaks with Milk’Shroom Gravy (Php275). Creamy milk and mushroom gravy smother crispy chicken fillets and topped with bacon bits and served with corn relish and seasons garlic rice.

Banapple

Pan-fried Pork Loin with Herb Mushroom Gravy (Php265). Tender pork slices and are seasoned with herbs, pan-fried, smothered with a thick herb and mushroom gravy and served with glazed butter carrots and seasoned garlic rice.

Banapple

At over Php250 per order, these rice meals are not cheap. While quite flavorful and familiar, the dishes have a tendency to provoke a feeling of “umay,” there being so much of a particular taste that you just grow tired of it.

Still, these are not too shabby for a resto that started as a small operation, baking pies and cakes for family, friends and referred food establishments.

Also, as I’ve mentioned several times before, Banapple’s claim to fame, for me, would always be its desserts. The Banoffee Pie (Php135 per slice, Php965 for whole), in particular, is a delightful confection. I brought a whole cake home recently for my dad’s birthday. The graham cracker crust is well-formed and compact. The caramel filling is rich and decadent while the bananas inside are sweet but still has a firm texture. The cream topping is whipped stiff and in shape, allowing it to hold thick dark chocolate shavings.

Banapple

Banapple

Banapple

This Banapple branch is located at the Second Floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato Corner Scout Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 9am to 11.30pm. Other branches can be found at:

  • SM City North EDSA, Quezon City
  • Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City
  • Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Balintawak, Quezon City
  • Blue Ridge, Quezon City
  • Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City
  • Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City
  • Tutuban Center Malls, Tondo, Manila
  • Ayala Malls Marikina, Marikina Heights, Marikina City
  • Ayala Triangle Gardens, Salcedo Village, Makati
  • Market! Market! Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
  • Ayala Fairview Terraces, Novaliches, Quezon City
  • Tuscany, McKinley Hill, Taguig
  • President’s Grove, BF Homes, Paranaque
  • Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Banapple Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Plus, you’ll be happy to know that when you dine in at Banapple with a friend, you can get a free dish via Zomato Gold. Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks for dine-in guests. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here as soon as slots open. (They tend to get snatched up pretty quickly so be sure to sign up as soon as slots become available.) Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

We wanted it quick and cheap at Ersao, Tomas Morato

Sometimes, our food choices are determined by the limitations to our time and funds.  One such instance drove me and a friend to have lunch at the nearby branch of Ersao.

Ersao is a Taiwanese restaurant offering affordably priced snacks and side dishes, rice toppings and hot noodle dishes.  As we have meetings before and after our lunch break, a friend and I opted to get a quick and affordable meal at Ersao at M Place which is within walking distance from our office building.

The store occupies a small space with seating good for up to twenty people.  Even though it was lunchtime, the place was still quite deserted and we were able to order and get a seat with minimum fuss.

Ersao, Tomas Morato

Ersao, Tomas Morato

Ersao, Tomas Morato

My friend opted for the Taiwan Style Rice Porridge (Php180), basically a rice congee with meat bits and aromatics.  Served hot, it can be quite comforting to the soul while filling to the tummy. She supplemented her meal with an order of Gyoza (Php110) for some added protein.

Ersao, Tomas Morato

Ersao, Tomas Morato

Given the relatively low price of the offerings in this resto, I decided to splurge a bit and got myself a Pork Steak (Php170) and a Pearl Milk Tea (Php99).

Ersao, Tomas Morato

Ersao, Tomas Morato

The meal sated our hunger but left me wanting in terms of taste.  The pork steak, in particular, was too liberally seasoned, giving a sense of umay such that I wasn’t able to finish my meal.

Ersao, Tomas Morato

Well, we wanted our lunch quick and cheap, and that’s what we got.  Too bad we didn’t include flavor in our criteria.

Ersao Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Check out my reviews of other Taiwanese food restos:

HBO receives 9 Golden Globe nominations

HBO received 9 Golden Globe nominations for the upcoming 76th annual Golden Globe Awards, which were announced today in Los Angeles. The Golden Globe Awards will be presented on 6 January in Los Angeles.

HBO’s Golden Globe nominations this year include:

3 nominations for BARRY

  • Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (Bill Hader)
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Henry Winkler)

Barry

Synopsis: A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city’s theatre arts scene.

BARRY is now streaming on HBO GO.

3 nominations for SHARP OBJECTS

  • Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Amy Adams)
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Patricia Clarkson)

SO_105_050317_AMF0968

Synopsis: A reporter confronts the psychological demons from her past when she returns to her hometown to cover a violent murder.

SHARP OBJECTS is now streaming on HBO GO.  

1 nomination for SUCCESSION

  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Kieran Culkin)

Succession

Synopsis: Succession follows a dysfunctional American global-media family.

SUCCESSION is now streaming on HBO GO.

1 nomination for THE TALE

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Laura Dern).

The Tale

Synopsis: A woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.

THE TALE is now streaming on HBO GO.

 

1 nomination for WESTWORLD

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Thandie Newton).

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Synopsis: Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.

Both seasons of WESTWORLD are now streaming on HBO GO.

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 which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

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.

Series and movie details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

 

“Miss Sherlock” and “Talwars: Behind Closed Doors” win awards for HBO Asia

HBO Asia won two awards at the inaugural Asian Academy Creative Awards that took place over two nights on December 6 and December 7 at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore. HBO Asia bagged the coveted “Best Drama Series” award for MISS SHERLOCK, the regional network’s first co-production with Hulu Japan, and also won “Best Documentary Series” for THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, HBO Asia’s first original documentary produced in association with Star India.

The Asian Academy Creative Awards are the region’s version of the International Emmy Awards and celebrate quality broadcast and media content from Australia & New Zealand, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

About MISS SHERLOCK

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MISS SHERLOCK, an eight-part, hour-long Japanese drama series, is a bold interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, re-envisioned in Japanese and set in modern day Tokyo, the iconic characters – Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are played by women. A co-production with Hulu Japan, watch the award-winning HBO Asia Original Series on HBO GO.

About THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

TGW_REC_Kaul

THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is a gripping documentary that examines the double murder of a teenage girl and her family’s household servant in Noida, India, that quickly became one of India’s biggest murder mysteries, capturing worldwide attention. Produced in association with Star India, the four-part hour-long HBO Asia Original Documentary Series is available on HBO GO.

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 which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

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.

Movie details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

 

Modern Filipino Cuisine at Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Lately, restaurants touting “modern Filipino cuisine” have sprouted up all over the metro.

But what is modern Filipino cuisine?

Simply put: it is the flavors you grew up with but broken free of traditions surrounding them, even incorporating foreign influences. It is composed of tastes and textures familiar to you but applied and presented in exciting and novel ways. In short, this is not your grandma’s cooking.

Unless your dear Lola is part of the visionary team behind Ombu Kusina, of course.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Ombu is a modern Filipino restaurant located along Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City. Having recently revamped its interiors, it also recently launched its special holiday dishes. And your friendly neighborhood Jellybeans is among the lucky foodies who were able to attend its exclusive food tasting event.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato
Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato
Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Ombu’s newly renovated premises are simply impressive. White subway tiles serve as an elegant backdrop for light-colored plush seats, darkwood tables and the feast laid out for us.

And said feast consisted of Ombu’s signature dishes such as:

Dilis Rice (Php80 per cup: Php170 for sharing). Your favorite sinangag (garlic fried rice), lightly flavored and topped with salty crispy fried dilis (anchovies).

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Salted Egg Spaghettini (Php260). Al dente spaghettini noodles tossed in a sauce of salted egg yolks, sprinkled with tomatoes, diced cucumber and salted egg whites. The salted egg sauce was evenly spread throughout the noodles and the cucumber provided a fresh contrast to the sauce with every bite.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Sisig Pizza (Php520). The classic pork sisig and egg tops a thin-crust pizza drizzled with garlic sauce.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Binagoongang Talong (Php300). Fresh eggplant and lechon kawali served with a thick bagoong (shrimp paste) sauce. While I found the sauce a little too thick for my taste but the crispy fried pork belly is just yummy and went well with the Dilis Rice.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Seafood Mix Laing (Php290). Taro leaves wrapped around a mix of shrimp, crab meat, onion and lemon grass, slowly cooked in light coconut milk.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Also part of the feast are Ombu’s seasonal dishes such as:

Adobochon (Php440). Flavorful roasted pig with tender meat and crispy skin served with adobo sauce on the side.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Flaming Chicken (Php340). Tender and juicy chicken flambed right before our eyes.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

For dessert, we had Frozen Brazo de Mercedes (Php180). Delightful layers of frozen soft meringue alternating custard filling, ice cream and graham cracker crust.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

The dishes were expertly prepared and given a fresh twist by Ombu Kusina’s chefs.

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato
Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato
Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato
Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

So for a great taste of modern Filipino cuisine, check out Ombu Kusina.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held at 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.

Ombu Kusina is located at Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia Street, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 6.30am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 4411789 or +63 922 8149086, or email omburestaurant@yahoo.com.

Thanks to SandUnderMyFeet.com for extending the invite