Gel Jose

A big Italian Family Lunch at New York Slice by Motorino, SM Pasig

Lately, I’ve had little time to spend with my extended family. My parents just moved in to their newly renovated house over the weekend and with all the general hustle and bustle, my mom was not up to cooking the usual Sunday lunch.

I ended up recommending New York Slice by Motorino in SM Hypermarket Pasig as it was very accessible to us and has a sweet Metrodeal offer (more on that later).

It is located along the row of restaurants near the SM Hypermarket’s main entrance facing Tiendesitas. The seating inside the store proper is quite limited but there are extra seats outside the store that can seat larger groups, particularly our party of seven.

I took advantage of a Metro deal offer that entitles me to Php500 worth of food orders at only Php299, with the option to buy and use more than one Metrodeal voucher. With this awesome deal, I admit we went a little crazy with the sheer volume of our orders, which included:

Pizzas

Motorino Special (Php135/slice). Pepperoni, Italian sausage, olives, bell pepper, onions and mushrooms. This was the preferred pizza of Hubby and my brother who wanted their pizzas to have meat and lots of toppings.

Honey & 3-Cheese (Php135/slice). Honey, cream cheese, mozzarella and parmesan. This pizza was for me and my little boy to satisfy our cravings for cheese and something sweet, all in one go.

Veggie Special (Php135/slice). Mushroom, onions, bell pepper, olives, oregano and olive oil. This was the preferred pizza for the older folks, a healthier option than the others.

Pasta

Spaghetti Bolognese (Php169). A classic choice for the party members who are not as adventurous, food-wise.

Alfredo with Bacon (Php169). A meatier take on carbonara but a little to sauce-y for me.

Alfredo with Shrimp (Php189). The preference of my dad who likes seafood.

Creamy Mushroom (Php159). A lighter and more vegetarian option than the other pastas we ordered.

Krunchy Krispy Wings

Garlic Parmesan (Php269/6pcs).

BBQ Glaze (Php439/10pcs).

Both wings are quite tasty and went well with our pizzas and pastas.

Thanks to the Metrodeal vouchers I availed of, I ended up paying only Php2,200+ for Php3,600+ worth of orders.

This New York Slice by Motorino branch is located inside SM Hypermarket, Frontera Verde Drive, Ugong, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, South Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
Rockwell Business Center, Ground Floor, Sheridan Corner United, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 8pm)
Eton Towers Makati, 128 Dela Rosa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City (open Mondays to Fridays 11am to 10pm and Saturdays to Sundays 11am to 9pm)
Ground Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
2A-2 Ground Floor, ATC Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City (open daily from 11am to 10pm)

HBO Original Documentary “Being Serena” to premiere October 29 on HBO and HBO Go

BEING SERENA is a five-part documentary series chronicling tennis icon Serena Williams at a pivotal moment in her personal and professional life. BEING SERENA debuts two episodes back-to-back Monday, 29 October at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time.

BEING SERENA will give viewers unprecedented access to Williams during her pregnancy, new motherhood and marriage, while documenting her journey back to supremacy on the court. Viewers will experience her life from every angle as the intimate first-person show delves into her landmark career, family life and expanding role as a businesswoman and investor in the worlds of tech, fashion, fitness and philanthropy.

Episodic synopses:

Episode #1 (Premieres Monday, 29 October at 10pm)

Serena Williams discovers she is pregnant before capturing her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open. From there, her world takes a dramatic turn as she puts competitive tennis aside in the months leading up to the birth of her first child.

Episode #2 (Premieres Monday, 29 October at 10.25pm)

Serena Williams gives birth to her daughter after an emergency C-section and reveals in gripping detail the life-threatening complications that followed her delivery. Seven weeks later, she returns to the practice court and slowly begins her comeback

Episode #3 (Premieres Monday, 5 November at 10pm)

Serena Williams marries Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans. She subsequently returns to the tennis court to play an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi and joins the U.S. Fed Cup team in North Carolina.

Episode #4 (Premieres Monday, 5 November at 10.30pm)

Superstar Serena Williams plays in her first tournaments since giving birth to her daughter, continuing to adjust to life as a mother.

Episode #5 (series finale | Premieres Monday, 12 November at 10pm)

With the French Open approaching, Serena Williams’ training intensifies in Europe as she continues to navigate the challenge of balancing tennis and her new family.

Serena Williams, 36, is one of the most dominant forces tennis has ever seen, with 39 Grand Slam titles, four Olympic Gold Medals and the most women’s singles match victories in Grand Slam history. Her supremacy on the court earned her Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year honours in 2015 and made her a four-time winner of the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, first in 2002 and most recently in 2015.

In January 2017, Williams bested her sister Venus in the final match of the Australian Open, marking her seventh time winning that singles event. Four months after her historic victory, Williams revealed that she and her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian, were expecting their first child, confirming that she was eight weeks pregnant when she won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title. On September 1, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Williams and Ohanian wed soon after in a stunning ceremony before family and friends in New Orleans on November 16.

BEING SERENA is executive produced by Mark Shapiro, Michael Antinoro and Will Staeger. For HBO: executive producers Peter Nelson and Rick Bernstein. coordinating producer, Johnson McKelvy; supervising producers, David Chamberlin and Bentley Weiner (HBO); senior producer Peter Rogaris; senior producer/editor Matt O’Connor; producer, Aaron Cohen; director of photography, Peter Franchella; original score by Miles Hankins.

The first two episodes of BEING SERENA debuts back-to-back Monday, 29 October at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers.

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.

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO GO not available in your area? Watch the series on HBO on Amazon Prime. Sign up today for a 7-day free trial.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

CinemaWorld brings two episodes of French TV series “Murder In” on SKY On Demand this October

This October, Cinemaworld presents two episodes of the “Murder In” (“Muertres a“) a French television series wherein each episode features a murder linked to a well-known legend within the famous location in France where the murder took place. Both titles will be in their original French language with English subtitles and will be accessible via SKY On Demand.

Murder in Aigues-Mortes (2015)

Assistant prosecutor Elisabeth Richard and police chief Paul Jansac teams up again to solve the murders of a young lawyer and a realtor in Aigues-Mortes, France. Evidence soon tie the cases to an old unsolved rape and lead the duo to more complications.

Murder in Sarlat (2017)

The son of a businessman in Sarlat is murdered in a ritual reminiscent of brutal deaths in the 17th century. Police captain Claire returns to her hometown to investigate and has to deal, not only with her family, but also with her ex-lover.

SKY On Demand is the video streaming service available to SKYcable subscribers that lets them watch their favorite channels live or on demand, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

To use SKY On Demand, register at skyondemand.com.ph. You can watch the movie and more using your computer’s browser or by downloading the SKY On Demand app from the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store.

CinemaWorld is a 24-hour, movie channel that premieres the world’s best and award-winning movies, box-office successes, critics’ favorites from all around the world. In the Philippines, SKYcable and One SKY subscribers can add it to their channel line-up for only Php150/month.

Header photo by Tom Parkes on Unsplash.

Happiness in a Cup at Elait, Tomas Morato

Sweet treats do have the power to lift my spirits. It may come from the sugar rush or the feeling of satisfaction from giving in to my sweet tooth.

Elait, having opened a branch near my workplace, is turning out to be one of my sources of happiness. After trying out its rolled ice cream offerings for the first time during a visit to the Ayala Museum, I’ve been obsessed about trying it again. Thankfully, all I have to do to get my artisanal rolled ice cream fix is hop over to M Place along Panay Avenue near Tomas Morato in Quezon City where its kiosk recently opened.

During one of my lunch breaks, immediately after dining in a nearby Chinese restaurant, I went over to the Elait kiosk to make my selection.

One thing you will note about Elait is that it employs servers who are deaf or hearing-impaired. Aside from providing employment to persons with disability, the company also helps us in reaching out and communicating to differently abled folks by encouraging patrons to make their orders through sign language or with the help of easy-to-use order forms.

Plus, Elait also gives back to the community by sourcing many of its ingredients from local farms.

For my dessert on this particular day, I decided to go for a solo cup of Chocolate Overload (Php140). My yoghurt ice cream base is poured onto a sub-zero metal sheet along with chocolate shards and flavorings. The mixture is then mixed, crushed and spread into a thin sheet across the plate. Afterwards, it is carefully scraped off to form firm rolls of ice cream which are then placed in a cup then topped with brownie bits, pocky sticks and chocolate sprinkles.

And just like that, my yummy, cool, chocolatey dessert is ready for me: my happiness in a cup. I absolutely love its smooth creamy texture and the contrast of flavors from the slight tanginess from the yoghurt and the sweetness of the chocolate.

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I am uncontrollably happy with the opening of @elaitph’s kiosk nearby. I lost no time in dropping by and getting a #ChocolateOverload #RolledIceCream (Php140 for solo serving) for dessert. . . . . . . #sweetdreamsaremadeofthis #alwaysroomfordessert #sweetstothesweet #justdesserts #sweetsph #dessertph #dessertsofinstagram #sugarcoma #sugaraddict #sweetcraving #sugarrush #sweetfix #IGersManila . . . . . . Follow me on IG/FB: @beingjellybeans. And do check out my blogs beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (for #foodiefinds, updates on #TVshows and #movies, and #fictionbook reviews) and thelearneratlarge.wordpress.com (for #businessbook reviews, #motivationalquotes and #trainingtips).

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Sep 19, 2018 at 9:55pm PDT

This Elait kiosk is located at M Place, Panay Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. Other Elait locations include:

The Caf Food Hall, Second Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Third Floor, Santolan Town Plaza, Col Bonny Serrano Avenue, Little Baguio, San Juan City
Second Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Third Floor, Ayala Malls The 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City
Second Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City

Dimsum Treats at Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine, New Manila

Together with a bunch of officemates, I ventured farther than our usual haunts for our #HappyLunch. I actually recommended Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine after seeing pic after pic of scrumptious dimsum and rice toppings posted by fellow foodies on Instagram. Also, I wanted to take advantage of the promo by which diners can get the resto’s dimsum offerings, normally priced at Php120 or higher, for only Php95.

So off we went to Hemady Square along E. Rodriguez Avenue. (There is ample parking in the building’s basement but for a minute there I was worried that my officemate’s Ford Everest won’t fit the entrance nor the parking slot.) The building is fairly new but is already home to several business establishments.

Upon entering Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine’s premises, you will notice the spacious, well-lit and well-appointed dining area which contrasts with other run-off-the-mill Chinese eateries which might seem a bit dingy to almost everyone except their most loyal patrons. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows let in a lot of natural light. The furniture and design elements have muted colors that contribute to a relaxed dining atmosphere.

Taking advantage of the Php95/order for their dimsum, our group ordered:

Xiao Long Bao (normally priced at Php130)

Crab Roe Siomai (normally priced at Php120)

Shrimp Rice Roll (normally priced at Php160)

Taro Puffs (normally priced at Php130)

The famous Piggy Salted Egg Yolk Bao (normally priced at Php130)

Steamed Chicken Feet with Taosi (normally priced at Php130)

And since we brought our considerably big appetites with us, we also ordered:

Pork Giblets Congee (Php180)

Lechon Macau Rice Topping (Php280)

BBQ Pork Rice Topping (Php280)

Beef Brisket Noodle Soup (Php260)

The Lechon Macau was quite good: the flavorful skin has a nice crackle when you bite into it and the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The serving was quite small, though.

The Xiao Long Bao is quite tasty as well; it was served steaming hot so I can slurp the soup from the bao and savor its meaty and herby flavor.

The Piggy Salted Egg Yolk Bao, on the other hand, was a bit of a let-down. Yes, it’s cute and Instagrammable, but I would have preferred a more pronounced taste of the salted egg yolk.

The dishes were served relatively promptly considering the size of our group and the number of orders. The servers were also attentive and accommodating, although there was some delay with a few of our requests.

I was thankful for the dimsum promo as it helped in convincing my officemates to accompany me in this foodie adventure.

By the way, if you have yet to try out Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine’s dimsum offerings, you will be glad to know that the dimsum promo has been extended to October 31, 2018. With this promo, you can get all dimsum at only Php95/order, Mondays to Fridays, from 11am to 5pm and 9pm to 11pm.

Yeah! Yeah! Chinese Cuisine is located at the Third Floor, Hemady Square, Dona Hemady Street corner E. Rodriguez Sr Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City. For reservations, call +63 2 9750070.

Dessert stopover at Gelato Lab, Tomas Morato

Gelato is ice cream made in the Italian style.

Some trace its origins to Bernardo Buontalenti, an inventor in the service of the Medicis in Florence during the Renaissance era, as a by-product of his innovations in ice conservation.

Today, gelato has spread to the most parts of the world. In the Philippines, for example, it offers people some cool respite from the heat and humidity. It also has a slightly warmer serving temperature than regular ice cream which enables it to hold well in the country’s tropical weather and allows it to have a softer yet denser texture.

Tucked inside the Picnic Grounds of Elements Hall along Scout Rallos Street in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area is Gelato Lab. It offers all-natural hand-crafted gelato made with high quality ingredients. To maintain the freshness of its gelato, each flavor is churned in small batches.

My daughter #ExhibitA and I decided to stopover this dessert station on our way home from a nearby bar. The call of the sweet gelato treats was just too strong!

I got myself a cup of the Dark Chocolate gelato (a regular flavor hence priced at Php100/cup | Php360/pint | Php740/tub). #ExhibitA, on the other hand got a cup of Cookie Dough gelato (a premium flavor hence priced at Php120/cup | Php400/pint | Php840/tub).

Both flavors are sinfully yummy and well worth the short side trip. 🙂

Gelato Lab is located at the Picnic Grounds, 2nd Floor Elements Hall, 27 Scout Rallos Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City. For queries, call +63 2 4138008 or email gelatolabph@gmail.com.

Did you know you can serve Gelato Lab’s treats in your next party? For Php9,000, you can have a Gelato Lab scooping station that will give out 120 cups of gelato. This package already includes the freezer, cups, spoons and paper napkins, and one server. Your guests will be able to choose from 3 regular flavors (or you can upgrade to premium flavors for an additional Php400/flavor). For additional 20 cups of regular flavor gelato, pay Php1,300 while for additional 20 cups premium flavor gelato, pay Php1,500.

Gelato Lab’s regular flavors include: Banoffee, Black Sesame, Caramel Popcorn, Cashew, Coffee Straciatella, Custaroon, Dark Chocolate, Earl Grey, Latter Macchiato, Leche Flan, Mango Pudding, Milo Dinosaur, Oreo Cheesecake, Sea Salt Caramel, Snickers, Thai Milk Tea, Ube and Vanilla Bean.

Its premium flavors, on the other hand, include: Baileys Irish Cream, Cookie Dough, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Maltesers, Macha Choco Chip, Mochacchino, Pina Colada Sorbet, Pistachio, Rum Raisin, Strawberry and Tiramisu.

Spanish-style Callos from Mr. Cochinillo

Filipino cuisine is full of Spanish influences, no doubt owing to the more than 300 years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

One of its legacies is Callos, a hearty stew made with ox tripe, ox feet, Spanish sausage chorizo de bilbao, chick peas and peppers, slow-cooked in an herb- and spice-infused tomato sauce.

Callos’ roots go all the way back to Callos ala Madrilena, which, similar to many stews of this style, actually had humble origins. In fifteenth century Europe, tripe was quite inexpensive, making it quite accessible to the more common folk. It does require intensive cleaning and a long cooking time, making it quite impractical for today’s home cooks and working moms to make.

Fortunately, Mr. Cochinillo, the man and the establishment behind the succulent roasted baby pigs known as cochinillos del cielo, offers Callos among other items in his for-pick-up menu. The callos is vacuum-packed prior to freezing: by removing air from its storage bag preserves the color, texture and flavor of the dish.

Mr. Cochinillo does have strict instructions on reheating his callos so you can enjoy it at home:

Defrost the package but don’t use the microwave to thaw it.
In a pot, put one or two tablespoons of pure olive oil.
Saute the defrosted content of the package over low heat until it boils.

This small package of Callos priced at Php700 is good for two people. A larger pack good for six to eight people is priced at Php2,500.

Other frozen, vaccum-packed items available from Mr. Cochinillo include:

Mr. Cochinillo’s Fabada (infused with cochinillo): Php600 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,000 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Rabo del Toro: 2,500 (good for 6 to 8 people)
Cochinillo del Cielo: Php800 (good or 2 people)

To order your Callos from Mr. Cochinillo:

Step 1: Fill out the online order form or call +63 2 6330043, +63 2 9524102 or +63 917 545 4888.

Step 2: After receiving a confirmation message via email or phone, deposit payment to Carlos V De Guzman | BPI | Account Number # 2900-0063-84. Afterwards, email a copy of your deposit slip to orders@mrcochinillo.com.

Step 3: Go to the pick-up location – No 5 Parakeet Street corner Swallow Drive, Green Meadows Subdivision, Quezon City – at the specified time to ensure the crispiness of the skin and tenderness of the meat of your cochinillo. Be sure to bring the deposit slip when you claim your order.

Disclosure: I received the package of frozen Callos as a giveaway when I attended the Bloggers’ Night hosted by Mr. Cochinillo.

Ground Zero Esports Lounge in Antipolo is now open!

Gamers in the East of Manila now have a new haven to come together and enjoy their favorite e-games in comfort. Even better, they also have a place where they and their families can enjoy great food, with gaming-themed dishes and drinks at that.

The opening of Ground Zero Esports Lounge in Xentro Mall, Antipolo raises the game for the local cybercafe industry by responding to evolving needs of the gaming community. With gaming and e-sports gaining ground in the mainstream, with some players having grown up and starting families of their own, having a place where they can hang out and dine while enjoying their passion becomes paramount.

At Ground Zero, patrons can take advantage of the impressive hardware with cutting-edge specs, fast internet connectivity (up to 300mbps) and upscale interiors to play to their heart’s content, hold a LAN party or do their office work remotely.

Families can also enjoy the spacious and well-appointed dining area, expansive food choices and an breath-taking view of the Antipolo skyline.

Together with fellow foodies, I attended the Grand Opening and was able to sample some of the resto’s gaming-themed dishes served buffet-style to guests. (Note: Serving sizes and presentation from the party buffet will differ from the actual ala carte menu.)

Chicken Hex (Php320 for Hex Duo | Php550 for Hex Squad). Crispy and spicy buffalo chicken wings served with ranch dressing.

Mirana Pasta (Php320). Pasta in marinara sauce served with fresh seafood.

4 Cheese Pizza (Php435). A homemade pizza dough topped with bechamel sauce made with parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella and bleu cheese.

Sisig Pizza (Php435). A Pinoy take on the pizza with pork sisig, peppercorn sauce, quail eggs and green chilis topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

Rum BBQ Pudge Ribs (Php490). Grilled ribs marinated in rum barbecue sauce. (Note: In the ala carte menu, this is served with diner’s choice of Java rice, plain rice, mashed potatoes or House Special Fries).

Beef Salpicao.

For dessert (the highlight of my meal), we had Pistachio Sans Rival (Php160), Blueberry Cheesecake (Php130) and Red Velvet Crinkles (Php80).

Ground Zero is a promising restaurant and gaming cafe concept as it brings together a spectrum of gamers, foodies, families and everything in between.

Ground Zero Esports Lounge is located at the 2nd Floor of Xentro Mall, Mambugan, Lower Antipolo, Rizal.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended the grand opening of 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.

Have an Instant Party at Alex III, Tomas Morato

With the approaching holidays comes the much-awaited season of parties and get-togethers. Pinoys, in particular, love to celebrate with food, lots and lots of it. I recall my mom and titas slaving away in the kitchen, preparing their signature dishes for our family gatherings.

While I’m passionate about food, I’m not too keen on stressing myself out in the kitchen. Fortunately, thanks to a Foodie Meet-up held at Alex III’s Tomas Morato branch, I, together with my fellow foodies, discovered that I can treat my loved ones out to a feast of classic Filipino favorites, thanks to its Instant Party Menu.

Alex III’s Instant Party Menu consist of two sets of dishes. Both priced at Php2995, these feature home-grown Filipino party food enough for a group of five. These are all prepared and cooked with the same love and tradition that goes all the way back to Aling Asiang (or Mrs. Engracia Reyes), the matriarch of the family behind the Aristrocrat restaurant of which Alex III is an offshoot, being a business started by one of Aling Asiang’s grandsons.

Set One

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Special Pancit Canton
Fresh Lumpiang Ubod or Lumpiang Shanghai
Kare-Kare
Crispy Pata
Steamed Rice

Set Two

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Crispy Lapu-Lapu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Camaron Rebosado
Special Pancit Canton
Shanghai Rice

Each set is served with garlic peanuts, a sushi sampler, your choice of soup (of which we sampled the Hototay and Sinigang na Salmon), bottomless iced tea and your choice of dessert (of which we sampled the Leche Flan and the Pandan Jellied Tapioca).

Both sets present diners with a combination of flavors that are dearly familiar, being dishes that were served during family reunions and fiestas when we were growing up. They also serve as a way for working moms like me to reconnect our present-day celebrations with the warmth and traditions of our childhood: that despite the hectic schedules and fast-paced lifestyles, we have a way to get together with our loved ones to exchange old memories and make new ones, while enjoying good food and good company.

With Alex III’s Instant Party Menu, the tradition of fun family celebrations with good food is made even better.

This branch of Alex III is located at Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Bayoran, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and queries, call +63 2 3711414 or +63 2 3711415. Its spacious, tastefully appointed and well-lit interiors make it a great venue for large family gatherings or office parties.

Other branches are located at:

201 Wilson Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City (open daily from 11am to 11pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 7240882 or +63 2 7264444)
29 Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 9261266 or +63 2 9268942)
53 Pontiac Corner Chevelle Street, Fairview, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 3766286 or +63 2 3765179)

By the way, did you know that for your parties at home, you can have your favorite dishes from Alex III delivered right to your doorstep? Minimum order for delivery is Php500. For more details, contact the Alex III branch nearest you.

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Day 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.

Get the best cochinillo in town from Mr. Cochinillo

While the lechon (roast pig) is a staple in many Filipino gatherings, few might know that there is a version of this delicacy that originated from Segovia, Spain. The Cochinillo del Cielo, characterized by crispy light golden-brown skin and buttery, falling-off-the-bone meat, is a piglet that is roasted after feeding on sow’s milk from two to six weeks. The true test to a good cochinillo is that it is so tender, it can easily sliced by a delicate porcelain plate.

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Have you ever had #roastedsucklingpig so perfectly cooked you can cut it with a saucer? Well, I have at Mr. Cochinillo, definitely the best #cochinillo in town! . . . . . . #foodieph #foodph #discovermnl #pinoyfoodie #yummyph #foodiegram #foodgasm #zomatoph #spotph #sarap #bookymanila #foodgrammerph #delishph #happytummy #letseatph #foodcentralph #wheretoeatph #IGersManila . . . . . . Follow me on IG/FB: @beingjellybeans. And do check out my blogs beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (for #foodiefinds, updates on #TVshows and #movies, and #fictionbook reviews) and thelearneratlarge.wordpress.com (for #businessbook reviews, #motivationalquotes and #trainingtips).

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Sep 23, 2018 at 10:12pm PDT

Mr. Cochinillo is the brand created by former DJ-turned-photographer-turned-business owner Tinee de Guzman for his roasted suckling pigs and other Spanish-influenced items on the menu. The pigs are roasted in brick ovens located right in his home.

It all started when a friend of his was considering renting a venue he owns for a party and he volunteered to cater it as well. Among the dishes he claimed to be able to prepare, but actually hasn’t done so by then, is the cochinillo. His friend ended up just ordering this dish. Fortunately, he had a month leading to the party to learn and perfect his cochinillo recipe.

Tinee’s style of preparing cochinillo is no mean feat. As he relayed to the chef his friend hired for the party: “To be able to prepare this, you have to have time, you have to do everything properly. You have to clean it; you have to defrost it properly; you have to have it marinated before and after. Your oven has to be at a perfect temperature.”

That amusing start to his cochinillo business was in October 2012.

Since then, his cochinillo has been garnering praise from publications and food pundits and the orders just kept coming in.

In a party he recently held for bloggers, he relayed how he expanded his repertoire with other Spanish-themed dishes, which we were also able to sample. These included:

Seafood Fiduea/Fideo. A dish akin to paella but uses short noodles instead of rice, then cooked over a wood fire.

Fabada. Beans cooked over firewood and infused with his signature boneless Cochinillo del Cielo, which we enjoyed together with garlic bread.

Rabo de Toro. A rich stew made with bull’s tail, slow-cooked to absolute tenderness and rich earthy flavor.

During this event, Tinee also unveiled his newest offering, the Cochinillo rubbed with Goose Oil which further enriches the flavor of the pig’s skin and meat.

The dishes served gave a taste of the richness of Spanish cuisine which also called to mind many of the flavors we Filipinos grew up with and loved.

The following menu items are all available for order at his online store – mrcochinillo.com.

Cochinillo del Cielo: Php6,500 for regular (good for 8 to 12 people) | Php7,500 for large (good for 14 to 18 people)
Mr. Cochinillo’s Black Pig (Baboy Ramo): Php12,500 (good for 24 to 26 people)
Seafood Paella | Paella Negra: Php5,500 for regular (good for 16 to 20 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 30 people)
Seafood Fideua | Fideua Negra: Php5,500 for regular (good for 14 to 18 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 30 people)
Mr. Cochinillo Paella: Php6,000 for regular (good for 16 to 20 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 28 people)

Frozen Items (vacuum-packed to ensure freshness):

Mr. Cochinillo’s Fabada (infused with cochinillo): Php600 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,000 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Rabo del Toro: 2,500 (good for 6 to 8 people)
Callos: Php700 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,500 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Cochinillo del Cielo: Php800 (good for 2 people)

(Note: Mr. Cochinillo has specific instructions on reheating these items, and does not recommend microwaving them.)

Ordering is as easy as 1-2-3:

Step 1: Fill out the online order form or call +63 2 6330043, +63 2 9524102 or +63 917 545 4888.

If you want to serve succulent cochinillos or any of the tasty dishes offered by Mr. Cochinillo at your family gathering this Christmas, it would be best to order as soon as possible. Note as well that cochinillo orders for pick-up from December 1, 2018 to January 3, 2019 will have a surcharge of 10% (but it will be so worth it!).

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Night hosted by Mr. Cochinillo. 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.