Eat – Page 104 – Jellybeans in the City

Feel free to get cheesy at Tori Chizu, UP Town Center

Did you know that while the doria, or the Japanese version of the baked rice casserole, did originate in Japan, it was actually invented by a Swiss chef who worked in a hotel restaurant in Japan in the 1930s?

It is considered an example of yoshoku – Western food in Nihonggo – which take the form of Japanized Western dishes.

Today, Tori Chizu, a new restaurant brand under the same company that manages Korean fastfood chain Bon Chon, brings this Japanese dish and more to foodies the metro, with most of its dishes served with its signature cheesy chizu sauce.

(This got me all excited because, as most of my friends know, I’m an avid cheese lover. Yeah, cheesy talaga!)

Together with my fellow foodies from #SaanSaPH, I visited its UP Town Center branch to get a taste of its offerings.

Our meal included:

Chicken Katsu Curry Chizu Bowl (Php139). I never developed a liking for curry but, at least, the Japanese versions leans more towards sweet rather than spicy. Still, when taken together with chizu sauce, I found the combination to be quite overwhelming. The chicken katsu, however, is well-seasoned with a crisp batter covering and tender meat.

Chicken Karaage Chizu Bowl (Php129). Karaage is a way of lightly coating meats – most often chicken pieces – in seasoned flour or potato starch then deep-frying them in oil. Today, it is one of the most popular Japanese chicken dishes, no doubt due to its versatility and near-universal appeal. The addition of the chizu sauce to the rice bowl adds a layer of decadence to the dish.

Beef Chizu Bowl (Php149). This is another dish with wide appeal which feature strips of sauteed sukiyaki-cut beef, whose relatively mild flavor is complemented by the chizu sauce.

Baked Pasta with Egg (Php135). The tomato-based sauce does not conform to the expectations of the Pinoy palette. If you don’t like pasta sauce that tends towards the sour rather than the spicy-sweet we’ve grown used to, this pasta dish might not be for you.

Chicken Racks (Php554 for 8-piece combination of Umami and Spicy). I got intimidated by the color and presentation of the spicy chicken pieces so I just took a bite of the umami chicken. Thankfully, it was juicy and tender: just well-seasoned enough to go well with rice.

Desserts: Double Cheese (Php55) and Ube Macapuno Soft (Php62). We capped our meal with soft-serve ice cream: one was topped with lots of cheese powder resulting in an appetizing mixture of sweet and salty flavors while the other features the local flavors of ube (purple yam) and macapuno (soft and chewy coconut flesh), adding a very Pinoy spin to this dessert.

I found Tori Chizu’s menu to have quite a lot of variety so you can definitely come back several times to have a taste of something new while you’re deciding on which dish is your favorite. Its offerings are also quite affordably priced, making its dishes accessible to more people.

Tori Chizu is well worth a visit for cheese lovers and those on the lookout a new take on Japanese cuisine.

(And also those who are feeling a bit cheesy…)

Thanks to Shishi of Shi’s A Mom for extending the invitation!

This Tori Chizu branch is located at the Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Diliman, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Other branches may be found at:

Upper Ground Floor, Outside Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Security Land Center, VA Rufino corner Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati

Disclosure: Together with other #SaanSaPH foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Padi’s Point and San Miguel Beer Partner for Happy Hour Barkada Treat 2019

For the second straight year, the country’s widest bar chain, Padi’s Point Restaurant and Bar and the largest beer producer of the country—San Miguel Brewery Inc., have partnered for one amazing treat for all “barkadas.”

Happy Hour Barkada Treat have made San Miguel Beer products available at 3 bottles for only P150 in all Padi’s Point branches during their respective Happy Hour schedules this April 1 to May 31, 2019. But as an added treat, all customers who availed this offer during the promo period were given raffle coupons wherein their names plus two of their friends were indicated and will have a chance to win in the grand raffle held on June 7, 2019 at Padi’s Point-Metro East wherein 3 Game Consuls were given away.

In the previous year’s raffle, 3 Pocket Drones were won by MicroSourcing employee Karl Devoe Guidaya and his friends/team mates Rommel Longatang and Rodel Carulasan.

Guidaya, Longatang and Carulasan are occasional visitors of different Padi’s Point branches particularly in the South Manila/Cavite area where they work and live such as Padi’s Point- Bacoor, The Pad-MOA and where their winning entry came from—Padi’s Point-Las Piñas.

“We work from 6am to 3pm, so coming in after work or during Happy Hour is perfect for us. Mas mura ang Cocktails, Beers ang dami pang ibang promo na sakto sa budget”, confirms Guidaya.

Being on the techie-side and working in a BPO, specifically a gaming account, all 3 guaranteed that they will be using the drones during travels, barkada adventures and even on team- building activities.

Definitely all three will be visiting Padi’s Point branches even more as there is no better place to gimmick, party and win.

Header photo shows Happy Hour Barkada Treat 2018 winners Rodel Cadulasan, Karl Devoe Guidaya and Romel Longatang receiving their prizes from Padi’s Point assistant marketing manager Julie Ann Gatchalian.

In Metro Manila, Padi’s Point branches are located at:

Robinsons Metro East, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City (see review here see review here)
Ground Floor Century Imperial Suites, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (see review here)
Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal (see review here)
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal (see review here)
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Lovely feast at Dong Juan, Marikina

Nestled in the Marikina suburbs is a new and happenin’ food park called Lamp Quarters. With its beautifully designed exteriors – lots of relaxing green spaces where you can enjoy either the sunshine or the night breeze – and its wonderful curation of food merchants, Lamp Quarters is sure to appeal to the young ‘uns as well as #TitasOfManila-type folks like me.

One of the restaurants situated in Lamp Quarters is Dong Juan, one of the Metro Manila branches of the popular Cebu-based restaurant. It features airy interiors, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of natural light and bric-a-bracs that give the place a warm and homey feel.

I’m actually a frequent visitor of Dong Juan’s branch along Mother Ignacia Avenue in Quezon City as it’s located just a short ride from my office. There, I’ve developed a preference for its Sizzling Pochero.

During a foodie meetup at Dong Juan Marikina together with other #MarikinaFoodies, however, I was treated to a lovely feast which included:

1. Humongous All-Beef Burgers.

Made with quarter pounds of USDA beef patties, these burgers are great for huge appetites.

Dong Juan Burger (Php189.00)

Ultimate Bacon Burger (Php309.00)

2. Appetizers.

Whet your appetite with these savory dishes!

Beef Tips (Php349)

Chili Wings (Php219)

Popeye Shrimps (Php259)

Calamares (Php209)

Popeye Shrimps (Php259)

3. Pastas

These filling pasta dishes can be split among friends.

Gambas Al Ajillo Pasta (Php279)

Native Cebu Chorizo Pasta (Php229)

Linquine Meatballs in Marinara Sauce (Php209)

4. Main Dishes

These hearty entrees are also good for sharing!

Asian Style Pork Knuckles “Crispy Pata” (Php529)

Spicy Shrimp in Crab Roe (Php299)

5. Pizzas

These tasty pizzas are best eaten fresh and hot from the oven!

Hawaiian (Php389 – 10-inch | 8 slices)

Pepperoni (Php389 – 10-inch | 8 slices)

Bacon & Mushroom (Php389 – 10-inch | 8 slices)

6. Desserts

These decadent sweets already include a cup of freshly-brewed coffee.

New York Cheesecake (Php199)

Belgian Chocolate Cake (Php169)

7. Wines

Savor these dishes with spirits that Dong Juan keeps in stock and serves per glass.

I recently discovered the fine taste of Carlo Rossi’s Pink Moscato. It’s perfect for a night out with wines and titas, hehehe!

Together with my fellow #MarikinaFoodies, I thoroughly enjoyed the fusion of flavors of Dong Juan’s signature dishes.

Thanks to Danes of MarikinaFoodies for extending the invitation!

Celebrating your birthday anytime soon? Why not spend it at Dong Juan and enjoy a free meal! Just bring two full-paying adults and choose from any of these sets:

Burger Steak, Plain Rice, Dong Juan Iced Tea and a scoop of Ice Cream
Dong Juan Burger, Dong Juan Iced Tea and a scoop of Ice Cream
Linguini Meat Balls in Marinara Sauce, Dong Juan Iced Tea and a scoop of Ice Cream

This Dong Juan branch is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Niño, Marikina City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 12 midnight. For queries, call +63 917 7095969.

Dong Juan’s other branch in Metro Manila is located at 72 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3740265. Check out my full resto review.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #MarikinaFoodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Since Dong Juan is a Zomato Gold partner restaurant, you can get some of these dishes free when you unlock your Zomato Gold privilege at Dong Juan. Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

Lovin’ the night life at Padi’s Point, Metro East

The sun went down and it’s the end of another work week.

Why not celebrate the start of the weekend by letting your hair down, letting loose and letting the good times roll with your friends at your nearest Padi’s Point?

That’s what my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I did last night at the Padi’s Point branch at Robinsons Metro East.

This resto is ideally situated for the residents of Metro Manila’s eastern areas who don’t want to make the trek to Padi’s Point branches further up in Antipolo.

Here, you and your buds can enjoy Padi’s Point’s signature bar chows and drinks along with some live music that you and the gang can groove to.

Check out the goodies that fueled our Friday night party:

Kulot (Php89). Cheesy crisp strings great for mindless eating, hehehe!

Cheese Sticks (Php155). Yummy cheese wraps great for snackin’.

Chicken Lollipops (Php290). Bite-sized crispy fried chicken pieces.

Crunchy Calamares (Php250). Crispy battered squid rings.

Kropek (Php135). Crunchy and savory shrimp crackers.

Shot Decker (Php199). Prettily presented shots of Zombie, GotchaAftershock, Mindoro Sling, Blue Moon and Emperor Tower cocktails.

Rainbow Cocktail Tower (Php199). Refreshing multi-colored and multi-flavored cocktails served in a 3-liter tower.

Baileys (Php80/shot). My favorite drink of all time!

With these yummy munchies and this awesome group of foodies, a great rockin’ time was guaranteed!

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Robinsons Metro East, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 4pm to 4am, and Fridays to Saturdays from 4pm to 5am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 919 5856068 or +63 9195438490.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Friday night hang out at Padi’s Point, Tomas Morato

For decades now, Padi’s Point has remained the after-hours drinking and gimik place for the barkada. Padi’s Point’s branch here in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area provides local residents and office workers a place to hang loose and relax with their buddies while enjoying their favorite drinks and pulutan.

This particular Friday night, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I all trooped to Padi’s Point Tomas Morato for some early evening food and drinks.

By early evening, this Padi’s Point is ready for people who want to eat, drink and have a good time. Its extensive menu Filipino dishes and bar chow, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will have something for everyone in the gang. And if some in your group would like to get down on the dance floor, who’s to judge?

Our group’s Friday evening chow included:

Padi’s Original Sisig (Php280). The house special sisig that seem to find it’s way to every inuman session.

Mexican Pizza (Php360). Who would have thought you can top a pizza with sausage, onion rings, bell peppers and nacho chips?

Barkada Supreme (Php730). Finger-foods to go with the barkada’s drinks: onion rings, cheese sticks, french fries, chicken nuggets and mushroom poppers.

Barrio Feast (Php705). Everyone’s favorite fried and grilled dishes: fried chicken, fried tilapia, inihaw na liempo and pusit, accompanied by tokwa’t baboy and ensalada.

Garlic Mushrooms (Php170). Plump and succulent champignon mushroom halves that go well with your favorite drink.

What a great start to the weekend! Thanks to EJ of ILoveToEatPH for extending the invite!

In the mood for a longer hang out sesh with the gang? Take advantage of the Padi’s Point’s Summer Tower treat! Get a cocktail tower, that’s 3 liters of your choice of cocktails to fuel laughter and some good-natured ribbing from the gang.

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Ground Floor Century Imperial Suites, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 4pm to 6am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 9207864 or +63 2 9278001.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Comfort food and whimsy at Pookaberry Cafe, Tomas Morato

If you venture into one of the more out-of-the-way streets near the foodie-friendly haven Tomas Morato, you might chance upon this colorful little cafe.

Called Pookaberry Cafe, its facade and interiors are marked by whimsical depictions of a baby alien named – you guessed it – Pookaberry, who just happens to be the imaginary friend of Ollie the Octopus.

Photo Credit: Jocen of BoodleBearPH

These drawings and characters are works by renowned New York-based pop artist Peter Marco, co-owner of the cafe along with his wife Jeanette.

While the cafe’s wall-to-wall artworks will stimulate you to flights of fancy, its menu, developed by Jeanette from the family’s own recipes and mirroring their cosmopolitan tastes and Pinoy roots, will comfort your tummy and spirit. Check them out:

Jams: Chili Mango and Chili Orange. Great to spread on buttered bread for that bit of extra sweetness that will put a smile on your face.

Paninis: Adobo (Php220), Bacon (Php240), Pork Loin (Php240) and Avocado (Php230). Grilled breads stuffed with flavorful filling, my fave was the savory avocado panini which veers away from my usual avocado fare which tend to be sweet.

Breakfast: Breakfast ni Juan (with beef tapa and scrambled egg – Php290), Uncle Sam’s Big Breakfast (with bacon, sausage and scrambled egg – Php310) and Vegetarian Option (with mushrooms – Php320). A hearty way to start the day is to have a bit of fried rice, a bit of vegetable salad and your preferred proteins to fuel you up. I was surprised to find that I actually love the Vegetarian Option: the sauteed mushrooms were flavorful, savory and went well with the rice.

Cakes: Very Pookaberry (Php130 slice | Php1,300 whole), Walnut Carrot (Php140 slice |Php1,400 whole), New York Cheesecake (Php140 slice | Php1,680 whole) and Matcha Green Tea (Php140 slice | Php1,400 whole). Delectable desserts to indulge the sweet tooth! My fave was the rich and creamy New York Cheesecake.

Cookie Shots (Php125). Cookie cups to hold your preferred shot among espresso, fresh milk or chocolate milk options. Cheers!

Photo Credit: Diane of Fried and Prejudice

Cosmic Cookie (Php80). Cookies baked in fun cosmic-shaped muffin cups.

Choco Walnut (Php120). A humongous piece of chocolate chip and walnut cookie to give you your sugar fix for the day.

Ice Blended Drinks: Very Pookaberry Ube, Jurassic Milo, Strawberry Cream Cheese Oreo and Matcha Oreo. Refreshing icy drinks, perfect for a hot summer’s day!

Aside from its fun and whimsical ambiance and the yummy treats on its menu, Pookaberry Cafe also has its own advocacy project. Proceeds of the cafe go to the Basilia Women’s Foundation which helps women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

Check out its gift shop for fun merchandise and bags of its locally sourced coffee beans.

So the next time you’re in the Tomas Morato area, drop by Pookaberry Cafe, for fun times and yummy treats.

Thanks to Aileen of AileenLFoodAdventures for extending the invite!

Pookaberry Cafe is located at 36-B Scout Ybardolaza corner Scout Rallos Streets, Bgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 9pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 9685414.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #AileenLFoodieEventBuddies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Manila’s affogato is here at Affojeans, SM North EDSA

You would think that with the onset of rainshowers that announced summer’s end we would be feeling a lot cooler by now.

Not so, apparently, if the sweltering heat that continues to pervade Metro Manila is anything to go by.

So how to cool our bodies and our tempers despite the mercury rising?

How about a sweet frozen treat like an affogato?

The affogato is an Italian dessert which is made of a scoop of ice cream or gelato, poured over or “drowned” with a shot of hot espresso, resulting in the combination of creamy sweetness and a strong coffee flavor. It is a perfect item for lovers of dessert and coffee.

Recently, affogato specialty brand Affojeans set up its first-ever dessert station at SM North EDSA, providing foodies up north with their sugar and caffeine fix in one delectable cup.

During a recent foodie meetup together with my #SaanSaPH foodie buddies, Affojeans’ co-owner Megs filled us in on what makes Affojeans special.

According to Megs, many premium coffee shops already offer affogato but these are usually priced high. Given the relative ease in producing the dessert, Affojeans’ affogatos are priced affordably (with cheekily named variants shorts for regular-sized and jeans for large-sized cups). These flavors include:

Affoshot (Php89 shorts | Php120 jeans). Classic affogato.

Cinna-Bun (Php89 shorts | Php120 jeans). Cold cinnamon bun.

Black Panda (Php99 shorts | Php130 jeans). Made with mocha and oreos.

Caramello (Php99 shorts | Php130 jeans). Made with salted caramel and nuts.

Tiramisu (Php99 shorts | Php130 jeans). Made with chocolate and cheesecake.

Avococo (Php109 shorts | Php140 jeans). Made with avocado and coconut.

Matchago (Php109 shorts | Php140 jeans). Matcha affogato.

The espresso shots poured into the affogato are made made fresh in small batches using a mocha espresso percolator, guaranteeing freshness.

When enjoying these desserts, you will notice that even when fully melted, the ice cream (house-made by Affojeans) remains creamy. Too bad these ice cream flavors by themselves are not available on retail.

Affojeans’ beverage menu also includes Cold Brew floats. Cold brew is a process of steeping coffee from ground coffee beans at cool temperatures for an extended period of time, around 12 to 24 hours. Because the beans never come into contact with heated water, the resulting brew has a different chemical profile from coffee brewed via conventional methods. This includes a lower acidity and caffeine content than regular coffee which makes Affojeans’ cold brew floats suitable for those suffering from acid reflux or caffeine sensitivity. We were served Affo Cold Brew (Php155 shorts | Php175 jeans) and New York Cheesecake (Php165 shorts | Php185 jeans) floats.

Got a fellow caffeine addict or a sweet tooth buddy? Why not take advantage of Affojeans’ Buy 1 Take 1 offer on cold brew floats and treat yourselves to these yummy drinks? Get two short floats for Php199 or two jeans floats for Php249.

Affojeans is a great new concept store that’s sure to satisfy the sweet and caffeine cravings of foodies up north. I hope a branch opens nearer to my neck of the woods.

Thanks to Kian (@kainventures) for extending the invite!

Affojeans is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (in front of National Bookstore), open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #SaanSaPH, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.Check out my reviews of other dessert places in the metro:

Quick snack time at Turks, SM North EDSA

So, here’s the deal: I’ve got some Turks GCs and my friends from #SaanSaPH and I are in the mood for a snack.

What to do???

Why, share the wealth and #MakeItATurksDay for everyone, that’s what!

At 10am and waiting for our first foodie meetup for the day, yes, we’re feeling just a wee bit peckish. So, off we went to the Turks stall at the SM North EDSA Foodcourt to get ourselves a small Beef Pita Doner each.

This tasty little snack is made of 100% pure beef, infused with Turks’ signature doner recipe and grilled to juicy goodness, served with freshly cut cucumber, tomatoes and onions, doused in cheese, garlic and hot sauces and wrapped with a slice of cheddar cheese in a warm, freshly baked pita bread.

You might think that there’s only one way to enjoy your Beef Pita Doner, but no! You can have it with all the bells and whistles (that is, all the veggies and sauces it usually comes with) like I did, sans onions, sans the sauces, or just all meat wrapped in the pita. Really, how you enjoy your wrap is your call.

With our hunger pangs chased away by our quick snack, our merry group went about our merry way, merrily tasting, noting and picture-taking what the day had to offer.

Photo Credit: Russell Vargas

Photo Credit: Shishi de Leon

Thanks to Turks for the GCs!

Turks is one of the country’s most successful and fastest growing brands in the food industry with over 400 branches nationwide.

This Turks branch is located at Food Court, Lower Ground Floor, Main Building, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

Another branch located nearby is located at Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean food:

The Cafe Mediterranean, Rockwell Power Plant

Noor, BGC

Holy Shawarma, Marikina

Heritage of flavors at Pamana, Tomas Morato

Pamana in Tagalog means “heritage.” It is a legacy passed down from generation to generation taking with it the hopes and dreams of forebears for their descendants. For many Filipinos, this heritage takes the form of family traditions and stories that provide them with roots and backgrounds.

For third-generation restaurateur Happy Ilagan Ongoauco – Tiu, her heritage rich with heirloom and secret recipes of Filipino dishes is a point of pride. It signifies a hundred years of delicious and authentic Filipino food arising from her family’s passion for cooking and love for family.

She brings this heritage to life with her restaurant Pamana, a Filipino restaurant located in foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area in Quezon City.

On my first day back to work from my overseas vacation, I headed to Pamana’s homey restaurant together with three coworkers for a spot of good ole’ Filipino comfort food for lunch.

Our repast of Pinoy fare included:

My Adobo Rice (Php220). Nearly two decades ago when I started working in the Tomas Morato area, I enjoyed some yummy rice toppings at World Topps then located along Timog Avenue. Well, guess what! World Topps was Happy’s first restaurant and this dish is what made it famous. This rice meal of adobo pork bits, scrambled eggs and freshly cut tomatoes on top of steaming hot rice doused in adobo sauce is already good for three so we just supplemented it with a cup of garlic rice.

Pampanga’s Sizzling Sisig at Aligue (Php320). It seems that any Filipino reataurant meal won’t be complete without sisig. This version had the indulgent addition of aligue (crab fat). Treated during this meal as a viand, it went well with the Adobo Rice.

Crispy Adobong Pusit Calamares (Php325). My coworkers discovered this menu item while I was on vacay. And what a discovery indeed! It combines the sour-savory flavors of adobong pusit and the crispy and chewy texture of calamares. Similar to the sisig, this tasted so good paired with the adobo rice.

This was a lovely lunch that welcomed my tummy and my heart back home, and got me ready for the rest of the workday.

This Pamana branch is located along Mother Ignacia Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 3743798.

Another branch is located at 1315 Aguinaldo-Highway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 46 4132461 or +63 922 8592703.

Flavorful Latin dishes at Cocina Peruvia, Podium

The South American country of Peru is home to a cuisine that is a melting pot of various influences: from European (Spanish, Italian and German), to Asian (Chinese and Japanese) and West African. With the culinary inputs from other cultures arising from colonization, trade or immigration, Peruvian cuisine has grown in flavorful and inclusive diversity that it has been cited by food critic Eric Asimov as one of the most important cuisines, being a model of fusion fare.

This much-vaunted fusion of flavors came into play when I had lunch together with fellow foodies from #SaanSaPH at the Cocina Peruvia branch in The Podium in Ortigas Center.

The place had a colorful and festive feel to it, highlighted by greetings of “Buenas tardes!” from the staff. The dining area was spacious and airy with window seats offering a chill view of the Ortigas commercial district.

Cocina Peruvia’s menu was developed by Chef Him Uy de Baron, with Peruvian chef Andres Higa as consultant, to bring Peru’s grand fusion of tastes to Filipino diners such as those included in our tasty lunch repast:

Anticuchos de Corazon de Vaca (Php320). Skewered grilled cubes of ox heart, accompanied by aji anticucho (mayo-mustard) sauce and chimichurri (garlic-parsley) sauce. Definitely one of the restaurant’s more exotic offerings, it exemplifies the types of meat dishes that became popular as inexpensive street food in Peru.

Patacones Salmon (Php320). Flavorful slices of cooked salmon covered by a parmesan cheese and mayo mix on top of a patacon or a twice-fried slice of plantain banana and served with sofrito sauce. If you ever need to satisfy a craving for cheesy baked salmon, try this out!

Adobo Peruvia (Php400 | Php1,190 grande). It’s the first time I’ve heard of Peru having its own version of adobo. Well, I shouldn’t have been surprised considering its similarities to the Philippines when it comes to having a colonial past. Tender, slow-cooked pork belly slices are place on a bed of cream sauce and accented by sliced tomatoes and onions.

Arroz Verde con Pollo (Php320 | Php790 grande). Chicken slivers sauteed with rice, mixed veggies and cilantro, great when paired with the Adobo Peruvia.

Pollo a la Brasa (Php380 | Php750 grande). Roasted chicken served with fried potatoes, aji green (mayo-cilantro) sauce, chimichurri and salsa creole.

Linguine con Carbonara (Php280 | Php520 grande). Peru’s version of seafood carbonara with shrimp, squid and mussels in a creamy garlic butter sauce tossed into linguine pasta.

Galera de Chocolate (Php350). A exotically decadent dessert of dark chocolate ganache served with candied figs and tortilla chips.

Banana Shakes (Php120). Both choices offer a fresh take on the banana shake: the Banana Pineapple has a more tropical taste while the Banana Mint features a cool, refreshing taste.

These dishes gave me and my fellow foodies an awesome taste of Peru’s fusion cuisine! On my next visit, I look forward to trying out more of Cocina Peruvia’s parilla line and desserts.

This Cocina Peruvia branch is located at Fifth Floor, The Podium, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 9073958 or +63 9176351862.

Another branch is located at Level 3, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 9892752 or +63 9176315797.