Eat – Page 110 – Jellybeans in the City

A walk on the wild side at Wyld Kitchen x Bar, Tomas Morato

Tomas Morato is home to a vibrant foodie scene: concept restaurants abound in the area, each offerings its own take at particular cuisines.

Along Mother Ignacia Avenue, for example, is Wyld Kitchen x Bar, a new haven for Quezon City denizens seeking to destress and enjoy a few drinks and eats in a hip yet intimate setting.

Inspired by the wilderness of Colorado in the US, the restobar has a rustic feel to it but tempered with modern sensibilities such as zero waste and sustainability. The wall hangings resembling tree branches and the heavy tables, for instance, are made of recycled wood and metals. All utensils are reusable, and even the metal straws.

During a recent meetup with fellow Zomato foodies, I was able to sample some of this restobar’s nature-infused offerings, which include:

Wyld Beef Burger (Php450). A perfectly blended and grilled beef patty with an earthy and smokey flavor and juicy texture, accompanied by a mulberry steak sauce, poached egg, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion in a warm brioche bun.

Grilled Herb Marinated Flank Steak (Php550). Medium-grilled slices of flank steak served with a compound herb butter, thick fried potato wedges, sauteed French beans and cherry tomatoes.

Fish and Chips (Php380). Beer-battered cream dory served with potato fries and a zesty egg dressing.

Pesto Pasta (Php350). House-made pesto sauce with pistachios, microgreens and parmesan. It gets an additional touch of nature with its garnish of edible butterfly pea flowers.

Our group was also able to sample Wyld’s imaginatively prepared signature cocktails such as:

Non-alcoholic drinks

Butterfly Fizz (Php95), made of soda water and fresh lemon juice accented by a butterfly pea flower.

Aloe & Coco (Php90), made with aloe vera juice, fresh basil and nata de coco.

Alcoholic drinks

Afterglow (Php250), made of gin, calamansi liqueur, housemade camote tops syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Radiculous (Php280), made of vodka infused with radish (of all things! :-)) elderflower liqueur, aloe vera juice and garnished with a slice of pickled radish on a spear.

In Love with Cacao (Php295), a mixture of cacao liqueur, coffee liqueur, amaretto, brandy and cinnamon powder. I chose this drink as I’m a coffee and chocolate lover. Sipping on this sweet and icy cocktail in between bites of the food served was refreshing, and it gave me a happy buzz for the rest of the evening.

With its rustic and laid-back atmosphere and its refreshingly unique take on its food and drink offerings, it sure seems like Wyld Kitchen x Bar is a welcome addition to Tomas Morato’s food scene!

Wyld Kitchen x Bar is located at Second Floor, The Grandia Place, 143 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open Sundays to Wednesdays from 5pm to 1am and Thursdays to Saturdays from 5pm to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 919 9908805.

Did you know you can buy two drinks and get the same two drinks for free at Wyld Kitchen x Bar through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

You can also book your table using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill.

Metro Manila levels up the dining scene with Zomato Gold experiences

It was just November last year when the world’s fastest-growing dine-out program, Zomato Gold, launched in Metro Manila. Zomato Gold’s ambition is to elevate the city’s dining experience, hence only partnering with top-rated restaurants. The dine-out program has seen immense success in Metro Manila – with more than 60,000 subscribers and over 600 restaurant partners in less than four months of launch.

As a way to enhance and elevate dining in the city, members are invited to exclusive events called Zomato Gold Experiences. These invite-only events treat Gold members nothing short of VIPs and experience only the best of the top-rated restaurants.

Italian Masterclass: A Premier to the Zomato Gold Experiences in Metro Manila

The first Zomato Gold Experience in Metro Manila transported the invited Gold members straight to Italy with a masterclass in Italian cooking! The members in attendance not only created their own pasta by hand, but they also got to attend a pasta tasting session with Chef Ruther Sandico. This event happened in one of Makati’s most happening restaurants, Bar Centrale, famous for their daily-made fresh and authentic pasta.

The Zomato Gold members pulled up their sleeves, secured their aprons, and got their hands deliciously dirty making fresh pasta. The room was filled with laughter and excitement as they experienced kneading dough.

After the class, the members had a well-deserved Tasting Session where they were served Bar Centrale’s top-rated pasta. The story behind each dish was carefully explained by Chef Ruther Sandico, while the members enjoyed their delicious servings.

The Golden Masquerade: The Grandest Zomato Gold Experience At Okada Manila

Imagine extravagant dresses and tuxedos, glamorous masks, endless drinking, dancing, and overflowing five-star hors d’oeuvres… all happening at the best-integrated resort in the country. Now that’s a fantasy come true!

Just last month, the biggest Zomato Gold experience in Metro Manila called “The Golden Masquerade” was held in Okada Manila’s Grand Ballroom. This event was exclusively for members to celebrate Gold’s success in Metro Manila, and of course, as a part of the monthly Zomato Gold Experiences.

Zomato Gold Members were all decked out in their grandiose costumes to experience a world-class event at Okada Manila! Even celebrities and ambassadors such as Heart Evangelista Escudero, Xandra Rocha, Aryanna Epperson, and Vince Uy attended and enjoyed the event.

What’s more? The top two best-dressed pair were awarded with Vivo phones! The “best-dressed couple” won a Vivo X21 each, and the runners-up won a Vivo Y71 smartphone. A cocktail mixology show was also performed by members of the Philippine Flair Underground. Everyone was mesmerized as they watched and took videos of the entertaining performance. As a special treat, they created a special cocktail aptly called “The Golden Drink” that everyone enjoyed through the night.

Do you want to get invited to Zomato Gold Experiences too? Become a member! Not only do you get to be a part of these interesting culinary experiences, but you also get to enjoy 1+1 on food and 2+2 on drinks at over 600 restaurant partners in Metro Manila anytime, any day. Welcome to the future of dining out. Check out Zomato Philippines’ Instagram Page at @zomatoph to find out more about Zomato Gold in Metro Manila.

Lifted from a press release from Zomato.

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. .

A vegan-friendly resto along Katipunan: Pantry by Rub Rack

Being a foodie, a sweet tooth and a certified carnivore, I had little inclination to try vegan or vegetarian cuisine. From my past experiences in diet deliveries, grazing on salads with vinaigrette sauces, and other eat-healthy schemes, I worried that I would eventually get tired of eating healthy food in a few days and be back where I started.

Well, it looks like the offerings of Pantry by Rub Rack can change my mind.

Together with my fellow foodies, I attended a Bloggers’ Dinner at this restaurant where the food is good, not just to my tastebuds, but to my body as well.

The restaurant is an offshoot of Rub Rack, the online specialty store for spicy and flavored food items. Co-owners and friends Chef Lui Madela, who is vegetarian, and Des Agcaoili, who is not, envisioned a place where a barkada can eat without having to split up because of a member’s diet restrictions.

Situated in a space converted from a photography studio with an industrial theme infused with bright spots of greenery and product displays, the resto has a relaxed and modern feel. I would imagine that groups of friends, or even families, will be quite comfortable having their meals here.

Great care was taken in conceptualizing and executing Pantry’s menu, from sourcing ingredients from vegan-certified suppliers, preparing all dishes from scratch in the restaurant’s open kitchen, procuring vegan bread to go with its vegan dishes, to using separate utensils for vegan and non-vegan items.

Aside from its non-vegan dishes such as the tuyo silog and tuyo pesto, Pantry’s imaginatively prepared vegan and vegetarian items are designed to also appeal to foodies, regardless of diet preferences.

Appetizers

VegetaBalls. If you’ve ever felt a hankering for street food, well here’s a healthier alternative for you! Vegetables take the place of squid in these skewers dipped in a sweet brown sauce, just like the real thing!

Vegan Nachos (Php190). Crisp corn nachos drizzled with dairy-free cheese and veggies. And, believe or not, those toppings are not meat!

Pasta

Vegan Mac N’ Cheese (Php200). Your favorite microwave dish is now made healthier, thanks to the resto’s own blend of dairy-free vegan cheese sauce liberally mixed into the macaroni, served with vegan bread.

Vegan Palabok. Your classic merienda given a vegan twist, this new addition to Pantry’s menu features noodles drenched in shrimp-like gravy, seaweed, vegan chicharon and vegan eggs. Vegan eggs?!? Yes, m’dears. Those are not real eggs, but they sure tasted like them!

Main Course

Vegan Shawarma Wrap (Php205). Vegetarian shawarma meat, as savory and flavorful as the real thing, served with crisp vegetables and wrapped in warm pita bread. Feeling a little adventurous? Sprinkle some of the resto’s own Latigo hot sauce on it and see how high your spice meter goes!

Vechon Belly Rice Meal (Php250). The Filipino guilty pleasure – the lechon – in this dish is not made of sinful roasted pork. Oh no! It’s made out of vegetables, painstakingly fashioned by Chef Lui to resemble slices of that decadent dish.

Drinks

Lemongrass Ice Tea (Php80). Brewed green tea infused with lemongrass, a light and not-so-sweet blend.

Calamansi Ice Tea. The classic black tea infused with mint and fresh calamansi.

Dessert

Coconut Ice Cream. We capped our meal with Pantry’s homemade, dairy-free and all-natural sorbetes, a sweet but healthy end to our vegan food adventure.

Throughout the meal, I keep forgetting that meat is not part of the menu, especially with the Nachos and Shawarma, thanks to Chef Lui’s skill in approximating the look, taste and texture of meat. Quite a revelation for me and my fellow foodies!

Thanks to Alex of BoyEatWorldPH for extending the invite!

Want to eat healthy at home? Order ahead by calling +63 2 7292993 or +63 929 4886734 and your meal will be ready for pick-up in fifteen minutes. You can also order via Food Panda.

Pantry by Rub Rack is located at the 2nd Floor, 225 Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Milagrosa, Queson City.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to join a Bloggers’ Dinner 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.

Bask in the country-style vibe of the Greenfield Weekend Market

Greenfield Development Corporation, one of the most experienced full-line real estate
developers in the country today, further ups the game for its popular Greenfield Weekend Market in Mandaluyong by recharging its country-style theme and enhancing its product offerings in anticipation of the summer season.

The Greenfield Weekend Market, with its home at the Central Park of Greenfield District, keeps a tradition of originality and variety when it comes to cheering habitues and newcomers every Saturday evening. For foodies, the dining adventure in the hangout goes beyond the conventional and traditional for a truly memorable gustatory experience.

The Market’s pioneer vendors like Emy and Ody Concepcion Fruits, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Raffy’s Belly Good Cebu Lechon Belly, Kfry and many others still prove to be a force to be reckoned with, capturing the hearts their wide and loyal fan base.

TC’s Food Stall offers Pinoy homestyle recipes that can only be indulged at the Greenfield Weekend Market. On the menu are homegrown favorites like bagnet, caldereta spareribs, lechon paksiw, pork sisig and more.

Greenfield Weekend Market has more eats to choose from to satisfy different preferences of foodies such as shawarma from Habib’s, smoked barbecue from Carnivore Cookery, Hungarian sausages from The Cut Premium Meat, chicken fingers from Fingers and Flavors, Mexican favorites from the Real Mexicanos and even Japanese favorites like takoyaki and ramen from Shumagorath Takoyaki.

A food stall serves fresh drinks such as buko juice, melon juice, cucumber, lemonade, dalandan and red iced tea. For native sweets and desserts, there are lechen flan, cheese cake, Taiwan milk tea, ice cream and even yoghurt. It’s a weekend market so there are fruits, culinary herbs, spices, organic vegetables, brown rice, and salted eggs, as well for urbanites’ kitchen.

Making Greenfield Weekend Market more interesting are the other stalls selling non-food items. For visitors looking for embroidered lockets, clay necklaces, key chains, vintage rings, necklaces, bracelets and artworks, the Market is your type of chill.

There are also bubble-blowing kits, colorful indoor and outdoor lanterns, hand-painted shirts, bags and dresses. Also, there are stalls selling books, vinyl records, shirts, artworks, toys, toiletry items, and many others.

The Weekend Market also promises a lot of fun activities for adults and children. There are live portrait artists willing to sketch you up, there’s a fortune-telling booth ready to give you advice, and even a photo print tent where you can take home photo souvenirs.

Enhancing the dining and leisure at the weekly affair are the jazz musicians. They start playing soft music at 6 p.m. until closing time.

The Greenfield Weekend Market is Greenfield Development Corporation’s innovative way of giving a unique urban living experience for professionals and urban dwellers. Of the few weekend markets in Metro Manila, only this one at Greenfield District promises to be a treasure trove for foodies, art enthusiasts, shopping addicts and country-style nature-lovers.

For those looking for a refreshing and wholesome bonding time with friends and loved ones, or wanting to enjoy the holiday vibe, the Greenfield Weekend Market is the best place to visit.

The Greenfield Weekend Market is located inside the Greenfield District, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. It is open Saturdays from 4pm to midnight.

Details provided by Greenfield Development Corporation in a recent press release.

A taste of adventure at Camp Curry, Ayala Malls Feliz

I’m not much of an outdoors girl… Who am I kidding? I’m not an outdoors girl. Period!

But sometimes, I do wonder about adventures that could be had if only I was willing to rough it. Say, camping for example. The fun of pitching tents, cooking food in an open fire and having fun in the great outdoors… all these were just daydreams.

Well, thanks to the newly opened branch of Camp Curry in Ayala Malls Feliz, I can have most of the fun of camping, especially the good food that can be enjoyed, and I don’t have to rough it!

Founded by Chef Takashi Sato in Yoyogi, Tokyo as a curry shop specializing in vegetables, Camp Curry soon grew to become a full-blown restaurant, even acquiring the honor of being dubbed “Tokyo’s best curry.” With the opening of its second store in the Philippines, right here in my hometown of Pasig, it has further secured its foothold in the country.

Camp Curry is notable for its camping theme, indicative of Chef Sato’s love for the outdoors. The store’s interiors have a lively and colorful theme with various camping gear such as bags, lamps, Thermos tumblers and more, all artfully scattered across the restaurant. Rows of little banners hang from the ceiling, adding to the place’s festive atmosphere. An open design lets the diners take a peek into the goings-on in the kitchen while wait staff, attired similar to camp counselors, are at the ready to take them on a spirited culinary adventure.

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Japanese curry, Camp Curry’s raison d’etre, have grown in popularity in recent years. Japanese curry is less spicy and a bit sweeter than Indian curry. Normally served as a gravy on top of rice, it is considered one of Japan’s national dishes.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of Camp Curry’s specialty dishes.

A flamin’ hot start to the meal is the Spicy Nachos (Php250), crisp nacho chips slathered with melted cheddar cheese, lean ground meat and topped with cherry tomatoes, cilantro and a Cajun spice mix.

Camp Curry serves combo rice plates with meat and veggies such as BBQ Pork Belly & Chunky Vegetables (Php330) and BBQ Prawns & Chunky Vegetables (Php420). The meat and prawns had the slight sweetness and yummy char from the grill, and quite tender to the bite! And note: those veggies really are chunky! Sauteed with a smattering of spices, they add to the variety in texture and taste of the dishes. Now is definitely a good time to start lovin’ some veggies!

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These were served with Camp Curry’s signature sauces on the side, such as Cheesy Curry (Japanese curry topped with mozzarella and parmesan) and Super Spicy (Japanese curry made extremely spicy – this one deserves a warning so beware!).

The BBQ Grills also feature some non-curry viands such as the BBQ Pork Belly & Mashed Potatoes (Php249) and BBQ Shrimp & Mashed Potatoes (Php330).

Appetizing new additions to the menu that we tried include the Gyoza Cheese (Php199), Potato Croquette (Php130), Curry Ebi Fry (Php330), and Yakisoba (Php220). The Kani Salad (Php60) and Japanese Potato Salad (Php60) also gave us an occasional respite from the abundance of spice in the other dishes.

We sweet peeps also deserve something sweet so we capped our meal with CAMP’s S’mores Special (Php180), graham crackers topped with roasted marshmallows, drizzled with chocolate syrup and a dollop of matcha ice cream with a smattering of candy sprinkles, and CAMP’s French Toast (Php190), French bread infused with milk and egg, toasted on a hot iron skillet, sprinkled with cinnamon powder and served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Lastly, have you ever heard of lassi? It is a spiced yogurt drink that originated in India. Add mango puree into the mix and you have Mango Lassi (Php150), a refreshing drink to soothe the palate after such rich and spicy fare.

This foray into Camp Curry was a fun adventure for me and my fellow foodies!

This Camp Curry branch is located at the Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. Another branch is located at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Salcedo Village, Makati City, also open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, 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.

Have a Festive Pinoy Fiesta every Sunday at City Garden Grand’s Spice Cafe

Fiestas are so deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. It is a time when family and friends can come together over good food to celebrate and spend time together. It is also a time that we city slickers anticipate, as these occasions are usually the only times we get to taste the much-vaunted heirloom recipes of our lolas and titas.

This is what my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH were treated to when we attended the food tasting event for Spice Cafe’s All-Filipino Breakfast Buffet.

Spice Cafe is one of the restaurants in City Garden Grand Hotel located along the busy Makati Avenue. With its scenic view of the surrounding streets and buildings and its festive atmosphere, it provides a happy venue to enjoy one’s favorite Pinoy delicacies.

For instance, who could say no to starting your day with either a silog (sinangag and itlog – garlic fried rice and fried egg)? Digging into this winning combo with either a longganisa (sausages), tocino (cured pork) or bangus (fried smoked milkfish), or all three is sure to bring back memories of lazy Sunday mornings when our nanays or lolas would prepare for us a sumptuous breakfast.

For those who want to indulge their inner carnivore for their first meal of the day, check out its carving station! For one thing, who would say no to bacon, lots and lots of it? Also, the crispy pork belly is absolutely delish!

Some people like to start their mornings with something light instead. How about some cereals and breads? Personally, I love Spice Cafe’s cheesy ensaimada. It had the light and fluffy texture, and the salty cheese had a nice contrast with the sweet bread. I also had trouble choosing between guinataang mais and champorado and I figured, why not both?

Did you know that according to the American Dairy Association’s random sampling survey, pizza is America’s fourth most craved food behind cheese, chocolate and ice cream? We Filipinos have grown to love it so much and made it our own.

Have a sweet tooth? Take your pick from so many dessert choices available: leche flan, biko, mango sago and turon.

My fellow foodies and I had our fill of these treats, and, of course, took full advantage of the resto’s posh interiors for our photo opps!

Good food in great surroundings plus great company equals a great time. If our laughter and banters are any indication, you could say that we foodies truly had a very great time!

Fiestas embody the Pinoys’ love for family, friends and food, so treat your nears-and-dears to a festive fiesta with Spice Cafe’s All-Filipino Breakfast Buffet! At only Php800, it’s available every Sunday from 6am to 11am.

Spice Cafe is located at 7th Floor, City Garden Grand Hotel, 8008 Makati corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8888181.

Check out my write-up of City Garden Grand Hotel’s Firefly Roofdeck here.

Need some tips to maximize your eat-all-you-can experience? Read my buffet survival guide.

Chill sounds and good eats at Pied Piper Gastrolounge, Ermita

Like the fabled children of Hamelin, the denizens and passersby of Ermita, Manila’s Arquiza Street as well as guests of the Red Planet Hotel Manila Bay, will find themselves drawn to the bright lights, good music and chill vibe of the Pied Piper… Well, the Pied Piper Gastrolounge, that is.

For people who love to enjoy their favorite brews along with their meals, gatrolounges (also known as gastropubs) are the place to be. In these places, they are assured of a steady supply high end beers to satisfy their discerning tastes while still indulging themselves in hot dishes know as “pub grub.”

In contrast to the usual pub grubs, however, Pied Piper Gastrolounge’s menu features a fusion of Japanese and other cuisines, thanks to the input of Chef Mikel Aguirre. It also has some classic Pinoy-style grilled items courtesy of managing partner Carlo Religioso, the man behind Daddings Kitchenette.

Together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of its offerings during its pre-anniversary concert.

These include:

Bacon Sushi Roll (Php250). Smoked pork is wrapped in nori and sushi rice and topped with torched bacon. Dipped into soy sauce with wasabi, this is a sure winner!

Crispy Spareribs (Php320). Meaty pieces of pork ribs are braised for three hours, grilled for a smokey flavor and then deep fried to get a crispy exterior. Dipped into the house barbecue sauce, it’s a must for every carnevore.

Baked Tahong (Php280). A Japanese version of the bar staple, this baked mussels dish make use of a special Japanese cheese sauce.

To accompany our food, we had our fill of Rhum Cokes (Php150/glass) and Vodka Sprites (Php150/glass).

This shindig was also marked by musical performances by Viva Hotabes Maricar dela Fuente and EB Babe Molly Baylon.

With the resto’s chill surroundings, friendly staff, good eats and cool sounds, it was a spirited night for me and my friends at the Pied Piper Gastrolounge.

Pied Piper Gastrolounge is located at Ground Floor, Red Planet Hotel Manila Bay, Arquiza Corner Alhambra Street, Ermita, Manila. (Note: Parking may be a problem). It is open everyday from 10am to 1am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 927 2915211.

Healthy Thai Milk Tea at Jelly G, UP Town Center

Milk tea has never been more prevalent lately, but did you know that Thai milk tea has been around much longer than the boba milk teas we’ve been craze-ing about?

In fact, Jelly G, a chain of stores specializing in Thai milk tea, has been operating since 2010.

Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to a tea-tasting at the UP Town Center branch of Jelly G. This where owner Jolly dela Pena and her staff showed us all the wondrous variety of deliciously refreshing drinks Thai milk tea can be made into as well as its myriad of health benefits.

Thai milk tea is made from black tea – the tea variant with the boldest and most complex flavor – with added crushed anise seeds and tamarind seeds and sweetened by condensed milk, giving it that distinct and exotic flavor.

At Jelly G, the teas are prepared and steeped in small batches daily, ensuring freshness and full flavor. Grass jelly – a healthier option to the usual black pearls as it is an antioxidant and aids in digestion – are also added on to some of the drinks: hence the name Jelly G.

Thai milk tea is good for you as it helps in delaying aging, improving digestion and fighting infection. So you can bet that aside from treating your taste buds to some delish milky goodness from your Jelly G drinks, you’re also treating the rest of you to some much-needed nutrients.

Check them out:

King Thai Milk Tea (Php75 | Php95). Made with black tea, condensed, evaporated and powdered milk mixed with brown sugar with grass jelly, this is the classic taste of Thai Milk Tea.

Cheesy Thai (Php85 | Php115). Now take the deliciously exotic taste of Thai Milk Tea and add cheddar cheese and rock salt. Imagine milky sweetness and the slight saltiness from the cheese in one heavenly drink.

Pink Sala Fruit Tea (Php75 | Php95). Sala (also known as snake skin fruit) is a type of palm native to Indonesia and cultivated in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand. The sweet pink-hued juice of the sala is then combined with black tea and brown sugar with a few spoonfuls of popping strawberry balls for added bursts of fruity sweetness.

Queen Green Milk Tea (Php75 | Php95). Jelly G uses jasmine green tea, a tea variant known to help in fighting cancer, heart diseases, diabetes and strokes as well as staving off dementia. In this drink, jasmine tea is combined with condensed, evaporated and powdered milk and brown sugar with chewy black tapioca pearls stirred in.

Oreo Coffee (Php95 | Php125). This time Thai coffee takes center stage. Made with ground arabica beans, Thai coffee is brewed then mixed with condensed milk and crushed Oreo cookies, making this a dessert and drink in one cup!

Choco Chocnut (Php120 | Php160). Chocolate is mixed into tea and that candy mainstay of Pinoy food pop culture Chocnut, made from coconut milk, crushed peanuts and cocoa powder. A sip of this yummy confection brings back so many fond childhood memories.

With this selection of drinks, Jelly G has proved to me and my fellow foodies that Thai milk tea deserves more time in the spotlight.

This Jelly G Thai Milk Tea stall is located at Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (in front of National Bookstore).

Another stall can be found at Third Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

No time to visit Jelly G’s mall-based stalls? Why not have your Thai milk tea delivered via Grab delivery?

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held here wherein in drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Refreshing lemon drinks at Jack’s Lemonade, UP Town Center

It’s actually an iconic image of summer: amidst the sweltering heat, you quench your thirst with an ice-cold glass of lemonade.

Aside from being a refreshing drink, lemonade is actually quite a good source of vitamin C. It aids in detoxification, skin care, hydration and weight loss, quite a lot of health benefits for such a basic drink.

But did you know that if you’re at Jack’s Lemonade, a lemonade is not just a lemonade?

With thirty lemonade variants available under an entire family of flavors, your refreshing cup becomes so much more than a basic lemon-flavored sweetened water. Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to a foodie meetup at the UP Town Center branch of Jack’s Lemonade where owner Jolly dela Pena assisted us in exploring various options of lemonade’s tastes and textures. This just confirmed that Jack’s Lemonade is anything but basic.

Take the Basil Rich Tamarind (Php95 | Php115) for example. Incorporating both fresh basil leaves tamarind puree into the drink resulted to an herby yet thirst-quenching drink. Tamarind also helps in digestion, boosting the immune system, managing diabetes, improving nerve function and blood circulation, as well as in relieving gout and joint pain.

The Strawberry Mint (Php95 | Php115), on the other hand, adds the cool and fresh mouthfeel of fresh mint leaves and the fruity sweetness of strawberry puree to the lemonade.

For dessert-lovers out there, the Lemon Cheesecake (Php95 | Ph115) which combines lemonade with powdered milk, condensed milk, grated cheddar cheese and plum salt has an interesting combination of sweet and salty that complements the lemonade’s citrusy taste.

The Lemon Square (Php95 | Php115) further ups the ante when it comes to dessert flavors. Adding crushed graham crackers to the lemonade and milk mixture makes this a decadent delight.

Lastly, the Creamy Purple (Php95 | Php115) offers is a purple-tinged drink resulting from the reaction of the blue butterfly pea infusion with the acidic lemonade. Add-on some yogurt poppers for additional bursts of tangy sweetness with every sip.

All the drinks here use freshly squeezed imported lemons combined with locally sourced fresh fruits and brown sugar, making them extra healthy.

This Jack’s Lemonade branch is located at Cinema Area, Third Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Other branches may be found at:

Ground Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Food Choices, Fourth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City
Level 6, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Fourth Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Second Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Not your ordinary Filipino food at Locavore, BGC

Hubby wanted to celebrate his birthday with me and his office buddies and so looked for a special place where we can all spend time together over good food.

Having eaten several times before at Locavore’s branch in Kapitolyo, we set upon the resto’s branch in Burgos Circle, BGC as the venue for his celebration.

Locavore is known for applying unique twists to classic Filipino dishes, influenced no doubt by Chef Mikel Zaguirre’s background in French cooking and his preference for fresh ingredients from around the country.

This branch has more of a “pub” kind of feel to it: dim lights, chill sounds and the smell of sizzling food wafting to your nose.

Hubby’s birthday feast consisted of several orders of the resto’s best sellers:

Boneless Lechon Belly (Php650). Prepared Cebu-lechon style, it is served with Pinakurat vinegar, bagoong dipping sauce, and pickled red onion and cucumber.

Mac’s Boneless Fried Chicken (Php270). The resto’s own recipe of the glazed boneless fried chicken.

Gising Gising (Php275). The traditional Pampanga dish made of finely chopped sigarilyas (winged beans), French beans, garlic and shallot confit, gata (coconut milk) and spring onions.

Sizzling Sinigang (Php550). Usually the highlight of our meals at Locavore, this is made of beef short ribs, served with sauteed French beans in a sampaloc (tamarind) gravy with garlic confit. This time, however, it was initially served quite cold and, after several bites, I had to request for it to be reheated so that the full potential of the dish can be tasted.

These viands were accompanied by Locavore’s Roasted Garlic Organic White Rice (Php70).

Plus, since both Hubby and I unlocked our Zomato Gold Privilege, we got several free glasses of refreshing ice-blended mocktails for the ladies in the group: the Cucumber Lime Cooler (Php150) and the Apple Lime Cooler (Php150).

I usually fully enjoy my meals at Locavore, but in this branch, some executions have gone awry such as serving the sinigang as anything less than sizzling hot.

Still, Hubby’s birthday celebration was an enjoyable time spent among his friends.

Want to score a similar discount on drinks? 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

This Locavore branch is located at Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open daily from 10am to 2am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 5742017.

Other branches are located at:

Brixton Technology Center, 10 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11.30am to 1am and Sundays from 11am to 1am.

S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City, open daily from 11am to 1am.

Ground Floor, Three Central Building, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, open daily from 10am to 12 midnight

Ground Floor, 1880 Building, Eastwood Avenue, Libis, Quezon City