Eat – Page 117 – Jellybeans in the City

Premium Korean BBQ at Fantastic Baka, Tomas Morato

Craving for your fix of Korean-style grilled meats?

Look no further than Fantastic Baka, one of the newest Korean BBQ restaurants to open in the vicinity of the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area.

Located at the Grandia Place right across ABS-CBN, it offers a premium selection of meats and dishes expertly prepared by three-Michelin star awarded Chef Jang Jungyun, considered one of Korea’s A-list chefs.

At the invitation of Fantastic Baka’s mother company, Tong Keun So, my officemates and I made our way to this restaurant for our pre-holiday lunch.

The resto has a sizeable dining area with grills built in to the tables and exhaust tubes extended down from the ceilings. The combination of dark wood and pine, as well as the black-and-white color theme in furnishings and decor give the place a sleek and modern feel.

Our group of four were served items from the Unlimited Php799 package which includes eight kinds of beef and seven kinds of pork such as plain and seasoned plate, plain and spicy bulgogi, brisket point, plain and seasoned prime chuck eyeroll, hanging tender, regular and thinly sliced pork belly and more.

We requested for several refills of thinly sliced beef plate and the more premium beef variants. We had to grill the meats ourselves but fortunately, our waiter gamely gave us some grilling tips and we managed (thankfully!) to get ouselves fed.

My preference towards Korean-style grilled meats leans towards the unseasoned variants. I just dipped the cooked pieces in salted sesame oil and the savory ssamjang prior to wrapping them in the crisp lettuce leaves provided.

Banchan (side dishes) were generously served, with our group showing marked preference for Jap-chae, steamed egg, stir-fried fish cakes and cole slaw. We also got a taste of Fantastic Baka’s famous cheese sauce in which we dipped some of the cooked meats.

While the regular meat variants are yummy enough by themselves, the premium beef cuts are absolutely superb: they have a tender, juicy and buttery feel as you bite into them.

At Php799 per person for unlimited servings of 15 beef and pork variations, or Php599 per person for unlimited servings of 11 variations, Fantastic Baka might seem a bit pricey but the premium beef cuts are worth it.

With this treat from Fantastic Baka, my coworkers and I were able to embark in another epic happy lunch adventure. We went back to the office smelling like barbecue but you won’t hear us complaining. 🙂

Want to dine at Fantastic Baka but on a budget? Dine from 11am to 4pm on weekdays and get Php100 off on the Unlimited Php599 menu. Kids below 3 feet dine for free and kids between 3 feet to 4.2 feet will be given a 50% discount on the Unlimited sets.

Fantastic Baka also has a Php200 penalty for leftovers so do finish off all the meat refills you requested for.

If Korean Barbecue is not your thing, you might want to check out Fantastic Baka’s Bento Meals. At only Php280, you can enjoy Sweet and Sour Chickeb, Pork Bulgogi or Spicy Pork Bulgogi served with soup, Japchae, stir-fried fishcake, fresh salad, kimchi, iced tea and unlimited rice.

Fantastic Baka is located at 143 Grandia Building, Mother Ignacia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 915 8455899.

Disclosure: Our lunch was hosted by Fantastic Baka. The food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and were not paid for by our group.

Hideaway Haven at INT.Bar, Cubao

What can you find behind the red velvet curtain? A whole new world, apparently. A place where you can escape the city’s hustle and bustle and hide away for a while.

INT.Bar, similar to all speakeasies, is not easy to find. In fact, I almost walked past it had I not stopped and asked for directions from a person standing right in front of it!

If you’re wondering why a bar would go to such great lengths to be so unobtrusive, it’s because of the speakeasy’s history with the Prohibition era in the US. With the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor, enterprising business owners began operating illicit clubs where they can sell bootlegged liquor. Such clubs are usually fronted by a more wholesome establishment such as a grocery store to deflect attention from the authorities and prevent the police from barging in. The term speakeasy was believed to have originated from 1880s saloon owner Kate Hester who would often tell her rowdy patrons to “speak easy” to escape the attention of the police.

Today, speakeasies still operate, but as retro-style bars that also retain the covertness of their predecessors. INT.Bar, for example, harkens to a steampunk aesthetic, with low-lighting that frames the industrial decor and vintage furnishings, accessible once you get behind the mundane-looking photo booth.

Together with friends and fellow foodies, I attended a meetup here. That night, fueled by great food and great drinks, the mood was light and naughty jokes and irreverent banter abound from our group.

When you get around to ordering your cocktails, you will find that the menu gives you hints on what to expect from your drinks in terms of sweetness, bitterness, acidity, strength, aroma, smokiness and savoriness. This is quite helpful to those who are new to drinking (like me!), have very set preferences or are in for an adventure.

The Negroni (Php300) is an iconic Italian cocktail made of Tanqueray gin, martini rosso vermouth and Campari garnished with an orange peel. It’s named after Count Camilo Negroni who was believed to have invented the drink when he asked his bartender to strengthen his Americano cocktail by adding gin instead of soda water.

Paradise Lost (Php450) is sweet yet packs a punch, being made of Marker’s Mark Bourbon, fine Pere Preaux Calvados, Golden Falernum and cinnamon syrups, lemon and meringue.

The Sazerac (Php450) is the New Orleans version of the whiskey cocktail that also packs a punch being made with absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters, Carlos I Solera brandy, Rittenhouse Rye whiskey and dark rum.

Eternal Sunshine (Php300) has a slightly sweeter taste being made with a cacao nib tequila infusion, Aperol spritz, chocolate bitters, pineapple, agave nectar and lime.

There Will Be Blood (Php600). Don’t be expecting violence, just a lot of buzz from this drink made with Laphroaig 10 year old Scotch whiskey, yellow chartreuse, Aperol spritz and lemon.

Sipping on Cigarettes After Sex (Php350) does call to mind dark deeds in dark places, with its smoky aroma and decadent feel. Served with great fanfare, the drink unveiled amidst smoke once the dome cover is taken off, it’s made with Lapsang Souchong infusion, Laphroaig 10 year old Scotch whiskey, honey, egg whites and rosemary smoke.

The bar chow served proved to be quite tasty as well; most had a mild spiciness that would spur you to drink more.

Hummus (Php200). Try dipping some dehydrated tortillas into this thick paste of roasted sesame seeds and garlic confit, and see if you can stop yourself from going for more.

The Trio Tacos (Php300) gives you three different takes on soft tacos: pulled pork, chicken and mushrooms. Pico de Gallo, roasted bell peppers, sriracha and lime-cilantro crema give this dish a wild Latin feel.

Spiced Cheese Penne (Php250) gives you a sauce of sausage and bacon mixed with Pico de Gallo and micro basil coating firm penne pasta noodles.

Get yourself some Potato Halves (Php150) baked and served with mozzarella and Mornay sauce.

Cured Salmon (Php320) served over mango caviar and cucumber mixed in lemon-terrago mayo spread over some crunchy toast. Yum!

Good food, great drinks, awesome company in a secret hideaway. All the makings of an epic good time among friends at INT.Bar.

INT.Bar is located at Cubao Expo, General Romulo Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 5pm to 1am. For table reservations, call +63 917 8069991.

And here’s some more good news: Did you know you can buy 2 drinks and get the same 2 drinks for free at INT.Bar through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a Blogger Event 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.

East meets West at Bistro Charlemagne, Ayala Malls Feliz

Some cuisines achieve more of their potential when combined with the cooking styles, ingredients and nuances of other cuisines.

Take Bistro Charlemagne: A Concept By Little Asia for example. Named after its owner, Charlemagne Lim, this high-end restaurant offers Asian and European fusion dishes.

With its first branch well established in Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, its second branch is situated in fifth level of Ayala Malls Feliz in Dela Paz, Pasig City, giving the denizens East of Manila a new and exciting dining option.

Walking through the lush greenery of Ayala Malls Feliz’ gardens (which gives you a breathtaking view of the nearby mountains of Antipolo) will lead you into the opulent interiors of Bistro Charlemagne. Mood lighting, plush velvet-upholstered chairs and large dark wood tables give diners a feeling of luxury and coziness. This place is great for romantic night-time dates and Sunday brunches with the family.

Together with other east-based foodies, I was invited to a foodie meet up held here where I sampled some of the resto’s delectable dishes:

Japanese Mixed Seafood Salad (Php315). Tuna, shrimp and kani tossed in spicy mayo and finished with ebiko (shrimp roe), tempura flakes and sweet soy. An exciting start to the meal with a bit of heat from the spicy mayo and contrasts in texture from the tempura flakes.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Php295). Unlike other spring rolls, this one is fried to a golden and crunchy crisp after being stuffed with glass noodles, pork and mushrooms, then served with the traditional Nuoc Cham dipping sauce.

Bistro Sisig Fries (Php295). Chopped and thrice-cooked pork cheeks sauteed in a creamy chicken liver sauce and served on top of crispy and golden French fries.

Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken (Php325). Have you ever noticed how some families have special recipes that get passed down through generations? This is one of them: a specially crispy chicken served with a freshly made gravy developed Charlemagne’s grandfather, enjoyed and shared to the world by three generations of restaurateurs.

Beef Tenderloin Rolls with Cheese (Php395). Don’t I always say that everything’s better with cheese? These rolled beef tenderloin slices sauteed in teriyaki sauce certainly are.

Shrimp Poppers (Php415). Plump and lightly battered shrimp deep-fried and tossed in the house’ special sweet chili mayo sauce and chili oil and served with a side salad.

Ox Sisig (Php325). Thrice-cooked ox tongue and ox tripe mixed witj the house’ special liver-mansi mayo and topped with chicharon bulaklak. A fresh take on the classic sisig dish!

S’mores (Php245) and Reese’s S’mores (Php245). We dipped graham crackers on roasted marshmallows laid on top of Ghirardelli chocolate ganache with the former and on top of peanut butter chips ganache with the latter.

Blueberry Custard Napoleones (Php245). Crisp puff pastry sandwiching vanilla custard and blueberry puree sauce, sprinkled with pistachio dust.

Pandan Crepe (Php245). Soft pandan-flavored crepe encasing shredded coconut stewed in coconut milk and coated in palm sugar. This is a surprisingly tasty dessert with a amazingly fresh twist on familiar flavors.

With these dishes and more on the menu, Bistro Charlemagne is where East meets West, and they do make a great combination.

And here’s some good news for people on a budget: you can sate your craving for your favorite Bistro Charlemagne dish with a set meal at only Php215! This already comes with rice, soup and iced tea.

Plus, birthday celebrants get the house special Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken free when they dine at Bistro Charlemagne with a minimum single-receipt transaction of Php1,995 within seven days of their birthday. Simply present a valid government-issued ID.

This Bistro Charlemagne branch is located at Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz along Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City.

Another branch is found at GFF-6, Building B, Ayala Malls Solenad 3, Nuvali, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

For reservations and inquiries, call +63 049 2580846 or +63 917 8334223.

Accidental Vegetarian Lunch at Wabi Sabi, Tomas Morato

Hidden in a nondescript building along Scout Madrinan in Quezon City is a small noodle house called Wabi Sabi.

Named after the Japanese worldview of finding beauty in impermanence and imperfection, this cozy restaurant embodies “wisdom in natural simplicity.”

A friend and I chanced upon this eatery during one of our more adventurous lunchtime forays. Wanting a change of scenery (as well as food choices), we veered away from our usual haunts and found ourselves at this unusual joint.

My friend and I didn’t realize that it was a vegetarian restaurant at first and by the time we did, I didn’t want to walk back out in the heat of the sun wearing my impractical wedge shoes looking for another place to eat in.

Well, I’m glad we stayed. 🙂

The dining space occupies a small area; it can accommodate around fifteen people. The menu is written in the big chalkboard above the counter. The menu items may seem familiar but they’re all vegetarian and contain no meat.

As this was out first visit, my friend and I decided to try dishes that are a bit more familar to us. She ordered the Tantanmen (Php220) while I got the Shio Ramen (Php200).

Inspired by the Dan dan Noodles of Sichuan cuisine, Tantanmen is characterized by its rich slightly spicy peanut-flavored broth, made richer and thicker by miso paste. Here, the traditionally used ground pork and chicken stock are substituted with veggie meat and vegetable stock, and sesame seeds are used to flavor the slightly sweetish sauce instead of peanuts.

The Shio Ramen, on the other hand, also features a meat substitute for the traditional chashu pork slice and the broth is clearer than what I’m used to.

From a taste of Japan, I went for a taste of Vietnam with my post-lunch drink: Kaphe Suada (Php75). Boiling water is poured over Vietnam-grown ground coffee beans into a bed of condensed milk, stirred then poured into a tall glass with ice, resulting into a sweet and invigorating beverage.

Wabi Sabi is a welcome and lucky discovery for me and I don’t mind returning to sample its other healthy offerings.

Wabi Sabi is located at Ground Floor, POS Building, Scout Mandriñan Street Corner Tomas Morato, South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries, call +63 918 9622935.

Mother-Daughter Milk Tea Break at Macao Imperial Tea, SM Manila

After attending a KIX channel event at SM Manila Activity Center, my daughter #ExhibitA and I looked for somewhere to rest and relax before braving the traffic going back home.

We spotted this branch of Macao Imperial Tea after going up a couple of floors. There was a long queue at the counter but we saw some hope of getting some seats at the back. (Which we did, thank heavens!)

#ExhibitA ordered a Grass Jelly Milk Tea (Php110) and while I got a Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Tea (Php120).

My daughter’s Grass Jelly Milk Tea had a slightly bitter and herby aftertaste while my Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Tea, on the other hand, had a subtle sweetness with some rich frothiness from the cream cheese (which is actually one of my favorite things).

Despite the crowd, we were able to enjoy our drinks in relative comfort, and in a trice, we were ready to journey on home.

This Macao Imperial Tea branch is located at Fourth Floor, SM City Manila, Ermita, Manila. Other branches may be found at:

RTT Building, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (read my review here)
Ground Floor, Unimart Supermarket, Oranbo, Pasig City
Ground Floor, Circuit Makati, Olympia, Makati City
Calle Bistro, Ground Floor, Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City
Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Del Monte, Quezon City
780 Banawe Street, Banawe, Quezon City
Second Floor, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila
Third Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
308 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City

Unli Korean BBQ Buffet at Saram, Sikatuna Village

Let’s face it: the Pinoys’ love affair with all things Korean will not be going away anytime soon. (And, truth be told: do we want it to?).

Case in point: the proliferation of restaurants offering unli Korean barbecues all over the metro.

One such eatery is Saram Korean BBQ Grill Buffet. Located along V. Luna Extension in Quezon City, it provides unlimited meats for grilling as well as a wide array of banchan (small side dishes) that you can munch on while cooking or can add to the lettuce wrap along with your grilled meats for added flavor and texture.

Here’s what you can expect to enjoy at Saram:

Plain Meats
Samgyeopsal – thinly sliced pork belly
Woosamgyup – thinly sliced beef

Flavored Meats (available in regular and spicy variants):
>Dwaeji Galbi – marinated pork ribs
Bulgogi – thinly sliced marinated beef
Dakgalbi – marinated chicken pieces

Banchan:
Kimchi – fermented vegetables; no self-respecting Korean resto will find itself lacking this dish
Namul – steamed, marinated or stir-fried vegetables usually seasoned with minced garlic, sesame oil, vinegar, chopped green onions or dried chili peppers; my favorite among these are the Sigeumchi Namul (spinach) and the Kongnamul (bean sprouts)
Gyeran-jjim – mixed and season eggs steamed in a hot pot; already great by itself but do try adding a bit to your meat lettuce wrap. I’m sure you’ll love it!
Pajeon – thin and slightly soicy pan-fried pancakes flavored with scallions
Japchae – Korean glass noodles sauteed in a slightly sweet garlic sauce along with chopped vegetables

(You can get all the banchan you want from the buffet table, while the meats will be served at your table upon request.)

Well here’s some great news: Saram has an ongoing Christmas promo which allows diners to enjoy unli grilled meats and banchan at very affordable buffet rates.

Check out the options available:

Set A: unlimited plain meats at Php249/head for lunch and Php299/head for dinner

Set B: unlimited plain and flavored meats at Php299/head for lunch and Php349/head for dinner

Set C: unlimited all-beef meats; add Php100 to the lunch or dinner rate

You can also get a Pork/Beef Ramen at Php220 or a Seafood Ramen at Php249. Both are good for two people.

So if you find yourself in Sikatuna Village and want to satisfy your Korean food cravings, head on to Saram.

Saram Korean BBQ Grill Buffet is located at 109 V. Luna Extension, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City (beside Mercury Drug), open daily from 11am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 7443817 or +63 917 8852185.

A gastronomic trip at The Cafe Mediterranean, Rockwell

Mediterranean cuisine is said to be identified with a trinity of basic ingredients: olive, wheat and grape, yielding oil, bread and wine respectively.

Two of these key ingredients came into play during a lunch with my family at The Cafe Mediterranean while we were on our way to a movie screening at the Powerplant Mall. (I was with my hubby and kids so wine was not ordered, hehehe!)

The Cafe Meditteranean prides itself on bringing the “flavors of the sun.” True enough, biting into its tasty offerings brings to mind images of sun-drenched vineyards against a wide azure Mediterranean sky.

Even the restaurant’s premises evoke a similar vibe through the use of brightly colored or strikingly patterned artwork and design accents against whitewashed walls.

For our appetizers, we ordered:

Hummus with Grilled Vegetables (Php300). The classic chick pea and sesame dip from the Middle East accompanied by grilled vegetables. I love scooping it up with a folded piece of pita bread together with a grilled onion or tomato.

Moutabal (Php165). A grilled eggplant and tahini dip, also great with wheat pita bread.

For lunch, Hubby and the kids went for an order each of Grilled Beef Kebab (Php535). Small cubes of grilled beef served with Tabouleh and Labneh (the Lebanese version of cream cheese), together with buttered Basmati rice.

As for me, my choice for lunch was a Grilled Beef Gyro Plate (Php450). Tender slices of well-seasoned grilled beef accompanied by Moutabal, Tzatziki (a creamy combination of cucumber, yoghurt and garlic), Tabouleh (cracked wheat, tomatoes and parsley) and pickled chillies. I loved how the smokey flavors of the beef and eggplant dip were complemented by the cucumber dip and other elements of the dish. Together with buttered Basmati rice, this made for a flavorful and filling meal.

With these combinations of tastes and textures from different Mediterranean cuisines, dining at The Cafe Mediterranean seemed like we went on a gastronomic tour.

Too bad we didn’t have time (or room!) for dessert. I would have loved getting myself some Baklava.

Oh, since both Hubby and I are Zomato Gold members, we each got a 1+1 deal on food which basically rendered one of the beef kebabs and my grilled beef gyro plate as free! What a sweet deal, right?

This Cafe Mediterranean branch is located at Lower Ground Floor, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8981301 or +63 2 7565010.

Other branches may be found at:

Basement 1, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig City
Fifth Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Level 1, Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ground Floor, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Want to score a similar discount? 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 as soon as slots open. (They tend to get snatched up pretty quickly so be sure to sign up as soon as slots become available.) Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

New Masil branch at SM Mega Fashion Hall now open

While doing some errands at SM Megamall, Hubby and I were arguing about where to have dinner. We were bandying various restaurant options until we saw that the Masil Charcoal Grill Restaurant is already on soft opening. At that point, our argument was moot because being avid Korean food lovers, we headed straight to the resto.

We usually frequent Masil’s branch in Tiendesitas; it is one of our go-to places when the fam is craving for Korean food.

A noticeable difference from the Tiendesitas branch (and most other Korean restos) is the absence of exhaust tubes hanging from the ceiling. The exhausts in this Masil outlet are actually built-in to the grills, sucking the smoke through air vents above the sunken grills. (This is good news to people who hate smelling like barbecue after dining at a Korean barbecue joint.)

Similar to the Tiendesitas branch, however, is the resto’s delightful generosity when it comes to side dishes! My absolute faves are the fish cakes, egg pancake and steamed eggs.

For our Korean barbecue dinner, we went for our usual orders:

Chadolbagi (Php450). 180g thinly sliced beef brisket.

Sam gyeop sal (Php370). 180g of thickly cut pork belly.

And since we wanted to try something new, we ordered Galbi kkotsal (Php1,500), 160g of USDA high choice boneless short ribs.

All of these were expertly grilled by our server while we ate, changing the grill implements after each grilling. The Galbi kkotsal, in particular, was smooth, buttery and tender, bursting with flavor as I bite into it.

I just loved assembling my Korean barbecue lettuce wrap according to my preferences.

Looks like we have found our Korean food haven at SM Megamall!

This Masil branch is located at Fourth Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Its other branch can be found at Tiendesitas, Frontera Verde, Ortigas Avenue Corner C5, Ugong, Pasig City, open weekdays from 11.30am to 3pm and from 5.30pm to 10pm, and weekends from 11.30am to 10pm.

A new branch is set to open in February 2019 at Ground Floor, Unimart Supermarket, Oranbo, Pasig City.

A fresh fusion of flavors at Dong Juan, Quezon City

Along Mother Ignacia Avenue is a hidden gem of a resto called Dong Juan. Despite the number of avid food adventurers among my coworkers, only a few of them are actually familiar with it. So it was incumbent upon your friendly neighborhood Jellybeans to introduce the resto to them.

(Also, the resto offers a 1+1 deal via Zomato Gold. Since two among our group of four are Zomato Gold members, we figured that we will get significant savings on out visit.)

Originally established in Cebu, Dong Juan’s menu initially consisted of gourmet burgers and pizza. It has since expanded to Metro Manila with a branch in Marikina and this one in Quezon City. Its menu expanded as well to include sizzlers, soups, salads and more.

The Mother Ignacia branch is built from a renovated ancestral home in front of St. Mary’s College. It boasts of eclectic interiors with an expansive main dining space as well as private nooks and function rooms for more intimate gatherings.

Our group settled ourselves in the cozy area beneath the stairs, a sunken section that lends itself well to private conversations.

We split among ourselves an eclectic array of food as well:

Dong Juan Green Salad (Php249). Crisp greens served with a vinaigrette dressing of honey, balsamic vinegar and olive oil topped with fried coco milk crumble.

Fish Nuggets (Php169). Cooked to order, these were served hot and crisp, and delightfully ungreasy.

Chili Wings (Php209). Your classic buffalo wings given an Asian twist.

All Meat Pochero (Php299). The classic braised beef stew is made into a sizzler, with fork-tender and flavorful meat and a rich gravy with a hint of tangy tomatoes,l. It went well with either plain rice or fried rice.

While the dishes are familiar, they are given a unique Dong Juan twist through the addition of choice herbs and spices, or the use of healthy oils.

Best of all, with Zomato Gold discount in effect deeming the salad and fish nuggets as free of charge, our group of four was able to deliciously dine in comfort and style at Dong Juan for only Php150 each.

I was glad to have introduced my friends to this restaurant and I have a feeling we will be coming back soon.

This Dong Juan branch is located at 72 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3740265.

Dong Juan’s other branch in Metro Manila os 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.

Hearty heirloom dishes at Romulo Cafe, Tomas Morato

Soldier, diplomat, statesman and journalist Carlos P. Romulo loomed large in Philippine history and more so in the lives of his descendants. Today, they operate a restaurant chain named after him that recalls the highlights of his prestigious career through photographs. Romulo Cafe also serves heirloom dishes which include those served by his wife, Virginia, during their Philippine embassy dinners in the United States where he marshaled for full Philippine independence.

At the invitation of the restaurant’s general manager, Gilbert Caras, my friends and I recently made our way to Romulo Cafe’s original branch in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area.

The place has an elegant and relaxed vibe to it. It has cozy and private spaces as well as wide open areas both indoors and outdoors. Its decor combines old-world nostalgia from the black-and-white photographs and a fresh aesthetic with the modern furniture and green accents.

We were treated to an array of Filipino comfort food that took us back in time:

Boneless Crispy Pata Binagoongan (Php698). A pork leg boiled until fork-tender then deboned and deep-fried to a golden crisp served with the restaurant’s own eggplant and tomato bagoong sauce.

Tito Greg’s Kare-Kare (Php510). Oxtail and tripe stew in peanut sauce served in house-made shrimp paste.

Lola Virginia’s Chicken Relleno (Php698). Roasted half-chicken stuffed with ground pork, raisins, peas and chorizo.

Suman sa Latik (Php70). So simple yet so decadently delicious, sticky suman made from glutinous rice and coconut milk is fried to attain that light golden crisp then served in a shot glass in a bed of coconut caramel sauce.

Cool as Cucumber Mocktail (Php160). A refreshing concoction of fresh lime and cucumber wit mint leaves.

It was feast of Filipino comfort food – with familiar flavors yet a fresh take in presentation or combination – enjoyed in a stylish and well-appointed restaurant: an experience we won’t soon forget.

This Romulo Cafe branch is located at 32 Scout Tuazon Corner Scout Lazcano Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 11pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3327273, + 63 2 3327275 or +63

Planning your office Christmas party or family reunion? Romulo Cafe can prepare a sumptuous buffet for you and your guests in its lovely function rooms. Its buffet options include:

Set Menu A at Php695/head:

Appetizer: Chicharon and Tinapa Roll
Soup: choose between Monggo or Molo Soup
Noodles: choose between Pancit Puti or Sotanghon Guisado
Beef: choose between Tito Greg’s Kare Kare or Beef Caldereta
Chicken: choose among Lola Virginia’s Chicken Relleno, General’s Chicken or Bacolod Chicken
Fish: choose among Bangus Al Ajillo, Guinataang Hipon sa Kamias or Crispy Catfish
Vegetables: choose among Bagnet Pinakbet, Guinataang Sigarillas, Laing with Adobo Flakes or Gising-gising
Pork: choose among Lechon Kawali, Honey Garlic Spareribs or Crispy Pork Binagoongan
Dessert: Suman sa Latik

Set Menu B at Php795/head:

Appetizer: choose three among Pinoy Nachos, Cheese and Vigan Longganisa Dumplings, Crispy Crablets, Tinapa Roll, Chicharon, Smoked Bangus Plate
Soup: choose among Molo Soup, Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso, Sinigang na Liempo, or Beef Bulalo
Noodles: choose among Pancit Puti, Sotanghon Guisado, Penne Carbonara with Vigan Longganisa, Linguini Puttanesca with Tuyo or Pasta Filipino
Beef: choose among Tito Greg’s Kare Kare Beef Caldereta or Lengua
Chicken: choose among Lola Virginia’s Chicken Relleno, General’s Chicken or Bacolod Chicken
Fish: choose among Flying Tilapia, Bangus Al Ajillo, Guinataang Hipon sa Kamias or Crispy Catfish
Vegetables: choose among Bagnet Pinakbet, Guinataang Sigarillas, Laing with Adobo Flakes or Gising-gising
Pork: choose among Lechon Kawali, Honey Garlic Spareribs or Crispy Pork Binagoongan
Dessert: choose between Suman sa Latik or Assorted Mini Cakes

Want to serve the star of all Filipino celebrations – the Lechon – during your buffet feast? A 3-kg lechon roll is available for Php2,800++ (6-kg for Php5,600++). You can add Cebu lechon to your food items for Php8,000 (small), Php9,000 (medium) and Php10,000 (large).

Other Romulo Cafe branches are located at:

148 Jupiter Corner Comet Street, Bel-Air, Makati City, open daily from 11pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm (Tel. No: +63 2 8220286)
Azumi Boutique Hotel, 2205 Market Street, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, open daily from 11pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm (Tel. No: +63 2 5561443)

Disclosure: Our lunch was hosted by Romulo Cafe. The food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and were not paid for by our group.