Eat – Page 29 – Jellybeans in the City

Sweet Christmas celebrations with Red Ribbon’s Holiday Cakes

Christmas is nearly here and with it comes all sorts of happy celebrations. From the office potluck, barkada get-togethers and family gatherings, parties give people the opportunity to come together to catch up and toast to the past year’s happenings.

No celebration will be considered complete without a show-stopping cake that will serve as dessert and the sweet punctuation to the meal.

Fortunately, Red Ribbon has – not one, not two, but three! – Holiday Cakes to mark these special celebrations.

Black Forest

A beautiful confection made with layers of liquor-moistened chocolate sponge cake, sweetened whipped cream and maraschino cherries, topped with chocolate curls and chocolate shavings.

Did you know that the Black Forest Cake was not directly named after the Black Forest mountain range in Southwestern Germany? Instead, the cake’s name was derived from the specialty liquor of that region, known as Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser), which is distilled from tart cherries.

White Forest

One of the most welcome piece of news I’ve received lately is that Red Ribbon’s White Forest Cake is now available!

Inspired by the Black Forest Cake, it is made with layers of white chiffon cake, sweetened whipped cream frosting and maraschino cherries, decorated with white chocolate swirls and white chocolate shavings.

It’s a delicately elegant and sweet treat that’s sure to enchant everyone at the table!

Christmas Chocolate Dedication Cake

This is the holiday cake that (quite literally!) sends a message.

This dessert is made with light chocolate chiffon cake filled and covered with rich fudgy chocolate icing, then decorated colorful sugar candy toppings. This cake can also be personalized with a special message.

Ensaimada Gift Box

Aside from specialty cakes, wow your party guests with varied flavors of that classic Pinoy pastry: the ensaymada.

This merienda favorite goes well with the post-meal coffee or hot chocolate that everyone would enjoy to unwind after the frenetic party activities.

With a Red Red Ribbon’s Ensaimada Gift Box at your holiday spread, your guests can enjoy three variants of this pillowy and buttery treat: Cheesy, Ube and Choco Caramel!

Red Ribbon Bakeshop Holiday Cakes and pastries are a must for any holiday gathering.

Order now via the Red Ribbon app, the Red Ribbon delivery website, Red Ribbon on Facebook Messenger, or by calling the #87777 hotline. You may also place your order via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Happy holiday eating, foodies!

Check out my previous posts about Red Ribbon:

Red Ribbon Caramel Cake — Red Ribbon cakes for your everyday cravings

Red Ribbon Coffee Caramel Crunch — #SweetDelight: Red Ribbon’s Caramel Crunch Cake is back!

Sweet dads deserve sweet chocolatey treats from Red Ribbon this Father’s Day

Red Ribbon Chocolate Heaven — Red Ribbon brings a taste of the divine with its new Chocolate Heaven Cake

Red Ribbon, Lucky Gold Plaza — Sweet snacktimes with Red Ribbon Bakeshop

Easy-peasy Taiwanese cuisine at home with Ersao Frozen Delights

Did you know that Ersao Taiwanese Restaurant has been serving authentic Taiwanese food and drinks for the past twenty years?

If you remember the time when milk tea shops were not as ubiquitous as they are today, well you have Ersao to thank for being among the first eateries to introduce this delightful drink to the local food scene.

However, its contribution to the Pinoy foodie’s gustatory pleasures do not stop at its stores. Thanks to its easy-to-cook frozen food offerings, Pinoys can easily enjoy Taiwanese and other Asian delicacies at home or wherever they are.

Using simple cooking methods, anyone, from culinary newbies to seasoned home cooks, can whip up a delicious spread in a matter of minutes.

Boiling

For instance, its Korean Hot Pot is a 1.2kg pack of toppings that include tofu, tempura, balls, sausages, sliced beef and more in a kimchi-flavored broth.

To cook, simply place in a hotpot and heat until boiling. Serve hot for the whole fam and enjoy this flavorful and comforting dish on a chill day.

Frying

If you want to snack on something favorful, deep-fry some of Ersao’s Pork Taro Meatballs until golden brown. You can also boil them for seven minutes and add them to soups to make them heartier.

Steaming

Steamed Buns

Taiwan is famous for its steamed bao buns that are pillowy soft, delectably chewy and stuffed with delicious filling.

To enjoy a classic favorite – a steamed bun filled with braised tender pork in a sweet and savory sauce – get a few buns from a pack of Ersao’s Siopao Asado in a steamer and steam for seven to eight minutes before serving.

For a novel steamed bao experience, steam a few pieces from Ersao’s Salted Egg Yolk Steamed Bun pack for three to five minutes after thawing. Also known as Liu Sha Bao (which translates to “flowing sand bun”), it is filled with yolks of salted duck eggs, butter and custard powder which makes each bit oozing with flavor.

Steamed Dumplings

Siomai is another favorite among Pinoys. Usually made with ground pork and flavored with aromatics, it is a simple dish that can be enjoyed as a snack, an appetizer or a viand with rice.

Ersao presents new ways to enjoy this delicacy with its siomai frozen food products such as its Purple Rice Pearl Siomai, pork-flavored meatballs encased in glutinous purple rice. To cook, simply steam for seven to eight minutes after thawing.

Another Ersao Frozen Foods siomai variant is the Pork Siomai with Tobiko, made with ground pork encased in jasmine-flavored wrapper and topped with tobiko (flying fish roe). To cook, thaw then steam for seven to eight minutes.

Other Taiwanese dishes that you and the fam can enjoy at home, thanks to Ersao Frozen Foods include:

Want to serve tasty Taiwanese dishes at home to your family and friends? Stock up on Ersao Frozen Delights by visiting these Ersao Taiwanese Restaurant branches:

Mauban: 213 Banawe Street, Brgy. Manresa, Corner Mauban, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 89218603 or +63 917 1060363)
Sta Mezza: 129 Mezza Residences, Brgy. Doña Imelda Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 3549742)
Abad Santos: 1300 Jose Abad Santos, Tondo Manila (Tel: +63 2 82526223)
Banawe: 664 Banawe Street, Quezon City (Tel: +63 905 4029188)
Caloocan: A De Jesus Street, Cor 9th Avenue, Caloocan City (Tel: +63 917 1412222)
Cloverleaf: 3rd Floor, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez: 82-C E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 85168168, +63 2 4111114 or +63 2 87100888)
JRU Shaw: 79 Shaw Blvd., Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City (Tel: +63 927 851 1228, +63 961 6034565 or +63 995 2542485)
San Lazaro: Vertex One Building, Batangas Street, Sta Cruz Manila (Tel: +63 2 83548938)
M Place: 16 GF, M Place Residences, Panay Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (+63 908 2973080 or +63 2 9047968)
Victoria E. Rodriguez: 285 E. Rodriguez Sr., near cor. Victoria, Quezon City (Tel: +63 977 7682970)
Wilcon: Ground Floor, Wilcon City Center, Visayas Ave., Quezon City (Tel: +63 916 3077881)
Zeta Tower: Shop no.24 Zeta Tower Bridgetowne Center C5 road, Brgy. Ugong Norte Quezon City (Tel: +63 945 9743998)

You can also shop for these frozen foods at Ersao’s online store on Lazada.

To know more about Ersao’s products and offers, visit its website and follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.

Score Buy 1 Get 1 deals on kitchen appliances for as low as ₱20 in S&R Treats 99% OFF MetroMart Sale

Naughty or nice, with membership card or none, everyone is welcome to awesome discount deals in the S&R Treats 99% Off, exclusively via MetroMart this December 16-19, 2022.

The S&R Treats 99% Off, exclusively via MetroMart, will have various items available at a big discount within a limited time slot per day. These items include Spam Luncheon Meat, Member’s Selection Fruit Cocktail, Planters Cheez Curls, Hershey’s Syrup, Pasta Toscana products, and many more.

There is also a special flash sale of kitchen appliances available at noontime for each day of the S&R Treats 99% Off, and sold in Buy 1, Take 1 bundles, too. The featured items are from top brands like Kuchenluxe, Blakk, and Baumann, and are also at 99% off discount.

Please see the S&R Treats 99% OFF itineraries below:

Grocery Items

*Date & Time*	Products	SRP	*Promo Price*
Dec 16, 9am-2pm	MEMBER’S SELECTION FRUIT COCKTAIL IN HEAVY SYRUP	₱181.00	₱1.81
Dec 16, 3pm-8pm	PASTA TOSCANA LINGUINE 1 KG	₱149.00	₱1.49
Dec 16, 9pm-12 midnight	CAMEL MIXED SNACKS 300G	₱159.00	₱1.59
Dec 17, 9am-2pm	PREM LUNCHEON MEAT LITE 340G	₱198.00	₱1.98
Dec 17, 3pm-8pm	ZANUY CORN CHIPS TORTILLA 454G	₱169.00	₱1.69
Dec 17, 9pm-12 midnight	HERSHEY’S SYRUP CARAMEL 651ML	₱199.00	₱1.99
Dec 18, 9am-2pm	HOSEN FRUIT COCKTAIL 825G	₱148.00	₱1.48
Dec 18, 3pm-8pm	PASTA TOSCANA PENNE 1 KG	₱149.00	₱1.49
Dec 18, 9pm-12 midnight	HERSHEY SYRUP STRAWBERRY 651ML	₱199.00	₱1.99
Dec 19, 9am-2pm	PLANTERS CHEESE CURLS 4Z	₱169.00	₱1.69
Dec 19, 3pm-8pm	ARGENTE DELICATESSEN CHIPS 180G	₱149.00	₱1.49
Dec 18, 9pm-12 midnight	KHAOSHONG PNUT CRACKER SRHMP180G	₱199.00	₱1.99

Kitchen Appliances

*Date & Time*	Products	SRP	*Promo Price*
Dec 16, 12 midnight	KUCHENLUXE DOUBLE BURNER KGS2 BUY 1 TAKE 1	₱1,995.00	₱19.95
Dec 17, 12 midnight	BLAKK 16IN STAND FAN BUY 1 TAKE 1	₱2,395.00	₱23.95
Dec 18, 12 midnight	KUCHENLUXE 5LTR FOOD STEAMER BUY 1 TAKE 1	₱1,895.00	₱18.95
Dec 19, 12 midnight	BAUMANN 1.5L BLENDER BM-BL1085 BUY 1 TAKE 1	₱2,095.00	₱20.95

Customers can also double down on the discounts with Payday Specials, running this Dec 15-18, 2022. By using codes DECPAYDAY 300, DECPAYDAY200, and DECPAYDAY100, shoppers may also avail of ₱300, ₱200 and ₱100, respectively. This promo is valid for ALL Users, for a one-time redemption within the promo period, and applicable across all stores, terms and conditions apply.

The S&R Treats 99% Off, exclusively via MetroMart, are applicable to New and Existing Users of MetroMart. An S&R membership is not required for online orders via MetroMart. A minimum spend of only ₱2,000 is required in order to avail the discounted items. Only completed checkout of orders within the scheduled day and time can avail the sale items.

The S&R Treats 99% Off is available in participating branches of S&R, and can be availed with or without a membership card. The Payday Specials promos are available across all stores via the MetroMart app and website. MetroMart’s online delivery service is available all over Metro Manila and key locations throughout the Philippines, including Baguio, Pangasinan, Batangas, Davao, Cavite, Cebu, Iloilo, and more.

“The countdown to Christmas is at its closest ever, and the MetroMart family are very pleased to provide such great deals to all Filipino families for the holidays. We can celebrate the spirit of giving and togetherness, and welcome the new year, too. We’ll definitely have so many more great discounts and promo events like this slated for 2023, so be on the lookout and ready to seize those deals!” MetroMart CEO and co-founder Steffano Fazzini said.

Are you new to MetroMart? Sign up for a MetroMart account here and enjoy Php200 grocery credit.

MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include S&R (with or no membership card required), Robinsons Supermarket, Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Ever Supermarket, UltraMega Supermarket, and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, No Brand, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys”R”Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @metromartph. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM

Details and images provided in a recent press release.

Ramen Who: Meet the new delicious name in ramen

One of the most welcome sensations that December brings to us Pinoys is the feel of brisk morning air and cool breezes throughout the day.

These cool climes also make for delicious ramen weather.

And if you happen to be near The Lipa Outlets in Batangas, you’re in luck because you can indulge your craving for delectable ramen to warm you up during these chill days.

Ramen Who boasts of flavorful and creamy broth, a product of sixteen hours of careful boiling and melding of ingredients to achieve that delicate balance deep flavor and umami, without making it too rich or thick to enjoy. Together with their firm perfectly cooked noodles and its various toppings and flavorings, Ramen Who’s ramen offerings sure make the trip to the restaurant worthwhile.

It recently launched new ramen variants that are sure to excite the taste buds of ramen lovers.

Let’s start this foodie journey with the Tita Tori Paitan (₱385). Its milky white broth is made from boiling chicken bones which results in a flavorful soup that is not too rich. Its topping of grilled chicken slices go very well with the broth.

Next up is the Boss Gyu Beef Ramen (₱405), definitely a boss-level combination of soup stock made from beef bones and topped with thinly sliced strips of grilled beef.

Last is the Pinoy Ramen which adds a decidedly Filipino twist to the ramen, thanks to its pares-style beef and grilled eggplant toppings.

Another exciting debut in the menu is the Who Burger, served deconstructed so you can enjoy the sheer fun of layering its components – grilled beef patty, brioche buns, housemade sesame soy sauce, minced nori chips, wasabi mayo, goat cheese and slaw – into an extraordinary burger.

Personally, no meal is complete without dessert, and Ramen Who serves up the sweets with its new confections: Mango Chizu (₱180) and Choco Toptop (₱150).

Got a hankering for sushi rolls to go with your ramen or to snack on with your companions? Opt for Sushi Mixes, then. These consist of twelve pieces of sushi rolls of three yummy variants: Aburi Dreams Mix (₱535 – California Sunrise, Ultimate Unagi Aburi and Wango Tamango Aburi) and Sushi Dreams Mix (₱565 – California Sunrise, Spicy Salmon Crunch and Ebi Tempura Crunch).

Also, you can never go wrong with a bit of crunchy Ebi Tempura (₱405); it’s always a hit with Japanese food lovers, after all!

If you want to go for your classic ramen faves, you can always opt for the Vice Tonkotsu-San (₱395) and Mr. Tantanmen (₱405).

So go ahead and cuddle up with your Significant Other and go on a Ramen Date, or huddle up with your gang for a Ramen outing at Ramen Who!

Whatever your food trip is, any weather is perfect weather to sip, slurp and savor a heartwarming bowl of ramen at Ramen Who!

Ramen Who is located at The Outlets at Lipa, Lipa City, Batangas. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8078901.

Stay updated on its promos and offers by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

10 Quick Tips to Help Your Family Stay Healthy Through the Holidays

The holidays are a joyful time when friends and family members tend to spend more time together. It can be a great opportunity to boost current relationships and renew old ones. But it can also be a time when you’re exposed to a lot more germs than usual. To avoid the sniffles and other signs of illness, here are 10 quick tips to help your family stay healthy through the holidays.

Don’t Stress It

Stress is one of the primary culprits behind a weakened immune system. No matter what age you are, too much stress can compromise your body’s immune response and leave you vulnerable to illness. For adults, minimizing stress may require saying “no” to added responsibilities you don’t have time to take on near the holidays. But for children, stress may not be so easy to combat.

In children, stress can result from too much noise, too little sleep and changes in daily routines. Since it can be pretty hard to avoid these things around the holidays, you may want to give your child’s immune system some extra support and attention. If you’re looking for immune support for 1 year old or older, skip the harsh over-the-counter cold supplements and opt for a baby-safe immune support formula.

Stay Hydrated & Rested

It’s very common for people to become dehydrated during the colder winter months. If you struggle to remember to drink water throughout the day, try setting a reminder on your phone. Set the reminder or alarm to go off every hour or so and take a drink of water when it does.

Another way you can strengthen your body’s immune system is by getting as much rest as possible. When you do experience less sleep than usual, consider taking an elderberry syrup immune support product to give your immune system a little extra support.

Eat as Healthy as Possible

It’s hard to resist pies, cookies and other treats associated with the holidays. The truth is, it’s probably alright to indulge in these types of treats occasionally. But for the most part, eat as healthy as possible throughout the holidays so you can stay as healthy as possible. Sugar and heavily processed foods can weaken your immune response and make it easier for illnesses to overpower you.

If you need ideas for great-tasting plant based food for kids and healthy family-friendly recipes, there are a lot of great tips online. Many experts agree that it’s easier to get kids to like plant-based foods when you sweeten them with fruit or create fun shapes with them. It can also help to let your kids have a say in what plant-based meals you make for them.

Additional Tips for Staying Healthy

In addition to minimizing stress, eating healthy, and staying hydrated and rested, here are 6 more tips for staying healthy during the holidays:

Wash hands frequently
Stay active every day
Eat mindfully and slowly
Fill up on healthy foods before indulging in sweets
Try meditating
Make time for relaxation and self-care

Image by Wiroj Sidhisoradej on Freepik

Specialty coffee and gourmet dishes at The Coffee Academics Cafe in Makati

During an overcast Saturday morning in Makati’s Central Business District, you would think that the cafes there would be nigh deserted. After all, office workers who rely on their cuppa to energize them for their workday are mostly at home, enjoying the extra time they can spend in bed snoozing.

However, such is not the case at the Coffee Academics Cafe along Carlos Palanca Street. In this cozy yet well-appointed establishment, there is a hustle and bustle of activity: patrons coming in for their takeout orders, some staying to enjoy their coffee and light meal inside as baristas and servers hasten to serve up the drinks and dishes.

The world standard in coffee

The Coffee Academics Cafe is the first Metro Manila presence of Hong Kong’s favorite coffee hotspot, joining its sister branches in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai. Known for setting the standards in specialty coffee and for delivering unique coffeehouse experiences to its clientele, TCA is a welcome addition to Makati’s gastronomic scene and prime destination for serious coffee aficionados.

Specialty Coffee

TCA sources only the top 5% of specialty arabica coffee from sustainable and fair-trade institutions worldwide, with the aim of ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and local livelihoods. Since its founding in 2012, it has garnered awards and recognition from global industry bodies and media outlets for its coffee products and practices.

Its strong grounding in its trade allows it to make delicious coffee creations that wow its customers, such as:

Specialty gourmet dishes

Your foodie adventure at TCA does not stop with coffee, however. With its unique takes on cafe fare, you can sate your hunger while indulging in your favorite brews.

These include:

Nori Nachos and Hummus (Php350). Homemade nori rice chips served with mixed pea hummus topped with Harissa chili, Lucban Longganisa and Kesong Puti.

Eggs Royale Bibingka (Php445).Toasted Quezo Bibingka Muffins topped with young pork tocino and poached eggs drizzled with dalandan Hollaindaise.

Prawn & Aligue Pasta (Php495). Buckwheat pasta on a bed of coconut cream sauce topped with seared prawns and crabfat, garnished with fried basil and nori rice chips.

KFC 2.0 & Kimchi Fried Rice (Php445). Boneless fried chicken thighs doused in Korean-style garlic soy glaze on a bed of kimchi and spam fried rice topped with furikake flakes with a side of caramelized sweet potato.

Steak Rice (Php795). Bistro steak and seared mushrooms on a bed of Japanese-style steak rice topped with furikake, Asian chimi and homemade demi glace.

As you can see, you can definitely do more than just enjoying a cuppa (or two!) at The Coffee Academics Cafe!

You can come in for a leisurely coffee break, a light snack or a filling meal.

Savoring your coffee and food in this relaxing atmosphere is an experience in itself.

You can also bring your TCA experience to your home, as it retails its signature coffee blends in whole beans, Nespresso-compatible capsules or drip bag sets.

The Coffee Academics Cafe is located at 109 Don Carlos Palanca Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City, open daily from 7am to 12 midnight.

A new branch is set to open soon at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang.

Know more about The Coffee Academics through its website, or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Backyard roasts and great brews at Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express

Who would have thought that pit roasts and coffee would go so well together? Well, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Mandaluyong’s Maysilo Circle, you can find out for yourself!

In this busy meeting point in the city’s center, the first Metro Manila branch of a popular Cavite eatery is now serving up its signature dishes and drinks to cater to the metro’s foodies.

This exciting combination of grill and coffee shop was brought to Manila by entrepreneur Matt Matel who partnered with the owners of the original Cavite outlet. Together with his passionate crew of pit-masters and servers, he is serving up savory roasts with a delicious twist featuring distinctly Pinoy ingredients (some of the produce are also grown through hydroponics) as well as premium coffee blends, all available for dine-in or delivery.

From the fire pit

If you’re craving for meats that are tender and flavorful, Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee has perfected its roasting methods: from infusing them with flavors through imaginatively concocted marinades, slow-braising them to produce meat that falls off the bone, to serving them with sauces and sides to add new dimensions of flavor.

A sampling of its best-selling dishes include:

Whole Rack Barako Ribs (Php1,050/platter). A slab of pork back ribs, roasted to tender perfections and slathered with the restaurant’s own barako marinade. It is served on a bed of Java rice and is accompanied by your choice of sides. This dish serves 4-6 persons.

Barako Ribs with Java Rice and Slaw (Php340/single serving). A single serving of ribs, rice and tangy coleslaw that’s more than filling for one person. (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Whole Honey Chicken BBQ (Php550). A perfect blend of barbecue sweetness and smokey-savory flavors, also served on a bed of Java rice and served with your choice of sides. This dishes serves 4-6 persons.

Honey BBQ Chicken with Java Rice and Slaw (Php260/single serving). Want your barbecued chicken as a solo meal? Check this out! (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Oziris Chicken Wings (Php215/platter). A delightful combo of patis (fish sauce) and honey makes this twist on the fried chicken a delectable appetizer or an entree in itself.

Mango Atchara. Our favorite pickled side dish that goes so well with grilled food gets an upgrade with the addition of slivers of sweet mango.

Cold brews just for you

Who says coffee can’t calm you down?

With these chill and tasty brews, with beans especially grown and roasted in South Cotabato, you can definitely get in the mood to relax and chill a bit.

Well, the good news is that we denizens of the metro don’t have to travel all the way to Cavite for a taste of Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee’s celebrated offerings. We can simply drop by its Maysilo branch to dine-in or get our food to go, our course our orders for delivery via FoodPanda.

Don’t miss its Grand Opening promo, available on December 15, 2022: Buy one single order of Barako Ribs and get a single order of Oziris Chicken for free. Offer is valid for first 50 customers only!

Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express is located at 93 Maysilo Circle, Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City. For reservations or orders, call +63 919 5167672.

For news about its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Revenge dining with friends at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, BGC

Ah yes!

The holiday season is finally here, and it comes in the wake of pandemic panics and crazy quarantines.

After feeling isolated and restricted for almost three years, the metro’s denizens are now beginning to feel some semblance of freedom, particularly when it comes to dining out.

It’s time for some “revenge dining,” wouldn’t you say?

As we step out of our homes and into the outside world, we are rediscovering our appetite for dining out: the hunt for an erstwhile undiscovered location, the thrill of tasting new dishes, and, of course, the sheer fun of sharing these experiences with our friends.

That’s what I did recently at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar in Uptown Parade, BGC. Together with my friend, Tina, who’s home for the holidays from Singapore, I went on a revenge dining spree.

Thanks to Peri-Peri’s Holiday Epic Feast Chicken and Pasta Grupo, Tina and I indulged ourselves on a delicious selection of classic and fresh flavors from this restaurant.

At just Php1,399, this group meal is packed full of dishes that make for a filling meal for up to five persons. Super-sulit, right?

Want to know what you can enjoy with this meal package? Check these out:

One Whole Chicken.

Peri-Peri brings about this famous dish by marinating a whole chicken overnight in a special mixture of peri-peri (bird’s eye) chili, herbs and spices, then charcoal-grilling it to a gloriously golden hue.

This flavorful and juicy grilled chicken dish is best enjoyed with one or a combination of the restaurant’s eight signature sauces representing various gastronomic destinations, ranging from mildly sweet (Cajun Remoulade, Hoisin Sesame and Sweet Soy), medium spiciness (Garlic Brew, Spiced Vinegar and Mesquite BBQ) and hot (Chili Peppa and Harissa Exotica).

Four Side Dishes. The group meal also comes with your choice of four side dishes to accompany the Peri-Peri Chicken and add new flavor dimensions to the meal.

Four Java Rice. The package also comes with the preferred rice dish for grilled or barbecued dishes.

One Pasta to Share. As if the previous inclusions are not gut-bustingly filling enough, the meal also includes a platter of your choice between creamy Pasta Carbonara or savory Chorizo Bolognese.

One Liter Drink. A liter of house-made iced tea or lemonade completes the meal.

While exploring the wonders of Peri-Peri’s delightful dishes, Tina and I were able to catch up on each other’s news. There’s nothing like a good meal to spur good conversation, right?

You, too, can #LetYourFlavorBegin by taking your pals to Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar for some flavorful revenge dining.

Happy and delicious eating!

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar is located at Ground Floor Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global, Taguig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm, Fridays from 10am to 1am and Saturdays from 10am to 11pm.

Other Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar outlets are located at:

Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala North Exchange, Greenbelt 3
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Marikina: SM City Marikina, Gil Fernando Avenue
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Pasay: Resorts World Manila
Pasig: SM City East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Capitol Commons, Robinsons Galleria
Quezon City: Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Brittany Square, Eastwood Mall
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: Market! Market BGC, Venice Grand Mall

To enjoy this feast at home, order from Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s delivery website or call +63 2 73747374 for Metro Manila orders and +63 917 7747374 for provincial orders.

To know more about Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, browse through its website , or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken:

Peri Peri Chicken, SM East — Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, SM City East Ortigas

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Tomas Morato

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Capitol Commons

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, Gil Fernando Marikina

Delish family dine-in with Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s Hearty Flavor Feast

Holiday Epic Feast for the fam at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, Eastwood Mall

CBTL’s Holiday Drink: Chocolate Banana Caramel Ice Blended

The holiday season is a special time to indulge ourselves with tasty treats, and what better way to do so than to enjoy ourselves with a new delicious discovery from an old favorite?

That old favorite is the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, also known as CBTL.

This chain of cafes had its start in Southern California back in 1963 when its founder Herb Hyman began importing and roasting coffee as a coffee service for offices. Today, it has expanded globally and has presence in 32 countries.

One of its Metro Manila branches is located in One Park Drive where I recently spent my Saturday morning working on some items for the office and trying out its newest holiday beverage.

In the late 1980’s, CBTL started the craze for ice-blended drinks when a store manager in its Westwood California Store had a burst of inspiration, brought a blender to the store and started whizzing up a combination of coffee, chocolate powder and milk.

Its holiday season offering for this year is the Chocolate Banana Caramel Ice-Blended drink made with decadent dark chocolate and topped with caramel drizzle and banana caramel cubes.

It’s a cheery treat fit for the merriest of times!

I paired it with another chocolatey treat: CBTL’s deliciously rich Turtle Pie, a confection consisting of a chocolate cookie crumb crust and layers of salted caramel and cheesecake.

With these two treats, I was able to get through a busy Saturday morning.

This CBTL branch is located at the Ground Floor of One Park Drive, 9th Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, open daily from 6am to 12 midnight.

Other Metro Manila branches are located at:

Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Makati: Ayala Triangle Garden, Ayala North Exchange, Century City Mall, Circuit Lane, Four Seasons Salcedo, Glorietta 2, Glorietta Activity Center, Greenbelt 5, iAcademy, Philamlife Tower, Phinma, Powerplant Mall, Rada Street, SM Jazz, The Residences
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, The Podium
Manila: Adriatico, Avenue of the Arts, De La Salle University, Lateral Apartments, Midtown Padre Faura, One Archer’s Place, Robinsons Place Ermita, SM Grand Central, UST Bellagio Residences
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Alabang Hospital, Ayala Malls Southpark, Festival Mall, Filinvest 2
Paranaque: Okada Manila
Pasay: Double Dragon Plaza, NAIA 3, Newport Kitchen, S’Maison, SM Mall of Asia, SMX Convention Center, Solaria Casino Resort, Two e-Com, W Mall
Quezon City: Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Banawe Lifestyle Center, Batasan Pambansa, Eastwood Mall, Fairview Terraces Mall, Fisher Mall, Gateway Cinema, Katipunan, M Place, Mezza Residence, Robinsons Galleria, SM Fairview Expansion Parkway, SM North EDSA, Tomas Morato, Trinoma Mall, UP North, UP Town Center, Vertis North
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: 26th Street Bistro Net Lima, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Stopover, Burgos Circle, Central Square Cinema, Every Nation Building, Serener, Starmall Taguig, Uptown Mall, Venice Piazza McKinley Road

CBTL also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Check out my previous posts about Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf:

Rediscovering tea at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, BGC

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brings childhood indulgence with its Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf launches summer flavors with its coconut ice-blended drinks

Work and Hot Chocolate at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Venice Piazza, Taguig

What you can do with Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s 2019 Giving Journal

Tea break at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Crosswinds Tagaytay

Matcha Good Time at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, SM East Ortigas

A Matcha Treat at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Tomas Morato

Holiday Epic Feast for the fam at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, Eastwood Mall

Hooray for the holidays!

We’re now at the final stretch of the year and it’s time to slow down and spend time with the people we love.

If we’ve been too busy hustlin’ and bustlin’ over the course of this year to catch up with our folks over a good meal, this period gives us the perfect opportunity to do so.

That’s exactly what I did with my extended fam at the Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar branch at Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City.

Here, my folks and I enjoyed a laid-back and comfy setting in which we can let loose and go on a fabulous flavor adventure together.

And with its Holiday Epic Feast Chicken & Riblet Grupo, a delicious curation of the restaurant’s best-selling specialties, there’s something for every family member to discover and love.

Of course, the star of this feast is the restaurant’s very own speciality: the Peri-Peri Chicken. This dish originates all the way from Africa, where peri-peri, the pepper which lends the dish its name is cultivated. Together with other spices and herbs, this pepper flavors the special mixture where a whole chicken is marinated overnight, then charcoal-grilled to a gloriously golden hue prior to serving, accompanied slices of lime.

The restaurant is also known as a sauce bar, and rightly so, given that it carries eight signature sauces, all made with natural ingredients, to add new dimensions of flavor to its signature chicken dish. Representing various international flavor profiles, the sauces range from mildly sweet, to medium spiciness and hot. Diners can choose any of these sauces (or mix and match them!) to tailor-fit their meal to their palate.

Well, the flavor adventure doesn’t stop there. The feast also features hefty hunks of BBQ Bourbon Riblets, tender and meaty barbecued ribs glazed in smokey bourbon infused sauce.

Being a lightly-spiced rice dish, Java Rice is the perfect companion to grilled and barbecued dishes. This feast brings eight cups of them, guaranteeing a filling meal for the whole fam!

Here’s a confession: half the pleasure of eating grilled meat is wolfing it down between bites of one’s favorite side dish. For the eight regular side dishes included in the Holiday Epic Feast, I opted to include the fam’s all-time go-to side dishes: Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese, Coleslaw, Fries and Mashed Potatoes.

Completing the meal are a liter each of the restaurant’s refreshing house-blend drinks: Iced Tea and Lemonade.

Would you believe that you too could treat the fam to such a deliciously filling Holiday Epic Feast for just Php1,999, saving you Php620? This meal is good for eight to ten persons, giving you the perfect opportunity to gather your nears-and-dears and enjoy a lovely meal.

Planning a more intimate get-together with the barkada? You can opt for the Holiday Epic Feast Chicken & Pasta Grupo, good for four to five persons for Php1,399 (which saves you Php255). This meal includes one whole chicken, one pasta to share, four cups of Java Rice, four regular side dishes and one liter of houseblend drink.

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar is located at the Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, 116 Eastwood Avenue, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 11pm, Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 12am and Sundays from 10am to 11pm.

Other Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar outlets are located at:

Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala North Exchange, Greenbelt 3
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Marikina: SM City Marikina, Gil Fernando Avenue
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Pasay: Resorts World Manila
Pasig: SM City East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Capitol Commons, Robinsons Galleria
Quezon City: Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Brittany Square
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Parade BGC, Market! Market BGC, Venice Grand Mall

To enjoy this feast at home, order from Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s delivery website or call +63 2 73747374 for Metro Manila orders and +63 917 7747374 for provincial orders.

To know more about Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, browse through its website , or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken: