Eat – Page 46 – Jellybeans in the City

6 reasons to bring the fam to Manila Ocean Park

One of the happier news that we received lately is that the metro has moved down its COVID-19 alert level status, resulting to the further loosening of restrictions.

This new alert level has allowed leisure and entertainment businesses such as theaters, theme parks and other tourist attractions to open up and accept visitors once again.

More importantly, this means that after a year and a half of being stuck at home, the kiddos can now venture out and explore a bit of the world outside again.

As parents, you are surely on the lookout for a place to take the kiddos to give them a welcome break from the stress of online classes and the monotony of staying at home, while creating a special moment for the family to spend time together and create special memories outside of home.

Well, here are six reasons why Manila Ocean Park is your best bet for your family outing:

1. The people behind Manila Ocean Park are excited to see you again.

After more than a year of being away from their exhibits, outlets and shows, the staff of country’s first world-class marine theme park and premiere educational entertainment destination are happy to be back doing what they love.

Manila Ocean Park Reopening — MOP VP for Sales and Marketing Mary Joyce Tarroza and Media Relations Manager Reden Ramones join us for a photo opp.

During a chat with me and my fellow bloggers, MOP VP for Sales and Marketing Joyce Tarroza and Media Relations Manager Reden Ramones, relayed how Manila Ocean Park’s personnel have looked forward to the reopening.

“We are incredibly thrilled to finally be able to open Manila Ocean Park to the public again, return team members to work, and welcome guests back to enjoy our amazing and educational attractions,” added Mary Joyce.

2. It has reopened 6 well-loved indoor attractions.

With its return to operations, Manila Ocean Park has reopened six classic and fun-filled indoor attractions that appeal to young and old alike.

Oceanarium, for example, is home to over 270 species of marine creatures. Here, the family can walk through a 25-meter long curved walkway tunnel that gives visitors the feeling of being surrounded by sharks, stingrays, eels and other sea creatures swimming overhead.

The Jellies Exhibit, on the other hand, takes the family away to a wonderland of transparent jellyfishes that gracefully float and glide about accompanied by multimedia effects and music. This fantastic display has earned these creatures the moniker “The Dancing Sea Fairies.”

The more adventurous visitors can explore the World of Creepy Crawlies where they can encounter bugs, frogs, spiders and worms and other creatures not for the faint of heart.

The Penguin Exhibit, the first penguin park in the country, lets visitors get up close and personal with Humboldt penguins (also known as Peruvian penguins or Patranca).

At the Christmas Village, the kids and adults can relive the magic and spirit of the holiday season.

Lastly, at the Super Toy Collection, kids of all ages can view the most extensive display of toys inspired by Pinoy childhood superheroes.

With these fascinating points of interest in the park, the family will have lots to explore and discover.

3. You can catch the South American sea lions in action.

The fun doesn’t stop indoors, either.

Step out to the Sea Lion Show and catch these large but adorable creatures perform breathtaking tricks.

You might even get a kiss from one!

4. The family can enjoy a gastronomic journey al fresco

All that fun and excitement are sure to work up an appetite so plop down at the dining area near the Sea Lion Show and feast on on the newly refreshed Asian fusion menu from Chef Ranuka Hettiarachchi.

You may also opt to head down to Garden Dining by White Moon Bar where the kids can explore the greenery while the grownups relax with a drink or two.

Check out my previous experience here.

Can’t get enough of these culinary creations? You can also have these scrumptious dishes delivered to your home. More on that here.

5. Protocols are still in place to keep your family safe

What welcome news it was to hear that kids 17 years old and below, regardless of their vaccination status, are now allowed inside the park, as long as they’re accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.

Your family can rest easy knowing that your continued well-being is a top priority at Manila Ocean Park.

In line with the guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the regulations from Philippine government, the theme park is operating at 30% capacity.

Enhanced health and safety measures are also being implemented in accordance with the Minimum Public Health Standards to promote physical distancing, enhanced cleanliness and reduced contact.

Of course, these measures can only be effective with the cooperation of guests so please keep these in mind during your visit:

Secure your Safety Pass by scanning the QR code at the entrance.
Submit to health and temperature checks and, for adults, present your vaccination card and ID prior to entering.
Wear your face masks and face shields at all times.
Keep at least one meter apart. Markers and reminders have been placed in several spots to guide you.
Wash and sanitize your hands frequently.

6. You can take advantage of amazing deals

Until November 21, kids below 17 years old accompanied by a fully vaccinated adults are accepted inside the park according to the IATF guidelines.

The city government of Manila also set the age cap for adult visitors at 65 years old.

So now is the best time to bring the whole family to Manila Ocean Park, especially with these amazing limited-time deals exclusively available at the park’s website until December 19, 2021.

Ocean Escapade (Php499 – formerly Php2,300) which provides access to the 6 reopened attractions at almost 80% discount from the original ticket price.
2+1 Flash Sale Promo. Buy 2 Ocean Escapade vouchers priced at Php595 and get 1 for free. That’s Php1,190 for 3 tickets already!

So not only can you bring the whole fam in for a lot of fun and adventure, you get to enjoy great savings, too!

Book your tickets via Klook now, folks!

Manila Ocean Park is located inside Luneta Park in Manila.

For inquiries, call (+632) 7238-6100 or follow Manila Ocean Park on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Complimentary tickets and refreshments were provided by the park in exchange for this feature.

Fave rolled pizzas at home from Pazzo Rollio

I belong to a family of pizza lovers.

My little boy, in particular, is such a pizza monster, he can devour it all day, every day!

My challenge as a mom is how to expand his food horizons (and hopefully incorporate more vegetables into what he eats),

Fortunately, the solution to my problem is just a few phone taps away as Pazzo Rollio delivers via GrabFood!

The name “Pazzo Rollio” translates to “crazy rolls” in Italian, quite fitting for the resto’s crazy good rolled pizzas.

Wafer-thin pizza dough is slathered with cheese sauce and toppings, then baked in a hot oven and served with arugula and alfalfa sprouts, ready for rolling. (The inclusion of these greens, by the way, takes care of my need to incorporate veggies into my son’s food intake.)

Yes, you might find rolled pizzas in other pizza joints in the metro, but Pazzo Rollio’s are among the least expensive and the most varied that I know of.

Check out my go-to orders!

Spinach Artichoke (Php260 solo | Php480 family). Topped with spinach, artichoke, fresh garlic and parmesan over cheese sauce.

Big Bang Supreme (Php270 solo / Php490 family). Topped with bacon, ham, pepperoni, caramelized onion and mushroom over cheese sauce.

Wild Truffled (Php270 solo / Php490 family). Topped with parma ham, mushroom, truffle salsa, honey and caramelized onion.

Whenever I need a tasty snack for the fam (especially for my little boy), or an additional dish to go with my homemade Baked Macaroni to serve to guests, I just bring out my phone and order these rolled pizza faves from Pazzo Rollio.

I think that Pazzo Rollio rolled pizzas may be great additions to my family’s holiday spread this Christmas!

Pazzo Rollio is currently open for takeout and delivery at these branches:

Third Floor, Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, Quezon City
SM Hypermarket, Frontera Verde Drive, Ugong, Pasig City

Wondering what it would be like to dine in at Pazzo Rollio? Check out my pre-pandemic foodie adventure with my foodie friends at its SM Pasig branch!

Thai BBQ Original Restaurant, Ayala Vertis North

One of the cuisines that I have been missing since the start of the pandemic is Thai food, largely because there are not too many Thai restaurants in my neck of the woods, and a lot of them took a pause in operations during the lockdown.

I do carry some fondness for Thai BBQ Original Restaurant, though, as I was able to meet up over a tasty meal with my friend visiting from Singapore at its Glorietta Branch.

It’s Ayala Vertis North branch was also the setting of one of my last happy lunches with my co-workers, where we took the opportunity to have a break from our usual work and catch up over good food.

This restaurant chain originated in Los Angeles in the late 70s, offering the best flavors of Thailand. It set up shop here in the country in 2016, aiming to reignite the Pinoy’s taste for Thai cuisine.

In recognition for its dedication to serving authentic Thai dishes, it has been awarded with THAI Select, a awarded by Department of International Trade Promotion which certifies not only the food, but also the hospitality and the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Thai food surely made for a welcome break from the normal packed lunches or fast food that I usually have when in the office.

During our pre-pandemic forays into Ayala Vertis North, my officemates and I had one of our happy lunches here where wesaid “Sawadeeka!” to some of the resto’s signature dishes.

Tom Yum Goong.

Traditional sour and spicy soup flavored with herbs and spices with some shrimp added in.

Pad Thai.

Rice noodles, shrimp, peanuts, a scrambled egg, and vegetables are stir-fried in a wok and tossed in Pad Thai sauce, which gives its signature tangy salty flavor with a hint of sweetness.

Thai Original BBQ Pork Belly.

Specially marinated tender pork belly, baked and grilled in a special Thai BBQ sauce.

Thai BBQ Spare Ribs.

Generouse cuts of falling-off-the bone tender marinated pork ribs grilled and served with sweet and spicy Thai BBQ sauce.

Crispy Oyster Cake.

Oyster cakes battered and pan-firend then served on a hot plate with chili sauce.

Massaman Curry.

A fusion of Thai and Indian culinary influences which make use of red curry paste, dry whole spices and peanuts.

It’s been a while since I’ve been here and I’ve also been missing the friends I shared this delicious meal with.

The good news is that Thai BBQ Original Restaurant has reopened several branches for dine-in, takeout and delivery to sate the Thai food cravings of its Pinoy fans.

Makati: G/F Glorietta 4, Main Driveway (next to Ascott Hotel), Makati City (Wed to Sun | 11am to 8pm)
Quezon City: Level 2 Ayala Malls Vertis North (Beside Trinoma), North Avenue, Quezon City
Pasig: Level 1 Food Village Bldg. B Tiendesitas (beside Rico’s Lechon), Ortigas East, Pasig City

So it won’t be too long before I say “Sawadeeka!” again to awesome Thai food. Hopefully, I can say the same to the friends that I miss.

Follow Thai BBQ Original Restaurant on Facebook and Instagram to keep updated on its latest offers.

The Jelly List: Merienda classics for your holiday snacking

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a certain sense of nostalgia for days gone by.

Some of my favorite childhood memories involve snacking on classic Pinoy delicacies for merienda during my holiday break.

Merienda, or sometimes called minindal, may refer to either the mid-morning or mid-afternoon light snack eaten to fill in the gap in-between meals.

Luckily, we Pinoys grew up with a myriad of food items that we enjoy for during this snack time. Some of the classic merienda fare may have been overshadowed by Western snacks over the years, but I’m glad to see that many are regaining popularity, spurred by the efforts of foodies and these food entrepreneurs.

Ferino’s Bibingka

Ferino’s Bibingka started in pre-war Tondo, Manila when Mang Ferino Francisco started selling kakanin outside his family’s home. While most of his stores closed with his passing, the Ferino’s Bibingka brand was revived by his grandson, Sonny Francisco, who began to operate bibingka dine-in and takeout stores in 2016.

Ferino’s version of bibingka, the Bibingka Extra Super, is made of pure galapong mixed with two fresh eggs, topped with salted eggs and kesong-puti.

Ferino’s Bibingka accepts orders via:

Phone: +63 2 76227104
Mobile: +63 917 6502331
Facebook Messenger
GrabFood

More deets on Ferino’s Bibingka here.

Ka Mely’s Bibingka, Atbp.

This Cainta-based food business got its start when the Alcantara family matriarch Amelia – also known as Ka Mely – decided to expand her Bibingka-selling business to include the production of native delicacies. Today, it is a well-established food manufacturer with three physical stores as well as regular resellers.

Ka Mely’s Bibingka is more of a rice cake made with sticky glutinous rice topped with caramelized sugar and coconut cream.

Ka Mely’s Bibingka, Atbp accepts orders via:

Phone: +63 2 85155467
Mobile: +63 917 8533766 and +63 908 8876992
Facebook
Instagram

More deets on Ka Mely’s Bibingka, Atbp here.

Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik

Foodpreneur Thirdee Duran turned her mom’s recipe for suman sa latik into a thriving food business during the quarantine.

A box of Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik contains six pieces of banana leaf-wrapped suman and a generous helping of latik, more than enough to satisfy your suman craving.

Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik accepts orders via:

More deets on Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik here.

Bantay Bread

This Ilocos-based family business started out in 2010 as a local panaderia supplying morning pan de sal to its patrons. During quarantine, the family behind Bantay Bread set about pivoting their business to operate in their new business environment by expanding its product offers and its coverage areas to now include Metro Manila.

Its Pianono – named after Pope Pius IX also known as Pio Nono – is basically a sponge cake roll with a sweet buttercream filling

For more details on its product offerings and availability in your area, follow Bantay Bread on Facebook and Instagram.

More deets on Bantay Bread here.

Pampanga’s Cheesebread

The Metro Manila reseller of Pampanga landmark LBS Bakeshop, it has brought its famous Cheesebread to the metro.

These golden, cheesy and sweet balls of bread defies description. You simply have to taste it for yourself.

Pampanga’s Cheesebread accepts orders through its Metro Manila reseller – Pam via:

Facebook Messenger
Viber: +63 998 9694531

More deets on Pampanga’s Cheesebread here.

Tita She’s Bakery

Pan de Sal, the most common bread roll in the Philippines, is made with flour, yeast, sugar, eggs and water and is a staple many breakfast tables.

Its softer, longer and more buttery and sugary version, on the other hand, is called Spanish Bread.

Antipolo-based foodpreneur Tita She’s Bakery adds delicious and colorful twists to these classic breads by integrating cake flavors into them such as ube, cheese, ube cheese, ube choco, choco cheese, choco hazelnut, banana cake, banana hazelnut and carrot cake.

Tita She’s Bakery accepts orders via:

Mobile: +63 967 7613909
Facebook

As you can see, there’s quite a lot of options for merienda treats in the metro that will bring back pleasant childhood memories. Try them out and let me know what you think!

At home at Ome Japanese Cafe

Don’t you sometimes just want to be in a place where you feel right at home? Somewhere that you can be with family and friends while enjoying good food and good company?

Well, located in a family-friendly neighborhood in Quezon City ii a quaint and cozy Japanese eatery that brings comfort and happiness through its delicious and affordable Japanese comfort food.

Ome Japanese Cafe prides itself on its fresh ingredients and meticulously crafted dishes. These culinary creations were honed from the extensive experience of its chef/owners Christine Ramos and Gerivic Orocio in restaurants both here and abroad.

During a recent foodie meetup with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to experience Ome’s signature dishes as well as new menu selections.

Hand-crafted sushi

Ome’s chefs demonstrated their considerable skills with these beautifully assembled sushi rolls.

Ome Signature Roll (Php285). House-cured Norwegian salmon, cucumber and cream cheese topped with crab, masago and Srirach aioli.

Embassy Roll (Php260). Shrimp tempura, crab, cream cheese, tempura flakes, tobiko and sweet creamy sauce.

Tokyo Roll (Php385). Shrimp tempura roll topped with unagi, mango and eel sauce.

Crispy Spicy Salmon Roll (Php230). Spicy Norwegian salmon with cucumber, mango and tempura flakes.

Cucumber-wrapped Shrimp Tempura Maki (Php350). Shrimp tempura, romaine lettuce, crab and mango wrapped in a wafer-thin, katsuramuki-style slice of cucumber.

Hearty and heart-warming Ramen

Filling and tasty ramen will surely satisfy hunger while appealing to the need for tasty comfort food.

Chicken Paitan (Php385). Roasted soy chicken, mushrooms, soft-boiled egg and black garlic oil top ramen noodles in a rich and creamy broth made from pressure-cooked chicken bone broth with bonito salt and kombu.

Tan-Tan Men (Php350). Sauteed ground pork, corn, bok-choy and sesame egg in sesame broth seasoned with chili oil.

Partnership with Real California Milk

Collaborating with Real California Milk, Ome Japanese Cafe developed a tasty selection of viands that was incorporate high-quality cheeses.

Udon Carbonara (Php380). Hearty udon noodles topped with thick-cut smoked bacon, poached egg and mozzarella ina tasty carbonara sauce.

Japanese Omurice (Php340). Creamy omelet spiced with a bit of Pepper Jack Cheese on top of Japanese fried rice and drizzled with Hayashi demi-glace sauce.

Chicken & Cheese Katsu (Php320). Panko-breaded chicken cutlets wrapped around oodles of cheese, accompanied by shredded cabbage and katsu sauce.

New menu items

Pretty soon, Japanese food lovers will be able to enjoy these newest culinary creations.

Tepanyaki Wagyu Beef Cubes (Php485). Tender beef slices smothered with Hayashi demi-glace accompanied by seasonal veggies and creamy mashed potato.

Shrimp and Seasonal Vegetable Tempura (Php295). Deep-fried shrimp and veggies covered in batter enriched with dashi broth, making the resulting tempura crisp, light and airy.

Sweet endings

What better way to end the meal than on a sweet note with these scrumptious desserts?

Matcha Panna Cotta (Php180). Mango puree and muscovado sugar on creamy matcha-flavored panna cotta.

Mango Pudding (Php180). Succulent slices of fresh mango top a rice pudding enriched with coconut milk.

Feast on these dishes with your nears and dears at Ome’s well-appointed cafe or have them delivered to your home.

Ome Japanese Cafe is located at Chimes Square, 77 Congressional Avenue Extension, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 8pm.

For inquiries, reservations and delivery orders, call +63 2 70886066 or +63 917 6293212.

It also accepts delivery orders via BeepIt.

To know more about its latest promos and offers, follow Ome Japanese Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant wherein the food items served were not paid for by the participants, including myself.

Make Way for the Golden Moment: The NEW Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream Is Here

Not all ice creams are created equal. The creamier, the better! While some are simply lackluster in taste and creaminess, we’ve found the one that hits the spot — one that can make moments golden in every scoop.

The good news? This velvety smooth and naturally rich ice cream is now within your reach. Celebrating its arrival, the country’s exceptional talents came together to celebrate The Golden Moment: The Magnolia Gold Label Reveal Party last October 26. The reveal introduced the NEW Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream, now made with fresh carabao’s milk which makes it creamy and is Certified pure with no artificial flavors.

Since 1925, Magnolia has always been a well-loved and world-class brand that holds a huge part of our culture. Reinventing its way to reach their gold standard, they’re taking ice cream to the next level. Get ready to taste not just the classic flavors, but the ones that’ll spark your curiosity and satisfaction. Take Wintermelon Milk Tea and Table Yema for example! Getting to finally enjoy these blissfully decadent and creamier treats is truly a golden moment for us to celebrate. They also came up with these 2 unique new flavors that are delightful as the sound of their names suggest—Choco Peanut Butter made with the beloved and authentic Skippy Peanut Butter and the S’mores made with premium vanilla ice cream blended with graham bits and toasted marshmallows swirled with dark chocolate fudge that will bring you to an indulgent campfire experience!

Gracing the event are Marvin Agustin and Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, who shared their golden moments and their love for the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream’s sweet indulgence. Both chefs and restaurateurs, Marvin and Happy described how they meet the gold standard when it comes to their restaurants. For Marvin, it was quality, consistency, & pure hard work, saying, “It has always been my dream to run a restaurant and food business kahit nung nag-aartista palang ako. I knew kailangan kong paghirapan yung pangarap ko para maging reality”. Happy, coming from a family of restaurateurs, mentioned that it’s indeed longevity. “To be the gold standard, you need to reinvent without sacrificing quality and service”, she says. They both agreed that their restaurants are just like the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream, a product of hard work and tradition. It’s based on a rich history, giving us deliciously creamy ice cream that’s proudly Pinoy with world-class flavors that suit every taste. Among the flavors, Marvin’s favorites are Double Dutch and Rocky Road, which are the staple flavors in their family celebrations. But recently, he has been fond of the indulgent Quadruple Chocolate andthe new Choco Peanut Butter made with authentic Skippy peanut butter! Meanwhile for Happy, S’mores has been a flavor her kids enjoy because of it chocolate fudge and graham bits. Her other favorites are Tablea Yema that she recalls as a favorite during Sunday lunches and reminiscent of the Magnolia Chocolait drink she loved drinking growing up and ofcourse, Rocky Road, which reminds her of the first-ever dessert she made in her restaurant.

Beauty queen Megan Young also joined in the celebration. As an ice cream lover herself, tasting the lush creaminess of the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream made her reminisce about her golden moment: being crowned as the country’s first and only Miss World! Now, she loves to enjoy this luscious comfort food with her hubby in their favorite flavors: classic and rich Vanilla which she described as the vanilla of vanillas, mellow yet premium Ube, and Pinoy with a creamy twist, Taro White Cheese. “The flavors are unique and perfect for celebrating different milestones”, she shares. With its elevated taste without artificial flavors, she reveals that the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream is worthy of her life’s golden moments, and that it truly lives up to her standards.

Speaking of golden moments, this event wouldn’t be complete without our Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz. Her presence in the event was the cherry on top, sharing that the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream for her is a taste of success and that she reserves her cheat days to enjoy this. For Hidilyn her favorite flavors is the luscious Mango Dark Chocolate (which she also revealed that she sometimes loves to enjoy all to herself!) and the very Pinoy flavor Kesong Puti. It’s her reward after a long day of training, especially when she just wants to chill. “Once a week, may cheat day ako so dun ako kumakain ng ice cream kasi mahilig kasi ako sa ice cream talaga. So pag medyo pagod sa training, dun ko nilalabas—kumakain ako ng ice cream” she adds. This world-class Filipina deserves only the best and truly the one that levels with her accolades just like the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream. As she was parting the interview, she also invited the viewers to try it “Deserve natin lahat mag-ice cream. Masarap talaga itong bagong Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream. Walang halong biro. Try niyo na!”.

Wrapping up the celebration is a short but sweet appearance by Asia’s Multimedia Star, Alden Richards. He’s a self-confessed Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream fan, that’s why when he discovered that it’s now made creamier, he got excited to try all the flavors! Now that he’s also reinventing himself from being a host, singer, actor, gaming content creator, and now a restaurateur, he relates this to the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream being very courageous in introducing new flavors that’s unique yet caters to the standard of Filipino taste. A few from his must-try list is his ever favorite, the fusion that is Avocado Macchiato which is close to his heart, the decadently toasty and one of the new flavors S’mores, and the creamy, elevated classic and generously speckled Cookies and Cream. Now with more reasons to indulge, he’ll surely add more to his list for more golden moments!

Just like our guests, your golden moments, too, deserve to be enjoyed with delightfully rich and heavenly ice cream. Now we can all get to try the premium new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream since they have a Christmas promo just in time to make our holiday celebrations GOLDEN! Get a 1.3L tub of the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream for only P295 starting this November 1 until December 31, 2021!

Experience this next-level creaminess in the new Magnolia Gold Label Ice Cream, a world-class taste made for golden moments. Every tub is a golden treat! Go ahead and indulge — after all, nothing beats the gold label.

Shop Magnolia Gold Ice Cream at supermarkets and grocery stores, or online via San Miguel Frozen & Chilled on Shopee and Lazada, The SMC Hub and other online partners. Follow Magnolia Ice Cream Philippines on Facebook for updates.

Shop Now!

Jelly’s Picks — Magnolia Gold Label Avocado Macchiato 1.3L

Buy

Details provided in a recent press release. Product samples were also provided.

Ulam in a jiffy: Ka Tunying’s Frozen Goods

With the holidays coming up, home cooks will be in for quite a busy spell.

With all the food preparations for holiday feasts and virtual clan gatherings – not to mention the regular family meals – home cooks will surely have their hands full and will need all the help they can get.

Plus, despite the sheer variety of food options for the holiday spread, home cooke can count on their families to opt for the kind of dishes that are homegrown and possess familiar flavors.

At the Pinoy table, Filipino food does reign supreme.

Ka Tunying’s Frozen Goods

For those with #PanlasangMakabayan, Ka Tunying’s brings its signature dishes in frozen packs that can be easily reheated and ready to eat in a few minutes!

Ka Tunying’s Frozen Goods are MSG-free and additive-free, and come in microwaveable containers with reheating instructions conveniently printed on their plastic seals

Home cooks may opt to reheat these delicious heritage dishes on a stove or through a microwave, making food preparation very easy and fuss-free.

Here’s how easy they are to prepare:

Arroz Ala Tunying

Completely thaw out the pack and remove the plastic lid.

To reheat using a stove: Transfer the contents of the pack into a pan. On low fire, stir the arroz caldo for four to six minutes until thoroughly hot.

To reheat using a microwave: Place the container in the microwave or transfer the contents in a microwaveable bowl. Reheat on medium setting while stirring occasionally for three to four minutes until thoroughly hot.

Serve topped with cooked chicken, boiled egg or toasted garlic, or just sprinkle chopped spring onions on top and serve with patis and calamansi.

The resulting dish is a gingery porridge that will warm the tummy during a cold or rainy day, or make a great merienda for the fam.

Bangus Sisig.

Completely thaw out the pack and remove the plastic lid.

To reheat using a stove: Transfer the contents of the pack into a pan. On low fire, stir the arroz caldo for five to eight minutes until thoroughly hot.

Serve topped with a sunny side-up egg.

I’m glad that there’s healthier version of my daughter’s favorite dish. While it may be drier than the regular sisig, you can add a small dollop of mayonnaise to add some creaminess.

Beef Caldereta.

Completely thaw out the pack and remove the plastic lid.

To reheat using a stove: Transfer the contents of the pack into a pan. On low fire, stir the arroz caldo for five to eight minutes until thoroughly hot.

Serve topped with grated cheese and enjoy white steamed white rice.

The resulting dish features melt-in-your-mouth beef in a hearty serving of rough-chopped veggies in a rich tomato sauce.

I bravely volunteered to whip up the fam’s weekend lunch all by my lonesome, knowing that it’s going to be done in a jiffy, thanks to Ka Tunying’s Frozen Goods..

Home cooks, if you want to have a tasty yet effortless addition to your holiday spread, or want to serve your fam a delicious meal you won’t have to slave over in the kitchen, Ka Tunying’s Frozen Goods may just be your best bet.

Get this set of Ka Tunying’s Holiday Heats (250g Bangus Susig, 400g Arroz Ala Tunying and 450g Beef Caldereta) for only Php895.

Other Frozen Goods sets include:

Ready to Cook Set (Php1,390): 6 sticks Pork BBQ, 250g Chicken Tocino, 8pcs Longganisa Recado, 12 pcs Lumpiang Shanghai, 8pcs Longganisa Batutay)
Heat & Eat Set (Php2,590): 370g Bilo Bilo, 250g Pork Sisig, 250g Bangus Sisig, 250g Beef Caldereta, 450g Classic Kare Kare, 400g Arroz Ala Tunying, 450g Chicken Caldereta, 300g Roasted Lechon Belly)
Complete Frozen Set (Php3,890): combination of Ready to Cook Set and Complete Frozen Set

Stock up on Ka Tunying’s Frozen Goods for your family meals or as holiday gifts to your loved ones by calling +63 995 2376684.

Ka Tunying’s also operates physical restaurants open for dine-in, takeout and delivery located at:

88 Brgy. Vasra, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City
UG Level, Mega A Building, SM Megamall,Ortigas, Mandaluyong
4th Floor Food Hall, NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City

Follow Ka Tunying’s on Facebook or Instagram to know more about its latest offers and promos.

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

Kraver’s Kanteen brings one more reason to look forward to payday

It’s month-end once again, and y’all know what that means: payday!

On the days leading to payday – also known as hora de peligro – we painstakingly restrict our spending to stretch what remains of the last payday right to the finish line.

Well, here we are, finish line reached, so it’s now time to celebrate!

What better way to celebrate than to give in to our kravings… oops, I mean cravings!

Cloud kitchen Kraver’s Kanteen helped make the pandemic a lot more manageable for foodies in the metro by delivering mouthwatering dishes from an assortment of online food brands it partners with.

One such brand is Let’s Get Litson.

If, during pre-pandemic times, you are among those who make a beeline towards the roast beef station at the hotel buffet, Let’s Get Litson will surely be right up your alley.

It offers or litson baka – that’s been marinated and slow-cooked for over thirty hours to produce roast beef that’s wonderfully tender, juicy and packed with flavor.

Each fragrant slice has a smokey charred outer edge that gives way to a layer of well-marbled fat that lends a lot of flavor to the melt-in-your-mouth pinkish meat underneath.

It comes with its own dipping sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and chili which helps accentuate the meatiness of the roast beef and stave off umay. Personally, I like the roast beef pretty well without it but for those who love their sauces and condiments, this dipping sauce should come in handy.

I would love to turn leftover roast beef into proteins for salads or as filling for my roast beef sandwich but, alas, the fam polished our plates clean, leaving no leftovers.

If you’re still on the fence about giving in to this particular craving, here’s something that just might push you right over into ordering: for just Php899, you can get a Let’s Get Litson Payday Pack that includes an All Meat Tray, four plain rice and four beers of your choice, good for four people.

Isn’t that reason enough to make payday even more special?

So what are you waiting for. Order now, foodies!

Let’s Get Litson offers both regular-flavored and spicy litson baka in the following variants:

Regular Rice Tray (Php289 regular flavor | Php319 spicy). Litson baka good for one to two people served on top of rice with meat drippings.
Family Rice Tray (Php549 regular flavor | Php599 spicy). Litson baka good for three to four people served on top of rice with meat drippings.
Victory Tray (Php999 regular flavor | Php1,999 spicy). Litson baka good for six to eight people served on top of rice with meat drippings.
All-Meat Tray (Php509 regular flavor | Php559 spicy). Litson baka with no rice good for three to four people.
All-Meat Victory Tray (Php1,399 regular flavor | Php1,549 spicy). Litson baka with no rice good for six to eight people.

Let’s Get Litson accepts orders through the Kraver’s website or via GrabFood.

Go on a virtual food trip with Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia

While I do enjoy traveling to new places here in the country and abroad, what I really look forward to are the new and exciting dishes I get to try.

I do travel through food and whenever possible, I include my family, especially my kids, in the experience. For me, delving into local cuisines is one of the best way to get to know a foreign culture. It paints a picture of the area’s agricultural scene as well as tells the story of its history, food traditions, values and influences.

However, traveling can be quite costly, time-consuming, and during a time a worldwide pandemic, well nigh impossible.

The solution? Going on a virtual food trip at home.

We might not have the means to always be ordering food from various restaurants to be able to go on our virtual food trip, but we can try to whip up exotic dishes ourselves for the fam to enjoy.

If you find cooking foreign cuisines quite intimidating, brush your fears aside. We now have a set of handy kitchen aids that will help us in achieving our lofty culinary goals.

Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia

These new additions to Del Monte’s line of mixes and sauces are set to make cooking exotic dishes so much easier not just for kitchen newbies, but also for more experienced cooks who may not have the time to study unfamiliar recipes.

Perfectly seasoned and blended to approximate the authentic taste of Asian dishes but still appeal to the Pinoy palate, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia packs are made with real ingredients, bringing out real deliciousness in each dish with every bite.

By following the recipes in the packaging like I did, anybody can whip up real sarap Asian dishes at home, while saving on time and effort in securing and preparing various ingredients.

Get ready for your culinary adventure with these!

Teriyaki Marinade 80ml

Teriyaki is a cooking style used in Japanese cuisine wherein food are grilled or boiled with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin and sugar.

Made with real ginger and soy sauce, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Teriyaki Marinade brings out the signature sweet and savory flavors of a Japanese-style Teriyaki dish!

Chicken Teriyaki

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
1 80ml sachet of Del Monte Quick n Easy Teriyaki Marinade
1/4 cup spring onions sliced thinly
1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

Procedure:

Marinate the chicken in Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Teriyaki Marinade for at least 30 minutes.
Place the marinated chicken into skewers
Pan-grill the chicken while basting with the marinade.
Garnish with spring onions and sesame seeds before serving.

This recipe makes 6 servings.

Green Curry Mix 30g

Sweet green curry – also known as kaeng khiao wan – derives its name from the creamy mild green color of the dish brought about by the combination of green chillies and coconut milk.

Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Green Curry Mix contains turmeric, ginger and other spices which brings that fresh taste of Thai-style sweet green curry dish.

Green Curry with Chicken

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
1 30g pack of Del Monte Quick n Easy Green Curry Mix
2 tbsp oil
1 400ml can coconut milk
1 small eggplant, sliced
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 bunch Thai basil leaves

Procedure:

Heat oil and Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Green Curry Mix in a saucepan until fragrant.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add in chicken and simmer in a covered saucepan for 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add eggplant and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add red bell pepper and basil. Simmer for another minute.
Serve and enjoy!

This recipe makes six servings.

Red Curry Mix 40g

Curry originated in the Indian subcontinent with its name coming from the Tamil word kari which refers to a sauce or soup eaten with rice. While Indian cuisine is highly diverse, it is also highly influential: India’s spice trade with Europe sparked the Age of Discovery. Indian cuisine’s influence is present in the food cultures of Britain, the Middle East, Southern and East Africa, Southeast Asia, North America and the Pacific Islands.

Made with real paprika, cayenne and other spices, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Red Curry brings out the spice and richness of Indian-style curry dishes!

Red Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
2 tbsp oil
1 35g pack of Del Monte Quick n Easy Red Curry Mix
1 400ml can coconut milk
1 bunch French beans
1 red bell pepper cut into strips
1/2 cup cilantro

Procedure:

Heat oil and Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Red Curry Mix in a saucepan until fragrant.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add in chicken and simmer in a covered saucepan for 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add French beans and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add red bell pepper and cilantro. Simmer for another minute.
Serve and enjoy!

So if you feel like broadening your culinary horizons, stock up on Del Monte Flavors Asia on Lazada.

Buy Now

Sammy’s Weekend Quick Bites

Don’t you just love weekends?

It’s that time when you can wind down and recover from the hectic work days that precede it.

It’s also the time when you can treat yourself and the fam to a few indulgences.

Some of my favorite weekend memories are those I spent with my foodie friends hanging out at Sammy’s, a hidden gem of a restaurant located in Cainta.

There, we enjoyed great Indonesian-inspired dishes, along with a lovely post-meal serenade from Chef Sammy and his wife Dorothy, amidst the restaurant’s beautifully cozy interiors.

Recently, Sammy’s brought food lovers another reason to love weekends: its Weekend Quick Bites!

On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Sammy’s offers yummy and highly snackable treats to sate our food cravings.

Being a mom to two budding foodies, I decided to have some of these munchies delivered to our home for the fam’s weekend merienda.

Korean Corndogs.

That sausage-on-stick that we love so well as kids got a significant upgrade, thanks to its thick coating of crunchy-on-the-outide, chewy-on-the-inside batter and further jazzed up with various fixins and condiments.

I got the Classic (Php99) for me, the Cheesedog (Php125) for my son, the Mozza (Php130) for my daughter and Overload (Php150) for Hubby.

I barely had time to take pictures of these corndogs as the fam was raring to get at them!

We weren’t able to try the Potato (Php125) but that’s what next orders are for!

Milk Teas.

Of course, we have to have something to drink together with our snacks, right?

Sammy’s has already got that covered with its refreshing milk teas that come in a variety of flavors with yummy and chewy tapioca pearls.

I actually already sampled these milk teas a few months ago when these were launched together with a special offer of a free slice of banana bread for every purchase.

Other milk tea variants available include: Wintermelon (Php65 16oz | Php75 22oz) and Taro (Php65 16oz | Php75 22oz).

Aside Korean Corndogs and Milk Teas, other snackable items included in Sammy’s Weekend Quick Bites are fries, nachos and floats.

Sammy’s makes weekends even better with its Weekend Quick Bites, wouldn’t you agree?

Weekend Quick Bites are available Saturdays and Sundays, from 3pm to 6pm.

Drop by Sammy’s at 14 Raspberry Bend Street, Valley View Executive Subdivision Phase 3, San Juan, Cainta to dine in and snack on these treats.

To enjoy these at home, order by calling +63 939 1483960, and book your delivery via Grab or Lalamove.

Follow Sammy’s on Facebook and Instagram to keep updated on its latest offers.