Eat – Page 56 – Jellybeans in the City

Double servings of Ramen at Dabururamen, SM Megamall

Are you loving the recent spate of cold weather, foodies?

Chilly days like these make me want to slurp on some fully loaded and steaming hot ramen. When I’m feeling particularly ravenous, I don’t think a single bowl would suffice.

Well, wouldn’t you know it: at the newly opened Dabururamen at SM Megamall, I can get two bowls for the price of one! Yey!

“Daburo” is one way of saying “double” in Japanese. With its ramen dishes available on Buy 1 Take 1 deals, Dabururamen gives you double the flavor and double the ramen goodness with every order.

Are you curious yet on what you can enjoy at Dabururamen? Here’s a sampling:

Daburu Ramen (Php358 for double | Php188 for single). The house special ramen with rich broth, chashu slice and marinated egg, resulting to a hearty blend of authentic Japanese flavors. Definitely incredouble!

Kamabaku Ramen (Php348 for double | Php198 for single). Dabururamen’s version of the Tantanmen and my new favorite! Its blend of nutty and spicy sweetness can’t be beat!

Melting Gyoza (Php98 for 6pcs | Php190 for 12pcs). The classic Japanese dumpling made with minced pork and chopped vegetables gets an upgrade with the addition of oozing melted cheese!

House Special Takoyaki (Php168 for 6pcs | Php298 for 12pcs). A mixture of wheat batter and chopped octopus formed into succulent and savory balls topped with special sauce and bonito flakes.

So the next time you’ve got a monster craving for ramen or just want to chase the chilly weather blues away, drop by Dabururamen!

Update: I went back to Eatogether Food Hall with my foodie friends and was able to try more of Dabururamen’s dishes. Check them out!

Shoyu Ramen (Php328 for double | Php185 for single). Crispy pork katsu tops a bowl of savory clear soup, spring onions, nori and mushrooms.

Cheesy Katsudon Poppers (Php275). Cheese-stuffed breaded pork roulade drizzled with Dabururamen’s Emperor sauce and served with cabbage salad and oriental veggies.

And again, more of that fabulous Dabururamen. Yey!

Now I’m looking forward to more visits!

Dabururamen is located at Eatogether Food Hall, Second Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For delivery, call in your orders at +63 917 1598522 or +63 9605151688. You may also course your order through FoodPanda, GrabFood and Poodtrip.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting here together with fellow foodies. Food items mentioned here were served to let us sample the fare and elicit our honest feedback.

Awesome pairing of cookies and coffee from Bake Boss and TOV Coffee

It’s a weekday afternoon, you’ve just had your lunch and you’re contemplating on what will power you up for more hours of doing remote work.

For me, its quite simple: cookies and coffee!

Both give me a boost of energy and wakefulness that’s sure to get me over that midday slump.

Fortunately, I got some sweets and TOV coffee packets from Bake Boss that really hit the spot.

Bake Boss is managed by local entrepreneur Earl Reyes, who launched this online bakery in May last year to pursue her passion for baking and make some money during the lockdown due to the pandemic. (Check out my post about Bake Boss’ Chocolate Banana Muffins and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies here.)

True to her entrepreneurial spirit, Earl expanded her offerings to include new desserts under her Bake Boss label and even drip coffee which she branded TOV Coffee after the Hebrew word for “good”..

My Bake Boss cookie treats included:

Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies (Php240/box of 8). The chewy, cinnamon-spiced oatmeal cookies got a chocolatey upgrade with the addition of decadent dark chocolate chips.

Brookie (Php240/box of 8). The lusciously moist and chocolatey brownie now in cookie form.

For you brownie purists out there, Bake Boss also offers Dark Fudge Brownies (Php240/box of 12) so you can indulge yourself with bite-sized pieces of rich dark fudge chocolate.

Paired with my sweets are cups of coffee made with TOV Drip Coffee (Php45/packet), an easy way to enjoy freshly brewed coffee anytime you want. Solo servings of ground coffee beans are conveniently packaged in bags which can be torn open and hooked onto the sides of coffee mugs. Hot water is passed through the bags and the resulting brew gathers at the bottom of the mug, ready to drink and enjoy.

TOV Drip Coffee is made with coffee beans from Sagada and is available in variants that are sure to appeal to coffee connoisseurs:

Home-grown brews such as Kalinga, Benguet and Barako which showcase our local coffee artistry
Blends enriched with infusions such as Double Chocolate, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Cookies & Cream and Bailey’s Irish Cream which brings us new notes to enjoy with our cuppa without the sugar

Drip Coffee also has the flexibility to be made into other coffee creations such as:

Iced Americano: just let the coffee drip over ice cubes
Ca phe sua da: place two to three tablespoons of condensed milk into the cup and let the coffee drip over it

So with just my cookies and my drip coffee after lunch, the rest of the day will surely perk up!

Send your orders to Bake Boss via Facebook or Instagram two days prior to delivery. Cashless payments via GCash are accepted.

All of Bake Boss’ goodies are freshly baked everyday and can be delivered from Paranaque to anywhere in Metro Manila via Grab, Lalamove, Happy Move, MoveIt, Angkas, Mr Speedy and others (delivery fee charged to buyer).

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

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Healthy eating myths debunked with Fit Food Manila

As the clock struck down to this New Year, I’m sure many of us resolved to live healthier lives, yes?

Central to healthy living is healthy eating. What we choose to nourish ourselves determine quite a lot of how our wellness efforts shape out.

However, we might find ourselves inundated by a barrage of information about eating right, some of which may not be so helpful in achieving our health goals.

Here’s a sampling:

Myth #1: Say goodbye to meat and dairy.

Going all plant-based may have incredible health benefits such as lowering rates of diabetes and heart disease. However, we can’t discount that animal products are excellent sources of protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc. Cutting meat and dairy out of your diet means that you are limiting your options for getting these nutrients.

Myth #2: Ditch the processed food.

In today’s fast-paced life, not all of us have the time and energy to prepare our food from scratch. Sometimes, we would need to resort to processed food. The trick is in choosing which kinds of processed food to incorporate into our meals. For example, frozen and canned vegetables and fruits provide an easy way for us to get the nutrients we need from these food items even when they’re off season.

Myth #3: Toss off all the fat.

For decades, fat has been vilified as the big bad of food. It has been blamed for everything from widening girths to heart disease. The thing is: we need fat. It provides the feeling of satiation when we eat and it helps out bodies absorb other nutrients such as vitamins A, D and E.

Myth #4: Do away with desserts.

Being a sweet tooth, I shy away from diets that compel me to give up desserts. I would reason that by doing so, I would live longer, but would I want to? (Yes, dessert is my reason for being.)

The trick is in choosing which food items go into the sweets we eat: if we opt for healthier versions of the usual decadent ingredients like substituting milk with soy or almond milk or choosing a lower calorie cream are already significant steps you can take to eat healthy.

Myth #5: Skip meals.

It seems so simple, doesn’t it? To lose weight, you need to eat less. To eat less, simply skip a meal. However, doing so may also mean depriving yourself of key nutrients and energy you need to power through your day. (I know I can get cranky when I skip a meal.)

While you won’t have to divest yourself of tasty and mouthwatering food, doing the nitty-gritty of ingredient selection, food preparation and calorie counting can be both time-consuming and difficult.

Luckily, with food delivery services like Fit Food Manila, you won’t have to hassle yourself with these.

Fit Food Manila is whole team dedicated to helping you with your health goals. Its culinary group is manned by a head chef and several cooks who ensure that the food delivered to you is delicious so you won’t feel deprived. Its in-house dietician and nutritionist, on the other hand, calculate the amount of calories you get from different food groups to help your body get the nourishment it needs.

If you think that it’s impossible to achieve nutritious yet mouth-watering meals everyday, then check out this five-day meal plan that Fit Food Manila prepared for me which totals to just 1,500 calories per day.

Day 1:

Breakfast: Philly Cheesesteak (420KCal)

Lunch: Grilled Chicken with Peking Duck Sauce on Red Rice (362 KCal)

Dinner: Paella Negra topped with Seafood (429 KCal)

Snacks: Baked Potato Wedges with Grated Cheese (141 KCal) and Caramel Banana (140 KCal)

Day 2:

Breakfast: Chicken Longganisa with Garlic Brown Rice and Sunny Side Up Egg (443 KCal)

Lunch: Hickory BBQ Fish Fillet on Brown Rice (390 KCal)

Dinner: Malaysian Beef Rendang on Brown Rice (484 KCal)

Snacks: Pad Thai (131 KCal) and Popcorn (90 KCal)

Day 3:

Breakfast: Ube Granola and Chia Seed Oats (392 Kcal)

Lunch: Spicy Chili Beef Strips with Red Rice (393 KCal)

Dinner: Boneless Chicken BBQ with Atchara and Peanut Sauce on Red Rice (443 KCal)

Snacks: Pizza Bread (192 KCal) and Grape Jello (80 KCal)

Day 4:

Breakfast: Mexican Chili con Carne Omelet (402 KCal)

Lunch: Pan-Grilled Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa on Brown Rice (367 KCal)

Dinner: Chicken Strips in Oyster Sauce on Brown Rice (401 KCal)

Snacks: Banana Graham (109 KCal) and Carrot Cake (216 KCal)

Day 5:

Breakfast: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (392 KCal)

Lunch: Tokyo Spicy Salmon Salad (384 KCal)

Dinner: Grilled Chicken Steak with Mushroom Gravy and Red Rice (419 KCal)

Snacks: Apple and Cheese Quesadillas (140 KCal) and Cookie Squares (182 KCal)

Fit Food Manila meal plans include three meals and two snacks. These are delivered to you the night before so refrigerate within one hour of delivery to ensure the freshness of the ingredients and heat right before consumption to give the best taste and quality.

Available meal plans include:

Fit Food Original (Php420/day). The original meal plan based on calorie counting that helps in losing weight.

Php2,100 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php2,500 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php2,900 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day

Fit Food Plus (Php550/day). The meal plan that’s low in carbs but high in fiber but not as high in fat. This is recommended for individuals who want to maximize weight loss while controlling other issues like blood sugar.

Php2,750 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php3,050 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,350 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day

Fit Food Keto (Php595/day). The Ketogenic meal plan that limits carbs to around 5-10% of the daily source of energy, limits protein to around 15-20% and gets the rest from healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, eggs, butter, animal fat, and coconut oil, designed to turn the body into a fat-burning machine.

Php2,975 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php3,225 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,725 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day

Fit Heart (Php600/day). The low sodium and low fat meal plan which will help not just in lowering body weight but also in lowering blood markers like LDL Cholesterol. This meal plan also replaces high fat meat with low fat alternatives.

Php3,000 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php3,300 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,600 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day

Fit Food Veg (Php470/day). The veg meal plan with no meat, poultry, fish, egg and dairy.

Php2,350 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php2,725 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,100 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day

Options for 7-day meal plans are also available.

Select your meal plan at fitfoodmanila.com or call +63 917 7240222.

Recipe: Tuscan Chicken Pasta

It’s around that time of the month when the stocked food in my fridge are beginning to run low and all I’ve got to work with for the fam’s lunch are a couple of frozen chicken breasts, some strips of bacon and pantry staples such as pasta and parmesan cheese.

Plus, I’m coming in from a late morning Zoom meeting (the bane of work-from-home moms, am I right?) and I’ve barely got enough time to prepare a meal, eat with the family and make it to my afternoon meetings.

Hmmm… what can I possibly whip up quickly and easily during my lunch hour?

Luckily, this recipe for Tuscan Chicken Pasta came to my rescue.

What I love about this is that it made use of the remaining frozen food as well as incorporated wholesome and fresh produce that made for a hearty and tasty meal for the family. Also, I didn’t have to use a lot of utensils to cook the dish; it’s basically a one-skillet recipe. (However, I made use of Hubby’s trusty wok as it gave me a sizable surface area to cook in and it distributed the heat quite well. I hope the wok purists won’t come after me!)

Check it out!

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo spaghetti noodles, cooked per package instructions (reserve 1 cup of the water these were boiled in)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, thawed and filleted into 4 flat pieces
salt to taste (I used Himalayan sea salt from Goodness MNL but you can use ordinary table salt)
freshly ground black pepper to taste
10 slices of bacon cut into short strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 to 6 fresh tomatoes, diced
1/4 kilo Baguio spinach
1/2 c heavy cream
1/4 c grated parmesan
6 basil leaves for garnish

Procedure:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. After seasoning the chicken breast fillets with salt and pepper, fry them for 7 to 8 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove them from heat and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before slicing them into thin strips.

Using the same skillet, fry the bacon pieces over medium heat for 8 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness. (I prefer my bacon to be fried just enough to curl up but not be too crispy). Drop them on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain them of excess oil. Set aside.

Again, using the same skillet, pour out half the fat from cooking the chicken and the bacon before sautéing the garlic and tomatoes over medium heat.

Add the spinach and cook for two minutes until the leaves are slightly wilted.

Season with salt and pepper prior to adding the heavy cream, parmesan and half of the reserved pasta water. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes then remove from heat. (If the sauce becomes to thick, stir in some more of the pasta water).

Toss the cooked pasta in sauce until well coated, then toss the chicken and bacon strips until evenly distributed.

Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves before serving.

Try this recipe and let me know how it goes!

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out? Check out my other kitchen adventures:

A sumptuous taste of the East at Wangfu Chinese Cafe

Chinese cuisine is so ingrained in the local food scene that I simply can’t imagine going without it.

As one of the chief culinary influences to the Pinoy cuisine, Chinese food has been a frequent feature of many a Pinoy table from simple family dinners to lavish feasts.

In pre-COVID times, my officemates and I would sometimes go to the Wangfu Chinese Cafe branch near our office for lunch. There, we would feast on tasty yet affordable Chinese dishes that would sate our midday hunger and power us for our tasks for the rest of the workday.

With the community quarantine in effect since last year, going out for Chinese food is not as easy as it once was.

Thankfully, Wangfu has made its dishes available for long distance delivery via GrabFood so I can have my Chinese food cravings satisfied with little effort.

Giving in to my daughter #ExhibitA’s request for Chinese food for lunch at home one day, I ordered some of my old faves from Wangfu, which included:

Hakaw (Php206.84). Both my daughter and I go crazy over this shrimp dumpling. When dipped in toyomansi with a little bit of chili paste, it’s irresistible!

Half Hainanese Chicken (Php614.25). Half of a chicken poached in sub-boiling temperatures along with ginger, garlic and pandan leaves, then sliced upon serving. It’s best eaten with the oily chicken rice accompanied by three dipping sauces – soy sauce, chili sauce and ginger sauce.

Chicken Rice (Php84.48). The stock produced in poaching the chicken is used to boil rice, producing a flavorful oily rice (Yes, it’s oily and I don’t care! It’s yummy!) that goes so well with the chicken.

Salted Egg Squid (Php457.55). Breaded and deep-fried squid rings flavored with mashed salted egg yolks.

All of these flavors mesh well together. Once you’ve gotten a taste of this winning combination, I’m sure you’ll be hooked too!

Thanks to Wangfu, my daughter and I were able to satisfy our cravings for good Chinese food!

This Wangfu Chinese Cafe branch is located at Lower Ground Floor, LeGrand Tower 1, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 73734308 or +63 917 6295466. It also delivers via GrabFood.

Other branches may be found at:

Ground Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City
Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Phase 1, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City
Level 1, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Ground Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City
Lower Ground Floor, The Parkway, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City

Check out my reviews of other Asian restaurants:

EATS A CELEBRATION at Italianni’s with 50% off on all pizzas on February 23!

Buon giorno, Italian food lovers!

Your go-to Italian-American restaurant has cooked up something special for you to enjoy on its silver anniversary.

Italianni’s prides itself on giving you good food, conviviality and good service through the years from the opening of its first branch in Greenbelt 1 in 1996 to the present. Despite the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, it still strives to bring its signature blend of tasty Italian-American dishes in servings big enough for sharing, welcoming atmosphere that encourages conversation and bonding, as well as the cheery attention of its crew to its new and loyal clientele.

Even after twenty-five years, discriminating foodies still can’t get enough of its signature dishes such as Spaghetti and Meatballs, Spinach Artichoke Formaggio, Seafood Cioppino, Sicilian Salad, Quattro Staggioni Pizza, Margherita Pizza, Tartuffo Cake and NY Cheesecake.

Italianni’s lives by one of its credos: GRAND to imply “Guest Requests are Never Denied”. The staff go the extra mile to please guests with simple gestures such as providing an extra salad dressing or parmesan cheese, cooking items off the menu, to indulging kids to assemble their own pizza. It is a passion founded on Bistro’s genuine and authentic customer service.

This is why Italianni’s is giving back to everyone who has patronized it for the last quarter century. On February 23, 2021, all pizzas are available at 50% off for dine-in and take-out orders. That means, you can enjoy their Classico, Margherita, Quattro Carne, Truffle Mushroom, Quattro Staggioni, Pepperoni, Tropicale, Shrimp and Mushroom Anchovy, Garlic and Cheese, and Quattro Formaggi pizzas…all at half the price!

This is the restaurant’s way of saying “Grazie!” for sharing twenty five years of wonderful and fulfilling journey and Italianni’s expects many more years of bringing people together. The future is promising and Italianni’s is in this for the long haul.

So celebrate Italianni’s silver anniversary with your loved ones by dropping by one of its branches and sharing a pizza or two, along with your favorite Italian-American food!

Italianni’s branches are located at:

4th Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Level 6, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
B5, Bonifacio High Street, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Second Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Level 1, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ayala North Exchange, Ayala Avenue Corner Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Second Floor, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City
Ground Floor, Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Level 1, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Corte de Las Palmas, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Ground Floor, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Las Piñas City

Promo details provided in a recent press release.

Fet Boys introduces newest sweet creation: Prettier than Pink Cookies

Pink is the color love, comfort and compassion. It is the hue that evokes feelings of friendship, warmth and playfulness.

Pink is also the color that accents the Fet Boys’ newest dessert creation: Prettier than Pink Cookies!

Expertly crafted by Fet Boys’ Chef Kirk Ngo, Prettier Than Pink Cookies are made with ruby chocolate – a new chocolate variety introduced in 2017 by Belgian-Swiss company Barry Callebaut. The fourth chocolate variant next to dark, milk and white, ruby chocolate is made with ruby cocoa beans, it is marked by its characteristic pink color and a unique mix of sweetness, acidity and berry-like fruitiness.

The Prettier than Pink Cookie is the third cookie flavor introduced by Chef Kirk, having introduced his Too Much Chocolate Chip Cookies and Coffee Butterscotch the year before.

What makes this trio of cookie creations from Fet Boys even more distinctive is that, unlike other cookies that are tastier when heated prior to serving, these are best enjoyed chilled, straight from the ref!

Excited to get your Fet Boys Cookies? Get regular-sized ones in a box of 12 for Php480, a box of 18 for Php780 or a box of 24 for Php1,080. You can also go big by ordering giant cookies in a box of 6 for Php800, a box of 8 for Php1,000 or a box of 12 for Php1,500.

You can place your orders through the Fet Boys’ Facebook Page.

Images and details provided in a recent press release.

Yummy homemade apple pie for the apple of your eye

Literary goddess Jane Austen was said to have uttered, “Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.”

I certainly cannot refute the truth behind Ms. Austen’s words.

Apple pies – good ones! – do bring about feelings of happiness and contentment.

This much-loved dessert actually originated in England, influenced by culinary traditions from France, the Netherlands and the Ottoman Empire from as early as the 1390s. It made its way to the New World thanks to the European settlers. It grew in popularity and was eventually included in America’s first cookbook, American Cookery, by Amelia Simmons in 1796.

Over the years, it has become ingrained into American culture, hence the saying “as American as apple pie.”

It has also made its way to this country, where dessert lovers can now enjoy it in the comforts of their own home by ordering from enterprising home bakers.

One such entrepreneur is Mark David Antonio, who started baking apple pies at the start of this year to practice baking and earn a bit of money.

As apple pie is his favorite dessert, he infused it with his favorite elements: a buttery and flaky crust, a sweetly-spiced apple filling and a crumbly streusel topping. Together, these made for an apple pie perfect for any occasion: a show-stopping contribution to a potluck, a delightful gift to a sweet tooth, or a satisfying cap to a wonderful meal.

It’s best served warm from the oven. You will also be treated to the wonderful apple pie aroma wafting to your nostrils as the pie re-heats in the oven, giving you a heady sense anticipation.

You may or may not choose to top it with a dollop of vanilla ice cream to have it ala mode (I didn’t because I couldn’t wait to bite into my slice).

It’s also quite affordable at just Php550, so no need to think twice in treating yourself and the apple of your eye to this decadent delight.

Just order from Mark by texting +63 956 8674914 or +63 921 4813262. You can also send him a message via Facebook. Payments via GCash and BPI are accepted. This can be delivered to anywhere in the metro, with delivery fee shouldered by the buyer.

Let this sweet treat add to your domestic bliss today!

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Valentine’s Day celebrations at the New World Makati Hotel

New World Makati Hotel beckons couples for a romantically indulgent all-you-can-eat lunch or dinner at Café 1228 on 14 February, as well as a decadent array of swoon-worthy sweet treats at The Shop, ideal as gifts for that special someone.

Romantic Indulgence at Café 1228

Couples are in for a delightfully decadent dining experience as Café 1228 offers an extensive all-you-can-eat a la carte selection on 14 February for lunch or dinner. The restaurant’s signature slow roast prime ribeye, Rosemary lamb chops, Pork cassoulet, Braised leg of lamb in red wine, and Seared salmon with parmesan crisp and dill cream sauce are just some of the enticing items guests can enjoy along with a complimentary glass of red, white or sparkling wine.

Salads and light bites to start off the gustatory experience are Parma ham with brie and grape chutney, Cambozola with roasted cherry tomatoes on pesto crostini and Salami Milano with cocktail onions, beet cured salmon, horseradish, dill and cornichons, to name a few.

Seafood served hot-off-the-grill include shrimps, blue crabs, clams and mussels prepped with an array of sauces – garlic butter, salt and pepper, garlic and cheese, white wine, and sweet chili. These would go nicely with the Italian selection of pasta and pizza such as Pesto cream, Puttanesca, Marinara, and Carbonara sauces, as well as Frutti di mare, Margherita, Parma ham arugula, and Mediterranean vegetable, respectively.

For desserts, there is Truffle cake, Strawberry shortcake, Bread and butter pudding, Mandarin crème brulee, Mango sago pudding, White chocolate sable, Chocolate bonbons, and more.

Delectable Chinese, Japanese, regional, and local dishes complete the indulgent spread.

Valentine’s Day lunch is priced at PHP1,188 nett, while dinner is PHP2,500 nett.

Swoon-worthy Sweet Treats at The Shop

Sweets special someone are available at The Shop. Decadent treats such as a box of six dark chocolate and lemon-flavored Madeleines (PHP350), a box of ten Lavender-infused cocoa truffles (PHP1,000), a box of four large Mandola cookies (PHP450) and a one-pound or petite-sized Strawberry Rose Cake (PHP1,600) and (PHP450) are sure ways to make hearts and tastebuds flutter with delight. All prices are nett.

For information and reservations, guests may call New World Makati Hotel at +63 2 88116888 ext. 3679, send a Viber message at +63 9178884194, or send an email.

Those interested can stay updated and follow New World Makati Hotel’s social media accounts, on Facebook and on Instagram.

About New World Hotel Makati

New World Makati Hotel is a world-class deluxe hotel located in the heart of Makati. With a thoroughly modern vibe and hints of Oriental influence, the hotel features 580 guestrooms and suites with Residence Club executive floor accommodation, a business center, sophisticated dining options, a well-equipped fitness center with sauna and spa, an outdoor swimming pool, and 1,800 square meters of dynamic function space for meetings and conferences.

The hotel is located directly across Greenbelt, the country’s premier lifestyle shopping center. It is also nine kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and within steps of many embassies, as well as Manila’s top business addresses and upscale shopping venues.

Details as well as photos for header and The Shop were provided in a recent press release.

Hotpot, Yakiniku and Buffet at the re-opened Hosaku, SM North Towers

One of the restaurant openings I was most looking forward to last year was that of Hosaku.

Hosaku – from the Japanese word which translates to “bountiful harvest” – is managed by the Fredley Group of Companies, the same conglomerate behind restaurant brands such as Macao Imperial Tea, Mitasu Yakiniku, Nabe and Liang Crispy Rolls.

Hosaku is characterized by an exciting combination of three all-you-can-eat dining concepts.

Nabemono or Japanese Hotpot. A cooking method wherein raw foods are added to a pot of simmering soup stock to be cooked while at the table.

Yakiniku. Grilling prepared raw ingredients on a grill built into the dining table, and dipped in sauces called “tare” before eaten.

International Buffet. Various cuisines from all over the world are showcased in specified stations for diners to view and select which they want to consume.

I found this combination gastronomically intriguing, its food offerings fresh and tasty (especially the sushi!), and it service crew helpful and accommodating.

Plus, it also incorporated some novel equipment to facilitate its unique food service method such as its conveyor belt that delivers the raw ingredients to the tables, as well as its mechanized hotpot which makes it easy to get items seemingly lost in the broth.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans)

Having attended its soft-opening with some of my foodie friends almost exactly a year ago, I was excited to see how the restaurant will figure in the local food scene.

However, the pandemic hit the metro and Hosaku had to put its grand opening on hold.

A year later, Hosaku finally opens it doors on Valentine’s Day, giving sweethearts in the metro a novel venue to celebrate the Day of Hearts, with protocols in place to keep everyone safe.

These include:

Temperature checks at the entrance
Health declaration and contact tracing
No facemask, no entry policy
Provision of hand sanitizers and alcohol for hand cleaning and disinfecting

To maintain physical distancing within its premises, it had to re-think some of its operating procedures. For example, hotpot and yakiniku ingredients are no longer delivered via conveyor belt, nor are diners allowed to help themselves to the buffet items at their stations. Instead, these are served directly on their table by the wait staff upon order.

Dining Rates at Hosaku are:

Weekday Lunch: Php699 for adults | Php349 for kids
Weekday Dinner: Php899 for adults | Php449 for kids
Weekends/Holidays Lunch & Dinner: Php899 for adults | Php449 for kids

All prices have an additional 5% service charge and are VAT inclusive. Children below 3 feet in height will eat for free while the adult rate will be applied to kids above 4 feet in height.

For its grand opening on February 14, the first fifty customers in line will eat for free while the rest of the customers for the day will dine at 50% off. (Terms and conditions will apply.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hosaku International Buffet (@hosakuph)

Hosaku is located at Ground Floor, North Towers, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.