Eat – Page 57 – Jellybeans in the City

Sweet Valentine surprises for your sweet someone at The Manila Hotel

Sweets to the sweet, or so they say.

So on the day of hearts, treat your special someone to something special from The Manila Hotel.

Chocolate gifts have long been a staple of Valentine’s Days for decades, so what better way to show your love than with handcrafted chocolates. Two new items from The Manila Hotel Deli will surely make your Valentine’s night all the sweeter. Surprise your loved one with either the Valentine Praline Bouquet or the Chocolate Strawberry Bouquet.

For only P980 nett, the Valentine Praline Bouquet is exactly that—a round bouquet of hazelnut gianduja-based pralines, with highlights of rolled pistachio nuts. Timeless and popular, round bouquets are popular in weddings, but this artisanal chocolate bouquet is one that will surely add a sweet touch to Valentine’s Day.

The Chocolate Strawberry Bouquet, which sells for only P1,380 nett, combines the taste of juicy strawberries and the comforting sweetness of chocolates loved by many. Dipped in artisanal Belgian chocolate and interspersed with pink variant, this is a perfect gift that says a lot.

These sweet surprise variants can be pre-ordered starting February 8, 2021 from The Manila Hotel’s Delicatessen, or by calling 85270011 or 09989501912.

And just in time for the day of hearts, the Valentine-inspired Raspberry Delight heart-shaped cake combines three ingredients that make the perfect combo: Chocolate Mousse brings sweetness and mellowness; raspberries an acidity note; and pistachio biscuit just the right crunch. For only, Php1,300 nett, this indulgent dessert is just what you need to satisfy your sweet tooth without going overboard. One-day pre-order is recommended.

The Delicatessen also has a host of other chocolate gift items in regular boxes and collectible boxes like heart-shaped sinamay containers. From Belgian chocolate bars to assorted pralines to heart-shaped concoctions, you have numerous options to choose from.

Details and images provided in a recent press release.

Get “Berry Much in Love” with these newly relaunched strawberry drinks from Moonleaf Tea Shop

Who can resist strawberries?

That vibrant red color, the rich plumpness of the fruit, the heady beckoning fragrance and the burst of fruity sweetness as you bite into it with just a bit of tanginess to make it all the more intriguing to the palate. Any encounter with this fruit is a sensual delight.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that this fruit becomes so prevalent around Valentine’s Day.

Moonleaf Tea Shop brings strawberry lovers fresh ways to enjoy their favorite fruit with the relaunch of its strawberry line of drinks under its Berry Much in Love category.

These drinks pair the fruity sweetness of strawberry with Moonleaf’s house-brewed black or green tea, creamy milk, and chewy coconut nata. This line includes:

Strawberry Milk Tea with Nata (Php120).

Strawberry Black Tea with Nata (Php100).

Strawberry Yakult with Nata (Php120).

Strawberry Milk Slush with Nata (Php160).

Since these drinks are best enjoyed when shared with our special someone, Moonleaf makes this drinks available on special deals which give great savings:

2 Strawberry Milk Tea with Nata for Php199 (save Php41)
2 Strawberry Black Tea with Nata for Php179 (save Php21)
2 Strawberry Yakult with Nata for Php189 (save Php51)
2 Strawberry Milk Slush with Nata for Php249 (save Php71)

Enjoy these deals until March 31, 2021.

Can’t wait to get “Berry Much in Love” with these drinks? Grab yours now by dropping by your nearest Moonleaf Tea Shop branch or ordering from GrabFood, FoodPanda, Shopee and Lazada.

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

Photo credit: Massimiliano Martini on Unsplash for the strawberry photo

Grab your limited-edition Polland Special Tikoy from Shopee today!

With the Lunar New Year just a few days away, you may have hounded your Chinoy friends to send you some tikoy, am I right?

More widely known as Chinese New Year because most of the traditions surrounding it originated from China, the Lunar New Year marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars traditional in countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.

It is a time when families get together to wish each other good fortune, happiness and health. Among the traditions that made its way to our country are wearing red clothes, the festive Dragon Dance, the much-anticipated gifting of ampao – red envelops containing money, and the exchange of Nian gao, which is more commonly known as tikoy.

Nian gao translates to “sticky cake” but it also has a similar sound to the Chinese term for “higher year.” Eating some tikoy during the Lunar New Year therefore symbolizes raising oneself up in the new year. It is also produced in a circular shape, the same shape as money, which is said to attract wealth.

The term tikoy, on the other hand, is the Filipinization of the name tike in Hokkien which translates to “sweet pastry.”

Tikoy is traditionally made with glutinous rice flour, sugar and water. It can be sliced thinly and served as is, but we Pinoys love to dip the slices in egg then lightly fry them until the the outside is slightly crisp and caramelized while the inside is deliciously chewy.

Its lucky connotation and its appeal to the tastebuds make the tikoy a highly sought after delicacy especially at this time of the year.

The good news is that you won’t have to harass your Chinoy friends for some tikoy. Getting some for yourself is easy, thanks to Shopee!

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. With its wide product assortment supported by integrated payments and logistics, it makes it so easy for shoppers like us to find and get what we want and need.

Take our collective enthusiasm for tikoy, for example. By housing the online store of Polland Hopia, Shopee makes it so convenient for to buy our favorite tikoy but also discover new variants that appeal to Pinoy palate such as: White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Ube, Strawberry, Pineapple and Buko Pandan. These tikoy variants are priced at Php125 for small (600 grams) and Php200 for medium (1.2kg).

But don’t stop there! Polland also made limited-edition tikoy that will surely tickle our fancy such as:

Mini Lucky Tikoy (Php100). A 300g white sugar tikoy topped with an intricate strawberry detail for “HOK,” the Chinese character for luck.

Fish Tikoi (Php300). A 350g meticulously handpainted fish-shaped white sugar tikoy. Fish is traditionally served during Lunar New Year because the of how the Chinese word for fish rhymes with the Chinese term for “leftover”. Eating fish during Luna New Year is said to attract bounty such that you will have a lot leftover at the end of the year.

Heart Tikoy (Php100). A 350g strawberry tikoy shaped into a heart. Everyone loves a good mash-up and this tikoy serves as an adequate segue from Lunar New Year on February 12 to Valentine’s Day on February 14.

The sheer variety of tikoy that you can have on your table is sure to add more color and life to your Lunar New Year celebrations.

How about adding more luck into the mix by including Polland’s claim to fame? Since the 1960s, Polland Hopia has been producing deliciously authentic flaky-crusted mung bean cakes, known here as hopia. Aside from the classic Mongo Special (made with yellow mung beans), Polland Hopia expended its hopia repertoire to include Black Mungo (made with black mung beans), Ube (made with purple yam) and Hopia Baboy (made with wintermelon chunks and pork). With their lucky round shape and snackable size, they make for a welcome addition to your Lunar New Year spread or snack stash.

Here’s an idea: how about gifting your pals (especially your Chinoy friends) and wishing them fortune, health and happiness in the Year of the Ox with Polland Hopia products?

Let me know how it goes!

Gong xi fa cai, foodies!

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

Not yet done with shopping for your Valentine’s Day treat for the fam? Check out this post on Valentine’s Day gift ideas available on Shopee.

Raintree #ValentineFoodCrawl: Pizza and Pasta Rendezvous at Stella Wood-fired Pizza, BGC

With Valentine’s Day just a scant few days away, the metro’s gallants and ladies fair are anticipating the time when they can meet, share a meal and have a lovely time together: their romantic rendezvous.

Bonifacio Global City is abuzz with romance as Raintree Restaurants welcomes lovers of all ages to celebrate love with special promos during the month of love.

Stella Wood-fired Pizza in Boni High Street is no exception.

The last time I was here with friends was in early 2015, when it was more of a bistro which shared a space with Rocket Room.

Back then, it served an array of pastas and pizzas, as well as other dishes of the West Coast, Mediterranean and South American variety, which incorporated natural wood in the cooking of its dishes, giving them that unique wood-fire oven cooked flavor and quality.

It closed for a while in 2017 but has recently re-emerged inside Friends & Family, the Filipino restaurant that took its previous space in BHS Central Square.

It still offers its memorable wood-fired dishes, some of which take center-stage in its Pizza & Pasta Rendezvous promo. This Valentine deals allows lovers to enjoy a delicious yet affordable meal.

For example, they can enjoy an intimate meal for two with a Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Pasta and an Aloha Pizza (with Double-Smoked Bacon and Grilled Pineapple) for just Php699.

They may also opt for a decadent Melted Garlic Cream Pasta with an Everything on It Pizza (everything includes Double-Smoked Bacon, Pepperoni, Sausage, Bell Peppers, Onions, Roasted Tomatoes, Olives and Mushrooms) for just Php799.

With these tasty and hearty offerings, sweethearts will flutter and make their way to Stella.

If you’re planning a romantic meal for you and your special someone, you better book your table soon as these Pizza & Pasta Rendezvous offers are only available within February.

Stella Wood-Fired Pizza is located inside Friends & Family, Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open daily from 12nn to 9pm for dine-in, takeout and delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8917053.

Raintree #ValentineFoodCrawl: Valentine Roll at Motto Motto, BGC

Certain types of food have been known to get you in the mood for love (wink! wink!).

Called aphrodisiacs, these food stuffs are believed to arouse passions for more than gustatory delights.

But did you know that sushi also falls under this category?

The omega-3 fatty acids in the fish incorporated in sushi are said to be quite helpful when it comes le amour.

When eaten together with a romantic partner, sushi becomes a sensual experience: the meticulous formation of precise shapes and colors using different ingredients, the interplay of flavors and the feel of the varying textures in one’s mouth.

(Plus, sushi tends to be quite light so there’s less risk of overeating, making it a perfect date food!)

To give lovers in the metro the perfect opportunity to bask in each other’s presence while enjoying good food, Motto Motto brings back its playful take on sushi: the Valentine Roll (Php395).

Made with spicy tuna, avocado and blue fin tuna marinated in sake and soy sauce, it is a perfect example of Motto Motto’s playful Japanese concept.

Consisting of eight rolls fashioned into four cute heart shapes garnished with pink salt, it is a feast for the senses and is perfect for sharing for two lovebirds.

Pair it with Motto Motto’s signature refreshments and you’ve got a date!

Book your Valentine outing now as this yummy sushi dish is available only within February.

Motto Motto is a collaboration between Raintree Hospitality Group and Tokyo Japan’s Piglet. It features all-day Japanese dishes that stimulates the senses and tickle the fancy, prepared and served in a fun and whimsical fashion.

If you’re looking for a fun gustatory adventure with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, Motto Motto is the place to be.

Motto Motto is located at Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open for takeout on weekdays and for dine-in on weekends. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8362173 or send a message via Facebook or Instagram. Payments via cash, GCash, credit and debit cards are accepted.

Pak! Pak! Chicken also delivers via FoodPanda.

Raintree’s #ValentineFoodCrawl: Chicken in Love Set at Pak! Pak! Chicken, BGC

Love is in the air, and it’s even more prevalent in Bonifacio High Street where Raintree restaurants have unveiled their Valentine’s Day promo and deals.

Raintree Hospitality Group brings fresh and exciting hospitality concepts, including hotels, food courts and restaurants. The newest among the innovative restaurant concepts it developed is Pak! Pak! Chicken.

At Pak! Pak! Chicken, you can expect crispy fried chicken pieces in strong delicious tastes, you’d feel like you’re being slapped with flavor… Pak! Pak!

Check out some of its fried chicken variants:

Crispy Original + Gravy (Php260/6pcs | Php450/12pcs),

Sweet Soy Garlic (Php260/6pcs | Php450/12pcs),

Garlic Herb Parmesan (Php295/6pcs | Php540/12pcs),

Old Skool Buffalo (Php335/6pcs | Php595/12pcs).

Other variants include: Takoyaki, Smokey Hickory BBQ, Singaporean Style Black Pepper, Po’s Orange Chicken and Korean Fire Pepper.

You can also enjoy these flavors in chicken wings.

Want to make a complete meal? Pair your Pak! Pak! Chicken with sides:

Japanese Chahan Fried Rice (Php140 solo | Php350 family).

Garlic Herb Yakisoba (Php135 solo | Php275 family).

Creamy Kimchi Coleslaw (Php175).

Pak! Pak! Chicken also has a special treat for its customers this month of hearts: it’s Chicken in Love Set! A special set of your choice of two chicken flavors plus Kimchi Coleslaw, Garlic Noodles or Chahan Fried Rice for just Php775, it’s great for sharing for two people.

So go ahead and plan your Valentine date at Pak! Pak! Chicken! This offer is available within February only.

Pak! Pak! Chicken is located inside Motto Motto, Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open for takeout on weekdays and for dine-in on weekends. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8440219 or send a message via Facebook or Instagram. Payments via cash, GCash, credit and debit cards are accepted.

Pak! Pak! Chicken also delivers via FoodPanda.

Three reasons to say “I love you” with Ben’s Cookies this Valentine’s Day

Despite not being a regular holiday (one that gives us a day off work) – Valentine’s Day still is one of the most anticipated celebrations every year.

As a day dedicated to love in all its forms, it evokes warm and fuzzy feelings, and encourages expressions of emotions ranging from affection to grand passion.

However, some may not have the capability or the opportunity to say “I love you” to those who are near-and-dear to them. For those people, may I propose this solution: #SayItWithBens.

Ben’s Cookies is the brainchild of cookbook writer and chocoholic Helge Rubinstein who named the business after her son.

From its beginnings in 1983 as a stall in UK’s Oxford Covered Market, Ben’s Cookies have extended its reach to the Philippines when it opened its first store in The Podium Mall in July 2019, followed by branches in SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall.

Here are three reasons why gifting your special someone with Ben’s Cookies is a good idea:

1. Ben’s Cookies are made with all the good stuff.

These palm-sized cookie treats are made with chunks – not chips – of premium chocolate, unsalted butter, wheat flour, fresh eggs, cane sugar and nuts, all freshly baked everyday.

2. They come in delicious variants.

Love comes in wondrous variety and so do Ben’s Cookies. Check them out:

Milk Chocolate Chunk.

Dark Chocolate Chunk.

White Chocolate Chunk.

Praline & Milk Chocolate Chunk.

Triple Chocolate Chunk.

Speculoos Cookie.

Other cookie variants include: Fruit & Nut, Double Chocolate & Nut, Peanut & Milk Chocolate, Oatmeal & Raisin, Cranberry & White Chocolate Chunk, Lemon, Orange & Milk Chocolate Chunk, White Chocolate Chunk & Macadamia and Double Chocolate Chunk.

3. The more (cookies), the merrier.

These cookies are available by the piece at Php90 each.

You can also get them packaged in lovely tin cans (4 pieces at Php495 or 8 pieces at Php835).

However, you get a pretty sweet deal when you get them by the box (Buy 5 and get 2 free at Php450 or Buy 10 and get 5 free at Php900).

So bring a happy twinkle in your beloved’s eyes this Valentine’s Day by giving them the sweet delight of Ben’s Cookies.

To grab the Ben’s Cookies present for your sweet Valentine, drop by any of its stores:

Ground Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City

You can also call +63 917 5267711 or order online.

Chef Jessie says it with Cakes this Valentine

Express your love this Valentine’s Day with gloriously delicious and amazingly beautiful cakes by Chef Jessie Sincioco.

Chef Jessie’s creations come infused with dark rich chocolate, stuffed with fresh, sweet mangoes, pressed with chopped pistachios, topped with bright berries, filled with strawberry cream or iced with ube halaya.

On top of the list is the Award Winning My Tita’s Special Treat, a delicate and moist cake sponge with puree of ripe Philippine mangoes filled with buttercream and mango slices, iced with cream cheese frosting and decorated with Chef Jessie’s signature mango rose.

Princess Carmen is Chef Jessie’s version of sans rival with layers of luscious pistachio meringue and French butter cream filling topped with vanilla cream Chantilly and chopped pistachios.

Strawberry Shortcake is a towering moist vanilla sponge cake filled and iced with light strawberry cream, top glazed with homemade strawberry gelee and adorned with fresh strawberries.

Chef Jessie’s Baked Cheesecake comes with a hint of vanilla and fresh lemon with cornflake crust topped with your choice of cherry, blueberry, mango or a combination of your favorite fruit topping.

You cannot get more chocolate than Chocolate Gateau “A La Teddy Keng” with layers of dark chocolate sponge cake filled with dulce de leche chocolate ganache, covered with a rich chocolate icing and decorated with soutache and dark chocolate flower.

Another creation is Chocolate Fudge Cake, a sponge cake with chocolate ganache and light vanilla cream covered with dark chocolate icing and topped with fresh fruits.

Something light and chocolaty is “All Occasion” Chocolate Mousse Cake. A light chocolate sponge cake filled with equally light chocolate mousse iced with vanilla cream Chantilly and decorated with fresh fruits in season. Sugar Free “M” Cake is for those looking for a healthy yet still delectable option. This elegantly simple cake is sugar free and gluten free, topped with a thick layer of sugar free dark chocolate mousse and laced with toasted almond flakes.

A nod to local flavors is Ube Macapuno Cake which is ube chiffon cake filled and iced with homemade halaya mousse and generously topped with tender macapuno strips.

For Valentine, Chef Jessie can personalize your cake of choice with your own sweet sentiments.

Place your order 2 days in advance for pick up or delivery. Text or call 0917-896-7880, 0917-833-0797 and 0977-0976-649 or email chefjessiesplace@chefjessie.com. Pick up is at Chef Jessie’s Place located at 1997 Pililia St. corner Obrero and Tanay Streets, Makati and is open everyday for pick up and delivery from 9am to 6pm.

Classic kakanin from Ka Mely’s Bibingka

So much of my childhood merienda memories involve kakanin – native delicacies usually made with glutinous rice, sugar and coconut milk.

You would think that we would have run out of ideas on what to make with kakanin at some point, but, no. We Pinoys have a extensive plethora of snacks or desserts that fall under this category.

After doing a bit of grocery shopping with Hubby, I happened upon a stand selling products from 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.

I had the idea of introducing kakanin the kiddos for our afternoon snack, so I brought home:

Bibingka (Php180 for small). The rice cake made with sticky glutinous rice topped with caramelized sugar and coconut cream.

Suman sa Ibos (Php10/pc). The most prevalent suman variant which is usually unsweetened and wrapped in palm leaves. I have two ways to enjoy this suman: one is at room temperature and dipped in sugar, another is lightly fried in vegetable oil until the outside is slightly crispy but the inside is still chewy, then slathered with butter and sprinkled with sugar.

Suman sa Lihiya (Php25/pc). A suman variant which is made with lye-treated glutinous rice which is usually served doused with latik, or caramelized coconut milk.

Sure these snacks are practically all carbs but they made for a good intro for my kids for the wonders of Filipino delicacies!

While I got my kakanin from a kiosk, you can have your kakanin delivered to your home by ordering from Ka Mely’s Bibingka, Atbp on Facebook or Instagram or calling +63 2 85155467, +63 917 8533766 or +63 908 8876992. Payments via BDO bank transfer, GCash or COD (via pabili service) are accepted. Ka Mely’s Bibingka Atbp products are delivered from Cainta, Rizal to anywhere in the metro.

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

Celebrate Carrot Cake Day with this treat from Inang Charing

Did you know that Carrot Cake Day falls on February 3?

On this day, the world celebrates one of our favorite cakes which happens to have a lively and storied history.

Food historians posit that the carrot cake originated from the carrot puddings eaten by Europeans in the Middle Ages. During this time, sugar and sweeteners were quite expensive so bakers used carrots as substitutes for sugar.

In 1814, a recipe for “Gateau de Carrottes” was included first included in the book L’art du cuisinier by Antoine Beauvilliers, former chef to Louis XVI which was soon copied in competitor cookbooks until an English translation came out in 1824. Thanks to these written works, the recipe for this delectable was handed down through generations and traveled across continents so we foodies can enjoy it.

Here in the metro, the carrot cake remains a foodie favorite and many local bakers have put their own spin on it.

One such baker is Mylene Capili who operates the online bakeshop Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries. Having named her business as a tribute to her beloved grandmother, she applies modern takes to the classic dessert favorites that her store offers.

Her Carrot Cake (Php395 for sampler | Php545 for 8×8 square pan | Php1,245 for family-size 10×12 pan), for instance, like many modern iterations of the dessert, is made with freshly grated carrots incorporated into a moist and sweetly spiced cake topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and beautifully garnished with grated carrots and chopped walnuts.

It’s a showstopper of a dessert, definitely, and a perfect sweet treat for Carrot Cake Day.

Couple this with an order of premium Cookies (Php180 for box of three | Php355 for box of six) made with decadent Belgian chocolate. From the Classic Chocolate Chip (made with dark and semi-sweet Belgian chocolates) to the Aurum (made with white and golden Belgian chocolates topped with almond slices and Maldon sea salt flakes, these are tasty ways to indulge your sweet cravings anytime you want.

So go ahead. Find reasons to celebrate such as Carrot Cake Day and treat your loved ones to lovingly crafted desserts from Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries.

Order now via Facebook or Instagram with a three-day lead time and pay via GCash or BPI bank deposit a day before your preferred pickup or delivery date.

Disclosure: Items featured here were received as gifts.

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