Eat – Page 61 – Jellybeans in the City

At Tantea with the #Quarantitas

Hello, #Quarantitas! (Or should I say #QuaranTEAtas?)

While I usually claim that I’m made for quarantine, I know it can be hard to be cooped up and feeling isolated for so long. Sometimes, you long for a change of scenery, for some actual faces to look at while having spirited conversations.

Together with my fellow Titas of Manila (East) – Jen of Sand Under My Feet and Nix of I Eat and I Wander – I ventured up north for lunch date which we capped off by having our post-meal drinks at Tantea.

Located along Tomas Morato Avenue, this flagship store boasts of clean and elegant interiors with an Instagram-friendly rose wall at the second floor where tea-tas can take pictures of their teas.

Thankfully, Tantea’s adoption of sanitation and physical distancing protocols did not detract from its aesthetic and relaxing vibe. It’s still the perfect place to hang out and chat with my friends as we enjoy our drinks, which included:

Popping Boba Strawberry Yogurt (Php140). A blend of sweet strawberries and tangy yogurt with popping boba.

Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea (Php150). Strong black tea mixed with creamy milk accented with black pearls cooked in brown sugar.

Mango Cream Cheese (Php180). I’ve had a love affair with cream cheese for most of my life. Add to that richness the sweet fruitiness of mango and I’m hooked.

For one afternoon with my friends, I was able to leave the stress of working from home and overseeing my kids’ online learning to have a leisurely tea and talk session.

This made the trip so much worth the effort.

This Tantea branch is located at Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Castor Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City.

If you prefer not to leave the safety of your home, you can still get your drinks and more from Tantea by ordering via its website or Facebook Messenger.

Bon Appetea Milagrosa Katipunan celebrates first year

There was a time, before the pandemic struck the metro, when I anticipated visits to milk tea cafes. I find these places quote relaxing to hang out in while sipping my chosen drink.

One such place was the Bon Appetea branch in Barangay Milagrosa along Katipunan.

Located at the crux of Quezon City, Pasig and Marikina, it offers the metro’s denizens a haven where they can de-stress and enjoy their milk tea of choice as well as nourishing servings of comfort food.

Before the pandemic, I dropped by to enjoy a cup of Salt & Cheese Foam Wintermelon (Php135). I’ve long been a fan of salted cheese topping on my drinks and I was glad I was able to get a taste. I also brought home a pair of Nirvana Milk Tea (Php80 regular | Php100 medium | Php110 large | Php140 extra large) for the kiddos. This refreshing combination of assam black tea and wintermelon already came with chewy black pearls.

A few weeks after that visit, the pandemic changed the restaurant scene forever. Bon Appetea Milagrosa was able to transition to this new normal by partnering with delivery platforms to supplement its own delivery service. It applied strict sanitation and safety protocols such as twice-a-week disinfection, footbaths, temperature scanner and alcohol dispensers as well as socially distanced seats for the riders.

With these in place, Bon Appetea was able to continue servings its customers, not just with its signature drinks but also with satisfying dishes such as its Sirloin Tapa (Php149). Tender and flavorful bits of marinated and fried beef sirloin served with garlic fried rice and scrambled cage-free eggs.

It also supported its local community by donating meals and face shields for the medical and security personnel of nearby Quirino Medical Center.

With dining in at restos now making a comeback just as Bon Appetea Milagrosa celebrates its first anniversary, it’s all geared up with a strong WiFi connection and spacious dining areas, ready to receive customers who will visit its premises.

Those who prefer not to leave home can still have their meals delivered via GrabFood, LalaFood and FoodPanda.

As part of its anniversary celebration, Bon Appetea is giving Buy One Large, Get One Medium deals on its House Pearl Milk Tea, Lemon Yakult Tea and Tropical Passion Fruit Tea until November 30.

This Bon Appetea branch is located at YDG Building, 219 Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Milagrosa, Blue Ridge, Quezon City.

Guiltless goodness for the fam from Koomi

If you want a break from your usual milk teas and coffee frappes, then you might want to consider yogurt drinks from Koomi.

This chain got its start in Australia, showcasing natural probiotic drinking yogurt combined with fresh ingredients in healthy and tasty icy drinks.

Yogurt is definitely good for you: it aids digestion and is high in calcium so it’s good for your bones.

Add in healthy natural sweeteners like fruit honey and you’ve got a wholesome drink to cool you down and nourish you. The drinks have winsome names, too, which will bring a smile to your face as you enjoy them.

In one of the last sweltering Sunday afternoons of November, I decided to treat the fam to Koomi drinks which, thankfully, just became available in our area through GrabFood’s long-distance delivery.

These included:

Avo Nice Day (Php187). Natural drinking yogurt blended with fresh avocado and fruit honey. My perennial order because I love avocado-based drinks so much!

You’re the Berry Best (Php154). For the Hubby who takes over cooking chores for me and always factors my snacks into his food delivery orders, I got this blend of natural drinking yogurt, strawberry and fruit honey.

Mango Moo (Php143). My daughter #ExhibitA is nuts about mango so she requested for this blend of natural drinking yogurt, fresh mangoes and fruit honey. Here’s a hack: she mixed some crushed grahams from my baking supplies into the drink and made herself a yogurt-y mango float.

Chewy Chewy Oats (Php143). For my little boy #ExhibitB who missed his breakfast cereal, I got this blend of natural drinking yogurt, chewy oats and fruit honey.

Stick-on-Me Purple Rice (Php138). I introduced my yaya to the wonders of Koomi with this signature concoction of natural drinking yogurt, purple sticky rice and fruit honey.

Since I opted for the Aussie blend for these drinks, they all feature a more pronounced tanginess of the yogurt. If you’re not into that, you can always opt for the Filipino blend which has cream added to the mixture to align the drink to Pinoy tastebuds.

So if you’re in the mood for a different kind of drink that will give you guiltless goodness, do give Koomi a try. It has stores in The Podium, Robinsons Magnolia, Eastwood City Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Power Plant Mall, SM Aura, Double Dragon Pasay, SM San Lazaro and VMall Greenhills.

You may also course your order through GrabFood like I did.

The Jelly List: Cookies for Christmas!

Whether for personal enjoyment or for gifting to loved ones, cookies are this season’s ultimate treats. Have your sweet bits of joy from enterprising bakers delivered right to your doorstep!

Christmas is just around the corner, foodies!

Who would have thought that the COVID19- caused craziness would last until the end of the year?

Keep your chins up, though. There’s still hope of better things to come.

In the meantime, give yourself reasons to smile by indulging in sweet bits of decadence: cookies, of course!

From their origins in 7th century Persia, their resurgence in the New World in the 17th century, to their domination of the global dessert scene, cookies have grown to become the sweet indulgence of choice foodies worldwide.

If you’re a cookie lover, you’d be happy to know that you won’t have to travel far or even leave home to get your just desserts. You can simply order from these online bakeshops and have your cookies delivered to you.

1. Sugar Creations by Alex

Satisfy your cookie cravings with these pretty confections, particularly that potent combination of cookie and S’mores in pastry: the smookie!

To order, call +63 988 5447945, or send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

2. Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries

I’ve sung praises for Inang Charing’s Triple-Flavored Cheesecake and Strawberry Shortcake in previous posts. However, it also offers a Salted White Chocolate Caramel Cookie that boasts of complex flavors and textures.

To order, send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

3. MDJ Cookies

Cookies can feel like warm hugs that you can eat. At least, that’s what MDJ Cookies strive to be. Get yourself a Loaded Crinkle and you’ll agree that it comes pretty close!

To order, send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

4. Extra Butter

Sometimes, bigger is better! With a palm-sized cookie from Extra Butter, like its fully loaded Double Chocolate Milk, there’ll be a lot of cookie goodness to go around.

To order, fill up this form.

5. Kica Bites

Fancy a return to the homey goodness of an all-time favorite cookie? Grab a piece of Kica Bites’ Original Chocolate Chip and enjoy the sugary buzz.

To order, fill up this form.

6. Bake Boss

Cookies do help in spreading the joy of the season. Take Bake Boss’ chewy and buttery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, for example, which is perfect to serve to the little ones along with a glass of milk to elicit a few smiles.

To order, send a message via Instagram.

7. Casa Bakes

Christmas is a season for celebration and your cookies can be part of the cheery mood. Get yourself a monster-sized Birthday Cake Cookie and enjoy the festive combination of white chocolate and colorful sprinkles.

To order, send a message via Instagram.

Given the variety of cookie options available this holiday season, you can easily treat yourself and your loved ones with yummy cookie creations. By ordering from these enterprising bakers, not only will you be sating your cookie cravings, you will also be supporting small businesses and the dreams of their owners.

And that’s a sweet thought, isn’t it?

Happy holidays, foodies!

Photo credit: header image by Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash

Check out my other adventures compiled into Jelly Lists:

GrabFood’s wide variety of offers continues to delight by giving you any food, any time

Nothing brings smiles to faces quite like food. No matter the challenges of your day, a satisfied craving is sure to brighten your mood. That’s why Grab, the leading everyday everything app, continues to delight Filipinos by providing any food, any time through GrabFood.

This month, GrabFood celebrates its second anniversary in the Philippines the best way it knows how —by launching a two-week mega sale! Starting November 23 until December 6, customers can enjoy up to 50% off on their favorite eats when they order through GrabFood!

Exciting deals and discounts available from GrabFood’s two week-long mega sale

Start the week right through Milk Tea Monday! Only on November 23, get 30% off on your favorite milk tea orders from Coco, Chatime, Cha Tuk Chak, and more!

Craving for chicken? This November 25, get 30% off from chicken chains JT’s Manukan Grille, Adobo Connection, Wee Nam Kee, and more!

Watch out for GrabFood’s BLOWOUT FLASH SALES throughout the next two weeks to get 50% off from 11 AM to 3 PM only!

November 24 – Foodee Global Concepts Food Group(Hawker Chan, Pound, Tim Ho Wan, and more)

November 26 – The Moment Group (Din Tai Fung, 8Cuts, Ooma, and more)

December 1 – The Bistro Group (TGI Friday’s, Itallani’s, Denny’s, and more)

December 2 – Popeyes

December 3 – Viva Food Group (Wing Zone, Pepi Cubano, Paper Moon Cafe, and more)

Get GrabFood Exclusive Bundles on November 29 and December 6 to save as much as Php199 per order from favorites like Frankie’s, Yellow Cab, Burger King, and more

GrabFood provides any food, any time

Two years since launching in the Philippines, GrabFood has driven the growth of the food delivery industry through consistent expansion and advancement.

Customers can always look forward to GrabFood providing delight and excitement through its wide variety of food options. With its continuous expansion of its merchant-partner base, GrabFood continues to have the widest selection of restaurants and largest operation footprint, serving Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Cebu, and more.

Utilizing technology and innovation to further expand the reach of your favorite restaurants, GrabFood also recently launched Long Distance Delivery, a feature that gives customers access to a wider selection of restaurants. With a 10 kilometer delivery range, customers can enjoy even more delicious possibilities for whatever they’re craving.
With the average basket size of GrabFood orders increasing by over 16% across Southeast Asia since the start of the lockdown, GrabFood also launched the group ordering feature, which makes it easier for groups to collate orders and purchase in one go.
First introduced in February this year, GrabKitchen is another way that GrabFood has been making it easier for customers to order their favorites all in one order. Through GrabKitchen, some of the most sought-after restaurants are brought together in one central kitchen, giving customers the option to mix-and match orders from those restaurants— all in one order and delivery fee. Currently, GrabKitchen is available in Glorietta 2, Makati, but customers can look forward to new GrabKitchens cooking up in the Manila area very soon!
Through the resumption of GrabFood’s 24-hour operations across Metro Manila, GrabFood also ensures you can fill your tummy when hunger strikes— whatever time that may be.
Whether you’re ordering for yourself or someone else, do it without a sweat through GrabFood’s Scheduled Orders feature! It’s now much easier to plan your meals or pull off a surprise pakain with the option to schedule your orders on GrabFood!

Continuous growth for its partners is continuous growth for GrabFood

Since the start of the pandemic, the crucial role food delivery services play in the lives of customers has become even more apparent. Recognizing this need, GrabFood remains committed to providing a safe and convenient platform to connect customers with food businesses. Through continuous expansion, innovative solutions, and increased support, GrabFood will continue to grow its platform to uplift more lives.

By providing merchant-partners a digital storefront to help them reach more customers, GrabFood not only gives customers more food choices to satisfy their cravings and fill their appetites, but also provides meaningful livelihood opportunities for its merchant and delivery-partners.

“Food delivery has been an essential service for many of our kababayans – whether it’s to satisfy their everyday cravings, grow their businesses, or provide livelihood opportunities to our communities – and GrabFood is humbled to deliver all these things and more. We are very much thankful to the countless customers, partners, and delivery-partners who believe in our mission and continue to support us. We will continue to build on our strong foundations knowing that with every GrabFood order, we are able to help businesses and provide livelihood to our many delivery-partners” said Grab Philippines Head of Deliveries EJ Dela Vega.

Working hand-in-hand, GrabFood commits to continuing to grow with you, its customer, merchant-partner, and delivery-partner.

About Grab

Grab is the leading super app in Southeast Asia, providing everyday services that matter most to consumers. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto over 185 million mobile devices, giving users access to over 9 million drivers, merchants and agents. Grab offers the widest range of on-demand transport services in the region, in addition to food, package, grocery delivery services, mobile payments and financial services across 339 cities in eight countries.

About GrabFood

Operating under the Grab super app, GrabFood is an online food delivery service that connects local food businesses to people. GrabFood presents a variety of food based on what’s available around consumers: Filipino, Western, Asian, European, Fusion and so on. Today, GrabFood’s services are available in areas of Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Cebu, with plans to continue expanding to reach more areas in the country.

Sweet snacktimes with Red Ribbon Bakeshop

Have you ever found yourself craving for cakes and pastries?

Whether paired with your favorite brew during your coffee break time or enjoyed after meals as a dessert, these sweet treats are always a welcome sight.

Thankfully, you don’t have to sweat it out in the kitchen to whip up your favorite baked goodies. You can simply have your cake and pastry choices from Red Ribbon delivered right to your doorstep.

Red Ribbon had its start in Timog, Quezon City in 1979, and over the years, it has grown to having over 450 outlets in the Philippines and thirty stores in the US. Aside from round, square and roll celebration cakes, Red Ribbon also offers a variety of cake slices and pastries for foodies looking for a sweet fix.

And wouldn’t you know it: these desserts come in handy packs that allows you to enjoy more of your sweet faves without have to spend a lot.

The Cheesy Ensaimada, for example, is a fluffy bread topped with sweet butter, sugar and lots of cheese. You can get it at Php27.50 per piece but it’s also available in packs of four at Php110, eight at Php214.50 and twelve at Php330.

If cakes are more your thing, Red Ribbon brings light and airy confections topped with sweet buttercream. You can get individual slices of these cakes for Php28.60 per piece or in a pack of five assorted flavors which include Choco Cake, Chiffon Cake, Double-Dutch Cake, Ube Marble and Red Velvet for Php115.50.

So if you’re craving for something sweet, head on to your nearest Red Ribbon Bakeshop branch, call #87777, send a message via Facebook, or course your order through GrabFood, LalaFood or FoodPanda.

Download the Grab App to have your Red Ribbon treats delivered right to your doorstep!

Six reasons to smile from Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme’s box for its half-dozen donuts says it all: six reasons to smile.

What a welcome respite because for many of us who are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and the resulting quarantine to our lives, there seems to be not a lot of reasons to break out into a grin.

So, during our recent errand run in Greenhills, Hubby and I picked up a Box of 6 Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed (OG) donuts (Php225) to bring home some joy for the fam.

While Krispy Kreme offers a multitude of donut variants, the fam would always gravitate towards the OGs. My fam is no exception to the appeal of their simple presentation, soft and fluffy texture and straightforward sweetness.

Whether enjoyed as an after-meal treat or as part of coffee break, Krispy Kreme’s OGs hits the spot!

Taking inspiration from its box, I present to you six reasons to smile from Krispy Kreme (aside from the donuts, themselves). So here are some nuggets from Krispy Kreme’s storied past which might bring a smile to your face.

1. Starting over.

When their general store in Paducah, Kentucky where the original donuts were sold suffered during the Great Depression in 1934, brothers Vernon and Lewis Rudolph and their uncle Ishmael Armstrong moved to Nashville, Tennessee where they focused on selling their donuts under “The Krispy Kreme Doughnut Company.” Can you imagine if they just gave up after their first taste of failure?

2. Get ’em hot!

Rudolph opened his first store in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1937. While mainly selling his donuts to convenience stores, he also sold hot donuts – fresh from the production line – to customers who came during production time between midnight and 4am. I guess, night owls in those times were lucky indeed!

Well, soon, with a surge in demand, hot donuts were soon on offer throughout the day. In 1992, the first “Hot Doughnuts Now” lights were installed in stores to signal to customers that a fresh batch of donuts are ready to be enjoyed.

3. Donuts for a good cause.

Starting in 1955, schools, clubs and churches ordered donuts by bulk for reselling. Doing so has allowed these organization to raise funds for uniforms, school trips, libraries and more.

Well, helping the local schools get what they need was just one more reason to buy donuts!

4. Switch to automation.

Until 1963, Krispy Kreme donuts were made by hand. That changed when the company switched to automation, enabling its output to grow with the demand.

5. Shaping up.

In 2000, Krispy Kreme broke away from making its usual round donuts by playing around with different shapes. The heart-shaped donuts enjoyed quite a bit of popularity, with orders peaking around Valentine’s Day.

6. Flash your card for perks

If you get a Krispy Kreme OG card, you get a free box of 6 OG donuts after activation. You also get additional perks such as a free free box of 6 OG donuts for every purchase of a dozen OGs, a free box of 3 OGs on your birth month, as well as exclusive invites to Krispy Kreme events and first dibs on item releases, among others.

Well, I hope this list helped in making you smile today. Keep on smiling: we’ll get through all the trials we’ve been facing and better times will come!

To get your box of donuts, call +63 2 88879000, order online or via GrabFood, FoodPanda, LalaFood, OrderMo, Groover and Mangan.

Childhood faves at The Lost Bread, SM North EDSA

There are flavors that you encountered in your childhood that would always bring good memories. These flavors remind you of simpler and carefree days spent with family and friends.

The Lost Bread, the ice cream store that introduced me to the decidedly grown up pleasures of spiked milkshakes, went the the completely opposite route by bringing me back to me childhood with two of its limited-time collaborations:

With Nestle: the Chuckie Soft Serve (Php95 in cone or cup). Remember that chocolatey buddy that powered up recess time? Imagine it as a rich and chocolatey soft-serve ice cream with an extra shot of chocolate goodness!

With Pepsi Cola: the Root Beer Float Soft-Serve (Php95 in cone or cup). Instead of the a dollop of vanilla ice cream floating on a mug of ice-cold root beer, what you get is root beer infused soft-serve ice cream, also with an extra shot of chocolate syrup.

These imaginative takes on childhood faves simply show the infinite possibilities that the Lost Bread can bring to ice cream lovers.

The last time I was able to enjoy some ice cream time at The Lost Bread was in that halcyon period before the quarantine. While some of its outlets have ceased operations have ceased operations since then, its branches in SM Megamall, Evia Lifestyle Center, Robinsons Manila, SM Marilao, Vista Mall Malolos and SM Dasmarinas are still open.

It also delivers its ice cream by the pint via its delivery website – order.thelostbread.com.

#SarapKasamaAngPamilya, thanks to Jollibee delivery

There are plenty of reasons why our home-grown fast-food chain Jollibee remains unbeaten by international giants that set up operations here.

For many Pinoys, the tastes and textures from this unassuming restaurant chain that they enjoyed and grew up with continue to hold pride of place in their hearts and palates. From its ice cream sundaes that parents treat their toddlers to, the uniquely Pinoy-style spaghetti that graces birthday celebrations, to the crispy and juicy fried chicken that teenagers on their first dates enjoy, Jollibee has been serving up tasty and affordable fast-food well-suited to Pinoy tastebuds through the years.

The quarantines brought about by the pandemic may have curtailed the busy mealtimes at Jollibee branches frequented by friends and family, but fortunately, they can still enjoying their fast food faves by ordering for delivery.

That’s what I did one lazy Sunday afternoon as the fam was enjoying our individual pursuits: myself binge-watching on Netflix, Hubby monitoring the news on the US elections and the kids cooped up in their rooms. When the delivery arrived, we all came together to grab a bite and catch up.

I treated myself to my favorite snack – a Cheesy Classic Jolly Hotdog Value Meal (Php83). The Cheesy Classic Jolly Hotdog consists of a juicy and meaty sausage encased in a hotdog bun, topped with special dressing, grated cheese and tomato ketchup. While other iterations of the Jolly Hotdog have been launched over the years, I remain loyal to this original version. The value meal comes with regular Coke and regular fries.

For Hubby, I got an Amazing Aloha Yumburger with Drink (Php109). Considering the man does not like mixing sweets with savory, I’m amazed that this burger made with Jollibee’s Yumburger beef patty topped with a pineapple slice, crispy bacon strips and melted cheese encased in a burger bun would appeal to him.

For the kiddos, I got Peach Mango (Php98 for a three-piece Pies-to-Go set) and two pieces of Buko Pie (Php33/piece). These pocket pies are made with fruit filling encased in puff pastry then deep-fried until the crust turns crispy and golden brown.

For a few precious moments that afternoon, the whole fam took a break and got together to share a bite. #SarapKasamaAngPamilya, indeed!

To have your Jollibee favorites delivered right to your doorstep, call #87000 on your mobile, visit jollibeedelivery.com, or course your orders through GrabFood, FoodPanda or LalaFood.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Download the LalaFood App and get a free delivery coupon when you use my code: BEINGJMR53.

Sarap ka-pares from Pares Retiro

What can I say?

After I realized I could just have my fam’s faves from Pares Retiro delivered to my home, I just can’t get enough of it.

Truth be told: I haven’t eaten at a Pares Retiro outlet yet. All my encounters with its much-vaunted pares offerings were all through delivery: the first one was at work when my officemate and I ordered from the Pares Retiro branch in Tomas Morato via LalaFood, and the succeeding ones after the pandemic hit when its offerings became available in our neck of the woods via GrabFood’s Long Distance Delivery.

In fact, our orders don’t really stray from our tried and tested favorites:

Classic Pares Meal (Php223). Pairing slow-braised, tender beef pares with garlic fried rice is surely a stroke of genius. The result is a delicious dynamic between sweet and savory that we Pinoys go crazy over.

Pares Tendon Meal (Php217). What will make the classic pares dish made even more irresistible? Well, the addition of melt-in-your-mouth pieces of litid, that’s what! Those chunks of imported US beef tendon just adds flavor and texture to the dish.

It’s a rare occasion when my entire family all wholeheartedly agree on the merits of a particular dish or restaurant, but Pares Retiro’s Classic Pares and Pares Tendon Meals have more than earned that distinction.

Now, if only they will open a branch nearer to our home so I won’t have to pay as much for delivery!

This Pares Retiro branch is located at SM Hypermarket, EDSA Corner Main Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City, open daily from 9am to 6pm. Pares Retiro delivers via GrabFood, LalaFood and via Pares Retiro’s website.