Eat – Page 66 – Jellybeans in the City

5 ways Cafe Mary Grace’s ensaymada solves your holiday gifting dilemma

Ooh yes! We’re in the BER months now and, for many, the countdown to Christmas has begun.

And you know what we’re all excited for during the holidays, right?

Gifts, course!

Showering our loved ones with presents is one of the most rewarding feelings.

However, given the new situations we are faced with due to the still raging pandemic and different phases of community quarantine it necessitates, we may have to adjust our holiday gift-giving strategy.

So let me present the case for Cafe Mary Grace’s Ensaymadas as your go-to holiday present for your nears-and-dears.

1. Ensaymadas are rich in history.

Did you know that the origin ensaymadas can be traced all the way back to the 17th century in the Balearic Islands in Mallorca, Spain?

During celebrations and festivities, Mallorcan bakers would combine strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother dough and a kind of reduced pork lard called saim, from which the resulting pastry, the ensaimada de Mallorca, gets its name.

The ensaymada found its may to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization and is now among the most common delicacies in the country, found in most neighborhood bakeshops. Modifications made from the Mallorcan original include the use of butter instead of lard, as well as the addition of sugar and grated cheese.

It has even become part of our Christmas tradition to enjoy these pastries together with a cup of hot tsokolate made with local tableya.

2. They’re also steeped in good childhood memories.

Most of us can recall those afternoons we spent enjoying an ensaymada roll or two – still warm and fresh from the neighborhood bakery – for merienda after playtime with our childhood pals, right?

3. Cafe Mary Grace’s Ensaymadas is an upgrade of our childhood ensaymada.

Cafe Mary Grace made its name from the homemade goodness of its cakes and baked goods. Its ensaymadas are no different.

Made with 100% real butter and eggs as well as topped with grated Edam cheese, these soft and fluffy pastries have that combination of sweet and salty flavors we Pinoys so adore with a premium and delicate mouthfeel.

4. They already come beautifully packaged.

For just Php658, you can already get a pretty box of six ensaymadas, ready for gifting.

The ensaymada pieces are also individually wrapped so it’s no hassle to give them out to guests as desserts during small gatherings or save a few pieces for later munching.

Boxes of eight pieces and twelve pieces are also available at Php756 and Php1,098, respectively.

5. They’re easy to get.

Given all the restrictions on retail operations and protocols on social distancing, Cafe Mary Grace has made it easy for its customers to get their offerings by making them available online so there’s no need to line up to get a hold of them.

Orders may be coursed through Cafe Mary Grace’s website for pickup or via GrabFood for delivery.

These pastries will arrive chilled as they were taken fresh from the chiller. Before serving, only thaw out the number of pieces you want to eat. Do this by placing an ensaymada in a bowl, covered with a damp cloth, and microwave for ten seconds on the lowest heat settings to restore its original softness.

So go ahead and gift yourself and your loved ones with a box of Cafe Mary Grace Ensaymadas this Christmas!

This Cafe Mary Grace branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Santa Lucia, Pasig City.

Pasig: Rockwell Business Center, Ayala Malls Feliz, Estancia Mall
Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway Mall, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, Ayala Fairview Terraces
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Mandaluyong: Shangri-la Plaza
San Juan: Unimart Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Place Mall, Serendra, St. Luke’s Medical Center, One Bonifacio High Street, Venice Grand Canal Mall
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Steps Dance Studio, Century City Mall, The Enterprise Center, Greenbelt 2
Manila: SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, Lucky Chinatown Mall
Pasay: Mall of Asia Arena Annex, SM Mall of Asia
Paranaque: SM City BF
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall

Flashback to my childhood with Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik

We Pinoys do love our kakanin, don’t we?

These are the sticky rice cakes that many of us used to wolf down for merienda after a bout of running around the neighborhood with our pals.

The term kakanin is the portmanteau of the Filipino words kain (“to eat”) and kanin (“rice”). Made with glutinous rice and coconut milk, and sweetened with sugar or accompanied by sweet fruits, these rice treats can go a long way in re-energizing youngsters after playing all afternoon and tide them over until dinnertime.

One of my favorites is the suman, a kakanin in which the glutinous rice is cooked in coconut milk and streamed and is usually served wrapped in banana leaves. There are many ways to enjoy this rice dessert: the ones my lola in Bataan used to make is composed of short cylinders of that I would dip in sugar before eating, while my mom likes to lightly fry some in oil until they get a little crispy.

I was already an adult by the time I came across a new variant called suman sa latik. In this suman iteration, the rice cake is doused with latik, or caramelized coconut milk. This makes for a decadent dessert or filling merienda.

Thanks to a fellow foodie sharing his snack stash, I was able to get a taste of Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik one afternoon.

These suman are handmade with love, just like how our lolas used to make.

These are best enjoyed right away, but as I had a couple of telecons that Saturday afternoon, I delayed eating them for a while. No worries, though; I just reheated a piece in the microwave for half a minute before pouring some of the caramelized coconut cream sauce over it, and placed the rest in the fridge.

And since I couldn’t keep such a yummy treat to myself, I sent a few pieces over to my mom, who also loved it!

You can get your own box of Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik for just Php200. It contains six pieces of banana leaf-wrapped suman and a generous helping of latik, more than enough to satisfy your suman craving.

To order, send your name, contact number, delivery address and number of orders to Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik on Facebook or Instagram for delivery anywhere in Metro Manila or Cavite on Saturday. Cashless payments via BDO, BPI and GCash are accepted.

If you are not consuming your suman sa latik right away, they may be kept in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Aside from microwaving, they may be reheated using a steamer for thirty minutes.

Go ahead and order a box of Mama Lola’s Suman sa Latik to share with the fam and reminisce about the good ole’ days.

Thanks to Harvard of AlwaysHungry.PH for sharing his snack stash!

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

Hanabishi combines grinder and coffeemaker into one device

Enjoying freshly brewed coffee doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to invest in an expensive coffeemaker to have one every day. Neither do you have to travel far or get in line. Thanks to Hanabishi, you can have it right in your own home.

Recently, the company known for its affordable and quality appliances introduced the Hanabishi 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker. Available for just PhP3,750, it can make four cups of coffee in one brew. You can use it for both coffee beans and ground coffee.

“To say that Filipinos love coffee is an understatement. We are proud of our kapeng barako and we are fond of exploring different varieties of coffee. It was evident with the success of coffee shops from Starbucks, UCC Café, and Coffebean and Tea Leaf in the local market,” said Cherish Ong-Chua, Vice President, Finance and Marketing at Hanabishi.

According to Ong-Chua, Hanabishi’s new product offering, the 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker, is an innovation that aims to bring the coffee connoisseur experience right to every Filipino’s home. However, they have simplified the functions of the machine.

Operating it is easy. Just add your coffee beans or ground coffee, pour in some water, select the setting, and your coffee would be ready in minutes. Cleaning it is just as fuss-free.

The Hanabishi 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker is also a good product to invest in if you’re running or looking to put up a coffee shop. It’s less expensive than most coffee makers and functions just as efficiently.

For more information about Hanabishi’s 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker, visit myhanabishi.com.

Spanning more than three decades, Hanabishi has established its reputation as a provider of affordable yet quality home products that lasts, which paved the way for its tagline “Kapartner from Start to Forever.” Hanabishi Home Appliances are available at leading appliance stores nationwide. For more information about Hanabishi, please visit it website or its Facebook Page.

Product image and details provided by Hanabishi in a recent press release.

Fried Chicken ‘n Biscuits at Popeyes

Contrary to my initial assumption, Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, Inc. was not named after my childhood hero Popeye the Sailorman. Instead, owner Al Copeland always claimed that his inspiration for the name of his fried chicken company was Det. Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, Gene Hackman’s character in The French Connection.

That wrong assumption aside, I had no other expectations when Hubby requested that we take advantage of Popeyes’ free delivery promo to get some of this resto’s famous fried chicken for our merienda.

We have been busy working from home ever since the start of the community quarantine and one of the usual highlights of our workday is our afternoon snack break.

‘Tis the start of the season for fam celebrations with Silverspoon

Just like that: September is here, momshies. And so begins the world’s longest Christmas season.

And while the whole world is still battling that dread virus, you still shouldn’t let it keep you from celebrating what joys you can, right?

Life does go on, so let’s celebrate it with good food, especially now when you won’t have to slave away in the kitchen to serve the fam a show-stopping meal, thanks to SilverSpoon.

The brainchild of thirty-year-old financial advisor and budding food entrepreneur Decebelle Montefrio, SilverSpoon brings tasty gourmet dishes to your table for your family to enjoy.

It was Decie’s dream since her college days to pursue her love of cooking and have her own food business. When the pandemic struck the country a few months after she returned to the Philippines from Canada, she decided to set up an online food business instead. By June this year, Decie has launched SilverSpoon, offering viands that appeal to the Pinoy palate which are also close to her heart such as:

Roasted Potato Wedge Snack (Php180). Generous wedges of potatoes, flavored with herbs and seasoning and oven-roasted until golden brown. It’s great for munching while binge-watching your favorite TV shows, or as a appetizer to a fabulous meal.

Butter Garlic Shrimp Platter (Php630). Plump shrimps lightly breaded and coated in a flavorful sauce of butter and garlic, great with lots and lots of rice! Also available in a solo meal with rice and veggies for Php230.

Honey Garlic Liempo Platter (Php380). Tender grilled pork belly glazed in a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Also available in a solo meal with rice and veggies for Php150.

Lechon Kawali Solo Meal (Php150). Deep fried pork belly with crunchy skin and flavorful meat served with rice and veggies. Also avail also as a Platter for Php360.

Spicy Adobo Solo Meal (Php150). Decie’s childhood pork adobo recipe with a bit of a spicy kick. True to the adage that adobo gets better in its second serving, leftovers from this generously portioned dish were also great as adobo flakes the next day. Also available as a Platter for Php350.

To order a belly-filling and heart-warming gourmet meal for your family, message SilverSpoon on Facebook or Instagram, or text +63 936 8102017. Pre-orders for next-day delivery are accepted until cut-off at 8pm. Payments via GCash, BPI or BDO, as well as cash on delivery are accepted. Orders may be delivered from SilverSpoon’s kitchens in Commonwealth, Quezon City to anywhere in Metro Manila (delivery fee to be shouldered by the buyer).

So, momshies, have a merry early start to your holiday celebrations with SilverSpoon!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

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

Comfort-snackin’ with 616 Burger

If the past few months of quarantine has taught me anything, it is that we need every bit of comfort we can get.

These are not normal times and we are not operating at our usual capacity. Therefore, we need to treasure what sources of joy or contentment we have.

Personally, I take comfort in good food. When I feel overwhelmed during a busy workday or in the midst of mounting house chores, a bite into something delicious will soon set me – and the world – to rights.

To you, my dear foodies, I’m happy to share my discovery of a new source of comfort: 616 Burger.

This passion project of twenty-two-year-old recent UST grad Alyanna Manuel started off as her quarantine pastime and side hustle. Building on her family’s experiences in running food businesses, and her own love for cooking, she started whipping up her favorite comfort food and offering them online at affordable prices. Her menu items consist of familiar snack items that are leveled up by way of ingredients and preparation to satisfy the palate of discriminating foodies.

The Crunchy Bacon Burger (Php160), for instance, is made with pure beef burger patty flavored by six spices and well complemented by the smokey bacon, slices of fresh veggies and its garlic mayo sauce inside a freshly baked bun. Crunchy bits of Piknik add some interesting texture to every bite of this juicy burger.

The burger’s trusty sidekick, the Cheesy Overload Fries (Php85), on the other hand, has a crispier texture than other fries due to its light breading. The sauteed ground beef and cheese sauce added some heartiness to this side dish.

If you still can’t get enough of cheese, then grab a Cheese Quesadilla (Php110), buttery toasted soft tortillas encasing high quality cheese.

Snacking on these gave me and the kiddos a happy respite in an otherwise crazy day.

To get your hands on these comforting snack items, message 616 Burger on Facebook or Instagram or fill out the online order form. Cashless payments via GCash, Paymaya and BPI are accepted. 616 Burger’s snack items can be delivered from Don Enrique Heights in Quezon City to anywhere in Metro Manila.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

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

No-stress meal from Jampax Foods Delivery

Momshies, just because you spend more time at home nowadays doesn’t mean you’re less stressed, right?

With all that juggling between working from home, and all the stuff you need to work on at home, it’s enough to make you get frazzled sometimes.

Fortunately, the folks over at Jampax can take stress out of preparing your family’s next meal.

A group of friends who used to work in food industry before the pandemic hit our shores banded together and put their skill sets to bear to whip up tasty yet affordable rice meals for online selling.

Here’s a sampling of what you can expect from Jampax:

Gyoza (Php45/5 pieces). Mini-versions of the popular Japanese potstickers made with ground meat and minced vegetables flavored by garlic and aromatics wrapped in thin dough wrappers. This is my daughter’s favorite dumpling and she considers no Japanese meal complete without it.

Katsudon (Php110). Tender piece of pork loin, breaded and deep-fried served with egg cooked in a sweet and savory sauce over steamed rice and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. My little boy can’t get enough of it!

Chicken Inasal (Php85 | Php100 with rice). A boneless quarter leg of chicken flavored in the traditional Ilonggo marinade of calamansi, pepper, coconut vinegar and annato then roasted until tender and flavorfully smokey.

Other dishes from Jampax’s home-cooked menu include:

Chicken Teriyaki (Php85 | Php100 with rice)
Karaage (Php85 | Php100 with rice)
Tonkatsu (Php85 | Php100 with rice)
Pork Siomai (Php40/5 pieces)
Japanese Siomai (Php55/5 pieces)

Lumpiang Shanghai (Php45/5 pieces)

These dishes are jam-packed with flavor and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways:

A single order can be a busy office worker’s hassle-free lunch
Several orders can be family’s quick and easy dinner
Large orders can be a crew meal for outdoor projects and or party fare for big celebrations

Want to stock up on food you can cook later? Jampax also offers marinated chicken wings and chicken breast fillets at Php200 per half-kilo pack (in flavors garlic parmesan, hickory barbecue and buffalo flavors), as well as frozen pork siomai, Japanese siomai, gyoza and lumpiang shanghai for Php70 per twelve-piece pack.

So momshies, kiss the stress away for your fam’s mealtime. Just order your food at Jampax by calling +63 915 5850297 or sending a message on Facebook or Instagram between 8am and 6pm daily with a two-day lead time (same day orders may be accommodated depending on stock availability). Cashless payments via BPI and GCash are accepted and encouraged. Delivery is free in selected areas in Cavite.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

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

Filling sub sandwiches from Subway

Did you know that the submarine sandwich, also known as the hoagie, hero or grinder, is said to have originated from the Italian-American communities in northeastern US in the early to mid-20th century?

It got its most famous moniker due to its shape: the cylindrical bread roll housing its hearty fillings resembles the shape of a submarine.

Its nickname, the hoagie, came about in Philadelphia in the 1950s when Italian-Americans working at the Hog Island shipyard started putting various meats, cheeses and lettuce between two slices of bread.

Subway, the largest restaurant chain in the world, specializes in subs.

From its beginnings in the Fresno, California in 1978, Subway has steadily conquered the rest of the globe, setting up shops in Asia and even appearing prominently in popular K-Dramas.

Maybe it was its high visibility in his favorite Korean dramas that drove my Hubby to start ordering sandwiches from Subway to be delivered via GrabFood whenever he gets peckish while working from home.

And why would I complain when he so generously orders subs for the rest of the fam so that everyone has something to tide us over until dinnertime.

6″ Italian (Php138). Hubby’s go-to sub is made of spicy pepperoni and salami with crisp veggies and peppers in a toasted bun.

6″ BLT (Php138). One of my mottos is “Bacon makes everything better.” Well, it surely does! Sandwich some bacon slices together with lettuce and tomato in freshly toasted buns and you’ve got a great sub!

6″ Steak and Cheese (Php184). Inspired by the classic Philly hoagie, this sub features lean and tender steak with crisp lettuce, sliced onions and tomatoes and topped with melted cheese in a freshly toasted bun.

6″ Roast Beef (Php184). Lean and tender slices of roast beef with sliced cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and peppers in a freshly toasted bun.

With these tasty and filling subs, the wait for dinner doesn’t seem so long, right?

And with Metro Manila back on moderate enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), we don’t have to leave the safety of our homes to have our subs. We can just have them delivered right to our doorsteps just by ordering from GrabFood, LalaFood or FoodPanda.

Mixed donut treats from Krispy Kreme

Does your fam love donuts?

Mine sure do!

And, boy, we do all go crazy over these sweet little creations from Krispy Kreme!

Krispy Kreme has been around for over fifty years, with families in the southern United States making a trip to their local Krispy Kreme branch their weekly ritual. Then, in the 1990s, Krispy Kreme underwent a massive expansion by opening branches coast to coast.

The brand reached our shores back in 2006 when it opened its first Philippine branch in Bonifacio Global City.

Today, it is firmly entrenched in the hearts (and palates!) of Pinoy donut lovers.

To give my fam a taste of the various donut possibilities that Krispy Kreme can bring, I recently ordered a Mixed Dozen (Php470) to be delivered to our home.

This includes a box containing six pieces of Krispy Kreme’s original glazed (also know as “OG”) donuts and a box containing six pieces of assorted donut flavors.

The OG donuts are Krispy Kreme’s signature flavor, made from Krispy Kreme’s donut mix, water and yeast, which are mixed, fried and glazed in accordance to strict specifications to produce that light and fluffy donuts we so love.

As for the other six pieces, we got a variety of flavors for the fam to discover and enjoy: KitKat Chocolate, KitKat Matcha, Glazed Vanilla Cake, Double Chocolate Cake and Glazed Chocolate Cake.

So despite the still ongoing community quarantine, donut lovers can still get their donut cravings satisfied by having their Krispy Kreme donuts delivered just like we did!

Plus, here’s some good news for donut fans! From August 17 to 20, you can have six Original Glazed, three ring-filled Choco Iced Kreme Filled, a New York Cheesecake, a KitKat Chocolate and a Red Velvet delivered to your doorstep for just Php399 if you course your order online or through +63 2 88879000 (Metro Manila Hotline), thanks to Krispy Kreme’s Delivery Dozen Deal.

Check out which Krispy Kreme stores are open near you.

Do you know what else is available for delivery? A Krispy Kreme OG Card, that’s what! Get this card to start enjoying freebies such as a half-dozen OG donuts for every order of a dozen OGs, as well as a free box of three OGs on your birthday and more!