Eat – Page 75 – Jellybeans in the City

Fresh flavors of Japanese food at Soru Izakaya, Maginhawa

My fam and I have a very strong affinity towards Japanese food. As it is one of our favorite cuisines, more often than not, we end up choosing Japanese restos when dining out.

Such was the case when we decided to eat out in the Maginhawa, QC area the weekend right before the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was announced.

At Soru Izakaya’s Maginhawa branch, we were able to get a table relatively quickly despite the bustling dinner crowd.

There, we we were able to enjoy our favorite Japanese dishes, which included:

Lava Maki (Php430). Salmon skin, crabsticks and tamago topped with salmon and tuna cubes in spicy mayo. This dish, which served as our appetizer, also featured the whimsical mayo design that Soru Izakaya became known for.

Tantanmen (Php330). Hubby likes his ramen spicy and this one fits the bill. It is made with firm ramen noodles in spicy miso and peanut broth with chasyu pork and mixed vegetables served with slices of seasoned egg. Of course, he had to share some of it with me!

Katsudon (Php295). My princess’ near-constant craving which is made with deep-fried and breaded pork loin served with egg cooked in sweet and savory sauce over steamed rice, topped with melted cheese and onion leeks.

Tomahawk Katsu (Php355). My little boy’s go-to order which consisted of deep-fried breaded pork tomahawk cutlet served with sweet and savory katsu sauce and shredded cabbage doused in roaster sesame dressing. We ordered a cup of rice to go with this dish which the little boy demolished in record time.

Chirashidon (Php360). My new favorite Japanese dish made with torched tuna, salmon sashimi cubes, kani, tamago and endamame over sushi rice. I just love the variations in flavor and texture in every bite.

Looking back, I’m glad that we were able to spend some time together out of the house, enjoying one of our favorite cuisines, before we had to sequester ourselves at home due to the quarantine. (I’m also thankful we managed to stay and healthy thus far.)

We’re all looking forward to the time when we can venture out and go back to our favorite places to dine and enjoy.

How about you? Which of your favorite restos were you able to visit before the quarantine started?

Want a taste of Soru Izakaya’s dishes but stuck at home because of the quarantine? Here’s some good news: During the ECQ, this branch is open from 10am to 5pm daily with a limited menu available for takeout or delivery via Grab Express or Lalamove. To order, text your name, address, contact number and orders to +63 917 7040515, +63 917 6363526 or +63 935 7830298.

This Soru Izakaya branch is located at Ground Floor, 140 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at:

Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City

UCC, MOS and other Japanese restos open for pickup and delivery

Select branches of UCC and CoCo Ichibanya, along with Mitsuyado Sei-men in Jupiter St., Tendon Kohaku in Burgos Park, and MOS Burger in Robinsons Galleria are now accepting orders for pickup and delivery.

Menu selections, however, will be limited so customers are advised to call the restaurants about their available dishes prior to ordering their takeout or placing an order through Grab Pabili, Lalamove, and other third-party providers servicing their areas.

Metro Manila customers who have a craving for UCC drinks and dishes can call the following branches to inquire about the available menu items: UCC Cafe Terrace in One Rockwell through (02)8856-0477 and (02)8478-7513; UCC Clockwork in Xentro through (02)8243-9257; and UCC Clockwork Burgos Circle through (02)8828-1447. UCC Cafe Terrace and UCC Clockwork Burgos Circle are accepting orders from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from Monday to Saturday only. UCC Clockwork in Xentro is open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.

Those in Bacolod, meanwhile, can call UCC Clockwork in Lacson Avenue through (34) 431-2243 and +63 917 323 7588 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.

CoCo Ichibanya at One Rockwell and Kapitolyo Kitchen are also accepting orders through Foodpanda. You can call (02)8815-4087 to inquire about their available menu items.

Tsukemen cravings? Mitsuyado Sei-men offers ready-to-cook Yuzu Tsukemen and Karashi Tsukemen kits as well as ready-to-eat Gyoza and Chicken Karaage. They are accepting orders from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. You can either visit the store to order your takeout or place an order through Foodpanda, Grab Pabili, Joyride Pabili, and Mr. Speedy. For inquiries, call (02) 8511-1390

Tendon Kohaku in Burgos Park will also be open for takeout and pickup only. It will service the Forbestown community from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Inquiries are welcome at (02) 7914-0433.

MOS Burger has likewise opened its Robinsons Galleria branch for takeout and pickup orders. You can either visit their store to place a takeout order or place your order via Foodpanda, Grabexpress Pabili, or Lalamove. For inquiries, you can contact MOS Burger at (02) 7747-2695. They are open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

All stores will strictly observe “no mask, no entry” and social distancing policies.

Image and store details provided in a recent press release.

Rabbitgirl’s Dairy Bread, Tomas Morato

Feeling hungry while working at home?

Sate your hunger with cheesy sandwiches from Rabbitgirl’s Dairy Bread!

What makes this sandwich kiosk different from other sandwich stations is its use of sourdough bread.

Considered one of the healthiest breads, sourdough bread is contains more nutrients that are usually degraded by fermentation process and is also prebiotic, making it more easily digestible than other breads.

During the enhanced community quarantine, Rabbitgirl’s Dairy Bread makes two of its best-selling cheese sandwiches available for pickup and delivery:

The Cheeseperience (Php90). This is Rabbitgirl’s take on the classic grilled cheese sandwich featuring rich, melted mozzarella and cheddar cheeses in a buttery sourdough toast, with a drizzle of maple honey, and served with a shot of tomato bisque.

Maple Bacon Melt (Php115). Baked bacon rashes marinated in a maple balsamic reduction, sandwiched between toasted sourdough slices and cheddar cheese, and served with a drizzle of maple honey and a shot of tomato bisque.

If you’re wondering what that tomato bisque, it is soup made with stewed fresh tomatoes, basil and carrots which serves as a tangy counterbalance to the resto’s savory sandwiches.

Of course, these sandwiches are best enjoyed when still hot and toasty, so here’s how to reheat them:

Sandwiches: place in the microwave oven for ten to fifteen seconds or for one to two minutes in a toaster oven.
Tomato Bisque: while still in its reusable cup, place in a container with a little bit of hot water and into the microwave oven for 15 seconds

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

Want some of these cheesy sandwiches for your snack break while working at home? Have them delivered right to your doorstep through Food Panda! Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

You may also call in your orders at +63 995 9246271, make your payments then book pick up and delivery via Grab Express or Lalamove.

Rabbitgirl’s Dairy Bread is located at 2/F National Book Store Building, Scout Borromeo corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

#QuarantineCookbook: Bulalo Steak from Leftovers

Hmm… What to do with leftover Bulalo? Make a Bulalo Steak with it!

Anybody who knows me is aware that almost nothing gets my hackles up than wasting food.

That’s why when Hubby (again!) flexed his culinary muscles to bring about some steaming-hot Bulalo for our family’s lunch and had a lot of leftovers – whick included meat, potatoes and broth – I just had to find a way to finish off all that food within the day.

(Note, though, that the leftovers resulted from his overestimation on the fam’s capacity to devour two kilograms of meaty beef shanks, despite how yummy the resulting dish was. )

Well, thanks to the leftovers, the Bulalo Steak for the fam’s dinner was quite easy to whip up using ingredients which were already on-hand.

Ingredients:

(Leftover from the Bulalo)
1 kilo cooked beef shanks, sliced into 1 1/2-inch thick pieces
2 cups of cubed boiled potatoes
1 1/2 cups Bulalo broth, strained

(Additional Vegetables)
1 bunch of French beans (could be substituted with Baguio beans)
1 large carrot, cut into thin strips

(Additional ingredients for the sauce)
6 tbsp butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup sliced Champignon mushrooms
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tbsp liquid seasoning

Procedure:

Re-heat the cooked beef shanks by placing them in a baking dish and into a 200 dec C oven for twenty minutes.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt four tablespoons butter, then add the flour, mixing to form a paste. Add in the milk and broth, mixing to avoid lumps until it thickens to your desired consistency, then add in the mushrooms. Add more beef broth little by little if you want to thin it down.

Parboil the French beans and the carrot strips before sauteing them along with the boiled potatoes in two tablespoons butter. After sauteing, arrange them in the baking dish with the reheated beef shanks.

Pour the sauce over the beef shanks and buttered vegetables. Serve immediately. It is best enjoyed with lots of steamed rice.

This recipe serves five, with 530 calories per serving.

If you want to make this dish but don’t have leftover Bulalo, you can boil up to 2 kilos of beef shanks (with enough water to fully over the meat) in a large pot for up to 2 hours or until tender. Or you can cook them in a pressure cooker for up to an hour. Be sure to save the resulting broth.

Also, if you happen to have a sizzling plate, you can make this dish a Sizzling Bulalo Steak. Arrange the cooked solid ingredients on a heated sizzling plate then pour the sauce over them until it sizzles.

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out while in quarantine? Check out my other recipes:

Extra special Mother’s Day at home with The Manila Hotel

Mother’s Day is a yearly reminder to cherish our relationship with our moms. Given this year’s unique circumstances, many of us will be celebrating this special day at home or even away from the special women in our lives—mom, grandmas, and aunts. Still, even when fancy dinners are impossible, Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be canceled. With some creativity and preparation, you can still give the most special woman in your life the Mother’s Day she deserves.

The Manila Hotel pulls all the stops for you to still be able to give her a memorable Mother’s Day. This home celebration will have a five-star hotel feel and The Manila Hotel will make sure it gets close to a real feast.

The Manila Hotel’s Mother’s Day Surprise gives you discounts when you choose to order the food-and-cake bundle and pay online on or before May 8, 2020 (Friday). You may choose items from the A La Carte Menu or Home Buffet sets (Filipino, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese favotires, as well as Certified Halal items) and get a 20% discount on your food bill, and a 10% discount on the cake of your choice.

Because mothers deserve the only the best, you can choose from our awesome selection: our decadent Opera Cake; Ohaina Chocolate Gateau, a Lifestyle Inquirer Best Dessert Winner; the mouthwatering Trio of Chocolate Mousse, and our amazing Mango Cheesecake.

To order or for more information, please call 8527 0011 or message 0998-9501912.

Product images and details provided by The Manila Hotel in a recent press release.

Mother’s Day offers from The Bistro Group

It’s that time of the year again when we honor and celebrate motherhood and the mothers in our family!

While in ECQ, we can still make this day special for moms by sharing meals together and bonding over good food and wonderful conversation.

All of these are available for curbside pick-up, take out orders and delivery via Grab at the specified branches.

TGI FRIDAYS

Give Mom that Fridays feeling and enjoy its Family Meal comprised of comforting, hearty favorites – Chicken Fingers, Liempo, Mozzarella plus complimentary nachos for P995 (from P1,420).

TGI Friday’s Bonifacio High Street
8856-2997 | 0995-481-4847

ITALIANNI’S

Treat mom to Italian-American classics.

Choose from two Mother’s Day Pizza and Pasta Combos (Better yet, why not have both, instead?)

You can opt for the decadent Truffle and Chicken Mushroom Pasta and the healthy and sumptuous Margherita Pizza plus complimentary Focaccia and Tuscan Rolls. An order is good for 3 persons for P999 (from P1,345).

Or the tomato-based Spaghetti Bolognese and the Pizza Tropicale plus complimentary Focaccia and Tuscan Rolls. An order is good for 3 persons for P999 (from P1,365).

Italianni’s Bonifacio High Street
0916-461-2182 | 0977-628-4515

Italianni’s Greenbelt
0995-095-1002/0961-7560728

BUFFALO WILD WINGS

Wow Mom at Home with two Buffalo Wild Wings’ Mother’s Day Offers:

Award-winning, handspun Wings and Sliders that can be shared by 3 persons for P999 (from P1,220).

Then there’s the MVP Platter for 3 to 4 persons. It has the meaty goodness of traditional wings with your choice of sauce or dry rub, honey bbq ribs and grilled pork belly and served with rice, also for P999 (from P1,695).

Buffalo Wild Wings Uptown Parade, Taguig City
(8625-6361/ 0917-629-4442)

EL POLLO LOCO

Have a Fire-Grilled Day with Mom courtesy of El Pollo Loco. Your family will love to dig into eight pieces of juicy, slow-cooked citrusy chicken plus 4 sides (P945). A fun way to celebrate with people you love while safely at home.

El Pollo Loco
Inside Italianni’s Bonifacio High Street
(8856-3890/0935-860-4544)

DENNY’S

Mom can enjoy some of the dishes on Denny’s slammin’ menu such as The Original Grand Slam (- fluffy buttermilk pancakes, eggs, bacon strips and sausages); All-American Slam (eggs, bacon, sausages and toasted bread) and the Waffle Slam (waffle, eggs and bacon) for lunch, breakfast or dinner. All these for P999 (from P1,215)

Denny’s Eastwood
7720-9337 | 0919-604-6366
Denny’s Robinsons Manila
7234-3132 | 0927-392 0798
Denny’s Uptown Parade
8625-6361/0927-392-4442

Promo details and images provided by The Bistro Group in a recent press release.

Header photo created by tirachardz – www.freepik.com

#QuarantineCookbook: Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

All this extra time spent at home sure gets me in a more adventurous mood in the kitchen.

While Hubby has been flexin’ his culinary muscles and impressin’ the kiddos with outputs such as Beef Stroganoff and my K-pop princess #ExhibitA whipping up some Tteokbokki and Jajangmyeon on the fly, I decided to show ’em a thing or two on how mommy (sometimes!) knows best in the kitchen by preparing Shepherd’s Pie for dinner.

Shepherd’s Pie was first known as cottage pie, which became popular in Europe in the late 1700s around the time when the potato was being introduced as an affordable food crop for the poor, hence the inclusion of “cottage” – which refers to “modest dwelling for rural workers” – in the dish’ name.

It became known as Shepherd’s Pie in the 1800s when mutton or lamb was used as the meat filling.

In the early 1900s, it also adopted the monicker Hachis Parmentier, named after the Frenchman Antoine-Augustine Parmentier who advocated the potato as food source in France and throughout Europe.

Since its down-to-earth beginnings, Shepherd’s Pie has enjoyed worldwide popularity and is included in the menus of many European restaurants.

Well, true to my “no-fuss/no-frills” philosophy when it comes to home cooking, the Shepherd’s Pie I served my fam is quite easy to prepare, with ingredients that are available in many wet markets or grocery stores even during the enhanced community quarantine.

Ingredients:

5 medium potatoes
1/2 cup butter
1 medium onion, rough-chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
1/2 kilo of ground beef
1 beef bouillon cube dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water to make a beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated cheese

Procedure:

Place the potatoes, along with a teaspoon of salt in a medium-sized pot covered by water by at least half an inch. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for twenty minutes or until tender, then remove from the pan.

Melt half of the butter in a pan on medium heat. Saute the onions and carrots in the butter for six to ten minutes or until tender.

Add the ground beef to the carrots and onions, cooking until the beef loses its reddish color. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the Worcestershire sauce and the beef broth. Once the beef mixture reaches a simmer, lower the heat and cook uncovered for 10 minutes.

Mash the cooked potatoes in a bowl. Add in the remaining half of the butter, then season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 200 deg C. Evenly spread the beef mixture in a large baking dish.

Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef. Using a fork, rough up the surface of the mashed potatoes to create peaks that will get browned. You may sprinkle some grated cheese on top of the mashed potatoes.

Place the baking dish in the oven and cook for thirty minutes or until brown and bubbling.

This recipe serves eight at 383 calories per serving.

The dish is a hit with the fam and I look forward to preparing it again. For my next attempt, I’m considering adding some sliced mushrooms.

I would recommend this dish for Sunday brunch with the fam or as a contribution to a potluck party. It’s quite heavy on its own and can go a long way when combined with other dishes.

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out while in quarantine? Check out my other recipes:

McDonald’s shares 5 must-try recipes for your Chicken Fillet!

Starting April 27, McDonald’s Philippines started offering its Breaded Chicken Fillet in Cook-It-Yourself packs. Customers can easily get packs of 15 pcs for only P315 through participating McDonald’s Drive-Thru, and Take Out while bigger packs of 60pcs are available in select SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore branches.

Loved by customers as the main ingredient in McDonald’s McCrispy Chicken Fillet with Rice and McCrispy Chicken Sandwich, the Breaded Chicken Fillet Cook-It-Yourself packs are not just convenient to order, but also easy to cook! Just by deep frying the fillet portions for 6-7 minutes, you can enjoy a tasty and slightly spicy Chicken Fillet with a crispy outer crunch. While you can have it simply with a hot bed of rice or sandwiched in between steaming burger buns, there are also many other ways to enjoy this delicious fillet!

In partnership with McCormick, here are 5 easy home recipes you can try that will put a different twist to this McDonald’s staple.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Fillet

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter, melted
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp McCormick Garlic Granulated or McCormick Garlic Powder
4 pcs McDonald’s Breaded Chicken Fillet

Procedure:

Pour the melted butter over the previously fried Breaded Chicken Fillet.

Combine parmesan cheese and garlic powder together in a bowl then sprinkle over the buttered chicken fillets. Serve hot.

Honey-Teriyaki Chicken Fillet

Yields 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

2 tbsp McCormick Teriyaki Marinade & Dipping Sauce
2 tbsp honey
8-10 pcs McDonald’s Breaded Chicken Fillet

Procedure:

Combine Teriyaki sauce and honey together in a small bowl. Mix until well blended.

Glaze previously fried Breaded Chicken Fillet with the honey-teriyaki mixture by pouring over or by basting with a brush. Serve hot.

Chicken Fillet Curry

Yields 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp cooking oil
1 pc white onion, diced
8-10 pcs McDonald’s Breaded Chicken Fillet
1 pack McCormick Yellow Curry Recipe Mix
2 cups coconut milk
1 pc green bell pepper, diced
1 pc large potato, diced

Procedure:

Sauté the onions in a saucepan/pot over medium heat until translucent.

Mix the Yellow Curry Recipe mix and the coconut milk together then pour into the pan. Add in the vegetables. Allow to simmer until potatoes are cooked and sauce is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and serve hot over the previously fried Breaded Chicken Fillet on a bed of rice.

Chicken Fillet Pastel

Yields 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp cooking oil
1 pc white onion, diced
8-10 pcs McDonald’s Breaded Chicken Fillet
1 pack McCormick Creamy Garlic Perfect Pasta Mix
2 cups evaporated milk
1 pc carrot, diced
1 pc green bell pepper, diced
1 can Vienna sausage, cut into 3 (about ½” pieces)

Procedure:

Sauté the onions in a saucepan/pot over medium heat until translucent.

Mix the Creamy Garlic Perfect Pasta mix and evaporated milk together then pour into the pan. Add in the vegetables. Allow to simmer until vegetables are cooked and sauce is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

Toss in the chopped Vienna sausage and simmer for another 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and serve hot over the previously fried Breaded Chicken Fillet on a bed of rice.

Creamy Garlic Chicken Fillet

Yield: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

8-10pcs McDonald’s Breaded Chicken Fillet
1 ½ cup milk
1 pack McCormick Creamy Garlic Perfect Pasta Mix

Procedure:

Mix the milk and the Creamy Garlic Perfect Pasta mix together in a small saucepot then place over medium heat.

Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken for about 3 minutes. Sauce is ready to use.

Pour sauce over the previously fried Breaded Chicken Fillet. Serve hot.

Awaken the master chef in you and grab a pack of Cook-It-Yourself Breaded Chicken Fillet from participating McDonald’s and SM Markets stores! Complete the experience by getting your own McCormick products through the following websites: https://www.mccormickculinary.com.ph, https://shopee.ph/mccormick.ph, and https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/mccormick/

Try out these recipes and share your finished product by tagging @McDo_PH on Instagram and Twitter and @McDo.PH on Facebook!

Visit http://bit.ly/McDocookityourself for the full list of stores offering frozen Cook-It-Yourself packs and follow McDonald’s on Facebook for the latest updates.

Recipes and images provided by McDonald’s in a recent press release.

L’entrecote opens for take out and delivery

Your favorite steak is only a call away! L’entrecote Corner Bistro is now open for takeaway and delivery daily from 11am to 5pm.

Have your favorite l’entrecote cuts of 8oz US Angus Choice Sirloin Steak and 12oz US Certified Angus Beef Sirloin Steak both with the famous secret herbed butter sauce, hand cut fries and house salad. You can also have the 21oz US CAB Tomahawk Rib Bone Steak good for two people or the 6oz US CAB Tenderloin. You choose sides and sauces.

The popular Big Adlez Niçoise Salad of mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, potato, hard boiled egg and anchovies with Dijon mustard, olive oil and lime dressing comes with either Grilled Salmon or Shrimps is also available as well as pastas, appetizers and mains like Grilled Salmon, Lamb Shank and Grilled Chicken.

L’entrecote is at Unit A Bellagio II Burgos Circle at Forbes Town Center Bonifacio Global City. For pick up and delivery, call 8856-4856 or 0915-885-7622.

Payment is cash, credit card and bank transfer.

Product images and details provided in a recent press release.

Spice it up with McDonald’s new Spicy Chicken Burger and Spicy Shake Shake Fries!

Time to spice up your meal as McDonald’s Philippines launches the new Spicy Chicken Burger and Spicy Shake Shake Fries!

Available for a limited time and in select stores only, the Spicy Chicken Burger is just what you need to excite your taste buds during this time. Imagine a thick, juicy, and wonderfully spiced fried-chicken cutlet, topped with creamy mayo, sandwiched between a toasted sesame seed bun! To add more thrill to the Spicy Chicken Burger, you can upgrade your meal and pair it with the new hot & Spicy Shake Shake Fries to get that full, mouth watering experience.

If you want to give your family a spicy treat, you can grab the Burger Bundle for three, which is perfect for sharing! It includes three Spicy Chicken Burgers, one BFF Spicy Shake Shake Fries, and three regular drinks – all for Php 399 only!

What are you waiting for? Satisfy your spicy cravings with the new Spicy Chicken Burger and Spicy Shake Shake fries! Enjoy them all day and by ordering via McDelivery, GrabFood, Foodpanda, or McDonald’s Drive Thru.

Follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook to stay up to date on all McDo announcements.

Product image and details provided by McDonald’s in a recent press release.