Eat – Page 87 – Jellybeans in the City

Check out these Christmas Party Packages from The Bistro Group

Planning a last-minute clan get-together, or an end-of-year office party?

Worry no more because The Bistro Group’s got your back with these holiday party packages among its most popular chains available until January 1.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

Kids and adults will say “Yeehaw!” when they celebrate their party the Texas Roadhouse way. A Wild West celebration awaits adults with packages different packages: Rodeo Drive (P500/person; Rib Feast (P600/person); Howdy Get Rowdy (P1,000/person) and Roadhouse Hall of Fame (P1,500/person).

Also, give your kids to a hoedown with Texas Roadhouse’s kiddie party packages, all prepared for 30 kids.

For inquiries, call 09177740418

HARD ROCK CAFÉ MANILA

Have your party at Hard Rock Café Manila and you will surely have a Jingle Bell Rockin’ Holiday! Choose from Classic Rock Menu (P895/person); Alternative Rock menu (P995/person ); Rock and Roll menu (P1095 per person); Heavy Metal menu (P1195 per person).

If you prefer the Heavy Metal menu and want to be seated at the Michael Jackson area, pay P1305 per head. All packages come with two kinds of sides, and refillable ice Tea or Dalandan Juice.

Drink Packages, meanwhile, are: Package 1 at P935/person (one cocktail, a choice of select local beer, and one Alternative Rock beverage); Package 2 at P995/person (one cocktail, a choice of pre-selected local beer, and one Jam Session)

Kids Party Packages 1 and 2 are both at P565/head and include starters, pasta, dessert, and refillable Ice Tea or Dalandan Juice.

For reservations, visit or call Hard Rock Café Manila at the 2/L of S Maison at Conrad Manila or call (02) 8990 9809 / +639563646142

BUFFALO WILD WINGS

No better way to celebrate the holidays than at B-Dubs! Throw your Christmas party at Buffalo Wild Wings for as low as P550 per head inclusive of a hefty menu selection, venue setup, use of 30+ widescreen TVs, and a beerpong table! Bring in the kids to enjoy our Little Buffalo party packages for P355 per head! Photographers, magicians, birthday cakes, and other add ons are available for additional costs.

For inquiries, call Buffalo Wild Wings branches in Conrad S Maison – 777-2905; Glorietta 1 – 8235726; Vista Mall Sta Rosa – 5447995; Uptown Mall, BGC – 8015993; and Estancia Mall – 6327489

So go ahead and plan your merry and worry-free gatherings. Just bring the good ole’ holiday cheer!

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

Winner winner, chicken dinner at Bad Bird, SM Megamall

Just when you thought fried chicken is already “gasgas” (tired) as a food concept, here comes Bad Bird with its own bold statement: the umami fried chicken.

While many restos would tout the absence of MSG (monosodium glutamate) in their dishes, Bad Bird goes all out with it, using this ingredient in its natural and processed forms: dashi, mushroom powder, furikake, miso, and more!

Through trial and error, it has developed its proprietary fried chicken seasoning, the one that produces that umami taste, the inherent savoriness of fried chicken brought about to tickle and delight our taste buds.

On our way to another food adventure, fellow foodies Jen of SandUnderMyFeet, Nix of IEatAndIWander and I decided to sate our hunger at Bad Bird by pooling our GCs (the currency of the blogger microeconomy, hehehe). Our winning repast included:

Torched Corn & Cheese Chicken Plate (Php375). A huge piece of Bad Bird’s badass umami fried chicken – all crispy and juicy ready for our tummies – with our new favorite side dish, the torched corn kernels in cream cheese.

We added Bad Bird’s refreshing citrusy Homebrew Iced Tea to this meal set for just Php69 and upgraded the set’s original steamed rice to Dirty Rice (fried rice with bits of bacon, kimchi, liver and tamago) for just Php89.

Mango Rice Milk (Php170). A sweet and slightly tart shake made with fresh mango and Korean rice milk.

Garlic and Butter Crispy 2-Fry Wings (Php275). Six pieces of chicken wings tossed in the fragrant and flavorful garlic and butter sauce.

Rich Pork Noodles (Php265). One of Bad Bird’s filling noodle dishes where every noodle is bursting with umami.

By introducing new flavors to the classic fried chicken, Bad Bird has certainly revived the dish and remade it into something new to enjoy.

Did you know that if you and a friend ordered two drinks at Bad Bird, you can get the same two drinks free when you unlock your Zomato Gold privilege?

This Bad Bird branch is located at Third Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 77539729.

Other branches may be found at:

Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Hole in the Wall, Fourth Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City
Ground Floor, Pedro Gil Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila

Thai BBQ Original Restaurant, Glorietta

I regularly meet up with an old friend for lunch whenever she comes back to the Philippines on vacation from Singapore.

For our lunch adventures, we usually scour the Glorietta-Greenbelt area in Makati for restaurants that offer something new to excite our taste buds.

For this particular get-together, we decided on Thai BBQ Original Restaurant located outside Glorietta 4.

The resto chain originated in Los Angeles in the late 70s and set up shop here in the country in 2016, aiming to reignite the Pinoy’s taste for Thai cuisine.

Thai food is characterized by lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic elements and a spicy edge. According to Australian chef and Thai food expert David Thompson, Thai cooking is about the “juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish.”

This became evident in our meal which included:

Pandan Chicken (Php380). Especially marinated boneless chicken pieces are encased in pandan leaf packets, then deep-fried and served with a traditional pandan sauce. This results in a dish with tender and juicy pieces infused with pandan aroma.

Basil Eggplant (Php320). Sliced eggplants, ground pork and basil leaves are sauteed in oyster sauce resulting in a flavorful and nutritious dish.

Thai BBQ Fried Rice (Php180). Day-old rice is sauteed with barbecued beef bits in garlic and othet veggies then seasoned with soy sauce and oyster sauce.

Sticky Rice with Mango (Php320). The traditional Thai dessert made with glutinous rice, fresh mango and coconut milk.

Thai Iced Milk Coffee (Php140). Strongly brewed coffee mixed with condensed milk.

Catching up with old friends over good food is always a treat!

And a quick reminder from your friendly neighborhood Jellybeans: always keep a bottle of Safeguard hand santizer handy when you go out to eat or wash your hnds with Safeguard liquid soap before your meals for a #HappyGermFreeHoliday!

Get a free dish when you and a friend dine at Thai BBQ Original Restaurant, thanks to Zomato Gold! Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use the code VOLT0979 to get 10% off the membership fee.

This Thai BBQ Original Restaurant branch is located at Ground Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Other branches are located at:

Level 2, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Level 5, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City

A European take on the puto bumbong at Vanderlust, The Podium

The food item that I most associate with the Christmas season is the puto bumbong.

I was late in joining #TeamPutoBumbong, having developed a liking for this delicacy when I was already working, but it soon worked its way up to the top of my favorite seasonal food items.

Puto bumbong is a type of steamed rice cake (“puto”) made from a special local variety of rice called pirurutong which has a deep purple color. The grains are soaked in salted water overnight then drained and packed densely into bamboo tubes (the “bumbong”) and steamed until done.

The resulting purple cylindrical rice cake is is then usually served on banana leaves, slathered with butter and sprinkled with muscovado sugar and grated coconut.

Well, you couldn’t get more Filipino than that!

Well, Vanderlust, the bistro owned by world wanderers Val and Anthony Tan, has just introduced a European twist to the puto bumbong: by cooking it ala Dutch baby pancake.

While retaining its native ingredients, this puto bumbong is baked in the oven using a cast iron skillet instead of steamed in bamboo tubes.

It is served topped with generous helpings of custard, toasted coconut, queso de bola and muscovado syrup.

It’s basically everything we love about the puto bumbong with a novel way to enjoy our favorite Christmas delicacy.

This dish is exclusively available at Vanderlust’s branch in the Podium so hie yourself over there if you want a taste!

Many thanks to Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com for sharing this dessert treat!

Get a free dish when you and a friend dine at Vanderlust Bistro, thanks to Zomato Gold! Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use the code JELLYB to get 10% off the membership fee.

You can also book your table at Vanderlust Bistro using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill. Sign up using my referral link to get additional perks.

This Vanderlust Bistro branch is located at Fifth Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 88717314.

Another branch is located at 100 Scout De Guia Corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City. Check out my review of this branch here.

Unli Japanese fusion dishes at Yakikai Buffet Restaurant

Bid adieu to your diets, Quezon City peeps, because here’s another reason to eat all you can!

Hidden away in one of the streets in Quezon City’s Scout area is a newly opened restaurant offering unli servings of Japanese fusion dishes: Yakikai. Its name is a combination of the Japanese words “yaki” (which means “grilled”) and “kai” (which translates to “meeting or gathering”).

Set in a renovated two-story house along Dr. Lazcano Street, Yakikai offers diners comfortable seating options indoors or al fresco.

Here, families and friends can meet up and enjoy each other’s company while indulging themselves in refillable yakiniku and a buffet of Japanese and Korean dishes.

And thanks to Yakikai’s Opening Promo, you and your gang can gorge yourselves on its set meals at discounted rates this December!

Premium Set (Php339 from Php499). Includes chicken teriyaki, spicy chicken yakiniku, samgyupsal, galbi sauce pork, peppered pork shoulder loin, sliced beef, beef tare yakiniku, spicy beef and fresh shrimp.

Emperor Set (Php599 from Php699). Includes chicken teriyaki, spicy chicken yakiniku, samgyupsal, spicy samgyupsal, galbi sauce pork, peppered pork shoulder loin, sliced beef, beef tare yakiniku, spicy beef, fresh shrimp, beef steak (chuck eye roll), jjamppong nobe, salmon sashimi and ebi tempura.

Both already sets include unli refills of cheese as well.

Plus, birthday celebrants can eat for free within their birthday month as long as they’re accompanied by seven full-paying adults and can present a valid ID.

With its comfortable surroundings, wide array of dishes and its accommodating wait staff, Yakikai seems poised to be the new destination of choice for buffet hunters.

So go ahead and schedule the next barkada meet up or family celebration at Yakikai! And be sure to wear something loose (wink! wink!).

Thanks to Bunny of AlwaysTheFunnyGirl for extending the invitation!

Yakikai Buffet Restaurant is located at 122 Dr. Lazcano Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open daily from 4pm to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 927 1383980 or +63 929 8235452.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Comfort and conversations at Prologue Neighborhood Kitchen, Tomas Morato

There are friendships that hold firm despite the distance or the dearth in time spent together in the past year. There are people with whom you will always feel at ease and every meeting is a welcome rediscovery of what made you friends to begin with.

Holding get-togethers with these kinds of friends in a charming and comfortable venue provides a special backdrop for fun ribbing, meaningful conversations and new happy memories.

That is what my yearly Christmas reunion with my ex-officemates held at Prologue Neighborhood Kitchen was: a coming together of individuals who may be separated by distance but are still close in heart and mind.

Prologue is a relatively new dining destination in the Tomas Morato area. It is a place designed to give comfort and good cheer with its bright and airy interiors adorned with homey touches such as a warmly colored brick walls, displays of freshly baked bread, bric-a-bracs artfully displayed on a shelf and old wood furniture and plush couches.

Diners curious about what goes on in food prep can take a peek through the window to the kitchen to see Chef Hiroyuki Meno’s team hard at work in bringing Prologue’s comforting fusion of French and Asian cuisines to their tables.

The dishes that fueled our talks and good-natured teasing include:

Starters.

Farmer’s Salad (Php240). Mixed greens, apple, candied walnuts, Italian parsley, sweet corn, boiled egg and okra tossed in miso honey dressing.

Fried Chicken Wings (Php240). Tender and juicy fried chicken wings coated in mixed spices and served sriracha mayonnaise.

Pastas. These dishes make use of Prologue’s fresh homemade pasta.

Amatriciana (Php260). Made with homemade Iberico Pancetta, Semi-dried cherry tomatoes, basil, olive and parmesan.

Trofie Pesto (Php370). Made with clams, shrimps, basil pesto, Semi-dried cherry tomatoes, asparagus and parmesan.

Parma Arugula Spaghettini (Php380). Made with asparagus, arugula leaves and puree, aglio e olio and parmesan.

Pizzas. These Neapolitan-style pizzas are all freshly made upon your order, using fresh ingredients and hand-kneaded dough.

Frutti di Mare (Php590). Made with stewed tomato sauce and pesto topped with squid, mussels, shrimp and Paris mushrooms.

Prosciutto Rucola (Php490). Made with stewed tomato sauce and pesto topped with parma ham, arugula, cherry tomato and shaved parmesan.

Pastries and Coffee. Prologue roasts its coffee beans in-house. Its Hiro blend is made of beans originating from Brazil, Ethiopia and Indonesia roasted medium dark with a rich flavor and fruity notes which we enjoyed as hot drinks along with some pastries for dessert.

Mocha (Php140).

Cafe Latte (Php140).

Matcha Torte (Php330).

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (Php250).

With Prologue’s delightful surroundings and delectable food, a gathering of friends was made even more special.

Cheers to more happy meetings with real friends.

Prologue is located at 87 Scout Gandia Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 86932013, +63 961 3799889 or +63 995 8424928.

Open a box of happiness with cinnamon rolls from Rolls.PH

Did you know that cinnamon rolls originated from Sweden where it is called kanelbulle (“cinnamon bun”)? This Swedish pastry is an offshoot of the British Chelsea bun (a currant bun), the German schnecken (rolls made with sugar and currants), and other butter-infused yeast dough pastries that became popular in Northern Europe in the mid-1700s.

The cinnamon roll is usually enjoyed by the Swedish during fika, the time when they take a break from their day to sit down with friends and family to share some baked goods and coffee.

And who wouldn’t want these rolls during coffee break, hmm? The smell of the cinnamon wafting from the warm bun would surely tease your nose into lingering over a few cups of coffee as you ruminate over your day.

The Chelsea bun and the schnecken made their way across the Atlantic in the 1800s through English and German immigrants and found themselves in the New World, particularly in the cultural melting pot of Philadelphia where the size and make-up of the Chelsea bun are combined with the fillings of the schnecken roll, resulting in a large, caramelized cinnamon roll.

Today, cinnamon rolls are practically staples in coffee shops, oftentimes topped with a cream cheese icing that adds even more richness to the pastry.

But, guess what: you can enjoy it at home, at your workplace or wherever you are thanks to Rolls.ph.

This online business is the brainchild of two Immaculate Concepcion Academy students who discovered a way to produce the perfect homemade cinnamon rolls – soft, moist and not too sweet.

These rolls are all made by hand using premium ingredients and are priced at:

Single: Php60
Box of 6: Php350
Box of 12: Php600

These buns are ideal as coffee break treats, holiday gifts for friends and family or as one’s potluck contribution to family gatherings.

Plus, your purchase of these buns also help build a learning center in Mindoro as well as fund environmental cleanup groups.

So wouldn’t you want to get yourself or someone special a box (or two… or more :-)) of these yummy cinnamon rolls for the holidays?

You can order from Rolls.ph through the following:

Call +63 917 5350923
Email officialrolls.ph@gmail.com
Send a private message via Facebook or Instagram

Disclosure: A product sample was provided to me to facilitate an honest review.

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

Meat All You Can at Holy Cow Sizzlers, Trinoma Mall

Holy cow! That’s a lot of meat!

That’s what you will exclaim when you treat yourself and your friends to Holy Cow Sizzlers’ Meat All You Can promo.

Well, what is it anyway?

The Meat All You Can promo is Holy Cow Sizzlers’ answer to the unli samgyeopsal places sprouting all over the metro.

If you’re wondering what a casual dining resto with an American West theme has to do with the current K-BBQ craze, here are some points for comparison:

Similarities:

Unlimited meat. Yes, for just Php399, you can indulge your inner carnivore and eat your fill of grilled beef, pork and chicken dishes available.

Refillable sides. You can have as much of the rice, veggies and salads on the side as you like.

Differences.

Flavors of the West. Holy Cow Sizzlers first made a name for itself for serving American West-style steaks. Those flavors will still come into play in its Meat All You Can Offer which include Chicken Chinitos and Chicken Fillet, Beef (my fave!), Pork Belly and Fish Fingers, along with your choice of sauce among spicy barbecue, peppercorn gravy, trio mushroom gravy and soy garlic.

Choose from ten tasty side dishes as well: coleslaw, cheese croquettes, macaroni salad, corn and carrots, fries, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, mojos, buttered veggies and garlic rice.

No grilling! Yep, you don’t need to worry about cooking the meat yourself. Just order or ask for refills as you like and your meats will arrive on your table already grilled to perfection and served on sizzling plates.

So be sure to bring your appetite when you and your gang visit Holy Cow Sizzlers!

Thanks to the crew of Holy Cow Sizzlers for the warm welcome and the delicious meal and to Jen of Sand Under My Feet for extending the invitation!

This Holy Cow Sizzlers branch is located at Garden Wing Area, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 10pm.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Park & Shop, 8300 Dr. A. Santos Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque
Ground Floor, South Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

Check out my reviews of other restos that cater to meat lovers:

A Japanese shokudo food experience at Grillin’ Ape, Eastwood Cybermall

Craving for yummy Japanese food for lunch but payday is still a few days away?

Fear not; if your workplace is near Eastwood in Libis, an exciting and affordable dining option has just opened in your neck of the woods.

Hie yourself over to Eastwood Cybermall’s Food Court and you will see its newest establishment called Grillin’ Ape.

Styled after the shokudo (casual, independendently owned hole-in-the-wall restaurants located and cafeterias that serve affordable dishes), it is marked by colorful murals and banners, with wooden stools and tables where guests can eat in comfort. Diners can choose their food among no-frills and affordable Japanese dishes with prices starting at Php50!

Together with my fellow foodies, I checked out Grillin’ Ape’s offerings, which included:

Sushi Rolls. These are uramaki type rolls, the ones in which the rice is outside and the seaweed wraps around the filling, made of different types of flavorful fillings and toppings.

Mango Kani (Php130).

Crunchy Tempura (Php150).

Tempura Caviar Overload (Php160).

Spicy Tuna Lava (Php150).

Sushi Donuts. A modern take on how to enjoy sushi, sushi donuts are made of donut-shaped sushi rice base topped with the same ingredients as sushi rolls.

Lava Donut (Php230). Made with tempura, egg, yuzu kyozu mayo and mozzarella cheese.

Salmon Belly Donut (Php195). Made with marinated salmon and red radish.

Yakiniku. These are meat seasoned with tare sauce or items such as quail eggs and corn which are cooked by charcoal-grilling. These may be ordered by the stick – Chicken Meatballs (Php50), Pork Belly with Scallion (Php70), Enoki and Bacon (Php80), Chicken Liver wrapped in Bacon (Php80), Chicken Wings (Php95), Quail Egg Bacon (Php80), Chicken Fillet with Scallion (Php60), Pork Meatballs (Php70), Quail Egg (Php40) and Corn (Php30); in rice bowls priced beginning at Php160; or as part of this Yakitori Big Bowl (Php599 – good for four) in which Japanese rice seasoned with teriyaki sauce is topped with four sticks each of pork belly, chicken fillet, pork meatballs, bacon-wrapped liver, grilled corn and quail eggs.

Udon Bowl (Php180 ). Thick strips of wheat noodles in savory pork broth topped with your choice of meat, as well as herbs and egg. We were served two variations of this dish: one topped with pork belly and another topped with bacon. These hearty noodle dishes can both fill and warm tummies especially when the cold weather comes in.

Desserts. No meal is complete without dessert, am I right? Well, at Grillin’ Ape, we capped our meal with these sweets you can go bananas over.

Banana Ape (Php135). Caramelized bananas topped by a generous scoop of vanilla icing.

Grilled Banana (Php50). Slices of skewered bananas grilled then drizzled with caramel sauce.

Sake. Adding to the shokudo dining experience are the special sake – Shika Cup and Kirei Peach Sake – which we were told were not available elsewhere in the metro. Sake are alcoholic beverages made of fermented rice and are part of a long standing tradition in Japanese cuisine.

Despite being only a few weeks since its opening, Grillin’ Ape does seem set to be the new destination for tasty yet affordable Japanese food.

Many thanks to Nino and the crew of Grillin’ Ape for the fabulous food and to Diane of Fried and Prejudice for extending the invitation!

Grillin’ Ape is located at Food Court, Third Floor, Eastwood Cybermall, Libis, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 999 8831662.

Time for some tapas at Tittos, Greenhills

Mention the word “tapas” here and the image that comes to mind is that of cured meats usually served for breakfast alongside garlic rice and fried eggs.

However, tapas has a totally different meaning in other countries.

Tapas originated in pre-19th century Spain where innkeepers offered travellers a sampling of the dishes they offer on a pot cover called a “tapa.”

There are claims that the OG (read: original) tapas were thin slices of bread or meat used to cover glasses of sherry served in Andalusian taverns to prevent fruit flies from hovering over them between sips. These slices tend to come from salty foodstuffs such as hams or chorizos which have the added benefit to tavernkeepers of activating thirst among the drinkers, thereby helping to increase alcohol sales.

A darker take on the history of tapas, particularly the ham and non-kosher foodstuffs, is that these were used by the Spanish Inquisition to identify who among the conversos (Jews who converted to Christianity) have not fully abandoned their Jewish faith. Woe betide the unfortunate converso who showed reluctance to eat non-kosher tapas during banquets!

Over the years, tapas has evolved to mean an appetizer, snack, or a small portion of food. It has also changed throughout this history og Spain by incorporating new ingredients and culinary influences. From the former Spanish colonies in the Americas, for example, came new ingredients such as tomatoes, sweet and chili peppers and maize (corn), among others.

These flavors figure prominently in my makeshift tapas experience at Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew after my recent shopping venture in Greenhills Shopping Center.

Feeling peckish after walking all over the complex, I decided to have something light for lunch. I heard that Tittos opened a banch in the new O Square Building in Greenhills a few months ago and I’ve been wanting to dine there.

This resto occupies a sprawling area decorated with images and colors that call to mind the festive and lively Latin American culture. The large windows facing Ortigas Avenue also let in a lot of natural light, further enhancing the place’s visual appeal.

Having decided to have a light solo meal, I ordered:

Beef Barbacoa Taco (Php165). Home-made tortillas topped with shredded barbecued beef, pico de gallo (a type of salsa made from chopped tomatoes, onions and peppers tossed in lime juice mixed with salt and cilantro), chimichurri (piquant sauce containing garlic, vinegar, olive oil and chili pepper flakes), Mexican crema (a thick and tangy cream similar to sour cream and creme fraiche), cole slaw and potato crisps.

Tittos Elote (Php245). A variation of the popular Mexican maize-based street food, this consists of sweet corn brushed with sweet paprika butter, Latin spices, mayonnaise and lime then grilled and topped with crumbled queso fresco (white cheese) and bits of chicharon (pork rind).

Tamarind Cola (Php95). Fresh tamarind puree combined with a cola reduction, it is refreshing but I would prefer it to be a bit sweeter.

Actually, the serving size of this light meal turned out to be quite substantial so I ended up having half my meal bagged to-go for sharing with the fam.

I have developed a fascination for the elote and I will make it a point to order this whenever I visit Tittos.

This Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew branch is located at Ground Level, O Square 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 12 midnight, Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 1am, and Sundays from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8848867.

Another branch is located at 16 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.