Eat – Page 93 – Jellybeans in the City

Salud to the weekend at Latino Cocktail Bar, Poblacion

What to do after a hectic week of meetings, reports and presentations?

If you find yourself in the Poblacion area, you might want to check out the newly opened Latino Cocktail Bar along P. Burgos.

Here, you can bid goodbye to the workweek partying the night away enjoying the hot Latin vibes from the music, the drinks and the people (mostly from the local Latino community) who are sure to frequent the place.

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attendee its Grand Opening, where we enjoyed some of its celebrated cocktails:

Mojito. A traditional Cuban highball of white rhum, lime juice, sugar, mint, ice and soda water which makes for a sweet, herby and citrusy drink.

Amaretto Sour. A drink made with the Italian almond-based liqueur amaretto as well as citrusy juices, simple syrup and orange liqeuer.

Cosmopolitan. Popularized in the TV series Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice, this concoction is made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and sweetened lime juice.

Frozen margarita. A cocktail made with tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice shaken then frozen to create flavored shaved ice served in a salt-rimmed glass.

Together with these cocktails, we also nibbled on some of Latino’s bar chow:

Empanadas. A baked pastry turnover filled with beef, chicken on cheese.

Desitos de Queso. A popular Venezuelan snack made of fried and breaded cheese sticks.

Nuggets and Fries. If you’re wondering what these fun-shaped chicken nuggets and stick fries are doing in a Latin-American style bar, well, I’m wondering about that myself.

So go ahead and add Latino Cocktail Bar among your Poblacion haunts when you want to say salud to the weekend!

Thanks to the owner and crew of Latino Cocktail Bar and to Jonylle Pineda of #WeLoveToEatPH for extending the invite!

Latino Cocktail Bar is located at 5739 P. Burgos corner San Lucas Street, Poblacion Makati (beside Gogi Korean Barbecue and Gangnam Style). For inquiries and reservations, call +63 956 4630866.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended the restaurant’s grand opening wherein the food items mentioned above were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for honest reviews.

A taste of Asia at Asian Taste, Seascape Village

Asia is home to many countries with varied geography, climes and cultures, giving rise to richly diverse cuisines.

At Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant, located at the foodie haven Seascape Village in Pasay City, this diversity is showcased and celebrated.

While the dining area at the ground floor is set up like a typical Chinese restaurant – complete with 10-seater round tables, each with a lazy susan so people can eat family style – the second floor VIP rooms add a stunning view of Manila Bay. Despite Seascape Village being a “paluto” area – where diners can buy their fish and other seafood from the wet market within the complex and have them cooked by the restaurant, Asian Taste added some fine dining elements to their diners’ experience with well-appointed surroundings and accommodating wait staff.

As explained by restaurant manager, Ryan Uy, Asian Taste’s menu spans several Asian cuisines, including Chinese (of course!), Japanese, Thai, Malaysian and more (even Filipino!), giving its diners a literal taste of Asia. To this end, the restaurant employs two chefs from Hong Kong who bring their flair and expertise in cooking up tasty Asian dishes.

Together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I attended a food crawl organized by Seascape Village, the first stop of which was at this restaurant. Here, we tasted some of its signature dishes which included:

3 Cups Chicken. Also called sanbeiji, this Taiwanese braised poultry dish got its name from the traditional use of 1 cup each of soy sauce, sesame oil and rice wine. Basil, ginger, garlic and spring onions are added to flavor the dish. Legend has it that a sympathetic prison warden prepared this dish (using these limited number of ingredients) for the Chinese poet and patriot Wen Tianxiang prior to his execution ordered by Kublai Khan.

Pompano in Tausi. This mildly-flavored fish is fried instead of steamed, giving its skin a slight crispy texture which contrasts well with the black bean sauce.

Salt and Pepper Liempo. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly simple preparation of this dish: juicy pork belly seasoned with salt and pepper then stir-fried to a golden brown and topped with chilis and garlic make for a flavorful viand.

Mango Lapu. This Singaporean dish is made of lightly-battered and fried lapu-lapu, topped with strips of green and yellow mango that added sweet and tart elements as well as contrasts in texture to the dish.

Golden Beans. Crisp French beans lightly coated with salted egg yolk batter, another culinary influence from Singapore.

Prawn Tempura. Large juicy tiger prawns covered in golden crispy batter. These have an extra layer of bubble-like batter for added crunch.

Asian Taste is clearly the place to be for a taste of Asia – different facets of a cuisine rich in stories and traditions, expressed in every dish.

Many thanks to Ryan and the staff of Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant for the warm welcome and the wonderful meal and to Jen and Louie of Seascape Village for inviting us.

Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant is located at Seascape Village, Atang dela Rama, CCP Complex, Pasay City (near Sofitel and Manila Film Center), open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8520877 or +63 917 8557926.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for an honest review and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

Ilustrado celebrates thirty years

To mark its 30th year anniversary, Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila is offering an 8-course Degustation menu for the whole month of October.

The menu is curated by Chef de Patron Bernice Pimentel, featuring local ingredients and Philippine cuisine on trend. “This years’ theme is from ordinary to extraordinary – ordinary food you would see in a weekly Filipino household menu but in haute fashion,” notes Chef Bernice.

“As the famous adage goes … ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” Philippine cuisine has arrived thanks to our multitude of brilliant chefs and champions bringing forward our culinary heritage and roots.” Pimentel continues.

The Ilustrado Anniversary Degustation starts with Kalabasa Pan de Sal – pillows of Filipino soft roll with shaved squash and served with EVOO, balsamic vinegar and a home- made queso de bola dip.

Next comes the amuse bouche of Longga burger – a Boracay staple longganisa patty turned pintxos with kesong puti and tomato jam.

The cold starter is Ensaladang Talong – a mélange of grilled eggplant, onion, tomato, salted quail egg in a spicy pinakurat beurre blanc.

The hot starter, lumpiang bangus comes next which is flaked tinapa in a baked shell with a sweet, tangy mango compote.

The soup is kinamias which is clear sinigang like vegetarian broth.

The first entrée is Adobong Pusit – grilled baby squid in balsamic adobo sauce followed by the main course Bulalo – seared bone marrow and beef risotto with twice-cooked angus beef shortplate and corn salsa sopresa.

The sweet ending is a delightful saba con hielo which brings together evaporated milk panna cotta, banana cue slices topped off with chewy bobba pearls.

Diners have a choice to order the whole 8-course menu or order select dishes, ala carte. Each dish is priced separately and the whole menu is at PhP 1,400.00 plus 10 per cent service charge.

Like and follow Ilustrado on Facebook and Instagram as it celebrates thirty years with exciting giveaways, food promotions and discounts year round.

The restaurant is located at 744 General Luna street, Intramuros, Manila. Call to inquire or reserve at 527-3674, 527-2345, 0939-9206822 or email catering@ilustradorestaurant.com.ph.

Degustation menu details provided in a recent press release

Photo credits: EJ Bunag of ilovetoeatph.wordpress.com

Chocoholics’ delight at Tsokolateria, Tomas Morato

Being a chocoholic, I get all excited whenever I see chocolate bars or chocolate-based desserts.

However, chocolate can be so much more than desserts.

At Tsokolateria, for example, chocolate in the form of tablea (cacao tablets) or variations thereof, infuses almost every dish from salads, soups, kakanin (local rice delicacies), breads and main dishes, as well as, of course, desserts.

The cacao or cocoa plant made its way to the Philippines from Mexico in the 1700s by way of the Galleon Trade. Today, the Philippines cocoa industry is the primary producer of cocoa beans in Southeast Asia and boasts of its own rich chocolate culinary traditions.

Here in my neck of the woods, the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area, Tsokolateria co-locates within the same premises as Pamana and Hawaiian BBQ. All three restaurants are part of the Happy Concept Group, the company owned and operated by third-generation restaurateur Happy Ongpauco-Tiu.

At Tsokolateria, Ongpauco-Tiu showcases the versatility of native chocolate as it serves as a main ingredient or as an add-on to various dishes – whether sweet or savory – and drinks.

I’ve visited this branch twice this week in my eagerness to sample as much of its offerings as I can. Check out what I’ve been able to try so far:

Oh My Gulay (Php200). Tsokolateria’s Bruschetta Pan de Sal topped by mushrooms, cherry tomatoes,spinach and quezong puti crumbles served with sugared kamote (sweet potato) fries and flavorful bulalo broth which was the soup of the day. For me, this is already a complete – though relatively light – meal!

Tablea Champorado (Php220 for solo | Php395 for double). This is not your normal champorado from a store-bought box. Nope, this is made the old-fashioned way: using mountain rice cooked in native tablea and served simmering-hot with adobo flakes, chicharon and crispy fish chips on the side for interesting contrasts of tastes and textures.

Palitaw at Tablea Syrup (Php130). This flat rice cake made from ground malagkit rice got its name from the way it pops up (“litaw”) to the surface of the boiling water once it’s done cooking. The rich, dark chocolatey tablea syrup adds another dimension of taste to this classic Pinoy merienda dish.

Churros Waffles with Strawberry Overload (Php230, good for two). Waffles made from churros batter accompanied by strawberry halves, native honey and tablea syrup.

Tsokolate ah (Php190, good for two). Hand-made hot chocolate drink made from native tablea, diluted (the “ah” comes from “aguado” which means “watery or thin”) by the addition of water and milk.

Tsokolate eh (Php190, good for two). Rich hot chocolate also made from native tablea which, because it is undiluted, is thick (the “eh” comes from the Spanish word “espeso” which translates to “thick”), has an earthier and pleasantly bitter taste and is generally considered the more authentic iteration of the native hot chocolate when compared with tsokolate ah.

Tsokolateria Signature Mocha (Php150). Native chocolate with milk and a shot of native coffee and served with a Choc Nut candy for added sweetness.

Tsokolateria more than establishes its creativity in crafting a menu permeated with chocolate. I think there’s a lot more to discover here and I look forward to the opportunity to taste more of its dishes.

That said, the resto should work on its queuing: on my second visit, my orders took too long to be served that my lunch break was over by the time they reached me.

Tsokolateria is located along Mother Ignacia Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3743798.

Another branch is located at The Boutique Bed and Breakfast, 45 Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, open daily from 9am to 9.30pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 46 4131798 or +63 46 4131885.

Wyld Kitchen x Bar introduces lunch offering: “Wyld Bowls”

Science confirmed what we corporate drones have known deep inside all along: that precious hour that we call our lunch break is actually good for our health.

Taking regular breaks from work helps prevent a mid-afternoon slump as we regain focus and energy after stepping away from our desks. These breaks also allow us to recharge and destress, as well as give our creativity a boost.

Yes, we should really savor that well-earned lunch break. And what better way to enjoy it than to take your officemates out to the “wyld” side as Wyld Kitchen x Bar now serves up lunch through its new menu items: the #WyldBowls.

One of the welcome additions to the Tomas Morato food scene, Wyld started out as a bar that brought together the freshness and wildness of nature into its food and drinks. (Check out my earlier blog post about Wyld.)

Now, in partnership with BGC’s Alegria Conzinha Moderna & Sangria Bar, Wyld branches out into new territory: lunch bowls.

Called #Wyldbowls, these five hearty bowls feature viands cooked and served the “wyld” way on top of soy ginger rice with a bit of spicy gochujang slaw and sprinkled with fried garlic bits and chopped spring onions for added color and flavor. At only Php249, each bowl already comes with a glass of Wyld’s house-made camote (sweet potato) tops iced tea.

Check them out:

Grilled Pineapple Beer-Brined Pork. Tender pork slices marinated in beer and pineapple and accompanied by a sous vide egg and Chilean pebre sauce.

Smoked Chorizo Cataluna. Specially-made smoked chorizo also accompanied by a sous vide egg and Chilean pebre sauce.

Grilled Cajun Chicken. Smokey and flavorful slices of grilled chicken breast also accompanied by a sous vide egg and Chilean pebre sauce.

Mango Labuyo Glazed Chicken Wings. Juicy fried chicken wings lightly covered with a spicy and fruity glaze.

Buffalo Fried Calamari. Squid rings coated with a spicy and crispy breading.

Each bowl is carefully assembled and prettily served, with lots of elements to make each serving visually appealing. The soy ginger rice has a mild savory taste that complements the viands.

I would prefer more choices for sauces and dips for variety and to counter some of the spiciness such as aioli for the calamari, ranch dressing for the chicken wings or some chimichurri for the Cajun chicken. That said, I found each bowl flavorful and filling.

These lunch bowls offer Wyld’s diners with a welcome break from the usual.

So take advantage of your precious lunch hours to grab some #WyldBowl with your friends. Get into the “wyld” side of lunching out. Who knows? You might bring some of that wildness back to your office with some renewed energy or fresh ideas.

#WyldBowls are available everyday from 11am to 3pm.

Thanks to Ken Gonzales and the Wyld crew for the warm welcome, the stories and the yummy eats, and to Lerizze Dizon of Zomato for extending the invitation!

Wyld Kitchen x Bar is located at Second Floor, The Grandia Place, 143 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, extending its hours Sundays to Wednesdays from 11am to 1am and Thursdays to Saturdays from 11am to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 919 9908805.

Disclosure: Together with other Zomato food bloggers, I attended a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. The food items mentioned here were served to allow is to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Three ways Alegria Cozinha Moderna & Sangria Bar in BGC is your next happy place

Describe your “happy place.”

Is it a place where you can sit back and relax after a busy workday? Is it a place where you can comfortably hang out with friends and catch up over good food and drinks? Is it a place where you can be adventurous and explore the tastes of new and exotic cuisines?

Well, Alegria Cozinha Moderna & Sangria Bar could just be your new happy place.

The Spanish word “alegria” translates to “joy, cheer, happiness.”

These are what Alegria Conzinha Moderna & Sangria Bar hopes to bring out in every diner that walks through its doors.

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I attended a Bloggers Night held here and discovered the ways in which Alegria can be our happy place.

Here’s how:

One: It’s within easy reach.

Located in the bustling and cosmopolitan Bonifacio Global City, Alegria is easily accessible to office workers and residents of Taguig and Makati. Here, you can meet up with friends for a meal or a drink or two as you while away the worst of the rush hour.

Two: It has a vibrant and colorful vibe that will lift your spirits.

The countries that make up Latin America are characterized by a dynamic culture influenced by customs of indigenous people, the European colonizers as well as those of African and Asian countries that came into contact with Latin America.

This resulted to a culture marked with liveliness and color, which mark Alegria’s premises, from the colorful murals on the walls to the lively beat of the music played in the background.

Here, you and your friends can groove to the festive Latin beat as you dine and shake off the day’s worries.

Three: It highlights the fresh and exotic flavors that make Latin cuisine so unique.

The same vibrancy, color and artistry also characterize Alegria’s dishes which we were able to sample, which included:

Pescado (Php165). Fish, pasilla relish, with a smoky flavor from charred pineapple and corn, and red cabbage to be wrapped tortilla frijol.

Agua Chile de Infladita (Php265). Shrimp, Chile watee, charred pineapple and corn, cilantro chutney placed inside inflated tortillas, resulting into an explosion of flavor with each bite.

Feijoada (Php395). A savory dish of grilled bacon gordita and black bean stew, farofa, edamame, sausage with fruity accents from burnt oranges and smoked grapes.

Fricase de Pollo. Tender and flavorful braised chicken, sofrito, morita, hoja aguacate, potatoes and cilantro served over rice.

Carne de Gaucho (Php1,865). Also known as “the Argentine Asado,” this dish made of 500G USDA prime grade rib eye steak served with corn and zucchini asada, garlic confit served with chimichurri and Pasilla barbecue sauce. Each bite of the perfectly grilled meat is just so tender and buttery.

Cayo (Php205). St. Louis Avocado Ice Cream under an inverted cajeta cona on a bed of muscovado crumble and kiwi slices.

Along with the delicious food, we also enjoyed Alegria’s drinks such as:

Tropical. A refreshing berry-flavored mocktail perfect for those who want to enjoy the night without having to imbibe alcohol.

Basic Sangrias (Php325 each). Sangrias are festive drinks traditionally made with wine, chopped fruit and rhum or brandy. These may be called basic sangrias but there is nothing basic about them in terms of taste or appearance.

Verde (Php300). A refreshing sangria made of white wine, rhum, apple, kiwi and cucumber.

Litchi (Php320). An exotic sangria made of white wine, vodka, eiderflower and flavored with lychee.

Between the happy vibes, delicious food and refreshing drinks here, Alegria sure seems poised to be our new happy place!

Thanks to Denise Liao and the crew of Alegria for the warm welcome and fabulous meal, and to Ojie of PiggingOutOnSundays for extending the invitation!

Spend your after-office hours at Alegria and take advantage of its Happy Hour 5+1 beer promo! Buy five Heinekens or Coronas from 3pm to 7pm on Mondays to Saturdays and get your sixth beer free.

Alegria Conzinha Moderna & Sangria Bar is located at Fourth Floor, Uniqlo Building, C3 Annex, 7th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 945 2647828.

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 and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Food trippin’ nearby at Buffalo Swing, Caniogan

Though a proud Pasiguena, I admit that the incessant traffic jams in and around my city do sometimes get to me. These nuisances get in the way of so much: errands, appointments and, of course, foodie adventures. So whenever possible, to lessen the travel time and the frustration that comes with navigating the metro’s streets, I do try to find nearby places to indulge my food cravings.

Fortunately, Pasig City already has a lot to offer in terms of foodie destinations.

One such place is Buffalo Swing Cafe, a small eatery along Sixto Antonio Avenue that specializes in American comfort food: flavored chicken wings, pizzas and pastas. Owned and operated by Ingrid Mediarito, it is co-located with her baking supplies store named Ingrid’s.

Ingrid has long recognized the need to address the Pasiguenos’ need for affordable and easily accessible dining choices which led to her making her cafe’s food available to locals via delivery. A while back, in fact, when I was so busy running errands one Saturday that I didn’t have time to prepare food for my family’s dinner, I just ordered some wings and pizza from Buffalo Swing Cafe via Honestbee.

Honestbee has since stopped its operations in the country (oh, Honestbee, you are sorely missed!) but another delivery option is now available: via Zomato.

However, for this blog post, let me tell you more about my actual experience visiting Buffalo Swing Cafe together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH where we enjoyed its freshly made comfort food:

Pizzas

All Cheese (Php300). Made with four kinds of cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan and cream cheese and flavored with garlic. Wonderfully cheesy!

Meat Overload (Php320). A carnivore’s dream on a pizza crust: pepperoni, Hungarian sausages, breakfast sausage and beef toppings and topped with caramelized onions.

Pastas

Aligue Cream (Php180). A decadent cream-based pasta flavored with aligue (crab fat).

Bacon Tomato (Php160). Flavored with tomatoes and savory bacon, this pasta has the slightly sweet taste that kids love.

Spanish Sardines and Olives (Php160). Slightly spicy pasta dish made with Spanish-style sardines.

Wings

These flavorful chicken wings, cooked to crunchy and juicy goodness, are priced at:

Php155 (5 pieces, one flavor)
Php300 (10 pieces, one flavor)
Php585 (20 pieces, two flavors)
Php1150 (40 pieces, two flavors)

These wings go so well with the resto’s pizzas and pastas, but they’re also great on their own. I’d love to have some delivered the next time there’s a big movie on TV so I can have something yummy to munch on while I’m indulging my inner couch potato.

Buttered Parmesan.

Spicy Salted Egg.

Salt and Pepper.

Sweet and Spicy.

Flamin’ Lemon.

Honey Soy Sesame.

American BBQ.

For dessert, we had Luleepops (Php20), a real treat for me since this is the first time I’ve tasted an avocado-flavored iced candy.

And we chased away the heat from some of the spicy chicken pieces with refreshing Lemonades (Php40 each) and a sweetly decadent Rootbeer Float (Php100) made with A&W Rootbeer.

So whether you’re a local or a dayo (visitor) from another city, check out Buffalo Swing Cafe for tasty, tummy-filling comfort food.

Many thanks to Ingrid and the staff of Buffalo Swing Cafe for the warm welcome and the yummy eats!

Buffalo Swing Cafe is located at 363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 9pm and Sundays from 5pm to 9pm. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 922 8864381.

No time to drop by Buffalo Swing Cafe? Order your food via Zomato! Just click on the link below.

Three reasons to have your Sunday brunch at Sultan Mediterranean Grill, Makati

I believe that Sunday mornings are a time to be lazy in the sense that you deserve some downtime after each hectic work week. It is a time to wake up a bit late (catching up on some zzz’s you cut short Monday to Friday by having to get up at the crack of dawn to make it to work on time), take a stress-free drive along the city’s streets (with only a bit of light traffic, thankfully!) and meet up with friends to catch up over a tasty meal.

That’s what I did last Sunday together with my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH and #WeLoveToEatPH.

The venue for this lovely get-together? Sultan Mediterranean Grill in Salcedo Village.

And here are three reasons why you should hold a similar Sunday brunch here.

One: It’s a hidden gem in the heart of Makati

You would think that the Makati area is always a hotbed of frenetic activity but come weekends, it is actually quite laid-back and quiet, perfect for the titas who just want to have a catch up with friends while enjoying a tasty meal.

This restaurant is located in one of the old buildings along one of the side streets from Paseo de Roxas which, sans the weekday office crowd, is free from traffic jams and has lots of available parking space.

The resto itself, which opened in 2010, has a cozy hole-in-the-wall quality. Walls lined with white subway tiles are accented by Middle Eastern-style artworks and spice shelves. The seating area can accommodate thirty people so if you want to hold an intimate family party here, you’d be right on the mark.

Two: It takes you on a journey through the deliciously complex flavors of Mediterranean cuisine

You know that basic and blah flavors will not do for you, especially not for your Sunday brunch, right?

Well, Sultan Mediterranean Grill brings you exciting flavors through exotic dishes that will tease your tastebuds while sating your appetite.

The resto’s menu is comprised of the flavorfully diverse dishes from countries spanned by the Ottoman empire. This cuisine is influenced by impact of the Mediterranean Sea to the region’s climate, agriculture and history, giving rise to food centered around oil (from olives), bread (from wheat) and wine (from grapes) with many influences from nearby European countries such as Spain and Italy.

For our Sunday brunch, Sultan Mediterranean Grill laid out a feast of its bestsellers which included:

Wild Mushroom Soup (Php150). A creamy and hearty soup made from scratch with porcini, shiitake and button mushroom. It has a rich and earthy flavor and it got us all excited for the rest of dishes.

Combination of 3 Dips (Php330). Freshly made pita bread carefully wrapped in cloth to be dipped into hummus (made from blended chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon and garlic, muhammara (a subtly sweet dip with smoky undertones made from roasted red peppers) and baba ghanouj (the classic Middle Eastern dip made from roasted eggplants blended with olive oil and spices). The pita bread were warm, soft, slightly chewy and perfectly frame the flavors of the dips.

Grilled Vegetable Salad (Php280). Crisp lettuce tossed with grilled beef, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkin, corn, bell pepper and onions and served with homemade tarragon dressing. If you don’t often eat vegetables, try this and the smokey flavor of the veggies will help you develop a new appreciation for plant-based food.

Vitamin Boost (Php280). A salad of mixed lettuce, grilled chicken, quinoa, mango, orange slices, cranberries, onions, cucumber and walnuts and served with orange cranberry dressing. I just love the mixture of fresh and fruity flavors in this salad.

Beryani Rice (Php100 for solo | Php250 for family). A classic Persian rice dish flavored with special herbs and spices.

Beef Shawarma (Php160). Sultan’s signature shawarma makes use of the resto’s secret blend of seasoning that helps to tenderize the beef prior to grilling. Served with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions and packed inside a warm pita, it is already a meal by itself or a welcome addition to our feast.

The Sultan’s Kabab Platter (Php625). A combination of any four of Sultan’s kababs and skewers, ours consist of chicken kabab, beef kabab, lamb kabab and beef koobideh. Made from imported meats, these kababs are flavorful and juicy, well-complemented by the beryani rice or by any of the dips then wrapped in a piece of pita bread.

Braised Lamb Shanks (Php625). Juicy lamb shanks stewed and braised in mixture of herbs and spices for three hours before being served with buttery Basmati rice. The meat is so tender, it literally falls off the bone!

Fruit Yogurt Shakes (Php115 each). Fresh fruit blended with yogurt, adding a bit of tartness that complement the sweetness. Mine is the Mixed Berry shake which blends blueberries, blackberries and strawberries into a refreshing drink that goes well with Sultan’s signature dishes.

Three: A Mediterranean food is good for you

Mediterranean cuisine’s predilection for vegetables, fruit, whole grains and the use of healthy fats from olive oil make Mediterranean dishes quite healthy. Dining on these exotic fare gives you the double benefit of great taste and good health. However, as with everything else in life, moderation is key.

So this Sunday, make Sultan Mediterranean Grill the setting for your brunch with friends or family (or both!) to enjoy great flavors in cozy and quiet surroundings.

Many thanks to Ms. Remy and the crew of Sultan Mediterranean Grill for the warm welcome and the delicious meal!

Sultan Mediterranean Grill is located at Valero Plaza Condominium, San Agustin Street, Salced Village, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8944900.

Other branches may be found at:

Victoria Plaza, 1 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
The Corner Market, Second Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean dishes:

Got my Tiger Sugar hassle-free, thanks to LalaFood

Tiger Sugar has been in the country since last year but I haven’t been able to have a taste of this much lauded milk tea brand. The long lines when its first stores opened as well as my busy schedule precluded me from going out to get myself a cup or two.

Until now, that is.

I recently downloaded the LalaFood app which opened up a world of possibilities when it comes to food choices. Whether I’m at home, at work or out with friends, I can satisfy my cravings just by having my food delivered to me.

I’m on a mission to taste milk teas with cheese foam topping (yeah, milk tea plus cheese, can anything be yummier?). One particularly hectic day at the office, I decided to order a Brown Sugar Boba + Pearl with Cream Mousse (Php120) through the LalaFood app which I recently downloaded on my phone.

Tiger Sugar is famous for its brown sugar boba milk drink which is easily identifiable thanks to the “tiger stripes” along the sides of the cup. These come from the brown sugar in which the boba are cooked, giving the pearls a more intense caramelized flavor.

My drink, for instance, was made by lining the cup with brown sugar syrup, dropping the bobas at the bottom of the cup, adding fresh milk and topping the drink with the non-salty cream mousse.

Tiger Sugar usually advises buyers of this to shake the cup 15 times to make sure that the brown sugar is well distributed in the drink and to cool the still warm boba so they achieve that signature chewy texture.

I think the trip from the Tiger Sugar branch in Trinoma to my office in Tomas Morato may have already shaken my drink up as the brown sugar stripes were already faint by the time my drink arrived no more than 40 minutes after I placed my order.

The milk drink was creamy and refreshing, made even richer by the cream mousse, with the chewy bobas adding some bite and texture to each sip.

If I’m not careful, I just might find myself just keying in my orders for my foodie adventures soon! (I can really get used to the convenience that LalaFood brings!)

Want to give in to your food craving without having to leave your home or the office? Download the LalaFood app on Google Play or App Store today. Use my code BEINGJMR53 and get a free delivery coupon.

This Tiger Sugar branch is located at Food Choices, Second Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.

Other branches are located at:

Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, SM North EDSA
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Taguig: Bonifacio High Street
Makati: Glorietta 4
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia
Las Pinas: SM Southmall

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Weekly Italian gastronomic treats from Novotel’s “secret ingredient”: Chef Massi Pauletto

Novotel Manila Araneta is home to many of the metro’s prime foodie destinations. Located in the busy Cubao commercial district, it provides the city’s denizens with a myriad of options for their dining adventures.

Well, things are about to get so much better as its “secret ingredient,” the new executive chef Massimiliano Pauletto, takes the rein in the hotel’s kitchens. Now in charge of Novotel’s team of all-Filipino chefs and kitchen crew, Chef Massi puts his extensive culinary chops to work as he introduces new gastronomic innovations every week to the hotel’s restaurants inspired by his Italian heritage.

For instance, an Italian Bento Box will be available at the hotel’s 24-hour restaurant and lounge Gourmet Bar from September 26 to October 2. For Php690 nett, diners can indulge themselves on burrata cheese, black olives, fresh tomatoes, basil and oregano with a generous slice of Roman-style roasted pork belly accompanied by Sicilian brioche bread and lemon granite.

From October 3 to 9, Food Exchange Manila, the hotel’s buffet destination, will feature a Risotto Station and a Bruschetta Bar. During this week, diners can savor the tastes of Chef Massi’s homeland with a whole week of risotto specials with a different topping for the iconic Italian rice dish everyday: lemon prawn on Mondays, mushroom truffle on Tuesdays, leek and squid on Wednesdays, oxtail on Thursdays, apple foie gras on Fridays, gorgonzola balsamic on Saturdays and potatoes and basil pesto on Sundays.

Guests can also get started on their buffet meal with the favorite antipasto of toasted Italian bread dipped in their choice among many olive oil variants as well as other savory toppings.

On these dates, Food Exchange Manila’s dinner buffet from Sunday to Friday will be priced at Php1,688 nett, while dinner buffet on Saturday will be priced at Php1,888 nett.

Coffee and dessert lovers will get the best of both worlds with decadent servings of Affogato, available from October 10 to 16 at Indulge for Php160 nett. The hotel’s gelato and pastry shop will serve up this Italian dessert made by pouring a shot of hot espresso over a scoop of creamy homemade vanilla gelato to those craving for that caffeine buzz to go with their sugar high.

For Php1,500 nett, wine and cheese lovers will get to savor the moment with their family and friends with a well curated assortment of cold cuts and cheeses paired with Fantini Sangiovese wine at the hotel’s wine bar Sabor Bar de Vinos from October 17 to 23.

Lastly, foodies can enjoy a Milan Happy Hour Aperitivo at the 6th Pool Bar and Lounge from October 24 to 31. For Php350 nett, diners can pick their pica-pica among choices which include tomato bruschetta, deep-fried pizza calzone, mozarella and cherry tomato salad, salami cold cuts platter and mini tiramisu paired with a mixologist-recommended Italian cocktail.

Chef Massi’s introduction of these weekly culinary treats surely portends of more and better things happening at Novotel.

Novotel Manila Araneta Center is located along General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Quezon City. For bookings and inquiries, call +63 2 89907888. For more details, visit novotelmanilaaranetacenter.com.

Menu details and images provided by Novotel.

Check out my other posts about Novotel: