Jellybeans in the City

Steak lunch at Mad Mark’s, Robinsons Galleria

During one of our family’s forays at Robinsons Galleria, we chanced upon the newly opened outlet of Mad Mark’s Creamery & Good Eats.

We first discovered this restaurant chain several years ago through its original branch in Kapitolyo, and subsequently ate at its other branches in Glorietta, Bonifacio Global City and UP Town Center, so its fare is already near and dear to us, particularly its Signature Steaks.

Consisting of 150g premium USDA flat iron steaks, grilled per our preferred doneness (medium in this instance), it is accompanied by our choice of two side dishes and Mad Mark’s homemade sauces all for only Php305!

The family’s consensus when it comes to Mad Mark’s sauces is the savory Cream Sauce which is made of fresh mushrooms and cream.

When it comes to side dishes, Hubby’s preferences are the carbo-loading Bacon Potato Salad and Smashed Potato, while my daughter’s are the Garden Grains (Mad Mark’s version of the vegetable fried rice) and Smashed Potato. As for me, Garden Grains and Corn & Carrots are my preferred complements for my steak.

For my little boy, we ordered a plate of Classic Fried Chicken which comes with rice and salsa for only Php199.

Well, this family sure is glad that Mad Mark’s opened a branch that’s even more accessible to us. Now, we have another go-to place when we are hit with that steak craving.

This branch of Mad Mark’s Creamery & Good Eats is located at Level 4, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm.

Other outlets can be found at:

Pioneer Center Supermart, 8006 Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Ground Floor, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Third Floor, Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Second Floor, BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Second Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Birthday dinner at Soru Izakaya, Ugong

As a foodie that has been exposed to various cuisines, restaurant concepts and cooking styles, of course I would want an extraordinary meal at an extraordinary restaurant for my birthday dinner with the family.

For some time now, I’ve been wanting to dine at Soru Izakaya ever since I caught sight of pictures showing its colorful and creatively presented makis. Add the fact that the resto chain is currently a Zomato Gold partner where I can get free dishes as a Zomato Gold member, and that sealed the deal.

An izakaya is a type of informal pub originating from Japan, where small and inexpensive dishes and snacks are served to accompany alcoholic drinks. This kind of dining establishment has proved perfect for afterwork de-stressing with friends through drinks and good food.

Soru Izakaya’s visually arresting aesthetic also adds to the relaxing vibe. It takes inspiration from bishoujo (pretty girl) manga, traditional Japanese art, the colorful Tokyo night life and the emergence of speakeasies.

For my birthday celebration, the place proved to be an awesome venue where the extended family came together for a great meal, which included:

Miso Soup (Php45). A staple among Japanese soups wherein softened miso paste is mixed into a savory dashi stock with tofu cubes.

Kani Salad (Php240). Shredded crabsticks tossed in salad greens dressed in a mixture of miso and Japanese mayo. Toppings of crunchy kani, ebiko and nori strips add to the flavors and textures.

Spicy Maguro Salad (Php300). Tempura flakes and cubes of fresh tuna top salad greens dressed in miso and spicy mayo.

Wagyu Steak Teppan (Php990). Iron-grilled wagyu steak served with mixed vegetables.

Tomahawk Katsu (Php320). Deep-fried breaded pork tomahawk cutlet served with sweet and savory katsu sauce and shredded cabbage in roasted sesame dressing.

Unaguro Aburi (Php390). Tempura rice topped with torched tuna and unagi with teriyaki sauce and a bit of truffle oil.

Lava Maki (Php390). Salmon skin, crabsticks and tamago topped with cubes of fresh tuna and salmon in a spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce.

Shake Belly Aburi (Php230). Torched salmon belly with wasabi teriyaki sauce, finished with wasabi mayo, oborro mayo and Japanese mayo.

Nori Tempura Nami (Php330 for 5 pieces). Deep-fried tiger prawns in nori flavored batter.

Meiji Kare (Php260). Japanese-style beef curry with potatoes and carrots on rice.

Shoyu Ramen (Php290). Tender chasyu pork slices, boiled egg and mixed vegetables in a steaming hot shoyu broth.

It was a fun birthday dinner in a new place for the fam.

On my next visit, I would love to try the Tantanmen ramen and one of Soru Izakaya’s desserts.

This Soru Izakaya branch is located at Techno Point Building, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 12 midnight and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 2am.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, 140 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Dimsum time at Jade Garden, International District, Seattle

Touchdown Seattle!

After three years, I’m back in the Evergreen State for a much-needed and well-deserved (if I do say so myself) vacay! And even better, I’ve got the whole fam with me in this US adventure.

And being Jellybeans (see what I did there?), the family’s vacay will not be complete without some food trips here there.

So which Seattle establishment did the brood try on our first few hours in the city?

Well, my bro treated us to one of his favorite Chinese dimsum haunts: Jade Garden in the International District.

Having stepped out of the airport quite late last night, we were lucky that this restaurant was still open. It’s a small casual dining Chinese restaurant where, for a relatively large party such as ours, the food is served on the lazy susan on the lazy susan on top of the table. Hot tea was also provided while we waited for our orders.

Our meal consisted of:

Minced Beef Soup Westlake Style. Traditionally, soup is served last during a Chinese meal but we requested that it be served first. This soup is made of tofu, minced beef, thinly slice shiitake mushrooms and coriander in a steaming hot starchy broth. Quite a wonderful way to warm our tummies this chilly spring evening!

Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice. A flavorful rice dish that complemented the viands we ordered. Did you know that the earliest record of fried rice appeared in the Sui dynasty? Stir-frying rice in garlic and soy sauce with meat and vegetables was thought to be a way to re-use leftovers from previous meals into a new hot dish.

Mongolian Beef. Strips of tender beef sauteed in a mildly spicy (as we requested) sauce of onions and chilis.

Fish Fillet with Roast Pork Hot Pot. One of the resto’s off-menu daily specials, it has quite a lot of everything: fish, pork, tofu, mushroom and veggies.

Deep-fried Stuffed Shrimp Tofu. A variation of Hubby’s favorite crispy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside battered tofu dish, this one has a plump piece of shrimp that adds to the flavor and texture of the dish.

Steamed Pork Siumai, Steamed Shrimp and Scallop Dumplings and Steamed Pork Buns. These steamed dimsum fare are quite familiar to us since they have counterparts back home.

The food was served promptly by friendly and helpful wait staff. The servings are quite large and we had some leftovers which we heated up for an unusual yet still tasty breakfast the next day.

All in all, it was a nice welcoming meal for the fam!

Jade Garden is located at 424 7th Avenue South, International District, Seattle 98104, open Mondays to Thursdays from 9am to 2.30am, Fridays to Saturdays from 9am to 3.30am and Sundays from 9am to 1am. For inquiries and reservations, call +1 206 6228181.

For more details, visit www.jadegardenseattle.com.

Bingsu treat at Hobing, SM Marikina

After celebrating my niece’s birthday at Samgyeopmasarap, the family continued the Korean-themed celebration by having our dessert at the SM Marikina branch of Hobing.

Hobing specializes in bingsu, originally called patbingsu. This is a traditional Korean dessert made of finely shaved ice, sweetened by condensed milk, and enhanced by bits of fruit, candy or pastries. It may even be topped with ice cream or yoghurt.

The fam indulged in these yummy bingsu flavors:

Mango Cheese (Php350 for large). flavored with mango syrup with large cubes of ripe mango and New York Cheesecake bits, topped with vanilla ice cream and sprinkled with crushed almonds

Banana Mango (Php350 for large). Bananas and mangoes prove to be a winning combination in this bingsu flavored with injeolmi powder and chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream.

Choco Cookie (Php270 for large). Crushed and whole Oreos give this bingsu a cookies n’ cream vibe with more chocolatey goodness from the chocolate syrup.

Caramel Coffee (Php395 for large). Satisfy your coffee craving with this bingsu treat made with coffee jelly, topped with mixed nuts and vanilla ice cream then drizzled with caramel sauce.

From Korean barbecue for dinner to Korean bingsu for dessert, my niece’s birthday celebration was a fun family get-together.

This Hobing outlet is located at Second Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center Glorietta Complex, Makati
72 Jupiter corner Mercury Street, Bel-Air, Makati
Fifth Floor, SM Aura Premier, C5 Road corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Third Floor, BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ground Floor, Market! Market! Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Fifth Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong
Lower Ground, Ayala Malls the 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig
Third Floor, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila
Third Floor, Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, Eastwood Citywalk 2, Libis, Quezon City
OK Street Food Court, K-Town @ Vertis North, Level 2, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City
Ground Floor, The Block, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Second Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Maligaya Road corner Quirino Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City

Unlimited Korean Barbecue at Samgyeopmasarap, SM Marikina

Apparently, my extended family shares my love for Korean barbecue. It’s no surprise then that, for my niece’s birthday, we all met up at the SM Marikina branch of Samgyeopmasarap.

The restaurant occupies a relatively large area at the mall’s third floor. As is the standard for Korean barbecue joints, it boasts of tables with built-in grills and exhaust pipes. The layout is comfortable and conducive to dining.

The number of diners queueing for their turn is proof of the resto’s appeal, owing largely to its unlimited Korean barbecue sets:

Unlimited Pork BBQ (Php399) includes pork belly, marinated pork belly bacon slices, six kinds of side dishes and rice

Unlimited Beef BBQ (Php499) includes plain and marinated beef bacon slices, six kinds of side dishes and rice

Unlimited Chicken BBQ (Pho349) includes boneless chicken, six kinds of side dishes and rice

Our party of eight ordered four unli beef, 3 unli pork and 1 unli chicken so there were enough varieties of Korean barbecue for all of us to enjoy.

I would have loved seeing more varieties of beef and pork given the price of the meal sets.

That said, the family still had a great time gathering to celebrate my niece’s birthday. I’m glad that there’s a Korean barbecue joint in SM Marikina where we can opt to go when the craving hits us.

This Samgyeopmasarap outlet is located at Third Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City, open daily from 10am to 10.30pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 908 7978868.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Connecticut Carpark Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan
Ground Floor, Intelenet Building, Le Grande Avenue, McKinley West, Taguig
Calle Bistro, Ground Floor, Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City
Second Floor, SM North Towers, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Lower Ground Floor, Mall A, SM City Bicutan, Don Bosco, Paranaque
Second Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Level, SM City BF Paranaque, BF Homes, Paranaque

HBO’s Emmy-winning series Little Big Lies returns June 10 on HBO and HBO Go

HBO Emmy®-winning series BIG LITTLE LIES returns same time as the U.S. on Monday, 10 June at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode repeats on the same day at 10pm on HBO. New episodes premiere every Monday at the same time. The second season of this subversive, darkly comedic drama will explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode…the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.

The Monterey Five – Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman), Jane (Shailene Woodley), Renata (Laura Dern) and Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) – are joined by Celeste’s visiting mother-in-law, Mary Louise (Meryl Streep), and their husbands, Ed (Adam Scott), Nathan (James Tupper) and Gordon (Jeffrey Nordling), in this seven-episode season.

Created by David E. Kelley; teleplays by David E. Kelley; story by David E. Kelley and Liane Moriarty; based on the novel by Liane Moriarty; directed by Andrea Arnold; executive producers, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, David E. Kelley, Andrea Arnold, Jean-Marc Vallée, Bruna Papandrea, Per Saari, Gregg Fienberg, Nathan Ross and Liane Moriarty.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Series details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

No-frills Pinoy food at Tapsi ni Vivian, Pasig

Finding ourselves yaya-less during the holiday break but with no desire to tire ourselves out cooking the family’s lunch, Hubby and I decided to take the family out to dine out instead.

We scoured our neck of the woods for a resto that will appeal to us and the kids, as well as open for business during the holiday. Fortunately, we chanced upon a branch of Tapsi ni Vivian along C. Raymundo Avenue in Pasig.

It’s one of the newly opened branches with ample parking space. We had trouble finding parking, though, due to the sizeable lunch crowd.

The resto’s dining area was pretty sizeable as well, with a play area for little ones to amuse themselves in.

Tapsi ni Vivian’s history dates back decades. Akin to the neighborhood carinderias we grew up with, it offers Filipino food with home-cooked flavors that are simple and familiar.

That particular day, the fam dined on classic Pinoy favorites.

Bulalo (Php430). Characterized by a light colored broth flavored by boiling the dish’s beef shanks and bone marrow until the meat is tender and the collagen has melted into the broth.

Chicharon (Php125). Pig intestines tenderized by boiling then deep-fried to a flavorful crisp.

Sisig with Egg (Php180). The Kapampangan delicacy made of pig cheeks, chopped onions, calamansi juice and peppers. This resto’s version has a bit more of spiciness than what I’m used to.

Laing (Php80). The Bicolano staple made of taro leaves cooked with meat and seafood in coconut milk and other aromatics.

Pinakbet (Php120). The Ilocano dish made of mixed vegetables steamed in flavorful shrimp paste.

Buco Pandan (Php60). A tasty dessert of pandan-flavored gelatin cubes, shredded coconut and nata de coco in sweetened cream. My son’s favorite!

Leche Flan (Php110). The Filipino version of creme caramel, sweet and milky custard with a layer of caramel on top.

Halo Halo (Php80). The Pinoy summer go-to dessert made of crushed ice laden with evaporated milk, sweetened beans, sweetened banana slices and langka, halayang ube and a bit of leche flan.

This Filioino food lunch did hit the spot! The next time the fam wants a home-cooked meal that I’m in no mood to cook at home, I know where to go. 🙂

This Tapsi ni Vivian branch is located at 1 C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City, open 24/7.

Other branches can be found at:

Ortigas Avenue Extension, Santo Nino, Cainta, Rizal
Ground Floor, HDR Building, Gil Fernando Avenue Corner Estrador Street, San Roque, Marikina City

6 Lauan Street, Project 2, Quezon City

993 Aurora Boulevard, Project 2, Quezon City
Lot 10, Blk 74 Commonwealth Avenue, Neopolitan Subdivision Phase 6, Novaliches, QC

Unli Korean BBQ at Every Samgyeop, Tomas Morato

For years now, there’s a proposition that’s sure to get me all excited: all-can-eat samgyeopsal.

Ever since I had my first taste of juicy flavorful pork and beef pieces freshly grilled right in front of me, seasoned with sesame oil, salt and pepper, and given that distinct Korean flavor with a bit of ssamjang and thin garlic slices, I knew a new gastronomic obsession was born.

And that obsession holds true to this very day.

This is why I was overjoyed to be invited to a foodie meetup at Every Samgyeop. Not only is it a Korean resto specializing in samgyeopsal and other Korean barbecue variants, it is also located just a stone’s throw away from my office.

I first dined at Every Samgyeop early last year and have eaten there several times since but today was special: my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH and I were being treated to its “Eat All You Can: Unlimited Meat and Rice” set which was not yet in place during my previous visits.

For only Php499/person, you and your friends can enjoy unlimited plain and marinated meats which include:

Samgyeopsal (thick slices of pork belly)

Deepee Samgyeopsal (thinly sliced pork belly)

Soy Sauce Samgyeopsal (pork belly slices marinated in soy sauce)

Gochujang Samgyeopsal (pork belly slices in the traditional Korean spicy sauce)

Honey Butter Samgyeopsal

Hangjeongsal (jowl meat)

Woosamgyup (thinly sliced beef loin)

Soy Sauce Woosamgyup (thinly sliced beef loin marinated in soy sauce)

Gochujang Woosamgyup (thinly sliced beef loin in the traditional Korean spicy sauce)

Bulgogi (Korean sweet beef stew)

Dakdarisal (marinated chicken thigh fillet)

These meats come with special side dishes (called banchan) which include:

Kimchi

Ddangkong Jorim (soy braised peanuts)

Eomuk Bokkeum (stir-fried fish cakes)

Korean Cabbage Salad

Pickled Vegetables

Calamaris

You can also add Php50 to your meal set to get another order of calamaris as well as a bowl of steaming hot ramyun (Korean-style instant ramen).

Aside from its sheer variety of meats available, Every Samgyeop is also notable for its tender and flavorful pork cuts. Their secret is the dry aging process that they subject their pork cuts to which allows the enzymes present to further break down the meat resulting to enhanced taste and texture.

I had so much fun taking my turn to grill our meats, eating my fill and spending time with my foodie friends at Every Samgyeop and I look forward to my next visit!

Every Samgyeop is located at 58 Sgt. Esguerra Street (across ABS-CBN Main Building), Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 6212032 or +63 927 273555.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #SaanSaPH, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

John Lloyd Cruz first endorsement appearance after 2 years: Is he coming back to the limelight?

Photos and videos of matinee idol John Lloyd Cruz have been surfacing after being on hiatus from the showbusiness since 2017.

Cruz, one of the most bankable actors of the Philippine cinema and very effective endorser once again proved that his fans are still waiting for his return. In a teaser video, which lasted only for a few seconds and only shows the back shot of Cruz’s, and posted in the Facebook page of the number one selling shawarma Turks a few weeks ago had been viewed 3.2M times, shared almost 800 times and gained a huge number of comments.

Without any clue in that teaser video, his fans already assumed that it was him in the video. Actress Bea Alonzo on her Instagram also posted a screenshot of that teaser video, which garnered almost a million likes.

This Monday morning Turks finally revealed in the 1-minute and 17 seconds video of Cruz showing the actor walking through different destinations, which somehow depicts Cruz’s sojourn. The video is very simple, yet there’s drama the way it was created, and in a very subtle shot, he stopped and took a bite of a Turks pita donner.

The rugged look of Cruz in the Turks video titled Ang Pagbabalik is way too far from his guy-next-door image and a lot of people in the industry are asking if this signals his return to the limelight. His fans are still wondering about the life he’s been living since his hiatus.

According to Turks president Gem L. Zenarosa that during the course of his talks with Cruz, they never talked anything about his showbiz career or plans. He added that he got Mr. Cruz as the latest ambassador of Turks because of his great confidence working with Cruz.

“I am really grateful that John Lloyd trusts our company, he is a brilliant and very creative young man. Aside from acting we have discovered some of his remarkable talents,” Zenarosa stressed.

The Ang Pagbabalik according to Zenarosa is actually about Turks Small Pita Doner, which will be available again in all its branches.

“John Lloyd is the best endorser for this because like him, despite his absence in the showbusiness for a couple of years, the warmth and love of his fans for him never dwindles. With our Small Pita Doner we believe that our customers will be happy to know that it is back in our menu,” Zenarosa explained.

Just like Cruz who is seen to have a different image since he last appeared in the big screen, a clear indication that the actor is recreating himslef and exploring different grounds, Turks is also doing the same thing to keep its customers excited whenever they visit a branch.

In time for the release of Cruz’s endorsement video, Turks also released to the market its newest offering — Turks Rice Bowl, which is a complete meal. You can choose beef or chicken for your rice topping, and it is priced at Php50. The Small Pita Donner on the other hand, is priced at Php35.

“To keep up with the demands of our customers, Turks continues to improve our menu and offerings to satisfy the discriminating taste of our loyal patrons,” Zenarosa stressed.

John Lloyd Cruz now joins the roster of endorsers of Turks such as Piolo and Inigo Pascual.

For more details, visit Turks’ FB Page.

Product details and images provided by Turks in a recent press release.

Mango mania at Hui Lau Shan, SM Megamall

It took me a while to bring myself to the sole outlet of Hong Kong’s go-to mango dessert place since it opened a month ago.

Having a sweet tooth (and a strong preference for the sweet and succulent mango that Hui Lau Shan is known to feature in its sweet creations, I knew it was only a matter of time.

After attending Fire or Ice: A GOT-inspired musical spectacle at the SM Skating Rink, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I decided to satisfy our cravings for sweetness at Hui Lau Shan at the SM Atrium. Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com generously shared her GCs with us so we can all sample the shop’s delectable desserts which make use of our homegrown carabao mangoes from Guimaras.

Did you know that our mangoes helped catapult Hui Lau Shan to fame in the 90s? These produce became the key ingredient of Hui Lau Shan’s breakthrough product Mango Sago which became a hit in Hong Kong. By the 2000s, Hui Lao Shan has established 280 stores globally which have become hot spots for dessert aficionados alike seeking to experience the stores’ sweet offerings.

And now, with the opening of this branch managed by the Josiah Catering group, the famed mango desserts have come home to the Philippines to delight us Pinoys.

This being my first visit, I decided to go for the basics for my drink: the Mango & Mango Jelly in Mango Juice (Php95 for 18oz | Php110 for 22oz). The drink was anything but basic, however; it fruity, succulent and sweet mango was there for me to sip on and enjoy.

I also opted to get myself some dessert. This time, since I couldn’t decide which particular mango-based dessert to try, I went for the option that gave me several treats to taste: the Mango Romance (Php170). It consisted of Mango Mochi, Mango Chewy Ball and Mango Crystal Jelly.

I indulged myself in my mango dessert and drink inside Hui Lau Shan’s small but comfy store, which, with its bright decor from the wallpapers to the wait staff uniforms, is designed with fun and happiness in mind.