Jellybeans in the City

A big Italian Family Lunch at New York Slice by Motorino, SM Pasig

Lately, I’ve had little time to spend with my extended family. My parents just moved in to their newly renovated house over the weekend and with all the general hustle and bustle, my mom was not up to cooking the usual Sunday lunch.

I ended up recommending New York Slice by Motorino in SM Hypermarket Pasig as it was very accessible to us and has a sweet Metrodeal offer (more on that later).

It is located along the row of restaurants near the SM Hypermarket’s main entrance facing Tiendesitas. The seating inside the store proper is quite limited but there are extra seats outside the store that can seat larger groups, particularly our party of seven.

I took advantage of a Metro deal offer that entitles me to Php500 worth of food orders at only Php299, with the option to buy and use more than one Metrodeal voucher. With this awesome deal, I admit we went a little crazy with the sheer volume of our orders, which included:

Pizzas

Motorino Special (Php135/slice). Pepperoni, Italian sausage, olives, bell pepper, onions and mushrooms. This was the preferred pizza of Hubby and my brother who wanted their pizzas to have meat and lots of toppings.

Honey & 3-Cheese (Php135/slice). Honey, cream cheese, mozzarella and parmesan. This pizza was for me and my little boy to satisfy our cravings for cheese and something sweet, all in one go.

Veggie Special (Php135/slice). Mushroom, onions, bell pepper, olives, oregano and olive oil. This was the preferred pizza for the older folks, a healthier option than the others.

Pasta

Spaghetti Bolognese (Php169). A classic choice for the party members who are not as adventurous, food-wise.

Alfredo with Bacon (Php169). A meatier take on carbonara but a little to sauce-y for me.

Alfredo with Shrimp (Php189). The preference of my dad who likes seafood.

Creamy Mushroom (Php159). A lighter and more vegetarian option than the other pastas we ordered.

Krunchy Krispy Wings

Garlic Parmesan (Php269/6pcs).

BBQ Glaze (Php439/10pcs).

Both wings are quite tasty and went well with our pizzas and pastas.

Thanks to the Metrodeal vouchers I availed of, I ended up paying only Php2,200+ for Php3,600+ worth of orders.

This New York Slice by Motorino branch is located inside SM Hypermarket, Frontera Verde Drive, Ugong, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, South Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
Rockwell Business Center, Ground Floor, Sheridan Corner United, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 8pm)
Eton Towers Makati, 128 Dela Rosa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City (open Mondays to Fridays 11am to 10pm and Saturdays to Sundays 11am to 9pm)
Ground Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
2A-2 Ground Floor, ATC Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City (open daily from 11am to 10pm)

HBO Original Documentary “Being Serena” to premiere October 29 on HBO and HBO Go

BEING SERENA is a five-part documentary series chronicling tennis icon Serena Williams at a pivotal moment in her personal and professional life. BEING SERENA debuts two episodes back-to-back Monday, 29 October at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time.

BEING SERENA will give viewers unprecedented access to Williams during her pregnancy, new motherhood and marriage, while documenting her journey back to supremacy on the court. Viewers will experience her life from every angle as the intimate first-person show delves into her landmark career, family life and expanding role as a businesswoman and investor in the worlds of tech, fashion, fitness and philanthropy.

Episodic synopses:

Episode #1 (Premieres Monday, 29 October at 10pm)

Serena Williams discovers she is pregnant before capturing her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open. From there, her world takes a dramatic turn as she puts competitive tennis aside in the months leading up to the birth of her first child.

Episode #2 (Premieres Monday, 29 October at 10.25pm)

Serena Williams gives birth to her daughter after an emergency C-section and reveals in gripping detail the life-threatening complications that followed her delivery. Seven weeks later, she returns to the practice court and slowly begins her comeback

Episode #3 (Premieres Monday, 5 November at 10pm)

Serena Williams marries Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans. She subsequently returns to the tennis court to play an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi and joins the U.S. Fed Cup team in North Carolina.

Episode #4 (Premieres Monday, 5 November at 10.30pm)

Superstar Serena Williams plays in her first tournaments since giving birth to her daughter, continuing to adjust to life as a mother.

Episode #5 (series finale | Premieres Monday, 12 November at 10pm)

With the French Open approaching, Serena Williams’ training intensifies in Europe as she continues to navigate the challenge of balancing tennis and her new family.

Serena Williams, 36, is one of the most dominant forces tennis has ever seen, with 39 Grand Slam titles, four Olympic Gold Medals and the most women’s singles match victories in Grand Slam history. Her supremacy on the court earned her Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year honours in 2015 and made her a four-time winner of the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, first in 2002 and most recently in 2015.

In January 2017, Williams bested her sister Venus in the final match of the Australian Open, marking her seventh time winning that singles event. Four months after her historic victory, Williams revealed that she and her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian, were expecting their first child, confirming that she was eight weeks pregnant when she won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title. On September 1, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Williams and Ohanian wed soon after in a stunning ceremony before family and friends in New Orleans on November 16.

BEING SERENA is executive produced by Mark Shapiro, Michael Antinoro and Will Staeger. For HBO: executive producers Peter Nelson and Rick Bernstein. coordinating producer, Johnson McKelvy; supervising producers, David Chamberlin and Bentley Weiner (HBO); senior producer Peter Rogaris; senior producer/editor Matt O’Connor; producer, Aaron Cohen; director of photography, Peter Franchella; original score by Miles Hankins.

The first two episodes of BEING SERENA debuts back-to-back Monday, 29 October at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers.

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

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.

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO GO not available in your area? Watch the series on HBO on Amazon Prime. Sign up today for a 7-day free trial.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

CinemaWorld brings two episodes of French TV series “Murder In” on SKY On Demand this October

This October, Cinemaworld presents two episodes of the “Murder In” (“Muertres a“) a French television series wherein each episode features a murder linked to a well-known legend within the famous location in France where the murder took place. Both titles will be in their original French language with English subtitles and will be accessible via SKY On Demand.

Murder in Aigues-Mortes (2015)

Assistant prosecutor Elisabeth Richard and police chief Paul Jansac teams up again to solve the murders of a young lawyer and a realtor in Aigues-Mortes, France. Evidence soon tie the cases to an old unsolved rape and lead the duo to more complications.

Murder in Sarlat (2017)

The son of a businessman in Sarlat is murdered in a ritual reminiscent of brutal deaths in the 17th century. Police captain Claire returns to her hometown to investigate and has to deal, not only with her family, but also with her ex-lover.

SKY On Demand is the video streaming service available to SKYcable subscribers that lets them watch their favorite channels live or on demand, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

To use SKY On Demand, register at skyondemand.com.ph. You can watch the movie and more using your computer’s browser or by downloading the SKY On Demand app from the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store.

CinemaWorld is a 24-hour, movie channel that premieres the world’s best and award-winning movies, box-office successes, critics’ favorites from all around the world. In the Philippines, SKYcable and One SKY subscribers can add it to their channel line-up for only Php150/month.

Header photo by Tom Parkes on Unsplash.

Happiness in a Cup at Elait, Tomas Morato

Sweet treats do have the power to lift my spirits. It may come from the sugar rush or the feeling of satisfaction from giving in to my sweet tooth.

Elait, having opened a branch near my workplace, is turning out to be one of my sources of happiness. After trying out its rolled ice cream offerings for the first time during a visit to the Ayala Museum, I’ve been obsessed about trying it again. Thankfully, all I have to do to get my artisanal rolled ice cream fix is hop over to M Place along Panay Avenue near Tomas Morato in Quezon City where its kiosk recently opened.

During one of my lunch breaks, immediately after dining in a nearby Chinese restaurant, I went over to the Elait kiosk to make my selection.

One thing you will note about Elait is that it employs servers who are deaf or hearing-impaired. Aside from providing employment to persons with disability, the company also helps us in reaching out and communicating to differently abled folks by encouraging patrons to make their orders through sign language or with the help of easy-to-use order forms.

Plus, Elait also gives back to the community by sourcing many of its ingredients from local farms.

For my dessert on this particular day, I decided to go for a solo cup of Chocolate Overload (Php140). My yoghurt ice cream base is poured onto a sub-zero metal sheet along with chocolate shards and flavorings. The mixture is then mixed, crushed and spread into a thin sheet across the plate. Afterwards, it is carefully scraped off to form firm rolls of ice cream which are then placed in a cup then topped with brownie bits, pocky sticks and chocolate sprinkles.

And just like that, my yummy, cool, chocolatey dessert is ready for me: my happiness in a cup. I absolutely love its smooth creamy texture and the contrast of flavors from the slight tanginess from the yoghurt and the sweetness of the chocolate.

View this post on Instagram

I am uncontrollably happy with the opening of @elaitph’s kiosk nearby. I lost no time in dropping by and getting a #ChocolateOverload #RolledIceCream (Php140 for solo serving) for dessert. . . . . . . #sweetdreamsaremadeofthis #alwaysroomfordessert #sweetstothesweet #justdesserts #sweetsph #dessertph #dessertsofinstagram #sugarcoma #sugaraddict #sweetcraving #sugarrush #sweetfix #IGersManila . . . . . . Follow me on IG/FB: @beingjellybeans. And do check out my blogs beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (for #foodiefinds, updates on #TVshows and #movies, and #fictionbook reviews) and thelearneratlarge.wordpress.com (for #businessbook reviews, #motivationalquotes and #trainingtips).

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Sep 19, 2018 at 9:55pm PDT

This Elait kiosk is located at M Place, Panay Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. Other Elait locations include:

The Caf Food Hall, Second Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Third Floor, Santolan Town Plaza, Col Bonny Serrano Avenue, Little Baguio, San Juan City
Second Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Third Floor, Ayala Malls The 30th, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City
Second Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City

Spanish-style Callos from Mr. Cochinillo

Filipino cuisine is full of Spanish influences, no doubt owing to the more than 300 years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

One of its legacies is Callos, a hearty stew made with ox tripe, ox feet, Spanish sausage chorizo de bilbao, chick peas and peppers, slow-cooked in an herb- and spice-infused tomato sauce.

Callos’ roots go all the way back to Callos ala Madrilena, which, similar to many stews of this style, actually had humble origins. In fifteenth century Europe, tripe was quite inexpensive, making it quite accessible to the more common folk. It does require intensive cleaning and a long cooking time, making it quite impractical for today’s home cooks and working moms to make.

Fortunately, Mr. Cochinillo, the man and the establishment behind the succulent roasted baby pigs known as cochinillos del cielo, offers Callos among other items in his for-pick-up menu. The callos is vacuum-packed prior to freezing: by removing air from its storage bag preserves the color, texture and flavor of the dish.

Mr. Cochinillo does have strict instructions on reheating his callos so you can enjoy it at home:

Defrost the package but don’t use the microwave to thaw it.
In a pot, put one or two tablespoons of pure olive oil.
Saute the defrosted content of the package over low heat until it boils.

This small package of Callos priced at Php700 is good for two people. A larger pack good for six to eight people is priced at Php2,500.

Other frozen, vaccum-packed items available from Mr. Cochinillo include:

Mr. Cochinillo’s Fabada (infused with cochinillo): Php600 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,000 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Rabo del Toro: 2,500 (good for 6 to 8 people)
Cochinillo del Cielo: Php800 (good or 2 people)

To order your Callos from Mr. Cochinillo:

Step 1: Fill out the online order form or call +63 2 6330043, +63 2 9524102 or +63 917 545 4888.

Step 2: After receiving a confirmation message via email or phone, deposit payment to Carlos V De Guzman | BPI | Account Number # 2900-0063-84. Afterwards, email a copy of your deposit slip to orders@mrcochinillo.com.

Step 3: Go to the pick-up location – No 5 Parakeet Street corner Swallow Drive, Green Meadows Subdivision, Quezon City – at the specified time to ensure the crispiness of the skin and tenderness of the meat of your cochinillo. Be sure to bring the deposit slip when you claim your order.

Disclosure: I received the package of frozen Callos as a giveaway when I attended the Bloggers’ Night hosted by Mr. Cochinillo.

Have an Instant Party at Alex III, Tomas Morato

With the approaching holidays comes the much-awaited season of parties and get-togethers. Pinoys, in particular, love to celebrate with food, lots and lots of it. I recall my mom and titas slaving away in the kitchen, preparing their signature dishes for our family gatherings.

While I’m passionate about food, I’m not too keen on stressing myself out in the kitchen. Fortunately, thanks to a Foodie Meet-up held at Alex III’s Tomas Morato branch, I, together with my fellow foodies, discovered that I can treat my loved ones out to a feast of classic Filipino favorites, thanks to its Instant Party Menu.

Alex III’s Instant Party Menu consist of two sets of dishes. Both priced at Php2995, these feature home-grown Filipino party food enough for a group of five. These are all prepared and cooked with the same love and tradition that goes all the way back to Aling Asiang (or Mrs. Engracia Reyes), the matriarch of the family behind the Aristrocrat restaurant of which Alex III is an offshoot, being a business started by one of Aling Asiang’s grandsons.

Set One

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Special Pancit Canton
Fresh Lumpiang Ubod or Lumpiang Shanghai
Kare-Kare
Crispy Pata
Steamed Rice

Set Two

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Crispy Lapu-Lapu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Camaron Rebosado
Special Pancit Canton
Shanghai Rice

Each set is served with garlic peanuts, a sushi sampler, your choice of soup (of which we sampled the Hototay and Sinigang na Salmon), bottomless iced tea and your choice of dessert (of which we sampled the Leche Flan and the Pandan Jellied Tapioca).

Both sets present diners with a combination of flavors that are dearly familiar, being dishes that were served during family reunions and fiestas when we were growing up. They also serve as a way for working moms like me to reconnect our present-day celebrations with the warmth and traditions of our childhood: that despite the hectic schedules and fast-paced lifestyles, we have a way to get together with our loved ones to exchange old memories and make new ones, while enjoying good food and good company.

With Alex III’s Instant Party Menu, the tradition of fun family celebrations with good food is made even better.

This branch of Alex III is located at Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Bayoran, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and queries, call +63 2 3711414 or +63 2 3711415. Its spacious, tastefully appointed and well-lit interiors make it a great venue for large family gatherings or office parties.

Other branches are located at:

201 Wilson Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City (open daily from 11am to 11pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 7240882 or +63 2 7264444)
29 Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 9261266 or +63 2 9268942)
53 Pontiac Corner Chevelle Street, Fairview, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 3766286 or +63 2 3765179)

By the way, did you know that for your parties at home, you can have your favorite dishes from Alex III delivered right to your doorstep? Minimum order for delivery is Php500. For more details, contact the Alex III branch nearest you.

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Day held at 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.

Get the best cochinillo in town from Mr. Cochinillo

While the lechon (roast pig) is a staple in many Filipino gatherings, few might know that there is a version of this delicacy that originated from Segovia, Spain. The Cochinillo del Cielo, characterized by crispy light golden-brown skin and buttery, falling-off-the-bone meat, is a piglet that is roasted after feeding on sow’s milk from two to six weeks. The true test to a good cochinillo is that it is so tender, it can easily sliced by a delicate porcelain plate.

View this post on Instagram

Have you ever had #roastedsucklingpig so perfectly cooked you can cut it with a saucer? Well, I have at Mr. Cochinillo, definitely the best #cochinillo in town! . . . . . . #foodieph #foodph #discovermnl #pinoyfoodie #yummyph #foodiegram #foodgasm #zomatoph #spotph #sarap #bookymanila #foodgrammerph #delishph #happytummy #letseatph #foodcentralph #wheretoeatph #IGersManila . . . . . . Follow me on IG/FB: @beingjellybeans. And do check out my blogs beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (for #foodiefinds, updates on #TVshows and #movies, and #fictionbook reviews) and thelearneratlarge.wordpress.com (for #businessbook reviews, #motivationalquotes and #trainingtips).

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Sep 23, 2018 at 10:12pm PDT

Mr. Cochinillo is the brand created by former DJ-turned-photographer-turned-business owner Tinee de Guzman for his roasted suckling pigs and other Spanish-influenced items on the menu. The pigs are roasted in brick ovens located right in his home.

It all started when a friend of his was considering renting a venue he owns for a party and he volunteered to cater it as well. Among the dishes he claimed to be able to prepare, but actually hasn’t done so by then, is the cochinillo. His friend ended up just ordering this dish. Fortunately, he had a month leading to the party to learn and perfect his cochinillo recipe.

Tinee’s style of preparing cochinillo is no mean feat. As he relayed to the chef his friend hired for the party: “To be able to prepare this, you have to have time, you have to do everything properly. You have to clean it; you have to defrost it properly; you have to have it marinated before and after. Your oven has to be at a perfect temperature.”

That amusing start to his cochinillo business was in October 2012.

Since then, his cochinillo has been garnering praise from publications and food pundits and the orders just kept coming in.

In a party he recently held for bloggers, he relayed how he expanded his repertoire with other Spanish-themed dishes, which we were also able to sample. These included:

Seafood Fiduea/Fideo. A dish akin to paella but uses short noodles instead of rice, then cooked over a wood fire.

Fabada. Beans cooked over firewood and infused with his signature boneless Cochinillo del Cielo, which we enjoyed together with garlic bread.

Rabo de Toro. A rich stew made with bull’s tail, slow-cooked to absolute tenderness and rich earthy flavor.

During this event, Tinee also unveiled his newest offering, the Cochinillo rubbed with Goose Oil which further enriches the flavor of the pig’s skin and meat.

The dishes served gave a taste of the richness of Spanish cuisine which also called to mind many of the flavors we Filipinos grew up with and loved.

The following menu items are all available for order at his online store – mrcochinillo.com.

Cochinillo del Cielo: Php6,500 for regular (good for 8 to 12 people) | Php7,500 for large (good for 14 to 18 people)
Mr. Cochinillo’s Black Pig (Baboy Ramo): Php12,500 (good for 24 to 26 people)
Seafood Paella | Paella Negra: Php5,500 for regular (good for 16 to 20 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 30 people)
Seafood Fideua | Fideua Negra: Php5,500 for regular (good for 14 to 18 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 30 people)
Mr. Cochinillo Paella: Php6,000 for regular (good for 16 to 20 people) | Php9,500 for large (good for 26 to 28 people)

Frozen Items (vacuum-packed to ensure freshness):

Mr. Cochinillo’s Fabada (infused with cochinillo): Php600 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,000 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Rabo del Toro: 2,500 (good for 6 to 8 people)
Callos: Php700 for regular (good for 2 people) | Php2,500 for large (good for 6 to 8 people)
Cochinillo del Cielo: Php800 (good for 2 people)

(Note: Mr. Cochinillo has specific instructions on reheating these items, and does not recommend microwaving them.)

Ordering is as easy as 1-2-3:

Step 1: Fill out the online order form or call +63 2 6330043, +63 2 9524102 or +63 917 545 4888.

If you want to serve succulent cochinillos or any of the tasty dishes offered by Mr. Cochinillo at your family gathering this Christmas, it would be best to order as soon as possible. Note as well that cochinillo orders for pick-up from December 1, 2018 to January 3, 2019 will have a surcharge of 10% (but it will be so worth it!).

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Night hosted by Mr. Cochinillo. 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.

Saltitude: An awesome venue for your awesome Anilao beach adventure

Anilao is a barangay in the municipality of Mabini, Batangas. Over the years, it has become known as a divers’ paradise, its clear blue waters teeming with diverse marine life. Being only a few hours away from Metro Manila, it can offer some respite to city slickers seeking time away from the hustle and bustle.

If you’re dreaming of a beach trip you can pack with memories of fun and adventure aside from the usual swimming and sunbathing, why not go to Anilao? There’s just so much to do and discover, such as:

Diving

Anilao is best known for its diving scene, being the place where many of the country’s most experienced SCUBA and free divers converge to venture underwater or to coach diving newbies. If you’re new to diving and don’t want to invest in the required gear, you can rent these out at most diving resorts in the area.

Diving in Anilao can show you so many wonders beneath the waves from colorful lion fishes and wrasses darting about to exotic neon-colored nudibranchs that seemingly float here and there.

View this post on Instagram

Plan ahead for the weekend. Call or drop us a line

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on Jul 3, 2018 at 10:24pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Join us on a night dive . It’d be so much fun!!! 📷 by @scuba_lakwatsero

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:42pm PDT

You can also catch sight of unusual views such as the ruins of a sunken restaurant at the Dari Laut dive site.

Snorkeling

If diving is not your cup of tea but you still want to peek into the rich wildlife that Anilao has to offer, you can always go snorkeling instead. This way you can observe the many species of marine life that reside Anilao’s waters without the need for training or bulky equipment.

Jetskiing, Windsurfing and Kayaking

You can pretend to be on a spy adventure ala Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible series, with the wind blowing through your hair as you zip through the waves.

Or how about harnessing the power of the wind and waves by windsurfing?

View this post on Instagram

Learn to wind surf with us here @saltitude_dive

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on Jul 26, 2018 at 5:05pm PDT

Both of these are great items to tick off on your bucket list, particularly if you’re type who feels the need for speed.

However, if you want a leisurely glide over calm waters instead, then kayaking is for you. Paddle along the shoreline and work off your stress while giving yourself a great upper body workout.

Trekking

If you want a change in scenery, do venture up the mountain, the Mount Gulugod Baboy that is. From its peak, you get a sweeping vista of the Batangas coastline and the vast sparkling sea. Enjoy a sunset picnic here and bask in the orange sunlight while taking in the stunning view.

Dining and Drinking

All those swimming, diving, snorkeling, jetskiing, kayaking and trekking will surely work up an appetite.

Take a bite (or two or more) of all the fresh seafood and meats grilled right by the sea. There’s something about the smoky smell of food grilling and the salty sea air that makes eating at the beach a gastronomic adventure.

Take a nightcap by sipping some margaritas at the beachfront while staring at the open water. Who knows? You might even catch sight of a passing pod of dolphins.

View this post on Instagram

Lovin our very own Blue Marlin cocktail 💙

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on Aug 11, 2018 at 2:41am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Our very own margarita. Come & unwind here @saltitude_dive 🍸🍾🍷

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on Jul 28, 2018 at 5:20am PDT

Lazing About

At the end of each day at the beach, you may just want to curl up on a comfortable bed and read your favorite book. After all, R&R stands for “rest and relaxation,” right?

All these and more are in store for you and your beach buddies at the newly opened Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort. Situated along the Anilao shoreline, it provides a haven for beach lovers and adventure seekers with well-appointed yet quirkily decorated rooms styled according to different beach activities.

View this post on Instagram

It was an awesome opening weekend!!! Big warm thanks to all the divepros who stayed overnight & dropped by!!!!

A post shared by Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort (@saltitude_dive) on Jul 3, 2018 at 8:45am PDT

For more details, visit saltitude-anilao.com, email info@saltitude-anilao.com or call +63 927 4220428 or +63 43 4101857.

Header Photo Credit: Kris Mikael Krister on Unsplash

Resort details and other pics provided by Saltitude.

This post contains affiliate links.

Ready to go on your next beach adventure? Check out these beach essentials at Amazon.com.

ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Packable Backpack Water Resistant Hiking Daypack,Small Backpack Handy Foldable Camping Outdoor Backpack Little Bag

Camco Handy Mat Strap, Perfect Picnics, Beaches, RV Outings, Weather-Proof Mold/Mildew Resistant (Blue/Green – 60″ x 78″) (42805)

Mosquito Repellent Bracelet 12pcs, 100% All Natural Plant-Based Oil, Non-Toxic Travel Insect Repellent, Safe Deet-Free Band, Soft Fiber Material For Kids & Adults, Keeps Insects & Bugs Away

Zomato Tagaytay Food Crawl Third Stop: Siglo Modern Filipino

The last and final stop of our Zomato Tagaytay Food Crawl was held at Siglo Modern Filipino. Located along the Tagaytay – Calamba Road beside the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and right across Picnic Grove, Siglo is the restaurant attached to the View Park Hotel Tagaytay.

Siglo (which translates to “century”) is so-named in honor of 100 years of evolution of Philippine food, from the Spanish and Latin influences brought by the colonizers, as well as flavors from China, America and Southeast Asia which found their way here via trade.

Siglo synthesizes a century’s worth of Filipino culture and cuisine from all over the country, and supports the local economy by using ingredients sourced from local farmers.

It also seeks to preserve heirloom recipes – dishes that your great-grandmother might have cooked and using ingredients like adlai and siling labuyo that she might have used – while still innovating on the classic Filipino dishes through modern techniques and added creativity.

The restaurant is quite small (can seat at most 50 diners) but it has a lot of charm. Ethnic-inspired furniture and decor abound, and its advocacy for the appreciation of Filipino cuisine is apparent in the use of traditional materials and design. When you sit down and wait for your order, you can amuse yourself in puzzles and trivia that feature Filipino food courtesy of the placemats used.

My fellow foodies and I were served the Blockbuster Bilaos, hefty servings of themed Pinoy delicacies with dishes representing different locales in the country. These are best shared among a group of 4 to 6 people. Bilaos are flat and round-shaped implement used in separating rice grains from other particles like chaff, dirt and small pebbles. When I was young, the rice that was delivered to us had a lot of impurities so my yaya and I oftentimes had to pick the impurities from the rice (hence the term “nagpipili ng bigas“) that was laid in a bilao.

Siglo Bilao (Php1,800)

This bilao features native Tinola, classic Kare-Kare, Crispy Tawilis, Pancit Pusit and Siglo Salad. These are all heirloom recipes of Filipino dishes collated by Siglo’s team during their travels. For me, the standout among these dishes is the Pancit Pusit; it had the distinctive salty-sour garlicky taste of Adobong Pusit which I absolutely love. I would have eaten more of this were I not afraid of going home with black teeth (it would have been worth it, though!)

https://flic.kr/p/N8f5wW

Barkada Bilao (Php2,200)

This bilao boasts of timeless classics that barkadas (groups of friends) crave for when they’re hanging out such as Regular Bulalo (a staple in Tagaytay), Crispy Sisig, Calamares Frito, Himagsikan Wings (Siglo’s version of spicy buffalo wings in which the chicken pieces are glazed in shrimp paste and honey sriracha sauce) and gising-gising.

Luzviminda Bilao (Php2,400)

Named after the portmanteu of the Philippines’ three major island groups – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – this bilao features dishes representing bestsellers from north to south, serving as a quick culinary tour of the country. It includes Bagnet Ilocos, Chicken Binakol, Seafood Kare-Kare, Lumpiang Shanghai and Ubod Salad. The standout in this bilao is the bagnet with its savory tender meat and crispy crackling skin.

All the bilaos come with steamed rice and fresh fruits.

We washed down our food with a refreshing Pomelo Amaranth Juice which is not part of Siglo’s menu but is actually the welcome drink of View Park Hotel.

Siglo Modern Filipino is located at the Ground Floor of View Park Hotel, 3500 Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Sungay East, Tagaytay City. It is open Sundays to Fridays at 7am to 10pm and Saturdays from 7am to 12mn.

Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend 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.

Zomato Tagaytay Food Crawl Second Stop: Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant

The second stop of our Zomato Food Crawl was held at the Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant, tucked away along Sicat Road in a residential area off the Aguinaldo Highway on the way to Mountain Ridge.

Surprisingly, despite the location and the rainy weather, it was still filled with families who want to enjoy a more exotic cuisine for lunch.

Its grounds are surrounded with greenery and garden decor with an Asian, Zen-like feel. Sadly, due to the rains, we were not able to dine outside (but we did hold our flat-lays there, though). It would have been quite enjoyable to feast on the Thai dishes while enjoying the refreshing Tagaytay breeze.

The resto’s interiors also has a distinctive Asian decor, from the bric-a-bracs that line the walls, the proliferation of indoor greenery, and the colorful accessories that accent the place.

Some items in one of the inner rooms are also for sale. These include small mortar and pestle sets, decorative jars, local raw wild honey and more.

Thai cuisine is characterized by the intricate balance of five flavors: sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy. An emphasis is placed on the strong aromatic elements and a spicy edge. These flavors came into play with the dishes served to our group which included:

Fresh Spring Rolls (Php270). Rolled herbs, carrots, cabbage, tofu and noodles topped with a sweet chile relish. A hit for those who want to eat something light, fresh and healthy!

Tom Yum Goong (Php410). The dish’s name translates to “lemongrass shrimp soup.” It is a hot and sour soup with large shrimps. It is reminiscent of the Pinoy sinigang but with more complex flavors owing to the herbs and chilis mixed in.

Lime and Basil Salad (Php340). The resto’s namesake salad contains fried egg, basil, lettuce, peanuts and shallots lightly doused with a sour tamaring dressing. I find it a good palate cleanser after tasting the more flavorful dishes.

Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashews (Php380). Sauteed bits of chicken cooked with cashew nuts in a salty sweet sauce.

Kao Pad Saparod (Php360). Fried rice served in a bowl made of pineapple which adds some sweetness to the salty rice.

Pad Thai (Php350). A sweet-savory noodle dish, most commonly served as street food in Thailand.

Kaeng Deng Kha Moo (Php770). The Thai version of the Pinoy Crispy Pata with a red curry sauce. The crackling skin was very crispy while the meat was quite tender. It went well with the pineapple rice.

Kao Neiw Mamaung (Php220). A beautifully presented dish, it consists of glutinous rice, coconut milk and luscious slivers of ripe mango. It is doused with condensed milk for some added sweetness.

Thai Iced Team (Php110). What Thai meal is complete without its signature iced tea? This refreshing beverage is made from strongly-brewed tea with some additional spices and sweetened with sugar and condensed milk.

The dishes were tasty and well-presented, quite excellent representatives of Thai cuisine. These will help in broadening the horizons of the Filipino palate.

Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant is located at 9104 J. Rizal Street, Barangay Sicat, Tagaytay. It is open weekends from 11am to 9pm and weekends from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 915 627 6393.