aligue – Jellybeans in the City

The Jelly List: Fresh takes on Filipino food

The Philippine Independence Day is just around the corner and despite having a lot of restrictions on movements and dining out, there are still enough reasons to celebrate the flavors and ingenuity of Filipino cuisine.

Characterized by the interplay of sweet (tamis), sour (asim) and salty (alat) flavors, Pinoy food is rich in tradition and history, with many recipes passed down from one generation to the next.

Every once in a while, however, a kitchen maverick adds an unheard-of twist to an established Pinoy dish or adapts a foreign recipe by incorporating local ingredients or cooking styles which will result in an entirely new way to enjoy an old favorite.

In this edition of The Jelly List, let me share with you fresh takes on Filipino food from innovative restaurants. And since the community quarantine is still in effect in many areas in Metro Manila, I’ve chosen dishes from restaurants that are open for pickup or delivery.

Manam’s Caramelized Patis Wings (Php180)

Just when you thought that there couldn’t be another twist to fried chicken wings, Manam brings out this zesty appetizer flavored with patis (fish sauce). Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

To order, visit MomentFood.com.

More on Manam here.

Lola Cafe’s Prawns in Aligue (Php420)

We Pinoys sure do love our seafood! And while pasta is not native to our country, Lola Cafe has made this dish Filipino with the use of crab fat (aligue) and carabao cheese (kesong puti).

To order, call +63 917 8176045 or course your order through FoodPanda or LalaFood.

More on Lola Cafe here.

Locavore’s Sugpo con Mayonesa (Php980)

Locavore may be best known for its Sizzling Sinigang but its Sugpo con Mayonesa surely deserves a second (or third!) look. Made with jumbo black tiger prawns set on a rich sauce of crab fat, garlic, butter and Japanese mayo, this is truly a decadent dish.

To order, call +63 917 6842014 (Pasig), +63 917 5742017 (Taguig), +63 917 1782018 (Makati), +63 917 8472747 (Pasay) and +63 917 5120159 (Quezon City), or visit Locavore.ph.

More on Locavore here.

Ombu Kusina’s Sisig Pizza (Php560).

The Kapampangan delicacy pork sisig may be mainstay in many Filipino restos but here’s an exciting way to enjoy it: on top of a thin-crust pizza and drizzled with garlic sauce.

To order, call +63 2 84411789 or +63 922 8149086, or course your order through FoodPanda.

More on Ombu Kusina here.

Moonshine Pub’s Pizza Margerito (Php465)

A twist on the Italian classic Pizza Marherita, this is adapted to local taste with the inclusion of Moonshine Pub’s housemade longganisa.

To order, Viber +63 927 8000920 or send a message to Moonshine Pub on Facebook.

More on Moonshine Pub here.

ALTA by Relik’s Bagnet Sinigang (Php395).

The classic sinigang dish is deconstructed into pieces of bagnet and vegetables served with a broth made of fresh sampaloc dialed up to its asim-est level.

To order, call +63 917 3172582.

More on ALTA by Relik here.

Kusina Moderne’s Sans Rival (Php225)

What’s a Filipino meal without dessert? With Kusina Moderne’s version of the San Rival consisting of meringue balls studded with chopped walnuts and filled with buttercream, any meal will end on a sweet note.

To order, call +63 920 8178956 or course your order through GrabFood or FoodPanda.

More on Kusina Moderne here.

So if you’re planning a celebration for our Araw ng Kalayaan, have a couple of these dishes delivered to your home and appreciate the ingenuity and vibrancy of Pinoy cuisine.

Thanks for reading this Jelly List! Now, how about some perks?

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Download the LalaFood app and register using my code BEINGJMR53 and get a free delivery coupon

Check out my other adventures compiled into Jelly Lists:

Heritage of flavors at Pamana, Tomas Morato

Pamana in Tagalog means “heritage.” It is a legacy passed down from generation to generation taking with it the hopes and dreams of forebears for their descendants. For many Filipinos, this heritage takes the form of family traditions and stories that provide them with roots and backgrounds.

For third-generation restaurateur Happy Ilagan Ongoauco – Tiu, her heritage rich with heirloom and secret recipes of Filipino dishes is a point of pride. It signifies a hundred years of delicious and authentic Filipino food arising from her family’s passion for cooking and love for family.

She brings this heritage to life with her restaurant Pamana, a Filipino restaurant located in foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area in Quezon City.

On my first day back to work from my overseas vacation, I headed to Pamana’s homey restaurant together with three coworkers for a spot of good ole’ Filipino comfort food for lunch.

Our repast of Pinoy fare included:

My Adobo Rice (Php220). Nearly two decades ago when I started working in the Tomas Morato area, I enjoyed some yummy rice toppings at World Topps then located along Timog Avenue. Well, guess what! World Topps was Happy’s first restaurant and this dish is what made it famous. This rice meal of adobo pork bits, scrambled eggs and freshly cut tomatoes on top of steaming hot rice doused in adobo sauce is already good for three so we just supplemented it with a cup of garlic rice.

Pampanga’s Sizzling Sisig at Aligue (Php320). It seems that any Filipino reataurant meal won’t be complete without sisig. This version had the indulgent addition of aligue (crab fat). Treated during this meal as a viand, it went well with the Adobo Rice.

Crispy Adobong Pusit Calamares (Php325). My coworkers discovered this menu item while I was on vacay. And what a discovery indeed! It combines the sour-savory flavors of adobong pusit and the crispy and chewy texture of calamares. Similar to the sisig, this tasted so good paired with the adobo rice.

This was a lovely lunch that welcomed my tummy and my heart back home, and got me ready for the rest of the workday.

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

Another branch is located at 1315 Aguinaldo-Highway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 46 4132461 or +63 922 8592703.