Asian – Jellybeans in the City

Grilled meats from all over the world at Skewered, Festival Mall Alabang

Grilling has long been associated with breezy summer nights and friends gathered to feast on good food while making new memories together.

That’s how I found myself spending a sultry Sunday afternoon down South in Alabang together with my fellow foodies.

The host of this lively gathering is Skewered, the nautical-inspired eatery that brings together grilling traditions from many parts of the world.

These traditions were exemplified in the feast they laid out for us, which include:

Shrimp Tacos (Php229). Marinated and grilled shrimp served in soft taco shells.

Oyster Gratin (Php229). Three large fresh oysters, grilled and topped with house-made aioli gratin.

Garlic Enoki Mushroom (Php149). Baked enoki mushroom served with house-made garlic sauce.

Grilled Talong (Php129). A whole eggplant, grilled then coated with house-made garlic sauce.

Singaporean Shrimp Satay (Php199). Skewered shrimps, marinated and grilled, then served with the traditional peanut sauce.

Torched Beef Salpicao (Php349). Beef salpicao served hanging, torched at the table and drizzled with butter sauce.

Veggies Skewer (Php169). Two sticks of mixed marinated and roasted vegetables.

Skewers: Chinese Beef (Php41), Chinese Lamb Php45), Chinese Pork (Php36), Chinese Chicken (Php36), Meat Balls (Php36).

Meat Platter (Php1,299). A carnivore’s dream come true: 200g Wagyu beef brisket, half of a roasted chicken, 150g Lechon Pork Belly, 3 pcs of Taiwanese sausages, and choice of 2 sides from among coleslaw, buttered corn, house salad, fries, mac n’ cheese and steak rice.

Skewered also laid out home-grown dishes served with international flair, such as:

Tapa Rice (Php299). Savory rice flavored by beef tapa topped with fried eggs and tomatoes.

Seafood Paella (Php439). The offshoot of the Spanish rice dish made with a creamy tomato base, fresh shrimp and clams, drizzled with aioli and served in a traditional shallow pan.

Sizzling Lechon Sisig (Php279). Classic Pinoy roasted pork cooked and served as a crunchy and spicy sisig.

Gambas al Ajillo (Php239). Plump shrimps sauteed in garlic and served sizzling.

Sinigang na Hipon (Php319). The sour soup dish of shrimp in a tamarind-flavored broth.

Beef Brisket Nilaga (Php329). Smoked wagyu brisket cubes served in a flavorful nilaga broth.

Kare-Kareng Lechon (Php399). Roasted pork served in a rich peanut sauce together with crisp vegetables.

Wagyu Corned Beef Kaldereta (Php409). The house-made wagyu corned beef prepared as flavorful caldereta with veggies.

Beef Hofan (Php239). Stir-fried and flambeed rice noodles mixed with beef bits and chopped vegetables.

Pad Thai (Php349). The classic stir-fried rice noodle dish served wrapped in a delicate egg omelette.

Spaghetti Aligue (Php319). Spaghetti noodles tossed in a rich crab fat sauce and served with a freshly grilled shrimp.

To cap our meal, cater to our craving for sweets and to quench our thirst, prettily designed dessert drinks were served (with reusable metal straws at that!).

Frappes (Php159 each): Caramel, Cookies and Cream Frappe and Chocolate

Strawberry Shake Special (Php189). Strawberry milkshake overloaded with a strawberry Pocky stick, marshmallows, strawberry pretzels and a scoop of strawberry ice cream.

Choko Shake Special (Php199). Chocolate milkshake overloaded with a chocolate Pocky stick, M&Ms, mini marshmallows, KitKat stick and a scoop of chocolate ice cream.

Halo-Halo Frappe (Php199). The all-time Pinoy favorite shaved ice dessert given a fresh twist.

Skewered does a good job in curating and putting its fresh takes in various dishes. While the pork dishes tend to be salty, the beef dishes are marked by juiciness and flavorfully tender texture.

Despite the plethora of food it served during this foodie meetup, there are more waiting to be discovered and tasted. I won’t mind coming back here for more foodie adventures with my friends.

Skewered is located at Ground Floor, Water Garden, Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa, open daily from 10am to 4am with Happy Hours at 3pm to 7pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8216745, +63 928 1796025 or +63 945 2476249.

And guess what? Since this is a Zomato Gold partner establishment, you can get some of your food orders for free!

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, 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.

Seven Reasons why Bistro Charlemagne, Nuvali is your road trip foodie stopover

The Santa Rosa – Tagaytay Road is just teeming with strip malls with various dining options as well as standalone restaurants. Any foodie would be faced with the dilemma of where to eat with so many food choices available.

May I present the Bistro Charlemagne in Nuvali as a viable option? Here are seven reasons why which became even more apparent when my extended family made our way down here after our Tagaytay sojourn.

One: It’s where the cuisines of the East and West come together and have a ball

Being a third-generation restaurateur, owner Charlemagne Lim achieves the balance between tradition and novelty in cuisine. The offshoot of Little Asia, Bistro Charlemagne features a little bit of the well-loved dishes its mother-restaurant popularized and a whole lot of new or innovated-upon dishes developed specifically for this new concept resto.

Take the Ceasar Salad (Php295) for example: the crisp Romaine lettuce, classic dressing, shredded chicken breast and slivers of parmesan cheese are to be expected and quite yummy… but add delicate boiled quail eggs into the fray? Say what?!?

How about the Crispy Lumpiang Hubad (Php305)? The classic shredded and sautéed vegetables that make up the local fried vegetable rolls of our childhood are served on top of a crisp pastry while doused in garlic sauce and sweet soy dressing.

The much-raved about Beef Tenderloin Rolls with Cheese (Php405) did not disappoint either. Our group loved the finely rolled tenderloin slices stuffed with melting cheese on top of authentic teriyaki sauce that we ordered for another plate of these goodies.

Or consider, a new favorite of my daughter #ExhibitA and myself, the Drunken Lengua in Mushroom Brown Sauce (Php405). Those melt-in-your-mouth tender morsels of pan-seared ox tongue are served with mushrooms and asparagus spears on a bed of rich buttery brown sauce. If you had misgivings about eating the more exotic meat parts like ox tongue, this will change your mind.

The Japanese Beef Fried Rice (Php125) tasted the Kamameshi Rice of Japanese restos but had a lighter feel. It went so well with our viands that we consumed three bowls of it.

Two: Your favorites are here too!

Missing the taste of the familiar? No need to fret because old-time favorites are also available on the menu for those seeking more of the flavors they loved and less of the adventure into the unknown.

These include the Tuna Tataki (Php305), an appetizer made of lightly seared tuna loin lightly coated in a crust of sesame seeds and served with the traditional Japanese ponzu sauce. (And yes, we got two orders of these.)

The Chinese food staples Salt and Pepper Spareribs (Php345) and Salt and Pepper Squid (Php365) rounded up our mains.

And because we Pinoys, for some reason, can’t fathom a family meal without a vegetable dish, there’s the Brocolli with Prawns and Mushrooms (Php445). We had one of these as-is, while another was made without the prawns to suit the taste of one of the little ones in our party.

Too bad the Chicken Fingers (Php345) did not make it to our table on time so we just had that wrapped to go.

Three: There’s something for your sweet tooth

Knowing the kiddos’ predilection for peanut butter, I ordered a serving of Reese’s S’mores (Php245). It turned out that dipping crisp graham crackers into warm toasted marshmallows resting on a ganache of peanut butter chips is a decadent treat, not just for the young ones but also for the grown ups!

And wouldn’t you know it; we had another serving of this yummy dessert because…

Four: Birthday celebrants get a special treat!

As Hubby’s natal day was within seven days of our visit to this resto, we were given a free serving of the house special Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken, one of the recipes passed down from Charlemagne’s forebears. (We simply had to present a valid government-issued ID as well as reach a minimum single-receipt transaction of Php1,995.)

A candle was placed right smack in the middle of another Reese’s S’mores for Hubby to blow out while the restaurant staff sang a Chinese version “Happy Birthday to You.”

Five: Did you know Bistro Charlemagne catered to international stars?

When top musical acts such as Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Smashing Pumpkins and Paramore had their concerts in the country, Bistro Charlemagne was in charge of keeping the stars and their entourage well-fed.

Six: On a budget? No sweat!

When petsa de peligro comes along, you can still satisfy your craving for your favorite Bistro Charlemagne dish with a set meal at only Php215! This already comes with rice, soup and iced tea.

Seven: Check out its new Lenten Specials

Even if your road trip takes place in the days leading to the Holy Week, you can still keep your Lenten observance with Bistro Charlemagne’s new seafood offerings such as Crispy Fish Fingers, Octopus ala Pobre and Baked Salmon in Truffled Spinach Cream Sauce.

Thanks to Bistro Charlemagne for serving as the tasty final stop of our Tagaytay weekend sojourn!

This Bistro Charlemagne branch is located at GFF-6, Building B, Ayala Malls Solenad 3, Nuvali, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Another branch is found at Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz along Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City.

For reservations and inquiries, call +63 049 2580846 or +63 917 8334223.

Check out my review of its branch in Pasig here: East meets West at Bistro Charlemagne, Ayala Malls Feliz

Family’s Intro to Fat Fook at Robinsons Galleria

When you’re planning where to eat for the family’s Saturdate, and you consider the varied tastes and preferences of your family members, sometimes you just need to put your foot down, dictate where you want to eat and hope it pays off.

And sometimes, it does.

The fam’s lunch took place at the newly opened Fat Fook at Robinsons Galleria. It’s one of two existing branches in the Metro Manila, with the other one located in SM City North EDSA.

This branch is situated in the recently renovated wing of Robinsons Galleria, where a lot of new and trendy restos are expected to open.

The place is quite spacious, warmly lit and can accommodate 40 or so people. Similar to its SM North branch, it features porcelain bowls as part of its decor: this time, the bowls cover one wall, adding a quirky yet elegant Asian element to the resto’s interior.

Fat Fook offers authentic Taiwanese food. The dishes we sampled include:

Tofu with Century Egg and Pork Floss (Php198). The soft-chilled tofu was creamy and mild, and together with the century egg, the pork floss and the sweet-salty sauce, it brings a nice contrast of flavors and textures.
Taiwan Style Fried Rice (Php258). Served in a small pan, the rice is fried with a salty brown sauce and accompanied by bits of green onion and lots of savory-sweet chorizo pieces. It provides an interesting complement to the other dishes we ordered.
Taiwan Beef Noodles (Php258). Tender braised beef slices accompanied by hand-pulled noodles in a sour-and-slightly-spicy broth.
Fat Fook Chicken Chop (Php238). Juicy and tender chicken breasts coated with batter and breading, a quick hit with my baby boy!
Garlic Pork Spare Ribs (Php298). A safe bet, given that the fam has tasted this before in Chinese restos.

With all our orders, the bill amounted to just a little over Php1,500, so our Fat Fook sojourn is definitely among the more affordable of our food adventures.

I found this experience a good way to introduce the kids to new cuisines and food influences, which helps them develop a more adventurous yet discerning palate. For myself, I welcome any opportunity to go off the beaten path when it comes to food choices.

Given its affordability and fresh tastes offered, Fat Fook is among the restaurants I won’t mind returning to.

Check out my review of Fat Fook’s other branch at SM North EDSA.

This post contains affiliate links.

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HBO original documentary “The World Behind the Teenage Psychic” premieres Dec 16 on HBO and HBO GO

HBO Asia announced recently that the brand-new HBO Asia original documentary, THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, inspired by the network’s award-winning coming-of-age series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, will premiere on Sunday, 16 December at 8pm exclusively on HBO GO and HBO.

The documentary follows the success of HBO Asia’s first Mandarin original drama series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, that premiered in 2017 with positive ratings and received recognition at the prestigious Golden Bell Awards. Filmed entirely in Taiwan, the one-hour long Mandarin documentary, THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, seeks to delve deeper into the traditions and culture that THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is based on.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC follows different characters from various locations in Taiwan, as they explore how the distinct blend of Taoist, Buddhist, Chinese folklore and indigenous belief systems continue to flourish in modern Taiwan. Featuring anecdotes and stories told by an 18-year-old medium in the Sanchong district, a family of Taoist priests from Keelung city and an award-winning actress and singer whose family runs a funeral business in Nantou county, as well as a practicing priest and teacher of religious studies at Fu-Jen Catholic University, the documentary explores the rituals and beliefs surrounding the afterlife and Ghost Month in Taiwan.

Sanchong District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Ming Yi Zhang is an 18-year-old female medium (known locally as a jitong) who acts as a vessel for the Taoist God, the Lotus Prince, at the Sanchong Xiesheng Temple in New Taipei City. In the documentary, she shares her view on the culture and practices involved on being a jitong, including self-flagellation, and how she juggles her temple and personal life. During the shoot, the crew managed to speak with the Lotus Prince through Ming Yi and sought his opinion about his young vessel.

Nantou County, Taiwan

In light of a passing in her family, the documentary also follows Golden Horse award-winning Taiwanese actress, Qian Na Lee (“The Teenage Psychic”), as she returns to her hometown in Nantou County. Having spent her childhood years in an environment bound by traditional folk practices, Qian Na offers an insight into Taiwan’s contemporary perspective of life and death.

Keelung City, Taiwan

Shot mainly in in Keelung City, the documentary follows three family members of Taoist priests whose family have served as priests in Keelung City for over 150 years. Wu Ji Lee watches as his two sons, Ming Jun Lee and Cong Hui Lee, perform sacred rituals for the first time at the annual Keelung Zhongyuan Festival, the largest Ghost Festival in Taiwan.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is developed and produced by HBO Asia and marks the second original documentary for the network, following their first documentary THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS that premiered in 2017. HBO Asia started producing its Original productions in 2012 and have since expanded their range of Asian Original productions to include series, movies and documentaries. To date, HBO Asia has produced thirteen Asian Originals with more slated to premiere in the coming years.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC premieres on Sunday, 16 December at 8pm exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (SKYcable ch 54SD | ch 168HD).

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.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

Folklore

Stream Season 1 of The Teenage Psychic on HBO Go.

This post contains affiliate links.

HBO Go not available in your area? Watch on HBO on Amazon Prime. Start your 7-day free trial today.

Savouring Asian street food at Hawker Street, Savour Manila

I took an opportunity to take my daughter on an impromptu foodie adventure (and on a weekday at that!) at Savour Manila.

My daughter recently started her internship/work immersion in a company in Quezon City. Since it is a short distance from my office, I usually drop her off and pick her up from her workplace.

On this particular afternoon, we found ourselves with a couple of hours to while away and we decided to meet up at my office then go out to eat.

She was all set for some Japanese food but as we were walking along Tomas Morato, the Savour Manila food park caught our eye.

For our first time here, we decided on Hawker Street, the stall that offers Asian street food. We shared a bowl of laksa (Php200), my daughter’s first encounter with this Peranakan soup dish, and two sticks of bacon yakitori wraps (Php100).

We requested for the laksa to be mildly spicy, given that we both have low tolerance for spicy food. While the broth has a nice balance spiciness from the curry and creaminess from the coconut milk, the noodles used are pasta noodles instead of the more authentic vermicelli or laksa noodles.

The bacon wrapped asparagus spears and enoki mushrooms served as our meaty viand. We really couldn’t say anything much about the bacon wraps except that bacon makes everything better.

We even shared a giant glass of iced tea from the store two stalls down.