beef tapa – Jellybeans in the City

World-class dining at Wildflour Cafe, Uptown BGC

I realized that I’ve been working quite hard for the past year.

Despite the convenience of working from home, I’ve been attending lots of meetings, preparing reports, overseeing projects and so on.

With all the job-related stresses I go through each day, it’s only right to treat myself to something posh and delicious, right?

Well, treat myself, I did, at two different occasions at Wildflour Cafe in Uptown, BGC.

Wildflour has been a popular brunch and bistro cafe since 2012, known for its creative menu that incorporates influences from the world’s best cuisines and makes use of ingredients sourced the best organic and local markets.

Its branches also have their own in-house bakery that supplies them with a wide assortment of freshly baked and premium-quality breads, pastries and cakes.

Saturday lunch with my daughter

On a Saturday after a particularly busy workweek for me (and during my daughter #ExhibitA’s lunchbreak from her work which, as luck would have it, sometimes requires her to work on weekends, we decided to have our midday repast at the Wildflour Cafe branch in Uptown, BGC.

During our lunch break escapade, #ExhibitA and I indulged ourselves with Wildflour’s continental dishes such as:

Beef Bourguignon (Php995).

Tender, chunk of beef slowly stewed in red wine sauce with mushrooms and served on a bed of pureed pumpkin.

Goat Cheese Ravioli (Php565).

Ravioli filled with buttery and tart goat cheese tossed in a tomato-sauce infused with basil harvested from Wildflour’s own garden.

Tres Leches (Php320).

Chiffon cake doused in dulce de leche and vanilla kappa and topped with fresh berries.

Partner these culinary creations with Wildflour’s relaxing and rustic old-world ambiance as well as its gracious and hospitable service, then you have a truly world-class dining experience.

Sunday brunch with former co-workers

A few weeks later, I met up with my former officemates to catch up and reminisce over brunch at the al fresco area of this same cafe.

Here, we broke our fast with breakfast bowls such as:

Beef Tapa (Php595).

Tender strips of pan-fried marinated beef on top of garlic fried rice and served with fried eggs and atchara.

Adobo Fried Rice (Php630).

Pork belly braised in garlic, vinegar and soy sauce served with fried egg and pickled chilis on Dalisay rice.

Bacon Fried Rice (Php625).

Thick slabs of bacon steak served with fried egg on top of fried rice.

Now, not all of us enjoy rice for our first meal of the day so some went to sandwiches and pastries from Wildflour’s bakery, which include:

Salmon Avocado Toast (Php595).

Slivers of smoked salmon and mashed avocado topped with cucumber slices, tomato, olives and dill on butter toasted bread.

Corned Beef Hand Pie (Php135).

A flaky turnover pastry filled with savory corned beef.

Hazelnut Cronut (Php170).

The variant of Wildflour’s flaky croissant-donut hybrid topped with dark chocolate swirl and chopped hazelnuts.

And what would brunch be without drinks?

Caffeine freaks went for handmade hot coffee variants while I cooled down with an Avocado milkshake.

Whether indoors or al fresco, Wildflour Cafe does fit the bill for up-leveled dining. And what better way to reward myself than to splurge on world-class eats, right?

This Wildflour Cafe branch is located at the Ground Floor, Uptown Ritz Residences, 9th Ave Corner, 36th Street, Taguig City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 83653872 or +63 917 6367957.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Six/Neo, 4th Avenue corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. (Tel: +63 2 88567600 | +63 917 8520950 | +63 917 6249006)
Ground Floor, V Corporate Center, Salcedo Village, Ground Floor, 125 L.P. Leviste Street, Makati (Tel: +63 2 88087072 | +63 917 3285915)
Ground Floor, O-Square Wilson St corner, Ortigas Ave, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan (+63 2 87753543 | +63 917 6279679)
Ground Floor, 8 Rockwell Center, Plaza Drive, Poblacion, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 88505503 | +63 917 7053329)
Ground Floor, The Podium, 18 ADB Ave, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong (Tel: +63 2 85718588 | +63 917 6289572)
Ground Floor, Frabelle Business Center 111, Rada, Legazpi Village, Makati (+63 2 88339799 | +63 917 5645748)
Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Esperanza St, Makati (Tel: +63 27 2132363 | +63 917 6303265)

To order for delivery, visit wildflourtogo.com.

Stay updated on Wildflour Cafes promos and offers by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Homemade goodness from Baba’s Kitchen

Want to jazz up your mealtimes without slaving all day in the kitchen? Or have tasty munchables ready whenever you get hungry for a midnight snack or get in the mood for a Tv binge?

Well, you won’t have to do hard kitchen labor because you can get your hunger pangs and cravings catered to by Baba’s Kitchen!

Yep, my cooler bag from Baba’s Kitchen is chock-full of tasty homemade goodies that opens up a world of wonderful gustatory possibilities.

I’ll tell you more about these but first, let’s check out the bag’s contents.

These include ready-to-cook viands such as Breakfast Patties, Spanish Chorizo and Wagyu Tapa, snackable dips such as the sweet and spicy Mango Jalapeno, the tasty Garlic & Herb and Chicken Rum Pate, the highly snackable Beachcoast Crisps: Cranberry Edition, as well condiments such Baba’s BBQ Sauce and Baba’s Spicy Bitchin’ Sauce.

With so little time for food prep after a hectic workday, I had to get a bit more creative when coming up with a dinner that the kids will get excited for.

So, I whipped up a batch of Cheesy Peppery Burgers using Baba’s Kitchen’s Burger Patties!

We paired our meal with some crackers, Baba’s Kitchen’s Beachcoast Crisps and Baba’s Kitchen’s dips!

With much of the prep work of the meal already done by Baba’s Kitchen, I had more time to enjoy dinner time with the kids!

This meal-in-minutes sure seems like a resounding success, wouldn’t you say?

UPDATE:

I also whipped up a quick lunch for the family: Tapsilog using Baba’s Kitchen’s Wagyu Tapa!

So, now, what can I whip up with the other items from Baba’s Kitchen? Use the Spanish Chorizos for some Deviled Eggs? Use the BBQ Sauce as a Chicken Teriyaki Marinade? Let me know if you have more ideas.

If you want to have more fun mealtimes with the fam while feasting on great food (with little effort!), check out Baba’s Kitchen!

Order now from Baba’s Kitchen’s website. To stay updated on Baba’s Kitchen’s products and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Pinoy comfort food at Goodah, Timog Avenue

Whenever I feel stressed or harassed, I always get a strong craving for comfort food. These are dishes that I usually associate with delicious home cooking, the kind that my mom would serve me whenever I was sick or sad.

For over thirty years, Goodah has been the has been the go-to place for people seeking fuss-free comfort food that appeals to down-home Pinoy palate. These include the traditional hot and quickly-served Filipino snacks like goto and lugaw, as well as the hugely popular silogs. Being so popular among all sorts of people, it soon adopted the monicker “ang pagkaing for every all!”

During the height of the lockdown due to the pandemic, I was able to enjoy Goodah’s comforting dishes with my fam while stuck at home through its Salo-Salo Set Meals (thanks to Rowena of TravelEatPinas for thoughtfully sending me this meal set!)

However, as the lockdowns gradually eased (but my work and life stresses did not) I wanted to experience Goodah’s down-home Pinoy dishes in a dine-in setting.

So off I went with my fellow unnies to the Goodah branch along Timog Avenue.

Here, we were able to sit down and take a break from our daily grind as we gossiped about our Hollywood idols and K-pop stans while we feast on Pinoy comfort food.

These include:

Batangas Lomi with Tokwa’t Baboy (Php134). A noodle dish made with thick yellow noodles in a thick and starchy soup topped with bits of pork meat, pork offal, pork rind and kikiam. It’s best enjoyed with a side dish made with tofu and pork bits in vinegar sauce.

Arroz Caldo Special (Php179). A porridge made with glutinous rice and accompanied by chicken pieces, hard-boiled egg and topped with crunchy fried garlic and chopped scallions.

Pork Bingoongan (Php319). A classic Pinoy dish wherein pork belly is stewed in shrimp paste (bagoong).

Kare Kare (Php345). A Filipino stew wherein ox and pork meat and offal are served in a thick and rich peanut sauce along with vegetables.

Supermeal A (Php150). A budget-friendly rice meal that includes tocino, lumpiang shanghai, pancit canton, kropek (prawn cracker) and leche flan.

Supermeal B (Php160). Another rice meal that’s light on the budget which includes tapa flakes, lumpiang shanghai, pancit canton, kropek (prawn cracker) and leche flan.

Ribsilog (Php195). Crispy fried pork ribs served with garlic fried rice, fried egg and atchara.

Leche Flan (Php39). The Pinoy version of creme caramel which is made of egg-and-milk custard with a soft caramel layer on top.

With such comforting dishes to be enjoyed, should there still be room in my psyche for stress and negativity? I guess not!

Dispel your own blues with Pinoy comfort food by dropping by a Goodah branch near you today!

This Goodah outlet is located at 57 Timog Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in and takeout from 8am to 8pm, and for delivery from 7am to 9pm via Pick*A*Roo, and 25-hours via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Other Gooodah outlets are located in Alabang, Valenzuela, Pasig, Granada and Fairview in Quezon City, as well as in Sucat and Bicutan in Paranaque.

Know more about this much-loved Filipino food brand through its website. Stay updated on Goodah’s latest offers and promos by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Friends & Family Express, The Podium

“Kain tayo!”

It seems that for any Pinoy having a meal ot a snack, the experience won’t be complete without someone to share it with.

Well, Pinoy meals are best enjoyed with friends and family.

That’s probably the concept behind the newly opened stall in Podium Mall and its mother restaurant in BGC, both named Friends & Family.

Its food offerings harken back to old-timey faves and twists on classic Filipino recipes that kith and kin can all come together to enjoy.

One evening after work, I got together with my college girl daughter #ExhibitA for a bout of shopping and dinner at The Podium Mall.

Since I was gifted with a Raintree Restaurants GC last Christmas, we decided to use it at the Friends & Family Express stall at The Corner Market Food Hall.

There, we were able to some of F&F’s signature dishes such as:

Mr. Jones US Beef Garlic Tapa (Php195). Tender beef tapa served on a sizzling plate with fried egg, pares rice and sinigang soup.

Beef Pares (Php275). Braised beef stew also served on a sizzling plate with a soft-boiled egg, pares rice and sinigang soup.

Ube Champorado (Php175). A large bowl of champorado flavored with purple yam instead of tablea chocolate served with a piece of dilis for a bit of salty contrast to the sweet porridge.

Foodies seeking for cool and exciting twists to everyday Pinoy food will find their cravings satisfied at Friends & Family.

Thanks to Marj for the GC.

Friends & Family Express is located at The Corner Market Food Hall, Second Floor, The Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

The flagship store of Friends and Family is located at Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

During the enhanced community quarantine, F&F’s BGC branch offers curbside pickup and delivers through its hotline +63 917 8917053 or via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

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

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Haven for coffee and comfort food lovers: Little Owl Cafe, New Manila

Hidden away in New Manila is a haven for lovers of coffee and comfort food.

Renovated from one of the previously worn-down houses along Broadway Avenue, Little Owl Cafe is nestled among lush greenery. Started as a coffee shop but now a full service cafe, it serves food that features a fusion of Italian and Asian cuisines that professionals working in the area or families residing nearby can enjoy.

I was recently invited to a Blogger’s Dinner at this restaurant where I was able to sample some of its delectable offerings:

Omelette Chorizo Rice (Php270). Part of the resto’s All-Day Breakfast Menu, it consists of homemade longganisa rice, delicately wrapped in a thin omelette and topped with onion gravy and aioli.

Sisig Tacos (Php210). Three pieces of soft-shell tacos topped with crispy sisig and a savory liver aioli sauce. A great start to the meal!

Glazed Cauliflower (Php210). Cauliflower covered in a sweet and spicy soy glaze then deep-fried to crispiness. A great way to get the kids to eat their veggies!

Truffle Mushroom Pasta (Php350). Al dente noodles tossed in a rich homemade mushroom sauce made with three different kinds of mushrooms – shiitake, enoki and shimeji – topped with fried enoki and drizzled with truffle oil.

Shrimp & Aligue Pasta (Php330). Pasta noodles tossed in a creamy tomato sauce incorporating shrimp aligue and served with plump grilled shrimps.

Beef Tapa & Cheese Sandwich (Php295). A Pinoy take on the Philly Cheesesteak which showcases savory slivers of beef tapa, it is accompanied by a hefty serving of crisp shoestring fries.

Chicken & Waffle (Php270). Chicken thighs covered in batter then fried to a crisp then served with sriracha coleslaw over cheddar waffles.

Lechon Kawali Bibimbap (Php320). The classic sweet-spicy Korean fried rice served with sauteed mushrooms and spinach accompanied by deep fried pork belly and fried egg. A great combination of Pinoy and Korean flavors!

Chicken Satay (Php280). A bowl of Indonesian- inspired fried rice served with grilled chicken thigh and its trademark peanut sauce.

Beef Rendang (Php420). Tenderchuck slow-cooked in aromatic spices and coconut cream. A little too spicy for me but a sure winner for those who like their food with lots of kick!

Kimchi Salmon Sinigang (Php420). Salmon belly and loin seared then served in a spicy and sour soup.

Iced Mocha (Php170). A rich yet refreshing blend of chocolate and coffee flavors, it is among the Toby’s Estate beverages served in this restaurant.

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Pink Owl (Php180). A fruity cocktail of vodka, lychee, watermelon and mint. A suitable drink to chase away the workday stress.

Little Owl Cafe’s food offerings provide its diners with an adventurous break from the everyday meals but with enough familiar flavors to make them appealing to those with more conservative tastebuds.

Its premises are well-appointed, tastefully furnished and prettily lit, great backgrounds for foodie shots and group photos.

Since this resto is conveniently located a short distance from my workplace, I definitely can drop by again for dinner with friends after office hours.

Little Owl Cafe is located at 65 Broadway Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 10pm and Sundays from 8am to 9pm. For inquiries, call + 63 917 8181468 or +63 2 5012036.

Little Owl also accepts bookings for special events such as weddings, birthdays, holiday parties, press conferences and more, with function rooms that can be reserved for a minimum consumable amount.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, 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.

A get-together that’s delightfully ours at Conti’s, Greenbelt

Since Conti’s opened its doors in 1997, it has grown into one of the most established names in the Filipino food scene with multiple branches all over Metro Manila. Its claims to fame include its Baked Salmon dish and its Mango Bravo cake, and it continues to evolve in terms of product offerings and service innovations (which now include baked goods and reheatable take-outs).

Together with a good friend of mine, I have made Conti’s Greenbelt our go-to meetup place whenever she comes home to the Philippines on vacation from Singapore. It seems that the restaurant’s homey yet flavorful fare and bright airy interiors provide both of us a comforting feeling of home as we share the happenings in our lives during the few months we were in different countries.

Recently, we worked a minor miracle by shiffling our schedules around so we can meet up again in our favorite place to catch up and chat.

As always, I ordered my favorite dish, Conti’s Baked Salmon (Php425), a slab of Norwegian pink salmon, baked with Conti’s special topping and served with a salad of seasonal greens and a tomato-ey paella rice. I also got a Mango Banana Yoghurt Shake (Php145) as a fresh and fruity refreshment.

My friend, on the other hand, ordered a Homemade Beef Tapa (Php240) and a Yellow Mango Shake (Php135), to get a flavorful taste of home.

Since Conti’s tagline is “delightfully yours,” my friend and I have, in effect, made this resto delightfully ours. It is our place to meet and come back to our favorite flavors.

This Conti’s branch is located at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati. For queries and reservations, call +63 2 7560327.

Other branches are located at:

Alabang: Westgate Center, Alabang Town Center
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Paranaque: BF Homes
Pasay: South Wing of SM Mall of Asia, Blue Bay Walk
Manila: Robinsons Place Ermita
Taguig: Serendra BGC
Pasig: Ayala Malls the 30th
Mandaluyong: Shaw Boulevard cor Laurel Street
San Juan: Northeast Square Greenhills
Quezon City: Robinsons Magnolia, Katipunan Avenue in Blue Ridge, Trinoma Mall, SM North EDSA The Block, Ayala Fairview Terraces

You can also have your Conti’s favorites delivered where you are by calling +63 2 5808888 or ordering through the Conti’s online store.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Want to learn more about Filipino cuisine? Check out these books on Amazon.com!

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