chicken wings – Jellybeans in the City

Explosion of colors and flavors at Sala Thai Kitchen, Greenhills

Thai food remains one of the world most popular and influential cuisines in the world. From the humble street food that can be enjoyed in Thailand’s marketplaces to the Thai-inspired dishes served by high profile chefs, Thai food continues to entice, titillate and satisfy the imagination and taste buds of foodies throughout the globe.

Its appeal can be attributed to its wide range of flavors and textures – combining fresh and crisp veggies, bold spices, sweet coconut and earthy savory peanuts. Aside from incorporating many nutritious ingredients and employing mostly healthy cooking methods, Thai food also offers a lot of delicious options for people with dietary restrictions and preferences.

This is why the opening of a new Thai restaurant in one of the metro’s busiest shopping areas is happy news to me and my foodie friends.

Sala Thai Kitchen welcomes its guests with a chill yet elegant vibe which also integrates elements of Thai culture and aesthetics from its backdrop of knick-knacks to its delicately designed tableware.

We immersed ourselves in a delicious flavor journey with these scrumptious dishes:

Starters

Crispy Spring Rolls (Php195). Also known as paw pia tod, these are flavorful rolls made with chopped veggies, ground pork and glass noodles encased in translucent rice paper wrappers then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served with chili sauce for dipping.

Pomelo Salad (Php220). Also known as yam som o, this is a bright and fresh mix of green leafy veggies, aromatics and chunks of pomelo tossed in citrusy dressing along with ground peanuts and garnished with mint leaves.

Rice & Noodles

Shrimp & Pineapple Fried Rice (Php370). The Thai put a special spin on fried rice through the use of shrimp, stock, seasonings and pineapple bits. This dish is also as khao pad.

Thidin Pad Thai (Php330). One of Thailand’s most well-known dishes made with stir-fried noodles and chicken bits in a sweet-savory-sour sauce garnished with an omelette, crushed peanuts and cilantro.

Siam Chicken Noodles (Php340). Noodles flavored with a coconut turmeric sauce topped with black pepper chicken.

Meat

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce (Php320). Grilled boneless chicken breast marinated in coconut milk and seasonings and served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce.

PatPong Wings (Php320). Crispy fried chicken wings covered with a sweet-and-savory glaze and garnished with chilis, chopped green onions and cilantro.

Beef Green Curry (Php380). Tender strips of beef and eggplant braised in Thai green curry paste and coconut milk. This dish is also known as gaeng keow wan.

Dessert

Creme Flan (Php140). The Thai version of the creme caramel which incorporates coconut cream.

Mango Sticky Rice (Php160). Also known as khao neeo mamuang, this is a popular Thai dessert made with glutinous rice mixed with sweetened coconut milk, topped with slices of fresh mangoes and drizzled with a coconut milk sauce before being garnished with toasted sesame seeds.

Drinks

Thai Milk Tea (Php120). An earthy and nutty take on the milk tea made with strong assam black tea sweetened with condensed milk.

Thai Coffee (Php120). Coffee sweetened with condensed milk and flavored with spices. Available hot or iced.

With these beautifully presented and delectable offerings, you can be sure that your meal at Sala Thai Kitchen is a feast for the senses.

So drop by while you take a break from your shopping spree or make this new restaurant your prime destination for a wonderful flavor journey to Thailand without having to leave the metro.

Sala Thai Kitchen is located at Ground Floor, O Square 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations and delivery orders, call +63 977 2186165 or +63 919 2836155.

It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To stay updated on its promos and offers, follow Sala Thai Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

#EatHealthyEatFresh with Nutrifresh Chicken

With the continuously rising prices, eating home-cooked meals in lieu of dining out is becoming more popular.

Aside from cutting costs on your food budget, home cooking also helps you choose healthy and wholesome ingredients, have greater control over preparation methods and portions, as well as practice your creativity in the kitchen.

However, one of the hurdles to be managed in home cooking involves sourcing of fresh ingredients that will help recipes turn into delicious dishes.

Fortunately, you can now turn to the Internet to conveniently shop for ingredients and have them delivered to your home.

Take Nutrifresh Chicken, for example.

Nutrifresh Chicken is a direct producer, processor and distributor of broiler chickens which is mainly based in Southern Luzon, with branches in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Gensan, Davao and Palawan.

It carefully manages the production of its chicken products – from breeding, hatching, growing, processing to packaging and delivery – to ensure the adoption of humane practices and maintain product quality while eschewing the use of preservatives, added hormones and steroids.

These dressed chicken selections include:

Nutrifresh Chicken started its venture into consumer retail just when the worldwide pandemic reared its ugly head back in 2020, challenging the company to come up with solutions to efficiently deliver its fresh and premium quality chicken products from its farms to its customers.

Then, it launched an app that enabled home cooks like to order their choices from among its various chicken selections and have them conveniently delivered right to their doorstep.

This online facility made it that much easier for home cooks to prepare nourishing and mouth-watering dishes for their families.

The app is currently being updated to improve its user experience but you can place your orders through Nutrifresh Chicken’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. When the app update is done, you can download it here.

So go online to order your Nutrifresh Chicken selections and be on your way to eating healthy and fresh!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Let’s #ChooseTheSarapEveryday with Chewsarap

Despite the pandemic that still rages on, life continues.

Amid the trials and challenges we face, and continue to encounter, there are moments that we choose to savor, and milestones that we celebrate. Those are the times when we choose the sarap out of life.

One such moment is the birthday of my eldest. My unica hija – whom I usually refer to in this blog as #ExhibitA – is now a young adult, and I wanted to mark the day with a special meal.

However, with my busy work day, I didn’t have time to shop for ingredients, let alone spend time in the kitchen putting together various dishes.

Fortunately, I won’t have to, thanks to Chewsarap!

Operating on the philosophy that good food need not be expensive, this cloud kitchen offers a well-curated menu consisting of Chinese, Korean and Filipino cuisines, affordably priced and available in portions ranging from solo to family and party trays.

#ExhibitA’s birthday feast consisted of:

Hot Prawn Salad (Php350 for 2-3 persons | Php600 for 4-5 persons | Php900 for 7-8 persons).

Succulent prawns tossed in mayonnaise and cream then topped with sweetened fruits.

Salted Egg Chicken Wings (Php240/3 pcs | Php900/12 pcs).

Juicy chicken wings covered in Chewsarap’s special salted egg sauce.

Roast Beef (Php450) half portion | Php850 full portion).

Beef belly cooked sous vide for forty-eight hours and served with gravy and barbecue sauce.

Hainan Chicken with Curry Rice (Php300 for 1-2 persons | Php500 for 3-4 persons | Php900 for 6-8 persons).

Chicken cooked sous-vide on top of curry rice and served with ginger and soy dipping sauces.

The fam loved the varied dishes I served for my baby girl’s birthday dinner. Our intimate feast included old favorites as well as new flavors that broadened our culinary horizons, all made fresh on the day of delivery.

Plus, ordering this feast was so easy. Here’s how:

Visit chewsarap.com.
Select your orders.
Upon checkout, fill up your delivery details and choose your shipping option (pickup or delivery).
After getting the total bill, make your payments (cards/e-wallets, bank deposit and GCash are accepted).
Send proof of payment via Viber or by messaging Chewsarap on Facebook or Instagram.

Want to cook show-stopping viands such as these without the work of food prep?

Order Chewsarap’s Ready-to-Cook Meals such as:

Chicken Tenders
Beef Tapa
Japche Noodles
Pork Sisig
Beef Stew

Why should we choose the hassle, when we can #ChooseTheSarap, everyday?

Disclosure: Product samples were provided.

A great reason to dine out: House of Lasagna’s Pizza and Wings Happy Hour

After almost two years of lockdown and community quarantine restrictions, it sometimes seems as if we are just now emerging from our cocoons, relatively free to go out into the world once more.

That’s surely something worth celebrating, right?

Lucky us, House of Lasagna’s got just the thing that will make our celebrations complete: a Pizza and Wings Happy Hour!

From April 18 to May 7, 2022, from 2pm to 5pm, we can give our appetites for tasty and hearty food free rein for 90 minutes with unlimited refills of these irresistible selections:

Pergola Pizzeria

Composed of three best-selling variants of House of Lasagna’s line of stone-baked Neapolitan-style pizzas, these feature that irresistible combination of crunchy-chewy crust and flavorful toppings.

Pergola Special. Topped with bacon, ham, tomatoes, bell peppers, black olives, onions and mozzarella.

Pepperoni. Topped with pepperoni, mozzarella and aged cheddar.

All Meat. Topped with premium ground beef, bacon, ham and mozzarella.

Southern Fried Chicken Wings

These consist of three variants of chicken wings coated in batter, deep-fried to achieve that golden-brown skin and juicy meat, then shaken with flavorings to add new dimensions in taste to the dish.

Original.

Classic Buffalo.

Garlic Parmesan.

House Iced Tea

House of Lasagna’s Pergola Pizzas and Southern Fried Chicken Wings are best paired with the restaurant’s refreshing house iced tea, served bottomless and available only through this Happy Hour offer.

Treat yourself and your #TeamDineIn buddies to House of Lasagna’s Happy Hour Unli Pizza and Wings offer for just Php499/head.

So go ahead and celebrate our collective re-emergence from being cooped up for the past two years by dining in at these House of Lasagna branches and taking advantage of its Happy Hour treats:

240 Aguirre Ave. BF Homes Paranaque, Paranaque City
218 Katipunan Ave, Project 4, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Quezon City
3/F Dela Rosa Carpark 2 Bldg., Dela Rosa St. , Brgy. San Lorenzo Legaspi Village Makati, Makati
Unit 2 l, Ground Floor, Quad 2, Plaridel, Sto. Rosario, Angeles City, Pampanga (starting Wednesday, April 20, 2022)

To keep updated of its latest promos and offers, follow House of Lasagna on Facebook and Instagram.

You may also order House of Lasagna’s ala carte offers online through its website, which covers delivery in Metro Manila, Batangas (Lipa, Tanauan, Padre Garcia, Rosario,Cuenca, San Jose, Mataas na Kahoy, Malvar, Sto. Tomas), Cavite (Kawit, Imus, Bacoor), Laguna ( Biñan and San Pedro) and Rizal (Cainta, Taytay, Antipolo, Angono and Binangonan). It accepts payments via GCash, Visa and Mastercard.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting held by this restaurant wherein food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Check out my previous posts on House of Lasagna:

House of Lasagna Megamall — Carbo-loading at House of Lasagna, SM Megamall

3 ways Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina is perfect for your family holiday gathering

It’s been a year and a half into the global pandemic, and we are just now feeling some loosening of the many restrictions.

With the Metro Manila recently de-escalated to Alert Level 2, kids are now allowed out of doors, emerging from more than a year of being stuck at home.

With Christmas just around the corner, extended families are surely looking forward to the time they can all gather together and catch up.

I know just the perfect venue for such gatherings: Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina.

Let me tell you why:

1. Going there is like being welcomed into a family home.

Mang Ding’s is located in a quiet neighborhood in Barangay Sto. Nino, Marikina.

Restaurant owner Dindo Cleofas inherited his father’s (the original Mang Ding) love of grilling and wanted a restaurant where he can continue his father’s legacy as well as have a place where he can relax and chill with friends. Together with his wife, Dotie, he converted their home’s garden area into an outdoor dining space where he can serve customers his specialities, hot and fresh from the grill.

The space is shielded from the elements by a roofed pergola and surrounded by lush greenery, most of which were planted and nurtured by their family.

This open-air dining area is well-ventilated, equipped with fans to keep the air circulating and the surrounding plants adding refreshing color and coolness to space.

Walking into Mang Ding’s feels like visiting your favorite tita’s house; it’s a place where you feel right at home.

2. It can serve as your kids’ introduction to Pinoy comfort and street food.

A few months ago, I brought my parents here for dinner and upon seeing and tasting the familiar Filipino comfort food served to us, both my mom and dad waxed nostalgic about the dishes they grew up with. They regaled my daughter with stories about their foodie adventures back in the day.

If your kiddos are the “just fry me a hotdog, Mommy” type, it may be high time to introduce them to the simple yet sublime joys of good, down-home Pinoy cooking. You can be sure that lolos, lolas, titos and titas will waste no time in telling stories about their own experiences with Pinoy comfort food during your family party, and will help instill among the little ones healthy respect and appreciation for our culinary heritage.

You can count on Mang Ding’s to bring to the table an array of MALINIS, MASARAP at MURA dishes such as:

Ensaladang Talong (Php75).

Sizzling Tokwa Special (Php160).

Quarter Leg Chicken BBQ (Php150).

Boneless Chicken BBQ (Php180).

Isaw Manok (Php20).

BBQ Platter (Php575).

Boneless Bangus Overload (Php265).

Pompano (Php380).

Grilled Pusit (Php425).

Tuna Panga (Php485).

And if the children still want the hotdogs, longganisas and fried chicken that they’re familiar with, you can still accommodate their requests here, and even give them a sweet treat for dessert.

Grilled TJ Jumbo Hotdog (Php50).

Grilled Longganisa (Php55).

McJolly Pakpak (Php225 half kilo | Php400 kilo).

Belgian Chocolate (Php150 slice).

Since good food help spark great conversations and great moments, your fam is in for a memorable experience when you hold your get-together at Mang Ding’s.

3. You can enjoy its tasty dishes at home.

The fun doesn’t have to stop after the get-together. You can bring home the yummy Pinoy BBQ at home with you, thanks to this handy box. For just Php599, you get fifteen sticks of Mang Ding’s signature barbecue and isaw served with grilled corn as well as calamansi and siling labuyo for the dipping sauce.

On the other hand, if your family opted for a virtual reunion, you can still partake of the same meal during your Zoom party by sending them Mang Ding’s Ready-to-Grill Pinoy BBQ packs (basting and dipping sauce included) that they can cook at home in a jiffy.

These include, among others:

Liempo (Php360/500g).

Pork BBQ (Php600/20pcs) and Isaw Manok (Php460/20pcs).

Chicharon Bulaklak (Php325/500g).

So whether your clan decides to have a physical get-together or a virtual party over the holiday season and beyond, Mang Ding’s is surely your best bet!

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City, open for dine-in, pickup and delivery on Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays for 11am to 10.30pm.

Reserve the venue now for your clan gathering or book a table for lunch, dinner or drinks by calling +63 916 2853031.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

House Pizza Time with Yellow Cab delivery

In between video calls, reports and other tasks that make up a frenetic afternoon at work, Hubby and I were able to squeeze in a quick, tasty and filling snack, not just for us, but also for the kiddos.

This is thanks to Yellow Cab’s ongoing promo on GrabFood.

For years now, Filipino-owned pizza brand Yellow Cab has been offering New York-style pizzas using the finest ingredients to local pizza aficionados.

This type of pizza is characterized by a large hand-tossed thin crust, topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, usually sold in wide slices for takeout. If your pizza is thick and crisp on its outer edges yet soft, thin and pliable enough to be folded in half to eat, then what you’ve got is a New York-style pizza.

Through Yellow Cab’s House Pizza Time deal, the whole fam was able to enjoy a modest feast for just Php999! This consisted of:

9-inch Pepperoni Pizza. Hubby’s all-time favorite pizza!

9-inch Hawaiian Pizza. Pineapple bits on pizza may be problematic for some but not for me! I’ll take this pizza topped with pineapple, ham and bacon any day.

16 pcs Hot Wings. Crispy and juicy chicken wings coated with a spicy and tangy buffalo sauce. For me, it would have gone so well with Yellow Cab’s garlic ranch dip but I guess it was left out of our delivery pack. Still, Hubby and the kids lost no time in demolishing these chicken pieces.

Our little snack break was able to tide us over and helped keep our energy levels up until dinner time. It also gave us another reason to get spend a fee minutes with the kiddos despite our busy workday.

Have your favorite pizzas and more delivered right to your doorstep by ordering online. You may also order directly from the store nearest you by calling:

Metro Manila hotline +63 2 87899999 | +63 918 8073591 | +63 918 8073590 | +63 918 8038306
Baguio hotline +63 074 4429999
Cavite hotline +63 046 4169999
Laguna hotline +63 049 5029999
Cebu hotline +63 032 2541111

You may also course your orders through these food delivery apps.

Download the Grab App and 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

Download the LalaFood App and get a free delivery coupon when you use my code: BEINGJMR53.

Check out my posts on other pizza joints in the metro:

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.

The Jelly List: My fave resto dishes you can enjoy at home

Hello, fellow foodie! How are you holding up? I hope you’re safe at home and surrounded by your loved ones just like me.

After several days of being #TeamBahay, I have to admit: I may be getting a bit tired of home-cooking. (Yaya, don’t be tampo! Your cooking is great!)

I can’t help but miss those scrumptious, meticulously prepared, beautifully presented dishes from my favorite restaurants.

Do you feel the same?

Well, guess what: we can enjoy those wonderful viands at home, thanks to delivery services. (I panicked for a while when Gran and FoodPanda briefly suspended their services the other day. Thank heavens that’s all sorted out! Whew!)

So, if you have a craving for any of these delectable dishes, just contact the resto and have them delivered to you. Not only will you get to enjoy a fabulous meal in the safety and comfort of home, you also contribute to the continued health of these businesses.

Buttered Parmesan Chicken Wings of Buffalo Swing Cafe

Ooh, these tender and juicy chicken wings, deep-fried to crunchy goodness and flavored with a butter parmesan rub are perfect bites when you’re binge-watching movies on Netflix.

Buffalo Swing Cafe is located at 363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City. To order, call +63 2 86412561 or +63 917 7954554.

Buffalo Swing delivers via Food Panda.

Read more about Buffalo Swing Cafe here.

Martabak Manis of Sammy’s

If you have ever come across this delightful Indonesian dessert called Martabak Manis, I’m sure you will agree that it’s quite a treat. Made with thick pancake layers filled with chocolate sprinkles, crushed peanuts, cheese and condensed milk, it’s perfect for those late-night sweet cravings.

Sammy’s is located at 14 Raspberry Bend Street, Valley View Executive Subdivision Phase 3, San Juan, Cainta. To order, call +63 939 1483960.

Sammy’s delivers via Grab Express.

El Chupapi, Tomas Morato

The Philippines and Mexico have a lot in common: both colonized by Spain in the 1500s and linked across the seas by the Galleon Trade, linkages in the two countries’ culture and practices are bound to occur.

One such linkage is found in food.

Filipino and Mexican cuisines are both heavily influenced by Spanish culinary traditions but are still grounded on local tastes and ingredients.

It would take only a little leap, then, to add Filipino twists to Mexican food and come up with exotic viands made familiar and palatable to the Pinoy palate. And so we have Fil-Mex cuisine such as the food that can be enjoyed at the recently opened restaurant in Tomas Morato called El Chupapi.

A hole-in-the-wall taqueria along Scout Albano Street, El Chupapi offers a place where workers from nearby offices and local residents can enjoy a quick and easy lunch or some after-hours pica-pica with their favorite cerveza (which usually happens to be San Miguel Beer, and you can’t get any more Pinoy than that, hahaha!).

Step inside and you’ll be welcomed by vibrant colors that characterize Mexican culture, most notably the mural of Santa Muerte that occupy an entire wall.

I’ve experienced both kinds of dining opportunities at El Chupapi: first, when I joined my team mates in a post-work Anti-Burnout get-together; and second, when I grabbed a quick lunch here together with my office buddies.

Among the Fil-Mex dishes I have sampled here are:

Fries Overload (Php180). A mixture of ground beef and melted cheese poured over freshly made French fries. This is great for sharing and mindless munching (like I often do)!

Tacos Locos (Php149 for 2 pieces). My friends and I took advantage of an ongoing Booky Buy One Get One deal for these meaty and cheese hard-shell tacos so we got four tacos for the price of two.

Salmon and Cream Cheese Aioli Soft Tacos (Php175). Two pieces of pan-seared salmon fillets on top of shredded cabbage and onions, doused with garlic mayo to be rolled inside a lightly toasted tortilla.

Chicken Wings (Php195 for 6 pieces | Php360 for 12 pieces). Tender and juicy chicken wings flavored with your choice among four sauces: Mango Habanero, Garlic Parmesan, Salted Egg and Mexican Barbecue. Thanks to a lucky decision to have lunch here on a Wingsday Wednesday, my friends and I got twelve pieces of El Chupapi’s wings (6 pieces Garlic Parmesa and 6 pieces Mexican Barbecue) for just Php195. These go so well with steamed rice.

Dessert Quesas (Php180 each). Sweet takes on the classic quesadilla – Blueberry Cream Cheese and Himalayan Salted Caramel (which was quite salty) – topped with a hefty dollop of vanilla ice cream. Both serve as great bookends to a satisfying Fil-Mex meal.

My friends and I are quite satisfied with our El Chupapi experiences in terms of the quality of food and pricing. I also appreciate its Buy One Get One offers that help more people enjoy its offerings without being to heavy on the wallet.

So, how about popping by in Tomas Morato and giving this Fil-Mex resto a try?

El Chupapi is located at No. 7 Scout Albano Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 11pm.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Latin American cuisine:

Wyld Kitchen x Bar introduces lunch offering: “Wyld Bowls”

Science confirmed what we corporate drones have known deep inside all along: that precious hour that we call our lunch break is actually good for our health.

Taking regular breaks from work helps prevent a mid-afternoon slump as we regain focus and energy after stepping away from our desks. These breaks also allow us to recharge and destress, as well as give our creativity a boost.

Yes, we should really savor that well-earned lunch break. And what better way to enjoy it than to take your officemates out to the “wyld” side as Wyld Kitchen x Bar now serves up lunch through its new menu items: the #WyldBowls.

One of the welcome additions to the Tomas Morato food scene, Wyld started out as a bar that brought together the freshness and wildness of nature into its food and drinks. (Check out my earlier blog post about Wyld.)

Now, in partnership with BGC’s Alegria Conzinha Moderna & Sangria Bar, Wyld branches out into new territory: lunch bowls.

Called #Wyldbowls, these five hearty bowls feature viands cooked and served the “wyld” way on top of soy ginger rice with a bit of spicy gochujang slaw and sprinkled with fried garlic bits and chopped spring onions for added color and flavor. At only Php249, each bowl already comes with a glass of Wyld’s house-made camote (sweet potato) tops iced tea.

Check them out:

Grilled Pineapple Beer-Brined Pork. Tender pork slices marinated in beer and pineapple and accompanied by a sous vide egg and Chilean pebre sauce.

Smoked Chorizo Cataluna. Specially-made smoked chorizo also accompanied by a sous vide egg and Chilean pebre sauce.

Grilled Cajun Chicken. Smokey and flavorful slices of grilled chicken breast also accompanied by a sous vide egg and Chilean pebre sauce.

Mango Labuyo Glazed Chicken Wings. Juicy fried chicken wings lightly covered with a spicy and fruity glaze.

Buffalo Fried Calamari. Squid rings coated with a spicy and crispy breading.

Each bowl is carefully assembled and prettily served, with lots of elements to make each serving visually appealing. The soy ginger rice has a mild savory taste that complements the viands.

I would prefer more choices for sauces and dips for variety and to counter some of the spiciness such as aioli for the calamari, ranch dressing for the chicken wings or some chimichurri for the Cajun chicken. That said, I found each bowl flavorful and filling.

These lunch bowls offer Wyld’s diners with a welcome break from the usual.

So take advantage of your precious lunch hours to grab some #WyldBowl with your friends. Get into the “wyld” side of lunching out. Who knows? You might bring some of that wildness back to your office with some renewed energy or fresh ideas.

#WyldBowls are available everyday from 11am to 3pm.

Thanks to Ken Gonzales and the Wyld crew for the warm welcome, the stories and the yummy eats, and to Lerizze Dizon of Zomato for extending the invitation!

Wyld Kitchen x Bar is located at Second Floor, The Grandia Place, 143 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, extending its hours Sundays to Wednesdays from 11am to 1am and Thursdays to Saturdays from 11am to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 919 9908805.

Did you know you can buy two drinks and get the same two drinks for free at Wyld Kitchen x Bar through Zomato Gold? 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 10% off the membership fee.

Disclosure: Together with other Zomato food bloggers, I attended a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. The food items mentioned here were served to allow is to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of my usual lunch haunts:

Food trippin’ nearby at Buffalo Swing, Caniogan

Though a proud Pasiguena, I admit that the incessant traffic jams in and around my city do sometimes get to me. These nuisances get in the way of so much: errands, appointments and, of course, foodie adventures. So whenever possible, to lessen the travel time and the frustration that comes with navigating the metro’s streets, I do try to find nearby places to indulge my food cravings.

Fortunately, Pasig City already has a lot to offer in terms of foodie destinations.

One such place is Buffalo Swing Cafe, a small eatery along Sixto Antonio Avenue that specializes in American comfort food: flavored chicken wings, pizzas and pastas. Owned and operated by Ingrid Mediarito, it is co-located with her baking supplies store named Ingrid’s.

Ingrid has long recognized the need to address the Pasiguenos’ need for affordable and easily accessible dining choices which led to her making her cafe’s food available to locals via delivery. A while back, in fact, when I was so busy running errands one Saturday that I didn’t have time to prepare food for my family’s dinner, I just ordered some wings and pizza from Buffalo Swing Cafe via Honestbee.

Honestbee has since stopped its operations in the country (oh, Honestbee, you are sorely missed!) but another delivery option is now available: via Zomato.

However, for this blog post, let me tell you more about my actual experience visiting Buffalo Swing Cafe together with fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH where we enjoyed its freshly made comfort food:

Pizzas

All Cheese (Php300). Made with four kinds of cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan and cream cheese and flavored with garlic. Wonderfully cheesy!

Meat Overload (Php320). A carnivore’s dream on a pizza crust: pepperoni, Hungarian sausages, breakfast sausage and beef toppings and topped with caramelized onions.

Pastas

Aligue Cream (Php180). A decadent cream-based pasta flavored with aligue (crab fat).

Bacon Tomato (Php160). Flavored with tomatoes and savory bacon, this pasta has the slightly sweet taste that kids love.

Spanish Sardines and Olives (Php160). Slightly spicy pasta dish made with Spanish-style sardines.

Wings

These flavorful chicken wings, cooked to crunchy and juicy goodness, are priced at:

Php155 (5 pieces, one flavor)
Php300 (10 pieces, one flavor)
Php585 (20 pieces, two flavors)
Php1150 (40 pieces, two flavors)

These wings go so well with the resto’s pizzas and pastas, but they’re also great on their own. I’d love to have some delivered the next time there’s a big movie on TV so I can have something yummy to munch on while I’m indulging my inner couch potato.

Buttered Parmesan.

Spicy Salted Egg.

Salt and Pepper.

Sweet and Spicy.

Flamin’ Lemon.

Honey Soy Sesame.

American BBQ.

For dessert, we had Luleepops (Php20), a real treat for me since this is the first time I’ve tasted an avocado-flavored iced candy.

And we chased away the heat from some of the spicy chicken pieces with refreshing Lemonades (Php40 each) and a sweetly decadent Rootbeer Float (Php100) made with A&W Rootbeer.

So whether you’re a local or a dayo (visitor) from another city, check out Buffalo Swing Cafe for tasty, tummy-filling comfort food.

Many thanks to Ingrid and the staff of Buffalo Swing Cafe for the warm welcome and the yummy eats!

Buffalo Swing Cafe is located at 363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 9pm and Sundays from 5pm to 9pm. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 922 8864381.

No time to drop by Buffalo Swing Cafe? Order your food via Zomato! Just click on the link below.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended 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.

Check out my reviews of other chicken joints in the metro:

Have your drink your way at Make Your Own Cafe, Maginhawa

With the proliferation of milk tea places all around the metro, how does a new player stand out from the pack?

By hingeing its bets on its sinkers – those little add-ons that you put into your milk tea.

Make Your Own Cafe’s unique selling proposition is its unlimited sinkers (at Php20 each) which include homemade boba pearls (in original, honey and espresso flavors), egg pudding, nata de coco and jellies (in grass, coffee, brown sugar varieties), Oreo crumbs and more.

Add these decision points on top of the drink options on the menu – which include milk teas, fruit teas, fizzy pops, blended ice, cheese + tea, coffee and hot drinks – and you’ll soon find yourself overwhelmed with all the choices before you.

During a recent foodie meetup at the cafe’s newly opened branch in Quezon City’s famous Maginhawa Street, my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH and I were faced with the same quandary: which drink to choose from such an extensive plethora of choices.

My advice for your first time at Make Your Own Cafe? Be adventurous and go for a flavor you’ve never tried before. That way, your MYO experience is as unique and memorable as the cafe itself.

My chosen drink was the Spring Jasmine Cheese (Php120 regular | Php130 large). The light, floral and fruity tea was given an added richness by a thick, creamy and decadent layer of cheese foam. Its taste reminds me of the freshness of spring, while the cheese foam provides a slightly salty contrast to the tea.

My friends and I enjoyed our chosen drinks while sharing the snacks provided by the cafe which included:

Wings (Php176 for 6 pieces; in garlic parmesan, buffalo, sweet and spicy, barbecue and sriracha honey flavors)

Cheese Quesadilla (Php105)

Cheese Nachos (Php105)

Backyard Barbecue Burger (Php180)

Bacon Cheeseburger (Php210)

Pastas (Php180 each, which include Aligue, Truffle and Longganisa Aglio Olio)

Dessert Cakes: Sans Rival and Blueberry Cheesecake

At Make Your Own Cafe, you get to choose from a wide selection of drinks and truly make it your own, plus you can enjoy it with such tasty dishes.

(Photo Credit: Bebe Co)

Thanks to Kian of Kianventures for extending the invite and the awesome people behind Make Your Own Cafe for the warm welcome and the yummy food!

This Make Your Own Cafe branch is located at Ground Floor, Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, open daily from 6am to 12 midnight. For food and franchise inquiries, call +63 2 9689696 or +63 917 6779696.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held here wherein in food drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

There’s something for everyone’s craving at Pob Stacion Food Park

For quite a while now, the Poblacion area has been reinventing itself from its previous incarnation as Makati’s red-light district and re-establishing itself as its foodie-friendly haven. Here, foodies can explore various options in food and drink spanning various cuisines and concepts.

If you were to pool some of those eateries together and concentrate them into one easily accessible place, you would have the Pob Stacion Food Park. Located at B. Valdez Street, Barangay Poblacion in Makati, a ten-minute walk from A Venue or Century City Mall, the newly opened multi-storey Pob Stacion houses a variety of concept food stalls that give the park’s visitors wondrous choices for their gastronomic adventure or to soothe their food cravings.

Recently, together with my fellow foodies, I had a taste of what Pob Stacion’s food outlets have to offer. Read on and check out my top picks.

Above Sea Level (Seafood)

As the home of the Giant Butterfly Squid (Php180 with 1 Java rice | Php250 with 2 Java rice | Php350 with 3 Java rice | Php450 with 4 Java rice), they really do serve it up big-time. Lightly battered, well-seasoned and fried to a golden-brown, each enormous squid by itself is good for two people and is best enjoyed with the resto’s vinegar dipping sauce.

If you’re feeling extra hungry or adventurous, add the Seafood Festival (Php380) to your order and bite into mouthwatering crab, shrimps, mussels and corn on a bed of Java rice doused with a buttery crab fat sauce, or the Spicy Squid Sisig (Php180) for a seafood take on the Pampanga delicacy.

Rib Pop (Pinoy-Korean Fusion)

With the Korean food craze firmly entrenched in the Philippine culinary scene, it’s hardly surprising that the two cuisines would mesh together at some point. That point is here at Rib Pop where the best of the two cuisines is highlighted in its Ribpop Sampler (Php400) which consists of its signature dishes: Black Ink Chicken Wings – squid ink bettered fried chicken pieces with spicy tangy sauce, Ribpop Bowl – your choice of rice topped with beef short ribs, and an assortment of banchan – small plates of Korean appetizers.

Octoboy (Japanese)

Who would have thought that Takoyaki (Php70 for 3 pcs | Php140 for 6 pcs), balls made of batter filled with chopped octopus meat, cooked in a specially shaped griddle and served with those wriggling Bonito flakes, would be such a hit with us Pinoys? If you’re on the lookout for something quick, cheap and yummy, Octoboy’s Takoyaki is your best bet.

Tokyo Tempura (Japanese)

Did you know that tempura, the Japanese method of deep-frying battered seafood and vegetables, was influenced the Portuguese who were residing in Nagasaki in the 16th century? Today, tempura is a mainstay in practically all Japanese restaurants in the country and is even gaining some foothold in Pinoy eateries through localized versions.

Tokyo Tempura’s versions are quick, yummy, easy to enjoy when you’re having a case of the munchies, and with affordably priced options which include Imperial Tempura (Php150 for 12 pcs), Tempura Rice (Php80) and Kani Tempura (Php55 for 6 pcs).

Want some spicy kick to go with your tempura? Add the Chili Cheese Poppers (Php55 for 4 pcs) to your order and take some heat from those tempura battered cheese-filled jalapenos!

Oskar’s Soul Kitchen (American)

If you’re looking for an alternative to your usual fastfood burger, check out Oskar’s Soul Kitchen’s Cheeseburger (Php220) – a quarter pound of ground Wagyu beef patty sandwiched in an oatmeal bun together with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and the resto’s signature sauce.

Still have room for more? Add Angus Beef Hotdog (Php140), Fries Overload (Php160), or the Nachos Overload (Php150) to your order and eat to your heart’s content.

Wing’s Lab (American)

How about Wing’s Lab’s sinful take to your flavored chicken wings? Try its American Wings (Php699 with Nachos and Beef) which hits you with its Jack Daniels flavored sauce.

Want something to quench your thirst after those spicy wings? Take your pick from the resto’s refreshing and conveniently packaged Juices (Php60 – Blue Lemonade, Cucumber Lemonade and Melon with Milk). The best part is that you can easily take these handy juice packs with you all over the park and beyond.

Authentic House of Curry (Indian)

Get yourself a taste of the exotic with the Authentic House of Curry’s spicy Beef Rendang (Php240) and Lobster Scallop Balls (Php180). These dishes provide a nice South Asian flare to your food park fare.

Cha Tuk Chak (Thai Milk Tea)

While boba milk teas abound all over the metro, Thai milk teas are not as visible, which , for me, is a shame if Cha Tuk Chak’s drinks are anything to go by. From the world famous creamy and silky Cha Yen (Php110 regular | Php125 large), the sweeter, fruitier and caffeine free Nom Yen (Php120 regular | Php135 large), the sweet lemon-infused Thai Ruby (Php115 regular | Php130 large), the refreshing Thai tea with real lemon Thai Emerald (Php115 regular | Php130 large), and the gourmet dark chocolate milk tea given a Thai spin Koko Yen (Php110 regular), among others, you’ll have tasty thirst-quenching options as you navigate the food park.

Papa Diddi’s (Ice Cream)

And who can forget about dessert? Papa Diddi’s Hand-crafted Ice Cream (Php75 for 1 scoop | Php110 for 2 scoops | Php145 for 3 scoops) come in such unusual yet localized flavors that pay tribute not just to our Pinoy heritage but also to the farmer communities that supply the brand’s all-natural ingredients. From the fruity Mango Pili, the cheesy Queso Blanco with kesong puti and Cheese Closed with cheddar, the chocolatey Chocolate Lovin and Tsokolate de Cagayan, the sinfully indulgent Tres Leches and the chocolate-meets-spicy Davao Meets Bicol, your dessert gives you a cool, culinary trip across the country.

So if you’re a denizen of Poblacion, or on a night out with friends in the area, do add a stopover to Pob Stacion Food Park to your evening’s itinerary.

Many thanks to Raina of KonyoQueen.com for extending the invitation!

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in this food park. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Unwinding at Manila Hotel’s Tap Room

Taking advantage of a credit card promo, my mother-in-law treated us to dinner at Manila Hotel’s Tap Room to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday.

Manila Hotel is a historic 5-star hotel located along Manila Bay. Built in 1909, it is the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines.

The Tap Room is Manila Hotel’s English pub-inspired bar. Its dim lighting, dark wood interiors, plush seating and soothing jazz music from live performers make it an appropriate place to unwind in with your favorite drink.

While waiting for our orders, we were served with salted peanuts and green peas to go with our drinks (mine was, of course, a double shot of Bailey’s).

Our food orders included:

Pizza Manila Hotel (Php550). A thin-crust pizza topped with tomato, mozzarella, Laguna cheese and olives.
Slider (Php550). Two cheese-stuffed mini burgers with guacamole and barbecue sauce.
Chicken Shawarma Wrap (Php450). Roasted chicken wrapped in a toasted flour tortilla and served with tahina dip, garlic sauce, pickles and French fries.
Fried Fish and Chips (Php750). Battered fish fried to a crispy golden brown and served with large cut fries.
Deep-fried Calamares (Php450).
Buffalo Chicken Wings (Php450).
Sizzling Pork Sisig (Php450).

Being located in a 5-star hotel, the Tap Room’s service was top-notch. The wait staff was elegantly dressed, very accommodating and helpful. They even brought out a slice of chocolate mousse as a birthday treat for my sister-in-law.

The food was well-presented and well-flavored. However, given the pricing, hanging out at the Tap Room for dining or drinks is not something I can do too often.