cocktails – Page 3 – Jellybeans in the City

A walk on the wild side at Wyld Kitchen x Bar, Tomas Morato

Tomas Morato is home to a vibrant foodie scene: concept restaurants abound in the area, each offerings its own take at particular cuisines.

Along Mother Ignacia Avenue, for example, is Wyld Kitchen x Bar, a new haven for Quezon City denizens seeking to destress and enjoy a few drinks and eats in a hip yet intimate setting.

Inspired by the wilderness of Colorado in the US, the restobar has a rustic feel to it but tempered with modern sensibilities such as zero waste and sustainability. The wall hangings resembling tree branches and the heavy tables, for instance, are made of recycled wood and metals. All utensils are reusable, and even the metal straws.

During a recent meetup with fellow Zomato foodies, I was able to sample some of this restobar’s nature-infused offerings, which include:

Wyld Beef Burger (Php450). A perfectly blended and grilled beef patty with an earthy and smokey flavor and juicy texture, accompanied by a mulberry steak sauce, poached egg, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion in a warm brioche bun.

Grilled Herb Marinated Flank Steak (Php550). Medium-grilled slices of flank steak served with a compound herb butter, thick fried potato wedges, sauteed French beans and cherry tomatoes.

Fish and Chips (Php380). Beer-battered cream dory served with potato fries and a zesty egg dressing.

Pesto Pasta (Php350). House-made pesto sauce with pistachios, microgreens and parmesan. It gets an additional touch of nature with its garnish of edible butterfly pea flowers.

Our group was also able to sample Wyld’s imaginatively prepared signature cocktails such as:

Non-alcoholic drinks

Butterfly Fizz (Php95), made of soda water and fresh lemon juice accented by a butterfly pea flower.

Aloe & Coco (Php90), made with aloe vera juice, fresh basil and nata de coco.

Alcoholic drinks

Afterglow (Php250), made of gin, calamansi liqueur, housemade camote tops syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Radiculous (Php280), made of vodka infused with radish (of all things! :-)) elderflower liqueur, aloe vera juice and garnished with a slice of pickled radish on a spear.

In Love with Cacao (Php295), a mixture of cacao liqueur, coffee liqueur, amaretto, brandy and cinnamon powder. I chose this drink as I’m a coffee and chocolate lover. Sipping on this sweet and icy cocktail in between bites of the food served was refreshing, and it gave me a happy buzz for the rest of the evening.

With its rustic and laid-back atmosphere and its refreshingly unique take on its food and drink offerings, it sure seems like Wyld Kitchen x Bar is a welcome addition to Tomas Morato’s food scene!

Wyld Kitchen x Bar is located at Second Floor, The Grandia Place, 143 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open Sundays to Wednesdays from 5pm to 1am and Thursdays to Saturdays from 5pm 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.

You can also book your table using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill.

Hideaway Haven at INT.Bar, Cubao

What can you find behind the red velvet curtain? A whole new world, apparently. A place where you can escape the city’s hustle and bustle and hide away for a while.

INT.Bar, similar to all speakeasies, is not easy to find. In fact, I almost walked past it had I not stopped and asked for directions from a person standing right in front of it!

If you’re wondering why a bar would go to such great lengths to be so unobtrusive, it’s because of the speakeasy’s history with the Prohibition era in the US. With the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor, enterprising business owners began operating illicit clubs where they can sell bootlegged liquor. Such clubs are usually fronted by a more wholesome establishment such as a grocery store to deflect attention from the authorities and prevent the police from barging in. The term speakeasy was believed to have originated from 1880s saloon owner Kate Hester who would often tell her rowdy patrons to “speak easy” to escape the attention of the police.

Today, speakeasies still operate, but as retro-style bars that also retain the covertness of their predecessors. INT.Bar, for example, harkens to a steampunk aesthetic, with low-lighting that frames the industrial decor and vintage furnishings, accessible once you get behind the mundane-looking photo booth.

Together with friends and fellow foodies, I attended a meetup here. That night, fueled by great food and great drinks, the mood was light and naughty jokes and irreverent banter abound from our group.

When you get around to ordering your cocktails, you will find that the menu gives you hints on what to expect from your drinks in terms of sweetness, bitterness, acidity, strength, aroma, smokiness and savoriness. This is quite helpful to those who are new to drinking (like me!), have very set preferences or are in for an adventure.

The Negroni (Php300) is an iconic Italian cocktail made of Tanqueray gin, martini rosso vermouth and Campari garnished with an orange peel. It’s named after Count Camilo Negroni who was believed to have invented the drink when he asked his bartender to strengthen his Americano cocktail by adding gin instead of soda water.

Paradise Lost (Php450) is sweet yet packs a punch, being made of Marker’s Mark Bourbon, fine Pere Preaux Calvados, Golden Falernum and cinnamon syrups, lemon and meringue.

The Sazerac (Php450) is the New Orleans version of the whiskey cocktail that also packs a punch being made with absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters, Carlos I Solera brandy, Rittenhouse Rye whiskey and dark rum.

Eternal Sunshine (Php300) has a slightly sweeter taste being made with a cacao nib tequila infusion, Aperol spritz, chocolate bitters, pineapple, agave nectar and lime.

There Will Be Blood (Php600). Don’t be expecting violence, just a lot of buzz from this drink made with Laphroaig 10 year old Scotch whiskey, yellow chartreuse, Aperol spritz and lemon.

Sipping on Cigarettes After Sex (Php350) does call to mind dark deeds in dark places, with its smoky aroma and decadent feel. Served with great fanfare, the drink unveiled amidst smoke once the dome cover is taken off, it’s made with Lapsang Souchong infusion, Laphroaig 10 year old Scotch whiskey, honey, egg whites and rosemary smoke.

The bar chow served proved to be quite tasty as well; most had a mild spiciness that would spur you to drink more.

Hummus (Php200). Try dipping some dehydrated tortillas into this thick paste of roasted sesame seeds and garlic confit, and see if you can stop yourself from going for more.

The Trio Tacos (Php300) gives you three different takes on soft tacos: pulled pork, chicken and mushrooms. Pico de Gallo, roasted bell peppers, sriracha and lime-cilantro crema give this dish a wild Latin feel.

Spiced Cheese Penne (Php250) gives you a sauce of sausage and bacon mixed with Pico de Gallo and micro basil coating firm penne pasta noodles.

Get yourself some Potato Halves (Php150) baked and served with mozzarella and Mornay sauce.

Cured Salmon (Php320) served over mango caviar and cucumber mixed in lemon-terrago mayo spread over some crunchy toast. Yum!

Good food, great drinks, awesome company in a secret hideaway. All the makings of an epic good time among friends at INT.Bar.

INT.Bar is located at Cubao Expo, General Romulo Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 5pm to 1am. For table reservations, call +63 917 8069991.

And here’s some more good news: Did you know you can buy 2 drinks and get the same 2 drinks for free at INT.Bar through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a Blogger Event held in 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.

4 Things to Like About The Pallet, Poblacion

The area of Makati called Poblacion, previously known as the city’s red light district, has evolved into a pretty happening place. It has given rise to concept restaurants, quick chows and bars that offer Makati workers and residents alternative choices for dining, hanging out and entertainment away from the usual malls.

One such place is The Pallet.

A food park located at the corner of Dona Carmen and Jacobo Streets in Poblacion, backroads to Kalayaan Avenue, The Pallet is an off-the-beaten track venue.

For my first-ever Looloo Rendezvoos, I was invited to check this place out and experience the various possibilities it affords to its patrons. I found a lot to like about it so I summarized them down to a list which will hopefully help fellow foodies discover a new favorite place to hang out and dine.

No. 1: Ample parking space and helpful security guard.

Having braved the rush hour all the way from QC, I was relieved I didn’t have to worry about where to park my car. Manong guard was quick to assist me in finding a spot and guiding me while I park.

No. 2: Chill surroundings.

Being located in backstreets away from all the hustle and bustle of Makati’s busy streets and surrounded by a residential area, The Pallet has a chill and relaxed atmosphere that distanced me from the usual stresses of work and traffic.

No. 3: Lots of food choices!

Given its relatively small area, I’m surprised at the number and variety of dining choices available. I’ll blog about them in more detail later but suffice to say that the foodie in me got quite excited with The Pallet’s tenants and their offerings. These include:

Mang Jose’s Ihaw Ihaw – for yummy and fuss-free grilled meats and pulutans

Antojitos – for a taste of Mexico from cheese-filled nachos and quesadillas to filling burritos and more

Asian Hawker – for a taste of Singaporean street food from the Char Kwai Teoh rice dish to the creamy Laksa

Uncle Moe’s Shawarma Hub – for a taste of Middle Eastern cuisine from the flavorful kababs to hefty shawarmas

Takohub – it was my first time to see takoyaki balls this huge!

Heath Burger – because healthy cam be tasty too, especially those mushrooms masquerading as chicken nuggets

Ramen Attack – that Tantanmen was a revelation! And the Steak & Rice got me craving for more!

Creamco Creamery – rolled ice cream that’s as pretty as it was sweet and yummy

Inum Bar – cocktails for that relaxed after-work buzz

No. 4: Live music!

On Wednesday nights this November, enjoy live music from up-and-coming artists such as DJ Aryan (90’s Night) on November 21 and DJ SP (Hiphop Throwback) on November 29.

These are just some of the reasons why The Pallet appeals to me. Check it out and see if it might grow to be your favorite place too!

The Pallet is located at 5804 Dona Carmen corner Jacobo Streets, Poblacion, Makati City. For inquiries, email thepalletpark@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Together with other Looloo users, I was invited to join a Looloo Rendezvoos held at this venue. 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.

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.

Ground Zero Esports Lounge in Antipolo is now open!

Gamers in the East of Manila now have a new haven to come together and enjoy their favorite e-games in comfort. Even better, they also have a place where they and their families can enjoy great food, with gaming-themed dishes and drinks at that.

The opening of Ground Zero Esports Lounge in Xentro Mall, Antipolo raises the game for the local cybercafe industry by responding to evolving needs of the gaming community. With gaming and e-sports gaining ground in the mainstream, with some players having grown up and starting families of their own, having a place where they can hang out and dine while enjoying their passion becomes paramount.

At Ground Zero, patrons can take advantage of the impressive hardware with cutting-edge specs, fast internet connectivity (up to 300mbps) and upscale interiors to play to their heart’s content, hold a LAN party or do their office work remotely.

Families can also enjoy the spacious and well-appointed dining area, expansive food choices and an breath-taking view of the Antipolo skyline.

Together with fellow foodies, I attended the Grand Opening and was able to sample some of the resto’s gaming-themed dishes served buffet-style to guests. (Note: Serving sizes and presentation from the party buffet will differ from the actual ala carte menu.)

Chicken Hex (Php320 for Hex Duo | Php550 for Hex Squad). Crispy and spicy buffalo chicken wings served with ranch dressing.

Mirana Pasta (Php320). Pasta in marinara sauce served with fresh seafood.

4 Cheese Pizza (Php435). A homemade pizza dough topped with bechamel sauce made with parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella and bleu cheese.

Sisig Pizza (Php435). A Pinoy take on the pizza with pork sisig, peppercorn sauce, quail eggs and green chilis topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

Rum BBQ Pudge Ribs (Php490). Grilled ribs marinated in rum barbecue sauce. (Note: In the ala carte menu, this is served with diner’s choice of Java rice, plain rice, mashed potatoes or House Special Fries).

Beef Salpicao.

For dessert (the highlight of my meal), we had Pistachio Sans Rival (Php160), Blueberry Cheesecake (Php130) and Red Velvet Crinkles (Php80).

Ground Zero is a promising restaurant and gaming cafe concept as it brings together a spectrum of gamers, foodies, families and everything in between.

Ground Zero Esports Lounge is located at the 2nd Floor of Xentro Mall, Mambugan, Lower Antipolo, Rizal.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended the grand opening of 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 feast with a view at The Nautilus Whiskey Bar, QC

I’m not much of a drinker but I understand the appeal of hanging out somewhere scenic or cozy, favorite concoction in hand and just chat with friends.

Last Friday night, together with fellow Zomato foodies, I did just that at The Nautilus Whiskey Bar. Named after the submarine helmed by Captain Nemo in Jules Verne’s classic adventure novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island, the bar boasts of an extensive wine list, steampunk-inspired interiors made to look like the inside of the famed submarine designed by artist Ram Mallari, Jr., and a roofdeck that provides a breathtaking view of Quezon City.

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For this gathering, The Nautilus brought out more than just the regular bar chow:

House Buffalo Wings (Php275). Spicy chicken wings drenched in hot sauce and melted butter with a side of blue cheese dressing. Nothing like something hot and spicy have one go looking for drinks!
Wagyu Cubes (Php450). Melt-in-your-mouth cubes of tender wagyu beef served on a hot plate.
Tuna Carbonara (Php275). This dish featured the Mega brand of tuna flakes cooked with mushrooms into a white cream sauce.
Roasted Spiced Chicken Au Poivre (Php445). A spice-infused roasted half-chicken served with crisp steamed vegetables and fries.
Baked Norwegian Salmon (Php495). Cheese-topped salmon fillet served with onion links, shiitake mushrooms and steamed vegetables.
Nautilus Signature Cheeseburger (Php325). Homemade quarter-pounder beef patty drizzled with melted cheese, topped with deep-fried onion rings and served with crisp potato fries.
The Nautilus Sling (Php302.50). A blend of orange juice, lime juice, triple sec, blue curacao and bourbon whiskey.

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The Nautilus Whiskey Bar is located at the roofdeck of Prime Hotel, No 70 Esguerra Street, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City (across Hi-Top Supermarket). It is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 5pm to 2am, and Fridays to Saturdays from 6pm to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 998 8680324.

Also, catch performances by singers Paula Bianca, Ana Ramsey and Aileen Udtog on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays respectively from 8pm to 12mn.

Special deals include:

Buy 1 Get 1 on local beers and selected cocktails as well as 10% discount on bottles during Happy Hour, 5pm to 8pm Tuesdays to Thursdays.
10% off on all bottled whiskey with a free Coke or Sprite carafe every Friday and Saturday.

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.

Check out my reviews of another bar in the area – Vitto’s Wine Bar & Restaurant.

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:

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.

Tap Room is located at the Ground Floor, The Manila Hotel, 1 Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila.

Late Night Drinks at Alchemy

Hubby and I attended a Saturday afternoon event here which extended to late night drinks with his friends and officemates. The place has an open-air veranda upstairs conducive to drinks and chats.

Alchemy is the ancient practice of mixing elixirs and potions to either come up with gold or the key to eternal life. Here, the elixirs are mixed for the patrons to have a good time. It has an extensive liquor list which include local and imported beers, wines from France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina, as well as other potions such as vodkas, rums, whiskies, liquers, etc. Also mixed in are lively music from the DJ upstairs or the live band downstairs.

Since I’m not much of a drinker, Hubby got me 2 double shots of Bailey’s Irish Cream (Php180/shot) and sampled their thick cut French Fries (Php110) and Hummus (Php200).

We stayed here until almost midnight (clearly my limit given we’ve been there since afternoon and I already consider myself a tita) but I had a fun time Hubby and some new friends.

Alchemy is located at Polaris corner Durban Streets, Barangay Poblacion, Makati .