comfort food – Jellybeans in the City

Comfort food at Conti’s, Century City Mall

We’re counting down to the holidays and there is a strong expectation for merriment and gaiety.

Sometimes, however, what we’re really looking for is some comfort.

That is what Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant specializes in, delectable food that reminds us of the convenience and comfort of home.

During a shopping trip at Century City Mall, Hubby and I decided to enjoy some of these comfort food. These include:

Caesar Salad (Php175 solo | Php300 to share). Homemade Caesar dressing on a bed of lettuce in season, topped with bacon bits, parmesan cheese, and bread croutons.

Calamari (Php215). Deep fried squid rings encased in crunchy batter and breading, served with tangy tartar sauce.

Roast Beef in Mushroom Sauce (Php470). Slices of roast beef in mushroom sauce, served with buttered vegetables, and garlic rice.

Conti’s Baked Salmon (Php495). Norwegian pink salmon baked with garlic-infused cream cheest topping, served with side salad of greens in season, and Paella rice.

While dining in at Conti’s is certainly pleasant, there is a certain charm to taking home some of the comfort with you, such as a Mango Bravo (Php275 slice | Php985 mini | Php1,635 regular). This celebrated cake made with layers of crunchy wafers filled with chocolate mousse, cream and mango cubes is an indulgent treat for special occasions.

So go ahead and enjoy a comforting indulging at Conti’s.

This Conti’s branch is located at Level 1 Century City Mall, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 10am to 8pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 6394864…

Other Metro Manila branches are located at:

Caloocan: SM Grand Central
Las Pinas: SM Southmal;l
Makati: Cash and Carry, Greenbelt 2
Malabon: Fisher Mall Malabon
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Vista Land Shaw
Manila: Lucky Chinatown Binondo, SM San Lazaro
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Alabang Westgate Filinvest, Festival Mall Alabang
Paranaque: BF Homes, PITX Tambo, SM Bicutan, SM Sucat
Pasay: Blue Bay Walk, SM Mall of Asia
Pasig: Ayala Malls, Feliz, Ayala Malls The 30th, Unimart Capitol Commons
Quezon City: Arton Strip Katipunan, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Eastwood Mall, Fisher Mall Quezon Avenue, Gateway Araneta, Oracle Hotel Katipunan, Robinsons Magnolia, Royale Place Commonwealth, SM Fairview, SM Sta. Mesa, The Block SM North EDSA, Trinoma Mall, Waltermart North EDSA
Rizal: Robinsons Antipolo, Sierra Valley Taytay, SM Taytay
San Juan: Northeast Square Greenhills
Taguig: Market! Market!, Serendra BGC, Udenna Tower, Uptown Parade,

For updates on its promos and offers, visit its website or follow Conti’s on Facebook and Instagram.

Paella Valencia from Mom & Tina’s

Which dish that, when added to your spread, automatically levels up your home celebration?

For me, it’s the paella.

It’s one the dishes brought over from Spain during our colonial days and it has since found its place in our local cuisine. It combines the use of rice (our staple food), seafood (which we have in abundance) and chicken (which makes it a complete and filling meal in itself).

Paella’s origins can be traced back to Valencia in Spain, and is widely considered as one of the regions cultural symbols. It takes its name from the wide and shallow pan traditionally used to cook it.

Local bakery cafe Mom & Tina’s also makes traditional homecooked dishes which also includes paella.

Its version of Paella Valencia has the same basic ingredients: rice, mussels, shrimp and chicken, which are sauteed in olive oil with garlic, tomatoes and chorizo. Squeezing some lemon juice into the cooked paella right before eating adds a zing of citrusy freshness to the dish.

For my fifteenth wedding anniversary celebration at home, I decided to pair it with my version of the Cheesy Baked Salmon, which resulted in a winning combination!

The briny and acidic tones from the paella perfectly complemented the rich taste of the baked salmon.

Well, this combo will definitely be included in my home celebrations from now on!

This Mom & Tina’s branch is located at FRDC Building, 106 Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C5), Bgy. Ugong, Pasig City. It is open daily for dine-in, takeout or delivery from 9am to 9pm. For reservations, orders and inquiries, call +63 2 85711541 or +63 999 8850092.

Other branches are found at:

Tropical Palms Condominium, 103 De la Rosa St., corner Perea St., Legazpi Village, Makati City
Across ABS-CBN, 58 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., South Triangle, Quezon City

Check out my previous posts about Mom & Tina’s:

Mom & Tina's Greenhills — Mom & Tina’s Greenhills

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.

Stunning sunset and skyline views at Antipolo’s Cafe Agusta

One of the usual appeals of Antipolo restaurants is the view they offer of the Metro Manila skyline.

For many of us denizens of the metro, the city is full of smoke, traffic and stress. From afar, especially after sundown, it’s awash with color, lights and wonder. For me, it’s the kind of sight that helps you find comfort and meaning for all the hard work that we do.

This is the reason I asked two of my former bosses for a sunset meetup at Cafe Agusta in Antipolo. Not only will this be the first time we would be together for the first time since the pandemic, this tete-a-tete will also celebrate my 15 years in the company which they have been so instrumental in shaping.

Amazing views for al fresco diners

Diners who prefer to stay indoors can lounge inside the cafe where its nice and cozy.

However, let’s face it: the real draw for this place has got to be its amazing view.

With its location high up the mountain and facing west, it provides the ideal vantage point with which to gaze at the metro’s cityscape as the sun sets.

The buildings’ white walls and cobblestone lined exterior floors are complemented by tables clothed in light blue to give off that Santorini vibe as diners enjoy the cool mountain breeze and the awesome sunset view.

For guests who are in the mood for some drinks, they can get their cocktails and mixes from Agusta bar right across the cafe and enjoy their drinks in a separate deck.

Comfort food that’s good to share

Cafe Agusta serves up filling comfort food that can be enjoyed as guests soak in the view. During our foray here, my friends and I shared:

Panini Chicken Crunch (Php260). Crispy chicken fillet loaded with cheese and the resto’s special sauce.

Creamy Pesto with Grilled Chicken (Php350). Al dente noodles tossed in flavorful pesto sauce with bits of juicy grilled chicken.

Pasta di Vongole (Php300). Al dente noodles tossed with Manila clams, garlic and parsley in olive oil and spiced up with pepper flakes.

Blueberry Cheesecake (Php185). Proving that there’s always room for dessert, we capped our meal with this sweet treat.

We washed our light meal down with Raspberry and Cuban Mint Agusta Coolers (Php140 each) and an Ice Blended Mocha (Php160).

Some kinks in the system

While Cafe Agusta’s awesome view may have been worth the trip, there are some areas for improvement which, when addressed, can make the entire dining experience here absolutely phenomenal.

Here are some of my observations:

The restaurant understandably does not accept reservations, and given its popularity, some walk-in diners should expect to wait before being allowed to enter the sunset viewing deck at around 5.30pm. A notice outside of the number of guests waiting in queue would be helpful for other diners to gauge their waiting time and decide if they want to stay so they can catch the sunset.
Stray cats more or less have free rein in the al fresco dining area. While they don’t jump on the tables, steal food nor attack diners, they do go underneath the tables and would sometimes slink against the legs of the guests. Aside from concerns for those with cat allergies, these stray animals roaming about in a dining environment can be considered a bit unsanitary.
Some orders, as well as the bill preparation, took quite some time. Some efficiencies in order taking and bill processing would go a long way towards improving the customer experience.

I found the overall experience at Cafe Agusta to be quite good, thanks to the delicious pasta dishes, the friendly wait staff (one even gamely took several pictures of me and my companions), and, of course, its much lauded view.

Hopefully, with a few slight adjustments in its operations, the restaurant will be known and appreciated for more than just its view.

Cafe Agusta is located along Grand Heights Road, Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo City, Rizal, open Mondays to Thursdays from 12 noon to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 11pm.

For more details about the restaurant, follow Cafe Agusta on Facebook and Instagram.

Come home to delicious homey flavors at House of Lasagna, Katipunan

Find yourself needing a little bit of comfort lately?

How about some good ole’ comfort food, the kind that envelops you in feelings of warmth and familiarity, just like coming home?

Chances are, you won’t have to travel far to treat yourself to delicious comfort food, thanks to House of Lasagna.

Since 2009, House of Lasagna has been serving up these homey flavors, starting from the time when founder Chef Erick Congmon expanded the reach of his homemade creations beyond his family and friends by opening a hole-in-the-wall outlet in J. Abad Santos in San Juan. Today, House of Lasagna has presence in three cities in the metro and one in Lipa, Batangas.

Together with my fellow foodies, I visited House of Lasagna’s main branch along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City to sample some of its celebrated comfort food.

These included:

Truffle Mushroom Lasagna (Php350 single | Php1,240 half tray | Php2,440 whole tray). Of course, our meal included one of House of Lasagna’s namesake dishes. This rich creation is composed of al dente lasagna noodles layered with rich creamy sauce made with shiitake mushrooms and white truffle. A welcome variation of the classic lasagna most of us are familiar with!

Southern Fried Chicken Skin (Php200 single | Php380 party). One of Chef Congmon’s family recipes, this crunchy and crave-worthy appetizer consists of seasoned chicken skin, deep-fried to a delicious golden brown and served with a side of vinegar dip.

Lemon Pepper Flavored Southern Fried Chicken (Php329/6pcs | Php649/12pcs | Php999). Flavorful wing pieces that are crispy and juicy to the bite but with a bit of lemony zing that will make this dish truly memorable

Classic Margherita (Php599). One of House of Lasagna’s stone-baked pizzas, this Neapolitan pizza is made with tomatoes, mozarella cheese and fresh basil. Simple enough when it comes to ingredients but it’s big on flavor and texture thanks to its crispy edges and bottom.

Frozen Brazo Vanilla (Php750 for 8x8x2in tray | Php1,050 for 8x12x2in tray). The classic Brazo de Mercedes dessert gets a makeover, adding a graham cracker crust and a layer of vanilla ice cream to the original custard filling. A decadent treat for dessert lovers!

Ultimate Ube Halaya (Php820 for 6in round | Php1,590 for 9in round). Another homegrown dessert gets upgraded into a decadent pastry which consists of moist ube-flavored sponge cake, a filling made of real ube halaya (jam made of purple yam) and covered with white chocolate truffle frosting.

With such delectable comfort food to be had, you won’t give in to the blues, would you?

Drop by House of Lasagna to treat yourself to its homey goodness! Its branches are located at:

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
Ground floor, SM City Lipa Batangas, , Lipa, Batangas

You may also order 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.

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

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

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.

Classic Pinoy streetfood at Casa Calle, SM Megamall

Do you remember your first taste of streetfood?

The varied shapes, colors and textures, the interplay of sweet, salty, sour and spicy, plus a hint of the forbidden (because didn’t our moms warn us to keep away from these back then?) and that feeling of comfort when you bite into them, these are part and parcel of our early street food experience.

While those good sensations associated with street food remain to this day, that feeling of prohibition hardly applies now, especially when street food is elevated to the level that Casa Calle brings them to.

This stall located at Eatogether Food Hall in SM Megamall serves up, not just Pinoy comfort food faves, but also welcome tweaks on our favorite street food, such as:

Inihaw Platter (Php380). Various meat and sundry parts marinated in barbecue sauce and charcoal grilled to smoky perfection such as two sticks each of Pork BBQ, Isaw Manok (chicken intestine), Bulaklak (ruffled pork fat), Tenga (pork ear) and Betamax (coagulated pig’s blood). This promo bundle is available only during Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Lugaw Special (Php95 for small | Php115 for large). Savory rice porridge with bits of meat and tripe, a hard-boiled egg and garnished with toasted garlic and choppef green onions.

Tokwa’t Baboy (Php90). Crispy bits of pork belly tossed with fried tofu and chopped chilis and onions in a vinaigrette made with vinegar and soy sauce.

Tokneneng (Php35). Hard-boiled duck egg covered in orange batter, best enjoyed when dipped in spiced vinegar.

Sizzling Beef Pares (Php188). Cubed beef brisket sauteed and stewed with garlic, onion and ginger, and seasoned with star anise. This viand is paired with garlic fried rice (hence the name “pares”) and served on a sizzling plate.

Turones ala Mode (Php155). Banana and langka slices encased in lumpia wrapper, them deep-fried, and served with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnished with sesame seeds and chocolate sauce.

Get ready to rediscover your love of Pinoy street food here.

This Casa Calle branch is located at Eatogether Food Hall, Second Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

Another branch is set to have its grand opening soon at 163 Aguirre Street, BF Homes, Paranaque City.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting here together with fellow foodies. All food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and elicit our honest feedback.

Check out my posts on other stalls at Eatogether Food Hall:

Feel good food at Recovery Food, SM Megamall

Whether you’re trudging in from a busy workday, or amping up for a hectic one, you need some comforting and nourishing food to rev you up.

Some tasty feel-good food would be just the thing, right?

Well, if you happen to be at the Eatogether Food Hall in SM Megamall, you can just head over to the Recovery Food stall.

Recovery Food is a casual dining concept that offers a variety of comfort foods which range from Asian-inspired hot noodle soups, home-style pressed sandwiches and to simple rice bowls.

During a recent meetup with my fellow foodies, we were able to sample first-hand Recovery Food’s signature dishes, which include:

Balbakwa (Php195). Extra tender beef skin in tomato-based broth, great for warming up our tummies!

Doc Sisig (Php155 for regular | Php235 for full recovery). Recovery Food’s house sisig – the Kapampangan dish made with various pig parts flavored with calamansi, onions and chilis – served with fried egg and garlic rice.

Tapa de Morning (Php185 for regular | Php265 for full recovery). Home-made tapa – tender slices of salt-cured beef – served with fried egg, garlic rice and ensalada, one of my personal breakfast faves.

Tomarrow Never Dies (Php235). RF’s newest offering: roasted bone marrow topped with garlic served on a sizzling plate along with beef bits and rice. Food for the fearless!

Champosandro (Php99). Recovery Food’s version of the champorado, a chocolate-rice based porridge served with milk and salted fish on the side. Whether for breakfast, a snack or as a dessert, it sure hits the spot.

So if you want some real good, feel-good food to power you up for all you need to accomplish, make a pitstop at Recovery Food!

This Recovery Food branch is located at Eatogether Food Hall, Second Floor SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Crossroads Building, 32nd Street Corner 8th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive Corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting here together with fellow foodies. All food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and elicit our honest feedback.

Check out my posts on other comfort food places in the metro:

Breakfast with the parents at Almusal Cafe, Katipunan

With all the restrictions from the lockdown since last year, my folks may have been nursing a case of cabin fever. Stuck at home for months, with only a few short trips out to break the monotony, I suspect they may have been feeling blue.

So with my daughter #ExhibitA as my co-conspirator, I set out to find a way to cheer up the parental units.

We decided to treat them to breakfast at a new breakfast joint I chanced upon on Instagram: Almusal Cafe.

The name says it all doesn’t it?

Almusal Cafe has has been serving comforting Filipino breakfasts – albeit with a New York or Aussie twist every once in a while because of its expat owners. It opened its doors just as the metro was loosening its restrictions on dining out and mobility and was transitioning to a general community quarantine. To me, this restaurant serves breakfast food that act as reminders of better days past and better days to come.

What better place to bring my parents for some breakfast and bonding, right?

For one thing, Almusal Cafe boasts of lots of greenery at its outdoor seating area that will surely excite, not just plantitos or plantitas, but also any suburbanite longing for a break from quarantine.

Its interiors are also well-appointed, sporting couches where you can lounge while having your coffee and dining areas where you can eat your breakfast in comfort.

Our group enjoyed Pinoy breakfast classics with a few welcome touches of the unusual. Check them out:

Kesong Puti Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Php370). The soft and un-aged white cheese made from carabao’s milk is partnered with sundried tomato pesto on sourdough bread and served with potato crisps on the side.

Beef Belly Tapa (Php380). Beef belly slow-cooked for a day then served chimichurri sauce on top of mixed red and white rice.

Ultimate Fried Chicken (Php450). Two fried chicken fillets served with elote, country-style gravy and hot honey.

Shrimp & Arugula Croissant (Php580). Fresh shrimp is tossed with arugula and cherry tomatoes in a light and creamy aioli and served in a toasted croissant with potato crisps on the side.

Long Black Coffee (Php100).

Strawberry Mint Iced Tea (Php120). Freshly picked strawberries blended with mint leaves and tea.

Peach Basil Iced Tea (Php130). Iced tea made with peaches, fresh basil and lime.

Cold Mocha (Php170). Malagos chocolate mixed with a double shot of espresso.

With great food, great surroundings and great conversations over our meal, I had a memorable breakfast experience with my folks; one, I hope, that ushered in some good cheer in their hearts.

Well, it certainly made for a brighter start of the day for me!

Almusal Cafe is located at The Pop Up Katipunan, Xavierville Corner Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am to 4pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 1371510.

To know about its latest promos and updates, follow Almusal Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my posts on other breakfast places in the metro:

Perfect Pair: Pizza and Pasta at Tomas Bistro, SM Megamall

Some things just go well together: burger and fries; peanut butter and jelly; bacon and eggs; and, of course, pizza and pasta.

For me, pizza and pasta comprise a winning combination. Over the years, my fellow foodies and I have learned to appreciate the way these two Italian classic faves complement each other.

This awesome twosome is showcased in the recently opened Tomas Bistro branch at Eatogether Food Hall in SM Megamall.

Tomas Bistro is a home-grown restaurant founded by balikbayan chef James Basalo who leveraged his extensive experience in gourmet cuisine and fine dining to whip up comfort food for local folks to enjoy.

Among these is the perfect pairing of two of its signature dishes which I was able to sample together with my foodie friends:

Harry’s Special (Php165 Junior | Php295 solo | Php595 grupo). Al dente linguini tossed in a creamy jalapeno sauce along with chicken bits and mushrooms and topped with spring onions, garlic and parmesan cheese. Tasty and quite filling!

Tomas Supreme (Php240 solo | Php460 grupo). Artisanal flatbread pizza covered with homemade marinara sauce and topped with bacon, sausage, pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, peppers and olives then accented with a chunky salsa.

This kind of pairing will make you believe in forever, right?

So pair up with someone you love and experience this perfect pair and more at Tomas Bistro!

Plus, here are more reasons to head to Tomas Bistro with your gang in tow: Grupo Deal Offers! Save as much as 10% ans get a free 1.5 lifer of Coke when you get combos of pizza, pasta and wings.

Grupo Deal 1 (Php995 | good for 3-4 people) – 8 pcs wings + 1 choice of regular grupo pasta + 1 choice any flatbread pizza
Grupo Deal 2 (Php1,225 | good for 4-5 people) – 12 pcs wings + 1 choice of regular grupo pasta + 1 choice any flatbread pizza
Grupo Deal 3 (Php1,850 | good for 5-6 people) – 18 pcs wings + 2 choices of regular grupo pasta + 1 choice any flatbread pizza

This Tomas Bistro branch is located at Eatogether Food Hall, Second Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center Mandaluyong. It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Its original branch is located near Alfamart, Pacita Main Road, Augusto Commercial Bld. 71-80, San Pedro, Laguna.

For more updates on its latest promos and offers, follow Tomas Bistro on Facebook or Instagram, or visit its website.

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

High Grounds Cafe, Tomas Morato

One of the things I miss about my pre-pandemic workplace is its proximity to many interesting places to grab a bite.

Tomas Morato is home to many restaurants that offer distinct dining experiences to diners with various interests.

High Grounds Cafe along Rallos Street, for example, offers high end PC gaming services and high speed internet connection catering mainly to gamers. It offers coffee-based drinks and desserts as well as comfort food to nourish its customers as they play PC games, browse online or do their remote work.

My experience here, however, was strictly for dining. As a despedida for my previous boss, practically the entire team came together unexpectedly for one of our famous happy lunches.

It’s fortunate that High Grounds Cafe boasts of spacious and sprawling premises and a well-trained kitchen staff as it was able to accommodate our sizable group.

Our orders included:

Starters.

Pulled Chicken Nachos (Php280). Tortilla chips tossed with pulled grilled chicken, tomatoes, pickled jalapeno, cornichons, onions, topped with melted mozzarella and silantro oil.

Crispy Catfish Mango Salad (Php250). Catfish flakes mixed with green mango, lettuce, nuts, tomatoes, carrots, shallots, cucumber, cilantro and authentic Nuoc Cham dressing.

Pastas.

Salted Egg Carbonara (Php320). Pasta tossed in bacon carbonara sauce flavored with salted egg.

Beef Stroganoff (Php380). Made with seared beef strips and button mushrooms in a creamy stroganoff sauce.

Mains.

Grilled Salmon (Php520). Herb-seasoned salmon pieces, grilled then served with succotash potato puree.

Ponzu Salmon (Php520). Fresh salmon served with yuzu kasha aoili, kobacha puree, ponzu shallots and shimeji.

Fish and Chips (Php320). Cobbler fish pieces battered and deep-fried then served with fries and tartar sauce.

US Pork Ribs (Php380). Marinated and barbecued US riblets served with Java Rice.

Cajun Pork Belly (Php420). Pork belly marinated in Cajun seasoning and cooked sous vide.

Peri Peri Chicken (Php395). Boneless half chicken marinated in Portuguese style peri-peri sauce served with Cajun jalapeno aioli, mango salsa and dirty rice.

Country Style Fried Chicken (Php360). Boneless half chicken battered, breaded then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown served with steamed rice.

Grilled Chicken BBQ (Php395). Boneless half chicken marinated in homemade barbecue sauce served with Java Rice.

I found High Grounds’ fresh takes on well-known dishes interesting and well worth some repeat visits.

However, the pandemic struck and it had to halt its operations for a few months.

It recently reopened for dine in with protocols in place for the New Normal.

While I’m not looking forward to going back to work in the office (I’m loving my work-from-home setup too much!), I am looking forward to dining safely with my coworkers here for another happy lunch.

High Grounds Cafe is located at 67 Scout Rallos Street, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open daily from 8am to 12 midnight. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 8880 2037.

Check out my posts on other gaming restaurants:

Bon Appetea Milagrosa Katipunan celebrates first year

There was a time, before the pandemic struck the metro, when I anticipated visits to milk tea cafes. I find these places quote relaxing to hang out in while sipping my chosen drink.

One such place was the Bon Appetea branch in Barangay Milagrosa along Katipunan.

Located at the crux of Quezon City, Pasig and Marikina, it offers the metro’s denizens a haven where they can de-stress and enjoy their milk tea of choice as well as nourishing servings of comfort food.

Before the pandemic, I dropped by to enjoy a cup of Salt & Cheese Foam Wintermelon (Php135). I’ve long been a fan of salted cheese topping on my drinks and I was glad I was able to get a taste. I also brought home a pair of Nirvana Milk Tea (Php80 regular | Php100 medium | Php110 large | Php140 extra large) for the kiddos. This refreshing combination of assam black tea and wintermelon already came with chewy black pearls.

A few weeks after that visit, the pandemic changed the restaurant scene forever. Bon Appetea Milagrosa was able to transition to this new normal by partnering with delivery platforms to supplement its own delivery service. It applied strict sanitation and safety protocols such as twice-a-week disinfection, footbaths, temperature scanner and alcohol dispensers as well as socially distanced seats for the riders.

With these in place, Bon Appetea was able to continue servings its customers, not just with its signature drinks but also with satisfying dishes such as its Sirloin Tapa (Php149). Tender and flavorful bits of marinated and fried beef sirloin served with garlic fried rice and scrambled cage-free eggs.

It also supported its local community by donating meals and face shields for the medical and security personnel of nearby Quirino Medical Center.

With dining in at restos now making a comeback just as Bon Appetea Milagrosa celebrates its first anniversary, it’s all geared up with a strong WiFi connection and spacious dining areas, ready to receive customers who will visit its premises.

Those who prefer not to leave home can still have their meals delivered via GrabFood, LalaFood and FoodPanda.

As part of its anniversary celebration, Bon Appetea is giving Buy One Large, Get One Medium deals on its House Pearl Milk Tea, Lemon Yakult Tea and Tropical Passion Fruit Tea until November 30.

This Bon Appetea branch is located at YDG Building, 219 Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Milagrosa, Blue Ridge, Quezon City.

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 reviews of other milk tea joints:

Tapa Box delivery from Tapa King

Sometimes, the stars align and everyone in the family agrees that they just had a good meal.

This Sunday, after running morning errands and lunchtime looming just a short hour away, neither Hubby nor I were in the mood to handle the stress of meal prep and cooking.

Well, I thought to myself, this looks like a job for my food delivery apps!

So off I went, tap-tap-tapping on my phone, looking for food that I can have delivered for the fam’s Sunday lunch. My criteria is that the meal should appeal to the fam’s collective taste in food, not be something we recently ate (for variety), and should cost below Php1,000, delivery fee included (because payday is still a few days away!).

Lo and behold, the solution to my dilemma was at my doorstep less than an hour later.

The fam’s meal consisted of five sets of Tapa King Classic.

Tapa King started as a hole-in-the-wall business in 1987 in Makati CBD. Today, it’s a chain of restaurants with presence, not just in the Philippines but also in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Despite recently undergoing a brand refresh and store makeover, it remains true to its original intent: to serve homestyle Pinoy comfort food – tapa.

Tapa is basically marinated beef, stir-fried in oil and, when served with fried egg and garlic fried rice, forms the iconic tapsilog (tapa–sinangag–itlog).

The Tapa King Classic is the formerly known as Tapa King (yes, there were also a Tapa Queen and a Tapa Prince). It is tapa cooked the traditional way, seasoned with spices that bring out the beef’s natural flavors. With fried egg and garlic fried rice included in the order, it is a deliciously satisfying meal.

You can have it as a solo meal at Php169.

Or you can choose to have all the meals in the 4-in-1 Box (Php678) be all Tapa King Classics. You even get solo bottles of Pepsi to go with your meal.

In our case, I opted for both so the whole fam – myself, hubby, the kiddos and yaya – can all enjoy our own Tapa King Classic. Thanks to a a GrabFood free delivery promo, my total bill came in at just Php847.

Thanks to Tapa King, I escaped lunchtime stress. Now, on to worrying about dinner…

This Tapa King branch is located at G/F L&Y Plaza E. Rodriguez Ave. Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, open daily from 6am to 8pm for dine-in, takeout and delivery. For inquiries, reservations or orders, call +63 2 82916254 or +63 915 0611117, or course your food delivery via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

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.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Comfort food delivery from Pares Retiro, P. Tuazon

Lately, we’ve been craving for comfort food, right?

Now more than ever, we’re looking for that feeling of well-being and fullness that comfort food brings.

An example of Pinoy comfort food that I was happy to rediscover is beef pares. This dish is braised beef stewed in a savory-sweet sauce and served with garlic fried rice, making winning combo indeed!

For me, the benchmark for beef pares is the one I tasted prior to the quarantine, when my officemate and I had our lunch delivered from the Pares Retiro near our office. I guess that’s why this resto chain was dubbed the best pares in town. I get cravings for it sometimes since then.

However, I’ve been stuck at home for the past few months and the nearest Pare Retiro is too far for delivery.

That is, until GrabFood made Pares Retiro in P. Tuazon available for long-distance delivery. Yey!

I found out about it when Hubby gave in to his late-night cravings and had some beef pares and bone marrow delivered for us to devour in between episodes of the K-drama we’re bingeing on.

(Spoiler Alert: they were gone in mere minutes that I haven’t been able to take decent pictures!)

That late-night taste intensified my craving for the dish again so I decided to order from Pares Retiro via GrabFood for our dinner.

Tonight, the kiddos and I feasted on:

Classic Pares Meal (Php208). That winning tamdem of beed pares and garlic fried rice. The slow-braised meat is fork-tender and the sauce has the right dynamic between sweet and savory that goes so well with the garlic fried rice.

Pares Tendon Meal (Php214). The classic pares dish made even more irresistible with the addition of melt-in-your-mouth pieces of imported US beef tendon that adds flavor and texture to the dish.

Bone Marrow (Php189). Roasted bone marrow flavored with herbs and spices. Add a bit of bone marrow to each bite of pares and rice and you’ll see why the fam and I got obsessed with it. I only wish there was more of it.

These dishes are not high-brow nor elaborate. Instead, they are simple dishes that give us comfort especially during these trying times.

This Pares Retiro branch is located at P. Tuazon Corner 17th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City. It delivers via GrabFood, LalaFood, FoodPanda and Pares Retiro’s website.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

‘Tis the start of the season for fam celebrations with Silverspoon

Just like that: September is here, momshies. And so begins the world’s longest Christmas season.

And while the whole world is still battling that dread virus, you still shouldn’t let it keep you from celebrating what joys you can, right?

Life does go on, so let’s celebrate it with good food, especially now when you won’t have to slave away in the kitchen to serve the fam a show-stopping meal, thanks to SilverSpoon.

The brainchild of thirty-year-old financial advisor and budding food entrepreneur Decebelle Montefrio, SilverSpoon brings tasty gourmet dishes to your table for your family to enjoy.

It was Decie’s dream since her college days to pursue her love of cooking and have her own food business. When the pandemic struck the country a few months after she returned to the Philippines from Canada, she decided to set up an online food business instead. By June this year, Decie has launched SilverSpoon, offering viands that appeal to the Pinoy palate which are also close to her heart such as:

Roasted Potato Wedge Snack (Php180). Generous wedges of potatoes, flavored with herbs and seasoning and oven-roasted until golden brown. It’s great for munching while binge-watching your favorite TV shows, or as a appetizer to a fabulous meal.

Butter Garlic Shrimp Platter (Php630). Plump shrimps lightly breaded and coated in a flavorful sauce of butter and garlic, great with lots and lots of rice! Also available in a solo meal with rice and veggies for Php230.

Honey Garlic Liempo Platter (Php380). Tender grilled pork belly glazed in a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Also available in a solo meal with rice and veggies for Php150.

Lechon Kawali Solo Meal (Php150). Deep fried pork belly with crunchy skin and flavorful meat served with rice and veggies. Also avail also as a Platter for Php360.

Spicy Adobo Solo Meal (Php150). Decie’s childhood pork adobo recipe with a bit of a spicy kick. True to the adage that adobo gets better in its second serving, leftovers from this generously portioned dish were also great as adobo flakes the next day. Also available as a Platter for Php350.

To order a belly-filling and heart-warming gourmet meal for your family, message SilverSpoon on Facebook or Instagram, or text +63 936 8102017. Pre-orders for next-day delivery are accepted until cut-off at 8pm. Payments via GCash, BPI or BDO, as well as cash on delivery are accepted. Orders may be delivered from SilverSpoon’s kitchens in Commonwealth, Quezon City to anywhere in Metro Manila (delivery fee to be shouldered by the buyer).