crispy pata – Jellybeans in the City

Revitalizing the #ReturnToOffice day with lunch at Ombu Kusina

I’ve finally (and with quite a bit of resistance) returned to the office.

While I may gripe about the traffic and the long commute from my home to my workplace near Tomas Morato in Quezon City, I honestly can’t complain about the expanded variety of dining choices come lunchtime.

So when the lunch hour came, my officemates and I trooped to our go-to place for modern Filipino cuisine to revitalize ourselves for the rest of our workday with good food and good vibes.

Modern Filipino cuisine is a contemporary take on traditional Filipino food, fusing together traditional Filipino dishes with modern cooking techniques and ingredients, resulting in new and exciting flavors and presentations.

Modern Filipino cuisine is characterized by its use of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, innovative cooking techniques, and creative plating.

All these and more can be found at Ombu Kusina.

With its warm and inviting ambiance, it has the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the meal with my coworkers. Plus, the interiors are tastefully decorated, creating a cozy and welcoming environment that made us feel right at home.

The staff are also friendly and attentive, providing us with updates on the restaurant’s menu and even gamely snapping some photos of our #HappyLunch experience.

But, of course, Ombu Kusina’s main draw is its food and we lost no time in satisfying our taste buds with its tasty and comforting offerings:

Binakol (₱390). Chicken soup flavored with ginger, lemongrass and coconut water.

Gising-gising (₱300). Sauteed green beans and ground pork in spicy coconut sauce.

Crispy Tilapia Fillet (₱460). Crispy breaded tilapia fillet served with soy vinegar dipping sauce.

Thrice-Cooked Crispy Pata (₱895). Deep-fried pork leg served with soy vinegar dipping sauce. A true Pinoy fave!

Frozen Brazo de Mercedes (₱220). Layers of frozen soft meringue, custard filling and ice cream on a crumbly graham cracker crust.

Tres Leches Halo-Halo (₱180). TBH, this is what I came here for: a refreshing dessert made with sweetened beans, fruits, ube halaya and leche flan covered with a milk-flavored finely shaved ice.

Having our happy lunch Ombu Kusina is a superb experience, thanks to the restaurant’s fresh takes on Filipino cuisine, warm and inviting ambiance and excellent service.

My coworkers and I might not all be in favor of returning to the office, but at least, we have delicious moments like this to savor with each other and give us some new vigor for the rest of our office day.

Ombu Kusina is located at Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia Street, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in, delivery and pickup from 6.30am to 9pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 84410518or +63 969 5972249.

Stay updated on its menu and offers by following Ombu Kusina on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Ombu Kusina:

Modern Filipino Cuisine at Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Say hello to a great summer with Ombu Kusina’s Flavored Ice Halo-Halo

Salo-salo surprise from TravelEatPinas and Goodah!!!

For many of us Pinoys, food is part of our love language: in fact, kamustahans sometimes come in the form of “Kumain ka na ba?” and part of our welcome greeting to visitors is “Kain na kayo!”

For my fellow memshie Rowena of TravelEatPinas, it’s a way to touchbase with an old friend: me!

Having missed our chickahans over sumptuous spreads, she decided to send me a salo salo package from Goodah!!! that the fam and I can enjoy for our weekend lunch.

Just the name Goodah!!! evokes so much childhood memories. Since the 80’s, this restaurant chain has been the go-to place for people seeking fuss-free comfort food that appeals to down-home Pinoy palate such as the well-loved lugaw and silogs.

And with Pinoys spending more time at home nowadays, there are more opportunities to bond over a good meal.

Thanks to Goodah!!!’s Salo-Salo Meals, the fam can get together to enjoy the various ulam that everyone loves, share stories and experiences and spend time with the people who matter the most.

With Salo-Salo Meals at less than Php1,000 per set, memshies all over the metro can easily gather their loved ones over hearty meals that they won’t have to slave over in the kitchen.

My Salo-Salo Meal set for example, is made up of Pinoy classics:

Crispy Pata. This dish of deep-fried pork trotters is the centerpiece of many Pinoy hapag-kainans.

Beef Nilaga. “Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.” is an adage that teaches us the value of perseverance because of the delicious rewards that await us, no doubt because the comforting nilaga is a reward in itself.

Lumpiang Shanghai. Whether as ulam or finger food, you can’t go wrong with this ubiquitous dish.

I’m ever so thankful that my memshie Rowena remembered me and gave my family and wonderful meal to share.

So if you’re thinking if I’m doing good now, well, yeah, I’m perfectly Goodah!!!

Other Salo-Salo Meal sets available include:

Set A: Pork Ribs, Kare-Kare and Garlic Kangkong with Pork
Set B: Pork Bistek, Pork Sinigang and Daing na Bangus
Set C: Herbed Chicken, Pork Liempo and Pinakbet

This Goodah!!! outlet is located at 9 Granada Street, Valencia,Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 10pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 88758124 or +63 2 82473188.

It delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Seafood Feast at Dampa Seafood Grill, Tomas Morato

There’s something about feasting on the ocean’s bounty that seems so special, especially to us Pinoys. Living in an archipelago, we are surrounded by water teeming with fish, crustaceans and all other seafood that we have found numerous ways to cook and enjoy.

A recently opened restaurant in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area is poised to answer the cravings of the QC denizens for fresh, tasty and beautifully prepared seafood.

Dampa Seafood Grill originally opened in Dubai and later expanded to Abu Dhabi, soon gaining popularity among the Filipinos and foreigners working in the Middle East due to its happy and laid-back atmosphere, that signature warm Filipino hospitality, and, of course, great-tasting food.

With the opening of its first store in the country, we can say that the brand has finally come home.

The place boasts of sprawling premises where a large number of people can dine comfortably, both indoors and al fresco. The ambiance is casual and fun, with neon signs and artwork that serve as points of interest or backdrops for the photo opps. While it already has quite a sizeable parking space, it apparently was not enough given the number of people who dine here. Fortunately, two people are assigned to help car owners park or bring out their vehicles.

However, the main draw here is the food. Together with my fellow food bloggers, I feasted on the sea’s bounty and more during a recent Blogger Event held here. These included:

Crispy Salt and Pepper Squid (Php275). Crunchy and crispy, and with a bit of heat, this version of calamari is a great meal starter.

Grilled Squid (Php329). Marinated squid grilled to tasty perfection.

Baked Mussel (Php230). Melted cheese and garlic top these mussels which disappeared as soon as we started eating. Go figure.

Kinilaw na Isda (Php219). The Pinoy version of the ceviche, this is a staple in many gatherings and drinking sessions.

Crispy Tilapia (Php199). Battered slices of tilapia fillet fried to a crispy golden brown. Goes well with the aoili dip. Yum!

Liempo Two-Way (Php348). There’s more than one way to enjoy pork belly: with this dish, you can have grilled or deep-fried. The best of both worlds, IMHO.

Grilled Panga ng Tuna (Php499). One of my childhood favorites: a portion of the giant tuna’s jaw is marinated and grilled. I love digging into the bones for the flavorful meat!

Ultimate Crispy Pata (Php498). Falling-off-the-bone tender (I broke of pieces using just one hand!) and juicy pata (pig knuckles), deep-fried for that flavorfully crispy skin. Something I’m willing to risk “putok-batok” for!

The piece de resistance of any dining experience at Dampa Seafood Grill is the Dump @ Seafest. For only Php1,599, your group of up to 3 people can feast on the days freshest catch – shrimps, clams, crabs, mussels and corn – as these are dumped along with all the rice you can eat onto your table for a messy but happy boodle fight meal. Choose from among 6 flavors for your feast which you can dial up or down in spiciness levels: Mardi Gras (lemon and herb), El Mexico (Mexican spiciness), Salted Eggsperience (salted egg in white sauce), Thai Curry or Cajun (a mix of salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic and chili, just the way the Louisiana Cajuns like their food).

When we sat down to eat, it was perfectly understandable that we would be “galit-galit muna;” we definitely wouldn’t be focusing on social niceties while we’re wolfing down the food. #SorryNotSorry

I especially enjoyed dousing my rice in the salted egg white sauce. Mmmm, yummy!

Each Dump @ Seafest also comes with free two liters of non-alcoholic Fishbowl Mocktails (also available ala carte for Php198/liter). Take your pick among six refreshing flavors: Sex Appeal (brewed iced tea with lemon and grenadine), Green Minded (green apple with lemon), Blue Jobs (pineapple juice with blue curacao), Lindsay Lohan (passion fruit, pineapple and soda), Amaretto Sunset (amaretto flavor, mango, four seasons and fresh lemon), and Incredible Hulk (mojito flavor with cucumber).

Feeling adventurous? Get a colorful cocktail to go with your meal. Ask the friendly bartender for his recommendation.

Needless to say, my fellow foodies and I ate our fill of fresh and yummy seafood and more at Dampa Seafood Grill!

Many thanks to Kristine and the staff of Dampa Seafood Grill for the warm welcome and the wonderful seafood feast and to Aileen of AileenL Loves to Eat for extending the invitation!

Experience Oktoberfest at Dampa Seafood Grill with Buy 1 Get 1 deals on local beers everyday, from opening to closing, this October. This promo is available on Red Horse (Php80), San Miguel Pale Pilsen (Php70) and San Mig Light (Php70).

Dampa Seafood Grill is located at 71 Scout Limbaga Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 12 noon to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 916 105 2421.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

Check out my reviews of other seafood restaurants:

Buy One Dish, Get One at 50% Off at Tres

From ‪August 13-16‬, buy 1 dish and get another at 50 per cent off at Tres located on the 2nd Level, The Annex, SM North EDSA and along Rufino Street corner Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati.

The offer includes all the menu items and is available all day everyday from ‪August 13-16‬ only. The discounted dish must be equal or of a lesser value than the 1st dish. Only 1 redemption is allowed per single transaction. No minimum purchase is required. The offer is good only for dine in and cannot be used with other existing promos, discount and gift check.

Tres is home to good old home Filipino cooking serving the original dishes and those inspired by the late culinary figure Chef Ed Quimzon.

Some of the bestsellers include Kare-Kare-Kare served 4 ways – Classic Beef with flank steak and tripe; Seafood with prawns, squid, fish, shellfish, and clams; Crispy Beef Tadyang, Crispy Pata and Crispy which is a combination of chuck, flank steak, and tripe. The Kare-Kare-Kare Platter is a big order of beef ribs, pork knuckles, prawns and vegetables.

TRES coined the term Kare-Kare-Kare because they give you extra sauce to pour, peanuts to top, and the original TRES bagoong as an accompaniment.

The TRES Crispy Pata is another bestseller. It is soaked in a secret marinade and fried twice for that double delicious crispy crackling goodness. The meat is tender and steeped with flavor. It is served with thinly sliced sweet potato crisps and a sweet and spicy soy sauce and vinegar dip.

Binagoongang Lechon Kawali combines the crispiness of lechon and the spiciness of the Bicol Express sauce. Sizzling Crispy Beef Tadyang is simmered in soy sauce with garlic, onion, laurel leaf and pepper.

For dishes with Spanish and English influence, there is Lengua con Setas, Hickory Baby Back Ribs and Lamb Adobo. Roast Iberian Chicken is the Spanish version of the more familiar roast chicken but this time, the whole chicken is slow roasted in olive oil and spices. There is also Gambas Al Ajillo with fresh prawns sautéed in garlic, green peppers and olive oil. Classic Beef Salpicao is beef tenderloin sautéed in olive oil, chili, roasted minced garlic and then grilled to coax the natural sweet flavor of the meat to come out.

If you are looking for hot delicious soup, there is Beef Bulalo, slow cooked beef marrow until its almost fall-off the bone tender and made more flavorful with corn, green beans, cabbage and potatoes.

The Sinigang comes in 4 variants. Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso, Sinigang na Spareribs, Sinigang na Bangus and Sinigang na Hipon.

There is more. Sugpo at Aligue is fresh prawns sautéed in crab roe, garlic and chili. TRES Bagnet Sampler comes with 3 slices each of Classic, Kare-Kare-Kare and Mantecado with matching sauces. Sizzling Adobo Belly, Lumpiang Shanghai, Bangus ala Pobre, Calamares, Crispy Tilapia, Crispy Ginataang Hito are some of the other choices.

For vegetable dishes, the Gising-Gising is a crowd favorite with ground pork sautéed with Baguio beans, chili and coconut milk. You decide if you want it real spicy. Pinakbet is more decadent with Bagnet, Ampalaya Ensalada has no bitter taste with crispy dried shrimp and a light dressing. Ensaladang Talong, Laing and Monggo round up the choices.

Of course a Filipino table will not be complete without rice. There is the standard Pandan Rice with an aromatic smell, Kalkag Rice with crispy dried shrimp and Lechon Rice with crispy lechon skin and sauce.

There is Halo-Halo that is super thick and creamy and overflowing with macapuno, beans, milk, leche flan, ube and grated ice. For more desserts, try the Ube Macapuno Royale Cake Chocolate Lava Cake, Leche Flan, Biko and Banana-Ube Turon.

For reservations, catering and other inquiries, visit TRES on the 2nd floor, The Annex, SM City North EDSA or call ‪352-7032‬ or ‪0917-529-0837‬; and TRES on the ground floor of Keyland Ayala SLC Building, Rufino near the corner of Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati or call ‪0927-791-5489‬. You may also visit facebook.com/trescuisineph.

Crispy Pata for Php133 at TRES

For every single-receipt transaction of P2,300, get a whole Crispy Pata for only Php133 from the regular menu price of Php753 at TRES. The offering runs whole day, everyday at TRES on the 2nd floor of SM City North Annex and TRES along Rufino Street near corner Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati.

Crispy Pata, one of the bestsellers of TRES, is soaked in a secret marinade and fried twice for that double delicious crispy crackling goodness. The meat is tender and steeped with flavor. It is served with thinly sliced sweet potato crisps and a sweet and spicy soy sauce and vinegar dip.

TRES is also known for its signature Kare-Kare-Kare that comes in Classic Beef with flank steak and tripe; Seafood with prawns, squid, fish, shellfish, and clams; Crispy Beef Tadyang and Crispy Pata.

The Kare-Kare-Kare tag refers to the restaurant giving patrons three signature condiments to pair with the dish – extra sauce to pour, diced peanuts to top and the famous TRES bagoong guisado as a dip. All three are on tabletops so patrons can even use them on any dish.

The extensive menu also offers Bagnet, Roast Iberian Chicken, Lamb Adobo, Lengua con Setas, Bulalo, Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso, Binagoongang Lechon Kawali, Crispy Sisig, Gising-Gising and more plus appetizers and desserts.

TRES along with M Catering are the last culinary projects of the late Chef Ed Quimzon. A number of the menu offerings are either his original creations or inspired by his initial concepts.

For reservations, catering and other inquiries, visit TRES on the 2nd floor, The Annex, SM City North EDSA or call +63 2 3527032 or +63 917 5290837; and TRES on the ground floor of Keyland Ayala SLC Building, Rufino near the corner of Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati or call +63 927 7915489. You may also visit Facebook. TRES is also available through Food Panda.

Restaurant and menu details as well as product image provided by TRES in a recent press release.

Enjoy a sunset feast at Padi’s Point, Antipolo

“Sunsets are proof that, no matter what happens, everyday can end beautifully.”

– Kristen Butler

The original Padi’s Point along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo is known for its magnificent sunset views. It has long been considered a landmark in the area, with families, barkadas or even couples, making the trek up from all over the city to this restaurant to enjoy the chill ambiance, the homegrown food served here and, of course, the amazing scenery.

Recently, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH visited this restaurant to sate our hunger after a rousing game at Lazer Maxx. After shedding our battle mode, we were in the mood to chill and eat our fill.

So how did we chill?

We amused ourselves by taking in the amazing view. Lit by bright sunlight, the greens and colors from nearby vegetation were made more intense against the wide vista of the metro. Lit by a softer light at the golden hour, however, the same view became gorgeous silhouettes of trees against a gorgeous sunset.

And with what did we eat our fill?

Well, Padi’s Point offers a wide array of homegrown dishes that are best enjoyed family style. These include appetizers like Cheesy Cheese Sticks (Php190) and Nacho Grande (Php399), merienda staples such as Pancit Canton (Php160) and Mexican Pizza (Php310), and classic main dishes such as Padi’s Original Sisig (Php299) , Sinigang na Baboy (Php270) and Crispy Pata (Php699).

And since we’re a big group with jumbo-sized appetites after our adventures earlier in the day, you better believe we went for jumbo-sized bundle meals such as the Barkada Supreme (Php850) – classic finger-foods such as onion rings, cheese sticks, french fries, chicken nuggets and mushroom poppers – and the Barrio Feast (Php1,150) – fried and grilled dishes that include tilapia, chicken, pork, bangus, liempo and squid.

Also taking center stage are the Tropical Threesome: Boracay Chill, Palawan Chill and Miami Chill, cocktail drinks at Php150 each that combine icy fruitiness with a slight kick of alcohol. As their names imply, these drinks are great for chilling and relaxing.

Want to have a chill sesh with the fam or your buddies? Do chase the sunset at Padi’s Point and feast on great Pinoy food. It will surely be worth the trip.

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal, open daily for 24 hours. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3443028.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Century Imperial Suites, South Triangle, Quezon City

Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City

Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City

Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City

375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City

Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City

Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong

Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City

Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay

463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila

A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila

Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City

The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa

Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

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

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Hearty heirloom dishes at Romulo Cafe, Tomas Morato

Soldier, diplomat, statesman and journalist Carlos P. Romulo loomed large in Philippine history and more so in the lives of his descendants. Today, they operate a restaurant chain named after him that recalls the highlights of his prestigious career through photographs. Romulo Cafe also serves heirloom dishes which include those served by his wife, Virginia, during their Philippine embassy dinners in the United States where he marshaled for full Philippine independence.

At the invitation of the restaurant’s general manager, Gilbert Caras, my friends and I recently made our way to Romulo Cafe’s original branch in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area.

The place has an elegant and relaxed vibe to it. It has cozy and private spaces as well as wide open areas both indoors and outdoors. Its decor combines old-world nostalgia from the black-and-white photographs and a fresh aesthetic with the modern furniture and green accents.

We were treated to an array of Filipino comfort food that took us back in time:

Boneless Crispy Pata Binagoongan (Php698). A pork leg boiled until fork-tender then deboned and deep-fried to a golden crisp served with the restaurant’s own eggplant and tomato bagoong sauce.

Tito Greg’s Kare-Kare (Php510). Oxtail and tripe stew in peanut sauce served in house-made shrimp paste.

Lola Virginia’s Chicken Relleno (Php698). Roasted half-chicken stuffed with ground pork, raisins, peas and chorizo.

Suman sa Latik (Php70). So simple yet so decadently delicious, sticky suman made from glutinous rice and coconut milk is fried to attain that light golden crisp then served in a shot glass in a bed of coconut caramel sauce.

Cool as Cucumber Mocktail (Php160). A refreshing concoction of fresh lime and cucumber wit mint leaves.

It was feast of Filipino comfort food – with familiar flavors yet a fresh take in presentation or combination – enjoyed in a stylish and well-appointed restaurant: an experience we won’t soon forget.

This Romulo Cafe branch is located at 32 Scout Tuazon Corner Scout Lazcano Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 11pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3327273, + 63 2 3327275 or +63

Planning your office Christmas party or family reunion? Romulo Cafe can prepare a sumptuous buffet for you and your guests in its lovely function rooms. Its buffet options include:

Set Menu A at Php695/head:

Appetizer: Chicharon and Tinapa Roll
Soup: choose between Monggo or Molo Soup
Noodles: choose between Pancit Puti or Sotanghon Guisado
Beef: choose between Tito Greg’s Kare Kare or Beef Caldereta
Chicken: choose among Lola Virginia’s Chicken Relleno, General’s Chicken or Bacolod Chicken
Fish: choose among Bangus Al Ajillo, Guinataang Hipon sa Kamias or Crispy Catfish
Vegetables: choose among Bagnet Pinakbet, Guinataang Sigarillas, Laing with Adobo Flakes or Gising-gising
Pork: choose among Lechon Kawali, Honey Garlic Spareribs or Crispy Pork Binagoongan
Dessert: Suman sa Latik

Set Menu B at Php795/head:

Appetizer: choose three among Pinoy Nachos, Cheese and Vigan Longganisa Dumplings, Crispy Crablets, Tinapa Roll, Chicharon, Smoked Bangus Plate
Soup: choose among Molo Soup, Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso, Sinigang na Liempo, or Beef Bulalo
Noodles: choose among Pancit Puti, Sotanghon Guisado, Penne Carbonara with Vigan Longganisa, Linguini Puttanesca with Tuyo or Pasta Filipino
Beef: choose among Tito Greg’s Kare Kare Beef Caldereta or Lengua
Chicken: choose among Lola Virginia’s Chicken Relleno, General’s Chicken or Bacolod Chicken
Fish: choose among Flying Tilapia, Bangus Al Ajillo, Guinataang Hipon sa Kamias or Crispy Catfish
Vegetables: choose among Bagnet Pinakbet, Guinataang Sigarillas, Laing with Adobo Flakes or Gising-gising
Pork: choose among Lechon Kawali, Honey Garlic Spareribs or Crispy Pork Binagoongan
Dessert: choose between Suman sa Latik or Assorted Mini Cakes

Want to serve the star of all Filipino celebrations – the Lechon – during your buffet feast? A 3-kg lechon roll is available for Php2,800++ (6-kg for Php5,600++). You can add Cebu lechon to your food items for Php8,000 (small), Php9,000 (medium) and Php10,000 (large).

Other Romulo Cafe branches are located at:

148 Jupiter Corner Comet Street, Bel-Air, Makati City, open daily from 11pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm (Tel. No: +63 2 8220286)
Azumi Boutique Hotel, 2205 Market Street, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, open daily from 11pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm (Tel. No: +63 2 5561443)

Disclosure: Our lunch was hosted by Romulo Cafe. The food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and were not paid for by our group.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Have an Instant Party at Alex III, Tomas Morato

With the approaching holidays comes the much-awaited season of parties and get-togethers. Pinoys, in particular, love to celebrate with food, lots and lots of it. I recall my mom and titas slaving away in the kitchen, preparing their signature dishes for our family gatherings.

While I’m passionate about food, I’m not too keen on stressing myself out in the kitchen. Fortunately, thanks to a Foodie Meet-up held at Alex III’s Tomas Morato branch, I, together with my fellow foodies, discovered that I can treat my loved ones out to a feast of classic Filipino favorites, thanks to its Instant Party Menu.

Alex III’s Instant Party Menu consist of two sets of dishes. Both priced at Php2995, these feature home-grown Filipino party food enough for a group of five. These are all prepared and cooked with the same love and tradition that goes all the way back to Aling Asiang (or Mrs. Engracia Reyes), the matriarch of the family behind the Aristrocrat restaurant of which Alex III is an offshoot, being a business started by one of Aling Asiang’s grandsons.

Set One

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Special Pancit Canton
Fresh Lumpiang Ubod or Lumpiang Shanghai
Kare-Kare
Crispy Pata
Steamed Rice

Set Two

This set includes:

Choice of 1 viand among Chicken Barbecue, Pork Barbecue, Barbecued Pork Belly and Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Fried Chicken
Whole Crispy Lapu-Lapu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Camaron Rebosado
Special Pancit Canton
Shanghai Rice

Each set is served with garlic peanuts, a sushi sampler, your choice of soup (of which we sampled the Hototay and Sinigang na Salmon), bottomless iced tea and your choice of dessert (of which we sampled the Leche Flan and the Pandan Jellied Tapioca).

Both sets present diners with a combination of flavors that are dearly familiar, being dishes that were served during family reunions and fiestas when we were growing up. They also serve as a way for working moms like me to reconnect our present-day celebrations with the warmth and traditions of our childhood: that despite the hectic schedules and fast-paced lifestyles, we have a way to get together with our loved ones to exchange old memories and make new ones, while enjoying good food and good company.

With Alex III’s Instant Party Menu, the tradition of fun family celebrations with good food is made even better.

This branch of Alex III is located at Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Bayoran, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and queries, call +63 2 3711414 or +63 2 3711415. Its spacious, tastefully appointed and well-lit interiors make it a great venue for large family gatherings or office parties.

Other branches are located at:

201 Wilson Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City (open daily from 11am to 11pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 7240882 or +63 2 7264444)
29 Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 9261266 or +63 2 9268942)
53 Pontiac Corner Chevelle Street, Fairview, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm | Tel Nos: +63 2 3766286 or +63 2 3765179)

By the way, did you know that for your parties at home, you can have your favorite dishes from Alex III delivered right to your doorstep? Minimum order for delivery is Php500. For more details, contact the Alex III branch nearest you.

Disclosure: I attended the Bloggers’ Day held at 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 Filipino restaurants:

Zomato Tagaytay Food Crawl Second Stop: Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant

The second stop of our Zomato Food Crawl was held at the Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant, tucked away along Sicat Road in a residential area off the Aguinaldo Highway on the way to Mountain Ridge.

Surprisingly, despite the location and the rainy weather, it was still filled with families who want to enjoy a more exotic cuisine for lunch.

Its grounds are surrounded with greenery and garden decor with an Asian, Zen-like feel. Sadly, due to the rains, we were not able to dine outside (but we did hold our flat-lays there, though). It would have been quite enjoyable to feast on the Thai dishes while enjoying the refreshing Tagaytay breeze.

The resto’s interiors also has a distinctive Asian decor, from the bric-a-bracs that line the walls, the proliferation of indoor greenery, and the colorful accessories that accent the place.

Some items in one of the inner rooms are also for sale. These include small mortar and pestle sets, decorative jars, local raw wild honey and more.

Thai cuisine is characterized by the intricate balance of five flavors: sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy. An emphasis is placed on the strong aromatic elements and a spicy edge. These flavors came into play with the dishes served to our group which included:

Fresh Spring Rolls (Php270). Rolled herbs, carrots, cabbage, tofu and noodles topped with a sweet chile relish. A hit for those who want to eat something light, fresh and healthy!

Tom Yum Goong (Php410). The dish’s name translates to “lemongrass shrimp soup.” It is a hot and sour soup with large shrimps. It is reminiscent of the Pinoy sinigang but with more complex flavors owing to the herbs and chilis mixed in.

Lime and Basil Salad (Php340). The resto’s namesake salad contains fried egg, basil, lettuce, peanuts and shallots lightly doused with a sour tamaring dressing. I find it a good palate cleanser after tasting the more flavorful dishes.

Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashews (Php380). Sauteed bits of chicken cooked with cashew nuts in a salty sweet sauce.

Kao Pad Saparod (Php360). Fried rice served in a bowl made of pineapple which adds some sweetness to the salty rice.

Pad Thai (Php350). A sweet-savory noodle dish, most commonly served as street food in Thailand.

Kaeng Deng Kha Moo (Php770). The Thai version of the Pinoy Crispy Pata with a red curry sauce. The crackling skin was very crispy while the meat was quite tender. It went well with the pineapple rice.

Kao Neiw Mamaung (Php220). A beautifully presented dish, it consists of glutinous rice, coconut milk and luscious slivers of ripe mango. It is doused with condensed milk for some added sweetness.

Thai Iced Team (Php110). What Thai meal is complete without its signature iced tea? This refreshing beverage is made from strongly-brewed tea with some additional spices and sweetened with sugar and condensed milk.

The dishes were tasty and well-presented, quite excellent representatives of Thai cuisine. These will help in broadening the horizons of the Filipino palate.

Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant is located at 9104 J. Rizal Street, Barangay Sicat, Tagaytay. It is open weekends from 11am to 9pm and weekends from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 915 627 6393.

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.

A feast among friends at Gerry’s Grill

I usually dine at Gerry’s Grill in Tomas Morato for quick, no-frills lunches with my coworkers but in this branch in SM Marikina, I feasted with new friends. After participating in an outreach activity in a nearby charity institution, hubby and his car-clubmates decided to have lunch at SM Marikina. After a considerable time waiting, a table was found for our large group.

Among the hearty fare we enjoyed were classic Filipino favorites:

Crispy Pata (Php635 for family size)
Nilagang Bulalo (Php345)
Gerry’s Fried Chicken (Php265)
Pancit Bihon (Php165)
Sizzling Sisig (Php207 – who would dare forget to order this at Gerry’s?!?)
Buko Pandan (Php85)

When dining in large groups, Gerry’s Grill seems like a great choice as practically everyone would have something to like. We ate family-style which also helps in fostering new friendships.

This branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City Marikina, Calumpang, Marikina City.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

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