dessert – Page 15 – Jellybeans in the City

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 taste of Ilocos Sur at Victorino’s, Tomas Morato

Other than actually going to a place, the best way to experience its culture is through its cuisine. Ilocano cuisine is influenced by the region’s major occupations: agriculture and fishing. Thus, its dishes are simple to prepare, down-to-earth, and uses fresh ingredients.

Considering how long I’ve been working in the Tomas Morato area, it’s a wonder I’ve only been able to dine at Victorino’s just now. Luckily, together with two of my closest office friends, we ventured out to have a taste of Ilocos Sur at this resto.

Located at the corner of 11th Jamboree and Scout Rallos in Quezon City, Victorino’s is a sprawling house converted to a restaurant, with interiors designed to look like a traditional home in Ilocos, complete with old-style aparadors and various bric-a-bracs.

The restaurant’s kitchen is helmed by renowned culinarian and cake designer Heny Sison, who brings with her a fresh take on Ilocano cuisine that embodies how “simple pleasures taste best.”

With three hungry girls hitting a stalemate in trying to decide between sharing a meat-veggie-rice or a pasta-pizza combo (all of us basically saying “I have no preference, it’s up to you” to each other in typical girl fashion), our waiter, Lloyd, gamely took it upon himself to break the tie and suggested that we go for the rice combo instead.

(He even took our picture to commemorate our lunch — Lloyd, you the real MVP!)

The winning combo which became our taste of Ilocos Sur consisted of:

Bagnet (Php415). Ilocos’ famous version of lechon kawali, this dish is basically a slab of pork belly broiled to tenderize the meat then deep-fried to achieve that signature crispy crackling skin. It is served with a dipping sauce called KBL which stands for Kamatis (tomatoes), Bagoong (shrimp paste) and Lasona (small purple onions).

Pinakbet Ala Apo Lakay. This is one of the two versions of pinakbet served here. Pinakbet consists of slow-cooked vegetables seasoned with bagoong and topped with bagnet. (We initially disappointed not to find eggplants in the mixture and it took our MVP waiter Lloyd to point out that the plump round morsels there were actually the eggplants – a far cry from the long and thin eggplants we usually see in the markets, right?)

Steamed White Rice (Php45/cup). The perfect palette with which to taste and savor our viands.

Because a good time spent with friends seeks to extend itself, we ordered a Mango Chocolate Torte (Php348.50) (recommended again by Lloyd the MVP), a Heny Sison creation which came to our table as towering layers of cashew meringue, bittersweet chocolate, mango mousse topped with white chocolate drizzles. One of us ordered a Brewed Coffee (Php95), which is, of course, served with the traditional Ilocos sweetener baculicha.

Despite the hefty food bill, the excellent service, the yummy food and the relaxed homey atmosphere made our taste of Ilocos Sur at Victorino’s totally worth it.

Victorino’s is located at 114 Scout Rallos corner 11th Jamboree, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 4147465.

And wouldn’t you know it, Victorino’s even delivers via Lalamove!

Homey Comfort Food at Mom & Tina’s, Greenhills

One of the mantras I always try to follow is to never shop hungry. For one thing, experiencing hunger pangs might distract me from getting the best deal and I might end up just settling. On the other hand, hunger makes me a bit grumpy and I might snap at a hapless salesperson.

In a recent foray with Hubby at Greenhills Shopping Center (where I did not snap at anyone, hapless or otherwise), I chanced upon this Mom & Tina’s branch near the newly renovated Unimart.

I’ve enjoyed dining at this chain’s branches in Tomas Morato and Ugong (even took out cakes for celebrations at home) so I had no qualms suggesting to Hubby that we take our lunch here.

Similar to other Mom & Tina’s outlets, this branch has a bright, cheery yet cozy atmosphere, accented by rustic and homey bric-a-bracs and light-colored furniture.

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Cheery and colorful #tableaccents at @momandtinas Greenhills branch. I like the homey but happy feel they give to the place. #interiordesign #restodecor #restaurantdecor

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jun 2, 2018 at 8:28pm PDT

We ordered a substantial amount of food (proof of how hungry we were):

US Roast Beef (Php435) – slices of roast beef served with rich gravy served with mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes and rice.
Beef Stroganoff (Php270) – al dente fettuccini pasta tossed in cream sauce with thin beef slices.
Barbecued Pork Steak (Php335) – marinated and grilled pork belly served with Java rice and achara

The roast beef slices are a bit too well-done for my taste (they tend to seem dry) but the meats are tender and well-complemented by the mashed potato and veggies. The pork steak is also tender and well-seasoned; its blend of sweet and savory flavors blend well with the Java Rice (I prefer not to include the achara, it’s quite overpowering). The beef stroganoff is also hearty and filling. The portions of these dishes are quite large and we ended up getting part of our orders wrapped for take home (which was greatly appreciated by my son who ate it for merienda).

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Never shop hungry. So here we are. #RoastBeef #GrilledPorkBelly #BeefStroganoff at @momandtinas. Check out my review at beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (search: Mom & Tina’s). #foodie #foodiegram #foodstagram

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jun 2, 2018 at 8:59pm PDT

And simply because there should always be room for dessert, and because I truly deserve it, I got myself a Carrot Cupcake (Php70) to cap the meal. (No, Hubby is not into cupcakes; so… more for me!)

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s #alwaysroomfordessert! #CarrotCupcake (Php70) at @momandtinas. Check out my review at beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (search: Mom & Tina’s). #sweetstothesweet #justdesserts

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jun 2, 2018 at 8:56pm PDT

This lunch experience reminded me of the appeal of Mom & Tina’s and I look forward to trying more of its offerings.

This Mom & Tina’s branch is located at 2/F O-Square Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Ave., San Juan City. For reservations, call + 63 921 5737710.

Other branches are located at:

Ugong: FRDC Building, 106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., (C-5), Pasig City (Tel: + 63 2 9140833 or +63 2 5711541)
Makati: G/F Unit 14 Tropical Palms Condominium, Dela Rosa St. cor. Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 8404299 or + 63 2 8943598)
Tomas Morato: 58 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., South Triangle, Quezon City (Tel: + 63 2 3323080 or +63 2 3323579)

Mom-and-Daughter Dinner at The Chocolate Kiss Cafe

Despite the resto being a fixture in many an Isko or Iska’s memories of college days in the UP Diliman campus, I have, ironically, only eaten at The Chocolate Kiss Cafe twice in my life, and both times took place years after I graduated. This is probably because my student allowance can not accommodate a meal at the poshest (at the time) restaurant in the campus.

The most recent instance was after attending the #KahayupanSaDangal exhibit at the nearby Bulwagan ng Dangal. My daughter and I decided to have dinner at #ChocKiss (as the kids call it nowadays).

Although there was ample parking space around the UP Bahay ng Alumni where the resto is located, it was sparsely lit. Even the walk to the second floor lacked proper lighting.

The resto’s interiors, however, were amply lit and had a cozy atmosphere. Covers of popular music were played live by violinist Royce Aviguetero and guitarist Bobot Mabalot in the background as we dined. On the walls were displayed whimsical and colorful artworks by Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) member Yas Doctor.

We split orders of Ceasar Salad (Php210), Beef Salpicao (Php315) and a slice of Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (Php145). The salad lived up to “the good stuff” positioning of the resto; the resto’s own-recipe Ceasar Salad dressing gives good flavor to the greens, bacon bits and croutons. The beef dish was passable: the cubes of ribeye steak were tender, well-seasoned and were well-complemented by the garlic rice and steamed veggies. The cheesecake, however, was a bit of a letdown: the chocolate chips distract from the rich flavor we expect from a New York-style cheesecake, resulting to a too-sweet cake.

We were supposed to order the Carrot Cake that ChocKiss is known for but the last remaining slice was already reserved for another diner. But hey, that’s what next visits are for, huh?

The Chocolate Kiss Cafe is located at the 2nd Floor of the UP Bahay ng Alumni along R. Magsaysay Street (across the UP Film Center), UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City. For reservations, call +632 433 1140 or +632 434 3577 or email goodstuff@thechocolatekiss.com.

The other branch is located at the 2nd Floor, Urban Turf, UP Town Center, along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. For reservations, call +632 946 3276.

Click here to visit The Chocolate Kiss Cafe website.

Jelly List: Beat the Summer Heat with Bingsu!

Summer is definitely in full swing. The days are longer and hotter. One of the things I’m looking forward to this summer is cooling down with a bowl of bingsu.

Bingsu is a Korean dessert traditionally made with ice shavings, condensed milk and sweet toppings such as red beans, chopped fruit, cookies or candies and ice cream. While forms of this dish have been in existence since the 1300s, its modern form started with the introduction of patbingsu, featuring red bean paste, during Korea’s time under Japanese rule in the early 20th century. Foreign influence during the Korean War in the 1950s led to the inclusion of ingredients such as canned fruits, ice cream, cereal, nuts and syrups.

Bingsu shops and restos that offer variations of this yummy dessert have sprouted all over the metro. Here are some you might be interested to try:

Mango Bingsu at Jang Da Bang by Jang Ga Nae (Php199 for regular)

The sweet and succulent mango bits give this bingsu its dominant flavor but the tidbits of other fruits and the cereal provide a nice contrast of tastes and textures.

Jang Da Bang Cafe is located 8137 Plaza Ortigas, Jose Escriva Drive, Ortigas, Pasig City (behind the University of Asia and the Pacific)

Mango Cheese Bingsu at Hobing Korean Dessert (Php320 for large)

Mango seems to be an unbeatable bingsu variant. Coupled with large chunks of rich New York Cheesecake and topped with vanilla ice cream and sliced almonds, this delectable confection is a refreshing explosion of sweetness in your mouth.

This branch of Hobing Korean Dessert is located at the 3rd Floor BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive cor 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Rockmelon Bingsu at Gangnam Wings (Php280)

This dessert is prettily presented with melon balls served in the melon shell and topped with a big dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Gangnam Wings is located at the Megastrip Unit 1-114 Upper Ground Floor, outside Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.

Injealmee Snowflake at Coreon Gate (Php168)

This seems to be among the more traditional bingsu variants, flavored by bean powder and given texture by the sliced almonds and chewy rice cakes.

This branch of Coreon Gate is located in the Metrowalk Complex, along Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

Korean Red Bean Bingsu at Bing Seoul (Php59 for regular)

Another more traditional and mildly sweet bingsu variant, this is a no-frills, no-fuss serving (quite cheap too!), with flavor driven by the red bean paste and the dollops of condensed milk poured onto the ice.

This branch of Bing Seoul is located at the Ground Floor of SM City East Ortigas, along Ortigas Avenue Extension, Pasig City. (Update: A week after I posted this, I learned that the Bing Seoul stall at SM City East Ortigas has already been pulled out. The nearest other branch is located at SM Center Pasig.)

Ube Macapuno Bingsu at Bon Chon (Php99)

This bingsu variants melds Pinoy flavors with the Korean dish. Ube (purple yam) powder drives the flavor while additional textures are provided by the macapuno (coconut jelly) strings, cubes of leche flan and rice crispies. It would be best to try this out soon as it available only for the summer.

This branch of Bon Chon is located at Il Terrazo, along Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Infographic courtesy of Mica Jose (IG: @dragostea)

Carnevores satisfied at Number 1 Barbecues, SM East Ortigas

Number 1 Barbecues is a recently-opened restaurant in SM City East Ortigas. Because of its Unli-Rice promo, it was always full of people for its first few months that my family was only able to eat there last December in time for my son’s birthday lunch.

Interestingly, Number 1 Barbecues offers a range of dishes from different cuisines including Filipino, American, Japanese and Mediterranean, so there would be something for everyone. Its’ relatively cheaper pricing and free unli-rice offer makes it a great venue for group and family meals.

We ordered the following:

Lechon Belly (Php109)

12-Hour US Smoked Beef (Php129 + Php50 for extra smoked beef) – served with mashed potato and coleslaw

12-Hour Smoked Pork Belly (Php119 +Php40 for extra pork belly) – served with mashed potato and coleslaw

5 pcs Shrimp Tempura (Php149)

Kani BBQ Bacon (Php99)

Chocolate Cake ala Mode (Php39)

Chocolate Mouse (Php39)

Creme Brulee (Php39 each)

The meats are tender and well-seasoned but the servings are quite small so it’s a good thing we ordered extra servings of the smoked beef and pork belly, satiating our group of carnevores. The desserts are adequate bookends to the meal.

Number 1 Barbecues is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, along Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City.

Recipe: Frozen Mocha Cheesecake

My mom discovered the recipe for Frozen Mocha Cheesecake several decades ago and it has become a family favorite. We whip it up every year, particularly during special occasions and clan get-togethers. I decided to make it in time for our New Year’s Eve celebration tonight.

The original recipe is closer to this, but over the years, we have changed some ingredients depending on what is easily available or cheaper to buy.

Ingredients:

For the crust:

30 pcs Hi-Ro chocolate biscuits, crushed (remove white filling prior to pounding with mortar and pestle) (Note: You can buy pre-crushed chocolate biscuits in some baking supply stores but these are usually available per kilo.)
1 100g stick Dari Creme butter, softened
2 tbsp white sugar

For the filling:

2 225g packs Magnolia Cream Cheese, softened
1 300ml can Alaska sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup Clara Ole chocolate syrup
1 tbsp Blend 45 instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp hot water
1 250ml Alaska Crema All Purpose Cream (you can use whipping cream as a more indulgent – or expensive – alternative)

Procedure:

Combine all crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a 9-in spring form pan. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in condensed milk, chocolate syrup and dissolved coffee.
In another bowl, whip all purpose cream until fluffy. Fold into the cream cheese mixture until evenly distributed.
Pour the mixture into the crust. Sprinkle some crushed chocolate biscuits on top as garnish.
Put into the freezer for 6 hours until set.

Enjoy!

DIY Gift: Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Every holiday season brings the same struggle: what to give to all of the family’s relatives, friends and co-workers for Christmas that will be unique, can be useful to or enjoyed by the recipient, and won’t go over the family’s gift budget?

Last year, we gave out over 100 bags of Chocolate Chip Cookies which my daughter and I baked and packed as our gifts. Thankfully, I know a baking supplies store nearby so I was able to save considerably on ingredients.

This year, while surfing through Pinterest, I discovered a new gift idea: Hot Chocolate on a Stick!

The recipe below is further simplified from the one I found on Pinterest, but still quite yummy! Best of all, ingredients and tools are easy and cheap to come by, thanks the nearby baking supplies store.

Ingredients:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 tsp peppermint oit
15 large marshmallows
additional milk chocolate chips and candy sprinkles as garnish

You will also need:

Coffee stirrers or plastic straws to serve as sticks
Individual plastic wrappers
Gift ribbons
Gift labels

Procedure:

Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave. (Medium high power for 30 secs and High power for 15 secs; resulting melted chocolate should be thick and have a nice sheen)
Mix in the the peppermint oil.
Pour the mixture into 2 tbsp chocolate molds (I used a small ice cream scoop to measure out and pour the mixture into small puto molds)
Spear each marshmallow with a plastic straw then placed it in the middle of each mold
Place in the refrigerator for 5 hours or until set.

I wrapped these with individual food-grade plastic wrappers decorated with red satin ribbons. I included a tbsp of milk chocolate chips and 1/8tbsp of candy sprinkles per package as garnishes. The label should indicate that the hot chocolate on a stick should be stirred into a cup of hot milk until the chocolate is melted.

This recipe yields 15 sticks.

Get-together at Homey Cafe Mary Grace

Cafe Mary Grace is best known for its baked goods, particularly the Ensaymada and Cheese Rolls. Stemming from its owner (guess the name!) Mary Grace’s passion for baking, Cafe Mary Grace aims to provide the homey delights of fun Sunday family lunches to its diners.

When a friend came home from Singapore, we decided on a whim to meet up at Cafe Mary Grace in Greenbelt, Makati for dinner.

True its homey roots, the place has a warm and inviting atmosphere, with trinkets and framed sayings and food shots dotting the walls. There were lots of diners there who -similar to us – are friends getting together to catch up or families out for a good meal.

We ordered a Smoked Salmon and Cream Pasta (Php330), a Pasta Amatriciana with Italian Meatballs (Php320) and capped our meal with cups of rich Mary Grace’s Hot Chocolate (Php157) and decadent slices of Chocolate Cake (Php120) and Mango Bene (Php198).

It was an enjoyable meal among friends enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of home.

This branch of Cafe Mary Grace is located at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 2, Esperanza, Ayala Center, Makati City.

Elegant buffet spreads at Marriott Cafe

Thanks to a timely credit card promo, we found ourselves celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday with a buffet lunch at the Marriott Café in Manila. Nestled on the ground level of the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, this café takes dining to new heights, both literally and figuratively.

The first thing that strikes you upon entering Marriott Café is its elegance. The place is very well-appointed, with a modern yet inviting ambiance. The buffet spreads, featuring cuisines from various countries, were aesthetically presented, each dish a visual delight. The engaging open-theatre kitchens add an element of excitement, making dining here a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

The staff were courteous and attentive, ensuring that our dining experience was seamless and enjoyable. Their professionalism added to the overall charm of the café, making us feel pampered from the moment we arrived.

Being a card-carrying carnivore, my favorite station was the grill. I helped myself to the “Cuts of the Day,” which were juicy and well-marbled steaks, along with an assortment of smoked meats and sausages. Each bite was a testament to the skill and expertise of Executive Chef Meik Brammer, who has been leading the kitchen operations since 2010. His more than 27 years of culinary experience were evident in every mouthwatering dish.

One of the standout features of the buffet was the variety of stations. The Live Station offered a variety of a la minute dishes, with the Singapore Chili Crabs being a particular highlight. The Sashimi Station transported us to Japan, offering a fresh and delicious selection of Salmon Tuna, handcrafted Japanese Maki Rolls, Cucumber Rolls, and California Rolls, complete with wasabi, soy sauce, calamansi, and assorted pickles.

At the Live Pasta Station, Grandma’s Pomodoro was a daily delight. Choosing from a variety of sumptuous pasta dishes, it felt like comfort food elevated to gourmet levels. And then, of course, there was the dessert section. I gorged myself on their selection of tartlets, cakes, cookies, and pastries. The chocolate fountain was a hit with the kids and, admittedly, with me as well.

Dining at Marriott Café is an experience I wouldn’t mind repeating. The extensive buffet, the elegant setting, and the exceptional service all combine to create a memorable dining experience. Though I might wait for another promo to indulge again, the quality and variety offered at Marriott Café make it worth every peso.

Buffet prices are as follows:

Breakfast (6:30 am to 10:30 am, daily): Php1,450
Lunch (12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, Monday to Saturday): Php1,900
Brunch (11:30 am to 3:00 pm, Sunday): Php2,500
Dinner (6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday to Thursday, Sunday): Php2,100
Dinner (6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Friday to Saturday): Php2,500

For inquiries, you can reach them at 02-9889999 or via email at marriottcafemanila@marriott.com. Dining at Marriott Café is truly an inspired experience in Manila, one that I highly recommend. Visit the Resorts World Manila website for more details.