european food – Jellybeans in the City

Dean & DeLuca, Tomas Morato

This past November, Dean & DeLuca opened its newest branch in Quezon City.

This much-awaited outlet is notable for many things, not the least of which is the fact that it is owned by actress (and idol of the titas) Bea Alonzo.

“Good old coffee. Just what I need today.” she posted on her Instagram.

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Good old coffee. Just what I need today. ❤️ I am happy to announce that we are having our soft opening today of Dean and Deluca in Quezon City. I’ve been so excited about this new venture and I can’t wait to dine with you guys and run you through our delectable menu. Visit us at Scout Tuazon cor Scout Rallos today. ❤️❤️❤️ . . . . @deandelucaph

A post shared by bea alonzo (@beaalonzo) on Nov 20, 2019 at 2:31am PST

(Oh, Bea… don’t we all?)

Dean & DeLuca started as a chain of upscale grocery stores in New York City but has since evolved into cafe operations. Its first three branches in the country are located in Makati and BGC, with more in the works.

This past Tuesday, my officemates and I made our way to QC’s Dean & DeLuca, a five-minute car ride from our workplace, for our lunch break.

With the exception of the guys who joined us for the midday meal, this bunch consisted mostly of titas, who all have been looking forward to dining at Dean & DeLuca.

Our orders included:

Truffle Fries (Php160). Crispy French fries drizzled with truffle oil and sprinkled with grated parmesan before serving with a creamy zesty dip.

Aglio e Olio Gamberini (Php450). Organic pasta tossed in traditional Italian garlic and olive oil base along with prawns and cherry tomatoes.

Prawn and Gorgonzola Pasta (Php495). Organic pasta tossed in a creamy paprika wine sauce along with fresh prawns, gorgonzola cheese, mushroom and basil.

Butifarra con Salsa Funghi e Tartufo (Php470). Organic pasta tossed in truffle cream along with slices of Butifarra sausage and fresh mushrooms.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich (Php380). Free-range chicken, grated cheese pimiento, pickled dill, slaw and dressing in yeast-free sourdough bread.

Umami Fried Chicken (Php390). Aburi fried chicken, miso glaze, slaw and lettuce in sourdough brioche.

Beef Rendang (Php590). Himalayan red rice topped with grass-fed beef cooked in rendang spice and coconut milk.

After lunching on these food items, we capped our meal with our chosen coffee drinks – Salted Caramel Latte, Cafe Latte and Cappuccino – all priced at Php160 each.

Dean & DeLucca does tick off all the marks when it comes to trendy cuisine (eg. grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, organic pasta, etc.) which I’m sure many foodies will appreciate.

Sadly, given its price points, I’m not as impressed as I hoped I would be when it came to my truffle pasta which I found too heavily flavored. My friends told me that I simply ordered the wrong item from the menu but how can I go wrong with ordering one of my favorite pasta dishes?

Oh, well. Maybe when I try the desserts on my next visit I’ll have a better experience!

Plus, my officemates and I still had a chill “tita-ish” lunch break here.

Dean & DeLuca is located at Scout Rallos corner Scout Tuazon Streets, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 916 2126535.

Take a gastronomic trip around the world at Passenger Seat, Marikina

If taking a tour of the world to experience the cuisines that each country has to offer is included in your bucket list, you’re in luck. You actually won’t need to leave the metro to do just that. Simply hie on over to Passenger Seat at Riverbanks Center and begin your journey.

The restaurant’s plane-themed decor stems from the owner Mayee’s original ambition to be a flight attendant. As she couldn’t pass the qualifications for this job, she decided to establish a plane-themed restaurant with the help of her parents and her boyfriend after graduation instead. This was inspired by a similar eatery in Taiwan that she saw online.

Her boyfriend Ralph, a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate, helped her develop the menu. Encompassing both local and international cuisines, Passenger Seat’s food offerings feature whimsical and travel-themed names.

Take the Boodle Flights, for example. These menu items are named after boodle fights, the Pinoy-style communal feast wherein various viands surround a pile of steamed rice served on banana leaf. These are usually eaten by hand amidst a boisterous group of friends or family.

Manila (Php585, good for 2-3 persons) features all-meat viands which features Chicken Inasal, Lechon Kawali and Grilled Liempo, served with Salted Egg, Boiled Okra, Grilled Eggplant, Ensalada, Steamed Rice and a pitcher of Iced Tea.

Palawan (Php599, good for 2-3 persons), on the other hand, is the seafood lovers Boodle Flight with Daing na Bangus, Grilled Stuffed Squid and Buttered Shrimp, also served with Salted Egg, Boiled Okra, Grilled Eggplant, Ensalada, Steamed Rice and a pitcher of Iced Tea.

Up for an all-out food feast with the entire barkada or fam? Opt for Pilipinas (Php1,499) then. It has all of the viands of Manila and Palawan and twice the amount of the accompanying eggs, veggies, rice and iced tea.

If you’re not up for Boodle Flights, don’t fret. You can always opt for Single Flights, single-serve food items inspired by key dishes from each region, whether domestic or abroad.

Tagaytay (Php350), features the place’s most famous dish: the Bulalo. The flavorful broth is coupled with the tender meat (with tendons that actually melt in your mouth), made even more special with the much-sought after bone marrow.

Zambales Sinigang sa Miso (Php235) and Sampaloc Singang na Hipon (Php240) are answers to those craving for seafood and sour broth.

Mexico (Php159) features the country’s crisp corn nachos topped with homemade salsa, ground beef, tomatoes, onions and torched cheese.

The Califoria (Php125), on the other hand, is a meaty quarter pound patty of specially seasoned ground beef topped with three types of cheeses along with lettuce, tomato and cucumber.

Want some fries with that? Then check out Brussels (Php65), a mother lode of French fries topped with meat bits and loads of cheese!

Chicken wings such as the teriyaki-flavored Kyoto (Php159) and the spicy buffalo New York (Php169) are great to munch chased by pretty mocktails such as the Shirley Temple (Pink Illusion – Php75) or Roy Rogers (Cherry Cala – Php75).

Carbo-loading? Head on over to France (Php155) for some pasta and seafood in homemade red sauce, to Rome (Php155) for some creamy sauce littered with bacon, ham and mushroom bits, or to Italy (Php155) for some heat from chili flakes mixed into the aglio e olio pasta sauce.

Refresh yourself with shakes made of fruits in season at Php125 each such as the Pangasinan (watermelon), Baguio City (strawberry) and Guimaras (ripe mango).

Don’t forget to reward yourself with something sweet and decadent (I know I won’t)! It’s Belgium Sizzling Brownies are topped with either classic or special Uncle D’s ice cream.

If you brought your whimsical and adventurous side when you visit Passenger Seat, you’re in for quite a trip best enjoyed with a large group of fam and friends!

Passenger Seat is located at Ground Floor, Riverbanks Mall, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangka, Marikina City. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 8373695.

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

East meets West at Bistro Charlemagne, Ayala Malls Feliz

Some cuisines achieve more of their potential when combined with the cooking styles, ingredients and nuances of other cuisines.

Take Bistro Charlemagne: A Concept By Little Asia for example. Named after its owner, Charlemagne Lim, this high-end restaurant offers Asian and European fusion dishes.

With its first branch well established in Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, its second branch is situated in fifth level of Ayala Malls Feliz in Dela Paz, Pasig City, giving the denizens East of Manila a new and exciting dining option.

Walking through the lush greenery of Ayala Malls Feliz’ gardens (which gives you a breathtaking view of the nearby mountains of Antipolo) will lead you into the opulent interiors of Bistro Charlemagne. Mood lighting, plush velvet-upholstered chairs and large dark wood tables give diners a feeling of luxury and coziness. This place is great for romantic night-time dates and Sunday brunches with the family.

Together with other east-based foodies, I was invited to a foodie meet up held here where I sampled some of the resto’s delectable dishes:

Japanese Mixed Seafood Salad (Php315). Tuna, shrimp and kani tossed in spicy mayo and finished with ebiko (shrimp roe), tempura flakes and sweet soy. An exciting start to the meal with a bit of heat from the spicy mayo and contrasts in texture from the tempura flakes.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Php295). Unlike other spring rolls, this one is fried to a golden and crunchy crisp after being stuffed with glass noodles, pork and mushrooms, then served with the traditional Nuoc Cham dipping sauce.

Bistro Sisig Fries (Php295). Chopped and thrice-cooked pork cheeks sauteed in a creamy chicken liver sauce and served on top of crispy and golden French fries.

Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken (Php325). Have you ever noticed how some families have special recipes that get passed down through generations? This is one of them: a specially crispy chicken served with a freshly made gravy developed Charlemagne’s grandfather, enjoyed and shared to the world by three generations of restaurateurs.

Beef Tenderloin Rolls with Cheese (Php395). Don’t I always say that everything’s better with cheese? These rolled beef tenderloin slices sauteed in teriyaki sauce certainly are.

Shrimp Poppers (Php415). Plump and lightly battered shrimp deep-fried and tossed in the house’ special sweet chili mayo sauce and chili oil and served with a side salad.

Ox Sisig (Php325). Thrice-cooked ox tongue and ox tripe mixed witj the house’ special liver-mansi mayo and topped with chicharon bulaklak. A fresh take on the classic sisig dish!

S’mores (Php245) and Reese’s S’mores (Php245). We dipped graham crackers on roasted marshmallows laid on top of Ghirardelli chocolate ganache with the former and on top of peanut butter chips ganache with the latter.

Blueberry Custard Napoleones (Php245). Crisp puff pastry sandwiching vanilla custard and blueberry puree sauce, sprinkled with pistachio dust.

Pandan Crepe (Php245). Soft pandan-flavored crepe encasing shredded coconut stewed in coconut milk and coated in palm sugar. This is a surprisingly tasty dessert with a amazingly fresh twist on familiar flavors.

With these dishes and more on the menu, Bistro Charlemagne is where East meets West, and they do make a great combination.

And here’s some good news for people on a budget: you can sate your craving for your favorite Bistro Charlemagne dish with a set meal at only Php215! This already comes with rice, soup and iced tea.

Plus, birthday celebrants get the house special Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken free when they dine at Bistro Charlemagne with a minimum single-receipt transaction of Php1,995 within seven days of their birthday. Simply present a valid government-issued ID.

This Bistro Charlemagne branch is located at Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz along Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City.

Another branch is found at GFF-6, Building B, Ayala Malls Solenad 3, Nuvali, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

For reservations and inquiries, call +63 049 2580846 or +63 917 8334223.

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