filipino food – Page 14 – Jellybeans in the City

Grilled meats from all over the world at Skewered, Festival Mall Alabang

Grilling has long been associated with breezy summer nights and friends gathered to feast on good food while making new memories together.

That’s how I found myself spending a sultry Sunday afternoon down South in Alabang together with my fellow foodies.

The host of this lively gathering is Skewered, the nautical-inspired eatery that brings together grilling traditions from many parts of the world.

These traditions were exemplified in the feast they laid out for us, which include:

Shrimp Tacos (Php229). Marinated and grilled shrimp served in soft taco shells.

Oyster Gratin (Php229). Three large fresh oysters, grilled and topped with house-made aioli gratin.

Garlic Enoki Mushroom (Php149). Baked enoki mushroom served with house-made garlic sauce.

Grilled Talong (Php129). A whole eggplant, grilled then coated with house-made garlic sauce.

Singaporean Shrimp Satay (Php199). Skewered shrimps, marinated and grilled, then served with the traditional peanut sauce.

Torched Beef Salpicao (Php349). Beef salpicao served hanging, torched at the table and drizzled with butter sauce.

Veggies Skewer (Php169). Two sticks of mixed marinated and roasted vegetables.

Skewers: Chinese Beef (Php41), Chinese Lamb Php45), Chinese Pork (Php36), Chinese Chicken (Php36), Meat Balls (Php36).

Meat Platter (Php1,299). A carnivore’s dream come true: 200g Wagyu beef brisket, half of a roasted chicken, 150g Lechon Pork Belly, 3 pcs of Taiwanese sausages, and choice of 2 sides from among coleslaw, buttered corn, house salad, fries, mac n’ cheese and steak rice.

Skewered also laid out home-grown dishes served with international flair, such as:

Tapa Rice (Php299). Savory rice flavored by beef tapa topped with fried eggs and tomatoes.

Seafood Paella (Php439). The offshoot of the Spanish rice dish made with a creamy tomato base, fresh shrimp and clams, drizzled with aioli and served in a traditional shallow pan.

Sizzling Lechon Sisig (Php279). Classic Pinoy roasted pork cooked and served as a crunchy and spicy sisig.

Gambas al Ajillo (Php239). Plump shrimps sauteed in garlic and served sizzling.

Sinigang na Hipon (Php319). The sour soup dish of shrimp in a tamarind-flavored broth.

Beef Brisket Nilaga (Php329). Smoked wagyu brisket cubes served in a flavorful nilaga broth.

Kare-Kareng Lechon (Php399). Roasted pork served in a rich peanut sauce together with crisp vegetables.

Wagyu Corned Beef Kaldereta (Php409). The house-made wagyu corned beef prepared as flavorful caldereta with veggies.

Beef Hofan (Php239). Stir-fried and flambeed rice noodles mixed with beef bits and chopped vegetables.

Pad Thai (Php349). The classic stir-fried rice noodle dish served wrapped in a delicate egg omelette.

Spaghetti Aligue (Php319). Spaghetti noodles tossed in a rich crab fat sauce and served with a freshly grilled shrimp.

To cap our meal, cater to our craving for sweets and to quench our thirst, prettily designed dessert drinks were served (with reusable metal straws at that!).

Frappes (Php159 each): Caramel, Cookies and Cream Frappe and Chocolate

Strawberry Shake Special (Php189). Strawberry milkshake overloaded with a strawberry Pocky stick, marshmallows, strawberry pretzels and a scoop of strawberry ice cream.

Choko Shake Special (Php199). Chocolate milkshake overloaded with a chocolate Pocky stick, M&Ms, mini marshmallows, KitKat stick and a scoop of chocolate ice cream.

Halo-Halo Frappe (Php199). The all-time Pinoy favorite shaved ice dessert given a fresh twist.

Skewered does a good job in curating and putting its fresh takes in various dishes. While the pork dishes tend to be salty, the beef dishes are marked by juiciness and flavorfully tender texture.

Despite the plethora of food it served during this foodie meetup, there are more waiting to be discovered and tasted. I won’t mind coming back here for more foodie adventures with my friends.

Skewered is located at Ground Floor, Water Garden, Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa, open daily from 10am to 4am with Happy Hours at 3pm to 7pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8216745, +63 928 1796025 or +63 945 2476249.

And guess what? Since this is a Zomato Gold partner establishment, you can get some of your food orders for free!

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

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.

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

Summers are for great times with great food, and spent with great friends.

Together with my fellow foodies, I experienced what certainly seems to be the start of a great summer.

In a recent Foodie Event hosted by Ombu Kusina, it launched its newest and coolest offerings: three new scrumptious halo-halo flavors!

The halo-halo is a favorite Pinoy dessert made of crushed ice, evaporated milk and other sweet ingredients such as nata de coco, beans and coconut strips, served layered on top of each other, but then mixed together so that each spoonful is a mixture of sweet ingredients and the crushed ice. Ombu does its own take on this classic icy treat, with three flavors, available only during the summer, at only Php160 each. These include:

Milk Tea. The milk tea craze has surely hit the country and how! Now this exotic drink which originated from Taiwan flavors the Pinoy halo-halo through the use of brewed Earl Grey black tea.

Mango. Fresh ripe mango are pureed, mixed with milk then frozen to create mango-flavored crushed ice, served with the usual halo-halo ingredients and toppped with succulent mango cubes.

Tres Leches. As the name implies, the crushed ice is flavored with three kinds of milk and topped with creamy leche flan. This is my favorite among the new halo-halo variants.

Ombu’s Chef Griffin Oraiz explained that what sets Ombu’s halo-halo treats apart from similar offerings from other restaurants is the use of flavored ice: the flavors are infused into the ice, resulting to a more intense taste and creamier mouthfeel.

Ombu also showcased some its signature dishes which are well-suited for the summer, such as:

Suzi Wong Sandwich (Php270). A three-layered sandwich made of ham, cheese and pickles between four slices of butter-toasted crusted bread and served with house-made deep-fried purple camote chips.

Tinapa Croquettes (Php240). Tinapa (smoked milkfish) is combined with a creamy bechamel sauce and sauteed onions, then coated with breadcrumbs, deep-fried to a crisp golden brown and served with a house-blend special garlic mayo dip.

Three-Cheese Pizza (Php420). Mozzarella and cheddar cheeses are combined with the local kesong puti, a home-grown cheese made of carabao’s milk, on top of a crisp oven-baked pizza crust.

Tokwa’t Baboy (Php260). Tokwa (tofu) are cut into cubes, fried and served with hearty pork chunks in a house-blended spicy soy vinegar sauce. This is actually a great complement and a traditional companion to the next dish which is the…

Arroz Caldo (Php130). The traditional Pinoy version of rice porridge with chicken pieces, it is highlighted by the use of cured, soft-boiled “ramen-style” eggs that adds a different dimension of flavor to the Pinoy merienda staple.

These dishes and the seasonal halo-halo flavors all adhere to Ombu Kusina’s modern take on Filipino cuisine: infusing classic Pinoy dishes with new and exciting cooking styles and influences. These help to make Pinoy cuisine fresher and more relevant to a growing number of foodies, who are looking for their next food adventure.

And if that isn’t reason enough for you to hie on over to Ombu for a taste of its innovative and flavorful dishes, how about this: use my code – VIPBeingJellybeans – when you dine in and get 10% off your food bill!

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Say hello to a gastronomically fantastic summer with @ombu_resto’s refreshing halo-halo blends (milk tea, tres leches and mango) and their new merienda menu. Plus!!! Use my code VIPBeingJellybeans when you dine in until May 11 and get 10% off your food bill! Thanks for this summer treat, Ombu! . . . . . #foodieph #foodph #pinoyfoodie #yummyph #foodiegram #foodgasm #whattoeatph #saansaph #welovetoeatph #foodbloggerph #manilaeatup #beingjellybeans

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Mar 16, 2019 at 6:39am PDT

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Ombu Kusina is located at the Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 6.30am to 10.30am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 441179.

Read my review of a previous visit to Ombu Kusina here.

Starting the day right at Milky & Sunny, Tomas Morato

We keep hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

No wonder, with all the health benefits that the meal has been touted to confer on those who partake of it. Among the positive effects that Natural Food Series website purports that breakfast brings are:

Promoting psychological health. Eating food rich in brain-nourishing minerals like potassium, magnesium and selenium helps in improving concentration and guarding against illnesses such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers.

Giving energy to your body. Breakfast powers your body to do the work you need to do for the rest of the day.

Promoting heart health. Food with nutrients such as omega-3 and good fats help in maintaining cardiovascular health by enhancing your heart’s cells healing power.

If these samplings of health benefits aren’t enough to get you to rushing to wolf down some breakfast as soon as you wake up, then Milky & Sunny‘s all-day breakfast menu surely would.

While most of us usually enjoy the first meal of the day at home, Milky & Sunny prides itself on breakfast dishes you will journey to their nearest branch to taste.

Together with fellow Zomato foodies, I was able to try out some of the resto’s signature dishes which include:

Buttermilk Chicken Caesar Salad (Php200). The resto claims that the the dressing is the real deal and I can agree. The Ceasar dressing is well-incorporated balanced into the crisp lettuce, while the deep-fried battered chicken breast adds some heartiness to this light dish.

Tapa Rice Meal with Egg (Php225) and Garlic Lonnganisa Rice Meal with Egg (Php190). With these hearty meals, you can choose how you want your rice (plain or garlic) and eggs (scrambled or sunny side up) to be served. Yep, it’s your call. The tender beef strips of the tapa were cooked in a special Pinoy-style marinade with a great harmony of salty and sweet flavors, while the garlicky longganisa goes quote well with the eggs.

Crispy Kare-kare with Rice (Php320). Crunchy pork belly served on a bed of rich peanut sauce together with leafy greens, eggplant and banana bud, along with a serving of salty bagoong (shrimp paste).

Lechon Kawali with Rice (Php175). The classic Pinoy dish is comprised of pork belly simmered to tenderness then deep-fried in a pan until crispy and golden. Together with rice, achara and lechon sauce, it is a filling and flavorful meal.

Margherita Pizza (Php180). A light yet tasty pizza made of tomatoes, Italian cheeses, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil on a thin crunchy crust.

Strawberry Banana Pancake (Php180). Two pieces of regular-sized pancakes mace with strawberry puree and served with frothy whipped cream, banana slices and drizzles of strawberry and chocolate syrup.

Hazelnut Banana Crepe (Php300). Vanilla-filled crepe topped with ice cream and served with banana slices and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Malted Milkshake (Php150). Its flavor is driven by the toasty milk powder blended with milk and topped with crea, and nuts.

Soybliss Ice Cream (Php100). A non-dairy ice cream that caters to the lactose-intolerant and the health conscious. I opted for the Avocado flavor which has a strong soy flavor and is not too sweet. I wish the avocado flavor is more apparent, though.

With healthy and hearty choices of food to break your fast, Milky & Sunny is a happy start to your day. Check this place out and let me know what you think!

This Milky & Sunny branch is located at Ground Floor, Ignacia Place, 62 Mother Ignacia Corner Sergeant Esguerra Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. It is open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 11am to 5pm.

Check out my reviews of other breakfast places:

Pi Breakfast & Pies, Ugong

Spice Cafe, City Garden Grand Hotel

Fika, Capitol Hills

Little Owl Cafe, New Manila

Quarks and Quills, Banawe

Sunnies Cafe, Megamall

AM/PM Brunch. Bar. Cafe., Tomas Morato

Top food finds at the Greenfield Weekend Market

With such hectic weekdays in the metro, it really seems weekends are made for us city slickers to just catch our breath, de-stress and savor our time with our fam and friends.

And what better way to relax and enjoy with our nears-and-dears than to go on a food trip with them?

Fortunately for us, right in the center of the metro is a weekend mecca for foodies, with offerings that will appeal to varied and discerning tastes.

The Greenfield Weekend Market, held every Saturday at the Greenfield District’s Central Park in Mandaluyong City, is where foodies can go to enjoy wondrous varieties of food and drink by local artisan vendors. It’s country fair setup, which includes a dining experience under the stars and live music from featured local bands, contributes to a refreshingly chill vibe.

During a recent visit to the Greenfield Weekend Market together with fellow foodies from #SaanSaPH, I was able to discover some interesting and tasty food finds.

Curious yet? Read on to find out what they are.

Takoyaki Balls from Shuma Gorath (Php95 for six pieces). Takoyaki are ball-shaped wheat flour-based snacks which originated from Japan. The balls served here are also flavored with green onions, tempura scraps and real octopus. Oh, and Marvel Comics geeks will surely find the store’s name familiar: Shuma Gorath is the villainous octopus-like alien ruler of several universes.

Cebu Lechon Belly from Raffy’s Belly Good (Php100 for 120 grams with no rice). Those flavorful pieces of pork belly, cooked Cebuano style, are now more easily accessible to us Metro Manila denizens, thanks to Raffy’s Belly Good. By the way, the store also accepts orders via + 63 2 2392466 or +63 917 8817239.

Smoked Beef Brisket (Php170 with rice and BBQ sauce) and Smoked Pork Belly (Php150 with rice and mango salsa) from Carnivore Cookery. Meat lovers, celebrate! Feast on these savory meats smoked for full flavor and tenderness for 12 hours! Want these delivered at home? Order via +63 917 52292222.

Fishballs, Squidballs and Kwek-Kwek (Php100 for four sticks plus 1) and Cheese Sticks (Php75) from Cheesy Stuff. Remember “Kuya, can I make tusok-tusok the fishballs?” Well, you’ll find yourself saying that again and again with Cheesy Stuff’s array of freshly cooked street food. Oh, and bite into the really cheesy cheese sticks, perfect snacks for the entire barkada.

Spiked Carabao Milk Ice Cream from The Blissful Story Creamery (Php135 for single scoop). Ice cream is every kid’s favorite dessert, but these small-batch frozen treats made from carabao milk have something extra for us grownups: a little bit of Tequila Rose to go with the Strawberry Rose’s sweet fruity flavor and nutty cacao nibs for added oomph, amirite? By the way, you can also order this icy concoction online.

All these yummy discoveries and more are waiting for you in their respective food stalls at the Greenfield Weekend Market, held every Saturday from 4pm to 12 midnight at the Greenfield District Central Park, EDSA cor Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

Check them out and do let me know what you think!

Disclosure: Together with other #SaanSaPH foodies, I was invited to check out the food stalls at this event. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Have a Festive Pinoy Fiesta every Sunday at City Garden Grand’s Spice Cafe

Fiestas are so deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. It is a time when family and friends can come together over good food to celebrate and spend time together. It is also a time that we city slickers anticipate, as these occasions are usually the only times we get to taste the much-vaunted heirloom recipes of our lolas and titas.

This is what my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH were treated to when we attended the food tasting event for Spice Cafe’s All-Filipino Breakfast Buffet.

Spice Cafe is one of the restaurants in City Garden Grand Hotel located along the busy Makati Avenue. With its scenic view of the surrounding streets and buildings and its festive atmosphere, it provides a happy venue to enjoy one’s favorite Pinoy delicacies.

For instance, who could say no to starting your day with either a silog (sinangag and itlog – garlic fried rice and fried egg)? Digging into this winning combo with either a longganisa (sausages), tocino (cured pork) or bangus (fried smoked milkfish), or all three is sure to bring back memories of lazy Sunday mornings when our nanays or lolas would prepare for us a sumptuous breakfast.

For those who want to indulge their inner carnivore for their first meal of the day, check out its carving station! For one thing, who would say no to bacon, lots and lots of it? Also, the crispy pork belly is absolutely delish!

Some people like to start their mornings with something light instead. How about some cereals and breads? Personally, I love Spice Cafe’s cheesy ensaimada. It had the light and fluffy texture, and the salty cheese had a nice contrast with the sweet bread. I also had trouble choosing between guinataang mais and champorado and I figured, why not both?

Did you know that according to the American Dairy Association’s random sampling survey, pizza is America’s fourth most craved food behind cheese, chocolate and ice cream? We Filipinos have grown to love it so much and made it our own.

Have a sweet tooth? Take your pick from so many dessert choices available: leche flan, biko, mango sago and turon.

My fellow foodies and I had our fill of these treats, and, of course, took full advantage of the resto’s posh interiors for our photo opps!

Good food in great surroundings plus great company equals a great time. If our laughter and banters are any indication, you could say that we foodies truly had a very great time!

Fiestas embody the Pinoys’ love for family, friends and food, so treat your nears-and-dears to a festive fiesta with Spice Cafe’s All-Filipino Breakfast Buffet! At only Php800, it’s available every Sunday from 6am to 11am.

Spice Cafe is located at 7th Floor, City Garden Grand Hotel, 8008 Makati corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8888181.

Check out my write-up of City Garden Grand Hotel’s Firefly Roofdeck here.

Need some tips to maximize your eat-all-you-can experience? Read my buffet survival guide.

Former OFW pays tribute to family recipes at Las Pinas’ Cafe Tribu

When OFW, nurse and new mother Krishna Torres – Pagarugan returned home to the Philippines to raise her daughter, she decided to become a franchisee of Cafe Tribu, a coffee shop specializing in Philippine-grown coffee beans.

However, her coffee shop soon turned into a family affair.

Her sister and business partner Kathleen Torres-Bell turned their premises – formerly occupied by a beauty salon – into a bright and cheery haven for relaxing and conversing with friends. A colorful array of furniture and decor are mixed and matched into an eclectic yet tasteful combination: from the flowers and wire lamps hanging from the ceilings, her father’s paintings and mural taking pride of place on the walls, to the various chairs, tables and throw pillows that make one’s stay here quite comfy indeed.

The cafe’s sprawling premises can accommodate up to fifty people for a party or office function, but can also serve as a cozy venue for an informal art exhibit or crafting workshop.

A wide spectrum of diners comfortably pass their time in this space – from local businessmen taking a break from their morning walk, to students of nearby schools and colleges meeting up with friends.

Her mother, a cooking enthusiast, helped her expand the store’s menu to include classic Filipino dishes – affectionately dubbed Naty’s Specialties after her late grandmother – some of which I was able to sample, among others, when I visited this place for a much-awaited get-together with two of my closest college friends. These are dishes made-to-order at least two days prior, and are good for three to four persons, which include:

Kare Kare (Php420). To be honest, I’m still loyal to my mom’s Kare Kare in terms of flavor and mouthfeel but this does come close. The meat, slow-cooked for hours, is tender and can be easily pulled apart by my fork. Together with crisp, lightly cooked vegetables, it is submerged in a thick peanut sauce. When eaten together with rice and the cafe’s slightly spicy homemade bagoong (shrimp paste), each mouthfull is an explosion of flavor.

Laing (Php240). Bicol’s signature dish of shredded taro leaves and meat bits cooked in coconut milk – and accompanied by a hefty serving of sliced chilis – is one of my husband’s favorite dishes. I took some home for his dinner which he loved. (Ganda points for me, huh!)

Chicken Barbecue (Php350) and Liempo Barbecue. Another set of Pinoy classic dishes, these are comprised of large pieces of chicken and pork belly marinated in a sweet barbecue sauce and grilled to tender and juicy perfection.

Beef Tapa (Php130). Why, oh why, do strips of tender fried marinated beef become irresistible when accompanied by fried egg (sunny-side up, please!) and garlic fried rice?

Alas, too bad for my #dietgoals, Naty’s Specialties go so well with rice, lots and lots of it. (Our nanays and lolas seldom thought about carbs when these recipes are being developed, I guess.)

Meanwhile, to address the hunger pangs and limited budget of the students who frequent her cafe, Krishna also serves snacks that are easy on the tummy and on the students’ wallet such as:

New York Hotdog (Php115). A hefty Frankfurter rolled in oil, topped with caramelized onions, salsa, spicy mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup and bacon bits.

Club House Sandwich (Php100). This double-decked sandwich has layers of ham, tuna and veggies, served with crisp potato chips.

Want something hot to accompany those yummy snacks? You can’t go wrong with the drinks whipped up by the cafe’s Lebanon-trained barista such as the Hot Chocolate Velvet (Php90), White Chocolate Latte (Php105), Caramel Macchiato (Php105) and Oreo Latte (Php120).

How about something refreshing to cool yourself down when the hot summer days come along? Check out the cafe’s icy frappes such as the Matcha Green Tea (Php140), Strawberries and Cream (Php120) and White Mocha Frappe (Php120). But really, don’t leave the store without a taste of the cafe’s specialty, the Coffee Peanut Butter Avalanche (Php150), truly a heavenly concoction!

This day was memorable because three friends were able to come together for good conversation over good food and drinks, amidst beautiful surroundings. So make your own beautiful memories with family and friends here at Cafe Tribu!

This Cafe Tribu branch is located at 136 Gloria Diaz Street Corner CV Starr Avenue, BF Resort Village, Talon, Las Piñas City. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 3563971 or +63 995 2740204.

Disclosure: Together with my college friends, I was invited to a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by my companions nor myself.

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.

Come together over Pinoy comfort food at Sari Salo, the Podium

One of the newly opened stalls at The Podium’s Corner Market Food Hall featured during a food tasting event was Sari Salo. This eatery’s unusual name stems from two Filipino terms consisting of repeating syllables (another Pinoy quirk, hehehe!): sari-sari and salu-salo.

Sari-sari refers to “variety and sundry.” Hence, the ubiquitous neighborhood mom-and-pop stores present and vital in many Filipino neighborhoods are called sari-sari stores. These stores connote affordability, being the go-to places of families within the neighborhood for tingi-tingi (unit purchases) of basic food items and home necessities. It is also a place where people (stereotypically the chismosos or the busybodies) come together and hangout to talk about neighborhood life.

Salu-salo, on the other hand, refers to “a social gathering or party.” It’s a time when family or friends come together for a good time, and usually over good food.

Sari Salo, in turn, strives to live up to the wealth of cultural meaning that its name implies with its simple, Filipino comfort food you and your family or friends can enjoy while you spend time together after a shopping trip or a movie date at the mall.

Take for example the sampling of its offerings served during the food tasting event: the Crispy Pork Binagoongan (Php230) and the Angus Beef Sisig (Php280 for regular | Php350 for super-sized).

The pork binagoongan has the right combination of saltiness and spiciness that make it a tasty viand to eat together with hot steamed rice. The beef sisig, on the other hand, is flavorful and tender to the bite, given that its made of Angus beef, of course.

The food was served efficiently without much fanfare, giving us tasters more time and attention to devote to savoring our meal.

Sari Salo’s stall is also a more spacious and colorful rendition of the sari-sari store, and littered with fun Pinoy pop culture references. And since #EveryOppIsAPhotoOpp, I gamely struck a pose (or two, hehehe!). Thanks to Chef Jocen of Boodlebear for taking the photos.

I would recommend Sari Salo to mall-goers hankering for Pinoy comfort food.

Sari Salo is located at the Corner Market Food Hall, Second Floor, Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. It is open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a Blogger Event held in the Corner Market Food Hall. 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 review of the other stall featured during the food tasting event: Pizza Morena.

Modern takes on classic Pinoy dishes at Lobo Filipino Tavern, Poblacion

Makati’s Poblacion area is definitely getting a resurgence as the place to be, especially for gustatory adventures. This quiet residential area (previously known for its red light district) is becoming the home for unique concept restaurants and bars, giving diners worthwhile alternatives to fastfood and chain restos.

One such establishment is Lobo Filipino Tavern. Conceptualized by owner Kian Kazemi as a showcase for both Filipino cuisine and culture, Lobo (a Tagalog word for “wolf”) takes its name from the Pinoy’s penchant for being family-oriented, similar to the wolf’s loyalty to its pack. It was inspired by a line from the poem featured in Rudyard Kipling’s novel The Jungle Book: “For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.”

Lobo’s interiors features a classic Filipino aesthetic mixed in with modern influences. Heavy wooden doors, chairs and tables, and Pinoy tsotchkes are set against a backdrop of colorful murals that pay tribute to the bar’s namesake and to Filipino artistry.

Together with fellow bloggers, I was invited to check this place out and sample its signature offerings that put a fresh twist to Filipino dishes but still call back to the traditions that spawned these delicacies.

Pork Sisig Nachos (Php375). Your favorite crisp corn nachos drizzled with oodles of cheese and topped with flavorful pork sisig.

Crab Fat Kani Pasta (Php295). Strands of angel hair pasta coated with rich and flavorful aligue (crab fat) accented by kani sticks.

Sinuglaw (Php265). One of the Pinoy takes on the ceviche – fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices – which uses coconut vinegar, calamansi, mangoes, ginger, onions and coconut milk and topped with grilled pork belly.

Tofu Sisig (Php150). Served sizzling with sliced mushrooms, bits of chilis and minced onions, this is a sure-fire tasty way to enjoy tofu.

Inihaw na Liempo (Php150). The Pinoy-style charcoal grilled pork belly – slightly sweet, very juicy and definitely smokey!

Lobo’s Lamb Adobo (Php275). Tender cubes of Australian lamb stewed Pinoy adobo style and served with popped garlic bulbs and extra virgin olive oil.

Godfather’s Lengua (Php265). Melt-in-your mouth slices of ox tongue served on a sizzling plate with a rich buttery gravy.

Garlic Rice (Php45 single | Php150). By themselves, the main dishes lamb adobo and lengua were already very tasty but partnered with garlic rice, they were winners!

We savored this delightful repast in the restaurant’s al fresco area, where we also enjoyed the calm breezes of late January.

The restaurant’s take on Pinoy dishes is an appetizing adventure and I would love to come back here for a family dinner or some late-night drinks with friends to enjoy more of its offerings.

Lobo Filipino Tavern is located at 4898 Durban corner Polaris, Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 5pm to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5040788 or +63 2 8059380.

Many thanks to Kian Kazemi and the Lobo staff for having us and to Hungry Travel Duo for extending the invite!

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend 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.

Barkada Bundle of Filipino Food at Joliant, Tomas Morato

It’s the last work day of the week. By midday, my office friends and I are already looking for some respite… and maybe a little bit of comfort.

Thus, by lunchtime, we disappeared to one of the Filipino eateries along Tomas Morato; Joliant Restaurant.

I was initially attracted to the store’s very affordable pricing. (Imagine rice toppings served with iced tea for as low as Php69!)

However, by the time our group of five hungry coworkers entered the restaurant’s spacious and well-appointed premises, we found ourselves going for one of its Barkada Bundles. These are combinations of several classic Filipino dishes served with rice and iced tea enough for a group of five to eight people, packaged into affordable deals.

Also, since the dishes included in the bundle are already curated, we didn’t need to expend effort trying to figure out the combinations of tastes when we give our order.

Our group ordered the Barkada Bundle Meal D (Php1,299) which includes:

Kare Kare. A rich stew of tender oxtripe, green beans and eggplant in a peanut-thickened sauce and best enjoyed with white rice and bagoong (sauteed shrimp paste). While this version is pretty good, it does not compare to my mom’s kare kare. But then again, no other kare kare does either.

Lechon Kawali. Another favorite dish which consist of pre-seasoned and pre-boiled pork belly deep-dried to attain a golden brown color and crispy, crunchy skin. Together with the lechon sauce and a bit of white rice, it’s an explosion of flavor with every bite.

Buttered Chicken. Our group eschewed Joliant’s specialty Spicy Garlic Chicken in favor of this dish. Lightly battered and served with its own gravy, the chicken is tender, juicy and complemented the other inclusions of our meal bundle.

Sinigang na Salmon Belly. When we smelled the aroma of this down-home dish wafting towards us as it was being served, it was truly mouth-watering. I loved its steaming-hot, sour broth.

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Buko Pandan. A dessert made of pandan-flavored gelatin tossed with grated coconut in a sweet cream. A fitting end to our group’s Filipino meal.

Joliant does live up to its promise of serving delicious Filipino comfort food in big portions at affordable prices.

The service crew was also prompt to serve our orders and facilitate our requests.

Check it out if you’re in the area.

Joliant Restaurant is located af 227 Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Limbaga Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 1pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 8809812.

Other branches are located at:

155 Doña Soledad Avenue, Don Bosco, Parañaque City (Tel No: +63 2 8014427)
131-C Armstrong Avenue, Moonwalk, Parañaque City (Tel No: +63 2 8229443)
602 Boni Avenue, Plainview, Mandaluyong City (Tel No: +63 2 6370125)
39 Presidents Avenue, Corner Virginia Street, BF Homes, Parañaque City