filipino food – Page 3 – Jellybeans in the City

Workday lunch spot: Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

Did you know that the well-loved Filipino restaurant chain Gerry’s Grill was founded in 1997 by Gerry Apolinario? The first branch was located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Philippines, and quickly gained popularity among locals and tourists alike. Its menu features a wide range of Filipino dishes, including grilled items, seafood, and traditional dishes such as adobo and sinigang. Over the years, Gerry’s Grill has expanded to numerous locations throughout the Philippines and has even opened branches in other countries, including the United States, Singapore, and Qatar. The restaurant chain is known for its casual and laid-back atmosphere, as well as its affordable prices and generous portions.

Its OG branch in Tomas Morato, in particular, provided the perfect spot for lunch for my officemates and myself who were looking for a satisfying and delicious meal in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Located within a stone’s thrown from our workplace, Gerry’s Grill has been our go-to spot for casual lunches or after-office drinks.

Thanks to some recent renovations, the restaurant’s interiors are now more tastefully designed, featuring comfortable seating, warm lighting, and vibrant decor that exudes a distinctly Filipino yet modern vibe. The attentive and friendly staff also adds to the welcoming ambiance, making us feel at home as soon as we stepped inside.

There’s little wonder then, that during one of our #ReturnToOffice days, our boss treated us at Gerry’s Grill for her belated birthday celebration. There, we feasted on tasty Pinoy dishes such as:

Sugba Kilaw (Php485). This is one of Gerry’s Grill’s signature dishes that features grilled liempo and fresh tuna cubes marinated in vinegar and spices, topped with sliced onions, ginger, and chilies. The dish has a refreshing tangy flavor that goes perfectly as an appetizer leading up to the other dishes.

Pinakbet (Php285). A classic Filipino vegetable dish that features mixed vegetables sautéed in shrimp paste, garlic, and onions. Gerry’s Grill’s version includes eggplant, squash, string beans, and bitter gourd, creating a flavorful and healthy side dish that pairs well with grilled meat.

Inihaw na Pusit (Php545). Grilled squid marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and calamansi juice, giving it a smoky and savory flavor. It is then filled with chopped tomatoes and other aromatics, then perfectly grilled, resulting in a tender and juicy texture and an explosion of flavors that is sure to satisfy any seafood lover’s cravings.

Nilagang Bulalo (Php515). A hearty beef soup made of tender beef shanks and bone marrow cooked with vegetables such as corn, cabbage, and potatoes, resulting in a savory and flavorful broth that warms the soul. (Yes, the bone marrow that we fish out from the bone is the piece de resistance!)

Crispy Pata (Php715 regular | Php895 family). A classic Filipino dish that features deep-fried pork leg with crispy skin and tender meat. Gerry’s Grill’s version is marinated in spices and served with a vinegar dipping sauce, making it the perfect indulgence for those who love meaty and crispy dishes.

Gerry’s Grill is a restaurant that embodies the Filipino spirit of hospitality, warmth, and generosity. It’s a place where families and friends can come together to enjoy a meal, create memories, and celebrate life’s little moments.

So, the next time you’re looking for a great meal in a welcoming atmosphere, head to Gerry’s Grill and experience the best of Filipino cuisine.

This Gerry’s Grill branch is located at Tomas Morato corner Eugenio Lopez Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 12mn and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 83326353, +63 2 83732529 or +63 998 8467472.

Stay updated on Gerry’s Grill menu and offers by visiting its website or following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Gerry’s Grill:

Fun Barkada Lunch at Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

10 tasty trivia about J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw

Chicken isaw is a popular Filipino street food made from chicken intestines. These innards are carefully cleaned, marinated and seasoned with a combination of savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors, then grilled or deep-fried to produce a crunchy exterior and juicy and flavorful interior.

Aside from its unique flavor profile, chicken isaw holds cultural significance in our country, where street food is an integral part of the local culinary scene. It represents the our rich culinary heritage, showcasing the creativity and resourcefulness of Pinoy street food vendors who can turn humble ingredients into delicious and satisfying treats.

Chicken isaw has become a beloved and iconic street food in the Philippines, loved by locals and tourists alike, and its appeal extends beyond just its taste, but also the cultural experience and sense of community that comes with enjoying this flavorful snack.

Now, imagine if you stock up on this snackable treat so you can enjoy it anytime and anywhere.

Thanks to J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw, you can do just that!

Curious about the history of this innovative take on a classic Pinoy snack? Here are ten tasty tidbits of trivia that will further whet your appetite:

Founder Bryan Paul Soriano initially ventured into several other businesses, including a burger shop and a pasta house, before finding success with his crispy chicken isaw concept.
After realizing the challenges of competing in a crowded food park with multiple food stalls, Bryan decided to come up with a unique and on-the-go food concept using chicken isaw, capitalizing on its popularity.

Despite the low cost of making chicken isaw, Bryan invested in good packaging for his product, which drove up his initial capital for the business.
This same packaging, however, made it a highly portable and versatile snack which can be enjoyed practically anywhere: whether as munchies for a movie marathon, a contribution to the office potluck, something to nibble on during game-day or a picnic snack.

J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw offers a variety of flavors to cater to different tastes, including classic (plain), classic with suka (vinegar), BBQ, spicy and salted egg, which contributed to its popularity among customers.
J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw is known for its crispy texture on the outside that gives way to a burst of umami on the inside, making it a delightful treat for food enthusiasts.

J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw has become a beloved Filipino street food, enjoyed by locals and, thanks to international resellers, even foreigners for its delicious taste and convenient on-the-go format.
J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw is now FDA-approved and has a longer shelf-life of eight to nine months.

Bryan’s creative idea of turning humble ingredients like chicken isaw into a crispy and flavorful snack has been a hit, leading to numerous resellers and over 40 distributors of J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw.
Today, J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw holds the distinction of being the first “modern” flavored crispy chicken isaw in the Philippines.

These tidbits of information paint a picture of entrepreneurship, creativity and and success. Lucky for us, Bryan persevered in his business ventures so we now have J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw to snack on.

So stock up on this snackable treat at various specialty food shops in the metro or order online at its Shopee store.

Know more about J’s Crispy Chicken Isaw by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Nostalgia and comfort over Filipino food at Lorenzo’s Way, BGC

We Pinoys have a special relationship with our homegrown food.

No matter the number of new cuisines we are exposed to, we almost always go back to Filipino food, whether these come in the form of heritage recipes that we grow up with or more exotic viands from various regions.

When I recently attended an event in Boni High Street, I was pleasantly surprised when we were served lunch at Lorenzo’s Way, an upscale Filipino food restaurant in the area.

Lorenzo’s Way is the namesake of Larry J. Cruz (“LJC”), the founder of the LJC Group of Restaurants, which also includes popular and beloved concepts such as Café Adriatico, Cafe Adriatico Express, Abe, Café Havana, Bistro Remedios, Fely J’s Kitchen, Larry’s Café and Bar, Polka Dot Bakeshop, Abe’s Farm and The LJC Catering Service.

This particular restaurant’s menu serves as the greatest hits list of winning dishes from other LJC restaurants. This includes delicious dishes that bring a mixture of comfort and nostalgia as only Pinoy food can, such as:

Beef Salpicao (Php590). Tender morsels of beef sauteed in garlic and olive oil.

Crispy Baby Squid (Php310). Baby squid coated in light batter and fried crisp as popularized by Bistro Remedios.

Spanish Garlic Chicken (Php445). Boned chicken baked with garlic cloves and olive oil.

Binukadkad na Pla-Pla (Php495). Butterflied giant tilapia fish served with balo-balo (Kapampangan fermented rice) and fresh mustard leaves, a Bistro Remedios original.

KKK (Php725). Bistro Burgos’ highly celebrated take on the classic Kare-Kare made with a chopped oxtail neatly surrounded by the dish’s vegetables and doused in the rich and nutty sauce. This dish spawned the Kare-Kare Klub of journalists, bankers and PR practitioners who used to meet every Thursday at Bistro Burgos to catch up as they savored this dish.

Sikreto ni Maria Clara (Php225). Sweet sticky rice and ripe mango slices and topped with coconut ice cream.

In keeping with the family-style way of serving Pinoy meals, my fellow attendees and I shared multiple generous orders of these dishes among ourselves, chatting with each other while eating our fill.

Fresh fruit shakes also round out our meal.

So if you feel like sinking your teeth into the delicious comfort and nostalgia of Filipino cuisine, be sure to head to Lorenzo’s Way.

This Lorenzo’s Way branch is located at 2nd Level, C2 Building, Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, Taguig City, open for dine-in, takeout and delivery Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 76213163, +63 2 76213164 or +63 917 5284206.

Another branch is located at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 77290013 or +63 917 5522733.

Know more about its menu and offers by following Lorenzo’s Way on Facebook and Instagram.

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

Balikbayans’ re-introduction to Pinoy cuisine at Locavore Kitchen & Drinks

We Pinoys have a special relationship with our food.

For many of us, Filipino food is synonymous withe comforting home-cooked meals lovingly prepared by our nanays, or special heritage dishes passed down through generations in our family.

All of these delicious food is always best enjoyed in the company of our kin.

This is why when our tita and pinsan from the States came over, our extended family hosted a dinner for them at Locavore Kitchen & Drinks in Kapitolyo.

The restaurant was established in 2014 by a group of friends who shared a passion for food and sustainability. Since then, it has gained a loyal clientele and eventually expanded its operations to multiple locations.

Its cozy and laid-back vibe also makes it a perfect spot for our family get-together.

Locavore got its name from a restaurant concept that emphasizes the use of locally sourced ingredients in their dishes. This means that the restaurant sources their ingredients from local farmers and producers, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and supporting the local economy.

Locavore’s menu is inspired by traditional Filipino cuisine but with a modern twist, using locally sourced ingredients, including fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat.

To re-introduce our balikbayan relatives to the tasty possibilities of Filipino food, we ordered our tried-and-tested favorites:

Fried Oyster Sisig (₱450). Aklan oysters fried with chopped white onions and green chilis.

Sugpo con Mayonesa (₱990). Prawns stir-fried with garlic in butter, crabfat amd mayonnaise.

Gising Gising (₱370). Julliened sigarilyas, French beans, garlic, spring onions and shallot confit simmered in coconut milk.

Sizzling Sinigang (₱660). Locavore’s deliciously fresh take on the classic sinigang made with beef short ribs in tamarind gravy with sauteed garlic confit and French beans.

Tuna Panga (₱520). Baked jaw of tuna drizzled with bagging java glaze and served with shredded radish and lime slices.

Sizzling Pandesal Pudding (₱260). Cheese pandesal soaked in custard with salted egg and dulce de leche topped with vanilla ice cream.

With its mouth-watering showcase of the possibilities present in Filipino cuisine, is it any wonder that we chose to Locavore to re-acquaint our balikbayan relatives to Pinoy food and reconnect them to their Pinoy roots?

This Locavore Kitchen & Drinks branch is located at 10 Brixton Street, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 6842014.

Other branches are located in the following areas:

GF 1880 Eastwood Ave Bldg, Bagumbayan, Quezon City (Tel: +63 917 5120159)
Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Tel: +63 917 5742017)
Ground Level, Three Central, Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati (Tel: +63 917 1782018)
Ground Level, S’Maison, Seaside Blvd, Pasay (Tel: +63 917 8472747)
Upper Ground, SM Bacoor, Bgy Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway corner Tirona Highway, Bacoor, Cavite (Tel: +63 917 1472022)

To stay updated on its menu and offers, follow Locavore Kitchen & Drinks on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous post about Locavore:

Classic Filipino dishes with a twist at Locavore, Kapitolyo

Not your ordinary Filipino food at Locavore, BGC

Affordable and fuss-free lunch at Chic-Boy, Tomas Morato

Ever since my coworkers and I were required to #ReturnToOffice, the highlight of our working day is our mid-day meal together: our so-called #HappyLunch.

One fine day, our lunch break forays took us to the recently re-opened Chic-Boy nearby.

Chic-Boy serves a variety of Filipino comfort food, notable for its delicious and affordable menu items that cater to a broad range of customers, and to our petsa de peligro-prone group in particular.

The name “Chic-Boy” is a combination of two words, “chicken” and “baboy” (Filipino for pork), which are the two main ingredients used in most of the dishes. The restaurant chain’s concept revolves around serving tasty and budget-friendly Filipino food in a casual and welcoming environment.

The restaurant has a casual, no-frills ambiance, making it a perfect spot for a quick and fuss-free lunch. As it is conveniently located in a strip of eateries a mere walking distance from our workplace, we had no trouble getting here and sating our lunch cravings.

The service is fast and efficient, ensuring that we got our food in no time; the server even gamely took our photos for those requisite group photo opps.

Of course, the highlights of our dining experience here are Chi-Boy’s affordably priced yet deliciously filling dishes, all served with steamed rice and a bowl of hot soup, such as:

Cebu Lechon Liempo (Php190). This is Chic-Boy’s best-selling dish, and for a good reason! The tender and juicy pork belly is roasted Cebu Lechon-style, giving it a crispy skin and mouth-watering flavor. It’s served with a side of vinegar dipping sauce that perfectly complements the meat.

Lechon Sisig (Php170). The crispy, savory, and spicy chopped pork belly is a must-try for anyone who loves sisig. The dish is perfect as a pulutan or a main dish that goes well with rice.

Chicken Inasal Paa (Php155). Chic-Boy’s version of Chicken Inasal is a crowd favorite. The grilled chicken is marinated in a blend of spices, giving it a deliciously smoky flavor. It’s served with a side of sinamak (spiced vinegar) dipping sauce that enhances the taste of the chicken.

So if you’re on the lookout for an affordable and fuss-free lunch, Chic-Boy in Tomas Morato is the perfect destination for you . With its wide range of tasty yet budget-friendly Filipino dishes, including the best-selling Cebu Lechon Liempo, Lechon Sisig, and Chicken Inasal, Chic-Boy offers a deliciously Filipino dining experience that won’t disappoint.

This Chi-Boy branch is located at The Terraces, Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Borromeo Street, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open for dine-in, delivery and pick up from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 86316213 or 63 929 2323237.

Know more about its menu and offers by visiting its website or following Chic-Boy on Facebook and Instagram.

Take a bite of classic Kapampangan food at SilverSpoon QC

If you haven’t gotten your fill of food trips over the holiday break, the good news is that you won’t need to leave the metro to get a taste of the best of Filipino food.

SilverSpoon Kitchenette is launching its 2023 Travel Lokal Campaign which highlights dishes that represent regional culinary traditions every quarter of the year.

“SilverSpoon’s mission is to give a spoonful experience to our customers – part of which is to bring something new to the table,” shares owner Decie Montefrio. “That’s why we decided to immerse ourselves and travel to places to understand to understand the culture and tradition of our local dishes and to give homage to our own cuisines.”

From January 6 to April 5, 2023, Pinoy food lovers will be able to enjoy a well-curated selection of Kapampangan dishes.

Pampanga’s culinary heritage is heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine (by way of the Spanish friars and sailors who introduced their way of cooking to the locals during the Spanish occupation), while also sharing characteristics with Malay and Mexican cuisines. Kapampangan cooks also incorporated local produce into the resulting dishes, and pioneered in methods of pre-cooking (“sangkutsa”) and food preservation, earning for their region the moniker “culinary capital of Luzon.”

SilverSpoon’s limited edition menu is a product of extensive research by the SilverSpoon team, made by traveling to Pampanga collaborating with a local homecook who shared heritage recipes and provided insights into Kapampangan cuisine. This menu includes:

Pako Salad. Made with local vegetable pako (fiddlehead fern) tossed with tomatoes, onions and hard-boiled eggs in a honey citrus dressing.

Suam na Mais. Also known as sinabawang mais, this is a healthy and hearty soup made from white and yellow corn kernels.

Pork Sisig. The famous Kapampangan dish made with pig’s face (“maskara”), belly and chicken liver, seasoned with calamansi, onions and local chilis. Traditionally, this dish does not include the mayonnaise and pork cracklings (“chicharon”) that figure prominently in the version present in many Metro Manila restaurants.

Bringhe. Also known as biringhi, it is the local version of the Valencia paella, but uses local glutinous rice (“malagkit”) cooked in coconut milk (“gata”) and turmeric which gives the dish its distinct flavor and color. Giving more heft to the dish are the bits of chicken , chorizo and vegetables that are cooked along with the rice.

Palitaw. Popular local rice cake dessert made with glutinous rice that was washed, soaked and ground then shaped into flat discs and cooked in boiling water. The dish gets its name from the way that the palitaw floats to the surface to indicate that it’s done. It is then topped with grated mature coconut (“niyog”) and served with toasted sesame seeds, muscovado and washed sugar.

Leche Flan. The classic Filipino dessert made with fresh egg yolks, milk and topped with chocolate flakes.

Drinks. To complement the meal, SilverSpoon serves various beverage options which include hot and iced chocolate, as well as mocktails such as Blue Lagoon (citrusy drink made with blue curacao syrup) and Shirley Temple (made with ginger ale sweetened with grenadine and garnished with a maraschino cherry).

So if you feel like going back to our culinary roots and delving into our heritage cuisines, drop by SilverSpoon Kitchenette and take advantage of its Travel Lokal offerings.

Watch out for other local cuisines to be featured later in the year!

Note: SilverSpoon’s regular menu of sandwiches and rice meals is also available.

Silverspoon Kitchenette is located at 81 Scout Gandia Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in, takeout or delivery from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations or delivery orders, call +63 917 1603327. It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Plus, here’s a special treat for your food trip!

Scan this code and present your boarding pass when you dine in at SilverSpoon to enjoy 10% off on your bill! (Applicable top dine-in transactions only)

For updates on its latest offers, follow Silverspoon on Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting event held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to facilitate an honest review and were not paid for by the attendees.

Check out my previous posts about SilverSpoon:

Sumptuous snacking at Silverspoon, Tomas Morato

3 reasons to treat your Valentine to a meal at Silverspoon, Tomas Morato

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

Comfort food at Conti’s, Century City Mall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Metro Manila branches are located at:

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

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

Fun celebration at ATOM Bar + KTV, Tomas Morato

It’s that time of the year when celebrations abound, not just among families, but also among coworkers.

After nearly three years of Zoom parties, officemates can now converge in a single location to party, have fun while enjoying each other’s company!

Those are exactly what my teammates and I did for our department’s Christmas Party held at ATOM Bar + KTV in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

When our boss tasked our team’s millennial newbies to find a place suitable for our varied personalities, interests and ages – considering there are some Gen X’ers in the group (me included) plus an almost-Boomer division head – the newbies more than rose to the occasion and organized our group’s holiday shindig at ATOM Bar + KTV.

This establishment is a combination of a bar, a family KTV, a comedy bar, a restaurant and a party venue, conveniently located near our pre-pandemic workplace, so most of us are familiar with the area.

Our group of eleven plus a few guests were comfortably accommodated at the VIP Room 6 situated away from the main stage and overlooking Timog Circle.

Luckily, the room also overlooks the parking area in front of its building so I can periodically check on my car parked outside. My other officemates unfortunately had to contend with the building’s basement parking which I heard was a bit too steep for my liking.

The room was furnished with adequate seating areas for our group, as well as two tables to hold the food or facilitate our games that require surfaces. It also had a seating area on top of the loft, a setup similar to the one employed at Cafe I’m Here right next door to ATOM Bar + KTV.

Apparently, two things that united this disparate generations of office workers are the love of song and the love of food. In between bouts of belting out our favorite tunes and competing for prizes, my officemates and I feasted on ATOM Bar + KTV’s menu items such as:

Sweet Soy Chicken (Php599/platter).

Buttered Shrimp (Php375).

Sisig (Php380).

Crispy Pata (Php799).

Of course, what’s a party without some drinks? With a Beer Bucket (Php520) (actually, two!), our Christmas party was definitely swingin’!

After encountering many trials for our team this year, we’re glad to be able to finally meet face-to-face in a fun and stress-free setting.

Want to get an earlier start to your group’s holiday celebrations? Take advantage of ATOM Bar + KTV’s extended hours in December: it now opens daily from 1pm to 3am. Call +63 936 3120405 or +63 985 2401560 or email atomluxuryhr@gmail.com to book your reservation.

ATOM Bar + KTV is located at Third Floor, CTTM Square Building, 68 Timog Avenue corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.

For updates on its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook.

Classic Pinoy favorites with a twist from MESA, SM City East Ortigas

If you fancy yourself totally done with Pinoy food, you might want to rethink your position.

Yes, the viands that you eat practically everyday at home or at every family gathering can have erstwhile undiscovered aspects that will rekindle your love of our homegrown dishes.

That’s what MESA aims to bring to the table (see what I did there? :-))

One of the restaurant brands operated by Food Global Concepts, MESA cafes a carefully curated menu of Filipino dishes representative of the country’s diverse regional flavors, and enhanced with endearing modern twists.

This is why whenever the fam is in the mood for a break from home-cooked meals but still wants to partake of something familiar, we hie ourselves off the MESA branch most accessible to us, the one located at SM City East Ortigas.

In keeping with MESA’s recipe for success for all of its outlets, this branch features the brand’s celebrated menu filled with innovative takes on traditional Filipino dishes, genuine Filipino hospitality as embodied by its warm and welcoming service crew and an exceptional dining experience that retains its native accents while couched in affordable luxury.

Over several visits, my family has identified our fast faves from MESA’s menu. These include:

Laing 2 Ways (Php205). MESA brings two ways to enjoy Bicol’s most celebrated dish made with slowly simmered taro leaves in coconut milk and fermented shrimp paste and topped with chicken adobo flakes. Have it as it was traditionally served (wet) or crispy.

Tofu Sisig (Php190). Pampanga’s most famous dish is given a healthier twist with the use of local beancurd sautéed with onions and a special sisig dressing and served sizzling on a hot plate.

Suahe in Salted Egg (Php590). River shrimp sautéed in salted egg yolk and light soya with wanly, butter, native chilis, sugar and lime juice.

Boneless Bangus with Cheese (Php375). Marinated boneless milkfish baked and topped with melted cheese, garlic and spring onions, an excellent way to get the kiddos to like seafood!

Salt & Pepper Spare Ribs (Php520). Thin slices of pork spare ribs, deep-fried and tossed in butter, garlic and native chilis.

Binagoongang Baby ni Kaka (Php555). Lean pork belly sautéed in fermented shrimp paste, onions, tomato and native chilis and served with grilled eggplant.

Nilagang Baka (Php415). Beef tenders simmered in a flavorful broth along with sweet corn, onions, celery, cabbage and native pechay.

Kare-Kare Beef and Tripe (Php820). Tender slices of beef, ox tripe and fresh vegetables cooked in a rich peanut sauce and served with fermented shrimp paste. A welcome dish in any Pinoy spread!

As you can see, these dishes may have graced your dinner table in one form or another, but at MESA, they come in a manner that celebrates their roots in our traditional native culture, as well as the myriad possibilities they possess to whet the appetites of future generations of Filipinos.

Drop by a MESA branch near you and experience a fresh way to enjoy Pinoy cuisine.

This MESA branch is located at Unit 268-270 2nd Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Barangay Status. Lucia, Pasig City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 87214434 or +63 915 4572987.

Other Metro Manila branches are located at:

Caloocan: SM City Grand Central
Las Pinas: Via Lifestyle Center, SM Southmall
Makati: Ayala Malls Circuit, Greenbelt 5, Powerplant Mall
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Shangri-la Mall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila, SM City San Lazaro
Muntinlupa: Festival Mall
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay, SM City Sucat
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia
Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz,
Quezon City: Ali Mall Cubao, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Eastwood Mall, Fisher Mall, Robinsons Place Magnolia, SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, Tomas Morato, UP Town Center
Taguig: SM Aura Premier, Vista Mall