food delivery – Page 21 – The Jellybeans Edit

5 ways Cafe Mary Grace’s ensaymada solves your holiday gifting dilemma

Ooh yes! We’re in the BER months now and, for many, the countdown to Christmas has begun.

And you know what we’re all excited for during the holidays, right?

Gifts, course!

Showering our loved ones with presents is one of the most rewarding feelings.

However, given the new situations we are faced with due to the still raging pandemic and different phases of community quarantine it necessitates, we may have to adjust our holiday gift-giving strategy.

So let me present the case for Cafe Mary Grace’s Ensaymadas as your go-to holiday present for your nears-and-dears.

1. Ensaymadas are rich in history.

Did you know that the origin ensaymadas can be traced all the way back to the 17th century in the Balearic Islands in Mallorca, Spain?

During celebrations and festivities, Mallorcan bakers would combine strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother dough and a kind of reduced pork lard called saim, from which the resulting pastry, the ensaimada de Mallorca, gets its name.

The ensaymada found its may to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization and is now among the most common delicacies in the country, found in most neighborhood bakeshops. Modifications made from the Mallorcan original include the use of butter instead of lard, as well as the addition of sugar and grated cheese.

It has even become part of our Christmas tradition to enjoy these pastries together with a cup of hot tsokolate made with local tableya.

2. They’re also steeped in good childhood memories.

Most of us can recall those afternoons we spent enjoying an ensaymada roll or two – still warm and fresh from the neighborhood bakery – for merienda after playtime with our childhood pals, right?

3. Cafe Mary Grace’s Ensaymadas is an upgrade of our childhood ensaymada.

Cafe Mary Grace made its name from the homemade goodness of its cakes and baked goods. Its ensaymadas are no different.

Made with 100% real butter and eggs as well as topped with grated Edam cheese, these soft and fluffy pastries have that combination of sweet and salty flavors we Pinoys so adore with a premium and delicate mouthfeel.

4. They already come beautifully packaged.

For just Php658, you can already get a pretty box of six ensaymadas, ready for gifting.

The ensaymada pieces are also individually wrapped so it’s no hassle to give them out to guests as desserts during small gatherings or save a few pieces for later munching.

Boxes of eight pieces and twelve pieces are also available at Php756 and Php1,098, respectively.

5. They’re easy to get.

Given all the restrictions on retail operations and protocols on social distancing, Cafe Mary Grace has made it easy for its customers to get their offerings by making them available online so there’s no need to line up to get a hold of them.

Orders may be coursed through Cafe Mary Grace’s website for pickup or via GrabFood for delivery.

These pastries will arrive chilled as they were taken fresh from the chiller. Before serving, only thaw out the number of pieces you want to eat. Do this by placing an ensaymada in a bowl, covered with a damp cloth, and microwave for ten seconds on the lowest heat settings to restore its original softness.

So go ahead and gift yourself and your loved ones with a box of Cafe Mary Grace Ensaymadas this Christmas!

This Cafe Mary Grace branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Santa Lucia, Pasig City.

Pasig: Rockwell Business Center, Ayala Malls Feliz, Estancia Mall
Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway Mall, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, Ayala Fairview Terraces
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Mandaluyong: Shangri-la Plaza
San Juan: Unimart Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Place Mall, Serendra, St. Luke’s Medical Center, One Bonifacio High Street, Venice Grand Canal Mall
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Steps Dance Studio, Century City Mall, The Enterprise Center, Greenbelt 2
Manila: SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, Lucky Chinatown Mall
Pasay: Mall of Asia Arena Annex, SM Mall of Asia
Paranaque: SM City BF
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall

Fried Chicken ‘n Biscuits at Popeyes

Contrary to my initial assumption, Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, Inc. was not named after my childhood hero Popeye the Sailorman. Instead, owner Al Copeland always claimed that his inspiration for the name of his fried chicken company was Det. Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, Gene Hackman’s character in The French Connection.

That wrong assumption aside, I had no other expectations when Hubby requested that we take advantage of Popeyes’ free delivery promo to get some of this resto’s famous fried chicken for our merienda.

We have been busy working from home ever since the start of the community quarantine and one of the usual highlights of our workday is our afternoon snack break.

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

Just like that: September is here, momshies. And so begins the world’s longest Christmas season.

And while the whole world is still battling that dread virus, you still shouldn’t let it keep you from celebrating what joys you can, right?

Life does go on, so let’s celebrate it with good food, especially now when you won’t have to slave away in the kitchen to serve the fam a show-stopping meal, thanks to SilverSpoon.

The brainchild of thirty-year-old financial advisor and budding food entrepreneur Decebelle Montefrio, SilverSpoon brings tasty gourmet dishes to your table for your family to enjoy.

It was Decie’s dream since her college days to pursue her love of cooking and have her own food business. When the pandemic struck the country a few months after she returned to the Philippines from Canada, she decided to set up an online food business instead. By June this year, Decie has launched SilverSpoon, offering viands that appeal to the Pinoy palate which are also close to her heart such as:

Roasted Potato Wedge Snack (Php180). Generous wedges of potatoes, flavored with herbs and seasoning and oven-roasted until golden brown. It’s great for munching while binge-watching your favorite TV shows, or as a appetizer to a fabulous meal.

Butter Garlic Shrimp Platter (Php630). Plump shrimps lightly breaded and coated in a flavorful sauce of butter and garlic, great with lots and lots of rice! Also available in a solo meal with rice and veggies for Php230.

Honey Garlic Liempo Platter (Php380). Tender grilled pork belly glazed in a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Also available in a solo meal with rice and veggies for Php150.

Lechon Kawali Solo Meal (Php150). Deep fried pork belly with crunchy skin and flavorful meat served with rice and veggies. Also avail also as a Platter for Php360.

Spicy Adobo Solo Meal (Php150). Decie’s childhood pork adobo recipe with a bit of a spicy kick. True to the adage that adobo gets better in its second serving, leftovers from this generously portioned dish were also great as adobo flakes the next day. Also available as a Platter for Php350.

To order a belly-filling and heart-warming gourmet meal for your family, message SilverSpoon on Facebook or Instagram, or text +63 936 8102017. Pre-orders for next-day delivery are accepted until cut-off at 8pm. Payments via GCash, BPI or BDO, as well as cash on delivery are accepted. Orders may be delivered from SilverSpoon’s kitchens in Commonwealth, Quezon City to anywhere in Metro Manila (delivery fee to be shouldered by the buyer).

So, momshies, have a merry early start to your holiday celebrations with SilverSpoon!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Filling sub sandwiches from Subway

Did you know that the submarine sandwich, also known as the hoagie, hero or grinder, is said to have originated from the Italian-American communities in northeastern US in the early to mid-20th century?

It got its most famous moniker due to its shape: the cylindrical bread roll housing its hearty fillings resembles the shape of a submarine.

Its nickname, the hoagie, came about in Philadelphia in the 1950s when Italian-Americans working at the Hog Island shipyard started putting various meats, cheeses and lettuce between two slices of bread.

Subway, the largest restaurant chain in the world, specializes in subs.

From its beginnings in the Fresno, California in 1978, Subway has steadily conquered the rest of the globe, setting up shops in Asia and even appearing prominently in popular K-Dramas.

Maybe it was its high visibility in his favorite Korean dramas that drove my Hubby to start ordering sandwiches from Subway to be delivered via GrabFood whenever he gets peckish while working from home.

And why would I complain when he so generously orders subs for the rest of the fam so that everyone has something to tide us over until dinnertime.

6″ Italian (Php138). Hubby’s go-to sub is made of spicy pepperoni and salami with crisp veggies and peppers in a toasted bun.

6″ BLT (Php138). One of my mottos is “Bacon makes everything better.” Well, it surely does! Sandwich some bacon slices together with lettuce and tomato in freshly toasted buns and you’ve got a great sub!

6″ Steak and Cheese (Php184). Inspired by the classic Philly hoagie, this sub features lean and tender steak with crisp lettuce, sliced onions and tomatoes and topped with melted cheese in a freshly toasted bun.

6″ Roast Beef (Php184). Lean and tender slices of roast beef with sliced cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and peppers in a freshly toasted bun.

With these tasty and filling subs, the wait for dinner doesn’t seem so long, right?

And with Metro Manila back on moderate enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), we don’t have to leave the safety of our homes to have our subs. We can just have them delivered right to our doorsteps just by ordering from GrabFood, LalaFood or FoodPanda.

Home-cooked feels from Aling Banang’s

After almost five months of being cooped up at home, I must say that I have developed a newfound respect for home-cooking.

These are the dishes that many of us grew up with and have loved over the years, the viands that we may not always list as put absolute faves but nevertheless welcome when they are presented to us on the dinner table.

The thing is, however, having the same home-cooked dishes again and again can become a drag. Blame it on the limited repertoire of many homemakers when it comes to Filipino food, or simply the lack of time to learn to cook new dishes despite being stuck at home or to replenish the pantry with the needed ingredients.

Whichever the reason, I found myself having to look for viand for my family’s lunch one weekday.

I already know that Aling Banang’s makes a tasty Pancit Canton for groups, but the challenge was how to scale that for a simple family meal.

Fortunately, Aling Banang’s also offers solo servings of its dishes such as:

Pancit Canton (Php60). Pinoy-style stir-fried noodles with shredded veggies topped with Lecon Kawali pieces.

Lechon Kawali (Php60). Pork belly that is boiled, seasoned then deep-fried in a wok until the meat is tender and juicy and the skin is crispy and golden brown.

With five orders of Lechon Kawali and two orders of Pancit Canton, I was able to satisfy the lunch appetites of the entire fam for just Php420!

What’s your meal hack?

Get your own lutong bahay eats without having to sweat it out in the kitchen. If you’re in the Pasig area, order your meal from Aling Banang’s by calling +63 2 73582953, +63 921 3364640 or +63 955 6922033.

“Kitakits sa bahay” with McDonald’s delivery

Have you seen McDonald’s new ad “Kitakits?”

It shows snippets of life that still goes on despite the raging pandemic: the shy smiles from behind the necessary face masks, greeting each other by shaking feet instead of hands, eating out together while remaining apart, and getting used to spending time indoors, all as part of the New Normal.

My fam and I are also adjusting to the new way of being, enjoying our extended time together at home.

And while we’re both busy working from home, Hubby and I still try to squeeze in some bits of time with kiddos within our workday: our own “kitakits.”

On one such occasion, I ordered some of our favorites from McDonald’s for us to munch on during our afternoon break:

Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Hubby’s big appetite needs a big burger and this one fits the bill. A quarter-pound beef patty topped with slices of onions, pickles and melty cheese in a sesame seed bun.

McChicken Sandwich. My go-to order: a crispy fillet of chicken slathered with mayonnaise and sandwiched in a toasted sesame seed bun. It should have come with shredded ice lettuce but I guess someone left that out. Oh,well… 😒

Chicken McNuggets. For the kiddos, we got juicy and crispy ten- and six-piece nuggets accompanied by barbecue sauce. They just can’t seem to stop biting into these yummies!

French Fries. The fam’s favorite fries made with stripes straight cut from whole potatoes, deep-fried to a golden brown, salted and best enjoyed hot and crisp from the fryer.

The missing iceberg lettuce from my McChicken Sandwich, I’m not to crazy about. My enjoyable time with the fam? Luv ko ‘to!

Wanna have your favorite fast food delivered right to your doorstep? Order online at McDelivery between 6am and 9.30pm or download the McDelivery App. Due to the moderate enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), delivery will be available in selected areas.

You may also course your orders through these food delivery apps.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order

Check out my other posts on McDonald’s:

House Pizza Time with Yellow Cab delivery

In between video calls, reports and other tasks that make up a frenetic afternoon at work, Hubby and I were able to squeeze in a quick, tasty and filling snack, not just for us, but also for the kiddos.

This is thanks to Yellow Cab’s ongoing promo on GrabFood.

For years now, Filipino-owned pizza brand Yellow Cab has been offering New York-style pizzas using the finest ingredients to local pizza aficionados.

This type of pizza is characterized by a large hand-tossed thin crust, topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, usually sold in wide slices for takeout. If your pizza is thick and crisp on its outer edges yet soft, thin and pliable enough to be folded in half to eat, then what you’ve got is a New York-style pizza.

Through Yellow Cab’s House Pizza Time deal, the whole fam was able to enjoy a modest feast for just Php999! This consisted of:

9-inch Pepperoni Pizza. Hubby’s all-time favorite pizza!

9-inch Hawaiian Pizza. Pineapple bits on pizza may be problematic for some but not for me! I’ll take this pizza topped with pineapple, ham and bacon any day.

16 pcs Hot Wings. Crispy and juicy chicken wings coated with a spicy and tangy buffalo sauce. For me, it would have gone so well with Yellow Cab’s garlic ranch dip but I guess it was left out of our delivery pack. Still, Hubby and the kids lost no time in demolishing these chicken pieces.

Our little snack break was able to tide us over and helped keep our energy levels up until dinner time. It also gave us another reason to get spend a fee minutes with the kiddos despite our busy workday.

Have your favorite pizzas and more delivered right to your doorstep by ordering online. You may also order directly from the store nearest you by calling:

Metro Manila hotline +63 2 87899999 | +63 918 8073591 | +63 918 8073590 | +63 918 8038306
Baguio hotline +63 074 4429999
Cavite hotline +63 046 4169999
Laguna hotline +63 049 5029999
Cebu hotline +63 032 2541111

A delicious taste of home with Tia Carmen’s Apple Crumble

Home is where the heart is, so they say.

Well, given the restrictions on mobility due to the community quarantine, many of us found ourselves stuck at home, though our hearts may be somewhere else.

If you’re yearning to be back in the hustle and bustle of the metro, or to roam free amidst wide open spaces, I’m sorry to say it but you may have long to wait.

In the meantime, why not take comfort in the haven of home by relishing the sweet delights you can enjoy there, with the people closest to you?

That’s the idea that the folks behind the new online store Tia Carmen Fresh Pastries wants to push. The enterprise is named after Carmen Escriva (sister of Saint Josemaria Escriva de Baleguer) who supported her brother’s ministry and championed a love for home.

Launched only last July 14, Tia Carmen produces homemade baked pies and crumbles that bring back happy memories of childhood and sharing good food with loved ones.

Its Apple Crumble (Php550), for example, is a masterpiece flavors and textures. From its buttery, slightly crunchy and crumbly topping that gives way to soft and sweetly-spiced apple filling, it is the quintessential comfort food, that can satisfy the sweet cravings of four to six people.

Did you know that the crumble originated in Great Britain during World War II? Because of the food rationing instituted by the government, the ingredients needed to make pie crusts were in short supply. Some enterprising bakers used what flour, fat and sugar they had into making a crumble topping and a new dish came to be.

The apple crumble is best enjoyed warm, with the aroma of apple, cinnamon and butter wafting to your nose. Add a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream to it and you’ve got an irresistible treat!

(Note: I’ve read in several sources that Americans sometimes enjoy apple pie with sharp cheddar. Curious if the same can be applied to apple crumble, but lacking authentic cheddar in my pantry at the moment, I substituted a few slices of processed cheese on a slice of apple crumble. The result? An interesting interplay between sweet and salty that I won’t mind exploring further.)

If your constitution – or refrigerator – can’t handle a whole pie, or you just want an intimate dessert for two – or just one! – get an Apple Crumble Cup (Php200) instead.

Go ahead and get yourself a taste of Tia Carmen’s Apple Crumble so you can also get a taste of the warm comfort of home.

Tia Carmen’s Fresh Pastries also offers Banana Crumble (Php450 for whole | Php180 for cup) and Apple Pie (Php500).

Its ovens are baking every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with pies for delivery on the same day to ensure freshness.

To order, just fill out this online form. Payments via BPI, Metrobank and GCash are accepted.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Sunday family meal with Mang Ding’s

I used to look forward to Sundays because that used to be the day when the fam and I will go out for lunch.

Sunday was the day when I don’t need to worry about what to prepare for my hungry, yet discriminating hubby and kids because we will let our resto choice for the day take care of all that for us.

Well, as we all know, dining out has been curtailed due to the community quarantine (and rightly so, considering the steadily rising number of COVID-19 cases). While I’m thankful for the relative safety of home, I do sometimes seek a break from the toil of preparing food for the fam.

Thankfully, Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ, Marikina’s destination for street food that’s Malinis, Masarap at Mura, has innovated its product line to include frozen packs of its signature ihaw dishes that #TeamBahay momshies like me can cook at home.

These packs are vacuum-sealed for freshness, with meats already seasoned and marinated according to Mang Ding’s signature recipe, ready for grilling.

Take the Liempo (Php270/500 grams), for instance. I just thawed out the pack, brushed my grill pan and the hefty pork belly slices with cooking oil.

Then, I grilled the pieces (just using my stove, mind you!), until they get to that beautiful golden brown color.

I cut the liempo up into bite-size pieces before serving with the dipping sauce (included in the pack) and hot rice for a lovely Sunday family meal.

Each piece is flavorful and tender, and the pork rind has that satisfying crunch!

Step-by-step instructions are in this video, but really, preparing this is a piece of cake!

I also got a frozen pack of Chicharong Bulaklak (Php280/500g). Since the pieces were already well seasoned, I just thawing out the pack, deep fried the pieces for five minutes until crunchy, then drained off the excess oil before serving.

This is quite a special treat for the fam as chicharon bulaklak is quite hard to come by.

Cooking up a special family meal gets so easy with Mang Ding’s frozen packs. (Check out my home barbecue and isaw experience, also with Mang Ding’s frozen packs).

What will make a Sunday meal even more specials is dessert. Well then, check out Mang Ding’s Belgian Chocolate Cake (Php680)! Moist chocolate cake topped with a decadently rich chocolate icing that will satisfy any choco-holic’s craving.

So #TeamBahay momshies, don’t sweat over your fam’s Sunday meal. Just order a frozen pack and dessert from Mang Ding’s!

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ branches are located at:

Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City (store hours: daily from 11am to 6pm | Tel: +63 916 2853031)
Shoe Avenue, Barangay Elena, Marikina City (store hours: daily from 11am to 6pm | Tel: +63 906 3977559)

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is open for dine-in, takeout, pickup and delivery via GrabFood. Safe cashless payments via BPI, BDO and GCash are also available.

Note: If you’re getting a frozen pack, place your order a day before. Mang Ding’s vacuum-packs on demand to ensure freshness.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Pinoy street food for #TeamBahay from Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Momshies, do you sometimes wish that you could enjoy your guilty pleasures – like Pinoy street food – in full view of your kids?

Well, no need to hide your street food fix from your kids. In fact, you can take this opportunity to introduce them to Pinoy street food.

It’s all thanks to Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ and its frozen ready-to-grill Malinis, Masarap at Mura street food.

Mang Ding’s is where I had my first (and only!) taste of isaw. There, during a foodie meetup with fellow food bloggers, I had a whole lot of fun rediscovering tasty Pinoy street food, all freshly cooked at Mang Ding’s Instagrammable al fresco restaurant.

When Marikina was placed under quarantine and restrictions were placed on mobility and dining out, Mang Ding’s started offering its fare in frozen and ready-to-grill packs.

Each pack is frozen and vacuum-sealed, its contents seasoned and marinated with Mang Ding’s signature sauce.

Tonight, I flexed my indoor grilling muscles, got out my grilling pan and got to grilling.

And wouldn’t you believe it: it was actually quite easy!

First, I thawed out the frozen pack containing the pork barbecue and isaw. Then, I added six tablespoons of cooking oil to the basting sauce provided. I then brushed both sides of the meats while they were grilling until they’re done.

From the satisfying sizzle you hear as they grill, to the appetizing smell of barbecue wafting throughout the kitchen that had my eldest #ExhibitA blurt out “Ang bango, Ma!“, to the beautiful spread these make on my dining table, and to the my fam’s joy as we bite into the tender sweet-savory pork barbecue, isaw manok and isaw baboy, my fam’s Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ dinner is a feast for the senses.

So have one yourself. Treat your #TeamBahay to a lovely street food meal, right at home.

These ready-to-grill frozen packs are priced at:

Pork Barbecue: Php400/20 sticks
Isaw Manok: Php360/20 sticks
Isaw Baboy: Php450/20 sticks
Chicken Tail: Php550/20 pcs
Chicken Barbecue: Php390/3 pcs quarter leg (1 kilo)
Chicharon Bulaklak: Php280 (500 grams)
Liempo: Php270 (500 grams)
Rib Eye Steak: Php500/2 pcs (380 to 400 grams)

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ branches are located at:

Shoe Avenue, Barangay Elena, Marikina City (store hours: daily from 11am to 6pm | Tel: +63 906 3977559)
Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City (store hours: daily from 11am to 6pm | Tel: +63 916 2853031)

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is open for dine-in, takeout, pickup and delivery via GrabFood. Safe cashless payments via BPI, BDO and GCash are also available.

Note: If you’re getting a frozen pack, place your order a day before. Mang Ding’s vacuum-packs on demand to ensure freshness.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.