food delivery – Page 26 – Jellybeans in the City

New ube flavors from What’s Your Flan?

Just when you thought you couldn’t possibly find a new way to enjoy ube, here comes What’s Your Flan? with two ube flavors to tickle your palate.

Ube, or purple yam, has been a trending food item since early last year, expanding its use from the halayang ube and ube ice cream we grew up with, to new confections and concoctions including ube cakes, ube pandesal, ube donuts and even ube frappes.

Today, I was able to taste two new custard-based desserts flavored by this versatile veggie from What’s Your Flan?

The brainchild of former OFW Princess Rosario, What’s Your Flan started out in 2009 as a home-based business centered on creating leche flan “with a twist.” Today, the company can boast of a myriad flavors of leche flan – including green tea matcha, strawberry with cashew, and more – as well as an expanded lineup of products including ice cream cakes and cheesecakes. (Recently, I was able to check out its Avocado Dalgona Gelato. More on that here.)

This time, What’s Your Flan? took the classic ube and applied it to two delectable flans desserts.

Ube Pandan (Php380). One of the company’s Premium Flantasy Cakes, it combines the flavor of ube and the appetizing aroma of pandan. Surprisingly, Hubby, though not a dessert-lover like me, excitedly dug into this flan as soon as I finished taking pictures. Apparently, it reminded him of the ube bars he enjoyed so much as a kid. (Creating a mental note for Father’s Day, hmm…)

Ube Peruvian Inspired Flan (Php450). Similar to us Pinoys, the people of Peru also have a love affair with sweets which start with their version of the leche flan: the Crema Volteada. This Latin dessert is given some twists through a special process that gives it a smooth and creamy mouthfeel as well as the subtle addition of the ube flavor to its rich milky taste. My daughter #ExhibitA, who is not an avid ube fan, loved how the ube in this dessert is not overpowering.

These flans are best enjoyed chilled, and consumed within five to seven days. (Well, they didn’t last a day in our household.)

With these ube-flavored flan creations, it sure looks like our collective obsession with ube won’t be going away anytime soon!

To get your hands on these ube flan confections and more, send a message to What’s Your Flan on Facebook or Instagram or call +63 916 497 8876.

Interested in starting your own business? What’s Your Flan is accepting applications for resellers and franchisees.

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:

A comforting meal at Katherine’s Cafe, Ayala Malls Vertis North

Don’t you sometimes crave for good ole’ comfort food? The kind that you used to anticipate all week for your mom to serve for Sunday lunch?

Well, that’s what you can expect at Katherine’s Cafe.

Over our lunchbreak, my officemates and I hied over to Ayala Malls Vertis North and discovered this cozy cafe where we could have a quiet lunch to catch up over a good meal, which included:

Corned Beef Hash (Php345). Traditional corned beef, country-fried potatoes, egg and garlic fried rice.

Chicken and Pork Adobo (Php288). A traditional chicken and pork adobo recipe served with soft-boiled egg garlic fried rice.

Stuffed Pork Chop (Php368). Juicy grilled pork chop stuffed with bacon, spinach and white cheese, served with buttered vegetables and herbed rice.

Chicken Paillard (Php298). Fillet of chicken that has been pounded thin and grilled, served with brown rice, tomato and pepper salad and balsamic glaze.

Pasta Puttanesca (Php298). Fettucine tossed with tomato, olives, capers, anchovy and garlic chips.

We also took advantage of a Facebook promo to get a free slice of Chocolate Cake to complete our meal.

We dined on such tasty, belly-filling and heart-warming dishes, well-attended to by the friendly and accommodating staff.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to repeat this homey lunch experience as Katherine’s Cafe had to pause its operations due to mall closures brought about by the community quarantine.

Recently, though, this branch re-opened for takeout, pickup and delivery.

Want to enjoy these comforting dishes at home? Just call in your order at +63 2 79466133, send a message via Facebook, or course your order Grab, Lalamove, Joyride or Angkas Pabili services.

This Katherine’s Cafe branch is located at Level 1, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City. Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Entertainment City, Parañaque City
Second Floor, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Comforting ramen at Ippudo

Did you know that Tokugawa Mitsukuni, a prominent daimyo that lived during the early Edo period in 1600s, was claimed to be the first person to ever eat ramen? The dish was said to have been introduced to him by Chinese neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Shunsui who became the daimyo’s advisor after fleeing the Manchu rule in China and seeking refuge in Japan.

After a business meeting in SM Mall of Asia, my officemates and I decided to have lunch at Ippudo for a taste of its celebrated ramen.

Founded in 1985 by Shigemi Kawahara, who has been dubbed The Ramen King, Ippudo is the stage by which the famed ramen chef showcases his “tao” – the way of the ramen. This is centered on the philosophy of continuously innovating to remain true.

My lunchmates and I were able to het a taste of Ippudo’s artistry and innovation with our orders.

Tantanmen (Php520). Made with thick wavy noodles immersed in Ippudo’s signature tonkotsu (pork bone) broth infused with tantanmen oil. It topped with a generous serving of ground pork, torched chasu (pork belly), cilantro, parmesan cheese and onsen tamago.

Shiromaru Special (Php495). In this classic Hakata-style ramen, pork belly and pork loin are placed on top of ultra-thin noodles in Ippudo’s tonkotsu broth, garnished with salted soft-boiled egg and seaweed.

Shiromaru Tamago (Php420). The Shiromaru with salted soft-boiled egg.

Akamaru Special (Php499). In this modern-style ramen, a special blend of miso paste and garlic enhances Ippudo’s tonkotsu broth. Served with thin noodles and pork belly slices, it is topped by ajikikurage (flavored black fungus), salted soft-boiled egg and seaweed.

It was easy to discern the care and craftmanship that went into the ramen, from the flavorful broth, the springy noodles to the meticulously prepared toppings. These bowls are quite pricy too, so they’re not for everyday eating, but well-suited for those times when you want to treat yourself to an exceptional bowl of ramen.

You might be wondering how you can enjoy Ippudo’s carefully crafted ramen during quarantine. You would be glad to know that it recently opened some of its branches for curbside or courier pickups, making it possible for ramen lovers to have Ippudo at Home. Here’s how:

Send a message to a Yabu branch nearest you via Viber (+63 919 0744557 for SM Megamall, Greenbelt 5 and Powerplant Mall | +63 919 0744564 for Ayala Malls the 30th, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Malls Vertis North | +63 919 0744560 for Uptown Mall, Mall of Asia and Robinsons Place Manila)
Include the following details in your message: name, email address, birthday, date, time and store for pickup, orders and desired quantity
After receiving billing confirmation, make your payments via GCash, BPI or BDO
Send proof of payment via Viber
Arrange for pickup

So if you’ve been longing for a taste of Ippudo, fret not. Your lovely bowl of ramen is just a few phone taps away!

This Ippudo branch is located at Second Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Other branches are located at:

Robinsons Place Manila
Robinsons Magnolia
Ayala Malls Vertis North
Greenbelt 5
Power Plant Mall
Uptown Place Mall
SM Megamall
Ayala Malls the 30th
Eastwood

The Jelly List: Top picks from re-opened Marikina restos

The city of Marikina has long been a haven for food lovers. Food establishments of varied concepts and menus line many of the city’s streets and have grown to become favorites, not just of the locals but of people from other cities as well.

All was generally going well for Marikina and its restos until the COVID-19 pandemic struck and the community quarantine that followed necessitated a long pause in the operations of many dine-in food businesses.

However, with the gradual lifting of quarantine restrictions, I’m happy to see that my go-to Marikina restos are re-opening, and were even able to pivot their businesses to operate in The New Normal by making their dishes available for delivery and pickup.

So check out the restos and their offerings that I’m looking forward to revisting while still in the safety of home:

Dong Juan Marikina

Quarter-pounder patties of Dong Juan’s 100% USDA beef are now available frozen in packs of four or six for Php349 and Php549, respectively, ready to be cooked at home and enjoyed for all their tender and juicy beefiness.

To order, call +63 2 88664158 or +63 917 7095969 or send a message via Facebook or Instagram.

Don Juan Marikina is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Nino, Marikina. More on Dong Juan Marikina here.

Tongara Ramen

With its Easy Ramen Kit, ramen lovers can now enjoy the famed Tongara Ramen at home. At Php400, the kit includes the tonkotsu + torigara (pork + chicken) broth flavored with aged soybean, chashu (pork belly), ajitama (seasoned soft-boiled egg), menma (bamboo shoots) and negi (vegetables).

To order, fill up this form or call +63 2 82903773 or +63 917 1794719 for inquiries.

Tongara Ramen is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Nino, Marikina. More on Tongara Ramen here.

Swig & Nosh

For Php340/100g, carnivores can feast on the rich beefy flavors and buttery texture of this Certified Angus steak.

To order, call +63 2 75041757, +63 917 5062746 or +63 917 5188485.

Swig & Nosh is located at No. 6, Mt. Pleasant Street, Bgy. Santa Elena, Marikina City. More on Swig & Nosh here.

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Rediscover Pinoy street food right at home with Mang Ding’s ready-to-grill frozen packs of Pork BBQ (Php360/20 pieces. Php560/30 pieces), Isaw Manok (Php360/20 pieces), Isaw Baboy (Php450/20 pieces) and Chicken Quarter Leg BBQ (Php390/3 pieces), all great for pairing with your favorite beers for an after-hours sesh.

To order, call +63 916 2853031.

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13, C. Buenviaje Street, Santo Nino, Marikina City. More on Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ here.

Over Easy

American-style barbecue lovers will love the fall-off-the-bone tender braised ribs, grilled for that rich smokey flavor, and served with Over Easy’s signature barbecue sauce.

To order, send a message over Facebook or Viber +63 917 1394800.

Over Easy is located at G&W Terraza, Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue, San Roque, Marikina City. More on Over Easy here.

Ca Phe Saigon

Pluviophiles (lovers of rainy weather, yeah, I had to Google the term too!) can warm their tummies with Ca Phe Saigon’s Pho Bo Kho (Php180 regular | Php350 large), a very fragrant noodle stew colored with achuete and flavored by lemongrass with tender pieces of beef.

To order, call +63 2 86461348 or +63 917 8016411.

Ca Phe Saigon is located at 14 Red Cedar Street, New Marikina, San Roque, Marikina City. More on Ca Phe Saigon here.

Passenger Seat

Have a boodle meal at home with Passenger Seat’s Pilipinas Boodle Flight. For Php1,499, the entire fam can feast on Chicken Inasal, Grilled Liempo, Grilled Stuffed Squid, Lechon Kawali, Daing na Bangus, Buttered Shrimp, Sinigang sa Miso na Ulo ng Salmon and Pork Sisig, served with Salted Egg, Boiled Okra, Grilled Eggplant, Ensalada, Steamed Rice and two pitchers of Iced Tea.

To order, call +63 2 73694555 or +63 917 8373695.

Passenger Seat is located at Ground Floor, Riverbanks Mall, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangka, Marikina City. More on Passenger Seat here.

So foodies, do show your support for local businesses and check out these re-opened Marikina restos!

Check out my other adventures compiled into Jelly Lists:

Take a pizza break with Papa John’s BOGO bundle

Since the start of the community quarantine, Hubby and I have been lucky enough to be among those able to work from home.

Aside from the greater safety this afforded to us, we were also able to avoid the hassles in commuting to our respective workplaces.

However, once we’re in the zone, we do have the tendency to tune out other stimuli, sometimes even afternoon hunger pangs.

Fortunately, Hubby made a note to have a pizza break during our work-from-day. Taking advantage of Papa John’s Buy One Get One (BOGO) Deal, he had two 12-inch pizzas for just Php569 delivered right to our doorstep:

Tropical Toss. Tasty pepperoni with shredded onions and diced tomato on top of mozzarella on a fresh oven-baked crust.

Double Meat. Italian sausages and meats bits interspersed with pineapple pieces and anchovies also on top of mozzarella on a fresh oven-baked crust.

Together with the kiddos, we took a much-needed and well-deserved pizza break to get us energized for the rest of our workday.

Papa John’s Buy One Get One deal is available for takeout and delivery via GrabFood, LalaFood and FoodPanda.

This Papa John’s branch is located at Petron Gas Station, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City. To order, call +63 2 88877272.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

102 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City
Blue Bay Walk, Macapagal Avenue Corner EDSA, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
87 Visayas Avenue, Vasra, Project 6, Quezon City
Ground Floor, A.M. Pacleb Building, Bayan-Bayanan Avenue, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City
N. S. Amoranto Corner Banawe Street, Santo Domingo, Banawe, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Eton Baypark, Kalaw Avenue, Ermita, Manila
Gotaco Building, MacArthur Highway, Marulas, Valenzuela
Ground Floor, Chill Hotel, McArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Rolex Place, Rolex Corner Dahlia Avenue, Fairview, Quezon City
Shell Station, C5 Corner Julia Vargas Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City
M.L. Quezon Corner MRT Avenue, Lower Bicutan, Greater Taguig, Taguig City
Lubiran Street, Bacood, Santa Mesa, Manila
VM Terminal Mall, Soldiers Hills, Putatan, Muntinlupa City
Aguinaldo Street, San Antonio, Parañaque City
Metro Gas Station, J.P Rizal Street, Nangka, Marikina City
Don Graciano Building, 1108 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City
Kamias Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Maysilo Circle Corner San Francisco Street, Plainview, Mandaluyong City
Ortigas Avenue Extension Corner Riverside Street, Santa Lucia, Pasig City

Krispy Kreme OGs for International Donut Day

Have you ever wondered how the delightful donut came about?

Back during the time when New York was still called New Amsterdam, Dutch settlers were making olykoek (or “oily cake”). Historian and Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving described these as “balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog’s fat, and called dough-nuts or oly koeks: a delicious kind of cake.”

The donut is said to have gained its characteristic ring shape in 1847 when American Hanson Gregory punched holes into the dough to prevent uncooked portions in the middle.

Today, donuts comes in various shapes, from the most common ring shape, to donut holes and filled, and also in a myriad of flavors.

They have become so ingrained in culture that there is actually a day dedicated to celebrating donuts. In the late 1930s, the Salvation Army started a fund-raiser called National Doughnut Day to help those in need while also honoring the Salvation Army “Doughnut Girls” of World War I who served donuts soldiers.

By today, it is has grown into an international celebration wherein donut lovers the world over feast on their favorite donut treats.

This year, I celebrated International Donut Day with the fam at home when I got a dozen Krispy Kreme OG donuts for our dessert.

International donut brand Krispy Kreme is most famous for its light and fluffy original glazed donuts which have recently been re-dubbed as “OG” donuts.

These are usually best enjoyed fresh and hot off the line but with restrictions on movement outside of home still in effect due to the community quarantine, I had to have these OG donuts delivered to me. You should have heard my son cry “Do-NUT!” as soon as he saw the boxes! I just had to reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds to approximate that “hot from the line” feel.

With more and more Krispy Kreme branches in the metro re-opening, with donuts available for delivery or pickup, donut lovers can get their hands on their favorite Krispy Kreme donuts by ordering online, calling Krispy Kreme’s hotline +63 2 88879000 or by coursing their orders through GrabFood or Lalafood.

This Krispy Kreme branch is located at Il Centro, Santa Lucia East Grand Mall, Cainta, Rizal.

The Jelly List: Extraordinary sushi picks for International Sushi Day

Did you know that there’s such a thing as an International Sushi Day? On the 18th day of June every year, food enthusiasts the world over celebrate one of the jewels of Japanese cuisine: the sushi.

Made with vinegared rice, seafood, vegetables, and even tropical fruits, sushi has embodied several tenets of Japanese food such as the use of fresh ingredients, simple and natural cooking methods, exquisite presentation and portion control.

A well-made sushi is akin to a work of art.

So on this day of all days, we can’t just have any ‘ole sushi. Nope, on International Sushi Day, we deserve sushi with that extra oomph to elevate our sushi experience.

Plus, given the restrictions on movement and dining out in the metro due to the community quarantine, we need sushi that is can be delivered to our homes.

Oh, how to solve this quandary? Well, allow me to share with you my top picks for extraordinary sushi in the metro for you to enjoy on International Sushi Day.

Soru Izakaya’s Lava Maki

Soru Izakaya’s has long been known for playful and whimsical takes on sushi and it’s Lava Maki is no exception. Salmon skin, crabsticks and mango are topped with cubes of salmon and tuna doused with a mixture of spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce, making it a savory and slightly spicy treat for the palate.

To order your Lava Maki from Soru Izakaya, fill up this form, or text +63 917 7040515, +63 917 6363526 or +63 935 7830298.

Have a box of good cheer with MDJ Cookies

It’s been three-and-a-half months since our seemingly well-ordered life has been upended by the community quarantine and I won’t be surprised if we don’t find ourselves a little out of sorts with the world every once in a while.

You know what comforts me when the doldrums come?

A little bit (or a lot!) of something sweet – like a cookie! – can get me right back into a cheerier mood. It’s not just about the rush of sugar in bloodstream. It’s more about the comfort and warmth that emanates from a piece of well-made cookie.

This morning, just as I was about to take a well-deserved break from working with multiple gadgets open and heated discussions scrolling up my screens, a box bearing my name (well, IG handle actually) arrived from MDJ Cookies.

Talk about a welcome sight!

MDJ Cookies (from owner Martine De Jesus’ name) is a tribute to her mom’s baking prowess. Using her mom’s recipes, Martine gets to spread little packets of good cheer through her cookies. As she puts it: her cookies feel like a warm hug you can eat!

As soon as I opened the box, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafted to my nostrils and made me think of my own Sunday baking sessions with my mom when I was a little girl. Oh, such happy memories!

And guess what: the box’s cookie contents are no less cheery. Check them out!

Salted Brown Butter Chocolate Chip (Php30/pc | Php190/6pcs | Php370/12pcs). The good ‘ole chocolate chip cookie gets an upgrade with use of brown butter and a bit of salt.

Birthday Cake (Php35/pc | Php220/6pcs | Php430/12pcs). There’s something so festive about this cookie… Is it the colorful sprinkles? Or the sweet smell of toasted marshmallows? Whatever it is, it’s good for any day worth celebrating.

White Chocolate Macadamia (Php40/pc | Php250/6pcs | Php490/12pcs). A creamy and milky cookie wonderfully complemented by buttery macadamia nut pieces.

Dark Chocolate Macadamia (Php40/pc | Php250/6pcs | Php490/12pcs). This time, the luscious macadamia nuts come with semi-sweet dark chocolate.

Double Chocolate Fudge (Php40/pc | Php250/6pcs | Php490/12pcs). Double the treat for chocolate lovers!

Red Velvet (Php40/pc | Php250/6pcs | Php490/12pcs). The cookie version of the rich deep-red colored chocolate cake with cream cheese icing.

Peanut Butter Bomb (Php40/pc | Php250/6pcs | Php490/12pcs). Any kid knows that peanut butter and cookies are a winning combination. Add in a piece of peanut butter candy for some real decadent sweetness.

Loaded Crinkles (Php50/pc | Php310/6pcs | Php610/12pcs). A fudgy chocolatey treat for the certified sweet-tooth.

While my faves among these yummy treats are the Peanut Butter Bomb and the White Chocolate Macadamia, all variants feature a moist buttery texture and just the right amount of sweetness to highlight the featured ingredients.

To get your hands on these sweet delights, send MDJ Cookies a message via Instagram or Facebook with your name, address, contact number, delivery date, flavors (with quantity of order) and mode of payment (GCash and BPI are accepted).

Plus, personalize the box with the recipient’s name for just an additional Php20.

Sure, the situation in the metro, and in our own daily lives in The New Normal may seem stressful and daunting; but with a little bit of good cheer, I’m sure we’ll pull through.

Are you a cookie lover, too? Give yourself a box of good cheer and give these a try!

Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

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

Sushi bake delivery from Meatsumo Premium, Panay

I admit: I’ve grown quite worried about how restaurants will fare in The New Normal.

Particularly vulnerable are the samgyupsal places wherein unlimited meats and other food items are served for table-top grilling by the diners. These places require groups of people to gather around the table as they grill their food.

One such place was Meatsumo Premium located in Panay Avenue in Quezon City. Located a few minutes’ ride away from my office, it was the perfect place to indulge my craving for all things samgyup. No wonder then, that I found myself dragging my fellow samgyup lovers at work to this resto a few weeks after it opened.

What made Meatsumo Premium stand out from similar restos is Japanese dishes it also offers alongside its Korean fare. For just Php549 per person, we were able to enjoy eleven kinds of meat (including plain pork, pork galbi, regular and spicy pork yakiniku, pork gochujiang, plain beef, peppered beef, beef bulgogi, regular and spicy beef yakiniku and beef gochujiang) as well as twenty different side dishes (including my favorites such as cheese, kani salad, kimbap, California Maki and California Temaki).

Oh, such happy times…

But then, the enhanced community quarantine happened. I knew then that I had to bid adieu to Meatsumo.

That is, until it re-opened a few weeks ago, offering a “Create Your Own” Samgyupsal Set as well as its Japanese-Korean fusion dishes ala carte.

However, what drew my attention was its newest menu item: the Sushi Bake (Php480).

This trendy dish akin to a sushi casserole. The usual Japanese maki elements such as sushi rice, kani (crabstick), mango, zucchini, Japanese mayo and tobiko (fish roe) are there. With all these, you’ve got one scrumptious dish!

To eat, just scoop out a portion (mine tend to be overly large but I don’t care), place it in the nori strip provided, add a bit of finely chopped spring onions and tempura flakes for one tasty bite!

I ordered this for the fam’s lunch, along with Tempura (Php150) and Karaage (Php120), and all proved to be certified hits with kiddos!

Well, I’m glad to see that Meatsumo Premium was able to deftly pivot its business and innovate on its offerings. It sure looks poised to meet the challenges of The New Normal head on.

Meatsumo Premium is located 23 Panay Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City, open for delivery from 9am to 3pm.

To order, fill out this form, send a Facebook message, or Viber +63 933 1346534.

The Smokeyard, Poblacion delivers!

Hey, carnivores! Looking for ways to sate your craving for good, old fashioned, American-style BBQ?

Well, here’s some good news: The Smokeyard in Poblacion is open to serve up its barbecued meats, slow-smoked for optimum flavor and tenderness to satisfy your meat craving, such as:

Pulled Pork (Php190/100g)
Beef Brisket (Php290/100g)
US Beef Ribs (Php180/100g)

And more!

So just get your salads and mashed potatoes ready ’cause with just a few taps on your phone, your fam’s BBQ party will be on its way!

The Smokeyard is located at Ground Floor, 5666 Don Pedro Street, Poblacion, Makati City. For delivery or store pick-ups, call +63 02 87711288 or course your order through FoodPanda.