food delivery – Page 29 – Jellybeans in the City

Pizza delivery from Papa John’s, Riverside

It’s been three weeks since the enhanced community quarantine came down and I’ve just got to say: thank the powers-that-be for food delivery services!

My son #ExhibitB is an avid pizza lover and he’s been hankering for his favorite food for some time now.

Wanting to give him a treat for not driving me crazy while we’re all stuck at home, I scanned the FoodPanda app for some options, and lo, and behold! There’s a Papa John’s branch in the next subdivision that offers pizzas for delivery.

Gifted with a FoodPanda discount voucher which gave me Php100 off my order, I was able to get a 12-inch family-size Simply Cheese Pizza (Php519 + 10% delivery fee) for just Php470.90.

This went so well with our Pinoy Spaghetti lunch and made my little boy so happy.

Not yet on Food Panda? Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Did you know can practice contactless delivery with your FoodPanda order? Here’s how:

Make sure you’re using the latest version of the FoodPanda app.
Upon checkout, select “Contactless delivery” before placing your order.
Go to your order and tap “Contact your rider” and indicate where you want your order to be placed upon delivery.
If you’re paying via cash, the rider will step three meters back so you can get your order. Please place your payment outside when you claim your food.

This Papa John’s branch is located at Ortigas Avenue Extension Corner Riverside Street, Santa Lucia, 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
Petron Gas Station, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City

Got noods from Aling Banang’s, Santa Lucia

Pancit – aka noodles – are so firmly ingrained in Filipino cuisine that they qualify as Pinoy food.

Introduced by Chinese settlers, pancit – derived from Hokkien term pian i sit which translates to “convenient food” – has been widely adopted throughout the country, with many provinces boasting of their unique spin on the dish.

Well, one of my favorite pancit variants is the pancit canton, the Pinoy version of the chow mein.

Made with stir-fried meat and vegetables tossed with thick wheat noodles, the pancit canton is a beautiful fusion of colors, flavors and texture, a true symbol of bounty which is why this dish graces most, if not all, Pinoy celebrations.

Well, after tiring of the usual lutong bahay options while stuck at home during the enhanced community quarantine, I was lucky to find that a store near my house offers this dish.

And so twenty minutes after I called the store, I braved the heat of early summer to pick up my order of Pancit Canton (Php400 good for five persons) from Aling Banang’s. Apparently, I’m not alone in my quest as I encountered food delivery riders waiting for their orders as well.

And what a platter of wonder my pancit canton was! Veggies, noodles and sauce plus a generous topping of crunchy bagnet slices mixed in. What’s not to love?

It was more than enough to satisfy my hungry fam. (There was no time to do a pretty plating of the pancit for the ‘gram because we just wolfed it down, really!)

And guess what! An order good for 15 people is just Php750. I guess I know where I’ll order my birthday noodles!

Stuck at home during the ECQ? No need to leave the safety and comfort of your abode to enjoy Aling Banang’s hearty dishes. You can simply have your meal delivered through GrabFood or LalaFood.

This Aling Banang’s branch is located at 5th Street Corner Countryside Avenue, Santa Lucia, Pasig City, with a limited menu available for pickup. To order, call +63 915 3413183 or +6 399 85946908.

Other branches still open during the enhanced community quarantine are located at:

Pablo Ocampo Extension, Santa Cruz, Makati City
N. Domingo Street, Greater San Juan, San Juan City
Dona Anita Building, E Rodriguez Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City

Chicken inasal meal at home from Mang Inasal, Libis

To me, grilled food is a taste of the outdoors.

Roasted chicken, or letson manok, is a welcome break from the braised, stewed, boiled or fried fare that the family and I usually have at home.

Chicken inasal, the version of roasted chicken from the Visayas, offered a delicious variance from our usual family meal. It is made by marinating the chicken in a mixture of calamansi, pepper, coconut vinegar and annatto then roasted over hot coals.

Well, as a treat for the fam (and a way for me to avoid cooking), I decided to order from Mang Inasal via GrabFood for our dinner. Thirty minutes after placing my order, my fam’s meal arrived, ready for eating.

Our meal included several orders of:

Pecho (Chicken Breast and Wing) Solo (Php125 each).

Paa (Chicken Thigh and Leg) Solo (Php109 each).

Pork Barbecue (Php39 per stick).

These chicken inasal solo meals are served with a cup of steamed rice and are best enjoyed with chicken oil (used to baste the chicken pieces) and a dipping sauce of calamansi, soy sauce and siling labuyo.

This delivery is from the Mang Inasal branch located at Intrepid Plaza, E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Libis, Quezon City, via GrabFood.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

During the Enhanced Community Quarantine, other Mang Inasal branches in Metro Manila are open:

For delivery (via #73333): Navotas Bayan, East avenue, Novaliches Sta. Quiteria, San Roque Supermarket, San Lazaro, Kalentong, Pasong Tamo, Baclaran, Moonwalk, Gate 3
For takeout: Sangandaan Caloocan (+63 923 4025595), Navotas Bayan (+63 9399136147), Puregold Valenzuela (+63 918 3425363), Paso de Blas (+63 932 1336949), East Avenue (+63 933 8670280), Retiro (+63 933 8670279), Novaliches Sta. Quiteria (+63 925 6462725), San Roque Supermarket (+63 932 7998977), Doroteo Jose (+63 9332848245), Pedro Gil (+63 922 4132838), Kiko Camarin (+63 923 1283557), Hidalgo (+63 922 7620977), San Lazaro (+63 936 0962443), Parang Marikina (+63 932 2027036), Hillside Masinag (+63 917 1199318), MLQ Antipolo (+63 917 8143904), Ligaya Pasig (+63 977 8899997), Pasig Rotonda (+63 939 9159771), Pasig Market (+63 915 4061717), Puregold FTI (+63 922 9353717), Puregold Taguig (+63 922 9353717), Waterfun Taguig (+63 975 4824051), Gate 3 (+63 925 4944715), Pasong Tamo (+63 943 7055774), Guadalupe EDSA (+63 917 1165603), Evangelista (+63 942 3727748), Buendia Taft (+63 943 3292476), DD Meridian (+63 921 0097607), Burgos Arnaiz (+63 2 84423773), , Malibay Pasay (+63 932 5761960), Baclaran (+63 917 1782004), Lianas Sucat Paranaque (+63 923 7097331), Moonwalk (+63 927 8859925), Starmall Las Pinas (+63 923 4542164)

Sarap-to-the-Bones Fried Chicken at Max’s, Tomas Morato

While I consider myself adventurous when it comes to food, I get a hankering for familiar and comfortable flavors every once in a while.

That’s why I dragged my officemates to a branch of Max’s Restaurant near our office for lunch. Aside from offering no-frills but exceedingly flavorful fried chicken, this branch also has sprawling grounds with some green spaces, which provided our eyes with a welcome break from our computer and gadget screens.

Max’s Restaurant had its start in 1945 when Stanford-educated teacher Maximo Gimenez befriended the American GIs stationed in Quezon City and invited them to his home for a drink or two. These visits led to their patronage of the cafe Maximo decided to build, with his sister, Ruby, developing a special recipe for tender, juicy and crispy fried chicken that won the hearts of both the Americans and Pinoys.

During that lunch break, Max’s is where my officemates and I were able to enjoy fuss-free yet tasty fried chicken (best enjoyed with Max’s Banana Ketchup!) and other Pinoy classics such as:

Chopsuey (Php249). The Pinoy’s go-to vegetable dish made with pork and shrimp bits sauteed together with fresh vegetables and chicken liver.

Half-Regular Chicken (Php216). The keto choice for the dieter in the group (spoiler: it wasn’t me!).

Basic Meal (Php199). A quarter fried chicken served with steamed rice, a glass of iced tea or soft drinks and a Caramel Bar.

Fiesta Plate (Php289). The Basic Meal plus choice of fresh or fried Lumpiang Upod (I prefer it fresh :-))

Chicken Leg Quarter with Rice Pork Sinigang and Pepsi (two for Php499).

Not a bad deal for a work day lunch break, yeah?

This Max’s Restaurant branch is located along Scout Tuazon Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City. During the Enhanced Community Quarantine, it will be open from 10am to 5pm and serving a limited menu for delivery. You may course your orders directly through its delivery numbers +63 2 83751032 05 +63 2 83751052, Max’s delivery website, GrabFood and Food Panda.

Other Metro Manila branches still operating during the Enhanced Community Quarantine include:

North Manila: Mindanao Avenue (+63 2 88916535), EDSA Caloocan (+63 2 86346501 | +63 2 86346502), Banawe (+63 2 83548804 | +63 2 83548805), Matalino Street (+63 2 89318958), Commonwealth (+63 2 89320810 | +63 2 89520841), Regalado / Robinsons Townville (+63 2 82820476), Taytay (+63 2 68606642 | +63 2 86606643), Antipolo Sumulong (+63 2 84705846), Congressional Avenue (+63 2 89280648), EDSA Eats Main Avenue (+63 919 0883844 | +63 2 79091911)
South Manila: Valero (+63 2 85198924), Las Pinas (+63 2 88730210), Sucat (+63 2 88252902 | +63 2 88252904), Malacanang (+63 2 77357925 | +63 2 74047365), Ermita (+63 2 85221076 to 77), Pasig Kapitolyo (+63 2 86969806), Market! Market! (+63 2 88867784), Shell C5 Heritage (+63 2 79785724), Forbestown (+63 998 9603867), Baclaran (+63 2 88321991)m Dona Soledad (+63 950 6574682 | +63 975 3665633 | +63 2 77533306)

Lunch delivery from Pares Retiro, Tomas Morato via LalaFood

Before the community quarantine and the need to isolate ourselves in our homes began, I’m glad I was able to try something that will surely be a blessing in the days ahead.

LalaFood is a food delivery app that guarantees delivery of food orders within forty-five minutes or less with no minimum order required. (Note: Since the community quarantine was implemented, LalaFood has adjusted its delivery times in light of the increased demand for food delivery and its skeletal crew of riders.)

One busy workday, my friend and I could not find the time to get out of the office for our #HappyLunch. Not wanting to limit ourselves to the choices available in our office building’s food court, we grabbed our phones to look at the options available through the LalaFood App.

As luck would have it, one of the restos that deliver via LalaFood is the Pares Retiro branch nearby. Wanting a taste of Pinoy comfort food, we ordered ourselves variations of Beef Pares.

This dish is basically braised beef stew paired with garlic fried rice (hence the name pares) and usually served with clear soup. The beef cubes are simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and other spices, resulting in tender meat and flavorful sauce that go so well with the garlic rice.

My friend ordered the Classic Pares (Php155) while I got myself a Pares Tendon (Php165), which is basically beef pares made even better with the addition of tender litid (tendon) that seems to melt into the sauce and provide a contrast in texture to the beef and rice with every mouthful.

I even got myself a can of Sarsi from the Ministop store across the street to complete my meal.

We ate our comfort food bounty at our desks, not exactly the way I’d like to enjoy my food, but at least I had some time to eat and get ready for my meetings after our midday break.

All things considered, I’d say it was still a happy lunch. Wouldn’t you?

This meal was ordered from the Pares Retiro branch located at 205 Tomas Avenue, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City via LalaFood.

Other Pares Retiro branches are located at:

P. Tuazon corner 17th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City
SM Hypermarket, EDSA corner Main Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City
344 Visayas corner Congressional Avenue, Pasong Tamp, Tandang Sora, Quezon City
Food Court, Fourth Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

The Jelly List: My fave resto dishes you can enjoy at home

Hello, fellow foodie! How are you holding up? I hope you’re safe at home and surrounded by your loved ones just like me.

After several days of being #TeamBahay, I have to admit: I may be getting a bit tired of home-cooking. (Yaya, don’t be tampo! Your cooking is great!)

I can’t help but miss those scrumptious, meticulously prepared, beautifully presented dishes from my favorite restaurants.

Do you feel the same?

Well, guess what: we can enjoy those wonderful viands at home, thanks to delivery services. (I panicked for a while when Gran and FoodPanda briefly suspended their services the other day. Thank heavens that’s all sorted out! Whew!)

So, if you have a craving for any of these delectable dishes, just contact the resto and have them delivered to you. Not only will you get to enjoy a fabulous meal in the safety and comfort of home, you also contribute to the continued health of these businesses.

Buttered Parmesan Chicken Wings of Buffalo Swing Cafe

Ooh, these tender and juicy chicken wings, deep-fried to crunchy goodness and flavored with a butter parmesan rub are perfect bites when you’re binge-watching movies on Netflix.

Buffalo Swing Cafe is located at 363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City. To order, call +63 2 86412561 or +63 917 7954554.

Buffalo Swing delivers via Food Panda.

Read more about Buffalo Swing Cafe here.

Martabak Manis of Sammy’s

If you have ever come across this delightful Indonesian dessert called Martabak Manis, I’m sure you will agree that it’s quite a treat. Made with thick pancake layers filled with chocolate sprinkles, crushed peanuts, cheese and condensed milk, it’s perfect for those late-night sweet cravings.

Sammy’s is located at 14 Raspberry Bend Street, Valley View Executive Subdivision Phase 3, San Juan, Cainta. To order, call +63 939 1483960.

Sammy’s delivers via Grab Express.

Cute Cheesecake-in-a-Jar from Sugar Salt Cakes & Pastries

Staying at home for the next month or so need not be the punishment we sometimes think it is.

We can stave off the dreaded cabin fever by injecting some sweetness in our lives, like the cute cheesecake-in-a-jar from SugarSalt Cakes & Pastries.

This operation started when thirty-year-old Carmela Aprecio decided to quit her job as a web developer and devote herself towards something she loves: baking cheesecakes!

What began as a hobby that provided sweets for herself, her husband and their friends became a new concept in dessert delivery.

Each SugarSalt cheesecake comes in a 120-gram jar, contains milk, cheese and sugar and costs Php75 per piece. Each cheesecake-in-a-jar should be kept refrigerated and will keep for six days from the time it was baked.

I was able to sample the best-selling Turtle Pie Cheesecake made with dark chocolate, caramel kisses, caramel fudge and pecan nuts over freshly baked cheesecake in a crushed graham cracker crust.

I loved SugarSalt’s cheesecake filling: it’s mildly sweet and richly cheesy, not too stiff and not too soggy. With every spoonful, the chocolate and caramel chips as well as the pecans add texture and flavor. The jar’s serving size is just right for one person… assuming that person is not a dessert addict like me.

I can imagine going through two to three jars of these yummies all by my lonesome.

(Okay, fine! I’ll share some with Hubby and the kids…)

Other cheesecake-in-a-jar variants available are Almond Matcha (made with almond nuts and graham powder on a crushed graham cracker crust) and Oreo (made with Oreo filling on a crushed Oreo cookie crust), both at Php75 per jar.

If you’re in the mood for variety, why don’t you go for a SugarSalt Original Set which has all three variants for only Php225?

Planning a party? SugarSalt accepts bulk orders and can accommodate personalized jar labels. Just email sugarsaltph@gmail.com.

To order your own SugarSalt cheesecake-in-a-jar, fill up this form, and make your payments via BPI, BDO, GCash or Paypal.

SugarSalt delivers only within Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, San Juan, Quezon City, Manila, Pateros and Taguig via Grab (requires additional Php59 to Php129 delivery fee depending on recipient’s location). Pick up at its store near MRT Boni Station may be arranged.

Disclosure: Product sample was provided to enable an honest review.

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

Delicious charcuterie delights in a box by Platterea Luna

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock in the past year or two, one of the most popular food trends nowadays is charcuterie.

By definition, it is the art of preparing meat products such as bacon, ham, sausages, cold cuts and the like. Despite being originally intended as a way to preserve meat before refrigerators became prevalent, charcuterie today is enjoying a comeback among gastronomic circles as a way to showcase the flavor of the meats derived from the preservation process.

Parties and holiday get-togethers just have to have a table elegantly laden with preserved meats accompanied by cheeses, fruits, breads and wines that further enhance the meats’ flavors. These setups in which diners can take their aperitif of choice along with selected meats and cheeses have come to be known as grazing tables.

Taken visually, these sumptuously arranged grazing tables have come to represent the bounty of food or the generosity of the host. They often serve as conversation pieces at parties because of the beauty of their arrangement, while also encouraging guests to mingle while enjoying their food.

Something this wonderful can also be enjoyed at home through grazing platters that an Epicurean can put together for a small party or even a quiet time at home.

But with Platterea Luna’s stylishly assembled grazing boxes, there’s no need to trouble oneself in sourcing the elements for an elegant charcuterie experience. Each box is filled with a well-curated selection of meats, cheeses and accoutrements, well-suited for leisurely grazing on during a picnic or while binge-watching your favorite series at home.

Platterea Luna got its start when TV writer and producer Helen de Castro and her partner Christine Go, a medical doctor, decided to serve something different for her family to welcome the new year 2020. Being a lover of wine, cheese and other food pairings, she researched on setting up grazing tables and started gathering ingredients to assemble one for the family’s celebration.

On New Year’s Eve, she unveiled her first grazing table to her family. Impressed with her work and entertained by the novelty of the concept, her family started posting photos of the grazing table online.

This sparked an idea that this new skill can be the start of a new business.

Platterea Luna was formally announced on February 2, offering stylishly assembled gourmet grazing boxes just in time to get orders for the Valentine rush. The first batch of grazing boxes were delivered to excited recipients on Valentine’s Day.

Through all the doubts and frenetic activity involved in launching her new venture, Helen is kept strong by the support of her family and friends, as well as in her love for her business.

‘They say “Do something that you’re passionate about and you wouldn’t have to work a day in your life, ‘” she shares. ‘I’ve always loved wines and cheeses. Aside from gaining pounds, I never knew how this interest would benefit me. During the development stage of the business, I was always so excited with the thought of assembling the ingredients in the boxes. There’s this satisfaction I get when I see the finished product. It’s as if I’m creating art. And I love art. Seeing all these colors and flavours in one box makes me giddy. At the end of the day, it’s all about doing what you love so you can put your whole heart into it.”

Platterea Luna’s elegant grazing boxes come in four variants:

Solo Box: contains one gourmet cheese and one cured meat and various accoutrements. Good for one person, it’s perfect for leisurely snacking on during a quiet evening at home.

Small Box: contains one gourmet cheese and two cured meats, various accoutrements and one 187mL bottle of wine. Good for two persons, it’s best enjoyed during a romantic outdoors picnic date.

Medium Box: contains two gourmet cheeses and three cured meats, various accoutrements and one 187mL bottle of wine. Good for three to six people, it can serve as the fuel for a family’s weekend-long Netflix binge-fest.

Large Box: contains two gourmet cheeses and three cured meats and various accoutrements. Good for seven to ten people, it’s perfect for parties and can even be a social gathering’s conversation piece.

My Platterea Luna medium box did sustain my family and me through the hours we spent on a Crash Landing on You marathon during a long weekend. While I was shedding copious amounts of tears over Yoon Seri and Ri Jeong-hyuk’s travails, I was sustained and comforted by the delicious contents of my grazing box. These included meats such as Salami Milano, Peppered Ham and Lyoner, as well as Brie and Provolone cheeses along with accoutrements which consist of fresh and dried fruit, nuts, pretzels and chocolate almond sticks and a small bottle of French red wine.

To get your hands on a lovely Platterea Luna grazing box, course your order through Platterea Luna’s Facebook page or Instagram account, or call +63 977 8211591.

Disclosure: Product sample was provided to enable an honest review. Charcuterie board pictured above were assembled from the contents of the Platterea Luna medium box.

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

Craving for a cheesecake? Go for a Chi’s Cake!

We all need some sweetness in our lives: that burst of sugary flavor on your tongue that signals the happiness that is sure to follow.

Sure, eating sweets may not be so healthy, may be even be self-indulgent, but, really, it’s more than just a capping a meal with dessert or satisfying a craving during your coffee break. In times of stress or sadness, it envelopes you in that feeling of comfort and happiness. In times of elation and success, it underscores the joy.

For me, cheesecakes bring on that feeling of happiness more than any other dessert: the buttery and sugary graham cracker crust, the richness of the cream filling and the lovely surprise of whatever topping is put on it.

Well, what if you can enjoy this little piece of heaven while not going overboard with the sugar?

Chi’s Cake, an online dessert shop operated by Siri Andres, specializes in no-bake cheesecakes. Compared to their baked counterparts, no-bake cheesecakes are lighter and airier, due to the folding in of stiff whipped cream into the other combined ingredients, resulting into the mousse-like texture of the dessert. And the cheesecakes from Chi’s Cake are known for not being to sweet.

Siri formerly worked as an IT business analyst but has transitioned into a full-time stay-at-home mom. Leveraging her love for whipping up sweet treats to give to friends and family into a potential business, she started by creating her own brand of no-bake cheesecake flavors which soon generated multiple orders.

Last week, I was able to sample some of her no-bake cheesecake creations such as:

Carrot Cinnamon Cheescake (Php650 for 7-inch cake | Php900 for 9-inch cake | Php450 for a box of 12 cheesecake cups). Are you a fan of carrot cakes? The hearty and tangy taste of shredded carrots underscored by the warm spicy sweetness of cinnamon? Well, imagine those in a smooth and creamy cheesecake that is not too sweet. The sweetness comes from its generous topping of caramelized chopped walnuts! This cheesecake is her first and signature creation.

Oreo Strawberry Creme (Php1,150 for 7-inch cake | Php1,400 for 9-inch cake | Php700 for a box of 12 cheesecake cups). This cheesecake variant features the unbeatable combo of chocolate and strawberries, perfect for lovers during Valentine season and beyond. Bits of fresh strawberries incorporated into the cheesecake filling on top of a crust of crushed Oreo cookies and topped with a slice of strawberry smothered in syrup. I would imagine hearts fluttered over this dessert!

So go ahead and indulge with no worry of being overcome with sweetness, just the joy that comes from these treats.

To get your hands on these lovely cheesecake creations, call +63 945 4968265 or email siriangeline.amurao@gmail.com at least two days before delivery date. For more details on other cheesecake variants available, check out Chi’s Cake’s Facebook page or Instagram account.

Payments are accepted via BDO, Unionbank, PalEx, GCash and LBC.

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

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

Delicious home-cooked meals from The Happy Kitchen

There is something magical that happens when family and friends sit down together over a home-cooked meal.

When people get together at the dinner table, an array of freshly cooked dishes spread before them, good conversation, good vibes and good times are not far behind.

However, with today’s hectic lifestyle and busy schedules, not everyone would have the time to constantly slave over the stove to come up with mouth-watering meals.

Enter The Happy Kitchen.

And by enter, I mean invite it to your home to bring you and your loved ones the flavors you love and grew up with.

The Happy Kitchen (or THK) is the brainchild of Risa Cirineo, a full-time food entrepreneur based in Cainta, Rizal.

She originally operated a canteen in her home to take advantage of a new business opportunity presented by a new school opening nearby, as well as an office canteen in a car dealership.

When she had to close down the office canteen, she jumped on a new and more practical business opportunity: selling party trays online.

In 2018, she started doing exactly that: selling party trays of comfort food such as Beef Caldereta, Kare-Kare and Sisig on Facebook to anywhere in Metro Manila.

Today, her product lines include include party trays, packed meals and “paluto” requests of comfort food and party favorites, some of which were sent over for me and my family to sample:

Beef Caldereta (Php650 good for 6 | Php1,100 good for 10). A mainstay in many family gatherings and fiestas, the caldereta is a showcase of Spanish influences on Filipino cuisine. Named after the caldera – the cauldron where the ingredients are stewed in – this dish combines simple ingredients such as marinated beef, rough-chopped vegetables and a bit of liver pate to bring about a comforting and hearty dish. In THK’s version, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender while the tomato sauce was rich in beefy flavor with a bit of cheese and just a hint of spice.

Special Pork Sisig (Php500 good for 6 | Php850 good for 10). This Kapampangan dish is actually one of my daughter’s favorite viands and would usually order it whenever we dine out. She took a liking to THK’s rendition of this classic dish as it was not overly oily and the crunch chicharon bits gave it added texture and flavor. This dish is great as an appetizer or as bar chow.

Chicken Cordon Bleu (Php600 good for 6 | Php980 good for 10). Another party classic, this dish is made of chicken breasts thinned and wrapped around pieces of ham and cheese, then breaded and pan-fried to a golden brown. It’s great as a viand accompanied by rice or by itself as a finger food during cocktails, and is usually a hit with the kids because – duh! – cheese and chicken. 🙂

Korean Chicken (Php520 good for 6 | Php880 good for 10). With all things Korean being a hit in the Philippines these days, it’s no wonder that THK began offering Korean-style braised chicken to its clientele. Risa built on her mom’s recipe – a family favorite for years – by adding gochujang to this dish made with tender chicken pieces in a flavorful sauce of aromatics and herbs. This fresh take on a chicken-based viand is a hit with my son.

These dishes from The Happy Kitchen showcase the care and pride that Risa puts into her cooking. They feature meats that are tender to the bite, veggies with some crisp freshness and flavors that appeal to everyone in my family.

Many thanks to Risa for sending over these THK best-sellers!

Here’s how you can get these delectable dishes for your family dinner or clan gathering:

Visit The Happy Kitchen on Facebook to check out its menu of available dishes.
Text the following details to +63 922 3057613 or +63 917 5493643 at least three days in advance: your name, contact number, your orders and your preferred delivery date, time and address or your preferred date and time of pickup
Pay via bank deposit or online fund transfer to BPI or BDO: 50% downpayment at least three days before pickup or delivery and the remaining 50% one day prior to pick up or delivery

Aside from party trays, THK’s dishes are also available as packed meals good for meetings or as crew meals, with sets priced at Php110 for 1 viand + 1 rice, Php135 for 1 viand + 1 vegetable side dish + 1 rice, Php165 for 2 viands + 1 rice and Php195 for 2 viands, 1 vegetable side dish and 1 rice.

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

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