grilled chicken – Jellybeans in the City

Backyard roasts and great brews at Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express

Who would have thought that pit roasts and coffee would go so well together? Well, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Mandaluyong’s Maysilo Circle, you can find out for yourself!

In this busy meeting point in the city’s center, the first Metro Manila branch of a popular Cavite eatery is now serving up its signature dishes and drinks to cater to the metro’s foodies.

This exciting combination of grill and coffee shop was brought to Manila by entrepreneur Matt Matel who partnered with the owners of the original Cavite outlet. Together with his passionate crew of pit-masters and servers, he is serving up savory roasts with a delicious twist featuring distinctly Pinoy ingredients (some of the produce are also grown through hydroponics) as well as premium coffee blends, all available for dine-in or delivery.

From the fire pit

If you’re craving for meats that are tender and flavorful, Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee has perfected its roasting methods: from infusing them with flavors through imaginatively concocted marinades, slow-braising them to produce meat that falls off the bone, to serving them with sauces and sides to add new dimensions of flavor.

A sampling of its best-selling dishes include:

Whole Rack Barako Ribs (Php1,050/platter). A slab of pork back ribs, roasted to tender perfections and slathered with the restaurant’s own barako marinade. It is served on a bed of Java rice and is accompanied by your choice of sides. This dish serves 4-6 persons.

Barako Ribs with Java Rice and Slaw (Php340/single serving). A single serving of ribs, rice and tangy coleslaw that’s more than filling for one person. (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Whole Honey Chicken BBQ (Php550). A perfect blend of barbecue sweetness and smokey-savory flavors, also served on a bed of Java rice and served with your choice of sides. This dishes serves 4-6 persons.

Honey BBQ Chicken with Java Rice and Slaw (Php260/single serving). Want your barbecued chicken as a solo meal? Check this out! (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Oziris Chicken Wings (Php215/platter). A delightful combo of patis (fish sauce) and honey makes this twist on the fried chicken a delectable appetizer or an entree in itself.

Mango Atchara. Our favorite pickled side dish that goes so well with grilled food gets an upgrade with the addition of slivers of sweet mango.

Cold brews just for you

Who says coffee can’t calm you down?

With these chill and tasty brews, with beans especially grown and roasted in South Cotabato, you can definitely get in the mood to relax and chill a bit.

Well, the good news is that we denizens of the metro don’t have to travel all the way to Cavite for a taste of Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee’s celebrated offerings. We can simply drop by its Maysilo branch to dine-in or get our food to go, our course our orders for delivery via FoodPanda.

Don’t miss its Grand Opening promo, available on December 15, 2022: Buy one single order of Barako Ribs and get a single order of Oziris Chicken for free. Offer is valid for first 50 customers only!

Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express is located at 93 Maysilo Circle, Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City. For reservations or orders, call +63 919 5167672.

For news about its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Grupo Meal at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Capitol Commons

One thing most of us have been looking forward to – after two years of lockdown – is the freedom to come together with friends to catch up on each other’s goings-on since the pandemic.

Thankfully, with the easing of quarantine restrictions, larger groups of people can now gather in restaurants for meetings and celebrations.

That’s what happened recently when my division’s head at work got all of my workmates and myself together and treated us to dinner.

And the venue for this heretofore unprecedented gathering among officemates who have all been working from home for the past two years is Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken in Capitol Commons.

Thanks to a relatively balmy late afternoon weather, we were able to opt for the larger tables outside which could be positioned to accommodate our large group as opposed to the booth tables inside the restaurant which can only accommodate six people per table.

The resulting al fresco dining arrangement allowed our group to all sit together and share a delicious meal while enjoying boisterous banters and teasing.

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is a fast-casual full-service restaurant known for its signature dish: the Peri-Peri Chicken.

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken brings about this famous dish by marinating a whole chicken overnight in a special mixture of peri-peri (bird’s eye) chili, herbs and spices, then charcoal-grilling it to a gloriously golden hue.

This flavorful and juicy grilled chicken dish is best enjoyed with one or a combination of the restaurant’s eight signature sauces representing various gastronomic destinations, ranging from mildly sweet (Cajun Remoulade, Hoisin Sesame and Sweet Soy), medium spiciness (Garlic Brew, Spiced Vinegar and Mesquite BBQ) and hot (Chili Peppa and Harissa Exotica).

My workmates and I enjoyed this dish and more during our get-together:

Appetizers

Loaded Pica Sampler (Php320). Assorted pica-pica good for sharing consisting of Salted Egg Crispy Chicken Skin, Salted Egg Potato Chips and Peri-Peri Dynamite.

Peri Nacho Bake (Php395). Peri-Peri’s twist on the trendy sushi bake wherein crisp nachos are dipped into a savory cheesy baked dip.

Fish Sticks (Php310). Battered fish fingers deep-fried to a beautiful golden btown.

Mains

Chorizo Bolognese Platter (Php560). Spaghetti topped with tomato sauce and homemade chicken chorizo.

Carbonara Platter (Php560). Spaghetti tossed in creamy white mushroom alfredo sauce and bacon.

Chicken & Rib Grupo (Php2,414). One whole Peri-Peri Chicken and One Whole Slab BBQ Pork Ribs served with 6 java rice, 6 regular sides and drink.

Like I always say, good food and good company lead to great moments!

So why don’t you take advantage of the loosening quarantine restrictions and bring your friends and work pals to Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken for a great time!

This Peri-Peri branch is located inside Capitol Commons, Meralco Avenue corner Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 1am and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 2am.

Other outlets are located in the following areas:

Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala North Exchange, Greenbelt 3
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Pasay: Resorts World Manila
Pasig: SM City East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Capitol Commons, Robinsons Galleria
Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Brittany Square
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Parade BGC, Market! Market BGC, Venice Grand Mall

To know more about Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, browse through its website , or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken:

Peri Peri Chicken, SM East — Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, SM City East Ortigas

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Tomas Morato

GrabFood Signatures family dinner from Cafe Mary Grace

I admit: having been “stuck at home” for more than a year has got me a bit tired of the usual home-cooked ulam.

Every once in a while, I want to treat the fam to something special: mouthwatering viands that go beyond the usual gisa–sigang–prito that comprise my business-as-usual cooking repertoire.

If you have the same problem, then we’re both in luck, because Grab recently launched its newest program, GrabFood Signatures. It partnered with popular restaurants to offer amazing deals on best-selling food and drink, exclusively for GrabFood users.

One such restaurant is Cafe Mary Grace.

While this restaurant is best known for its baked goods, particularly its ensaimada and cheese rolls, it also offers hearty comfort food good for sharing and perfect for family meals.

Together with my daughter #ExhibitA, I selected some dishes that were off-the-beaten-path for the fam:

Fried Kesong Puti & Calamansi Vinaigrette (Php393). Nuggets of kesong puti which are breaded, fried and tossed in with lettuce and grilled tomatoes, then drizzled with calamansi vinaigrette.

Smoked Salmon & Cream (Php438). Smoked salmon sauteed with garlic cream, tossed with pasta and garnished with caviar.

Dory & Saffron Cream (Php414). Linguini noodles topped with cream dory fillets and covered with a light cream sauce, subtly flavored with leeks and saffron.

Grilled Chicken Couscous (Php483). Chicken fillets marinated in rosemary and grilled before topping spicy steamed couscous, with a homemade tomato concasse and blance asparagus. This dish also has a 20% off deal, coming out at just Php368!

Parma Ham & Arugula (Php624). Freshly made pizza dough, generously topped with premium mozarella, homemade tomato sauce, slices of parma ham and arugula.

This meal was a welcome break from our run-of-the-mill ulam. And thanks to GrabFood Signature Deals, the total food bill for this meal amounted to just a little over Php2,000!

This Cafe Mary Grace branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City. Other Metro Manila outlets are located at:

Antipolo: SM Masinag
Marikina: SM Marikina
Mandaluyong: Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall
Pasig: Rockwell Business Center, Estancia Mall, Ayala Malls Feliz, SM East Ortigas, SM Hypermart Pasig, Ayala Malls the 30th
San Juan: Unimart
Quezon City: Trinoma, SM Fairview, Gateway Mall, Eastwood Mall, SM North EDSA, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Robinsons Galleria, UP Town Center, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Fisher Mall
Makati: Greenbelt 2, Century City Mall, Power Plant Mall, Steps Dance Studio, Enterprise Center, Makati Medical Center, Glorietta 4, Cash and Carry, SM Makati, Ayala Circuit, Waltermart
Taguig: Serendra, SM Aura, Venetian Mall, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Uptown Mall, One Bonifacio High Street, Rustans Central Square
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, SM Manila, SM San Lazaro
Pasay: NAIA Terminal 3, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Arena Annex, SM Mall of Asia Hypermarket, Resorts World Manila, Double Dragon Plaza
Paranaque: SM BF Paranaque, Okada, SM Sucat, SM Bicutan
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Fiesta Supermall

As a GrabFood Signatures restaurant, Cafe Mary Grace delivers via GrabFood and provides exclusive deals for GrabFood orders such as a Php100 discount for every minimum order of Php550.

Disclosure: A GrabFood voucher was provided to facilitate the ordering and delivery experience.

Check out my posts on other Cafe Mary Grace branches:

Get a free palabok platter with your Mang Inasal family size chicken order

Stressed over what to have for Noche Buena?

Not to worry, Mang Inasal’s got your back with its Take-out and Delivery Blowout.

If you missed this promo when it was first offered last November, you’ll definitely be happy to know it’s back just in time to save us from our Noche Buena woes.

As a treat for its customers, Mang Inasal is treating customers who order a Family Size Large Paa or Pecho Family Size for takeout or delivery with a complimentary family size platter of Mang Inasal Pancit Palabok. These servings are good for four people, definitely enough to satisfy my hungry fam.

Mang Inasal helped make the Ilonggo dish chicken inasal more accessible and popular in the metro. In this dish, chicken pieces are marinated in calamansi, pepper, vinegar and annato, then grilled over hot coals while being basted with the flavorful marinade until the chicken becomes smokey, juicy and tender. I tend to favor the paa (chicken leg and thigh) over the pecho (chicken breast) as I find this part juicier and more flavorful but other people find the pecho more to their taste. Chicken inasal is best enjoyed with garlic ricr, toyomansi and doused in a lot of chicken oil.

Mang Inasal’s Pancit Palabok, on the other hand, is made of thin rice noodles in a thick golden sauce topped with chopped spring onions, slices of hard-boiled egg, bits of chicharon (pork rind), pork slices and flakes of tinapa (smoked fish).

With my recent order of Mang Inasal Family Size Large Paa, I also received the Pancit Palabok Platter, all for only Php396!

This offer is available until December 28 only so don’t let it pass you by!

To allow more people to enjoy this amazing deal, customers can only avail of three orders of Mang Inasal Family Size Large Chicken Platters per transaction.

For delivery, course your orders via GrabFood, FoodPanda or LalaFood.

For takeout, visit your nearest Mang Inasal branch or send a message via Facebook.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Go loco as El Pollo Loco opens new Makati Branch

Without the flame, it ain’t the same!

Crazy over chicken? Look no farther than Makati because El Pollo Loco is opening its new branch at the 2nd floor of Glorietta 4 on September 15!

Known for its popular flame-grilled chicken, this fast casual restaurant offers young urban professionals and families working and livng in Makati and nearby areas the chance to enjoy a fresh new level of Tex-Mex goodness!

Who doesn’t love El Pollo Loco’s healthy flame-grilled Mexican Chicken? It’s been a staple in the Philippines for 25 years among the chicken-obssessed! The meat is marinated fresh in herbs, spices, fruit juices, and garlic, then grilled the healthy just as you like it for that delectable smoky flavor.

Chicken meals are served either ala carte or loco (with rice or tortilla) and are bundled with your choice of sides, salads, soups, tacos and quesadillas. Its famed and well-loved sides are fresh tomato salsa (hand-prepared fresh daily), Spanish rice, tortilla bread, potato salad, fiesta corn, loco fries, and coleslaw—perfect for friends and family, and ideal if you need a meal on-the-go, too. They also have the Loco Bowl with Asian Zing, a generous mix of chicken slices grilled to perfection, rice, and sweet corn, then drizzled with a special sauce, perfect for lunch and even dinner.

El Pollo Loco may be all about the chicken, but it also serves their signature Crunchy Tacos (with a choice of either chicken or beef filling), Beef Nachos, Spaghetti con salsa, Chicken Cheese Taquitos, Chicken Quesadilla, and Chips and salsa.

As they say in El Pollo Loco: “Without the flame, it ain’t the same”, so stoke the flame and check out its newest branch in Glorietta 4.
El Pollo Loco’s other branches are located at SM Megamall and Inside Italianni’s Bonifacio High Street. Follow El Pollo Loco on Instagram.

Image and details provided in a recent press release.

Lunch break adventure at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Tomas Morato

Before the enhanced community quarantine, when the foremost non-work concern on my mind was where to venture of to lunch with my officemates, we decided on trying out the newly opened branch of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken along Tomas Morato.

Peri-peri, also known as bird’s eye chili, is a type of chili grown in Southeastern Africa whose cultivation and culinary use was spread by the Portuguese to their colonial territories.

Today, it has defined a special way of preparing grilled chicken.

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken brings about its famed dish by marinating a whole chicken overnight in a special mixture of peri-peri chili, herbs and spices, then charcoal-grilling it to a gloriously golden hue.

This flavorful and juicy grilled chicken is best enjoyed with one or a combination of the restaurant’s eight signature sauces representing various gastronomic destinations, ranging from mildly sweet (Cajun Remoulade, Hoisin Sesame and Sweet Soy), medium spiciness (Garlic Brew, Spiced Vinegar and Mesquite BBQ) and hot (Chili Peppa and Harissa Exotica).

Our group decided on a Chicken Group Meal (Php799) which consisted of a whole Peri-Peri Chicken, four cups of Java Rice and four side dishes (we chose two mashed potatoes, a mac ‘n cheese and a coleslaw).

One of us was worried that the group meal won’t be enough for the whole group so he ordered a plate of Patatas Bravas (Php100).

As we finished our meal, our server gave us a taste of Peri Natas (Php140/box of four | Php199/box of six | Php360 box of 12). These are small egg custard tartlets that are popular in Portuguese colonies (I had my first taste of these in Macau).

What an adventurous yet filling meal for our group!

Want a taste of peri-peri chicken but can’t leave home? You’ll be happy to know that during the enhanced community quarantine, selected Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken branches in the metro remain open for takeout and delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

UPS 2: Call +63 926 0645790 or +63 905 271 0224
Capitol Commons: Call +63 2 86566470 or +63 915 2718479
Banawe: Call +63 2 77990428 or +63 995 3202180
Uptown Parade: Call +63 2 77174408 or +63 915 3878028
Tomas Morato: Call +63 956 6944834

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.

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

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is located at Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Rallos Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City.

Other branches in Metro Manila may be found at:

Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala North Exchange, Greenbelt 3
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Pasay: Resorts World Manila
Pasig: SM City East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Capitol Commons, Robinsons Galleria
Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Brittany Square
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Parade BGC, Market! Market BGC, Venice Grand Mall

Check out my posts on other chicken places in the metro:

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)

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Have #YourDailyBird at Chicka Chicka Chicken House, Libis

Sped away from your desk for your precious lunchtime? Out for dinner with the fam? Or just looking for somewhere to sate your craving for grilled chicken?

Well, if you’re in the Libis area in between Pasig and Quezon City, you’re in for a treat because there’s a new chicken joint in town!

LA-born and raised Matt Fong decided to bring his restaurant business know-how to the Philippines. With his wife’s family owning a poultry business, he figured that it was only logical that he start a chicken restaurant.

And so, earlier this month, Chicka Chicka Chicken House opened its doors at Robinsons Zeta Tower in Bridgetowne Business Center to bring to the metro’s hungry denizens the best grilled chicken in town, and affordably priced too!

Chicka Chicka’s grilled chicken’s taste and pricing definitely make it #YourDailyBird.

Case in point: for just Php160, you can satisfy your lunch craving with a Breast + Wing or a Leg + Thigh with White Rice and Drink.

Add Php20 and you can enjoy your chicken meal with a tasty side dish such as a Macaroni Salad or my new favorite Cream Corn which has a bit of a spicy kick to it.

If you prefer wings, eat your heart out for just Php140 with 2-pc Wings with White Rice, 1 Side and Drink.

No worries if you’re in the midst of #PetsaDePeligro: you can just opt for one of Chicka Chicka’s Daily deals such as a 1pc Leg + White Rice combo for Php80, a 1pc Thigh + White Rice combo for Php90, or the resto’s version of the chicken lumpia, the 2-pc Chicka’n Rolls + White Rice combo for Php65.

The grilled chicken pieces are flavorful enough in themselves. However, you can also choose among four sauces – honey mustard, garlic pepper, chili chili or classic chicka – to add a tasty twist to every bite.

Want something quick and cheap for breakfast before heading off to the office? How about warming your tummy with a steaming bowl of Arroz Caldo (Php70) made more flavorful by its broth made from chicken bones, a tasty bowl of Chicken Pares (Php65), or a filling bowl of Chicka Chicken Rice (Php110)? Add Php20 to enjoy these Chicka-Chicka Bowls with a drink or a side dish.

If you want to snack on something during the workday, you can go the healthy route with a Chicken Salad Bowl (Php135) or indulge yourself with some Loaded Fries (Php90 for regular | Php120 for large).

Going as a group? Get a Chicka Bundle (Php775) and feast on a whole chicken, 2 white rice, 2 large fries, 1 large side and 4 drinks.

No time to drop by the store? Well have your chicken meal delivered via Grab, quick and easy! Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Plus, Chicka Chicka’s offerings all come with an Always Fresh Guarantee. Since all the chickens are sourced from their family’s farms outside the metro, and all the chicken are marinated, brined and grilled in small batches on-site by Chicka Chicka’s in-house chefs without the use of pre-mixes, MSG or preservatives, Matt and his crew can guarantee diners a fresh and tasty chicken meal.

I may have just found my new favorite chicken place.

Many thanks to Matt and his team at Chicka Chicka Chicken House for the wonderful meal and to James of Recommend Eat for extending the invitation!

Chicka Chicka Chicken House is located at the Ground Floor, Robinsons Zeta Tower, Bridgetowne Business Center, Libis, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 11pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 77522927 or +63 917 1763026.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a good tasting held in this establishment wherein the items mentioned above were served to enable us to sample the fare to facilitate an honest review and were not paid for by the participants including myself.

Check out my posts on other chicken places in the metro:

Relaxing Sunday brunch at Noor, BGC

The day was warm with the sun shining down brightly from blue skies unmarred by clouds as I made my way to an area of Bonifacio Global CIty I seldom find myself visiting.

Megaworld’s Lifestyle Malls Forbestown Center (also known as Burgos Circle) is home to many new concept restaurants, cafes and dessert places. It is a wonder how I’m seldom here but that can soon be rectified. 🙂

This particular Sunday morning, I was headed to one restaurant in particular: Noor Modern Mediterranean. The place may look quite posh with its well-appointed modern interiors and the tasteful display of art and wine bottles throughout the premises but the overall vibe is one of freshness and warm hospitality. Its second floor dining area features a green wall as its focal point and floor-to-ceiling windows that affords a view of Forbestown Center as well as lots of natural light which will become quite handy when we do our food photos later on.

Yep, this hip and happening resto is to be the setting of a relaxed and banter-filled gathering among myself and my fellow foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH.

Firstly, we were warmly welcomed by Noor’s Isreali-born Chef Or Hakmimi, who brings to the table the Mediterranean culinary influences he grew up with. The chef also espouses a friendly and casual dining atmosphere for his establishment; in between his adventures in the kitchen preparing Noor’s signature dishes as well as new ones he is experimenting on, he takes the time to chat with his guests and share more about his philosophy when it comes to food.

Foremost among his rules of thumb is the preference for having at least three flavors and textures in the food he serves, “so it won’t be boring.” He is right, too. Each bite of Noor’s dishes presented us with wonderful complexities: smokeyness, tartness, a hint of spice and more.

These complexities are in evidence in the brunch feast he and his staff laid out for us, which include:

Salmon Tartare. Not yet on the menu, this dish is made of thinly sliced chilled salmon topped with roe and served on crunchy black sesame seed-studded phyllo cones, an awesome start to the meal!

Cauliflauer (Php300). I read somewhere that this dish is life-changing and I can definitely agree! Cauliflauer are deep-fried and tossed in ceasar aoili and parsley.

Moroccan Shrimp (Php480). Succulent shrimps grilled then served on a bed of tatziki (a Greek yogurt-based side dish flavored by mashed vegetables, dill and olive oil) together with charred eggplant.

Lamb Baklava (Php470). Ground lamb sauteed in olive oil and spices encased in sheets of sheer phyllo dough baked to a lusciously crispy golden brown. Served with sesame dressing and a raspberry sauce, its combo of meaty savory and tart fruity flavors is a winner.

Chicken Skewers (Php590). Tender and flavorful chicken pieces, grilled together with onions and bell peppers and served with Syrian Basmati rice and seared tomato.

Shawarma Tacos (Php630). A triad of shawarma variants – roasted chicken with tahini, tomatoes and amba aoili; roasted fish with tsaziki, coleslaw and cilantro; and roasted mushrooms with garlic aioli, sumac onions and parsley – served open-faced on warm pita bread. These are best eaten by hand! (A bit messy but that’s part of the experience!)

Knafe (Php390). A classic Arab desert made of shredded buttery phyllo pastry, ricotta cheese, rose water syrup and yogurt ice cream topped with chopped pistachios. That interplay of warm and cold inside my mouth, together with the sweetness and rich buttery flavor is quite decadent. My only regret is that I have gone through forty plus years in life and I’ve only tasted this heavenly dessert today.

Almond Creme Brulee (Php330). A mildly sweet, creamy almond cream custard garnished with raspberry sauce and mint.

All of these dishes are made from scratch in the kitchen by Chef Or. Ingredients are locally sourced and the produce are organically grown in local farms.

Chef Or and his staff also served us with the resto’s signature cocktails to complement the dishes and to add to the day’s happy vibe.

Gypsy Mango (Php380). Rum mixed with organic mango liquor, fresh mango and cilantro. A perfect drink for this summer day!

Cinnamon Fashion (Php340). A version of the Old-Fashioned cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and adding some brandy, but here, it is garnished with a cinnamon stick.

Built to Spill (Php350). A blend of bourbon, ginger root and mint leaves.

Noor (Php390). The resto’s house-recipe cocktail made with gin, freh basil, cucumber, fresh lemon juice and tonic water.

Flavored Soda Water. Sparkling water flavored with juices of sweet fruits such as lychee, passionfruit and strawberry to quench our thirst and refresh our palates.

With such a lavish spread of good Mediterranean food, refreshing cocktails that kept us in high spirits and the company of great friends, it was a very enjoyable Sunday brunch!

And here’s some good news: did you know you can get free drinks at Noor, thanks to Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

Noor is located at Unit F133, Forbeswood Heights, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 956 1563426.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Novel churrasco dining experience at Chateaubriand, Roxas Boulevard

Being a certified carnevore, I jumped at the chance to dine at the Chateaubriand Premium Steak Restaurant, braving last night’s rainy weather and the perennial traffic from Quezon City to Pasay.

I’m used to eating steaks and grilled meats in a more casual, even American West-style setting, so setting foot on Chateaubriand’s walkway and stepping into its posh dining area was quite a novelty. Nope, no cowboy hats adorn the walls nor down-home-type bric-a-bracs lie about. Instead, opulent white chairs and tables are artfully arranged on the restaurant’s elegant marble floors.

The focal point of the sprawling dining area may be the tastefully presented buffet spread. This buffet is pretty extensive with over a hundred items, catering to almost any preference as it includes:

a classic salad station
“Create Your Ceasar Salad”
authentic Brazilian dishes
Continental cuisine
imported cheeses
fresh fruits
a chocolate fountain
international breads
various types of pastries and desserts

However, as the restaurant’s PR representative Mikaela Mutuc tells it, the all the inclusions in the buffet actually are intended to serve as sides to grilled meats that the restaurant serves.

Well, true enough, the meats do take center stage and how!

The meats are all premium cuts, most of which are sourced from various countries, grilled and served churrasco style. By flipping the medallions on your table, you signal the churrasco boys to bring their grilled meats and other grilled items in skewers straight from the churrascaria to your table and cut off a generous and juicy slice for you right before your eyes. These include:

Picanha (signature Brazilian rump cap) – the real star of the show, IMHO!
Alcatra (top sirloin seasoned with a rich soy glaze)
Garlic Steak (sirloin marinated with garlic and fresh herbs)
Linguica (classic pork sausage basted with garlic butter
Frango (chicken quarters marinated with lemon rosemary)
Presunto (tender ham leg with pineapple glaze)
Milho Assado (baby corn roasted with garlic butter)
Abacaxi (pineapple with cinnamon and brown sugar)
Caramelized Banana (bananas with cinnamon and brown sugar)
Roasted Mixed Vegetables

More grilled treats may be added to the dinner menu such as:

Chuleta (rib eye with mesquite crust)
Fraldinha (choice flank steak marinated in Brazilian spices)
Lombo (pork loin with a delicate herb marinade)
Carneira (boneless lamb leg with a minted oil rub) – another winner for me!
Bacon-wrapped chicken breast with peri-peri marinade)
Pescado (grilled marlin or tuna)

To add even more flavor to your meats, you can dip or slather them (up to you, really :-)) with any or all of these three sauces:

Chimichurri
Salsa Rojo
Chateau Steak Sauce

Note: Other sauces and dips are available at the buffet but these are the essential ones.

You can wash down your meal with any or all of the three juices available: Honey Orange, Four Seasons and Strawberry Iced Tea.

The service staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the resto’s offerings. The churrasco boys, in particular, even give diners tips on how to better enjoy their selections and gamely display their grilled meats for food photos. They are also quick to assist requests and queries.

Feasting on churrasco at the pre-Grand Opening rates below is actually a steal:

weekdays dinner: Php2,000 (Php1,600 within October 2018 at 20% discount) + 10% service charge
weekend lunch: Php2,000 (Php999 within October 2018 at 50% discount) +10% service charge
weekend dinner: P2,200 + 10% service charge

If you want some spirits to go with your meats, you can get some by the glass at Php300 per glass or treat yourself to Chateaubriand’s wine buffet at Php599 + 10% service charge. Other alcoholic beverages and cocktails are also available.

Birthday celebrants also get to eat for free on the day of their birthday as long as they are accompanied by a full-paying adult, or on any other day of their birth month as long as they are accompanied by four full-paying adults.

While the churrasco-style dining may have casual roots, Chateaubriand’s opulent surroundings and top-rate service staff make it a fine dining experience.

Chateaubriand is located at Unit 105 Sunset View Towers, 110 William Street corner 2230 Roxas Boulevard, Brgy. 13 Zone 4 District 1, Pasay City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 821 2031 or +63 905 1403748.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

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

Check out my reviews of other buffet restaurants:

Filling family lunch at Peri-Peri, Eastwood

Peri-peri (also spelled as piri-piri or pili-pili), is a type of chili that is grown in Southeastern Africa, taking its name from the Swahili term for “pepper.” Also known as the African bird’s eye chili, its cultivation and culinary use was spread by the Portuguese to their Indian territories.

When combined with salt, garlic, lemon, oil and vinegar into a sauce, called the peri-peri sauce, it provides a distinctive flavor to the chicken dish that also bears its name.

At Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, the chickens are trimmed of excess fat and marinated for 24 hours to achieve a tender and juicy meat before grilling, giving diners an explosion of spice and smokiness with every bite. Despite its exotic food offerings, Peri-Peri is actually a home-grown brand, part of the I-Foods, Inc. group, and has been in operation for over decade.

During a weekend shopping trip at the Eastwood City Mall, the family stopped over at this restaurant for lunch. We ordered:

Mozarella Sticks (Php150), served with marinara sauce and Ceasar dip. These crunchy sticks whetted our appetite for more.
Quarter chicken with Java Rice (Php195) for the little boy who is not so into side dishes.
Quarter chicken with Java Rice and Coleslaw (Php230) and a side of Hummus (Php65) for his dad.
Quarter chicken with Tortilla and Coleslaw (Php230) for me.
Quarter chicken with Java Rice and Bacon Mac & Cheese (Php240) for my soon-to-be college girl.
A carafe of cucumber lemonade (Php160), a really refreshing thirst-quencher during that hot day.

The array of side dishes we ordered and the sauces we chose from speak to the versatility of the peri-peri chicken in terms of taste. It can go well with rice or tortilla, accentuated by hummus or coleslaw.

View this post on Instagram

Had a #happylunch with the fam at @pericharcoalph. Highlights were the juicy and tender chicken and the refreshing cucumber lemonade. Review coming soon at beingjellybeans.wordpress.com. #periperichicken #foodie #foodgasm #zomatoph #zomatophfoodie #zomato #beingjellybeans

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Apr 29, 2018 at 9:23pm PDT

All in all, the variety in taste and texture made for a filling family lunch.

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is located at 2nd Floor, Eastwood City Mall, Libis, Quezon City. For reservations, call +63 2 4706884.

Other branches in Metro Manila are located in:

Alabang: Evia Lifestyle Center along Daang Hari Road (Tel: +63 2 8381016) and Lower Ground Floor, Alabang Town Center (Tel: +63 905 1113747)
Taguig: Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City (Tel: +63 2 7174408) and Ground Floor, Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill (Tel: +63 917 4222097)
Pasig: Capitol Commons, Shaw Boulevard cor Meralco Avenue (Tel: +63 2 6560518) and in Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz
Marikina: Ground Floor, SM City Marikina along Marcos Highway
Mandaluyong: Fourth Floor Building A and Third Floor Bridgeway, SM Megamall in Ortigas (Tel: +63 2 9412511)
San Juan: Second Floor, Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills (Tel: +63 2 6558355)
Makati: Level 3, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center (Tel: +63 915 4055614)
Quezon City: Third Floor, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao (Tel: +63 2 2934947), Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman (Tel: +63 2 2838917), Ground Floor, Trinoma Mall, Baging Pag-asa (Tel: +63 2 7184391) and Ground Floor, Brittany Square, Belfast Road corner Mindanao Avenue, Novaliches
Manila: Ground Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita

Learn more about South African cuisine by checking out these books on Amazon.com!

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