ice cream – Jellybeans in the City

Cool down with fun icy treats at Dripp, The Grid Food Market

The long, hot summer may be giving way to the rainy season but we’re not there yet, folks!

So whenever the heat and humidity of the metro threaten to befoul your mood, know that you can always counter them with something delightfully delicious: cereal soft-serve and swirls from Dripp!

Located inside The Grid Food Market in Powerplant Mall, Dripp is all set to be your go-to stall for yummy post-meal desserts or your icy snack to help you stay cool on a hot day.

What goes into your Dripp? A whole lotta goodness, that’s what!

It all starts with Dripp’s creamy 100% fresh milk soft-serve base, then comes added flavors and textures from:

Cereals such as Coco Pops, Froot Loops, Frosties, Koko Krunch, Milo Cereal, Trix, Gold Corn Flakes, Honey Stars and Honey Gold Corn. For an additional Php25, you can add premium cereals such as Dunkin Caramel Macchiato, Dunkin Mocha Latte, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Oreo O’s, Reese’s Puffs, Chips Ahoy Cereal, Cinnamon Toast Cruch, Chocolate Churros and Wendy’s Frosty
Mixins such as Polvoron, Milo Powder, Crushed Oreos, Matcha Powder, Barquillos Crisps, Dark Chocolate Sticks, Almonds, Black Sesame, Candy Sprinkles, Cashew Nuts, Rice Crispies, Choc Nut, Mini Kitkats, Crushed Grahams and more
Drizzles such as Caramel, Chocolate, Honey and Strawberry

For Php180, you can Make Your Own Soft Serve Flavors by picking one each from the Cereals, Mixins and Drizzles selections to add to your premium milk-based soft-serve or choose from the top combinations recommended by Dripp’s very own Chef Patrick Go which include:

The Grrrid Blend: Gold Corn Flakes, Graham, Caramel
Choco Crunch: Koko Krunch, Rice Crispies, Chocolate
Pop That Matcha: Coco Pops, Matcha Powder, Chocolate
Funfetti: Froot Loops, Candy Sprinkle, Strawberry
Milo Loco: Milo Cereal, Crushed Oreos, Caramel
Fruity Stars: Trix, Honey Star, Strawberry

But the fun doesn’t end there: Dripp recently made a move towards creating more out-of-this-world ice cream concoctions with its new secret menu which includes:

Hot Cheetos: inspired by the fan-favorite snack, this sundae is covered in crushed Hot Cheetos for a sweet-salty dessert with a kick
Dripp Scramble: Dripp’s own version of the classic Pinoy dessert overloaded with sprinkles, marshmallows, chocolate drizzle, and more
my personal pick, Horlicks Crunch: this has that distinctive, malty flavor that reminds you of ‘50’s American-diner milkshakes, to which I added more crunch in the form of almond slices

So, really, whether the summer season is on the rise or ebbing away, there’s always a reason and an opportunity to treat yourself to a cool and creamy delicious delight at Dripp!

Dripp is located Stall 19, The Grid Food Market, R2 Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

For more details on its promos and offers, follow Dripp on Facebook or Instagram.

The Grid Food Market is the resident food hall of Powerplant Mall which offers a wide range of flavors to cater to various cravings.

Check out my previous posts on other cuisines available at The Grid Food Market:

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this establishment. Food items mentioned here were served at no cost to the attendees.

Cooling down for the summer with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Pints

Ooh, we sure are feeling that summer heat, aren’t we?

Well, it sure is lucky that we can always get our very own pint of ice cream to help us cool down, isn’t it?

Aside from giving us some respite from the heat and humidity of summer in the metro, ice cream gives us that little bit of sweetness to perk up our day.

I’m especially happy that one of the most iconic ice cream brands in the world is now available in our neck of the woods: Ben & Jerry’s!

You would be hard-pressed in finding larger-sized versions of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Originally, these frozen treats in cups and cones at the Scoop Shop in Burlington, Vermont. However, it was soon decided to package the iconic ice cream in pint-sized tubs which can then be sold in grocery stores. And from there, Ben & Jerry’s global domination for ice cream began.

And who could dispute its domination, with innovatively crafted flavors, such as:

New York Super Fudge Chunk (Php420). Born out of the brand’s desire to make a name for itself in New York, they named this ice cream after the city and added in all kinds of chunky pieces – such as white and dark fudge chunks, walnuts, pecans and fudge-coated almonds to the delight ice cream lovers.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Php420). Did you know that Ben & Jerry’s created the first chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream back in 1984? Until today, the appeal of this vanilla ice cream with gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough has not waned.

Karamel Sutra Core (Php420). A sexy combination of chocolate and caramel ice cream with a soft and luscious caramel core at the center.

Half-Baked (Php420). Chocolate and vanilla ice creams are mixed together with gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough and fudge brownies, making this a power-packed dessert!

Ben & Jerry’s has been among the most progressive brands due to its values-led sourcing practices:

Cage-free eggs. Ben & Jerry’s ensure that its eggs are sourced from farms where hens are treated humanely: given nutritious food, clean water and access to space that neable to display natural behaviors.
Fair-trade. The brand sources its sugar, coffee, banana, vanilla and cocoa ingredients from small farmers in developing nations, helping themhold their own in the global market place.
Caring Dairy. Through its Caring Dairy Program, the brand partners with farmers to support them in improving their farming practices, keeping their cow herds healthy, and preserving the environment.
Sustainable Packaging. Ben & Jerry’s has been working to reduce its impact to the environment by finding plant-based and/or compostable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastic packaging and developing reusable packaging options

So you know that with each pint of ice cream you buy, you are helping a company bring good into the world. So go ahead and enjoy your Ben & Jerry’s pints!

Grab them at your nearest Shell Select store or order them from Ice Cream Lovers’ online store.

Virtual resto-hopping at GrabKitchen in Pasig

Do you sometimes miss those times when you can just hang out at a mall and go restaurant-hopping?

Being able to try various cuisines is heaven for a foodie like me.

However, with lockdowns and restrictions brought about by the pandemic, restaurant hopping is nigh impossible.

Even if you try to order food from different establishments for delivery, the delivery fees would also multiply.

Unless, of course, you get your food orders from GrabKitchen.

GrabKitchens are designed to greatly expand the food choices available in a particular locale by serving a varied curation of food selections from restaurants with no physical presence in the area all served from one central kitchen. It also offers customers the ability to mix-and-match – ordering from different restaurants hosted by the GrabKitchen for a single checkout and delivery fee.

That’s a load of convenience and savings, right?

GrabKitchens have already set up branches in Glorietta, Malate and Paranaque, and now, finally, right in my neck of the woods: Pasig City!

Through this GrabKitchen, I was able to able to treat the fam to a wide array of dishes and cuisines from different restaurants for our weekend lunch. These include:

Dimsum and noodles from King Chef such as Hakaw (Php190/4pcs), Pork & Shrimp Siomai (Php130/4pcs) and Beef Brisket Noodles (Php280).

Korean-style boneless fried chicken from 24 Chicken such as a Half Half order of Original and Yangnyeon (Php545/7pcs each) and a Half order of Snow Cheese (Php299).

Solo (100ml) cups of artisanal ice cream from Merry Moo such as Honey Comb (Php135), Milo (Php135) and Strawberry Shortcake (Php135).

Refreshing drinks from CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice such as CoCo Milk Tea (Php85/regular), Pearl Milk Tea (Php90/regular), Strawberry Au Lait (Php150/regular with pudding) and Chocolate with Pudding & Pearl (Php100/regular).

Thanks to GrabKitchen, the fam and I had a virtual resto-hopping experience right at home!

But that’s not all!

A few months ago, driven by our K-drama triggered cravings, we also ordered our Korean meal from Happilee Korean Kitchen which included Pork Mandu (Php99/4pcs), Mini Kimbap (Php150/5pcs), Kimchi (Php30) and Soy Glazed Chicken Tray (Php600/10pcs).

Other restaurants hosted by GrabKitchen Pasig include Omakase, Conti’s, Las Titas MNL and Merienda by Pan de Manila.

With the mix-and-matching options available, ordering from GrabKitchen Pasig is well-suited for families whose members have varied food preferences.

So, fellow Pasiguenos, when you feel like having some variety in your meals or want to explore new food options, download the Grab app and order from GrabKitchen Pasig!

GrabKitchen Pasig is located at 172 C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City, open daily for delivery orders from 9am to 10pm.

Disclosure: A gift voucher was provided to facilitate the order experience.

Dairy Queen Blizzard Delivery

I had my first taste of Dairy Queen’s blizzards back when I was in high school (such a long, long time ago! Sigh!). After the last of our quarterly exams, my schoolmates and I made a beeline to SM Megamall to decompress.

Back then, the blizzard was totally new to me. For me, ice cream was something scooped out of a tub and served as is, or if you’re feeling fancy, with toppings. I found the concept of mechanically mixing ice cream while at the same time mixing in sundae toppings, and then handing it over to the customer upside down as proof of the thick creaminess of the ice cream absolutely amazing.

Fast-forward to a few decades later and I still enjoy Dairy Queen’s Blizzards, this time with the fam. As it happens, blizzards are dessert treats that appeal to the entire fam.

Despite being quarantined at home, we were still able to indulge ourselves with our icy dessert simply by ordering these Dairy Queen Blizzards via GrabFood.

Rocky Road Blizzard (Php110). My go-to blizzard order since high school, these are made with DQ’s soft-serve ice cream mixed with cocoa fudge, marshmallows and peanuts. As it happens, I share my taste in DQ Blizzards with both Hubby and my son #ExhibitB.

Oreo Blizzard (Php110). My daughter #ExhibitA’s only choice for her DQ Blizzard, being partial to Oreos herself. These are made with crumbled Oreo cookie pieces mixed into creamy vanilla soft-serve ice cream.

As these are frozen treats, it’s best to eat them as soon as they arrive! (And for heaven’s sake, don’t flip them upside down!) 😜

To get your Blizzards and more from Dairy Queen delivered to your home, call +63 2 89111111, order online, or course your orders through GrabFood, FoodPanda or Lalafood.

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

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

Download the LalaFood App and get a free delivery coupon when you use my code: BEINGJMR53

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

#QuarantineCookbook: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Hey, foodie!

Come on, let’s list the uses for vanilla ice cream!

A dessert on its own
A topping for dessert pies and crumbles
The thing that floats in a root beer float
The thing that makes milk shakes extra decadent
The thing that’s sandwiched when you typically make ice cream sandwiches

I’m sure there are lots more that good ole’ plain vanilla ice cream can contribute to the enjoyment of foodies everywhere.

Surprisingly, I’ve been having trouble finding vanilla ice cream in my neighborhood grocery and convenience stores the past few days. And with the modified enhanced community quarantine just around the corner, I can be sure that ice cream deliveries to these local stores will be delayed.

This is quite unfortunate as I have hankering for pies and shakes that include this treat.

Since necessity is the mother of invention, I decided to make vanilla ice cream myself.

Here’s how:

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup milk + 1/2 cup all-purpose cream (my substitute for the 1 cup half-and-half that the original recipe called for)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp vanilla

Procedure:

Combine the milk, all-purpose cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Mix until well blended.

In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until it begins to double in volume or form stiff peaks.

Mix in the vanilla mixture until well combined.

Freeze overnight.

Now, I have vanilla ice cream ready to use for pies and milkshakes!

Try this recipe out for yourself!

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out while in quarantine? Check out my other kitchen adventures:

The Jelly List: Father’s Day gift ideas for your foodie dad

They say a dad is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love.

There’s no doubt that our fathers play a very important role in our lives. With Father’s Day coming in a few days, it’s time to think about what to give our dads as little tokens of our love and appreciation for all they have done and continue to do for us.

This task is even easier if our dads have a great love and regard for good food. Luckily, we have an abundance of great food choices that can be delivered straight to Dad’s doorstep to delight him come Father’s Day.

Let me share with you my top picks:

Pampanga’s Famous Cheesebread from LBS Bakeshop

If Daddy ever tasted Pampanga’s famous cheese bread, I’ll bet that he will be craving for more. As luck would have it, this delicacy is now easily available in the metro. At just Php299 for a box of thirty pieces of cheese bread, he can eat his fill of this yummy pastry from Pampanga’s LBS Bakeshop.

To order, just send a message through Facebook or Viber +63 999 8233340.

Papa Diddi’s now offers ice cream cakes

Local ice cream brand Papa Diddi’s released its latest offering just in time for Father’s Day. Dubbed “Sweet Origins”, the handcrafted ice cream company is venturing into ice cream cakes, with 3 initial flavors – its signature flavor, Tres Leches made with condensada, carabao’s milk and coconut milk paired with a vanilla cake, Choco Lovin – a dark chocolate delight made with Batangas tablea punctuated with choco chips, matched with chocolate cake for that full dark chocolatey experience. Roasted strawberry ice cream with vanilla cake completes the new offering.

As the whole ice cream shop is a tribute to the owner’s late father, the company’s main Sorbetero, Paul Perez feels introducing it this Father’s Day is the most opportune time, despite the current lockdown.

“Though honoring our fathers should be an everyday thing, Father’s Day is a great way to show how you truly value your father in your life – and giving him something special – such as an ice cream cake, is one way of showing this.”

Papa Diddi’s is looking at expanding its cake line beyond just ice cream cakes, but to also include traditional cakes and pastries. As local flavors are the usual inspiration for most of its ice cream offering since it started in Maginhawa Street in 2015, the new cake line will follow the same thought – and as Perez teased “we always add a twist, thus our cake line will be something worth looking forward to.”

All the ice cream cakes are packed in 6 x2 inches bronze tin can and are priced at 500 pesos each. Same-day delivery can be made available as long as its orders come before 1PM.

Papa Didi’s branches are located at:

168 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City
Pobstacion, Valdez St. Poblacion, Makati City
4F Eastwood Citywalk 2, Libis, Quezon City
3F The Block, SM North Edsa, Quezon City
UGF SM Southmall, Las Pinas

Papa Diddi’s Handcrafted Ice Cream is a homegrown, handcrafted, heartfelt ice cream, proudly using fresh carabaos milk & select produce from farms, markets and gardens all over the Philippines.

For more details on Papa Diddi’s product offerings, check out its Facebook and Instagram accounts. It also delivers via FoodPanda.

Product details and images provided by Papa Diddi’s in a recent press release.

#QuarantineCookbook: Homemade Avocado Ice Cream Cake

Relief from this summer’s oppressive heat and humidity is few and far between.

It makes me want to cool down with some frozen treat. How about you?

Well, since I recently learned how to make homemade ice cream, I set about learning how to add a twist to it: make it into a cake!

And of course, I just had to try it with my favorite fruit: the avocado!

This fruit has been having quite a resurgence lately, appearing in a variety of trendy and previously unheard-of dishes from toasts to pastas. However, the avocado’s real siren call to me is as a dessert. Its rich and creamy texture, as well as its earthy flavor make the avocado absolutely sensational when sweetened, making it a great showcase ingredients for desserts such as this homemade avocado ice cream cake.

It turned out to be so easy!

Ingredients:

For the crust:

2 cups crushed Christia toasted bread (can be replaced by an equal amount of crushed Graham crackers)
1 stick of softened butter
3 tbsp white sugar

For the ice cream:

1 cup avocado puree (made by pureeing the flesh of two ripe avocados in a blender)
1 300ml can of condensed milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream

Procedure:

In a bowl, combine the crushed Christia toasted bread, butter and sugar. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom of two 6″ x 2″ cake tins then set aside.

In another bowl, mix together the avocado puree, the condensed milk and heavy cream at low speed until the ingredients are well-combined and the mixture begins to thicken.

Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue mixing until the mixture forms stiff peaks.

Transfer the mixture into the prepared cake tins, gently pressing the mixture into the containers and smoothing out the top using a spatula.

Freeze for at least six hours or overnight.

What you get is a wonderful creamy blend of avocado sweetness and crumbly buttery crust with each spoonful. My kids (and I!) absolutely love it!

Well, it sure looks like I’ve got new favorite dessert!

Plus, wouldn’t you know it! You can use this recipe to make other fruit-based ice cream cakes! You might need to adjust the amount of condensed milk you use depending on the native sweetness of the fruit you’re using. Check them out:

Mango!

Banana!

Strawberry!

If ever you need to bring dessert to a potluck party or want to give out ice cream cakes as gifts, you know you can always whip ’em up in a jiffy.

Which fruits would you like to make into homemade ice cream cakes? Try this recipe with your favorite fruit and let me know how it turns out.

PS: Truth be told, the recipe originally called for Graham crackers but after scouring through three supermarkets looking for this out-of-stock item, I decided to use Christia toasted bread as a substitute. It had a buttery flavor and a more crumbly texture that went well with the ice cream. Still, if you want a more conventional crust for your ice cream cake, you may opt to stick to the crushed Graham crackers.

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out while in quarantine? Check out my other recipes:

The Jelly List: Desserts for Delivery During Quarantine

How are your sweet cravings, foodies?

Sugar addicts like me are sure to be missing their usual dessert places with many restos and cafes closing shop during the enhanced community quarantine.

If your usual dessert haunts are currently inaccessible, you’ll be happy to know that desserts and baked goodies from these stores are available for delivery.

1. Cookies from Sugar Creations by Alex

“C is for cookie. That’s good enough for me.”

For all you Cookie Monsters out there, mommy Alex whips up crave-worthy cookies like Dark Chocolate, Dark Oatmeal, Classic Chocolate Chip and Smookies.

To order, call +63 988 5447945, or send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

2. Breads from Chloe Creations Bakeshop

Even if you’re working from home, you can still use a coffee break.

Have a few pieces of Ubechizdesal or a slice or two of Banana Loaf to go with your favorite cuppa.

To order, call + 63 915 3196411 or send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

3. Cakes from Carla Kusinera

C’mon… you know there’s always room for dessert! There’s nothing like a sweet treat to cap off a great meal.

So how about a slice of Carla Kusinera’s light and fluffy Creme Brulee Cake or decadent Chocolate Cake?

To order, call +63 917 5638785 or send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

4. Mocha Dalgona Avocado Gelato from What’s Your Flan?

With the summer heat intensifying, what we sometimes need is to cool down with a a frozen treat.

Indulge yourself with a tin of Mocha Dalgona Avocado Gelato (with real Dalgona candies) from What’s Your Flan?!

To order, call +63 916 4978876 or send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

5. Burnt Basque Cheesecake from Sweet Samthings

My birthday-in-quarantine was still a happy one with this lusciously milky and custardy Burnt Basque Cheesecake from Sweet Samthings.

To order, call +63 917 6183443 or send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

6. Apple Pie from Yellowbakerbug

Want a taste of home-style apple pie? I know I did last Mother’s Day!

That smell of cinnamon that wafted from the crumbly and sweetly spiced pastry from Yellowbakerbug got me and the fam salivating! Its crisp apple slices and buttery crumb topping make it a perfect dessert for my Mother’s Day meal.

To order, send a message via Instagram or Facebook.

Now you know who to call to sate your sweet cravings during quarantine!

Thanks to Harvard of AlwaysHungryPH for sharing the goodies from Chloe Creations Bakeshop, Karla Kusinera and What’s Your Flan?

Check out my other adventures compiled into Jelly Lists:

#QuarantineCookbook: Homemade Mango Ice Cream

How’s your summer going, foodies?

If you’re feeling the summer heat like I am, you might be craving for some lusciously decadent ice cream packed with the flavors of summer.

And what can be more summer-y than mango? Ooh, just imagine the sweetness of ripe mango bursting in your mouth from the cold, soothing silkiness of ice cream.

If only it was more readily available, right?

I usually had to go to large supermarkets or specialty stores to get a tub of mango ice cream. However, with the enhanced community quarantine, stores would have a lot more difficulty keeping it in stock.

Well, thanks to my mommy, I found out how to keep my own stock of yummy mango ice cream: I just have to make it myself!

Mommy made me a batch of homemade mango ice cream for my birthday. What’s even better is that she gave me the recipe!

It’s actually quite simple. Check it out!

Ingredients:

1 cup of mango puree (made by blending the flesh of two ripe mangoes in a blender)
1 300ml can of condensed milk
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
2 drops of yellow food coloring

Procedure:

In a bowl, mix together the mango puree, condensed milk and heavy cream at low speed until the mixture begins to thicken.
Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue mixing until the mixture forms stiff peaks.
While mixing, food coloring.
Transfer the mixture into a small loaf pan or ice cream tub, gently pressing the mixture into the container using a spatula.
Freeze for at least six hours or overnight

This recipe serves four, at approximately 680 calories per serving.

You might be wondering if you can substitute all-purpose cream for the whipping cream. I wouldn’t recommend it because you would be sacrificing the ice cream-like consistency. Whipping cream has a higher fat percentage which makes it suitable for desserts such as this.

Now, I just need to stock up on ingredients and I know I can easily whip this up and have my mango ice cream fix whenever the craving hits!

Check out my other recipes:

Quick and yummy desserts at Avocadoria.PH

Long before it made its way on top of toasted bread and became a trending food item, I’ve been a fan of the avocado.

Avocado has a rich and creamy texture and an earthy flavor that becomes phenomenal when sweetened which makes it an ideal showcase ingredient for desserts.

Local dessert chain Avocadoria.PH took advantage of this fruit’s qualities and designed frozen dessert items that can be enjoyed by avocado fans quick and easy.

These include:

Avocado Lover (Php110 for 8oz | Php125 for 12oz). My favorite among Avocadoria.PH’s offerings, this consists of layers of homemade avocadonice cream, crushed biscuits, tapioca pearls, avocado chunks, chopped almonds with a bit flax and chia seeds.

Avocado Shake (Php170). An ice-blended drink made with avocado served with tapioca pearls, topped with chia and flax seeds, chopped almonds and fresh avocado.

Avocado Senyorita (Php98). Premium avocado ice cream covered in dark or white chocolate and studded crunchy pieces of premium nuts.

Given these examples, is there any doubt on why the avocado is among my favorite fruits?

Avocadoria.PH branches in the metro are located at:

Pasig: Tiendesitas, SM Center Pasig, Robinsons Metro East, Ayala Malls The 30th, Ayala Malls Feliz
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA Central Pavilion, SM Light Mall, Forum Robinsons
San Juan: Greenhills Shopping Center
Quezon City: Robinsons Galleria, Eastwood Citywalk 2, Ali Mall Cubao, Farmers Plaza Cubao, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Fisher Mall, SM North EDSA, Walter Mart North EDSA, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Robinsons Novaliches, Ayala Fairview Terraces
Marikina: SM City Marikina, Riverbanks Center, Ayala Malls Marikina, Dona Aurora Parang
Taguig: Market! Market!, Food District Signatures on the 5th
Makati: Ayala Mall Circuit, Glorietta 3, Philamlife Tower, San Lorenzo Place Condominium
Manila: The One Grand Center Sampaloc, Robinsons Place Manila, SM City San Lazaro, Lucky Chinatown
Pasay: Ayala Malls Manila Bay,
Paranaque: SM City Bicutan, SM City BF Paranaque, SM City Sucat
Caloocan: SM Center Sangandaan
Malabon: Fisher Mall
Valenzuela: SM City Valenzuela
Las Pinas: SM Southmall, Vista Mall Las Pinas, Ayala Center Las Pinas
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Starmall Alabang, Festival Mall, Ayala Malls South Park Alabang

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

Avocado Ice Cream Cheesecake from Avocadoria.PH

Avocado remains one of my favorite fruits ever.

Some of my favorite foodie memories when I was growing up involved my mom preparing a simple dessert made of avocado, sugar, evaporated milk and ice cubes. This was done only within the rainy season because that’s the only time avocados are available.

Now, thanks to modern farming technology, fresh avocados are readily available practically throughout the year.

It also gave rise to the popularity of avocado-based desserts such as those found in Avocadoria.PH.

This dessert chain prides itself on its delicious dessert products made with fresh avocados and other premium ingredients. It also helps local avocado farmers by creating possibilities for use of their harvests and by recycling discarded avocado skins to be mixed with fertilizers used by the farmers.

For foodies like me, it provides more ways to enjoy our favorite fruit.

Take the Avocado Ice Cream Cheesecake (Php550), for example. It’s a great pasalubong for the family or a gift for loved ones during special occasions.

Made with smooth and creamy avocado-flavored cream cheese filling on top of crushed graham crackers and topped with a layer of white chocolate studded with chopped nuts such as pistachios, almonds, cashews and walnuts, every spoonful of this cheesecake is a study in delectable contrasts of tastes and textures.

I’d love to get my hands on another tin of this lovely dessert so I can sate my avocado craving again!

This Avocadoria.PH stall is located at Level 1, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

Other stalls in the metro are located at:

Pasig: Tiendesitas, SM Center Pasig, Robinsons Metro East, Ayala Malls The 30th, Ayala Malls Feliz
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA Central Pavilion, SM Light Mall, Forum Robinsons
San Juan: Greenhills Shopping Center
Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk 2, Ali Mall Cubao, Farmers Plaza Cubao, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Fisher Mall, SM North EDSA, Walter Mart North EDSA, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Robinsons Novaliches, Ayala Fairview Terraces
Marikina: SM City Marikina, Riverbanks Center, Ayala Malls Marikina, Dona Aurora Parang
Taguig: Market! Market!, Food District Signatures on the 5th
Makati: Ayala Mall Circuit, Glorietta 3, Philamlife Tower, San Lorenzo Place Condominium
Manila: The One Grand Center Sampaloc, Robinsons Place Manila, SM City San Lazaro, Lucky Chinatown
Pasay: Ayala Malls Manila Bay,
Paranaque: SM City Bicutan, SM City BF Paranaque, SM City Sucat
Caloocan: SM Center Sangandaan
Malabon: Fisher Mall
Valenzuela: SM City Valenzuela
Las Pinas: SM Southmall, Vista Mall Las Pinas, Ayala Center Las Pinas
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Starmall Alabang, Festival Mall, Ayala Malls South Park Alabang

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

Milk Tea and Ice Cream Combo at Dairy Queen, Greenfield District

Feeling down? Or hot, for that matter?

I find that a bit of a cold treat can both lift my spirits and cool me down. With the summer season sneaking in, my preferences run to either milk teas or ice cream.

Why not both?

At Dairy Queen branch in The Portal Greenfield District, I was able to sample DQ’s new Brown Sugar Milk Tea series which brings a milk tea twist to our favorite frozen dessert.

Check them out:

Oreo Freeze (Php99 for 12oz | Php119 for 16oz). An ice-blended beverage flavored with milk tea, brown sugar syrup, popping boba, fresh milk and topped with DQ’s soft-serve ice cream and whipped cream, generously laden with crushed Oreos.

Popping Boba Float (Php109 for 12oz | Php119 for 16oz). Made with milk tea swirled with brown sugar syrup, pearls, milk and a helping of DQ’s soft-serve vanilla ice cream.

DQ is where I had my first taste of blizzards – soft-serve ice cream mechanically blended with mix-ins, served upside-down or they’re free – and this new series comes with two brown sugar milk tea-flavored blizzards.

Brown Sugar Oreo Blizzard (Php59 for mini | Php95 for regular | Php109 medium | Php139 for large). Made with vanilla ice-cream blitzed with crushed Oreos and brown sugar syrup.

Popping Coffee Boba Blizzard (Php59 for mini | Php95 for regular | Php109 medium | Php139 for large). Made with coffee ice cream with milk tea flavor, brown sugar syrup and popping boba.

The crowning gem of the series is the Ultimate Milk Tea Parfait (Php129 for 12oz). It’s made with layers of vanilla ice cream, brown sugar syrup and milk tea powder.

With its Brown Sugar Milk Tea series, Dairy Queen is sure to usher in a cool and yummy summer.

Many thanks to Kaycee of DateForTwo for extending DQ’s invitation!

This Dairy Queen branch is located at The Portal, Greenfield District, Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, open from 10am to 7pm during the community quarantine for takeout and delivery via FoodPanda.

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

Other Dairy Queen outlets are located at:

Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, SM Light Mall, Forum Robinsons
Pasig: SM City East Ortigas, Robinsons Metro East, Ayala Malls The 30th
Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk 1, Robinsons Galleria, Ali Mall Cubao, Cyberpark Towers Cubao, Kia Theater Cubao, Gateway Mall Cubao, Robinsons Magnolia, Fisher Mall, Trinoma Mall, SM City North EDSA, SM Cherry Congressional, SM City Novaliches, SM City Fairview, Robinsons Novaliches, Ayala Fairview Terraces
Marikina: SM City Marikina, Riverbanks Center, SM Sta. Mesa
San Juan: Theater Mall Greenhills
Taguig: Market! Market! BGC, St. Luke’s Medical Center BGC, Venice Grand Mall
Makati: Glorietta, Paseo Center, Alphaland Makati Place, Makati Medical Center, Alphaland Southgate Mall, Waltermart Makati
Paranaque: NAIA Terminal 3, SM City Bicutan, Okada Manila Entertainment City, SM City Sucat
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila, SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, Tutuban Center Mall, 168 Shopping Mall
Pasay: Blue Bay Walk MOA Complex, Main Mall SM Mall of Asia
Caloocan: SM Center Sangandaan
Valenzuela: SM City Valenzuela
Las Pinas: SM Southmall, SM Center Las Pinas
Alabang: Alabang Town Center, Starmall Alabang
Muntinlupa: Festival Mall

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

Great games and grub at Grid x Griddle, Greenfield District

Being a foodie, dining out and the discovery new and tasty dishes are synonymous to having fun.

But what if the food was only part of the fun?

At Grid x Griddle Gastrolounge and Gaming (also known as GxG), diners can enjoy delicious Asian-Western fusion dishes while enjoying their favorite board or card games.

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I visited GxG to check out its food offerings.

Opened in 2017, the restaurant is owned by avid board gamers. Its name even gives a clue to this fact: “grid” comes from the network of squares found in boardgames, while “griddle” refers to the flat metal plate used in cooking burgers, bacon and pancakes, among others.

Step inside and you will enter a world where gamers reign supreme. (Note: By gamers, I mean analog ones who use cards and boards, rather than those who use consoles or PCs.) The first floor is dominated by the bar and a high shelf of games, while the second floor give the diners a choice between dining and gaming on the floor seated on colorful cushions, or at regular tables and chairs. Either way, you have access to an expansive array of board games and card games, some of which were part of the owners’ private collection while others were acquired specifically for the resto.

To play, each person just has to order one dish (not including soups, salads or desserts) or pay Php250 consumable.

Curious about the grub available here? Check these out:

Truffle Mushroom Soup (Php170). Sauteed mushrooms in truffle-flavored cream. Its rich truffle aroma got us salivating.

GxG Fries (Php270). Crisp deep-fried potato fries topped with gently swaying bonita flakes, an American dish cooked and presented in a Japanese way.

Calamari (Php275). Strips of giant squid marinated in salt and pepper, lightly battered then deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown and served with GxG’s own house-made bagoong aioli and vinegar.

Longganisa All-Day Breakfast (Php290). Flavorful links of longganisa from Isabela served with two sunny-side-up, garlic rice, buttered vegetables and iced tea.

Sweet Basi Adobo Glazed Chicken (Php340). A juicy quarter leg of chicken cooked sous vide glazed in GxG’s special adobo sauce made with basi, an alcoholic beverage originating from Ilocos made from fermented sugarcane, and served with garlic rice, vegetables, demi-glace sauce and strips of mango which provide a sweet-sour counterpoint to the salty adobo.

GxG Pasta (Php250). The pasta dish with a decidedly local flavor due to the salted egg and tinapa (smoked fish) incorporated in the sauce.

Truffle Pasta (Php290). A creamy truffle pasta topped with bacon and parmesan cheese.

GxG Pizza (Php260). Native ensalata ingredients such as dilis, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, bagoong and ripe mango on top of a crisp thin pizza crust. This is (surprisingly!) best enjoyed when dipped in vinegar.

Durian Espresso Ice Cream (Php150). The infamously odoriferous fruit is only (thankfully!) subtly hinted at in this house-made frozen confection. What really stands out is its coffee flavor, well-complemented by a generous drizzling chocolate sauce, as well as crushed graham crackers and polvoron for added texture.

GxG also boasts of coffee- and non-coffee-based beverages such as Chocolate Frappe (Php140), Dark Hazelnut Latte Frappe (Php160) and Cafe Mocha (Php140).

If you’re looking for a refreshingly cool drink to go with your meal, you can’t go wrong with the Fresh Lemonade (Php80) or Iced Tea (Php70).

Whether you’re here for the games or the grub, you’re definitely in for a good time.

Thanks to Chef Gerard Martial and the GxG staff for the warm welcome and the good food!

Grid x Griddle Gastrolounge and Gaming is located at The Hub, Mayflower Street, Greenfield District, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, open daily Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11am to 12 midnight, Fridays to Saturdays from 4pm to 2am, and Sundays from 4pm to 12 midnight. For inquiries, reservations or to order food for delivery, call +63 927 8794686.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held here. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Sweet temptation at Miguelito’s Hyped Mangoes, Tomas Morato

The metro seems to be in the midst of a mango mania with mango desserts and drinks (at last!) taking center stage.

And why shouldn’t they?

The unofficial national fruit is known for its succulent and juicy sweetness, and our homegrown mangoes are among the best globally.

It’s therefore no surprise, that after lunch at Il Terrazzo with my friends, I veered away from my original quest to get myself a cup of healthy lemon juice from a nearby stall and instead ran down to the Miguelito’s Hyped Mangoes stall.

For one thing, Papa Piolo (or at least, a tarpaulin-mounted likeness of him) was there beckoning me with his limpid eyes and his sweet smile, promising me the health benefits of mangoes, which are a source of:

Vitamin C to boost the immune system
Vitamin A to improve vision
Healthy probiotic fiber
Potassium and Magnesium

Also, these mango offerings are also quite affordable. My chosen dessert, a Mango Supreme, is 16 ounces of soft-serve mango ice cream, topped with chopped mango and mango syrup, all for only Php65!