Garden Dining while at home

With this seemingly endless loop of heightened and then loosened quarantine restrictions, many among the restaurant and hospitality have had to rethink the way they do business.

One of these is Manila Ocean Park’s White Moon Bar.

In operations for the past ten years, White Moon Bar has provided its clientele with an outstanding menu of gourmet dishes and spirits to be enjoyed while watching the Manila Bay sunset or under the starlit night sky.

Garden Dining by White Moon Bar

In May of this year, it pivoted its operations to cater to patrons who have been looking forward to dining out since the quarantines started by opening its outdoor restaurant, Garden Dining. It took advantage of Manila Ocean Park’s sprawling grounds where diners can enjoy the delicious creations of Chef Ranuka Hettiarachchi in comfort while observing safety and physical distancing protocols.

Garden Dining by White Moon Bar

Garden Dining by White Moon Bar

Garden Dining by White Moon Bar

Once again, Garden Dining by White Moon Bar has adapted to the current re-tightening of quarantine restrictions in the metro by offering a diverse menu of delicious and nourishing, yet very affordable, dishes curated by its renowned chef and making these available online. These delectable dishes are available for delivery, pickup and takeout so that diners may enjoy them in the safety and comfort of their own home.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

With this, Garden Dining by White Moon Bar has expanded its market to include not just diners who miss going to restaurants, but also busy working professionals and families with little time to cook.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

These include tasty and comforting dishes such as:

Bulalo Steak (Php450). Batangas beef shank braised in roasted garlic sauce along with sweet corn, Baguio beans, cabbage and pechay, served with Java Rice.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Spicy Korean-Style Pork Belly (Php290). Tender slices of pork belly glazed with a spicy Korean chili sauce served with fried potato wedges, mixed salad and spicy mayo dip.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Chicken Inasal (Php220). Chicken thigh fillet marinated in lemongrass then grilled and served with fried potato wedges, mixed salad and toyo calamansi dip.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings (Php200). Crispy and deep-fried chicken wings glazed in sriracha and chili oil and served with pechay and Java Rice.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Kimchi Fried Rice (Php230). Kimchi and steamed rice stir-fried in a wok along with sliced pork, spring onions, fried egg, toasted sesame and fried seaweed.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Leche Flan (Php180). The Pinoy version of the classic baked egg custard with caramel.

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

If the thought of these dishes are making your mouth water, you might want to order a Mukbang Set that includes all of these at only Php1,099!

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Check out more Mukbang sets and ala carte dishes that you can savor at home with your family!

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar)

Garden Dining by White Moon Bar is open daily from 11am to 9pm. You may course your orders online or call +63 917 8753292 for delivery in areas within Manila and Pasay with payments via credit card accepted. Orders may also be coursed through the Manila Ocean Park takeout counter, with payments via cash and credit card accepted.

Disclosure: Food samples were provided to facilitate the dining experience for this feature article.

Classic Negrense cuisine at JT’s Manukan Grille, Tomas Morato

One particularly rainy day, a coworker was craving for barbecue for lunch. Well, for me, barbecue as the main highlight of the lunch meal would be too basic (Yes, sometimes, I’m a diva like that!)

After much debate, our group decided to have lunch at the nearby JT’s Manukan Grille to get the best of both worlds.  She can have the pork barbecue she has been craving for while I get to experience authentic Bacolod chicken inasal.

The restaurant was started by award-winning character actor Joel Torre (hence the name “JT”) and his wife, Cristy.  From its humble beginnings as a takeout counter, the brand has grown to eighteen outlets all over the metro.

The restaurant operates on four principles: masarap (delicious), mura (affordable), malinis (clean) and masaya (happy).  All of these principles came into play during our meal.

Located at the corner of Sgt. Esguerra Avenue and Scout Borromeo Street, the restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating areas.  It is marked by decor that denote its Negrense origins such as the Masskara masks painted on the walls and its association with the actor such as movie posters and that fun wall mural that offers a fresh take on The Last Supper that adorn many Filipino dining rooms.

JT’s Manukan, Tomas Morato

JT’s Manukan, Tomas Morato

JT’s Manukan, Tomas Morato

Chicken inasal is made of chicken pieces marinated in a mixture of calamansi, pepper, coconut vinegar and annatto then grilled over hot coals while being basted with the marinade. 

Our orders included Paa (chicken leg and thigh – Php120), Pecho (chicken breast and wing – Php135) and Pork Barbecue (Php35 per stick), which we enjoyed together with lots of chicken oil, the soy sauce with calamansi and chili pepper dipping sauce, flavorful garlic rice and bowl of hot broth.

JT’s Manukan, Tomas Morato

I also got myself an Allmytea Iced Tea (Php50 for single serve | Php70 bottomless) which is a good partner for the inasal.

JT’s Manukan, Tomas Morato

See? Sometimes, we can have the best of both worlds!

This JT’s Manukan Grille branch is located at Scout Borromeo corner Scout Ybardolosa Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9288085.

Other branches in Metro Manila are located in:

  • Quezon City: Valencia, Banawe, Libis, Eton Centris, Novaliches, Project 8, Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Blue Ridge
  • Makati City: Bel Air, Makati Central Square
  • BGC: Justice Drive, Sapphire Residence Tower
  • Pasig: Ortigas Home Depot
  • Manila: Ermita
  • Paranaque: Victory Food Market