indian food – Jellybeans in the City

A taste of authentic Indian cuisine at Annapoorna, Quezon City

For a long time, I thought that Indian food is not for me. Having grown up with an aversion to spicy viands, as well as a strong bias towards my mom’s Pinoy home cooking combined with Western fare courtesy of movies and TV shows, South Asian cuisine to me was as exotic and almost alien as food can get.

Thankfully, I later developed a more adventurous palate, thanks largely to my husband who, over the years, took the necessary pains to introduce me to food items that have a little more kick to them.

It just so happens that one of his favorite cuisines is Indian food.

So when Annapoorna opened its branch right across my office building, I was more than ready to give it a try.

Indian cuisine is a celebration of diversity, with each region boasting its own unique culinary traditions and signature dishes. Fortunately, when Annapoorna serves up these diverse options, it makes them fresh upon order so that spice levels can be customized. This way, aside from bringing an authentic taste of home to its loyal clientele of Indian nationals residing nearby, it also allows us Pinoys who are unfamiliar with Indian food to easily expand our culinary horizons with its offerings.

Curious on delicious dishes that await at Annapoorna? Check these out:

viber_image_2024-04-26_22-05-30-557 — A sumptuous array of flavors at your fingertips at Annapoorna!

From personal experience, exploring new and unfamiliar cuisines may seem daunting at first, but, if my foray into Indian cuisine at Annapoorna is anything to go by, the delicious discoveries you’re bound to make are definitely well worth the effort!

Here are some tips to prime you up for this extraordinary gustatory experience and make your dining journey at Annapoorna even more memorable:

Start mild. Indian food may be known for its myriad of spices but it does include milder dishes like Butter Chicken and Malai Chicken tikka to get you started. Ask the staff for recommendations or request for milder versions of the spicier dishes.
Use your hands. Annapoorna’s naans are great for scooping up meats and dipping into flavorful sauces.
Enjoy the accompaniments. You’ll notice that most of the dishes are accompanied by dips and sauces that add a whole new dimension of flavors to the dishes.
Bring your friends and fam along. Most of Annapoorna’s dishes are good for two to three people so go ahead and share the experience with your loved ones.

Head over to Annapoorna’s branches for a taste of delicious and authentic Indian cooking, open for dine-in and orders from 11am to 1am:

Unit 4, Gateway Regency, Robinsons Pioneer, Mandaluyong (Tel: +63 966 1443154; Follow on Facebook and Instagram)
Mother Ignacia Avenue across ELJ Communication Center, Quezon City (Tel: +63 977 0642263; Follow on Facebook and Instagram)

Photo Credit: Selected individual food shots courtesy of Glenn of The Adventures of Jogpen.

Novotel’s Prana Indian Cuisine hosts Taj Uncorked: An Indian Champagne Dinner

Indian food has long been celebrated for its creative use of healthy ingredients including aromatic spices, as well as its rich and diverse flavors.

However, there is one aspect of this exotic cuisine that is largely unexplored: how it pairs with western wines.

Well, Novotel Manila Araneta City’s Executive Chef Massimiliano Pauletto recently brought this extraordinary experience to selected guests with Taj Uncorked: An Indian Champagne Dinner held at the hotel’s restaurant, Prana Indian Cuisine.

Together with my husband (an avid lover of Indian food!), I was able to join this gastronomic exploration consisting of dishes especially crafted by Prana’s very own Indian Masterchef Rajan Veeranan and variants of Champagne Deutz Ram’s House of Wine.

Champagne does significantly add to the enjoyment of Indian cuisine, thanks to its versatility; its acidity and bubbly nature complements the complex flavors and contrasts with the rich and creamy textures of various Indian dishes. It also acting as a palate cleanser in between bites, allowing diners to fully savor and appreciate the nuances of every dish. Champagne’s fruity tones also harmonize well with the aromatic herbs and spices used in Indian cooking.

Chef Rajan’s multi-course dinner included these masterpieces:

Cocktails

Served at the restaurant’s anteroom with generous refills of Deutz Brut Classic, these whetted our appetites for the rest of Prana’s culinary creations yet to be unveiled.

Appetizer (Kshudaavardhak)

Panch Phoran Tandoori Jhinga. Succulent tandoori prawns, marinated in a blend of yogurt, five aromatic spices, and fragrant herbs and expertly cooked in a traditional clay oven, resulting in a delightful combination of smokiness and tenderness on a bed ofluscious broccoli cashew nut puree.

Afghani Murgh Kebab. Tender grilled chicken, meticulously cooked in a clay oven and served accompanied by a velvety blend of mashed chickpeas and a decadent mix of cream infused with cashew, pepper, melon, and poppy seeds.

Paired with Deutz Brut Classic.

Soup (Shoraba)

Murgh Makhanwala. Tandoori chicken bathed in a luxurious buttery gravy, enriched with cream and an array of aromatic spices and served in a velvety almond broth together with freshly made naan.

Paired with Amour de Deutz Brut Millesime 2011.

Main Course (Men Kors)

Lamb Nihari with Saffron Biryani Rice. Slow-cooked meat stew, delicately infused with a medley of aromatic spices and Indian-style durum whole wheat flour accompanied by fragrant saffron-infused biryani rice.

Paired with Amour de Deutz Brut Millesime 2011.

Dessert (Mithaee)

Sweet endings to a wonderful meal which includes a White Chocolate Gelato garnished with saffron and cardamon and Petit Fours consisting of filled white chocolate dome and French Macarons and Italian-style Dark Chocolate Cookie.

Ready to explore the bold flavors and textures of Indian cuisine? Be sure to drop by Prana Indian Cuisine located at the Ground Floor of Novotel Manila Araneta City, General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta City, Quezon City. For inquiries, call +63 2 89907888 or email H7090@accor.com.

Know more about the hotel and its restaurants by visiting its website or following Novotel Manila Araneta City on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Novotel Manila Araneta City:

5 reasons why Novotel is your family’s staycation destination

Four reasons to gather and celebrate at Food Exchange Manila, Novotel Manila Araneta

Ice cream indulgence at Indulge, Novotel Manila Araneta

Weekly Italian gastronomic treats from Novotel’s “secret ingredient”: Chef Massi Pauletto

Authentic Indian cuisine at New Bombay, BGC

Considering that Indian cuisine has always been cited as one of the most delicious in the world, it is a wonder that it is not listed among my favorites.

I would probably blame it on a particularly spicy curry dish which was served to me when I was young, which then turned me off the entire culinary tradition for quite some time.

Articles from various food mavens attribute the appeal of Indian cuisine to its healthy ingredients (lots of vegetarian dishes!), its use of a wide array of fresh spices and its practice of combining contrasting flavors in its dishes.

Well, Hubby is an Indian food fan, who for over fifteen years marriage, has been largely unsuccessful in converting me to Indian food.

Until recently, that is.

While we were running some arounds around Bonifacio Global City, Hubby took the opportunity to introduce my daughter #ExhibitA and I to Indian cuisine at New Bombay.

Here, we enjoyed a flavorful lunch which consisted of:

Vegetable Kadai (Php355). Delicately spiced North Indian dish made of assorted vegetables cooked in a red gravy using the Indian equivalent of the wok, called the kadai, from which the dish gets its name.

Butter Naan (Php95). A butter-infused yeast-leavened white flour bread baked in a clay oven called tandoor.

Chef’s Special – Mutton Dry (Php395). Mutton sauteed in various Indian spices and served dry with a special desi gravy on the side. I paired this with the butter naan by wrapping mutton morsels in pieces I tore off the naan.

Chicken Biryani (Php395). Delicious Indian rice dish made with basmati rice layered with chicken pieces and spices then steamed together to produce an aromatic and flavorful viand with a subtle heat.

Lassi (Php125). Sweet blended drink made with fruit, yogurt and spices.

Since we were able to request the kitchen to set the spiciness of the dishes to very mild, we were able to enjoy their exotic flavors and the slight tickling sensation of heat in palates.

Now, I wouldn’t mind trying out more of Indian cuisine in my future foodie adventures.

This New Bombay branch is located at the Second Floor, Crossroads Building, corner 32nd and 7th Avenues, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (beside MC Home Depot). For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82451609, +63 939 1142481 or +63 916 2291470.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Sagittarius Building, HV Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 88192892 | +63 2 88043788 | +63 939 1197794 | +63 906 2711300)
Ground Floor, Glorietta 3 Ayala Center, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 89868622 | + 63 916 2291445)
Fifth Floor, The Podium Mall, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City (Tel: 63 2 86374367 | +63 939 1108623 | +63 916 2291445)

Timberland Highlands Resort’s Ridge Cafe introduces Arabic Dinner Buffet

Would you like to give in to your flights of fancy and embark on an exciting journey?

A journey among extraordinary flavors, that is. 🙂

Well, head on then to Ridge Cafe at Timberland Highlands Resort up in the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the fresh mountain air as you dine in style, thanks to its opulent interiors and al fresco area overlooking the metro.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Resort — Ridge Cafe from outside

Here, your tastebuds can certainly go on a flavor tour, thanks to its recently unveiled Arabic Dinner Buffet.

Expanding gastronomic possibilities in the Rizal area

Every Saturday, from 6m to 9pm, you can eat your fill of flavorful and nutritious viands that boast of having Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian origins, as well as free-flowing iced tea, all for just Php980++.

This exciting culinary curation is the brainchild of Timberland Highlands Resort’s new Executive Chef, Ranuka Hettiarachchi, who sought to include healthy Mediterranean dishes in Ridge Cafe’s buffet, as well as providing guests with vegan and vegetarian diets with suitable options.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Buffet — A preview to the Arabic Dinner

Also, given that restaurants offering Arabic food are not that common in the Rizal area, local residents now have a new convenient destination if they want to expand their food horizons.

Representing exotic flavors from the Mediterranean and Arabic regions

Ridge Cafe’s Arabic Dinner Buffet presents travel-hungry foodies with the opportunity to enjoy signature dishes of regions such as Greece, the Middle East, Egypt and South Asia, all cohesively curated and mouthwateringly presented in their respective stations.

Carnivores will be (quite understandably!) drawn to the carving station where beautifully roasted beef striploin and leg of lamb take pride of place, accompanied by roasted veggies and a variety of sauces to choose from.

Those seeking healthier fare can always go to the cold section and check out the fresh salads comprised of crisp greens and veggies as well as filling proteins.

Then diners can hop from station to station to sample distinct tastes from various countries in a virtual food trip across the Mediterranean, Gulf and Indian subcontinent with these flavorful offerings:

Dessert lovers can also look forward to sampling the popular desserts from these regions as well as their favorite sweets in the dessert station.

While you can always take this journey by yourself, it’s best to experience it with family and friends!

Ridge Cafe also offers other buffet meals including:

Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal favorites at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)

To reserve a table, email timberlandfbm@timberlandresort.com or message 0999-889-2659 | 0995-840-3206 | 8891-8288 local 1030 and 1032.

Ridge Cafe is located at Timberland Highlands Resort, inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

To know more about Timberland Highlands Resorts latest updates and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Timberland Highlands Resort:

Go on a virtual food trip with Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia

While I do enjoy traveling to new places here in the country and abroad, what I really look forward to are the new and exciting dishes I get to try.

I do travel through food and whenever possible, I include my family, especially my kids, in the experience. For me, delving into local cuisines is one of the best way to get to know a foreign culture. It paints a picture of the area’s agricultural scene as well as tells the story of its history, food traditions, values and influences.

However, traveling can be quite costly, time-consuming, and during a time a worldwide pandemic, well nigh impossible.

The solution? Going on a virtual food trip at home.

We might not have the means to always be ordering food from various restaurants to be able to go on our virtual food trip, but we can try to whip up exotic dishes ourselves for the fam to enjoy.

If you find cooking foreign cuisines quite intimidating, brush your fears aside. We now have a set of handy kitchen aids that will help us in achieving our lofty culinary goals.

Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia

These new additions to Del Monte’s line of mixes and sauces are set to make cooking exotic dishes so much easier not just for kitchen newbies, but also for more experienced cooks who may not have the time to study unfamiliar recipes.

Perfectly seasoned and blended to approximate the authentic taste of Asian dishes but still appeal to the Pinoy palate, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia packs are made with real ingredients, bringing out real deliciousness in each dish with every bite.

By following the recipes in the packaging like I did, anybody can whip up real sarap Asian dishes at home, while saving on time and effort in securing and preparing various ingredients.

Get ready for your culinary adventure with these!

Teriyaki Marinade 80ml

Teriyaki is a cooking style used in Japanese cuisine wherein food are grilled or boiled with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin and sugar.

Made with real ginger and soy sauce, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Teriyaki Marinade brings out the signature sweet and savory flavors of a Japanese-style Teriyaki dish!

Chicken Teriyaki

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
1 80ml sachet of Del Monte Quick n Easy Teriyaki Marinade
1/4 cup spring onions sliced thinly
1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

Procedure:

Marinate the chicken in Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Teriyaki Marinade for at least 30 minutes.
Place the marinated chicken into skewers
Pan-grill the chicken while basting with the marinade.
Garnish with spring onions and sesame seeds before serving.

This recipe makes 6 servings.

Green Curry Mix 30g

Sweet green curry – also known as kaeng khiao wan – derives its name from the creamy mild green color of the dish brought about by the combination of green chillies and coconut milk.

Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Green Curry Mix contains turmeric, ginger and other spices which brings that fresh taste of Thai-style sweet green curry dish.

Green Curry with Chicken

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
1 30g pack of Del Monte Quick n Easy Green Curry Mix
2 tbsp oil
1 400ml can coconut milk
1 small eggplant, sliced
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 bunch Thai basil leaves

Procedure:

Heat oil and Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Green Curry Mix in a saucepan until fragrant.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add in chicken and simmer in a covered saucepan for 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add eggplant and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add red bell pepper and basil. Simmer for another minute.
Serve and enjoy!

This recipe makes six servings.

Red Curry Mix 40g

Curry originated in the Indian subcontinent with its name coming from the Tamil word kari which refers to a sauce or soup eaten with rice. While Indian cuisine is highly diverse, it is also highly influential: India’s spice trade with Europe sparked the Age of Discovery. Indian cuisine’s influence is present in the food cultures of Britain, the Middle East, Southern and East Africa, Southeast Asia, North America and the Pacific Islands.

Made with real paprika, cayenne and other spices, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Red Curry brings out the spice and richness of Indian-style curry dishes!

Red Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
2 tbsp oil
1 35g pack of Del Monte Quick n Easy Red Curry Mix
1 400ml can coconut milk
1 bunch French beans
1 red bell pepper cut into strips
1/2 cup cilantro

Procedure:

Heat oil and Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Red Curry Mix in a saucepan until fragrant.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add in chicken and simmer in a covered saucepan for 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add French beans and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add red bell pepper and cilantro. Simmer for another minute.
Serve and enjoy!

So if you feel like broadening your culinary horizons, stock up on Del Monte Flavors Asia on Lazada.

Buy Now

Zee Sine brings the best of Bollywood to SKY

Did you know that Bollywood is actually the world’s largest film industry in terms of number of feature films produced?

Bollywood is the more commonly applied term to the Indian Hindi-language film industry. It is also one of the largest centers of film production in the world, with an annual output of 1,986 films in 2017. It also outstrips Hollywood in ticket sales with a reported 3.6 billion tickets sold worldwide in 2001 compared to Hollywood’s 2.6 billion tickets sold.

This industry has produced many onscreen luminaries over the years, with a lot of its current top stars also becoming globally recognized actors and actresses. These include Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Hritik Roshan, Kareen Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and even former beauty queens Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai.

Today, Filipinos can view many of their outstanding feature films dubbed in Tagalog on Zee Sine.

Developed with the tastes and likes of the Filipino audience in mind, Zee Sine has a wide range of content – from drama, comedy, romance, action, thriller and musical – all carefully selected based on stories relatable to the Pinoy audience.

In Zee Sine, the localization process goes as far as creating movie themes such as Unli Tawa Monday for comedies, Hari ng Aksyon Thursday for action flicks, Kilig Monday for romances, Pinoy Bollywood Box Office for blockbusters, Star of the Month which focuses on a key Bollywood actor and Bollywood Divas which give tribute to the gorgeous ladies in the industry.

Zee Sine viewers can also expect three original movies and three original drama series that feature the latest love teams from India on weekdays. On weekends, they can look forward to five original movies, three movie premieres every month.

In a recent media launch event held at Restaurant 9501, representatives of local press as well as lifestyle and entertainment bloggers got a sneak peek of the myriad of movie choices that Zee Sine has to offer.

The attendees were also treated to the bold flavors of Indian dishes prepared by 9501’s Chef Richard Aranas especially for this occasion which included Hummus di Tahini with Chapatti bread, Vegetable Samosas, Aloo Gobi (Potatoes and Cauliflower sauteed in spices), Chicken Tandoori, Beef Vindaloo and the coconut rice pudding dessert Kheer.

According to Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee International Asia Pacific and Africa, Pinoys share the love of color and music in cinema with their Indian counterparts. They can catch these and more in Bollywood movies which feature musical numbers every thirty minutes.

Liza Ginting, country head of Zee Entertainment in the Philippines, cited the similarities of Hindi and Pinoy cultures, such as the supremacy of the mother in the household, which will anchor the appeal of Bollywood movies to local audiences.

SKY’s integrated marketing head Gidgette Faustino, on the other hand, lauds the Pinoy’s openness to global content and sense of adventure when it comes to foreign shows. These will drive SKY to continue bringing more shows and content through its pay TV and broadband platforms.

Zee Sine is part of Zee Entertainment which is available in 173 countries worldwide and entertains over 1.3 billion viewers everyday. Today, Zee Entertainment has three channels targeted towards local audiences in Southeast Asia and ten in other countries across the globe.

To enjoy the Bollywood movies and series on Zee Sine, SKYcable subscribers can add the channel to their lineup via SKYcable Select for only Php20 per month. SKYcable Select allows subscribers to add channel individually or in packs to their basic cable subscription for a customized TV viewing experience.

Zee Sine may be viewed on SKYcable channel 112 in Metro Manila and channel 424 in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod and Iloilo.

For more details on Zee Sine and other SKY products and services, visit mysky.com.ph or visit your nearest SKYzone.

Channel details provided by SKY and Zee Sine in a press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

There’s something for everyone’s craving at Pob Stacion Food Park

For quite a while now, the Poblacion area has been reinventing itself from its previous incarnation as Makati’s red-light district and re-establishing itself as its foodie-friendly haven. Here, foodies can explore various options in food and drink spanning various cuisines and concepts.

If you were to pool some of those eateries together and concentrate them into one easily accessible place, you would have the Pob Stacion Food Park. Located at B. Valdez Street, Barangay Poblacion in Makati, a ten-minute walk from A Venue or Century City Mall, the newly opened multi-storey Pob Stacion houses a variety of concept food stalls that give the park’s visitors wondrous choices for their gastronomic adventure or to soothe their food cravings.

Recently, together with my fellow foodies, I had a taste of what Pob Stacion’s food outlets have to offer. Read on and check out my top picks.

Above Sea Level (Seafood)

As the home of the Giant Butterfly Squid (Php180 with 1 Java rice | Php250 with 2 Java rice | Php350 with 3 Java rice | Php450 with 4 Java rice), they really do serve it up big-time. Lightly battered, well-seasoned and fried to a golden-brown, each enormous squid by itself is good for two people and is best enjoyed with the resto’s vinegar dipping sauce.

If you’re feeling extra hungry or adventurous, add the Seafood Festival (Php380) to your order and bite into mouthwatering crab, shrimps, mussels and corn on a bed of Java rice doused with a buttery crab fat sauce, or the Spicy Squid Sisig (Php180) for a seafood take on the Pampanga delicacy.

Rib Pop (Pinoy-Korean Fusion)

With the Korean food craze firmly entrenched in the Philippine culinary scene, it’s hardly surprising that the two cuisines would mesh together at some point. That point is here at Rib Pop where the best of the two cuisines is highlighted in its Ribpop Sampler (Php400) which consists of its signature dishes: Black Ink Chicken Wings – squid ink bettered fried chicken pieces with spicy tangy sauce, Ribpop Bowl – your choice of rice topped with beef short ribs, and an assortment of banchan – small plates of Korean appetizers.

Octoboy (Japanese)

Who would have thought that Takoyaki (Php70 for 3 pcs | Php140 for 6 pcs), balls made of batter filled with chopped octopus meat, cooked in a specially shaped griddle and served with those wriggling Bonito flakes, would be such a hit with us Pinoys? If you’re on the lookout for something quick, cheap and yummy, Octoboy’s Takoyaki is your best bet.

Tokyo Tempura (Japanese)

Did you know that tempura, the Japanese method of deep-frying battered seafood and vegetables, was influenced the Portuguese who were residing in Nagasaki in the 16th century? Today, tempura is a mainstay in practically all Japanese restaurants in the country and is even gaining some foothold in Pinoy eateries through localized versions.

Tokyo Tempura’s versions are quick, yummy, easy to enjoy when you’re having a case of the munchies, and with affordably priced options which include Imperial Tempura (Php150 for 12 pcs), Tempura Rice (Php80) and Kani Tempura (Php55 for 6 pcs).

Want some spicy kick to go with your tempura? Add the Chili Cheese Poppers (Php55 for 4 pcs) to your order and take some heat from those tempura battered cheese-filled jalapenos!

Oskar’s Soul Kitchen (American)

If you’re looking for an alternative to your usual fastfood burger, check out Oskar’s Soul Kitchen’s Cheeseburger (Php220) – a quarter pound of ground Wagyu beef patty sandwiched in an oatmeal bun together with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and the resto’s signature sauce.

Still have room for more? Add Angus Beef Hotdog (Php140), Fries Overload (Php160), or the Nachos Overload (Php150) to your order and eat to your heart’s content.

Wing’s Lab (American)

How about Wing’s Lab’s sinful take to your flavored chicken wings? Try its American Wings (Php699 with Nachos and Beef) which hits you with its Jack Daniels flavored sauce.

Want something to quench your thirst after those spicy wings? Take your pick from the resto’s refreshing and conveniently packaged Juices (Php60 – Blue Lemonade, Cucumber Lemonade and Melon with Milk). The best part is that you can easily take these handy juice packs with you all over the park and beyond.

Authentic House of Curry (Indian)

Get yourself a taste of the exotic with the Authentic House of Curry’s spicy Beef Rendang (Php240) and Lobster Scallop Balls (Php180). These dishes provide a nice South Asian flare to your food park fare.

Cha Tuk Chak (Thai Milk Tea)

While boba milk teas abound all over the metro, Thai milk teas are not as visible, which , for me, is a shame if Cha Tuk Chak’s drinks are anything to go by. From the world famous creamy and silky Cha Yen (Php110 regular | Php125 large), the sweeter, fruitier and caffeine free Nom Yen (Php120 regular | Php135 large), the sweet lemon-infused Thai Ruby (Php115 regular | Php130 large), the refreshing Thai tea with real lemon Thai Emerald (Php115 regular | Php130 large), and the gourmet dark chocolate milk tea given a Thai spin Koko Yen (Php110 regular), among others, you’ll have tasty thirst-quenching options as you navigate the food park.

Papa Diddi’s (Ice Cream)

And who can forget about dessert? Papa Diddi’s Hand-crafted Ice Cream (Php75 for 1 scoop | Php110 for 2 scoops | Php145 for 3 scoops) come in such unusual yet localized flavors that pay tribute not just to our Pinoy heritage but also to the farmer communities that supply the brand’s all-natural ingredients. From the fruity Mango Pili, the cheesy Queso Blanco with kesong puti and Cheese Closed with cheddar, the chocolatey Chocolate Lovin and Tsokolate de Cagayan, the sinfully indulgent Tres Leches and the chocolate-meets-spicy Davao Meets Bicol, your dessert gives you a cool, culinary trip across the country.

So if you’re a denizen of Poblacion, or on a night out with friends in the area, do add a stopover to Pob Stacion Food Park to your evening’s itinerary.

Many thanks to Raina of KonyoQueen.com for extending the invitation!

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

A taste of Singapore’s hawker scene at Roti Shop, Rockwell

A key feature of Singapore’s foodie scene is the proliferous hawker shop. Populated by stalls selling wondrous varieties of inexpensive food, the Singapore’s hawker centers are among the first food stops for many tourists and a go-to place for good yet cheap eats for the locals.

Having already closed her Southeast Asian Restaurant Wild Ginger in the Power Plant Mall, Marla Moran decided to use the space vacated to bring a hawker-style eatery to the mall. And so the Roti Shop came to be.

The resto’s premises are bright and cheery, with a happy jumble of bright colors and kitschy decor, particularly those maneki-nekos, cat figurines with one paw periodically waving, or beckoning to customers. These figurines are said to bring good luck to business establishments.

Roti, obviously, is the key item in most dishes served here. Also known as chapati, it is a round unleavened flatbread rooted in Indian cuisine. Normally eaten by hand, it is served hot from the pan then usually pulled apart and shaped to scoop into savory side dishes. Alternatively, cheese and other ingredients may be folded into the roti dough, resulting to tasty murtabaks.

Together with fellow food bloggers from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of the Roti Shop’s signature offerings, which include:

Cheese Roti Prata (Php160). Cheese slices are inserted in between balls off roti dough then flattened down prior to cooking in a buttered pan, resulting to a crispy and flaky flatbread with melted cheese flavoring each bite. This is among the most basic of roti varieties; I would prefer to dip it into a stronger flavored side dish but it is a safe bet for those new to this kind of cuisine.

Beef Murtabak (Php215). Consider this the Asian Quesadilla: the roti prata is stuffed with marinated minced beef which makes for a filling, savory dish.

Corned Beef and Onion Murtabak (Php225). Imagine your favorite breakfast flavors of corned beef, onions and fried egg packaged roti style! I would prefer the fried egg yolk to be a little more runny, though. (Yeah, I’m looking for #yolkporn, hehehe!)

Veggie Murtabak (Php195). A savory mixture of chickpeas, peas, spinach and carrots replaces meat as the filling in this murtabak, which will surely be much appreciated by those on a vegetarian diet.

Roti Tisu. Its name translates tom “roti tissue paper” because the bread is actually paper thin. In Singapore, however, it is called “roti helicopter” as the cooks usually spin the dough around to stretch and flatten it prior to cooking. It is then twisted into a cone and sprinkled liberally with chocolate sauce and candy sprinkles. Quite a treat for those of us with a sweet tooth!

Non-roti items served include:

Char Kway Teow (Php275). Wok-tossed rice noodles with seafood and chicken.

Hainanese Chicken Rice (Php495). A half-chicken poached in a stock flavored with garlic and ginger. The stock is then used to cook rice, producing a flavorful and oily rice. It is served with a trio of dipping sauces comprised of dark soy sauce, red chili sauce and freshly ground ginger in oil.

Roti Shop Chendol (Php125). An iced dessert made with pandan jelly, red beans, coconut milk and coco palm sugar syrup. Consider this the Singaporean halo-halo!

These Singaporean hawker dishes are an exotic treat for me and my fellow foodies. I plan to come back and get a taste of that Laksa!

Roti Shop is located at the P1 Level of the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 4789450 or +63 917 7114533.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in 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.